Hey y'all…

Listen, I'm sorry that it took me a while to write this chapter (at least I think so) but I have an excuse! (Holds hands up defensively as readers begin to lift heavy things) You see my dad applied for a job way out in the middle of the country and he got it, and that means I'm moving! (Cries chibi tears) I don't want to leave my friends! (Cries more) And I'm gonna miss the coast as much as miss them. I love the beach!

It also means that both of my computers will be locked up in a box for 6-8 weeks! And that's scary too cuz it means I won't be able to write Fanfiction! (Dramatic music plays in background)

Maybe if I beg my pops enough he'll get me the yellow DELL before we leave, that would be so cool!

愛

It felt as if he had swallowed a rock; a rock that decided to grow three times bigger and heavier than before, when the Hokage tower came into view. Naruto didn't want to be following this strange ANBU away from the academy grounds, he didn't want to see Tsunade, and he especially didn't want to hear the information she had waiting for him, because for some odd reason Naruto knew it was about a certain yellow-eyed child.

"Naruto," Shizune was waiting at the foyer of the tower, waving frantically to the two approaching ninja. "So glad you're here! Hurry! Lady Tsunade can't hold her forever!" (1)

"What?" Naruto asked, thoroughly confused. "Shizune wait!" He dashed after the dark haired woman, leaving the mysterious ANBU behind without even a second glance.

Who was Tsunade holding off? Why were they here? Why did she send for Naruto? This was all making his head whirl and hammer as he continued to follow Shizune through the snaking hallways of the Tower. "Shizune, what's happening?"

"She arrived here earlier today," Shizune began, making a hair-pin turn up a flight of stairs, "She gave us no warning of her arrival and she's technically not even supposed to be here..."

"Who?!" Naruto screamed at Shizune's back as he sped up his panicked trot. "What the hell is happening here?!"

Shizune stopped abruptly and turned toward Naruto with a snap of her hips. Her usually warm russet eyes were now dark, holding a concealed secret from him, forewarning him, "Matzuno Aiko…"

Naruto's face scrunched up in puzzlement, "Who?" he asked, but Shizune resumed her race toward the top most room of the tower. "Shizune, who's—"

They had finally reached the top most level of the tower, and were just a mere ten feet from Tsunade's office door. Aggressive sounds of banging and beating erupted from the depths of the room as they approached it.

Naruto sped up his steps so they were equivalent Shizune's long and sharp ones. But, she stuck an arm out in front of his chest, silently telling him to stop.

"LET ME OUT!!!" An unfamiliar feminine voice shook the frame of the door from within, "I don't want to see him! Let me go you bitch! Call them off! I DON'T WANT TO SEE HIM!"

Naruto's sapphire eyes widened. He knew the woman was speaking of him, and undoubtedly was being forced into seeing him. "Shizune—"

"Shh!" Shizune scolded, holding a finger to her lips.

"Please settle down, Matzuno-san. You're making this worse for yourself. Jus—"

"NO! Let go of me, you bastards! Leave me alone!" The voice cut off Tsunade's lower one, followed by the curt sound of glass shattering.

Shizune flung the door open without warning, allowing Naruto to witness the scene inside. Tsunade was sitting peacefully at her desk, hands crossed in front of her lip stick covered mouth but the rest of the picture was as far from orderly as it could get. Three ANBU were constricting a girl in between them, using every last ounce of muscle they had to keep her still, a busted vase scattered in their wake as they wrestled.

Naruto's eyes were suddenly locked with another pair, one's of melted gold and everything else stilled in their mists. The young woman swiftly snapped her head away from his astonished gaze and in the direction of the floor, making her hair curtain around her face and hide her features away before Naruto got a chance to study them accurately.

Tsunade waved her hand haphazardly to the side, signaling the ANBU to drop the brunette. They did and stepped back cautiously, never turning their backs as they stationed themselves at each corner of the room. But the woman never moved again, the only thing she did when they dropped her to her knees was bring her hands to her face, covering it mournfully.

"Naruto," Said blonde looked away from the girl to Tsunade. "Meet Kirimi's sister, Matzuno Aiko."

愛

"You can sit hear, Kirimi-chan." Iruka gestured to a seat it the balcony of the classroom, dropping Kirimi's hand and giving her a small push toward the spot. "Just stay here and do what the sensei—that's me and Tukai-sensei—says. Alright…?"

Kirimi looked up to the scarred man and blinked, before nodding and hesitantly walking over to the chair. After she seated herself comfortably, Iruka smiled and left to the front of the classroom.

The room was buzzing with the idle chatter of the new academy students, whom were all at least two years older than herself. Many different children entered through the doors of the academy and were all anxious to begin their training, even Kirimi.

