Flashback Start
A young woman with blond hair travels down the road in Konoha. She try her best to work with her team to be a kunoichi. But, her teammates would not listen to her. In other words, they fail the test to become shinobi. She sigh as she open the door to her apartment. The young woman went to the bathroom. After a few minutes, she walks out the bathroom after a shower.
The young woman dry off her hair as she thinks of something to do. The young woman named Shiki looks at a magazine. She knew there are still chances becoming a shinobi. But, the chances of her getting another shot at begin a genin are slim. Shiki has no idea what the teacher told the Hokage. She toss the magazine back on the table.
Shiki went the bathroom to find some clothes to wear. She is going out to find something to eat. Shiki put on a pair of blue jeans and a black t-shirt with a bat on it. She locks the door and heads for a ramen shop that was close by. The young woman walks to Ichiraku and enters the ramen shop. She spots a young man in an orange outfit eating from a bowel. Shiki raise an eyebrow at the number of bowels by the young man.
The young woman sits by the young man. He stops eating to see the pretty young woman sitting beside him. Shiki simile at the young man, who has a small blush on his face. A waiter comes by to pick up the bowels from the counter. An old man comes toward Shiki as the young man went back to his food.
An old man said, "I am Teuchi, this is my ramen shop. What can I get for you?"
Shiki reply, "I will take the special."
"Your food will be out in few minutes."
Teuchi walks back to the kitchen. Shiki sighs as she waits for her food. The young woman hears a loud burp from the young man beside her. Shiki looks at the young man after he let out his burp. He look very embarrassment from what he did.
Shiki ask, "What is your name, sir?"
The young woman got a good look at the young man. He is wearing an orange jacket with orange pants. The young man has blond hair with blue eyes. He had three whisker marks on each cheek as a simile show on his face.
The young man hold out his hand, "Naruto Uzumaki."
The young woman took his hand, "Shiki."
They shakes their hands as their food arrives. Shiki and Naruto begin eating their food as someone come in the shop. He see Shiki talking to Naruto. The man slips out the door before anybody can see him. Shiki talks with Naruto about number of things before calling it a night.
The young woman walks with a spring in her step. Shiki like talking to Naruto. The young man has a good head on his shoulders. Shiki remembers her talk with Naruto. That young man could tell stories about how he would change Konoha. Shiki, believe he will be a good shinobi for Konoha.
As the young woman turn the corner, she sees her jonin teacher near her home. Shiki wonders what her teacher is doing here. The jonin sees Shiki walking towards him. He quickly puts out his cigarette as the young kunoichi approach him.
Shiki ask, "Is there something I can do for you, Asuma?"
The bearded jonin reply, "I want to talk you in private. I think, I know a way you can become a kunoichi of Konoha."
Shiki simile, "Ok, let me unlock the door and we can talk in my home."
Shiki turn around to open the door. The young woman did not see Asuma looking at her in a lustful way. She let her jonin teacher in first before the young woman follow him. Shiki did not know what Asuma was planning.
Flashback End
Murakuma looks at Shiki, "Are you telling me that the rumors of Asuma and you are true?!"
Shiki plays with tips of her hair, "I hear a lot rumors about us. I can tell you most of the rumors about Asuma and I are false. I did become Asuma's apprentice for a long period of the time. Then I was ship off to Fire Temple for a while. The rest of the story you know already."
"I remember, you went to Fire Temple when Asuma chosen to become a teacher for Team Nine. Why did Asuma drop your apprenticeship with you?"
Shiki stops playing with her hair, "The Hokage order Asuma to drop the apprenticeship. Asuma and I was pretty good duo in battle. You cannot change the past."
Murakuma squeeze Shiki's shoulder, "As I said before, we all suffer in the hands of Konoha. You were begin use by Asuma, I think. I will not judge you because your my friend."
Shiki said, "That means a lot coming from you, Thanks Murakuma."
While Murakumo is wearing a mask, Shiki could tell that the young woman is smiling. Murakumo was in Shiki's corner while she stays in Konoha. The young kunoichi team up with her more than the other kunoichis in their team. Murakumo lets go of Shiki's shoulder as she turns toward their room. The young kunoichi knocks on the door to their room. A young woman with brown hair and blue eyes open the door.
The young woman said, "Thank goodness, we were worry about you two. Yozakura and I have big news to tell everyone."
Murakumo looks at the cheerful kunoichi, "Minori, did something happen while we are gone."
