A/N: Do me and my pride a favor and ignore the first part of this A/N and just skip to the thank-yous. Most of it's just me ranting about my horrible life anyway.

*Groans* Life is sucking pretty hard for me. I just moved to a new state – five hours away from home – with my mom and my little brothers. She did this because she wanted to be closer to my big brother's university, so that in case anything happens, it wouldn't take her an entire quarter of the day to reach him.

I can't believe that she would go through something like this – move some place so far away from home, away from my friends and aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents, away from the people I'd known since I was a baby, away from the place my family's lived at since my grandparents' grandparents were still alive – all for the sake of my big brother.

It's not like she even asked me if I wanted to move. No, the only people who did ask were my friends, my cousins, aunts and uncles, my grandparents, heck even a couple of my teachers felt about the move. But not her – my own mother!

It's times like these that I wonder if she even notices I'm there – I don't even have to wonder if my dad does; I know for a fact that I don't even exist in his world. Of course, my little brothers are nothing short of royalty in her eyes. And my big brother… well, I guess I understand how she can be so worried for him, with his disability and all.

I hate this place. I'm sixteen now, so of course everything I learn is ten times harder than last year. I don't know anyone here to ask questions for the stuff I don't get. Their faces are all different from the ones I'm used to. The uniform's different. They talk differently. There are barely any buildings around, just trees, trees and – Look! – more trees. The air here's frigid and cold. The house – not home – is thirty minutes away from the school, which means I have to wake up at 5:30 every fucking morning. We can't go anywhere without a map – or in my mom's case, me since I've pretty much memorized the map anyway. And everything's just, just so… different.

And I hate it!

And my mom's job is keeping her so busy, I don't get to see her for almost twelve hours a day.

And, naturally, that leaves me to clean the new house and pamper my little brothers when she's too busy to do it herself. Help them with their homework, feed them, keep an eye on them when they shower, clean their room for them, iron their clothes, take them to school, everything, everything, e-ve-ry-thing…!

Bet you guys won't believe me when I tell you that my little brothers are thirteen and eight-years-old.

But fine! Enough about me! Time to start with the chapter.

To dimensiontimetraveler, Megahit1324, AyameRose, roy23, DarkFoxKit, Theia Pallas, RedRangerBelt, 69AnimeFreak69, Andore-kun, imsabbel, BanannahHair, twilightromance4ever, SoraHuuzuke, AllAmericanNick, naruhina4444, Silver Flyer, Mohoro, nikkychin7, ANIME X MANGA – ME, A:Narrative Cloud, thank A LOT guys. Reading your reviews really brightened up my day. Sorry that my updates are slow, but please believe me when I say that I'm doing my best and just be patient, okay?

To diesiontimetraveler: Hey, hey! I updated, see? No need to be so upset!

To AyameRose: Wow… are you clairvoyant?

To DarkFOxKit: Haha, thnks. Your reviews are always the best!

To RedRangerBelt: I don't mean to be um… mean or anything, but sorry! You're just gonna have to find out yourself. Like I said, just be patient.

To imsabbel: You liked it? Really? *tears up in happiness*

To Guest (10/31/12): thank! I made that one up myself!

To SoraHuuzuke: I know, right! Shika's one of my favs too!

To Mohoro: Yahiko! Yahiko! I typed in 'Yahiko'! I know I did! Damn you auto-correct! Thanks for giving me that heads up. Man, that's sooo embarrassing! Anyway, I kinda get what your saying. Most timetravel!Naruto fics made him so jaded and depressed, it's kinda sad really. So, I thought that I could make mine different from those other Naruto's. Again, thanks for the review!

To ANIME X MANGA – ME: R-Really, mine's not the best fanfic out there. Honest. *blushes in slight embarrassment and happiness* I know hundreds of other better fanfics out there (it's what the 'Recommended fic of the chapter' at the bottom's for. But still, thank you SO MUCH!

To Silver Flyer: 'Awesome', huh? I'm just realizing how a lot of people like to associate that word with my fic. Anyway, thanks for your youthful review!

Summary: This is a dream, right? There's absolutely no way that all of this can be real, right? Yeah. There are five heads on the Hokage Monument. Not four. And Sandaime-jii-chan's been dead for years now, everyone knows that. There is absolutely no way he could've... is there? Time-travel's supposed to be impossible, isn't it? And the impossible is all that Uzumaki Naruto has ever done and – most likely – has done once more.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. If I did, then *spoiler alert! spoiler alert!* Neji wouldn't have to DIE!

As usual, please enjoy!

Nami.

XxX

Rewind, Relive, Return

CHAPTER 5 – An Unexpected Change of Plans! Team 17?!

XxX

Nara Shikamaru looked from Naruto – who was rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish and slightly apologetic grin on his face – to the unconscious Inuzuka Kiba with an equally unconscious Akamaru on his chest – the boy had been placed on three chairs horizontally by the earlier mentioned blond – to the exasperated Sandaime Hokage – who gave a sigh that expressed his thoughts clearly ('I'm getting too old for this') – before returning them to the Jinchuuriki.

The Nara's eyebrow twitched in irritation – something that very rarely happens as he would almost never let himself get worked up over anything.

Well, anything that didn't involve Naruto, of course.

He couldn't believe what an idiot his blond friend was.

Let it never be said that Uzumaki Naruto was not a very troublesome impulsive unpredictable idiot.

"So, let me get this straight…" Shikamaru said as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Kiba saw you standing near a bathhouse and called out to you, practically telling the entire village that you were doing something perverted?"

"Which I was not, 'ttebayo…" Naruto mumbled under his breath with his head still bowed in shame as if he were being reprimanded by a teacher (who was more often than not, Iruka-sensei).

"You ran away before any of the women in the bathhouse could come out and cause you any permanent bodily harm?" Shikamaru confirmed.

"What else was I supposed to do…?"

"Kiba followed you and – for some unexplained and most probably idiotic reason – challenged you to a fight?"

Naruto nodded before he shot a glare at the unconscious Inuzuka.

"You guys fought and early in the fight, Kiba and Akamaru used the Juuji Bunshin no Jutsu?"

Naruto huffed and crossed his arms like the child he physically was. "Don't say it like it's all my fault, Shikamaru! I tried talking some sense into the guy but he just wouldn't listen, dattebayo! And when he realized that I was dodging all of his attacks, Kiba got pissed… and… and…" Naruto's voice faded before he gulped at the glare Shikamaru was shooting at him for opening his mouth. "I'll shut up now…"

"So," Shikamaru cleared his throat with his glare still in place and locked on target. "You thought that the best course of action would be to knock them out?"

Naruto only nodded.

"And you thought that using the Kyuubi's chakra would be perfect for just that? You didn't think – not for one second – of the consequences of using the demon's chakra on Kiba and Akamaru such as… oh, I don't know… the possibility of them regaining their memories?"

Naruto didn't reply but his silence and the way he lowered his head was more than enough of an answer for the other two occupants of the room. It wasn't his fault. Honest! Naruto had been in Bijuu Mode most of the time during the war. He was just so used to using its flame-like chakra, it had become a habit to activate it when fighting.

Although his voice remained in the exact same volume throughout his rant, Nara Shikamaru was pissed.

And justifiably so.

His plans were ruined (Well, not exactly ruined, but he was going to have to make some major changes to them if he wanted them to have any chance of working) all because Naruto had to be himself by doing something completely and utterly unpredictable. Nara Shikamaru does not like it when one of his plans doesn't work. Because when they don't, it would usually lead him to think of that one certain occasion where his plan didn't work and cost him the life of his teacher.

And although Asuma-sensei was alive and kicking at this moment, he still did not like to think of that time.

Thinking about it makes him broody and depressed and all Uchiha-like.

He didn't like it when that happens either.

Not half-an-hour ago, Shikamaru had been lazing in front of the Yamanaka Flower Shop while he and Chouji waited for Ino to be done with helping her parents before the three of them headed for the training ground Asuma-sensei said they would meet at. (It was a habit his team had gotten in the earlier timeline.) He was just about to fall asleep when a panicked and distressed Naruto dropped from the flower shop's roof – none too elegantly – and began screaming unintelligible words in his ears.

