AN: Hi this is my first fanfic so please be nice. Anyway I read this fanfic called deception and I really liked it this is sort of based on some ideas from that. Please don't kill me! Jumps into bomb shelter

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

The Instrument of Mourning

Chapter one: The one year trip

Naru looked askance at the Hokage as she listened to his proposal about her getting a mate. For Kami's sake she was only thirteen years old, sure she looked more mature then that but that didn't change the facts that she was way too young to be even thinking about having children.

"Why do you want great grandchildren now all of a sudden?"

"I am getting old" was all the old man replied.

Naru wanted to slam her fist into the wall but thought better of it. It was one of those rare moments when she lost her temper and even now she didn't let it show.

She had to come up with something to get out of this mess she was in. Sighing she looked around the old mans office hoping for inspiration.

The office was round and sparse. There were hangings on the wall and a desk, to the right of it was a window on the desk itself were piles and piles of paperwork that the old Hokage had yet to finish dealing with. Along another wall there was a shelf of books and scrolls.

Finally her gaze landed on one of the hangings this depicted a scene of a nine tailed fox when she suddenly came upon her plan.

"If I agree to this I must have one condition." she said the plan forming rapidly in her mind.

"What is it." the man had a suspicious look to him as he said this but he already knew that he would agree. He couldn't very well force the girl to go out and get pregnant and he didn't want to to boot.

"You will give me leave to go on a training mission so that I may train my control over the Kyubi's powers and ask the wise man in the mountains some questions. I would like to know what sort of effects pregnancy will have on the demon and seal and vice versa." she kept a straight face the entire time not mentioning that she could probably send a messenger hawk or be there and back herself in a very short time. Nobody knew her true strength, and even though he knew she could go fast Sarutobi didn't know nor did he need to know that she worked under weights that were never lifted.

Naru watched the old mans face nearly holding her breath in anticipation. She watched the emotions flit across her face, weary then sorrow finally followed by acceptance. When he gave his answer she knew that he knew of her ruse but was choosing to let her go anyway. And the worst bit was that the knowledge of her lie made her feel guilty but Kami dammit she wasn't ready to have a baby yet she had only been a ninja for a year and she didn't want to take such an extensive leave from it.

"Fine but you have one year to do this in, at the end of which you must return or else I will be forced to report you as a missing Nin." Before she could say something edgewise he continued. "Not out of revenge Kami knows I don't want to force you into doing something if you feel you are unready for it, but because of what you contain and you know as well as I that the council would not let your absence beyond the given time go unpunished." The old man had a tired look on his face as he finished his speech.

I hate to say it kit but the man's right. Those old farts still think you are a demon rather then being a demon vessel. A deep voice in her mind said.

This belonged to the demon. She was the container of the nine tailed fox demon king Kyubi. For reasons never disclosed to her the year she was born, no the day she was born, he attacked the village hidden in the leaves. Many shinobi died that day including one Arashi Kazama aka the yellow flash known to most as the fourth Hokage. He hadn't been able to defeat the enraged demon so he sealed it inside the tiny form of a new born baby girl sacrificing his life in doing so and saving Kanoha.

Thirteen years later Naru Kazama became a ninja and was placed on a three man cell headed by a jounin instructor. Her team mates were Shikamaru Nara a lazy kid with an IQ well over two hundred and Hinata Hyuga the heir to the byakugan blood limit and clan head title. Their teacher was Kakashi Hatake a jounin who had a sharingan eye acquired in mysterious circumstances and the liking for a series called Itcha itcha paradise. The book series was renowned for its pervertedness written by the infamous legendary sanin Jariya. Together they were known as team seven.

To some people there one and the same and in some cases that can become true. She replied in her mind, her eyes losing focus for a moment as she concentrated on relaying these words to her tenant.

Perhaps if people had been more compassionate towards them it would not have happened Was the retort

These words brought to mind the events of the chunin exam where the demon vessel Gaara was used as a weapon to try and destroy Konoha. Luckily they had been stopped and Naru and a squad of anbu managed to defend Sarutobi against the sound five while Hinata and Shikamaru defeated the one tailed sand demon along with Sasuke and Sakura.

