A/N: First, apologies to those expecting OH... the chapter is more than half written, but I caught a cold yesterday, mostly in my sinuses, and I just wasn't up to writing much of anything (on the other hand, I did get a lazy day of Fallout: New Vegas (again)... Very relaxing, using an Anti-Materiel Rifle on Deathclaws, Mercs, and mostly Fiends...)

Anyway, I actually counted this time, and I have 3 more before I'm out of a buffer here- but if (heaven forbid) that happens before OH is done, I'll just start posting some of the OTHER stories I'm working on as well. I do have several after all.

Anyway, thanks as always to my beta, Mouse, and his eternal patience with my frequent typos. I blame the cold weather (it's been between -10 and 16 degrees Farenheit here lately, and I live in a metal box, so...) for most of the recent ones. Even if I had these typed up ages ago when it was still warm. Lol

And read the bottom A/N for once. ;)

Chap. 4 Tests? I hate tests!

"Heya, Baa-chan! How's it been? Didja miss me?"

It'd been two years, so maybe Naruto could be forgiven for letting his reflexes slide to the point where the paperweight, hurled from Tsunade's desk, could strike him in the forehead.

When he re-entered the room a minute later, wincing, it was a much quieter affair, though he slammed the door shut behind him, he could see several people already in the office. Apparently he was the last to arrive. Tsunade's oldest living friend, because she would not call Jiraiya a friend, stood behind her, holding the pig, Tonton.

Arrayed before the desk in order from right to left were Rock Lee, and Tenten, then a small gap obviously intended for him, Haruno Sakura, Mighto Gai, and Jiraiya. The slight rustle of a page turning out the open window told Naruto that Kakashi was probably out there as well, listening in while he rubbed his head and 'greeted' the Hokage. "Oww... old hag, what did you do that for?"

Another paperweight, this time already clutched in the Hokage's hand, crumbled to dust. "Two and a half years... and you call me 'grandma'? 'Old hag'? And you wonder why I throw things at you... I had two and a half years of quiet! Now it's gone! No- wait... why the hell do you have writing on your face?"

As one, the occupants of the room turned to stare. The one who had helped perpetrate the prank did so with wide a smile already adorning her, while the rest looked on in confusion, which, as they read, turned quickly to amusement.

Surprisingly, it was Shizune who first broke. Tonton was dropped unceremoniously to the floor as both the kunoichi's hands were brought to her mouth to hide- and fail at- the gasp, and more so the giggles that followed.

Tenten, immediately catching on to the 'full effect', asked, "Hey, Naruto... I knew you had ramen on the brain! Are you running a bit empty?"

More snickers followed. Even Gai, normally so... well, not composed, but self-contained, seemed to be struggling with laughter. Kakashi's head poked over the window-sill to see what the event was, but it quickly dropped back down as his one visible cheek turned pink.

"What? What's so funny?" the blonde asked, clearly confused.

It took several more seconds for the snickers to die down enough for Tsunade to hand Naruto a small mirror she kept in her desk for... well, to help recover from impromptu naps she took on her desk. Drool lines were not attractive.

"Whaaaat?! Who- Space for rent! That's not funny! I'm not dumb!"

Lee immediately rushed to Naruto's defense, though he was still smiling obviously, "That is correct! I have observed that Naruto-kun is an excellent strategic thinker and responds quickly to tactical problems!"

No one paid much attention, though.

Tsunade gave a long-suffering sigh, attempting to call the meeting back to order, "Calm down, calm down... even Naruto's not immune to pranks. Nicely done, whoever it was," The glance in her apprentice's direction told everyone (but Naruto, who was still looking at himself in the mirror, frowning) exactly who had done the deed. "But it's time to get to work. Only- oh, no. No. Naruto... no. Where did you get that shirt? You are forbidden from ever buying a shirt with that on it again."

The blonde looked away from the mirror, examining the front of his t-shirt. "What? I don't even have any ramen stains on this one! What're you talking about?"

Tenten, snickering, brought her hands up in the ram sign and called, "Release!"

The front of Naruto's shirt shimmered in his eyes, revealing the black writing. "What? How did that get there? Tenten! I thought we were done with pranks?!"

But the brunette shook her head, chuckling again, "I didn't put that on there... I wouldn't have had time. I had to get home and shower and change myself, remember?"

For the briefest of moments, Naruto turned toward Sakura. "No... Sakura-chan wouldn't do that, would she?" he muttered, before scowling, "That Konohamaru... I'm gonna get him so bad. Baa-chan, sorry... it's just marker, I think. I'll change when I get home... and I didn't see it 'cause of the Genjutsu. Sorry."

