Yo, peeps!

First, I'd like to thank kakashiindrag, my best buddy, who plays the role of Nani in this fic. She was the one who typed out all this crap that I wrote ... I don't know how she puts up with me sometimes ...

And also, I'd like to thank the total of THREE PEOPLE out of OVER A HUNDRED who actually reviewed. When you read a story, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO FRIGGIN' REVIEW IT!! GRRR!!! I always try to review the stories I read at least once, I don't see what's so hard about that. All you gotta do is click the review botton thingy at the bottom of the page and tell me how much you liked my story, or how much it sucked. I don't really care! JUST DO IT ALREADY!!!

Okay, ranting over.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, or Kakashi, or Sakura, or Nani (that be kinda weird...) or any of the wonderful people and things in this fic. BUT I DO OWN PIXIE STICKS!!! (holds up bag of candy)

Kakashi, Rosuto, and Naruto were sitting in a row in front of the counter at Ichi-raku's. The silence was imamate, weighted with their worry over Sakura. She had been rushed to the E.R.- no word on how she was doing. Rosuto wasn't overly troubled, OF COURSE. Sakura had only been in her life for a day. Not that she wasn't concerned, but it wasn't in her nature to linger on such things.

Kakashi wasn't too deeply affected, he knew that Sakura was strong. "She'll pull through, no need to get upset at all." He told himself over and over. He was worried - he just didn't show it.

Naruto, on the other hand, definitely showed his anxiety. He was worried enough for all three of them. He didn't even touch his ramen when they had been served. "I knew it," he thought. "I knew she was badly wounded... I should have stayed with her!" He mentally kicked himself. She probably got an infection or something.

"Naruto?" Kakashi asked leaning around Rosuto, "You haven't even touched your ramen. Are you feeling okay?"

"No."

"It was the shuriken wasn't it?" Rosuto suddenly said out of nowhere. "One hit her, didn't it?" she put down her chopsticks at the right side of her deep ecru bowl.

"Yeah - one. Right on her shoulder." He muttered his blonde hair falling all about his downward tilted head.

"I'm sorry. I. . . didn't mean to, I really didn't mean to hit her." She apologized. "Should have packed steel. Those shuriken were lead. She must've been poisoned." Rosuto was thinking aloud at this point.

"You mean ... Lead - POISONED?! She's been LEAD-POISONED?!?" He grabbed Rosuto's shirt, whipping her around in her chair. "What did you do to her?! Is she gonna DIE?!" he frantically shook her.

"No, Naruto, she won't die." Kakashi got up and calmly sat him back in his chair, forcing to release his grip on the ANBU. "She's just sick, that's all. She received only one small wound. We should be more worried about the infection than the poisoning."

Naruto sighed deeply, as it in an attempt to release his cares along with the air in his lungs. He nervously ran his hands through his hair.

"Naruto, I'm sorry." Rosuto stated. The words were kind in enough in their meaning, but the tone of her voice made it sound forced.

"You don't mean that." He glared up at her.

"What more do you want from me? You want me to take a magic wand and suddenly poof her disease away? It's not my fault she got wounded." She snapped up at him.

"It's your fault that we got into that fight in the first place!" He shot back.

"How was I supposed to know you guys were from Konoha would I hid all those traps? I heard voices, I challenged you, you lost, END OF STORY! I wasn't even going to fight you in the first place, and I wouldn't have if I'd known who you were."

"You picked the fight!"

"Well, you can thank your buddy Sasuke for that!"

"So you're blaming us for your temper control? Or lack there of!"

"No, I'm saying the fight was instigated! By your team!"

"Sure, go on and blame it on all of us! Just because Sasuke ticked you off doesn't mean you have to hospitalize the rest of us! What did Sakura ever do to you?!"

"Nothing! She just got in the way!"

"Oh, so you mow down innocent bystanders all the time?!"

"Well, ninja can't exactly be innocent bystanders!"

"You don't have to attack her out of nowhere!"

"Both of you were chasing me! So, I attacked! CLEARLY provoked!"

"Why were you in the middle of the woods anyway!?"

"To met you guys! Kakashi asked me to come!"

"Oh, so now it's Kakashi messed up, huh?"

"I never said that! - "

"Please, you two, don't bring me into this..." Kakashi begged, although not enthusiastically. He knew they wouldn't listen.

"AND, why did you attack me?!" Naruto ignored him for the time being.

"Hey, in the clearing, you the one who attacked me first!" Rosuto shot back.

"No, our hands locked - our eyes met - and you went ballistic." Naruto's voiced changed from the furious forte, loud and accusatory, to a inquisitive, yet cautious tone. Rosuto about continued the argument, but upon hearing his words, she suddenly bit her tongue, flinching and turning away as though the sentence caused her physical pain.

