Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

A Place to Call Home Chapter 1: The Gates of Konoha

Rei let out a heavy sigh of relief. Finally he had arrived, at the place his mother had told him stories about. Beyond the gates that were before him was the Hidden Village of Fire, Konoha. The village was built into the side of a cliff, enclosed by high walls, it held a piece of the forest and some close packed housing centered around the Hokage's tower. "Hello?" called Rei, the gates were locked and he couldn't see any other way in.

"May I help you?" asked a voice from his left. A female nin stepped out form behind a tree. A Hidden Leaf head protector was just visible under her bright orange hair. She was about 5'7" and slim, there was what appeared to be a blue swim suit top under her fishnet shirt, and her pants were a pair of normal shorts. Rei smiled and cast his gaze to the ground.

"Thank you," he said, bowing low, "I'm here to see the Hokage."

The Jounin frowned, "Samurai are not allowed inside." Now it was Rei's turn to frown, he started to fish through his pockets, eventually he was able to pull out a piece of gold material. When he looked back up he grinned. She was ready in a battle stance, kunai drawn.

"Here," he said, "show him this." The woman examined the item and shortly realized that it was a head protector, of solid gold. The cloth was golden thread and the metal plate that bore an unusual symbol was also gold. The nin hesitated for a second, but Rei spoke to hurry her on her way. "Don't worry I'll wait here with your Genin, but bring it back quickly it's very important to me." She nodded quickly before leaping up a tree and over the wall. Rei sighed again this time out of annoyance; he sat down leaning up against the gate. He set his katana across his lap and ruffled through his pack. Not far away three people jumped down form the trees without a sound.

They approached Rei's spot, "How did you know we where there?" asked the tallest, a white haired boy.

"Lucky guess," muttered Rei opening a can of Dr. Pepper he had pulled from his pack.

"Bullshit," he growled, "how?" Rei took a long drink of his soda.

"Calm down kiddies, you'll find out," he said.

"Kiddies!" shouted the purple haired girl to the left of the self-proclaimed leader. "Your no older than we are!" she said. Rei chuckled a little; she apparently didn't like being called a child.

"Maybe so, but if I've only learned one thing form my eighteen years of life it's patience," he said taking another drink.

"Eighteen? Well, you don't look like a samurai," said the leader. Rei paused for a moment and looked at his clothes. His shoes were a pair of well-worn Vans; he wore a pair of black 32's, and a red T-shirt bearing a Thunder Cats emblem. He had on the ground next to him a very heavy looking backpack. He doubts me, questions my honor. That very thought pissed Rei off.

He glared at the leader, "I am," he said simply. The leader tried to glare back but Rei's eyes made him uneasy his left eye was rich emerald green while his right was gold and bird-like.

Two of them stepped back, the leader and the loud mouth girl, but the raven-haired girl that had not yet said a word smiled and said, "Fushichō." She bowed her head a little and Rei nodded. A few seconds after everyone calmed down. Konoha's doors began to open causing Rei to fall back. He pulled himself to his feet, swearing at the new lump on the back of his head. A voice cleared its throat trying to get Rei's attention. Just on the other side of the gateway stood the female Nin and the Hokage. In the Hokage's one hand was his pipe that he was always puffing away on. His other hand held the head protector that Rei had given to the Jounin.

"Follow me," said the Hokage then he took a long drag form his pipe. Rei scooped up his backpack and started after the Hokage. As he passed the orange haired Jounin she to bowed her head a little.

Rei paused and bowed, fully, to her, "see you around." Rei trailed the Hokage through the streets, but the whole time he felt uncomfortable in Konoha. As he followed the Hokage everyone kept looking at him.

"Many of them have never seen a samurai before," said the Hokage, he was looking over his shoulder at Rei. "They're not allowed in here," he said with a puff of smoke.

"So your Jounin told me," Rei said.

The Hokage snorted, "Samantha? She always was a bit to helpful."

"But her Genin are so nice," said Rei trying not to let sarcasm rule his voice.

The Hokage chuckled, "Gave you some trouble did they? Don't worry everyone will." Rei snorted much like the Hokage had. They stopped in front of the Hokage tower. "Please," said the Hokage, Come up to my office we must talk about your mother and what to do with you."