DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto, any characters affiliated, an understanding older brother, an over-dramatic Hokage, that black monument, flashbacks, a dysfunctional team, or a really good conversation starter. I just say, "Hi!" and then get straight to my point.
A/N: The school is COLD! What happened to the heaters? I'm cold! So cold! And Ruroni is laughing at me...I was built for a warm climate! ...I will post now...
"As you can see, Bikto is not happy with this arrangement," the Third said, a faint smile hovering on his lips.
"Damn straight! We should have jounins with us! That would really get to those idiot Inuzuka!" Bikto yelled, making a fist.
Goudon promptly hit him upside, hard enough to knock his brother to the floor.
"You're talking to the Hokage," Goudon reminded.
"Piss off," Bikto mumbled into the floor.
"Moving along," the Hokage acted like nothing happened, "Please keep in mind that I have not chosen you because I think that you are weak. On the contrary; I believe that if you had attended the academy for the complete six years, you girls would have still stuck at the top of the class."
The only reason we were at the top of the class, was because we had to in order to pass; not because we wanted to be, Deniizu thought wryly.
"Not to mention that you have very valuable assets for a chaperone mission," Sarutobi continued, "Inel, you've been quiet. Why don't you explain?"
"Thank you, Hokage-sama," Inel said, inclining his head before turning to his team, "He is right; all three of you can specialize in chaperone missions. Korii, your Byakugan is the ideal for looking for hidden enemies. Deniizu, you have the incredible skill in getting rid of traps. And Michiko, you have good talent in healing jutsu, which is quite rare at this young age. May I tell them about the other team?" Inel turned to the Hokage, who nodded, and he continued, "Your skills are even better with the other team. Do you know about Team 8?"
Michiko froze, eyes widening, and Deniizu blinked, but Korii is Korii, so he looked perfectly normal as he spoke for the group.
"A little..."
"Ah. You see, there is...oh! She's your cousin, Korii! Hyuuga Hinata also has Byakugan, and two eyes are better than one, so...hehehe..." Inel laughed at his own joke before continuing, "Then there is Aburame Shino, who is the prodigy of his clan, which is saying something big. Their clan is so incredible! And then there is Inuzuka Kiba-"
"I really hate you," Bikto muttered, just getting up.
"You never give that clan a chance," Goudon grumbled, knocking his brother down again.
Aniki...Pooriin looked up at her older brother, grateful, I haven't even told you about Kiba, and you're already so understanding...
"Since he is Inuzuka, if his clan attacks, he might be able to talk them out of it, and if it doesn't work, he knows Inuzuka tactics the best," Inel went on, as if nothing had happened.
"That's kinda cool..." Deniizu turned to Michiko, who was still frozen, "Don't you think, Michiko?"
"A-ano..."
Michiko's jaw was still down, so Deniizu closed it and nodded her head for her with her bloodline limit.
"I trust that you accept this mission?" the Hokage asked calmly.
Team 13 nodded, with Deniizu helping Michiko yet again. The Hokage sat up straight and opened his eyes.
"Good. You are all dismissed."
The Chatora siblings left the room first, Pooriin giving Michiko a worried smile before stepping through the doorway. Inel nodded to the Hokage with a contented smile; he was glad he was finally on a new mission. Michiko shook her head to clear it, then stepped right up to the front of the Hokage's desk, with Deniizu and Korii right behind her; they all had the same question in mind.
"You...you...!" Michiko squeaked, pointing at the Hokage, then cleared her throat, "You know about Pooriin and Kiba, don't you?"
The Hokage nodded serenely, which only popped a nerve on Michiko's forehead.
"Then why...how is..." Michiko had been speaking in an extremely high voice; now she too a deep breath and spoke normally, "This doesn't seem like a good idea to me. Kiba still doesn't know about Pooriin's family. If this is the way he finds out..." her voice trailed off.
