Chapter 3

Tsunade had just dismissed a whole room full of ANBU-s after making an announcement about one of their main targets being eliminated, when her assistant came running into the room.

"Lady Hokage," Shizune said, looking around as to make sure the room was empty, "We got an… issue."

"An issue?" Tsunade asked, "What kind of issue?"

"Actually it's two… two little issues," Shizune amended. "And they're behind the door as we speak."

Tsunade was beyond confused, as she said, "Bring them in then."

"Are you sure?"

Of course, I am the hokage after all," Tsunade said. Shizune nodded and went out for a moment. She returned with two kids.

Tsunade stared. These were the issues?

The kids looked about ten, maybe eleven years old. The boy had black hair, which stuck up, reminding Tsunade a flame or something. He had a pair of brilliant green eyes. He was wearing a white T-shirt, black pants and white sneakers, with Sachio engraved into them. He had a kunai holster on his right leg and a shuriken punch on his hip. There was a golden medallion around his neck.

The girl's hair was black as well, cascading down her back. There was a small fringe above her green eyes. Around her neck was a similar medallion to the one her brother wore. She was wearing a regular top, grey cargo pants and grey sneakers. Just like her brother, she was wearing a kunai holster on her right leg and a shuriken pouch on her hip.

The girl finally coughed and asked, "What? Haven't you seen kids before?"

Steam came out of Shizune's ears. "Do you know who you're talking to?" She bellowed, "This is the hokage! The leader of the whole village! THE…"

"Shizune," Tsunade interrupted, "I think they understood you."

The kids didn't speak. Though there was a glint in their eyes which said that they weren't happy with where they were.

"Are you the hokage?" the boy asked, looking at Tsunade as not believing the rampaging assistant.

"I am," Tsunade said, nodding. Who the hell are you? That's what she wanted to ask, but she didn't. Instead she watched as the boy reached towards his pocket to pull out a crumpled letter.

"Here," he said, giving it to her. Tsunade's brow furrowed as she opened it.

"Dear Tsunade," it read.

"If you got the letter then Sachio and Sayomi have made it to Konoha. Hopefully they're okay. If I know them then they aren't very happy though."

"I'm writing this letter because I can't accompany them myself. If I left a day after the assassination, people will get suspicious and I might not make it. I just want to know that the kids were safe. They're mine if you haven't figured it out yet."

Tsunade peeked over the letter at the two kids. The eyes were a betrayal, but to tell the truth, she wouldn't have been completely sure. They were far too quiet to be hers.

"I don't know how long it'll take before I can get out of the Mist Village, but I ask you to take care of them. They're rather loud, I know…"

Loud? Not really. Tsunade looked at the two kids who were just staring her.

"But they're good kids. They really are. I just needed some insurance that they were safe and in your hands, I'm sure they are. They're nine. Don't believe them if they say otherwise. For some reason they always try to make themselves older than that."

"I hope you can make them to be proud members of Konoha, even if they were born in the Mist. They are aware that they should be Konohans and they also know a bit about my past, but not too much. Just a few details here and there."

"They're supposed to take their Mist Genin exams in three days, but I sent them to Konoha before that. Again don't let them lie that they're already Genin or something like that. They try that almost as often as trying to make themselves older."

"Well, hopefully we'll meet again soon. I'll see you then."

"Mikomi Kito."

Tsunade looked up at the kids. What was she going to do with them? She couldn't even take care of a pet pig. She scratched her head. She needed someone trustworthy, someone experienced with kids, someone whose house was big enough to fit two more…

"Shizune," she finally spoke, "Call back Naruto Uzumaki?"

From the corner of her eye, she saw the kids react to the name, but other than that, nothing.

"So," she turned towards the kids. "While we wait, what are your names?"

The kids looked at her.

"When does mom follow us?" the girl asked instead. "She practically forced us to come to this place."

"Yeah," The boy agreed.

Tsunade nodded. That'd explain why they weren't happy with their mother.

"As soon as she can leave Mist without blowing her cover."

"What do you mean?" the boy asked, "Mom always told us we belonged in Konoha, but she never explained it. We've lived in Mist for all our lives. So what kind of cover does she have to keep?"

Straight to the business.

"You know that your mother lived in Konoha when she was young, right?"

The kids nodded.

"You know that she was a jounin, close to getting into ANBU when she left Konoha?"

"No," the girl answered. "But why did she left?"

"A mission. As young ninjas you know I can't give you any details, but it was a long mission and well, three days ago, the mission ended. Now she's returning home as soon as she can."

"But why couldn't we come with her? Why did we have to come before her?"