"Hey," Kirimi looked to her side to see a girl with banana-curl pigtails of dirty blonde hair and eyes the shade of amethyst, a scowl set on her face. Behind her stood a girl with strawberry scarlet hair and dark cobalt eyes another with orange hair and steely gray eyes (2). "You're in my spot." Kirimi just stared wide eyed at the older set of girls. Not satisfied with the lack of response the fair-haired girl repeated herself, glaring now, "You. Are. In. My. Spot. Move."

"Hey Muli-chan, maybe she's stupid or something." The red head whispered.

"Yeah, stupid or something." The carrot haired one mimicked. "Hey kid? You stupid?"

Kirimi looked downward at the surface of the table. Was she stupid? Is that why she couldn't see her mommy and daddy again? Is that why bad things happened when she spoke? Kirimi…stupid?

"You are clearly a retarded piece of poop (3), so I'll say this one more time. Move." She slapped a hand on top of the table in front of Kirimi, making her yelp and squeak, alarmed. "Now."

"There you are Sunshine!"

"We've been looking all over for you!"

"Didn't I tell you she'd be here, Kyoya?"

"Yeah, yeah. Don't go getting a big head, Ryo."

Kirimi felt an unfamiliar arm drape across her small shoulders and bring her closer to the owner. She jerkily looked up. What she saw was shocking to her small childish mind. There was a pair of boys behind her. One was holding her close to his slightly larger body, while the other leaned nonchalantly upon the service of the desk, staring upon the girl and grinning.

One was an exact parallel image of the other; identical twins (4) with out a doubt. They both had hair whiter than recently fallen snow that sat untidily upon their heads, though one's was a bit more tamed than the other. Both smiled down at her with two sets of abnormally colored eyes (though she shouldn't be one to judge as she stared up at them with her own golden pair). They were the soft color of fresh spring cherry blossoms, gentle and kind and filled with wild and untamed bliss.

"Oh, Kyoya, it seems as if we have interrupted a conversation between Little Miss Sunshine and her friends." The one holding Kirimi said to his brother in mock surprise.

The other scanned the faces of the disorientated girls and spoke to his brother indirectly, "How rude of us. What would mother think of our becoming impolite?"

"What were you saying to our Little Miss, here?" The other asked, innocently enough bringing the frozen girl closer.

The blonde haired girl recovered first, sneering at the twins, "She was in our spot. And now you are too. Move."

"No, you must be mistaken. You see we ask her to save these spots for us." The one standing hoisted himself onto the table and walked across it before sitting on the opposite side of his twin, who release of Kirimi and hoisted his own feet onto the table, showing his new blue ninja sandals off for the world to see.

"But this is our spot." The red head insisted.

"I don't see your name on it." The twin to Kirimi's right said, letting his eyes droop closed.

"I don't see yours either." The carrot-top countered, thinking herself clever.

"Yes it is."

"Where?"

"Kyoya?"

Kyoya took out two big stout black markers from the pouch on his side meant for shuriken (the same customary one as Kirimi's, who acquired hers from Sasuke), uncapping one and handing the other to Ryo, across Kirimi. The chemical smell of everlasting ink drifted to Kirimi's nose, causing her sneeze violently. Once their names were proudly displayed on the backs of their chairs, they turned to Kirimi. "Excuse us Little Miss…" Kirimi leaned forward just enough for the boy's to fit their arms behind her.

"Awe, c'mon Kyoya, you messed me up!"

"Deal with it!"

"Move your arm!"

"No, you!"

Finally, the boy's came out from behind her and smiled, looking very proud of themselves. "Look." They chorused, pointing to the back of her seat. Kirimi hesitantly turned to read what they had printed.

サンシャイン

They had spelt Sunshine across her seat (5). She looked to the backs of their chairs to see their own names written across the backs, neatly. Surely they would get in trouble for it later on but for now all the girls just stared at it in shock.

"Yeah, these are our seats!"

"Uh-huh, believe it!" Kirimi snapped her head to stare at Ryo, who had just used one of her guardian's most adored phrases of all time.

Still stunned into silence, Muli and her clique slinked away to the front of the classroom where there were only a few seats left.

"Uh-huh, that's right, we bad!" Ryo held his hand up for a high five, which Kyoya did not return. "Don't leave me hanging!"

"No, I think I will." Kyoya put on something that was between a smirk and a smile. It scared Kirimi into shrinking into her seat.

"Ah! Kyoya, stop that! You're scaring Little Miss!" Ryo proceeded to seize Kirimi back into his arms and rock her body.

"I'm sorry." Kyoya patted the navy hair that was visible through Ryo's hug. "We can't continue to call her Little Miss Sunshine, Ryo."

"Yeah, I guess you're right… What's your name?" Ryo drew Kirimi away from his chest, waiting for an answer but Kirimi remained silent. After a few moments, he continued, "Hmm…Well, I'm Kato Ryo, and this is my brother—"

"Kato Kyoya. Pleasure to meet you." He wiped away his evil smile and replaced it with a warmer one. Kirimi nodded. "Tell us your name when you're ready." It was odd how understanding these boys were, but she was glad of it because she really didn't want them to think she was a misfortune just yet.

