Chapter 3

Midori swept leaves off the steps to the Taiyo no Kitsune (or the Fox's Sun) shrine. Sighing, she dropped the broom and sat on the step. Midori had become a genin about two days ago, and it had monopolized her time.

Something rubbed up against the brunette's leg. She looked down to see Kinoru, the cat that had started living on the shrine's land about two or three years ago. He would always be right there when ever Midori needed comforting.

"Hey, Kinoru," Midori picked up the small cat, "You want some lovin' don'tcha."

"Hey, Midori-san," Midori looked up to see Kiba coming up the steps with Mizu, Joshi and Murasaki at his heels.

"Konichiwa minna-san, (1)" Midori smiled, "What are you doing here?"

"We're here to pray for the success of our teams," Murasaki smiled slightly, "Mizu and Joshi came up with it."

"Naruto and Shikamaru are coming too I think," Kiba grinned, "You wanna do it too?"

"Might as well," Midori set Kinoru down, "C'mon."

The quintet was about to walk into the shrine when someone called out, "Wait you guys!"

Naruto was dragging Shikamaru up the stairs, panting with exhaustion. Behind him was Mikazuki and Tenshi.

"Hey, can we join the party?" Tenshi asked, grinning. Mikazuki looked at the other shinobi nervously.

"Hi Tenshi-chan!" Joshi smiled at her friend, "Hey Mikazuki-san. I didn't know you were coming."

"I actually wasn't going to…" Mikazuki muttered, "Tenshi dragged me along…"

"Oh well," Kiba grinned, "The more the merrier right?"

"¡Claro que si!"(2) Tenshi grinned. The others looked at her strangely, "What, like you haven't had a sudden urge to speak in another language before."

"Well," Midori sweat-dropped, "Let's get going. C'mon Kinoru-chan."

The group walked up to the large shrine. Midori smiled, a few years ago, this shrine was almost falling apart. But thanks to some help from Iruka-sensei and the other Academy teachers, she was able to make it a suitable home for herself and Kinoru.

After the shinobi had prayed for their teams, they all sat under the large Japanese maple tree that stood in the courtyard. Midori had gone inside to get some snacks and drinks for the genin. Out of complete randomness, Mikazuki started singing softly.

"And I don't want the world to see me,

'Cause I don't think that they'd understand

When everything's made to be broken,

I just want you to know who I am…"

"What was that all about?" Midori asked as she walked up with lemonade and senbei rice crackers.

"No reason," Mikazuki smiled, "Just felt like it…"

"You have a really pretty voice, Mikazuki-kun," Mizu smiled, "I suck at singing…"

"Oh you do not!" Naruto argued, chomping down on a senbei, "Spoht wit theh pify parney."(3)

"I'm not even gonna try to understand that," Shikamaru sighed, leaning back against the tree.

A few moments later, Joshi made an important announcement.

"I'm bored," yes, it was a very important announcement, for Joshi anyway.

"Then find something to do," Shikamaru growled, trying to take a nap around those girls was impossible.

"Like what, smarty pants?" Joshi glared at the brunette, "What do you expect me to do?"

"Train, play card games, sing?" Shikamaru knew he was screwed when he offered up the option of singing.

"Hey, that's it, we'll sing to pass the time until we have to go home!" Tenshi smiled, "I love kareokee!"

"Oh god…" Kiba sighed, "Now look what you've done Nara…"

"Tenshi-imoto-chan," the group looked up to see Iruka and someone with spiky silver hair with a mask walk up to the group.

"Iruka-onii-san, Kakashi-onii-san," Tenshi ran up to the two men, "What are you doing here?"

"Wait a minute," Naruto looked up, "Kakashi-sensei?"

"Huh," the silver-haired man looked up and 'smiled', "Oh, hello Naruto. How are you?"

"Kakashi-onii-san," Tenshi looked up at the masked man, "You know Naruto-kun?"

"He's my student," Kakashi turned to the girl, still 'smiling', "Didn't I tell you?"

"You told me you had an emo, a boy crazy weakling, and a hyper active knuckle-head for students…"

Tenshi looked like she was thinking really hard about something. Then her face gave the impression she was having an epiphany. Her eyes widened as she gawked at her 'onii-san'.

"Don't tell me Naruto is the emo!" Tenshi cried in disbelief.

Every one went silent before bursting into laughter. Tenshi looked confused.

"No, Tenshi-imoto-chan," Kakashi patted the girl's brown hair, "That's Sasuke."

"So he's the boy crazy weakling?" Tenshi asked, R-rated thoughts dancing in her head, becoming apparent when her nose started bleeding.

"HEY DON'T BE THINKING ABOUT ME IN THAT WAY YOU PERV!" Naruto yelled at the yellow eyed kunoichi.

"No, Tenshi-imoto-chan," Iruka mimicked Kakashi's earlier actions, "That's probably Sakura-san."

"Oh…" Tenshi seemed disappointed, "Then…he's the hyper-active knuckle head…"

"Yes, Tenshi-imoto-chan," Kakashi and Iruka nodded.

"Oh, I guess I should have known…" Tenshi glanced at Naruto, "That's a pretty good description…"

"Don't be hatin'," Naruto scowled, crossing his arms.

"So why are you here?" Joshi asked the two senseis.

"We're here to take Tenshi home," Iruka smiled, "It's her turn to cook dinner tonight."

"Aw man…" Mizu sighed, "We were just about to have some fun too."

"Gomen nasai, minna-san," Tenshi smiled and waved as she left with Iruka and Kakashi, "I'll come over another time. See you."

"Matte, Tenshi-san!" Mizu ran up to the girl, "I have to get head back too, I'll go with you."

The two girls walked away. Soon, Kiba, Joshi and Mikazuki also had to leave. Naruto, Shikamaru and Murasaki left soon afterwards.

And Midori was alone again, just as she had been since the day she turned five. Kinoru mewed and pawed at his master's leg. Midori bent down to pick up the small cat, hugging him tightly to her neck. Kinoru meowed and licked the tear that ran down Midori's cheek.

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1. Konichiwa, minna-san means 'Hello everyone'

2. Claro que si means 'Of course'

3. What Naruto is trying to say is: "Stop with the pity party"

I know, I basicly a filler, but it gives a little background, and some comic relief thanks to Tenshi. Oh well. See you next time!