I Expect Celebrations!

A pair of luminous yellow eyes glared out of the darkness. The shinobi next to him was leering.

"Send that note out… We shall give Tsunade-san a month and a half… before we attack Konoha, to gain Sasuke-kun… and Naruto-kun," a raspy voice echoed eerily into the silence.

Light flooded the room, and ninja cheered up at their leader, slouched in a chair, the medic shinobi in glasses beside him.


Twin tornadoes were whirling round and round the once peaceful clearing, almost like they were chasing after the pink blur that would throw trees their way.
A shadow snaked it's way beneath the pink blur, but the large weapon she had summoned whipped out at the shadow user, who had to dive sideways, to avoid contact from both the large weapon and a Hyuuga's fireball.

Wind sliced through the air, some carrying sand, that was constantly moving due to weapons being thrown all around him.

Kakashi and Asuma were running around trying to stop the fighting; they wanted all their shinobi back home in once piece, thank you very much, when a loud, quite feral, roar erupted, and Hidan charged in, leaping over towards Sasuke Uchiha, who faltered in his attacking Hinata.

Neji took Hinata's distraction as a chance to sneak up and close off a chakra point.

Yet as soon as he touched her, she disappeared in a poof, reappearing behind him, and kneeing him in the back, causing him to fly forward on his hands and knees, near Temari, who stamped down on his hand, grinning sweetly at the same time.

Naruto was helping Kiba and Akamaru, the trio bleeding badly from various cuts they had received from the pink blur.

Shikamaru was busy avoiding Ino's mind control jutsu, ducking behind bushes and leaping into trees, trying to catch her shadow with a pair of trench knives; but of course all those years training and sparring against each other have their downsides.

TenTen let out a mini shriek, as Deidara stabbed the needle, containing his blood, into her arm. Then, carrying the brunette, they jumped up onto the bird, and flew upwards.

"Don't worry, Tennie-chan, yeah. It will only take a few minutes," he murmured, as sand began to chase him up into the sky, and the bird swerved delicately. He stayed focused on TenTen's palms, watching intently, and often chucking off small clay animals down below.

Konan and Kisame, on the ground, decided to take on Kiba and Akamaru, leaving their cherry blossom to see to Uzumaki. Kiba snarled at the blue skinned man, and the many paper clones of the blue haired woman, and leapt again in the Gatsuuga whirlwinds.

Itachi slipped in back to back with his bed companion, smirking as he felt her shift to press closer. He turned his gaze onto Sasuke, who was mid-battle with Hidan.

Sasuke gaped at his older brother, jumping over the madly swinging scythe, and Itachi nodded. Neji hurtled towards the older Uchiha, who waited patiently, before clutching his wrist as it headed for his shoulder, and throwing the Hyuuga over him and Temari.

Sasori was working the puppets well, also controlling Sakura to move quicker and quicker. Naruto had red eyes at the moment, and was avoiding most of the fatal wounds, but not all of Sakura's fist.

It seemed every time she hit him, he smiled more and more, as if happy he could see and feel his old friend.

"STOP IT RIGHT NOW!" Pein shouted suddenly, using the jutsu that he normally called the members for a meeting.

Kiba and Akamaru sort of… collapsed out of their Gatsuuga, and Konan's clones disappeared, as Kisame halted his huge sword.

Naruto stopped jumping all the weapons, and Sakura was jolted backwards into Sasori's body by the chakra strings. All of the puppets lay on the floor, his hands tensed ready to move at the single twitch from the blonde haired ninja.

Hidan stopped pulling Sasuke's hair, to look across at his leader, and at Hinata, who was beside him, and holding a kunai to the younger Uchiha's throat, a menacing scowl on her face.

Ino jumped out of a tree, flipping perfectly beside Pein, as Shikamaru emerged beside Kiba. Temari and Itachi both turned, while Neji and Gaara were being calmed down by Asuma and Kakashi. Deidara floated the bird lower, TenTen only just waking up.

"My girls can make a choice, Hatake, Sarutobi… They don't need your shinobi to force them home,"

"Force them?! They want to come home, right, Sakura-chan!" Naruto flashed a grin at the medic, as if there had never been a fight. Sakura didn't meet his eyes, instead watching Sasori, the interesting person he was.

"We asked for this mission. It's been a long mission, and I, for one, refuse to go back empty handed… Even if it is going to be too troublesome," Shikamaru drawled, crossing his arms, as more hair fell out of the spiky ponytail balanced precariously on his head.
His eyes flickered across to Hidan, who smirked widely, and the Nara shook his head, a slight smile on his face.
Kiba snarled his agreement, looking at the silver-haired Jashinist, with his arm round the petite Hinata.

"We were trying to stop the fight, Pein. Our shinobi are very strong, as you can see, including our girls," Kakashi said, calmly, his left eye uncovered.

"Oh, so now you think we're strong?! What kind of idiotic non-brain do you actually have?!" Ino shrieked, mostly at her team mate and sensei.

All of her friends added to the accusing, yelling and cursing, mostly from Hinata and TenTen - who had just woken up - as the boys re-assembled by Kakashi and Asuma.

Akatsuki took their place as well, Hidan wrapping his arm round Hinata's waist, Pein holding Ino slightly behind him, TenTen clinging to Deidara's arm, as if scared she would be removed from him.
Temari wrapped an arm round Itachi's waist, as he pulled her in, resting his chin on top of her head, and Sasori held hands with Sakura, squeezing tightly.

"Sakura-chan, it's … well, it's Akatsuki! Why… How could you… do this to me?" Naruto asked, staring directly into her emerald gaze.

Sakura surveyed him coolly, meeting his gaze evenly, like she was an equal, or even superior, "You've done worse, Naruto. You told me I was weak, even though, you believed in me,"

"I never told you that! Teme said that! And he didn't come out of his house for two weeks after you left!" Naruto exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air in his frustration.

"You didn't disagree either. You could have, then we could have all laughed it off, and then maybe we would have all been a big, happy, rather distorted, family. But you said nothing," Sakura whispered the end sentence, feeling herself about to cry, and turning her head into Sasori's shoulder, where he began to stroke her hair.

"Don't touch her!" Sasuke and Naruto both hissed, as Sakura's sobs grew louder.

"Sakura, come here, to us, we'll give you a big hug, and tell you that you are being overemotional again. You know, for old times sake?" Naruto offered, stepping out of the line, and throwing his arms wide, smiling softly at the sobbing pinkette.

She glanced at him, sniffling, before turning to cry into the puppeteer's shoulder again. Sasuke joined his best friend, which made her cry harder, but she didn't move. It's not that she didn't want to. It's that… Why? Why couldn't she?

"Hina-hime… please…" Kiba whispered softly, noting that most of the girls were crying. He stepped forward, two steps, three, till he was in the middle of the two groups.

Hidan tensed his arm, but Hinata batted it away, looking up at him with eyes glistening.
"I'll be back. I can't leave him there, waiting," she whispered, as more tears flooded down her cheeks.

