I don't own Naruto everyone! Credit of this awesomeness is Masashi Kishimoto!
Special thanks to Flower princess for the request!
Team 7 slept in an inn on the outskirts of fire country, returning from a completed mission from the last few weeks. All were sleeping soundly, or so it seemed.
One young Uchiha was still awake, deep in thought. He knew something was coming up, something he cannot miss, no matter the cause.
Sasuke glared at the ceiling, as if he could make two holes with his eyes alone, but the sharingan cannot do that. Yet. Naruto would probably find a way for him. He'll have to ask later.
Sighing, Sasuke changed into his clothes and prepared for the day. It's already almost 5am, no point in going back to sleep now.
Taking one look at the calendar, he walked out the door to the lounge area of the inn. One day was imprinted in his mind, a location, a time, a purpose.
January 10th, Valley of the End, 10:00am, to win.
Kakashi knew something was wrong with his student. Sasuke was being quiet, more so than normal, as well as glaring at calendars every so often. Despite what others believe, he now gets along quite well with his genin, and very much enjoy the time he gets to spend and train with them. He doesn't regret having taken them on as students at all, despite the "hardships and frustration" he had felt initially with them. On the other hand, people have told him he changed as well, more like his genin, but he didn't mind. Though now was dealing with the issue about what was bothering his student, and it's time that it was fixed.
Team 7 were having a simple dinner as they walked towards Konoha. Sasuke having insisted many times that yes, tomato soup was simple. Perfect for a "on the way meal".
Everyone just went with it.
Though deciding now was the best time, Kakashi came up beside Sasuke. "Sasuke, may I ask you something?"
Sasuke rolled his eyes. Kakashi took it as a go ahead. "I haven't helped but notice that something coming up has been getting you agitated. You've constantly looked ready to murder every calendar we come by. Is there a reason to this behaviour?"
Sasuke now directed that glare at Kakashi. After a moment, he simply "Hn'd" and looked away.
Kakashi sighed. He was getting nowhere with the old "Uchiha attitude" that has somehow returned. So he called his next best weapons forward. "Naruto, Sakura, come here, there is something we must discuss with Sasuke. I hope you two are willing to help."
Naruto bounced over. "Of course Kakashi! We'd love to help Mr. Happy Go Lucky over here!"
"Except," Sakura pointed out. "He's anything but."
Both genin looked at their friend, and Naruto sighed. "Alright Sasuke, spill the beans or your tomatoes are being confiscated. Whatever is bothering you, we can bear it too."
Kakashi watched the exchange, and sighed in relief when the Uchiha muttered a small "fine". Listening well, he learned of what got the Uchiha so bothered.
"The Hn Wars? What is that?"
Sasuke "Hn'd" Receiving sweat drops from he looked at them and explained clearly.
"The Hn Wars was a Uchiha run event where whoever had the best Hns would win. The contestants had to be at least 10 years of age to participate and the event runs every 10 years. It has been now 10 years since the last, making the competition this coming 10th. This though is so sacred that even I can't avoid it, as there is another Uchiha still around able to participate."
Everyone looked at the Uchiha. 'Thats a lot of 10's.'
"What on earth kind of contest is that?!"
"Hn. One that I'll win."
Nobody commented on that.
"Kisame! We're leaving!"
"What! Where? Oi! Where do you think you're going? Itachi!"
As the day rolled by, Team 7 were sitting and having a meal where Sasuke lived, each preparing themselves for the competition that would soon take place upon the Uchiha grounds.
The meal was going smoothly and without a hitch, until…
'Knock! Knock!'
Naruto bounced up excitedly. "I'll get it! I'll get the door!" Naruto rushed to the door, and slightly opened it. "Who is it?"
Everyone stared at the doorway, seeing Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki standing there.
"Hereeeee's Itachi!" Itachi grinned.
Kisame slapped him upside the head. "That's not how you greet people!"
Itachi shrugged. "A greeting is a greeting."
Kakashi, getting over the shock first, cleared his throat. "So uh, to what do we owe the pleasure?"
Itachi nodded his head. "It's the year of the Hn Competition, I have come to go up against my dear little brother."
Next to him, Kisame was muttering furiously. "This is what we came into enemy territory for? A stupid competition?! If we're caught we're dead Itachi!"
Kisame glared as Itachi put a hand on his shoulder. "We'll be fine Kisame. They cannot hurt us." Itachi's monotone voice rang out.
Kisame didn't budge.
"We'll also be staying with my brother for the week."
.
.
.
"What?!"
"No!"
"Why cruel world?!"
Itachi raised an eyebrow at the opposition of Kisame, his brother, and… Naruto?
Kakashi, seeing that confusion cleared it up. "Naruto's been staying with Sasuke for a little while now, so he'd be here as well."
Itachi nodded in understanding. "I see." He turned towards Naruto. "Naruto, during this time, I hope you trust us enough under the same roof, as we have no intent at this moment to bring you in and extract your demon."
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Oh wow, thanks, I'm honored."
"Don't mention it."
That being said, the two missing nin entered the building to the still shocked faces, having missed the pair of eyes trained on them from a distance away.
