Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I need a hug.

Movement 4 – Joy

We all have our good days and bad days, and when you have your good days, its natural to feel joy.

What joy has come my way lately? I asked that of myself a few times, usually when things are, for lack of a better word, grim.

The thing about it is that joy, like anything, is relative. Its a universal rule: everyone experiences joy differently. How does one measure it? Is there a way to measure it? How come we haven't invented a joy meter yet?

There are even different types of joy, from the sudden jolt you get when making love, to the gradual satisfying high you get from accomplishing a hard task.

As much as my male hormones are screaming the "making love" joy is the best, the gradual high is great too. One day in the late summer was a great example of the phrase "Things just keep getting better."

Naruto's eyes slowly opened to the light of a high noon sun. He turned his head to see the recently departed alarm clock he sent to the other world. Hell if he'd be worked by the clock on one of his days off, he thought. He groggily walked to the bathroom to wash up. After a good while, a much more energetic young man sat himself down to the single person table to his usual breakfast of ramen, coffee and milk.

With 'breakfast' out of the way, Naruto decided to hit the shops, seeing as he needed some things anyway. He was surprised to find a note stuck to the front of his door with a kunai.

'Ninja messengers' he sighed, and picked the note up to scan over. However, he was honestly surprised at the contents of the message.

Notice to Graduating Class of 2003
Konoha Shinobi Academy

After months of delays, due to the constant threat of war approaching, and the reconstruction of Konoha; the Gondaime has granted us the green light to have the graduating party for the class of 2003.

August 10, 2003
6:30 pm
Hokage grand hall
1F Hokage offices

Tsunade-dono has required all graduates to attend at least the first 30 minutes for a personal impressment

Figures, the only party I ever get invited to, and attendance is mandatory...

Still, a party is a party, and I doubt the higher in rank I get, the more relaxation and socialization becomes an option. After memorizing the date, I used a simple Katon technique to burn the note. Hey, a ninja note ought to be handled in a ninja fashion...

Naruto, not paying much attention to the streets, walked himself over to the corner stores in the center of the village. Now, its not exactly impossible, but for Naruto to see 4 of his fellow 'graduates' all gathered in what best could be a huddle, it was rather strange.

"Yo!" he shouted over to them as he approached, to which the 4 boys: Kiba, Shino, Shikamaru, and Chouji, nodded to him and motioned for him to come.
"Oh hey Naruto, did you get a note too today?" asked Chouji.
"Yeah, and I guess we have no choice but to go, don't we?" answered Naruto with a small chuckle.
"Wonder why the Hokage would mandate attendance for a party though..."

"Ah, she probably just wants to berate/congratulate us. You know, tell us 'good job' with one hand and tell us 'your life is only going to get worse from here' with the other," ranted Kiba.
"Its probably a tradition of sorts, otherwise they would have given up the idea entirely with all the recent attacks," said Shikamaru, shaking his head in annoyance.
"So, is it just us rookie 9?" queried Shino.
"Apparently people are free to come and go as they please, besides us of course," said Shikamaru, "rather troublesome if you ask me."

"Well no one asked you," interjected Naruto, "anyone we know?"
"Eh, Ino asked Tenten if she wanted to come, and she supposedly said she'd ask her team to come as well. Other than those three and our senseis, teachers, and the Gondaime, that's all accounted for."
"Sounds more like someone's birthday party than a graduating class celebration..." mumbled Kiba.

As much as this "enticing" conversation could keep me busy for the rest of the day, we were interrupted by a gate alarm. Now, according to village rules, if the bell is rung, any able-bodied shinobi is to report to the gate for the alarms reason. So, after a few seconds, me and the rest of the boys stood ready in case things got messy.

Over half of the Konoha village answered the call of the gate alarm, with Naruto and the rest of the guys at the front line, kunai ready.

Kiba looked rather strained, and finally spoke up, his body relaxing. "I see him, he's about 1 kilometer away from the gate, he looks like he's not in a hurry either."

