Asuka greeted the beautiful morning with a smile on her face as she held up her left hand and gazed at the ring that was now there. Who knew that meeting Naruto and his friends would have taken me from a complete loner to Neji's soon to be fiance. Asuka lept out of bed and spun around in joy, but because her legs were still weak she crashed into her dresser then to the floor. Asuka laughed out loud.

"Is everything alright up there?' Masato called from downstairs.

"Everything's fine!" Asuka called back.

After getting dressed and brushing her hair she slid down the railing and pranced into the kitchen.

"Well aren't we chipper this morning? I guess Neji gave you his gift then." Masato observed as he sat at the table drinking his coffee.

"Yes! Yes he did! I honestly wasn't expecting it. I didn't think he was ready for something like this but I'm glad he is." Asuka said as she danced around the kitchen getting herself breakfast.

"I'm glad to see you're in such a good mood." Masato said then took a sip of his coffee.

"But...?"

"But nothing."

"Yeah right, you've got something up your sleeve don't you?" Asuka asked reading him like a book. They hadn't been living together a short time but then again Asuka never needed very long to be able to read someone.

Masato smiled. "I can't hide anything from you can I? You're just like your mother."

"So spill it." Asuka playfully demanded.

"I'm just thinking about how to get to know Neji and Naruto better. I feel kind of responsible for Naruto since neither of his parents are here and Neji because the odds of you marrying him are like ninety percent so I figure... why not."

"Alright then just don't do anything embarrassing." Asuka warned.

Masato finished his coffee and stood up. "I'm heading out did you want me to grab anything while I'm out?"

"No I think we're good for now."

"Alright then I'm off." Masato waved as he left.

"Now then what to do on my day off?" Asuka said aloud to herself as she looked around. "I know I'll see if Lady Tsunade needs a hand. Shizune can't do everything all the time. Besides I'm feeling helpful no reason why Lady Hokage shouldn't benefit from it."

Asuka almost literally skipped the whole way to the Hokage's office. Once there Asuka knocked on the door.

"Come in." Tsunade called.

"Good morning Lady Tsunade." Asuka greeted cheerfully with a bow.

"Miss Nakamura, I wasn't expecting you."

Asuka stood up. "I thought I would come by and see if you needed any help around the office."

"Why would you want to help out here on your day off?" Tsunade asked confused.

"I'm just in a good mood ma'am."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow and studied Asuka. Probably to try and read me to find out if it's a trick. Asuka figured.

"Very well then." Tsunade turned Shizune, "Let's get her organizing the paper work that's piled up downstairs."

"Right away ma'am."

Asuka followed Shizune down to a room full of piles of files. There wasn't even a real way to figure out what the room looked like with it all.

"Lady Tsunade likes things organized by date." Shizune said.

"Thank you."

Once Shizune left Asuka went right to work. She worked until dusk and had barely made a dent in the piles. Asuka let out a big stretch and decided she would call it quits for now and headed up to tell Tsunade that she was heading home for now but would be glad to come in on her days off till it was done. However when she opened the door to the office she saw a small green elderly toad sitting in a special chair that hadn't been there earlier, Tsunade and Shizune had grim looks on their faces. Asuka knew something was terribly wrong.

"Asuka, how have you made out with the files?" Shizune asked.

"I'm far form done but I'll get there in a few more days."

Before Asuka had a chance to ask what was going on Sakura, Kakashi, Masato, and a pasty white man with short dark hair she hadn't met before all entered.

Asuka turned to go.

"Asuka I think you should stay here." Tsunade said.

Asuka complied.

Just then Naruto walked in. To Asuka it looked like he had been napping.

"This is Jiraiya-boy's student then?" the toad asked looking at Tsunade.

Oh no! Don't tell me. Asuka's heart already dropped.

"Yes, this is Naruto Uzumaki. The "Child of Prophecy" you mentioned."

"Jiraiya-boy has died in battle." the toad simply said.

Damn it Master Jiraiya! You promised you'd be careful. A tear escaped Asuka's eye.

Naruto went from shocked to anger very quickly.

Asuka knew how he felt. Her mother had been her sensei. Naruto not having a father probably saw Jiraiya as the father he never had. Asuka remained silent. She knew full well that there would be nothing she could say at this time to make it hurt less.

Before she knew it Naruto ran out the door.

Asuka turned to her father who seemed to be handling it better. "I'm so sorry dad," she looked at everyone else, "I'm sorry for your loss, please let me know if I can do anything to help." Asuka said as more tears escaped her eyes.

Slowly everyone left and Asuka and her father headed home in silence.

The next day Asuka still felt the sting in her heart. It didn't hurt as much as when her mother died but it was still painful. She recalled her promise she made to Jiraiya and went straight away to find Naruto. If I were Naruto I would still be in bed trying to find a reason to get out of bed. She knocked on Naruto's door. No answer. She knocked again.

"Naruto it's Asuka, if you're home please let me in." Asuka called through the door.

After a few moments the door opened slowly and Naruto walked away and disappeared back into his bedroom. Asuka followed.

Naruto was laying on his stomach with a lifeless look in his eyes.

Asuka just sat with him silent.

"Why did Granny let him go? She knew it was dangerous."

"Master Jiraiya was a ninja, we take missions to protect the ones we love."

"I guess you're right." Naruto sighed.

"I'm here for you Naruto. I know I wasn't as close to Master Jiraiya as you were but I do know what you're feeling. I'm not sure you know but I lost my sensei too."

Naruto sat up and looked at Asuka. "Who was your sensei?"

"My sensei was my mother. She also died on a mission."

Naruto threw a hug around Asuka and didn't let go. "Does the pain ever fade?"

Asuka could hear the tears. "Yes, eventually, but my memory of my mom is still with me and I'm sure your memory of Master Jiraiya will stay with you."

Naruto cried and a few tears trickled down Asuka's cheeks.

Master Jiraiya, you will be missed.

As the week went on Asuka began to slowly feel better. She was headed to the Hokage's office to be briefed for a mission. She met the rest of Team Guy just outside the door and they all headed in together.

"Ah here they are." Tsunade said.

Asuka looked and saw Feudal Lord Haru standing there.

Haru gave Asuka a smile.

Asuka politely smiled back.

"The Feudal Lord has asked for you personally Miss Nakamura."

"Really?" Asuka asked in a bit of disbelief.

"I wanted the best team for this mission and so I asked for whatever team you were on." Haru explained.

"Well you got the right team alright! Team Guy can handle any mission you got!" Guy Sensei cheered.

"Glad to hear it." Haru said with a smile.

"Mr. Haru needs your help in retrieving some information that was stolen from him." Lady Tsunade said.

"And killing the ones who stole it." Haru added.

"Is it the same men who came after your father for debt?" Neji asked.

"Good memory but no. These men believe that someone as young as I am should be a Feudal Lord so they want to prove that I am incapable of the task. We are going to prove to them I can."

"Well alright then when do we leave?" Lee asked.

"Right now." Haru answered.