Scroll 2: Teddy-bears, Chains & Wheels

Tsunade nodded to Kakashi.

"If you think so; we will give her a few days of rest before sending her out with you. In the mean time I will pick a few others that would be best suited for this type of mission. Inform her of these plans. Come back in a few days."

With that, Kakashi nodded and left, jumping along the rooftops towards Yukari's house. As he neared, he spotted the thing sitting on her windowsill and shrugged, knocking on her door.

"Yukari-chan, are you in?"

A loud MREEOOOOWWW was heard as Kakashi knocked on the door and it opened to show Yukari trying to shut Meko up as she was drying her hair. Yukari, of course, has already cleaned and clothed, but it seems that the obnoxious cat had found a new plaything, the poor stuffed teddy-bear.

"MEKO-chan, geez, calm down, would you? It's just a toy, probably something a kid threw up here to annoy me, like they love to do…oh, hi Kakashi-sensei, what's up?"

"Nothing at the moment, I hope I am not interrupting anything?" He continued on anyway. "I came to tell you that we will be going out in a few days on a mission. It would be tomorrow, but Tsunade-sama feels you should have a few days rest while I gather more information. What is Meko do-…ing?" He held up his hand for Yukari to be silent as he stared at the teddy bear it was batting around.

"!" Yukari nodded once, silently and let her right arm drop to her side. Here is where her specialty lay; hidden to normal eyes of the public, yet deadly to opposing ninja. Her hair; strands of her hair filled with chakra and numerous strands grew to impossible lengths as she sent a few to twirl, as always, silently around her kunai in her leg pack. Within seconds, and like using an extending arm, the red-eyed girl had a sharp kunai in her right hand.

Noticing that they were staring at him, the teddy bear shoved the cat off and ran off towards the bedroom. As fast as it could anyway; as it stumbled over a few things on its way. Kakashi followed it into the room and grabbed at it, lifting the struggling thing into the air. The teddy bear flailed its hands and arms, before stopping and holding its hands over its eyes, curling into a ball.

"Well would you look at that. Have you seen this before Yukari-chan?" From the tone of his voice he found it more amusing than anything else.

Yukari's eyebrows would lift in shocked astonishment as the five-second chase scene played out. Kakashi was so cool as always, yet the bear…moving on its own was just too weird.

"Uh…not really…I thought it was a kid's toy…one of the several that often get the luck to grace my window…it's a local kids game I guess…but nothing that moved…on its own. Is this some sort of ninja attempt on Konoha or something?" Leave it to Yukari to spice things up with words. However, Meko was having none of it and if looked for, was hiding atop the refrigerator from being startled.

"Maybe it's a puppet…I know the Kazekage's ninja brother had a few…"

The little bear stretched, put its nubbly hands along the length of Kakashi's thumb and cocked its head back. Followed by this motion was a hiss that sounded like something between a snake rearing to attack and a cat defending itself. The hiss accompanied a ripping noise along the Teddy's smiley mouth, as it opened wide and fangs grew out of it. It chomped down on Kakashi's hand, causing him to grip it tighter and shake the thing.

"Ow! Nasty little creature isn't. I…" He shoved Yukari to the side as a bunch of chains burst through the wall to wrap around Kakashi's limbs, paralyzing and holding him in place.

Yukari's Akashingan-dormant red eyes went wide as she took the momentum of Kakashi's push and leapt away from her current location, giving an awkward squawk-shout as the chains busted her lovely windowed-wall.

"WHAT THE CRAP!" She ignored the hell-noisy Meko and dug her hands, kunai included, into her momentarily short hair. Within seconds, she was the replica of some story-tale witch, who had incredibly long hair. Her hands were full with chakra-rich strands, which were ready to be launched into virtually any wire-trap known to the Leaf Shinobi.

"You just better cut the crap, if you're in this village to start trouble…no doubt the ANBU will catch onto this fairly fast…so just show yourselves!"

Yukari didn't know who or what the attackers were or what their plans were; but busting through her apartment walls with chains to threaten her sensei was enough to send Yukari into a semi-pissed battle mode.

The chains did little more than shake Kakashi into doing a jutsu, causing him to drop the Teddy bear in the process. The teddy bear turned back into the little kid and jumped into the air. As he did so, the chains unwrapped from Kakashi and wrapped back around the little kid. Even in the middle of what felt like a major fight, he was a living example of the word 'cute.'

