Chapter Three

The Swimming Place

Tia was of course too busy to go to the swimming hole that Granny Tao was talking about, but Kiara agreed to show them where it was. "You three do know that you can't swim in those dresses, right?" she smiled.

Naruto laughed, "You can't swim in that either."

"Oh, I don't swim here," Kiara shook her head.

"Why?" Lee asked.

"You'll see," Kiara sighed.

The swimming hole wasn't very far from where Granny Tao lived. As soon as they got there, the guys could see why a girl like Kiara wouldn't have fun swimming with the other girls. Most of them were lounging around. The ones who were in the water weren't swimming. They either had only their feet stuck in, or they just stood around. "Oh, boy! What fun!" Kiara shouted, sarcastically.

"This is… what they consider swimming?" Lee asked, "These actions exercise nothing."

"Yeah… and it's not much fun, either," replied Kiara.

A huge smile came across Naruto's face. Right then and there Neji regretted not grabbing a hold of him. "No, wait!" he shouted, as Naruto took off at full speed.

"Cannon ball!" Naruto screamed.

Knowing what he was going to do, Neji feared the events that would follow. 'What if his wig comes off, and these girl see that he's a man!'

Naruto seemed to hover in the air for forever, before finally coming down into the water, creating a huge splash. Naruto came up, splashing a little more, with his wig still on. Neji gave a sigh of relief, 'Lady Fifth wasn't kidding when she said these disguises were flaw proof.'

He glanced over at Lee, who also looked relieved. Then he heard hysterical laughter. He looked down to see Kiara rolling on the ground and holding her stomach she was laughing so hard. Lee began laughing a little, too. Neji felt a smile come to his face. Naruto got out of the water, and giggled. He stared around at all of the soaked, shocked, angry girls, obviously not caring.

He extended a hand to Kiara, who gladly excepted the help. "That was absolutely priceless, Narita!" she exclaimed, happily.

"Yes, but you need to be more careful," Neji scolded.

Kiara raised an eyebrow, "Lighten up, Nejina."

"I should've known these… Ninja… were with you."

A girl with long black hair that reached the small of her back and chocolate colored eyes began walking up to them. As she did, her hair swished behind her, and caught the sun. Everything about this girl seemed absolutely perfect. Neither Neji or Lee could help but to stare. "That's right, Shera," Kiara told her, with a glare, "They're staying with us. Girls, this is Shera. Shera… Nejina, Narita, and Leah."

"Staying with you? Is that so? I'm sure they're comfortable there."

Kiara sneered at her. It was easy to see that these two didn't only not get along, but they hated each other. "We… we really need to ask you some questions about the incidents going on in your village," Lee began.

"Oh… I've been so busy… I haven't been able to notice the little things going on," she told him, bored.

"Little," Kiara glared, "Shera, people are dying. It's not little!"

'I agree,' Neji gave the girl a scolding look, 'Looks like looks is all she's got going for her. How can she act like these incidents are nothing?'

"Oh, I know, I know. It's just… I've been so busy. You can ask the other girls if you must," Shera told them, as though she were giving them permission.

"Thanks a bunch," Naruto glared.

"Alright," Neji gave a little bow, and then he walked off toward a group of girls.

"I will go this way," Lee told them, and then he did the same.

Naruto, however, stayed with Kiara. The two girls glared at each other. "Ninja staying in your house… that must be your dream come true. People who are actually rougher than you," Shera sighed, and then laughed a tinkling little laugh.

"What did you say?" asked Naruto, sneering.

"Let it go," Kiara rolled her eyes, "Don't sink to my lady's level."

"That's right, Kiara. I am a lady. You're sixteen and should be a lady. When are you going to start acting like it?"

"When you get a personality," smirked Kiara.

"Burn," Naruto grinned.

Shera sneered, "Oh, really? I suppose it's your grandmother who is at fault."

Kiara's expression changed to anger. 'Uh-oh,' Naruto thought.

"I mean… she's not exactly what you would call a lady, is she. She's quiet sloppy. She's almost as sloppy… as those pigs you two are so fond of."

It was like a flash of lightening whizzed past Naruto. He hardly saw Kiara race past him, but he could hear every word she shouted. "Don't you talk about my grandma, you little bitch!"

She took Shera down with a spear. The girl didn't even have time to react. The moves Kiara used against the girl would've impressed any Ninja. Caught up in the excitement, Naruto cheered, "Get her, Kiara! Get her!"

"Naruto, what's wrong with you!" Neji shouted.

"Huh? What did you say?" Naruto said, nervously.

Neji, however, wasn't paying attention. He tried to grab Kiara around the waist to pull her off of the girl, and Lee tried to pull Shera out of her grasp. "My hair!" Shera sobbed, "She won't let go of my hair!"

Kiara swung her fists and elbows around at Neji. Shocked, he backed off for a second. 'Where did she learn all of this?'

"Stay off of me, bitch!" Kiara shouted, and then she went back to hitting Shera.

