Would you look at this! I'm spitting out another chapter! To me it feels like a slight filler but it's still good as a chapter.

Thank you to my lovely readers and reviews, which I will thank at the end. Again this work is unbeta'd so let me know if there are any spelling or grammar mistakes.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, I just have Akiko and the plot.

EDIT 1/12/2015: This story now has a beta and with this note, what you are reading is the beta'd version. All betaing has been done by bleeding-roses 16

My first meeting with Jiraiya was more of a passing glance. It was also the first time that I had come across a Leaf ninja, at the time I knew that I was no-where near the leaf so for a moment it had stumped me that I had run into one. Leaf ninja were bound to one place, their village, either by familial bonds or a sense of duty. Something that took me a while to comprehend even though I used to be the same, but after years of wandering it became a foreign concept to me. Later on I would see the Toad Sage during various years as he travelled as widely as I did, but I knew that he would always be called back to his home. Something that I was still searching for.

Once I was properly introduced to him, I was surprised that he had even remembered me during the times I had seen him. We had never stopped to talk and it had taken me a while to recognize him. But of one thing I was certain, he wasn't the first Leaf ninja I was going to run into. However, it would take me three years before I stumbled across another.

Excerpt from the Memoirs of Akiko Hatake nee Reko

Page 38

X

Once more Akiko wondered the streets of Gufu, which she had learned from nearby map was the name of the capital of Bird Country, in search of work. She had planned to stay for a month like she had in Yuni but if she could find no job, Akiko knew she would have to move on which she was wary of doing with her meagre supplies and small amount of money. Akiko walked along the streets, humming under her breath the songs she could remember from her past life while keeping a sharp eye on the shops and stalls she passed. As she passed, someone called out to her.

"Hey! You in the straw hat!" Came the voice of a man, Akiko stopped and turned in the direction of the voice and saw an old man sitting in a chair under a bamboo umbrella. She tilted her head curiously as she took in his appearance. The man was old, that much she could tell from the wrinkles on his skin, his skin had darkened to a considerable degree from most likely working under the sun for long periods of time and his clothes were closer to rags as they hung off his body like a sack. With some deliberation, Akiko made her way over to the man.

"I saw you yesterday circle 'round. You looking for a job?" He asks unprompted. Akiko keeps silent but nods her head, the hat covering the upper part of her face. The man grumbles under his breath.

"You don't speak much, do ya." He cleared his throat and spoke louder this time, unaware that Akiko had heard him, "Well, I'm in need of an extra pair of hand on the rice paddies. You up for it?" He offers. Akiko knows that she needs the work and money but not wanting to agree or decline until she knew more said.

"I'm only here for a month." The man started at the sound of her voice.

"You're a girl?" He asked incredulously and Akiko lifts her head so he can see her unimpressed raised eyebrow.

"Right, right. I'll only need help for a month." He continues.

"Do you do bed and board?" Akiko questions, bartering with her new boss.

"Yep, I've got that. So you in?" He leans closer in anticipation, grinning.

"When do I start?" She asks, grinning the same smile as the man before her. He laughed loudly, patting his leg before getting up to pack away his chair and umbrella.

"I like you. The names' Takumi" he says still chuckling.

"Akiko" She smiles and follows him as he walks off through the city to one of the exits without hesitation.

X

Akiko spends the next month on the surrounding rice paddies harvesting the rice and preparing them to dry for the upcoming rice festival and it is there that she realizes that she has been away from home for almost 8 months, her birthday had passed without her knowledge while on the road. During which she hadn't sent any letters home. However that was quickly remedied when Takumi had taken her to the nearby post office and was directed to the ninja couriers when Akiko had told the clerk that the letters were to go to Forest country.

The Ninja Couriers, Akiko had found, were a curious and eccentric people but they were so very kind when she had handed the letters to them. The particular ninja she had handed it to, 345-05, When the ninja she had handed the letter to had learned of where she wanted the letters to go, as well as he time frame, seemed to take it as a challenge and promptly disappeared after being paid, leaving the dust to settle around Akiko and Takumi.

"What an odd person" She comments absently, Takumi can do nothing but cough his agreement.

X

Once the month was over, Akiko moves on again passing by the market to buy the bandages she had promised herself earlier and once more added what herbs she could find in the market to her personal stash, and as she exits the public baths Akiko caught a flash of white in the corner of her eye. Looking around suspiciously but seeing nothing, she shrugged to herself and left, intent on getting out of Bird country as soon as possible. When Akiko leaves she just misses the Rice Festival by a few days but dares not stay, for her next destination was Rain country and from what she had heard around Gufu, there was still a lot of strife in the area.

X

Jiraiya watched on in contemplation as the Orange-haired woman makes her way out of Gufu. He had been caught by her doing his research, the fact that she had caught him was not what had caught his attention rather it was the recognition that had been printed clear on her face. Jiraiya knew he had a reputation among ninja as a Sannin and as a pervert, which was felt more strongly among the civilians in Konoha. However, news of who he was had not spread as far as Bird country yet. To the civilians he was simply a perverted old man and yet this civilian had recognized him. With an interested hum, Jiraiya makes a mental note to find as much information on her as possible. After he deals with the Akatsuki.

I'm not even sure why I had Jiraiya at the end but there he was! And the Akatsuki, I think started after the Third war and that would be around the time when Madara/Tobi got his claws into to them so I also think That would have been when they started recruiting S-rank ninjas. Akiko is about 17, Naruto is 2 years old and Kakashi is still in ANBU running black-ops missions and 16 if anyone is wondering where in the time line I'm at. Also Akiko was born before the Third war, so I think that was hinted at. So she is older than Kakashi by a year. Sorry for the long AN.

Anyway! So almost 2000 views, three C2s and 12 reviews! Which is awesome! Never had that many before for any of them! And the Favorites and Follows! Wow.

Reviews:

ThatGeekyAsian: Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it! I've been trying to keep it as realistic as possible. I noticed most SI being born in a village and never really explored the rest of the Nations except when on mission so I thought why not one that wanders? Hope you enjoyed this chapter too!

Alice: Thank you for reviewing, and in French! I'm glad you enjoyed the story so far! I hope you also enjoy future chapters too!

xxOchibixx: Well what do you think? I do aim to please! Do enjoy the rest of the chapter when the come up!

ClownWhosFeelnDown: I'm glad you think so! And thanks for reviewing!

pulpo801: Thank you for the lovely review! I do like doing things differently! I'm glad, since I'm trying to keep it as real as possible with a hefty amount of common sense (I hope) and general knowledge that people know!

Guest: Yes and since he is a Spy master, I'd say this wouldn't be the last we was of him!

lmnlmn171: I'm glad! Thanks for leaving a review!

collegegirl: I'm kinda surprised it's come this far since I hadn't intended it to but it seems to have taken a life of it's own and Voilà! Thank you! I wanted to do something different and many of the SI usually started either at the start of Naruto, the Warring period or in Konoha during the Third war. I do hope you have enjoyed this chapter!

Right! So later on when I have some time, I'll give out a link to a photo of where Akiko has been so far and which chapter happens where! Until the next time, So long!