First meeting
I was ten years old and my mother wanted to go visit Konoha. I knew she used to live there until she was sent to our shrine. Mom had gone to see the Hokage and told me that I could go take a look around the village. It was a really nice place, I didn't get to travel much and we didn't live in a village so it was really exciting for me. I continued walking when I saw a playground.
I had never been to one before, so I decided to play around a bit. I then noticed a blonde haired kid sitting on the swing set. "Hello," I smiled as I walked up to him. "Hi…" He replied quietly. "My names Akiko Suzuki, what's yours?" I asked. "Naruto Uzumaki, why are you talking to me?" Naruto asked. "Why not?" I replied.
"No one in this village talks to me… and I don't know why…" Naruto spoke as tears fell from his eyes. "That's mean, I think you're nice. Want to be friends?" I asked. A smile crossed his face, "Of course," Naruto jumped up to hug me. I hugged back of course, until I heard a familiar voice. "AKI!" I turned around to see my mom. "Mommy this is Naruto he's my new friend." I smiled as I pulled him towards her. Naruto looked scared while my mom collapsed to the floor. "Naruto… you look just like …" My mom spoke then froze. "It's nice to meet you." She spoke as she pulled him into a hug. Naruto smiled as he then hugged back.
Something was going on… It's like mom knew him. "Aki… I'm sorry but we have to leave." She spoke as she released Naruto. "Where are you going?" Naruto asked. "I guess back home… we live far away from here." I replied as Naruto's face dropped. "I see…" Naruto spoke, "But I will come back someday I promise, and we will always be friends so… don't forget me okay?" I cried out as tears streamed down my face. "Naruto pulled me into a hug and whispered in my ear. "I promise." I left… but inside I knew then I would see him again.
"Akiko!" A young girl, about age 14 turned her head towards the temple servant drawn out of her thoughts. The young girl had brown hair that went to her shoulders, she wore a scarlet red top with bare shoulders with dark blue short shorts. Her evergreen eyes stared at the temple servant, "What's wrong Kimi?" Akiko asked, "It's him! He's here! You need to leave, now!" Akiko's eyes widened, her parents had told her what to do when this happened.
The plan was to run. Run to the nearest village and tell them what happened. But her mind wasn't working right now, her body was acting on it's own and was heading straight for the temple, despite Kimi's shouting. Her legs ran as fast as they could carry her, her heart was pounding against her ribcage so much that she could almost hear it, Please be okay, you have to be okay, you have to be okay.
The temple's decorated walls became blurred as she sprinted through the temple. Pumping chakra into her legs, she burst through the main Temple entrance, there stood the man in the mask standing over her parents. "Mom...dad..." she whimpered, the man turned to the young girl, his mask was orange, it spiraled around his right eye which seemed to be red, "Akiko Suzuki. My condolences." he said, Akiko could do nothing but stand in shock, her parents where dead. She didn't need to go over there to see that, she should have ran, she shouldn't have charged in after her parents, "Now Akiko, I didn't want to do that to them. And if you come quietly, you won't be harmed." her gaze snapped to the masked man, anger boiled the blood in her veins, her parents where dead because of the man standing before her.
"Lightning style! Rose lightning!" she shouted as she gathered her chakra in her hands, putting them overtop one another, a pink spark gathered in her hands and let out a stream of lightning at the man. The man took a small jump to the side easily dogging the attack, Too easy. he didn't expect the sparks from the electricity to shock his arm, "Gaaahhhhh!" he yelled as he clutched his arm. The pain was intense, but he didn't feel any burns on his arm at all. What kind of attack was that! he thought, "So you got some fight in you eh?" he asked looking up, only to see the girl had disappeared. Looking down at the bodies that laid before him he cured under his breath, Shit, well at least the girl is still kicking.
