The Fighters from the Sand

Uzumaki Naruto looked around the office that morning two weeks later with awe, and abandon. Around them were the strongest Shinobi in the country, ranging from the Special Jounin down to the Genin. Lee, Neji and Naruto, there as a special favor to the Hokage by Genma and Gai, were a little intimidated by the much stronger, and powerful warriors in front of them.

"I've called you all here today," the Hokage said, instantly getting quiet running through the room, "because of a very important mission. The Kazekage of the Sand sent a messenger five days ago to Konoha, with a very important message. What we now have, paid by the Sand, is a C-ranked mission with B-ranked possibilities. I need three volunteers from this room to go on this mission. Your teammates will be notified that you are on a different mission, with another team because of necessity for the village.

Lee looked at Gai, and Genma, as if pleading for them to have the mission. Gai seemed reluctant, even with Neji on the team, because the Sand has been known to try and kidnap a Byakugan user before.

Genma had looked at Naruto, as if expecting reluctance, but saw resilience. He smiled, that kid never surprised him. "Hokage-sama" Naruto asked. The man smirked. Naruto knew why he was here. "Is that kid going to be there?"

Everyone looked at Naruto perplexed, the Hokage nodded, "more than likely, and yes. Gaara did graduate this year, and has been seen on a team with his brother and sister. Are you volunteering?"

Gai knew this was something of a secret between the two, and was anxious as all out to find out what was going on. Genma, on the other hand, figured it had to do with the Kyuubi inside of Naruto.

"If it pleases you, Hokage-sama, I will allow Naruto on this mission."

"Well, that's one Genin, anymore takers."

The others muttered until... "YOSH. LEE AND NEJI WILL ACCOMPANY NARUTO! THE FLAMES OF YOUTH CANNOT BE DENIED!" 'Beat that my eternal rival, Kakashi.'

"Ano, Gai, did I miss something, Naran and Shara are about to do something naughty... so I missed what you said... hehehe."

Gai sweat dropped, "ah, foiled again. Your hip ways piss me off."

Genma laughed. "Alright. Naruto, I want you to do your best. This is a test to your true skill, and I will allow you to hold nothing back, if you deem it necessary."

"Hai sensei." Naruto said. Neji just sighed, "damn."

"Alright, this is a C-rank mission, you will leave by 8 in the morning, take the time to prepare, and good luck."

"Hai Hokage-sama!" The three left. "Naruto, Lee, we will need to get together sometime later and decide on what to do. Lee and I meet at Training Field Nine every night to work on his taijutsu, if you will come it would be easier than tracking you down."

Naruto nodded. "Hai, I'll be there, Neji. Lee, I will see you both later. It's good to see you, and I am glad we can work together."

The two nodded, "yes, it's wonderful."

After eating a few bowls of Ramen at Ichiraku, and buying a lot of stuff at Tenten's dad's shop, Naruto met the two members of team Gai, plus Tenten.

"Isn't it funny how I'm stuck with those two idiot's for the next however long it is?" Tenten asked. Naruto paled. "Kuso, sorry bout that."

She sighed, "It can't be helped, Gai-sensei ordered them to help, and is going with you three, so I'm with Genma-san."

Naruto paled again, "I'm stuck with super-fuzzy brows? Kuso!"

Tenten laughed. "Alright, let's get started. Lee, let's start with some basic taijutsu to get Naruto here warmed up."

Neji nodded and said, "let's see the Spinning Leaf technique, Lee."

Lee nodded. Crossing his arms, Lee dropped the weights we were wearing on the ground. It made a huge crater, almost as large as Naruto's, before he started wearing Gravity tags that could be stopped with a ninjutsu seal.

"YOSH! NARUTO WATCH AS THE GREEN BEAST OF KONOHA ATTACKS WITH A MOST POWERFUL TAIJUTSU!"

"Konoha Senpuu!" He jumped into the air with a massive hop, and came down, left leg extended. "The first attack to the head", "the second to the stomach. The third to the back and the fourth to the leg."

The log he attacked broke in half. Naruto smirked. "Kuso, Lee, that was great."

Lee nodded. "YOSH, MY RIVAL AND FRIEND! THANK YOU!"

"Alright, let's practice your Iron Fist, Lee."

