Hey. Not a new chapter. But if some Omake I made exceeds more than 3 pages on its own, it becomes a 'Short'. Maybe it will apply to Specials and OVA later.

So, for your entertainment: TLS SHORT

Enjoy.

Disclaimer: See the first page. Guess the alluded episodes if you like.

TLS SHORT

[Beauty in the Beast]

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Flashback

Konohagakure no Sato

After a day's work, even shinobi likes to relax and hang-out once in a while. The clan leaders of the Shika-Ino-Cho were quite thankful that it was a slow day so they can enjoy themselves in the local barbecue place.

Unfortunately, it was going to be disrupted when the doors almost flew off its hinges. In stalked a very angry Inuzuka, her hair and casual clothes a mess. Her loyal canine companion was the one that looked apologetic to the gathered patrons.

"Troublesome." Shikaku quietly said as he inched away from the foul mood woman and her… it's not exactly foul…, but the smell was a little unpleasant.

As she reached for one of their sake bottles, it was Inoichi who seemed to have some knowledge of the situation. "Aren't you supposed to be preparing for your date?"

But the blonde interrogator wished he had kept his mouth shut. "WHO TOLD YOU?!"

"I- My clan owns a flower shop and I had a customer earlier that was asking what flower to give a fierce yet beautiful woman!" They all sighed in relief when she relented as Tsume cursed her day.

"Che… I was before a string of bad luck made me a wet dog! No offense, Kuromaru." The Ninken just shrugged.

After downing a bottle, she sigh- grumbled in disappointment. "There's no way I'm going out like this. I guess I have to bail."

"Poor guy." Tsume turned her glare to a certain 'elite' group. Genma's team frantically pointed to another person who was quietly reading.

She walked up to and growled at the prodigy of their generation who fell out of nowhere (Metaphorically…?). "Got something to say, runt?"

The cyclops looked up briefly before going back to his book. "Nothing of concern to you. I just feel bad for the poor sap who will be left hanging." Her glare lessens imagining the scenario. It wasn't helping that every man nodded in pity.

Genma quickly move aside when the feral kunoichi slumped on their table. "Grrr… Even if I want to go, I can't go looking like a mess. And there is no time left to tidy up!"

But Tsume was able to catch some movement from the masked shinobi. A narrowed, considering look followed by a raised finger before quickly putting it down. "You have a way, don't you?"

Seeing that he was caught, Kakashi coolly answered. "I think I have some experience with a bit of cleaning-up."

"Yeah… Says who?" She asked with a dubious stare, which then piqued everyone's curiosity.

"My Ninken seems to think so. Turning 'Mangy to Majestic' as they say." Some braver… or dumber souls laughed at such claim, forgetting who the Inuzuka actually were. Tsume seemed contemplative before looking to her partner, who uncertainly shrugged.

Coming to a decision, she put up a confident front and presented her challenge. "Alright, how about a bet. If you can make a good job, I'll owe you a favor."

"Hmmm… I think I'll pass." This caught everyone's surprise.

Shaking it off, Tsume felt a bit of indignation at the snubbing of her 'generous' offer. "What, scared to lose?"

Again, Kakashi's answer confused everyone present. "Not really. Just that I don't think I have anything to gain."

Even after all these years, Hatake Kakashi was still a mystery even to those he considered friends. Not enough to question his loyalty, but what secrets the masked ninja shared led to more secrets (he was the founder of the 'underneath the underneath' saying).

With this info, Shikaku found an incentive that might be acceptable. "Then how about this, Kakashi-san. Help her and your secret will not leave this place."

While they wondered about such unusual proposition, Kakashi closed his book. "Now that's something I can work with."

"Anko. Kurenai-san. Can I buy some of your things?" He asked the pair who came for a bite after shopping. After purchasing the cosmetics, Kakashi was deep in thought before shrugging. "And can I borrow some of your clothes. I'll pay for the laundry later." It took a bit of convincing from the snake-user, clearly because she wanted to see what he could do.

"Operation: Clean Up The She Dog So She'll Stop Terrorizing Everyone Else And Think Of A Shorter Name For This Operation is a go." The Copy-nin ignored their stunned look at the random exclamation as he thought of a more suitable place. "Now, where to go to do this?"

"Not out here or there, I'm not." Tsume warned as she dragged a chair towards the restroom.

They snickered at the dilemma the closet-pervert was placed into. "Ah… I'm not sure-."

"Not there, idiot!" She growled as the kunoichi heads towards the other restroom… where she wasn't supposed to enter.

"All of you, SCRAM!" Two civilians and a Chuunin ran with tails between their legs. "Learn to flush, you wusses!"

Then she turned that glare to the other people present. "No one comes in! Capeesh?!"

After rapidly nodding with the others, Kakashi handed her several bags. "Okay, first is the clothes. Now try some and see which looks best."

"How should I know which ones good?" She said in uncertainty. The feral tomboy glared when Anko snickered.

"Don't women have a thing for clothes?" Kakashi somehow felt their glare from behind. But he had to deal now with the anger from the front.

"Why you, sexist bastard! Get in here if you know so much!" His wide-eye expression was last seen dragged into the room before the angry kunoichi slammed the door. No one was certain what kind of luck he has now.

"Fine! Keep your panties on."

"You're not my date!"

"Alright, alright! Don't need to bite the hand-."

"Was that a pun about my clan?"

