Sorry for not updating, lack of reviews has me not overly enthused about this story.

It was nearly 7 pm now. Everyone had eaten their lunches on the run. Ruin called ahead to Shinji, "Shinji-kun! We should stop for dinner, all of us need a rest."

Shinji huffed and looked annoyed, but veered to the right, leaping from the branches and landing on the forest floor in a crouch. He stood and stalked forward about 20 feet until he came upon a large clearing, the others all silently landing around him and following. "This is as good a place as any."

"Do you think that stream has fish?" Sai asked.

Neji activated his Byakugan and looked, "Yes."

"Let's go then!" Naruto ran forward to the stream that ran along the far end of the meadow, eventually disappearing in a twisting ribbon among the trees. The other two just shook their heads and followed, walking. Sakura set Coriander down, who immediately wandered over to a blindingly white patch of daisies a couple of feet away. Ruin followed and took off his cloak, lying down in the soft grass by the daisies. Hinata and Sakura went back into the woods to get some firewood and Shinji just sat down, leaning against a tree, eyes shut.

The two girls soon had a fire going strong, and Neji came back first, 5 fish being held by the tails, already gutted.

"What'd you d-do with the entrails?" Hinata asked her cousin, worried about wild animals being attracted.

The tall ANBU member shrugged, "I threw them on Naruto."

"SICKO!" A severely wet Naruto threw his catches at Neji, who caught the 4 fish effortlessly.

"Naruto why are you wet?" Sakura looked him up and down, before throwing him his pack he had dropped when they had stopped.

He snarled, crossing his arms, "Sai." He caught the pack and moved out into the woods to change.

Sai walked up next, 5 fish in his hands, "I was helping him wash off." He smiled.

Ruin laughed, "Of course." He sharpened a bundle of sticks with a bone-handled knife.

Sakura and Hinata got the fire started, slowly adding a bit more wood until it was big enough for cooking.

Naruto came out of the woods, changed, and threw his pack down in contempt. Then he pointed at Neji, the other fist clenched and shaking in the air, "You owe me a spar for that pretty boy!"

Neji's eyebrow twitched, "Pretty boy?"

Sakura laughed and went up to Neji, taking his fish, and giving him a peck on the cheek, "There's nothing wrong with being a pretty boy, it's hot." She winked, "I'll cook the fish for you."

Sai didn't say anything, but he took half of the fish from Sakura more forcefully than was necessary.

Neji crossed his arms over his chest and smirked at Naruto. "We can spar while the fish is cooking."

Naruto stuck his tongue out at his opponent, "Bring it on, Pasty."

Neji's smirk vanished and his pale eyes narrowed, "Byakugan." He whipped out a kunai and threw it at Naruto.

A sister kunai blocked it's path, sending them both into the grass, "Too easy." Taunted the blonde, hands on his hips.

Neji pulled out another kunai, "Like Iruka-sensei?"

Naruto turned red, eyes big circles and pointed again, "Hey! Don't you dare disrespect Iruka-sensei! He's not easy, he just gets taken advantage of!"

Neji raised a chocolate eyebrow, "Yeah… by half of Konoha."

"AAAAAUGH!" Naruto charged in first, picking up one of the kunai stuck in the ground along the way. "Don't talk bad about Iruka-sensei!" Neji stood calmly as Naruto came at him, and when he was a foot away… Neji ever so nonchalantly smacked Naruto in the face, sending him sailing to the left of the Hyuuga male. Neji spun around after Naruto; fingers extended, and hit the blonde in 8 different places on his back with his Jyuken. There was a large cloud of smoke, and the dull 'thud' of a log bouncing off of the ground.

Neji looked around with his Byakugan and shifted his shoulders just in time to see the kunai that was headed for his blind spot. He twisted at the waist and leaned back, letting the kunai whiz past his face before catching it in his right hand. There: Naruto's chakra signature in the woods. Neji attached some wire in between the two kunai he was holding and let them fly. Naruto dodged both, but was caught against the tree as they spun around, caught by the wire, and held him there.

