A/N: What's up? Well anyways, I'm sorry that I didn't post quite often. I have to manage three stories at once (This one, Hot Ice, Cold Burn and a one-shot) and I have homework to do so it's like SUPER hectic. But I did have the time to write chapter three of Painted Red. I hope you guys like it!

Screw it all

Reiko, Naruto and Sakura walked into the night filled village. Everything was so happy and bright even though the lights had gone out. Reiko grinned at the two, they both grinned back. The three of them decided they would all get to choose a place to go before they go talk to Tsunade. They played rock, paper, scissors, Naruto winning.

"All right, dattebayo!" He yelled, raising his arms up. Sakura groaned, shaking her head slowly.

"And we all know where Naruto wants to go.." She muttered to herself, dragging behind Naruto. He strutted around the village in search of place he knew best, Ichiraku Ramen. The three made it to the little ramen shop, barely anyone there.

"Ah! Naruto! I thought I would be expecting you!" A man said wiping a large porcelain bowl, a large grin on his face. A young girl stood behind the man, whispering words to him. Her eyes were stuck on Reiko, who held a nervous smile on her face.

'Why are they looking at me like that?!' Reiko asked herself frantically over and over. Reiko, so deep into thought, felt something crawl around her shoulders. She turned her head slightly, to see Nartuo hanging around her.

"Oh you guys don't have to worry! She's just a friend from the suna!" Naruto exclaimed. A sudden burst of stiffness went through Reiko's body. Who knew? Maybe they didn't like sand ninja. But Reiko was wrong. Their faces lit up, and her body relaxed. Mentally, she let out a gust of air. Her shoulders dropped, and this time she put on a real smile.

"So what's your name?!" The man asked, trying to put a good impression on Reiko.

"Reiko.." She said gingerly. The man's smile grew even father.

"Ah Reiko. Such a nice name. Very nice name." He said to himself. Reiko awkwardly nodded along with him, an unsteady smile kept on her face.

"My name is Teuchi. And this is my daughter Ayame!!" He said happily turning to the side, giving full image of Ayame. She seemed a bit older than Reiko, four years maybe? But Ayame seemed nice enough...hopefully.

Ayame had a sweet smile on her face, ready to serve. Saukra ordered the same as Naruto, and before Reiko could choose he chose for her. The three ate in silence, the only noise was from the slurps. Ten minutes went by as they all finished their ramen slowly.

It was Sakura's turn to choose where they would take Reiko. She chose to go to the Yamanaka Flower Shop. Saukra wanted to rub it in Ino's face that she has a new 'friend' that came from the suna just for 'her'.

"Ooh Ino!!!" Sakura hollered once she entered the flower shop. Reiko looked around, seeing so many new flowers. Born into the Village of mist didn't give you a wide variety of flowers, and living in the suna was well just all suna.

A young girl stepped out from the yellow curtains. Her hair was just as yellow as the curtains. She wore a purple top that stopped right above her bellybutton, and a skirt that stopped above her knees. She also had on short, black leggings. Reiko assumed that this girl was Ino.

"Hey Sakura-forehead monster!" She greeted waving her arm around. A vein popped in Sakura's head, a nervous smile on her face.

"Oi Ino!" Naruto exclaimed walking around the flower shop. 'Ino' had a grin on her face, waiting for Sakura's response.

"Well I see you've been eating the flowers again, haven't you fatty?" Sakura said raising an eyebrow. This time a vein in Ino's head popped.

"What the hell did you call me, you giant forehead?!" Ino said tackling Sakura into the concrete.

"Why you little!"

"Little?! Who are you calling little?!" The two were screaming at each other, pulling at each others hair. Naruto had his arms around Sakura's waist, trying to placate her.

Reiko stood away from all the commotion. She stood by the roses, and daffodils. The crisp sweetness from the daffodils contrasted the bitter-sweetness of the roses. Reiko's long thin fingers coiled around the rose, it reminded her of someone rather something.

Gaara. Was the first thing that floated into her mind. She smiled to herself pulling the sweet rose up to her nose. The bitterness over powered the sweetness, which made Reiko pulled her head away. Was he like a rose? Sweet under all of that bitter? Reiko wanted to know oh ever so badly, but she new he was like a nailed package. You need a hammer to undo the nails. Reiko sighed to herself.

"Hey! You girl over there!" Ino yelled. Reiko turned her head slightly, looking at Ino.

"When did you get in here? No customers after hours!" She hollered at Reiko. Sakura punched Ino in the back.

"Ow! What the hell was that for?!" She screamed.

"Dumbass! She's what I came here to tell you about! She's my new suna kunoichi friend!!" Sakura said. Reiko was so confused. She and Sakura had just met, and Reiko didn't really consider Sakura a friend. She was just to out of the ordinary.

"Suna you say? Why don't I have any friends from the Suna?!" Ino asked. Sakura snickered.

"Because you're a reject from the testing lab!" She said through numbers of laughs. Ino tackled Sakura into the ground, screaming erupted once again. Reiko held her fingers around the rose twirling it around between them. She pulled her thumb off one spot and placed it on another. A sharp pain struck her thumb, something warm rolled of her hand. She watched the red substance sky dive down onto the concrete.

It was then a thought struck Reiko. Blood. Blood, was the reason everything was red in Kazekage's office. He was the suna's 'weapon' at the time of the chuunin exams, therefore giving him his need for blood. It all made sense to Reiko now. She smiled.

"Oh man! Are you okay? Your hand's bleeding." Ino said. Reiko turned to face her.

"No I'm fine." Reiko said sincerely. Ino nodded slowly, still a bit skeptical about the girl.

"You can have the rose if you want." Ino offered, Reiko smiled.

"Thank you, Ino." Reiko thanked.

"No problem..?" Ino said, not knowing Reiko's name.

"Reiko." Reiko said.

"No problem Reiko!" Ino said. Reiko smiled and nodded, holding the rose close to her.

The three of them left the shop after Reiko explained everything to Ino. Since it was too late to give the documents to Tsunade, Reiko decided to stay in Konoha for a night. Naruto told Reiko she could stay in the same apartment building Naruto stayed in. He would just have to persuade the owner.

"Okay dattebayo! If you need anything I'll be next door okay?" Naruto said hanging on the door. Reiko nodded.

"Well good night dattebayo!" Naruto said turning his back.

"Naruto?" Reiko called, he turned around.

"Hmm?" He answered.

"Thanks for everything." Reiko thanked. Naruto smiled, scratching the back of his head.

"No problem, dattebayo!" He said before closing the door. Moonlight glittered into Reiko's temporary room. The rose Ino had given her bathed in a crystal vase with cool water.

Reiko laid her head down, she slowly closed her eyes. Sleep took over her body, a small wind drifted into the room.