The new friendship between the twins and Sayuri had distracted Ino and Kasumi and allowed them to mostly forget about the surprise their father had promised before his mission. The surprise wasn't even the first thing they mentioned to him when he walked through the door of their home after the few weeks wait he previously informed them of.

"Daddy!"

After the first couple of missions Inoichi had learnt to go to the hospital before he returned home because his two baby girls were a lot stronger than they looked. No matter how quiet this experienced ninja was, he could never evade the tackle he got from his daughters as he entered the house. Inoichi had learnt that all he could do was laugh and enjoy their affection.

"How are my little girls?"

This brightened the identical smiles the twins shared as they seemed to think of something, possibly important, simultaneously and before he could question them any further he had already been dragged into the lounge room to see his wife sitting next to an unfamiliar, but obviously Yamanaka, woman and what appeared to be her astonished child sitting on the floor. Airi left her seat and made her way over to her husband, with gracefulness that Inoichi could never understand how a civilian could have, before getting three choruses of 'Ewww' as she kissed and welcomed the clan head home from his mission. The third voice was what made Inoichi turn around to the new child who his own girls had now moved over to and stood on each side, seemingly trapping the poor blonde girl. The girl took on an unhealthy shade of red and sweated more than most ninja did on a mission within the space of a second. Inoichi decided to approach the young Yamanaka but in the two steps it took him to reach the three girls the one in the middle was only being kept upright by the twins at her sides. This surprised all three adults and eventually brought forth laughter from the two women while the one, lone ninja could do nothing more than start to freak out.

So much for Sayuri not embarrassing herself.

The twins could be extremely evil when they worked together.


After the incident with Sayuri and an explanation from the infamous Yamanaka twins about Sayuri's nerves and awe of the clan head, Inoichi's family was able to spend a relatively peaceful dinner together.

"Have you two been practising those games?"

"We taught Sayuri!"

"So you haven't improved then?"

Ino started freaking out at the implications behind his question, which was asked with slyness and a lean across the table toward the oldest twin. When Inoichi told his daughters to behave when he went on missions there was an underlying rule that they were not allowed to slack off from their ninja practise, even if it was only a few hand games at this stage. Inoichi knew that he could torment the blonde for a little bit until she realised that she would get the surprise either way because it had already been organised, organised before he had even gone on the mission. As usual, Kasumi was able to both save her sister and astound her parents.

"Teaching is the best way to learn,"

… … …

"So you two think you deserve your surprise?"

Inoichi could play the question game all day, especially if it meant subtly teaching his girls similar techniques as well through common behaviour and circumstances. Either way, this last question was just the trigger to overexcite his already boisterous blonde daughter and make his brown haired daughter extremely energetic, and motivated unfortunately.

"WHAT IS IT!"

There was a reason that it wasn't a good idea to have both girls excited at the same time, it could hurt the ears of anyone, especially the heightened senses of ninjas.

"You have to wait until tomorrow, AND-" After quickly silencing his precious girls Inoichi then had the opportunity to safely continue uninterrupted. "-promise to behave," this only served to earn incredulous looks from the eager girls as they looked at each other and seemed to simultaneously question their father's sanity.

"I'm being serious,"

Same shared look. Less enthusiasm.

"Look, how about you two go to bed early tonight so you are refreshed in the morning,"

"We don't want the surprise anymore,"

Kasumi nodded her head sagely in agreeance with her blonde twin.

Backfire. Maybe the Yamanaka clan head couldn't play these games all day. Why did his daughters have to be such a handful? What if they just refused to come tomorrow? Do they know what is going on? No, they don't… Do they? Kasumi might know. But Ino was the one that said she didn't want to go.

During his mental worry rant, Inoichi had risen from his spot at the table and was amusing his family greatly as he clearly showed his panic on the outside. Including clutching his head, mumbling and turning around in circles and to make things worse, for some unknown and mutual sadistic reason neither his youngest daughter nor his lovely wife were feeling obliged to help him and his eldest wasn't even concealing her amusement as she started rolling around on the floor giggling hysterically.

After finally realising his unknowing, comedic performance Inoichi remained standing and slammed his hands onto the table to get everyone's attention, even though he already had it. Inoichi's eyes were eerily shadowed as he didn't move and only continued to stare down at the table while he waited for everything to be ready and take effect. Once Ino had gotten back into her chair looking a mixed between worried and shocked, and after the male composed himself, Inoichi made a last desperate effort to make his daughters interested in their visit tomorrow so as not to be made a fool of by his friends when he turned up empty handed.

