A new Try-Out that is, once again, set in an almost Feudal Era that just tickles me pink to write about.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto™

(Line Break)

I was running again, I don't know from what, but I was running. The forest was so cold at night, not to mention that it gets pretty hard to see where I was going even though the full moon was out again. It was always full moon when I ran, like the Gods wanted to give me a fighting chance to get away from whatever was following me. Who was following me this time? I didn't steal anything, right? Wasn't it just yesterday morning I was in a home…or in a hospital? I hated when I blacked out, everything was a mystery the next time that I woke up. This time I had to have done something wrong, since a bunch of people were after me. How old was I; thirteen right? I should be in a house with a mom and dad teaching me how to hunt, fight, and maybe how to get a wife while they were at it. I ran into a deep cave and sat back in the shadows and held my breath. I felt myself and looked for anything that wasn't familiar. I had my pack on my back, and my clothes were the same as always; even my boots were still in great condition after all that running. I pushed my back against the wall as the large group walked back.

"That little demon will be stoned to death!"

"He must be headed towards the border, the desert will kill him."

"No, I want him to face what he has done!"

"He is just a boy-"

"It was burned to the ground you moron! The boy must be sent from hell to test our faith and we shall show him that our great Gods will protect us and give us the strength to capture him!"

They all cheered as they continued on, in a march to my death. I looked down at my hands and saw the black ash. Had I burned a home down…or was it some sort of temple that belonged to one of the many gods? If only I knew where I was, then this would be easier to figure out. I looked deeper into the cave and wondered to the back; I found a hole that led to underground catacombs. This seemed to be the only safe route that I could take. I jumped down and landed in six inch deep water, but the water was so clear. On the wall was a torch, I reached into my pack and pulled out two stones, with a few sparks and some paper I had a well-lit torch. I looked down at the clear water and was surprised at my reflection in the water. My face was covered in black ash, but where I had touched my face had moved away some of the ash. I quickly washed my face and hands and awed at pale skin. Like the kind of pale that were on the palace girl's dolls. My hair seemed to be a very dark blue. I crouched down to get closer to the water and so I could hold the fire closer; my eyes were this dark purple color. I almost smiled at how cool I really looked. Then I remember that I was looking for an escape, so I stood up and walked through the six inch deep water.

Then…well I don't remember what happened again.

(Third Person)

There he sat on a rock in the middle of the forest. A map was in his hands and he starred at it with deep intensity, like staring at it long enough and it would just tell him where to go. He looked back up at the fork in the road that made him look at the map in the first place. He wasn't really sure where he was or where he was going…the only thing that he did know was that he was very hungry and needed to bathe. He looked down at his body; he wore a worn green tunic and black plants with black hunting boots. Then a thin cloak hung on his shoulders, that was held together by some tied string and he had lost the hood to it back in Kumogakure when he was hiding away from a bunch of castle guards. He looked at his hands and pulled up his sleeves to see that his arms and hands were still bandaged up from burns that he did not remember getting. He flexed his hands and cringed at the slight pain that made its way up his arm.

"Okay," he said in his tenor voice and got to his feet, "how about we just flip a coin?" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a bronze coin with the Sunagakure symbol on one side and blank on the other. "Symbol I go left, blank I go right." He gave the coin a good flip and then watched as the coin fell to the ground and he crouched down and looked at the coin, "Left it is," he smiled as he picked up the coin and took the path to the left. The sign on the post read: 'Konohagakure'. "I hope that this place is a little quieter," he said with a smile as he pocketed the coin. But as he walked down the rather wide path, he watched and heard carriages and horses stroll down the path. He kept his head down and tried to walk far behind or in front of. He watched the decorated carriages being pulled by large and strong horses. The guards around these carriages kept a wary eye on him as if he was going to steal something or attack. He just sighed and muttered, "I better go find another route." He glanced around and found another path that came off the road, but it was a human made path and looked to be very sketchy, but it was the only way to get away without passing another carriage.

He turned down the path but the guards only became more suspicious about him and a few followed after him. He tried to look less suspicious but him speeding up his walk. He heard them muttering to one another and slowly began to unsheathe swords. He began to panic as they slowly got closer to him. So Hansuke started booking it down the road.

