A/N: So just a heads up on why there is a mid-arc recap for the first time: it's because this is one of our longer arcs, so we decided to do a mini recap to remind you of the more important points. ~Ignis Dracorex.
Mid-Arc Recap:
The important points in the arc so far:
Arashi is researching the Hidden Whirlpool with Iruka, Naruto, Neji and Shisui as his bodyguards.
The entire team, Arashi included, joined The Order of Steve, a group of hippies who serve Steve the Shinigami.
The leader of the Order of Steve, Tsunade's Great Uncle Pantsu, joined the Research Team with his great-granddaughter Burifu.
Naruto accidentally became the Leader of the Order of Jashin, after becoming a Master of Fuuinjutsu.
Sasuke is healed enough to sit up.
Eizo is too adorable for an OC.
Iruka, Pantsu and Naruto removed the Caged Bird Seal from Neji.
Neji and Shisui get the Hidden Bird Seal: the seal that the Caged Bird Seal is based on.
21 out of 40 weeks left before Itachi ejects the tiny human from her body, and Fugaku is still pissed at Shisui.
Tenten summoned her first shinigami, only to learn that Joe is still thoroughly grounded...for some reason.
Madoka is getting better at Tsunade's training.
That's about it for now, on with the chapter.
Seven days after Naruto, Iruka and Pantsu removed Neji's seal, team Iruka arrives in the Land of Waves. It took Arashi six of those days to wrap up his research, and now it is time to visit the ruins of the Hidden Whirlpool and the Temple of Joe.
Right after they have a beach party in the Land of Waves.
"Grandpa," Naruto says excitedly, pointing at the big bridge from the mainland to the Land of Waves. "That's the bridge that me and Kakashi sensei and Madoka and Sasuke guarded, 'tebayo. It's cool, eh?"
"The Great Naruto Bridge," Neji reads the plaque above the bridge. "You never said the bridge is named after you, Naruto."
"THE BRIDGE IS NAMED AFTER ME?! THAT'S AWESOME, DATTEBAYO!" Naruto yells, jumping up and down with excitement. Sparky, who was perched on Naruto's shoulder, flies up into the air and hovers until Naruto clams down. "Grandpa, Iruka-nii, did you see? The bridge is named after me!"
"That's great, Naruto," says Iruka, trying not to laugh.
Arashi grins and pats Naruto on the head. "Good for you," he says affectionately. "Now I really want to meet this bridge builder."
The group, with Burifu running around them in circles, set out across the bridge. They get about half way before a mist surrounds them and a menacing voice thunders, "Who's that crossing over MY bridge?"
"Naruto Uzumaki!" declares Naruto. "...and friends."
The mist vanishes, revealing a scary looking shinobi with bandages covering the lower half of his face. He has a giant sword strapped to his back and is wearing a black cloak decorated with red and white clouds. "Hey brat!" says the shinobi.
"Zabuza!" Naruto shouts, grinning. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm hunting down the rest of Gato's men," explains Zabuza. "And I recruited a rival for Haku. Haku stayed behind at Akatsuki headquarters, though. SUIGETSU!" Zabuza yells the name over his shoulder.
A skinny teenager with purple eyes and pointy teeth appears on the bridge. He grins a crooked grin and says, "Yes, Zabuza sensei?"
"This is Naruto Uzumaki and some other random guys," says Zabuza. "Naruto, this is my new sidekick Suigetsu. He appeared a few weeks ago wanting my sword, but I told him he can't have it. Haku said she'd like a rival, and can we keep him. So we kept him. Suigetsu, escort Naruto and the rest of these randoms to Tazuna's house."
"Yes sensei, can I have your sword yet, sensei?" says Suigetsu, saluting.
"Hurry up and no."
Burifu walks right up to Zabuza and stares up at him, her eyes wide. "How come you have bandages on your face?" she asks. "Did you hurt your talking-muscles?"
"No, I wear it to look scarier," says Zabuza. "Who is this kid?" he asks Naruto.
"She's my sixth cousin, or something, 'tebayo," says Naruto. "See ya, Zabuza!" Naruto runs past Zabuza yelling, "I'm going to see Inari, 'tebayo!" over his shoulder. Sparky flies along beside Naruto, and does not seem too happy about being dragged around.
When Naruto and Sparky arrive at Inari's house, Inari is playing at being a ninja. He will never admit that to Naruto, so Inari hides his toy kunai under his bed and runs out to meet Naruto. "Naruto!" he yells, bursting out the door.
"Hey Inari!" Naruto grins, holding up his hand for a high five.
