Dream Walkin'
Chapter 9 – Chunin Exams, Planning a Wedding
Hokage's Office – Time: 16:00 hours – 10 days after Naruto's proposal.
Naruto was amazed, and somewhat befuddled by the sealing matrix on the set of ANBU styled bracers that Tenten had showed him. After the war, he looked into the sealing arts, and had become somewhat of a seal master himself. However, the workings of these seals had him impressed.
"Instead of that heavy scroll," Tenten explained, "I'm going to seal all my weapons into the seals on these. It should help make me faster, and allow for easier access to my arsenal." Naruto just whistled as he handed the bracers back to the weapons mistress of Konoha.
"Impressive work," he stated, "How's the training coming for the Jonin trials?"
"I'll be ready," the brown haired kunoichi reported, "I've been working with Neji, and Yugao, when she's available, as well as Anko and Kakashi."
"How's things going with Neji, anyway?" the Hokage asked of his friend, "You two are getting married soon, I hear."
"In another two months," Tenten smiled, "the plans are coming along nicely. When I told Neji I was coming to see you, he asked me to see if you'd do our wedding."
"I'd be happy to," Naruto grinned, "What are friends for?"
"Thanks, Naruto." The weapons mistress stood up from the couch she was sitting on, and started walking out of the office. "By the way," she said, turning back to Naruto, "Sasuke asked me to give the kunoichi on his team some help in training. She's not bad. I see a lot of determination in that girl. Is she the one you guys had to rescue from the bandit gang?"
"Yeah," Naruto nodded, "She's still got some time before Ino says she'll be mission ready, but the ordeal she survived…it opened her eyes, and she's becoming stronger. I've got a clone working with one of her teammates in his wind element. I think she'll go far as a kunoichi. Thanks for helping her, Tenten."
"No problem," she remarked, then turned back and walked out of the office, while Naruto went back to his paperwork.
Hospital – same time.
"Come in," Ino said as she watched the door open, "Hey, Sakura. What's up?"
"Nothing really, Ino," Sakura Haruno answered, "Just wanted to catch up." She went over to the couch and sat down, soon joined by Ino. "How's things going with Naruto?"
"Great," Ino smiled, "We're planning on getting married two weeks after the chunin exams. We've got a vizier from the Fire Lord's court to do the ceremony. Naruto brought up Shion, but that idea got shot down before it had a chance to even start. We've talked about the rest already. Speaking of which, what about you and Sasuke?"
"Well," the rosette medic noted, "That's why I wanted to come talk to you today. We're best friends, practically sisters. Sasuke and Naruto are practically brothers. Sasuke and I got to thinking last night, and the thought came to us. Have you ever considered a double wedding, you and Naruto, Sasuke and I?"
Ino brought a finger up to her chin. "I can't say the thought hasn't occurred to me," Ino replied, "though I haven't brought it up to Naruto yet. Tell you what, why don't you and Sasuke come to dinner at our place tonight?"
"I hope he's not making Ramen," Sakura stated.
"No, I don't think he is," Ino assured her best friend, "I saw him putting some things out to thaw, before he left for the office. I think he's making some sort of stir fry tonight. He really now, only has ramen for his lunch."
"Wait," Sakura commented, "you said 'he's' making stir fry. Since when can Naruto cook?"
"He learned during his trip with Jiraiya. I know. I was just as surprised as you are now, when I woke up to see him making breakfast for us. Anyway, you two come over tonight around 7, and we'll have dinner and discuss the wedding plans."
"Sounds good. We'll be there." Sakura then stood up and left the office, going back to her own work.
Ino and Naruto's Apartment – Time: 18:30 hours
"I hope you don't mind me inviting Sakura and Sasuke over," Ino said as she watched Naruto at the stove.
"Don't mind at all," Naruto replied, "We've not had company over since I became Hokage. And it'll be good to catch up with them, without talking shop. Oh, Tenten came by the office today, and showed me some rather impressive seals she's created. Get this, she's ditching that enormous scroll, and sealing her entire arsenal in a pair of ANBU bracers."
Ino whistled. "That should help her a lot," she nodded, "I always wondered why she didn't go with something smaller than that scroll."
