The hunched figure perched on the eaves atop Kohona's tallest structure.

Bent over like that, the shaggy shape might have looked like a disheveled gargoyle, had anyone caught sight of him. Chuckling, he took the telescope down from his eye and sat up straighter, running a hand through his bushy mane.

"Good," Jiraiya said, having caught sight of Shikamaru. The perturbed looking shinobi was walking away from the Administrative building, a message tube clutched in his hand.

The Sannin new exactly what was in that mission container, and what had originally been there in its place. He had good reason for that, having removed the latter and substituted the former. It was ultimately Tsunade's fault, since his old teammate should have questioned his coming up with a good idea in the first place.

"I think this will do them all the more good," the hairy old reprobate said, rubbing his hands together. "And if it gives me something to write about in the next book… well… all the better…"

When he had earlier slumped down into one of the Hokage's chairs, causing the other Sannin to give him an irritated look when she dragged her eyes away from the stack of reports piled in front of her, the Frog Hermit had remarked on how serious things had been, what with the Akatsuki business and all. In his brash way, he suggested that Tsunade write up a different type of mission order, while the village was in a calm period between troubles and catastrophes. A group picnic… a camping trip for the younger shinobi… anything, as long as it gave them a chance to bond outside of training and battle.

"This is a bit too stuffy, I think…" He took out Tsunades original order, the one he used to forge her signature perfectly. She had indeed assigned Naruto and the others to a series of small huts in the mountains, listing a number of suggested activities in a starched and folded fashion. Essentially, she was telling them to let 'teenagers be teenagers,' but in a rather strict and authoritarian manner. His parchment did the same thing, but in a much simpler manner.

Pigeons took to the wing when the Frog hermit laughed out loud. He was rather pleased with his idea, the way that he had chosen for the group of young ninjas to get away from the stress and strain of their life as defenders of the village. The fact that Tsunade would be royally pissed when she found out what had happened did nothing to wipe away his good humor. Jiraiya, philanthropist! People often failed to realize just how kind and selfless he was.

"It's time to head on my way." He had a carefully chosen place picked out. One with the ideal peep hole. He simply needed to reach the destination before the others did.

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"This is so bothersome." Shikamaru sighed. His topknot bounced as he walked, and a frown looked like a permanent part of his face.

Up ahead, a group of workers waited their turn to get inside the popular little restaurant. Inside, no doubt, the last remaining ninja on the chuunin's duty roster would be eating his lunch. He would not be happy to be pulled away from that.

"Ramen-chan!" Naruto smiled, banging his utensils against the counter top.. "I can't wait…" He looked around the room and scowled. "Hey… old man… where is Ayame…"

"Gone on another trip," the proprietor answered, looking even more disgruntled than the boy who had just entered the shop. "An all I could find to help me this time were the same two idiots…"

Right on cue, Nishi and Matsu tried to walk through the same door at the same time. The bowls and trays they carried crashed to the floor. That had Naruto leaping to his feet and pointing at the shop owner. "Why did you bring those two back again…" He though back to a day months past, when Kakashi and Yamato had brought him here to eat, after he lay starving from his Wind Jutsu training.

"Don't be causing some kind of scene, Naruto." Shikamaru made his way to his friend's side. "As ninjas, our behavior is a reflection on the village." He sighed. "besides… orders from the Hokage… we're all supposed to meet now…"

"But… now?" Naruto's huge grimace had him closing his eyes. "Can't it wait a bit…" He put a hand on his belly. "Brown pork bone miso Ramen…"

"Now," Shikamaru affirmed. "The others are all waiting by the big tree in the Commons. Let's not drag this thing out any longer than we have to. Things are troublesome enough as it is."

"OK… OK…" Naruto sighed. He then swallowed hard and pressed his knees together. "After I use the bathroom…"

The clone he sent out from the restroom facilities did a sufficient job of fooling Shikamaru. As the two left, the real Naruto sat down at his seat and gladly accepted a bowl of his favorite food.

