It was morning now, and the village was filled with decorations. Pink cherry blossoms were blowing their light petals in the gentle breeze. It was a stunning sight to those who could see it. For sure, the villagers thought as they watched the ninjas decorate, This would be even more beautiful than the last one. Every mind was filled with this happy thought, except one. Hiding away in her dark room, the blind ninja was hunting around upon the floor looking for her dress while desperately trying to comb down her wild knotty hair.

I growled and threw the brush to the floor. What good would it do in tidying my hair if I couldn't even see what style I was turning it into?!!! I properly had an afro from all the wild brushing I did!!!

"FUKUKO-CHAN!!!"

Two cheery voices entered the room. Izumo and Kotetsu had arrived. I grinned and ran to the door to tackle them into a hug. "HI!!"

One of them rubbed the top of my head. "Nice hair," Kotetsu teased.

I pouted and crossed my arms. "What do you want?"

"We have great news!" Izumo cried. "Alix is now fully recovered and is getting rather lonely without you."

Alix! Tears filled my eyes as I remembered the terrible state I last came across him in. He was alright… he was alive. I couldn't have been happier at that moment.

"We're now going to pick him up for you." Kotetsu said rubbing my hair again. "He'll be great to have at the festival!"

The festival!!!

"Oh no!" I cried taking hold of Izumo's sleeve. "You have to help me!"

"Help you?" Izumo said curiously lifting his arm up and down. "With what?"

"I can't find where I put my dress!" I wept. "I can't remember how to even put on a kimono! I can't style my hair! I can't-"

"NO!" Izumo and Kotetsu said quickly.

"Why?!" I whined.

"That's girl stuff!" They whined back.

"BUT I NEED YOU!!! YOU CAN HELP ME!!!"

Izumo shook my of his sleeve and I slipped upon the floor with a thud. "We can't help you!"

"You can!" I whinged clinging to his foot as he and Kotetsu tried to leave the room.

"We can't!!!!"

Izumo shook his foot, desperately trying to free himself of me.

"NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" I yelled clinging to his ankle. "HELP ME!!! PLEASE!!!!"

"I think I hear the Hokage coming!" Izumo cried in panic.

I dug my nails into his skin in desperate attempt in dragging him back. He yelled in pain and begun to beg to Kotetsu for help.

"KOTETSU DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE WITH HER!!!"

I growled and pulled his foot so he fell onto the ground.

"You'll help me!" I said as innocently as I could while hugging him. "You always loved to help me!"

"Not in dressing you!" Izumo wept. "I'm a man! It would be so wrong!"

I quickly released him and rubbed the back of my head as my face heated up. "Baka!"

"You said it." Izumo replied. "Look at those cuts you gave me!"

Laughter echoed from the corridor. I felt the floor moved slightly as Izumo jumped to his feet.

"Kotetsu! I'll get you!!!" He yelled running out of the room, leaving me sitting upon the cold floor with messy morning hair.

"Wait!" I whined with my arm outstretched. "I can't go to the festival like this!"

No one came back so I throw whatever I could find at the door before turning my back on it in a sulk. The first date I ever had and I can't even look pretty.

Wait! First date?! I meant just a friendly get together! Why would I go on a date with him?! And besides, I properly been on dates before!!! Properly bad ones since I can't remember any of them, but I must have!!!

Another knock upon the door distracted me from my embarrassing thoughts. Thinking it was properly Kotetsu wanting to hide from Izumo, and leapt upon the person with a roar.

"GOT YOU!!! NOW HELP ME OR BE EATEN ALIVE!!!!"

"I see your quite a morning person."

My face heated up again as I quickly released the person and stepped back. "Oh, good m-m-morning Hokage-Sama. S-s-sorry, I thought you were Kotetsu."

"That's perfectly fine." He chuckled. "I had stranger greetings, and it's nice to see you back to your old self."

"Hai!" I quickly bowed, only to hit my head upon the drawers. Why is it always me?!!

"I see you're going to the festival." He said stepping into the room. "I remember when you were always the most eager one to help. You and your team-mates would cause so much… entertainment."

I could tell in the way he said 'entertainment' he properly meant trouble. I just sat back upon my bed with a cheesy grin.

"Fukuko, I'm here to discuss more than the festival with you."

He was back to being serious. I lost my grin and nodded. After such a long time, I finally felt like the kunoichi I was once.

"The Chunin Exams this year have had some problems." He explained. "Within the second test, an intruder revealed himself to own of our Examiners."

"Who?" I asked curiously. Why was he telling me this? Shouldn't the intruder be in the cells by now?

"Orochimaru."

I froze. The image of the pale white serpent man came into my mind. The yellow splits for eyes… The long twisting tongue… The blood-thirst within those eyes. I begun to shake. The horror he brought to his countless victims…

I jumped suddenly as the Hokage placed his hand upon my shoulder. Fear must have been shown upon my face.

"He isn't interested in you." The Hokage said calmly. "Like all of here, he believe you are dead."

"I…"

I didn't know what to say or think. If Akatsuki had a sudden interest in me, then wouldn't Orochimaru? Although, if Orochimaru was already in the village, he wouldn't need my secrets of the village. But I still knew of Akatsuki secrets now, as well as his own. Orochimaru's name was a curse in the Akatsuki, which shows they were more then just enemies.

"Fukuko," The Hokage's voice said calmly through my terrorizing thoughts. "You need not to worry. Orochimaru only has one target which we know of. And it isn't you. You shall be safe tonight. Anbu will be everywhere and after the festival I shall have two guards with you."

I nodded. I couldn't speak anymore. My voice was lost within my sudden scare. The Hokage properly could still sense it for he hugged me tightly like a Grandfather would.

"I shall protect everyone within this village with my life." He said. "That includes you my dear."

Some of his calmness managed to affect me. I nodded again.

"Thank you Hokage-Sama. For everything."

"Now," The Hokage said releasing me. "I hear you've been having some trouble with preparing yourself for the festival."

I nodded. Without a doubt, he must have ran into - well, they would have ran into him - Izumo and Kotetsu. I smiled faintly. They must have told him and asked for help. They were still the greatest friends I ever had.

"Kurenai will be here shortly to help you."

"Hai!"

I grinned once again and bowed as the Hokage left the room.

I was well and truly home now. I had finally found those who were so precious to me. I thought back on what the Hokage said and smiled. Without a doubt, I would protect this village and every kind hearted person with my life too.

Author's Note.

SO SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG TO UPDATE! I have no excuse and I am ashamed with myself. -enters sad puppy dogs eyes here- forgive me!