"Chiba?" Ke said in surprise as he and Kakashi emerged from the forest. Chiba and Yue were lounging on the grass with the genin and Neji. "Yue?"

"What took you so long?" Yue asked. "We've been waiting here forever."

Chiba stood up and met them as they approached.

"What are you doing here?" Ke asked clasping his hand.

"We checked and we didn't have any missions worth going on quite yet," Chiba informed. "So we decided to accompany you until you're out of the Country of Darkness. That way we can protect you from any enemies."

"I think the only enemies we have to worry about are Hikage ninjas," Toya said.

"Well in that case we don't have much to worry about," Rin smirked.


"Where," Naruto looked at the village before them. "Are we?"

"This is just a trading post on the outskirts of the Country of Darkness," Chiba informed. "We always stop here before leaving the country to refresh supplies and rest a bit."

"It's, really nice here," Naruto looked around at the crowds of happy people milling around the nicely kept buildings and clean streets. It was a drastic change from Hikage.

"The Country of Darkness isn't a poor country," Chiba said.

"Yeah, the Ankokukage just runs Hikage into the ground," Ke muttered and earned a disapproving glare from Chiba. "What? You know it's true."

"Rin!"

Rin turned at the sound of her name and was immediately tackled by a girl who could not have been older than five.

"Hey Mei!" Rin smiled cheerfully as she lay on her back.

"You guys are back!" Mei squeled as she looked up at Toya and Rei who smiled weakly back.

"Reiii!" Mei cried. "What's wrong?"

"Huh?" Rei blinked. "Oh, nothing. I'm just tired."

"You sure?" Toya asked and Rei nodded. She turned back to Ke.

"Ke-sensei, can I head over to the inn? I really want to go to sleep soon."
"You okay?" Ke asked and Rei nodded. "Fine, go on."

"I'll see you all later. I promise to play with you later, okay Mei?" Rei said and Mei nodded.

"You've grown," Toya knelt down and ruffled Mei's hair. "Soon enough you'll be taller than me!"

"Then I can be a strong ninja! Just like you guys!" She looked around at them eagerly. Her eyes fell upon Neji and Naruto and she cocked her head. "Who are they?"

"This is Naruto and Neji," Rin said standing up. "They're really strong ninja from Konoha Village."

"Do you guys want to play with me?" Mei looked at them eagerly.

"Play?" Naruto was slightly confused. "Play what?"
"Ninja of course!" Mei rolled her eyes. "For a great ninja you sure are slow!"

"I'm not slow!" Naruto said indigninantly. Neji looked at Rei who was walking away.

"We should turn in as well. That way we can leave early tomorrow. We don't have time for-" Neji began but Mei grabbed ahold of his hand and started to drag him off.

"There's always time for games silly!" She insisted.

"Come on," Rin pulled Naruto along and Toya followed.

"Will they be okay?" Kakashi asked as he watched Naruto and Neji being dragged off.

"They'll be fine. Mei and the kids here are harmless when they play ninja." Ke dismissed. "It's when they play pirate you have to worry."

"Let's eat," Yue said. "I'm starving."

"You coming, Kakashi?" Chiba asked.

"Oh," Kakashi paused for a moment. "I guess so."

He joined their group as they walked through the streets of the trading post. Chiba sidled beside Ke and nudged him.

"What?"

"We never got a chance to talk," Chiba shrugged. "How's Konoha?"

"There are a lot of people there," Ke answered and Chiba laughed.

"Yeah, funny how villages have people in them," he rolled his eyes.

"It's cleaner," Ke continued ignoring Chiba's joke. Chiba looked at him curiously. "The people there are really happy too. The genin are really happy there. They've made a lot of friends."

"How about you?" Chiba asked.

"Huh? What about me?"

"Are you happy there?"

"The genin are happy," Ke shrugged. "That's good enough for me."

Chiba frowned.


