"Alright! Let's see what I've been through. First, I spend the majority of this training break with that pervert doing completely nothing at all. Even if that water walking gibbet seems neat, I doubt that they'll have a water environment in the stadium. Second, the perverted wanted to teach me on how to summon toads! Which is really cool, but he fucking slammed me to and into a fucking cliff! Third, I died. JOY! Fourth, I ended up in Limbo where this freaky deaky shit happened and I suddenly found myself in a God forsaken shrine and-and-and…"

He gasped for air.

"I'm still alive and kicking." He concluded with a positive grin. "Whew! What a nice day it'd bee—LIKE HELL IT WAS!" The boy shouted in outrage, slamming down the piece of clothing that he had been holding on to all this time. He grabbed the side of his head in frustration, his teeth gritting. "Moh… it would've been better if I never met the pervert in the first place…"

Now don't let Kohaku catch you saying that young man.

"Like hell do I care!"

You know…you like to speak to yourself don't you?

Looking around, he noticed that people are looking at him. Some are even openly shaking their head while giving him the look of pity. He overhead some women talking about 'kids these days being too over pressured by today's custom'. What is this? Rural democracy? Sighing, Naruto picked up the piece of clothing from the ground, holding it in his arms. As of right now, he's in a particular shopping district in Konoha. Why? Well…

"Nii. Done."

That's why.

The sliding of curtains belonging to a changing closet slid open, revealing none other than the busty red haired girl. Naruto had the decency to blush, hell, all men who are staring should at least have! The stoic faced girl was now wearing something entirely else than that of a hospital gown. Ditching the blasphemous gown, she was now wearing a black Yukata with white crescent moon designs descending from the top left of the Yukata down to the lower right. Her Obi was tied perfectly and neatly, almost as if the one who had done it was a professional. The Obi is colored to match her hair, being dark red. But out of all, the one thing that made Naruto nearly mistook her for someone entirely else was the fact that she had her hair tied to a single bun with a chopstick keeping it in place.

Combined with her pink eyes and stoic look, she looked like a Geisha with a low pay check. Other than that, Naruto was considering that traditional clothing was, indeed, the best.

"Nii, how?" she twirled around her spot, causing the hem and sleeves of the Yukata to billow.

Naruto raised a thumb, a goofy grin on his face. "Ten points." He then realized the stupid expression he's making. "I-I mean, you look beautiful in that…" the boy shyly looked away, fingers scratching his whiskered cheeks; also accompanied by a dust of red glow on his face.

For Kohaku, it's like getting a major turn on.

"Whoa! Hey! Do-Don't cling to me all of a sudden!" finding himself in a rather…compromising position, Naruto found it hard to not react when he felt a pair of—already—familiar womanly flesh pressed onto his back. Apparently, Kohaku just loved to smell his scent. Weird…

Unlike the boy, the girl was having the time of her life. Never mind her tall stature that, obviously, towers over the boy's. It is all the chance that she got right now. Burying her face deep into her Nii's neck, Kohaku took a deep whiff of Naruto's odor for the second time today. The salty aroma of sweat flares her nostrils; she found it difficult to not get addicted to this.

After all… this scent is the scent of the one who saved her.

Naruto was seriously considering on switching his place with a log of chair or something. But he noticed that Kohaku isn't radiating the same excited feeling that she gave off earlier in the hospital when she's holding on to him. Blinking, Naruto slowly turned his back so that he could at least take a look at her shoulders. And since Kohaku's practically bending down right now, the emphasizing of those globs on his back was…pretty…hard to ignore.

"Ko-Kohaku…? What's wrong?" the boy asked, completely unaware of the subtle stare that they're receiving from the people around them. In fact, he paid them no mind. All that he's focusing on now is this deep feeling of mystery in his chest.

"As Kohaku thought…" the girl started; and she's probably saying the longest statement she ever made that day! "Nii…I love you."

How could he not react to such honest, pure and blissful sounding words? He felt his heart skipping a beat, even two! He felt as if heaven itself has descended to earth at that very moment, his mind couldn't even comprehend whether or not reality is still intact. She loves him. She loves him. Even if she's calling him her brother—Nii—still…she loves him. But…he loves Sakura. He loves her…

Right?

That moment, Naruto didn't even know why a certain pink haired girl crossed his mind. But he knew one thing. Even if she did cross his mind, it wasn't at all related to this magnificent and gorgeous girl who's currently hugging him from behind. Never mind the fact that he just met her today and it all happened as if it was a shitty plot from some third rated fiction made by a teen who's still in his high school.

…Ouch.

But. Fuck. That. Shit.

He didn't care. He could give all the fucks in the world right now.

