WAAAAHHH! finals were crazy and then I went on vacation so that's why there were no updates recently...Anyhoo...


Previously...

Tsunade produced a single sheet of paper also seemingly out of nowhere and placed it in front of Kireina. Kireina was near tears again, she reached over and hugged Tsunade and thanked her profusely, signing the sheet with a slight trembling in her hand.

Kireina turned to Kakashi, "Thank you for your hospitality this past week, Kakashi. I hope I haven't put you out."

Kakashi waved it off, "Maa, it was no problem. I'll miss having a wonderful cook."

Kireina laughed lightly, "You'll have to come over for dinner every night then."

Kakashi winked mischievously, "I'll plan on that and some dessert too. Preferably some eye candy?"

Everyone gasped at the last remark and Kireina turned bright red before whacking Kakashi upside the head and reaching into his front pocket and taking his book out,

"That's it! No more of these books for you," she grumbled furiously.

She took the book and threw it in the trashcan. When Kakashi tried to get it, she easily intercepted him and pushed him into his chair just as their waiter came back with the dishes. The rest of the night was filled with much fun and laughter and of course, plenty of teasing Kireina on Kakashi's part. That night Sasuke and Naruto headed separate ways for the last time.


On with the story!
7 months later...

"Aiiiiieeeee! Reina-nee-chan! Why didn't you wake me up?" a howl sounded throughout Konoha as its number one most unpredictable ninja shot out of his bed and hurtled into the bathroom.

Kireina blinked in surprise from where she sat at the kitchen table. Sasuke looked up in annoyance at being interrupted from his breakfast.

"Ten bucks says he forgot you guys aren't meeting today," Kireina said conversationally.

Sasuke snorted, "I'd be stupid to bet against that."

Over the past 7 months, the two boys had grown remarkably, both physically and maturely. Sasuke now stood at 6 feet 1 inch, 6 inches shorter than Kakashi. Although Naruto was still shorter, he was catching up fast. He was now 5 feet 10 inches compared to the 4 feet 11 inches he had been in his genin days. Kireina, of course, had already reached her growth limit a long time ago. The only difference in her physique was the fact that her hair was longer now, but you could rarely tell since she always had it in a bun. She worked at the hospital every other day now and helped out with Team 7's training whenever she could. Sasuke, Naruto, and Kireina had become a close little family. Kakashi frequently visited so he was practically part of their family as well. During their time together, Kireina had managed to calm Naruto's hyperactive personality down a little but not much. Sasuke had opened up a lot more and he could stand talking to the same person for longer than 5 minutes and without the use of "Hn". Although the two boys still fought constantly and ceaselessly, at the end of each night, the little family would always spend some time together before bidding each other good night. Kireina made sure to shower both boys with equal affection, but was sure to discipline them when needed as well.

"I hear him coming," Sasuke commented.

Kireina sighed, "Trip him, but not too hard."

Sasuke made no motion as to whether or not he heard but a few seconds later when a yellow, orange and black blur flew down the stairs, Sasuke easily stuck a foot out sending Naruto crashing to the floor.

Kireina winced, "I thought I said not too hard."

Sasuke gave her look, "How do you control how hard someone falls when they trip?"

Kireina paused, "Err...good question. Naruto, did you forget you have no meeting today?"

Naruto looked up from his place on the floor and gazed adoringly at the young woman who had taken him in and given him a home. Then he turned to glare fiercely at Sasuke.

"You baka! What did you do that for?" He yelled, completely ignoring Kireina's question.

"Naruto!" Kireina reprimanded sharply, "What did I say about ignoring those that speak to you? And what did I ALSO say about calling people names? Especially your own brother."

Naruto stopped his onslaught and had the sense to look ashamed, "Gomen Reina-nee-chan."

Kireina gave him a pointed look and Naruto pouted childishly before turning to Sasuke and apologizing.

Kireina's frown turned into a bright smile, "Your breakfast is already set out. Remember you don't have a meeting today? I thought after yesterday's mission, you could use some rest, so I didn't bother waking you."

"Arigato, Nee-chan!" Naruto chirped happily, "Itadakimasu!"

Kireina shook her head. It was hard to believe that Naruto was already sixteen. Naruto's birthday was only a few months after Sasuke's so her two boys were both officially sixteen. Kireina frowned. There was no meeting today, so why did it feel as if she was forgetting something important? Suddenly it hit her.

"Crap," Kireina muttered.

She shot out of her chair and began clearing the table ignoring Naruto's protests of not having licked his plate yet.