"After him!"

"Come on," he groaned out and looked back at them. He then went back to staring down the path in hopes of finding another escape, but before he knew it the guards were right on him. He jumped when he heard the rustle of armor right behind him. He spun around and stopped a rather large blade between his hands with the tip lightly touching his nose. He gulped loudly as he looked to the shocked guard that tried to get the sword out of his hands. He just pushed the bald to the side and the guard went with it. Another one came at him and he was just stepping out of the blade's way and backing up further and further. He didn't know that he could dodge so well, but he must have had some kind of training. Sure, he knew he was a great runner, but this was really odd. His body just acted on instinct and without his knowing he had kicked a guard's helmet right off his head. They all just stood there in shock; he was still in the kick stance. "You okay?"

"I think so," the guard said but then shook his head. "But you won't be!" He lunged at him again and the guard was again swinging at nothing. It was getting monotonous and he was dodging the three guards, but he panic set in when he was back against a tree. He tried to put his hands up to show defeat, but the three had the swords pointed threateningly at him and he felt the sweat run down his face and neck. "You are coming with us."

"For what?"

One smirked, "Just because we can."

"I have done no wrong," he tried to defend himself.

"As far as we know," another one declared, "you ran from us, eyed the Lords and Lady's carriages, and resisted arrest." He held the sword a bit closer to his throat, "So I advise that you no longer try to fight back."

He smiled, "Alright then," he glanced up, "I'll climb then," he jumped up and grabbed onto the lower hanging branch and pulled himself up. He paled when one guard began to pull out daggers. "Not my best plan," he muttered and climbed up higher. He truly had a knack for getting into trouble, didn't he? But this time he would surely remember why. He heard the 'thwacks' of daggers hitting wood, but it was getting closer and closer to him. He was up as far as he could go without the branches breaking under him. He watched below as they looked to be yelled at one another and then gave up and walked away. Were they really that bored? That had to give him a good chase and then watch him climb up a tree like an elephant? He huffed, "What a bunch of royal jerks, if I wasn't scared for my life…you might have actually caught me." He said with a smile and rubbed the back of his head. "I better find a way-"

*Cracking noises*

"…that can't b-"

(Line Break)

She starred down at him with curious eyes as he was still lying in her bed. He was damn lucky she had been heading down the road at that moment, or he'd be robbed and probably dead. She pulled her long blonde hair back into a braid and smoothed out her plain dark grey dress with a white apron on it and then put on her white bonnet. Her uncle was still upset to see that she had run back home, grabbed his only horse, and then came back with the male that was as poor as he was. She only shooed her uncle away after he had rudely dropped him on the bed and she went to take care of him. Her deep blue eyes starred at his sleeping form, which was cleaned up so that she actually saw that his skin was pale and very soft to the touch. She had also been lucky enough to re bandage his arms and felt the line of the toned muscle he barred; her face was still flushed red as her eyes traveled down to his bandaged chest that she had to apply an ointment to, to help the bruises. She almost though him to be a noble from his looks, but there he lied without a penny to his name; a name that she had yet to discover.

"Naruko," she stood up straight and turned around to see her uncle in the door way, "I need you working, not gawking at your new patient."

Naruko huffed and pouted, "All right Uncle Tsuyoshi," she crossed her arms over her chest and then walked out past him. Tsuyoshi was a tavern owner, where people came to drink and gamble and then get thrown out for being a bother. He was a tall and intimidating looking man with hard brown eyes and blonde hair that was pulled back with a black band. He dressed in his usual bartender clothes since he worked behind the counter and served drinks. He would usual never let someone like his niece to be around so many drunken men, who got a bit grabby at times, but he was in need of labor since he really couldn't pay.

It was his turn to look at the male, but then he just scoffed and closed the door when he left. He had no time to care for this boy's safety even if his niece did.

