Hello, fellows! This is my 5th story.
And, yes, I know I'm obsessed with Kakashi, I can't help it!
Disclaime: I do NOT own Naruto, but I own some of the OOC.
Chapter 1 - Westward to Konoha
Trees, trees and more trees we pas. The long dirt road stretches long to my dismay. I yawn in boredom, then, I get back to staring at my surroundings.
To my right is my caretaker and dear friend, Arux. He has been taking care of me for fifteen in a half years, since my fahter's death. They were teammates as chuunin, they trusted each other with their lives, they were best friends.
To my left is our escort, an elite Konohagakure ninja named Nara Shikamaru. I have strict business in Konoha, with the Hokage. I sent a message to her, and she sent Nara-san to escort me. Arux is only coming along for my safety, once he is sure I am in capable hands, he will return home.
And all around us are millions of big trees and a long dirt road. The happy chirps of the birds and quick hammering of the woodpeckers echo all around us, ensuring us no harm. The scent of spring's late flowers fill the air, entwining itself with the cool breeze that brushes our skin.
I love nature and travel, but it kind of wears thin after a few days of traveling only on horseback. If we leapt in the trees like any normal ninja, we'd already be in Konoha. But Nara-san insisted on horseback, he said less ninja were likely to attack.
I smirk at the memory of meeting him. After we were introduced and he discussed the plan, he lay in the grass and stared up a the clouds all afternoon. He's so lazy!
"Oi, Nara-san," I call, shattering the desireable silence, "how much longer until we reach our destination?"
"Humph!" he says, "About an hour or so. Just relax, would you?"
I growl and cross my arms, quickly losing my balance. I squeak and close my eyes, awaiting the ground's embrace. When it doesn't come and I feel a strong arm around my waist, I open my eyes and look up. I smile at Arux, and say with a blush, "Thanks."
"He's always there when I need him the most, he quickly became my father figure after Father's death. He never left my side, he does even more so now, after a certain accident. It left me specificly ill, I won't recover for another couple of months.
He returns the smile, and says, straightening me up on my oblivious horse, "Just be more careful, okay?"
When I nod, he pulls our horses up to a quicker pace. At this rate, we won't hit Konoha until nightfall.
"Are we there yet?" I repeat boredly for the hundredth time. Arux chuckles in pity. He knows my game can last for hours and hours. Nara-san grinds his teeth and hisses, "Not yet."
"Are we there yet?"
"No."
"Are we there yet?"
"No!"
"Are we there yet?"
"No!"
"Are we there yet?"
"Yes!"
I perk up and grin, stretching my limbs.
Finally! Konoha at last!
We stop in front of a large gate where a couple of guards with masks wait.
"Shikamaru, you've finally returned." one says, "We were beginning to worry about you."
"Yes," the other adds, "and you're going to get an earfull from Ino and Temari."
Nara-san groans and grumbles, "Troublesome women...Are the guests' rooms ready?"
One nods and says, "Yes, of course, they are in the apartment neart the Hokage Tower."
The guards open the gate, and we proceed through.
Once the gates are closed, we get off our exhausted horses and hand them off to the stable boy. Nara-san says boredly, "You'll see the Hokage in the morning. She'll send someone to fetch you. I'll show you to your temporary rooms."
The town isn't what I was expecting. I expected it to be bigger than our old village. Its big, but I expected it to be big, big. Colorful houses and shops litter the village, dulled by the night's darkness. It's a pretty sight to see, I need to learn more about this place.
"Nara-san," I whisper, leaning closer to him, "who are the cloaked ninja?" He looks up to the tops of the roofs where my gaze lingers. Cloaked ninja with masks litter the rooftops, glaring down upon us.
"They are Anbu." he replies, turning back to the path ahead, "They are Konoha's elite forces, assassins. Don't worry, they won't bite you...yet."
"Haha, very funny." I say mockingly, crossing my arms across my chest.
Nara-san smirks, "I know, I try. We're almost there."
Arux rolls his eyes and shakes his head, mumbling, "Kids." I lightly punch his arm, and question, "What's wrong with kids? You'll have to put up with two of us soon, you know."
Arux smiles and whispers, "I wouldn't have it any other way."
The rooms are small, small enough to hold a twi-sized bed and a night table. I sit on the bed, and say, "Thanks for escorting us, Nara-san, I hope our paths cross again soon."
Nara-san waves his hand and says, "I bet they will." Arux walks him to the door, and we bid our good nights and good byes.
Arux sits on the floor, next to my bed, and says, "I'll sleep here. You never know when an enemy will strike.
I smile and crawl under the sheets, "I wouldn't have it any other way."
I hope some of you guys enjoyed this. If not, PLEASE let me know, and I'll take it down! Give me your truest opinions, it won't hurt my feelings!
And please tell me, do you guys like 1st person (I, me, we; basically what the first chapter is) or 3rd person (where everyone tells the story). I really need to know so I can fix the chapters if needed.
I've already got the entire story (well, more than half of it) typed out on one computer, I just need to put it on here...IF you guys liked it.
R & R
-Cloe
