Disclaimer: All HP characters are the property of JKR, the WB, and respective publishing companies and all Naruto characters are the property of Masashi Kishimoto. This is nothing more than a simple FanFiction that I have written. I have made no money from this or any of the other stories I have posted on this or other sites.
Warnings: Mild to moderate violence, character death, alternate universe (i.e. kiss canon goodbye), some moderate Dumbledore bashing (he's more manipulative than evil but mostly just stubborn), and who knows what else.
AN: This story is self-beta'd; so there may be occasional grammatical or spelling errors that crop up every now and then and for those I apologize in advance.
Chapter 27: Training, Tournaments, and Promotions
The day immediately following the preliminary round, saw the six Konoha Genin that would be participating in the Tournament begin their training. Instead of each Genin being trained for the entire month by just one of the Jounin that had come with them, Satoshi set up a training schedule that would have each Genin spending an hour a day with each of the adults, including the Chuunin (though Kotetsu and Izumo trained as a pair as did Kakashi and Satoshi); giving the Genin eight hours of intense training each day.
Each of the adults focused on a different aspect of training, allowing them to cover a wider range of skills, and the fact that they rotated between them meant that the training was broken up enough that the Genin didn't become burnt out by focusing on just a single skill. Ko worked with each Genin on their taijutsu, Kunugi worked with them on building up their stamina, Ranka focused on helping them increase their speed and force, Tenzou drilled them endlessly on their individual strengths and using their Kekkei Genkai (if they had one), Kotetsu and Izumo had them practicing evasion tactics (using civilian strength Weasley Products instead of throwing weapons), Arashi worked with them on kenjutsu (this alternate persona of Satoshi's strongest skill), and Aranami helped them work on their ninjutsu.
That left Kakashi and Satoshi to work with them on their chakra control (which they did by having them run through their katas and spar against Satoshi while hanging upside down from the ceiling with Kakashi spotting the Genin and offering advice from the ground). The three Genin that did not make it into the Tournament helped with the training as they took turns watching Saki while Satoshi worked, kept their fellow teammates supplied with fresh water, and prepared the group's midday meals.
Each evening, after supper, the three Jounin instructors would meet with each of their respective Genin one at a time to discuss the day's training and offer suggestions for improvements. All six Genin and Satoshi would crash shortly after those discussions; all seven of them exhausted (the Genin because they were trained into the ground and Satoshi because he was driving himself to exhaustion using the time turner on top of the intense training all three of his personas were putting the Genin through).
Kakashi would keep an eye on Saki during the evenings and while Satoshi slept; the gray-haired Jounin doing the least amount of work during the day long training sessions as he mainly just spent his time catching the Genin when they lost concentration and fell from the ceiling. Despite not spending much time with her father, the one and a half year old enjoyed the time she spent playing with the other Genin and she actually slept through the night each night during that month as the three Genin made certain she wore herself out each day, especially during the hours following her afternoon nap (all of them well versed in the troublesome tendencies of a bored Saki after having spent so much time in her company over the past year).
To prevent any of the other villages from spying on them during their training, since they were borrowing a couple of Iwa's training facilities, Satoshi would raise both a privacy barrier and several repelling wards that would drive off anyone sneaking around and disrupt any security cameras in the facility because of the amount of magic needed to create them. In that way, the Konoha Genin trained in secret and both frustrated and confused their opposition (many of whom constantly tried to spy on their training sessions).
At the end of the month, the Jounin gave the Genin three days off in which to rest. During this time, they took the Genin to the local hot springs each day to relax. Aranami as the only 'kunoichi' in the group taking Hinata, Amaru, and Shiho into the women's side along with Kurotsuchi (after promising Hinata that 'she' would be on her best behavior when the young kunoichi gave Satoshi's female alter ego a skeptical glance upon learning 'she' would be supervising the bath house visits). The rest of the Jounin (bar Satoshi) watched over the boys.
Satoshi on the other hand opted to stay in the hotel with Sukima and Saki as he'd spent very little time with his daughter for most of the month and the young Genin still had casts on both of his legs. He had no worries about being attacked as each morning prior to heading out with the others, Arashi would let him know nothing of note had happened. That heads up allowed him to truly relax and focus entirely on his daughter while Sukima either hung out with them, worked on an assortment of assignments that Satoshi gave him, ran through a series of light upper body exercises he'd been given to keep from losing too much strength, or watching the television.
It was about that time that the Hokage's entourage arrived, the Sandaime choosing to attend both Iwa's and Suna's tournaments since they would take place a week apart; giving him time to travel between the two villages (Suna's taking place later due to the extra week they provided the participants to get through the enormous Maze within The Caverns). The Daimyou of Hi no Kuni, on the other hand, chose to attend the Tournament in Kumo in order to make certain that neither the Raikage nor the Daimyou of Kaminari no Kuni felt slighted by Sarutobi's decision to attend the other two Tournaments.
Included in the Hokage's entourage were; Hyuuga Hiashi, Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, Akimichi Chouza, Okada Kanpou, Uzuki Yuugao, and Umino Iruka (the Chuunin functioning as the Hokage's aide). There were also a handful of other Jounin and Chuunin that had come to watch the Tournament though Satoshi didn't really know any of them all that well. A number of civilians had also been pouring in from every country (including Fire Country) during that final week as were representatives from the other shinobi nations; the city near bursting at the seams from the influx of visitors.
Either by design or sheer coincidence, both Tsunade and Jiraiya were in Iwa for the Tournament as well. Jiraiya had decided to attend because Sarutobi had given him a heads up to let him know his godson had passed the first two tasks of the Chuunin Exams. He was also there to keep an ear out for any rumors of trouble coming from Orochimaru; the Sandaime had not ruled out the possibility that his former pupil had been the driving force behind the sudden invitation from the Tsuchikage. Tsunade (and her ever present apprentice, Shizune), on the other hand, had just happened to arrive two weeks earlier in search of a new gamboling house that had been rumored to have been opened within Iwa and chose to stick around to bet on the Chuunin Exams when she learned that there were Genin from Konoha competing.
On the evening prior to the Tournament, the original Konoha delegation was invited to join the Tsuchikage for another feast; this one in honor of the Hokage's arrival. Jiraiya and Tsunade had both been invited as well and the two of them were surprised to see each other while Tsunade was additionally stunned to run into the Hokage (in Iwa of all places). As the leader of the delegation, Satoshi and his daughter once more sat up at the head table with both Kages, the other clan heads from both countries, and the two Sannin present where he finally met Tsunade (the only member of the Densetsu no Sannin that had never stepped foot inside of Konoha at any point after he'd been adopted by Shibi).
