Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Naruto I am simply borrowing them to create a story of my own, each and all of the characters (excluding OC's that shall be introduced later) are owned by someone else.

Authors note: Whoo easier chapter coming up than its back into the coal mines punching out incredible hard to coordinate action scenes (lots of preplanning involved otherwise you might get stuck with one guy you don't want to win having the upper hand). This chapter is kind of mix of romance, comedy and the moving of the characters personal involvement including most of the OC's as well as the Leaf gang. If anybody in the previous chapter seemed too powerful, trust me they aren't, the only two that are truly more powerful (right now) than the Naruto gang are Michiyo and Kazuma and that's because of their Kekkei Genkai's. After a little bit and some increase in skill and power by our leaf gang everyone will be around the same level.

One last note Italics aren't actually being said they're used to set sequence (flashback in this case and will form now on)

Trials of the Shinobi

A Naruto Fan-Fiction

By Dark-Angel-Cronos

Part 2: The tournament begins

Chapter 7: Allies?

It's the morning after the Rankings and with all of the amazing ninja still on their minds none of the leaf gang had gone to sleep and so many were still sitting in the lounge doing something to keep themselves awake. Naruto was losing badly at cards against Hinata, Sakura, and Ino. Sasuke was calling conference over at the kitchen counter with Lee and Neji about some of the unknown ninja they had seen last night. Tenten and Chouji were making more coffee and preparing sandwiches and ramen for those who wanted it. Not surprisingly Shino, Shikamaru, and Kiba were no where to be found. Shino was going to see if they had the printouts of the rankings finished yet, Kiba was walking Akamaru, and Shikamaru had left a long time ago and was lying on the roof with a new friend.

"HAH! Three queens" Naruto threw down his hand and smiled because he thought he had won.

"Not so fast Naruto, Hinata is still in this." Sakura pulled off her socks and threw them into the pile. They were playing strip poker she had stayed in with her Aces and 8's and lost, but knowing Hinata Naruto would soon not have anything left to bet. All three of the girls were still relatively clothed still having their pants shirts headbands just losing their socks and shoes. Hinata was fully clothes she hadn't lost yet. Naruto however seemed almost completely nude with only his underwear left.

"Uh" Naruto looked at his girlfriend hopefully she just shook her head and laid down her heart flush.

"Sorry Naruto-kun but you're out" She gave him a smile, "looks like you have something of mine." She pointed towards his boxers.

"What! Aw come on Hinata-Chan. I can't give you these." Naruto stood up and suddenly became defensive as his girlfriend was crawling over to him smiling gleefully as she was going to force him to uphold his deal after all it was his idea to play strip poker. Naruto had gotten up and ran, Hinata chasing after him. Sasuke and Neji were looking at the four with twitching eyebrows at their ridiculousness. Sakura and Ino were laughing Sakura had fallen back from laughter and her head was hanging over the arm rest of the couch. She looked over and saw Sasuke looking at her with his eyebrow raised and his eye a little twitchy.

"Hi Sasuke-kun!" She smiled wide and gave him a wave. Sasuke laughed he guessed they all had put a little too much liquor in the coffee to keep them awake.

"Hi" He gave her a wave humoring her drunken mood. "Girl drink worth a damn she's only had two cups tonight" Sasuke turned back to Lee and Neji sipping his coffee with baileys in it.

Ino was lying against the couch enjoying the show Hinata and Naruto were putting on for them darting back and forth around a chair.

"Come on Hinata don't make me." Naruto was begging his girlfriend. He gave her a sheepish smile.

"Aw Naruto-kun a little embarrassed are we? A few days ago you were so confidant in yourself what happened to all that confidence?" Hinata smiled and jumped over the chair tackling Naruto to the ground. "Hah got you now."

"Aw come on Naruto take that else where theirs better places to do that than on the carpet in a public lounge you know." Neji was annoyed at the two he didn't become so loose when he drank, and was appalled by people who did.

"Foods ready!" Chouji went over and set a tray of sandwiches in front of the guys and took another to the girls while Tenten followed with bows of ramen giving one to Neji and Lee and than setting one for Naruto on the table.

"RAMEN!" Naruto dragged himself from under Hinata and dove for his ramen. However he was too slow Hinata had gotten up and picked up the bowl before he could reach it.

"No Ramen for you!" Hinata laughed a little and gave him a smile as he looked at her in shock.

