"I've finally met Uzumaki Naruto in person," Kakashi told the bedridden Ebisu, smiling. "And you were right about one thing…"

"That he has the makings of a great fighter?" asked the very proud sensei of the Hokage wannabe.

"Um…that he needs help. Pronto."

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Chapter Nine

Naruto will air its last episode tomorrow in our country (at the time you're reading this it will be today ) – the Hinata vs. Neji battle. I'm going to miss Naruto-kun's boyish Tagalog dub sniff, as well as Sir Kakashi's gentle dubbing .

This chapter is dedicated to Miko-chan and Jam, her imouto. Thank you so much for taking the time out to email me your comments…words cannot say how much I was really touched by them. As for your questions, you'll find your answers little by little as the plot thickens

cough cough stupid cough, you've been my loyal companion for one week already. Now please leave me alone. I need some breathing germ-less space I can call my own. Just…go. coughing fit ensues

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"Once you've finished sweeping, you may want to start on bringing the pails of milk to the kitchen." Naruto opened one eyelid at the steaming Kiba. "Oh, and I think the stable of the horses need cleaning too. Get started on it."

"And what might my boss do if I am doing all the jobs here, if I may ask?" snarled the dog-lover.

"Well, I'll boss you around—er, I'll supervise you!" he amended quickly. "We talked about this already in front of Sasuke, right?"

The Inuzuka mumbled grumpily in reply. Something about how the boy could tell the ice prince what to do without so much effort, and suspicions that the new ranch boss must have used some kind of hex on the Lord Sasuke to make that happen.

"Hmm, are you saying something?"

"You're hearing things." The grumbling ranch worker continued his work in the royal stable as Naruto resumed his interrupted relaxation in the stocks of hay by the stable entrance.

Naruto snapped his fingers. "Oh, Kiba, by the way…"

Kiba tightened his hold on the fork he was using for the hay, as if it was the great trident of Poseidon. One more batch of orders from him and I swear I'll stab him! Anyway, I know places where no one could ever, EVER find his body…

Fortunately for Uzumaki Naruto, the dog lover's murderous thoughts dissipated with what he asked next. "Where is Hinata? I thought she works here as an assistant?"

For some reason, Kiba calmed. A little. "She just went to the kitchen to check if Lady Haruno's breakfast was delivered to her room already."

"I wonder…doesn't she get tired of doing double duties?" asked the blond. "I mean, both demands all her time and attention."

The ranch caretaker smiled. "I asked her that myself. She only told me not to worry about her. She said she loves what she do—taking care of animals and looking after Lady Haruno, whom she had grown fond of too." He continued to gather the hay. "But if you ask me, she is every inch a court lady too. It's her finesse when she moves. She's as graceful as Lady Haruno."

The blond couldn't help but grin. "You seem to know her so well to talk like that."

"W-What do you mean?" barked the Inuzuka at once, cheeks hinting the barest suggestion of red. "We had worked together for months. Of course I would be able to observe all things."

"Yep, just like what you said."

"And she's the only person I closely relate with. Of course it would only be her that I could observe fully!"

"Right," nodded the ranch mini-boss.

"And besides—" Kiba stopped, eyes wide. "Wait a minute, why am I explaining myself to you?!"

"Oh yeah, I was about to ask that."

"Graaaah!" Kiba angrily turned his attention back to his stable work as Naruto laughed some more.

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Hinata was carrying a jug of warm black coffee and two cups. She decided to bring Naruto and Kiba some coffee to help them chase away their lethargy brought about by the cold morning.

She was passing by the garden when she saw Aburame Shino standing by the water lily pond. She looked down at her jug, and then decided to share the strong coffee with him to offer warmth to his chilled bones. She drew closer towards him, but stopped again. He didn't seem to acknowledge her presence; his gaze was still on the white lily flowers floating on the blue-green waters of the pond.

He must be meditating…
Hinata decided to go back and not disturb him anymore. She was about to step back when he suddenly whirled around and grabbed her arm.

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"Kyuubi."  Kakashi unclasped his hands and looked at the ceiling thoughtfully. "The most frightening spirit of doom…and you say that it was trapped inside Uzumaki Naruto's body?"

Ebisu nodded weakly—he still had not fully recovered from his injuries. "It was Iruka who found the small boy wandering outside the gates of Hidden Leaf, so we decided to take him in. We discovered the spirit of nine tails courtesy of one incident that happened long ago while he was training." Whatever that incident was, the mentor didn't bother to elaborate on anymore.

