Sorry for the delay in chapters, but I hope this makes up for it. The main reason is because my interest has been slated toward other stories I'm doing; mainly my Harry Potter/Bleach story. See I love doing crossovers, because they amuse me in the way that take two things that probably should never mean, and combine them (when done well) into something that's interesting to read. I'm not sure if any of you are even interested in my crossovers, but I always enjoy reading good ones between Naruto, Bleach, and Harry Potter.

So, for this time around, I'd like to ask you guys if there are any good crossovers that are a mix of the three. Like a good Naruto/Bleach, Harry Potter/Naruto, Bleach/Harry Potter, or even all three at once.

Oh, and you guys (and gals since I love my ladies) can expect to see a return of the omake with the next chapter of this story. The reason I haven't done any in the last two was because I keep for getting about them in my rush to complete chapters and move deeper into the stories.

Now on with the show!

Chapter 21: First Impressions Can Be Cruel

"… You wanna repeat that?" Naruto asked with a deadpan expression as the ninja looked upon him nervously.

"It's an a-actress, sir. She's running a muck through the village. Her and her film people. They're going through the village streets atop horse-back and even causing a panic. When we tried to stop them, she fought us, and with us not wanting to hurt her, she got the better of us. I'm so sorry for this failure, Lord Hokage." the ninja said before bowing deeply to Naruto, baring his neck as Naruto blinked.

"Any civilians hurt?" Naruto asked as the ninja shook his head, rising somewhat.

"No sir, the civilians have remained unharmed." the ninja said as Naruto sighed.

"Good, because if even one of them were hurt, I'd be hearing Sakura's Mom in my ear all day long about it." Naruto said as he raked a hand through his mess of blond hair before he started for the door, "Let's go, Hamachi. We have work to do."

Hamachi Hyuga stood there, rooted to the spot as he watched his leader, his King, and basically his Master walk away from him calmly without so much as yelling. He couldn't understand it, even Lord Sarutobi would have chewed him out as both the messenger and one of the failed party. Hell, Lord Uzumaki even knew his name, and not just as a member of the Hyuga clan, but as a person! He didn't know if that was good or bad thing, but he was overjoyed none the less.

"You coming, Hamachi?" Naruto asked as he looked over his shoulder at the stunned ninja. Hamachi snapped out of his stupor as he blinked and shook his head.

"Right away, Lord Hokage!" Hamachi said as rushed to catch up with his young Lord. Even Lord Hiashi bowed to the kid, and now Hamachi could see why.

The world around Konoha was peaceful. The skies were only partly cloudy, the breeze was refreshing, and the streets were… being mobbed by horses and black knights?

Oh… crap…

"Umm… Sasuke…?"

"Yeah, Sakura? What?" Sasuke said as he jerked his arm out of Sakura's grasp.

"Do you see that?" Sakura asked as she pointed at the stampede of horses and riders coming down the street while ninjas were clearing civilians out of the way. Sasuke actually blinked in disbelief before he face-palmed himself.

"Yes… Yes, I do, Sakura. What the hell is going on now?" Sasuke said in an aggravated tone as Sakura still looked mildly stunned.

"Should we… Should we help?" Sakura asked as she took her eyes away from the chaos and looked to Sasuke for his answer.

"Fine, whatever. It beats mulling around the streets like a couple of idiots." Sasuke said as he jumped to the rooftops, not bothering with the fact that Sakura was blushing as she followed.

"He said couple! We are so together now!" Sakura's inner romantic screamed as she giggled.

"Girls are so weird. Thank god Naruto and I are boys." Sasuke thought as he rushed from building to building.