"But…but…but…but it's…my ramen." Naruto was stuttering he couldn't believe he had just had his ramen taken away.

"This is collateral till you give me what you owe me" Hinata gave him a wink and a smile. Naruto was dumbstruck. 'Ramen, underwear, ramen, underwear, ramen, underwear'

"IT'S JUST TOO HARD OF A CHOICE! GIMME MY RAMEN!" Naruto darted up and chased tried to grab for his ramen but missed. He chased after her as she led him in circles around the room.

"I seriously hope they're drunk" Sasuke spoke sipping his coffee not able to take his eyes of the embarrassing yet transfixing spectacle. Neji sipped his coffee his eyes closed; it was far to embarrassing to keep them open. Tenten came around and hugged him from behind waking him up as he leaned over and let her whisper to him. Neji nodded without letting the guys hear anything and Tenten walked away slightly pleased.

"She just wants to talk later that's all" Neji was having a hard time concentrating on his thoughts with Lee and Sasuke giving him suspicious looks. "Anyway, it looks like those two have finally gotten to a stale mate." Neji nodded over to Naruto and Hinata. Hinata was standing on one side of the table directly opposite of Naruto on the other side when she moved he moved and when he moved she darted the other way but he was no in perfect sync with her and wasn't going to let his ramen get away. Sakura and Ino were sitting on the couch sipping coffee very gently trying to hold back their laughter while Chouji devoured the sandwiches he had placed on the table not a few moments ago.

"Come on, Hinata don't make me take that ramen away from you" Naruto moved a little to the right as Hinata judged the situation.

"No way, you gotta catch me" She smiled and stuck her tongue out. She darted to the left then back to the right. Naruto did the same, but he didn't expect her to keep going right. When he tried to turn back he fell over, but he was able to dive at her and grab her ankles. Hinata felt a tug at her legs and she fell forward throwing the bowl from her hands it headed towards the now opening door.

Hinata covered her mouth as she saw who she had hit. Sakura and Ino couldn't contain themselves laughing so hard. Chouji was choking down a sandwich and everybody else was trying very hard to contain their laughter even Sasuke let out a small chuckle over his usual amused smile. Shikamaru was standing in the door way with a ramen bowl on his head and a ring of noodles around his legs, at his side was the Shadow Nin Ayame.

"Does this happen often Shika?" Ayame lifted the bowl slightly to see his expression but quickly let it fall back down. The entire group got eerily quiet as Shikamaru raised the bowl off his head his face looked rather serious.

"Naruto why are you always so troublesome" She smiled showing that everything was okay and all was forgiven as he could tell that some where a little drunk. "Anyway, everybody this is Ayame Ando, she's an ally of sorts." Shikamaru wiped the ramen off of his face with a napkin Sakura gave him as he moved and sat down in a chair by Sasuke and the other guys. Ayame walked in slowly analyzing the situation moving slowly over and next to the girls on the couch.

"Let me introduce everybody, I'm Sakura Haruno" Sakura turned to the rest of the room, and took in a rather deep breath "This is Ino, and that's Chouji. Over at the counter with Shikamaru are Sasuke, Neji, and Lee. Tenten is the one refilling the coffee, and the two on the floor are Naruto and Hinata. They're probably the drunkest of all of us, because usually they don't go throwing ramen on people's heads." Everybody gave her a nod while Naruto and Hinata quickly dignified themselves Naruto quickly throwing his clothes back on and Hinata getting up off the floor.

"It's very nice to meet you all. I don't have too many friends so it's nice to feel welcomed." Ayame smiled trying to act casual. She wasn't even sure what she was doing here, Shikamaru said that they'd just stop in so they could talk but apparently she was supposed to talk in front of all these people as well.

"How did you meet Shikamaru anyway?" Sakura was curious; Shikamaru had only been gone a few hours how did he manage to make an ally so quickly?
"I think I should let Shika explain that" Ayame was still unsure of weather she should tell them everything she knew or just Shikamaru, she was starting to think that it would be okay but she didn't want to go to far and jeopardize her mission. She needed to see how Shikamaru talked with these people and weather or not it was okay.

"Sure, well a few hours ago I left to go sit on the roof. I was actually…" Shikamaru starts telling his story.