(Line )
Akiko leaped through the trees as tears blurred her eyes, Mommy...Daddy...no no no no NO NO NO! her foot missed her the brach she had intended to land and fell to the forest floor. She hit the ground hard and tumbled down the hill she had been traveling. Her exposed arms became scratched and bruised from the rocks that where littered throughout the forest.
She finally came to a stop at the base of the hill, she laid on the grass unmoving. She slowly set herself up against a tree and let the tears empty from her eyes. Her mother and father had been the world to her, she was born and raised in the temple that she fled from moments before. Her mother is-was a priestess, she had a special bloodline, what it could do, Akiko had no idea, but it was the main reason why her mother was sent to the temple.
Her father had been a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf, that's how he met her mother. Her mother...her dead mother... those words didn't seem to go together in any order. Akiko held her head in her hands, my parents...oh Kami...why...
Akiko couldn't think straight. The image of her parents laying lifeless on the ground haunted her mind. Her mother, Netsume, in all her beauty with hair longer her Akiko's but the same shade of brown. And her father, Yukio, whose green eyes looked back at her in the mirror every day.
All that Akiko could do at the moment was let tears roll down her face.
(Line)
(Naruto POV)
"Kakashi-sensei how much farther is it?" The white haired shinobi looked at his companion, "Naruto be patient, we'll get there soon enough. It should be half a kilometer away." Naruto let out a 'humph' in response, "I still don't see why Sasuke and Sakura couldn't come with us. I mean it's a C rank mission." he said, throwing his hands in the air. Kakashi silently agreed, the mission was to escort a priestess and her family back to the hidden leaf, reports say that they had revived threats from a man regarding the family. The husband was a former shinobi so lady Tsunade ordered him and Naruto to the temple right away, Sasuke was required to stay behind because of his behavior of late, and Sakura stayed behind to keep a eye on him.
Naruto leaned his head back and looked towards the sky, Man, why does these guys have to live this far away from the village? Naruto thought. As they continued down the path, Naruto saw something in the air, "Huh?" Kakahsi looked over his shoulder at him, "What is it Naruto?" he asked, dreading another question if when they'd get there. "Kakashi-sensei, is that smoke?" he asked, pointing to the sky. Looking up, Kakashi saw that it was indeed smoke, That could only mean... "Naruto! Double time!" he said leaping into the trees. Naruto was right behind him.
Naruto fallowed Kakasi through the forest as fast as he could but was struggling to keep up with his sensei. Kakashi immediately noticed and stopped on a branch, "Naruto, scout through the forest for survivors. I'll head on ahead and see if I can help, meet back at the main road! Got it?" Naruto nodded, Kakashi took that as his cue to head on.
Making a hand seal, Naruto shouted, "Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!" twelve shadow clones poof'ed into existence. "Alright guys! You heard sensei, get to work!" the original Naruto said, the others gave nods of affirmation and went their separate ways. Naruto smiled to himself, Ha! Who's a Baka now Sakura?
Naruto headed off in his own direction away from the other clones. Jumping through the tree line, Naruto kept his eyes on the ground below, searching for anyone that might have escaped the fire. Too bad he didn't see the trunk he was about to run into. Naruto let out a groan of pain as he slid down the face if the tree.
"Owwwwwwwwww." Naruto groaned as he rubbed his face. Before he could climb back up the tree, Naruto heard a whimper like sound, "Hello?" he called out. When he revived no answer he went in the direction he last heard the noise. The whimpering was getting louder so he knew he was heading the right direction, Wait...that's crying. Naruto thought as he quicker his pace.
Naruto cornered around a tree to find a small clearing. At the base of the tree across the clearing sat a girl with tears streaming down her face, "Hey, are you alright?" Naruto asked, the girl's head snapped up to the boy, "S-s-s-stay back!" she shouted, pulling her Kunai out of her pouch, causing Naruto to back away from her.
