Chapter 1

The Survivor

"This is the lamest mission I've ever been on" Naruto complained loudly. "Why on earth do we have to investigate a break in at a bogus mine"

"Naruto, you weren't listening to the Hokage at all were you" Sakura said annoyed.

"Sure I was. This man got injured from a break in at a mine. Big deal, why don't they just send the police force to investigate!" Naruto said.

"Idiot, you missed the whole point of what the Hokage said. It wasn't a normal break in, the injured guy described being attacked by someone with incredible ninja skills" Sasuke said in his monotone voice.

"Cool! So we really are on a mission against ninjas!" Naruto said delighted.

"Idiot" Sasuke said. "You still don't get it do you"

"Get what?" Naruto asked confused.

"What it means to be a ninja" Sasuke smirked.

"Well bring it on Sasuke, I'll take you anytime and-"

"Hold it Naruto we've only just arrived. I don't want you two to be fighting already" Kakashi said stepping in between the two of them. Naruto and Sasuke stuck their noses up at each other. They walked into the hospital were the injured man lay. He looked as if someone had beaten him to a pulp. His arms were wrapped all the way down to his fingers. He wore a cast around his left leg, and he had a large bandage across his forehead. There was already blood seeping through his tightly wrapped head.

"What happened to you?" Naruto said surprised and disgusted at the same time.

Sakura glared at Naruto, with a look as if it said 'weren't you listening to the whole conversation we just had'. Naruto immediately shut-up, realizing his pitiful mistake.

"Hello, we are the ninja's from the Hidden Leaf you sent for an investigation. My name is Kakashi; this is Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke. Could you tell us what happened that night Mr. Namieo" Kakashi asked politely.

"Well I was doing my nightly rounds locking everything up, when I saw someone still working in the gold mine. I tapped him on the shoulder, telling him he should go back home and that I was closing up. All of a sudden he turns around and I am brutally kicked in the side. He sent me flying, and I crashed into the opposite wall. I had no idea what was going on, but I realized how dangerous he was and I tried to run. He wouldn't let me go though. As soon as I turned he was right there in front of me. I knew he must not be from around here because he was so fast. I immediately assumed he was a ninja. I knew I had to get away, but every way I turned, I found him right in front of me again pushing me back. He finally got me when he hit me in the head. All I remember was falling over and blacking out. Then I woke up here yesterday with a piercing headache"

Mr. Nameio droned on.

"Well that certainly sounds like a ninja attack. Could you possibly tell us where this gold mine is, and we shall go and investigate immediately" Kakashi said.

"Yes, please do. If this country loses any more of its gold I fear the worst for it. We have little food, and that mine is our only hope. You can find the mine by the south end of stone bridge" Mr. Nameio pleaded.

Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi didn't waste any time. They went straight over to the gold mine.

"So the plan is to just keep watch, for anything we see suspicious. Don't attack until I say so. Got it, Naruto!" Kakashi explained.

"Why are you only telling me?" Naruto asked.

"Because I know you'll be the one who will jump out at the thief as soon as you see him. So I'm asking that you'll restrain yourself"

"Sure, sure" Was all Naruto said.

As soon as they arrived at the mine, they all stood there horror struck. Mr. Nameio had described this place as the source for all the country's wealth, but it looked so run down and old it was almost falling to pieces.

"Why would anyone want to steal anything from here? It's got almost nothing left!" Sakura said gloomily.

"I'll make that guy pay for stealing from the less fortunate!" Naruto vowed.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Always the same" He said.

As they investigated inside, it seemed to be in even worse conditions. The walls had been too overworked, and threatened to crumble at the slightest touch.

"I don't think we should hang around waiting in here. It would be too dangerous if we got into a fight here." Kakashi said looking around nervously at the ceiling.

They all moved to the outside, and took their hiding places among the shadows. All they could do was wait to see if the thief would turn up again. Sure enough, after only an hour or so, they heard the sound of footsteps. Naruto fidgeted in his spot. More than anything, he wanted to leap out and pay for what that thief had done. The footsteps grew louder, and finally a shadowy figure made its way through the forest leading to the mine. It was creeping towards Sasuke, holding a kunai at the steady. Sasuke wasn't moving, he didn't know that the thief was right behind him. The thief charged into a run, ready to bring Sasuke down. Sasuke turned around noticing someone approaching at the last second but he was too late. Naruto couldn't hold on much longer, and rage was boiling up inside him, ready to burst at any second. Naruto leapt out at the thief and flung him to the ground landing on top of him…or her.

"What the-" Naruto half shouted, half choked with shock.

" Let me go! I don't want to go back. Please I'll do anything I promise!" The girl pleaded struggling to free herself from Naruto's grasp. She had light blue eyes with silvery gray hair down to her waist. She was shorter than Naruto, but she seemed tiny and delicate. She wore nothing but a dark blue dress.

"Hold it, what are you doing? Are you the one who's been stealing the gold?" Naruto asked.

"Huh, gold-"

"Who are you?" Kakashi asked.

"Wait, you're not one of Seito's guards!" The girl said looking surprised and relieved.

At this Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, and Kakashi were even more confused.

"Let go of her Naruto. Obviously she isn't the thief" Kakashi ordered Naruto.

Naruto leaped off of her and the girl stood up.

"Who are you?" Kakashi asked.

"Who are you? She only answered back.

Kakashi sighed. "Looks like we have to explain ourselves first. We're from the Hidden Leaf village on a mission investigating a break in at this gold mine. You don't happen to know anything about it do you?"

"A break in? Oh that must be where he got those gold chemicals from" The girl said as she shivered.

"I think you better explain yourself" Kakashi said, stepping in closer making sure she wouldn't run away.

"So where are you from exactly?" Sasuke asked interested.

"Ummm… well… I'm not really sure how to explain"

"Start with a name" Sakura encouraged.

"Well… see that could be a bit difficult too"

Everyone stared at the girl with a look of utter confusion on their faces.