Flashback:

Shikamaru was sitting on top of the same tower he had a few nights before waiting for Temari to meet him. He had grown fond of something new he had found while in sand and that was star gazing. He looked up at the stars and was reminded of his mission in sand. During the day there weren't any clouds to gaze at when he had time for leisure, but at night the sky was full of stars. He and Temari used to sit on top of the flat roof tops and look out at the stars. Shikamaru felt his eyes grow heavy but he was easily awakened when he felt a light tap on his shoulder.

"Temari-Chan I've been waiting what took…" Shikamaru turned and it wasn't Temari and her usual flying fan it was another Kunoichi. The shadow Nin's headband shined under the moon light and Shikamaru was able to quickly identify her as Ayame from the rankings.

"Is your name Shikamaru 'Nara'?" she put an emphasis on his last name and cocked her head to one side questioningly.

"Yes, what of it?" Shikamaru had a few questions for her as well, but he wanted to wait and see what she wanted to know.

"Well then, It looks like you're my target" Ayame gave Shikamaru a wide smile. Shikamaru was a little taken back and went to draw a kunai, but was interrupted. "Oh no not like that!" Ayame laughed at his foolishness. "Don't be so troublesome," She conjured a single hand sign and Shikamaru's shadow disarmed him removing all the kunai's and shurikin from his bag and handing them to Ayame.

"What the, how did you do that without touching my shadow!" Shikamaru was taken back he knew of other shadow control techniques but not ones that could be performed without touching a persons shadow.

"I'll explain that later. I was sent here on an important mission. I have two main points" She moved slightly and Shikamaru now noticed she was standing on a shadowy platform. "Point number 1: The shadow village is allied with Konoha and we'd like to offer our assistance in this mission to you. Basically we're allies if you accept, and as allies I can give you choice information on a certain village you have probably noticed by now." She coughed and Shikamaru understood she was speaking of the Spirit and Flame Villages. "And point 2: This is more of a personal matter but, I'd like to train you" She gave him a wide grin and moved off of her platform and next too Shikamaru.

"…." Shikamaru wasn't sure what to say. He had to think about this for a moment but Ayame wasn't being patient.

"Well, come on handsome what's your answer!" She was being very blunt and gave him a disconcerting frown. "If you don't agree to point 1: I'll have to kill you and refer back to my superiors that Konoha has broken their alliance with Shadow and seeing how you have almost all of your top ninja here that wouldn't be wise."

"Well what if I disagree with point 2." Shikamaru had no intention of not accepting the training he knew that the Shadow ninja had much better control over shadow skills than he did and he needed as much help as he could get.

"Oh Shika I don't think you will disagree to that one. I know you need my training to perfect that shadow manifestation you tried at the rankings. So I know you won't refuse my first offer either. So just agree alright." She gave him a wicked smile and leaned back in triumph she had outsmarted a genius but only because she herself was a genius she just hoped he wouldn't see through her rouse.

"Fine you have yourself a deal." Shikamaru felt a small sense of regret well up inside him cause he had given in so easily but she was very observant and he knew he couldn't win she had given him no alternative.

"Great it's settled then. We'll start your training real soon okay." She was about to jump off the building but Shikamaru wasn't going to let her. He quickly formed hand signs and caught her with his Possession jutsu. "Oh are you always this rough with girls. Well if you wanna play, then let's play." Throwing together hand signs Shikamaru suddenly felt like he was the one under the possession.

"What the heck!" Shikamaru was dragged to his feet and took a position identical to Ayame's.

"I'm a Shadow Nin I can reverse a simple possession jutsu, Now what did you stop me for." Ayame seemed more serious than she was before. She hadn't expected this from him.

"I want some of that info: as well I'm sure the rest of the leaf team would like it as well. So just comeback to our lounge with me and we can talk about the other villages." Shikamaru wasn't going to let her leave with precious information that they could use now as opposed to getting it later.

"Umm," Ayame hadn't planned on talking to anyone besides Shikamaru, and she couldn't afford to seem suspicious. "Okay I'll come along, but don't try anything funny."
She let down her jutsu and they hopped off the tower together. Shikamaru felt a strange sensation in him as they fell down from the tower. She wasn't as annoying as he found most people in fact, he kinda felt like he did around Temari.

End Flashback:

'TEMARI!' He had forgotten about her he looked up and saw her fan floating off to the side he swore he saw tears in her eyes as she flew off into the sky to be alone. His heart felt like it had been crushed, he knew he could explain but he felt so bad about it all. Shikamaru didn't tell the more intimate details about Temari and such to the leaf gang. As he ended his story he felt these emotions come flooding back, but repressed them.

