Chapter 5: Naruto's Promise
(Just after Iruka says that, they all hear Gai screaming at Akamaru to give him back his shoe.)
Naruto: "What the hell?"
Gai:*chased in Akamaru into the room and is running after him trying to retrieve the sandals*
Iruka: "Just tell him to sit."
Gai:*still chasing him* "I already tried that, he just kept running."
Naruto:*picks up Akamaru as he runs by* "Gotcha."
Akamaru:*dropped the sandal*
Gai:*snatches it and walks out*
Akamaru:*watches him leave, droops his ears*
Naruto: "What's the matter Akamaru?"
Akamaru:*quietly whines.*
Iruka: "He probably wants to play, but Gai wasn't up for that."
Sasuke: "I wouldn't be either if he took my shoe."
Naruto:*pulls a ball out of his pocket that he uses with Smicha. He puts it in front of Akamaru*
Akamaru: *sniffs it and backs off with a whine*
Sakura: "Isn't that the ball you use with Smicha?"
Naruto: "Yeah, it's the only one I have."
Akamaru:*his ears perk up suddenly and he turns toward the closet*
Iruka: "What now Akamaru?"
Akamaru:*runs over to the closet barking*
Lei:*walks in with Kiba* "Why is he barking?"
Iruka:*shrugs* "Dunno. He came running in here being chased by Gai."
Kiba: "With his sandal?"
Iruka: "Yes."
Kiba:*sighs* "He broke his last ball yesterday and is bored out of his mind."
Lei:*heads over to the closet* "Why is he barking at the closet?"
Kiba: "Do I look like I know?"
Iruka: "Don't be fresh Kiba."
Lei:*opens the closet and Smicha pops her head out* "Smicha?"
Sakura: "What was she doing in there?"
Smicha: "Row."*jumps to Lei's shoulder*
Lei:*looks to Akamaru* "Thanks Akamaru."
Akamaru:*wags his tail* "Arf."
Lei:*smiles*
Sei:*walks by*
Smicha: "ROW!"
Sei:*pokes his head in* "Yo?"
Lei: -_- "Did you lock her in the closet yesterday?"
Sei: "No! I was cleaning her litter box, had to run to the store to get more kitty litter, and then took a bath."
Smicha:*snorts disapprovingly*
Sei: "What?"
Smicha: "Row me ow."
Lei: "Did you lock her in it today?"
Sei: "Yeah, so I could clean it again. She musta had some diarrhea or somethin' cause man that stuff stank."
Iruka:*sniffs* "You don't smell any better right now."
Sei: "That's because I haven't been to the bath yet. I clean the litter box first."
Smicha:*leaps off Lei's shoulder and walks over to Sei. She jumps to his shoulder and pounds him in the head with her tail*
Sei: "OW!"
Smicha:*jumps down and sits in Iruka's lap*
Sei: "The fierce fuzz ball strikes again."
Smicha:*raspberry*
Sei:*walks off, holding the back of his head*
Lei: "Serves him right. She won't go in if you're cleaning the box. She'll go when you leave."
Kiba: "This is why I don't have a cat."
Lei: "Yeah, yeah, yeah, but you still have to clean up after Akamaru when he goes outside. This is harder because it can stick to the grass."
Kiba: "Dogs are easier to play with, cats only play when they feel like it."
Lei: "So. I like them both; I just have a cat because my dad gave her to me when I was two."
Iruka: "Is that why you gave her that name? I thought you called her Smicha because you couldn't say Icha Icha."
Lei:*vein. Punches him in the head* "My dad didn't read that when he was married."
Iruka: "Ow!"
Smicha: *looks over at Akamaru and shrugs*
Akamaru:*shakes his head*
Naruto: "Smicha, look what I got."*throwing the ball up and down in his hand, it jingles*
Smicha:*looks over to him. Her eyes brighten and leaps at it*
Naruto: "Gak!"
Smicha:*grabs it in mid air*
Naruto: "Cheater."
Smicha:*lands and puts it down. Raspberry*
Naruto:*snatches it and rolls it across the room*
Smicha:*chases it*
Akamaru:*droops his ears*
Lei:*pulls a small bone chew toy out of her pocket* "Akamaru."*waves it in front of him*
Akamaru:*sniffs it and takes it*
Iruka: "When did you go shopping?"
