TwT D'aww guys I'm loving all the comments!! Thank you all so much~! Now look to the side for an adorable chibi picture of Akisha!! 

This chapter is dedicated to Iron_Clad! Thanks for the comments and no worries to other people who have commented every chapter so far XD I'm making my way slowly to dedicate!

And I suppose that's all~! ENJOY!! >w<

***Akisha's POV***

I focused chakra to my eyes and looked around Konoha, trying to see a familiar sight of black hair tied up or maybe that lazy look that always stuck to his face. As I searched, my eyes widen with hope. A guy with his hair tied up was faced away from me but it definitely could be him... 

Shikamaru... 

I raced on over to him, using the roofs of houses to make my little journey go even faster. I stopped, standing on a roof top, right across from a... Chunin entree sign up building? I think that's what it was but either way it confirmed my thoughts that this was him. Temari said she was working with him for Chunin exams. It grew hard to even look at him as I recalled that last day. Shikamaru called out for me, even waved goodbye with a fake smile to make sure I'd go rather than stay and be weak. Would he even still want me? I mean.. If he didn't... I'd probably understand...

My eyes widen as I felt myself pushed off the building. "HEY!?" I cried out, hitting the ground. I looked up to see a sleek black cat none other than that damn Keio. "You'll thank me." He whispered it so quietly I barely heard, even with my more sensative hearing. I jumped up to yell at Keio when that voice stopped me.

"Akisha?"

I turned slowly to see Shikamaru. And it was definitely Shikamaru... Just.. More mature and taller... But it was him.

"...H-Hey." I spoke with a stutter. I didn't know what to say. His eyes slightly widen as he looked me up and down. "Akisha." He said again but it wasn't question, it was confirmation. He quickly stepped over and brought me in a tight, highly unexpected embrace. "You're back?" He asked. 

Some tears stung at my eyes, this was the thing I''ve been thinking about for two and a half years and I can barely speak. "Y-yeah. I am." He let me go, his eyes gliding over me again. "You've changed." I nodded. "Yeah, so have you." He nodded too, but with a small smirk dancing on his lips."Heh, but you're still a troublesome girl. First thing you say to me is 'hey'?" I crossed my arms, trying to explain my dumb actions. "I-I was surprised! I didn't know what to-" He cut me off with a kiss. Sweet, as I remembered it, but filled with passion and longing. Hands wrapped around my waist bringing me closer. I, without any doubt in mind, went along, hands around his shoulders and neck. 

"Uh.. I can come back later?" Shikamaru and I broke apart, blush spreading rapidly across my face while Shikamaru held an irritated look, only tiny pink marks grazing his cheeks. "That would be better actually-" I interrupted Shikamaru. "What do you need Naruto?"

The blonde snickered. "Well I don't know, you two looked pretty occupied at the moment." I rolled my eyes but the blush only grew hotter. "Naruto, what do you need?" "Yeah, you both talk too much." Shikamaru observed. I nodded along to his words. "Exactly! ...Wait, what? I talk too much!?" "Well I was waiting for you to finish to kiss you, but you went on and on-" "SO NARUTO! WHAT WAS IT YOU WANTED?" I asked loudly over Shikamaru's low, lazy voice, moving off the embarrassing topic.

Naruto gave us a knowing grin before going on to his subject. "I'm looking for someone to fill in a spot on team 7 for our next mission!" Shikamaru rubbed his neck. "Ah sorry, can't. I have these troublesome Chunin exams to deal with. I know we have a sort of friendship thing going and I'd like to help out. but there's no way." 

Naruto's shoulders drooped. "Oh.. What about you, Kish!?" A new spark in his eyes. "Eh. I don't know, I just got back and you know.." I trailed off, not meeting the sad face of Naruto. "In that case I can give you a hand Naruto!" I turned with wide eyes, knowing that voice in a heart beat. "No way! Choji!?" I yelled at the remarkably different looking Choji. His hair spiked out down his back, armor with his clan's symbol in the middle, different head band as well, but he, of course, carried a bag of chips in his right hand. 

