Chapter 13

To say team 7 didn't get along was an understatement. They had been together for about a month now and every training session and mission ended up in some type of fight. Naruto and Sasuke would fight. Sakura and Miso would fight. Today was no exception and Kakashi just sighed wearily at his difficult team. Sasuke was drenched in water, Naruto's clothing and hair was partially singed, Sakura was sporting a black eye and a mussed appearance, and Miso's hair was undone, clothes askew and a split lip.

Today had started out so well compared to the others. They started training, Sakura and Miso dutifully ignored each other and Sasuke and Naruto were almost civil. However it soon changed when Sasuke said a careless comment sending him and Naruto in another competition. Which later resulted in a spar. Sasuke had almost burned Naruto alive with his fireball if Kakashi hadn't stepped in and saved the boy. Miso angered by this used a water multiplier seal and an explosive tag on Sasukes water bottle. When he picked the water up he was hit with ten gallons of water. Sakura then started a fight in "Sasuke's Honor" against Miso. Kakashi stopped it before it got too far meaning Miso obliterating Sakura. The sad part was that their teamwork had gotten better. They at least completed their missions before letting themselves fight.

"Let's call it a day, tomorrow we have another mission". Everyone nodded and started packing up and heading out.

"Nii-san what do you want for lunch?"

"Actually I think I'm going to train a little longer. Don't wait up," Naruto said without even looking at the girl. No one missed the pained expression on Miso's face that had them all wanting to comfort the adorable looking girl. Even though Sakura's less favorite team mate was Miso she still felt for the girl.

"H-hai".

There was one other problem with Kakashi's team. Naruto and Miso were in a fight of sorts. Naruto more than Miso. He barely talked to her, he kept away from her, and he clearly showed his disappointment in her. Miso looked like a kicked puppy and just toddled after him still. They all generally knew the fight had to do with the fact that Naruto was upset that Miso didn't think of herself. His actions were more or less trying to encourage the girl to be her own person. Even if he was going about it in the wrong way. Kakashi just ruffled the dejected girl's hair and headed out. He thought about taking her aside and talking to her but he wasn't ready for that yet.

Miso walked the streets of Konoha lost in thought about her brother. Unsure what she should do. She knew her brother was upset with her, she understood why he was upset with her but that still didn't make it hurt any less. She wasn't going to apologize because in her opinion she had done nothing wrong. Also, just because he was upset with her didn't mean she was just going to stop putting him first. 'why doesn't he understand.'

She was so caught up in her thoughts that she walked right into Konohamaru and his friends.

"Hey! Oh it's you, Miso," Kononhamaru had a slight blush on his cheeks.

She blinked, "Konohamaru. Who are your friends?" Konohamaru was the only person aside from her brother that she addressed with his name with no honorifics. Why? Because he reminded her of her brother. She understood that he just wanted to be recognized as his own person thus, she did just that. Plus he was much younger than her so even she had to admit it would be a little odd to address him by his last name.

"I'm Moegi, the most beautiful Kunoichi in Konoha!" a girl with rosy cheeks and large pigtails declared as she struck a pose.

"Udon, pleased to meet you. Konohamaru has told as much about you," said the other boy with a runny nose, said boy hit Udon trying to get him to be silent.

"Please to meet you guys," Miso smiled and titled her head to the side. Konohamaru blushed, Moegi started wide eyed with an idolized look, and Udon nodded approvingly at Miso.

"Miso-chan, in the near future we will have to be rivals," Moegi said gravely, "You are undoubtedly the most beautiful kunoihi right now. Which means that I'll eventually have to fight you. As of now though, I will follow in your example!" Moegi looked at the older girl's horrible outfit if she could wear such ill-fitting clashing clothing, looking sweaty and tired, and still look adorable then she was defiantly the prettiest ninja. Moegi would defiantly have to take some tips from her.

"Moegi that's really not ness—"

"Now Udon needs to find someone to follow in their footsteps. I have Boss and Moegi has Miso-chan".

"I suppose you are right". Udon nodded in agreement.

"Hey, Miso, Have you seen Boss? He said he would play with us."

"Sorry, Konohamaru Nii-san is busy training now and don't think he can play with you guys today."

