Disclaimer: I don't own. If I did…well, Deidara would still be whole, Sasori wouldn't be dead, Sasuke would quit trying to act cool and would come back to Konoha, and Hinata would have Naruto. …Or Sasuke.

Spoiler Warning: Spoilers up until…oh, let's say all the way up until 313. (Yup, after the time jump.)

Came-from-a-dream fic. Crack-ish at the beginning, not towards the end. OMIGOSH IT'S NOT A ONESHOT!

Pairings: Several crushes, fluff, but serious pairings still pending.

-.-.-

Gai-sensei was grinning again. And when Maito Gai grinned, bad things happened. Hyuuga Neji glared lightly at his teacher, for even thinking that they would accept this mission. If it could even be called that. TenTen, however, looked overjoyed. So did Lee. Of course.

"Really?" The kunoichi squealed, clasping her hands together.

"Oh, Gai-sensei! You are always teaching us new things, and this mission shall increase our knowledge! AND YOUTHFUL POWER!" Lee crowed, tears already springing into his eyes. "You are the greatest, Gai-sensei!"

The way they were going on about it, one might think Gai let them have a dog or something. Neji resisted the urge to sigh, content with rolling his eyes. "I think this mission will be a waste of time, Gai-sensei. We are already a very capable team, and we cannot afford to learn completely new things right now. Why can't the other teams-"

"They are, Neji, my youthful prodigy." Gai nodded, setting his chin in his hand. "Asuma's team isn't, but only because he had the whole Nara-Akimichi-Yamanaka synergy thing going. He doesn't realize the benefits of more youthful power in the team." Ignoring everything but the first comment or so, Neji activated his bloodline limit; knowing his sensei, the mission had already started and it was already here. Flinching, his pale eyes picked up the chakra, meaning that…well, he hated it when he's right.

"It's already here." He ground out, releasing the Byakugan to glare at Gai. The sensei in question just grinned and did his good guy pose in reply. Lee and TenTen were looking around frantically, still grinning idiotically. Neji sighed.

"Not it, Neji!" Gai said seriously. "She."

TenTen's eyes positively sparkled, and she squealed again. "She? Oh, it's a girl!" Lee looked a bit more put out, but he was still grinning like a madman. This bit of news to me, however, wasn't good. Another kunoichi on the team? And a genin, no less? He was a jounin now, damn it, and he didn't want some babysitting job that hardly qualified as C-rank.

A recent team of genin's sensei had recently died on a mission. All three genin, instead of being assigned a new teacher (ninja were in painfully short supply now), the three were separated to go to Team Kakashi, Team Kurenai, and Team Gai. They had only been a team for about a month, so their teamwork was pretty pathetic and they hadn't formed any sort of relationship with each other. If they had, then Hokage-sama most likely would've been pressed to get a new sensei.

The mission was to take the genin assigned to them in, continue teaching them, and turn them into good little Leaf-nin. Anytime after they became chuunin, the mission ended. Hokage-sama was just counting on the fact that they were going to get attached, and would continue teaching them.

Neji blinked; Gai-sensei had somehow just summoned the genin from the tree she was hiding behind. His eye twitched, for the girl wasn't even to his shoulders. She was short. Or maybe it was because she was staring at her sandals, as crouched down as possible without bending over. TenTen squealed again, and Lee stared at the young girl. "Team Gai, meet your newest member! Kono Haraku!"

The girl's chin was nearly resting on her chest, and her face was obscured by long bangs. She had pale, pale blonde hair, down just past her shoulder blades it seemed, and it was parted in the front in the middle of her forehead. Her hitai-ate is on her forehead, as the protector should be. Neji at least gave the girl points for that. With a blink, the Hyuuga realized just how much her light hair stood out already; TenTen had the lightest hair of their group, and hers was a dark, chocolate brown.

The girl's outfit was conservative, to say the least. The normal navy Capri-pants for the kunoichi, although many of them didn't even attempt to conform. Right leg had the bandages, as well as a shuriken holster just in reach. Very basic, very academic. Her legs were bandaged underneath the pants, down to her ninja sandal-boots (not for medical reasons, Neji thought. He, after all, did the same thing.) Her shirt, however…Neji was amazed she could be out in this sun without dying. It was black, and appeared to be of rather heavy fabric. It was long sleeved, and rather baggy on her; the sleeves were too long, having to be pushed back haphazardly (Neji noted that the shirt would have to go. Too troublesome on missions.), and the bottom hem came down halfway to her knees, almost covering up the weapons holster strapped to her leg. The collar of the shirt, thank Kami, wasn't high or anything. It was a v-cut, just low enough to reveal a necklace around her neck, nothing more. Neji was nearly sweating just looking at the heavy, ebony sweater.

The kunoichi was staring at the ground intently, unaware of the silence stretching on. Her pale hair fell around her, masking her face and shoulders. Another thing, Neji reasoned, that would have to be addressed.

