Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Chapter 12: The New Friends.

A year and a half had passed since the Escape of the Clans. Danzou and Orochimaru were doing a hard work on their experiments, trying to collect as many DNA samples from the world's Clans. They already had blood samples from the Leaf's Clans, thanks to Orochimaru's assault, and now a couple of Leaf Ninjas were returning to the underground place where Orochimaru made his experiments, inside the Hidden Leaf's grounds.

They were a couple of young ninjas who could be easily taken into the methods and system of the ANBU Root organization: a couple of teenagers from the Yamanaka and the Aburame Clans who were abducted from their families during the assault to the Leaf's Clans.

They seemed to arrive quite wounded, but they were carrying their pouches quite carefully, avoiding them from hitting the ground or the walls. As they entered the place where Danzou and Orochimaru made their work, they saw the old Hokage and the Snake Lord together, working like mad. The Aburame guy said:

- Lord Danzou, Lord Orochimaru. We've arrived from the Hidden Mist Village, and brought you what you requested.

Danzou saw the youngsters and said:

- Thanks, Torune. Please, leave them in this table and leave.

The Yamanaka ninja said, as both he and Torune left the blood samples in the table as asked:

- Lord Danzou, you should be careful about the Hidden Mist. They're slaying their own bloodline traits by the Mizukage's orders. If they trace them to you, there could be war before the expected.

Danzou granted the debriefing on the mission:

- That's actually good to know, Fu. Thank you. Now, please, get out of here. In an hour we can meet in the Hokage's office for the whole debriefing.

Fu and Torune bowed to the Hokage and left. They were trained to not let any information about Danzou's plans slip up, and also Danzou took precautions, sealing the kids' tongues to avoid them to even dare to say a word; a standard procedure within the Root ranks.

Orochimaru saw the labels in the blood samples, and realized that these could be great assets to be maintained and bred. The whole Ninja Clans of the Continent at Danzou's service… and his.

Danzou asked:

- What happened with the attempts of inserting the Leaf's Clans' blood in the recipients?

Orochimaru was checking on his own notes and said:

- They're still under surveillance. Ten kids have been treated for each Clan, and we still need to wait for a while to see if the blood isn't rejected at all. The treatment with the couple of Mist Clans' samples you've got ended up in miserable failure. Perhaps the samples were too old, or just not refrigerated in time.

Danzou replied:

- Well, then I shall go and get the whole debriefing on those two youngsters. They seem quite promising, you know.

Orochimaru said, quite concerned:

- I really didn't like to hear that they were saying, about the Mizukage's killing campaign against the bloodline trait carriers.

Danzou shook his head, also concerned:

- Me neither. It's like if somehow, the Hidden Mist knew of our operation, and now tries to undo our collecting campaign in a rather harsh way. We should try and replicate as many samples as we can.

As Danzou started leaving the place, he said:

- I've already sent my agents into the Hidden Cloud Village to gather some more samples. I just hope this doesn't get too messy, or I'll have to start stealing children in small villages to raise our amount of lab rats.

Orochimaru chuckled ironically, and returned to his work, as Danzou left.

In the Hidden Whirlpool Village, Kushina rested quietly as Minato brought her some sweets. Minato said, laughing a bit nervously, as he entered the Uzumaki manor:

- Damn, my dear! Those sweets were just impossible to find over here! I had to pay some extra money to the pastry baker to make them exclusively for you!

Kushina looked at those sweet buns, which were iced with colored glaze and filled with chocolate, and started eating, not even saying a word to Minato. The blonde ninja was amazed to see how much sweets his dearest could eat while pregnant, and he actually bet that she's eating a lot more than when she was pregnant with Naruto. Damn, I just forgot how voracious she was when reaching the eighth month of the pregnancy period.

As she finished, the relief expression in her face became a lovely expression directed only for Minato. She jumped to his arms and kissed his lips passionately and said:

- Thank you so much, my dear! I'm sorry for all the trouble!

Minato just said, smiling gently:

- Don't worry, sweetheart; this second baby will appreciate it, I know!

Kushina kissed Minato's lips, and then the front door was knocked. Both walked to it and opened, seeing a young Hinata Hyuuga waiting outside, with some books and notebooks in her open backpack. She asked:

- G-g-good afternoon, lord Namikaze, lady Uzumaki. I-is Naruto-kun there?

Kushina saw the eight-year old girl with tender eyes and said:

- Sure, Hinata-chan! He's actually waiting for you in the back yard.

Minato said, also smiling at the young Hyuuga:

- Feel free to go in and get to him!

Hinata smiled, blushing, and walked into the house, a bit nervous. What's going on with you, girl? You've entered this place so many times to see Naruto-kun! Stop being so silly and get over with! Hinata was punishing herself too hard for her shyness when she finally made it into the back yard. A well-known voice called at her:

- Hinata-chan!! You're here!!

