Alrighty! I do not own Naruto at all! All rights and regulations do go to Masashi Kishimoto! Azuna does belong to me however! Ok now to write this fan fiction I did use the episodes and I used all of the actual sentences said from the anime so all of those rights again go to the producers, Madman Entertainment and of course the beautiful voice actors and everyone on the crew. Thanks guys... hope you like it!
Chapter Four: My Name is Kiba Inuzuka! Part One:
Azuna met up with Naruto as he started to make his way to the Hokage to hand in his profile. Azuna currently had it in her hands looking at his picture trying to keep a straight face. She let a few giggles pass her lips but apart from that she managed to hold herself well.
His photo made him look like an absolute clown. His face and hands painted white with different red symbols on his face and palms. Naruto took the paper back from her and grinned. "It's pretty cool huh?"
Azuna smile and nodded. "Oh yeah Naruto, it's pretty cool."
She had had her photo done the previous day; it was quite windy so her photo consisted of her forcing a small smile onto her face and her hair flying to the left behind her. She was happy with it but she always thought that when she got that photo done Nozomi would have gone with her, he would have been proud.
As Azuna started to walk into the academy where the Hokage was Naruto pulled her back outside looking down shyly. Azuna cocked her head to the side and raised her eyebrows. "What is it Naruto?"
"Well, Azuna I was just wondering where you were staying in the village?" He mumbled.
"Oh uh, I sleep in a tree." Azuna said suddenly embarrassed. "I – I haven't found a place to live yet." Yeah 'cause I don't have any money. Azuna thought bitterly.
"You – you sleep in a tree? That must be awful." Naruto said looking up at Azuna in surprise. He thought that maybe she might be staying with Iruka Sensei or something but it appeared not.
"It's not all bad." Azuna lied kicking the dirt lightly.
"You know Azuna, I – I have an extra bed if you ever wanted to you know, have a place to stay."
Azuna looked up at Naruto in surprise. "You, you'd let me live with you?"
"Sure what are friends for?" He laughed giving her a wide grin.
"Is it ok with your parents though?" Azuna asked and when she saw the look on Naruto's face she wished she didn't.
"I don't have any." He said monotone looking at the ground.
"Oh I'm sorry I didn't know, Naruto –"
"Azuna, relax." He said giving her a small smile. "It's ok I know you didn't know. Let's just go inside."
Azuna followed Naruto inside feeling bad. He didn't have a family. Not like Azuna did. Even though her father was a Rouge Ninja, a highly trained assassin who was had been an ANBU Black-Op she knew that he loved her and Nozomi, or, so she thought.
Naruto and Azuna walked into the room where the Hokage was sitting at a desk next to a Chuunin, with application photos spread around them. Naruto handed the Hokage his and then sat down in the chair several metres away while Azuna leant up against the wall, adjacent to Naruto.
The Hokage looked from the picture to Naruto and Naruto laughed scratching the back of his head. "At first you know I couldn't figure out how to do it. It took me like three hours to work it out and stuff. But finally I got it. Like an art project on my face only cooler."
"Take it again." The Third Hokage said indifferently.
"Hm? No way!" Naruto shouted. I just knew they would ask him to do that. Azuna thought to herself before she let out a few quiet giggles.
"We can't accept this photo." He said closing his eyes.
"Yeah well I'm not doing it again." Naruto shouted stubbornly.
The Hokage and Naruto glared at each other growly until Naruto got so annoyed that he brought his hands together, focusing on his chakra. "Transform!" He shouted before he turned into his busty naked blonde woman form. "Pretty please Lord Hokage?"
The Hokage's mouth dropped open and his eyes went wide before his nose started to bleed and he fell backwards. Azuna took a step towards the Hokage as he twitched on the floor. Naruto looked completely dumbfound as he changed back to his normal self.
The Third Hokage sat up back on his chair whipping his nose with a white handkerchief. "That's the sexy Jutsu you say? Very tricky, much too tricky don't do it again!" Naruto just laughed scratching the back of his head. "And where is your headband Naruto? You're supposed to be wearing it."
Naruto's hands flew to the goggles on the top of his forehead and adjusted them. "Oh I'm not putting it on until the orientation. I don't wanna mess it up."
"So, you want your headband nice but your photo which is supposed to identify you makes you look like a clown. It's for ninja training and missions which is the key to your future. Look at this picture you can't even tell who it is!"
