Hinata and Naruto tensed up in unison. They were surrounded by at least twenty other ninja, trapped. The young shinobi couple stood back to back in the small clearing, while their opponents stayed hidden in the trees, some stationary, and others slowly circling. Hinata was wearing Ginmaki, though Naruto was without Kitsune.
"They're coming," Hinata whispered, her Suigin Byakugan active, "Get ready."
Naruto nodded. Then, as if an invisible signal went off, the first wave of kunai, shurikens, and needles emerged from the woods from all directions. They both raised their right hands, pointer and middle fingers extended.
"Double Vision," they intoned in unison, "Protection of the Eight Trigrams, One Hundred Ninety Two Palms."
Their hands began to move, faster than most eyes could have followed. The streams of sharpened chakra were so intense and numerous, their afterglow gave the illusion of a fifteen foot dome around them. Another wave of weapons followed, faster and more numerous than the first, but these too were destroyed with ease. A particularly dense set of kunai blades came in front Hinata's left, and she turned slightly to face them directly. Naruto moved in unison, keeping his spine perfectly aligned to her, and continuing to knock down the attacks. A small barrage of stones flew towards his head, but he strengthened the energy blades he was shooting, and cut down the earth jutsu just as easily as the throwing weapons.
"Man, they are awesome," Kiba exclaimed, even as he opened the third pouch of shuriken he had been provided for the test. The pair had recruited most of their friends, teachers, and even a few other curious and willing Leaf shinobi, to help them test the new technique. A few feet away, Kakashi hurtled another set of six kunai, multiplying them sevenfold with the Shadow Shuriken jutsu, and on the other side of the clearing, Tenten did the same with her throwing stars. Konohamaru and Udon had run out of throwing blades already, too caught up in youthful enthusiasm, but they continued their part of the barrage with the Doton: Stone Bullets. Ino was mildly concerned by the enthusiasm with which Sakura aimed blades at Hinata.
"Why have you dragged me out here?" Hiashi Hyuga demanded of the Hokage.
"Just hold on a minute," she told him. She changed course slightly to avoid a dense stand of oak, and then stopped.
"There, I wanted you to see this," she pointed, "Of course, since you took so long, we're already late."
She moved forward, taking out her first set of partially blunted kunai, and throwing them at Hinata's right leg. Hiashi could not stop a small smile as he watched his daughter's defense. And the expression only became curious when he realized Naruto was part of the technique.
"What is this?" he asked evenly, "It looks like Hinata's Protection of the Eight Trigrams Sixty-four Palms, but how is Naruto using the technique?"
"Kariname Jutsu," she answered, letting a handful of shuriken fly, "Actually, Hinata has created a stronger version, one that fuses their sight. So Naruto effectively has the Byakugan, and Hinata uses him to cover the Hyuga blind spot."
He nodded.
"But why show me this?" he asked, "I am impressed, but why not tell me beforehand."
"So your opinion wouldn't be colored. Such perfect teamwork as a rare thing."
He chuckled, "That was not necessary. I have already come to the realization that my daughter could do far worse for a partner than Naruto Uzumaki."
"I'm glad to hear it," Tsunade smirked knowingly, "Very glad."
Shino moved his hands through the patterns, using the Shadow Clone Jutsu to create two copies of himself. The original stepped back, while the duplicates sent their swarms of cloned bugs to attack Hinata and Naruto. Hinata stepped forward to face the cloud with her superior speed, and Naruto picked up his own pace to cover the rest of the attacks. Besides their shared vision, each could tell what the other would do through their linked chakra, and the muscles of their backs. In less then three seconds, all of the replica bugs were destroyed.
"Alright," Gai roared, caught up in the moment. He ripped a giant rock free from of the earth, hefting it into a pitcher's stance. Shikamaru stepped away, looking worried. Before anyone could stop him, he threw the third-ton chunk of granite at Naruto and Hinata. Both teens' heads jerked to look at the stony missile. The other weapons slowed, as most of the attackers paused in concern. Hinata's right arm, and Naruto's left arm snapped out as one, as if they were connected at the wrist. They combined their strikes effortlessly, and the rock exploded. Their arms split apart again, and they individually destroyed the remaining pieces.
