Team Yumi re-entered the Hidden Leaf Village as the sun began to set over the Hokage Monument. They had just finished a mission, and were on their way to report their success to the Hokage. Despite the time of day, various villagers were running, talking, playing, and laughing through the streets. A few ninja discussed their most recent mission, while vendors tried to sell goods to annoyed customers.

 

"Heh... I really missed being in the village!" Koukon grinned, happy to be back home.

 

"Yeah. We can finally rest." Hikari wasn't as enthusiastic as her friend, but still smiled. "I can't wait to go eat some ramen." She rubbed her stomach, having missed her favorite food.

 

"Of course, that's the first thing you think of. It's always ramen with you." Koukon teased Hikari. "I guess that going to Ichiraku wouldn't hurt, though..." He looked over at his teacher. "Yumi sensei, is it fine if we head off?"

 

"Yeah, I'll go check in with Lord Hokage. You three can go off and get something to eat." The woman smiled back at her students.

 

"Alright!" Koukon shouted, and looked over to his teammates. "Let's go, Hikari! Are you going to come with, Kiniku?" He asked his best friend, hoping that the three of them could go together.

 

"It's been a while since the three of us got to go to Ichiraku together, hasn't it?" Hikari asked. "You should come with us, Kiniku."

Shinachiku / Kiniku

 

"Gah!" Shinachiku cried out as he was sent back into the open. But before he could land on the ground, his body burst into smoke and was replaced with a log. 

 

Another Shinachiku then burst out of the ground behind Hikari and pinned her to the ground, putting a kunai to her neck. "Kiniku, I got her!"

 

"Good, now hold her there!" Kiniku called from above, falling down from the trees above and taking out the Hikari clone mid-air, making sure to kick the Rasengan away so that it wouldn't explode in the area.

 

"Now then... I think its time you stopped playing your little game," Kinku said, eyeing "Hikari" as he monitored Shinachiku's possession of her.

Hikari glared at Shinachiku and Kiniku. "Ugh... I wasn't ready to get into a battle like this so soon... Fine, you win." She resigned. "I'll be back, though. You will be the first ones who I target when I return." She gave out one last laugh before releasing the jutsu. Upon doing so, her eyes slowly shut, and the clone who was restraining Koukon disappeared.

 

Koukon finally stood, relieved that he wasn't being held down anymore. "So... it's all over now?" He asked, running over to the others. He looked down at Hikari. "I hope we never have to do that again..." He muttered, still somewhat shaky.

 

Hikari's eyes slowly opened again, as she looked around sleepily. "I..." She looked up, noticing her brother pointing a kunai at her. "H-hey, you don't need to point that at me now!" She shouted nervously, clearly back to her old self.

Shinachiku / Kiniku

 

"Oh, uh, sorry!" Shinachiku said, rolling off Hikari and putting the kunai away.

 

"Hope we didn't rough you up too bad. We didn't really have much of a choice," Kiniku said, crouching down to see if Hikari had any serious injuries.

Hikari slowly sat up, and shook her head. "I-I'm fine... What about you three?" She asked, hoping she hadn't hurt them.

 

"Heh, I'm fine!" Koukon grinned, trying to help Hikari calm down. He figured that acting like his usual, loud self might help her to recover. He helped Hikari stand up, then looked at Kiniku and Shinachiku. You two are okay, right?"

Shinachiku / Kiniku

 

"Do you even have to ask? You know I'm super tough," Kiniku said, quickly pounding his chest with his fist. He figured he should also take the time to settle things down by bragging a little.

 

"And so am I!" Shinachiku said, also trying to make things light.

Hikari smiled. "Okay... that's good." She paused for a moment, but suddenly seemed to remember something. "Oh! There's something else we need to do, too..." She made her way over to the nearby shack, and opened the door. "Could you help me out here, Koukon?" She asked her friend, who immediately followed her. The two walked out a few seconds later, carrying an unconscious Sabaku with them.

 

"So, that's where she was..." Koukon muttered. "You know, I'd ask you about what all happened... but I think that you should go rest for now." Koukon told Hikari. "Do you two agree? We don't really have much of a lead on the creep behind this..." He asked Kiniku and Shinachiku.

Kiniku / Shinachiku

 

"I say for now we make sure Sabaku is alright," Kiniku said.

 

"Yeah, and I don't think Hikari should be doing much either," Shinachiku said.

"Yeah... Let's head back to the village." Koukon agreed. "Hey, Kiniku. Mind helping Sabaku back? I, uh, figured Hikari might need some help, too..." He asked his friend, glancing at Hikari as he mentioned her.