As the chains yanked him back through the wall, he pulled Yukari's Naruto-plushie with him. As the wall came through, the 'attackers' could be seen briefly. The chained one was standing on the shoulders of the girl, whose feet were balanced on a large unicycle (the tire being about 4ft wide). As soon as the Cute-nin was out of Yukari's house, they took off at a run. Kakashi chased after them, motioning for her to follow alongside him.

Those red eyes still were wide with mild shock, as the scene took place. Then they narrowed dangerously as she saw her property being shang-hijacked.

"OOH NO YOU DIDN'T! You raggedy punks…I MADE THAT!" And off she went, sparing a split second of surprise as she registered the gapping new exit the wall had; but not losing a beat of movement as she caught up with the silver-haired jounin sensei of her best friend.

"Kakashi-sensei, is this some sort of sick joke? Those aren't adult ninjas…they're genin…and one of them yanked my property!"

"I don't think so. Something's not right about those kids. They're smart, kind and inexperienced, but they're after something. Actually Yukari, I think they're more jounin level…" He slowed down severely; just now becoming aware of wounds around his ankles. Instantly, a medical Ninja appeared at his side.

Chasing the trio of attackers, Yukari could see masked ANBU closing in from all sides. The unicycle trio stopped; and anyone near could sense a lot of chakra being gathered to be used. The girl was facing away, but the other two were facing towards Yukari's general direction.

The child in chains looked like an animal that was backed into a corner. The cute one just had an awkward frown on its face. Something about them gave off a vibe of 'not right in the head.'

"Erk…" Yukari slowed down as well, seeing the ANBU show up, and, as always, a twitch of sad pain flickered deep in her heart. She still felt the loss of her brother's teammate, and her friend, Maso.

Kabuto had killed Maso to masquerade as years ago, during the Chuunin Exams that Naruto had taken part in. Shaking her head, Yukari also knew that her own brother, Kensuke, was not among this pack of ANBU. It mattered little, as she allowed herself to fall towards to back, as she was only Chuunin. If ANBU showed up, you'd better let them do their job. But she was fully stymied, as she kept along side Kakashi, wondering if she would need to do anything for the next move.

Her eyes still worked on; however, as she used her good common ninja sense to take in that people were moving pointedly away from the general area, giving the ninjas involved room to work. Crimson orbs still took in the actions of the three offenders, still an astonishment to the kunoichi herself.

Never had she seen a unicycle before, yet it was obliviously being used as a ninja tool. And the Overly-Cute kid was something to see too, as he was, again, obviously ninja-trained. The Chained-child set off alerts in her head, warning of imminent danger if pushed too hard.

The ANBU closed in, launching sleep darts towards the children, trying to detain and not kill. The chained-engulfed kid knocked away the darts coming towards itself, and as many as he could towards its team-mates. Sadly, it could knock all of them away as the female kid was hit in a couple of places. The wheel-bearing girl fell to the ground as the wheel nearly exploded with a sudden burst of chakra.

It was originally meant to launch the wheel forward at mind-bending speeds and get them out of the village, but since it had no guidance it flew straight up into the air and continued onward towards the sky. The Cute-kid was evidently stuck with several needles, but didn't appear to be falling unconscious. The third child, dubbed Chain-kid, stood over its friends protectively; the chains stabbing into the ground around the trio in protective arcs. It was looking around defensively, not sure which person to target. The ANBU paused a moment, analyzing what to do next.

Sakura stood up from healing Kakashi's ankles and looked at the scene with her turquoise eyes. Her hands on her hips, she narrowed her eyes at the kids and wondered what the hell was going on. Kakashi held a hand out to Yukari to be assisted up.

Yukari finally turned away from the kids to help Kakashi up and listen intently to any words the ANBU might have. If she were in her younger days, she might have provoked a verbal spar from Sakura and Kakashi, but the intense events that had happened in the past minutes finally sunk in and the Uzaruki groaned in annoyance.

"Oh great: now what? Three wild kids have been taken down by ANBU for blasting up my house and stealing things. Hi Sakura, glad you can be alive OUTSIDE." She exhaled in dry jest.