Lei: "I didn't. Hinata got it when she helped Sei with the groceries."
Iruka: "Is he under punishment?"
Lei: "Yeah."
Kiba: "He's gonna chew through that in a day."
Lei: "No he won't. It's a tougher plastic than most of them. Form what I heard; it was more than three times the price of the regular chew toys."
Sakura: "And they're about 7 yen."
Lei: "Yep. Hinata said it was 25."
Kiba: "I gotta remember to thank her."
Lei: "She should be back by dinner. She's having a training session with Kurenai and Shino."*kneels next to Akamaru and takes the chew toy*
Akamaru:*confused*
Lei:*throws it across the room* "Fetch."
Akamaru:*chases it*
Lei: "He needs to get more exercise. He's getting kinda fat."
Kiba: "I've been trying to take him for walks but he doesn't want to go."
Lei: "You don't have to walk him to give him exercise. A little more playtime everyday would do you both some good."
Kiba: "What's that suppose to mean?"
Lei: "You haven't been training much; you've been eating my cooking more than anything and you're starting to get a little flab yourself."
Kiba:*makes an annoyed face*
Iruka: "That's your cooking; I thought that was Sei's."
Lei: "That brainless idiot can barely boil water."
Kiba: "That's sad."
Lei: "No kidding. Naruto, if you're going to play with Smicha take it outside before my grandpa catches you."
Naruto:-_- "Fine."*picks up the ball and Smicha and heads outside*
Lei:*picks up Akamaru* "Come on Kiba."
(The three head outside.)
Sasuke: "We might as well go outside since there's nothing much to do in here."
Sakura: "Why not? Smicha and Naruto do some pretty stupid things."
(Those two head outside. Iruka soon follows.)(Later, Lei accidentally hits Kiba in the head with the chew toy and Akamaru jumps at it. For the next few hours, Lei and Naruto play catch with Smicha and Akamaru. Iruka, Sakura, and Sasuke eventually join in because Akamaru attacked them with the chew toy.)(In the dinning room at dinner, Gai and his team are sitting there exhausted.)
Lei:*walking in with the others* "What happened to you all? You look like you went to hell and back."
Gai: "When you and Smicha finished your game of catch, she came running at us and chased us around the mountain about 50 times."
Lee: "Then we had to walk halfway back and then she chased us again."
Lei:*trying not to laugh*
Naruto:*restraining a laugh*
Lei:*walks into the kitchen, still trying not to laugh*
Iruka: "Honestly, what did you let her chase you around the mountain for? Just tell her to sit and she'll stop chasing you."
Gai: "You're kidding me right?"
Iruka: "No."
Gai:*groans and hits his head on the table*
Sakura:*shakes her head*
Smicha:*walks into the dinning room in little form* "Row."

(Gai and his team are ridged.)
Sakura: "You guys, she's not gonna chase you around the dinning room. She's probably tired anyway."
Iruka: "She's run over 3000 miles in one day in her other form."
Sakura:*sighs* "I was trying to calm them down."
Iruka:*shrugs*
Sakura: "Smicha up."
Smicha:*jumps to her shoulder and droops around them*
Sakura: "There, now she can't chase you."
(Lei finally has Naruto and Lee set the table, then serves dinner. Soon after, Kurenai, Hinata and Shino join them. Lei hardly eats anything, and nobody really notices except Naruto. After they finish eating, they all head outside to the back porch. When they actually sit down, Lee notices the moon, which isn't there.)
Lee: "Lei-san, was Nokki suppose to get out of the rubber room tonight. It is the new moon."
Lei: "Yes Lee. That's pretty much why I didn't eat a lot."
Sakura: "What for?"
Lei: "Well, for one I've been visiting Kakashi. Nokki hates him with a passion and doesn't like it when I do go to see him, and I really haven't been keeping up with 'his' training."
Naruto: "What's 'his training all about?"
Lei: "Let me put if this way, it makes Gai's training sessions look like Cadet Gym class."
All: O_O
Lei: "No joke."
Gai: "Should I be offended?"
Lei: "Uhh, no…Considering it's Nokki we're talking about here."
Gai: "That's not the point."
Lei: "Whatever. You've been to quite."