It turned out that Sunagakure didn't know that Orochimaru was the one behind the attack; the sanin used them to get his revenge on the village. Because of this they were forgiven and war avoided.

Oh so your defending these humans. Naru was happy that the old fox demon wasn't as much against the whole human race as before. When she'd first found out about him there was trouble keeping his blood lust from leaking through to her and was even forced to lock herself in her room on occasion to keep from going on a killer rampage. For the most part it worked except for that one time...

Shaking her head she didn't listen to the riled demons response and focused once more on the Hokage who'd been speaking the entire time without him knowing.

"Uh Naru I need your answer?" The Hokage an impatient look to his eye looked her up and down. He hadn't missed the glazed look in her brilliant blue orbs.

Naru was thirteen as mentioned. She had waist length pale blonde hair with her bangs framing her face. Her eyes were bluer then the sky and her mouth was a perfect cupid's bow soft and pink and tempting to many of the young men of the village and even a few of the older truth be told. At the moment she wore her hair up in a mid height pony tail. She wore black tight shorts and an off the shoulder tank top one strap over her shoulder the other hanging off. She wore black sandals and her headband was around her waist like a belt. Apart form that there was a fanny pack around her waist where she kept her ninja gear.

"I said is that sufficient time for what you need to do and when will you be going. Uh Naru?" The Hokage got a tic in his eye as he noticed his young charge zoning out again.

"Lets see vanilla or strawberry." she was saying to her self thinking of what food she should premake for the journey and what she would be making when she got there. The only sad thing would be that since she would be gone she wouldn't have a chance to find out if her crush liked her. Oh well it was better this way, and if she found it impossible to shake the man of his obsession for another generation of grandkids, then she could find out then.

"Yes it will be enough time to sort out my affairs and issues I might have about your...plan." she said surprising the man who had been thinking that she had not been listening. Looking distinctly taken aback he dismissed her telling her she would leave in the morning with a squad of anbu who would serve as her guards on the journey and to pacify any objections the "old farts may have"

As the she left having decided not to argue with her Hokage about the anbu squad...yet. She could hear laughter coming form her mind it was the Kyubi laughing at the old mans response when he found out that she wasn't as spacey as he thought. Looking back into the room the blond gave a smart salute then disappeared.

In her house which happened to be the house of the old Hokage her father she went directly to her room. In there was a dresser and a bed and a closet filled with the clothes her sensei and Hokage had schemed into forcing her to wear a year ago. On the dresser was a picture of her father the fourth Hokage. He had spiky blond hair and blue eyes that matched hers. In the picture he was wearing a black headband around his unruly hair and white coat with flames on the hem. He wore a goofy grin on his face, he looked too young to have died but he had. Three months after that picture was taken her sensei told her.

The reason Naru knew who her father was Naru speculated as she pulled clothes after clothes out of her dresser and through them neatly into a bag, was that he had threatened to leave the village if they hadn't. She would feel alone and like she never had a father and even though she knew knowing who he was wouldn't change a thing the sudden urge had overcome her. She would watch all the little ones with their fathers and she just had to know and by Kami she wasn't going to be taking no for an answer.

The Hokage was understandably nervous at first, He didn't know how the vessel would react when she found out about the fact that her father was the reason the Kyubi was inside of her. He knew that there weren't any other choices and the lives of many were more important then the life of one infant. He told himself that at first but he still wished later on that there had been some other options.

Naru didn't get angry when she found out. Not then anyway and not where they could see. All she knew was that everyone treated her badly because of something her father had done and no one would tell her what that something was!

How was she supposed to know whether to hate him or forgive him if she didn't know exactly what he'd done? So instead of getting angry at the old man she walked calmly away. She was even calm as she walked towards forest surrounding Kenosha. She remained calm right up to the point when she lost it some distance from the village and let loose with all her rage along with the power that it released from the Kyubi. When she was done she was exhausted and the area was devastated. She collapsed into unconsciousness, she slipped into unknowing then.

That was when she found out about the kyubi. That was when she found out about the crime her father had committed against her. That was when she found that she could forgive. She was been ten.

