But with that time passed, three years to be exact. And during all that time all the Konoha ninjas managed to grow up a little and find a way in life, some more than others. The four friends Naruto had left behind had grown had faster than any of their other comrades.
Kiba, Choji, and Neji would follow Shikamaru and become chunnin a year after the Sasuke mission, Neji would go one step farther and become a Jounin soon after.
But the more things change the more they stay the same, and something strange was going to happen in the village soon.
At that moment in the Hokage's office.
Tsunade sat behind her desk buried behind a pile of never-ending papers, that needed her signature. So she signed away her name more times than she could count.
Then when she finally managed to clear a stack of papers that allowed her to see what was in front of her, Shizune appeared and placed another pile down before her.
Then with that Tsunade let out a sigh and slammed her head against the desk.
"Are you alright my lady?" asked Shizune leaning over and examining the Hokage.
"I'm so tired." Mumbled Tsuande as she picked her head up." Certainly there's more I could be doing that signing papers."
"I'm not too sure." Said Shizune." The Sand village has been sending many messages."
"About what?" asked Tsunade.
"Many things really." Replied Shizune.
"The sand village their our closet alley aren't they?" asked Tsunade.
"I'd say so." Replied Shizune.
"Then maybe it's time we have a get together with our old alley." Said Tsunade as she stood up.
"Ma'am?" asked Shizune." What are you suggesting?"
"Something." said Tsunade." Maybe a festival or a feast." Then she turned and looked out the window." No, no we something more something more original."
"I'm afraid I don't follow you on any of this." Said Shizune.
"I GOT IT!" shouted Tsunade as she bolted up, frightening Shizune some." We'll have a tournament."
"A tournament?" asked Shizune." You want to increase friendly relations by fighting?"
"Yes." Said Tsunade. Then she moved over to her desk." I'll send them a letter right away." And she did, she pulled out a sheet of paper and quickly began writing/
"Lady Tsuande." Said Shizune." You should think this over."
"Those Sand siblings." Said Tsunade looking up." Their fond of our ninja aren't they?"
"Yes but um-"
"Good." Said Tsuande as she finished her writing. Then she folded it up and handed it to Shizune." Send this right away, and then set up a roster threw out the village."
"Lady Tsunade I-"
"NOW!" ordered Tsunade. Then with that Shizune ran out of the room ready to complete her new tasks.
Meanwhile at that moment with Neji. He sat in his backyard meditating, clearing his mind. He sat there for some time undisturbed but that was about to change.
For suddenly someone came up from behind him and took a swipe at him. But Neji put his arm up and caught the person's blow. Then he slowly turned around to see Tenten standing there.
"This is a very strange hello." Neji said and then released her.
"I wanted to make sure you were paying attention." Replied Tenten. Neji said nothing and merely turned the other way." Is this what you've been doing with your time off?"
Neji nodded and added plainly." Yes, it helps me stay focused."
"And stubborn as a log." Added Tetnen with a smile. Neji's eyes opened and he turned back to face her.
"Do you need something?"
"What would I ever need?" asked Tenten as she began to walk around him."I don't need anything, I just wanted to come by and see how you're doing." Then she sat down before him. Neji turned his head from her." Are you not interested to know how I've been doing?"
Neji gave no reply and seemed to be back in his mediating state.
"That's not the point!" said Tenten as she swung her arms up." We don't do anything anymore, I know let's go out."
"What's going out got to do with you and me?" asked Neji as he turned to her.
"Are you afraid to show our love to everyone else?" asked Tenten as she stood up.
"I never said that." Said Neji." But you make it sound as if going out proves something."
"It does." Snapped Tenten quickly." It proves we're together and we can stand each other's company." The problem with her and Neji's relationship is that they were so different. He was very serious and cold while she was much more lighthearted and outgoing." C'mon." she said pushing him onto his feet." Let's go." Neji protested at first but then eventually gave in and stood up." Now then where shall we go?"
Neji would have replied but Tenten was too quick." I know." She said." Follow me." Then with a cold look on his face Neji followed after her.
Meanwhile with team ten. The three of them gathered around Asuma. After an intense day of training Asuma decided it was time to call and end to it, for he had other plans. It had become a regular thing but nobody complained in fact the group welcomed it.
"Good work today." He said." All of you." Then he turned to the two boys." Shikamaru, Choji you two keep up the good work you'll be jounin soon enough."
"Yea yea." Said Shikamaru as he scratched his head and Choji gave a wide smile.
"Take the rest of the day off." Said Asuma. He peered over his shoulder to see someone waiting for him." For now I've gotta get going." Then he turned away and walked off with Kurenai.
"Take the rest of the day off." Said Choji." I like the sound of that." Shikamaru turned to walk off but then was in for a startle when Ino popped up in front of him. When he saw this Shikamaru jumped back.
"So." Said Ino walking towards him." What are we going to do with the rest of the day?"
