Lee turned quickly to the group. "We have to find her and give her the pendant!'

As he turned to rush away, TenTen grabbed his shoulder, shaking her head and holding up a finger.

"Wait! Remember what Oto-sama said?" She paused and looked at the group. "If you tell a spirit that they are dead, they'll regain their memories and become dangerous. We have to be careful of what we say if we see her."

They nodded in unison and Natsumi looked at her. "Oto-sama said that?"

Sakura nodded and Natsumi thought for a moment.

"I've never known her to be wrong about anything before." Natsumi smiled faintly. "So, we should all be careful, then."

"How do we find the Princess?" Naruto scratched his cheek.

"Good question." Ino thought. "If she wanders the forest, she'll be impossible to track."

Kiba sniffed the air and Akamaru did the same, then he crossed his arms. "And she doesn't have a scent, either."

"We don't have to track her." Shikamaru rested a hand on his hip. "We know where she has been seen before. If we go there, she's bound to show up."

"Oh, that's right." Sakura nodded. "That tree is meaningful to her."

"What are we waiting for?" Lee clenched his fist, then pointed. "Let's go!"

He bounded away and TenTen sighed with a faint smile. "He's always so energetic."

"It is getting pretty late." Natsumi shrugged. "So, we should hurry, I guess."

They nodded and followed Lee.

Standing in the center of the quiet glade was a tall Maple with vibrant red leaves. Despite the chill in the air, not a single leaf had fallen to the ground. A light mist filled the area and clung to their skin in a chilly, damp layer. All sound from the forest was absent and left a bubble of unnatural silence.

"I don't see her anywhere." Naruto turned his head to scan the area, and they carefully walked around the clearing.

"This is where Oto and Guy-sensei mentioned meeting her. She'll turn up." Shikamaru quietly studied the tree while the others looked around.

Lee circled the tree and found a small memorial alter. It was concealed beneath vines and moss and darkened by the shadow of the tree. He wiped the stone's face clean and read the epitaph.

In memory of the Princess Akahime, the lovely blossom of the Uzumaki. May her soul rest in peace.

His eyes widened slightly and he pointed at the stone. "Look at this!"

They gathered around the memorial and Sakura knelt to touch the stone.

"When I first heard the story, I was skeptical," Sakura admitted quietly and Lee glanced at her, blushing faintly at how close she was. "But she was a real person, just like us."

"Hello?" A soft voice entered the glade and a chill ran down their spines. The voice sniffed and drew nearer. "Is... is someone there?"

They turned slowly and peered out of the shadows at the form of the Princess.

"I-It's really her!" Naruto's eyes widened and he stood rooted in place.

The Princess appeared to be solid, with her feet gracefully walking on the ground, without making a sound. Her red hair was straight and long, falling to her ankles, and she was wearing an exquisite pink gown, just as she had in her portraits.

Her eyes widened and she stepped back, startled at first, and then her eyes fell on Lee. She smiled broadly and ran to him, clasping his hands.

"Might Guy! You've come back, just as you promised!" She paused and blinked, then looked at him more closely. "You... you're not Might Guy."

Lee blinked and swallowed the lump in his throat as his heart skipped a beat. "Her hands are ice-cold! She really is a ghost!" He cleared his throat. "I-I'm Rock Lee, Princess!"

"Rock Lee?" She repeated slowly and released his hands. "But you look so similar to Guy..."

"Crap!" Naruto gulped.

"We can't tell her how much time has really passed since then." Shikamaru whispered to Lee.

"T-That's because..." Lee stammered and beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he thought of a lie.

"They're brothers!" TenTen exclaimed and the Princess tilted her head to the side.

"Oh? Brothers?" She giggled after a moment. "I see. It's no wonder that you look so similar."

The Princess looked between the group and then back to Lee. "Where is Guy, then?" She clasped her hands together and looked down. "Did... he not want to see me again?"

"No, no, no, no!" Lee waved his hands quickly and shook his head. "He's just... sick!"

"Sick?" She placed a hand over her mouth daintily. "That's terrible. He was fine when I saw him before..." She pressed her lips together. "It must be my fault. He was helping me search and he even went into the rivers. I'm sure that's why."

"Since he wasn't feeling well, he sent us to help you in his place." Lee smiled at the Princess.

"He did?" She bowed her head in thanks, then straightened and smiled. "I'm so grateful. It's gotten so dark and I've been searching everywhere. I can't find my pendant at all... I'm afraid that it's long gone now."

Her expression fell and the mist around them thickened.

"A-Actually!" Lee stepped toward her. "W-We actually found it."

