Hey guys! What are you all up to? Reading fanfiction? Hey, I write that stuff!

Alright, first off I want to say I'm so terribly sorry for not updating the other day. I had... business to attend to. So suspicious! I know. Well, I want to say that I'm going to update again today as atonement for breaking my promise. Uhm... Nothing else? Not really?

On with the show!

The shade felt so welcoming under the humid sun. The feeling of relief under stress warmed her into a comforting sense, a soft smile edging it's way on her face. She gently closed her eyes and as calmly as she could she smelled the air. It was such a refreshing scent of blossomed flowers that she nearly fell asleep from the comforting aroma.

"Haku-san."

Her eyes opened slowly and her mouth turned into a small smile. "Yes, Ibiki-sensei?"

"I have something for you." Ibiki fingered his pockets for the item before he found and handed it to Haku. The front said, "Torture and Interrogation 101."

Frowning slightly, Haku opened the scroll and skimmed through. Marked in it were several manipulation techniques, some were physical and some were psychological. Looking away Haku frowned and set the scroll on the ground beside her.

Ibiki remained impassive. There was no doubt about what was going on in her mind. She wanted nothing to do with it. However if she wanted to make it in their world and be able to stand by Naruto, she would have to eventually hurt someone. Might as well have some practice in it where her job was to keep them alive while helping their cause.

"Study those while I keep an eye on Naruto-san and Tenten-san's training." Ibiki stated.

As he walked back he looked over his shoulder to find Haku staring at the scroll with silent disdain before solemnly opening it. She'd tried to hide a wince, but failed. If Naruto knew of what their sensei was doing... he would've made a scene without a second thought with Tenten following right behind.

He had no doubt that if put in a compromising position they would make sure to do everything in their power to stay together. Disturbingly though, he could almost feel that if pushed too far they could and would easily leave Konoha.

He shook his head. Thoughts like that were a result of being in T&I and the constant feeling of paranoia. Ibiki talked himself down briefly before approaching his blonde and brown haired students.

"Have you been doing what I asked?" Ibiki said, a knowing smirk on his face.

Naruto nodded.

When Ibiki had left to give Haku a scroll he instructed his other two student's to practice a new jutsu the Hokage had cleared with them. Kage Bunshin no Jutsu.

From the looks of it Naruto could create an outstanding amount before tiring. On the other hand with his other student, Tenten, she just shook her head and pointed to a single clone sitting tiredly next to a tree. She just didn't have enough chakra. Enough practice though, and she'd be able to increase her chakra capacity to much greater heights at a much quicker pace-hopefully without suffering from chakra exhaustion.

"Alright, break-time then."

The two smiled tiredly as Naruto gently picked up Tenten, cradling her in his arms. She blushed slightly and leaned her head against his chest as he brought them over to sit next to Haku who had since put the scroll a good distance away from her. Haku's face looked pale as her fingers shyly traced the edges of her haori. She loved the fabric Naruto bought her. It was a deep blue with tints of black stitched in and each time she felt the absolute smooth fabric caress her she felt like Naruto was holding her.

Her cheeks tinted red. The feeling in her chest fluttering inside was triggered only by the approach of her best-friends form. She grabbed the fabric above her heart and buckled over. Widening her eyes her blush slowly traveled across her face as she swore her heart skipped a beat.

Just a few feet before Naruto stood snuggling Tenten with the slightest tint of red adorning his sun-kissed face. He could, disturbingly enough, feel Tenten's body brushing against his. The feeling scared him slightly but he pushed forward and offered her a small smile before he looked at Haku's seemingly troubled look.

His eyes widened as he gently put Tenten down next to his troubled friend. He went to the other side of her and brought the brunette into a hug where she constricted before wrapping him in her arms. Haku tried settling herself and set her senses on calming thoughts like one would settle their mind for clarity.

She breathed in his scent and held him tight. His overwhelming smell made him the ultimate sedative for her. But also the most potent stimulant. Boiling inside her blood boiled without thought or recognition.

I need to speak with Anko about this.

Ignoring the urges within she simply held on. "I'm alright." Haku muttered.

Naruto stared down at her, nodding.

"What did Ibiki-sensei show you, Haku-chan?"

Letting go Haku sat back against the tree next to Tenten. With reluctant hands Haku grasped the scroll next to her and showed it to them. At first, their reactions were simply shock followed by momentary thought and then absent anger. The silent glare he sent to the ground as he thought made it clear to Haku of what he was thinking.

Reaching out she grabbed Naruto's hand before feeling him squeeze back. Looking to her right she found Tenten resting her head on her shoulder comfortably as if a pillow. Brown eyes opened and warmed underneath Haku's comforting gaze. For them, times like these were the most precious. Sitting under shade while the sun graced everything around them. Haku couldn't fathom a time where she was most happy before Naruto and Tenten. The closest she could come to was before with her mother teaching her how to do simple things around the house. But that was as close to happiness as she could've gotten back then.

Now... now she knew what true happiness felt like.

Closing her eyes, she pulled Naruto and Tenten closer. If Zabuza hadn't left her she would've never found Naruto, and then their lives would've been much different. Naruto would've started to dismember himself through his mask and she most likely would've continued blindly following Zabuza. She chuckled. It must have been fate.

An hour passed under the shade with a trio of sleeping genin under it. Ibiki walked slowly over to his team and stared.

This would be perfect if I had a camera.

