Uzumaki Naruto; 6 Years Later

Age 18

-Go Either Way-

Consolidation hadn't been THAT bad. I could already FEEL the Hokage hat resting on my head. I would laugh at Sasuke SO badly.

"To a year in the mountains!" said Gai as he held up a glass. Me, Chouji and Kiba both lifted our glasses to Gai's and toasted to that.

"A year in the mountains!" We all agreed happily.

While it was nice to finally be ending my year up in the mountains training intensely, I sort of wish I could stay up there. Some of the best times in my life were spent up there with the guys. I could also always work more on my ninja skills more JUST to make sure.

However, the chuunin exams were only a few weeks away and I could literally feel the vest over my shoulders. I was so excited!!

I put my drink down next to my plate.

…

Next to my plate that was being used as a DOG BOWL!!

"Kiba, get your dog off the table!" I told Kiba as I tried to stop Akamaru from eating all my food. It was too late though, he had already contaminated it.

Kiba laughed at me. Jerk.

"Akamaru, are you going to take that from Naruto?" he asked his dog. It took me a really long time to get used to Kiba talking to his dogs as if it was normal. I don't think I ever did.

"You're no fun anymore, Akamaru." Akamaru said to his dog. I shrugged and decided to disregard Kiba and take his food while he was distracted with talking to his dog.

It didn't take long before Gai decided that Kiba talking to his dog was annoying enough so he cleared his throat to get our attention.

"Okay…" he said. "As soon as we finish eating, we're going to have one last training session before continuing on our way! How's that sound, youthful students of mine?"

"Yes sir!" we all said as we saluted our teacher.

I don't know whether or not I liked Kakashi better than him. Gai was a little more lively but Kakashi was a bit more sane.

I guess my favorite will always have to be Iruka.

I definitely liked this team better than my old one though. While I long for having Sakura on my team again, not having Sasuke on it makes it worth it.

Kiba's lots of fun and Chouji's…Chouji. Not much to say. He's just another guy.

A waitress suddenly came over and asked Kiba if he needed his water filled up. That was the FIFTH waitress today that asked him when his water was completely full! And mine was almost all empty!

Of course, I was smart enough to know that the ladies were after him. Why does Kiba get all the luck?

"No." Kiba said obliviously. "Thanks though!"

Why didn't he notice it! If it were me, I'd have her in no time!! He could have ANY girl he wants and he doesn't do anything about it!

Though, I have heard him talking in his sleep or to Akamaru a few times. He seems to have a thing for Hinata. She's so weird though! I mean, she's a nice friend but I can't see anyone perusing her as a girlfriend.

But whatever. At least he didn't have a crush on Sakura. She was mine.

The waitress giggled and put a few drops in Kiba's filled glass and then left.

I decided to see if Kiba was paying attention so I leaned over to him and got his attention.

"Hey Kiba." I whispered to him as he leaned in. "Which one do you like the best?"

Kiba looked at me with the most dumbfounded look EVER.

"One what?" he asked me.

I knew it. Could you be any more thick?

"Waitress, you dolt!" I yelled at him, barely holding back the urge to smack him upside the head.

"Oh I don't know." Kiba said, thoughtfully. "They all seem really efficient. All three of them really just want to wait on my water!"

I could hear Chouji laughing behind me. Even HE got it and he's NEVER going to get a girlfriend. Ever.

"The waitress with blond hair smells the best." Kiba said. I didn't even know how to respond to that so luckily, Chouji did.

"Just…stop." He said, trying to keep from laughing too obviously in Kiba's face.

"Students!" Gai announced as he stood on his chair. This was something I didn't like about Gai. He was always so loud and annoying. "When you have eaten your full, meet me behind the restaurant where we will commence our training session!"

We all stood up to follow Gai except Chouji. He looked as though he were trying to finish the last bits of food but there was a lot still on it. And it's not like he only quickly ate a few more bites and then stood up. He literally ate the rest of the food on the table. Even my food that Akamaru slobbered in!

We followed Gai back outside.

"This training exercise will focus on an extremely important aspect of becoming a ninja." Gai said as he picked up a rope. "Getting up when you're down, even when you're against all odds!"

We listened to what he was saying as he walked in front of us like an army sergeant.

"I shall tie one of you to a tree somewhere in this vast forest." Gai said, looking off at a forest behind him. He was crying but that was normal. "Then, on my word, the other two must leap into the trees, locate their partner and set him free."

"Piece of cake!" Kiba said loudly. Idiot. I bet that ruined everything.

But then again, I was going to say it too. He just got to it first.

I saw Gai smile and I knew that it would be hard.

But not TOO hard. After all, I'm going to be Hokage.

"At that point, it'll be a race between you three and me to get back to the top of the mountain." Continued Gai. I paused for a second. Wait a second!!

