Naruto was laughing as he turned the corner into an ally, the yells and threats of the local village anbu could be heard as the dashed over the village roof tops. Naruto had pulled his most cunning prank to date. At first it looked like he had just died the anbu's clothing a rainbow of colors, but the best had yet to come.
Naruto made another turn as the clothing began to give away . Little by little the armor worn began turning to dust as the compounds in the paint took effect. The people down below the anbu soon found themselves being covered in bits a powder and string, a few women squawking at the sight, men giving some wolf whistles, and parents covered their children's eyes.
The anbu sensing the wind blowing against their skin, looked down and yelled in embarrassment. Naruto continued running on, laughing as the anbu began retreating attempting to hide their intimate parts.
Eight years he has been doing this and the anbu had never even come close to catching him. The only person who ever seemed to be able to keep up with him was Iruka, and speaking of his teacher, Naruto could see the familiar hairstyle of Iruka not far off, heading his way.
"Naruto you're in so much trouble," the instructed called out as he ran across the roof top.
"You'll have to catch me first sensie," the preteen called as he fled. Naruto quickly began jumping across the rooftops, his teacher not far behind. Coming to one of the older parts of the Village, Naruto made a quick dive down an ally smiling as he turned, once more , jumping over a fence, and smacked right into a door.
"Owwwww, what the heck man," Naruto said peeling his face from the wooden door. Having been down this way before naruto knew that there was no house right here, only an old fence and a grassy lot.
Before he could contemplate what was going on, the door swung open much to Naruto's dismay. Panicking naruto moved to close the door before the owner came and thought he was trying to break in. As his his hand reached for the doorknob a voice called from inside, "Don't just stand there young man come in."
Naruto gulped and turned to leave, but stopped. Slowly his body began to turn itself, and began to make its way in through the door. "Hey wait, what the, no,no, no, no! Come on body, stop, stop!"
Naruto continued struggling to control his limbs as he was marched down the hall seeming to know where to go. Before long Naruto came to stop in front of a traditional paper screen door. The door showed branches from odd looking trees and clouds that seemed to slowly drift across the paper.
"Come now it's rude to linger in front of a door my dear," the voice spoke once more. Naruto gulped for a moment, but figured that he didn't have much of a choice. Steeling his nerves naruto took hold of the screen before opening it.
The first thing that was apparent was the heavy smoke that filled the room. It wasn't like a cigar or smoke from a fire, it was more like a hazy fog, accompanied by a strange scent. Naruto then noticed the figure near the far side of the room. A women who sat in a wicker chair, her Hair tied up in loops with a few braids running down her back. She was slender, and dressed in a old style kimono with roses covering the bottom of it, Her face was slender, and her eyes where a deep emerald. Naruto couldn't help but blush slightly at the sight of her.
"It is a pleasure to finally meet you young one, my name is Aonodona, but you may call me Ao (pronounced Ah' oh), and have a task for you Naruto," she spoke softly and sweetly, snapping Naruto out of his trance.
"Umm okay first of all sorry about walking into your house, and second who the hell are you," Naruto said, exploding on the last part.
"Well I already told you my name is Ao, but I believe if you mean am I humen, then yes I am," The lady said pulling out a fan before hiding her smile behind it.
"Umm I mean are you like a shinobi, or," Naruto left off feeling like he was being made fun of.
"Ah, well no, I am no Shinobi, rather I have been called many thing, A witch, a saviour, but simply I am a businesswoman. You see Naruto, A while back a client came and left some things to me, asking for my service, He said that something was coming and that, He wanted me to find someone to carry on his work and dream, And the person I found Is you Naruto."
Naruto blinked, stared at Ao for a moment before he busted out laughing. "Ahhahahaha, A witch yeah right lady, you almost had me there , ah come on now tell me who are you really?"
"Is this kid really supposed to help us?"
Naruto quickly stood up, a kunie emerging from his sleeve. He knew that only Ao had been in the room when he had 'walked' in.
"Now, now little one, no need to be like that. I have seen Naruto and the kind of person he is, I have absolutely faith in his ability. And if I'm wrong there's still plan b," Ao said looking off to the side. Naruto turned his head following her gaze and noticed a table with a crystal all laying ontop of it.