"Fine. Come back to me, promise?" Hidan agreed, letting go of her waist. Hinata smiled softly, before turning to run at her old team mate.

His eyes brightened, as she flung herself at him, a whirlwind of long hair, and the two collapsed on the floor. Hinata sobbed into Kiba's chest, while he soothed her, stroking her hair, and whispering to her, Akamaru licking her hand, where it was fisted into Kiba's brown hair.

"Come on, you over emotional girl," Sasuke whispered, and Sakura tore herself away from Sasori, hurtling at her two boys. They opened their arms wider, bracing themselves as she flung arms round both their necks and squeezed them, crying hysterically.

"You're being overemotional, Sakura-chan," Naruto grinned, a few tears trickling down his whisker-marked cheek.

Ino let out a choked laugh, as Shikamaru stepped forward with a sigh, holding his arms out half-heartedly. She pushed past Pein and Konan, who stood beside the Leader, jogging out to meet her lazy team mate. She gripped his hair, threading her fingers through it, holding round his neck, as Asuma stepped up to the two of them, the two men stroking her blonde hair.

Kakashi bonked all three of his team mates softly over the head, before Sakura grabbed his collar and drew him into the hug too.

TenTen and Temari looked at each other, before nodding. TenTen stepped forward, looking at Gaara and Neji, before sobbing, running, but breaking down a few steps away from them.
She dropped to her knees, crying into her hands, as Gaara and Neji embraced her, as a best friend and as a equal team mate. Temari, not being able to stand being out of the hug fest, threw herself at Gaara, who whispered, "Temari-neechan!" over and over in her ear, making her cry harder, as Neji and TenTen hugged the two of them.

The Akatsuki shifted uncomfortably, the boyfriends of the five girls watching carefully for any 'misplaced' hands, as Pein sighed.

Konan whistled sharply, to get their attention, and the five girls detached themselves - with great difficulty - and walked backwards, Hinata, Ino and TenTen still smiling with watery eyes.

The petite Hyuuga embraced Hidan roughly, wiping her tears away, before placing a hand on her hip and staring, evenly, at the ground. Ino wriggled in between Konan and Pein, sniffling still, as Konan rubbed her arms.
TenTen kept her head down, hair falling like a curtain, as she fed the new mouths in her palm some clay, and it spat out mini animals, mostly dragons and horses.

"So… What are we going to do now?" Asuma asked, lighting up his other cigarette.


Elsewhere, Izumo and Kotetsu rushed out of the Hokage's tower, clothes slightly un done, and narrowly avoiding chairs being chucked out the window. They both spotted Anko and Iruka and ran to them, panting.

"She's gone wild! Properly wild!"

"Well, I did tell Shizune not to sex you guys up in Tsunade's office," Anko sighed, chewing on a dango. The three men looked at her, one in puzzlement, the other two in embarrassment. She grinned at the three of them, as Kotetsu hurriedly buttoned up his jacket.

"No, I mean she's got this letter, and she's gone mental! Something about an attack," Izumo scratched his head, as Anko walked up the stairs, the three men following her like dogs.

"Shizune!" Tsunade was screaming, as her loyal companion stood outside the door, shaking.

Kotetsu and Izumo quickly swept the dark haired woman up in a hug, calming her, as Anko stepped in. Iruka paused, when Anko's hand reached out, grabbed his hair and pulled him in.

"Tsunade-sama," she said, executing a perfect bow.

"Anko? I called Shizune!" the blond Hokage muttered, just as Shizune walked in, in between Kotetsu and Izumo.

"I need you to get all the clan heads in here, the Konoha twelve -"

"Out on a mission, most of them, including Asuma-san and Kakashi-kun," Shizune reported.
"Get them back! Geez, is it that much to ask?!" Tsunade growled, as Shizune flushed and ran to get write a letter, informing Kakashi and Asuma they were needed back.

"I want ANBU to meet them … No, I don't. Kakashi and Asuma and the rest can all look after themselves. Get me Kazekage's brother in too! I'll need you five to get here straight after you're done running around. I need Ibiki in, Anko, you are in charge of getting him out. And -"

"Good afternoon, Tsunade-hime!" Jiraiya sang, dropping on her desk. Tsunade twitched, and slapped him.

"Jiraiya! Just the man I was looking for!" she suddenly realised, while the white haired sannin rolled on the floor rubbing his head, whining.

"Get up, Jiraiya-kun," Anko whispered threateningly, and Jiraiya shot up, glaring at the jounin, before turning to Tsunade.

"Tsunade? What's wrong, you look more stressed than normal!"
"He's planning an attack… On Konoha," Tsunade hissed, clenching her fist.

"Who is 'he'?" Iruka asked, glaring at Anko out of the corner of his eye.

"Orochimaru… Jiraiya, you need to go get the people I ask! Anko, Iruka, Kotetsu, Izumo and Shizune, you know who you need to get!" Tsunade decided to stand up, and lean both hands on her desk.

"GO!"

All six people jumped, five towards the door, and one walking up to her. Tsunade was already furiously scribbling down names. "You go too… We'll also be needing you, Jiraiya," she sighed, rubbing her temples.

"Why?"
"Sasuke… and Naruto… And obviously to take over Konoha," Tsunade grabbed a cup of sake. She knew the question was aimed at why he was attacking, she wasn't an idiot.

"Be careful, Tsunade-hime," Jiraiya sighed, glancing down at the list of names. He swiftly placed a kiss on her forehead, and ran, as she glanced up surprised.


"Well… I don't know…" Konan mused, watching the men opposite her with a hard glare.

"We've come all this way, like Shikamaru said, and I refuse to go back… empty handed," Sasuke snapped, watching Itachi pretty closely.

"Hey, little shit, surely you remember I have to kill you too… But I refuse now, and I can't believe I fucking said that… Seen as though your old team mate is here, and I don't wanna kill Hina-hime's friends, I ain't going to kill your sorry ass, alright!" Hidan smirked across at Shikamaru, who rolled his eyes.

A bird flew down, rather suddenly, to Kakashi.

"Is that a weapon scroll?" Pein asked, as everyone tensed again.

"No, just a … mission scroll, I think… it's got Shizune-chan's writing on it…" the silver-haired jounin answered, un-rolling the scroll, as the bird waited patiently on Asuma's shoulder.

The two leaned over the scroll, reading, their mouths steadily dropping open, their eyebrows furrowing.

"We need to leave," Asuma snapped, as Kakashi began to scribble a note back, putting it in the bird's holder, and allowing it to fly off.

"What?! NO WAY! I am not leaving until Sakura-chan is with us! I refuse!" Naruto yelled, crossing his arms and glaring.

"I won't go… You can't make me, I'm Kazekage," Gaara growled, as everyone else in Kakashi's and Asuma's group shook their heads.