Once the blond had realized that Shikamaru could barely understand a word he said, Naruto had proceeded with pulling on Shikamaru's arm – and nearly tearing it out of its socket – before he teleported the both of them to the Hokage's office where a slightly grateful Sandaime (anything to get out of doing paperwork) sat waiting for them with the unconscious Inuzuka boy. Naruto – once he had calmed down slightly – then told Shikamaru of the events that had unfolded before his arrival before he began yelling once more of how he had forgotten of what the Bijuu's chakra could do and of how he had not meant to do that and that he had messed up their plans and oh, Shikamaru what the hell were they going to do?!

"So you thought that the best idea would be to ring him here?" Shikamaru continued questioning. "The Hokage's office? When Sandaime-sama could have very well been in the middle of a meeting with someone who is not involved or knowledgeable of the truth?"

"But he wasn't…" Naruto mumbled softly – suddenly regaining his lost courage.

Shikamaru sighed (Man, I really need to stop doing that.) "I'm surrounded by troublesome idiots." He made sure to emphasize of the 'idiots'part because he knew – even if he didn't act like it – that Kiba had some fault in this as well. What the hell did that dog-brained moron think he would gain by challenging Naruto to a fight so early in the morning anyway? Couldn't he have done it in the afternoon – preferably after Shikamaru's mid-day nap?

While Shikamaru was scolding Naruto on why he shouldn't use his Bijuu Mode in front or on anyone who knew nothing of the truth – and remind him not to use his Sage Mode, the Rasengan or anything else that could blow their cover – Sarutobi watched quietly from the sidelines trying his best – and not really succeeding – at hide his amusement. It was interesting to see Naruto get scolded by someone his age and actually look sincerely guilty and ashamed. Naruto never listens to those he did not respect – Sarutobi knew this from experience – and for him to sincerely consider his friend's words says a lot.

He had to admit, the Nara boy was something else. He could now see how his son could easily get suspicious of Shikamaru's recent behavior. Though there were more than a few similarities, there were many differences as well – subtle differences that no one less than a Jounin could notice. This boy was intelligent, extremely so – if the plan he and Naruto had proposed to him yesterday evening was any indication.

And compared to the young Nara Shikamaru he had met on his latest visit to the Academy, this one put more effort in his actions. Sarutobi could tell that by his actions when the boy was around Naruto. He remembered Jiraiya telling him – from what he had seen through Naruto's memories – how after his death and during the Fourth War, every Shinobi had been determined to protect the last two Jinchuurikis – Naruto and the current Raikage's brother. Apparently, they took the job very seriously, or at least Shikamaru does with the way he always makes sure that he stands in between Naruto and any other person in the room – the boy was even doing it now by placing himself between Sarutobi and Naruto – and how he makes sure to sweep his surroundings with his eyes even sixty seconds. It almost seems as if these actions had been engraved into his mind like an old unbreakable habit.

The same goes for Naruto. The boy was no longer the same goof off he had been when he was – mentally – twelve years old. He was a skilled Fuuinjutsu user – even if he claims that he was not as great as Jiraiya or Minato, Sarutobi still thinks that the boy was well adapt in the art. Naruto was more calm and mature and less exuberant and foolhardy. (Okay, so maybe he was still those things even if it was toned down slightly). And from what Jiraiya had told him, Naruto had grown up to be a powerful, strong and courageous Shinobi. His student had even went as far as saying that Naruto might have been the most powerful Shinobi in the entire world – right before he boasted on how he had been the one to train the boy, of course.

In other words, Sarutobi Hiruzen was proud of both of them. He had always said that younger generation would always surpass the previous ones – the evidence was standing right in front of him.

Speaking of which, Exhibit C was just about to wake up himself.

XxX

"Aurgh…" the Inuzuka boy groaned as his eyes fluttered open slowly, Akamaru was not far behind his partner to the road of consciousness.

"Wha…?" Kiba slowly sat up, mindful of the small dog on his chest before he began to realize exactly how small the dog – puppy! – was. "Akamaru…? Huh?"

Akamaru gave a small squeaky yelp at his human – who, the dog could have sworn, had been much smaller than he was the last time the canine had checked.

Kiba was confused – and rightfully so. What the hell just happened? Didn't he…? And Akamaru…? Last thing he remembered…? Shino…? Shino?! The war! Madara and-!

"Woah there, Kiba," someone – and extremely familiar someone – said as a hand was placed soothingly on his shoulder. "Calm down, dattebayo. You're hyperventilating."

Kiba's eyes widened before he looked up to see two familiar faces – faces of people who he had never thought he would see ever again.

"Na-Naruto…?" the Inuzuka boy stuttered, his eyes grew wider as his skin paled. "Shika-Shikamaru…?!"

Wait a minute! Hadn't Shikamaru died?! And wasn't he dead as well?! If they were both dead, then could this be the afterlife?! But then why did Shikamaru look so young? And what the heck was Naruto doing here? The idiot wasn't supposed to die! Was all that even real?! Did all that stuff really happen? A-And what had been all those images he saw? It looked like some sort of scary movie! What the-?!

"He's freaking out again," the young Shikamaru noted unhelpfully.

Sensing his master's confusion and distress – though he was quite confused himself – Akamaru braced his front paws on Kiba's chest and began to lick at his face – in what kaamru thought to be – soothingly.

"I can see that, 'ttebayo," Naruto muttered dryly before he shot his dog-loving friend a look of concern.

"Maybe I could get some tea to soothe Kiba-kun's nerves?" a deep voice – obviously belonging to that of an adult – inquired from behind Kiba.

The young Inuzuka turned around and froze. He stared at the old man – the Sandaime Hokage – who sat behind the large desk for a few moments before his skin turned paler than Sai's – which was really saying something – before he lost consciousness to the world of the living once more.

"Ah, he passed out again, dattebayo." This time it was Naruto who made a blunt comment.

Akamaru gave out an alarmed bark.

"I can see that," Shikamaru repeated the boy's words from earlier. "Man, this is so troublesome."

As he promptly ignored the earlier jibe, Naruto began to wonder. "So, does everyone have their own way of reacting to their memories or can we expect more passing out in the future?" It was true. Naruto had cried, Jiraiya had said that it felt like waking up to the mother of all hangovers, Shikamaru had only called it all troublesome and Kiba had freaked out he passed out again.

If everyone really did have their own reactions to this, then Naruto was certainly looking forward to returning the memories of his allies very soon.

XxX

When Kiba had woken up for the third time that morning – it was almost 7:15 am – the first thing out of his mouth had been: "Damnit, Naruto! For the sake of everyone's sanity, will you quit it with doing the impossible already?!"

To which Naruto had quickly replied: "For the record, none of this was my idea, dattebayo. This was all those damned Bijuus' fault."

"Troublesome idiots," was all Shikamaru had said. Though, if his words were of the nine Bijuu or Naruto and Kiba, no one knew.

After that, Naruto and Shikamaru had spent fifteen minutes explaining to Kiba of all the things that had happened since Naruto had regained his memories and of the plan Shikamaru had concocted the day before.

"Can me and Akamaru come?" Kiba asked from his seat in regards of said plan.

Akamaru barked in a questioning way as well.

"It's Akamaru and I,"Shikamaru sighed once more – Stop it! "And you might as well."

"Sorry about this, Old Man," Naruto said with a sheepish rub to the back of his head to the old Hokage. "But do you think you can cover for Kiba too?" The old Hokage had already said that he would make up an excuse (something he found himself to be surprisingly good at) for Shikamaru's absence to give to the Nara clan. Naruto was slightly reluctant of asking him to do the same with the Inuzuka clan. He knew very well how difficult the clan heads could be at times. And Naruto had offered to make Kage Bunshins of themselves when they had to leave, but Shikamaru told him that it wouldn't work.

The Sandaime nodded while on the inside, he cried a waterfall of tears that he would have to redo all of that paperwork. "Of course. But Naruto-kun, you have to realize that I can't keep this quiet from the council for long. If you're all absolutely sure about this, then I suggest you finish up your mission to Nami quickly then leave for Kiri immediately after."

Naruto and Shikamaru nodded. "We're sure, 'ttebayo. Shikamaru was the one who came up with this idea. He isn't known as one of our best strategists during the war for nothing, dattebayo."

"For how long does your mission to Nami last anyway?" Kiba inquired.

Naruto hummed in thought for a few moments before he turned around to answer the Inuzuka. "About five days, I think. A week tops."

Shikamaru began thinking as well. "This means that we would have to wait for almost an entire month before we can carry out our plan. Do you think you can hide this from the council for that long, Sandaime-sama?"

