Last Time In: A Change In Destiny

Hiashi stood up and stated, "Uzumaki Naruto, you started dating my daughter without my prior approval, but now you must prove you are strong enough to date her. I challenge you to battle Uzumaki Naruto. Will you fight for the honor of my daughter?"

Naruto vanished in a burst of speed and appeared beside Hinata and gave her hand a small squeeze. She then left the large mat as Naruto for the first time since arriving allowed his features to darken and stated, "Do you even need to ask?"

Hiashi smirked and stepped onto the mat across from Naruto. "Hanabi-chan. You will officiate this match," much to the chibi Hyuuga's shock. But Naruto, Hinata and Hiashi smiled as Hanabi stood tall and stated, "This is a match to determine whether Uzumaki Naruto is worthy to court my sister, the Heir apparent to the Hyuuga Clan. Hyuuga Hiashi, father to the heir, and Uzumaki Naruto, are you ready?" Both nodded, "Hajime," Hanabi called before jumping back out of the way.

"Do you think you have it in you to beat me Young Master Uzumaki?" Hiashi taunted lightly.

"We shall find out Hiashi-dono, so enough talking, and come at me."

NOW: The Hyuuga Compound, Main Dojo

"Hajime!" the powerful call came from the the miniature Hyuuga Hanabi as she leaped back into the safety zone. The moment the word was spoken, Hiashi and Naruto vanished in blurs. All Hyuuga immediately activated Byakugans. After a few seconds both came back into view, Hiashi barely winded, but Naruto obviously so. The clashes were obvious however because each strike was felt rather than heard.

Hiashi stopped mid attack and held up his hand to forestall the match. "Uzumaki-dono, I have personally seen you train before while you were away. Why do you insult myself and my daughter with this facade?" It was obvious Hiashi was getting a little bit livid. Naruto stood up completely and stated, "Please forgive my rudeness Hiashi-sama. I have another test soon after the genin exams that the hokage has prepared. If I went all out here, I might not be healed in time for that exam... but for Hinata's honor, I will forego 'some of' my self imposed restrictions if that is your wish," Naruto compromised.

"It is." Hiashi stated with no small amount of conviction. "Then I will need a moment to prepare if it is permissible. Hiashi looked to Hanabi who nodded. Hiashi then nodded his approval. Naruto closed his eyes for a moment then a few black markings appeared on his body, from head to toe. Naruto removed his cloak revealing his toned form. Naruto then mentally gave the command, 'Kai,' thus releasing his weighted and gravity seals. Naruto looked at Hiashi and warned, "I have unlocked the seventeen tenketsu you've sealed. I will not reveal how I did so as they are a clan secret of the Uzumaki and Senju. Lady Tsunade cannot be swayed, so it would not be wise to try. Now, shall we continue?"

Hiashi returned to his stance as Naruto entered into a different stance than he was a moment ago. Hanabi gave the signal to resume and resume they did, but the Overwhelming advantage Hiashi held just seconds past was now gone. Naruto jumped forward with two knees directed toward Hiashi's chest. Hiashi curved his body to the side and attempted to strike Naruto from the side, but that was not to be the case. Naruto gripped Hiashi's outstretched arm and used the inertia from his body descending from the missed strike to drag Hiashi down and fliped him over. Naruto immediately did a back one handed cartwheel out of the way of Hiashi's palm thrust from the ground. Hiashi flipped back up onto his feet and threw his arm out in a direction toward Naruto and grunted. The whole room heard his arm click back into place. The unanimous consensus for that moment in time was 'Terrifyingly badass,' but Naruto was not one to be easily intimidated. He drew a shiriken and tossed it forward. Naruto had a feeling Hiashi might not dodge it for him to follow up with a melee attack, so he performed three hand seals and silently stated, "Ninpou: Shuriken Kage Bunshin."

One shuriken became thirty five. Hiashi leaned downward with a hand forward and one diagonal at an up angle behind him and spun very quickly, releasing so much chakra it created a visible spherical barrier. "Kaiten: Style of Heaven: Rotation!" The Shruiken were all destroyed. Hiashi released the technique and rushed Naruto and began, "Eight Trigrams Two Hundred Fifty-six palms. Two Palms, Hiashi started,"

But Naruto was having none of that as he vanished at the first strike in a puff of smoke. Hiashi's eyes widened as he realized, "Kage Bunshin, Shit!

