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Maiko-nee-chan

5 Years Later

Naruto Uzumaki ran as fast as his short legs would carry him. He didn't care where he went as long as he was far away from the villagers. He hated them all with their cold and piercing glares. Ever since he could remember, that was the only look he knew. Or at least, when others looked at him. The worst thing was that he had no clue why they looked at him like that.

But every year on October 10th, his birthday, those same looks intensified. He thought birthdays were supposed to be a happy day. Well, that was the general impression he got when he watched other kids on their birthdays. Naruto never felt that way on his birthday. Instead of praise and hugs, insults and punches were thrown his way. This year, a tomato hit his face and before anything else was flung at him, he ran off.

He tripped over a tree limb and landed straight on his face, pain seared through his body. Naruto tried to get up, but because he ran for about an hour at full speed, non-stop, his elbows buckled and he fell on his face again. He laid there for a moment, crying into the dirt.

"Hey, are you okay?" A gentle and warm voice called to Naruto. He looked up to face this stranger.

Her chocolate brown hair fell to her shoulders in soft wavy layers. This helped frame her delicate features; subtle cheeks bones and a small upturned nose. These very feminine looks were accentuated by full rosy pink lips that were, at the moment, turned down at the edges in a frown. But her tanned skin and jet green eyes shook Naruto to his very core. For, even though the tanned skin was smooth, it was also tight with worry and her eyes expressed an emotion he has never seen directed at him before: concern.

"Did you get a concussion?" She repeated again, more worry swam in her voice. This time the teenaged girl reached out to touch Naruto. But, out of instinct, he knocked her hand away, and scrambled to get away. He then turned and slammed right into the very same tree that tripped him.

"Aren't you a glutton for punishment?" She said chuckling. Although, there wasn't anything mean in the way she said it and as much as Naruto wanted to run away, he couldn't. He felt drawn to the strange teenager in front of him. She continued to smile at Naruto, warmth and kindness exuded from her smile.

"I guess you react badly to strangers," she said to him.

No Duh!Thought Naruto.

"So, how about some introductions, neh? My name is Maiko Senju." She then held her hand up again to him; palm open for a handshake. Naruto didn't know what to make of this teenage girl named Maiko. All he knew was that she was the first nice person he has ever met.

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki." He said after a ten second hesitation, in which he sized her up a couple of times. When he took her hand, she smiled one of the prettiest smiles he ever saw. She then proceeded to help him up.

Maiko was wearing civilian clothes; a deep royal purple tank top and mid-thigh denim shorts. Her black thronged sandals made a soft clapping noise when she walked or stepped back. But what shocked Naruto was the Konoha ninja protector she wore as a head band once he finally noticed it.

"Y-y-you're a ninja?" Naruto stuttered. This earned him another warm laugh, he was beginning to love Maiko's laugh.

"Yes, I am a kunoichi. Even though today is my day off, I can't help but wear it. I feel naked without it." She said while lightly touching it.

"Ninjas get days off?"

"Yup, in between missions ninjas take those days to recharge as well as to practice and improve their skills." Maiko said beaming at him, clearly enjoying his curiosity.

"So what are you doing today?"

"Don't you have a lot of questions! Well I was going to my favorite ramen stand when I saw a little kid trip and fall right on his face." She grinned a mischievous grin and laughed. As much as Naruto loved her laugh, it was cut short. When he looked up and he saw a thought fill her expressive eyes.

"How about you make it up to me by escorting me to Ichiraku Ramen?" She said while holding her elbow out to him. He smiled a big grin and took it.

"I would love to, as long as you tell me what ramen is."

"NANI? YOU'VE NEVER HAD RAMEN BEFORE? THIS IS A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY! Come quickly, so you can taste the best ramen this world has ever seen!" Maiko said to the young boy, and off they went to Ichiraku.

1 Week Later

"Maiko… Maiko… MAIKO!" roared the interrogation specialist.

"Gomen nasai Ibiki-sensei. What were you saying to me again?" Maiko said putting the stack of papers back on her desk. She turned and put the papers back on her desk. She turned to face the scarred and intimidating jounin in front of her.

"I was trying to say good work and I will see you tomorrow." He gruffly said and left, his boots echoing in the room and down the dank hallway.

"You gotta tell me what you do to get Ibiki to compliment you so much." Maiko looked out of the corner of her eye and stared at one of her best friends, Anko.

