I don't own Naruto.

Sorry to take so long with this chapter. I sorta got distracted…(hides video-games from readers) Well, it's here now. I also wrote three short poems. Feel free to read those too. Before you start reading, I'll remind you that Naruto is still in his fight with Neji, this chapter is just a collective memory of those who are in it, to explain some of the events from before the chunnin exam finals.

Memories Renewed

"So our mission is just to deliver some package? Well that's pretty lame." complained an aggravated genin as he and his team made their way away from the eastern gates of Konoha.

"It's not just any package, Kiba." their jounin instructor replied, "It contains important documents that need to be delivered to an important figure in Wave Country. There is a high probability that enemy ninja will try to intercept the package, and we will need to ensure its safe delivery."

"I see now." commented the other boy in the team, "This isn't just a delivery mission then. Someone powerful is after these documents; that's why the client requested they be delivered by shinobi."

"Correct, Shino." answered Kurenai.

Hinata looked down nervously when hearing this. Sure, she had gotten much stronger in the past two weeks, but she didn't like the sound of having to fight someone powerful. She began to think of the scroll Naruto-kun had given her, unaware of the two dark figures trailing behind them.

A voice suddenly pierced through the darkness ahead of them. "Hand over the package and we won't kill you. You're completely surrounded by no less than 10 jounin. You can't win." The speaker stepped out of the darkness to reveal a cloth-covered face, his eyes covered by a mist ninja headband. Kurenai knew why. When he used the mist technique this country was famous for, he wouldn't be able to see anyway.

The frightened girl activated her byakugan, confirming that he was telling the truth. "Kurenai-sensei, w-what should we do?"

"I don't know. I can't even take on this many shinobi. Any of you have an idea?" was her reply.

"I-I have a scroll, b-but I don't know if it will help or not." This confused Kurenai.

"How do not know what it does?" she questioned suspiciously.

"Naruto-kun gave it to me before we left. He said to open it if I needed help, but…" her head once again drooped downwards, "…but, he didn't mention what it did…"

Kurenai smiled at the blushing girl's answer, glad he was starting to notice her more. But this wasn't the time to be happy; she quickly focused her mind back on the situation. "Well, if it will help in any way, now would be the time to use it."

Hinata pulled the scroll out of her backpack, and placed it on the ground in front of her. Carefully, she opened the scroll, a large cloud of smoke erupting from it.

It took a few seconds, but the smoke cleared. They all sweat-dropped at the sight, before Kiba burst into laughter. Kurenai started to giggle as well, realizing what Naruto had meant the scroll to do. Shino remained quiet and Hinata began blushing furiously.

Laying on the ground in front of Hinata was a sleeping Naruto, wearing his pajamas as well as a black and white nightcap. Their minds all quickly focused back on matters as their attacker also let out a small chuckle.

"Well, that really was entertaining, but I'm still going to need those documents from you." the man said as he drew a katana from its sheath.

Kurenai stepped in front of the genin as the man charged at them, his blade ready to strike. But time seemed to freeze just before he reached them, a bright flash of light and an equally loud clap of thunder tore through their minds. When things returned to normal, the ground was coated with ash, in which danced a multitude of tiny black flames finishing their meal before sputtering out minutes later.

Kurenai was the only one who had truly seen it. Eleven strikes of bright blue lightning had rained down around them, hitting their targets simultaneously. The men who attacked them were gone, reduced to nothing but ash.

That wasn't any ordinary lightening! But…it couldn't be! They beat it! I was there! An old image flashed through her head. Kakashi was on his knees, his right hand badly burnt from an overabundance of chakra. Asuma was huddled down over one of his one of his students, one of the two that had come along. The other boy lay unconscious near him, a light burn on his arm the only sign he had been hurt. Asuma was examining a symbol that was now present on the uninjured one's stomach. That boy, she remembered, had survived, but just barely. That kid! Did the seal…? No, It was too weakened to have…but that means…She looked around warily, but saw no one. They seemed to be safe for now.

Not so far away, standing in a tree, were the two dark figures that had been trailing them. They wore straw hats, as well as black cloaks with red clouds on them. One had a large, bandaged, sword shaped object in his had, which was supported by his shoulder. The other lowered his arm, which had been held straight in front of him a moment ago. Kurenai Yuhi, is it? he thought to himself, Your brother sends his regards. With that, the two disappeared, leaving the team of genin and their 'guest' to complete the mission.

Naruto awoke to unfamiliar surroundings the next morning. The ceiling was now green, and much lower than he remembered. His bed was much harder now, but still soft enough for him to sleep in. He then turned to see three other genin waking up near him.

"Hey, what are you three doing in my room?" he asked with a yawn, stretching his arms outward.

They thought for a moment before their reactions from last night returned to them when they remembered why Naruto was now with them. "We're on a mission." Shino finally answered after the others had mostly returned to normal.

