Hey all :) The song on the side, which is Bounce by Nightcore, doesn't have anything to do with the chapter, it just reminds me of Keiji lol.

It's quite high energy I guess you could say :3

Pic of Shimei  --->

(Just coz he so sexy ;P)

Ashley’s POV

I settle back into my new bed with a sigh, sweat dropping and turning my head to the side, as Sakura glares at me, arms crossed and her foot tapping on the tiled floor.

The nurse at the window draws the curtains open, allowing the early morning light to pour into my room and bathe everything in a soft glow.

“Please try not to destroy this room Miss Minami” the nurse sighs, pushing her glasses up her nose and glancing at me. “It costs a lot of money to keep the hospital running, and we can’t really be dealing with-”

“It wasn’t even me though!” I cry, interrupting her and throwing my arms up in frustration. Sakura’s eyes narrow at me, before they slide over to Kakashi Sensei, who is standing suspiciously close to the door. The only exit.

“Of course it wasn’t” the nurse agrees kindly, patting my head. I roll my eyes. She doesn’t believe me, I can tell.

“I forgot” Sakura says lowly, shutting the door as the nurse leaves the room, “Windows in the hospital do tend to just explode without warning.”

“I’m glad you’re finally beginning to understand” I say brightly, ignoring Sakura as she deadpans. The pinkette sighs heavily, her shoulders sagging as she walks over to my bed.

“So, what actually happened?” she questions, raising an eyebrow at me.

“Actually, I’d like to know the answer to that as well” Kakashi Sensei speaks up, earning a glare from me. Why should I tell him anything? He’d gone along with everyone’s assumptions that I’d blown up the wall, just so he wouldn’t get into trouble.

“A friend came to visit me during the night” I explain simply. “She…..got mad at me I guess and tried to attack me-”

“Using the Chidori” Kakashi interrupts, suddenly right next to my bed, watching me carefully. “How did your little friend know my Jutsu?”

“I already told you” I say pointedly, shrugging my shoulders, “I don’t know how she knows the Chidori! But yeah, she used the Chidori, and it blew up the wall. I’m innocent.”

Kakashi stares at me for a few moments, seemingly in thought about something. I shift my gaze uncomfortably, silently praying that he won’t ask me anymore questions about Kohana. Obviously she doesn’t want me to tell him about her, although I’m not sure why. From all the questions she’s asked me about Kakashi, I’d figured she secretly wanted him to know….

“Well” Sakura sighs, placing her hands on her hips and tilting her head, “Even though this is all really fun, I’m going home for a few hours. I’ve been at the hospital all night, and now I’ve got about five hours until I have to be back.”

“You should get some sleep Sakura” I suggest, noting that, despite her fiery attitude, she does seem rather tired.

“Yeah, the other nurses were saying the same thing” Sakura laughs, running a hand through her pink tresses. “I can’t help myself though. There are so many sick and injured patients, I hate leaving them just so I can go and sleep.”

“Like a true Medic Ninja” Kakashi Sensei laughs, scruffing up Sakura’s hair affectionately. “You’re acting like Naruto. Now go and get some sleep so you can recover and help all these people.”

Sakura pouts as she fixes her hair, before smiling tiredly at Kakashi Sensei.

“Aye aye Sensei” she jokes, saluting the silver haired man, before turning to me. “I’ll be back to check on you later in the after noon okay? See ya guys.”

Kakashi and I watch as Sakura disappears through the door, before I sigh irritably and cross my arms.

“I don’t need to be checked on” I complain childishly. “I don’t even need to be in the hospital! I feel absolutely fine! Thanks to Hakuba, I heal pretty quickly.”

“Wasn’t he the problem though?” Kakashi asks dryly, making me deadpan. Smart ass.

“No” I correct pointedly, before pausing. “Well, not entirely. Although I hate to admit it, Sora beat me up pretty good before I used Hakuba’s power.”

“Speaking of which” Kakashi says, leaning his shoulder against the wall and placing his hands in his pockets, “Exactly how much of his power did you use?”

My eyes immediately drop to my hands, which begin fiddling with the ends of my hospital blanket, feeling somewhat ashamed of myself.

“I uh…..I was in Hakuba’s Six Tails form” I say softly, making Kakashi’s visible eye widen in shock.