Tsunade had done a double take when she'd been introduced to him, first because he looked like he should be sitting down amongst the Genin because of his short stature and second because of his daughter's presence. Satoshi hadn't been all that impressed with the woman or her attitude but maintained his stoic and silent façade in the face of her obvious disapproval.
Tsunade had then given the eighteen year old a sharp look after studying Saki intently and upon learning Saki's age. Satoshi suspected that she'd picked up on the fact that he was circulating his chakra through his daughter's network in a long established connection; despite the fact that he'd been masking said connection. He also suspected that she was jumping to the conclusion that Saki's petite size was a result of neglect or poor health if her frown was anything to go by (something many people often suspected when they learned Saki's age).
Satoshi's response to the rather dirty look she'd directed at him (probably for his daughter supposed less than perfect health and the fact that he'd brought her with him) had been to merely lift his chin and challengingly arch his eyebrow as if daring her to accuse him outright. Tsunade appeared taken aback by his silent defiance for a moment before she gave him a smirk that promised him she'd be taking him to task at the first opportunity; both for his audacity in challenging her and over his daughter's health and presence. Satoshi merely grinned behind his jacket collar, offered her the ghost of a bow, and greeted the rest of his dining companions.
Satoshi felt the Slug Princess's eyes on him more than once during the meal as he sat between Inoichi and Shikaku and chatted easily enough with both men as he'd worked with them for years now while Shikaku monopolized Saki (the Nara Clan Head truly was a sap when it came to small children). Occasionally, he'd answer a question directed his way by either Jiraiya or one of the Kage. Each time he did he couldn't help but notice how Tsunade's brow would crinkle; as if the ease with which he interacted with some of the most powerful shinobi in Konoha (and Iwa) bothered (or maybe confused) her.
Satoshi smiled to himself behind his jacket as he would bet most anything that she thought he was thirteen or fourteen years of age at most (and that was only because of his daughter's presence). As for the level of comfort he felt around the older men, he'd worked with them for so long that the awe of their abilities or positions had long since worn off; though he still treated them with proper respect (Jiraiya in particular; that lesson hadn't yet faded from his mind).
After the meal, there was music and dancing and Satoshi danced with the Tsuchikage's granddaughter, all three of the kunoichi from the Genin teams he'd brought to Iwa, several Iwa kunoichi, and his female counterpart which had those who knew he was dancing with himself laughing and shaking their heads. He also danced several dances with his daughter; endearing himself to more than a few of the woman present (including more than a few kunoichi) as they thought the interaction between father and daughter absolutely adorable.
Not long after that, the festivities of the night ended as the Jounin herded the Genin back to the hotel to get a good night's sleep. Satoshi, in the meantime, gathered his daughter before heading off with Kanpou so the medic could give his daughter a check up since she hadn't had one in almost two months (Kanpou usually saw Saki on a bimonthly basis in order to monitor her rate of growth).
He returned to the guest house an hour after the others and quietly let himself into the room that he shared with Team Four and Kakashi. He was happy to note that all three children were sound asleep while Kakashi had waited up to make certain he got back just fine; not that he needed to do so. It would have been immediately obvious if something had gone wrong because Arashi and Aranami would not have been around if something had happened to Satoshi. The eighteen year old always went through his day as himself first; in order to establish a fail-safe; since if the twins didn't show up, then they knew something happened to Satoshi at some point.
He wordlessly passed Saki to her godfather before sending his entire swarm into the gourd he carried to hold them when he turned time. He then saluted the older man as he stepped into the closet and turned back twenty-four hours to run through the day as Arashi this time. Aranami walked into the room five minutes later and dropped her henge to reveal an exhausted Satoshi (the eighteen year old had just lived through the day twice more). Satoshi collected his swarm and his daughter and patted the older man on the head, earning an annoyed growl from the man, before he slipped into bed where he was out before his head hit the pillow.
Bright and early the next morning, Saki dragged him from his rest by fisting her tiny hands in his hair as she giggled and tugged while planting sloppy kisses on his cheek. Giving a quiet, mock growl, Satoshi sat up and scooped his daughter into his arms and blew raspberries on her belly which set her to shrieking. Her laughter in turn woke up the three Genin and Kakashi who all chuckled (or grumbled fondly) under their breath at the familiar wake up call; Saki had woken up like clockwork at five-thirty-two every morning since the third day into their journey.
Once he'd changed and dressed the tiny tyke for the day, Satoshi tended to his own needs; taking a Pepper-Up Potion to stave off his lingering exhaustion, taking a quick shower to wake himself up completely, and meticulously dressing in a clean change of clothes. This morning, once his Genin were ready, he gave them an intense inspection to make certain they looked their best before he smiled proudly at them. They were met just outside the room by the other two teams and the rest of the Konoha shinobi that were part of the original delegation.
A light breakfast was then eaten before they headed out the front door where they were met by Kurotsuchi and her father who escorted them towards Iwa's Arena where the Tournament would be taking place in just a couple of hours. Just before they entered the archway leading into the Arena, Satoshi stopped the Genin and inspected the six that would be competing one last time before he gave them a shallow bow as he told them to go out there and kick butt. He could have told them to go out there and make him proud but he was already proud of them and all that mattered now was that they did their best so they would have no regrets.
Satoshi watched them disappear in the direction of the field before he allowed Kurotsuchi and Kitsuchi to lead him and the rest of their group up to their seats. The young Jounin was pleased to find that the section they had been led to was fairly low in the stadium and that they would have a clear view of the arena floor. They shared the section with the Jounin-sensei from several other villages, most of which Konoha had somewhat friendly relations with; which made for less trouble. There were also a handful of Iwa Jounin present and Satoshi suspected they were there to make certain no one caused any trouble.
As soon as Satoshi sat down, his daughter squirmed in her sling and he sighed softly and took a moment to settle her on his lap. To keep her from growing board and demanding to be put down, Satoshi began bouncing her on his knee and she squealed in pleasure and laughed as she grabbed hold of his leg when she started sliding sideways.
"Are you going to just play this time or are you actually going to watch the matches?" a Kusa Jounin demanded from a few rows back. "Because if you're just going to play; you can take the squirt somewhere else so those of us who care about the outcomes of the matches can watch in peace."
"Would you rather I ignore my daughter until she starts screaming and crying because she is bored and cranky just to watch the opening ceremonies?" Satoshi asked softly in return without bothering to turn around or stop bouncing his daughter. "And I'll have you know, I have not once ignored any portion of the exams; regardless of what it might have looked like."
