Chapter 1: The ninja academy

The little girl raced around her small room picking up little things here and there. Then she stopped and picked up a toppled picture frame. The picture frame contained one snapshot of a woman who shared the girl's facial shape but no other features. The woman had black hair and soft black eyes while the girl had blinding red hair and sharp, cold blue eyes. The girl gently placed the picture on her bedside table and picked up her leather backpack. Turning toward the door the girl almost that felt she should turn and run away as fast as she could but her training was too strong so she opened her bedroom door and stepped out.

"Going to the academy Kitsune?" asked a teenage boy who was sipping some sake.

"Yeah." Said Kitsune. "Why are you drinking so early Kanji?" Kanji shrugged, his black hair bouncing and black eyes sparkling.

"Do I need reason? I am old enough." Kitsune rolled her eyes.

"Whatever."

"Ya know sis, a nine-year-old like you shouldn't be so cynical."

"I'm a highly trained ninja of the Village Hidden in the-" Kitsune began.

"Don't!" Kanji flung some flat food disks at his sister, which she easily dodged. "We're in the Leaf Village, don't forget that this room could be bugged. Don't tell anyone who you are."

"Right." Kitsune said making a face as she turned away from her brother. "Even if we're in the Leaf Village that doesn't detract from how highly trained either of us is or from which village we claim. If there were bugs in this room you would have found them on your first initial sweep of this place." Kitsune packed her lunch and stuffed it into her bag. Kanji stood up and grabbed his little sister in a hug. Instantly Kitsune flung out an elbow and her brother was on the ground still holding his sake bottle. She marched toward the door like a little soldier and slid it open.

"Bye Kitsune, have a good day!" Kanji called after her not moving from the floor.

"Sober up, you lush." Kitsune grumbled as she strode down the bright street. "Of all the missions we could get put on why this one?" wondered Kitsune allowed. Several other little girls passed her, one had pink hair, one had blonde hair, and one had short violet/purple/blue hair. Eventually Kitsune made it to the large oval building that was the Leaf Village Ninja Academy.

She stopped for a moment and looked up at the mammoth building. It was several stories tall with large windows and a playground that was just visible with lots of trees and a large running track. Kitsune thought she could make out the vague outline of a little boy sitting on a swing. As she looked closer Kitsune was sure she was watching a boy, a boy with spiky blonde hair. She smiled to herself in only five minutes she had seen two of them. Not two little blonde haired boys but two specific people. Two down, one to go. Kitsune walked into the halls of the academy and entered the fifth classroom on the right. The room was filled with rambunctious children who might as well have been literally bouncing off the walls. Kitsune's eyes roved around the room, taking note of how the desks were upraised so that as you went up the center isle you would also be climbing higher and higher until you were at the room's height. Unlike the other children Kitsune didn't take a seat, she just waited by the door. Finally, the last four students came in, the yellow haired boy Kitsune had seen on the swing, a boy and his dog, a boy with his hair in a spiky ponytail who looked like he thought being there was a drag and an utter waist of his time, and a boy with black hair and eyes dressed in white knee length shorts and a blue shirt with a crest on the back that looked like a mushroom. Now she had seen all three of her people. She watched as the last boy took his seat then dropped her eyes before he could notice her. The door slid opened again and the sensei, Irruka, walked in. He noticed Kitsune and walked over to her.

"Kitsune?" he asked.

"Yes." Kitsune said simply. "I am she."

"The Hokage warned me that you would be coming."

"Are you going to follow your orders?" asked Kitsune as she handed Irruka a piece of folded up paper, sounding like the most mature Jonin. He opened the paper and read the directions. He frowned then crumpled up the paper in his hand.

"Alright then. I'll introduce you to the class." Irruka turned to his high-energy students. "Class, today we have a new student. Her name is Kitsune. She is part of a new exchange program. Please treat her kindly." Kitsune bowed. "You can take that empty seat next to Sasuke." Kitsune could almost hear nearly all the girls grinding their teeth. This Sasuke must indeed be something special. Kitsune climbed the stairs and took the afore said empty seat next to Sasuke. Then Irruka sensei gave them their lessen. Kitsune and Sasuke were working quietly on the complicated problem before them when suddenly Kitsune said quietly, "No. That's wrong. You need to factor in wind turbulence and ground cover." Sasuke paused looking at Kitsune. He looked down at his slate then at Kitsune's. Quickly he factored in the wind and ground cover. He stared down at the answer he knew to be correct. Together Kitsune and Sasuke handed in their slates. Later when they were handed back Sasuke and Kitsune had achieved top marks. As soon as the bell rang Kitsune stood and began to put her things away. Her bag had fallen slightly open, allowing Sasuke to glimpse two things that didn't belong. The first was a headband; that would have been strange enough considering that Kitsune was only in the academy but what was even stranger was that the headband had no image engraved on it and, as far as Sasuke knew, only one village had no symbol on their headbands, the Village Hidden in the Dark, and no one was sure if they even existed. The second item was a weapon. Long, sharp, and powerful. It was a weapon made to kill. Sasuke looked away before Kitsune could catch him looking. Why did Kitsune have a headband and why did she have a weapon whose only purpose was to kill? Kitsune stood, grabbed her bag, and was out the door in seconds. Sasuke watched her for a moment then stood as well. He would follow her and confront her, consequences or no.

