Well, I must admit that I'm a little disappointed with the lack of reviews for the previous chapter. Or maybe I'm just over-reacting? But it'd really mean a lot if you guys would comment from time to time. I wanna know what you think, coz it helps me improve.

Well, with the small number of reviews, there weren't too many questions and those that were asked will be basically answered in this chapter, so all you have to do is read it.

Before that, there's something I forgot to ask you the previous time. I've received a request from one of you guys to bring back the interview at the beginning of every chapter (it was my way of answering your reviews when I began writing this fic… back in the day when the e-mail reply wasn't possible… or at least I haven't used it back then). But since this is something that concerns basically everyone, I'd like to know what you guys think of this idea. PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

REMINDER: just wanted to remind everyone who didn't take part in the popularity contest yet, that there's still time for you to do so. The rules were given in chapter 44.

And with that I believe I we can get on with the show:

Chapter #47: Leaf on the Grass

Title page: forest; Takaru is standing up-side-down on a tree branch, Kusari in the background is using his chain as a liana like Tarzan, Kumiko is laying on a tree branch and observing a bird's nest, Kai is jumping from one tree to another and Ibuki is sitting on a Fuuma Shuriken dug into a tree

A short, six-year-old boy with spiky, red hair, wearing a black t-shirt and a green vest on it pulled the trouser leg of man standing right next to him. The taller figure, a man with long, red hair and green eyes, dressed in a grey top with wide sleeves and a hitae-ate with the Grass symbol located on his forehead, carrying a strange spear on his back, looked down at the child as the boy slowly began:

"Daddy, can we go now? I don't like this place…" and still holding tight to the trouser leg of the man he began looking around the forest nervously.

"Fear not, Hizoku…" replied the man, placing his hand on the boy's head. "I won't allow anyone to harm you… however, I cannot leave this place without fulfilling the promise I gave long ago… and to fulfill it, I must find her…" and with that he lifted the young boy up and disappeared in the tree tops.

After a short search he stopped immediately, noticing two, mysterious shadows waiting on the branches nearby. The man narrowed his eyes as he looked in the direction the figures hid themselves and whispered under his nose, yet in stead talking to the boy, he seemed to say it more to himself: "Mist shinobi… could it be that we've already passed the country boulders? If that is so, then it'll only bring more complications… and further more it'd mean Hideki was right all along…"

"Dad…" began the boy, but instantly his father's hand covered his mouth.

"Don't worry, Hizoku… I'll take care of it… you just stay here and don't make a sound. I'll return faster then you can say Surudoihata…" and with that he reached for his spear and disappeared. In the next instant the sound of metal clashing against metal was heard, just to quiet down once more, leaving the black night silent yet again.

The boy didn't even manage to let out a yell as a mysterious hand covered his mouth again from behind. As the young redhead turned around, he smiled in relief noticing that it was just his father with a stone face. Hizoku smelt blood near, but as his glare went towards the spear, he realized that it was just the weapon that was covered in flesh, red liquid.

"We should move…" announced the man quietly. "It's likely that those two were alone and since that's the case, their teammates could be near… Hizoku, please get on my back, we can't afford to move loudly now…"

The boy obediently jumped on his father's back and the two kept moving deeper into the forest, deeper into the Land of the Mist. Finally, after some time, the man slowed down and began listening. A moment later he jumped down from the tree branch he was standing on, just in time to avoid a kunai that was coming straight at him.

As he landed on the ground, Hizoku jumped off and saw a mysterious figure, dressed in a completely black kimono along with a black and white, tiger mask on its face. From behind the mask lots of long, blonde hair could be seen and in the figure's hands there were two katanas raised, as in the figure was preparing to attack.

Yet the swords came down slowly as the masked figure noticed who was standing before her and let out a quiet noise, which to Hizoku seemed like a sigh of relief: "You made it in time, Nakamoru…" came a soft, woman's voice from behind the mask and as the figure took it off, the young redhead notice a young, female face, which seemed like the most beautiful woman in the world. Her hazel eyes seemed almost golden in the shadows of the night while she slowly walked over to the boy's father.

"I made a promise, Chitose…" replied the red-haired man simply, yet smiled to the woman. "Besides, it's not like I could refuse to come and help you… after all, since that time…"

"I know…" the woman assured him as she placed her soft hand on his cheek. "I know… but still Hideki… well, it matters not right now, I suppose… in the end, you just struggled to achieve what you wanted… but the world prevented you from that… and now, because of that Hideki and I dragged you into this…"

"I do not regret coming here…" replied the grass-nin, trying to keep his normal voice. "And this is far more important then my life… or my feelings…" and with that he took a quick glare at Hizoku.

"Bringing him here with you certainly won't make his life easy in the Hidden Grass…" announced the woman as she looked at the young redhead. She bended down and placed her hand on the boy's head while smiling warmly to him: "I can't even tell you how sorry I am for dragging you into this, Hizoku-kun…" she said softly, making the boy's heart beat faster. "This is not something a six-year-old should be involved with… but then, I don't suppose there really was a choice…" and with that she stood up straight again and turned towards the older man again: "Our fears have come true, Nakamoru… I have no doubt about it… just the fact that I'm hear should be prove enough for you…"

"I wouldn't dare to disagree with you anyway…" assured the red-haired man calmly as he looked the woman up and down. "Yet, I still do not understand why was I needed here… it's understandable Hideki couldn't come himself, but you alone…"

"I'm not alone…" the woman interrupted him quickly, making a confused look appear on his face. "And that is why I asked you to come for me… Nakamoru, my old friend… even after what I did to you… what you had to suffer because of me and Hideki… I still must beg you to do me this one, final favor…"

"What is it that you need?" asked the man, certain that no matter what it'd be, he'd do his best to complete the task he will be given in a moment.