"Kakashi-senshi, was it those chains that hurt your ankles?" Sakura chuckled, glared back at her raven-haired friend, and gave a raspberry motion.

"Only a little, the kid in the chains used a jutsu to damage my ankle muscles that didn't take effect until after I ran after them…" He paused for a moment, trying to decide if he should calm the kids down, or just knock them out and worry about the calm part when they woke up. Yukari shrugged off Sakura's retort and looked on. A moment later, the jounin leaned over to Yukari.

"Listen, you distract the kids and get their attention on you. I'll come up from behind and incapacitate them. I don't think they'd be too much trouble for me, but you never know. Ready after you…"

Again, there was a face to match the Akashingan eyes, as Kakashi's close proximity made Yukari's blood heat up. She ought to stop having erotic thoughts of the mellow sensei at most inopportune times.

"Uh…ok…" She nodded to the few ANBU that had their 'masked' eyes on her as she stepped forward to address the kids.

"Oy, there, what's this ruckus about anyway? Did somebody hire you to piss me off, kidnap me or you just looking to play games?"

She looked normal and calm as she spoke to the kids. Her raven-black hair short once again, as the chakra-lengthened hair had been dismissed and fallen off, like a starfish's appendage. This was the norm for Yukari, who was known as a hair-jutsu user. Not that the hair-jutsus were hers alone, she just happen to excel at using them.

"And why steal somebody's property as well?" She walked forward even more, her bodily stance cool, calm and playful as she pointed to the Naruto doll in the Cute-kid's hand. "I am lost as to why you three did what you did."

The chain-touting child turned towards here and its lips started to curl back in a snarl; all of its chains seeming to extend into the ground. There was a rumbling beneath Yukari's feet, but that stopped just as Kakashi appeared behind the child, his hand on its neck. A moment later, the body went limp and fell back into his arms. The Cute-Kid just sort of stood there, staring up at him. Kakashi winced a moment when he noted the head spikes before motioning over to the ANBU, Sakura and Yukari.

"Here, lift these kids and let's take them over to ABNU holding center. Be careful not to touch the head-spikes off this kid's head. I guess I'll just guide this one in front of me with his friends." Kakashi was slightly confused as to why the remaining conscious child didn't lash out more.

The pre-mentioned Naruto plushie was nowhere to be seen as it had been forgotten in the excitement. Sakura hoisted the girl that used the unicycle up into her arms and carried her off. A pair of ANBU carried the Chain-kid while a few more circled them in case it woke up early. Kakashi waited for Yukari to join him before following along, his hand on the Cute-kid's shoulder.

Yukari sighed, yet nodded. It went to show that a kind heart really wasn't the best in some situations. She really wanted the kids to talk, but the ANBU, and Kakashi must have deemed them too dangerous to do so. Yukari smiled as Sakura walked by to inspect the kids. She joined them and stood next to Kakashi, looking down at the kid and canting her head sideways.

"Hm, what a bunch of excitement…just what are you anyway?" She spoke to the Cute-kid as she, Kakashi and the kid made their way to the holding buildings of Konoha.

"My daddy likes to call me 'Death' when least expected. Does that count?" The boy responded in joyous tones. He seemed happy to talk, or maybe he was just happy in general. "Wait…I think I'm human if that's what you mean. Was it?"

Kakashi just laughed at the kid's response and kept walking. He had hoped to talk to them separately, but until he knew what they were all capable of he didn't feel like taking a chance with somebody as un-expendable to him as Yukari or Sakura.

"…What are you?" The kid asked Yukari curiously.

"Hm!" Those scarlet eyes would smile as her mood brightened by the kids' odd antics. "I'm Yukari Uzaruki, a female Konoha ninja with the Akashingan, or 'Red-Bird Wheel' but mostly my eyes are attuned to aerial sight…or a bird's point of view…I see things that a bird can see…" She laughed again, good-naturedly, and looked at the kunai still in her hand. "Oh, well, yea…you kids gave me quite the hullo there, didn't you? What the heck was that all about, anyway? You're not after my eyes are you?"

Some weak interrogation effort on Yukari's part there, but she really didn't expect to do much now that the ANBU had things in control.

"Your dad calls you death? That's kinda stupid; I mean you look more like a Kuro-kun or Tatsu-kun to me…" She spared a red-laced glanced at the three ANBU and Kakashi that escorted this kid to where-ever the destination was.

