Alright, chapter 4 is here! I think I actually survived exam week, so now I can get around to updating my stories. To serenity wayne, Wal, Silverpaws, Taeniaea, Angel of Serenity 88, and Armanifan, Thanks!! Seeing all your reviews made me very happy.

I will be going home for summer break, and home has no internet access. The local libraries also block this site, so in order to update I will have to drive two towns over and park on the bridge. So, in order to make sure I won’t feel lonely sitting at the only place with internet access in the middle of nowhere, review like crazy!

I do not own Naruto or Sailor Moon.

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As Kabuto and Serena continued on their journey to the Hidden Leaf Village, Kabuto discreetly observed his unexpected companion. She was short, barely even reaching his shoulder. She was rather slender, lacking the muscle definition that would have given away a kunoichi. Aside from the first words she had spoken, everything she said and did backed up her story. He watched her from the corner of his eye, taking in her appearance. Her face was heart shaped with delicate features, and brilliant blue eyes that somehow seemed to nag at his memory. She had bright golden hair that was pulled up into twin buns, with long streamers that nearly reached her ankles. She really was quite lovely, even though her adventures in the forest had left her looking a bit disheveled, with a hole in one knee of her jeans, small scratches on her arms, a few loose strands of hair falling from her buns, and a cheek smudged with dirt.

She seemed to be in much better spirits this morning, and had been humming some happy little tune the entire morning. Her eyes sparkled with life, and he found himself watching her more than the forest surrounding them. By now he had become more than a little curious about her and her mysterious brother.

“If you don’t mind me asking, why are you searching for the Hidden Leaf Village? And how did you even get this far? Most people can’t even come this close to finding it.”

Serena looked thoughtful for a moment before replying “I just found out that I have a little brother that I never even knew about. When he was still just a baby, ninjas from this village kidnapped him. I found this place because my mom told me about it.”

Kabuto looked at her curiously. “How did she know about the village? Is she a ninja?”

Serena shook her head no before saying “It’s a really long story. I just hope I can find him. Mom really misses him, and I would like to meet him.”

Kabuto was about to ask her another question when the gates of the Hidden Leaf Village came into view.

“Is that it?”

He nodded at her, and was surprised to see her face light up. She took a step forward, and opened her mouth to say something, when Kabuto sensed another presence nearby. Masking his chakra, he quickly grabbed Serena and jumped up into the trees. He landed silently on a branch and crouched down until on knee was resting on the branch, and his other leg was braced against the tree trunk. He pulled Serena close to him, and before she could say anything, covered her mouth with one hand and whispered for her to be quiet.

Several moments later, a team of jonin passed beneath them, returning to the village. With his hand still covering her mouth, he turned her to face the gates. Removing the arm wrapped around her waist, he pointed at the two guards who were stationed there.

“Do you see those guards?”

When she nodded, he whispered “This is the only entrance to the village, and they see everyone who enters or leaves. If you try to just walk in, they will report to the Hokage, or they might not even let you in. In the worst case, they could even take you prisoner.”

Serena’s face paled as she heard what he said, and he continued “The people of the village can be very suspicious, but if they don’t see you walk in, and have no reason to be suspicious of you, they might not even notice that you’re here.”

He slowly removed his hand from her mouth and relaxed slightly when he saw that she wasn’t going to make a fuss. He had heard how loud she could be when he first began following her, and for a moment had been afraid she would give away their location.

Serena turned her head to try and look at him, and with a slightly crestfallen look on her face, said “If that’s the only way in, how am I going to get in?”

Kabuto chuckled to himself, and leaning down, whispered “I didn’t say it was the only way in, just the only entrance.” He smirked to himself as she shivered at his breath on her ear, and thoroughly enjoyed the sight of the blush staining her cheeks. He picked her up and said “I’ll get you into the village, but then I have to leave.” Feeling slightly surprised at the look of disappointment that crossed her face, he said “I’m supposed to be on a mission right now, and could be in a bit of trouble if I’m spotted here.”

Serena smiled at him and replied “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone you helped me.”

Grinning to himself, Kabuto started leaping from tree to tree, enjoying the way her arms tightened around his neck. He finally found the spot he was looking for. There were several large trees growing very close to one of the village walls, and the branches of the largest hung over the wall, giving him a way to cross it without being spotted.

“Okay, this is as far as I go. Hey, don’t tell me you’re afraid of heights.”

Serena had her face buried in his shoulder, eyes closed tightly. He chuckled at her and said “You can look now, we’ve already landed.”

She slowly opened her eyes and gave a small sigh of relief at being back on solid ground. Kabuto gently set her down, and turned to go. Before he could leave, she grabbed his hand and said “Wait, I didn’t get to thank you for helping me.” He gave her a knowing smirk, and watched as her cheeks turned pink again.