Kitsune stared at the blue sky; it was disgustingly cheerful. She turned away and began to walk in the general direction of the Hokage mansion. She had only gone a short way before she heard Sasuke call her name.

"Kitsune!" he called. Kitsune turned, her hair flying behind her.

"Sasuke? What do you want?" Kitsune asked her voice cold and unfriendly. Kitsune did have a mission to perform but she didn't have to be nice about it.

"I just want to talk." Sasuke said walking closer. Then, moving so quickly that he became a blur, Sasuke grabbed Kitsune's backpack.

"Hey!" Kitsune screeched. "Give that back!" Sasuke held the bag away from Kitsune so that she couldn't grab it from him. He opened the bag and held the blank headband up to the sky. He raised an eyebrow at it then gently placed it back in the bag. He reached in the bag again and this time he took out the weapon. He held up the long knife watching the sun dance and glint off the blade. He placed it back in the bag with an almost lover like tenderness then tossed the bag to Kitsune. Her eyes were fearful as she scooped it up and held it close to her chest. She looked like she thought Sasuke was going to come and get the bag from her again. Then, without a word, Sasuke turned and walked away. Kitsune was shocked but she quickly roused herself and began to run toward the Hokage's mansion. It took Kitsune only a few minutes to reach her destination. The Hokage mansion, which was similar to the ninja academy in structural shape, was several stories tall, again with many windows. Kitsune took a deep breath and began to ascend the stairs that clung to the side of the building. When she was at the top she turned left then entered the first door she saw. The room was large with high bookcases, in the center of the room was a desk, and behind the desk was a man in his late sixties wearing the weird hat that marked him a one of the shadows. This man was the fire shadow. And, as far as Kitsune knew, this man would direct her actions while she was in his village.

"Lord Hokage." Kitsune said bowing. The Hokage looked up from his papers.

"Miss Kitsune." He said. "Did everything go well on your first day?"

"It did. I was able to spot all three of my people and I was placed next to Sasuke. Things are going well, I would say."

"Excellent. If you have nothing further to report you may go." The Hokage looked back down at his stack of papers. Kitsune turned, then just as she reached the door she stopped and turned back.

"Lord Hokage?" Kitsune asked tentatively.

"Yes?" asked the Hokage looking up a question in his gaze. Kitsune looked down embarrassed.

"Well, when I was at the academy earlier today just as it was time to go Sasuke saw inside my bag. Later on my way here he stopped me and stole my bag. He saw what no one should see. Should I take care of him?" Kitsune asked. The Hokage was silent for a moment.

"You can trust Sasuke. He's a good kid." Kitsune nodded slowly then opened her bag. She took out the weapon Sasuke had seen and walked forward.

"I was ordered to give this to you." The Hokage nodded as Kitsune placed the knife in his old, wrinkled hands.

"The Silver Kantu. And to think I thought it had been destroyed."

"As a show of good faith." Kitsune said as she turned and left for real this time. Kitsune descended the stairs and began to walk home. It was nearly dark by the time she reached her house. Kitsune quietly slid open the door. She tiptoed in quietly.

"How'd it go?" asked Kanji as he took a sip of his warm sake. Kitsune jumped in surprise.

"Fine." She said as she made a B-line toward her room. Kitsune shut her door and flopped down on her bed.

"I survived day one." Kitsune muttered as she buried her face in her pillow. She rolled over and stared up at the full moon outside her window. The stars appeared as little pinpricks in black satin, the moon as a silver coin floating on black water. Kitsune stared blankly up at the night sky. Who would have thought that she would end up in the Hidden Leaf village. Now the real question was could she get back out again? Could she complete her mission? She was one of the best ninjas that her village had to offer but would that be enough? Kitsune got up and grabbed a small piece of paper and opened it. The paper read:

Kitsune,

You have been chosen to go to the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Your mission will be to guide three young ninja and to keep them on the right path.

Kitsune closed the note. One little piece of paper had changed her life. She fingered the closing. She had done so ever since she had gotten the note. The code was known only to Kitsune's people so if the note fell into the wrong hands no one could read it. Kitsune placed the paper on her bedside table and closed her eyes. In moments she was asleep. Kanji crept into his sister's room. He looked down at the little figure before him. He sighed and picked up a blanket and gently laid it over her. He leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"Night sis. Sleep well. This mission is far from over." He whispered as he left the room in search of more sake.

A/N: Okay, first fanfic that has seen the light of day! (Yay! I'm so happy!) Working really hard on this story hope you all like it. But if you don't that's okay. Would you tell me why though? Since I'm new at this I'll take all the criticism I can if it will make the story better! Thanks so much. (No flames.) Your entitled to your own opinion but not your own facts. Kay?