The test finally ended when their attackers ran out of ammunition. As the projectiles stopped flying, Naruto and Hinata ended the Jutsu with matched exhales of relief. Once it was safe, their friends flooded the field to congratulate them.
"I need to see Teams 7, 8, and 10 in my office," Tsunade announced when she entered the clearing. She caught Genma's eye, and her assistant nodded, before disappearing.
"It seems we are ready," the Hokage announced, despite the fact Sai and Kurenai were both missing.
"I have been considering this for a while," she informed them, "But what I have just seen clinches it. I have decided to eliminate your teams."
The Chunin's yells of protest combined into an incomprehensible roar. Only Kakashi, the only Jonin present, besides Tsunade and Shizune, and Shikamaru remained silent.
"QUIET!" the leader of the Leaf Ninja roared, and everyone complied.
"As it stands, none of your teams are complete. The Sai experiment failed, he will be returning to the ANBU. That leaves Kakashi short a Chunin, and the rest of you don't have a Jonin leader. Also, those outdated team numbers should have gone away as soon as you were accepted as Genin teams, but some how they stuck."
"What do you mean, we do not have a Jonin?" Shino asked, "Kurenai-sensei..."
"Will not be returning to normal duty," Tsunade explained. The Chunin began to shout questions again, but Tsunade raised her hand.
"I suppose I had better explain that part first," she sighed.
"The Kazekage and I have come up with a new way to strengthen the ties between our villages. We are each sending one Jonin to live in the other village, as a diplomat. Or as I like to think of it, a 'mutual hostage exchange'."
"Cute," Shikamaru said sardonically, "So we can refuse any mission that would put us at odds with the Sand, because they have one of our people. I'm guessing that's Kurenai?"
"Correct," the Hokage nodded, "Given that she is raising Saru alone, she felt it was too dangerous to be going out on missions. Instead, she will be helping Gaara set up an academy similar to our own. And in return..."
Shikamaru cut her off, saying "You might as well come out, Tema-chan."
The Sand Kunoichi appeared behind him, and punched him in the shoulder. Hard.
"I told you not to call me that in public," she griped, "Jerk."
"Wait, you two are?" Naruto's head jerked back and forth between the two of them, "But when I asked before, you said you weren't."
"That was then, this is now," Shikamaru said.
"ANYWAY," the Hokage said loudly, to regain their attention, "As I said, you are all short handed. So I am reforming the teams, starting today. Of course, there will always be times when you will have to work in different groups, but as before, these will be your primary partners."
"Team Kakashi, will continue to consist of Kakashi Hatake, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sakura Haruno," she explained, looking at the folder, "And as it would be foolish to separate such a perfectly synchronized duo, I'm also placing Hinata Hyuga on Kakashi's team."
Naruto and Hinata's eyes met. Hinata's white orbs sparkled with happiness, and Naruto grinned at her. Sakura groaned in disappointment, and Kakashi looked amused.
"Ino Yamanka, Choji Akimichi, and Shikamaru Nara," the medical Sannin continued, "You three mesh almost as well as your fathers, but you have become a little complacent, so your new Jonin teacher will get you back on track."
"You?" the lazy genius looked at his girlfriend expectantly. But Temari shook her head.
"No," Tsunade also denied, "As diplomatic envoy of the Sunagakure, Temari will be working directly with me on certain... special projects. No, you three will be working under Anko Mitarashi."
"Even worse," Shikamaru grimaced, as the abrasive Jonin appeared.
"Welcome to Team Anko, maggots," she addressed them, "It seems it's my job to whip you into shape. Since the only one of you I've worked with was Ino, and she was next to useless, I'm guessing this is gonna be a lot of fun."
Ino bristled, and Choji groaned in unison with Shikamaru.
"Shino Aburame and Kiba Inuzuka, that leaves you two down both a leader and a teammate," the Hokage regarded them, "So you will be serving on Yugao Uzuki's team."