He leaned in close to her again and softly whispered “Don’t worry about it; we may see each other again. You can thank me then.” Gently disentangling his hand from hers, he stepped back. Performing a quick hand sign, he disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Serena watched the spot he disappeared from for several moments before snapping out of it and turning to go search the village. She walked with her arms folded across her chest and a tiny scowl on her face. As she went, she quietly chastised herself.

“Stupid, stupid, stupid. No way, do not think about the cute doctor. Doctors are evil, remember?!”

She blushed as she remembered the way he had carried her through the trees, and how warm his chest had felt against her back when he had held her on the tree branch. This train of thought had her grumbling to herself once again.

“Mysterious cute ninja doctor. Frying pan, fire. Got it?”

She was still grumbling as she turned a corner and passed by several stores. She was jolted out of her conversation with herself when she bumped into someone on the sidewalk. She looked up and saw a rather oddly dressed old man with long spiky silver hair smiling down at her in a slightly lecherous manner. The old man grinned at her and said “I’ve been looking all over for you; it’s about time you showed up. But you didn’t have to use the sexy jutsu just for me, you know.” He said this with a wink, and Serena was outraged.

“You pervert!”

She promptly stomped on his foot and turned on her heel, slapping him in the face with her hair as she left. She stormed off in another direction, leaving a very confused toad sage in her wake.

She walked for several blocks before she finally started to cool down a little bit. She started observing her surroundings, wondering where she should start looking for Naruto. As she walked, she passed a ramen stand, and her stomach growled loudly. She looked longingly at the ramen stand.

‘Ramen may not be my favorite food, but I’m hungry enough right now that I just don’t care.’

She gave the ramen stand one last look before turning away. However, a hand on her shoulder prevented her from leaving. She turned back around and met the eyes of a young man with a kind face. He had a scar across his nose, and brown eyes and hair. 

He shook his head at her in exasperation before saying words that left her completely bewildered.

“You really should stop playing around with that jutsu, Naruto. One of the girls is going to inflict permanent damage on you if they catch you sneaking into the baths again. Come on, I’ll treat you to ramen for lunch.”

He walked over to the ramen stand and waved a hand at her to join him. He then turned around and placed an order. She walked up to the bar and cautiously sat down. Looking over at him, she said “Why do you think I’m Naruto?”

He looked at her strangely and said “I’ve seen you use that jutsu so many times that you can’t fool me with it.”

She considered his reply and decided that it really didn’t tell her anything. She decided to try a different question.

“What’s a jutsu?”

He froze for a moment, before he burst out laughing. “That’s a good one Naruto; you almost had me there for a minute.” He was still laughing as the girl set down their bowls of ramen. He was just about to start eating when a there was a strange poofing noise and a person appeared in a puff of smoke beside him. After listening to what the person told him, the young man sighed and looked back over at her.

“I have to take care of something. Since I know how hungry you get, why don’t you go ahead and have my bowl of ramen, too. See you later.”

He then disappeared in a puff of smoke along with the other person. By now Serena was thoroughly confused, but she was hungry enough that she gratefully ate both bowls of ramen. After leaving the ramen stand, she wandered around for a little while, with no particular direction in mind.

She had wandered close to a large field when suddenly a green blur whizzed past her. Startled, she looked around her in confusion, trying to figure out what it was and where it had come from. She didn’t see anything, so she kept walking. Before she could take another step, the green blur appeared in front of her again, and this time materialized into a young boy. He seemed to be very partial to the color green. His shiny black hair was cut in a bowl hairstyle, and he had large dark eyes that stood out even underneath his rather bushy eyebrows. He stood before her, one hand held up sideways in front of him and addressed her.

“Naruto, I have been looking for you since I heard you were back from your mission. I wish to spar with you, to increase the power of youth!”

Serena tilted her head sideways and looked at the boy. Her face scrunched up as she tried to remember something. Sparring. That word sounded familiar. Her eyes widened as she remembered where she had heard it before. Wasn’t that what Lita did when she practiced her martial arts?

Serena quickly shook her head no and held up her hands in a placating manner.

“I can’t spar with you, because, well because I’m not Naruto. But hey, I can help you. I’ll tell him you want to spar with him when I find him, okay?”

She grinned at the boy nervously and then tried to sneak away from him. It was no use. She had barely moved five steps away from him when he appeared in front of her again and settled into his former stance, this time looking even more determined. He leaped at her and kicked his foot out to try and sweep her legs out from under her. He stopped inches away from her, with an indignant look on his expressive face.

“You cannot fool me with that jutsu. It will not help you to try and avoid me. You cannot become stronger if you do not practice.” Tears began to stream down his face. “Let us practice together, and find the full power of youth!”

Serena had finally had all she could take. She took off, running away from him as fast as she could, and screaming at the top of her lungs. The boy looked after her for a moment with a puzzled look on his face, before inspiration struck him.

“Ah, a race, that is perfect!”