Arashi sits quietly in the Hokage's office, waiting for the promised meeting. The Hokage is not late, Arashi is early. Arashi fidgets like a bored Naruto.

Finally, Lord Fugaku arrives and sits down. "Wassup?" he asks, sticking his feet on the desk.

"Um…" Arashi is not sure what to say. He was not expecting Lord Fugaku to be so blatantly informal.

"Oh right, sorry," says Lord Fugaku, taking his feet off the desk and sitting up straight. "How may I help?"

Arashi straightens up and says, "I would like permission to travel to each of the Hidden Whirlpool storage vaults to further my research."

"I figured you would ask sooner or later," says Lord Fugaku, all seriousness. "If you are to make a proper study of the Whirlpool storage vaults, you will need to take someone who can get into them with you."

"So... Iruka?"

"Yes," says Lord Fugaku. "I'll make him the squad leader for your bodyguard squad. You will need one of those too."

Arashi thinks about this and asks, "Wouldn't that draw attention to me, though? If I'm surrounded by bodyguards it would be like painting a target on my back."

"You are researching the Hidden Whirlpool," says Lord Fugaku. "There is already a target on your back. Now do you have anyone you would like to be in you bodyguard detail?"

"How about Naruto?" asks Arashi, remembering Naruto's interest in his research. "He's always asking what I've found out about the Hidden Whirlpool."

Lord Fugaku rests his chin on his hands thoughtfully and thinks about that for a longs time. Finally he says, "Well, he is a chunin now, so he needs to get some more experience. Besides, if we don't let him go he'll make all our lives miserable." Lord Fugaku shudders. "I don't know about you, but I like my house the colour it is."

Arashi laughs. "My kitchen is five different colours and the front door is orange," he tells the Hokage. "Not to mention that last time we upset Naruto by not letting him eat ramen for every meal, he painted the word 'ramen' all over our bedroom ceiling in every loud, gaudy, fluorescent colour he could get his hands on."

"That...is the stuff nightmares are made of."

"Yes...Naruto better come on this trip."

"It's a good thing Iruka will be there," sighs Lord Fugaku. "But who else should I assign to the team?"

Arashi, not really caring, says, "You don't have to decide now do you? There will be time before I leave."

"Of course," nods Lord Fugaku. "When will you leave?"

"A week from today, I think," decides Arashi. "That'll give me plenty of time to prepare."

Naruto is busy practicing on his violin when Grandpa bursts through the door with Iruka-nii in tow. "Naruto," asks Grandpa, smiling. "How would you like to come with us on a trip to the Whirlpool Storage Vaults?"

"You're going to the Temples, 'tebayo?" Naruto asks, ceasing his practice in favour of staring at his Grandpa.

"Well I am researching the Whirlpool," says Grandpa. "So the Hokage gave me permission to go to the Temples. I need a team of Shinobi to protect me on the road, though."

"I'm leading the team," says Iruka-nii. "Because I know how to get into the Vaults. We thought you'd like to come, so do you want to be on my team for this mission?"

"YES!" Naruto shouts, sticking his hands, violin and all, into the air. Then Naruto remembers something. "Who else is on the team?"

"Just us so far," says Iruka. "We need to fill two more places."

"Naruto, why did you stop practicing?" demands Grandma, marching into the music room.

"I'm going to the Whirlpool, dattebayo!"

Grandma sighs, an expression of resignation on her face. "So you got permission, then Arashi?"

"Yes, and the Hokage made Iruka team leader for my bodyguard detail," says Grandpa.

"While I am glad you are getting a bodyguard detail," sighs Grandma. "Why does it have to be Naruto and Iruka?"

"Because I can get in the storage vaults and Naruto will kick up a fuss if we don't bring him," says Iruka-nii, grinning.

"So who else are you taking?" asks Pervy Sage, ducking through the doorway. He must've overheard and come to butt in.

"We are still looking for team members," says Iruka-nii stiffly.