Already rubbing fingers into her pounding temples, Tsunade nodded slowly, muttering something about that 'not being an image she needed of her godson' that only Shizune heard (who snickered again), before calling everyone back into line.

Once Naruto had stepped up at attention, Tsunade looked over the line again. "First, Jiraiya... how strong has Naruto gotten?"

The older ninja chuckled, "Kid's a runt still, if he lets a straight-laced girl like Sakura here get one over on him. He might take on your average Chunin and win now, but he's got nothing on an experienced Jonin. He's never beaten me in a spar, not even close."

Naruto thought it was quite unfair to say that. Just because he'd never beat one of the Densetsu no Sannin in a spar he was 'a runt', or barely able to take on a Chunin. Besides... he'd beaten Ero-Sennin plenty of times. Even if some was only trickery... Who knew lying about burning certain books or lists of contact information or old photographs could be so effective?

"And about the special training? The one only you are capable of doing?"

Here, Jiraiya shrugged. "The kid's... not his mo- er... yeah. He's got some talent, but has no where near the learning curve. It's all 'doing' with him, and since I'm not a member of his family, I can't 'do' it to show him. I think once he gets the trick he'll be able to handle it all right. He's up to two safely, and one moderately so. Past that gets really risky, really fast."

The others, barring Gai, looked at Naruto in curiosity, but he kept his face fixed firmly forward. If he hadn't told Sakura, yet... how could he tell the others? At least the old man had kept it kind of hidden... but now, Sakura knew something was up with him. She'd want to know. He knew she would. The day was coming, and coming soon... he'd have to tell her. Damn you, Ero-Sennin...

"Okay. I know personally how strong Sakura's gotten in the last couple years... but I think if we're going to keep Team Kakashi as an active cell, they should have some experience with each other's new strengths too. We'll have to set up some sort of test. What about them? Any sign?"

Jiraiya, again knowing exactly what the Hokage was talking about, even if the other younger ninja had no idea (besides Naruto, of course), shook his head. "I've heard rumors... they've taken out Roshi from Iwa and Fuu from Taki in the last few years, but nothing major. I don't know if they have Han, also from Iwa, or Utakata from Kiri yet. As far as Yagura's... it's apparently still dormant. The one from Suna and two in Kumo are still secure, as far as we know. We came from Kiri, though, so our most recent info is from there."

Wheels started spinning in two kunoichi's heads. That was a lot of information, if very vague. A keen mind might be able to put certain things together, given time.

Naruto groaned internally... the dreaded day had just been moved up several notches.

"All right," Tsunade continued, turning to Gai, "And how did your mission go?"

The green-clad Jonin snapped to even more rigid attention at being addressed, "Hokage-sama! Team Gai successfully destroyed the bandit forces in grid HH-22-46! There were no casualties, though we did receive an impairing injury on the return trip! Team Gai requests to be downgraded to inactive status until Jonin Hyūga Neji is able to return to duty, ma'am!"

Naruto watched in some amusement as Tsuande's light-brown eyes narrowed. "I know all that, Gai. Tell me in detail, please... how did Neji get hurt? You've avoided it long enough. And how many bandits were there? I need to know for the mission completion paperwork to be filed."

"Ma'am! I... er... that is... I don't actually know how he was injured, Hokage-sama. Perhaps Lee-kun can tell you more, as he was next to Neji-kun."
Tsunade nodded and turned to Lee, who also snapped to rigid attention. "Well?"

"Hokage-sama! Neji-kun was injured first by a falling piece of wood caused by an explosive trap! Then he was further injured when the same large block of wood fell on top of him! I am sorry I was unable to prevent his injuries, despite being no further than two meters away, Ma'am! I will accept full responsibility for my dereliction of duty!"

Before Tsunade, who was already wincing at the volume of the report could respond, Gai cried, "Lee! So brave of you to take the blame! If you cannot accept the due punishment, I will-"

The third, and last, paperweight from the desk suddenly filled Gai's mouth, though he was not rocketed from the room as Naruto had been earlier. "That's enough."

At once, both of the spandex-wearing ninja fell silent, though Gai looked like he wanted to spit the paperweight out, but didn't dare make any more noise.

"Okay... Jiraiya, back to you. What about this impromptu mission? Why did you conscript an already-tired team to explore ratty old ruins?"

Jiraiya relaxed slightly, and stepped out of the line to lean against the wall on the right, below the portraits of the Hokage. "Well... we weren't going to. But hey, I thought it was a chance worth taking, since we were there. How many patrols have missed the ruins completely? We had an Uzumaki, so we got right past the Clan seal-wards, so... why not? Besides, I know he has a concussion, but that Hyūga kid's injuries aren't that severe. Considering what we learned... it was totally worth it."

