Kishimoto owns Naruto.

*.*.*.*.*Snow Day*.*.*.*.*
*.*.*Fresh Powder*.*.*

*.*.*A snow day literally and figuratively falls from the sky, unbidden, and seems like a thing of wonder. - Susan Orlean*.*.*

The morning dawned bright and crisply clear on a Konoha dazzlingly blanketed in snow. The winter festival was coming, so the Academy let out early. The students were bundling up as they got ready to head home, when Bolt raced ahead of them.

"We've got ages before we are supposed to be home," he said, his eyes bright with mischief. "Who's up for some fun?"

A few groans went up, a few snickers, and one heavy sigh and a mutter of 'troublesome.'

"Give it a rest, Bolt," Shikadai sighed. "The Winter Festival is coming up, and it is a pain to get into trouble."

"Who said anything about trouble?" Bolt's grin was bright. "I'm thinking special meeting - Training ground 26."

"Meeting for what?" Chouchou asked, crossing her arms. "I gotta meet Anko-sensei."

"Snowball fight - Shinobi style," Bolt grinned wickedly. "Unless you think you can't handle it."

"Man, you are Naruto's kid." The dry voice came from a figure leaning in the doorway.

"Uncle Kiba!" Bolt beamed. "What are you doing here?"

"Your dad is caught up in a meeting, and your mom is with Himawari who isn't feeling very well. She asked if I'd grab you on my way home." He nodded over to Shikadai. "Your dad is with the Hokage, too. I told your mom I could drop you off."

"But we don't want to go home yet!" Bolt protested. "C'mon, Uncle Kiba!"

Kiba held his hands up, turning his head as a familiar presence approached. He nodded to his team mate brightly. "What's up, Sensei?"

"Are you bothering my students?" Shino asked dryly.

"Just picking a few up. I'm surprised you are letting them out early," he confessed. "Great day for some tactical training."

"Training," Shino repeated flatly.

"Yeah," Kiba's wolfish grin spread. "Training."

Bolt watched his 'uncle' Kiba closely. He knew that smirk – that meant he had something planned and it was going to be AWESOME. He shot a look at Chouchou. She would be the linchpin in this; the other two on her team would go along with her, and so would Sarada. Not that he cared if she tagged along or not, but it might be, y'know. 'Fun,' or something. Chouchou caught his eye and looked him up and down, appraisingly before looking back to Kiba.

"What kind of training," she asked, arms crossed.

"You mean your Sensei hasn't told you?" Kiba asked in mock surprise. "Well, I guess you guys just aren't ready for it yet. Bolt? Shikadai? Let's go."

Sarada frowned. "Ready for what?" she asked, that small crease between her eyebrows showing. Bortuo was hopeful. That was her "I'm going to figure this out," face. They had her attention.

There was a blur of green. "If there is training, we are ready! Lee Sensei says to never miss a chance to train!"

"I bet he does," Kiba said, keeping a straight face.

"Lee-Sensei!" the earnest boy called out as his teacher walked in the room. "Inuzuka-san says he has training for us"

Kiba's eyebrow lifted. "Inu-who-now?"

"Kiba!" Lee's expression was gleeful. "You have some training for our youthful spirits of Konoha? What is it?!"

Kiba caught Bolt's hopeful glance and Shino's grimace and officially couldn't help himself. "Sorry, Lee – I don't think this group is ready for it. Maybe next year."

"I am sure that whatever it is, this fine young group of budding Shinobi could handle it," Lee said encouragingly. "Ah! Let's ask these fine teachers. Tenten! What do you think?"

Tenten came up casually, wary of that look in Lee's eyes. She glanced at Anko who took a bite of her dango and shrugged. "About what, Lee?" she asked, fairly sure she wouldn't like the answer.

"Kiba has some training he thinks will help ignite these bright sparks of Konoha's will of fire! Lee pumped his fist into the air. "You must join us, Tenten!"

"Us?" Kiba asked, brow furrowed as Tenten asked "Training?"

Anko smirked.

"What are you up to, Inuzuka?" she asked, crossing her arms,

"That is what I want to know," Shino muttered. "Why you ask? Because-"

"What kind of training," Tenten asked, her eyes on Kiba.

"Herding cats?" Anko asked all too innocently. "Or do you not train in Sora-ku anymore?"

Kiba shot Anko a nasty look before turning back to Bolt. "Let's go," he said flatly.

"But what about the training?" Bolt grabbed the arm of his coat, his eyes bright.

"Yeah," Tenten's eyes roved over Kiba. "What about it?"

He tried to read her expression, and her eyebrows lifted in… what? Understanding? Boredom? Resignation? A challenge?

"Tactical training," Kiba said, keeping his eyes locked with hers as a slow grin spread across his face. "Training ground 26. Winter survival. Let's see if the new generation can capture the flag."

Tenten felt her heart catch in her throat as Lee's eyes grew wide, and even Shino stilled.

"The flag," Tenten breathed, her mind racing.

Kiba looked at her knowingly. "You still have it, don't you?"

Tenten nodded slowly.

Lee was positively brimming with excitement. "Yosh!" he shot a fist into the air. "But we have to tell everyone! Inojin?" he called to the pale blonde. "Can you send a message?"

"H-hai," he said uncertainly darting his eyes between the adults.

Kiba's devilish grin met Tenten's masked expression over the blonde's head. "This is going to be good."

It is after Thanksgiving, so we can officially move onto things that are winter and other-holiday themed! What could be more fun, or maybe bittersweet than winter in Konoha blanketed in memories of snow?

Reviews always appreciated, friends.