Author's Note by Fiona: Chapter two, and the two groups finally meet up, although they don't all get along at first. I blame any OOCness on our muses. Having versions of Takuya, Kouji, Kouichi, Naruto, and Sasuke bouncing around in either my or Pin's head can be useful. It can also make it hard to write them in a cannon fashion.

Random Japanese Translations

Genin – Apprentice ninja. Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke are all at this level

Jounin – Master ninja. Top level of ninja, usually in charge of teams of genin. Kakashi is at this level.

Sensei – 'Teacher' in this context. Kakashi is Naruto's teacher.

Ne – a question marker, usually expecting a positive response

Anou sa – Something between an 'um' and a 'hey' used to stall speech while thoughts are collected

Yosha – An expression of happiness. Somewhat like 'All right!'

Kunai – Type of throwing knife with a hoop on the end for a quick draw

Hokage – Literally 'Fire-shadow', leader of Konoha village.

Kunoichi – As Kouji said, a term meaning 'female ninja'

Bento – Type of Japanese lunchbox, usually at least half filled with rice, half other food.

The remark about Naruto and Takuya sounding similar comes from their joint seiyuu TakeuchiJunko. Their voices are more or less identical, however Naruto uses a much less refined way of speaking, speaks faster, and tends to put 'bayo' at the end of sentences.

The squeaking was driving Naruto insane. Not his normal, hyper type of insane either, but the 'snap-and-try-to-hit-Kakashi-sensei' kind. As if it wasn't totally unfair of the jounin getting a free ride by sitting on the pull-cart that his three genin subordinates laboured to pull, the rhythmical squeak as the wheel turned in its path was finally getting to Naruto, and judging from the grinding of teeth, his sweet Sakura-chan wasn't appreciating it either. Sasuke, as always, made no noise, either of fulfilment or annoyance, seemingly content to keep putting one foot in front of the other, pulling the cartload of iron (And one lazy teacher) along the dirt track leading back to Konoha.

"Ne, ne, Kakashi-sensei?"

Kakashi barely moved his eyes from the page of his novel, to look at Naruto, before turning his attention laconically back to the intrigue contained within. "Hm? What is it, Naruto-kun?"

"Ano sa, ano sa, when are we going to eat?"

Sakura made a noise of disgust. "You're always thinking of your stomach. Why can't you just keep pushing the cart? We can eat when we get back."

"But I'm hungryyyyyyy…" moaned Naruto. "And it's miles and miles back to Konoha."

"Two miles," supplied Sasuke.

Kakashi managed not to sigh. Ever since the events at the 'Uzumaki Naruto Bridge' in the country of the Wave, Naruto and Sasuke's relationship had taken a downward turn from the tentative alliance formed by their training, and subsequent battle together. Now as he watched them glare daggers at each other, it seemed a separation of more distance than just Sakura stood between them as they pushed the cart along was needed.

"Okay. Take a break. You earned some rest for getting this far. These aren't urgent supplies after all."

"Yosha!" Naruto didn't need to be told twice and was off like a rocket to the back of the cart to search out the food he'd brought.

It's a shame that all that energy will be spent exploring around here, rather than working on getting home, thought Kakashi, but I guess it's better than him arguing and complaining the rest of the way. And Sakura looks like she could do with a break, even if she's too proud to admit that in front of Sasuke. He watched the female genin stretch her arms upwards slowly, before she too went to collect her food.

Sasuke seemed to be taking a survey of the area. Kakashi approved of this action, but having already determined that there were no threats nearby, was quite content to let his charges roam. Besides, he was just getting to the good bit of his book, so some peace to enjoy it was welcomed.

Naruto, of course, was off as soon as he claimed his lunch bundle, wanting to find somewhere peaceful to eat, but most importantly, somewhere Sasuke wasn't. His roaming brought him through the forest, but he paused as he heard voices.

"… said you have to pay."

"No." Naruto blinked. This second voice sounded very familiar. "We're just passing through, and I've never heard of people like you collecting tolls." Naruto made his way through the trees, back towards the road, where he found something of a standoff.

