Kari: IIIIIIIIIIII'MMMMM BACK! D'ja miss me? I know at least ONE of my readers did! Before I continue with the bulletins, I'd like to introduce my friend, Kisho!

Kisho: Hi peoplez.

Kari: He's been helping me with my stories. And he's very good.

Kisho: :)

Kari: Okay, I'd like to thank Kurisetina, who was the only one that reviewed my note. Thank you! And, now, I'd like to share with you, how many views this story has gotten. As of today, December 21, 2010, Uzumaki Nariko has had 2,015 hits, which is suprising as we seem to only have, like, 18 reviews, not including my "I see you!" comment. Where are you, people?

Kisho: Yeah! Where are you?

Kari: I'm very disappointed.

Kisho: Shame!

Kari: Mmhmm. Very. Oh, and Mika couldn't be here. She sends her love, though.

Kisho:…

Kari: Something you'd like to say, Kisho-ototo?

Kisho: … No, I'm good.

Kari: *glares*

Kisho: Fine, fine. Kari owns nothing. Other than Nari. But she's still hoping!

Kari:…*writing* Dear Santa…

Chapter One

One Prank Too Far

It was a peaceful day in Konoha. The sky was royal blue with fluffy clouds dotting the horizon. The people of Konoha were going about their daily business. Shoppers were buzzing from shop to shop, buying goods; business owners were calling people over to buy goods. Every student of a certain age were learning how to be good ninja in the Hidden Leaf Village Ninja Academy. Every student, that is except…

"Naruto! Nariko!" a man yelled, racing down the halls of the academy. "Has anyone seen the Uzumakis?" The man was none other than Iruka, the teacher. He had dark hair that was pulled back in a ponytail. There was a scar that went across the bridge of his nose.

He walked briskly down the hallway.

Two figures stood on top of the Great Faces Monument. They were getting ready to do something, it seemed. One of them was a girl with long, waist length, blond hair, and eyes of the purest, clearest blue. She wore a blue shirt with an orange and blue jacket that had the same patterns as the top-half of Naruto's jumpsuit tied around her waist, and blue pants. She had a pair of goggles that hung loosely around her neck.

The boy looked much like the girl. He was securing ropes to a nearby tree. "Naruto," said the girl. "I'm a little nervous…" She felt odd. They weren't supposed to be on the Monument. It was sacred… Naruto just rolled his eyes at her.

"C'mon, Nari!" he said. "Let's go! It's just a joke." He grinned. Nari smiled. Yeah, she thought, it's just a joke. No big deal…

They grabbed their paint brushes and ropes, and grinned at each other. "Okay, I have to say it." Nari said to him. Naruto frowned. "If this goes as planned… I think this could be our greatest prank ever." She grinned at her twin.

"Ya' know what? I think you're right!" he laughed. Looking down at the village below, the twins clung to their supplies. Naruto finally looked up at his sister. "Okay, sis. You ready?" he asked. Nari took a deep breath. She steadied herself at the edge of the cliff.

"You know it!" she laughed.

"Believe it!" they said together, as they slid down the cliff with their paint in hand.

In Hokage Tower

The Hokage sat in his office, signing papers. He was perfectly at ease. There'd been no complaints that morning. Very rare with the Uzumaki Twins around. He wondered if they'd given up their shenanigans. Maybe he'd finally get some peace today…

"Hokage-sama!" The third Hokage sighed. 'Well, that was short lived…'

"What's wrong? Are Naruto and Nariko causing trouble again?" The Hokage asked, turning slightly toward the men. He knew them well. They were forever in his office. Nariko was the youngest, though she worked hard. He wondered if she fails on purpose so she could stay close to her brother. Oh well, a question for another day.

"Hai, they're vandalizing on the Hokage Monument!" one said, clearly distraught.

