First I would like to thank "drewdloodles," "sco23," and "chanceoutof20." Like seriously, you guys are freakin' epic. Thanks so much.

The closer and closer we got to Konoha the more elated I became. No longer will we have to fight for our survival just to get breakfast in the morning. No longer will we endure the mental stress of always trying to impress our mentor, or should I say, ex mentor. And no longer will we have to spend birthdays and holidays alone, we will finally have someone special to share them with. Oh, yes. I definitely can't wait.

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"I regret to inform you, but I am going to have to refuse your request." The elderly man said. Placing his pipe back into his mouth.

Dosu, Zaku and I have been standing before the great Hokage, telling him our story and trying to convince him to allow us to stay in the village for an hour now. So far it wasn't working out.

"But sir, you don't understan-" Dosu said. Trying to negotiate.

I balled my fists behind my back, anger eating away my previously joyous emotion. No, this isn't fair! This was supposed to be my chance for a better life. Our chance for a better life. Why doesn't he understand that we were blindly following Orochimaru's orders for the sake of finding where we belong?

"Do not try to tell me what I don't understand young man." The wise man placed his pipe in a mahogany stand and rested his chin on laced his fingers.

"I understand that you came to my village under the directive of an S-class enemy shinobi to take the life of Uchiha, Sasuke. What I will admit I don't understand is what gave you three the idea that I would allow you to reside within my village after all of the trouble you've caused."

Dosu silently stared at the Hokage. He didn't give up did he? Didn't he have anymore to say? Dosu was supposed to be the smart one. And though, self-appointed, he was our team leader, he was supposed to be able to solve any, if not all of our problems. This just couldn't be all he could do.

"Lord Hokage. Please I-" Dosu pleaded. His voice was monotonous just as it always is, but the sadness in his voice wasn't hard to miss.

"My answer will not change, I apologize." Lord Third interrupted. "Now please exit my office."

Dosu quickly turned in a huff past Zaku and I without looking either of us in the eyes; it didn't matter though, I wouldn't have made eye contact with him anyway. I felt guilty for dragging them here and getting their hopes up. And now, for the third time that day, tears welled in my eyes.

"Lord third!" A merry voice said.

Looking at the window to my left, I saw an old, strange looking, white haired man entering the Hokage's chamber, right leg first.

"What the hell?" Zaku whispered to me. 'What the hell' is right. Is this a normal thing? I looked in the Hokage's direction; he didn't seem to mind at all. Okay... this is weird.

"I am busy at the moment, Jiraiya. Please come back at another time." Oh, so Jiraiya is his name.

"Oh?" Jiraiya said with curiosity. Upon fully entering the Hokage's room, the white haired man placed his hand on his chin and inspected the three of us. His eyes seemed to linger on me the longest. Instinctively, I covered my chest and turned my shoulder towards him Giving him the nastiest scowl I could muster.

"I don't recognize them" Jiraiya turned to the Hokage "Do they have any special business here?" He said either not noticing the look on my face or ignoring it completely.

"You could say that, they were requesting that I allow them to live in the village despite what they tried to do during the chuunin exams"

"What'd they try to do?"

With Jiraiya listening intently, the third Hokage told him our story: our affiliation with Orochimaru, our reason for participating in the chuunin exams, the failure of our mission, and finally, our escape

Jiraiya nodded his head and sighed. "Lord third, you know as well as I, how manipulating Orochimaru can be. He more than likely filled these children's heads with nonsense." I stared at the strange man. How well did he know Orochimaru, I wonder? He seemed to be the about the same age, so could they have been allies in the past? Because what he just said was true. Orochimaru promised us things that were obviously a lie. If he hadn't been so convincing, I wouldn't have joined that snake in the first place.

The Hokage remained silent, picking up his pipe from the stand and placing it into his mouth.

"They've been though a lot. Please allow them to stay within the village," Jiraiya continued, he opened his arms wide and smiled "and if it makes you feel any better, I can keep an eye on them to calm your uneasiness. How does that sound?"

The Hokage closed his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. Upon opening his eyes again he said "alright, I will allow you to remain within the village's walls to gain our trust. However, if I or anyone else feel that you are up to no good. You will face the consequences, and I will personally ensure that there is no escaping."

I looked and smiled at Jiraiya feeling terrible about the look I gave to him earlier. Is this really how kind Konoha shinobi are? This man knew nothing about us, yet he was willing to lend us a hand. I hope I will get to know this man in the future a little better.

"We will discuss your living arrangements later. Meet in this room a few hours from now. I haven't the time now because I must prepare for the final phase of the chuunin exams of which are resuming in the next twenty-two days. I'm sure you already know that." Feeling a little awkward at that comment the three of his shifted our weight and avoided making eye contact with the powerful shinobi.

"Oh yeah, speaking of that. Today, I met a young boy by the name of Naru-"

"You may leave now." The Hokage said interrupting Jiraiya, "just know that you will always be watched until I can trust you three."

"Y-yes sir. Thank you so much." I voiced for the first time since meeting the Hokage.

Giving a bow and a 'thank you' to Jiraiya, we hastily left the room.

"He's just gonna let us freely roam the village?" Zaku asked.

"Not necessarily, we are being watched. Most likely by Anbu." Dosu answered his question.

No longer paying attention to the two males. I dreamed of all of the things I could in my new home. I could window shop, which for some reason is popular among girls my age. Or I could walk through that park I saw the first time I came here and sit by that beautiful pond. Being that I have not a cent to my name, those seem to be my only options.

