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It was time to assign teams. Nekomi gathered everyone. She said "Teams will be done differently in Ban. There will be nine teams and everyone of age will be assigned to one of those teams. The first six teams will consist of unranked to Jonin. You will train with your team during training times. Listen as I call out the teams. Amaya Amenochiyuki, Sumiyo Ichi, Suzuko Kawa, Hideo Kanshin, Akio and Aiko Nohara and Yoshi Hinoke, you make up the red team. Please come to the front." They came up as the others made room for him. Nekomi said "Take a good look at each other. These are your teammates."
The two women looked at the children between them, with some confusion. The children looked at the adults and at each other. Nekomi continued "Each team has a general specialization. Red team's is genjutsu. Each team will have a mix of guard, ground and medic nin. Red team, you may disperse back into the crowd."
She paused as they did so, she could see the adults had questions for her. She said "Questions may be asked after the teams are called. Next, Morio Nohara, Kisame Hoshigake, Kane Inadzuma, Kishi Kawa, Ruri Shippuu, Mio Amatsubu and Ishigo Ichi, you make up team orange. Your general specialization is Ninjutsu. Come to the front."
The two women on the squad looked at each other. At least their squad wasn't almost completely made up of children, but the blue skinned guy was weird. They all dispelled back into the crowd and Nekomi's command.
"Mareo Raiu, Shina Amatsubu, Ryo Kawa, Tora Ikusei, Haru Tenkyuu and Taro Amatsubu make up team green. Your general specialization is Taijutsu." They repeated the process that the other two teams had gone through.
"Sakae Shippuu, Nyoko Raiu, Nami Watatsumi, Yuki Amenochiyuki, Juro Amagumo and Takeo Inadzuma make up team blue. Your general specialization is also Genjutsu." They met, then dispelled.
"Yasuko Tenkyuu, Zabuza Momoichi, Nariko Inadzuma, Haku momoichi, Naruto Wara and Gaara Wara, you make up team purple. Your general specialization is Kenjutsu."
Yasuko frowned a little. The problem wasn't that he was on a squad that also contained three children. He didn't understand why the princess put the mist swordsman in his team and he wondered if he would be personally accountable for the safety of her sons. Also, the mist swordsman's daughter was on the same team. There had to be a rule against that. He needed to talk to the kage. He dispelled with the others for now, though.
Nekomi continued "Kado Shippuu, Hoshi Tenkyuu, Miyo Ikusei, Tomoko Ikusei, Miwa Raiu and Hiro Shakunetsu make up team indigo. Your general specialization is Taijutsu." They met.
Miyo looked at his younger sister in dismay. Why did she have to be on his team? He'd never get any peace now. He sighed when it was time to dispell and went back to his father with an imploring look.
"Next is gold team. Miya Okibi, Kichi Nohara, Tetsu Kanshin, Saburo Kawa, Akira Amenochiyuki, Itachi Uchiha and Akado Wara will make up gold team. Your general specializations are Dojutsu and Genjutsu."
Itachi looked at Miya and he noticed the rest of the group looking at him. He looked at Nekomi questioningly. Why had she put him on this team? He wanted to be on the team with Naruto and Gaara.
"Silver team will consist of Miwa Ikusei, Jin Amatsubu, Kentaro Watatsumi, Mine Shakunetsu and Kuma Shakunetsu. Your general specializations are Taijutsu, Kenjutsu and Seals." They met and dispelled.
Nekomi saw that there was going to be a long discussion about the make up of the teams. She had anticipated it. She knew when she was forming the teams that there would be a lot of questions and that not everyone would be happy about the teamups.
"Okay, the final team is the black team. It will consist of Hisoka Okibi, Saki Hinoke, Masato Amagumo and Kita Amagumo." They came up and met. Nekomi said "You may dispell. Before the questions begin, you will note that most teams have a council member in them. They will be the team leaders. Now, any questions from team red's leader?"
Someone asked "Only the leaders can ask questions?"