"Well fine! How am I supposed to know all this complicated stuff anyway?" Naruto shouted.
From outside the room Azuna, Naruto and the Hokage could hear the 'kaching' of someone pulling out a weapon. They all turned to the door as it flung open revealing a small boy with brown hair who wore a long blue scarf.
"Old man I challenge you! I'm going to defeat you and become the Fifth Hokage!" He shouted running at the Hokage with his Shuriken in his hand. But before he could reach the Hokage he fell over his own feet falling flat on his face where he curled into a ball and let out a small cry.
My Grandson; another headache. The Hokage thought bitterly as a Jounin wearing black circle glasses came into the room looking frantic and worried. "Ah something tripped me!" The small boy complained causing the Jounin to look around hysterically.
"Are you ok honourable Grandson? And by the way there's nothing here for you to trip on its pretty flat." He said adjusting his glasses.
Who is this shrimp? Naruto thought annoyed as his eyebrow twitched. Azuna saw his frustration and moved herself to his side placing a hand on his shoulder hoping to reassure him. The boy looked over at Naruto and glared, as did the Jounin. It's that kid! The Jounin thought surprised. The Nine-Tailed Fox, of course he's the worst type of trouble maker. Azuna glared slightly at the way the Jounin was looking at Naruto, he was making her feel a little uncomfortable.
The boy walked up to Naruto and Azuna, glaring at Naruto like he owned the world. "Alright, you're the one who tripped me aren't you?" The kid yelled pointing a finger at Naruto.
Naruto's anger levels reached its peak and he stood up causing Azuna's hand to fall off his shoulder as he held the kid by the gruff of his shirt. "You tripped over your own feet, dork!"
Azuna was about to step in when the Jounin did. "Hey you, take your hands off of him right now. He's the honourable Grandson of the honourable Third Hokage!"
Naruto looked from the kid to the Jounin and back again. That stopped him. The kid thought grinning. Just like all the rest. Ha, now that he knows who I am he won't dare lay a finger on me. "What's the matter huh? I thought you were going to hit me tough guy! Afraid because the Third Hokage is my Grandfather?" The kid yelled.
"I don't care if he's your grandmother!" Naruto yelled punching the kid across the face. "So believe it!"
This guy's different. The kid thought as he fell to the ground. Azuna's eyes widened as she ran towards the kid not being quick enough to catch him before he hit the ground. "Damn it Naruto he's just a kid!" Azuna said as she picked the boy up and kneeled beside him. "Hey are you ok?"
The kid looked up at Azuna his eyes wide as she smiled down at him. "You got to be careful around Naruto he's got a bit of a temper."
"You've got a bit of a temper." Naruto muttered and she turned around and smiled at him before looking back at the boy, pulling him up as she stood.
"Alright, you two may go." The Hokage said to Azuna and Naruto. They both nodded and left the room. Azuna gave the boy another smile before her and Naruto stepped out of their sights. When they walked out into the street Azuna turned to Naruto cocking her head to the side.
Knowing what Azuna was thinking Naruto shrugged and ducked his head. "He asked for it Azuna."
Azuna rolled her eyes and smiled. "Oh Naruto." Azuna giggled. "I'll see you later ok?" She said turning away and walking towards the forest.
"Where are you going?" He called out to her in confusion.
"To train." She said smiling over her shoulder.
When Azuna turned away from Naruto she let her smile drop. Yes when she was with Naruto he could make her laugh and smile but the smiles always felt heavy. Like they were some massive burden she had to wear on her face. Sometime Azuna would smile truly. But because of Nozomi Azuna couldn't bring herself to a reason to really smile.
Azuna was heading into the forest to train but she was also going there to think and to chuck stones in the river. It was a habit Azuna picked up from Nozomi whenever he was frustrated or angry. He would go and chuck stones in the ocean crying out to the waves.
Nozomi gritted his teeth and threw three stones into the ocean. When they hit the waves they sunk landing of the sandy seabed waiting to be washed up again.
"Why does he always do this to us?" He shouted chucking another stone. "Why must he insist we see him privately to have us show him how much stronger we are and then tell us we are pathetic! Can't he see I'm so much better than Haku? I don't need a Kekkei Genkai! I'm Nozomi Momochi a true ninja legend!"
"Brother." Azuna whispered standing on the beach as the wind thrashed her hair around. "Brother what is wrong?"
"It's nothing Azuna, go back inside." He said defeated sitting on the sand shaking his head.
