Chapter 21:::A Little Birdie

Kiba ran for his life as more knives were thrown at him.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TWO DOING?!"

Gen and Fuyu didn't answer they continued to chase Kiba and Akamaru.

Nami was knocked into a tree after getting hit with a powerful kick from Ami. Nami panted and didn't get up, she just slid to the ground.

Ami smiled and placed her hands on her knees, bending over, also panting slightly. "Good job, Nami-chan, you're improving."

Nami smiled back. "Do you think I can beat Shino-kun?"

Ami stood up straight. "I cannot account for what might be; I can only account for what is." She said wisely.

Nami stood up slowly. "So that's a maybe, then I just have to train harder." She smirked and shifted into her Taijutsu stance, similar to Lee's, but less stiff. "No Ninjutsu or Genjutsu this time."

Ami tilted her head to the side. "Wouldn't it be better if you practiced Taijutsu with Gai-kun?"

Nami nodded. "Yeah, but he's visiting Lee right now, so we'll practice later, but he gave me these wrist and ankle weights!" She moved her pant legs and lifted her arms happily. Sweat was already forming on her forehead already, and her teeth were clenched. "They're each only half as much as Lee wears now, so I still have a lot to work on."

Ami raised an eyebrow. "Were you wearing those a second ago?"

"No, I put them on when I was sitting down."

Ami just nodded. I didn't even notice.

Nami smiled brightly and got back into position. "Please don't go easy on me Ami-sensei, even though I will be moving slower than usual."

Ami smiled, but it looked more scary than pretty. "Don't worry, I won't."

"Oooookkkkkaaaaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssaaaaaaaaannnnnnnn! I'm diiiieeeeing!"

Suki laughed and dropped an icepack on Nami's face. "Stop whining, it was your own choice to train nonstop for a week, never taking off those stupid weights. I swear when I get my hands on Gai for not supervising your training..." She threw her hands in the air, at loss for words and sat down on the edge of her daughter's bed. "You worked your muscles too hard and didn't let them rest. I'm not telling you to take the weights off yet, but you're only going to do light workouts and help your father with the restaurant occasionally, but nothing big for at least two or three days."

Nami sat up quickly and moved the icepack. "But 'Kaasan! I still have to practice Chakra control! Two or three days is a lot of time, time that I need to train so I can beat Shino and become a Chuunin!"

Suki sighed and pushed her daughter back down. "I only said no straining your muscles, you can still practice Chakra control. Meditating helps. But really, Nami-chan you could still become a Chuunin even if you don't win against Shino-kun, it's all about how you fight."

Nami started talking, but it was muffled by the icepack on her face. Suki giggled and lifted it so it hovered over Nami's face and she could talk clearly. "I know how to fight. I have to use moves that fit the situation and do what I would do on a real mission, and I have to use strategy, along with strength...but I don't know how to defeat Shino-kun-"

Suki gasped and dropped the icepack back onto her daughter's face, grabbing her hands. "Oh, Nami-chan! You must never doubt yourself, you are strong, and smart, and courageous, and wise, and-"

"OKAASAN! Stop!" Nami yelled, moving the icepack and sitting up. "I'm not doubting myself, I know I have a good a chance as anyone to beat Shino-kun, I'm just worried about his bugs."

Suki paused. "Bugs?"

"Shino-kun is a member of the Aburame clan." Nami said simply.

Suki nodded in complete understanding. "Oooooohhhh, he's Shibi's son."

Nami gave her mother a blank look. "Do you know all of my classmates' parents personally?"

Suki smiled and waved a hand. "No, and I don't know Shibi very well. We were in the academy together and been on a couple of missions together over the years, but he's a Jounin and has higher ranked missions most of the time, but I know enough about him and his family, and the bugs inside them."

"So you know a way I can beat him?!" Nami asked excitedly.

Suki pocked Nami's forehead. "Now seeing as I've never fought Shibi, then I wouldn't actually know, but I can help you even the playing field."

Nami rubbed her forehead and frowned. "What do you mean?"

Suki smirked and put a finger to her lips. "That is for me to know and you to find out tomorrow after you've rested." She pushed her daughter back into a laying position and kissed her forehead. "Go to sleep, I'm setting your alarm for five to help your 'tousan open up." Nami groaned, but Suki ignored her protests by putting the icepack back on Nami's face. She set the alarm and stood up, turning off the light, but before she left...