Sandaime Hokage puffed a couple times on his pipe, carefully choosing words.
"How long has it been, for them? A month? That's a very long time to be keeping secrets in any relationship. Pooriin has not been able to fully trust Kiba, considering that she has not told him yet. Pooriin needs to become more secure in their relationship, and Kiba needs to find out as soon as possible. This mission obliges them to discuss Pooriin's family; it would be better now, than say...oh, perhaps I'm being over-dramatic, but better now than when Kiba persuades Pooriin to visit his family, let's say."
Michiko grimaced, then nodded reluctantly. Korii turned her by the shoulders and pushed her towards the office doors; he and Deniizu followed close behind.
"Thanks for the mission, Hokage-sama," Deniizu called over her shoulder, before she and her team turned the corner, out of Sarutobi's sight.
Let's hope that I have made the right choice, Sarutobi thought, rubbing his eyes tiredly.
I hope so too, Hokage...or I will eat you...
"WHAT?" Kiba yelled.
Team 8 was in a different training field than Deniizu and Michiko used. In the field, there were three wooden logs that were secured so that they stood upright. If any of the portal-users had seen the field, they would say that it looked a lot like the one Team Kakashi had been in during their bells exercise, only without the black monument. Had Deniizu and Michiko been there, they would know that it was the field that Hinata often trained in with her team, if those flashbacks during her fight with Neji were any indication. And Kurenai had just outlined the next day's mission to her team.
"There is no way in hell! No way in hell I'm escorting a Chatora!"
Akamaru growled and barked in agreement.
"Kiba, calm dow-" Kurenai tried to placate him, but he spoke right over her.
"No! No, I won't calm down! You know what? Because I don't give a shit about the Chatora! I'll kill the Chatora for any attacker, no questions asked!"
Kiba-kun...if only you knew...Hinata thought sadly, wringing her hands.
"Kiba, stop-" Kurenai started again.
"No! You can't make me help any damn filthy Chatora!"
"Watch your tongue, Kiba," Shino warned.
"Shut the fuck up!" Kiba bellowed.
"Kiba..." this time Kurenai's expression was grave, These kids are only 12...
"You too! There is no way I'm escorting 3 members of the Chatora! I have no reason to, so I won't!"
"You have to; it's our first big mission," Kurenai pointed out.
"I'll skip it," Kiba growled.
"You can't be choosy about missions, Kiba," Shino rumbled.
Hinata cringed; she had only heard that tone of voice three times before. Twice was because of Kiba, the third was because of Deniizu: Shino was truly getting angry. Akamaru stopped barking, and with a whine sat close to Hinata's feet.
Kiba, please stop, Hinata thought imploringly.
"To hell with the mission! All Chatora can burn there for all I care! I hate them all!"
Kiba paused, panting for breath; he had been yelling too loudly. Shino turned away and spoke, not looking at any of the group.
"You'll regret saying that," he said, quietly, yet menacingly, "Someday, someone you dearly care about will be allied to the Chatora. Then what will you do?"
"No ally of the Chatora is a friend of mine," Kiba sneered, "Anyone who joins them is trash."
Kiba saw Shino's fist clench, and suddenly realized Shino was no longer standing in front of him. Kiba smelled Shino was behind him too late; in a flash, Kiba found himself flat on his stomach, with Shino holding his face in the dirt.
"I'm sorry, Kiba, but you have to listen," Kurenai said apologetically, "Hokage-sama knows that you still need practice in controlling your emotions. If you can't think of it as a mission, pretend it's an exercise. And Shino, that's a bit much; can you please get off of Kiba?"
Kiba snorted, raising a small cloud of dust by his nose.
"What's the matter, Shino? Have the hots for some fool Chatora? Or maybe one of their trash friends?"
That's it...Shino thought, quite angry now.
Shino hauled Kiba up by the front of his coat; making a fist, he drew his arm back, ready to punch Kiba right in the face. But he hesitated, coming to his senses for a moment.
