Hey guys! Sorry for the late update, but as you can see, the chapter is much longer than the others.
If you've seen the new summary, then you know, but if you didn't, the pairing will be Naruto and Fuu from Takigakure.
So enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Dragon Ball Z.
- - - Chapter 2 - - -
The genin, jonin, and missing-nins walked to the door of the Hokage Mansion in silence, before Kakashi stopped and turned around. A look of surprise appeared on his face as he addressed his team.
"…..You do realize that you have the rest of the day off, right? Only Haku and Zabuza need to follow me?"
The statement was met with silence, before the team's head seemed to swell with anger.
"We've been following you for over an hour! Why didn't you tell us this when we reached the gate?" they yelled in unison.
"Hm…..I didn't?" he said, causing the team to facefault.
"Anyway, let's go Zabuza-san. Haku-san."
Kakashi walked through the door with his right hand shoved in his pocket and left eye on his book. Zabuza, reading a different portion of the series, walked in with a similar stance. Haku rolled his eyes and walked on.
"Well, I'm gonna buy some new threads," said Naruto, "Catch you guys later!"
The Saiyan warrior put two fingers to his forehead, and vanished in an afterimage.
- - - Meanwhile, on the other side of town…. - - -
It was another boring, slow day for cashier/genin Ino Yamanaka at the Yamanaka Flower Shop.
Until of course, the bell above the door rang.
She looked up in surprise at the prospect of a customer. Straightening out the wrinkles in her clothes, he ran to meet him.
She gasped at the sight of the man's attire: a tattered orange and blue atrocity clung tightly to his well-muscled frame.
There was only one person she knew who would wear something like that.
"Naruto?"
"In the flesh," he said.
"What's up with your hair?" she asked, pointing out the ridiculously spiky mop.
He glanced up at it, before attempting to smooth it back. Its sprung back to its original position.
"I honestly have no idea."
"Well, what I can I help you with? Finally taking my advice on Sakura?" she asked innocently, causing the teen to blush.
"N-no! I just need some help…"
"Help with what?"
The now black-haired ninja scratched the back of his head nervously.
"Canyouhelpmegoshopping?" he said all at once. He knew he'd regret it later anyway, might as well get it over with.
Ino squealed with delight before zipping over to him faster than he could see.
"Ino Yamanaka is on the case!"
Oh, he was in for one hell of a ride.
- - - Hokage Tower - - -
"As you all know," the Sandaime began, "The Chuunin Exams are coming up tomorrow. If you would like to enroll your team, please step forward."
Kakashi stepped forward, "Team 7 nominates: Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, and Naruto Uzumaki."
Not willing to be beaten by his eternal rival, Gai stepped forward, "Team 9 nominates Rock Lee, Neji Hyuuga, and Tenten Higarashi!"
Kurenai did as well, "Team 8 nominates Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame, and Hinata Hyuuga."
Asuma followed suit, "Team 10 nominates Chojii Akimichi, Shikamaru Nara, and Ino Yamanaka."
Iruka slammed his hands on the table.
"Now hang on a minute! I've had these genin as students, and they're still rookies! They'd get killed in these exams!"
"Iruka-san, I sympathize with you," began Kakashi, "but know that these genin are no longer your students; they are my soldiers."
Iruka's face darkened.
"Tch. You better know what you're doing Hatake," he said, resulting in an eye-smile from the jonin.
"Very well, Teams 7, 8, 9, and 10 are now officially enrolled in this year's Chuunin Exams, held here in Konoha. Please give your students these packets to go over," said the aged Hokage, handing out the packets.
"You are dismissed."
The jonin, as well as Iruka left the room.
"I'm getting too old for this shit."
- - - Hell (a.k.a. shopping trip) - - -
Ino was skipping along happily, as Naruto (under a henge of his old self) struggled to keep the mountain of bags in his arms from falling.