But it was too late. Naruto's special infiltration invisibility jutsu Jiraiya created came in handy as it blocked even the power of the Byakugan. Naruto burst through the mat. Hiashi's impressive reflexes allowed him to leap back, but not fast enough as Naruto did a graceful back flip and landed a final kick on Hiashi's chin which knocked him out, ending the match.

A group of Hyuuga surrounded Hiashi, protecting him from Naruto, in case he wanted to end the clan head. "STAND DOWN!" Hinata ordered. Her voice brokered no argument. She walked over to her father and activated her byakugan. Once activated, her hands started glowing a light green hue. She moved her hands over her father's damaged areas including two broken ribs, a broken jaw, a few pulled muscles. After a few moments, Hiashi awoke. Hiashi stood and directed his attention to Naruto and smiled.

"Uzumaki Naruto, Welcome to the family."

Naruto face faulted. Hinata reddened as she made her way back over to Naruto nervously.

"Wha...what just happened Lilac-hime?"

"I think Otou-sama just gave us permission... to get married."

"Married?! What? We're too young to think about that stuff! I haven't even asked yet. I don't have a ring yet." Naruto panicked.

Hinata blushed much more after realizing how easily Naruto went from being too young to he didn't have a ring prepared. She realized he really did love her and would marry her one day.

"Slow down Naruto-kun. It's okay. I'm in no hurry," Hinata giggled.

Naruto then looked to Hiashi again and said, "YOU! This is payback for suggesting..." Naruto stopped himself when he realized all eyes were on him. He'd recommended it be Hyuuga teams sent out for Tora whenever she came to visit. Naruto wasn't suicidal enough to say that out loud in the Hyuuga estate. Hiashi allowed a small little smirk. Naruto was not one to be out pranked anyone and made sure to ensure Hiashi knew, " Also, Hiashi-sama, I wasn't going at full throttle during our... spar." to which Hiashi raised a nearly imperceptible eyebrow, but Naruto and Hinata vanished before he had a chance to retort.

A half kilometer away, Naruto and Hinata stopped long enough for Hinata to put more of Tsunade and Shizune's training into practice as she healed Naruto's few cracked ribs from prior to releasing his seals. Naruto deactivated his special fuin he activated to stop his tenketsu from being interrupted, although Hinata is the only one who knew that part of the seal's secret. The rest is just a touch of extra durability for Naruto. After Hinata finished healing Naruto, he stood back up and was about to reactivate the gravity and weight seals, but was stopped by Hinata.

"No Naru-boo." to which he turned seven different shades of red. "Wait until the morning to ensure your other healing makes sure I didn't miss anything."

Naruto activated his own shosen no jutsu and diagnosed his injuries. He was still a touch sore, but Hinata did an exceptional job, he noted.

"When are you going to tell Tsunade-shishou you do actually know how to do more than half of what she tried to teach you?"

"Two reasons. One. When she finds out, she is going to try to talk me into the medical corps. Never. We have her back here in Konoha with Shizune. They can build a formidable one without need of my help. I am going to be a front line shinobi until I take the hat. Two, you know what I hold. If people knew how much she pounded chakra control into my very core... they would panic. They would possibly call for my head because 'the demon' has become too powerful. It's one headache I don't feel like dealing with. I will handle the naysayers within short order... but for now, let's just not worry about the small stuff."

"Yeah. The small stuff," Hinata repeated as she snuggled her head against his chest.

They eventually separated and Hinata made her way back home, as Naruto did the same. He thought on Tsunade and Shizune and hoped he made the right decision to put them up in a hotel until the Senju property could be rejuvenated.

It was the right choice he'd decided. It gave Tsunade a bit more freedom from him.

Naruto unsealed his new sheets and bed from the palace after sealing his parents old bed away as he became used to the way the bed felt from the palace. He made the bed, then fell face forward right after setting his alarm.

Six hours later, Seven AM.