"We need to get back immediately. There is no time!" Kakashi was near shouting.

"What's the matter, Kakashi-san?" Hinata asked, noting the distraught look on the older jounin's faces.

"It's Konoha business!"
"I used to be Konoha's shinobi! Surely I should know!"

"You left Konoha!"
"BECAUSE OF YOU FUCKING IDIOTS!" Hinata screamed at Kakashi, before turning her back on him.

"There's a war coming,"

"WHAT?!" all four ex-Konoha ninjas shrieked, Hinata turning round again and adding her own "the fuck?!".

"A war, Kakashi-senpai?"
"It's … It's Orochimaru… He wants Konoha, Sasuke… and Naruto," Asuma explained, glancing at the two people concerned.

Sasuke's mouth set into a grim line, and he glared at the ground, as Naruto gawped.

"ME?!" he yelped, waving his arms about frantically.

"Hatake-san… Sarutobi-san… Could I, talk to you, in private… Only Konan will come with us…" Pein said, softly, as Konan moved to his side. Kakashi and Asuma glanced at each other, before following the two towards the edge. They crowded in a small circle, and began talking in whispers.


Hinata glanced at the four away from them, up at Hidan, then across to Kiba. He was standing next to Shikamaru, and stroking Akamaru's head absently. There were a few scabs on his arm, and they were going to take forever to heal. She reached into the pouch, at her hip, and pulled out the full container of her healing salve. Hidan let go of her hand, as she pulled, and walked across to Kiba.

"Kiba-kun… I have the healing salve, if you want it… Your cuts look like you need them," she smiled. Kiba stared at her, a small smile on his face too.

"Yeah… Thanks, Hina-hime… Could you put them on though? I always put to much on!" he grinned sheepishly, shrugging off his jacket anyway. Hinata sighed jokingly, and shushed Kiba as he started apologising.

"So, you're Hina-hime's old team-mate?" Hidan asked, leaning over Hinata's shoulder.
"Hidan, be nice…"

"I am! Honest, Hina-hime, have some fucking faith, seriously!" he defended himself, holding his hands up.

"Yes… I take it you're her…"
"Boyfriend? I suppose… If she wants me, seriously," he said, noting Kiba's eyes dulling slightly.

"That's nice… You'll be her first,"

"Kiba-kun!" Hinata exclaimed, mortified.

"What? You got over that blonde idiot quickly enough!"
"Naruto?!" Hidan asked, interested. Kiba nodded once, and Hidan let out a loud laugh.

"Hidan-kun!" Hinata hissed, stabbing a kunai into his side… a blunt one, but still.

"Oi, Hina-hime, don't do that, ya know I'm only joking… Good one, dog-boy!" the Jashinist laughed, holding up a hand for high-five, which Kiba gladly returned. Shikamaru was eyeing the silver-haired man, and Hidan turned to him, confused.

"Why do ya keep staring at me?"

"I knew you were immortal, but-"
"Old bastard over there stitched me back together… and then Sakura-san healed me properly, so the stitches aren't noticeable…" Hidan explained, as Shikamaru nodded.

"Well… We appear to be the only Akatsuki over here… I'm so fucking bored!" Hinata sighed, mostly muttering to herself.

"So are you…"
"Going to be a Jashinist? Probably… Making it official tonight… Oh, don't fucking look at me like that, you two, I'm not that shy bitch I used to be!" Hinata snapped angrily, making Shikamaru and Kiba laugh.

"Sacrificing innocent people then?"

"No… I wouldn't do that, I'm still a softie… Only people who do wrong, I'll manage to keep my immortality up by that, ne?" she grinned happily at Kiba, who shook his head.

He embraced her for the second time, smelling her hair.

"I'm over you now, Hina-hime…"
"Over… Kiba-kun, you liked me?"

"You are as dense as the blonde idiot! Course, dimwit!"
"OI! I can kill you, ya know!" she teased, drawing back, with a smile. Shikamaru shook his head at the two, and Hidan drew him into a conversation.


"I don't know…"

"We can, and will, help! The girls will want to, as well, you can't deny that!" Konan pleaded, Pein staring imploringly at the two Konoha jounins.

"… Fine," Kakashi agreed, still slightly against it.

"Right… You can stay in our base for tonight… We shall travel tomorrow,"

"The note said immediately."
"You might be a day away from Konoha, she'll never know!" Konan grinned at Asuma.

"Lying to the Hokage, huh? That could be counted as an offence… We'll sleep over tonight!" Kakashi grinned, as Asuma chuckled beside him.

"Are two trying to get into trouble?" Neji asked, as the four had passed him at that time.

"Neji-kun, we haven't slept in a proper shelter for over… I've lost track. So, respect your superiors!" Kakashi tut-ed the Hyuuga boy, shaking his head jokingly. Neji cracked a smirk, and turned to Pein and Konan, inclining his head, slightly.

"Come on, Akatsuki, lead the way to the base!" Konan smiled, clapping her hands. Everyone hesitated, and she scowled.

"I said, move your asses to the base now, or regret it!" she growled, and everyone scurried along, as Kakashi and Asuma followed, their Konoha shinobi following, as the two explained everything.


"Kiba-kun?" a soft voice interrupted the silence.

Kiba turned his head to glance over his shoulder at the door. The door shut, and there was some slight rustling, before Hinata pressed her body against his in a hug, as he led, supposed to be asleep.

"Me and Hidan are going out now, to get the sacrifice… I'll see you in the morning," she whispered in his ear.

"Be safe, Hina-hime,"
"Always am, Kiba-kun," she teased, jumping over to the door again, and flinging it open, to show Hidan standing there.

The light illuminated Kiba, Akamaru and Shikamaru, who was completely and utterly, passed out on the floor.

"Night, you three," she whispered, closing the door, as Hidan slipped a hand into hers.


Naruto, Sasuke and Kakashi were sitting up in their sleeping bags, talking about Sakura being there, when they sensed someone approaching. The trio slid down in the bags, placed their heads on the pillows and shut their eyes, in the vain attempt to appear asleep.

The door creaked open and shut, and there was some soft padding of feet, before someone led their duvet in between Naruto and Sasuke, and flopped down, herself.

Kakashi sat up, stretching for the light switch beside him, to reveal Sakura, lying in between the two, and blinking up at her old sensei.

"Sakura-chan?"

"What, I can't come and sleep with my boys?" she asked, arching a perfect eyebrow. As the boys stuttered over her question, she shifted herself, so her head would be on Kakashi's stomach, pulled the two boys up into a hug, and promptly fell asleep.

The three fell silent, not wanting to wake her up. She gets pissed if you do that!


The next morning, the large group was outside the base, Pein and Konan making sure everyone was there. Hinata wouldn't stop grinning, and telling everyone of her ritual, ignoring the faces paling as she described the pain.

"Are we ready?" Kakashi asked, and the Akatsuki all nodded, donning their hats. With these hats, they all looked vaguely similar.