"She used two smaller ones during our first chunin exams," Naruto remembered, "Still, the bracers was a great idea. She'll be able to move faster, and have easier access to her weapons. Anyway, I think our friends'll be ready for the Jonin trials when they come up."
A knock is heard at the door, and Ino got up from her chair to answer it. She is joined in the kitchen a couple of minutes later by Sakura and Sasuke. "When you said the Dobe could cook, Sakura," Sasuke snickered, "I almost didn't believe you."
"Wait till you try it, Teme," Naruto laughed, "You'll be a believer then."
"Come on, guys," Sakura smiled, "Let's not get started when we just got here. Naruto, Tsunade said she came by to see you yesterday."
"We discussed some planned expansions to the hospital," the Hokage explained, "With the peaceful times we're living in, there's been a record number of births. So, the hospital wanted to expand the pediatric and NICU wings. I'm going to talk to the Fire Lord soon about getting additional funding for the project. It's a good idea."
"Guess who I ran into today," Ino told her friends and fiancé, "Kurenai-sensei. She had brought her son in for a checkup. She and Kakashi-sensei are still together, and apparently, quite happy. She also told me that…get this. Iruka-sensei is now seeing ANKO."
"I hope he has his medical insurance paid up," Sasuke laughed, "Anko's got a reputation as being rather wild."
"It's an act," Naruto stated, "A defense mechanism. Much like me with Kurama, the village didn't take too kindly an opinion of her after she returned with Orochimaru's curse mark. The wild woman attitude is something she uses to keep people at arm's length. Get to know her, and you'll see someone different. I guess Iruka cracked through that tough shell of hers. I'm happy for them."
"How do you know?" Sakura inquired, "You're hardly the Torture/Interrogation type."
"We had a few run-ins before I got into the academy. She saw right through that prankster exterior I put up. We get along quite well now. She, Yugao and Kurenai are practically sisters."
"Anyway, Ino," Sasuke said, turning to the platinum blonde, "Sakura said you two discussed wedding plans when she dropped by the office today? Any thought to the idea she mentioned?"
"Idea?" Naruto asked, now curious. He reached up into the cabinet and pulled out 4 plates, and started dishing up the stir fry. He then put a plate down in front of each one, before getting his own and joining the other three at the table.
"I hadn't had a chance to tell Naruto yet," Ino answered, then turned to her fiancé, "Sasuke and Sakura had discussed the possibility of a double wedding: Them and Us. Sakura brought it up to me today."
The blonde toad sage thought for a minute, before nodding. "It doesn't sound like a bad idea," he nodded, "Want to keep the same date? Two weeks after the Chunin exams? I've already confirmed that we've got the Dancing Toad reserved for the reception. Michiru and Konda wouldn't take no for an answer. Konda and Teuchi Ichiraku are getting together on the catering." This got a snicker from Sasuke, to which Naruto shot back, "He doesn't just make ramen, Sasuke. He's an experienced chef. He opened the ramen shop strictly to cater to a certain market. Plus, he's also like family to me. You have no idea how often I'd go there, not just for the ramen, but for the company, too."
"Sorry, Naruto," the Uchiha apologized.
"No apology necessary."
"Anyway, with all that taken care of," Sakura noted, "I guess all that's left is a few other small details. Who are you all inviting, Ino?"
"Our academy class and their families, Team Gai, Iruka-sensei and Anko, Kakashi and Kurenai-senseis, Gai-sensei, Gaara, Matsuri, Temari and Kankurou from Suna, the Ichirakus and the Satos. I think Naruto wants to invite Killer Bee from Kumo, but I doubt we'll be able to keep him quiet during the ceremony, what with his obsession with rapping. Plus, if Bee comes, that'll bring the Raikage. I don't know. We really want to keep it to friends and family."
"If I know Lee, he'll bring Yakumo," Sakura stated, "They make a good couple."
"All it took was reminding her clan of their connection to a certain smartass giant fox, to get them to leave Lee alone," Naruto added, "Seriously, certain 'Noble' clans really get on my nerves with their attitudes. Thank Kami that Hinata didn't wind up turning out like the rest of the Hyuga main branch."