Naruko, on the other hand, kept her mind completely set on finding out more about the boy and what he was doing out there. Even as she served drunken men more to drink and watched as they gambled with one another with the little money they had. She had a larger range of customers today, since a bunch of people were traveling here for Konohagakure's annual Tournament of Champions. She smiled at the thought of going out and watching young strapping men from every nation fight for honor. But she was pulled from her thoughts when she felt someone else touch her bottom and, as much as she hated to, she pretended not to notice and continued with her work. Naruko walked back over to the bar to Tsuyoshi, "I can't do this anymore," he glanced at her, "I can't."

"I'm sorry Naruko," he said not looking at her since he couldn't bear the thought that he was failing at raising her. "But it won't be like this much longer…I'm going to try and get some money."

"Uncle," she looked at him with no amusement or even hope in the fact, "Don't. Just don't even try to gamble out of this one too."

"Just get back to work and let me worry about this…okay?" he walked away from her before she could scold him again. Naruko just sighed with her face buried in her hands, but she then shook off any doubt that she might have had. She had to remember, things always worked out, one way or another. She went back to work with a smile almost even though she just wanted to kick everyone out on the inside.

It went on like that until sunset hit and Tsuyoshi formally closed the bar. He usually kept it open through the night, but even he needed a break from it. Naruko finished the last of her sweeping and before she could dash up the stairs, Tsuyoshi stopped her. "Don't get comfortable with having him around," he warned as he was still putting things away. "Once he is well, then he is out of here. And that will be that," Naruko nodded but she didn't really care for that, she just wanted to find out more about him, not marry him. Her heeled boots clacked loudly against the wooden floors and as slow as she could, she opened the door to her room. Naruko watched as the male was walking about her room and looked to be cleaning her room, she blushed red in embarrassment at how dirty her room must have been. She was slightly disappointed that he looked so well after a mere day of sleep and she was too tired to stay up. She would though; she would stay awake until she knew everything.

Naruko entered the room but he noticed her without hesitation. He looked at her and smiled and she had to smile back, "I'm glad to see that you are alive and well." He nodded and walked back over to the cot that was Naruko's bed and went through his pack that he had been carrying. "I hope you don't mind that I talk to you-" she had been walking up to him, but he turned around and held out a little burlap sack to her. She took it and opened it up too see it had been assorted silver and gold coins, "Oh you don't have to…" she tried to give it back to him, but he just pushed it back at her. "Okay," she said and pocketed the coins, "so…I'm Naruko. Naruko Uzamaki," she curtsied to him.

"Hansuke," he bowed back to her.

"What brings you to Konohagakure, Hansuke-san?" She asked as Hansuke sat back down on the cot and then he motioned for her to sit beside him.

"I don't really know," he gave a shrug of his shoulders as she sat beside him. "By a flip of the coin really," he smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck. "Thank you for taking care of me Uzamaki-san," he glanced at her.

"It was nothing," she waved it off. "Where are you from?"

"Uh…" he thought for a moment, "I don't know that either," he blushed at how stupid he sounded.

"Okay…" Naruko was getting a bit confused about this guy. Did he fall out of a tree, or out of the sky? "Is there anything that you can tell me about yourself?"

"Yeah," he smiled and began to name things off as he counted them on his fingers. "I was in Kumogakure before this, and Kirigakure before that, Otogakure before that, and then I was traveling through a bunch of villages after I was in Sunagakure." He paused for a moment, "Oh, and I enjoy tea and sweets I guess. I think I have had some fighting abilities or at least I am a great runner since I do that a lot." Hansuke smiled to himself, looking proud that he been able to remember so much about his life. Naruko just looked at him funny; since she was close to thinking he was crazy. "And now I am in Konohagakure with a woman by the name of Naruko Uzamaki." He sighed lightly, "I have never said so much in my life." He laughed, "I don't think I've ever known someone so long either."

"Really," she asked with slight pity in her voice. "Well," she gave a light smile, "I'm glad that we got to formally meet Hansuke-san," he smiled back at her and she couldn't help but blush pink. "I-I know I shouldn't prey…" she looked at her lap, "but…maybe we can get to know each other better?"

"That sounds great," he said as he looked at the wall ahead of him with a smile, "I mean, I don't know much about me, but it would be nice to know more about my savior." He then stood up and stretched, "I best get ready to leave," he walked over to his pack, "I don't want to be a bother to you or the other man."

