Hi, so this is my first story! Please let me know how you like it. Also I don't own any of these characters except for Meng Ka and her mother. All of the other characters are from the anime Naruto. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy it.
The bright full moon was covered by the black smoke that was quickly rising higher in the sky, below it a small village, high in the sky, as adults screamed and children cried. Everywhere buildings were burning to the ground as the people of the village were slaughtered without mercy. Their village, already doomed to be whipped out as it was the last of their kind, had put up a brave fight for seven days and seven nights but tonight, they couldn't hold their front anymore and hardly anyone was left to fight off the enemy. But there was still one last hope for their village, a young woman ran through the burning buildings with a small bundle wrapped in her arms. The woman's auburn hair blew behind her as she raced through the village and to the edge of the cliff, which the village was on. The woman cried out as Shuriken flew into her back and she fell to her knees. Blood came from her mouth as she looked down at her daughter, still peacefully asleep in her arms. She was barely two years old but life wasn't fair and so the future of their crumpled village would rest in her hands. The woman kissed the girl's forehead and with shaking arms she put her down on the ground as a phoenix landed on her shoulder.
"I'm counting on you Tinktink. Get her safely to our dear friend, Hiruzen. He'll make sure she is taken care of." She petted the phoenix on the head and slipped a not into the bird's beak. Then with a flap of its firey wings, the phoenix flew off with the child secured safely on its back.
Suddenly a sword pierced right through the woman as she spat up more blood and smiled up at the sky, the phoenix already a red star in the sky and far away from the danger that was behind her. "You're too late, Orochimaru. You'll never know our village secrets." As the woman's eyes fluttered shut, she suddenly burst into flames, her body burning into ashes like the rest of the village.
Orochimaru hissed as he pulled his sword back and looked up at the sky, his pale face remaining emotionless as his minions raced past him, in a desperate attempt to catch up with the phoenix. However, Tinktink was too far and too high for even them to catch her at this point. Orochimaru's eyes narrowed as he watched the phoenix's fire fade off in the night sky.
Tinktink struggled as she flew through the sky, she was coming close to the end of her cycle and her once bright firey feathers were now quickly turning into burning ash as a light trail of smoke followed her over the village hidden in the leaves. She was almost there and with a cry she landed on the Hokage Residence's roof, right outside his office.
Hiruzen, the third Hokage of the village hidden in the leaves, turned at the noise outside his office window. He instantly rose and let Tinktink in, caring her over to his desk, "Quickly, get the head nurse!" He barked out orders one of the ninjas in the room as he laid Tinktink down and took the small girl from her back.
Tinktink was greatful for the old man and then suddenly she fell into a pile of ashes, startling the ninja who was still in the room. "Third Hokage, what is going on?" He asked in a worried tone.
Hiruzen raised his hand and gave him a reassuring smile, "It is the way of the phoenix, they never truly die; they are just reborn from their ashes. Watch and see." Just as he finished saying that, a smaller version of Tinktink poked her head out from the pile of ashes, the note from later in her small peak as she jumped out and shook off the ash.
Tinktink chirped after dropping the letter in Hiruzen's hand. The third Hokage looked at it as he read over it, shock and fear ran through his eyes as he read the letter but it was quickly placed with sadness at the knowledge of losing not only a good ally but also at losing good friends as well. He looked down at the young girl in his arm and ran a finger over the black markings ran across the top of her forehead and down the sides of her face and neck. Hiruzen knew the markings would run all the way down to her feet without breaking as it was the same for every child born in the Hakuen clan and now she was the last.
Just then there was a knock on the door, "Come in." Hiruzen called out and smiled as the ninja before returned with the head nurse coming in after him.
"Lord Hiruzen. Is everything alright?" She asked as she noticed the small child in Hiruzen's arms and the phoenix sitting atop a pile of ashes.
Hiruzen smiled and stood up, walking over to the elderly woman and carefully handing over the girl to the nurse. "Please see to it that she is looked after for a few days while I try and figure out who is to watch over her. She was given a sleeping potion and it should wear off soon."
The head nurse nodded her head, "Of course Lord Hiruzen but what do I tell her when she ask for her parents?" The nurse looked down at the girl uneasily, not looking forward to the answer she was about to reserve.
"They are dead." Hiruzen said in a sadden tone as Tinktink chirped as she flew over and landed on the woman's shoulder. "Ah, yes, this is Tinktink. She will help the best she can when the child wakes up." He said as he rubbed under the phoenix's chin.