“Six tails?!” he repeats incredulously, causing me to look up. Kakashi Sensei shakes his head in amazement, eye focused on me. “I’ve seen how Naruto loses control with just four tails, so you must have been…….I don’t know, completely out of your mind or something….”

“I honestly don’t remember much of the actual fight” I admit, rubbing my upper arms, as if I were cold. “Anything after the first tail, I’m not conscious for…..I don’t know what would have happened if Naruto hadn’t been there….”

Kakashi Sensei remains quiet, silently observing as my eyes waver slightly.

“I almost killed my friends” I murmur shamefully. “How could I be so irresponsible? I put everyone’s lives at risk…..I shouldn’t have been so reckless, thinking I could just charge in and save the day like that…..How stupid can I be?!”

“It wasn’t stupid” Kakashi speaks up, looking down at me. “From what I was told, you rushed in because Naruto was in danger. Though I agree that it was reckless, risking your life to save your teammate is a noble thing to do.”

I glance up at my Sensei, before shaking my head and looking down, scowling to myself.

“It wasn’t noble at all” I growl lowly, pulling up my knees and folding my arms across them. “It was stupid. Yes, I wanted to save Naruto, but the way I went about it almost cost everyone else their lives. This is why I don’t ever use Hakuba’s power. It’s much too strong to be controlled.”

Kakashi nods slowly, turning and leaning his back against the wall, looking at the tiled floor thoughtfully.

“I suppose humans were never meant to possess the strength of demons” he muses quietly, more to himself than me. I blink, looking up at him with slightly widened eyes.

“That’s true…..” I reply softly, turning my head and gazing out of the window. Kakashi Sensei is so right. We weren’t meant to possess the strength of such powerful beings. Our bodies and minds just can’t handle the stress and strain. Maybe it’s a due punishment for our greedy pursuit for power……And besides, how unfair is it for all of the Tailed Beasts? Because of man’s hunger for other worldly powers, they were all now trapped inside the bodies of unfortunate humans, exposed to ridicule and hatred. It must be a terrible existence……

‘It isn’t terrible to be trapped inside of you’ Hakuba informs me quietly. ‘It isn’t something I’d ever agree to, but I suppose I could have been sealed into someone a lot worse……’

‘You’re being awfully quiet and nice’ I muse, making Hakuba scoff.

‘I told you’ he growls warningly, ‘I’m merely resting for now………That fight must have stuffed up my train of thought………’

‘Or maybe you just like me, so you’re being nicer?’ I suggest hopefully, to which Hakuba responds with silence.

‘Don’t be so naïve’ he eventually replies, before disappearing altogether, making me smile to myself. Maybe it could be possible for Hakuba and I to become friends. Or at least to come to a mutual understanding or something……

My head suddenly snaps up. Speaking of friends…

“Kakashi Sensei!” I cry urgently, giving the Jonin a fright. “My friends! What happened to Kiyumi and Saffire and Kurai and and and, well, everyone! Where are my Minami friends?! Are they hurt?! Can I see them? Please tell them to come and see m-”

I am interrupted, as someone suddenly knocks on the door to my room, making me groan with annoyance.

“Go away!” I snap at the mystery visitor, making Kakashi chuckle and shake his head. “We’re busy!”

Despite my words, the door slides open slightly, revealing a nervous looking nurse.

“I-I’m sorry Miss Minami” the young woman apologises, fidgeting uncomfortably under my harsh gaze. “But your visitor seems to really want to see you…..He, uh she ummm….Well, it was annoying people in the waiting room and zooming up and down hallways until-”

“Wait, it?” I repeat sharply, narrowing my eyes at the nurse. “Can’t you tell if my visitor is a girl or a guy?”

The nurse shakes her head with embarrassment, opening her mouth to reply, when I turn to Kakashi.

“Maybe she needs glasses or something” I mutter dryly, to which Kakashi chuckles again, only to try and not so subtly cover it up with a cough when he sees the embarrassed look on the nurse’s face.

Suddenly, she lets out a cry, as a powerful blast of wind hits her, sending her tumbling sideways down the hallway. Kakashi Sensei and I both blink in surprise, wondering what just happened, when my door slams all the way open, revealing my visitor.