Naruto stopped. "Iron Fist, I thought you were studying Kage-Konoha, or at least Green Beast that Gai was talking about.

Lee nodded, "YOSH, BUT NEJI HAS SUGGESTED I LEARN IRON FIST. He said that it would go well on its own, since its pure taijutsu."

Naruto nodded. "I understand." and not saying anything more.

"Naruto, is it true you're learned Za Gamen style?" Neji asked. Naruto shrugged. "Hai, it was decided that I needed a personalized style by one of my tutors, what better than a style supposedly harder than the Jyuuken to learn?"

Neji shrugged, "well, I guess. Oh, did you two hear, the Uchiha is the Rookie of the Year, and I heard that Kakashi Hatake was going to train him."

"I wouldn't doubt it, ano Lee, instead of bringing your foot down, point it up and you'll get better height in your attack."

Lee nodded, "Hai, Gai-sensei said the same thing, but I cannot get the style correct. I am personalizing many attacks that are in the style to better fit myself, Naruto-kun."

Naruto nodded, "alright, so the best thing we need to do is gain teamwork, or I need to learn to work with you two."

Neji nodded, "yeah, Tenten, we need to practice our dodging and blocking. Can you provide some weapons?"

The girl nodded. "Hai." Drawing blood by biting down on her thumb, the girl swiped it along a scroll, and swung it out.

When fifty kunai and shuriken left the scroll, a piece, and headed towards the three, Naruto stopped. He couldn't believe the amount of weaponry at the girl's fingertips, no wonder she worked so well with Lee and Neji, they were all specialized in certain areas.

"Watch out, Naruto!" Neji yelled, startling Naruto out of his stupor, and just in time as three Kunai were headed straight at him. Naruto jumped up, catching a kunai in the foot. He pulled it out, cussing at the girl as he did so, and wiped the blood down his arm. With a cry of "Koukaku" Naruto felt the chakra from his blood traveling across his body. \

The crust called for chakra to be taken from the blood stream and swiped over a large area, so the tenketsu could hit it, forcing the chakra to expand. Naruto found this out when he looked through the scrolls, and figured that no one understood that, or wouldn't have sealed them up. Sure, he could do one without the blood, but it took longer to activate, and required pure concentration, not the most useful at times.

"Mokushioku!" Naruto said, the speed sight activating. "Shunshin no Jutsu" came next, and Naruto was off, dodging both Kunai and Shuriken, catching up with his friends, leaving nothing but a yellow flash.

He appeared behind Tenten and tapped her on the shoulder. The crust on his finger nearly crippled the girl, and she dropped her scroll. He rubbed the back of his head and said, "Gomen" apologizing.

"Ano, Naruto, how did you get that stuff around you? It's harder than the kunai and shuriken."

"Family jutsu style, a protective jutsu called the Chakra Crust. I found out about it when I learned who my parents were."

The girl nodded, and gave him a soft hug before Lee and Neji came up.

"We said dodging not blocking." Neji huffed. Naruto grinned. "I did dodge, just had a backup plan in case anymore hit me. It's her fault for the blood I needed really, a kunai got me through the foot."

Tenten laughed, and cried, "YATA!"

"Alright, I guess we can call that a successful mission, then.

"Ano, Neji, will the rank we get for this mission go along with our teammates?"

He shook his head, "No, it's a test to see how well we work along with our fellow shinobi. If the mission is a success, it is assumed that the two teams worked together. If one was the leader of his team, and was teamed with another two people from the same team, it would be assumed that the first person would delegate that to the leader from the second team, because the third member of the team would be used to the command style.

Naruto sighed. "Kuso," and elaborated at their looks. "Kimourii and Nushi are going to be pissed at me for getting a high ranked mission before them."

"Oh, don't worry, we will a few more D-ranks when you come back. It's not as if you will need to worry about them." Tenten said, pasting a smile on her face, though the group knew her real thoughts on those three.

"How do you put up with it, Naruto? I mean, sure, they're nice enough, but..." she trailed off.

"At first, they were great for the D-ranked missions. Staying in Konoha and thereby shade kept them pretty good. But, our first outing outside of Konoha, they realized that D-ranked missions were really easy, and didn't like the way they were done, at all. So, they started complaining a lot about the sun, and the sweating. During our trials, I was killed once, causing a distraction so they could get back and report to the Hokage, I guess they forgot for a moment what Genma-sensei said.

