"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SORAMI!" Akiyo yelled jumping onto my bed to wake me up.

I growled, "Akiyo… you complete and total ASS!" I screamed, thought I started quietly. "Why would you wake me up like that! It's my birthday so let me sleep in!"

"But you have to get up and celebrate your birthday!" Akiyo said smirking.

I growled and rolled over, pulling a pillow over my head.

"Get up, get up, get up!"

"I don't wanna," I whined.

"To bad. Get up. Oh and your boyfriend got you a present."

"He's not my boyfriend!"

"Yeah, it's on your window sill," He said, leaving to room. "Be downstairs in ten minutes!"

"It's my birthday I should get to do what I want!"

"Nope."

I grumbled as I walked around my room, changing. I grabbed the small box on my windowsill and placed it in my pocket, walking downstairs.

"Hey, Akiyo, what's for breakfast?"

"It's noon, Sorami, too late for breakfast."

"Lunch?"

Akiyo smirked, "Follow me."

"Dango?!" I yelled smiling as we reached the small shop.

Akiyo nodded as he paid and handed me my favorite treat.

I smiled greedily and grabbed it from his hand, quickly starting to eat. Akiyo chuckled.

"Alright, come on, I've got a present for you at home."

I smiled happily and ate my dango.

"Oi, Kiyo," I said, gnawing on the dango stick.

"You're girlfriend's coming."

He blushed lightly and looked up.

"Hey, Akiyo," Kimiko said smiling, "Hi, Sorami."

I waved, smiling, still gnawing contentedly on a stick, trying to get all the flavor I could off of it.

"Kimiko," Akiyo said smiling, "Where are you headed?"

"Just into town, my mom wanted me to pick up some groceries for her."

"Oh, sounds like-"

"Mind if we come with you?" I asked, interrupting him.

"Not at all, come on."

I felt Akiyo's glare on me but just smiled innocently.

"Oh, what'd'ya know, I think I see Asuma over there, I should go say hi. Have fun you two," I said. I wandered down the street a little ways until I knew they were inside the store then wandered back and leaned against the wall by the door.

"Sorami?" Akiyo asked.

I looked up at them, "I was wrong, it wasn't him."

Kimiko laughed, "Well, I've got to head home. I'll see you two later!"

"Peace," I said as Akiyo just waved.

"So…? Back to the house?"

I nodded.

We slowly made our way back to the apartment where Akiyo gave me my gift.

"A-Akiyo, this is-" My eyes widened as I stared at the gift. He'd given me a katana, that I could put my chakra into. The handle had three stars and a moon carved into it, like my tattoo. "I-I can't even-"

"Look, I know you're not big on violence, but I want to be sure you'll be able to defend yourself, and there's a few things I thought you'd like about it. First of all, it has a special jutsu placed on it. If you don't want to kill whoever it is you're fighting, no matter how or where you stab your opponent, it will not kill them, and if you do want to kill them, then it'll work as normal. And second, it is made specially for you. You can use your Kojin no jutsu with it. So it should prevent your hands from getting so messed up."

I smiled and hugged Akiyo, "It's amazing, Akiyo!"

I set it next to the book that Mamoru had given me, all about the constellations: when they occur, they stories behind them, and pictures of the cosmos.

"What'd Kakashi get you?" Akiyo asked smirking.

I blushed, "Oh, um, I hadn't opened it yet."

He gave me a look, telling me to unwrap it.

I sighed and went to my room, grabbing it off my bed before walking back into the living room and unwrapping it. I opened the small box and picked up the gloves that rested inside of it, the Konoha village symbol was engraved on the metal plates on the back of them. I glanced at the note Kakashi had left with them. They could withstand any heat and didn't inhibit my abilities. I would be able to activate my kojin no jutsu without burning my hands and I would still be able to using my kenseite.

I glanced at the gloves as I pulled them on, glad that my hands hadn't grown much. I usually wore other gloves since I hadn't been out of the village or doing overly dangerous mission lately, they still prevented my hands from burning but never seemed to work as well and usually prevented my kenseite from working on my hands. I grabbed my two katana and strapped them to my back, making sure Akiyo's old headband was snug on the handle of the left one. I glanced in the mirror, I was in my old ANBU outfit that I wore under my armor. Bandages around my chest and top half of my stomach with a low cut light blue cropped shirt covered by a dark blue crop vest rather than simply by blue cropped halter shirt. I frowned at the scars across my arms and stomach that were still visible. I adjusted my mask one last time and snapped my weapons pouch around my waist. With that, I tightened my mask, walking outside to meet up with Mamoru.