The Sandaime nodded. This wouldn't be the first time he had to hide something from the council. The longest he had been able to hide anything from them had been for almost thirteen years – once again, the blond evidence was standing right in front of him. Till that very day, Homura, Koharu, Danzo and all the members of the civilian council had yet to know that their precious Yondaime Hokage had married Uzumaki Kushina – someone they had referred to as an outsider – and had had a son with said redhead and named him Naruto. The only ones who did know were Jiraiya, Kakashi and the Sandaime himself. Though a number of the shinobi had known that Minato and Kushina had gotten married and that they were expecting a child, they didn't know that the child was Naruto and had all thought that the entire family had perished during the Kyuubi attack. The only ones who knew the entire truth were Jiraiya, Kakashi, Hiruzen himself and now Naruto – he wasn't exactly sure if Shikamaru and Kiba knew of Naruto's parentage or not.

"So, Kiba," Shikamaru said. "I have a question I'd like to ask you."

"What…?" Kiba asked with slight apprehension.

"Why did you fight Naruto earlier today?" Shikamaru asked.

If he remembered correctly, when they were younger, Kiba didn't see Naruto as someone strong enough for him to bother acknowledging – let alone challenge fights to. The twelve-year-old Inuzuka had a great amount of pride and thought himself stronger than every one of his ex-classmates – the young Uchiha included. He was curious as to what it was that ran through the boy's head when he asked Naruto – whom he had thought of as no more than a hopeless loser until the blond had defeated him in the Chunin Exams – to fight him.

"Hmm," Kiba hummed in thought and scratched his head. He was probably trying to sort out the memories of the new timeline from the old. "Oh, I remember now," he exclaimed softly.

Shikamaru arched an eyebrow in question. Even Naruto and the Sandaime were curious.

"Last night, I saw Sakura teaching Ino the tree climbing exercise," he began explaining. "Kurenai-sensei would teach us how to do that next week, so I didn't really know that the exercise isn't that big of a deal and that pretty much every Shinobi can do it. I was… Well, I was upset that the two biggest Uchiha fangirls could do something I couldn't. And When Sakura told Ino that it was Naruto who taught her how to do it, I got angrier."

Shikamaru nodded in understanding. Naruto had told him of what he had done with Sakura yesterday, so the news wasn't much of a shock to him. He understood that Kiba had been jealous because Naruto the Dead Last could do something he couldn't. So he had convinced himself that defeating Naruto in a fight was the only way he could reassure his pride that he was still better than the useless fangirls and the loser.

"So Sakura-chan taught Ino the tree-walking exercise?" Naruto asked with mild surprise. He thought she and Ino were still each other's worst enemies in this time and that they wouldn't become friends again until the Chunin Exams.

"It must have happened after we left Ichiraku's yesterday," Shikamaru guessed.

Suddenly, Naruto froze before he let out a loud groan. "They're pissed, 'ttebayo."

"What?" Kiba questioned. "Who?" Just as the word left his mouth, the young Inuzuka froze as well, having smelled the very familiar scents walking towards the Hokage's office. His teammates were on their way – probably to get the mission they were going to carry out that day. He hadn't come back to meet his team and Kurenai-sensei hated it when he was late. Oh boy…

"It's 7:55am," Shikamaru noted once he understood what the other two were so worried about. "We stayed here longer than we thought." Then, the young genius groaned. "Ino's going to yell at me and be all troublesome about this. I just know it."

"You think you guys got it bad," Naruto shuddered. "I've got Sakura-chan to worry about, dattebayo!"

Akamaru whimpered in pity. Poor boys. At least he wouldn't get scolded. He was too cute for anyone to yell at.

XxX

Shimura Danzo sipped his tea silently as he picked up the results of yesterday's Genin Tests. He would have done so yesterday, but he had his own test to carry out for his organization, ROOT.

The names he had given for the two boys were Shin and Sai. He had just begun their test yesterday and wouldn't be checking up on them until the end of the week. Both boys showed great potential. They were more or less evenly matched in skills, strength and power. Honestly, Danzo wouldn't be surprised if either of them survived until the end of the week.

Danzo picked the file on the newly formed Team 7 first, the team that has both the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki and the young Uchiha as part of its members. Danzo knew that placing Hatake Kakashi as the team's Jounin guide was Hiruzen's was of placating Homura and Koharu under the pretense that Kakashi was the only option available as someone who could help Uchiha Sasuke master his Sharingan and because, if the Jinchuuriki ever lost control of the Bijuu, only an Uchiha with a true Sharingan – and not one that had been implanted such as his or Kakashi's – could control and subdue it just as Uchiha Madara had done so over a century before.

But Danzo knew that that was not so.

Hiruzen's real reason for placing the Hatake boy – everyone under the age of fifty was a boy or girl or child in his old and weary eyes – on Team 7 was not because of Uchiha Sasuke, but because Uzumaki Naruto was on said team. Danzo suspected, Hiruzen did it because Hatake Kakashi was the only Jounin – that had enough free time to be a Jounin Instructor – who was extremely loyal to the Hokage and would dare defy Danzo and the Council even if it were to mean treason.

This was why Danzo enjoyed – and at times, looked forward to – the weekend Shogi matches he had with Hiruzen. Because Hiruzen was an intelligent and extremely challenging opponent and going against him was never anywhere near short of exciting.

The Hokage might have won this round, Danzo would give him that, but the crippled old Shinobi was much too stubborn to admit defeat.

One day, Danzo will be the one who sits on the mantle of Hokage. He would make sure of it. He already had the Daimyo and the Council wrapped around his wrinkly old finger. If an election of the next candidate were to be made, he would win, without a doubt.

Who would even dare to oppose him? The Sanin were definitely out of the question. One of them was a nuke-nin and the other two hadn't even stepped foot on Konoha for over twelve years. The Clan Heads already had a clan of their own to look after on top of their usual duties as Shinobi. Everyone else would shoot down the offer in a heartbeat if it was given to any of them. The only people Danzo could think of who wanted to become Hokage still couldn't even be considered teenagers.

Unfortunately, for Danzo, the seat of Hokage was already occupied and he couldn't see an election coming up anytime soon. And Danzo wasn't stupid enough to even pretend he and his ROOT could pull off an assassination on the Sandaime. After all, Hiruzen wasn't called the God of Shinobi for sitting in an office doing paperwork non-stop for eighteen hours of the day.

No, Danzo couldn't become Hokage. Not yet, anyway. But he will be, Danzo would make sure of it.

But until then, he would just have to content himself with sitting in the shadows, pulling a few strings and planting a few of his ROOT here and there, waiting patiently for the perfect opportunity to strike.

A smirked graced Danzo's lips as he read the Hatake boy's report on Uchiha Sasuke's action during the test.

Hmm? Chunin level taijutsu and ninjutsu… above average intelligence and skill... Heh. Danzo expected nothing less from an Uchiha.

So the girl did the least during the test… taken out with a simple genjutsu… The requirements of passing the Genin Exams these days must be extremely low for someone of that caliber to have been allowed to graduate.

And now, onto our resident Jinchuuriki. Let's see, taijutsu skills could use some room for improvement. Jounin level chakra reserves – judging by the number of Kage Bunshin the boy created during the test. Considering the boy's Jinchuuriki status and Uzumaki lineage, Danzo wasn't too surprised. Showed a great amount of cunning and has some skills in Fuuinjutsu… Oh, something that resembles the Hiraishin. How interesting. And… emotion sensing?

That was when an old memory decided to flash through Danzo's mind. A memory of one of the few times he'd talked to the Shodaime's late wife, Uzumaki Mito. He was still an academy student and had heard of the beautiful woman living in the Shodaime's old house alone. She never comes out and hires a few Genin teams to buy her neccesities for her once a week. He'd heard a few people whisper that Mito-sama had long passed on, having committed suicide at the news of her husband's death and that only her spirit remains in that old traditional house, waiting for the day her husband returns home.

Danzo had come to that house, slightly frightened and extremely curious, to confirm the rumors himself. He'd snuck into the house and explored a part of it before he reached the sitting room saw the beautiful red haired woman sipping tea delicately from a porcelain cup.

Danzo had stayed in the shadows and watched the woman for five minutes – debating with himself on the existence of ghosts and whether the woman in front of him was dead or alive – before he saw her breath a soft sigh and put up another cup before filling it with hot tea.

