Hideehi! So, I have a crossover now. Yay! This is my first attempt at one, so kudos to me for giving it a go! More chapters to come!
Disclaimer: Me no own Naruto or Twilight. *breaks into sobs, cuddling a Shikamaru doll while wearing a Twilight t-shirt*
My name is Isabella Hatake. You can call me Bella. I'm 17, and I've lived in Konoha as far back as I can remember.
Konoha is short for Konohagakure, the Village Hidden in the Leaves. I was found by a group of ANBU level ninja on their way back from a mission to Suna, the Hidden Sand Village, as a child, maybe four years old, wandering through the forest, cold, tired, hungry and calling for my mother. I was taken into Konoha by one of the men, Kakashi Hatake, with whom the Third Hokage charged my care. He's the only father I've ever known; I wouldn't have it any other way. And I must say, some days that can be quite disturbing; I often wonder why I didn't turn out completely different.
When I was old enough, meaning I could walk steadily and talk properly, he sent me to school at the Ninja Academy. It was here I met my best friend, Sakura Haruno. We were inseparable from the start. All of the Rookie Nine were my best friends. I wasn't a part of the nine because I graduated a year before them. Sasuke was pissed, to say the least. Still, Sasuke with emotions is funny.
Needless to say, I loved my life in Konoha. I got to go on missions, hang out with my friends, and improve my skills every day. I never wanted anything to change. But, we don't always get what we want.
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The sun was just rising when I awoke. I began slipping on my training gear, which consisted of a pair of plated, fingerless, elbow length gloves and a standard green ninja vest and black sandals. Under my jacket I wore a simple black tank top underneath a matching mesh tank. I also wore a pair of short black shorts. Strapped to my right thigh, over some bandages to prevent chaffing was my kunai pouch, and my shurikan bag was in it's usual place on the opposite side of my body, just above my butt. My long brown hair was tied into a ponytail and my ninja headband was tied to my arm, proudly displaying my status as a Konoha ninja, as it had since the day I graduated from the acadamey.
I left the small apartment I shared with Kakashi and headed down to the bridge by the Training Field, hopping roofs and buildings as a warm up.
I spotted my friends leaning against the railing, obviously bored.
"Kakashi's late again, isn't he?" I asked folding my arms when I reached them. Sakura nodded, casting her green eyes back to the lake. Sasuke leant on the rail with his arms folded, eyes closed and a blank expression on his face. He had certainly grown since our Genin days, especially after his little escapade involving a certain snaky sannin pervert, shooting up to 6"4', the childish roundness of his face replaced with hard, chiseled features, though his oddly shaped hair remained the same.
"Yes! Can't he ever show up on time, instead of hours late with some lame excuse?!" Naruto complained, pouting like he did when we were Genin. I rolled my eyes, patting him on his spiky yellow head.
"That's just Kakashi." I said simply. Naruto folded his arms, pouting still.
We waited for two hours. Every now and again, I would notice Sakura staring forlornly at Sasuke, only to swiftly look away when he caught her gaze. I rolled my eyes. It was so obvious that these two were in love. Sasuke, of course, knew exactly how Saks felt, but being his usual cold, proud self refused to concede and tell her he felt the same. He had been back for little over a year, and there had been little to no progress.
Eventually, in his usual puff of smoke, Kakashi arrived, holding his dirty little book as he always did, the back stamped with a large, red age restriction sign.
"Sorry I'm late guys, I had to help this lady find her purse-"
"LIAR!" We all chorused. Kakashi simply smiled, his mask crinkling around his lips. I was often asked if I'd seen his face, since I lived with him and all. The answer was always the same; no. He never took it off; ever.
We launched straight into training. Sakura and I sat and watched as Naruto and Sasuke sparred, beating the crap out of each other for the billionth time. Their bodies moved so fast, only a ninja could see them.
"So what's going on with you and Mr. Happy?" I asked nonchalantly, picking at the grass. Sakura stiffened beside me, her pink hair blowing in the breeze. Kakashi was leaning on a tree a few feet away, reading his dirty book. Again. Sakura sighed.
"I wish I knew. When we're alone, it's like he's a completely different person. He's warm and kind and affectionate. But whenever I think we might be getting somewhere, he backs down, turning back into his usual cold self." She looked over at me, her green eyes wide and vulnerable, "Bells, I don't know what to do."
"Oh yeah, who's the man? That's me, I'm the man! Woo! I beat Sasuke Uchiha!" Naruto's voice interrupted our conversation. He was standing over a beaten Sasuke, a foot on his chest and his arms held high in triumph.
"Hn," Sasuke grunted. He quickly flipped Naruto from his body, the blonde ninja landing with a dull thud on the ground. Before Naruto could reply with his usual less-than-witty retort, all five of us turned to see the figure of Hinata Hyuga running across the field, a scroll in her hands.
"Hinata!" Naruto cried, jumping from the ground like the fight had never happened, and running over to give his girlfriend of two years a giant welcome-kiss. Hinata was blushing like a tomato when he pulled away.
"Hello to you, too!" she exclaimed. Since getting with Naruto, Hinata has come so far out of her shell it's hard to believe there was a shell to begin with. She had transformed from a painfully shy, awkward girl into a beautiful, confident, easy going young woman. We still shared the horrible habit of blushing; it was one of the things we had bonded over as kids.
