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Dragonheart	By : UmbreonMessiah Category: Naruto > General Views: 1644 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
Disclaimer: Oi, that�s right, I don�t own
Naruto. Nor would I want to. Masashi Kishimoto is doing a great job so far
(now if only they�d just get Naruto and Hinata to kiss, life would be perfect).
The several Original Characters in this piece of fiction are the intellectual
property of myself and my friend, and therefore we request that you do not take
them as your own under any circumstances, unless you ask nicely first.

A/N: Wow, the Prologue was a hit! I can�t
believe so many people actually liked it. Though I got way more hits and
reviews on FF.net than AFFN (but that just makes sense�I think). Thanks to all
the positive feedback I decided to go on to chapter one, which will explain a
lot of questions some reviewers had. Also, on an unrelated note, nobody has
questioned my use of the color �lavender� to describe Hinata�s hair color except
me. If my description changes, don�t ask me to go back to previous chapters to
fix it.

Dragonheart

Chapter One

            How troublesome, Nara Shikamaru thought
as he expelled an overall disinterested sigh.
            Reclining in a tree branch twenty feet above
ground, the lazy Chuunin stared up at the clouds; with his head rested in his
hand, his mind shifted in and out of matters other than the one he was currently
involved in. Honestly, how could the Godaime expect him, of all people, to get
excited about border patrol? Not to mention the fact that she had sent him
alone - far away from the village on the outskirts of the Fire Country,
boarder-lining with the River and Grass countries, with only a messenger
venturing forth between the other members of said border patrol every few days.
He was beginning to think that overseeing Chuunin Exams was almost better than
this.
            Almost.
            Nothing was different about Shikamaru this day
than could be said about him any other day. He was still wearing his hair in the
same fashion that he had always had it: tied up behind his head in a style that
one could essentially call their own. As with every other day, he could
probably start a complaint in regard to how drab and plain the Konoha Chuunin
vest was along with his usual gray top and faded black pants. Of course, he was
too lazy to try out a new look; so, he endured his own harsh criticisms and dry
wit once again.
            That thought alone caused him to sigh again.
Such was his life, and trying to find an alternative was simply too troublesome
for the young man. Languidly, he attempted to find a bright side to this
wearisome mission that the Hokage had given him.
            Oh wait, that�s right, he thought to
himself, almost smiling, I don�t have to be around Naruto.
            It was not that Shikamaru didn�t like Naruto.
The hyperactive blonde shinobi made life interesting (if not even more
troublesome) than normal, but ever since he and Hinata had gotten together, he�d
been even more hyperactive than usual (if such a feat were possible).
Despite all these facts, it never ceased to make him smile whenever he saw the
overly cute couple together. Hugging, chatting, laughing�it all seemed like a
fairy tale to the sluggish teen, which made it all the more interesting to be
around them.
            They had started dating nearly a month ago.
Hinata, naturally on account of her inept shyness, had at first tried keep her
personal relationship in the darkness. This was due to the fear that the
reactions of the Hyuuga clan would not be favorable ones, and they might attempt
to separate herself and Naruto if they discovered the truth. However, it was
nigh impossible to keep the rest of the village out of the loop as Naruto�s
amazing vocal prowess sought to spread the word throughout it. Moreover,
several blushing fits and sharp whacks to the back of the head would allow most
of Konoha to know about the new, fledgling couple.
            According to Shikamaru�s most reliable source
(which just so happened to be Ino�s gossip), Hinata had made quick work of
informing her father about the growing bond between her and Naruto. Why she had
chosen to do it eluded most forms of logic the strategist normally followed, but
she had chosen to do it nonetheless. His source informed him that had it not
been for the timely intervention of Hyuuga Neji, Hinata�s new relationship would
have been but a second thing to meet a tragic, bloodied end that day. The
Branch Family member had apparently come to both his cousin�s and Naruto�s
rescue that day, calming Hiashi down and convincing him to see the positives of
his daughter�s newfound romance. Together they had also come to the decision
that it would be best if the rest of the clan, especially the elders, learned
nothing of their heiress�s choice in men. Angered Hyuuga elders were something
all of Konoha could do without.
            All of that was just the start of things,
however. As time went by, a new development entered the arena that was Hinata
and Naruto�s relationship. Although it was almost unsettling, the two seemed to
have a canceling effect on one another. Within little to no time, the more
acceptable traits that each of them possessed began to slowly wear off on the
other. Naruto�s indestructible confidence and often rash behavior were starting
to slip into Hinata�s lifestyle. She was blushing less, and she had entirely
given up on fainting. She would talk with a confident air, and she would even
act giddy as well as energetic at times. On the opposite end of the spectrum,
Hinata�s calm countenance and manners were starting to slowly creep their
way into Naruto. He was still unpredictable and hyper, but at a more relaxed
pace. He was also able to keep focused and serious for longer periods of time
on a myriad of subjects that he probably would have found boring at one point.
All signs were pointing to them being the perfect couple.
            What a pain in the ass, Shikamaru
mentally grumbled. At least it�s more refreshing than me and that�
            Shikamaru�s bored reverie ended abruptly as he
jumped to his feet, crouching on the low branch. He had definitely just heard
something that must be nearby, and judging by the sound the leaves and twigs on
the forest floor had made once they were stepped on, it was bigger than a
rabbit. Much bigger. The Nara lad was not one for overreacting, but this being
the first sign of anything other than wild animals in the past five days since
he�d been situated here, he was ready to make up a few fantasies just to cure
the boredom.
            Upon leaping to the next tree branch over,
Shikamaru quickly discovered that dreaming and fantasizing were not going to be
required here. Trudging right across his line of vision was an oddly dressed
fellow � possibly a shinobi � carrying a rather curious looking sword. The
young man, who could only be about three years older than Shikamaru, was wearing
a black sleeveless shirt, covered by a dark red high collared vest. His hands
and wrists were adorned with black leather, which sported straps with fire red
buckles that were most likely used for tightening them so that they might fit
his hand better. His pants were an off-shade of gray - too dark to be
considered an average gray, but not dark enough to be considered black. They
were held up, presumably, by the black belt, which encircled them, topped with a
large silver belt buckle with the design of a dragon etched into it. The rest of
his attire below his waist was covered in random buckles and some chains - not
that Shikamaru cared for the precise details of each. The only piece of
evidence that this man may or may not be a shinobi was the dark red sandals he
wore, assuming that was enough evidence to make such a claim.
            The sword he bore was of another nature
entirely. A thick blade that was probably three feet long; it curved at the
end, leaving itself with no tip. Intriguingly, it turned into three jagged
teeth-like points on the one end. The blade ran a red line along itself, making
an inside lap around it from the hilt to the teeth and back again and drawing a
small version of the sword within the sword. Shikamaru pondered who could have
created such an interesting weapon as well as what its true strengths were other
than simply hacking things into ribbons.
            The only reason why Shikamaru had not detained
the man via his Kagemane no Jutsu was that the subject had looked considerably
beaten up already. He had several cuts and bruises concerning his arms, chest,
and face, which had caked on dirt and mud; thus, entreating to him an almost
sickly look. His footsteps were weak, almost non-existent as he stumbled across
the grass and mud flooring of the oncoming forest. The man didn�t look like he
could go much further; let alone reach the village in this condition. If he was
some foreign soldier or had any ill intentions, he certainly wasn�t going to be
able to pull them off in his current state.
            Damn, Shikamaru groaned, what a
troublesome situation.
            The Chuunin hopped out of his hiding place and
landed in front of the wandering young man, providing him with a half-interested
glare. It was too much to expect someone like Shikamaru to take this kind of
situation seriously, but it was his job after all, and he wasn�t about to let
Konoha down if he could help it.
            �Hey, you,� he called out to the wanderer, �who
are you and what are you doing in the Fire Country?�
            The battered traveler seemed unaffected by
Shikamaru�s voice, continuing his slow, pained trek forward into the forest. He
passed the Nara lad without even acknowledging his existence, breathing hard as
each step seemed to bring him more and more agony. Finally, whence he was three
feet from the border patrolling Chuunin, he stopped, and he remained standing up
relatively straight, looking at the canopy above.

