First things first, I've changed the ending of the last chapter, my intention was to motivate Naruto but i though of a (hopefully) better way to do it without embarrassing the boy but still put it in a way that they are still a threat. That and i decided Fukushi should have been right on the brink of collapse rather than walking away. Deflecting one wind shuriken should be enough to knacker anyone. That and several strikes from the gentle fist and Naruto's not so gentle fist.

I'm also planning to take longer writing instead of trying to keep to a schedule, I felt a few chapters were rushed and i might go back to them according (and add a V2 to the end so you know which ones i've changed).

There will be lemons upcoming but i am not gonna warn you, the rating should be a clue and we are all adults here (well i'm not a cop so go ahead) but i'll play the lemon card as the story fits it, not throw it around like a lemon fight.

I don't own Naruto, never have, never will. But please rate my story, comment on things i could improve etc etc that would be great.

Act II

Four days later, in Konoha.

"And that concludes the mission report." The spiky haired ninja known as Shikamaru reported to the Hokage, who let out a deep sigh, missing member of the leaf and a rogue ninja from the far west. In the room with Shikamaru was Sakura, Hinata, Sasuke, and Naruto who had the look of utter shame about him. He felt like it was his fault that Fukushi and Monica had managed to escape. Although no one had expected her to learn to teleport with her fire affinity.

"So this was a total failure?" Kakashi bluntly replied. Naruto winced.

"Essentially Lord Kakashi." Shikamaru spoke formally.

"We will need to find an effective counter to the pair and bring them in. Monica at least. The Tsuchikage has given the kill on sight order and put on a heavy bounty on both of their heads. We can only just afford a higher bounty for them alive. I don't need to remind you how enraged he was over their embarrassment being infiltrated by two ninja, a supposed genin too." Kakashi leaned back from his desk and looked over his shoulder, out over Konoha as some apartment block towers started to creep up out of the treeline. "Any ideas to counter their attacks?"

"Genjutsu is only effective once they are on low chakra." Sasuke spoke, earning a quick glance from Sakura. "But I don't think they'll be so rushed anymore, having nearly been defeated twice. We shouldn't take them for idiots."

"Yes, something in my medical report." Sakura spoke up, Kakashi immediately edged himself to the table and flicked over to Sakura's addition to the overall mission report. Sakura continued. "He had unbalanced chakra reserves meant he was using it much more inefficiently than normal. He might be more prepared next time by simply allowing his body to be in better health."

"Sounds like he was almost expecting things to go wrong unless he rushed, maybe he knew we were onto him?" Shikamaru added.

"We can't forget Monica." Hinata piped in quietly but Shikamaru nodded in approval.

"Yes, she was at a huge risk by playing the innocent genin, but there was another reason for it. I wouldn't have played that move if I was in his situation."

There was a moments silence before Kakashi made his decision. "Shikamaru, could you try translating the pages we have. Sasuke was right, we have three ourselves just filed under objects of interest. I'm right in guessing that Lee gave you Monica's notes."

"Will do." Shikamaru sighed and turned to start his new job.

"Sakura and Hinata you're dismissed, you can help Shikamaru or Sasuke but otherwise I need the pair of you to fine tune your skills more, We are all getting rusty since the war already."

"What's Sasuke doing?" Sakura asked, curious why she had the opportunity to help him.

"Sasuke is going to hunt for those pages, he has much better networking than Fukushi so should be relatively easy to find them before he does in the Land of Fire, though I would like you to find them and save the retrieval for other teams. Finding them is top priority especially if they contain jutsu as the nukenin suggested.

"Could I go with Sasuke?" Sakura asked with a hopeful tone, Sasuke rolled his eyes. "You did promise next time I asked I could come with you."

Sasuke sighed "Fine, I guess I did." He held his breath thinking Sakura would suddenly become loud and annoying but she just smiled and nodded thanks, much to the Uchiha's relief that he may not have to put up with her like he used to.

"Hinata? What are you going to do?" Kakashi asked?

"Oh, urm, I'll stay in the village and see if I can help with anything." She gave a small smile as she spoke in her calm, soft voice.

"Alright I'll see if I can put you to some use in the village. You're all dismissed. Naruto could you stay though." The ninja turned and filed out one by one, Hinata stopped momentarily to give Naruto's hand a reassuring squeeze. After a minute of silence and the student was alone with his old sensei. Naruto looked up at the sixth Hokage.

