Chapter Two

Disclaimer: Ok, I think one in the first chapter is enough… It wastes space… Heh. I don't own Naruto or anything, except for Sairi, Rin, and Kaori. For the deal with Higen, hit the button above that takes you back to chapter one.

Hey! Thanks for all the reviews you guys; it really made my day. The reviews were off to a rocky start, well the first one, but you guys were great. I'm glad you like it, and hope I don't mess anything up this chapter… But knowing my luck, by the end, you'll hate it.

So yeah, I should get started, shouldn't I?

"Get up."

Higen commanded the two girls for at least the fifth time, frustrated with the results. Rin had been the first and only one to follow his orders, getting up somewhere around the second call. But it wasn't as fast as Higen would have liked it, of course. Then again, he wouldn't have been pleased no matter how quickly she would have jumped to his request. But still, there lay Kaori and Sairi, still asleep. That was what infuriated him the most. At least Rin had been moving. Kaori lay on her back, her chest slowly rising and falling. It wasn't hard to tell she was deeply dreaming. But Sairi; he knew she was just doing this to agitate him. He bent at the hip, glaring daggers at the back of both the females' heads. They didn't move. "I will get a bucket of water."

"I'd like to see you try." Sairi snapped in reply, finally sitting up. The top half of the sleeping bag that had followed her movements slid around her waist as she turned. Gently at first, she shook the younger girl next to her, yielding no results. She pushed her side twice. The girl was as silent and still as a rock. After a few more shakes she had awakened, and Sairi had climbed out of the makeshift bed and was standing while she re-harnessed her kunai belt. She didn't carry many weapons with her, she thought that her taijutsu was just as much a deadly weapon; but just in case, the kunai and shuriken gave her a sense of plan 'b' security.

Higen didn't hesitate to grab her sleeping bag and roll it up as fast as he could, clearly now in a foul mood. Because of Sairi, no doubt. Of course it was her fault, and she knew it. It was because she didn't bow to him and call him master. "Good job. Now we're late; again." He muttered to her under his breath, throwing the rolled up bedding in a pile with the rest. He was supposed to have already packed the others, but he had decided on some not too smart idea to wait for the others to awaken. Now all they needed were the two girls to get over themselves and get ready. It shouldn't have taken them so long to get ready; they weren't going to eat dinner at the King's Palace. They were walking on a path. As if.

"You need to get over yourself." Sairi spoke to him aloud as she checked to make sure all her things were gathered; although it consisted of nothing more than the clothes she wore and the few mere kunai and shuriken she carried with her. She observed their bluntness as she spoke. They would easily make her bleed if she wasn't careful. "You're not a god." She spoke calmly, just as if she would be talking about yesterday's weather or someone's plans for the next day.

Higen stopped packing to yell over his shoulder. "Me? A god? And you think you're all high and mighty because you threw a knife between me and a little girl?" He asked angrily, clenching his fist tightly. It would take all he had not to start another physical fight with this girl; and this time, he would make sure he didn't lose. Last time he didn't lose, he had just been called off like a dog. But again, wolves could be pretty vicious.

"Higen, c'mon, leave the girl alone." Asuma stood at the beginning of the path, a backpack packed and ready on his back. He seemed amused by how easily Sairi could upset him; although it wasn't that hard if someone tried. It could actually be pretty entertaining, because Higen was the best and all. Once again, Asuma would be the next Hokage.

"And I'm not little!" Kaori scuffed, crossing her arms across her chest. She was already standing beside Asuma, ready to go with Rin slightly behind her. All she had to do was get out of bed and fix her hair, and she was ready. It really didn't take that long, only a few minutes, and she didn't know why Higen was throwing such a hissy fit. Besides, it shouldn't matter that she wasn't as talented as some of the other ninja. It shouldn't, but it did.