"He's always training," the little boy said dejectedly. The look on his face reminded Miso so much of her brother. It was the same look he got when no one wanted to play with him, when Jii-chan couldn't come, when people turned him away. Konohamaru just looked so much like her brother that Miso just wanted to hug him, which is probably why she spoke her next words.

"I'll play with you," the look of pure joy on those children's faces made Miso forget about her brother's rejection. That's how Miso found herself playing ninja with the children as the villain. Running through the town and causing havoc.

"Mwahhahahahahaha, you shall never catch me!" Miso said dramatically as the children chased her through the market. She vaguely remembered running pass Kakashi who eye crinkled at her. But she did remember running past Gai and his team. Gai and Lee waved at her, other two members of the team just looked at her oddly. Miso supposed she did look a little odd. As she had tied a bandanna around her mouth to make her look more villainous. Plus her golden blonde hair was loose and wild as she lost her hair ties. The only thing hold her hair out of her face was the ribbon clip in her hair.

"Maito-san, Rock-san," she greeted as she continued to run slowly allowing the kids to keep up but not catch her.

"How youthful, such refreshing scene to see you so into your Springtime," Gai flashed her a thumbs up which she flashed one right back at him. Neji and Tenten looked disturbed at her realizing this was Gia's other disciple.
"What are you doing?" Lee inquired.

"Running from Konohamaru's Ninja Squad. As I have stolen the valuable secrets from their village and number one in the bingo book," Miso smiled as Neji and Tenten gave her dismayed looks. Her tone of voice was like she was commenting on the weather. Lee and Gai just praised her.

"You make the best villain!" Lee cried out with excitement, the two high fived.

"How dare you think you can run from us!" Moegi shouted.

"Oh, gotta run," Miso the continued her slow pace to make sure the children could keep up. As she rounded the corner she literally tripped and landed on Sasuke. "Uchiha-san," she said cordially then got up. Sasuke gave her an odd look as she got off of him, he soon followed after. He was about to ask if she was okay when the kids rounded the corner and knocked Sasuke back over.

Sasuke stared after the group as he got back up again for the second time in under a minute. A scowl on his face. He was trying to debate whether he should follow them and figure out what they were doing but decided against as he heard Miso's over drastic acting."Mwahahahahahahaha! I am the most evil person out there! I will steal your pets, eat your desserts, and let you step on legos!" Sasuke sweet dropped on Miso's "villainous" proclamations. Plus he vaguely saw Miso strike an embarrassing pose. Yep, no matter how powerful he knew his teammate was it didn't change the fact she was an idiot. As he continued walking home he could still hear her maniacal laugh. 'She's defiantly an Idiot,' he thought.

"Give us back that scroll, Dark Rabbit!" Konohamaru shouted. A few people sweet dropped at the villain name thinking the kids could have thought of something better to the name villain. Not realizing that Miso came up with the name herself. They continued to bob and weave through the crowd. Jumping over a few obstacles and flipping over people. Her maneuvers were really quite fancy at one point as the kids cornered her she channeled chakra to her feet ran up the fence that was behind her then back flipped off of it. Sailing over the kids, giving them a peace sign, landing it and taking off again.

As she looked back to see where the kids were she ran into something hard, she was going to fall over if familiar arms didn't steady her, "Miso, you need to walk slower and look where you're going. Why? Because you have a tendency to fall," Shino said.

"Hey, Shino-chan! Hyuga-san and Inuzuka-san," Miso greeted with a smile. Akamaru barked happily at her, Hinata waved slightly and Kiba just nodded at her. The whole team 8 started at her, it was the first time they had ever seen her hair down and loose. It was really pretty was it glistened in the sun and curled under slightly. However they were also staring at the black cloth around her mouth.

"Miso what are you doing?" Shino asked.

"Playing ninja," she eye grinned.

"That's so childish," Kiba said as he rolled his eyes at the girl.

"There she is!"

"Dark Rabbit!"

Team 8 turned to see a group of children running towards them. Miso quickly moved towards Hinata, grabbing a kunai and holding it to her neck. She also held one of Hinata's arms gently behind her back. "What are you going to do now, you puny weaklings? I have the princesses, and the village secrets! Mwahahahahahah hehehehe". Shino couldn't believe someone who had fooled everyone for years about her abilities was so bad at acting. Her voice was an octave lower as she attempted to sound intimidating but all it did was make her look silly. Her maniacal laughing was forced as she actually said mwahaha, instead of laughing.

