Disclaimer: It would be nice if I owned Naruto, but sadly I only own a copy of books 1-9 (Waah!).

Chapter IV: Many Greetings

The next morning, Naruto and his cell showed up at the usual place they met with Kakashi. But for some reason, Kakashi didn't show up at all. The three chuunins waited…and waited…and waited…until finally Naruto got really sick of waiting all the time.

"Okay, are we gonna just sit here and wait for Kakashi go get here, or are we gonna go to where were supposed to go! I mean we've been sitting here for hours and still that old fart hasn't shown up! We gotta take some action!"

"For once in my lifetime," Sasuke added, "I agree with Naruto. Let's just go."

"I mean think of what I feel like! I didn't have enough time to change into clean boxers!"

Sakura was disgusted. "Eww. Naruto, do me a favor and keep that kind of crap to yourself. Some of us don't have as steady a stomach as you do." A nauseous color crept up her face as she said that.

So they marched off out the gates of Konoha and into the forest where they happened to find a familiar short blonde kid and suit of armor walking by. Yes, it was none other than…

"EDWARD! What's goin' on! It's been a long time!"

"NARUTO! We've missed you, man!" Both boys ran to each other and slapped the other's hand a high-five. Little did Sasuke and Sakura know that Naruto and Edward (whoever he was to them) had met previously when they weren't around.

"Um, Naruto, who is this guy in the suit of armor and the short kid?" Sakura asked.

Ed snapped his head at the pink haired ninja. "WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME! I'M NOT SHORT! AND DON'T CALL ME LITTLE, OR MIDGET, OR SHRIMP!" A terrified Sakura swooned, stammering a barely audible "S-sorry," and Sasuke wiped off the spit on his face that was coming out of the young alchemist's mouth.

"Forgive my big brother," Alphonse said. "He can have a really short fuse sometimes."

"BIG brother?" Sakura questioned. "What do you mean big brother?"

Al just sighed. "Long story, short: we're the Elric brothers. I'm Alphonse and this is my older brother Edward."

"The Full-Metal Alchemist!" Naruto finished. "Isn't it cool!" Silence filled the scene. Even the crickets were quiet. "So anyways, what are you guys doing?"

"Well, we were just going to Konoha to find any research we need," Ed started, "but we ran into you guys, so we'll hang out, I guess."

"Sorry guys, but we're on a mission. I wouldn't want to worry about you getting hu--" Just at that moment, Sasuke yelled "Everyone, get down!" A barrage of kunai and shuriken were flung towards the group. Harmlessly they sailed by and hit the trees, as a dark shape flashed by. Alphonse suddenly received a slash on the front of his armor.

"Al!" Edward screamed, using his alchemy to change his arm into a wrist blade. There stood a black-clothed shinobi, a katana hanging on his shoulder. Four wavy lines were dented upon his headband, a notice to the ninja's prey that he was of Kirigakure origin. On his left side was a blue ice flake, a skull in the front with its eye sockets glowing whitish-blue.

"I am Jei,chuunin of the Ice shinobi of Kirigakure," the ninja spoke through his mask, "and I will kill you."