Higen immediately stood up. This was not his fault. "I didn't say anything to her!" He retorted defensively, gesturing to the girl behind him who was checking her armbands. Asuma took a glance at her before looking back at Higen. The skeptical expression on his face told Higen everything. Without another word he fell back onto his knees to force the sleeping bags into his backpack violently. Although he didn't want to admit it, he had lost another fight against her this very minute. Asuma believed her. Sairi knew without a doubt that the sleeping bags represented her face as he pushed and punched them as hard as he could into the bag.

Sairi, finally pleased with her gear and appearance, looked down at Higen. "What is your name anyway?" She asked curiously, remembering that he hadn't introduced himself the night before when everyone else had. It was rude in many villages, including Sairi's, not to introduce oneself. But then again, Higen wasn't exactly the most polite person Sairi had met.

"If you haven't been paying attention at all," Higen started, referring to the couple of times that Asuma had to call him into check, "Katsumata Higen." He answered lowly, and not too warmly at that. Sairi shrugged indifferently and took her place alongside the group.

"Well, you'd better hurry. You're making us late."

Konoha and the Hokage's palace couldn't have come soon enough. Relief washed over Higen like a gentle, but sudden wave at the sight of the fortress. Even Asuma was happy to be released from the tension and sparks that seemed to constantly be flying between Higen and Sairi; or Higen and anyone for that matter. Normally, from what Asuma had experienced, the Jonin had only been arrogant and self-centered. Not that he wasn't acting that way now, but it was to more of an extreme than ever. Sometimes he could be a little helpful, on a normal occasion.

That Kaori girl was adorable; or so Asuma thought. Higen thought she was too annoying and hyper-active. She followed Asuma everywhere he went, like a little puppy that would follow the young boy to school. She was always there behind him, her pigtails bouncing up and down as she would grin and babble on about various subjects to him forever. She had trusted him so easily, and for a while he would wonder why, until he decided to accept it for how it was and go on with it. Besides, he really didn't mind. He was too amused by it to get aggravated.

"Is that it?" Kaori asked excitedly as her green eyes set on the Hokage's palace. Her face lit up anxiously as Asuma nodded in response. Sairi analyzed it closely, trying to examine its every detail. Rin didn't even seem like she noticed anything. What was going on? Was this girl a robot or something?

'So this is our new home…' Sairi thought doubtfully as they entered between two guards, and then straight into a spacious room that felt empty. 'It doesn't look too cozy.' She added to herself, trying to note every feature of her surroundings. Every face, every chair, every window… She wanted to remember it all. She wasn't able to finish before all three girls were whisked into the next room, and Higen received a deathly glare for trying to gently push her along.

The next room was just as wide and open, feeling chilled like there was a fresh breeze blowing through each of them. Kaori shook for a moment before she became accustomed to the feeling; not that she wasn't used to the cold… But usually it would be a little humid form the rain and mist in her village. Sairi silently thanked her style and fashion for the fabric that covered her lower arms and legs. Rin, however, didn't have many problems because of the length of her dress; except for her short sleeves. Behind an oak desk at the back sat an elderly man, with an oddly shaped white hat trimmed and decorated in red. A veil of white fell from the hat and onto his shoulders, leaving the front open for his face. The Hokage.

"Lord Hokage," Asuma made their presence known as he tipped his head forward in respect. They continued until they reached the opposite side of his desk, standing before him and waiting to be acknowledged. He looked up, and although he seemed a little surprised by the amount of people before him, he smiled warmly.

"My, my Asuma… What do we have here?" He inquired, examining each of the girls. His eyes fell first on what appeared to be the youngest, a pink haired girl with long, low pigtails. How interesting… Then there was an older girl, with a thin belt of kunai and shuriken that glinted in the light. And last, what seemed to be the poster child for darkness. The blonde haired girl was no doubt from the Hidden Cloud village; he had seen that type of royal attire many times on peace journeys to her village. Not to mention the Hitai-ate tied around her waist. But the other two he wasn't able to decipher before they were introduced.

