"SIT DOWN!" Iruka yelled at the tops of his lungs. Naruto gulped and got back into his seat.

Iruka continued to call out the team assignments. Sakura got chewed out like Naruto when she celebrated being on the same team as Sasuke.

"You have thirty minutes before your Jonin instructors arrive. Enjoy one last lunch at the Academy."

Unless you are Team 7. Sorry guys, Kakashi won't be here for at least an hour and a half.

The newly formed Team 4 practically ran out of the classroom in their excitement. Akamaru sprinted in circles around Kiba, barking and jumping. Team 4 found a bench under a tree and sat down. Kiba scratched Akamaru behind the ears. The pup bounded over and curled up in Hinata's lap.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going?" Kiba pouted at the Nin-dog.

"Can't really blame him. I'd like to curl up in Hinata-chan's lap too." Naruto said nonchalantly. A minute passed before everyone realized what he had just said. Kiba fell off the bench laughing, Naruto and Hinata both turned bright red. Akamaru leapt down to Kiba and tried to remind his partner to breathe.

"Oh man, I can't believe we're on the same team!" Kiba managed to stop laughing and pulled himself onto the bench. His face was almost as red as Hinata and Naruto's.

"I wonder why, though? I mean, you and Hinata-chan have tracking skills. Akamaru and you can smell anything from miles away. The Byakugan needs no explanation. What do I bring to the table? I mean, yeah, I have better eyesight and hearing than some people. The only skill I have that stands out is Kage Bunshin."

"You hit the nail on the head, Naruto-kun."

The Genin jumped at the voice. They turned around just as Wantanabe Yuji walked down the tree. Yuji-sensei hadn't changed all that much from the last time Naruto saw him. His reddish-brown hair still framed his head and his brown eyes always gave the impression he was looking for something. Wantanabe's face looked like it was carved from stone or wood. He wore a jacket over the standard issue Konoha flak jacket. The Genin could occasionally see that Yuji still wore his hitai-ate as an arm band. The quiver and bow were different, though.

The Genin bowed politely to their Jonin instructor. "Come on, there's a table waiting for us near the staging area."

Kiba smirked. "Oh, that table."

Naruto rolled his eyes. "Yes, Kiba. That table."

The Jonin was curious, but his features remained impassive as he noticed the blush on the Hyūga heiress's face. Wantanabe took a seat on one of the table's benches. His first Genin team sat across from him. Yuji took off the jacket and put it off to the side.

"I think we should get to know each other." Kiba and Naruto exchanged looks.

"But, Yuji-sensei, we already know each other! We've been friends for years! Heck, your kids call me 'Uncle Naruto'!" Naruto was shocked.

"Humor me, Naruto-kun." There was an edge of command that the young ninja all picked up on.

"Ano, how should we start Wantanabe-sensei?" Hinata asked.

The Jonin smiled. "I'll start. My name is Wantanabe Yuji. I have two children. My daughter, Asami, is my oldest and will be entering the Academy next term. I have a son, Takao that is two years old. And yes, they do call Naruto Uncle. I was a Hunter-nin until I decided to take a Genin team. My Jonin instructor was actually Inuzuka Tsume-sensei. I consider myself a connoisseur of various wines and fine food."

Kiba's eyes lit up. I'm being trained by a Hunter-nin that Mom trained! Naruto was right! This is the best team ever!

"Me next! I'm Inuzuka Kiba and this is my partner Akamaru! I can't believe you were trained by my Mom! My dream is to be the best tracker the Inuzuka clan has ever produced! My hobbies include training with Akamaru and hunting!"

"Excellent. You are next, Hinata-chan." Yuji commanded so politely it almost sounded like a request.

"Ano… I am Hyūga Hinata. I am the heiress of the clan. My goal is to be a strong leader for the Clan and help transform it into a family. My favorite hobby is…" Spending time with Naruto-kun. "flower pressing."

