~*****~

The sun glittered through the kitchens windows as I made Kakashi's breakfast. I smiled warmly at the birds chittering and flying around as I set down his meal and head out for the day, excited at what today will bring me. As I ran down the street, a familiar mop of hair caught my attention. "Shikamaru!" I call happily, throwing myself onto his back and wrapping my arms around his neck.

He fumbled around, grasping onto my legs as I pulled them up. "R-Ren!" He stuttered, his cheeks flaring up to a nice red hue. "What are you? Nuts?" He complained. "Man, this is such a drag..." He whined as I refused to release my grip.

"I haven't seen you in literal days, you have to enjoy my presence for a moment before I got meet with my team." I jeer, pressing my cheek to the side of his head. "Besides, you know you love me."

"I do not!" He complained again, groaning in anguish as Ino came into view. "Aw, man...."

"Ren! It is so nice to see you! Isn't it Shikamaru!" She jeered to the flushing bump on a log. I leapt off of his back and looked at the sky.

"I gotta get going before I'm late, but hey! Let's all meet up for BBQ to catch up! I missed you guys so much!" I call, giving Ino a sideways hug before running again. I hear Shikamaru complain once more before rounding the next corner.

Hours passed as Sakura, Sasuke, and I were currently sitting at the bridge, waiting for Kakashi to show up. A grimace was plastered on my face, and it felt permanent. Naruto came running up, alerting everyone that once again, Kakashi was still not here.

"Hey! Good morning Sakura, Ren!" He cheered happily, giving the non-caring Uchiha a glare. I snorted and leaned against the railing besides him. They both grunt, turning away from each other. I let out a sigh as I hopped up to sit on the railing. 'They've been like this since we got back from the Land of Waves...'

A few more hours passed, and I didn't know how much more of this I could take. I go through the trouble of making an energizing breakfast and he makes us wait?! I scream internally, seething in pure fury. "Hey, guys. Good morning." I hear Kakashi chime lazily. "Sorry I'm late. I'm afraid I got lost on the path of life." Naruto and Sakura screamed angrily at him as I turned the other way, giving him the cold shoulder.

"I'm ready for the next ninja mission, Sensei!" Naruto shouts excitedly as we all line up. Kakashi holds his hands up, trying to calm him down. "And come on! No more of this dumb beginner stuff, okay?!" He adds, getting closer. "I want a chance to prove myself! I'm talking a real mission where I can show what I'm made of!" He shouted again. "I gotta break out! Burn it up! See!!!"

I flinch backwards at his intensity. 'He's literally like Guy....' I groan inwardly and sigh. "Uhhh... Right, right... right. I get it, that's great, Naruto.... Now... Take it easy, will ya?" Kakashi pleads gently. As if on que, Naruto turns his head and glares right at Sasuke. I sigh again as I feel the internal war brewing between them. 'Why must they do this? Can't they just get along?' I find myself imagining what Naruto must be imagining. Naruto swoops in, saving a batter up Sasuke from certain doom. He looks up, looking handsome and heroic. I snort loudly, covering my mouth as I start to shake, my laughter threatening to break out.

"Believe it!" Naruto screams, fire in his eyes.

"Let us know where you're done fantasizing, will ya? Kakashi has a mission for us." I state after regaining my composure.

"Right!"

"Could you not be so annoying, Naruto?" Sakura snaps. "Just for once?"

The first mission was weeding out a ladies yard. It was simply enough, but I knew Naruto would mess it up somehow. I felt small cuts form in my hands as I tugged out the prickly weeds besides Sasuke. I raise an eyebrow as a discarded weed plops in front of me. I look over to see Sasuke looking away from me, working vigorously. I fling it back and snicker. He smirks a little and tosses it back, this time, making it land on my toes. I grimace at the soil delving between my toes. I throw it back, smacking him right in the shirt. It leaves a dirt mark, which he hurriedly tries to get rid of it. I start to snicker more, covering my lips with my hand. Then, he reaches forward and wipes dirt from my nose. I scrunch my nose up, crossing my eyes to stare at my nose. I look back at him, smiling at that flush crawling up his cheeks. I was about to comment, but I catch sight of Naruto pulling the weeds and herbs from the ladies garden. She was not going to be happy about this. "Hey, you!" She screams from besides Naruto.

"Oh! Hi lady! I got rid of all your weeds! Pretty cool, huh?" Naruto exclaims, making me sigh.

"You pulled the weeds....." She strains out, clenching her fist tightly. "And you also pulled up my plants!"

"Huh?" Naruto exclaims.

"Those were special herbs I've been growing, and you destroyed them!" The lady shouts, demolishing Naruto.

