Ok, sorry It took me so long, something happened and I was incapacitated. But now I'm back It will take a bit longer because I'm writing with one hand. But I will work as fast as I can.
Ok here is the last of the rewrite so everything from here is NEW!!!!
I would like to thank my Beta, the blueberry king, with out whom I would be getting hate mail for my horrid spelling and grammar.
Chapter 9 .Life changing
"Ok, I'm going to start with your individual pictures, so you with the pink hair you're first," the old photographer stated. Sakura walked up with her hair in a high pony tail, which Ino insisted on, and the new clothes Anko had gotten for her. She was in a long sleeve fish net shirt with a red belly shirt combo that showed her nicely toned midsection under the netting. She still wore her black shorts, but now they came down to just above her knees. On top of her shorts she wore a white skirt with red trimming. To top everything off, she also wore off-white elbow pads, though no one could see them through the tan trench coat. *Click*
"Ok, next let's get the blond in the pony tail. Please sit down." Ino stepped forward. She, too, now wore new clothes that consisted of a purple tank top with long sleeve fish net shirt that went all the way down and around her thumbs, a purple skirt cut to the hip on both sides, and a pair of black shorts under it that stopped mid thigh for modesty. Her tool pouch was on her right thigh and, like Sakura, had a tan trench coat. *Click*
"Ok, now the one with the dye job," the old man said.
"Hey! This is not a dye job, it's all natural!" Naruto said pointing to his head.
"Fine, whatever you say. Just hurry up. I don't have all day kid."
Naruto took his seat mumbling something about old ass holes. Naruto's clothes had undergone a much more radical transformation than that of his two teammates. He now wore a dark blue tank top and loosely fitting black pants with a blood red belt. On each of his wrists he had on a blood red wrist band with the Kanji for fox written on them. He had a tool pouch on both his left and right thigh, but unlike his teammates, Naruto's trench coat was black. *Click*
"Now get into any pose you like for your team photo," the photographer said changing the film slot.
"Alright kiddies, let's make this good!" Anko said, rolling her neck.
"Are you ever normal?" Naruto asked Anko.
"Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black?" Sakura asked with a grin.
"What! Are you saying I'm just as insane as psycho-sensei?" Naruto asked.
"Yes Naruto, that's exactly what we're saying," Ino said looking at the ground shaking her head.
"It doesn't matter. Soon you will all start thinking like me," Anko said like it was unstoppable.
All three trench coat wearing genin froze where they stood with a blank expression on their face. "Come on Anko, don't scare them. They know that they are doomed," Hana piped in.
"Fine, fine, kill all of my fun why don't you. Now Naruto, you go in front. Ino and Sakura, you two stand behind him," Anko ordered, happy with the reactions she got from her charges. "You too, Dog Girl."
Hana scowled. She hated that name and Anko knew it. "First off, no, and second I hate my picture being taken. So bite me you cold blooded bitch."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Now get moving kiddies!"
Naruto walked over to the camera, going down on one knee, placing both fists on the ground in front of him. Sakura went behind him and stood on the left side as Ino stood on the right. Both girls proceeded to cross their arms. Anko then came up behind Ino and Sakura and draped her arms over the girls' shoulders. *Click*
"Well, looks like you are all finished. I will send the pictures to the Hokage when I get them developed," Genzou said as he packed up his camera.
"Thanks a lot!" Anko said. She turned around back to her team and saw the girls trying to tell Naruto his hair looked good short while Naruto sat on the ground rubbing his hand over the peach fuzz that was his hair.
"Ok playthings, go off and do whatever it is you do. There are some people I need to see," Anko said while she rubbed her hands together.
"Well, looks like we have the day off. Do you guys want to come with me to tell Baa-San that we passed?" Sakura asked in a happy tone.
"You bet I do," Ino chimed in.
"What about you Naruto?" Sakura asked looking at the red tipped blond.
"I would love to Sakura, but I've been out too long and I need to get ready for tomorrow. Thanks for the invitation though," Naruto said running off, but Ino and Sakura heard the sadness in his voice.
"What was that about?" Ino asked as she watched Naruto run off.
Anko took in a deep breath before letting it out as a sigh. "Tomorrow is Naruto's 17th birthday," she said in a low voice.
"Then way is he so upset?" Sakura asked
"Yeah, shouldn't he be happy?" Ino added in.
