Different Promotions
Kyoko clapped as Sasuke was given the title of Head Medic which was quite the feat considering he was only fifteen and a Chunin. The two of them were waiting for Naruto to return to Konoha in order to take part in the Jounin exam. It was not necessary as she and Naruto were Tokubetsu Jounin but they both wanted to give Sasuke their full support and stand by his side no matter what. He could have easily become a Jounin now that he received the new title but he had declined under the pretext of learning more. Kyoko in the meantime had flourished under Kakashi and Gai's tutoring, learning how to use different weapons and Taijutsu.
Kakashi knew how to use different weapons but his favourite was kenjutsu but he had taught Kyoko everything. Gai on the other hand had Kyoko train alongside his team which had made Tenten and the boys beam at him in delight. Gai was pleased to see his students happy despite the tension that was rising in Konoha due to Orochimaru being part of a group of powerful Shinobi. Many high ranking ANBU had been spending most of their time searching for clues around the land of fire. A few months ago Kyoko had another encounter with Oto - nin who wanted to capture her alive. It had sent Konoha into another frenzy and Tsunade - hime had ordered an increase in the security.
Kyoko, "We should celebrate. Come on!"
Sasuke, "Sure! Mom and Dad told me I could invite anyone I want. But who's in Konoha?"
Kyoko, "Ino and Chouji have their first Chunin level mission. Shikamaru is with them so they are out."
Sasuke, "Naomi - chan's team are already at the compound most probably."
Kyoko, "Um, I think Hinata, Shino and Kiba should return tonight from their own mission."
Sasuke, "What about Lee, Neji and Tenten?"
Kyoko shook her head, "They are on an escort mission. They will be gone till next week."
Sasuke, "Things have become more hectic ever since everyone got their promotion to Chunin."
Kyoko, "True, but that's how life is I guess. The stronger you become the more responsibilities you end up with."
Sasuke, "I see Kakashi - Sensei. Sensei, come over to my place. We are having a celebratory dinner."
Kakashi, "Of course, my little student. Do you mind if I get someone to join me?"
Kyoko, "Of course not, you know I enjoy feeding others a lot. Call your friends Sensei."
Kakashi, "Thank you kiddos. I will see you later."
Kyoko watched him disappear, "How is your and Naruto's courting going?"
Sasuke, "It's going well. I mean we spent many years together so the Elders are not breathing down my neck about it. We have been exchanging letters and gifts with each other though."
Kyoko nodded, "That's good to hear, if anyone gives you a headache of any sort just inform me. I will deal with those nosey idiots."
Sasuke chuckled, "I have no doubt about that."
On the other side of the country Naruto was pulling Jiraiya from another bath house while under henge. At this point, Naruto had given up counting how many times he had to apologize to the ladies in the bath houses. The ladies liked the blond girl, he henged into with the warm brown eyes and chubby cheeks who always seemed to be able to catch the perverted man. Naruto however could do without hearing complaints from the ladies about the man in every town they visited. It was getting really old, really fast, maybe he should make a seal for his eyes specifically which gets triggered by hot spring steam. That would keep him from peeping on the girls, he gets most of his information on Shinobi around the world at the bars anyway.
Naruto gave a grin, "Yes, that sounds like a great idea. He he he he he!"
Jiraiya felt a shiver go down his spine, 'What was that?'
Naruto looked at the latest letter he received from Sasuke, it listed his latest promotion at the newest branch of the Hospital. Naruto was feeling very proud of his fiance, they had officially become engaged a few hours before he actually left the village with Jiraiya. Kyoko had pulled Naruto aside and given him a ring she had created after Naruto had given her a design of what he wanted. Kyoko had found a very old book with ring designs that was popular among the Uzumaki clan members. Naruto still does not know how she found such a treasure book, he had gone through it and found that one design that really spoke to him. It was a ring with swirls and thunder seals on it, it reminded him of Sasuke for some reason and he liked it.
When Naruto had proposed to Sasuke with the sapphire encrusted ring, he had been surprised then very ecstatic as he hugged and kissed Naruto. Then Sasuke pouted, well as much as an Uchiha would pout as he took out a ring as well to give him saying he was waiting for the right time to pop the question. The dark haired boy took out a ruby ring with onyx stones around the ruby in the middle, it looked very mysterious. Sasuke had said it was tradition to use Onyx and Ruby in proposals. Naruto had been very touched and Kyoko had cheered with the other shinobi throwing colorful petals in the air. Kyoko had even promised to make a special cake to celebrate their engagement properly after Naruto returned home.
Jiraiya, "What's with that goofy smile?"
Naruto, "That's rich coming from you who always smiles like an idiot. Oh! I guess I picked up your habit."
Jiraiya froze, "Very funny gaki! Is that another letter?"
Naruto, "Yup, the fox summons are very sweet and helpful. Sasuke's cats too actually."
Jiraiya opened his mouth then closed it when the chibi Kyuubi opened an eye daring him to protest. His fox kits are all adorable and he will not allow a frog summoner to insult them and speaking of summons, Naruto is a fifteen year old now. He is at the minimum age to safely learn how to use Sage mode, well he can already use raw chakra. It was a matter of using it during battle now, he needed to talk with the Sage about it and dragged the spluttering man to another room to chat. Naruto waved at them as they left looking at the ring he had sealed away safely behind a seal that only he could open. Just looking at the ring made him smile like an idiot in love, he would return home to Sasuke soon.