The nurse bit her lip and made a move to turn around but stopped as she looked back at Hiruzen, "Lord? What is her name?" It would make talking to the girl a bit easier if she knew her name since calming down the child was going to be hard enough once she woke.
Hiruzen smiled, "Meng Ka. Now please make sure you have food and juice for her since she'll be hungry too." The nurse bowed her slightly in response and walked out of the Hokage's office. As the door shut, Hiruzen's smile fell into a frown as he walked back behind his desk and looked down at the pile of ashes.
"Lord Hiruzen, what was that all about?" One of the ninjas in the room asked as the two looked at their Hokage, lost for words.
Hiruzen remained quiet for some time as he was lost in thought, remembering his good friends who he now knew were dead. Lifting his head up to look at the two ninjas in front him, he sighed. "I am afraid that the village hidden in the phoenix flame is now in ruin and Meng Ka is the sole survivor."
-Two Months Later-
A high pitched squeal rang through the Hokage's office as Hiruzen picked up Meng Ka who had been running around the office with his Hokage hat on her head. Meng Ka giggled as Hiruzen blew on her stomach just as there was a knock on the door. Hiruzen blinked and set Meng Ka down as she hid behind him. "Come in."
Kakashi walked in through the door as Meng Ka peaked around Hiruzen to look up at the stranger. The only people Meng Ka has come to know in the village were the nurses, Hiruzen, Izumo and Kotetsu, so she was still a bit shy around strangers.
"Sorry I'm late; I was just finishing my last report." Kakashi smiled as he held out his report to Hiruzen. Who in turn just waved it off and went to sit behind his desk with Meng Ka still attached to his ropes. He set Meng Ka on his lap and ruffled her auburn curly hair.
"That's not what I called you here for, Kakashi. I'm going to assume you've already heard about the rumors going around the village." Hiruzen spoke gently knowing that Kakashi wasn't going to particularly like what he was about to tell him. Kakashi nodded as his dark blue eye meet Meng Ka's bright turquoise eyes. "Well then, some are true though I'd rather not talk about it in front of Meng Ka. But the reason I called you here so soon after your mission is because I want you to be Meng Ka's guardian from now on."
The room fell silent after Hiruzen was finished talking, Kakashi's face remained expressionless as he took in what the third Hokage was saying. "What?! I don't know how to take care of a child! Why me?!" Kakashi's usual calm composure broke as the weight of the situation finally dawned on him. He was barely into his twenties and dating was hard enough with all the mission he has been having to go on.
"Because, Kakashi, you are the only one I trust to protect Meng Ka." Hiruzen said in a serious tone, making Kakashi straighten a bit as he calmed down and gained control over himself.
With a defeated sigh, Kakashi nodded his head, "Of course, Lord Hiruzen. I will protect the girl, I'm sure you'll give me the details later."
Hiruzen chuckled and stood Meng Ka on the desk. "Come say hello to your god-daughter, Kakashi." He smiled as he motioned for Kakashi to come closer.
Meng Ka looked up at him curiously, tilting her head to the side as she wondered why his head band was on wrong. As Kakashi got closer he leaned down to her level and smiled, "Hello, Meng Ka."
Reaching out, Meng Ka took hold of his head band and pulled it up to straighten it but stopped as she saw his other eye, which Kakashi had slightly opened, shocked that she had pulled at his head band. Meng Ka screamed and turned around, hugging Hiruzen, "Scary eye! Scary eye!"
Hiruzen laughed as Kakashi looked dismayed and pulled his head band down back in place, this was going to be a long day. Well, he could always just take her to his mother; she would be thrilled to hear that she was a grandmother now. But then again, she would most likely lecture him and then try to send him to his room. He would just have to save that for the Hokage to explain later, let him take the heat of his mother rather than himself.
"It's alright Meng Ka, that's why I have it covered so that I don't scare people." Kakashi said as he tried smiling at the girl.
Meng Ka bit on her lip a bit once again before going over towards Kakashi and rested her hands on either side of his face. She seemed to be studying him as the two of them stared at each other for a few seconds and Meng Ka finally smiled, "Uncle!"
Kakashi was taken aback by her trustful nature and was quickly starting to understand why their third Hokage wanted him to take care of her. Smiling down at her he said, "Sure, I can be your Uncle, Meng Ka."
"Uncle Shi! Uncle Shi!" Meng Ka couldn't say Kakshi's name right yet but the two adults laughed at her new nickname for him and the two were soon heading out of the Hokage building, Tinktink flying down to land on top of Meng Ka's head.