Nekomi said "Get back together with your groups and prepare your questions." They did. Nekomi gave them a few minutes, when most of them turned back to her, she asked "Team red?"
Amaya asked "Why are more children on my team?"
Nekomi asnwered "It is not because I do not think you are capable. It is the opposite. You are close to having a star rank in genjutsu and I believe you to be the best candidate to teach the youths on your team. You are not only skilled in Genjutsu, the specialization of the team, you are also a medic nin and can teach medic techniques to the team as well."
Amaya nodded. That seemed to be the biggest question. She then asked "Why do I have two from the same family on my team?"
Nekomi said "I find that twins work best together instead of apart. Is that all?" Amaya volunteered no more questions. "Orange team?"
Morio walked up. He said "If our team is to specialize in Ninjutsu, why is there a medic on the team?"
Nekomi nodded "A good question. Every team has at least one medic. Medic nin class may and should also learn offensive jutsus like ninjutsu. Are there other questions?" Nekomi saw Morio look at Kisame, but he said nothing.
"Team green?"
Mareo walked up "To put a brother and a sister on the same team. I am concerned that they will not work equally with the team as they will with each other."
Nekomi said "They were put together for a reason and they are expected to work equally with the entire team. Is that all?" He nodded. "Blue team."
Sakae walked up "No questions, bankage-sama." She stepped back.
"Purple team." Nekomi braced herself. This was the team she expected the most questions about.
Yasuko said "I am the only ground class of my team. The rest are guard save one. Kenjutsu is suited more to ground types."
Nekomi said "Kenjutsu is also suited to guard types. You have more questions."
"Hai." Yasuko looked uncomfortable "It is not customary for a parent and a child to be on the same team."
Nekomi said "Zabuza will work evenly with the rest of his team. I can assure you that he will not put his daughter over his team, but consider them equally." She looked at Zabuza and then at all of them "Team work is very important. I expect all of you to cooperate with your teams in training excersies and, in the future, on missions." She paused "I believe the main question on your mind is why both of my sons are on your team." He nodded slightly.
Nekomi said "Nekomi and Gaara work well together. Do not worry, they are capable boys. I do not expect you to babysit them. I do expect them to learn from you, though." He nodded, looking somewhat relieved.
"Indigo team."
Kado stepped up. He said "No questions, bankage-sama." Nekomi noticed two of the children didn't look too happy, but it looked like Kado had decided to handle it.
"Gold team."
Miya stepped up. She asked "Why was Itachi placed on my team? I understand he has mastered the Sharigan as fully as I have. What can I teach him?"
Nekomi said "Yes, I put you together because you both are sharingan users. I hope that you may teach each other."
Miya then looked uncomfortable "I am not a council member, bankage-sama, as Akado-san is on my team..."
Nekomi said "I selected the team with you in mind as the leader, Miya. You may take the role or leave it to another team member. It is your choice." She nodded. Nekomi saw that she was done.
"Silver team."
Miwa walked up "You have adressed the issue of parents and children being on the same team and of siblings, but..."
Nekomi said "Yes, on silver and on black team, I have put a couple together on the team. It is because their styles compliment each other. I expect them to act professionally when the group is together. If they can not do this, they will be reassigned to different teams. However, I would not have assigned them to the same team in the first place if I did not believe them capable of this." She looked at the two. They looked a little embarassed, but they nodded.
"Finally, black team"
Hisoka walked up "None of us have the same skill set, bankage-sama."
Nekomi nodded "I intended it to be this way. You will learn from each other, this way you will become well rounded ninja. Masato, Kita, I expect the same out of you that I expect out of Kuma and Mine." They nodded.
Nekomi said "You will begin training with your groups during tonight's training. You are only required to be with your groups for the training periods."
"Where will we train?"
Nekomi answered "I will post a scroll on the wall saying where each group will train. There will be a rotation within the week between underground and aboveground. That is all." Itachi walked up after they had been dismissed "oneesan..."