"Kisha! Naruto! I haven't seen you two in forever!" Choji joked. He's changed in a good way too, seems more confident. "Choji, don't you have a mission with Asuma-Sensei and Ino?" Shikmaru asked, propping up an eyebrow. Choji shrugged. "I do, but I can't just ignore Naruto's request. I'll talk to Asuma-Sensei about it!" 

Guilt swirled around in me seeing Choji's kind actions. "Ah, I guess I could look into it if Choji can't go... Maybe." Naruto thumbed us both up. "YES! THANKS YOU TWO!" Choji started munching on chips when Naruto snickered. "Still a fatass I see." Shikamaru's eyes and my own widen, Choji suddenly glared. I dodged to the side and Shikamaru tackled Naruto out of the way as Choji ran ahead, punching an unknown enemy. It looked like it had been a lion, however, Choji's punch made the enemy splash into... Ink? 

Naruto got up and Shikamaru stayed crouched, his eyes darting around for the enemy. "WHAT WAS THAT!?" Naruto yelled when another one ran at us. I took the liberty of kicking it away, but my kick only made it splash in to ink like before. "Weird.. They're made of ink.." I said, touching the black ink that had splattered onto my once light blue skirt. Shikamaru pointed. "Look. Over there." Everyone followed Shikamaru's hand to see a guy sitting on a roof top. He wore a Konoha headband as well... "He's wearing a Konoha headband." I said, voicing my thoughts. "Yeah, but I've never seen him before." Naruto said squinting his eyes to see him.

Shikamaru formed his shadow technique hand sign. "I have no idea who he is, but it's obvious he needs to be captured and questioned. Naruto, you go and I'll cover you!" Several more ink lions ran at us. Naruto nodded. "Okay!" "I'll help too!" I yelled dodging past the lions which then Shikamaru took out with his shadow technique. "That's something I've never seen before.." I mumbled in awe. The shadow actually broke apart from the ground and stabbed the lions.

Naruto and I continued to where the guy was, his face emotionless. Naruto tried stabbing him with a kunai but he blocked it with a scroll. I went to his side and tried sweeping his feet out but he jumped back avoiding us both. "Hm. You're fairly weak, what do you have inbetween your legs?" He questioned Naruto with a smile. Naruto growled, "WHO ARE YOU!?" The guy smiled with closed eyes. "We'll see each other soon Naruto!" He jumped off some where else. Naruto and I stared at each other before hopping off the roof down back to Choji and Shikamaru. We were about to speak when a loud voice yelled, "THERE YOU ARE CHOJI!!"

 I turned to see Ino looking quite... Womanly. Let's just say her clothes revealed very nice curves she's developed and that's that. "Asuma-Sensei's angry that you still haven't shown up for our mission!" Ino glared at him, hands on her hips till her eyes met Naruto's and my own. "Huh? HEY! KISHA! IT'S BEEN A WHILE!" She yelled running over to me, giving me forceful hug. I sweat dropped at her sudden change in mood, but regardless I hugged her back. "Yeah, it has been." I let out a chuckle with my sentence. "I'm here too, you know?" Naruto said making Ino let me go. 

Ino stared at him for a second before going back to me. "YOU'VE CHANGED SO MUCH! YOU'RE WEARING A SKIRT AND EVEN THOUGH THAT'S A HOODIE, IT STILL SHOWS OFF YOUR-" "INO YOU SHOULDN'T NEGLECT NARUTO!" I yelled, interrupting her and facing her towards him.

"Oh yeah, him." She examined the pouting Naruto to reach one conclusion. "Hey. Since when did you get so tall?" Naruto suddenly grinned. "Heheh, I just did is all. I didn't even notice till Sakura pointed it out the day I got back." Ino rolled her eyes. "Whatever, Come on Choji, we're going to be late." Ino grabbed Choji's arm and led him else where. I looked back to Shikamaru and then Naruto. "Well this was nice and all, but Naruto shouldn't you go back to looking fo-" "KISHHH! YOU SAID YOU'D HELP!" He whined, even louder than Ino was a few seconds ago.

