AUTHOR'S NOTE,

This is a Naruto and Sasuke pairing, SO if you aren't into that well... dont read it. Simple as that.

Now what I didn't mention was that Naruto is FEMALE in this story.

DISCLAIMER:

I DO NOT OWN NARUTO (which is saddening)

Chapter 1: Taken from Home

I can could feel every bump and rock that the wagon traveled over in the long journey from home. I've been locked in here with nine other girls around my age, roughly eighteen, for two days. None of us looked anything alike other than our age. There were hair colors from red to black, and eye colors ranging from blue to green and back again. None of us know why they have taken us but we all seem to be from different regions and towns. And none seem to be of any higher class than peasant, but looks can be people who took us give us food and water twice a day and let us out to use the bathroom under their strict watch. There is no privacy. I never would have guessed that the person who was let into my home was anything but a farm hand.

Three days ago,

Mama was making dinner at the fire while I set the table and my little brother, of five, followed me around the kitchen.

"Naru, are you almost done? Dinner is just about ready." she asked while she continued to stir the pot above the fire. I assume she is making stew for it has been chilly the past few days.

"Yes Mama, I just need to set Papa's place." I replied as my little brother handed me a bowl and a small tea cup. I placed both on the table and took my place seated to the right of my father's chair. With Maru being young still he sat next to me closest to Mama. When he got older Papa would tell him he needed to sit on the opposite side, but for now he was pleasant company.

Just as I had gotten Maru into his chair we heard a knock at the door. I looked over at Mama and she looked just as confused as I. She took her spoon out of the pot and set it to the side and wiped her hands on her apron as she made her way to the door. She pulled the door open but only enough so that whoever was on the other side couldn't see into the house. They only saw her.

"Yes?" she asked.

"Good evening miss your husband sent me ahead to inform you that he was going to be a tad late for supper. He was kind enough to offer me a bowl for my trouble since I live on the opposite side of the village." the deep voice of a man said from the other side of the door.

Mama looked hesitant before pulling the door open the rest of the way for the man to come inside. "Very well then. Naru would you set another place for the man?"

"Yes Mama." I got up as a huge man came inside. He had to have been at least six foot tall and was built like an ox. He was soaked from the rain proving he had been outside for quite some time. Probably helping Papa in the fields. But i had never seen this man before, and from the way Mama was acting neither had she.

I got up and made my way to the cabinets and grabbed another bowl and tea cup for the man. As I was making my way backed to the table I passed mama on her way to the fire. She patted my arm and smiled.

I looked at Maru who was chatting with the man sitting across from him. Maru loved to ask questions and if you let him he would chat your ear off. It made me smile.

Mama brought the pot of stew over to the table and set it in the middle so everyone could serve themselves, besides Maru who is too small. So I served him.

We were half way through dinner when the door was thrown open and my father came through the door with seven men behind him. The man behind my father roughly shoved him forward and he stumbled. Thats when I noticed his hands were bound behind his back and his lip was bleeding. My father wasn't a small man, standing well over six foot himself, but these men made him look small. Mama and I scrambled out of our chairs and went to help him when the man who was sitting at our table stepped in front of us dabbing at his mouth with a napkin.

"Now now, no need to rush. We only need the girl." he told my mother who clutched my arm and I her's. "By the way that stew was delicious."

"YOU CAN'T HAVE HER!" my father yelled before one of the men punched him in the stomach and I winced. That's when Maru jumped out of his seat and ran towards our father.

He was snatched by the man who shared dinner with us and held at his side. The man pulled out a knife and held it to Maru's throat and I whimpered. Maru's eyes grew wide as the knife pressed against his skin, he looked at me. "Naru! Mean man! Help!"

The man only laughed as Maru cried.

"Alright! I'll go. Just let Maru and my Papa-"

"Naru NO!" my parents yelled as the big man reached for me and pushed Maru at my mother who was forced to catch him lest he fall instead of grabbing for me.

His huge hand grabbed my arm and began to pull me out the door as my father struggled against his bonds and Maru fought against my mother as he cried for me not to go. Tears trailed down my cheeks as I was dragged out the door into the rainy night and my parents screamed for me to be given back to them.

My body lurched to the side as the wagon rolled over a larger than normal rock and crashed back down to the road. A few of the girls cried out as they fell into each other, others just went with it and sat back up again. The wagon was more than big enough for all of us so after the first time I was sent flying into someone I moved into a corner by myself. Once was enough for me.

No one really talked so much as whispered but even then they still got yelled at to be quiet.

I just wish I had a way to let my family know that I was still alive.

I missed them so much, especially Maru, my poor Maru. He must be so worried now that I was gone. Mama and Papa think I coddle him too much when I let him cuddle up in my bed at night when he has a nightmare, or kiss his boo-boos better.

When he was born i was so happy to have a baby brother and now I have been taken away from him.

The thought of never seeing my baby brother again made me choke back sobs that threatened to overwhelm me.

'Maru.'