"Very good. Your turn, Naruto."

"I'm Uzumaki Naruto! I was an orphan before I helped Hinata-chan kick the crap out of a Cloud Jonin. Now I've got lots of family! The Hyūgas, Kiba's practically my brother and I've got you, Yuji-sensei, your kids and Suzu-sensei! My dream is to be a great Ninja and defend Konoha! My big hobby is training!"

Yuji leaned forward. "Well, I know I won't have any issues with teamwork with you three. Now, you all are probably wondering why this team is set up like it is."

Team 4 nodded. Wantanabe smiled. "Well, I see the makings of a great Hunter-nin team in all of you. Kiba-kun, you are an Inuzuka and have tracking abilities that put normal shinobi to shame. Hinata's Byakugan helps with tracking as well. Naruto's own senses are above the norm. All of you also have abilities to take down the targets after we track the objectives down. Hinata-chan's Jukken can shut them down, the Inuzuka abilities are devastating and Naruto-kun has Kage Bunshin to supply a cordon."

Naruto was thrilled at the faith Yuji-sensei put in the entire team. "So, when are we ready to start taking down the bad guys?"

The Jonin smirked. "When I say you are. First, we're going to have one last test. You have until tomorrow morning at ten to track me down. Bye!"

Yuji disappeared in a swirl of leaves. The only sign he had even been there were his jacket and the stunned looks on the genin's faces.

"He could be anywhere!" Kiba groaned.

"Ano… W…wantanabe-sensei said he was going to make us Hunter-nin. We have to think like them."

Naruto nodded. "Hinata-chan is right, as usual. We can do this!"

Akamaru barked and bounded over to the jacket. Kiba snapped his fingers. "You're a genius Akamaru! He's already got his scent!"

Naruto smiled. "Akamaru can follow Wantanabe-sensei's scent. Hinata-chan can use her Byakugan to find him and I can use Kage Bunshin to make sure he doesn't get away!"

Akamaru started to follow the scent trail and Team 4 chased after the dog. The nin-ken ran through the Academy and into the main class room. Shino, Sakura and Sasuke were sitting quietly. Shino was reading and Sakura was trying to talk to Sasuke.

"What is Team Lapdog doing here?" Sasuke humphed.

"Looking for our Jonin instructor. We have until tomorrow morning to track him down." Kiba started sniffing just like Akamaru.

"Hey, Sasuke. That was a cool fireball technique yesterday!" Naruto shouted over his shoulder as Akamaru leapt out the window and into a bush. Team 4 quickly jumped after the dog.

"Uh… Thanks?" Sasuke and Sakura exchanged very confused looks.

Outside the Academy, Akamaru and Kiba were trying to reacquire their Jonin instructor's scent. Hinata activated her Byakugan. Naruto searched everywhere and flinched when he heard Sakura scream about Team 7's sensei being late.

"Ano… Naruto-kun! Check in that tree, please. I think I see something." Hinata pointed at a nearby tree. Naruto quickly climbed the tree and found an arrowhead.

"It's an arrowhead! It's pointed towards the center of town." Naruto called back.

"That could be a coincidence!" Kiba was having trouble finding the scent. "Crap, I think Wantanabe-sensei doused this area in something! There are too many strong scents here!"

"N…naruto-kun's finding might be a hint then." Hinata nodded a bit.

Naruto hung upside down from the branch. "It's not my 'finding'! We never would have found it if we didn't have you Hinata-chan!"

"Ok, so we head towards the center of Konoha. Then what?" Kiba rubbed his nose to try to clear the conflicting scent data. His mother had begun teaching him to channel chakra to focus his sense of smell, but he hadn't mastered it yet. Kiba had only a firm grasp on the very basics of the technique. The onetime Naruto had seen him train; the blond had made a crack that Kiba had 'been thinking dirty thoughts'. Naruto's triumph had been short lived as Kiba fired off a single sentence. Like the ones you have about Hinata?