"Still say that there are better people," The orb responded causing Naruto to pale before shooting across the room.
Stumble would be more fitting in reality, as he slipped on the floor before crawling across the room in a rapid pace, as the people in the room observed.
Ao couldn't, help but laugh at naruto plastered across the wall, making a cross with his fingers attempting to utter some kind of phrase.
"Ah ha hah ha, Oh wow, I haven't seen someone scuddle across the floor like that since Ming chan went and upset the house spirit, and found a dead rat in his bed" Ao said remembering that day.
"Wh-what the heck are yah, lau-laughing at granny there's a gho g-g-g,"Naruto started before Ao came down on his skull with a rocket punch. "First of all, you never call a girl granny, second that's not a ghost, here," Ao said handing him a watch. The watch was mostly white with a gray trim around the face. The face itself was covered in several different colors each covering a triangular section of the face, a large bubble covering most of the top, a small slit on the watches rim and glass looking like something could be inserted into it.
Naruto blinked, but obeyed and took the watch, not wanting to be hit again by the women. "Umm what am I supposed to do with this," Naruto asked not entirely sure how a watch would help.
"This My dear child is what we call a Yo-kai watch. This device allow normal people to see what usually remains unseen, It was left to me by the friend previously mentioned, It's rather simple actually, just press the button on the side here," Ao said pointing to a small button on the side that naruto had not noticed. Taking the watch Naruto looked it over once more before pressing the button. The bubble popped open, a small night went on and Naruto could hear the sound almost a beeping, but not quite a beep sound. Pointing it at the table Naruto watch, nothing happening at first, but as the seconds ticked by, the table morphed first to dark blob before taking a more solid form, and before long Naruto blinked at the sight of,
"A Lizard," Naruto said not recognizing what was across from him. The so called lizard was mainly a light green, with orange curly hair on its head, and going down it back to its stubby tail. the crystal ball that Naruto had seen earlier was resting on its head, between two tiny brown deer like horns. Naruto could also see a small, handkerchief or bib hanging from its neck, but the biggest feature was the very obvious booger hanging from its nostril.
"Hey who yah callin a *sniff* lizard, I'm one of the feared dragon clan," It exclaimed.
Naruto simply stared unimpressed. "Now, now no need to argue," Ao said stepping in.
"Naruto this is why I have called you here," Ao said walking over to the lizard ("Dragon!").
"This little one is called Draggie, and as stated belongs to the dragon yo-kai clan," Ao said.
"There are many Yo-kai in this world, many whom come from their own parallel world, mainly to play small pranks on humans, though some come to help humans, while others choses to actively hinder, or even harm humans," Ao began explaining standing next to draggi for a moment, before walking back to her chair and sitting down.
"Okkkayy, so what does that have to do with me," Naruto asked not sure where this was going.
"You see my contact was a powerful Yo-kai who had an interest in humans, and as a last wish before he passed away was for humans and Yo-kai to co-exist, To put it simply Naruto Uzumaki, I need for you to go find, and befriend the yo-kai that can be found within this world," Ao said sitting down, staring down at Naruto seriously.
Naruto gulped. He felt that this was a set up, some attempt to get back at him, but a part of him, something deep down said trust in Ao, that she was being honest. A chance to be trusted in, a chance to make friends. Naruto looked down his eyes partly clouded. Looking up Naruto stared forward, a serious gleam in his eyes. "I'll do it," He declared.
Ao smiled and nodded "Now then come here, and bring the watch," Ao said . Naruto stood up walked over the watch in his hand. Ao held out her hand, in which naruto placed the watch. Ao gingerly took it before wrapping it over naruto's wrist, holding her hand over it muttering something, that Naruto could not here, before watching the watch began to glow a gold color. Naruto looked away for a moment, and when the light faded Naruto looked back to see that the watch was gone, instead an odd looking spiral tattoo was where it once been.
"I've enchanted the watch, so it remain hidden until you need it. Now just so you know the watch allows you to see yo-kai, but others will not, also I'd like for Draggie to accompany you,"Ao started when interrupted.
