Shoto Emerald was a fourteen-years-old Genin ranked Ninja originally to be affiliated with the Hidden Mist Village (Kirigakure). After the extension of his clan, he was sent to Konohagakure (Hidden Leaf Village) in order to continue his training. That was a good three years ago for the young silver haired boy. Now he was a Leaf Ninja. He was proud of it as he sported his headband on his forehead. Though he was still a Genin, he was almost as good as a Chunin. His main style of attacking was wind manipulation Ninjutsu for that was the Element type his clan used. However his chakra nature was that of fire and while he was good with it, it was not like his wind manipulation. Of course none of this stops him from trying to be a normal teenage boy.

As on this fine Thursday afternoon, the young Genin had just woken up from his sleep that had came up to be fourteen hours. After doing his morning routine in the bathroom, he grabbed a bagel out of his kitchen. He drowsily checked the time before sprinting out the door, cursing under his breath the whole time. He was going to be in so much trouble if he didn't get to the library in about two minutes. Sometimes he really hated "borrowing" manga from Matthew. He could never go to sleep without reading the first volume the first day.

Finally making it to library, with fifteen seconds to spare, he waved at his two best friends in the whole ninja world. One being his best friend since Kiri Ninja Academy, Matthew Dream. The other being the first teenager in Konoha to not treat him like an outsider, Kiba Inuzuka. It was usual for the three to meet up every Thursday to talk about their week so far. Two of them were bound to have had a mission before then so the other was dying to find out. Besides, Thursday was when the new manga came out and they usually bought them all together.

"Took you long enough, Sho-kun," Kiba said affectionately.

"Couldn't sleep last night. I read the whole first volume of the manga that Matthew let me borrow. Pluuus I got a little mission later on today," Shoto gained a huge grin.

"You seem pretty happy. You're usually all doom and gloom when it's a mission. Matter of fact you usually look just like this," Matthew made an impersonation of Shoto being depressed.

The face itself was quite strange. Matthew puffed out his cheeks and let his head hang to the left side. His eyes showed a look similar to the one that people get when someone kicked a small puppy. It happened to be the best impression of Shoto that Matthew was able to do.

It was because of that imitation that Shoto punched his best friend. Imitation like that wasn't flattery, it was complete mockery. The slightly shorter ninja walked into the library and as he held his head in the air, he walked right into the front desk. Stomach straight into the corner of the wooden desk at that.

"Ow!" Shoto groaned in pain.

"That's what you get for trying to be stuck up. You're not anything like Sasuke," Kiba walked in behind him.

"I know I ain't Sasuke. I am a lot cooler. Plus I'm much more hotter in comparison," Shoto tossed his shoulder blade length silver hair behind his back.

"Glad to know that you're comfortable in your sexuality, Shoto," Matthew complained.

That was one factor about Shoto that almost everyone in the village knew about. Shoto was gay and quite openly gay at that. Other than Matthew, Shino, and Kiba most guys that knew about that tended to stay away from him. That led to him being a little conceited around them to make it seem like his esteem was pretty high. It was low and that was something he couldn't help with all the talks about him. He was just as masculine as any other guy. It was just that he preferred men over women.

"You know something, Matthew?" Shoto grinned looking at his best friend.

"Yeah. You want me to take you on a date. The answer is and always will be no," Matthew rolled his eyes confused on why they kept going through this.

"You break my heart. All I wanted was a nice dinner at Ichiraku and maybe a kiss on the cheek. But noooo. You gotta' be mister righteous," the fake sadness in his voice and fake pout gave Shoto away.

"Cut the act. Matthew isn't dumb enough to fall for that one. Maybe if you change it up a bit he would," Kiba shook his head.

"Y'know, maybe you're right, Kiba," Shoto stopped his fake pout..

Shoto smiled, clinging onto his best friend, Kiba. It was days like that he wished that he never had to go on missions. That reminded him, he had to get to Lady Tsunade's office in about an hour and a half. Hanging out with his two of his best friends was never so hard. All he wanted was a simple manga to read while he traveled to wherever. It didn't matter, he would have fun in the end as well as probably take two more volumes that he borrowed from Matthew.

"Sometimes, I think that you actually like the emo-brat," Matthew broke the concentration.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Shoto frowned in confusion.

"You've been staring at him since you started clinging to Kiba. You're lucky he has caught your eye yet. You know how he gets around you," Matthew crossed his arms over his chest.

