Chapter 2

Kichiro swung his katana with precise accuracy- splitting his brother's clone straight in half… again- only for another clone to step up. The Uzumaki brothers found that this was an excellent way to train. Kichiro got to practice his katas in repetition against an actual opponent. When the opponent 'died,' Mitsuo would gain his knowledge- allowing him to tell Kichiro what he was doing wrong, and also gave him practice against a weapons master without the risk of getting seriously injured. When they told Amaya about this, needless to say, the genius found a way to make it even better. While they did their usual routine, Amaya would alternate between continuously barraging them with katon (fire) jutsus and helping one of the twins double team the other for experience against multiple opponents. Neji was impressed with his team

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"Hokage sama? Hyuga Neji is here to see you." "Send him in." Neji bowed low and took a seat across from Naruto. "Sup Neji! How you been?" Neji rolled his eyes. Hokage or not, Naruto would never change. "I've been great actually. Being a sensei is a synch; my team basically teaches themselves and each other." Naruto smiled. Hell yea, my boys are geniuses! "So I suppose there is a reason you came here other than to catch up?" Neji nodded, getting to the point, "I feel that Team 5 is ready for a C rank mission." "Not that I'm not happy about this," Naruto started, "but why?" For the first time in years, Neji laughed, "Naruto, you assigned me a bunch of prodigies. Not to mention the fact that their teamwork is flawless. Amaya has the Hyuga style taijutsu mastered perfectly, can perform every katon jutsu I throw at her, flawless genjutsu, and complete control over her dojutsus. I'm certain that Kichiro has mastered his weaponry to a point where he could take on all of the 7 swordsmen of the mist at once and has incorporated Raiso (lightning) ninjutsu into his fighting style- whether it is jutsus themselves or having his kunai covered in electricity. Mitsuo has surprised me the most. His intelligence has increased rapidly and has taken to Gai and Lee's taijutsu forms. His chakra is at an amazing capacity and he's even dabbling in doton jutsus to strengthen his taijutsu and long ranged attacks. One on one, each of them could give me a run for my money- if not beat me.

Naruto was speechless… never mind, "OMG NEJI YOU SPOKE MORE THAN FIVE WORDS I'M SO PROUD!!!" "… hn." Naruto sweat dropped, "That's more like the Neji we all know and love. But I am surprised; you never compliment anybody, let alone to a degree like that. I'll make a deal with you." "I'm listening." Naruto grinned, "If they successfully complete ten C rank missions in a row without any major wounds, I'll even let them take B rank missions. But if this is the case, they must be enrolled in the next chunin exams. Deal?" The two men shook hands, "Deal."

**********************On******The******Mission**************************

Amaya landed on the tree branch closest to her only to jump to the next one. "So Neji sensei, where are we going anyway?" Jump. Land. Jump…Land. Jump. Land. Jum- "Sunagakure. I guess I should fill you in on our mission information while we travel so we don't risk giving away information should we run into an enemy scout at camp. We are to deliver this very important scroll to the Kazekage. Due to our strengthened alliance, both of our Kages decided it would be beneficial if we had the ninja roster of the other country should we be in a situation where we needed a certain type of team formed." "Wait!" Kichiro yelled, "You mean the scroll we're delivering has information on every ninja in Konoha!?!?!?" 'The other two look scared' Neji noted, "Yes, that's exactly what I mean. But that's exactly why were the ones delivering it. It is such an important task that no enemy would expect the Hokage to send a genin squad out for its delivery." Amaya paused, looking thoughtful, "That makes perfect sense actually sensei. If I came across a squad of genin going towards Sunagakure, I'd just assume that it was in the terms of the treaty for new ninja to be acquainted with the village. Hokage sama's cleverer than he lets on." The twins, having taken on a more serious attitude, could only nod at their father's intelligence.

Team 5 finally arrived in Sunagakure having had no difficulties along the way. They reported to the Kazekage, scroll in hand. Knock. Knock. Knock. "Enter." Neji led the way in followed by Amaya, Kichiro, and lastly Mitsuo. They bowed. "Kazekage sama, we were sent here to deliver Konoha's ninja roster." Neji stated in a respectful tone that made his students choke back their laughter. Gaara's face turned into a questioning one. "Naruto sent a genin team to deliver one of the most important documents of his village?" "Hai Kazekage sama," this time it was Amaya who spoke, "Think about it though. If you were an enemy to Konoha, would you really waste your time attacking a supposedly weak team of genin when you have a more important job to do? Or would you just assume it was protocol for new ninja to become acquainted with their allies?" Gaara looked at her, shocked. She spoke with respect yet certainty; a combination rarely found in one so young. The young boys behind her, who he knew to be Naruto's sons stood with small smiles; they put one hundred percent of their trust in their team mate and knew she could handle talking to their scary godfather. Gaara turned back to Amaya, "You have a point…" His sentence dropped off as he realized he didn't know who she was. "Oh! My name's Amaya Uchiha, Kazekage sama." 'Hmm so she's Sasuke's daughter. I wonder who her mother is…' "Amaya san, you seem very intelligent for one your age, yet also humbly respectful. I know you couldn't have gotten that trait from your father *smirk* so who's your mother?" Amaya laughed knowing that her father refused to be polite to anybody he wasn't related to, "Hinata Hyuga Kazekage sama," Amaya replied with a smile, "apparently to those who knew them growing up though, the thought is quite amusing." Gaara couldn't help but laugh. 'I never would've thought the shy Hyuga would get over her crush on Naruto only to end up with his complete opposite. Amaya's right. The thought is quite laughable.' Team 5 was shocked. They'd never heard anyone even mention the Kazekage laughing, let alone think that they'd hear it themselves. Neji chocked back his laughter, "I'm still holding to my promise. If he ever hurts her I'll jyuuken him so hard in his…" Amaya had clamped her hand over her uncle's mouth. "Uncle Neji, I don't think that's something appropriate to say in the Kazekage's office." Gaara laughed once more while handing him another scroll. "Take that back to Naruto, its Suna's equivalent to the scroll you delivered to me. Tell your father hi for me Kichiro, Mitsuo." They smiled and did what all twins have to do eventually, "We will Uncle Gaara!" They said the exact same thing at the same time in the same tone. Neji and Amaya laughed at the blushing boys all the way to their hotel.