A gang of nine men, all armed had encircled a group of kids. One of these men, hand on sword, was glaring at a boy only Naruto's age and height. "Well, you're going to pay us. Either in money, goods, or…" he cast an eye over the group, to a blonde-haired girl, "… services," he diplomatically supplied.

The girl flushed furiously. "Like I'd ever let a creep like you near me."

Two of the boys, one who had Chouji's build and brown hair, the other that looked like a blue-eyed Sasuke that was holding a staff moved closer to her, obviously intent on protecting her.

Naruto thought that a girl with that much of an attitude probably didn't appreciate that, much like his own sweet Sakura-chan. He moved closer. "Hey, hey, hey. I've never heard of a toll being placed on this road."

One of the men in the group laughed. "Another kiddy for our pot."

"Idiot," snapped their leader. "He's from that other village. He's wearing their forehead protector."

The other speaker rolled his eyes. "He's just some brat. If he interferes, he pays like the rest."

"Leave us alone!" snapped the familiar-sounding boy, the one with brown hair with red tips that was arguing with the leader. "You're nothing but thieves and bullies."

"Wrong, we're in charge here, and you're going to do what we say." The man reached out and grabbed the boy's arm. Naruto heard a familiar scrape of steel on leather, and saw a boy with blue hair in a long ponytail, armed with a sword step up, and point the sword to the man's chin.

"Let him go."

The man smiled. "For that, you're going to pay a lot more. And in blood." He shoved the red-tipped-hair boy into the blue-haired one, knocking them both down, and then stepped back as his men closed in, drawing their own swords.

"Hey!" yelled Naruto. "Knock it off! You don't have the right to do that!"

"I have the sword, I have the right. Now, leave. Or you're next, brat."

"You…" Naruto wasn't about to leave some kids to get robbed on the road, even if it wasn't part of his mission. He drew his kunai. "You're going to leave them alone. One way or another." He sensed Sakura and Sasuke a moment before they stepped out of the brush onto the road, drawn by the noise of the confrontation. He grinned. "Or maybe the three of us could teach you a lesson?"

"We've no quarrel with ninja-brats. Just leave us to our work."

Sasuke smirked slightly. "With us here, it becomes nine against nine. Or are men like you scared of a fair fight?"

The man spat on the ground. "Fine. Leave the brats. It's getting too much trouble." As one the group sheathed their swords, and moved off into the forest, to hide and wait for their next victims.

Naruto put his knife away, then walked forwards, only to be stopped by the point of the longhaired kid's sword.

"Why should we trust you? You might just want something from us too."

Naruto blinked. Although it was the other blue-haired boy that bore a physical resemblance to Sasuke, this one wore the same cold and steely expression as Sasuke did.

"Hey, we helped you out and we didn't have to. That makes us at least more friendly than they were." Naruto grinned at them. "And travelling with us is safer than travelling alone."

The boy sheathed his sword, then looked at the boy with red-tipped hair and the Sasuke-lookalike. "Trust?"

The Sasuke-clone nodded quickly, followed a few moments later by the boy Naruto was beginning to see as leader of the group.

Their leader spoke. "Okay. Maybe you can help us one more time. We're trying to get to a village or something, in that sort of direction." He pointed through the trees in what Naruto was sure was the rough direction of Konoha.

"Our village is that way," supplied Sakura. "We're on our way home from trading. You can travel with us there I guess, as long as Kakashi-sensei says its okay."

Again a silent poll was taken in the group before the leader nodded. "Okay. We'll stay with you until we get to a village."

"Yosha! Okay, lets get going!" said Naruto, only to get hit by Sakura.

"Idiot. Did you forget that you were the one who wanted to stop to eat?"

Naruto rubbed the back of his head. "Sakura-chan… I only wanted to help."

Sasuke turned and started walking. "This way, strangers."

The blonde-haired girl watched him go and sighed. "He's cute, but really cold."

Sakura glared at her. "And Sasuke-kun is already involved with someone. Me."

"Che, in her dreams," muttered Naruto to himself. He turned to the boy with red-tipped hair. "Hey, you… What's with the funny hair? And who are you all?"

The boy touched the ends of his hair. "Well, I like it. Reminds me of fire. I'm Kanbara Takuya, and these are my friends. We're here searching for something for somebody."