Needless to say, that conversation would never be mentioned to anyone.

"I… I think we should ask around for Wantanabe-sensei." The Hyūga heiress looked at the ground. It was instinctive. Her Byakugan was still active and nothing was hidden from her.

The Inuzuka boy cracked his knuckles. "I know a few places the Hunter-nins hang out in."

"And I know where Yuji-sensei lives." Naruto added.

Hinata felt down at not being able to add something else to the plan. She was holding everyone back. Naruto noticed that Hinata had deactivated her Byakugan and frowned. Hinata had just helped them a ton and now she was acting like she did something wrong.

"Where do you think we should go first, Hinata-chan?" Naruto asked.

The heiress looked up slowly. "Ano, I think Wantanabe-sensei would expect us to go straight to his home. So…so, he probably isn't there. H…he is more likely to b...be at one of the Hunter-nin h…hang-outs."

The two boys nod at each other. "She's definitely the brains of the operation." Kiba laughed.

Team 4 followed Kiba's lead to several bars. Most of them were incredibly seedy. The first one they arrived at looked like someone had tried to burn it down.

"I wouldn't say they did it on purpose. It's more like… my cousin and a few of his buddies thought flaming beer would be cool." Kiba ignored the shocked expressions of his teammates.

The bouncer laughed at the young Genin team. "You Inuzuka's throw the wildest parties. I know you three think you are hot shit for graduating, but there is no way I'm letting Tsume's brat, the Hyūga heiress and her body guard drink."

Hinata gulped. "Ano, we… we are not here to drink. We are looking for Wantanabe Yuji-sensei."

The bounder shook his head. "Didn't see him come in. Give me a sec." The Bouncer went inside the bar. Naruto and his teammates heard the large man shout. "Yuji in here?"

There were choruses of 'no' and 'hell no'. Team 4 was about to leave when a voice cried out. "Yeah, he was here. I think Yuji said he was heading to Satoshi's shithole."

The Bouncer leaned his head out of doorframe with a beer in his hand. "Get all that kiddos?"

Team 4 nodded and the bouncer smiled. "Good luck finding the bastard. He's a wily one."

The Genin took off running when they heard someone start yelling about not putting an explosive tag in the toilet.

They arrived at 'Satoshi's Shithole' which was actually a nicer place than the first bar. The Genin were greeted by a young woman wearing a trench coat, a mesh 'shirt' and a skirt that really wasn't.

"Sweet, it's about time a woman gets a harem!" The woman spoke while chewing on a dango stick. She burst out laughing when all three went red.

"Uh… is Wantanabe Yuji-sensei in there?" Naruto finally managed to stammer out.

"What are your names, kids? I need to embarrass you all when I go in and ask for Yuji-kun."

"You first." Kiba tried to control the location of his gaze.

"Mitarashi Anko. Now fess up!" Anko ordered.

"Uzumaki Naruto!"

"H…hyūga Hinata."

"Inuzuka Kiba"

Anko grinned broadly "Since you are such cute little Genin, I'll ask for you. And since someone just bought me dango, I won't even feed you to my snakes."

Naruto gaped and eventually recovered. "Uh… thanks for your mercy?"

The crazy woman waved as she went into the bar.

"Oi! Yuji-kun!"

"What do you want Anko?" Team 4's eyes lit up.

Hinata quickly activated her Byakugan. "It's him!"

Kiba fist pumped at Hinata's announcement. "Alright! Naruto, do that jutsu that you do so well."

Naruto grinned. "Kage Bunshin no jutsu!"

Thirty Naruto's appeared. "Ok! Here's the plan. Split up into groups of five! I want ever window and exit covered!"

"Right boss!" The Clones shouted and split into groups.

After a minute, each clone group reported they were in position. Team 4 waited and eventually a bar employee greeted them. "Yuji says he's staying put and there is no way he's going right now. You all may be Genin, but unless you're sixteen, you don't get in."