"No, not really, we don't like red eyes. Well, I don't really care. They scare Wydra-chan and Sheena-chan goes all crazy when she sees 'em. Not your eyes though, more like his." He pointed up towards Kakashi's face.

Kakashi didn't let the mild surprise show on his face, but he looked toward Yukari with a question on his face. Something like 'how does he know?' and 'what are these kids?' Kakashi decided to remain silent for now.

"Besides…oh wait; never mind." Cute-kid cut himself off from what he was about to say, then looked around like he'd completely forgotten about it.

Yukari turned her head slightly, not wanting Kakashi to see her reaction. Of course SHE knew he had a Sharingan, so did the ANBU and other important Konoha people…ninja-wise, that was, but Yukari also knew of the rare others than had red eyes. Both of them she detested; one sent shivers down her spine and the other she wrote off as a bastard and an emo.

"Hm…" Yukari nodded in light agreement. "Very interesting; that you dislike red eyes. They are a real rarity in this world…I mean, yea, well, I take it you've seen the other red eyes then, if you hate them…Oh boy…"

"Mine only get red when I've been up to long, but daddy says that's one of the normal things about me. Where are we going?" The child asked in innocent tones.

He looked up at Yukari with huge, shining eyes usually only seen in innocent children. Kakashi would have spoken up and asked the child a question, but he got the feeling that he should remain quiet on that subject. Instead he turned to the kunoichi.

"Are you okay, Yukari-chan?" Kakashi could read, from her face, as to what going on in her mind. He was good, but not good enough to get the whole message.

"Yea, I'm ok, just thinking…where we are going…well, you three were troublesome…" It was a word that her friend, Shikamaru, loved to use. "So these nice ANBU…" She waved to the trio of red and white masked ninja around them as she spoke. "You are going to put you inside a room without windows until a reason can be found why you did what you did."

She smirked grimly; she never had experience with locking up this young of kids before, so it felt slightly wrong; especially with those overly cute eyes boring into her.

"So you say you have red eyes too? Are they called anything?" Yukari asked as their group reached a yellow and blue painted building with ANBU activity going in and out.

The Cute-kid listened to what she said and waited until she was done to respond, carefully picking what he was going to say before he said it. Wydra, the girl with the wheel, had gotten onto him about that, and made him promise he would do so. Sheena, the kid with the chains, had just up and kicked his ass last time his mouth had slipped too far.

"What does ANBU mean? That kinda sounds like my room. Do you have food? We're hungry. Well, they would be if they were awake. Uhm…red-eyes like this…"

He concentrated a moment, and looked up at her. IT was a simple jutsu he'd done, and his eyes didn't seem anything special. They looked a little dry, like a person that hadn't gotten sleep in a long time. The lines started waving and moving, and he shook his head real hard for a few seconds before they went back to normal. As they walked into the building he reached up a hand towards Yukari's and looked around.

"What's this place?"

Kakashi tapped Yukari on the shoulder to get her attention and then nodded his head off in the direction of Tsunade's office before disappearing.

Yukari smiled to herself as Kakashi went off to tell whatever he wanted to say to the Lady Hokage. As for Yukari, she was stuck, as the Cute-kid had affectively pinned her down by grasping her hand. The three ANBU that were left nodded to the red-eyed chuunin and guided the three kids and her into the ANBU Way station.

"Well, ANBU. I forget what it stands for, but they are this village's black-elite guard, because they are just that good at what they do. I guess you can call them police of sorts…that watch over this village and more. As for this place, it's like a…holding cell for bad people." Yukari mentally slapped herself. "I mean, it's a place to put people that we are unsure of what to do with. So they don't hurt themselves or other villagers. I'm guessing ANBU wants to know why you decided to add a new decoration to my apartment and such. As for food, yea, you'll get some, as long as you don't plan on killing anybody here…"

She was being escorted to the rooms down the third such hallways after entering the building, and her senses were alert.

"No, I haven't killed anything since I left home. Wydra asked me not to. Oooo. Is that their face?" He pointed at the ANBU masks and blinked, concentrating a little. "If it is, then I haven't left home…wait…" He thought for a few seconds, then lifted his head and looked around as if he'd forgotten about it.

