Yes, I do understand that it has been I-don't-know-how-many months since I last updated. I've gotten really bad about that.

Daisuke: Obviously...

What?! How did you get out of the closet? I thought I had you tied up and gagged in there with the rest of my characters...?

Daisuke: -grins like cheshire cat- Naw. Narricissa-chan let me out because you kept forgetting to feed me.

Well, if you don't want to go back in there, you'd better say the disclaimer...

Daisuke: NYROC OWNS NOTHING!

Except you.

Daisuke: Yes. Except me.

And....

Daisuke: Motaki, Lakota, Zyc, Karin, ...

And all the other junk he's too lazy to remember.

Yeah. Please read and review. I'm really trying to update, but I have to keep my priorities in order.

Thanks,

Nyroc

Look through the eyes of a child, and only then will you see life for what it is truly worth.

Chapter Five

Surprise, surprise...

The girl flopped to the ground helplessly, her sides heaving. She swept a strand of light reddish-pink hair from her forehead and looked up with green eyes at her opponent. The boy laughed lightly, sitting down next to her.

"Brings back memories, huh?," he asked easily, leaning back into the soft, shaded grass that outlined the training circle.

Sakura nodded breathlessly.

Lakota laughed again, an easy, low, rolling sound. "Of course, that was back where we didn't die of heat stroke by moving a centimeter..." he muttered good-naturedly.

Sakura playfully punched him in the arm. "Snow-crazy freak," she teased. The boy grinned.

"Yeah, but you love me anyways," he said teasingly.

Sakura punched him not-so-playfully in the stomach, then grabbed her hand. "Damn it!" she yelped, cradling her hand.

The boy shot into an upright position. He sighed, standing and lifting the girl gently to her feet.

"Let's get you to Tsunade. She needs to see me anyways."

The two shinobi jumped as the bushes to their left parted, revealing a small, red-headed girl. She danced over to the pair lightly.

"Motaki-chan, we've been summoned," she said in a soft, high alto voice.

Motaki sighed and stood slowly, stretching her aching muscles. Her companion gave a curious glance at the newcomer.

"Naruto, this is Karin. Karin, this is Naruto," she said off-handedly. Karin waved, four centimeters from Naruto's nose, in a fast, eggagerated gesture.

"Uhh... hi?" Naruto mumbled uncertainly. The girl grinned broadly.

"Let's go, Karin. We don't want to keep the Hokage waiting," Motaki spoke in a low, even voice. She walked almost silently to the path that led through the woods to the center of the Leaf Village.

Karin grabbed Naruto's hand. "You're coming, too," she said quickly, and dragged him after Motaki in an impatient, childish manner.

"Fast as usual," came Tsunade's voice as the trio entered the office. Naruto spied Sakura standing with one of the boys from Motaki's village in the corner, wrapping her hand in some bandages. They both looked up as the three approached the Hokage's desk.

"'Kody, where's Zyc?" Karin asked quietly as she danced over to Lakota. She looked up as the boy entered the office, closely followed by Hyuuga Neji and Hyuuga Hinata. Both looked somewhat uncomfortable.

"I'm right here. Chill," he said. He turned his pale lavender eyes to the Hokage. "I assume this is fairly urgent, then?"

Tsunade nodded as the eight shinobi lined up in front of her. Motaki narrowed her eyes.

"What's going on?" she asked.

The Hokage sighed. She looked at Motaki uncertainly.

"It looks like you four are going to have to stay a bit longer than you planned."

Lakota took a step back. "You don't mean..."

Tsunade looked at him. As a medic, of course he could infer as to what was up. She grimaced and nodded. Lakota closed his eyes and waited for her to say it.

"There's been an epidemic outbreak in the Shade Village."

Wow. I think that's the shortest chapter I've ever written in the history of forever.

Daisuke: Yeah. Nyroc would know, considering how ancient Nyroc is...

Quiet, you. I have plenty of room left in that closet.

Yeah, not much happened in this chapter. I figured I had to post something, but was too lazy to write a sixteen page chapter so... bear with me. I'm trying, okay?

Oh, yeah. And this is the part where you leave a review. Please. Reviews will be used to improve my writing, and flames will be used to set Sasuke's pants on fire, just because he deserves it.

And thanks for reading this far. I appreciate it.