XXX: HOME

Konoha: Three Months, Seven Days ago:

Team Seven headed to the Waiting room, to see who wanted to see them. As soon as Naruto opened the door a brown blur shot into him. "Can't… breathe… Haku-chan…" Haku had launched herself off of one of her mirrors as soon as Naruto stepped into the room.

"I'm Fu. And you must be Sasuke," A girl with short green hair, white clothes and bright orange eyes, sidled up to Naruto.

Naruto shook his head while trying to pry himself free of Haku's bone-crushing hug. "No… he…is…" He pointed to Sasuke, who was standing next to Hinata, a few feet behind him.

Fu raised an eyebrow, "But they told me Sasuke was the cute one! He looks like a duck landed on his head… You're much better looking!" She winked at him, "How about you take me out to dinner tonight?"

Hinata felt something snap in the back of her mind, Haku hadn't seen Naruto in a month and a half and while her…enthusiasm… certainly annoyed Hinata, Haku was their friend. But this girl was a total stranger and she was already trying to steal Naruto from her! "He can't take you out to dinner to night." She didn't notice the lack of stutter. "He's taking me out, right?" she asked Naruto with a glare

"…Grk…" Naruto had turned blue from lack of oxygen. Haku let go of Naruto suddenly, He collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.

"Oops…" Haku blushed, "I didn't mean to hurt you Naruto-kun."

"I-it's okay Haku-chan." Naruto gasped, before turning to Hinata, "Of course, we're celebrating tonight! All the ramen you can eat!"

"Only you would think all you can eat ramen is romantic, Fishcake."

"Hey! Don't insult ramen like that!"

"I wasn't insulting the ramen…"

"I h-happen to l-like ramen…"

"Wait a minute!" Fu interrupted Team Seven's friendly banter, "Isn't she your teammate? Isn't there a law against that sort of thing?"

"Nope," Jiraiya entered the room and clapped a large hand on Naruto's shoulder, "well, no laws you two have to worry about just yet." He winked at Naruto, causing the blonde boy to turn a shade of crimson Hinata would be proud of. "Oh, and congratulations, it only took you two, what seven years?"

"Was I the only person who didn't know?" Naruto asked.

"Yes." Was the near unanimous answer, only Fu didn't say anything she just rolled her eyes and stomped off, muttering about having to get back to the hospital.

"So…what are we going to do now?" Sasuke asked. "I need to replace the Raijin no Ken

"I h-have to g-get ready…"

"I'm going walk Hinata home before I do anything else, but while I wait I can go weapon shopping with you I guess."

"Sounds like a plan, I'll see you later then." Sasuke waved to his teammates as he left. He almost bumped into the Hokage when he opened the door to leave.

"There you are Haku," He grinned malevolently, "Now that you've had the chance to greet Naruto, It's time to resume your 'training'."

"Yes, Sensei…" Haku sighed and followed the Sandaime out of the room.

"What was that all about?"

"Haku and Zabuza are taking the test to become fully accredited members of the Leaf." Jiraiya answered, "One of the requirements is six months training under a Konoha Jonin-sensei. Unfortunately for them Zabuza refused to even pretend to be trained by someone weaker than himself."

"So the Old-Man volunteered to be their Jonin-sensei, Ero-Sennin?" Naruto asked.

"Yeah…poor kids… Sensei's a real slave driver." Jiraiya shook his head, "Anyway, we need to discuss your training regime. Sensei wants you three to be the stars of the Chunin Exams. But it can wait until tomorrow. I'll see you when you get home, don't stay out to late!" He winked at Naruto, and left the room laughing at the expression on his godson's face.

Naruto picked up Hinata's traveling pack and slung it over his shoulder, "You ready Hinata-chan?"

"Y-yes…" Hand-in-hand they walked out of the Hokage's tower and down the street to the clan district.

"You ready to face your family yet?" Naruto asked Hinata as they neared the massive Hyuuga complex.

Hinata shook her head, "H-How c-can I fight sea-m-monsters giant ch-chameleons an S-rank m-missing-nin and st-still be t-terrified of my own family?"

She didn't realize she had said that aloud until Naruto replied, "I remember when ero-Sennin started teaching me. He's the closest thing to family I ever had, and I wanted to make him proud. But I was pretty bad back then, I kept screwing up the most basic things." A wry smile spread over his face, "Hell, I still can't make a simple Bunshin. Ero-Sennin wouldn't cut me any slack either, He said most Shinobi families start basic training at four or five, and I was already seven. He would point out every little mistake I would make, and it made me feel terrible. But he would also praise me for getting things right. Those were the moments I lived for."

"Wh-what does that have to do with my f-family?"

"I've gotten a lot better right? Well, I still screw up and Ero-Sennin still points out all of my mistakes. Sure I don't make as many as I used to, but that makes his disappointment worse. That's why I train so hard, you know. I don't want to disappoint him. You want the same thing right? To make your family proud."

"Yes I g-guess…"

"Well, it's a shame they're too stupid to see how strong you've gotten."

Hinata was still blushing from Naruto's compliment when they reached the open gates of the Hyuuga compound.

