Kusari: Yeoh.

Shang: Huh? What ever happened to Kai?

Kusari: Lets just say he wasn't able to come due to... some technical problems.

Shang: Ibuki kicked his ass badly, didn't she?

Kusari: Yeah. What a view... what a girl...

Shang: Emm... didn't you had a crush on Kumiko?

Kusari: Oh yeah, she's great as well... Oh, the reviews... lets see... okay, so Kakashiclone1120 writes... hey, who are you calling idiot!

Shang: I guess he meant you guys...

Kusari: Oh yeah? Well... you're... emm... ummm... eh... nevermind.

Shang (sweatdropping): Are there other reviews?

Kusari: Few, but still it's just congrats and stuff. But, since that's over, how about telling me about this Hinata person which you mentioned earier? Is she hot? Huh, huh, huh?

Shang: Ummm... eee... can we start already?

Chapter #17: The Big Day

Chapter Cover: Kumiko walking forwards in wedding dress and a bit further behind Ibuki as bridesmaid (of course Kumiko carries a bouqeut of flowers)

The next morning Naruto woke up in his room welcomed by the rising sun. He walked to the window and observed the town. Even though the hour was early, many citizens of the Stone Country capitol already walked through their city streets.

'The day starts here pretty early' thought Naruto with a smile under his nose.

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As he walked through the halls of the royal palace, he met Deji, who was returning to her room from the shower (A/N: Naruto guessed that from the fact that she was covered with blankets). He bowed a little, but he didn't expect to see the Stone princess doing the same:

'Good morning, Naruto-san' she said, rising her head. 'Could you, please, give me a minute of your time? There's something that I need to speak to you about.'

'Of course, Deji-sama' replied the blonde jounin, as he looked at her face.

'Well, you see…' started Deji, lowering her sight a bit. 'I… never really… thanked you and your students for saving my life back then in the forest… I hope you'll accept my gratitude now' and with those words she bowed the second time.

Naruto just stood there a bit stunted. You could easily see that he didn't expect anything like that.

'It's fine, Deji-sama' he finally replied. 'After all, that is what we were hired for…'

'Yes, but that doesn't change the fact that you saved me. I'm really grateful. Please give my thanks to your students as well… especially that blonde one.'

'I'll do that' assured Naruto, as Deji bowed and walked away.

'Well, this was new' he thought to himself, as he continued to walk in his own direction. 'Just what exactly happened during that night we fought Kataki?'

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'Read it and r.i.p.' said Kai, exposing his cards. He had three queens.

'Not bad' replied Kusari. 'But not good enough. Three kings.'

'I have a full house' announce Kumiko, exposing two queens and three nines.

Ibuki just threw her cards on the table, which shown she gathered four sixes.

'How come she always wins!' yelled Kai, pointing at his teammate. 'She doesn't even care whether she wins or not! This world is unfair!'

'Oh, you guys are up already?' asked Naruto, walking into the room where all his students were supposed to be. 'Where's Takaru?'

'He said he was going to take a walk' answered Ibuki. 'It looked like he didn't cared much about the wedding'

'I see. Well, I just came here to tell you guys that I want to see you all at that wedding today' the blonde jounin said, letting out a small sigh. 'I hope you'll pack all your shinobi tools, especially since today is the last day of our mission. It'd be a shame to fail it today… Also, Deji-sama says 'thank you' for saving her two nights back.'

'Eh?' Kumiko's eyes widen. 'Are you sure Deji-sama said that? I mean, are you sure you weren't hallucinating, Naruto-sensei?'

Kai just smiled under his nose.

'I think that's that' announced Naruto, heading to the door. 'See you guys on the ceremony.'

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Takaru was wondering around the city without any destination really. Every once in a while he stopped to look at some things to buy but didn't bought anything.

Finally he stopped before a jewelry shop and got interested in a little primitive necklace.

'Of all the things that caught your eye?' he heard a familiar voice coming from behind.

'Why are you following me, Naruto-sensei?' he asked without turning around.

'For one reason you are my subordinate' replied the blonde jounin. 'And also I needed to tell you that soon the ceremony will begin, so we should hurry back.'

'I would prefer not to go. I have no interest in that sort of… events.'

'I guess I can understand that' said Naruto, walking closer to the boy. 'You know, she used to wear a very similar necklace' he announced, pointing at the thing Takaru was looking at. 'That is, before she lost it to me…'

'She told me about that bet' replied the son of Tsunade. 'It belonged to the first Hokage, right? Do you still carry it, sensei?'