"Clingy beyond imagination?" Shoto blurted out his answer.

"No. He wants to kick your ass for existing. Remember, he thinks he's straight. But we all know of that crush he has for Hatake-sensei," Matthew shook his head.

"Oh yeah. Doesn't Kakashi-sensei like Kurenai-sensei but pretends that he doesn't?" Shoto tried to piece everything together.

"Just like you and Emo boy over there?" Kiba added his two cents.

"Do noot!" Shoto whined.

With that one whine\yell, everyone in the library turned around to look at him. He was strange anyway for being gay, but that was taking the cake. No one yelled in the library for any reason.

That yell also caused Sasuke to walk over there with the other three boys. He grabbed the collar of the silver haired Genin harshly. That caused the other to blush only slightly being pulled so close to the other boy. As much as they both wanted to deny it, they knew that the other truly had a crush on the other. It was just that no one else knew, but Shoto's friends always had suspicions. Well that was something that all friends seemed to have in common anyway.

"What is your problem?" Sasuke whispered.

"You are, Emo-brat. I swear that I dislike you terribly. Anything else you wish to ask?" Shoto smirked.

"You are pathetic, Emerald. I want you dead and I could kill you if I wanted to, but for some reason I won't," Sasuke growled.

"You must love me. That's the only reason you won't try to kill me," Shoto blinked slowly.

Sasuke held a kunai to Shoto's throat and narrowed his eyes pressing it hard enough to start breaking the skin. Of course that wasn't truly phasing the other boy that much. He was being as crazy as normal. Then again, he had his "crew" right there with him. Matthew alone was strong enough to get the Uchiha off him though with some difficulties. Kiba well Kiba was just Kiba. So what did he have to worry about?

"Sasuke, I swear, you don't want to hurt me. Your heart won't allow it to happen," there was slightest hint of a whine in the whispered voice of Shoto.

"Shoto, you know me all too well," Sasuke bit down on his bottom lip.

"Of course. I'm the reason you decided to stay in Konoha. If I hadn't shown up, two years ago, all teary eyed going 'Sasuke-kun, please don't leave. You're my best friend. And if you do leave then I will follow you' you would have left."

"You just don't get it."

"Maybe I don't. Maybe I really don't want to. Or maybe it's something a little more."

Shoto's lips came dangerously close to Sasuke's. He moved back as he saw the flushed cheeks on the black haired male. He gave the older boy a pat on the back before he walked closer to his friends. He glomped Matthew tightly pretending to cry in his over dramatic fashion. No one knew what was passed between the two as their voices were barely even in a whispered state. Only thing anyone could tell was the kunai to Shoto's throat. That would make anyone believe that they hated each other with a serious passion.

"If Shoto is hurt, Sasuke, I swear on Akamaru that I'll hurt you ten times worse," Kiba threatened.

"He's fine. He just wants his little boyfriend," Sasuke turned away.

"Hey at least I can get someone!" Shoto yelled indignantly.

Sasuke flipped the younger boy off. He walked off to another part of the library to get away from the little group of "losers." Of course he only truly did that to get away from Shoto. His face was starting to get hot just by thinking about the young boy. Other than Kakashi, he was the only one who could ever make him blush with his soft whispers. How he hated his crush on that boy.

Matthew pushed his friend off him and stared at the boy with big purple eyes. He wanted to kick his butt, but he remembered that Shoto was the one with most of the money. That meant he was going to be spared for a small while. He turned to Kiba, who was laughing at the two of them, knowing exactly what was going through the mind of the blond. Yes, manga was that important to Matthew that he put up with Shoto's constant glomping.


About an hour twenty-nine minutes later, Shoto made it to the Hokage's mansion. He wheezed slightly after making it to the outside of the huge building. Never again would he decide to run from the library to the her mansion. He was lazy, not as lazy as Shikamaru, but lazy enough to wish that he thought of using the shunshin technique to get there instead of running like an idiot. He would remember that one day and that one day was most likely not going to be that day or anytime in the near future.

"Hello, Shoto. Lady Tsunade has been waiting for you," Shizune said as he walked through the hallway.

"Thank you, Shizune-chan," he winked in a flirtatious manner.