"Why exactly did you bring such a young child to the Chuunin Exams?" Kurotsuchi asked over the grumbles from a few of the other Jounin present; it was a question Satoshi suspected the woman had wanted to ask ever since his daughter's presence was first noted.
"My little caterpillar is our team mascot and she's here to cheer for her uncles and aunt as my termites give an exhibition of their skills to the world. Besides, the Chuunin Exams are a diplomatic mission and bringing my daughter was a sign of good will and trust; as no sane man would risk a young, helpless child getting caught in a battle he intended on starting and at the same time the child's presence is saying that he trusts the village he is visiting not to start trouble in the guise of offering a hand of friendship."
"That's why ojiisan was so pleased the moment he first saw your daughter right after you arrived and why he'd been so adamant that I be your escort," Kurotsuchi mused with a frown. "I originally thought it was just the fact that he didn't have to look up quite so high when he stood next to you; though I'm certain that was a factor in his choice as well."
Satoshi snorted softly at the reference to his lack of height as he listened to the other Konoha shinobi sniggering over the offhand comment. Narrowing his eyes behind his glasses, Satoshi promised himself he'd pay them back for that later. Instead of replying or making a comment of his own, Satoshi returned to entertaining his daughter as she used his jacket to climb up onto her feet so that she was standing on his legs. There were a few more soft grumbles at Saki's renewed laughter but most just chose to ignore her; they'd much rather put up with her laughter than listen to her fussing.
Ten minutes later, the first match started and Satoshi leaned forward as Naruto faced off against a shinobi from Ishi. He was not worried that his little blonde otouto would be seriously harmed (Arashi and Aranami would have warned him if he had been) and he had no doubt that Naruto would win this match since he'd seen the look on Arashi's face. A chuckle bubbled up from inside of the Jounin as he realized that Naruto would, without a doubt, allow his more mischievous side out; it was the only reason he could think that his later self would be smirking that smugly.
His prediction would be proven correct less than ten minutes later when Naruto finished humiliating the Ishi Genin with a number of Fred and George's more colorful pranks. Satoshi just knew he was going to get an earful from the Hokage about nurturing the prank loving side of the blonde but for now he simply chuckled a second time as Naruto whistled nonchalantly and leisurely walked off the field with his hands linked at the back of his head.
Fuu's match against an Iwa Nin, which came directly after Naruto's, was decidedly far more dignified though the Genin from Iwa stood about as much of a chance of winning as the Ishi Genin that Naruto had faced. The next two matches were between Genin from other villages and Satoshi only took note of the two winners (an Ishi kunoichi and an older Iwa teen) while he walked his daughter from one side of his lap to the other before allowing her to walk up his chest and flip over to land on his lap again; something she absolutely loved to do that also trained her body.
Then it was Shino's turn to face his opponent (another older Genin from Iwa) and while the twelve year old gave a stunning performance, he still ended up losing as he lost a good portion of his swarm to a powerful fire jutsu as the Iwa nin swapped himself out with a rock clone an instant after he had been surrounded by the Kikaichu and lit both on fire. Shino still went down fighting (his swarm not his only strength); but the older man was stronger, had a longer reach, obviously hit harder, and was covered in some kid of rock armor.
Torune's fight against a teen from Suna was next and apparently the Suna Genin hadn't paid enough attention during the preliminaries as the boy went down much as the opponent Torune had faced in the elimination round; quickly and with little effort thanks to the Dokumushi. Poor Torune looked put out about it too, if the near pouting scowl on his face was any indication.
The next match was a Kusa Genin facing off against Sai and this time the dark haired teen didn't even crack out his ink and scroll as he faced his fellow challenger with nothing but his sword. Sai gave a superb demonstration of his ability to wield the katana that Shin had given to him on his most recent birthday; using the sword defensively to block several long and wide ranged plant based ninjutsu attacks that were sent his way. Towards the end of the fight, he deftly cut a path through a barrage of leaf and flower shuriken that the Kusa Genin had created using ninjutsu in order to get behind the other teen so he could knock him out with the hilt of his sword for the win.
The next match would be one of the most brutal in the first round as Hinata faced off against a twenty year old Genin from Kumo. Over the course of the battle, the man's life story was slowly (and loudly) divulged and Satoshi felt saddened when he learned that the man was the only son of the man that had attempted to kidnap Hinata when she'd not yet been three. A man that Satoshi had captured in the act of kidnapping a then three year old Hinata; a man that was later executed by order of the Hokage for his crimes against Konoha and the Hyuuga.
Hinata sincerely apologized to the Genin for his loss but told him she was not sad that the man had been stopped as she unhesitatingly revealed that she'd been the child his father had attempted to kidnap. She further went on to state that she'd never asked his father to kidnap her out of her bed and that she would not hate him (the young man she was currently fighting) because he'd loved his father, as was proper. Hinata finished the fight not a minute after her speech was over, shutting down the man's chakra network with a chakra enhanced palm strike to his stomach; claiming the win.
She then knelt down and reopened his network so that he would not suffer from an extended period of chakra deprivation and remained at his side until the medics arrived to carry him off the field. Satoshi passed his daughter blindly to Kakashi before he Shunshined down onto the arena floor where Hinata still knelt on the ground; silently crying for the pain she had unknowingly caused a perfect stranger due to something she'd had no control over. Satoshi crouched down in front of the kunoichi that had been something of a little sister to him for eight years and gently brushed the tears from her cheeks as he softly praised her for her compassion.
He then helped her to her feet and gave her a much needed hug before he gently gave her a push in the direction of the contestant's waiting area where both Naruto and Sai were waiting for her (Shino had been taken by Kanpou to be healed after his round). Satoshi waited until she reached the boys before he bowed apologetically to the proctor and the two waiting Genin (his and Hinata's presence on the field had delayed the next match) before he Shunshined away in a swirl of leaves to return to his seat. Kakashi silently handed him back his daughter the instant he was settled back in his seat and Satoshi cuddled her close for a moment; her presence eased the lingering sense of guilt he felt for the part he'd played in taking a father away from his son.
In the moment that a shinobi lost his step in the delicate dance between life and death, it was always those left behind that suffered for the loss. He barely paid any attention to the match taking place down on the field between a kunoichi from Iwa and a shinobi from Ishi. His attention didn't refocus until he heard the final match being announced and that was only because the winner of the first match would be facing the final opponent (due to the odd number of Genin that passed the preliminary round) and that meant that Naruto was facing a second Genin.
