Hey ya'll! I adopted this fic from a good pal, RamenLoverNaruto. They told me they killed the fic, and I stepped in. Vola~ My new fic.

Pairing:
NaruHina
SasuSaku
ShikaIno
?(Surprise Pairing later! x2)

Chapter Five: Preparations For War!

"So. As you could see, Uchiha Sasuke has returned to the Leaf. However, he understands that if he fails to help bring down the Akatsuki, he will be forced to community service with Kakashi. If he succeeds, which I honestly think he will, with his older brother Itachi being a member, he'll be granted a reprieve and reinstated as a ninja here. However, like Naruto, he is still a genin." Tsunade explained to Gaara. "I do think that these next few months will help me determine whether or not to promote both of them to join the others at Chūnin."

"I see. I know Sasuke and if he has the will like Naruto does, he will succeed. Putting my feelings aside, I will help you convince the other Kage to agree to the terms of him helping us with the Akatsuki." Gaara replied. "If they do not see the change in him, then they are blind. I know the Raikage will be the most stubborn to convince."

"Yes. The Raikage. I'll have to think of something to get him to listen." Tsunade said, pouring herself some sake. "Shizune, inform the Konoha 12 that we plan on having war break out... Tell them to prepare for it and hand them these." Tsunade gave Shizune a box showing forehead protectors with the kanji "Shinobi" on it. "I asked the Mizukage ahead to have Mifune to make these, due to so many Tailed Beasts being captured. And, Gaara, I suggest you let Naruto know about what happened while he was away."

"I plan on it." Gaara answered, looking out the window before bowing. "We'll be in contact." With that he left with Shizune, Temari and Kankuro in tow, meeting up with the so called 'Konoha 11'.

"Everyone, Lady Tsunade ordered that you all be informed that war is imminent with the Akatsuki. And that you should keep these very close by should it break out." Shizune informed, handing out the protectors to everyone, including Sasuke. She paused. "You do remember how to wear one, right?" She asked.

"Hn." Was his reply as he tucked it away in his pocket. Shikamaru and Kiba had gave him a outfit that almost all the others, except Hinata, Ino, Sakura, Tenten and Neji, wore: a standard Konoha ninja uniform, a complete change from his 'traitor' outfit, as Tenten pointed out. Though, he kept his Sword of Kusanagi on his hip in the back and kept his black arm-guards that covered his forearms and stretched up to reach his upper biceps. At first, he was against the whole thing, but after seeing the glare from Kiba, he figured he had no choice.

Naruto rolled his eyes and looked at the headband. "Sweet! And teme, try using actual words." He jibed.

"Dobe." Sasuke jibed back, a small smirk showing on his face before noticing how Gaara looked.

"I also have news to inform all of you, especially you, Naruto. While you were training for three years, the Akatsuki came and attacked the Sand Village. They succeeded in taking the Tailed Beast from me. Normally, I would have died, but Chiyo, the woman who sealed Shukaku inside me, gave her life so I could live. Only Lady Tsunade knew of the attack and refused to inform you, knowing exactly how you'd react." Gaara explained.

Naruto was silent before clenching his fists. "Those.. bastards! I won't let them get away with this!"

"C-c-calm d-d-d-down, N-N-Naruto-kun." Hinata said.

"Listen to Hinata. We need to train harder to prepare ourselves for war." Neji said, placing a hand on Naruto's shoulder.

"Right. Alright, Gaara.. Let's train." Naruto said, showing the determination everyone expected from their blonde friend.

Gaara nodded. "Yes. I suggest, since there are 12 of you, that means you get a partner. I figure you'd want to spar against Sasuke, Naruto, so that's an easy one. Just don't kill each other." He sent a glance between the two. "Now, I must inform my own village. When we meet again, I hope you are stronger." He said as he and Kankuro left, Temari pausing at the sight of Shikamaru before joining them.

The Leaf Training Ground became an active place, with six two-teams sparring against their partner. Naruto sparred against Sasuke, as expected, Ino against Shikamaru, Hinata against Neji, Tenten against Sakura, Lee against Kiba and Shino against Choji. Their senseis, Kakashi, Asuma, Guy and Kurenai over looked their training, making sure that one: Naruto or Sasuke didn't kill the other and two: that they took breaks. Kurenai smiled at the Hyugas.

