Foreword: I know that I muddle up dialogue when it comes from the show. I do it on purpose. I don't like copypasta, and I'm sure you don't too. So if you find dialogue that is different then what the show/manga has remember, it's on purpose.

Friend and Foe...

Pip woke up before the sun had even risen. Groggy, but unable to fall back asleep, she slid out of bed and stumbled in the dark to her bathroom. Hitting the wall until her hand found the switch, Pip scowled and hissed as the light burned her eyes. It took a few minutes to have her eyes adjust but eventually they did. Turning the shower on, she stepped in and stood there until she felt more awake, and a little less grouchy. Pip sighed more in apathy then irritation. Today was the start of the exams and honestly Pip was starting to regret her decision to join. She was sore, and bruised and sick to her stomach, but that may be the lack of food. She hadn't been eating as much as she used to. And in the time she had been training, lost almost all her body fat. She had been craving something for a long time now and she just couldn't put her finger on it. Facing the water she began to sigh again...

What she hadn't been paying attention to was that her face was directly under the water... until she starting to cough up the scalding water. Then it hit her!

"Oh GOD YES!" Pip Jumped out the shower, barley turning it off in the processes. Running to her room she started to shiver from an unexpected breeze. Looking around she noticed her door to the balcony was slightly open. Closing it without thinking, she went to get dressed for the day. Simple black cargo pants and a black shirt. Nothing to fancy but they were comfy and durable, just in case they did anything extreme... Which ninja tend always to do.

She was just slipping on her shoes when she heard pounding at her door. Rushing down the stairs she opened the door to see Naruto standing in front of her, looking a lot more tired but altogether glad to see Pip.

"Hey, random question, do you have a thermos?" Pip asked as she pulled the willing Naruto in the house and fled to her kitchen, rummaging throw the cabinets.

"Umm yeah, I have one but I never use it, ramen comes in cups so there's no need for it." Naruto leaned against the wall staring at Pip tiredly.

"Can you do that cloney thing and grab it." Pip's face lit up as she grabbed the little red tin from down the top shelf.

"Okay..." There was that odd poof sound and footsteps running away. "Why though?" Pip grinned wide.

"I've been feeling kinda... blah lately and I didn't know why. But then it hit me!" Pip pulled out a few tea bags "I used to drink tea everyday, and I haven't in a while." Pip began to chuckle heartily.

"I'm having tea withdrawals." The sound of rushing footsteps were heard again, and the clone Naruto came running in, huffing and grinning as he held out the thermos. When Pip grabbed the thermos from the clone it just vanished in smoke, causing Pip to jump. Walking to the sink she let the water run until it was hot, then filled the thermos up, placed the tea bags in, and closed the top. Shaking the container she looked over to Naruto. 'This will have to make do for now.'

"So what's up?" Pip asked as Naruto yawned a bit.

"We're suppose to meet up with Sakura and Sasuke" Naruto almost spit out the word Sasuke in contempt. Pip pulled out a few carrots, an apple, and a bag of home-made jerky the little family owned spice stall Pip had bought her tea from. She stuffed all the food into a small bag and put them in her pocket. It felt a little bulky on her side, but she didn't plan for the food to be there all day.

"We better get going then. Just let me get Chozu." Naruto nodded. Pip half ran up the stairs to her room. The sun was just now starting to peek over the tree line, giving the world a pinkish glow. Walking to her bed Pip leaned down to the bump near the pillow.

"Wake up Chozu, I have jerky for you." The bump didn't show signs of moving. Pip rolled her eyes a bit and grabbed her blanket by the corner.

"I know you're nocturnal but you can sleep on the wa-" Pip cut herself off when she pulled the blanket back. Chozu wasn't under the blanket. Pip checked under the bed the bathroom, even the windowsill downstairs. Chozu wasn't anywhere.

"Whats wrong?" Naruto asked, looking a little more worried then tired. Pip furrowed her brow in worry.

