Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Step two, gather information." The sharingan bearer said, entering the trees at a fast pace, making sure to keep a rate in which the yellow haired nin could keep up.
"Sasuke, is that you bastard?"
Silence.
"Answer me!"
Silence.
After Naruto gave up on talking to the anonymous ninja, it came to an abrupt stop. Naruto surveyed the place they had stopped. A grass feild surrounded the two, the moon and stars illuminating each blade of grass, a circle of trees surrounding them, and silence other than the slight breeze ensuing.
This person? Who exactly is he? Naruto thought. He tried to indicate the chakra emitting from the ninja, and noticed that whoever this person was, it was not Sasuke. It was someone stronger. As he was about to finish his chakra indication, he found a power, resembling a jinchurriki, though more controlled. Naruto couldn't help but gasp at this newfound information, but soon regained his composure, as he did so, he retrieved a kunai from its holster and hid it in his sleeve. Naruto knew that "mysterious" ninja's moves were unpredictable, so with this experience he knew to be cautious. Naruto then closed his eyes, and then looked at the figure once again with his cerulean eyes which had two furrowed brows above them, and spoke, voice deep, " Who are you?!"
Silence.
"That's it!"
Naruto charged at the figure, and presented the kunai in hand as he did so. As he came close to the figure, he hurled the kunai in its direction. The figure evaded the kunai with one swift step to the side. Naruto then witnessed speed at a rate which was incomprehensible. As the kunai had been speeding past the figure, it outstretched it's arm behind itself and caught the kunai, which had been thrown, in midair. The kunai was then redirected towards Naruto with lightening speed and hit. Naruto then dissipated into thin air, indicating the use of a shadow clone.
"A shadow clone, huh?" The figure whispered to itself as it recognized the presence of Naruto above and all around.
"Kage Bunshin No Justu!" (Shadow Clone Jutsu)
All clones cast began an attack on the figure, but one by one, they would crash down after two moves made by the ninja. Dodge. Hit. Dodge. Hit. Dodge. Hit. As the Naruto clone count became fewer and fewer, Naruto had been able to form a rasengan out of sight and charged behind the ninja while it was distracted. Once Naruto reached his target, he thrust his arm forward, closing his eyes as he let out a power scream.
"Rasengan!"
When nothing hit, Naruto took notice of a grasp around his wrist.
"Shit."
Naruto was hurled forward and landed his rasengan into a crowd of shadow clones. His rasengan dissipating the clones, and digging itself into the ground. This action left the real Naruto on the floor, slightly injured.
Naruto knew there was only one way to overpower the ninja, although he did not like it. He would have to summon Kyuubi. Naruto closed his eyes in attempt to summon Kyuubi, but to his surprise he came to find the Kyuubi chakra inside him dormant. His eyes widened, as he replayed the events of the fight in which he might find a reason for the dormant chakra inside of him. He could not find one. In an attempt to get up, he realized that his body was in a frozen state and that it was impossible to move, which added to his questions.
"What did you do you bastard?!" Naruto said in an outburst of anger. In an attempt to get up, he realized that his body was in a frozen state and that it was impossible to move, which added to his anger.
"It's only temporary, Naruto." The figure said, revealing that she was indeed, a female.
"How do you know my name?!"
"I scanned you."
"What the hell does scan mean?"
"While fighting you, I entered your mind and body and took a look inside your memories and thoughts. If you were wondering, that was when I was able to deactivate the Kyuubi chakra inside of you temporarily."
"What do you want from me?"
"Your help."
Naruto stopped to think. Who the hell does she think she is? If she wanted my help why didn't she just ask?
"To test your strength."
"Are you reading my mind?!"
"No, I guessed based on your expression. Eyes are windows to the soul afterall."
Naruto looked at the female with an annoyed look across his face. Why did she need him for help? Is it something he was involved in? Was it something that even mattered to him?
"What kind of "help" do you need exactly?"
"It involves Sasuke, your best friend."
Silence.
Naruto's mind scattered with memories of his friend. He took at deep breath and went on to look at the female ninja.
"How can I trust you? You won't even formally introduce yourself or show your face."
"Fine."
She reached for her hood and let it down. Her face identified with that of an Uchiha. Her skin was smooth and pale as it was lit up by the night sky. Her hair was as black as can be, with long bangs that accentuated her face shape, and naturally, her hair was straight from what Naruto had seen. Although she had features of an Uchiha, her eyes were unlike the typical Uchiha. Her eyes shone with the color of silver, not grey, silver. They were perfectly large and almond shaped. Naruto knew just by looking at them, a sadness was hidden deep within her. Above her eyes were eyebrows which had a light arch, but expressed signs of remorse in a way. Lastly, underneath her left eye was a beauty mark the size of a small dot.
Once Naruto caught a good glimpse of her face, he cast his eyes to her body, which was now revealed. She wore typical ninja attire. Her pants were those of a ninja, light grey with a black belt and a kunai holster tied to the left leg. Her top was a perfectly fitted dark blue sweater with the sleeves rolled to her elbows and the neckline being a v neck. Her arms were adorned with white bandages that seemed to start at the shoulders and down to her knuckles (like Rock Lee has). Naruto wondered why there was so many. The rest of her hair was revealed to be layered and stopped soon after where her waist is. Her attire came with the accessory of a necklace with a charm representing the Uchiha logo. Lastly, her sandals looked like any other ninjas, but other than blue, she had chosen black sandals. All in all, her look was considered average with the exception of the Uchiha charm.
As the Uchiha stood before him, he couldn't help but feel that this person was familiar to him. Of course she resembled Sasuke, but there was something else. Those eyes were something Naruto definitely would have remembered. Then it hit him. Could it really be who Naruto thought? Is this the girl from his past? Could it be...
