..Chapter Four..

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A young girl's voice cried out in laughter as she ran through the village, over tree tops and homes and even places of business. Long black hair bounced from two tied red ribbons falling down as well. The bows had long since given up trying to stay in place. The rest of her hair flowed down her back and across her shoulders, only part of it up like that. Her face was alight with joy, smudged with paint of Kami only knew how many shades of the rainbow. She looked like and Indian who'd put on his war paint with his eyes closed. She held a paint brush in one hand, still dripping paint in access. In the other was a silver can, covered in an array of colors.

Her clothing was somehow clean. Sandaled feet were covered in the typical blue shinobi shoes. Her toes pokes out uncharacteristically as well as her heels. Her arms were covered in black wraps up to her elbows. Her hips sported a blue skirt; the edges lined in white. It was split at her upper thighs and beneath that were black mid-thigh tights. A belt loosely hugged her hips and kept the the skirt in place through loops. Her upper form was still covered in that same tight black material as her thighs, hugging her twelve-year old curves, or what curves she had. The top was cut off at the arms like a partial tank top, but over that was an open vest to match her skirt. It was lined on the edges in the same white color and the silver zipper was undone. Dangling from the zipper was a small metal symbol of the leaf village. And tied to one arm was something totally out of place; an bright orange cloth of some sort with a brown swirl and small little rod of sorts hanging from two strings. It was a piece of her father's former costume.

As she lept up, behind her, you would notice something that would make any parent or nonparent just face palm. In every color of the rainbow, the Hokage monument of all six, was covered... covered in paint in the most embarrassing fashion.

"Yes!" she cried, the hand with brush reaching up to the sky as she lept. And as she waited to hit the ground... nothing happened. She looked up and over, realizing someone had caught her. She took on a look of fear. The same look every child give when they are found out. "Ah! Konohamaru-sensei!"

"Kei..." He drawled, his face twitching with anger. "What is wrong with you?!" He'd grown so much, not that young girl could tell that. She'd known him her whole life. He had grown taller, his form filling out in much the same fashion Naruto's had years ago. He sported the typical Jounin outfit. The only differences were the colors. His vest was unzipped and the color of a deep garnet. His shirt and pants were a deep ebony. But, about his waist was a long blue scarf; the same one he donned as a child. His top had no sleeves, but showed ripped tattered ends where he'd ripped them off. His arms were entirely wrapped in white bandages. His hair was down, no longer tied up as it had been as a child. And along his face, slanting horribly, was a pinked scar. It slashed along one eye covered by a patch.

His voice was still filled with discontented and he lifted the girl by her vest and bent down to stare at her just as Iruka sensei had done to Naruto many, many years ago. "What is that?!" He turned and pointed so she could get an eyeful of her artwork. "Are trying to drive your sensei, or your father, into an early grave? I swear..." He sighed and shook his head.

She pouted. "It wasn't me?" She offered cutely.

He narrowed his one good eye on her. "Really?"

For a moment she thought he believed her and continued. "No, it was--"

"No!" He started to walk off and lept off the roof as he headed for the tower. "Kami, your father is going to tear you a new something girl. I swear. I would, but I know have a much better punishment in mind."

She paled, looking genuinely nervous as he carried her now under his arm. "Konohamaru-sensei... have mercy on me! It was only a prank."

"Mercy? On you? Ha!" And he thought Naruto had been bad based on Iruka and Kakashi's stories. Tsunade had tried to warn him when he took the girl as one of twenty or so students in his class. But, did he listen? Nope, he'd tried to give her chance, to see if her behavior had improved in the last few years. He knew better now.

He paused though as someone block his path to the Hokage tower. He arched a brow at the man in burgundy and gray. He hadn't changed too much, but he had softened over the years. A smile here and chuckle every now and then. "Good morning, Gaara."

He nodded and looked down at Kei. He sighed at the girl.

She waved slightly, a grin on her face from her position under Konohmaru's arm. "Hello Uncle."

"What have you done this time, Kei-chan?" He arched a brow.

Konohamaru sighed. "See for yourself, Kazekage-sama." He pointed up at the large monument.