"I can't find Chozu. He wasn't in bed, not under it, not anywhere." Pip ran her hand through her hair. She began tapping her hand against her thigh in worry.

"He's probably just out getting more berries or something." Naruto said, putting a hand on her shoulder. Pip sighed and grabbed the thermos off the counter.

"We're going to be late." Pip walked out the door without Naruto and looked around. She jumped when she heard Naruto shout behind her.

"CHOZU?!" Pip and Naruto looked at each, and Pip smiled.

"CHOZU!" They both shouted out the little raccoons' name, only stopping until their voices were raw. They came upon Sasuke and Sakura without really realizing it. They were both looking decently rested, and a little miffed.

"Why are you yelling, idiot?" Sakura muttered, her eye twitching. Pip snapped a glare at her.

"He's helping me look for Chozu, he wasn't home." Sakura looked a little hurt by the Gingers reaction but she apologized.

"He'll turn up." Sasuke said.

"It speaks once more!" Pip said sarcastically. Sasuke gave her a light glare. "I'm sorry, I'm just worried. He's all I got from home." Sakura looked at her understandingly and put a hand on her shoulder.

"He'll turn up, he has to. Sasuke said so." Pip was too worried to even roll her eyes at the Pink hair girls antics. The four started off, Pip and Naruto kept on calling Chozu's name every once and a while, while Sasuke and Sakura stayed silent. They only stopped shouting when they saw more and more ninja.

Pip felt her stomach drop. She hadn't realized how nervous she really was. Doubt began to creep in on her, making her gulp loudly. Naruto seemed to sense her worry, and nudged her in the ribs. When Pip looked over Naruto was smiling at her, his big goofy grin. Something about that grin just seemed to make her feel so much more at ease and ready.

"Once this is over, I'll treat you to Ichiraku. All on me, as much as you want." Pip ruffled Naruto's hair as the blondes eyes sparkled with joy and determination.

"ALRIGHT!" Naruto whooped in celebration as Pip confidently walked into the building, her team following some distance behind her.

Walking up the stairs, Pip's thoughts wondered back to Chozu. 'Maybe he's just out collecting berries... he does that when I'm hurt and worried... Thank god he doesn't bring me cookies... I'd be fat.' Pip was snapped out of her musings when she saw a flash of green hitting the floor.

"Lee!" Pip ran over to is side. Tenten also crouched down nest to him, staring up at the assailants "Are you okay?" Two men stood shoulder to shoulder, haughtily looking down at Lee.

"You really think you're gonna get by us? Or even compete in the Chuunin Exams?" One said grinning.

"Honestly it'd be better if you brats quit now." The other male scoffed and added.

"Newbies." Pip felt a flare of anger but kept her eyes on Lee, not wanting to start something this early in the exams.

"Lee, please, are you hurt?" Lee looked over and gave a small smile.

"I'm fine, don't worry." Another punch rang through the hall, as Pip looked up to see Tenten fall right beside Lee. Now Pip was getting angry. Her nails were nearly tearing at Lee shoulder as Pip saw a faint red mark on Tenten's cheek. Some ninja at Pip's left muttered something along the lines of 'That's...mean.'

"Mean? Were doing you a favor!" One of the assholes blocking the door said, false hurt in his voice. "We've seen plenty of ninja quit. We've seen ninja who we're completely disable for life Just from taking these exams." Pip felt a a little shudder of doubt make to her stomach. It didn't settle well with her.

Pip heard footsteps approaching and looked back to see her 'team'. 'Took you guys long enough!' Sasuke was glaring at the two men at the door. Sakura looked like just got back from a funeral and Naruto looked determined. Pip smiled just a bit. One of the men was saying something about weeding out ninjas when Sasuke stepped forward.

"A reasonable argument, but you will let me through. Also undo the genjutsu you have set up, I have business on the third floor." Someone directly behind Pip muttered, 'What is he talking about.'

Pip couldn't have said it better herself. Looking up, the sign said 301.

The two men at the door lost the haughty looks and slightly glared at Sasuke...

