Please read Author's note at bottom! Anyways, you all must hate me by now. I don't blame you. I haven't updated this story in months, which is really bad. So I apologize, my dear readers, and hope that you show mercy upon this poor soul.
Unfortunately, this will be a semi-filler chapter. I liked writing it, simply because of what's happening in the chapter. Just read to the end, and something good will happen.
Anyway! Onward with this lovely story! Enjoy!
Legend
"Talking/Jutsus"
'thinking/signing'
"Bijuu talking/special effect noises"
'Bijuu thinking'
Summary:
Team Seven, also known as Team Ayatsuru of the Hangyaku, was a force to be reckoned with. And when they are assigned to go back and stop nuke-nin Orochimaru from killing the Sandaime Hokage of Konohagakure, how will the trio change the fabrics of time? Will the three be able to stop the reoccurring pattern of past Team Seven's? Tight-bonded Team Seven (brother-sister relationship), minus Kakashi. 100% chance of no yaoi. So relax.
0o0-0o0-0o0
Naruto sat contentedly at Ichiraku Ramen Bar, along with the rest of his team. Over the past two months, the three of them, along with other members of Hangyaku, had been going around the Elemental Nations, completing missions and making a name for themselves. Personally, Naruto was pleased with how everything was going; he was raising the skill levels of the Hangyaku branch in Konoha, and almost everyone was A-rank or higher, thanks to the training regime he had created, along with Sakura's diet plan. What was even better was that, even though the rising of skill level was noticeable to members of the Hangyaku, it wasn't noticeable to anyone outside the organization. So, when Orochimaru launched the attack in the middle of the final rounds, the rebellion would be prepared.
Also, in-village shinobi career was going pretty good as well. More of the Konoha-nin were treating him with respect, as a large number if them were in the Hangyaku. Even then, those who weren't in the rebellion were treating him better. Also, after some convincing from his Academy Sensei, Naruto was now living with Iruka, officially adopted as his son. With, of course, the blessings from Sakura and approval from Sasuke.
At the moment, the three members of Team Ayatsuru were relaxing, for tomorrow would be the finals. Needless to say, they were all anxious as well as excited, leading to a whirlwind of emotions.
"Ne, Naruto," Sakura called from his right. Blinking, Naruto looked up to the pinkette, who continued talking after gaining the attention of her blonde squad leader. "Where do you think Sensei is?"
Truth be told, Naruto had wandered where their Genin squad leader had gone off to. The three of them had managed to give him the slip for most of the two month training period, but now that it was ending, he had become hyper-sensitive of everything and everyone around him, knowing that there were enemy nin among them.
Naruto tensed though as he felt the chakra from their Scarecrow-sensei. He didn't think now would be a good time to tell their Sensei what was going on, if ever. And right now was definitely not it.
"Scarecrow two blocks down at nine o'clock," Naruto responded to his female teammate, who paled slightly.
"I suggest we get out of here, then," Sasuke, who hadn't said much during their meal, suggested, getting two nods from his tow teammates.
Leaving the money on the table, Naruto called out a "Later, Oji-san!" before the members of Team Seven left the Ramen Bar.
The three friends shunshined out of the area just as they saw their Sensei look up to see them leave. Unfortunately for the three Hangyaku members, their perverted Sensei had had enough of being evade by his whole team for over two months, and thus took the initiative to start following them. He wasn't an Ex-ANBU Captain for nothing.
This led to a chase that Naruto hadn't had since he was an Academy student, pulling a prank. The first place they went was the Subakus' hotel room, where Kankuro, Temari and Gaara were currently relaxing in. As they entered the room, the three members of team Seven closed the windows and blinds all around the room and locked the door so no one else could get in. When they were sure that everything was secure, the three let tier guard down a little.
"Is there a reason for you three to be barging into our hotel room like this?" Team Ayatsuru turned to see Temari with her brothers on either side of her.
"Yes, there is." Naruto replied.
"And?"
"And what?"
"Aren't you going to tell us?"
"I suppose." Seeing as Temari looked ready to smash his head inwardly, he held his hands up placating manner "Alright, alright. We're hiding from our Sensei."
"Why would you be doing that?" Kankuro asked, sitting on his bed with a magazine in hand.
