(And here I am back with another chapter. Hope you're ready for the start of the next arc in my fic. Enjoy.)
After returning from Wave, Kakashi and Squad Seven informed Hiruzen about what happened. After receiving their pay, he dismissed them, and they returned back to their homes.
When Naruto got back he opened the door and saw his dragon partner Soreth on his little bed, "Hey, boy, I'm home!"
Soreth hearing his partner's voice shot up form his bed and saw Naruto. He scampered over and dog piled Naruto licking his face like an excited dog.
"Soreth, please, you're getting my face soaked!" Naruto laughed, as dragon drool covered him. Naruto finally got Soreth off him, "Blech, you really need to watch that slobber of yours. I'm gonna take a shower, and when I'm done, we're gonna have us a meal." Soreth gargled happily.
So Naruto took a shower to get cleaned up. Afterward he made himself and Soreth some lunch and chowed down.
Naruto sighed in joy, "I missed this place. And I missed you too, buddy." he looked down at his dragon licking his plate dry.
That night, Naruto was sitting up in bed on a meditating position, while his spirit was in the Spirit World. He wandered to Iroh's tea shop, and was soon having tea with the old man.
"And that's what happened." Naruto finished telling his story about his mission.
Iroh smiled, as he sipped his tea, "What a fascinating story, Naruto. Befriending one such as Demon Zabuza is such an accomplishment. But the biggest accomplishment is giving back hope to the good people of Wave. I know Korra and even Aang would be proud of what you've accomplished."
"Thanks, Iroh." Naruto said, as he sipped his tea.
"So tell me, what is next for you?" Iroh inquired.
"Honestly, I'm not so sure," Naruto answered, "After that mission anything's possible."
Iroh nodded, "Quite so. Well, Naruto, you must always be ready to expect the unexpected."
"I know." Naruto nodded in agreement.
"Now then, why don't we have a quick game of Pai sho before you go off to bed?" the old man suggested.
"I'm game." Naruto answered, as Iroh set the board up.
The next day around noon time, Naruto had just finished completing some simple D-rank missions with his squad before they took off. Naruto started walking and spoke to himself, "Hinata's gonna be surprised when she finds out I'm back from my mission to spar with her."
"Hey, let me go!" came a familiar voice.
"Konohamaru." he gasped, and followed the sound.
Upon coming around a corner he spotted Konohamaru being gripped by the front of his shirt by a boy wearing a black catsuit and had face paint on his face, and something on his back wrapped up in bandages. Accompanying him was a blonde haired girl with four pigtails in her hair, and on her back looked like a giant folded up fan. Naruto squinted and saw their headbands signified they were from the village of Suna. Konohamaru's two closest friends Udon and Moegi watched helplessly, wishing someone would come along and help.
Naruto hating to see violence dished out upon a friend and a kid no less, had to step in. Before the older boy could deck Konohamaru, Naruto jumped in and called.
"Hey!" all eyes fell on him, "What's going on over here?"
"Beat it, pal, this isn't your business." the older boy answered rudely.
Naruto frowned, "Actually, that's my friend you have in your fist, so this is my business."
The boy spoke, "Well, your friend ran into me."
Naruto looked in disbelief, "Is that all? A little kid accidentally runs into you and you think that calls for you to try and beat him up? How petty are you?!"
"Very petty." the girl remarked.
The boy turned to her, "Oh, don't even go there, Temari."
Naruto continued, "Look, put the kid down and let's forget this happened."
"Fat chance." the boy in black replied, feeling ready to continue what he was about to do until another voice spoke up.
"Kankuro!" everyone looked up and saw hanging by a tree was a red haired boy with black rings around his eyes, the kanji for 'love' tattooed on his forehead, but what stuck out was the gourd on his back.
Naruto was taken by shock, 'Whoa, how long was he up there? I didn't even feel his presence.'
The boy identified as Kankuro suddenly lost his tough guy persona and looked nervous, "Gaara, uh, how long were you there?"
Gaara scowled at him, "Long enough to witness you get into a pointless squabble with a mere child. Is this really how a shinobi such as yourself reacts to such minimal problems?"
"But, Gaara, he..."
Gaara frowned, "Shut up! Unless you want to die!" Kankuro shrunk back in fright, as the girl Temari recoiled from his cold tone. Gaara dropped from the tree and landed before Naruto, "I apologize for my brother's idiocy."
"I'll overlook it," Naruto replied, "Now then, based off your headbands, you're Sand shinobi from the village of Sunagakure."
"You are correct." Gaara confirmed.
"But why would you be here in Konoha. Not on vacation I assume?"
"Actually, we're here to partake in the Chunin Exams being held here." Temari answered, as they showed Naruto their passports.
"Right. Forgot Konoha was hosting it this year," Naruto saw they were about to leave, "Hey, before you go I'd like to know your names."
They turned back around as the redhead answered, "I am Sabaku no Gaara."
"I'm Temari, and you've already gotten to know Kankuro here." the girl motioned to the boy who scoffed.
"And who might you be?" Gaara inquired.
"Naruto Uzumaki. Nice to meetcha."
The blonde and redhead looked at each other almost as if they're trying to read into each others soul. Naruto thought to himself, 'This sensation around this guy's making my skin crawl.'