"Hey! I'm not going to hurt you!" he exclaimed. The girl kept her Kunai pointed at him, her hands shaking and tears still running down her face. Naruto slowly stepped forwards, "Look, I'm not going to hurt you, I promise. And I never break a promise, believe it." Naruto said with a small smile. The girl's tears continued to flow from her eyes, but her hands began to lower.
"I...I...I...I'm sorry." she whimpered, dropping the Kunai. Naruto let out a small sigh of relief, "Ok. Now why are you crying?" he asked, the girl attempted to while the tears away, "My...dad and mom died." Naruto felt a pang of guilt hit him in the gut, "Oh." he simply said.
"It doesn't matter. I'll be with them soon." she said just above a whisper. Naruto''s face morphed to shock. "What?!" the girl shrugged, "What's the point?" Naruto strode over to the girl and grabbed her by her shoulders, making her look at him in shock, "There is always a point! You can't just give up on life!" the girl's face reflected his own, "Who the hell are you to tell me that! Your just some guy who found me in the woods! For all I know your with the guy who killed my parents!" she shouted back.
Naruto gritted his teeth, "How would you like it if they killed themselves because you died!" she stopped struggling, "They...they wouldn't..." she whispered to herself, "They...they would never do that...they just..." Naruto let go of her shoulders, "Right. Look...I have no idea what it's like to lose someone that close to you...but you can't just give up because they aren't with you anymore."
The girl leaned against the tree and slid down the side, "Your...right...they wouldn't." Naruto smiled at his small victory. "And you either, right?" he questioned, the girl wiped the tears from her eyes, this time her cheeks stayed dry, "Right."
Naruto held out a hand for her, "Come on, me and my sensei are supposed to meet at the road, come with me." he pleaded. The girl stared at his outstretched hand, she then looked at the boy's face. He had a smile on his face, A few minutes ago he was yelling at me, now he's grinning. she thought.
Slowly, she lifted her hand and grasped the boy's, pulling her up she saw that she was a few centimeters taller than him, "What's your name?" he asked. "Akiko Suzuki. And you?" she asked. The boy's eyes widened, "Aki!?" he exclaimed, she gave the boy a strange look. "It's me! Naruto Uzumaki!" he exclaimed.
Aki's eyes widened and pulled her old friend into a hug. "Naruto! Oh Kami!" she said as tears leaked from her eyes, but smiled nonetheless. Naruto embraced her, "Aki, I'm so sorry. Your parents..." Aki dug her head into the boy's shoulder, "Please, don't talk about it. Please." she pleaded, Naruto remained silent as his long lost friend embraced him.
(Line)
Kakashi stood at the roadside, waiting for Naruto. It had been far too late by the time he had gotten to the temple, the holy ground had been set ablaze long before Naruto had noticed it, And with no survivors. I'll have to inform Lady Tsunade that there where signs of foul play. he thought.
"Kakashi-sensei!" the man turned to see Naruto emerge from the thicket, and he wasn't alone. "Naruto, glad to see you found someone." the man bent down on a knee to be at eye level with the girl, "My name is Kakashi Hatake, of the hidden leaf. I'm a jounin. Who are you?" he questioned. The girl looked like she had been through the ringer, she had small cuts and bruises all over and she looked frazzled, she avoided eye contact with him and looked down at the ground, "M-m-my name is Akiko Suzuki." she said nervously.
Kakashi's eye widened, "Oh, so lived at the Temple, huh?" she nodded, still avoiding his gaze, "I'm sorry about what happened to your home. We where actually on our way to find you and your family, do you know where they are?" Naruto have a downcast look as Akiko started to tremble, "They...they where at the temple."
Kakashi let out a surprised sound, "I'm sorry Akiko. But I think it would be best if you returned to the village with us." the girl couldn't say anything but nodded. Kakashi stood and nodded to Naruto, "Come on, time to head back."
(Line)
The three traveled in silence down the road towards the village in silence. Kakashi couldn't blame the girl, losing family was something that was never easy, the closer that they where, the harder it hit you. Kakashi knew that from experience.
