Hiya! So, this is the very first chapter of a test fanfic I'm trying out for my Naruto OC, Narumi Maboroshi. This is a brief introduction, and I'm hoping it will make her purpose clear. She is NOT really Naruto's sister. xD I'll keep writing until.. Oh, the fifth chapter maybe? If it's doing well then, I'll continue for sure :D If I do, please expect blood, language, and maybe some other stuff..

But for now, please enjoy this special preview! :D lol

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Chapter 1: Beginning

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~~~ Narumi

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"Wake up, Narumi."

The first thing she felt when she awoke was the warmth of cloth against her tiny body. She inhaled the scent of shampoo and felt hair tickling her forehead as her chin tilted upwards. Where was she? The child couldn't remember at the moment, too occupied with snuggling against the back of whoever it was was carrying her along.

Who was it again?

"Narumi? C'mon, kiddo. We're here."

Ah, yes. That strange man with the decorated mask.

Her eyelids lifted lazily, showing a hint of lime green orbs that were rimmed with gold. She looked upwards past her deep red fringe, spotting a head of very dark aquamarine hair. Her eyes traced the outline of the man's jaw until she came upon the rim of the cat mask he wore. When he came to fetch her from the small village, he'd worn that same mask over his face as her parents explained to her what was happening. What was his name? She couldn't remember that, either.

The man slowed his pace, eventually coming to a stop. Soon Narumi found herself staring past the back of his head and at the large, intimidating looking gates before them. She clutched the fabric of the man's ANBU suit tightly in slight nervousness. She hadn't seen any other gates that big since the day her family moved from her first home, and original birthplace: Uzushiogakure, The Village Hidden among the Whirling Tides. Well, technically she had been to this village before ('Konoha', as she recalled.) while visiting her relative and her mother's old acquaintance, Kushina Uzumaki. Even if this was so, she still wasn't used to it, this being only her first time seeing the place after that trip so long ago.

Her silent reaction evidently caught the man's - Whose name still escaped her - attention. He glanced at her over his shoulder, and the intricate pattern of his mask came into view. "You awake now? Here we are."

The six year old shifted uneasily, her long crimson hair swaying along with her movements. She looked away from the gates, as if it presented to her a blinding light that was painful to look at. "Neko-san? Can I get down now, please?" She mumbled uncertainly, calling him 'cat' since she still couldn't remember his name, or if he had even told her what it was.

'Neko-san' chuckled lightly, "Want down, huh? Okay." The dark-haired ANBU member knelt to the dirt and waited for her to slide off his back. "It's Kizu, by the way." He ruffled her hair when she was on her feet, and her lips curled slightly upwards in response as she placed both hands over top of her head. "Kizu-san." She repeated. She watched him nod before looking forward into the village that stood before them.

Narumi's also took a peek at the village beyond the massive gates: It was a colorful place, no doubt. The street was occupied, dotted with numerous people that were common folk and shinobi alike. The buildings were close together, and the roof's of the buildings were shades of blue, red, and green. Off in the distance, there were large faces carved in to the stone, with two of whom she vaguely recognized. Konoha gave off a peaceful, welcoming air to it. Although she'd seen the place before, she was still fairly uncomfortable just suddenly being there again. She didn't quite understand why she was brought here, even if the reason had been explained to her a few times.

"You will guard the vessel of the Nine-Tailed Fox..." Her fair-skinned mother's words echoed in her mind. The child distinctly remembered her unusually sharp, golden eyes looking down at her with a veil of sadness that she did not convey in her words. Her father had interjected with a slight frown, repeating his partner's words in a much more simpler context.

"What she means, Na-mi, is that you're going to take care of a very special baby." The maroon-haired man spoke to her, the frown was quickly replaced with a smile, as he always did when he was speaking to her, or any other child. "Do you understand?"

The redheaded girl had simply nodded, then quickly said her goodbyes before turning to leave with the masked stranger. She'd stubbornly held back tears, for fear that Kizu or her parents would see and suddenly think her weak or unwilling to do what they asked, or more of the child than they thought her to be. I want mommy and papa to not fight anymore. She thought to herself, quickening her pace so she trotted alongside the ANBU, away from her home and family for how long, she didn't know.

Kizu's voice brought her back to reality, "Hey, you in there?" When Narumi blinked up at him in reply, she heard him chuckle. "I asked if you wanted to see the baby your parents were talking about, the one you'll be taking care of?"

She stared at him blankly until his words registered, and eventually her face lit up with excitement. "Yeah!" She abruptly put her hands over her mouth, blushing as if she'd said something very embarrassing. "I mean, yes please."

The emotionless cat mask didn't hide the laughter he emitted, and he stepped through the gates. "Let's head in, then. He's with the Third Hokage, they're both waiting for us."

A childlike smile spread across Narumi's face as she nodded and easily followed the ANBU through the village.

Narumi ~.~.~ Hiruzen Sarutobi

Just outside the Konoha hospital, stood an old man by the name of Hiruzen Sarutobi. He wore the traditional white robes and hat of the highest title in the village; Hokage. There he stood patiently, waiting with his hands behind his back as he looked forward down the streets of his village.