Unlike his earlier match, Naruto approached the final battle of the first round with complete seriousness. It was rather unnerving for the Suna Genin he faced; since the Genin had been prepared to be attacked by a wave of prank products not a barrage of fists. A few wind jutsu saw Naruto being pushed back before he could do much damage but the blonde retaliated by using what had become his favorite jutsu; the Kage Bunshin.
The seven clones he created then set about distracting the Sand Genin while the original Naruto worked his way in from behind and caught him by surprise with a left hook from out of nowhere. His clones then closed in on his opponent and the match was soon called in Naruto's favor as the other Genin gave up after finding himself forced to his knees and having a kunai pressed to his throat.
Immediately after that, the second round started and Naruto faced off against Fuu without a break; not that the Jinchuuriki desperately needed it thanks to the presence of the Kyuubi giving him an unnaturally high level of stamina. The two young boys grinned at one another as they both went for their swords. The next thirty minutes were then spent watching the fairly evenly matched pair dance back and forth in a furious kenjutsu and taijutsu battle that almost looked choreographed due to the two and a half years they had been training together.
The fight only ended when Fuu collapsed in exhaustion; his stamina no where near as high as Naruto's. As a Yamanaka, Fuu could have used Shintenshin to force a win but he'd been warned early on to never attempt to possess Naruto due to the presence of the Kyuubi (though Fuu wasn't aware of that tidbit). Despite the loss, the older boy grinned wearily at Naruto when the blonde helped him up and helped him off the field; both of them pleased with the outcome. Naruto because he won and Fuu because he'd lasted longer against Naruto than he would have just a month earlier – a testament of how much he'd improved during the month leading up to the Tournament.
The second match of the second round was the Ishi kunoichi from earlier fighting against an Iwa Genin and the kunoichi squeaked out another win; though she was obviously exhausted afterwards. Torune was up again next, facing the same Genin from Iwa that Shino had faced and while Satoshi's younger cousin fought long and hard, he ultimately failed as the teen he was facing revealed that he could coat his skin in a casing of rock that repelled the Dokumushi and protected his body. Torune had given it his best shot though and had enjoyed the fight; the older teen had pushed him far harder than the other Genin he'd faced and therefore made up for the loss in Torune's eyes.
That brought up the next pair of Konoha Genin to face one another; Hinata and Sai. Satoshi sighed and shook his head as he knew that Sai had developed a crush on the younger kunoichi sometime during the past two years and the eighteen year old knew Sai would be torn between fighting his crush seriously and a desire to avoid hurting said crush. Of course, if Sai purposefully threw the match, Hinata would be angry with him; so he had to at least put forth a real effort.
Satoshi had to give the thirteen year old credit; he made Hinata work for her win. Both of them were near covered over entirely with ink by the time the match ended; Hinata had used her Juken Ryuu to ruthlessly destroy each and every ink creature Sai sent her way, all the while working her way closer until she had him within reach.
That brought it around to Naruto's fourth match (his bad luck to have been placed in the first match of round one and the fact that there had been an odd number Genin participating in the Tournament). If it had been anyone but Naruto, they probably would not have had the energy to fight twice as many battles as the other contestants. That had Satoshi frowning as he considered the reason why Naruto's stamina was so high and why he always recovered so quickly. He made a mental note to ask for the Hokage's permission to speak to the blonde about the Kyuubi he held inside of him now that he was old enough to understand what it meant.
He turned his attention back to the match in time to watch Naruto use a combination of shadow clones and prank products to back the Iwa kunoichi he was facing into a corner where he was waiting to ambush her. It was an excellent tactic that was masterfully executed and Satoshi knew in that instant that Naruto would be promoted to Chuunin even if he lost his next match; he'd effectively demonstrated his ability to think ahead, he was obviously skilled, and he'd proven he wasn't just a prankster despite his mischievous nature.
Satoshi was also certain that Hinata would be promoted, if only because she had demonstrated that she could remain composed when faced with a difficult situation and shown a level of compassion and understanding that a leader needed in order to deal with delicate situations that could turn violent if things weren't handled with care. He was a little uncertain about whether or not Shino would be promoted since he'd not really had a chance to shine like the other two had; though his brother did give it his best shot and the opponent he'd faced had also bested Torune so it wasn't as if his brother was just weak. He was even less certain about whether or not the other Genin would be promoted though he suspected Torune and Fuu might be since they had each done well for themselves.
Satoshi was once again pulled from his musings as Naruto faced yet another kunoichi, this one from Ishi, immediately after his previous match and Satoshi grew concerned because he could actually see how winded his honorary brother had become. It took quite a bit to wear the boundless bundle of enthusiasm down and he had been in four almost back to back difficult matches; his first match didn't count as he'd pranked his way to a win instead of actually fighting. Naruto was just stubborn enough to push his way on through no matter how tired he was getting though and it was a trait that Satoshi recognized in himself.
Tilting his head to one side as he watched Naruto use a barrage of exploding senbon to prevent the kunoichi from using her ninjutsu, Satoshi wondered if Naruto thought he had to win to prove himself.
"He reminds me of you, when you were younger," Kakashi murmured as he leaned closer to Satoshi. "Filled with a burning determination to win so that he will not let down those he holds in high regards. Hinata-chan and Shino-kun are the same way and I have no doubt that your little brother is right now worried beyond words that you and your father will both be disappointed that he couldn't even win his first match. Naruto-kun is also rather stubborn."
"They are all stubborn; they've been around us far too long not to be," Satoshi countered with a soft laugh. "I seem to recall you being rather stubborn on more than one occasion. And I doubt that is the only bad habit that they picked up from us."
"True but at least they haven't picked up your habit of kicking people in the shin when they upset you just because the man you kicked had teased a kunoichi he'd been sweet on; all before you were even properly introduced to the man."
"I'd have kicked you that day too; if you'd stood still long enough for my foot to connect," Satoshi shot back without missing a beat; earning a laugh from the older man.
"Sensei confessed to me later that evening that he was jealous of me for evading your foot," Kakashi stated as he got a far away look in his eyes; the older man momentarily getting lost in the memory. When he looked back down at Satoshi, who'd glanced up at him, he smiled and added, "He said you kicked like a bad tempered mule with a mile high chip on its shoulder just before he showed me the impressive bruise you'd given him."
Satoshi laughed soft and low, a sound that was filled with more melancholy than humor. It had been years since Satoshi had missed Kushina, Minato, Shoichi, Mayumi, Obito, and Rin as much as he did in that moment and the pain of their absence hurt all the more when he thought of all they had missed of Naruto and Shino's lives. He couldn't help but wonder if the two boys ever hated him for something he'd had that they hadn't; a chance to get to know the parents and grandparent they had each lost that day. As if she knew her father was hurting, Saki stood up on Satoshi's lap, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him loudly on the cheek just as Naruto won his match (though not without taking a fair beating from his opponent).