"You're not supposed to do that, remember?" Kireina scolded Naruto while loading the dishes into the washer and quickly cleaning up the kitchen.

"Come on boys! We have to get going if we're going to find a present in time for the party!" Kireina ordered, "Go wash your hands and comb your hair a little Naruto. You too, Sasuke!"

The two boys hurried to do her bidding and came back within minutes for her inspection. Only then did Naruto think to ask her the question that had been pressing on his mind.

"Ne, Reina-nee-chan...why are we shopping for a present? And what party?" Naruto questioned.

Kireina paused in her inspection of Sasuke and turned a fierce look onto Naruto, "Don't you guys remember WHY our meeting was cancelled today?"

Naruto shrank back slightly from her intense gaze and shrugged.

"It's Sakura's birthday, dobe," Sasuke reminded Naruto.

He waited patiently as Kireina pulled at his clothing; straightening his shirt and pulling his pants up so they didn't look like they were about to fall off. Sasuke scowled when Kireina pulled his black pants up. He defiantly pulled them back down. When Kireina turned her glare on him, he stood his ground for a few seconds before meekly pulling his pants back up and belting it. Kireina stepped back and gave her little brothers a look over then beamed brightly.

"My little brothers are going to be the handsomest gentlemen at that party tonight," Kireina declared.

"What about me?" a voice spoke up from their window.

"Haven't you ever heard of the door Kashi-kun?" Kireina asked without turning.

"The what?"

Kireina snorted then turned towards Kakashi who leapt off the windowsill into the kitchen.

"You really should lock your windows," Kakashi observed, "What if I had been a Cloud ninja?"

Kireina snorted again in a very unladylike manner, "Then you wouldn't have even gotten as far as opening the window. Yuki and Daisuke are in the backyard."

Kakashi paled at prospect of being mauled by the two lions before resuming his cheery look.

"All ready for the party, my lady?"

"I'm not your lady. We still have to get Sakura's present," Kireina informed the silver-haired jounin.

Kakashi smirked, "I already got her present. A little behind on the chores are we?"

"Oh you be quiet you old fart," Kireina huffed.

Kakashi pretended to be offended, "My, my! Such language coming from a young lady! And I resent that "old" comment. Just because—"

"—you have silver hair doesn't mean your old," Kireina finished, "Yes, yes, we know!"

Kakashi looked thoughtful, "You know, "old fart" aren't the prettiest words coming from a person's mouth you know. They shouldn't be coming from such a beautiful mouth. And might I add, a very kissable one too."

He was next to Kireina's side in a flash winking at her. Kireina seemed flustered for a brief second before snarling, "I never said you could add."

"Oh but I can! 1+12! 2+24!" Kakashi said merrily.

Kireina hit her head against the cupboard, "Why did I say he was allowed to visit whenever?"

"Because you secretly adore me," Kakashi replied before placing a quick cloth-covered kiss on Kireina's cheek.

Naruto and Sasuke shrieked at that last action having stayed quiet throughout the entire banter. Kireina's face was as red as a cherry and she looked shocked. Kakashi merely leaned against the door and pulled out a book. Kireina quickly recovered when she saw what book it was. She frowned.

"What did I say about reading those books?" Kireina growled.

Kakashi paused and looked up as if trying to remember, "Oh yeah, no reading them. Oops! Forgot!"

He tried to stuff it in his pocket in a hurry, but it was too late. Kireina held a hand out and the book flew from Kakashi's hands into Kireina's hands. Sasuke and Naruto gaped at her as did Kakashi.

"I've never seen that before!" Kakashi mused, "It's certainly not a jutsu."

Kireina stuck her tongue out. She held the book with one hand while the other flew through a series of seals.

"Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu!"

She was able to control the amount of fire produced so she only used a little to set the offending book on fire. Kakashi frowned at Kireina and was probably pouting but his mask covered his face from being seen.

"Nee-chan! How did you take Kakashi's book from him?" Naruto asked excitedly.

Even Sasuke seemed interested in knowing.

Kireina laughed, "Chakra. I control my chakra and I can make it do what I want. Just then I made my chakra bring the book to me."

Sasuke frowned, "But I didn't see any chakra."

"Of course not! Do you think I would let others see it?" Kireina smiled, "Now, enough talking. Let's go get Sakura's present!"


Kireina's secrets are starting to be revealed. -squeals- kakaka :) Anyway, she's a girl with many secrets, so it'll probably take many chapters before all of them are revealed. As for my NejiOC pairing, that'll come eventually :) I just don't know which chapter it'll be in. It's not anytime soon though. Hokey dokes! See ya :P