Story Name- Stars

Disclaimer- I don't own Naruto and I don't feel like making up anything funny to go with it .

The orphanage bustled with young children, going about what such children do. One child, however, was not enjoying the playtime. She sat in a corner, leaning her head on her hand, her eyes closed. None of the other kids really liked her- the head of the orphanage dotes on her too much, they think. She gets preferential treatment. She isn't really one of them. She's scary.

A few of the nastier boys in the lot see her. Smirking and putting a finger to his lips, the leader inched over to the girl with a bucket of sand from the sandbox. As soon as he was in throwing range, he started counting down from three with his free hand. Three… two… one- her eyes flew open. The boy stumbled back in fear. The girl's eyes were heterochromatic, one blue to the point of dark purple and the other a vibrant green. Her pupils were dragged down in the middle, almost slitted, giving her a catlike appearance. What was more frightening, however, were the two perfect parallel scars down the center of eyes, dark red with age, marking her for the world to see as blind. She turned her head this way and that, 'looking' with her ears and sense of smell for whatever disturbed her. She was only nine years old.

My name is Hoshiko, meaning star child. The caretakers from the orphanage named me this because they believe I must have fallen from the stars. I was found in a field just inside the fire country, almost in River Country. There were no people around. I was perfectly clean, with no clothes, money, blanket, or anything- just the taint of curiosity and the scars on my eyes. The ninja who found me had no clues as to who my parents were, and maybe I don't want to know who they were. They left me there, unprotected, so they must have wanted me gone. I look up from my bunk to see the one above me. The orphanage isn't too bad. Some people take care of me, because they have to, even if they stare. I can feel their eyes. Today those boys tried something again. They may not have done it in the end, but if that shinobi hadn't been there I would have been bullied again no matter how afraid the misguided boy was.

I've heard this shinobi around the orphanage a lot, visiting many of the children. I wondered, if he liked kids so much, why he didn't just adopt one of us. Everyone was up for adoption, although some of us didn't have any hope. All the same, he probably had a happy family, full of people who appreciated and loved him. He moved with the practiced grace I have come to associate with shinobi, although he moved slowly with purpose. His clothes made a swish sound, so he was either on leave or part of the administration. I had at least learned that much from listening to everyone else although I was 'unfit to attend the academy'. The man stopped the mean boy from throwing sand on me, I know it.

When it happened, I wondered if he knew who I was. I was nobody, of course, but he talked to me and stood up for me all the same. As I said thank you, I wondered what he looked like to others. His voice sounded soothing and warm although coarse as he told me that one day, I would have something that little boy didn't. I asked what, and he explained this power, this chakra, before lending me some recordings of voices explaining more about it. I couldn't stop. I listened to them all the time, and if the boys tried to take them away I'd… get very angry. They always hated that. I fell asleep listening to these chakra tapes, learning in my sleep. The next time the man came, I had the head mistress alert me, and I returned the recordings asking for more. He chuckled and gave me what I wanted. I no longer daydreamed about having a family like the other kids- I daydreamed about performing the various things described in the recordings. I just couldn't get my hopes up too much, because this dream was just like the dream of a family. Countless others with better backgrounds, attitudes, intellect, and skills would be chosen first, before a disabled girl. I thought, only to myself, I could never be as good as a real ninja- one with sight.

One day, the man gave me a very long recording and told me very softly, "Be careful. These can be very dangerous." I nodded swiftly and could have hugged him, but settled for a small smile. This was no ordinary recording.

Once I was back to my room, I pulled out my headphones from their secret hiding place and started to listen. I could have jumped for joy! I settled for cheering silently. It described using chakra in three base techniques named Henge, Bunshin, and Kawarmi. Logically, Henge would be the most difficult for me. Based entirely on what others see, it serves no purpose. Kawarmi would be too disorienting- to feel one area one second and another the next? Ugh. Bunshin it was. I couldn't wait to try it out, but I waited until night when the recording detailing the jutsu was listened to several times and everyone was asleep. I crept outside so as to not wake them up, and positioned in the middle of the small yard. I knew I could do it. It just might take a little longer than someone that could see it being done.