"Arigatou, my little caterpillar; you always know how to cheer your otousan up," Satoshi murmured as he smiled at his daughter and rubbed his nose against hers, causing her to giggle loudly.
"Gomen, otouto; I did not mean to make you sad," Kakashi apologized in a rough voice.
"Not you're fault, Kakashi-nii. I just couldn't help but wonder why those two boys don't hate me for having something they will never have; a chance to know the love that those lost felt for them in the brief moment they had together before they were lost. I had four, almost five, years with Naruto's parents and he was lucky to have gotten four terrible, terror filled hours before they were taken from him."
"They don't hate you because you make those that are no longer with us live through the stories you tell the children," Kakashi solemnly informed him. "You breathe life into the love they gave to you and share it freely with both boys and they will never forget that you've shared a precious gift with them; your many memories of those we mourn each year. I've seen the way their eyes light up when you think of yet another story that you can share with them or when you give them the first line of their favorite story. They hold those stories close to their hearts when they feel the aching loneliness caused by the absence of those who are no longer with us and they turn to you because in their eyes, your hugs and whispered words of comfort are echoes of the comfort and love that were given to you by those they never knew."
Satoshi said nothing further but he did give Kakashi a grateful smile before they both turned their attention down to the field where Hinata was facing off against the Iwa Genin that had taken out both Shino and Torune. The eighteen year old felt his heart rise up into the back of his throat as he watched Hinata gamely face the rather powerful Genin; taking more than a few hits that would leave some rather nasty bruises. Like Naruto, she refused to give up or back down; determination filling her face as she stubbornly fought on despite the obvious pain she was in.
Satoshi half climbed to his feet, his brow furrowed with concern, as he watched his Genin take a hard blow to the ribs that dropped her to her knees; Kakashi's iron grip on his wrist the only thing that stopped him from dropping down to the field in order to stop the fight.
He then watched as Hinata unleashed a bit of chaos that came straight out of Naruto's unwritten Book of Pranks as she wrapped the bigger man's arms up with a Day Tripper. She immediately followed up with a couple dozen of Satoshi's specialized exploding tags (the same ones Satoshi had hit Rokushou Aoi with when the older man had attempted to waylay him the night he'd been promoted to Chuunin). Before the man could recover, Hinata chucked a couple of prank bombs that sent the other Genin staggering backwards as his layer of protective rock armor cracked and crumbled beneath the barrage of explosions while he was coated with a layer of sticky jam and itching powder.
Hinata dashed forward at that point and nailed the man with a powerful, chakra enhanced kick to the family jewels that had him down on his knees clutching his crotch. Hinata then knocked him out as she smashed him in the back of the head with both hands fisted together around the hilt of a kunai (hitting the man with the ring side of the kunai). She stood there blinking down at the man without any comprehension for a full two minutes before she glanced up at the stunned referee and calmly told the Jounin that she didn't think her opponent was going to get back up any time soon.
"No such thing as a fair fight, ne?" Kakashi asked with a rumble of amusement as Satoshi slowly collapsed back into his seat.
"I'd love to meet the Jounin that taught that little lady how to fight," an Iwa Jounin stated with pure amazement after letting out an appreciative whistle.
"It was more of a group effort," Satoshi replied slowly, his voice just slightly louder than normal and thick with emotion. "However, out of all my little termites, she was the only one who took my lessons on dirty fighting seriously because she was considered the weakest of all the kunoichi I trained."
"She was considered the weakest…?" Kurotsuchi parroted with stunned shock as she stared down at the filthy, bruised, and bleeding Genin standing proudly in the middle of the field clutching her ribs with one hand.
"She is also the shortest," Izumo stated with a laugh. "But we've learned that size is not a measure of strength."
"Take an exploding tag, for example," Kotetsu added, earning a groan from Satoshi. "They are small flimsy pieces of paper and far more dangerous than a brace of shuriken if used properly; easily able to remove and destroy protective armor."
"Yep… fear the power of the almighty exploding tag; especially when it's powered by sheer genius," Izumo finished as he smirked in Satoshi's direction.
The rest of the Konoha shinobi laughed as Satoshi buried his head against his daughter's back while she giggled and clapped her hands in response to the laughter of the adults. A few minutes later, the entire stadium fell silent as Naruto and Hinata faced each other in the middle of the field (the final match of the Tournament); Hinata still clutching her ribs and Naruto barely standing due to his exhaustion and his left wrist and lower arm severely swollen (and mostly likely broken from where he'd been caught in an earth jutsu during his previous match).
There was a bit of grumbling from the crowd when Naruto suddenly bowed low to Hinata before he forfeited the match; citing his broken wrist and two cracked ribs as a hindrance. Satoshi laughed when Hinata protested hotly that it should be her forfeiting because she'd broken her foot (when she kicked the older Genin, as that part of his armor hadn't been completely destroyed like the rest had been), had twice as many cracked ribs, and a punctured lung to boot. Naruto only laughed and told her it was too late as he'd already given the match to her as he bowed a second time before stumbling off the field.
Satoshi began giggling hysterically when Hinata stamped her broken foot in frustration and started cursing up a blue streak as she hopped around on her other foot which in turn aggravated her ribs and lung. He was still laughing as he Shunshined down the field with his daughter and arrived just inches away from Hiashi and Kanpou who'd both been worried about the kunoichi. Satoshi stepped forward to let Saki kiss her 'auntie's' cheek before he stood back beside Hiashi while Kanpou worked on healing her punctured lung.
"I owe you my gratitude, Aburame-san," Hiashi intoned a moment later. "You gave my daughter a gift without equal; you gave her strength, courage, and self-confidence while I was lost in my grief over the loss of my wife followed almost immediately by the loss of my brother."
"Please, Hyuuga-sama, you of all people have the right to call me by my first name."
"No, you've earned my respect a hundred times over for all that you've done for my family and my clan and if anything it is you who have earned the right to call me by my first name. Hinata's performance today has opened my eyes and shown me just how much of my daughter's life I've missed out on and I suspect the reason that the Sandaime and my father were so adamant that I be part of his entourage was so that I could see for myself that there are reasons enough for me to focus on the living instead of holding onto the dead."