Danzo had jumped when she spoke in his direction in a monotone voice, as if she knew he had been there all along. "Are going to just stand there all day or will do this old woman a favor and join her for a cup of tea?"

After Danzo had stepped out of the shadows and sat across from her at the table, he had asked how she had known he was there. Danzo thought that – if he asked nicely enough – she could teach him how to do the same.

Mito had glanced at him over the rim of her cup for a few seconds. Then, she told him that she had 'sensed' his emotions. His apprehension, confusion, curiosity and fear.

Danzo didn't understand at first, but he just shrugged and thought that she was lying. There was no way Danzo had been afraid. The old woman must only be humoring him.

It was only many, many years, a few weeks before Uzumaki Kushina's expected arrival as the next Jinchuuriki, did Danzo understand. The ability to sense negative emotions… it was something Uzumaki Mito had gained from the Kyuubi.

And Danzo could see how greatly valuable such ability was. For a Shinobi could always cover his footprints, cover his face and expression with a mask, disguise himself, cover his scent with another stronger odor and be as silent as a ghost when necessary… but no Shinobi, no matter how skilled or stealthy, could completely extinguish his emotions.

A Shinobi experiences a great amount of negative emotions daily. Fear of his enemies, disappointment in a failed mission, sadness at the death of a comrade, apprehension and suspicion at a stranger and many more. Though he did not train them for this exact purpose, Danzo knew that the only ones who had any hope – not chance – at rendering the power completely useless were his ROOT members.

Yes, what a remarkable ability indeed.

And for this twelve-year-old failed weapon to have gained the ability at such a young age was a great accomplishment. Uzumaki Mito had to go through years of training to become one with the Kyuubi and tame it to have gained the power. Danzo suspected that Uzumaki Kushina might have been able to control the Kyuubi and gain the power as well if her seal had allowed it. For the seal Hiruzen and Lady Mito was one only meant for suppressing the Kyuubi's power and not channel or control it such as most Jinchuuriki Seals were meant to do.

It was one of the reasons Danzo never even considered turning the girl into a weapon in the first place because even if he tried, he could never be able to use the Kyuubi's power through her as he wanted to. Danzo had planned many times on using the boy as a weapon for Konoha – the ultimate weapon, for few can even hope of fighting against the world strongest Bijuu and win. But Hiruzen had stopped his every attempt. It was only after the boy had joined the academy did Danzo cease his attempts, for who would want a fool who failed every test and exam thrown at him as any kind of weapon. No, to do that would only lead to disaster.

But this report made Danzo think otherwise. If the boy really had gained this ability, then did that mean… he was in control of the Kyuubi and now had complete access to its immeasurable power and chakra? Did Jiraiya's sudden visit a few days ago have anything to do with it? Had he found something on his travels that allowed him to tamper with the Yondaime's seal and allow the Jinchuuriki to utilize the Bijuu's power?

Hmm. Maybe the boy wasn't as useless as he had first assumed. Danzo would make sure to send a few of his spies to keep an eye on the boy and his progress. And when the time was right, snatch the boy away, train him and turn him into the perfect weapon just as Danzo had planned all those years ago. Hokage-sama's orders be damned.

Yes, directly going against his leader's orders would be seen as an action of great treason. But, one day, Konoha would thank him for creating such a great weapon to be used to protect her. They shall all see that his deeds would do nothing but bring Konoha to an age of peace and prosperity. And soon, the world would see Konoha as what she had always and forever will be…

The greatest and most powerful village in the Five Great Nations.

Everyone would tremble in fear at the utterance of her name and treat her citizens with nothing but the highest respect. No one would dare oppose or attack her, not with the great Kyuubi at her every beck and call.

Not while Danzo stands – as Konoha's Hokage – as the demon's master.

But, until then, Danzo would have to wait. The time will come.

The Kyuubi will be his.

XxX

"Good morning," Kakashi greeted with a wave of his gloved hand and with the other shoved into one of his pants' pocket. "Obito."

There was no answer from the black stone Kakashi was talking to. Not that he expected any.

"Did you know?" Kakashi continued. "I had the strangest dream yesterday."

There was silence for a moment.

"I dreamed about my father."

XxX

Silence reigned as they both sat facing each other with the small fire cackling and dancing between them. The flames did nothing to warm Kakashi's ice-cold skin. He vaguely wondered if this temperature was normal for the dead.

"Who would have thought that both you and I would die so early?" the older of the two silver-haired Shinobi broke the silence.

Kakashi nodded once.

"Although, not as early as your mother."

Neither father nor son dared to look at each other.

This time, it was Kakashi who spoke. "Father, there's something I've always wanted to ask you…"

XxX

"I've had a lot of dreams like this," Kakashi admitted. "Dreams where I ask him: 'Why? Why did you do it? How could you have forsaken your duty as a shinobi like that? Why…'" Kakashi swallowed some of the saliva that had gathered in his mouth before he continued. "Why did you leave me?"

A part of him wasn't sure if the last question was meant to be for his father or the friend he was 'talking' to.

Kakashi sighed in a rare display of sadness. "Like I said, I've had a lot of dreams like this before." Then, he gave a small dry smile. "Though, I admit, this is the first time I've dreamt of talking to him in front of a campfire."

Kakashi shifted himself from one foot to another. "And this is the first time… I'd woken up… without feeling bitter or sad. In fact… you could say that… I feel a little… proud."

Then, Kakashi smiled and his eye curled up familiarly in a 'U' shape.

"There, I said it, Obito. I'm proud of my father."

Suddenly, Kakashi lifted his head to the sky and he took note of the sun's position. "Maa, looks like I'm late…again."

Kakashi brought his head down to look at the stone once more. "I have to go now. There're a few brats I need to take care of."

He turned around and began his journey to the red bridge – where he was sure both Sakura and Naruto were seething over his tardiness.

"I'll see you later, Obito."

XxX

"I'm glad we got to talk. Thank you for forgiving me… Now I can move on in peace. And finally see your mother…"

XxX

"Yo."

"You're late!" a girl's voice screeched.

Sasuke glared at their 'sensei' with his arms crossed over his chest and his breathing slightly uneven since he had just decided to take a break from the tree climbing exercise not ten seconds before Kakashi arrived. Sakura had her fist clenched towards their sensei and a very ugly glare marring her face. And Naruto… wasn't even there.

Huh? Wait a minute… "Why are there only two of you?" Kakashi asked as he first pointed to Sasuke – he'd ask the boy how he got those bruises and scratches later – then to Sakura. "Where's Naruto?"

Sasuke glared at him in a way that said, 'What are you asking me for?'

"Who knows?" Sakura grumbled. "But once I find that idiot, he is going to pay for making us late for our very first mission. Oh yes. First, I'm going to… heh heh-he… and then…"

Kakashi eyed Sakura warily as the pink haired girl muttered a string of death threats from under her breath.

"You know," Kakashi said in an effort to save his third student from bodily harm and torture. "Naruto could be sick or dying somewhere and just forgot to… tell… us…" Kakashi gulped as the girl's green eyes turned to glare coldly at him.

"Uh… right," he cleared his throat as he – somewhat – regained his composure. "Why don't we pick up our mission first, then head over to his apartment and check up on him after we're done?" he asked with his regular smile.

Sasuke grunted, "Hn."

Kakashi's suggestion made Sakura pause her threats and she began thinking. If Naruto wasn't there, then that would mean that it would only be her and Sasuke-kun on the mission. She and Sasuke-kun would be together… alone… for the entire day… with no Naruto! And if Sasuke-kun got hurt on the mission, she would be the one he turns to and then… and then…!

'SHANNARO! Love prevails!'

As all these thoughts ran in her head, Sakura failed to remember that Kakashi – as their sensei – would be present during the mission as well.

XxX

"Naruto?" Sakura called out to her previously absent teammate the moment she saw his orange-clad figure when the rest of Team 7 entered the Hokage's office. "You're here already?"

Naruto shrugged his shoulders and chucked sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head. Well, at least she didn't seem angry at him. That was good, right?

"We were supposed to meet at the bridge then walk to the office together," Sasuke said with an annoyed tone. "Or is that too much for your small brain to remember, Usaratonkachi?"