"Good morning, Hinata, how are you today?" Greeted Kakashi, the wind playing with his anti-gravitational hair; his one uncovered eye crinkled at his smile.
"Good morning Kakashi Sensei, I'm very well, thank you." She bowed politely. That was the thing about Hinata. You could always count on her manners.
"How goes the wedding planning?" I asked, stretching my triceps behind my head. Hinata sighed, rolling her opalescent eyes.
"The same as they have been for the last two months; Tenten's hormones are all over the place, and Neji is too stubborn to admit he's scared of being around her."
"She's still throwing knives?" Sakura asked; her emerald eyes were wide with surprise and concern. Hinata nodded reluctantly. Ever since Tenten had fallen pregnant, about two weeks after Neji finally proposed (those two had been dancing around each other since before they were Genin), she had developed the nasty habit of throwing knives when she was upset. This was pretty much all the time. Her perfect aim didn't help either.
"Oh, I almost forgot! Bella, I have something for you from the Hokage." Hinata handed me the scroll, which I saw now bore the seal of the Hokage, "She said you were to see her right away, and only to open the scroll in her office."
"That sounds like Lady Tsunade. She always has been cryptic." Sakura nodded in agreement. We both remembered clearly the time when Tsunade had been our shared sensei, teaching the both of us her jutsu.
I nodded, grasping the scroll in my hands, "Thanks, Hinata. I'll catch you guys later. Sorry about our spar, Saks." Sakura smiled.
"Don't worry about it. I understand." I smiled back, waving as I took off running towards the Hokage's mansion.
Climbing the steps to Lady Tsunade's cluttered office, I began to wonder. What could this be all about? Was it a mission, an errand…or something else? But what; Orochimaru was dead and the Sound had collapsed without him. The Akatsuki had long since disbanded with Itachi's disappearance. As hard as Sasuke had tried, he had been unable to defeat his brother, who, after a long and bloody battle, disappeared into thin air. No one had seen him for the last two years.
I rapped my knuckles on the door, listening patiently until I heard Tsunade's familiar voice giving me permission to enter, coupled with the sloshing of what I assumed was her usual bottle of sake. I sighed and smiled, rolling my eyes as I pushed the door open. That woman needed to slow down on the alcohol.
"Bella, glad you could make it." Tsunade motioned for me to enter, her blonde head bent over the desk; it was overflowing with books, empty sake bottles and an ever growing pile of paperwork. Shizune was busy filling Tonton's bowl with food, the little pig oinking hungrily. I stopped in front of the desk, bowing respectfully.
"Good morning, Lady Tsunade,"
"Bella, what have I told you about calling me that?" Tsunade chastised lightly. She had an affectionate smile on her ever youthful face, her expression much like a mother would look on her daughter.
"My apologies for the indiscretion, ma'am." She rolled her eyes at me and I giggled. "Mind telling me what you called me for. You know I spar with my team in the mornings."
"So sorry for interrupting you beating the pulp out of your friends, Bells." Taking a swig from her bottle, Tsunade's face took on a more serious look, "I have some information on the whereabouts of a certain rogue Uchiha." I gasped.
"Itachi? So he really is alive?" Tsunade nodded solemnly, "But why are you telling me? Shouldn't you tell Sasuke?" She shook her head.
"He only just came back. I saw what it did to everyone, Sakura especially, when he left. I don't want that boy to run off on his own to try and finish off his brother. Not again. That's why I've assigned you. You're one of our top ninja, Bella, and I know I can trust you to do your job well."
"I'm honestly surprised you aren't an ANBU yet." Shizune piped up, coming to stand next to her mistress while Tonton fed in the corner.
"You both know my reasons." I reminded them cryptically. They nodded. The reason I was not an ANBU yet was because I had only recently become a Jounin. I needed more experience before becoming one of the Elite. "So, when do I leave?"
"As soon as possible, there's no time to waste. The scroll you hold contains everything you need to know for your journey. I need you to pack your things and come back here in an hour, clear?"
"Yes, ma'am," I bowed, rushing from the room. I jumped over rooftops, coming to the front door of mine and Kakashi's apartment. Turning the key in the lock, I opened it and rushed inside, only to slow to a stop upon reaching the living room. Kakashi was there, leaning on the back of the couch, his arms folded.
"You're leaving, aren't you?" he murmured, his one uncovered eye blinking at me expectantly.
"It's only a mission, Kakashi. I'll be back before you know it." I reassured him, smiling. My smiled faltered when he didn't respond, "Is there something wrong?"
Kakashi unfolded his arms and walked over, pulling me into a hug. "It's nothing. I just…have a feeling I won't see you again."
I hugged him back, "That's silly. You could never get rid of me." I joked. It seemed to work, lightening the tension a little. For the next hour, Kakashi helped me pack my things. Every now and then I would catch him staring at me, and I would smile, trying to talk my 'father' out of his funk. It was silly for him to think he wouldn't see me again.
Little did I know, that Kakashi was more right than I could possibly imagine.
Doneski. Please review, it makes me very, very happy! Chapter 2 will be up as soon as possible!
