Speech

Thought

Jutsu

VFSNAKE: Not to worry, this chapter introduces girl #2.

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"What'll it be, Tenten?" Ayame Ichiraku asked as she watched the bun-haired girl

"I'll just have a shrimp ramen" She said, sighing in relief at the blissfull silence surrounding the ramen stand. She had just returned from a misson with her team and was somewhat glad to see her Jounin Sensei, Might Gai head to the Hokage's office to make his report with one of her team mates, Rock Lee, joining him. Her other team mate, Neji Hyuuga, had already went home, leaving her to her own devices. As much as she hated to admit it, she savored the moments when Gai and Lee weren't around. She really didn't have anything against them; Gai treated them all equally and encouraged the trio to do their utmost. Even though his condition prevented him from using anything except Taijutsu, Lee was strong and fiercely loyal. It was just...well, getting them to stop talking about 'The Flames of Youth' was as easy as getting either of them to not wear green spandex.

Neji on the other hand, well, the guy was so quiet sometimes you could be by yourself even when he was still around.

She started to unwrap her chopsticks when she felt someone take the seat beside her. At first she thought nothing of it until she saw Ayame blushing brightly at the newcomer. "What's with her?" She thought, following her friend's gaze...

..Only to have her breath hitch in her throat at the boy sitting there; golden spikes framing a face that seemed to have an almost ethereal air to it. Her eyes followed its profile before settling on the faint glow of his left eye. Though, by then he had noticed and faced her way.

"Are you all right?" He asked, raising an eye. It was then she saw his whisker marks, giving him more of a wild look .

"Y-Yeah." She squeaked, trying to fight the blush that threatened to engulf her face, "Wow, where's Kami been hiding THIS one??"

"Oi! Ayame! What's gotten into you? The order's ready!" Old man Ichiraku barked to get his daughter's attention.

"Ayame? Wow..I didn't even recognize you!" The stranger laughed, his voice sending a shiver through both girls, "It's me, Naruto."

Ayame quickly snapped out of her trance, "N-Naruto?" Her expression shifted to shock then to a wide grin as she dove across the table, putting the young man in a bear hug, "Naruto! It IS you!" She squealed.

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Sarutobi took a long draw on his pipe, "So, how strong would you say he is now?"

Kasumi scratched her chin thoughtfully, "It's hard to say. The improvements have made him hard to hurt, and thanks to me being sealed in him, he has a hefty bit of chakra and endurance. In the strength/speed department alone, I'd hazard a guess that guy in the green spandex is one of the few that could handle him in a straight fistfight."

The Hokage nearly choked on the pipe smoke at that bit of info, "Might Gai?? Kami, what've you been teaching him??" He was almost regretting whatever answer she might give

She shrugged, "Nothing fancy, most of the junk they probably teach at that academy, some chakra excercises. Apparently he didn't want to disappoint me 'cause whenever I gave him something to learn, he worked like mad at it. Even with the regeneration he gets from me AND the nanites, he nearly trained himself into the hospital multiple times." She shook her head, laughing a bit "He's like a sponge on steroids; soaks up everything I gave him. Hell, close to half his jutsus are A or S rank."

Sarutobi leaned back in his chair, "A and S!?" Inside he was facing two different reactions. One was constantly asking, "What has she created??" The other was giggling like a lunatic at how the council might react.

"I figured with all the chakra he has, those kind would work pretty good." She replied with a 'seemed like a good idea' expression on her face, "

"I think I'm starting to get too old for this..." He groaned, taking out a bottle of sake to calm his nerves.

"Oh yeah! Before I forget..." Kasumi stood up, "Odds are there's gonna be a few girls here who'll more than likely fall for him." She gave a dismissive wave when Sarutobi tensed slightly, "Calm down. Normally kitsunes don't really like sharing, but in this case I'm willing to make an exception; as long as they like him for the right reasons. However.." The word hung menacingly in the air, "If I find out they're just trying to use him, I promise I will literally put my foot up their ass and leave the boot up there!"

Fighting back a fit of laughter at the image (For reasons even he didn't know, the idea was oddly hilarious), Sarutobi could only give a brief nod. He knew of some women, civilian and kunoichi, who'd probably do the same thing.

"Uh..is..there anything else I should know?" He asked hesitantly. He was still needing time to digest everything she had told him so far.

"Well, he did find out this nifty little trick with his arm, but you'll have to see it for yourself." She said, giving her best 'I know something you don't' smirks, "If that's all, I'm gonna go." When he confirmed that she could leave, she vanished in a plume of crimson smoke just as Gai and Lee came in.

"YOSH!" Gai yelled, "KONOHA'S BEAUTIFUL BEAST HAS RETURNED, HOKAGE-SAMA!"

Sarutobi groaned and downed the rest of the bottle.

.

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Tenten had to make sure she wasn't seeing things; the boy beside her had just polished off fifteen bowls of ramen like it was nothing. Since Ayame called out his name during her tackle, she managed to calm down just enough to introduce herself and make small talk with him, although the blush still remained, Ayame included. She was somewhat startled to learn he was heading to his first day at the Academy, since he looked old enough to have already graduated.

"I've been gone from Konoha for a while, just got back today." Naruto explained, "That and the Hokage said it'll help me get to know some others my age." He paid for the meal and slipped the mask back on, "I needed that." He grinned, "Well, I better get going. Later, Ayame, nice meeting you, Ten-Chan!" He called out as he bolted back down the road, too busy thinking about getting to class on time to realize he had left a noticeable impression on the two girls.

"Heh, I should've known that'd be where you'd eat at." Kasumi shook her head once she reappeared back in his seal. Even though she had a body outside now thanks to the altered seal, she still liked to pop back in once in a while. Mainly to be with him without people knowing she was there.

"What can I say? Those other places I've ate at were all right, but they're nothing compared to Ichiraku's!" He smiled inwardly, picking up speed to make it in time.

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"All right, settle down and let's get back to work." Iruka Umino called out once the students returned from eating. As usual, they ignored him over their own chatter, "SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP!" That time it worked.

"Move, Forehead! I'm sitting by Sasuke-kun!"

"The hell you are, Ino-PIG!"

Well, almost..

Iruka groaned, "Sakura Haruno, Ino Yamanaka! Find a seat already!" He stared at the two as they reluctantly sat down, "I swear those two think more about boys than they ever do about anything."

"Ok, let's go back over.." He was interrupted by the door opened and everyone turned their attention to the masked individual that walked in, "Um, can I help you?"

"Hi, I was told to come to this room. You Iruka Umino?" The stranger asked.

"Uh, yes." He looked at the paper that was promptly handed to him, "Signed by the Hokage?" He shrugged and looked to his students, "Class, it seems we have a new student. Say hello to Naruto Uzumaki."

"Yo."

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I said girl #2, but you'll have to figure out which one it is. evil laugh

Next chapter'll have a bit more, and some violence.

Next time: Hi, I'm bionic!