Ok guys, here it is. My first story. Please comment, and be honest. Obviously its not finished, but I hope you like the beginning!

Here are a few things you should know... you are Etsu (I'm not good at those "you do this and that" stories) and you are very pretty. You have one of those personalities that makes everyone love you. You are very proud to be a ninja from the Leaf Village and your specialty is bird summoning. And who knows there may be a bit of romance budding between you and another shinobi in the future! hint hint

ok thats enough of my blabbering please enjoy...

Etsu came up on the gates of Konoha and smiled. She hasn't been there for the past two years; she and her group have been on a mission protecting an orb for a small village about a day away. The village may have been small but it was by no means poor, the orb had at one point brought in a lot of tourists wanting to see this legendary orb, but others had grown greedy of the orb and tried to steal it, so the village had enlisted the help of Konoha. The tourist money had allowed the village to employ the ninjas until the orb was no longer sought after. Etsu turned to her comrades and said, "We're finally home!" and they cheered.

She led her team through the gates and told them to go find their families, and she would report the Hokage. They split and she headed towards the Hokage's building. She looked around as she walked, remembering, everything coming back to her like it was just yesterday that she left. The familiar crunch of the gravel under her feet, the aromas wafting through the air from various food stands, and the sounds that she always equated with home: the laughter of playing children, the murmur of villagers and the all around hustle and bustle of the village. She smiled as she walked and was filled with a warm feeling of pride that this was the place she was born, the place she grew up, and the place she now served and protected. Lost in her thoughts, she was surprised when she turned the corner and the building she searched for was only across the street. As she looked at the building her eyes wandered toward someone walking by the stairs leading to the building. Even with his face buried in a book, she could easily tell who it was; even if his shimmering silver didn't give it away everything else screamed Kakashi Hatake. The way he walked, the way he held himself, and the shape of his body, so muscular so handsome. As soon as she saw him a huge smile spread across her face.

"Kakashi!" She called as she ran towards him.

"Etsu?!" He closed his book and opened his arms as he ran towards her as well. When they met, they spun in a circle not only from the force of their greeting but also out of sheer enjoyment of seeing each other again. He set her down and they remained in their embrace for a few seconds. She always loved the way he hugged her, he was always so warm and he knew the right amount of squeeze to apply to make you feel safe, like everything is and always will be right. When they let go of each other they looked into each others eyes, both having a million questions to ask but not knowing where to start.

Etsu opened her mouth to speak, but before she could get anything out, she heard a deep booming voice shout, "ETSUUUUU!" She turned to see who it was and saw Gai in his green jumpsuit bounding towards her, arms open wide, and tears of joy running down his cheeks. His collision with her would have knocked her to the ground were it not for his gigantic arms wrapping around her and lifting her off the ground almost choking the air out of her. When he set her down, he spoke so loudly he was almost shouting, "Etsu! I'm so glad you're back! We have to catch up!"

Kakashi chuckled and said, "Yea, I agree we should all go out to lunch and catch up."

"That sounds wonderful! But first I have to report to the Hokage, if I don't do it now, I never will. Do you know if he's in his office?" Kakashi and Gai looked at each other and both faces became concerned. "What?"

"Well, uh," Kakashi started, "the Third is, well, dead. We were attacked a while ago and he died fighting Orochimaru."

She stared at them wide eyed. She loved the Hokage; he was always there for her. She quickly wiped a single tear from her eye and composed herself. "Well, at least he died with honor, fighting for Konoha. That's the way I would want to go," She smiled. "So who's the new Hokage?"

"Etsu? Is that you?" a new yet familiar voice look towards the stairs they were all standing by.

"Tsunade! Oh my goodness! What are you doing here?! I didn't think Konoha had any good casinos!"

"Um, Etsu, I'm the new Hokage."

"Oh! Well, uh, hee hee. You see I just got back and I uh well-"

"Relax, Etsu. It's ok! I know you've been gone a while. I'll let you off the hook this one time." They smiled at each other and hugged hello. "So since you know why I'm here, why don't you tell me why you are? Reporting to me to be debriefed from you mission?"

"Yea actually I am."

"Oh that can wait 'till tomorrow, why don't we all go get lunch. Ichiraku's okay?"

"Wait Lady Tsunade! You have a lot of work to do you can't take a long lunch!" Shizune said this and Etsu looked at her just realizing that she was there.

"Oh Shizune, it'll be fine, we all deserve a break a break every now and then." With that, they all started towards Ichiraku's, Shizune pausing a few seconds before following, shaking her head.

--

When they reached Ichiraku's Ramen Shop, they all ordered their favorite ramen except Etsu. She looked at the menu wondering what to get. Ichiraku used to make her a special order just for her off of the menu. Etsu is the type of person who everyone loves so no one minded gong a little farther for her, and this included Ichiraku. When he saw her, a wide smile spread across his face and her said, "Oh! Etsu you're back! It's so good to see you again! Would you like your usual?"

Etsu looked up and her eyes sparked. She smiled and said, "I would love it! I was hoping you would, but I didn't want to bother you."

"Oh, you could never bother me."

When all their food was served, they started talking. They talked about old times they shared and caught each other up on what happened in Etsu's absence. Etsu was filled in on the details of the attack on the Leaf village, and Etsu told everyone of her mission.

Near the end of their lunch Etsu heard someone call her name from behind her. When she turned around she saw a young tanned man with an old scar across the bridge of his nose.

thanks for sticking with me this far! please comment \\