“KEIJI!” I shriek excitedly, throwing my blankets back and leaping to my feet. I throw my arms open, jumping down from my bed and charging towards the yellow butterfly, as he spins in a circle. He swiftly zooms towards me, crashing into my chest, before jumping up and whizzing around my head at a break neck pace.

In seconds, my eyes begin spinning dizzily, before I begin swaying around the room, legs feeling like jelly.

“K-Keiji” I smile, stumbling over my feet and face planting Kakashi Sensei’s chest, making him sweat drop. “Hey! Who put this wall here?!”

Sighing, Kakashi places his hands on my shoulders and pushes me away from him, holding me steady. I shake my head a few times, clearing it of its dizziness. I blush slightly, looking up at Kakashi’s stoic face, one eyebrow raised at me. I clear my throat, smacking Kakashi’s hands away from me and turning around, crossing my arms.

“Your stomach is getting a bit soft Sensei” I say rudely, covering my embarrassment. “You should stop skipping your training I think.”

Kakashi’s eye widens, before he places a hand on his stomach, feeling to see if he really is getting soft. I lied of course, Kakashi Sensei’s stomach is fine. Flat and muscled, but as if I’m going to tell him that……I shouldn’t even think of my Sensei like that anyway! He’s way older than me!

“What are you?” I ask wryly, pursing my lips and raising an eyebrow at Kakashi Sensei. “Like, forty or something?”

Kakashi’s eye widens further, question marks appearing above his head as he stares at me, confused and appalled.

“Forty?!” he repeats, making me shrug my shoulders. “You think I’m forty?!”

“Well, you do have grey hair.”

“It’s silver” Kakashi corrects me vehemently, narrowing his eye at me. “And it’s my natural colour…..And by the way, I’m only twenty six!”

“Only?” I scoff teasingly, satisfied that I’ve covered my initial embarrassment well. Keiji lands softly on my forehead, as Kakashi glares at me.

‘He hides his age well’ a deep voice echoes through my mind, making me giggle. ‘I almost believe that he’s twenty six.’

“What are you giggling about now?” Kakashi demands to know, immediately making my grin drop. I look Kakashi Sensei up and down critically, raising my eyebrows.

“Keiji was just agreeing with me” I say flatly. “You look fat.”

Kakashi just stares at me in shock, tilting his head to the side, anime tears forming in his visible eye.

“You said I was beautiful just three years ago” Kakashi argues, making me smirk. He wants to play that card huh? Okay….

“Oh, you see right through me Sensei” I giggle, winking at Kakashi cheekily. “I really do think you’re beautiful, I was just trying to hide how attracted to you I am.”

I leap onto my bed, placing my hands on my hips and leaning over until I’m right in Kakashi’s face. My eyes search his face slowly, before they land back on his own, a slightly panicked look on his face.

“Such a beautiful man is my Sensei” I sigh, batting my eyelashes. “If only I was your age….”

Kakashi’s face suddenly drops, resuming his cool demeanour as he places his hands in his pockets. His visible eye hooded, Kakashi merely stares at me as I lean even closer.

“Though you’re beautiful Sensei” I continue teasingly, “I bet you’d look even better without your shirt on.”

“I know what you’re doing” Kakashi says blandly, deadpanning at my statement. As I roll my eyes and slump down onto my bed, arms crossed, Keiji suddenly darts forwards. Kakashi blinks in surprise, trying to look up at the insect.

He suddenly jumps with fright, glancing wildly around the room, before Keiji flits away happily, flying upside down.

“What’s wrong now?” I ask wryly, to which Kakashi shrugs.

“I swear I just heard a man’s voice telling me to let them….uhh…..rip my shirt from my body” the Jonin informs me uncomfortably, to which I burst out laughing. I fall backwards onto my mattress, holding my stomach and tilting my head back to look at Keiji.

“I love you Keiji!” I choke out, tears forming in my eyes. The butterfly dips his wings in recognition, as Kakashi narrows his eyes.

“Right. So your Ninja butterfly can talk now” he says dryly, heading for the door. “Great.”

“Aww, get a sense of humour Kakashi Sensei!” I call teasingly, making him roll his eyes.

“I’ve put up with you and Naruto for over three years” he informs me sarcastically. “Don’t worry, I’ve got one.”

With that, he closes the door behind him, obviously having had enough of his favourite student for the day. Or week, after that little episode, who can tell?