Azuna however knew something was wrong with her brother and moved towards him until she was standing behind him placing a hand on his head. "Nozomi, the Fifth Mizukage."
"I'm not the Mizukage Azuna." Nozomi sighed rubbing his eyes. "Maybe Haku should be Mizukage if he's so special."
"Father loves us Nozomi, and you know that he does. Haku is just his partner; he's as Haku calls himself a 'tool'. And you love Haku as much as I do, and he loves us back. He's like a brother Nozomi."
"You don't get it Azuna. He trained me in the same way he trained Haku yet I'm still not good enough to please him. It's so frustrating."
Azuna sat beside Nozomi and rested her head on his arm. Nozomi moved his arm and wrapped it around his little sister drawing her closer to him handing her a rock.
"My attitude has made you angry hasn't little sister?" Nozomi laughed playing with his own rock.
"A huh." Azuna huffed. And then at the same time Nozomi and Azuna threw their rocks into the ocean, only satisfied when they sunk to the bottom. They both broke into grins and laughed. "I feel much better." Azuna giggled.
"Yes, me to." Nozomi beamed.
Azuna ripped herself away from the memory and looked around her. There was a tree close beside her and without even thinking about it she jumped into the air and kicked it. She repeatedly threw blows to the tree causing her knuckles to bleed. The tears were streaming down her face as she hit the tree over and over.
Nozomi was at that she had. Her mother had died when she was eight and since then her father had never been around all that much. Nozomi took care of her when she was sick; he fed her, protected her and looked after her. They were all that each other had. He used to sing her to sleep like their mother did, trained her like their father did and let her dream to her heats content, She depended so much on Nozomi and now he was gone and she would never get him back.
Azuna sung lyrics that Nozomi and their mother sung to her when she was little. Anguish poured through her voice with every ounce of sound she had left.
Kiba sat in a tree next to Akamaru, his small white dog. They were taking a short break when the girl with the long blue hair who joined their academy the other day came walking into the forest. She seemed to be lost in thought and Kiba tried to remember her name. He actually didn't see her face the other day, just her long blue hair. It clicked inside his head and he recalled her name was Azuna. He gazed at her trying to see her face as she stopped walking and looked up.
He watched as she turned to the tree beside her quickly and began kicking it, the bark making contact with her shin. She then repeatedly threw different hits and blows to the poor tree and it didn't take long for the tears to start pouring down her cheeks. Kiba's face softened as he looked at her, she was in great pain and was taking it out on this tree. He still couldn't make see all of her features but from what he could tell, she was quite beautiful.
He became alert again as she began to sing words through her sobs. They were sweet but depressing lyrics and Kiba's heart lurched at her incredible voice. There was such sadness behind them but a lot of love and memories. Her hands suddenly went flat against the tree as she wept. Kiba could no longer take her pain and jumped down out of the tree with Akamaru close behind him. He pushed his hood down to appear friendlier and tapped her lightly on the shoulder.
Azuna whipped around to find a boy with kind and warm brown eyes gazing worriedly into hers. His face held compassion and empathy along with worry. He had short, slightly spiked brown hair and a Konoha Leaf Headband tied onto his forehead and he had a red marks in the shapes of fangs on each cheek. The boy wore a grey jacket with dark fur lining around the hood that he wore down. Azuna thought that this boy was completely and utterly gorgeous even through her tears. She noticed he had a small white dog at his feet gazing up at her.
"I don't know what to do." Azuna cried shutting her eyes tightly.
Kiba, not knowing anything else to do, drew the girl into his arms and hugged her closely. She wept into his shoulder her own shaking with each sob. He ran his hands down her long soft hair and rubbed her back telling her that everything would be ok. Although he had no idea what was going on he knew he needed to comfort her in some way. Kiba turned around pulling her with him sinking to the ground against the tree.
Azuna did not know his boy. She remembered him briefly from the academy but she did not know him. Yet, she was sobbing into his chest like he was her own family. It felt like an instant connection and she couldn't help but feel a little safe around him. His small dog jumped onto Azuna's hip as the boy hugged her while they lay on the ground.
"I'm Kiba." The boy whispered moving her hair away from her face.
"Azuna." She whispered back her eyes still tightly shut.
"Wow you really know how to cry don't you Azuna?" Kiba said with a smile, saying that he was only joking. Azuna opened her eyes and looked up at Kiba in awe.