Silence fell over the office for several minutes, the only sound the distant hum of the city below and the occasional rustle or giggle of Kakashi outside. Tsunade, though, was in no mood to be patient. "Okay... and what did you find?"

Jiraiya shrugged, "Sorry... figured you didn't want it getting out around the whole Village... but if you want..."

Tsunade huffed out a long-suffering sigh, "Fine, fine... tell me later. I guess we have a little test to arrange, don't we?"

Naruto jumped. He'd partially zoned out, mind filled with strange (but not unwelcome) thoughts of being between Sakura and Tenten in entirely different circumstances... and much more relaxed dress. That word... that hated word, almost as bad as Ramen was good... Worse, even than g-g-ghosts...
"T- t-t-Test? A test? You... I have to take a test?"

He could feel the blood draining from his face as the Hokage smiled, drawling out, "Yes, Naruto... you do. You, Sakura, and... let's say Tenten. The three of you will go up against... your two Jonin Sensei, and let's say, Shizune. Each squad has a ninjutsu specialist, a taijutsu specialist, and a medic. That sounds fair, right?"

Naruto, along with both of the kunoichi on either side of him, gulped. "S- s-s-sure, B-Baa-chan... that's fair! In fact, bring it on! Me, Sakura, and Tenten are super-strong! We'll flatten your Jonin team, won't we?"

The two kunoichi both facepalmed simultaneously. And, if they could have read each other's minds, would have been pleasantly surprised to find that both were cursing the loudmouth blonde out in the exact same words in their heads, too.

"Maa, maa," Kakashi's lazy drawl floated through the window, "A fight with my cute students? And I have Gai and Shizune-san on my side? That's not a very fair contest."

Tsunade, though, only grinned wickedly. "They aren't expected to win, Kakashi... just give us a good idea of their skills, that's all. Tenten, you can consider this your yearly evaluation... just a month or two early. I guess you can too, Sakura."

Naruto blinked. He wasn't aware that ninja were required to do yearly performance evaluations. Was that something new? Or just for Chunin?
"Relax, brat," Jiraiya said, perhaps sensing his confusion, "Genin don't do it, because the Chunin Exams are basically the same thing. Chunin and Jonin- Tokubetsu too, of course- have to be evaluated regularly. It's part of the promotion process, and to make sure their skills aren't sliding. It's not a big deal."

Naruto nodded, much relieved. "Oh... so I can skip the test, then? I'm still a Genin, right?"

But the Hokage shook her head, "No, Naruto... I still need you to participate. Don't worry... I'm not totally heartless. I'll give you guys until... say, dawn tomorrow. That's when the test will start. So you have the rest of the day and night to come up with a plan... And put on a different shirt. The Jonin will be permitted... fifteen minutes to do the same thing, but that's it. Sound fair?"

Naruto gulped, but his bravado would not let him back down. "S-sure. That's good... so... ne, Sakura, Tenten... want to go to Ichiraku? I guess we need to talk, and it's been so long since I've had that sweet, sweet... delicious... raaameeeeen..."

Sakura's palm met her face in a resounding slap a second time as Naruto's eyes glazed over. She chose to ignore the drool coming out of his mouth.

(O)(O)(O)

"Naruto! You're back! And- and you have writing on your... face."

Naruto blushed slightly, "Yeah... Konohamaru played a bit of a prank. I'm surprised he got me, but don't worry. I'll get him back later! Sorry if there's a problem. I just couldn't wait to have Ichiraku again!" As he spoke, Naruto prayed Ayame, sweet, innocent (if older than he) Ayame would not notice the writing on his shirt that everyone else had.

"Anyway, so we've got to have a bit of a meeting, me, Tenten, and Sakura-chan, so I'm gonna give you a lot of business. I gotta make up for lost time, anyc way!"

Both kunoichi cringed at the thought. If he downed twenty or so bowls on a daily basis, how many would he be eating tonight?

"Ooh, Naruto, you little play-boy!" Ayame said smoothly, grinning at both of the girls, "Just get back to town, and you already have two pretty girls hanging on your arms?"

Naruto smirked, "Heh, yeah... I guess it's just my sheer awesome leaking through."

After a two-and-a-half year break, Naruto had strangely almost missed the feeling of Sakura's fist impacting the back of his head hard enough to send him face-first into the countertop. Tenten's, right as his head bounced up from that initial hit, was a bit much though.

"Tch, as if! The day I accept a date with Naruto of all people..."

"Aah, Sakura-chan..." he groaned.

Tenten explained, "No, this is not a date. I wouldn't date that pervert either! But we have to have a planning session, the three of us are facing off against a trio of Jonin tomorrow at dawn, and we need to be ready."