He had no problem carrying the weight of the bags with his newfound strength; it was the sheer number of bags that he had trouble with.
"Ino?"
"Yes?"
"Not to complain or anything, but aren't we supposed to be shopping for me?"
"Oh, right. Sorry."
Grumbling, Naruto shoved the bags in a sealing scroll.
The two rounded a corner and entered the biggest weapons shop in town; it was in the dead center of the village. They were greeted by a girl in a pink shirt with brown hair held up in two buns.
"Hello, and welcome to Higarashi weapons! How may I- Naruto?"
"Hey Tenten! Almost forgot your parents owned the place."
"That is so like you Naruto," she replied, smiling.
Ino looked between the two in surprise, "Wait, you two know each other?"
"We were good friends in the academy. I helped him with his kenjutsu," she said.
"Anyway, Tenten, this is Ino Yamanaka. Ino this is Tenten Higarashi."
"Nice to meet you! Do you happen to have shinobi clothing as well as weapons?" asked Ino.
"Yes we do! It's down that aisle," she said, pointing out the aisle, "Call me if you need anything!"
"We will!" Naruto said, walking away.
- - - Outside - - -
"There's boss! Man, this was so worth cutting class!" said Konohamaru, his back pressed against the fence.
"I got the box!" said Udon, pulling out the brick-color painted box.
- - - Inside - - -
The two continued to browse the section. There was gear of all kinds, from standard uniforms, to martial arts gis. When he set his eyes on an orange one with a blue rope belt, he froze.
He clutched his head in pain as a black and white image of three men filled his mind. All three were wearing (what appeared to be) orange gis.
One was short, and was wearing it with a blue undershirt. He was bald and had six dots on his forehead. A name was linked to this image…..Krillin…..
One was tall and had two scars on his face. He had no undershirt. A name was linked to him as well…Yamcha.
The final one wore the gi with a blue undershirt as well. His face was shadowed, and there wasn't a name associated with this one…..
Finally, the pain subsided, and Naruto let go of his head.
'What the hell was that?'
Naruto looked over at the orange gi again, before making up his mind, and walking over to Tenten at the counter.
"Hey, can you guys make clothes built to specific dimensions?"
A thoughtful look appeared on the girl's face.
"I suppose so; it depends on what you have in mind."
Smiling, he pulled out a sketchpad and paper.
-x-x- Scene Break -x-x-
"Hm, the logos are easy and would take a couple of hours, but the undershirt and boots would take a while to put gravity seals on; a couple of days at least. The material you want to use to make the gi itself is very durable, flameproof as well, but is quite expensive. We ordered it a while back, and it should be here by the end of next week. The final product should be ready by the end of the month; before the Chuunin Exam finals," she said, examining the sketch.
"Perfect! I'll take it!" Naruto said, happy that what he wanted made would be ready in time.
"Okay! I'll ring you up!" she said.
The bill turned out to be quite high after all, nearly 1,000 ryo, but, after a drop-in visit from Kakashi during the little "adventure" he had been paid for the A-ranked mission they had just been on, so he had no trouble footing the bill.
"And could you do some work on this?" he asked, holding up the only non-orange clothing in his wardrobe, a blue jacket, "I want a symbol on this too."
He drew the symbol on the paper as well.
"I'd like it on the left sleeve please."
"No problem! I'll be right back!" she said, walking toward the back of the shop.
"W-wait! How much do I owe you?"
"Consider it a favor between friends!" she yelled back, causing him to smile.
-x-x-x-
"Naruto!" Ino yelled, rounding the corner, "Come here! I'd like you to try something on!"
She grabbed him by the hand, and led him back to the aisle.
"Ack! Ino!"
"Here! Try it on!" she said, tossing him the clothes.
"*sigh* Be right back," he said, walking to the changing rooms.
'I knew it was a bad idea to bring her along…..'
-x-x-x-
Naruto emerged wearing a black tank top, black cargo pants, and brownish-yellow boots. He was fiddling with the brown belt, trying to let room for his tail.