Hinata just stammered at looked confused on what was happening. Kiba laughed till Akamaru joined in on the fun and leapt from his head and growled at the kids playfully. "I also called upon my trusty side kick Dark Puppy!" The children gasped and took on an offensive stance.

"Hey, don't drag Hinata and Akamaru into th—" Kiba was cut off as Shino waked his stomach signaling him to be quite. The Aburame really wanted to see how this played out.

"Take this!" Konohamaru yelled as he threw shuriken at her. The metal projectiles only made it a foot before they hit the ground not even close to Miso. Konohamaru stilled looked as cocky as ever, "I should have known you'd block my attack, your really are a formidable oppenot".

"Let me try!" Udon said as he too threw the shuriken only to have them somehow against nature and physics as the ninja tools curve backwards towards them. The kids all yelled and scattered.

"I guess it's up to me," Moegi said seriously. She took a running start only to trip and stumble. She waved her arms about to keep herself up right only to toss the shuriken up in the air. Miso who was watching this, took pity on the children and stepped forwards enough held out her arm and allowed the object hit her. Luckily they were blunt so at most it would bruise. She let out a fake gasp, the children cheered.

"You laced it with poison," She let go of Hinata held her arm close to her chest and began to spin around, "You really are formidable, Ninja. I had no chance against you…" She muttered as she stumbled forward and fainted. Kiba had to admit that her fainting was the best part of her acting, but he assumed it was because she fainted all the time from bugs. Miso once on the ground rolled towards the little girl and held up her right hand, touching the girls face. "I see my errors now. Even though we weren't comrades or anything please fulfill my last wish," Miso had fake tears welling in her eyes. Moegi was actually crying.

"Anything Dark Rabbit!"

"You need…."

"What?!"
"You need…."

"You're fading fast! Hurry please tell me," Moegi was now holding Miso's head in her lap.

"Live in your Spring Time….. of Youth". Miso then coughed dramatically and stilled her movements with her eyes closed.

"No! Dark Rabbit!" Moegi shouted.

"I thought she was the bad guy," KIba said confused.

"YOUTH!" Moegi yelled tears running down her face, Udon fell to his knees clutching the dirt in despair.

"Moegi, pull yourself together. She was a formidable opponent," Konohamaru said as he stared off into the distance trying to look cool. "She really was a great ninja, but she was no match for our incredible skill. We will always remember her, Dark Rabbit was the best villain ever".

"So she is the villain? Then why are the acting like one of the good guys died," Kiba muttered to Shino. After a few moments Miso opened her eyes, patted Moegi on the head, helped Udon up, and then ruffled Konohamaru's hair.

"That was fun," She took of the black bandanna placed in her back pack. Akamaru barked excitedly and leapt into her arms. Miso giggled and started petting the dog.

"You're a really good actor," Udon said.

"Thanks for playing with us," Moegi grinned.

"Ya.. Thanks…" Konohamaru suddenly got really shy as he looked up at the girl.

"Anytime, but I hope you don't mind…. I want to catch up with Shino-chan now, so I'll have to leave you guys be". The kids nodded and then ran off.

"Miso, would you like to join us for tea?" Shino asked as he already began walking towards the café that they were going to eat at. Miso nodded and followed after him.

"He acts like what just happened didn't happen," Kiba said annoyed.

"Well, they've known each other for a long time…." Hinata said.

"Whatever," Kiba grumped as the two followed after Miso and Shino who were chatting idly. They soon entered the small Café and took their seats.

"Isn't this the place where we become friends?" Miso inquired as she handed Akamaru back to Kiba.

"If I recall correctly this is the place where we struck a deal to get to know each other. We become friends a weak later during lunch".

"That's right, silly me. I think I'll go for some lemon tea what about you?"

"Just some green tea. Want to split a meal. You never finish yours and I'm not that hungry," Shino said as he pushed his glasses on his face.

"Sure, you can pick. I know you're a picky eater".