Naruto and Akiko where beside one another, Naruto hated seeing his friend in such a state, he needed to say something, anything to brighten her dark day. "Hey Aki, when was the last time you where in the leaf ?" he asked, she glanced over to him as they continued walking. "Not since we met, why?" Naruto grinned, "Well, I found the greatest restaurant in all the nations!" Aki gave him a small smile, "That's a big claim Naruto. You sure you can back that up?" she asked, Naruto looked offended, "Just you wait! When we get some Ichiraku ramen in ya, you'll be begging for more." Aki smiled at her friend's gesture of good will, "I'd like that, besides, gotta eat sometime, right?" "That's the sprit!" Naruto said.
Kakashi smiled under his mask, Just like Naruto to make a girl who lost everything smile in the same day. he thought as the two continued small talk.
(Line)
"And how is the girl?" Tsunade asked, Kakashi stood before the fifth Hokage in her office along with Shizune, "She's being looked at by a medic at the hospital as we speak, Naruto is there to." Tsunade raised a eye, "Has she said anything pertaining to how she got away?" the sensei shook his head. "No, not yet. I figured that you'd want to attend to that matter."
The Hokage leaned back in her chair, "Shizune." her assistant stood at attention, "Yes m'lady?" "When she gets out of the hospital, can you bring her here for questioning?" Shizune nodded, "Of course m'lady."
(Line)
Akiko stood nervously outside the Hokage's door. Her father had told her that the Hokage was the strongest of all the ninja of the Hidden Leaf, so she has every right to be scared. Slowly, she tapped her knuckles against the wooden door. "Come in." Akiko slowly opened the door to reveal the Hokage in the middle of the room, "Akiko Suzuki?" she asked, the girl gave a quick nod.
"Come, sit, I just have a few questions for you if your up for it." Akiko quickly took a seat in the chair in front of her desk, "So Akiko, what do you think of the Hidden Leaf." Akiko quickly answered, "It's great! Though I don't like it as much as the temple. Not that I'm saying that your village isn't likable! No!" she said, the words tumbling out of her mouth before she could stop them.
Tsunade smirked, She's a nervous little thing. "Akiko. I know it's hard to say after everything that's happened, but we need to know what happened." Akiko's face faltered, "Oh." Tsunade gave the child a look of sympathy, she hated people that took parents away from children, "Take your time, there's no rush."
Akiko took a breath, "It all started about a month ago. A masked man came to the temple, he demanded that me and my mother come with him." Tsunade leaned on her hands as she continued, "My dad showed up and told him to leave before he made him, the masked guy just laughed. He left but he said he'd be back...and then I saw him earlier today." the Hokage nodded in understanding, "Do you have any idea why he wanted you or your mother, and not your father?"
Akiko bit the inside of her cheek, "Well...my mother told me that her family has a bloodline limit, and that was why she moved to the temple." Tsunade's head elevated from her hands at this, "Do you know what it can do?" Akiko shook her head. "I see." the woman said. Standing up from her seat she made her way to the girl, Akiko was scared she did the wrong thing and started to shrink into her chair.
"You've been very brave Akiko. I only have three more questions for you then you can go to your new home." Akiko's eyes widened at the words 'new home' her home was the temple, nothing would change that. "First, your father was a former Jounin of the leaf, did he ever teach you any jutsus?" Akiko nodded, "Yea, he even thought me some advanced training routines." Tsunade smiled, "Okay, second. I imagine that the masked man attempted to take you with him. But your here with us, how did a little girl like you beat him?"
Akiko gave a pout at that, I am not a 'little girl' she thought, "I used the Rose Lightning jutsu." Tsunade was genuinely surprised, "Really? That jutsu is very advanced. And your able to pull that number off by yourself?" the girl blushed but nodded nonetheless.