Gaara thought as well, 'This boy, I feel it off him. He's just like me... But I sense another feeling coming from him, it rivals that of my own, but no sense of hatred. Who or what is he?' he spoke up, "We'll be going now. I hope to see you again soon, Naruto Uzumaki."
"I hope so too." Naruto admitted, as he watched the three take off.
"Aniki!" Konohamaru cheered, as he and his friends gathered around the blonde.
"Hey, guys. Are you all ok?"
"We're fine thanks to you." Moegi said.
"Well, good to hear."
"You always know when to arrive where you're needed." Udon said in admiration.
Naruto laughed modestly, "Thanks, Udon, but really I saw what was going down, and I wanted to spare Konohamaru the trouble of explaining to Jiji where he got a bruise on his face."
Konohamaru spoke up, "I'd just tell him I beat up a rogue shinobi and came out of it with just a bruise." he said proudly.
Naruto rolled his eyes, and answered in sarcasm, "Oh, yeah. He'd definitely fall for that one. Well, listen it was nice to help you guys, but I better get going."
"Ok. We'll catch you later." Konohamaru said, as they went their separate ways.
At the training ground, he saw Hinata was practicing her moves on a training dummy, but waited until she hit it enough. Eventually she ceased her spar with it, and took some breaths.
Naruto stepped out into the open, "I see you've gotten better than last time, Hinata."
The Hyuga realizing his presence gasped in startle, "Naruto. When did you get back from your mission?"
"Just yesterday." he answered, "And boy do I have a story to tell you."
"Well, I was just about to take a break. So I'm open to listen." she answered.
"Great!"
And so Naruto and Hinata sat down, as Naruto began telling the girl about his mission in Wave, while making sure to leave out the detail of Naruto using bending, while passing off Karok as a shinobi with an unusual ability with water jutsu.
When Naruto finished, Hinata was amazed at Naruto's story, "I can't believe you faced such danger for your first C-rank mission."
"I can hardly believe it myself. And look I came back in one piece." he presented himself dramatically, and she giggled, "So how've you been these last few days?"
"Well, as you can see I've still been training just as you suggested I do, and just been going on normal mission with my squad."
"And how're Kiba and Shino doing?"
"Well, Kiba's been really serious about missions and training, and Shino... Well, is just being Shino." she answered.
Naruto laughed, "Just what I'd expect from him and Kiba too."
"Naruto, I'd like to continue sparing with you if that's ok?" Hinata spoke.
Naruto got up, "So would I." he offered her his hand, and she took it and was brought to her feet. So the two continued their traditional sparing to get each other into better fighting shape.
Later on, Naruto was heading back home, until he walked past the Yamanaka Florists and looked at the shop, "My place could use some fresh flowers." he said to himself, before going inside.
He looked around seeing all the many different normal and exotic plants and flowers, until he heard a familiar voice, "Naruto?"
He looked and saw by the counter was his old classmate Ino wearing a work apron, "Oh, Ino. Didn't expect to see you here now. Working a shift for your parents?"
"Yeah. They're out taking care of some things, so I'm minding the shop." she answered.
"And how's that looking?"
Ino sighed, "It's been dull with not so many customers."
"Well, let me make it more exciting. I'd like to purchase some flowers."
Ino looked up, "Really?"
"The window by my kitchen could use some to occupy the spot."
Ino smiled, "Then let me help you."
And so Ino was showing Naruto around the shop helping him pick out what flowers to buy. As they did so, Naruto asked, "So what's been going on with you, ever since the academy graduation?"
"Well been doing some minor missions, and working on our attack combos and formations." she answered.
"Sounds nice."
"Yeah. When Shikamaru's taking it seriously and when Chouji's not thinking about his stomach." she replied.
"Typical of those two." Naruto chuckled.
"I know, right?" Ino asked with a bit of laughter as well.
"But how have you been yourself?" he asked.
"Me?" Ino asked taken aback by his questions and felt flustered, "I've been good, actually."
"Good to know," Naruto replied as he saw a bunch of yellow flowers, "I'll take these."
Ino smiled, and answered, "Sold."
That night Naruto was at home having dinner with Soreth, while admiring the flowers in his window. He sighed, "Well, Soreth. Tomorrow is another day." Soreth growled in agreement.
Meanwhile at the village administration building, in one room, piling out of the room were multiple Jonin and Chunin shinobi, with Kakashi, Kurenai, and Asuma exiting last.
"Well, that was quite a meeting." Kurenai began.
"I know. I almost thought Iruka was going to convince dad to not go through with our suggestions." Asuma added.
"Well, Iruka just needed to realize things are different now and that he should show more support to the rookies just like we do." Kakashi answered.
"Even so, the Chunin Exams are dangerous, especially when our genin are still fresh out of the academy." Kurenai noted.
"Regardless, if we want them to succeed sometimes we must let them find themselves through competition with other shinobi not from their own village," Kakashi noted, and thought to himself, 'And Naruto would sure be able to get a lot of practice with his Avatar power against newer opponents.'
(And there's the chapter. The Chunin Exam arc is under way. I hope you're ready to see it.)