Naruto peered around the corner as he stayed hidden among the shadows. The street was empty of enemies. Only the occasional civilian appeared at the end of the street where it met a cross street. He cautiously stepped out.

"Gotcha!" Mei yelled and flung a water balloon. It exploded on Naruto's face and he fell back. He sputtered and wiped the water from his face. He blinked up at Mei who was shaking her head. Two other village boys and another girl came up behind her.

"You're a really bad ninja, you know that? Ninjas need to stay hidden!" The brown headed boy scolded.

"I'll show you what a real ninja can do," Naruto said indingnantly and crossed his fingers in front of his face. "Shadow Clone jutsu!"

Three more Narutos emerged from the smoke and began to chase after the small children.


"I got you!" A small girl with blue eyes declared as she threw a fishing net over Neji. He looked at her blankly.

"Well then, I guess I'm out," he said flatly and pulled the net off of him. He turned to walk away but she latched onto his arm. He looked down at her indingnantly. "What?"

"Ninjas don't just let their enemies go," she smiled and he faltered.


"I think I'm going to go back to the inn," Ke said as the jounin approached the restaurant.

"But we just got here," Chiba protested. "Don't you want to eat? I'm sure the wait won't be that long."

"I'm sure it won't because as soon as I step in there I'll clear the whole damn place out with this face," Ke said pointing to his mask and Chiba frowned. "I'll meet up with you guys later."


Naruto struggled in vain against the knots which chaffed his wrists. Sighing he looked over at Neji who was in a similar situation.

"Hey, Neji," Naruto called. At no answer, he frowned. "Neji!"
"Don't talk to me," Neji muttered. He could not believe he let a bunch of five year olds trick him like this. Now he was tied up and stuck with Naruto.

"What do you mean, don't talk to you?" Naruto demanded. "We need to get out of here so we can get those little brats back!"

"Oh, my, god," Toya's voice called their attention. He was being led in by Mei and another little boy. "We all got caught?! This is unbelievable!"

They sat him down beside the other two boys.

"Well, well, well," Mei smirked. "Three down, one to go. You're getting sloppy Toya; you should stop hanging out with these guys. They're a bad influence."
"I'll give you a bad influence," Naruto muttered as he inched his way towards the kids.

"Well, sit tight," Mei said. "We'll be back soon with Rin."

"This is pathetic," Neji muttered when they left. "I'm a jounin ninja and I was outsmarted by a bunch of four year olds."

"They're actually five and six, if that makes you feel better," Toya offered and Neji glared. "Guess not."

"Hey Toya," Naruto called. "They must have a weakness, right?"

"Yeah, they're six," Toya answered and Naruto's face fell.

"You know, you got caught too!" Naruto pointed out. "I wouldn't be so high and mighty."

"Yeah, but I got caught on purpose," Toya smiled.

"What?" Neji's interest returned.

"The advantage these kids have over us is they know this town like the back of their hands," Toya explained. "They spend every waking hour of every day finding every hiding place imaginable and leaving no corner unexplored."
"That's why it was so easy for them to find me," Naruto deduced and Toya nodded.

"Yup. So our strategy is generally let one of us get captured fairly easily and the others can follow us to their hideout. Then we'll be released and plan a sneak attack." Toya shrugged.

"All three of you got caught?" Rin's eyebrows shot up as she entered the area. "Jeez, only one of you needs to be captured for the plan to work!"

"Hey, we're new to this," Naruto frowned as she rolled her eyes and began to untie them.


"Kakashi," Chiba called his attention as they waited for the bill.

"Yes?"

"How is Ke doing in Konoha?"

"Shouldn't you be asking Ke that?" Kakashi asked and Chiba frowned.

"We both know he's not going to tell me anything."

"Good point," Kakashi admitted. "I guess he's doing fine. It's taking him a while to adjust, but he doesn't seem upset with anything."

"Well, I guess that's something," Chiba sighed and leaned back.

"You're very concerned about him, aren't you?" Kakashi asked and Chiba looked up.