He yawned and let go of Yukari's hand, with a small poof of basic transformation jutsu, he popped into the air and landed on the Chained ones chest in the form of Yukari's Naruto plushie. The plushie turned and waved at her as the ANBU put them in the room. Before the door shut he spoke;

"Sorry about your house, we'll fix it. You're nice, I like you." The child's speech seemed disconnected and off at times. As though he changed subjects frequently; or there was a dramatic shift in his thoughts.

Underneath the cuteness, he might come off as a little crazy. The doors shut and a few ANBU stuck around to guard the room. Yukari would feel a pair of familiar fingers tapping on her shoulder. Not good, like Kakashi's, or bad like an Uchiha's. It was the Pink-haired Medical Nin.

"Hup? Yes, Sakura-san?" Yukari turned to Naruto's teammate and smiled. "Is there going to be any trouble with those three? I think they might be homeless and crap…who knows…but they are sure a puzzle…" She was brought back to the world of the serious by her missing Naruto plushie…and thought.

Oh if Sakura ever finds out that I have a Naruto-plushie… Yukari mental screamed to herself. She'd laugh at me.

"Tsunade-shishou has sent me to tell you you're relieved of sentry duty for tonight. And that she wants you to meet her in her office about something…" Sakura turned to go, waiting for Yukari to come with her. Sakura was going to go back to Tsunade's office anyway, so figured they should travel together. Sakura spoke up again as Yukari joined her in walking to the Hokage building.

"I don't know. I've never seen those three before. A few years ago there was a unicycle ninja in the village, but he stayed for a few days and just passed through. I don't think the kids are homeless. I would say they're missing Nin, but they're so young. They sure are freaky though, especially that little girl." She spoke as they walked along. Sakura giggled and smirked at something.

"Oh, ok…geez, never a dull moment around here, even with Naruto-chan away for training. HE BETTER NOT GET TOO STRONG! I might have to kick his ass then!" Sakura just laughed at Yukari's strong comment.

It was the very thing that started the Kyuubi-container's friendship between her. Naruto had literally run into her as he was running away from the ANBU for pulling pranks, and she had thoroughly kicked his rear for being so rude. Since then, not unlike Sasuke and Naruto; Yukari and Naruto had been friendly rivals. But that event was nearly two years in the past, and now he was off running around the lands for training. His new sensei wasn't Kakashi, but some toad-training pervert that she had met briefly.

"Sakura-chan, do you know what's going on? This is just a random event, right? I mean, this isn't some stupid ruse that those idiot Rock-Nin are pulling, is it?"

The Rock nin, known to the Konoha villagers, were the official enemy of the Leaf Nin; they and the Sound Ninja, as always. Yukari could care less of the Rock Nin and had nothing to do with them. However the Sound Nin had racked up a number of her personal grudges, the top one being Sasuke's desertion from Konohagakure; and injuring Naruto in the process. Again, in the past, but Yukari would never forgive that bastard Sasuke for doing such rotten things.

"From what I've heard, I don't think this is a random event. I don't think it's the Rock-nin though. It's…like during the exams when I looked at Gaara-sama. I got the feeling something really bad was going to happen. I want to say I'm just being paranoid because I'm afraid of what it means if I'm not. You sure about the dull-part though? It's always felt a little quiet with Naruto-chan gone. It's nice sometimes, but I miss his antics…" Sakura was a little silent as they walked. She sighed and stopped walking for a moment, a little outside the door to Tsunade's office.

"I know she's going to talk about it; but that feeling I mentioned? I get it more when I look at that little kid, the one that was awake. The boy that Kakashi-sensei knocked out just seems like he should be something to watch but not afraid of. I didn't want to say anything in front of Tsunade-sama because I don't wanna hear any more lectures today, I've already had enough training for now…" From where they were standing, Kakashi's and Tsunade's muffled voices could be heard.

"Oh shit, you mean the kid's a Jinchuuriki, or just a really bad aura? I mean, if we have to fight those damned Akatsuki…oh, sorry, Sakura-chan, I wasn't there when you fought Gaara-sama during the chuunin exams. I'll listen to what the Lady-Hokage has to say…" Yukari felt flustered know, but tightened her resolve and really wish she had grabbed her Nin band back at home…Meko was probably sleeping all over its shredded remains…poor head band.

