A/N: Not giving up. Here's chapter three! Reviews are nice btw.
Together, Haru and Ayako made their way through the crowded streets of the Hidden Leaf Village. They were in awe of the sheer number of people and closeness of the buildings. Neither of them had ever been outside of the Sun Village, aside from training in the dense forests surrounding their home. This visit was under less than ideal circumstances and was anything but trip for sightseeing. They had snuck out of the Sun village late the night before and had run all through the night to get there. It still didn't take away from the culture shock though of being in a completely new environment.
"People are staring at us Princess." Haru fidgeted nervously with a sun shaped pendant on a thin chain around his neck.
Even the usually confident redhead felt out of her element in the big city. She was sure they looked out of place in their bright yellow and orange clothes against the multitude other colors of the large village. The bells in her hair tinkled lightly against one another as she walked, adding to the chorus of clinking produced by her numerous bracelets, necklaces and rings. "Don't worry Haru." She faked a confident smile and returned her eyes to the crowds in front of her. They were staring, and there was nothing she could do about it.
He seemed satisfied with her response though and allowed a small smile to appear on his thin lips. "Where do we go to ask for help do you think? The longer we're away the more angry Takeshi will get.."
"What did I just tell you about worrying Haru? Everything will be just fine once we get strong ninja to help us." She was a little more confident this time and even turned as she scolded him lightly.
"But-"
"No buts. We'll just ask someone." She turned back to walk facing forward again.
The pair continued to wind their way through the crowds of villagers, trying again and again to get someone's attention. No one seemed to understand what they were asking or didn't want to answer their questions. Finally, tired and frustrated, they collapsed onto a bench on a relatively un-crowded side street.
"Princess.."
"I know Haru!" Ayako snapped and ran her hands through her hair with a loud response from the bells braided into her curls. "What is so hard to understand about we need help! Why won't anyone answer our questions!"
"I don't know Princess."
With a groan, she stood and looked around. The sun was high in the sky. It couldn't have been more than a few hours since they had arrived at the gates of the Leaf Village but the longer they were there the more time Takeshi had to figure out where they had gone. "We're wasting time!"
Haru began to fidget with a feather hanging in his pale hair. His light green eyes fell on a small ramen stall across the way. A few young people were sitting on the barstools and chatting about something he couldn't quite pick up. "Hm.." He said to himself. He glanced at Ayako. She had taken to pacing and grumbling to herself about something. He stood and slowly made his way to the tiny restaurant.
As he got closer he could see there were three young people sitting in the stall. He was sure at least one of them would know where they could get help for the village. He glanced back at Ayako, who was still pacing and hadn't noticed he had moved, and he cleared his throat. "Excuse me..?"
The three young people turned and Haru shrank back.
"What is it?" The first asked. He was a young man who didn't look much younger then himself with bright blue eyes and yellow blonde hair.
"Don't be rude Naruto." The second, a pink haired girl, spoke next.
"Yes Naruto. This young man is obviously not from this village. Be polite to visitors, it is common curtesy." The third was another young man with black hair and a green jumpsuit.
"Is there something you need?" The girl asked, smiling politely.
Haru struggled for words. He wasn't ever the one who did the talking but he knew he had to take initiative. Ayako was obviously unhappy and he hated seeing someone he saw as family upset. He cleared his throat a second time. "Um.."
"Well?" The one they others had called Naruto said impatiently.
Haru struggled to find words and then finally decided on, "We're in need of some assistance.."
"What sort of assistance?" The young man in green jumped to his feet enthusiastically.
"We?" The girl also stood and looked around curiously.
Haru's hand found the feather in his hair. "Yes we." He pointed across the road to Ayako. "That's uh the princess of the Sun Village and-"
"Princess?" Naruto hopped to his feet at the word and tried to get a better look at the girl across the war, earning a scowl from the girl in the process.
"Uh yes.. And we desperately need help." He paused, to allow for an interruption that didn't come as the three young people were now silent and listening. "Our village is in trouble and we just don't have the power to overthrow the tyrant that's taken control of our people."
"That is inexcusable." The young man in green said passionately. "I will personally take down this evil doer alone if I must."
"Shut up Lee." Naruto said a little too loudly. "You couldn't do it if you tried!"
"I think I have proven my prowess on the battlefield enough times to show you that that is simply not true Naruto." Lee shot back.
"Enough, or I'll kill both of you now and it won't matter what Lee can do." The girl narrowed her gaze, then returned a bright smile to Haru. "I'm Sakura, and we'll do anything we can to help you.. Sorry, what was your name?"
He managed a smile. "I'm Haru. The Sun Village is eternally grateful to all of you. Let me just go get the princess." He laughed nervously and ran across the street to a fuming Ayako. "Princess.. Princess please stop pacing."
"What is it Haru!"
"I found some volunteers. They're ninja and they want to help our village." He smiled brightly as the scowl on the redheads face disappeared.
"They want to help us?" She whispered hesitantly.
"Yes Princess." A genuine smile lit his face.
Her eyes found the three strangers standing across the road, who were watching the exchange with intense curiosity. She pushed Haru out of the way gently, and walked towards them. She stopped and looked each of them over with disbelief. "You really want to help us?"
"Of course." Sakura smiled.
"The excuse to beat the tar outta some jerk is enough reason for me to tag along." Naruto grinned and winked at her.
"I will do everything in my power to help you Princess." Lee held out an enthusiastic thumbs up accompanied by a wide grin.
"It's just Ayako, you don't have to call me princess." She smiled up at Lee and the others.
"We should probably go talk to Lady Tsunade. She will need to know that we're gone don't you think?" Sakura suggested.
"Who is.." Ayako exchanged a glance with Haru.
"She's the Hokage, duh." Naruto said matter-of-factly. He laced his fingers behind his head and began to walk down the road.
"Do not be so sharp with someone who is unfamiliar with the way our village works Naruto." Lee scolded. "Come. We will show you to the Hokage's office."
Ayako met his gaze and smiled broadly. "Thank you so much. Come on Haru." She called her anxious friend and the group began to walk. For the first time in a long time the fallen Princess was optimistic about the future of her village.