Jiraiya returned around night time, "I am back gaki. I also have a training plan for you. I will be training you to become a Sage. I will teach the basics and once you master them Kyuubi will take over."
Naruto's eyes sparkled, "You will teach me to change forms like nee - chan can?"
Jiraiya, "Yes.. Wait what do you mean by that?"
Kyuubi, "What sunshine here means is Naiko has a natural talent for Sage chakra. Unfortunately the amount of time she can remain in that mode is limited, similar to the Jūgo kid from Oto."
Jiraiya sat down, "Why am I not surprised? Does anyone else know?"
Naruto, "Kakashi - Sensei does and Tsunade baa - chan too. She figured it out when she was healing her."
Jiraiya, "You brats are a handful."
Naruto, "We just know what we want, no questions asked."
Jiraiya drawled dryly, "We noticed. Well, as long as it does not endanger the village it is fine."
Kyuubi, "Best to go with the flow. It is much less headache inducing."
Jiraiya, "I can see that."
Kyuubi rumbled as he settled down on the fluffy pillows Naruto had gathered for him over the years. The blond had figured out the fox loved and enjoyed sleeping on really soft pillows and blankets. When Kyoko heard it she and the girls had made an entire set of pillows and blankets for the fox one pillow each for every tail. It was a sweet gesture but Naruto knew it was Kyoko being Kyoko, she did not expect anything back for the gifts she gave others. It was one of the main reasons they were all very protective of her and always kept an eye on those who approached her, let them be men or women.
Kyuubi, "Work hard little sunshine, I have a bad feeling."
Naruto paused his brush, "You mean the Akatsuki?"
Jiraiya, "Know something I don't?"
Kyuubi looked at the moon, "I cannot put my finger on it but something about them feels very familiar and not in a nice way either."
Jiraiya, "Like you met them before and they tried to kill you, way?"
Kyuubi, "No, much worse."
Naruto returned to his seal, "Well, I better get stronger and knowing nee - chan, she is no doubt making sure the others are training as well."
Kyuubi, "She is charismatic, isn't she?"
Kyuubi watched as Naruto smiled while working on the seal that Kyoko and he had come up with but had gotten distracted by other things to complete it. The fox remembered when he first met Naruto as a baby, he barely remembered the first night because of the bloody illusion that he was under. Kyuubi was really angry back then, angry at war, angry at the traitorous humans and angry at the world in general. Then he felt it, his father's chakra which he had not felt for a long time, not after he passed away, after locking his own mother, their grandmother away. That had been one messy family affair all on itself and he was not going to touch that even with ten tails.
Kyuubi had watched her obsessively and found many similarities between her behaviour and his late father's attitude. It was like watching his father being reborn as a little girl, it was around this time that he started to pay attention to Naruto and Sasuke. He had then noticed they were reincarnations too. Unlike their original incarnations however they loved each other with all of their heart and soul. This had made Kyuubi laugh especially when he remembered how Indra had sworn to be Ashura's enemy even during their reincarnations. It would give him a big chuckle when his dear half brothers finally wake up the way they normally do and receive the shock of the century.
Kyuubi, 'I dread the future but I also look forward to it.'
In Suna they were celebrating the newly chosen Kazekage, Gaara who had been given the hat because of how far he had come as a Tokubetsu Jounin and in his studies. The Chunin, Jounin and Tokubetsu Jounin had all gone through the lessons and done their best in the test. Gaara had cleared all the tests with the highest marks and had been nominated as the new Kage of Suna. Tsunade had sent a letter of support welcoming him to the group of Kages of the shinobi nation. Kyoko, Naruto and Sasuke had sent congratulatory letters and various gifts for him. Those ranged from a new seal from Naruto to the latest recipe from Kyoko and a very delicate medical plant from Sasuke.
Temari, "These are really nice gifts."
Gaara nodded, "Yes, Naruto's clone however lectured on reading this scroll about the seal till I memorized it completely first."
Kankuro chuckled, "That is to be expected. Naruto is a seal master and they know how powerful and dangerous their seals can be."
All the way in Kusa a certain red haired Chunin was training hard to become a powerful medic. She had seen the respect that Naiko - san had from the village shinobi and she wanted that respect too. She had met with her clan member Naruto while Naiko - san was unconscious and introduced herself to him. It had taken a while but Naruto believed her, he believed her when she said she was an Uzumaki. Uchiha - san was suspicious of her which was normal, she would be too if a stranger approached someone she loved claiming relation. But he had come around and taught her how to punch using chakra but she added her own flare to it.
She would no longer be a weak little medic whose only use was her healing bloodline. No, this time she was the medic in charge and called the shots, she would heal them like a normal person. Anyone who was against that could answer her fists, she survived against a Sannin invasion and she was going to milk that reputation for everything it meant. Karin only hoped that one day maybe just one day she could meet her clan member as an equal and not as the weak Genin she had been before. She would be one of Kusa's strongest Jounin and show the world that the Uzumaki are not to be underestimated.