Without saying a word the woman just revealed what was under her kimono, making Hizoku's face turn completely red in the process (A/N: no, she wasn't naked under it, but Hizoku is just six years old at this time). As he hand reached under the material, a quiet cry was heard and a moment later a small child with green eyes, wrapped in a blanket appeared in her hands. On its head there already was several, golden hair growing.

"This…" began Nakamoru shocked, but the woman finished for him:

"Yes, it's my son… Hideki was not around while he came to this world, yet I named him Kai… he always wanted for his first son to carry that name…" and with that she kissed the newborn's forehead and surprisingly the child stopped crying as it was touched by a magical wand. "I can't even tell you how I'd wish to see him grow, however if he is to grow, I cannot stand beside him… and that is why I need you, my old friend…" and so she held out her hands, pushing the child closer to Nakamoru. "Please, take him to Konoha… to Hideki…"

The man took the boy in his arms and looked at him. The child felt asleep, unconcern of what was happening. Unaware that this was the last time he was seeing the woman he'd titled as "mother" once he'd learn to speak. Nakamoru narrowed his eyes slightly and then raised his sight at the woman with determination appearing on his face: "I'll grant your wish… but before that, there's one thing I would like to ask you…"

"I know…" assured Chitose with an apologizing smile. "And you should know that I cannot grant your wish… as my friend… you should understand that… you should know why…"

"I do…" replied Nakamoru. "Though just this once I really wanted to go against you… against the way you want things to be… and still, this is the only thing I was never capable of doing… I guess this is farewell…"

The woman only nodded and turned towards the redhead boy, who still stood in the same place without taking his eyes off the young kunoichi. Chitose smiled to him once more and looked deep into his eyes: "Hizoku-kun… I heard much about you from you father… and from that I can tell that you're going to become a great shinobi one day… that is why you need to know…" with that her face became a little grim before she continued: "No matter what happens after tonight… no matter what future awaits you and your father… know that he's a great man… one of the three I love from the bottom of my heart… and no matter what they'll say about him, out of everyone I know, he's the one who deserved the most respect… never forget that…" and with that she gave the boy a kiss on the forehead.

As Hizoku's face redden to its limit, the woman stood back up and turned her back on the two redheads: "Now please go… and let me do this one thing I can do for my only child…" and with that she disappeared between the trees.

The six-year-old once more jumped on his father back, while the man held the child in his arms, and soon after they went in another direction, with Nakamoru glaring one, last time where Chitose had disappeared.

---Flashback ends---

"I see the tower!" announced Kai cheerfully, making all five of his companions look in the direction he pointed.

There, from under the tree tops, emerged the building from grey stone, the finish line of the third Chuunin Selection Exam test. As the six gennin finally reached their destination, they noticed the redhead's teammates waiting for them already.

"Took you long enough, Hizoku…" whined Taka as he stretched himself. "We've been waiting for ages! I hope that you at least got a scroll or something to excuse being so late…" and just then he seemed to notice Kai and his teammates: "What are those brats doing with you?"

"Nothing you should be concerned about…" assured the red-haired grass-nin. "We just helped each other out… and no, I don't have any scrolls with me, but I assume you guys collected more then enough…"

"Well, Tokame and I grabbed one Earth scroll…" began Tobane slowly. "And Nezumi along with Taka got one Heaven, so we got one extra… though getting ours was a real bother… those waterfall-nins sure had some skills…"

"Even though they were divided into groups of two…" began Kumiko as she looked around the grass-nins. "Each of the pairs managed to collect one scroll and our score is basically zero… those guys won't be easy opponents in the coming exams…"

"I guess this is goodbye for now…" announced Hizoku with a smile as he turned to the Leaf shinobi. "You guys sure impressed me during that fight with those rain-nins… I assure you that I won't go easy on you if we are to confront each other in the next test… but good luck anyway…" and with that his glare stopped at Kai for a longer moment, before he turn away and followed his teammates towards their entrance.

"Hizoku…" the blonde stopped the spear user by calling out his name. As the older gennin looked at him, the loud mouth just smirked and stated calmly: "We've seen you in action as well… and we won't go easy on you guys either…"

The redhead just smiled at that and after nodding, he disappeared behind "the corner" of the tower."Yeah, we might as well get inside too…" Ibuki was the first to break the silence. "Even though we're at the finish line, it's not said we can't get attacked…"

Takaru simply nodded and opened the nearest door, which was the one they were supposed to use. As the five gennin entered the tower, the doors shut behind them, always as if they were now prisoners of the building.

"Heh, this is just like some amusement park…" joked Kusari as he took a quick glare at the door. "But what are we suppose to do now? I don't see anyone around here… did we pass already?"

"Maybe…" the son of Tsunade replied simply as he looked around. But Kumiko's eyes set on a strange note that hung on the wall nearby. As the young kunoichi read it, she glared back at her teammates a little confused.

"What is it, Kumiko-chan?" asked Kusari with concern.

"I think…" began the girl slowly. "That we're suppose to open the scrolls…"

---to be continued---

And this concludes this chapter. Hope you liked it. Please leave a comment once you're done reading. Also, the next chapter should be done rather fast (hopefully till the end of the week), so…

Before I go, I guess I could give you the translation of the one, single Japanese word that appeared in this chapter… so here it is:

Surudoihata – sharp edge… but what it refers to in the story I'm not telling… yet

And that's really that. Hope you liked it.

Best wishes and until next time, hopefully.