Those who disobey the rules are considered trash, but those that betray their friends are worse than trash."

Neji nodded, he had learned similar when he had taken the caged bird seal. It was a secret the few in the group of rookie knew about. Naruto because he and Neji were alike, and they trusted the other.

"Ano, it's eleven, go home and get some rest. We will meet at eight in the morning at the north gate."

"Hai" Lee and Naruto spoke simultaneously. With a look at Tenten, the three took off, the girl strolling home behind them.

The next morning, the three arrived at the north gate, Genma and Gai both standing there. Gai had a survival pack on his back, as did Neji and Lee. Naruto, on the other hand, just had a pack full of scroll jutsu and a hunting supply,

Kyuubi had taught him, a few years ago, to survive in the woods. He had six canteens placed on his belt, and a supply of ration pills that activated with a drop of water in a small pouch.

Genma smirked, Naruto was already showing his teachings, and carrying the lightest load he theoretically could.

"Naruto, on this mission, Gai is your commander, and I want you to follow his orders like you would mine, though if you come back wearing that spandex I will kill you."

Naruto smirked, that was as good as an order not to wear the green suit, and meant that his true commander had given him the order not to.

Gai seemed stricken, and sighed. "YOSH, NARUTO WILL NOT WEAR THE GREEN BUT SHALL EMBRACE THE POWER OF YOUTH!"

"YOSH GAI-SENSEI!" Lee said.

"Ugh" Neji simply stated. "How pathetic."

Naruto was quick to agree. Soon a man with a tunic covering him came up to the five shinobi and bowed. "I am messenger to the Kazekage, Yamaru. I have been asked to deliver this reply, a treaty between the sand and the leaf. If I do not arrive to Sunagakure soon, the Kazekage may believe that I was killed.

It takes six days to arrive at Sunagakure, may we leave now?"

Gai nodded. "Genma, Tenten is a weapon specialist, I try to train her in taijutsu and weapon, and a few blood jutsu that help her in that. You are an expert in blood jutsu, so I figured you'd be able to help her learn more."

"Hai, I will help her, Gai. Naruto is a ninjutsu specialist, with personalized taijutsu. His genjutsu is sloppy, but we are working on that regularly."

"Hai, let's move out Lee, Neji, Naruto!"

"Hai Gai-sensei" Neji and Lee said, Naruto finishing with -san.

"Yamaru, we will escort you to the Village of the Hidden Sand and remain for a day to see if there is a reply message for Hokage-sama. Should there be, we will leave immediately for Konoha. Is this acceptable to you?"

"Hai, thank you shinobi of the Leaf, I appreciate your immediate response to this most dire circumstance."

And with that, they set out for the Village in the Sands. Each with their own agenda. Neji wanted to learn a few new ninjutsu, Gai had to talk with the Kazekage, Lee taijutsu, and Naruto just wanted to meet Gaara.

Everyday, Gai would stop the team and teach them some taijutsu from the Iron Fist style, which again Neji and Naruto ignored, and Lee soaked like a sponge. He would then teach ninjutsu to those two. He admitted that his genjutsu was worse than a Genin's and could not help them, but that he specialized in taijutsu and had a good knowledge of ninjutsu.

Yamaru too took part in teaching genin, giving them some examples of earth jutsu which the sand specialized in but the Leaf had a good working knowledge of. When asked about Gaara, the man paled and looked at Naruto with speculating eyes. He, as would the Kazekage, knew about the demon sealing that took place in Konoha, but not of the demon used. He guessed that the child must have wanted to meet another Jinchuuriki to know he wasn't alone, but Gaara would kill the child.

"No, I'm afraid Sabaku no Gaara is not going to be in Sunagakure when we arrive. His genin team was sent on a rather hard mission."

Naruto's face fell at that, and he nodded, "hai, I understand. Arigato Yamaru."

The man nodded. "Alright, let's go then".

The next few days were spent practicing, Lee with Taijutsu, Neji and Naruto with Ninjutsu. The three of them also found time to spar, Lee with Neji, Gai with Naruto. After the spars ended, Neji was sporting a new coat of wounds, where his tenketsu were opened to wide, and Naruto's tenketsu were closed completely.

