Nyoko Namikaze Point of View

I've never been so bored in my life, the past few days, I've spent most of my time reading. I've come to the conclusion that it was the Hokage whom was making it difficult for me to research anything about my parents, or even Naruto. Thankfully, he couldn't stop me from looking through other personal files, not that it did me much good. We didn't have much on the Ame Village aside from what has to be the former leader, Hanzō, whom went crazy to try and become immune to toxins. There wasn't much on his death either, just that he died during the civil war.

Nothing mentioned the man or even the blue haired woman, at least nothing I could find. It's as if someone wanted us to assume that the village was a rouge one.

The only plausible research I had on anyone was the snake man. His name was Orochimaru, he was once of Konoha he was not only a missing ninja, he was a Sannin. This explains why I had such a rough time getting away, he was way out of my league. He must've resided within the Mountains' Graveyard, or was hiding out nearby. He must've had me in a Genjutsu, fooling me into thinking there were people coming after me, so I'd get cornered.

I didn't even see him till after he had a snake wrapped around me, how was I under a Genjutsu? How did I not notice I was under it? That shows just how talented he alone was.

That's as far as I had gotten with my research, on people. My research of the Nine-Tailed beast was as limited, I already knew everything I had already known. It was a monster, a powerful one. I haven't been able to release the red chakra since the woods.

However, I've been training more with my sensing. I've theorized that it was due to my sensing that gave me the blood lust. Maybe, the emotions of someone else temporarily woke up the Nine-Tailed fox. If it was the case, then maybe I could find where the blood lust was coming from and perfect the skill of sensing others. Hopefully.

Walking around Konoha I had my headband wrapped over my eyes, relying on my senses - attempting to walk with just sensing. It was harder than I thought, I was so used to seeing everything. I couldn't be blind for real. I depended on the sense of sight too much, which made this exercise more useful. Not only was I sensing the chakra of others I was relying on my other physical senses smelling, hearing and feeling.

At this moment I was walking past three of the main food shops of Konoha. The ramen, sweets and dango shops. I was closer to the main gate of the village. Ino was in the flower shop I could hear her explaining something about flowers to a customer. The ramen shop had three people sitting and eating, the sweets shop was flooded with children, most of them staring at me as I walked passed. I knew this from the sudden change in their mood, from being happy and working on their sugar highs to now being fearful and hatred. That's the only reason I knew villagers were looking at me.

Someone - a man walking towards - no they were walking at me. Who were they? They were imposing and I haven't even looked at him. I stopped walking as this person - man got closer.

"Nyoko Namikaze, you're to come with me." The voice was deep and strict in sound. Removing my headband I looked up to see a man, whom had a rugged face, with scars on his face. "Come girl, we are going to your apartment." The man ordered, walking past me.

I didn't take a step to follow him, didn't even look at him as I questioned him, "Why?" It was weird an guy who looked thirty telling me to accompany him to my apartment... That was the makings of a scenario I didn't want to be apart of.

"I was sent by the Hokage to give you information about your upcoming mission." He growled lightly, annoyed by me already, "Now walk or I'll carry you."

My next mission, the exams! I nearly forgot, I was focused on my studying and training. Turning around I followed the tall man.

At my apartment the man walked in and stood in the middle of the room looking around my small room. Looking everything over, as if judging me. My desk was messy with books, notes and empty sushi containers.

"You should clean more often." He retorted, pulling out an envelop from his long black leather coat, dropping it on my bed. It must've been about the exams. "If you have any questions about the exams, now's the time to ask." He retorted walking to my windows and pulling the blinds. What was he doing? I quietly reached for my tool pouch, taking hold of a kunai.

"I'm not going to be hurting you girl, not much. Now sit on the edge of you bed with your left shoulder towards me." He ordered, pulling out a small case from his pocket, pulling the chair from my desk, he sat down opening his case, showing in it there was a pen, with a tube of black liquid. What was this? When I didn't move, he looked at me patting the bed, "Sit. The Hokage has asked me to brand you, making your ANBU rank official. We all get a spiral tattoo on our shoulders. Now sit before I make you."