Hinata and Kiba just started at the two. They both knew that the Uzumaki and Aburame were friends back at the academy but seeing them interact so casually was just odd.

"I thought you guys just sat in silence," Kiba blurted out.

"Sometimes we do," Miso grinned not at all offended by Kiba. The waitress came by and took their order. He was confused when Shino just ordered for Miso and Miso just gave Shino a grateful smile.

"So how is your team?" the blonde girl asked Shino.

"It's going well, we just finished training with Kurenai Sensei".

"Do you guys like her?" Shino nodded, and Miso looked at the other two members of team eight.

"She is very nice," Hinata blushed and looked down nervously.

"She's okay but our team is totally the best!" Kiba grinned, "What about your team?"

"It's different…."

"How so?" Hinata inquired as she took her food from the waitress.

"Well…. Our Sensei shows up late every day. He's totally unyouthful, Maito-san is way better. To bad he couldn't be my Sensei. Anyways, Nii-san and Uchiha fight all the time, Haruno and I don't really get along…."

"Wow, sounds like a pain. So how is Sasuke's training coming along? He's the only one worth beating".

"Not as well as you would think, Inuzuka-san. Nii-sans training is going great".

"Miso, you can call us by our names you know," Kiba rolled his eyes.

"I'm glad that Naruto is doing good…."

"Thanks, Hyuga-san".

Shino studied Miso for a minute knowing something was off, "How are you and Naruto?" Miso tensed and looked at Shino with a tight smile,"….I see… Well I hope it all works out. How's your training coming along?"

Miso let out a breath grateful that her friend didn't press the matter, "It's going good. I've gotten past storage scrolls and now I'm working on elemental seals."

"That's good to hear".

The table fell into silence. Shino and Miso seemed comfortable with the silence and continued to share their food. Kiba fidgeted trying to think of something to say and Hinata just looked down at her food nervously. The rest of the meal was in silence. By the time Miso was done eating she realized it was time to go see Jii-chan for tea and lessons on fuinnjutsu. So she took out her bunny wallet that looked like her brothers frog wallet, put her share down and waved good bye to team 8.

"Where are you going?" Kiba asked surprised that the girl was just leaving.

"I have some evening tea and lessons with Jii-chan to get to. Thank you for having me and I hope to see you guys again," She did a quick bow and left.

"Naruto and Miso have a grandfather? I thought they were orphans?" Kiba scrunched up his nose in confusion.

"She means the Hokage," Shino replied as he eyed a beetle crawling on the table.

"What! She gets lessons from the Hokage!"

"Kiba-kun you shouldn't be so loud," Hinata said as she looked nervously at the people glaring at them from Kiba's outburst.

"Not often but yes, she does meet up with him to get some lessons. Most of the time is just tea though".

Kiba just huffed in annoyance, "I don't get her."

"Most people don't only those she calls friends understand her more than others," Kiba just raised his eyebrows at Shino who seemed oddly proud.

"I feel bad for her…." Both boys looked towards the girl teammate, "Her team… she doesn't seem happy with them and they don't seem to get along. That must be stressful…."

"Naruto must be stressing her out." Kiba nodded in agreement.

"I doubt Miso would be stressed about her brother. She cares for him deeply. A more correct observation would be Sasuke."

"Luckily Sakura is on the team, I bet she and Miso get along".

"… Perhaps…" Shino replied to Hinata not wanting to worry his already hesitant teammate. Shino knew from Miso's sad attitude that Naruto and her were fighting. He knew that she didn't like Sasuke and that Sasuke was notorious for causing teamwork issues. He also knew that Miso didn't like Sakura. He saw that looks she would give the girl at the academy. He felt bad for his friend as she was obviously struggling but he couldn't do much as he knew that she wouldn't open up to him. So Shino just left the matter be.

Miso walked along happily after her lessons with Jii-chan. It was fun to catch up with him again and he gave her a few new scrolls to study. She hummed along as she felt the chakra rhythms, she put her senses outwards to see if her brother was home and grinned when she felt his presence.

"I shouldn't be surprised. Troublesome," Shikamaru muttered as he fell into step with the girl already knowing he was going to walk her home as it was dark out. Miso just grinned at him not surprised that he was there as she felt his presence five minutes earlier. "So I heard that you apparently a villain named Dark Rabbit?" He said dryly as he raised an eyebrow at her.