The next mission was picking up litter from a nearby river bed, using the baskets on our backs and pointed sticks. It was going well, but then, Naruto screamed out in shock as the current swept him away. Sasuke immediately jumped into action and saved him in the nick of time. He called him a loser, as per protocol.

Next was dog walking. I had chosen a cute little terrier who stood on his hind legs ever five seconds for head pats. Naruto, being the over compensating moron he was, chose the biggest dog they had. The dog ended up dragging him around and into a trap field. Bombs went off as they entered, and Naruto screamed in pain. The dog drug him back up, completely unscathed, but Naruto was burned to a singe. Kakashi wasn't the least bit worried.

By the end of our missions, Sasuke and I ended up carting back the idiot after he got hurt too many times. "Honestly, Naruto, how do you get so hurt on so many kid missions?" I ask, sighing out. 

"You really are just one big problem." Sasuke adds.

Naruto pulls away from us, going to attack Sasuke, but he was stopped short by Sakura. "If you keep this up, I'll finish you off myself!" Sakura screams at him.

Kakashi sighed. "Guess were not making a lot of progress on team work, huh...." He droned, looking over at me. I shrugged and smiled at him.

"That's right! Our team works all messed up and it's all because of you, Sasuke!" Naruto shouts. "You think you're better than everyone else!"

"Not everyone...." Sasuke replies nonchalantly. "Just you. Face it. I'm better and stronger than you are. It's a fact. Unless, you have what it takes to prove me wrong."

They got into another glaring contest. A bird screeches out above us, and I look upwards. I shrug and looked back at my team. "Alright guys... let's call it a day. You can beat each other to a pulp some other time. Anyway... I need to file my report on this mission. Ren, I'll see you at home." Kakashi said, looking back at me. I nod and cross my arms over my chest.

"Whatever. I'm outta here." Sasuke says gently, turning to leave.

"Wait! Sasuke!" Sakura shouts. "I'll go with you!" I chuckle as Naruto looks crestfallen. "So... why don't we... I mean you know... Lets do something more personal!" She stutters out. "I mean, improve our team work in all!"

Another bout of jealously sprouts its ugly head, but it fades as he replies. "I swear, you're just as bad as Naruto." He drones.

"That's kind of harsh, Sasuke." I say gently, scratching my cheek.

"Instead of flirting, she could practice her jutsu; like you do." He growls. "Let's face it, she's actually worse than Naruto." A cold wind breezes by as Sakura's heart shatters. I sigh again and rub the back of my head.

"Don't worry about it, Sakura. He's just a jerk. You could always go with Naruto to practice on team work!" I comment, kicking her while she's down. Kakashi disappears, knowing the full force of Sakura's anger. I turn around to ask Naruto if he wanted to spar, but I stop,  confused at the square box chasing Naruto around.

After a few minutes of Naruto running away from the box, he whirls around. "That's the worst disguise of all time! There's no such thing as square rocks!" Naruto screams. "It's completely obvious!"

"You saw through my camouflage, again!" Konohamaru speaks. 'Again?' "You're slick, boss, just what I'd expect from my greatest rival!" The box lights up, three explosions going off. One with blue smoke, yellow smoke, and pink smoke. I roll my eyes at the academy students. They stood on their knees, coughing. "I think we used too much gun powder, you guys!"

They stare up at Naruto for a moment before doing their introductions. "I'm Moegi! The Sassiest Kunoichi in Preschool! Check me out!" I feel the heat crawl up my neck as I look around for anyone so they don't witness this embarrassment.

"I love algebra! Call me Udon!" The kid with glasses claims. 'What sane child loves math?'

"And I'm the number one ninja in the village! Konohamaru!" He shouts, making me giggle. "And when were all together, we're the Konohamaru Ninja Squad!"

"Yeah, I knew it was you, Konohamaru," Naruto says, folding his arms behind his head. "Hm, hey. What are those things?" Naruto asks, clearly indicating towards the goggles around their heads. Exactly like the ones Naruto used to wear.

They giggled. "Heh, heh, you used to wear goggles, remember? So, we're copying you!" Konohamaru states happily. 'Oh great, Naruto's brainwashed the honorable grandson.' "Come on, boss! Why are you being like that?"

"So, did you want something?" Naruto tries to act like Sasuke.

"He's just trying to be cool..." Konohamaru tries to keep the others happy.

I walk over as Naruto exclaims about training, making me deadpan. "What?! You promised you'd play ninja with us today!" Konohamaru shouts.

"Playing ninja, Naruto?" I jeer, giggling as his face turns bright red.