Nekomi knew what he wanted. She said "I know you wanted to be on the same team with Naruto and Gaara, Itachi, but I placed you on the team with Miya because I want you two to teach each other. You will still have time to hang out with them and train with them during your free time."
"Hai..." Itachi said, unhappily. He had known her long enough to know that it wasn't up for discussion.
Nekomi said "And we shall still have meditation in the morning before the village wakes." She smiled at him. He smiled back, slightly.
So five years passed by. A year after the teams were formed, Nekomi began sending out the reconaissance teams, the gold and silver teams out on missions to establish treaties with the smaller countries. Since most, if not all of these countries, had no ninja village, they got a few missions. Such an alliance and missions far away would have been impossible if she had not made all members of the two teams learn Inabikari, her teleportation jutsu. They didn't use it for just travel, it was also for evading capture, should they attract the wrong type of attention. Through the year, she had created enough crystals for there to be one for each member of the two teams.
Nekomi sat at her desk, they were busy enough going back and forth between villages. Also, because of these alliances, they had gained many new members. Over the years, their numbers had doubled. She smiled 'Our numbers our still small, but strong.' She had screened each new member of the village. She would and could not have a traitor within her small village.
She looked down at the treaty scrolls. Being a kage was difficult. She didn't only worry about her allied countries, she also worried about the relations between the main countries, because that would also affect the small ones. She started as there was a knock at her door "Come in."
Zabuza walked in and shut the door. He said "We need to talk, Nekomi."
Nekomi had been fearing this. She did owe Zabuza a talk. They had been dating for four years, quietly. She sighed and said "Put a silence seal on the door, would you?"
Zabuza had learned the seal from her a few years back. He did. He said "Nekomi, I know what happened to you was terrible, but I thought you were starting to get over it. I thought we..." He sighed.
Nekomi looked at him uncomfortably. She had been in a state of conflict about Zabuza since they had started dating, but the reason they had been doing it for so long was the same reason that caused the conflict in the first place. She said "I...can't...Zabuza..." She strained for the words. "Kami...if being kage is difficult, this is impossible..."
Zabuza asked "What is the problem?" He looked at her, willing her to look at him.
Nekomi looked up at him and cried "You know what the problem is!"
Zabuza locked eyes with her "No, I don't!"
Nekomi cried "Why are you doing this?"
Zabuza sighed and rubbed his neck. He said, in a calmer voice, but a tired one "Because I need to know where we stand, Nekomi. I...you're...I need to know if you feel the same way, Nekomi. We've dated long enough."
Nekomi avoided his gaze and sat down. She decided just to tell him what had been going on in her mind since. She said "There's so many things. I'm afraid to get that close to someone again, and then something like that happen...if that happened again...I'd lose it; I'd fall apart. The only thing that saved me last time..." Nekomi looked down and paused as she tried to calm down enough to keep her voice level. She continued "And...I still...I...I still miss Dai, Zabuza. I haven't gotten over him. I don't know if I ever will." Nekomi voice broke a little and she sniffed, tears threatening to fall. She held them back.
Zabuza frowned. He hated doing this, hated seeing her cry, so he had avoided talking about all this for as long as he could, but he was only a man. They couldn't date forever. He said "He wouldn't want you to stay alone forever."
Nekomi said "I know, but..."
"You have to move on, Nekomi, It's been six years."
Nekomi looked down. She said "I..."
Zabuza said "Look, I'm perfectly capable of protecting myself. You can quit worrying about that right now."
Nekomi sighed as she started on her practical worries, although she was glad to get away from the emotional ones. She said "Being a female kage, what will I do when I get pregnant? Hand the village over?"
Zabuza said "Only for the last month or so, you could use a henge for appearances."
Nekomi snorted "You make it sound so simple."
"You make it sound so hard, besides, who says I want any more kids, including weasel boy we've already got four."
Nekomi smiled a little. Itachi hated the nickname that Zabuza had given him. It had given Zabuza a good reason to learn how to deflect fire attacks. She chuckled when she remembered a particular moment back four years ago.
