Rika-Chan24: Hey everyone! Here is Ch.10 I hope all of you like it. :) I was surprised I had the time to finish typing this chapter. I have been pretty busy this past week. The next two weeks are about just as busy. Hopefully I will be able to get the next chapter up sometime in the next two weeks.
Thanks for the Reviews, Faves and Follows. I really appreciate them! :)
I do not own Naruto.
Team seven plus Zabuza and Haku were only an hour or so away from Konoha. The whole way back Naruto, Sakura and occasionally Sasuke would talk about some of the Konoha 12 get together's.
Kakashi on the other hand was in deep thought. "What was so big that his team couldn't tell him? It had to be something big, if even the Hokage was in on it. How did the hokage know how the mission was going to turn out? If he already knew then why did he still send my team?" Kakashi thought.
Kakashi was forced out of his thoughts when Naruto had shouted that they were home. Indeed they were. The gates of Konoha were only a few feet in front of them. "Finally, I might get some answers now." Kakashi thought.
"Hey Kakashi, you guys are finally back from you mission…." Kotetsu began but stopped when he caught sight of Zabuza and a boy. "Why is Zabuza Momochi with you? And who is that boy?"
Kakashi was about to reply but was cut off by Naruto. "Were taking them to see Hokage-Jii, they are going to become shinobi of the village! He should already know they are with us."
"The Hokage lets you call him Jii?" Haku asked quite shocked.
"Yep! He sure does, he like family to me. He's not the only one I have a nickname for." Naruto replied with a grin.
Izumo who had walked up to the group when he noticed Zabuza cleared his throat. "Since Kakashi is with you, then I we can let you go to the Hokage's office with him."
Kakashi nodded to the two Chunnin before leading the group towards the tower. Kakashi needed answers, and the only one who could give them to him was the Hokage.
! #$%^&*()_+
Sarutobi sighed when Team 7 came walking into his office with Zabuza and a boy. "Naruto wasn't kidding when he told me he was bringing them to the village." The third thought.
"Hey Jii! Were back, most things went according to plan during our mission." Naruto said as soon as the door two the office was shut.
"Alright, why don't you tell me what happened." The Hokage replied.
With that Team 7 took turns telling the hokage what had happened, even taking out Gato. Zabuza and Haku even added in a little.
"You went to see Zabuza? When was that?" Sakura asked Naruto.
"Yeah, I went to see him sometime after we killed Gato. I can't exactly remember which day though." Naruto replied.
"So that's why he agreed to come to Konoha with us so easily." Sasuke commented.
Naruto rubbed the back of his head, "Yeah, otherwise he probably wouldn't have come with us. Despite my deal with him."
Hiruzen turned to Zabuza and Haku, "Well Zabuza, since you are a missing-nin from Mist you will have to answer some questions from Ibiki, along with Haku. The two of you for now will be going on a probation period. I will discuss further information with you after you have talked with Ibiki. "
"We understand Hokage-sama" Zabuza and Haku replied in unison.
"Alright, I will send word to Ibiki, the rest of you may go." The third said.
All of Team 7 left except for Kakashi. Sarutobi knew he would have to deal with many questions from Kakashi. Right now just wasn't the time to answer them.
"Kakashi I understand that you have questions, we will speak at a later time. I am quite busy right now." Hiruzen explained.
"Ok, I will come by later than. I hope I can get some answers." Kakashi said before leaving in a swirl of leaves. "I will get the answers I need, but for now I think I will go home and sleep." Kakashi thought.
Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura all walked out of the Hokage tower, walking through the streets of the village.
"Today's Sunday right?" Sakura asked a few minutes later as they passed the market place. All of the older villagers they were glaring at Naruto as they passed. Sakura didn't know how Naruto dealt with it sometimes. It happened every time they walked somewhere in the village.
Sasuke ignored the glares a lot easier than Sakura did, thought some days he couldn't stand it. They didn't even know Naruto, how can they judge him like that. "Yeah, why?
"Why don't we go see if the others are at the training grounds?" Sakura suggested. "We can find out how far they have gotten."
"Sure let's do it, we have three months until the Chunnin exams, we have to make sure they are ready. Though I think warning them of Zabuza ahead of time is a good thing too." Naruto replied.
