Disclaimer: I do not own NARUTO. I do not take part of the creation, production and distribution of the said anime. The characters belong to Kishimoto Masashi. This fic is written for pure enjoyment and is highly fictional. If such occurrences happen to the original plot, then it is a case of pure coincidence.

Chapter III

A young man with spiky raven hair, made his way across town followed by two youngsters; one fixing his forehead protector, the other wearing large glasses. The town was in turmoil, though not the bad kind of turmoil. Everybody was busy for the upcoming arrival of the Godaime Kazekage, Gaara-sama and a thousand of his subordinates. Many inns were decorated in their finest, while several cafeterias and restaurants flourished their windows with their own great delicacies. A few townsmen greeted him just fine, a curt nod or a friendly hello. However, others decided to show their utmost disgust of him, giving him death glares and snorts.

Sasuke just acted like it didn't happen. At least they were wise enough to stay put.

"Ne, Sasuke-niisan, there seems to be a celebration in town?" asked the boy near him while fixing his forehead protector.

Sasuke grunted. "That's Sasuke for you, Konohamaru-kun and indeed there is a celebration in town."

Konohamaru scowled. "How come? Is an important person coming?"

"Weren't you listening to Ebisu-sensei?" Udon asked. "Godaime Kazekage-sama will be here tomorrow. Everyone's excited. Even Moegi wasn't allowed by her mother to leave home. Mom wanted me to stay at home too so I could help her but Naruto-niisan called us."

"Udon-san, let me just make it clear that Rokudaime Hokage-sama called me. And please don't address him so familiarly especially in a public road," the chuunin reprimanded his subordinate. Sasuke remained a chuunin after the Orochimaru issue. He's simply contented of being a middle-class ninja, academy teacher Uchiha Sasuke. He wanted to be a person who will mold those who inherit the "Will of Flame", or so what Naruto called it to be.

"Gomen, Sasuke-senpai."

Konohamaru, Moegi and Udon were still genins. They failed the Chuunin Selection Exam for the 1st time. They vowed to do better a year after, receiving extra training from their Ebisu-sensei and occasionally not busy Sasuke-senpai.

As they reached the Fire Tower, the tallest loooking tower in town with the symbol of Fire just outside it, the male members of the former Team 8 greeted the three.

"Yo! Konohamaru-kun, Udon-chan, Sasuke-kohai !" Konohamaru scowled, Udon frowned and Sasuke smirked at Kiba's honorifics. Old habits shall die hard. He'd make sure of that.

"Good evening, Inuzuka-senpai," greeted the three. Oh, how Kiba hated being called senpai especially if such a name was added with his surname. It made him feel older and more mature. The Uchiha prodigy nodded in acquaintance with Shino.

Inuzuka Kiba, formerly of Team 8. Likes: dog. Hobbies: dog walks. Still acting as though he's boss though he doesn't want to be called senpai. Now taking the Jounin-instructor exam.

Aburame Shino, formerly of Team 8. Likes: bugs. Hobbies: collecting bugs. Hates: bug repellents. That's all I know.

A bark sounded from a far, and then appeared a snowy dog with black ends on his ears. Kiba motioned the beast to come near him and it obeyed gleefully. "Akamaru is getting bigger and bigger by the minute. Cute, isn't he?" Akamaru neared Sasuke, who still amazed by his humongous size, the latter rubbing the beast's ears.

Akamaru. Kiba's dog. Huge.

"Is this the little pup you use to carry?" Sasuke said in a singsong voice, alarmed that the pup is larger than him. Shino patted his back. "When did he grow up to be so tall?"

"Wasn't it yesterday when he was small?" continued by a very sarcastic baritone voice behind them. There stood Hyuuga Neji; with all his supreme handsomeness.

"Hyuuga," Sasuke said icily.

"Uchiha," Neji answered with equal coldness. His gaze wandered to the genins. "And what do you two youngsters doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at home by now?" The tensai /4/ eyed warily at the younger two that clearly read 'Go home or thou shall suffer a wrath of no equal.'

