Routine:
Naruto had a good feeling about this.
It was very rare he had a good feeling, so he decided not to question it. Meeting Sasuke and Sakura in one of the squares in the old village was a bit weird. It had been laid to waste by the nine-tails ages ago, and nobody wanted to live there afterward. Even so, no one had wanted to break it down either, so it rested a little further down the valley, collecting moss.
In the light, it was strange and somehow eerie. Kakashi met them there, wearing the same outfit he usually did. He was hanging from the top of a tree. "So, you're here then."
"Yes, sensei," said Naruto.
"Good," said Kakashi. "I'm glad you found the place on time.
"I've got your missions from the Hokage's office."
"Oh, um, okay," said Naruto. "So, when do you start taking missions directly from the HQ?" He asked as he took the scroll and read through it.
"Probably never," said Kakashi. "The Hokage gives personal attention to his ANBU. Even then, it is only for important missions. If he met with every Leaf Ninja team, he'd have no time to manage the village. There are a lot of other boring, important things that require his attention.
"In fact, even when I was working directly for Minato, I mostly got missions by dispatch. Of course, that was during a much less peaceful time."
"Right," said Sasuke. "So, what's the mission?"
"We're going to paint fences. And the way we do it will help with your taijutsu,"
"That's it?" asked Sakura.
"It's more than it appears," said Kakashi. "While we're doing it, I want all of you to keep your eyes open for anything unusual. Tell me what you see after we see it.
"Observation is an important part of being a ninja."
And that was how they were brought to a length of unpainted fencing and got to work. Naruto didn't complain, he was getting paid for this, and it was better than being alone. Sasuke, though, scowled. Meanwhile, Sakura kept trying to get Sasuke's attention while she worked. So she worked slower than Sasuke, who worked slower than Naruto.
Naruto tried to keep focusing on the job.
"Uh, all this painting is the worst, isn't it, Sasuke?" asked Sakura.
"Just keep going," said Sasuke.
"I wonder what the Hokage is like?" murmured Naruto.
"What do you mean?" asked Sakura.
"Well, I've never actually met him," said Naruto. "I've seen him on magazines, ad he always looked sort of grandfatherly. Only also powerful and scarred.
"I guess I'd like to meet him someday."
"Yeah, like you rank a meeting with the Hokage," said Sakura.
"Doesn't that apply to you too?" asked Kakashi.
"Huh?" asked Sakura.
"Well, if Naruto never ranks a meeting with the Hokage as his teammate, you never will either," said Kakashi.
Sakura flinched. "Um, right.
"We'll keep him in line, sensei."
"Anyway, I said someday, Sakura," said Naruto. "We might get a mission or something. I mean, we have Sasuke on our team after all."
"Whatever, loser," said Sasuke.
Kakashi shrugged. "Look over there, students. Tell me what you see?"
They did look and saw a shopkeeper at work in a red store.
"Um, a building," said Sakura.
"A shop," said Sasuke.
"A shopkeeper," said Naruto.
"Right, and what do you notice about it?" asked Kakashi.
"Um, he's minding his store," said Sakura.
"True, but what else?" said Kakashi.
"He is selling out of wares," said Sasuke.
"And what are those wares?" asked Kakashi.
"Farming equipment," said Naruto, looking now. He'd seen that farmer before.
"What does that tell you?" asked Kakashi.
"A lot of people are replacing farming equipment from outside the village," said Naruto.
"And what does that tell you?" asked Kakashi.
"It's harvest time," said Sakura.
"And what else," said Kakashi.
"People buy farming equipment in the Leaf," said Naruto.
"Right," said Kakashi. "We're a regional hotspot for trade thanks to having secure borders and strong walls. A merchant who sets up shop here doesn't have to worry about being robbed, as long as he obeys the rules.
"That means there aren't problems with bandits like other places have. And most ninja gets paid to hunt bandits for their first few missions."
"Okay," said Naruto. "So, what does that mean?"
"If you lived somewhere else which wanted the business from the merchants here. What would you think of us ninja?" asked Kakashi.
"I guess they might dislike us," said Naruto.
"Which means they could be a rival," said Sakura. "Other villages will try to set things up, so they have a better deal than us."