I put my hands up in defense. "I also said that I'd only look in to it, not actually right away fill in!" Naruto sighed and turned away. "Fine, it's not like you and I have had our times together like with Pervy Sage and bringing back Tsunade or the day you even made that yummy ramen for me..." My eye twitched. "First of all... Everything you just said happened in the same week! Second of all, guilt trips do not wor-" Naruto turned around giving me the sad puppy eyes, his blue orbs sparking with tears filling up.

I groaned in my defeat. "Fine. I will come with to only see-" "YEAH! THANKS KISH! SORRY SHIKAMARU, I HAVE TO BORROW HER!" Naruto grabbed my arm and started running, pulling me along before any other objections could be made. I looked back at Shikamaru giving him a helpless shrug. He simply nodded understandably and went back to his Chunin exam business, even though the frown on his face was evident.

***** 

"BUT HE ATTACKED ME AND KISH IS A BETTER TEAMMATE ANYWAY!!" Naruto yelled at Captain Yamato. Yamato sweat dropped, backing away slowly. "I'm sorry Naruto, but I was told Sai here was filling in and no one else." I grinned, happy with the turn out of things. "Seems good to me." And turned away when Naruto grabbed my collar. "BUT-BUT KISH-" "Hey! Hey! Naruto you heard the man, Sai is your teammate for this mission." "BUT KISHHHH-"

"Naruto, what's the problem?"

We all turned away from the gates of the leaf to see Tsunade. She still looked young as ever too. I was going to greet her when Naruto let me go, nearly screaming, "I'M NOT GOING ON A MISSION WITH THIS GUY!!" He pointed at Sai. "Yes, I am sorry about attacking you before. I just wanted to see how strong my new teammate was. I didn't know how much I'd have to look after the little prick with no balls." 

Steam came out of Naruto's ears. "WHAT DID YOU SAY!!?" Sakura quickly held Naruto back. "Uhm Tsunade-sama? Maybe Kisha-Ekr! Should fill in, inst-stead of this guy." Sakura struggled to say with the angry Naruto in her arms. Tsunade sighed. "Listen. Sai will be joining you, but if it makes you feel better Akisha will also join you." Tsunade left without another word, no letting me once speak about what I had wanted to do.

"Awhh.." I groaned out. Sakura stared at me. "You don't seem to happy about this." I shrugged, hiding my disappointed sigh. "I wanted some time off is all but it's fine, if duty calls then so be it." Sakura turned back to the pale, cruel, Sai. "Uh, well, my name is Sakura and that's Naruto." Naruto crossed his arms. "Don't tell that guy my name." He grumbled. Sai smiled. "Right, the guy with no balls." Naruto went back to trying to attack Sai making Sakura hold on to him again. "He's our teammate! Cool down Naruto!" Naruto 'hmpfed' and turned away. Sakura sighed. " ou're not a very nice guy are you?" 

Sai fake chuckled. "Ahaha. Really? Says the friendly crone like yourself." I face palmed as soon as the words left his mouth. "Oh no." Just before Sakura could land a punch to Sai, I held her back. "SAKURA, THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU JUST SAID TO NARUTO!!" Sakura stopped her anger, seeing I was right. I released her and eyed Sai. I wanted to say something but seeing how that went for Naruto and Sakura, I probably shouldn't. "Do you need something? You keep looking at me, or is your head too empty to comprehend what I'm saying." He smiled to me. 

Yamato gave me a look, wondering if I'd snap like the other ones, but I simply turned away. I wasn't sparing my anger on a strange person like Sai even if he did call me stupid. "Alright everyone listen up, now that... The introductions, are over with." He seemed unsure with the word ''introductions'' and I can't blame him there. "I'm going to explain our mission." Yamato said giving us all a stern look. "The five of us will proceed to the Tenchi Bridge. There we will intercept the spy Akatsuki has in Orochimaru's organization and bring them back. This is also the chance for us to find out about Sasuke and Orochimaru. We will assemble at the gate in an hour!"

*****

I walked back towards my house for some supplies. Nothing much just senbon needles, couple kunais, maybe some shurikens. The average ninja tools. I felt worry bubble up in me. No it wasn't about that weird guy Sai or even this pretty dangerous mission. It was for-Huh? I'm home already... I stopped infront of my front door to my little cozy home. I turned the door knob and stepped inside. "Mom! I'm home!" I yelled out. "A-Akisha!?" My mother stuttered, stepping out of the kitchen. "You're back! My baby!" Tears streaked down her face. 