"Oh, and Nami-chan?"

Nami groaned in response. Suki smirked.

"It seems that we got a number of young costumers wishing to find some brown eyed, turquoise haired beauty. Since you've seemed to become so popular over the past weak you'll he handing out fliers for the festival benefiting out shop and bar, okay honey?"

Nami groaned and waved a hand.

Suki shook her head, amused. "Goodnight, Nami-chan, I love you." She waited a second.

"I love you too, 'kaasan." Was the whispered reply.

Suki smiled and closed the door.

Nami faked the hundredth giggle of the day and waved to another boy as he walked away, promising to return for the festival.

Sighing she looked at her sister, who was doing the same thing as Nami, but her attentions were directed towards the older customers.

"Nami-chan, you're doing a great job! Keep it up and you'll be just like me one day!"

Nami forced a smile. "Yes, it's always been my dream to be tavern girl. Who wants to be a ninja and get your nails dirty?"

"That's the spirit Nami-chan."

"Nooooooooooooooo!"

Nami turned and didn't have enough time to dodge her blond hair friend. "No, Nami-chan! Don't give up! You said we'd become Chuunins together!"

Nami tried to pry Naruto off of her, people were staring. "Naruto, get off! I wasn't serious! I'll never quit being a ninja. I'll always be there to help you become Hokage. Now get off, you baka!"

Naruto backed up and narrowed his eyes. "Why aren't you training?"

She sighed. "'Kaasan said I can't train for at least two days for pushing myself too hard, which is stupid, I never push my limits, it was only a few hundred pounds of weights. So why aren't you training?"

"I am training!" He argued. "But Ero Sennin said he had some research to do before he could supervise my training."

She tilted her head to the side. "Research? What kind of research?"

Naruto pointed and she followed his finger, and promptly fell over when seeing the older man flirting with her sister, a blush on his cheeks and perverted smile on his lips. Nami narrowed her eyes and walked towards the two, Naruto followed.

"I'm sorry Jiraiya-sama, but I really have to say and help my Otousan, but if you come by later there's a free drink in it for you." Okiyou said in a sweet voice.

Jiraiya chuckled pervertedly. "Yes, that sounds like a wonderful idea!"

"Hey! Ero Sennin, you still have to supervise my training!" Naruto yelled.

Jiraiya turned away from Okiyou and glared at Naruto. "It's Gama Sennin, you ungrateful baka."

They continued to glare at each other. Nami looked at Jiraiya closely. Walking forward she pushed Naruto out of the way.

"You're one of the three Sannin, Jiraiya-sama?" She asked sceptically.

A pleased smile spread across his face and he struck a pose. "Ah, so you've heard of me. Ha ha! My greatness has spread fall! Tell me, what is it about me that made you recognize me?"

She shrugged. "I've only heard of one Gama Sennin named Jiraiya, but I'm not as impressed with you. You seem more of a pervert to me, and drinks are only free after you buy a meal."

"Nami-chan! Stop steering away customers! It's bad for business." Okiyou scolded.

Nami placed her hand on her hips. "But Otousan said to get rid of any perverts that threaten his naive daughter's innocence. I presume he was talking about you, but you're hardly innocent, right Oki-neesan?" She asked, smiling innocently.

Okiyou glared. "I'm going to have a word with Otousan, but first I'm going to teach you the proper way to treat potential clients!"

"Ah, teaching your sister to follow in your footsteps eh?" Jiraiya asked, amused.

Nami glared. "No, I'm a Ninja, and soon I'll be a Chuunin. I just have to beat Shino-kun in the main matches." She muttered the last part to herself.

Jiraiya narrowed his eyes and looked closely at Nami. "You look familiar, do I know you?"

She crossed her arms. "I don't make it a habit to hang out with perverts three times my age."

He leaned back with a sour look on his face. "You kids have no respect." He turned to talk to Okiyou, but was disappointed to find that she was gone. "Ahhhh, now I'll have to find somewhere else to research."

"You will not be doing any research here, you baka hentai."

Nami smiled as her mother stepped outside. Suki had a scowl on her face. "'Kaasan!"

"Ah, that's why I recognized her." Jiraiya muttered to himself, backing away. Suki glared and pointed a finger at him.

"You! I banned you from this place a week ago for harassing my waitresses. You have the nerve to come back and harass my daughter."

