A/N: I really don't have much to say in this chapter, other than thank you for reading my stories. I'm happy that so many people who read Lavender Love are enjoying this one. Also, there will be pictures of the main characters of this story on my DeviantArt Scrapbook, which you can view from my Facebook profile. Just look for links and find my DeviantArt. My homepage from my profile is my Facebook. That being said, let's begin.

Chapter Three: Dinner With a New Friend

Rise awoke with the sun in her eyes, the way she always did. Rise opened her lavender eyes, squinting as the sun shone into them.

"I need better blinds."

She whimpered and she forced herself out of bed, making it behind her. She opened her window like she did every morning and she sat on the window sill.

"Lord Sun, have you met Lady Moon today?"

She whispered, singing another line from her favorite song. She looked down at herself and she sighed.

"Better get ready."

Rise dug into her drawers and she pulled out the first things she could. She laid her clothes out on her bed and she nodded.

"Hm, skirt or shorts?"

She whispered to herself. She shoved her shorts back in her drawer and she headed into the bathroom for her shower. She sank into the tub like she usually did. She washed her hair and her skin, looking down at her growing body. Rise was already developing, which wasn't a surprise. She was twelve after all, but she still felt uncomfortable about it. She pushed the thoughts aside and she drained the water from the tub, drying her body and dressing quickly. Rise straightened her hair and she placed her hairband over her head and she stepped out into the hallway. Kaze was just coming out of Syao's room and they smiled at each other.

"Good morning."

They both said. Rise looked around the house for her mother and father. Hinata was heading out the door with Naruto.

"Rise, before I go, I wanted to let you and Kaze know that we're not going to be home tonight. Kushina went to visit Minato's grave, and she'll be back by nine. Here's some Ryo for you and Kaze. Go out and eat after classes are over, ok? And be in by no later than nine. I've left Syao and Lyn money as well. All of you better be home by the time your grandmother is home. Do you understand?"

Rise hugged her mother and she nodded.

"I understand, Mom."

Kaze smiled and he nodded as well. Hinata drew out some money and she handed it to Rise. Rise smiled and she tucked the money into her pocket.

"Be careful, Mom. And tell Daddy I love him."

Rise said before Hinata turned and walked out the door. Kaze sat at the table and he poured a bowl of cereal for himself.

"It is always like this?"

He whispered to Rise, who joyfully sat across from him, pouring her own cereal.

"They go on missions together a lot. Grandma stays with us when they're gone, but sometimes she's visiting Grandpa's grave. He was the Fourth Hokage."

Rise didn't usually mention that much about her family, but she had known Kaze since they were both babies. He was the one boy that wasn't family that she could call a friend. They had grown up together, seeing each other often. Kaze smiled at her and he looked down at his bowl, which was now empty. His father was the Kazekage, so he knew what it was like to be famous.

"We should get going soon, shouldn't we Rise?"

Rise drank the last of the milk from her cereal and she nodded.

"Yeah, we're going to be late, if we hang around here much longer. Just let me go and get my Shuriken set."

Rise ran into the backyard and she gathered all the shuriken into a bundle and put them in her bag.

"Alright, let's go."

She said. The two young Shinobi in training walked through the village. On the way, the ran into Nanjo. He smiled at Rise and he started to walk towards her. Rise didn't know what he wanted, so she forced a smile.

"Hello Nanjo."

Nanjo looked at Kaze and he turned his gaze back to Rise.

"Nice to see you again Rise. Nice day isn't it?"

He said and he started to walk with the pair as they walked towards the Academy. Nanjo had taken an interest in Rise it seemed. They talked about various things, until Rise saw Serah. Serah was waving at her best friend, which made Rise break into a run, leaving Kaze behind. When Rise was out of range, Nanjo spoke to Kaze.

"I hear you're living with her. I know that you two are special, like me."

Nanjo whispered, causing Kaze to look at him.

"You have no clue what we are. Do not speak as if you know us."

Kaze hissed harshly. No one knew what was inside Rise and himself. Nanjo narrowed his eyes dangerously and he lifted his shirt slightly. Kaze's eyes instinctively darted down and they then went wide.

"Which beast?"

Nanjo chuckled.