"Can I come then?" asks Pervy Sage.

"NO!" Both Kazama and Iruka yell at the same time, glaring at Pervy Sage.

Kazama grabs Pervy Sage's left ear and yells, "You have to stay here and bond with Kimiko!"

"I have things I want to teach Naruto on the trip," says Iruka-nii, grabbing Pervy Sage's right ear. "And I don't want you butting in!"

"Yeah," agrees Naruto, crossing his arms and nodding. "You have to stay here and bond with Kimiko so I can bond with Iruka-nii. You'll just get in the way of our brother bonding."

"Isn't he your uncle?" asks Pervy Sage, sounding genuinely confused.

"He was my brother first, 'tebayo," says Naruto. "And brothers are for life."

"Damn straight," agrees Iruka-nii. "And I'll be choosing my own team members."

Neji and his father sneak through the grass towards the darkened house. Both are dressed completely in black and are wearing black hoods and masks. They blend in perfectly with the midnight darkness around them. Neji hears a slight noise from the house and freezes. His father pauses for a moment before continuing. Neji follows, nervous that they will be spotted. Finally, they reach the target's bedroom window.

Neji and his father exchange nervous looks.

"You do it!" Neji's father mouths, jerking his thumb at the window.

Neji shakes his head furiously and mouths, "You're the adult!"

Neji's father rolls his eyes and reaches up to tap on the window. He barely makes a sound, and tries again, a little louder. Neji and his father crouch on the wall by the window and wait. There is no sound from the second story room their target is in. Neji's father taps again and whispers, "PSST!"

Neji hears the sound of sheets rustling, followed by footsteps, then one of the curtains slides open, followed by the window. A moment later, Naruto leans out, a panda hat on his head and sleep still in his eyes. Then Naruto leans too far and falls out of the window.

Quick as a flash, Neji's father catches Naruto by the ankle and shoves him back inside. Neji's dad then jumps inside himself and pulls Neji after him.

Naruto, seemingly oblivious to nearly falling, rubs his eyes and mumbles, "Wadda ya want, 'tebayo?"

Neji lowers his mask and says, "Naruto, it's me, Neji!"

Naruto blinks at Neji, then squints at him and his father. "What are you doing at my house in the middle of the night?"

"Naruto," says Neji's father, pulling down his own mask. "No one can know we were here, or find out about what we discuss here."

Naruto's face lights up. "A mystery!" he whispers, giggling conspiratorially. "And an awesome secret! Tell me, tell me, tell me! I won't tell anyone, 'tebayo!"

"Your family specializes in fuuinjutsu, right?" asks Neji.

"Yes," nods Naruto, crossing his arms and screwing up his eyes.

"Do you think you or Iruka could remove Neji's Caged Bird Seal?" asks Neji's father.

"Hmmmm…" Naruto thinks hard for a minute. Then he shrugs. "I probably can't, but Iruka-nii might be able to do it."

"Do what?" asks Iruka, materializing out of the shadows.

"How long have you been there?!" exclaims Neji's father, taking a step backwards.

"Somewhere between two suspicious people sneaking up on Naruto's bedroom window and did you really think I wouldn't have the place thoroughly sealed that I know whenever an ant so much as breathes the air in the garden?"

Neji's father gulps. "That's…"

"Overboard?"

"Yeah…"

"No. It is not," says Iruka, crossing his arms. "If you had been enemies and not just a couple of Leaf ninjas looking for assistance and I did not have this place carefully alarmed Naruto could have been kidnapped and be outside the village by now. It happened to his mother, it could easily happen to him."

"Oh."

"So...are we going to help Neji, 'tebayo?" asks Naruto.

"Yes, I think we will," says Iruka.

"So will we figure out the caged Bird Seal before or after the mission with Grandpa?" asks Naruto.

"Neither," says Iruka. "Neji, you are coming with me on a mission outside the Hidden Leaf. During that time I will look into removing the Caged Bird Seal. But be forewarned: it might be irremovable."