"The most evil villain ever".

"That names so lame it makes you want to pull your Hare out," out the dark haired boy smirked at his pun and gave a small grin when Miso started giggling.

"It really was a hare brained scheme. I wonder why anyone would even carrot about the name".

"Lettuce quite while we're a head". Miso grinned at the boy as she laughed at his jokes. Shikamaru may not find them funny but she did so he was fine with telling a lame pun every so often. "How's working with your team going? I wouldn't want a team like that, too much work".

"It's okay… none of us get along, admittedly though I could try and be better and not fuel the fighting but… it's hard." Miso didn't know why she was telling him this when she didn't even tell Shino but she figured it was because Shikamaru always had a more soothing effect on her. Back at the academy he was always just so relaxed and uncaring, even when he stood up for her, that she just became more relaxed in his presences. When they walked home she liked that he didn't expect conversation from her. So perhaps the fact that she didn't have to worry about what he thought allowed her to open up a bit.

"At least you got your brother."

"….."

"What a drag, you're actually fighting with him? I almost thought that was impossible".

"He's fighting with me, he's upset with me…."

"Really? That knuckle head actually being mad at you? Hard to believe but I'm sure it will all blow over, whatever it is".

"Hopefully… He's mad because I don't put my full effort forward and that I don't let people in". Why am I telling him this? She all but screamed in her head.

"Well that's not his problem. He can't tell you what to do and how to feel. Now the effort thing, I can't really give you advice seeing as I'd prefer not to do any of this either".

Miso looked up at him with a gentle smile at his admission, "Then why do you do it?"

"The same reason you become a ninja too. Its more troublesome not to". Miso just nodded knowing that his words were the most simplistic way to describe why the heck she was a ninja. If she wasn't then she'd have to find a whole new career, deal with the pressure of dropping out, worrying about her brother constantly, not living up to Jii-chans expectations, not knowing what else to do but be a ninja. It was nice that he understood a little bit of her problem.

"The stars look nice out tonight don't you think?"

"I guess, I more of a cloud person".

"That's right, I've seen you a few times with Akimichi-san, you guys always looks so peaceful just sitting on that hill looking at the sky".

"Well its better than doing work".

"You must be miserable now that we have teams. You must hate training all the time".

"It's a drag, but we don't really do much. Sometimes I just play Asuma-Sensei in shogi or we sit and do nothing. He's an okay guy."

"I'm glad that you like your team. Poor Yamanaka-san, all you're laziness about must be driving her crazy".

"She can be a real pain. Today she yelled at us for ten minutes to make sure we would take a mission".

"Did you?"

"Eventually, an hour later, just to mess with her".

"Poor Yamanaka-san," she laughed. The two fell into a comfortable silence only broke slightly when Miso ran into a lamp post. Shikamaru didn't even bother stopping her and just let it happen as it was to troublesome. "You could have stopped me". She muttered as she rubbed her now aching nose, he just shrugged in response. They quickly waved good bye as she went up to her apartment. Shikamaru continued on his way home, looking at the stars, 'They do look nice tonight'.

"Hey Nii-san!" Miso chirped as she went to the kitchen to heat up dinner, "Sorry about not making dinner I got was busy talking to Jii-chan and Nara-san and lost track of time".

"It's fine, I alreay ate," Naruto said as he walked out of the room heading towards bed.

"….Nii-san ignoring me and treating me like this isn't going to change anything…" Her brother paused as he entered the doorway to their bedroom. Miso fingered her hair pin nervously.

"Then what can I do to make you care for yourself? You're important to Imouto and I don't want you giving up your life for me".

"Nothing. I will always love you Nii-san".

Naruto just sighed, "Aww, Man. Your making this so difficult. It so frustrating!"

"Sorry".

"Don't apologize….. Listen I'm still upset with you but I'll try to work past it. Also I want you to have a dream. When you find a dream tell me and we'll work together to accomplish it. Got it?"

"Hai".

Naruto shuffled over to the table where Miso was now eating, "So wanna tell me a story?"

"Once upon a time—"