"All the better for us then," said Shikamaru, his face etched in stone, "the more time it takes him to get here, the better the odds are for the village."

It was a calm, quiet tension as the villagers waited for the 'invader' to get within eye shot. After a few more minutes, a lone figure could be seen walking towards them, limping towards the gate, using what seemed to be nodachi as a crutch. The figure's face was hidden by his dome hat, that is, until he looked up to see the welcoming committee.

Naruto eyes widened at the brief glimpse of the man.

"Sanada-san!" he exclaimed, gaining the attention of the villagers around him.

The man now recognized as Sanada looked up one last time.

"Oh, hello Naruto," he said rather exhaustively, before plummeting to the ground.

Sanada-san would take a week in the infirmary to recover. However, seeing as he was still a suspicious outsider with a giant sword, the Anbu had been called in to keep him in his room.
It was August 9, 2003, and Sanada was called into the Hokage's office. I was allowed to stay there for the meeting, seeing as I had some insight on the man.

It was rather quiet in the Hokage's office, providing the people inside and the situation that's involved. Naruto just stood to the side, waiting for the inevitable ice-breaking by Tsunade.

"Sanada Torimora, a renegade of the Lightning Country, and the last surviving member of the Sanada clan," explained Tsunade. "Rather far from home aren't' you?"

Sanada stayed quiet, his eyes closed, as if he was waiting for someone to strike at him.

"I've brought you here to see what your intentions are, and you're not leaving until you speak with me. As Hokage I can just throw you in our prison, regardless of what Naruto has to say about you."

"My sword..."
"Pardon?" asked Tsunade, a little confused at the first words the man said since leaving the hospital.

"If you're going to speak to me as a member of the Sanada, I will not utter another word without my family's sword," he calumniated.

Tsunade looked at the man for a few minutes, before nodding to Naruto.

"Heh, here ya go Sanada-san," he said, as he reached behind him for Heaven's Cloud. "You were stripped of your weapons when you were brought to the hospital, but I pulled some strings and kept this safe for you."

Sanada quirked a brow at the young man, before smiling softly to the boy and taking his weapon.

"Thank you, Naruto-sama. I know you took good care of it."
"Ok, now that that's settled, what were you doing our in the middle of our forests?" asked Tsunade.
"I'm a wanderer now that my clan was stripped and butchered, so it happens that my journeys took me to the forests of Konoha."

Tsunade picked up a dossier and opened it. "Two broken ribs, dislocated left shoulder, crushed metatarsals, 3cm cuts all along the arms and legs, severe swelling of the left eye, and internal bleeding of the kidneys, liver, bladder, and gall," she read off, before tossing it to the floor.

"That's the report from my apprentice Sanada. I find it hard to believe you took a beating like that by just 'wandering.' Not to mention those cuts are consistent with being sliced by kunai. So why don't we beat around the bush and you tell me what happened?"

Sanada stayed quiet, before taking a deep breath and reaching into his mouth, causing himself to vomit. Tsunade leered back in disgust, but then noticed a metallic substance. She took her hand and after a minute, fished out a hate-ate. Upon wiping off the metal plate, she saw the symbol of Oto Village.

Tsunades eyes stayed put, but Sanada and Naruto could see her discomfort. She dropped the hate-ate and looked to Sanada.

"I'm guessing he was at least the level of a Jonin, and he did have some extraordinary talents, but in the end, he ended up like all the others..." said Sanada rather grimly.
"What made you come to Konoha then? Surely not out of the goodness of your heart."
"Actually, it was, Hokage-dono," interjected Sanada.

"I am here to see in Naruto can still live up to the promise he gave me several years ago. And seeing how a member of Oto could sneak himself into your forests, I find I could be of use to you."
"I know all about your clan's notoriety Sanada, but taking a bodyguard would be rather lavish. And with all the budgets going towards the town's reconstruction, I can't afford a lot of new salary workers."
"I don't' ask for money, Naruto-sama has offered something more important to me."