"It's not really my place to tell you girls, but have you girls seen the way the villagers look at him?" Anko asked with a serious tone.
"Yeah, they look at him like he killed someone and got away with it," Ino said.
"They look at him like a demon…" Sakura said as she suddenly realized why no one in the village liked the blond boy.
Ino's eyes shot open wide as she and Sakura looked at Anko.
"That's right. They all see Naruto as the Kyuubi. It's been that way ever since he was four, and so the villagers would beat him, shops would not sell him anything he needed, or they would charge triple the normal price. I've also read many reports of him hunting for his food," Anko said with a look in the direction Naruto went.
"What does that have to do with Naruto's birthday?" Ino asked.
"His birthday is October 10th, the same day the fourth Hokage sealed the fox into Naruto. That is a day where the people are reminded of the pain of losing the fourth and their loved ones. There were several times when Naruto was almost killed by the villagers or ninja," Anko said looking the girls in the eye. "You're free to go. I have things I need to take care of," she said while walking out of the room with Hana leaving Ino and Sakura to themselves.
Sakura was feeling really bad for Naruto, but then an idea popped into her head. A big smile played across Sakura's face as she looked to Ino who also had the same big smile on her face. "You thinking what I'm thinking Pig?"
"I believe so billboard brow."
"Then let's go. We don't have much time," Sakura said running out the door with Ino right behind.
XXX
Naruto was walking home faster then he normally would. The day before his birthday could be more dangerous than the birthday itself. He knew there were a lot of people that would love to celebrate the festivities with his broken and bloodied body on display.
Naruto arrived at home to find all his windows had been broken. 'Sigh. I guess I'm going to have to board them up again before I scrub out that blood stain.'
'I still don't know why you put up with all this. We can just as easily leave this place and go somewhere to have fun. Maybe to Hidden Rock and show them why they should fear you as much as they did your father,' Kyuubi said with a hopeful voice.
'You know I can't leave, dad gave his life protecting the village, and one day they'll see me as me and not you,' he thought pulling the wood out of the closet.
'Yeah, yeah, I know the speech. Still…Well, at least your new mates will make it more fun around here.'
'Not that again… They are my friends and my teammates, nothing more,' Naruto thought, putting the emphasis on the word team.
'So you say now, but when they come knocking on your door wanting some of that stamina of yours, you'll sing a different tune.'
'Would you just shut up?!'Naruto blushed as he got to work on his windows.
XXX
"Baa-san, you home?" Sakura asked walking into her grandmother's house.
"Maybe she's out," Ino said struggling with the bags in her hands.
"What, those bags can't be that heavy," Sakura said looking at Ino. "Come on, let's put the stuff in the kitchen and get started," Sakura said, not having any trouble with the many bags she was holding.
Ino just sent Sakura a death glare "Speak for yourself you water buffalo! Not all of us have your freaky ass strength," Ino said dropping the bags on the counter.
"What was that pig?!" Sakura said getting in Ino's face.
"I said you're a muscles bound freak!" Ino yelled back getting in Sakura's face causing their foreheads to hit together, as lighting began to arc between their eyes.
"Are you two fighting again?" Tsunade asked walking into the kitchen.
"She started it!" Both Ino and Sakura yelled in unison.
"How can I relax with the both of you fighting all the time?!" It was then that Ino and Sakura realized that Tsunade was in a navy blue bath robe with a towel wrapped around her head.
"Tsunade-Sama, were you in the bath? I'm sorry if we disturbed you," Ino said with a small bow.
"Damn it Ino, how many times must I tell you? I see you and Sakura like family, so stop with the Sama crap. I was in the hot tub out back, not in the bath," Tsunade said while pulling out some sake from a cabinet. It was at this time she saw all the bags the girls had brought in. "What's with all this food, you two throwing a party?"
"That's right! It's Naruto's birthday tomorrow, so we're throwing him a surprise party tonight," Sakura said as she began making the food. "Where's Baa-san? I want to tell her we passed."
Tsunade got a small smile on her face after she heard. "So you two decided to stay on with him as a team. Your mother asked to speak with her." Tsunade's smile fell. Sakura just rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, we were just being stupid thinking that he was the fox. I mean, Naruto is a real nice guy," Ino said getting some wrapping paper ready.
