Italics indicate thinking

Bold is for attacks

Kale's POV

"Well we're be going now." We said looking at the Sand Siblings.

"Yep See Ya." Kankuro waved.

"I'm not really good at the whole shaking hands and stuff…" Naruto mumbled.

"Hmm…" Gaara reached out his hand to Naruto.

"Hehehe." I snickered a bit.

"Hmm…" Naruto slowly moved and shook Gaara's hand.

"See ya!" we all waved as we walked off.

We started making the trek back to the village. Kakashi-Sensei couldn't walk so Guy-Sensei had to carry him. I was walking with Tenten as she inspected the wood I had obtained.

"This stuff is perfect." She smiled "I think we can get two good staves from this."

I looked over and saw Fu was walking alone, I think she was uncomfortable now that Naruto and Sensei knew the truth, she was worried they would rat her out.

"They won't judge you." I told her "Naruto understands you, he won't tell…and Sensei…he's too beat up to bother."

"Fu knows, she's just wondering, if Gaara and Naruto can gain respect, can Fu do the same?"

"I'm sure you can." I smiled.

Later

When we got back to the village we made our report to Tsunade, the part about Fu being targeted was conveniently left out. Sakura did give out the information about Orochimaru though. While she talked to Tsunade I was with Tenten working on cutting and sanding the wood for Staves Four and Five.

"How's this look?" she asked holding up one that looked like a shepherds crook.

"Good, a little plain but I like it." I said "I'll get to work on infusing it, can you start to build number Five?"

"Right away, and design?" she asked.

"You can do it, I trust your weapon skills." I smiled placing the staff out and sitting down.

"Okay, It'll be a few hours." She said walking off "Have fun!"

I closed my eyes and started to infuse the staff with my chakra. This was a delicate process that could take long amounts of time, my mind had to stay clear to keep the chakra flow steady, but soon.

"Done." I opened my eyes and picked up the staff before strapping it to my back.

"Took you a while." Tenten said "So long I already carved and painted Number 5…I call it, Mystic staff!"

The new stadd was blue and green the tip had four prongs and at the center was a large egg shaped yellow jewel.

"Mystic Staff." I said "I like it."

"Dreamcatcher, Voodoo, Crystal, Shepherd and Mystic." Tenten said "All I made four of those, don't you forget it."

"And you'll keep making them." I said "As long as I need them."

"How many do you really need to regulate?" she asked as I started the ritual for Mystic Staff.

"Uncle said as I train and grow stronger I'd naturally begin to gather more, and I'd just know when I didn't need more. I knew I needed more which is why I asked Kankuro to get me this wood, Desert Palm is known for conducting Chakra well." I explained.

Later

"What's up Naruto?" I asked as I walked.

"Uhh…do you have more of those things on your back?"

"Yeah two new ones." I said "What are you doing."

"We've got a mission but we need a members because Old Lady Tsunade says so." He shrugged "I tried asking Kiba and Shino but they said no…and Hinata passed out."

I walked with him cause I was bored, we quickly found Shikamaru but he was giving us a tough time.

"Yeah I know we've got this whole friendship thing and I'd like to help but I just can't with the Chunin exams and all that." He shrugged.

"In that case I'll help." Choji said walking up "Yo Shikamaru you're mom asked me to bring your lunch."

"Don't you have a mission with Asuma-Sensei and Ino?" Shikamaru sighed.

"Come on we can't ignore Naruto's request." Choji said "I'll just talk to Asuma-Sensei about it."

"You're the best Choji!" Naruto smiled.

"He'll say no." Shikamaru said "He has Lady Tsunade over him."

"Still…" Naruto smiled "After all this time you're still easy."

Someone's here!

"HMM!" Shikamaru tackled Naruto as Choji blew up his hand.

"HYUP!" I jumped to the side and Choji punched a small tiger that was running at us, when his fist hit it the tiger splattered and turned into ink.

"Another from above!" I pointed out.

"HM!" Choji reached up and grabbed it.

"Where are they coming form?" Naruto asked.

"Over there." I took out the Shepherds staff and pointed "On the roof."

"Hmm…" Naruto squinted "Never seen him before, but he has a Leaf headband on."

"I have no idea what he's doing, we should be safe and capture him." Shikamaru said "We'll cover you, go Naruto!"

I raised the staff and waved it, gathering lighting. As Naruto charged forward he was confronted by six ink tigers.

"Storm Hammer!"

A sharp bolt shot off and roasted the images.

"Seems the situation is handled." I said as a bird landed on my shoulder "Seems I'm needed."

Later

"Ma'am?" I asked looking at the Hokage.

"Kale…we've found your team a new member." She said "and a captain to operate while Kakashi is out of commission."

"Great." I shrugged.

"The new member, I need you to keep your eye on him okay." Tsunade said.

"Sure, is there a problem with him?"

"He's from ROOT." She explained.

"I see…Danzo's organization." I nodded.

"I know you have your opinion of the Danzo." She said "So I know you'll be extra critical."

"What is that old freak trying to pull?" I asked.

"He's making a play like he always does." Tsunade shrugged "Don't let your guard down."

"I won't I'll keep a close eye on the new guy…thanks again for back then." I said.

"There was no way I was losing a skilled ally like you to ROOT." She smiled "By the way…it took a lot to get Naruto cleared for this mission, keep an eye on him too. And for some reason they were giving me a hard time about Fu again, the councilors don't like her."

"Of course not, it's because she's not from here and those old bags of bones are still convinced she's a spy despite all she's done here!" I yelled.

"I know." Tsunade said "I trust Fu, she's a good girl, a little out there but a skilled and loyal ninja, I just wanted to let you know, it's possible this boy, Sai, will be keeping an eye on Fu. Now you're new team is meeting, you don't want to be late. You know…had you passed the Jounin application you might have been cleared for leader instead of me having to appoint Yamato."

"Well you should have just promoted me." I smirked.

"You'll get there when the times right…your application did come up again, you passed all the tests it's just a matter of council approval, and they all drag their feet since you refused Danzo last year." She said "We can discuss that later, good luck."

"He can try and recruit me a hundred times." I told her "I will never work for that warmonger."

AN

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Till Next Time!