"Maybe you should pay more attention to mental interrogation and not just physical if you know what I mean." She suppressed a giggle when Anko started to pout. Maiko met Anko three years ago when she first joined the ANBU interrogation unit. Ever since then they have been the best of friends.

Maiko strode down the dark hallway barely illuminated by the chakra lamps spaced out every 3 meters on the walls. Even though she looked confident, on the inside she was terrified. Maiko started to second guess her decision to join the interrogation unit, but she thought that it would be the best move to become a better kunoichi. At this thought she shook her head slightly.

"You can't back down now," Maiko muttered to herself. Once she got to the end of the hall and saw the big steel door, she took a deep breath and opened it. The overhead casted a stark light over the classroom and its occupants and as she stepped over the threshold, everybody's head turned to look at her. She felt sweat drop from her forehead.

"Nice of you to join us, do you have your papers?" A gruff and impatient voice called to her. She turned and took in the battle worn ninja in front of her. He wore a bandana over his head, covering the beginning of a scar that stretched over his cheek, missing his left eye, ending at his sturdy chin, and then came around to the other side of his face. His very broad shoulders and muscles were covered with his standard leather jacket that goes to his knees. Regular ninja black shirt and pants were underneath the jacket and his, also black, combat boots came half way up his calves. Maiko nodded her head and strode quickly to the man in front of the class. She handed over the transfer papers; he took them and quickly read over them.

"Well Maiko Senju you can sit in the third row, fourth seat. Never switch your seat. Now go so we can start class." After he said this Maiko made her way to her seat. She found that she was seated right in the middle. There are five rows and eight seats to a row. She sat down and smiled to herself, the hard part of introductions were over and she can now learn what she wanted to know.

"What are you smiling at?" The girl to Maiko's right said to her.

"I'm smiling at knowing that we get to practice the techniques we learn on traitors." Maiko said with her classic devilish grin.

"Hell Yeah! I can agree with that! I'm Anko Mitarashi by the way." And with a firm handshake they became friends.

"What are you smiling at?" Anko asked her distant friend.

"Just recalling how we first met. We haven't changed much have we?" Maiko replied. Even though they passed the class and were now apprentices to Ibiki, to Maiko it feels as if nothing really changed.

"We have, now that we are half way through puberty our look has changed. You raised the hemline of your shirt and I lost mine!" As she said this Maiko couldn't help but chuckle and nod her head. It was true; once their chests grew out they went for a sexier look. Seduction, as they learned, was a major tool for a kunoichi in the interrogation unit.

Maiko switched from a billowy shirt dress to a shirt showing off her midriff (protected by chain mail of course) but to balance it out she wore baggy beige pants instead of her old black leggings. Whereas Anko decided to use her D sized chest to its fullest potential by not wearing a shirt at all. She would wear a trench jacket that covered just enough; for safety she pinned the jacket to the chain mail shirt she, too, wore. Too exude even more sex appeal; Anko also wore a mini skirt. She tried to convince Maiko to do the same, or something similar to it, but Maiko always claimed that she liked her traditional Chinese blouse. See, along with it being a midriff, its sleeves were also detachable at the shoulder, and she liked the look of an exposed shoulder but still wearing sleeves at the same time. Plus it was functional, she could take the sleeves off when it got too hot out and she could hide weapons underneath them. So Maiko was happy with her look; it was edgy but not too over the top like Anko's.

"True, very true. Haha. Well I have to go, see you tomorrow." Maiko said before waving good-bye. She dashed out of the interrogation basement. She couldn't wait to see Naruto. Even though she only knew the kid for about a week, she couldn't help but want to hang out with him.

The memory of meeting Naruto and all of its little details were still fresh in her mind. His face was sticky red and brown from falling face first into the dirt. His short and spiky golden hair and cerulean blue eyes showed his agitation; like a cat's when it was spooked. Seeing this broke Maiko's heart. Yes, she knew the boy was the demon container, but to her all she could see was a frightened little boy. No child should be that afraid of human contact, no matter what their condition was. So after a little goading, Maiko got Naruto to trust her. But what was even more hilarious was his reaction to eating ramen for the first time.