"Am I in trouble?" He spoke still a little bashful, He had already heard the Tsuchikage shout his frustration at everyone. So much so he even injured himself in the process. To him this whole situation was embarrassing and he needed it resolved. Fast.

"Not at all." Kakashi sighed. "No one blames you for him getting away, he holds a huge range of jutsu and lord knows if he is holding more for later." He rested his elbows on the table and his chin on his fists to support the grey haired man. "However, while he has a number of murders to his name, I don't think such a potential resource she be killed off as the Tsuchikage wishes it. Sasuke agrees, in fact it was his idea."

Naruto had the look of confusion on his face. "Sasuke said that?"

"Indeed."

"Couldn't we just subdue him like we did last time."

"Here's the issue, I doubt he would simply allow Sasuke's sharingan to cast a genjutsu. This Fukushi character is now expecting that kind of attack, assuming he has an ounce of intelligence."

"So what can we do?" Naruto sighed, genjutsu would be helpful but he heard how much the backfired sharingan hurt. "We could wear down his chakra. It worked last time"

"That would work but I have a better idea for you Naruto."

"Hmm?" He looked up curious at his former teacher.

"How would you like to learn a new jutsu? More specifically you fathers' Hiraishin."

The blonde haired boy lit up like a light, he got excited over the jutsu, especially one that his own father was renowned for. His brandished his grin but unlike his former self who would immediately jump around or beg Kikashi to teach him the technique.

"Thing is, could you try and getting it down in four weeks, you don't need to be as adept as you Minato but we could really use a ninja who could keep up with our problem rogues."

"I'll do it in two weeks!" Naruto yelled his statement with a fist to the table, making the piles of paperwork wobble dangerously towards the table edge. He couldn't contain his excitement any longer despite himself.

"I think you'll do it in eight weeks." A dulled voice spoke behind Naruto causing him to jump. He turned to Sai with his eyes closed and presenting a smile which still seemed off to Naruto. Sai was carrying a small scroll with many sealing signs covering the paper.

"I'm putting my money on nine." A demonic voice spoke out from within Naruto, but only to Naruto causing his to sigh at their antics.

"Great enthusiasm guys" Sai thought he was talking to him while Kurama knew that he was included.

"The scroll Sai has contains everything you need to know about the Hiraishin, including a storage seal for some of his specialised kunai and instructions on how to make more." Kakashi spoke while keeping his posture still. Sai, with a smile, handed Naruto the scroll. "I would appreciate if you keep your training on the down low, you are holding a forbidden technique and I'd appreciate as few people knowing as possible. Though knowing you as well as I do, you'll probably tell your closer friends." He sighed as some things cannot be changed about the boy.

Naruto looked at the scroll then back up. "How do I open it, it has a seal."

"Actually, it should only open to you, Minato left it for you to use and only you." Kakashi spoke as Naruto opened the scroll as if it was normal paper. He glanced over the writing, he smiled but the smile was merely a mask for the memories of his father during the war came flooding with the words he wrote. After a couple minutes of reading, Naruto slid his hand over the storage seal and summoned a single tri-pronged kunai with the fuuinjutsu written on the hilt of the blade. He grabbed it and looked up to the Hokage.

"I will not fail you!" With that, he took his leave.

"Will it be enough to take down these rogue ninjas?" Sai questioned Kakashi once Naruto was out of ear-shot.

"It will certainly level the playing field even if he can't use it as fast as Minato could. The disorientating effects are by far the worst part of the jutsu. According to the late forth Hokage."

"Is there a mission for me?" Sai said bluntly, he had gotten the answer he was looking for already and needn't to carry on with that topic.

"Yes, I need you to track the pair. Keep hidden and do not engage. Neither of them are apparent sensory ninja but don't use that as an excuse to get sloppy."

Sai blinked in mild confusion. "But I am never sloppy." Kakashi thought and nodded in response. "I'll find them." With that Sai used an ink Shunshin. And vanished with a small puddle of black ink on the floor.

"I wish Sai would stop using ink in here." Kakashi sighed as he looked at the now numerous faint black stains on the carpet where Sai once stood. He looked down at a sheet of paper which had the list of available Ninja, the list was short, but he added Hinata to it as she could do the odd job here and there.