Sakura let out a heavy sigh. "Today we learned that he never had a birthday party or even a present," she said looking at Tsunade.
"That's all going to change today, though, right forehead?"
"You got it Pig."
"Tsunade!" a playful sounding voice came through the house.
Both Sakura and Ino looked to where the voice came from and saw a very pale future Hokage. What would come next is something that neither Ino nor Sakura would wish on anyone. "Tsunade-Hime, what's taking so long to get the Sake?" A man with long white hair walked into the kitchen, but unlike Tsunade, he was dripping wet and only wearing a pair of Speedos.
"Oh, umm… Hi girls," Jiraiya said with a small wave.
It took the girls' brains some time to respond to the sight, but when they did, it started an act of self-preservation and immediately shut down all visual ability.
"My eyes! Somebody gouge them out!" Sakura saw Sakura rolling on the ground holding her eyes.
"Oh, please don't let that be a permanent memory!" Ino screamed from her fetal position by the fridge.
"Please merciful God don't let that be the last thing I see!!" Sakura yelled as she rolled around.
"God damn it Jiraiya, I told you to put a towel on before coming out. Now get dressed and go tell Sarutobi about Naruto's party!"She yelled, dragging a still screaming Sakura and Ino into the living room where they passed out.
"But… What about our date?"
"It ended when you blinded them," Tsunade said holding a green hand over both the girls' eyes.
"But I…"
"No buts, Jiraiya, and if you don't get going you'll never see mine again." With Tsunade's warning Jiraiya was dressed and gone in 0.11 seconds.
XXX
"Damn villagers," Naruto grunted out as he scrubbed the blood out of his carpet. "Always breaking my things and messing up my house, and that's why I can't have nice things, aside from the massive prices they charge me for every thing."
'The great Kyuubi, King of the Bijuu, scrubbing the floors… I hate my life.'
"Oh shut up, you know it's not that bad. Plus you're not even doing the scrubbing, I am," Naruto said still working on the floor.
'You start going after your mates, and then I will be very happy and too tired to talk,' Kyuubi said with a grin.
"I told you a…"
'Yeah, yeah, I know they're your friends. However, have you ever heard of 'fuck buddies', or would you prefer 'friends with benefits?''
"Do you have any idea how much I hate you?" Naruto asked out loud. After a few more minutes of scrubbing, there was a knock at the door which caused Naruto and Kyuubi to go quiet.
'The bastards are starting.'
"Maybe … But they have never knocked before. They always just smash the door in."
"Naruto? Are you home?" came a gruff voice through the door.
Naruto went to the front door and cracked it open to see who the voice belonged to. He saw a face that he knew all too well. "Old man, what are you doing here?"
"I thought I would take you out for your birthday tonight, because I will be too busy at the festival tomorrow." Naruto backed up a step, remembering that this was what Iruka had said to him, and this did not go unnoticed by the Hokage. "Naruto, I'm not going to betray you, and I can say this, you will have the time of your life tonight. If not, I will pay your ramen bill for a year."
Naruto looked the third in the eyes before grabbing his trench coat and putting it on faster than the third could blink. "I'm ready to go old man!"
"Ok, ok, but I need to make a stop first," Sarutobi said walking down the street with Naruto right behind him.
"Where do you need to go old man?"
"I just need to see a Genin from another village who wishes to join the leaf."
"Why would someone leave their own village?" Naruto asked bitterly.
"Naruto, other villages are not run like ours is. Most will treat you different due to skills and birthrights."
"Then all villages are run the same," Naruto spoke the words softly and deeply.
'I'm sorry Naruto, but I know you will make it in the end, because you will have to work so much harder than anyone else. You will know what it means to earn what is given to you.'
After a few minutes the two came up to a house with all the lights off. "Naruto if you're going to go in there with me then you're going to need to stay calm. You're going to be the standard of genin that we of the leaf expect. Can you do that?"
"Anything you say Hokage-Sama."
"Damn, and with no one to witness it. Oh well," the Hokage said with a sigh going into the dark house with Naruto right behind. It was pitch black inside, and Naruto could not see a thing, after a few feet he lost where the third went, but before he had a chance to do anything he heard a loud sound.
"SURPRISE!" Many people jumped out as the lights came on, but there was something wrong. Naruto was nowhere to be found. "Where's the brat you old goat?"
