Rose: attaches self to Asa

Asa: "Err…What is it?"

Naruto: "I don't know"

Asa: "what do mean you don't know who it is?"

Naruto: "I meant exactly what I said…I DON'T KNOW!"

Rose: "so kawaii!"

Asa + Naruto: shudders

Rose: Turns to stare at Naruto "are you even alive?"

Naruto: Shurgs

Rose: Still attached to Asa "oh well"

I Dont Own Naruto!


The wind whipped her long blonde ponytails behind her as they raced towards Suna; the air became increasingly warmer as the sun began to rise over the looming sand dunes. Through the night they had managed to fly far enough from Konoha to hit the border between the two ninja villages and fly well into the deserts surround the village hidden in the sand. Despite fighting against the air currents Kiyoshi kept on moving faster through the endlessly dark blue sky, scattered chocolate feathers the only really sign he was ever there.

"Kiyoshi how long do think we have before the sun rises fully?" Asa called her head leaned close to Kiyoshi's.

"About an hour, though Suna is only a half hour away, we will make it" Kiyoshi didn't need to be told what would happen if they got caught too long in the hot desert sun.
"Ah that's good, maybe I can get some sleep when we get there!" Asa punctuated the sentence with a barely restrained yawn.
"Pfft" Kiyoshi merely gave a large resounding flap of his wings the sand beneath then rustling ever so slightly.

Sand flew in all directions as Kiyoshi hovered above the outskirts of the hidden village; Asa lifted herself from her place on his back and jumped down in the soft sand.

"Thank you for the lift, I'll see you in 2 days ok?" Asa looked up at
Kiyoshi
"Fine" Kiyoshi ruffled his feathers before disappearing with a resounding
pop and plume of smoke
"Erm…bye?" Asa titled her head to the side looking at the empty spot before shrugging her shoulders and facing the entrance to Suna.

A guard appeared in front of her, his headband glinting in the early sun proudly showed he was a member of the village hidden in the sand.

"State your purpose" his voice held a bored tone, as though he had said the line many times before. Asa looked at him a moment a single brow rising slightly as she pulled a sour face, she moved a hand reaching into the pouch at her hip. The guard looked at her taking on slightly tense posture as if she was about to pull out a weapon. Asa sighed yet continued to rummage through the contents of the pouch before pulling out a small scroll. As the scroll was freed the guard relaxed seeing the Konoha symbol etched on it side.

'Stupid guard' she thought listlessly, she flicked her wrist sending the scroll flying towards the guard who in turn caught it and broke the seal reading its contents.

"I'm here to see Baki, I have a delivery to make from the Hokage in hidden leaf" the guard looked at her, rolling the scroll back up he nodded at her.

"Fine, welcome to Suna" his voice sounding more and more bored as each word passed his lips. Asa bowed lightly in respect as she passed the guard. Walking into Suna she stared at the large canyon like entrance, the large cliff sides blocking the ever increasing light keeping the area cool and shaded.


"Ah, finally I'm here in Suna the land of ever increasing headaches!" Asa stretched her arms high as she spoke to no one in particular, her eyes drooping she yawned, a hand moving to cover her mouth.

'I think it'd be best if I found myself some where to rest, Baki can wait for his stupid paper clip for another couple of hours' she surveyed the street she had walked into, on her left stood stalls of varying size and
content, while on her right stood the odd tea shop or restaurant.

gurgle

Asa blushed deeply as her stomach decided to make itself known, she moved a hand to pat it.
'I guess we have to do something before we sleep ne?' She thought as she turned to the nearest food booth and took a seat.

'Ramen?'

She looked thoughtfully at the menu in front of her, her finger traced down the list poking at the menu idly.

'Mumble mumble' Asa turned her head at the sound. There with his head laid on the counter was a boy, seemingly older than herself. His light sandy coloured hair sprawled across the counter as he gazed in the opposite direction to Asa.

"What's wrong with you?" Asa asked an eyebrow raised in confusion at the man, who in turn merely turned his head to look at her, large cobalt grey eyes stared at her unfocused

"He's being like that for hours, I haven't had the heart to move him, he looks so sad." The new voice joined in from behind the counter. Asa looked up at the sound of the new voice and came face to face with a kind looking old woman. Her hair tied in a long silver ponytail; a crisp white apron tied around her waist.

"I know what'll cheer him up!" Asa proclaimed loudly, her hands clapping together. "Two large bowls of Miso ramen please." She smiled kindly the old lady, who nodded and turned around.

"Coming right up."

