Chapter 2:

Kagegakure and Nani

I wonder if he lives there. Kagegakure; the village hidden in shadows. If he does live there – how long has he been living there then? I wonder if he has friends. Or is he still – crazy? I want to know all the answers but, no one knows…or no one is telling me. Naruto where are you? I want to tell you how I feel but the unknown is preventing me from doing so. I wish you could just come out while we're on our way there and say hello. I wish you could meet with us on our way there and smile; asking us how everything's been over the past four years.

why can't you do that?

~*~

Sakura was tired. They were traveling all night of course but they also didn't make it to Kage in the morning only because they were lost. She was starting to understand why it was hidden in shadows. Sai looked at a small map he had as they jumped from tree to tree and looked it over. He didn't say anything as the trees passed by; not even when he looked up and around. Then after another three minutes or so, Sai got all their attention and stopped. "The gate to Kage should be this way…" He trailed off and pointed slightly to the right. Sasuke nodded and soon made his way that direction.

Hesitating at first, Sakura soon followed them both. She had been thinking the whole night if Naruto was there. What if he was? Would she do what she's been telling herself to do those past four years? "Finally" Sasuke grumbled; getting the pinkette's attention. She looked up and saw a small gate way. It wasn't even half the size of the leaf gate. More like a large doorway.

"That took forever…" Sakura mumbled as they walked through. "The gate's so small though…" She then muttered as she looked over her shoulder. Then she looked back forward and stopped so she didn't bump into the Hokage – who had stopped himself.

"The gate is so small because they don't want this place found." Sasuke told her as he looked at the nearest building. "That's why they call it the village hidden within the shadows – because it's hard to find." He pointed to the small gate behind them. "They have a small gate so the village isn't just out in the open saying 'Come on in' – it's small so it's hidden…understand?" Sasuke asked; facing the two.

Sakura and Sai both nodded and he nodded back. "So even if it's hidden in shadows…" The pinkette started as they all walked. She looked up and around. "It doesn't mean this place is bad?" She looked at Sasuke and saw him nod. Sakura then started looking around again. The Yōkaikage was right the place was indeed beautiful. It looked as if the village was full of gardeners. There were many flowers and plants. Some that Sakura hadn't seen in her life. 'Naruto liked gardening…' She thought in slight sadness.

"Alright…" Sasuke started as he stopped walking. He turned around to face his two guards. "I'm going to go inside this building for a few minutes." He told them pointing. "I'll be asking where to find the Yōkaikage, and a few other things." They both nodded and he walked inside. Sakura looked at the sign. It looked like one of those information ones.

"I'll go look for a hotel."

Sakura looked over and saw Sai walk away with a wave. She waved back even though he couldn't see and then sat down on a small bench next to the building Sasuke was in. She nodded in response that said hello to her as they walked by. They all looked kind and friendly. But some looked a little mean, but that was just their looks. Sakura saw them being nice to others. She even saw a man that was banished from Konoha a few years ago. She couldn't believe what she was seeing when she saw him give a cookie to a small girl. He was banished for doing quite the opposite of that. 'Whoever this Yōkaikage is….he's really changed these people….'

The girl looked over and saw Sakura reaching in her bag for her book. After taking a bite of her cookie, she walked over with a smile. As Sakura pulled the book out, she looked over and saw the girl was holding her hand out. "Hi there!" She greeted. She had short dark brown hair that barely touched her shoulders and had big blue eyes. She wore a small black tang top and dark blue shorts.

"Hi…."

Sakura reached over and shook the young girls hand. "I haven't seen you around." The girl said after their hands parted. Then she noticed Sakura's headband and smiled. "Oh! That would explain it!" She giggled and pointed to the headband in her hair. It was the same as Sakura's but for some reason – it had no design on it. Not anything – just a blank metal plate. "My name is Nani; I am the second founder of Kagegakure."