Naruto growled. "Watch it, 'ttebayo," he warned as he stepped closer to his teammate until their faces were nearly touching. Though there was barely any malice in his tone. He was only pretending to be annoyed because he hadn't been able to fight like this with Sasuke very often in the old timeline and honestly, he missed bickering with his best friend. And of course, because it also seemed like something the twelve-year-old Naruto would do. He was undercover, it was important for him to keep up appearances. "You trying to start something with me, huh, teme?"

"Naruto-baka," Sakura growled from Sasuke's side. "Don't call Sasuke-kun a 'teme'!"

The Sandaime chuckled, bringing everyone's attention to him. "That was my fault," he said, clearly amused at the childish bickering he was seeing. Only Naruto would be able to make a stoic Uchiha act in such an un-Uchiha manner. The boy was very much like his mother in that aspect as Kushina had been the only one who had been able to make her best friend, Mikoto burst out laughing at random moments and also get more of a reaction than an annoyed grunt from Fugaku such as the day she swapped his shampoo with neon green hair dye. "There was something I needed to discuss with Naruto-kun, am I'm afraid that it just couldn't wait."

The old Hokage had used the same excuse when Kiba and Shikamaru's team had come to pick them up before. Naruto's team was the last to come thanks to Kakashi's tardiness.

Although he was extremely curious with what the Sandaime had discussed with Naruto, Kakashi knew better than to ask in front of Sasuke and Sakura. They might have been talking about Naruto's father or the Kyuubi for all he knew. Besides, he could always ask the old Hokage later this evening after the mission reports had been sent in.

"Alright, guys," Kakashi called with a lazy tone to his Genin. "Try your best to hold back your excitement. Today, you all will get your first mission as ninjas." At the same time, the Jounin's eyes flashed dangerously. Suckers.

Sasuke smirked. He was looking forward to testing out his skills on the battle field. No matter how hard the young Uchiha tried to suppress it, Naruto could very easily sense his anticipation if only because he knew the youngest Uchiha so well.

Sakura beamed. This would be the first of many missions she would have with her Sasuke-kun. She couldn't wait! She wondered what kind of mission they would get. She hoped it wasn't too dangerous.

"Dattebayo…" Naruto groaned and raised his fist mockingly. It wasn't hard for the others to tell that he was not looking forward to it from the almost-painful grimace on his face.

XxX

Two weeks of non-stop D-Ranked missions later…

"Hell no!" Naruto cried out and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "No thanks to all of those, dattebayo!" He ran up to the Hokage and slammed his hands on the desk furiously. "We're full-fledged Shinobi now! I want to do more exciting missions, 'ttebayo! Weeding an old hag's yard and babysitting royal brats is anything but exciting! C'mon Jii-chan, pleeease~!"

For once, Sasuke thought with his face set in a scowl. I completely agreed with the idiot.

Sakura bit her lip. He has a point.

I had a feeling that he was going to do this sooner or later, Kakashi thought with a sigh.

Unknown to half of the members of Team 7, Team 8 was standing outside the door – with a drunken old man sitting next to them. They had finished their mission and came to the office to hand in their report and get another one.

Hinata turned bright red the moment she recognized Naruto's voice booming from the Hokage's office. Shino's face remained expressionless. Kurenai sighed and sat down in one of the vacant chairs. She had a feeling that they were going to be waiting out here for a while.

Kiba on the other hand, widened his eyes at the argument Naruto was having with Iruka-sensei. Naruto's acting skills were really good. He was sincerely impressed.

Back in the office, the Hokage had just finished explaining to Naruto of the importance of the different mission ranks. After that he reprimanded the blond for not listening to a single word he had said.

"I know already, dattebayo," Naruto grumbled. "You always lecture me like that, Jii-chan." Naruto crossed his arms and looked at the Sandaime straight in the eyes. "But I'm not the kid who used to pull pranks anymore, 'ttebayo! I'm a Genin now! I've grown up!"

As if to prove his point, Naruto sat cross-legged on the wooden floor and turned around so that his back was facing the Sandaime and Iruka with his arms still crossed over his chest and grumbling under his breath at the unfairness of it all. The blond remembered doing the exact same thing in the first timeline.

Sakura looked worriedly between Naruto and the Sandaime. Was he even allowed to talk to their Hokage that way? Sasuke just shook his head at Naruto in irritation.

Kakashi could faintly remember Obito doing the same thing back when the spiky haired Uchiha and Rin had first joined Kakashi and Minato-sensei as a team. Sometimes, the silver-haired Jounin wondered if Naruto was actually Obito's reincarnation with how very much alike the two were with each other.

Iruka just smiled at the orange-clad Genin, not that Naruto could see him. The old Hokage chuckled.

"Very well, I understand," the Sandaime said, gaining the attention of every person in the room. "If you insist, I shall allow you to take on a C-ranked mission."

Sasuke and Sakura's eyes widened. They couldn't believe their ears.

Kakashi and Iruka were shocked as well, but they did well to hide it.

"Seriously?" Naruto exclaimed in excitement.

"Yes," Hiruzen said. He picked out a scroll from the piles of C-Ranks and scanned it briefly to make sure that it was the right one. "Your mission is to escort a certain person to a small country at the border of Hi no Kuni."

"Ano sa, ano sa," Naruto babbled on. "Who is it? Is it a feudal lord? Or a princess? How're we gonna get there anyway?"

The Sandaime raised a hand as a sign for Naruto to calm himself. "Be patient. I'll introduce him now."

From the other side of the door, Team 8 heard the Sandaime call, "You may enter, Tazuna-san."

Kiba and the others watched as the drunken old man shook his head in surprise when he heard someone call his name – he had just nodded off to sleep when the Sandaime called for him.

Kiba took note of the fishermen's garb the old man wore, the muscled arms that could have only be attained from years of hard work and the strong stench of alcohol that clung to him like second skin. So this is the old man that Naruto mentioned, the young Inuzuka thought to himself. Then, he gave a mental scoff. Good luck, Uzumaki. 'Coz it looks like you're gonna need it.

The old man stood up with a groan before the door to the Hokage's office was opened and he walked in.

When Tazuna walked into the room, the first thing he noticed were the three brats standing (well, one of them was sitting, actually) in the middle of the room next to a man with white hair and a mask covering most of his face. One of them had this gloomy air surrounding him, the other wore a kill-me-orange and black jacket that made him a moving target and the girl had pink hair so bright, his eyes were watering (although, it could have been because of the alcohol he had drank not too long ago). These people were supposed to be ninja, yet they stuck out more than a stick of celery in a basket full of apples.

Tazuna began to wonder if all the stories he had heard of the prowess and professionalism of Konoha Shinobi held any truth in them.

"Are you kidding me? They're just a bunch of brats!" Tazuna cried out. "And are you sure that the short one with the stupid face is really a ninja?"

Out in the hall, Kiba tried (unsuccessfully) to stifle the bark of laughter that was begging to come out of his mouth. He had a pretty good idea of who the old man was talking about. And if he compared it to what kind of ninja he knew Naruto really was he just found it impossible not to see the humor in such irony. Old man, you have no idea.

Naruto could feel a tick forming on his head. This time, he didn't bother to measure his height with Sasuke and Sakura like he did before. He knew that the old bridge builder was talking about him.

"Why you-?" the blond growled. "I'm gonna-! Kakashi-sensei, let me at him! No one insults the great Uzumaki Naruto and gets away with it, dattebayo!"

Sasuke briefly wondered if he should be concerned that Naruto just – in a way – admitted to being 'short' and having a 'stupid face'.

Kakashi – who had the back of Naruto's orange-and-black jacket held in a tight grip – sighed. "He's our client. A good Shinobi doesn't beat up the person who's paying him for his services, baka."

It was then that Team 10 arrived at the front of the Hokage's Office covered in patches of white paint. They had just come back from a mission where they had to paint and old woman's newly put-up fence.

Hearing the annoyed growls and exasperated sighs coming from inside, Asuma asked Kurenai, "Do I even want to know?"

Kurenai answered, "Eve if you did, I wouldn't be able to answer you anyway."

"I can hear Naruto's voice in there," Chouji said.

From what Chouji had said, Ino correctly deducted that if Naruto was in the office, then the rest of Team 7 (most importantly, Sasuke-kun) must be there as well. She quickly straightened her hair and cleaned her face of white paint as best as she could and for when Sasuke-kun exited the office. This would be the first time he saw her in sixteen hours (she had 'accidentally' bumped into Sasuke yesterday evening at the market district when the young Uchiha had been out grocery shopping for himself). She wanted to make sure that Sasuke-kun realized how much more beautiful she was compared to yesterday and that she would only grow more beautiful every day.