Naruto pouted as he realized he couldn't get free from the wire, but he started slowly scooting around the tree, trying to make it to where the kunai were tangled around each other before Neji got to him. He scooted and rolled his shoulders until he finally made it around the tree… only to come face to face with 'Pasty' himself.

Neji smirked, holding up three senbon in between his fingers, "You know how it works Naruto-kun." Naruto shook his head violently and tried to scoot back around the tree the other way.

Neji simply smirked all the more and calmly walked, constantly keeping himself in front of the blonde. He waited until Naruto was just about to get around to the other side of the tree again, the side facing camp. Then the chocolate haired Hyuuga switched the senbons to his left hand and placed his right against the tree, blocking Naruto's movements, "Something embarassing or something painful Uzumaki."

Naruto shook his head all the more violently, "N-no way!" He tried to bump against Neji's arm, attempting to make it budge. It wasn't working.

Neji leaned in, placing his left arm, from elbow to wrist, against the blonde's chest, senbons bent at an opposite 45 degree angle and pressing very slightly against Naruto's neck. Neji wiggled his index and middle fingers just enough to make the senbon in between them rhythmically 'tap… tap… tap….' against Naruto's pulse. He leaned in until he was right next to Naruto's ear, and promised, "You aren't going to like the pain option… Uzumaki."

Naruto gulped, "I don't care."

Neji pulled his face away and raised an eyebrow haughtily, "Pride comes before the fall Naruto." He moved his right arm, grabbed a kunai, and held it against the tie to the blonde's pants for emphasis on 'fall', "Wouldn't want Hinata-sama and the rest of them to see your teddy-bear boxers now would you Uzumaki?"

Naruto 'eeped' and tried to squirm away, "H-hey now! That's not fair! That's pain and embarrassment!" His eyes narrowed, "Hey! How'd you know I was wearing my teddy-bear boxers?"

Neji smiled… it wasn't a nice smile, " I didn't, but you just told me." Naruto gasped in disbelief and glared, "It's not fair!"

Neji smile morphed into a smirk, "Then you better choose embarrassment, eh Naruto?"

Naruto narrowed his blue eyes, then they darted around, "Is anyone listening?"

Neji casually looked around, Byakugan still activated, "Nope."

Naruto lowered his voice to a whisper then, and Neji leaned forward to listen, "Ok… a couple months ago went I didn't show up for that mission briefing because I was sick?"

Neji nodded.

Naruto continued, "Well… I wasn't sick." Neji wasn't surprised, "Me, Sakura-chan, and the bastard… you know, Sai." Neji nodded again. "We were going to do this prank on Kakashi-sensei. Sakura had stolen a pair of Ino's underwear," Neji raised an eyebrow. "A bright pink g-string with a bell on the front." Neji blanched and leaned away a bit. "We had this thing full of tacky glue… supposed to dry within 5 seconds of contact right? So we all crouched on top of his porch, and Sai made this ink mouse that ran up the door and rang the doorbell. Kakashi opened the door, but didn't come out far enough, and went back inside. The mouse rang the doorbell again and he answered the door, opening it really quickly. Not seeing anyone, he stepped out. I smeared the thong with the glue and dove for his head. But little did I know… he had just got out of the shower and didn't have shoes, a shirt… or his freaking forehead protector on yet. So he hears me coming, and jerks his head up. All I see is the Sharingan and I'm like, "CRAP!" But it was too late man! It was too late!" Neji shook his head a little at Naruto's intensity. "He read my movements with the Sharingan, and figured out what I was trying to do. So he appears behind me… with that damn speed of his, snatches the thong out of my hand, and smacks it into my hair. Then he ripped his hand away before it could stick… and exactly five seconds later, I wrenched my face out of his wood porch, and realized what had happened." Neji was turning an interesting shade of purple… trying not to laugh. "And so Sakura-chan had do work all day… Kakashi wasn't going to help. And Sai just laughed and said it was too funny to take off. I sure as hell wasn't going to go to anyone else for help with a hot pink article of woman's underwear stuck on my head… so I transported back to my apartment and spent the day jingling with every step I made… because of that stupid bell on the front!"