            �Did�did you say�Fire Country?� the vested man asked, his voice
ragged and dry.
            Shikamaru did not move, but responded to the
man. �Yes�you have just stepped into the Fire Country. What are you doing
here, and what is your purpose?�
            The teenage Nara boy was ignored as the bruised
wanderer began to laugh, placing a gloved hand on his forehead as he sighed.
            �Then�I finally made it�� he mumbled. �I can
finally��
            There was a loud thump as the stranger
collapsed on the forest floor in a heap of red and black.
            �How troublesome�� Shikamaru sighed.

            The tattered invader hadn�t woken up in over a
day. After his fainting spell, Shikamaru had been forced to haul his
surprisingly heavy form from that spot in the woods to his camp that was
situated in a clearing a mile or so from the tree branch, which he had been
reclining on the day before. It was a quaint set up. A simple green tent with a
campfire fashioned out of wood and loose rocks. The Chuunin had placed his new
guest inside the tent, and had spent the majority of that day making sure he
wasn�t mortally wounded in any fashion. When the messengers from Konoha had
arrived that day (and Shikamaru thanked every god or goddess he could for it
being the day they would arrive), he sent them back to the village with an
important message for the Hokage. It was a simple message, in truth. He
reported that an unidentified person had crossed the border with no explanation;
then, he had passed out perceivably because of his injuries.
            That had been almost a day ago. This strange
teenager hadn�t awoken (in truth, he had barely even moved) since Shikamaru had
brought him to the camp. Having to baby-sit an injured man meant that the
Chuunin could not simply go back to his patrolling job. It also meant, sadly,
that his new job was to sit here at his camp, waiting for word from the Hokage
as to what to do.
            A deep sigh emanated from him as he thought
what he always thought about these kinds of things.
            The member of the Nara clan was at a loss to
explain what could have caused the various lacerations and contusions that
littered the man�s body, and he contented himself in the logic that it wasn�t
his job to know why. No, that would be left up to the medic-nin that the
Godaime would probably send to him. However, even with the speed of those
messengers, it would take at best two days, if not one and a half, for his
letter to reach her, and another equal amount of time for the answer to reach
him. It was at times like this that Shikamaru wished there were more of those
things that Naruto had mentioned were in the Snow Country. What was it that
he�d called them again�trains? They sounded faster than feet, at least.
            Given all of that prior knowledge, the bounding
form that leaped out of the forest and tackled him to the ground a moment later
had come as more than a deep surprise. As far as he knew, nobody else but the
Hokage and the Messengers knew exactly where he had been stationed. It was also
safe to bet that, with the defensive perimeter of explosive tags having been put
up, not just anyone could have sneaked up on him like that. He was about
to scream out or do something rash when he felt a long, hot tongue scraping over
his cheek, bathing his face in hot drool.
            �Disgusting!� Shikamaru snapped. �Kiba, get
your damned mutt off me!�
            There was a mischievous giggle as the large dog
pulled itself off of the lazy Chuunin, barking happily as its tail wagged.
Akamaru was not the same little dog that had once spent the majority of his time
hanging out on Kiba�s head. Shikamaru along with the rest of the village were
amazed at how fast the small puppy had grown into the massive nin-ken he was
now. As always, the dog-boy had the same rebuttal. He didn�t notice because he
and Akamaru were always together. Yes, Shikamaru believed that (I mean,
wouldn�t you notice that something that could once piggyback on you could
crush you if it wanted to?).
            �Don�t be such a wimp,� Inuzuka Kiba snickered
from atop his best friend. �Maybe if you were more of a man, women wouldn�t
walk all over you.�
            �Tch�� Shikamaru uttered, waving the boy off.
�How did you get here so fast, anyway?�
            Kiba jerked his thumb behind him, grinning
widely. �We were already on a mission. When we ran into your messengers, we
decided to come out and give you a hand before going back to the village.�
            The pineapple-haired shinobi raised a single
eyebrow. �We?� he questioned.
            Two other figures popped out from the foliage
as an answer to that question, taking their places next to the nin-ken trainer
and his oversized puppy. The male of the two was dressed in a high collared
black shirt that covered his mouth and draped down a little past his waist. He
also wore a gray hooded jacket, which did a good job of covering up the rest of
his facial features, along with a pair of black sunglasses. The entire getup
seemed naturally designed to shroud his presence in an air of mystery.
            The female of the group was completely
unmistakable, as Shikamaru had been mentally ranting about her the previous
day. The dark-haired teenage beauty that was Hyuuga Hinata tilted her head in a
bit of a smile at the lazy boy, her deep colored tresses draping over her soft
face. Her off-lavender jacket was unzipped slightly at the top, revealing her
Konoha hitai-ate, and portions of the black t-shirt and fishnet that made up her
other garments. The Hyuuga girl offered Shikamaru a curt wave, and he responded
in kind.
            �Well, since you decided to show up, why don�t
we move onto getting this guy back to Konoha?� he asked.
            �That sounds reasonable,� Shino spoke, raising
a hand to adjust his sunglasses.
            �He�s over in the tent,� Shikamaru explained,
pointing out his makeshift living environment. �Hasn�t moved since I put him in
there.�
            Kiba patted Akamaru�s back, chuckling. �Well
sling him up and we�ll get a move on.�
            The four-man group had no problem dragging the
pineapple-headed shinobi�s �guest� out of the tent and onto the large dog�s
back. Using a few ropes that he had brought with him for the mission, Shikamaru
assisted Kiba in tying their unknown visitor to the canine to make sure he
wouldn�t fly away on the trip home. After packing up the tent and disassembling
the campfire, all four of them made their way through the forests, back to the
Fire Country�s greatest hidden village, back to their home.

