Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters in the story line; however, the original characters in this fic are mine.
A/N: This story is set after the show ended, but Sasuke still hasn't been found, so in the beginning that is the main goal of the Rookie 9. You'll find out later on why he hasn't been found.
The Shogukane
During lunchtime, Naruto and Sakura were thinking up a new way in which to find their fallen comrade, Sasuke.
"Well, I was thinking we could use some other type of chi or scent seeker. Unless you want to stink up that plan again Naruto!" said Sakura.
"Sakura are you still mad about that? I said it was an accident," said the aforementioned Naruto.
"Well as a matter of fact I am! You passed up our only chance to find Sasuke! And now we're stuck here trying to think up a new plan to look for him again!"
"I said I was sorry!" Naruto yelled.
At that same moment, Naruto felt something fall on his head. He looks up to see a flying squirrel coming straight for him. The squirrel landed on top of Naruto's head. It then started moving around his head as if it was looking for something. Naruto was wildly jumping around and yelling at the squirrel to get off of him.
The squirrel finally found that something; an acorn, and got off Naruto. However as it was about to leave it saw Sasuke's headband and decided to use it as a makeshift bag for the other acorns stuffed in its mouth. Naruto and Sakura were really miffed about that.
"Hey give that back you.", both Naruto and Sakura said, but the squirrel just flew away in the direction of the Hokage sanctuary.
"Get back here!" Naruto yelled
Meanwhile, there was a meeting between the 5 Hokage, the Jounin, and the clans of Konoha. They too were discussing the topic of finding Sasuke; but for different reasons.
"The boy must be punished for his betrayal to this village." Exclaimed one clan leader.
"Agreed," said many others.
"Gentlemen please," the 5 Hokage said, "We should first focus on finding Uchiha Sasuke."
At that exact moment, Naruto barged into the office holding the unnamed squirrel.
"Now I've got you. Give back Sasuke's headband now!"
"Naruto, what is the meaning of this?" cried out Kakashi.
However, at the same time, Naruto just noticed where he was and lost his grip on the squirrel. It then flew to the 5 Hokage.
"Hey! See what you made me do Kakashi-sensei.," exclaimed Naruto.
"This is not good," said the Hokage.
"What is it?"
"The Shogukane are coming"
"The what?"
"You don't need to know that now Naruto. Oh and here's Sasuke's band back."
"Gee, thanks Tsunade-sama. But really, who are-"
"Now Naruto, you shouldn't be asking such things now; shouldn't you be off on a mission with the Frog Hermit?" asked Iruka.
"Mission? What mission?"
"Yes, I very much recall him saying he had to make some important observations." Kakashi commented.
"Gah, that's no mission! The old man's just at the bath house peeping at-"
"Do not even dare tarnish the good name of Jaraiya-sunnin.," said one Jounin.
"But-" Naruto tried to protest.
"No buts." Everyone in the room said while giving him the evil eye. They then proceeded to kick him out of the office.
"Stupid Jounin! I was just asking a question!" exclaimed Naruto.
Back in the office…
"The Shogukane… what are they going to do here?"
"They say they're in search of the Fourth One."
"So they believe the Fourth One is in our village? But how, I thought they had already found him." asked Iruka.
"Apparently not. It says here that that was only a front to dissuade their enemies from hunting them."
"Do they have any suspicions of the Fourth One might be?" asked one clan member.
"Yes and no. They know it is someone from the Rookie 9; however, they don't know who it is. They have also asked for the Rookie 9 to come and escort them to the village."
"But why the Rookie 9? The ANBU should go and escort them here.," asked one concerned clansman.
"I know, but they want to get close to the 9; know how they operate in order to discern who the Fourth One is."
"Well yes, but they have yet to become strong enough to protect the Shogukane." Kakashi said.
"I know, but we must fulfill this request in order to find the Fourth One. Assemble the Rookie 9 tomorrow; they will be informed of their mission and carry it out the day after. However, you Jounin will be there to accompany them on their mission." Replied the 5 Hokage.
The Next Day…
"Those are the requirements set in. Each group will be accompanied by their Jounin master and will go through different paths to meet up at the Clearing of the Equals (made up). Understand?"
"Hai"
"Good, tomorrow you will set out and go your directed paths. Make sure nothing happens to our visitors. That will be all for today."
One by one the Rookie 9 filed out of the Assembly Room.
"Do you think you did correct in not telling them who they have to protect Tsunade?"asked Jaraiya, Naruto's new sensei.
"I don't know. We'll just have to wait and see what happens." answered the 5 Hokage.
Meanwhile, the Rookie 9 were in the yard discussing their mission.
"Oh great, now we have to go and protect some snobs from nothing; unlike them, I have better things to do." said Shikamaru.
"Like what? Sit on your butt the whole day?" replied his group mate Ino.
"As a matter of fact, yes, you loud mouthed witch."
"What'd you say!" said Ino suddenly standing a holding up a fist as of to punch Shikamaru.