Kakashi straightened. "You don't have to worry anymore about the boy, Ebisu. I'm making him my responsibility from now on."

The mentor's eyes shook. "Kakashi…"

"You care so much about that boy, ne?" he said, smiling.

"No. I was just stunned that you actually took a responsibility voluntarily."

"Your words wound deeply."

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"Ant hill."

Hinata's look of fear turned into bafflement. "H-Huh?"

The gardener pulled her towards him. "You nearly stepped on it." He gestured towards the red ants coming from the mound. "They bite harshly."

"T-Thank you," she said, flustered. He let go of her gently.

He abruptly turned his back on her once more as Hinata looked down, wondering what to say next.

"You need anything more?" he asked.

"C-Coffee!" she burst out, making him turn towards her again. Her cheeks reddened. "I-I mean…I-if you want…I made coffee. I-If you want to drink, then…" She looked up at him worriedly, anticipating his flat denial.

He looked at her for a few moments before he shrugged. "I don't like it sugary."

"I-I haven't stirred the sugar in yet…"

"I will have a cup then."

"H-Hai!" She beamed happily, glad that the gardener was talking to her now. She poured him a cup of coffee as the gardener watched her, unspeaking.

"Here you go, Aburame-kun." She handed him the ceramic cup shyly.

He received it, acknowledging her with a small nod of thanks.

She turned her eyes at the lily flowers. "Will they freeze in the ice?"

He sipped his coffee first before continuing. "From the look of them, they will wither and die in a few day's time anyway."

"That's sad…they look so pretty." She knelt down and inspected the nearest flower. "This one has blue blooms."

"Water lilies have different colors for their flowers," he explained after a hesitant pause. "Red, pink…" He knelt down beside her. "The blue lotus originated in Egypt."

"Really?" Her eyes widened. She inhaled the dewy morning freshness of the flower. "They smell heavenly."

"It's better if you look at them at night. They bloom best in that time," he said, pocketing his hands into his pockets. "Until midday, that is."

"I see…" Her eyes saddened when she saw her reflection on the water near the platter docks. Once upon a time, she was compared to a lily flower too. The Hyuuga clan who held such high hopes for her as the successor of the Byakugan. Her father who dreamed so much for her.

Yet she failed them all.

"I only have one daughter who truly bears the name of Hyuuga. And that is Hyuuga Hanabi."

"Here."

She looked up, startled. The garden keeper was handing her back the empty coffee cup.

"You better go in. The morning is too chilly." His voice held a trace of concern, and it was enough to make her put aside her unpleasant memories.

"Thank you so much for telling me about lily flowers," she said, smiling.

He nodded briefly. "The best coffee is still straight black. It is very bitter, but in the end, it's the only thing that will really keep you up in your toes."

"I agree." And it wasn't just about the coffee she knew he was talking about.

I may have small bitterness for the clan I disappointed, but this is the same thing that motivates me to change myself and become stronger.

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"Ugh! Choji, you took up more than half your share in our breakfast!" complained Shikamaru when he finally summoned the Herculean effort to get up from bed.

"That's what you get from being too lazy," said his assistant, waving his fingers like a priest making a point in his homily. "The early bird gets the extra rice. Get it, rise, rice?"

"No. You have a world of your own and I am yet to learn your dictionary and vernacular." He took his seat and looked at the leftover hotdogs disdainfully. Two pieces left from the original fourteen that was in the fridge, and one piece had a bite even.

"You don't need all that food anyway," said Choji quickly. "While I, on the other hand, need that to inflict more damage on my jutsu."

Shika held his hands up in surrender. "Hai, hai. You won the argument. Damage done, my breakfast is gone. Now let's drop it and let me eat the scraps in peace."

Suddenly, the door banged open, and in came Ino, looking very excited. "Choji! Shika!!!"

"Ino, silencio, por favor! I just woke up you know!" Shikamaru groaned. He loved Yamanaka Ino to pieces, really, but her high-pitched voice banging and obliterating his eardrums…he wasn't THAT indestructible.

"Hmp! I will forgive you for not calling me with my honorific title, Shika, because I'm feeling so happy! So happy!" She danced around the room giddily.

"One name: Uchiha Sasuke." Shikamaru rolled his eyes. Only one person could bestow such a ridiculous starry-eyed expression on her face.