"Fujiwara?"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Sasuke? Wakey Wakey. Saaasssuuuukeeeeeee."
"Leave him alone, Karin. There's still a few days until the Summit. We have time. Its only been a couple hours, It's still dark out."
"Rrrrrghh Suigetsu you- Ah, hes waking up, let's get out of here before he gets us in trouble!"
Once the members of Taka flooded out of the room, Sasuke found himself awake on his bed. As he got up he began to remember the events that had happened before he passed out. He placed his feet on the ground, so as to sit on the corner of the bed. Sasuke had dreamt about team 7, he admitted its been a while since memories came back to him like that in his dreams. A few minutes passed by with Sasuke just thinking, he then bent forward on his bed and placed his head into his hands. He remembered just how happy he used to be, and for the smallest amount of time, he felt regret. What was he really getting out of killing members of Konoha? Nothing would bring Itachi back, and that made Sasuke want to fill the void somehow, but would revenge really do the trick? He needed something to make him feel at peace. Maybe he needed his fr-
"What the hell am I thinking?"
Sasuke got up and proceeded to the door. He let out a deep sigh, placed his head on the handle, and stepped out of his room. There he found Suigetsu, Karin, and Juugo waiting outside the his door.
"So Sasuke, what time we leaving?" Suigetsu asked.
"Be ready by daylight."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Want some ramen?" Naruto asked holding out a cup of newly prepared ramen towards Fujiwara.
"Thank you very much." Fujiwara said as she grasped the cup in her cold hands.
After Naruto had found out the identity of his childhood friend, he invited her over to chat about why she needed help. Naruto remembered being smaller and getting beat on countlessly. One time, when Naruto was near the Uchiha reserve, he found himself getting beaten to a pulp by much older Uchiha kids. Then BAM! Little Fujiwara came in and bicycle kicked one of the kids right in the face. Once the kids came to realize that the girl was the feared Fujiwara they began to scramble for their lives.
"Ahahaha look at em' they are scrambling like eggs!" Little Fujiwara said, bursting with laughter. She then reached down to little Naruto and grabbed his hand to help him up.
"You okay? What's your name? I'm Fujiwara Uchiha, the next hokage!"
Naruto looked at the girl with sad eyes. Her eyes softened and beckoned him to come sit with her on a nearby rock. Once he got on the rock, he brought his knees to his chest and began sulking.
"Hey, its okay! Y'know what? I'll walk you home to make sure those bullies won't hurt you!" Fujiwara said as she got up from the rock and held out her hand for Naruto to hold. Naruto looked at her nervously and held out his hand to meet hers. She yanked him next to her and they began walking the path towards his house.
"I- I'm Naruto." He said looking the other way, too embarassed to show his face.
"Hmmm, Naruto, that's a nice name!"
Naruto blushed and looked down at the ground.
"So, Naruto where exactly is your parents' house?" She said not knowing of Naruto being an orphan.
"I... live alone." Naruto said with hesitation in his speech.
Silence.
"Hey, since you live alone, maybe I can come over to play with you sometime?" She said in an attempt to lighten the mood.
"Really? You'd wanna hang out with me?"
"Why not, you're my age right?"
"I guess so, I am six like you are... It's just... Nevermind."
"So.. you gotta crush Naruto?" She said casting him a mischevious smile.
"I... Uhh... No.." He said with his cheeks blushing once again.
"You should get one. I even have a crush, wanna know who?" She said as her face began turning red.
Naruto nodded.
"Sasuke Uchiha! We have never talked, but I plan to gather my courage and speak to him tomorrow!"
"Ehhhhhh, him?! How does he get all the ladies, that bastard!" Naruto said with enthusiasm, which was a first for Fujiwara to see.
"Bahahaha! You're funny, Naruto!"
"Hahaha!"
Naruto had tried to hold back his laughter, but when he was around her, he felt at ease. Naruto hadn't laughed or had even smiled genuinely until that day, the day he met Fujiwara.
Once they approached the apartment Naruto lived in, it was time to say goodbye. As they said goodbye they had promised to meet up the next day and play. For once in his life, Naruto had hopes for tomorrow, and he fell asleep with a smile plastered on his face. Little did he know about the clan massacre that had taken place as he had drifted into sleep that night.
The next day came, Fujiwara didn't.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"I thought you were dead." Naruto said looking down at his half eaten ramen.
"I'm sorry." Fujiwara said with remorse woven into her voice. Her ramen cup still being used as a hand warmer.
"Are you cold?" Naruto asked worriedly.
"A little, but I'm alri-"
Before Fujiwara could finish, Naruto had already gotten up to go get a blanket from the closet. Once he got back, he was carrying the biggest, fluffiest blanket he could find in his arms. He kneeled behind her and began wrapping her in blanket around her shoulders and covering her in the front as well. After he was done, he sat next her smiling proudly.
"You didn't have-"
"Shhhh. Its my turn to help you, Fujiwara."
Naruto looked at her, her face covered in blanket. He couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of her bundled up like a baby. And before they knew it, they had both started laughing. After they finished their last slurps of ramen, Naruto had turned the atmosphere around with a serious question.
"What happened... that night, if I may ask?"
Silence.
"It's a long story."
Naruto turned towards Fujiwara and looked deep into her eyes. He couldn't describe how grateful he was to her for everything she had done, so he decided to settle with two heartfelt words.
"Before you start Fujiwara... may I say something."
"Sure, Naruto."
"...Thank you."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A/N- Next up: Fujiwara tells her side of the story from the massacre and how she survived. Also, she describes the mission given to her.