“So Keiji” I begin, rolling onto my stomach and leaning my chin on my hands, “I’m bored out of my mind. What brings you here?”

My little, yellow friend flits over to me, landing on my forehead.

‘I was at the Flower Shop” he informs me in his deep, sinister voice, “When Ino arrived back from a mission, after the Village was attacked. She immediately found me and told me that you’d been injured quite badly. I visited you every day, but you were unconscious for so long, that I got tired of sitting at your window all the time.’

“Gee, thanks” I say sarcastically, rolling my eyes. “Sorry for the inconvenience.”

‘Apology accepted’ Keiji brushes my comment off. ‘…..You never told me you were a Jinchuuriki.’

“You never asked” I say, repeating the words I snapped at Lady Tsunade. “I didn’t tell a lot of people. He was part of the reason I was so nasty when you met me.”

‘Ah yes’ Keiji recalls, ‘In the Land of Waves when you tried to squash me.’

“Well, you wouldn’t leave me alone” I defend myself. “And beside, you were being really annoying!”

Keiji flaps his wings, remaining silent for a few moments.

‘I was very worried about you’ he eventually tells me, sounding a little sad. ‘I would’ve been very upset if you had’ve….well, died.’

I blink in surprise, before smiling to myself. Reaching up, I gently scoop Keiji into my hands and hold him up to my face.

“If it wouldn’t squash you” I tell him softly, “I’d hug you right now.”

Keiji, instead, flaps his wings and pokes my nose, before jumping back onto my forehead.

‘Ino and Tenten are coming to visit you later’ he says, changing the subject. ‘I left as soon as I heard them talking about visiting you, so I could see you first.’

“Sounds like you’re leaving then” I say, feeling somewhat sad. Despite him being an insect, I enjoy having Keiji around. He was pretty helpful during my two and a half years away from the Village. His Genjutsu come in quite handy sometimes.

‘I have to mind the shop for Ino’ Keiji informs me smugly.

“You have to what?” I ask incredulously, sweat dropping. Is he serious?

‘Well, I know who to work the register’ the strange butterfly tells me. “And I’m excellent at choosing flowers for bouquets. Plus, I can defend the shop against thieves. The customers love me.”

With that, Keiji leaps away from me, flitting over to the door. Flapping his wings powerfully, he blows the door open with a chakra fuelled wind, before disappearing into the hallway.

I jump as I hear an ear piercing scream, before a loud thump.

“It’s that butterfly again!” someone shrieks in a panic, loud footsteps running in the opposite direction to my Keiji.

“Careful, he might attack!” a woman cries.

“Someone call the ANBU Black Ops over here!” a third person shouts, making me roll my eyes. What had Keiji done before?

“So, you’re looking well” Tenten says, looking confused. “Why are you still in here again?”

“Because Lady Tsunade doesn’t want me to leave the Village” I say blandly, pouting. “Now that she knows I’m a Jinchuuriki, she wants to keep a close eye on me.”

“That’s fair enough though isn’t it?” Ino asks, crossing one leg over the other as she sits in the plastic chair next to my bed. “She doesn’t want the Akatsuki to get to you.”

“But I followed them for a year and a half” I complain, “And I’m still alive. I think that it’s pretty over the top to keep me a prisoner here in the hospital.”

“Knowing you, you’ll just break out one day soon anyway” Tenten chuckles, before pausing. “Actually, I’m surprised you haven’t tried it already.”

“I have tried it” I admit, rubbing the back of my neck. “But the nurses caught me and got Sakura to drag me back inside the window……She wasn’t very happy with me….”

Ino and Tenten sweat drop, glancing at each other and wincing. I guess they both know how mad Sakura can get. It’s really best not to make her temper flare….

“Oh hey!” I ask, something suddenly coming to mind. “Do you guys know where Saffire and the other Minami are? I haven’t had the chance to see them yet.”

“Oh, no one told you?” Ino asks, giving me a sympathetic look. “They’ve all gone home.”

“What?” I ask, staring at Ino with wide eyes. “They went home? When?!”

“Last week” Tenten speaks up gently. “They really wanted to wait until you woke up, but then a messenger bird from the Land of Ambience arrived, with a letter telling them that they had to go back. Sorry Ashley.”

