Half an hour later, seven ninja, including the newly appointed Jonin, stood before the Hokage.
"Ah, good, Sakura, you've arrived... I hope your not picking up Kakashi's ways, you're late!" Sakura, who had just arrived, blushed.
"My apologies, Lady Hokage." There was a thumping below them.
"And here comes the final member of your team. 5... 4... 3... 2... 1..." The door exploded open.
"Oi, granny Tsunade! What mission have you assigned me now?" Naruto looked exited, and he looked around the room to find his teammates. He stepped back a little when he saw so many people. "Hey, whats this? The reunion of the rookie 9? where are Shino and Kiba, Hinata?" Hinata blushed.
"They are away, on family missions. Now quiet down, Naruto. And show some respect, and some manners, or I might have to withdraw you from the mission." Tsunade came to Hinata's rescue. Naruto looked insulted. He straightened up, and looked the Hokage in the eye.
"I can be respectful! Lady Hokage, I apologies for my rudeness, please continue." Tsunade looked mutinous.
"If you can be polite, if you know what respect is, it would do you good to show it for me every once in a while, brat!"
"I just did!" Naruto protested. Tsunade stood up, looking as if she was about to lay into Naruto. Catching herself at the last moment, she addressed the entire group.
"You are being sent to represent Konoha to the Council of the Countries. You are to protect Shikamaru, who is going as my representative for the Table of Ninja Negotiations, and take part in the events of the court. Do you understand?" The seven nodded. " Good. You will be traveling first to the village hidden in the sand, where you will meet with the Kazekage's representatives, and then you will continue with them to the Country of Earth, where the council will take place. For those who are wondering why such a large group is being sent, it is because sending a large group to something like a court, where they will earn no money, is a display of power- it shows we can afford to send more ninja than are strictly necessary. It makes us look strong." She added, seeing Naruto's look of confusion. "Are we all clear?" Once again, 7 people nodded. "Good, now, this is more specifically for Shikamaru. This is what you will be negotiating...
--
The morning mist still hung thick on the ground as the nine shinobi met at the gates of Konoha, prepared for a long journey. As the leader, Shikamaru began to count heads.
"Me, Ino, Chouji, Neji, Hinata, Tenten, Lee, Sakura, Na... absent!... surprise, surprise. We're just waiting for Naruto." The group silently agreed. Shikamaru continued counting. "Guy... wait, Guy?! What are you dong here?!" The Jonin looked scandalous.
"I wish to see my team off! That is clear- Ah! Maybe your fire of youth burns low! Do not fear, a little time with my Lee will soon have it blazing bright once more!" he cried, striking his 'nice guy' pose.
"...whatever. It's too early..." Shikamaru responded.
"Must you always embarrass us?" Neji questioned. Tenten agreed.
"My, all your fires seem to be dieing today..." Guy shook his head.
"Mine still burns bright , sensei! I will do well!" The two threw open their arms.
"Lee!"
"Guy-sensei!"
"Lee!"
"They know each other's names... thats an andvancement in intelligence..." Neji spoke dryly, and his comment was ignored by the pair, who were now hugging fiercely. Tenten tittered.
Shikamaru and Neji, the most awake of the group, suddenly span around, sensing movement from down the street. They relaxed a little when they saw the orange tracksuit and yellow hair which signified the last member of the group.
Naruto did not stop as he passed the group. Mumbling greetings, he stumbled on. The rest of the group at least looked like they were awake, but a snore or two wouldn't have seemed out of place from Naruto at this point. The group, sensing that if he stopped he might not start again, decided it was best just to follow him. Lee caught up once he had finished his goodbyes, and Shikamaru directed Naruto onto the correct path by gently twisting the boy's shoulders to make him walk in the right direction. And so, the mission began.
--
The sun was well and truly visible by the time the group decided it was time to wake up Naruto so they could move at a decent pace. Hinata wanted him to be awoken in the normal way, but Sakura, who had grown more and more aggravated at the slow pace the zombiefied Naruto was setting, had a better idea, and the rest of the group, in a bout of cruelty that made Hinata somewhat upset, agreed. And so, Shikamaru gently steered Naruto off the path, towards a sound all ninja are trained to hear.
--
Naruto was aware of very little. Since Shikamaru had begun to steer him, his eyes had become barely open, little more than slits through which nothing could be seen. He was only aware of the occasional press of Shikamaru's hand, and that his feet always fell on solid ground.
Then suddenly, it didn't.
Naruto is a trained ninja, and has good reactions, even for a ninja. But he was not as fast as he needed to be here. One minuet he was walking, and then next he was falling, striaight into a deep pool of very cold water. With his pack, containing all his food, clothes and other needed items, still on his back. Once he submerged, he was quick to act, gathering chakra in his feet and rising effortlessly to the surface, but it was already too late for his gear. It was all soaked: his bag was waterproof, but not submergence- proof.
"Dammit, guys, is a bucket not enough?! I now have no clothes, no sleeping bag, no tent-"
"and we've just wasted two hours, moving at your pace, covering twenty mins ground in that time. Now stop complaining an move!" The group seemed to speak in unison, before launching themselves into the trees. Only Hinata remained.
"H-here, N-N-Naruto-K-Kun.. y-you ca-can u-u-us-use my t-towel..." she stuttered, holding out the cloth in question.
"Thanks, Hinata! Thats really nice... thanks a bunch!" he smiled, broad and happy, and began to rub his hair dry.
"N-Naru-Naruto-K-Kun, were g-going t-t-to g-get l-left be-behind..." She trailed off again. Naruto seemed to realize this too.
"Hey, yeah! C'mon, Hinata, we'd better get moving!" And he grabbed her hand, leaping into the trees.
He's holding my hand! A voice in her head screamed, before she fainted.
Naruto noticed that his arm had just got a bit heavier. He looked down to see that the only thing keeping a rather unconscious Hinata in the air was his hand.
"Ah, Hinata?!" he cried.
--
Shikamaru looked worriedly over his shoulder, unable to see two of his teammates.
"Neji, check on them..." Nodding, Neji activated his byakugan. Suddenly he stopped, span to face the way they had come, and began to run back.
"NARUTO!!!"