            The trip through the dense forests that
littered the Fire Country was mostly uneventful, except for when Kiba nearly
fell off Akamaru from a snide remark made by his female teammate, which had
literally come out of nowhere. Thanks to the messengers that had arrived the
day before, Shikamaru had more than enough food to share with his friends as
they stopped on their first night of travel, though what they ate mostly
consisted of stew and slightly stale bread. There were very few conversations
that occupied the group during the trip; the laid-back teenager obviously
avoided any subject matter that had to do with �would Naruto like it?� For the
most part, they discussed little things that had happened while Shikamaru was on
patrol duty, none of which actually interested him.
            It took them two days to reach Konoha, and they
did so in the late evening, near four o�clock. Never would the Nara boy ever
have expected to be so happy to see the arching gateway that lead into the Leaf
Village, and never would he have expected a smile to creep onto his face because
of it. It had been all too long for him upon his return, and he was very eager
to get some real rest along with some real food.
            It was easy to tell, just from looking down at
the path that led to Konoha, that it was a bright, crisp spring day. There was
a soft breeze that carried the scent of the Yamanaka flower shop all the way to
the four, assaulting their nostrils with the aroma of the family�s most
treasured plants. If they tried hard enough, the group could catch the whiff of
Team Ten�s favorite barbecue spot, barely tickling his nostrils with that
poignant tang the food always carried.
�Shikamaru,� Hinata�s voice
tugged at the teen in his half-dreaming state, �what should we do about our
tag-along?�
            The longest standing Chuunin practically
smacked his own forehead. How could he have so easily forgotten the package
they�d been carrying this entire time? It wasn�t like him to forget small
details. Silently he cursed the Godaime � what had she done to him?
            �Eh, I�m sure the Hokage will know what to do,�
he grumbled, rubbing his temple. �We�ll bring him to her first; then see what
orders she gives.�
            The �plan� was simple, and it seemed to fit.
Without any objections, the four shinobi, their canine companion, and the
unconscious trespasser marched forward to the gates of Konoha.
            Finally letting their feet rest a little, they
walked the remainder of the way towards the village. The relaxed pace the team
enjoyed for the last little bit of their two day trip felt more calming than any
hot springs ever could, especially for Shikamaru, who had spent almost the last
week alone in the thick forests near the country�s edge. He wasn�t one to
normally get homesick, but after eating almost nothing but soup and bread for
that period of time, he was almost looking forward to seeing his own mother.
That thought alone caused him to quiver.
            There was a rustle from the bushes to the side
of Konoha�s gate which attracted the otherwise occupied attention of all four
shinobi, who quickly readied themselves for battle. The rustling turned to
shaking just before three young figures burst from their hiding spot, one of
them pointing dramatically at the escort.
            �Stay right there!� their leader shouted
exuberantly. �No one trespasses into Konohagakure! If you fiends wish to go any
further, you�ll have to get through us first!�
            Despite being threatened by the three mystery
shinobi, not a single member of the travel-worn group even shrugged. Instead,
Hinata stepped up with a brimming smile on her face, giving the three guards a
curt wave.
            �Oh hi there Konohamaru! Udon! Moegi!� she
giggled. �Having fun?�
            The air went stale as everyone but the
dark-haired Hyuuga girl began sporting a massive sweatdrop.
            �Gee, kill all the fun why don�t you?� the
Sandaime�s grandson quipped, his eye and cheek twitching. �You�re less fun than
Ebisu-sensei!�
            Hinata blushed at said comment, sweat dropped
herself and tried to wave it off. �G-Gomen!� she squeaked. �I didn�t want to
ruin your fun!�
            �Too late for that,� Udon spoke, sniffing back
from his perpetual runny nose.
            �Yeah, you frickin� spoilsport,� Konohamaru
sneered.
            Shikamaru voiced his disapproval of the current
events by giving off an annoyed sigh, which earned him the focus of the entire
gathering. �Can we just get into the village so we can take this sleeping bum
to the Hokage and I can go home?�
            Finally it seemed it was Moegi�s turn to speak,
raising one finger in that �know-it-all� fashion. �I wouldn�t go visiting the
old hag just yet,� she said confidently, her cheeks as rosy as ever. �She and
Ero-sennin are having another one of their fights.�
            As if some divine whim had decided to
illustrate Moegi�s point, the ground began to shake as a loud, shrieking voice
cut through the air of the village, rattling it to its very core.
            �WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!� the voice
of Konoha�s Godaime bellowed, her office trembling like it were made of
gelatin. �DON�T YOU EVER TOUCH ME THERE IN PUBLIC AGAIN!!!�
            A few moments later, the projectile form of the
white-haired Sannin could be made out as it flew across the village, smashing
into the rock face just below the Hokage monuments.
            �Yeesh!� Konohamaru cried at the destruction
Tsunade had caused. �I�m glad the Boss only started heading there a few minutes
ago, or he�d be toast too!�
            Upon hearing that, Hinata�s face lit up. There
was only one person those three tricksters referred to as �Boss�, and it made
her heart a little light knowing he was so close. It also made her about forty
times as strong, as she was soon pushing the entire collection of shinobi with
her bare hands to get them on their way. Shikamaru wasted no time in calling it
all troublesome as they were forced deeper into the village.