Kiniku / Shinachiku

 

"Sure, no problem," Kiniku said.

 

"Oh, uh, do you mind if I help Hikari instead. She is my sister after all," Shinachiku asked.

"Oh, right... You can take her, I guess." Koukon responded, sounding a little embarrassed. He handed Sabaku over to Kiniku, and stepped away from Hikari so Shinachiku could go over to her.

Kiniku / Shinachiku

 

"Thanks, Koukon," Shinachiku said, quickly putting Hikari's arm around his neck as he helped her stand.

 

Kiniku went to Sabaku and helped her as well, carrying her body bridal style.

Koukon nodded. "No problem." He hoped that he didn't sound upset. He knew Shinachiku should probably be the one to help his sister.

 

Hikari accepted Shinachiku's help as well. "Thanks." She smiled at her brother.

 

"Well, if we're all set... Let's head back to the village." Koukon told the group, and led the way.

Kiniku / Shinachiku

 

"Right!" Both enthusastic youths said at the same time, following their comrade.

Shortly, the five all returned to the Hidden Leaf Village. Koukon stretched, exhausted from the battle. "So, uh... we should probably go help Sabaku right now." He suggested. "After that, we can decide what to do with Hikari."

 

"I'm fine now." Hikari told the others. "You don't really need to worry about me..."

Kiniku / Shinachiku

 

"Yeah, Sabaku might need treatment. That puppet creep might have roughed her up some, more than my Reconstruction jutsu can fix. Either way, she'll need be left in the care of the Leaf Hospital," Kiniku said.

 

"Are you sure, you'll alright, sis?" Shinachiku asked.

Koukon nodded. "Yeah, Sabaku needs to go to the hospital."

 

"Yeah, I'll be fine." Hikari reassured her brother.

 

"I bet if we gave her ramen, she'd be all better." Koukon joked, trying to help lighten the mood again.

 

Hikari smiled. "Are you paying?" She joked back.

Shinachiku / Kiniku

 

Shinachiku raised his hand and said,"Hey, but me a bowl while you're at it!"

 

"Me too, I could use one right about now," Kiniku said, laughing.

"W-wait, you guys aren't being serious, are you?" Koukon asked, now looking a bit more nervous.

 

Hikari laughed. "Depends on how serious you are about buying us food." She continued teasing her friend, trying to forget about what had happened earlier. She still hadn't fully recovered from the incident, but joking around helped take her mind off of it.

 

"E-even if you are all being serious, we need to get Sabaku to the hospital before we do anything fun." Koukon said, trying to act responsible and get the attention off of him. Why am I always the guy who has to pay...?

Kiniku

 

"Right. I'll go over to the hospital then," Kiniku said, making his way towards his destination.

"Alright. We'll see you soon, Kiniku." Koukon waved to his friend as he left.

 

"So, uh... are we seriously getting food?" Hikari asked, actually sounding curious now.

 

Koukon sighed. "Do you want anything, Shinachiku...?" He asked, pulling out his wallet.

Shinachiku

 

"Sure. Get me the biggest bowl they got. I am a big man after," Shinachiku said with a foxy grin.

"You're still kind of little..." Hikari teased her brother now. "Give me a big bowl too, please." She gave Koukon an innocent look, trying to bribe him.

 

Koukon inspected his wallet. "O-okay... I can handle that..." He led the group to Ichiraku, and they arrived shortly. Upon entering, they found Kiyoshi and Akarui inside. "Oh, hey there." He greeted the two.

 

"Hey!" Kiyoshi responded, while Akarui seemed to hide behind her friend after noticing Koukon enter. "You three look like you were in a fight... what happened?"

 

"Long story. I'll tell you later." Koukon responded, and ordered food for himself and the Uzumaki siblings.

Shinachiku

 

"Hey Kiyoshi, hey Akarui! How's it going?" Shinachiku greeted.

Edited June 11, 201510 yr by Firaga Sensei

"Hey!" Kiyoshi greeted Shinachiku. "We're good. Just relaxing after running some errands for the Hokage." She explained, while Akarui nodded shyly from behind her. "How are you three?"

 

Koukon looked away. "Well... I guess we can't really keep dodging the subject." He sighed, and shared the story of his fight with Hikari.

 

Kiyoshi and Akarui both looked surprised. "Th-there was a spy in the village? If I had known something was up, I would have gone to help you all... It's good to see you all made it out safely. I just hope that Sabaku will recover quickly."

Shinachiku

 

"We hope so too. Kiniku took her to the hospital," Shinachiku added.