Authors Note-
PLEASE READ:
I'm redoing the first couple chapters of this story, just to add more detail and add more to the story. This is the prologue to the redone version (the plot is the same, don't worry). The next three redone chapters will be up in a few days. Thanks everyone! Please Review!!
Kaori walked down the all too familiar path, marveling at the green trees that she had missed so much. Ten years in a desert had really made her appreciate the beauty of her old home. She lifted her hands up and brushed a branch of low hanging leaves, smiling. She caught sight of the front gate and ran the rest of the way. She couldn't wait to see everyone again, to go to her favorite barbecue place, or even to just sit in her old apartment again. Her hopes were shattered though, when she stepped through the gate and got a good look at the village. It was like a bomb dropped right smack in the middle of the village, and left nothing left but rubble. She had known that the village had been attacked, but she had never imagined that it was damaged to this extent.
She walked through the shattered village, noticing with a relief that there were people alive. The people of the village were already starting to rebuild. She tried to look for anyone she knew, but she couldn't recognize anyone in particular. She kept walking through the village until she reached the training areas, not realizing where she was going.
She walked toward the familiar area, relieved that this place was almost untouched. She walked forward automatically towards the memorial stone. She looked down, almost curious, at it. A wrenching pain tore at her heart as she read the new names that had been added in the past years. A lot of them had been her good friends. She heard someone step behind her and she whipped around. A young teenage boy stood behind her, his spiky blonde hair standing out in the gloom.
"Who are you? I haven't seen you around here before." He said, looking confused.
"I've just returned from a ten year long mission in the Hidden Sand Village. My name is Kaori." She studied the boy carefully; she thought she recognized him from somewhere. "What is your name?"
"I'm Naruto Uzumaki!" he paused and then added, "The next Hokage!"
She smiled at his add in. "Well, do you know where I can find the current Hokage, Tsunade-sama? I need to talk with her."
He nodded and started walking away, motioning for her to follow him. They walked the short distance to the crumbled-but still standing- Hokage place. Naruto burst through the doors in Tsunade's office, with Kaori walking silently behind.
"Naruto! Do you always have to burst in like that?" she yelled, looking weary.
"Come on, Grandma Tsunade, give me a break. There is someone who needs to see you!" he said, motioning towards Kaori.
The jonin walked forward. "My name is Kaori Yagami. The third Hokage send me on a long term mission to the Sand Village ten years ago, and I have just returned."
Tsunade smiled; she remembered reading about this girl's mission. "Welcome back, Kaori. As you can see, you came at a very good time. Konoha is very much in need of healthy shinobi."
"Yes, I see that. I wish I could have been here to defend the village when Pein attacked. I had no idea of the damage inflicted on the village. If you want me to, I can be ready for any mission as early as tomorrow. I can imagine that the village is also in need of money."
Tsunade nodded. "Yes; it so happens that I do have a mission for you. Come here tomorrow at ten o'clock and I will give you the details. For now, since you obviously don't have anywhere to stay, you may sleep in one of the spare rooms in the hospital. Lately, the hospital has been filled but some shinobi have healed and we will have room for you."
Kaori bowed her head in respect, "Thank you, Hokage sama."
I know it's short, but it's only the prologue! The next few chapters will be longer. Review and tell me what you think!