Gai was still grinning, the girl was staring at the ground, and Lee and TenTen were too busy staring, mouth agape, at the girl to say anything. It was up to him to break the silence…of course. "Hyuuga Neji. My comrades are Hikaru TenTen and Rock Lee. I am sure that you have already been introduced to your new sensei…?" He nodded toward Gai, stepping back slightly when the girl looked up. Neji had probably been expecting some light-colored eyes or something, and this had completely thrown him off. Her eyes were the darkest purple he had ever seen, large and nearly black.

This promptly broke the others out of their shocked silence. TenTen gasped softly, then smiled. Lee continued staring at her, but he was grinning now as well. "Haraku-san! It is a pleasure to meet you, and bask in your radiant power of a youthful kunoichi!" Unfortunately, it was Lee who spoke first.

Haraku turned to look at each member in turn. Her blank, slightly scared expression didn't change when she studied TenTen (who smiled and waved), but Neji got another reason to twitch. She passed over him nearly completely, ignoring the nod she received as a greeting, blushing lightly. She stared at Lee next, and he stared back, until he promptly did the good guy pose. The blonde stepped back, then hid behind Gai. "H-he scares me…" It was the first time she spoke, and Neji wasn't sure if she spoke at all, her voice was so soft. He was still irritated at that blush. A crush, just what he needed.

"Lee! You scared her!" TenTen whacked him on the head, glaring at him. Lee apologized The pale-eyed jounin sighed. This was going to be a long mission.

-.-.-

Meanwhile, Team Kakashi was going through a similar ordeal. Kakashi had, indeed, recovered and was now heading the team again, and he had expected Sakura and Naruto's reactions. Sai, of course, just stood there, wondering what facial expression he should use. Sakura had cooed and rushed to hug the little boy, while Naruto was just staring at him with a big grin on his face.

"His name is Hyuuga Yukio. And he is now part of our team until he becomes a chuunin." Kakashi said blandly, more interested in watching Sai stare at the scene than Sakura and Naruto.

"Wait…Hyuuga? Like Neji-san and Hinata-chan?" The pinkette stopped in mid-hug, unfortunately depriving the pale-eyed boy of much of his needed oxygen.

"Hai. That is why he couldn't be on either Gai or Kurenai's team." The silver-haired jounin sniffed disinterestedly, reaching down for his book-the latest volume of Icha Icha Tactics. It was just getting good…

"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura's screech made him wince, at least inwardly. "You can't read such things in front of a child!"

"I-I'm thirteen!" Yukio gasped out, still flailing wildly in Sakura's tight grasp. She let him go, and after gulping in many mouthfuls of air, he added, "I'm not a child. I'm already a great ninja, and you should respect me as such!"

That stopped the kunoichi dead. Naruto, however, grinned even more broadly. Sai tilted his head slightly, wondering how this situation would turn out. Eye twitching, Inner Sakura shrieked, "OH NO! It's another NARUTO!"

"You don't look like that great of a ninja to me, Yukio-san." Head snapping around, Sakura realized that Sai had finally spoken. Oh no. She knew where this was going. Stomping over to him, she stuck her head in his face, menacing glare and all.

"You say one thing to taint his innocent mind and I'll make my last punches seem like tickles." Haruno Sakura threatened dangerously, while Yukio looked on in awe. Sai looked mildly frightened, but closed his mouth obediently. (More out of respect than fear, however.)

"Wow…you must be really strong!" The genin breathed, his pale eyes as wide as saucers. Naruto bent down to apparently make some crack about her monstrous strength, but a solid whack on the head prevented that. Smiling gently, Sakura leaned down so she was at eye-level with the boy.

She studied him with her bright green eyes, while his own pale eyes stared at her. He was a bit tall for his age, and his hair, unlike Neji's, was rather short. It was spiky, sticking up at odd angles and falling into his ashen eyes. He was wearing the traditional dark pants, shuriken holster, kunai pouch and navy sandals, and his shirt was nearly exactly like what Neji used to wear. It was rather thin, cream-colored fabric, short-sleeved and just the right size for the boy. The collar was high on his neck, but loose, and it had the same two strips of fabric on the chest. Aside from the hair, feral grin and awe in the eyes, he looked nearly exactly like Neji when he was younger. His Leaf hitai-ate was tied around his neck, however, hanging down loosely.

"Hai, I am very strong. And don't you forget it, Yukio-kun." Sakura winked at him, smiling.

"Oh, I won't!" Hyuuga Yukio shook his head vigorously.

Inner Sakura grinned, calling, "Perhaps there's hope for him yet!"

-.-.-

Yuuhi Kurenai stood before her three subordinates, who were at attention and were apparently waiting for something. "Do you all understand the mission?" the black-haired jounin asked.

"Hai!" All three barked in reply.

Kurenai nodded, then waved her arm. "You may come out now." The three chuunin looked around in surprise; the genin was already here? They hadn't even noticed, and they were supposed to be reconnaissance nin…But no one came forward. Kurenai looked around, then nodded toward Hinata. The Hyuuga activated her Byakugan, searching the area.

"A-ano…is he a small boy with dark hair…?" Kurenai nodded. "H-he is twenty-eight degrees west, asleep in a tree…"

"He's asleep?" Kurenai and Kiba said that in unison, looked at each other, then sped off toward the boy. Hinata pushed her fingers together hesitantly, looking at her Aburame comrade.