The wind blew and leaves fell around him. He had an idea. Sitting down Ibiki pulled out a large scroll meant for sealing and a bottle of ink. He'd just paint the scene. Bad or not he'd have something to give Anko when he needed her off his back. The woman was just as sadistic as him when it came to interrogation but if someone decided to disobey one of her instructions they would find themselves in a very troubling situation. Hopefully his fair drawing skills would earn him some lee-way with her sadism. Her family was her only soft-spot after all.

Brush met paper under scrutinizing eyes that flickered between his student's and the drawing closely resembling them. A smile etched it's way onto his face while he worked. The kids were slowly growing on him. They just had this warmth about them separating them from others their age and unconsciously wising them further beyond their years. His first impressions from past experience and constant ramblings from Anko only cared to parent his thoughts.

Sweat gathered on his brow and down his scar. A smirk appeared on his face after the final stroke swept over. Ibiki looked back up to the trio and back down, it was a fine piece—even if he did say so himself.

The sky by then had since covered in dark clouds staring down on Konoha. His mind must have wandered far for him to have so much time to slip past without some warning. The last time something like that happened he'd spent the whole day in T&I with a target without restraints placed on him. Meaning that if the prisoner died... no harm done. That lead Ibiki to using some of what he called his "Toys" and personal stock of home-made serum he kept hidden in his apartment, lest someone find them and store them away in their shed of regular supplies where he was sure he would never be able to use it.

Chuckling to himself Ibiki scrutinized his work more closely than before. In the picture Ibiki had drawn a tree in rough black strokes with shaded leaves flying free in into the wind. The back-round was left blank for the manilla color to save. Around the tree were more and more but each less defined than the last. Under the first tree were his genin resting peacefully, both leaning on Haku. Naruto's head rested gently on her shoulder with Haku's head pillowing his. Tenten caressed Haku's collar with the warmth of her breath as her eyes remained shut.

But what made the picture more valuable than before was what he had done with the colors. Everything was colored manilla or black. But the three sleeping under the tree. They were each colored masterfully , deeply saturated in light colors. Though out of everything in that picture that would make Anko smile and truly make her go easier was their smiles. The looks on their faces captured the moment and showed their tranquility as they slept.

Complete innocence in a time of unknowing and unseeing would show the true face and mind of one so near.

Deciding to let the ink dry he walked over to the three.

With the way things are going you three may be able to enter the chuunin exams. Ibiki's visage peered to the clouds over-head. If that came to pass the question would then instead be on whether he would be able to proctor with his genin there.

A cold chill writhed through his body as he looked to where it came from before another, and another, came down. His neck craned and he aimed his eyes to receive what looked to be water-droplets raining down. Chilling he ran over and picked up his painting and put it away. Wouldn't be good if his work was tarnished, and only after just being completed at that.

Next he ran over to Naruto, Tenten, and Haku before he muttered an apology and shunshined them away, his hand outstretched gripping Naruto's forearm.

The next moment they appeared in Anko's office where she threw Ibiki a dirty look before softening her eyes at the sight of them. "I figure you brought them here because of the thunderstorm and you didn't want to disturb them?" Anko stated, looking fondly at them.

Ibiki nodded.

"Well I can't say I blame you." She cupped her chin. "I remember when we ended up like that." Anko almost sighed in an amused nostalgia.

"We spent the night together, holding each-other like we were the others life line." Anko answered, knowing exactly his response.

Setting them against the door with a light thud Ibiki scurried through his pack while in the corner of his eye he saw Anko scowl slightly. He'd need to be more careful with them around her.

"Here." Ibiki said holding out the scroll.

Cautiously reaching out Anko snatched the thing away from him and pried it open. Quickly she looked it over a second and sighed, "Ibiki-san, I know you're a good drawer and all but why give me this?"

"Look closer."

Anko nodded. She looked at the well-drawn leaves drifting lazily in the air. The very grass singing to the wind. Even the sturdy tree's, bu- her eyes widened as her hand flew to her mouth.

"I see you finally found it." Ibiki chuckled, "You know that, according to psychology the thing with color standing with something blank will be noticed first. But apparently that's not the case with you."

The scarred man nearly went into hysterics after Anko flipped him off and her sly pocketing of the painting. Recomposing herself Anko sighed and crossed her arms over her trench coat and jounin vest. Ibiki looked over to Naruto and gestured back to Anko. "Fine."

Taking Naruto's fore arm in hers she made the hand-sign for shunshin and the next Ibiki was left standing in Anko's office. That painting definitely earned him points. However, maybe he shouldn't have antagonized her for not noticing the kids right away. Then again. It was a picture of Naruto and her friends. She'd let him get away with something later on, he was sure.

Drowsy eyes dazed at the sight of the sun's welcome. Looking tiredly around he noticed a white room no larger than his own. The furniture wasn't familiar, the feel wasn't right. Suddenly, his eyes widened as he noticed the weight on him.

Lying on his chest was one Haku who had taken the liberty of using him as her pillow, again. On the side was Tenten who, once more, had his arm in a tight cuddle. Lastly looking to his right his eyes shot open and his conscious pooled in thought. Sleeping to the side of him, Anko rested with her head mashed into the crook of his neck.

How did I get here!

Hey guys! Did you like? Better have!

Before I start getting upset PM's or reviews about Anko's joining. She didn't. She's screwing with him.

Also to get this out of the way, I want to say that I probably won't be able to update this weekend because of the little family get together we're having. After that! I probably will be able to to every other day. I have training every day early morning and mid-afternoon leaving me no time to really recuperate enough to have a right mindset for writing. But! I will try!

See ya! R&R and I'll update soon! PM if you have any questions.