Gaara allowed for a long whistle and turned back. "Well... I have to say the last time I saw that much make-up on the Hokage's face was when I looked at his original Genin file." He smirked.

"Oi? Really, Uncle? Can I see it sometime?"

"Maybe," he looked at Konohamaru. "Are you on your way to the tower?"

He nodded, "Where else, Kazekage-sama? She makes it my life's purpose to stay there on a daily basis, when," he pointedly looked at her, "I should be grading papers."

She frowned again, but looked back at Gaara as Konohamaru did.

"I'm on my way there now as well. I'll join you."

He did, both men easily falling into step with one another.

"So, tell me Kei-chan... How are you going to pass the Genin exam if you spend all your time ... making art?" Gaara looked down at her, expressionless as his voice.

She grinned. "I see your point... " She pouted.

Konohamaru sighed. "She's failed it three times..!" His voice showed his irritation.

"Oh?" Gaara looked from him and back down to girl in blue shinobi garb. "Why is that?"

She frowned and tried to cross her arms over her chest. "Because Konohamru-sensei won't let me pass on the basis of using sexy no jutsu! It's preposterous!"

He looked pale for a moment then his face went awash with irritation again as he scolded her. "You call that disturbing technique a reason to pass?"

She stuck her tongue out at him. "You know it too! I've been told! My father did teach you that technique. Bit hypocritical, don't ya think?" She eyed him through narrowed curious little girl eyes.

He sighed. "Yes, yes, but it's still disturbing and it's not what you're asked to do for the exam. You're suppose to create a clone of yourself."

"It is me!"

"In ten years maybe!" God he hoped not.

Gaara chuckled and opened the door leading up the stairs in the tower. They walked the long flight up and rounded the hall. Konohamaru knocked on the door. He only entered when he heard the loud 'come in'. The door opened wide and all three stepped in. Konohamaru wanted to bow, but well.. the bundle under his kept him from doing so.

Naruto smiled, no grinned, as he always did.

Kei scrambled out of Konohmaru's arm and ran to him. "Papa!" She lept over the table and into his arms. The force of which, caused his chair to fall back with a resounding thud. He let out a soft noise.

"Hello, Kei," He smiled and hugged her back. After a moment he somehow managed to right himself and the chair with the girl in his arms. He set her on the edge of the desk with a chuckle.

Konohamaru was still always stuck by the strong man he'd once called his rival. He didn't sport the robes like the Third. No, like Tsunade, he made his own image.

His clothing was the same it had been the night he was given Kei. The only difference being the long dark blue sleeveless robe that went to his knees. The back of it sported the red kanji for the Fire country and below that the Leaf symbol.

He grinned at her still. "So, what have you been up to? Making Papa proud I hope."

Konohamaru coughed and he looked to the side of his daughter at him. His face seemed questioning at the younger Jounin.

He sighed. "That's why we're here, Hokage-sama. She's done something ...again."

"I see..." Naruto said. He noticed Gaara and waved. Gaara waved back, smiling slightly at the situation. He waved for him to take care of that first. Their business could wait.

"Well, " he looked at Kei as she pouted. "what was it this time?"

Konohamru pointed out the window as he opened the curtains. "See for yourself."

Naruto laughed, but after a look from Konohamaru forced a stern face. He looked up at Kei and sighed. "I thought we talked about this, girl. What was the reason this time?"

She looked down at her hands folded in her lap. "Will bored work?"

He grumbled. "No, 'bored' is not a sufficient excuse, Kei." He looked at Konohamaru again. "How do you want to handle it this time?"

"I'm going to make her do the same thing Iruka-sensei made you do all those years ago. She can clean it. By hand."

Kei looked at her father then, her face sad and bored at the same time. He hated that look.

"Aw, don't give me that look, puss. It's not going to work. When you do something wrong there are consequences." When she did that... sometimes she looked so much like him. It was why he couldn't take it... almost. But, then he had to remind himself he was not only a father, but Hokage. And his child had to have the same treatment as everyone else. He stood up and lifted her, setting her down on the floor. "Now, go with your sensei. We'll talk more about this at home. I expect all of that to be cleaned up by tonight."

Her jaw dropped.

"Tonight." He emphasized.

