Sakura waited patiently outside Ichiraku Ramen, but the exasperated expression and impatient tapping of her foot, not to mention her crossed arms, spoke otherwise.

Sasuke appeared in a swirl of wind next to her, startling the pink-haired kuonichi. "Geez!" she exclaimed, trying to gather her dignity around her again. "Don't be such a show-off."

Sasuke merely grinned, pleased that he had thrown the med-nin off balance a bit. "Where's Naruto?" he inquired, looking around and taking a similar-but-more-masculine stance of Sakura's. "He's late...as usual."

Sakura didn't have long before another appearing figure swirled on the other side of her. Jumping again, right into Sasuke, the med-nin shrieked in suprise. But it wasn't who they were waiting for.

Ao stood outside the ramen stand, his head slightly cocked to the side. "I am starving," he said, to no one in particular, and lifted the flaps to the stand.

"Welcome to Ichiraku Ramen! How may I help you?"

"You have any hummus and pita?" These words sparked Sasuke's intrigue, and he listened in more.

"We don't, just ramen. You from Hidden-In-Sand?"

"No. I went there once, though."

If Sasuke could only see the expression on Ao's face, he would immediately know otherwise.

"Would you like some ramen instead?"

"Sure. A bowl of miso ramen, please."

"Alright then!" The sounds of the cooker could be heard through the flimsy 'doors'.

Just when Sakura had recovered from the two unexpected entrances, a third and fourth appeared, and it was indeed Gaara and Naruto, the former looking quite emotionless, the latter quite starving. "Boy, am I hungry!" the blonde exclaimed, grinning and rubbing his stomach as if to prove his statement.

The Hidden-In-Mist jounin's ears pricked up after hearing the familiar tones. He, however, did not move. It was as if he sensed the conflict and did nothing to stop it from happening.

Naruto opened the flap to his favorite restaurant and immediately saw Ao's backside, completley tuning out the happy greeting from the cook.

"Welcome, Hokage-sama!"

"Wha? What is HE doing here!"

As important as he was, Naruto still had some growing up to do. His face was in the expression of a pout, and he sulkily pointed at Ao, who had turned around in the process. "Yes? Is there something I can do for you, Hokage?" The drawn-out pronunciation of Naruto's title was none other than contempt and annoyance for the small Kyuubi host. The Kazekage immediately stepped in, his anger for the visitor rekindled.

"You will be wise to apologize to the Hokage, or I will make you do so."

Ao stood up, and faced the Sand ninja. "And how will you do that?" For the second time today, each tried to stare eachother down.

Sasuke sensed the growing animosity and stepped inbetween the two. He turned to Gaara first. "Stop it, Gaara, he isn't worth your time." He then turned to Ao. "I suggest that you should be kinder towards the Hokage AND the Kazekage," he said, gesturing to Gaara. Ao looked at Sasuke for a minute, then he looked down. "You're right." Looking back up at Naruto, he bowed slightly. "Hokage-sama, please forgive my attitude towards you, even on such a holiday. I had no right to take a tone with you." He then turned to Gaara, whose face was one of pure shock from the apology made to Naruto. "Kazekage-sama, I also apologize for trying to start a fight with you. I should be more respective of those of higher rank than I." Ao also bowed towards the Tanuki host as well, then sat back down and began on the ramen that the shocked chef had lain before him during the encounter.

Naruto was speechless. So was Gaara. They both looked at eachother, and finally Gaara spoke.

"If you accept his apology, then I do too."

"I do accept it. It IS Tanbata, after all!"

Sakura, who had been watching this whole time, squealed in delight. "Tanbata!" she said joyously. "The most romantic day of the year!" She slung her arm around Sasuke while giving him a look. The Uchiha just smirked and sat down, leaving Sakura to have her arm around...no one. She sat down next to him, and Gaara and Naruto sat on the other side of Ao. Naruto grinned at Ao, who shakily returned the smile.

"So, Ao, do you know of Tanbata?"

The amber-eyed jounin looked down at his ramen and smiled. "I do, yes. I visited Hidden-In-Leaves when I was a child once, during Tanbata. It was magical, something I will never forget." Ao looked up at Sasuke, peering at his eyes curiously. "You are an Uchiha, yes?" he inquired, gesturing to his eyes. Sasuke nodded. "How could you tell, Ao-san?"