"He was right behind me," the Hokage said looking around until he looked up to the roof and saw Naruto clinging to it like a cat. "I think we did a little too good of a job with the surprise," he said pointing up and everyone shared a laugh.
"Well, I don't know about you, but I came here for a party," Anko said throwing a kunai at the blond on the roof and just nicking his ear. The sudden sting made him fall and hit the floor.
"What the hell was that for you crazy psycho!?" Naruto yelled.
"What did you call me you little bastard?!"
"I called you a crazed psycho you bitch!"
"Why you!" Anko reached out for Naruto's neck, but Naruto had other plans and took off running around the couch staying on the opposite side of it as Anko. "Hold still you little maggot!"
"HAHA, you can't catch me!" Naruto said like a little kid.
"Oh come on Naruto, grow up," Konohamaru said.
"What, Konoha…." WHAM. Everyone in the room flinched from the sight and sound of Naruto running into the wall.
"Now that is funny. Serves you right you little prick. Oh, and happy birthday shit head," Anko said lightly kicking his head.
"Birthday? Di…did you do this?" Naruto asked looking to the Hokage from his place on the floor.
"I'm afraid not my boy, the honor of this goes to them," the third said helping him up.
Naruto looked to where the old man pointed and saw both Ino and Sakura holding a triple layer chocolate cake. Naruto started to look all around the room to see all the people that meant the most to him and then some. The Hokage, Anko, Hana, Tsunade, Jiraiya, old man Teuchi, Ayame, and even Konohamaru and Hanabi.
"Sakura, Ino, thank you..."
"Don't even think about saying thank you. We just wanted to show you that you're not alone any more Naruto," Ino said coming up on his left.
"That's right, we're a team, but more importantly we're your friends," Sakura said on his right.
"Happy Birthday!" they said in unison, before kissing him on each check, which caused him to turn mutable shades of red. The party went off without a hitch every one having a good time talking, eating and dancing. Then the gifts came out.
Anko went first and handed Naruto a black bladed katana with a dark blue hilt and sheath. "I will be testing you, so you better learn to use it, you got that?"
"You just want me to cut something off, don't you?" Naruto joked.
Tsunade gave him a new a table, and when he asked how she knew he needed it, all she said was it was a lucky guess.
"Well I guess now is as good a time as any." Jiraiya gave Naruto the scroll of the Rasengan and a barrel of water balloons.
"What are the balloons for?"
"They will be step one in your training for the Rasengan, but your chakra control is still too low. I would work on that first." Naruto was a little upset that he was told that he couldn't train on learning the Rasengan right away, but knew that the old perv was right. "Don't worry Naruto. I have this for you too," he said as he threw Naruto a shoe box.
Naruto tossed the lid to the box open and pulled out a small blue book. "It's Icha-Icha number 6, the limited edition, with bonus endings!"
"You gave him that book?! What's wrong with you!?" Tsunade yelled smacking Jiraiya in the back of the head.
It was then Naruto remembered where he was and looked to his teammates. He saw a look he had never seen before. 'I am so dead, and I never had a chance to read my new book."
"No, wait. I've seen that look before, and you're not in any danger. You can't be too careful though, so no sudden moves."
"Naruto, you're so lucky. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find that book?" Sakura asked leaning over Naruto.
"For real, I've been looking for that one for almost two years now," Ino said climbing over Sakura.
The whole room stopped and all was quiet. It was a very rare thing to hear a girl say she reads Icha-Icha, but two at the same time was unheard of. Now it was Ino and Sakura's turn to remember where they were as they turned a bright red.
"So you two admit you read those books? Now you can stop hiding them in your bed post and floorboards," Anko teased.
"How did you know where they were?" Both Sakura and Ino slapped their hands over their mouths, but it was too late.
"Ok, fine, I read Icha-Icha and I love them. Happy now?" Sakura asked crossing her arms in a pout.
"So I find them exciting. It's no big deal," Ino said blushing.
The room was still looking at the girls and their blushes only grew deeper. The Hokage decided to end their suffering and stood up to give Naruto a scroll. "Naruto, that scroll holds your father's notes on seals. It was what made him such a great shinobi and a powerful Kage. Use them well."