Ino paused long enough to nod. "Kurenai-sensei had decided to revive the spring play tradition, and guess what?"

"What?" asked Choji.

"Lord Sasuke would be in the play!"

"As the tree again?" asked the shadow master.

"Of course not. He'll have dialogues!"

"A talking tree?!" exclaimed the two butlers.

"Idiots!" But for the first time ever, she didn't follow it up with her usual punches. She smiled dreamily. "He's going to be the Beast!"

"He already is," muttered the two.

"Nani?"

"Nothing!" Shika scratched his cheek. "And if I may ask, were you picked to be Beauty?"

"What do you think?" asked Ino, batting her eyelashes at her friends.

"I'm…awed." The shadow player did look every inch astounded. "What happened to your archrival?"

"Hmp! Kurenai-sensei must have realized that I am a much better actress than she can ever be!" said Ino proudly.

"Actually, Kurenai just thought that since Sakura had her turn as the princess already, Ino must have her turn now." Lord Yamanaka entered the room, laughing.

"Father!" yelled Ino, indignant. She made a shooing motion as her dad left the room, still laughing.

"I knew it," muttered Choji and the Shika.

The girl placed her hands on her hips. "Nevertheless, it still remains as a fact that this is my chance to be close to the prince…as in really, intimately close."

Shikamaru groaned. "Don't remind me."

"So as Father's political strategist, you should be able to come up with sure-fire ways for the prince to notice me." She sat down with them in the breakfast table and snatched one hotdog,

"My food!" complained the boy.

"Well, Shika, that is your assignment. Father will not give you any more homework until the end of winter. By that time, you should have come up with ideas already, understand?" she asked.

"Wait. The ice prince approved of the spring play idea…even at the middle of an impending kingdom war?" Shikamaru couldn't understand what kind of insane spirit took over the prince's mind.

"I think this is a ploy to make the other kingdoms think that we're not yet aware of their plans…and to show our own people as well that all is good and fine in Hidden Leaf kingdom." Ino shrugged. "Anyway, what do I care about those things? All I know is the chance to finally seize the elusive heart of the Prince Sasuke has finally come!"

"That's some kind of a social concern you have, Ino."

"Ahem!"

"Lady Ino," he said again, rolling his eyeballs.

Choji frowned thoughtfully. "You know, I feel bad for Lady Sakura. She looks pretty serious about the prince too."

"All is fair in love and war," shrugged Ino.

"But you two were the best of best friends. Don't you miss her?" persisted the assistant butler.

She looked down, determined not to show them how she really feels. "All I am aiming for is Uchiha Sasuke. I will not think of anything else."

"That's too bad," said Choji. "Because even if you do get your happiness, the knowledge that you stole from someone that same chance will still make you feel miserable."

"I won't steal anything." She quickly turned her back on them, her good mood gone. "I-I'll see you guys later."

As soon as the door closed, Shikamaru groaned audibly.

"You should have spared her from the truth. You know how much her pride hurts," said the shadow master. "She misses Haruno, but she had made it her personal fight to get Uchiha Sasuke's heart." He cupped his chin as he chewed the last bite of his sausage thoroughly, wanting to savor the meat to its very last fried goodness. "This is one of the times that I wished Uchiha Sasuke was gay."

"Amen," agreed Choji as he began to clear the table.

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"Gaaaah! This is so boring!" Seven-year-old Yamanaka Ino collapsed back on her seat, not wanting to look anymore at the horrible multiplication problems. Who cares if 8 multiplied by 8 would either be 63 or 64? Will it change the world? Would it unify mankind?

Her eyes went outside the window, wanting to relax. She then noticed a pink-haired girl her age doing cartwheels outside the garden. For a moment, she only watched the girl, delighted by her laughter. She silently wondered when her father last let her go out of the castle and play. It was always 'training for wifehood' that she was doing, and she was sick of it. She only had one chance in her lifetime to be a child, so why was her parents being impatient and hurrying her up to become adult already?

She looked at her tutor, who had fallen asleep. She grinned. Kurenai-sensei wasn't bad as a teacher, but a seven-year-old soon-to-be court lady could have only too much Math. She went to the window and carefully jumped down from the second floor of the palace's south wing.

"Hi!" she cheerfully greeted.

The girl looked up, startled. A wary, guarded expression hooded her angelic face. "Y-Yes?"

