DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto, any characters affiliated, I don't even own the idea for this dream (it's in the Naruto manga), sentry duty, the Final Bucket of River Water, Lee and Gai-sensei moments, tracking or stalking skills, or Kyou of Fruits Basket.

Itachi: ...why is there another girl manga mentioned here? Who even likes Fruits Basket, anyway?

A/N: (raises hand) I do! And I'm keeping you alive in this fic, so you can't hurt me! (sticks tongue out) Nyah!

Itachi: ...you're a five-year-old...

Michiko stood in the middle of a field, looking forward and laughing. She didn't need to turn; she knew that Deniizu and Shino were on either side of her, then Hinata, Korii and Pooriin, and Kiba and Takona, her old teacher and caregiver. Then there was Inel-sensei, and Kiba's sister, Hana; soon her fellow genins were added, and the people at the hospital. All her important people were standing beside her, in a line; she felt so protected and accepted. Then the green field lost its flowers, and some of the people on the edges disappeared, but Michiko kept smiling. Then more people disappeared, and the grass wilted, appearing only in patches; Michiko's smile was no longer so wide. Then Hana, Inel and Takona disappeared; the ground was only dust, and Michiko had only a small smile.. Kiba, Korii and Hinata faded away; Michiko had only a half-smile. She held onto Deniizu and Shino's hands tightly, but Deniizu slowly pried her hand out of her grasp and walked away; the ground was so dry, small cracks were forming. Pooriin looked at Michiko, then slowly, she too faded into nothing. Feeling him turning colder, Michiko turned to Shino; she held her tears back and tried to beg Shino to stay, but something held her voice and she couldn't.

"What's the matter with you?" Shino said in a chilling voice, "I don't know who you are. You're useless to me."

Michiko tried to hold him tighter, tried to say something; anything that would stop him from leaving. But he became colder and colder, and finally, Shino faded away, just like the others.

"Michiko. Michiko."

The future medical ninja rolled over in her sleeping mat, away from the voice, and accidentally hit her head against something very hard, and very cold.

Good...just a dream, Michiko thought, Please, just be suppressed thoughts...

"Well done, you hit your head on the cave wall," Korii congratulated, clapping his hands slowly.

"Ow..." Michiko grumbled, slowly sitting up and rubbing her forehead.

"Hey, at least you didn't have sentry duty," Goudon called from his own sleeping mat, before turning back to a scroll he was reading.

"I got cut from guard duty?" Michiko asked, still not fully awake.

"You earned your rest with that healing thing that you do," Korii shrugged, grabbing Michiko by the shoulders and lifting her up so that she stood, "However, you still have to help this group out, so you get the job of collecting water for the morning."

"Great," Michiko mumbled, rubbing sleep out of her eyes and stumbling to find the water bucket.

"Remember, we need three loads to last all of us," Korii called, as Michiko left the cave.

"Are you sure it's safe to let her outside in that state?" Kurenai asked Inel, concerned.

"Oh, she is safer when half-asleep," Inel answered jovially, "She gets very mad if somebody, like the enemy, suddenly wake her up. If she wake up slowly, everbody is safe. If fast, she attack with great strength."

I'm hungry.

It was at the third bucket-load that Michiko finally woke up completely. This fact may or may not have anything to do with Bikto tripping her into a thorny bush on the way back out of the cave. And Korii, Kiba and Goudon may or may not have had to restrain Michiko and her four dogs for about half an hour, causing Deniizu to have to be the one to collect water. But that's all irrelevant; back to the exciting trip of collecting the Final Bucket of River Water!(insert many exclamation points here, since Fanfiction edits multiple punctuation out).

"First, Deniizu walked along an Action-Packed Natural Dirt Path!" the first announcer said.

"Then she Actively Jumped Across Three Precarious Mossy Stones!" the second announcer said.

"Then Deniizu Carefully Yet Calmly knelt down and Assertively Inserted the Bucket of Wonder with Great Youthfulness into the Tumultuous River of Possible Drowning!" the first announcer said.

"Gai-sensei, that was incredible announcing!" the second announcer said, "I hope one day I can be a great announcer like you!"

Deniizu was trying to ignore the two voices that were coming from a clump of bushes on the opposite side of the river, but they kept recurring.

"Do not worry, Lee!" the first announcer (who was Gai, if you haven't figured it out), said in an emotional voice, "I will train you until you are an announcer that is even greater that me!"

"Gai-sensei!"

"Lee!"

"Gai-sensei!"

"Lee!"

I'm leaving now, Deniizu thought, hurrying away with her now-full Bucket of Wonder. Um...I mean, bucket.

Now I'm tired.

Michiko, after being placated by her teammates, was now taking Deniizu's place at guard duty with Aramis and D'Artagnan. Sitting just far enough from the cave to give the group ample warning of an attack, Michiko tried to stay focused on her job. However, she kept coming back to her dream, and her companions couldn't help but notice. Aramis sniffed Michiko's chin questioningly, and D'Artagnan pawed at her fist, which was grinding into the ground and had white knuckles.

Suppressed thoughts, Michiko thought, not seeing her dogs' actions, It's all suppressed thoughts. They're not going to leave you. ...why do I have such vivid dreams in this world? I barely ever dream in the other one.