"And well that's what happened. I suppose now would be a good time for Ayame to give us a little information." Shikamaru gave Ayame a glance she had gotten a little comfortable and accepted a coffee from Tenten's tray.

"Yes I suppose it is but does anyone know what time it is. Someone said there would be a special announcement this evening and last time I checked it's nearly 7." Ayame glanced at her watch and tapped it was the same time it had said before. "My watch stopped."

"Mine did too" Everybody looked over Shikamaru was looking at his watch. Everybody with a watch pulled theirs out and they all read the same time, 6:54.

"Wait, Shikamaru you left hours ago was it dark outside?" Sakura was getting confused they had been in there for hours and she had sworn that her watch said about 4 when Shikamaru had left.

"Yeah why?" Shikamaru looked puzzled he hadn't checked his watch so he didn't know what she was getting at.

"You left around four o'clock, why was it dark so early?" Sakura and the others were becoming very puzzled but Sasuke seemed to have the answer. He got up quietly and walked over to a bookcase removing a book and flipping through the pages. His eyes grew wide as he found the page he was looking for.

"I think I know why now." Sasuke looked up from the book to see he had everybody's attention. He examined the map once more to check and make sure he was correct.

"We probably entered a part of the Ocean called the Netispo current. It's a very strong current that runs over a large bed of iron and steel ore. As the current runs across it, it turns into one big magnet. Because of its magnetic pulse it causes ships, boats, and other vessels as well as watches and other electronics as such to malfunction. But the ship seems to be immune, but our watches weren't." Sasuke unbuckled his wrist watch and let it fall to the ground then picked it up.

"They're useless now" Sasuke turned to the rest of the group as they removed their watches as well. The intercom screeched on with a loud hissing sound as the announcer came over the com.

"Attention all passengers, a few hours ago we entered the final length too the Island where the Trials will be held. This will be your last night on the ship so please as complementary thanks for coming please pack your bags with anything you would like from our fully stocked closets. As well after entering the Netispo current all electronic items you have brought with you will stop working but once we reach the island and its protective effect range your electronics will be back online." The announcer stopped for a moment it seemed another person was giving her a message.

"Attention all passengers, once again, we will be arriving shortly but before arriving my superiors have informed me that you are all invited to a complementary dinner in your honor as well to be briefed after words about what's going to happen once we reach the island. That is all." The announcer cut the speaker with a resounding click and everyone was a little awe stricken. Everyone slowly got up and very quietly and left the room for their own to pack and get ready for tonight. There was an odd sense of false security in the air and an eerie feeling that things had just gotten very bad.

A few hours later the announcer came back over the intercom and gave the announcement for everyone to report to the upper deck and then follow the roped off path down into the dining hall. The leaf ninja as well as all the other villages filed out in some of their best evening wear Naruto and the other boys had been forced into tuxedos as well the girls had found very stylish kimono's. They entered the dining hall which had been turned into a luxurious Buffet as well a small stage had been setup and the band from before was playing soft dinner music with a slight Jazz/Rock feel.
Naruto escorted Hinata down the stairs and slowly let his eyes scan the room getting a feeling of where everybody was and didn't even notice as Hinata slipped off his arm to go and fill both of them a set of plates so they could sit and eat. Off to the side were Michiyo, Kazuma, Haru and her sister Chiasto. They were talking with Gaara and the light Samurai Kuroda. Miharu was standing behind Kuroda basically hiding as the elder Ninja conversed. Naruto was anxious Michiyo had a devilish smile but that quickly faded as she noticed him. She turned back to Kuroda and avoided showing expression to keep Naruto in the dark.

"So we have you alliance than Kuroda," Michiyo was holding a glass of wine but she hadn't sipped it. Kazuma was leaning against the wall he seemed uncomfortable but that was probably just the tuxedo. Gaara seemed to e speaking softly to Kazuma as Kazuma nodded when appropriate.

"Yes I believe we do, now to address the actual situation I came her too address. Who are these lovely ladies behind you?" Kuroda smiled sheepishly he was quite a ladies man back home but these girls seemed different than any other. He was infatuated but felt slightly intimidated as they were twins and very powerful at that.

