Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, the Washington Capitals, the NHL, or the NHL.
Splode: ...Two NHLs...?
Me: Yep. One stands for "National Hockey League", the other stands for "Ninja Hockey League".
Moriko: Clever.
Gothica: Not so much.
Me: sweatdrop
---
Hockey Nin
Game day. First game of the season. No mercy.
"No mercy," muttered Naruto to himself as he tightened his skates for morning practice. "Gotta kick those Gangmen back to the pond they crawled out of. They aren't hockey players, they're a bunch of thugs. I--we--can outskate them any day. No mercy."
With a long huff of breath, he joined his team on the ice.
---
A plane roared overhead Geshi's car, and she peered up at it in an attempt to see which airline it was. She scowled to herself, muttering about glasses and contacts. The bluish dog at her side barked, following the descending plane with his eyes. Geshi patted his head.
"Yeah, Taikai, I think that's her plane," she told the dog, "but I can hardly see which airline it is. We'll find out in a few minutes, I guess."
The dog snuffled in agreement, and they waited.
Twenty minutes later, a pair of girls with a pair of dogs could be seen exiting the automatic front doors of the airport.
Geshi smiled and waved. "Kani! Kani! Shay! Over here!"
Kani, spotting her mom, turned in the direction of the car. Shay followed, wondering why this woman knew her name. Geshi introduced herself and there were greetings all around. The dogs barked and yipped and sniffed each other in welcome as the three women somehow made all the luggage fit in the trunk. Getting the dogs wedged in with the girls and Geshi and Taikai upfront, the little car backed carefully out of the parking space and sped onto the highway. Laughing at the sight of a smart-car between two large trucks, the group was all smiles. After a few minutes of catching up with recent events, weather, and trends, Kani leaned forward.
"Mom, where are we going? This isn't the way to the house."
"We're heading into the city."
Shay frowned. "Why?"
Geshi glanced at her in the mirror. "We're going to watch the hockey game. It's the first of the season, you know."
Shay smiled. "Oh, cool! We going to a party, or something? Do they have a big TV? Hi-def?"
Geshi sped up slightly to make the red-light. "No, not exactly. We're going to the ice rink. We've got very good seats, y'know. And we'll get to congratulate the players afterwards."
"Epic!" grinned Shay. "Who's on the team? Anyone famous?"
Geshi winced. "Not really. The Kitsunes...please don't repeat this, but they suck. One of the worst in the league."
"Ouch. They can't be that bad," said Kani. Geshi groaned.
"Are you kidding? We're the Konoha Legendaries of hockey!"
Shay burst out laughing, and Kani made a sympthetic noise. The Konoha Legendaries was the country's major league baseball team, and were notorious for being at the bottom of the stack. To be compared to them was to be spat upon, trampled, and laughed at. Geshi fixed the two with a mock-serious glare.
"Swear you'll never repeat that."
Solemnly, the two sweared they would never tell a soul.
Geshi grinned. "So, no. No one you've heard of, Shay."
Shay shrugged. "Eh, y'never know. Try me."
"Okay, let's see...Our captain, Uzumaki Naruto..."
"The one who was an orphan until people found out he was descended from that super rich famous guy, the president who had played hockey?"
"Yeah, him. The Yondaime Cup is named after Naruto's dad."
"Cool. Anyone else?"
"Uchiha Sasuke..."
"Never heard of him," Shay said flaltly. Kani laughed.
"He'd be hurt to hear you say that. He has a big head." Geshi grinned and went on. "Hyuuga Neji...Inuzuka Kiba..."
"Oh!" Kani shouted, making Shu, Mikan, and Taikai look up. "I know that name! Inuzuka? Ninja Dog Kennels has got to be one of the most famous breeders in the world!"
"I know, right? You can't go to a single show without seeing one of their dogs competing! And the judges love them! Gods, they're taking over!"
Shay raised an eyebrow. "Uh...we were talking about hockey?"
"Hm?" Geshi blinked, getting back on topic. "Oh, right. Well, there's Aburame Shino--"
"Isn't his dad one of experts on why bees are dissapearing? Hive Collapse Syndrome or something like that?"
"Yeah, that's him. Although I hear they work more with beetles and flies and bugs like that."
Shay shrugged. "Whatever. Anyone else?"