"Second?!" Sakura gasped. The girl known as Nani nodded with a giant smile. "B-but you're so young…" The pinkette then muttered. "How can you be—"

"I'm ten years old thanks…" Nani muttered. "And the reason why I'm second founder is because I helped Yōkai-Sama…um…" She stopped to think about what word to use. "….Find….this place." She smiled and finished her cookie. "He found me when I was eight and helped me get some food. Then he took me in – almost like his daughter. That's why everyone loves me here!" She giggled and pointed in the distance. "I was just a dirty orphan with short term memory lose…I guess he felt bad."

Sakura looked over where she was pointing and saw a small two story building at the end of the road. "Is that the Yōkaikage's mansion?" She asked. Nani nodded and faced her again.

"Yup! That's where his office is" She said. "But our home is just around the corner." She crossed her arms behind her back and smiled with closed eyes. Sakura smiled back. She liked this girl. She then opened her big blue eyes; her smile still plastered on her face. "This place is made up of everyone or anyone who was either banished from their village or just left it." She pointed to the man that gave her the cookie. "When Yōkai-Sama and I let him join in – he was really mean, but Yōkai-Sama being himself of course changed how he was and he's now a really nice guy. He makes the best cookies!!"

The girl started twirling around with stars in her eyes as she imagined the soft cookies the baker made. Sakura giggled as the girl did this. Then, Sasuke came out and looked at the girl himself. "Sakura…who is this?" He asked as he walked over. Nani stopped spinning and held out a hand to the Hokage.

"My name is Nani – my last name escapes me at the moment – you must be the Hokage!"

Sasuke nodded and shook the ten year olds hand. "You can't remember your last name?" He asked. Nani nodded as she took her hand away. She shook her head while Sakura stood up.

"She told me she has short term memory lose."

Sasuke nodded and smiled. "I guess that explains it." He then said. "And yes I am the Hokage, pleased to meet you." Nani smiled after he said this. "They talked plenty about you in there – said that the Yōkaikage was your guardian…" He trailed off as the small brunette nodded. Nani took out a small book and a pencil after a moment and pointed to Sakura after a moment.

"I need to write your name." She told her. "In case I forget…I can look in here." She pointed to the small note book after and Sakura nodded.

"Sakura Haruno."

"Thanks…" Nani flipped it open and scribbled in a small picture. It wasn't good since she was ten, but it was close enough. Then she wrote Sakura's name down before writing Hokage's assistant under it. Then she pointed to Sasuke. "And yours Hokage-Sama?"

"Sasuke Uchiha."

"Thank you." She gave him a small bow before scribbling him in the notebook too. She wrote his name down before writing Hokage below it. The brunette let out a smile as she closed the book, but someone bumped into her making her drop it.

"Oh! Nani…I'm so sorry!"

The woman knelt down and helped the girl up while Sakura looked at the notebook. When it had fallen, it flipped to a page with a blonde man scribbled on it. Her eyes slightly widened to the features. Blonde spiky hair…blue eyes…Nani grabbed the notebook and shut it before the pinkette could reach the name. "I'll color you guys later…" Nani said with a giggle. "I'll see you later!"

"Wait Nani!" Sakura called before the girl disappeared. The ten year old turned around and looked up to the older woman. "If this village is full of people who have been banished from their villages can I ask you about a certain person?" Nani nodded and she went on. "Is there a man here – named Naruto Uzumaki?"

Sasuke looked over as soon as their old teammate was mentioned. He saw the small brunette set a hand on her chin to think. "Um…I don't know…That name is defiantly familiar though…" She closed her eyes and began to think more. "I've heard it somewhere."

"Sakura – we need to get going."

The pinkette looked over her shoulder and nodded. "Alright Nani, don't hurt yourself ok?" She asked. The said girl nodded and said goodbye before the pinkette walked off. "Sorry…Sasuke." She muttered as she and the Hokage started walking. "So…what did you find out?"