Satoshi watched the man walk forward to tenderly (and hesitantly) take hold of his daughter's hand as he softly praised her performance. After a moment he shook his head in bemusement and intercepted Kanpou to get a brief report from the medic on his Genin's status. When he finished, he turned around to find Hinata hugging her father (a rare public display of affection from the normally cold and stoic man). Loathe to disturb such a touching moment between father and daughter, he simply wrote four words on a scrap of parchment that he discreetly slipped into her pocket with a chakra string before he made his way to where Kanpou was treating Naruto's wrist amidst the other Genin from their village.
Satoshi made it a point to let all of the boys that he'd helped train for the last two years know that he was very proud of them before warning Naruto that Hinata would make him pay for being noble the first chance she got. Satoshi then returned to the stands as the closing ceremony began to start. He smiled when he saw Hinata finally find the note he'd tucked in her pocket, her smile bright enough to light the darkest cave as she briefly glanced up in his direction after reading it.
Later that evening, towards the end of the celebratory feast that was held in a private dining room of one of the more popular restaurants in Iwa immediately following the closing ceremonies of the Tournament, the Sandaime Hokage rose to his feet and cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. The shinobi in the room fell silent and turned their attention to the aged shinobi that had led them for over forty years of his life as he scrutinized those that had been part of the delegation he'd sent to participate in Iwa's Exams.
"Nearly two months ago I selected a handful of individuals to represent our village and knowingly sent them into what was once hostile territory on a mission of utmost importance; to reestablish diplomatic ties to a village with which Konoha has had fragile bonds resting on a rather flimsy treaty since the end of the Third Great War," Sarutobi solemnly intoned. "As hard as it was for me to choose who I would send, it was without a doubt far harder to accept a mission knowing you could potentially be walking into trap and yet that is exactly what these fine young men and women did."
"In this world, there are three kinds of individuals; those who are destined to lead their fellow man, those who will always follow in the footsteps of others, and those rare individuals who are capable of doing both when the need arises. Becoming a Chuunin isn't just about how well you can fight or how well you can plan ahead; it's about having the courage to put your faith in your teammates, about bearing the pain and hardship thrown your way with unflinching determination, and about outgrowing your limitations to reach new heights."
"It takes a special kind of courage to follow an order you fear may lead to your death, or worse. Well over seven weeks ago, I wished nine Genin good luck and safe journey as they headed into the unknown and tonight I am honored to look upon nine new Chuunin who demonstrated that they have the potential to lead but more importantly that they have the ability to follow orders and behave professionally when even a single misstep or slip of the tongue could have started another war."
The nine former Genin glanced at one another in shock before Naruto jumped up and whooped; setting off the others in turn. It was at that point that Nara Shikaku dutifully passed each of the nine former Genin a scroll containing their new flack jackets. Satoshi suspected that the Hokage had decided to promote them all even before he'd seen them fight in the Tournament based upon the reports that had sent back to the village. It was actually one possible outcome that Satoshi had not considered when he was speculating on which Genin would earn their promotions.
It was also an outcome that Satoshi had no trouble accepting. Satoshi felt proud of them all but most especially of those that he saw as a part of his family and he smiled into his jacket's collar while running his fingers through his sleeping daughter's hair. A shoulder bump from Kakashi had Satoshi glancing up into the beaming face of the older Jounin, his cloth mask unable to hide the wide grin he wore.
"The nine of you have done Konoha proud," the Hokage continued once the newly promoted Chuunin settled down and returned to their seats. "I was impressed with the skills of the six individuals that participated in today's Tournament and only wish I'd had the same opportunity to see the rest of you display the skills I'm certain each of you have obtained through your years of training. A few of you had an additional opportunity to shine today and I find myself contemplating doing something that has never been done before. There is one question I need to have answered before I finish my announcements though."
Here, the Hokage paused and unflinchingly fixed his raptor's gaze on one Uzumaki Naruto before asking, "Why did you feel the need to humiliate your first opponent in front of an audience of thousands?"
"He insulted and threatened Toshi-nii and made veiled threats towards my little mei," Naruto replied steadily as he raised his chin slightly and held the Hokage's gaze without shame and without arrogance. "I promised him that I would make him pay for his insults and threats and I was taught that one should never break a promise. I also thought it best to give him a lesson in humility rather than slit his throat in front of an audience."
"I am relieved that you at least had a reason for degrading him aside from the fact that you could and I will turn a blind eye to that type of behavior this time; only because you chose a more mature way of dealing with his words and did not allow your temper to rule your actions completely," Sarutobi allowed after holding Naruto's gaze a moment longer. "However, I feel the need to remind you that you represent the village when you are outside of its walls and that your actions reflect upon the village as a whole. That said, the rest of your matches were something to behold and your unwavering determination shone through as you faced far more opponents than any other competitor."
"Due to your ability to think on your feet and your staunch perseverance in the face of what could have been an unfair disadvantage, I have decided to promote you to Tokubetsu Jounin on top of your promotion to Chuunin. Congratulations, Naruto-kun; you are, to the best of my knowledge, the first shinobi in Konoha's history to be promoted twice in one hour."
"Jounin…?" Naruto repeated in disbelief. "But… but… Jounin!?"
"Tokubetsu Jounin," Sarutobi corrected with a soft laugh. "It is a ranking that falls somewhere between Chuunin and Jounin and is a position intended for those individuals that have shown exceptional skills but are not quite ready to bear the full responsibility that comes with the title Jounin. You have earned it."
"This is where you stand up, bow to the Hokage, and say thank you, Naruto-kun," Satoshi stage whispered as he prodded the gob smacked pre-teen with his foot from beneath the table.
"Ari…arigatou," Naruto stammered as he executed a wobbly half bow while trying to stand and nearly ended up flat on his face to the amusement of the adults in the room.
Several of the adults jokingly congratulated the Hokage for managing to stun Naruto speechless before congratulating the boy in question on his double promotion. Satoshi remained silent until the noise died down and then he pulled off his sunglasses and leaned forward as he prodded the blonde with his foot a second time until overly bright sapphire eyes glanced up to meet intense emeralds.
"I am certain that both of your parents are watching you right this minute, Naruto-kun," Satoshi fervently declared loud and clear, the certainty in his voice catching the attention of everyone as the room fell silent as those that could for once see his emerald eyes were captured by the wealth of emotion filling them. "And there is no doubt in my mind that they are both proud of you and your accomplishments. Knowing your parents, I'd say their only regrets would be that they couldn't be here to share this moment with you and tell you themselves just how much they love you and how proud you have made them."
"Doumo arigatou, oniisan," Naruto breathed as his eyes shimmered with unshed tears of joy.