"W…we just need to talk to him." Hinata ask with pleading eyes.

The employee shook his head. "Kid, I'm a bar bouncer, Puppy Eyes no Jutsu doesn't work if you're under eighteen."

Kiba cursed and Naruto sighed. "Oh well, we're going to have to try something desperate. Kage Bunshin no Jutsu."

A few more Naruto's popped into existence. "Alright! Listen up; you are to find Suzu-sensei. When you locate her, tell her Yuji-sensei is drinking in a bar instead of training us. Oh, and tell her we will definitely be at Takao's birthday next week."

"Roger!" The clones sped off in different directions.

Everyone stared at Naruto. The bouncer shook his head. "You are a cold hearted bastard aren't you?"

"I just want to be trained."

The bouncer laughed and reentered the bar. Hinata routinely checked the bar using her Byakugan.

"Wantanabe-sensei is still inside. He hasn't moved."

Kiba sat on the ground and Akamaru took his usual spot on his partner's head. "Gah, he had to go into the only bar in Konoha that has an age requirement."

Naruto shrugged. "Probably why Yuji-sensei did it. We'll have to keep the stake out up."

"Ano, what should we do w...while waiting for Suzu-san and your bunshins to arrive?"

Naruto entered his thinking pose. "I'd say we should train, but you two can't really use your Clan techniques in a public setting like this. Two of us should remain here. Who wants to make sure my clones aren't getting into trouble?"

"That won't be necessary, Naruto." A new, but familiar voice joined the conversation.

Kō smiled as Naruto ran up and showed off his hitai-ate. "It's official! We're all Ninja now!"

"Congratulations to all of you. Oh, you don't have to worry about your clones. I pulled rank on them and told them to stay focused."

Naruto laughed. "Threatened to ban them from Ramen?"

"Worse, I threatened to tell Hiashi-sama they were not acting 'in a manner befitting a suitor of the heiress'."

Naruto paled. "You wouldn't!"

"Not to you. Kage Bunshins can get cheeky."

Kiba barked out a laugh as his teammates breathed a sigh of relief.

"Kō-san, what brings you here?"

The aspiring Jonin chucked. "A Bunshin found me helping Suzu getting a few things Takao's birthday."

Team 4 looked excited. "So, she's on her way here?"

"Where is he?"A very angry woman was approaching. Suzu had cut her light brown hair since the last time Naruto had seen her. Her blue eyes were actually a bit scary at the moment. The image of a hurricane flashed in everyone's head.

"Uh… inside, ma'am." Kiba answered on a reflex.

Suzu stormed in and after a few minutes she emerged with a very quiet Yuji-sensei. "Teach your students! And don't forget to bring home some milk!"

"Yes dear." Everyone but Team 4 and their sensei left quietly. "Alright, follow me to Sayuri's. I'll grade your performance there."

The three Genin waited quietly as their Jonin instructor prepared to grade their final test.

"Overall, I have only one complaint. One major complaint." Yuji leans back in his chair as his charges gulped. "Naruto-kun, did you have to get my wife?"

Naruto chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of his head. "I figured it would be the most effective way to get you out the bar?"

"True. Very well, you all did incredibly well. It took less than five hours for you all to track me down. You acted as a team. That is crucial to the success of any shinobi mission. It doesn't matter if you are hunting down a Nuke-nin, escorting a merchant between villages or even performing menial labor. If you act as a team and support each other, you will succeed."

The Jonin let his students bask in the praise. "This was simply a test. I was proud of how you used your abilities to support and complement each other. Kiba-kun, you followed the scent well and let your teammates know of any changes. Hinata-chan, I was pleased that you used your Byakugan when Kiba-kun lost the scent. Naruto-kun, you may lack the tracking abilities of Hinata-chan or Kiba-kun but you supported them well. Your used your Kage Bunshins very well when the three of you tracked me down."

"Thank you, Wantanabe-sensei." Team 4 said as one.