"… No… Anyway, let's see what we got. No, too formal… Too bright… Too tight… I don't think it's your color-…"

"How many dresses did you buy?" Anko asked her companion from her spot. Everyone got a table close to the door, even the staff were curious of the commotion.

"Hmmm… I think this will do."

"Yeah, it looks okay. But I'm not going out wearing that!"

"Why not?"

"It's too long and makes me look girly! I'm no dainty flower!"

"Of course, not… You're a Dogwood with lots of bark." Inoichi chuckled as being a botanist helped him understand.

"Again, with the puns-!"

"Anyway, what do you suggest we-?"

*RIIIIIP!*

A few more rips and silence fell as Anko looked to her friend's frozen expression.

"Kurenai-san, I'll pay that later. Sigh… Let's just smoothen the edges."

"Okay, the easy parts' done."

"WHAT!?" The females outside were surprised at the wide-eyed expression of every male. They were more surprised that a guy understood the troubles they undergo just to look nice.

"Now to fix that rat's nest. Do I want to know what happened?"

"You don't. Can you fix it?" They will swear on their relative's grave that Tsume did not sound pleading right now.

"I'll give it a try." There was a sound of rustling that followed. "Huh, Cherry Blossom. Just like Pakkun." It was Anko now who was confused when some were laughing about her type of shampoo.

"Wash your hair with shampoo while I go get some ice, lemons and a metal bowl." Everybody scrambled back to their original sits and tried to act indifferent. Kakashi sent them an unconvinced frown after borrowing said items and then some from the kitchen.

"Is these all really necessary?"

"I can cut them off-."

"Never mind!"

Then they heard noises again, from the faucet running to the occasional cusses.

"You better not give me a bowl-cut."

"Oh, so you do have a funny bone. Don't worry, you'll just wear the bowl while I speed up the drying."

"What are you- HOLY S**T! IS THAT THE CHIDORI?!" Now everyone with combat experience rushed to the door, but Tsume's warning still stood.

"Calm down. It's just a little lightning manipulation. Now hold still or I might fry your brain." Inoichi was definitely concerned for both of their minds. Anko even admitted the stunt sounds crazy.

"HELL, NO WILL I CALM DOWN! NOT UNTIL YOU TURN THAT THING OFF!" They wondered how well trained Kuromaru was to hold his ground even when dog was also worried.

"Fine, we can use the trickier way then." They all let out a sigh in relief.

"Katon..." That was their only warning before they heard a soft crackling and a barely contained scream from behind the door. Choza shamefully admitted that scorched lemon and herbs smelled really nice.

"Looks like the mousse did its job. We'll style your hair later after applying makeup."

"No- None of the heavy stuff. And the war paint stays!" They will swear again on their relative's grave that Tsume did not sound so frightened right now.

"I wouldn't think of leaving them out. After all: what defines the brave Tsume better than her fierce loyalty to the clan?" That line was surprisingly good. They can only speculate when Tsume did not give a snarky comeback.

"Maybe just light makeup. Whoever this guy is, he must have seen the beauty in the beast." Those without spouses noticed how some were writing that down.

"Though I suggest to smile without teeth. Those fangs will terrify lesser men." Even Kurenai, who has her reservation considering his hobby, was quite impressed with the smooth talking.

"How do you know to put makeup?" Tsume calmly asked, the others outside also wondering of such unusual skills.

There was a tense pause before he wearily answered in a tone that sounded so distant. "I did it for someone a long time ago." Shikaku can only imagine the young man's appreciation when no further questions were asked.

They patiently waited, some making bets on what the outcome will be. "And there! That's the best I can do. So, what do you think?" They wondered how bad it was for the quiet to extend.

"Well…, I know I can't tell you to act… tame? But try to be restrained… In control… Somehow you got this guy's attention and you decided to honor his courage. If you need to sound your disapproval, maybe a growl would do?" They snickered at the instructions, realizing how it was made for Tsume's wild personality.

"I feel like affection is not your thing, but all I can suggest is go easy on him and give a chance." They were still not sure what to make with her silence. "Oookay, I'll leave you be then."

This time they did not retreat as Kakashi exited the restroom. After paying the damag- modified dress and the other items, Kakashi leisurely left the restaurant.

As they looked at each other in worry, they heard the door open again. You can hear a pin drop… or a senbon that fell out of Genma's mouth at seeing the fruit of that ninja's labor.

This was still the same tough Inuzuka Tsume. But she looks… not softer… more polished… Like a blade: beautiful yet very dangerous. Basically, she was cleaned-up very nicely.

Seeing all their stunned faces, the very impressed tomboy gave a small smirk as instructed by that son of a b***h. "Not a word of this. Capeesh?"

Flashback ends

xxxxx

Royal Woods

"Hey, Lincoln! Are we done, yet?" The white-haired 'boy' was brought back to his task of bathing his sister and pet. It was the only way Lana would cooperate after seeing how well Charles took to getting cleaned.

He gave the little tomboy an eye-smile. "Oh, sorry there, Lana. Got lost in thought for a second there."

"What were you thinking?" Lana asked with their dog joining in.

"Well… Just remembering how I cleaned-up a very angry and dirty furball back in Konoha." Said furball wondered what her pups would look like with white hair to said pups' shock.

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Ideas and suggestions will be taken into consideration. Keyword: Consideration.

Ja ne.