"Right, we'll get there quickly, if we all run, so.. Go!" Asuma grinned, leaping up into the trees. Kiba jumped on Akamaru and was gone, Gaara jumped on a cloud of sand, and followed, and everyone else followed the two older jounins, grumbling about having to run in the heat.

Within eight hours, the large group had arrived at the Konoha gates.

"Your base is worryingly close to this village, Pein," Kakashi murmured, a slight smile underneath his mask. Pein chuckled, as all the Konoha shinobi flanked the Akatsuki group. They were now all walking in pairs ;

Pein and Zetsu, Tobi bounding behind them.

Itachi and Kisame.

Deidara and Sasori.

Hidan and Kakuzu.

Hinata and Sakura.

TenTen and Temari.

Ino and Konan.

The streets weren't as busy as normal, but any by passer did do a double-take at the cloaks the Akatsuki wore. Hidan and Hinata were muttering obscenities to people who did stop, not that they could hear them, but their partners both shook their heads at the two Jashin Worshippers.


"Shizune -"
"I don't know Tsunade-sama, I sent it out yesterday! Maybe they were a day away, or something!" Shizune answered for the tenth time. Many of the clan heads had to be called back, seen as though they assembled yesterday, only to wait till nine, and leave again.

The remaining Konoha twelve left in the village were assembled, Sai and Kankurou also standing there, with Anko, Iruka, Gai, Kurenai, Kotetsu, Izumo, Ibiki and Shizune flanking the Hokage, as she sat in the chair, in the large meeting room. Of course the elder council hadn't been notified, and certainly not Danzou - at least, not yet.

Tsunade sniffed, checking the watch for the… she lost count. Jiraiya hadn't returned either, with the people she had purposely asked for.

"What in Kami's name was that?!" half the room shrieked, at a loud bang erupting overhead.

There were several thundering footsteps, running down stairs almost, before all stopping, close to the door, and a polite knock echoed.

"Enter," Tsunade called, standing up. Kakashi and Asuma opened the door, promptly closing it, and hurried to Tsunade, both bowing low, and presenting her with a scroll.

Her amber eyes scanned it for a few moments, widening, and re-reading it.

"Is this true? You've got to be kidding me!" she whispered to the two in front of her. They nodded sincerely, and she shook her head in disbelief.

"Ladies, and Gentleman, we have another ally… Akatsuki have asked to help protect Konoha,"There were various shouts of anger at this. Tsunade trembled, her frown increasing, her hands fisting.

"Will you all just shut your damn mouths?! Kami, this is going to take forever!" she yelled, and the room quietened down.
"How can we trust them?!" Hiashi called, Hanabi at his side, and watching everyone curiously with big white eyes.

"This letter explains everything. They are right outside at this moment, Kakashi and Asuma have escorted them in, with their retrieval team. You'll be quite shocked, but I'm sure most of you will agree we can trust them after this," Tsunade nodded, and Asuma strode back to the door, flinging it open.

Shikamaru, Kiba, Neji, Naruto, Sasuke and Gaara entered, Gaara walking straight to the top of the room, accepting the Kazekage hat from his brother, everyone else taking places with their parents; or uncle, in Neji's case.
Sasuke and Naruto stepped nearer to Tsunade and Gaara, and turned, so the room looked like a corridor of people.

Akatsuki entered, Asuma leading them, and one took off his hat, revealing shocking orange hair, and various piercings.
"Tsunade-sama," he said, calmly, dropping in a bow, which the members all followed respectfully, in a Mexican Wave motion.

"You are Pein… Akatsuki leader?" she asked, sitting back down slowly.

"Yes, Tsunade-sama. We want to help… For many reasons, but first, let me introduce my members… You do know most of them…" he drawled, stepping side ways, as two members came up.

"Zetsu and Tobi," the two removed their hats, some staring curiously at the ex-grass nin, who shook his head and also shuffled sideways, shoving the small masked man sideways at the same time.

"Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame," Itachi swept into another bow, his eyes carefully analyzing the clan leaders in the room, scanning for their reaction. Many remained straight face, a few arched eyebrows here and there… he couldn't see any council elders, so, for now, he was safer…

"Deidara and Sasori," the two artists pulled off their hats, Sasori glancing at Kankurou, watching the puppeteer, who tensed, but Gaara laid a hand on his elbow, almost comfortingly.

"Hidan and Kakuzu," Hidan shot a grin around the room, and Kakuzu dragged him sideways, since the Jashinist wouldn't move, from being arrogantly proud of his good looks…

"We have our newest members now… File out, please," Pein addressed the remaining six. "Konan… Well, she's not new," Pein said, as Konan pulled her hat off and smiled sweetly at Tsunade, who couldn't help, but return it.

"And our newest… Hyuuga Hinata, TenTen, Yamanaka Ino, Temari and Haruno Sakura," Pein said. The room was silent as said five girls all removed their hats, in time with their names; Then it erupted.

Hiashi was struggling against Shino and Shibi Aburame, trying to get to his elder daughter. Inoichi was being held back, by his arms, by Shikaku and Chouza, Kankurou had stepped backwards, into his younger brother out of shock and Lee was trying to awaken Gai, who had fainted at the sight of his kunoichi member in Akatsuki. Kurenai was whispering furiously to Asuma, who looked quite sheepish.

Tsunade cursed, stood up, picked up her chair and flung it at the ground. Said ground cracked, as the loud boom echoed, and everyone stopped shouting, cursing and struggling.

"Girls… Welcome home,"

"Shishou," Sakura smiled.
"Tsunade-hime," Hinata and TenTen replied.
"Tsunade-sama," Ino tossed her hair over her shoulder at the same time.
"Hokage-sama," Temari bowed again.

"You joined Akatsuki?"

"Long story short, we got given the choice… We didn't think people in this village really appreciated our strength," Hinata shot a glare at her own father and sister, "so we agreed, and joined."

"I'm sure we will be delighted to have you fighting by our side, Pein. No catch to this?" Tsunade asked.

"None… Maybe a home after the war… I don't know if the members are fed up of being chased by Hunter-nins all the time, or what…" Pein shrugged.

"I'm sure that could be arranged," Tsunade agreed, a twinkle of mischief in her eyes, as some of the members of Akatsuki muttered between themselves.

Two knocks rapped, on the large doors, and people turned curiously, as Jiraiya appeared in the middle of the room, slightly bruised and beaten, wide eyed and scared. He scurried to Tsunade's side, and whispered fervently.

"Enter," Tsunade smirked, and the door creaked open.

Two girls prowled in, graceful and powerful, one with silver hair, the other with jet black. Silver eyes and emerald eyes took in the silent room, as they padded softly to the front.

"Tsunade-sama," they both said in unison, dropping down on one knee, their ANBU masks tied neatly round their hips, resting on their right side. The silver-haired girl had a wolf mask, with silver markings, and her companion had a panther shaped mask, mostly black.