"And this time with paint!" said the other. The Hokage stared at them. So much for his peaceful day…

In the village around said Monument

Nari and Naruto were hanging onto their ropes with great ease. Even though they were the smallest of their class, they were holding onto their ropes, deftly moving and handling them as they worked with their rather large paint brushes.

Below them, there was a crowd forming. The villagers were starting to notice the pranksters. And they weren't happy. They were beyond mad. But, they could only stand by, watching, glaring, and shouting. They couldn't set foot on the cliff and the twins knew it. They weren't even supposed to TOUCH it, and the twins were PAINTING it.

"Hey! Stop causing trouble!" one yelled.

"Make me!" Nari replied. She couldn't tell who'd said it, but she knew that they weren't happy, whoever they were.

"Stop doing this!" bellowed another.

"Why should we?" Naruto called.

"You'll pay for this!" Nari rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, we already are! Your ugly face is making me sick!" she retorted.

"Look at what they did!"

Nari looked at her brother. They kept a straight face before looking at the people bellow them. Then they howled with laughter. It was funny. How mad they were. How upset. They kept laughing, until Nari slowly stopped. She glared down at the people. She was annoyed that they kept talking and yelling.

"Shut up you bakas!" Nari yelled in anger. They disserved it. They disserved much more than that, really. They should go away. Just leave them alone. Why couldn't they understand? Why couldn't they stop?

"None of you would be able to do something like this!" Naruto bellowed.

"BUT WE CAN! BECAUSE WE'RE GREAT!" the twins yelled together.

On the roof of Hokage Tower

Shinobi gathered on the roof. "Geez… What have those bakas done?" many muttered. They both looked on as the twins and villagers yelled back and forth. The Hokage had a neutral, unreadable expression.

"Hn?" The Hokage said as Iruka perched on the rail. Iruka had an annoyed look on his face. He clearly wasn't happy.

"Hokage-sama, I apologize for this." Iruka said. He began to yell something. The Hokage frowned.

"Oh! Iruka…" the Hokage started. There was already so much yelling. Iruka needn't add to it.

"WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING DURING CLASS TIME? GET DOWN HERE YOU MORRONS!" Iruka yelled, making the twins cringe.

Nariko looked up at him in horror. "Oh, man…"

"Oh no!" Naruto gasped. This was not good! If there was one thing that unnerved them, it was their sensei. Naruto's grip slipped from the rope in his shock, and he started to fall. Nari's hand automatically reached out for his hand, and the force of him falling resulted in her own hand slipping, sending them both tumbling through the air.

"What are they doing?" Iruka asked, putting his hands over his face. What were they thinking?

Luckily, a branch snagged Naruto's shirt, causing him to dangle there helplessly. Nari used her quick thinking, and landed on the branch. She looked down at her brother, feeling more than a little panicked. They'd chosen the monument for their newest prank because of its status. No one dared to touch it. Not even Iruka.

They'd also picked it due to the fact that when villagers saw them lately, they became cautious. Nari had to run errands while Naruto stayed home, or slept, because people tended to be less nervous around her. She still got nervous looks and those OTHER looks when she was alone, but the shops didn't suddenly 'change their closing time' when it was just her.

Nari helped her brother up, but didn't resist when Iruka lassoed them with a rope.

In Iruka's Classroom

Nari and Naruto sat tied up on the floor in front of the class. Naruto was pouting angrily, and Nari was looking at the rope burn on her hand. Anything to avoid the withering looks their classmates were undoubtedly giving them.

Iruka frowned down at them. He was getting sick of this. This wasn't the first time he had to retrieve them on a classroom day. The only difference between then and now was that there was a lecture that went along with the frown.

"Tomorrow is the Shinobi Academy's graduation exam and you've both failed it the last two times! This is no time to be causing trouble! Bakas!" Iruka yelled at them. Nari felt her brother shrug.

Naruto glared at the ground under his goggles. "Whatever…" This surprised Nari a little, but she shrugged it off as his bad temper. He didn't like school at all. The only reason he was here was because he had a big dream that required an education from the academy.