"So you noticed." Sasuke turned to Sakura who still looked like she was depressed beyond all reason.

"Well Sakura? You should've been the first to notice." Sakura looked up in surprise. Sasuke continued. "You have the most analytical mind here, and you're genjutsu knowledge has improved most in our team." Pip looked at Sasuke, 'Is he... He's giving a compliment to Sakura?...'

Sakura looked surprised, but she smile and muttered a small thank you to Sasuke. When she looked up and new look of determination was set on her features. Pip finally understood. 'He just boosted her confidence up like twenty notches... Way to not be an ass!'

"Of course I noticed! This is the second floor." Naruto gave a little hmm of agreement. Pip's vision twisted and suddenly 301 was now 201. One of the men glared fully at Sasuke...

"All you've done is notice a simple genjutsu... How do you fend against this!" Then man went to attack Sasuke. Sasuke began to ready himself for a counterattack when all of a sudden a green blur appear between the two, stopping both their attacks mid air. Lee stood between Sasuke and the guy from the door, Holding them apart with ease...

'But he was just... That little faker!' Pip smiled a little. Lee looked back with a ferocity Pip only saw when he was serious. Sasuke looked shacked as he stared at Lee's arm. Neji stepped forward with Tenten.

"This wasn't the plan. You were the first one to say we shouldn't be attracting any attention." Pip stood up and laughed a bit. Lee, the genius. Lee was walking over to Sakura when Pip felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking back she saw Kakashi, a finger to his lips, pulling her away from her team and friends. Pip looked at her friends but began to walk away. They were busy watching Lee announce his love of Sakura. 'Poor Lee... He's gonna get get hurt by her.' but Pip knew he'd pull through, twice as determined to show his admiration. Kakashi led her up some stairs and into room marked 307.

A man and two teenagers were sitting at a table. The older man had long brown hair pulled into a braid, his skin was tanned, probably from years of missions. When he looked at he Pip held back a gasp, his left eye had a thick jagged scar running down the length of his face, his eye was white. The scar made the left half of his face look like a permanent scowl, even his lip seemed lopsided and angry.

But the right half, had a rich chocolate coloured eye that glittered with kindness and a hint of playfulness, the right side of his face smiling at her.

"Tsubaki, this is Pip. Pip this is the team you'll be competing with." Kakashi announced lazily, as he pulled a book out thin air.

"What? I thought you said I'd be registered with Naruto and the other?" Kakashi sighed and turned a page.

"You were. But some of the other senseis found that a four man squad was a little unfair. So The Hokage asked Tsubaki here if it was okay for you to join their squadron. Just for the exams." Pip looked over to the two teenage boys, one seemed to be ignoring her, while the other just offered a meek smile and looked back at his teammate. Tsubaki opened his arms and began to speak.

"We had a mission a while back and unfortunately our teammate saw some things she just couldn't cope with, she resigned from any further mission and quit her shinobi career. It took courage for her to do it, but she is much happier now." Tsubaki looked to Pip and held out a hand. "We know your new to all of this, and we haven't any experience with you on our team, but I've heard good things about you, and if push comes to shove you can always use Kon back there as a human shield."

The teen boy who seemed to ignoring you looked up at Tsubaki, his green eyes narrowing as he glared at his sensei.

"HEY! There is no way I'm being human shield. I'm already bait, pack mule, and punching bag! Let Hideo be the shield." Kon ran a hand though his short black hair before nudging Hideo with his shoulder. Hideo gulped and looked over at Pip. He actually looked a lot like Kon with black hair and green eyes, but his longer hair was pulled into a small quin, and he had a pair of thin rimmed glasses that just gave him an innocent look.

He gave another meek smile. "I don't mind helping to protect her if she needs it." Tsubaki gave a laugh and slapped Pip on the back.

"You see already they like you!" Pip looked at Kakashi who seemed enthralled with his book, the back at Tsubaki.