I look down at my blanket, brows furrowed in thought. It’s not fair. I would’ve liked to say good bye to my friends before they left…

“I guess Master Dashi would have been worried about them” I sigh, shrugging a shoulder. “They should’ve really left for the Land of Ambience a week or two ago…..How was everyone? I remember that Shimei, Tamashi and Keilor were quite injured after my…um….Well, when I went psycho pretty much.”

Ino nods uncomfortably, obviously not really sure how to respond to that. She probably just doesn’t want to hurt my feelings.

“Right, well” she begins, after clearing her throat, “Shimei’s stomach wound was very deep and he lost a lot of blood, but Sakura and I were able to stabilize him at the scene. He was in hospital for two days, before he was released, good as new. He’s got a nice scar across his stomach and chest now though.”

“Kurai will probably love that” I say dryly, smiling to myself. Tenten raises an eyebrow at my comment, before Ino continues explaining.

“Tamashi was just knocked unconscious from hitting his head on the ground so hard” she informs me. “He stayed unconscious for a good four days, before waking up. He had quite the headache, but apart from that, he was fine. And Keilor’s thigh was completely run through with a branch, so Captain Yamato had to carry him all the way back to the Village. We took him to the Vet, where Hana Inuzuka operated on him. He had to have his leg shaved, which he initially wasn’t happy about, but after the operation, he was running around and saying something about the breeze feeling nice……He’s a bit weird Ashley. Was he ever dropped as a puppy or something?”

I can’t help laughing at that, seeing an image of Keilor bouncing around with one shaved leg in my head. He certainly is a character.

“No, he’s just very……individualistic” I eventually decide, not really sure how to describe the young Wolf. “I’m not sure how my sister puts up with him sometimes.”

Tenten suddenly laughs, making Ino and I look over at her.

“Oh, sorry” she giggles. “I was just remembering what you told me happened to Naruto when Ashley’s friends left Ino.”

A smirk appears on Ino’s face, as she seemingly recalls what happened.

“Oh yeah” she chuckles lowly. “He was so flustered!”

“What?” I ask, eyes gleaming with anticipation. “What happened to him?”

“Saffire happened” Tenten shakes her head. “She’s crazy.”

“I really wanted to wait until Ley-chan woke up” Kurai says sadly, hugging Shimei’s arm tightly. “I want to make sure that she’s okay.”

“She’ll be fine” Ino says kindly. “The nurses and Medics here are taking good care of her.”

“Ley-chan’s a fighter Kurai-chan!” Tsumetai barks, wrapping his arms around the short girl’s leg. “She’ll be fine and back to being a super duper Ninja in no time! Right Atsui-kun?”

The green haired Minami shrugs a shoulder carelessly and flicks some hair from his eyes, making small hearts appear in Ino’s. Why were the Minami boys so handsome?!

“Yeah, she’ll be fine” Atsui sighs, scowling everyone. “Now can we get going? Master Dashi’s probably already sick of waiting for us to-”

“You need to like, calm down and chillax Atsui man” Keilor breathes, skipping past the boy and blinking his blue eyes slowly. “Maybe you should like, shave that head of yours. The cool breeze will set you free.”

Atsui deadpans, shaking his head and sighing deeply. He would never understand Keilor. Ever. Kiyumi smiles wryly, patting Atsui’s back comfortingly. She loved her Guardian, but she knew all to well that he often weirded people out.

Sakura bows her head politely, standing beside an uncharacteristically quiet Naruto.

“Thank you for all of your help with protecting the Leaf Village” she says appreciatively. “We owe you guys. Lady Tsunade was very grateful.”

“No worries Pinky-chan!” Tsumetai says brightly, scampering over to Sakura and patting her leg. “It was super fun, except for the zombies and watching Ashley-chan turn into a monster Wolf. I like your hair!”

Sakura blinks a few times, her mind processing what the small Chibi had said, as he spins around and bounds towards Atsui, climbing up his leg and sitting himself down on the Minami’s shoulder.

“Thank you?” Sakura eventually says, sounding somewhat confused. Naruto remains quiet, hands in his pockets as he focuses his blue eyes on Saffire, who is rocking back and forth on her heels, hands behind her back.