Yamaru couldn't believe what he had seen, the Za Gamen faced against the Jyuuken of the Hyuuga clan, and the fight had ended in a stalemate. The man was shocked, "how interesting".

The two shrugged, having spared before, there was no point in denying the fact that they knew each other well enough to be considered brothers, and therefore knew the ins and outs of their respective styles of fighting.

"LEE!"

"GAI-SENSEI!"

"LEE!"

"GAI-SENSEI!"

"What the hell?" both Yamaru and Naruto asked. Neji sighed, they never ceased to amaze him.

"Nothing, Naruto, Yamaru-sama, it's just their way of expressing the fact that they appreciate each other's skills."

"But they're hugging!" Naruto exclaimed, not used to open shows of affection between anyone, let alone to guys. He said, "what the hell?"

"Naruto, don't worry about it, it's nothing. They're just idiots."

"Hai" Naruto said, still worried about the two. Yamaru just couldn't hold back anymore and laughed his head off.

The next day, the fifth, they all set off, Yamaru more weary than usual. As they entered the desert that hid the Hidden Village, he looked around, as if checking to see if everything was alright.

A kunai flew at him, deflected by a shuriken thrown by Neji. He set up the defensive in front of the man, and Naruto to the right. Grimly, the two waited as Lee and Gai looked around surreptitiously for the attackers.

"Ohohoh" a man coming out of the sand stated, "it looks as if the scared messenger brought some backup. No matter, I will dispose of the four of you, and take that scroll you have there. Then, I will send your Kazekage the head of Yamaru and declare open war on Konoha, all in the name of Otogakure."

"Otogakure" Naurto asked, scrunching his head into his thinking pose, "ohayo, isn't that the people in the outpost town Ero-Sennin was at?"

"Ohohoh, it doesn't matter, little yellow brat. There is no need to fear death, it will come swiftly. Then, I will take one of your bodies to my master, and you will become his unwilling slave. Ohohoh."

"I cannot allow that, Yosh! You should have been warned, I am the Green Beast, Gai, the only defeater of Hatake Kakashi in a fight!"

"YOSH, AND I AM HIS STUDENT IN THE WAYS OF YOUTH, LEE!"

"Ohohoh, I shall kill you now!"

And with that the Sound nin attacked. He went for Gai and Lee first, the two working in tandem managed to deflect most of his attacks. After he knocked out Lee though, Gai's anger at his "unyouthful" ways clouded his judgment. He soon lay next to Lee in the ever growing pile.

Nodding to the other, Naruto activated both his Speed and Chakra sight, using the commands of "Mokushioku" and "Chioku", and Neji activated his "Byakugan".

The two doujutsu worked well together it seemed, with the destructive power of the Za Gamen, and the gentle power of the Jyuuken, the sound nin was on the defensive.

Neji hit him on the shoulder, and again in the stomach. The man was angry and again come at the young Genin. He would have hit but a yellow blur intercepted his fist, and a powerful punch enhanced by what felt like a boulder connected to his shoulder.

The two genin jumped off, using each side of the man for leverage. Naruto flew backwards, and Neji skirted to the side. As the man, who had used an attack to force the two into the air again, came at Naruto, he grinned.

"Ohohoh, my master will want your powers, little yellow brat. You shall be the first of many sacrifices to Orochimaru-sama!"

"Orochimaru?" Naruto asked

The Sannin?" Neji asked, and the man nodded. Gai, and Lee, it seemed had recovered by this time and made sure to write that bit of information down.

The battle continued for a few minutes, switching between the three fighters, Gai and Lee were waiting for an oppurtunity to get into the action, but couldn't help but feel the 'youth' at the two fighting with pure taijutsu.

Gai, personally, figured it was due to his teachings, forgoing the fact that he hadn't taught Naruto anything.

"You're in the field of my divination!" Neji said, surprising the others in the area. Hakke: Rokujuu Yonshou" he shouted but a minute later.

As he hit tenketsu after tenketsu, Naruto watched, and grinned. That's where he figured the chakra emanated from, but wasn't sure.

"Well, we are having a competition of the two" Naruto said, and ran forward. Neji smirked, "Metsubou Senpuu!" Naruto yelled. The destruction punch, the only known counter to the 64 Divine Strikes of the Hyuuga clan. And Naruto knew it. "Nice Naruto."