The two looked like being dragged through a knothole and brought back. They paled. "We wanted to visit Naruto-niisan," Konohamaru replied shakily.

"Oh… Well, he has a meeting with-" he was cut in his mid-sentence by a very lively "Dynamic Entry!". Neji, being Neji, composedly dodged the approaching green. The green twirled about before it safely landed, revealing a bowled-cut, thick browed, bumble bee-eyed, spandex clad Rock Lee.

"Hyuuga Neji! You are truly worthy of being my eternal rival! You keep my flames of youth burning!" Lee was pointing at him.

"-us so you should better go home. Help those who are in need," continued Neji in a very solemn voice.

"Hai!" The two were awed by Neji's remarkable dodging skills and they were off.

Everybody sweat-dropped.

"You were saying something Lee?" inquired a bewildered Neji.

Hyuuga Neji, formerly of Team Gai. Byakugan master. Taijutsu tensai. Currently taking an ANBU /6/ exam to become an ANBU captain. Likes to train.

The junior green beast clenched his fist and cried anime-tears. "That's why you're beyond doubt my eternal rival!"

Rock Lee, formerly of Team Gai. Lotus master. Taijutsu expert. Currently Haruno Sakura's boyfriend. Likes to train harder.

"Hey… Sasuke!"

"Why, Kiba?

"Did Sakura-san really choose Lee over you?"

"…"

"Yo, minna-san!" greeted by a slim guy who suddenly appeared behind them.

"Oi, aren't we a little bit booked today?" noted a slimmer guy carrying a plastic bag. "Mendoukusai /8/, na /9/, Chouji?"

Nara Shikamaru formerly from Team 10. Shadow-user genius with an IQ over 200. Still lazy and complaining about everything although not at the same level as he was before. He is also a teacher in the Ninja Academy like Sasuke even though he's a jounin.

"Chouji, is it really you?" Kiba started shaking him.

"How does it smell like?"

The dog-man sniffed, then he became teary eyed. "Chouji, you lost weight!"

"Why?" Shino asked an eyebrow. Chouji turned to glare at him. "No offense."

The Akimichi chuckled. "I have a blind date."

Akimichi Chouji, formerly of team 10. Big guy who at this time lose 200 pounds. On diet.

"Really? When?" queried by Sasuke.

"This coming weekend at the new amusement park!" he answered excitedly. "Of course, you're all not invited. I don't want you guys within a hundred of radius from the site." He turned to Shino. "And that includes your bugs." He turned to Kiba. "And Akamaru." He turned to Sasuke and Shikamaru. "And your students. Don't even try lying like you have a field trip, or you're out taking dog-walks, or you're collecting bugs."

"Oh sure." Everybody started agreeing and lying through their teeth at the same time all the while thinking of brand new ways to follow Chouji on his blind date.

"This weekend, huh?" Kiba said thoughtfully. "Well, Chouji! I hope you'll have fun! Especially after the date! Will you be having sexy time after the date? We sure hope so!"

The man in question had every right to blush. "Do you really think so? What if I don't do so great?"

Lee immediately raced to his side, grasping his not so chubby hands to show his support. "You can do it, Chouji! I will support you! You have the passion of her love that fuels the flame of your springtime of youth!"

"Lee-san…"

"Chouji." He lightly tapped his shoulder.

"Lee-san!"

"Chouji!"

"Shikamaru!"

At once, the shadow-caster performed some seals and used Kage-Mane no Jutsu /10/, completely binding his friend to him. Evidently, no one stopped Lee.

"Chouji!"

"Guys! A little help here!" snarled Shikamaru a little to sarcastically.

"Akamaru!" Then, in one brilliant scorching moment, Lee hit the wall. Solidly. The junior beast of Konohagakure kept twisting away from Akamaru, but the dog's size barred his way.

"What do you guys have against the concept of burning springtime of youth, huh?" Lee said angrily, still squirming but to no avail.