If he could be with this mysterious yet familiar girl any second… he'd give everything. Everything…from his life to his dreams. From his dreams to his smile. From his smile to…everything. Everything that made him whole; he'll give it all to her.

But… why? Why is he willing to do so much for her?

Shopping had never been so confusing and tiring at the same time.

"The kid…he'd done dwidly doo…" the Nine Tailed demon fox shook its large furry vulpine head as it watched what was currently going on with its container.

One could say that the infamous Kyuubi no Kitsune was and is currently…interested.

But of course, to say that it is indeed interested is as vague as its host is dumb…but in all seriousness, its interest has grown from just interest to the one where a huge blob of confusion is mixed into the bowl and blended in a blender with more than six razor blades… this is all messed up. Yet…it's going all well, for some ridiculous reason. It didn't know. Maybe someone up there had run out of idea on how the world works.

Oi.

Back to point…Kyuubi—as much as it likes the way things are going now—there's this itching feeling on the top of its palm…or paw that made it think that something horribly wrong was about to happen. Be it tomorrow or next week, it didn't know. But to make it real simple and easy to understand… it just hoped that its host will grow from the pathetic, loud, and naïve boy to a better human. Of course, the Kyuubi was comparing its host to how any other human would compare each other.

It hoped for Naruto to be able to fend for himself properly. It hoped for the kid to be able to control and use its Uzumaki blood to the fullest. Why? Let's just say that it's a major hurt to its pride if it were to have a poorly shaped and weak host. It will be an outright mock to its immortal existence. Why immortal? Well…an immortal is, after all, a term to describe a being with a beginning but no end.

Behind the murky and rusty iron bars that it called prison, the Kyuubi grinned wide. Its showing the rows of razor sharp fangs that it possess. But there is this tiny bit of thing that it had to do in order for its wish to come true…

CLICK

"Heh…you can thank me later kid." Then it yawned wide, opening its massive jaw. "I'm going to sleep."

Let sleeping do—or in this case, foxes lie…they say.

On the middle of his walk to his apartment, while holding Kohaku by the hand—since she got distracted so easily with the most trivial of things—Naruto felt something clicked in him. He stopped, prompting the girl by his side to follow. He blinked a few times, not knowing what to feel. In fact, he didn't know if there's even a term for what he's feeling right now.

Kohaku knew that something was wrong with her Nii. But like a good girl she is, she decided to keep quiet. She could only watch as the shorter blonde clutched his chest, where his heart's at. Unable to bear with the sudden change of mood, Kohaku spoke. "Nii. Okay?" she's obviously asking whether Naruto was fine or not.

The boy left her answerless, he's still clutching his chest. But eventually, he managed to open his mouth. "I…I don't know. I think I'm fine…yeah, I'm fine." He answered her with an unsure tone. But as conflicted he may be, he's still able to smile. "Let's just continue to head to my home, yeah?"

Kohaku could only nod silently, not saying a word. It took her to realize that she too had been touching her chest, right on the left side. She dismissed it as an act of subconscious before proceeding to walk with her—one could say—guardian.

Naruto ignored what had happened just the past few minutes. He walked down the nearly busy streets of Konoha. He preferred for it to be crowded in this time of the day. If it's too silent, he'll just have more stares aimed at his direction. But if it's crowded, people will usually pay more attention to things around them other than the demon brat. However, seeing that situation has changed itself, he had been receiving more subtle staring than usual.

Oh the reason's obvious. It's due to the girl right next beside him.

He overheard whispers saying things like 'did the Kyuubi kid kidnap someone?' or even 'he's definitely forcing her to come with him' and even 'we should report this to the Hokage or something'. Naruto could only sigh when he heard those comments aimed at him. Thankfully, Kohaku's not sharp enough to pick up what some of the citizens were whispering about. He just hoped that they'll get home quick. He could grab Kohaku and go for the rooftops but it will only arouse more suspicions.

He can't have the townspeople thinking that he'd finally have the guts to kidnap a fair maiden in broad daylight now can he? Nope.

So which is why, he decided to go for a short cut over by the next alley and then finally going for the rooftops.

"Sorry about this." Naruto excused himself. He swiftly grabbed the girl in his arm, carrying the much taller girl on a princess carry position. As nervous as he was right now, Naruto tried his best to ignore the urge to be more conscious of what he's currently touching with his arms right now.

"…Kyaa. Nii. Ecchi." Imagine a girl saying that with a really flat tone.

"Now, now." Now imagine Naruto saying that whilst carrying the girl.

It's harder to retort to that comment instead of ignoring the fleshy feelings on his arms…

But never mind that. The boy soon jumped onto the roof, with the assistance of the ever so convenient chakra that he was—like many other ninja—gifted with. "Hold on tight, dattebayo!"