5 minutes later, Asa stared hungrily at the large ball of Miso ramen in front of her. She reached over, picking up a pair of wooden chopsticks and happily broke them in two. Armed with a pair of chopsticks in her hand, the ramen stood no chance. Before you could say, 'believe it', the entire contents had disappeared, leaving Asa with a content look and a hand idly rubbing her stomach. She looked over to her side at the other bowl, and then to the man sitting next to her

"You gonna eat that? Because I'm not wasting money if you're not eating" the man looked at her strangely his eyes focusing on her before he pulled himself up, his short sandy hair falling in waves around his head. He reached over and grabbed himself a pair of chopsticks, slowly breaking them apart he looked over at Asa.

"You sure it's okay?" His voice was hoarse and crackled as though it hadn't been used for much.

Apart from crying.

"Go ahead, just make sure you eat it before it goes cold!" She beamed at him happily as he began to slurp on the noodles.

He sighed contently, staring at his now empty bowl, he looked to Asa, noticing she passed some money to the old lady. He reached into his pocket pulling out some small Ryou notes and moved to pass them to Asa.

"Here, take these." He motioned to the notes. Asa looked at him, the notes, then smiled.

"Nah, its okay. My treat" She accepted the change from the smiling old lady. "Arigato" She placed the money into the pouch on her hip; the loose change jingling slightly as she moved. Asa turned on her stool, her frame now facing the other. She reached an arm out, her hand stretching towards him.

"I know it's a bit late but…Hi. I'm Asa." The man looked at her a moment, but his hand timidly reached out to grasp hers and shake it lightly.

"I'm Yashamaru, nice to meet you." He smiled somewhat sadly, before letting her hand go. His face turned to the crowd as he stood up and began moving down the street.

"Oh the poor dear, I recognize that name now." Asa looked back to the old lady behind the counter interest sparkling in her sapphire eyes. "Poor, poor boy. It was a true shame…"

"What was?" Asa leaned forward on the counter, deftly turning her empty ramen bowl in her hands as she waited.

"That poor boy lost his sister a couple of days ago. No one knows how, or why." Asa's brows scrunched up slightly a thought running through her head.

What would I do if I lost Arashi? Or Kana for that matter!

Worry was evident on her face as she looked down the road, a slight bob of sandy hair visible in the bustling crowds.

She stood and turned to the old lady, bowing slightly as she spoke.

"Arigato again, baa-Chan." The old lady nodded before Asa moved to join the bustling crowds.


Where is he?

Asa glanced at her surroundings. Yet no matter how hard she looked, she couldn't find Yashamaru anywhere.

It's like he's disappeared. But even Asa knew that was ridicules, even the best of ninja always gave something away. A puff of smoke, a residual flare of Chakra, something.

Looking around the streets, she decided a higher view would probably aid her. So without a second thought, she concentrated on her Chakra and calmly walked up the side of the nearest building. Unseen, or just ignored by the hustling and bustling people of Suna, she began walking across the roof tops as if it were an everyday occurrence.

Asa kept her eyes on the streets below as she moved from house to house, never looking directly where she was going, but never stopping either. She soon found herself on her backside, wincing as she connected with the rough surface of the roof. She looked up, a hand moving to block the mid-morning sun. Squinting, she looked ahead of her and instead of the wall she had been expecting, she came face to face with a rather scary looking man.

His face was half hidden behind a piece of material which hung over the left side of his face soothingly. It flapped against his cheek in the warm morning breeze, but from the look of blazing intensity in his dark eyes, it did little to calm the rest of him.

"Erm…gomen?" Asa blinked at the man, innocently smiling up at him. She sensed the deep feeling of lethal frustration ebbing from him, and adopted her usual strategy when in the presence of someone pissed off beyond all sense of reason, when it seemed to have a direct connection with her

Hands by her sides, big baby blue eyes bight and wide, 1000 watt smile on, and innocent giggle soft.

Too bad it didn't seem to work as well on him as it did her brother…

"Who are you, and what are you doing up here?" The man's tone was rough and slightly harsh.

"I'm looking for some one." She stated a hand moving to once again block the sun as she looked up into the man's face.

"Who?" He glared at her with his visible eye.

"A friend, that's all." She shrugged. It then occurred to her, that she was being interrogated, for no operant reason, by a total stranger. "Who are you anyway?"

"I am Baki of the village hidden in the sand." Asa's eyes glistened brightly, and she clapped her hands together.

"Really?" Her voice was filled with hope

"Yes." his tone was curt, his arms folded over his front and one brow raised down at her.

"Then I have a delivery for you!" She exclaimed loudly; her free hand rummaging inside her hip pouch. After a moment of searching, she found what she was looking for and brought it out, placing it on the outstretched hand Baki offered her.

"A paper clip?" Baki looked at her slightly confused.

"Yes, a paper clip. All the way from the Hokage himself." She smiled brightly, but Baki still stared at her. "What am I supposed to do with this?" Asa shrugged.