He hadn't been waiting long; in fact, he expected that whoever he was waiting for would come soon. This was why he wanted to wait outside instead of in the hospital room like he intended. As dark orbs gazed ahead, he spotted a flash of red among the wandering villagers on the street, making its way toward him with a masked ANBU.

As they approached, the ANBU bowed his head respectfully, "Here she is, hokage-sama. Safe and sound."

"Yes, thank you Kizu." Hiruzen nodded in response, "You've done well. Youl are dismissed."

He nodded a thank you and waved to Narumi with a brief "See ya, kid.", before suddenly disappearing from sight. The hokage turned his attention to the young redheaded girl. His eyes lingered on her quietly for a moment; The child was very young indeed, and she had an obvious essence of innocence and obliviousness about her. "Hello, Narumi." He spoke to her with a much softer tone, "Welcome back to Konoha."

The six year old looked up at him with reluctance in her eyes, but a friendly smile on her face. "Hello, hokage-sama." It was clear she was confused, and a tad bit nervous. He watched as she played with a strand of her long, ankle length hair.

"Would you like to see him?" The third asked, looking down at her with a small smile.

She nodded enthusiastically as her face beamed.

"Follow me, then." He chuckled, turning and starting into the building with the girl trotting along close behind.

He led her to a hospital room from which the loud wailing of a baby came. He opened the door, frowning when the crying suddenly became louder as he did so. He stepped inside the bare room and made his way to the bed, stopping and looking over his shoulder when he heard no footsteps follow. "Come in. There's no need to be shy." He flinched slightly as the little blonde's crying worsened. "How do you stop a child from crying.."

Narumi blinked, apprehensively walking into the room and towards the infant. She looked up at the old man curiously, "Is this.. Naruto?"

"Yes, that's him." He nodded, letting out a long sigh of frustration.

He observed silently as she turned her attention to Naruto, tilting her head slightly and reaching her hand into the crib. "Don't cry, Naruto.." She said softly, "I won't hurt you.."

She stroked his hair and, to Hiruzen's surprise, the baby quieted down somewhat. She giggled, "He's cute, can I- I mean, may I pick him up?"

The white-robed man eyed her for a moment, before chuckling lightly. "Of course. But be careful."

"Yes sir." The red-haired girl's eyes brightened, and she slowly and carefully took the child out of the crib. She stared down at the whiskered infant, smiling widely. "Hi.~"

Big blue eyes returned her gaze, his crying had ceased completely by that point, and the boy let out a giggle. His hand went up to her hair, slowly running his fingers through the long strand.

Hiruzen stood by idly and watched the two enjoy each other's company.

The corners of his lips showed the hint of a smile; he was very supportive of the decision to grant Naruto a guardian. The boy would need it, since both of his parents were not going to be around to help him through the difficulties of being the host of the Nine-Tales. The Konoha Council, made up of his former teammates Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, thought her only a pawn. Simply filling in an important role for the greater good of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, and all its inhabitants. But the third hokage thought otherwise- Perhaps Narumi needed the boy as well. 'I will find out in due time.' He thought to himself, looking at the two laugh together.

"Where's Mina-nii and Shina-chan?" Her voice invaded his thoughts, and he looked at her confusedly for a moment. Ah, yes. Those had been her nicknames for Minato and Kushina.

He'd forgotten that she had grown fond of the two during her brief stay a year or two ago. A veil ghosted itself over his aged face when he recalled what had become of them on that fateful October night, and he suddenly hated that this child had to endure the trials of a real parent at her tender age of 6. He stared at her and suddenly realized he had not answered her question. Shaking his head to rid his mind of those morbid thoughts, he took a deep breath and tried to formulate an word, a sentence, any kind of explanation for the little child.

"They're.. Not here anymore, Narumi." He couldn't find any other easier way to say it. "They're gone." There was silence in the air as she processed the information, and he silently dismissed the thought that went through his mind. No, He thought, There is no such thing as an easy explanation for death.

He saw her nod slightly, "Oh.." She lowered her head to look at the child in her arms again, somewhat solemnly this time. The tiny blonde cocked his head at her questioningly, placing a hand on her cheek and grinning a toothless grin.

He breathed a sigh. "Since they are not here, will you take care of Naruto, Narumi?" The Third asked, looking at her expectantly, asking her the question even though really, she had no choice.

Silence again. He watched her solemn expression shift into a smile, and a giggle emitted from her as she rested a hand on top of Naruto's. Narumi looked up at him determinedly, nodding.

"Yeah!" Her eyes twinkled with newly sparked confidence that seemed to come from no where at all, before she paused and repeated herself. "I mean, yes sir! I'll take care of him."

A smile appeared on the hokage's face, he found it amusing that she constantly corrected herself so she spoke politely, "Do you swear?"

"I swear!" She nodded again, turning her attention to the whiskered boy again and nuzzling him playfully, "Always~!"

Hiruzen chuckled, knowing full well she really would have to take care of the boy. Always.

~.~.~

End Chapter 1