A/N: Hi! I just started watching Naruto on Cartoon Network, thanks to my sister and best friend. Now they've talked about it for a couple years now. But all I've been able to watch are the newer episodes and the reruns. I wanted this to take place when everyone was older. Hopefully, I did my research right and that the characters are all in character. Please read and review.


"Bye!" The small girl said with forced happiness. "We'll see each other again, don't worry. I love you."

He watched from lowered lashes as one of his best friends hefted a small backpack on to her shoulders. He didn't want them to go but had no way of stopping them at seven years old. He flashed a strained smile, "You too. Do you have to go?"

She watched through heavily lashed eyes as he scuffed his foot against the dirt of the forest floor. At seven she knew as much love as she could and even though she also knew she'd gain more understanding of it; nothing would compare to the love she felt for him. She didn't want to cry but if she didn't get out of there soon, it'd happen.

"I have to. You'll always remember me. Don't forget one day we'll be shinobi and I'll come back here. We will." She replied, twirling a long strand of hair around her finger.

"Take this then." He continued, holding out his hand and letting the necklace dangle from it. He'd planned on giving it to her for her birthday; his mother had said she'd like it.

She stared at the golden locket and her lips curved into a smile. With trembling hands she said, "Thank you."

"Amaya!" They heard her mother call.

"Bye, see you in a few years." She said before darting off into the woods.


She pulled her greasy auburn hair back into a low ponytail, the sounds of the village coming in through the open window. She wanted out of her life, there had to be something so much better than living in a closet on the second floor of a brothel. Already she could hear the drunken sounds from below.

With steady hands she clasped the necklace around her neck. The comforting dream from the night forgotten, it was something she was used to as she couldn't remember what had happened before eight years ago. So in place of actual memories she made up stories of friends and places.

The knock on the door startled her and she asked, "Yes?"

"When you are done I want the walkway swept." The voice said.

"Yes Ma'am." She replied letting the necklace drop against her beating heart before straightening her glasses and leaving the room. She hesitated outside the room and again her hand found the necklace, the madam didn't like any unauthorized jewelry so as a precaution slipped it underneath her shirt.

With numb legs she walked past rooms and blocked out the noises that emitted from them. Her dark eyes focused on the broom closet at the bottom of the stairs. The smell of booze drifted up to meet her nose and all she could do was wrinkle it in disgust.

"Well, well," a deep voice said from an open doorway. "What do we have here?"

She recognized the voice, "Having fun? Of course you are, silly me."

His arm snaked around her small waist and pulled her against him, much to the groan of disappointment of his other companion. She stiffened, she hated this. "You want something wait until tonight when I'm on the clock, now put me down. Madam has some things for me to do."

"Rio, you know you are my absolute favorite right?" He asked, setting her back on her feet. He'd been her first and it had been extraordinary.

"Go away, Shizuki. You wanna see me come back later but don't bother if you sleep with her." She stated before continuing down the stairs.


She heard the slap of running feet on the floor as she swept the sidewalk. She tensed her body for the collision and laughed when she felt the small arms around her neck. "Hi Yuki, aren't you supposed to be in school?"

"What's the point in being there? I already know more than anyone else." He groaned and dropped to his feet.

"That's completely beside the point. Now Mrs. Zhang knows I'm coming to get you, Yamato, Shuichi, and Takashi, this afternoon right?" She asked, bending down to his level.

"Yep. They're really excited too and Mrs. Zhang is just happy to get us out of her hair." He nodded solemnly.

Rio sighed and ruffled his dark hair. She wished that Mrs. Zhang wouldn't be so callous; after all he had lost his mother only a year ago and had never known his father. At five years old he had so much placed on his shoulders, only she and his mother knew who and what his father was.

"I don't understand Mama Rio, why doesn't my father come for me?" He asked suddenly, his dark eyes locked on hers and never wavered.

She swallowed hard, "You need to get back to school. Go on, I'll meet you and the others outside and then we'll go swimming. I'll also bring you your birthday present."

His face brightened up considerably at the mention of the present. It would be the only one he received and with a quick peck to the cheek he took off. Not once paying attention to where he was running.

"Yuki, slow down!" She shouted seconds before he rammed into a man walking out of the store. Dropping the broom she rushed toward him.

She saw something flash across his face and pulled Yuki behind her, bowing low she said, "Please forgive him. He's young and energetic, he doesn't know any better."

Yuki looked at the dark-haired man from behind Rio, he was a little scary looking but the blonde and pink-haired people beside him looked friendly enough. He smiled at them and then bowed, "Excuse me. Mama Rio I'll see you later."

She straightened and nodded her head, "Don't forget anything and don't run into anyone else."

He worried about her but being so small he didn't know what he could do as he was smaller than her. She had tried so hard over the last year to protect him and in return she'd been punished over and over again by those around her. He hurried back to school, one thought stuck in his mind. Why did the man he ran into look so much like him?

Rio turned back to the trio and bowed again. "Again I'm sorry, if there is anything I can do to help you please see me."

"RIO!" She heard the madam holler and winced, knowing that she was now in trouble. Without a second glance she raced forward the apology already forming in her head.