"M-mom? I-What? " This. This was my worry. My mom. Why is she acting- "AKISHA! IT IS YOU!" She yelled bringing me in to that same untightened hug. "Mom.. I was already-" "Amaiko, you're going to let your sweets burn out there." A heavy voice said. My mind made the connection and I already knew who it was. My mom let go of me. "But she's home!?" My father shook his head and led her back to the kitchen. "Let an old man like myself talk to her in private, okay?" It was painfully obvious how caring and careful my father acted towards her.

She nodded begrudgingly giving me one last smile before walking back in the kitchen. My father turned back to me. "Akisha... Follow me." He walked past me and out the front door, making me follow. "No hugs? Maybe a 'welcome back'? Not even an 'I missed you'?" I asked, some edge to my tone. My father sighed. "You disobeyed me, what do you expect? Plus you're older now." I stopped walking, giving him a judging look. "You told me you were proud of me! A couple of times actually!!" 

"Well, the first was your academy graduation, something like that, correct?" I nodded. "Your mother told me too."  I frowned. "Of course." " he second was the second time you were in the hospital?" " Yes again." I said waiting to hear this excuse. "Well. I was proud for a bit there... But then reality dawned on me. You got hurt. Badly. If you listened to me then-" "Then Neji would be dead." He glared sharply at me. "That's not my problem." I rolled my eyes. "Kami, you're like an indecisive woman." His glare turned sharper. "You disobey, you insult. What are you good for?" I stopped dead in my tracks. "I'm ready to scream at you but I won't. Just answer me something." 

He stopped his tread and looked down to me, waiting for my question. "What's wrong with mom?" His look soften. "She's uh.. She's sick.." "Obviously, I already came home earlier and she flipped out like it the first time she's seen me today!" My father looked off, not sure how to speak until he simple said, "She has an incurable memory eating sickness." My eyes widen. "I-Incurable!? But Tsunade is our Hokage-" " The Fifth is the one who diagnosed her. Her memory will keep fading at an alarming rate till it destorys other parts of her brain, making her weaker until finally..." He led off, looking back at me.

"H-how long?" "It's random. One day she's fine, the next she'll wonder where her nine-year old daughter is and why we're in Konoha." I covered my distraught face with my right hand. My other hand held on to my wrist that pushed my right hand upon my face, as if I wasn't strong enough to move them without help. I heard a plain, dry laugh. "She's been cooking the same damn pie for a week now.." 

"Father.. How long has she been like this?" " About three or four months ago it started... She forgot she even has it. Everyday is a new day, she knows but the actions in the day repeat." "I see... And at anytime she could..." I couldn't say the word. My father nodded. "Yes at anytime.." He couldn't say the word either. "HEY KISH! COME ON!" I turned with my father to see Naruto and Sakura. "We should head over to the gate now." Sakura said with a smile. I nodded, putting a grin on. "Right." Naruto narrowed his eyes at my father, nutrusting of strangers since Sai. "..Who's this guy?!" 

I snickered at my fathers bewildered face. "I am-" I interrupted. "He's my father with the emotional capacity of a love sick girl! Lets go!!" I grabbed on to Naruto and Sakura and ran to the gate before my father could even compute what I said, trying my hardest to push out the thoughts of my mother's illness.

 *****

 Naruto glared at Sai. Sakura had less of a glare, but still glared at Sai none the less. Sai stood quietly with a closed eye smile while Yamato and myself sighed. "Anyway, you're all here! Team Kakashi departs!" 

Weird. Team Kakashi... That feels weird to be called.. 

.

.

.

"What is it?" Sai asked Naruto who had been staring at him the entire time we walked. I kept my pace steady along side of Sakura while Naruto continued staring. "Please stop staring at me. Don't make me hit you." Naruto raised his fist, once again yelling at Sai. "EVERY DAMN THING YOU SAY PISSES ME OFF EVEN MORE!!"  Sai seemed kind of confused, the first emotion I've seen beside that fake smile. "I have no malice towards you." Naruto pointed accusingly. "LIAR!" Sai ignored him and smiled. "I'm just trying to put off that kind of attitude." "SO YOU DO HAVE MALICE! WHY THE HELL ARE YOU EVEN HERE! ALL YOU DO IS PISS PEOPLE OFF!!" Naruto growled, each word becoming louder.

