Chapter 3

Noon

The streets of the service section in downtown Kohona were busy as usual. Women bartered with merchants and street vendors, trying to beat down their prices. It was a typical day in the ninja village. Amidst all the chaos Ten Ten stood underneath the town clock, wearing, (whatever she usually wears, just adult size.) The young divine looking ninja looked at her watched for the fifth time. 11:55. A sweat drop appeared behind her head.

I need to clam down...but I'm so excited! I never saw such a gentle look in anyone before last night. His crystal blue eyes just seemed...so compassionate. A soft tap on Ten Ten's shoulder spooked her, turning sharply, she saw Naruto standing behind her with his usual wide grin. Ten Ten quickly regained her composure and put on a semi-stern face.

"Sorry But the opportunity was too tempting. Forgive me please?" Naruto put on a puppy dogface and looked like he was about to cry and whine. Such a look was too much for Ten Ten, Her face softened.

"I'll forgive you this time...but I won't be so quick to forgive you next time! Come on it hot out here and I'm starving." Naruto nodded his head vigorously and the pair walked over to the ramen shop. Naruto pulled back the curtain for Ten Ten and let her through first. They sat down at the long table and Naruto hailed the cook after asking what Ten Ten wanted. "Cook I'll have my usual and a miso ramen with two glasses of tea!" They sat in silence for a few minutes, adjusting to each other's presence. Finally Naruto, being energized with a bottomless energy started talking.

"How have your missions been going? I heard from Hokage that you have been reviewed to be assigned to ANBU." Two steaming hot bowls of ramen were set down in front of them along with a glass of tea. Naruto thanked the cook and turned back to Ten Ten.

"Most of my missions have been completed with little or no problems at all. But please lets talk about something else. We deal with missions and military almost everyday. Hmmm tell me about Mr. Tazuna and the bridge he built." Naruto smiled.

"Yeah that old guy was really something, and so was his grandson Inari. Mr. Tazuna built the bridge to connect the Island he lived on to the main land. Their economy was poor and the bridge would create more trade. The bridge symbolized the islander's courage. Inari was a young kid who showed the islanders that someone would stand up to the evil Gato, who had taken economic control of the island."

"Wow, I wish I could have been there to see the bridges completion."

"There was quite a celebration at the opening. The entire island was there." The soup had finally cooled down enough to eat with out burning, and they ate in silence.
Fifteen minutes later

Naruto paid for the for the meal and once again pulled back the curtain for Ten Ten first walking over to a bench and sitting down next to each other. "Would you like to go somewhere else?" Naruto ran through some ideal places but he waited for Ten Ten's response before adding his own. "Ah, how about we go to-" The ramen shop suddenly ignited in to a fiery inferno, glass shattered and a flaming cook plowed through the burning curtains and threw himself in to the pond across the street. His screams echoing throughout the entire service section. Naruto was thunderstruck for a split second before coming to his senses. "NOOOOOOOOO!!! MY ramen shop!!!" A malicious chuckle reverberated from the burning rooftop. Heads whirled toward the roof and there stood a demon. It's skin was red in hue, ram type horns protruding from the top of his skull. A black cloak covered most of his body but was parted a little in the front. Simple black leather pants and black chain mail adorned him. As he spoke it sounded as if bones were being grinned and blood was added as a lubricant.

"I have come for my brother." HE raised his demonic hand and pointed straight at Naruto's stomach.