Sasuke jumped off the building just as a woman riding on a white horse jumped over a large gate next to the theatre, riding away. Sasuke was forced to jump out of the way before the band of horses with riders barged through the gate and after the woman. Sakura jumped atop a horse, and knocked it's rider off just as many Naruto's began raining down from the sky above. For a second, Sakura blushed as she remembered having a dream like that, but then her face went completely red as she remembered… other parts of that certain dream involving her, Sasuke, and ten Naruto's…

Sakura was brought out of her reminiscence when she heard groans coming from the knights Sasuke was defeating. She shook her head as she pulled out ninja wire, lassoing the three riders in front of her and their horses while Naruto's clones took down the rest. A Hyuga clan member dropped down from a building, panting heavily as he knelt before one of the Naruto's. Naruto looked at the scene before him before sighing and looking at Sakura and Sasuke.

"The real me isn't here. Hamachi, get these idiots off my streets and hold them in that studio near the theatre. The real me will be along shortly, so have who's ever in charge of these guys with you. And Kakashi, get down from there." the Naruto clone said as a person shimmered into sight, looking as though it had dropped from thin air, revealing their Sensei Kakashi Hatake.

"I had been on my way to your office when I saw you were already here." Kakashi said as he put his orange book away while Naruto nodded.

"You heard my orders, right?" the clone asked as Kakashi nodded.

"They will be followed." Kakashi assured as the clone nodded before it and the others dispelled.

"Now then, let's untie these guys and get them to that studio." Kakashi said with an eye-smile as Sasuke and Sakura groaned.

"We should have just mulled around the streets like a couple of idiots…" Sasuke muttered as he took out a kunai and cut his ropes. A weeks worth of ninja wire and ropes, wasted! Ten minutes of his life, wasted!

Sakura, however, was blushing madly. Her and Sasuke as a "couple". Now that, and the fact that Naruto had and could teach Sasuke the Shadow Clone Jutsu… Both also being… well-endowed boys… heh, heh… Priceless…

Jiraiya sneezed from his spot on the roof of the hot springs. His perv senses were tingling and one of the few female pervs had reveled themselves in the village.

"One of the Chosen Ones are near…" Jiraiya muttered seriously as he got up and put away his telescope. There was no time to perv on unsuspecting women when one of the Chosen Few was so close-by.

"So, what's it like being the Sky Princess, Lady Fujikaze?" Naruto asked mockingly as he neared the actress, startling her slightly.

Yukie was tired. She rested at the edge of the lake near Training Ground Seven while her horse drank from the water quietly and greedily. Naruto saw that her hair was no longer in the ponytail it was when he had began tailing her, but was now flowing long and freely down her shoulders to come to rest at the small of her back.

"I'm not the Sky Princess; I'm just an actress." Yukie told him harshly, never turning her eyes from the lake as she watched her white stallion.

"I know you're not. I said, "What's it like being the Sky Princess?" not "Are you ok, Sky Princess." See the difference? One merely isn't the same as the other. Now are they?" Naruto replied in a mockingly condescending tone, no longer sounding like his friendly self.

He had seen her kind before. People who felt that their troubles were the biggest thing in the world and didn't care for others well. He really disliked those sort of people, mainly because they were annoying whiners. At least Sasuke seeked power and did something to get stronger, but her…

She made no response to him, so he tired the friendly approach once more. Just to be able to say he did. He smiled goofily with a chuckle as he scratched the back of his head, "Heh… heh, I suppose it's still a little hard to believe that I'm seeing you here in-person. I just saw your movie too, after all. It was really great."

"Hmph… whatever…" Yukie said as Naruto's eye twitched.

So the kind approach didn't work. Back to business then.

"Why were those men chasing you?"

Again she made no response, just sitting there and staring at the lake like some statue. Naruto was about to repeat his question when Yukie suddenly jumped up, grabbed the reigns on her horse and took off before he could get over his shock. Naruto shook his head at the sight.

That woman was something else.

Yukie looked back, to see that the blond rodent was nowhere in sight. She felt relieved that one less headache was out of the way. She rode for a few minutes then looked back again to see if the blond brat was trying to catch her. What she saw shocked her when she turned back to the road in front of her. There he was, leaning against a tree calmly, looking both bored and annoyed with her as she passed him. He made no move to follow as he merely rolled his cerulean blue eyes, but she was still too much in shock. How did he get there! When did he get there! No one was that fast! She kept riding as if she hadn't seen him, and when she glanced back he wasn't at the tree anymore.

