• Neji's POV.

    Guy wanted yet another early training session this morning. Tenten and Lee headed over to Akane's place to get her. Leaning up against a tree I waited for them. Watching the bird's go by I began to here soft snores. Thinking it was just in my head for a bit, I ignored it, till it got louder. Going behind the tree their I found Akane sleeping. Starring, I couldn't help but wonder why she'd be sleeping here.
    "Neji!" Tenten's voice came while she ran up to me. "Akane's not at her house," She said a bit worried.
    "Yeah so we brought her ferrets with us!" Lee then said happily, while both the white, and black ferrets chased after each other on his shoulders.
    "Hmph she's right here," I said to both of them pointing behind the tree. Tenten than ran over and began shaking her back and forth.
    "Akane wake up!: Tenten yelled.


    Akane's POV.
    What the heck was shaking me? I opened my eyes to see Tenten in front of me.
    "What are you doing in my house?" I questioned her confused about what happened last night. She gave me a crazy look.
    "We're not in your house Akane," She said which got my attention and I found I was outside with Lee and Neji nearby. how did I get out here again? I questioned myself in my head.
    "Neji found you sleeping here, and you weren't at your house," Lee said worried. Oh wait! Now everything was coming back.
    "Oops yeah I kind of got angry last night, about something, and I came here to train. I must have fallen asleep after doing that," I explained pointing over to the tree that was beginning to widdle away. Lee walked over to the tree and looked at it.
    "Our training is making progress Akane! Look what you did to it," He said proudly about his tai jutsu training was making such great progress. Miki and Sho jumped from his shoulders, back down to me, where they began to scold me in their little squeaks of protests of me not being home last night.
    I looked down at them guiltily, "Yeah sorry guys I tell you later," I know a bit weird to be talking to animals, but it's in my blood just as much as it is for Kiba and dogs.


    I shook his hand, blushing lightly. "Sorry. I....um....didn't see you coming."
    He smiled and then crouched, to gather up the things in the box. I stooped as well. he glanced at me. "You know it's only about five o'clock, right?"
    I frowned, and then glanced down. i had cmpletely forgotten that I was wearing pajamas. "Oh, um...yeah." I felt my face flush again and I picked up one of my fans, dropping it into the box he now had perched in his lap. "Thanks for helping me pick this up, by the way."
    "Not a problem." We both stood and he handed back the box. it was then that I noticed the music symbol on his headband.
    "You're from the Sound?" I asked curiously. "What are you doing all the way in the Leaf? Do you have a mission?"
    "No. My team and I came here for the Chunin Exams." He then let out a small laugh. "A little early, of course."
    "Oh. That makes sense." I snuck a look at his face, feeling odd. usually I didn't mind meeting people's eyes. Maybe it was because he was taller then me. And a few years older. And a little bit handsome....even though I would never admit that out loud.
    He smiled pleasantly at me. "Perhaps I'll see you around?"
    I smiled anxiously. "Um...yeah, maybe you will." he turned to leave, but I suddenly blurted out, "I have a lot of training tomorrow, but, um, if you want to go get ramen or something...seven o'clock is good."
    I waited for him to laugh, or walk away without responding. But instead he smiled again, and propped one hand up on his hip. "Seven o'clock IS good." he turned to leave again, and then, looking at me over one shoulder, added, "I guess it's a date, then."
    I watched him leave, blushing furiously. And then i turned and slipped back into the house, tiptoeing past Iruka, who was flopped on the couch asleep. Ino would just love to hear about this, I thought.


    "So where's Guy then?" I asked.
    "We don't know he just told us to come and meet him here," Tenten said. We then heard loud rumble coming from the entry to the training field.
    "Everyone!!!!" Guy came running in yelling loudly. "The ninja's from other village's are coming already," Guy said now catching his breath.



    "Whoa. What are you all dressed up for?"
    I glanced over to see Iruka, who was standing at the stove, looking at me skeptically, a pan dangling from his fingers. Some gooey stuff was dripping onto one of the burners, making a sizzling noise. "Um, Uncle Iruka, your food?"
    "Huh? Ehh!" He jerked the pan aside and set it on one of the cool burners, before turning off the stove. He hurried over to grab a wet rag. "My bad, my bad. But what do you have planned? A date with Kiba?" he added a singsong note to his name, which, in turn, made me stick my tongue out at him.
    "No. I don't like kiba like that. I told you already." I set my hands on my hips. "And it's just dinner with someone."
    "With who?"
    I folded my arms with a huff. "Goodness. Overprotective, much." I smiled. "His name's Kabuto, and he's from the Sound. He's here for the Chunin Exams. that's all i know." I shrugged. "Bye Uncle Iruka!"
    'wait, you don't even know-"
    Before i could hear the rest of this I closed the door quickly and hurried down the street, towards the ramen shop. It was six fifty already. I could afford to take my time. As I walked I glanced at the dark windows of the buildings, and then paused to take in my appearence. A long black skirt (not one of those stiff ones for old ladies - a swishy one that reached my knees) and a kind of frilly, long sleeved red blouse. I was wearing a ruby necklace, too, one that Ino lent me in a fit of girlishness when she found out i was going on a date. I still had my headband on, but I had pulled it back as a form of headband (the same way that my old classmate Sakura wore hers.)
    Sucking in a deep breath, I continued on my way. Reaching the ramen bar I saw Kabuto sitting there, wearing jeans and a long sleeved, black turtle neck sweater that was rolled up at the sleeves. He still wore his headband as well, but it looked like he was wearing dress shoes. He turned slightly as I approached. "Hey, Matsuo."
    I slid into the stool next to him. "Hey." I smiled weakly. "I'm not late or something, am I?"
    "No," he said, laughing slightly. "I'm just chronically early whenever I go somewhere."


    After hearing about other ninjas coming from the villages yesterday I'd became excited and couldn't wait. That would mean that I'd see my friend Temari, and Kankuro. Which also meant being very respectable to Gaara of course. Guy had us training such an early time that I didn't have time to go searching the village to see if my friends had arrived here yet. Being so tired I'd though I go home and rest for a bit instead. Closing my eyes I yawned as I walked home, I walked into someone, and fell backwards. Opening my eyes I looked up to see the painted face of Kankuro. "Kankuro?!" I asked happily.
    "Akane Makoto? Heh it really is you," He said putting his hand up to pull me up. "How's it been going living in the Leaf?" He questioned I smiled, and looked to see Temari, and Gaara weren't with him.
    "It's good, I've made friends, and stuff. But where's Temari and Gaara?" I asked still looking behind him while we began walking again.
    "Oh well," He looked a bit hesitant seeing as I knew how Gaara could be. "Temari's watching Gaara with our sensei Baki," Kankuro said.
    "Well I'm not keeping you from anything am I?" I asked him. He waved his hand in front of his face.
    "No not at all why?" He asked another thing.
    "You want some to see my place I was just heading back," I watched as he thought about it quickly.
    "Yeah sure why not seeing as I have nothing better to do," He said shruggin as we made our way back to my apartment.