Now she was at peace with her past and the villagers didn't hate her anymore. Perhaps it was because she was a girl and so less threatening or perhaps it was her gentle nature and all around nurturing personality that endeared her to villagers. And if that wasn't enough her cooking surely would have done the job not that she would cook for just anyone.

Kit? You've been standing here holding a pair of panties in your hands for about fifteen minutes now, are you ok? The fox voice held a hint of amusement as he said this.

"What? " looking down Naru blushed and quickly put the underwear back. It was completely impractical for her purpose it was a just a peace of lace for pity's sake. She had no idea why she had gotten it. Actually that was a lie she did know why she had gotten it, she had gotten it for the day when her crush would and she would be able to... and they would. But she wouldn't let herself think that now she had to go make dinner then shower and ready for bed. Tomorrow would be a big day for her.

Walking into the kitchen Naru sensed something was wrong immediately. However a quick scan of the room revealed nothing. The kitchen was large and a chef's dream. A smell of spices filled the air. Stainless steel counters lined the walls with cabinets of birch. against one wall was a six burner stove and on the wall next to it was a set of sliding French doors with lacy curtains to keep her privacy, well, private. Across the kitchen on the other side of the kitchen island was a double door stainless steel fridge. Hanging above the island were pots.

Suddenly she heard a snap outside her window and pretending to be heading over to the stove she took a look out the window. Some one was outside her window hiding in a bush! Setting a pot on the stove she used the opportunity to turn her back on it and reached into her pocket for a kunai. Swift as a striking cobra Naru whirled sending the kunai out into the night.

"OWWWWWW F ginger bread men in candy land next to a porno bar!!" (Heehee couldn't resist looks like Neji isn't as stuck up as we all thought.)

What?

Then the voice and the words penetrated he mind and she realized who it was. Panicking slightly she ran to the bathroom forgetting her superhuman speed in her worry, grabbed a first aid kit and was out the door in a trice. Even with out the super speed she was damn fast.

"Imp so sorry I thought you were a burglar! Please forgive me!" she told the pale youth on the ground. The said youth didn't say anything just gave his trade mark white eyed glare. Hyugas. She thought.

I agree completely you know I knew a demon that fell in love with a human and they... the Kyubi began describing some things that made Naru blush furiously.

Shut up

"have to go now."

"Huh what" Naru said to the thing Neji just finished saying. His arm then was bandaged up and he was on his feet towering above her. She was still kneeling.

"I said I am fine now thank you for your assistance but I have to go now." Nejis face didn't change form it's normal apathetic look but his voice showed how annoyed he was, or rather how much more annoyed he was rather then the regular amount of annoyance he usually shoed if that makes any sense what so ever.

Neji was just starting to walk away when a hand clamped onto his wrist. Fighting back a blush he turned hoping she wasn't about to ask why he was hiding in the bushes in front of her window. Barely managing to keep a straight face he surveyed her with an enquiring air.

"Please will, will you stay and have dinner I haven't made it yet so Ill even let you pick what we have." she said in a wheedling tone. Neji almost smiled but didn't as that would ruin his reputation. (Ha!) He was about to say no as it was much too risky when he made the mistake of looking into her eyes.

Naru had gone all chibi and was standing in front of him with her hands clasped in front almost prayer like and her eyes large and soft and moist and her mouth oh Kami he didn't want to think about that detectible fruit. Sighing hoping he wouldn't regret he nodded still not trusting himself to talk.

"Yes! I can make anything you want this is going to be great." Naru said jumping up. Unconsciously she reached behind her and grabbed Neji's hand and began pulling him toward the door.

Suddenly she stopped when she reached the door. A look of horror filled her face and a cold feeling entered her being. But when she looked she saw Neji's face was aglow. She made to let go of his hand but he gripped it firmly.

"I know your leaving tomorrow and I know that this is a bad time to say it but I can't wait a whole year Naru I um I don't hate you."

"Huh Neji are you trying to tell me something." Naru couldn't help but nudge just a little. If she was right then her crush was moments away from telling her he liked her. It was all her fantasies come true and she would be leaving tomorrow!

"I like you" he said. Finally then his composure broke and he and a dazed but happy Naru went into the house and they ate a very good dinner together after which Naru walked Neji home then came back and went to bed smiling.