A small blush came onto Shizune's cheeks. She knew he was gay, but his flirtatious attitude always got to her. She knew he didn't want her in such a manner and it was alway quite obvious. The boy couldn't be discreet as she usually caught him staring at Genma or Raido as they walked passed. Just like he was doing now to Genma who was talking to him about something.

"So you're saying that once I become Chunnin you'll date me?" Shoto asked.

"Maybe I will," Genma sighed.

"But maybe means no. Then that means I will never date you. You're way too cute for me to pass up," Shoto pouted.

"Have you even thought about the fact that I may not be interested in guys and that maybe Shizune is my girlfriend?" Genma looked at the boy.

"Nope. You totally have got that flare that says I'm all for guys. More to the point, it says you're all for me," the grin on Shoto's face was anything but innocent.

"I swear sometimes you're a horny bastard. Stay your age and rank, kiddo."

Genma found the room he was supposed to go to and left the hallway before Shoto could say another word. That child was a boy who thought he was an adult that wanted to have a boyfriend just because he thought it was cool. He didn't know how many times he said that he should wait to get one or even think about having him for a lover. But it seemed that he didn't pay attention to anything that didn't say "come get me, I'm yours." He just hoped that he would not get into some kind of trouble doing stupid stuff.

The Genin walked into Tsunade's office at the end of the long hallway. He saw that the chair was turned around. He let out a long sigh of relief only to quickly close his mouth as he felt that it was too loud and she had heard it. Apparently she did as she turned around and her face seemed to be stern for the first time that he had seen her. That could only mean one thing. He had an important mission. And if so the this was something that he just could not mess up. He would get recognition as a Ninja and maybe become Chunnin without having to take the test. He had heard of things like that happening at least back during times of war.

The smile on his face went even wider than one would think was possible. His thoughts of being with Genma were increasing in his crazy little mind more so than the thought of actually being a Chunnin. Tsunade caught hold of his smile and made a face as it kept growing. She knew he was thinking about being with Genma. It was something that she and every other person that worked there knew about. She just couldn't believe that he couldn't tell that his beloved Genma was in love with Raido and was having a fling with Shizune.

"Shoto!" she called as he began to drool slightly.

"Yes, ma'am. Shoto Biaka Emerald reporting for duty!" he saluted.

"Your mission is stated right here in this envelope. Read it now and ask questions if you want," she handed him the yellow envelope.

Shoto grabbed the envelope as it was thrusted into his hands and opened it. He looked it over twice before completely understanding it. His mission was to infiltrate Amegakure as there were sources saying that the criminal group called the Akatsuki was there.. He was partnered with a ANBU member named Sai, the smart tactical Chunin, Shikamaru Nara, and the greatest Jonin in Konoha, Kakashi Hatake. Oh was he happy. He got to be with an ANBU member and Kakashi. He was going to get the highest recognition any Genin could ever get. This was becoming the best day of his life already.

"Lady Tsunade, if I may ask, who is this Sai person?" Shoto asked.

"Look behind you and you'll find out," Tsunade pointed.

He turned around quickly and was met with the sight of a super pale teenage boy standing by the door. He had short black hair that seemed to be stuck to his head except for the bangs that were over his headband. He had narrow black eyes that seemed to show no emotions whatsoever. He was maybe an inch shorter than him. All in all the guy was pretty cute; wait no he was beyond cute. He was what happened when Sasuke and Genma got put together or had a secret love child in his mind. He was going to have a field day with this boy. And then he noticed the clothing. He was wearing a black crop top with one long sleeve and a shorter sleeve. His pants were kind of tight and black. If Matthew thought some of Shoto's clothing was revealing, there would be no endless amounts of jokes for this guy.

"You must be Sai," Shoto smiled. The boy nodded then he added, "I'm Shoto Emerald. I'm your partner on this mission."

"..." came from Sai.

"Not a talker? Well that's ok."

"Well at least you won't be alone with this guy," came the voice of Shikamaru.

A hand was felt upon his shoulder, as Shoto turned around. He held a kunai in his hand in case Shikamaru was to try anything. He had a thing against him for being gay for the same whatever reason the other Genin, besides Kiba and Shino, seemed to have. So he wasn't taking any chances. He had been targeted to be harmed by others before because of this. He may have been a Genin, but he was the strongest Genin there ever would be. Or at least the level of pretend confidence he had said it that way.

"Don't be so hostile. I'm not going to harm you," Shikamaru threw his hands up.

