YES! It's good to be back! Thanks for being so supportive of my friend and both of us are glad that you all liked the mission!
IMPORTANT: Now, here's the deal. If I'm able to get about four reviews over the weekend, I'll update EVERY DAY STARTING MONDAY. If I don't, well, you'll all just have to wait till Friday like every other week. So please leave a review after this chapter (which I might add is a bit on the random side considering its sort of filler-y)!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Midori strolled through the streets of Konoha with a bag, looking around for something that would catch her eye. It seemed that Midori's feminine side had taken over ever since that higher-ranked mission. Then, something did catch her eye. However, it wasn't really a thing. It was…a dog?
She squeaked as a dirty, white tuff of fur ran around her legs. She froze when the white streaked through her legs. Before she could let out a breath of relief, she felt an impact against her body.
"Augh!"
"Akamaru!" the person who had crashed into her less-than-gracefully jumped up. "Get back here, ya mutt!"
"BARK BARK!"
"Sorry, sorry! But come back here! It won't take long!"
"BARK!"
"WHAT?!"
Midori stood up and brushed herself off.
Kiba was started to run but was held in place by a yank of his hood. Kiba choked and clutched his neck. He whirled around angrily and shouted, "What's the big idea?!"
Midori gave him the LOOK.
Kiba shrunk. He had gotten that look from his mom millions of times. "Er, I mean, sorry?" Then he recognized the girl's face. "Hey…you're one of those three girls that came to class on orientation day! What was your name?"
"Hikari Midori," Midori answered. "And you're Inuzuka Kiba-san."
"That's me," Kiba grinned. "But no 'san'. Way to formal, man. I mean, girl."
Midori rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless. "All right. But really, what happened? I don't know much about the Inuzuka Clan, but I'm pretty sure their companions don't usually run away from their masters."
"They don't but today's the day for Akamaru's bath," Kiba explained, whispering the word 'bath'.
Midori nodded in understanding. "Oh…"
"Well, I gotta go catch Akamaru!" Kiba said as he started to run.
"I'll help you," Midori said as she followed the Inuzuka.
"Hey, thanks!"
"No problem."
---
Dun, dun, dun, da-da-dun, dun, dun, dun-dun-dun… Nami thought as she scaled the trees. (Mission Impossible XD)
"What are you doing?"
"Ack!" Nami fell off the roof and tumbled to her doom. Luckily, the tree branch she was on was only about four feet off the ground.
Nami found herself staring up at a familiar boy. Her eyes widened. "Shik?"
Shikamaru sighed. "My name isn't Shik…"
"Help me up."
Shikamaru looked reluctant but held out his hand nonetheless. "What were you doing?"
"Something…" Nami said slyly.
"…I'll be going now," Shikamaru said as he started to walk away.
"Wait!"
Shikamaru stopped. "What?"
"Don't you want to know what I was doing?"
"Not really."
"Wait!"
"What?" Shikamaru was starting to get annoyed.
"I'll tell you anyway."
Shikamaru sighed. "Fine."
Nami leaned in close and whispered in his ear.
Shikamaru's eyebrow slowly arched and his mouth dropped open slightly. "You're…joking."
"Nope."
"You're crazy."
"Aw, c'mon, Shik! Haven't you ever wondered what's in it? Huh? Have you?"
"…No…"
"You sound hesitant," Nami smirked as she started to walk away in the dramatic fashion she had seen a million times in anime and movies.
Shikamaru had his back turned to Nami and visions raced through his head. Now, Shikamaru was the type of guy to slowly analyze any situation and go through all the possibilities. All the possibilities… "Well…"
Nami turned around. "Yes?"
"Fine."
Nami grinned and held the victory sign.
Troublesome woman.
---
"Another bowl, jiisan!"
"Ah, hungry today, Kyoko-kun?" Teuchi laughed.
"You bet!" Kyoko grinned, finishing off her bowl of ramen. "Gotta bulk up if I'm gonna be a strong kunoichi, you know!"
Teuchi just chuckled once more and shook his head. "You may give Naruto a run for his money. Ayame!"
"Coming!" Ayame dropped a bowl filled with hot ramen in front of Kyoko. "Here you go, Kyoko-chan!"
"Arigato!"
"Welcome!"
Kyoko glanced over to see Naruto take a seat next to her.
"The usual, jiisan!" he called.
"All right, Naruto," Teuchi said. Yeesh. Been years since Naruto first came here and he doesn't bother calling me by my actual name!
"Oi, Naruto!" Kyoko said, wiping her mouth and waving. "What's up?"
"Oh, hey Kyoko," Naruto grinned toothily. "Nothin' much. Just getting a quick breakfast in before training! Since Kakashi-sensei won't bother to come early, why should I?"