"Hn" Sasuke grunted in agreement.
"Sasuke don't start grunting like a caveman again, not many people understand you." Naruto told Sasuke.
"Shut it Dobe, most people can understand me fine. I only did it once" Sasuke replied.
"Like who Sasuke-Teme?" Naruto asked.
"Neji, Shino and Shikamaru can, not to mention you and Sakura are pretty good at knowing what I am saying. Before this time period Gaara was pretty good at interrupting what I was saying, in the few time that we talked at least." Sasuke explained.
Naruto grumbled to himself. "That's because all of you did or did it at a certain point in time. "It's like silent quite guy talk or something."
"Silent quite guy talk?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow. Naruto sure liked to make up names for stuff.
"Yeah! How about we call it caveman talk?" Naruto replied.
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "What a creative nickname." Sasuke replied sarcastically.
Sakura couldn't keep her laughter in anymore; sometimes their banter was so funny. At least she knew she wasn't the only one who thought they were amusing with their bantering. Most of the Konoha 12 had witnessed their fighting banter habits.
Naruto and Sasuke paused in their arguing when Sakura started laughing as they walked into the training grounds.
"What's so funny?" Naruto asked slightly confused.
"You two with your arguing. It's funny sometimes, though since I am around the two of you so much it does get annoying." Sakura replied.
Before Naruto or Sasuke could reply, Ino's voice cut them off.
"You're finally back! What kind of C-ranked mission did you guys go on?"
The three members of Team 7 turned to the sound of Ino's voice. She was walking towards them; Kiba was not far behind her. Shikamaru, Choji, Hinata, and Shino were now just getting up from sitting down. Gai's team wasn't there though.
"We just protected a bridge builder and fought Zabuza Momochi an A-ranked missing-nin and his apprentice." Sakura replied.
"What! That doesn't sound like a C-ranked mission" Kiba said.
"It wasn't, it went up to an A-rank." Sasuke answered.
"Where's Gai's team? On a mission?" Naruto asked before another question about their mission was asked.
"Yeah, they left on a C-ranked mission a few days ago." Shikamaru answered as they walked up.
"Your mission sounds interesting, are you allowed to tell us what happened?" Shino asked.
"We can't tell you the details, but something's we can." Sasuke replied.
"Yeah, how has training gone for you guys?" Sakura asked.
"Good, I think I can actually beat you next time we spar. Hinata could beat you too, though she is a little more hesitant to hurt friends." Ino replied.
"I am sorry." Hinata mumbled quietly. She didn't want to hurt her friends, but she didn't want to disappoint them.
"It's alright Hinata! We can help you out. You will be more confident in yourself in no time." Naruto told the Hyuga.
"Thank you Naruto-kun." Hinata replied.
"So tell us about you mission then." Choji said as he munched on a bag of chips he had just pulled out of his pouch.
For the rest of the day Team 7 spent catching up with the others. The next coming months were sure going to be a lot of fun.
Two months later
It was the usual Sunday when all the Konoha 12 got together. All of them were spread out around the training grounds. Some of them were going over element jutsu, while others were practicing their Taijutsu. All of them had to be as strong as possible could for the Chunnin exams in two months.
Naruto was just about to start sparing against Sasuke when a strong mist started to cover the training grounds.
"Oh here we go again." Tenten muttered as everyone got into fighting stances.
A deep chuckle was heard across the training grounds a few seconds later. "I kind of enjoy this time fighting with you Gaki's."
"It's just Zabuza this time, I don't see Haku." Neji's voice called out.
"Come on out Zabuza, you know you can't take all 12 of us out." Naruto shouted.
"That may be, but I could take you out one by one." Zabuza's voice came from behind Hinata.
Hinata swiped at Zabuza a second later with her palm. Zabuza jumped away just in time.
"That was close; you guys have been working on some things I see. So are you genin ready? I need a workout; the Copy-nin said he had to talk to the Hokage or something like that." Zabuza commented.
Zabuza had been randomly attacking the group since they had returned from Wave. He liked to call it advance training. Though Zabuza couldn't go on missions and he had to stay in the village until a week or two before the chunnin exams.