"Thank you old man! I'm eating now…" Naruto grinned a huge grin, bringing a huge clump of broth-bathed noodles to his mouth. This wouldn't take too long. The others could wait. There was no way he could miss out on this!

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The genin and lone jounin waited by a stately old tree, one that predated the building of Hidden Leaf Village.

For the most part, they waited with good graces, well aware of the behavior of the one missing shinobi, the sole genin amongst them. Sakura began getting somewhat huffy, however, fed up enough with the way that Kakashi habitually showed up late. She didn't want to see their team leader's behavior rub off on Naruto.

"Does getting angry make things better?" Sai was not being a wise-ass. He truly did his best to learn about his fellow villagers these days, particularly on the subject of inter-personal relations.

"No… I guess not…" Sakura let out an exasperated sigh. Looking over at her newest teammate, she wondered what he was working so diligently at. His pen was practically flying across his sketch pad. "Can I see?"

"Yes," Sai replied, unaware that others were leaning closer to get a peak too. He held the book up, showing a picture he was drawing: it was one of himself and the tree, surrounded by the other ninjas.

"What else is there?" Sakura flipped that page over without permission. She frowned, while the others laughed or politely hid smiles. It was a picture of Sakura wringing Naruto by the neck. Whatever she might have said to him then was erased by Naruto's arrival.

"Glad you could finally join us," Kiba said in his offhand manner. Just the same, he smiled. If Hinata and Shino hadn't stood around waiting for him earlier, he would have showed up somewhat late himself. He smirked when Akamaru barked his own commentary.

"Me too!" Naruto was as exuberant as ever. If there was anything present in an amount greater than his chakra, it was his reservoir of spunk and good spirits. At times that was infectious. At other times, it just seemed to wear people out. "But not as glad as I was to eat those bowls of noodles!"

"Naruto-kun…" Hinata rubbed her fingers together, hoping that no one had heard her.

"I wish I had stayed for more lunch," Choji said, feeling somewhat jealous at the moment. No longer able to resist, he opened one of the snack bags he had brought with him. Ino had rousted him out of his home, just as she had would have done to Shikamaru, had he not been the one the Hokage called to her office.

"So… you think it's alright… keeping other people waiting?" Sakura put her hands on her hips. For the most part, her treatment of Naruto had improved over the last few months. In fact, after the whole episode with Orochimaru and her four-tailed teammate had started her wondering just how she felt about him. "At least you didn't give some lame excuse like Kakashi does!" She felt her anger growing, since Naruto didn't even look the slightest bit mournful or contrite.

"It's no big deal, Sakura-chan." Naruto shrugged, and headed over to see why everyone was looking at Sai's drawing pad.

"She's really bossy, isn't she?" Ino spoke behind her hand to Ten Ten, but could easily be heard everyone there. She hid a smile, catching the look on Sakura's face.

"It could be that time of the month," Sai commented with a large smile and a somewhat flat affect. "Some of the jounin tried to explain that to me, after I remarked on that kind of behavior before."

"What!" The 'Inner Sakura' poised to go ballistic, Sakura focused her attention on Sai instead of Naruto.

"It's going to be a long trip," Shikamaru said, twisting his mouth into a trademark scowl.

"It might seem even longer, if we have to carry the wounded," Shino added dryly, looking over at Sakura berating both Sai and Naruto.

"Ohhhhh-hhhh-hhh-hh-h…" Lee struck a pose. "I will do whatever is necessary to help my friends. The burning heart of Konoha will allow nothing less." He would gladly carry Naruto or Sai on his back, if called on to do so. "But, I am certain that Sakura will do whatever is right!" He looked over at the pink-haired girl, a poorly disguised look of longing on his face.

"As long as no one brings up the subject of nicknames again," Neji stated. He had been discrete, making certain that neither Sakura nor Sai would overhear. However, he had said things loudly enough to carry back to Kiba.

"Hey… Sai…" Kiba looked over at the newest member of their tight-knit little ensemble. He still didn't know what to make of the Root member and his unusual personality. "Did you come up with any new nicknames?"