"Status?"

Sanada nodded his head solemnly. Tsunade growled in frustration. Leave it to Naruto to give promises only she had the power to honor eh? This is something she would need to figure out.

"I have an idea," said Tsunade, after a few minutes. "We'll have an exhibition match. The Konoha Stadium has recently finished it refurbishing, so it should be the perfect battlefield. If you manage to win the match, then I'll do what I can with the council to see your promise honored. Any objections to that Sanada?"

After a few minutes, Sanada looked up to Tsunade. "If I made be so selfish as to make one request, Tsunade-dono?"
"That depends on what it is."
"I wish to pick the shinobi I fight."
"I see no real problem with that, I doubt you're stupid enough to think I'll let you get by with just a genin-level match."

"Thank you Tsunade-dono, and I know who I want."

Sanada stood up and looked Naruto dead in the eye. "I'll see you in the battlefield, Naruto-sama. Good luck, and prepare yourself." With that, he left the building, Tsunade doing nothing to stop him.

Well, which leads me to the entire point of this entire entry. Tsunade-obachan scheduled the fight for the same day as the party. She said "it'll be good to get everyone riled up."

Funny people get 'riled up' only when my well-being is in jeopardy...

Well, there I was, in the center of Konoha stadium, hearing the chants of all the audience, some chanting me good luck, some others just wanted some blood. Ah, the beauty of multiple personalities.

Well, going into this fight, one thing was clear: I knew nothing of Sanada-san's technique, and vice versa. And if things got rough, I could use my 'Jajjimento' techniques. Still, only if it gets overboard, as Kiyubi might a little...eager.

"Are you ready, Naruto-sama?" asked Sanada, as he took his battle stance: his right foot slided forward past his knee, his left sliding sideways, his left hand clutched to his blade's hilt.

'I expected him to keep his right hand free for kata, but other than that, he could throw anything at me. Oh well, when all else fails,' he thought, before setting up his signature 'cross' kata.

"Kage Bushin no Jitsu," shouted Naruto, as he created a small platoon of shadows to charge Sanada, who stood completely still.

"Is that all?" he asked moments before the shadows were in melee distance.

"I'm just getting started Sanada, but it'll be all I need if you just intend to root yourself there," shot back Naruto, he and his shadows prepared a simultaneous attack, but in a flash, Naruto found himself knocked back, his shadows dissipated.

"What the!" he exclaimed, and looked to Sanada, who was still in his battle stance.

'How the fuck does he move that fast?' he thought, but a small grin came to his face, 'ah well, it wouldn't be fun if it ended so quickly.'

"Naruto-sama, I don't think you understand who I am," spoke Sanada, in a slightly annoyed tone.
"What do ya mean?"

"I'm a man who knows ninjitsu, but I'm primarily trained in the arts of Samurai. I am a complete combination of ninjitsu knowledge, with unequaled skill in combat. Not to mention the fact, that Samurai are the mortal opposites of Shinobi."

Naruto looked a little taken back at that statement. 'Ero-sennin said this guy was unique and part of a powerful clan, but I never expected something like this. He knows every move I could throw at him from the bat,' then a thought came to Naruto, a grin forming on his face, 'well, let's try something only I can do then.'

"That look in your eyes tells me you're ready to get serious," said Sanada, "and so am I!" His right hand came up and formed some one-handed kata, to which dozen upon dozen of katana appeared.

"Kage Katana no Jitsu" demurred Sanada, and the army of swords charged Naruto.
"Taiyu Kage Bushin no Jitsu," countered Naruto, as his shadows fought back against the horde of weapons.

Up top, at the Hokages personal viewing box, Tsunade let out a small whistle.

"Quite interesting for him to pull off a stunt like that..."

One of Tsunades guards looked towards her.

"What do you mean Hokage-dono? They're just shadows, not exactly hard to make."