"Ke's been alone most of his life," Chiba shrugged. "It took Yue and me a very long time to get him to open up. I just don't want him to regress."

"Ke's fine," Yue spoke up. "He has the genin. He's not alone there."

"Yeah," Chiba nodded, but not satisfied.

They paid the bill and left the restaurant in silence. Chiba walked ahead of them staring at the ground and kicking up dust. Kakashi watched him intently; did Ke really concern him that much?

"He misses Ke," Yue said reading Kakashi's expression and Kakashi looked towards him. "We both do. We've been inseparable for eighteen years, Kakashi. And we're some of Ke's very few links to humanity. Now that Ke is in Konoha, Chiba is afraid of losing him. And frankly, so am I."

"Well, hopefully when Chiba becomes Ankokukage I can come back," Ke called from the rooftops.

"Ke!" Chiba's face brightened.

"I thought you were going back to the inn," Yue smile matched Chiba's and Ke shrugged.

"I was going to check on Rei, but she's not there," he said jumping down.

"Should we go find her?" Chiba asked and Ke shook his head.

"No, I sent Hake and Kitsuke out to tail her. I think she just needs a little alone time. What are you guys up to now?"

"I'm heading back the inn," Kakashi said and began to walk off. "I'll see you all in the morning."

"Hold up," Ke grabbed his arm and he looked back in surprise. "You are not leaving when I just got here. We need to have some fun."

"How?" Kakashi asked. "You've already pointed out the little dilemma of your mask scaring off everyone here."

"Oh, there are some places I'm welcome," Ke assured. Kakashi looked back at Yue and Chiba who were smiling. Kakashi raised an eyebrow.


"Who's the ninja now?!" Naruto taunted the six year olds they had just finished tying up.

"No fair!" Mei protested. "You tricked us!"
"Well," Rin said finishing up the last knot. "You should really learn from this. Ambushes are an inevitable part of being a ninja. Since we've used the same strategy against you guys every time we've played this you should have caught on by now."

"Take it as a ninja lesson," Toya offered.

"If Rei was here she wouldn't have let you guys be so mean!" Mei pouted.

"She's not far away," Neji said absently.

"Huh?" Rin asked and he snapped out of his own thoughts.

"What?" Neji asked turning to her. Rin raised an eyebrow.

"Why is your Byakugan activated?"

"Oh," Neji relaxed his face and the Byakugan disappeared. "I just noticed Rei isn't at the inn. She's just a few streets over."

"What is she doing?" Toya asked.

"She's just walking, alone," Neji frowned. "Hake and Kitsuke are tailing her."

"Hmm," Rin's frown matched Neji's. "Hey Toya."

"Yeah?" Toya looked over at her.

"I think it's about time we paid a visit to some old friends," she smirked. Toya's face broke out into a grin.


"This isn't the inn."

Rei looked up and saw Rin at the end of the dark street.

"Oh, hi," she greeted weakly.

"Rei," Rin stepped closer to her and put her hands on Rei's shoulders. "Talk to me. Tell me what's going on."

"Nothing is going on," she smiled despite the tears forming in her eyes. "Really, I'm okay."

"Well," Rin shrugged. "If you're fine you won't mind having a little fun."

"Fun?" Rei blinked.


"There's no one here." Naruto said as they entered the empty bar.

"That's because it's seven o'clock. No one is going to be in a bar at seven," Toya said and began to look around.

"Well, why are we here then?" Neji asked.

"My friend's father owns this bar. He lets us play at night all the time." Toya explained.

"Play what?" Neji asked.

"Music," Toya continued. "When I come here it's the only time I can play with a real band. Rei loves our shows. Hopefully it will cheer her up."

"Toya?" A boy with brown eyes and long, messy blond hair came from behind the bar. "Toya!"

"Seji!" Toya greeted as they clasped hands.

"Hey man!" Seji greeted brightly. "Haven't seen you in forever! Where have you been?"

"Long story," Toya rolled his eyes. "I'll tell you about it later."