She, Itachi, Naruto and Zabuza had been out walking. Gaara was off with Haku, training.
Zabuza said "Hey, weasel boy."
Itachi said "That's not funny, I can't help what they named me."
Zabuza said "Yes it is, your name means weasel."
Itachi stressmarked. "So, Naruto's a fishcake, you don't see me calling him fishcake."
Zabuza grinned "Good idea. What'cha doin' over there, fishcake?"
Naruto frowned "Kassan, Zabuza called me a fishcake!"
Itachi grumbled "Fishcake's better than weasel."
Naruto asked "Does my name really mean fishcake?" Then he thought for a minute "Wait, that means you could eat me!"
Itachi said "Nobody's going to eat you. You just have the same name as food."
Naruto said "Oh, when do people eat 'naruto'?"
"In their ramen."
Naruto's eyes lit up "Really? Can I have some ramen with me in it?"
Nekomi chuckled.
Zabuza did too "So fishcake wants some fishcake in his noodles. Does weasel boy want some weasel in his barbeque?" He grinned at Itachi.
Itachi stressmarked again and looked at Nekomi.
Nekomi smiled at him, then said "Well, it's your fight, Itachi-kun, you started it by responding."
Itachi smirked "And I know how to end it. Katon: gogyaku no jutsu!"
Zabuza yelped as he dodged the fire attack. Naruto fell on the ground laughing as he watched the man put himself out. Itachi snickered and Zabuza threatened revenge. Nekomi smiled. Moments like that made them seem like a good, normal family, well, for a shinobi family, anyway.
Zabuza smiled a little, relieved that Nekomi seemed to be cheering up. He still didn't know what to do when girls cried. He said "Okay now. We've talked and decided that all of it can be dealt with, so you might as well go ahead and say I do."
Nekomi studied Zabuza, trying to see if he was joking. It was kind of hard to tell sometimes. She couldn't help smiling a little. If Zabuza did propose, she had always thought it would be abrupt and blunt. It was his personality. She said "We have talked and..." She looked at Zabuza, who seemed to be waiting, then it struck her. She asked, in shock, "Did you propose just then?"
Zabuza blushed "maybe." He then paused as he looked up at Nekomi. He then looked her in the face, not trying to hide his blush "Yes, so, yes or no?"
Nekomi was shocked again at being right. Zabuza had just proposed to her. her mind whirled, at first, saddening her by comparing how things had gone with Dai to Zabuza, but then she realized that Zabuza wasn't like Dai and he never would be, but he was still a good man. Then she thought over how she and Zabuza had first met and their adventures that they had together. He had always been there for her, protected and been strong for her when she needed him. He was patient and she could tell that he really cared for her. He wasn't Dai, but she realized Zabuza was right. It had been something she should have grasped years ago. She had to move on and let go of Dai. She felt as if a great weight had lifted off her shoulders and her heart. 'Dai, Ryoku, Shin...I will never forget you, but I have a new family now. Rest in peace.' She smiled brighter than she had in a long time.
Zabuza asked "Well?" He had been waiting for a few minutes and was starting to get kind of nervous.
"Yes."
"What?" Zabuza paused. The answer had come so suddenly he wanted to make sure that he hadn't imagined it. "Come again."
"Yes, I'll marry you."
Zabuza grinned "All right! Woo hoo!"
Nekomi laughed. Zabuza opened the door and ran out, whooping. One would think he was the teenager. Nekomi chuckled. It wasn't soon before she had Mareo in her office. He said "We all heard Zabuza across the village. Congratulations." He smiled.
Nekomi was a little embarassed "Did everyone know?"
Mareo laughed "It's been obvious from the start between you two. I'm happy for you. I wish you many happy children."
Miya Okibi walked in "He finally proposed?"
Nekomi blushed. Mareo said "Finally."
Miya smiled "Don't have too many kids."
Nekomi blushed, but smiled "Congratulations to you too, Miya. I heard the news from Amaya, your first birth is really special. 7 months to go?"