Geshi looked hard at Shay in the mirror. "...Nah, probably not. You'll hear their names later, at the game, anyway."
Kani and Shay nodded. "Okay."
---
Practice. Practice. Practice.
"Kiba, you need to be ready to clear the puck if they get it past Neji, 'ttebayo, okay?"
"Yeah, I gotcha!"
"Dammit, dobe, your wristshot sucks! Can't you fix it before tonight?"
"Go to Hel, Teme! I don't see you with a magnificent slapshot!"
"My slapshot is perfect!"
"Bull!"
"Shaddup and skate!" roared Kankuro, deftly intercepting a pass from Neji and sending it down the line towards Chouji, who pounced on it almost immeidietely. Neji scowled at him.
"That's an icing call. You should have passed it to Shikamaru first."
"Icing? No one get's benched for that. And Nara was behind you, anyway. I'm not passing it to him."
"Fine, I'll move if you'll stop arguing," muttered Shikamaru, irate. "But signal me or something, would you?"
"Fine."
"Heads up!" Naruto shot past them, parrying attempts from Neji and Kiba and flicking the stick to send the puck sailing. He flashed a leer at Sasuke. "Sucky wristshot my ass!"
"I'm gonna shove something up your ass, alright," muttered Sasuke.
"You're doin' good, boys!" Called Jiraiya from the box. "Keep it up and let's win tonight, eh?"
Practice, practice, practice.
No mercy.
---
7:00 p.m. in Konoha. A small swarm of people in orange and black jerseys are talking and eating and making their way to the Kyuubi Center. Not a large amount of fans, but enough. It was game time.
Mixed among the mass of orange and yellow were the occasional spots of gray and navy blue--Gangmen fans. In fact, too many Gangmen fans for comfort. A grumble of dislike rippled through the Kitsune diehards, and only the watchful eyes of the Center's security force stopped a fight from breaking out.
After all, they were hockey fans. You had to be ready for anything.
---
7:15 p.m. in the Kyuubi Center. Geshi, Kani, and Shay take their seats and munch on their food. In a few minutes, a tall man with silver hair joins them.
"Hello, strangers. Mind if I sit?"
Geshi and Kani smiled. Kani grinned. "Sit down, Dad. You're embarrassing me."
Kakashi hummed to himself. "We're in a hockey rink. No one here is going to notice anything if it's not on the ice."
"Very true," nodded Geshi firmly.
Shay and Kakashi swapped introductions, and Kakashi's eye narrowed. So this was Shay. He glanced at Geshi, who shook her head imperceptibly. Gaara had not been mentioned. Just as well, Kakashi thought, pursing his lips. The red-head had been AWOL from practice and had only shown up today. Jiraiya had pulled him from the game. And even if he hadn't, the likeliest outcome was the same.
Diaster.
---
7:29 p.m. in the commentator's box. Sarutobi Asuma and Maito Gai sat in their seats and started the evening.
"Hello, Kitsune fans!" said Gai into the microphone. "Are you ready for the first game of the season, right here in our youthful Konoha?"
The crowd roared. Only about half the seats were filled, but the response was loud. Gai smiled. "Alright! In just a moment the lights will dim, the music will start, and here they come...your Konohaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa KITSUNEEEESSS!!!"
Lights played across the ice as the players poured out. Only a moment before, the Gangmen had appeared to boos and jeers. Now, roars and chants and screams of adoration ripped the chilly air as the Kitsunes did a lap of the rink and took up their positions.
"Tonight in the starting line-up, number 16, Uchihaaaaaaaaaa SASUKE!!!"
Fangirls across the rink screamed.
"Number 13, Naaaraaaaa SHIKAMARU!"
A buzz of assent that was entirely fitting rippled through the crowd.
"Number 12, Inuzukaaaaaa KIBA!"
More fangirls howled. In the row beneath Kakashi and company, Moriko winced and plugged her ears. Damn fangirls, she thought with menace.
"Number 6, Hyuuugaaa...NEJI!" Gai went on, Asuma playing with the sound effects and music as each player came out. A row of people wearing wigs did the wave as Neji came out. Hinata, having settled in quietly beside Moriko, Sakura, and Ino, hid a giggle. She knew her cousin had his long hair tied into a tight bun under his helmet.
"And here he comes, the Kitsune's captain, number 9, Uzumaaakiiiiii...NARUTO!!!"
