Author: R. Anthony Roth

Pairing(s): Naruhina & potentially others

Language: Canadian English

"Speech"

'Thought'

"Kyuubi/Inner Sakura speech"

'Kyuubi/Inner Sakura thought'

(Clarification, fun fact or author's musing, or the name of the person who stated a quote)

(Anything bolded is either sarcasm, emotion of some sort, or potentially extraneous material)

A/N: If you are on this chapter and you haven't written a constructive review yet, then well you should! Looking for beta readers btw, so don't hesitate to give me a message, and a review  Feel free to hate Hiashi's guts all you want, I make him especially likable in this chapter. Oh, and Haku is a GIRL. I'm sorry but Masashi Kishimoto seriously got his kink on when he drew Haku, and then decided she would be a boy. Furthermore I find the whole "insert quote" said is getting troublesome, so I'm just going with (name of person who stated the quote) after a quote, especially in dialogue, its a lot more convenient and interrupts the flow less. Now on to the show!

Naruto woke up with a start and checked his clock, to his unending surprise he realized that for once he wasn't late! He quickly took this opportunity to pray to whatever kami was watching out for him, then continuing with his daily preparation he got dressed and had breakfast.

Throughout this procedure Naruto was trembling, not from fatigue, nor fear, but rather, from excitement. Today was his first C-Class mission, a chance to escort a helpless bridge builder and defend him from the evils of the world. Unfortunately for Naruto, he didn't know just how cranky a "helpless bridge builder" could get, and fate was planning on providing him a rude wake up call.

Naruto finished his preparations for the journey and rushed to the gates of Konoha, where Hinata was waiting, surprisingly by herself. Moreover Naruto could tell that something was wrong with her, she seemed bleary eyed like she hadn't slept much, and her posture conveyed a sense of misery and despair.

When he asked her about it she simply gave a quiet "meep" and turned away, with his sudden burst of insight and observational skill gone, Naruto returned to his normally thickness and thought that he had said something wrong. His further attempts to apologize for his perceived misdeed were met with blushing and finally a result: "I had a family problem, and I didn't sleep well" was all Hinata revealed, and while this was enough for Naruto, readers clearly expect more. So enjoy:

------------------------------------The Full Flashback Story----------------------------------------

Hinata and Hiashi are sitting in the Hyuuga Dojo, this takes place after Team 9 received their C-Class mission

"Tousan (father) our team is going on a C-Class mission to the Land of the Waves tomorrow, so I won't be here for a while"

"Hmmm C-Class eh? You sure you aren't too weak for anything harder than D-Class?"

"T-tousan G-g-gai-sensei expressed his c-confidence in our abilities…."

"He expressed confidence in your TEAM'S abilities, not yours, I asked you if YOU were too weak for this"

"I... d-d-don't know.."

"Well the Hyuuga family can't have itself disgraced by your poor performance in the field, so I would like to see your capabilities to gauge them myself"

"H-h-h-hai Tousan"

Readying themselves on either side of the dojo, Hiashi and Hinata activated their Byakugan, and the match began. Hiashi initiated with a couple of small juken bursts to test her defenses, as she worked to dodge them he continued the onslaught, increasing his speed and power until Hinata was unable to do anything except dodge and block.

After a few tense seconds of retreat Hinata was hit by a strike and her defense faltered, this was followed by numerous other scathing hits to her tenketsu points, enough to cause her pain, but not to block them completely.

"Hinata your defense is sloppy, all you seem capable of is dodging, but the moment you get hit you stop and leave numerous openings. Juken style is about defence AND offence, if you can't block my strikes with your own, then you won't ever be able to attack properly either. Get back on your feet!"

"Hai"

This one-sided battering continued for many hours more, with Hiashi coupling his physical hits with emotional ones, which although potentially intended to be constructive, only resulted in further weakening and demoralizing Hinata.

"At your current state I don't think it would be acceptable for me to allow you on a mission away from Konoha, neither I nor you can trust the lives of your comrades to your clearly incapable hands"

"Naruto… softly"

"What was that Hinata? questioned Hiashi, "Nothing…" replied Hinata

"Very well I shall inform your sensei of your absence"(Hiashi)

"But Tousan they are part of my team I need to be with them!" shouted Hinata in a sudden outburst of confidence, followed immediately by and equally pervasive silence

"So, you think you need to be with your team hmmm? Admirable perhaps, but it doesn't change the fact that you are useless in this state, we will continue this training until I think that you are ready for your mission. Begin!"

-----------------------------------------------End Flashback------------------------------------------

Just as Naruto was beginning to get impatient he glimpsed a flash of green in the distance. With closer observation he realized that Gai was approaching, but he looked a lot taller, almost as if he was carrying someone, as they moved closer the mystery solved itself

The approaching duo's position drew the chuckles and curious stares of numerous villagers, Gai was walking on his hands, and balanced in a similar fashion on Gai's feet was Lee, the two seemed to be on the verge of collapse however. When they finally reached the gates, Lee tumbled off Gai's feet, and Gai collapsed in a heap.

"GAI-SENSEI"

"LEE"

"The furnace of our youthful passion burns strong!" blubbered Lee

"We made it, guided by the flowing waters of our fountain of youthful energy!" agreed a teary-eyed Gai

In response to this Naruto preformed an elegant face-crash, Hinata however was too tired and made do with a sweat drop.