"So we have to stay ahead," surmised Sasuke.
"Or, alternatively..." Kakashi paused.
"Keep the others behind," said Sasuke.
"Right," said Kakashi. "Keep on with it."
Naruto finished his work, said goodbye to Kakashi-sensei, and walked. He did not say goodbye to Sakura or Sasuke and decided not to eat ramen. Instead, he took a long walk through the park and began practicing stances on his own. It was something he had taken to doing nonstop, and he was getting very sick of it.
And then the crazy lady showed up again in jackets and nets.
"Naruto Uzumaki?" she asked.
"Ah, whatever it is crazy lady, I didn't do it!" said Naruto.
"Relax, kid, you're not in trouble," said Anko. "The Hokage just wants to have a word with you."
"Um, yes, sure," said Naruto.
Anko paused. "Follow me.
"Sarutobi does this sometimes; call it an initiation, right. It means you're on the right track."
Naruto followed her, and as he did, he became increasingly nervous he'd screwed up. He'd always been a fan of the Fourth and Third Hokage's the most. Hashirama was kind of a loser, Tobirama was a psycho, but Sarutobi was a badass.
Now he was going to meet Sarutobi. A man so awesome he'd had two stays as Hokage. He dwelled in a large, red, conical building accessed by a spiral stair. Following it up, he went through a winding hall and entered a well-lit building. At the far end was the Third Hokage, wearing white robes and a hat.
"Um, Hokage I..." Naruto faltered. "Naruto Uzumaki, reporting for duty."
"Please, sit down Naruto," said the man. "Anko, wait right there."
As the old man looked through his grade point averages, Naruto sat down, afraid he'd turn to stone. Instead, a gnarled hand took the pipe from between his teeth, and his scarred face smiled. "You are to be congratulated on your improving statistics.
"When Anko caught you painting the Hokage Monument, I was concerned you would fail out of the academy. Your sensei Iruka was very pleased that you took your studies seriously.
"Even if you did not make the highest grade, given your disadvantages, it was an achievement."
"Why do I rank this?" asked Naruto.
"I make a point of meeting with all up-and-coming ninjas once or twice in their careers. It helps me get a sense of who they are and how they can improve," said Sarutobi. "I'm told that there is little love between you and your teammates?"
"Sasuke and I didn't get on well in the academy, and Sakura..." Naruto shifted. "She's got her own issues."
"Of that, I am aware," said Sarutobi. "However, I'm concerned for your well-being. Being a ninja is a dangerous task, and on a mission, emotional attachments can save you.
"I believe you should make some friends."
Naruto blinked. "I can't be that important."
"You aren't yet," said Sarutobi with a smile. "But it is never good policy to have a village member have no bonds. Our bonds to our family and friends keep the village strong. They motivate us to excel, and even if those bonds are lost, they keep us together.
"Moreover, your training with Kakashi is insufficient for catching up to your teammates. Sakura and Sasuke have the advantage of training in their homes and with peers; you are behind in that.
"Because of this, I have decided to authorize you to train with Team Guy.
"Guy is a longtime rival of Kakashi, and I think he should be able to help you with your taijutsu. A week or two under him should help you even things up with Sasuke."
"Are you going to be talking with Sakura and Sasuke?" asked Naruto.
"I talk with everyone eventually," said Sarutobi. "I do so when the time seems right. As Hokage, I must be more than a leader. I must be a sort of... Father figure. Being the leader of a village is sort of like being the leader of a huge family.
"If even a single family member has a problem, the family has a problem. Only when this family has a problem, thousands of citizens suffer for it."
Naruto paused. "It can't be that simple."
"I confess, this particular family has had bad apples," said Sarutobi. He pointed with his pipe toward a picture on a wall. "Do you see that picture up there? That is a boy who had the most extraordinary potential. He was skilled obedient, enthusiastic, and became a great hero to the Leaf." Naruto did look and saw a pale boy with dark hair, smiling with Sarutobi behind him in jonin gear. "He dreamed of being Hokage too.
"It was always his dream, and he was a serious contender.
"Unfortunately, he competed against the Fourth Hokage. And though he might have been stronger than the Fourth Hokage, he was not popular. Minato proved the more charismatic, and he was awarded the title.