He smiled upon seeing me, "It's nice seeing you all decked out again."

I rolled my eyes, "The only difference is the old gloves, shirt, and the katanas, Mamoru."

"Aw, but those complete the look. You look powerful again. It's kinda a turn on," He said smirking.

I smacked his head, "Come on. We need to go meet Lord Hokage."

"Yeah, yeah." He slung his arm over my shoulders, "But really, Sorami. You look like yourself again, strong and powerful."

"You're just saying that in the hopes that it'll get you somewhere."

He gasped, "I would never!"

I laughed, kissing his cheek.

"Bet I can beat you to the arena!" Mamoru yelled, taking off running.

"What?! Hey! Come on, you got a head start!"

"Well you're faster so I'm just making it fair."

I chased Mamoru through town to the arena laughing. It was nice having times like these with my friends, especially when I knew it wouldn't always be like that. Since I was quicker than Mamoru, I passed him before we got to the arena. He ran up a few minutes later, grabbing me in a headlock. "Hey! You're not supposed to beat me!"

"Not my fault you're so slow!" I laughed.

He rubbed my head, continuing to hold me in a head lock.

"Heeeeeeeeyyyy!" I complained, still laughing.

He released me and I shoved him. He shoved me back lightly before a throat cleared. I immediately stood up straighter noticing the Hokage and a guard, "Lord Hokage!"

He smiled at the two of us, "I'm glad the two of you are enjoying yourselves."

I blushed while Mamoru just laughed.

"Let's go up." He said.

Mamoru checked the guard's memories as we headed up, deciding he was safe.

"No sign of Sasuke yet?" The hokage asked as he sat.

"No. A team of ANBU black ops is searching for him. But so far, they've found nothing. He may already be in Orochimaru's hands… in which case of course, we may never find him."

"I understand."

"Aha! You made it! Welcome Lord Kazekage!" As the Kazekage sat down, the hokage addressed him, "You must be weary having come all this way."

"Not at all. I'm only glad that for your sake, the arena is here in the leaf village. As strong as you are, I'm sure a long journey would have proven difficult for you at your age… Isn't it about time you decided who would succeed you as hokage?"

I said nothing but bit the inside of my cheek at his words. My left hand inched towards my weapons pouch in instinct.

The hokage laughed, "You act as if I am an old man! There's plenty of life left in me! No I plan on staying here for some time to come. Now then, it's time for the final rounds to begin…"

I sighed and relaxed again, letting my arm fall away from my pouch. I felt Mamoru's hand on my arm and looked up to see him give me a carefree smile.

"Welcome all and thank you for coming to the Village Hidden in the Leaves for this year's chunin selection. We have come to the final competition of the eight candidates who have made it through the preliminaries! We ask that no one leaves until all the matches have been completed! Now everyone enjoy!"

"You said eight candidates…" The Kazekage said. "Aren't you missing one?"

Hey my lovely readers! I'm like super duper re-donk-ulously happy that y'all are favoriteing and following my story. And I might be in love with those of you that have messaged me, but you know what would be so spanktacular that you would become my absolute favorite human being alive? Reviews!

I've been kinda bummed lately because I've gotten some new followers and favorites (hello there, thank you for reading, I'm glad you enjoy my story, please let me know how I'm doingJ) buuuuuuuuut… the only review I have are from when chapter 3 messed up. So… thanks for telling me about that and alerting me to the fact that someone likes it enough to tell me that it copied over wrong, but also, can I know how I'm doing? Reviews are awesome! They make me happy! And you can tell me things you like so I can involve more of it, or things you hate so I can stop doing that! Like come on guys, reviews literally only help you. And make me happy. And don't even take that much time. It's a win/win… I guess a third win too… scenario.

Also, I just gave you two chapters in one day so…. I think that deserves some kind of award.

So yeah, moral of the story to all of you who just sort of skimmed over (or completely ignored) that whole rant (which I also apologize for): please review. J Have a nice night now… or day… whatever time it is where you are, have a nice one!