Miya nodded proudly "It's about time. We've been trying forever."
Akado poked his head in "That's an understatment. I remember how tense it was when I was there and then they'd go all quiet. It made me think they were up to something in there, if ya know what I mean." He pointed to his head. Miya hit him. Akado rubbed his shoulder. He would have gotten caught in the chest if he hadn't moved. "Hey, you should have seen the looks they were givin' each other."
Nekomi shook her head 'He doesn't learn.' Akado had gotten about a half of a little scene mimicking the Okibis when he got a fireball tossed at him. He yelped. Nekomi chuckled. "Now, now, enough of that. I don't want a charbroiled office." She turned serious. "I need the council in an hour. I have something serious involving trade to discuss with them." They left at her request and she hunted up her sons and Itachi and Haku. They would need to be present for this meeting.
Once they had all convened...
Nekomi said "So far, as you all know, I have only made treaties with the minor nations, being reluctant to make trade agreements and peace treaties with the main nations. However...I have been considering making trade agreements with the damiyos of the main lands. This would bypass the ninja villages. I wish to know your thoughts on this."
This was the first time she had mentioned this to the council. She expected there to be quite a debate about this and as she had expected, there was an uproar. Then Miwa stopped it "Bankage-sama, I thought this was a council meeting. Shouldn't it be just us here?" She looked at Naruto, Gaara, Itachi and Zabuza. There were also a few village members present, including Hisoka's wife, Miya and Akado.
Nekomi said "This is a council meeting, but each land that belongs to this village is not represented by the council. Beleive me when I say that there is a reason why they are here. Now, let us discuss the proposal."
Amaya asked "Let us weigh the advantages."
Hisoka said "The advantages would be banshou would recieve more income and missions would come in for more of our ninja. We would also have more resources available to us."
Miwa said "And possible allies in case of an attack."
Mareo said "There are many risks and disadvantages, however." He looked at Nekomi, who said "That sums up the advantages, though they shouldn't be ignored. Income and resources are important to a village. As we continue to grow, we will need more resources."
Mareo said "There are many concerns. Paramount, it will reveal our existence to the major nations if we trade with even one. Our existence will be proven and it will be difficult to remain hidden. It may cause us to be attacked."
Miya said "Alliances are often merely paper. What if we made allies and they betrayed us? Our village is not strong enough to overcome a seige from one of the major nations."
Nekomi frowned slightly as she let the concerns continue.
Hisoka said "Some of us in this village do not wish our identidies to become known or our lives will be in danger, if we would interact with the main lands, how would we keep ourselves and our families safe?"
Nekomi had spent some thought on that. She said "I would make it an option to wear a genjutsu necklace. The necklace is capable, as you all know, of making the user look like anyone or become invisible." She continued "Also, we would deal with only the damiyos, not the hidden villages."
Miya said "The damiyos will inform the kages of our existence."
Nekomi said "Our existence may become known, but we will not be found. There are sunsets everywhere and there are cliffs everywhere. The land I plan to exclude from these arrangements is Water. I propose to make trade agreements and perhaps alliances with the damiyos in the land of fire, wind, earth and lightning."
Amaya said "We are allied and have trade agreements with the land of bears, the land of snow, the land of the waterfall and the land of the moon. There are other, smaller countries that we could ally ourselves with."
Nekomi said "It is true that the only alliances we have made thus far are with shinobi countries."
Amaya said "It may be wise to ally ourselves with non shinobi countries as well, such as the land of River and the land of Waves."
Nekomi nodded "I agree that it would be wise to ally ourselves with these countries as well, especially the land of Waves because it would be a good ally to have in underminding the mizukage." She paused. "It is a particular event coming up in the near future that brought the idea of forming these alliances to mind."
Everyone focused on her. She said "Konoha is hosting the Chunnin exams this year." Nekomi noticed her son tense. She put a hand on his shoulder as a signal to keep his peace.
Miwa asked "But we do rank differently here..." She looked at Nekomi in confusion.