"Girls, glad you came… Care to explain Jiraiya's beatings?" Tsunade smiled at the two, as they rose.

"He came into the bathroom, with me still in the shower," the black-haired girl said. Everyone in the room face palmed.

"So you attacked him?"

"No, her!" Jiraiya groaned, pointing at the silver-haired one.
"Urgh… I felt her chakra spike, and burst in," said girl sighed.

"With four wolves and a star knife!" Jiraiya complained.

"… Too much effort to explain myself," she replied, receiving a sharp thwack from her companion on the back of her head.

"Girls, I would like to introduce the Kazekage," Tsunade said, as Ibiki brought in a chair, placing it on the left of Tsunade. Gaara took a seat, and the girls swept a bow, neatly and precise.

"And Pein, of Akatsuki,"

Half the room expected the girls to go crazy, as Pein seated himself in the chair on Tsunade's right. But instead the silver-haired one stepped up, and bowed to him, at the same time looking over her shoulder at the Akatsuki members, her friend, they assumed, following her lead.

Hinata was surprised to see silver eyes, that looked similar to Byakugan eyes watching her curiously. The girl's lips twitched in an almost smile. "Who are they, Tsunade-baachan?" Naruto interrupted, as the girls returned their attention to the front.

"Stop calling me that!" Tsunade snarled. Both girls struggled to maintain a straight facer as Naruto drooped visibly, saddened.
"Girls?" she asked, gesturing to them.

The black-haired girl turned around first, and, for a longer study, the assembled people saw the silver dress she had on, was wrapped with string; hanging from which, were various kunais, shurikens and scrolls. The string finished at her waist, and the dress stopped mid thigh, with black shorts covering the rest of skin to the above the knee.

"My name is Shinrino Aisumi. I'm a snow and ice manipulator, and I summon panthers. I'm twenty-three, a jounin, yet will only work in ANBU for Tsunade-hime," Aisumi grinned, as she looked round the room, curiosity glinting in her emerald eyes.

They studied Itachi and Sasuke for a longer time, before trailing round, as she turned back to face Tsunade, with a questioning smile, her eyes locking with Kankurou. She smiled sweetly, while her companion turned, and Aisumi looked at her.

"I'm Shinrino Ginmi. I'm a star manipulator, summon wolves and fight with these," she touched the sword hilts, strapped diagonally on her back, "and I hail from the Shinrino clan, who isn't very well-known, yet is an unusual manipulator family tree… I'm twenty-one, I'm a jounin, same as my sister, basically… Too much of an effort…" Ginmi sighed, as Aisumi scowled, hitting her sister's long hair, which was styled very similar to Hinata's.

Ginmi's clothing were all black, her vest-top stopping at her midriff, to which fishnet covered down to her shorts, then more fishnet down to the black ninja boots. Her arms were covered in fish netting too, until her hand, where black gloves fit snugly.

Aisumi turned to Tsunade. "What's the reason we were called?"

"Konoha is going to be attacked… I thought I ought to notify a select few, of whom I trust, since this could be an exceedingly large battle,"

"Who's attacking?" Ginmi asked immediately.

"You'll be quite pleased with this," Tsunade smirked. Those who knew who was attacking were shocked. These two girls would be pleased?!

"It's Orochimaru,"

"When does he attack?" Ginmi snapped, as the two sisters visibly tensed. Many people were confused, as their chakra continued to spike furiously.

"In a month, month and a half. Are you going to be there?"
"What kind of idiotic question is that?!" Aisumi growled out, as Ginmi barked out a stiff laugh.

"Okay, just checking," Tsunade held her hands up in mock defence, as another knock rapped. It… had more of a playful tune to it, and Ginmi and Aisumi almost immediately leapt to in between the chairs, slipping their masks on in the same movement, and waiting patiently.

"Come in!"

A woman, again, walked in casually, red hair curling down her back, as her brown eyes took in everyone watching her.

She whistled, low and appreciative as she scanned the men, and continued up to Tsunade.

"Tsunade,"
"So you are the only who didn't beat Jiraiya?"

"It's hard going against someone like that!" Jiraiya moaned again, as the woman winked at him cheekily.

"Ah, he came in when I was lying in bed. I offered for him to join me… Nothing bad, or anything," she laughed, as a cat twisted his way around her ankles.

The ANBU masks were removed from Ginmi and Aisumi, who watched the woman before them.
"Introduce yourself to everyone," Tsunade said, gesturing to everyone in the room.

The woman spun with a grin, facing her 'audience'.

"I'm Yariman Emiri, sometimes known as Kata. I'm a jounin specialising in Kenjutsu, I have a little sister called Emiri." she said grinning. "I call her Waki. I like fighting, cats and hot guys. As you can see, my summoning contract is with cats, this is Senkou, and I'm a fire nature… Oh and I use these," she held up a black metal weapon, and smiled again. "Done!" she exclaimed, spinning round again.

"Thanks, Emiri… That was a nice introduction. Right, you are here, along with Ginmi and Aisumi to help defend Konoha against Orochimaru. Okay?"

"… Orochimaru? Fine by me," Emiri smirked, as Senkou curled round her neck, balanced perfectly on her shoulders, his black tail flicking from side to side lazily.

"Stand wherever you want, Emiri… And you two, move as well, please… I don't need protecting!" Tsunade smiled at the three jounins, who smiled back, and moved ; Emiri moved to the right side of the hall, where the Yamanaka, Nara, Akimichi and Inuzuka clan heads, and select few children stood.

She placed herself beside Chouza and Chouji, grinning at the armour-wearing boy, with a slight wink.
Ginmi moved to in-between the Yamanaka clan leader, and the Nara duo, and Aisumi stayed near the front, in-between Sai and Kankurou.

She felt a little twinge at leaving her sister, as she's very protective over Ginmi, but she had felt an urge to stay near the front, beside the two men.

"So, how long have you been in Konoha, Shinrino-san?" Shikaku asked, as Inoichi stayed staring at his daughter, who had moved to talk to Pein.

"I've always been here. Sorry, your name must be skipping my mind, at the moment. Care to tell me it?" Ginmi answered, in a polite tone.

"Ah, I'm Nara Shikaku, and my son Nara Shikamaru,"
"Fortunately, Ma couldn't come here… She's so loud and bossy and… troublesome, as most women are," Shikamaru joined in, with a yawn.

Ginmi smiled slightly at his comment, and inclined her head. "Nara-san, you are a jounin? Surely you would be a ANBU?"

"I really didn't want to… But you work exclusively for Tsunade-sama, right?"

"Correct. She really helped me and Aisumi, after… So, yeah, we only work in ANBU for her… But normally, my sister and I work together," Ginmi explained, cutting off half of what she would have said.
Shikamaru narrowed his eyes at her in puzzlement, trying to gauge what she missed out from her expression. But her smile was still intact, and she was engaged in a conversation with his dad, so no hope there.