Naruto groaned. He realized his alarm didn't go off. He had twenty minutes before he was due at the academy. He quickly showered, pulled out his spare new gi, and grabbed a couple apples and a bottle of orange juice. He remembered Kakashi's instructions for going behind the house a bit late after he already took to to the rooftops after securing his clan's property. He devoured the fruit, juice and tossed them in the nearest public dumpster, perfect aim. Naruto leaped faster and faster, doing tricks through the air, which helped him to relax. He knew he had made it with five minutes to spare. He walked inside and took note that Hinata was already there and walked over to her. She saw him walking over and stood up with a bright smile. He took her hand, and she his as he lowered his lips to her own and gave her a small quick kiss. They both blushed, and pulled away from each other. The others in the room who were speaking were now motionless. The room was deathly silent. Naruto nor Hinata noticed. It was as if they were the only ones in the room as he picked her up in a hug and swung her around lightly. He lowered her and took the seat next to where she sat down. A blonde haired girl in purple was about to race over to Hinata and ask for the details, but a duck butt styled haircut entered the room. The one sporting it wore dark blue with the old Uchiha symbol on the back of it. Most of the girls flocked over to him. Naruto took note that Hinata rolled her eyes at the platoon of girls now surrounding the bored looking boy.

A few moments later the Chunin instructors arrived and called things to order. "Okay, got a note here saying we have a return student. Um... Ah yes, it's... wait. Seriously? Naruto's home?" Iruka glanced around the room a few times and found a red haired boy he tried to look out for in the academy years ago.

"Yo! Umino Sensei, you're sensing skills aren't going to be able to track me anymore like when I was a kid. I've become a real ninja." Naruto lightly teased until Iruka spotted Naruto with his hand intertwined with the Hyuuga heirs.

Iruka paled, "Um, Naruto... Hyuuga Hiashi-sama doesn't take lightly to his daughter being courted. Ugh." he shivered, remembered a boy named Takashi who gave up being a nin and his father took them out of Konoha a few weeks later.

"Hmph." Naruto chuckled. "Hiashi-dono and I have already had that... discussion yesterday, and... Hinata, please tell the class what he said."

"Naru-kun?! That's embarrassing." But his adorkable eyes made her giggle and she continued. "Naru-kun had a little sparring match with my father when he asked if Naruto was willing to fight for my honor. Naruto brought his A-game. And due to his training where he trained for the last four years... my father said, and I quote... "Welcome to the family."

That made all of the girls turn to the red haired blue, tinging on green eyed black gi wearing shinobi in awe. The boys, ALL of them wanted to know just what the former dead last could really do now. Though most of them were in denial of what Hinata just said.

Sasuke looked at Both Naruto and Hinata and realized...'She's not stuttering, and her eyes are full of confidence. And the strawberry wannabe might be someone to test my strength against if he really is as strong as the Hyuuga proclaims.'

Mizuki sensei, the assistant instructor held a large smile on his face, but Naruto and Hinata sensed an underlying darkness, but held their tongues... for the time being.

A few minutes later a pink haired girl walked in with a note from the nurse and took her seat near the Duck butt haired Uchiha and started an argument with the blonde girl on his opposite side. Naruto felt sorry for him as he obviously didn't like either girl, but was too tired of trying to get them to except it.

Soon thereafter a test was given out after Naruto and Hinata were separated to prevent cheating as it was obvious they were officially a couple.

The moment Naruto received his test he held it up and called out, "If everyone else doesn't have a genjutsu on their test, there's going to be heck to pay."

Iruka made his way over to Naruto before Mizuki could hope to respond. He took the form and placed his hand in a ram seal and called, "Kai!" To Iruka's surprise, the paper turned out to be an old Chunin exam preparation test. Iruka was heated. He glanced around the room and wondered who might be talented enough in genjutsu to do something like that. 'No,' he realized. That was at least a B-level genjutsu. The fact that Naruto sensed it is bat shit crazy. MIZUKI!' Iruka leaned down and whispered to Naruto, 'Be wary of Mizuki. I am not sure it was him, but I will speak to the Hokage after class, but for now I will get you the right test.'

Naruto sighed and said out loud, "Sorry for interrupting class sensei, but that was not a cool prank. I know you wanted to test my skills, but that was just a low blow."

After retrieving Naruto's test, Iruka escorted Mizuki outside for a moment and slammed him against the wall across the hall after activating a silencing seal. "What the blue fuck were you thinking Mizuki? I detected your chakra all over that genjutsu. If I hadn't covered for you, you would be in the middle of an Internal Affairs investigation. And you know they don't like a lot of drama, and would refer you over to Torture and Investigation quickly."

"Chill 'Ruka, I was just having a little fun. I didn't mean anything by it. I just wanted to see if they were making all of that stuff up about 'talking' with Hyuuga-sama. You and I both remember the last kid that tried to court lady Hinata." Mizuki, the silver haired chunin lied.

