Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Reviews:
Ayanami Rei II: Thank you, Sasuke did not run away so he wasn't retrieved and yes, this is the two and a half training period like in the manga.
Tea and Cocoa: Thank you.
Firehedgehog: Your wish is my command grins and starts writing
Die Kikyo Die: You'll see in due time. grins
Now on with the story!
Tsunade, Godaime Hokage of the Leaf Village was currently at her very best; snoozing in that comfortable chair behind a wall of paperwork. At least, that was her current state mind as of right now, Tsunade was very angry and consequently very dangerous.
Laughing nervously Jiraiya backed up against the wall, almost climbing up it in an attempt to get away. " Now really Tsunade, would I ever try to look down the front of your dress?" As Tsunade cracked her knuckles, Jiraiya knew he was screwed. In a last ditch effort to get away from this she-demon, the old pervert tried the oldest trick in the book. "Look behind you, a three-headed monkey!"
Outside the Hokage's office, the Anbu on guard didn't bat an eyebrow as Jiraiya came crashing through the door. It seemed as though things had returned back to normal.
Grinning Naruto couldn't resist but rile the Hokage up even more. "Hi Oba-chan, you look even older than last time I saw you." His grin widened as a vein popped on Tsunade's head, and she advanced menacingly on the poor boy. He was about to run away as hard as he could when Tsunade threw herself at him with beast-like agility. Closing his eyes Naruto waited for the punch.
He was surprised when, instead of pummeling him into the ground, Tsunade chose to give him a hug. Clumsily, the Kyuubi vessel returned the hug, rather awkward, as he had never truly been hugged before.
Tsunade pulled back and took a good look at her little brother. He had matured, his blue eyes still sparkled in mirth but no longer did he hide behind the mask. No plastic, fake smile adorned his face. Her little brother had also quieted down, and his voice had deepened into a melodious tenor. He was a little shorter than Kakashi, yet held him with a dignity lost on the silver-haired pervert. All things Tsunade wanted to say died in her throat as Naruto smiled warmly at him, brightening Konoha considerably. "Welcome home, Naruto."
"Hey Old man, another one please!" It had been three years since Naruto had visited Ichiruka Ramen, and both Naruto and the owner were happy to see each other again. Naruto did not immediately dig into his favorite food, but instead found his mind wandering back to the conversation he had held earlier with Tsunade.
FLASHBACK
"You do realise that your are the only Genin left of your year?" Tsunade asked while gently sipping on her tea. She had shifted back into her 'Hokage' mode and was currently talking about Naruto's absence. "Add in that none of use really know how much you have grown, it would be rather foolish to appoint you to a rank."
Expecting Naruto to start screaming about being the only Genin left, Tsunade smiled when her little brother merely nodded and waited for her to continue. "So I've decided to throw a small tournament." She could see that he was interested. "Two weeks from now, you will fight your comrades in order to gauge how strong you are."
Naruto smiled, this would truly get interested. "In that case, if you would please excuse me Hokage-sama, I have to go and train."
END FLASHBACK
Still not eating, Naruto smiled at that memory. He would be able to show everybody how much he had grown. His smile dimmed a little when his thoughts returned to the meeting between the last of the Uchiha and himself.
FLASHBACK
Hungry for ramen, Naruto quickly exited the Hokage Tower and hurried across the street. His desire to eat was so great that he did not look where he was going and consequently bumped into someone. This someone turned out to be none other the Uchiha Sasuke. "Hello Sasuke, how are you doing?"
Sasuke smirked in return. "If it isn't the dead-last." he sneered. "If I recall you are still a Genin, you really are pathetic. And to think you thought of me as a rival." The raven-haired boy hadn't changed much. He was taller and his hair was a little longer, but nothing more had changed save for his cocky attitude.
Naruto who was not about to be outdone by some stuck-up Uchiha proudly retorted. "Well the Hokage is organising a tournament for me so that I can prove my worth." To his amazement, Sasuke started laughing.
"Kukukuku. The you will show us how much you have grown, and then" Sasuke's eyes flashed red, Sharingan blazing "then I shall copy all of your jutsus, making me stronger than ever." Taking no further notice of Naruto, Sasuke stalked past the blond and quickly disappeared in the flow of people.
END FLASHBACK
Naruto was torn as to what he should do. He wanted to win that tournament and make Tsunade proud, but then Sasuke would know all his moves and he didn't want that to happen either. It wasn't until he was about to devour his ramen that the solution hit him. With a fox-grin on his face Naruto slammed down some cash. Blue eyes blazing he took off, halting only for a quick "Itadekimasu!". As the bowl of ramen stood there, untouched, Naruto was on the move. Where to find him? Laughing, Naruto continued on his search. Just wait Sasuke, I will defeat you without using my regular techniques!
As Chouji was enjoying his dinner at the All-You-Can-Eat BBQ, a flash of blond and black appeared next to him. "Naruto is that you?" not waiting for an answer the chubby boy made some room. "Here, sit down and eat with me."
Politely declining the invitation, Naruto decided to get right to the point. "Listen Chouji, I need your help. As one food-obsessed man to another. Please teach me the legendary 'food jutsus'."
Squinting his eyes, the chubby boy observed the blond in front of him. Coming to a conclusion he ruefully shook his head. "I am sorry Naruto, but those jutsus are sacred to us food-obsessed men. They are passed on from generation to generation and only those of the Itadekimasu are allowed to learn them."
After some rummaging around in his pockets, Naruto managed to find a small card and triumphantly handed it over to Chouji. "Here is my membership card."
After carefully studying the card, Chouji verified its authenticity. "It's and Itadekimasu membership card alright, but that doesn't prove anything. You could have found it." The chubby boy's eyes narrowed, and a sly grin spread over his face. "Do you know the Itadekimasu handshake?"
Gulping Naruto nodded. From out of nowhere he found an orange hat that resembled a chopstick the size of his head. Chouji soon followed with the same headwear. The two food-obsessed boys faced each other and grasped each other right arm.
Grinning, Naruto started the Itadekimasu handshake. "Ita" and he grabbed Chouji's left underarm thus crossing his arms. Chouji then did the same while shouting, "deki".
Both boys released each other while flying through a different number of handseals and ended up with the tiger seal.
"masu!" They both chorused and as their hats both vanished it suddenly started raining ramen and chips around the two boys. Grinning Chouji shook Naruto's hand. "You really are of the Itadekimasu. Now I can teach you food jutsus."
Nodding happily, Naruto stopped it raining ramen and chips with a muttered "Kai." and happily followed Chouji.
Well that's all for now. Next chapter will be longer, and hopefully quicker written than this one. The reason for the delay was my irritating little brother who accidentally deleted large portions of my fanfics and important homework. So I've spent this time rewriting summaries and written assignments and only managed to get to Ramen no Jutsu this morning.
End of rant.
Until the next chapter!