AN:

Thank you Initiumi for favoriting, Heatherbell supporting and WolfDeamon 1000 for the awesome review. Thank you for finding my poor attempt at humor to be enjoyable.

#Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not even this story idea (It belongs to the little voice inside my pinky).#

Elvish

Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel's assessment and welcome of the Fellowship took too long. By the end of their greetings, Team Minato was asleep on their feet. Eldarion managed to stay awake because Haldir's blood-curdling glare was focused on the back of his head. The grey-eyed boy couldn't wait to get home to tell his older sister that he had managed to annoy the famously unflappable elf. He could also boast that he had met Lady Galadriel, Frodo and Boromir. Eldarion stifled yet another yawn. Sleep attempted to cloud his mind. But his mouth would have none of that. Words fell from his mouth, unbidden.

"Grey cleansed to white

Slayer of the Fire

To be found in Fangorn."

Eldarion murmured in Sindrian. He finished off with another yawn. Haldir looked disgusted. The Fellowship looked surprised and a bit annoyed.

Lady Galadriel spoke. "It appears that your companions are more wearied than you," she said with a faint smile. Eldarion tottered slightly on his feet and gave the Lady of Lothlorien an apologetic smile.

"My apologies," he said sheepishly. "I will wake them."

Before anyone could protest, Eldarion drew and flung several sebon at the feet of his companions. There were several yelps and what sounded like swears as Team Minato was rudely awakened. Kunai were drawn and Eldarion found himself in a headlock courtesy of Kakashi.

"Someone would like to talk to us," he choked out. He was immediately let go.

"These strangers' minds are impossible to read." Galadriel said, bemused.

"Maybe they wouldn't be if one asked permission," grumbled Kakashi. Galadriel raised an eyebrow. Eldarion leaned over and whispered to Kakashi.

'' Good job. You clearly have a talent in languages."

Kakashi's eye twitched as he realized that he had used the tongue seal. Obito instead grinned and said:

"Here here! Well said Kakashi, well said!"

The Fellowship looked somewhat envious that Team Minato's thoughts remained private. Then Boromir spoke.

"Hoshi," he moved toward Eldarion. "You claimed to know what we carry. Tell us, what is it that we carry?"

Eldarion was tempted to respond sarcastically, but bit back his tongue.

"You are the Fellowship of the Ring. You were named such because you travel with Frodo Baggins, the unfortunate bearer of the One Ring."

The talan went deathly silent. Eldarion began to fidget under the collective gaze of the Fellowship.

Aragorn suddenly walked to stand in front of him. It felt strange, seeing his father and not being able to call him Ada*.

"Just what era of Arda** did you say you were from?" his voice was quiet but hid a menacing undertone. Even though Eldarion had faced worse things, he fought to hide a shudder.

"And what if I say that it's none of your business?" Eldarion sounded braver than he felt.

The dual of words shifted to a staring contest. Needless to say, Aragorn was winning.

"Let Hoshi free," Minato said suddenly. "He no need tell. We on same side, yes?"

Galadriel returned to the conversation with a compromise.

"Hoshi does not need to explain himself. What he and his companions need to do is guard Frodo and aid the Fellowship on its quest," she turned to the other shinobi. "Do you accept this proposition?" she asked.

Team Minato looked at one another. Minato turned his head to face the Lady of the Light.

"We accept, but condition one. We get payment in end,"

Eldarion, at first confused, and then smacked his hand against his head.

"May the powers that be boil in Mordor," Eldarion venomously thought.

"We are Shinobi," continued Minato. "Like mercenary, but loyal to Hokage. No payment, no job. We on job before, now here. Need job, excuse or," he mimed having his throat slit.

The look of shock was becoming common on the Fellowship's faces, Eldarion idly thought.

Lady Galadriel didn't look the least bit ruffled, neither did Lord Celeborn.

"Very well, you shall receive payment when your task is fulfilled. Go rest, I can see that you are all in dire need of a nap,"

/^\*/^\*/^\*/^\

Aragorn was struggling to wrap his head around the shinobi enigma. Although it was good to be back in Lothlorien, everything was too off for Aragorn to appreciate the feelings of peace and safety. The Fellowship was given a place to stay at the base of a mallorn tree. The strangers were given a talan in the same tree. They appeared to be ecstatic to have the talan, running up and down the tree without any regard to the laws of nature. He decided to ignore them, as their happiness only served to irritate him. They seemed to have forgotten all about Gandalf. He felt a bit better when the younger shinobi fell asleep in the talan. But his irritation resurfaced when Minato knock politely against the trunk of the tree.

"May I join you?" he asked his speech suspiciously clear. Aragorn cautiously nodded. The yellow-haired man sat on the floor near the hobbits.

"Was told to go to you in regards to Gandalf," he said. "Hoshi said all he knew was that he made the best fireworks,"

The hobbits seemed to brighten up. Soon Frodo was telling Minato everything he knew about the Grey Istari. When Frodo finished his Gandalf-related stories, Minato gave a small smile.

"Gandalf is a great Wizard. He sacrificed his rife to make sure you could get away safely. Shinobi like that are thought of highly,"

The shelter fell into a sad, but content silence. In the distance, Aragorn heard elves lift their voices to a lament for the Fallen Istari. The teacher stood up.

"I should return before my students begin to think that I've been eaten,"

He disappeared before Aragorn could process his farewell.

The Dúnedain sighed. Picking up his sword to sharpen, he shook his head. These shinobi will probably be the death of him.

*Ada- elvish for Dad or Daddy. Adar is Father.

** Arda- another term for Middle-Earth.