"We just want to make sure the both of you didn't make a scene," calmly explained by Shino.

"Say, Sasuke, how about the topic we left off a little while ago..." Kiba continued their disregarded topic.

"Love is a rosary. It's full of mysteries."

Shikamaru released Chouji as Akamaru released Lee. "Don't get too emotional. We are at the Fire building after all. Behave, kay?"

"kay…"

Neji picked something from the floor. The item came out of Shikamaru's plastic bag when he was trying to… ummm… calm Chouji. Idly, he smirked at the cover. "Shikamaru?"

"Hai? What, Neji?"

"What's this?" The Hyuuga slowly raised the piece that made him smirk his trademark smirk.

Everybody went agape, like O.O or U.O agape.

"Icha, Icha Tactics?" Kiba whispered mischievously.

"Hold on! That's not for me!" He watched as Neji threw the book to Sasuke.

"You went into an adult's store, and bought an adult's reading material. We're not even twenty yet," Shino mumbled out loud. "I wonder what Temari has to say about this."

"Oh, I know this book. Kakashi-sensei always brought the orange one along when we were training under his care. So, what's so devastatingly amazing about this book anyway?" The Chidori user flipped the book to a certain page then his eyes widened. "Oh…" He blushed.

Lee patted the strategist's affectionately. "I wish your soul shall reach the heavens and may your cloud bed be soft."

"Gaara-sama will surely kill you," Kiba shook his head in sympathy, noting the Kazekage and at the same time, Temari's younger homicidal brother. "Or Kankurou…"

Sasuke keeps on reading and blushing at a record.

"Sasuke, where are you now? You're as red as Santa Claus' coat," Lee remarked. "Oh, the Introduction! A little intense, ne? It says, "This book shall tell you (and teach you) how to heighten the passion before - - - - - - -."

"You read the book already?" Sasuke stared at Lee with a look that resembled to awe.

"No. Gai-sesei only allowed me to read the Introduction. He said such book should not be allowed to corrupt my innocent eyes. I'm still young to be deflowered before pollination." The junior green beast of Konohagakure gave him a nice guy pose that completely freaked everyone out.

The bug collector grimaced. "Such language."

"Shikamaru, I didn't know you were… ah… inexperienced," said Chouji, his face a mixture of shock and disgrace.

"Mendoukusai," his best friend mumbled. "Chouji. That's for you."

"Eh…!"

"Well, you are really do seem afraid of you're blind date. So, if things get a little happy and enthusiastic, I thought of buying you this book. And I know you would never ever go to a (cough) club just to get… you know... that kind of adult stuff."

"You decided to buy IIT?" continued Shino who was now leaning against the wall for no specific reasons.

"Yup. They say it has dating suggestions as well so it'd probably be useful for you."

"Shikamaru," Chouji was teary eyed again. "I didn't know you were that concerned."

"That's what friends are for." Shikamaru tried to grab the book from Sasuke. "Sasuke, give it now."

"But I'm not finished yet!" he whined.

"Don't scar your brain any further. Give it to Chouji and be a good boy."

"All right…" The Chidori-user reluctantly gave the book to Chouji.

"Good boy," Shikamaru patted his head. "Don't worry. I'll buy you another one."

"So, what are you guys doing here anyway?" Lee blurted out all of the sudden. "You're not having a grand reunion without Neji and me invited, right?"

"Rokudaime-sama called us. Said it was very important." Kiba answered for their team.

"Mendoukusai. That's what he told us as well," Shikamaru complained.

"It's a matter of life and death," Chouji added.

"That's funny," mentioned Neji. "Hokage-sama said it's an important mission, right, Lee?"

"Hai! I remembered his every word. He said, "Fan the coals to burn the flames of youth and come here! I have a mission for you!"

"…"

They eyed at Sasuke.

The Chidori user sweat-dropped. "Don't look at me. He just told me he has something important to say."

"I see," the shadow-caster deemed. "So if we put it all up, Rokudaime Hokage-sama gathered us all here because he has an important mission for us. A mission of life and death."