"That sounds tough," Teuchi, the elderly owner of the ramen bar called from the back room, "So your first bowl each is on the house... and Naruto, you aren't getting free food for a week. I almost want to charge extra to make up for lost time!"

The blonde, still almost laying on the counter, groaned. "But Teuchi-Jiijii! It's not my fault I had to go! You know I wouldn't have missed out if I could help it. I'd have brought you both with me if I could have!"

Naruto, not having looked up, missed the look of affection the senior Ichiraku gave him, but Teuchi's tone was stern. "No can do, Naruto. We've almost gone out of business without yours keeping us afloat. So you'd better eat up, and be glad I don't charge you double."

At once, Naruto was upright, attentive, and speaking rapidly to Ayame, "Miso, Fish, Pork, Miso, Pork, Veggie, Pork, Miso, a Naruto Special, Pork, Super Special, and Miso to start with, please!"

Ayame felt tempted, if only for a moment, to call her father's bluff. Frankly, while giving Naruto free or discounted meals all the time did definitely make a difference in their finances, it was a small one- just enough to cover the amount he spent. They mostly broke even on him, and that was perfectly fine with both of them. But her father's look prevented the soft-hearted girl from letting Naruto know that little fact.

"All right, all right, settle down," a drawling voice said from behind them- close behind them, making all three jump.

"Hey, Kakashi-sensei! Why are you spying on us? And how did you know we'd be here?"

The Jonin smiled behind his mask, "What, I can't wish my cute students good luck tomorrow?"

Sakura's eyes narrowed, "No, you can't. Quit spying and go plan with your own team. You'll need it."

Kakashi's grin widened. "Ma, ma! Such confidence! Well, I really did only come by to wish you luck. But to answer your question, Naruto... because you are entirely too predictable. And because I missed you! Come give your favorite sensei a hug!"

Perhaps, starved for affection as he had been growing up, Naruto could have been forgiven for it if he had leapt into his sensei's waiting arms.

However, something Kakashi had said tripped certain alarm bells in the blonde's head, making his hackles rise. So, instead of leaping at the chance for some (admittedly awkward) attention, Naruto's foot lashed up between Kakashi's legs with blinding speed.

Surprisingly (to more than just Naruto), the strike connected. The Jonin whimpered, then vanished in a puff of thin, white smoke.

"Not my favorite sensei any more, Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto muttered as he turned back toward the stunned ramen waitress, "Besides, did you really think I wouldn't recognize a Shadow Clone? That is kind of my signature jutsu."

As Tenten and Sakura shared a surprised, yet pleased look, on the rooftop across the street, Kakashi winced in pain as the last moments of his Kage Bunshin's memory merged with his own. "Oww..."

Shizune, next to him, snickered. "Looks like you're underestimating Naruto already, Kakashi. You need to be careful, or they'll give us trouble. Jonin or not."

Gai, on Kakashi's other side, looked excited. "Indeed, Kakashi! Naruto's flames of youth burn brightly!"

Shizune nodded, interrupting what would have been, no doubt, an entirely too loud tirade- loud enough to reveal their position to their 'enemies'. "And don't forget Sakura. She's my equal in medical jutsu already, and Lady Tsunade has taught her combat techniques I could never master. They aren't to be underestimated."

A few minutes later, the Jonin had a tentative plan, which largely relied on their greater experience, both individually and collectively, to adapt to changes. In other words, they would 'wing it'. If only, Kakashi mused, Naruto could see the corruption he'd brought to the elite (if strange) group of Jonin he'd been paired with... no sooner had he arrived than any sense of teamwork had fled from he and Gai. Wing it indeed...

But across the street in the small ramen stand, the three teenaged ninja schemed, planned, threw counter ideas at those, and worked on contingencies until the shop closed, vowing to meet again two hours before dawn to discuss any midnight additions to the plan they had come up with.

(O)(O)(O)

When the Godaime Hokage, Senju Tsunade, stepped into the clearing in the center of Training Area Seven at fifteen minutes before dawn, she was pleased to see all six combatants looking rested, intent, and ready. She was more pleased to see sixty two Jonin, five entire squads of Chunin, there to replace the damaged terrain with their own jutsu after the fight (but also to enjoy the show), and a full complement of... three entire classrooms of Academy students, and nine Genin teams, including, of course, Team Four, otherwise known as 'The Konohamaru Corps', 'Naruto's successors', and perhaps less kindly, 'The Brat Pack'. Tsunade smiled to herself, it was a good day. A beautiful, crisp early autumn morning, and a chance to either humiliate Kakashi or Naruto- two of the three biggest egos in Konoha (ranking, in her humble opinion, third and second- with Jiraiya, of course, having the top spot). Yes, it would be a good day indeed.

When said white-haired Sannin approached from Tsunade's left, which coincidentally also happened to be the direction of their younger student's team, he said quietly, "What's the pool on the kids?"

