Here it is, guys! The 10th chapter! WOOHOOOOO! Yes, BlackDragon333 is hyper again. It wasn't pie this time, though. It was cookies. Which, in a way, is worse.

TWO CHAPTERS IN ONE DAY!!!! OMG!!!!!

It has come to my attention that some people would like a little insight into Iruka's feelings. Well...here you go!

Also. A couple of people have faithfully been reading and reviewing, and I'd just like to give a shoutout.

Kyatsu-chan: Here it is! You don't have to wait until tomorrow after all!

Suko-chan: We shall have to make a story called 'The Adventures of Kisame, Itachi, Suko-chan, and BlackDragon333. It would be a hit.

A.D. Grey: Thanks for reviewing so faithfully!

LittleAngel22493: I updated as fast as I could!

Valinor's Twilight: Thanks for your encouragement!

And to everyone else: REVIEW BETCHES!!!! lol.

Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto. Do own Nori. Owned by the leprechaun under the desk, the tiny unicorn in Kantor's class, and the leopluridon in Kantor's ceiling.

Guy, Jake, and Alysia. They're magically delicious.

Here we go!!!

Nori woke up and looked around carefully. She was tied to a chair in the middle of a dark, musty room. She felt a pain in her skull and realized that Itachi had fractured it. She healed herself, but the effort of sending her chakra up to her head to heal her own brain and skull made her pass out again.

Meanwhile, back in Konoha, three search teams had been sent out, and an ANBU team had been sent as well. They were scouring the woods for any sign, but they had found hide nor hair of them.

Kakashi had just told Iruka that Itachi had abducted Nori, and Iruka was staring up at Kakashi in shock. "What? That...there's no way...!"

Kakashi nodded sadly. "Sorry, Iruka."

"Don't apologize to me! I'm not the one that was stolen from my village by a murderer who also happens to be my ex-best friend!"

Kakashi understood that Iruka wasn't angry with him, just upset that Nori was missing. Just then, the ANBU in charge of search operations appeared in front of Kakashi.

"Sir, we've searched every inch of land within ten miles of Konoha. Nothing was found. Those two have covered their tracks, and they've covered them well. If Nori is to get out of this situation...she's on her own."

Iruka sat down heavily on a bench. "Nori..." He pressed his hand to his forehead. "...stay strong. I...you have to come back. Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto...and me...we all need you."

Kakashi and the ANBU watched him sadly. It was hard to tell because of their masks, but Kakashi's eye looked sad, and the ANBU's shoulders slumped a little.

Iruka, though, was lost in his memories. 'It was, what...last night, I believe. Yeah. Last night. And now, she's gone.'

"Where are we going, Iruka?"

"Well...you see...I know of this place, out in the forest, that's really amazing. Would you like to see it?"

"Of course!" Smiled Nori.

"Well, then...let's go!"

She laughed as he ran ahead of her, and, still laughing, she followed him at a walk, not even trying to go fast enough to catch up. "Come on, Iruka, slow down a little!"

He stopped up ahead to wait for her. "What's the matter?" He teased. "Can't keep up with the Chuunin?"

She laughed. "I just don't want to embarrass you." After a pause, she said, "No, it's just that I run all the time on missions. It's nice to just relax and walk slowly once in a while, you know?"

He smiled. "Yeah, I know."

They walked along in silence until Iruka smiled. "Ok, we're getting close. I hope you like it here."

"I'm sure I will, Iruka. I'm here with you." Instantly, her face turned red. "I...I mean..."

He just smiled and put his hand on her shoulder. "It's ok. I feel the same way."

She smiled up at him, then blushed and looked down. Iruka led the way through some trees and into an open meadow. The stars were encased in a frame of trees, and the moon was directly in the center of that frame. Nori turned to Iruka. "Iruka...this place...it's gorgeous!"

He laughed. "I'm glad you like it, Nori."

"Like it? I love it!"

He smiled. They sat down against a tree, shoulder to shoulder, and looked up at the stars and the moon quietly together. Iruka breathed in the scent of her hair, and Nori could smell Iruka's cologne. The silence of the night was too still to be broken by two creatures as insignificant as humans, so they sat there in the stillness until an owl's hoot shattered the peace. Then, they laughed easily.

Iruka, deciding to be bold, swallowed his fear and slid his arm around Nori's shoulders. She blushed, but she nestled into his arm anyway. After a minute or two, she asked, "Hey, Iruka?"

"Yes, Nori?"

"Well...I was just wondering...you're twenty-five, right? And I'm only eighteen, almost nineteen. Why would you go for me when there are so many other women your age that are available?"

Iruka blushed, although Nori couldn't see him. He thought for a while until he spoke. "Well...I'm not entirely sure. The women I know...they all seem the same to me. None of them care about anyone other than themselves and their friends. If they saw someone they didn't like dying, they'd probably just walk the other way. I know that it's perfectly acceptable behavior for a ninja, but...I just can't stand people like that. You, on the other hand...what you did for Naruto showed me just how kind you really are. I don't know, Nori...I just...would."

She smiled at his awkward explanation. "Good. I'm...I'm really glad, Iruka."

"M-me too." He stuttered.

She laughed. "Aww!"

The memory had made Iruka smile, but he snapped back to the present and it only made him miss her more.

There it goes!!!

Recently I've come to realize that if I change the times I update, more people view the story. That's great. But I don't care. I do what I want!

lol.

Cookies + SunnyD + chicken&rice this.

And lastly, a philosophical thought that I stole from Joe.

Why do they call it a building? If it's already finished...shouldn't they call it a built?

BlackDragon333,out.