"Lady, do you really think you can escape me that easily?" a voice from in front of her path asked as she looked straight ahead. There he was! Just leaning against another tree as if he had been there all day!

She passed him once more, and kept her gaze on him as she did. He looked as though he hadn't moved an inch. Was she trapped in one of those ninja illusions? No, he didn't look the type to play tricks with the minds of ours. It sounded much too complicated for some idiot like him. She glanced back again, and he was gone. Her head shot forward to see him already near the gate leading back into the major part of the village. He was leaned against the gate exactly how he was against the tree.

How the hell was he doing that!

"So, does anyone want to report to me the reason why I didn't find out about a bunch of samurai running rampant through my village until after they had gotten here?" a Naruto clone said with his arms crossed while Kakashi shrugged.

"We're not sure. This amount of people entering the village would normally be reported immediately to the Hokage or at least the Anbu before they were all done being processed at the front gate." Kakashi said as he placed a hand to his masked chin and rubbed it in thought, "Unless…"

"Unless what?" Naruto asked as the ten ninja and Kakashi all seemed a little reluctant to tell him something.

"Well, the only way this amount of people won't be reported to you or the Anbu… Is if one of the councils gave them expressed permission to enter before they got to the gate." Kakashi said as Naruto narrowed his eyes.

"Then which of my councils gave them permission to enter without my knowing?" Naruto asked tightly as Kakashi's eye narrowed as well.

"Not the Shinobi Council, I know that much." Kakashi said as the Naruto clone closed his eyes and turned away.

"Then I will allow my real self to deal with that problem when I dispel. Come, we must meet with Mr. Sandayu Asama." Naruto said, his hands in the ram hand-seal. A poof of smoke was all the warning the ninja got as the clone transformed it's appearance in front of them. When the smoke cleared, the Naruto clone was in full Kage-garb as he tipped his triangular hat at them with a smirk while they were confused.

"Kakashi, how good are you at genjutsu?" the Naruto clone asked with a smirk.

"… Pretty good, mostly just the simple ones… Why?" Kakashi said as the clone's boyish smirk turned into a full-on grin.

"Perfect! Follow me. The rest of you, round up the Civilian Council and direct one of the clones to the office. I want order restored." the clone said as he and Kakashi walked away.

"Yes sir!" the ninja chorused before moving quickly to carry out his orders.

"Okay, what's going on?" Kakashi asked as Naruto smirked once more.

"I have a plan." was all the Naruto clone said as they walked.

"It is a pleasure to meet you all." the man with glasses said with a bow.

"This gentleman here is the one who requested our services… assuming he still wants them after being knocked out and tied up by you." Kakashi said as he gestured to the man aside of him while Sasuke and Sakura stood in front of both men.

"No harm done." Sandayu insisted, brushing the incident off while giving them all a friendly smile, "I'm actually quite impressed. We were caught completely off-guard by these two and those others. Those were most efficient tactics you used. Better even that what was said by your Hokage, which was quite praiseworthy. I must confess I had a small doubt on whether or not Genin were suited for this mission, but I'm glad to say that your little show has completely erased my doubts. Allow me to introduce myself properly. I'm Sandayu Asama. It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance."

"Sasuke Uchiha…" Sasuke muttered coolly. This guy must have had some training to be so calm and praiseful to them. No normal civilian would be so cool about being knocked out and tied up.

Unless they were into that kind of thing, but that was besides the point…

"Ah, even where I'm from I've heard about you." Sandayu said as he turned to Sakura, "And you, young lady?"

"I'm S-Sakura Haruno. Umm, sorry again about the whole-" Sakura said as Sandayu interrupted her with a chuckle.