            The hallways that lined the medium-sized
structure that was the Hokage�s main office had seen better more fruitful days.
Fading paint and worn out wood were beginning to show on both the inside and
outside, giving the entire building a very rustic, overused look.        Dust
from dirty rafters and unkempt roof structures littered the ground after
Tsunade�s last dealings with Jiraiya had rattled the entire office, blanketing
the hardwood floors in a soft gray layer that would probably be cleaned up
sometime later in the evening. Akamaru sneezed upon inhaling too much of the
substance, which kicked up a cloud of it in front of him, causing Kiba to sneeze
as well. The only word that a certain dark-haired kunoichi could think of to
describe it was �sty�.
            Shizune was waiting for them at the doors to
Tsunade�s main office, an apologetic look on her face as she told them they�d
have to wait until the latest hole in the wall was patched up, and until the
Hokage had regained her temper. Shikamaru didn�t even bother to utter his
catchphrase, using a simple roll of the eyes to illustrate his point to the
Godaime�s attendant. From that point, all they could do was sit around and
wait, twiddling their thumbs or fiddling with various ninja tools they had
brought along to keep themselves even mildly entertained.
            Hinata was using her Byakugan to locate random
things within the insulation � rats, insects, and other such creatures � when
she spotted him. An uncharacteristic grin crept across her face as she pulled
out a single kunai, and a tiny patch of exploding paper. Fixing the tiny swatch
of paper to the throwing knife, she flicked it upwards into the rafters,
giggling to herself as a mild bam was heard, signifying the note had
exploded, and smirked as a crumpled mass of orange and black collapsed on the
floor in front of her as he fell from his hiding place.
            �Oi, Naruto,� Shikamaru grumbled. �The hell
were you doing up there?�
            The hyperactive blonde shinobi leapt up from
his pile and pointed at the pineapple-headed Chuunin, practically foaming at the
mouth. �Shut the hell up with your smugness! I wouldn�t have had to hide up
there if it weren�t for Ero-sennin!�
            Hinata giggled and poked her now-boyfriend on
the shoulder. �Naruto-kun? Your pants are on fire.�
            The whiskered lad tilted his head like a
confused puppy before moving his gaze to his behind, noting the trail of smoke
and small patch of flames that were attached to the seat of his pants thanks to
Hinata�s earlier exploding note. There was a slight moment of silence and pause
before Naruto screamed in pain, quickly reaching back to pat out the flames
before giving a defeated smile, sweat beating on the side of his head.
            �Way to go, dumbass,� Kiba snickered, holding
his sides to prevent any form of uproarious laughter.
            �Why don�t you bite me, dog-boy?!� the blonde
snapped back. As a reply, Akamaru walked up to Naruto and bit into his arm,
which caused the blonde to scream, shaking his arm wildly to try and dislodge
it.
            It�s good to be home, Shikamaru thought
idly, even though he was in disgust of their current antics.

            Forty minutes later, the five shinobi stood
before the Hokage (who had given up trying to repair her office for the time
being), delivering their report. Team Eight went first, explaining the details
of their priority delivery of some of Tsunade�s old gambling debts (something
Shikamaru couldn�t believe had gotten anything above D-Rank). The report was
overly long and descriptive, leaving the majority of those listening bored and
tired.
            After the initial report was finished, it was
Shikamaru�s turn to fill the Hokage in on all that had happened during his week
on border patrol. Not surprisingly, anything that didn�t have to do with their
mystery guest was just as boring and fruitless for him to explain as it had been
for Team Eight to explain the nitty-gritty details about their own mission.
Tsunade on the other hand had taken a keen interest into the identity of their
invader, but since he could not be questioned she ordered him to be sent to the
hospital, where he would be monitored until such a time as he awoke. Shikamaru�s
eyes lodged wide open, noticing a chance to relieve himself of that dreadful
boarder patrol, but before he could volunteer, the fifth intervened. Apparently,
she did him the trouble of swindling himself out of it because she was planning
on relieving him of his position within a few days anyway. Shikamaru grinned in
the back of his mind at his cunning as well as sheer luck. Shino and Kiba
volunteered their services for the job of escorting the mystery intruder to the
hospital, leaving Naruto and Hinata together, with Shikamaru walking off at a
moderate pace to tend to his own business.
            The couple slowly walked their way through the
hallways to the exit of the grand building, sharing stories of recent events and
missions with each other. The dark-haired Hyuuga girl found her hand entwining
with his as they talked, pleased to share even the simplest of contact with her
love. Despite her shy and restrained countenance, there were other thoughts
traveling through her head at that moment.
            As they exited the large, red-painted building,
a figure swooped down from the roof�s overhang, staring at the cute couple with
a mocking grin, arms crossed across his chest and the ponytail from his white
hair dangling down in submission to the laws of gravity. Both Shinobi jumped
and yelped in surprise, landing on their rear ends.
            �You�d think being one of the best ninja in the
world,� the old man quipped, �I�d get a little more respect from both that woman
and you, Naruto.�
            �J-Jiraiya-sama!� Hinata squeaked, slowly
getting back to her feet, face tinged pink.
            �Hey, Ero-sennin!� Naruto yelled, pointing
frantically at his mentor. �Don�t scare Hinata-chan like that!�
            The white-haired Sannin sighed, giving a roll
of his eyes. �Well aren�t you all cheerful today?� he shrugged at his former
student.
            Naruto shook his fist at the perverted old man,
yelling wildly at him. �If it weren�t for you, Ero-sennin,
Tsunade-baachan would�ve been in a good mood today, and I could�ve asked
her for some time off to train with Kakashi-sensei!�
            �Like I should do you any favors,� the Sannin
returned. �If it weren�t for you, I wouldn�t have had to put the moves on
Tsunade in order to get new material!�
            �New material!? You mean you ruined my chance
to train with Kakashi-sensei so you could write more of your stupid dirty
books?!� the blonde snarled.
            Hinata, who had previously been invisible to
this conversation, suddenly stepped in between both of them, poking Naruto in
the chest. �Don�t call Jiraiya-sama�s work stupid, Naruto-kun!�
            Said shinobi�s temper suddenly died as he was
chastised by his girlfriend, a hurt look replacing his usual demeanor. �Aren�t
you supposed to be on my side, Hinata-chan?�
            �Not if you�re going to insult Icha Icha!� she
stated firmly. �Just because his books are dirty doesn�t mean they
aren�t good!�
            Jiraiya popped out of whatever minor trance he
had been in upon hearing those words, peering at the dark-haired teenager
inquisitively. �Wait a moment,� he said curiously, �what do you mean by that?
Do you�read my work?�
            Hinata�s cheeks turned a deep shade of crimson
as she was found out, her fingers resuming their old nervous twitch.
�Uh�w-well�o-once in a while�� she gulped. �Wh-whenever the�new edition comes
out.�
            Both males suddenly suffered from slack jaws
and wide eyes as the young woman finished her sentence, Naruto�s hand rising
shakily to point at her.
            �Y-you�you read Ero-sennin�s books?!� he cried
out before turning on his teacher. �YOU TURNED MY GIRLFRIEND INTO A PERVERT,
YOU OLD BASTARD!�
            Naruto threw a punch that would have made
Tsunade jealous at the white-haired hermit, sending his body flying out into the
street and skidding across the dirt ground. Never one to be shown up, Jiraiya�s
body promptly exploded into chakra smoke and was replaced by a broken log a
second later as the real Jiraiya landed on the ground next to the amazed young
man.
            �Well,� the old man sighed, �I can tell when
I�m not wanted. I�ll see you two lovebirds later!�
            With that, the old Sannin was gone, leaving
them in a gush of wind. Naruto continued to shake and tremble with visible rage
and confusion, while Hinata simply blushed and scratched the side of her cheek,
putting a hand on the young man�s shoulder in a vain attempt to calm his nerves.
            �Y-you don�t really think that about me, do you
Naruto-kun?� she asked him softly after a few minutes had passed.
            Naruto�s gaze fixated itself on the Hyuuga
girl, one eyebrow raised in confusion. �Eh? Well�yeah, kinda,� he admitted
solemnly. However, a wide grin quickly smothered his frown, followed by an
amused chuckle. �But I spent just a little over two years with Ero-sennin, so
I�m a pervert now too. It all evens out in the end.�
That well-timed save earned the
Jinchuuriki a soft peck on his cheek from his girlfriend.
            �I think someone deserves a little ramen,� she
winked coyly, �and it�s on me.�
            Just as in the past, the words �ramen� and �on
me� in the same sentence had Naruto running faster than the speed of light. The
only difference was that this time, he was dragging a certain dark-haired girl
in his wake.