Her eyes widened and she clasped his hands, her eyes wet. "Y-You have?!" Her eyes spilled over and he nodded. She flung her arms around him suddenly. "Oh, thank you! I was so worried that it was lost! Mother and Father would have been so upset with me!"

Lee shivered at the coldness of her embrace and she pulled away from him.

"Where is it?"

Lee turned to Natsumi, who stood frozen in place behind Naruto, half-concealed by the shadow.

"I... I have it." Natsumi gulped and took a step forward into the moonlight and the Princess' eyes widened.

"Y-You!" She released Lee's hands and stared at Natsumi. "You look just like me."

"A-And you look like me." Natsumi glanced down at the pendant, then held it out with both hands. "T-This is yours."

The Princess' cold hands brushed against Natsumi's as she lifted the pendant up and smiled at it. "You really did find it..." She carefully returned the amulet to hang around her neck, then the wiped another tear from her cheek and looked at Lee. "I... I can't believe it. I can't thank you enough." She looked at the group. "Thank you. All of you. This pendant is very important to me."

The Princess turned back to Natsumi. "You're an Uzumaki, aren't you?"

"I..." Natsumi nodded. "How did you know?"

The Princess giggled. "We Uzumaki are known for our red hair." She looked more closely at her. "But I've never seen you before. Are you from Uzushiogakure?"

"I'm Natsumi." She paused. "I'm from... somewhere else."

"Natsumi?" The Princess smiled. "What a nice name."

"Hey, hey!" Naruto grinned. "I'm an Uzumaki, too, ya know!"

The Princess looked at him for a moment and then shook her head. "Blonde."

"B-But I am!" Naruto protested.

"It's true." Natsumi giggled. "We're twins."

"Oh?" The Princess looked between them. "I suppose there is a resemblance after all."

The pendant emitted a soft glow and she looked down at the amber for a moment. Its light flickered and wavered for a moment, and then faded.

Naruto's eyes widened and he leaned closer to admire the amulet. "Amazing! What just happened? What did it do?"

She smiled faintly and giggled. "I'm sorry; I'm not allowed to talk about it with anyone. Please understand."

"O-Oh..." He straightened and the Princess patted his cheek.

"I'm sorry, Naruto, but I made a promise to keep its secrets."

She lowered her arm and turned. "I should go to Mother and Father now. My convoy was supposed to arrive this morning, so I'm sure that they're worried." She bowed her head respectfully. "Thank you for helping me. I won't forget this."

The Princess straightened and waved gracefully, then turned and began to walk away, only to be frozen in place.

"W-What's happening?!" Her eyes widened and she attempted to move. "W-What are you doing? Release me!"

Out of the corner of their eyes, they saw Shikamaru holding up a hand sign, immobilizing the Princess.

"Shikamaru!" Naruto turned to the Genin. "W-What are you doing? She's a Princess!"

"Hey!" Ino put her hand on her hips and narrowed her eyes at her teammate. "What do you think you're doing?!"

"Don't upset her!" Sakura hissed. "Oto-sama told us to be careful around her."

"True." He maintained the Jutsu, tilting his head up slightly as a smirk formed on his lips. "But this isn't the Princess."

Their eyes widened and they turned to him.

"W-What?" What do you mean?" Lee stammered. "Of course she is!"

"You're going too far!" TenTen scolded.

"So, when did you figure it out?" The Princess muttered, still frozen in place with her back to them.

"H-Huh?" The group turned slowly to look at the red-haired girl.

"Heh." Shikamaru closed his eyes briefly. "At the cabin." He answered. "I didn't suspect anything until the first disturbance. Furniture moving on its own... it's a little cliché."

"W-What's going on?" Naruto blinked and looked at Shikamaru.

Sakura's eyes widened. "No way... the Princess is... an imposter?"

"And then when Natsumi fell from the beam. It was difficult to see in the dim lighting, but I saw the Chakra threads, and I realized that the entire scene was staged."

"Staged? TenTen repeated.

"It seemed strange that someone from that time period wouldn't comment on our costumes." Shikamaru continued. "Not only that, but in Oto-sama's book, the Princess she drew, her hair was parted on the other side, and she had plum blossoms in her hair. You don't."

He smirked. "What really proved it to me was how you called Naruto by his name, even though it had never been given. And, what kind of ghost casts a shadow?"

The Princess laughed softly under her breath. "I suppose I did slip up there, didn't I?" She let out a breath. "You could have at least played along a little longer."

"W-Wait a minute!" Lee's eyes were wide and he pointed at the Princess. "If you're not the Princess, who are you?!"

Shikamaru released the Princess and she held up a hand sign, muttering. A puff of smoke concealed her, and when it dissipated, Natsumi stood in front of them.