"Oh…You're back…" A tall boy with long brown hair sniffed disdainfully at their approach, "Did you enjoy your little vacation?" he asked sarcastically. "Have fun building sand castles?"

"I-It was an A-rank N-Neji-nii-san!"

"Only the first part." Naruto chimed in, "The second was S-rank, don't forget."

"I saw the report." Neji snorted, "I just don't believe a word of it. There's no way they would assign a Genin team a mission like that. Especially not one as incompetent as yours."

"WHY YOU!" Naruto lunged towards the older boy, but Hinata tightened her grip on his hand.

"Do you think I'm afraid of some one who can still flunk out after being trained by one of the Legendary Sannin for five years?" He taunted, then when he noticed Hinata's grip on Naruto's hand, he began laughing. "If my worthless cousin can restrain you than you're weaker than I thought!"

"If you think Hinata is worthless, then you're stupider than you look." Naruto gave Hinata's hand a squeeze still trying not to destroy the punk in front of him, "She's worth three of you in a fight, Believe it."

Neji's eyes narrowed, "I…See…" His ice white eyes flashed with anger, "You know nothing about the Hyuuga. The last time we sparred I beat her without even trying. I pity Sasuke, having to drag you two dead weights around with him on all his missions… He'll be lucky to ever make Chunin with you two on his team…" Neji turned and walked back inside the gates.

"THAT ASSHOLE!" Screamed Naruto, venting his built up frustration as silver flecks of light flickered into existence around him.

"C-Calm d-down Naruto-kun." Hinata grabbed Naruto and tried to drag him away from the gates.

Naruto spun around still furious at Neji's attitude concerning Hinata and himself, "You're going to let him talk to you like that?!"

"B-But he's right…" Hinata sniffed, "The l-last time we sparred he b-beat me."

"Wait a minute… when was the last time you sparred?"

"Just b-before g-graduation, when I j-joined the team he t-told me t-to waste your t-time instead of his."

Naruto sighed, "Then he has no idea how strong you've gotten in the last nine months has he?"

"I…guess… not…?"

Naruto grinned evilly, "Well let's surprise him then…"

"Wh-what d-do you mean, Naruto-kun?"

"I have a plan, just don't spar with him yet okay?"

"I w-wasn't p-planning on asking…" Hinata replied.

"Good." Naruto handed Hinata her pack, "I gotta go help Sasuke, I'll be back as soon as I'm done ok?"

"T-Take your t-time Naruto-Kun, I need to get a hair c-cut." Hinata hadn't had a hair cut since before they left, he hair now hung down past her ears.

"Why would you do that? Long hair is pretty!"

"I' m the only one in the clan with hair as dark as mine… I don't want to stand out…"

"Well I think it looks pretty. Who cares what your clan thinks? As far as I can tell they're all brain damaged."

"What did you say about my clan, boy?"

"F-Father!"

Naruto didn't even turn around, "HinataI'veGottaGoI'llBeBackSoon!" He shouted as he ran away.

"The boy has certainly gotten faster…" He turned to Hinata, "Now tell me about these 'S-rank' missions you were given…"

Naruto leapt the wall of old Uchiha complex, and skidded to a halt on the other side. Sasuke cared little about maintenance and as a result the gate had rusted shut years ago.

Naruto shuddered, he hated entering the compound. It was completely deserted, and rather run down, giving the whole place an eerie haunted feel. "OI DUCK-BUTT!" Naruto shouted, "LET'S GO!"

"You don't need to shout, Fishcake." Came the response from directly behind him.

Naruto screamed and spun around, "Damn it Sasuke! You know how much I hate your house! Don't Do that!"

"My house isn't haunted Naruto…"

"It looks like it…" He shuddered again, "If you really won't move out, at least hire some repairmen to fix the place up or something…"

"I don't care." Sasuke shrugged and jumped to the top of the wall. "Let's go."

Three Hours Later:

"I CAN'T BELIEVE THEM!" Naruto was shouting outside the eighth Weapons shop they had been to, "They kicked us out for no reason!"

"Hn." Sasuke grunted, "Well, there's one more store left to go to…I really didn't want to go there but…"

"There is? I thought we'd been to every weapon shop in Konoha already!" Sasuke led Naruto to a small dingy building in an alley. "This is the place? What a dump!" A sign reading 'Higurashi Ninja Supply' hung over the doorway.

"Beggars can't be choosers. Let's go." A dusty jangle rang as Sasuke pushed the door open.

The of the store was dark and dusty with every available surface covered in weapons. Swords of various shapes and sizes covered the walls, there were tables with maces and axes lying in heaps, between the tables were barrels full of spears, naginatas and more pole-arms than Naruto had thought existed. Buckets of Kunai and Shuriken were arranged haphazardly throughout the store.

"Customers!" A girl, maybe one year older than them was behind the counter. She had dark hair pulled into to buns on top of her head and steel grey eyes. "Two of them!"

"Yeah were here to buy a…"Naruto began.

"Don't tell me!" she walked up to them with a calculating look on her face. "Hm… Maybe a… No, no…or how about…hmmm."