"Final question, would you consider joining the Leaf Shinobi?" Akiko had to make her jaw not drop. "W-w-what!?" Tsunade smiled, "You've shown potential in this line of work. Now usually what I would do is send you to the academy and see you out when the time is right. But given that you have a knack for highly advanced jutsus, I'm willing to offer you this once."
Akiko was speechless, her dad told her all the trials that a shinobi had to go through to get to where he was. It was hard work, but it payed off. "Lady Hokage...I...I.." the woman patted the girl on the shoulder, "I'll give you until tomorrow to think about it. Until then, there's a apartment that I've been meaning to fill. And it's yours now." Akiko was stunned to say the least.
(Line)
"So are you ready for the greatest food on the planet?" Naruto asked, Akiko smirked, he had been telling her about this 'Ichiraku's Ramen' since he offered to get her a bite to eat, "Come on! It's just this way!" he said as he grabbed her hand and made their way to the food stand. Akiko chuckled at the blond's excitement.
"Hey old man! You here?" Naruto asked as the two entered the ramen bar. The 'old man' came from the back room, "Ah! Naruto my boy, good to see you! Oh, and whose this?" he asked looking at Aki. The girl flushed a little, "My name's Akiko." the man gave a hearty laugh, "Well, it's nice to meat you Akiko, what would you like?"
"Well...do you have anything sweet?" she asked. The man smiled, "I have just the thing for you dear. Naruto, the usual?" he asked, the blond nodded enthusiastically. The man smiled and went to work on the food, Naruto handed her a pair of chopsticks, "Thanks you...for all this Naruto." Aki said, taking the chopsticks
Naruto smiled, "You had a bad day. It's the least I could do." Aki gave him a sad smile, "Here you two go, fresh off the stove!" the man said, giving the boy and girl their ramen. Naruto immediately dug into his food, Aki looked down at the food, the food that she usually had at the temple was fruits, and the occasional sweets that her dad smuggled in. It has to be better then nothing. she thought as she put the first of the noodles in her mouth.
Oh. Dear. Kami. She thought before she joined Naruto in his slurping.
After Naruto finished his second bowl, Aki was almost done with her first and was enjoying it, Ramen, is there anything you can't do? Naruto thought as he slurped the remainder of his bowl, "So Aki, do you have a place to stay in the village for now?" he asked, Aki swallowed her noodles, "Yea, the Hokage gave me a apartment, she also gave me the offer to be a shinobi like you!"
Naruto did a double take, "What! It took me three tries to become a shinobi!" he exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. Aki looked at him questionably, "Why did it take you three times?" she asked, Naruto rested his arms and head on the table. "I..I got held back...twice." he mumbled, "Oh, Naruto I'm sorry, I didn't mean-" he shook his head, "Forget about it, I'm here now aren't I? Besides, if I didn't get held back I wouldn't have the friends I have now."
Aki raised a brow, "Who are they?" Naruto smirked, "Well there's Sasuke Uchiha, he's kinda of the clild prodigy. Then there's Sakura Haruno, she's kinda the smart one of the team. And you already met Kakashi-sensi." he explained, ordering another bowl. Akiko smiled, "They sound nice." Naruto nodded, "Eh Sasuke can be a pain at times, but Sakura's alright. Do you want to meet them?" Akiko felt butterflies in her stomach.
Akiko had only her parents at the temple, aside from Naruto, she never had any friends. "I...well...um...maybe later, I kinda want to get my bearings and that." Naruto nodded in understanding, "Sure, don't worry, you'll love 'em." he said, before digging into his third bowl of ramen.
(Line)
"You don't need to do this Naruto, I can find my way home by myself." Akiko said, Naruto shook his head, "You said you hadn't stepped foot here since we met, and that was like a decade ago. Besides, we're actually pretty close to where I live, so no big deal." he said as the two walked down the street.
"Ok, fine, here's the address." she said, handing the note to Naruto. He quickly looked over it, a slight shocked expression crossing his face before being replaced by a smile, "I know exactly where this is! Fallow me!" he said taking off ahead of her. "Naruto! Wait up!" she called out as she tried to keep up.
