"Hey, Mom! It's that five-element girl from the exams! And she's with that boy! Look, Mo-"
"Oh, Honey, come on, we have to go! Don't look at him! We can talk to the girl later!"
Annie clenched her uncasted fist. If she overheard another sour word about Naruto, there was going to be a repeat of her fight with Gaara. Except this time, she'd have to do it with one arm in a cast.
She growled. "I swear...I'm gonna...I'm gonna...ooh, I'm gonna...So unfair...gimme one shinobi...one shinobi without a kid..."
"It's okay, Annie. Just calm down. We can't go on a mission all riled up." Naruto squeezed Annie's shoulder.
"How do we even know it's a mission? I mean, they're only sending ANIBU on missions, now, after Orochimaru and the Sound spies. Besides, we're going to a private meeting in the tower, not to the missions quarters." She tried to keep her mind off of the idiocies in Konoha.
Naruto smiled. "Because they know that we're totally awesome enough to go on missions with the ANIBU."
Annie smiled. "Yeah. That could be it..." She then sent another glare at a snickering shinobi guarding Hokage Tower.
They entered the Hokage office. Instead of the old man in a big hat sitting in the chair, there was a stack of paperwork. The village elders stood in front of the desk.
"Annie Marufuji...You don't have records of birth, living expenses, or moving into Konoha at all..." The old woman said, her dark eyes staring at Annie like daggers.
"Oh, I got living expenses, check out my hospital bills." Annie waved her broken arm in a cast and sling at them.
The even older guy ignored her and said, "No family records...no history, whatsoever...And then you suddenly show up in the Chuunin exams, with all five elements heeding your every desire. Something that hasn't happened since the first Hokage walked the earth."
Annie pursed her lips, anger beginning to seep from her presence. "Yeah, so? You're old."
The man growled his distaste at the girl. "You must give us information about your past, or we will pin you as a threat."
Annie stuck her tongue out at the old people. "Yeah, Ba-Chan? Well, maybe I don't know my own history. Maybe I'm a friggin orphan!" She sassed at them. They glared at her.
"So powerful, yet so disrespectful...I suspect you may be a spy for Obito..." The woman said.
"Go screw yourselves." She muttered. "I don't even know who the freak Obito is!"
Naruto took Annie's hand. "Trust me, she's not a spy for anybody. I mean, Annie can barely follow Kakashi's orders, let alone two people at once." He smiled until Annie smacked his arm.
The woman and the man stared daggers at Annie. "How can you be so sure?"
Naruto raised his eyebrows. "I've known her for what, nine years now? She couldn't go a week at ninja academy without wanting to scream at a teacher. She'd never be able to pull it off as a double agent." Annie smacked him even harder.
"What? I'm helping you!" He smiled at her. Annie rolled her eyes.
She turned to the Elders. "Listen, Grand Elders, I understand that my powers may be...considerable, but I am no threat to Konoha. I'm merely an orphan, and I have no ties with Obi-whatnow. I was raised by a man by the name of Hataku until I was five years old, when he died. Before that time, he taught me how to live off the land and to throw kunais and control my powers. When he died, I ran away before his killers could capture me. I came across this village and endeavor to become a part of it to this day. I have kept my excessive powers hidden, just for the sake of people like yourselves judging me to be dangerous and different." She said with a steady, flat voice. The elders looked taken aback for a moment, then returned to their stony stare.
"Fine, then. Leave us. We have a new Hokage to find." The old woman waved them away and Annie and Naruto bowed and left.
When they were out of earshot in the hallway, Naruto whispered to Annie. "Wow, Annie, you're awesome at lying..."
"I've had to do it for years." She said. Kakashi materialized in front of them.
"Bah!" Naruto screamed.
Kakashi raised his brow. "You are shinobi. You are supposed to be ready for anything."
Annie sighed. "No one seemed 'ready for anything' at the Chuunin exams."
