Naruto and Sasuke were walking through the streets of Konoha. Currently they were on their way to Naruto's training ground, whose location was unknown to Sasuke.
Naruto as usual was smiling, while Sasuke kept his usual stoic face. But there were two things on his mind right now.
First, after he had been held back in a spar by Naruto, the deadlast. But still, Sasuke could see that the blonde had probably trained hard enough to get to his current level of power.
Secondly, and more importantly, Sasuke could see the glares the villagers shot towards them, or more accurately, Naruto. They would glare daggers at him, get off the road if he was walking near, murmuring amongst themselves. Sasuke couldn't hear what they were saying but he did make out one distinct word.
'Demon'
Sasuke knew Naruto was a prankster and occasionally pulled off pranks on the villagers, but still, that couldn't warrant such behavior.
And then there was Naruto.
He didn't seem to not care nor mind the glares and the murmurs of villagers. It seemed as if he was used to it. Maybe he was.
For a long time in a while, Sasuke felt worried for someone.
"Aaannndd here we are ! "
The two of them were outside the Hokage tower.
"Dobe, it's the kage tower, not your ground." Sasuke said, thinking Naruto was messing around.
"I promise I am not, just follow me! "
As they entered the building, Naruto saw Hiruzen talking to an ANBU with a boar mask. When the Hokage saw Naruto and Sasuke, he smiled, and then said a few words, after which the ANBU saluted, and poofed away. Hiruzen then walked up to the two.
"Naruto, back today with young Sasuke it seems like. "
"Yo jiji." "Hokage sama."
The two boys greeted the Hokage completely differently.
While Naruto was casual as always, Sasuke addressed the Kage with respect, and was astonished at Naruto's casualness.
He expected the Hokage to get angry, but he didn't and kept his kind demeanor.
"Haha, Sasuke no need to be so tense, especially when you are with Naruto." the Hokage said ruffling his hairs like he used to do when he was younger
Sasuke was embarassed, but still noted how close the Kage and the blonde were.
"Hey jiji, it's fine if I bring Sasuke to train with me, right? "
Sarutobi chuckled.
"Of course Naruto, you have my permission, as long as the numbers are in single digits.
" Thanks jiji, let's get going Sasuke! "
Naruto then walked towards a door leading to the training grounds.
Sasuke only followed him after giving his thanks to Hiruzen.
Sarutobi smiled at their antics. He knew from Naruto that Sasuke was his teammate, and a good friend, even though Orochimaru managed to poison through the Uchiha's desire to avenge his clan.
It was natural that Naruto would try to befriend his old friend once again, just to experience that friendship once more. He didn't say often how much he still looked back to the days he was Tobirama's student. He remembered how close he was to his sensei and his comrades.
As Naruto and Sasuke arrived at the training grounds, they arrived to the presence of a certain jonin and a child.
"Naruto niisan! "
The boy was Konohamaru, and the man was his tutor, Ebisu.
"Hey Konohamaru, and closet perv!"
Ebisu became enraged, "Don't call me that, especially not in front of others brat!!"
Naruto had encountered the two a while ago in the same field, with Ebisu instructing Konohamaru. Naruto had met them, and when je didn't treat Konohamaru differently because of his background,and knocking Ebisu out with his sexy jutsu (he is Naruto after all) he instantly became interested in him. Naruto yet again instilled the valuable lesson of not running from hardwork in him, also making Ebisu get a more positive view on Naruto.
He still hated him for knocking him out with his vulgar technique though.
"Niisan, who is that? "
Konohamaru was pointing at Sasuke.
"He's Sasuke, my classmate and the best student at the moment, he is here to train with me."
Sasuke just waved.
"Best in class, so you must know some cool jutsu like niisan! "
Sasuke, instead of saying, just smiled and strated going through the handseals for his jutsu, which he unleashed on one of the targets in the field.
"Katon: Great Fireball !"
A big ball of fire left Sasuke's mouth, burning the target to a chrisp.
"WOW."
Stars appeared in Konohamaru's eyes at Sasuke's performance, while Naruto just smiled giving a thumbs up to Sasuke.
"Honorable grandson, I don't want to interrupt, but it's time for your laps around the village, so we must get going."
Konohamaru looked a bit sad.
"Aw bummer, anyways, see you later Naruto niisan, Sasuke niisan! "
The young boy waved at the two as he went through the door the two had come through.
"He is an interesting kid, reminds me a bit of you." said Sasuke.
"You don't know the half of it." Naruto replied.
Sasuke then took the opportunity to see around the field. It was rectangular in shape, located between the Hokage tower complex and the mountains behind it bearing the Hokage monument. On the side of the mountain, the field had a pond, and several trees around it.
Several targets and their replacements were around as well.
A perfect place to train.
"So Sasuke, before we being, I suppose you must know about my abilities, and I should about yours. So if you can.. "
Sasuke wasted no time, "I know Shurikenjutsu, the basic academy ninjutsu, the interceptor style taijutsu, and some Katon jutsu."