Nekomi said "Anyone who would go would go as a test to their skill, but it would not affect the rank they hold in the village. The main point of going to the village would be to instigate trade agreements with the damiyos while so many are in the same place."
Hisoka scowled "Konoha is a dangerous place, for more than me and my wife, hime, have you considered that the snake may have had relations with more than the Uchiha clan in Konoha?"
Nekomi frowned. She knew how Hisoka hated Konoha. She said "I am not fond of Konoha myself, but I am not going to hold any but polite conversation with the Hokage. I will make arangements with damiyos only."
Mareo asked, in an elevated voice, "You are not considering going?!"
Nekomi said "I would not leave something so important to clones or anyone else. I wish to make the arangements personally."
Miya said "Wouldn't it be found suspicious for an unknown woman to be sitting amongst damiyos and talking to them?"
Nekomi paused. She hadn't thought of that. Her mind raced. "Perhaps it would take more than one. I could use jikyuu bushin but I would need to determine the number of damiyos I am to contact."
Mareo and the other council members frowned. She was going off into thought again. How much had she planned this out?
Kado said "A kage cannot abandon their village."
Nekomi said "The outcome of the agreements would lead to the betterment of the village and all the people who reside in it."
"What if you are discovered? Who will you tell them you are? How will you avoid revealing the village?"
"Why would they listen to you?" This last question surprised Nekomi more than the others. It came from Zabuza. It also seemed to surprise the council members.
Zabuza said "They cannot know who you are. What would you say to them? Hello, I'm the kage of a small hidden village and I would like to ally with you and your land?"
Nekomi frowned, realizing her arrogance in thinking that she could just get a damiyo to agree to an alliance that easily. She shook her head at herself and said "I was being arrogant. Forgive me. Let us review the methods we used to obtain agreements with the smaller countries. We used diplomacy and a show of skill, did we not? Our allies do not know what I look like nor who I am. Neither are they aware of where the village is. How did we accomplish that?"
Mareo said "The process was helped along by money as well as a show of skill. We don't have the funds to impress the main countries with. The smaller countries need help and are more willing to accept it from unknown sources. the main countries will not be so accepting."
Nekomi frowned. It was true that they didn't have a lot of money coming in, but their village was still small enough where it wasn't a huge problem and they mostly used trade and barter for services, but money would be useful...then she blinked, remembering something she hadn't thought about in a long time. She had completely forgotten about it "Akado."
He looked at her "Huh?"
Nekomi said "When I left, I only got one scroll out of the family vault. Now, only Waras can retrieve them, so..."
Akado said, nervously, "Oh, right, the currency scroll. I, uh, have it in my room."
Nekomi said "Retrieve it."
"Now?" Akado asked, looking at everyone.
"Yes, Inabikari and come back." Nekomi said, suspicious about how nervous Akado was acting. What had he done? He was soon back with the scroll.
"Heh, here it is." He showed it to her but didn't hand it over.
"Give it to me."
"You're right in the middle of a meeting. Let's do this later."
Nekomi said "Give it, Akado." He handed it over reluctantly. Nekomi unsealed it and her eyes widened. Half the money was gone. She closed the scroll and said calmly "Akado, come here."
He stayed put, resisting the urge to back away. "I want to talk to you in private for a second, Akado. Come over here before you make me get up."
Akado flinched at the threat in her voice and went over. He was in for it now. He said "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. At least half of it's there, right? That's pretty good." He rambled on. "I'm sorry."
Nekomi stressmarked and took Akado's hands. "Wakeshin no Jutsu."
Akado found himself in the dark shared space of their minds. Suddenly a fire flared up. Akado flinched. She was really mad.
Nekomi yelled "You baka! I thought you were an idiot before! Now I'm positive. How did you spend half of the ENTIRE fortune of the Wara clan?!"
Akado flinched again and said "Hey, it took some money to chase after you and I...erm..." He coughed to cover up the next part "andIgambledalittle"
Nekomi narrowed her eyes "Gambled how much?"