Kyoko nodded in agreement. "Marieke-sensei gave us the day off after the big mission."
"Oh yeah?" Naruto said slyly. "Well, my team got a big mission too!"
"You don't say."
"Yeah!" Naruto said, not noticing the hint of sarcasm. He explained energetically about his mission in Kirigakure and about Haku and Zabuza.
Kyoko's smile faded. Haku…
"So, you guys aren't the only ones!" Naruto grinned. Then he noticed Kyoko's dazed looks. "Huh? Kyoko? Are you listening?"
Kyoko snapped out of her trance. "Yeah, yeah!"
"What was the last thing I said?" Naruto said.
"You were asking me if I was listening, duh," Kyoko said obviously.
"…That's right!" Naruto exclaimed.
Kyoko sweat dropped.
"Hey, hey, Kyoko," Naruto said, suddenly whispering. "You wanna do something with me?"
"Like…what?" Kyoko said, inching away slightly.
Naruto leaned in closer. "Something."
SLAP!
"OW!" Naruto yelped as he flew off his chair. "What was that for?!"
Kyoko flushed. "I don't like you like that Naruto, little pervert!"
Now it was Naruto's turn to flush. "Not that! I meant a ramen-eating contest! Who can eat the most ramen, stupid!"
"Oh…um…" Kyoko said. Awkward…
After what seemed like a long silence, Kyoko agreed to the challenge.
"Cool!" Naruto grinned slyly. "I'll win."
"No way," Kyoko said, suddenly serious. "It is I who will be the one to win!"
As imaginary lightning shot between the pair's eyes, the battle began.
---
Why did I offer to do this? WHY? Midori asked herself silently as she crawled after Kiba.
"Midori," Kiba whispered. "The target is in position. You go over and distract him while I—"
Then, Akamaru turned in their direction and started barking.
Kiba flinched. Then he shot out of the bushes and lunged for Akamaru.
The puppy leapt to the side and started running.
What happened to distracting him? Midori thought as she ran over to Kiba. "Are you okay, Kiba-kun?"
Kiba punched the ground and spit some dirt out of his mouth and cursed. "I thought Akamaru wouldn't be able to detect us! When I get my hands on him…"
"Kiba-kun?"
"Huh?"
"Maybe we should try a different tactic…"
"Like what?"
Midori shrugged. "Eto…"
Kiba snapped his fingers. "That's it, Midori! You're a genius!"
Midori was confused.
"Follow me!"
---
"Dun, dun, dun-dun-dun, dun, dun, dun, du—"
"Is that absolutely necessary?" Shikamaru said, annoyed.
Nami stared at Shikamaru for a second as if she was processing the thought through her mind.
"Well?"
"Yes."
Shikamaru sighed. This woman might just be more troublesome than Ino.
"Shik! Get down!" Nami grabbed Shikamaru by his hair and forced him down behind a pile of bags.
Shikamaru winced. And why does she keep calling me 'Shik'? Not even 'Shika', just 'Shik'!
"There he is…" Nami said, eyes narrowed and mouth contorted into a devilish grin.
Shikamaru peered over the bags. It was him, indeed. Hatake Kakashi.
Kakashi was standing in front of a movie theater with a torn look on his face. He was staring up at the sign that read off the movies that would be playing. The one he had particularly taken interest in was written in big black letters.
ICHA ICHA PARADISE: THE MOVIE. RATED R.
What's he doing? Nami thought. Why's he just standing there?
Little did she know, Kakashi was debating over whether or not to go in.
Should I? I shouldn't. I was saving this money to get a haircut! Kakashi thought as he put a hand in his pocket and touched the currency in his pocket. But…but…I've gotta see it…I…I…I…
Nami blinked then gasped. "Where'd he go?"
"Into the movie theater," Shikamaru answered. "Pretty quickly, I might add."
"Let's go then, Shik!"
"My name's Shikamaru!"
Before the two genin could reach the door, however, they were stopped by the man giving out tickets.
"Hold up, kids," he said, standing in front of the door. "No children under thirteen are allowed unadvised. That's the rule."
"Aw, come on!" Nami argued. "We're practically thirteen! And what kind of rule is that?!"
"Well, would you like to talk to my friend here about the rules?"
A bulky muscular man with a shaven head stepped into view. He had several piercings in some uncomfortable-looking places. Tattoos decorated his muscular arms.
---
"Can't…move…" Kyoko groaned as she fell over.
"I…win…." Naruto declared, patting his belly and burping. Then he fell over as well.
"So, who's paying for all this?"
Kyoko and Naruto sat upright, stiff as boards.
"Naruto/Kyoko!"
