-1Author's note: So OMG! I so totally didn't want to write this anymore! My brothers have been messing with my computer. And when I was working on this chapter I had maybe like 6 pages written and then POOF! It said that Microsoft works word processor had to shut down. And there was no way for me to save the new chapter. I literally cried! It was so awesome. I don't know if this third chapter will be as good as the original. So please be kind!

--

Last Time:

Sasuke was shocked as well. His eyes were wide and his mouth hung open. He fainted without falling over. It was like he was sleeping with his eyes and mouth open all the while standing up.

"That's a free cup of ramen, Sakura. Sasuke didn't have a nose bleed. Just like I said." Amber stated.

"Oh shut up, Naruto wannabe!" she played.

--

This Time:

7:08 am

Naruto and Sasuke finally were back to normal. Well as normal as they could be with the strange girl around. They were all sitting around waiting for the only one who was always late. Too bad they didn't know he usually was always there watching them. Kakashi decided to stay right were he was to further examine things.

Naruto started to get antsy. "Aww. Why is-?" he got cut off.

"He always late?!" Rae finished for him playfully. Naruto blushed. "Well, he's kind of like in charge, you know? Even though he should honor his word by coming at the time he picks, you can't plan life around schedules. It just doesn't work that way." she smiled at him. "Get used to it, kid. I mean after all, you'll be able to do it one day too. You are going to be hokage, aren't you?"

"BUH-LEAVE IT!" Naruto responded with a smile and a pose.

Rae giggled.

"Don't encourage him." Sasuke put in.

She glared at him. "So you're telling me to shoot down his hopes and dreams? Is that what you're saying? Because if it is, I'll kick you're ass."

"Heh! As if you could!" he sneered at her. He could feel her energy raising and smirked. She was pissed. He decided he liked getting a ride out of her

"Excuse me?" her voice was menacingly low. She was having difficulty breathing she was so angry. "I have SEVEN brothers that HATE me! I think I know how to give as much as I get!" She started shaking she was getting so worked up. "JUST BECAUSE THE ONLY FAMILY YOU HAVE LEFT IS A MURERING PSYCHOPATH DOESN'T MEAN YOU GET TO PUT DOWN OTHER PEOPLE TO THE POINT OF PSYCOLOGICAL DAMMAGE! THAT KIND OF DAMMAGE CAUSES SEVER DEPRESSION WHICH LEADS TO SELF ABUSE AND SELF MUTILATION WHICH CAN PUSH SOMEONE TO SUICIDE!!"

She took a break to breathe heavily from her screaming. "Sorry to inform you, but NO MATTER HOW IT HAPPENS IF YOU CAUSE A DEATH YOU'RE NO BETTER THAN THE PERSON YOU HATE!! If he wants to be hokage…" she pointed at Naruto without looking at him then continued, "…I believe he can do it! AND NO ONE'S GOT A RIGHT TO TELL HIM NOT TO TRY! And when he does become hokage it'll put you into place! You're not GOD, Sasuke! You don't decide people's lives!" she slapped him hard enough to leave a mark, but not as hard as she could. Then she ran off.

Everyone was shocked. Sasuke just stood there starring at where she stood when she slapped him.

Kakashi just sat in his tree. He couldn't move. He was that taken aback.

Naruto was so stunned and touched that he wanted to cry. When he got up to follow her Sakura stopped him.

"She just needs to be alone right now. I think she was defending more than you." she said softly and hugged him.

Naruto just hugged back. "She's so…different."

"She's definitely unique. Then again, that's Rae for you." she smiled and let go.

Kakashi finally came out of the woods. "Sorry I'm late…" he tried to catch their attention but it was as if he wasn't there.

--

Ichiraku Ramen Stand

10:24 am

Rae was walking by the ramen stand for the 5th time this morning. She was going around and around the village to blow off steam. Songs kept repeating in her head. She wanted to sing so bad but she stopped herself she didn't want to draw that much attention.

"Hey!" a voice called and she groaned in her head. She knew the voice…it was Rock Lee.

She stopped and looked turned around to smile at him. "Hello. My name's Rae. How are you today, Rock Lee?"

He stopped in his tracks. Here was this amazingly beautiful and talented girl and she knew HIS name.

She giggled. "Don't just stand there with your mouth open." she already knew her excuse. "Sakura told me about everyone."

"Oh. Okay. I'm doing well. Rae-san. How are you?" he asked looking at her.

"I'm…fine I guess." she responded halfheartedly.

Lee just looked at her for a minute. "What's wrong?"

"It's just…my life isn't a happy one. I should be happy that I'm away from that place…but it was all I knew. Even though those people were so cruel I almost miss them. At least there I knew where I stood." she looked at him.

"I don't really know what you mean but if you need to talk anytime you can talk to me."

She smiled and hugged him. "Thank you."

"No problem." he said hugging her back.

"I know you want to go train so I'll let you go now." she said as she let go of the hug.

