Here's the next chapter! It's a little short, but the next chapter's longer I believe. Enjoy!
"Watch your left Iruka!" Called Nori as she attacked the shinobi from the Hidden Mist.
"Thanks, Nori. Be careful of your back!"
She spun around to catch a kunoichi in the stomach with a kunai. "Thanks, Iruka!"
Just then, she slammed down onto a ninja that was coming at Iruka from the right. She smiled at him. "Hey...there's a ninja on your right."
"I suggest you two act less like teenagers and more like ninjas!" Asuma chided. "We're in the middle of a battle!"
"But...I am a teenager." Said Nori, slightly puzzled, as she stabbed a Chuunin through the kidney. "What do you mean?"
Asuma drilled the last Jounin through the lung, then turned to face Nori and Iruka. "You two are making it completely obvious that you're life-partners, or at least more than teammates! Why do you think life-partners are required to cover up their marriage marks before a mission?"
"Diplomacy?" Guessed Nori.
"The other countries find them indecent?" Asked Iruka.
"No! It's so the other shinobi don't know there's any attachment! The extent of the attachment between shinobi on the same team is supposed to only be that of teammates. You are only to serve as support in a fight. If the others know that there is an attachment between two ninja, they can use it against them. Nori. If an opposing shinobi grabbed Iruka and told you that he'd kill him unless you dropped your weapons, what would you do?"
"Send a shuriken through his face before he even had the chance."
Asuma sweatdropped and Iruka snickered at Nori's unexpected answer. Asuma quickly thought up a response. "A strong ninja. Like...Kisame for instance."
"...drop my weapons."
"And supposing this ninja decided to kill you. Iruka's still in his clutches. What happens next?"
"He...kills Iruka."
"Right. And now, since the two of you are dead, what happens to me?"
"He kills you too."
"Right. And now that all three of us are dead, what else happens?"
"Uh...we stay dead?"
"No. Well, yes, but other than that, Konoha has lost an Academy instructor, its weapons master, and the best medical ninja since Tsunade. Also, whatever country has managed to kill us now has all of our jutsus, and the secrets of how we've trained."
Nori and Iruka were quiet, chastened and thoughtful as well. Nori looked up at Asuma. "So I guess that just means we can't show any affection in battle?"
"Right."
She looked over at Iruka. "I guess I can handle that. How about you?"
He smiled and pulled her into his arms, kissing her lips softly. "Well, we're not in battle any more, now are we?"
Asuma sighed and looked towards the sky. "Just kill me now."
Nori slid her arms around Iruka, then looked over at Asuma. "Why are you asking to die if you just yelled at us for putting you at risk of being killed?"
Asuma just sighed again. "It's disgustingly cute."
"Like kittens and cupcakes?"
"No. Sickeningly cute. Like...well...you guys."
Iruka laughed. "You're just upset because Kurenai's not here."
Asuma turned away so they couldn't see his blush. "Come on. We're heading home."
Iruka and Nori smirked at each other, then let go of each other and began to walk. After a quick kiss, of course.
Asuma, Nori, and Iruka headed back to Konoha without any more interference. As they walked, however, something occurred to Nori. "Hey, Asuma?"
He looked at her over his shoulder. "Hmm?"
"Well, you said that the other ninja would take our village's training secrets and our jutsus if we died. Well...why don't Konohan ninja take the secrets and jutsus of other villages?"
Asuma was momentarily stumped. "Well...I'm not entirely sure. I'd guess it's because our village is the strongest, so we don't need their training secrets. I'm not sure about the jutsu thing either, but it could be a matter of pride as well. We don't need their jutsus...ours are better anyway."
'Hmm.' Thought Iruka. 'I guess that's why she's a Jounin. I never would have thought to ask about that.'
Asuma was a little surprised as well. 'That never even occurred to me. I'll have to ask Dad when we get back.'
They walked on in silence, and once they reached Konoha and reported to Sarutobi, they went their separate ways. Iruka had a lesson to prepare at the academy, and Asuma had a mission with his Genin to handle. Nori, on the other hand, was free for a while, so she walked over to the park and sat down on her favorite bench, ready to enjoy an afternoon of peace and quiet.
Ten seconds later...
"NII-SAN!"
Nori frowned, then opened her eyes. She looked up to see Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura running down the path towards her. She smiled anyway, always happy to see them.
"Hey! What's the rush?"
"We want to go on a mission!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Kakashi-sensei's not here." added Sasuke.
"So...we were wondering..." Sakura began.
"Wondering if your big sister would take you on a mission, is that it?" She teased.
All three nodded.
"Well...I just got back from a mission...but...since it's for the three of you...ok."
She grinned as they cheered happily.
"Let's go!" Exclaimed Naruto, running down the road.
"Hey, hyper, I just got back! Let's not rush!" Called Nori, but, laughing, she ran after him. She called to Sasuke and Sakura over her shoulder, laughing. "Come on!"
Sakura shrugged and ran after her sister, giggling. Then, Sasuke, with a small smile on his face, ran after them as well.
That's it for chapter 2! I like the next chapter better, but that's ok lol. Read and Review!!!
BlackDragon333, out.