"Excellent deduction, Shikamaru. As expected from a genius," a figure suddenly revealed out of the hallway. He sort of looked like Sasuke with the black hair and facial structure, though there was a largeamount of malice in his eyes. "I heard that it was getting rowdy at the lounge. Who would have thought I'd see you guys here?"

"You…" Sasuke's face darkened.

"You know me already, Sasuke-san?"

"Actually, no." Everybody dropped in anime-style. "Have I seen you before?"

One black eyebrow tilted upwards, though only for a split second. "Yes, as a matter of fact. We've met at Orochimaru's camp while I was ordered to kill the traitor of Konoha."

"Oh! You're that shirt-hanging guy." Sasuke prepared himself for a Chidori. "How about we settle the score, right now?" Sasuke's smirk was pure evil. That smirk turned to a scowl however when Shikamaru decided to use his technique on him to cool him off. His body stopped cooperating with him.

"You do not want to fight with each other. Especially not here." Shikamaru reprimanded the two.

"Uchiha, don't fight a person you don't even said the name." Neji warned him. "Sai-sama, please do not threathen his temper control any longer. We do not want blood spilt on such clean floors."

"I do not have temper-control problems, okay? Just let me go. I promise I won't kill him. Just tear a limb?" Sasuke growled, still held by Shikamaru.

Sai smiled brightly. "My, aren't we as blood thirsty as Uchiha Itachi. I guess it runs in the blood, ne?"

On the mention of his older brother's name, Sasuke literally saw red as the Sharingan /14/ eyes showed themselves and their wheels spinning at a dangerous speed.

"Sasuke, Sai-sama is one of Hokage-sama's advisers. Please don't be an ass," Kiba reminded, and whispered oh so silently in the other's ear,"even though he already is one."

"Tch… Fine." Finally, Shikamaru let him go. He bowed reluctantly, his muscles stiff. "I… apologize…" Teme /15/

"Apology accepted. You may now raise you're head." There was utmost tenderness in the adviser's voice but when Sasuke looked up, Sai's eyes bore malice that was about to cut him deep.

'Did Naurto really trust this guy?' The thought ran in the minds of the two as they studied each other.

"Sai-sama, what are you doing here, anyway?" asked Chouji out of curiosity.

"I came to tell you that Hokage-sama will meet you at the conference room. He asks for your presences there. Immediately."

"Hai."

"Move out."

"Teme!" Sasuke growled in frustration, his onyx eyes burning, as they walk down the hallway.

"He's always like that on first meetings. You'll get along with him, don't worry," Shino replied on the chuunin's reverie.

He clenched fist, turned to glare at Shino. "There is no way I would like that guy!"

Lee draped an arm over his shoulder. "Come to think of it, he is just like you."

"How could you even say that! I thought you were on my side!"

Neji smirked. "You're autocratic, stubborn and would never ask for help for another human being."

"Yeah! So what!"

His friends laughed. "We actually saw you in him."

"What kind of sick joke is that?"

"When you left and lost you're way Sai replaced you as a new member of Team 7. He's a little bit outspoken, rude, frank and has a derange sense of humor, but he could pass as you." Kiba shook his head. "The same age, the same hair, the same physical type- ''

"There is no way he's just like me! Not a single, tiny bit! Besides, I think he's gay."

"Fool yourself to oblivion, then," Neji said coldly.

"Hmmp!"

They arrived at their destination. Kiba lightly tapped the door three times.

"Jounin Inuzuka Kiba, together with my company, permission to enter the conference room sir!"

"Permission granted," replied the voice on the other side of the door.

"Thank you, sir," they chorused. Kiba opened the door carefully, making sure he doesn't create any sound.

They filed up across the large table where the Hokage seated, the back of his chair facing them. "Be seated."

"Thank you, sir," they chorused again. When they were all settled, their superior faced them. They swallowed.

"I want you to capture a man." Uzumaki Naruto, Rokdaime Hokage-sama, looked fit to kill.