Dust fell from the rafters as the crowd exploded. Gai finished with, "And in the goal, number 3, Akimichiiiii...CHOUJI!"
Another round of cheers as Chouji tapped the ice with his stick, and then everyone fell silent for the national anthem, sung by a pretty girl with a calm voice. On the line of "and the wolves shall all howl", the crowd all barked like a dog. Not the most convenient of tributes, but it was the closest to foxes they could get.
The lights went up, people sat in their seats settled in for the game.
Naruto nodded to ref, coming up for the drop and squaring off against the Gangmen's forward. For a moment, Naruto stared. This kid couldn't even be his age! With that fragile, pale face, his opponent almost looked like a girl.
Number 88, that Haku kid, Naruto thought, the hours of preparing for the Gangmen's lineup coming back to him. Fresh outta college. Supposed to be fast. He tensed as the ref held the puck out between him and Haku. A malicious thought filtered through Naruto's brain, Fast, but not tough.
The puck fell...
It hit the ice with a small twap, followed by a loud series of thwacks as Naruto and Haku each strained to get the puck away from the other. Naruto flicked Haku's stick away and flipped the puck back to Kiba, and his eyes bulged as Haku dipped around him and deftly stole it back.
The crowd booed.
Kiba snarled and swerved, trying to force the kid into the wall. Haku turned, keeping his back to Kiba, and bounced the puck off the wall to meet the stick of his teammate--
"Caught on a superb pass from Haku by number 7, infamous veteran Momochi Zabuza," Gai narrated, hiding a wince as said veteran mercilessly smacked into Sasuke.
The crowd howled with indignation, screaming for a call. The zebras looked at each other, but let it be.
"And no foul will be called as Uchiha gets back to his feet and cuts across to scrap with Momochi." Gai raised his voice a second later, "Uchiha gets it away from Momochi to be picked up by Hyuuga, who passes off to Nara...And Momochi smashes Nara! He's lining up for a shot--deflected by Akimichi!"
A roar of approval went up as Naruto appeared around the back of the goal and snatched away the puck, passing to Sasuke, Shikamaru, Sasuke, Hyuuga, and back to Sasuke before Zabuza introduced him to the plexiglass.
"We can see why Momochi is known for his ruthlessness on the ice," winced Gai.
Sasuke sneered to himself as he drove down the line,breaking past two Gangmen defenders, skating around the Gangmen goal and flicking his wrist--
Gai pounded his fist against the table. "Caught! By Gangmen goalie, number..."
The rest of his sentence was drowned out by boos.
Sasuke hissed, shooting forward to grapple with Haku. The fragile, pale face looked at him as their sticks parried for the puck. Zabuza appeared at Haku's right, growling, "Kid! Over here!"
Immediately, Haku snapped the puck out to Zabuza, who took off like a battering ram towards Chouji. Neji zoomed in, just missing as Zabuza deflected him and passed off to Haku, who was using the wall to come around to goal...
"No!" Asuma groaned, and Gai took a deep breath. The Gangmen slapped Haku on the back, their teammates in the box slapping their sticks against the walls enthusiastically. The crowd moaned.
Gai sighed. "Goal scored by Gangmen, number 88, Kiri no Haku. Assist by number 7, Momochi Zabuza. Time of the goal..."
No one was listening. Naruto risked a glance at the clock as Sasuke went to square off against Zabuza. Five minutes left in the first period. He hadn't shifted out once, even though Kiba had switched with Kankuro and Sai, Neji had gone out and come back in, and Shikamaru had swapped with Shino. He and Sasuke had played the entire first period. There was still plenty of time in the game to win...
"Sasuke wins the face-off and passes back to number 56, Aburame Shino. Aburame passes to Uzumaki, Aburame, Uzumaki, Hyuuga, Aburame--Here comes Momochi! Aburame passes to Uchiha in the knick of time and goes sprawling!" Gai grinned and Asuma shouted in triumph. "That'll be a call for tripping! Momochi is going to the penalty box and the Konoha Kitsunes get a youthful power play!"
The crowd leapt to it's feet. A two minute penalty for tripping with Momochi in the box, three minutes left in the first! A good shot could tie the game.
Jiraiya called Shino back, and the crowd cheered for him as he went in. Kankuro appeared again, and Jiraiya motioned to Naruto.
The captain stared at him. "What? I'm doing great!"