The Next Day…
Naruto woke up to a pleasant aroma coming from downstairs, most likely the kitchen. Looking over to his clock, he gasped.
"9:00?! How did I even manage to sleep in that long?"
Throwing on his clothes, he ran downstairs and into the kitchen. If Sasuke was cooking, something's gonna burn, and never mind the smell, it would taste awful.
Turning the corner into the kitchen, Naruto was surprised to find not Sasuke, but Itachi in the kitchen. Making himself known, he asked straightforward. "You actually know how to cook? Sasuke can't cook for the life of him!"
Itachi didn't look away from the stove he was working at. "I always have known how to cook, and have for a long while. I figured I could show gratitude toward your generosity by helping you cook. Sasuke also went out to get some supplies, it was upon my request that you not be woken up, it looked as though you needed the sleep."
Naruto was taken aback by what he heard. "Oh! Uhm, thank you very much then, I feel quite rested this morning." This guy has more screws loose than I do! That's saying something for sure!
Itachi Hn'd, and continued stirring into a pot he had on the stove. "It also looks as though you have gotten more polite recently, has Sasuke been onto your case about that?"
Naruto huffed. "Yea, the nerve of it too, I have excellent manners either way!"
"Sure." Was all the older Uchiha could comment as he continued to cook. "Anyways for breakfast Kisame, you, and I will be having pancakes, and I'm giving my brother a perfect omelette. Sound good to you?"
Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Sure? Will they be done soon?
"Soon enough," Itachi stated. "Then within the hour we will head off to the site chosen for the competition, alright? So you better be quick."
Naruto jumped. "Of course I can be quick! I'm the future Hokage after all!"
Itachi chuckled. "Well come take a seat then, breakfast is just about ready."
Sitting down, both ninja couldn't help but wonder how the rest of the day is going to go, and also couldn't resist a shiver not knowing if someone was there or not. Watching them.
Neither made any mention of the imperfect omelettes that seemed to have scattered all over the kitchen.
One Hour Later…
"Ok!" Shouted Naruto. "Let's get this started!"
Kisame groaned. "Shut up kid. Others are not as enthusiastic about this as you are."
Kisame got a rotten fish thrown in face for that.
"Enough of that now, everyone!" Kakashi came into the grounds. "I'll be reffing this game today! I don't want to see anyone fighting during this time! The only things allowed are the Uchiha's 'hn's', understood?"
Watching everyone nod, Kakashi allowed himself to move further away from the two brothers.
The Uchiha's stared into each other's eyes. Who would make the first move? Who would win? Naruto clones where everywhere eating hotdogs and popcorn. Is that a marching band and cheerleader squad as well? Why is everyone getting so distracted by this? Start!
Sasuke and Itachi lunged towards each other, making everyone think they were actually going to fight, until they stopped, faces inches away from each other.
Sasuke frowned "Hn." I have been waiting forever to beat you, Itachi!
Itachi returned it with a smirk. "Hn." Foolish little brother, you can never defeat the champion!
"Hn!" Well today is different, prepared to be dethroned!
"Hn." You won't win Sasuke, not today, not ever.
"Hn."
"Hn."
"Hn!"
Everyone by now had stopped jumping and cheering, and stared. This is how the tournament always goes? Such a bore!
Naruto groaned. "Can we just get some action! Please! I'm gonna die from all this!"
Kakashi looked at the genin who by now is face first on the ground. He then looked at Kisame, who was perfectly asleep. Sakura had left pretty early on.
It kinda is boring…
One figure looked below them from the trees, and took fascination into what the two Uchihas were doing. He wanted, no. He MUST join in this tournament!
He prepared to make a grand entrance, smirk set fully in place.
There was a rustle of trees, and a figure came flying out to the shock of everyone.
The figure however, snagged on a few branches, causing them to tumble out of the tree rather than gracefully land.
Standing up, they waved. "Hiya! I'm Tobi! I wanna join the contest!" Tobi acted as if he totally didn't destroy any semblance of a first impression.
The two Uchihas battling it out stopped, and slowly turned around.
Narrowing their eyes, the walked over to the newcomer.
Tobi grinned, "You're letting me join? I'm so happy! I would love to participate in this contest too! You all make Tobi so happy!"
As the two Uchihas reached Tobi, and stared.
Then punched him into the stars.
Tobi went flying, not at all bothered by the others reactions. "I'm blasting off again!"
Kisame woke from his nap to hear Tobi's distant words. Groggily looking around he was confused. "Wha-?" Was all he could muster before shrugging his shoulders and going back to sleep.
Itachi and Sasuke were having none of that though, and returned to their ever loved Hns. As one does not simply interrupt a war in progress.
Naruto and Kakashi couldn't stand waiting anymore so they left.
Kisame had fallen into such a sleep that he wouldn't ever be awoken.
Sasuke and Itachi continued their Hns. Some say that even this day, you could hear them in the forest, Hning away.
Tobi became his own constellation, as he truly had become one with the stars.
Then of course Itachi somehow came back from everything and kidnapped Naruto, but that's another story for another time.
The End.
Thank you all for reading, and sticking through the absence! Hope y'all caught some of the references I stuck in!