"I ran into her today at lunch," the rosette interjected, "She was with Hanabi. You won't believe this, but Hiashi is wanting to engage Hanabi to the heir of the Sarutobi clan."
"Konohamaru?" Ino asked, "He wants to engage Hanabi to the Third Hokage's grandson. He is the current heir to the Sarutobi clan."
"Speaking of Konohamaru," Naruto laughed, "I just heard from Ebisu today. He and Moegi made the finals in the Chunin exams. Udon just barely lost his match."
"That's great," Ino smiled, "I wonder who he's facing in the finals?"
"A taijutsu prodigy from Kiri," Naruto answered, "I was thinking of going to Suna early, and teaching Konohamaru the summoning jutsu. I just have to speak to his mother to get the Sarutobi family summoning scroll, for the primates."
"Not just monkeys, but also apes?" Sasuke asked.
Naruto nodded. "I had asked Sandaime-jiji about that when I was younger. Yeah, apparently, the Sarutobi clan's summoning contract doesn't just summon monkeys, but also great apes, too. It should help Konohamaru, by giving him and ally against a taijutsu fighter. Also, I'm going to ask Lee to work with him some more on his skills with a Bo staff."
"Can you do that?" Ino wondered, "You are the Hokage now, Naruto."
"I can ask Tsunade to cover for the month," the Hokage stated, "I asked about that when I was in with certain members of the shinobi council today. Since I taught Konohamaru the rasengan, apparently, I can take him on as an apprentice, while he's still on Team Ebisu."
"Off that subject," Sakura commented, "Naruto, I'm impressed. This stir fry is really good."
"I am a believer," Sasuke added. The four friends continued to talk through the rest of the evening, before Sasuke and Sakura had to leave at 10.
Hokage's Office – Time: 10:00 hours
"Thanks for dropping off the scroll, Mrs. Sarutobi," Naruto said as Konohamaru's mother turned to leave the office, "I'll be sure to teach Konohamaru the summoning jutsu for his Chunin finals."
"Thank you, Naruto," she replied, "You've really helped in his development as a shinobi. He'll make a great clan head, thanks to you."
"Has he mentioned anything about Hanabi Hyuga to you recently?"
"Only that they've been seeing each other. She's actually gotten him to calm down a bit. He was rather rambunctious when he first became a genin."
"He took after me in my genin days," Naruto noted, "My teammate, Sakura, ran into Hanabi and Hinata yesterday. She mentioned something to Ino and me last night. Has Hiashi contacted you or your husband recently?"
"Oh, you mean the contract. That's been in the works for a few months. Hiashi adopted Neji into the main branch, and removed Neji's seal last year. So, he has to either marry his daughters to clan heirs, or seal them with the cage seal."
"Sneaky sonofabitch," Naruto thought, "So that's why he set up that contract with the Inuzuka. Good move, you shrewd bastard." Naruto then nodded and said, "Thanks for the information, I'll make sure Konohamaru does well in his Chunin finals. Don't make this public yet, but I'm planning on apprenticing him to me, while he still works with his team."
"Like you were to Jiraiya?"
"Only without the 3 year training trip. I can't leave the village for that amount of time, since I'm Hokage. But, I can train him when he's in the village, and his team doesn't have a mission." With the conversation now over, Konohamaru's mother leaves the office, and Naruto turns back to his paperwork, but a knock comes at the door. "Come in," he stated as Tsunade entered with Ino, "hey, Hime, Baa-chan."
"How're you doing, Naruto?" Tsunade asked, "Ready for your trip to Suna?"
"Got everything sealed away and ready to go," Naruto responded, "You ready to go, Hime?"
Ino nodded, "Yeah. Lee and Yakumo are meeting us at the gate. I signed off a waiver allowing Sasuke and his team to act as our escorts for this trip, and Sakura's coming as our medic."
"Anything I need to know for the month?" Tsunade inquired.
