Kin finally made her way through the village gate and was now walking among the villagers hidden in the leaves. However… she quickly realized that she should have probably left her Sound-Nin Head Protector. Why? Simple: she was receiving the nasties looks she could recall - she's not welcome here. Throughout the year she spent training, neither Orochimaru, Kabuto, nor Tayuya looked at her with such nastiness or hatred that she felt like she was receiving from the villagers.

What did Orochimaru and Kabuto do to this people? I know our villages don't get along, but… This is nothing like the Chunin Exams. That gave Kin some rather nasty flashbacks - ones bad enough for her to not see where she was going. This would become a problem when she walked straight into a man whom was slightly taller than her. And that turned every look of annoyance of the passer bys to pure anger and hatred.

"You better watch it!"

"Who do you think you are?"

"SHOW OUR FUTURE HOKAGE RESPECT!"

"NARUTO? ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE THAT FROM THIS BITCH?"

Naruto? Kin looked up to actually see her target: Naruto Uzumaki. That's Naruto? Kin remembered back to a kid in an orange jumpsuit that somewhat resembled the man in front of her. That kid grew up into this man in front of me?

"KICK HER ASS!"

"YOU ARROGANT BITCH"

"HE SAVED THE WORLD, YOU KNOW? THAT'S HOW YOU REPAY HIM?"

"Wait, really?" Kin said. It may seem weird, but Kin suddenly feared for her life. She just realized that Orochimaru never mentioned how strong Naruto would be, and this Naruto person sounds stronger than that Sasuke character ever did. But if Naruto is that strong, and decides to take their advice… she's gonna die, no doubts about it and Tayuya isn't going to be able . Her eyes showed fear, and they noticed.

"YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT! BE AF-"

"Okay, that's enough!" The man they claimed to be Naruto (Kin still wasn't sure it really was him) spoke out, and they immediately shut their mouths and waited for him to respond. "Look, she bumped into me. Stop acting like she's trying to kill me."

*gulp* Kin was glad nobody noticed that.

"Anyway, what's you name, miss?"

"K-K-Kin Tsuchi, sir!" She saluted out of fear.

"Just calm down and call me Naruto, they won't hurt you."

"Okay… Naruto."

"Now, what are you here?" The fact that Kin did not have an immediate response wasn't helping her PR.

"Well… The thing is…" The stares were not letting up. Naruto was the only person smiling among them. "I wanted to leave the Sound village," Kin took off her head protector "and I heard this was a good place to live." Kin, shaking in fear that nobody would believe her dropped the protector.

"Well… I can safely say…" Kin looked into his ocean blue eyes. praying for a good outcome. "that this IS a good place to live!" Naruto held his hand, with an ear-to-ear grin. Kin, not being stupid accepted his hand. "So, welcome!"

Much to her delight, Kin noticed the other villagers already calming down a bit.

"So, I guess she's okay?"

"If Naruto trusts her, then she can't be that bad."

"What if she has some awful plans for us?"

"Naruto brought Sasuke back and would have brought Obito back as well if he survived. If's she's "bad," Naruto will bring out the best in her."

Kin finally began to breathe a bit more easily and think a bit more rationally as Naruto grabbed her wrist. "Come on!" Naruto bent over to grab her now former headband. "Let's go and get you registered for this village!"

"Yea… Yeah!" Kin started to follow the happy blonde around the new village. "Wow… this place has changed a lot."

"Yeah, it has."

"... Did I say that out loud?"

"Yep! But I'll tell you the story later." Naruto smiled as he and Kin made their way to the new Hokage building. (It looks no different than the last one).

Wow… being around this man. Everyone's already warming up to me being around him. Based on how everyone reacted to me bumping into him, I'd guess they'd lynch me one sight if they found out I killed him. And… no way I'm going to throw this chance at life away like that!

"Speaking of stories…" Kin got a bit nervous. "You're oddly okay being around me, considering…"

"That you used to be Orochimaru's student?" Naruto didn't break a smile, nor did Kin break a face of of shock. "That doesn't mean anything anymore. We were enemies. But we don't have to be anymore.

Kin's face of Shock wasn't because of what Naruto said them being enemies (although that was sweet), but rather on what he didn't say.

Does this dude not know that I… died? Kin didn't have time to ponder on that as they reach the giant red building. Well, I can't wait to met the Hokage again. He was nice; easily the best part of my last stay. What was his name? Hiruzen, I think?