Lee backed off a little as well, and gave a shocked 'what do we do' look at Neji. Trying again, Neji grabbed Kiara around the waist with one arm, and tried to hold one of her arms down with the other. Expecting the fist that was coming at him this time, he grabbed a hold of it. A little rougher than he meant, he lifted the girl off of the ground, and then threw her down and away from Shera.

Lee pulled Shera to her feet, and tried to help her stand. She pushed him away, "Leave me alone!" she shouted at him, wiping blood from her nose and lips, "That stupid little pig!"

She struggle, but Neji kept her down by straddling her and holding her arms down at her sides. "Get off! Get off, you… let me up!"

"Stop this nonsense!" he shouted at her, angrily.

"She deserved everything she got!"

"She deserved that? Look at her. She didn't even fight back. You let your anger get the better of you, Kiara. I'm not letting you up until you calm down!"

"Damn you! What right do you have?" Kiara asked, crying, "After all my grandma has done for this village."

"I understand," he said, a bit more soothingly, "However… you need to calm down."

She looked like she was going to do more shouting, but then she sighed and nodded, "Okay."

"Alright?"

She nodded. Neji sat up, and so did she. Her face was stained with dirt and sweat. Her long blonde hair had come out of it's messy bun and some strands fell in her face. She was dirty and sweaty, yes… but the girl didn't have a single scratch on her. "What's the matter with you, Narita?" Neji asked, "How could you let them fight like that?"

Naruto patted Kiara soothingly on the head, "That girl deserved it. Did you see the way Kiara fought! It was awesome!"

"Yes, I did," Neji raised an eyebrow, "I wonder where she learned those moves. They weren't random. Those moves were taught."

"My mother and your grandmother will certainly hear about this!" Shera shouted, "You just wait, you little pig!"

Shera ran off with a group of girls close behind her. Lee shook his head, "That isn't very lady like behavior."

"Excuse me," a quiet voice said, from behind.

They all looked to see a girl who was about Kiara's age. She had shoulder length blonde hair and green eyes. When they looked at her, she blushed a little. "Yes?" Neji asked, curiously.

"I… I heard you asking the girls some questions about the mur… murders. I… might know some useful information. It probably isn't much, but… maybe…"

"Any information is good information," Lee smiled.

"Mao…" Kiara began, "meet Nejina, Narita, and Leah."

"I'm so pleased to meet you," she gave a bow, "Kiara… are you alright?"

Mao blushed again. 'She reminds me of Hinata,' Neji smiled.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for asking."

"Would you like to tell us what you've heard… or seen…" Neji began.

"Not here," she whispered, "I shall accompany you to Granny Tao's. I…" she blushed again, "I believe that Shera got what she deserved. I am very fond of Granny Tao."

"Alright. We should be getting back anyway," Naruto sighed.

"Oh!" Kiara moaned, miserably, "I'm in real trouble. That little… she meant what she said. I'm in red, hot, boiling water when I get home!"

II

"Kiara, how could you?" scolded Granny Tao, "A fight!"

Tia stood beside of Granny Tao, listening. 'I'm sure she's enjoying this,' Naruto frowned.

"If it makes any difference," Neji began, "Kiara was defending her family."

"Was she?" Granny Tao asked, raising an eyebrow, "Regardless… there is always another way. Violence isn't always the answer. One or both of you could've been seriously hurt. I'm afraid I'm going to have to ground you."

Kiara bowed, "Yes, ma'am."

She started toward her room. "I do hope… you at least won," Granny Tao said, and then she smiled a little.

Kiara looked surprised, "Yeah, I… won."

"Good."

Kiara disappeared down the hall to her room. "Now… was there something you wanted to tell us?" Naruto asked Mao, who was waiting patiently.

"Oh, yes. It's about what you are investigating. I'm afraid I don't know much, but what I do know… I hope it is helpful to you."

"Continue, Mao," Neji said.

"I… just… something I accidently overheard… be careful if you venture to the cliffs on the west side of the village. At least three of the accidents have happened there."

"Who has been talking? I thought that… no one knew how…" began Granny Tao.

"Ma'am, I don't know who I heard talking. I hid, and I didn't notice who it was. Nor did I recognize their voices. I assume one or two of them may have been village heads. It wasn't very lady like, I know..."

"Secrets! Absolutely ridiculous!" Granny Tao said, angrily, "They'd rather us go about, pretending nothings wrong… continue to be ladies even though our fellow villagers are being murdered one by one."

"Do not worry. We will get to the bottom of this," Lee assured her.

III

It was a beautiful night. After going over what Mao had told them, Neji had decided to go outside. He had only been out there for a couple of minutes when he heard the door slide open, and then shut. "What is it, Kiara?"

"Do you have eyes in the back of your head or something?"

He turned and smiled at her, "Something like that."

"Can… can I ask you something?"

"Yes… I wanted to ask you something as well."

"Me first… please?"

"Alright. Go ahead."

"Who… when I was fighting, I heard you shout it, but… who is Naruto?"

Neji's eyes widened.