Disclaimer: don't own Naruto
Chapter 25
The day of the tournament dawned, bright, and clear as the people flocked to the betting stalls to bet on their favorite teams. One man fire red hair looked at the betting tables before betting a thousand yen on Naruto to make it to the next round. The teller looked at him smirking as he thought to himself that he would be up a thousand. The red head just laughed turning to a group of people behind him. "Hey guys don't forget to bet on Naru."
A brown haired woman shook her head and walked up smacking him on the arm. "Of course who wouldn't bet on a sure win and besides naru told us about his family so don't forget them too."
With that she walked to the teller and put eight hundred yen on Hinata Hyuuga, Shino Aburame, and Kiba Inuzuka to make it to the second round. After a few more people placed bets the group walked off talking lowly. The woman who made her bet first turned to the red head "So Shintaro when will we get to meet Naru and his family we need to give the others their head bands so they can compete."
Shinataro laughed pointing in front of them where a small shop that sported the sign of Ichiruka ramen on it. "Where else but at a ramen bar megumi?"
She laughed her voice causing others to turn in their direction. Their group made their way under the low hang and immediately spotted naruto's group. They were all sitting around three table pushed together near the back. There were eight males of various heritages judging by their scents and one female with a large dog sitting beside their table. Making their way over Kenshin being the joker ran up to the table and launched himself so he landed in Naruto's lap startling the others who were in deep conversation.
Naruto just looked at his adopted brother as he was hugged signaling the others that it was safe. "How are you doing Kenshin I'm guessing since you're here then so are the others."
That signaled Shinataro and the rest of the demons to make their appearance. Smiling Naturo stood hugging each of them before going to introductions. "Guys this is my other family Shinatro his wife Lunair their son Kenshin and their daughter Mina. The others are megumi and the other Oni shinobi."
They introduced themselves and all sat down to finish enjoying their ramen. Naruto grinned as he watched his two families gather around him and enjoy the food of the gods. Behind the counter Teuchi grinned as well it was always better to have more customers than none at all. To see all these people brought by his number one customer his rent would be paid in full from just one day. Beside him Ayamei laughed as she joked with the woman Naruto introduced as Mina finding that they had a lot in common.
It took them one sitting with all of Naruto's pack to finish all the ramen Teuchi had in stock and the seller had to close down but he was just in time to go to the outdoor market that Konoha was hosting for the tournament. Wandering around town gave the oni a chance to spot the various holes in Konoha's defenses. Kenshin scoffed as he spotted so many ways to sneak in it wasn't even funny. He turned to his dad and say his disgusted look as well. "Damn ain't this supposed to be a military village was wid all da security breeches?"
Naruto frowned but sighed stopping at the intersection between the civilian sector and the arena area. Looking at his surrogate family and his friends knowing that they felt the same as him. "These people are lax and they let the civilians rule; the leader has very little say in the management of the village he is a figure head mostly and stuck doing paperwork just signing anything put on his desk."
Shino shook his head before pointing at the arena. "We have to go if we are late then we can be disqualified without any one questioning it."
Hinata and Kiba nodded before bowing to the people and turning to run for the arena. Naruto staid for a moment before he to left after hugging his family. "see you guys at the tournament."
Mina looked after her youngest brother and sighed for some reason she knew trouble was ahead.
~serius