"I know, kid, but it's only the end of the first. Save yourself for later, alright?"
"But--"
"Don't be stupid, Uzumaki! Get in here! Inuzuka, go!"
Naruto seethed as he took a seat in the box. Kiba shot him an apologetic glance and hit the ice. For a moment, the crowd didn't seem to notice. When they did, there was a ripple of discomfort--a power play without Uzumaki? What was Jiraiya thinking?
All thoughts were dispelled as the puck dropped and Kiba drove down before passing off to Kankuro. Letting it slide back to Sasuke, Kankuro floated back near the Gangmen goal, eyeing the two Gangmen defenders warily as Gai narrated,
"Uchiha with the puck, driving down and passing off to Inuzuka. Inuzuka avoiding Haku, skating around the back taking the shot--wide! Number 10, Sabaku no Kankuro with the puck, no one near him--slapshot! Deflected by the goalie! Haku gets the puck, takes it past Uchiha right by Hyuuga, he's going to get it out of the zone into neutral territory, it's loose...picked up by Kankuro, brings it around and passes off to Hyuuga--Haku with the puck, trying to get by Uchiha, but no! Uchiha rams him and takes the puck, line up up misses! Inuzuka's got it, shot, deflected! Kankuro, shot, caught!" Gai sat back in his seat, looking bewildered. "Tens seconds left in this power play. Haku goes for it, shoots, saved by Akimichi! And he's decided enough is enough, he'll wait 'till Uchiha comes around to put it back in play. Power play is over as Uchiha comes back into the Gangmen zone, Momochi is back and intercepts a pass to Hyuuga. Heading straight for Akimichi, there's no one to stop him--deflected by Akimichi! Picked up by Inuzuka..."
Naruto sat, leaning forward anxiously and scowling as the buzzer sounded, the players came in and the first period was over.
During the intermission, he was given no chance to complain as Jiraiya fervently outlined a new plan. Everyone nodded, the new lineup got ready, and Naruto watched as the battle raged on.
The second period was an utter stalemate--no one was getting anywhere, even though Momochi had been called in again for high-sticking. Naruto shot a ferocious glare at Jiraiya as the second period ended.
"Okay, guys," Jiraiya barked, ignoring the two blue eyes staring at him. "They've tightened up on defense. That damn goalie is looking hot, but no one's invincible. Akimichi, you've been doing good. Keep it up. You know the drill, act as a triangle and keep the damn puck away from that kid! Momochi's a problem if he gets it, but he'll only get it if Haku passes it to him, and make no mistake that'll happen..."
The setup was good. Naruto clenched his hands in frustration as Jiraiya had Sai take his place in the lineup. By now, the fans had nearly forgotten he wasn't on the ice--a one point deficit in the third on the first game of the season was too important to bother over details.
Far in the corner of the locker room, Gaara sat quietly, all his gear on with his stick in his hands. Naruto looked at him. "...Gonna play?"
Slowly, Gaara shook his head. "Probably not. It was stupid of me not to come to practice the other day. I don't blame Jiraiya for pulling me."
"I blame him for pulling me," Naruto growled, taking a deep breath and grabbing his stick. "I'm gonna play this period if I have to pay for my own pizza the rest of the season. See ya' later, Gaara." He exited the locker room and joined his teammates in the box.
Slowly, Gaara stood to follow him. He might as well--this game wasn't over yet.
On the ice, Momochi Zabuza was destroying them.
"Another check on Uchiha by Momochi, and he's got the puck! Pass to a defenseman, has it again, coming around--incredible save by Akimichi! Momochi's trying again but no! Akimichi won't let it happen! Hyuuga gets it away and it slides outta the zone. That'll be an icing call on Hyuuga. Haku's going for it, beat there by Uchiha! Lines up, shoots--stick save! Ten left in the third and the Gangmen are not letting go!"
Kakashi was leaning forward in his seat, eye glinting as he tensed and swore under his breath when Momochi took the puck. Ino was shouting, the beer in her hand splashing everywhere and showering Hinata, Sakura had her hands pressed tight together, Moriko growled. Geshi, Kani, and Shay were going nuts as the crowd around chanted, "LET'S GO KITS! LET'S GO KITS! LET'S GO KITS!"
