---3---

'Choji,' I whispered, frozen on the spot. My arm was stretched out in mid air, ready to tap him on the shoulder, then embrace him in a big bear hug the second he turned around, but I didn't. I'd stopped. The reason for that was my own cowardliness, my fear that he wouldn't recognize me or something. I had to make up my mind, I had to to do something!

I felt the sweat rolling down my face as I stood frozen, then all of a sudden, I was unfrozen. I turned on my heels and rushed out, shaking. I couldn't do it, I was too nervous, I had gotten so far, so close to finally being reunited with my best friend, but I couldn't bring myself to speak or make myself known to him. Butterflies in my tummy? No, more like great swooping bats. I ran back to my Auntie's house. I didn't look back, if I had, I would've ran back and pulled him into a bear hug and given the poor lad a heart-attack or something. No, I kept on running till I reached home. I walked up to the front door and knocked. I heard footsteps and my Auntie opened the door, smiling at me.

'So how'd it go with Choji, Saki?' she asked as I walked in. I shook my head, ashamed.

'Kurenai, I couldn't do it, I was too scared, not ready to face him. It's been seven years! And besides, he was busy eating...' I said, looking down sadly. My Auntie put her hand on my shoulder and I looked up and saw a kind smile on her face.

'Don't worry Saki, I get it. You'll have plenty of time  tomorrow after you've been assigned your squad. Come on, let's have some dinner, I made some ramen,' my Auntie grinned, leading me into the kitchen. 

'What do you mean? Has everyone else been put into their teams already?!' I asked. 

'Afraid so, about three weeks ago in fact. I'm the squad leader of Team 8, which consists of Hinata, Kiba and Shino. You remember those guys, right Misaki?' she asked.

'Yeah, vaugely. Hinata's shy right? Shino's the one who likes bugs and Kiba...he likes cats right?'

'Dogs, Saki, dogs,' my Auntie laughed.

'Do you think I'll be in your team?' I asked, hopeful. She shook her head.

'I know that you're not in my team, sadly. Oh well, tomorrow will tell, won't it? Now lets have that ramen, it's getting cold,'

------------------------

I got up and got dressed, rushing downstairs into the kitchen to find Kurenai cooking. I sat down at the table and she came over with a frying pan in her hand and ruffled my black hair.

'Morning, Saki!' she smiled. 

'Morning,' I grinned as she placed my breakfast in front of me. I gulped it down fast and jumped up and ran for the door.

'You have a good day, okay Saki? Don't be late home!' Auntie Kurenai called.

'I won't don't worry! Later!' I called back. I ran through the streets as quickly as I could. My Auntie had received word from the Hokage that morning, about where I'd be meeting my new squad. Turns out it was at the training grounds, which I made my way to with ease. I ran out the village gates and down the Leaf''s highway until I reached the small wooden bridge that lead to the training fields just ahead...

I ran into the field and stopped, to see who could've been my new Sensei. A tall guy with dark hair stood up ahead, with his back towards me. He was alone. I looked around quickly to see if anyone was coming or hiding in the bushes, ready to jump out at me or something. When I was sure that no one else was there, I took my first steps forward. The man looked up and turned to me, grinning. He wore the normal Shinobi uniform and Leaf headband. He had a beard and an un-lit cigarette was sticking out of his mouth.

'Misaki Yuhi, right?' he asked. I nodded.

'Welcome to Team 10. I'm Asuma, your new Sensei,' he grinned, lighting the cigarette.

'How many are in the team, Asuma Sensei?' I asked, putting my hands behind my back.

'Well you see, most cells are made up of a three-man squad, plus their Sensei, in this case, me. Buy our squad is quite special, now that we have you Misaki. We are in fact the only four-man squad in Konoha, and as far as I'm aware, the first too,' Asuma Sensei explained. I grinned. Cool.

'So where are the rest of the squad then, Sensei?' I asked. Asuma breathed out a little smoke and grinned.

'They'll be here, pretty soon...in fact, here they come now...' he said, nodding towards the gate where I'd come from, just moments ago. A boy with his black, spikey hair tied back walked in, with his hands in his pockets. I immediately recognised him as Shikamaru. Then he was followed in by the blonde haired Ino Yamanaka. Wow, her hair was really long! I remember the last time I'd saw her, it was barley at her shoulders!

'Ino, Shikamaru!' Glad you could make it,' Asuma Sensei called. Ino waved and Shikamaru rolled his eyes.

'Yeah, sorry we were late Asuma, but Ino made a stop to look at some flowers and...'

'Oh come off it Shikamaru!' Ino snapped.

'Pft, girls are such a drag...' Shikamaru said, his famous words. I giggled and then they both noticed me. Ino stopped dead in her tracks and Shikamaru blinked at me. He rubbed his eyes and blinked again.

'Misaki...? Is that...really, you??' Ino asked, squinting at me. I gave them my closed-eyed smile and nodded.

'Yup, it's me alright,' I laughed. The next thing I knew was that I was in one of Ino's death hugs. I hadn't been in one of these since the day we'd left for the Land of Waves. Shikamaru stood a few feet away, probably waiting his turn. When Ino released me, Shikamaru made his way towards me.

'Well, long time, no see, eh Misaki?' he grinned, as his right hand met my left hand in a mid-air high-fivey hand shakey wakey.

'I guess you could say the, hmm, Shika?' I smirked, releasing his hand. He nodded and smirked at me, returning his hand to his pocket once again.

'So, have any of you guys seen-' Asuma Sensei started.

'Nope, haven't seen him,' Ino cut in.

'Nah, but he'll be on his way now. No doubt he'll have stopped off for a snack or something,' Shika sighed. My heart raced. Did they mean...? Could it be...? Well maybe or maybe not, there were plenty others in Konoha who'd always loved to stop off for the occassional snack, like that Naruto...

'Hey guys!' I heard someone call. My heart began to thump, so loud it was like a thousand drums all beating inside me at once. I'm surprised the others didn't hear it. I dared not to turn around, I was too scared. I heard him munching away, just a few yards away. Probably finishing the last of his potato chips by the sound of it.

'Choji! You decided to come!' Asuma Sensei laughed.

'Yeah! I just had to stop off and get some..uh...stuff,' he stammered.

'Hey Choji,' Shika called.

'Yeah, Shikamaru?'

'You'll never guess who's here,' he said, with a smirk on his face.

'Choji! You won't believe it!' Ino yelled.

'Believe what? Who's here? I was never told that anyone special was coming,' he asked, surprised.

'Us neither! But guess who!' Ino called.

'Who? Choji asked, through some chewing.

'It's Masaki! Misaki-chan!' Ino laughed. I finally had the guts to turn around and if that moment was in a movie, it would've been a priceless moment. I turned and stopped, my eyes wide to see him, face to face. My best friend. Choji's eyes were like the size of the moon, and his lip was trembling, his whole body was shaking. With surprise? Anger? Excitement? Or disapointment? He looked me straight in the eye.

'M-Misaki? Is that you? Is it r-really, really you?' he stammered.

'In the flesh,' I replied, stuttering as much as he did. He dropped the potato chips that were in his hand and the whole training field was silent. Well...what a reunion that was...

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Okieeeee dokieeee here it is! ^^ hope you likey my minions ^^ mwahaha will update beyond konoha tomorrow. Gomenasai. Updates have been really slow, because I've been recovering these past few weeks. Still not fully recovered but updates are gonna be more recent. ^^

Arigato!!

A/N - Pic of Asuma Sensei on le side ^^ XD