"Oh let's let them introduce themselves I have another person I must speak with anyway." Michiyo quickly left the group leaving them and heading back to a lone table, seemingly walking into an empty corner of the room. Kuroda approached the two flame sisters and adjusted his glasses nervously. 'Nervous, no the great Kuroda is never nervous' The girls where wearing matching kimonos, one with long braids that he assumed was Chiasto was wearing a very fiery design as well it had a very elegant golden dragon border and trim. The twin with her hair down, that he assumed was Haru, had a red kimono as well, but hers was a softer and graceful cherry blossom pattern, the blossoms where spread about the skirt of the dress and the back showed a lovely three with many blossoms as well. The blossoms were not traditional pink blossoms but rather a lighter orange red that made it seem less feminine and more elegant. More like a warm feeling than that of spring.

"Hello I am Kuroda and the shy one hiding behind me is my partner and my foster sister Miharu." Kuroda moved aside to show Miharu but she just moved with him peaking her head around the corner her cheeks red and nodded.

"AWWW SHE"S SO CUTE!" Chiasto jumped up landing into a semi crouching position to make eye contact. She gave the girl a smile, but it seemed to only frighten her as she ran off, Chiasto followed yelling "Wait I didn't mean to scare you!"

"Please excuse my eccentric sister." Haru stepped forward and held out her hand "I am Haru Kunari. It's a pleasure to meet you, as well it's a pleasure to know that I have such a powerful ally, you know I sa…."

Kuroda was quick on the uptake and took her hand kissing the top stopping her mid sentence. "The pleasure is all mine, I would like to offer my services in any way I can. Hopefully you will find my performance useful or pleasing" Kuroda gave a sheepish smile but just realized what could be possible be wrong with that sentence. Haru felt her face grow a little hot and she giggled on the inside as Kuroda's face became very red.

"I mean as an ally…not like that…I'd never ever offer that to a woman I had just met I mean I…uh…..okay lets just start over, Hi my name is Kuroda" He blushed deeply his glass got foggy and where now resting on the edge of his nose as he felt too foolish to raise them up.
Haru simply giggled at his foolishness and nodded. "I'm Haru, as well I think it was very sweet of you to offer your umm, services," She laughed a little before finishing "but I keep personal matters out of my alliances." She gave him a smirk hoping he'd catch on and play along.

"Right, well then uh can I get you a drink?" Kuroda offered motioning towards the buffet table.

"You may" Haru offered her arm to him and he enthusiastically took it.
Meanwhile on the other side of the room off in the corner Michiyo seemed to be talking to her self at least to Sasuke that's what seemed to be going on, he had noticed her and was watching her lips move as she seemed to be talking to herself. He saw Gaara walk over and then sit down next to her and taking a piece of bread from her basket. Sasuke opened his Sharingan and began reading her lips but he only got to catch a few words of her old conversation before she seemed to be talking to Gaara.

"So, everything's working perfectly, not only do we have light and sand with us but leaf as well. Excellent, oh hello Gaara what's up?"

"Damn" Sasuke swore under his breath Neji noticed him looking in the corner and nodded.

"Don't worry, Gaara has promised to be a neutral party if it comes to a fight between us and flame. But that doesn't mean he can't gather information for us." Neji nudged Sasuke as he stared at the two. Sasuke came back and began talking with the others again.

Hinata had successful lost her date and was no searching all across the room's floor to find Naruto but she couldn't. She didn't dare open her Byakugan less draw attention to herself so she just kept walking and searching.

"Naruto-kun, where are you?" She walked patiently through the crowd she had gotten Ino to wait at a table with Sakura and Shino so she was beginning to worry that the food she had gotten for Naruto might have gotten cold.

Naruto Was having troubles of his own. He was anxious, so many people, he was trying to watch them all and figure out the best way to spend this night. Also all of the searching and trying to eavesdrop had worked up an undeniable appetite. Naruto feeling frustrated out of anxiety finally gave up his quest of monitoring everyone for food. Rushing to the buffet table he slowly scanned the food, picking out things he would eat in his mind. He didn't know where to begin, so thinking like Naruto would he took an empty platter that had probably once been home to pigs in blankets and began filling up on massive amounts of the foods he wanted. He ignored the crazed stares that he was giving and the suggestion from one of the waiters to get a plate from the side of the table. After filling his platter, Naruto had the brilliant idea that he could see better if he was on the ceiling, so going off to the side where he wasn't easily noticed he walked up the walls, carefully balancing the tray so food wouldn't fall, and then got on the ceiling. He had eaten upside before and knew very well how to balance the food he never spilled a drop.