"Because," Tsunade said, "If the things got bad, she might need to escape the village. It'd be harder with two kids and well, she wanted to know you're safe before she even thought of leaving the village. For a while, she would be a Missing-Nin and be hunted down."

"But I'm sure your mom will grab the first chance to get back to you."

The girl blew away the fringe that was covering her left eye a bit.

"What do we do until then?" she finally asked.

"You'll become citizens of Konoha," Tsunade said, smiling brightly, "You'll go into the ninja academy if you want and maybe even take part in the graduation test and become genins?"

The two kids brightened up a bit as they understood that their ninja training will not be cancelled.

"And we get our headbands right?" The girl asked.

"Of course," Tsunade said, "Every graduate gets a headband and a team, who to do missions with."

"We won't get separated?" The boy asked.

Tsunade looked at them. Both of them were looking her with the expression that one bad answer will ruin everything. This is why she liked pigs more. Pigs didn't have expressions like that!

"No, of course not," she said, glad when the kids smiled. She had hit that button right.

"So, how old are you?" Tsunade asked. The kids switched a glance.

"Ten."

Tsunade smiled slightly, "Are you sure about that?"

"Mom told you in the letter, didn't she?" the girl asked.

Tsunade nodded. "Yes, she did."

The kids huffed.

"Now, Sachio, right?"

The boy nodded.

"Didn't you have any other clothes with you?"

"We do," the boy answered, "The bags are in that small box over there."

Tsunade coughed. "That's Shizune's office."

"Oh…" The boy trailed off, "She's not getting paid a lot, is she?"

The girl next to him smirked.

Tsunade was about to respond, when the door opened and a blonde man hurried inside. The kids took a step back and stood by the wall.

"So what's the emergency, Tsunade?"

The kids could hear some fuming. It was Shizune, who was getting sick of repeating the same old thing to Naruto – YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO CALL HER BY HER FIRST NAME!

But before Tsunade could even speak, Naruto continued,

"Tsunade, you see, I was thinking. You told us that the guy we've been after almost for a whole year was eliminated by a Mist Assassin, who works for Konoha. I mean that makes no sense. Why should Mist Assassin work for Konoha?"

Naruto stopped and Tsunade was about to speak, when the blonde continued.

"I also wanted to ask why Sasuke wasn't invited to the meeting. He's not ANBU, but he worked so hard to catch this guy too. Shouldn't he at least get informed that the guy is dead?"

"Naruto…"

"And more. Why am I getting called back into the office, while everybody goes out for ramen? I want ramen too…"

"NARUTO!"

Naruto stopped talking at looked at Tsunade, who was towering above him, her eyes having that steely glint in them that said, 'Shut up or you will feel my inuman stranght in the place it hurts the most'. He grinned sheepishly, "Y-yes, Tsu… Hokage?"

"I have a favour to ask," Tsunade said, relaxing a bit, as she sat down.

"What kind of favour?"

"Well, you see, I have two kids, who are in need for a place to stay for a while…" Tsunade started, trying to see if Naruto understood what she was trying to say. He didn't. So she continued,

"I need someone who already knows how to get along with kids, who has a house big enough to fit two more kids and who is nice enough to have them over."

Naruto nodded, still not getting what Tsunade was hinting. Near the wall, the kids shook their heads.

"Naruto, do you know anyone, who could take them in?"

"…"

Naruto's eyes widened. "ME! I can take them in. Then you don't have to look anymore."

"Really, Naruto?" Tsunade asked, "I didn't think of that…"

The kids snickered a bit. Naruto heard them and turned around. "Are they those kids?"

"Yeah," Tsunade said. The kids stared at Naruto and Naruto stared back at them.

"They're so cute. I'll take them!"

Tsunade clapped her hands together. That's been taken care of. Now, where was her sake…

"Wait?" the boy asked, "We're going with him?"

"Yes," Tsunade said.

"Hn," the boy said, "We'll get our stuff…"

The girl smiled slightly at the hokage and Naruto, before she followed her brother. They returned carrying several bags.

"Are you ready to go?" Naruto asked. The kids nodded. How dangerous could a guy like that be?

"Naruto?"

Naruto faced the hokage again. "Yeah?"

"You can tell Sasuke that Sakamaru was defeated, but no details. For the matter being he is not an ANBU."

Naruto nodded his head, as he took two bags away from the kids. "Follow me," he said. Right now, he just hoped Hinata wouldn't be too mad at him.

XxXxXxXxXx

A/N – The kids are here now. Hopefully you liked it. R/R. Next up:

"Kids meet my kid, Nagato!"

"Academy is boring..."

"Let's take exams!"