"Make it official" I repeated his words, finally sitting on the edge of my bed, so my left shoulder was towards him. Before he picked up the pen he pulled out a small bottle of what must've been used for numbing or preventing infection, as he dropped some of the cool liquid onto my shoulder.

Then picking up the little pen thing, he lifted out of the small box a stencil that was a spiral - it must've been of the tattoo, setting it against my shoulder, where the liquid had now dried, it stuck, clinging to my dampish skin.

"Don't move or you'll mess me up." He retorted, not even waiting for a response as he pressed a button that was on the small pen, making the head part move up and down quickly. As quickly as he turned it on, he had it pressed against my skin.

It didn't hurt as much as I thought, maybe it was the numbing liquid that was drying on my skin. It felt like I was getting a lot of shots on my arm. Over and over again. I still winced as he went up my closer to the top of my shoulder.

Shortly he finished, removing the stencil, putting it and the pen back into the small case, "Bandage that, up for now if it get infected alert the Hokage immediately. You're too keep it covered when you're not wearing your ANBU garb, be it with make - up, wraps or a sleeve. Understood?" I nodded simply, "Good now, memorize the answers to the first exam, no one is to be here when you are looking through the exam. For the time being it is your biggest secret, alert no body as to what the first exam is of or that you'll be apart of it. Understood?"

"Who are you?" I questioned him, curious about this man, that had just marked my skin.

"You'll find out come the first exam, now good day Nyoko." He retorted, getting up he walked towards the door, "Remember bandage your shoulder. Don't let it show. Don't alert anyone to you even being apart of the exams." He then walked out the door, slamming it shut.

Why did I just let a stranger mark me? Looking down at my bed I saw the large white envelope, picking it I opened it. There was only one page, of nine questions... What?

The questions were pretty hard, I doubt most ninja could get through it without cheating... Sakura might be able to actually, that book worm had me beat. If I didn't have the answers, I'd end up cheating as well. I'll probably still act like I'm cheating, play the game, while trying not to give the answers away freely. I'm sure there were other precautions being taken as well, to make cheating - the information gathering difficult.

I ended up leaving my apartment, venturing out to go eat. I had no idea what I wanted to eat however. Walking down the main path, that lead down the middle of the village. My stomach growling as I inhaled the smells of the various foods filling the late afternoon air.

As I got closer to Yakiniku Q - a nice sit in restaurant that had grills built into the tables and they supplied raw food so the customers could cook them to their liking. However, a familiar voice came from further down the dirt path.

The loud, obnoxious voice crying out, "But Sakura!"

Followed by the human billboard, "Shut it Naruto, I'm not eating ramen, without Sasuke!" Turning to look in the direction of the voices I could see Sakura walking away from a corner where the ramen shop sat.

Naruto then jumped out, reaching for her sucessfully grabbing her arm, "But Sakura why not?"

I could see the vein pop out of the billboard brow's forehead, as she turned punching Naruto down into the ground, "You're annoying! That's why!" She then stomped away.

Poor Naruto. Walking towards the boy I held a hand out, this was a perfect chance for me to figure out Naruto's heritage.

"You alright, Naruto?" I questioned, smiling softly as he looked to me, taking my hand I pulled him up to his feet.

He was such a weirdo, instead of being sad about Sakura, he just gave me grin, "Yea, I'm good! Believe it." He gave me a toothy smile, he then changed, as his stomach growled, making him rub the back of his head in embarrassment, "Well, I'll be all good after a few bowls of ramen."

At the mention of food, my own stomach growled loudly... This time it was my turn to feel embarrassed, rubbing the back of my head, "Sorry, I guess I'm just as hungry as you." I walked past him, adding, "Lets eat, my treat."

"Really?" He gasped, not believing it almost, as if he'd never been offered a free bowl of ramen, grabbing my arm, he then yelled "You're awesome Nyoko!"

Sitting in the ramen shop, I looked around, "So, what's good here?" I mumbled softly, curious, I hadn't had ramen in years almost.