"Uh oh." Ten Ten blinked repeatedly. She remembered what had happened once before. Sai might be the only boy more clueless than Lee and Naruto.

"Yes," Sai answered, ignoring the look on Sakura's face. He also didn't notice how Naruto took a step away from their female team member. "I believe that I have…"

During one stretch of time away from missions, the young ANBU member had wanted to work on his personality and relationship skill, and took to s by reading up on the subject at the Konoha library.

One of the first topics he had perused dealt with gaining people's trust. As one might expect from someone who learned to communicate with others via a book, Sai repeatedly had trouble problems putting what he read into practice. Giving his new companions nicknames had seemed an ideal way of fitting in. But, he had initially called Sakura 'Hag,' and earned an even more severe beating when he later changed his approach and called Ino 'Gorgeous' by comparison, having learned from his earlier mistake.

"I'm gorgeous," Ino said, fluttering her eyelids and smiling at Sai. Her nostrils flared when she saw that Shikamaru wasn't paying attention.

"And Sakura was 'H-…' owwww-www-ww-w…" Naruto doubled over after taking a fierce elbow to the gut from Sakura.

"You would be 'Cute One'," Sai said to Ten Ten, which set her to blushing. He had taken the approach of being complimentary to women. With Guys, however, he still had a tendency to speak whatever came to mind. "You would be 'Serious Expert'." That last was directed towards Neji. "Hmmm… yes…" He looked Lee up and down, trying to decide what stood out more, the wide eyes; the bushy brows; or the green stretchy suit. "You would be 'Pickle'."

"Gorph!" Kiba almost swallowed his tongue, hearing that. He began laughing loudly as soon as he regained his breath. He laughed even harder, seeing the look on Rock Kee's face. Akamaru howled.

"I can see that," Shino remarked, nodding his head.

"You would be 'Creepy'," Sai said to Shino. That had the cowled ninja going stiff. "You would be 'Good Dog'," he said to Akamaru. He scratched his head a moment, and then smiled one of those eerie smiles of his as he addressed Kiba. "You would be the 'Bad Dog'." That erased Kiba's smile for a moment, until he supposed it might be cool to be known as the Bad Dog. "You…" The Root ninja cocked his head, looking at Hinata.

"Ummm…" Hinata looked away. She did not want to be the center of attention. Especially not with Naruto watching.

"You could be 'Finger Rubber'," Sai nodded his head, watching Hinata's hand. "Maybe 'Shy Cute One'." He remembered to be complementary. Then, he smiled. "Or, 'The Watcher'." He had picked up on another of her habits, even if Naruto never had.

"Huh?" Naruto scrunched up his face. "Watcher? Why?"

"It is because mrphlbrfllgrbl…" Sakura had clamped her hand of his mouth a moment before speeding Ino or Ten Ten could.

"Just butt out, Naruto." Sakura let go her grip. "Don't interrupt Sai until he's done."

"Yes. Please. Things have been delayed more than enough." Shikamaru took a moment to look up at the clouds floating overhead.

"You would be 'Scarecrow'," Sai said to Shikamaru, causing the sour hangdog look on his face to get even more dyspeptic looking. "And you… you would be "F-…' grblmrplbrgl…" This time it was Naruto who stopped Sai." Just like once before, the socially inept boy had been about to call Choji 'Fatso', 'Fatass', or something along those lines. Luckily, Sai changed tack. "How about 'Happy Eater'?"

"Alright." Choji held out an open bag to Sai. "Want some?" Choji didn't mind that monicker. He was just glad to be included in the group discussion.

"What about Naruto?" Shino felt somewhat sour himself. His own nickname had not sat well with him.

"Ahhh… Naruto…" Sai's smile grew to gargantuan proportions. This time, he would not be observant. And, he would not be attempting to cause an opponent to lose balance. Instead, he would be making a joke. That was another big step for him, even if it came at the expense of another. "I call him 'Small Penis'."