Gai: "Pardon?"
Lei: "You haven't said much since we came out here. What's got your tongue?"
Gai:*looking away* "Nothing."
Lei: "You were staring again, weren't you?"
Gai: "I was not."
Iruka: "Yes you were. That's the only thing that'll keep you quiet for five minuets straight."
Gai: "Like the same thing didn't keep you quiet when we were Genin."
Iruka: "I wasn't gaping at her unless she confused me."
Gai: "Right. You keep telling yourself that Iruka."
Nokki:*coming from the difference* "LEI!!!"
Lei: "Oh crap. Gotta go."*takes off at her running speed*
Lee: "Damn. She is fast."
Naruto: "Yeah, faster than you Lee."
Lee:*confused* "How so?"
Sasuke: "When you run without your weights, that's how fast she can run with weight on her legs."
Lee: "WHAT!? Then who knows how fast she can run without them."
Iruka: "You'd see nothing but her after image."
Sakura: "How do you know?"
Iruka: "We were Genin together, remember Sakura?"
Sakura: "That doesn't mean anything."
Iruka: "It means plenty."
Nokki:*storms in*
Iruka: "Oh, hey Nokki. What's up?"
Nokki: "YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S UP IRUKA. AND IF YOU DON'T WATCH YOU'RE MOUTH AROUND YOUR SUPERIORS YOU'RE GONNA FIND YOUR VOICE UP AND SINGING SOPRANO!!!!!!"
WHACK!!!!
Sei: "You should shut your mouth when you're around your superiors. Especially me, because you're gonna find a nasty head ache when you wake up tomorrow morning."
Nokki: *with a large bump on his head* "Watch where you're swinging that katana of yours."
Sei:*unsheathes it* "Shall I use it on you. Maybe so you can't do your hand signs."
Nokki;*glares*
Sei: "That's what I thought."
Nokki: "Where's your sister?"
Sei: "Do I look like I know? I'm not a keeper."
Iruka: "We don't know either."
Nokki: "Shut up Chunin."
Iruka:*scowls*
Tenten:*has a hand over Lee's mouth out of Nokki's sight*
Lee:*sitting there trying to keep quiet*
(There's a rustle in the bush next to the railing.)
Nokki: "So there you are you little…"*reaches into the bush a pulls out a bunny by its ears* "What?"
(They all burst out laughing.)
Iruka: "Now that's a new one."
Gai: "A rabbit out of a bush."
Nokki:*drops the rabbit and storms off again*
(They gradually stop laughing.)
Iruka: "Nice one Lei. For a second there you had me going."
(The rabbit goes poof and returns to Lei's form.)
Lei: "That's Iruka."
Tenten: "Well it worked at least."
Sei: "To perfection."*sheathes his katana*
Lei:*smiles* "You weren't half bad yourself bro."
Sei:*has a gloating look on his face*
Gai: "Oh boy. He's gonna be like this for the nest three days."
Lei: "Oh no he won't. He still has to clean Smicha's litter box everyday for the next two weeks."
Sei:*frown* "Damn, I forgot about that. Gee, thanks for ruining my mood sis."
Lei: "That's the job of the older sister."
Sei: "You're only older by four minuets and that hardly counts."
Lei: "Hardly still counts."
Sei: "Does not."
Iruka: "Don't start you two. We've got enough drama on our hands right now."
Sei: "Whatya mean?"
Lei: "Ugh, you dumbass. I thought I told you that Kakashi's surgery is two days away."
Sei: "Oh that. Heh, sorry I forgot."
Lei: "And how convenient is that?"
Sei:*confused*
Lei: "Why do I bother?"
Kurenai: "Because you hope to knock some sense into him one day because he's a brainless idiot."
Lei:*shrugs* "Maybe. Maybe not."
Sei: "Hmph. Very funny Lei."
Lei: "Well you are brainless and an idiot."
Sei: "And you're a dude magnet."
Lei: "That's so old. The only man I want is Kakashi."
Gai:-_- "That was obvious."
Sei: "Aww, sounds like Gai's still jealous because Kakashi keeps showing him up."
Gai: "I never said I was jealous."
Lee:*sweat drop* "But you did like her sensei."
Iruka: "And still does by the sound of that tone."
Gai: "Hmph."