Hinata tried to check out where Naruto was hiding, as he usually liked to pull pranks on the people. She decided to use her Byakugan to look for him, and also she knew that this would work for her as training in the proper usage of those lavender eyes. She found her favorite blonde in a branch of a tree and walked to the tree, saying:

- Na-Naruto-kun! I-I'm here!

Naruto laughed soundly, seeing the overgrowing blush in Hinata's cheeks, and jumped down to face her. He was also a bit blushed, and he said to her, scratching his head with a hand:

- I'm sorry, Hinata-chan! I just laughed because you said the exact same thing I just said! Come on!

Hinata replied, stuttering even more, and with sad voice:

- N-N-Naruto-k-kun… I-I'm sorry, I had l-l-lunch late at h-home; and n-neither Fa-Father nor M-Mother would bring me here…

Naruto didn't actually care about Hinata's arrival time at his home for studying and playing. Sure she always arrived on time, and Naruto actually liked that, as she would have good time to study and enough time to spend with him together, but today she arrived half an hour late, and she felt like crap. Naruto got close to her and whispered, as he wrapped her softly with his arms:

- Hinata-chan, come on, don't be sad, okay?

Hinata started crying and Naruto whispered back:

- Hinata-chan… Come here, please, calm down. I don't really care at what time you arrive, you know?

Hinata, feeling how the blood rose to her cheeks as she was crying sadly, wrapped within Naruto's arms, sobbed:

- M-My father always says that… that a H-Hyuuga ninja c-cannot f-fail to his c-compromises ever… a-and I just failed you…

Naruto held her tightly and walked with her to his room. Hinata's sobs turned softer, as she tried to not let Naruto's parents hear her voice, but Naruto sat her in his bed and he sat beside her, whispering gently:

- Hinata-chan, you haven't failed me… you're here, you see?

Hinata was mesmerized with Naruto's soothing voice, and said:

- R-really think so, Naruto-kun?

Naruto smiled at her sweetly:

- I'll only consider that you've failed me when you do something that makes me not want to be your friend anymore.

Hinata's eyes widened, and Naruto continued:

- Actually, the way I felt when I was waiting for you made me realize that I really like you… I wouldn't wait for anyone for that long! Not even my parents!

Hinata's blush turned into a new shade of red, and started feeling light headed. Naruto-kun likes me!! Naruto's last words made her finally pass out from bliss:

- You're my best friend, Hinata-chan, and I'd wait forever for you!

Hinata passed out with a huge smile on her face, and with a deep red color in her face. Naruto could never get the hang of her blushing and fainting, but seeing her smile like that was something he really enjoyed. She never smiled like that before, and I actually like that smile of hers. If only I could do something to make her smile even more… Perhaps I'll just ask mom or dad about that later. I'd better go get some water for Hinata-chan.

After several minutes, Hinata woke up, seeing a smiling Naruto offering her a glass of water. She asked:

- N-Naruto-kun… i-is this water… for me?

Naruto grinned:

- Sure! After passing out like that, it's good to have some water, Hinata-chan!

Hinata blushed to a deeper red tone as she took the water and touched Naruto's fingers with hers. She drank the water then and she replied:

- T-thank you.

Naruto took Hinata's backpack and replied:

- It's okay! Let's study then! We have the exams the next week, and I need to check all of the subjects through!

Hinata nodded and smiled:

- So do I… l-let's study in here!

Naruto grinned like a fox, and Hinata's heart melted up again, blushing furiously as she tried to take her stuff off her backpack. After a while, they were studying.

Kushina and Minato were checking on the kids secretly, listening to their ramblings as they smiled quietly:

- Hinata-chan, does this mean that we still have to make some more exercises?

- S-sure, Naruto-kun. T-This section of the subject is q-quite d-difficult…

- Damn, I hate physics!!

- P-perhaps we sh-should call your p-parents; t-they might help…

The adult couple suddenly heard their names yelled in an incredibly loud and irritating voice:

- DAAAD!!!! MOOOM!!! CAAN YOU HEELP US?!?!

To avoid Naruto from screaming louder and breaking both their eardrums, so as little Hinata's, Minato and Kushina ran immediately to Naruto's room. Naruto explained then, showing his parents a guide full of physics exercises:

- Dad, mom, we're not understanding these exercises! Could you help us, pleeeease?

Minato checked the simple physics exercises and looked at Kushina. They both realized that Naruto would actually suck big time at math and physics if they didn't just try to explain him in some other way. Sure it was a bonus for Hinata to receive easier explanations, and it also would help her understand how Naruto's mind worked, if they were meant to be together as it seemed to be.