"Hey Gene! Shinji!" Seji called and two more teenagers came from behind the bar.

"Toya! You're back!" The first shook his hand.

"Hey guys," Toya's smile was widening with the minute. Turning to Naruto and Neji he began to introduce them. "This is Neji and Naruto, they're ninja from Konoha."

"Whoa, more ninja," the boy with shaggy brown hair that obscured his eyes and a bright smile extended his hand. "I'm Shinji."

"And I'm Gene," the other with black hair spiked up and glasses greeted.

"I'm Seji," Seji pointed to himself. "What brings you all to our little bar?"

"We're with Toya," Naruto explained. "I hear you guys are in a band."

"Yeah, the best band!" Shinji assured. "And when Toya has the time he lowers himself to play with us."
"Shut up," Toya shoved him.

"Oh come on," Gene joined in on the teasing. "The music prodigy can't take a little joke?"
"Whatever," Toya rolled his eyes.

"Hey!" Rin called their attention as she and Rei entered the bar.

"Rin!" Shinji greeted. "Rei!"

"Everyone's here," Gene noted and Toya nodded.

"Hey Rin," Seji waved his hand as a blush crept into his features. "I haven't seen you in a long time."

"Yeah, we haven't gotten out of Hikage in a while, that's for sure," Rin nodded.

"And now we can never go back," Toya shrugged and they laughed.

"What do you mean, you can never go back?" Shinji asked.

"Oh, we were definitely banished," Rin shrugged.

"Banished?" Seji paled. "Does that mean you won't be around here?"

"Well, not nearly as often," Rin shrugged.

"I have no choice then," Seji muttered.

"What?" Rin frowned. He ran behind the bar and came out with a guitar. Kneeling before Rin he began to play. Rin's frown deepened. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Oh Rin," Seji's cracking voice sang. "There's something I need to tell you."

"Whoa," Toya winced at the sound of his voice.

"This is why you're the singer," Gene sighed and Shinji nodded.

"I guess this is the perfect time to get the band back together, right?" Toya asked.

"Yes, we need to stop this now," Gene agreed and grabbed the guitar out of Seji's arms.

"Hey! I was in the middle of something!" Seji protested.

"You were in the middle of scaring her away forever," Gene rolled his eyes.

"Hey Seji! Let's play tonight," Shinji said eagerly.

"Oh man, I'd really like to but someone else is schedualed tonight." Seji informed.

"What? It's only seven," Rin said. "Who would want to play now? No one's even here!"

"Chiba-sensei, Yue-sensei?" Rei questioned as the two jounin came into the bar. Kakashi followed behind much slower.

"What are you guys doing here?" Rin asked.

"Ke asked us to meet him here," Chiba shrugged.

"Ke?" Shinji's face lit up. "The one with the really cool mask?! I love that guy."

"You would," Gene rolled his eyes.

"May I have your attention please?" The bar owner had stepped up on stage.

"Hey Gene, what's your dad doing?" Shinji asked and Gene just shrugged.

"I guess he's introducing the next act."

"It is my pleasure to have this next act. Although it is his first time performing here I can assure you of his immense talent," Gene's dad continued.

"Who is he talking to?" Naruto asked. "There's no one here but us."

"And now, introducing the Bakemono of Hikage!" He waved his hand with a flourish and ran off of the stage.

"Ke-sensei?" Rei was shocked when the curtains parted to reveal their sensei, mask and all, sitting at a piano. He began to play.

"Isn't she lovely?
Isn't she wonderful?l
Isn't she precious?
Less than sixteen years old
I never thought through love they'd be
Making one as lovely as she
But isn't she lovely made from love"

"Whoa, he's pretty good," Shinji nodded approvingly.

"Do you see what I'm seeing?" Chiba pointed at the stage in disbelief.

"Yeah," Yue nodded dumbly. "But I don't know if I believe it."