Neji did his very best to keep his voice level, "And that's why a big chunk of your hair was shorter than the rest for a while?"

Naruto reddened and looked away, "Yes."

Neji couldn't hold it in anymore, and burst out laughing, doubled over, stumbling backwards away from the blonde so as not to end up on him.

Sakura came to see what the fuss was all about and why they were gone for so long… "Naruto? Neji-kun? The fish is ready! Oh Naruto! Not again! You chose embarrassment didn't you?" She accused, eyeing Neji, who was gasping for air.

Naruto turned to his teammate and yelped indignantly, "Not by choice! He made me!"

Sakura just laughed, and freed the blonde, then walked over and attempted to help Neji up, who had collapsed on the forest floor.

Wiping some tears from his eyes, Neji looked up, "Did… Did you really have to cut Ino's thong out of Naruto's hair???"

Sakura blanched, then laughed with him, nodding, "Yes… Ino complained about it for a week! Now let's go eat." The three made their way back to camp, Neji and Sakura leaning on each other for support as they randomly broke out into laughing fits. Naruto with his arms crossed, face red.

Coriander came running up; just as they almost made it to the clearing, three crowns of daisies draped over her arms, "Look what me and Ruin-kun made!" She shoved the crowns into each of their hands. "Come on daddy! Food's ready!" She grabbed Naruto's free hand and ran for camp. He laughed and slung the daisy crown over his head, then swept the little girl up and ran for the fire.

Neji shook his head at the daisy crown, "No way am I wearing this."

Sakura tilted her head, "No way you're wearing that?"

Neji looked at her, "Correct."

She smirked and brought his head down, kissing him full on the lips. While he was pleasurably distracted, she took her crown, and placed it on his head, stealing his hair tie in the process. She pulled away and smiled brightly, stealing his crown and putting it on her head, "You said you wouldn't wear this crown." She pointed at the ring of daisies now resting on her head, "Not that you wouldn't wear any crown." He glared and moved to steal his ponytail holder back, but she backed away, swerving around a tree. When Neji caught sight of her again, her hair was up in a high ponytail, crown still in place and hooked behind the ponytail. "Can't have it baaaaack!" She sang… then ran away giggling toward camp.

He just shook his head and followed, his now loose hair falling around his face a bit, and swishing against his back, and once he saw that yes… everyone in the clearing had a crown on, he left his be.

As Sakura walked by Ruin, she snaked out an arm and snagged his hair tie as well, taking it out of his half-pony, and quickly looping it around Hinata's hair into a messy bun before he could so much as say anything. Which he wouldn't have anyways, he just shook his head to get all of his long red hair to fall into it's natural part, and laughed.

Coriander, Hinata, and Naruto crowns all made them adorable… and slightly goofy in Naruto's case. Ruin, Neji, and Sakura all looked vaguely sexual, like beings of the fey, Ruin especially, seeming how he was barely dressed and had red-gold eyes. And Sai and Shinji just looked like perfect statues that somebody had strewn a garland on at a festival.

Coriander giggled, and took a bit out of her fish, "Now we're all princes and princesses!"

Neji smiled and sat down next to his cousin and Naruto. Sai and Sakura sat down by Ruin, and Shinji remained standing, leaning against a tree. Everyone took a fish from the fire and began eating.

"So tell us about the Cirque de Lames." Neji looked up and asked after he finished chewing.

"YEAH! What does 'Ssserk de Lambs' mean anyways?" Naruto hadn't finished chewing, and Coriander watched with morbid fascination, one eye scrunched up a bit. Sakura cuffed the back of Naruto's head and Ruin looked up, eyes filled with amusement.

He turned his head to his left, "Shinji-kun?"

Shinji looked up, irritated, "Tell them what you wish."

Ruin raised a dark red eyebrow, but didn't comment on Shinji's bad mood, instead he turned to the Konoha ninja, "It has nothing to do with sheep Naruto."