Lei:*sighs* "You're never going to let him live that down will you Sei?"
Sei: "Nope. Never."
Lei:*exchanges a look with Kurenai and Hinata. They shake their heads*
Sei: "What? I thought it was funny!"
Gai: "You weren't' the one getting-never mind, I won't even say it, you get the idea."
(The guys wince.)
Iruka: "It wasn't exactly funny. It was a little more painful to watch."
Gai: "Especially for me."
Sei: "It was your own fault, you kept grabbing her ass."
Gai: "You don't shut up I'm gonna put you in a hospital bed right next to Kakashi."
(After a few hours, they all head to bed. Lei and Naruto are the only ones left on the stairs.)
Lei: "Something you need Naruto?"
Naruto: "I just wanted to talk to you about something."
Lei: "We better not talk here then. Never know who's listening nowadays."
Naruto:*nods*
Lei: "My room's closer, we can talk there."*she stands up and leads him to her room. Which is right around the corner. Inside* "Now, what did you want to talk about?"*sits on the bed*
Naruto:*sitting in front of her* "Well, since you told us about you being the protector of the Phoenix, I could sense another force in your presence."
Lei: "Really?"
Naruto: "Uh huh."
Lei: "Hmm, so you've smelled the blood that courses through my veins?"
Naruto:*nods*
Lei: "It's not a big deal, actually I expected you to sense it sooner."
Naruto:*confused*
Lei: "You know that Sakura now has the ability to see events not yet come to pass. This is known as the Second Sight. In the dream she had, when Smicha came over the hill, I was hiding in her mane to protect myself from Orochimaru"
Naruto: "I know she can, but where did she learn such a powerful technique?"
Lei: "That power actually came from me. I passed it to her in the dream. I did so because if I didn't I wouldn't've let Kakashi and Nokki fight and I would be the one laying in the hospital instead of Kakashi."
Naruto: "But why give it to Sakura? There are other Shinobi stronger than her."
Lei: "I know this. Sakura had no knowledge of my existence; therefore she was the perfect candidate to give the Sight to."
Naruto: "Now I get it, but you still haven't told me why I should've sensed the Phoenix sooner."
Lei:*smiles** "Just like his father, persistent."* "The reason you should have is because of what is under my forehead protector."*unties the long band and lays it in her lap. On her forehead is an intricate design of a star* "This, Naruto, is the mark of the Phoenix. It was burned onto my head at the age of three, so I wore a headband around it so no one could see it. When I was three, my father locked the Phoenix inside my body to protect it, and keep Orochimaru from destroying it without destroying me."
Naruto: "That's why Lord Hokage assigned us to be your guard!"
Lei: "Yes. I had not asked for it. I'm more than capable of handling myself. Sei, Asuma, Konohamaru and I are the only blood family he has left. My father died when I was younger, at the hand of Orochimaru."
Naruto: "What?"
Lei: "The night Orochimaru attacked, my father would have died a terrible death. Slowly and in agony. To put him out of his misery, I trapped his spirit in one of the kunai on my belt."
Naruto: "A kunai?"
Lei:*nods. Takes the first black kunai on her right side* "This one to be exact. After my father died, my grandfather was to find me a mentor for me. That's how Nokki came into the picture, he won the tournament. The night he decided to take me and Sei, changed everything. I was taken from a place I knew so well and the friends I had there, but years later I returned to the village with Nokki to see everyone. And that was the last time I saw Yondaime-sama. I was there for the funeral and still have his spirit locked inside the kunai."
Naruto: "Not that it's any of my business, but why are you telling me all this?"
Lei:*smiles* "Because I know I can trust you Naruto. If Kakashi can, so can I."
Naruto:*smiles*
Lei: "But as punishment for hearing me out, you must promise not to tell anyone what I've told you tonight. Understood?"
Naruto: "Yes ma'am. You have my word as a Shinobi."
Lei: "Not that's the Naruto I've heard of."
Naruto:*smiles. Jokingly* "Should we be expecting wedding bells anytime soon?"
Lei:*playing along* "Get to bed before Lord Hokage catches you in here."
