Aceso didn't go on the Land of Snow mission due to wanting to stay in the village and work. Naruto told her all about it over ramen, then took a mission from the Land of Tea, to protect a runner. Aceso was now going there on a ship, Sasuke had gotten hurt. She was with Ibicki and a few others.

" We've come to get the wounded," Ibiki said as they walked over to the draw bridge of the ship.

" Ibiki-sensei, "Sakura breathed.

" Big brother!" a boy exclaimed.

" Aceso," Naruto smiled.

" Where are the wounded?" Aceso asked.

" He's right over here," Naruto answered as he pointed at Sasuke who was on a stretcher.

" Ok, let's get him on the boat, then," Aceso ordered.

" Oh, right," Naruto breathed as he walked up the ramp with the people carrying Sasuke.

" Um-excuse me?" Sakura asked walking up to the two.

" What is it?" Ibiki asked.

" Oh--never mind," Sakura dismissed before walking past them, Aceso followed and then went to go treat Sasuke. Not too long after that, they took off for home.

" So long, Idate!" Naruto said. " See you again someday!"

" Yeah, we'll see you," Sakura added. " You take care."

" You got it," Idate smiled as he waved at them. " You guys come back anytime."

" Hey boss, take care of yourself, ok?" Naruto requested.

" Yeah," Jirocho smiled.

" Buh bye!" Naruto yelled.

" So long!" Sakura yelled.

" Naruto, thanks again!" Idate yelled as he chased after the boat.

" Idate!" Naruto yelled as he went to the back. " Next time I see you, we'll have to spar a little!"

" How are you feeling Sasuke?" Aceso asked after she finished bandaging him.

"Fine," Sasuke grunted.

" Does it hurt?" Sakura asked Aceso looked back to see her standing there.

" No, it doesn't," Sasuke denied.

" Oh good," Sakura smiled in relief. " Don't worry. Those wounds will heal once we get back to the village."

" They already have," Sasuke answered as he looked down sadly, it seems that his ego was bruised. He looked at Naruto and an angry looked formed on him.

" Right," Aceso breathed. " If you start feeling funny before we reach our village let me know. I will still need to admit you into a room."

" Whatever," Sasuke grumbled. Aceso huffed, she stood up and walked away. When they got back to the village they took Sasuke to the hospital room for a night of rest. The next morning Aceso's appearance was requested by Lady Hokage. She went to the building and now stood among the people who were the proctors in the Chunin exams, and soon Shikamaru was called in.

" To be honest with you, I don't know what to do," Tsunade admitted. " With the final exam being suspended, it was the opinion of many that none of the students should pass this time around, and that includes you. However, I hear that the third Hokage had nothing but the highest praise for your match." She picked up a brush and started to write a few things down. It seems he meant to recommend you for Chunin. In fact, all those who observed the fight and your proctors felt the same. So in this case, my opinion doesn't really matter. From this day forth, I hope you will strive to achieve a level of excellence worthy of that headband. Congratulations. As of this moment, you stand a Chunin."

" Man, what a drag," Shikamaru groaned. He soon left the room as everyone clapped for him. Everyone else walked out besides Aceso.

" Is there something you need?" Tsunade asked. " Doctor Aceso."

" If Lee is certain, the operation is to happen this afternoon," Aceso informed. 

" You know there are chances of him dying?" Tsunade asked.

" Yes," Aceso answered. 

"Very well, his life is in your hands," Tsunade reminded her.

"I'm well aware of that," Aceso said. "So is Lee.'

" I will talk to Lee, you go get ready," Tsunade informed as she stood up.

" Yes, ma'am," Aceso nodded.

" I wish you every bit of luck," Tsunade wished her.

" Thank you, Lady Tsunade," Aceso smiled at her before leaving the room. She ran down the steps and crashed into someone at the bottom.

" Watch it!" someone snapped.

" My apologies," Aceso apologized as she looked up to see Kiba and his team besides Shino.

" Oh, if I knew it was you I wouldn't have snapped at you," Kiba apologized as Hinata helped her up.

" Why are you in such a hurry?" Hinata asked.

" I have to prepare for an operation" Aceso informed.

" Who's?" Kiba asked as Akamaru barked.

" Lee's possibly and most definitely this afternoon," Aceso answered.

" This afternoon?" Hinata asked.

" Yeah," Aceso smiled. " Lee's going back to training in no time."

" Good luck," Kiba wished before Aceso went running back off. She returned to the hospital and began to prepare. The door opened revealing Naruto.

" Hey, Aceso," Naruto greeted with a laugh. " Want to go get some ramen?"

" Not right now," Aceso denied.

" You declining?" Naruto asked in horror. "You don't want to spend time with your brother, that's it! I know it!"

" Lee's surgery is this afternoon," Aceso answered. " He should be here soon."

" Afterwards?" Naruto asked.

" If I have the energy, yes," Aceso answered.

"Yay!" Naruto cheered as he jumped up and down. " See you then! I'm going to go visit Sasuke!" He ran out happily and Aceso laughed. Not too long after Tsunade and Lee came into the room, ready for the surgery.

" Are you sure about this Lee?" Aceso asked.

" More than ever," Lee nodded.

" Come get me when it's done," Lady Tsunade ordered.

" Yes, ma'am," Aceso said. Lady Tsunade left the room and the two kids looked at each other.

" I have the most up faith in you," Lee told her as he studied her. 

" Let's get started," Aceso said with confidence.

