Naruto's team was slowly trudging their way through the aired deserts of Kaze no Kuni. Behind them, one of Naruto's shadow clones was currently dragging what looked like a large kiddy pool that seemed to be set on a wagon, while four other clones sat inside attempting to pop water balloons with their chakra.
"Naruto-kun, you shouldn't be wasting water in the desert like that." Kurenai chided lightly as they walked through the fine sands of the seemingly endless desert.
"I'm not wasting it. If you'll notice they've been at it for several hours and there is no water in that pool."
Kurenai raised a well-manicured eyebrow as she looked over and noticed that her lone male team member was telling the truth. The pool was bone dry, not even droplets to prove that the water had merely evaporated. "How?"
"There's a couple of seals on the bottom of the pool. As the balloons pop the one seal collects the water, when we stop to take a break, the second seal will cool the water after it's released from the first seal. Then when we get ready to go again we can seal it back up as a portable oasis to keep cool." True he didn't necessarily need it. Kyuubi regulated his body temperature making it impossible for him to contract hyper or hypothermia. He was also used to the sands of Kaze as he'd taken several missions to the border with Anko over the years. He was certain if it were just him and Kurenai they'd be more than able to make it to the other side of the desert within a matter of hours. However, given that this was Ino and Hinata's first time to the region, he knew they would have to take it slow, and likely stop at the way station for the evening to give the two a chance to win and keep them from exhausting themselves.
"That's a pretty ingenious method to help with surviving in the desert." Kurenai complimented as they continued trekking through the desert.
"So, where are we stopping for the evening?" Ino asked as she adjusted the sun hat that Naruto had provided for both her and Hinata.
"Old Suna." Naruto said, having been given the lead on the mission by Kurenai in order to assess his leadership skills going into the Chunin exams.
"Old Suna?" Hinata asked curiously.
"It's around the mid-way point between Suna and the border. It was the place where Suna was originally founded by the First Kazekage when an Oasis was discovered there. However, as Suna expanded, and more resources were able to be allotted to exploration a larger Oasis was discovered deeper in the desert within a naturally occurring bowl of large stone plateaus. Now adays the area is used as a rest area for travelers on their way to Suna."
"That's quite interesting Naruto-kun. How did you learn of this? We didn't have much to time to prepare before leaving."
"I've spent time studying different countries, and I had a few of my shadow clones review the map while I was packing to ensure we took the right route." Naruto smiled at her, happy that Hinata was growing more confident when speaking to him.
After another hour or so of walking, Kurenai noticed that her two female students were beginning to show signs of exhaustion and decided to stop for a break. "Alright lets go ahead and stop here for an hour or so before heading to the rest area."
Naruto nodded taking note to watch his teammate's fatigue in the future. "Alright, let's see if this works." Naruto smiled as he formed a handsign. "Earth style: Rampart." He said before a small platform rose about two feet off the ground.
Kurenai looked at him curiously. "What is that for?"
"It's a lot easier to plant steaks in stone than it is in sand." He said with a smile as he unsealed a pavilion the his clones quickly went about setting up while he unsealed a portable changing room. "Alright girls, you can get into your swimsuits in this while we set up the pool and chairs."
Ino giggled. "This was just an excuse to see us in our swimsuits wasn't it?"
Naruto chuckled. "No, but I'm not above taking advantage of the situation by having my clones stand guard from every angle." He teased.
Ino blushed slightly and punched his shoulder playfully as she waited her turn for the changing area. "Perv."
"It's only being a perv if you do it without consent." He leaned in and tickled her ear with his warm breath. "Otherwise, it's just foreplay."
Ino let out an uncharacteristic squeak as she turned bright red. "I-I'm telling Ami then."
"I'm in the CRA and I've already told Anko-chan and Ami-chan, you'll have to try again." Naruto teased running his finger down Ino's spine.
Ino shivered slightly as she looked back at him. "Does that mean you'll be telling Hinata about it? You know she's had the largest crush on you forever."
"Yes, if you're both willing I'd like to start dating after the Chunin exams."
"That sounds good to me." She said as she kissed his cheek and moved to take her turn in the changing room.
Naruto watched as the last of his team exited the changing room. Hinata was wearing a light purple one piece swimsuit that tied around her neck, with a slightly higher cut in the back. The fabric stretched taught over her developing C-cups and clung to her wispy athletic waist.
Ino was wearing a dark blue bikini the top of which tied around her neck in a similar fashion to Hinata's one piece and held up her budding B-cups. Her tight stomach left exposed as the V-line of her abdominal muscles leading down to the high cut string bottoms.