Naruto:*laughs. He bows and leaves the room*
Lei:*once he's out of earshot* "You're a lot like Yondaime, Naruto, but then again he was your father."*she stands and leaves to see Kakashi*
(The next two days pass without complication. Lei was purposely avoiding Nokki so she could continue to train team 7. He only found her once and she pounded him in the head with whatever was in her hand, which just happened to be a rock. He left her alone after that. The day of Kakashi's surgery, Lei got up early mostly from nerve. For the rest of the morning, most everybody was on edge. Except for Nokki who could care less about Kakashi. Iruka went to the hospital to keep him company, and stayed until after the surgery. When Iruka came home that evening and walked into the dinning room, everyone looked at him with worried eyes [including Neji but not Nokki]. Iruka sighed, but smiled. The worry in their eyes quickly faded. Nokki's eyes only filled with rage, but he kept his seat.)
Sei:*giving him the 'make-one-wrong-move-and-I'll-kick-your-ass' look*
Smicha:*jumping up and down in Hinata's lap*
Lei: "Alright Smicha! Calm down a little before you hurt Hinata."
Smicha:*stops and droops her ears*
Lei:*sighs. She brings her a bowl of milk with honey and places it on the table*
Smicha: "Row."*her ears perk up and her eyes brighten. She starts lapping it up at high speed.*
Hinata: "Hey! Nobody's going to take it Smicha."
Smicha:*slows down and finishes. She licks her lips and purrs*
Lei: "Never fails to make her happy."*picks up the bowl, she scratches Smicha's ears*
Smicha:*purrs, then let's out a small burp*
Hinata:*tries not to laugh*
Lei: "She's done worse. She's probably as bad as Sei after four bottles of Sake. Naruto, Lee. Set the table please. Dinner'll be ready in a few minuets."
(The two boys nod and go into the kitchen followed by Lei. [That night it was ramen, which might present a problem] Naruto tries to peek into the pot only to be smacked in the head with the ladle by Lei. He and Lee got the dinner ware and set the table. During their usual after dinner talk on the back porch, Nokki came out of the dinning hall.)
Nokki: "Let's go Lei."
Lei: "Go where and why?"
Nokki: "Where you needn't be concerned of, but we're going to train."
Lei: "I've been training you ass."
Nokki: "With Genin. It's about damn time you started training with your mentor again."
Lei:*clenches a fist out of Nokki's sight*
Nokki:*takes her by the other hand and pulls her off*
Lei:*looks back at the others with a 'help me' look on her face.*
(After Nokki is out of earshot.)
Kurenai: "Hinata follow him."
Hinata:*quickly catches up without argument. She stays out of Nokki's vision."
Lei:*knows she's there, but says nothing*
Hinata:*follows them until Nokki comes into a clearing in the woods. She hides in the brush not far from them*
Nokki: "As I hear it Lei, you've been visiting Kakashi in the hospital."
Lei: "And so what if I have. You said we came out here for training."
Nokki: "And that we did."*he smacks her across the face, leaving behind a red hand mark* "I'll have to discipline you again."
Lei:*whimpers, trying to hold back tears of pain*
Hinata:!
Nokki: "You've to learn to obey me, I told you never to go near him."
Lei:*her voice is shaky* "You don't have control over my life. I can see him whenever the hell I want to and you won't stop me."
Nokki: "That so?"*smacks her again, on the other side of her face. She moves her head to the movement of his hand* "You're supposed to listen to me. Whether you like it or not."
Lei: "Only until I finally beat you, then you'll no longer be welcome in Konoha."
Nokki: "Well until then, you're still a soldier under my command. And you will listen to me."*smacks the right side of her face again, she yelps in pain*
Hinata:*watching with a pain in her stomach*
(He continues to vigorously smack her until her cheeks begin to bleed.)
Nokki: "Maybe that'll teach you to disobey."*storms off*
Lei:*drops to her knees, bringing her arms around her, tears streaming down her cheeks*
Hinata:*comes out and goes to her side. She puts a hand on her shoulder* "Miss Lei."
Lei:*tears sting the wounds on her face* "What is it Hinata?"
Hinata:*kneels at her side* "I saw what happened."
Lei:*looks up at her, her face stained with blood and tears*
Hinata: "Kurenai sensei wanted to make sure you were alright."
Lei: "Well I'm not."*she looks at the ground and pulls up a clod of dirt* "Kakashi…"
Hinata: "We should go back and have those looked at."
