The New Target!

Not a moment later, Kotetsu's head snaps towards the gate's entrance sensing something coming this way. A second later and Gai comes rushing in stopping in front of the guard's post. He laughs in triumph, and right after him comes Lee who shouts in victory claiming second place. However, Gai (in a very dramatic way) tells Lee that he was actually third because Kakashi was on Gai's back making Kakashi second. Lee gives a cry of courage, tears streaming down his face as he takes notes. Meanwhile, behind them are the other ninjas. And as usual, Neji has no idea why they're acting this way, but Tenten says Neji was sort of into the race. Neji claims that to be ridiculous.

Gai then states that they should give their report to the Hokage right away, but Sakura reminds him about Kakashi, and Gai decides they should go stop by the hospital first. Some time later, Kakashi opens his eyes to find himself staring at the hospital ceiling with everyone surrounding his bed. Tsunade and Shizune then come in through the door. Kakashi tries to sit up but falls back down with his blanket slipping a little. Naruto takes notice of this and tries to lean sideways to hopefully see the rest of Kakashi's face. However, he springs back, glances to his side and sees Sakura glaring at him with a disapproving look.

After Tsunade tells Kakashi and Team Gai to rest, she walks out with Shizune. Sakura then calls out to Tsunade and runs after her. Naruto is a little surprised by her sudden action. Outside the hospital, Sakura, Tsunade, and Shizune are walking towards the Hokage Tower where they will discuss the information Sakura collected during her fight with Sasori.

On one of the many balconies of the Hokage Tower, Tsunade leans against the rail and talks with her apprentices. Sakura tells her that Sasori told her before his death that he was to meet up with a spy at the Heaven and Earth bridge in the Grass Country in ten days. That was four days ago, so now they only have six days left. Tsunade says that Team Kakashi is already short on numbers since Sasuke left, and now Kakashi will be in the hospital for at least a week. Shizune suggests that her team should go and check things out. However, Tsunade says that she'll surely send Naruto and Team Kakashi. She then asks Shizune about how Naruto would react if he ever found out.

At that moment, all three look up to the roof to find Naruto with arms across his chest, looking down with a grin claiming that he'll just have to find new members. He jumps down and lands crouched on the railing beside Tsunade. With a quick goodbye, he leaps into the town looking for members. Tsunade called him hasty but smiled sincerely.

As Naruto walked down the street, he thought about who the new member should be. At the same time he passes by another shinobi and doesn't notice him. However, that shinobi catches Naruto's attention when he starts talking to him. It takes a while for Naruto to figure out who it is, but it is defintely Shino! Right after realizing that it was Shino, something huge drops down from the sky creating a lot of dust. When the dust clears, Naruto sees Kiba and a big Akamaru. Kiba notices Naruto, jumps of Akamaru, sniffs Naruto, and claims that the smell is definitely Naruto's. Naruto is slightly disturbed at how Kiba recognizes people. But that feel is replaced with shock and disbelief when he sees Akamaru. The last time he saw Akamaru, the dog just to ride on Kiba's hide. Apparently Kiba now rides on Akamaru's back.

Naruto turns to Shino and asks if it was true that Akamaru used to ride on Kiba's head, but Shino was sulking about how Naruto easily recognized Kiba. A loud gasp was heard behind them, and Naruto turned to see nothing. Behind the corner was an older version of Hinata, blushing over seeing Naruto after three years. She doesn't know how to act because she wasn't prepared to see him so soon. She wonders that she should do but her thoughts are short lived when Naruto appears out of the corner and greets Hinata up close. Hinata's face turns red, and she promptly faints just like the good old times. Naruto starts screaming Hinata's name, worried, and Kiba comes by seeing Hinata faint. Before she blacks out, Kiba asks why she always faints when she sees Naruto.

As Hinata regains consciousness, Naruto is begging Kiba and Shino to help on his new mission. However, they can't because they already have a mission with Kurenai. Just as Hinata is awake again, Naruto appears up close and tells Hinata to shut up and come with him (on his mission). Hinata repeats the words in her head, her face turns red, and she promptly faints again. Naruto sighs and walks off towards another part of the village. Meanwhile, Kiba is fanning Hinata with a cloth telling her to wake up. He then yells at Shino for water, who is too busy looking at the sky.

Naruto comes across Shikamaru, but he cannot come because he's stuck taking care of the upcoming Chuunin exams. Naruto pouts and starts saying how he could depend on Shikamaru but couldn't anymore. Chouji shows up a moment later and hands Shikamaru his lunch from his mother. Chouji said he would help Naruto, but Shikamaru tells Chouji that he shouldn't because he has a mission with Ino and Asuma later. Naruto looks at Chouji and says he's still the same old Chouji. Right as he was about to call him a name with the word "fat" in it (Chouji gets fired up when someone calls him "fat" anything), Chouji's eyes narrow, Shikamaru looks behind him and pushes Naruto to the ground.

Naruto looks up in time just to see Chouji punch a black and white lion. The punch resulted in the beast bursting into ink. As they duo get up, another lion leaps at Shikamaru from the back, but Chouji's got it covered; punching it so that it would burst into ink. They looked forward and up, and see a ninja with a scroll, paintbrush, and a Konoha headband on his forehead. Shikamaru isn't sure of what's going on, but he decides that the best option is to capture the guy and hand him over to Ibiki. Shikamaru tells Naruto to get the guy while he and Chouji hold off any further attacks. Naruto rans forward and just as he was about to jump on to the roof, Sai draws a whole row of lions, uses his technique "Ninja Art: Great Beast Paintings", which makes his paintings spring to life and attack Naruto.

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