Satoshi nodded once before he slipped his sunglasses back on and tucked his emotions back behind the invisible mask he always wore. Tsunade, who had observed the entire scene from her seat beside the Hokage, furrowed her brow in confusion as she glanced between Naruto and Satoshi several times before taking in the looks on the faces of the other adults present. As if sensing her gaze, Satoshi turned and looked right at the esteemed kunoichi for a long moment until his attention was drawn back to his daughter as she stirred in her sleep before snuggling closer into Satoshi's chest. His fingers soon resumed their gentle grooming of her hair and the toddler let out a contented purr as she relaxed back into a deeper sleep.
"Moving on," Sarutobi murmured as he cleared his throat to bring the attention back to him after the rather poignant moment. "Hyuuga Hinata, like Naruto-kun, you impressed me during the Tournament when you displayed a depth of compassion and maturity far beyond your years towards an individual that you could have hated for his connection to one whom, in the past, sought to harm you. You also persevered against a stronger opponent by using calm logic and subterfuge despite the intense pain you must have been feeling at the time. In light of the potential I saw in you today, I am therefore promoting you to Tokubetsu Jounin."
"Anata wa watashi o sonchou shi, Hokage-sama," Hinata murmured formally as she stood up and bowed as gracefully as she could due to the lingering tightness in her chest from her injured ribs to the Hokage; her face turning pink in pleased embarrassment over being singled out.
"Your okaasan would be proud of you if she could see you now," Hiashi softly declared to the shock of the room; much as the physical display of affection in front of the entire stadium had shocked them earlier. "I am proud of you and of the honor you bring to our clan as my heir."
Hinata beamed at her father, love and joy shining in her eyes in light of the rare praise that he'd bestowed upon her and Satoshi smiled contentedly as he gazed at Shino (who was displaying no signs of jealousy over both of his teammates being singled out) before shifting his gaze to the other newly made Chuunin who were also showing no signs of being upset over two of their members getting additional honors.
"I am proud of you all," Satoshi murmured as he glanced at each of the nine young shinobi in turn. "Never doubt that you've earned your promotions through hard work, determination, trust, and teamwork. It was a privilege to have born witness to you earning your first set of wings and I look forward to the day when you each surpass me as I know you each have the potential to do."
"Speaking of potential, I have one more honor to bestow this evening," Sarutobi announced; once more drawing the focus back to himself as everyone wondered who would be singled out next. "It is hard enough to follow through with a difficult order given to you by a commanding officer and yet it is far harder to give that order in the first place. To know that you could well be sending men and women to their deaths and finding the strength to send them anyway because you know that not sending them could mean that far more people will die."
"As Hokage, one of my jobs is to assign the correct team to the higher ranked missions; weighing their skills against the requirements of the mission and I am by no means perfect and have made mistakes. Once the mission has been assigned, for better or for worse, the Jounin in charge of that team must decide how he is going to carry out the mission and his decisions will ultimately determine whether or not the mission will fail. A true leader balances on a knife's edge as he weighs the strengths and weaknesses of those he leads against the needs and restrictions of the mission."
"He must be capable of making snap decisions in addition to planning ahead for a myriad of problems that could crop up during the course of a mission while not forgetting to listen to the suggestions and advice of those following him in matters where they hold more experience. Confidence in one's own ability without arrogance is a necessity when one is to lead a mission where a single mistake could have dire consequences. I have seen many talented men and women fall both figuratively and literally due to a single misjudgment or split second's hesitation at the wrong moment. I have also seen a handful of individuals pull off the impossible because they refused to falter and trusted their instincts intrinsically."
Satoshi grew still enough to be mistaken for a statue as the Hokage spoke of the difficulties one faced as a leader. His stomach was then invaded by butterflies and he felt his mouth go dry as he forgot how to breathe the moment the Hokage mentioned him by name; the teen completely unprepared for the Hokage to single him out so unexpectedly.
"When I chose Aburame Satoshi to lead the delegation I wished to send here to Iwa, a number of individuals protested due to his young age and apparent inexperience; though those who knew him and knew of the many accomplishments he'd achieved through the years since he first obtained his hitai-ate stood firmly behind my choice. Imagine my surprise and pleasure when I learned that the young man in question not only lived up to my very high expectations, and those of more than half of my advisory council and departmental heads, but surpassed them completely."
"With one single, unconventional decision to bring his daughter along on a mission that could have turned ugly at a moment's notice; he managed to convey Konoha's sincerity in accepting the olive branch that Iwa held out and told Iwa that he harbored no secret doubts and trusted their word and their honor without question. One direct result of that decision was the Sandaime Tsuchikage, the Daimyou of Tsuchi no Kuni, the Daimyou of Hi no Kuni, and myself signing an ironclad treaty between our two villages and our two countries less than twenty-four hours ago that will allow for an open exchange of trade and missions between our countries."
Satoshi had no idea that his daughter's presence had made that much of an impact and he swallowed thickly around the lump in his throat while fighting the burning numbness that was creeping up the back of his neck as the eyes of everyone in the room slowly settled upon him. He'd always hated being the center of attention; even more so after dealing with the blind adoration the wizarding world had foisted upon him for some perceived greatness they believed him to possess just because he didn't die as a baby until he did something they didn't like and they turned on him in an instant.
Sure, he liked showing off once in a while and had no trouble performing in front of a crowd; but that didn't mean he liked feeling as if he was sitting beneath a microscope or as if he was some rare creature a zoological exhibit. Ducking his head slightly as his cheeks grew pink, he studied the multicolored strands of his daughter's hair as if he though he could find all the answers to life's mysteries amidst the wild threads of red, black, and deep purple.
"Aburame Satoshi, it is with great pleasure and utmost satisfaction that I hereby promote you to the rank of captain in honor of your impeccable performance and unwavering dedication to both your mission and your village," Sarutobi declared warmly as Shikaku helped the rather flabbergasted Satoshi to his feet before draping a captain's cloak around his shoulders.
Robotically, Satoshi passed his daughter into the arms of her godfather before he bowed deeply to the Hokage; holding his torso parallel to the ground for a heartbeat longer than necessary in order to give himself a chance to collect his scattered thoughts. As he straightened up he shot a sideways glance at his older selves only to receive shrugs in return; a clear indication that they'd had their memories sealed prior to turning back time.
Taking a deep breath, Satoshi finally glanced up to meet the Hokage's gaze as he softly replied, "I am honored and humbled by your faith in me and my abilities and I shall strive to live up to your expectations for as long as I draw breath." He paused for a moment and ran a hand along one edge of the cloak as he glanced at the members of the delegation he'd led before he continued. "I owe more than words could say to those who placed their faith in me and to those who taught me what it meant to be a shinobi and leader through the years since I first earned my hitai-ate."