"All right! A mission! Hey wait, I don't remember being assigned a mission…" he said, eying Shino suspiciously.

"We were assigned a mission. You just sort of…showed up." replied Shino in his usual monotone, turning his head toward Hinata with the last two words. She looked down and started blushing, not sure if it was from guilt or embarrassment, or a mixture of the two.

"Ah, I see you're all awake." A voice called into the tent, interrupting the chaotic interrogation that the genin had begun.

After Kurenai explained their mission to Naruto, they packed up camp and continued onward. Naruto wasn't told of the events that he slept through last night. As they walked, Naruto realized that nobody in Konoha would know where he was. Oh Well, he thought, Kyuubi can get food on his own, hopefully not something that he might have to chase…Iruka's busy teaching classes, and Jiraiya…well, I'm pretty sure he won't even notice I'm gone. It wasn't long before their destination was in sight; An average-sized town on a island not too far off shore.

They stood before an enormous bridge; one Naruto took a while to recognize. Merchants were hauling their goods across the bridge in both directions. The sky was clearer than it had been that day, and prosperity could now be felt radiating from the busy streets of the city at the bridge's end.

As they started across the bridge, Naruto noticed a familiar old man standing at the edge of the bridge, watching people pass by. "Oi, Old Man!" Naruto yelled with a wave, leaving the others to run up to the man.

The other three then managed to catch up to Naruto and were about to tell him to stop annoying strangers when the man responded. "Naruto! I haven't seen you in a while!" the man answered happily. "What do you think of The Great Naruto Bridge?"

Kurenai got a dumbfounded look on her face, Kiba's jaw dropped, Shino just raised an eyebrow, and Hinata seemed to try and lift her feet off the ground as if she were standing on some precious item of Naruto's before realizing what she was doing and relaxing a bit. Naruto was the first to speak. "Wow! You named the bridge after me? That's so cool!"

"Naruto? Who is this guy and why did he call the bridge that?" Kurenai questioned suspiciously.

"Everyone, this is Tazuna, the bridge-maker guy," Tazuna scowled at the boy's lack of respect, "and he made this bridge while I protected him from these really strong guys who turned out to be not so bad in the end, but then their boss came with a bunch of thugs and Zabuza put a kunai in his mouth and was like…" here Naruto made a series of noises and body gestures, "…and then Kakashi helped me scare the rest of them away, and Sasuke wasn't dead, but those two…" his voice trailed off and his head tilted downward.

When Tazuna saw that he wasn't going to continue, he decided it was time to interrupt. "Why don't you all come by my house later? I'll explain things better to you then."

Naruto immediately brightened up when he remembered a promise he had made last time he was here. "Hey, Old Man, how's Inari doing?"

"Quite good, actually. He's much happier these days. He'll be excited to hear that you're in town again. He's really been looking forward to a visit from you."

"Great! Tell him I'll stop by for a visit later. First I have to complete a mission, then I wanna get some ramen." Naruto replied with a wide grin.

"I'll tell you what," Kurenai interrupted unexpectedly, "Since the delivery point is only a few blocks away, we'll split up to save time. Shino, Kiba, you two will deliver the package, then you may relax for a while. You two," she added, referring to Naruto and Hinata, "can go find a place to eat. I'd go too, but I need to stay behind to have a word with Tazuna-san…"

After the genin had left (Hinata a little hesitantly), Tazuna turned his attention to Kurenai. "What was it you needed to speak with me about?" he questioned.

"Nothing really…so, where's this house of yours?" Tazuna looked confused for a moment, but decided just show her where he lived so she could show the others.

Naruto led Hinata around town, and it wasn't long before they had come across a ramen shop. As they ate, it was silent at first, but Naruto couldn't stand being quiet even while eating. As he started asking questions, Hinata was answering them to be polite, but she soon began to talk more as well.

Eventually they had a good conversation going about Hinata's family, Naruto's newly acquired pet, and what they had been doing since the academy. When the pile of empty bowls in front of Naruto began to obscure his view of the cook, he decided he was full. He then realized he had been so caught up in talking to Hinata that he was late for a visit to an old friend of his. Rushing to pay for his food (Hinata's single bowl of ramen as well) he hurried out an explanation to the shy girl.

"I've gotta go see Inari now. I promised I'd visit him. Talk to you later." Without thinking, he leaned over and gently gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, then rand off waving behind him to leave the stunned girl staring after him.

It wasn't until he was almost to Inari's that he realized what he had done. Come to think of it, he really didn't know why he did it. Hopefully she would understand if he apologized and explained what happened to her. He didn't want her to hate him for a silly accident like that. If it had been Sakura, he might not be alive right now. He was lucky Hinata was so kind…

End of chapter 5

Please leave a review! Suggestions, comments, questions, all are welcome! Next chapter will have some action, the chunnin exam finals commence!