Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto characters, only Uma Kasumi, Hakumi belongs to someone else. Some other unknown characters arise.

Summary: Uma Kasumi is an ordinary village girl, going through some strange turn of events, she is found by a group of Konoha ninjas. There, her life takes a turn from ordinary to extraordinary.

CONTAINS SPOILERS.

Uma Kasumi

Chapter 4 - At last, Konoha


Why is it so dark? I can hear people talking. What happened...

I opened my eyes and saw a happy fire crackling in front of me. It was blurry, Where are my glasses? I thought muttering sleepily. I found them layed out on my sleeping bag. I grabbed the red rimmed spectacles. I tucked my hands under my cheek and stared at it the fire longer.

Maybe what happened to my village never happened, just a dream.

Minato sat by my side and said, "Here drink this, it'll make you feel better."

He handed me a steaming cup of some type of herbal tea.

I sipped it, it instantly warmed me, giving me the strength to get up.

Damn, my eyes must be really puffed up, I could barely see.

Kakashi was nowhere to be seen, but I saw Rin and Obito staring into the fire, their faces sad.

"It wasn't a dream, was it , Minato." I said staring into the fire.

"I'm afraid not, Kasumi-chan. I'm so sorry." Minato replied bowing his head down.

I looked up and saw Obito staring at me sympathetically.

I hated that. Hated being felt sorry for. It made me even angrier.

"Minato, I need to go."I said suddenly standing up.

"Uh , wah ?" He said frantically looking at me for an explanation.

"Don't worry, I'll be back, just looking for a place to wash up."I said , grinning.

"Er..."

"I'll be fine, haha, remember back at-" I paused sucking in a breath at the thought of my home, my destroyed home, "house."

Obito stood up. "I'll accompany her."

"No need." I said sternly, "I'll be back in no time."

I turned around quickly giving them one last smile.

The emotional walls around me were breaking down. I wasn't going to last much longer.

I felt myself getting weaker and weaker the faster I ran. I never planned to leave them, I just needed to get away.

A root in the ground tripped me and I stumbled headlong down a small hill. I crashed next to the river's edge and collapsed.

Sobs tore through my chest, my face was pressed down in the dirt.

She's gone, she's gone I thought repeatedly in my head.

I remember when she told me, when she promised me ...


"Ok , Kasu-chan, Happy 8th birthdday !" Uma said grinning.

I frowned when she brought over a brightly wrapped gift.

"I told ya mom," I said, "I'm too old for your little toys."

"Oh, boo, Kasu, have a little fun !"

I rolled my eyes and hid my excitement.

The moment I unwrapped the gift, I felt a surge of happiness wash over me. It was a bracelet. Intricately designed, strange mysterious markings etched into the silver gold.

I gasped , "Where did you find this Okasan?"

Uma tapped my nose and grinned, "It's a secret , little one."

A bright blue misted stone shone brightly. On the back , a message was engraved, it was in Kanji, I couldn't read it.

"Kasan," I said tugging on her apron, "What does it say?"

She grinned and kissed my forehead, brushing away a lock of red brown hair, "It says, 'We'll never be seperated.'"

"Forever !" I said laughing.

"Together." Uma agreed.

...


"You lied." I cried into the dirt, "You left me, forever."

I heard a rustle within the trees.

"Who's there?" I said, quickly getting up and wiping my face.

I grabbed the kunai Minato lent me before we left my village.

"Hey, hey, watch it, it's just me." a familiar voice called out.

Kakashi stepped out of the shadows holding his hands up in surrender.

I lowered my hand and said, "Oh , it's just you, what do you want?"

Kakashi sighed and slipped off his sandals.

I widened my eyes in surprise, what the, is he getting undressed in front of me?

"What?" he said laughing, "I'm not taking a bath, jeez."

He rolled his sweats up to his knees and sat by the water's edge, dipping his feet in.

I stood watching him, never putting my kunai down.

"Will ya put that down? I really wanna keep my face intact."

I glared at him, "What do you want?" I repeated, snarling.

"You can put down the tough guy act" He said quietly.

I looked down at him in anger, "You don't know what you're talking about," I yelled, "I'm not doing anything! You don't know what it's like losing both your parents! To be left alone!"

Tears rolled down my cheeks, the hand gripping the kunai shook.

Kakashi flinched.

"Actually , I do." he said.

I stared at him, not making a movement or sound.

"I have lost my parents. Lost them tragically. I was left alone, too. But, I had people, friends , by my side to help me through it."

I gasped. The tough demeanor I tried to uphold, fell without warning.

I sat by Kakashi and wrapped my arms around him.

"I'm sorry." I whispered.

Kakashi made no movement. "It's alright, it's done and passed, I don't look back on it, and I don't plan to think about it again, and you should forget about it too, they're in a better place now, i bet."

He turned to me and smiled through his mask, "I'm sure of it."

I released my hold on him and smiled, "Thanks , Kakashi, you're not as bad as I thought, for an obnoxious twerp, that is."

Kakashi laughed.

We both sat by the river's edge staring at the bright round moon. I felt , now, someone understood. The pain of feeling the loss of someone. Of being alone.

Maybe , maybe Kakashi wasn't so bad. Beneath all the obnoxiousness and cockiness, I think I can actually start to like him.

"Oh, by the way," he said grabbing something outta the bag he had, "You left this."

He extracted my sketching pad.

