A.N.: Yes, I know. Long update. Yes, I know that once again it looked like a filler chapter and I'm sorry. In any case, this chapter will contain the first appearences by the Sand siblings. Anyway, enjoy.

Replies to the Reviewers:

mupe3: thank you very much. I'll keep that in mind.

link2143: I don't know, got any ideas? I got one now, but I'm not sure it'll be good. Hell, I'll just try it.

Angel Is A Centerfold: sorry, the voting's over already.

Death's Leprechaun: The answer is: tsundere, you know; love starts with hate? that one. but everyone'll have different roles and scenes.

Libello: thank you. sorry for the long update.

EDelta88: the coward (Seki) will suffer in more ways than one. Haha

SineDei: ah, yeah. sorry about that I'll try to improve the story.

Narutomaniac: ah, yeah. I forgot that one. But do you realize what fear can do to you?

KitsuneOverlord: oh, there will. don't worry.

abcdefghijkLOL: sorry about that.

Chapter 12: Duty and Indulgence

Several weeks have passed since Tayuya came to 'live' in Naruto's home and she couldn't be any angrier. Everyday for those several weeks he would constantly ask her what she knew and eventhough she already told him everything, the blond still wouldn't believe her.

The red haired girl lived in a room right next to Haku's, a fact that made her slightly happy. The black haired girl was nice enough to her, as she constantly tried to make the living weapon 'less of an asshole'. But apparently the effort was wasted as he still was an asshole, at least he stopped asking her his stupid questions.

Another thing about the girl was this: for several times now had she heard sounds that seemed like moaning from her room that kept her awake for several hours in the night; each moan was usually the following sound to a creak or a thump.

'They're not fucking each other, are they?' she often asked herself whenever she heard that sound. 'Cause if they are, that's so fucked.'

'Today,' she vowed to herself. 'I'll ask those two if they're fucking.'

Xxxx

Daybreak

As per usual, Naruto knocked on her door before entering Tayuya's room. "Tayuya, are you awake?" he asked.

The question wasn't answered; instead sounds of shuffling and several crashes were heard.

"Yeah, I'm up," she groaned out. "What the fuck do you want?"

"Do you want to have a picnic?" he asked calmly.

"Do I have a choice?" the former Oto kunoichi asked.

"No."

"Then why bother asking?" she continued angrily. "Just get away from my door. I'll get changed."

It took the red head about 15 minutes to get changed into her usual attire during her stay in Konoha: a simple black yukata, courtesy of Shizune whom, out of the kindness of her heart lent the foulmouthed girl clothes.

When she got out of her room, she saw Haku, one of the more normal people in Naruto's apartment, reading a letter. She was smiling as she went through the piece of paper.

"Oi, Haku, what 'cha got in there?" Tayuya asked.

Hearing the sudden question, the black haired maiden hid the letter instinctively and said the most common answer. "Nothing."

"No, it's not nothing. C'mon, give a friend a clue."

"Seriously, it's nothing." She continued, trying to make sure her counterpart didn't see anything.

"Okay, okay. Fine. Wouldn't want anyone read that letter from your boyfriend. It's alright, really. I understand."

Haku blushed at the words, but before she could say anything, Tayuya had already snatched the letter.

"Too bad for you, I just don't give up!" she called out as she ran to her room once more, locking the door and began reading the letter.

"To Haku," she read aloud. "If you're reading this letter, that means I have been accepted into the Fire temple. Please do not worry, I am fine. If things go well, I'll be able to leave in a few months. Zabuza, now monk Doujou (mercy)"

"Huh, so her boyfriend ditched her to be a monk and she's happy? What kind of fucked up shit is this?" she mumbled to herself as she folded the letter and prepared to exit her room before an angered Haku kicked the door down.

"Give it back." she said slowly.

"Give what back?" Tayuya asked teasingly.

"Don't play dumb with me. Give the letter back!"

"And if I don't want to?"

"Then I'll make you give it back." the black haired girl said before she jumped towards the redhead, lunging at her stomach. Unfortunately for Haku, the former Oto kunoichi was able to dodge the attack and countered with one of her own. She dodged sideways and got behind Haku, and finally she kicked her straight on the ass.

Haku swore rather loudly in rage and forgetting every single self control quality she had in all her years, she threw a senbon at her, flying straight to her throat.

Tayuya who was gloating at the time didn't have the time to dodge. The needle flew closer and closer and before it could break skin, the projectile was caught by none other than Konoha no Tsurugi, Uzumaki Naruto.

"Were you two trying to kill each other?" he asked slowly as he removed his fox mask. Hearing no reply, he sighed in annoyance and asked again. "Well?"

"She started it," Haku said, pointing towards Tayuya.

"No I didn't." the other counter

"Yes you did."

"No I didn't."

"Yes you did."

"No I didn't."

"Enough!" Naruto roared in a rare angry voice. "I don't care. Tayuya, give Haku her letter back. Haku, apologize to Tayuya for nearly killing her."

"Here," Tayuya said, giving the crumpled piece of paper to Haku who snatched it away from her hand.

"Sorry," Haku said through gritted teeth.

"Now shut up and get moving." The blond ordered, which they did begrudgingly.

Xxxx

Konoha's public park, noon

"So," Tayuya began as she walked between Haku and Naruto, the former maintaining a silence to herself. "What possessed you into thinking up of a damn picnic?"

"Nothing." Naruto replied with his usual smile plastered on his face. "I just thought that it was a good day to have one."

