Part 3 ~ New Enemies

Mahiru was still being held underwater. She was going to die if she didn't get air soon…

Next thing she knew she was breathing ice cold air. She opened her eyes to darkness. All the guys were around her, all but Sasuke.

"What's going on here?" Shikamaru asked.

"Something isn't right. Something is special with that girl," Neji said.

"We're protecting her so we should know what's going on," Kiba said angrily, Akamaru barked agreeing with him.

Mahiru sat up, shivering in her cold, wet dress.

"Your ok!" Naruto said energetically.

"I'm frozen…" Mahiru said through chattering teeth.

A fire was started. Naruto had a t-shirt on under his white collar shirt so he gave his collar shirt to Mahiru so she could change out of her heavy wet dress. She gently hung it on a tree branch and returned to the group of guys.

Now she had on a white collar shirt that went down mid-thigh. Her hair was still dripping wet and left the back of the shirt wet. Her core temperature was still really low. She sat near the fire, absorbing the warmth.

Naruto looked to Mahiru. How would she feel if more people knew…

Akamaru was sitting in Mahiru's lap as she gladly pet him. Kiba looked at Mahiru with a confused look on his face. Akamaru was never that trusting of anyone else but himself…

"Your core temperature is finally starting to rise," Neji said as he looked at her.

Mahiru stopped petting Akamaru and looked into the fire. "Back at the dance, it wasn't the fake Sasuke who put up the fire barrier, it was me."

"But you don't know any Ninjutsu or anything," Shikamaru said.

"And your chakra is way too low to make a fire shield that large," Neji pointed out.

"I know – I don't know have full control of it yet but I have…" she stopped herself.

Someone was walking towards the group. All the guards grouped around Mahiru. She stood up. She didn't want to believe her eyes. It was just going to be another fake. She'd only get hurt again.

"I'm guessing the dance got stopped because of attacks?" it was Sasuke.

"How do we know you're the real Sasuke?" Naruto asked.

"Come on Naruto, can't you tell it's the real me?" Sasuke asked.

"You are acting out of character," Neji said plainly.

"You guys know that I've changed since we were kids…" Sasuke said in response.

Mahiru came out form the rank of boys. Sasuke stopped and looked her over.

She slowly walked over to him, "I should have known the other was a fake. I can tell if you are if you don't know the answer to my question."

"But what…" he was stopped, Mahiru had inched up so she could whisper in his ear.

"The first day we meet I fell in the shower and you helped me. I have a mark in between my breasts, what is it?" she asked.

Sasuke paused; the other guys were prepared to attack at the slightest sign of danger. His face got red as he was embarrassed.

"There is a small flame," he muttered, "it even feels warm to the touch, like a real fire."

Mahiru had tears well up; he was really the real Sasuke. She pushed her body into his as she dug her face into his shoulder.

The other guys got closer…

"Show us you're Sharingan, it's nearly impossible to copy a kekkei-genkai," Neji said.

Sasuke easily got his level two then level three Sharingan. "See? It really is me." He pulled Mahiru off of him, "now what happened?"

"Well you went off after arriving I guess and a fake you came," Kiba answered.

"Things happened," Naruto said, Mahiru looked down.

"And as Mahiru and the fake you were dancing…" Kiba continued.

"WHAT?!" Sasuke looked on at Mahiru in disbelief. She continued to look down.

"But someone tried attacking," Neji added.

"We now know that is was Mahiru who put up the fire barrier – or so she says," Shikamaru finished.

"Then Kakashi-Sensei told us to protect her with our lives. When we reached the waterfall we finally realized that he was a fake. A ninja from the village of the night, we fought as Mahiru was pulled under water. Her dress was only making things worse so once she came too she changed into my shirt." Naruto explained at last.

"It should have been obvious that it was a fake if I was acting so close to her!" Sasuke said angrily, "especially you," he pointed at Mahiru then to Naruto.

Mahiru started to cry, "It's not my fault I wanted to dance with you tonight but I thought it was too bold of a move. Then when I thought you had actually asked me I was so happy. I'm sorry I'm such an idiot." Mahiru turned around and ran away from the guys.

"Great job of being a class A ass Sasuke," Naruto said.

"Even I know better than to treat a girl like that," Kiba added.

"That's not our greatest problem here. The one we're suppose to protect is off on her own," Shikamaru said.

"And she clearly isn't what we think she is," Neji added.

Naruto ran off after Mahiru closely followed by the rest of the team.

"I would have said a class A bastard…" Kiba said.