"Lady-Hokage, I'm here as you requested." Yukari knocked before entering.

"Come in, and thank you for coming quickly. Kakashi-san has just finished informing me of all the recent events. I heard what you were saying, but I do not think this child is a Jinchuuriki. I have had experience with enough of them to know the difference. There is very definitely something odd about the child, and his friends. You handled the situation well, considering your attachment to what I am told was stolen." Tsunade smiled at the comment. She was not prone to humor or joking much, but she did have her moments; such as referencing the Naruto-plushie just now.

"I asked you here for a few reasons. The first is to hear your account of what happened, and your thoughts on these strange children." she paused, waiting for Yukari to begin. Kakashi stood off silently to the side, having already spoken. "Ah…uh…"

For once, the Old hag got one up on her, did some of Naruto's playful humor rub off on this busty-blonde of a woman! Yukari would have to sort that out with Uzumaki-kun later, but the plushie reference made her dumb-founded for a few seconds before she meekly smiled. If any of the Rookie 9, or even classmates: Lee, Neji or Tenten heard of this…things would be not so quiet afterwards.

"Well. I uh…yea…those kids just came out of nowhere. I think one of them was a teddy bear transformed or something. I'm not sure why they staked my house for action as I've never seen them before…but they did, and Kakashi-sensei caught on before I did. My cat, Meko, was playing with the teddy bear when he found it suspicious and motioned me to be alert…I was, but then the teddy bear grew fangs…" It was a slight embellishment on Yukari's part. "…and tried to eat Kakashi-sensei's thumb. I was about to do something when those chains made short work of my window-ed wall to grab the teddy-bear; who I think turned into something alive and grabbed my property. I'm surprised the ANBU reacted as fast as they did. Those kids are bizarre. They, or the 'Cute-Kid' told me his name was Death and that they hated 'Red-eyes'. I think they might have met either one of the Uchihas in the past, to be so vocal about their hatred…"

Tsunade nodded and took this in a moment. "Yes, that's exactly what Kakashi-san told me and I came to the same conclusions as well. We have no idea where Sasuke-kun is right now, and only a very vague idea about Itachi. So we aren't sure of which they possibly could have come in contact with." The Hokage paused once more and thought for a moment.

"I also heard that Sakura-san spoke of a ninja on a Unicycle passing through here a few years before. Kakashi-san will be leaving soon to find out more information, and you may be following him soon after. What I want you to do is this; pick a team of those you would feel comfortable traveling a long distance with, other fellow nin you can fight alongside easily, and those you can trust best. Soon, you may have to leave Konohagakure for awhile, but we won't know; until Kakashi-san returns. Until then, I want you to find out as much as you can from these strange children. Is there any questions or additional information?"

"Hm…" Yukari was rather surprised…ok, overly surprised to be put in charge of a Ninja squad, but it wasn't the first time, as she had led once with pre-genin a year ago for training, them and herself, but this did require some thought. Since her first choice, Naruto and Sakura were out of the question, she pondered more thoughtfully. Neji still scared the piss out of her, and Shikamaru was off flirting with some Suna kunoichi. Chouji would probably tempt her into gaining more weight than she needed, and Tenten wasn't the best of opposites to work with.

Lee-kun might be a good idea, as with Kiba-san and Ino, or even Hinata and Shino. Hinata, alone out of the Hyuuga Clan, did not creep her out. In fact, Yukari shared a good friendship with the shy Hyuuga heir. Kiba was a good friend too, because he always made her smile and work hard. Then there was Reina Maito, an old time-class mate from back in the Academy days…Reina once dated Yuro, her now deceased teammate, and she and Yukari got along. Ok, so it was Hinata, Kiba and Shino.

"I think I've made my choice. If Hinata-san, Kiba-san and Shino-san are not busy, I'll take them…"

"They are not doing anything at the moment. I know it is confusing; forming a team with no specifics, but tell them of what has happened anyway. Also tell them that more nin may be joining soon, but it is not a definite decision yet. If there is nothing more to add, you may go for now, Yukari and Kakashi. I wish to speak to Sakura alone…" Tsunade waited for the two to leave. Kakashi was already holding the door open for Yukari.