Lei:*clenches her fist*
Hinata:*wraps her arms around her sympathetically* "It'll be okay, soon enough."
Lei: "But how soon is soon?"
Hinata: "I'm not sure."
Lei:*sighs. Looks Hinata in the face* "That's not the worst of it. He's done much worse to me."
Hinata:*attempts to smile, her expression still worried* "Let's just get you back."
(She helps her up and they head back to the house. Outside on the steps, Iruka, Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura and Kurenai are waiting for them. As the two approach, Iruka gets up.)
Iruka:*getting a look at her face* "What happened?"
Hinata: "Nokki."
Kurenai: "What did he do?"
Hinata: "Hit her until she bled."
Iruka:*places a hand on her shoulder* "You didn't defend yourself?"
Lei:*shook her head*
Iruka:*took her into his arms*
Naruto: "Couldn't we just report him to the Hokage?"
Kurenai:*shakes her head* "It's not that simple. Nokki will be her mentor until she defeats him in battle. Regardless of what Lord Hokage says."
Hinata: "He won't be coming back anytime after that."
Kurenai: "Hinata, I understand how you feel, but that's not for you to say."
Hinata: "I didn't. Miss Lei did."
Lei:*nods*
Iruka:*letting her go* "Let's get you inside and cleaned up."
(Takes her inside.)
Sakura: "Why is he doing this? She's never done any real damage to him."
Kurenai: "You'll have to talk to Kakashi about that Sakura. Right now I don't think Lei is in the mood for talking."
Hinata: "She won't be. After that, she'll probably keep quiet for a day or two."
Sakura "I don't know how quiet she'll keep. She's still out sensei for the time being."
Kurenai: "Still. It will be hard for her to speak until her cuts have healed."
Naruto:* "Naah. She'll be fine by morning."*
Sakura:* "I hope not."*
Sasuke:* "Hopefully not."*
(The next morning.)
Lei:*gets up first. She puts a couple of bandages on her cheeks to cover over the cuts. Then she heads into the dinning hall and then into the kitchen. She starts to cook breakfast.*
Iruka:*finally gets up and heads into the kitchen* "What smells so good in here?"
Lei: "Eggs and ham."*sarcastically* "What else would I be cooking when I'm in such a bad mood?"
Iruka:*playing along* "Where should I start? It's a long list."
Lei:*laughs*
Iruka:*suddenly serious* " Are you really planning on seeing him? Especially after what happened yesterday?"
Lei:*nods* "Yes. I'm not just doing it for him, but his Genin."
Iruka: "I know. That you didn't need to explain."
Lei: "Sometimes with you it's hard to tell."
Iruka: "Alright, quit burnin' on me."
Lei: "I'm allowed."
Iruka: "You wish."
Lei:*ushers him out of the kitchen* "You can eat with the rest of them if you're gonna be like that."
Iruka: "Alright alright. I'm going. Yeesh."
(A few minutes later, everybody else starts to come in. Nokki is the last. Everyone looks at him with hateful glares.)
Nokki: "I don't see why you're glaring at me, the girl brought it upon herself."
Sandaime:*furrows his brow, but doesn't say anything.*
Kurenai:*furrows her brow*
Iruka:*clenches fist*
Gai:*quiet*
Sei:*folds his arms*
Naruto:*narrows eyes*
Sakura:*her glare hardens*
Sasuke:* "Jerk."*
Kiba:*grits his teeth.*
Akamaru:*snarling at him*
Shino:*furrows his brow*
Hinata:*holding back from punching him in the face*
Lee:*fiddling with his ace bandages*
Tenten:*sits there quietly*
Neji:*isn't acknowledging him*
Nokki: "Tch, since you all found out about last night, I might as well apologize."
Sandaime: "You should apologize to Lei, not to us."
Nokki: "I'm not apologizing to her. I gave her an order to stay away from Kakashi and she didn't listen."
Sei: "Like she has to obey that order. The mentor is supposed to teach, not torture his students."
Nokki: "You butt out. How I train is no longer any concern of yours."
Sandaime: "But it is mine, and I agree with my grandson."
Nokki:*scowls*
Sandaime: "Don't you scowl at me. You know about her true abilities."