Minato read the exercise and said:

- Look, Naruto, Hinata. These are much easier to explain with some real action. Follow me.

As they reached for the backyard, Minato drew a shuriken and explained them the exercise with some live action. Also, the children would learn also how to throw real shuriken, unlike in the Ninja Academy.

After a couple of hours of making some more physics exercises, they all decided to go out for a while and go to the park. Kushina wanted to walk and get some fresh air, as it would help her for her pregnancy to keep herself active, and Minato just didn't want to stay at home.

Hinata was amazed about how Naruto's fathers were just so cool, being able to adapt the academy's teachings to a language Naruto could understand easier; and also she was amazed about how Naruto learned a lot faster when understanding in real life, and in an easier language, how the physics and math formulas worked.

When they reached the park, they saw that there were lots of other kids around. Naruto could recognize Shikamaru, lying on the ground and watching the clouds, and this boy Shirogane also lying beside him, talking about whatever crossed their minds. Chouji was around, eating some cookies and paying no attention to anything else, and beside him there were Ino and Sakura talking about girl stuff.

Sasuke was in the pipe gym, playing with Kiba and Kikuchi, and Naruto decided to go with them. Hinata blushed as he held her hand to take her with him, and she followed him around. Sasuke saw them and said:

- Hey! Naruto, Hinata! Over here! Come meet some of the new guys!

Naruto and Hinata climbed up and met with Sasuke's two new friends. Kikuchi said:

- You're the famous Naruto Namikaze, the son of Lady Kushina Uzukami, right?

Naruto nodded with the head, and then Kikuchi saw the Hyuuga girl:

- And you're Hinata Hyuuga, right? You're the user of the Byakugan, not?

Hinata nodded. Kikuchi said:

- My name is Kikuchi, and I'm a young Lightning Chakra user!

Naruto replied:

- I can use Air Chakra!

Kiba replied:

- I'm Kiba Inuzuka! I'm from the Hidden Leaf, just like you!

Hinata said to him:

- H-Hi!

Naruto replied to him:

- You're the kid of the dogs, Kiba?

Kiba said, a bit eager:

- Not yet, but for my next birthday I'll have my own dog! It's awesome!

Sasuke replied:

- Sure it is, Kiba!

Kikuchi said:

- There are some other guys from the classroom in here! Let's go check them out!

Kiba asked then:

- You think they want to come with us? Shikamaru and Shirogane are lying there on the floor like assholes, Chouji's only friend is the cookie package, Ino and Sakura are surely gossiping…

Kiba turned to another side and watched another couple of kids who seemed to have a lot of fun, and said:

- There are Hikari and Shino, playing whatever with his bugs… perhaps we could go with them! What do you say?

Hinata looked at Naruto, who just said:

- Playing with bugs?! Sounds cool! What do you think, Hinata-chan?!

Hinata said, smiling:

- I-I-If y-you go, Naruto-kun, I'll g-go with you!

Naruto smiled back at her and jumped to the floor quickly, falling and rolling on the ground skillfully. Hinata decided to give it a try too, and she jumped either, falling also on the ground, and rolling, but she seemed not to fall too good, and she hurt her ankle. She said, a bit in pain:

- Nnngh! It hurts, Naruto-kun!

Naruto jumped to see Hinata's ankle, and the rest of the group ran to her. Kikuchi armed hand seals and her hands glowed in blue. She put the glowing hand in Hinata's ankle, and the Hyuuga girl felt how it healed slowly. The other kids were surprised, and Sasuke said, when Kikuchi finished:

- Wow!! That's just amazing, Kikuchi! You're also a medic?

Kikuchi blushed and replied:

- Well, I learned a thing or two with dad, Sasuke-kun, Kiba-kun, but not too much…

Kiba said:

- You're a medic ninja! That's awesome!

Hinata felt her ankle like new again and said:

- T-thank you, Kikuchi…

The white-haired girl just replied:

- No problem at all, Hinata, we're friends, after all, not?

Hinata smiled at her and Naruto said:

- See, Hinata-chan? Now we have some more friends! Isn't it great?

Hinata nodded, and Kiba said again:

- Well, the one who gets last to Shino's place will be the dumb of the class for a month!

Sasuke replied:

- Deal! Let's go, Hinata!

Hinata stood up, with Naruto's help, and then the group ran to meet Hikari and Shino. Meanwhile, Ino and Sakura were talking. Ino said:

- There are so many impressive things in this new village, Sakura! This is just so awesome, don't you think?

Sakura wasn't answering, as her eyes were fixed on a certain raven-haired boy who played around with a rather large group of kids. Ino noticed this and said:

- Oooh! You like Sasuke-kun, don't you, pinky?!