Tsunade snorted. "Fifteen to one- why, you looking to take a sucker's bet? Even I wouldn't bet on them."

Jiraiya shrugged, "No, I wouldn't take that bet either... what about last one standing? Or first to fall?"

Tsunade's grin widened. "Shizune's first to fall, according to my bookie... I bet against it. Then Sakura, since any idiot knows to take out the medic first. Um... I think it's Tenten, then Naruto. Gai and Kakashi are expected to both be up at the end. I didn't take that bet."

Jiraiya's eyes widened at the last. "Really? I could've sworn... well, whatever. Even you have to call a good bet sometime."

Tsunade's eyes narrowed, "Wait... you bet one would go down too? Kuso... we don't need another disaster right now."

Jiraiya chuckled, "Relax, 'Hime! Just because you win a bet now and then doesn't mean the world's coming to an end!"

But the Hokage could not be convinced. "Every time, Jiraiya- every damned time. Name one time I won a bet and something good happened."

Jiraiya didn't even have to think about it. "I got two. First, Shizune says you won big right before you met Naruto- and don't give me that look, any fool can see you adore the brat. And he you. But I digress- number two? You won against me the day I told Naruto I'd be taking him out of the Village- and I got him out of your hair for two and a half years."

Tsunade winced. As much as she was rather fond of the loud genin, she did have to admit it had been pleasantly quiet (if a little dull) without Naruto around. "Hm... alright, so there's two. Compared to about five hundred! Maybe... maybe Rito-san will let me change my bet..."

But a cough from the field drew Tsunade's attention.

When she looked up, Kakashi was pseudo-politely standing at parade rest, with Gai a bundle of energy and Shizune looking ashamed to be associated with Tsunade again. Naruto, Sakura, and Tenten looked all too eager to simply jump into it.

Around them, though, the many spectators- and now she noted a few civilians as well, including the owners of Naruto's favorite stand- among them. And she'd been talking about changing her bet... shameful!

... Oh well. It was hardly the most embarrassing thing to happen to Tsunade that week... or even that morning. Being woken ten minutes earlier by said bookie, who could not resist the easy money he made from the Hokage every time anything remotely interesting happened, had entered the office to find Tsunade not just asleep on the desk, but sprawled across in, hand inside her jacket, and apparently scratching at herself in her sleep.

He, of course, had a slight nosebleed... but professed (he'd been lying) that he didn't care about such things at all- he only wanted Tsunade's money.
Of course, her cracking knuckles might have persuaded him slightly in that regard as well, but in the end, it made no difference. Besides... it was too late now.

"All right," she called, "you six know the rules. Anything goes, as long as you stay within the grounds of the training area and outside the spectator's circle. And innocent bystanders that get caught in the blast... well... their fault for getting too close."

Several dozen people involuntarily stepped backwards three or four times, resulting in the slightly wider space Tsunade had been angling for.
"Begin!"

(O)(O)(O)

There was not a spectator, including the Godaime Hokage who was refereeing the match, that did not expect at least Naruto to rush blindly forward, and pay for that dearly. Those who knew his style best, namely Jiraiya, Hinata, Kiba, and Neji, expected a flood of clones instead of himself. The effect of such a rush, of course, was expected to be the same as if he himself had gone.

Each of them was sorely disappointed.

In fact, the younger trio cautiously leapt away and into the undergrowth in an eerie mirror of the more experienced Jonin's tactics. For several minutes, the clearing where the match had started was silent.

Then the grass and earth in the center of the rough circle exploded upwards, leaving the debris to rain down on the spectators for the next few seconds. The watchers were left to wonder in amazement at the sheer celerity of the combatants; none of them had caught so much as a sliver of movement from the clash.

By Tsunade's stopwatch, that was it for nine more minutes. Just that one explosion (which she was certain had been her student's doing), then silence aside from the muttering and whispering crowd. Even the wind was still.

Nervous tension continued to mount over the next nine minutes. It was doubled for ten more, as similar explosions erupted at irregular intervals, shattering trees, uprooting brush, and leaving fissures and upturned soil and rock strewn across the wide training area.

"What is going on out there?" Kiba asked the group of 'rookies' idly, even while sniffing around, "I can smell them all, but the scent's everywhere. I can't pick any one out by location."

On the other side of Hinata, who was on Kiba's right, Neji gave a little "Hn," before explaining, "I am similarly confused. My Byakugan is not clouded, it's just that I see too many people. Even aside from the crowd, I can clearly pick out fifteen Narutos, twelve Sakuras, twenty-six Tentens, seven Kakashi-senseis, nine Shizune-sans, and four Gai-senseis. And each one is moving rapidly around each other in a rather complex formation, I simply can't track them all at once. How about you, Hinata-sama?"