"Cut the bullshit." She replied as she lifted him up by the scruff of his neck. "Tell me the truth, now."

"You're in no position to threaten me." The living weapon replied in calmly as he swatted her hand away.

"Bastard." She growled out. "I'll kill you!"

Red haired girl launched herself at the living weapon, fully intent on landing at least one punch on the maskless blond. But, before she could put her foot down for a step, Haku pulled her back and apologized to the blond on the former Oto kunoichi's behalf.

Naruto, for his part put a mask of indifference and walked off on his own, intent on finding a good place to sit and wait for the two girls. He had a feeling he shouldn't eavesdrop on them.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing, bitch?" Tayuya whispered.

"Are you stupid? You, trying to kill him? You wouldn't even touch him if you try to do it like that." The black haired girl replied just as heatedly.

"If you got a better idea, I'm listening."

"That's not the point. Do you even realize anything weird about him?"

"Should I? I don't even like him that much to notice."

"Again, you're wrong. Don't you realize? He's starting to show emotions."

"And I suppose that's a good thing?"

"Think about it. The moment he had normal human emotions, the being known as Konoha no Tsurugi will cease to exist. He would be no more than a myth, replaced by an ordinary human that looked like him. In one way or another, he'll die, right?"

"Look, it's fine and all if you got the hots for him, but you're still not making any sense! What are you trying to say? That I don't have to kill him and he'll be extinct on his own like dino-fucking-saurs?"

"Yes, that's basically what I said. Besides, you can't do anything about him."

"And why the fuck is that? Because you'll step in way if I try to?"

"No. Because if I die, so will the two of you." Naruto said as he appeared between the two girls.

They were startled, but didn't shout out in surprise this time. Instead, they glared at him.

"But it's unimportant right now. We have been summoned. Let's go and fulfill them, shall we?"

Xxxx

Hokage's office

"Hokage-sama," Naruto and the girls greeted.

"Ah, Tsurugi, Haku, and Tayuya. Come in, come in." the old man beckoned them. "These are our guests from Sunagakure and there's something for you, Tsurugi."

Sarutobi then took out a scroll from a beautiful lacquer box and handed it to the living weapon.

"For your eyes only," he added, shooing the two other occupants of the room discreetly by asking them to get him something from the vending machine outside his office.

Receiving the piece of paper gratefully, the blond opened it and read the scroll quietly, not wanting to disturb anyone. After a few grunts and hmms, he finally rolled it back and returned it for the Hokage.

"I am very grateful for this honor, Hokage-sama."

"Honor, eh? Well, that's one way of putting it."

"Is there another?" he politely inquired.

"A bother is more like it, my boy." The old man said with a laugh. "Besides, this is big, not only were you engaged to someone from such a high ranking, you also get to be my personal bodyguard during the chuunin exams."

"But, how could it be a bother, Hokage-sama? By political marriage, our relationship with Suna might be strengthened and to be a bodyguard of the Hokage is a great honor."

"That's true, I guess, but wouldn't you like a chance to have a normal life any time in your life? Get a wife whom you love, live happily and carefreely, something like that?"

"No, someone like me…. Can't let our own wishes cloud our sense of duty. And… we can't help but forsake our own selfish desires for the good of many," the boy said sadly.

"Patriotic words, my boy." The old man said, impressed. "I am sure your parents would've been proud of you if they were alive."

The old man then pointed to another scroll inside the lacquer box, on it was written: 'To Naruto, my son.'

"I have no parents, sir. I am a sword, forged by battles and tested by the heavens. The forge where I am made is my mother's womb, and they who forged me is my father. Thus, they are my parents." He claimed as he threw the scroll to the air and shredded it.

Xxxx

"What are they talking about?" Haku whispered to Tayuya.

"I don't… I can't listen to anything. These guys either soundproofed the damn room or ain't talking at all." Tayuya whispered back.

"Ah, Haku-san, Tayuya-san. What are you doing here?" asked a chuunin lackey.

"None of your business!" the two of them shouted in surprise.

"Oh, ok then." He said in bewilderment. "But you might want to move a little bit, some people have business with the Hokage, you know."

Then, the door opened as Naruto exited, startling the two girls as they almost fell down, but quickly composed themselves and stood up straight again in no time.

"You two are still here?" the blond asked as he approached the two girls, but bumped on the way to someone. A boy who was wearing a black bodysuit with cat ears on his hood.

"Temari, tell me something." He started. "Is this the day to be impolite towards everyone? In just this day alone I've been bumped by two people. First was a brat and now it's this freak. What the hell?"

"Kankuro, I still think it's because you're not careful. Now shut up and don't even think of involving me in your monologue." A girl with 4 pigtails stated irritatedly.

"But…," the boy tried to defend his opinion, but was cut off by another member of their merry group, a psychotic looking redhead who looked like he could use some sleep.

"Shut up, Kankuro. This one's my prey. Mother has asked me to spill his blood!" the psychotic looking boy yelled as sand spilled around him.

"Gaara, please, calm down. Not now, ok?" a jounin said, trying to calm his student.

"And what'll you do if I don't calm down?" he asked menacingly.

"Look, amusing at this cheesy soap opera exchange shit, I'd like to get out of here, it's starting to get cramped." Tayuya said loudly in annoyance.

In their surprise, every newcomers moved to the side, allowing the fiery girl access to the exit, followed by her two companions; a blond boy and a black haired girl. Something told them that they would see more of those three.

A.N.:... None. Read and Review please.