Jiraiya jumped at the accusation, looking down at Nami, then at Suki. "I would never go so low as to hit on a child!"

"My other daughter, you baka!" Suki yelled, pulling Okiyou out of the bar/restaurant.

Jiraiya smiled nervously. "Ah, your other daughter, oh course! I must say I can see where she gets her beauty." He looked both up and down. Okiyou smiled and Suki glared.

"You have five seconds to get out of her before I do something I know I won't regret."

Jiraiya chuckled nervously and continued to back away. When he was a safe distance away he turned and sprinted away.

Naruto ran after him. "Matte! You have to supervise my training!"

Nami sighed. "I don't think Jiraiya-sama will be a good influence on Naruto."

Suki placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder and led her into the restaurant. "Don't worry, he's in capable hands. Now come, I've got something to show you."

Nami waved at the three men at the bar. "Konnichiwa Inoichi-san, Chouza-san, Shikaku-san."

They waved back. Suki smiled also, and then opened the basement door and led her daughter down a set of stair, closing the door behind them.

"I can't see anything, why are we in the basement?" Nami asked.

"You'll see. Wait here." Suki let go of her daughter and went somewhere Nami couldn't see.

"Where would I go?" Nami muttered to herself. Suddenly the lights turned on and Suki came out from behind a large bookshelf holding a large scroll.

Suki placed it on the ground in front of Nami and motioned for her to kneel. Nami looked at the large scroll curiously. "What's that for?"

"This," Suki said unrolling it. "Is what's going to help you beat Shino."

Nami looked at all the names on the scroll; she noticed her mother's and grandmother's names were included. "Are the names signed in blood?"

Suki nodded. "Yes, this, my dear, is what you have to sign to be able to preform the summoning jutsu."

"Why would I want to preform the summoning jutsu?" Nami asked.

Suki rolled her eyes. "By signing this contract with your blood you will form a bond with a certain animal, and then you'll be able to call them up at any time. It's a type of temporal-spatial technique. This is the contract of the birds, it's been passed down in our family for many generations, but only the women are allowed to sign, because...we're better then men."

Nami laughed, but was still confused. "But how will it help?"

Suki smacked Nami on the back of the head. "Baka, you're slow today. Shino has a bond with the bugs so they'll help him fight. If you also have a bond with an animal then the playing field will be even."

"Cool! Let's get started!"

Suki hit her again. "Don't get hasty, I have to warn you, it takes a lot of Chakra to summon a strong bird, and you want to be able to summon a whole flock by the end of the month, that's why we'll be working on Chakra control the next couple of days. After you sign you're going to meditate for an hour and we'll continue after that."

Nami nodded. "When can I go back upstairs?"

"In two days."

"What?!" Nami yelled. "What about food? And exercise?"

Suki smiled. "I'll bring you food and there's a punching bag over there, and then there's the leg straps on the ceiling, you'll have plenty of exercise. But your main focus is building up your Chakra. When meditating you have to picture it flowing through your body-"

"Okaasan I know how to meditate, can I just sign the contract?" Nami asked, annoyed.

Suki hit her again. "Sure, go ahead. Write down your name in blood, and beneath that put your hand print, then mold Chakra and place the hand you used on the contract where you want to summon the bird. The seals are Boar, Dog, Bird, Monkey, and Sheep. Got that?"

Nami nodded and bit her thumb until it bleed. She signed her name and then covered her other finger in blood and pressing down on the paper. Standing up, she took a deep breath.

"Okay...Boar..Dog..Bird..Monkey..Sheep...Kuchiyose no Jutsu!" She placed her hand, palm down, onto the ground. Smoke surrounded it and Nami waited anxiously. Finally it cleared and she moved her hand. She let out a happy squeak when she saw a little bird.

"She's so cute!"

The bird looked up at her. "Who you calling a she?"

Nami blinked and Suki laughed. The bird glared at Nami. "Who are you?"

Nami smiled and gave a thumbs up. "Fukishima Nami at your service, I'm so glad that you came, sorry for the mistake, smoke must have been in my eyes, because I can clearly see that you're a very handsome and brave looking bird."

The bird ruffled its feathers in delight. "Why, aren't you polite, much more than Suki-chan, she's a beastly woman, and you are much prettier too."

Suki's eyebrow twitched. "Hiyoko..."

The bird, Hiyoko, blinked and looked at Suki. "Ooooo, Suki-chan, how wonderful to see you."

