The Forgotten

Chapter Two: A Warm Welcome

Naruto mumbled and as wandered around the village looking for the so called ninja. He couldn't understand why it was so damn important to have all of the ninja in the village help capture her. Tsunade gave little reason but flashed her photo and sent them out with barely enough time to let the image sink in. But one thing really irked him, why did the head of every family need to meet with Tsunade? He kicked at the pebbles in the street and decided on breaking for a bowl of ramen.

"Hey old man! The usual please! And add some barbequed pork too!" Naruto spoke with his usual over the top enthusiasm.

"I'll have what he's having…eh minus the meat? Could you substitute it for tofu?" Tennyo sat beside Naruto and flashed him a warm smile.

"No problem! Would you like the tofu fried or as is?" The Ichiraku's owner asked with interest. It wasn't common for anyone in the village to make such a request.

"Fried? Oh, sure! That sounds great!" Tennyo wasn't really sure what "fried" meant, they didn't eat such things in her country. The same went for alcohol and prepared sweets. She had no clue what ramen was. Since she had left her home, she indulged in all the sinfully delightful treats available when she ventured into villages. Naruto looked at her quizzically and felt he had seen her somewhere before but shrugged it off.

"So are you're passing through? Or are you on a mission? Oooh! What village are you from?!" Naruto pestered Tennyo out of sheer curiosity not knowing she was indeed the target he was supposed to bring back to the fifth.

Mission? Village? Ack! He thinks I'm a real ninja! I told Sano wearing this was a bad idea. Shoot what am I supposed to say?! Ugh! I have to think of something or he'll get suspicious…

"Oh me? Well I'm just heading back to my home in the village of sand." She hoped this would be enough to satisfy Naruto's curiosity.

"Neat! But what happened to your head band? Hey do you know-" Naruto didn't have time to finish his sentence when Choji cut him off.

"NARUTO YOU IDIOT! Its her! Don't let her get away!" Choji shouted as he made a pass for Tennyo, while Skikamaru went about using the shadow bind technique. Tennyo leaped out the way and flipped over Naruto to try and put some distance between her and the quicker ninjas. She threw down pastel colored smoke bombs causing the three ninjas and the poor cook to become confused and rather happy. This caught the attention of not only the normal villagers but Kiba and Hinata who were just down the street. She nearly plowed Hinata over in her attempt to get away.

"Hey now just where are you off to in such a hurry huh?" Kiba asked as he grabbed her arm and twisted her body in motion that left her pinned face first to a wall. She panicked and bashed his nose in with the back of her head. Kiba reflexively released her and grabbed his nose. Tennyo tried to make off like a startled rabbit but Hinata preformed her byakugan and used a couple of swipes to block a few chakra points turning Tennyo into a statue.

"What have you done?! Please let me go! I have to get out of here! Please! You can't keep me here! Just let me go! I beg you!" She said in near tears to Hinata.

"Are you kidding me Tsunade will have our heads if we did that," Kiba threw his arms up in the air to emphasize his point, "and besides you broke my nose!" He added in frustration while Akamaru chimed in.

"I'm sorry its like he said…" Hinata added trying to add some comfort to the situation. A small shadow appeared on the ground and quickly grew. Kiba grabbed Hinata and threw her backwards.

"SANO! Praise the stars!" Tennyo shouted in a relieved delight. Sanosuke was seven and a half feet tall from shoulder to paw now and snarling like a mad dog. "Where's Iyasu?!" She said still unable to move from Hinata's assault.

"Here I am Ten-chan!" Iyasu shouted back as she landed daintily on Tennyo's head. The pink rabbit closed her ruby colored eyes and glowed a soft red. She feasted on what little poison she could extract, replenished a fair portion of lost chakra, while repairing the points Hinata had damaged.

"Continue on with Lady Tennyo, Iyasu and I'll catch up!" He spoke in a half growl while eyeing Akamaru. Iyasu nodded in compliance, Tennyo threw down a normal smoke bomb to cover her tracks. "Your opponent is me Inuzuka and Hyuga!"

Questions? Comments? All are welcome!