He smirked. "The village was quite surprised at both of your fights in the Chuunin exams. Annie, for your mysterious hidden talents, and Naruto, for his considerable growth and tactfulness. He also seemed to show hidden talents as well. It will get you more missions. Your fights have drawn plenty of attention, especially since you both are together so often." He added the last part with a little smirk.
"Can't they just...accept it and get over it?" Annie pouted, knowing perfectly well that any normal society wouldn't just "get over it".
"Ha, that's a good one, Annie. I myself wonder how your small, genin body could contain so much power at such a young age. Why, I've known about Naruto's miraculous power with the Kyuubi since he was a baby, but you...no one knows where you come from. Such power isn't...natural."
"It's not like I'm a freaking alien from outer space or something." Annie mumbled. Naruto looked at her strangely.
"What's an alien?" He asked.
She waved her hand. "Later. Ugh, this village is full of bakas." She said, resisting a glare at the people staring and whispering at her from across the street.
Kakashi's eyes sparkled in amusement. "Annie, it's perfectly normal for people to be curious about your powers."
"Yeah, I guess that's okay, but what I'm talking about is the people who try to figure out my powers without even asking me. They make up stories and rumors and get me in trouble. And they've been doing that to Naruto since before I came here." She said, glaring at the sidewalk.
Kakashi sighed. Naruto decided to get Annie out of the streets, since they seemed to be putting her in a funk.
"We should go visit Sasuke. I'm sure he's in more pain then both of us are right now."
Annie smacked her forehead. "Oh, man! I've been back a full twenty-four hours and I haven't even thought about Sasuke! And here I am, whining about the elders! Let's go!"
The two left Kakashi in hurry to get to the hospital. They entered the hospital, not without running into Kiba.
"Oof! Watch it, ki- Annie! Hey! Where have you been? Shikamaru told me you ran into some trouble." Kiba smiled with his pointy teeth and black slit eyes. His furry gray hood was pulled up. Annie had never understood why his hood was pulled up at such a hot place like Konoha.
"Oh, Kiba, it's been a while. Sup?"
"Sup? Sup? When you said, "Bring out the big guns" at the second exam, I didn't know you meant all five elements! Annie, what the crap? Why didn't you tell me about it? I bet Naruto already knew about it." He said Naruto's name like it left a bad taste in his mouth. Annie sighed.
"Nobody but Naruto, and it's because he walked in on me training privately. I was hoping to keep it hidden longer, but, well, Gaara kinda ruined that chance." Annie explained monotonously. Kiba saw that she had probably explained that to a thousand other people, so he dropped it.
"...Okay, then. Well, look, Annie...I'm sure you can tell me anything. You can trust me. So, if there's anything you want to say, just ask, okay?" Naruto smirked as Kiba tried to earn Annie's trust. As if he could really handle the truth.
"That's a sweet offer, Kiba. I'll think about it. But first, do you know where Sasuke's room is?"
He frowned. "Yeah. 382, but I don't know if they'll let you in. He's still unconscious." Annie thanked him and left Kiba in a flurry, Naruto running behind her.
They took the elevator, then had difficulty trying to find 382. When they finally found the room, Annie creaked the door open. There Sasuke lay, bandaged up and asleep. Annie stared at him from the doorway sadly, then started to leave.
"Wait, Annie. Aren't you going to say anything?" Naruto caught her arm.
"Like what? Have fun in the hospital?"
"No, like...I'm sorry, or get well soon."
"It's...been said before. I'm gonna go now." She left a clueless Naruto staring after her as she disappeared down the hall.
"Hold up, Annie-Chan. I'm coming!" Naruto ran towards her, accidentally bumping into a big man with long, white hair. The man grunted and grabbed Naruto's shoulder.
"Naruto! Watch yourself!" Naruto looked up, alarmed, then laughed.
"Sorry, Ero-Sennin!" Jiraiya rolled his eyes and sweat-dropped.
"Don't call me that in a hospital! I've been looking for you." He leaned over and winked.