"Okay. If this is what the Hokages wants, then I'll do it." Pip held out her hand to Hideo who's cheeks tinted as he grabbed her hand.

"My names Pip. And this is-" Pip cut herself off as she realized Chozu wasn't there. Hideo gave her an expectant look. "Sorry. I actually can't haven't seen Chozu since last night."

"Chozu?" Hideo asked still grasping her hand, eyebrows raised slightly.

"My pet raccoon. He snuck off last night and I haven't seen him since." Kon scoffed.

"Damn already she's lost something! Or maybe he wanted to get away from you." Pip's eyes snapped over to Kon, a malicious glare directed right at him. Kon gave a little gulp. Hideo gave a nervous laugh.

"Maybe he just went out into the forest to scavenge, or a dumpster, or-" Kon lightly smacked Hideo on the back of the head, which caused him to finally let go of Pip's hand, to hold his head.

"Shut up Hideo. You ramble too much." Hideo began to apologize profusely which just seemed to make Kon even more angry. Soon Kon was yelling at Hideo, and Hideo just seemed to apologize more. Pip slowly backed away from the two boys and stood between Tsubaki and Kakashi.

"What have I gotten myself into?" Pip wondered aloud. Tsubaki laughed and gave Pip another clap on the back.

"You've just entered Squadron 13. Team Tsubaki." Pip looked up at him, then turned her attention to Kakashi, who just turned another page. Without even looking at Pip he said.

"You've gotten yourself into the Chuunin Exams, Pip. Have fun!" And with that he poofed away in a cloud of smoke. Leaving Pip all alone with her new team.

After some bouts of laughter, Tsubaki finally got the two boy to stop their... 'arguing'. Currently Pip was seated to the left of Tsubaki, Hideo was directly across from her, and Kon to Hideo's right. Tsubaki spoke first.

"WE have some time before the exams start. Why don't we talk a bit about ourselves. It's good to know each others strengths and weaknesses before we go into battle." Kon grunted and Hideo just nodded a light smile on his face. "Kon you first." Kon gave a little scoff but spoke anyway.

"Names Kon Ito. 15. I'm good at long range fighting and ninjustus. Suck at genjutsu. Decent with taijutsu." Kon went back to glaring at a spot on the wall. Tsubaki gave a little sigh and looked down at Pip.

"Sorry for his sour attitude. He's always been a bit of a grump." Tsubaki looked dramatically around before leaning down and whispering "He doesn't like the fact he's the youngest here." Kon's body stiffened. He pointed at Pip while shouting at his sensei.

"Don't tell her that! It's not true. Besides I bet shes younger then me! She was on a rookie team." Pip just raised an eyebrow, and was about to respond, but a better idea came along. She held he tongue.

"Fine, fine I'm sorry. Hideo, go on ahead." Hideo looked over to Pip and gave a soft smile.

"My name is Hideo Ito. I'm 16 years old. I'm good with genjutsu's and long range fighting, I'm okay with ninjustus, mostly simple healing techniques. My Taijustu isn't very god." Hideo looked down embarrassed.

Tsubaki smiled. "Don't be fooled be the gentle demeanor, he's a clever combatant." Pip smile and gave a nod. Tsubaki stretched. "I'll go next if you don't mind Pip."

"Go right ahead, Sir."

"First off it's Tsubaki. I don't' like sensei, or sir. It make me feel old." Kon muttered something but all Pip could make out was 'Ancient.' "I'm 27 years old and this is my second team. I'm pretty well rounded in all aspects of fighting, but I'm better with Ninjustus and strategy. Also I can out drink anyone at the table." Pip raised an eyebrow but smiled anyway. 'That's... not really a skill.'

Tsubaki looked over to Pip expectantly. Pip smiled and looked at her new team.

"My name is Ainfean Begley Kearney, b-" Pip was cut off from Kon barking laughter.

"What kind of fucked up name is that?" He kept laughing as Pip just glared at him.