He looked almost sad when she said that. "Well are you waiting for anybody? Or are you alone?" he asked.

"I'm just waiting for Sakura. Actually I don't know if she'll even be coming. We didn't really make plans." she looked to the side at the ramen stand with a longing look on her face.

"Well how about I wait with you 'til she comes?" he suggested with a smile.

"That would be nice, but what if she doesn't show up. I'll have taken you away from training…it's okay. You should go." she said to him.

"Well I can't just leave you here by yourself…" he stated.

"If you plan on following me around like a puppy if Sakura doesn't come why don't I just go watch you train? I mean, if it's not too much trouble that is."

His eyes shown. She could tell he was gonna have one of those weird "youthful" outbursts.

"So that's a 'no problem Rae! Let's go!'" she interrupted before he could say anything and she pushed him ahead of her. "Lead the way Gai junior!"

He started to get excited again. Imagine, someone thought he truly could measure up to his sensei! She wanted to slap herself. She was just not gonna talk for the rest of the time she was with him.

--

Rae had been watching lee train for a while now. Every now and then she'd ask him questions and he was more than happy to answer. They were both content with the other's company.

Rock Lee knew she didn't know, but he could hear her humming every now and then. He enjoyed it. One time he asked her what song it was and she blushed really hard and stayed silent for a long time. Since then he just enjoyed the melodies. They were so content that neither of them noticed they had company.

Sasuke had been searching the village for Rae since Kakashi gave up on trying to get them to pay attention. Sasuke noticed that even Kakashi was having a hard time focusing. When he finally found her, his eyes narrowed. She was with that freaky kid with the jumpsuit.

The look on the kids face as he stood in front of her pissed him off even more. He was overjoyed and she didn't look annoyed with him like Sakura did when she was with him. Why should he get to get close to her without her flipping out, when he got slapped. He was so angry that before he could stop himself he was walking over to them.

Rae sensed him coming. She could see him in her peripheral vision. She didn't want to deal with him right then. Or for a very long while for that matter. She stood up and Lee looked at her weird until he noticed their company too.

Rae turned to look at Sasuke. He just glared at Lee. "Sasuke. Do you need something?"

"Yeah I do." he said still glaring.

"Oh…and what do you need?" she asked him politely. "Anything that I can do?"

He looked at her. "We need to talk." he grabbed her arm and tried to pull her away. Unfortunately for him. She wasn't a fan girl. So she wasn't about to let him pull her around like a rag doll.

"Who do you think you are?" she glared at him as she twisted her wrist and pulled her arm from his grasp like she learned in self-defense in ninth grade. "If you want to talk, that's fine. But you ask politely and wait for me to excuse myself! Just because you want to be rude doesn't mean I do!"

She then turned to Lee who was in shock that she wasn't falling all over Sasuke. She bowed to him politely. "I'm sorry Lee, but my attentions are needed elsewhere. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Oh sure." he said still in awe. He just watched as she walked off Sasuke hot on her heels. Wait 'till Gai sensei heard about this!

--

She turned and glared holes into Sasuke. "How dare you try to manhandle me?!"

"You shouldn't be with him!" Sasuke yelled at her.

"What? Why's that?!" she yelled back.

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her out of public so they wouldn't cause a scene. "Because! You're part of team seven now! Not Rock Lee's team!"

"Get over it! So I want to be around someone kind! Oh well!" she crossed her arms and turned away.

"ARGH!" he yelled in frustration. "WHY ARE YOU SO WEIRD?!"

She straightened herself and took off her jacket so that he'd see. She moved her hair out of the way. Her top was a sort of halter. Sasuke saw her back and stared. "Wanna add another one? Go ahead. It won't hurt." she was talking about the scars that laced her back. They were many, but she still had some big spaces of un-abused skin.

"Wha- what's that from?" Sasuke asked her as she turned to face him.

"I have seven brothers that hate me." she repeated. "You wanna know why you piss me off? You act just like them. You don't care about anyone or anyone else's dreams. Just you and yours." She put he jacket back on. "You think you were wronged out of a normal life? You're not the only one. Naruto never had a family. And mine hates me because I'm 'weird'. Don't assume, Sasuke. It makes an ass out of you and me." she left him there speechless for the second time that day.

--

Outside The Ninja academy

By the swing set

12:13 pm

Naruto sat on the swing staring out into the horizon thinking about Rae. He had looked for her but he couldn't find her. He bumped into Rock Lee who was in so much of a hurry he couldn't even ask him about her. He was starting to worry when he saw Sakura running up to him.

"Naruto!" she called. "Naruto, have you seen Rae?" she asked as she stopped in front of him.

"Not since this morning why?" he asked.

"I can't find her anywhere and I'm worried. I mean the hokage told her not to leave the village so I don't think she would." she though aloud.

"She can't be too far…where would she go?" he looked at Sakura.

She thought then smiled. She grabbed Naruto's hand. "Come on, I think I know where she is!"

