Guest pointed out an annoying mistake I made the last chapter. This is my first multi-chaptered Naruto story, and the first Naruto story I'm actually taking seriously, so I can make a few mistakes here and there. Sorry!
Gaara is a tad bit different in my story.
Thanks to TheOrangeStar802, Akatsuki no Kyara, Guest and The True Not Important for the reviews!
"Are you sure you don't need to go to the hospital, Naruto?" Sakura asked in concern.
"Nah, I'm fine!" Naruto shot his pink-haired teammate a wide grin, causing her to shake her head.
"I think you should, you know," Sasuke piped up. "You... walked straight into a mine field after all." The Uchiha tried hard to resist his laughter, purely because he had been laughing his ass off when it had happened and he didn't want to do so a second time, because he was polite.
The three had gone on a flurry of D-Rank missions. Their teamwork had seemingly soared after the mission in the Land of Waves, but Itachi had decided to call it a day after a dog-walking mission had resulted in Naruto walking his dog into a mine field.
Unbeknownst to any of them, however, the Kyuubi was already healing his wounds.
With the day over and his little frog wallet Gama-chan filled with money from the missions, Naruto had offered to treat his teammates to ramen. Sakura was obviously hesitant over the idea of an 'almost-date' with her blonde friend, but when Sasuke agreed to go, Sakura of course had to accept as well.
"I don't need to!" Naruto shook his head firmly. "I hate the hospital."
"Why?"
"I don't know. I just hate it."
Sasuke shrugged, as Team 7 entered Ichiraku Ramen.
"Hello, Naruto!" The booming voice of Teuchi came. "Oh, you've brought friends! Now, what can I get for all of you?"
"Hey, old man!" Naruto grinned broadly. "Miso ramen, please!"
"Uh..." Sakura thought for awhile. "Diet ramen."
"Pork ramen!" Sasuke grinned at Teuchi. Then he looked over at Naruto. "Eh, do they sell rice balls here?"
Naruto stared at Sasuke. "Rice balls? Do you think they would sell rice balls at Ichiraku Ramen?" He emphasized on the 'ramen' part. Sasuke looked away sheepishly.
The guard yawned, reading over a copy of Icha Icha. He wasn't a fan of the series, but manning the gates of the village could get boring. Icha Icha helped him survive the long day.
He yawned again, wondering why he was a Chunin, yet doing stupid duties like guarding the gates.
The Leaf ninja looked up from his book, to see four figures entering the gates. Immediately alert, he was about to call out to them, but apparently he didn't need to. The four walked over to him, and the guard relaxed immediately after he saw they were ninja from the Sand.
"Here for the Chunin Exams, I presume?" He grinned. "You're here early."
"We are?" The one with the black hood and weird purple face-paint scowled. "Gaara..."
The one known as Gaara had a small smile on his face. "I, uh... may have lied about the 'we are just on time' part. You know, I like to be early, Kankuro."
Kankuro shook his head disapprovingly.
"Stop whining, Kankuro," the only female of the team snapped, before presenting documents. "Here."
"Ah, yeah. The Chunin Exam documents," the guard nodded. "Thanks." He kept the papers, before gesturing to his left. "Enjoy your time in Konohagakure, sirs and madam."
"He called you madam, Temari," Kankuro snickered.
"Shut up," Temari shook her head.
"Thank you," the tallest and oldest of the four spoke up politely. Probably their Jonin sensei, the Leaf guard thought.
As they walked into the village, the guard watched their retreating backs, and adjusted his forehead protector, his expression one of amusement. What an interesting bunch...
"So are we checking into the biggest hotel?" Kankuro grinned.
"No, Kankuro. We are not here to play."
"I know, Baki-sensei," the hooded Genin frowned. "But it won't hurt to enjoy yourself for a bit. I heard the Hidden Leaf has some awesome hot springs!"
Baki frowned, but said nothing. "Kazekage-sama has already got a hotel booked for us."
"Always one step ahead," Temari noted, as the four continued walking through the streets. She stopped at a particular shop, and gestured for her team to go ahead. The blonde kunoichi stepped into the shop excitedly, her eyes glued to the chestnuts on display.
She loved chestnuts.
Although Temari wasn't sure how the chestnuts in Konoha tasted like, she was sure they were just as good. Like a happy child, the fan-wielding teen bounded over to the cashier.
"I want the chestnuts!" She grinned.
The cashier was taken aback by his customer's enthusiasm. "Uh, they've been taken by that boy over there."
Temari frowned, following the cashier's gesture to a boy staring right back at her.
"Eh, could you move to the side, woman?" The pineapple-headed boy fixed her with a lazy stare. "Need to collect my stuff."
"Hell no! These chestnuts are mine!" Temari yelled.
"Yours?" Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "I got my eye on them first."