"I get it ok?" Sasuke snapped. He knew she was upset. He still was like his old self – saying the wrong thing at the perfect time.

Mahiru was running with tears in her eyes. After awhile she ran into a man with red lines going down from his eyes with white hair.

"Careful there," he reached his hand out to help her up. He looked down, perfect panty shot.

Mahiru just continued to cry sitting on the ground. She didn't notice the perverted man before her.

He snapped out of it with her constant sobbing. He knelt down by her side, "what's wrong?"

She just kept crying. Now he noticed that she was only in her panties and the white collared shirt – jackpot!

"Why don't you come with me and I can get you out of those rags," he said. He reached his hand out towards her face.

Mahiru looked up in time to see his hand move. She had only heard the final sentence that the man had said to her.

"NO!" she screamed another flame barrier surrounding her, burning the man. Her eyes and hair flashed crimson red for only a second.

The man fell backwards and was burned a bit. "Who are you?"

Mahiru had gotten up again and began to run some more.

Shortly the team got to where they had heard Mahiru scream

"Pervy-sage?" Naruto asked.

"Naruto?" Jiraiya asked.

"We're you here when a girl screamed?" Neji asked.

"Yea, she was crying – I asked what was wrong and tried to help her up but she screamed and ran off." Jiraiya answered.

"She's still running, and others are following her," Neji stated – using his Byakugan.

"Come on then," Shikamaru said. Everyone left Jiraiya and continued after Mahiru.

Mahiru stopped running. She was out of breath and thought that she was far enough away.

Three men came up by her. All were in black with matching eyes and hair. They all had on ninja bands with different phases of the moon. The metal was red.

"So your all warmed up now, hua?" it was the guy who had pretended to be Sasuke earlier.

"She's really cute – especially in the clothes she's in," the night ninja with a ¾ full Moon said.

Mahiru began to get angry, "You don't want to mess with me right now."

"Oh little fire girl is feisty," the other ninja said. He had a ½ full moon on his band.

Mahiru was getting more pissed off. Her eyes changed to crimson red.

"Now come with us," the imposter said.

"No!" Mahiru yelled angrily. Her hair changed to crimson red.

The three night ninja circled around her and threw ropes to hold her.

Mahiru screamed out. Wings made fire burst out of her back; burning the ropes, keeping the shirt intact.

The three night ninja were surprised and taken aback at the girl's power.

Mahiru made fire balls in her hands and flew them at the ninja. They easily dodged each and every one. She sent a ring of fire out from her body – hitting the surprised ninja, though not doing much damage.

The guys that were supposed to be protecting Mahiru finally made it to where Mahiru was fighting the night ninja.

The night ninja turned to see that Mahiru had backup. "We'll get you on our side soon," the fake said before his team and himself left the area.

"Mahiru?" Naruto asked.

She turned to the group of boys. Tears filled her eyes again at the sight of Sasuke. Her wings folded behind her. Her eyes and hair remained crimson. She took a step back.

"What is she?" Kiba asked quietly.

"Calm down, the night ninja are done. Sasuke knows he was an idiot," Naruto said in a calming voice.

Mahiru turned her back on the group, "I have the blood of the phoenix." She was speaking differently, her voice was strong and unfaltering, "when I am channeling the phoenix's power, I look like this."

Her wings disappeared and her hair returned to its normal hair color. Her eyes changed as well. Her body fell sideways, hitting the ground with a thud.

The group ran over to see Mahiru passed out. They decided to set up camp right there.

A few hours passed, Naruto was on watch as everyone else was asleep. He walked over to where Sasuke was asleep, he had the next shift.

"I've been awake, Naruto," Sasuke said as he sat up.

"You mean I could have fallen asleep?" the blond joked, only to see his comrade's face was still hurt. "Don't worry about Mahiru. She'll get over it." Naruto said kindly.

"Yea, you can be all happy, you can openly like your girl back," Sasuke said angrily.

Naruto sat down next to his friend, "she was really happy to see you, and I don't think you have to worry about Kakashi-Sensei being all over you case."

"Why?" Sasuke asked, curious about what had happened at the dance.

"Kakashi-sensei and Sakura are now engaged."

"Ah," Sasuke's shoulders dropped, "good for them."

"With Mahiru's help – so Kakashi-sensei owes her now."

"Thanks," Sasuke was cheered up a bit.

Naruto walked over to his patch of ground and fell asleep almost instantly.

Sasuke walked over to where Mahiru was resting. She was muttering in her sleep, almost singing…

'I wonder what she's dreaming about,' Sasuke thought as he smiled to himself.