He sat back down a moment later as the applause died down, fiddling with the edge of the white cloak still sitting on his shoulders as he studied the cloak with an air of numb detachment. The hem was embroidered with lazy tongues of black flames, there was a two foot tall replica of the AnBu tattoo done in red and black centered upon the back, just above the symbol was Satoshi's surname stitched in gold thread three inches tall, and the word teichou stitched half as tall in crisp black right below his name. Stitched onto both inner edges of the collar was a pair of the stylized leaves like the one that was on the hitai-ate of Konoha's shinobi in metallic red, yellow, and gold thread outlined in black; giving the appearance that they were drawn with fire.
It was a cloak that Satoshi had seen only a small handful of shinobi wear in his lifetime; most notably Kushina, Minato (before the man had been inaugurated as the Yondaime Hokage), Genma, and Kakashi (who'd earned it at the end of Satoshi's fourth year at Hogwarts). A cloak that he'd never before pictured himself wearing as he'd not once considered himself good enough to be named one of the twenty captains that stood just one step below the Shinobi Commander and from whom the current commander's successor would be chosen.
"Wear it proudly," Kakashi whispered warmly as he tucked Saki back into her father's arms. "You've earned it."
"Torifu will pout for months over the fact that he was not here to personally bestow your cloak upon you," Shikaku murmured with a soft laugh as he ruffled Satoshi's hair fondly. A moment later, he purposefully brushed his fingers against Satoshi's covered AnBu tattoo as he added, "He's been your staunchest supporter, not counting your father, since your twelfth birthday. I dare say your father will be put out that he missed this moment as well since you are the first Aburame to receive this honor since Aburame Shoichi nearly fifty years ago."
The news that his grandfather had been a Jounin Captain startled Satoshi; neither his father nor his grandfather had ever mentioned that fact in his presence. It made him wonder what else he didn't know about his grandfather and if there was a reason both men had avoided mentioning it; though to be fair Shoichi had died when Satoshi was still fairly young (nearly twelve years ago now) and it was probably a story the man had been saving for when Satoshi was old enough to appreciate whatever lesson said story was meant to impart. However, it was equally possible that the tale was painful for one or both men and they therefore chose not to speak of it. Satoshi decided he'd ask his father when they were alone and not push for answers if there was any sign the topic was a painful one.
Satoshi was saved from further scrutiny and awkward embarrassment by the arrival of dessert only for it to return tenfold when the toasting, or in more than one case the roasting, started. Thankfully, Satoshi had a legitimate reason to toast (and roast) more than a few people in return so he was at least no longer standing in the spotlight alone. As he drank a seemingly endless supply of sake, Satoshi was never more grateful of his magic and body's ability to filter out any toxins that entered his bloodstream.
Amidst the apparent drunkenness of the rest of the adults that were drinking alcohol, Satoshi was an island of sobriety (his later selves acting out the part of drunkards as they flirted with all of the adults except Jiraiya and Genma; only the children and Shizune actively avoiding all alcohol). It amused him to no end each time one of the adults (bar those that were aware of his inability to get drunk) frowned at him or stared at him in confusion as they watched him match them glass for glass without showing any evidence that he was drinking alcohol (few of them aware of his magic's ability to filter the alcohol from his blood).
Translations: Japanese to English
Anata wa watashi o sonchou shi – according to Google translate this is the Japanese equivalent of saying; you honor me. I'm hoping I got it correct but if I made a mistake and you know the proper way to say/write the phrase please, please let me know so I can fix it. I was trying to convey Hinata's more formal upbringing and the fact that she felt honored by the regard that the Hokage had shown her by singling her out; if that makes sense.
Amegakure (Ame) – Hidden Rain Village
Daimyou – feudal lord (based on my understanding of the Naruto verse)
Densetsu no Sannin – Legendary Three Ninja
Doumo arigatou – thank you very much
Gomen – I'm sorry (informal)
Hi no Kuni – Fire Country
Ishigakure (Ishi) – Hidden Stone Village
Iwagakure (Iwa) – Hidden Rock Village
Juuken Ryuu – gentle fist style (Hyuuga clan taijutsu style)
Kaminari no Kuni – Lightning Country
Kirigakure (Kiri) – Hidden Mist Village
Kumogakure (Kumo) – Hidden Cloud Village
Kusagakure (Kusa) – Hidden Grass Village
Mei – niece
Senpai – form of address between peers or equals
Teichou – captain
Tokubetsu (Jounin) – special (Jounin/elite ninja)
Sunagakure (Suna) – Hidden Sand Village
Takigakure (Taki) – Hidden Waterfall Village
Yugakure (Yu) – Hidden Hot Springs Village
AN: This chapter was a rather difficult chapter to write and there are parts of it that I am still somewhat dissatisfied with because they didn't turn out the way I'd originally planned for them to. The main section that I am unhappy with is the matches of the Tournament as I'd originally wanted to go into more detail and include some of the dialogue between the opponents in order to make it a bit more entertaining but I kept getting stuck each time I tried. I guess part of that is because I didn't want to draw this arc out for several chapters like some authors have done with the Chuunin Exam Arcs (regardless of which village they are being held in).
Anyway, I've fiddled with this chapter hundreds of times to get it where it is now and while it's not perfect, it is far better than the original draft I wrote two or three years ago. It is also a huge deviation from Canon since Naruto, Shino, and Hinata will not be participating in the canon version of Konoha's Chuunin Exam Arc since they have now been promoted (alongside six of their peers). So, yes, that will influence the way things unfold during that arc. There are still a few events that need to take place before we get to that point though (the Trip Home and the Wave Arc, for starters).
Now that that's out of the way, all I have left to say is that while I will still be updating each of my WIP stories (so long as the story has chapters in the queue) once a week, I will no longer be posting a chapter a day. The reason for the change basically boils down to time management since stopping what I'm doing to edit and upload a chapter can be a pain at times.
So, you can expect this story to be updated weekly for the foreseeable future (since this story does have the most chapters sitting in the queue). On top of that, we are fast approaching the point at which the sub plots for this story diverge with this story covering the Satoshi/Fu pairing w/ an eventual Sakura-unfangirlized sub plot (no, Sakura is not going to be paired with Satoshi, Sasuke, Shino, or Naruto. I have a different pairing in mind for her once she's matured a bit and I'm NOT going to reveal that in much, MUCH, later in the story). Once I post the divergent chapter, I will post the alternative version of the story (Satoshi/Temari pairing with very little mentions of Sakura) under a new story whose title I will release once I make a decision on what I'm going to call it.
Anywho, that's enough from me for now. ~ Jenn