"Uh." Was all Shikamaru managed to reply with but then Ino pressed her finger to his lips and shushed him.
"That'll be the fun part." Said Ino in a softer voice to him." We'll make it up as we go. And we can do anything." Then she winked at him. Shikamaru gulped as Choji stood behind him.
Now for years had noticed Ino's constant flirting with Shikamaru, and knowing Shikamaru better than others Choji could tell he interrupted Ino's flirting as just being friendly. But Choji would always wait to see how Shikamaru would react each time.
"Unfortunately." He replied this time." We have promised to meet some friends. We are taken up." He reached his arm back and pawed for Choji hoping for some support.
"Oh but you'll see your friends some other time." Said Ino as she walked up to Shikamaru. But Shikamaru kept walking back only for Ino to follow him with a smile on her face. The two kept circling around Choji.
"But we must." Replied Shikamaru as he ducked behind Choji only for Ino to follow." It would be rude."
"Unfortunately." Said Choji cutting between the two." He is right." Now he stood before Ino with Shikamaru hiding behind his back." We have important plans."
Ino gave her pout face to Choji but then it melted away into a smile.
"Alright, alright." She said." I'll see you around then." Then she peered over Choji's shoulder to Shikamaru and winked, then she took her leave of them.
In the aftermath of her leaving Choji and Shikamaru walked off.
"Shall we then." Said Choji to the startled Shikamaru." Go and meet those friends?"
"If that's what you think." Said Shikamaru. Then he began walking off.
"But we must." Said Choji." For it would be rude." He said quoting Shikamaru.
Ino looked over her shoulder and watched the two walk off. She let out a deep sigh as they wandered from her sight.
Meanwhile with team eight. The three were currently waiting for Kureani to arrive and supposedly inform them about a meeting, but she was running very late and in the group's waiting they became impatient, or rather Kiba became inpatient.
He stood there with his arms crossed, hand resting on his chin and Akamaru by his side. Shino stood close by and Hinata sat down on the grass between them.
"Why are we still waiting?" Kiba grumbled after some time of waiting.
"I-I'm sure she's on her way Kiba." Said Hinata." N-not too much longer now." Kiba said nothing else but merely stood there with a sour look on his face.
Just then the sound of giggling and laughter attracted all their attentions, and they looked over to see Kurenai walking over with Asuma, although the two were unaware of the three ninjas at first.
"Kurenai sensei." Said Shino attracting her attention away from Asuma.
"We're ready." Added Hinata." For w-whatever you have we will do."
"Today's going to be different." Said Kurenai.
"D-different?" asked Hinata.
"Yea." Said Kurenai." You can all take the day off."
"Take the day off?" asked Shino. Kiba stood silent this whole time but gritted his teeth at the sound of that.
"Yea." Added Kureani." You've all done such a good job recently I'm giving you off." Then she turned and gave Asuma a sheepish smile. Kiba noticed this and it only added to the fire in his belly, Kurenai had always been canceling training days so she could go off with her fellow jounin. And Kiba always wanted to test his strength over and over again but his sensei's love life got in the way. But Kiba was always trying to test himself by whatever means.
"Really?" asked Kiba as he stepped up." Are you sure that's why you giving us off today?"
"W-why." Said Kureani." Y-yes of course." She added her smiling returning.
"Really?" asked Kiba as he stood over her." Are you sure it's not because you're opening up your legs? Not surprising although this isn't your first suitor." Kurenai's jaw dropped but then Asuma stepped between them.
"Hold your tongue boy." He said as he moved himself." I'll not tolerate that kind of talk."
"You going to do something about it old man?" asked Kiba as he stared back at Asuma.
At this moment Shikamaru and Choji were coming up on them, but stopped when they saw their friends standing aginst their teacher.
"What do you make of that?" asked Choji as he pointed it out.
"Oh no." said Shikamaru when he saw it." Kiba's in another one of his moods."
"He's having another He-man roid rage fit." Added Choji.
"What you need is to chill out." Said Asuma." Go find Shikamaru and Choji. I've given them off you boys should go take a nap."
"You want a long sleep Asuma?" asked Kiba." That can be arranged." The sound of this startled everyone and quickly Choji and Shikamaru jumped in.
"Kiba buddy." Said Choji as he appeared between their raging friend and teacher." How you doing?" Then Choji hugged Kiba and began walking away.
"Sorry about that." Said Shikamaru to Asuma and Kurenai. " He's a little out of it." Then he made a circular motion around his head.
"C'mon." said Choji as he pushed Kiba along." Let's go out, we'll have a good time." Then Shikamaru followed after them.
"Hinata." Said Kurenai turning to her female pupil.
"Y-yes Kurenai sensei." Replied Hinata.
"Come with me for a moment." Said Kurenai waving her on." There's something I want to talk to you about." Hinata walked over to the older woman and then the two walked off with Asuma.