-New Konoha- Stage One: The Mysterious Figure Behind the Willow

It had been a long time since the mighty Village Hidden in the Leaves had seen peace in their land. Ever since the death of Sarutobi, the atmosphere just hasn't been the same. The days were longer, darker, and gloomy. Nevertheless, everyone had to get back to their average lives.

"Alright, everyone!" Kakashi shouted while looking up from his book. "This is what we're gonna do today."

Sakura and Naruto quickly looked to their sensei with curious glances while Kakashi continued.

"We're going to do our bell test. And don't even start with me, Naruto. Yes we're doing it again, and no you can't be excused."

Naruto crossed his arms and made a pouty face.

"But, Sensei!" Naruto complained.

"No complaining, Naruto! Now let's get started before I get an ulcer."

Sakura groaned slightly. She hated this exercise as well, but she wasn't one to complain. Swiftly, she disappeared into a tree and got ready to take aim.

Naruto had finally managed to get over his disappointment. He sat silently behind a large, green bush. He slowly moved his hand to his pouch, and pulled out one of five kunai knives, planning to cut one of the bells off.

"I hope I don't accidentally neuter Kakashi-sensei," he thought to himself.

Then, with the eye of an eagle, Naruto let the weapon soar. It zipped through the bush and was on a dead accurate path when suddenly, it disappeared.

"What?" Naruto asked himself. "Where did it go?!"

Kakashi yawned, and looked up from his book again.

"Hey!" he called out. "Where are you guys? I'm getting bored."

There was no movement.

"Hello?" he spoke. "Oh come on! Hit me! And besides, I've already read this book."

Sakura listened from the tree which stood right beside her teacher. She found it quite odd that Naruto hadn't tried anything yet. Even if it probably was stupid and moronic. Still, she pulled out a sharp shuriken, and sent it to her sensei. But just as before, right as the weapon was about to hit its target, it disappeared.

Sakura gasped in shock.

"Where did it go?!" she muttered to herself. "It was right there!"

Kakashi turned his head and faced the tree. He knew someone was there.

"Ah, there's someone. Come on down, Sakura."

Sakura felt anger pulse through her body. Fortunately, she managed to bottle it up for Kakashi's sake.

"But it isn't fair, Sensei," she began. "My shuriken disappeared!"

Naruto then popped out from his hiding space.

"That happened to you too?!" he screamed.

Kakashi titled his head to the side.

"What are you guys talking about?" he questioned.

"Don't fool around, Kakashi-sensei," Naruto said pointing his finger at his teacher. "You had something to do with our weapons! I know you did!"

"Naruto, no," Kakashi replied. "I didn't do anything at all."

Sakura sat there in confusion listening to all of this, and trying to make sense of it.

"Sakura, what do you think?" Naruto asked. "Do you agree with me?"

Sakura shook her head.

"What?!" Naruto screamed in an uproar. "How could you not agree with me?! Kakashi-sensei had something to do with it! Dattebayo!"

Kakashi sighed.

"Children, please," he gently spoke. "I could never make a weapon disappear. There's no such thi-"

Naruto and Sakura blinked.

"What is it, Sensei?" Sakura asked. "Do you hear something?"

Kakashi looked to the woods and drew out a kunai knife.

"Who's there?!" he yelled out. "Show yourself!"

"Huh?" Naruto and Sakura muttered in unison.

They all faced the same way, towards a willow tree, waiting for someone (or something) to make an appearance.

All of a sudden, a shadow emerged from the long, droopy branches. It was a girl, a small girl. She couldn't have been older than ten by her looks. She stood about four feet and eleven inches high with long blonde hair. One set of long bangs covered the right side of her face. However, her piercing, ice blue eye made the other side of her face shine.

"Who are you?" Kakashi questioned. "What is your name and where are you from?"

The girl looked at him curiously as she ran her fingers through her knotted hair. She may have looked chuberic and cute, but she was a dirty, knarled mess.

"M-My name is," the girl paused mid-sentence. "Koneko."

"Koneko, eh?" Naruto laughed. "Your name is kitten?!"

Sakura gave Naruto a swift suckerpunch to the jaw.

"Naruto!" she shouted. "Be nice!"

Kakashi motioned for little Koneko to come forward.

"Well come on," he smiled. "Don't be afraid. They won't hurt you."

Koneko stepped forward. She twideled her fingers and looked around.

Kakashi blinked.

"Is this place not familiar to you?" he asked her gently. "Where are you from?"