"WHAT?! No way, Hey STOP copying me, no you stop copying me," Naruto and Draggie began, both staring at each other down.
"Now, now Draggie is able to use his orb to discover events or facts of, Yo-kai, and you need that help Naruto, as you may Find Yo-kai you do not know of, or can not find information on," Ao sad trying to diffuse the situation. "And Draggie you still lack much knowledge of what is outside the village, and accompanying Naruto is a good way for you to prove yourself," Ao said ending the argument. Naruto and Draggie both knew she was right but didn't like the idea.
"Now also Naruto I will be paying you for your services, I'm still a business women after all," Said reaching over the side of her chair and pulling up a small box. Opening it there were two objects, an elegantly crafted mirror, and an odd looking book.
The mirror was a small hand held looking glass, the back having flower design on top of it. The book had a pair of markings Naruto could not make heads or tales of, with smaller images in circles surrounding it, somewhere simple like the hearts or the face, while others were just an odd squiggle marking on the books cover.
"Consider these your first pay in advance. The book is called the Yo-kai medallium a way of tracking and storing the yo-kai you've befriended. As for the mirror, it is enchanted to allow you to communicate with me over long distances, so if you ever need advice, or have a question call me, and it help you whenever I'm available, and don't worry about breaking it I've treated it so that is impossible to break it under normal means," Ao said Closing the box, before handing it over to Naruto.
Naruto took the book tentatively before bowing. "Thank you ," Naruto said before giving a deep waist bow. Aoo was surprised by the show of respect, before smiling warmly. Gently placing her hand under Naruto's chin before bring up his head.
"Child who has known darkness, take peace in knowing you need not stand alone, that Yo-kai, and Gods now walk with you," Ao said, a warm smile on her face.
"Okay, as sweet as this is we gotta go, you know, Yo-kai don't befriend themselves," Draggie said stepping up next Naruto.
"Yeah, and I got to get home before Iruka-sensei finds me," Naruto said, surprised by how long it had taken His teacher to find him.
"Oh dont worry bout that, there's an enchantment on the building that prevents, any non customers from seeing, let alone entering it," Ao said returning to her chair.
NAruto looked at the owner impressed.
"Also one more thing Naruto, as there are Yokai who wish for co-existence, there are those, who view humans as inferior, and seek to stop the possibility of humans and yo-kai coexisting, one way or another, so do be careful," Ao warned sitting back upon her chair.
Naruto gulped slightly but stood firm, he would not back out of this, that was his ninja way.
"I'll check on you later, but for now" Ao said clapping her hands.
The screen door slid opened , and Naruto saw what looked like a young boy,dressed in an old fashion blue Yukta, his hair tied up in a brush like bun, His head was oddly shaped, almost like a walnut.
"ShuShu would you guide Naruto to the exist please," Ao said, and the kid nodded.
The boy gestured Naruto to follow, before e walking down the hall. Naruto and Draggie quickly followed not wanting to be left behind.
-Back with Ao-
"So you really think that kid is our best hope, better start stocking up for the apocalypse," a voice spoke from behind Ao's chair.
"Now Ming, dont wright Naruto off so quickly, it was as i had said, he no longer walks alone, and there's still plan B if all else fails," ao said as the figure known as ming came from behind the chair.
She wore a long sleeved white Kimono, her hair falling down her back in dark brown waves,. Her face was thin but elegant, but her most striking features where he eyes, one blue, one green.
"Yeah, yeah, and you still haven't decided on what girl will get the watch, I can only imagine, though how this will turn out," Ming said crossing her arms.
"All will be well in the end, have faith ming, after all even king Enma, and his court did," Ao said.
"And look at where it got him, Half sealed away, and the other are buried," ming said.
"The perished following what they believed was right, Now we can only hope to see it through, my young apprentice," Ao said picking up a small cup that seemed to appear from thin air.
"Yeah, your right, after all that's why we exist after all, to get things done" Ming said turning and beginning to walk away.
Ao sighed, but smiled tiredly. "Do not worry, soon al well be in place, my dear Enma," Ao whispered softly.