Meanwhile Naruto was heading to his favourite Raman stand. They had since grown large as the building was rebuilt but also to accommodate the increased popularity after the war. Ichiraku's Ramen was the best place to find the hero of the Leaf and everyone knew it by now. He entered as two previous patrons left, they both quickly offered the boy thanks for everything. He smiled and politely waved them off. The leaf shinobi sat in his usual spot by the bar and stretched while Teuchi noticed him and walked up to the buy to grab his order.

"Been on another diplomatic trip?"

"No actually, this mission was different, total failure unfortunately." Naruto looked down for a moment. He spoke somewhat bitter as well.

Teuchi leaned on the table. "Oh come on, I know you aren't going to just leave that mission where it is."

Naruto shook his head and looked up at the old man. "Of course, I have some training in new jutsu to do then we will be ready to deal with the rogue shinobi."

"Rouge shinobi? Hmm we had a merchant from Iwagakure come in and complain about the hurt business because of a 'demon'." He air quoted the demon as he knew enough of the shinobi world from Naruto to know demons wouldn't just be a nuisance on trade but something far worse.

"Huh, word travels fast, yes but we couldn't catch him. To make matters worse one of our genin abandoned the village to join him." The conversation took a dark silence as the noodle chief knew how serious abandonment was to the village. Although he, as a civilian, had no obligation to stay in Konoha he still valued his home and stuck by through thick or thin. Before they could continue, Ayame interrupted them.

"Is that Naruto? Oh Hey! Five extra-large bowls with beef strips?" She smiled and waved at Naruto while Naruto smiled and waved back.

"Yes, thank you, err thanks for listening old man." Naruto took a deep breath and felt somewhat better about the situation. Teuchi was right, he wouldn't leave this unfinished.

"Anytime Naruto, excuse me, customers." He nodded at a small family entered the shop and took seats by the window. Naruto waited patiently for his meal while looking around the bar. The Ramen Restaurant managed to keep most of its charm over the years. Naruto didn't mind it was bigger now and honestly, he was impressed with how they keep up with the increased footfall and still find time to talk to him. Soon his food arrived and with thanks to Ayame, he tucked in.

A Voice from behind made Naruto momentarily stop eating his third bowl.

"Geeze Naruto, some things never change." Sasuke said with a deadpanned look on his face.

"Care for a bowl of ramen?" Teuchi called out from behind the counter.

"No thanks, I'd like to get to the next town before nightfall, though if you have a rice ball or two ready I'll have those."

"Wrapped up?" The chief asked to which Sasuke nodded before leaning to one side of Naruto while Sakura leaned on the other and gave him a smile.

"We just wanted to say goodbye before we leave." Sakura said, you could tell in her voice that she was happy she was leaving with Sasuke this time.

"I have a present for you Naruto, I found this on my travels, it's a jutsu suited for wind style. Nothing extravagant but I am trying to rid myself of crap I don't need." He spoke in a flat tone but still handed over a small scroll containing his writing about how to do said jutsu. "It's called the air bolt or something, fires a projectile of condensed air. Though you would make better use of it than me." Sasuke never smiled but by the time he was finished, four wrapped up rice balls were slid across the bar to which Sasuke tossed two to Sakura and the pair turned to leave after paying Teuchi.

"Bye Naruto." Sakura called out behind her as the two left the building.

Naruto turned to his next bowel of Ramen and placed the scroll outside of splash range from the more liquid part of his meal.

After half an hour, it was Naruto's time to leave, he handed over the money he owed and walked out of Ichiraku's. With a stretch, he decided to see if a training ground was empty. A couple hours of intense training would prepare him to start early tomorrow. So he could learn the Jutsu he had now obtained. Once he reached the training grounds he saw that there were only four people using it. Even from a distance he could see two green jumpsuits that could only belong to Rock Lee and Might Guy. Might Guy wasn't participating the sparring match but instead was observing and shouting encouragements. Upon approach, Naruto could see who the two genin were. Dentsu was engaged in rapid sparring with Lee. Lee was still going easy but compared to most genin, He was pulling out the fancier taijutsu moves. Nago was topless and revealing his numerous scars across his body and face that Monica had inflicted. He had heard off Sakura that the wounds were inflicted with her chakra as well and so weren't likely going to heal ever. Nago was impatiently waiting for an opening created by Dentsu. He was the main reason Guy was shouting at him to do something. Nago saw his opportunity when Dentsu managed to knock Lee back for a split second. He dived in with a kick. Lee saw the attack and twisted to avoid the attack and grabbed Nago to throw him at Dentsu. A nearby puddle suddenly shot out at Lee but before it could reach the Jonin, Lee took a step back and the glob of water snapped back to the puddle like an elastic band. Might Guy noticed Naruto and called for the match to end. Lee was cool and calm while the genin were panting in the pile, one on top of another.