The blonde looked confused.

"It means Circus of blades." Coriander took another bite out of her fish.

Ruin's eyes widened a bit, but like with Shinji, he chose not to comment about it, "True Coriander-chan, very true. And the Cirque de Lames is just what it sounds like. A traveling circus—"

"It's a freak show." Shinji interrupted, impatient.

"A freak sh-show?" Hinata looked nervous.

Sakura frowned up at Shinji, "Eat your fish Shinji, we won't be eating again till breakfast."

He glared at her, slanted eyes narrowing to almost slits, "Some of us won't be eating for a few more days."

Sai tilted his head, "Why."

Shinji looked away, arms crossed, "It's not important."

Sakura stood, tone reprimanding, "Shinji-kun, I believe Tsunade has already spoken to you about the dangers of not eating, especially for you."

Ruin came to Shinji's defense, "Sakura… you can't make him do anything he doesn't wish to do."

"I am the medic for this team, if it's in his best interest, yes I can. He's not a shinobi, and he not only kept up, but has led us this far. His body is not up for that kind of physical exertion, especially with no food."

"He'll resent you for the rest of your lives if you do." Ruin warned.

Sakura opened her mouth to protest, but it was Coriander who spoke, "It's not his fault Sakura. He's not allowed to eat this kind of food."

Shinji's head snapped back towards the little girl, face twisted in a silent snarl. Murderous intent rolled over the meadow, silencing all the birds in the vicinity, and all of the Shinobi went for kunai, Ruin stood up. As quickly as it had come, Shinji's face smoothed to controlled apathy, and the murderous intent was gone. It felt as if a large weight had been lifted off of the group, and a few seconds of silence went by, until the startled birds began to sing again around them.

When he spoke again, his voice was very neutral, "As knowledgeable as always Caranluin-san. I am not permitted to eat the food all of you are accustomed to. It's that simple. When we reach the next city, I will purchase some appropriate food and eat there."

"We won't reach a city for 3 more days, you're not going without eating that long." Sakura stood her ground, "Even if you don't collapse along the way, you'll wreak havoc on your body."

Shinji didn't say anything more, just wordlessly held out a slender, pale hand. Sakura smirked in triumph and handed the stick with the fish skewered on it to him. His long fingers closed around the stick, but he didn't look at anyone. Hinata, Neji, and Sai, all sat with raised eyebrows, Naruto and Ruin looked concerned, and Coriander just went on eating as if nothing had happened.

"Forgive me for interrupting Ruin-kun, please continue with your explanation." He took a careful, small bite out of the fish, never looking at it.

Ruin hesitated, but eventually continued, "Yes… it is a freak show, thus technically illegal. However, the 'freaks' are treated exceptionally well within the circus, during the show as well as in general. Thus, most places are willing to have their police, in whatever form they may be, look the other way while the Circus performs. They are famous for their dancers, who wear costumes similar to my attire, and are said to be among the most graceful in the world."

"Why the Circus of Blades then? Just a name meant to invoke fear and excitement, or does it have a real purpose?" Sai had finished his fish, throwing the sticks on the fire.

Ruin looked up with a smirk, "The dancers use blades, and often spar amongst themselves."

"That's fighting, not dancing." Naruto deadpanned, as if it was obvious.

"It is often the same thing, is it not?" Shinji's voice was nearly wistful, his fish already halfway gone,

Ruin smiled and nodded, red-gold eyes flashing, "Their movements are extremely fluid, it's very beautiful. They have dances, that when done right, literally make music from the way the blades clash or slide off of each other. It is truly a sight to behold." He shook his head in wonder, long dark red hair coming free and falling over his chest with the movement.

"And Coriander's father is a part of this circus?" Neji inquired, tossing his sticks into the fire, done as well.

Ruin nodded, "If we have the right person, he is the leader of the dancers, a very esteemed place in the Cirque hierarchy."