"Sai!" Naruto clenched his fists, and held to be held back by Sakura, who clouted him hard on the top of his head. Letting him go, she walked over and kicked Sai hard in the shin. He ought to know better than that!

"Perhaps it is not so bad being creepy," Shino said in a deadpan voice. He felt the urge to put his fingers in his ears, hearing how loud Kiba laughed and Akamaru yelped.

"Naruto-kun." Hinata teetered a bit on her feet, looking a bit cross-eyed.

"Ahhhhh-hhhh-hhh-hh-h…" Lee's eyes looked like they caught fire, when he hurried to defend his friend. "You need not feel bad, Naruto… it is the size of a man's heart that matters, not the size of…"

"I DON"T HAVE A SMALL DICK!" Naruto's shout carried across the entire open part of the village. Women leaning out their window turned to look in his direction. Children stopped in the middle of their play. Passing Elders frowned at him, muttering quietly amongst themselves. "Hey… that's enough nicknames…" He tried to salvage a small bit of his pride. "Let's get going…" He began marching off.

"Idiot." Sakura sighed and hung her head. That Naruto! At times, she was so proud to have him as her teammate. However, at others, she felt compelled to walk around town with a sack over her head.

"It would help to know where we are going first," Ino said, commiserating with Sakura. Hearing those words, everyone turned to look at Shikamaru.

"We have a long walk ahead of us," Shikamaru said. He took the message tube out of his chuunin vest and held it up. "I know where we're going, but not why. This is to remained sealed until we reach our destination and get set up."

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The progression made its way up a series of steep and narrow paths. It was a long hard route, one that had been the bane of enemy forces in the past.

During ancient wars, the mist-shrouded hill had been a strategic look-out point, a place where the ordering of armies could be spied upon and the leaders of the battle could find safe refuge. When ninjas supplanted soldiers as the main combatants, the secluded location had seen some use as a training site, before its remote location made it impractical,

"Are we there yet?" Naruto asked that for the umpteenth time, causing Shikamaru to look away and mumble.

"What are you complaining for, Naruto?" Sakura was particularly cross. The long hike was wearing on her. She didn't mind the exertion. It was not knowing the mission that had her bothered. She had a bad feeling about this. "We all have to carry our own load!"

"Not Sai!" Naruto gave Sai a 'V' sign. His friend kept sketching porters and pack animals. All of which helped carry the large number of supplies they had been instructed to bring with them. Likewise, he himself made use of his prodigious chakra stores. Hefting a few satchels, he was nonetheless better off than his sore-footed comrades. Smiling, he watched as a number of his shadow clones passed along their burdens to their more recent brethren before popping out of existence.

"It's alright when Sai does it," Ino put in. The boy fascinated her , and not simply as a way to try and get her teammate's attention.

"They're both lazy bastards," Kiba grumped. That drew a strange noise from Akanamaru, who was attacked with a tremendous number of bundles. "What?" Kiba caught everyone looking his way. "Akamaru isn't carrying my stuff… he's carrying our stuff…" It was hard to tell if 'our' meant everyone, or just the boy and the dog.

"Oooooo-oooo-ooo-oo-oh…" Lee looked like a walking baggage cart. He was barely visible underneath his load of backpacks, carry bags, and roped-crates. "I… I can still carry more…" He looked over at Sakura. "The burning fire of youth will propel us to the greatest heights, whatever burdens we are given." he paused, gathering up his courage. "I can carry some of your bags, Sakura-chan."

That had Neji and Ten Ten looking at one another and sighing. That was just like Lee. If Gai had been there, he would have been very proud. Not that his protégé really needed encouragement in such behavior.

"I have a new nickname for you," Sai said suddenly. "I do not think 'Pickle' fits any more." Sure enough, it was hard to see Lee's infamous green outfit. Stopping to take a breather, Lee smiled, expecting some kind of heroic monicker. "Hmmm… how about 'The Porter'… or… 'Pack Mule'…"

Naruto started laughing, pointing at Lee. He hunched over grimacing, his eyes closed in pain, after Sakura clouted him with a sack filled with long metallic poles. "Why are you hitting me? Sai's the one who said it!"