"Think nothing of it." Sandayu insisted with a smile, "A pretty young lady such as yourself has no need to apologize."

Kakashi and Sakura beamed at the man's friendliness. Kakashi glanced over to Sasuke and… Wait, was Sasuke's right eye twitching…? But that only happened when… Oh… Heh, heh… Now Sasuke was staring at his right foot pointedly. Kakashi could read his student like a book, and peeking into the diary that was Sasuke was giving him some juicy material to gossip about to his fellow Jonin-ninja.

"By the way…" Sandayu began, now speaking to all three of them, "Which one of you created all those clones and caught the other group? That was some top-notch work."

"Ho, ho, ho! He's not here right now, but I'm sure you'd like to meet him!" an energetic voice rang out behind the group as they all turned to see the Hokage.

Dressed in the official Hokage robes and hat was a man who looked to be in his early twenties, though the full set of clothes hid most of his body from view. This man was the Hokage. His eyes and top half of his face were obscured by the shadows of his hat while his cool smirk seemed to be forever on his features.

"Yo! I'm glad you found them well, Mr. Asama. This bunch are a rather wildly group." the Hokage said as Sandayu chuckled.

"They seem alright to me. Thank you for referring them to me, I'm sure they'll be even better if danger should arise. Also, I am looking forward to meeting this last member." Sandayu said as the Hokage grinned.

"Good, because you'll meet him soon." the Hokage said as he turned and walked out with just as much energy as he spoke.

Sasuke's left eye twitched over how stupid Naruto's clone had sounded. The only thing that kept him from putting a boot to the clone's head was the stupid elaborate plan which Sasuke could tell was going on. Even Sakura seemed to understand something was amiss as she must have detected and seen pass the Genjutsu over Naruto's top half as well.

The only question left was: what the hell was going on?

Naruto yawned into an open palm as he saw Yukie was racing down the street atop her horse. She had finally made it back into the village and he had to admit that using his Flash-step technique just to mess with her head was getting boring. He jumped to the rooftops before she had a chance to notice and followed her through the village as she looked for him, trying to find where he had run off to.

He watched as she breathed a sigh of relief before she started mulling about the village. It wasn't longer before he gained a smirk as he saw her surrounded by a small group of children. Each of them had to be around seven or eight years-old as they clamored for her autograph, all holding up pens and papers as they chanted the word. His amused smirk soon turned to a fond smile at the sight. Had it been even a few days earlier, he himself might have just gone over and joined them in asking for an autograph. Naruto sighed, maybe he had judged her too soon. Maybe she really was a good-

"Just stop it! I'm not giving any autographs!" Yukie shouted, freighting all the children in a dead silent. Even all of the onlookers and those just passing by stopped and looked at Yukie in shock, wondering what had caused her reaction.

"What's so special about my autograph?" Yukie said, continuing her tirade, "If I give it to you, all it'll do is take up space and collect dust! What could be more worthless… more useless…? It's just plain stupid!"

"A good and total bitch!" Naruto thought, feeling his fist clenched at the look on the children's faces. And with that that, Yukie Fujikaze took off running down the street, leaving the kids behind. Naruto felt sorry for the kids, especially the one of which looked ready to cry.

Already the people in the streets were chatting and gossiping about what had just happened, none of them impressed with the actress anymore.

"Wow, and I thought that Hikairi Neko was bitchy…" one of the women said aloud as the others around quickly agreed with the random woman while they began to slowly disperse.

Naruto gritted his teeth as he gazed down upon his people. His face was set in anger as he took another brief look at the children. Watched as their parents gathered about them, consoling them as the one child was actually crying and sobbing softly in her father's arms. Silently, he took off after Yukie again.

This time, however, he was not going to be taking it lightly on her.

"You're kidding! Yukie Fujikaze, here, in the village!" Ino said excitedly as she leaned on the sales counter while Kiba and Shikamaru nodded, both looking worked over as though they had been working for hours at a time.