The genin started their trip back to Konoha first thing in the morning. "I think dad needs to take a break." Stated Kichiro. To which Mitsuo nodded in agreement, "Yea, the council's been over working him lately. I think the paperwork's going to drive him crazy in all honestly." Neji and Amaya looked on curiously until Amaya spoke up, "Wait, wait, wait. The great toad sage is stuck in an office. Every day. Doing nothing but paperwork???" "That's right," replied Kichiro, "He hardly gets time to train anymore. He always tries to convince the council to let him have a month or two to train. Top secret too, none of the other nations would know he was gone. But they keep denying his proposals." 'Hmm, I wonder what the council would say to him taking a break to take on an apprentice…' Amaya wondered.

They made it back to the village, again, without running into any enemies. "Hokage sama." Neji bowed, followed by Team 5, "There were no problems and the Kazekage sent us back with the equivalent scroll." Naruto smiled with laughter in his eyes at Neji's formalities, "Good job guys!" Naruto yelled as he stood up and hugged his kids 'Hell, Amaya is my god daughter!' "Oh Uncle Naruto! Gaara sama said to say hi." Chimed Amaya. "I knew we forgot something aniki!" Mitsuo laughed while Kichiro blushed, he had forgotten too. Naruto joined Mitsuo in laughing and messed his boys' hair, "Well if that's everything Neji?" to which Naruto got a nod in confirmation, "Then team 5 is dismissed." The team left with Amaya lagging behind. 'Should I ask him? Gahhh I really want to learn the toad sage arts and Uncle Naruto is the only one alive that knows them… okay. I'll ask!' "Hokage sama?" Naruto looked up at Amaya's timid voice, "Amaya chan, its Uncle Naruto when it's not about missions. But what is it?" Naruto's curiosity grew as Amaya started twitting her fingers together like her mother used to do. "Well… I was wondering… if… maybe you could teach me to be a toad sage?" Naruto grinned wider than he ever had before, "That's a great idea Amaya chan!" he shouted, "I've actually been wondering who to pass the teachings on to. I can't let it die with me now can I?" His joking tone lightened until it seemed serious. "But why do you want to be a toad sage Amaya chan? I mean you have the Hyuga techniques and the power of the Sharingan at your disposal… your amazingly strong for one your age." Amaya sighed, 'I knew I would have to tell someone eventually. Well, might as well be somebody I want to learn from,' "Uncle Naruto, as a kunoichi from two esteemed clans, all my techniques are over used and make me just another clan member. But I want to be better than that! I don't want to be like my parents, as much as I love them, I want to be my own person and make a name for myself. It's even more than a personal matter though. When on the field, they'll see my eyes and the crest on my back and know exactly who I am. The enemy will know that I use Hyuga taijutsu and katon jutsu, meaning that they will put a long distance suiton user against me, making me screwed. I need an ace up my sleeve or I'm done for Hokage sama."

Naruto was shocked. 'She's really thought this one through. As a person, she needs to step out of her parents shadow, and as a kunoichi, she needs to have a secret weapon to trick the enemy. Hmm, this is exactly the angle I need to show the council when I bring up this proposition.' "Ok Amaya chan, I'll train you." Amaya, shocked as she was, quickly snapped out of it and jumped on her uncle. "THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!" Naruto chuckled. I'll come up with a training regimen for you to use while your on missions and another for when you're in the village. After you make chunin, I'll train you one-on-one personally. But first, I need to appeal this to the council, and they need to agree." Amaya had calmed down enough to realize what this meant for her career. "Hokage sama, thank you. You're letting me protect the people I love by giving me the skills necessary to do so." She bowed low, making Naruto's eyes widen until a gentle smile was on his face. "Sure thing Amaya chan. You will grow up to be a great kunoichi. Now get some rest. You've been traveling for days." Amaya smiled up at her uncle "Ja ne Hokage sama, I'll make you proud."

Amaya went home and assured her parents she was fine. She ate some leftovers and went to bed. 'Thank you uncle Naruto, I won't let you down, I promise. I won't let Konoha down. I'll protect my team, my precious people…' She slowly drifted off to sleep unknowing of her last thought '… Kichiro kun.'