"So, Hakasha, what do think of Konoha?" Sakura asked him as they walked down the streets.

"It is different. Iwa isn't as colorful, that's for sure. It will take some getting use to before I'm comfortable. I wonder if your friend feels the same." He took a pause and looked around, "So few people here. It is no wonder most of them are shinobi or the family of shinobi."

"How many people are in Iwa?" Sakura looked up at the man, only slightly taller then her.

"Much more than ten times the people here! Always the streets are full, it takes hours to get anywhere by foot. That's why we always travel by rooftop. Much better." Hakasha said with a smile.

Sakura looked him over again. His dark brown hair, almost black really, was combed back revealing his forehead. His lower face was almost entirely covered by his beard, which looked like it hadn't been trimmed in days. His body had a muscular frame, but was still a little lean. His eyes were small and a deep shade of green.

"Come on, we have to get to the Hokage's office." Sakura giggled, and rushed off in the direction of the Hokage's tower, with Hakasha following.

Over in Iwa, Naruto lay on the sofa in the main room, waiting for the students to get back. Specifically, he was waiting for Takeko so she could show him the mountains. Suddenly he was woken by a near instant increase in weight on his chest.

"Mail. You got letter from Konoha. From girlfriend maybe?" The Proprietor chuckled at his little joke.

"What? No! I don't have a girlfriend."

"Oh, then maybe you're interested in Takeko, or Miko? Both beautiful girls, either would make fitting wife for you."

"Eww. I just like them as friends."

"What? You gay? Fine then, Takeo seems a bit fruity to me. He make perfect spouse for you."

"Eww! Definitely no. I'm not gay, and I don't like Miko or Takeko."

"So maybe you like girl in Konoha?"

"Just leave me alone." Naruto opened the letter and looked at it.

Dear Naruto,

How's Iwa? I sent this the two days after you left, so you should get it your third day. I hope you make some new friends there, just don't forget your old ones. I know you won't forget me. Anyway, I got everyone to sign this card and gave you a picture of Konoha so you don't get homesick. I hope you don't change too much in a year when you come back. We'll try to have Sasuke back by then, but I don't know...

Cheers,

Sakura.

Naruto read it over a few times before he pulled the card out. Like Sakura said it had just about all of Naruto's friends on it, and the picture of Konoha was just what he wanted. On the left side, it was Sakura, Kakashi, and Paku all together, while on the right it had the perfect view of the Hokage heads. He folded it and put it into his pocket to hang up in his room later.

He looked over at the small clock on the counter. Naruto had an hour left.

"What's there to do here? You know, for fun." Naruto sat up and put the letter in his pocket.

"I visit bars and bordellos, but you are not into that, no?"

"No." Naruto shook his head. "I guess I'll just go read a book or something."

"Keep journal, I do. Very useful. Healthy outlet." The Proprietor said, as he fixed himself a bowl of steaming ramen. "Or go to ramen bar. Eat."

"I'm not hungry."

An idea struck The Proprietor, "Meet the other Genin instructors, you'll have to be in contact with them for the next year."

"Where would I go to do that?" Naruto sat up.

"Head to Tsuchikage's office. Ask for this years teacher's, maybe good woman for you there." The Proprietor drank straight from the ramen bowl.

Naruto would've spent hours getting to the office had he not gone on top of the roofs. It took him only a few minutes of jumping and dashing to make it right there. He entered into the small, empty welcoming hall. He walked down it to reception room to make his request.

"I'd like a list of the Genin instructors for this year, please." Naruto said to the woman at the desk, noticing it was a different one then before.

She complied to his request hastily. He grabbed the small sheet, seeing it was only him, a man named Soku Yokira, and a woman named Yoshiro Yorako. Naruto decided to visit Yokira first, since his address was closest to the house. As he left the reception room he heard the intercom.

"I need attention, now." The Tsuchikage's voice came out from the out-dated device.

Naruto shuddered to think of what that "attention" was, and he didn't want to find out. As he left he noticed a small group of people protesting Iwa's aggressive behavior to a village Naruto had never heard of. (since Iwa is on the border of Konoha's main contacts, Iwa's map extends greater reaches.)

Naruto thought little of it and continued on his way. He noticed that both the names of teachers this year were on the list the Tsuchikage gave him about the three best teachers.

"That'll be good. Learn from the best, beat the rest!" Naruto thought as he approached the house of Yokira. He knocked on the door and a small girl answered. "I'm looking for Yokira." Naruto said to her.

"Daddy, someone's at the door for you." The girl walked back to the room down the hall as a large, muscular man walked to Naruto. Unlike most men in Iwa, he lacked a beard although he did have some stubble. His head was shaven clean, save for two thin strips of hair on the top. His eyes were a pale green, that seemed to relate his years of experience to Naruto in an instant.

"Hello, I am Soku Yokira, call me Soku. What is your name?" His voice was burly and deep, it seemed to shake the ground as he spoke.

"I am Uzumaki Naruto, I'm from Konoha. The Tsuchikage gave me your name as one I could get some tips on instructing Genin. I also noticed that you'll be an instructor for the rookies this year, and I think we should get to know each other some." Naruto looked up at the man's face.

"Of course. Come in. Drink?"

"No thanks, I'm not old enough."

"In Iwa, everyone is old enough! Drink! Be merry!" Soku handed Naruto a bottle of sake. Naruto took a sip and found it too strong.

They sat down in two chairs opposite from each other. A small table sat in between them.

"If this is your first time, you'll want to remember these three things: One, keep a relationship with your team. Be their friends, you'll need it. Two, gain their trust and respect. And most important, three, make sure they know who's boss. All my students the past three teams have been so loyal to me, they would follow my orders over the Tsuchikage's. If only everyone else was like that, we wouldn't be in this damn mess! Anyways, do you have any specific questions about Iwa or teaching?"

Naruto and Soku talked for a while, sharing little cultural information mainly. After a while Naruto notice the time and left. He made it to the building to find Takeko waiting for him.

"It is about time. Let us leave, there is much to see in the mountains!" Takeko ran and grabbed Naruto's arm pulling him out of the building faster then he came in.

There, it took me a while but I finished this chapter. Thanks to the people who reviewed and put this on their alerts.