Why did he feel sad that she was leaving? He didn’t know her that well. He knew Sakura and Ashley better than he knew the girl with black and white hair, so he shouldn’t be upset to see her go. He didn’t care that any of the other Minami were going, so why her?

Saffire’s fuschia eyes flick over to Naruto, widening slightly when she catches him watching her, a serious expression on his face. She stops rocking back and forth, tilting her head as if to ask him a silent question.

Naruto’s eyes widen when he realises Saffire has caught him staring, his cheeks warming as he immediately looks away, heart thudding against his chest. She wasn’t meant to look at him!

Saffire suddenly grins to herself, her sharp canine like teeth showing. It was now or never, and she was going to make the most of this moment!

“Blue Eyes” the Minami addresses brightly, forcing Naruto to look back over at her. He gulps as she skips right up to him, giving him a friendly closed eye smile.

“I just wanted to say” she begins, opening her sparkling eyes and staring right up into his, “Thank you so, so much for saving my best friend. If you hadn’t risked your life like that, who knows what would have happened to her.”

“Y-You’re welcome” Naruto stutters, nervous at the girl’s closeness. Though she was shorter than him, Saffire was still taller than Ashley, and she didn’t have to tilt her head back to be at eye level with him.

Saffire hoods her eyes, looking at the necklace around Naruto’s neck.

“You’re a special guy” she says softly, eyes flicking back up to Naruto’s face, flashing mischievously. “I can tell. You’re going to do some great things in the future.”

“Uhh…Th-Thank you?” Naruto says, making it sound more like a question. Saffire’s lips suddenly pull up into a devious grin, as she bends her knees.

“Nope” she growls playfully. “That’s not good enough. Let me show you how we say thank you in the Land of Ambience!”

That said, Saffire abruptly jumps up and grabs onto Naruto’s shoulders, making him take a step backwards in surprise. Before he can ask what she’s doing, Saffire closes her eyes and presses her lips against Naruto’s, causing Sakura and Ino to gasp, their eyes wide.

“Oh Saffire……” Kiyumi sighs, sweat dropping at her friends actions. Kurai claps her hands, squealing about how cute Saffire and Naruto are, as Tsumetai cheers excitedly.

Naruto blinks his incredibly wide eyes, arms out, not sure how to react as Saffire kisses him. As soon as it began though, it ends, with Saffire releasing Naruto and dropping back to the ground, grinning just as devilishly before. She jumps back beside her Guardian, no sign of shame or embarrassment on her face at all, her eyes sparkling with triumph.

“And that is how you really say thank you!” she barks, saluting the Leaf Ninja playfully, turning on her heel and running through the Leaf Village Gates. “So long Blue Eyes! Hope to see you again soon!”

“Saffire!” Fang calls urgently, following swiftly behind her laughing partner. “You can’t do that! Doesn’t that count as sexual harassment?!”

“Not if he enjoyed it!” Kurai sings teasingly, winking at Naruto, before tugging Shimei and a chuckling Tamashi towards the gates. “Buh bye Leaf Village!”

Sakura, Ino and Naruto just blink, as Shimei places the apple he’s crunching in his mouth, raising his hand in a silent good bye.

Naruto tentatively raises his hand, touching his lips as he stares at the swiftly retreating figure of Saffire, who is still obviously laughing about her move on him.

“Please forgive my insane friend” Kiyumi apologises, sweat dropping as she also turns to leave. “And please tell my sister that we’re sorry we had to go, and that I love her. Bye!”

“I can’t be bothered like, walking back” Keilor sighs, tail drooping as he trots behind Kiyumi. “I want to take some totally rad Leaf Village oranges with me. Rolling is the way to go.”

“Bye bye Pinky-chan!” Tsumetai calls, waving wildly as he rides on Atsui’s shoulder. “Bye bye blonde bimbo-chan! Bye bye Blue eyes Naruto-chan! Bye bye Leaf Village-chan! Bye bye-”

“Tsumetai!” Atsui snaps, reaching up and flicking Tsumetai in annoyance. “Shut up!”

Sakura and Ino’s shoulders slump, feeling somewhat tired. How did Ashley’s Ambience friends always seem to make the most simple of things so tiring and chaotic?

Naruto suddenly grabs at his hair, seeming distraught and utterly confused.

