Disclaimer- I don't not own the original characters fro Naruto, they belong to a very lucky man.
The three Genin looked at the man standing in front of them, stunned and curious. Amie stepped forward.
"How? You were unconscious! We saw you get thrown back!"
Kien touched the unconscious Idate and touched it cautiously, not knowing what would happen.
POOF
It disappeared in a puff of smoke, making the young shinobi jump backwards. Idate smirked at them.
"I used a shadow clone, to make it seem like I attacked that ninja. But in reality I was hiding in the trees, watching to see how you three acted in a real fight, and I have to say, I'm impressed with you all"
He noticed Kien frown and look away, but didn't say anything; he would talk to the boy later. He turned back to the others and noticed Amie glaring at him.
"It was a test? All that time you were really Ok, but you still let us nearly be pummeled?"
Idate didn't answer but looked at Kien instead.
"Do you still have the scroll?"
Kien nodded and handed him the scroll, without meeting his teachers gaze. Idate frowned as he tucked the scroll safely away.
"Right shall we continue then?"
Without waiting for a reply, he walked ahead leaving the three to follow. Soon enough they reached the sea. Idate sighed.
"Well the person who was meant to meet us, is either late or, we're early"
He sat on the ground and, motioned for the others to do so. They sat in silence, until Idate spoke.
"There's a man coming" he stood up and looked across the sea.
The Genin looked and saw a man on a boat. He looked young and strong, as he reached them, he introduced himself.
"So you must be the leaf ninja, my name is Inari. My grandfather would've met you, but he's too ill and frail to make long journeys, so I offered to come instead"
Idate spoke. "Yes the Hokage, sent us to give you back the blue prints"
Inari smiled at them as he took the blue prints from Idate, and placed it in his boat.
"He's a good man, that Naruto"
Amie looked at him stunned. He knew her mom?
Inari saw her looking at him and frowned, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Got a problem with me pipsqueak?"
Amie turned red in anger. How dare he call her pipsqueak?!?
He smirked at her reaction and decided to push her more. He looked at Idate who was rubbing his temples.
"Is she really a ninja? She looks a bit small"
Amie went to go for him, but was held back by Idate, who sighed tiredly and sent a apologetic look to Inari.
"I'll kill him! I'm not small!"
"Amie you can't kill him, he's the client, and he's a friend of the Hokage remember?"
Inari smiled. "So you must be Naruto's daughter. I can tell; you have the same characteristics as him."
Amie stopped struggling and went quiet. Inari then looked at the other two. He looked at Senka closely before speaking.
"You have the same arrogant look the Uchiha boy had when he was here, with Naruto, are you his son?"
Before Senka could answer Amie did.
"No, he's not. Sasuke's my dad. I'm Amie Uzumaki-Uchiha, that's Senka Nara, and the other boy is Kien Hatake"
Inari looked at her amused before speaking to Idate, who looked as if he was trying not to shout at the girl.
"Since you've traveled so far, you can stay at mine until you've recovered enough strength"
Idate smiled at him gratefully. "Thank you, that is very kind"
That night found the four leaf shinobi and Inari sitting round a table in his home. Idate noticed Kien was being quieter than usual. He looked at Amie, who seemed to have noticed as well.
"So did Naruto ever tell you, about the time he was here? Of course he was still a Genin, at the time"
Amie shook her head, as Kien suddenly stood up, and walked out the room without a word. The young girl looked as if she was going to go after him, but Idate stopped her.
"I'll go. You listen to Inari's story"
Idate found the boy, sitting on the porch looking at the ground sadly, and sat next to him.
"What's wrong Kien?"
The boy sighed. "I'm a failure as a shinobi"
The Jonin was taken aback, wondering what had made the, young boy say that.
"Kien Hatake, you are not a failure, and I don't ever want you to say that again. Now tell me what's making you think this"
The boy sighed again. "When we thought you were knocked out, all I did was sit there while, Amie and Senka fought. I felt helpless"
Idate shook his head, smiling making Kien look at him confused.
"Kien you're not the first person to say that, and you probably won't be the last. But you were doing the most important job of all: protecting me and the scroll. I watched you, when I was hiding. I saw how you and Amie dragged me to safety and how you looked ready to strike when necessary"
Kien didn't look convinced, and Idate realized why Kien felt the way he did.
"Is this to do with you not feeling like you're not living up to your father's expectations?"
Kien's eyes widened, and he stood up, causing Idate to.
"It's cold, I'm going in"
Idate watched the boy go in, and followed shortly afterwards, and was greeted by the sound of Amie and Inari's laughter.
Two days later, found Team nine, in the woodlands near Konoha. All four glad that they hadn't run into trouble. Idate smiled softly.
Maybe, just maybe I'm starting to like these kids