Hinata was becoming frustrated, she couldn't find Naruto anywhere. She was becoming increasingly worried that something might have happened to him but then she felt something fall on her head. It was Sashimi it bounced off her head and landed into her open hands. She looked up Naruto was on the ceiling standing eating hungrily from a platter.

"Naruto-kun!" She called up to him and waved for him to come down, but Naruto confusedly took the wave as a gesture and using his platter hand he waved back. The platter flew from his hands and into a crowd of people but who it would hit was something he wouldn't expect.

"LOOK OUT!" Naruto yelled as he saw where the platter was heading.
Sakura had been searching high and low for Sasuke, she wanted to try and get him alone again, but from the way she couldn't find him she swore that he must have been avoiding her on purpose. Sakura's heart soared as she spotted her beloved Sasuke-kun with Neji she walked slowly up behind him hoping to surprise him. Suddenly she felt something cold hit her in the neck and fall down her kimono. She jumped scaring the shit out of Sasuke and the others as Sasuke turned to see what was going on he was bombarded with food including a large Sushi roll that knocked his head back making him fall back onto the ground. Sakura recovering from the Sashimi down her back turned towards the spot where the food was coming from. She gasped in shock as a large silver platter meet her face and leaving a rather large bump on her head as well as knocking her out. She woke up a few minutes later rubbing her head and seeing Sasuke threatening Naruto with his fist.

Off in the corner a very strange standoff was happening between Gaara and Michiyo. There was only one piece of bread left in the basket and Michiyo seemed hesitant to take it. Gaara was looking at the bread, he wanted it but he didn't want to take it away from her. They had been eating bread and talking slightly for a while since the others had left them alone. Gaara was tired of the wait and reached out, but Michiyo reached it before him. Quickly she took the piece and cut it in half giving Gaara a half and then munching on hers smiling. Gaara took the piece and smiled back she was clever she just wanted too see if he wanted it.

"Now one of us is going to have to go get some more bread." she smiled a bit and reached for the basket tipping it up too see if they had missed any small pieces.

"I don't suppose someone's going to give us a refill." Gaara stated looking around none of the waiters seemed to even notice them they were too busy running around filling water and bringing special orders directly to people at tables in the middle of the room.

"Like anyone cares about the two weirdo's in the corner eating bread." Michiyo laughed and stood up. "I'll be back in a minute." she said as she walked into the crowd taking the basket with her. A few minutes later she came back with a basket full of bread and a small smile on her face.
"Sorry it took so long, but I swear I have a great story for it." Michiyo laughed and started telling him what had happened.

Flash Back:

Sakura, after recovering from her traumatic experience with a sliver platter and a falling ninja, was now at the food tables filling a plate for herself. Naruto was with her apologizing many a time over more so than she could count.

"I'm so very sorry Sakura-Chan" Naruto gave her a sad face and she looked up smiling a little to keep him from making another scene.

"I told you it was alright. You just got a little carried away that's all" She lied, she was furious, he had dumped food all over Sasuke and left a mark that now made her large forehead even more apparent. Ino and Tenten had tried to conceal it with foundation but it didn't help much. Sakura turned and saw that there was only a single dinner roll left in on the tray. She finally thought that maybe her luck was turning around. She reached for the roll only to have it snatched away by Michiyo.

"Sorry grandma gotta be fast to get stuff you want." She twirled the bread on her finger in a taunt then dropped it in her basket.

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING GRANDMA!" Sakura steamed, she wasn't going to take that from someone she considered low life scum.

"You miss elderly Kimono." Michiyo waved her finger up and down at the slightly out of style kimono she had worn. It was covered in flowers and fans she thought Sasuke might like it since his family's symbol was the fan after all.

"What?" Sakura was speechless; she examined Michiyo and realized she might not be able to fight back too well on the looks department. Michiyo was wearing non formal clothes but she looked great in them. She had on a long single color skirt for a little more class and it fit her nicely, as well her simple halter top gave her a more tomboyish look that made her very attractive. To top it all off the shades she was wearing brought out her eyes so well that Sakura began to fume and blush with jealousy.