"He is generally not a very pleasant person to talk to. It will literally depend on his whims if we are allowed an audience or not." With a flick of a narrow wrist, Shinij's stick flew into the flames, sticking out of a log. He pushed away from the log and turned to walk into the forest.

Sakura opened her mouth to say something and Shinji looked back, gaze cool enough to make her shiver a bit, "Is going to the bathroom detrimental for my health as well Haruno-san?"

"What's with the Haruno-san??? We're only trying to help!"

Sakura blushed, whether from embarrassment or anger she couldn't be sure, "Of course not Shinji-kun." She finished her fish and threw it the stick into the flames.

Shinji turned back and walked into the woods, long dark ponytail swishing with each rolled step, moving almost like a cat. Naruto stood up, throwing his sticks in as well, "I'll be right back." With a small wave he walked into a different part of the forest, thick brush soon making him disappear.

Hinata looked up from her fish, she and Ruin were the only ones not done yet, "You are a singer c-c-correct Ruin-k-kun?"

A warm smile spread across his face, "I am."

She looked down with a bit of a jump, and Ruin laughed, "Would you like to hear a song?"

She looked up with quickly, "Oh n-no! I… I couldn't!"

Neji smirked down at his cousin's antics, "She'd love a song Ruin-kun. She likes lullabies… always a sucker for music."

Hinata glared at him, flushing a lovely scarlet, "Neji!"

Ruin laughed, the same deep, comforting, all encompassing laugh it always was, "It's really no trouble Lady Hinata, I need to keep my voice in shape anyways. I may need it later. Now for a song…" He thought for a while, then smiled, "A soprano generally sings this… but I enjoy this song very much. I think it fits… a friend… very well." He sat up, and taking a deep breath from this stomach and diaphram, intead of just his chest, he sang in a low clear voice,

"There is a castle on a cloud,
I like to go there in my sleep,
Aren't any floors for me to sweep,
Not in my castle on a cloud." His voice swept through the surrounding forest, entrancing, captivating, beautiful. He had a very powerful baritone-bass.

"There is a room that's full of toys,
There are a hundred boys and girls," Coriander moved to sit in on Hinata's lap, facing him, eyes wide. He smiled down at her.
"Nobody shouts or talks too loud,
Not in my castle on a cloud.

Naruto could hear his singing as he moved silently through the trees, circling around to where Shinji had walked off. He was tempted to stop and just listen to the song… but a more troubling sound kept him moving.

"There is a lady all in white,
Holds me and sings a lullaby,
She's nice to see and she's soft to touch,
She says "Dear child, I love you very much."

Naruto was running now, having to get to that sound. He cleared an ancient oak and stopped, eyes wide. Shinji had his back and his right side to the blonde, on his knees and leaning over. He was retching and tears were streaming down his face. His breath came in coughs, gasps, and sobs.

"I know a place where no one's lost," Ruin's voice carried through the forest around them, wrapping around everything like velvet.
"I know a place where no one cries," Shinji's sobs intensified, as if to spite the verse, and he retched some more. Naruto was finally shaken out of his reverie, and ran forward, putting a hand on Shinji's back, just below his neck. "Shinij? Are you ok?"
Crying at all is not allowed," Shinji flinched, and choked trying to hold back a sob, his voice was venomous, "I'm fine." His stomach lurched again and he bent over, nearly folding in half, cradling his stomach.
Not in my castle on a cloud.

The song faded, and Naruto looked panicked, "Shinji? Did the fish make you sick?"

The other man obviously didn't want the blonde there, but he was still holding his stomach and wasn't going to be moving any time soon. He paused, considering Naruto's question with a grimace on his face, "Yes. The fish made me sick." The voice was calm, steady… at first. By the end of the sentence it was shaky.

Naruto whipped his canteen strap over his head and unscrewed the lid, "Here, rinse. It helps."

Shinji looked away, slender shoulders shaking, "I'll be fine, go back to the others."

Naruto ignored him, "Rinsing makes it feel better Shinji… here." He gently pushed the canteen in front of Shinji's face.

Shinji regarded the blonde from the corner of his slanted amber eyes, "Why are you helping me?"

