Chapter 63: The Original Trio


"I'm so happy to see you again Yuna!" Reno yelled hugging me tightly feeling someone come over hugging my other side hearing Konohamaru's voice saying, "Me too!"

Flapping my arms around to get them off I laughed, "I was only gone for a week or so."

"It felt like forever!" Konohamaru said as Udon stood beside Hayner both their expressions bored while Moegi stared lovingly towards Reno.

"Neji is a pain even more so than Hayner." Reno mumbled to me hearing Hayner say, "Perhaps if you weren't a fool that wouldn't be the case."

Seeing him tense up I shook my head replying, "So what are all of you doing here anyway?"

"These three wanted to see us fight…" Hayner said in an indifferent tone looking towards Konohamaru and his squad saying, "I don't see why not."

"Yay!" Konohamaru and Moegi shouted following us to the forest as they kept their distance between us.

Standing back I let Reno and Hayner duel first watching them both go back and forth being pretty equally matched. Seeing Hayner get the upper hand against Reno he got thrown into a tree as Moegi yelled his name in worry. Tilting my head at her she had her hands clasped together watching him intently making me smile, it was kind of adorable. In the end Hayner had won dropping Reno's ego down a bit but he bounced back.

"Alright Yuna you have a go at him." Reno said plopping on the ground next to the kids hearing Konohamaru, "Yay go Yuna-sensei!"

Standing in front of Hayner he disappeared closing my eyes taking a deep breath feeling the air around me sway. Tightening the hold on the kunai in my hand I turned quickly colliding with Hayner's kunai pushing him back. With the training that Kakashi and I did, it made it easier to sense Hayner coming when he didn't want to be seen. Twirling fast I stopped his attack again quickly grabbing another kunai stopping his shadow clone that had appeared behind me.

"I know your sneaky tricks too well." I said with a smirk seeing him smirk back saying, "Looks like I'll have to try some new things then."

Ducking quickly I did some hand signs as my lightning and his water collided together seeing it surge and explode between us. Going back and forth he kicked me in the stomach sending me to a tree moving just in time to meet his fist. We both twirled towards one another landing our kunai at each other's neck as we both lowered it knowing it was a tie.

"Yuna-sensei you're so cool!" Konohamaru yelled happily hearing a voice beside him say, "What's going on?"

Hearing Konohamaru scream in surprise Shino stood next to him with his hands in his pockets as I walked towards him answering, "We were all just sparring, what are you doing out here?"

"I was just taking a walk." he said simply seeing Konohamaru give him the stink eye saying, "Why do you have to creepily sneak up on people?"

"As a shinobi you should always anticipate an enemy could show up undetected." Shino said watching Konohamaru growl with anger replying, "That's it, I want to fight you!"

Shino looked towards him before saying, "Why would you want to do that?"

"Cause one day I'm going to marry Yuna, so I have to prove I'm stronger than you!" he said hearing the determination in his voice making me slump down sighing in defeat, there was no convincing this kid.

"Fine." Shino said bored as they both stood across from one another making a face knowing that Shino wouldn't hurt Konohamaru but would still not hold back.

Watching Konohamaru do some hand signs he yelled, "Sexy Harem jutsu!"

Watching a naked woman appear I heard Reno slump dead beside me looking at him pitifully as Shino remained still. Seeing that Shino wasn't falling for it Konohamaru summoned another clone turning it into two sexy naked ladies hearing Reno squeal unconscious.

"Is that all you can do?" Shino asked curiously watching his bugs begin to leave under his sleeves swarming around Konohamaru as he flayed around in despair.

Laughing at the naked woman running away from the bugs he turned back to normal as Shino walked towards him seeing he was talking to him, but I couldn't hear. Hearing movement behind all of us I turned seeing some members of the ANBU who looked towards Hayner.

"Hayner, the Hokage wishes to see you." one of them said as I looked towards him worried watching him follow them hearing Reno groaning as he woke up.

"What did I miss?" he asked curiously as I frowned saying, "Something bad has happened."


Standing beside Ren-sensei with Reno on his other side we frowned looking towards Hayner who stood in front of us. Yesterday we got word that the ANBU sent to relieve us from the mission were killed and the Three Tails had vanished in the process. We believe it had something to do with the Akatsuki, but it wasn't confirmed. In the process of that happening Hayner's father was killed and with no body to retrieve as per the code of an ANBU member they had no body to bury.

We stood at the memorial monument to pay our respects as Hayner stood silently staring at it for hours it seemed. His mother had eventually left since she was being sent on an important mission to assist the ANBU as a medical shinobi. Hayner finally turned towards us seeing the emotionless look on his face making me frown in worry.

