Welcome to the story of Hayashi Saya, a non-academy ninja whose origin is unknown. Although it's about an OC, please consider reading if you're into:

Akatsuki

Akatsuki Romance

Funny situations with the main characters of Naruto

Slight Angst/Mystery

Action

The whole Search and Rescue concept

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, but I like him very much.

Background/Explanation

Hayashi Saya is a girl about the same age as Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura, and Uchiha Sasuke.

After she was born, Saya was left in the Konoha memorial meadow where the names of fallen heroes had been engraved into a large stone. She was found by none other than Hatake Kakashi.

The Uchiha clan was the only one willing to take care of her, so she grew to be close friends with both Itachi and Sasuke. Fugaku and Mikoto adored her more and more as she grew, and hoped that she would become Itachi's bride in the future. Because of their affection, Fugaku and Mikoto would not allow Saya to become a ninja, but still allowed Itachi to train her physically.

After the massacre of the Uchiha clan, however, everything changed. Itachi was gone, Sasuke changed drastically, and Saya became determined to become a ninja. Because it was too late to start at the academy, Saya was taught privately by Hatake Kakashi, who naturally had affection for her ever since he first found her, and became a genin through his recommendation for her to take the genin test.

She was not allowed to take the chuunin exam because she had no teammates. However, she watched the third exam and participated in the protection of Konoha.

The story starts after the attack on Konoha and the funeral, but before Itachi's return.

Saya's POV

"Saya!" a familiar voice called. I turned around and spotted my friend Haruno Sakura sprinting towards me with the morning breeze.

"Oh, Sakura." I replied, smiling.

"Good morning!" she said, returning the smile. "Listen, it's my birthday tomorrow and I'm throwing a party on Saturday. The place is behind my house; you know how there's a huge space between my house and the other neighborhood! It's a dance party, and since the disaster from the Chuunin Exams is finally over, I thought I could have a party for two reasons so more people will come." she winked. "It's gonna be a blast, so don't miss it, okay?"

"Shouldn't we be, I don't know, rebuilding Konoha, for example?" It was a joke, but I couldn't help but grimace at the sound of 'dance party.'

She seemed to take the hint. "There won't be just dancing," she explained. "There will be food, games, contests, and even a talent show! So you better come!"

"I know." I said, not really having a choice. I liked Sakura, but her enthusiasm for some things were excessive.

She waved and started walking to another group of girls to discuss her party with. But then she turned around and called to me again.

"I almost forgot!" she shouted. "It's a formal dance party, so wear a dress, okay?"

I stared back at her.

Oh dear.

Walking to the training grounds, I wondered how I was ever going to learn how to dance, buy a dress, and think of a present to give her in three days.

Sitting down in the middle of my favorite small meadow deep inside the forest, I sighed and tried picturing myself in a dress. Then, it came to me. With a look of dismay on my face, I remembered Mikoto-san forcing me into a kimono every holiday when I was younger.

"What's with that face so early in the morning?" a familiar voice said from behind me. Already knowing who it was, I stood and held one arm in protection of my vitals, the other reaching in my weapon pouch.

I turned around but he side-kicked my legs and I lost balance. My hands were forced onto the ground as I lay on my back. Uchiha Sasuke was on top of me, gripping a kunai at my throat. I just stared into his dark eyes, his loose, black-blue bangs nearly grazing my face.

"It's not like you to be absentminded, either." he observed as he retreated and I stood up.

"It's Sakura's party." I replied, sitting down again on the grass.

"Oh, that." his face calmed as he sat down next to me. "I wasn't invited."

"What?" I said in shock. Sakura liked Sasuke for a long time, and she always made excuses for them to be together.

"Yet." he finished, lying down on his back. "She approached me twice, but she backed away in embarrassment both times."

"I see." I replied, understanding. "Poor Sakura."

He looked at me in disbelief. "You feel sorry for her?"

"Well, since I already worry too much about you," I said, picking a flower and dropping it on his jacket. "I have to meet Kakashi. See you later."