"As I said, I was pleased by today's test. We will meet in Training Ground twenty-one tomorrow morning at eight a.m. Go home and rest up. I plan on working you to the bone. I want to see your limits and skills. Understand?"

"Yes, sensei!"

"Very good. See you tomorrow, dismissed." Hinata bowed politely. Naruto flashed his oldest teacher a thumbs up and Kiba pounded his fist on his chest twice.

Naruto waited patiently until they exited the restaurant before wrapping Hinata in a huge hug. "We passed! We passed!" He repeated as he swung her around.

"Geez, get a room you two!" Kiba shook his head.

"Uzumaki Naruto." Everyone froze at the voice. Team 4 cautiously looked up and saw the pair of ANBU standing silently on the trees around them.

"Hi? My Kage Bunshins didn't cause any problems did they?" Naruto didn't even notice Hinata was still holding onto his side.

"Hokage-sama wishes to speak with you." The ANBU's tone allowed no room for argument.

"We… we are coming w…with our teammate." Hinata tried to sound confident and supportive, but the gaze of the ANBU made her nervous.

"What Hokage-sama has to tell Uzumaki Naruto is for him alone. Return to your homes."

Naruto held onto Hinata. "It'll be fine, Hinata-chan. I'm sure Jiji just wants to talk about a few things alone. I'm sure I'm not in trouble."

Kiba shook his head. "We aren't going back home! Even if we can't be in the meeting, we are going to support our teammate!"

Akamaru was barking and growling in agreement. Hinata tightened her grip on Naruto to show her agreement with Kiba.

"So bet it. Head directly to the Hokage's Tower."

The Sandaime Hokage took a long drag on his pipe as he waited for Naruto arrive. Sarutobi Hiruzen had watched the exchange between the ANBU and Naruto's friends. He was actually very pleased that the Inuzuka and the Hyūga Heiress had been so adamant in standing by their teammate. The Hokage's greatest fear that Hiashi and Hizashi had made the mistake the Yondaime had made. Hiruzen was beginning to push aside those fears. Naruto had the support he deserved. However, he was well aware that Naruto's support rested on a razor's edge. The Hyūga Clan was more divided than anyone dared speak of. Hiashi's stance on bridging the rift between the two families was tragically divisive.

It was fortunate that the Clan Council had suddenly begun publically supporting Hinata as heiress. Hiashi had laid the groundwork, but it would fall to Hinata to complete the bridge. Naruto was in no danger of losing his adopted family's support.

In addition to the Hyūga, the Inuzuka Clan had given tacit approval to revealing Naruto's status as the Jinchūriki of the Kyūbi no Kitsune. Truthfully, they had granted their approval to protect their own. However, young Kiba was one of Naruto's closest friends. Kiba was fully submerged in his clan's tradition of loyalty to friends, family and Konoha. It was not uncommon for word to reach the Hokage of incidents at the Academy where Kiba would leap to defend his 'pack'. The Sandaime hoped such loyalty would survive the revelation.

There was a knock on the door and the Hokage gave Naruto permission to enter. As expected, a worried looking Hinata and a bravado-filled Kiba waited in the lobby outside the Hokage's office.

"W…we will be h…here when your meeting is over, Naruto-kun." The Hyūga heiress struggled to keep her gaze on Naruto.

"Yeah, we'll be waiting, buddy." Kiba stated quickly.

"Thanks guys." Naruto entered the Hokage's office. He shut the door and took a seat.

"Congratulations on graduating and passing Wantanabe-san's test, Naruto." The Hokage stated amicably.

Naruto beamed and ran his thumb across his forehead protector. "Thank you, Jiji! I couldn't have passed Yuji-sensei's test without Kiba, Akamaru or Hinata-chan!"