"Everybody, come down from your seats for roll call and goggle requirement." Iruka-sensei watched as all his students came down from their balcony seats. He watched with interest as Kirimi exited her booth with two other children. The Kato twins to be exact, who were talking animatedly to the usually silent girl, as they approached the front of the classroom. Iruka's warm eyes lit up when he saw the abandoned chairs at the far right of the top most balconies, who were now supporting the names of their owners.

リョ

サンシャイン

ッヨヤ や

Ryo,

Sunshine,

Kyoya…

愛

"Naruto," Said blonde looked away from the girl to Tsunade. "Meet Kirimi's sister, Matzuno Aiko. Aiko, this is Kirimi's current guardian—"

"I know who he is!" Aiko hollered, never lifting her face to see, "I told you I didn't want to see him! Nor did I want him to see me…" Her voice lost its volume toward the end.

"Well, he's here now. He can see you. Might as well get it over with." Tsunade turned in her chair, acting like she hadn't a care in the world, while Naruto was still freaking out slightly.

"Can…Can I at least have my mask back?" She begged. "Please?"

Tsunade tossed the wolf mask back to Aiko, who hastily snatched it up and fitted it back onto her face. She took a few audible deep breaths of oxygen before carefully rising to her feet and bowing in Naruto's general direction.

"I apologize for my behavior…" She whispered, hanging her head down. "These past few weeks have just been very stressful."

Naruto nodded, showing he accepted her request for forgiveness.

"Might we be alone?" Aiko suggested, her eyes darting across the other masked faces of the leaf ANBU.

"Dismissed." Tsunade ordered, and watched her guards leave without protest.

"Thank you." Aiko said, her eyes drilling into Naruto's. He noiselessly watched the gold shimmer beneath the dark slits of the mask's eye holes. They were dimmer than those of her sister.

"Uzumaki-san…?" Naruto waited for her to finish her sentence. "How…how is my…" She paused, chest heaving, "…sister?"

Naruto scowled and crossed his arms above his torso, "Fairly well. Despite the fact she has this thought in her head that if she speaks to anyone at anytime it brings foul luck, she's doing just peachy." Naruto spat out the last word, finding knew anger in meeting this woman that had abandoned the lovable little girl he'd come to know and care for.

"Good." Was all Aiko said as she continued to stare at him, her emotions hidden in her voice and behind her mask. "Good…" She repeated.

"Good?" A new flare of aggression made itself noticeable in Naruto's pitch of voice, "You dump your only sister on this village in hopes of getting rid of her and her nameless demon so you can just go cower in your own village, while I take can of her broken spirit and all you can said is f---ing GOOD?"

"You don't know what you're talking about!" Aiko protested, raising her voice just as loud as the blondes. "You don't know what the Rock village has been through because of that monster! What I've been through!"

"Don't ever call Kirimi that!" Naruto growled. "She's not a monster! She a little girl that doesn't know where she is and why she's here! All because of you and your damn secretiveness!" His anger was at a spilling point, "She deserves to know! And Konohagure does too!"

"Just shut up!" Aiko screamed, pulling at her tresses of brown hair. "You don't know what it's like!"

"Try me!" Naruto bellowed. He advanced on her and lifted Aiko off the ground by the frontage her gray ANBU uniform shirt. Making sure she could see the ruby bleeding into his sapphire eyes. "Enlighten me!"

"Naruto, calm down." Tsunade stood, coming to stand next to the Kyuubi vessel, but he jerked his arm away from her touch.

"No!" He stated, his long pearly canines bared and shining, "I want to know what's worse than what Kirimi's going through! So tell me Matzuno Aiko! TELL ME!" He shook her for emphasis.

"MORE THAN HALF OUR VILLAGE IS DEAD BECAUSE OF HER!" (6)

愛

Wow… (Sigh) glad I'm done with that. Sorry it's so short. But my retarded computer kept deleting whole paragraphs and I had to start over. So sorry if anything doesn't sound right or is spelt wrong and what not. Now I must go and wait for the death threats to flow because I left you all on a cliff hanger. (Evil chuckle)

(1)She meant this literally.

(2)These girls are just filler characters and you probably won't see them again after this chapter.

(3)This is such a weird line. I cracked up just writing it. But then again they are just like elementary students.

(4)I am obsessed with twins! Two of my friend's friends (I guess that makes them my friends) are identical twins and I love them to bits! But I can never tell whose who. I just call out a name and see who responds, a then make a mental note of what they're wearing that day, LOL!

(5)I love the nickname I made them give her. It's cute, and it sorrta relates to the title of this chapter…kinda.

(6)This whole argument seemed to be a bit out of order and confusing to me. (shrug) O well. What do my lovely readers think, hmm?

I must say that getting hits is wonderful, but getting reviews is even more fulfilling. Please leave yours!