Kakashi's POV

As Saya approached the training grounds for morning training, I was in awe again of how much she had grown. When I had first found her, lying in front of Obito's name, I almost mistook her for being a reincarnation of him. Her large, red eyes resembled the Sharingan, but were softer, milder. Her black hair and complexion were both similar to Obito's, and she gazed at Kakashi, only fourteen then, and smiled.

Even though her resemblance to Obito was gone now, I couldn't help but be reminded of him whenever I looked at her. Now her hair was short and shaped her face, with an almost boyish untidiness, but had a deliberate elegance. She had grown into a developing, but lithe slim bodu with an angular figure. Her eyes, still large and red as ever, were now surrounded by dark eyelashes beneath her shining forehead protector.

"Why are you dozing off?" she asked in her sincere, mellow, and yet lively voice.

Returning to the moment, I grinned and said, "Let's get started."

Saya's POV

The next day at around the same time, I saw Sakura with Ino and a few other girls giggling about Sakura's party. A mix of unorganized conversation flooded my ears.

"Did you invite Sasuke yet?"

"Um... not yet, but--"

"What? Ask him now!"

"He's right over there!"

"I'm not going if he's not!"

"But--"

"Invite him!"

"Oh, alright."

Walking on, I shook the matter off of my mind; I had promised to train with Naruto today, and I was already a bit late.

Sighing, I stopped as I spotted the look on Sakura's face as she approached Sasuke. She was practically shaking.

"Sasuke!" she said, smiling nervously. "I'm having a dance party on Saturday and the guys are going to wear tuxes. It's to celebrate my birthday and the end of the Konoha attack, so I thought we could take it easy for a day before returning to missions again. I figured... it's what the Hokage would want us to do, to cheer everyone up. Do you want to come?"

Oh wow. She's good. She didn't even need my help.

However, he was still hesitant, so I motioned for him to notice me.

My eyes were all I needed to send him the message. He looked back at me, restrained.

"Alright," he said.

Her face lit up. "Really?" she asked in disbelief.

He nodded.

"That's great!" she said, trying to suppress her happiness as he walked away.

Smiling to myself, I turned around and started walking to the training grounds where I would meet Naruto.

I spotted Naruto throwing knives at targets nailed to trees in the forest. I smiled at his gradual progress; he was improving every day.

"Nice," I commented as he hit the three targets in one shot.

"Saya-chan!" he said. "You're late."

"Sorry," I replied. "I had to--uh, meet up with a few people."

"Are you going to Sakura's party?" he said suddenly, tossing another kunai.

"Yeah. You too?"

"Yup." he motioned for me to practice fighting with him. "I'm going to ask Sakura to dance." I blocked his attempted punches.

"Really?" I asked as I swung my leg to side-kick him, but he dodged.

"Yeah, and I already have her present." he said, taking a green-stoned bracelet out of his pocket. Engraved into the shining silver was the word "SAKURA".

"It's pure jade," he explained. "I got that to match her eyes."

"It's beautiful," I said, holding the trinket up to the light where it sparkled. "She'll love it."

He smiled widely at me and asked, "Who are you going to ask to dance?"

"Oh. Well...." I haven't given a single thought about that.

"Well, if you're not gonna ask someone, someone will ask you." he made a sheepish face and kicked, but I did a back hand spring to avoid it.

"What do you mean?" I asked suspiciously, trying to punch him.

"Come on," he said. "Half of the guys will want to get to know you. All of them think you're mysterious because you're a ninja who never went to the academy, and you're smart."

"Really?" I asked, surprised. He grabbed my arm and I twisted and side-chopped him with my hand.

"Ow, that hurt." he said, clutching his gut.

"That's the point," I said, pinning him down and grabbing his neck. He started choking.

"Okay, okay, you win." he said. I let go. "I went easy on you. I don't want to hurt a girl."

"Oh really?" I challenged, raising my hands once again.

Introduction was partially to show that even though Saya didn't participate in the chuunin exam, she still has friends who know her well. Thanks for reading. Next chapter is Sakura's party.