Haku was mad a chunnin and has been working in the hospital after a month. Since Haku wasn't a missing-nin he had a shorter probation period.
The first time Zabuza showed up to attack the group, he only fought against Naruto. Naruto had told the others to stay out of it. Let's just say because Naruto was fighting Zabuza alone he didn't really last very long.
The other times they fought Naruto had help. The first time Sasuke and Naruto had totally caught Zabuza by surprise. The second time Naruto and Kakashi had teamed up against Zabuza.
"Fine, I don't mind fighting you, I get better experience fighting ninja who are stronger than me." Naruto replied.
"I am in too, since you interrupted my fight with Naruto." Sasuke added.
"Yosh! I will spread my spring time of youth!" Lee shouted.
"I don't mind fighting you either, what about the rest of you?" Neji asked turning towards the others who hadn't made a decision.
Everyone nodded in agreement that they would all fight with Zabuza. Shikamaru had muttered a troublesome before agreeing.
"Good, it wouldn't be much of a challenge if I only fought some of you. Though I heard you fought all four jounin sensei's." Zabuza replied.
"We sure did, we didn't win but we beat two out four. Kakashi and Gai were harder to beat." Ino answered.
"They are known for being two of the strongest jounin in Konoha." Shino explained.
"Alright let's get this show on the road" Zabuza said before flashing thought hand signs.
"Water Style: Water dragon Jutsu"
A large dragon made of water soared through the air towards the genin. Most of the genin were hit with the water dragon because they could not get away fast enough.
Tenten who was one of the luckier ones who jumped away in time started doing hand signs once she had landed back on the ground.
"Lightning style: Lightning ball" Tenten shouted as a ball of lightning gathered in her hands and being shot towards Zabuza.
Zabuza moved out-of-the-way just in time. He sure didn't want to get hit by that. Just as Zabuza landed he was attacked by Hinata and Neji simultaneously.
"This isn't good," Zabuza muttered as he blocked one Hyuga with his sword and dodged out-of-the-way from the other one as best he could.
"Earth style: Earth Pillar Prison" Choji's voice called out. Neji and Hinata jumped out-of-the-way just in time as large rock pillars came out of the ground and surrounded Zabuza and closed him in a Rock prison.
"Nice going Choji!" Kiba commented once Zabuza was trapped in the earth prison.
"Thanks! I have been working on it for a while." Choji replied.
Before anyone could say anything Zabuza's voice shouted to them.
"Alright you Gaki's, let me out. You win this time. If it wasn't twelve against one I would have won. Next time I am bringing back up!" Zabuza yelled at them from inside the earth prison.
"I warned you, but you didn't listen did you. Most of us didn't even have to fight you this time before you lost. It's a record for us, considering last few times we were fighting against you for a couple of hours or so. Then again we don't always all fight against you." Naruto remarked.
"Shut up you blond Gaki! You just wait." Zabuza replied.
"Troublesome. Ok Sakura, why don't you let him out now? I am sick of hearing him argue with Naruto." Shikamaru replied.
"I would move as far as you can go in there." Ino suggested as Sakura began to run towards the earth prison made of rock with her Fist cocked back.
Once Sakura's fist met with the rock prison, her side of the rock prison crumbled into pieces. Zabuza was standing clear on the other side of the earth prison.
"Damn, what are you Tsunade?" Zabuza asked. Sakura may be showing the other girls basic medical ninjutsu, but Sakura was the only one who used Tsunade's type of taijutsu.
Sakura simply shrugged off his question every time he asked. Sakura walked back over to the others a few seconds later. Zabuza wasn't far behind her.
"You guys are getting good, if you guys keep at it and ended up as some special group team. You gaki's could take down anyone you wanted to in the future. It rarely happens in main hidden villages, but kind of think of it like the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist." Zabuza explained.
"Oh that would be so cool!" Kiba replied, Akumaru barked in agreement with him.
"If we do that we better have a kick ass name." Ino replied.
"Yosh, our spring time of youth will shine brighter than the burning sun!" Lee shouted.
"Anyway, Zabuza thanks though, it was hard to tell us that wasn't it?" Naruto asked the former missing-nin.