Unlike Anko or Temari, Yugao did not just appear on the room. Instead, she politely opened the door, and bowed before she entered. Behind her another figure started to follow.
"And your new teammate will be..."
"Sasame!" Naruto exclaimed in recognition, running over to the girl, "It's been a while."
"Um, yes, Sasame Fuma," Tsunade sighed out the girl's name.
Physically, Sasame Fuma had changed little in the three intervening years. She was not even two inches taller, and her figure had matured only slightly. The thread user's straight orange hair still fell to the bottom of her back and retained the topknot peak, though her bangs were split. But her clothing had changed completely. Gone were the tomboyish cap, turtleneck vest, and shorts. She instead wore a tight, knee length, short sleeved, navy blue dress. Over the top of that she wore a leather vest breastplate and fauld. Her feet were partially covered by split sandals, and her hands by fingerless gloves. And noticeably, she had a Konoha Headband covering her forehead.
"It's nice to see you, Naruto, Sakura," she told them, "And I look forward to working with everyone."
"So you're joining the Leaf Village?" Sakura asked. The new girl nodded.
"The rest of the Fuma clan has joined with Hidden Sound Village," the Hokage explained, "But Sasame here seemed to think she owed a debt to us. We put her to the test, and she passed with flying colors. As of yesterday, Sasame Fuma is a Leaf Village Chunin in good standing."
"That's all," the Hokage concluded, "You're all dismissed."
"Alright worms, it's time to get to work," Anko smirked at her Chunin squad, and with more than a little trepidation, they let themselves be escorted out of the Hokage's office.
"I think we should have a party," Kiba suggested, "welcoming Sasame to the village."
"That's a great idea," Naruto nodded enthusiastically.
Sasame blushed, but did not protest. The remaining Chunin and Jonin exited the Hokage's office, leaving one man behind.
"Is there something I can do for you, Shino?" Tsunade asked him.
"I know it is not my place," his voice was as calm and even as always, "But are you sure you can trust that girl? She has worked for our enemies before."
"That time, she was both tricked and coerced by Orochimaru," she stared at him cannily, "And once she figured that out, she quickly went to helping Naruto and Sakura. Besides that, after the wringer we put her through, I'd have to say I trust her at least as much as any of the rest of you."
"Still, I am not comfortable working with her. The Fuma clan's thread techniques are based around snaring and immobilizing opponents. The have well earned the nickname of 'Clan of Spiders'. As an insect user..."
"I am well aware of the Aburame Clan's one-sided rivalry with the Fuma Clan," Tsunade leaned back, hiding her grin behind her hands. Smirking at Naruto might work, but handling Shino required a different tack, "I took it into account when making this decision. I think this will be a good chance for you; both to expand your horizons, and to help put your clan's little prejudice to rest. Now, if there is nothing else, I need to get back to work."
"No," Shino's frown and narrowed eyes were hidden, "Thank you for hearing me out, Lady Hokage."
"Do you think that will be a problem?" Shizune asked her teacher, after the door closed.
"No, Shino is pretty low-key," Tsunade considered out loud, "And by the book. It should work out."
"Sakura."
Aside from Shino, Sakura was the last to leave Ninja Ops. She trailed purposefully, in no mood to be carried along to their impromptu party. But as she left, she was called out to by Kakashi.
"Are you OK with this?" he asked carefully.
"Of course, sensei," she grinned weakly, "What makes you say that? Why wouldn't I be?"
"Other than your obvious annoyance?" he countered flippantly.
"It's just, all this lovey-dovey crap is starting to wear thing," she sighed, "I mean, Naruto never used to be like this."
"I know," the Copy Ninja agreed glibly, "He never used to fawn over someone he cared about, and kowtow to her every whim."
His right eye landed on her intently, and she sighed again, this time in defeat.
"OK, I get it," her false reasoning defeated, she pretended to surrender, "I'll cut them a little more slack."
"And I'll have a talk with them about all the PDAs," Kakashi offered, "So it doesn't get in the way of our missions."
"Thanks, Kakashi-sensei."