Suki crossed her arms. "I can't say the same thing."

Hiyoko looked away. "See, that's why Mama never listens to you, you're so rude..and ugly...but this girl." He jumped onto Nami's shoulder. "I like. She can see what a strong and noble bird I am."

Nami smiled. "Ano...what kind of bird are you, Hiyoko-kun?"

"Why, I'm an eagle of course!"

"Oh of course, how could I not see that. I guess my eyesight is not as superior as yours, and this room is a little dark. Gomen..Hiyoko-kun." Nami quickly corrected herself. Hiyoko smiled and nodded.

"Yes, that's true."

Suki rolled her eyes. "Stop trying to flatter the conceited little chick, his ego is too big anyway. There's no way he'd be able to help you fight."

Hiyoko glared. "I can too! I'm as strong as Mama! I'm a true eagle and...and I'm not a chick!"

Suki smirked. "Then why are your feathers still grey?"

"I...I...I'm just a late bloomer! And...and molting season isn't until next year!" Hiyoko protested, flapping his wings.

Suki laughed. "Okay, but can you even fly yet?"

"Y-yes, of course I can!"

Suki grinned and leaned closer to the bird. "Then prove it."

"Fine!" Hiyoko flapped his wings and jumped off Nami's shoulder. He stayed in the air. "See! I can too fly!"

Suki smirked and took a deep breath and blew at Hiyoko. The bird wobbled and began to fall. Nami gasped and caught him.

"Okaasan! That was mean!"

Suki shrugged and rolled the scroll back up and placing back on its shelf. "I'm leaving now, so go ahead and start meditating, I'll bring you your dinner later, have a nice time."

Nami and Hiyoko watched her leave. When the door closed Nami looked down at the bird in her hands. "Gomen, she's had a bad day. You did an excellent job, you just need more practice."

Hiyoko looked up at her. "Really, you think?"

Nami tilted her head to the side. "Why wouldn't I?"

The bird looked away. "My brothers and sisters are all so much stronger, I'm the only one who can't fly."

"Well, are you the youngest?" She asked.

Hiyoko nodded. Nami giggled.

"Then you shouldn't feel bad. Your brothers and sisters are stronger because they've had more time to grow, but I bet you'll be the strongest of all."

Hiyoko jumped. "You think."

She nodded."Mhmm, because you'll have all those strong siblings to help you...So, you're the weakest?"

Hiyoko nodded sadly.

Nami bit her lip. "Then I guess I have to become stronger too, so I can summon your brothers and sisters too."

"Oh, so I'm too weak for you?! You want to get rid of me now?!"

Nami smiled and shook her head. "No, but the stronger the summoner the stronger the summon, and I have to get stronger by the end of the month for the Chuunin exams."

Hiyoko nodded. "Well you must be somewhat strong, you didn't summon an egg."

She smiled. "Thanks, but I still have to meditate."

"Do you want me to leave?" He asked.

She shook her head. "I don't want to meditate yet, I'd rather work out first, so while I do that why don't you tell me about yourself and your family."

"You want to hear about my family?" He asked surprised. Nami set him on the ground and nodded.

"Not many ninjas want to talk to us, they usually just want our help when fighting." Hiyoko admitted.

Nami shrugged and concentrated her Chakra in her feet and walked up the wall and the ceiling towards the legs straps. She strapped herself in and let herself hang. "Well, if I want help with fighting, then I should learn more about the ones I'm asking help from." She began to do air sit-ups, touching her toes each time she went back up.

Hiyoko looked up at Nami, a happy look in his eyes. "Okay, I have lots and lots of brothers and sisters, of all sizes-"

"I'm sorry for interrupting, but is it possible to summon more than one bird at a time?"

He nodded. "But it takes a lot of Chakra."

She nodded. "Please continue."

Hiyoko smiled the best a bird could. "Okay, first there's my older sister...

Suki listened from the door, smile on her face. I have such a strong daughter, I summoned an egg my first try, but then again I wasn't as dedicated to my training as she is, must be Gai's influence. I should thank him...after I kill him for giving he those weights.

A/N Sorry there wasn't any fluff or romance in this chapter, but I just wanted to make it all about Nami...I also couldn't think of anything, I'm not in a fluffy mood..hehe. Oh I love my little Hiyoko! He's so cute, acting all tough and whatnot.

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