Tsunade waved her finger. "Tut, tut, normal shadows are easy to control and make for someone with enough skill, in that much you're correct. Shadows of a person have their own decision making capabilities, and can even pass on what they know to the original body."

"I still don't see your point, Hokage-dono."

"Those katana are not bodies of living beings, but physical manifestations of sentient objects. Since Sanada is the only living body, and he is the one using the technique, he must control the katana all on his own. Now, take a look at the battlefield."

The guard looked down, and slowly realized what Tsunade meant. While neither Naruto or Sanada had gained the advantage, Sanada, who would normally be at a numbers disadvantage, was easily holding off all of Naruto's shadows.

"You see? It must be quite the mental feat to keep control of all those swords, while protecting himself in the process. It seems that Sanada has great mental concentration and stamina."

It was after a few minutes of this neutral skirmish, that Sanada and Naruto simultaneously backed off, Sanada's swords dropping to the ground, and Naruto's clones dissipating

"Well, Naruto-sama, care to pull out all our stops?" he said with a gentle smile.
"Sounds good to me, don't want to be to exhausted for the party tonight," replied Naruto with a smile.

Sanada, pulled out Heaven's Cloud from it's clasp, and held it straight in front of him, while preforming some long kata.

"You'll forgive me if more of you blood spills on my sword, but then again, I'll try to just knock you out," he replied, not out of arrogance, but out of respect. His kata finished, he ran his fingers over the nodachi, causing it to glow."

"You're fortunate Naruto-sama, as these techniques are meant to be secrets of the Sanada clan to never be used in such sparring. However, I have a purpose: to find a place for me to belong again. Somewhere where I can no longer be a shamed outcast. Take this!"

"Mai Tentou Kan: Hanasu za Tsuchi!" shouted Sanada, as he first made a horizontal slice in front of him, before finishing with a vertical slice, digging Heaven's Cloud into the ground. The force of the strike caused the wind to buffet towards Naruto in a cross shape, the vertical slice breaking up the ground as it sped towards Naruto.

Naruto, seeing as he had no time to dodge, finally pulled out his trump card. Using the summoned power of Kiyubi, he formed his nine tails quickly and did his 'cage' kata.

"Oniwaza: Kiyubi Jajjimento: Tame!" shouted Naruto, as the red tendrils of chakra wrapped themselves around him, just as the attack connected, a giant buffet of wind and earth slapping him around.

Sanada stood still, waiting to see if his attack worked, he then saw Naruto unveil himself, not a scratch on him.

"Well, time to try again," he said, not even disappointed at his apparent failure. He formed some more kata and transmuted his sword yet again.
"I bet you've been wondering why my shadow swords have not disappeared yet, well I need them for this," he said, as the swords started to lift off the ground, and point themselves in Naruto's direction.
"Your techniques are good, butthey'll be useless if you're skewered!"

"Mai Tentou Judan: Wareme za Kontan!" the dozen swords threw themselves at Naruto, who dodged them this time, as they dug into the ground several inches.

Now Nartuo took the attack, launching himself at Sanada, who swiped at the boy with Heaven's Cloud, but then saw to see Naruto ducked, and Sanada himself wide open for a counter.

"Oniwaza: Kiyubi Jajjimento: Ranmyaku!" shouted the boy, as he started the attack with a chakra enhanced uppercut, sending Sanada flying. He proceeded to follow him, and spun horizontally, using his tendrils to deliver even more blows to the head, after three mid-air rotations, Naruto righted himself, and collected his tails into one giant one, slamming on the top of Sanada's skull like a sledgehammer, and sending him plummeting to the ground.

Naruto landed, breathing rather heavily. That technique tended to take a lot out of him, but he assured himself that not even Sanada could recover from that blow.

He was proved so wrong however, as the Sanada poofed into smoke.

"A Bushin!" roared Nartuo, surprised he was tricked with his own move. He quickly tried to get a location on Sanada, but when he did it was too late.