Kurenai was dressed in an interesting string bikini. It held a black and white design with a red flower printed across the right breast. It perfectly pushed up her low D-cup bust and showed off a flat toned stomach that could only become so well defined from years of training. The bottoms sat on her mature hips and perfectly framed her large round backside.
"Well Naruto-kun, as the only man here. What do you think?" Kurenai asked wanting to tease her male student a bit.
Naruto gave the three women a charming grin. "You three look amazing, like three beautiful angels guiding me through the desert."
The three women blushed in varying degrees at the flirtatious words of their male teammate. "Flirt." Kurenai muttered.
"Guilty as charged." Naruto said as he stripped off his shirt and pants before taking a seat in the pool. "Come on in, the water is nice and cool." He smiled as the clones unsealed four electrolyte drinks from his pouch before handing them out to the group.
The girls sat in the water, sighing in relief as the cool water and shady spot lowered their body temperatures and relieved their fatigue.
"Mmm this makes me wish Suna had a beach." Ino sighed as she leaned her head back against the chair that sat behind the edge of the pool.
"Yeah, I'm sure Anko-chan and Ami-chan are living it up at the beach in Nami." Naruto smiled as he pressed his fist into his lower back hearing a faint popping sound.
"Does Nami have nice beaches Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked, intrigued by her male teammate's knowledge of the world.
"It does, especially after we cleared out Gato and I had my clones clean up all the trash they left on the beaches. They're made of a much finer kind of sand than this commonly known as white sand. It's a lot softer than Kaze's sand and makes for some great sand castles." He said causing Hinata to giggle.
Kurenai chuckled lightly and looked at him. "Ami and Anko are on a mission too Naruto-kun. They're not on vacation or anything."
Naruto smiled and shook his head. "That mission might as well be a vacation. I'm sure Anko-chan is going to take advantage of the beaches to have Ami-chan practice water walking in an environment where the waves of the ocean make it more difficult to stay on the water's surface. However, after grabbing the scroll, I can see her spending most of the day lounging on the beach gossiping with Tsunami-chan and then drinking Zabuza under the table in the evening."
Kurenai shook her head lightly. While part of her wanted to refute the boy's claim and defend her friend's professionalism, she couldn't help but agree that what he said sounded exactly like what Anko would likely do.
After about an hour or so of soaking and a quick foot rub for his female teammates courtesy of Naruto and his clones the group once again set off towards the actual rest area for the evening.
"Naruto-kun how did you get so good at massages?" Hinata asked, all three girls felt like they could tread the desert all the way to Suna after just a light massage.
"It was part of Anko-chan's training. We used massage to help me in learning the pressure points of the human body while I was studying anatomy for torture and interigation."
Ino nodded. "I remember dad saying anyone who worked in the T unit had to be an expert in anatomy. Mom told me one time it was one of the few perks of having a husband who was the head of the department considering his massages were in her words 'otherworldly'."
As they continued talking, Naruto's senses picked up something moving behind a nearby sand dune. "You can come out or I can blast that dune you're hiding behind until I force you out."
"Not bad senses kid." A male voice came from behind the dune as a small group of shinobi wearing scratched out Kiri headbands walked out from their hiding spot.
"Raiga Kurosuki, A-rank missing ninja of Kiri and member of the seven swordsmen." Naruto spoke unsealing his Kopesh from his belt.
"Pretty well-read brat. But judging by those whisker marks you're no ordinary Genin. Naruto Uzumaki, Genin of Konoha, you've got a bounty on you in both Ame and Kusa." Raiga replied with a smirk as he drew his Kiba blades.
Ino's eyes widened as she looked at Naruto. "How do you already have a bounty on you?"
"Remember Ino, I've technically been a Genin for four years. Ame I'm not sure about, but Kusa is because I killed a few Kusa Chunin disguising themselves as bandits who were kidnapping women on the northern border of fire country. Kusa denied it claiming they went rogue, but put a bounty on me regardless." He then looked over to Kurenai. "Kurenai, I'll deal with Raiga since it'll likely be a Kenjutsu battle, I need you to deal with his friends and keep them off Ino and Hinata. Ino, Hinata, the men with Raiga are merely bandits. I don't sense any chakra signatures besides Raiga's and whoever he has hiding in that bundle on his back so you two should use this opportunity to get your first kills out of the way now before the Chunin exams."
The three female members of the team nodded hesitantly. Ino and Hinata were hesitant about killing for the first time, though less than a normal Genin given both came from prominent clans and were well informed of the darker aspects of Shinobi life before joining the academy. While Kurenai was hesitant to let her student go up against a Jonin level opponent, though less so because she'd not only seen him take out the Demon brothers, but also because she'd read the mission report of his time in Nami and how he'd taken on Zabuza Momochi by himself.