With a shout of his verbal tick, he began to jump roof to roof. He started out slow, but slowly increasing his pace. He could feel the wind rushing against him, and he's sure that Kohaku's feeling the same rush. It's always nice to take roof jumping in the evening, especially in Konoha. Konoha was and is located in Fire Country, where there's only summer and rainy season all over. It's nice to feel the warm evening wind rushing past his face, not to mention, the beautiful marmalade like décor that illuminates Konoha was also one heck of a sight.

In Naruto's arm, Kohaku felt her heart beating faster. It's definitely due to the rush. But little did she know, it was not because of that only. It's because she could feel the beat of Naruto's own heart as she was carried by him in the wind. She could grasp on what the fallen leaves of autumn may have felt like as they fall and dance beautifully, before being carried away by the wind. Due to the material of her clothing being made of silk—which was famous for being thin and glossy—she could feel the hardness of her Nii's abdomen on her sides. She shivered at that very moment. And she's pretty sure that it's not due to the wind.

Soon after a ninja styled detour to Naruto's apartment, the two blonde and red head finally arrived at their destined place.

Naruto thought that it was a cool idea to leave one of his windows unlocked. For what…one might ask. Well, to be honest, it's for situations like this. Sometimes it was way too bothersome to walk to the front door, pull up his keys and unlock the door like any normal people would do. But such way was too underrated for someone like him. He went inside the window that leads to his room and since his room wasn't that big in particular, having two people inside was practically a crowd.

"Yosh. Kay', welcome to mi casa." The blonde introduced with a wry grin. He set the taller girl down to her feet, still surprised to find her not as heavy as he thought she would be.

"Messy."

And Naruto completely agree. Despite not having much, Naruto always liked to keep things 'on his reach'. Meaning, such miscellaneous items such as lamps, training books, scrolls, a ramen cup, his bag, and another ramen cup was and always is on his reach. Or in simpler and imaginable term…his room itself is a complete junkyard.

Scratching the back of his head, the blonde had the decency to be embarrassed. This is, after all, the first time when a girl had really entered his room and not just on the front door. It's not like he's got many visitors in the first place, much less guest. It has been decided by the Sandaime for Kohaku to stay with him and is completely under his supervision. At first he rejected, he can't even look after himself what made that old goat think that the brat's smart enough to take care of others?

"Oi!"

…ignoring that, it's a brand new experience for him. But, if there's one thing he's glad, is that Kohaku was not a really—as what his Nara friend would say—troublesome girl to deal with. Even after only hours of meeting, she would follow his instructions carefully. Before, when they were still shopping, he told her to stay while he ask and get a clerk to recommend some clothing for her. And Kohaku did what she was told! He was so proud.

Dude…talk about creepy…

Naruto ignored that.

Looking around, Naruto agreed with Kohaku that his room was and is indeed messy. It had been a long time ever since he touched the cleaning supplies…about five months give or take. "Yeah…don't worry. You can stay in the living room and watch some television while I clean this room and after that, are you hungry?"

He saw her nodding her head twice.

The whiskered blonde grinned. "Great! We'll go to the best ramen place there is on this green earth!" he promised her.

So Naruto accompanied the silent girl to the living room. His living room isn't much, and it's only twice as big as his bedroom which is—keep in mind—not that big in a living room's standard. His kitchen is right next to the living room, separated by a wall and a small empty space in the middle. But this didn't mean that Naruto is cheap. Nope. He's not that perverted Sage of an ass after all.

His furnishing, while simple and ordinary, is what people would call minimalist. A simple sofa enough to fit up to four people, a simple cable TV subscribed to Konoha's one and only channel, a clock hanged on the wall, a small painting of a tree and finally; a rack where he would place his tools. Prank tools. That's just his living room, he saw no need to add or put any particular furnishing when it comes to his kitchen. If there's a stove and heater that's enough for him.

"Here." Naruto gestured towards the sofa. "You can wait and sit here. Turn on the TV if you want to." He handed Kohaku the remote, to which she accepted with no emotion or feelings whatsoever. Naruto grabbed a dirty rag and plastic bag from a small cupboard in his kitchen, before proceeding to his room. "I'll be inside if you need me." His face then turned serious. "If there's someone knocking on the door, don't open it. Understand?"

She nodded. "Yes, Nii."

"Good." He smiled before closing the door on his own face.

Now left alone, Kohaku stared at the black rectangular item on her hand. She stared, her face blank as if she's trying to connect the dots. This thing…what is this? Forget what it is, just how is this related to this 'TV' thing? She then looked around, until her eyes finally landed on the black square screen in front of her that she has failed to notice all this time. After a closer look, Kohaku noticed that there are these circle like things protruding from the sides of this square box.