"Why?" He whispered.

Rosuto turned her back to him, cupping her face in her hands, refusing to answer.

"Rosuto - " Kakashi began, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder. She batted his hand away, and ran the other through her hair, her fingers continuing down her neck to massage her shoulders in order to relieve so of the tension there. She let out a heavy sigh before turning to face Naruto again.

"Okay ... look. I have this weird ability-thing. Because I'm blind, I have better hearing and other senses. Some 80 of your knowledge of the outside world comes from sight, so when you go blind, your other senses almost double in capacity to pick up the slack. And since I'm a ninja, through training I've heightened them even more. My hearing, smell, and touch are all about twice as good as Kakashi-sensei's. With me so far?" She explained.

"Yeah ... I think so." Naruto answered, scratching his head.

"This has a lot of side effects. Since my hearing range is like that of a dogs our wolf's, through sound I can locate and track things - people and objects. Or, through touch, I feel the vibrations in the air, especially those from chakra, so I can sort of read someone's aura - like the energy their chakra puts off - when I stand close to them. Much like how Kakashi reads people's chakra signatures, expect about five times more sensitive, and with a lot less effort. And for some reason, that is reinforced through eye contact. I sort of pick up on their emotions. Did you get all that?"

"Umm...yeah..." Naruto was a little lost. "What does that to do with you going wacko?"

"I'm getting to that. See when you looked into my eyes, right in the middle of the battle - when a shinobi's senses are extra sharp - I caught some of your bitterness and resentment toward the citizens of this village. And ... "

"Go on," Naruto motioned for her to continue, then put down his hands, remembering she couldn't see it.

"It reminded me of how I felt the same way toward a lot of the people where I come from. And how weak I was back then. And how I had promised myself to not lose again, not if I could help it. It reminded me of why I came here in the first place,"

"Huh? Why?" He asked, slightly confused.

"May be I'll tell you ... Not today, though."

Throughout this whole conversation, Kakashi had looked on in interest. He was slightly surprised how much Rosuto had been willing to share. He had only learned the workings of her fighting style through his Sharingan, and later had to press her for more in-depth explanation. It had taken several months to figure out what she had openly told Naruto. Maybe because they were so much alike, Kakashi thought. Or perhaps the fact that Naruto was so easy to talk to. No matter what you're going through, he understands.

"So, wait," Naruto asked the ANBU, interrupting Kakashi's musings, "How does the whole eye-contact thing work?"

"I'm not exactly sure on that. But eyes are very good at expressing emotion, and I'm sensitive to people's outward feelings, so me and Kakashi think it might have to do with that - like people's eyes make reading their aura easier and some-such."

"Oh ... I don't get it." Naruto was officially clueless.

Rosuto shrugged. "Neither do I, really. I just know it works."

"Well, I'm gonna go check and see how Sakura's doing at the hospital." He said as he stood off his stool. "I'll be there if you guys need me for anything." Naruto had the cook put his ramen in a to-go bowl and left. Rosuto sat in silence for a few minutes, reflecting. Kakashi stared at her.

"Ro-chan?" Kakashi ventured. No answer was given not even to the call of her affectionate nickname, "Ro-chan?" Kakashi tried again. She rested her head in her hands. He realized she was trembling. A single crystal tear ran down her tan cheek. "Hey," Kakashi whispered gently, "Buck up, kiddo. What's the matter, huh?"

Rosuto then turned her head so that he could see her whole face. The looks she gave him said it all - the mental anguish, the total agony - she was starting to have a mental breakdown. Even his hardened heart melted from that expression of wholehearted suffering. He knew too full well what was wrong. Naruto had unwittingly poured salt on old festering wounds that time had yet to rebuild when he asked for that explanation. Rosuto was a usually happy, sure, but that was all fake. He knew that inside the young ANBU was simply another broken and badly mended soul, just waiting to fall apart again. The same way he had been at her age. The same way he still felt when he woke up each morning thinking about what he had lost. Back then he didn't have anyone. But he could be there for her.

"Ro-chan, its alright. Come on." He held out his arms, and the girl gladly fell into his embrace, her tears slowly soaking his vest. Knowing she wouldn't want anyone else to see her in her moment of weakness, Kakashi used the body-flicker to transport them back to his apartment, where they sat on his couch, Rosuto silently sobbing, and he silently comforting her. And there they remained, until she cried herself to sleep.

A/N: Okay, this seems like a good place to end the chapter, don't you think? Hah, yeah right like I would be that evil. Well actually, I would, but I don't feel like it right now. SO continue with the story!

Kakashi: Will do. As soon as I change my shirt... this one's soaked.

Ro-chan: SHADDUP! JUST TO IT!