Inari attempts to high-five Naruto, but misses completely. They try again, but miss. Suigetsu appears, leading a group of people, as Naruto and Inari try for the third time.
"Yo, kids!" says Suigetsu. "That's not how you high-five."
Naruto turns and grins at Suigetsu. "I know, we just keep missing. Guys, this is Inari. Inari, this is my Grandpa, my Uncle Uruka-niisan, my new bff Neji, my pranking buddy Shisui, Gramps Pantsu and his Great Granddaughter Burifu."
"Hi," says Inari, feeling a bit shy.
Inari's Mum emerges from the house and says, "Welcome, everyone! I'm glad you made it safely. Come inside so we can get acquainted while we wait for my father."
Inari, Neji and Naruto busily build a sand castle while Burifu digs a trench around them and the castle. About an hour ago, Iruka made like his last name and jumped into the ocean. He hasn't come back out yet. Pantsu stripped to his undies and is sitting in the sand smoking like a chimney in winter. Tsunami is sunbathing on a beach towel with Tazuna sitting in the sand beside her. Arashi is sitting beside Tazuna, chatting about the trials of raising grandsons. Shisui is starfished on the sand, soaking in the relaxation. Sparky is sitting in the sand beside Shisui, content to doze.
The previous day, Arashi dragged Shisui to town to buy some beach clothes, since Shisui is wearing Arashi's beach clothes for the mission. Unfortunately for Shisui's dignanty, Arashi would only fork out for a pair of board shorts for Shisui to wear to the beach party. Shisui glances over at Arashi, who is wearing the beach clothes he bought for himself the previous day, and glares at the old man. Arashi is probably having a good laugh about making Shisui wear beach clothes on an A Rank escort mission. Shisui has no money on him due to his hurried departure from the village, so any clothing he gets for this mission (including the undies Arashi bought him because hygiene) have to be provided by one of his team mates.
"Hey Inari," Naruto says, slapping some sand on the two-foot high and six foot square sand castle. "I know a guy who can move sand around with chakra. He's cool and I bet he could build an awesome sandcastle. I'm gonna ask him next time I see him, 'tebayo."
"I'm gonna fill the moat with water," says Burifu.
"I'll get a bucket," says Inari, standing up.
"I don't need a bucket," says Burifu, and starts drawing a seal in the bottom of her meter-deep trench. (They used the sand from the moat to build the castle.) "Fuin: fill stuff up with water technique." Burifu activates the seal, and a bunch of water flies over from the sea and fills the trench much more delicately than Shisui would have expected it too.
"Fuuin: Infinite confetti!" says Naruto, drawing a seal on the side of the castle. The air erupts with confetti, showering the sand castle and moat.
"That is a work of art, kids, eh," says Pantsu, getting up and ensuring that Shisui will have nightmares for the rest of his life by doing so. Old men should not run around in only a pair of slightly loose undies. Pantsu bends down, making Shisui want to throw up from the grossness, and sticks his wrinkly finger in the sand. "Fuuin: memorialize for all time technique, eh." A strange glowing light covers the castle and moat. "Now no one will be able to damage your castle, and it will never crumble or wear down, eh." Pantsu straightens up, tugs his undies up since they slipped down a bit at the back and heads off back to his spot in the sand.
"I guess this beach is now a home for indestructible, infinite confetti," says Neji, grabbing a handful of the confetti spewing from Naruto's seal.
"Actually, the seal sucks the old confetti back in after a minute and re-uses it," says Naruto. "That's because even fuuinjutsu can't just pull things out of nothing, 'tebayo."
"Lunch time!" calls Arashi, pulling out a picnic blanket and spreading it on the sand. "Grandfather, please put some pants on. There are children present." Arashi throws Pantsu's pants at Pantsu. "I think you have traumatized Shisui," Arashi adds, seeing the relief on Shisui's face.
"Where did Iruka sensei go?" asks Neji, looking up and down the beach.
"He's there," says Burifu, pointing at the wave travelling towards the beach.
Shisui takes a good look at the wave, and sees Iruka surfing on the wave using concentrated chakra as a surfboard. A pod of dolphins leaps in and out of the wave as they follow Iruka. Iruka's hair is, of course, still in its perfect ponytail. Madara Uchiha himself would be jealous of how perfect Iruka's hair is. Iruka surfs all the way to the shore, leaps off the water, flips through the air and lands with both feet squarely on the sand. The pod of dolphins flips spectacularly as one and swims away, back to the deep sea, the wave Iruka rode in on keeping them high above the sand.
"You're just in time for lunch, Iruka," says Arashi, handing Tsunami and Tazuna paper plates.