Konohamaru didn't know what to expect when he took his friends to Naruto's house, but it certainly wasn't three Rain ninjas, one of whom is screaming hysterically like a little girl. Naruto is floating just above the ground, staring at the screaming ninja in astonishment.
"Hey, Boss!" calls Konohamaru. "I have accomplished your mission!"
"What did you want us for, anyway?" asks Moegi, pushing open Naruto's front gate and heading to where Naruto is floating beside the three Rain ninjas, Jiraiya and a girl Konohamaru's age.
Konohamaru follows Moegi with Udon trailing along behind.
"Oh, hey, guys!" says Naruto. "You're right on time!, 'tebayo!"
"Naruto, what are you up to?" asks Jiraiya.
"Oh, I just invited some kids over," says Naruto cheerfully. "Do you wanna come and play with us, Kimiko?"
Konohamaru grins at the strange girl. "We're gonna play at ninjas!"
The girls grins. "Okay," she whispers. "I like ninjas." The girl jumps down from her seat on the front step and walks over to Naruto.
"Let's go then!" says Naruto, grabbing the girl under the arms and flying off a short way. "Follow me!"
"OI!" Yells Jiraiya. "Make sure you feed Kimiko!"
Konohamaru and his gang run after Naruto.
Deputy Kinoko does not have time for this. She has paperwork to file, kids to train and rounds to make. Seriously, whatever the Chief is summoning her for better be REALLY, REALLY important. Kinoko enters the Chief's office, and slams the door with her foot. "What do you want?" she demands.
"Deputy Inspector Kinoko," says Fugaku. "We need to discuss the security arrangements for the Fifth Hokage's inauguration. It's on Friday."
"Seriously?" grumbles Kinoko. She needs some coffee. And some chocolate. And about ten litres of cranberry juice and a couple of pain killers. "There's gonna be a Fifth? Who is it?"
"Oh, that's a secret," says the Chief, grinning. "Lord Third wants to prank the village, and I think this will get some nifty reactions."
"Really?" says Deputy Kinoko. "So what do you want me to do?"
"I want you to be the new Chief of Police and head of village security," says the Chief, seriously.
"Eh? What are you going to do?"
"Oh, I'm the Fifth Hokage."
"You. Are. Joking."
"No, I'm not," says the Chief, holding out his badge. "This is yours, starting Friday. That is, if you accept."
"You want me to be the one who reigns in the crazy around here?" says Kinoko, skeptically. "I must be crazy, but HELL YES! GIVE ME ALL YOUR PAPERWORK!"
"You are welcome to it," says the Chief. "I'm getting a new set on Friday anyway."
"BWAHAHAHA!" Naruto laughs evilly. "There is no way you can defeat me and rescue the princess, 'tbayo!" he says, standing between Kimiko and the Konohamaru trio.
"We will defeat you, fiend, kore!" yells Konohamaru. "Fear not, beautiful princess, we will save you from the evil Naruto!"
Kimiko, who is tied to a tree and gagged, does not respond beyond letting out a muffled squeal.
"Die, fiend!" yells Moegi, charging at Naruto. The other two members of the Konohamaru trio jump on Naruto, trying to knock him down.
"JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL!" roars Udon, pummeling Naruto's chest with his fists.
Kakashi sensei appears in the tree above Kimiko and says, "Naruto, the Hokage wants you in his office."
"You have won this time, Konohamaru Trio," says Naruto, shaking them off and jumping up beside Kakashi sensei. "But I will be back, dattebayo!" Naruto shunshins away, followed closely by Kakashi sensei.
When they arrive at the Hokage's office and enter through the window, Naruto sees Shikamaru, Asuma sensei, Shino, Kurenai sensei and Kabuto already there. The Hokage smiles at Naruto. "Good, you are here. Now stand beside Shino and we can begin."
Naruto grins at Shino and stands beside him.
"Good, now that the four of you are assembled," says Grandpa Third. "We can begin. Out of all the contestants who made it to the final round the four of you qualify for the rank of Chunin. You, Shikamaru, showed excellent analytical thinking and good tactic. You, Kabuto, showed a level head and skills already at jounin level. You, Shino, showed the ability to fight well despite personal feelings and the wisdom to withdraw when necessary, along with great skill in your chosen form of combat. You, Naruto, have an insane amount of strength, a strange way of making friends with your enemies, and I really don't want to subject the chunin exams to you again, so you're getting promoted now. Any questions?"
"Can my chunin vest be orange?" asks Naruto.
"I will have to confer with the council," says Grandpa Hokage, looking like his face is about to pop. "That is...unorthodox."
"What does confer mean?" asks Naruto. He loves learning new words!
"It means we have to have a long, boring meeting."
"Oh." says Naruto, thoughtfully. "How can a meeting about the colour orange be boring, though?"
"I am sure it won't be," says Grandpa Hokage. "Meetings involving you are never dull, Naruto."
"You make it sound like that's a bad thing," says Kakashi sensei, cheerfully.
"Sometimes it is," says Grandpa Hokage. "But come Friday, it won't be my problem anymore. I might as well tell you all while you are here: I have selected the Fifth Hokage. The inauguration ceremony will be on Friday, and I expect you all to attend. The official announcement will be made this afternoon. You are all dismissed."
"I'M A CHUNIN!" Naruto yells, running full-tilt through the front gate and straight into Jiraiya. "OUCH!" Naruto falls over backwards with a plop.
"Watch where you're going, brat!" yells Jiraiya.
"Watch where you're standing, Pervy Sage!" yells Naruto.
"Stop it, you two!" says Kazama, banging their heads together. She is not amused. At all. "Naruto, where is Kimiko?"
"She's playing with Konohamaru and his friends, 'tebayo," Naruto explains. "I'll find them after I've told Iruka-nii I'm a chunin now! Bye, 'tebayo!" Naruto flies off, his promotion paper and chunin vest in hand.
Kazama sighs. "What are we going to do with that boy?" she asks no one in particular, shaking her head.
"He made chunin on his first try," Jiraiya says, gobsmacked.
Kazama glares at Jiraiya. She wants to glare at someone, and Jiraiya happens to be nearby. "I blame you, filling his head with bravado!"
"Hey, I trained him, I didn't fill his head with bravado!" says Jiraiya, crossing his arms indignantly. "But at least there is something in his head, after all…"
"Did. You. Just. Mock. My. Grand. Son." Kazama knows she looks like a monster, but she does not care.
Jiraiya screams in terror.
"So what shall we play now?" asks Konohamaru, after Naruto has left. Udon and Moegi finish untying Kimiko and shrug.
"How about going back to class?" asks Uncle Iruka.
Kimiko wonders if the other three noticed him arrive shortly after Kakashi.
"Nah," says Konohamaru, not realizing who it is. "Let's play at being ninjas some more!"
"Or you could get your butts back to class," says Uncle Iruka, glaring at the back of Konohamaru's head.
Kimiko grins. "Is it a ninja class?" she whispers.
"Yes it is," says Uncle Iruka, conversationally.
Udon and Moegi are clinging to each other, their faces drained of colour. Konohamaru realizes who is standing behind him and turns around slowly, an expression of panic taking over his face.
"Can I come too?" whispers Kimiko.
"Of course you can," says Uncle Iruka. "I can't be bothered taking you home anyway. Let's go." He gestures to all four kids and turns to walk away.
Kimiko runs up beside him but the other three don't move.
Uncle Iruka says cheerfully, "You three are coming, aren't you?"
"Yes!" the Konohamaru Trio yells, sounding really scared. But why, Kimiko wonders, would they be scared of Uncle Iruka? He's so nice!