Watarimono's Tale

Chapter One

A woman in a dusty cloak stopped briefly on the trail just out of sight of the gates. "Jiyuu, Rakki come on now. We're almost there."

"Hai, Kaa-san." From further down the trail the two small girls stepped up their pace and soon appeared next to their mother. She checked each girl carefully before moving ahead.

As they came in sight of the gate a Chunin called out, "Halt. What is your business here today?"

Without a word the woman held out her papers. The Chunin took them and turned to his fellow after a brief examination. "Go tell the Hokage her guests have arrived." Turning back to the travelers he said, "You may rest here for a moment while my compatriot finds out where you are to go now."

"If you read the papers then you know I am to report directly to her upon my arrival, young man," said the woman. "I will take my daughters to the tower now."

"I'm sorry but even though that is what your papers claim you are to do it goes against my orders. I am to keep new visitors here until the person or persons they have come to see arrive to personally escort them into the village."

One of her daughters sat down where she was as the other daughter stepped in front of the woman. "Kaa-san, it seems they have had some recent trouble here." A quirk of her brows and a small frown asked the young man guarding the gate, "Is this true? Has there recently been trouble here?"

"It is not my place to speak of it but yes. Our instructions have been altered as a result of recent happenings. Please just wait here for the Hokage to send for you."

"Alright." The woman took a seat on the ground next to her daughters in the shade of the wall. They waited for about ten minutes before Shizune showed up to collect them.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting. Lady Tsunade is this way," she said.

"It's ok, Shizune. How have you been?" The woman and her daughters stood and moved off with Shizune. Shizune laughed. "There's a lot that has changed for Lady Tsunade and I but somehow nothing ever really changes for us. I'm still chasing around after her trying to get her to do as she should. And you, Wata? How have you been?"

"I've done good since we last saw each other. You remember my daughters? This is Jiyuu and that is Rakki." As she spoke she placed a hand on Jiyuu's shoulder and pointed with the other to Rakki. Both girls smiled and gave a short bow to Shizune.

"Of course I remember them. How could I forget them? They made it possible for you to take your name. Besides I helped Lady Tsunade bring them into this world."

Wata, as Shizune called her, smiled. "Yes that was a very blessed day for me. Otokooya couldn't deny me my freedom once these two made their way into the world."

"That's something I don't understand. If he thought that you brought him luck why wouldn't he think they would increase it two-fold?"

"Because if you'll remember when they were born they didn't have the green eyes they have now. They had their Daifu's eyes. He thought that if they were meant to increase his luck then they would have been born with my eyes."

Shizune shook her head. "I'm sorry but that's just stupid. Everyone knows eye color changes as babies grow. Anyway here we are." She led the way inside the tower and up the stairs to Tsunade's office where said woman was arguing with Jiraiya, her long-time partner and friend.

"You can't take off now so just quit trying to come up with excuses to leave. I need you here and Naruto needs to stay put for a bit also. He needs time to visit with his friends."

"Tsunade, you know it isn't safe for him here. He needs to keep on the move."

"No Jiraiya. He's staying here for at least a month."

"A month! Gees, woman. Do you want the Akatsuki in here that bad? If they catch up to him you know he won't stand a chance against them and if they find him here a lot of people are going to die. Let me get him back on the road. For everyone sake."

"In the last week I have had visits from everyone of the rookie nine and their sensei's asking for time off from missions when Naruto gets here. They all want to renew their friendships with him and I think it's important for him to know that they haven't forgotten him. I also know that since he got here yesterday he has barely had any time to sleep as they are all wanting to show him how much stronger they have become." She fixed Jiraiya with a steely glare. "You are not leaving with him again this week. Get used to the idea and get out of here. You aren't protecting him from here."

Jiraiya sighed and gave in. "Alright Tsunade. We'll stay for the week but I think it's a mistake." Under his breath he added, "The boy has more enemies inside the village walls than he does outside of them and that's saying something." He hadn't intended for anyone to hear that comment but Wata did.

"Which boy are you two discussing? And why does he have more enemies in town than out?" she asked.

Jiraiya and Tsunade just now noticed her and her questions were forgotten as Tsunade practically flew across the room to envelope her in a massive hug. "Wata, you're here. Welcome to the Leaf. Does this mean you'll take up my challenge?"

"Hmm. We'll see. If I do decide you have a case worth my time there are concessions I want from you Tsunade." She paused as she looked the woman over. "A lot of concessions."

"Oh I have no doubt you will find a lot of work here in the Leaf. It seems like there hasn't been a person of your talent here for a very long time."

Jiraiya asked, "And just what talent would that be?" His eyes held hearts as he took in the beauty of her face. The hearts grew and drool began to drip from his mouth as Wata removed her dusty travel cloak.

"Jiraiya get your mind out of the gutter. This is my friend Wata and she is a Shinrigakusha. I asked her to come here to help a few of our more notable persons out with their problems." Jiraiya quirked a brow and waited. She sighed and said, "Team 7 to be precise. That's why I'm not letting you take Naruto out of town now."

"Your letter sounded intriguing, Tsu, but it didn't really explain exactly what they need help with you know," said Wata. Then to Jiraiya she said, "Hello, Jiraiya-san. I am Watarimono and these are my daughters, Jiyuu and Rakki."

Wanderer, Freedom and Lucky huh. Why do I have the feeling those aren't your real names, Jiraiya thought. There's a mystery here and I think I'll pass my time in town solving it. Wata didn't miss the contemplative look and hid a smile. She knew what he was thinking but she also knew no one knew her name in this town and Tsunade wouldn't tell him her family name without permission.

"Anyway Wata, I've had a place prepared for you but I wasn't sure where to put your office. I could give you space here or in the hospital.