"What's wrong Sakura-Chan? Jealous that I could probably easily steal that precious little Sasuke away from you?" Michiyo smiled and winked, she knew she was getting under her skin and it felt kinda nice, she never had been admired or been the object of jealousy and it just felt so good.

"Why you little…" Sakura was interrupted Naruto had stepped in between and stopped the charging Sakura from whaling on Michiyo.

"Ladies lets not do anything crazy now." Naruto was trying to calm the situation but it wasn't going to work.

"Oh yeah, this coming from a person who eats on a ceiling. Blow off Naruto!" She threw him aside. Naruto careened off a little ways hitting a table flipping a punch bowl forward over his head and straight at Sakura and Chiasto who had walked up to say something to Michiyo. Luckily for Michiyo Chiasto kinda blocked the incoming punch but Sakura got drenched. Running out of the room Sakura was crying and soon the other leaf girls followed. Chiasto walked out semi drenched just wanting to change clothes.

End Flashback:

Gaara was almost in stitches, he was trying hard to contain himself but Michiyo's story was just too funny not to laugh. Michiyo finished taking a sip of her drink and another bite of bread.

"Whew, wow, that was great, but you know stuff like that seems to follow Naruto around a lot." Gaara took a piece of bread and broke it in half some kindly waiter had brought them butter in the middle of Michiyo's story and so he had something to put on it now.

"It's interesting how much happens to him," Michiyo sat quietly looking out into the room, she felt kinda at ease now. "As is it interesting how much happens to other Jinchuuriki's" She glanced up at him, Gaara seemed to be thinking rather seriously now.

He looked at her his eyes were kinda intense but at the same time relaxed; the circles around them had faded over the years slightly as he had been able to sleep just a little bit every once in awhile since his was taken away. "Mine's been gone for 3 years; I have nothing in common with Naruto now."

"Oh on the contrary," Michiyo waved her finger in front of his face in contradiction "You are similar on a more psychological level. One that goes deeper than just the Jinchuuriki." She lowered her hand and let it rest down on the table. She seemed a little sad but then lightened a little trying not too seem weird.

"You act like you know a lot about psychology." Gaara was intrigued she seemed to be able to tell what he was thinking and it scared him a little.

"Well personal experiences help out with that sort of thing," she answered "Besides, I tend to end up watching people from a distance. It's nice to know I'm not the only one." She smiled at him and then started to hum a tune that was very familiar to Gaara a song he once thought applied to him so very well, she broke the hum with a few lines. "I walk this empty street, on the boulevard of broken dreams."

Gaara smiled wide he knew the song very well and was glad someone else seemed to too, "It's also nice to know that I'm not the only one with good taste in music."

Michiyo grinned wide at the compliment, she absolutely loved flattery. "I have awesome taste in music."

Gaara returned to the serious talk. "Sand maybe flames ally, but we were leaves long before you came along. Not only that you attacked a leaf ninja, how can we trust you?"

Michiyo sighed and leaned back lowering her shades to show him her truth filled eyes. "I didn't kill him."

"It sure looked like you tried to." Gaara felt empty from such a hollow comment, she seemed to be holding something back but she seemed truthful too.

"If I wanted to I would have." Michiyo leaned back and looked up and away from him now, feeling compelled to say something she just couldn't get out. "But I didn't, and it's too bad that I have to do what I'm told because I would've loved to get to know him."

Gaara was very surprised he hadn't expected this "You want to talk to him?" he asked quizzically.

"Yes very much so, I have a lot of questions for him." replied Michiyo "Plus, we have a lot in common."

"Then go talk to him." Gaara motioned towards Sasuke with his head and gave her a reassuring smile.

"I can't just go talk to someone!" cried Michiyo she felt a sense of anguish rush over her but she kept herself cool "Are you crazy? I'd never just go up and talk to someone. Especially someone that I recently attacked." She lifted her shades above her eyes again thinking to herself.

"This coming from someone who just walked up and started to fight him?" Gaara's statement was over emphasized in sarcasm and it made Michiyo laugh.

"I didn't start the conversation, Kazuma did." Michiyo smiled and then added "I don't have the nerve to walk up and talk to someone." She blushed a little at her confession but she though he'd understand

"You're shy?" Gaara was surprised by the shaded girl again.

"Yes, kinda." Michiyo laughed. "It's kinda ironic since I love to talk so much."