Naruto gasped once more, this time in horror, "What? It's all good!" He declared, taking a seat next to me, he looked to the old man whom was just smiling... Weird.

"Old man Teuchi two large bowls of Miso Chashu Pork, stat!" Naruto ordered for both of us.

The old man - Teuchi laughed, "Will do Naruto and - " He asked casually. Was he being genuine or what was this an act?

"This is Nyoko Namikaze" Naruto introduced me, I don't think he noticed the change in Teuchi. He wasn't just happy he was worried, alert.

He however - Teuchi nodded turning away to prepare the meal in the large pots, on the other side of Naruto and I.

I ignored him, slightly. I had a personal Intel gathering mission to do, "How was your mission Naruto?" I asked casually starting the conversation.

Naruto looked at me, smiling, "It was an experience. It turns out it was more then a C - Ranked mission. There were bounty hunters after the bridge builder." He then lost the smile, his bright blue eyes turning dark almost as he remembered, "We met some ninja, named Zabuza and his student or whatever and we had a close call."

What happened on the mission? "Naruto, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." I whispered, sensing how sad he was, I was becoming just as sad...

"I know I don't it's just... Haku and Zabuza, neither of them should've died. Haku especially." He whispered lightly, I could hear the hitch in his voice.

Changing the topic I decided to take it off his mission, "How'd the bridge turn out? That's what your mission was right? Taking that drunk grump to his village and watch him as he built, right?"

He then changed, smiling, "It's named after me."

I smiled softly, rolling my eyes, "Yea sure whatever." not believing him. That old man wasn't going to name his bridge after this knucklehead.

"It's true! Ya know!" He retaliated, he seemed convinced the bridge was named after him.

"I don't think so, that old grump, wouldn't name the bridge after any of us Leaf Ninja." I wasn't buying it, "Maybe you misunderstood him."

"I'll prove it!" He was so convinced, I almost believed him. Almost.

Before the conversation on the bridge could go on two large bowls of noodles, bean sprouts, green onions and chashu pork and a brown broth. The bowls were set down in front of us, I could smell the mild spice of the miso soup broth. Seeing it made my mouth water, then again I was really hungry.

Snapping my chop sticks I dug in. A bite of pork, a nibble of the plump noodles there, made it a pretty yummy meal already. I could see why Naruto was crazy about this stuff, it was one of the yummiest things I've had. Not as great as sushi, but it was a close second. Dringing the broth, it packed some punch as the brown liquid went over my tongue.

I was in utter shock when I set down my one bowl to see Naruto was already on his third bowl... I was almost full. I'm sure my face showed my shock at this kid already finishing his bowl.

"Ano - " Naruto started, to speak.

Only for me to interrupt him, "Aren't you almost full?" I asked puzzled. Did everyone eat like him? Everyone but Sasuke.

"Hardly!" He retorted, proudly, with a bright smile... How?

I shook my head, "I don't think I can pay for another bowl, Naruto." I warned him, a bit embarrassed about not being able to pay for what was a hole meal to him, I didn't think to bring much. I didn't even plan to have ramen, or use all the money I had on me.

He blinked, smiling softly as he nodded, "That's alright, I want to go train anyways!" He then got up, as I paid for the meal... Useing every penny that I had on me. Thank God I didn't bring everything of mine, and I stopped him now.

"Training sounds like a good idea" I muttered, I still wanted to know more about this blond orphan, walking out after him I put on a smile, "mind if I train with you?"

He blinked a bit taken back, "Why are you wanting to hang out all the sudden?" He asked, as we walked, I shrugged not sure how to respond, "Do you have a crush on me? If that's the case, that's nice and all, but I don't think - "

This. Little. Shit. I twitched at the idea, "No. Naruto. I don't have a crush on you I hissed at him." I rolled my eyes at him as I decided to give a legitimate reason, "I guess, I'm curious about who you are. I mean we're both a lot alike."

"You mean being orphans?" His voice turned soft asking the question.