Asuma was howling and Gai was half-way out of his chair. "Momochi to Haku, Haku to Momochi, here comes Uchiha! Has it, going down the line, avoids Momochi--checked by Haku! Uchiha is down! He's not getting up, and the ref calls time and talks to Uchiha." A pause, and then incredulous disbelief colored Gai's voice. "Uchiha is coming in! He can hardly stand! Jiraiya calls the players in for a time-out as Uchiha is lead away."
The crowd yowled and screamed and swore and booed. Gangmen fans cheered and laughed maliciously as the ref made no call. A new chant sounded, "REF YOU SUCK! REF YOU SUCK! REF YOU SUCK!"
Moriko winced. "Must we, really?"
"REF YOU SUCK!" Geshi howled. "REF YOU SUCK!"
Hinata shrugged helplessly and glued her eyes to the ice. Would Naruto come in again...?
In the box, Naruto had leapt to his feet. "Old man!"
Jiraiya waved a hand at him. "Yeah, I know, get in there! And for the love of gods, score!"
"I will, 'ttebayo, but..." Naruto fixed Jiraiya with a hard stare. "We need Gaara. You're gonna have an empty net, right?" The old man nodded. "Then we need Gaara. He's our best defenseman and you know it."
Jiraiya bristled. "Don't smart mouth me, kid. Get your ass on the ice and put the puck in the damn goal! I'll throw in Tanuki when he shows up for practice!"
"But--"
"Do you wanna play or not? Shuddup and get moving!"
They went. Jiraiya leaned back in the box. He felt the pager at his belt buzz and looked down at it.
S HERE NO EN PLAY GAARA
Jiraiya frowned. Kakashi had been his co-coach once, but that didn't mean he could give orders. Who was S? Jiraiya thought quickly. Shay? And why not an empty net? The old man sighed.
He knew much more than Kakashi. Much, much more. But, then again, Hatake had been the boys' coach in college. He knew them all almost better than Jiraiya did.
No empty net. Shay was here. Play Gaara?
Fine.
Three minutes left in the third, still behind by one. Jiraiya signaled to Neji and jabbed a finger at Gaara. "You. Get in there."
Gaara looked at him and rose from his seat. "...Yes."
The crowd was on their feet, screaming as Gaara hit the ice running. Momochi had the puck, avoiding Kiba and Shino with terrifying ease. Gaara cut across him, twisting the puck away. Zabuza snarled at him as Naruto picked it up and took it down, maneuvering around and between the Gangmen defenders and passing to Kankuro.
"Shot--blocked--back to Inuzuka, passes to Aburame, Inuzuka, Gaara, shoots--SCOORRRE!!!"
The buzzer blared, lights flashed, the fans screamed themselves hoarse. Geshi and Kani howled, Kakashi grinned, Moriko shouted, "YES!". Sakura and Ino almost hugged--and then remembered who they were and stopped. Hinata smiled.
Shay had frozen. "Did he say...Gaara?"
Geshi, Moriko, Hinata and Kakashi looked at her out of the corners of their eyes, but said nothing.
Gai was jubilant. "And a deadly wristshot by number 1, the youthful Gaara! The game is tied one-one with less than a minute left in the third! Ladies and gentlemen, we're going into overtime!"
The minute ticked away slowly. One last intermission, a desperate plan from Jiraiya, and the Kitsunes stepped out again.
The crowd was roaring, "LET'S GO KITS! LET'S GO KITS! LET'S GO KITS!"
Puck dropped. Shino got it, back to Naruto. "Uzumaki weaving up the ice, to Gaara, Uzumaki, shoots, bounces off the goal post! Haku with it, driving down, Momochi with him, there's no one there--" Gai slumped back in his chair and groaned. The crowd groaned. Jiraiya groaned.
The Gangmen came together in a group, patting each other's helmets and laughing.
The refs huddled together, talking in rapid whispers.
Then, one of the zebras shook his head and held up his arms.
The crowd roared.
"Too many men on the ice! The Gangmen had too many men on the ice! No goal!" Gai laughed, the Gangmen stared at each other in disbelief. The players got back into position...
"Uzumaki. Gaara. Uzumaki, Aburame, Inuzuka with a rapid rally of passes. Back to Aburame, he goes around with it--stolen by Momochi! Caught by Akimichi! Gaara with it, tries to pass to Inuzuka--ooh! Gaara checked hard by Momochi! The puck is loose, Aburame with it, pass to Kankuro, Inuzuka, Gaara, Inuzuka, Uzumaki, takes the slapshot--"
The Gangmen goalie dove...