She grumbled, pouted and turned to walk away with her head hung and her arms crossed. She kicked an invisible pebble with her foot as Konohamaru followed after her.

"Have a good day, Hokage-sama." He waved goodbye.

"Good luck," he called back as the door shut behind them both.

"He's going to need it." Gaara stepped forward and sat on the edge of his desk, arms crossed as Naruto took his seat again.

"He is? What about me? I have to deal with her when she comes home. And her temper is worse than her mother's." He sighed.

"I wasn't aware Hinata could get visibly angry." He mused back, looking down at him. "She's always seemed to have a quiet rage, like her cousin since you married her."

"No, not Hinata. You know who I'm talking about." He leaned back in his wheeled chair and touched his lips idly.

"Hm..." he nodded, saying nothing more.

"So," Naruto looked at him, "What brings you here? I assume it's not a pleasure visit, even though I could use one of those."

He smiled slightly, "No, your right, but we can have ramen later if it makes you feel better."

He grinned. "Good. Tell me what's up."

"Recall how you asked me to keep an eye on the Akatsuki twelve years ago? Let you know if I found anything out?"

He nodded, recalling the night with perfect clarity. It had been the same night he'd been blessed with Kei. "Yes, I do."

"Well, I more than found something out. A week ago two of them tried to attack my village."

Naruto blinked. "I haven't heard anything."

He shook his head. "You wouldn't have. We kept it under tight wraps and I took care of the situation immediately."

He idly moved it chair back and forth in a small half circle as he thought. "Do you know what they were after?"

He nodded. "Orochimaru."

"Really?" His eyes went wide. "How did he get into Sand undetected?"

"Apparently someone in the village, one of my Jounin, had close ties with him. The man has his hands in everything." He sighed. "At any rate, I thought you might like to know they didn't catch him. Although, we did try to help them once they stopped trying to destroy the village. It was very odd. But, I guess the saying goes, 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend'. And apparently he's higher up on the enemy list that the villages right now."

"Itachi..." Naruto whispered. So, he was doing his job. He hadn't seen the man since... well, since Kei was five. And then he'd only stayed a day or two, quick to move again.

Gaara nodded. "He was there too. And he told me to pass a message on to you."

"Oh? What?" He hadn't realized how much anticipation was in his voice.

"He said to tell you they're ok. They're ok and their with him. Orochimaru can't touch them with the Akatsuki backing those two up. And that was the end of his message."

Naruto let out a long and happy sigh. Thank Kami. He needed that. "I hate to say it, but I'm happy he came your way. I've been worried for quite a while."

Gaara nodded and stood. "So? Are you too busy to take lunch with an old friend?"

He smiled and stood as well. "Never."

They both exited the tower, walking casually down the dirt ridden road towards Ichiraku's. Naruto dug his hands into his pockets and enjoyed the quiet of the day. A soft wind rustled his hair as he watched people milling about. It had been about six years since the title of Hokage had been given to him, and it had been six years ago that he finally allowed the rest of the village to know who his real father was. And by then he was surprised it hadn't made a difference.

Neji had told him he affected so many people. Tsunade said he gave people the need to place their hopes in him. Their dreams. He himself hadn't realized how true it was until the day of the ceremony. He'd watched with blissful eyes as he archived his dream as his beautiful wife, daughter and son watched on with proud eyes. She'd been six then and just as much of a handful.

He still didn't understand how she'd turned out so much like him. Everyone said she looked just like her 'parents'. She had his eyes, but they weren't really his. She had Hinata's hair, but it wasn't her's. But then... there were those moments... when she got angry at her brother and acted just like Sakura. Or when she got that heated look in her eyes like Sasuke when she felt something wasn't right. It was during those times he was more reminded of the vow he'd made to his friends than ever before.

Gaara kindly lifted the flap for him to the shop. He moved under it and sat down on a stool. Gaara followed shortly after. They both quickly gave their order to Ayame and her small assistant. Her daughter. He smiled and waved at the little girl who stove to be a great chef like her grandfather had been. He really missed that old man and damn if it didn't pull at his heart strings.

"Naruto!"