"We're getting close now," Shikamaru said, checking his bearings. His statement aborted the nascent squabble before it grew wings. "We should make it to the summit within the hour."

Sure enough, the band of ninjas walked out of the mountain forests and onto a hilly plateau just when the titular group leader said they would. Setting their burdens down, they all surveyed the area.

"The buildings look very old," Hinata remarked, eyeing a large number of huts. Most of the edifices took that form, while a few larger buildings were scattered hither and yon. "But the view… it's very beautiful…" She sneaked a look over at Naruto.

"The vegetation seems quite different, too." Naturally, that was Shino. New plants potentially meant new insect species feeding on them. He didn't seem concerned about what the mission might be.

"Alright. We're here. Let's find out what the assignment is." Kiba set down a number of the items he had been carrying. Pulling a rope to undo a knot, he caused a large number of boxes and bags to fall off of his canine friend.

"That's right!" Naruto stood with his hands on his hips, looking eager to go despite the arduous journey. Big stores of stamina can go a long way!

"Ahhhh-hhh-hh-h…" Lee struck one of his poses, before realizing he was still over burdened. Losing his balance, he toppled over with a loud clash. Neji moved to lend a hand.

"Boys." Ten Ten looked over at Ino and Sakura.

"Tell me about it." Ino looked over at her own teammates, glad that neither of them had caused a scene. Out of habit, she scrutinized Choji, secretly wondering if her rotund companion had lightened the load during the trip by eating the camping supplies.

"I… I would like to know what the mission is, too…" Hinata said that very quietly, hoping to show as much spirit as Naruto did.

"Everyone select one of the better kept huts." Shikamaru waved his arm in an authoritarian fashion. The buildings were in remarkable shape considering their age, and the fact that groups of monks rarely made their way here to perform repairs. "Put your personal belongings inside, and bring the group supplies to the nearest large structure." he nodded towards one of the taller and longer buildings. "Meet me back here in twenty minuets and I will open the missive."

Everyone did as they were told, with a minimum of mischief and trouble. When the group was seated in a semicircle around a standing Shikamaru, the latter undid the seal on the small metal tube and extracted the message placed inside.

"Now to the particulars." Shikamaru had read through paragraphs that Jiraiya had left intact, done in the Hokage's own hand. She had stated that they had all worked hard, and done the village proud. They were a credit to their families and their generation. But, so much hard work, and so much time spent training and on missions, meant that they didn't have the time to socialize that their civilian counterparts did. This assignment was intended to help rectify that situation.

"You should have skipped to that in the first place," Kiba said.

"He probably likes to hear himself talk," Naruto said with a big smile, giving Shikamaru a playful salute. His friend was acting way too seriously again, and needed to loosen up!

"Look who's talking!" Sakura made one of 'those' faces.

"If I may." Shikamaru looked very stern, standing there. Then, he slumped. All the nonsense was wearing thin!

"Go ahead." Ino supported her friend. She smirked, crossing her arms over her chest. "I'll use Shintenshin no Jutsu, if someone can't stay quiet."

"I'll sit on them" Choji's threat had far more impact than that of his blue-eyed teammate.

"Thank you," Shikamaru drawled. He unrolled the message further, and found himself unable to speak, as if someone had used his own Kage Shibari no Jutsu against him. "That…"

"What is it?" Ino looked on her teammate with concern. Just what was the mission? After the initial preamble, it sounded as if they were going to be given a vacation of sorts.

"Shikamaru?" Choji put down his bag of snacks.

"It says here…" Shikamaru had to clear his throat. He reread the passage a number of times, to make sure he hadn't been mistaken. He had not. He had been through many bothersome situations lately, but this threatened to top them all. "It says that we all have to play Spin The Bottle."

Concealed behind one of the thick patches of scraggly vegetation, Jiraiya smiled.