"You know if you'd just let us tell you what we wanted…"

"Hands!"

"What?"

"Give me your hands!"

She grabbed Naruto's hands first and immediately began poking and prodding his palms. "Hmm…theses calluses are odd…" She began messaging the muscles in his arms. "Hmmmm…"

"What are you doing!"

"I'm trying to figure out what weapon you use. Not a spear, it's too heavy to be a spear."

"I'm not the one who wants a weapon! I already have one."

"It doesn't matter Naruto, I always start with the cute one."

"What? Do I know you? And I have a girlfriend already!"

"I'm hurt Naruto I really am, we went to school together for three years and you don't know who I am?" The girl paused, "Oh, and tell Hinata I said congratulations."

"You weren't even in my class!"

"No I'm a year older." She began poking Naruto in the back. "Whatever it is you spin it far too much…"

"It's meant to be spun!"

"Hmmm well it's too heavy to be a quarter staff… My name is Tenten by the way, Higurashi Tenten."

"I don't need a weapon; I'm just here with Duck-butt to get a new…"

"SHHH!" She clapped a hand over his mouth, "I've almost got it!" She began to prod his chest. "AHA!" She jumped in the air with a small cheer, "It's a bladed staff isn't it?"

"My weapon? Yeah you could call it that."

"Well it's far too big for you, that really threw me off. It's not a common weapon so we don't have any in stock, but I'm sure my father can make one for you."

"It's fine; just help me find a weapon for this mute asshole." He gestured to Sasuke.

"Hn."

"Oh alright, Give me your hands Sasuke."

Sasuke grudgingly offered Tenten his hands, "Make this quick."

"Well…" Tenten said after only a moment of deliberation, "You obviously favor ninja-wire; the grooves in your calluses are a dead giveaway."

"Hn."

Tenten went back to her prodding, "Well, there's another set of calluses here , but they're really faint."

"I only had the weapon for a month."

"Hm…I want to say some kind of straight edged sword, but it's really light…"

"Actually," Naruto interrupted her, "That's exactly what it was."

"Huh?"

"We recovered the Raijin no Ken on our last mission," Sasuke explained, "but the Hokage made me return it as soon as we got back."

"WHAT!" She shouted as she grabbed Sasuke by the throat, "YOU HAD THE RAIJIN NO KEN AND YOU GAVE IT BACK?!" She shook him violently, "Wait…." She absentmindedly dropped him as a thought crossed her mind, "You said the Hokage has it now? Do you think he'd let me see it?"

"Is she always like this?" Naruto asked Sasuke, who had stood up shakily and was messaging his throat.

"Yes."

"Oh! I almost forgot about you two…"Tenten stared at the swords on the wall. "Hmm… I'm sure we had a chokutō in your size here somewhere." Tenten shook her head, "Just a moment it's not out here." She disappeared behind a curtain on the other side of the counter. A few minutes later she stepped out carrying a sword, "It's a little long, but it's the closest fit."

The blade was long and straight, ending in a chisel tip, the white hilt was almost perfectly rectangular with a small groove running down the length of the hilt and down to the matching white scabbard.

Sasuke drew the sword and gave it an experimental swing, "It's perfect, thank you Tenten."

"I got to go, Sasuke, I still haven't been home yet, I need to get ready!"

"Hn."

Naruto sped down the street, towards the apartment he still shared with Jiraiya and Kakashi.

Meanwhile, Hinata was in her room getting dressed when her younger sister Hanabi walked in.

"What are you doing nee-chan?" Hanabi asked her older sister.

"I'm g-going out s-soon Hanabi. I have to g-get ready."

"But those are your nice clothes," She frowned," you never wear your nice clothes, unless father makes you…"

"I w-w-want t-to look n-nice…" Hinata blushed a fierce shade of red.

Hanabi's eyes went wide, "Your going on a date!" she clapped her hands together "Who are you going with? Is it someone I know? Ooooh is it Sasuke?"

"N-No I d-don't think you kn-know him."

There was a knock on the door, " Hinata-sama there is some one here to see you."

"Oh l-let him in."

"He's waiting by the gate Hinata–sama we didn't want to let him in."

Hinata sighed, "I have t-to g-go now Hanabi, I'll b-be b-back after d-dinner."

After her sister left the room Hanabi opened the window and climbed out. 'I wonder who she's going to see.' She wondered when she beat her sister to the gate and managed to climb a tree without being noticed. 'Let's see…who is she waiting for? It can't be the stupid looking blond midget.' She looked around but the only non-Hyuuga she could see was the short blond haired boy with the metallic purple eyes.

"Him?" she snorted when her sister arrived and bashfully greeted the blond. "I have to stop them!"

"Agreed." Hanabi nearly fell out of the tree when she heard the quite voice answer her."I'm a much better match for him then that pale eyed mouse." A girl with green hair and orange eyes had appeared in the tree next to her.

Hanabi glared at the strange girl, "That's my sister you're talking about."

"Whatever, you gonna help me stop them or not?"

"S-sure…"

Beta'd by harry cipperfield dresden