Chapter nine: Returning Home

"Thanks Minami-sensei." Okarina said as she waved after her teacher. "I don't think I would have made it here if it wasn't for you."

Minami chuckled and waved goodbye. "I'll stop by in a few months to see how you're adjusting, but until then, take care of yourself!"

"I will!"

With that, Minami took off into the woods, back towards the village hidden in the sand. Okarina sighed, she was alone now, if only for a little while. She still had to make it back to her house. The house she hadn't set foot in since she was starting elementary school.

She looked down at the last of her luggage. Her aunt had hired some men a few weeks before to deliver most of her belongings. Now she just had a bag of some clothes and necessities. She lifted it off the ground and ran as fast as she could towards her home. She remembered it a little. The large home she had shared with her family so long ago. She smiled a bit remembering it, ignoring the stares she was receiving from random people hoping to catch a glimpse at the odd new girl running through the streets.

She found her house soon enough. She sighed, it was a bit smaller than she remembered. She knew Auntie's house was larger, a lot larger, but she had forgotten by how much. She just stood staring for a moment, when she heard something behind her.

She turned and saw too guys, both wearing Konoha's headband. It took her a moment to realize that these strangers were her brothers. They had to be. Kenji's light brown hair was spiked messily around his headband, just as she remembered. His tradmark smile spread across his face as he realized who she was. Okarina felt herself smiling, too. Yeah, he was bigger, but he hadn't changed too much.

Her focus drifted towards Kei. If Kenji hadn't changed at all, Kei was the complete oposite. He looked almost nothing like her memory him. When she left, she had been roughly the same height as him. Now, he was much taller. His dark black was spikier, and that headband. He must have graduated a few years before. It took her another second to realize the scar. There was a thin scar beside his right eye, that retreated up to his hair. She wanted to ask him what happened, but before she had time to say a word, she had been lifted into the air in a tight embrace.

"Okarina!" Kenji said, holding her tight, "You've grown so much! Auntie forgot to mention how cute you'd gotten. Geez, just a few years ago you were the most awkward little tomboy. But I guess she turned you into a real girl, huh?" he laughed.

Okarina laughed too, despite herself. It was a joke he used to always pull when she and Kiba had cut her hair, that she was just trying to be a boy. She was comforted by the fact he remembered. He must have been thinking about her, too. She hugged him back.

"Well, I guess I have changed a bit. But you two have too! You guys are so tall, and…" She looked at their headbands. "you guys finally became real ninjas!"

"Hey! What was I before, a fake?" Kenji asked sarcastically, putting her back down on the ground, patting her head and messing up her hair.

She laughed. "You'd only been a ninja for a year or two when I left, remember, you lazy bum. Kana almost passed before you."

"Well," Kenji bent down to be at eye level with his little sister and snickered, "At least I've got a headband, something neither of my little sisters have." He wiggled the headband and stuck out his tongue.

Okarina glared and whacked her brother on the head, hard, nearly knocking him over.

"Ouch…well, I guess you haven't changed too much...personality wise. Still violent as ever." He laughed, rubbing his sore head.

"Speaking of headbands," Another voice chided in, Okarina turned to see Kei walking towards her. His expression serious. "We need to take Okarina to see Tsunade and determine what she's going to do about Okarina's training and graduation." He glared down at Okarina. "I trust you know at least some of what you need, right? I don't want you making a fool of this family if you can't pass your first shot."

Okarina's mouth dropped open. Kei had just insulted her…he'd never done that before. Her shock quickly turned to fury and she lashed out to punch him. However, he caught her wrist without any effort and squeezed it tight. She let out a quick gasp of pain. She swung her leg up and kicked him in the gut, pushing him away from her. She watched as he fell to the ground

"Why you…" he screamed, standing up and heading towards her. He reached out and grabbed her by the collar of her shirt, raising her into the air. His arm came back to punch her, and Okarina shut her eyes, awaiting the impact. She knew she had no chance to escape in time. However she felt herself being pulled from his grasp and she opened her eyes to see Kenji pulling her away from Kei as he fell to one knee. She looked down and noticed Kenji had kicked him in the back of the leg.

"What's you're problem, Kenji, I was just trying to see if she could handle herself in a...real life mission." Kei smirked, his gaze wandering towards Okarina. Even she knew that was a lie.

"What kind of welcome was that! You're a jerk, Kei!" she screamed out. She wanted to kick him in the face while his head was still near her reach, but Kenji held her back.

"Guys! Enough!" Kenji shouted, looking at both of them, suddenly serious. "Okarina, just ignore him…and YOU!" He pointed at Kei. "Don't you dare lay a finger on her, even in training, until she's got a headband on her head. Do you guys understand?" He was screaming, his face angry as he looked at the two of them.

Okarina and Kei both looked at each other, then turned their heads quickly in the other direction, obviously pouting.

"Fine, whatever…" they both said in unison. Upon hearing the other, they turned back again and glared.

Kenji sighed, "And I thought things would be peaceful for a while. Guess I was wrong…"