            Like many times in their relationship to date,
Naruto and Hinata dined on the exquisite (according to Naruto) flavorings of
Ichiraku�s Ramen. As with every meal they had together, the conversation soon
became a mix of jokes and adventurous tales, all to be shared with Old Man
Teuchi and his lovely daughter, Ayame. Naruto was very glad that the girl who
was basically second in command to his favorite restaurant had decided against
leaving the village. He honestly didn�t know what he would do without Ayame
adding her own special touch to his and Hinata�s meals whenever they visited. He
probably could have done without her merciless teasing on their behalf, though.
            Conversation was idle at best, ranging from
Ayame�s simple musings about their relationship to Naruto�s wild escapades in
both the past and the present. The only thing that remained out of the ordinary
was a strange looking male shinobi neither one of them had ever actually seen in
the village before. Hinata considered him very creepy, especially how he
refused to make any noise (including the slurping of his ramen) while he sat
there. The only words he muttered were a goodbye to Ayame and Old Man Teuchi as
he exited the restaurant. When questioned about his identity, the older woman
simply replied he was an old friend, and left it at that.
            A total of seven bowls of ramen later (only two
of which were provided by the Hyuuga heiress), Hinata and Naruto�s joint dinner
(which Ayame incessantly referred to as �another date�) ended. Feeling almost
depressed by how much her love could drain her own wallet; she nevertheless put
on a happy smile as she paid for the food, true to her earlier word. Her
actions were rewarded with an air depleting hug from the young man to her right,
which in turned caused her cheeks to redden amicably. No matter how much money
she lost because of him, she could never find herself mad at his whiskered face
or hyperactive nature.
            As she stood to leave, she noticed Ayame
grabbing Naruto by the ear, and whispering something to him. The more the
female chef whispered, the more Naruto�s face lit up, until there was an almost
devious grin plastered across it. A moment later Hinata could feel air rushing
past her as Naruto grabbed her by her wrist and dragged her at top speed out of
Ichiraku�s, yelling a loud �thank you� to Old Man Teuchi�s daughter. The
dark-haired girl could only flail in the wind as she pondered where exactly the
boy she cherished was dragging her.
            Three minutes later, the answer became crystal
clear to her as they approached the summit of the mountain, whose face had
etched in it the likeness of the Hokages. She knew the spot quite well, despite
having been ignorant moments before. The way the Yondaime Hokage�s statue was
made left many spots on the spot considered to be his hair for people to sit and
relax as they looked out over the village. It wasn�t common, but she had more
than once noticed many of her friends or minor acquaintances sitting between the
spikes of the Yondaime�s hair, just contemplating the day. The spot that Naruto
chose, however, made her heart skip several beats.
            The spot was nestled just to the left of the
middle of the Yondaime�s head, a small little grove between two particularly
spaced out spikes in the carving�s head. Hinata caught her breath as she stared
out over the perfect panoramic view of the entirety of Konohagakure; the bright
oranges, reds and pinks of the sunset bathing the entire village and the forest
beyond in it a serene, powerful glow, making it look as though an early autumn
had fallen upon them.
            �Oh Naruto-kun�� she sighed, �it�s beautiful!�
            �Isn�t it though?� he grinned. �Ayame-nee-chan
told me all about it. She said it�s the most gorgeous place in the entire
village, especially during this time of day.�
            �I agree with her completely!� the heiress
gasped. �Oh it�s so pretty!�
            �Does that mean you like it?� he asked.
            �Of course it does, you silly!� she squealed,
hugging him tightly. �I love it!�
            Naruto smiled widely, wrapping his arm around
her shoulder as he took a seat with her. �That�s great, Hinata! I�m glad you
like it!�
            The two shared a soft kiss before relaxing back
into the carved groove of the hair of the Yondaime�s carving. From that point,
silence fell over the couple as they continued to gaze out at the setting sun,
watching as it painted their village in waves of bright color. The only sound
that greeted their ears was that which was produced from their mutual breathing,
their bodies rising and sagging slightly as they sat in bewilderment of nature.
Hinata could just barely feel the warmth of Naruto�s body against her own
through her jacket as she huddled close to him.
            �Hey, Hinata,� Naruto�s uttered, breaking the
stillness they had created. �When did you start reading Ero-sennin�s books?�
            A sudden redness filled the female�s cheeks as
she twisted her head to meet his eyes. �U-Um�about six months after you left
with Jiraiya-sama��
            �Wow, that long?� he asked, leaning back. �Why
would you read those things? They�re just smut.�
            �Th-they�re not just smut!� Hinata replied
harshly. �J-Jiraiya-sama�s work is filled with much more than just that
stuff, Naruto-kun! B-besides��
            Naruto tilted his head as she trailed off.
�Besides what?� he queried.
            She squirmed against him roughly, incredibly
embarrassed and uncomfortable. �B-besides�� she started once again, �d-don�t
you ever�don�t you ever wonder what it would be like?�
            It took approximately eight seconds for Naruto
to catch on to what she meant, and when he did, his face turned four shades
darker than her own had ever been.
            �H-Hinata!� he squeaked, eyes buggy. �Y-You
d-don�t mean��
            �F-forget I said anything,� she blushed
harshly, waving it off. �I�I don�t want to ruin this moment. It�s too
perfect.�
            As if nothing had passed between them, the
Hyuuga heiress relaxed herself and let her head rest on her love�s shoulder,
making a gentle cooing sound as they resumed their previous activity of staring
off into the distance. The sun blinked erratically in their eyes just as it
sunk beneath the horizon, the only proof of its passage was the beams of light
that crept over the surface of the earth.

