"You're sure you can handle being alone for the week?" Kakashi asked for the millionth time, a passed out Tsume cradled in his arms. The Inuzuka had changed before falling asleep, leaving Kakashi to carry her down the stairs to the yard.
Hana, still in her dress, sighed and rolled her eyes. "Yes, Dad," she said. "I'm sure we can handle this for the week."
"You're a hundred percent sure?" Kakashi repeated.
"Yes! I am sixteen, Dad! I can handle a week with my siblings!"
Kakashi shrugged. "Fine, but don't call us when you can't figure something out."
Hana waved happily as he walked away, then turned to her younger siblings and glared at the over-hyper Genin.
"I swear," she hissed. "If you so much as think of behaving rudely, I will hurt you."
Sakura shrugged and turned away from Hana, walking back into the house. Sasuke followed her, looking as dazed as Sakura was. Kiba stared at Hana for a long time, then grinned and almost skipped away.
"So," Itachi started. "Will you seriously hurt them?"
"Of course."
"Gotcha."
/\/\
Sakura blew out a frustrated breath as she stared at the TV. There was nothing to do with her parents gone! And Itachi had a mission, so he was gone. Plus, her brothers were all outside, beating each other up. They like to call it playing – Sakura knew better.
Hana entered the room, caught Sakura's gaze, and promptly left. The pinkette had been absolutely unbearable to be around the past few days, and without Itachi to help her, there was no way Hana was even going to think about confronting her sister.
Sakura stood up and grabbed the phone off the table. She squinted at her arm, barely able to make out the faded number there after three days. Then she pressed the number into the phone, checking her arm every now and then to make sure it was right.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Lee?"
/\/\
Naruto glared at his brother as Sasuke snickered at him. "What was that for, Sasuke?" Naruto shrieked, waving his arms in the air. He looked about ready to murder the raven.
"I felt like it."
Kiba leaped forward to restrain Naruto, even as he smiled at Sasuke and mouthed, "Good job."
Sasuke smirked and cocked his head to the side, dropping to one knee to scratch Rusty behind his ears. "Good boy," Sasuke praised the retriever, smiling happily as Naruto snarled.
"KIBA! LET ME GO!"
"Nope."
Naruto kicked and struggled to get out of his brother's hold, but was unable to get free of his freakish strength. When had Kiba gotten so strong?
Sasuke smirked and stepped back as a livid Hana marched out of the house, her dark hair loose from her recent shower. She stopped in front of the three brothers, hands on her hips, slit irises flashing as she glared at him.
"What did you do, Sasuke?" she growled. Sasuke put on an innocent look.
"I didn't do anything, nee-san! Why do you automatically think it was me?"
"Because Kiba is the one holding Naruto back."
"…Doesn't mean that it was my fault."
"Yeah. It sorta does."
"You're mean."
"I'm also in charge." Hana turned to Naruto, sending one last scowl at Sasuke, which clearly said, 'I am not done with you.' She plastered a smile on her face, staring at her youngest brother. "Naruto," she started gently. "Why don't you get cleaned up and Itachi and I will take you to Ichiraku's?"
Naruto relaxed in Kiba's arms, smiling softly. "Of course, nee-san, I can do that."
He slipped out of Kiba's hold and skipped away, mud clumping and falling from his clothes. Hana grimaced and sprinted after him, shouting about him needing to use a towel before he walked inside.
Sasuke sighed and leaned against a tree, looking at his older brother. "What do we do now?"
Kiba smirked, brushing the quickly drying mud off his clothes. "Wanna go bug Sakura?"
"Of course."
/\/\
Sakura twisted her comforter between her fingers, smiling as Lee went on about his training. The teen was so nice to her! Always considering her and not just himself…and they had only met three days ago!
"…and Gai-sensei says that we should be able to participate in this year's Chuunin exams!" Lee finished excitedly, and Sakura sat upright, eyebrows raised.
"Chuunin exams?" she repeated. "When are those?"
"Oh, a couple months from now," Lee answered breezily. "But isn't this exciting? I might be a Chuunin before the end of the year!"
"Oh, that is great, Lee," Sakura replied happily, falling back into her original position. "And—"
She was cut off as her brothers burst into her room, laughing loudly. She sat up again and glared at them, saying, "Sorry, Lee, I have to deal with my brothers. Wait a minute."
Her lips pressed together tightly, green eyes narrowing. Sasuke and Kiba ignored her fury, choosing instead to snicker repeatedly.
"Get out of my room!" Sakura barked, scaring the pants off of her brothers. They whimpered and scampered away, the door slamming shut behind them. She smiled and pressed the phone back to her ear.
"Sorry, Lee, my brothers interrupted me. Go on…"
/\/\
Hana handed her brother his pants and a shirt, having somehow convinced him not to wear orange. She honestly didn't even know how she had done it, but at least he wasn't standing out like he usually does.
"Come on, Hana!" Naruto tugged on her arm, while at the same time brushing a towel over his blonde hair. "I want ramen!"
"We have to wait for Itachi, Naruto," Hana chuckled. Nevertheless, she followed her brother out of his room, and she mentally made a note to remind them to clean their room. It desperately needed it.
"What do you need me for?" Itachi asked as he threw his ANBU vest and mask on the couch. Hana laughed.
"We need you to come with us to get ramen," she explained. He tilted his head to the side with a sigh, closing his eyes and nodding.
"Sure, just let me get changed."
He started past them to his room, and Naruto whined.
"No! I want my ramen!"
Itachi patted him on the head as he passed. "Don't worry, Naruto, I hold the record for changing fast."
Hana laughed again.
A/N: Okay, first of all, my computer (actually, it's my mom's laptop. Not the point…) is being VERY stupid. The internet won't work, so I have to copy ALL of my files on to the crappy family computer. This will be up as soon as I can get it...
Anyways, I realized some of you may be confused about how old everyone is. And I know it was a BIG time skip – I actually realized that I messed up. Sakura, Kiba, and Sasuke are thirteen now, not twelve…Sorry for that. I'll go back and change that anywhere I can find it…
But here are their ages in order from oldest to youngest…Naruto being the youngest. ;)
Tsume-35
Kakashi-29 (technically he's 30 now…they haven't celebrated his birthday yet…It's coming up though!)
Itachi-17 (or 18, I need to check my math…)
Hana- 16 (see Itachi)
Sakura-13
Kiba-13
Sasuke-13
Naruto-12 (poor Naruto…he's the youngest…)
Anyways, review?
