Sorry guys, this is a short chapter-
Chapter 9
With Naruto, outside the cloth store
Naruto now stood outside the cloth store his jiji suggested. He first that he would be kicked out of the cloth store again as every other time, but this time it was very different. The slip that his jiji gave him worked wonders! Once he gave the shopkeeper the slip the frown on the latter's face vanished in a second, replaced by a very frightened look, then it changed again to a forced smile. Naruto looked at him, confused.
"Sir, what's wrong? Is there a probem?"
"W-what? No, there is no problem. None at all", said the shopkeeper shakily, he continued, "My name is Kazou and I will be helping you today for your purchases"
Naruto was still confused, but he nodded his head and went with the man to get the clothes. After that everything went smoothly, he brought selected a black shirt with the familiar red swirl on the back, he could not resist buying the one with orange stripes running along the sides. It even had a hood, which he thought was cool. He bought two of them and also two black pants.
Now standing outside the store wearing his forehead protector on his upper right arm he thought that they would look rather good on him. He even had his new swords strapped on his back in a criss-cross fashion. Yep! It is definitely good, I can feel it!
Meanwhile Kakashi who was watching him from a tea-shop nearby was thinking along the same lines, Quite a good change of clothes. The first time I saw him I thought I would puke seeing that absurd colour on a ninja. Then Naruto started off in the direction of Ichiraku's, Kakashi thought that he would be safe there and left from the area.
When Naruto neared the ramen stand he saw Shikamaru standing there with a smile on his face.
"I heard you were back, by the way congratulations on passing the genin test", said Shikamaru with a lazy smile on his face, "I thought I would find you here. You are in Kakashi-sensei's team, right?"
"Yeah, that's right!" said Naruto with a large smile on his face.
I would never get any answers from him if it goes on like this; I'll better cut the crap and ask him directly, thought Shikamaru exasperated, he was never the one long chats anyway.
"Naruto, I want to ask you something. Where were you the last few days?"
Naruto raised an eyebrow, "Why do you care?"
If Shikamaru was surprised, he didn't show that on his face, "Well, you were missing and I am a little curious as well"
"If that's your reason I see no reason to tell you" stated Naruto gruffly and walked past him into the ramen stand. Shikamaru shrugged and thought, It was worth a try, I suppose. It cannot be a coincidence that Sasuke and Naruto went missing and returned nearly at the same times, the genius walked away rubbing his head.
When Naruto entered the ramen shop he saw that there was no one at the counter, so he took a seat and shouted- "Is anyone home? I have not eaten ramen for days and I am starved!"
There was a crash in the back of the shop and then came the sound of running footsteps.
"Yo! Naruto, you're back!" said old man Ichiraku coming out from the back, he gave him a pat on his shoulder proudly, "I knew you would come back, now that my favourite customer has become a ninja!"
Naruto was also smiling, it was good to be with the people who really cared about him. Then came Ayame with two bowls of miso ramen.
"Here is your ramen, Naruto-kun", said Ayame keeping the two bowls on the table, "I know how much you miss our ramen, so eat them first. But after that we will have to talk about some things" finished Ayame sternly giving Naruto an angry glare. Naruto gulped, but he quietly started eating his ramen, this is going to be a long day.
Meanwhile, in the ROOT underground base
Danzo was in a very bad mood. Two of the village's most valuable assets werekidnapped three days ago under his watch. Even worse, they were returned back without him finding about it. The fact that, the only person who saw the people who did this crime was his nemesis did no good to improve his mood.
The more he thought about it, the more he suspected Sarutobi of hiding something from him. Whatever you are hiding from me, you better have good reasons for it, thought Danzo as he sat in his office, browsing through the data he had regarding Naruto and Sasuke, because if it endangers the village in anyway, I will personally put you down!
The reasons and the evidence that Hiruzen gave, telling that Naruto was taken by a student of Jiraiya to test him on how he would behave under stress had convinced the council. But it will take more than that to fool me, old friend! I would have known if Jiraiya had any new students. But since you refuse to share your reasons with me, I will personally find out the truth from the Jinchuriki itself, with that determined thought he took his staff and stood up, then-
"Danzo sama! Lord Hokage has found an entrance to the hideout. He is currently walking towards your office as we speak", shouted Fu one of his bodyguards.
Danzo was surprised, "Is anybody with him?"
"No sir"
Hm… you grew up a spine, I see, chuckled Danzo, "Fu! Torune! Stay in the shadows. Do not come out until I say so, the Hokage and I are going to have a friendly chat"
Silence followed until Danzo pulled up two chairs, keeping them face to face. He was still smiling as he sat down and waited.
Then came a knock on the office door, "Hey Danzo, are you there?"
Danzo walked up and opened the door and found Sarutobi outside in his normal clothes.
"Keeping well I see! Shall we have a friendly talk? You know, just like the old times"
"Yes, we shall", said Danzo agreeing as they sat down, we shall, just like the old times.
-Chapter End-
Next up: The Survival Test.