“That’s how people from the Land of Ambience say thank you?!” he cries, tugging on his hair and shaking his head. “Well then how come Ashley never kisses anyone?! The only person she kisses is Kiba! Is he the only one she ever says thank you to?! I don’t get it, I don’t get it, I don’t get it! AARRRGGHH!”

Sakura and Ino watch as Naruto continues freaking out, pulling at his hair and running in circles as he rants and raves, trying to figure out exactly what just happened to him.

“Wow, it’s like he’s lost his mind or something” Sakura comments, sweat dropping as Naruto trips over his own feet and begins rolling back and forth on the ground instead. “He’s totally flipped.”

“He totally likes her” Ino says decisively, crossing her arms and smirking down at the blonde boy on the ground. “That was pretty smooth of her actually.”

Sakura deadpans at that, unable to hide her dislike for the black and white haired girl.

“That was as smooth as a gravel road” she says dryly, raising an eyebrow down at her blue eyed teammate, who is now lying flat on his back, staring up at the sky through wide eyes. “I think she poisoned him or something.”

My eyes grow wide, my mouth falling open slightly as Tenten and Ino break out into a fit of giggles.

“Saffire kissed him?!” I exclaim, before bursting out laughing and falling back against my pillows. “Oh Saffire, good girl! She really took my advice!”

“Advice?” Tenten questions, leaning forwards in her chair. “What advice?”

“I basically told her that Naruto is stupid and subtly won’t work with him” I explain, before exploding into a fit of laughter again. Poor Naruto must have had an absolute heart attack when she jumped on him!

“No offense” Ino says, smirking at me. “But you’re not really the person I’d go to for advice about love.”

I pull myself up, shrugging my shoulders.

“Oh well” I say. “It seems to have worked in this case. But yeah, I’m not exactly an expert on love.”

“Says the only girl here with a boyfriend” Tenten teases, elbowing me playfully.

“Please” Ino sniffs, crossing her arms. “It’s only Kiba. He hardly counts.”

“Hey!” I bark, before pausing. That asshole still hasn’t visited me. “Actually, you’re right…”

Ino and Tenten laugh at that, while I just manage to give them a wry smile, eyes downcast. Is Kiba even my boyfriend anymore? I can’t imagine him wanting to be with me if he thinks I’m a monster.

“Hello?” someone suddenly asks, making all of us look up. We see Sakura’s head poking in the door, a smile on her face.

“Hey, come on in Sakura” I say kindly, waving her in. “We were just discussing Saffire’s surprise attack on Naruto the other day.”

“Oh that” she mutters, pulling a face as she closes the door. “Well, it certainly was interesting.”

“Actually” Ino says pointedly, giving me a cheeky grin. “We were just discussing Kiba and Ashley’s relationship. He’s so in love with you, I can’t believe he’s not living here at the hospital right now!”

“It’s kind of sweet how much he cares about you” Tenten says dreamily. “I mean, I don’t overly like him, but it must be so nice to have someone be so loyal to you….”

I nod my head mechanically, ignoring the calculating look on Sakura’s face as she stares hard at me.

“Yeah……Actually, I haven’t even seen Kiba since the day I attacked Sora” I say uncaringly, turning my head and looking out of the window. “So, did you get any sleep Sakura?”

“Huh?” Ino asks, sounding confused as she and Tenten exchange a look.

“WHAT?!” Sakura explodes, making us all jump with fright. “He still hasn’t come to visit you?!”

She glares at me angrily, as I shake my head slightly, afraid she’s going to fling a chair at me or something. She huffs in annoyance, before whirling around and stomping over to the door.

“Even after I talked to him and everything!” she mutters under her breath, hands clenched into fists down by her sides. “That arrogant little-”

“Sakura!” I groan, throwing my head back onto my pillows. “I told you not to ask him to come and visit me!”

“I didn’t ask him” she informs me vehemently, eye twitching creepily. “I told him to!”

That said, Sakura slams the door behind her, making the three of us flinch. We all look around awkwardly for a few moments, not really sure what to say.

“I heard that Keiji is watching the shop for you Ino” I muse, smiling to myself. “How did that happen?”

