CAMOUFLAGE OF THE HEART

Ch. 1: The Camouflage Ninja Revealed

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or the characters or ranking affiliated with it. However, Kayomie and the things affiliated with the Camouflage Ninja are totally mine and I would appreciate it if you would ask me before borrowing her.

The young, golden-haired girl stood with her face emotionally blank, her eyes devoid of anything except grief. She stared at the baby with hair paler than hers.

"Why am I to be in charge of him, Hokage? I have no experience, nor have the wish to have any, with babies. I simply want to be alone, now."

The old man sighed. "I know you don't want to do this, Kayomie, but this little one has no one else and I believe he will be good for the both of you." Her sad eyes met his, a flame of resentment flickering before it disappeared and she took the boy into her arms.

"Does the hero have a name?"

"Yes, it is Naruto."

The girl turned, gently twirling his short hair between a couple of her fingers. "Naruto, huh?" Her mouth formed the word almost as if she were tasting it. "It fits you, little brother. I guess I'll be your family and you'll be mine. I promise I'll be the best big sister I can be, little one."

The baby stirred, fixing her emerald gaze with his sapphire one, clutching her shirt with his small fist. She was surprised, but then smiled at him gently, her eyes showing a kind of happiness to them. "It looks like we'll be getting along just fine, huh, Naruto?"

"Kakashi, I need you and your team to locate and bring back the Camouflage Ninja."

"But why me, Hokage? If memory serves, she would go with Iruka much easier, sir."

The old man sighed, fingers folded in front of his wrinkled face. "I'm afraid that around the time she disappeared, the only one she listened to was the boy she called 'brother', Naruto. Kayomie agreed to take care of him until he was at least five years old. However, she originally planned to raise him until he became a genin, but…" He paused before continuing," Something happened to her in her last mission that changed her for the worse. She just could no longer handle being in a large crowd of people after that. She left because she didn't want Naruto picking up such habits from her…"

"And we are bringing her back, why?" Kakashi asked as he rubbed the inside of his ear with his pinky.

"Because your team and others need her expertise. She will be given a home at the edge of the village so she will be comfortable enough."

"The only problem being to keep her in one place long enough for her to hear that much and brining her back alive," Kakashi said thoughtfully as he touched his chin with his two fingers thoughtfully.

"With her 'little brother' along, she should stay long enough for you to get that far, Kakashi. Now, get to it." Kakashi bowed to the old man.

"Yes, sir." He rose and left to find the three members of his squad.

"Really!" Naruto shouted, his eyes sparkling with joy. He hadn't seen the girl he considered his older sister in so long, he had forgotten her voice.

"Kayomie…. Hey, isn't she the girl who practically raised Naruto when she was fourteen?" Sakura asked gently.

"Yes, and we have to get her to stay. You three are scheduled as her first students, so be ready for anything," Kakashi warned as he turned a page in his book.

"When are we going?" Naruto asked excitedly as he stood in front of his sensei.

"Tomorrow, so be prepared, Naruto. She may not welcome you as readily as you might her; she may fight. Be armed and careful to any attack. Kayomie isn't a full-fledged genin for no reason, Naruto. If she doesn't want to come, she can and will fight all of us."

Sasuke glanced up in surprise. What reason would she have to attack the people she liked? If memory served, she loved just being with the people she considered Naruto's "friends", namely Sakura and himself.

"I can't wait to see Kayomie again! We haven't seen each other in years! I wonder if she'll recognize me?"

"Are you deaf, Naruto? She may attack us even if she recognizes you, so don't get your hopes up," Sasuke said angrily. "There's a possibility that she won't and attack us because of it."

"Sasuke's right, Naruto. I don't want you to have your feelings hurt if she doesn't recognize you," Sakura said gently as the boy's eyes filled with hurt.

"I know she will. Kayomie just couldn't forget me, right, Kakashi-sensei?"

Kakashi looked up. "How could she? I doubt anyone could forget a moron such as yourself."

"Hey!"

Naruto: Next time on Camouflage of the Heart: We finally meet my big sister, Kayomie. She certainly has gotten a lot bigger and stronger since she left when she was nineteen. What! Whaddya mean it's our first lesson? We just barely reacquainted again! Next time: The Reunion of a Lifetime.

Author: I hope you enjoyed this installment and review! I apologize to my Saiyuki fans. I needed a break and am working on chapter 7: Golden Eyes, the Rescue as we speak. Sayonara!