"Well... I bet I love them more than you do!" The blonde argued.
"Probably," the Nara nodded absentmindedly. "Would you mind moving to the side now? As I said, I need to collect my stuff. The chestnuts."
Temari glared at this Leaf ninja with a hateful look as he took the packet of oh-so-tasty-looking chestnuts. As she turned around and got ready to sulk her way back to her team, a hand placed itself on her shoulder.
"What?!" She snapped, turning around.
Shikamaru stared at her with his usual lazy expression, unfazed by her sudden yell. He used his hands to raise Temari's hand, and just as she was about to pull away, Shikamaru placed the packet of chestnuts in her hand.
Temari raised an eyebrow, but before she could say anything, Shikamaru turned and walked away, hands in pockets.
A hint of a smile broke onto her lips. "Thaaaaaaanks!" She yelled, waving the chestnuts in the air, before rushing back to join her team. Shikamaru continued walking, a similar smile on his face.
Then he recalled something. That headband around her neck.
What's a Suna kunoichi doing around here? He asked himself, before shrugging.
Temari finally caught up with her brothers and Baki. She took in the scene of Kankuro holding a little kid up, with three Leaf ninja glaring at him with expressions of anger and annoyance.
She examined each one of them. The first one was the hottie. His hair was gorgeous, his face was gorgeous and Temari almost thought he looked a little too perfect.
The next boy, an orange-wearing guy who had the same hair color as her, albeit lighter. Their female companion was a pink-haired civilian-looking shinobi, and Temari only noticed she was a ninja via her headband.
A ninja with pink hair? Seriously?
"Let Konohamaru down!" Naruto shrieked at Kankuro.
"And what if I don't?" Kankuro sneered right back. "I hate little kids like this. Always running around and getting themselves into trouble. I'll kill you." His eyes narrowed at the frightened Konohamaru.
"Kankuro..." Baki warned.
"Kankuro," Gaara shook his head disapprovingly.
"Kill him, huh?" Naruto glared at the hooded teen. "Let's see what you can do!" He formed a hand seal.
"Wait, don't-" Sasuke started, but his teammate had already formed three clones. The four Narutos leaped at Kankuro, much to his surprise. Caught off-guard, the puppet user found himself being hit by two punches in the face and another two in the gut, sending him reeling back.
Konohamaru was released and the academy student ran to Sakura's side, where Moegi and Udon was.
"You little..." Kankuro growled. He started to unwrap the bundle on his back.
"Kankuro!" Baki roared a warning. The hooded Sand Genin relaxed, but kept his glare aimed firmly at Naruto.
"I am sorry for causing trouble," Gaara apologized to Team 7 and Konohamaru's gang.
"Why are you apologizing for, Gaara?" Kankuro said in irritation.
"Be quiet," Baki snapped.
"No worries," said Sasuke quickly, not wanting to get into a fight with foreign ninja. He didn't know anything of their ability, although his Uchiha mind was already laying out the answers. The one called Gaara fought with the gourd on his back, with whatever was in it. The blonde kunoichi who had just arrived probably fought with that heavy fan, while the hooded loudmouthed one used that mysterious bundle.
The oldest of the four didn't look too special, so Sasuke skipped his mental evaluation of him.
"We will be on our way now," Baki bowed apologetically, before leading his team past the six Leaf citizens. Kankuro growled at Naruto and Konohamaru as he walked past, and the orange-wearing Genin flipped him the bird, until Sakura pushed his hand down quickly.
"Orochimaru-sama."
When the owner of the voice heard no reply, he repeated himself.
"Um, Orochimaru-sama."
"Yes?" Another voice hissed from the darkness.
Kabuto Yakushi squinted to see his master's figure in the dark.
"All preparations are complete. The Sand team have moved into the Leaf."
"Excellent," Orochimaru nodded his approval. "Well, I believe it is also time for us to set off. You too, Kabuto."
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama." Kabuto fixed a Konohagakure forehead protector onto his forehead. "If you don't mind me asking, Orochimaru-sama..." The two walked together out of the hideout.
"Yes?"
"Why go for the younger Uchiha... when you have Itachi?"
Orochimaru shook his head. "It seems you do not understand, Kabuto. Itachi is very much stronger than me, although that is... a little hard to believe, considering how I am... or was. Yes, was. Was part of the Sannin."
"Itachi Uchiha? Stronger than you?" Kabuto raised an eyebrow. He had never heard the snake-like man admit anyone was stronger than him before.
"Unfortunately," the missing-nin nodded. "So my next best plan is to get the younger one."
"Hm... the one called..." Kabuto started.
"Yes... Sasuke Uchiha."
Another painfully short chapter, but I hope you enjoyed this. In the next chapter, Team 7 enters their first ever Chunin Exams. Until then, toodles.