"He's probably just being his usual troublesome self," Shikamaru said.

This lead Hinata to defend Naruto softly on how he wasn't really as troublesome as Shikamaru thought. Actually it came out more like, "N-Naruto-kun isn't r-really t-troublesome, Shi-Shikamaru-san. Y-You know, once you g-get t-to know him a l-little. N-Not th-that I know him v-very well myself! It's j-just th-that I… I…!" At this point, Hinata had a blush on her face that could rival a tomato and had promptly told herself to shut up before she embarrassed herself any further.

The old man took another swig of sake. Something told him that his journey back to Nami was going to be a long one. "I am the super bridge builder, Tazuna the Great. I'm counting on you guys to protect me from the day we head back to my home country until the day my bridge is finished."

Once everyone had introduced themselves, the Genin members of Team 7 were ordered to pack lightly ("Lightly, Naruto! That means no more than five cups of instant ramen, understood?") then, to meet up at Konoha's Front Gates in less than an hour.

They walked out of the office – Kakashi had stayed behind to sign and officially accept the mission – with Sasuke in the lead. Naruto had his hands resting behind his head as he grumbled of 'drunken old men' who 'underestimate his awesomeness as a ninja'.

"Don't you think that you're having too much fun with this?" Shikamaru asked Naruto softly – loud enough for the others to know that he was talking to Naruto, but soft enough for them to have to strain their ears to hear his words. Seriously, Shikamaru thought that Naruto was being too comfortable in his character. If he didn't know any better, Shikamaru would have thought that Naruto enjoyed playing the fool.

Naruto turned his head slightly to Shikamaru's direction, so that the young genius would be able to clearly see the wink he sent him.

Oh, he was enjoying himself very much.

Naruto could now see how Madara had been able to act like such an incompetent idiot for so long. Pretending to be weaker than you were and having people underestimate you while you silently laugh at them and their ignorance was just exhilarating!

Naruto walked over to the members of Team 8 and greeted them with an enthusiastic, "Good morning!"

This left Sasuke to fend off Ino and Sakura's insufferable ways alone. He had been hoping that the dobe would be too eager for the mission and challenge him to see who could pack their things faster – or something equally stupid – therefore giving him a good reason to vacate the Hokage's Office and leave the girls' presence. He held back a groan at having his biggest fans practically hanging off of his arms. Chouji and Shikamaru – deciding to be a little mean today – left the Uchiha to suffer while they joined Naruto and Team 8 for a nice chat.

From inside the Hokage's Office, Kakashi caught a glimpse of Kurenai – she had yet to make a move to get herself off of the chair – and Asuma through the open door. The Sandaime's son had his dark brown eyes on the young Genin – most of his attention lingering on the young Nara heir and Konoha's resident Jinchuuriki.

Kakashi knew that Asuma hadn't bought the – admittedly logical – explanations the Sandaime had given them the other day. Kakashi didn't buy them either. He couldn't be too sure of the Nara boy – he remembered meeting the boy a few years ago when he caught him skipping the Academy with Chouza's son – but there was definitely something different about Naruto. Kakashi just wasn't sure what it was.

Kakashi could just justify the boy's sudden change to aftershock. Naruto had not only been told of his parentage and his pretty-much-extinct clan, but had also gained new abilities – such as the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu, Hiraishin and Emotion Sensing – and was probably just overwhelmed by it all. But Kakashi was a ninja. And for a ninja, 'probably' was sometimes not enough.

For years Kakashi had kept an eye on Minato-sensei's son from the shadows – at least when he wasn't away on a mission – and he was glad to see the boy grow up happy and healthy – despite the circumstances. But ever since he had been told of the Kyuubi – something Naruto had known for years apparently – something about the boy just… changed.

It wasn't anything obvious. Naruto was still the same cheerful, loud, brash, hot-headed and honest person he had always been. He was still the happy young boy Kakashi had watched grow up.

But there were times – usually when he thought that Kakashi wasn't paying attention – when that glow of happiness dimmed. Sometimes, Naruto would stop whatever he was doing and just stare at nothing in particular. Other times, Naruto would look at the Hokage Monument – or even at Sasuke – with some unidentifiable emotion (Was it sadness? Or regret? Pain? Longing?) swimming in his blue eyes.

It was painful for Kakashi to watch.

Kakashi wanted to know what it was that caused his sensei's son so much pain. He knew he had to help Naruto. He had let the boy down enough by not taking care of him like he was supposed to. Kakashi could not afford adding more to his long list of regrets.

He wanted to help Naruto. The question was 'how'.

It was obvious that the Sandaime knew something but was hiding it from them. He had tried asking him themselves, but the old Hokage had skillfully dodged each question with a plausible excuse back him up. He could always try snooping around the Hokage's Office for clues, but the man was the Hokage and only an idiot with the urge of wanting to be placed under the suspicion of treason would try something as stupid as that.

Thankfully, Kakashi also knew that the Nara boy knew something – the words he had spoken to Naruto that evening at Ichiraku's hinted as such. Kakashi was sure of it.

So, he and Asuma had silently decided to band together to find out what was going on with their Genin. Every time they met up – whether purposely or by chance – they would tell the other of their suspicions or ideas of what it was that their Genin were up to. Asuma only wanted to do it because he knew that Shikaku would kill him if anything happened to his only child and he did nothing to prevent it.

Kakashi felt that something was not right with the mission. The bridge builder was hiding something. He could feel it in his gut.

Which is why the Jounin knew that what he was about to do next would be the right choice.

"Sandaime-sama," Kakashi said to the Hokage. "I would like to request…"

XxX

"What are they doing here, dattebayo?!" Naruto exclaimed.

He had finished packing the necessary things he would need on the mission (And no, he did not pack more than fifteen cups of instant ramen… Iruka-sensei did say fifteen, right?) and had been standing at the village gates with Sasuke and Sakura waiting for Kakashi-sensei to show up with Tazuna.

And yes, Kakashi did show up with Tazuna five minutes later than he did in the first timeline (Honestly, that should have set off his mental warning bell before anything else.), but he also brought others with him.

Four familiar others in fact.

The Genin members of Team 10 walked behind their sensei looking just as confused as the Genin members of Team 7 felt. Something wasn't right here. Naruto didn't like the way Kakashi-sensei was smiling at them. That smile reminded him too much of the one Tsunade-baa-chan gave him when she had a particularly nasty mission saved up just for him.

"I invited them to come with us," Kakashi-sensei explained. "I thought that bringing another team with us would ease our client's worries and make the job easier. As the old Shinobi saying goes, 'Two teams make the job more fun'."

Naruto had heard of that saying. Whenever either Kotetsu or Izumo heard it or spoke it themselves, they would usually follow it up with, '-and doubles the insanity'.

By the slight twitch in Shikamaru's brow, it was obvious that his friend recognized it too.

"What?! Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto shrieked, trying to convince his teacher to change his mind. "We're awesome enough alone, 'ttebayo! We don't need some washed up second-rate team for back up!"

Then he turned to Chouji and Shikamaru. "No offense, guys."

Shikamaru understood what Naruto was doing. He knew that Shikamaru's plan depended on Naruto's team going on this mission alone just as they did in the first timeline (What the hell was Asuma-sensei thinking, accepting this mission in the first place?) He wanted Shikamaru's approval of what he was doing, in case this was also part of his plan – which it was not – and he had just been too lazy to tell Naruto in the first place. "None taken." This was not part of the plan. Just keep up whatever the hell you're doing, Naruto.

Chouji, once he saw that Shikamaru was okay with Naruto's words, thought nothing of them and just nodded. He didn't want to go on this stupid mission. He never really liked leaving Konoha for very long. It made him feel uneasy for some odd reason.

"Hey, what about me?!" Ino yelled at her fellow blonde. She was angry at Naruto for not caring so obviously whether she took offense to his statement or not. "And what do you mean 'washed up second-rate'?!"

Secretly, both Sakura and Sasuke agree with Naruto. Sure, this would be their first C-Ranked mission, but how hard could it be? All they had to do was escort an old man back to his home and protect him from a couple of bandits on the way. Back up was hardly necessary.