"NATSUMI?!"

Their mouths gaped and they stared in disbelief.

"B-But...! How...?!" Naruto looked between the two Natsumi's. "You can't be Natsumi! She's been with us the entire time!"

"Haven't I?" The Natsumi beside him smirked faintly and vanished in a puff of smoke. Naruto's eyes widened further and he clutched his head.

"N-No way! It was a Shadow Clone the entire time?!"

Natsumi giggled and clasped her hands behind her, grinning ear-to-ear. "I really had you guys going, didn't I?" She narrowed her eyes at Shikamaru, then at Neji. "Except for you two!" She pointed at the Hyuga boy. "I saw you using your Byakugan. You're a closet pervert and a cheater!"

Neji scowled at the accusation.

Lee's eyes watered and his lip pouted and trembled. "N-Natsumi-chan... you... tricked us?"

She blinked and held up her hands. "W-Well..." She scratched her head, then cleared her throat. "I-I did. I'm sorry to have upset you."

"But why?" Naruto crossed his arms and looked at his twin, pursing his lips and making a face.

Natsumi put her hands on her hips. "You were complaining before how I never pulled pranks the way we did as kids anymore, so I'm surprised that you're not happy about it." She sighed and crossed her arms. "I got the idea after you told me that I looked like the Princess. Once we began to look through the evidence, and I saw her picture, I knew it was the perfect opportunity."

"N-Natsumi-chan..." Lee sniffed. "How could you...?"

"So, everything was a lie?" Sakura asked quietly, and Natsumi shook her head quickly.

"No, no! The case... the evidence... the pendant... all of it is real." Natsumi touched the pendant that hung around her neck, then pulled it off and held it in her hands. "I just never expected us to be actually able to find it."

She smiled faintly and looked up at them. "Lee was also so moved by Guy's story that I knew he would be disappointed if there wasn't actually a Princess to help... so that was something that influenced my decision."

Lee wiped his face with his sleeve and looked up. "Y-You... were trying to help me?"

"Well, yes. That was part of it." Natsumi glanced away and scratched her cheek. "I don't know you very well, but you're always such a nice, good-hearted person, and I thought it would be a shame if you got upset."

Lee hugged her suddenly, his eyes overflowing again. "S-So thoughtful! Natsumi is so thoughtful!"

She blinked and laughed awkwardly as he embraced her, and he released her after a moment and wiped his face.

"I also thought it would be fun." She smiled. "Considering there were some amongst us that were being aloof and boring during the Holiday, I figured that it would make them actually engage and have a little fun." She eyed Sasuke and Neji. "Although, I can't say that it worked."

"Hmph." Sasuke turned away. "I knew it couldn't be real."

Natsumi sighed. "Last but not least, everyone has been so tense since the Chunin Exams began. Since we still have a while until the third stage, I thought everyone could use a little bit of fun to take their minds off it."

"The only thing I haven't figured out is how you were able to hide your scent and manipulate anything using the Chakra threads without us noticing." Shikamaru looked at the redhead.

Natsumi smiled faintly. "My Invisibility Jutsu isn't only able to make me unseen at will... it can also be used to eliminate my scent or make my movements soundless."

Naruto stared at his twin. "Wow... when did you learn something like that?"

"Kiri and Aito taught me." She shrugged.

"What about the Chakra threads?" Sakura asked. "I didn't know you could do something like that, too."

"I can't." She crossed her arms and glanced toward the treetops. "I had help."

A figure leapt down from where it had been hiding amongst the branches and landed next to Natsumi.

Naruto's eyes widened and he pointed a shaking hand at the Sand Genin. "Y-You?!"

Kankuro smirked and put a fist on his hip. "You should have seen your faces. You morons all fell for it."

Natsumi nudged his side. "Hey, be nice! My brother's one of those morons."

Kankuro chuckled and shrugged, and a second figure dropped from the trees and landed beside him. The puppet clacked as it moved, then stood still.

The Leaf Genin stared incredulously at the older boy and Akamaru whimpered, hiding in Kiba's shirt.

"Natsumi, you're friends with this guy?" Naruto stared at him in scrutiny.

Natsumi's cheeks warmed and she glanced at Kankuro, who met her eyes briefly before he looked away.

"I... guess you could say that." She laughed quietly and moved a piece of her hair behind her ear. "We met briefly during one of my missions several months ago. I happened to see him just before we left the Village, and it gave me an idea of how to pull off the prank. I switched with a clone without anyone noticing, and then I asked if he would help out."

The group eyed Kankuro nervously as he looked down at them with an unwavering smirk. "It was pretty fun to see you all scared like that." He chuckled and glanced at Natsumi. "Thanks for inviting me along."