"I don't know, hold some paper together?" She smirked as she said the last bit .

I can go straight home tomorrow now! All I need to do is find a nice place to relax today, relax…maybe to do some shopping…ooh I have an idea!!

"Well I've got to go!" Asa waved slightly before jumping, her lithe teen form leaping off the building side, and back in the oblivious crowds below her.


I think this will do nicely!

Asa looked at the sign in front of her, 'Oni Onsen' She smiled brightly as she walked through the door. A woman sitting at the reception desk smiled at her kindly as soon as she opened the door.

"Welcome to the Oni Onsen. How may I help you today?"

"I'd like to book a room for the night."

"Certainly. I'll just check what rooms we still have left vacant, and we'll find the best suit we can for you."

After settling in her deluxe on suit room, Asa soon found herself napping the heat from the day sapping all of her strength. She very soon fell into a light slumber.

Asa yawned, her whole body arching groggily, and her mouth hanging wide as she breathed in heavily. The sheets were pulled from over her head as she stretched her arms high.

She laid there silently, the covers rising and falling with each breath Asa moved her arms, pulling back the cover fully to look out the window at the now darkened sky. The large pale moon shone into her room softly, bathing her in a eerily soft light. It even reflected like sparkles in her deep sapphire eyes. But even fully rested and content, only one thing came to mind at that serene moment.


-Back in Konoha-

"We must hold it off!" A Shinobi called into the front line.

"The fourth will be here soon!" More voices chorused, some in hope, more in utter desperation.

"RRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRR"

The loud snarling roar shook the trees and people of Konoha alike, as the giant fiery Kitsune swung its massive tails in wanton delight. Its claws dug into the earth, as both people and buildings fell in helpless awe of its power.


-Back in Suna-

"Knock…knock…knock"

Huh?

Asa turned to face the door, her eyes opening lazily after her second nap. "Who is it?" She lifted herself, calling out as she made her way to the door. It creaked ajar briefly, no doubt to check she was decent, before it slammed open and banged against the side wall. That woke her up.

"I have an urgent message for a Miss Asa." A rather hurried and clear tone came from the flustered sand Shinobi in the doorway. At hearing the tone Asa hurried her pace towards the door, holding her hotel dressing gown tightly to her body. Standing there stood a courier-Nin, a scroll held in his shaking hands.

a currier-Nin, struggling to keep hold of his parcel.

This was never a good sign.

"I'm Asa."

"I know. Here." The scroll was just about forced into her hands. The courier-Nin bowed once, swiftly before leaving in a small puff of smoke.

"Thank!...you…" Asa, unnerved by her ungodly hour of the morning visitor, hurried to shut the door and sit on her bed. For some reason, there was an ominous feel to the pale cream scroll on her hands, and she had to take a deep breath before breaking the scroll's seal. Asa bravely opened it up and began to read its contents.

Dear Asa,

Your presence is urgently required in Konohagakure, immediately. Return swiftly.

Yours

The Third

Something was off, and she knew it. Her alarm bells were screaming against the sides of her head, as she jumped up, obeying the letter she dressed in record time barely leaving herself enough time to breathe, and grabbing as many weapons as she could.

Reading back through once more, just to make sure, she finally caught what had been annoying her the most about the letter…

Wait…yours THE THIRD! What happened to the fourth?!? What's happened to Arashi?!?! A million different scenarios flashed behind her eyes, her grip on the scroll crushing its spine, before it dropped to the floor.

Her heart began racing, rasping against her rib cage, and her eyes were so wide, blood shot veins were pulsing in them.

There was only one situation which called for the previous Hokage to issue and seal an official summons, with the utmost urgency in its contents.

If the fourth Hokage couldn't…

Asa's blue eyes snapped widened in fear

I have to get back NOW!!

She didn't give time for the window latch, smashing her fist through the glass and springing out into the early dawn light.

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu! Kiyoshi! No snarky shit! Out, NOW!"

In a large explosion of dense smoke, a large claw coiled around her waist, jerking her upward as her large feathered summon soared, rapidly gaining altitude.

Neither said one word, her raging emotions being portrayed instead of an explanations, by her unearthly silence.

Not even caring to mount her winged steed, Asa watched out as they made her way to the village border.

Her heart almost stopped at the horrors she saw, in the place her heart had always called home… "Kami…Arashi…Kana…Naruto!"


Rose: dies

Asa: worries

Roes: keeps dieing

Asa: keeps worrying

Everyone else: 'OO'

Naruto: "what's with them?"

Rose: "Did you not see the suspense?!"

Naruto: "err no? Aren't you dead?"

Rose: "oh yea"dies again

Everybody else: '¬.¬'

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