Chapter 39

"What's so funny?" He questioned, his tone curious."

"This isn't the first time your little head games got you into some crap you know. You remember the time when we had to rescue the Daimyo's cousin's nephew or some such thrice removed relative or something."

"I believe it was his niece's daughter." He drawled a smirk finding its way onto his lips.

"And then you decided to kidnap her instead."

"It was Jiraiya's idea, we had to get out and you know he could never be cruel to little children."

"What I remember is sanctions! Lots of them. For all of us and I wasn't even involved in your little stunt. And the worst postings in Kusa ever! It rained for those whole three months."

"You weren't scot-free of your little flubs either hime." He chuckled. Need I remind you of a certain incident with a Kumo chuunin and a little sak-"

"Finish that sentence and I will kill you with your own teacup. We were never to speak of that again!"

The snake chuckled.

She smiled back serving herself some more tea. "Still...we always managed to work it out and pull ahead."

His smile was still there but it was a thin thing at his next words.

"Except for the one time we didn't."

The clinking of her spoon stopped; then, it resumed.

"Yeah...except for the one time we didn't..."

"They called us 'heroes' for that one time. That might not happen this time, at least...not on a level that matters."

"What exactly did you do."

"I'd rather not get into it. If I say then you'll just get mad and then I'll have to argue with you for three hours until you try to punch me or destroy half my apartment and I'm just not in the mood. You'll find out through the rumor mill in a few days anyway. Then you can come back and try to kill me when I'm in a better mood."

She shrugged. "Suit yourself I guess. Wouldn't it be better just to get it all over with in one day though?"

"It would. But you nag."

"I do not! Old women do that!"

"You said it, not I." He laughed.

She threw the teacup at him.

-0-

It was three weeks away from the exams when The sannin and his team stood in the village square, with the three students decked out in their finest clothes (bought and provided by their sensei upon a strong suggestion from the Hokage.

It wasn't every day, after all, when they were to meet the Daimyo of Hi-no Kuni.

"This itches."

"Shh." Kyofu hissed.

The blond grumbled.

So far, half the village had turned up, lining the roads for a look at their seldom seen... ruler really. Ultimately the Kage answered to the Daimyo.

The other half was probably there too, just hiding better.

It wasn't long before they heard the beginings of the fanfare, with a lone horseman carrying the Daimyo's standard across the village, his horse galloping ahead of a small column that trotted through the village gates, crimson banners and gleaming sets of armor, swords and spears.

When one entered a militaristic village, one did so as a military leader.

He rode at the column's head, a man far younger than Sarutobi, thirties or early fourties at most, all his hair was still raven black in a top-knot over his head. His beard framing his mouth and chin was neat and trimmed, skin slightly more tan than most Hi-no kuni citizens. Two swords were strapped to his waist

The most surprising thing though, was his armor.

It was made of wood.

Wood scales like a dragon's hide covered the arms and legs in overlapping patterns, curved pauldrons looked sturdy enough to knock down a door, the curia had the leaf symbol and the Daimyo's name etched onto its front. The Helm, which was under his left arm depicted a dragon's head, fangs and scales and eyes that seemed unbelievably detailed given that it was a carving.

"Betcha he wont do well against Uchiha's." Ryoko snickered.

"He might." Kyofu corrected. "Every piece of that armor was supposedly made by the Shodaime himself. And the swords he has were forged by Madara-sama as well."

Bet that costs a pretty penny. Naruto thought. If it was even true of course. A lot of power could be held in mere rumors.

If it wasn't then the Daimyo was either really brave or really stupid to be walking around in a suit of wood in a place where people could breathe fire.

The man dismounted from his horse back straight, shoulders spread he handed off the helmet and marched up the stairs with little pomp or ceremony making a bee line straight for Sarutobi, several of his guard following close behind.

Hiruzen stood in the full regalia of his robes as the Hokage of Konohagakure.

The man marched right up, spread his hands out and smiled as he enveloped the older man in a hug that seemed to dwarf the elderly ninja.

"Its been too long old friend." He said, loud enough for the words to carry across the space.

"It has." Sarutobi answered much more soft spoken.

The younger man pulled back, crows feet showing as he smiled. "I only hear from you on formal occasions and funerals. We don't talk anymore, why is that?"

"Forgive me." Sarutobi answered. "I've been so focused on managing things here that I've...neglected other aspects of things that are not bound by duty."

The message was clear.

We're still weak.

The third war had barely been over before the Kyuubi rampaged through Konoha, killing a third of their standing shinobi forces at the time. Couple that with the grievous losses of the third war itself and Konoha had lost nearly half of their fighting force, six to seven hundred ninja of all ranks.

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