Kiba's words had stunned Azuna and she did stop crying. He gave Azuna a closed eyed smile and patted her shoulder. She wiped her cheeks getting all the tears off them and stared at her hands in shock. Azuna had no idea she had caused all the skin to be scrapped off her knuckles. Kiba saw this as pulled the bandages from his pouch, drawing her hands to his.
Azuna blushed slightly as Kiba wrapped the bandages over her hands affectively stopping the bleeding. When he was done she moved back so that she sat beside him rather than on top of him and bowed her head.
"I'm sorry about that and uh well thank you for you know; my hands."
Kiba grinned and scratched the back of his head. "It's not a problem. You looked distressed, so I thought I'd help you out. You know your sobs kind of remind me when my dog Akamaru whimpers."
Azuna looked at the ground again, but she was smiling, and it was genuine. This boy had actually made her smile. She let a few giggles pass her lips as she looked up at Kiba and Akamaru. "Who me? Ever making a sound as cute as something as this?" She laughed scratching behind Akarmaru's ears. "That'd be impossible."
"Akarmaru isn't as cute as he looks. He's my fearsome partner." Kiba joked.
Good, I got her to stop crying. That was depressing. With normal cries you can hear the sadness but with hers you could actual feel it. The pain that radiated off of her was intense. Whatever had happened to her it hadn't happen to long ago. I better not bring it up again. She looks like she's feeling a bit better. Kiba thought as he watched Azuna scratch Akarmaru. She was giggling and Akarmaru was yipping happily.
"You know, I always wanted a dog." Azuna gasped between chuckles. "They are so much fun."
"Then why didn't you?" Kiba asked curiously.
"Well, because my brother was on missions constantly, and my father was always away and now that I'm a ninja I could never get a dog."
"Akamaru is my partner like how Shinobi have other Shinobi well I have a dog. It's a clan trait." He said proudly.
"Like a Kekkei Genkai?"
"Sort of but not really."
"I always wished that I had a Kekkei Genkai. Something that made me unique. Something so powerful that people would never doubt me. But instead I'm like a lot of other's. I'm just ordinary. I'm nothing to important." Azuna whispered sadly looking at the grass.
"Ah come on now don't think like that." Kiba said gazing into the distance. "We are all important. Our lives all have meaning."
Azuna lifted her head and gazed at Kiba in wonder. This boy was so beautiful. And not just in his looks but his words held beauty also. She felt like with every word she spoke a bit of her broken heart would heal a tad. His voice was like a remedy and his eyes showed Azuna that he was real and she wasn't imagining this boy. Their dark brown held Azuna in place and she felt like her eyes could never leave his. Like they were begging for her to stay.
She is so beautiful. Kiba thought. How could I have missed a face like hers? With hair like that and eyes the shade of the ocean. I used to think Ino was pretty but she has nothing on this girl. Azuna looked so sad and Kiba's heart broke and he listened to her speak of herself as if she didn't matter. He had told her that she was important and now she was staring at him with wide eyes, like somehow she didn't quite believe him. Kiba gave her another closed eyed smile and patted Akamaru as he jumped onto his stomach.
Kiba suddenly got a great idea! If maybe they trained together she might feel better. She seemed like the type of girl who could hold her own if she had to. It might help him understand what she was good at to. And she might be able to see some of his awesome moves as well. No, he shouldn't do any Jutsu's. Maybe they could just train.
"Hey Azuna." Kiba smiled gazing at her.
"Uh, yeah?" Azuna mumbled after shaking her head and looking up at him.
"Since we are both out here would you like to do some training?"
Azuna was shocked by his question but she recovered quickly and nodded. She smiled up at Kiba as he stood and helped her to her feet. "I would love to."
"Fantastic!" Kiba shouted happily with Akamaru yipping at his side. "Come on we'll train by the river! There's a lot of open space around there!"
"Ok!" Azuna laughed running with Kiba and Akamaru to the river. The river. Azuna thought to herself. I was going there anyway. But I do not need to throw stones in it anymore. This boy has taken away my sadness and frustration, even if it is only for a little while.
Azuna, it's such a pretty name for such a gorgeous girl. Kiba thought without shame.
Kiba, gosh he's cute. Azuna thought happily.
Azuna and Kiba both blushed as they looked at each other and smiled. Someday I'll make you mine. They both thought with smugness and determination. These two were more alike than they knew.