Her curious hand reached for one of them, and she unknowingly pressed one of them. The screen, to her shock, turned on to reveal a man talking from behind a table with a huge smile on his face.

"So today's weather will be sunny and there is a slight chance of rain for tonight…"

Since this was her first time encountering such things, Kohaku jumped two feet into the air before hiding behind the couch. She quivered behind the cover, surprised to suddenly see the black square box projecting the image of a man. She shyly and nervously peeked her head out from her cover, daring a look. She dropped the remote when she jumped in surprise earlier, so she has no chance of retrieving it without nearing the screen. And she's not looking forward to go near the man who's talking behind the table.

Kohaku clenched her fists, not wanting to get scared of such things. What would her Nii think if he saw her like this?

…well…he would probably laugh so…yeah.

But anyway! She must at least try to get the remote, the thing that her Nii entrusted her with. Slowly, she peeked out from the side of the couch, her hands reaching for the particular rectangular black object. To her joy, she managed to reach for it. She immediately went and grab the thing, pushing a button or two in the process.

The TV's screen switched, this time it's—

"Ah! Ah! Oh yeah! T-T-That's so good~!"

Kohaku's ears twitched, she turned her head to look at the once empty black screen. Said empty black screen was now replaced with the image—or video—of a couple who are, strangely—for her at least—, close to each other while wrapping their arms on each others' body. Kohaku tilted her head in confusion. What are they doing? Then the hugging illustration that the couples are showing reminded her of her own actions with her Nii earlier today. So that means that those two people in the magical box are like her and her Nii!

But before she could come to further conclusion, Naruto was there. He was so fast, like, really fast. He would've gotten the nick name 'The orange flash' if he wasn't only wearing his black muscle shirt. The blonde teen was fast to have suddenly appear seemingly out of nowhere from his room and into the TV.

Literally.

Ignoring the pain and electrocution he's feeling all over his waist up, Naruto was red in the face; red enough to rival a certain somebody who he had a promise with. The blonde dragged his one foot—which is stuck in the now broken screen—out. He gasped like a person who had run a full course marathon all over Konoha, both due to the pain and tingling feeling. His blushing face slowly turned to look at the red head who's still behind the sofa.

"D-Did you see?" he asked, voice trembling. If one were to look closer, tears are pooling from the corner of his eyes.

Kohaku, who did not understand what he meant, tilted her head. Naruto took it as a sign that she saw it but was confused on what he meant. The blonde could do nothing but to bury his face in obvious shame into his palms, groaning in embarrassment.

The Yukata wearing red head was even more confused than before. Why is her Nii suddenly covering his face? And was the two people inside the magic box okay? She took it to the level of speaking. "Nii…okay?"

"I'm fine…just…peachy." He muttered bitterly. God he's so ashamed. But forget about that. "Kohaku…?"

"Yes Nii?"

"Can you do something for me?"

"Yes?"

Naruto took a deep breath, but he still couldn't bring himself to let the girl see his face. "Could you please not speak of what you just saw to anyone—especially to Jii-chan?"

Wondering why, Kohana wasn't afraid to ask. "…Why? It's…like us, right?"

Naruto had gotten the hang of getting and grasping Kohaku's speech pattern. "No…it's not like us. What you just saw was not like us at all." Finally, he brought his hands off from his face, showing the red head his troubled expression.

Kohaku was suddenly scared for some reason. Almost as if she had done something bad to make her Nii upset.

"Kohaku…you see…" he can't believe he's talking about this kind of thing with a girl. But he steeled himself. "I'm a boy, a healthy boy. And…and… we boys, we have these things called…urges." He started slowly. "I don't know if you're following me or not but please try to listen, okay?"

Kohaku could only nod.

"When us boys are overfilled with these…'urges'…We will find the need to relieve them, okay?" he saw her nod. "And…and…something like this, like the urges, is perfectly healthy." He took a deep breath. "What you just saw was…one of the many ways for us boys—men to relieve our urges."

"Nii watched other Kohaku and Niis hugging?"

"NO! GOD NO! I DON'T WATCH THAT KIND OF—" He then remembered who was it he's talking to. He noticed that he had just scared Kohaku due to his outburst too. Damn. Naruto pinched his temples. "Look here Kohaku…Nii," he pointed a finger on himself for an easier explanation. "is a boy. While Kohaku is a girl, right?"

"Yes."

"But… we are Nii and Kohaku…right?" it's his way of explaining to Kohaku of their semi and self happened brother and sister relationship kind of…thing.

"Yes."

"And…Nii and Kohaku…we don't do that kind of stuff…" he explained with a tone that dropped in the end.

At this point, Naruto didn't know who's to blame. Him or Kohaku… but it should be obvious.

"…Why?"