"I'm a pseudo-Jinchuriki. I hold some of the Eight and Nine Tails's power."

Kaze nodded and they rejoined Rise, who had smiled at Kaze.

"We're ready to go inside."

Kaze motioned for Nanjo and Serah to head in first, while he talked to Rise. Rise, upon hearing the news from Kaze, smiled.

"Seems like we have a lot in common. Why don't we bring him along with us to dinner tonight?"

Kaze nodded and they entered their classroom. Hanabi took them outside immediately and she paired them up. Rise was working with Nanjo today, and Rise spoke to him in a friendly manner for the first time.

"Kaze told me about you. You have power like ours inside of you. Would you like to come to dinner with us tonight?"

She whispered as she threw her kunai at the practice log, hitting the bullseye. Hanabi saw this and she drew the classes attention.

"Look how Rise does it everyone. She hit the dead center."

Serah had been paired with Yukiko and they were throwing shuriken at the log. Several of their shuriken were on the floor and had completely missed their mark.

"How'd you do that Rise?"

All of the students gathered around to watch Rise. She felt her face getting red. She took several shuriken and she threw them all at once. They seemed to weave in the air before they sunk into the log. Hanabi knelt down and she whispered to her niece.

"I think you have the same Wind Affinity as your older siblings, Rise. Get your dad to teach you Wind Release, ok?"

Rise nodded at her aunt and they continued their training. After an hour, Hanabi called them back inside where they practiced a few basic Jutsu, such as Substitution, Clone and Body Flicker. Rise had seen these all before, so they were nothing new to her. Serah had outperformed them all however, and Hanabi was pleased that every one had done so well. Hanabi then let them go for the day. Rise, Kaze and Nanjo left the Academy in high spirits, having done very well. Hiro, Yukiko and Serah joined them as they exited. Rise reached into her back pocket for the money her mother had given them for dinner.

"Want to go get barbeque?"

She asked her friends and they all let a cheer go up. Rise led the way through the village until the reached the restaurant. The six young Shinobi in training sat in the booth nearest the kitchen and they ordered their food. Kaze was sitting next to Rise and he whispered to her.

"How much did your mother give you?"

Rise chuckled and she fanned out the bills. Rise counted it up and she smiled.

"About 15000. More than enough for all of us. When we get home, do you want some ice cream?"

Kaze smiled and he closed his eyes as their food arrived. The six children clapped their hands together and thanked their chef for the food before they began to eat. Serah had brought up the concept of goals, and they talked about them passionately. Kaze's goal was surprisingly humble.

"I want to be a Shinobi that has earned my father's respect. I'd like to be Kazekage one day, though."

Rise smiled and she thought to herself. Just like me. I want to show everyone that, just like Lady Tsunade, I can be a good leader. Rise chuckled and she eat in silence. She finished her food and she pushed her plate away.

"My goal is to be an ANBU one day, just like my dad."

Everyone nodded and they finished their food. Rise paid and they all started to leave.

"See you at the Academy Rise!"

Serah had called out to her best friend and they had hugged. Serah hugged Kaze as well and she ran out the door, smiling briefly at Nanjo.

"I'd better get home too."

He said and he started to walk out, but Rise and Kaze walked with him.

"We'll walk you home."

Kaze said and they walked to the Hokage Tower. When they reached the tower, Nanjo stopped and he looked up.

"I'll see you both tomorrow."

He said and he ran up the stairs and into the room he was using, leaving Kaze and Rise alone. Kaze and Rise walked in silence until they reached their home. Rise found that Syao and Lyn were already home. Rise dug into the freezer and they four of them had ice cream before the went into the back yard to train. The night was nigh on moonless, like the night before. Kushina came home right at nine and she put the children to bed. Rise hugged her grandmother and she smiled.

"Did you have fun Rise?"

She asked her granddaughter, to which Rise nodded happily. Kushina, now in her mid fifties, was still strong and able. Rise went into her room and she sat by her window, and she whispered another line from her favorite song.

"Lady Luna in the sky, how dost thou look so divine?"

Rise then changed into her nightgown and she fell asleep, happy that she had made a new friend. She didn't know that her mother and father were out on a mission looking for the one who had invaded the village eleven years ago, to claim her power for his own desires.

TO BE CONTINUED...