Ehehehe...its been a while for this one. I saw some people complaining that this one hadn't been updated in forever so I decided to give you guys what i've got.What with everything in my life on the fast track currently I haven't had time to feel down so I haven't really been able to continue. But it will...eventually. Sorry this is so short.

Naruto was mumbling some serious curses as he stomped past the Ichiraku that evening. Sakura would have waved him over but the look on his face had told her that he was most definitely not in a social mood. For his part it took quite a bit for him to be able to walk strait past ANY ramen stand without at least stopping to drool. Which meant that, unfortunately, Naruto hadn't taken the idea of weapons training well at all.

Still, he hadn't said no which had to count for something...right?

>>>>

The next morning found Naruto standing in front of a house on the outskirts of town. He was still moody but at least he had shown up on time. He glanced around before walking up the small path to the shogi door and giving it a light tap.

A yell from somewhere inside alerted him that he had been noticed. "Be there in a moment!"

The voice had been female which gave him a little hope.

Moments later when the door opened his hopes rose even further, bringing his smile with them, as a girl not much older then he was answered the door. (As if you guys can't guess who this is already without this explanation) She stood just slightly taller then him. Her brown hair was held back on top of her head by two buns and she was dressed in what looked like a soft Chinese shirt and silk pants. The Leaf forehead protector she wore marked her as a Genin at the very least but since he knew she hadn't been in his class he assumed she was an upperclassmen.

His foxy grin spread and he saluted casually. "Hi! I'm here to see about some training. Hokage-sama sent me."

The girl blinked and looked Naruto over. "Well ok," she said, stepping back and gesturing inside, "I guess that explains why dad's home today. Come on in. My name is Yakiba Tenten."

Naruto stepped through the doorway and took off his sandals before stepping up onto the raised floor. "Nice ta meet you Yakiba-san. I'm Uzumaki Naruto." He jabbed his thumb into his collarbone as he spoke his name.

Tenten blinked again as he spoke his name, suddenly connecting the name she'd heard whispered around town the past several weeks with the boy in front of her. 'So this was Uchiha Sasuke's partner. Interesting. I wonder why Hokage-sama sent him here though?'

"I'll go get my father, he'll probably be the one training you. Just wait there." Tenten disappeared down a hallway. Moments later Naruto heard a door slide open then closed.

The blond spent the next few minutes looking at as much of the house as he could while staying in the entryway. From what he could see the house was spacious but not overly so. Much nicer then his apartment by far but not quite the mansion that Sasuke had owned. He grimaced and pushed the thought of the raven haired boy away. He did not need get going on Sasuke again now.

Two pairs of footsteps alerted him that Tenten was returning with someone. This proved to be true as he saw a tall man turn the corner with Tenten behind him. The man was about the same height and build as Iruka. The only big difference between the two was their hair. Yakiba-san had hair that flowed down the his back in a wave that ended in a tie somewhere near his lower back.(think Neji) His dark brown eyes glinted in the cool light of the house and a small but not overly friendly smile played over his face. He was dressed in standard Jounin gear with the one exception being a second weapons pouch strapped to his other leg.

"You must be Naruto," the man said in a casual tone. "Hokage-sama said you'd be by today and that I was to give you some training in the art of weapons."

Naruto nodded, his smile slipping a bit at the thought of all those cool jutsu he'd wanted to learn dashed.

The man's eyebrow rose slightly as he watched the boy's response. He knew the boy's story just as well as any Jounin. He knew the truth and what the Fourth had intended for the boy but had never met him before now. He couldn't help the mental sneer that rose up and almost reached his mouth as he thought about the Kyuubi and what it had done. He clamped down on the feeling and concentrated on the boy in front of him.

Like everyone else he'd heard about the terror the boy and his team had been through recently. He'd been at the funeral for the last Uchiha and had talked with Kakashi about the mission, he being one of Kakashi's co-workers and casual friends. And he couldn't help but hear the whispered comments about the boy's change in behavior since his return. Even the ANBU had been talking about him in quiet respectful tones. Usually if they spoke about him it was with a nasty hiss. So like a good number of people he was being forced to take a second look at the young nin.

Yakiba-san gestured back down the hall he'd come from. "Well then why don't I take you out back and see what you're capable of?"

Naruto brightened and nodded again.

'Maybe this won't be so bad," Yakiba-san thought as he made his way out to the families weapons range with Naruto in tow.

Yakiba - tempered blade