READ: I'm having a really hard time figuring out how to get the former 9th chapter done, so this is like an extra or filler, thus it has no real connection to the main story.

Read this too!: Is centered on Sari and Ittetsu as little children (I'm not sure how young but they aren't in the ninja academy yet)

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto but I do own a keychain with my 2nd favorite Bleach character on it =D

Chapter 9: Toeto

A small girl sat on the swing, rocking back and forth slowly, unenthusiastically. It was a warm day and under the shade of a dry tree she felt cool. Playing soccer in the distance were a few kids she recognized from around her neighborhood.

Sari would have joined them had it not been so hot.

It was always hot in the desert. The dry sand that constantly swirled through the air made her squint and the high sun made her retreat to darkness. The girl had plenty of friends, but none of them ever seemed to hold her too closely. Sari assumed that it was because they'd all end up ninja, while she would struggle, an indolent girl who didn't know how to throw a kunai to save her life.

What she wouldn't give for a tight, life-long friend.

KS

Ittetsu kicked the ball hard, sending it towards the outlined soccer goal. The other teams goalie jumped out to catch the flying ball, but it went over his body and into the 'goal'.

Ittetsu's team clapped him on the back in appreciation. The sandy haired boy ignored them. They only liked him because he was good at soccer.

Ittetsu had always been a stubborn child, and it was that stubbornness that made him so good at sports, yet bad at making friends.

He found it hard to agree with the juvenile ideas of his soccer buddies, and he was quick to point out fouls made in other people. Basically he was annoying.

After he'd scored a few times more, the boy walked off to the tree, letting the weak link of his team sub for him. He headed over for the only shade in the area: under the old tree by the swing.

KS

"Watashi no naka ni iru etto, etto ne ettoeto-"

"What are you singing?"

Sari looked up as a boy her age walked up to sit on the roots of the tree trunk. The girl blushed.

Sari hated singing in front of people, even though she wasn't bad for a little child.

"U-uh… um, it's-"

"Spit it out!" Ittetsu snapped. He hated it when people stuttered and didn't get to the point.

AN: I used to be the biggest stutterer! Haha, this Ittetsu hates the old me.

"Toeto." Sari finally said, frowning softly being that her feelings were injured by the boys' sharp tone.

"That song's weird." Ittetsu decided.

"Is not!" Sari spoke up. Toeto was her favorite song so she would defend it viscously.

"It's stupid. And I don't understand it."

Sari smiled. "That's why you don't like it. Toeto is about a shy girl who is in love with another person. She doesn't know how to tell her feelings because her timidness; Toeto, is keeping her from doing so."

Ittetsu blanked. "Exactly what I said. It's stupid."

Puffing out her cheeks Sari mumbled the song under her breath. Stupid boy. Stupid boy!

Ittetsu watched girl kick the dusty ground as she grumbled the song.

"Watashi no naka no, ganbaru toeto." Ittetsu finished for her before standing. "You sing nice." He admitted shyly before running back to where his friends were playing soccer.

"Ganbaru toeto," Sari repeated softly.

That was very short, I know, but I think this was cute. Here's what I think is the translation. Sorry if I'm wrong.

Ganbaru toeto: I can do it ummuh

Watashi no naka no, ganbaru toeto: Deep down inside I can do it (not sure)

Watashi no naka ni iru etto, etto ne ettoeto: before I knew it I could feel her inside of me (Stutter)

I love Toeto, which is a really cute – long – song by Megurine Luka.

Next chapter, if I can figure out how to finish it, will be longer and following GaaraxMatsuri and then after that will be a flashback chapter from the previous chapters and then the chapter after that will be Matsuri coming home. See, I've got everything planned out.

Also, if you haven't seen the new Naruto opening… I went crazy as I watched that! Shiver: me in a corner sucking my thumb. And what happened to Sai? Is it just me or does he have absolutely no part in Naruto? ALSO! Isn't it crazy that 'I' in English is the equivalent of 'Watashi' in Japanese?

Wish me luck on my Creative Writing assignment. I think I wrote too much: it's at 15 pages and I still have so much left to write! Until the next chappy – Keomi-Sage =D