"It was a little." Zabuza replied truthfully. "Though, I suppose the next generation should be stronger than the ones before. Otherwise the world would probably go to hell if you guys weren't."
"I guess it would" Naruto replied, though Naruto himself would never let that happen.
"So what are you going to do now?" Sasuke asked the swordsmen.
"Probably go visit Haku, see if any jounin want to spar with me. Then at least we can fight on equal terms instead of being ganged up on by genin." Zabuza replied with a shrug. Zabuza left in a swirl of water a few minutes later after saying goodbye.
Neji turned to the others a few minutes later, "So are we going to plan for the chunnin exams? It is in a month you know."
"Yeah, I was going to bring that up. After our training, but you know Zabuza attacked." Naruto explained.
"So what pacifically do we need to talk about?" Choji asked. Many of the others nodded in agreement.
"Well all the Hokage knows is that Orochimaru will probably attack during the exams. He doesn't want to alert Orochimaru that we know. So that's where we come in." Shikamaru explained.
"Ok, but we don't know what we do in the chunnin exams." Hinata replied.
"Well, Naruto actually does know. The Hokage has been giving him hints about what to expect." Sasuke answered.
"So what do you know?" Ino asked then next question.
"The first part of the exams is a written exam where you have to look underneath the underneath." Naruto began. After all Naruto couldn't tell them what you really had to do, otherwise it would give away that he actually knew what they were supposed to do.
"Ok, what about the rest?" Tenten asked.
"The second part is a survival type. This is where it will be easier for us to help each other. From what Hokage-Jii told me, if there are too many people at the end of the second phase then it splits into four parts." Naruto replied.
"Four parts?" Lee asked.
"Yeah, its tournament round. This is a common part of the chunnin exams in every village. That's normally the last part of the chunnin exams. As I was saying if there are too many people at the end of the second round then there will be a preliminary round. Tons of people come to see the last phase of the chunnin exams." Naruto explained.
"The Hokage told you all of that?" Choji asked.
"Some of it, the other parts I figured out myself and other ninja who were dumb enough to fall for a Henge." Naruto answered.
"Ok, so we just keep on training then right? We can't really help the first part but the other part we should be able to wipe the floor with them." Kiba responded.
"I guess that's true, though don't underestimate anyone. You never know how strong certain people may be. They might be trying to trick you into believing that they are week." Naruto replied seriously. He didn't want anyone to get hurt so soon.
"Right, well since we are done talking about that I am going to head home. I have to take the late shift at the flower shop." Ino replied.
"Wow I didn't realize it was this late, I think it is a good time to call it a night." Tenten commented a few minutes later.
"Yeah, I probably should be getting home too." Kiba said.
Everyone began to leave the training grounds slowly. Soon Shikamaru, Shino, Sakura, Naruto, Sasuke, Neji and Hinata were all that was left in the training grounds.
"Hey, we can discuss more at a later if you guys want." Sakura said. The time travelers had a lot more to talk about. With Hinata there they couldn't really talk about anything.
"I do believe that is in order, at least for some of us." Shino commented.
"Um…what else is there?" Hinata asked curiously. The six of them have been acting pretty weird for a while. Hinata knew she wasn't the only one, the others had mentioned it a time or two when the six of them were not around.
"Just final plans, I just don't want anyone to get hurt you know. I feel better if we know every step. I hope that's ok with you." Naruto replied.
"Oh, yes I understand. I guess the others aren't that concerned about it as much as you guy's seem to be. Is there something we don't know?" Hinata asked boldly.
"Gosh, Hinata sure has gotten more confident. I guess we should be expecting this." Was almost the same thought going through everyone else's head.
"That's not it Hinata. We told you guys' everything; I just need the team leaders of each team to be more aware and just thought that they would like to go over a few strategies is all. My team is just all here still." Naruto explained.
"Oh ok then, well I can go ahead of you Neji-nii-san." Hinata replied before leaving the training grounds. Hinata still thought they were trying to keep something from them still. She just didn't know what it was.
"That was close." Sakura stated.
"We will probably have to tell them at a point, they are getting more curious about us." Neji responded.