"Thanks for helping out." Natsumi leaned up to plant a soft kiss on his cheek and his face flushed slightly as he looked away.

"N-No problem..."

Naruto's mouth hung open and he pointed at his sister. "Y-You can't just kiss someone in front of your brother!"

Natsumi rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue, teasing. "Would you rather I did it in private?"

His face paled and he scowled, waving his arms in protest. "No! Since when are you interested in boys anyway?! You're just a kid!"

Natsumi let out a sigh, shaking her head slowly as a faint blush colored her cheeks. "It was just on the cheek, you moron."

"Oh, here you are."

"Gah!" The group jumped at the new voice and turned to see Kakashi standing behind them.

Kakashi smiled innocently and looked down at them. "Having fun?"

Naruto clenched his jaw and thumbed back at Natsumi over his shoulder. "Natsumi pranked us!" He complained.

"Oh? Is that so?" Kakashi glanced up at her, then back down at Naruto as he began to explain the night's events, interrupted by Sakura when he got a detail wrong.

Natsumi strode over to the memorial while the others were busy and she knelt in front, reading the epitaph to herself. Then, she placed the pendant on the ground before it, concealing it with a thin layer of dirt.

Kankuro approached her quietly and she smiled faintly, standing.

"Thanks again for helping me. I wasn't sure at first that you were going to, but I'm glad you did."

He looked away for a moment before nodding. "It was fun." He chuckled. "Better than spending time with those two, anyway."

Natsumi walked with him back to his puppet and watched him put it away and returned it to its place on his back.

"Do you want me to walk you back?" She offered and put a hand in her pocket.

"Nah." He shook his head. "If Temari sees us together, she'll never shut up about it."

"Are you sure?" Natsumi met his eyes. "I don't mind, and I am the one who asked you to come out here. It's the least I could do."

He glanced at the others at the other side of the clearing, then back to her with a smirk.

"I remember you saying something before about making it worth my while?"

She blushed and looked away. "U-Um..." She smiled faintly and rubbed her head. "I-I guess I did, didn't I?"

She leaned up and kissed his cheek again, then pulled away. "How's that?"

He thought for a moment and his smirk grew. "Pathetic."

Her blush deepened. "Pathetic?!"

"Yeah. You kissed me better that first time in Suna, and we were complete strangers then." He put a hand on his hip. "So, that one was pathetic by comparison."

"Oh, yeah?" Natsumi grabbed the back of his neck, drawing him closer and leaning in until their lips touched. His eyes widened slightly in surprise, then closed as he returned and deepened the kiss. She broke away after a moment, their faces both red.

"How was that?" She whispered as her heart pounded in her chest.

His face grew hotter and his lips curved in a slight smirk. "Satisfactory. For now."

"Greedy boy." She giggled and he leaned in to kiss her cheek, then give a short wave.

"See ya around, Natsumi."

"See you around." She murmured and waved back, and he leapt away.

Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw everyone staring at her wide-eyed and silent, and her face flushed a furious crimson.

T-They saw it!

Natsumi's eyes wandered to Naruto, who was looking elsewhere and was completely oblivious to what had happened. Her heart pounded and she let out a slow breath.

At least Naruto didn't see...

Natsumi walked over to the group, keeping herself from shaking as twelve pairs of eyes followed her. Once she reached the group, she shot Sakura and Ino a smirk, leaning close to whisper.

"And you said I didn't know anything about romance."

Their faces flushed and Natsumi laughed under her breath, then stood beside Naruto.

"Naruto, what are you looking at?"

Without a word, he pointed toward the memorial, where a female's figure stooped down to uncover the pendant. It glowed softly as she touched it, and Natsumi's mouth gaped at the ethereal form.

Naruto made a face and turned to her. "Come on, Natsumi. The prank's over. You can't fool me again."

Natsumi stood rooted in place as the figure shimmered in the moonlight and caught their eye. She bowed to the twins and then disappeared into thin air.

"N-Naruto... that's not..." She pressed her lips together. "N-Nevermind..."

He turned to face her, then blinked. He scrunched his face and leaned in closer as he looked her over.

"W-What?" She blinked and leaned back, and he pointed at her mouth.

"You've got something on your face."

She blushed and wiped it away with her sleeve. Kankuro's facepaint!

Naruto crossed his arms over his head and began to walk away. "I'm starving after all this running around. Let's go get something to eat."

"O-Okay." Natsumi slowly followed him, looking back at the memorial a final time before they made their way back to the village. Thankfully, he's completely clueless...

Kakashi glanced over at her as they walked, and she remained silent in thought. "Those books are a terrible influence for someone her age..."