Koneko whimpered slightly, and then spoke.

"No, it isn't. I'm originally from the Rock Village, I think it's called, but my brother and I left it quite some time ago."

Sakura couldn't help but giggle. She found Koneko quite adorable. Naruto on the other hand found her an attention hog.

Kakashi looked over the new arrival carefully.

"Look at you. You're a mess," he stated. "Come on Naruto and Sakura. Training's over. We have to take care of this little one before we do anything else."

With that, Kakashi picked Koneko up and cradled her. Sakura came over and joined the other two. Naruto on the other hand sat on a stump and pouted.

"Why do we have to take care of some stupid little girl?" he thought to himself. "She said she had a brother! He should be taking of her, not us!"

Kakashi looked back.

"Come, Naruto," he called out. "Let's get this kid cleaned up."

Koneko looked up, her visible eye widened.

"Hmm?" Kakashi noticed the change in her facial expression. "What is it?"

Koneko just stared, wide-eyed.

"Don't be afraid of him," Sakura smiled. "Kakashi-sensei isn't going to hurt you. All he's going to do is take care of you."

Koneko blinked. Thousands of thoughts buzzed about her head as she was carried into her caretaker's home. It smelled of fresh maple and pine. The floors were slick and shiny. Not to mention it was a very comfortable temperature inside. A house fit for a hokage.

Naruto growled as he stepped through the sliding door.

"Sensei do we really have to do this?" he whined. "Why not just call her brother?"

"It's getting late, Naruto," Kakashi said. "Besides, this girl barely knows how to communicate with total strangers."

"Augh, but we should be training!"

"Weren't you the one complaining about the bell test earlier, Naruto?" Kakashi rested Koneko in Naruto's arms. "Hold this while I get the water running."

Naruto blinked, and stared down at her.

"You think you can just come in here and take all of our Sensei's attention away, huh?"

Sakura then gave Naruto another swift punch to the jaw.

"Naruto, be nice! She's just a little girl!"

Koneko sighed silently.

"They'll find out soon enough," Koneko thought to herself. "My won't this be interesting?"

"Alright, you two," Kakashi beckoned. "Bring her in."

Naruto and Sakura both came into the bathroom with Koneko. Naruto managed to gently put her down right next to the small bath. Sakura just watched.

Kakashi shooed his two students away with a flick of his wrist.

"Thank you," he said. "I can handle it from here."

The duo nodded and left the bathroom, closing the door behind them.

"So," Sakura started off in an attempt to start off a reasonable conversation. "What do you think of this girl?"

Naruto scoffed. "She looks like a wussy little ten-year-old if you ask me! She's hogging all of Sensei's attention!"

Sakura sighed.

"He's just trying to be helpful, Naruto. Calm down."

"How can I calm down?! We should be training, not babysitting!"

"Weren't you the one who was complaining about the bell test earlier?!"

"Don't get me started, Sakura!"

Suddenly, the arguement was broken by an exclamation from the bathroom.

"Oh wow."

Sakura and Naruto blinked at each other and slid the door open.

"What is it, Sensei?" Naruto questioned.

"Yeah, what's wrong?" Sakura added.

Kakashi turned around with a slight blush.

"Well, guys," Kakashi began. "As it turns out, Koneko isn't the little girl we assumed she was."

"What?" Sakura said confused.

Naruto felt blood gently drip from his nose.

"Oh yeah," Naruto muttered. "She's certainly not little arlight."

Koneko looked around at all of them, confused. She didn't know her whole appearance changed after being cleaned off. Her hair wasn't just blonde, it shimmered in the light as well. Her skin was a light peach color and looked smooth and fair. And it was comepletely obvious Koneko had reached puberty.

"Heehee," Naruto chuckled. "She's a pretty girl."

Again, Naruto got another fist in his jaw from the sane Sakura.

"Naruto, you pervert!"

Soon enough, anoter quarrel had begun. There was nothing but shouting and screaming coming from those two.

Kakashi sighed and shook his head.

"Come, Koneko," he said while wrapping a towel around her.

He then picked her up and took her to a quiet room to sleep.

Just as the dispute got worse, the evening got darker. The moon shined brightly upon the land of New Konoha. Kakashi stood by the window and sighed.

"Well, Sandaime," he said to the sky. "As if things weren't changed enough when you left us. Now, all I sense are brand new, and interesting experiences. I don't exactly know why I feel these things coming."

Kakashi looked back to the soundly-sleeping Koneko.

"It's just a hunch."