The slight but buxom girl nodded and stuttered slightly, but not in nearly as bad a fashion as she would have two or three years before, "Y-yes, I see the same thing. I think Naruto-kun, Tenten-chan, and Sakura-san are the nearest group on our left, but that is only because I have been watching them from the start of the match. But... if that group was Naruto's from the beginning, I would give up cinnamon rolls for two months."

Kiba snorted, "Yeah, you're probably right about that. Naruto may be a doofus, but Sakura would be smart enough to convince him to put out shadow clones or something for the start of the match."

Lee, on Neji's far side, cried out (loud enough to make Kiba's sensitive ears shudder in pain), "Yosh! Truly, the fires of Naruto's and Tenten's youth will carry the day against the most-unyouthful but incredibly hip Kakashi-sensei! Of course, they could never defeat the sheer overwhelming youth of Gai-sensei, but-"

"Be quiet, Lee," Neji said, slapping a hand over his teammate's mouth without looking, "Something's happening. The fighters are converging... at least some of them are."

Shino, on Kiba's other side, nodded slightly, "Yes. I have tracking insects on each of them, and your counts are accurate as far as I can tell, Neji-san. But I do not believe that any of them are the real combatants except the three at the northwest, southwest, and east edges of the training area... the others do not give off body heat. It is confusing in that they each smell as they should, however."

A moment's silence fell over the group as this information was digested. Shikamaru was the one to break it, surprisingly enough, "You can actually get all that from your bugs now? That's pretty good, Shino. You've advanced a lot in the last couple years."

The Aburame nodded, "Thank you. I have."

Ino huffed in slight annoyance at the blunt way the quiet teen took the compliment, but turned her attention back to the others, "So what's going on? The rest of us can't see anything like that."

Hinata answered, "Na- Naruto-kun and Sakura-san have split off from Tenten-chan, and are moving around the other versions of themselves and the Jonin- no, wait, they've mistimed one, and both Naruto and Tenten have been caught up in a fight with a Shizune-san..."

As she finished speaking, the intermittent explosions started up again, but not from the direction of the battle against the medical ninja. Neji noted, "The explosion almost caught Gai-sensei, but he seems to have evaded it, if only just. The tactics Sakura-san, Tenten-san, and Naruto-san are using seem to have advanced considerably from what I was expecting."

The others could only agree, if an explosion had caught Gai-sensei off guard enough to almost take him out.

(O)(O)(O)

"Kuso," Naruto growled, "Tenten! Can you cancel Genjutsu? I think she got me, but I can't be sure- she's all fuzzy around the edges, but it could have been that explosion that almost got me."

On the other side of the smirking Jonin, the younger kunoichi said firmly, "Shizune-san's probably better at Genjutsu than Neji or Gai-sensei. Let me give it a shot... Kai!"

The fuzzy edges of the Jonin wavered, but held.

Naruto frowned, "Didn't work... never mind. I have my own ways of removing Genjutsu, it just costs a bit more... cover your ears."

To his consternation, both Tenten and the medic did that very thing (as did the real Shizune, up in a tree behind him). But that would do the image, at least, little good as he screamed.

The chakra-loaded sound waves, unknowingly aided by his wind affinity, ripped through the area with astounding intensity.

In the watching crowd, Kiba and Akamaru both fell to the ground, clutching bleeding ears and writhing in pain. Shino fell to one knee, clutching both arms around himself and focusing every bit of chakra he could to keep his hives from running out of control as the sound washed over them.

Neji and Hinata, as well as a few other watching Hyuuga, winced, but did not otherwise falter. It was simply a bright flash, rather like wide-area lightning to their eyes, even if it took several seconds to fade after the screaming had stopped.

"Heh, how do you like that, Shizune-nee-chan? I know it's not a Genjutsu, but I think it's a pretty effective counter. Hey, where'd she go?"

As Naruto looked around for his vanished opponent, Tenten staggered upright. There was a slight trickle of blood coming out of her left ear and right nostril, but nothing compared to what Kiba and Akamaru had suffered, despite their greater distance. The glare she shot at Naruto would have felled a lesser man, however. "Naruto... if you ever do that around me again, I'll kick you between the legs so hard, you'll be talking in that high pitch for the rest of your life, super healing or not. Do you understand me?"

Naruto gulped and nodded, "S- sorry. I didn't think it'd be that bad, but I had to make sure I disrupted the Genjtusu."

Tenten continued to scowl, but looked around, placing the kunai in her hand back into her pouch, "All right, let's keep going. Now that the real Kakashi-sensei knows we're coming, we need to get moving if we're going to catch him."