"Well, we might've avoided him for two months…" A somewhat sheepish grin appeared on Naruto's face.
Temari raised an eyebrow. "And what does it have to do with you hiding here?"
"Because he's chasing us." Naruto replied, while Sakura checked through the blinds to see if Kakashi was anywhere near. Looking downwards, she saw that Kakashi was walking into the hotel where the Subakus were staying.
"Um, Naruto?" Sakura asked nervously, paling slightly.
"What is it Sakura?" Naruto asked, watching as Gaara made his sand float in intricate designs in what might have been an attempt to impress his first friend.
"Would it be bad if Kakashi was to walk into this hotel?"
Both Naruto and Sasuke's heads snapped towards her so fast that she was surprised they didn't get whiplash.
"Yes, that would be very bad, Sakura."
"In that case, I think we should leave. I can feel his chakra rising through the elevators." Sakura replied, looking to the locked door of the hotel room they were in.
"Well then, I guess we should." Naruto replied simply, getting up after Gaara's sand went back into its cork. "I'll see you tomorrow, ne?" Naruto asked Gaara, who nodded with a small smile.
Smiling back, Naruto made his way over to the middle of the room where Sasuke and Sakura were waiting for him.
"Well then, I guess we're off then," Naruto replied cheerfully. "If you'll keep this visit a little secret…" With a wink, Naruto grabbed hold of his other two teammates and shunshined to another are without a trace to be left. Not a second later, there was a knock at the door. With an amused look towards his two elder siblings, Gaara wiped any emotion off his face and answered the door. Right there was none other than Hatake Kakashi.
"Konnichiwa!"* Kakashi greeted.
"Do you need something, Hatake-san?" Gaara asked with a hint of annoyance in his voice. He figured that if this man was chasing his best friend and causing trouble, he'd do whatever he could to make sure they wouldn't be found by anything he said.
"Yes, it just so happens that I'm looking for my cute little students. You wouldn't happen to know where they are, would you?" Kakashi asked with an eye-smile.
"I haven't seen Naruto since yesterday. Now if you'll excuse me; I have better things to do." Gaara finished, closing the door behind him with a sharp click, leaving Kakashi in the hallway.
0o0-0o0-0o0
Landing in the designated place, Sasuke and Sakura looked around to see what appeared to be a clans-ground.
"Where are we?" Sakura asked, looking around.
"This," Naruto said with a flourish of his hand, "is the Namikaze clans-grounds."
Sasuke looked up at the revelation of where they were. "This is the Yondaime's house?"
"Yep!" Naruto replied cheerfully. "And soon to be mine once I can convince Sandaime-Jiji** to let me stay here with Iruka."
"Wow," Sakura said, not hiding the impressed look on her face. "Its really beautiful here."
"Otou-san*, being a master of Fuuinjutsu, made a seal that would keep everything from rotting and withering away. The only way you can get in is if you've been invited here by a blood member, if you marry in and are keyed into the seals- good thing okaa-san's family is well-known for creating epic seals- or if you're invited." Naruto explained, and then paused, thinking about what he had just said.
"Crap," He muttered.
"What's wrong?" Sasuke asked, raising an eyebrow at the blonde.
"If you're not of Namikaze blood, the only way you can get in here is if you've been invited, or you're keyed into the wards. Kakashi-sensei's keyed into the wards, since he was one on Otou-san's students. He, knowing that something's different with us, might assume we've somehow managed to find out about my heritage and are currently using its knowledge, and thus, are here."
"So, basically, he can find us?" Sakura asked.
"Not quite," came a voice from the far side of the house. "I've already found you." Out came Kakashi, eye-smiling.
Naruto did the only thing he knew to do in this situation. "Eep!" And then grabbed hold of his two unsuspecting teammates and shunshined away.
Kakashi's eye-smile started twitching. 'As soon as I get my hands on those three, they will know the meaning of pain.' And with that, Kakashi shunshined away, thinking of different ways to torture those three little hellions.
0o0-0o0-0o0
The three teenage members of Team Ayatsuru landed silently in the back of Iruka's classroom. They knew he wouldn't mind, as they had popped in on and off for the past two months. Whether they wanted some peace, or were actually willing to help out with his class, they were welcome in his class. It didn't hurt that Iruka was Naruto's adopted father.