"Back to the top?!" I told him. "We're half way down!!"

"I hope you were all paying attention on the way down." Gai said with a smile but the tears were still present. "Because, if you don't beat me to the top then we will spend another entire year up there training for the exam."

Wait…WHAT?!

Hm…

No. I definitely didn't want to spend another year up here.

"Another YEAR?" Kiba demanded.

"Yes!" said Gai. "To add to it all, I will begin my trek up the mountain as soon as I signal the two teammates to enter the forest to free the third so I will have a head start."

This is getting more and more ridiculous.

"What, you need a head start?" I asked him.

I suddenly felt Gai's fist on my face. That was a regular occurrence. I learned to get used to it.

"NO! What did I say before I began this explanation?! This training exercise is focused on coming back after you're down and fighting against all odds! If your enemy is ahead of you, you must be able to catch up with him and beat him to the target! Am I understood?"

"Yeah." Kiba said. "We shouldn't lose too much time finding whichever one of you two are going to be tied up because me and Mamemaru will be able to find you in a second."

Made sense to me. I nodded at Kiba.

"Unfortunately, in the ninja world, you cannot just go around deciding who is the captured one. Missions are unpredictable! It's impossible to plan for anything!! Therefore, I have elected Kiba to be the victim!" Gai explained.

"WHAT?!" I yelled with my teammates.

"Don't I have a say in the matter?!" Kiba asked.

"Would you have in a say in the matter if you were captured in a REAL ninja mission?!" Gai asked us all. He was crying so hard, the front of his shirt was stained with tears.

What a freak!

"You two are not to move until I return!" said Gai as he grabbed Kiba and dragged him off.

Chouji and I stood around waiting for a minute or two.

"I really don't want to be up here another year." Said Chouji.

"I could go either way." I admitted to him.

We waited around a bit longer. Chouji's not very fun to talk to so there was no conversation exchange.

Gai suddenly appeared up on a rock over by the edge of a cliff.

"GO!!!" he bellowed, striking a pose.

Chouji and I took off as fast as we could. We knew since Gai had started up on that cliff, he was already a good deal in front of us. Plus, we still had to find Kiba.

While I was probably the fastest out of the three of us (or anyone maybe), Chouji had a lot to lug around so he was pretty slow.

"Chouji, hurry up!" I yelled back to him as he panted and trudged up the mountain.

"I can't go faster than this…" Chouji said pathetically.

"Sticking together is key!!" I heard a voice yell. I looked up to see a giant rock rolling right toward me. I had no problem getting out of the way but Chouji probably didn't see it coming.

"Look out!!" I yelled to Chouji.

Maybe he didn't hear me or something because he didn't even bother getting out of the way. He allowed his body to take the full force of the boulder.

"Chouji!" I called to him as I ran back down to his side.

"Just keep going!" I heard his voice as the boulder suddenly shattered into many pieces and Chouji literally came out of NOWHERE.

I don't know what I was thinking. I had been training with Chouji for a year, I should know that a mere boulder smashing into his head is not going to injure him.

I looked up the ledge that Gai was standing on earlier. It would take us a long time to get up there if we go around…

"It'll be shorter if we climb right up!" I called to Chouji. I know that as Chouji has gotten larger over the years, his climbing skills have weakened. But it wasn't that high so it shouldn't be THAT hard.

I didn't even bother listening for Chouji's input. Out of the two of us, I was the better leader and he knew his place. I began climbing up the rock, assuming Chouji was right behind me.

I climbed up to the top with no ease only to find Gai standing up at the top.

"Ha!" I said to Chouji, not even looking back. "We've got nothing to worry about! Gai's not even close to the top!"

"Have I taught you NOTHING?!" Gai yelled as he put his foot on my head and gave me a firm kick. I lost my grip on the rock and fell backwards. I felt myself land on something (or someone, I guess) as I collided with Chouji.

The two of us hit the ground hard but didn't stop there. I guess it's because Chouji's so round and that I was on top of us but the two of us commenced in rolling down the mountain.

We crashed through trees and rocks and stumps. I was thankful that I was on the inside because I don't think I would be able to handle doing this if Chouji weren't there.

After what seemed like ten minutes, we finally came to a stop. I separated myself from Chouji, breathing deeply as Chouji, seemingly uninjured, did the same.

I felt a few raindrops on my face. I looked up to see it was raining.

I knew we had failed and that we would have to spend another year up here. I couldn't hold back my tears of disappoint and anger but the rain hid them well.

"AHEM!!" I heard from behind us as I turned around to see Gai standing there with Kiba at his feet. Kiba sat up, rubbing his head and looked around. "Students of mine…it is decided. We will spend… one more year on the mountain!"

As much as it stung me to know I would be up here for another year, it hurt even more to know that we needed it.