Tenten immediately fell in beside the blonde shinobi, and between wiping the trickle of blood from her nose and ear, found the time to ask, "How can you tell who's the real ones, anyway?"

Naruto shrugged, "I can't, obviously, or that Shizune clone wouldn't have snuck up on us. But most of the clones are mine, and they know to avoid all others. It's the ones who aren't avoiding us that are the real ones."

"Ah," she replied, "That's pretty smart, Naruto. I didn't think you had it in you."

He frowned, but said nothing as they moved toward the edge of the training area as quickly as they could, while the random explosions started up again. Good timing, Sakura-chan, he thought, just keep them on their toes a bit longer...

Neither, of course, noticed the real Shizune quickly perform a healing jutsu on herself before moving after them. If they had indeed found the real Kakashi, he would probably need her help. This more mature Naruto was not something she thought the elite Jonin would be ready for, and that underestimation, which she had already noticed he was prone to, would be bad for his health.

But when she reached the clearing, there was no battle taking place. In fact, all she found was an unconscious Kakashi, a smirking Naruto, and a winded Tenten. Unfortunately, her haste had thrown her out into the clearing before she was able to stop, so both of the younger ninja knew she was there.

"Heh, you came to back him up, huh Shizune-nee-chan? Nice of you. You ready to go?"

The tall kunoichi frowned, "I don't know how you got the drop on Kakashi-san so fast, Naruto-kun, but you'd best not take me lightly. I may not be a combat specialist, but I am one of Lady Tsunade's students."

He nodded solemnly and assumed a combat stance, one she was somewhat familiar with: the Toad Style. If she remembered right from the few times she'd seen it, or heard about from Tsunade, he would be using his legs as offense, and arms almost purely as a deflective, redirecting defense. Likely, given his youth and relatively longer legs, it would be more effective in Naruto's hands than Tsunade's stories of Jiraiya using the style. But she was still a Jonin, and could adapt her style to suit his... she would be avoiding close combat anyway. "Suit yourself, Naruto... and don't think I've forgotten you, Tenten-san. I've read reports of your skills too."

The brunette, who had been inching around to flank Shizune, frowned and stopped. Crap. If what Naruto said was true, she has a senbon launcher on her arm, I can't out-speed that with just my throwing, so I can't protect Naruto that way. And if her poisons are as effective as Sakura says, he won't be immune to that either. I can protect myself with a melee weapon, but... I guess I do have a shield, but will it work for Naruto? Can he use one and still fight?
There was nothing for it, she'd have to ask, even if it clued the Jonin in to their plan a bit. "Naruto, can you take care of her senbon? Do you need me to loan you my shield?"

The blonde thought for a moment, but shook his head. "No, but do you have a pair of tonfa?"

Pushing down her surprise that Naruto would suggest a weapon that, to her, was inferior, she pulled out the appropriate scroll and unsealed the weapons. Fortunately, it only took a moment, because Shizune took that chance to launch a volley at the younger kunoichi. Since the weapons immediately unsealed in her hands, though, the weapons expert was able to deflect them easily before tossing the black-finished wooden weapons to her temporary team mate, "There you go- try not to bang them up too bad."

He caught one easily, but had to jump into the air to catch another. Before he had landed, the blonde had both of the weapons lined up along his forearms, in the same stance he had been using before. Oh, that's why. It only increases his reach a couple inches and guards his arms, he can still deflect just as easily and it doesn't interfere with his legs. Good choice, Naruto!"

Just before Shizune sent another volley at Naruto, hoping to catch him off-guard as he landed, the ground lifted up underneath her violently.
Caught completely off guard by the (seemingly random) explosion, Shizune was sent sailing through the air in a parabolic arc fifteen feet high and almost as long. As the medic descended, her skills were advanced enough to set, but not quite fully mend, the broken ankle and bruising around her legs, leaving Shizune just enough time to draw a kunai to parry the younger kunoichi's staff.

Tenten, though, had one more trick up her sleeve with this weapon. She had seen the medic coming down practically on top of her, and chose the long weapon for it's reach... and flexibility. Because this was not her iron bo, this was her sansetsukon, her three-sectional staff. The farther joint unhinged just as the Jonin parried, lending that much more momentum to the blow, which struck her in the neck.

Shizune fell to the ground in a heap, but quickly recovered and sprang to her feet, before jumping back and launching a third volley, this time toward Tenten again.

As the staff whirled around in a dizzying circle, each of the ten senbon the launcher fired at a time was deflected. It was then that Shizune truly began to worry... at least a little. The random explosion had been bad enough, but Tenten's timing and the power behind her blow was formidable, easily Jonin caliber. What I should have expected from Gai, though.

"Ouch," she said aloud, moving one hand to her neck to undo the damage, "you guys will wear me out of chakra at this rate."