"My student, Orochimaru, abandoned the Leaf Village to found his own.
"I am concerned that someday, our villages go to war, and there are few people in the Leaf who could fight Orochimaru. I might manage it, but I suspect I would die in the process, and I have no successor."
"But we're at peace, aren't we?" asked Naruto.
"Of course, we are, relatively speaking, of course," said Sarutobi. "There are occasional skirmishes. But a wise man in peace prepares for war. That is why every person in this village must be trying to improve themselves. One day, I will need a successor.
"And with the Senju and Uchiha Clans all but spent, that successor would have to come from one of the lesser clans. Or even from someone without a clan.
"You have a real chance to become Hokage.
"But you must make friends; you must be a reliable support to your allies, even those you despise. To be admired, you must do great deeds of valor on the battlefield. You must take opportunities to better yourself. If you wish to be consulted in matters of strategy, you must educate yourself however you can.
"You must obey your word whenever it is possible. And yet, if the situation is dire, you must be willing to break it for the sake of the village. If you have enemies, you must turn them into friends, yet you must also be respected.
"That is what it means to be Hokage.
"And while I confess I have not been a perfect study, I have lasted longer than anyone else in this job."
At that moment, the door slid open, and into it barged a kid with spiky hair tied back. Rushing in, he held kunai. "Alright, old man, I'm challenging you for the position of Hokage and-"
At that moment, he fell over.
"Hey! You tripped me, didn't you!" said the boy, looking at Naruto.
"No, I didn't, you runt," said Naruto, insulted.
"Oh no," said Anko sadly.
"Yeah, you did," said the boy. "I'll bet you did it while I was distracted and about to throw my kunai."
"Not again," said Anko.
"Do you know who I am?" asked the boy moving forward.
"Grandson of the Hokage," said Anko under her breath.
"I'm the Grandson of the Hokage!" said the boy. "Konohamaru!
"Bet you feel pretty stupid now, huh?!"
"You just tried to assassinate the Hokage," said Naruto. "Believe this."
And then he punched him across the room. Konohamaru hit the wall and landed on one knee.
"...You know, that's actually a good point," said Anko.
"Indeed," said Sarutobi as Konohamaru rubbed his head. "Konohomaru, you are not nearly strong enough to defeat me. And if you did kill me, what were you planning to do next?"
"I wasn't going to kill you," said Konohamaru. "Just stick a kunai in you a little. I'll be the strongest Hokage-"
"Konomaru, you are not Hokage material, strong or weak!" said Anko. "You are a stupid little brat who barged into a private meeting. He had nearly committed treason and are now trying to use your family connections to get out of it.
"Get out of here!"
"A little harsh, Anko," said Sarutobi.
Konohamaru halted. "I... I'm sorry, Grandpa, I just really wanted to be Hokage so badly.
"I just I just...
"Waaah!"
And then he ran out crying.
"Is he going to be okay?" asked Naruto.
"He'd better be," said Anko. "He's going to be a ninja someday, and his bloodline has no special powers and a lot of enemies. Disappointment and pain are going to be very important parts of his life."
"I know the feeling," said Naruto.
"Well, I suppose it's better he learn the lesson now than later," said Sarutobi. "Anko, take Naruto to Guy. I'd best go explain the details of hard work to my grandson."
And they headed out.
Sarutobi was the coolest guy, Naruto decided.
Anko led Naruto out of the village toward a forest clearing. Here, they walked, and she stretched her back muscles. "Alright, kid, you passed the academy, but it only gets harder from here. Guy is one of the strongest ninjas in the village, and he was a teammate under Orochimaru, got it?"
"Yes, ma'am," said Naruto.
"That means that you don't waste his time," said Anko. "You don't make any smart commentary; you don't complain. You just do the schedule gives you, and if he asks you to jump, don't ask how high.
"Just do it."
"Yes, right," said Naruto.
"Within reason," said Anko. "You don't have to wear the outfit."
"Outfit?" asked Naruto. "What outfit-"
At that moment, a man descended, clad in a green jumpsuit with a bowl cut of dark hair, and landed before them. "The power of youth!"
The image of a setting sun was before them.
"Um, okay..." Naruto halted.
