Chapter 3: Found
5 years later
Ryo's Pov
It has been 4 days since I left the village hidden in the storms. I was expecting to run into a small village in the land of lightning soon. I was wanting to settle down in this village for about a week because I had gotten ambushed when I left the Hidden Storm village. I had gotten a kunai leg, leaving a nasty gash. I had stopped the bleeding for now, but I needed to close the wound, and I'm no medical ninja.

I ran though the trees despite the pounding in my left leg. After about another 2 hours, the village came into view. I walked in ignoring the strange looks I got from the villagers, after traveling for 5 years I had gotten used to the looks. I understood that I was a strange man coming into their home, plus I was a shinobi. Excluding all the hidden villages, it was rare to see a shinobi strolling through town.

I walked toward what I guess was the leaders office. I couldn't call it a Hokage tower, because they didn't have a Hokage. I walked in much to the surprise off the lady at the desk. I really don't understand the governing system outside of the hidden Villages (-_-).

"Hi! How can I hel-..." She stuttered when she looked up and saw me.

"Hello, my name is Ryo Uzumaki, I am a traveling Ninja from the Village Hideen in the Leaves. I was wondering if you could tell me if you there any medical ninja here?" I asked. This may surprise you, but not every village has medical ninja. It gets annoying when you need medical attention and they say 'Sorry we don't have any medical ninja.'

She smiled at me sadly. And told me they didn't have any. I cursed. "Thanks anyways." I said and walked out of the building. I walked down the street heading out of the town, well somewhat limping. But I was almost out, about to head on my way when I heard a girl scream. I whipped around just as a little girl ran into me. She almost fell down when I caught her. I looked at her and started to ask if she was alright when she screamed again and tried to run away, right into a gang of thugs.

I grabbed onto her and jumped onto the roof of a nearby building. Ugly #1 said "Hey, You! Give the little thief!" As the little girl tried to squirm out of my grasp. I guess that I did look a little scary, especially to a kid. I then realized that this kid couldn't be older then Naruto would be now. I frowned, what would a gang of thugs be after a 6 year old kid for?

"Hey you! Goth punk! Are you listening to us!" Ugly #2 said. Hey! Offense taken. Just because I'm dress in all black, doesn't make me goth.

"Yeah, I am, I just don't care. Later!" I said as I ran off, the girl still in my arms. I heard the uglies behind me trying to catch up, but I was pretty fast and soon lost then in the forest. I jumped down from the trees and set the kid down. She immediately tried to run away, but stopped when I just glared at her with an annoyed look, but didn't try to get her.

"Who are you? What do you want with me?" The kid asked softly.

"Ryo Uzumaki. Nice to meet ya kid. Now I believe you owe me some answers." I sat down and started to rewrap my left leg. They girls eyes widened and she asked.

"Are you hurt?" I looked up and saw her eyes filled with worry. Worry? She just meet me and she's worried? I nodded my head slowly. I couldn't help but think: no I'm not hurt I just love the cut on my leg, it makes me feel youthful! Wait what? Youthful? Is Gai around here?

"Not to bad, but enough to be a pain in the a$$." I replied as I went back to wrapping my keg. Suddenly I saw the kid kneel down, her hands filled with green light. Medical jutsu. My eyes widened.

"Who taught you medical ningitsu?" I asked as she began to heal my leg.

"I don't know, I guess I've just always know it. I can heal injures like this but that about it." She said. When she finished she looked up. "How does it feel?"

"Good." I answered. "Now I think you owe me some answers."

"Like what?"

I sighed. "First, what is your name?" I didn't who want to keep calling her, kid.

"My name? My name is Emiko Taraza." Emiko answered. "My turn. Why do you wear a mask?" I sweat dropped, what are we playing... 20 questions? I sighed and pulled down my mask.

"No reason actually. I just like wearing a mask. And my old friend wears one so I guess he rubbed off on me. Now why were those guys after you?"

She sighed and begun to explain. "I hope your ready for a story. You see for all I can remember, I've been alone. I guess that either my parents died, or they didn't want me anymore, or something. But I've always been in the village. It's kinda hard to get food, so I've had to steal it. But it's not my fault! I just wanted to survive. So I've either begged for some scraps from other people or found street vender who didn't pay attention to their products. I got caught a lot. Either the vender who say I could keep it because he felt bad for me or I got beat. You see today, I just got unlucky and got caught. I guess I was lucky you helped me. Thank you!"

I smiled. Poor kid. "What are your plans for the future?" She stiffened. I guess she didn't have any. "How would you like to travel with me?"

Her face light up again. She quicky nodded her head and asked. "Are your going to train me to be a kunoichi too? Please! Could you?"'she asked excitingly.

"Sure thing kid, but we'll start in the morning" I said yawning. I stretched my arms up quickly before laying down under a tree. Emiko laid down next to me. She was soon fast asleep. I looked up.

The stars were really bright tonight. And the air was cool, not to hot.

Man what I gotten myself into?

-Time Lapse: 2 days later-

"You keeping up Emi?" I called out. I stole a glance behind me to see that Emiko (Emi) was right behind me. Emiko laughed.

"I'm not that slow Ryo, you don't give me enough credit."

"Hey Emi, look!" I said as the Hidden Flame village came into view. I could tell that she was overjoyed to know our journey was over. We were greeted by the guard at the front.

"Yo! Ryo!" Yuto said, one of the guards. "Wasn't expecting to see you again so soon, didn't you just leave a couple of months ago?"

"Yeah, I just want to see Master Isamu. I have a favor to ask him." I said with a cocky grin.

Yuto and Eita chuckled. "You never change to you Ryo." Eita said between laughs. Suddenly they became serious, probably finally noticing Emiko. "Who's this, Ryo?"

"Oh, yeah. This is the reason I'm back in the Flame Village. This is Emiko. A kid I picked up a couple of days ago who wants to be a ninja, and you know me. I don't have the patience to train her from the beginning. I was wondering if Master Isamu would help me in the beginning." I replied.

"Okay then, come on Ryo, Emiko. Let's go see if Master Isamu will help you punks out." Yuto said and led us inside.