"I'm named after my dead Father." Kon's laughing dissipated as he heard Pip's words. When he looked back he flinched at her glare. He mutter an apology and went back to staring at the spot on the wall he was looking at earlier. Pip just sighed and picked up where she left off.

"No big deal, he's been gone a long time. Anyway you can call my Pip. I honestly have no skill in or with genjutsu, or Ninjutsu. In fact I can't preform a simple transformation." Kon looked like he was about to say something but he held his tongue for the moment.

"I'm pretty good at taijutsu and different sorts of weaponry. Most close to mid ranged." Pip smirked and looked at Kon. Sensing her stare, Kon turned to her.

"What?" Kon said demandingly. Pip's smirk just got wider.

"I'm seventeen." Kon's eyes widened. He just kept staring at her, his face turning more and more red.

"Well It's almost 3 o'clock. You all should be heading down the hall. Don't want to be late do you?" Tsubaki put a hand on Pip shoulder and looked over his team.

"I don't care if you pass or not. Just work together and come out alive." Hideo gave Tsubaki a look of pity, but nodded. Kon grunted a non-commitable response, and Pip just looked at her new sensei. He looked down at her. Instead of one side being serious, and the other being kind and happy. Both sides seemed somber and serious. It was more unnerving then the lopsided expressions.

Pip smirked.

"I don't plan on letting anyone die." Tsubaki smiled down at Pip, then disappeared, leaving

Pip with her new teammates.

Pip and her new team made their way into 301. As they walked in they received lots of glares from older, rugged looking ninjas. Pip just glared right back. Looking all around the room she caught a flash of orange and pink.

"You guys mind if I go see my old team. I bet their wondering where I went off to." Kon shrugged his shoulders while Hideo smile.

"Why don't we all say hi." Pip nodded at the suggestion and made their way through the crowd. As Pip walked over to Naruto, she heard a familiar voice

"-is shows how many applicants and from what countries are taking the exams this year." Pip felt a shudder go through her but she ignored it again.

"Hey guys!" Pip said smiling as the finally saw Kabuto, Naruto, and the rest of her friends.

Naruto perked up and hugged Pip around her waist.

"Where did you go?! You missed the Fight between Lee and Sasuke! Sasuke got his ass beat." At that comment Sasuke glared at Naruto but didn't say a word. Pip smiled.

"Kakashi took me to meat with my new team. Some people didn't like the odds of a four man squad so they put on another team last minute. Everyone this is my team Hideo and Kon." Kon just grunted, and Hideo gave a sweet smile and a small wave.

"Pip, It's good to see you again. I been looking all around for you but It seems like you're always so busy." Kabuto stood and smiled at Pip. Pip fought against the urge to hiss at him.

"Well you know, I'm starting late as a ninja so I need all the practice I can get." Kon's head swiveled rapidly to look at Pip.

"What do you mean starting late? You're seventeen!" Pip sighed. She was hoping to save that tidbit of information for later.

"Well you see I haven't been a ninja for long, I'm not even from Konoha. This is sorta of like probation." Kon deadpanned.

"Probation! What are you some kind of fugitive?!" Pip sighed as Kon began throwing accusations around wildly. To Pip's surprise it was Kabuto who spoke up.

"Kon please don't shout. If Pip was some sort of enemy she would have made some kind of move by now. She's been training the Hokage personally, and if she wanted He would've been dead by now." Pip looked incredulously at Kabuto, but gave him a smile of appreciation.

Kon just huffed and crossed his arms.

"Whatever. I'm going to go sit with Roku's team. Hideo, lets go." Hideo looked over to Pip, who just waved her hand for him to smile, a look saying 'It's okay.' Sighing with relief he ran to catch up with what Pip assumed was his brother.

"What an ass." Pip heard Naruto mutter. She just laughed. It was then that Pip heard a familiar sound. A little Zip-squeal sounded behind Pip. Looking around she caught a flash of grey and black running between a group of older looking ninjas. With out even thinking she began to follow the zipping noise and the few flashes of colour.