--

They found her right where Sakura thought she was. She was in the woods beyond their training grounds. Sakura frowned when she saw her sitting on a boulder crying. Naruto stared with concern tattooed to his features.

Rae sniffled before she stood and took off her jacked and put it on the boulder. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes as she hummed to warm up her vocal cords. She looked to the sky thinking about Naruto and all the other people like her. She smiled softly and sang and swayed. "You're not alone. together we stand. I'll be by your side. you know I'll take your hand. when it gets cold and it feels like the end. there's no place to go you know I won't give in. no, I won't give in."

She started to dance. Like really dance. The 9 years of dance classes made it so music and dance were in her blood. She continued singing. "Keep holding on cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through! just stay strong cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you! there's nothing you can say, nothing you can do. there's no other way when it comes to the truth. so keep holding on cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through!" she threw her arms around herself.

"So far away i wish you were here. before it's too late this could all disappear. Before the doors close, and it comes to an end. but with you by my side I will fight and defend! I'll fight and defend! yeah yeah" Naruto couldn't help but be reminded of that morning when she stood up for him like no one ever had.

"Keep holding on. Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through. Just stay strong. Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you. there's nothing you can say, nothing you can do. There's no other way when it comes to the truth. so keep holding on. Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through" Sakura was just watching like she would a show. She had no idea that her friend was this good.

"Hear me when I say, when I say I believe nothing's gonna change, nothing's gonna change destiny. Whatever is meant to be will work out perfectly. Yeah yeah yeah yeah. Ladadada, ladadada, ladadadadadadadadada…" If she could see them now she'd start laughing because they were both swaying along to the beat. Even though they all knew she was starting to sound like Neji with that "destiny" talk, it was still a nice song.

"Keep holding on! Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
just stay strong. Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you. There's nothing you can say, nothing you can do. There's no other way when it comes to the truth. So keep holding on! Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through." She continued her freestyle lyrical for an audience she didn't know she had. (a/n: incase any of you didn't know, lyrical is like a combination of ballet and jazz. It's a type of dance.)

"Keep holding on! Keep holding on! There's nothing you can say, nothing you can do. There's no other way when it comes to the truth. So keep holding on! Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it Through." She looked at the ground and picked up her jacket as she walked out of the woods and started for town again.

--

Naruto walked with Sakura through the town. They weren't looking for Rae. They figured they'd bump into her later. It was weird that since she'd been here their friendship had gotten closer.

"She has a beautiful voice. Why doesn't she like to sing when she knows someone's watching?" Naruto asked aloud.

Sakura shook her head. "I don't know. Maybe she doesn't think she's good." she suggested.

"That's stupid! How could she think that she's not good?" he was a little annoyed. Even the idea that she thought she wasn't good made him annoyed.

What they didn't know is that Rae was following close behind them and heard them. She wasn't letting it all sink in right yet. She was still overjoyed that they didn't notice her. (a/n: its about 2 or three in the afternoon now.)

'This is FREAKING awesome!' she thought to herself.

It is pretty cool. But don't lose focus, you'll lose the barrier!

'Sorry. I won't lose the barrier.' she told herself with determination.

"I owe her ramen…" Sakura stated. "Maybe she went to Ichiraku."

Naruto's eyes widened. "Yup. She definitely went there!" Sakura rolled her eyes she knew he was just so sure because he wanted to get some ramen.

They headed off in that direction. When they got there they didn't see her. They instead saw Shikimaru, Neji, and Rock Lee. Sakura burst out into laughter. Everyone stared at her.

That's when Rae made herself known. She walked up next to Naruto and looked at the guys then at Sakura and soon she was on the ground laughing just as hard. When they slowed their laughter.

Sakura looked at Rae. "it's just like-" she was cut off.

"It's DESTINY! Sakura, Don't you see?" she started laughing.

Neji stared at the girl on the ground as she got up.

"Oh definitely! It's like you predicted the future!" sakura was giggling.

"Oh!" She turned to Neji and bowed. "I knew I'd meet you soon, Neji-san! I just knew our paths would cross! It's destiny!"

He had no clue she was making fun of him. How could he? She was a stranger and she was a damn good actress.

"I'm sorry. I do not believe I know your name." Neji stated.

"That's Rae-san. She's new to Konoha. She's supposed to be training with Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke but the hokage said she couldn't yet because she's injured." Rock Lee stated.

"Thank you for that introduction, Lee." she bowed politely to him. "So now that I've met two out of the three. How 'bout it Shikamaru, or would It be too troublesome?"

He looked at her. "well seeing as how you already know who I am. Yes, it would be troublesome." he went back to eating.

"oh well." Rae sighed. "boys are such children."

"I owe you ramen, Rae. What kind do you want while we're here?" Sakura asked.

"I was just playing around when I said that sakura. I don't need any ramen. Besides I have to save my appetite. I have to cook for Kakashi sensei and he can eat a lot." she explained and all the guys sitting down looked at her.