Suddenly stopping in front of Dosu and Zaku I said "I want to explore the village on my own for a while. Can we meet here in two hours?"

Briefly looking at each other, they turned to me, "So? Why are you telling us, we aren't your babysitters Kin." Zaku said.

"I was just letting you know, jerk" I said turning my back and walking out of the building.

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As I walked through the village I noticed how carefree everyone was. No one seemed to have a worry in the world as they brushed passed each other with small 'hellos' every now and again.

However, I was a different story. I was walking for maybe ten minutes now and I still haven't found that park or any vendors for that matter. Not to mention that I actually felt pretty lonely without Dosu or Zaku around.

Giving up and collapsing on my bum. My should arms slumped as I whined to no one of my predicament..

"You're lost you say?" A voice said behind me.

Quickly turning to the voice, my eyes landed on a boy that I sort of recognized.

"You're lost?" He asked again, "I can help you find where you need to go." He said smiling, his small dog seeming to bark in agreement.

Oh yeah, the boy with the dog. I saw him only once, hmm maybe twice, during the chuunin exams.

"U-uh yeah. I am." Doesn't he recognize me? Seeing how Sasuke and that Sakura girl graduated with this guy, he has to at least know of me and what I did. I mean that is what friends do, right? Talk about their lives with each other?

"Alright. Where you headed?" He asked as I stood up.

"Uh well, I kinda wanted to do a little window shopping." I said embarrassed. He just stared at me for a while. Most likely thinking that I am the biggest loser he has ever met.

The boy chuckled, "yeah you're way off. Follow me."

Shrugging off my negative thoughts, I followed the boy and his dog in silence. Curious, I took a long sideways glance to take in his features. Well he is cute I guess, but you really can't tell with his jacket covering almost everything.

"So...?" He said breaking the silence, "I haven't seen you around, you here to watch the final part of the chuunin exams?" So this guy really didn't recognize me. Or either he has terrible observation skills, bad memory, or Sasuke and Sakura didn't tell him about me.

Not really wanting to explain why I'm here, "Yeah, I am."

"Cool." The boy answered, "My name's Kiba by the way. What's yours?"

Looking at my guide, and hopefully new friend. I smiled and answered his question. "Kin. My name is Kin."

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"You've been going at this for hours and you haven't bought anything!" Kiba jokingly yelled. I just smiled, having the time of my life right now.

Kiba and I have been going from vendor to vendor and shop to shop looking at all of their merchandise.

"I don't have any money." I said absentmindedly.

"No money?" He questioned, "why would you go to another village without any money?"

Realizing my mistake, I turned my back towards him to come up with a lie. But my mind became jumbled and I couldn't think of anything believable to tell him, so I just stared at the ground.

"Uh, sorry I didn't mean to pry or anything. I just thought it was a little weird." After his apology I turned back to him and put a fake smile on my face. Should I tell him my situation? No, that'll scare him away. What should I do?

"Its okay, you didn't pry." I said looking Kiba in his eyes.

"Okay, that's good.. so why don't you have any money then?" he asked, oblivious to the fact that I was getting uncomfortable Doesn't this guy know not to ask personal questions upon meeting someone new?

"I didn't exactly have any to begin with," I said resigning. "You see, uh, my teammates and I just came to this village several hours ago after... um, deciding to leave our previous one."

"Why'd you leave?" Wow, this guy is nosy. Well, that's what I get for opening my mouth in the first place.

"It's a long story-" I began

"I've got the time." He said smiling, "when I first came across you. You looked like you needed someone to talk to."

I smiled. Yeah I really did need someone to talk to. "Okay here's what happened."

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"Wow, all of that happened to you?" He asked. Right now Kiba and I were sitting at the pond I wanted to sit by and eating the ice cream cones he bought for us. Mine being chocolate and his vanilla, I've never had ice cream before so this stuff tastes like heaven.

"Yeah," He was being surprisingly calm about it all.

"Whoa, well at least you're safe now." Kiba said. "I promise nothing will happen to you so long as I'm around."

I smiled for the millionth time in Kiba's company. He's made me smile in the past few hours more than I've smiled in the past few year. Wait a second...few hours? Oh god! I was supposed to meet Zaku and Dosu hours ago! They're probably pissed by now.

"Uh, I'm sorry Kiba. But I have to go." I said standing up, finishing up my sugar cone.

"Go? Go where?" He asked, standing up himself.

"I told Zaku and Dosu to meet me at the Hokage's tower hours ago. They really don't like being kept waiting." Like I cared though. I just wanted to see where we're going to live.

"Okay, I'll show you the way there. Come on Akamaru."

I watched as Akamaru came running out of nowhere and jumped into Kiba's jacket, giving his chin a few licks after voicing a single bark.

"All right Kin. Lets get going." Kiba said walking off.

"Kay!" I called, giving the pond one last look

Catching up to him, we gave each other a smile and headed towards my destination.

Hey Hey Hey! Chapter three is up and running. So, yesterday I noticed that I said that I was goign to post a new chapter, "either tomorrow or Saturday," not realizing that it was Friday... ehehe, sorry about that. So to keep my word, I posted a new chapter tomorrow and Saturday! Leave a review, it'll be greatly appreciated! Thanks for taking the time out of your day to read my work!

-Floral Summit