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?"
