The trip back to Konoha ends up taking half the time the trip to Iron Country did. Whereas on the way to the exams we had time to spend slogging through the unfamiliar terrain, we're now on the clock. Hatake and Gai push us hard the whole way back, determined to squeeze as much training out of the break as possible. So instead of taking two weeks to get back home and leaving the next day to make it in time for the finals, we arrive at the giant forests encircling Konoha in five days.
"Alright, the path is right below us," Hatake calls a couple hours after we enter. "Drop down. We'll walk the rest of the way."
I'm more than happy to follow that particular order, and land on the familiar dirt path leading to Konoha in a light crouch. I stand up and stretch my arms behind my neck, basking in the atmosphere of Konoha's natural defense. It's been almost a month since I've seen it, and I'm just now realizing how much I missed it.
Sakura lands heavily beside me, sighing in relief at the break in pace, and I shoot her a grin. "Good to be home, huh?"
"Yeah," she agrees, smiling. "The Samurai's forest is nice, but it's not quite the same."
Sasuke touches down on the other side of me, and I give him a grin, too. I decided pretty quick after we left Iron Country that I wasn't going to let something as stupid as a promotion make things weird between us. I can freak out about fighting him on my own time, and if worst comes to worst and I lose in the first round, well…
I'll deal with that when it comes.
"Come along, children," Hatake's voice drifts to us from further down the path, and we strike up an easy jog to catch up. Hatake and Team 9 are walking on the path just up ahead, our two sensei apparently content with the ground we've covered so far. Hatake raises a hand to us as we jog up, curling his fingers in a summoning motion.
"I'm sure you three are wondering how I'll be training you for the next two weeks," he says, and the three of us nod. It's been gnawing at me since we left. Gai I can see managing the whole break by himself since he's training two Taijutsu specialists like himself, but Hatake can't even channel wind chakra. He's obviously got tons of stuff he could teach Sasuke, and he's probably got some more sealing stuff he could teach Sakura, but what can he do for me in two weeks besides drill me on the Dancing Fist some more? I can't even practice that technique he was showing me before the exams because I don't have my tanto anymore.
Ugh, there I go again, thinking about that. I'm not supposed to think about that until after I beat Sasuke, which I'm sure as hell not going to do with the Dancing Fist alone.
Yeah, you could say I've been wondering.
"Well, don't worry, I'm not going to try and train you all myself. With the time constraints we have, along with the need for secrecy while you're training, it wouldn't be fair to anyone. So until after the exams you three are going to be split up for your individual training."
"Who's going to teach us?" Sasuke asks.
I nod eagerly. "What he said."
He chuckles. "Well, first off, I'll be training Sakura."
Huh. Didn't expect that one. Neither did Sakura or Sasuke, from the looks of it.
"What about Sasuke?" Sakura asks, voicing our thoughts.
"I sent a summon back to Konoha when we first set out to set up training for Sasuke and Naruto, and Sasuke's brother agreed to take him while he's on leave," Hatake explains, and Sasuke relaxes.
"What about me?" I prod. Who could he have gotten for me on such short notice? Are there even any jonin in Konoha that use wind jutsu? What if he couldn't find anything, and he's just going to have me work on scrolls until the finals? He wouldn't do that, would he? He likes to screw with me, but he doesn't hate me. I don't think so, anyway.
Hatake reaches out and ruffles my hair, as if to reassure my queasy thoughts. "I managed to weasel a favor out of one of the other jonin sensei, Asuma, so he'll be training you after he meets with his own team. You'll find him in training ground ten every day after noon." And just like Sasuke, I relax.
"Thanks, sensei."
"Don't mention it."
We arrive at Konoha's towering gates about three hours later, padding up to the North gate behind a small line of civilians waiting to be admitted. After a few minutes we make it to the chunin checkpoint, and Gai slides a slip of paper across the wooden desk. The chunin on guard takes the slip and looks over it with tired eyes. A moment later he blinks, looking back up at us in realization.
"Hey, you're the guys Hokage-sama sent off to the Chunin Exams." Hatake hums in confirmation, and the guy sweeps over us with bloodshot green eyes. "So, what were the damages this year? Anyone make it to the finals?"
Hatake's eye crinkles. "Yup."
"Oh yeah?" The guard props his chin on one hand, regarding our sensei with interest. "Which one? Or ones?"
"All of them."
The guard snickers. "Bullshit."
"It is true," Gai assures him. The guard snickers some more, but then he sees the dead serious look on Gai's face and pauses.
"Wait, you're serious? All of them made it through?" He leans back in his chair, baffled. "I'll be damned. When was the last time that happened?"
"Before the creation of the second Chunin Exams," Gai supplies. The guard whistles.
"Not bad, kids," he says, inclining his head in acknowledgment. "Those exams are no joke, especially for us. Glad someone's picking up the slack after the last few years." He flicks a hand, prompting the chunin atop the gates to wave us through, and we make a beeline for the Hokage tower.
The receptionist lets us into the old man's office as soon as Gai mentions the Chunin Exams, the ANBU on door duty materializing out of thin air to open the doors for us, and we head into the Hokage's office. Inside, the old man is doing paperwork. Same as always. His hat is set on the back of his chair, and a pipe made of dark, polished wood hangs from the corner of his mouth. After the ANBU closes the door behind us he makes one more scrawl on the piece of paper in front of him and turns his attention to us.
"Ah, Naruto," he says, plucking the pipe from his lips and putting it aside. "I was wondering when you'd make it back." He smiles, looking over at my teammates and Team 9. "It seems I was wrong to doubt the five of you. I hear you've all done quite well so far."
"Hell yeah we have," I say, grinning. "The other villages didn't know what hit them."
"I'd imagine not," he says in amusement. "Am I safe to assume I'll be seeing you all compete in the tournament, then?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
"Good. I'll be leaving for the Land of Iron in just under a week, so I'm afraid I won't be able to accompany you on the trip back. The Daimyo insists that we arrive together, so I'm going to need to leave early so I can make the detour to the Capital," he explains, shaking his head in exasperation. "Just another perk of becoming old and agreeable, I suppose."
I snort. "You're not fooling anyone, old man."
He laughs. "I'll take that as a compliment." He drops his pen and leans back in his chair. "Now, if I recall correctly, you two had something you wanted to tell me?" He says, raising an eyebrow at Hatake and Gai.
"Yes, sir," Hatake says. Then he looks at us and flicks his head towards the door. "Run along, you three. Team training starts first thing in the morning tomorrow, so make sure you get some rest."
"Wait, what?" I blurt. "We're still doing team training?"
"Of course," he says cheerfully. "Can't let the exams disrupt our team dynamic. Don't forget to skip breakfast and pack sashimi in your lunches! It's my favorite."
The Hyuuga of our group smirks. "Your sensei makes you bring him lunch?"
"Shut the hell up, Neji."
...
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