In the back of the room, Naruto put a finger to his lips in the universal sigh of 'Shh' when Iruka looked back to him in questioning. Nodding slightly in understanding, Iruka went right back to teaching as if nothing had happened, and his students were none the wiser.
The three members watched as Iruka taught, completely in his zone. Naruto knew that if Iruka wanted to, he could be a Jounin or higher. But, he loved teaching at the Academy, and Naruto wouldn't even think about taking away the happiness of his adopted father.
It was about fifteen minutes later that Iruka gave Naruto a knowing look, which informed him that, most likely, their Sensei was outside of the door to this room. Paling, he nudged Sasuke and Sakura, and nodded towards the door. Understanding his message, the two rose quietly and made their way to the window, walking along the back wall of the classroom so that they wouldn't be seen by their Sensei.
But alas, it was all for naught, for as they reached the window, a head with anti-gravity silver hair appeared. The now glaring Kakashi opened the window and grabbed Naruto by his forearm with a tight, as he was the nearest of his team to Kakashi. Unfortunately for Naruto, he was caught. Even though he was much stronger than before, his stature was still smaller than his Sensei's and it would prove harder for him to escape. Trying to escape his Sensei's grip, said man gripped him even harder, garnering an unwanted whimper to escape Naruto's mouth. Now, Naruto was pretty tough, but the pain coming from his Sensei's grip was enough to warrant one.
Iruka, who was in the middle of teaching his class, heard the whimper from the voice he'd know anywhere. Snapping his head towards the back of the classroom, Iruka saw what was happening to his son. Needless to say, Iruka was, at the very least, displeased at the way Kakashi was acting towards his Genin team, especially his beloved son.
"Hatake-san," Iruka said in voice that sent shivers down even Kakashi's spine, "I suggest you take your hands off my son before I make you."
This had cowed Iruka's class of students, never having seen him acting this aggressive before.
"Maa, maa, Umino-san," Kakashi started, trying to appease the pissed off teacher. In fact, he only tightened the grip on his youngest student. "This can all be-"
"I said," Iruka growled, glaring daggers at the Copy-cat nin, "let go of my son!" And with a flash of speed most didn't know Iruka had, he vanished and appeared in Kakashi's face, tearing the Jounin's arm off of Naruto and punching him right in the nose, getting a sickening crunch. Flipping the Jounin over onto his stomach, he began tying the Jounin up with chakra enforced ninja wire, making sure the ropes were taut and secure.
"Naruto, are you all right?" Iruka asked his adopted son, gently lifting the hurt arm to get a better look at it. It was deeply bruised, which made Iruka frown in concern.
"Don't worry Iruka-sensei," Sakura reassured her old Academy teacher, "we'll make sure that Naruto is healed all the way." Sasuke gave a terse nod, glaring severely at the Jounin tied up on the floor. Iruka nodded, knowing his son would be in good hands.
"Now class," Iruka started, his voice returning to normal as he hefted the broken-nosed Jounin over his shoulder, "this is why you never underestimate an opponent."
"Hai!" The class of students chorused, staring at their teacher in a new light.
Walking towards the door, Iruka turned back towards Naruto and gave him a warm smile. "Make sure you're back by dinner. Sasuke, Sakura, you're welcome to come as well." Turning towards his students, Iruka announced, "Class is dismissed for today."
As the group of chattering students left for the day, Sakura gently took Naruto's arm and began healing it. As the gentle green light surrounded it, Naruto sighed in relief.
"Well, at least you'll never have to worry about the villagers again," Sasuke commented. "Iruka'll beat them up if they ever touch you."
Sasuke's comment got the desired effect as Naruto snorted in laughter along with Sakura.
Sasuke smiled; tomorrow would go just fine.
0o0-0o0-0o0
And there ya have it! And before you go all out on me, Kakashi is NOT AN ANTAGONIST.Just had to get that out of the way, hope you see this. What Kakashi did will help this baby move along in the future.
* Konnichiwa is English for hello.
** Sandaime-Jiji is the semi-formal way for Naruto to call the Sandaime an old man, but still having respect.
* Otou-san is English for dad. Okaa-san is English for mom, but I didn't put a star by that.
And if anyone didn't know, Scarecrow is the exact English translation for Kakashi.
Ja!