"Oh my Uncle won't mind," she said quickly as she stood up. He looked back at her and she just blushed and smiled, "I mean… I can't let you walk out into the night like that. You could still be weak and get mugged, or worse!"

Hansuke smiled and laughed a bit, "I think I will be alright," he looked through his pack and pulled on his shirt, "I am a quick healer."

"No," Naruko blocked the door way as Hansuke put on his cloak and just smiled at her, "I don't want that fear that you are dead hanging over my head." He just shook his head and grabbed his pack. Naruko stood her ground, "I am serious Hansuke-san! Just one more night and then I'll determine if you are well enough to leave in the morning." He just shook his head and sat back down on the cut, "Good," she smiled, "now, what would you like to eat?"

Hansuke laughed lightly, "Eat? Really?" Naruko looked at him funny. "I apologies but I am surprised that you are offering me more when you have already given me so much." He let out a deep breath and glanced at her, "You are too kind Uzamaki-san."

"Please," she blushed sheepishly, "just call me Naruko."

He nodded, "If you insist Naruko-san."

"How about we go down into the kitchen and I cook you up some ramen," she smiled brightly as she stood up. "It's like the only thing that I can make, but I make the best in this village." He smiled and followed her out of the room. Hansuke noticed that she was rather cheerful and delightful to be around; he did enjoy her company. He looked around the tavern and almost cringed at how dirty the place really was; the need to clean burned deep within him. As Naruko went back into the kitchen, Hansuke grabbed a broom that had been propped up against the wall and began to sweep up. He nearly gagged at the site of how much dirt and dust had been left behind. He didn't know how long he was sweeping, but it was long enough for his food to be done and for Naruko to watch him. He looked to the rather large pile of garbage he had collected and swept it outside through the back door. "Sorry about the mess," she broke through his thoughts.

"Th-this place isn't m-messy," he said quickly and rather loudly with a large smile. He put his hands up, "I-I just l-like to keep busy." Naruko just laughed lightly at how hard he was trying not to offend her. He just gave a nervous laugh and walked over to the counter and sat down. He lightly blew the bowl and then shoved a mouthful of noodles into his mouth. Naruko tried to warn him that it was still really hot, but she was surprised to see that he was almost done eating it. "That was really good," he looked to her with almost disbelief, "I forgot how good hot food taste."

"I'm just glad you didn't burn the inside of your mouth," she said with a smile.

"Oh I did," he smiled, "but it was very much worth it." Naruko sweat dropped as he continued to smile. "Well you best get to bed Naruko-san," he stood up and took hold of his dishes, "thank you for everything once again."

"Are you going to sleep?" She asked as she walked towards the stairs.

"Let me just clean up my plate and I'll be back in the cot in no time," Hansuke smiled at her. Naruko just sighed lightly with a smile and walked back up to her room as Hansuke walked to the kitchen. Hansuke nearly dropped his bowl as he walked into the kitchen and saw the mess before him; it was like walking into the kitchen from hell. Dirty dishes piled up in a sink, filth everywhere, and he ignored the noise of little feet running over the floor. He looked outside to see the placement of the moon and took in a deep breath. "Just the kitchen…"

(Line Break)

Tsuyoshi stood at the bottom of the stares with his mouth gapped open and his eyes wide. He looked around his bar in shock at how clean the place was. The glass that covered his shelves full of liquor was as clear as spring water and even the bottles were shined. He looked at the floor that looked clean enough to eat off of. The table tops were polished and the windows were cleaned of dust and none of them were broken. He walked a bit further into the bar and saw that the kitchen door was opened up; he walked in to see another miracle. He never has seen such a clean place in such a long time. His eyes traveled about the kitchen until they landed on the unknown male that was sitting on the floor, back against the stove and a mop, broom, and bucket propped up against him or by him. Tsuyoshi smirked as he watched the male sleeping again but, this time, he didn't hate him as much as before. He walked back out and watched as Naruko walked down in her nightgown, "I'll let the boy stay," he smirked when she blinked at him for a while, but then a smile burst on to her face.