Sakura, a bit ashamed, replied:

- Um, yes… but I don't think I'm even at his standards, Ino…

Ino just laughed soundly:

- Well then, you'll have to do a great effort to earn his attention! Because Sasuke-kun will be mine, Billboard Brow!

This made Sakura upset and said:

- Don't you dare to, Ino Pig!! I'll get at him before you do!!

Suddenly, the two girls started screaming and yelling at each other, what made Chouji walk away:

- Damn! And these are, allegedly, best friends! What a mess, huh?

Shikamaru and Shirogane saw Chouji get close to them and sit beside them. Shikamaru said:

- Hey, Chouji. You're eating cookies now? What about the potato chips?

Chouji smiled:

- Well, The cookies are amazingly delicious, Shikamaru! Try one!

Shirogane said:

- Um, those cookies are great, Chouji! I have my own package at home, but I shouldn't bring them here! Every kid I know loves those cookies…

Shikamaru received the cookie and said:

- Hey, dude, when it's about food, Chouji fights like a demon, and I'm sure no kid will be able to defeat him.

Chouji chuckled and Shirogane said, a bit innocently:

- I've got a lot to learn from you two! Let's be friends, okay?

Chouji and Shikamaru laughed soundly and shook hands with the Kinzoku kid. Chouji said:

- As ninjas, we'll end up being friends, and maybe even teammates…

Shirogane said then:

- Well, let's rest for a while and see the girls pull their hairs and yell at each other! It's kind of fun!

Chouji chuckled and Shikamaru just replied:

- Fun, but troublesome… even more when one of the girls is your neighbor, and waltzes in your house to fill your ears with unnecessary gossip.

Shirogane laughed soundly, and Chouji chuckled, eating some more cookies.

A girl ran to the group of fighting females and yelled:

- Ino! Sakura! Why are you fighting now?

Ino and Sakura replied, at the same time, not even letting go of the other's hair:

- SHE WANTS TO TAKE SASUKE-KUN OFF FROM ME, SHIROBOSHI!!

Shiroboshi face palmed, and sweat dropped, as she replied dryly:

- You're wasting your time, girls. Sasuke is playing nicely with Kikuchi, Hinata and Hikari over there…

Both Ino and Sakura glared daggers at Shiroboshi, making her a little nervous. She just said:

- W-well, look over there, instead of fighting each other! The other guys are also there with them!

Ino and Sakura turned again to where Sasuke was, and they saw that another kid had joined their group. Kawabuchi joined the game with the bugs, playing with Shino, Sasuke and the other kids. The pink-haired and the blonde decided to walk there and do something, but Shiroboshi just stood in their way, saying nervously:

- Come on! We're not going to make a mess around this place, are we?

- Sure as hell! – Ino's reply was fearsome. Sakura's was even more dreadful:

- I won't let any other girl around my Sasuke-kun!

Shiroboshi yelled then, as both Ino and Sakura were completely meant to trample over her and keep on their way to chaos and destruction:

- Sasuke will not pay you any attention as long as you keep behaving as such assholes!!

This made both girls freeze on the ground… so as the rest of the kids who played in the park. Shiroboshi realized then that she had yelled too loud, and then she realized that Naruto said:

- Sasuke! You've got fan girls! Heh, heh, heh!!

Sasuke blushed like mad, yelling as Naruto and Kiba laughed:

- Shut the hell up!!

Of course, Kikuchi was mad to see that both Sakura and Ino were those fan girls, after seeing their ashamed looks and how they started screaming at Shiroboshi. Shino just said, making Hikari laugh even more:

- The worst thing is, they're not the only ones, Kikuchi…

Needless to say, Kikuchi replied, looking at Sasuke:

- Damn, kid, you've got it bad with these girls… if you need any kind of protection, or solace, I can keep them away from you!

Sasuke saw the blushing in the white girl and replied with a smile:

- Sure I will! At least you're not a weirdo like them, but a friend!

Of course, this made the trio of fighting girls freeze in their places. Ino and Sakura looked at each other, and crossed lightning struck between them. Shiroboshi looked at them, hopeless. These best friends are willing to fight each other for the same guy… the same guy who doesn't even care about them. The Yozora girl sat with Shikamaru and his new gang, talking to them for a while, and leaving the fan girls on their own mess.

Of course, the groups of parents were quite amused, and Kushina laughed like mad. Sasuke didn't even mind about that situation anymore, and kept on playing with his friends. After a while, every single kid was taken by their parents, going home as the sun started hiding in the western horizon.

End of Chapter 12.

A/N: Even when stories become different, some things will never change. I just couldn't stop messing up with the Ino/Sakura theme. On the other side, Danzou's problems are just starting, as many people started asking for it.