Naruto smiled widely, "Heh, that's not the plan though, Shizune-nee-chan," he said, before dashing forward in what seemed to be a reckless charge. A moment later, Tenten did the same.

Shizune immediately began backpedalling. She might have been a match for one of these younger ninja up close, but certainly not both. The downside of the senbon launcher was that it took a few seconds to reload, and her ability to both attack and defend was drastically reduced while doing so. One hand had to remain still, and the other to reload it before it could fire again. And her melee options were limited only to chakra scalpels, which she refused to use in a non-lethal fight, and the kunai, the lone kunai she carried. I so wish I'd been able to learn Lady Tsunade's strength jutsu!

But before she was able to think of another plan besides avoid the two ninja coming at her from the front, a sharp pinprick at her lower back and arm wrapping around her neck with a kunai below her chin brought her to a halt immediately, "Whoah there, Shizune-nee-chan," Naruto's low voice said from an inch behind her left ear, "I almost skewered you. Be more careful, okay?"

A moment later, a shrill whistle filled the training area, signalling a one-minute rest. Immediately after, Tsunade's voice rang over the area, "Jonin Shizune is out for the match! The fight will resume when I blow the whistle again, in... fifty-two seconds!"

Shizune frowned... she'd really been the first one out? What kind of medic allowed themselves to be taken out so easily, even if they weren't front-line fighters?

"Don't feel too bad, Shizune," Tenten said in a would-be-comforting way, "we've been playing all three of you this whole time."

Just as she finished talking, the Naruto on Tenten's right vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving the tonfa to fall to the ground. As Tenten moved to pick them up again, she tossed them toward Naruto, who stepped up beside Shizune to grab them, "These should work pretty good with my style, thanks Tenten-chan. I'll give them back after the match."

The brunette nodded before turning to the medic, "Anyway, like I was saying, we've been playing you from the start. I'm the only real one here right now, even this Naruto is a clone. We're all in the battlefield, but we've split up. Even the ones at the start weren't the real us, because Naruto and Sakura knew that Kakashi-sensei could use kage bunshin as well. And the explosions? That's not random at all, it's Sakura."

Shizune nodded with a frown. She could tell what Tenten was saying was right, but still. How could they be duped so easily? "Yes, but how is she aiming so well? She isn't even close enough to see me from what I can tell, there aren't even any clones around."

The Naruto holding the tonfa grinned, "Well, we don't want to give away all our secrets... but you haven't looked down."

Only then did Shizune notice the white-and blue slug, no more than two inches long, a few feet away. "Katsuyu? Sakura can summon Katsuyu-sama?"
The slug, though, shook it's head (such as it was) slightly, "No, Shizune-sama," the little creature said in a soft voice, "I am just a simple slug, a far cry from Katsuyu-hime. I am only able to communicate directly with Sakura-sama because of a jutsu she used."

Shizune exhaled a sigh of relief. It would have been humiliating to be so easily surpassed in the strength of the slugs they could summon, on top of losing so easily to a trio of Chunin or Genin. "Hah... I guess that's something, then... you guys better get ready, Kakashi and Gai won't be going as easy on you, especially without me to back them up."

But Tenten only smirked while gesturing with a thumb, "You mean that Kakashi, the one we already took out?"

But Shizune frowned over at the still body, "I can tell now that it's a clone. Even unconscious, Kakashi would still move more than that one with a fight going on."

Tenten shrugged with a smile, "I guess... still, it was an effective enough trap."

Shizune nodded as she turned and started walking toward the center of the area again, "Yeah, you guys did pretty good, I'm impressed. But don't let your guard down, like I said, Kakashi and Gai are much stronger than me."

The Naruto clone (though she was almost sure this was the real one, no matter what he said) answered back as he twirled the tonfa to get used to their weight, "That's why we went for you first. I'd hate to have to go up against them both over and over 'cause you keep healing them."

A/N2: I know it cuts off rather suddenly, but it was the best place I could find- the chapter would have been too long if I'd left them together, and there were some things (prank setups) that I needed to have wait until later so you forget about half of them until the trap is triggered. :)

Lastly, a reminder to read, review, and check the poll out on my profile. It's related to this story... and while I don't do it often, it's also related to the plot. Specifically, the ship. Do I keep it strictly NaruTen as I was mostly planning? Do I bring in Shion (before NaruTen happens) do keep his Shippuden promise? Or do I do a poly 3-way (as I did in Late Blossoms, and am working on in OH) with Naruto, Tenten, and Shion all at once, as my Beta has been urging me to do?

It's been up for a month and I don't have a vote yet, so every single one counts... including yours. Even if the majority is only by 1, I'll still go with that, so...