"Really?" She ran up and hugged him, "Thank you uncle Tsuyoshi!"

"Don't," he hugged her back with his own smile, "he might be taking your job." Naruko looked up at him, "I can't have you both hired and pay you…" Tsuyoshi patted her head as he walked off to get ready, "Not yet anyway…"

"Uncle," Naruko hated knowing that her uncle was a gambler, and a bad one at that. "Please don't bother…we…we can think of something else-" she cut herself off as an idea came into her head. "The tournaments…" he looked back at her, "you can enter him in the tournament!"

"That would be worse than what I wanted to do," Tsuyoshi rolled his eyes. "That kid may be able to clean, but staying alive doesn't seem to be his strong suit."

"He fell out of a tree and after some sleep he cleaned this whole place," she defended, "and we don't know that he can't fight."

"Well I don't want to find out during the middle of a match," Tsuyoshi retorted.

"Won't you even train him a bit, just to check? You were one of the trainers in the castle-"

"That was some time ago," he said softly as he glanced back at her. "I'm not going to through that kid into a pit of cobras just for some hope that he can save this bar."

"But you are willing to risk our lives in a card game?"

"Just be lucky that I am letting him stay," Tsuyoshi turned to look at her and crossed his arms over his chest. "How about this, I'm going to allow him to live here and I'll see if he has the qualities of a good fighter."

"What are qualities of a good fighter," Naruko looked at him skeptically.

"Just things you wouldn't know or understand," he said back with a huff and pout. "Now allow me to get ready, you know how busy we get."

"H-Hello?" The two looked over to see Hansuke leaning on the door frame and rubbing his eyes, "w-where am I?"

"In my tavern's kitchen," Tsuyoshi said.

"Are you alright Hansuke-san?"

He looked at her for a moment, and then realization hit him. "Naruko-san," he smiled, "good morning." Naruko blushed lightly and looked to the floor. She then noticed how she was dressed and ran back upstairs to change. Hansuke just looked over to Tsuyoshi, "I never got your name sir."

"You may refer to me as sir," Tsuyoshi said with a smirk. "Since you seem to have some good qualities to you, I am allowing you to live and work here for me."

"Thank you sir," Hansuke stepped out and bowed to him. Tsuyoshi noticed that it was a deep bow and the way that he had done it was like that of nobility. Even if he was found in the middle of nowhere, he must have been of some kind of nobility. Tsuyoshi looked the boy over a few more times; his physical appearance, sharp features but ironically large eyes that were such a dark shade of purple. He didn't seem to be an idiot, but he didn't look like much of a fighter either. Tsuyoshi sighed as the male looked at him oddly, "Is something wrong sir?"

"I have a proposition for you," Tsuyoshi said with a frown. "I want to train you and put you in a competition-"

"Yes!" Hansuke said rather quickly and much to Tsuyoshi's surprise.

"You don't even know what the competition is?"

"I don't' care," he smiled at him, "you are letting me work and live here. If this is the one way I can repay you then I will do whatever I can."

"I could be entering you in something that might get you killed for something as little as a bet." Tsuyoshi looked to him with shock. "How can you be okay with that?"

"You don't seem to understand who I am. My name is Hansuke, no last name since I don't know it. Ever since I was thirteen I have had horrible black outs and not ever remember where I am, why I'm there, and what I am supposed to be doing. Most of my life has been like this and this is the first time that I have woken up to a familiar face." Hansuke smiled brightly as he looked around the bar, "this place…I actually remember it!" He walked about the tavern, "I have just been roaming this earth without a reason like someone who is dead. I don't know if anyone else knows who I am and I don't know if I have family looking for me." He looked back at Tsuyoshi with pleading eyes, "If I get the chance to be of use, to have a purpose to someone. Please, please just let me do it."

"You…" Tsuyoshi shook his head and smirked, "you are some crazy little bastard."

Hansuke just laughed and nodded, agreeing with the older blonde. Tsuyoshi just started laughing as well.

Naruko came back down dressed up and looked between the two.

"What I miss?"