Kakashi: Okay, fine... (slinks away, slightly annoyed)

Sakura woke up the next morning to a white ceiling. Wait - my ceiling's not white, its pink... where am I? She wondered. Then her hearing kicked in, with it came the faint beeping of a heart monitor and the steady whoosh of a respirator. She slowly moved her hand across the bed she was laying in and its freshly made linen. She must be in a hospital. And then it clicked. She had collapsed ... why? She couldn't remember. She still had a major headache. Slowly the kunoichi propped herself up on her elbows, turning her head to get a good look around. The first thing she noticed was Naruto, with his arms crossed and his head resting on them so he faced her. He had drooled all over her blanket ... He must have fallen asleep last night waiting on her to regain consciousness. He really shouldn't have, he had only just gotten out of the hospital himself. Must he always wear himself out like that?

"Finally awake? It's nearly noon, sleeping beauty." A voice to her right commented.

Sakura turned her head to see a young woman around her age sitting in a chair. She wore an over-sized, navy-blue hoodie proclaiming "COLUMBIA" in bright large white letters, faded blue jeans, and neon green tennis shoes. Her shoulder- length black hair was tied back in a low ponytail with long bangs hanging loosely in front of her eyes (despite several attempts over the last five minutes to blow them out of the damn way). A pencil was stuck behind each of her slightly pointed ears, and she held another in her hand, the point of which that rested against a page of a sketchbook in her lap.

"What's Columbia?" Sakura asked bluntly, scratching her head.

"Not "who are you", "what are you doing here", not even a polite "how's the weather"? Instead you wake up and the first thing out of your mouth is, 'What's Columbia?'!" The visitor chuckled to herself.

"You never answered my question."

"It's many things."

"Such as..."

"In this case it's a name of a university."

"You went there?"

"No."

"Then why do you wear the hoodie?"

"Because I can, and I want to. By the way, in case you can't remember, I'm Nani, age of 15, rogue ninja, and shoe-master extraordinaire to the nth degree. And the case of the never-ending drool is Naruto or so he said though he was more into the ramen than talking and he stared at you mostly ... " She added as an afterthought.

"I already know who he is ... do you think we should wake him up?" Sakura asked, unsure of the situation.

"Nah - he just fell asleep like twenty minutes ago. Let him nap a little longer, he needs it." Sakura had been right - he was up all night for her.

She looked back at the strange shinobi. She seemed mature enough to be at least twenty, and she nearly met Kakashi in height. How could she be only 15?! She also was well built, with broad shoulders and toned muscles ... yet almost no hips. But the feature that struck Sakura the most was Nani's steely blue eyes. They were somehow icy and stoic, yet warm and cheerful at the same time. But even more, in their depths like a mighty river, they gave off a powerful aura of life and energy. Something told Sakura this girl had won a lot of staring contests in her life. Naruto suddenly leapt up, grabbing some invisible object on his way up.

"NO! RAMEN, DON'T LEAVE ME!" He gave in a theatrical shout, before returning to sleep once again.

"You dork ... " Sakura muttered at the boy at the foot of her bed.

"Oi! Dumbass!" Nani reached out and nudged Naruto's head (none too lightly) with her foot. "Wake up already!"

"I thought you said we should let me sleep ... " Sakura trailed off confused at the unfolding scene.

"That's the fifth time his done that! It's war little buddy, you're gonna get my shoe now!"

"NO, I DON'T LIKE BUNNIES!" Naruto shout though clearly still asleep.

"God damn it YOU'RE worse than A F-ING SOAP-OPERA!" She looked aspirated for a second till, " I said WAKE UP! You little piece of shit I know you can hear me!" Nani then preceded to kick him harder, much harder.

"Would you like an apple pie with that!" He asked to another invisible person-thing-whatever to his left.

"WAKE UP, DAMMIT! I will not stand for this any longer, ITS NOT FUNNY I SWEAR!" Nani then kicked him so hard that he fell out of the chair.

"WHOA, WHAT WAS THAT?!" Naruto jumped up, kunai in hand, hair waving in all directions as he turned his head back and forth ready to attack.

"You idjit!" I've been trying to wake you up!" Nani would have slapped him upside the head if he was closer, but she didn't feel like walking over there to do so.

"Oh, Sakura!" You're awake!" Naruto blurted out, completely ignoring Nani.

"Yeah. I noticed." She replied.

"We should get some ramen to celebrate!" He shouted gleefully.

"STUPID, THIS IS A HOSPTITAL! QUIT SHOUTING!" Nani threw a shoe at him. "Besides, we can't go anywhere until Sakura's better."

"Oh, yeah." He plopped back down in his seat, ribbing the newly forming bruise on his arm where the shoe had made contact.