Michiko started when she heard a twig snap somewhere in the forest to her right, but remembering her training, she didn't turn to look just yet. Looking at her dogs and patting them on the head, she made small hand signals for D'Artagnan to go back to the cave and warn the others, and for Aramis to follow right behind Michiko.

Right about now, I wish I had Byakugan, Michiko thought, getting up silently and sneaking towards where the twig had broken, pulling out two kunai as she went, No matter; it's now my job to protect the group, Byakugan or no Byakugan.

Michiko kept creeping into the woods, trying to find whoever had made that noise; she strained her eyes, but still she couldn't see anybody.

I can't just use my eyes, Michiko thought, I have to use all my senses.

Michiko examined the ground where she thought the sound had originated from, glancing up every few seconds. She saw a broken branch; someone had stepped on it. Aramis sniffed the branch, then led Michiko in the direction that the cave was in, following the scent as he walked. Michiko listened hard, trying to catch some sign of another person. After a moment, she heard a bell and her eyes widened.

I've heard that kind of bell...a really small one, Michiko thought, Not a sleigh bell...one that you put on a pet's collar. Another animal user?

Michiko could see the person now; it was a boy who seemed to be a little bit older than her, with orange hair. He wore a black t-shirt and grey cargo pants; beside him walked an orange cat with a tiny brass bell tied around its neck. Both were trying to walk as quietly as possible; they weren't in sight of the cave, but they seemed to be looking for something, and Michiko guessed it was the cave.

"Aramis," Michiko whispered, getting down onto her hands and knees and putting her head as close the the dog's as possible, "Jump the cat, and hang onto it. Don't hurt it; they may be Chatora. I'll handle the guy."

Aramis pawed Michiko's nose to show that he understood, Michiko nodded, and then as one, both jumped straight for the strangers.

Aramis landed right onto the cat, which let out a shrill screech when he did so; the orange cat tried to struggle, but Aramis was sitting on its back, and had his teeth clamped securely on the back of its neck. Michiko did not have such an easy time; she managed to knock the boy down, but he was fast and agile. Michiko tried to hold the boy down, but he easily pushed her away, throwing her against the nearest tree. He tried to stick a kunai into her throat, but Michiko managed to turn away and elbow him in the side. As the boy clutched at where she'd hit him, Michiko delivered another blow at the side of his head; not hard enough to knock him out, but just so that the boy was stunned. In the moment that the boy was dazed, Michiko quickly took wire out of her pouch and tied the boy's arms behind his back securely. The boy tried to lash out, but Michiko tripped him so that he ended up on his back, and sat on his legs so that he couldn't get up.

"Damn Inuzuka bitch!" the boy yelled, still trying to get up.

"I'm not an Inuzuka," Michiko said calmly, thinking, Though I wish I were. That would be cool. ...this guy must be a Chatora.

"You're not?" the boy asked in a surprised voice, which quickly relapsed back into angry, "Liar! You use a dog for your companion!"

"Because I like dogs. Not because I'm from the House of Dogs," Michiko explained.

The boy kept struggling and Michiko sighed. After sharing a look with Aramis, she spoke up again.

"Look at your cat, dude, she's better behaved than you," she said, examining her nails.

The boy stopped writhing and turned his head to look. Michiko was right, the cat was looking at him like he was an idiot. With a final curse, the boy relaxed and spoke in a more reasonable tone.

"Why did you attack me?" he asked, sounding subdued.

"Because you looked like you were going to attack my friends and clients," Michiko answered, starting to braid her hair, "Next question."

"Who are you?" the boy asked after a moment of thought.

"It's rude to ask for someone's name before giving your own," Michiko shrugged, still braiding her hair.

"It's rude to attack someone without warning, too, you know!" the boy yelled, suddenly angry again.

"...That's true," Michiko nodded thoughtfully, deliberately still fixing her hair, "But I'm still not telling you my name. I have people that I'm protecting right now; what if giving you my name puts them in jeopardy?"

The boy swore again, hit his head against the ground a couple times, then sighed in frustration.

"Fine," the boy said, subdued again, "My name is Chatora Kyou. I'm looking for the ninjas that are escorting my cousins. Their names are Chatora Goudon, Pooriin, and Bikto. Are you one of the ninjas? Since you have that headband, I'm guessing you're from Konoha."

Michiko tied the end of her braid, and got off of Kyou's legs. Kneeling beside the boy, she gave him an apologetic smile before untying his wrists.

"Sorry. I didn't know who you were, and precautions were necessary," Michiko said, "My name is Michiko of the Tea Village, and yes, I'm helping escort your cousins. I'll take you to them right away."

Gai: Yosh! Again this chapter is ACTION PACKED!

Itachi: ...why are you even in this fic? That's like putting aliens on Fruits Basket. It simply isn't done!

Gai: Do not mind Itachi's moaning, dear readers! It's just that he is so un-YOUTHFUL! from killing his family off at such a young age!

A/N: (sees death glint in Itachi's eye) Um...I suggest you review now...and if Gai is in a wheelchair during the next filler that you see, you know what happened.