"Then you have learned one of the most important lessons a Shinobi of the leaf can learn. We can only achieve our true potential with and by the support of others. I, unfortunately, did not summon you to merely congratulate you on your recent successes. Naruto, there is a truth that I must reveal to you. I personally wished to inform you of this when you became a Chuunin but Hiashi-san and Hizashi-san have faith that you are ready for the truth."

"The truth? The truth about what, Jiji?" Naruto wasn't sure he liked where this conversation was heading. He was glad that Hiashi and Hizashi had faith in him though.

"The Hyūga, Mizuki-sensei and Iruka-sensei have told me that your dream is to become a strong ninja and defend Konoha."

"Of course it is!" Naruto nodded quickly.

"Naruto, you defend Konoha with every breath you take." The boy simultaneously looked thrilled and very confused. "In order for you to understand, I must start twelve years ago on the day you were born. I will not lie to you, Naruto. This will be the most difficult words you ever here. Your life will change."

Naruto took a single breath and crossed his arms. "I can handle it, Jiji."

"You know that you were born on the day of the Kyūbi's assault on Konoha." The nervousness in Naruto's stance and face increased exponentially. "The Nine Tailed Fox was a being of immense power. Only the Fourth Hokage had the power to stand against it. The Academy has taught the official history that the Yondaime killed the Beast at the cost of his life. That is not true. It is impossible to kill something that was never alive to begin with. The Kyūbi is a being of pure Chakra. You can no more kill it than kill an earthquake or a violent storm."

Naruto meekly said. "What?"

"The Kyūbi can only be contained. It has to be sealed in a living being. Only a child can withstand and endure the power of the demon." He saw the look of horror in Naruto's face. "It has to be a child, Naruto. If the Kyūbi had been sealed in an object, the demon would have escaped within a year and Konoha would have been destroyed. We could not seal it in an adult or the Nine Tailed Fox would have consumed their minds by preying on the darkness in the heart of its host. A child, an infant, has no darkness and is the perfect prison."

"I… I'm the demon aren't I?" Naruto couldn't look at the Hokage. He couldn't bring himself to look out the window towards the Hokage monument.

"NO!" The Hokage slammed his fist on the desk causing Naruto to jump. "You are not the demon! You are Uzumaki Naruto, a Genin of Konoha! You are the jailor of the demon and I will not allow you to think of yourself in any other way! The Yondaime Hokage wanted you to be viewed as a hero. That is how Hiashi-san and Hizashi-san view you. It is how I view you! Naruto, without you there would be no Konoha."

Naruto finally looked up. A small flicker of hope was evident in his eyes. "Why hasn't anyone said anything? Or… or is the Kyūbi the 'it' I hear people talk about sometimes?"

"After the defeat of the Kyūbi, I passed a law forbidding anyone from revealing that you were the jailor of the Demon Fox. It was my hope that the hate the older generations had for the Fox would not poison the opinions and minds of your peers. The Hyūga taking you in and protecting you was beyond even my most fervent hopes. Hiashi-san and Hiromi-san could not stand the thought of you being alone or worse, taken by certain elements that wanted to use you as nothing but a weapon or tool. The acceptance of the Hyūga has given me hope that the dying wish of the Yondaime will be fulfilled."

Naruto was suddenly hit by a revelation. Hiashi and Hizashi had known and had wanted to tell Naruto about the Kyūbi. They obviously believed that he was Naruto and not the demon. If they thought the opposite, he knew Hiashi wouldn't let Naruto within a mile of Hinata-chan. Besides, the Byakugan could tell. Did Hinata-chan already know? The two charkas he possessed flared into his mind. Was the red chakra the demon's?

"Am I allowed to tell people the truth?" The Hokage grinned like a proud grandfather as he nodded. Naruto was coping with the no doubt painful truth better than Sarutobi had ever hoped.

"You are allowed to inform others of your status as the Jailor of the Demon Fox. However, you should be very cautious of who you chose to tell."

