A/N: This story occurs during the anime "filler" episodes, sometime after the insect mission. I'll make it as long as people want it to be.

Chapter 1: Hiru the Peddler

Tsunade sat back in her chair, relaxing as her center of gravity shifted waaaay back. Always worth it, she told herself.

Someone knocked on the door: a curt 'I work for you' knock.

"Come in." An Anbu wearing an owl mask shuffled in, slouching. He held one arm behind his back.

"Just a bit of news," he mumbled.

"Druj, your knock makes you sound like a professional," the fifth Hokage said sharply. "Can't you look like one as well?"

"Never. Anyway, 'the peddler' just entered Konoha. Thought you'd like to know." Druj yawned suddenly. Tsunade's eyebrows rose.

"...and that is?" She didn't recognize the name.

"Oh right, you weren't here. You remember Hiru, right? He came around a couple times before, and made friends with the Third. Now people call him 'the peddler'."

"I remember Hiru. But why is he called the peddler?" In response, Druj brought his arm around from behind him, holding a folder.

"You should probably read his file. It's gotten much longer while you were away from Konoha."

She groaned. "Before I read it, tell me, is there good reason to have him brought in?"

Druj smirked. "Well, the Third didn't think so, and I kind of like him as well. Most of the village has a different opinion though."

Naruto strode down the street, arms folded behind his head and trying to get some decent shut-eye. He'd just gotten back from a D-rank mission, and he just knew the next one would be a D as well. He couldn't decide between stalling for time, taking a nap, and looking for something interesting to do. Only a genius like Naruto could get so close to doing all three at once.

"Hey, Naruto!" someone roared. and he blinked. Kiba was standing up ahead, next to a fence.

"What!? You don't have to shout!" he hollered back, strolling over and trying to wake up quickly.

"I didn't shout, the first three times I called you. Pay attention, you're a ninja!"

"Uh, sure." Naruto frowned. "So what's up?"

"Training!" Kiba grinned. "Very important training, in fact." Naruto lit up.

"What kind of training!? Tell me! I'll do it with you!"

"No, it's not something you can train." Kiba was enjoying himself.

"Why not!? You just said that's why you called me!"

"Yeah, but you're not the one I'm trying to help. Keep talking though, you're doing great."

"I am?" Naruto frowned. He was still groggy from his nap, he figured. Kiba laughed.

"Oh, hello youngsters!" a voice croaked suddenly.

"Wha!?" Naruto jumped, and spun around. A very wrinkled old man was standing right behind him, smiling through cracked lips.

"Old man! Don't scare me like that," he shouted. The man smiled, and both ninja shuddered at the effect.

"Excuse me, young man. I was just nap-walking to the Hokage's office, and I..." he trailed off, and sniffed.

"Uh...that's okay. I'm sorry for standing...there." Naruto actually was sorry.

"Ooh, what's that?" the old man's eyes widened and he started sniffing the air. "I smell the chakra of a beautiful girl. Good stuff, even to me!"

Both ninja shuddered again, especially Kiba.

"What are you talking about, old man?" Naruto just couldn't stop himself, and sniffed the air as well. "There's no way to smell chakra like that."

"Is that so? Give me a minute and I'll tell you her bloodline." the old man approached Kiba, who stood his ground for a second before nervously stepping away from the fence. The scary old man sniffed again.

"Woo! There it is! I'd say she's...a Hyuuga! Main branch, probably." He elbowed Kiba in the ribs. "Those Hyuuga girls sure are well-endowed, eh? Eh?" Kiba actually blushed slightly.

"Old man!" Naruto spoke up just as Kiba opened his mouth. "Can you really tell all that? Really?" The wrinkled face smiled again, and they both shuddered again.

"I don't know...Could there really be a beautiful Hyuuga girl around here? I'll look pretty foolish if there isn't." With that, he waddled past Kiba and around the corner.

"Bingo!" they both heard him say, followed by a strange wimper.