Iruka frowned some more. How could someone be so unconcerned about such an important thing? Especially when they'd already failed the test many times before. He looked down at the twins and shook his head in disbelief. "Alright, class, " he called. "Pop quiz! Everyone line up."

Shocked expressions crossed all the children's' faces. They looked at him in horror. "WHAT!" He smiled a little too kindly. They cringed and slid back into their seats. "Oh, man. What a drag."

"Transform perfectly into me." Iruka said. "First up…" Everyone turned to Naruto.

"This is your fault." someone sneered. Nari turned to the child and gave him a withering look.

"Shut it, Nerd face!" Nari snapped. The boy backed away from her nervously. Nari tended to be scary when she was angered. Iruka looked around and smiled evilly at Nari.

"Okay, good. Next, Uzumaki Nariko." he said. Nari walked up reluctantly. She stood in front of him with an annoyed look. Of course he'd pick her. Iruka waited as Nari glared at yet another student menacingly.

"Ready?" Iruka asked. Nari just stared at him.

"No."

Silence. "And why not?"

Nari just shrugged. Iruka twitched. "Okay, then." He waited for a minute. Naruto snickered. "Ready yet?"

"Nope." Nari said, looking bored.

"Okay, Uzumaki. You don't have a choice here. Now, are you ready?" Iruka demanded hotly.

Nari sighed, shrugging. "Yeah, yeah…" She sighed, making a hand sign. She paused. "Do I have to?" Iruka frowned. "Fine, fine."

"Henge no Jutsu!" She then transformed into Iruka perfectly. She smirked at his expression. "Happy?" she asked, sarcastically. Iruka and everyone else looked at her clearly stunned.

"O-Okay, g-great Nariko… N-next up is U-Uzumaki Naruto." Iruka stuttered.

"Okay, then." Naruto said. Nari was standing to the side, wedged in between Shikamaru and Kiba. And then, Naruto made his hand signs.

"Oh my…" Nariko gasped. She turned a little red, and she covered Kiba's and Shikamaru's eyes. "N-Naruto…" she said slowly. She was stunned. " Oh my Bob, Naruto… what the heck have you gotten yourself into…"

"Don't waste time on useless skills, baka!" Iruka yelled. The boys in the room, except Shikamaru and Kiba, had nose bleeds…

At Hokage Monument

Nari and Naruto scrubbed at the paint. "I'm not letting you go until everything is as it has to be." Iruka said. Naruto and Nari, who were standing on a platform above him, looked at him.

"Doesn't matter." Nari muttered looking away. Naruto frowned deeply.

"Like we care. It's not like we have anyone to go home to." Naruto looked away as well.

"Nii-san..." Nariko said softly. She put a hand on his shoulder.

"Bleh." Naruto said, pulling away. Nari sighed.

Nari thought about how they were treated. Like strays. No one cares about them. No one even wants to share breathing room with them, much less a village. No friends, no parents, barely getting by. The only way they could afford to live in their apartment was because the Hokage took care of the rent.

Iruka saw the dark look in Naruto's eyes.

"Nariko-san—"

"Nari. Just Nari, sir." Nariko said.

"Nari-san and Naruto-san." Iruka said slowly. The twins kept working.

"What?" Naruto snapped.

"Hn" Nari asked, looking at him.

"Well uhm… If everything is all cleaned up… I'll buy you two some ramen tonight." Iruka said, pushing up his forehead protector. Naruto and Nariko looked up at him brightly.

"Okay, we'll work as hard as we can!" the twins said. They scrubbed harder.

At the Ramen Shop.

As Naruto and Nari were eating, Iruka seemed deep in thought. The twins were having an argument about something. The more Iruka thought about it, the more it bothered him. "Guys?"

They stopped mid-argument. "Huh?" they both asked at the same time.

