Chapter 11: Shinobi of the Leaf

The sun shown hot through the nursery window, but the five Leaf children were all too tired to greet it. The only person who was aware and conscious at the time was a small red haired boy with a pale white scare on his forehead.

Gaara watched as his new friends scrunched up their faces against the morning light and rolled over in an attempt to ignore the sun's pulsing rays. He smiled a bit but it was quickly erased by the memory of his late care taker. It had only been two days ago that Yashamaru had claimed him as a special person but last night he had cruelly reviled to the young boy that all he had said was a lie. Gaara shivered at the memory of Yashamaru telling him that his mother did not really love him but instead despised his existence. It was still a lot to take in, and he wasn't really sure if he could handle it yet.

"Gaara-kun?"

Gaara started at the small voice that originated from the bed, not realizing that anyone had awakened yet.

"Are you ok, Gaara-kun?" Sasuke asked quietly as he slipped out of the futon, not wanting to wake anyone else up.

Gaara couldn't think of anything to say that would be convincing enough so instead he just nodded.

Sasuke wasn't buying it. Even with out Sakura's heartstrings he could tell that the boy before him was anything but okay. "Do you want to talk about it," Sasuke asked, once again surprising the boy.

"Why?" Gaara asked not really sure what talking would accomplish.

Sasuke shrugged as he pulled on his navy blue clan shirt. "My brother told me once that talking when you're upset helps you calm down."

Gaara thought for a minute about the consequences of talking before he finally nodded in consent. "Alright, I'll talk."

Sasuke nodded and began to walk towards the open balcony doors while motioning for Gaara to follow him. "We can talk out here," Sasuke said once they were out into the fresh morning air. "So we don't wake the others up."

Gaara nodded before he proceeded to pour out all of his six years of collected pain into the listening ears of one of his first friends.

XXXXXXXXX

It was almost noon before the rest of the children finally managed to roll out of bed, still rather tired from all the excitement that had taken place the night before. They honestly would have liked nothing more then to roll over and go back to sleep, but they had all agreed that they would begin training today and when Sasuke was promised that he could train he wasted no time about it.

"I bet Sasuke-kun has been out training since the sun came up," Sakura said as she yawned loudly forgetting for a moment that they were under different aliases.

"It wouldn't surprise me," Naruto added. "Sasuke-baka is always trying to get stronger then I am."

Sakura glared at him before she gently hit him on the head. "Don't call him that Iota-kun."

"Ehehehe, gomen Sakura-chan, gomen." Naruto chuckled lightly as he rubbed his not really aching head.

"It's Sakira remember?"

"Right, Sakira-chan. I remember."

This exchange was rather normal and Hinata couldn't help but sigh happily. It was nice to know that they hadn't lost everything three days ago. For a little while Hinata had been sure that even small signs of normalcy, such as the one that had just taken place, where now a thing of the past. It was nice to be proven wrong.

"Come on," Sakura said with a smile. "Let's go find Kosuke-kun and Gaara-kun."

"Yeah!" Naruto shouted as he took off. "I'll show them who's the best!"

Sakura and Ichigo rolled their eyes before they began to follow. Just before she left the room Sakura turned back to look at Hinata. "Are you coming Hikoto-chan?"

Hinata's head shot up as she remembered that that was her. "H-hai Sakira-chan," she stammered. "I-I'll only be a moment."

"Alright," Sakura answered as she left the room to join their friends outside.

Hinata sat next to the small desk in the middle of Gaara's room and pulled out the object she and her friends had all found in the bags with the scrolls. A forehead protector with a lavender tie lay carefully in her hands as her identically shaded eyes looked down at it in self doubt. She knew that only those who were considered adults were given these back home. People who had gone through the genin exam and passed the test with flying colors were given them. Those people were strong, brave, and confident. All the things she wasn't.

She knew that when Sasuke and Naruto had first found theirs they had no hesitation about putting them on. The note attached to them said that they used to belong to Itachi when he was first a genin and then later a chunin. It also said that he believed that the boys were ready for this burden; the burden of being a soldier of the leaf.

Her hatai-ate as well as Sakura's came with a similar note from Hikari and Sakura too had been ecstatic about receiving her own forest green hatai-ate. Still, Hinata wasn't so sure that she deserved it. Her father had always told her that she was too soft. That she was clumsy and weak, and she believed him. She had never been good at her family's taijutsu style and always seemed to botch it up at her every attempt. It just didn't seem natural.

At long last she sighed and placed the hatai-ate into her front coat pocket. Parts of the lavender tie peeking out just a bit. Swiftly she headed down stairs to where her friends were waiting in the sandy court yard that was in the center of the four rectangular buildings.

There she met her friends but to her surprise instead of wearing their forehead protectors they had them held loosely in their right hands.

"Finally," Naruto exclaimed in mild exasperation. "We thought that you'd never come out."

"W-what's going on?" Hinata asked a bit wary of the other three corner kids' serious expressions.

"Well," Sakura began. "We have decided that we don't want to hide behind a lie anymore."