"I've decided I don't want to join the ANBU anymore." Hayner said finally looking towards him surprised watching his fist tighten finishing, "The cold and calculated way they live their lives isn't right, I want to make a difference and help people but this isn't the way."

"That is your choice, no one can decide your future but you." Ren-sensei said stepping forward putting a hand on his shoulder squeezing it.

Reno and I went over to hug him knowing he needed it feeling him hug us back as we had a moment of silence together.

"Yahoo the gang is back together!" Reno yelled pumping his fist as I smiled walking beside him with Ren-sensei and Hayner.

"It seems like forever since we've had a mission with just us." Ren-sensei said happily while Hayner nodded replying, "It doesn't seem to happen anymore."

"What's the mission anyway Ren-sensei?" I asked putting my hands behind my head while he replied, "Nothing big, just an escort mission for royal siblings. They've been vacationing in the Land of Tea so we'll be bringing them home to the Land of Birds."

"So bodyguard duty?" Reno asked tilting his head seeing Ren-sensei nod watching his eyebrows wiggle saying, "Any cute princesses?"

"Actually a princess and a prince, they are twins around your age." Ren-sensei said shrugging watching his fist pump in excitement while Hayner said nonchalantly, "I doubt you could impress a princess."

"You think you could do better?" Reno asked narrowing his eyes towards Hayner who said, "Like I care about something so childish."

"Hayner is right Reno, they're royalty regardless." I said tilting my head at him while he frowned crossing his arms replying, "A man can dream."


Standing frozen I blushed lightly seeing Hayner also blushing while Reno stared ahead with hearts in his eyes, the princess and the prince were very attractive. They both had matching chestnut hair and stunning bright green eyes as the princess wore her hair down and the prince kept his back in a ponytail.

"We are the Leaf Shinobi tasked with escorting you two home, I'm Ren Yuhi and his is Hayner, Reno and Yuna." Ren said introducing us as Reno strolled up to the princess saying in a deeper voice than he had, "A pleasure to meet such a stunning beauty like yourself."

"Are you always so cringe?" she asked in a sweet tone watching his face drop doing my best to hold in a laugh.

"I'm Arata and this is my dear sister Aya it's a pleasure to meet you guys." Arata said flashing a charming smile towards us.

"The journey will be a few days so be prepared for a long trek, we'll stop by Inns along the way if you'd both prefer." Ren said as Arata replied, "Whichever is easier for you all, we can pay for it either way."

Ren nodded as we all began our trek since we still had a few hours of daytime walking at a casual pace along the road. I could hear Reno talking casually with Arata while Hayner and I remind quiet next to them staying focused on the road.

"So Yuna do you have a special someone waiting for you at home?" Arata asked me making me shake my head going to speak when Reno piped in saying, "She's got her bug boyfriend but this little boy is fighting for her heart."

Gripping around Reno's throat tightly I muttered angrily, "Don't say foolish things at a time like this."

Arata laughed replying, "I see, so it's not just me who thinks you're pretty then."

Blushing I tried to form words, but nothing came out as Aya came over patting my shoulder saying, "Brother quit creeping out our shinobi guides, my apologizes he doesn't get out much."

"It's fine." I said clearing my throat deciding to walk alongside Ren-sensei since I wasn't used to being flirted with so bluntly.

Once nightfall hit Ren helped the twins with their tent while I sat on a tree branch next to Hayner hearing Reno talk to them. Staring down at them I could see Arata look up and wave at me occasionally making me turn away blushing.

"I don't trust him." Hayner said quietly beside me looking towards him replying, "Don't worry, once this mission is done we won't see either of them again."

Hayner looked down towards Aya who giggled at something her brother said watching Hayner turn away replying, "Yea you're right."

Raising my eyebrow at him I whispered, "Oh does Hayner think the princess is pretty?"

Shooting me a glare I smiled turning away replying, "Relax I get it, I love Reno but you're not a pervert like him and it's easy to see why girls would like you. After all, with Sasuke gone you're evidently the new heart throb of the rookies."

"A title I care very little about." he replied making me laugh saying, "I'm sure you secretly love it, having the choice of any girl… well besides Hinata she's madly in love with Naruto after all."

"And you love Shino." he said bluntly making me tense up seeing his serious expression while I turned away saying, "You're saying such foolish things..."

"You and I both know it, I've seen the way you look at him and the way he looks at you whenever you're in trouble or need help. Of course, I don't care either way but if I were you I'd sort out your feelings before we inevitably end up in a war against the Akatsuki and Orochimaru. After all you may not get another chance." he said looking down at the fire Reno made showing off as I said quietly, "Trust me I know..."