He blinked. Did he hear her right. 'Why?'…she asked?

"Why…?" the girl repeated once more. "Aren't Nii and Kohaku in love?"

Naruto turned slightly red, he broke eye contact with the red head, faking to cough. "Ahe-Ahem!" he then slowly looked back at those confused, innocent and pure face. "We…are in love?" it came out as a question. He shook his head. "No…I don't think that I love you the way you want me to."

Kohaku did not really get it but…did her Nii just say that he did not love her?

"You see Kohaku…brothers and sisters…they don't do that kind of thing the first place…" Naruto explained. "I mean, we aren't really brother and sister but…"

"Why?" The blonde was surprised to hear such strong reply to his statement.

Making a troubled expression, Naruto began thinking of an explanation. "Because…a brother and sister who fell in love with each other are not really praised by societies…people labeled it as taboo."

"But, Kohaku loves Nii. Nii don't love Kohaku?" she asked, her voice soft and lost.

Panicking, Naruto waved his hands in front of his face. "N-No! I-I-I…" wait… is he trying to say that he loves her? Is he really in love with Kohaku, someone who he had met about four to five hours ago? Is he just going to say he loves her in order for her to be calm? He's lost.

Hearing the lack of reply from her Nii, Kohaku bowed her head low. She's feeling a new feeling inside of her. The kind of feeling that wanted her to break down all of sudden, the kind of feeling that made her eyes watery and hurt… is this…

Sadness?

As much as he wouldn't want to see her sad, Naruto cannot lie. He can't. If being honest would hurt her this much, then a lie would cause double the damage. The only difference is being honest hurts her now, while lying would only hurt her in the future. And he didn't want to see her sad. Even now, he's mentally stabbing himself with a kunai over and over again. Isn't there something he can do to fix this? At least… let it go without pain!

.

.

.

"Kohaku…" his voice came out soft, gentle and different. He laid both hands on her shoulders. "Look at me." She still won't. "Look at me." Again, she won't.

"Look at me."

That strong, almost scolding, tone that he used immediately caused her head to spring back up. Instead of a scary look that she was expecting, Kohaku was greeted by a face that probably matched her own. But he has a smile on his face, while her…she's blank. Even if she's taller than him, she's bending so she could only look up to his face.

"Kohaku, listen, I'm sorry okay? Please forgive me if my words ever come out harsh." He brushed his thumbs on her shoulders slowly, tracing circles with them. "Look, what you did was not wrong. Not at all. In fact, it was all my mistake. I should have warned you earlier." He told her. "But…as to what I was trying to say earlier…" he trailed off.

"If you call me your brother, then… you can't love me the way—I assume—you want to love me. You can only love me as a brother! As a…family!" his face suddenly transformed brighter, almost as bright as the shining star of august. "And in return… I will love you as a sister, yeah? I'll take care of you, I'll make you dinner and breakfast—even if all I can cook is instant noodles, I'll show you what's there to see in this life, yeah? I'll do anything that a brother would do for his sister!"

His words did a major affect to her. She stopped feeling the hurting and aching sensation in her chest. Her eyes no longer hurt and liquid are no longer pouring down from her face.

"Nii…loves me?" she asked.

"Yeah." Naruto breathed out with a smile on his face. "I love you as a brother would to his sister… I guess." The blonde smiled awkwardly, one hand busy scratching his cheeks.

Her feelings are changed.

"Kohaku gets to say 'Nii'?" again.

"Yup. You get to call me Nii."

Her heart no longer ached.

"Nii will love Kohaku?" and again.

"As much as you love me."

She felt…new.

"Nii…will do the things that the Nii did in the box to Kohaku?" and aga—

…she just didn't learn huh?

Naruto smiled. He raised his hand and he slapped himself hard on the face with his own hand, landing on the floor; out cold.

Kohaku blinked. Once. Twice. Thrice.

"Is that…yes?"

No, dear…no.

On a place that is somehow related with this story…

"Kukuku...alas, after decades of planning…my plan will finally be brought to life! Mwahaha-cough! Cough! Ta-Tao! Get me my medicine! Cough! Cough! Cough!"

…what a way to introduce a character me…

Mizuhashi Chao was and forever will be an odd individual.

"Taaaaooo! Get me my medicine dammit!

She's commanding, sometimes irritating, unreasonable and can also be downright mean. But of course, she was just like any other woman out there. She longed for love, she feel sad, she cry and many more…

Mizuhashi Chao was—hopefully not forever—a short individual. She, when compared to a child of only nine year old—was and is currently the prime example why people are short fused…literally. Not only was her temper rather short, but her height too. It was a mystery discussed by those who knew her, and that mystery being her temper judged based on her height.