"I found out a few things…." He muttered. "That girl is the second founder of the place believe it or not. She was right there beside the Yōkaikage when this place was first founded." Sakura nodded. She didn't want to interrupt by telling him she already knew. "Also…I heard the Yōkaikage is a friendly man. He doesn't sit around in his office all day. When he has nothing to do, he actually leaves and communicates with the villagers. He knows everyone very well and is respected by everyone." Sasuke sighed and looked at the ground as he walked. "I even heard that he's one of the most powerful out of all the Kage…even if he's new. He's right there beside me."

"That's pretty good…."

Sasuke nodded and looked up to the shadow ANBU that stood at the door to the small mansion. "Hello" He greeted. "I am the Hokage – I was asked to come meet with the Yōkaikage." He then said. They both looked at each other before nodding and let him and Sakura in. "Where's Sai?" The Uchiha finally asked.

"He went to find us a hotel."

Sasuke nodded once more and stopped at a door that said 'Lord Yōkaikage' on the top. After a moment, Sakura knocked on it and took a step back. Only a couple seconds after, the door opened and a brunette slipped out. She gave the two a smile and a nod, and let Sasuke in, but before Sakura could enter, she shut the door. "Sorry." She said with an apologetic smile. "Us assistants aren't allowed to attend the meeting."

"Oh…" Sakura smiled slightly and the two both stepped to the side. Sakura looked over and got a good look at the Yōkaikage's assistant. She had long light brown hair that reached her waist. The front was slightly curly and the back was completely straight. Her eyes were a dark brown and she looked like she had about the same personality as her. After a moment, she held out her hand with a smile. "Sakura Haruno."

The woman looked over and smiled back before shaking the hand. "I'm Kanzi Chiido" Sakura smiled. This one actually knew her last name. Their hands parted and they both leaned on the wall in silence. "So…." Kanzi started; her eyes on the Yōkaikage's door. Sakura looked over and waited for her to continue. "You know the Hokage long?"

"Oh….Yes." Sakura answered. "I've known him since the academy." Kanzi looked at her and raised a brow; along with a 'really…' Sakura nodded. "Yeah…I had a crush on him for awhile after that, but it went away very quickly because – I fell in 'real' love with someone else."

"Is that 'Mr.' Haruno?"

Kanzi asked this as she playfully bumped Sakura's arm with her elbow. They both slightly laughed, while Sakura shook her head. "No…" She then said as her laughing died down. Kanzi's did too and then she slightly frowned.

"Oh…."

They both fell into an awkward silence after that. "You know the Yōkaikage for long?" Sakura asked after awhile. She figured asking her that since she had asked her that" Kanzi nodded and shook her head at the same time. "What's that supposed to be – a maybe?"

"No…" Kanzi answered. "It's a yes and a no." She then said. "I met him back when he was" She trailed off to think for a moment. "13 I think – no – 14." She shut her eyes and leaned her head back slightly. "My parents and I left Suna when I was little and we moved into a small village somewhere in the forest. One day he was passing by our small village on a trip, and the man he was with was looking for something. What the man was looking for was what my father owned, so that's how I met him. After that, they both left and I didn't see him again until last year. He asked me to be his assistant and said that my parents could come live here and they were never happier to move here."

"Are you two a couple?"

"No." Kanzi answered. She opened her eyes and looked at her. "I had asked him if we could go on a date once, but he said that he was already in love." She smiled and brought her hands closer to her face after closing her eyes. "Oh…How I wonder what girl she is…she has 'no' clue how lucky she is. He's such a nice guy."

Sakura smiled at the brunette as the door opened again. Sasuke stepped out with a slightly different expression on his face; surprised in a way. "Sasuke? Is there something wrong?" She asked as the door shut. He shook his head and slowly made his way over to the door to leave. "Did something happen?"

"I'll tell you at the Hotel"

Sakura stopped and raised a brow as the Hokage disappeared downstairs. She looked over her shoulder and saw that Kanzi was looking in the office slightly concerned. Then she walked in and shut the door behind her. Realizing she was supposed to be with Sasuke, Sakura turned back around and quickly ran downstairs. What could be so weird to make Sasuke act like that? Could it be – The Yōkaikage?