"Here's your jacket back!" said Tenten, handing him the blue jacket.
The Capsule Corp logo was now patched onto the left sleeve.
He put it on, before unsealing a sword in an orange sheath from one of his sealing scrolls.
"Hey, isn't that-"
"The sword I forged here a year ago? Yep."
He pulled the strap over his shoulder.
If you hadn't noticed the odd hair color, and you didn't know what anime you were watching, you would think he was Future Trunks, from Dragon Ball, which was the outfit he was wearing, ironically.
"I'll take it."
"Ringing you up again!" Tenten said happily, walking towards the register.
-x-x-x-
"Darn it! Where'd he run off to now!" yelled Konohamaru in exasperation. Playing ninja with Moegi and Udon was difficult, with their stealth abilities.
He quickly ran the corner, only to bump into a cowl-wearing Sand Ninja.
"Gk! That hurt you freaking brat!" he said, lifting him from the ground by the collar.
"Kankuro, let go! We could get in trouble!" said his blonde haired teammate.
"Relax Temari, I'll be done soon," he said, punching the child in the jaw. Konohamaru fell to the ground with a bloody lip.
"Kankuro, stop! We could get in trouble!" Temari urged, but the other Sand ninja refused to listen.
The terrified academy student screamed for help.
-x-x-x-
Fortunately, Naruto and Ino were relatively close by.
Naruto heard the shout, and grasped his companion's hand. He pressed his right index and middle fingers to his forehead, and the two vanished in an afterimage.
-x-x-x-
A hand grasped the Sand Nin's arm, who was holding Konohamaru by the shirt again.
"Put him down, now."
"Holy crap!" he yelled, dropping the child. Konohamaru ran behind Naruto, holding his pant leg.
'So fast! I didn't even see him around!' thought Temari.
"Wait, Sand Ninja in our village? Our countries and villages may be allies, but you are not permitted within our village. State your business," said Ino.
"Don't Ino," he said, turning to face them, "I assume you're here for the Chuunin Exams tomorrow, correct?"
"See blondie? At least your friend here has some brains!" said the Sand Nin, smirking.
Naruto smirked, "At least she's not wearing her teammate's makeup."
"It's war paint, dammit!"
A rock intercepted their path. The 5 present directed their attention to the source. It was a red-haired genin with a gourd on his back.
"Kankuro, stop. You're a disgrace to our village," he said, jumping down from the tree.
"Y-yes Gaara."
'I don't like this guy. His aura's unsettling. . . 'Naruto thought.
The three sand-nin began to walk away.
"Wait! What are your names?" yelled Naruto.
The girl turned, "Who me?"
"You and the red-haired one," he replied.
"Sabaku no Gaara."
"Sabaku no Temari."
"Sabaku no Kanku-"
"I don't believe we asked you."
Naruto turned and started walking.
"I am Naruto Uzumaki. I look forward to fighting you in the exams."
The three from Konoha turned a corner.
"Wow, that was soooo cool, boss!"
-x-x-x-
One hefty explanation with Iruka later, Konohamaru was back in the academy. He dropped Ino off at her house.
It was only 5:30; he had some time to kill.
He started walking toward Ichiraku's.
-x-x-x-
He'd barely dug into his 8th bowl when the rest of his team walked in.
"Figured we'd find you here," said the oldest, taking a seat.
"Kakashi called for a team meeting just after you ran off."
"Don't go off in such a hurry, you baka!"
Naruto polished off the bowl.
"Well, you found me, what is it?"
Kakashi handed him a small packet. He gave one to his teammates.
"I've decided to enroll you three in the Chuunin Exams. Be at the Academy at 10:00 A.M." he said, before vanishing in smoke.
-x-x-x-x-
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand that's a wrap! Explanations are scheduled to take place in Chapter 7.
'Til then!
-Objection234