"Why were you doing that to the monument? Don't you know who the Hokage are?" The twins blinked. What kind of question was THAT? Naruto and Nari looked at each other then frowned.

"Of course we know!" Naruto said. "Basically, those who get the Hokage title..."

"Are the strongest Shinobi of the village, right?" Nari continued, waving her hand as she did so. "Among them is the Fourth Hokage, a hero that saved the village from a fox demon."

"And some day," Naruto continued. "I'm going to surpass them all. And then I'll make the village acknowledge my strength." Naruto said to his sensei. Nari nodded.

Iruka looked at Naruto in surprise. He wants to be Hokage? Iruka looked at the siblings for some sign of a joke. But then he saw it. The fire in Naruto's eyes. He meant it. Every word he had spoken was the truth.

Naruto suddenly turned to Nari and back to Iruka. "… Uhm, Iruka-sensei, I have a little request." Iruka looked at him. Blinking, Iruka looked at Nari for some clue that she might have of what the question might be. He sighed, seeing she was likely to know as much as he did. And then, he took a shot in the dark.

"What?" Iruka asked. "You guys want another cup of ramen?"

"YES!" Nari said. She held up her bowl to the teacher, grinning widely. But Naruto shook his head, taking them both by surprise.

"No... Can I borrow your forehead protector?" Naruto corrected. Nariko looked up.

"Oh, this? No, no, this is what you get after you graduate."

"It's a sign that you've come of age." Nariko said. "We're getting ours tomorrow."

"Bummer! You're kinda stingy for a teacher…" Naruto wined.

"HAHA! So that's why you took your goggles off!"

"I want seconds!"

"WHAT!" Iruka cried. "And I'm the stingy one!"

At the Academy

"Nari, I know that you fail on purpose…" Naruto said to her.

Nari froze. He figured it out. What would she do? Lie. No, he'd figure it out. Was it time to tell the truth? No. Let's try the first option. "What? Are you kidding?" she laughed. "No way!" She looked at Naruto, her face convincing.

"Don't lie to me." Naruto snapped. Nari frowned. She should have known better. Being caught in her trick was bad. But this was worse. The look on Naruto's face… So sad. So unhappy. He knew. And she could do nothing to convince him he was wrong.

"… I didn't want to pass. Not if you didn't. Gomen… are you mad at me?"

"Pass the test, Imoto. I want you to." he told her. The look on his face

"Uzumaki Nari." Nari looked at her brother. He frowned at her. "Nariko, it's your turn!"

"Coming, Iruka sensei!" Nari replied reluctantly. She stood up slowly, and as she started to walk away, Naruto tugged her braided pigtail.

"Pass that test." Naruto said. There was no room for arguing. No room for retorts. Nari looked at her brother rather unhappily. She had to do this, or he would never forgive her. She nodded hesitantly, and went down to the testing room.

When Nari stepped into the room, Iruka wrote something on his clipboard. "To graduate you have to do 'Kage Bushin no Jutsu.'" Iruka said. Nari looked around and frowned at the man that sat next to Iruka. Mizuki. She hated that man.

Nari looked at Iruka. He glanced up from his clip board. "Um… Iruka-sensei?" she asked, shifting uncomfortably. She didn't promise. She could still make this work… maybe if she told Iruka that she couldn't do it, he'd let her leave. "I, uh…"

"You cannot quit this year. Hokage's orders." Mizuki said. He looked at her with eyes that seemed to hold so much friendliness… "So go on, Uzumaki."

She looked desperately at Iruka but he shrugged. "But, I-I c-can't do it, Iruka-sensei. Honest." she told him, looking him in the eye. But he just shook his head. "I don't want to…"

"Nariko," Mizuki started.

"Uzumaki." Nari said coldly. He frowned a little.

"Uzumaki-san, we can't let you leave this room until you try."