Akado wouldn't look at her "Most of it."
Nekomi seethed, then she calmed herself. In a minute she smiled sadistically.
The smile scared Akado more than the yelling and fire had. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Nekomi said "Oh, I've just thought of your punishment for being an idiot."
Akado blanched. What was she going to do to him?
Nekomi said "You get to babysit the terrors, for a week."
Akado's eyes widened "No, not that! Target practice with Itachi, human pincushion with Haku, but don't make me babysit those little monsters."
Nekomi smiled. The 'terrors' were Naruto, Gaara, Haku and their group of friends. Usually, the three would lead the group and they wouldn't be too out of control, but she might loosen up on punishing them if they were bad, just this week. She had made Akado babysit once as part of his month under watch and she had noted how hard he had it. She said "Your punishment is decided. One word of complaint and it's two weeks." Akado shut up. Nekomi dropped the jutsu. She said "Akado, I'm done with you. If I need you later on in the meeting, I'll let you know. Your new 'job' starts tomorrow." He flinched again and left.
Zabuza asked "What'd you do to him?"
Nekomi said "He was the one who had the money scroll all this time." She shook her head. "I'm making him babysit the young ones for a week as punishment for spending so much of it, but there's still half and that's enough to live on for a while, and make an impression upon the kages." She reopened the scroll and showed them how much was left. It was clear they were impressed.
Nekomi said "Now, about my plan..."
Naruto frowned. Why did his kassan want to go to Konoha? It was a horrible place. He hated it there. He looked at Gaara and Itachi. It was clear Itachi didn't like the idea either. He stayed quiet for the rest of the meeting however.
It was night when Nekomi walked back to the office to put back the scroll. He spoke up once they followed her to the office. "Kassan, why are you going to go to Konoha?"
Nekomi said "I know how much you don't like Konoha, Naruto-kun, but I need to do this, for the village."
Naruto said "But you said you'd never leave us!"
Nekomi said "I am kage now, I have to do this for the sake of the village! I do not want to leave you behind. You are no longer the beaten blonde child that I saved in Rain. Come with me to Konoha."
Naruto was shocked. He said "But...someone will recognize me, and...I..."
Nekomi said "That's what genjutsu necklaces are for."
Naruto paused. Nekomi said "Besides, I was hoping that my sons and soon to be daughter would accompany me. I am confident that your skills would shine in the chunnin exam Konoha is going to give." She saw Itachi felt left out. She said "I think you're just a bit high level for them, Itachi-kun, but I would also like for you to come." He smiled.
Itachi had been thinking about going after his brother since he had come here, but...he was afraid, of being caught, of his brother hating him, and of giving away his village if he was caught. He asked "How would we participate? If we are to be genin entering the exams and we're to keep secret our existence, where will we be from?"
Nekomi smiled. "I thought of that. You would be genin from the land of the waterfall. I am going to make arrangements for official papers from their ruler."
Zabuza coughed. Nekomi asked "You have something to say, Zabuza-kun?"
Zabuza said "Well...ano..."
Haku smiled and said cheerfully "Toussan wants to know when the wedding's going to be."
"Haku!" Zabuza cried, embarassed.
Nekomi paused. She had no idea. She hadn't given it that much thought since she accepted Zabuza's proposal. Today had been a really eventful day. She said "Ah...before the chunnin exam?"
Zabuza sweatdropped. Nekomi said, embarassed, "Okay, Let me put up the scroll and we should all get to bed." She stored the scroll and inabikari'd.
Haku smiled and said "Am I going to get a new little brother or sister? Make it a sister."
Zabuza blushed "No, you're not!"
"Why? Aren't you and Nekomi-neesama going to..."
Zabuza blushed redder and covered her mouth "Shut it Haku." Haku mumbled.
Naruto asked "Going to do what?"
Zabuza said "Nothing."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I decided to cut it off here and save some for the next chapter. Don't forget to RandR. Catch you later.