"I trust you about as much as Lady Hokage Tsunade-sama trusts Orochimaru," Shoto growled low.

"This is going to be troublesome. Why did you have to choose him, Lady Tsunade?" Shikamaru asked the blonde woman.

"He may still be a Genin but he does have one of the best espionage skills of the village," Tsunade answered.

"You can see that we won't get along."

"A team has to get along for the sake of the mission and it's village. So suck it up!"

Shikamaru sighed before looking at the window closest to him. He started staring at the clouds to relax him. The trip to Amegakure was going to be a long one since he was partnered with the gayest boy in Konoha. For all he knew, the guy could try to rape him in the middle of the night. There was no way in hell he was going to do that.

Kakashi soon popped in reading the newest book in the Icha Icha series, Icha Icha Tactics. He gave a wave to those that were in the room before returning to the page he was on. After hearing the snarl that came from Tsunade, he quickly put the book away. He was able to see that what was happening was pretty serious by two of the other Ninja in the room. The ever glomping Shoto was someone he would not have expected to see.

He gave the Genin a hug then pushed him off gently. The boy could remind someone of Naruto if they paid attention to him and not his sexual orientation. He had no real problem with the boy being gay since he was real secure in his own manhood. That always made him wonder about most of the male Chunnin and Genin of the village that disliked him. Was it because they weren't secure? He had such few friends, that he seemed to take up with him so he wouldn't feel completely lonely when Kiba, Shino, and Matthew weren't around.

"Kaka-sensei," Shoto said.

"Yes, Shoto-kun?" Kakashi smiled at the affectionate nickname.

"We're going on a mission together. We have to infiltrate Amegakure to find out if the Akatsuki main base is there," Shoto blurted out in excitement.

"What?" the one visible eye of Kakashi's widened.

"You, me, Shikamaru, and that guy back there are going on a mission together."

"No way. You aren't ready for a mission like this. If the Akatsuki is there, I doubt that you will be able to hold your own. You're still a Genin. You became a Ninja just nine months ago."

"Kakashi, do not worry. He will be fine. He is even stronger than Naruto was at that time as well as his espionage skills. The only thing that could go wrong is if he loses his temper," Tsunade said.

"What? What happens when I lose my temper?" Shoto tilted his head.

The adults continued talking about the mission and why the silver haired Genin was allowed to be there. Shikamaru was looking out the window at the clouds as he always did. That left him alone, since Sai wasn't talking or doing anything at all. Well he would make the boy talk. They were going on a mission and it was wise to know all of your comrades before doing anything. So it was his duty to understand Sai so he can try to match his best attacks.

"Hi Sai!" Shoto walked over to the older boy.

"..." once again Sai said nothing.

"So you're an ANBU member, right? You gotta' be very strong," Shoto tried another tactic to get him to speak.

"Yes I am," Sai answered.

"You have a voice?"

"Yes."

"It's so cute!"

"Um...ok?"

"Be my boyfriend."

"Your boyfriend?"

"My boyfriend. You and me as a couple. You know kissing and so on. PRETTY PLEASE!"

"I guess."

"There is no guess to it. Are you going to be or not?"

"Yes I will. Though I am not sure what a…"

Shoto glomped his new boyfriend before the poor boy could finish speaking. He kissed his cheek which made Sai hold the boy hesitantly. This was something new. He didn't even remember Shin hugging him like this. Was a boyfriend something different than a brother? He remembered kissing Shin's cheek and holding onto him for dear life. Well he should at least start acting friendly to this boy. He had a feeling that they were going to be together for a long time.

"What is your name again?" Sai asked.

"Shoto Emerald," he grinned

"Show toe?" Sai tried to say the name.

"Yes like that. Sho like show and to like toe just put it together a little faster. Got it?"

"Yes. Shoto. Nice name."

Shikamaru and Kakashi looked at Sai and Shoto. The two seemed to be friendly already, a little way too friendly as they were holding each other. That relieved Kakashi for a while. He didn't have to worry about anyone trying to harm him for he would have Sai to protect him as of now. Shikamaru on the other hand was disgusted. He was stuck with two gay guys and Kakashi. It wasn't as if Kakashi was a problem besides the fact that he condoned the behavior. It was just now this Sai guy was going to be the object of Shoto's affection. How troublesome was this mission going to be?