CHAPTER 2


They awoke to the buzzing alarm clock. It was 8 o’clock. They had an hour to get ready before the guys showed up.
Tora “I hate mornings.”
Kiya “I love mornings…it is the only time you don’t yell.” She said with a smirk dodging the pillow Tora threw at her. “Come on sleepy head. By the sounds of it you are going to have a busy day.”
Tora “THAT’S RIGHT I ALMOST FORGOT!” She exclaimed jumping out of bed and running for the bathroom.
Kiya shaking her head “Glad to see nothing changes.”
The girls quickly got dressed and headed down the stairs just in time to see Naruto running into Kotetsu almost knocking him off his feet.
Kotetsu “NARUTO will you ever watch where your going?”
Naruto “I didn’t want to be late!”
Izumo laughing “Well don’t worry your not.”
Kiya and Tora walked outside just in time to witness the exchange. Naruto stood there blushing and scratching the back of his head. Izumo and Kotetsu were just shaking there head at the blonde ninja.
Kotetsu “He is very enthusiastic about his duties.”
Kiya laughing “Don’t worry I know someone else that is the same way.” she said earning a glare from Tora.
Naruto “Are you ready to go Tora?”
Tora “YEP!” she said jumping down the few steps. She barely got to street level before Naruto grabbed her hand and they started running.
Kiya “TRY TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE TORA!”
Tora “OKAY!”
Kiya shaking her head and smiling “You can always expect the unexpected with my sister. I hope she doesn’t get into to much trouble.”
Izumo “Don’t worry. They may get into trouble but he will keep her safe.”
Kotetsu “As long as Iruka or Kakashi don’t catch them in the act!”
Izumo and Kotetsu start laughing as Kiya looks at them a little confused.
Izumo “Oh sorry…a little joke around here. Iruka and Kakashi are Naruto’s sensei. They try to keep him in line as much as they possibly can.”
Kiya chuckling “Sounds like I need to introduce them to Tora. Maybe they could put her into line for me.”
Kotetsu “Don’t worry I think she will meet them sometime today.”
Izumo “Shall we go? I know of a couple of places that have an apartment upstairs and a small shop downstairs.”
Kiya “That sounds exactly like what I am looking for.”
The three of them proceeded to go look at a few of the places that were available. There weren’t many but Kiya wasn’t picky. After all the place wasn’t going to be a permanent home. They made small talk. Mainly talking about the village and it’s inhabitants. Every time the conversation turned to Kiya and Tora she quickly changed the subject with out being to obvious. On there way to view the second place on the small list that they had. Kiya saw Kotetsu wave at a pair of men walking in there direction. They both were wearing backpacks. The taller of the two had on a green spandex jumpsuit with a green vest over it. He had black hair in a bowl cut and probably the biggest eyebrows Kiya had ever seen. The other had wind swept silver hair. He wore a head band over his left eye and a mask over most of his face. Both his shirt and pants were a dark blue. He also wore the same vest that Kiya had seen on some of the people in the village.
Kotetsu “How did the mission go?”
The one in the green jump suit answered “It was just your basic A-rank mission!” he said giving a thumbs up and a gleaming smile.
“Who is your youthful friend” the green jumpsuit asked.
Izumo “Oh…I’m sorry. Kiya this is Kakashi and Gai.” he said pointing first to the man with the mask and then the one wearing the green jumpsuit.
Kotetsu “Kiya is new to the village and we were showing her some places that have opened up.”
Gai “It is so very nice to meet such a youthful person!” he said holding out his hand to Kiya.
Kiya “It is a pleasure to meet you too Gai.”
Kakashi “Nice to meet you Kiya.”
Kiya “Nice to meet you too Kakashi….wait….Kakashi…OH! Your Naruto’s sensei!”
Kakashi sighing “What did he do now?”
Kiya smiling “Oh nothing. He is showing my sister Tora around the village.”
Kotetsu “Yeah….and she is just like him!”
Kakashi’s and Gai’s eyes got big. And they both say “Not possible!”
Kiya laughing “Oh I’ll bet she is even worse. You haven’t gotten to know her yet!”
Gai “Sounds like I should introduce her to my Lee!”
Kiya “She definitely loves to meet new people. She would probably enjoy that immensely.”
Kakashi “Not to cut this short but we need to report to the Hokage.”