"Hai hai Chao-sama~!" a sing-song voice, definitely better sounding than the previous one, called out in reply. This was Mizuhashi Tao. She was and forever will be the niece of Mizuhashi Chao. Unlike her aunt, Tao was extremely blessed. Both in appearance and mental. She's the exact opposite of what her aunt was.

Unlike her aunt, Tao was and forever is tall. She stood a height where one would mistake her for the older one—as if that had never happened before—instead of Chao. Also, her name's more adult sounding instead of her aunt. Dressed in a light blue Yukata with black petals design on them, Tao—if described—was one of the people in the world who would look good in any type of clothing. Unlike her aunt who will only look good on the little yellow sundress she's wearing.

"…Why am I feeling the urge to punch someone really, really hard down there?"

…moving on, the two relatives are rather close with each other. In fact, they have been with each other ever since Tao was young child. But never mind their background, since it'll be whole different story really.

Handing her aunt a cup of suspicious green liquid, Tao had a soft smile framed beautifully on her face. "Here you go Chao-sama~."

Her aunt grabbed the cup from her taller niece's hand quickly, almost as if that cup's worth thousands of gold. "H-Hmph! Consider this one of the many and not bothersome way that you could do to repay me for taking care of you after all this time…" as she spoke, her words fade into the cup she's holding close to her mouth.

The short yet older girl dunk the entire content of the cup into her system, ignoring the god awful taste that was left in her mouth. Her face akin to that of child after eating a sour candy, Chao shivered. "Urgh…I really need to change the ingredients for this medicine…"

A small giggle escaped her niece's mouth. "You know that that isn't possible Chao-sama. We are lacking the material to make even the simplest of medicines, how do you suppose to craft an entirely different yet similar medicine?" her niece asked. Oh she's not mocking her at all. Nope.

But being sarcastic…now that's another thing.

The short haired brunette grumbled onto herself. Even if what her niece said was true, she couldn't bring herself to accept the fact that they are indeed running low on ingredients to make medicine. "Grr…" a low growl escaped Chao's mouth. "I shouldn't have believed what that crappy Tengu said…we are doctors for Kami's sake!" she started to stomp her feet irately on the ground. "God I'm such a fool! To think that I believed on some crappy stone that could grant immortality…"

Whoa, whoa…be careful there.

But what had been done cannot be undone. Mizuhashi Chao sighed and slumped her shoulder forward as the carriage they're in rocks due to the travelling. "Haah…I'm sorry Tao, your aunt is a foolish woman." She would admit it anytime someone asked her to. This isn't the first time she fell for such tricks and lies… in fact, it would hurt even the smartest of professors to count how many times she had fallen for lies and the such. Hence, her nickname: The foolish doctor.

"It's okay auntie…things will turn out okay after all, right?" like it always do! At least not when things went from bad to worse…Tao was trying her best to cheer her aunt up, just like usual. "I-I know! There is a nearby village from here! We could set up our shop there, yeah? I'm sure that they'll let us in to sell our products yeah?"

Her niece's words did little effect, but it hit Chao. "Fine…but what village is it anyway?"

"Oh? It's Kono-something…" then she remembered. "Aha! It's Konoha! You know, near Miyu and Fubuki-san's pla—MMMPPH!"

Before her niece could even finish her sentence, her aunt was already at her face…literally. With a face akin to that of an enraged lion, Mizuhashi Chao hissed venomously while both of her hands covered her niece's mouth as if she had spoken something taboo. Which is what she exactly done…at least for Chao.

"Don't. You. Dare. Mention those names in front of me again little girl…!" with each words, Chao's resilient anger increased. One could actually feel the atmosphere churning into something very uncomfortable.

"O-Okay auntie…"

Letting her hand go from her niece's face, Chao brought herself to calm down. Even if it's years after they met…the mere mentioning of that whore's family still irritates her! She felt like throwing thousands of needle coated with poison to every patient she sees! No, in fact, she had the right to do so! She was and is Mizuhashi Chao…the foolish doctor of the Imperial Heavens…

And she won't be tricked again by the likes of that whore's family…

"Uh…what did you say?"

Naruto thought that it would be the most logical idea to have a serious talk with Kohaku. He planned on eating out with her at Ichiraku but he settled for a takeaway, to which Ayame kindly reply with two bowls of hot steaming ramen in front of his door.

Naruto…he asked Kohaku if she had any apparent memories about herself or anything, but of course, the answer that she gave only surprised him.

"Kohaku. God."

Yeah, that. That was her answer.

Blinking for what seemed to have been the twentieth time that moment, Naruto then realized that he's still holding his chopsticks. "Hahaha! That's a nice joke Kohaku, come on, tell me the truth." He laughed before asking her once again.