For Sasuke, this was a great blow to his pride. What did Kakashi call another team for? Did he think that they wouldn't be able to handle it by themselves? (Okay, so maybe Sasuke would have to do pretty much everything on his own because – let's face it – his teammates consisted of the Village Loser, a useless girl who could hardly think for herself and a lazy ass Jounin, but still…) Besides, having one fangirl on the team was bad enough. He didn't need another leech tagging along.

"Now, now, Naruto," Kakashi scolded lightly with his eye closed in an invisible smile. "Be nice because for the rest of this mission, these 'washed up second-rates' are going to be your teammates."

"Temporary teammates," Ino growled. "It's bad enough that I'm on the same team as these two," here Ino shot Chouji and Shikamaru a glare ("Troublesome woman," Shikamaru mumbled, pretty much ignoring the female blonde's words), "I'd rather fight one-on-one with the Kyuubi than be on the same team as that Loser and Sakura. Her forehead takes more-than-enough space as it is; I'm surprised there's enough room in your team for three more."

"What was that, you pig?!" Sakura yelled.

"Of course, I wouldn't mind being on the same team as you, Sasuke-kun," Ino gushed, ignoring the others completely. "In fact, I'd be honored."

"Hn."

Naruto rolled his eyes. There it was. The Infamous Typical Uchiha Sasuke Reply For Everything. It was so great; no actual words were even needed.

Asuma eyed the six Genin warily. "For once, I agree with the brats," he said. "Kakashi, are sure this is such a good idea?" Asuma knew that Kakashi only suggested it because he wanted to keep an eye on Naruto and Shikamaru and thought that there would be a higher chance of them slipping up when they were together, but was Asuma really ready to send his team on a C-Ranked mission? Was his Genin ready?

"Now, now, everyone," Kakashi said with a wave of his hand as a placating gesture. "You kids can just think of this as a teamwork exercise. Once you've reached the rank of Chunin, you won't have to stay on the same team anymore and will have to become captains of your own teams with different people being assigned to you on different missions. It's bad to get too comfortable with the teammates you have now, only for you to be uncooperative when you have to work with those who you aren't used to working with or don't like.

"Remember, you're all Konoha Shinobi now, which mean, one day, it will be up to you to work and fight together for our village. You don't want to let our people die just because you refuse to work with certain people, do you?"

At his words, the girls hung their heads in guilt, Chouji fashioned a thoughtful look on his face as did Shikamaru – though Naruto could sense the unease and contemplation under the expression and could only assume that the lazy-ass was trying to think of a way they could use this unexpected change of plans to their advantage without changing much of the original plan. Sasuke turned his head away uncomfortably – though his expression didn't change one bit.

Naruto's face scrunched up to a frown as he thought of something. "So what are we gonna call ourselves while we're on this mission?" he questioned. "Team um… 17?"

"Hn," Sasuke snorted. "I'm surprised you could count that high, dobe."

Naruto's eyes narrowed dangerously. "What was that, teme?!"

"Naruto-baka, don't call Sasuke-kun a 'teme'!" both Ino and Sakura yelled together.

"So you're deaf as well as dumb, huh Usaratonkachi?" Sasuke smirked.

"Are you trying to pick a fight with me or something, Uchiha?!"

"Why would I? We both know that I'm going to win. I always do."

Kakashi's eye crinkled into a U-shaped line. The masked Jounin took Naruto's earlier question as his way of saying that he'd let Team 10 help them on their mission. "Call it whatever you like," Kakashi said as he tussled Naruto's hair fondly. "Our objective remains the same, even if our name changes."

Tazuna decided that that was the perfect time for him to cut in. "Speaking of our objective," the slightly sober bridge builder grumbled while he let his eyes scan their surroundings, as if he were expecting anyone to jump on them at any moment and his muscles tense, ready to flee if necessary. "I'd very much prefer it if we made it back to my country today, thank you very much."

Kakashi rubbed the back of his head in a sheepish manner and apologized. "Right, sorry about that," he said. "C'mon, you kids. Let's go."

"We're not kids!" Naruto yelled in agitation. "We're Shinobi now! That means that we're officially and legally grown adults, dattebayo!"

"Yes, yes," Kakashi said dismissively as they began their journey. "You're all very mature and adult-like. I'll promise to treat you guys to some sake the moment we get back."

Naruto froze.

"Don't drink any alcohol until you're at least twenty."

"Never mind," Naruto grumbled. "Forget I said anything, 'ttebayo." There was absolutely no way in hell he was going to drink anything with alcohol in it – at least, not until he was old enough. If his mom ever finds out, she would be pissed. And yes, she will find out. Because she was Naruto's mother and Naruto had always been told by the others how mothers always have this way of knowing what was going on with their children.

Mothers were just awesome like that.

XxX

"Is that him? The target?"

"Yes. The description fits him perfectly."

"Looks like he hired some help."

"Hmph. Tree Huggers. Their just a bunch of brats and a couple of old geezers – I mean, do you see the hair on that one with the mask? He must be ancient."

"Nothing we can't take care of, then?"

"Of course not."

XxX

On their journey, Naruto walked up front with Sasuke and Shikamaru just two steps behind. Ino and Sakura walked behind Sasuke, alternating between staring dreamily at his back and glaring daggers at each other. Chouji was walking next to Asuma who took the rear with Tazuna walking between him and Kakashi. This position made it easier for them to protect their client and watch their charges at the same time.

They spent the first half-hour of their journey listening to Kakashi and Asuma's explanation of the Five Great Nations and their Five Kages. Shikamaru didn't really pay much attention to what they were saying – he'd already personally met and fought alongside the – future – Kages and against the long – and soon to be – dead ones, at least once. After all, being a close friend of the Shinobi World Savior had its own set of pros and cons.

And don't get him wrong, Shikamaru wasn't ignoring his once-dead sensei because he was too lazy to listen – though that was part of it – he was just too occupied with thinking up the necessary adjustments to his plans.

You see, the original plan was for Team 7 to go to Nami no Kuni and face Zabuza and Haku alone because this time, they wanted the two nuke-nins alive. They had to be for the second phase of the plan to have any hope of succeeding. But with Asuma here, things just got fifteen times more complicated. If it was only Kakashi who would be fighting Zabuza, then the ex-Kiri nin's chances of survival would be exponentially higher. Naruto just had to be fast enough to help Zabuza dodge the fatal blow from Kakashi's Chidori and keep Haku from interfering by trying to protect his master once more – Naruto already had the Immobility Seal ready for that precise job.

But with both Kakashi and Asuma fighting – the Copy-Nin of a Thousand Jutsus and one of the Great Twelve Guardian Shinobi – Zabuza's chances of survival just went screaming down the metaphorical drain. And if one of them decided to take care of Haku and the other Zabuza, then, though Zabuza would have a higher chance of staying alive until the end, Haku would just lose all of his.

And like he said, they needed both of them alive for the second phase.

Shikamaru gave a mental groan.

Normally, Shikamaru didn't mind having complicated plans – it would only give his chances of surviving to see tomorrow's clouds roll by all the higher – but what he did mind was when an unexpected factor makes the plan more complicate for him. What the hell was Asuma-sensei thin-?

"What about you, Shikamaru?" Kakashi said unexpectedly, interrupting the lazy genius's thoughts.

The young Nara clicked his tongue. "I won't even pretend I heard the question," Shikamaru said honestly. "Too troublesome."

Ino glared at the pony-tailed boy. "Stupid Shikamaru," she hissed. "Don't embarrass us in front of Sasuke-kun's sensei."

"Kakashi-san asked us what it was like being in Team 10," Chouji supplied helpfully. "Ino and I already answered but you just stayed quiet."

"Oh." Shikamaru looked at Chouji expectantly – or as expectant as his laziness allowed him to be – and asked, "What did you say?"

Ino snorted. She – like every other person from their class back at the Academy – knew of Shikamaru's love for cloud-watching, but this had to be one of those times where the saying 'head in the clouds' could be used for the usually observant genius. "I told him what a pain it was for someone as smart and skilled as me to be working with someone as lazy and useless as you."

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow at Ino's direction. "Sorry to burst your bubble, your majesty," he drawled sarcastically. "But I was asking Chouji, not you."

Ino answered the young Nara's statement with a glare.

"It's great," Chouji said with his mouth half-full of barbeque flavored chips. "The missions are easy…"

"Of course they are," Ino butted in. "We're full-fledged Shinobi now. There's nothing we can't handle."