Naruto and Akiko stopped at a apartment complex, "Come on, it's on the top floor." he said as he sprinted up the wall. He stopped after a few feet when he realized Aki probably couldn't climb like him, he was surprised when he saw her right beside him, "Gah! You can do that already?" he questioned. Akiko smiled, "My dad taught me some stuff." she said, sticking tongue out in a mocking manner.
Naruto leaped over the railing and headed down the exposed hall until he came to a stop at the door. "Ta da! Here's your new home." he said. Akiko looked at the wooden door for a moment. "Hey...you alright?" Naruto asked, pulling Akiko out of her thoughts, "Yea, just...admiring the framework." she said, face palming when she realized what she said. Naruto chuckled and opened the door.
The apartment was decent sized, it was one room with a kitchen, a table, and a bed in the corner, along with small living room like area in the middle. Akiko looked at the place in wonder, "Wow...it's...nice." she said as she stepped inside. "Wait, how'd you know where the exact room?" Akiko questioned, Naruto snickered, "My room's right at the end of the hall. We're neighbors!" he exclaimed. Akiko smiled brightly, "I need to thank the Hokage when I see her tomorrow. This is great!"
Naruto put his head behind his back and grinned, "I know right? This is awesome!" Akiko smiled at Naruto's optimism, "Wait, how are your parents okay with you having a apartment?" she asked, Naruto's face faltered, "I...I never had any parents." he said sadly. Akiko gave a small gasp, she felt firsthand what it was like to lose your parents, but to never have known them, she couldn't imagine what that was like. "Naruto...I'm so sorry." she said, gently putting her hand on his shoulder, he flashed her a small smile, "It's okay. It doesn't bug me that much anymore."
Akiko looked downward at the statement, "Do...do you not feel the pain anymore?" she asked timidly. Naruto was taken back from the question, "Aki...I'm a orphan, I never knew my parents." it wasn't what Akiko was looking for, "Oh." she said simply, "But...I think after a while...it dulls. I mean, I was sad about it for a while, and I sometimes am still. But...after a while, I don't feel the pain anymore."
Akiko wiped her eyes of the tears that threatened to flow, "You don't?" he shook his head. "Akiko. I promise that you won't feel bad about it one day. And I'll make sure you stay safe, and never go back on my word. That's my nindo." he said. Aki smiled at Naruto's words, she wrapped her arms around Naruto and said, "Thank you Naruto. Thank you for everything." Naruto smiled as he returned the hug.
(Line)
Akiko laid in her new bed. In her new home. With her old friend next door. She missed her parents more than anything right now, and she didn't like to think about them or that masked man, but she could t stop thing about it. Mom, dad...wherever you are. I love you guys. she thought to herself. I'm going to get stronger. And when I'm strong enough; I'll find the man who killed you. I promise.
(Line)
It had been two and a half years since that day. Akiko made many friends, she learned more than she could from her father. And Naruto kept his promise, the pain did fade away, not completely, but enough that she didn't feel a crushing pain in her chest. A now seventeen year old Akiko walked down the road to the leaf village, her top had been replaced with a shoulder less scarlet top, on her neck she wore a leaf village forehead protector. Her black short shorts where now a impinged by a brown short skirt. Her arms no longer where bare and hand arm sleeves that went to her hands and slid over her ring fingers. Her once short hair was now long enough to reach her waist, and her legs where now covered by brown boots that went to her thighs.
It's been a while. But I'm glad to be home. She thought as the village gates came into sight.
AN: Akiko Suzuki isn't my own Oc, she belongs to lovelychu on and all rights go to her for Akiko's creation. And to all my readers, merry Christmas!
Don't forget to leave a review in the box below, or put a review towards lovelychu for her character, I'll put up a link to what Akiko looked like on my profile. Thanks for reading! Note: all chapters may not be as long as this.