"Th… thank you," was all Naruto could get out. "You have no idea how much this means to me. I will make you and him proud."
"I know you will son, I know you will," the already proud Kage said.
"Hey Naruto, can I ask you something? Who was your father?" Sakura asked.
Naruto gave a small smile. "You already know so much about him though."
"What? Sakura knows your dad?" Ino asked with a confused look.
"Well, I would hope you know him too Ino," Naruto replied, walking over to a window. "Ino, Sakura, tell me what you see out there."
Both walked up to the window and looked out to where Naruto was looking. "Naruto, there's nothing out there but the Hokage monument," Ino said.
"Yeah, what are you getting at?" Sakura asked just as confused as Ino.
"What, are the clues I have given you not enough? Alright I'll give you one more… Yondaime."
Ino's and Sakura's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. "You're the son of the fourth Hokage?" Ino asked in shock. "But that means … your own father sealed the fox inside you?"
"Ino, my dad could not very well ask someone else to give up their own child if he wasn't willing to do the same."
From out of nowhere Sakura popped up holding an open book up to Naruto. On the open page was a picture of the fourth Hokage. "Wow, you look just like him Naruto," Sakura said.
"Well, now you two know all of my secrets now. Konohamaru is the only other one I have told."
"Yeah, you three come back to the party!" Anko shouted.
Naruto walked back into the main room leaving a small smile on the faces of Sakura and Ino, before they followed Naruto.
"Well Naruto, I'm sorry we don't have a Jutsu for you, but we're not ninja," Teuchi said with Ayame to his left. "We will give you a free bowl of our new Naruto sized ramen though," he said with a smile.
Naruto eyes grew big and blank. It was like he was looking at something that no one else can see. "I… I have my own size of ramen…" the thump was heard by all, and they looked at the passed out smiling blond boy.
"HAHA, I think you killed him!" Jiraiya said; back from the little sake party that he, Tsunade, and Anko were having.
"Boy, you are pathetic."
"Oh no, I don't think so," Anko said grabbing Naruto by the back of his hair and pouring a shot of Sake down his throat. "I came here for a party and it's way too soon for anyone to be passing out."
"Anko-sensei what are you doing? he's not old enough to drink!" Sakura yelled.
"Relax, you're all ninja now. In the eyes of the village, you are adults and can drink," Anko said with a big smile.
"Is that true?" Ino asked looking at the Hokage.
"Yes it is, but we still discourage drinking at your age," Sarutobi said with a glare directed to Anko.
"Cool," was all Ino said.
"Didn't you hear what the Hokage said Pig?"
"Yeah, we can drink, but they don't like it." Ino grinned
"What *cough-cough* what happened?" Naruto asked.
"You fainted," Konohamaru stated bluntly as he handed him a bag.
Naruto opened the bag to find a new sleeping cap filled with instant La Ramen. "Konohamaru, that's La Ramen, the king of instant ramen!"
"Well, it was Hanabi-chan that got you that," Konohamaru said rubbing the back of his head.
Yet again the room was silent. Konohamaru was looking around to see what had happened, only to find people looking at him. "What?"
"Since when is it Hanabi-chan, Konohamaru?" Naruto asked leaning in.
"I, um, err-um, I!" Konohamaru tried to form a coherent sentence, but found it quite impossible.
"HAHA, looks like my grandson is growing up."
"Way to go Hanabi, Konohamaru is a great catch," Sakura said from Hanabi's left.
"So, have you two had a first date yet? Come on girl, spill it," Ino said from the right. Hanabi's blush was so great Ino and Sakura thought her head was going to pop off.
"Ok, ok, let's leave them alone," Sakura said.
"Oh, you're no fun forehead."
"Those two remind me of us so much it's scary," Hana said shaking her head.
"Yea those girls do act like us. Do you think they will end up like us to?" Anko asked with a smirk.
"Maybe, maybe not. Either way, you are to leave their love lives alone," Kurenai warned.
"Party pooper," Anko whined as Hana draped an arm over her lover.
"You know that no one knows about us yet," Anko said with a smirk. "Or are you ready to come out?"
"Not yet, but soon," Hana said softy. They then heard Ino telling Naruto to open the next gift, which happened to be from her and Sakura.
Sakura handed him a box. Naruto popped open the lid before his eyes widened and looked to his two grinning teammates.