Ino knew they had, like many of the ninja in the village, been helping out at the hospital to update the system. She, like many others, was surprised when just earlier her father and even her mother (who hadn't been a ninja a day in her life, but did work as a nurse some time) were called to help out at the hospital on her dad's only day off. Neither parent had complained however (unlike her, who made a big fuss about it) as both knew the importance of the hospital to the village. Ino understood that it was the only hospital the village had, but did it really need that much reorganizing? Why that many people helping? She didn't think so.

"Yeah, we saw her riding horseback through the village while Naruto was watching her. I know how much you like her, so-"

"What are you kids talkin' about?" a voice said as they all turned to see Anko coming into the open doorway of the flower shop.

"Yukie Fujikaze is in the village! Right now!" Ino said as Anko scoffed at her excitement.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, kid, but that woman ain't all she's cracked up to be." Anko said with a sassy hand on her hip.

"What do you mean? She's one of the greatest actresses in all of the Elemental countries." Ino retorted as Anko only scoffed once more.

"Remember when we all went to see that Princess Gale movie, and I said that she'd be a really stuck up bitch? Well guess what? Anko the Forever Sexy was right; the woman was downtown screaming at some kids who wanted her autograph. I heard from Kotetsu, who heard from Iruka, who heard from Ado, who heard from Konohamaru, who saw one of the kids crying." Anko said as Shikamaru raised a brow while Kiba looked confused.

"No way!" Ino said as Anko nodded.

"Way."

"That's awful. She sounds like a total bitch for making some kid cry."

"Yeah, that's more of a jerk move than when Inch Man stole Commander Orgy's Utility Belt of Endowment."

"… You've been hitting up the late-night TV again, haven't you Kiba?"

"You bet your justice genitals I have! Bwhahahahaha!"

"Ugh… this is why ninjas shouldn't have television…"

"I have to go tell Hinata and Tenten! This is big news." Ino said as Shikamaru gave her a look.

"Didn't you say your parents left you here to look after the shop?" Shikamaru questioned as Ino blanched.

"Ugh… You're right, they did. Dammit… Oh! I know! Shika, go get them and bring them here." Ino said as she batted her eyelashes at the Nara heir.

"… I thought you were into Naruto…?"

"I am, you idiot! Women can use their feminine charms without having to like someone! Gosh, don't you know anything, Shika." Ino said, crossing her arms as she gave Shikamaru and Kiba a look after exchanging one with Anko, "Boys… they're all stupid without us…"

"I hear that, sister. I'll go get the girls. See ya later."

"Wait, Anko. Why did you come here in the first place?"

"… To spread gossip of course… Oh, and to get some of those poison lilies. They do come in today, right?"

"Yeah, but the shipments late. Sorry."

"No prob. I'll just get 'em tomorrow. Now to get more women here."

"And that's our cue to leave. Coming Kiba?"

"Yeah. I need to see Choji and Shino about the manga they let me borrow. I still don't see why the Potter kid just doesn't kick his family's ass and move into that castle."

"… You're into Harry Potter, too?" Shikamaru asked in shock as he and Kiba exited the flower shop right behind Anko, who took off in the opposite direction.

"Yeah. I mean, it's so unbelievable and cool! Dude, just look at it. This kid suddenly finds out, all in one day, that an evil wizard is after him and that he has to go to a school to learn magic. It's almost as unbelievable as Bleach. I mean, whoever heard of multiple Shinigami?" Kiba replied with a grin as he nudged Shikamaru, who smirked somewhat.

"Yeah, that is pretty crazy. Almost like being a 16 year-old pirate, and fruit giving you magical powers after eating it." Shikamaru said as Kiba laughed.

"Dude! You read One Piece, too? Who are you and why have I never met you?" Kiba said excitedly as he threw an arm over Shikamaru's shoulder brotherly and grinned.

"I don't know, but I think Choji and Shino have been holding out on me. They both borrowed my Harry Potter and never gave it back. Now I know where it went." Shikamaru said as he and Kiba laughed.