"…Shikamaru's a great sparring partner…"

"That's because he doesn't really do much when you two spar. All he does is stand there in front of you while whining about how troublesome fighting is."

"…And Asuma-sensei's a good teacher. He even pays for our food after we're done with our missions!"

"And gets his wallet thoroughly cleaned out as a result and… What? Nothing about me?"

Chouji paused and frown in contemplation. "You're an okay teammate, Ino… I guess."

"Just 'okay'?" Ino scowled. "And that 'I guess' at the end wasn't necessary, you know!"

Chouji continued eating.

Shikamaru hummed. "Giving you guys a long answer would be too troublesome," he said. "So, I'll just go ahead and agree with everything Chouji said."

"And you three?" Asuma asked the remaining Genin. "How're you kids holding up in Team 7?"

Naruto angled his head backwards to look at his teammates separately. "It's okay,dattebayo," he answered honestly before a slight grin made its way to his face. "But it would be a hundred times better if the teme there didn't scowl or glare at anything that breathes twenty-four hours a day."

Sasuke shot a glare at Naruto's direction – which only served to make Naruto's grin widen at having his words proven right. "Hn," Sasuke grunted before a small smirk crawled onto his lips. "Well, for me, things would be a thousand times better if the Dobe said something smart or useful for once in his life."

Naruto stopped dead in his tracks – just as he was about to step on a puddle – before he turned around to glare at Sasuke. "Teme!"

"Usaratonkachi," Sasuke replied in a much lower volume with his glare back in full-force.

Sakura sighed. "I know my days would be infinitely better if Sasuke-kun and Naruto stopped trying to bite each other's heads off every five minutes."

Naruto and Sasuke only continued growling at each other, completely ignoring Sakura's words. "You want me to say something useful, teme? Fine!"

The others stopped in their steps in confusion at Naruto's unexpected declaration.

"There're only supposed to be nine of us, right?" Naruto said with a sly smirk.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "And? What's your point, Dobe?"

Naruto's smirk grew. "Nothing, really," he said with a shrug. "'Just thought I should tell you guys that, right now, I'm sensing eleven people not nine, 'ttebayo."

SPLASH!

XxX

The next morning…

Murmurs of young children could be heard in the halls of Konoha's Shinobi Academy. At least two dozen eight-year-olds could be seen standing in the second-floor corridor with their eyes and mouths wide-open at the display of…chaos(?)… utter brilliance(?)… sheer insanity(?)… before their eyes.

"Unbelievable…" a boy with snot dripping from his nostrils sniffed in amazement.

"Who could have done this…?" a girl with orange hair tied up in two large pigtails gasped. Her dark eyes were sparkling with horror, shock and a slight hint of admiration.

"Woah!"

"My eyes! Their burning!"

"This is a genjutsu, isn't it? A whacked out test the senseis put up for us, right? S-someone, please tell me this isn't real!"

"Wait, does this mean that class is canceled?"

"This is the best!"

"Shotaro, you baka! It's not the best! This is the worst!"

"Yeah! Who do you think the senseis will make clean up?"

"What? Iruka-sensei isn't that cruel… right? Right?"

"Yes, he is."

"Aw man!"

Speak of the Devil…"What's all the noise about?" a man with his hair tied in a pony-tail and a scar across the bride of his nose asked the students.

"Iruka-sensei!" one of the girls cried. "Look at this! Just look at it!"

"B-But, before you do, oh wise and fair Iruka-sama… Er, I mean sensei. Iruka-sensei. Did I say 'sama'? Oh, silly me, hahaha. Anyway, just thought you should know that I have absolutely nothing to do with this and-"

"He's lying, Iruka-sensei! Ichiro and Kazuki always lie! They probably did this!"

"Wha-? Hey, don't put me into the same category as that idiot!"

"What did you call me?!"

Iruka had been paralyzed by the shock of the sight that had once been a classroom. His jaw had dropped to the floor with an audible 'BANG!' and his skin had morphed into a color that could probably rival the Uchiha's pale complexion. The classroom was… was… Oh, he didn't even know any appropriate adjectives he could use for what lay before him.

Everything in the classroom had been turned upside down. Literally.

The chairs and tables were stuck onto the ceiling with… wait, were those seal tags? The books and papers, even the floorboards, everything! THE class looked like it really did get turned upside down!

And every wide flat surface, the walls, the floor-turned-ceiling, the ceiling-turned-floor, the door and the windows… had been painted a blinding neon-orange color! The entire class was a literal eyesore!

"But, really though, Iruka-sensei, none of us had anything to do with this. We have no idea who did this. Heck, we're just as surprised as you are."

"I'm not," a boy said.

Iruka turned to the student who had spoken. Sarutobi Konohamaru who had gotten a punch upside the head courtesy of his ex-student Uzumaki Naruto and had since then, gotten a complete make-over.

The boy no longer wore that hideous helmet and now donned green goggles exactly like the ones Naruto had worn before he'd graduated. But his appearance wasn't the only thing that had changed. Konohamaru was now less cocky and didn't come barging into the Sandaime's office – interrupting meetings and mission briefings – like before. He was now taking his Shinobi training more seriously, though still contained the same bright and cheerful personality.

"Wh-What do you mean, Konohamaru-kun?" Iruka asked with a slight sense of dread. The young teacher already knew who it was that had done this. Oh, he knew – the orange paint was a dead giveaway. He just hoped that the young Sarutobi would somehow prove him wrong.

"Look there," he said, pointing to the upside-down blackboard.

On its dark surface, written upside-down in multi-colored chalk and crude kanji were the words…

UZUMAKI NARUTO, THE GREATEST SHINOBI IN HISTORY, WAS HERE!

Next to the words, were a Chibi-drawn picture of the culprit's grinning face and the fingers of one of his hands in the 'V for Victory' position. Surrounding the words were many other drawing such as Konoha's insignias, red swirls, narutos (the ramen-topping) and bowls of steaming ramen.

"I see," Konohamaru mumbled under his breath with bright flames glowing bright in his eyes. "So, what you're trying to show is that I've gotta try harder to defeat you? Yes, that's it. Come at you when you least expect it… then strike! Yes, I understand everything now, Naruto-no-niichan!"

"Konohamaru-kun?" Moegi questioned. "Does that mean you know the guy who did this?"

Konohamaru snorted. "Know him? He's my Oyabun! The greatest Shinobi ever! Uzumaki Naruto!"

"R-Really?" Udon sniffed. "So, he's the one who helped you with your Henge?"

"Yup, that was him!" Konohamaru huffed with pride. "My Naruto-no-niichan!"

"Wow…" Moegi breathed as she eyed their destroyed classroom. That guy could do all this without anyone noticing him… He caught everyone off guard… even sensei…!

Like Moegi, Udon had also been frozen in sheer unadulterated amazement and admiration… just for a different reason. So, he's the one who taught Konohamaru that Jutsu… the one with the hot-babe… Something began dripping from the four-eyed boy's nose, but this time, it wasn't snot.

"Konohamaru-kun…" they both said at the same time.

"Yes…?" Konohamaru angled his head sideways in confusion.

"Please let us join you as apprentices under the great master's tutelage!" they exclaimed with their heads bowed so low they almost touched the floor.

"Who…?" Konohamaru began as he backed up in confusion

"Him!" Udon and Mogi yelled at the same time. "Your Oyabun…!"

A part of Iruka was greatly disappointed. A Shinobi was supposed to be good at covering his tracks. What Naruto did was the equivalent to giving the enemy his own biography. Honestly, had he taught the boy nothing? …but, then again, considering the fact that Naruto had left for his first C-Rank just yesterday, maybe Naruto had thought this one through after all.

Wait a minute… C-Rank… yesterday…

"But I'm not the kid who used to pull pranks anymore, 'ttebayo! I'm a Genin now! I've grown up!"

That liar!

Iruka began chuckling as a dark aura surrounded him. "'Greatest Shinobi', huh? More like dead Shinobi!" he growled. "'Grown up' my ass! Damn you…!"

"UZUMAKI NARUTO!" three voices yelled as one – two in admiration and wonder and the other – the oldest – in rage.

Their voices were so loud; the prankster himself could have sworn he heard it all the way from Nami no Kuni.

XxX

Recommended fic of the chapter: Uchiha Obito, Ghost! By Namikaze Artemis – a Naruto fanfic.