A/N: Just like my last chapter, I have a few new links on my profile. Artwork, my Facebook and my Youtube Channel. Just for those who want to follow me there as well. That being said, let's begin the chapter,

Chapter Four: Rainy Days

Two days had passed since Naruto and Hinata had gone on a mission. Rise rose from her bed just like every other day, but today she didn't open the window. A heavy rain was falling in Konohagakure, threatening to block out the sun all day long.

"Rain rain, go away, come again another day."

Rise said. She hated rainy days. She found that it made people's spirits fall. Still, she had to go to the Academy today. Rise showered and dressed quickly, stepping out into the hallway. Lyn was just coming out of her room, and she saw her little sister.

"Rise, can I talk to you for a minute, in my room?"

Rise nodded and she stepped into her sister's room. Lyn closed the door and she whispered to Rise.

"I heard that you are friends with Nanjo Inaba. Rise, I want you to be very careful around him. I don't know why, but I get a chill every time I see him."

Rise smiled and she chuckled.

"He's like us. He's a pseudo-Jinchuuriki sis. He knows what its like to be cast aside. He's fine. You're worrying too much."

Lyn, however, did not laugh or smile.

"Rise, you know my bad feelings usually come true. Just be careful, ok?"

Lyn had said with a very serious expression on her face, causing you younger to nod seriously. Rise stood up and exited Lyn's room. Kaze was waiting for her in the kitchen, smiling his serene smile.

"Morning Rise. How'd you sleep?"

He asked. Rise nodded absentmindedly and she mumbled. Kaze tilted his head to the side and he looked into Rise's lavender eyes.

"Rise?"

Rise's attention came to rest on Kaze and she smiled quickly.

"Sorry Kaze. I was thinking about something."

Kaze nodded slowly. Something's on her mind. He thought to himself. The young friends finished their meal in silence and exited the house with the Ninja Academy as their destination. Rise said nothing the entire time.

How could Nanjo be dangerous? If anything, I'm dangerous. I hold the full power of the Kyuubi inside me. If it wasn't for the seal the Uncle Sasuke placed on me, I probably would have destroyed this village. Nanjo seems like Kaze, too sweet and gentle to hurt anyone.

Rise thought to herself about many things on that long walk through the driving rain, and it was not until Serah and Kiana approached her that she broke out of her trance. She left Kaze alone in the entrance of the Academy, leaving the young man alone. Nanjo approached him and he smiled at his friend.

"Morning. Some weather isn't it?"

Kaze laughed gently and he nodded.

"A lot different than what I was used to in Sunagakure. There, it was all sand and wind. I had never seen rain before I first visited Konohagakure."

Nanjo laughed as they put their shoes in their boxes.

"For me, it was nothing but. I was born in Kirigakure, and then I moved all over after my parents died. My uncle actually helped me get to Konoha. Its nice having connections to the powerful Ichijo Clan."

Kaze nodded and they entered their classroom, where Hanabi quickly went over the day's agenda.

"Due to the weather, we're not going to be in the outdoor training grounds. Today, we're going to be using the indoor pool to practice water walking and swimming. I want everyone to go get changed into their swimwear and meet at the pool in twenty minutes."

The class rose and exited the room in two directions, one for the male students and one for the females. Rise entered the locker room and she took off her shirt, opening her locker. Serah and Yukiko were changing next to her, and Rise grinned. She wasn't the only one growing up, from what she saw. She changed into her two piece and she tied her long raven hair up in a bun. The three young women made their way into the pool compound, where the boys were waiting. Kaze was wearing a pair of black trunks emblazoned with the Sunagakure logo. Nanjo had his eyes on Rise the entire time, a smirk pulling at his lips. Kaze had his eyes on the pool. Rise slid into formation next to him and Hanabi explained the procedure.

"This exercise is designed to train your Chakra control to high levels. I will say this now: I do not expect any of you to walk on the first try. This technique takes even skilled Shinobi some time to master. It is classified as a general skill and training exercise, but it is still intense. To perform this training, you must emit Chakra from your feet in a constant, steady stream. If you remember yesterday's tree climbing exercise, you will do fine here. I am going to demonstrate, so please watch me."

Hanabi, who had changed into her one piece swimsuit, stepped out onto the water. Not even a ripple formed as she strode out to the center of the pool.

"Just like that. It will not be this easy for you all at first, but you will grow accustomed to it. Serah, would you mind coming out first?"

Serah smiled and she nodded at her instructor. Serah, in her cream bikini, formed the tiger seal and she focused her Chakra to her feet. Not even Rise had tried this before. Serah opened her eyes and she took a dainty step onto the water. Immediately, her foot sank into the water. Nanjo laughed and he called out to her.

"Easy Serah. Focus on the training, not on the guys staring at you."

Rise shot him a nasty look, and Nanjo smirked wider. Pervert. She though to himself. This is the exact reason I hate most boys. At least Kaze isn't staring at us. She said and Kaze gave her a serene smile. He flipped his hair out of his face and he watched as Serah tried again. Serah was a strong girl, and she managed to get both feet on the water before she plunged under. Rise was smiling.

"She's better than I thought. I doubt I'll even get one foot on."

