Chapter 112 Black Temple Authority

"You better hurry up and calibrate those alarm systems, Naruto, we're going to be late."

"I know, Sensei," Naruto replied, cursing as he was shocked by another seal due to his momentary distraction. "These things are harder to adjust than I thought. I only have a few more seals left to sign."

"True, but you still have to put those scrolls of yours in the safe before you leave," Kakashi reminded him patiently in the kitchen, where he was distributing breakfast to his ninja dogs.

"Really."

"Let me do it, idiot," Sasuke said, swallowing the last of his breakfast and jumping down from the counter where he was eating and sorting his weapons. "You go finish the programming."

"Remember, open the space, place the seal, close the space, and then charge the circuit."

"I know I know."

"Let's do the Nara family's first, kid. Hasn't he always wanted to go to the Black Temple? We can calibrate the others after we come back."

"Hinata and Ino want to check it out too. I should at least add theirs to the list."

"Okay, okay, hurry up or we're really going to be late."

"I get it, okay?" Naruto muttered.

He leaned back a little, bending his body to reach over the doorway to the seal on the ceiling.

The three of them had spent the past few months learning as many scrolls and sealing techniques as they could from Naruto, with Kakashi-sensei arranging practical experience and opportunities for them to apply the techniques wherever he could.

He and Sasuke had already received basic certification in battlefield medical ninjutsu from Ryouta-sensei, and Sakura had received her preparatory license as a medical ninja, the highest certification she could obtain before passing the Chunin Exams.

Every Friday night, at the suggestion of Kiba and Choji, is called "Team 7 Curry Night". It has become a team gathering where Team 7, Team 8, and Team 10 get together, talk and laugh, and learn from each other and show off their skills.

Kakashi-sensei claimed that he didn't mind, and even though they always ended up breaking some things in the dojo, he said that the experience they gained from it was worth the small loss of his belongings.

He couldn't remember the last time they slowed down, and most of the time, he felt tired and sore.

But he also feels like he can conquer the world most of the time, so he considers these to be acceptable side effects.

He thanked Kyuubi for his help and completed the seal in record time before the whole house was filled with the chaotic sound of footsteps and shouting, which was usually the norm when Team 7 received an emergency mission.

Today, they were heading to the other side of the Tea Country, to the very edge of the peninsula to meet a delegation from an island nation for some kind of meeting with the Fire Country Daimyo.

Kakashi-sensei reflexively counted the number of people as they passed through the gate, a reflex that Naruto found both reassuring and a little embarrassing, and he patted each of them on the head in turn as they left, then closed the door and locked the alarms and traps.

They hurried to the Hokage building, with no intention of taking the stairs - they jumped directly in through the upper window, Naruto - Sakura - Sasuke, landing in front of the mission table in turn, with Kakashi following closely behind, landing on the windowsill behind them.

"You're late again, I see." Sarutobi Hiruzen drawled at the end of the table, his voice smelling of tobacco, his pipe loosely held between his teeth. "Kakashi, what on earth are you teaching these kids?"

"In my opinion, you've taught too much. To be honest, Dad, I don't see any children here. Do you see any?" It was Asuma who spoke, with a strong smile in his tone, and Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled in agreement.

"No, I think not. Now, it would be better if they could learn not to destroy my village and traumatize my elite ninjas."

"Are you three going on a mission as well?" Naruto asked Shikamaru, his hand still on Shikamaru's shoulder.

"Actually, we just got back," Shikamaru corrected. "A short border patrol mission. We were only away for a day."

"Save your energy for the Chunin Exam?" Kakashi asked Asuma.

"That's the plan, but even the laziest of my students can't seem to sit still."

Shikamaru scoffed, as if he had been personally attacked, and shoved his hands deep into his pockets. "It's just common sense," he argued. "Every team needs at least one reliable medical ninja, and of the three of us, I have the best chakra control ability."

Sakura gave a shriek of delight and threw an arm around Shikamaru's shoulders, nearly knocking him over for the second time in ten minutes.

"Great! You're going to take further classes with Ryouta-sensei, right?"

Shikamaru reluctantly accepted the hug.

"Shino and I will be there too," Ino added, moving to Shikamaru's other side and bumping him with her shoulder. "I won't be specializing in medical ninjutsu."

"Oh?" Sakura snorted. "So what are you going to specialize in?"

Ino grinned, slyly like a cat.

"Ibiki-senpai said he wanted to teach me scroll swordsmanship."

Naruto had a mental picture of Ino wielding a sword taller than she was, and he was surprised to find that the picture was surprisingly suitable for her.

He grinned, a wolfish smile. "That's cool," he said heartily. "You'd make a formidable opponent."

Akimichi Chouji laughed happily.

"Right? And Asuma-sensei is going to teach me how to combine his chakra manipulation skills with my family's ninjutsu."

"Yes." Asuma said slowly. "So you see, Kakashi, whatever crazy ideas your students have are contagious."

"I want to state up front that I am not responsible for their actions," Kakashi said with a smile.

There were also a few ninjas standing by the mission table, all of them looking at their group warily, as if they were unsure whether they should stop them.

They kept looking at Sarutobi Hiruzen, as if seeking an answer, but Sarutobi Hiruzen just smiled, then took out a scroll and handed it to Kakashi.

"Here, let's go before they tear my office apart," he said, and Kakashi took the scroll with two fingers and saluted.

"Naruto has added your permissions to the Black Temple in case you want to check it out," Sasuke told Shikamaru as they turned to leave.

Naruto nodded in confirmation.

"The teeth are also added."

Shikamaru tilted his head and nodded.

"I think I've memorized all those moves, so come see me when you three get back and we'll see if we can practice them before the exam."

"We'll come find you," Sasuke said with certainty.

"Of course!" Sakura said firmly, stepping forward to give Ino a hug and bumping her shoulder with Choji in a friendly manner.

Ino blushed slightly and hugged her back, Choji smiled and waved goodbye to them.

Shikamaru said goodbye to them in his unique tone:

"so troublesome."

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