Ino was sweating badly and fidgeting as if her life depended on it. Kasumi even seemed unnerved and kept glancing over at her sister. Airi was staring at her husband and wondering whether he had finally snapped and gone crazy after all of his years in the interrogation division. The three female Yamanakas were all contemplating roughly the same thing, what is wrong with Inoichi?

Inoichi slowly lifted his head and eyes, making contact with the wide blue eyes of Ino before moving his head slightly to do the same to Kasumi's brown coloured equivalent. Inoichi was thankful that his years of experience allowed him to conceal his rising amusement, even if it had failed him moments before.

"Who are you and what have you done with my daughters?"

All of the tension left the room, replaced now with confusion and gradually increasing anger. Ino jumped up from her seat and was now mirroring her father in stance but was not as composed with her expression, an area Inoichi noted on to improve. From the position of Airi it seemed of little coincidence that her eldest daughter had been placed across from her father at the table, they could both be a bit overly energetic and little drama queens when they wanted to be. Kasumi's expression seemed to outwardly mirror her mother's thoughts about the behaviour of half of the respectable clan head family.

"Who are you and what have you done to my dad?!"

Inoichi had reverted backwards in terms of maturity and was starting a staring contest with Ino and was not going to lose. Airi discretely gestured towards the quiet twin and the two of them started clearing the table while Inoichi and Ino finished whatever they believed they had started.

Airi enjoyed the company of both of her daughters but greatly appreciated the silence that emanated from Kasumi. As the both stood in silence in the kitchen, slowly doing the jobs necessary and purposefully taking their time so that when they returned to the dining room the two blondes would have finished their business, Airi had time to think. Airi would do this often. Just stand in silence and think about everything going on. She still worried about the future of her precious brunette that now stood next to her and if the clan would revert back to their unnecessary hatred. She also worried about the future of her eldest daughter, wondering if she would have the heart to become a successful kunoichi and lead the clan. With a deep breath and a clearing of the mind, Airi led Kasumi back into the dining room to witness both Inoichi and Ino now sitting down and acting the complete opposite to what they were only minutes prior.

Everyone was once again seated at the table and the conversation took on a more refined tone because now Inoichi knew just what to say to get his girls to listen to him for once. He also knew that if he made one wrong move then Ino would once again be extremely loud and stubborn and if Kasumi caught onto anything that she thought was off then she would alert Ino and the same issue would ensue.

"Do you two want to get the surprise tomorrow?"

Both girls were being cautious at this point.

"When did you two stop being curious?"

"We will only agree if you promise that it is a good surprise!"

Ino, like in so many other situations, was taking charge of the duo and making sure that everything would be good for her,…them. Inoichi knew that this was how things usually turned out, it was good if it was in the best interest of the twins. Inoichi already had his answer ready.

"It involves going out into the village,"

"Really!"

"And meeting some people,"

Ino and Kasumi seemed to forget everything about their father's weird behaviour and the events that had transpired in this Yamanaka household in the last few moments.

Their smiles didn't fade for the rest of the night. The shadow of these smiles were still visible on their faces once they had drifted off to sleep with dreams filled with speculations of the surprise they would get the next day.


The promised day had arrived and both Ino and Kasumi were awake and dressed before their breakfast was made. This action from the usually stubborn sleepers pleased Airi who normally acted as the persistent alarm clock for the girls. The food disappeared. The father was constantly annoyed. The mother was laughing at their antics and enthusiasm. The girls were extremely impatient.

"Have fun,"

Airi farewelled her daughters as her husband was dragged down the street, seeming to be reconsidering this whole adventure.


"Girls,"

"What is it dad? Why are you soooooo slow? Can we hurry up?"

"Ino," Inoichi groaned out but even though he was very exasperated at this pestering he was determined to get the last laugh in this game.

"Do you even know where you are going?"

This made Ino stop, causing her father to do the same and her sister to almost walk into said male. Ino was completely lost for a response and even at such a young age she had too much pride to ask for a destination or directions from anyone. Inoichi was solely focused on the ground staring Ino and the inner turmoil she was experiencing that he didn't initially notice the absence of Kasumi.


"Mum!"

Airi was doing a bit of cleaning in the living room and dropped her broom when she heard the voice of a child come from behind her. The startled Yamanaka spun around and stared in shock at the brunette Yamanaka who had just addressed her.

"Kasumi! What are you doing back?! Where are your father and Ino?!"