3 WEEKS LATER

I panted as the ground seemed to shake underneath me as I fell to my hands and knees. No, wait. It was me shaking. I must have gone too far… but I had done it! My first jutsu… Pathetic. Ten years old, and I only know one. Itachi Uchiha graduated from the academy at seven! I need to work harder. Since I can't see that puts me at a disadvantage at first, but if I'm weak I won't survive to be a genin! Although I got up planning to keep going, to perfect the jutsu, I wavered and fell over. Wait… what? Ugh. I could have slapped myself. Stupid girl! Now they'll find out and I'll be punished, and I will get the kind man in trouble, and then they will lock me away, and then they… and… and…

Sarutobi, the third Hokage, sighed and rubbed his forehead. He shouldn't have given the girl the tapes in the first place. The girl could do nothing blind. Sight was very important, just like the other senses, to a shinobi. She would simply be killed. But now it seemed he had no choice. She was determined to be a shinobi or die trying. She was to be trained to the furthest extent of her ability. And that would require a guardian.

"So, we have determined that she will need to be adopted by one of our upstanding jounin, having the experience and *ahem* free time required. Now, I have called you all here for that purpose. You will be compensated, and I understand if you can't go on missions due to having to take care of her, however she is very self-sufficient for a ten-year-old despite needing training in the academy jutsu. I believe Konoha can do without one of its jounin for a little while."

"I can take her," Kakashi piped up unexpectedly. "After all, we even share the same scars!" He grinned.

Complete silence. The Hokage sighed. "Kakashi, you are free to go."

All the other Jounin in the room, namely Anko, Ibiki, and Gai, almost whined as Kakasi was allowed to go, reading his porn book. Iruka passed him in the doorway, surprised at the meeting in progress. "What's going on?"

"Well... long story short, a blind orphan girl is trying to become a ninja. And she needs a home."

"Hokage-sama…" Iruka paused. "… is it really a good idea to give a child to Ibiki or Anko? I mean, they are so sc- *ahem* busy!"

Anko just said, "I could do it! We would have so much fun… shopping for clothes, cutting people up… y'know… girl stuff." She grinned maniacally.

Iruka shook his head at the Hokage. "Again, why are they here?"

"Well… the girl has shown some tendencies that I believe could make her strongest if she were to exploit the psychological weaknesses of her enemies," Sarutobi explained. "Otherwise, I fear she would merely get killed. She is going to need some specialized treatment, no matter how determined she is to make it on her own."

"YOSH! I will do it! The power of youth will revive her youthful spirit!"

Sarutobi sighed. "Gai… You are free to go too."

Gai's head fell. He had so wanted a prodigy! "YOSH! To cheer myself up and to punish myself for losing… one hundred laps around the village! GO! YOSH!"

"Well, we see why he's out of the picture," Anko stated in a remarkably calm manner.

Ibiki had just watched, until he spoke, "Can we meet this girl?"

"Unfortunately, no. She is currently unconscious due to chakra exhaustion."

Iruka raised his eyebrows. "Chakra exhaustion? At this age? Isn't that dangerous?"

"Yes. Which is why we need someone to take care of her."

Anko scoffed. "Well, I could check in on the brat every once in a while. But I'm not a babysitter. And you can just forget Ibiki. He'd probably forget the girl was there and torture people in front of her… not that I wouldn't. I do have an idea though… Iruka?"

He blinked innocently at her. "Yes, Anko?"

"The school year starts in a bit, yeah?"

He nodded. "Yup!"

"And we want her to join in the academy, right? She'll need friends." She turned to the Hokage with a wicked smile.

The Hokage laughed and held his pipe away from his face. "I suppose, yes. And I agree. Iruka, meet me back in here in a bit. I have another meeting. Ibiki, Anko, thank you for your time and input. You are free to go." He stood and walked out, Anko and Ibiki right behind him.

Iruka stood for a few seconds longer. "Did I miss something?"

KNEEL BEFORE MY HORRID ATTEMPTS AT HUMOR!

FYI my chapters aren't usually this long and may be a while in coming. I'm a flighty person. . Consider yourself warned! R+R pleeeease. I need attention.