"Your gifts; from the three villages." Asuma explained, and he was sure he shared the same confused look the night before that the Hokage had now. "From Rain, Star, and Cloud." He nodded to each at the sound of their village, along with tiny movements that each girl made when their village's name was heard.

The Hokage raised an eyebrow. "So where are they?"

"Right in front of you sir."

The elder's eyes rose once more to look at the girls, pressing his fingertips together in thought. Well, this sure was interesting. Of course, he couldn't just send the girls back. What would he be trying to do, start a war? Telling the leaders that their daughters weren't good enough for him? Although they weren't the strongest villages, aside from Cloud, the Hokage didn't favor the thought of a three-on-one fight. With this on his mind, he intertwined his fingers. They would have to learn to live here somehow. "Tell me, what do you plan on doing here, my princesses?" He asked, assuming they were all of royal blood. Of course he had miss-guessed that fact; but he wasn't corrected.

After a pause, Sairi was the first to answer. "I would like to continue my training." She told him, receiving an understanding nod in response. A pleased expression sat on her face as she realized she might be given the chance to do so. Not that she was going to let anyone stop her if they told her no…

"Me too!" Kaori announced, as both Asuma and the Hokage smirked. The room suddenly seemed to concentrate on Rin, as if they expected her to jump in and excitedly and agree. From what they knew so far, and from her few words spoken, they should have known better than to think so.

"I will." She agreed, nodding her head once. The Hokage seemed happy at their decision, with a hint of melody in his voice as he spoke.

"Higen, summon Hatake Kakashi."

All three girls now stood in a neat row on one side of the room, quietly listening to the conversation only a few feet away. There was a new ninja, dressed in a green flak jacket and a blue outfit, who had joined them. From what Sairi could tell, this was that Hatake Kakashi man that the Hokage had been speaking of. He looked mysterious; but in an approachable way that Sairi couldn't explain. Maybe it was the way he was acting so casual, or just the way he spoke that made her relax.

"Kakashi," The Hokage began, "would you be willing to take in three new students? They would each be from Cloud, Rain, or Star." He explained, as Kakashi's one visible eyebrow rose. He was wearing a navy face mask that covered the bottom half of his face; while his Hatai-ate was slung over his left eye. Three new students, from three separate villages? That would be a little much to handle, but there was never too much for Hatake Kakashi to handle; although it would have to be entertaining… Maybe this was his punishment for never passing a team before; he would finally be pegged down with what all the other Jonin sensei had been putting up with over the years.

Asuma himself looked slightly astonished. Here he was, with his own team, and the Hokage had called Kakashi to see if he needed any extra students. He felt as if he was being ignored; like he was invisible and he wasn't there. Besides, his team was one of the slackers that lagged behind. He could use someone like Sairi to push them further ahead; and someone like Kaori when they started to agitate him. Rin; he didn't know what she would be for, but he could diffidently use them. But now they were being offered to Kakashi.

The way Kakashi's eye closed revealed to Sairi he was smiling. "Of course, Lord Hokage." He answered, and Sairi's heart seemed to jump. Yes, she didn't need this ninja to continue furthering her skills; but it would be nice to get it set up the quickest way possible. "If they each pass an entrance exam." He added. So maybe the quickest way wasn't always the easiest… But how hard can an entrance exam be? She was already on level three in her training at her old village. Most likely whatever he threw at them, she had already experienced. But she couldn't help but have a gut feeling… With a glance to her side she noticed that neither one of the other girls looked nervous at this news. Maybe it wasn't so bad after all…

"When?"

"Monday, that's our next scheduled practice." Kakashi gave the explanation voluntarily, as Sairi pondered what it could possibly be. Monday… It was Saturday already. It couldn't be something that took time to set up; he only had two days to get ready. And they only had two days to get prepared for their entrance exams.