Pip almost knocked a few ninjas down in her pursuit but it didn't cross her mind until she finally found her target.

"Chozu!" Said raccoon looked up and made an excited squeal. It bounded over towards Pip scrambling up her leg to settle on her shoulders. It began to nuzzle her face.

"You little furry bastard! I was worried about you. Why would you run off like that! Wh-... Oh god." Pip grabbed the little raccoon from her shoulder and held him in front of her face. "I'm scolding a raccoon... That's it. This fucking place has officially drove me off the deep end." Pip hung her head low, as Chozu gave a little mewl like sound. He patted her head and squirmed his way out of her grasp. Landing on he floor easily.

"Where were you anyway?" Pip asked. Running a hand through her hair. Chozu straitened up a bit the went bounding off in the direction he was before, just slow enough for Pip to follow.

Chozu finally stopped in front of a few ninjas. Pip recognized them as the three sand ninjas she encountered before.

"Oh, hey guys" They just gave her a glare. Pip felt a little discouraged around them. Chozu gave a little grunt and bounded his way towards the redhead in the center of the group. He began to fiddled with his bandana until he produced another one of his berries. Gaara stared at the berry then surprisingly he bent down and accepted the it. Chozu made another one of his zip squeals, and began to run around Gaara excitedly before coming back to Pip and sitting at her feet.

Pip looked at Gaara as he ate the berry. His teammates stared at him incredulously. The mere thought of him accepting anything... from anyone with no question a bit disturbing. What they saw next almost sent them catatonic.

"This is... Your raccoon." Gaara stated more the asked, staring blankly at Pip. Pip tilted her head and looked down at Chozu. Chozu looked up and gave what some could consider akin to a grin.

"Yeah. The little rascal here is my raccoon." Gaara stared at the raccoon before looking back at Pip.

"Let him out at night. He is nocturnal." And with that Gaara turned to walk away. His flabbergasted teammates looking at him. Still in a daze that he even spoke to someone. When Gaara turned back he had a deadly glare directed towards Kankuro and Temari, who both seemed to physically jump out of their daze and follow after him.

Kankuro spared a look back at Pip and Chozu. Pip just waved goodbye before walking off, starting her scolding towards Chozu again, who merely sat limp on her shoulders. Kankuro shook his head as he looked back. 'She's going to die...'

As Pip made her way back to her back to where Naruto and the the rest of the rookies were, she spotted Hideo and Kon sitting with another older looking group of Konoha ninjas. She made her way towards them and was greeted by Hideo.

"Looks like you found your raccoon." Hideo said as he reached out to pet Chozu. Chozu accepted the petting happily, giving off a slight pur as he did so.

"Yeah I did. And he is in soooo much trouble." Chozu's ears flattened as he hung limp again over Pip's shoulder.

"Seems like he knows it too." A boy with blue hair said as he nudged Pip in the rib playfully. "Names Roku. Kon and Hideo have told us a little about you." Pip was about to answer when Chozu began growling. Just as Pip began to look around a looked boom and huge cloud of smoke invaded the room. Suddenly an extremely familiar voice resounded all around the room.

"Silence!" As the smoke cleared there stood Ibiki, surrounded by a large group of jounins. Pip smiled as she saw him while Chozu growled a little louder.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. My name is Ibiki Morino, Ill be you first proctor in the Chuunin Exams." Pip smile broadened. As she looked back at her new team, they looked to her. Kon had a smirk on his face. And Hideo smiled meekly back, a very light tint to his cheeks.

"Who's ready to kick some ass?" Pip asked holding out her first to her new team.

Kon held his out to her and Hideo raised his with out hesitation. They fist bumped each other, looking from on to the other.

They were ready.

Yaaaaay! Finally got it out after months of writers block and rewrites. I know this isnt perfect, but hey I finally got my drive to write sorta back. As per usual, feedback is important to me, so pm me with suggestions or critiques. They are ALWAYS welcome. I appreciate you all sticking with me in my long absences.