Setting: Konoha. Naruto and the gang are all about 18 or so.

On the outside Konoha is currently at peace. It's residents enjoying a good relationship with Sand and its new Kazekage. Life goes on and everyone is eagerly awaiting the upcoming Jounin exams.

Things are much more turbulent underneath. Tsunade's health fades and tensions rise with many of the residents of Konoha. Sasuke, though no longer under house arrest, still secludes himself away. Sakura, Naruto, Hinata and Ino train every day to be nominated for the exams. Shino and Shikamaru, already Jounin, develop relationships with their friends and carry out their missions. Chouji, Kiba, Neji and Lee returned from the mission to retrieve Sasuke much worse for wear and gave up on becoming ninja. Chouji opened a tavern, Kiba bought a ranch were he raises dogs for the Inuzuki clan. Neji took over a head of the branch house of the Hyuuga clan and Lee is the only accepted ambassador to Sand.