Yukari nodded to the Lady-Hokage and the just now visible Ton-Ton the pig, and turned around and exited the office of the Hokage. Things were ever in motion for her, which wasn't a bad thing. But she ever so slightly missed those dull, eventless days of yore, when her team died, and her sensei, Jamaru Akanchi, had been plotting to betray her to Itachi and the Akatsuki. He, like Kabuto, knew of her strong blooded-Akashingan trait and wanted to cash in big for turning her over to the highest bidder.

In part thanks to Naruto, that scheme was uncovered and Jamaru securely sentenced to the Konoha Jail Compound, light-years away. Now, since the rise of the new Hokage, and Sasuke had went missing; Yukari had found work again, as a proper ninja, going on and carrying out ninja missions. Not that was she ungrateful; going on missions was very energetic work. Yukari loved it, and was glad that it had brought her that much closer to being as strong as Naruto. Not that she could ever hope to match the stamina of that prankster-demonic fox that Naruto carried.

"So what do you think about all this, Kakashi-sensei? The kids and all? You think they are looking for a place to call home?"

"I think they are looking for a place to call home, but I'm not sure if they're looking for it here. I think the kids have had very bad lives so far, at least the chained one. The little girl seems out of place, and the other one is confusing. He is almost like he is…too cute, in a distracting way." His expression changed and he brightened up, ruffling Yukari's hair a little.

"Don't worry though Yukari-chan, I'm sure everything will work out okay." He smiled his mask-hidden smile at her and seemingly pulled the Naruto plushie out of nowhere.

"I picked this up, but didn't have a chance to give it back to you until now." He held it out to her.

"NARRUY-CHAN!" Yukari jumped in glee as Kakashi produced the haphazardly home-made plushie of the number 1 hyperactive knuckle-head ninja.

"Wow, thanks a lot, Kakashi-sensei! I owe you one. I mean; that thing was HARD to make!" She fought to hide a blush that rose to her cheeks. Even though she was 14 going on 15, she still played with toys. Ugh, the Copycat Nin must think her so childish in that aspect. Oh well, it wasn't like the plushie did much, just sat on her bed-stand and reminded her of Naruto-chan's voice.

"Why'd you think they stole it in the first place? I mean it wasn't very outstanding, I had other things on that table too, a picture, a kunai, a clock, and a lamp…kids…" She took the thing and smiled once more. "Oh well, it's safe that that's what counts!"

Kakashi only smiled and laughed, ruffling her hair. "Yukari-chan, you are so adorable some times, one of the things I like about you. But think; what was it about that doll that was different from all the other things? A certain…blond-haired aspect. True, being safe is something that…hmmm. Thank you Yukari-chan, you have given me much to think about." He turned to leave, deciding on walking instead of just disappearing.

She blushed fully now. Yukari understood the comment about Naruto and his habit of inspiring others to feel safe and confident about themselves. Indeed, Naruto had a running count of how many lives he had changed for the better via his interaction with. But the question was; how did those kids know of Naruto?

Red eyes looked up from the plushie and into the already-half-set sun, causing her to sigh and smile. It was late, and the shadows had gotten longer since she finished training. She made her way back towards her house, thinking of Naruto and just what he was doing out there in the wide world. When she got to her place, the gaping hole in the wall was already covered in grey tarp, as her neighbors stood about looking at it with mild curiosity.

"Hey there, Uzaruki-san. I was worried about you when you didn't show up after your wall collapsed." The kindly thread-weaver, Kaiko-san, spoke up when the ninja stopped to finally assess the damage.

"Oh, I'm in one piece, Kaiko-san, I just had last minute things that popped up…and needed to talk to the Hokage-sama." Yukari replied. "I hope Meko wasn't any trouble. I know he's notorious for causing trouble around here…"

"Oh, not at all, Uzaruki-san, as a matter of fact, Meko-chan gave those carpenters a heck of a time even when they left." Her husband, Torto-san, laughed heartedly as he walked out of the opposite house, holding the now-white-furred cat.

The cat meowed and leapt from the man's arms into Yukari's. The married pair chuckled to themselves as they bid Yukari a peaceful night before returning to their house.

Out of the sky, right in front of Yukari's feet, dropped a unicycle. It was the one that the little girl had been riding on, and it was now back to normal size. To have been up this long it must have gone quite some distance. Indeed, the thing would feel freezing to the touch. Shortly after landing, it started to wobble as if trying to roll back onto its side.