Naruto turned to Raiga and smiled. "What do you say you and I move off to the side a bit so that no one gets in the way of our fight?"
Raiga smirked and nodded. "That sounds good to me. I wouldn't want anyone to tarnish the funeral I plan to give you."
The two swordsmen jumped off a good hundred yards to the west of the rest of the combatants and readied themselves for combat.
Naruto began by channeling wind chakra into his Kopesh before grabbing a kunai from his pouch. "When it hits the sand, agreed?"
"Agreed." Raiga replied readying his Kiba blades.
The kunai flew into the air and the moment it touched the sands the two men attacked. Raiga quickly raised his blades in the air and fired a lightning ball at Naruto who swiftly dodged to the left and used his kopesh as a catalyst to launch a thin blade of wind at Raiga.
Raiga cursed as he dodged to the left. He wished his client hadn't insisted on ambushing the team in the desert to avoid Konoha's border patrols. 'Why not hire someone from Iwa or even a Suna defector if you want the ambush to happen in the desert. There's not even a water source around here for me to use the hidden mist technique. As it is there's not even any clouds or humidity around so I'm limited in the techniques I can use here.' He cursed internally as he sent a his lightning banquet technique towards Naruto who substituted himself for a shadow clone before launching a wind bullet into the ground. The result was a thick cloud of dust that obscured Raiga's vision.
"Raiga behind you!" Ranmaru shouted as a heavy swing came for Raiga's blindspot. Raiga turned and swung only for the opponent to disappear in a cloud of smoke. "He's got us surrounded!" Ranmaru called from within the backpack as silhouettes of their opponent appeared through the cloud of sand.
Raiga looked to see which would attack first only for Ranmaru to shout a moment too late. "Above you!" The cry came from the boy as the real Naruto's Kopesh connected with the base of Raiga's neck. The strike wasn't fatal but had done enough damage to completely paralyze the former Kiri Jonin. "Raiga!" Ranmaru called out as Raiga's body gave out from under him.
Raiga was able to move his head just enough to look up at his assailant with a smile. "Seems it's my funeral today boy. Do me one favor, as a last request."
"What is it?" Naruto asked as he removed the backpack from Raiga's back and a small boy crawled out rushing as fast as his disabled body could carry him to Raiga's side. Naruto Turned the older man on his back so he could face the two of them with dignity.
"The boy, he's too soft for this line of work. Not to mention he can't walk much due to his disability. " Raiga explained through fits of blood filled coughs. "Take him with you. Make sure he grows up good. I know it's a lot to ask given I just tried to kill you and all, but I'd like it if you could honor this request."
Naruto nodded looking over at the sobbing Ranmaru. "I'll make sure he's well taken care of."
"Thank you, one more thing. As the person who defeated me, the Kiba blades are now yours." He said looking over to where his swords had fallen into the sands. "Welcome to the seven swordsmen."
"But I thought only those from Kiri could be members of the seven?"
Raiga closed his eyes for a moment as he fought back another fit of coughs. "The swordsmen transcend villages. During our history we've had members from Kiri and Uzushio before its destruction. Even missing Ninja such as myself and several other members are still considered part of the brotherhood until we retire or die in battle. You're one of us now. I can tell you're gonna do great things kid." Raiga said as he coughed up more crimson liquid onto his shirt. "I only wish you had the opportunity to learn our history."
"I'm good friends with your former ally Zabuza Momochi."
Raiga let out a pain filled laugh as he looked up at the pulsing sun. "Good. The other's won't act against you even if their village or allies ask them too. The bond of the seven is much stronger than that of a village. You can go to any of them for aid or training." He said before looking at Ranmaru who was sobbing into his now blood soaked shirt. "Be good kid, listen to Naruto and grow up strong. Don't make the mistakes we made. Find people who love and support you and return that love and support to them."
Ranmaru looked up at him with tear filled eyes and nodded. "I will Raiga."
Raiga smiled and turned his attention back to Naruto. "Do it boy." He smiled as he closed his eyes.
Naruto nodded and brought his Kopesh down on Raiga's throat. As the blade severed his head Naruto could swear he heard the man's last words. "Goodbye little brother."
Naruto gathered Raiga's head in a scroll before gently moving Ranmaru back and setting the body ablaze. "I'll let you stay with him until he burns out while I deal with the remaining bandits."
