Naruto had fallen asleep with Hermione still protectively wrapped in the warm embrace they shared on the train. Looking down at her sandy blonde hair he decided that he could get use to this, having a friend who needed his avid protection. He had known for a while he might have to do things alone but this made things a little easier.

The train came to a screeching halt as the breaks locked up causing the cabin he and Sasuke shared with the girls to lurch. Surprisingly Hermione didn't stir which caused Naruto to smirk. Naruto created two shadow clones to carry their entire stuff out side while he carried Hermione, placing her inside the same carriage as Sasuke and Ginny careful not to disturb her.

"Meet me out side we need to talk with the others about assignments." Naruto said to Sasuke who walked out and stood with the other ninjas

"I know Sasuke is the Hokage in training but I am the leader of this mission because I am he strongest and the most battle tested besides my two teammates, are there any objections?" Naruto asked

"What about me Uzumaki I am as battle tested as you are, and I am just as capable of leading, I am the Kazakage." Garaa replied a little edge to his voice

"I know but since the exams were I beat you, I have been in constant conflict with my team we have killed more and will continue to kill more ninjas or wizards then you have, besides you look like you have gained some weight becoming soft are we?" Naruto ribbed "Garaa and Hinata you are with Harry, Sasuke you are with Ginny, I am going with Hermione, Lee and Neji you are with my cousin and Rebecca and Sakura you are with Ron, those are your assignments now go." Naruto added before going back to his own carriage

Sasuke sat next to Ginny who was also asleep, sensing some one close to her Ginny shifted and buried her face into Sasuke's chest like a pillow, Sasuke sighed quietly as he studied Ginny's red hair the shimmered under the moon light that bathed the interior of the carriage, it was like a brightly burning fire Jutsu, elegant and bright but fierce all at the same time.

Naruto looked at his friend and understood exactly what his friend was thinking, Sasuke had called few, friend in his life, even more even fewer he let touch him and yet this girl was nestled in the crook of his arm which he adjusted for her. Naruto had been the only to accept him for his full worth upon his return to the village. Sasuke had been okay with that, but he had almost screwed it up when Sakura had cornered him and threw herself at him. The others merely tolerated him while Sakura, Garaa, and Hinata accepted him with a bit of weary trust. He quietly made a note not to worry about it, but to accept this girl's offer of a no strings attached friendship and he was glad.

Sakura climbed into the carriage that housed Garaa, Hinata, Harry and Ron, Ron couldn't help but frown a bit with the introduction of Naruto it seemed the golden trio was breaking up although he didn't mind himself all that much because with the new kids it seemed life could be interesting. Ron looked at the pink haired Ninja and smiled, she was truly pretty, with two beautiful green gems for eyes, he was smitten, and not that he would ever tell her that.

"What's wrong Ron something caught your eye, while you smiling so much over there?" Harry asked with his own smile

"Bloody Hell Harry, shod off, are you trying to be funny or what, just sit there and be quiet." Ron replied still red from Harry's comment, which caused Hinata to giggle and Garaa to raise an eyebrow

"Ron-kun why are you so red, do you have a fever?" Sakura asked reaching up and touching his forehead causing him to go even redder

"So Harry-kun did you really defeat Voldemort as a baby like we have read?" Hinata barely whispered

"First you all should drop the Kun or any other suffixes when you are in England people will look at you like your weird, and it was my mom's love that defeated him, Garaa what's that symbol over your eye mean?" Harry replied and asked

"It is the Kenji for Love, how fitting it is how Voldemort was defeated, it sounds a little Uzumakish." Garaa said as Hinata laughed with Sakura

"Why is that so funny?" Ron asked dazed

"Because Naruto is a firm believer, people are their strongest when protect those you love, and it seems your mom proves that, that is why he is so strong he naturally loves everyone." Hinata replied looking at Sakura and then Garaa

"He can't love everyone that isn't possible is it?" Harry and Ron exclaimed together

"Don't let Naruto hear you say that, it would be slapping him in the face, Naruto gave up his dream to be Hokage so that he could protect everyone, and Naruto has a natural love for all life." Sakura said quietly

Harry and Ron were amazed that such a boy existed it seemed impossible for him to give so much of himself but he seemed willing to do so. To Harry it also meant he wouldn't have to do this alone which meant he would have friends and he seemed to like that idea.

Rebecca and Neville were enjoying a nice ride with Neji and Lee, Neville was also glad that his cousin had chosen these two ninjas to go with him. He wouldn't forgive himself if something happened to Rebecca.

"I see you have become a bit more muscular then before your vacation, you must have done some intense work out." Rebecca said looking at Neville causing Neji to smile knowingly, Neville's ears turned red with embarrassment, he had never had a girl compliment him about his physique it was nice, nicer was the fact that it had been Rebecca which gave him hope for her liking him.

"Yeah Naruto trained me for two weeks in the forest out side my house, making me stronger so that I can protect those precious to me." Neville replied causing Lee to smirk at the next question

"Neville am I one of your precious people?" Rebecca asked in a sweet voice

Neville thought about it for a few minutes before answering the question, precious just wasn't enough of a word to describe what she was to him, but how does he tell her that "No" this caused Lee and Neji to slap their foreheads and Rebecca to start to tear up, rushing to fix it he spills everything "The word doesn't encompass what you mean to me, I mean it, when I think about you I have a barrage of words hit me; Beautiful, caring, smart, funny, great to be around, breath taking, when you walk into a room with me my world stops. To say you're my precious person wouldn't be doing you justice, you are my heart, the reason for me to wake up and breathe." Neville finished red with embarrassment for saying so much with out meaning to 'Smooth Neville real Smooth' Lee and Neji thought together.

"Rebecca I know you're a year ahead of me and in a different house but I was wondering if you would be my girlfriend?" Neville asked figuring there was no reason to not ask her he had already told her how he felt

"Are you sure?" she asked as Neji and Lee's jaw hit the ground from the shock of the question, Neville smiled shyly and nodded hid head "Oh Neville I would love to, that's for sure I wanted to date you last year but I decided to let you come to me." Rebecca finished as the carriage lurched and stopped

Naruto's eyes were forced to adjust to the light of a brilliantly lit dock that had boats that waited for their arrival to take them across the lake. Naruto smiled because he ha a different idea, Sasuke picked up on his smile and figured what he had in mine when he looked from the girls to the lake and then back.

Hagrid was anxious to meet the ninjas who Dumbledore had said was accompanying Harry and friends. His eyes were amazed when he watched the shirtless blonde come out of the carriage first and start lugging Hermione's and his luggage over to a boat.

"Hey their ninja, I am Hagrid Dumbledore sent me to pick up with the boat and take you across." The giant said as Naruto smiled and replied

"Don't worry me and Sasuke will be walking to the castle and the girls with us, it will be better that way." Naruto explained as he finished loading their stuff

Walking over he scooped a confused Hermione off her feet and took a step out on to the water followed by Sasuke who scooped Ginny up and started to walk across the water. Hermione and Ginny both started to cling to the boys they didn't want to get wet, but the boys showed no sign of sinking. Hermione looked up at the stars and decided she liked the feeling of Naruto's arms as they slipped in to the mist that covered the lake.