Her face was so soft. Now she was just sleeping, nothing to bother her. She looked so peaceful, almost angelic.

He shook his head; he couldn't be feeling this way. Though before he felt relieved when he saw her break from the guys. He also felt all the nerves on his body become more adware when he realized what she was wearing, watching her approach him.

"Sasuke?" a soft voice called his name.

He was pulled out of his thoughts to see Mahiru sitting up, facing him.

"You're up," Sasuke said gently.

"What happened? The night ninja had come after me, but what happened after that?" she asked him.

"You don't remember?" he asked. Mahiru responded by shaking her head no. "We should talk."

"Will they be able to hear us?" she asked, looking around at the other guys who were asleep on the ground around them.

The two walked a bit away from camp, to make sure that they would not be overheard. Mahiru sat on a large bolder, her body was still tired and weak.

"You guys saved me again, didn't you?" hope filled her voice.

"No, you fought them off yourself. Everyone knows what you are now. You told them yourself." Sasuke explained.

"Great, I'm weirder now," she wanted to start crying again.

"You'd be surprised what people are like here in our own little world." Sasuke smiled to himself once again, here they had demons, inner darkness, and multi-personality problems; Mahiru would fit right in.

"Then I want to live here," she hung her head.

"There are rules of our village, as well as the entire country; about outsiders."

"I understand." She looked at the bracelet that had allowed her to gain access to their world. "The world doesn't know about this place – for some magical reason."

"That's why there are rules. You'd have to marry someone from Konoha, or from any other village. Then you need permission from all the kages from all the villages. Then there are rituals and things to keep everything in check." Sasuke explained kindly.

"Unless you're born here, right?"

"Yes."

There was an awkward silence for a little while.

"I'm sorry," Mahiru broke the silence.

"For what?" Sasuke looked into her eyes, sending a strange pain through his heart.

"I should have known that it wasn't you when the fake you asked to dance," she took a deep breath; "I was confused but happy."

Sasuke quickly walked over to her, "please don't start crying again. I'm sorry I really wasn't there."

Mahiru stood up and suddenly wrapped her arms around Sasuke's neck, "I….I…"

He pulled out of her grip and turned his back to her. "You need to ignore those feelings. You just probably feel that way because I am protecting you."
"But it's not…" she stopped herself, "if it's what you…you really want. I'll act perfectly like someone who is being protected." She couldn't look at him; the ground seemed much more interesting, less hurtful.

Sasuke turned around and lifted her head gently upward, "I never said that," he leaned in close to her face.

His lips were against hers. The world melted around them. They parted as the sounds of the morning greeted them. Sasuke pulled Mahiru into his arms and held her close.

"Sasuke?" she questioned him. Why did he suddenly kiss her? Not that she was complaining…

"I want to be able to be with you, but if Kakashi found out he would do everything in his power to keep me away from you," Sasuke explained.

"Yea, I know." Mahiru sighed as she pulled herself from Sasuke's grip, as if Kakashi could see them now. "There is one thing I can do though," she moved him so he was sitting on the rock.

"Can I borrow one of your weapons?"

He handed her a kunai. She purposely cut her hand, the blood dripped off her hand to the ground.

"What?!" he asked, surprised and worried.

"I'm the phoenix remember?" she put her bleeding hand to his headband. When she pulled her hand back, it had already stopped bleeding and the skin was healed.

"Why did you go and do that?" Sasuke almost sounded angry.

"I don't know fully why, but look," his band had absorbed the blood. It stayed the same metal color it was before, but it felt warmer somehow.

"We should get back to camp before one of the other guys wakes up and freaks about us missing," Mahiru suggested.

"Might be a good idea, Neji has the next shift."

The two got back to camp and sat by the fire. They sat quietly by the fire close yet not too close. That way the other guys would have no idea on what had happened earlier.

Neji didn't get his chance for his watch though…

A paper bomb exploded nearby, the animals scattered from the spot where the noise had come from. The rest of camp awoke.

"What's?" Kiba started to ask.

"Paper bomb," Sasuke said, moving closer to Mahiru.

"Byakugan!" Neji called. "They are all around us. Looks like the bomb was to get our attention."

Fear was in Mahiru's eyes, her entire body froze on her.

The five guys surrounded her, giving her protection from all sides.

The ninja of the night came out from the forest. They greatly outnumbered the men protecting a single girl.

The fake Sasuke came out from the rest of the group, "just hand the girl over to us."