"Who could it be?" Naruto wondered out loud. Kiba sighed. I feel for you, Hinata.

"Hey, it's Hinata!" Naruto exclaimed from around the corner. Kiba was almost afraid to follow them. Poor girl.

He found Hinata, back up against the fence and whimpering miserably.

"See, what did I tell you?" the old man cackled. "A beautiful Hyuuga. What's your name, cutie?"

"I-I-I..." She looked pale.

"Hinata, what're you doing there? Why didn't you come out..." Naruto looked at the old man again. Then he leaned in close to her and whispered in her ear

"I understand. This old guy gives me the creeps too."

Hinata looked at Naruto, then Kiba, then the old man. Then she closed her eyes and sank to her knees. But she didn't faint. The training is paying off, sort-of, Kiba thought.

"All right then! I'll set up just for you!" the old man announced suddenly. He reached behind him and took a scroll out of his pack, unrolling it across the ground.

"Kai!" he cried out, making a seal with his hands, and a small cart popped out of the scroll. He jumped behind it.

"Good day, would you like to make a purchase?"

"Hey, are you really from Konoha?" Naruto asked and pointed. On the front of the cart hung a flap of cloth with the leaf of Konoha on it.

"Oh, thanks for pointing that out." The old man flipped the banner around. On the other side was the symbol for the village hidden in the rain.

The two boys just stared at him.

"Now, young lady, would you like to buy anything?"

Hinata looked up at him between her fingers.

"Come join us." Kiba reached down and pulled her to her feet. "Are you feeling okay now?"

"Yeah, are you okay?" Naruto asked as well.

"U-um, y-yes." she nodded. Then they all heard a tapping sound and looked over at the old man's cart. He was looking the other way but obviously making the noise on purpose.

"Umm, w-what do you sell?" Hinata's voice was still quivering a little. The old man suddenly got a mischievous look on his face.

"I sell jutsu."

Naruto glanced at the cart, and did a double-take. It was lined with scrolls, each with a strange symbol on it.

"Pretty..." he started to drool.

"I-I'm not really..." Hinata managed. Behind her Kiba was almost drooling as well.

"Oh, there's one for you, I guarantee it. If nothing else, I have a nice love jutsu. That one's quite popular these days." His head bobbed up and down as he spoke, and he kept rubbing his hands. Hinata blushed furiously.

"Old man!" Naruto almost jumped onto the counter. "Teach me your jutsu!" The old man cackled.

"You want to learn the love jutsu, carrot-top?" This time Naruto blushed.

"No, but I want to learn the rest of them. I'll take them all!"

The old man squinted at him for a moment, looking him up and down. He sniffed.

"Come back later. Right now, I'm selling to the young lady." Naruto froze. The man turned back to Hinata.

"So, a love jutsu, was it? No, but maybe not. I know just the thing for you!" He pulled a scroll out from inside the cart. The two boys leaned forward behind Hinata, forcing her to lean as well.

"This is a rarely used combat jutsu. It allows you to run chakra through your bones, making them harder than steel. Particularly useful for Kunoichi, and if it's not for you it makes a great gift for boyfriends." They all shivered. The old man put on a high-pitched voice and continued: "If you're not doing anything tonight, I have this really neat jutsu I could teach you...out in the woods." He cackled loudly and they all groaned.

"Uh, Hinata..." the Hyuuga heard Kiba say behind her. She turned, and let out a little cry. Both boys had flames coming out of their eyes.

"I...really want that," Kiba said slowly. Naruto was next.

"Please take me out in the woods at night and teach it to me!" The old man laughed so hard he fell backwards off his stool. Hinata's lip trembled.

"Wait...Hinata?" Kiba saw it coming.

Thump

Critic: The style is kind of strange, I know. I'm writing this with a mental picture of the subbed anime in my head, thinking about what the subtitles would be if they were speaking japanese. If a part doesn't make much sense, think of it as a translation issue instead of a mistake. Then, if you still think it's bad, let me know how I can improve it.