So during my first few days on fanfiction, I wrote a story called 'Leaf and Wave Unite', which has been taken down and I am rewriting. It is a Naruto story and will be set out in 'books'. I haven't thought of a new name for it yet but to give you an idea, it will be 'Moriko, Book 1 : The genin years'. Etc, etc.

So this is just a little prequel to that series, and this should hopefully give you a little insight to my character and her story.

Asuma looked at the third hokage, puzzled. He could not deny that his father was a wise man but right now, he had to wonder where his head was. Asuma had not been back in the village an hour, just having time to shower after his travels when he received word to come to his fathers office. It had been the two of them, the third asking Asuma for a favour. To do a small task for him, as his father had put it; but this was no small thing. It had been just the two of them until Izumo and Kotetsu walked in. At first Asuma had found it vaguely humorous to see these two ninja each with a hand held by a small blonde girl.

"This is the child?" Asuma asked.

"This is Moriko, yes."

"Are you sure about this, old man?"

"Yes, I'm quite sure." The third answered, with a huff of laughter. "Moriko needs looks after. She's not as dominant as her brother, a trait he seems to have picked up from their mother. She barely says a word, the only time I've seen her become even a little animated is with these two."

Asuma turned in his chair to look at the child, he had been aware that his father had tried his best to get his point across whilst picking his words carefully. He hadn't wanted to sound to harsh right in front of the child, Asuma could guess that even if she wasn't a bigger talker, that she took in everything that was going on around her. She was probably listening to their conversation, but in the 'innocent-child' way,of not fully understanding how rude it was to ear wig.

Asuma couldn't help but think that the child seemed to be a perfect blend of her parents. Her hair was blonde like her father but long and straight like her mothers, her eyes were the same soft shape as her fathers but the stormy blue of her mother. She sat on the floor with Izumo and Kotetsu, and whilst at first he had wondered how such a small child had wrapped the two wound her little finger, he could certainly see why now. Moriko pointed to something in a book which he hadn't noticed at first, she would occasionally brush Kotetsu's bangs out of his hair was normally kept out of the way byhis head band but that now rested around her little neck. Before Izumo and Kotetsu had came in, the third had explained how very quiet she was and the only time he had seen her particularly animated was with the two who were about to bring her.

The child looked so innocent, and yet so understanding; almost as if she completely knew and understood that her parents were gone and she knew why they were gone. Asuma couldn't put his finger on it at first, and then it hit him. It was her eyes, she had rather sad eyes for a four year old. Asuma knew what it was like to grow without a mother, he had lost his mother a long time ago but he couldn't imagine what it was like to grow up with either a mother or father.

"What do you want me to do?" Asuma asked as he turned back to his father.

"Care for her." The third said simply.

Asuma leant in toward his father, "Does she know? About her father?"

"Currently, she does not. And I think it best to keep it that way for the time being, should you see a time in the distant or near future, then you may tell her."

"Has she started at the academy?"

"Later this year, she starts." The third, took careful look at Asuma. He had taken a long time to decide who would be best to look after Moriko, and every time his thoughts came back to Asuma, he just thought it would take a lot longer to persuade him. "Are you going to do this for me Asuma?"

"No." Asuma stated firmly, receiving a glare from his father. "I'll do it for her."

The third sighed, a smile tracing his lips, and he stood. "Lets introduce you then, shall we?"

The third and Asuma took a few steps to the child. Kotetsu looked up from the book he held for her and nudged her slightly as he whispered to her,

"The third wants to speak to us now."

Clearly sensing that Kotetsu wasn't going to hide her, Moriko turned from him and buried her face in Izumo's shoulder, her tiny fist clung to the blue cloth of his jumper. Izumo smiled and Kotetsu leant over and rubbed her back softly speaking to her, Asuma was right; this little tyke did have Izumo and Kotetsu wrapped around her tiny baby finger.

Asuma knelt down to her height.

"Hi." Asuma spoke in a gentle voice. " I'm Asuma, you're Moriko, right?"

The little girl slowly pulled her head away from Izumo's shoulder and looked at Asuma. Moriko nodded, answering his question.

"How do you do?" Asuma offered his hand out to the little girl, it took a few moments but slowly she stepped forward and put her hand in his. Asuma smiled. "I'm going to be looking after you from now on, is that okay?"

Moriko nodded.

"Good, I think we'll be good friends."

She smiled.

"You start the academy this year, right?"

She nodded again, "I'm guna learn to be a ninja."

"I'm sure you'll be a great ninja." He smiled.

"Then I'll protect everyone." She smiled, "Like Kotetsu and Izumo."

Asuma and the third chuckled at her, Izumo and Kotetsu smiled.

Looking at the pair and then back at her, Asuma asked, "They need protecting?"

"They can be very silly at times." Moriko smiled at him, a smile that said she knew just how cheeky she had been. He knew bringing her up would be both amusing and a challenge already, and he hadnt even shown her where she would be living now yet. Moriko took a curious look back at Izumo and Kotetsu before turning back to Asuma and leaning in, whispering in his ear, "Who's going to look after Izumo and Kotetsu now?"

Asuma chuckled and then looked back the the two ninja before responding, "Dont worry, we'll keep checking up on them. We'll make sure they're looking after themselves."

Moriko smiled, "Good."

Asuma stood to his full height, laughing slightly as he watched her crane her neck to look up at him. He wasn't that tall was he? And she didn't look that small. Izumo and Kotetsu must be on par of his height.

"How do you fancy coming to see where you'll be living now, huh? You'll even have your own room."

The little blonde nodded her head and took Asuma's offered hand. The two started to make their way out. Kotetsu and Izumo waved at Moriko. Asuma turned his head at the last second to look at his father, offering him a smile. Turned out, the old man was just being the old man he was, a wise old man. He did know what was best for Moriko, and for Asuma.

So there you go. I did think about this being a one shot and this was supposed to be a lot long instead I think this is going to be the first part of my story or a collection of one shots of her early years.

No flames please! But please do leave a review!

UmbraLunae