"Ahem, I suggest we get back to the conversation at hand", said Shino of Group 8.
"Yeah, like what's up with those demands of theirs? We can't wear our headbands, we can't wear the clothes we usually wear, I have to hide our weapons so good that even we don't know where they are, and the list goes on! I mean what's up with these guys!", exclaimed Shino's group mate, Kiba.
"Um… Kiba-kun, I believe those demands are there to protect our identities as ninjas from the enemies of those we have to protect.", replied Hinata the last member of Group 8.
"Well yeah, but our more important here is to find Sasuke. The war with the Sound is over but we still can't find him anywhere!", exclaimed Sakura.
"Yes, that too is a perplexing problem we must find a solution to."
"Well, Tsunade-sama did say the visitors were powerful ninja. Maybe when we bring them to the village we can ask for their help in finding Sasuke.", responded Shikamaru.
"Hey, that's not a bad idea. Since we saved their butts, they owe us big time. Let's do it!", said an overexcited Naruto.
"We haven't even left the village yet you idiot." said Chouji.
However, there was no getting to Naruto since he already had his mind set on Shikamaru's plan. Unfortunately, his stomach had other ideas.
"Hey, anyone want to go out to lunch?", Naruto asked.
Apparently, they were hungry too. Of course, they went to Naruto's favorite ramen shop, Ichiraku ramen. Hinata on the other hand, had to go to the back of the shop to do her job, which was to cook ramen.
"Man, these ramen are awesome! Did you actually cook it Ichiraku?"
"You can thank our cook; Hinata come on out!"
She came out from the back of the restaurant, to suddenly be on the receiving end of a slap on the back from Ichiraku.
"Hinata, this tastes awesome. More ramen please!"
"Y-yes. Do any of you want something else?
"Yeah, more soy sauce and 2 more plates of ramen.", replied Chouji.
Everyone else declined her offer. After Hinata went back to work, both Kiba and Shino were deep in thought.
"Hey, what's wrong you two?", asked Sakura.
"We worry about her, that's all."
"Yeah, after her dad disowned her we offered a whole bunch of times that she could move in with one of us and our family, but she said no. Akamaru even said he'd be good if she came, and she still said no.", replied Kiba.
"Don't worry you guys, Hinata knows what she's doing.", Ino said, trying to comfort them. "I mean she does seem to be happy."
"Seeming and being are two different things, Ino.", said Shikamaru.
"Hmm… Hey Hinata, are you happy!", yelled Naruto as if she could hear him.
"Naruto, what the heck do you think you're doing?", exclaimed Sakura as she jumped on him trying to cover his mouth.
Unfortunately, Hinata walked back in the shop at that moment. "Umm…"
"Huh? Oh Hinata, you're back! I'll just go back to where I was sitting, don't worry I know where it is. Hahaha", Sakura said; laughing awkwardly all the way to her seat.
"Um…w-what did y-you ask m-me, Naruto-kun?"
"Oh, right; Hinata, are you happy?"
"Ugh, just forget about him Hinata. You know he's an idiot.", replied Kiba.
"Shut Up! Hinata, are you or aren't you happy? I need to know." At that moment, Naruto was completely in front of Hinata's face, forgetting all about the unwritten rules of personal space.
"Oh, um, o-of course I'm happy N-naruto-kun. But w-where does th-the question c-come from?"
"Aah, I just wanted to know, but now that I know that you're happy, I'm happy too."
After Naruto said that Hinata got very red in the face and was horribly trying to get back her composure.
"Wow, I'm actually full." Chouji said, instantly dissolving the sort of awkward situation.
"Well, that's a first.", replied Ino.
"Hinata, we must prepare for the upcoming mission. When can you get off work?" asked Shino, completely ignoring Chouji's icebreaker.
"Um… I think at 3 in the afternoon."
"Okay, me, Akamaru, and Shino will pick you up at 3." said Kiba.
"Ino, Chouji; we should go as well and come up with a plan to get through Mist Wood without having to fight other ninja in the area.
"Right."
"Okay, we'll see you later guys, Forehead Girl."
"What'd you say!" exclaimed Sakura. Unfortunately for her, Ino was already beyond hearing distance. Instantly changing moods, she asked Naruto if he was ready to leave yet.
"Nah, I'll meet up with you later Sakura."
"Ugh, do you ever stop eating ramen Naruto?" Sakura asked while on her way out.
"Hey Hinata, can I get 5 more bowls of ramen, please?"
"Sure, Naruto-kun"
While going into the kitchen, Hinata suddenly felt something very powerful eat away at her. She didn't know what it was, but it was giving her a massive headache. She crouched down to the floor trying to suppress the pain.
"Hey Hinata are you okay?"
"I-I-I don't kn-kn-know."
The pain soon became too much for her to handle and she screamed at the top of her lungs, trying to release that pain. Suddenly, all the water in the shop started to surge upward and move wildly all around the shop almost of its own will until Hinata fainted and fell on the floor.
"Hinata!"