Hello readers! I'll try and be quick about this. One, I do not own Naruto. Now that the legalities are out of the way let me make something clear. Yes, the story has OC's but I can assure you they are not going to be your typical fanfiction OC, also known as, Mary Sue. On another note you're going to realize that the story may not follow the canon completely, I feel silly having to point this out but isn't this sort of the point to fanfiction? Playing out 'what if' scenes? If you're appalled by my 'inaccuracy' to the manga and/or anime I will happily send you a link to read or watch it since clearly you're at the wrong site. The rating for this story is T. This is because in my story, as well as Naruto in general, there are themes of violence, cursing, and romance. If I receive many complaints that it should be a higher rating I will change it but I feel if you watch the anime or read the manga you can handle the level I'm writing at. As for romance, yes it is in the story. It doesn't revolve and is not limited to the OC characters. Due to this I'm not going to give away any pairings. Where's the fun in that? Now, I hope you enjoy the story!


Chapter One

Himura

There was a tense silence over hanging the room. It was so thick Hotaru Himura was sure she could have cut it with a kunai knife. The entire situation truly seemed unnecessary in her eyes. There was no reason to be here. Of course Hotaru knew this was not the time to point out such matters vocally. Instead she settled for the next best thing. She sighed and allowed a hand to brush some of the hair from her eyes. The small action had gained the entire room's attention—plus a few invisible eyes from the shadows as well.

She had to admit, the leaf shinobi were trained well. They were nearly undetectable. Her smoky eyes glanced up to her sensei's disapproving glare. Hotaru clicked her tongue discontentedly and folded her arms giving the closest leaf shinobi an impatient look. Truly were they going to kill her for brushing the hair out of her eyes? Didn't these ninja have anything better to do than stand around in this room with them and an old man?

Mentally she sighed again, or had it been aloud? It must have been because her sensei was glaring at her again. She rolled her eyes, truly what were all these men doing here? This, decrepit man was supposed to be the Hokage was he not? If Hokage was the title addressed to the most powerful shinobi why on earth would he need guards? Perhaps it was a gesture of respect? If they didn't believe their Hokage could handle the four of them alone then it must be an acknowledgement that they were powerful. Hotaru felt the corner of her mouth twitch into a slight smirk at her musings.

"It appears your student is impatient." The Hokage began. His voice was withered. Hotaru immediately made a note that it meant his lungs no longer worked to full capacity. He may be powerful but he certainly wasn't going to be relying on ninjutsu. "Let's not waste anymore time, be direct. What is it that you want?"

Hotaru watched her sensei a few feet in front of her. He stood perfectly straight; he had always had good posture and she remembered quite well being drilled to mimic it. When he spoke his voice was low, articulate, and the words fell from his mouth fluidly. She wondered when her sensei must have learned such etiquette. "My name is Hibiki Himura." He then gestured gracefully with his arms to the three teenagers behind him, "These are my students. We came here with a request."

The Hokage raised one grey bushy eyebrow, smoke billowed listlessly into the air from his pipe. His scrutinizing eyes glanced upon the twins first and Hotaru's eyes followed. They were nearly identical in appearance. Milky opaque complexion, smoky grey eyes, and raven hair. Both of them had sharp features, and were beginning to grow into what she knew were going to be tall, slender bodies extremely similar to their parents. Despite their hair being the same length the two wore it differently.

Ken'ichi, the boy, had his tied at the nape of the neck, wound in silver string for a good two or three inches before allowing the remaining fine, raven hair to spill free. He had it carelessly tossed over one shoulder. His eyes, un-obscured by the strands of hair fallen loose, were set levelly towards the Hokage unflinchingly. The slight tint of madness was shrouded in the smoke of his eyes—perhaps that was the Himura trait?

Beside him his sister, Tsukiko, stood by equally. Her long locks spilled from a ponytail pulled up high upon her head. Unlike Ken'ichi who contained a quiet madness, Tsukiko's seemed much more abrasive. The way her eyes narrowed only slightly to show she was impatient with the ordeal, and the smirk unfurling from her lips showed her recognition of the man but not respect in the sense that they understood it.

Finally his gaze turned towards her. Hotaru knew he would see the same features. Raven hair brushing her shoulders, smoky eyes glazing back at him disinterestedly. She realized with internal satisfaction that none of them flinched. "A request?" The Hokage mimicked back after his scan over. Whether or not he was displeased by their presence was unclear.

"It has come to my attention that the Chuunin Exams will begin soon." Hibiki replied coolly.

"What interest does the Himura clan have with the Chuunin Exams?"

"I want my students to participate."

"I will ask you again. What interest does the Himura clan have with the Chuunin Exams? You wear no water ninja bands—which country are you attempting to become chuunin of?"

"Yours Hokage."

Hotaru thought the tension in the room had been thick before but now it was nearly suffocating. The Hokage was staring directly at Hibiki sensei. The elderly man closed his eyes, took a long drag from his pipe, and then exhaled it spilling smoke into the already saturated air.

Hibiki seemed to utilize this silence to speak again, "As you're clearly aware the Himura clan is no longer associated with the Rain Country. We haven't been for quite some time."

"I know the events that took place Hibiki Himura—I certaintly do not need a history lesson at this stage in my life." The Hokage interrupted clearly motioning for Hibiki to skip over what to him, were useless details.

"I did not expect an immediate welcome." Hibiki said casting his own smoky eyes lower, not to the floor, but below the Hokage's gaze. "We were after all members of a foreign nation. I wish to use the Chuunin Exams as an evaluation for citizenship to the Fire Country. We are well trained nin. We could be useful to your country—we only seek a new place to call home."

The Hokage stared at Hibiki for so long she wondered if the man had fallen asleep with his eyes open. Instead he let his steely gaze bare into what had to be Hibiki's soul. "Why is it that the Himura clan not even all of it mind you, are requesting citizenship with the Fire now?"

Hotaru could feel more than see Hibiki's lips quirk into a bemused smirk, "The Himura clan is slightly estranged from one another." He seemed to be clarifying this as if it was already common knowledge, "There aren't exactly many of us left anymore, but I couldn't just walk in with children and expect hospitality. As Himura we believe in proving our worth."

The Hokage let out a deep hum at this information. "Proving your worth, yes you Himura have been quite good at proving yourselves. I suppose that's why you came here—to the Fire?" When Hibiki remained silent the Hokage continued, "You know after all that we are the largest current nation. As members of the Himura clan I know you would not seek just any home. It would have to be respectable—one associated with power."

"Such a negative connotation you're spinning Hokage." Hibiki said with slight amusement.

With a bark of a laugh Hokage narrowed his eyes slightly upon Hibiki, "Do you deny it?"

"Certainly not." Hibiki said another smirk pulling his lips taught and amusement glistening in his eyes, "It wouldn't be in my nature."

At this the Hokage too seemed to find slight amusement. Hotaru knew Hibiki's good nature was infectious. "I will grant you permission to stay in the village until the Chuunin Exams. Your students will be evaluated critically. We'll discuss a decision at the conclusion of the exam."

"Thank you Hokage." Hibiki said inclining his head ever so slightly. Hotaru felt her smirk uncurl once again at the gesture of respect; it was probably the most he was ever going to get.

The Hokage rolled his eyes and gestured for them to leave the room, or probably more accurately his presence. He then said almost absentmindedly to one of the nearby shinobi, "Please lead them to one of the prepared exam houses."


I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. Yes, I know it's short but I'm hoping to post short chapters often. I think that's fair, yes? Please review! I will greatly appreciate it. : )

-Kiyoui