He watched her retreating form, something about the way she moved felt very familiar, but damn if he could place it. The kid reminded him of his companion, the loud mouthed one. He began walking, pushing the odd girl out of his mind, they had a mission to do and in order to finish it they needed to find their leader.


Rio gingerly touched her bruised cheek. She had certainly received a thorough lashing for leaving her duties and the fact that she had to beg and promise to work double time in order to keep her promise to Yuki, troubled her. Her back ached and she was thankful the bleeding had stopped and with the salves she applied they wouldn't be nearly as red or swollen.

She watched the children race out of the academy and looked for the four that she was supposed to take with her. She felt her lips curve into a smile as the quartet came rushing forward. The package lay beside her feet and she was proud that she'd be able to make him smile.

"Hey Mama Rio!" Yuki cried out, coming to a stop in front of her, his three friends, Yamato, Takashi and Shuichi followed close behind. Their bags thrown carelessly over their shoulders.

"Hi sweetie. Now it looks like everyone is ready but first why don't we let Yuki open his present?" She said, bending down eye to eye with the children. Smiling she held out the package to the little boy.

Within a few seconds Yuki had the paper torn to shreds and he found himself looking into the smiling faces of his mother and Rio. His dark eyes looked up and focused on her, "What?"

"Mrs. Zhang told me that you didn't have any pictures of your mother. The fire destroyed all of them. I found this one the other night and thought…" She trailed off when the he threw his arms around her neck.

"Thank you Mama Rio," he whispered, wanting to hold on and never let go.

"You're welcome, my baby," she murmured against his neck. "Let's go okay?"

Yuki dropped to his feet and nodded. "I wanna go swimming."

"Then we are on our way. So why don't you explain to me what you learned today?" She addressed the group as she began walking toward the gates of the village.


SPLASH! She watched as the boys jumped into the clear water. Ever since their arrival, they had been trying to out splash each other. This was one of the few times they were allowed to actually be children, as Mrs. Zhang worked them to the bone. Unfortunately no one would take the children as they weren't from the best families in the village.

"Look Mama," Yuki said, swimming over to the edge of the pond, "my eyes can change colors."

Rio felt her body tense as she was suddenly staring into red eyes instead of black. The screams began echoing in her ears and the only thing she could say was, "Yuki, don't you ever do that again. You'll scare people."

"Will you come swimming with us?" He asked, unconcerned about what she had just told him.

As much as she wanted to, she knew it wasn't a good idea. "I can't. Go play with your friends."

"Please?" He begged, resorting to his reserves. He gave her the puppy dog eyes, the one thing she had never been able to say no to.

"Fine," she sighed. With nimble fingers she slipped her long-sleeved shirt off, leaving her in a tank top.

Gently she eased into the water, careful to avoid her back and when the cool water touched her she breathed in relief. Maybe this was a good thing, she thought seconds before getting a face full of water.

She narrowed her eyes at the four boys who were now laughing at her. She was prepared to retaliate when she heard it. The sounds of fighting and she stilled her movements. Climbing out of the water she motioned for the kids to follow her and quietly she helped each one out of the water.

With rapid movements she gathered their stuff together and leaned toward them, "Yuki, you take them back to the village and get help."

"But," he began to protest and shut his mouth when he saw the look on her face. She was so stubborn, putting them before her, protecting them. Who was going to protect her?

She held a finger to her lips and pushed the group toward the village. The fighting was growing closer and she prayed that the kids would make it back in time.


He moved out of the way of a well aimed kick. This guy was good but he was better and proceeded to show him how much better. He copied every movement and even threw in some of his own moves. He was having fun toying with the guy and was thinking of ending it when he caught a movement out of the corner of his eye.

"Naruto," He said sharply gaining the blonde's attention. He simply nodded at his attacker knowing his friend would take over.

He left his group and followed the movement of the leaves, listening to the sounds of the fighting behind him and for signs that he was being followed. The movement stopped and he rushed toward it, pinning the stranger to a tree. He saw her eyes widen in shock and then fear settled in. She opened her mouth to say something or maybe scream he wasn't entirely sure.

He covered her mouth with his hand and said simply, "Shut up."

She bit her lip as the tree bit into her back and glared up at him. What the hell was going on? She wanted to ask, but right then his hand tightened over her mouth when they heard voices coming closer. She didn't know how long they stood their like that before they heard, "Sasuke?"

His grip loosened on the girl and she gave him a shove away from her. Her dark eyes bore into him with a glare. Her hands settled on her hips when he tipped her chin up to look at her, "Just who the hell are you people?"

He recognized her from that morning and then he realized that the bruise she now sported hadn't been there that morning. A flash of gold drew his attention. Suddenly he found himself staring at her necklace, that necklace he'd seen it before, it had belonged to his mother.

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki," the blonde replied with a smile, he motioned to the girl next to him, "This is Sakura Haruno, and the guy that tackled you is Sasuke Uchiha."

Sakura smiled politely at the girl, and then stared at Sasuke, who wouldn't stop staring at the girl's chest. "What's your name?"

"Did you say your last name was Uchiha?" She stuttered, her eyes widened with wonder and remained locked on his face. The fear that had been there was gone and she noticed that his eyes were onyx, not red like they had been.

"Yeah, why?" Sasuke replied.

"Because my name is Rio Uchiha." Rio explained.