"Hey guys!" Naruto called out as the two genin picked themselves up.

"Naruto, what brings you here?"

"Isn't it obvious, I was thinking of getting a couple hours of training in before sundown."

"What an excellent idea." Guy replied. "The three of you verses Naruto."

"Hey, wait what?"

"You said you wanted training, and nothing prepares the body like a good sparring match."

"But why three against me?"

"You think you can't hack it?" Guy tutted in his wheelchair. "I though you were better than this Naruto."

Naruto grinned "Making it an even fight? Alright i'll bite."

The ninja got into position, Naruto was taking this time to mentally note down where each puddle was. He was guessing Nago found out he was a water type ninja. Already learned one jutsu for it but probably was very unskilled with it considering it has only been for days and the trio only reached Konoha a day before his own team reached. On the account of collateral and reports. Dentsu seemed to be a taijutsu user, perhaps a weapons user like Tenten. Of course, there was Lee, the taijutsu specialist and Naruto still couldn't quite match his speed despite his lack of ninjutsu.

"Winner is determined as first to cause either Naruto or Lee to fall. No other rules but no serious damage. Go!" Might Guy called out and immediately the green and the orange blurs collided and exchanged blows. Naruto blocked a kick with both his elbows before kicking Lee back. Whipping out a kunai he deflected three kunai thrown by Nago and immediately palmed Dentsu, who burst into smoke, a clone, but not a shadow clone. His real attack came from behind as Lee pounced back into the fray. Naruto parried a punch and returned his own which was blocked by a glob of water. Noting down the range of two meters mentally he jabbed at Lee who swiped his had away and proceeded to try and flip him to the floor. Naruto resisted and broke his hold before kicking a kunai painfully out of Dentsu's hand and grabbing it in mid-air to throw at Lee. Lee punched the blade from underneath and continued his assault. Lee painfully twisted Naruto's arm before throwing him towards a puddle for Nago to strike at him. Naruto managed to jump over in time and dodged the attack completely. Before catching his breath, Naruto parried several blows from Dentsu armed with a kunai and his free fist. Nago jumped up to drop an axe kick but Naruto side stepped in time. He then lunged like a javelin at Lee who took the unexpected blow. A step back but Naruto had momentum now and flipped Lee over who finally landed with a bounce on the floor.

"Match goes to Naruto." Guy spoke calmly. It was a good move to end it quickly but in a real fight, Lee would just get back up, as he did so now. Lee dusted himself down.

"I demand a re-match!" He called out. "I will win next time."

Naruto smiled. "That was a great warm-up, thank you bushy brow. But I think we should be working on these genin. They need to be much faster and stronger, they have the tactics down though." The pair gave a weak smile as they were exhausted from the regime they volunteered to join, Lee's training.

"Say, Naruto, could you go over some chakra control with them. We currently lack in ninjutsu training." Guy asked with his hand to his chin in a thoughtful pose.

Naruto pulled them to a pair of trees by the edge of the training field. The sun was now low in the sky but still too early to see the orange glow of a sunset. He taught them about tree walking and even showed them how to do it. He mainly repeated what he remembered from his own training but he got the point and left them to spar with Lee some more.

The ninja called it a day when it became too difficult to see in the dark of what they were doing. Naruto approached a familiar white-eyed woman who had been watching them for the last half hour. Hinata wasn't afraid to be seen watching Naruto at times. Provided she did it in moderation. She still hid if she wanted to see him for longer periods of time. He walked and talked with her about his plans for training until they reached the Hyuuga complex and hugged their goodnight with an innocent kiss to each other's cheeks.