"Those two seem to be getting in sync." She commented.

"I think they all are, Kurenai. They have all been friends since before they were genin, so they understand what is at stake when the war breaks out." Kakashi informed, even while reading his Make-Out Tactics book.

"Kakashi, if a war does happen, you think it'll be like the Third Shinobi World War?" Guy asked.

Kakashi knew where his friend was coming from. All four of them remember how terrible that war was on the land. "I have no idea, Guy. But, if it happens, it will be this generation's first war in over 19 years. We old folk will need to guide them through it with what we remember from the Third."

"I agree. That was a difficult time." Asuma added. "So many of our comrades went out at ages younger than these twelve." Seeing that the twelve were finally taking a break, the four went to join them, preparing to instruct their students, or former in Guy, Kurenai and Asuma's cases. "I see you finally took a break. We were wondering when you'd rest."

"Asuma-sensei?" Choji asked, clearly wondering what Team Asuma's sensei was doing there.

"We had orders to watch over the training from Lady Hokage." Kakashi informed, putting his book away [OMG! Shocker!] to look at all of them. "From what we observed, we noticed that you all seem to understand how dire the situations will become if war breaks out. However, since this will be your generation's first ever war, we have decided to let you know what to expect from something like this." He motioned to Guy and the other two when he said the last 'we'.

"Alright! I shall take it from here, Kakashi!" Guy said [I can't stop laughing cause I got his voice stuck in my head from the anime] as he pumped himself up. "There was a major war over 19 years ago that had comrades younger than you go out and risk their lives."

As Guy went on to explain the details, Kakashi sighed at his friend/rival's antics to explaining things before pulling his book out, catching his team's well-known look of 'Seriously!?', which led him to smile, knowing his students had figured him out long ago. 'They have gotten back in sync. Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura, you three are ,by far, my most precious students. As such, I will be there to do everything to see you all win. Naruto, you remind me so much of my own teacher, with the dependability and charisma, along with the stubbornness of Kushina.. You truly are their child... Sakura, you started out only looking to impress Sasuke and torment Naruto. Look at how mature you've gotten and how Tsunade has trained you.' He looked at each with the thought involving them before landing on a bored-looking Sasuke. 'And you, Sasuke. You've developed farther and faster than I had thought. It is true that you are indeed skilled at any type of jutsu. I believe you also have admiration for both of your teammates buried inside you.' He didn't notice Guy had wrapped up the story and the ninja called it a day, leaving Kakashi, Sakura, Sasuke and Naruto behind.

"What's with that strange look you gave us through Bushier Brow-Sensei's story, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto demanded.

"Erm.. Nothing." He replied, sweatdropping. 'I think they caught on..'

"Do you have to have that weird twinkle though?" Sakura asked, annoyed.

"Well. I was thinking of how well you three have grown, physically and mentally. Makes me think of when I used to pray Naruto wouldn't complain on a mission or something and that, if we got ambushed, that I used to pray we lived." Kakashi admitted, rubbing his head.

"Hn. Still don't know why you had to look at us like that." Sasuke stated, showing his own annoyance.

"True. But, there were fond memories of certain missions." He replied.

Naruto chuckled and nodded. "Like when we had to escort Old Man Tazuna to the Land of Waves? Or when we had to find that darn cat of Madam Shijimi."

They spent the rest of the day reminiscing missions of when they were younger, Sasuke even contributing a few memories.

Whaddya think? *makes trumpet sounds*

Deidara: Why wasn't I mentioned again!? *sniffles*

Me: Well... I got carried away... Don't worry, Deidara-koishii... The next chapter will de-*mouth is covered by Deidara's hand*

Deidara: Hush! No spoilers! Anyway, I'll do the disclaimer-thi-

Itachi: Don't think so. I will! Masashi Kishimoto owns Naruto. Otherwise, our beloved Skittles here would have Deidara *coughs to cover up innundo*, Sasuke and Sakura make babies, make Naruto not dense, etcetera.

Me *claps and gives Itachi a cookie*: Way to go, Itachi-nii! Review!

Itachi/Skittles/Deidara: Arigato! Sayonara!