"I've got a special mission, and I'm bringing you on it!"
Naruto gasped excitedly. "Really? What sort of mission?"
"To bring the fifth Hokage back to Konoha!" He smiled widely. Naruto jumped up and down.
"YEAH! Jiraiya, are you going to train me while we are on the mission?"
He nodded. Naruto cheered louder.
Jiraiya watched the jumping, spiky-haired blonde boy smile and thought to himself. He looks so much like his father...His personality is so unlike his father, though...In some ways...In others, they couldn't be any more similar...
Annie turned around. She swore Naruto had yelled down the hallway that he was coming, too. Maybe he'd changed his mind, and decided to "talk" to Sasuke.
Either way, she was alone in the empty streets of Konoha. Nothing behind her except restless leaves echoing down the cobblestone street. Closed shops and rain-wasted posters were all that was left of the sad, little market place.
Annie herself felt sort of down. She was nowhere near as close to the Hokage as the average Konoha child was, but the news of his death had struck her solidly. She had no idea that the third Hokage was such an important person to Konoha. All she knew was that being a Hokage was a high aspiration, and it was Naruto's biggest dream.
She wondered how they picked Hokage. She supposed it was like picking the President of the United States. Running a big campaign and wasting tons of money on commercials, banners, signs, and giving big drama-mama speeches, ninja-style.
But that didn't seem like Konoha's style. Especially since not a lot of the citizens watched much television. Naruto didn't even own a T.V.
Annie was surprised when she got to her log house to see Naruto standing there expectantly. He was jumping, bubbly, and definitely exploding to tell Annie something.
"Hey, Naruto-Kun, I lost you back there. What's up?"
"I ran into Jiraiya-Sensei! He's taking me on an A-ranked mission!"
Annie's jaw dropped. "No way! What's the mission?"
He almost squealed like a girl. "To get the new Hokage and bring her back!"`
Annie raised her eyebrows. "Seriously? They've already chosen one?"
He nodded. "Why wouldn't they?"
She shrugged. "Well...where I come from choosing leaders are a big deal. And they wait a little while before choosing someone, too. Does she even know she's going to be Hokage?"
He shook his head. "No. Wouldn't that be an awesome surprise?"
"For you, maybe."
He laughed. "Yeah, it would. But, anyway, Jiraiya-Sensei is going to train me on the way, too! I'm going to come back stronger!"
Annie smiled. "How long do you think you'll be gone?"
He frowned. "A few weeks. Three, tops."
She sighed. "That's a long time, Naruto-Kun."
He pouted. "I didn't think of that, Annie-Chan. I'm sorry."
She waved it away. "I'll be fine. Pfft, what's a few weeks? I'll probably be busy on some A-rank mission of my own." She winked.
He laughed. "Oh, definitely. They'll see that you're really good, now."
Annie and Naruto chatted happily until Jiraiya took Naruto by the shoulder and told him that he should get ready. Naruto reluctantly left with him, but not without giving Annie a quick hug and waving good-bye over his shoulder.
As they left the village, Jiraiya thought: So Naruto's good with the ladies, huh?
R&R PLEASEE!
IF YOU LOVE NARUTO,THEN YOU MUST R&R!
IF YOU LOVE NARUANN (Naruto and Annie) then R&R FOR YOUR LIFE!
IF YOU LOVE FANFICTION, THEN PLEASSE R&R ME BECAUSE I NEED WRITING SUPPORT!
I ONLY HAVE ONE REVIEW, AND OVER TWENTY CHAPTERS! THAT LOOKS REALLY BAD!
I know I wasn't such a good writer when I started this, but it's been a full year of non-stop writing and I think I've gotten better! But I wouldn't know unless somebody TOLD me, right? Please, PLEASE, PLEAASE R&R! I KNOW PEOPLE READ THIS! I READ MY TRAFFIC STUFF! I WILL FIND YOU ALL!