Naruto scanned the crowds from his position on the rooftop, he had to admit that this bitchy actress was no amateur in losing herself in a crowd, or in having methods to look about herself without ever turning her head. Naruto had noted that her favorite method of all seemed to be pulling out her small makeup kit to use the mirror to look over her shoulder while it appeared that she was checking her appearance. A nice trick, but not good enough on someone like him or any truly trained ninja.

He followed her for about two hours, most of the time on rooftops, looking down on her as an assassin might do to their target. Sometimes, just to screw with her, he'd use his flash-step combined with his transformation technique to pass her as a random townsman without her knowing. Though in the last two hours she had twice gone and changed inside stores, coming out with completely different outfits and hairstyles along with different fragrances from new perfumes. The first he had nearly missed, only finding her again by noticing her frequent habit to check over her shoulder with the make-up mirror.

He continued following her until she made a stop at the bar. Naruto followed her in, disguised as a middle-aged man. He sat down at the bar itself, watching her from a few seats down. She had immediately placed a high order for sake; and lots of it. It was something he had learned from Jiraiya when they had been traveling around during their search for Granny Tsunade. He could still remember when the two had sat inside a resturant watching a man who drank at the bar of it.

"Remember this Naruto, because it might help you someday while on a mission or when dealing with delegates. When a person went goes to a bar, always watched how many drinks they take. One means they're in a hurry and want things done with quickly. Two means it's a quick trip, but that they regularly are the "come and go" type. That means they may stay, or they may not, and things could go either way with your presence there. Three drinks means that the person definitely had time to waste, and are ready for if things get lengthy in talks or business. Now four or more drinks, that's when you know for sure that a person is dedicated and are going to stay for a long while no matter what. They'll be in the discussion or such for the long haul and will argue and compromise until they get at least as much as they can; no matter what came their way." Jiraiya had said as they had watched the man drink four drinks, and then rest at the bar.

Naruto shook his head free of his thoughts as he watched the actress consume one glass after another. Once she got her fourth down, Naruto felt that was his chance. He pushed away the sake he hadn't even touched before going to the restroom. He dropped his disguise before walking out, making sure no one noticed him. He saw a few drunkards had noticed, but they didn't seem to care as. His sharp look toward them told them to stay quiet and unaware.

"Are you tired of running, Lady Yukie?" Naruto said crispy from behind the actress as she dropped her glass in shock. Slowly, she turned around and gave him a look of surprise

"You again… I thought I lost you." Yukie said airily as Naruto gave her a dour look.

"I told you already. Did you really think that you can escape from someone of my caliber that easily?" Naruto said with his dour look.

Yukie didn't answer as she merely reached for a new glass and took another drink.

"I guess not. Especially since you followed me in under some ninja jutsu and then changed back in the bathroom." Yukie said somberly as Naruto shadowed his shock and surprise with a raised brow.

"Oh? And how did you notice that?" Naruto asked, slightly impressed and terrified that she had known about his movements.

"I've been watching everyone in here from the reflections of the glasses and other stuff. The guy went into the bathroom, and didn't come out. You never entered, yet you came out of the bathroom. Is was a bit suspicious." Yukie said as though it pained her to be so cunning and intelligent.

"Maybe I came in through the bathroom window? Coming through the front door would only give you the chance to see me and run." Naruto said as Yukie shrugged with a somber look on her face.

"Maybe…" Yukie sighed out, staring at her glass as Naruto was sure she was truly looking at him. His face was set in a stern and emotionless façade as he stared at her back. He decided they needed a change of subject before he started asking questions that might make the drinking actress lash out.

"Why did you have to hurt those kids feelings like that? All they wanted was your stupid autograph. Is that really so hard to give?" Naruto asked as Yuki tensed, but sighed out as she looked set between annoyed and saddened.