"HAHAHA. This is great. They so totally own your ass now."
"So, you guys weren't joking, were you?" Naruto asked looking back to the box.
"Nope," was Sakura's only reply.
Naruto reached into the box and pulled out a black studded leather collar with a tag that read Fox-Kun. "You two are cruel. I just want you to know that," Naruto said.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Ino said taking the collar from him before putting it on him and stepping back. "Wow, Naruto. That makes you look like a real bad ass."
"That's not all," Sakura chimed in holding up a leash.
"HAHAHA, oh my god, HAHA, I swear I love them!"
'Hey, aren't you supposed to be on my side?!'
"Nope, I'm always on the winning side."
'Where was that winning side when you got your nine tailed ass sealed inside me?'
"….. Low blow…low blow."
The rest of the night went much the same as it started; everyone was talking, laughing, and just having a great time. As the night went on, people started leaving one by one until it was just Sakura, Ino, and Naruto.
"Ino, Sakura, I need to thank you."
"What for Naruto?" Sakura asked looking at him.
"I have never had anything like this in my whole life. Not even when Iruka was the one I thought I could count on," Naruto said wiping a tear away.
"Naruto, he was a sick man and what he got was too good for him. I'm sorry that he hurt you so badly, but we will never do that to you," Ino said with her smile.
"She's right Naruto. You showed us true friendship even after we treated you like trash." Sakura grinned a bit before looking at Ino and getting a smile. "Now that we like you, you're stuck with us."
"Thank you," he said again.
"Will you stop saying that? It's starting to get on my nerves. Anyway, I have to go. I have no idea what my mother is doing tomorrow, but she said I had to be there. I will come by afterwards, ok?"
"Hey, don't forget me," Ino added in.
"That would be great," Naruto said with a smile.
XXX
"You know what the day has in store for us, don't you?"
"Yeah I know… but we got past the other 16 years. This one will be no different."
"Yes I know, but it doesn't mean it will be any easier for us."
"Well, the only thing we can do is face it head on. It's strange no one has tried anything yet though," Naruto said peeking out a hole in the window board.
"I would say check, but I don't think opening the door is a good idea."
"I agree, but if they are planning on bringing the roof down on my head, I would never see it coming," Naruto said walking to the door.
Naruto opened it just a hair and … "BOO!!!"
"AAAAH!" Naruto fell back to see Anko on the other side of the door. "Psycho-Sensei? What are you doing here? And what the hell's wrong with you, you crazy snake?!"
"You'll pay for that later. Now come on, you are going to the festival. The Hokage said there was something you're going to want to hear," Anko said glaring at all the villagers that were standing around Naruto's house.
"If I leave my house, not only am I an easier target, but my house itself will be in danger of being destroyed," Naruto said annoyed.
"First off, there is no one in the village dumb enough to attack the Kyuubi Brat and the Snake Bitch at the same time. If anything happens to your place, you will just come and stay with me."
"Dear god! The snake lady wants in your pants!"
"What!" Naruto yelled.
"Damn brat," Anko said cleaning her ear out. "I said you can live with me if something ever happens to your house."
"Thank you Anko-sensei," Naruto said. 'And as for you, shut the hell up," Naruto said to the fox.
"Damn it! You used my name and there was no one to hear it," Anko said throwing her arms up.
"What can I say except for that I'm good like that? Now let me get my things." Naruto went back inside and grabbed his coat, but when he was back at the door he saw the collar on the couch. He grabbed it and went out the door.
"Are you really going to wear that?" Anko asked with a slight chuckle.
"Why not? It doesn't look half bad," Naruto answered while putting it on. "Now let's go."
XXX
As Naruto and Anko made their way to the center of town, the glares, the whispers, and the names were not lost on them.
"Yet another great day in the village," Naruto said sarcastically.
"We do lead such charmed lives," Anko added.
It was not long till they found themselves near a large stage located next to the Hokage's tower. Almost the whole village was there waiting for the Hokage to light the ceremonial fireworks to signal the start of the festivities.
"Why am I here? I feel like a sitting duck. I mean, do you have any idea how many of these people have sharp things?" Naruto asked looking at all the dirty looks he was getting.
"Oh tough it out," was Anko's reply.
