Chapter 4: Joint-mission pt2

The morning festivities, sunshine covering the open field with rainbows and joy. The small kids, not old enough to participate in the event, playfully run along to their parents sitting on the stage. Naruto looked at his teammates, each unsure of what to expect in this mission, even Asuma, who usually has something good to say is tongue-tied. Naruto looks over to the other groups, their easily relaying their mission to one another, displaying their arguments proffesionally and precise.

"We're going to lose this, huh?" Choji mumbles, looking at the other group worriedly. "No..." Asuma sighs, trying to stuff confidence into Choji. "...you guys have a good amount of chance."

"Who were we kidding showing up here. We had zero practice since that day!" Ino complained, folding her hands on top of her eyes.

Naruto personally had nothing to say. Ino's right, they didn't prepare and it was partially all their faults. The ANBU are the one's to blame. They set up that godforsaken trap zone, making it look easy until the end. It's funny because looking up at the sign, you could see one of the missions being to cross that big gap. The whole event was created to show parents how the team works well with their counterparts and this is surprisingly almost all about Naruto. The concil is not only using this to show the parents what their kids got, but as a reference if Naruto deems himself worthy to become part of society.

The thought of it brings a sick taste on Naruto's tastebuds.

Ino grabs his hand and Naruto glances over to her, seeing her smile at him, "Don't worry Naruto...we'll find a way, somehow." Ino stated. I look at her and smile back.

The announcer steps up to his stand, watching the many groups, ready for the mission. The first mission today is to catch one of the teachers and that teacher is none other than the Might Gai. The leader of team 9. The problem is. He is also known as the youthful leaf, whatever that means.

Naruto couldn't feel weak. He can't allow himself to. He glances at the side of him, watching teammates do the same. They must be thinking the same thing he is. They can't lose, at least, not to team 7.

"Sasuke..." Sakura calls out, looking at the young shinobi resting against the trees. He looked tired, yet peaceful and he nods his head after hearing Sakura calling him. "Yea, yea...I'm coming."

He stands up and walks over to his group, shooting a stare over at team 10. He felt something different about them. It was like they're stronger and then he's eyes instantly open.

"Shikamaru..." he calls out to his sworn enemy. Shikamaru walks over to him, feeling a little bit irritated, "What is it?" he mutters, looking like he has better things to do.

"Look over there and tell me what you see..."

Shikamaru glances over and he couldn't believe what he saw. The flow of chakra in between team 10 is harmonized, something they learned from Kakashi a while ago. Kakashi told them, when a team in in-sync they're stronger and the flow between their chakra acts like an electric current. It's different if three people attack one person, but if one person with the power of three people attack. The differentials multiply by thirty.

"What...how could this be. The power is only registered between the Ino-Shika-Cho...there's no way Naruto could...unless..." there is a sudden realization, "...unless they accepted Naruto to replace me."

"You can't mean!?" Sasuke's shocked. Shikamaru doesn't answer, but he didn't need to. Sasuke understood well enough what it meant. It meant that Shikamaru's role as the Shika in Ino-Shika-Cho has been replaced and to top it all off. It's been replaced by none other than Uzumaki Naruto. The clumsy nin of Konoha.

Shikamaru felt irritated, betrayed. There was something in him that ticked, something he thought never exist. He looks over at team 10 with a new found hatred. "They replaced me...with that monster?"

"Calm down Shikamaru, if yo-" Sasuke tried to ease his grief, but is cut off by Shikamaru.

"I don't care about this stupid mission anymore. This has just turn personal. I will defeat Naruto and put the Ino and Cho clan to shame. I am superior in every way than them in every way..." he breathes hard and shoves Sasuke to the side, moving to his starting line. He'll do it even if it has to do it by himself.

Sasuke watches from the side and a small curl appears at the side of his lips, "This is more like it." he said, not because he's backing up Shikamaru, but because if he wins this mission by himself. He would be nominated as a superior junior shinobi and will be one more step closer to his real goal.

"Kakashi, you think I should add more weight on me?" Gai joked, lifting his arms, pretending to loosens one of the straps holding his arms down. He carries at least a thousand pound brace that's covered around his arms and legs. He uses it daily so he could train even when resting and the effect helped him out.

Asuma was supposed to be the teacher in this competition, but he pushed Gai to the brinks of madness when he said that the kids believe that doing nothing is a good thing. Gai is all about youth and he glares at Asuma who's playfully chatting with Kurenai. "I'll show him and the youth of Konoha, just you wait." Gai mumbles and Kakashi raises his hand in support, despite having his nose digged inside a novel called, "Icha-Icha", it's a small perverted book, for young men with wild ideas.

"Are you ready?!" The announcer screams out. The crowd chanting in loud screams, some of the moms becoming harcore fans for their little children. The dads trying to restrain them. The teams getting ready for the intense race to capture Gai-sensei.

"Get ready Gai-sensei!" Lee screams, smiling at his mentor displaying such skills and hanging out with the young people. He wants to be like him when he grows up.

"I'll try my best!" Gai gives Lee a thumbs up and Lee catches the imaginary thumbs up, Naruto is watching all of this and gags. "I swear if they end up winning we won't hear the end of it."

Choji moves his head up and down, "Yep, I guess our priorities isn't only team 7." Ino joins in, "I think we should just concentrate on winning the whole thing then, but do you guys really think we're ready?" she asked and Naruto nods his head, "Yea, we just have to believe in ourselves." he answered.

The announcer begins to call for silence, the roaring crowds silencing their screams and everyone is at awe at how determined the teams look. It was like a life or death situation for them, and the announcer finally says the words everyone is waiting for...

"Ready...Set...GO!"