Gai “Why don’t you two bring Kiya to meet us at the ramen shop for dinner tonight. A bunch of us youthful lotuses and of course Kakashi are meeting up there.”
Izumo “Sound okay?”
Kiya nodding “Sounds good to me…but Tora….”
Kakashi “Trust me. If she is with Naruto she will end up at the ramen shop.”
Kiya “Okay that sounds great. I will see you tonight. Nice to meet you two!”
Kakashi “Alrighty then ready Gai?”
Gai “Lead on Kakashi!”
Kakashi and Gai walked away listening to Kiya’s laughter. To them it sounded like silver bells. They needed some new faces around the village and hers was a nice one.

Naruto sprinted down the street dragging Tora behind him. Normally she would out run him but he took her by surprise. They ran up one street and down another. The shops and building were a blur to her. If he left her she wouldn’t have a clue where she was.
Tora “WAIT NARUTO! STOP!” she said panting.
Naruto “Tired already?”
Tora “NO! I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHERE WE ARE GOING!”
Naruto “Oh sorry! We are heading to the training grounds. That is where most people would be right now.”
Tora “TRAINING GROUNDS?”
Naruto “Yeah…you know where ninja’s train!”
Tora “OH!”
Naruto “Come on! Hurry up!” he said grabbing her hand and taking off again.
It wasn’t to much longer and Tora could make out some people up ahead. A couple of them hitting on what looked like straw dummies. One looked to be staring intensely at the trunk of a tree. There was a dog sitting quietly. “WOW” she though “He is almost as big as Shakira!” In front of the dog sat a boy with a sketch book with another boy looking over his shoulder. As they got closer Naruto slowed dropping Tora’s hand.
Naruto “HEY GUYS!” he yelled. “I HAVE SOMEONE HERE I WANT YOU TO MEET!”
The pink haired girl “Geeze Naruto! Your such an idiot! Why did you have to yell!”
Naruto blushing “Sorry Sakura…I was just excited to introduce you to Tora.”
At the mention of Tora’s name they all looked at her. Naruto began pointing out the people and introducing Tora.
Naruto “This is Tora. She just got here and I am showing her around!”
Naruto “That is Sakura.” he said pointing to the girl that yelled at him. She had pink hair and wore a red shirt.
Sakura “Hello.”
Naruto “This is Hinata.” gesturing toward the girl standing shyly to the side. She wore an oversized coat and her hair was the darkest blue.
Hinata “N-nice to m-meet you.”
He then looked toward the boy staring at the trees. You could barely see anything about him. He had a hood over his head and dark glasses acrossed his eyes. “That bug boy there is Shino.”
Shino nodded quietly looking at Tora.
Naruto turned then to the two in front of the dog.
Naruto “The one sketching is Sai and the other is Kiba.”
Sai nodded politely. He sat cross legged on the ground. He had black hair and a short shirt. He was cradling his sketch book.
Kiba “Don’t forget Akamaru you idiot!” he said gesturing toward the big dog. He had messy hair and red on both cheeks.
Tora “I AM SO GLAD TO MEET YOU ALL!”
The others all looked quickly at Tora.
Kiba “WOW Naruto! Where did you find this one!”
Sakura “She is definatly enthusiastic!”
Naruto “I know isn’t she great? Just like me! BELIEVE IT!”
Sakura “Your such a baka Naruto.”
Naruto gave Tora a sheepish grin. He explained about squads. Sakura and Sai were on his and the other three were on a different one.
Naruto “Come on guys help me show Tora Konoha!”
They all looked to Tora and agreed.
Naruto “Then afterward we can go get Ramen!”
Kiba “We are suppose to meet the sensei there anyway, so it sounds good to me!”
Hinata “O-okay.”
Sai and Shino just sighed gathering their stuff.
Sakura “You are gonna like it here Tora. Konoha is a great place.”
Tora “I ALREADY DO! WHERE TO NEXT?!”
They all began walking back towards the village. Sakura and Kiba began telling Tora about the Hokage stone monument. Tora was running at the mouth once again. They all laughed and smiled at her. Sai began sketching again as he walked. Shino and Hinata followed quietly. This was the first time that Tora thought “Maybe I will make some good friends.” Normally she wouldn’t waste the time or the effort to get to know anybody very well. But, for some reason…..this time felt different. Almost like she had come home.