"Ah...so I was right," Kiba smirked, "Poor Michiko...you just did the ritual, and already you're dropping her for some Chatora slut. Or was it the Chatora slut's trash friend?"
"Kiba!" Kurenai exclaimed.
"Shino, don't! Please!" Hinata begged, thinking, He doesn't understand what he's saying!
Shino's jaw clenched, but after another second of hesitation, he let Kiba go and quickly walked out of the clearing, mumbling something. Kiba's sneer vanished when he heard what Shino said.
Did he just say 'Michiko isn't trash?' ...but...Michiko doesn't know any Chatora...does she?
Kurenai sighed and dismissed her group; she hoped that the boys would make things up by the next day.
I hope so too, sensei...or I'll eat you...
While Deniizu went to say goodbye to Itachi before the mission, Korii and Michiko had meant to train. Instead, Michiko hadn't concentrated properly, so Korii called the whole thing off. Now, Michiko sat on a tree's roots, while Korii sat on a branch abover her.
"Worried about tomorrow?" the Hyuuga asked conversationally.
"Sick," Michiko answered, almost cheerily.
"That's always good."
"...no, not really."
Michiko leaned against the tree unhappily.
"I can't do anything, Korii," she said quietly, "I promised her I wouldn't tell."
"It's not your fault," Korii chided, "It was Pooriin's choice to keep it secret; there's nothing you can do about it now."
Both were startled at the sound of footsteps approaching quickly, and turning, they saw Hinata running towards them with Shino right behind her. Michiko stood up, and Hinata immediately grabbed her in a hug.
"Hinata-chan..." Michiko started, confused, then realized that she was crying.
"Did you...hear...about the...mission?" Hinata asked brokenly.
"Oh...yeah...how did Kiba react?" Michiko asked, concerned.
The white-eyed girl recounted between sobs what had happened in the other clearing. When she was done, Michiko gave her a few tissues from the bookbag she always carried, and there was an awkward silence interrupted only by Hinata blowing her nose. Shino, who leaned on the tree Korii was sitting in, noticed the way Korii looked at him, and the way Michiko was avoiding to.
"I'm not proud of what I did," Shino said sulkily, "But something had to be done."
"We know," Korii acknowledged, before smoothly jumping down from the tree, "I'll walk you home, Hinata."
"Ok..."
The girl still looked downcast, and Michiko lifted her chin so that Hinata had to look at her.
"It'll be fine. We're all going to do our best to make things right," Michiko reassured.
"...ok..." Hinata smiled gratefully, and she followed Korii out of the field.
Michiko smiled and waved as they left, then turned around to face Shino.
"Mission tomorrow," she said softly, suddenly shy.
"Yes."
Michiko pretended to be busy looking for something in her bag, while trying to think of another conversation starter. When she looked up again, Shino was standing right in front of her. From the way his head was slightly tilted, and the subtle way he was chewing on the inside of his cheek, she guessed that he wanted to ask something.
"What is it?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.
By way of answering, Shino held both his hands out, palms up, as if asking her to give him something. Confused, Michiko did the same, and Shino tenderly took her right hand and looked at the wrist. Silently, he touched the hole there for a moment.
"You're not trash..." Shino whispered in an extremely gentle voice, surprising Michiko, "You're not..."
A/N: I like my fluff. Don't diss my fluff. ...I've been reading too much Fruits Basket.
Hatori: Don't mind her. Just review.
A/N: OMIGOSH, IT'S HATORI!
Ayame: And it's is I, Sohma Ayame! And-
Korii: (Runs in) Gah...that anime...! (Knocks out Ayame)
Ayame: I am slain! (falls over, unconscious)
Hatori: (Nods to Korii) Thanks.
Korii: Don't mention it.
A/N: ...Where are all these random people coming from? I'm so confused...
Makar: Prr! (Translation: Don't mind the randomness! Just review!)