Ino looked puzzled, but she chose to carry on with the conversation. "I was studying when I heard you playing outside."

"Is it disturbing you?" she asked after a moment of hesitation.

"No. Actually, it might be disturbing you." Her eyes twinkled as she met the girl's wide emerald eyes. "I am Yamanaka Ino, and I was wondering if you want me to be your friend."

"F-Friend?"

"Uh-huh." She nodded eagerly, looking up at the endless blue sky. "I have been living here all my life, and it's my first time to see you."

"M-My family's new here," she said shyly, as if she just mustered her guts now to speak in ease.

"Oh, and then let me show you around, ok?" Ino clapped her hands. "I'll introduce you to Shika and Choji, and Rock Lee, Tenten…" She tipped her chin. "I don't know with Neji though. He's too much of a loner."

"T-That would be…great." A smile blossomed on the pink-haired girl's face.

"Wow, you look so cute when you smile!" The blonde reached out and touched the girl's disheveled bangs.

"N-No wait…" Her words trailed off when Ino inspected her forehead.

"I-It's too wide, my temple…" She looked away embarrassedly.

"That's no reason to feel shy!" Ino raised a finger as if lecturing her. "People with wide temples are very smart."

"Really?" The jade orbs of the girl twinkled. "I…didn't know that…Ino…"

"You still haven't told me your name," Ino pointed out smilingly.

"Haruno Sakura…"

"Sakura-chan! Good name! Fits you perfectly!" She nodded. "Come with me."

"E-Eh?"

"I'll fix your hair. Let's go up to my room."

"Is it ok? I-I mean…"

Ino pretended to look exasperated. "Sakura-chan, don't be stubborn. If I say you're my friend, then you are one."

"Ino…chan…" She smiled slowly, as if the realization just dawned on her.

"Yes, Sakura-chan." Ino immediately felt fondness for the girl. "Let's go," she tugged lightly at her hand.

Sakura nodded and clasped her hand back trustingly.

It was the start of a beautiful friendship, of harmony.

And even if years later, the friendship was silenced, its melody continues to reverberate within them, no matter how many flat denials they give.

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"Kiba-kun, coffee." Hinata handed him a mug of creamy brown drink.

"Thanks Hinata!" The boy accepted it gratefully.

"Here you go, Akamaru." She took out some biscuits from her apron and gave it to the eager puppy. Her eyes then turned to the sleeping Naruto, who was contentedly lying down the hay, snoring.

"If I were you, I'd pour the whole coffee mug on him," said the dog lover, grinning wickedly.

"Oh Kiba-kun!" She smiled. "You're not getting along well, eh?"

"He put the I in impossible…I as in IDIOT." He sat down to enjoy the drink.

She went to the slumbering boy, still debating whether to wake him up or not. But a little later, she found herself getting more and more drawn to the innocence of his sleeping face. He looked more boyish and endearing to her eyes. Before she could stop herself, she raised her hand to touch his face.

"Let him sleep," said Kiba, who was still oblivious to what was going on with her. Flustered, she withdrew her hand and faced him, trying to hide her heated cheeks.

"H-Hai…"

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"I'll give you back your bed rest now, Ebisu," said Kakashi, standing up. "Now that I know all about Uzumaki Naruto, I think I can handle him well now."

"Yes, but there is one thing you must remember, and it's important."

"Hmm?" He turned to the ninja who suddenly looked serious.

"Don't try to hug him or kiss him."

Kakashi blinked. "It's not part of my agenda, don't worry."

"No, I mean it."

The white-haired ninja sweatdropped. "I'm not a homosexual pedophile."

"It is his curse. If ever touched by a male in that degree, he would change into a girl." Ebisu grinned, blushing. "A very cute and sexy girl, for that matter."

Kakashi sweatdropped once more.

"And keep him out of hot water. He would become a frog."

"What a confusing biological make-up he has."

"Finally, the last part of the curse. Iruka and I thought that the touch of the opposite sex could make him go back to his original human form. However, we learned that in other kingdoms, the rule of that curse was different." Ebisu looked out at the window. "No girl could ever touch him. The only one who could ever lay a hand on the cursed person is a true princess, with true love for him. Thus, she is the only one capable of breaking the curse"

Silence.

"That was mushy."

"Indeed," agreed Ebisu. "Whoever originally created that curse must be an incurable romantic."

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to be continued

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post-speak

Ebisu was right. The one who created that frog curse IS an incurable romantic --

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