It was Naruto's turn to look away, "You just look so… miserable all the time. I figured if there was anything I could do… anything you'd let me do… I would." He looked back, cheesy grin in place, with his free hand scratching the back of his head, "When you left the clearing you looked… not well."

Shinij's eyes narrowed, "You followed me?"

Naruto let off a few nervous laughs, "Yeah…"

"Do the other's know that's what you were doing?"

"Well, I can never be sure about Ruin or Coriander but… I'm almost positive they don't. They think I'm just going to the bathroom."

Shinji's eyes slowly widened until they were back to normal, he gently took the canteen, "Thank-you."

Naruto smiled down at him, blue eyes wide, seemingly wonderfully naïve. Shinji gave him a half-smile in return, but it was geunuine enough in it's own way, and Naruto didn't seem to mind. Shinji took a drink from the canteen, swished the water around, and spit, then did that a few more times.

"Um-oh…" Shinji looked up at Naruto… who looked like he was afraid Shinji was going to snap at him for something, "Are you 'allowed' to have mints?" He was holding out a little can of mints, a present from Sai.

Shinji laughed then, a small, pleasant laugh… not used much, "Yes… I'm allowed mints Naruto-kun. Thank-you." He took one and sucked on it, "I'm grateful I don't have that… unpleasant taste anymore."

Naruto shook his head, and laughed with Shinji, "You talk too nice around me, I get confused sometimes."

Shinji raised an eyebrow, "Not the sharpest kunai in the pouch?"

Naruto laughed even harder, "That's more like it!" He offered the smaller man a hand, which he accepted, "Nah… who needs to be when you've got 'friends' like Sakura-chan and Sai? Not to mention Coriander… that kids a freakin genius."

Shinji nodded slowly, "Yeah… I think she is."

Naruto crouched in front of Shinji… who looked at his back like it had something on it, "What is this?"

"I'll carry you for the rest of the day."

Shinji shook his head, despite the fact that Naruto couldn't see it, "No way."

Naruto turned his head and looked back, "If you're 'too tired to travel'… Sakura will be 'right' and if you tell her you're puking up everything you're eating, she won't force you to eat."

Shinji looked at him with a bit more respect, "She'll want to examine me."

"Say Tsunade already looked you over, it's the flu or something."

"Tsunade-sama would have given me a cure for that… her and Sakura-san have been working together to create antidotes for every known strain of the flu."

"Then say that's what the pills are for."

Shinji looked away and murmured, "That's not what the pills are for."

Naruto smirked, "Better not let Sakura-chan see those pills then."

Shinji laughed again, "Very well, you're going to have to help fend her off then." He got on Naruto's back, loosely putting his small arms around Naruto's neck.

Naruto got a good grip on Shinji's legs and stood, laughing again, "That's what friends are for."

Shinji stiffened for a bit… but forced himself to relax, "Thanks."

"Don't mention it." Naruto took off towards the clearing, not taking any note of a bird that flitted away into the forest.

They entered the clearing, Ruin had his cloak back on, and everyone else had their backpacks on. Coriander was sitting on top of Hinata's pack, and Hinata was holding Naruto's pack in front of her, "H-here Naruto-kun, I grabbed it f-for you." Naruto grabbed it, and handed it to Shinji, who slipped it on his back.

"THANKS HINATA-CHAN!" Naruto glomped the poor girl, unwillingly dragging two other parties into it as well. Shinji pulled a face and leaned away, Coriander just giggled, "Silly Daddy."

"Sh-Shinji-k-kun? W-what are you d-doing on Naruto-kun's b-back?" She was scarlet again, and trying to lean away to gain some distance between her and the other man.

Sakura appeared, walking back from the stream with Neji, "Shinji-kun? Are you alright? What happened."

Naruto released Hinata, "Just the flu. Granny gave him the meds for it. He blew fishy chunks all over the forest back there."

Shinji grimaced again, "You always speak so eloquently Naruto-kun."

He laughed, "And you always speak too eloquently Shinji-kun."