"I'm not even going to ask what random reason you two have for walking around like a two person circus act" sighed an exasperated Naruto

"Ahh Naruto, soon you will also understand and partake in the glorious days of your youth with us!" replied Gai

"GAI-SENSEI YOU'RE INSPIRATIONAL WORDS KEEP ME GOING!" insert tearful hugging and a fake sunset scene here

"Ahem…. Don't tell me that you guys are the clowns responsible for guarding me…" asked the recently arrived bridge builder

'We just met the guy and already he's insulting us, then again considering Gai and Lee I can't in good faith blame him' thought Naruto

"Yosh! We are the Konoha nin assigned to your safety, together we shall carry you to the Land of the Waves on our tide of youthful spirit!" expostulated a still emotional Gai

'That has got to be the worst pun I've ever heard, and when you get to my age you tend to have heard a lot' thought Tazuna

"Well you jokers better do a good job, I'm not sure if I can trust my skin to a bunch of crazies like you guys" berated the now annoyed Tazuna

"CRAZIES!? HEY OLD MAN!! You should be thanking us for protecting your cranky old hide, this is my first C-Class mission and you're already ruining" retorted a rapidly angered Naruto

"Why you little brat!"

"Please Naruto-kun Tazuna-san is our contractee…." Hinata softly berated

"Fine Fine, but only because Hinata-san asked me"(Naruto). The result of this exchange was a reasonable familiarization between the Team and their client, in addition to Hinata entering a fit of blushing and stuttering after Naruto's innocent (at least he thought it was) comment.

The journey continued with a few slight mishaps, one of particular note being a rabid squirrel attacking Tazuna, who Lee defended, but not before the loss of a hair off of Tazuna's balding pate. The result of which was Lee commencing to eat his trail rations with only the usage of his feet, a sight rendered additionally comical by Gai's insistence to join his pupil in his training. None of their party however could predict what fate had in store for them in the next few kilometres of trail. None other than the dreaded duo, Gozua and Mezua, the dreaded Demon Sisters!

A/N: Yes this isn't a humour fic I know, but I felt the Land of the Waves arc needed some spicing up, besides you know you're intrigued, and for those of you wondering, yes they are single, heh heh. I was tempted to end this chapter here, but I figured that Demon Sisters aren't exactly the best kind of cliffhanger. Anyways back to the most action packed scene you will ever read, well except for all the other action scenes yet to come in my fic.

As the group were walking towards their destination, a strange mist started to grow in their general area. Tazuna shrugged it off as a common in phenomenon in the Wave Country, but the ninja (even Naruto) sensed something else far more sinister was afoot. Naruto and Lee immediately edged closer to Tazuna who by then had begun to realize that the haze surrounding them was by no means any ordinary fog.

Suddenly two ninja garbed in black appeared behind Gai, with a flick of their strange gauntlets, each released a hail of poisoned senbon at him, each of which riddled his limp body. To the sister's dismay the seemingly dead Gai disappeared in a puff of cliché smoke and replaced by a handy log. The log then considered summoning Bahamut to destroy the Demon Sisters, but then decided that it should save its MP for Sasuke, his eternal rival (plus this is Naruto not Final Fantasy, I apologize to those who didn't get the joke, but it had to be done).

The Sisters were spared from anymore thinking by a cry of "Konoha Shofu!", after which they found themselves suspended in the air, and their breath blasted from their lungs. This surreal state was quickly ended with a resounding "Konoha Dai Senpuu!"

The battle had ended before the genin even had time to blink. After tying up the rogue chuunin Gai gave his students the "Good Guy Pose" (if you don't know what that is, watch the anime or read the manga, find a scene with Gai or Lee, and I'm sure you will see it) and noted "That my pupils, was the goken style, which I shall teach you in due course"

"Ohh Gai-sensei the power of your overflowing youth is most impressive!" shouted an exuberant Lee

"Heh, even I have to admit that your goofball training seems to have some good results" noted a clearly impressed Naruto

"That was amazing Gai-sensei" responded the awed Hinata

"Arigatou mina-san (everybody) but what is important here is that those two were clearly no ordinary ninja attackers, chuunin assassin-nin are hardly at C-Class, have you deceived the fiery passion of our youth Tazuna-san?"

"Please understand my village is poor, and we need this bridge to get our economy running, but an evil businessman Gateau (we'll call him cake for short, get a French translation and you will see what I mean) is trying to sabotage it so he can hold a monopoly over the islands"

"Your story is moving, but you have put my team in undue danger, and even though the instincts of my youth say otherwise, we must turn back"

"But sensei, we must complete this mission, his people are suffering and we would be betraying the golden passion of our youthful years!" proclaimed Lee

"Yeah I never back down from a mission, and I sure as hell ain't gonna wimp out of my first C-Class mission, so bring it on!" added Naruto

"We can't let innocent people suffer sensei!" pleaded Hinata

"Ahh it moves me so to see my students embracing the untameable conflagrations of their youth, very well we will complete this mission, but try the truth next time Tazuna-san, we may be ninja but we do have heart, the Sandaime would likely have acknowledged your plea had it been given in earnest"

"Yosh! We continue onwards with the adventures of our youthful days!"

A/N: I have inserted a helpful mini-glossary for those of you who don't have the anime/manga wherewithal to know everything anyways, or the curiosity to wiki it yourselves.

Leaf Rising Wind

Name: Konoha Shōfū, "Leaf Rising Wind ". Using quickness and agility, the user will do a swift upwards kick at their opponent or at a weapon the opponent is wielding.

Leaf Great Whirlwind

Name: Konoha Daisenpū, "Leaf Great Whirlwind". This jutsu involves a powerful leap forward followed by a spinning kick with both legs in succession, the second kick being aimed lower in case the intended target ducks the first.

Strong Fist

Name: Gōken, "Strong Fist ". Strong Fist is Gai's characteristic fighting style, the purpose of which is to cause external damage and break bones.