"Why should I have given it to them? It's pointless and stupid…" Yukie said, now looking at him beside her, "It's one of those things where you get it, are happy with it for a few minutes and then completely forget about it." She said before she gave him an even more annoyed look, "Is that it? Are you bothering me for one, too? Is that why you won't leave me alone?"

"There's no way that I would want your autograph, bitchy. Especially after what you've done." Naruto said sharply, letting a small amount of his annoyance seep out, "And don't bother writing up a fake one." Naruto said as he glanced at her hand which had been moving towards a pen and paper, but he could clearly see the spray she had at the edge of her sleeve, "I'm not the type to fall for you some pepper spray… again. After that incident… Never mind, just know that-"

"Naruto Uzumaki…" Yukie said somberly with a shake of her head, her hand moving away from the two items and back to her alcohol, "It's pervert repellent; for pervs like you. Is that why you're following me, you perv?"

Naruto too stunned to reply, not even to retort to being called a perv. How did she know his name! He had never told her his name! And given how good she was at acting the part of shock, he wasn't sure just how much she knew or didn't know of. There had only been a few times when he was so truly surprised with those around him. The first time was when Jiraiya had demonstrated the destructive power of the Rasengan in front of him. Another was he had learned that Orochimaru had been using a jutsu to reanimate the dead Hokages. The last time was when he saw his first vision with Sasuke planning to attack Konoha.

Now he was forced to add some bitchy actress to the list.

"Spiky blond hair, the only ninja to wear orange no matter what. Loud mouthed, yet hides certain degrees of emotion. Your reputation precedes you, Uzumaki." Yukie said without looking at him any longer, "Just like mine does…"

"My… reputation? I wasn't aware that I had truly acquired one just yet." Naruto said slowly and carefully. Did she know about him being the Hokage as well? He felt unease grip at the edges of his heart. Just how much did she know?

"You defeated the Sand village's monster and some prodigy of the Hyuga clan." Yukie said dryly, leaning back a bit after taking another swig of her drink, "The former is the one I was more interested in. The demon known as Shukaku, and its host Gaara of the Cactus… or whatever the hell his name is. They say that you used the summoning of Jiraiya of the Sanin and now that you're apprentice. They also say you decimated an entire section of forest with your battle. When you're a participant in the Konoha Chunin Exams, it's obvious that such an achievement is going to be heard throughout the entire Elemental Continent."

Naruto said nothing as he crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes. If push came to shove, he'd have someone erase or seal her memories of everything dealing with Konoha.

Yuki laughed bitterly as she took another gulp of her drink, "Some stupid and heartless beast of the sand nation. It makes me wonder who the real monster was: this Shukaku or that Garra kid."

"Don't you ever talk about Gaara like that! You don't know one thing about him or what he's been through!" Naruto yelled, small amounts of his charka already increasing the air pressure in the bar while most of the people in the bar began backing away, though Yukie herself was either too drunk or too oblivious to notice Naruto's sudden change. If anything, she didn't look impressed one bit.

"I don't care if you are the Number One Actress! I'll still kick your ass!" Naruto yelled before he stopped himself. What was he doing, getting angry over her words? Exploding at her like he used to do? He couldn't do that anymore. He knew that, but hearing her talk trash about Gaara made his blood boil as he clenched his fists. She didn't know him. She didn't know what Jinchuriki suffered through!

Yukie laughed at that. At him! Laughter was the last thing Naruto was expecting as the laughs grew louder and bolder. He was about to summon his sword and lop her head off when she started speaking.

"Number One Actress?" Yukie asked incredulously between her fits of amusement, "Oh dear Kami-sama, that's rich… that's very funny…"

"What's so funny about-"

"You say it like being an actress is so great." Yukie said, her entire demeanor changing from the amused to somber, "… Being an actress is an awful job…"

Naruto stopped at that. His anger ebbed away without his consent. His confusion at the whole of her change and wrods was nearly touchable.

"Huh?" was his oh so intelligent reply.