"And what do you want with her?" Shikamaru asked.

"That is none of your concern," the night ninja responded calmly.

"Then she isn't going anywhere," Sasuke said boldly, "and we will protect her with everything we have."

The fake performed a few hand signs and looked directly at Mahiru.

"Genjutsu! Mahiru close your eyes!" Neji called out.

"What?" Mahiru asked, but it was too late. Her eyes meet with the enemy's.

Everything around her froze and began to disappear. All around were trees, the only people there were the single night ninja and herself. She took a few steps back.

"You can try to run, but you don't get anywhere. I control this place."

"What do you want with me anyways?
"My name is Kenge, We only want to protect you."
"Squad 7 of Konoha village already has that job!"

Mahiru's eyes had glossed over as well as the night ninja who had used the genjutsu.

Naruto had tried to attack the user, but was forced back by three night ninja. There was five night ninja for every Konoha ninja present.

In a flash kunai hit kunai. The Konoha ninja were trying to break the genjutsu.

"Konoha only wants to use you. We will be more protection. Once you get enough of your powers they will spill your blood on their alter to keep the barrier up."

"No!" Mahiru screamed; her hair changing instantly to crimson and her eyes following shortly afterward.

The night ninja, Kenge, fell to the ground as Mahiru came to; deep in phoenix mode.

Mahiru sent out another ring of fire, this time it was three times stronger than the last time. It hit everyone, slightly burning them, even her protectors were hit with the flame ring.

"You're lying!" she screamed, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Her hair returned to normal as she fell to her knees. Her eyes changed back to brown, though the tears kept flowing.

"Pull out!" Kenge called, all the night ninja disappeared.

The Konoha ninja regrouped around Mahiru, "what did he say?" Naruto asked.

Mahiru responded by shaking her head. She clearly didn't want to talk about it.

"Maybe we should head back for the village," Kiba suggested. Everyone's nice clothes were torn, dirty, and slightly burned.

"It'll be quicker if we jump," Shikamaru said.

Sasuke offered his back to Mahiru, "hop on."

Mahiru put her arms around Sasuke's neck. He grabbed her legs and stood up. Her warm body was pressed against his back. He forced back a blush as she felt her free bust bounce as he took off following Neji.

They all continued towards Konoha.

"My ninja band got hotter when you changed into phoenix mode," Sasuke tried to start a conversation.

Mahiru didn't respond. She had attacked her protectors as well as her enemies; was she a monster?

They reached Konoha gates to see a few different people waiting for them to return. The Hokage, Kakashi, Sakura, and Hinata were all waiting.

When they stopped Sakura gasped, seeing the state of all of them.

"Naruto!" Hinata said, surprised. "What happened?! Why is Mahiru wearing your shirt?"

Mahiru got off of Sasuke's back, but still hid behind him.

"Well her dress got all wet and so she wouldn't catch a cold. I gave her my shirt to change into. Nothing happened." Naruto explained quickly, not wanting to get his girlfriend angry at him.

Kakashi glared at Sasuke, Mahiru hid more behind him.

Tsunade finally spoke, "Team, go change then report to my office. I need to know how the mission went." She looked at Mahiru, "Sakura, Hinata; help Mahiru get some new clothes. Then get her some food and a place to stay." She shielded her eyes to the bright sunlight.

Mahiru clung onto the back of Sasuke's shirt like a child.

Sasuke turned to her and spoke in a calm voice, "its ok we'll be right back after reporting to Lady Hokage. Sakura and Hinata will protect you."

Mahiru released Sasuke and walked over to the girls.

Hinata and Sakura walked with Mahiru into town. Everyone else disappeared to change into their ninja garb then to the Hokage's office.

All the guys came into Tsunade's office and stood in a line before her and Kakashi.

"What were you thinking?!" Kakashi yelled, "you can't get attached to her?!"

Sasuke didn't respond.

"Why was she on your back?!" Kakashi asked angrily.

Tsunade ignored Kakashi's yelling, "Please explain what happened."

The guys all took turns explaining what happened after they left. Some parts were left out, however.

"So her abilities are developing," Tsunade commented, she looked a bit concerned.

"We will keep an eye out for the night ninja," Kakashi said.

Tsunade grew angry, "Kakashi, you are a squad leader. You are no longer part of the AMBU Black Ops. What you say only affects Squad 7 – and even there I have more authority over them then you do."

She turned to the kids before her, "I will have AMBU watch the boards of Konoha. Squads 7, 9, and 4 will generally protect Mahiru. Squad 7 will need to have at least one member with her at all times. From what I have heard, this mission is a B rank with the possibility of elevating to a S rank."