The Hokage moved onto the next order of business smoothly. "Then it's settled. Monday. Higen, I would like to request that you assist Kakashi with his potential trainees." Higen looked as if his jaw would drop. He refused to teach genin for a reason. He didn't want to. "That is, if you don't mind." The Hokage added, waiting for a response from the jonin. He was, of course, practically gaping at his leader, but his mind was racking away at what his possible answer would be. He never second guessed his initial ideals, but he couldn't ignore this feeling that maybe there would be something good in this… Yes. Sairi would be his subordinate. He could fight her until he won; which would be the first try, no doubt.

The answer was easy. "Alright, I guess it won't hurt." Higen glanced over at Sairi, who looked shocked by his words. If he detested her so much, why was he volunteering to spend more time with her? And help her with training? But then again, her training with him wasn't guaranteed. She could always fail the entrance exam, although she doubted it… But it was possible.

"Great, great." The Hokage seemed more and more blissful as things continued to work out perfectly. It looked as if this wouldn't take any work at all; and he was getting a better relationship with three other villages in the process. Maybe, for him this time, the quickest and the easiest way went hand in hand. "Now, as for living arrangements… Higen, I understand you have a four room apartment?" He began, as Higen looked insulted once more. He had accepted the earlier invitation; but that was for other reasons. Almost opposite reasons. If he thought that Higen was going to live with that girl, he had another thing coming. In the politest way that he could make it.

"There is no way that girl is going to live with me." Higen told him flatly, and the Hokage looked at him questioningly. Which one was he talking about? The youngest? Well, he was sure he could find arrangements for her somewhere else, if he really disliked her that much…

Sairi felt like she had been lit on fire. Not that she wanted to stay with him; but he was so disrespectful, ungrateful, and rude. "I've had enough of your crap, Katsumata!" She snapped angrily from her place beside Kaori, her tightly bound fists trembling softly at her sides. It was all she could do not to walk right over there and kick his face in. All eyes rested on her and her fierce glare at Higen, who looked back at her half innocently.

Kakashi finally stepped in. "I might be able to manage one, but there's no chance of any more." He offered, and the Hokage nodded in unison with Higen.

"Good, I'll take the other two." The words left Higen's mouth before he knew what he was saying. But he gave in; the other two couldn't be that much trouble. That was until it hit him that he would be stuck with that Kaori girl; and he didn't know for a moment who he would rather be with. The annoying, bounce-off-the-wall girl, or the tomboy who thought she was better than everyone else. Well, at least he knew he could snap the little girl into her place. He had done it once or twice on their way back before Asuma became defensive. So Higen should be able to control her to some extent while she was there…

The Hokage smiled at how nicely things were flowing. It was all just too good to be true; but he would bask in it while it lasted. "Good; good you two. Nicely done. Now Kakashi, since you offered so kindly, I'll let you pick."

Sairi sighed inwardly. At least she wouldn't have to put up with Higen almost every second of the day. Surely this guy, Kakashi, would pick her. Higen looked slightly edgy at that fact as he eyed his comrade; whom seemed to be looking over each one carefully. Of course, if he was smart, he would pick Sairi. Higen had already made it clear that he didn't want her. And this was probably just one of his old tricks to scare them into thinking he was going to do something different. And he was proved completely wrong.

"You, uh…" Kakashi bent slightly, narrowing his eye from the distance as if it was difficult to make out Rin's Hatai-ate. "The one from Cloud. What's your name?" He asked curiously, as Rin spoke for the first time since he had arrived.

Rin bowed her head as she did so, hoping to show some sense of respect. The first impression was always the most important. "Mitsui Rin."

"Rin, huh? I pick her."

The look on Higen's face was priceless.

His eyes widened as his jaw slacked, gawking at both Kaori and Sairi. He would have to live with them both. No. Not in his worst nightmare. This couldn't be happening… But if he backed out now, he would just be a coward. People who don't keep their minds set are weak. Higen wanted so badly to be weak that moment.

Hmm… What do you think? Better, worse, the same? Let me know, because I'm your slave and I'm here to please you… Heh. What do you think will happen next, huh?