'Of course' responded the blonde jounin. 'How could I threw it out after all I had to go through to get it? Even though it is crappy.'

Takaru smiled lightly at those words. Then they both went silent. Finally Naruto decided to speak:

'I can understand why you don't want to go to that wedding, but I think you really should. Besides, it is your duty.'

'Weddings are meaningless' announced Takaru. 'Especially when they're forced.'

Look…' began the blonde jounin. '… in some way I know how you feel about it… I didn't know my father either… but sometimes things aren't as simple as black and white.'

'Oh really? So what, you mean to tell me that my father was a good man leaving my mother?'

'No! Your father…' Naruto shut himself before finishing the phrase. 'Takaru, I was there when you were born. Your father… he should have been there as well, but it's much more complicated then you think.'

'Then maybe you'd clear this up a bit for me?'

'Listen up: someday you'll learn the truth. I hope that when that happens, you'll understand few things better.'

'You know more then you're willing to tell me, don't you Naruto-sensei?'

'For now, lets get back to the palace, the wedding's about to start' asked the blonde jounin.

Takaru was going to argue, but then he decided to keep quiet and slowly began walking back to the palace.

'Someday you'll learn the truth' Naruto thought to himself, 'And probably, you'll hate yourself when that happens. And that is why I'll do my best to prepare you for it. After all that was her last wish.'

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The palace was crowded with people. All the royalty for both Stone and Tree Countries gathered to witness the marriage of the 'first' children.

Naruto and his subordinates stood in the back, prepared for action as the doors opened and Deji walked right through them.

She walked slowly next to her father. She was wearing a beautiful, white dress and was carrying a bouquet of flowers. As she walked through the hall, everyone was looking at her, disbelieving how beautiful she was (A/N: Actually, two people looked a bit differently… Kusari was staring at the stone princess with a pervert glare and Kumiko's eyes were shinning as she observed the wedding dress).

When she finally stood next to Recca, the priest began the ceremony. Time passed and nothing seemed to be wrong, but Naruto had a bad feeling. His 'sixth sense' rarely failed him, so he knew something was coming.

'If anyone knows a reason why these two shouldn't merry may he speak now or silence forever' as the priest said those words, Naruto jumped right in the direction where the royal couple stood.

Suddenly the wall behind the priest exploded and a kunai flew right at Deji. Before the Stone princess could react, the blonde jounin landed between her and a throwing knife and deflected it with his own knife.

'I see you got good reactions' announced a guy wearing a mask just like Kakashi, but the blue one. He carried a sword, even larger the Kataki and his hands were completely covered with bandages. He had a Ki Gakure forehead protector across… his forehead.

'If I have to be honest, he doesn't seem so tough to me' announced a girl with long, blond hair clipped in a ponytail and green eyes, wearing sleeveless shirt and white pants with short trouser legs. 'He really defeated Kataki?'

'Do not judge your opponent on his looks, Fugou' advised a guy with black hair, which were falling on his face. He was dressed in a brown shirt with short sleeves and long, black pants. 'Looks can be very deceiving.'

'At any rate…' said a guy with red hair and hazel eyes, who was carrying a pack of cards attached to his belt. '… seems that we won't get the girl as long as he's in our way. So, what are we gonna do, Ryu-san?'

'Simple, Karuto' replied the swordsman. 'We'll just kill him' and with those words he charged at Naruto with the sword in his hands.

Okay, this concludes this chapter. A lot of action coming up during the next, few chappies, so I hope you're ready for that. Please leave a review of what you think about this chapter.

And, since those who reviewed seem to like the character profile idea, here's info about another team seven member (a bit more detailed):

Name: Tanken, Ibuki

Age: currently 12 years old

Birth Date: 22nd of November

Zodiac: Sagittarius

Bloodtype: AB

Height: 147,9 cm

Weight: 39,1 kg

Village: Konoha (Hidden leaf) of course

Current rank: gennin

Bloodline Limits: Ibuki comes from the Konoha clan which specializes in weapons, but her clan is also thought to know some, unique nijutsu techniques

Techniques (used so far): Shuriken Kage Bushin no Jutsu, Kawarimi no Jutsu

First Appearance: 1st chapter XP

IMPORTANT NOTICE: to those who actually read the character profiles, I've decided to give you a chance to form it! Let me know in your reviews which, other info about the characters would you like to find out and I'll place those in the profiles as well (and, of course, add the same info about characters which profiles I've already published).

This concludes this chapter. Please leave a review when you're done.

Best wishes and have a nice day.