Maiko walked the busy venue streets with Naruto clinging to her elbow.With those looks I would do the same, she thought after dirty looks began to emerge from the crowd. Someone even hissed at them, nevertheless they pressed on. Whenever he gripped her tighter, she would pull him closer to her body until he felt safe again. Luckily the ramen stand wasn't that far from where they met. The two made their way through the crowd, and both were relieved to walk into the privacy of the warm ramen stand.

"Hello Teuchi-san, I've brought a new customer with me." Maiko said cheerfully to the middle aged man behind the wood counter as she dragged the nervous Naruto to a stool.

"Good, good! So your usual of ramen with extra everything?" Teuchi-san said, beaming at the young lady sitting in front of him.

"Hai, make it two for my friend here." After she said this, Maiko saw Naruto look at her in shock.

"Nani? We are friends aren't we?" She cheekily shot at the young boy.

"I've never had a friend before." The boy admitted sadly, looking down at the wood counter. That statement broke Maiko's heart. She remembered her childhood and how she spent all of her time with her friends. The fact that this boy didn't have the same carefree happiness upset her to no end.

"Well now you do." She said smiling at the young boy. Without any hesitation, Naruto leapt out of his seat and into the lap of Maiko; hugging her with all of his might. She could tell by his shaking and the dampness growing on her shirt, that he was crying. She just held him, stroking his hair until the ramen was ready.

"Hey kiddo, our food is ready." Maiko gently told Naruto. He nodded his head, and without getting out of her lap, turned to eat the steaming bowl in front of him.

"Holy Cow! This is delicious." He then continued to finish it in record time, and ask for another bowl. Maiko just laughed and gave him her bowl. The boy ate another two bowls before he was full. Naruto was just a bundle full of surprises. He then looked up at the sky and a frown crept up on his adorable face.

"I don't want to go home. Today was the best day I've ever had!" He said aloud, and proceeded to pout. His lips puckered, making his whisker marks lengthen.

"Hahaha. Then we will have to do this tomorrow. Same time and place?" Naruto nodded and hugged her again. He looked to the sky once more, said good-bye, and left.

"He's a sweet kid." Teuchi-san said to Maiko. She nodded and smiled.

"Tell Ayame that I say hi." And with that she paid and left, too.

Maiko smiled once more at the memory. She quickly wound her way through the basement and then the streets. She bumped into others here and there, hell she even bumped into a kid around the same age as Naruto. She said her "sorrys" and "gomen nasais" but Maiko was just not in the right mind set. She just wanted to see that cute smile on his face. She felt like his smile just brightened up her boring existence, something she hadn't felt since that night 5 years ago.

The great tree came into her view and she saw a blonde spike of hair poking out from the side of the trunk. So, she poked her head around the tree, and said "Hiya kiddo!" But, when she saw what shape Naruto was in, she thought, OH MY GOD!

His nose was bent awkwardly to the left, dried blood was caked underneath the broken nose. A bruise was beginning to darken on his right eye. He was leaning against the tree holding his right side. Maiko could tell by the pain in his eyes that he was trying not to cry.

"Who did this to you?" Were the only words that came out of Maiko.

"Who did this to you?" Naruto could tell by her voice and green eyes, that Maiko was holding back her anger.

"M-my h-handler…" He blurted out, and would have continued talking if it didn't hurt so much. Even breathing was painful, and looking at a furious Maiko wasn't good either. She was pacing back and forth, like a tiger caught in a cage. She then stopped and took a scroll out of its holder on her belt. While she opened it, Naruto attempted to read the strange signs on it. She then picked him up as gently as she could.

"I'm sorry, but I am going to make this as painless as possible. Don't move please." She said this as she put him in the middle of the scroll. He could only nod in response, he totally trusted her with what she was doing with him. He then saw her make a few hand signs, and all went black. When he opened his eyes he was in the Hokage's office.

The old man looked grim and tired. His age and his life-style were seen on his face. You could tell that he has made some huge decisions in his life; both great and terrible. His eye brows furrowed looking at Naruto, but like Maiko, it was out of concern and not of hate. Naruto shifted uncomfortably at the scrutiny of the stare he was getting from the Hokage. It was as if the Sandaime was taking note of every injury Naruto had. After a few more minutes Maiko broke the silence.

"As you can see Sandaime-sama his handler has beaten him!" She fiercely stated. She stared down the Hokage, daring him to argue with her.