Kyoko and Naruto stared at each other with wide eyes.
"I won so you have to pay!"
"That wasn't a deal we made! You ate more so you have to pay!"
"But I don't have any money!"
"I don't either!"
The two slowly turned to the old man with the serious face standing behind the counter.
"Well…since both of you ate so much…" Teuchi loomed over the two nervous ninja gravely.
Kyoko and Naruto faltered, sweating bullets.
"YOU BOTH WILL WORK HERE TILL THE END OF THE DAY!"
"IIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHH?!"
Things were going as well as it could get with the Naruto and Kyoko. Naruto was now in charge of being the shoe chef (a.k.a. the old man's lackey) and Kyoko was the waitress. Teuchi had kindly decided to let his dear daughter have a break for once.
"Eh…maybe it won't be too busy," Naruto said optimistically.
"Yeah," Kyoko nodded. "And maybe cows will fall from the sky and kill us all right now!"
"Hey, what's the matter with you?" Naruto said, taken aback.
Kyoko sighed. "Well…back at home I had to work for my dad sometimes. It wasn't fun."
"Oh yeah, you weren't originally from Konoha," Naruto nodded. "Where were you from again?"
"Eh…"
"'Morning, jiisan! One bowl of ramen please!" said a familiar voice.
"Chouji?" Kyoko and Naruto said as Chouji walked in and sat down on one of the chairs. "Huh? Naruto? And…that girl?"
Kyoko raised an eyebrow. "Kyoko."
"Right! Sorry."
---
"Akamaru's not all that bright when it comes to his favorite dog biscuits, you know," Kiba explained as he set out another bone-shaped biscuit and took a step backwards. "So when this trail leads him to the trap we set, we'll have him hook, line, and sinker!"
"Are you sure—"
"Quick, here he comes!" Kiba hissed, grabbing Midori (her cheeks turned unnoticeably red) and hiding behind the wall and a load of garbage.
Midori held her nose and made a face.
"The trash will hide our scents!" Kiba whispered excitedly.
He really thought this one out… Midori thought.
Akamaru trotted past the hidden genin and gobbled up another biscuit contently.
Kiba narrowed his eyes and smirked as his plan was falling into place. "Come on, Akamaru…"
Three…two…o—
"OH! What a CUTE doggie!"
"Wha…?" Kiba gaped.
A group of teenage girls crowded around the surprised Akamaru. The chipper civilians bounced up and down as each person petted Akamaru and ruffled his fur.
Akamaru desperately tried to escape through the forest of skinny legs but the girls only giggled and picked him up.
Kiba was angry.
Jumping out of his hiding spot suddenly, he shouted, "PAWS OFF MY DOG YA HARPEES!"
The girls screamed at the sight of the wild Inuzuka and ran off.
Kiba, who was breathing pretty hard from his outburst, noticed Akamaru trotting back over to him. With a blank look on his face, he stared at his companion. Akamaru stared back.
"GOTCHA!"
"YIP!"
"Victory!" Kiba exclaimed, holding up the V-sign with one hand and holding Akamaru under his other arm like a sack.
"Great job, Kiba-kun!" Midori praised. "Well, good luck with—"
"Uh…actually, Midori…" Kiba said quietly as he averted his eyes. "Can you uh…help me out with something else…?"
Midori didn't like the sound of this. "Well…okay…" After all, I didn't really do anything to help him…Besides, how bad can it be?
---
"Okay, Shik—"
"My name's Shikamaru, damn it!"
"I was going to say Shikamaru when you cut me off," Nami said, annoyed.
"Oh."
"You distract the guard and I'll go in."
"Why do I have to distract him?"
"Because you're the man around here and the man has to get beat up while the woman takes the easy way out."
Shikamaru stared at her incredulously.
"Oops. Did I say that out loud?"
"I'm leaving."
"FINE. Just let me go against that big, bad dude who has an evil aura around him and who scares away little kittens and—"
"Fine, fine," Shikamaru said. "Just…stop."
Nami smiled sweetly.
"Troublesome woman," Shikamaru muttered. He figured that once she had gotten into the movie theater he could just walk away and forget any of this happened. Turning his head, he saw the guard who was standing in front of the door with his arms crossed. "Anyway, we'll need some kind of plan to—"
"Good luck, Shik!"
Nami had punted Shikamaru out into the open graciously.
Shikamaru groaned as he rubbed his backside.
The guard loomed over him, his shadow cast over the lazy genin. "You got business here, boy?"
Shikamaru stood up and dug his hands into his pockets. "You play shougi?"
The guard raised an eyebrow.
"…"
"…"
Nami slapped her forehead.
"DO I?"
Eh? Nami thought, peeking towards the two.