At this point Airi was crouching in front of her daughter and was frantically asking questions out of worry. Having no idea as to what reason her daughter could possibly have to come back, especially without the others.

"Mum,"

"What is it?! Are you okay?!"

"Mum,"

"Yes!"

"What is wrong with you?"

This made the older Yamanaka pause and gave her the couple of seconds that she needed to compose herself. Airi then noticed the worry on Kasumi's face, worry that was directed at her. Airi continued the conversation, interrogation, to mask her embarrassment at not being the calm and reasonable person her daughter had so far known her as.

"Nothing, nothing. So why are you back Kasumi?"

"Ino dragged dad down the street and then he asked if we knew where we were going. We don't know and Ino won't ask dad and we weren't very far from home so I thought I would come back and ask you. Do you know where we have to go and which way it is?"

Airi was stunned. How could such a small child be so responsible and logical?

"What were you thinking?! You foolish girl!"

Kasumi stumbled backwards at this unnatural, angry outburst from her mother.

"What di-"

"You should have stayed with your father!"

"Bu-"

"Don't you dare! There is no excuse!"

Amidst a brief pause for breath from her mother, Kasumi went against what her mother had just demanded and gave her most reasonable excuse.

"The village is safe,"

"I don't care!"

At this point Airi was nothing short of being possessed by a demon, an extremely overprotective demon that just got the fright of their life. Kasumi had fallen backwards and was now sitting on the floor. Shaking. She was determined to be strong. No tears.

"Sorry. I'll go back now,"

"Don't y-"

Kasumi didn't hear the rest of her mother's rant as she sped walked out of the house, not wanting to look like she was in too much of a rush to get away from her own mother by running. Airi probably wouldn't have noticed anyway, after all, she didn't notice the watery eyes.


By the time Kasumi had made it outside and forced her eyes to stop trying to shed tears, her father had noticed her disappearance and was making his way back down the street.

This time Kasumi knew not to let her parent have the first word.

"Which way are we supposed to go?"

She was just in time to cut off whatever her father was about to say and his face grew a little less stern.

"The opposite way,"

"Okay,"

Ino was very confused at why everyone was acting weird but then just started talking animatedly with her twin as Inoichi led them down the street in the correct direction this time.

Kasumi was going to be strong for Ino. She wasn't going to have the surprise ruined because she did something 'stupid'. Maybe she wasn't as smart and responsible as she thought. Her mother definitely didn't think she made the right decision. Definitely.


"Inoichi!"

"Hey,"

Inoichi, who had been ignoring his daughter's strange and slightly depressed and deflated behaviour on the journey to the Akimichi clan compound, went up to his two teammates, comrades and friends.

"Chouza! Shikaku!"

The Yamanaka greeted the two other clan leaders with handshakes and slaps to the shoulder.

"I'm surprised you came Shikaku. What got you motivated to leave the compound?"

"Very funny, but I was actually worried about you. It isn't like you to be this late,"

"Yeah, well, you don't have to deal with two stubborn and headstrong daughters,"

"Hey, how are those two doing? It sure has been a while since I have seen them. I was shocked to see how much Shikamaru had grown, can't imagine my heart will survive the surprise from those two,"

Chouza interrupted the small and harmless banter between the Yamanaka and Nara and said Yamanaka was all too eager to show off his two daughters to the Akimichi and Nara.

"Ino. Kasumi. Come here,"

Ino seemed a little bit uncertain but her naturally outgoing nature won over her internal, emotional struggle and she emerged from behind her father to give the two other adults in the room a blinding smile.

"Hello!"

This earned her two responses, with differing levels of enthusiasm, and then the attention was aimed at the quiet, and still shaken, brown haired Yamanaka child. Kasumi gave her own simple greeting but was a lot quieter in comparison to her blonde twin and also surprised the three clan leaders by doing a little bow as well.

"Yeah Inoichi, I'm sure this one is a huge handful,"

"Very funny Chouza but she can be a bit of a devil when she wants to be,"

This time it was Inoichi and Chouza's turn to have a small banter. Temporarily ignoring the twins.

"Kids, Shikamaru and Choji are through that door, don't cause too much trouble,"

With that invitation by the Nara the two girls made their way from the dining room to the next room and were met by miniature versions of the two adults they had just greeted.

Ino once again took charge. She didn't falter in her steps as she swiftly approached the pair while Kasumi was still not in the mood and simply wanted some time to think about her parents and their reactions. The two boys that were sitting in the middle of the living room didn't even look up at the blonde girl as the continued to do … nothing.