"Okay, I know the academy jutsu as well, expect for Clone jutsu, but I can use Shadow Clones, multiple if needed, I can use also some Futon and Suiton jutsu, I can also treewalk and waterwalk, know Shurikenjutsu and pretty good taijutsu as well."
Sasuke was flabbergasted. Naruto knew how to use the Shadow Clone jutsu, an A-rank jutsu, and it's Multi version, which was given forbidden status due to how much chakra it required. Not only that, he also knew jutsu from two different elements.
How did Naruto was this ahead of him?
As Sasuke clenched his fists in anger, Naruto walked up bedside him and put a habd around his shoulder.
"Ah, don't worry Sasuke! Just follow my lead and you will get stronger in no time!"
Sasuke calmed down at this, and said, with a bit of a smile, "Well if you can get that good I suppose I can as well."
Naruto sweatdropped.
Was that supposed to be a compliment or a taunt?
Whatever I suppose...
"Putting everything aside Sasuke, you see those trees... " , Naruto said pointing at the trees nearby.
This was going to be a long day.
Some hours later...
Naruto and Sasuke had just left the training grounds. Despite being the first day of their joint training, it was quite fruitful.
Naruto had further improved his jutsus while Sasuke had almost mastered tree walking. He only stopped rushing up and down the tree after Naruto's constant insistence, without which he might've collapsed of exhaustion.
"Seems like your training with the Uchiha brat went well kid."
"I suppose so Kurama."
Naruto looked at Sasuke beside him. He was convered with dirt and bruises.
A tinge of nostalgia swept upon the blonde.
"So Sasuke, how was today's training in your opinion?"
Sasuke currently bore his indifferent expression.
"Hn, if you hadn't stopped me i would've mastered that tree walking by now."
"Maa Sasuke, you know how low you are on chakra, you would've ended up fainting and i would've had to drag you to the medics anyway."
Sasuke looked away, a bit embarrassed.
They had now walked near to Ichiraku's.
"By the way, you hungry? "
"Yea I suppose."
"Great, let's go get some ramen,I bet you'll love it! "
Naruto then led Sasuke to the humble ramen stand.
The two of them sat down on two seats next to one another, as they were greeted warmly by Teuchi.
"Ah, Naruto, back again and by the looks of it you brought a friend aswell ! "
"Hiya, old man! It's my class mate Sasuke, Sasuke meet Teuchi, the best chef in the leaf."
Sasuke cordially greeted the chef as the two gave their orders.
Naruto ordered his usual Miso Char-Siu, while Sasuke ordered a vegetable ramen, with tomatoes salad.
"So Sasuke, you like tomatoes ? "
"Hn."
"Come on, you can talk a bit more, it won't kill you, ya'know. "
"I don't like talking unnecessarily."
Naruto sweatdropped. Sasuke was Sasuke after all.
After half an hour or so, the two left the shop. Naruto had eaten his usual dozen bowls, while Sasuke had only eaten two.
"So Sasuke, let's see each other at the academy tomorrow, alright? "
"Yeah, and try not to be late dobe. "
"Don't worry, I won't. "
Then went their opposite ways.
But as they both faced away from each other, a smile appeared on Sasuke's lips .
Kakashi made his way up to the Hokage's office.
The past few weeks had been pretty wierd. First, Tenzo was assigned the mission to tail Naruto alongside Yugao, but the mission was cancelled due to undisclosed reasons. Tenzo said how the Hokage had swore them to secrecy, declaring the reason a S-rank secret no less.
While Kakashi trusted the third's decisions, he still felt uneasy. He didn't know why. But a part of him screamed out to him to talk to the Hokage. Today he would.
As he arrived to the office door, he gave a gentle knock.
"Come in."
Kakashi opened the door and stepped into the room.
The Hokage was on his workplace, shutting close a file and tucking it into a drawer.
"Ah, Kakashi, what might be the reason for your presence ?"
"Hm, I don't know how to begin Hokage sama. "
"Let me guess, you are here to inquirie about Tenzo's latest mission ?"
Kakashi nodded.
Good. Hiruzen wasn't beating around the bush.
"If you must know, the mission was both assigned and cancelled due to the changing of the situation, I assure you, Naruto is safe."
"And i have no doubt about that, my lord, it's just that i came to know that the reason for its cancellation happens to be a S-rank secret, I won't ask you to disclose it, but I can't help but feel uneasy."
"Kakashi, I assure you, he is fine. I made it a S-rank secret to deter any dirty play from our dear friend."
Kakashi perked up.
Hokage sama was worried about what Danzo might do with such information ?
"My Lord, in that case i trust your decision."
The Hokage smiled.
"In that case Kakashi, since you are already here, I have a mission for you."
The Hokage handed Kakashi a scroll.
Kakashi's eyes widened as he read the scroll, but he returned to his normal look and closed it.
"Consider it done Hokage sama, although I would like Tenzo to accompany me."
"That can be arranged."
AN- It has been a while, I was busy with sone family stuff. As usual, please review. The next chapter will skip to the series premiere. I will try to post sooner.
Thanks for reading.