No sooner than she had said that, Sarutobi, the third Hokage, walked out and took center stage. "Ladies, Gentlemen, and Shinobi of the hidden leaf, I am happy to welcome you the festival!" A chorus of cheers went off as he spoke. After a few seconds after they died down, he spoke again. "Every year, we gather to celebrate the Yondaime, the forth Hokage, because he was one of the greatest heroes the Village Hidden in the Leafs has ever seen. It is with that in mind that this festival will now be for any and all heroes this village will ever see. So from this a day forth, this festival well be known as the Hero's Festival!"
'Well at least people will stop thinking of us now.'
"I don't know if that's a good thing, or a bad thing."
'Why do you crave the spot light so much?'
"Because I was once the king of the Fox demon's, and I get board."
"Hay what the hell is wrong with you now?" Anko asked.
"Annoying Fox." Was Naruto's short answer.
"At this time, I would like to recognize 3 of our younger hero's. A few days ago, a Ninja from Hidden Cloud came here and kidnapped young Hyuuga Hanabi and my own grandson Sarutobi Konohamaru. As luck would have it, the Cloud ninja ran right into one of our new genin teams. That team, to their own great risk, stopped the ninja and rescued the children. I would now like to ask Team 7 to please come up here."
The people of the village started to cheer for team 7 as they took the stage. First to get up there was Sakura, who had a red formal Kimono with lilies around the back on. Soon after, Ino came up wearing her apron from her families flower shop. When Naruto and Anko got up though, the cheers stopped. The quiet was enough to drive a man mad, and soon the crowd started to whisper amongst themselves.
Now Sarutobi was not Hokage for nothing and knew what was going to happen if he did not do something now. "Now these young ninja have shown what it is that makes the leaf what we are. They have shown courage that others hate us for. They have shown the power that others fear us for. The loyalty that is only shown in a leaf citizen, they have showed." The Hokage turned to the teenagers as Konohamaru now stood next to his grandfather. "And as a clan head, Yamanaka Ino, Uzumaki Naruto, and Haruno Sakura, I thank you for saving my grandson," Sarutobi said with a deep bow.
"Thank you for saving my life," Konohamaru said, bowing like his grandfather.
"With all due respect, Lord Hokage, you are not the only one that would like to address these fine Ninja." Everyone looked the left of the stage to see none other than Hiashi Hyuuga with his two daughters. The Hokage gave a nod before he and Konohamaru took a step away, leaving a shocked crowd and three very shocked Genin looking into the white eyes of the Hyuuga. Hiashi bowed down low. "You have saved my youngest daughter, and for that I am in your debt."
Many people thought the same thing when they saw the Hyuuga clan head bow. Hell just froze over, for no one thought the Hiashi would ever bow to anyone other than the Hokage.
"Thank you for saving my life, and I hope I can repay you." Hanabi bowed.
Hinata just looked at team 7. "I thank you for saving my sister, but this does not change anything between us." Hinata then gave a short bow.
Ino glanced over to Sakura and gave a wink and Sakura gave a smile in return. "Don't worry Hinata-chan we know where we all stand," Ino said with a wink.
Hinata not liking the chan added to her name turned around and walked with her father and sister. As they were almost off the stage, Hanabi ran back to Naruto giving him a peck on the cheek before rejoining her family.
The Hokage came back to the center stage. "You three may step down now, and come by my office to pick up your reward." All three Genin bowed to their leader and walked off stage. "Now, before I light the fireworks, the Haruno Clan has a special announcement."
It was at this time the Sakura's mother walked out. "Ladies and gentlemen, today is a great day for our village. It marks the death of the vile beast Kyuubi, and the day the village became known for the impossible."
"No offence Sakura, but you mother is a wind bag," Ino said.
"That's putting it nicely, Ino. My mother is a total bitch. You ok, Naruto?"
"Yeah I will be fine, but the sooner I get out of this crowd the better. I can feel the ill thoughts."
"And now today will be known for yet another great moment for the village. I am happy to announce the engagement between my daughter Haruno Sakura and the village's own Uchiha Sasuke!" The crowd went wild at the thought of the once great Uchiha clan coming back, but there were three people that were stunned, though not nearly as much as Sakura herself.
XXX
That's the last of the rewrite, so t will take longer to update since the chapters will start from scratch from now on. I still hope to be able to update once a month though.
PS. If you want the wall back let me know.