Iruka released him and warned, "I would not mess with that boy. I have it on good authority he was trained by two of the sanin for the last four years, not to mention some of the daimyo's ten..."

Mizuki paled slightly. He remembered who Naruto was and what he held, but he never dared consider how skilled he might actually be. Especially being a newly returned academy student.

After Acing the written part of the graduation exam, Naruto and Hinata met up with a few old chums of Naruto. "Yo Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba. Been a while."

Akamaru who'd just been a few weeks old barked at first, but then walked over and sniffed Naruto. Naruto blinked, and then smiled, and greeted, "Hello to you too Akamaru." Said puppy nipped Naruto's arm slightly. Naruto didn't get angry, but looked to Kiba. "He seems to remember you better than I do kid. He doesn't make friends easily. And I trust my partner, so you must be okay. Plus you snagged up the female equivalent of what Sasuke is to the girls. The most gorgeous girl in the village."

Hinata blushed slightly at that as she gripped Naruto's muscled arm.

"Hey Naruto, Hinata. Still a Ramen nut, or have you found the wonders of BBQ yet?" Choji asked. To which Naruto said, "I will always have a soft spot for Ramen, but living where I lived, I was only allowed it once every few weeks."

"Troublesome," the whole group said as one to which Shikamaru sweat dropped.

A few minutes later out in the training field of the academy

"Okay," Mizuki intoned. "Uzumaki Naruto vs. Uchiha Sasuke." 'Got you now demon,' Mizuki thought maliciously.

Naruto could feel veiled waves of disdain and decided to change the rules of the game. "I refuse."

"You what?" Mizuki asked, genuinely confused.

"I have been kept up to date while away. Uchiha Sasuke is the last of his clan, and I do not want to chance damaging his noble bloodline. Nor do I want to dishonor either of my clan backgrounds. I am Uzumaki. The only clan in history that required the combined might of Iwa, Kumo, and Kiri to destroy my ancestor's island nation of Uzu. Not to mention my mother was Kushina, of the Uzumaki who were blood relations to the Senju. Also already being Uzumaki and adopted into the Senju clan by Senju-nee Uzumaki Mito as her daughter. I will not as a member of the Senju clan start the rivalry between the Senju and the Uchiha clans again.

Sasuke growled his annoyance at having another clan who's noble status stood next to his, but backed Naruto as he could do nothing else currently. "As heir apparent of the Uchiha clan... I Uchiha Sasuke agree with Uzumaki Naruto."

"I don't care what..." but the look from the other clan heirs stopped Mizuki cold. It was near cold fury that someone would try to force the issue, especially something like that.

'Something is going on with Mizuki,' both Naruto and Shikamaru realized. Naruto was getting fed up and decided to bring an end to it.

"How about you and I go a few rounds sensei. You obviously have doubt of my skills..." a flash of leaves appeared before Naruto and Mizuki and another silver haired man, this one Naruto recognized well, "No Naruto. You need to save your strength, and isn't picking on a chunin a bit below you."

"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto said as knelt, adding cheese to this gooey situation. "What are you doing here sir?"

Mizuki took this as a chance to destroy Naruto's credibility. "Ah ha! So the Uzumaki boy lied. He was trained by Hatake Kakashi. And while that is impressive in it's own right, that is not the same as being taught by the sanin."

Before Naruto could reply, Kakashi did as he smacked Mizuku upside the back of his head and informed, "Naruto didn't lie bonehead. He was trained initially by Mitarashi Anko, Konoha's snake mistress. Myself. Who has more than a few S-rank missions under my belt myself. An undisclosed ANBU as his or her identity is classified, as well as Master Jiraiya and Lady Tsunade. Plus he had a few other teachers whom the Daimyo approved of. Naruto, reveal your sash."

"But sensei," Naruto tried to argue. "Do it now Naruto, that's an order from sensei to student." Naruto growled. He was annoyed but played along as he trusted Kakashi to know what he was doing. He pulled the sash down from below his black martial art belt. Shikamaru's breath caught and knelt. His family was close to the daimyo's as the daimyo used them to raise and protect his dear.

"Forgive our lackluster behavior Captain Uzumaki." Shikamaru apologized immediately.

"Damn it sensei. This is what I didn't want! And get up Shika. I am still me, just a bit more skilled."

"I know," Kakashi said arrogantly. "This is payback for destroying my last batch of books.

Hinata laughed slightly at this until Naruto gave her a playful glare to which she covered her mouth and laughed harder.

