Author's note: This story begins right after Ch. 245 in the manga and contains spoilers for events before then. The story is pretty tame now, but once the main fighting starts, things might get a little bloody and curse-filled. Please enjoy...please?

Fixed 4/17/05

"So, Kakashi-sensei, what kind of mission are we going to be doing anyway?" asked Uzumaki Naruto, scratching his spiked head as he and his teammate, Haruno Sakura, followed their old sensei towards Training Area 7.

"I'll tell you when its time, Naruto. You're far too impatient," the Jounin replied, cocking his silver-haired head back towards Naruto and smiling under his mask.

"Hmph," grunted Naruto, disgruntled. He turned to Sakura. "Hey Sakura-chan."

"Mmmm?"

"What kind of things have I missed since I've been gone?"

"Things are pretty much all the same here," Sakura said. "The main difference is that most of the Rookie Nine, myself included, are Chuunin now."

"Whaaaaa? Since when?"

"Since just this year. I took it with Ino and Chouji, seeing as they were short a partner." Sakura looked up and tapped her chin with her finger. "Let's see, Hinata's group passed too. The final matches were in the Sand Village. You should have seen it. The final round was between Kiba and some funny-looking Mist-nin. He gave Kiba a few new scars before it was over."

"Kiba's lucky the other guy didn't think to fart," quipped Kakashi.

Naruto flushed red with embarassment.

"And the others?" asked Naruto.

"Hinata was one of the big surprises. She fought that Mist-nin to a standstill in the semifinals. He got lucky. He tried an all or nothing attack, one that if he had missed would have left him helpless," said Kakashi.

"Man, Hinata's sounds like she's changed quite a bit. Wonder what brought that on?" mused Naruto.

Sakura looked sidelong at Naruto. "I think that was around the time she saw that letter you sent to Tsunade. The one where you mentioned that you were coming back."

"Huh? Why-"

"Naruto, you baka," sighed Sakura.

"Yep, totally clueless," added Kakashi, reading his newest book

"W-well," Naruto stammered, desperate to change the subject. "How about the rest of the old crowd?"

Sakura grinned pridefully. "My group did way better than our first time. We've all improved so much. Chouji's a lot stronger than he looks, and Ino's better at strategies than she used to be. She must have learned from Shikamaru when they were dating."

"Ino and Shikamaru...are dating?" gaped Naruto.

"Were. They got along fine for a while, then things soured. Shikamaru said Ino was just too troublesome and controlling, and Ino said Shikamaru was a lazy good-for-nothing."

"Weird. But they both make good points."

They continued on, passing through the entrance to the forest.

"So you all passed, huh? What about Neji and Tenten and Fuzzy-eyebrows?"

"They passed two years back. They totally dominated the exam. Neji's in Anbu now and Lee and Tenten in training for Anbu. Lee's been a special instructor in Taijutsu at the academy."

Naruto nodded. "Seems to fit him."

"We're here," Interjected Kakashi.

They had arrived at the training area. Directly ahead of them were three wooden pillars. Beyond that was a memorial, dedicated to those brave ninja who had lost their lives on missions. At the base of one of the pillars a lone figure squatted, staring up at the drifting clouds overhead.

"Ah good, he showed up after all," said Kakashi.

Nara Shikamaru lowered his eyes from the clouds and regarded the approaching ninja.

"You're not late," he said. "I'm shocked, after all the stories I've heard."

"Miracles can happen. Has the Hokage briefed you on the situation?"

"Somewhat. Do they know yet?" Shikamaru gestured towards Naruto and Sakura.

"Not yet, I'll get to it."

"It seems like far too much trouble to me."

"That's why you've been stuck a Chuunin for so long," responded Kakashi, glancing up from the book.

Shikamaru folded his arms over his chest and grunted. The passage of time had changed Konoha's laziest ninja very little. He still wore the exact same outfit, though it seemed too small for him. The greatest change was on his face, where the beginnings of a small dark beard could be seen.

"All right since we're all here now, let's get started." Kakashi spun around, putting away his book and bringing out the bells. "You will have 3 hours to get these two bells from me. Should you succeed I will fill you in on your next task."

The three young ninja tensed.

"Just like old times. It is now 1:00. Ready...begin!"