After this weeks ponderous ending, it would seem that next week would be as good an epiode as any to begin a new chapter in Naruto (of course if I was Kishimoto I would wait a few eps into the new time jumped chapters continuity before assuring us that Naruto is in fact alive; obviously after I had left some ominous indicators otherwise ...ku ku ku ku ku!!!

We begin with The Ninja Academy as Konohamaru is preparing to graduate, with Udon and the "Sexy Female Ninja". Iruka hasn't changed at all and tells some back story, bringing things up to speed.

Something about a cold war with the Village of Sound who has allied up with the (some new village pulled out of Kishi's ass) hidden Village. Konoha and the Sand have formed close ties. ls of room for Kishi to tie in all sorts of Geo-Political analogies...this crap writes itself.

Any who

Hinabi (same age as Konohamaru) already passed a secret chunnin exam and Joins the Anbu after graduation.

The little girl with dread locks is there too...

Everyone Naruto's age is about 16-19 (Character design wise I would beef up all the Jounin a little bit...tweak the designs slightly, our Gennins would be a smidge shorter than the Gais and Kakashi's. Female Jounins would only be hotter in true sexist fantasy entertainment style.)

Shika is engaged to and whipped by Temari. (The sand are here due to popularity and the Sand's bloody failure at revenge against the Sound, re-enforcing their subordinate role to Konaha.) They are each
Anbu Squad Leaders

Team Shika =
Shika (Gets beat up alot in play...but his brains are counted on)
Rock Lee (Opens and closes gates at a whim...redefines Ninja Genius...Gai tries to get him to spar Kakashi)
Gaara (...where to begin...but you got to see it)
Naruto
Hinata (Post Medical Specialist Training)

Team Temari =
Temari (I always liked her...plus the shika connection makes this a semi no brainer)
Shino (you know you want to see him as a bad ass)
Ten Ten (Mega Bad Ass/Quarrels with Temari/Defends Neji...cuz)
Neji (reduced physical abilities...Genjutsu MASTER...Redefines Ninja Geius...again)
Sakura (Tsunade Clone)

These Squads fall in under Platoon: Gai (he is the best, and beats the crap out of his troops on a regular basis...tough love...even with Gaara)

The Story...keep it short...

Political Summit between Sound and Konoha. Sasuke Walks openly as Orochimaru's Henchman w/ Kabuto.

Kakashi is MIA along with Itachi after some total bad ass Fight that only Jiraiya witnessed. If not dead, both lost an eye (non sharingan for Kakashi)

The purpose of the summit is a unified effort against Akatsuki.

....WOW...that was fun, and I am late for an engagement. Ten years from now it will be revealed that Jiraiya is the Leader of Akatsuki, and he is the Reincarnation of the First....ku ku ku ku ku!!!

He sowed the seeds of the Uchiha and he is the third Unknown Mangekyou Weilder...The Mangekyou Originator...an inherited Cursed Seal, empowered by the horrid requirements of its activation. To be Mangekyou is to be a Betrayer...and To Serve Jiraiya FOREVER!!!!

OK...scratch that last part..but it was fun to write...so I'll leave it as obvious flame bait...

Have Fun