"I know what you mean; Choji and Ino have been giving me looks. It's troublesome." Shikamaru agreed.
Naruto sighed; they had a lot to do. "I think the best time would be after the chunnin exams if we tell them. There is too much going on right now."
"I agree with the Dobe. It might mess up with our teamwork." Sasuke added.
"As do I." Shino replied.
"Ok, I think Kabuto is the easiest person to kill right now. Orochimaru is a Sannin, and I don't know if he will attack before we meet up in the forest of death." Sakura told them.
"Yeah, last time it was close to the last two days that we all met up wasn't it?" Shikamaru commented.
"Something like that, but it was after you guys were attacked by Orochimaru." Neji added.
"For now let's plan to meet up at that hollow in the tree than. Shino you can tag everyone before we get into the forest. That way your team can find us. Though I probably will send up Kage Bunshin, so don't use a bug on me." Naruto explained.
"Alright, that should work. We do need to have scrolls though." Shino replied.
"Well, on your way to the meeting spot gather as many as you can. We can trade what we find if we have too. Some of my Bunshin's can gather some too." Naruto said.
"It still amazes me how many clones you can make, and still be able to fight someone." Sakura commented.
Naruto rubbed the back of his head. "I just have a lot of chakra, you guys know that."
"What about Gaara?" Sasuke asked.
"Oh right, well I am going to be watching for him. I have to get him to like me before the third part of the chunnin exams. Or at least try. I want to help him as much as I can. I am been working on a partial seal for him, but it's not finished yet. Ero-Sannin should be in town soon. I will try to get him to look at it." Naruto explained.
"I almost forgot you were doing that." Sakura replied.
"Oh yeah, well it was like a few days before the exam that we met with them wasn't it?" Sasuke questioned.
"I remember because Konohamaru was there, and he ran off because he told Sakura…" Naruto was cut off by Sakura punching him in the head causing him to fall over.
"We are not speaking of that." Sakura grumbled.
Naruto rubbed his head as he stood back up. "Ugh, why is it always me." Naruto mumbled.
"I think we have talked enough about this for now. I need to get home." Shino said a few minutes later.
"Ok, let's all call it a night then. We only have a month left, luckily all of us are stronger than we were during our first chunnin exams." Sasuke said.
"We are aren't we; well some of our enemies should be a little easier to fight." Shikamaru agreed.
"Only some of them Shikamaru," Neji replied.
"Right, well we aren't going to start thinking negative. We can do it! We just have to believe it!" Naruto said.
The others smiled at this, leave it to Naruto to always be thinking this way. It was a little bit later that they all decided to say goodbye and head home. On the way home from the training grounds Kurama called to him.
"Hey kit, I didn't want to disturb your conversation. You tend to space out when I am talking to you." Kurama's voice greeted.
"Yeah, sorry. So what is it? I haven't talked to you lately." Naruto replied.
"Well I just wanted to let you know, that you probably won't be able to use biju mode for a few years. Your body won't be able to handle it. You probably can only use one tails worth as well." The Kyuubi explained.
"I guess that makes sense, I think that will be ok for now. I used it a lot during the war. If I get stronger by myself without it, than it could end up being my trump card of sorts." Naruto answered.
"Good thinking kit, I also think maybe I can help you with Shukaku." Kurama said.
"Really you can? What was your idea?"
"I should be able to talk to him, but you will have to do it alone with the two of you. You don't want to freak anyone out if you did it in front of people. "
"Ok, I will see what I can do then. Helping Gaara is important. Not only is he one of my closest friends, but he is a really good ally in the future." Naruto agreed. Naruto was opening his apartment door as he thought this. Since he was talking with Kurama he didn't have to deal with all the glaring villagers along the way.
He had gotten use to everyone liking and accepting him. Now he had to go back the way it was before. "I won't give up though; I will have them acknowledge me once more!" Naruto declared before making his ramen for dinner.
Thanks for reading! I hope you guys liked it. :)
The next chapter should be the start of the Chunnin exams, and the meet up with Gaara and siblings. I always like reading the Chunnin exams in time travel stories for some reason. Probably because a lot of stuff happens during them.
Please review if you can! :)