Aceso then began the surgery.....it was a success....and it took a lot of chakra....but it was completely worth it. After the surgery ended Lee was still showing signs of being alive, Aceso put some ointment on him to help with the pain for when he woke up. Aceso then went and opened the door. She saw Lady Hokage, TonTon, and Shizune sitting on the bench, they all looked up at her. Tsunade could see that Aceso was completely exhausted.

" Well?" Tsunade asked as she stood up. Aceso was too weak to speak, she just smiled before collapsing, Shizune caught her before she could hit the floor. Tsunade walked in and went over to Lee and checked on him. She smiled and looked over at Aceso who was leaning against the door in exhaustion.

" Lady Tsunade?" Shizune asked.

"Rock Lee should be able to return to training in just a few days," Lady Tsunade answered with a smile. Tonton and Shizune looked at each other with a smile. ' Such remarkable children coming out of this village' Tsunade thought to herself. They got a few medics to take Lee as Shizune carried Aceso up to her room. Aceso slept for the rest of that afternoon, she was being shaken awake. She opened her eyes to see Naruto leaning over her.

" What happened to ramen?" Naruto pouted as he put his hands on his hips.

" Huh?" Aceso asked as she sat up and looked at the clock. " I'm sorry Naruto...I must have fallen asleep."

" I guess it's fine," Naruto grunted as he sat on the edge of the bed. " How did it go?"

" Extremely well," Aceso answered with a big smile.

" I knew you could do it!" Naruto laughed. " Believe it!" Aceso swung her legs over, she then stood up, she started to fall, Naruto caught her. "You should probably sit for a bit longer." Naruto laughed as she sat back down, 

" It took a lot of chakra, must have been why I was out," Aceso informed.

" Bushy Brow's back in business and that's a good reason to fall asleep and miss ramen for," Naruto said as he stood up. Aceso looked up at him before engulfing him in a hug. " Are you alright?"

" Never better," Aceso smiled more as a few tears escaped her eyes.

" Are you still hungry?" Naruto asked as they pulled apart. " Got time to eat with your big brother?"

" How's Sasuke?" Aceso asked as she wiped her eyes. An angry look grew on his face. He then told her everything that happened. " He sounds...angry."

" Sakura tried to stop us, but it's best she doesn't try that ever again," Naruto said.

" You two are her teammates," Aceso reminded her. " Losing you two means losing a lot."

" Still," Naruto grumbled.

" You two are her closest friends," Aceso said. " I'm sure I'd be devastated if I lost my closest friends, I would weep for days if anything bad happened to you."

" You're just saying that," Naruto laughed.

" No," Aceso shook her head. " We may not be blood, but we are family. And I cherish you as my brother."

" Do you mean it?" Naruto asked with a serious face as they sat down on her bed.

" With all my heart," Aceso answered.

" Thank you," Naruto said.

" For what?" Aceso asked as he got up and walked over to a desk where a bag was placed.

" For really seeing me as a family member," Naruto answered. " Maybe I can finally understand what it means to have a family. I know I called you my sister, but I wasn't too sure if you actually saw me like family."

" I do," Aceso nodded. " What you got there?"

" Ramen," Naruto answered as he pulled out two cups. " From my special stash." The two of them ate some ramen and then Naruto left to get some sleep, Aceso then got up and went to Lee's room. She had to apply some more ointment, she slowly opened the door and slipped in. She went over to the cabinets and pulled out supplies as she did that Lee started to open his eyes, he was grunting softly. He looked over to see someone with red hair at the cabinets, he saw how the moonlight made the hair look almost angel-like.

" Pretty angel," Lee said softly, Aceso froze, and she slowly looked back to see Lee looking at her.

" Lee," Aceso breathed. " You are not dead." His eyes grew wide and he looked at his hands, slowly moving his fingers.

" As in alive, not dead?" Lee asked as Aceso walked over.

" As in alive," Aceso confirmed with a smile. A smile spread across his face, he then lifted himself and leaned against the back of the bed.

" How soon can I resume training?" Lee asked as he stared at his hands more. 

" Two more days," Aceso answered. " It's important to take some time to recover after an operation...especially one like that." 

" I understand," Lee nodded as he reached out his arm towards her. He grabbed the end of her braid, his smile grew wider as he felt the hair. " You really are amazing."

" Oh no, not me," Aceso denied as some color rose on her cheeks. " I'm nothing special."

" I disagree," Lee denied. " You really are amazing."

" Thank you," Aceso smiled as she blushed a bit more.

" Lady Tsunade told me, this operation depended heavily on the person doing it...and that person was you," Lee recalled.

" Promise or not, I wanted to be the one to heal you," Aceso informed. " You're my friend." Lee looked up at her, she was smiling so much, that she could barely see, the more he looked the more tired she looked.

" You should get some rest," Lee said.

" I need to do a round of ointment," Aceso denied as she opened a container. " It'll make the recovery time speed up."

" Get some rest, you will waste your youth," Lee wished. " It can wait till morning." He looked over to his bed table and then back at her. " The flowers?" Aceso got up and brought one to him. " Sit." She sat on the bed facing him, Lee broke some off a little before putting the flower in her hair. He then kissed her cheek before pulling her in a tight hug, burying his face in her shoulder. Aceso froze a little, before losing up and putting her arms around him, she put her face in his chest. It was a warm feeling in his arms, it was like there was sunlight all around." Thank you, Red Rose." The two pulled away from each other. "Aceso." She looked at him, as he took her hands. "I Rock Lee am going to love and protect you for the rest of my life." 

"You must still be a bit drowsy," Aceso said her cheeks starting to glow red. " You should get some sleep."

" As soon as you do," Lee said. " Sleeping helps us embrace the power of youth." Aceso got up.

" I will see you in the morning," Aceso dismissed before leaving the room.