"Oh!" I exclaimed taking it and flipping through the pages, "Thank you!"

"Yeah," Kakashi said grinning, "I thought you might want it back, you might need a little work, they kinda suck."

I narrowed my eyes and said, "Watch it , Hatake-chan."

He laughed and continued staring at the moon. I noticed how pretty his silver hair looked, under the moonlight.


After a week travel, we finally made it to Konohagakure.

It's large, tall walls reminded me of castles in storybooks. I looked in wonder as the gates opened, and the village was so lively.

Ninjas and ordinary villagers walked the dirt streets together. I laughed at Minato, when many ninjas gawked at the sight of him. Was he really that popular? I pondered on the thought for a while . I lwas mesmerized by the huge stone wall , the Hokages faces carved into its surface. A work of art indeed.

I glanced at Kakashi, he seemed totally at ease here, unlike the duration of the trip, he was always tense.

Much chatter and laughing surrounded me. It was such a happy and eccentric village.

Instead of finding a place for me to stay, we headed straight to the Hokage tower. I began to shake inspite of myself. I tried to calm my nerves down, it ended up with me tripping over nothing and landing on my face.

Kakashi snickered and walked on. Obito stayed and helped me to my feet, "Gomen , Kasumi-san, Kakashi is just rude."

"Yeah, a pain in the butt, indeed." I muttered rubbing my nose.

At the end of the long hallway, we finally reached the large wooden doors.

"After you, Kasumi-chan." Minato said cheekily.

I rolled my eyes and shook off my nervousness and opened the doors.

Sitting behind a large wooden desk, was an old man. His snow white hair spiked, wrinkles were etched onto his somewhat ancient tan skin . His , er hat, was set next to him, the symbold of 'Hokage' etched onto the front.

I bowed and said, "Eh, uh , hello ?"

He laughed heartily and said in a low scratchy voice, "Welcome Uma Kasumi, I'm the 3rd Hokage, Sarutobi."

Minato handed the 3rd Hokage a scroll and said, "I explained part of the reason why she's here, I felt the rest is up to you."

The 3rd Hokage shrugged, "We have a while to explain it to her. For now, get her comfortable here. I actually intend for you to make her one of your subordinates."

My eye twitched, I kinda wanna know NOW I thought angrily. I opened my mouth in protest. Until a thought occurred to me . Wow ! Me ! A ninja ! Never have I thought I'd be one!

Kakashi coughed loudly, "Are you serious?"

I growled, "What's it to ya ! It's none of your business, oldie !" Oldie ?! that's the best I could come up with just cause of his hair. Ugh, I need work on insulting.

"Kids, calm down." the 3rd said nervously.

"Uh, yes it IS my business, four eyes, I'll be slowed down cause of you!"

"..."

FOUR EYES?!

The red haze washed over again. I felt angry and upset, I wanted those feelings to stop.

Without thinking, I snatched the kunai Minato lent me and threw it as hard as I could at the annoying Hatake. His eyes bugged out and jumped aside. It caught onto his shirt and he was pinned against the wall.

The 3rd Hokage got up quickly and appeared at my side, putting a hand on my shoulder, Wow, he's really short ... I thought staring at him.

"Calm down." He said looking at me.

Kakashi snarled reaching over his shoulder and pulling the kunai out. "Quit throwing things at me!"

"Quit making fun of me!" I retorted angrily.

I attempted to make a step towards him , but the Hokage held me in place.

"Would you like me to tie you up? It would be easier to talk to you." He said happily.

Minato said grinning, "Ooo, can I do it?"

I sweatdropped, Seriously?

"Anyways, you'll stay with Minato's team and-" The 3rd began.

Kakashi mumbled quietly, "Stupid , dork."

"NANI?!" I screeched lunging at him.


"Is this really necessary?" I whined. My hands and feet were strapped onto a wooden chair. I glared at the Hokage and turned my head around to stick my tongue out at Kakashi.

The Hokage sighed and said, "Yes. You can't control yourself."

I huffed angrily and said, "What did you wanna tell me?"

"Oh that's right," the Hokage said, "You'll stay with Obito for the meantime. You would find it very useful . Everyday you will stay with Minato's team. Train with them and learn."

I lowered my head. My mother always told me to become strong. Tears welled up and fell onto the rope binding me.

"Why-why,was my village destroyed?" I whispered.

The room fell silent.

"I..." Minato began.

"We don't know." the Hokage cut in.

I looked at Minato for a long time, trying to see if it was a lie.

His face was blank and unemotional.

The ropes that were tied around me were cut loose, I stood up brushing a strand of my red brown hair away. "So, what now?" I said hollow-like.

Minato grinned, "Well we could all go out for some dinner and talk ?"

I shrugged.

We walked out of the Hokage tower and headed for a place called Ichiraku Ramen , Minato suggested it.

I looked at the trio of ninja I was to stay with, Obito was laughing and making some joke, Rin giggled , Kakashi smirked , and Minato just laughed loudly. It was a beautiful sight. Carefree, and fun. I hoped I can join them , be one of them.

Wow, in just a couple of days, my lifed changed so much. My mind didn't even have time to catch up with it all. I couldn't wrap my head around the thought that my village was gone, so was my mother. I was always frustrated and irritated at her, but deep within me, she was the only person I had left.

Looking at the trio again I smiled, Maybe not I thought Maybe there are some people I have.

My life was beginning to be a dream, but this was only the beginning.


Uma Kasumi