-Six Years Later-
Meng Ka hummed to herself as she picked wild berries that grew in the forest around her home. It was early morning and Kakashi was off on some mission, so his mother would come and check on her, though she was never really in the house since she liked to be and around the villagers. Meng ka had a bit of trouble fitting in with other kids her age but the adults of the village took to her easily and she had even learned how to make treats and jams from the berries that she was picking.
Earlier that day, Meng Ka had finished training, even though she wasn't enrolled in the academy and actually she hated fighting. But it was the third Hokage's wish to have her train and control her chakra. Meng Ka hummed as she picked up one basket and put it on top of her head and then picked up the other one. Tinktink flew around her as she made her way out of the forest and up to her small cabin that she shared with Kakashi.
Walking inside she traded out one basket with another that was filled with jams and treats. She had made a small business for herself, trading the jams, treats and even the berries as well to the villagers. Going back outside, Tinktink landed on her shoulder as she hummed and made her way through the village.
As she walked down a street, Meng Ka was about to make her first stop when she heard a small bark. Turning around just in time to see a small white dog jump at her and landing in the basket she was holding in her arms, making Meng Ka lose her balance and fall over. Jars, treats and berries rolling all over the street.
"Akamaru!" A young boy with red marks on cheeks yelled as he ran up to them. "Are you ok?" He asked as he looked down at Meng Ka and helped her up, "I don't know what got into Akamaru. I'm sorry about that."
Meng Ka smiled and shook her head, "It's alright. He most likely just smelled the treats." A small blushed formed on Meng Ka's cheeks as she looked up at the boy.
Suddenly Tinktink yelled at Akamaru and puffed up her firey feathers at him, making Akamaru growl at Tinktink. "Tinktink!" Meng Ka quickly picked up the phoenix and scolded her. Tinktink only chirped and sat on Meng Ka's shoulder, still angry with Akamaru.
"Oh wow, that's a phoenix! I thought those were extinct." The boy claimed as he looked up at Tinktink with curiosity and wonder, having forgotten all about what Akamaru had done.
"Oh, yeah, she's been with me since as long as I can remember." Meng Ka shrugged, never really thinking of Tinktink as abnormal to have around. Meng Ka reached down to straighten one of the baskets.
Hey, let me help you with that! It was Akamaru's fault that you fell in the first place." The boy said as he bent down to help her pick up the jars and Akamaru whimpered beside them.
Meng Ka reached out and petted the white dog on the head, "Really it's alright. I always pack extra treats to give out. And you don't have to help; I know a quick and easy way to clean this up." Meng Ka said as she put her hands together.
The boy blinked and looked up at her, "How's that?"
"Like this." Meng Ka smiled and concentrated on the wind around them, and then quickly everything began to move back into the baskets, it was almost as if nothing had happened.
The boy stared at the two baskets, "How did you do that?!"
Meng Ka blushed, since that was something she had been doing for the past three years now and never really gave it a second thought, "Oh, well, I just manipulated the air around the objects and food."
"Cool! Here, let me help you with carrying these." He said as he lifted the heavier basket and smiled at her. "I'm Kiba by the way."
Meng Ka smiled and lifted the other basket, "I'm Meng Ka." The two kids smiled at each other as Tinktink and Akamaru rode on their backs as they walked around the village, Kiba helping her with her deliveries.
When the two baskets were empty, the two ended up getting lunch at Ichiraku ramen stand. Ichiraku would always give her a free bowl when she stopped by, not wanting the Meng Ka to starve.
"Shouldn't you be at school right now, Kiba?" Meng Ka asked as she ate some noodles and fed some of the vegetables to Tinktink.
Kiba swallowed what was in his mouth and smiled, "Nope, I just graduated!" He smiled widely at her and puffed out his chest a little with pride. "Aren't you the one who should be in school right now?"
Meng Ka giggled at his response but then shook her head, "I'm not enrolled in school. Uncle Kakashi and Asume over see my training. But right now, I get a little break." She ate some more noodles as Kiba looked at her from the corner of his eye, a bit shocked.
"Oh, well, would you like to hang out for the rest of the day?" Kiba asked as he finished his ramen.
Meng Ka looked back at him a bit shocked but then smiled and nodded her head, "Yes, I'd love to." Kiba smiled back as Akamaru barked in agreement.
"Alright, hurry and finish that and I'll show you were me and Akamaru train. You'll love it; it's in the forest not too far from the school." Kiba started to talk about where they were going as Meng Ka listened and finished her ramen and the four of them headed out to the forest.