Nokki: "Hmph. And I'm trying to get her to concentrate them."
Neji:*not looking at him* "By smacking her in the face a few times. That's hardly concentrating one's power."
Nokki: "And how would you know?"
Neji: "Even an honorable Hyuuga would know better than to hit someone like that. Or did you not see that reason?"
Nokki: "Peh. 'Honorable' you say. Cadet Branch isn't exactly honorable."
Lee: "You have no room to talk."
Tenten: "At least his Byakugan isn't mutated."
Nokki: "Shove it."
Gai: "That's enough from you. These are my Genin and you aren't supposed to be giving them orders."
Nokki: "I have every right to. I'm a better Jounin than you or Kakashi."
Gai:*offended*
Sei: "My ass. They both play by the rules and respect their opponents and students."
Nokki: "Hrmph."
Sei: "Don't 'hrmph' me, I can 'hrmph' back."
Nokki:*scowls*
Sei:*looks away* "Naruto, Lee. Would you help Lei with the plates?"
Naruto Lee:*nod and head into the kitchen*
Lei:*just finished the plates* "Oh good. I thought I would have to manage on my own."
Lee: "Like we would let you. Nokki's in his usual spot."
Lei: "No surprise. Naruto, can you bring his to him and give him a kick in the ass for me?"
Naruto: "Gladly."*takes Nokki's and a few others out to the dinning room*
(There is a loud OW from the room a few second later.)
Lei: "Thank you Naruto."
Lee: "Can I kick him too?"
Lei: "Have at it."
Lee: "Good. I'll get him for Neji."*takes few plates and walks out*
(There is another very loud OW from the room as Naruto walks back in.)(After breakfast, Nokki storms out. He was kicking in the ass by Naruto and the head by Lee. Sei also blew his food up in his face. Once Nokki is off in somewhere, Lei leads team 7 to see Kakashi with a container of food.)
Kakashi: "You're later than usual."
Lei: "Sorry. Had to dodge the Mentor Express."
Kakashi: "So he's out of prison eh?"
Sasuke: "Unfortunately."
Kakashi: "Alright, what'd he do this time?"
Lei: "He only smacked me across the face a buncha times."*referring to her bandages*
Naruto: "Don't remind me. It only makes me want to kill him more."
Lei: "You ain't killing him. If anybody's gonna kill him, it's me."
Kakashi: "Alright children. That's enough."
Lei:*gave him a funny look. Puts the container of food in his lap* "Here's the food you wanted."
Sakura: "Like you would've forgotten it."
Lei: "No I wouldn't've forgotten to bring it, I would've forgotten to give it to him."
Kakashi: "Wouldn't be the first either."
Lei: "They don't need to know that."
(They all laugh. A little later, they head back out to the lake for training.)
Lei: "Well, this is our last day with the Chakra Cannon."
Sakura: "You're kidding right?"
Lei: "Nope. Tomorrow we'll start a whole new technique."
Naruto: "Sweet! What is it?"
Lei: "For me to know and you to find out."
(They finish up with the cannon. Lei gave them the rest of the day off to rest from the chakra consumption, so they mostly played around with Smicha. Lei sat in her room as Nokki walked past it. He stopped to hear her singing in some foreign language.)
Lei:*her voice filling the room*
Nokki:*listening intently*
Lei:*her back is to him as she finishes. She rummages through a basket at the edge of her bed and pulls out a small notebook and turns to a blank page. She scribbles something down*
Nokki:*frowns and walks off*
Lei:*slips her pencil behind her ear and places the notebook in front of her*
(Meanwhile, Kiba, Akamaru and Iruka have joined in the game of catch. They're playing for about an hour until Lei finally comes out.)
Iruka: "So the bear finally left its cave."
Lei: "Oh shut up Iruka."
(Nokki walks up with a book under his arm.)
Nokki: "Ah, there you are. I've been looking for you."
Lei:*gives him the cold shoulder and walks away*
Iruka: "Honestly, do you expect her to talk to you after what you did last night?"
Nokki: "She better talk to me. I'm her mentor."
Naruto: "So, that doesn't mean she 'has' to listen to you if she doesn't want to."
Nokki: "Shove it. You've no business talking to me."
