This is only my second Naruto fic and my first chaptered one, so please be nice. The story doesn't take place during any particular period during the show, so you can just decide ages and everything for yourself. There will eventually be pairings, but they are still undecided. Enjoy!
I know this goes without saying, but I don't own Naruto.
Chapter 1
The early morning sun smiled down brazenly on the just-awakening town of Konoha. The early risers were already up and about, eating breakfast, reading the morning paper, preparing for another bright summer's day. Others were just now beginning to stir, groaning as they rolled over in bed to escape the intrusive streamers of sunlight peaking through cracks in the curtains.
One of these, a young teenager with hair as yellow as the beams lazily dancing across his face, sat up groggily and gave a huge yawn. "Mornin' already?" he mumbled rubbing his eyes and tossing the covers aside. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and shoved his feet into his slippers, rising and shuffling across the bedroom.
Another few minutes found him seated at a small kitchen table. He was contentedly munching on a bowl of ramen and sipping from an outdated carton of milk when a pair of feet ran up to his apartment and a fist began beating loudly on the door.
"HEY, BOSS, YOU AWAKE YET! HURRY UP AND ANSWER THE DOOR! I'VE GOT A MESSAGE FOR YOU FROM THE HOKAGE!"
Naruto flinched. He heaved himself back to his feet and, still clad in PJ's and nightcap, stumbled to the door. Opening it a crack, he peered around at the younger boy hopping around on the doorstep. "Wha' you wan', Konohamaru?"
"Tsunade-sama sent me," the young ninja stated, pointing at his chest proudly. "She wants to see you in her office as soon as possible."
"Why?"
"Beats me. But you're not the only one. I still gotta bunch more people to tell. See ya later, Boss!" With a final wink and a wave, Konohamaru was off again.
Naruto perked up. "Great! I bet it's gonna be some ultra-cool mission if it's so important." Within just a few minutes he was washed, dressed, and heading out the door.
Humming happily to himself, Naruto jogged down the buzzing streets towards the Hokage's headquarters. He was nearly there when a familiar blue-haired kunoichi (sp?) heading in the same direction caught his attention. "Hey, Hinata!" Naruto called as he sped up to catch her.
The Hyuuga girl turned. The ever-present rosy blush stained her cheeks when she saw who had flagged her down. "Oh, Naruto-kun. Hi," she said shyly.
"Where ya going?" Naruto asked, trotting up beside her.
"I was told the Hokage wanted to see me."
"You too, huh? Konohamaru said there were some others. What do you think it's about?"
"I…I don't know," Hinata stuttered. Her cheeks had gone redder when Naruto said he had been summoned as well. She hoped they would be sent on a mission together.
"Yeah, yeah," Naruto continued, barely pausing to let Hinata answer his question, "we're supposed to get there as quickly as possible, so its got to be important. I hope it's some super-awesome mission. I haven't been on one in forever. I don't know why; you'd think the greatest ninja in the village would be receiving loads of missions! Maybe they just…" And he was off on another confident ramble. Hinata just smiled and let him talk.
111
"Why do we have to wait for Naruto and Hinata to get here?" Shikamaru asked the Hokage tiredly. "We can go ahead and start and then just fill them in when they get here."
Tsunade shook her head irritatedly. "I want to tell you all at the same time. They should be here any minute."
Shikamaru sighed heavily and tipped his chair back, staring idly at the ceiling. "This is such a waste of time," he muttered.
All the rookies, apart from the belated Naruto and Hinata, and Gai's team of Rock Lee, Neji, and TenTen were gathered in the Hokage's office. Most were still blinking and yawning, having rushed out of the house before fully awake. Tsunade surveyed the group trying to hide a smile. They would definitely be grateful of the news she was about to tell them.
"Hey guys! Sorry we're late. What's going on?" Everyone was jerked out of their sleepy stupor by Naruto's eccentric shout. The young ninja dashed into the room a second later, Hinata puffing behind him. He paused in the doorway and looked around. "Hey now, why're there so many people here? What're we doing, Hokage?"
"Sit down and shut up and we'll find out," Sakura snapped. "We've been waiting for you long enough."
"OK, then," Tsunade said as she rose from her desk and faced the room, "now that we're all here. The twelve of you have all been working very hard lately…"
"Tell me about it," Shikamaru mumbled.
"…and all your sensei's tell me your growth in the last few months has been very impressive. Therefore, I would like to treat you all to a little break."
"BREAK!" Naruto shouted, leaping up from his chair. "I can't take a BREAK! There's no time. I have to be training. I can't be slacking off if I want…to be…Hokage…" He cleared his throat and sat back down as he received ten murderous glares (that'd be everyone except Hinata).
Ino turned back to Tsunade and smiled sweetly. "A break would be lovely. Just a few days to relax at home, not have to worry about any missions."