"Anyway, I got a message from Kakashi around 9:00 saying he'd be here by 10:00 ... that means that he should be here soon, considering how late he is." Nani remarked

"Yo." Amazingly, right at the moment, Kakashi walked in, closely followed by Rosuto - wearing her normal garb, I might add.

"Konichiwa, Kakashi-sensei." Sakura greeted with a smile and wave.

"Awake already, huh?" He asked her; then turned to Naruto, "See, what did I tell you, nothing to worry about, as long there's no infection." He ruffled his former student's hair. Naruto merely scowled.

Rosuto walked over and placed a vase with a single white lily on the nightstand next to Sakura's bed. She didn't say anything, but the expression that flashed on her face for a brief moment expressed her guilt. Sakura responded by gently touching her shoulder as of to say," It's okay. I forgive you." Rosuto smiled, but still didn't say anything.

"Sakura, do you mind if I take the rest of these hooligans out for training?" Kakashi asked her.

"No, not at all - I'll be fine by myself."

"Okay, come on! Let's move, troops!" Kakashi promptly walked put the door, closely by Naruto and Nani, who picked up the shoe she had thrown on her way out. Rosuto lingered, her face positioned as though she were looking out the window.

"Rosuto-san?" Sakura asked, adding the honorific almost by instinct - after all she was an ANBU, even if Sakura was her senior by two years.

"I wonder what the sky looks like today ... " was the only thing that passed her lips as Rosuto walked out the door.

Kakashi whistled aimlessly as he led the way through the streets and toward the training grounds - this time, near the bridge over the river.

'Kakashi, why are you whistling?" Naruto asked.

"Why does it matter?" he replied nonchalantly.

"I've never heard you whistle before, except to your dogs. So why start now?"

"Nice observation... I was whistling so it would be easier for Rosuto to follow us... she's been lagging behind, and it's hard to keep track of every person in the middle of a village as busy as this one." He explained.

Nani turned around. Sure enough, Rosuto wasn't behind them, and Nani couldn't see her through the crowded marketplace. "I need to get her a leash ... " the kunoichi slapped her forehead.

"Hey! Rosuto! Over here!" Naruto yelled out into the crowd.

"WHERE THE FRACK DID SHE GO?!" Nani screamed, frustated.

"Right here." a voice said behind her, and she felt a tap on her shoulder.

"OMYGOD! Don't scare me like that! One of these days I'm gonna accidently kill you when you sneak up behind me! Just stop it!"

"Okay, sheesh ... " the ANBU crossed her arms in front of her chest, irritated.

"Move it, guys ... we're never going to get to the training ground if you guys just sit there the whole time." Kakashi stated, and began walking again. His students/new aquantances all fell into step behind him. And nearly ran into him when he suddenly stopped mid-stride, glancing to his right. His foot was still hovering several inches above the ground.

"WHAT THE HELL!?" Nani yelled at him.

"What's going on, Kakashi-kun?" Rosuto asked him.

"THE NEW ICHA ICHA PARADISE VOLUME IS OUT!!!" he suddenly shrieked, running straight up to the window of the bookshop they had just stopped in front of. As fast as anything, the Jounin zipped right inside to the shelf where his precious novel lay waiting, and he did the I-got-a-new-Icha-Icha-Paradise-book-dance as he payed for the item and walked out of the shop, and buried his face into its pages.

"WRONG WAY, STUPID!!" Nani shouted at him, throwing a shoe at the back of his head. He had gone the complete opposite direction of the way they were supposed to be going.

"Sorry." He immidiately did a 180 degree turn and headed off.

"That was random ... " Rosuto muttered to herself.

Okay people, that's all for now. I won't have the next thing for a while yet ... still working out the details of the next few days in Konoha. Sorry for any mistakes in this one, kinda did it in a rush...

PLEASE REVIEW, PEOPLE!!!

ps - btw, i accidently forgot the foot notes for the last chapter, so here they are:

(1) This is a Japanese play on words, for those who are unfamiliar with the language. When Rosuto screams "Nani", she's saying the girl's name. Naruto, however, thinks that she's screaming "WHAT?!?" as in WTF?, because nani what in Japanese. So, he agrees, saying, "yeah, really!". Then, Rosuto tells him that Nani is he girl's name, and he says "Nani?" as in "What? You can't be serious.", but Rosuto thinks he's saying "Nani" as in "Oh, Nani's her name? Did I get that right?" and she says "Exactly!" ... keep reading over this and Chapter Four until you find that it starts making sense.

(2) I LUV SUDOKU PUZZLES!!! They're so much fun...

(3) This is a play on Sasuke's name. Usually, you say it like SA-soo-kay, but the nurse says SA-soo-gay, as in Sasuke's gay... (chuckles evilly) which me and Nani do all the time.

THAT'S ALL, FOLKS!!