            Daylight had just left Konoha as the medic-nin
walked in for his shift. With a curt wave he dismissed his colleague, taking
his post in monitoring the high priority case that Tsunade had given them not
even four hours ago. He had received word about it not even half an hour ago,
and he was already interested in what all the hubbub could be about. Looking
through the windows into the room where they were keeping the mystery guest,
however, the white garbed ninja found himself disappointed. The young man they
had pretty much incarcerated within the hospital didn�t look all that unusual to
him, except for perhaps the odd looking sword that they�d propped up against one
of the walls. Something in the report stated that he had been clutching it when
they�d hauled him in, and that it was probably best if they didn�t just take it
away from him. The medical ninja could have cared less about those details, and
so chose not to read them.
            So far, there had been no signs of activity
other than sleep from their new friend, which only made the situation even more
boring. According to the file, he had been out cold for almost three days now,
which vexed the rest of the staff greatly. Still, there was little to nothing
that could be done about it, and they continued their duty of observing the
brown haired shinobi.
            That was, until several minutes later, when he
woke up. In a flash, he jumped out of his bed, grabbed his sword, and after
having assessed his surroundings, left the doctors and medical staff astounded
as he slammed his sword into the linoleum floor, sending a stream of fire into
the nearby wall causing it to explode. When the dust cleared, the man was gone,
leaving behind a sizeable hole in the wall of the building that connected to the
streets of Konoha. The man whose shift had just begun stood dumbfounded at the
suddenness of the action for several moments before he ran out of the room,
searching for the nearest alarm button.

            The last rays of sunlight had just disappeared
from the sky as the explosion sounded throughout Konoha, shaking the village�s
newest couple from their daydreaming together. In seconds both shinobi were on
their feet, scanning their home for signs of anything out of the ordinary. The
pillar of smoke rising from the side of the hospital was a hard thing to miss,
and without any communication beyond a nod to one another they were off,
bounding down the mountain face to investigate.
            Despite what negative traits they possessed,
both Naruto and Hinata were all business when it came to protecting their home.
Quickly and silently they moved, their leaps in tandem as they approached the
damaged building, gathering what information they could from the scene before
the perpetrator�s footprints lead them on further. The target was not hard to
locate at all, having strayed only a few minutes from the hospital prior to
their arrival. They were on him then, landing in front of him and blocking his
advance.
            The brown-haired teen blinked as he was cut
off, rubbing the side of his head with his left hand, flexing his sword in the
other. �Jeez, just who�re you two supposed to be?� he asked. �Welcoming
committee, perhaps?�
            �Shut up,� Naruto barked, his arms folded
across his chest angrily. �We�ll ask the questions around here.�
            �Cheh�as if I�d answer any questions you�d
ask,� the man replied.
            Recognition ran across Hinata�s face suddenly.
She grabbed Naruto�s jacket, tugging it lightly and pointing at the
sword-wielding boy before them. �Naruto�that�s the guy we helped Shikamaru
bring back!�
            �It is?� Naruto questioned. �Now that you
mention it, he kinda does look familiar�guess I didn�t get a good look at
him�him being on Akamaru�s back the whole time and all.�
            The unnamed shinobi sighed as they talked,
rolling his eyes. �Look, that�s great and all that you seem to have seen me
before,� he grumbled, �but I could honestly care less. Now, could you possibly
tell me where the ��
            Naruto cut him off in mid-sentence with his
typical angry voice. �You wreck our village and expect us to do anything for
you? How stupid do you think we are?�
            There was no response from the other male, who
simply shrugged his shoulders and turned away from the two Leaf shinobi. This
made Naruto even angrier, and in a fit of blind rage he charged, reaching into
his side-bag and throwing three shuriken towards the retreating young man. The
loud clang of metal meeting metal rang through the air as the two of them with
darker hair deflected the projectiles with the blade of his sword, his left eye
twitching in aggravation.
            �You�re really starting to piss me off, kid,�
he snapped, saying the last word with increased loathing. �Go run home before
I�m forced to do something you might regret.�
            Despite such threatening words, the young man�s
next action was to leap into the nearby trees, distancing himself from his
pursuers. Hinata and Naruto were on him instantaneously; the Hyuuga girl kept
back a bit, afraid to start a fight this close to the homes of neutral
villagers. Her partner, moreover, seemed to lack this compunction, being driven
by sheer anger for the individual they were chasing. Despite everything, Naruto
was still brash and impulsive sometimes, and attacking someone without knowing
anything other than he might have done something to put the village in
danger was just the young blonde�s style. It was more reckless than noble in
her opinion, and at that point it could have gotten them and anyone near them in
a whole lot of trouble.
            Suddenly, the three of them broke out of the
trees, landing just outside the Hokage�s office, in a small garden. The mystery
assailant stopped running, relaxing the grip on his sword as it hung upside
down, allowing the hilt to catch on a loop extending from his belt. He gave off
an irritated sigh, turning to face the two who had been chasing him.
            �You can�t get rid of me that easily, asshole!�
Naruto spat, pointing violently towards the other young man.
            �Really?� came the stoic reply. �Maybe I�m
just not trying hard enough.�
            The red-vested intruder slapped his hands
together, and began to put together a series of hand seals: the ram, followed by
the monkey, the boar, the horse and finally the tiger. Naruto�s eyes burst wide
as he took in the series of seals, his enemy slowly drawing in a deep breath.
            It can�t be, Naruto thought to himself.
Those are�
            �Hinata!� he cried out. �Get out of the way!�
            The dark-haired kunoichi didn�t even have time
to question his words, her legs working on their own to propel her out of the
way as the stranger�s voice rang out into the night.
            �Katon! Goukakyuu no Jutsu!�
            The sound of blazing flames engulfed the small
patch of plants and earth as a huge ball of fire erupted from the blade-wielding
man�s mouth, tearing through the flowers and fruits that had been grown in
office�s back yard, incinerating them in the attack�s path towards the blonde
shinobi. Hinata could only stare in horror as Naruto, stuck in complete awe,
didn�t even budge as the flames consumed his body, searing through and past him,
turning his body to ash.
            The orange-clad shinobi�s attacker raised an
eyebrow as he ended his jutsu, taking up his sword in his right hand once again,
holding it in that odd upside down manner. �What the hell?� he uttered in
astonishment. �There�s no way that killed him. He could have easily
dodged it��
            �You�re right!� Naruto�s voice rang out. �And
I did!�
            A loud snap sounded throughout the garden as
Naruto�s fist connected with the older boy�s face, sending him rolling across
the dirt. Konoha�s newest guest quickly used his sword to stop his travels by
plunging it into the ground and using it to pull himself to his feet. As he
stood, he gathered something in his mouth and spat it out, frowning as the dirt
before him darkened as his blood splattered against it.