Ranmaru nodded, watching as the smoke slowly began lifting his fallen brother up into the heavens. Raiga's words from their first battle together against another missing Ninja whose bounty they had collected playing in his head. 'Such is the fate of men like us. We do not pass in hospital beds. We do not grow old, our hair does not turn grey. We are not buried amongst our kin. We live and we die burning to ash in distant lands.'
As Naruto approached the fight going on between his team and the remaining eight bandits he could see his two fellow Genin beginning to wane under the prolonged battle. Moving his fingers into a familiar cross shape he rushed forward sword drawn. "Uzumaki line breaker formation!" He called out as he turned the tied now outnumbering the men in front of him.
The group of bandits was stunned when they saw the Genin who had gone off to face their leader charging at them with reckless abandon. Their moment of shock proved to be their undoing as a wave of clones descended on them and began hacking the men to pieces.
When the battle had finished Naruto introduced his team to their new traveling companion before turning to one of his clones. "Pop and inform the Nami clone of what has happened here." The clone nodded before dispelling.
Kurenai raised an eyebrow as she looked at him. "What Nami clone?"
"Oh, I figured out a way a while back to seal clones within scrolls. I left a bunch of them in Nami for Zabuza to open one a day or in case of an invasion so we could use the memory share aspect of the technique to communicate updates about Nami or important information easily. By the laws of the Seven Swordsmen I'm now the owner of the Kiba blades so I'm going to see if Zabuza has any information regarding how to use the blades he can share with me."
Kurenai nodded, she had to remember sometimes that her male student wasn't a typical Genin and was really only one in rank as given his skills and experience he should be a Chunin or even a Tokubetsu Jonin at this point. "Understandable."
"Well we're near the rest area so lets hurry up and get there so we can relax for the night. My clones and I will be offering full body massages for anyone who wants one." He said with his signature fox like grin as he lifted Ranmaru onto his back and started towards the rest area.
That night, the three female members of his team too sore to object had taken him up on his offer of a free massage before drifting off to sleep alongside Ranmaru who had taken his sleeping bag while Naruto himself took the first watch.
It was around four in the morning when Kurenai realized that Naruto had yet to come to bed with the rest of them within the small hut they called home for the evening. Standing up, she slipped her dress over her black lingerie and slide her pale toes into her sandals before going out to find him on the roof looking out over the desert. "Have you been up here all night?"
Naruto turned to her and smiled. "Yeah, given those two had their first kills today I wanted to let them sleep in for the night."
Kurenai smiled softly and sat on the ledge beside him swinging her delicate feet over the edge as she placed a hand on his knee. "You're too caring for your own good Naruto-kun. Literally, you need to get some sleep too."
Naruto merely smiled and shook his head. "Did you know Anko-chan was a retired Anbu member before joining the T department?"
Kurenai looked at him curiously and nodded. "What does that have to do with you getting any sleep?"
"When Anko-chan trained me, she trained me the same way the Anbu train rookie recruits. Thanks to that training and my Uzumaki stamina, along with my tenant. I can stay up for around eight days without feeling any ill effects. Six if I'm in constant combat."
Kurenai squeezed his knee in slight concern and sorrow. She hated that even in this time of questionable peace there were Genin who had to leave their childhood behind much like she had during the Third Shinobi war. "I'm sorry Naruto-kun. I'm sorry that we've as a village have thrust so much responsibility upon you without you having a say in the matter."
Naruto smiled at her and placed his hand on hers, rubbing the back of her knuckles reassuringly. "It's ok Nai-chan." He said causing her to blush slightly. "I'm not mad at any of you for what happened. I know my dad didn't have much of a choice when everything was happening and I'm glad he didn't sacrifice someone else's kid. Now do I think he was dumb for not sealing half back in my mother and half into me to keep her alive yes, but that's neither here nor there. I didn't get many choices in life, but I made a choice several years ago that set me down this path and right or wrong it's my path to walk. Its brought me many precious people, yourself included so I'm happy I made the choice."
Kurenai's cheeks darkened as she looked over at him. "You consider me one of your precious people?"
"Of course." Naruto smiled placing a hand on her heart shaped cheek. "You're beautiful, considerate, you chase after your passion no matter what. You're a woman whose skill is only eclipsed by your ravishing beauty."
Kurenai's blush now made her crimson eyes look like Hinata's by comparison. "You know you're a real flirt right?"
"As I said earlier. Guilty as charged. I'm a shameless flirt, but I'm not a liar. Every word I've said is my honest belief."
Kurenai smiled and leaned forward kissing his cheek. "Well if you want to act on it then you'll need to get through the Chunin exams."
"Quite an unorthodox method by which to motivate your student Nai-chan. Are you going to promise Hinata-chan and Ino-chan a date if they make it to the finals as well?" He asked teasingly.