Uchiha Sasuke was livid. He knew he would have stood no chance against someone of that caliber. He owed the Uzumaki. He did that with one purpose. To prevent his humiliation. He owed the Uzumaki a great deal. 'Shit,' Sasuke cursed mentally. He didn't like owing anyone.

"How about you and I spar sensei," Naruto said with a dark smirk.

"No thanks. I still have the bruises from last time, 'little bastard,' " whispering the last part. "You will spar with Mizuki since he seems so focused to seeing your skill. I watched over you today and saw him put the genjutsu on your paper." He lied. "I have watched over you today, and Mizuki is determined you might be eligible for advanced placement to chunin after graduating today. It hasn't been done in a long time. But that is the only reason I could think of that he kept trying to trip you up."

'Kakashi, you fool. I forgot all about that outdated test. You just helped me in my endeavor to discredit him.' Mizuki smiled with a nod. "I had hoped to finish his trials without him figuring it out before I made the suggestion to the hokage."

Kakashi looked to Naruto and said, "Make it one and done." Naruto gave a quick nod. Mizuki was fuming at how quickly they believed this match would be over. "As you approved this match Hatake jonin sir, what are the rules?"

"Rules hm? No killing. Everything else is on the table. Oh, and Naruto, keep some of your stuff a secret for actual enemies of the village."

"Always, now get out of the way so I can cut lose a bit."

"You'd better hope I don't get you as a student," Kakashi hinted, "Else I am going to have you doing very painful things until you remember who the sensei is." Naruto slightly paled.

Mizuki and Naruto made their way into the ring and bowed. Upon Kakashi's 'Hajime,' Naruto warned, "You are within range of my Divination."

"What do you think you are kid, Hyuuga?" Mizuki taunted. Naruto allowed a small laugh as he said, "Nope. But I did train with one for six months a year for three years. I hope you're paying attention as you will only get one chance at stopping it."

Mizuki took off toward Naruto. Naruto's body showed a brief electrical surge surround his body. Naruto Vanished in an after Image and appeared behind Mizuki and tapped the bottom of his neck as he said, "Uzumaki style: Eight Trigrams, Touch of the Raijin no kami!"

Mizuki's body froze in place. He could not speak. He fell forward, still conscious. "How long will his tenketsu be inactive?"

"I could give you an estimate, but," Naruto glanced at Hinata who activated her byakugan and stated, "At least four hours."

"Good. You with the blonde hair, you're Inoichi's daughter?"

"Ye...yes sir!" Ino jumped to attention. 'Good girl. She went from that fan girl I saw a few hours ago to a bit of a ninja, ready to receive orders. Might be hope for her. "I want you to report to your father immediately and have him go to the hokage's office immediately. Tell him it's on Hatake Kakashi's orders. And don't worry about being in trouble. You are excused for this."

Both Akimichi Choji and Nara Shikamaru placed a quick comforting squeeze on Ino's shoulders as she gave a quick nod and took off like a bat out of hell. She didn't know why she was being ordered to find her father, but knew that it was important and that she could not fail.

Naruto glanced at Kakashi expectantly and awaited orders. "I'll deal with Mizuki. Iruka, finish with the exams. Pass Yamanaka Ino if she's already shown proficiency in the three basic techniques needed. I saw it in her eyes. She will do well if she applies herself."

Iruka jumped to attention at Kakashi's tone. So did the upcoming genin. They had only ever seen Iruka do so for the Hokage on his rare visits to the classroom and knew that this silver haired man pulled some serious weight to make the chunin fall in line so fast.

"Yes sir!" Iruka replied without question.

"I'll be taking Mizuki to talk to the Hokage, and maybe a member or three of our T and I division. You did good in reporting his activities Chunin Umino. Well done."

Iruka stood a bit taller.

"And Congratulations to you as well 'genin' Uzumaki. You followed my verbal and non verbal cues without giving away our strategy to a potential threat. Now say goodbye to your girlfriend. You will see her later today after she graduates."

Before Naruto could move, Hinata flew across the expanse into Naruto's arms. "I am so proud of you Naruto-kun!"

Cheers went up and Naruto felt amazing. 'Maybe it's not such a bad thing to be home after all.' he let sink in.'

Iruka placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder and said, "You were a handful as a kid Naruto, but I knew you had it in you. Congratulations Uzmaki Naruto, Genin of Konohagakure no Sato."