"Oh hell!" he muttered and then yelled, "SEND ME A MEDIC-NIN AND TOYA HIKARU!" As soon as he said it, a medic-nin dressed in all white ran in. Once he spotted Naruto, he quickly went to work on healing the young boy. The medic-nin didn't know what to make of the kid; he was startled at how fast Naruto healed. All he had to do was reset the nose and help the healing process of the couple of broken ribs he received. Afterwards he cleaned the boy up and ran out as fast as he could. Naruto saw these emotions play on the medic-nin's face, and much to his displeasure he was reminded again of how people treated him. But Naruto would rather have the medic-nin stay then his handler who walked in through the door immediately after the medic-nin left.

Toya Hikaru was a retired ninja 40 years of age. He always wore a traditional kimono, Naruto believed even in battle because he has never seen him in anything else. Even for his age, Hikaru remained physically fit and would practice his skills on Naruto on a weekly basis. His stone cold brown eyes and peppered gray hair haunted Naruto's nightmares. Hikaru was the longest handler Naruto has ever had: 2 years. And during those years he reinforced the idea that the boy was 'trash' and a 'monster'.

"You sent for me Hokage-sama?" Toya Hikaru said with his always calm and cold voice. Just hearing it made Naruto squirm and hide behind Maiko, trying to get as far away from him as possible.

"Yes I have. It has come to my attention that you might be beating your charge, Naruto Uzumaki. What do you have to say to this?" The Hokage calmly stated, watching Hikaru closely.

"I say that it is an absurd accusation coming from a lying little boy. From what I can see he is in perfect health." Hikaru replied. This was accompanied by a menacing look from Hikaru to Naruto. Maiko snorted, and put her arm protectively around the frightened boy with a menacing glare to Hikaru although Naruto didn't see it.

"Well yes, but that is because my medic-nin fixed him up shortly before you walked in. When he came into my office he had a badly broken nose, a black eye, and a few broken ribs." The Hokage pressed.

"Sandaime-sama, this boy probably got hurt falling from a tree and not wanting to admit it to this girl, he lied and said I beat him." What Hikaru said angered Naruto. First calling him a liar and then speaking in that tone about Maiko drove him over the edge. He let go of Maiko and tried to lunge at the evil man. This surprised all three ninjas in the room. But, Maiko with her quick reflexes grabbed him mid-air and held him tight to her. She stroked and massaged his head, calming him down immensely. Once he was calm and was of no threat, she spoke while maintaining her hold on Naruto.

"On the contrary, as one the chosen few who are Ibiki-sensei's apprentices, I have come to learn when a person is lying. Naruto did not lie to me about how he got his injuries. And no offense, but he is no evil mastermind who can fake all the signs of telling the truth." Maiko replied with each word expressing her anger and disdain at his handler. Hikaru was too stunned at how the boy tried to attack him and how the girl was able to calm the boy down to respond. Then on top of that, to learn that she was a student of the famed interrogation specialist, Ibiki Morino, was another shock to Hikaru. This was not lost on the Hokage either. So when the Hokage looked at Hikaru, Naruto knew that he was in for it if Hikaru didn't give another good excuse.

"I have nothing else to say, Hokage-sama." Was all he could say, still trying to regain control over his composure.

"Very well then, Hikaru I cannot allow you to be a handler for anyone, especially for a child. So you are fired, you will be getting a new assignment tomorrow. You are dismissed." The Sandaime said to Hikaru. All he could do was nod, dumbfounded, and left. Naruto smiled knowing he would never have to deal with him again.

"Now I need to find another handler, so if you will excuse me." The Third said to dismiss them as well. They didn't move; well Naruto did at first until he realized Maiko didn't.

"Hokage-sama, I will take care of Naruto." Maiko said. Naruto stood there in shock. He then recovered quickly and stared pleadingly at the Third. He wouldn't want to live with anyone else but Maiko. She was his savior, his guardian. She was the one who protected him.

"Alright, he is your charge now. I will inform Ibiki so you can adjust your schedule." He said smiling for the first time since they entered the room.

"YAHOO!" Naruto jumped into the air, excited to live with Maiko. She laughed, smiled her warm smile, and ruffled his already messy hair.

"Can we celebrate with Ichiraku Ramen Maiko-nee-chan?" Naruto blurted out. He quickly looked down in an embarrassment. After a few moments he looked up to the shocked Maiko.

"Sure thing, Otuoto." She smiled, hugged him, and off they went hand in hand to have their first dinner together as a family.