"We want to be known as Konohagakure Shinobi," Sasuke continued.

"And we want you to be one with us…Hina-chan." Naruto finished with a wide grin.

"B-but, wh-what about that bad ninja that Hikari-nee-chan said was after us?" Hinata asked. "Wh-what if he finds out where we-we are?"

"Well," Sakura said slowly. "Hikari-nee said that Orotomato- or whatever- left before we were born. That he never knew who we were, so I don't think that he knows our names."

"Besides," Naruto added loudly. "If he comes for us I'll totally kick his butt!"

Hinata smiled slightly but didn't giggle like she normally would have. Instead she lowered her head. "I'm not good enough…" she muttered finally admitting what was really bothering her. "I'm not good enough to be a ninja."

Naruto looked shocked. "Hina-chan!" he exclaimed. "You're really good! You can too be a ninja!"

"Naruto-kun's right, Hinata-chan," Sakura added. "Besides, if you're not good enough then I really aren't! Cause you're better then I am!"

Hinata looked up a little. "Do you guys really think I can do it?"

"We know you can," Sasuke said with a soft smile.

At Sasuke's gentle remark a memory was sparked and made its way to the surface of her mind where it began to play out like a movie on the big screen.

(flashback)

It was a rainy day with no school when the corner kids found themselves bored nearly to tears as they sat in a circle in the middle of Sasuke's soft bedroom carpet. Normally on days such as these they would be in the dojo practicing taijutsu at Sasuke and Naruto's insistence. Unfortunately, the village tournament would be held in a few weeks and every Uchiha who was qualified to compete had filed into the dojo to practice for the upcoming event, which left no room for four bored five year olds.

Unable to take the silence any longer Naruto finally spoke up. "Ne, ne Sasuke," he said with an irritated frown. "Isn't there anything that we can do today?"

Sasuke sat in thought for a minute before he hesitantly spoke up. "Well since the dojo is full we may be able to go into Itachi's training room."

"B-but Sasuke-kun," Hinata stuttered. "I thought that we weren't allowed in there. W-what if Itachi-nii-chan finds us?"

"He won't!" Sakura exclaimed suddenly. "He's on a mission with onee-chan and Yotaro-nii-chan today. They won't be back until tomorrow."

"Hey yeah, yeah!" Naruto shouted. "Let's do that!"

"Alright," Sasuke said as he stood. "It's in his room, come on."

Once they had reached it the kids were ecstatic to find that it was just the right size for all four of them to practice comfortably. Even Hinata finally loosened up and started having fun. They were there for about an hour when Hinata heard the door slide open and a soft "Oh" sound from the doorframe.

"What is it Hikari?" Itachi asked from behind his white haired partner and at the sound of his voice the other three children stopped in surprise, shock, and fear. They knew that they weren't supposed to be in here, and now they had been caught. Sasuke just knew he was going to be in a lot of trouble.

Hikari giggled. "You were right. They were in here."

"Hn," Itachi grunted. "I thought as much." Passing Hikari's petite frame he came to a stop just in front of Sasuke. His arms were crossed tightly across his chest and his eyes were dark and accusing. "You know that you aren't allowed in here Sasuke."

Sasuke almost started to quiver under his brother's dark stare. "N-nii-chan…I…"

"Oh Itachi-kun cut it out," Hikari said as she walked up and swatted her teammate on his shoulder. "You're scaring him."

Itachi chuckled as he rubbed his arm gingerly. "You're no fun, Hikari." He responded before he turned to face his little brother once again, only this time his stance was relaxed and his eyes had softened considerably. "I'm sorry Sasuke. I didn't mean to scare you."

Sasuke sighed and relaxed just a bit as he saw his brother wasn't angry. Still he was waiting for the rebuke that was sure to come soon.

"We were looking for you four actually," Hikari said as she smiled down at them. "We thought you might be bored, so we were going to bring you here to practice!"

"Here?" Hinata asked in surprise. "B-but I th-thought…"

"Well I decided that since the tournament was coming up and the dojo was full that I could make an exception just this once." Itachi answered her with a slight curve of his lip.

"Well what are we waiting for?" Hikari asked excitedly. "Do you guys wanna learn a cool jutsu?"

"OH YEAH!" Naruto shouted as he jumped in the air while pumping his fist.

"Well come on then and I'll show you!"

"Um, onee-chan?" Sakura asked. "I thought that you and Itachi-nii-chan were on a mission."

Hikari giggled. "We were but we finished early. Kyo-sensei and Yotaro-kun are giving the mission report to Sandaime-sama."

"Oh."

The training was fun and energetic to the point that even Itachi nearly lost track of time. Finally at around nine-thirty in the evening he held up his hand signaling that it was time to call it quits. Four exhausted five year olds and two slightly winded ten year olds were just about to make their way out of the room when an old looking scroll hanging on the wall caught Hinata's eye.

"A-ano, Itachi-nii-chan?" she asked softly. "Wh-what's tha-at?"