As the sound nin collapsed for the last time, the Konoha nin arrested him. Yamaru was standing near a man in Kage robes which were, instead of a wonderful red, were a bluish color. His face was hidden by a shadow but he held the power within him that others couldn't help but notice.

"Kazekage-sama" Yamaru said as he approached the Kage. The man nodded and said, "Yamaru, it is good to see you have returned to the sand in one piece. I assume we have this Konoha nin to thank for that?"

As Yamaru nodded and said, "yes, this one and the other, with the yellow hair. They are the ones that disabled the Sound nin. I have the treaty here, Kazekage-sama."

The Kazekage took the scroll and turned towards Neji. "You are a Hyuuga, are you not?"

"Hai Kazekage-sama." Neji bowed, a small scowl on his face. "I am Hyuuga Neji, and this is my team. Our team leader is Maito Gai, his clone is Rock Lee, and this is Uzumaki Naruto."

"Ah, yes, I have heard great things of you, Legacy of the Yondaime Hokage. It is wonderful to meet you at last. I am sorry that you will not be able to see Gaara today, he is out on a B-rank mission of utmost importance."

"Hai, thank you Kazekage-sama." Naruto said. The others looked at him with wonder, Gai and Lee though with a shining admiration.

"Well, we will as decided, wait a day for any responses to the Hokage, unless you want us to leave early, Kazekage-sama?" Gai asked. The man simply turned and said, "Sunagakure is always open to those that are allied with us. Please, come in and make yourselves at home. Please understand that there are certain areas that are off limits to anyone that is not from Sunagakure."

"Hai" the four Konoha shinobi bowed and walked into the village, the Kazekage shadowing behind them. The guard nodded at them, and in the desert a shinobi with red hair and a gourd on his back sneezed.

Gai was currently in a meeting with the Kazekage, when a small genin with red hair walked in the room. The jounin immediately felt the killing intent on the young genin and was about to rant to himself about the passion of youth when the man said, "mission success, Kazekage-Otousan."

"Well done Gaara. Well, Gai, I believe that you are ready to head back to Konoha?"

"Hai, and thank you for your most gracious welcome, Kazekage-sama. It is a pleasure to be allied with such a strong nation as yourselves. Kazekage-sama, Gaara-san."

With that the man left the room. "Why do they always run, Otousan?"

"Because they are afraid of your power, Gaara. It will not be long until Konoha lies at our feet, and then your friend will feast on the blood of thousands."

"And I will sleep." Gaara said. The man shuddered but nodded, the brat was powerful but he was their best weapon.

"YOSH! Travelers in the ways of youth! It is time to return to Konoha fair, and back to our homes! Let us make haste for we are only a few days away from that which we desire!"

Two echoes, though one much more energetic, of "Hai, Gai-sensei" and another agreement of "Hai, Gai-san" met his ears.

The travel back to Konoha was as energetic as the travel from, really. Gai would teach the three of them some Taijutsu moves, while the two Ninjutsu users would practice several moves against the other.

When the arrived back at the village, they learned of Kurenai's advancement to Jounin, and the fact that she was already chosen to take a team during the next academy graduation.

Naruto smiled, "good for you, Kurenai-san!"

She nodded at Naruto, having taught him at least the basics of Genjutsu, she was most proud of the Kyuubi's vessel for his hard work.

They entered the Hokage's office, and the sight was one to easily behold. The man was at his desk, working on papers. His pipe was lit, and little puffs of smoke rose from it. "Ah, you are back already? It's been only a week. Did the mission go well?"

"Hokage-sama, the mission was a success for the Genin team. I am proud of them having their first C-rank mission, and you were correct there were B-ranked elements involved, but in an act of diplomacy, I wavered the extra pay to Sunagakure. There was an Oto-nin that got involved in our fight. He said that he was working for Orochimaru-Sannin, Hokage-sama."

The Hokage paled, that was most dreadful news indeed. "If that is indeed the case, than we shall need to make preparations for a new attack, indeed."

"Hai, Hokage-sama. I am most proud of this team, Hokage-sama however. They are well deserved of a C-ranked mission."

"Very well."

End Chapter

Authors Notes:
Well, it's been one of those weeks, I've had a friend over at the house and he's taken away from my writing this week. So, I just finished this chapter.

Thanks!