"You didn't have any problem talking to me." Gaara gave her a funny look that made her laugh again.

"Well the bread started it." Grinned Michiyo. "But honestly, my hands are more clammy than usual. They seem to always do that though. I need to learn to relax. These lines on my face are from stress. At least that's what I think. I know someone else that has them, and I asked him once what caused them, but he never told me." She lifted up her sunglasses to reveal lines that started under her eye and went down and outward diagonally. "Another reason why I shouldn't go talk to Sasuke." she said. Gaara didn't know the connection, but hoped it wasn't something bad. Michiyo spotted a waving Kazuma off in the crowd and got up.

"I'm sorry Gaara, but there's someone I have to go see." She smiled and walked off. Gaara looked out and noticed Kazuma smiling at her as she ran up and walked with him up and onto the deck. Gaara decided that he'd go have a drink since he had lost his bread partner. He went over and stood at the bar with Sasuke, Neji, and Kiba who had just ordered a round of soda. The bar tender wasn't exactly paying attention and set a few beers on the counter as well.

"Hey guys, Sasuke you okay? Naruto fell on you right from the ceiling" Gaara walked up to the bar and ordered a drink as well.

"Yeah, well I suppose the worst that could happen is other ninja underestimating me now." Sasuke said miserably, he felt pretty foolish after that.

Lee turned to face him. "Don't worry Sasuke, we will fight you honorably if we have to" stated Lee. It was crowded around them with people ordering drinks and Neji saw the bartender put a bottle of beer out right next to Lee's soda. Lee however didn't notice and quickly grabbed the wrong bottle and opened it. Lee raised it to his lips and was about to start drinking it.

"No!" Neji cried and knocked him over. Lee looked startled but then realized what he had done.

"Oops." he said. They got up off the ground with a few people near looking at them. None of them but Sasuke understood what had happened.

"Yeah you need to be careful Lee we don't want anymore crazy things happening tonight." Sasuke was shaking his head, tonight had been bad and he knew it was going get worse when he heard the familiar voice of his partner Naruto.

"Hey guys, what's up?" Naruto asked Jumping into the group and grabbing a soda off the counter.

"Nothing." Sasuke smiled he had thought of a good joke and hoped the other guys would play along.

"Aw come on, tell me what you're talking about." begged Naruto, he always felt excluded from the other guys since he was rather unusual.

"Well I don't know if we can tell you." Sasuke smiled to himself and winked at the others.

"What is this, some kind of club?" asked Naruto he was very confused. "What do you guys have in common that I don't have with you guys?" Naruto couldn't think what Sasuke was getting at.

"Yeah, It's a club alright," said Sasuke he took a swig of his soda then finished "It's the 'We got our asses kicked by Naruto' club." Naruto laughed, but stopped when Sasuke and the others smiled and glared at him showing that they weren't too happy about him beating them so many times over.

"Well uh..." he said "It's not like I can help it, I'm just so great!" Naruto grinned ear to ear.

"Yeah sure you are Naruto" Neji patted him on the back hard following along with the joke, pushing him forward into Gaara.

"Yeah and cause you're so great you get a little treat we're each gonna get a free swing okay" Gaara laughed and threw Naruto to Kiba who turned him around a few times then and pushed him towards Sasuke

"Isn't this fun Naruto" Sasuke laughed, Naruto laughed too the guys weren't really hurting him they were just messing around and he was alright it was kinda something they did they'd beat on each other when they hung out cause they were guys but what happened next Sasuke didn't expect.

"And now for the boot" Sasuke turned Naruto and booted him in the butt not noticing the food cart that he had just pushed Naruto onto. Naruto rolled away fast screaming. "SHIT NARUTO!" Sasuke hadn't meant too push him onto a cart or anything.

"Damn that just….well…sucks." Neji took a drink of soda, Kiba too.

"Ugh, yeah know at this rate. I think I'd rather be drunk than have to be sober for this." Lee grabbed the bottle of beer and drank a long hard swig and the other guys nodded in agreement as Naruto's cart careened into a few people and then into the punch serving table.

Authors Note: Basic stuff. Sorry it took so long, just really lazy. My friends and Girlfriend helped a lot with this one and they're so supportive , the next chapters gonna have more action in it, and as you can tell this was kinda humor oriented after the first part but there was a rather important romance scene in there. And no Michiyo isn't interested in Gaara so stop thinking that you people out there .