"Oh? Tell me?" asked Naruto.

The boy with the sword tilted his head. "You know, you two sound very similar. Are you related or something?"

Naruto grinned. "I doubt it. I'm Uzumaki Naruto. You better remember that name, 'cause I'm gonna be Hokage one day."

"Right. A loudmouth worse than Takuya, in a badly fitting orange tracksuit who wants to be a shadow." He sighed and shook his head. "How do we get into these situations?"

"Same as always," smiled the Sasuke-lookalike. "And this Naruto doesn't seem so bad." He bowed slightly to Naruto. "I'm Kimura Kouichi, and this is my younger twin brother Kouji. He just acts mean because it thinks it makes him look cool."

"Hey!" protested Kouji. "I don't act 'mean' do I?"

Takuya laughed. "Kouji, you've got a nasty temper, and you snap at people. Face it, you're mean."

"Everyone's out to assassinate my character," complained Kouji.

Takuya pointed at the youngest member of the group, who like him had brown hair, although without the red dye at the tips. "This is Himi Tomoki, Shibiyama Junpei, and the girl is Orimoto Izumi."

Izumi huffed and put her hands on her hips. "Really Takuya. That's all you can say? 'That girl…'? What about that incredably stunning blonde or something?"

"Soon as I see one, I'll introduce her," teased Takuya, earning a glare from her.

Sakura took Izumi's arm. "Ignore him. I'm Haruna Sakura, one of the kunoichi of Konoha."

Kouji ran that word through his mind and blinked. Kunoichi? Female ninja? That girl?

"Who was that dark-eyed guy who looks kinda like Kouichi then?" asked Izumi looking around for him.

"He seemed rather a jerk," said Junpei, trying to dissuade Izumi from considering another man besides him. "He's just gone off and left us here."

Sakura stiffened. "Don't say things like that about Sasuke-kun. Uchiha Sasuke is the number one rookie of our year, and survivor of the most prestigious clan of our village."

Naruto looked annoyed. "Sasuke, Sasuke, Sasuke. It's always about him isn't it? Why aren't people always saying my name? I'm worth ten of him!"

"You were the class dunce, remember?" said Sakura.

Naruto twitched slightly. "That was mean, Sakura."

"Hmph." She stalked off in the direction Sasuke had gone, chatting away to Izumi, with a worried Junpei following behind.

The rest of them followed on behind, and Kouichi moved to walk with Naruto. "Naruto? Why is it that those swordsmen wouldn't attack you and your friends? I can't imagine nine kids were any greater threat to them than six."

"Ehehehehe…" Naruto grinned and stuck out his chest. "I'm a ninja. People like that run in fear of me."

Kouichi blinked. "Ninja?"

"No way in hell are you a ninja," said Kouji, taking in the bright clothing, and obviously dopey expression.

"Oi oi oi!" protested Naruto, then stopped. A snorting noise, almost a suppressed laugh had come from just the other side of some nearby bushes. Naruto crept forwards to look through them, to find Kakashi sat on top of the cart, and Sasuke leaning against the side of the cart, looking amused, and eating a bento.

"Took you long enough, Naruto," said Sasuke.

"Sasukeeeeee…" muttered Naruto. He was laughing at me again! I'll get him for sure one day.

"Oh?" said Kakashi, looking up from his book. "There seems to be more of you now."

Naruto grinned. "Ne, ne, Kakashi-sensei, these are my new friends, and they want to be guided to Konoha."

Kakashi turned his attention to them. They don't seem the type to want to hire a ninja, they're far too young. And they're obviously travelling these roads without knowing about the thieves in this area. "Well as we're heading there anyway, you can come with us. I don't know what you hope to achieve in Konoha, perhaps hire bodyguards for the rest of your trip?"

"We can do that?" asked Kouichi.

"Of course," said Sakura. "That's how the village makes it's money, by letting people hire our services, for everything from tracking down missing animals and weeding, to assassinations."

Naruto winced as he remembered what some of their missions had been, and how badly Sasuke had showed him up.

Kakashi smiled under his mask. "Okay. Rest-break over. Back to work."