Blanket Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. This applies to …. Forever or when I can earn a bazillion dollars to buy the copyrights to it.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews. As promised, here's the next chapter. It's a bit more technical. New Technique and explanation. Tell me what you think. If I get 20 reviews on I'll put up the next chapter next week. If not, it'll be another 2-3 weeks. Gotta have an incentive you know.

Chapter 5: Naruto Plan

Somewhere near outside of Suna

Naruto laid out the costumes for each of his companions; he was meticulously explaining the cover/plan for the mission.

"So essentially, Ino, you're the flirty, coquettish one – basically, the slut. Sakura, you're shy and reserved on the outside, but a really a wild dominatrix. Sasuke is the shady advisor in disguise trying to overthrow the kingdom by using his sexual wiles on the son of a prominent member of the king's council to gain power. I am the sheikh and son of said prominent member."

Three incredulous ninjas looked at Naruto who was scratching the back of his head with a proud smile on his face.

Sakura looked over at Sasuke and Ino, "Are Naruto's plans always like this? I can't imagine him being such a good tactics man like Shikamaru…"

Ino didn't seem to hear her friend. Red faced and steaming she yelled at Naruto. "WHO….IS…A…SLUT!"

Naruto raised his hands in front of him. "Now, now Ino. This isn't a reflection of who you really are. It's just a plan for the mission. Remember the mission!"

Sasuke on the other hand, was just glaring at Naruto. In response to Sakura, he replied without looking at her. "Hn, Dobe's plans are successful 90 of the time. Surprise is his element. Of course it would work better if didn't surprise his companions all the time."

Naruto just grinned at Sasuke. "You're just mad that on our last mission you were the ass. It was a great plan! They needed to purchase a donkey. What better way to infiltrate the enemy's camp? Besides, you were the one who told me upfront that you wanted the most integral part in the mission. That just happened to be the ass. You gathered great information. No one even suspected a thing. Who would have thought that you would be such a great ass?" Laughing Naruto started to hand out key chains to his companions.

Everyone forgot momentarily about the costumes and turned each of his/her attention to the said object.

Ino examined her purple fluff ball. Hmm, wonder what this is. Naruto is always full of surprises. Hmm, There's something peculiar about this chain. "Naruto, what is this?"

Naruto looked up from digging in his bags and held up his own orange puff ball. "These are the secret weapons I've been preparing for the past week for you guys."

Sakura looked at her pink fuzzy skeptically. "Okay, I give up. What is it? I sense a small amount of compressed chakra, but nothing big that will give us an advantage in a tight spot."

Sasuke looked up from his navy colored fuzz ball, his sharingan was activated. "I can barely see any chakra signatures and there is no illusion on it. Did you get the wrong thing again?"

Naruto gave a small glare in Sasuke's direction and looked at the others. "Ah, if I put more chakra in it, wouldn't it be suspicious? Let's put it this way, it's not about quantity, but quality."

Ino looked at Naruto quizzically. "I don't recognize the chakra signature. It feels a little like you, but not. Secondly, I don't feel anything special about the chakra. In fact, it feels like chakra signature from any tree or flower."

Naruto smiled proudly at the group. "You guys are definitely the best of the best."

Ino and Sakura beamed. Sasuke smirked. After all of these years, each shinobi learned to not only trust Naruto, but looked up to him. After Naruto became apprentice to the hokage and merged with the Kyubi, he became a source of outstanding knowledge. Although his schemes in missions seem to be outlandish, weird, and even extreme, each had a finesse. Each mission that he orchestrated had been successful with less loss than the average shinobi mission. He was not only their comrade in arms and friends with the shinobis, but also a mentor. A word of praise from Naruto was something to be cherished. He did not openly praise the shinobis often.

Naruto started his explanation. "I have infused each of these objects with a small amount of my chakra mixed with that of nature. Think of this, the Kyubi was able to become one with nature and mask his chakra with the forest. I modified the ability a bit to create these, for lack of a better word, puffs."

Ino looked at her purple fluff again. "So what does it do?"

Naruto gave a rueful smile. "Ahh, it's a catalyst."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "For what?"

At the question and with three intent stares directed towards him, Naruto slowly performed a series of seals. "Animal Spirit Project."

Naruto's orange fluff started to glow and disappeared. In it's place on the ground was a small fox. Naruto patted his head. As the animal purred, Naruto started another explanation.

"It's a catalyst to project your own chakra and mold it with nature for a representation of your spirit in animal form. My spirit is represented as a fox. Each person has their own animal. My chakra combined with nature's chakra will enable each of you to project your spirit. Memorize the hand seals I just showed you. Do not use this technique unless you have no other options. It drains your chakra. Since I have almost an unlimited amount of chakra, I'll be okay. Also, once summoned, the animal will not disappear unless its summoner dies. Keep in mind that this animal is not made of chakra."

At that, the other three gave a start. Naruto raised his hand. "Feel this little guy and tell me what you feel."

The little fox jumped away from Naruto and walked to each of the companions. Each companion held up the small fox and passed it to the next. At the end Sasuke examined the animal with sharingan. "He's like any other forest animal with a unique chakra signature."

Sakura took the fox again and started to scratch his ear. "He is physically built as any other animal with solid tissues."

Ino sat next to Sakura and pet the fox. "His reactions and emotions are that of a normal animal."

Naruto nodded his head. "Let's call her Suki. As you can see, Suki is a real, live fox. The only difference is that she will not grow. She will need to eat and sleep, and everything else, but this will be to maintain her basic chakra levels. Her growth is dependent on me. If I am injured, she will grow proportionally to the amount that I am injured. In other words, if I were to be mortally wounded, yet still alive, she will be at her largest. I don't know how large she'll get."

Ino looked up at Naruto. "That's amazing! Incredible really. We each have one?"

"Yes, but again, once you summon, the next few days, you will feel drained. It won't be immediate, but you'll feel the after effects after several hours. I estimate you'll feel exhaustion at about 24 hours. Again, that's a guestimation and I don't know what the real time frame is."

Naruto picked up Suki. "Ok little guy, guess you're with me from now on." Suki licked his nose. "As for you guys, We need to change into our disguises.

The three looked at the costumes again and glared at the blond. Naruto just grinned, "My plans have a," glancing at Sasuke, "90 success rate. So don't complain."

Groaning, each went to their respective places and changed into their costumes.