"Tell your missing team members of your mission, now go." They all left on Tsunade's orders.

"Kakashi turned to Tsunade, "I'm sorry Lady Tsunade for speaking out earlier."

She pulled out a bottle of Sake from her desk, "how long will it take for her abilities to fully develop?"

"A few days to a week if she works on it."

"Keep up with your squad but don't instruct Mahiru or your team on how to do so. You are only to watch over her, to inform me when her abilities are fully developed."

"Yes, Lady Tsunade," he bowed and left.

She poured herself a glass of Sake and drank it in one shot as she rubbed her temple.

The girls had gotten Mahiru some more conferrable clothes and now were sitting on a bench.

Mahiru was in one of her new outfits. A pair of deep red shorts that went a third down her thigh. Her top was blood red and was strapless that went down to two thirds down her rib cage. A loose t-shirt was draped over her shoulders, a lighter red that the top. A pair of general red arm guards went from just below her elbows to fingerless gloves.

"That works much better than just a shirt," Hinata commented.

Mahiru only responded by nodding her head. Her mind still in deep thought.

Hinata looked over to Sakura for some help. All while the three were shopping Mahiru only responded with head movements. She didn't know what to do.

Sakura sighed. Something must have happened to her while outside the village.

Mahiru mentally shook herself out of her current mind frame. She would deal with herself later, for now she was worrying her friends. "Shouldn't you go plan your wedding Sakura?" she asked cheerfully, masking her pain.

"It doesn't need to be planned by tomorrow you know," Sakura said, confused at the girl's change.

"Just thought that you would be excited and junk," Mahiru's eyes fell to the ground. She clutched the handle of her bad that had her other new clothes in it.

It was quiet for a bit. The breeze gently rolled past, ruffling at the girls' clothes.

Mahiru's eyes were getting heavy. She rubbed her eyes in a childish way. She stopped to see Naruto and Sasuke walking up the street. Her heart got warm, but she knew that she couldn't…

"Naruto!" Hinata got up and ran to meet her boyfriend. She wrapped her arms around him.

"Mahiru can you stay on the bench for a few minutes?" We need to talk," Sasuke said.

Mahiru nodded her head. Sakura stood up and joined her fellow ninja.

The group walked a bit away so they couldn't be overheard.

"What's up?" Sakura asked.

"We're suppose to have at least one team member with her at all times. The other squads generally protect her." Sasuke answered.

Naruto continued, "Granny Tsunade is posting the AMBU on the boarders of Konoha."

"Why do we need to protect her so much?" Hinata asked.

"A group of ninja calling themselves night ninja were after her. They were the ones who attacked during the dance," Sasuke explained.

"Including putting one of their ninja as Sasuke and deceiving us all," Naruto added.

The ninja went back to the bench to see Mahiru had laid down and fallen asleep.

Sakura sighed, "What now?"

"Erm, she can't come to my place," Naruto said as he watched his girlfriend glare at him.

"My place is tiny, plus…" the rest was lost in Sakura's muttering.

"That leaves yours," Hinata spoke happily as she pointed at Sasuke.

"Fine," Sasuke said. He kept a blush down as he looked at the sleeping girl on the bench.

Sasuke carried the sleeping girl in his arms; her shopping bags were ganging off of his arm.

He started to head for the Uchiha section of town. He entered the quiet place and went into the main building.

Mahiru opened her eyes to see it was still bright out. She then realized that she was in a futon in someone's house. She got up and neatly folded the light blanket.

She opened the door that opened into a courtyard. She walked around trying to figure out where she was.

It was all so beautiful. The garden was well kept and the pond was clean and well stocked with fish.

Mahiru gently walked down onto the grass and carefully sat down next to the pond. She trailed her fingers lightly on the surface of the water, teasing the fish. She giggled as the fish chased her finger. Her stomach then growled.

She sighed, a lot had happened over the night. She wondered what time it was…

"Do you like it?" a voice echoed off of the courtyard walls.

Mahiru turned quickly to see Sasuke standing by a set of doors.

"This place is beautiful. Where are we?" Mahiru asked, getting up and walking over where Sasuke was.

"We're in the Uchiha clan's part of Konoha; the main building, my home."

"So each family has their own section?"

"No; only the big, prestigious families. Hinata and Neji are part of one, as well as Choji and Shikamaru."

"It's so quiet here, so peaceful." Mahiru commented, listened to the sounds of nature.