"Being an actress means that you're the lowest of the low." Yukie said, picking up her empty cup and waving it around, "It's the worst job anyone could do. It's a life filled with lies, followed by a script that someone else writes. Heh heh… It's really stupid actually."

"Stupid?" Naruto asked, blinking in bewilderment. He never heard of an actor describe their job like that. While the woman was a complete bitch, he had to admit that her talent for theatre was good. Her acting was so real and convincing. He had figured she was just a stuck-up hag, completely engrossed in her own fame and fortune, someone who cared solely about her career and thought herself above everyone else in the world. But what was this? She made it sounded like she had lived the miserablelife; his life.

Maybe he really did judge her too quickly…?

Before they could continue their conversation, the door to the bar burst open as several people came running in, nearly trampling some guy that had been trying to leave. Naruto gazed at the door, reigning in his wild emotions as he saw Sakura, Sasuke, and Kakashi with some older man with a beard and glasses. Before he had the chance to even mentally question it, he felt memories and information float his mind from a clone that must have disburse. His fists clenched even more than before.

He'd be kicking so much Council ass later.

"Lady Yukie!" the man in glasses said in a hurried voice, trying to catch his breath, "The normal ship departing for Snow Country left an hour! I'm sorry, Ma'am, but we'll have to wait another two weeks before the next one comes in.

"What?" Yukie interrupted, slamming her glass down on the bar with added emphasis, "Screw it. The Sky Princess is leaving."

"Leaving!" the man repeated in complete despair, "What do you mean!"

"Its fine." Yukie said far more calmly than she had been a mere two seconds ago, waving her hand in front of her dramatically, "It happens all the time. Lead actresses change all the time, as can directors. You can find a replacement easy-"

"Quiet!" the guy, which he knew from the clone's memories as Sandayu, yelled, making Yukie drop her waving hand. To Naruto's amazement, she did shut up immediately, even looking a bit concerned. He guessed the guy never raised his voice at her or was to stern unless the situation called for it since she didn't react at all when he was shouting at her just moments ago.

Whoever the hell this Sandayu guy was… he obviously had more than a bit of influence over her.

"The role of Sky Princess Gale can be played by no one except you, Lady Yukie!" Sandayu yelled in passion. Yukie stared at him for a moment and then looked down at her drink like a scolded child. Naruto and the others only watched as Sandayu continued on in a softer, but still firm voice, "Besides, if you drop out this late in the game, you'll never work in this business again!"

Yukie was silent as Naruto thought that maybe Sandayu had actually got through to her.

"So what? I don't care." Yukie said as Naruto let out a mental sigh.

Maybe not…

"Then I guess we have no choice." Kakashi said in his usual lazy lay-about voice. Naruto looked toward Kakashi as the man moved forward, lifting his Konoha headband just enough to expose his left eye; his Sharingan eye. Naruto raised a brow as Kakashi looked Yukie directly in the eye… and seconds later, Yukie collapsed in Kakashi's arms like a useless rag doll.

"Mind telling me what you just did that for?" Naruto asked, his brow still raised, "Don't tell me that you're into-"

"She's our next assignment, Naruto." Kakashi interrupted, giving his Hokage his usual eye-smile as they played the part in front of Sandayu, "You're now part of her bodyguard until further notice."

"I see, so you're the boy the Hokage of the Leaf village talked about…" Sandayu said as he outstretched his hand, "Hello, I am Sandayu Asama, and I happen to be-"

"Her personal assistant." Naruto said, finishing the man's introduction as he jabbed a thumb toward Yukie's unconscious form.

"Yeah…" Sandayu said, using the hand he was reaching out with to scratch the back of his head sheepishly.

"And I'm-" Naruto was saying, but got interrupted by a loud and jolly voice.

"Naruto Uzumaki! The Number One Genin in all of Konoha!" the loud and annoying voice said as Naruto felt his eye twitch.

They all turned toward the door of the bar, only to see the smirking Hokage standing in the doorway.