Sanada was finishing some kata, and his sword glowed immensely, lighting the entire stadium.

"Mai Tentou Ketteiteki: Chuushin za Musha!" shouted the warrior, using his blinding speed to charge Naruto, his sword to his hip curving downward. In a second, Sanada struck at Naruto with one vertical slash, the force running through his body and behind him, leaving a giant slice mark on the wall that reached up to the audience. He followed with one more vertical strike, leaving him with his back to Naruto.

Sanada, after all the smoke and dust he kicked up settled down, was seen with a content smile on his face.

"It was a good try, Naruto-sama."

And that's what I heard last before my body fell to the ground, utterly exhausted. After a nice nap, I was told about the end of the fight. By all rights, I should have been torn to pieces, but Sanada-sama later explained he used the back end of his blade, so it should just hurt, not kill.

I'd hate to see him when he's fighting for his life...

Still, it was great to see him in action. Apparently, Tsunade-obachan felt the same way. She said after what the display she experienced, the council would rather have Sanada as an ally rather than an enemy. It was a sure bet: Sanada finally got his wish...

Rather quiet for the rest of that day, and then the evening rolled around. I had tried to find something nice to wear to such an occasion, but knowing my reputation around the village, I still had only bargain basement places to work with. The best I could do was some black slacks with a black dress shirt, and a white vest.

As for much of the day, the party was pretty laid back. Even shinobi know how to relax, and we don't get many chances to do so. Tsunade-obachan tried to make the speech short, but it still went on for a good twenty minutes.

Now, after such a spectacular fight, which came down to the wire, against Sanada-san, you'd think that would be the highlight of my day. Well, something quite magical happened during that little get together.

Yeah, magical...that's a good way to describe it...

As the party proceeded, the shinobi and facility had all moved into their comfortable little groups. The senseis, namely Asuma, Kakashi, Gai, and Kurenai had moved to a corner to talk. Apparently they've been shinobi for a little too long, as their eyes seemed to peer at everyone, as if they were completely paranoid. The young women of the class had also moved into their own niche, consisting of Ino, Hinata, and Sakura. They themselves were looking at the last group, grinning mischievously and snickering amongst themselves.

And the last group was none other that the confused, and probably worried, boys of the class: Naruto, Kiba, Shino, Shikamaru, andChouji.

"What's with those evil eyes?" asked Naruto, gulping while quirking a brow.
"They're on the hunt," explained Kiba, "They're scanning us, looking for weaknesses, and then strike at the one of us most vulnerable. We won't stand a chance against such predators."
"Since when does a woman finding a man become a 'hunt'?" asked Shikamaru.
"How do ya think my mom met my dad?" said Kiba, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Shikamaru sighed, "Right, what was I thinking," he said sarcastically. As he was off in his own little world complaining in his head, the 'predator' made its first.

However, it sure was a weird choice to start off the attack with.

"Kiba..."

Kiba's eyes widened as he peered down slightly to meet the pure opal-white eyes of Hinata Hyuga. Who was there, twiddling her fingers in her usual fashion. Kiba had to avert his eyes a bit, seeing as Hinata decided to dress up, and the dress was a little...revealing.

"Um, Kiba...th-theres a song on I really like and...well, would you?"

Scratching his head, his face fuming red, Kiba decided that Hinata, being the shy one, would take forever to ask, and since he knew the question.

"Sounds great, lets go!" he said to her with a small fangy grin. With that he pulled her to the center.

Naruto looked at the Inuzuka and Hyuga in the center, and mocking smile on his face.

"Well, according to his logic, looks like he's Hinata's mate now," he said with a small chuckle.
"One less headache to worry about if you ask me," said Shikamaru, "maybe I can finally get some peace and quiet."
"Guess again lazy boy."

At the sound of that voice, Shikamaru looked like he just heard the bell toll for him.

He turned to the figure behind him. "Let me guess," he said, "Ino sent you an invite, and you just couldn't wait to try and one-up me."