"Not much. Mission-wise, you have a request for a B-ranked bandit clearing mission out near the border with the Land of Lightning. Pretty big camp, so I've put together a team of Chunin with a Jonin commander," Naruto noted to Tsunade, "They'll see you in the morning for the briefing. Neji's leading the team with Tenten, Choji and Kiba. Hinata's covering for Iruka-sensei in the academy. He caught a bad stomach bug a couple of days ago. I'm meeting with the Fire Lord at the Chunin Exam finals to see about funding for the new additions to the hospital. That should cover it."
"Sounds like you've thought of everything," the Fifth mused, "Good work."
"One other thing, though," Naruto told her, "I've got Sai and an ANBU operative scouting out in the eastern end of the land of fire."
"What are they looking for?" Ino wondered.
"Not what. Who. Word has spread of a girl in a village on the eastern end of the country with strange healing abilities. She's apparently a redhead."
"Karin?" asked Tsunade.
"Possibly. She disappeared after the war. We only PRESUMED that she was dead. If this turns out to be her, I'm making an invite to her to come here."
"Which ANBU is with Sai?"
"Snake. Now, we need to meet our escorts and head out. The village is yours, Baa-chan. See you soon." Naruto and Ino then turned and headed out of the office.
Timeskip – Chunin Exam finals, Kage's Box – Time: 10:00 hours
"These exams should be interesting," Naruto noted, with Ino at his side, "Konohamaru should win his match."
"I'll take that bet, Hokage," Mei Terumi grinned, "Say, if my ninja wins, you invite me to your wedding? The Kazekage's already coming. Why not invite the other kage."
"Mainly because the Kazekage and I have a close friendship, Mei," the Hokage stated, "We've been as close as brothers since our first Chunin exams, when I defeated him, in the invasion. We really want to keep it to friends and family, though. How about this, if Konohamaru wins, Kiri sends a lava style user to help train one of my genin, who we think has the bloodline."
"I'm stepping down soon, and Chojuro is taking over," Mei states, "If your shinobi wins, I'll do it personally, as soon as Chojuro takes the Mizukage's office."
"Bets already starting?" came a voice as Kurotsuchi enters the Kage's box with her escort team. She had taken the Tsuchikage's office from Oonoki when it became apparent that the old man's back and hip problems would prevent him from doing his job as Kage.
"All in good fun, Tsuchikage," Gaara said, watching Kurotsuchi take her seat.
"The matches are starting," Naruto stated as they watched the genin, save for Konohamaru and his opponent leave the arena floor and head to the waiting area. "Come on, Konohamaru," the Hokage thought, "You can do this." The four kage in the box watched as the Kiri taijutsu fighter tried a charge, but Konohamaru knocked him back with his bo staff before summoning an ally to assist him, a rather large silverback gorilla. The Kirigakure genin had a tough time fighting against both the gorilla and Konohamaru, and after a few minutes, the Sarutobi had won his match with a rasengan to the back.
Time: 19:00 hours – Naruto and Ino's hotel suite
Naruto and Ino stood on their suite's balcony, looking out at the stars over the clear desert night. She leaned her head back into his chest as he stood behind her holding her around her waist. "The kids did pretty good," Ino said with a smile, "Moegi impressed me with her first round win, and Konohamaru's going to be a powerhouse like you, Koishi."
"I hope so," Naruto noted, "I'm hoping he'll be my successor, when the time comes."
"You sound like something's on your mind."
"Only reflecting on things, Baby," the blonde Hokage answered, "To think that that same kid I taught the sexy jutsu when he was just 7, has impressed me and the village's judges so much that he'll probably make Chunin when we get back. Two of our friends are already married, and more are tying the knot in the next couple of months. Kurenai and Kakashi's retired, and Guy's handed in his retirement papers, according to Tsunade. It's really up to us, now, to shape the next generations of shinobi."
"We're doing ok, so far, Naruto. Just look at the strides we've made. Sasuke's a sensei, as are Shikamaru and Neji. Tenten, Kiba, Lee, Choji and Hinata are going to take the Jonin trials soon. We'll do alright."
"You're right, Hime," Naruto smiled, and gave her a light squeeze. Ino closed her eyes and gave a slight sigh as she then looked back up to the stars.
End Chapter 9
Next Chapter – Wedding Bells Are Ringing