“Oh, he is!” the platinum blonde confirms, seemingly happy to have something to talk about. “One day I left the shop for a minute to get something, and when I came back, he was hopping around on the buttons of the cash register, taking money from a customer! I was so surprised, but he’d apparently been watching me and my family run the shop, so he wanted to give it a go. The customers love him too. They know him by name and everything!”

“You let a butterfly serve your customers?” Tenten asks doubtfully, to which Ino nods.

“Yep!” she laughs proudly. “And thanks to that little insect, we’re getting more customers than ever! I’m so glad you let him stay at the shop Ashley.”

“No problem” I shrug. “He loves it there. Just don’t over work him okay?”

“We won’t!” Ino promises, before a light bulb seems to go off in her head. She hoods her eyes and lowers her voice, making Tenten and I very curious.

“You know how Kurenai Sensei is pregnant?” she asks, as Tenten nods and I shake my head. I had no idea she was pregnant!

“Well she is” Ino informs me. “And guess what?”

“What?” Tenten immediately asks, her pretty brown eyes wide with anticipation.

“I found out who the Father is.”

“No way” Tenten breathes, before leaning forwards eagerly. “Who?!”

Ino glances at both of us, enjoying the fact that she knows and we don’t. I begin to grow annoyed with her silence, when she opens her mouth.

“It’s Asuma Sensei” she informs us smugly, making our eyes widen.

“No way!” Tenten cries again, leaping up from her seat.

“I knew it” I laugh, shaking my head. “I always had the suspicion that they were together, but they always try to hide it!”

“Well, they won’t be able to hide it for much longer” Ino smirks. “Especially when the little baby comes out.”

“Ewww!” Tenten squeals. “Ino!” We all start laughing at that, before lapsing into cheerful chatter for the next hour. I must admit, it’s been awhile since I’ve spent much time with Tenten and Ino. In fact, I think the last time I really spent time with Tenten was when Kiba, Neji, Tenten and I went on that mission to the Grass Village. And that was a long time ago now……

“And then Neji was like Lee, you don’t know how to use a flail’ Tenten says eagerly, pulling a serious face and putting on a deep voice. “And then Lee, being so excited, picked up my flail and began swinging it around, calling it the flail of youth!”

Ino and I hold our stomachs, Tenten’s impressions of her teammates having us in stitches.

“Anyway, Neji was just shaking his head and Guy Sensei was running laps around the training area on his hands, when the flail comes flying out of Lee’s hands!” Tenten continues, smirking darkly. “And as I went to warn Guy Sensei, Neji covered my mouth with his hands, watching the flail flying towards our Sensei. It ended up hitting him right in the face, knocking him over. Naturally, I was laughing, Neji was pulling his that’s funny but I refuse to laugh face, and Lee was crying hysterically.”

“Wh-What happened to Guy Sensei?” Ino asks, wiping tears from her eyes.

“He had to go to the hospital” Tenten says simply, shrugging her shoulders. “Lee felt so bad, but Neji said Guy Sensei deserved it for forcing him to piggy back Lee around the Village for a training exercise.”

“Remind me never to get on Neji’s bad side” I giggle, to which Tenten nods wisely. “I don’t really want to get a flail to the fa-”

“Stop struggling!” a voice snaps outside my door, before we hear a loud thumping sound.

“OW!” someone else cries angrily. Ino, Tenten and I all exchange confused looks, before somebody bangs loudly on my door.

“Uhhh, come in!” I call hesitantly, before the door flies open, revealing a really pissed off looking Sakura.

“Visiting hours are now in session!” she thunders, her hair looking messy and her eyes flashing wildly. She turns and glares at someone out in the hallway.

“Now get in here!” she snarls, stepping through the door and grabbing onto someone.

“What’s going on Sakur-” I cut myself off as she drags someone into the room, making my eyes widen.

Ino and Tenten’s eyes also widen, as Sakura shoves the person forwards, standing in the doorway to stop him from escaping. He mumbles something under his breath, before crossing his arms, angrily glaring down at the floor, lips pulled back into a silent snarl.

“Kiba?” I ask timidly, throwing a helpless look over to Ino and Tenten, as the Inuzuka’s accusing eyes land on me.

Uh oh…

Don't forget to vote and comment! ^-^ Hmmm, I feel like asking you guys a question today....What should it be??........

Okay, out of all the characters I'VE made up, who is your favorite, and who is your least favorite, and why?? Should be interesting!