Kohaku, still dressed in her black Yukata titled her head. "Kohaku. Tell truth. Kohaku. God." She has said the three lettered word for about two times now and—unfortunately—Naruto isn't deaf. In fact, he's all ears right now. The red head blinked at her Nii's apparent lack of reply, causing her to wonder with a tilt of her head.

Noticing her confused and semi-worried expression, Naruto shook himself out from his quiet stupor. "A-Ah! No, I hear you, I hear you but…I don't think that I get what you meant when you said that you are God, though."

Kohaku shrugged visibly. "Kohaku. God. That's it." Naruto could see a twin gleam on both of her eyes. "Kohaku has mother and sister. They. Human." At the mentioning of human, her eyes drooped down, almost as if she's sad.

Feeling uncomfortable, it took Naruto a lot of guts and willpower to ask her why is she sad. "Uh…what do you mean they're humans?"

He saw his red haired guest nod. "Mom and sister…human. Nii is Nii."

Now that's just weird. But cute.

Puzzled and beyond confused, Naruto could only utter a single word. "Huh?"

Again, Kohaku nods. "Nii is Nii. Kohaku is God and Kohaku. But…" Naruto swears that he saw the corner of her lips twitching and stretching even for a little bit. "Nii gave Kohaku name. Kohaku."

Blinking, Naruto felt warm and fuzzy inside. He grinned like a fool while scratching the back of his head. "Hehe…" but still…there's still a lot to ask. When the Sandaime dismissed him, he asked him to get some answers from her. The old man was kind enough to trust him to compose the questions. He settled for a subtle approach, since asking her outright and upfront would be too forceful on Kohaku's part.

"Then, you said you have a mother and sister, where are they right now?" he asked.

Kohaku tilted her head sideways, her face expressing the state of her mind. After a few seconds, the red head shook her head. "No." the ever so stoic girl replied to her Nii's question.

A small bead of sweat dropped down Naruto's head. "I-I see… so, do you have a name? Before I gave you your name, I mean."

Again, Kohaku tilted her head sideways, making the same thinking posture and expression just like a while ago. She then answered, with the same answer. "No."

Naruto hummed. "Hmm…then…" what would get her to reveal something about herself…or something that is related to her? "Ah, tell me about your family?"

Instead of repeating the process of getting a blank expression and answering negatively, Kohaku…glared…at her Nii? "Nii. Not interested in Kohaku anymore?"

If Naruto was drinking, he would've done a spit take. But hey, he's doing it right now without even drinking anything. "N-N-No! I haven't even met them dammit!" taking a short pause to calm himself down, the blonde then released a deep sigh. "I-I mean, they must be worried about you, yeah? And…was the shrine that I found you in your house?"

"Nii. Been to Kohaku's house?"

"Uh…" Now he's not so sure on how to reply. Was the shrine where he found Kohaku even her house in the first place? But…she's asking about it so there's no wrong in replying. "I guess…? Speaking of which…I found you tied up to the ceiling, why is that?"

At that, Kohaku looked away. Even if she's only adverting her eyes away from Naruto, the blonde could easily tell that she's not looking on touching this side of the coin. But still…he'll have her answer him either way. "Uh…Kohaku? Hello?"

She parted her lips.

"Kohaku. Sealed."

Blinking, Naruto could only stare at her with eyes wide.

"Mother and sister. Sealed. Kohaku."

…well ain't that a huge twist…

Somewhere on the outskirts of Konoha…

"Mother dearest! Must we travel all the way here on our feet? Your daughter has little patience when it comes to travelling! We should have brought our carriage."

Walking along the downtrodden dirt path that leads towards the border of Konoha, the two figures of women steadily walks amongst themselves. It took them more than three hours to reach the outskirts, and it will take another two to reach the borders. The daughter in particular hates walking, apparently.

"Ara, ara…but it is nice to enjoy nature while the warm summer wind lingers, is it not, daughter dearest?" the mother asked in reply. The soft warm wind of summer blew pass the scenery, causing leaves to shake and carrying the sensation of evening to a whole new level.

"I-Indeed, I agree… but we could see the scenery from our carriage could we not? I see no reason to walk all the way to a human village on our feet." The younger female argued with her mother.

"Indeed so daughter dearest. But bringing along our carriage would only be more problematic when we reach the village itself, our human fellows tend to be a little wary when it comes to travelers entering their land." From her tone, one could easily tell that she's speaking from experience.

The daughter finds no room in arguing, prompting her to sigh. "If you say so mother dearest. This Harukaze Miyu shall not question thoust further."

The older woman gave a small giggle in reply. "Ufufu. I'm glad."

As they mingle like the good family they indeed are…the mother could sense something. No. In fact, she knew that it happened already.