Kaze nodded and he whispered to Rise.

"I can't swim."

He said and Rise nodded.

"I know. Auntie Hanabi won't let you drown."

Kaze smiled at his old friend and she grinned back. Hanabi had called Nanjo forward next, and he flashed a grin at Rise, eying her chest.

Rise had a disgusted look on her face.

"He's such a pervert."

Kaze shrugged and he watched as Nanjo took his attempt. He just sank as soon as he stepped over the edge. Rise, Kaze and Serah started to laugh loudly at his failed attempt. Nanjo pulled himself back up onto the walkway, his eyes glaring at the three friends.

"Its not funny. Let's see you do better, little Miss Uzumaki."

Rise nodded and she rose her hand.

"Can I try next?"

Hanabi nodded and Rise stepped forward. She focused her Chakra to her feet and she closed her eyes slowly. Just take one step more and you can be happy, Rise. Rise stepped out on the water with both feet on the water. She stood still, opening her eyes. Rise looked down and she grinned. She was standing.

"Very good Rise! Now try walking towards me."

Rise nodded and she took on step. With that one step, she lost her balance and she fell under the water. When she broke the surface, Kaze had his hand out to help her out of the water.

"That was incredible."

He whispered to her. Rise smiled at him, and she stuck her tongue out at Nanjo. The young boy closed his eyes and he turned his eyes back to the girls and their swimsuits. Next up was Kiana, who made it farther than anyone else had previously. The entire class had taken their attempt before Kaze was called up by Hanabi.

"Kaze, can you trying walking out to me now?"

Kaze hesitated. He couldn't swim, and he didn't want anyone to laugh at him. He focused his Chakra to his feet and he took a single step onto the water. He stood there as easily as Rise and Kiana had. He then took one step and he sank under the water. Hanabi dove under immediately and she helped him onto the walkway. Nanjo and his group of friends were laughing quite loudly. Rise helped Kaze to his feet and she smiled at him.

"That was pretty good."

She whispered and Kaze locked eyes with her, smiling. Hanabi's voice then rang out again.

"Most of you did much better than I thought you would. Rise, Kaze and Kiana are already showing extremely good control. Serah, if you work on your nerves, you'd be right up there with them. Don't let the boys mess you up. You're Sasuke's daughter, and I predict nothing but good things for you. And as for you Nanjo, you were at the very bottom. You sank like a rock. You need to train more, and a lot harder."

This comment made the entire class roar in laughter. Rise was laughing so hard she doubled over. Kaze had to hold her up so she didn't fall in the pool. Nanjo Inaba's cheeks grew red and he turned away, kicking the stone wall. Hanabi then dismissed the class. Rise and her friends went to change. Serah then spoke for the first time since she had tried the water walking exercise.

"I hate Nanjo. He's such a pervert. He was staring at me, Yukiko and Rise the entire time. It was so nice to see Instructor Hanabi put him in his place though."

Rise and Yukiko nodded. Rise remembered Lyn's warning about Nanjo. Maybe Lyn was right. She thought to herself and she exited the changing room with her friends. She saw Kaze waiting for her, and they said goodbye to Hiro and Yukiko. Kaze then spoke to Rise in a barely audible whisper.

"Can we go home? I don't like being in the rain."

Rise nodded and they began to rush through the busy streets. They arrived home just as the rain started to fall harder. When Rise opened the door, she saw Tsunade in the house with a man she had seen only once before. He wore a mask over the lower half of his face and his Konohagakure headband over his eyes. Rise remembered him as Kakashi Hatake, her father's Jounin instructor. Tsunade saw Rise and smiled at her. Hinata and Naruto were discussing something with Tsunade and Kakashi. Hinata saw that her daughter and Kaze had arrived home.

"Rise, Kaze, please go into your room."

Rise opened her mouth to object, but Naruto's eyes told her all she needed to be told; something had happened. Rise took Kaze's hand and she led him to her room. Kaze hesitated, but Rise pulled him inside. Rise then sat next to him on her bed. Kaze's face was red. He had never been in a girl's room. Rise chuckled and she pressed her ear to the door.

"I can't hear what they're saying. Why would Kakashi-sensei and Lady Hokage come here?"

She said. After straining her ears for a few minutes, she sat on her bed, defeated. Kaze then spoke.

"I wonder what happened. Your mother looked very worried."

Rise nodded. She had never seen Hinata so scared. After a while, a knock came at the door.

"You can come eat now. Sorry for the wait. I hope your dinner makes up for it. I made cinnamon buns."

Rise's eyes lit up. Cinnamon buns were her favorite food. The four children hurried into the kitchen and ate their food, watching the rain pour down. Naruto and Hinata looked at one another and they sighed contentedly.

"Beautiful, isn't it hime?"

Naruto whispered to his wife. Hinata nodded and she hugged her husband. She had just learned that her three children were being hunted by the same man who had attacked eleven years ago. She tried to put on a smile.

"Its a beautiful thing, our family. I'll do everything to protect all four of them."

Naruto nodded and he kissed Hinata. Rise watched them and she went to her room afterwards, falling asleep immediately. Her day had been tiring, and all she wanted was to sleep.

TO BE CONTINUED...