"You're Gaara's brother? Kazekage's brother?" Aisumi asked, starting up her own conversation. The puppeteer nodded.

"I'm older though, it's just… Gaara was a jinchuuriki, but Akatsuki took it out of him… But I was worried when Temari disappeared… She's my older sister, but I still care about them,"

"We share that in common then… I worry when Ginmi goes out on solo missions. I tend to come and annoy Tsunade, well, I say annoy, but I just talk, until Ginmi comes back, then we go and spar a bit. I don't know what I would do if I lose another relative…" Aisumi trailed off, looking out the window over Kankurou's shoulder.

"Another relative?"
"I said too much, sorry!" she grinned suddenly.

"Are you-"

"I said, I let out too much!" she snapped, scowling at Kankurou. He blinked and nodded.

"So, what do you use?"
"I'm a puppet master… I have three puppets," he told her, as her emerald eyes moved to the package on his back, "And yes, that is one!"

"Awesome… I use chakra strings to control these weapons," she murmured, touching a bunch of senbon needles.

"Don't they annoy you?"

"Nope! I'm armed to the teeth, baby!" she winked, with a laugh, before turning to talk to Sai.


"This is going to take forever," Chouji muttered, reaching into a pouch and pulling out a packet of crisps. Emiri watched curiously as did Senkou.

"Can … I have one?" Emiri asked, as Chouji started eating. The young man looked confused, and pointed to himself with one hand.

"Yeah, you! You have food, don't you?" Emiri laughed.

"Well… I, uh, guess you could… yeah, take one," Chouji stammered over his words, as she moved closer and took one. She chomped it down quickly, and grinned again.

"Thank you!" she squealed, hugging one of his arms, as Senkou, still on Emiri's shoulders, purred, rubbing his head against Chouji's cheek.

Chouza placed a hand on his son's shoulder, and winked down at him, while Chouji flushed slightly.


There was a sharp rap on the door, and most of the chatter died down a bit more. The Inuzuka trio, who had been questioning Ginmi about her summoning contract were the last to die down, followed by a small giggle from Ginmi.

Two girls entered, their headbands showing they were from Mist. Their gazes flicked over Kisame, half-heartedly, mostly, although the one with white, curly hair glared.

"Tsunade-hime, long time no see!" the other girl smiled, bounding up a bit closer.

"You know Umi?"
"Nah, we were both brought here by a scroll, and met up, so decided to walk, since we were both from the same village and such!" the girl with brown hair laughed lightly.

"So, introduce yourself, before I explain this mission," Tsunade gestured. The girl who had been talking the most, nudged the quieter one, with a sweet smile, ands he stepped up.

"… I'm Shirohana Umi, I'm twenty-one, and I'm a hunter-nin," her hands reached down to fiddle with the wrapping that ran up her leg, ending mid-thigh. "I use Sais, and Ice and Water jutsus, mainly due to my Kekkai Genkai, but that's a long story…"

She turned her head away from all the eyes, her icy blue eyes softening slightly, and turned to face Tsunade with a kind smile.

"I'm Kioko Kara, I'm twenty-two, and I'm a 'wandering' jounin. I will mostly be found in Mist, or Konoha, seen as though Tsunade-hime runs this place now," Kara shot a big grin at said Hokage, "and I'm fire and wind nature. I have an unusual Kekkai Genkai… But I won't spill anymore of my secrets!" she poked her tongue out, and turned around again.

"What's our mission, Tsunade-sama?" Umi asked softly, still feeling everyone watching her.

"Orochimaru is attacking Konoha. We need as much help as we can get,"

"That explains Akatsuki leader, and Kazekage then," Umi nodded, inclining her head to said two people. Kara followed suit, her cheerful attitude vanished.

"Well, we have time, I need to plan things out, but, until then, you'll be staying in Konoha," Tsunade nodded, interlocking her fingers and resting her chin on them.

"Well, at least we can stay here all the time! I'm going to see you all the time, Tsunade-hime!" Kara grinned happily, now the mission was reported to her. Tsunade's left eyebrow twitched, as Ginmi and Aisumi giggled.

"Yeah, yeah, get your ass into line!" Tsunade snapped, waving her hand in the air. Kara looked around the room for a bit, settling for the Aburame duo on the left side of the hall. Umi chose to move beside Aisumi and Sai, and conversation steadily built up again.

Tsunade, Gaara and Pein began discussing quietly, Tsunade often waving her hands in an attempt at expressing her words, while Jiraiya shook his head at her antics.

"Hello, Umi-chan. My name is Sai," the artist smiled, inclining his head to the girl beside him. Aisumi had introduced herself and Kankurou before turning to argue the points of senbon.

"Sai-kun. Why do you smile like that?"

"Like what? And I hope we can become great friends," Sai smiled again, puzzled at Umi's question, but happy she smiled at his last statement.

"I'm sure we can, Sai-kun, just smile properly and we'll be the greatest friends ever!" Umi said happily, smiling brightly and tossing her curly white hair over her shoulder.

"So, you use ice too?" Aisumi butted in.

"Well… Yeah, and I guess you do as well?"

"Uh-huh. It was my first ever element. You know, my clan being different and all, we have unusual chakra natures from when we were born. I was ice and snow, almost immediately, and my younger sister, Ginmi, was stars right away! She uses wind though, got taught when she went travelling with me, met up with a wind user and begged her to train her. I use lightening, as well… Another begging for a training session on our travels!" Aisumi explained, her eyes off in the distance as she thought of said travel.

"Ah, my Kekkai Genkai allows me to freeze water, make it into mist and control it within my body,"

"That sounds like a great Kekkai Genkai, Umi-chan!" Sai smiled, as the two on her left nodded earnestly.

"Thanks," she blushed, looking down at her feet.


"Kioko Kara," said girl stuck her hand out to Shino, after shifting uncomfortably in the silence that hung around the bug-nin and herself.

"Aburame Shino," he inclined his head. Her hand stayed put and she nodded down at it.

"It would be an offence if you didn't shake my hand that I offered for you to shake!" she teased, as Shino blinked behind his glasses and shook her hand.

"Sorry. I forgot," he replied blankly.

"You don't talk much, huh?"

"How did you guess," came the sarcastic reply, to which Kara laughed at.

"You're pretty funny. Hang out with me, yeah?" she asked… or more like demanded, as Shino flushed lightly and nodded.


Two girls walked in without knocking, the girl with ink black hair leading, her amber eyes flicking round the room, noting all the people in turn, as if analyzing them. The girl just behind her had longer black hair, and Naruto briefly wondered if they were related, before noting the one leading was from Wind and the girl behind was from Cloud, according to their headbands.

"Tsunade-hime," the first one acknowledged, her voice holding a teasing tone, as she watched the Hokage with a smile.

"Tsunade-sama," said the second girl, nodding her head. The light hit her eyes as she looked behind her at everyone crammed in the room, and her eyes glinted a deep purple.

