AN: I must be nuts. I already have my hands full with four fanfics and now I'm adding a fifth to the mix? Chances are I won't be so focused on this one until I complete one of the others, or my brain goes into overdrive. Oh well, as they say; a writer writes, always.

This fanfic takes place some time after Naruto's return, but before his mission to the Sand village. Yeah, I know he got that mission right after he came back, but I'm using my fanfiction powers over time and space to stretch the period a bit.

Oh, and I do not own Naruto or any of the characters within. This is a crossover, but I want to keep the other half as a surprise until the end of this chapter, just to see if anyone will figure out what crossover this is going to be with. The other half will be officially made known in the next chapter (I'll put up another disclaimer for it too).

Anyway, here we go...

Chosen of the Leaf

0

"So what's up, Baa-chan? (Grandma) Are we finally going to go after Sasuke?"

Naruto, Sakura and Kakashi had just entered into the Hokage's office after being summoned from training earlier. As per Naruto's style, he immediately began running his mouth. Sakura and Kakashi mentally shook their head, waiting for the usual (and in most cases, violent) reaction from their Fifth Hokage.

But, to their surprise, Tsunade didn't react to it at all. In fact, she seemed...quite subdued. This fact did not go unnoticed by the group. Sakura's expression slowly became one of worry, as she had never seen her sensei like this before. Kakashi was a bit concerned as well, although his mask hid any expression he may have had on his face. As for Naruto, he was particularly confused that he hadn't been knocked through a wall or yelled at (not that he enjoyed those things; it was just their way). Tsunade stood up from her seat and looked at the team with a silent gaze.

"No, Naruto." She saw him ready to whine, but held up a palm to silence him. "The mission I have for you guys is more important. A SS rank mission."

Sakura gasped in surprise and even Kakashi couldn't hide his shock as his single eye widened. Only Naruto seemed in the dark about what was said, but judging from the faces of his teammates, it must have been something serious.

"What? What's so bad about that?"

Sakura turned to him, still in shock and answering him in a partial choke. "Naruto... A SS rank mission...is the highest mission rank we have."

That was putting it simply and mildly. Missions of that level were a rare indeed; such a mission meant that the safety of the village and the entire land of Fire is at stake. Although Kakashi knew about the significance of the rank, even he had never been assigned such a mission, even as a member of ANBU. No one had, not since the days of the Second Hokage, and with good reason too, which prompted the copy-ninja to ask.

"Why us?"

Tsunade slowly closed her eyes, understanding what Kakashi meant. A mission of this significance would require a team of their best ninja, all ANBU at the least. Hell, this would require the presence of the Hokage herself to undertake it. Failure was absolutely not an option, despite it being perhaps the most dangerous mission around. To give such a mission to a team consising of a jonin, a chunin and a genin... It didn't matter if the chunin was personally trained the Hokage. It didn't matter if the jonin was the legendary copy-ninja. It didn't matter if the genin was a jinchuriki. It was, for lack of a better word...insane.

And her answer made it all the more worse

"As hard as it is for you to believe this, this isn't my choice."

Now Naruto was shocked. "What do you mean, not your choice?"

"Everything will be explained to you in this." Moving around her desk, she handed Kakashi a dark ancient-looking scroll. "For right now, you are to go to the sea docks near the Land of Waves and board the ship labeled on that scroll. Your...client will meet you aboard to explain the situation to you." Turning around, she walked back around her deck and gazed out the window. "You leave tomorrow morning."

Naruto looked quietly at the Lady Hokage. It wasn't like her to be so downhearted; yes he noticed it. Just as he noticed how his teammates seemed solemn about this as well. He didn't understand most of what was happening, but he was sure enough not having this attitude. With a bright smile, Naruto pumped his fist.

"I don't know what the problem is, but you can count on us, Baa-chan! Believe it!"

Tsunade turned an eye to him and her expression lifted into a light smile. With a nod, she dismissed the team and they turned around and left the office. Kakashi however, hung back, letting his team go on ahead while he turn his head to speak to Tsunade. But while his head was turned, his eye was gazing down at the scroll she had given him.

"Lady Hokage. This symbol... Is this what I think it is?"

"It is."

"Understood."

With that, Kakashi took his leave, with the ancient scroll in his hand. A scroll...with a black dragon's head emblazed in its seal.

AN: Anyone figure it out? Review and let me know. Or just review.