Naruto:*vein of annoyance*
Smicha:*her body is tensed*
Nokki: "Hmph. Don't see why Kakashi even picked such a weak threesome like you lot. You can't even control your own temper."
Sakura:* "He's got some nerve."*
Sasuke:* "Jerk."*
Naruto:* "Don't have a word that suits him."*
Nokki:*walks off, about to follow Lei*
Smicha:*jumps out of Sasuke's arms and goes big. She jumps in front of Nokki and snarls*
Nokki: "Outta my way fuzzy."
Smicha: "Sorry, but you're no goin' anywhere."
Naruto Sasuke Sakura: O_O "SHE TALKS!?"
Iruka: "Only when she's in her larger form. Her chakra flow increases and allows her to speak."
Sakura: "She has a chakra flow?"
Iruka: "Yes she has a chakra flow. She's special breed of cat that can use moves normal Shinobi can use."
Smicha: "Leave Miss Lei alone."
Nokki: "And why should I?"
Smicha: "Because you're beginning to piss her off and you don't want her to lose her temper again."
Nokki: "I never said I would make her lose her temper. She still needs to train with her mentor."
Naruto: "Uh hello! She's training three Genin at the moment!"
Nokki: "I thought I told you to shove it."
Naruto*three veins and further annoyed*
Nokki: "Besides, she's not supposed to be training Genin until she beats me."
Sasuke: "She's only filling in for Kakashi sensei, but you just don't want to get that through your thick skull."
Nokki: "You callin' me hard headed?"
Sasuke: "That and a brute."
Nokki: "Look kid, I could easily bring you down in one swing of my Dekraga no Jutsu. It wouldn't be a fair fight."
Sasuke: "For you maybe."
Iruka: "That's enough Sasuke."
Smicha:*snapping at Nokki* "If you ever touch my mistress like that again, or make another indecent proposal to her, I'll personally rip your throat out."
Sei:*walking up. In all seriousness* "No you won't."
Nokki: "Oh great. The welcoming committee."
Sei: "Shut your trap. Lord Hokage wants an audience with you."
Nokki: "Now what does that old fool want?"
Sei: "He's not a fool. I suggest you go now before his sends team Gai after you."
Nokki:*scowls and walks off*
Sei: "Asshole."
(Later at dinner, everyone is enjoying the meal, even though Nokki is there. After dinner, they all head outside for the usual chat time.)
Lei: "Iruka, I'm shocked and appalled."
Iruka: "What for?"
Lei: "Gai forgot my birthday."
Iruka: "Why did you expect him to remember it?"
Lei: "Good point. But you remember it's in two days right?"
Iruka:*light blush* "How could I forget?" * "Actually, I did."*
Lei: "Easily."
Sei: "And you're blushing dude."
Iruka:*pout* "I am not."
Naruto: "Not now, but you were."
Iruka: "Hey! Traitor."
Naruto:*sticks out tongue*
Smicha:*is playing with Lei's headband, which droops to the floor when she sits*
Tenten: "Aww, look at Smicha."
Lei:*half turns around, until she figures out what she's doing*
Sei: "That's not unusual for her, if she wants something."
Lei: "What sweetie?"*picks her up, and places her on her shoulders*
Smicha:*drapes herself around them and is quiet*
Lei: "Ugh. You little throw pillow."
Smicha:*snorts disapprovingly*
Lei: "Aw shut up. You call me carrot top."
Smicha:*raspberry*
Sei: "Wait a sec. Gai isn't that what you did get Smicha to chase you around the mountain 50 times?"
Gai: "No. She was probably bored."
Lei: "Maybe."*scratches her ears*
Smicha:*purrs*
Akamaru:*starts whining all of a sudden*
Kiba: "What is it Akamaru?"
Akamaru:*in a begging position, a toy in his mouth*
Kiba:*sighs* "Alright, one more round."
Akamaru:*barks playfully and puts the toy in Kiba's hand.*
Kiba:*throws it* "Get it boy."
Akamaru:*chases it and brings it back*
Kiba:*throws it again, but it lands past the bushes* "Oops."
Akamaru:*chases after it anyway, but a few seconds later comes running back yelping in fright. He jumps into Kiba's arms and tries to hide in his jacket*
Kiba: "Hey, Akamaru. What's the matter boy?"