"Girls, I assume you know why you've been summoned?"
"Yes, ma'am," the two said at exactly the same time.

"Right, I need you to introduce yourselves, and tell us about your fighting styles, and such," Tsunade waved her hand airily, as Shizune face palmed at her boss's easy-flowing nature.

"Yo. I'm Yuki Tohru, from Wind. I have a feeling I'm younger than some of you, I'm eighteen… Yup, judging by your expressions, I am… My father is dead, and my mum is a merchant who trades good in the Fire country. I use this Katana," she touched the blade strapped to her back, "it's called 'The Crimson Wind'. I like being outside rather than inside. Talk to me more to get to know me, 'kay?" she arched an eyebrow, flexed her gloved right hand and turned expectantly to the girl next to her.

"Hello, I'm Sonkeii Ayame, and I'm an ANBU from Cloud. All my family isn't with us, but my twin sister, Akio, is on an ANBU mission, so couldn't make it… I fight with this sword, and I have been told I'm always loyal to my team members. I hope you can trust me with that!"

Tsunade nodded, and gestured regally for the girls to take a place to stand. Tohru almost bounced, in a black ballet-style shoes, towards Gai and Lee, taking interest in their clothing, while Ayame wandered nearer to the back of the room, by the Hyuuga gathering.

Just as they walked down, the door swung open, and a girl with light brown hair smirked.

"She did knock," she gestured at the black-haired girl, who smiled as well, "but you didn't hear… I got impatient, and … Kazekage-sama?"

"What?!" her companion jerked her head up.

"You know these two?" Gaara asked, leaning towards Tsunade, as the two Suna girls approached, both with a grin and a bounce in her steps.

"Tch, no need to sound so uptight!"

"You're grandparents offered your name up to me, and you are a skilled kunoichi," Tsunade pointed at the ebony-haired girl, who shifted uncomfortably, "and you are also skilled kunoichi. You've heard of Gaara?"

"Doy! He's a Kazekage! And… Yeah!" the brunette ended with a bright smile.

"Ditz…"
"OI!" she turned to her companion with a snarl. The girl smiled, shaking her head, her black braid swinging too.

"Introduce yourselves, girls… Without arguing…" Tsunade sighed, pinching her nose as the two started a staring contest.

"Hi! I'm Suzumiya Amaya, I'm a twenty-four year old ANBU, and I'm from Suna. I use plant energy, and Earth Jutsus… I shall admit to being an airhead, but hey, at least I can admit to it!" she grinned widely, and poked her tongue out at the brunette to her side.

"Tch, immature Amaya, immature!" she winked, with a laugh. "My name is Kansei Tenkuu, I'm a twenty-three year old ANBU from Suna… I'm an only child… No parents… I use taijutsu and nin jutsu, and use my sais to control the wind… So I think I'm wind-natured! I summon cheetahs, and they're awesome animals!"

Many people noticed she got steadily quieter during her introduction speech, before turning to Amaya and poking her tongue out too.

"Go on down girls, make yourselves at home in Konoha," Tsunade smiled, as they both bowed to Gaara, apologising for their behaviour, before continuing with said behaviour.

Amaya bounded away beside the Inuzuka group, and Ginmi smiled at her, as the Inuzuka trio bombarded the new comer with questions.

Tenkuu wriggled her way between Naruto and Sai, looking at Naruto's whiskers with interest, until he turned to her, and she looked away towards Sai, pointedly, before turning to him with an arched eyebrow.

Naruto grinned, shaking his head, as the door was knocked upon again (A/N: getting bored now, ne? XP)

The woman who walked in next, paused mid-step, blinking one brown eye and one blue eye at Deidara, before mock saluting him and continuing on. Her head band showed she was from Rock, which Deidara found amusing, seen as though she saluted him.

"Tsunade-obaachan!"

"Yuriko!" Tsunade growled, half rising, while the young woman laughed, her brown hair tickling her thighs, yet pulled into two ponytails.

"Ye-es?" she asked, pulling out the 'e' in her answer. Tsunade twitched, and gestured to the crowd.

"Oh… Hey people! I'm Tanaka Yuriko! I'm twenty-three, a jounin and from Rock. My speciality is taijutsu, I've been told to have a good chakra control, OH, and I love fire and earth jutsus! I summon small and medium dragons, I still need to work on the larger ones!" she chuckled, scratching the back of her head with two gloved hands, before spinning round again, her top a blur of blue and dark red - a similar style to TenTen's Chinese top.

"Tsunade-obaachan, Tsunade-obaachan!"

"What?"
"Done it!" she sang, ignoring everyone falling to the floor in amusement and astonishment.

"Well done, go talk to someone else,"

"Is he really attacking?" she asked, dropping into a serious tone, that shocked most of the people.

"Yes. You'll be working with someone who may need protecting-"

"Shinobi can look after their selves, Tsunade-obaachan," she dismissed, walking away to the side, towards Naruto and Sasuke. She opened her eyes, locked eyes with Sasuke and grinned.

"So you are the last Uchiha?"

"No. Itachi is over there…" he grumbled, pointing to the older Uchiha.

"Wow, someone needs to cheer up!"
"Hn,"
"Sasuke-san?"
"Aa?"

"…"
"…?"

"Can I spar with you later?!" she asked happily, tossing her hair and making the lighter tones ripple in the light.

"… Fine. Don't dissapoint me?"

"On a date already, Teme?"

"Quiet!" Sasuke snapped, but Yuriko didn't miss the blush on his cheeks. She didn't hesitate to poke it, before drawing her hand back and whistling, as he snapped to look at her curiously.


"Tsunade-sama!" a girl poof-ed into the room. She held Tsunade's gaze with silver eyes, before turning to glare at Gaara.

"… You…" she hissed out, as Gaara smirked.

"Still annoyed at me?"

"… Tsunade-sama, he's taunting me!" she exclaimed, pouting a bit.

"Anshin, introduce yourself, for Kami's sake…" Tsunade moaned, rubbing her temples. All these girls coming in were annoying her.

"Hmmph… My name is Eikyuu Anshin. I'm twenty-four, and an ANBU," she touched the falcon mask tied on her hip, "and a direct descendant of Arashigakure founders… Yes, that means I am soon to be Kaminarikage. I use lightening wind and water, to make a storm up when fighting… Bored now, so ask later!" she finished with a large grin, whirling in a flash of purple hair, various shades glinting in the setting sun, before storming to Gaara's side and glaring at him from the corner of her eyes.

"Thank you, Anshin, for that welcoming speech…" Tsunade trailed off sarcastically, while said girl beamed.

"Thank you for all finally assembling here," she shot a heated glance at Kakashi and Asuma, who both looked in different directions, "but I shall call you all back tomorrow. I shall assemble your teams then, for the mean time, make yourselves at home in Konoha!"

There was a large rush for the door, and Tsunade just strolled right through the fighting to get through the doors, and out of them in one piece.