"Naruto don't say that right infront of your captain. I thought Kakashi had already taught you that, why are you acting like this?" Yamato said, his words drowsy, like it was the worst thing to deal with this. Naruto pointed again at Sai. "IT'S BECAUSE HE'S NOT A TEAM MEMBER OF TEAM KAKASHI!!" 

Yamato sighed. "Neither is Kisha." Naruto waved that off. "YEAH WELL KISH ISN'T TRYING TO FILL IN SASUKE'S PLACE! This guy.. He's just here to fill in the gap. And I'll never consider him a team member!" I stepped back. This isn't going to end good at all. Sai smiled that same old fake smile. "I'm glad you don't consider me a team member. Who would want to be linked to that weak shit-for-brains Orochimaru's clone who cared only about power and ran off to Orochimaru, betraying Konoha?" The entire time Sai spoke, his voce stayed light and fluffy, making the insult cut even deeper.

Naruto started to shake, almost making me fear some of the Kyubi coming out. "You.. Bastard.." Before he could do anything Sakura threw out her hand stopping him. "Truly the most important thing is team work." Sakura walked over to Sai. "Sai... Naruto, since he doesn't know you well, he said too much. I'm sorry, please forgive him." "Sa.. Sakura." Naruto said, surprise in his voice.

"I'm glad some of you can reason." Yamato mumbled making me shake my head. I knew Sakura well enough. "I bet you.. Let's say fifthteen dollars this won't end well." Yamato raised an eyebrow and turned back to the scene, not answering me. Sai continued smiling. "Think nothing of it." Sakura smiled right back, the same smile. "That's good..."

And then she punched him, square in the face making Yamato's mouth drop. Sai flew a couple feet away, laying there for a second before sitting up and wiping away the blood from a split lip.

"Me on the other hand, you don't have to forgive." Sakura growled up, rubbing his fist. Sai stood up, staring at her intently. "You completely fooled me with that fake smile." Sakura ignored it and went on. "You don't know anything about Sasuke! So don't talk about him like you do! And if you bad mouth him one more time, I won't hold back." 

That was holding back for Sakura?  Flashes of her breaking the giant boulder on our mission to retrieve Gaara popped up. Hm, I guess that was holding back for Sakura then. Sai got off easy.

He nodded with a laugh. "Alright, I won't say anymore of him infront of you. But that you can use a fake smile like that... I'll remember that." Naruto seemed ready to rip his hair out. "You-You just got punched! How can you be so cheerful!?" A different look, one I haven't seen yet, appeared to Sai's face. "A smile's the best way to get out of trouble, even if it's fake. I read that once." Sai looked intensely at Naruto and Sakura's faces. "I guess that doesn't work here though."  

" FOUR PILLAR PRISON!" 

Came Yamato's voice and behind him a huge wooden cage rose up from the ground catching all of our attention. "As team captain here's my proposition!" His voice was strained from all the fighting. "You can spend a day in the wooden cage to work out your differences or we can go to a hotel that has hot springs in the near by area. What'll it be?" Yamato looked down at us, casting a shadow on his face. His eyes widen making the look even more frightening. "You guys don't know me well either. I like being friendly, but I don't have any problems ruling with fear." 

I shuddered and hid myself behind Naruto who basically was hiding himself behind Sakura. So really, Naruto and I are hiding behind a face palming Sakura. Sai simply seemed to observe us before walking ahead. Yamato smiled, erasing his scary face. "Good! Now let's go." 

******

SORRY FOR THE LONG UPDATE! HOPE IT WAS A GOOD CHAPTER! ^o^

So Shikamaru and Akisha are united again! ;u; But don't you just hate Naruto and his interrupting ways =-='' And what about Akisha's poor mom ;___; 

Anyhoo! COMMENT, VOTE, FAN/FOLLOW...

...Mainly Comment ;~; Please~?