            �So what, you think you�re smart now?� the violent man asked.
�Don�t push your luck.�
            �There are certain things in this world I can�t
stand,� Naruto hissed. �One of them is smart-asses like you who think they�re
better than me!�
            �You�re all talk, brat,� his opponent snapped
back.
            �Is that what you think?� the blonde returned.
�I�ll show you who�s all talk!�
            The soft thump on the ground was the only
signal that Hinata had removed herself from her hiding spot. Her head turned
towards the fray, attempting to find a way to end this battle before it got out
of hand. Instead, she was greeted by the sight of the battle already getting
beyond control as Naruto formed the Rasengan in his right palm, the swirling
ball of chakra making its telltale sound as it continued to spin. Before she
could even process another thought the blonde was on the move, charging forward
with his strongest attack, intent on striking down his enemy.   The intruder
raised his sword, eyes wide with shock as he prepared to defend himself. The
battle could and would end any second, and one of the two combatants would most
likely be dead when that happened.
            The battle did end a second later, but not the
way that Hinata, Naruto, nor the mystery guest would have expected. Tsunade
burst from the shadows and delivered a sweeping kick to Naruto�s legs, sending
the young shinobi hurtling towards the ground, his Rasengan colliding with the
dirt and drilling a small crater into the already ruined garden�s soil. Seeing
that this could easily get out of control, the intruder attempted to flee, only
to be rooted in place as Kakashi appeared behind him, a kunai pressed against
the brown-haired shinobi�s throat.
            �I don�t think you�ll be moving,� the masked
Jounin muttered.
            Hinata let out a sigh of relief. It was over.

            Even at night, the Hokage�s office was still as
active as ever, various shinobi and messengers passing through the building,
relaying documents and such to the leader of the village�s military force. The
soft yellow glow from the various lighting structures crawled from the various
windows that littered the building�s body, giving it an almost haunting
appearance in the shady moonlight. The inside was much better, the gloominess
vanishing into the brightness of every powerfully lit corridor, a lively air
hanging just above the hardwood floors.
            The door to the main office was open just
slightly, allowing the commotion that had started inside to leak out into the
ears of anyone who just happened to be passing by. Voices clamored together in
a m�lange of shouting, screaming, and bickering, not one person�s opinion or
statement being heard over the other. Of the voices at the forefront, Naruto�s
and Tsunade�s were the most prominent; the village�s newest guest was heralding
second, while Kakashi�s was in a distant third. Hinata�s voice was non-existent
as she stood in the corner with Shizune, watching the spectacle from a safe
distance. She was not a coward, but she knew when to draw the line: getting
involved in an argument between the Hokage and Naruto was never a good idea.
Those arguments quickly turned into fights, all of which to date Naruto had
lost.
            Tsunade slammed her hand against her desk,
causing the fashioned wood furniture to crack and splinter, silencing every
other voice in the room. Hinata�s cheeks reddened as she giggled quietly to
herself. The female Sannin seemed to have a way with men that no other woman
possessed.
            �That�s enough!� the Godaime boomed. �Now, I
want to hear the whole story, one at a time.�
            The entire recap of what had happened, from all
three points of view, took a little over ten minutes. As Naruto spoke, Hinata
found herself reliving the events in her head, as if to prepare herself in case
she too were asked to deliver a statement on the matter. As Kakashi finished his
short explanation � which started with him answering the hospital�s alarm and
apprehending the suspect in question outside the Hokage�s office � Tsunade
leaned back in her chair, fixing her gaze on the dark-haired man that Shikamaru
and Hinata�s group had brought in earlier that afternoon, and shot him a deadly
glare.
            �I think now would probably be a good time to
introduce yourself,� she said bitterly.
            Everyone�s attention turned to the man with the
scruffy brown hair as he tapped the blade of his curved sword against the wood
floor, shrugging his shoulders. �Me? My name is Ryumoto Yakusho.�
            The name rung throughout the office for a
moment before embedding itself in each shinobi�s head. Tsunade raised an
eyebrow inquisitively while Kakashi�s only visible eye widened in disbelief,
turning to gaze toward the blade-wielding man.
            �Ryumoto?� the Hokage muttered. �As in the
Ryumoto Clan?�

            �What? What�s the Ryumoto Clan?� Naruto questioned loudly enough to
make the young man that he had been fighting less than ten minutes ago shudder.
            �I guess it was before your time,� Kakashi
said, his voice moderate in both volume and tone. �They were among the most
powerful clans in the entire Fire Country, possibly even the world. They were
said to draw their power from the ancient beasts known as dragons.�
            �Really?� Naruto said incredulously. �That
sounds pretty incredible.�
            �Yes,� Kakashi sighed, amazed at Naruto�s quick
change in temper. �But almost two decades ago, they were all wiped out, and
nobody knows why.�
            �Almost all of them,� Yakusho replied.
�As you can see, I�m still quite alive.�
            Tsunade�s eye twitched at that statement. �So
you�re saying you�re the last member of the Ryumoto Clan? What proof do you
have of that?�
            There was a loud clang as Yakusho
dropped his sword on Tsunade�s desk. �Take a look if you don�t believe me.
That�s the Dragon Fang.�
            Hinata and Naruto tilted their heads in
confusion, but Tsunade and Kakashi seemed to realize the significance of the
blade. Tsunade beckoned her attendant over, whispering something in her ear.
Shizune nodded to the Hokage and walked over to one of the bookshelves in the
room, searching through old tomes until she came upon the book she had been
instructed to find, placing it on the desk and opening it before returning to
the corner with Hinata. The female Sannin whipped through pages until she came
upon a picture of a sword that looked exactly like the sword Yakusho had placed
on her desk; then looked up at the blade�s owner as he reclaimed it.
            �Good enough proof?� he asked. �If you read
that passage, you�ll know that nobody outside of the Ryumoto Clan can actually
hold the sword, let alone wield it.�
            Tsunade sighed, leaning back into her chair.
She vaguely remembered the reports from the medic-nin at the hospital stating
that they had been forced to use tongs to move the boy�s sword while he was in
the infirmary. The first person who had attempted to remove it from the
unconscious shinobi�s grasp had suffered severe burns.
�Your story checks out for now,�
she submitted. �But you still have yet to explain what you�re doing in the Fire
Country.�
            Yakusho�s face turned into a grin as he
chuckled. �Funny story that�� he quipped. �I�can�t actually remember.�
            Hinata and Shizune suddenly slapped their hands
over their ears to protect the valued instruments of their body from damage due
to the shouting that followed from the issue of the previous statement.
            �WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON�T REMEMBER?!� Naruto
shouted as loud as he could. Tsunade stood up from her chair to smack him once.
            �Some form of amnesia?� Kakashi muttered,
looking the Ryumoto lad over.
            �Is that even possible?� the blonde shinobi
questioned, eyes closed as his face assumed that grumpy look he seemed to be the
sole proprietor of.
            Tsunade slipped her fingers between each other,
leaning on her elbows on the desk as she pondered the situation. �I have heard
that in some cases, when a person has received sufficient mental trauma, their
mind can cut out any parts of their memory that involve it to protect that
person from reliving the trauma,� Tsunade explained as best she could.
�Considering the state Shikamaru found you in, Yakusho, I would say that
temporary amnesia is indeed a possibility.�
            �Does that mean it will clear up?� said young
man asked. �I�d like to know why I decided to come here in the first place.�
            �As would I,� Tsunade replied, glaring at him.
�Another question remains: where will you be staying? Would I be correct in
assuming you don�t have any permanent lodgings anywhere nearby?�
            �That�d be right,� Yakusho stated, running his
fingers through the front part of his hair in a rather uncouth gesture. �Got a
solution?�
            Kakashi met eyes with the Godaime, both of them
giving a curt nod before leaving their little conspirational exchange.
            �I think it would be alright, given the�special
circumstances�surrounding your arrival here,� Tsunade explained, �that you be
allowed to live here until your memory returns. Of course, we expect you to put
your skills to good use�you can�t stay here without giving a little in return,
you realize.�
            �Yeah, that sounds good,� Yakusho chuckled. �I
can agree to that.�
            �Wait just a damn minute here!� Naruto suddenly
piped up. �This guy attacked us! Just what in the hell gives him the right to
live here with us? And furthermore, where�s he gonna stay?!�
            �About that,� the Godaime said, turning her
attention to the noisy ninja. The look on her face dripped with pure venom,
enough to make Shizune and Hinata shiver in their corner. �I noticed that you
were fighting in my garden outside, and that thanks to both of you, the flowers
I was growing are now piles of ash.�
            �Yeah, so?� the hyperactive boy retorted. �Not
my problem�and it wasn�t even me who burned them.�
            �Be that as it may,� the woman continued, �it
was your decision to chase Yakusho instead of following proper procedure. It�s
as much your fault as it is his.�
            �Oh so what?� Naruto grumbled. �They were just
stupid flowers anyway.�
            Fire erupted around the female Sannin as she
stared daggers and electricity down at Naruto. �Those flowers that I was
growing happened to be part of a bet I made,� she snarled. �Thanks to your
escapades, I�m out three thousand ryou!�
            �Th-th-three thousand r-ryou?� Naruto�s face
paled.
            �Yes, three thousand ryou!� Tsunade
reiterated. �Since I know you�re not just going to have that kind of money
lying around, I think the only suitable punishment would be to make Yakusho
live with you!�
            The scream that emanated from the Hokage�s
office shook the entire town, and knocked a vase off a shelf in the Yamanaka
household.

            The door to Naruto�s apartment made a loud,
strained creaking noise as it was unlocked and pushed open. A dying light bulb
slowly flickered as the switch was turned, its light slowly creeping through the
surprisingly well kept two room living quarters Naruto had been given by the
village. In earlier times, the apartment was constantly a mess with instant
ramen cups and various other food products littering the floor and table.
However, when he had left for his training with Jiraiya, he had left a special
request with Iruka that his small living space should be looked after by someone
while he was gone. That way, he wouldn�t have to return to a rat�s nest. At
first, Iruka had been the one to constantly stop by and make sure the two room
apartment got air and cleaning, but after a few months, he found that he had
less and less time to help out Naruto with his request, and had shifted the
responsibility over to Naruto�s teammate, Haruno Sakura. When he had heard the
news about that, Naruto half-expected to return to a home of pretty pink
curtains, flowers, and re-arranged furniture. The other things that could have
possibly happened simply rebounded off his brain, the organ wishing to not even
dwell on them. However, he had been pleasantly surprised that not only had
Sakura not altered his living quarters in any fashion, but that she had also
made it cleaner and tidier than he had ever been able to. It had taken a bit of
courage to ask her if she could continue the job, but for some reason she was
rather happy to keep it up.
            Today didn�t seem to be much different. The
smell of cleaning fluid hung in the air ever slightly, wafted through the room
by the gentle night breeze that flowed through his open window. Naruto walked
over and closed it, turning around and grimacing as Yakusho stepped in rather
brusquely, trailing dirt and crushed flowers from their earlier fight into the
blonde�s recently tidied home.
            �Hey, watch it!� Naruto snapped. �This place
was just cleaned.�
            �Whatever,� came the apathetic reply. �Where�s
your couch?�
            The apartment�s owner pointed slowly towards
the orange colored piece of furniture that resided less than five feet from his
only table. His house guest yawned loudly, fanning his mouth as he kicked off
his sandals and walked over, flopping down on the couch and dropping his sword
just beside him on the floor. In moments, the faint buzzing sound of the oddly
dressed man�s snoring littered the kitchen area, leaving Naruto�s face
twitching, a large sweatdrop hanging from his head.
            Someday, Tsunade would pay for this. He swore
it.

Finally, the edited chapter in all it�s goodness. I�d
like to take right now to thank my shadow editor, who will be piecing together
and fixing some of the chapter after I write this little blurb here to make it
as good as it can be. He doesn�t want his name thrown up, but I insist that he
get credit for his work. A large part of this is due to his help, so remember
to thank him!
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Dragonheart

Dragonheart