Hinata and Hidan pulled themselves out, and stood panting on the other side.

"Hidan-kun, where we gonna stay?" she whined suddenly, interlocking their fingers and pulling him through the streets of Konoha.

"I'd hope, with your father," a stern voice interrupted.

"I have no father," she snapped, spinning round to face Hyuuga Hiashi.

"Hinata, don't be an idiot…"

"I'm not being an idiot, Neji-nii-san!" she stomped her foot at this point, to which everyone laughed at, causing her to pout too.

"You'll come back to the Hyuuga compound, right now, Hinata,"
"Only if Hidan-kun comes too!"

"Hinata…"
"Hiashi…" she mocked in the same tone, while Hidan closed his eyes, a smirk evident on his lips. Hiashi hardened his gaze, while Hinata activated her Byakugan.

"… Fine," he growled, turning on his heel.

"… I think he fucking likes you!" she smiled brightly at her lover, pulling him after her family.


"Sasori, don't you dare laugh at the state of my house…" she warned her overly tidy boyfriend.

"I want, Sakura-chan, I love my messy girl!"

"…"
"…Sorry…" he muttered, as she glowered at him, turning to put the key in the lock. She opened the door… and gawped.

Her room was shining and sparkling at her. She rushed immediately to her room, and a cry of disbelief floated out to the confused puppeteer standing in her living room.

"Sakura?"

"All the mess! It's gone!" she whined, running out to him and throwing her arms round his neck, sobbing dramatically.

"There is a note… Tsunade sent in Genin teams to tidy this place… For your return," Sasori added softly, and she smiled sweetly at the note.

"Bless her!"

"Sakura?"
"Yeah?"

"… Don't do that again," Sasori grinned, pulling her in for a kiss.


TenTen and Deidara were followed by Lee to her apartment, before she rounded on him.

"Lee, as much as I love you, is it possible for you to go to your own apartment?" she asked sweetly, slinging an arm over his shoulders. Deidara stifled a laugh, seeing the underlying threat, while Lee blinked at her.

"TenTen, my darling flower, I moved into your youthful apartment. Awaiting your return!" he said happily. TenTen's smile dropped slowly, before interlocking her fingers with the hand slung round Lee's shoulders, and pulling him down into a headlock.

"You did what?!"

"I haven't even you shown you how well-decorated it is yet!"

"Eh?!" she shrieked, while Deidara fell against a wall, laughing his merry little head off - not literally… It would be too gory to write.


Ino fled the Hokage tower, Pein dawdling leisurely behind.

"Pein-kun!" she yelped over her shoulder, darting through people, and glancing behind her man, fear in her bright blue eyes.

"Ino-chan," he drawled back, amused at her antics.

"I want to get to my apartment, and fast! If daddy comes and sees me-"

"INO!" she was interrupted when swept up into a spine breaking hug.

"Chouza-san?" she mumbled weakly against his shoulder. Chouji beamed at her too, and Shikamaru and Shikaku stood next to her team mates father.
Inoichi was standing, glaring at Pein, who looked back evenly.

"Yamanaka-san," he bowed his head, while Ino was set back down on the ground.

Inoichi shot a glare at him, and reached for Ino, who stepped backwards and gripped Pein's hand tightly.

"Not now, daddy! We're off to our apartment!" she answered his pitiful look, moving to go past him; when she turned back, however, he was staring after her, looking like a kicked puppy, that she turned and ran top him, giving him a hug… With Pein pulled along too.

"Ino, my little princess, I don't want you hurt, you have no idea how worried I was,"

"I can imagine!" she laughed a little, as Inoichi decided he could shake hands with Pein.

"… Off with you two ruffians then!" he snapped suddenly, shooing them away, "Your ma is expecting one boy and two girls!"

"Daddy!" a mortified Ino shrieked, while Pein laughed, swinging her into his arms and darting off down the street.


Itachi kept her back pressed against the hotel room door, kissing her neck while she fumbled with the key in the lock.

"We could have gone to the Uchiha compound, you know," he breathed huskily, as they fell into the room, only his mad ninja skills keeping them balanced.

"Itachi-kun, just shut up and practice! Practice makes perfect!" she moaned, pulling him, while walking backwards, only to bump into solid chest.

Itachi blinked, before settling into a glare, as Gaara sent a heated one to him.

"Kazekage-sama," he noted, nodding briefly at Kankurou who stood beside him.

"TemaTema!"

"Kanky… I told you not to call me that!"

"And I told you not to call me Kanky… Sounds too much like kinky," the brunette shuddered, with a grin, as Temari reached out to ruffle his hair. He swept her up into a hug.

"I missed you, TemaTema…" he whispered into her sandy hair.

"I know," she smiled, before pulling away and holding her hand out to Itachi, who took it gratefully, averting his eyes from the glaring contest he was battling with Gaara.

"Uchiha Itachi… Meet my brothers,"

"Hn,"

"Don't go all Uchiha-y on me, bastard!" she snapped, slapping him round the head, as Gaara stifled a laugh, and Kankurou full out bellowed.

"Fine… Hello,"

"Don't hurt our sister… I can kill you very easily,"

Itachi held back a snort, at the murderous aura round the red-headed Kazekage, only allowing himself to breathe when the two disappeared in a swirl of sand.

"Now… Where were we?" he purred.


Hooray for me finishing this chapter, and HOORAY for unserious endings!! XP
Thank you so much for those who thought up OC descriptions and allowed me to have the honour of writing them up!! I lurve chu~! XP X3

Now then, OC's entry order ~ note that this isn't the order I got them, it's more for Villages... :D
Shinrino Ginmi and Shinrino Aisumi ==== SilverWolfStar
Yariman Emiri ==== Felix the Eeveetrainer
Shirohana Umi ==== Unico Luna Angelo
Kioko Kara ==== KThxBai
Yuki Tohru ==== xMidnight-Spiritx
Sonkeii Ayame ==== The Black Rose 1995
Suzumiya Amaya ==== Lala girl in lala land
Tanaka Yuriko ==== Paper Kunai
Eikyuu Anshin ==== Eikyuu the JellyKage

Round of appluase for these lovely people - not me XP I don't include myself in the 'lovely poeople category'! XP - and thank you so much.
The reason why I was so damn late with this, was because I had a damn History Exam, now I have two coming up, and then... Three friggin' plot bunnies hopped on up!! ;_;

I wrote one of them - Naruto Characters, Uncovered which is a load of one-shots, funny, fluffy, sometimes angsty, if you could call it that, but ... Yeah, I'm pretty pleased with that!! XP
Check it out if you want~!

Pwetty Pwease with sugar and fudge on top, thousands of cupcakes on the side, and my adoration, will you review! (wolfie-dog eyes no jutsu, plus flattened ears and tail) XP Yes, I am strange, congratulations on figuring out what I already know!! XP XD XP XD

Review my lovely readers!! =^.^=