"Can't get nothing by you," said Temari, her trademark fan nowhere to be found. "Now you're going to shut up and dance with me."
Shikamaru sighed, "and if I refuse."
"Oh Shika, don't you know by now that with me, there are no other alternatives?" she teased the tactical genius, before pulling him violently by the ear.

"And then there were three," exclaimed Shino.

"Heh, I don't think its a contest Shino," replied Naruto, and then turned to where Chouji was.

Well, where Chouji was a few minutes ago.

Naruto turned to see Ino with her arms around Chouji.

"It may not be a contest, but surely I have better qualities than Tubbs over there!" he said rather frustrated.
"And you? You just sit there Shino, why do you just wait for everything to come to you?"

Shino turned to look at Naruto.

"Well, any good shinobi lets his opponent make the first move, and then exploit his mistakes."
"I'm not talking about Shino, you've got plenty of talent and such, but you just sit there. Don't you think of trying to accomplish anything?"
"It's not that I don't think I'm in charge of my own destiny Naruto; it is that I believe that everything that is to happen, will happen in time, and happen for a reason."

Naruto took a minute to take Shino's words in, then looked across the room to see Sakura, sitting there on the wall, alone with her thoughts.

"So, you're saying even if I try my hardest to make something happen, unless it was meant to be..." he said rather sadly.
"This is something you should be discussing with her shouldn't you?"

Naruto quirked his attention back to Shino, who still laid emotionless, even after his glib remark.

"Like I said Naruto, if something is to happen, it will, and for a reason," said Shino as he stood up. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some other appointments to keep."

And with that, Naruto was the last man standing.

I was scared, to be honest. I mean, despite that this wouldn't be anything new to me, despite me taking on certain death a few times in my career, this was scary. Why was it different now? Was it because...I felt like I had a chance? The whole thing with Sasuke had left us both with our share of scars, but the one I felt lingering was that if I tried, it would just be like picking someone up on the rebound, and that didn't seem right to me.

Still, aside from my own pain, my desire to keep her smiling won over.

Sakura was lost in thought, when she saw a hand extended to her, she looked up to see Naruto with a smile.

"Seems we're both left alone, would you like to dance? Gotta warn you though, I have two left feet," he asked her.

Sakura looked genuinely bewildered, staring at the hand like it was a complicated bomb, waiting for her to take the bait and explode.

This was a bomb that she was willing to set off though, as she accepted the hand.

Naruto and Sakura just glided in place for a while, as they just felt that moving together was enough to be defined 'dancing.'

Yes, the gradual joy feeling is good folks, and it hit its spike with what she did next...

Sakura wrapped her arms around Nartuo, and laid her head on shoulder, sighing in comfort. Naruto looked like a man trapped on a hidden camera show, as he head frantically looked around for observers. His face flushed, but after adjusting to this new sensation, gently cradled Sakura for the rest of the dance, for which he was now wishing would last forever.

Maybe mandatory attendance isn't such a bad thing after all...

Mai Tentou Kan: Hanasu za Tsuchi – My 1st Heaven: Divide the Earth

Mai Tentou Judan: Wareme za Kontan – My 5th Heaven: Splitting the Soul

Mai Tentou Ketteiteki: Chuushin za Musha – My Final Heaven: Heart of the Warrior

Oniwaza: Kiyubi Jajjimento: Tame – Demon Technique: Rubi's Judgment: Good

Oniwaza: Kiyubi Jajjimento: Ranmyaku – Demon Technique: Kiyubi's Judgment: Chaos

Soundtrack for this Chapter:

"Somewhere Only We Know" by Keane
"Everything Changes" by Staind
"Grey Street" by Dave Matthews Band
"Price to Play" by Staind
"A Little Less '16 Candles', a Little More 'Touch Me'" by Fall Out Boy
"Fat Lip" by Sum 41
"Welcome to Detroit" by Trick Trick feat. Eminem

There it is, KPAAF until next time.