Naruto thanked his one time academy sensei and moved to transport Mizuki. Two ANBU appeared to take him, but were stopped by Kakashi. The ANBU did not like being interfered with, but with a possible mole and or traitor, Hatake Kakashi was taking no chances."

A few hours later, to his surprise, Mizuki was freed, and all charges dropped. Someone high up either really liked him, or really hated the Uzumaki, but it was also a good thing he'd been trained to redirect Yamanaka techniques by his one true master.

Mizuki made his way up to hokage's office and was surprised that there were no traps set, nor seals to prevent the theft of priceless artifacts. Mizuki inspected the legendary scroll of seals to ensure it was the real deal and not a trap set for him. After taking the scroll, he raced through the night, on rooftops with the least amount of light, and through darkest alleys when ANBU patrols were within range of his senses. He forced his chakra down as much as he could to avoid arousing suspicion. He made his way all the way out to Konoha Forest's eastern gate. But what he didn't expect was a freight train of a kick to his back, careful to avoid the scroll.

"Going somewhere sensei," Naruto sneered.

"You..." Mizuki sneered with equal venom. Then decided to try another tactic, "You know why people called you demon all those years huh Naruto? Because you're the nine tailed..."

"Really? You're playing that cared dumb ass. You are a... or were a chunin, and don't know the difference between the.. oh never mind. It's not even worth my time to explain the intricacies of the majestic art of fuinjutsu. But even more important jack ass. You broke the sandaime's law." Naruto cracked his knuckles. "That means, your ass is mine!"

Naruto flashed forward with nearly unreal speed and felt he could finally unleash his full power minus some of the things Jiraiya made him promise not to go near. Black markings appeared on Naruto's hand and then a sword appeared in a puff of smoke directly in Naruto's hand. "Storm of the Ni Raijin no kami!" Naruto's sword split in two and froze Mizuki's head as it fell from his body while the other sword burned it to ashes.

Naruto sighed and sealed his sword as he then placed Mizuki's head and the scroll of seals in respective storage seals. He then signaled for the three in hiding to reveal themselves much to their annoyance.

He turned to the Hokage, and reported, "Confirmed traitor captured. Mission Complete Hokage-sama."

Kakashi then said, "You've made all of us extremely proud Naruto."

"Thanks Nii-sensei."

"I feel a bit out of place here, but I am proud of you too." Iruka said.

"Are you kidding me? I found out from Kakashi nii it was you who kept Anko-chan from taking me to T and I all those years ago. I owe you big time Iruka nii."

Iruka couldn't help but smile despite the dire situation of the night.

"Naruto, you don't have to put on a show for us. First kills are..."

Kakashi burst out in laughter. "Uh. Did I miss something," Iruka asked.

"Iruka, you saw Naruto's sash right? Well, that's not honorary. He holds the rank of Captain in the daimyo's elite guard. He chose to come home to take the Hokage's hat. He wasn't kidding about that."

"So I take it you have had a fair share of eliminating enemies Naruto?" the hokage asked seriously.

"More assassination attempts on the lady Shijimi than I'd care to remember... all thanks to Tora. But that is to be expected as I have been home a few times and stopped a few of your gennin from taking out the cat a few times."

The hokage was floored. 'It must have been part of Naruto's stealth training.'

"Well congratulations Jonin Uzumaki."

"No old man. Unless you are handing me the hat with it, I have a lot to teach my teammates. I plan on making my team and Hinata's team whether we are together or not the next generation of Sanin. We need to start small to build up our names. That will come mainly at the Chunin exams. Do you really not want to shove in the other villages faces how completely and broken our system is in the best possible ways?"

Hiruzen grinned like a joker at the prospect. Then he stated, "Uzumaki Naruto, you are hereby given the honorary rank of Jonin Captain, meaning you are genin unless you need to take command during a difficult situation. Kakashi, you and Iruka will get the word out and make sure everyone knows he has my full support and what happened tonight in the right circles. Clear?"

Naruto, Kakashi and Iruka stood at attention as they answered in unison, "Hai Hokage-sama!"

They all vanished in a swift shunshin as one.

To be continued: In a few months. We got a special request from a friend to speed this chapter out, so we did, but now it's off to other projects for the time being.

Note from DarkKnight: Don't forget to check out SageModeSasuke's ThunderCats Ho!, and a few other of his more recent projects. Take care and keep on striving peeps!