I have to tell Kiba and Hinata-chan. Neji and Hanabi probably need to know since we're working to save the Hyūga clan. Besides, they have seen the Red Chakra. I don't want them to break the Hokage's Law.

"Is there anything else I need to know?" He remembered that Hiashi had mentioned laws on that fateful night. The Sandaime had only revealed a law.

The Hokage, for his part, remembered the Hyūga twin's request for complete disclosure of Naruto's heritage. He was keenly aware that Naruto had some awareness of a second set of laws regarding his nature.

"No, there is not. You are dismissed, Naruto. Your team is waiting for you." Naruto stood and bowed. "Naruto, I am very proud of you."

"Thanks Old Man." Naruto began walking to the door, but froze. He had to be honest with himself. His team needed to know about the Kyūbi, but the thought of their possible reactions terrified him. Naruto had never been so afraid in his life. He had fought a Kumo Jonin when he was three to rescue Hinata without fear. Now, he could barely move.

"Naruto." The blond Genin turned to face the Hokage. "Have faith in your friends."

The last Uzumaki nodded and opened the door. He sat down quietly and stared at his best friends for a moment. Kiba was confused as Naruto was generally as loud as he was. Hinata blushed at the softness in his gaze.

"Hey. Naruto, what did the Hokage talk to you about?" Kiba shifted nervously in his seat.

The tattooed Genin rubbed Akamaru's back when the dog began to whine. Naruto still hadn't said a word.

"Ano, Naruto-kun. We are here for you. No…no matter what, we… we will support you." And even if the whole world turns it back, I will stay with you. Hinata tried desperately to comfort Naruto.

"Do you remember the lessons about the Yondaime Hokage? How he killed the Kyūbi?" Naruto watched as his friends nodded. "The lessons were wrong. The Kyūbi wasn't really alive to begin with. It couldn't be killed. There was only one permanent way to stop the Demon. The Fourth had to seal it away within a newborn."

Naruto saw the shock in Hinata and Kiba's eyes. He felt his resolve begin to slip away. "He sealed it in me. I am a prison for a demon."

There were several seconds of silence. Naruto was certain that he would be alone soon.

Hinata had always known Naruto was strong. She had always believed that Naruto was one of the most caring and kind individuals she had ever met. Naruto would do anything to protect his precious people. He had saved her twice. First, he rescued her from the Cloud Ninja. He then saved her from self destruction after her mother died. Now, she would begin to pay that debt. She would save him this time, but how?

"You are and will always be Naruto. And my best friend."

The Hyūga quickly turned a hundred shades of red when she realized she was inches from Naruto. I just kissed him! On the cheek, but… but!

Naruto quickly wrapped Hinata in a huge and quietly whispered thank you. The tender moment was interrupted when Akamaru climbed on Naruto's shoulder and licked the boy's ear.

"If that's what it takes to show you that I know you aren't the fox, I'm afraid you're out of luck." Naruto and Hinata turned in shock towards Kiba. "There will be no licking or anything like that. I'll buy you some Ramen though."

Naruto nodded at Kiba. "Thanks everyone. This… this means so much."

"Don't mention it. We're going to need to work together to survive Wantanabe-sensei's training." Kiba chuckled.

"Yeah. I don't think he'll take it easy on us." Naruto laughed back.

"Especially you, buddy." Kiba punched his brother-in-arms in the shoulder.

"Why me?"

Hinata had attached herself to Naruto's other shoulder. "Ano, Naruto-kun, you… you did get him in trouble with… with his wife."

Naruto flinched. He knew how mad Suzu-sensei would get. Yuji-sensei was going to kill him!

"Ah man, I am so doomed!"

Author's Notes: Here you go! A fresh chapter for you all! I hope you all enjoy it! I'm in the middle of January Term, which means a full semester in a month. I hope to continue the update schedule, but I can't guarantee anything.

BUT! If you guys continue the incredible review responses, I'll probably keep pumping this story out!

Coming next chapter: Yuji-sensei's revenge!