---
Author's Note: Because I am an evil, evil, evil little twit, Imma leave you hanging here. P
Not because I don't have the results of the game, I do, and in the original draft they were included in the chapter, but I think I'll leave that to next week.
Yep, I'm gonna try and stay on a regular schedual now. I hope.
Anyway. There is SOME purpose behind the numbers of the players. I'll try and list all the ones I put in this chapter. Tell me is I leave anyone out.
Number 16, Uchiha Sasuke--16 is the number for...some element starting with an "s"...in the periodic table. I forget which element. Anyway, it's highly flammable, so I chose that. I could have chosen something more flammable, but all the other choices were either numbers I'd already given to someone else, or odd numbers. And I like odd numbers, so therefore Sasuke doesn't get one. Ha.
((Gothica: Oooh, yeah, you sure showed him!
Me: D ))
Number 13, Nara Shikamaru--No special reason behind this one, really. I just thought it would be kind of funny if Shika was the "bad luck" number. He's so lazy I doubt he has any karma. ^^"
Number 12, Inuzuka Kiba--Okay, this is a direct result from looking for German words that could sound like English words. My German teacher claims that the number 12 in German, pronounced kind of like tz-wolf, sounds like "twelve" in English. Actually, he claims that when written out the words look alike--which I can see, I guess--but when spoken I think zwolf sounds like wolf. And a wolf is type of dog. And Akamaru is a dog. And Kiba likes dogs. So there.
Number 6, Hyuuga Neji--Who here is a Bleach fan? Who here is a Byakuya fan? Hmmm? Well, in my messed up brain, the words "Byakuya" and "Byakugan" link up. As soon as I heard Byakuya's name I thought "Is he a Hyuuga?" And they kind of act alike, too, sometimes...and Byakuya's squad number is six. So, Neji is number six.
Number 9, Uzumaki Naruto--This is kind of obvious. Nine-tailed fox...Naruto...number nine...get it? shot DX
Number 3, Akimichi Chouji--Just because of those three pills he took when fighting that big guy with the pinkish hair that worked for Orochimaru. You know, when they all went after Sasuke and the Sound Four? I've forgotten that big guy's name. Something with a J in it. I'll have to look it up later...Oh well. He's dead. Wait to go, Chouji, and your three mega-ultra-chakra-pills of doom! :D shot again D:
Number 88 of the Gato Gangmen, Haku--Give me a break, okay?! This kid shows up for like three episodes, turns slightly emo, jumps in front of a freakin' lightning jutsu and dies. He doesn't even have a blasted last name! There's not much to work with here! Anyway...basically, if you turn the number eight sideways, it looks like the infinity symbol, and he used those ice mirrors to screw with people's minds, like the number infinity. :) I couldn't make Haku number eight, because Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is number eight. wearing foam finger WE LOVE YOU, OVIE! shotshotshot! D
Number 7 of the Gato Gangmen, Momochi Zabuza--Once again, not much to work with...He was part of the Seven Mist Swordsmen. That's about it.
Number 56, Aburame Shino--HE. NEVER. SPEEEAAAKS. EVAAAAAAAAAARRRR. EVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRR. So I just went to and looked at his profile. In metric units, he weighs 56.6. So, number 56. If anyone has any better ideas, please tell me. I think Shino's pretty damn epic and wanted to think of something better for his number. Oh well. D:
Number 10, Kankuro--NOT EVEN A LAST NAME. WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU, KISHIMOTO? WHY MUST YOU MAKE ME SUFFER? ahem Anyway...Kankuro didn't even HAVE a number mentioned in here in the first draft. I did some quick, probably misguided thinking and remembered he has the one puppet that's a scorpion, right? Or was that Sasori...? Crap. Whatever. And that reminds me of the word "Scorpio", which I'm pretty sure is the zodiac sign for October, which is the tenth month of the year. Anyone have any better ideas, tell me.
Number 1, Gaara--I'd pick up my rant about a last name, but whatever. Pretty obvious. One-tailed tanuki...Gaara...number one...I honestly don't put as much thought as I say I do into these, okay?! P
And that's it for now. You can strangle me if you want for the cliffhanger. Bwhahaha.