"Isn't she pretty?
Truly the angel's best
Boy, I'm so happy
We have been heaven blessed
I can't believe what God has done
by giving lovely life to one
But isn't she lovely made from love."

"This guy is too much," Kakashi laughed.

"Isn't she lovely?
Life and love are the same
Life is Mizuno
The oh so lovely name
Toya sees you're the lovely one
Rin agrees you're the pretty one

That's so very lovely made from love." Ke finished the song and looked over at Rei who was beaming. He hoped off stage and Rei hugged him tightly.

"Thank you Ke-sensei," she whispered.

"Hey now," Ke looked down. "Enough with the hugging. You're ruining my image."

"He never ceases to surprise me," Chiba smiled.

"He never ceases to confuse me," Yue rolled his eyes and Chiba laughed.

"All right, now for some real talent," Ke motioned towards Toya. "Are you guys going to play or what?"

"Hell yeah!" Shinji pumped his fist in the air. "Let's go!"

The four of them ran backstage to prepare. Rin grabbed Rei and Naruto's hands and pulled them up to the stage. Neji followed a little more calmly behind them. The jounin approached Ke.

"That was," Yue began.

"Really amazing," Ke finished. "I know. You don't have to tell me."

"You really are something," Kakashi said.

"I'll take that as a compliment," Ke said and looked over at Chiba who was smiling at him. "What?"

"Nothing," Chiba shrugged. "I'm just really happy the genin have you as a teacher. And I'm even happier that you have them as students."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ke asked and Chiba shrugged.

"They just, ground you. That's all." He smiled and could have sworn Ke rolled his eyes behind his mask.

"Excuse me," Toya's voice sounded over the microphone. He was front center with electric guitar in hand. Seji was beside him on backup guitar, Shinji behind on drums, and Gene on the other side on bass. "I don't know how we're going to follow that act but we're sure as hell going to try."

"This goes out to Rei, Rin, and our very own lead singer, Toya," Gene spoke up. "In case we don't see them for awhile."

The Hikage genin smiled. Shinji began to play the beat and the rest followed. Toya licked his lips and came up to the mic.

"Give me a reason

To end this discussion
To break with tradition.
To fold and divide.

Cause I hate the ocean, theme parks and airplanes,
Talking with strangers, waiting in line..
I'm through with these pills that make me sit still.
"Are you feeling fine?"
Gene interjected and Toya answered him.
"Yes, I feel just fine.

Tell me that you're alright,
Yeah everything is alright.
Oh please tell me that you're alright,
Yeah everything is alright.

I'm sick of the things I do when I'm nervous
Like cleaning the oven or checking my tires
Or counting the number of tiles in the ceiling
Head for the hills, the kitchen's on fire!

I used to rely on self-medication,
I guess I still do that from time to time.
But I'm getting better at fighting the future.
"Someday you'll be fine.."
Gene came in again.
"Yes, I'll be just fine.

Tell me that you're alright,
Yeah everything is alright.
Oh please tell me that you're alright,
Yeah everything is alright.

"Give me a reason," Toya was belting.

"I don't believe a word," Gene came in.
"To end this discussion."

"Of anything I've heard."

"To break with tradition."

"They tell me that it's not so hard."

"To fold and divide."

"It's not so hard."

"So let's not get carried."

"Away with everything."

"Away with the process."

"From here to in-between."

"Of elimination."

"The long goodbye."

"I don't want to waste your time." Toya sang the chorus solo."Tell me that you're alright,
Yeah everything is alright.
Oh please tell me that you're alright,
Yeah everything is alright.

"Alright,"Gene came back in.

"Tell me that you're alright," Toya and him began to alternate again.

"Hi, everything's great."

"Yeah everything is alright."

"Everything's fine."

"Oh please tell me that you're alright."

"Hi, everything's great."

"Yeah everything is alright."

"Everything's fine," Gene finished and the small but still attentive crowd cheered.


Ke's song is done to the tune of Stevie's Wonder "Isn't She Lovely?"

Reviews anyone???