Kurenai's face flushed as she let out a small squeak. "I-I don't think the two of them would be interested in such an offer."
"Now don't say that Naaaai-chan." The sultry voice of Ino came as her toned slender arms wrapped around Kurenai's neck. Her budding breasts pressed against her back through the thin fabric of her purple laced bra.
Kurenai squeaked as she felt the lack of padding in the bra. She could feel the blonde girls nipples stiffen through the thin fabric in the cool night air of the desert. "I-Ino why aren't you dressed!"
Ino giggled and nibbled on her teacher's ear. "Don't go changing the subject Nai-chan. Answer the question. If I do well in the exams do I get a date too? It's only fair after all." She ginned teasingly.
"I-I suppose you're right. It would only be fair of me to offer it to you as well."
"And Hina-chan." Ino corrected giving Kurenai's shapely rear a light smack.
Kurenai let out an "Eep" at the brazenness of her student. "I-I don't think Hinata has eyes for anyone but Naruto-kun."
"That's not true. Hina-chan has told me on several occasions that she has a crush on you." Ino grinned biting her ear again as if laying claim to it.
Kurenai let out a soft moan as she noticed Naruto simply watching in an almost mesmerized state. "S-she did?"
"Oh yeah. I think her exact words the last time we talked about it were. 'Gods I'd love to bury of face in those heavenly thighs of hers." Ino purred teasingly.
Kurenai buried her head in her hands in embarrassment. How had she become the object of desire for her entire Genin squad. "I-I'd be ok with taking Hinata-chan on a date."
"You here that Naru, looks like we'll be able to save on hotel cost when we're on missions after the exams by sharing a single bed instead of having to split up." Ino grinned like a cat who'd just caught three canaries all to herself.
Steam rose from Naruto's ears as he pictured Ino Kurenai and Hinata cuddled up to him in bed in nothing but their nightgowns.
"Naruto Uzumaki you get those images out of your head right this instant!" Kurenai shouted in embarrassment.
"No use Nai-chan. I think our little Naru has those ideas permanently locked in the spank bank. If the presence of little Naru is anything to go by." Ino giggled as she pointed to the bulge in Naruto's pants.
Both Naruto and Kurenai went red faced and began stammering. Ino merely giggled as she walked off with a bit of extra sway in her hips, giving the two a good view of her purple thong as she did.
When she re-entered the hut she leaned down nibbling on Hinata's neck. "Wakey wakey Hina-chan." She whispered rubbing the other girl's thigh.
Hinata moaned as she looked up at Ino through half lidded eyes. "What time is it?" She mumbled cutely as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. The thin strap of her tank top sliding off her shoulder as she sat up.
"It's time to wake up and make breakfast so we can take off before the sun comes up." Ino smiled as she rubbed Hinata's thigh affectionately. "Besides, your best girl Ino just snagged you a date with Nai-chan if you do well during the Chunin exams, just like the date you'll be getting with Naru-kun after the second exam."
Hinata's eyes widened as she looked at Ino. "Y-you're being for real? You're not teasing me are you?"
"Nope, one hundred percent real." She grinned.
Hinata blushed slightly. "H-how can I thank you?"
"Well since Naru-kun is going to be making us breakfast after he unscrambles his brain from the little show I just put on with Nai-chan we have a few minute's and I can think of no better way to start my morning than with a nice fresh cinnamon roll." She grinned as she cupped the shorter girl's chin and brought their lips to meet.
Hinata let out a small squeak before she found herself eagerly melting into the kiss. Ino moaned as she felt Hinata return the kiss and she threw back the covers before crawling under to join her teammate turned lover.
Both girls allowed their hands to roam freely exploring each other's thighs backs and rears, their breasts pushed against each other as their tongues explored the other's mouth.
While this was taking place Sekhmet sat on her withered throne. With the number of followers she'd gathered thanks to Naruto she'd finally managed to return to the Egyptian pantheon in the heavens. Though it felt lonely without her fellow Gods, it was good to be home.
"You certainly are making things interesting my champion. I only hope that you're prepared for what is soon to come. And that you leave enough room in your heart for this old Goddess." She smiled as she watched the goings on of her champion.
Meanwhile in the Shinto pantheon Kami was currently giving Yami the silent treatment for her decision to not interfere with the young champion of Sekhmet and Yami was simply enjoying watching her sister stew in her chair.
While the two bickered Shinigami simply watched the boy from behind her mask, her blue lipstick painted lips curling into a small smile. 'You certainly are an interesting one Uzumaki. I can't wait for my turn to make myself known to you.'