Nari stared at him. Maybe she could fake it. No, she couldn't do that. Naruto would ask. She couldn't lie to him and face that look. Those sad, disappointed look on his face. And then he'd say 'You promised, Nari. How could you…'

"Do I have to, Iruka-sensei?" He nodded.

"Fine… BUSHIN NO JUTSU!" a clone appeared before them. Both clones glared at Mizuki and then glanced at Iruka. And then, together, the pair of Narikos said, "Happy?" Iruka nodded dumbly. Mizuki handed her a headband.

When Mizuki's hand brushed past Nari's, her eyes flashed an icy blue. "Thank you," she said stiffly. She then walked out of the room, and past a line of children. One of them stared.

"What? Uzumaki made it!" Nariko ignored him.

" No way. Where's your headband?" another demanded. Nari looked over her shoulder as she passed the child.

Nariko grinned. "I'm not putting it on until Nii-chan gets his." Nariko said firmly.

"You're gonna wait a while, baka didn't get his."

Nari went outside to look for her brother. It wasn't possible. No way. He passed. She knew he did. He just HAD to! She looked up to see Naruto on the swing under a tree. Nari looked at him sadly. She made her way toward him. She passed parents hugging and congratulate their children. Ignoring the pang of sadness and loneliness, she walked past them.

And then Nari walked past two women. She caught the words that one of them was saying. "Well, that's a good thing." Nari gaped at her.

"He shouldn't become a Shinobi." The woman's words cut Nari like a knife. She rounded on the pair and looked them in their hatful eyes.

"Who asked you! Huh? I don't see you trying to be a Shinobi!" Nari yelled at them. Her eyes turned an icy blue once more. "WHY DON'T YOU TRY, HUH? SCARED? ARE YOU CHICKEN? SO HOW CAN YOU JUDGE HIM? HOW DO YOU KNOW? YOU DON'T! YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING! I DON'T WANNA SEE YOUR FACES ANY WHERE NEAR MY BROTHER! SO GET LOST!" The women stared at her in horror. They squeaked and ran in the other direction.

Somewhere deep in Nari's mind, a voice was cooing, very faintly, "Ha-ha. Very impressive, little one."

Nari went up to the tree and sat down on the ground next to her brother. "Naru-tan?" she asked softly. He looked away. "Naru-nii," Nari said sadly. "They don't know anything. Who cares what they say, right?" Naruto looked up at her and turned his attention to the fleeing forms of the mothers.

"You didn't have to do that." he said. Nari looked over at them. They had their children in their grip and were racing away like scared little girls.

"Hai," Nari said. Naruto looked at her. There was a lot of force in those words. She said them clearly, strongly. She meant them. "I did. They're just wimps. They don't know anything. Nothing. How much you wanna bet their kids didn't even make it?"

Naruto gave a small, half-hearted laugh. "Doesn't matter." he said.

Nari looked at him sadly. "It does." He said nothing. Slowly, he smiled a little.

"How's about we get some ramen? I'm hungry." Nari said in an attempt to cheer him up. He just nodded and told her he'd be home soon. Taking the hint, Nari walked away, leaving Naruto to sulk by himself.

Kari: Did ya luv it?

Kisho: Did'ja? Huh, huh? Did'ja?

Kari:… down boy.

Kisho: … Gomen.

Kari: Got questions?

Kisho:… *raises hand*

Kari: Not you, Ki-tan…

Kisho: *lowers hand looking disappointed*

Kari: Well, ya better get those reviews in! We want to know! Did you LOVE IT? Was it worth my time? Was it better than it was before? Did you like the dialogue?

Kisho: Say Yes! Say yes! Every one say yes! I get $5 every time we get positive feedback, so say YES!

Kari:… I don't remember agreeing to that…

Kisho: :(

Kari: Review, and Mika won't sneak into your house and take your cookies and candycanes.

Kisho: Anonymous reviews are excepted.

Kari: So you have no excuse not to review.