"My eldest…I see that you have finally found him…Ufufufu, this will be most interesting indeed."

"So back to our topic earlier, about your family, is there anything else that you can share about me?"

Naruto remembered that he's doing this ask and answer git for his own and the old man's benefit.

The red haired beauty nod once in reply to Naruto's question. "Um. Kohaku. Two sisters." So she's saying that she has two sisters? "Kohaku eldest. Miyu-chan youngest. Honoka-chan second." A family of four, including her mother that is.

"But aren't you a God?" Naruto asked. "Isn't it impossible for a human to have a God as her offspring?" now this is the main part of this conversation; for him at least.

To his confusion, Kohaku shrugged her shoulders. "Don't know. But Miyu-chan and Honoka-chan, pretty."

Naruto would be lying if he said that he's not interested in this conversation even a bit. "Really?"

"Um." The self proclaimed God nod. "Miyu-chan, cute. She, innocent." Her face fell for a moment. "Tsundere."

A what now?

"Honoka-chan, beautiful." From her tone, Naruto could sense a hint of respect. "Honoka-chan more beautiful." Is she saying that her sister's more beautiful than her? Blasphemy!

After hearing the lack luster response and trivia concerning Kohaku's 'family' Naruto still found it hard to take. He can't believe that this girl in front of him is a God…he really can't. Then, a bright idea struck him.

"Hey, Kohaku. If you're a God then…could you prove it to me?" the blonde asked.

With a tilt of her head, Kohaku has the right to look questioning. "Why?"

"Well…" scratching his words, Naruto found it hard to explain. "I mean, no one would believe that you're a God if you don't have something to back it up."

After a few moments of what Naruto guessed was thinking, Kohaku nodded. "Um. Kohaku will show Nii." She then outstretched her arm towards Naruto, who was confused at the sudden gesture. "Nii. Wish. Kohaku. Grant."

"Uh…you saying that you'll grant my wish?" because if it is, then it'll be really cool.

He saw her nod. "Um. Nii, shake."

"O-Okay…" feeling a little bit uneasy, Naruto's also nervous. He's having a hard time believing this but if it turned out to be real then he'll wish to have a ton of jutsus at his disposal so that he could defeat that arrogant jerk! Both jerks! He took her hand, still finding the softness of her skin to be believable.

"Nii. Close eyes." At her order, he did so.

Seconds became minutes and minutes became more. After a moment of silence, Kohaku spoke again.

"Nii…open."

Naruto opened his eyes. And he regretted doing it.

Before him is Kohaku but different. She is no longer beautiful. She no longer has hair as red as the color of blood. She is no longer Kohaku. Beore him… before him is a being of the Imperial Heavens themselves, one of the many Kami that has roamed the Celestial Plains. Where Kohaku was standing is now a woman—still taller than him—dressed in a red and white glossy Kimono, the ones that shrine priestess wear. Her hair was tied in a similar fashion like the woman standing who was standing on her place before, but the only difference being in color.

Instead of bright red, her hair was like jade. Green and soft, not too dark and not too light. Draped on her shoulders are things akin to that of a scarf. It is a scarf, per say, but it's nothing like Naruto had ever seen. It wasn't even a material in the first place. The faint white glow that it radiates and the opaque feature that it has makes it something that is literally out of this world. Aside from her over all appearance, there is something else that changed.

And that is, her face.

Unlike Kohaku's soft and blank façade, her face radiates elegance, benevolence and warmth. She's like a living saint. But…is she?

Before Naruto could even think more, her figure slowly dissipates, returning Kohaku to him. Mind still jumbled, Naruto could only ask groggily. "Who…was she?" he asked the red head.

"She's Kohaku."

Taken aback, Naruto did not need to hide his surprise. "T-That was you? B-But how…?"

He received a nod in reply. "Kohaku. God. Kohaku has two forms."

"S-So this one isn't your real…form?"

Another nod.

Naruto lets go of the red head's hand, slowly slumping back behind onto his chair. The blonde was at loss, both for words and thoughts. First, he learned that Kohaku is a God. Second, she just proved it to him right here and there. And third…their ramen are now cold—on second thought, it was only his, Kohaku's bowl was empty before he could even notice it being there.

Man…there's no punchline for this scene.

A/N: Well that's a wrap up. I suppose more and more explanations will be done later in the chapter. And I'm also thinking of something original, something that is unique…so, I'm really putting a lot of efforts into this story and I hope that it will turn out to be good.

If you are having a hard time picturing Kohaku's voice, just imagine's Inori Yuzuriha's VA or Shiro's VA from NGNL. Oh wait, they both are voice by the same VA…anyway, that's it for this chapter. Don't forget to review, favorite or even follow.

Hope ya'll have a nice day/night!