"Actually," Tsunade interrupted, raising a hand, "it will be two weeks and you won't be here."
"Not here?" Rock Lee asked. "Where will we be then?"
Tsunade smiled. "I've rented you three rooms at a chalet in the mountains. You may have heard of it. It's called Yamashiro Retreat." She paused expectantly and was rewarded with a chorus of surprised gasps. The girls all squeaked in excitement.
"Yamashiro Retreat!" Sakura squealed. "That's, like, the nicest lodge in the entire Land of Fire! Hot springs, horseback riding, hiking, a beautiful, romantic view." She looked dreamily at Sasuke, as usual the only one unmoved by the Hokage's unexpected declaration. He pointedly ignored the flirtatious girl's gaze.
Even Naruto seemed excited now. "And there's plenty of room up there to train!"
"Well, you'll be doing that on your own," Kiba told him. "I for one would enjoy a few weeks of relaxation." Akamaru barked in agreement.
Tsunade allowed them to chatter for a few more minutes before holding up a hand for silence. "You'll have today to pack. Meet at the village gates at seven tomorrow morning. There will be carriages waiting for you there. Once you arrive at Yamashiro, you're free to do what you want. All the services are open to you. And rooming arrangements will be your choice as well."
"Hey, Tsunade, gotta question," Naruto broke in, waving his arm to get her attention. "Can we invite anyone else?"
Tsunade shrugged. "We're paying per room, not per person. If you don't mind a few extra people, than go ahead."
"All right!"
"And who exactly is it you plan on inviting?" Sakura asked Naruto uncertainly. (Bet you can never guess…note the sarcasm)
111
It was another unbearable hot day in the village of Suna. Noon had already passed and the temperature was continuing to rise. And tempers were rising with it.
It was the latter that had driven Kankurou out into the scorching sun. He was currently lounging around under the overhanging eaves of the house he shared with his siblings. The meager shade offered little comfort from the pulsing heat of the sun. It would have been much more comfortable inside. But Gaara was currently in a very irritable mood and Temari was having dinner preparation trouble in the kitchen. So Kankurou figured it was in his best interests to stay out of their way for now.
The puppeteer had shed his usual black jumpsuit (I don't get how he can stand to where that thing in the desert) in favor of a pair of khaki shorts and white T-shirt; much more suitable for the midsummer weather. The face paint and hood were missing as well, the teen's spiky brown hair free and slightly dampened with sweat. He sat with his back against the sun-warmed wall, legs crossed, eyes closed, dozing.
A moment later he was awakened as his sharpened senses warned him of something approaching. He opened his eyes and stretched as a messenger hawk alighted before him. Kankurou rubbed his eyes then studied the bird. "From Konoha?" he muttered under his breath when he recognized the symbol on the bird's harness. He reached over and removed a scroll from the tube on its back. The hawk didn't depart. So an answer was expected. Unrolling the message, Kankurou laid the parchment on his lap and read:
Gaara, Kankurou, and Temari,
Hey, guys, how're you doing? It's been awhile. Anyway, I've got an invite for you. The Hokage's just given a bunch of us over here a break from ninja duties. Two weeks at Yamashiro Retreat! You three are welcome to come, free of expense. We're leaving here tomorrow morning. Let me know if we should plan to meet you there. Later!
Naruto
"Hmm," Kankurou murmured, pulling himself to his feet. The hawk fluttered to his shoulder as he headed towards the front door. The air inside was refreshingly cool and dim after the glaring outdoors.
"Temari! Gaara! Message from Konoha!" Kankurou shouted as he deposited the hawk on a hat stand and plopped down on a couch in the living room. Temari appeared out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel.
"There's nothing wrong is there?" she asked, sitting next to her brother. He shook his head and handed her the message. She read through it and yelped in excitement. "Yamashiro Retreat!"
"What is that, exactly?" Kankurou asked.
Temari gaped at him then turned to Gaara who had just materialized out of the dark hallway and was leaning against the wall nearby. He shrugged.
"Neither of you have ever heard of Yamashiro? Holy crap, you two, it's only like the grandest and most expensive lodge around."
"Girl stuff," Kankurou shot at her, taking the letter back and idly folding it into a paper airplane. Upon completion, he flew it across the room to Gaara who deftly snatched it out of the air and read it. "We wouldn't know."
Temari ignored him, already off in her own little fantasy. "A chance to stay there for two weeks. And all costs paid! We've so got to go." Kankurou glanced at his younger brother who nodded.
"Why not? Nothing to do around here right now anyways."
Kankurou grinned and leapt to his feet. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's get packing!"
111
So there's chapter one. I still think the whole giving all the main characters a break and sending them on an all-expense paid vacation to some springs or hotel or whatever is a very unlikely occurrence. But that whole plot line seems to be pretty popular now, so what the heck. Let me know what you all think.