"I'm the reigning champ!" the man exclaimed, pulling out a shougi board from behind his back. "How good're you, little man?"
Shikamaru was a little taken aback. His former plan was to question the man's intelligence but… "I play a fair game."
As soon as the first move was made, Nami snuck into the theater behind a couple who was walking in. She stared at them in a disgusted manner as they're lips locked.
"Hey, hey," Nami said, startling the two. "Get a room!"
Then she dashed off, leaving the confused and annoyed couple to only be stopped by yet another guard.
"Where do you think you're goin', little lady?"
"Uh…bathroom?"
"The bathroom's that way," the man said, pointing a finger towards none other than the theater bathrooms. Then, jabbing a finger towards the door Nami was about to enter, he said, "And that is where the Icha Icha Paradise movie is showing."
"Oh…" Nami said as if she just realized something.
The man stood stonily with his arms folded over his chest.
Nami stared up at him with big, innocent eyes.
Silence.
"LOOK! A THING!"
The man whirled around. "Wait…what?" He turned back around to where the girl used to be standing. Then he noticed the doors behind him slowly rocking back and forth as if something had entered. He clenched his fist. "Nobody gets past Daini."
---
"NARUTO! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!"
"Eatin'…" Naruto mumbled, his mouth half-full of noodles.
Kyoko bopped him on the head. "BAKA! You're supposed to be paying off the ramen you ate earlier!"
"OW! But I challenged Chouji to a ramen-eating contest!"
"GACK!"
Kyoko was reminded of Chouji's presence as the boy started choking.
"What's wrong with him?!"
"I don't know! I think he swallowed something too quickly!"
"NAAAAA!" Kyoko clutched her head with a look of horror on her face as Chouji turned blue.
Teuchi had said that business was slow today so he and Ayame went out for a break. WHAT TIMING!
Groaning, Kyoko leapt over the counter and wrapped her arms around Chouji's stomach. Performing the Heimlich maneuver, she squeezed the chubby boy multiple times while Naruto ran around like a crazed chicken with its head chopped off.
Coincidentally, a rather large piece of naruto (the food) that Naruto (the orange-clad ninja) had cut too carelessly flew out of Chouji's mouth.
Kyoko sighed, removing her arms and wiping her brow.
Chouji gasped then turned back to normal color. After beating his chest for a second to make sure he hadn't had a heart attack, he looked at Kyoko. "Thanks."
"No problem…" Kyoko sighed, leaning on the counter.
Chouji just stared at Kyoko. Then he stared at Naruto who had finally stopped running around. Then at Kyoko. Then at Naruto. Then at the ramen.
Kyoko and Naruto gaped as Chouji continued eating the demon noodles that had almost killed him. Okay…
---
Kakashi…Kakashi…Kakashi… Nami thought as she slunk silently through the movie theater. How hard is it to find hair like that?!
It seemed that the advertisements were just about done and the movie was about to start.
"OI! DOWN IN FRONT!"
Nami turned around angrily. "SAME TO YOU, BUDDY!" she shouted, shaking a fist in a random direction. It was then she noticed a familiar spiky-haired jounin sitting around the middle. She ducked down, hoping he hadn't heard her.
Luckily, Kakashi seemed too occupied with opening a bag of candy to listen to the shouts of a kunoichi. However, Daini wasn't.
"Hey, you!" he hissed as he grabbed Nami.
"ACK!" Nami screeched as she knocked her head against the man's jaw.
"OW!"
"SHUT UP DOWN THERE!"
The enraged civilian chucked popcorn at Daini who shielded himself with his arms.
Nami took this time to escape the large man. She started running up the walls, chakra bounding her to the plaster. She hopped off the wall and into a seat a few rows above Kakashi. She was about to pounce on him when the movie started.
Nami twitched. Oh CRAP.
Outside, Shikamaru had just finished his final move. "I win."
"WHAT? THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!"
"Sorry, man."
The guard sighed.
Before Shikamaru could say anything more, Nami dashed past him. He stood up and called, "Hey, what's the rush?"
"MY EYES! MY EYES! I AM SCARRED! SCAAAAAAAARRRRRREDD!"
Shikamaru sighed. "Women…"
---
"SCAAAAAAAARRRRRREDD!"
"That…sounded a lot like Nami…" Midori said as she held down Akamaru.
"Who?" Kiba said as he scrubbed Akamaru.
"ARF!"
"Almost done, Akamaru! Quit movin' around so much!"
"My teammate," Midori sighed. How are we ever going to fit in with everyone else here like this? And what could she be doing? She shook her head. Time could only tell.
Again, please leave a review! Four reviews is all it takes, everyone! Come on, I know you're reading! Until next time!
-HM