"Sh-shall we follow th-them?"

"Hai."

Ten minutes later, Kiba was physically restraining a screaming boy of about twelve or thirteen. The boy was held up, which unfortunately freed his legs to kick wildly. The Inuzuka winced every time a heel made contact with his shin, but he held the boy firm. Kurenai was trying to do the introductions over the yelling, but so far not to much avail. Finally, she managed to get so fed up she merely performed a few hand signs, casting some sort the genjutsu. The boy was almost instantly asleep, but unfortunately Kiba also looked a bit drowsy, swaying on his feet.

"As I was trying to say," Kurenai said calmly, turning back to her other two teammates, "He is your new teammate. I expect he'll calm down after a few days of our company; he's just wound up over meeting his new team and loosing his old one. His name is Kuga Aiko, he is thirteen years of-"

"Kuga Aiko? As in, the Kuga clan?" Kiba's head snapped up, and he was instantly alert again. There were several…weird clans in Konoha, such as the Aburame or the Uchiha. Many, very strange powers were given to such clans, but the Kuga most likely had to be the weirdest. No, not strongest, although they could most likely give the Hyuuga a run for their money. On a very good day, anyway. Unfortunately, the Inuzuka were practically their sworn enemies. Inuzuka and Kuga kids hated each other on principle.

While the Inuzuka were partnered with canines, the Aburame were sharing their bodies with their bugs. But the Kuga took it to the next extreme. They became their partnered animal. It was powerful, yes, but unfortunately, it took up massive amounts of chakra. Otherwise…well, who wouldn't want to be able to stealthily sneak around like a fox? Or a cat, depending on which branch of the clan you were in.

"Hai, Kiba. Please, don't act so hostile toward him; he hasn't inherited much hatred for the Inuzuka clan yet, so this might work out…" Kurenai half-pleaded, closing her eyes with a sigh. She lifted her hands to massage her temples, sighing again.

The Inuzuka snorted, glaring down at the sleeping boy in his arms. He could just crush him now-

"Is he Main or Branch?" Shino asked quietly, dispelling any thoughts of Kiba committing murder.

Kurenai thought a moment, "I hadn't been informed of that." The Main part of the clan were all Cat shape shifters, while the Branch consisted of Fox. Unlike the Hyuuga, they didn't have any curses or anything; this bloodline limit was definitely something you could not copy, thus it didn't need much protection. Kurenai leaned down to inspect the boy.

Aiko had dark reddish hair, almost brown, slightly spiky but still rather shaggy. It kept falling into his eyes and such, even with the hitai-ate holding some of it back. His skin was rather tan, and, like the Inuzuka, he had very pointed nails. Kurenai opened the genin's mouth, and found that, even by Kuga standards, the boy's canine teeth were unusually sharp. Finally, she held his head back, opening his eye to inspect. His eyes were a dark gold, with slitted pupils. The eye color decided it; the Main house in the Kuga clan all had green or yellow eyes, while the Branch was restricted to a dark gold.

"He's a Branch house member." For Kiba, it was a blessing. He'd much rather deal with a Fox-brat than a Cat-brat. "Kiba, hold on to him, I'm releasing the genjutsu."

"Huh? Why-" Kiba couldn't get out more than that, having to deal with screaming and flailing all over again. "Why-why did we have to get the Kuga brat?"

"Aiko, please calm down!" Kurenai called. Surprisingly, the dark-haired boy stopped, and turned to stare up at her. "Kiba, release him." The brown-haired chuunin did so, rather hesitantly. "Aiko, these are your new teammates. Hyuuga Hinata, Aburame Shino, and Inuzuka Kiba."

He stared at the trio with his large, slightly unnerving, golden eyes. Shino was unreadable, as always, Hinata smiled and offered a small wave, and Kiba glared at him. There was a tense moment, and Kurenai was suddenly worried that a fight might break out. Finally, his clawed hand reached out and he pointed to each in turn. "Hyuuga Hinata. She's kind of pretty, she's the cousin of Yukio, and she's quiet. Aburame Shino. He's mysterious, rather dark, and he's quiet, too. …Kiba. He's loud, he's obnoxious, and he is very strong." Kurenai smiled, nearly sighing in relief. It seemed as if Aiko knew about the Inuzuka, but at least admitted he respected them. The Kuga boy turned back to his new sensei, smiling slightly. "This team is a reconnaissance team, right, Kurenai-sensei?" After he received a nod, he turned back to the three chuunin in front of him. "…He can deal with that."

-.-.-

Ending Note: Aiko speaks weird. Haraku is painfully shy (Neji makes several references toward the Hinata-like behavior). And Yukio is ambitious & determined. Mini-Naruto without the crush on Sakura. Yes, they are all genin. Yes, they're going to have many crushes (who wouldn't?). Yes, they are all made-up characters. Yes, except for the Hyuuga, both Kono and Kuga clans are made-up. Yes, it is going to be a fic, not a one-shot.