He turned and caught twin pools of alabaster white looking at him worried. Ah, Hinata... He smiled at her, but she didn't look happy. She was sporting the same attire that very same night they had received Kei. Just like Naruto. The only difference in her attire was the white robe that only the Head wore.

"Hello, love."

Her eyes narrowed as he placed her hands on her hips, finally reaching him. "Don't 'love' me." Her voice was still as impassive as ever with quiet anger when she got mad. Damn, Gaara was right. Maybe he was just too dense sometimes. He pouted. "What did I do this time?"

"Care to tell me what that is?" She gestured outside at the monument.

He blinked and looked back from her hand to her. It then dawned on him that she thought HE did it. "You can't seriously think I did that." She said nothing. And he just stared back. "I haven't done that in over nineteen years!" He thought he heard Gaara chuckle behind him. His lips turned to a flat line.

"I did not to do that. Our lovely daughter did."

She blinked and looked almost defeated. "Kei?" Another pause. "Geeze, this is just as bad as when you taught her the sexy no jutsu. Naruto..." Her voice sounded, almost, scolding.

He sighed and took a bite of his ramen. "I did not teach her that, I can assure you. Kakashi most likely told her and she decided it was probably a grand idea." He grumbled. Somehow it was always his fault. It was then and it was now. There was just no escaping one's destiny. Maybe Neji had been right.

"Who's going to clean it up?"

"Look closer and you'll see our darling child is the one doing the cleaning."

She did, and continued to stare. "Huh... well, that's fitting. It is what you had to do." She smiled slightly. "It is rather funny... We just can't tell her that."

He nodded and took another bite.

She smiled at Gaara and leaned over, giving him a hug. "Good to see you in our part of the globe. What brings you, oh great Kazekage of Sand?" He released her and turned to Naruto.

"Nothing I can say in the open street. Naruto can tell you later."

She nodded. "Will you join us for dinner tonight?"

He nodded. "I'd love to."

"Great. Well, I have to go. The council meets in five minutes to test Kisho's eyes." She grinned and dashed off after a quick kiss on the lips to her husband.

Gaara blinked. "Eyes?" He wasn't all that familiar with Hyuuga customs.

Naruto nodded. "Yeah, Kei doesn't posses the ability to use the Byakugan. Her brother does. It's customary to test each child to be heir."

Gaara was looking at him like he still didn't understand.

"In order to be placed as heir to the Hyuuga clan you have to posses the eye technique only known by them and for,... obvious reasons... Kei does not. Her brother does, so, he will be named heir." He took another bite.

Gaara thought about this long and hard. If he were the oldest child... and he didn't have something every member of his family had that deemed him 'special'... wouldn't he be just a bit... jealous? Yes, he would be. And if he was Naruto, which Kei was a lot alike, he'd probably act out in the same way. As if no one truly saw him, but only that he'd failed as the oldest.

"Naruto... have you thought maybe the reason Kei is acting out is because... she's not the one being named heir?"

He looked over at Gaara, pausing between bites as he thought. "Well, she's always known she couldn't be. She's never had the eyes. And she's never said anything about it before."

He could be so dense sometimes... but that was just Naruto. It took loosing his two best friends for him to even recognize that Hinata had the hots for him. So, he spelled it out for him. "Naruto, she's a twelve year old girl. And as far as she knows, she lacks something that everyone in her large but loving family has. It's just like you and fox. No one really said anything, but, you could tell by the look in their eyes they thought you were different." He paused. "I'm not saying anyone does look at her that way, but, they have to think and see her as different. It's not normal for a Hyuuga, a true Hyuuga not to possess those eyes, right?" When Naruto nodded he went on. "She probably feels like and ugly duckling, Naruto."

He sighed. "I can't believe I didn't see it sooner. I'll talk to her later." He looked at him, eyes soft. "Thank you, Gaara. For the ramen and the talk. I do have to go though. You're more than welcome to spend the day with me if you like however."

He nodded, dropping down money for their lunch. "I'd love to. We see each other so little."

Naruto smiled as they made their rounds about the village. Naruto had made it point, since becoming Hokage to check on people throughout the week and listen to villagers as they caught him in the street when they had a problem only he could solve.

He couldn't happier unless his two friends were with him.