"Welcome, prospective ninja, to this garden of youthful manliness!" said Guy. "These are my students, Neji..."
"I'm not striking a pose," said Neji, practicing a stance. His stance was perfect as far as Naruto could tell. He was taller and a bit older than Naruto, with brown hair and the blank eyes of a Hyuga.
"Tenten," said Guy.
"Just bear with it," said Tenten, who had brown hair tied into a bun. She was practicing targets some distance away and clad in pink.
"And Rock Lee," said Guy.
Rock Lee looked like a younger edition of Guy, and he descended. He bowed respectfully. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I hope that our mutual ninja training goes well."
"We went to the academy together," said Naruto. All of them looked a lot stronger.
"We went to the academy with a lot of people," said Neji. "I recall you spent a lot of time on pranks, Naruto."
"Yeah, that was a mistake," said Naruto.
"Pretty much," said Tenten, hurling a kunai.
She got a perfect bullseye. "So, what's the schedule."
Anko had vanished around this point.
"First off, I need you to put these weights on," said Guy-sensei, offering them. "Henceforth, you are to wear this everyone you go. The initial burden posed by these will strengthen your muscles. They will see you become stronger at a faster rate than ever."
Naruto took them and put them on. It made him feel all awkward and irritated to keep doing this.
"Now, Tenten, show him a thing or two about kunai," said Guy-sensei.
"Now that is my specialty," said Tenten.
Tenten, it became apparent, knew more about kunai than Naruto knew there was to know. She constantly corrected his stance or method and had him throw many times. Over time, Naruto got a little better, but Tenten was leagues better than anyone he'd ever seen.
"Is that a good ratio?" asked Naruto at his hits and misses.
"Not really," said Tenten. "In a combat situation, if you throw that many kunai you aren't getting them back. So you have to buy more. Weapons aren't cheap."
"Oh right," said Naruto. "Uh, thanks. So, you're an orphan two." Why had he said that?
"Yup," said Tenten. "Walked out here when I was eight and got myself into the academy through sheer grit. Anyway, keep practicing; I'll pass you over to Neji."
Neji was...
Intense.
His gaze pierced flesh, spirit, and stone.
"Show me your taijutsu stance," said Neji.
Naruto did, and Neji observed his various efforts. No expression came to him as he analyzed his efforts. Finally, he shook his head. "You slouch too much, and your movements waste energy.
"Kakashi-sensei should not have to retrain you in the basics you. Like this." He corrected Naruto's stance. "Try again."
"Is this better?" asked Naruto.
"If this were a fight, you'd be dead," said Neji. "You've left your side exposed. What were you doing all those years?"
"Um, slacking off," said Naruto, feeling ashamed of himself.
The worst part about it was that Naruto liked these guys. Neji, Tenten, and Lee all seemed leagues better to have as friends than Sasuke and Sakura. They didn't make any snide quips or demean him, just gave him an honest assessment. Granted, Neji was critical, but nothing he said was wrong. But Naruto became more and more aware of just how inadequate his training really had been.
"Let's try some other stances," said Neji.
"I'm terrible, aren't I?" asked Naruto.
"There is such a thing as a bad student," said Neji. "Every stance you have is weak, sloppy, or wrong.
"There's nothing for it.
"You're just going to have to completely retrain. Come back here after your daily missions and practice stances where I can see you. If you miss a day or are late, don't come back. I have preparations that I will have to divert time from to help you.
"And I don't mind telling you that you'd be on your own if this had not come as a request from the Hokage's office."
"Right, yes," said Naruto.
"Lee, test his endurance," said Neji. "Tenten, I require your assistance in some training of a different kind."
Tenten blinked. "Again, but um..." She looked at her kunai. "Is now really-"
"Now, Tenten," said Neji.
"Right, sure," said Tenten.
And they headed off.
Silence reigned.
"Are those two dating?" asked Naruto.
"I would not prefer to speak on the subject," said Rock Lee. "You must forgive Neji. He has been brought up under a high-regimented training regime."
"Right," said Naruto.
Rock Lee's training was very simple.
Naruto started doing exercises and was not told to stop for a very, very long time.
Still, the company was better.
Why couldn't he have gotten this team?