"A ninja playing ninja? That is so twisted..." Sakura moans out, still pretty upset.

"H-Hey Sakura, Ren!" Naruto stutters out nervously. We both stare at him, making him get even redder in the face. He begins to laugh nervously.

"Hey boss,  who're these girls anyway?" Konohamaru asks. He stares at the both of us, and then, it was like he got a revelation. "Ohhh, I get it! You're a smooth operator, boss!" He jeers. I cock my head. "Come on! I know that they're your...." He pops out his pinky finger. "Girlfriends!"

It was like a fire erupted within me. Naruto started acting all bashful. "Well, you could tell they're both pretty crazy about me, huh?" Naruto tries to admit.

"That's it!" Sakura and I scream, burying our fists into his face at the same time. The fires of our anger intertwined as we beat Naruto black and blue. Konohamaru got in front of us, yelling as we continued to glare at Naruto.

"You're both witches! And Pinky is ugly!" Konohamaru shouted. We both began cracking our knuckles, glaring down at the Honorable Grandson.

"Run." I snap.

~*****~

"The nerve of that.... ugh!" I grumble as Sakura and I walk away from the beaten bodies of Naruto and Konohamaru.

"I don't even think they're human! Did you see how wide her forehead was or how long her nose was?" We both stopped, turning around slowly, our face showing pure rage. We stared for a moment, before hauling ass back to them. Konohamaru took off, only to slam into the body of a boy I just noticed. He was dressed in black clothing with purple paint adorning his features. I approached them as he stared down at Konohamaru.

"Do you need something?" The boy asked, voice laced with an edge of anger. The dude grabbed Konohamaru by the scarf and held him up.

"Hey, let's just calm down, okay? Put the kid down." I snap, taking another step forward.

"Put him down, Kankuro, or you know you'll pay for it later." The girl behind him snapped.

"The whole thing was our fault, we apologize, now please, let him down." I beg, edging a bit closer.

"You better take your hands off him right now!" Naruto shouts. I stop him from running towards us. Water creates a barrier behind me.

"This is no time to act like a hero, Naruto." I snap back at him.

"We got a few minutes before 'he' gets here. Let's mess with these punks, huh?" Kankuro jeers. Konohamaru kicks his legs around.

"Let go of me, you jerk!"

"You're feisty! Not for long!" He jeers again, making me growl. Naruto shouts, trying to run through the barrier, but something pulls him back. I look back at him in shock. "You're a leaf genin too? Looks like your village is full of wimps!" Naruto began to egg on him as I made water whips slink up the fence to jump in anytime. "You're annoying me. All of you. I don't like runts, or any other scrawny weaklings. So when a wimp like him starts shooting off his mouth," He drones. "I just wanna break him in half."

The girl behind him sighs. "Fine. I'm not involved in any of this, okay?" She says with a hint of aggravation.

"First, I'll take care of this little squirt, and then I'll waste the other one!" He shouts, pulling back his fist. A rock smacks into his fist as my water whips lurch forward, grasping the hand holding Konohamaru and squeezes, releasing the boy. I grab Konohamaru and tug him behind me. I reached out and grasped the outstretched hand, twisting it and shoving him back. He skids a bit, rubbing his hand. I cross my arms over my chest as I glare at Kankuro.

"You're a long way from home, and way out of your league." I hear Sasuke drone. I look over at him and scoff.

"I had that under control, Sasuke." I snap.

"Oh great, another wimp to tick me off." Kankuro growls.

Sasuke crushes the rock in his palm. A flush starts to crawl up my neck. "Get lost." He snaps. I cover my mouth as my head fries and I attempt to cover up the excited squeals Sakura and Moegi were currently emitting.

"Hey, punk. Quit making your little girlfriend take the fight and get down here." Kankuro jeers, making me glare at him. "You're the kind of pesky snot I hate the most. All attitude and nothing to back it up!"

Water slips my legs and arms as I ready for his attack. He pulls off the thing on his back, holding it by the top. "What?! Are you gonna use the crow?! For this?!" The girl behind him shouts, not believing her eyes.

"Kankuro.... Back off." I hear a soft, yet very dangerous voice drawl out. Shivers fly up my back as the water around and on me solidifies to ice. I whirl towards the tree, gazing at the red haired boy. 'I didn't even sense his chakra!' He had the Love Kanji on his forehead and seafoam green eyes with dark, dark rings surrounding them. That voice floated around in my head again. 'Shikaku....' "You're an embarrassment to our village."

Almost immediately, Kankuro grows wet behind his ears. This guy is no laughing matter. "U-Uh, hey, Gaara...."