(Line Break)

"Get the drinks to table stupid," Tsuyoshi gave Hansuke a good nudge with his foot. The male stumbled forward and stopped himself from falling, "and I don't want to see you trying to clean while people are playing cards." Hansuke pouted and was again off to weave through the throngs of people who got drunk in the middle of the afternoon and gambled away money they didn't have. Naruko had gotten Hansuke an old pair of servant clothes that were slightly patched up and an old apron that tied around his waist. Naruko was currently serving a table some stew and bread and glanced at the male as he was getting use to the work. More people piled in for a quick meal since they had traveled a great distance, but Hansuke seemed to be very skittish around such large crowds. He would freeze up when table full of men stopped him for some chit-chat; it was so bad that she thought the male was to faint.

"Here you are," Hansuke mumbled out as set down drinks.

"Would you look at that," one man said with a smirk, "that old man was able to hire some more help around this dump." The other men cackled as Hansuke just ignored them while picking up old glasses. "What he paying you boy?"

"Enough," he still spoke quietly.

"Speak up you little brat," the man glared, "be a man or pick up your skirt and walk off." He smirked as the others laughed. "I bet that loon plucked you right off the streets, huh? I mean," he leaned back in his seat, "who else would think working in this hell-hole is fine?" They all laughed and Hansuke walked off with glare on his face as the other men just continued to laugh at him and Tsuyoshi. "Get back here you las'," Hansuke stopped in his tracks. "That's right, I'm talking to you. I am not done talking to you." Hansuke turned back around and watched as the man stood up and walked over to him. He was burly, a large and unkempt beard on his face, he looked to be in his middle ages. A silence grew in the tavern, "You just think you can walk away from me? You walk away when I say you can, got it?" Hansuke remained silent.

"Leave him alone," Tsuyoshi looked over to the two while still cleaning his glass.

"Or what Tsuyoshi," he taunted as he pushed Hansuke back. Hansuke stumbled to keep the glasses from falling and then looked back to Tsuyoshi, but he didn't respond. The male laughed, "What's wrong boy? Your new master not telling you what to do?"

"Why don't you go jump off a cliff," Naruko came to Hansuke's defense.

"Like I'm going to let you hide behind a woman," he pushed Naruko aside. Hansuke put the trey on a table that was only occupied by some cloaked figure; he quickly went to help Naruko back to her feet. "Do something about it boy," he sneered, "stand up for yourse-" he was cut off as Hansuke picked him up by his collar. "H-Hey!" Hansuke walked him over to the door, kicked it open, and then threw him out. He slammed the door shut and went back over to a slightly stunned Naruko.

"Are you alright," he asked lightly as he looked her over.

"Yeah," she blushed lightly. He nodded and as the room was still silent, he picked up his tray and walked back to the kitchen to clean them. "Alright everyone," Naruko said with red cheeks but still looked composed, "shows over, get on with your gambling."

"Well I'll be damned," Tsuyoshi said with a small smile on his lips and in his eyes, "that was the greatest thing I have seen in a long time." He glanced over at Hansuke, who just walked out from the kitchen, "you may have just won a few points in my book stupid." Hansuke looked at him, "Never known anyone to be able to pick up a guy just by his collar- well," he smirked, "other than me of course."

"Yeah," Naruko rolled her eyes, "Like ten years ago."

"Get back to work," Tsuyoshi said with a huff and Naruko just giggled.

Hansuke just smiled at the two and before he would walk off, the cloaked figure from before was standing before him. Hansuke looked down on them and noticed that a dainty hand was holding out a white handkerchief, "Please good sir," the voice was very soft, "take this as a token of gratitude." He took it with a look of confusion, the figure just let out a feminine laugh, "I hope to see you again good sir." She turned away and walked out of the tavern and Hansuke was left to star at the plain white handkerchief.

"You really are stupid," Tsuyoshi shook his head.

Hansuke just continued to look at the object, "I don't get it...do I have something on my face?"

Tsuyoshi just laughed.

(End)

Well, tell me what you guys think of the try-out. Next up is a request about our gang in a superhero/villain high school. Then we have a story straight from me that will directly crossover into another one of my own stories, so stay tuned for more. Thank you for reading and Ja Ne.