What is Worth Protecting? -Naruto

29# We're back.

It had been two months since Naruto had left Konohagakure and it seemed many of the people there had noticed the lack of prankster blonds running around the place. Many were glad that the blond up and disappeared.. but some of them like the Ichiraku's and Sandaime missed the happy go lucky blond... Although Hiruzen did know Naruto's mask had gaps, he knew the pranking was always enjoyable for the blue-eyed jinchuriki.

Said man was sitting behind his desk as he looked on, knowing that Ryouichi and the blond would be back any time now... The chunin exams were starting and for the entirety of the month, they would be staying with guards and even a few of their maids for the chunin exams, beginning to finish. The only reason was for Naruto to be there just in case, the more his student dug deeper into the sounds plotting the more Hiruzen didn't like it.

His student kept up all the information he could, even stopping his research fully to investigate the chunin exams down to the last person. He looked out the window in wonder what was to come in the passing month.

...

Elsewhere on the road to Konoha, three closed carriages were seen riding to the gates of the village. The chunin there stood straight up seeing the marks to show the Daimyo's presence. Many of the guards surrounding the Carriages made it known that the Daimyo would be staying there for quite a while. The chunin straightened up as the first one passed through before relaxing, knowing that the ruler of this land passed through their gates unharmed.

In the said first cart Naruto grimaced slightly as Ryou waved his hand in front of him and his whiskers were gone once more. Ryouichi took note of this and looked at him in confusion. "Sorry, It's just the ride has been bumpy and I'm scared that Haru-chan would wake up," Naruto stated as he looked down in his arms and the little babe was silently snoozing against Naruto's chest, cradling the baby in a cautious way... After Kurama finally deemed the baby fully developed he wasn't a cryer at all, only when he needed something and it made the two glad that they were going to get sleep.

Iren who was in the cart with them because of lack of space smiled at the two staring at the little babe and couldn't help but take in the baby's cuteness as well. Ryouichi smiled himself and grabbed his mask, Naruto blinked at it in curiosity. "This is how no one recognized me." Ryouichi voiced the unasked question making Naruto nod dumbfounded, well that was one unanswered question... He always did wonder how Ryou wasn't being swarmed after being seen... I guess it made sense now.

Iren looked out the curtained window next to her and hummed in wonder, she knew Konoha was a lot smaller than the capital but she always wondered as to what it might look like. Naruto looked over at her and smiled. "First time being here?" Iren jumped slightly and looked over and smiled sheepishly, "Sort of, I was born here. But my family moved before I even could crawl." Naruto nodded at that before smiling happily. "Well, we can show you around! But you might have to not call us Naruto-Sama and Ryou-sama."

Iren frowned at that and looked curiously at Ryouichi for an answer and he smiled too, "When we aren't in our disguises." She shook her head in disbelief. "You shouldn't be in disguises, you are the Daimyo." She reminded making Ryou smile sheepishly. "Well... We won't be in disguises after the chunin exams." Iren gave him a look as if he was forgetting something, seeing he was confused she voiced her opinion. "And when I call you Ryou-sama and Naruto-sama your covers won't be blown?" she asked amused making Ryouichi open his mouth and then close it.

"I forgot about that..." Naruto snickered quietly at that but Ryouichi looked over at him and smiled at him. "Well just call us Daimyo-sama, when we are in the Hokage's office tell the others of our plan." Iren nodded at that, that obstacle was out of the way. The carriage suddenly stopped and Iren slowly grabbed the handle and looked towards Ryouichi who put his mask on and the hair slowly turned black and she pulled the door open...

Once again like last time, many were there to see the Daimyo and when Naruto came out they were fairly confused at the blond, Iren lightly bowed before the two, as Naruto ignored the stares as instructed by Ryouichi and they began walking to the Hokages office, the bundle in hand but out of sight from any of the onlookers. When Naruto got out of the stares he sighed in relief at that and began walking up the familiar stairs before an Anbu appeared before them and opened the door.

Ryouichi and Naruto silently sat down in the chairs that were in front of the Hokage as silence deafened the room. Hiruzen slowly waved his hand and the Anbu that were in the room disappeared and both of them sighed in relief. "It is good to see you Ryouichi, Naruto." Ryouichi pulling his mask off and nodding towards the senior Hokage while Naruto's whiskers slowly found their way back to his face. "Now I suppose we have to get down to business... Orochimaru." Ryouichi stated while Hiruzen nodded.

"We have a plan, although I'm not entirely fond of it..." Naruto admitted and lightly looked down at the little bundle in his arms. Hiruzen was fairly surprised hearing that they already had a plan. "We are going to participate in the chunin exams." Hiruzen's brow furrowed as Ryouichi said this. "I can't allow this," Hiruzen stated making Ryouichi smile slightly, he was doing it because he didn't want to have an incident with the Daimyo ending up dead in his village.

"I assure you we are more than capable of taking any jounin down, besides it's to protect this village, we need eyes on the inside, and trusting information to a genin who might not be able to see the difference between normal and not... that wouldn't be smart either, so you either take this plan or we go through this month blind." Ryouichi gave Hiruzen a look and tempted him to tell him he was wrong.

Hiruzen couldn't help but grimace inwardly, caught in the same trap as before... "Fine, who will look after Haruki-chan?" Hiruzen asked and looked down at the baby in Naruto's arms. "We brought many of our maids and of course my guards. No one will be able to touch him." The grin etching Ryou's face grew into a smirk. "And if they fail then we have one final last guard." Hiruzen frowned at that, wondering what he could be meaning. Hiruzen sat back in his chair giving them a look seeing if they were sure about this. "You still need another teammate, and besides your old team will be questioning you." 

Naruto smiled slightly at that, "We have our third teammate with us, they are outside, and for team 7... I'm still obligated to Konoha, I can't just quit... so I need to climb the ranks before I can fully be away from the village. Of course with the Kyuubi being sealed inside me it's impossible... But they don't know that besides Kakashi." The jinchuriki said making Hiruzen nod, it was impossible for him... of course, there was some leeway in this time of peace... but with the thought of his old student knocking at their door... He knew that peace was going to be gone soon.

"Very well, I will need the name of your sensei and teammate." Naruto couldn't help but chuckle sheepishly at that and looked up with a sly smirk. "Zabuza and Haku."

...

TBC

Short but i've been updating quite frequently... So yeah.

Word count 1327