A/N: This definitely came out later than I expected, and for that I'm sorry. But in any case, I hope you enjoy it! (And it's cut a bit short, since I leave for college Friday (August 31st) and don't know when I will be able to work on this story when I arrive...)

Also! I forgot to mention this in the last chapter, after the houses are revealed (and, therefore, the current poll will end) I will put up the pairing poll again - mainly because it's tied: 7 votes each for Draco and Harry, and 4 for "my choice" - and I'd still love to get feedback, though there will definitely be moments for both pairing no matter what.

Unknown Hero

Four Presences

The four suddenly stopped, the three shinobi stumbling to keep their balance. It was an odd pain they'd just experience, like their entire body was being squeezed through a very small space.

It took them a second to remember that they were no longer within the shinobi nations, and in an entirely new world altogether, and they instantly righted themselves - Sakura noticed Dumbledore's eyebrows raise slightly in surprise at their recovery - to look around.

They appeared to be in a market place, and a dreary place at that. Nothing like Konoha's.

Posters were plastered on every available surface, large groups of people scurried around with their heads down, bodies covered in flowing black cloaks, and not one person staring at the colorful new-comers.

Well, except the merchants of the outside stands.

One in particular screamed upon seeing Dumbledore with the colorful group, thrusting his wares to them as they passed.

"Even though you don't need it, Mister, Sir, er-" He began stumbling over what to call the man, and Dumbledore simply pushed back his hands and continued walking ahead of the shinobi without saying a word.

Tired of his silence, Sakura began to walk beside him.

"Ah, excuse me Dumbledore-san, but why are we here?"

Behind his spectacles, his eyes crinkled with his smile - which she found endearing, as it reminded her of her idiotic sensei Kakashi.

"We're here to get all your school supplies," He heard Naruto's groan - who had forgotten that the mission involved school - and the sharp sound of Sakura smacking his head. "Well, excluding your books, since we must see what you all have an affinity for later."

"And what of our...wands?" Sakura pressed.

Dumbledore weaved his fingers in his beard for a moment as if pondering something, before pointing to a boarded up shop.

"The best wand-maker, Ollivander, is currently missing, so we will have to go to Italy - perhaps Germany - for them." Despite not knowing what those places were - or the implication that they would have to apparate again - they dumbly nodded.

Realizing his mistake, Dumbledore chuckled to himself. "Those are different countries than the one we are currently in, which is England. It's a lot like your different shinobi nations, I'd reckon, except they are more open to peaceful outsiders."

"Speaking of that, how do you know about the nations?"

Dumbledore smiled mischievously. "Now, that, my dear is a very old tale that we don't have enough time for," He led them to a shop, with cloaks similar to those everyone wore on display in the front.

He held the door open for them saying, "Welcome to Madam Malkin's, where you'll be getting your uniforms."

Sakura and Hinata slipped inside in front of Naruto, and while they stood quietly to the side looking at all the strange cloaks, Naruto openly gawked at everything, particularly a cloak with bright orange trim.

Dumbledore handed them each a list as he stepped in, and was about to speak until a short, round woman weaved expertly between racks, a wide smile on her face.

"Welcome, welcome dearies! Is there- Oh, Professor Dumbledore, sir!" Her smile seemed to stretch wider across her wide face.

"Good evening, Madam Malkin," Dumbledore nodded his head in greeting, before motioning to the three students beside him. "I have three transfer students that need to be measured for their robes."

"B-But D-Dumbledore-san, how w-will we pay-" Dumbledore kindly held up a hand to interrupt Hinata.

"Not to worry my dear, your school has that covered. They have already sent me the necessary funds." He winked, a mischievous smile on his face.

Hours later - after Sakura bought almost all of the available types of gloves that could be used in place of her current pair, Naruto knocked over various vials of something, and Hinata refusing to leave the Magical Menagerie with only one animal - they entered what seemed to be a run-down bar.

The only person inside was an old, bad man whose eyes seemed to light up at their entrance, and once Dumbledore stepped inside the man nearly had a heart attack.

"Ah, Tom, nice to see you again. I suppose business has been slow?" Tom could only nod.

"Well it seems that my friends here are in need of somewhere to stay for the night. I think a single and a double will suffice." Tom scrambled behind the bar, knobby fingers looking for the correct keys. Finally, he turned around and his shaky hands were thrusted towards Dumbledore.

"Rooms Sixteen and Seventeen, Professor Dumbledore," Dumbledore nodded his thanks, passing him the necessary funds and some extra, in case they wanted food or drinks.

As they walked towards the staircase, Dumbledore put a hand on Hinata's shoulder.

"Regrettably, I won't be the one accompanying you to Hogwarts tomorrow. However, any questions you have regarding the task that you have after reading this," He pulled a scroll from his robes and handed it to Hinata, "he will be able to answer in just about the same capacity as I could. Now, I hope you three get a good night's rest." He sent them all a pleasant smile, before disapparating, leaving the three to go to their rooms.

They all sat in room Seventeen - the double room - and, after putting up the necessary genjutsu and traps that have been drilled into them upon staying in inns, they began to relax and look over the scroll Dumbledore had given them.

"This magic stuff, it's weird," Naruto said, laying flat on his back, his head propped up on his folded arms. "Especially that joke shop, with the two twins. That had some freaky stuff."

"Could've fooled me, by the way you had to touch everything," Sakura gave him a dry look. Naruto laughed nervously.

"Didn't mean it wasn't cool! Like, look what Hinata-chan bought! This animal-thing, it's pink!" Hinata sighed at Sakura's expression, which Naruto didn't catch until she snapped, "Something wrong with being pink?!"

Naruto jumped and hid behind Hinata, whose face began to flush in a matter of seconds and didn't breathe again until Sakura yanked Naruto back onto the floor.

"C-Can we get t-to the s-scroll now, p-please?" Hinata softly asked, not wanting to agitate Sakura any further, and scratching the head of the Pygmy Puff - the "pink thing" - that was on her shoulder.

"Ah," Sakura nodded, instantly simmering down and unrolling the scroll. Naruto sat down out of her reach and closer to Hinata, and the girl kept sending Sakura a face that screamed that she needed help, but she simply ignored her.

Hinata, eventually, regained her breath and turned her head away from Sakura, not listening to her as she asked for her or Naruto's opinion.

Naruto sighed, leaning back on his hands as he looked at the two next to him who were fighting a silent battle - why he'd never know - and tilted his head back.

And just by how complicated the school itself sounded, he knew it was going to be a long year.