Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Author's Note: Chapter's been getting shorter, when i thought they were getting longer...damn it.
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And so, our heroes persuaded the reluctant Kage to let Araiki go with them.
'It's for the best, I guess.' said the Kage
The four of them then prepared themselves, to find the next jinchuuriki...
TIMESKIP 5 YEARS
Naruto and Kita were silently walking through the town of the Mist. It was early morning, the morning mist engulfing everything, and they had not been detected yet. They looked like black wraiths moving silently...ever so silently. They soon stopped at their destination. Slowly, Naruto sneaked inside, with Kita in tow, and retrieved the targets from their resting place. They walked up to the guardian of the precious artifacts. The guardian said:
'That'll be 5000 ryou, please.'
'Damn it!' said Naruto. He silently cursed, then Kita hit him on the back of the head.
'Stop drawing attention!'
'Ok...Geez...Here's the money.'
After paying the Quik-E Mart employee the money that was due, Naruto and Kita then walked home carrying their supplies. Taking a boat back to the mainland, they took in the sight that was before them. Morning sunrise. Very beautiful.
As soon as they reached the mainland, they ventured deep into the forest. Not before long, they were on a camp. Gaara stood up and ran to Kita, hugging her...
'You and your need for physical contact...' muttered Higure. Higure was the vessel of the Shichibi no Kaku. The Shichibi no Kaku was a seven-tailed badger monster. Discovered working freelance in the high north by Naruto, Kita, Gaara, and Kita, he was at first...against them. He was trying to collect a bounty on Kita's head, as she was considered a missing-nin by the Stone village. As they got to know each other during battle however, they discovered their secrets... And Higure was more than happy to join the group. He talked with a certain style of speech, using only correct grammar at all times, and sounding overtly polite. Like the rest of the group, he could apply an extremely large amount of killer intent.
'Ok, let's plan out what wer'e going to do. I suggest a starting a village.' said Naruto
'How about no?' said Gaara
'Akatsuki itself is too weak to capture us now that wer'e together...However, i think it safe that we dismantle it first. That way, we have nothing to worry about.'
'The other members rumbled their approval.
'It's settled then. First order of business?'
'My information network has recently told me that they are planning to kill Orochimaru.'
'Oh, that's good. We can help them with that, then kill them off.'
'They're first mission, is at the Chuunin exams this year.'
'And where is that?'asked Naruto
'It is in Konoha.'said Higure
'That's great! It'll be good to see how the village has been doing...'
'It's also great for May, she needs to take the chuunin exams.'
May was the youngest of the group. She was about thirteen, average in height, and weight. Like most girls her age, she dreamt of meeting hot guys. She had long flowing blue hair, and a happy face.
'That'll be great! I can't wait! When do we go?'
"Tomorrow.' said Higure
In Konoha
The chuunin exams were going on. Ah yes, tourism was great! Konoha's economy only now stabilized. It was only the chuunin exams that brought the most visitors to Konoha, after all. At the Korean Barbecue Restaurant, the former "rookies" sat around a table, discussing their lives, news, and other stuff.
'Hey, did you guys hear bout those 9 freelance nin that arrived here to watch the chuunin exams?'
'Freelance-nin?' asked Sakura. Sakura. She had grown over the years. As had everyone. Everyone had passed their jounin exams. Their skills were above par, and they were practically the strongest nin in Konoha, Tsunade, Kakashi, and Gai excluded.
'Yea, freelance nin. Konoha was on their traveling trip, and they decided to stop here to watch the chuunin exams.'
'Yea, I heard that most of the guy members are really hot!' said Ino
'That's what you said about the circus performers, Ino.' said Chouji, who got whacked in the head soon after.
'Anyway, said Shikamaru, they have one participant, and so, Sakura, since your student quit being a ninja, the freelance nin will serve as his replacement.'
'Oh, that's great! That means that my team can actually participate!'
'Yea, great.'
'The nin are currently meeting with the Hokage.'
'I'll go there right now!'
And Sakura was off. She ran towards the Hokage Tower. As she got to the door of Tsunade's office, however, she noticed that an eavesdropping prevention jutsu was in place. So she waited outside. About an hour later(Sakura was stuck reading a cookbook outside) a figure walked out of the room. The first thing that Sakura noticed about him...Was that he couldn't see her face. He wore a large black coat and his hood hid his upper face, revealing only a smile.
'I was told to look for a girl with pink hair, and I think you are her. Please come in.'
'Okay...'said Sakura uneasily. This guy...he appeared...mysterious...As she stood up, he pulled out a copy of Icha Icha Tactics out of his robe. Never mind mysterious...This guy was like her former Kakashi-sensei.
As she walked into the office, Sakura was greeted by 8 more ninjas dressed in the exact same way as the one she just met. If the Hokage felt any unease, she didn't show it, Sakura thought. Tsunade looked more like she just saw a really old friend. She was beaming.
'Ah, Sakura, there you are. Please sit down. This girl will be participating with your team in the upcoming exams.'said Tsunade, pointing to the shortest of the group. That "girl" then took off her hood, revealing a girl with blue hair, that looked about 13.
'Her name's May.'
'Hello, May.'
'Also, one of her companions is going to watch over her. His name is N.'
At that, another one of the group stepped forward. Sakura wasn't as intimidated as she was the others with this guy...He seemed familiar.
'Let's go.'
And with that, Sakura, her new student, and her observer walked out the door towards the New Team 7 training ground.
'Hokage-sama, are you sure it's a good idea to let Naruto go with Sakura?'
'Yes...I have a feeling that he needed to talk with her.'
End Chapter
Author's Note: Yay! Longer Chapter than normal! Sorry, i know i said 4 more chaps of Araiki, but I couldn't wait. Now that their finally 'freelance-nin' almost all the literary boundaries I had before are gone! It's going to be so much fun writing this now. Be prepared for Sakura and Naruto having a sparring match next chap!