Looking at where the Hyuuga Heiress was pointing, Itachi found his chunin scroll that was hanging on the wall. "Ah," he said with a slight smile. "That is the directive that Sandaime-sama set down for all of the chunins to follow."

"What does it mean?" Sakura asked curiously.

"It means that if you have need of knowledge then you should gain knowledge in order to poses the qualities of heaven. And if you have need of strength then you should gain strength in order to poses the qualities of earth. Then when you have both of them together you will become whole, or 'one person'." Itachi explained without taking his eyes off of the scroll.

"Like yin and yang?" Sasuke questioned, his eyes shining with understanding.

"Exactly." Was Itachi's response.

"I don't get it!" Naruto exclaimed. "Tell me again! Only slower this time!"

Everyone laughed at this and Hikari spoke up. "It seems as if you need heaven Naruto-kun."

"Hmph," Naruto huffed as he crossed his arms and looked away with an adorable pout.

"Well come on then," Hikari said as she glanced at her watch. "It's really late. It's almost ten! Looks like we're all staying here for the night…again…for the third time this week…"

Silence filled the room as the other five occupants waited for Hikari to finish her rant.

"Geez," she huffed. "Why don't we just move in here! It probably wouldn't be much different then what we do now, you know. And that way at least I would have my own clothes to wear in the morning. Not that yours are bad Itachi-kun, they're just not my style. I really don't like wearing black you know. It makes my hair stand out really bad and now that you've gotten a bit bigger then me they don't really fit. Maybe I should ask your cousin Taya to borrow one of her kimonos until I get home…Hm, well that's beside the point." Hikari said with a dismissive wave. "Anyway, like I said it's time for bed."

Itachi rolled his eyes and the kids all giggled before the two chunins led the way to Sasuke's room where four futons were always waiting in the closet.

After the kids were all settled and the older two had left to get their own rest Sakura spoke up, her voice breaking through the darkness. "I really liked that scroll," she said with a light yawn. "Someday when we're all ninjas can we say it together?"

"Yeah!" Naruto exclaimed quietly (something only Naruto can do) "That would be really cool!"

"Only can we add one thing?" Sasuke asked.

"Sure," Sakura said. "What is it?"

"That we're Konoha ninjas." He answered.

"Yeah, yeah!" Naruto said again. "That would be great! Cause then everyone would know who we are!"

"What do you say Hinata-chan?" Sakura asked. "Will you say it with us?"

"I-I don't know…do you all think that I could be a ninja with you?" Hinata asked feeling very unsure of herself.

If any of them were surprised by this comment they hid it very well as they responded.

"We know you can," their three voices said in unison.

Hinata smiled happily at her friends through the darkness. "Then yes, I-I will s-say it with you."

(End Flashback)

Remembering this brought a firm, resolved look onto Hinata's normally soft face. "All right," she said as she took out her hatai-ate and held it loosely, panel up, out in front of her with both hands; palms up and flat open.

The others formed equally resolved expressions and mimicked Hinata's movements. Standing in a square facing inwards they all looked strait forwards, locking gazes with the person in front of them. Sasuke with Sakura and Naruto with Hinata.

Silence filled the court yard while Ichigo and Gaara watched fascinated from the side lines.

Naruto opened his mouth and began.

"If qualities of heaven are your desire, acquire wisdom and knowledge to take your mind higher…"

Sakura continued.

"…If earthly qualities are what you lack train you body in the fields and prepare to attack…"

Sasuke was next.

"…When both heaven and earth are opened together, the path of peril will revert to the righteous path forever…"

Hinata swiftly followed.

"…This one person is the secret way…that guides us on from this place today."

Then in complete symmetry the four corner kids lifted their hatai-ate leaf head bands and tied them securely around their bare foreheads. Finally they each fisted their right hands and placed them together; finishing with triumphant smirks.

"We are Shinobi of the Leaf!"

End chapter 11

Kaliea: Not much happened in this chapter, seriously, but in the next one they will begin their training. And you will learn more about what Kairi and Neji are up to…I think…don't quote me on that unless it's true. Anyway, please leave a review! They mean a lot to me!

Review Answers:

Jays Arravan: Why thank-you! But as much as I would like to take the credit for Konokigakure, I can't. It was actually my brother's idea; the only thing I did was come up with the name. Though I'm sure he would be happy to know that you liked it!

Animefreak-shinobi: I am telling nothing…yet…

Danny-171984: Yeah it is a lot to take in isn't it? Anyway thanks for the review!

Dragon Man 180: (covers eyes) I didn't read what you said so I can say nothing about it. (Leaves this wide open for a huge hint.)

Thanks to all my reviewers! Oh yes, just to let you know; I'm feeling evil today so I'll give you a spoiler. Here it is:

Later on in the story something big happens to one of the main characters. If you want to know who and what I won't tell you, but I will say this. If you have read my Kenshin fic, Correcting the Past, Changing the Future, then you may have noticed a chapter and a review answer that could possibly give you a hint. If not, then if you look hard enough you just might find it. Cheers! And until next time, ja ne!