"Come inside, Naruto about to go over his plan."
Minori let Murakumo and Shiki into the room. They notice that Minori is wearing a sweater with a hamster on it. She wearing a pair of black jeans with a hamster key chain hanging from them. They see Yozakura standing by Yumi as Naruto is looking at a map. As they move closer to the table, the young man looks at them.
Naruto question, "What did you find out, Murakumo?"
The masked kunoichi answer, "Nothing, someone took out my informant."
"I see someone screw up. We need to bug out before Konoha finds are location. Our target is not here in the capital. He is hiding in a small town close to Wave. If we hurry, we can still take out the target."
Shiki ask, "How did you found about the target not begin in Fire Capital? All our information said that he was in Fire Capital."
Yozakura reply, "Minori and I overheard two Konoha shinobi talking about how the Hokage came up with this plan. The plan was lure us into a trap using our target. I would like to know who leak the information to Konoha."
Naruto looks at Yozakura for few seconds. He notices that the young kunoichi is wearing a light blue sweater and black jeans. Yozakura has blue eyes that match her short blue hair. The young shinobi looks at Minori, who has brown hair with two pigtails in her hair. Naruto like Minori's blue eyes that show how happy she is.
Naruto said, "Jiraiya must have sneak a spy in Spring Shinobi Force. The Spring Daimyo had to rebuild her forces after she got her country back. I can see that old bastard pulling something like that. He must have thought our headquarters was located in Spring."
Minori giggle, "Lucky for us, he is dirty old man that only thinks with his dick. He could found our base by now"
"I think you might be right about Jiraiya, Minori. But, I going warn everyone in this room. Jiraiya is a dangerous shinobi, if you see him do not get in a battle with him. You will retreat from him because he will kill you."
Yumi ask, "What if Jiraiya has orders to capture us instead of killing us?"
Naruto reply, "I can see Tsunade doing something like that. If we compete this mission, she will drop the capture order."
Everybody let what Naruto had said sink in. They knew the choice to follow Naruto would cause trouble for them. Akatsuki and Konoha are looking for them which means every choice they make could be their last. They might end up dead or captured. Yumi put her hand on Naruto's shoulder.
Yumi said, "I speak for everyone in this room. When I say, we have no regrets in following you? We will fight and die to protect you. We care about your well-being.
Naruto looks at each kunoichi that following him. They had put their life on the line. He cares about these women, who been friends with him for couple years. They fought against outlaws, cut throats, and ex-shinobi. Naruto places his hand on Yumi's hand.
Naruto said, "I am happy that all of you are my friends. But, we need to move out before Konoha Shinobis find us. We leave in five minutes so get your gear."
As the kunoichi go to pack their things, Yumi removes her had from Naruto's shoulder. She sits beside Naruto then the young woman close her eyes. Yumi did not want to bring up this topic. This team cannot fight on two fronts. The young kunoichis knew that Naruto has been debating about this subjects. Yumi opens her eyes and turn to Naruto.
Yumi ask, "Have you thought about the deal that the Spring Daimyo has offered?"
Naruto reply, "Yes, but the deal hurts you and the others I know how much you girls care about me. Would my friends be fine with this deal?"
Yumi looks down at her hands, "You be safe from Konoha, that is all I care about. I sure the others will agree with me. But, I cannot stop…"
Naruto put his arm around Yumi to bring her closer to him. The young woman is crying in Naruto's chest. Naruto combs the young kunoichi's hair as he tries to calm her down. He knew that Yumi and the other girls care for him greatly.
Naruto thinking, "I know Konoha would stop hounding me if I took the Spring Daimyo's deal. But, the deal hurts my teammates feelings. They would understand why I did it but they will feel betray."
As Naruto is taking care of Yumi, Naruto's friends are listening in. They care for the young man very much. The Spring Daimyo felt the same way for the young man. That is one of the reasons why the Spring Daimyo made such a deal with Naruto.
An unhappy Minori ask, "What is this deal that Naruto and The Spring Daimyo made? You can tell it is breaking Yumi's heart!"
Yozakura reply, "I cannot go into details because Yumi told me keep quiet about the deal. Let's just say, that Naruto could hurt Konoha in more ways than that village could handle."
Writer Notes: I wrote little bit of Shiki's past in Konoha. I am trying to keep Asuma and Shiki relationship in the dark. What is the deal that the Spring Daimyo wants with Naruto?
