Chapter 4 Jumping to Conclusions

Well I can tell people are reading my story but I'm still not getting any written feedback. That's disappointing because I could really use a little help. I'm not sure who I want my main character to end up with. Any suggestions? Just let me know!

As soon as the two leaf ninja were settled into the carriage with her Midori started asking a multitude of questions. She had read many books on the fire country, but now was her first chance to interview some of their shinobi. She mainly asked questions about the Hokage whom she was secretly nervous about meeting. Lady Tsunade's reputation as a monstrously strong medic-nin was well known in the rock country. Both ninja answered Midori's questions, Lee with a bit more enthusiasm than Ten-ten. The pretty girl, with her long brown hair in buns, seemed distant. Midori wondered if she was mad at her for interrupting them in a romantic moment. Maybe she thought Lee was flirting with her. He was being friendly, but surely that was just his nature. She had seen the excited look in his eyes earlier while he held Ten-ten in his arms. He was clearly in love with her. As they approached the village gate a man ran out to meet them. This guy had to be Lee's father; they looked so much alike. Lee was cuter though, in Midori's opinion.

"Lee! Ten-ten! My youthful students! Why have you kept me waiting? I've been doing somersaults around the village because I didn't' want to go home before the two of you." Three sweat drops appear on the foreheads of the younger ninjas.

"I couldn't keep up Gai-sensei." Ten-ten supplied lamely. As if he didn't hear her Gai continues: "Oh I see you have encountered a foreigner." A pretty damn important one by the looks of it, he thought to himself. Lee, ever the gentleman introduced Midori. "Gai-sensei this is Midiori-san from the Rock country. She was good enough to offer Ten-ten and I a ride. She is part of the Shinobi Exchange Program just like Neji. Midori-san this is our former sensei, Matiao Gai."

"Pleasure to meet you Gai-san."

"The pleasure is all mine …Princess."

"Princess?!" Lee and Ten-ten ask simultaneously.

"Yes Princess Midori is the daughter of the Rock Country's feudal lord. She is also a formidable shinobi. You two should check your Bingo book every once in a while."

"Please I'd rather you all treat me as if I was any other shinobi." Midori replied embarrassed.

"But you're not like everyone else. You are the reason great shinobi are being uprooted from their homes," was Ten-ten's cold retort.

"The shinobi exchange program is voluntary…" Midori began, but Ten-ten wouldn't let her finish as at that moment she lept from the carriage and ran through the city gates. After seeing the hurt look on Midori's face Lee said. "Don't worry about her. Ten-ten has a lot on her mind. It's nothing personal." Though his words were reassuring Midori couldn't help but feel that her life in Konoha wasn't off to a great start.

"Midori of the Rock," the 5th Hokage began, "you are the creator of this program so I need not explain the particulars to you. You know that you are here for a trial period of a year after which time it will be evaluated if it is in all parties best interest if you stay permanently, correct?"

"Yes Hokage-sama."

"I do have one question for you though."

"Yes Hokage-sama?"

"You could have gone to any of the major or even minor shinobi villages. Why did you choose Konoha?" Midori looked down and said, "You'll probably laugh, but I'll tell you anyway. As a child I spent the majority of my time in the Stone Village's extensive libraries. I read countless books but my favorite was The Ninja that wouldn't give up. It was a little known book, but I greatly admired the main character and it described to me what you call "The Will of Fire". That is what brought me here. I hope to acquire a will of fire."

The Hokage gave the girl a slight nod before dismissing her. She didn't get to see the smile that spread across Tsunade's face as she said to herself, "This new generation really is full of surprises. Wonder how she'll like meeting the boy named after Jiriaya's book."