Sakura walked up, rosy hair swaying in the breeze, she slid by Sai and walked up to Shinji, "May I see the pills? I really should do an examination."

Ruin strode to the group, carrying Shinji's pack, "Actually, we should get moving. It's imperative that we reach the Cirque on time. I saw the pills; he's not lying about that. I'll carry his pack."

Neji looked up at Shinji, "Order's group leader?"

Shinji nodded, "Move out."

Sakura didn't look happy, but Sai came up and put a hand on her forearm, and gave her a look that had more meaning than anyone around them would be able to decipher. She nodded and took off after Naruto, who had already left, Shinji on his back. Ruin took off with them, and moved to the right to give Sakura and Sai some room. Neji and Hinata followed after them, Byakugan activated, bringing up the rear.

Neji gazed up at the sky, "8 birds."

Hinata inclined her head, then pointed in a different direction, "Nine."

Neji looked back, and sure enough, a bird was going leaving in a completely different route than the other flock. A faint smile crossed his face, "Nine…" Then he turned his head back to the front and kept pace with his cousin. Coriander was humming the lullaby Ruin had sung lightly. The entire group vanished into the trees, and the meadow remained the same, except for a little charcoal ring where the fire had been.

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Juugo lifted a hand, and a small little finch landed on it. He looked at it for a while, and then turned to Sasuke, "The little girl left on the woman Hyuuga's back, and sat on her lap while the other animal caller sang. Naruto left to go help the man in silver, with the black hair. They're evidentially friends, Naruto is currently carrying the man on his back. The two Hyuuga's interacted like family, and Sai and Haruno-san sat together for much of the break, they also left together. Beyond that they didn't really speak to each other, or otherwise interact. Naruto hugged the Hyuuga woman, and she seemed a bit flustered, but happy about it. The animal caller seemed friendly with everyone."

Sasuke nodded, "Anything else about Haruno… or the nine-tails container?"

"She and the male Hyuuga flirted a lot… and she seemed very concerned about the silver-dressed man, she thinks he has the flu."

Suigetsu raised an eyebrow, "Thinks he has the flu? Isn't she supposed to be the best medic nin in the world?" He exaggerated 'world', dragging it out.

Juugo looked at him, "She didn't have time to do an examination, Naruto made up the story and the animal caller said they had to leave right away. She wasn't happy about it, but she went. She probably plans to examine him later."

Sasuke frowned, "Why would Naruto make up a story like that?"

Juugo shrugged, "Something about the silver- man not being allowed to eat certain foods, and Sakura pressing him to eat."

"He is underweight." Karin added, "and he has a name, it's Shinji Umamoto. The 'animal caller' is Ruin Thalionar, the kid's Coriander Caranluin."

Suigetsu gave her a weird look, and she snapped, "What? They all say her last name like that ok?"

Sasuke nodded, "By the sounds of things… the two Hyuuga's are Neji of the branch family, and Hinata, heiress to the clan."

Juugo nodded, "Thank-you for supplying the names… I don't think Haruno would be very happy with Shinji if she found out the real reason he was sick."

Sasuke raised an onyx eyebrow, "She's already mad at him about that, a little lie like this would send her after Naruto, not Umamoto."

Juugo turned to regard their leader and shook his head slowly, "No. The bird arrived before Naruto. She watched Shinji stick his finger down his throat… The man has an eating disorder."

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Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor to I own Castle on a Cloud. And yes, I am aware that in Les Miserables, it says "She says, "Cosette, I love you very much."" I however am using the choir version, which uses "Dear child" instead of "Cosette"

It seems the popularity of this story is going down, and that makes me really sad so if you have any suggestions on how to make it better, I'm more that willing to listen. Are the chapters too long? Not enough action? What? Help me out here

And just for clarification: Neji Hyuuga and Sakura are very good friends, they flirt all the time, just because they can, but the farthest they've ever gone is kisses… not even a frenchie ;p So don't get the wrong idea, why there relationship is the way it is will be explained later in the story.