Ao's smile faded. "You...you look just like your brother. I'm sorry to say that, and I know it must anger you, but...you do." Sasuke's expression was unreadable, somewhere between shocked and bitter. "And how would you know how my brother looked?" the Uchiha asked, his eyes showing suspicion. Ao looked down at his ramen bowl again. "Many of my friends fell to that bastard. And to his partner, Kisame, as well. I heard that you killed him personally. Is that true?" Sasuke merely nodded. Ao breathed a sigh of relief. "Then I can know that the butcher of so many innocents was killed. Quite ironically, too..."

During Ao and Sasuke's talk, Naruto had devoured four bowls of ramen, and Gaara was looking at him with a look of sheer amazement. "You know that is sick, don't you?" he said, eyeing the four clean white bowls laying next to the Hokage as he polished off his fifth. Naruto merely grinned, then ordered a sixth.

A med-nin dressed in white suddenly entered and kneeled down next to Sakura, whispering something in her ear. Sakura got up after the med-nin had delivered her message and left. "You guys, I gotta run. The hospital needs me, as does the Tanbata decorating squad. See you later!" She walked out of the small stand, three farewell voices echoing in her departure.

Gaara and Naruto stood up, the former having not eaten anything, but the latter finishing eight bowls of ramen. "We've probably gotta go too, imporant Kazekage/Hokage things to do, you know." Sasuke and Ao nodded in their wake as they walked back to Naruto's office.

"Well, what do I do now?" Ao leaned back slightly in his chair, his hands folded behind his head. Sasuke looked at him for a minute, then grinned. "Wanna train?" he asked, looking at the Mist ninja. Ao looked at him, then grinned.

"Let's go. I'd like to see what that Sharingan can do in a battle."


He slowly flipped the pages in the orange book with the red caution sign on the back. "Hehehe," he said quietly, hoping no one would hear him--

"KAKASHI-SENSEI, COME HELP RIGHT NOW!"

The grey-haired jounin sat up with a start. "Damn, I thought my hiding skills would have prevailed," he said, turning around to face a very angry Sakura. He sighed, put his book away, and plugged his ears with his fingers as she began to scream.

"YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT TO DO, AND WHAT DO YOU DO? YOU'RE READING PERVY BOOKS, FOR GOODNESS' SAKES! GET BACK TO WORK YOU LAZY PERVERT!"

Grumbling, the 'copy ninja' went back to hanging love prayers on the Tanbata tree.


Sasuke was panting, laying on the ground. Ao was kneeling on him, pinning him to the ground and holding a shuriken to his neck, grinning. "The amber eyes triumph again!" he exclaimed, and let the Uchiha up, sheathing his kunai knife.

"Dammit, Ao, you are too fast!" Ao bowed in thanks for this recognition. "Thanks."

Sasuke grinned at Ao, who returned the gesture. "Wanna head back for some tea?"

Ao nodded. "Sure, I'll catch up in a second." Sasuke nodded and disappeared in a whirl of wind.

As soon as Ao thought that Sasuke was far enough away, Ao ran into the surrounding trees and performed some katas, transforming back into his original form.

"Dammit," growled Gansaku, as he rubbed his head thoughfully, leaning against a tree. "I can't keep this extended disguise up for long. Gotta take him out, and fast." He closed his eyes slowly, and darkness overtook his senses.

He was standing in a dark room, and a pair of amber eyes appeared in the darkness, large and looming over his figure.

What do you want now? Your stupid jutsu is using up yours and my chakura.

"I'm sorry, Setsuna. I will try to be more tactful."

You'd better. This Uchiha whelp, shall we take him out now?

"No. Not yet. I have my eyes on that Hyuga brat."

Good, good. I am thirsting for bloodshed already!

"Still your bloodlust for now, Setsuna. We will strike soon."

Gansaku looked down at his arms quickly. There were two seals in each shoulder, snaking down his biceps and ending at his forearms.

Thinking of the day where we became one, young Gansaku?

"If only Itachi and the other knew. They had a demon host right under their noses the whole time."

If only.