"No one is left except me," Sasuke said sadly, turning his back to her.

"What do you mean?"

"My older brother, when I was younger, murdered the entire clan except me. Now I'm the only one left to rebuild it."

"Oh," Mahiru felt had for making him bring up such a painful past.

There was an awkward pause following the sensitive conversation. Though the quiet was quickly filled with Mahiru's grumbling stomach.

"Your hungry, hua?" Sasuke asked.

"What time is it?"

"Just a bit after noon, so lunch time." Sasuke smiled, "do you want to go and eat something?"

Mahiru face cracked into a huge smile, "Yes!"

They went out to the restaurant just outside the Uchiha distract. It was just as they walked through the streets to their destination.

They were at a small restaurant. They sat at a small table at the back. A woman came over to the table, "Anything to drink?"

"Tea please," Sasuke asked.

"Water for me," Mahiru ordered.

The waitress left.

"So do you like my new clothes?" Mahiru put her arms out a bit.

IT looks good on you, and easier to move in than a dress or just a t-shirt." He looked closer at her, "Where is your bracelet?" he asked in a panicked tone of voice.

Mahiru looked at the arm in question, "It must be in one of my bags with my other new outfits..." the it hit her, "nothing bad is happening!"

The waitress came with their drinks, "what do you want to order?"

"Oh um, I don't know what you have here," Mahiru looked to Sasuke.

"We'll have two noodle soups," Sasuke answered, the waitress left.

"Maybe the whole bracelet thing is a myth. I mean what if a guy came?" Mahiru asked.

"Is there any way that you were actually born here?"

"Maybe, I don't really remember my childhood and I haven't had to really do anything that needs my birth certificate."

"We'll have to ask Kakashi or Lady Tsunade or something," Sasuke asked.

Their food came and they ate in silence for awhile. Sasuke paid the bill and they left the shop.

"Do you want to head home?" Sasuke asked.

"Is there somewhere where we can talk, where no one will hear us?"

Sasuke lead her to the lake where he would come to think, alone. A road was above it about twenty feet away. Not many people took that road so they should be fine.

They sat at the water's edge as Mahiru dangled her feet into the water. "I attacked you all when I lashed out before," Mahiru said, looking into the water at her own reflection.

"You were upset at whatever the night ninja was making you see"

"It was what he was telling me. His name, or so he says, is Kenge. He told me something; something that really can't be true. He said that you guys are only going to use me, that I'd be safe with them."

"He was feeding you lies."

"But why would they want me? I can't use my powers correctly yet and I'm not really strong."

"You can get better with practice. Though we really don't know why we are protecting you and why people are after you. Kakashi might know…"

Mahiru looked at Sasuke, "help me train; Naruto, Hinata, Sakura, they all can help if you want. I want to be strong."

"You're already strong in your own way." Sasuke grabbed her shoulders as he looked into her eyes.

She began to blush as her entire face went red.

Someone nearby disappeared without being noticed. Only a ruffling of leaves proved that they had left.

Some people were walking down the road.

"Oh hey you two!" a girl called from far away.

Sasuke quickly let Mahiru go and backed up. Mahiru splashed her face water to help it cool down.

Ino was coming down the hill with Choji eating a bag chips and a board-looking Shikamaru following somewhat behind.

"What are you two up to? Where's the rest of squad 7?" Ino asked.

"Sakura is probably with Kakashi and Naruto with Hinata," Sasuke responded.

"Sasuke was just showing me around," Mahiru added.

"Ah, some alone time; to be expected after the dance," Ino commented.

"That wasn't me who was there, but an imposter from the Night Ninja," Sasuke explained.

"What?!" Ino asked, surprised, "I'm only finding this out now? But the mission…" the rest of the words were muffled by Shikamaru's hand.

He glared at Ino, "Yo Sasuke, do you two want to come with us for awhile?"

Choji finished his mouthful of food, "but all we were going to do today was run though some drills."

"Drills?" Mahiru asked, standing up, "that does kind of sound like fun."

"If you want to go, then we'll go," Sasuke also stood up, but bumped into Mahiru in the processes.

Mahiru was going to fall into the lake. Choji didn't care, he was busy eating. Ino didn't know that it was a bad thing. Shikamaru just sighed and turned around, 'not again,' he thought.

Sasuke, however, was on top of things. He grabbed Mahiru's hand and pulled her away from the lake. They both fell onto the grass.

"Stop fooling around you two," Ino called, following Shikamaru and Choji to the training field.