I nodded, "and how the villagers treat us, like having no parents is our fault somehow." I glared forward thinking about it as I added, "As if us being here is such a terrible thing."

He was quiet. Did it hurt him as much as it hurt me.

Looking at him I smiled, grabbing his shoulder, "It's crazy for them to hate you of all people. You're a nice kid... When you're not being an utter moron" sure he's a trouble maker but, I think it's his way of coping, or being looked at by others. While I had Sasuke growing up, I was able to talk to him whenever things got hard. Naruto however, didn't really have a friendship, alike mine and Sasuke's anyway. Or I thought, he seemed to have Iruka as a father, and that ramen shop owner didn't seem to disown or even hate Naruto. Or that's what I think.

Besides, why would anyone hate him for doing nothing? He didn't have the nine tailed beast in him. Sure he was nuisance with his pranking but I'd rather be a nuisance then have this thing in me.

We continued walking. He was oddly quiet as we walked to the training grounds. It was unusual, to see Naruto the usually carefree, loud and happy knucklehead, show any other emotion, or be so hushed. I don't think I'd seen any other emotion from him - aside from being annoyed when he was brought to classes back in the academy. This was utterly different, he was withdrawn, deep in thought.

He spoke up only once we made it to a training ground, with a cocky smile, "Let's not worry about the past. Things are going to change for the better, afterall I'm going to become Hokage! Believe it!" He declared, giving me a toothy grin and thumbs up.

That's right, he wanted to become Hokage like Minato - my father and possibly his relative. Maybe.

I nodded at him, "Well, future Hokage let's see what you got. I'll take it easy on you." I winked playfully, walking to the otherside of the training ground, getting in a fighting stance.

He did the same, "No way, I think I'll take it easy on you!"

He was confident, I smirked playfully, "I won't be losing Naruto, you better believe it."

"I was going to say just that." He retorted with pure confidence. Standing in a basic taijutsu stance. I readied myself, as Naruto charged at me, not wanting me to make the first move. Drawing his fist back as he prepared to punch, it was pretty easy to simply sidestep out of the way, extending my foot in front of him. Making him not only punch the air but making him trip over it and go down to the ground.

He managed to catch himself before his face could go to the ground. Getting up pretty quickly, before I could anticipate his next move he twisted himself bringing his foot up, aiming at my stomach. Bracing myself, I grabbed his leg as his shoe hit my stomach, I grabbed it just in time, before he could use all his force to kick me backwards or cause any real damage or pain to my stomach with the attack.

Pushing it out of the way, I could see a fist flying at me out of the corner of my eye, quickly I ducked making him miss again. That's when he left an opening, it was the perfect opportunity for me, as I launched my first attack. Lifting my up swiftly his stomach was above it, it was my target. I didn't want to seriously hurt him, I held back some of the power.

I could hear as he let out a wheeze of air, with me knee pressed into his underside, forcing him to bed forward, I had the upper hand. Continuing my assault I put both of my hands together interlocking my fingers into what was a larger fist, above my head, I then with some force, brought them down crashing onto his middle of his back. Shifting weight onto my free leg, I jumped to the side, as Naruto fell to the ground, with another gasp this time of pain.

"I thought you were going to take it easy?" He panted, as he got back up slowly.

I raised a brow, "Oh, do I need to go easier on you Naruto?"

He looked up at me, showing his face, and he smiled? That's when I noticed, a bunch of Naruto's appeared, was this the real Naruto? Was I fighting a clone? When did Naruto make a clone? Where was the real one? No, I was fighting the real Naruto, it would've disappeared by now.

One of the new Narutos were close enough to deliver a blow, disappearing as it punched me, another clone taking its place to swing at me. This went on for a few more blows from the blond clones.

Till I saw an opening, the pause when a clone would turn into smoke and disappear. The timing was predictable when I went on the defense, after each clone disappeared, it gave me enough time to block the coming blows. I proceeded to grab the next one, pushing him backward into the clone behind it, giving myself more time to make some hand signs for the phoenix flower jutsu.

Rat, tiger, dog, ox, hare and tiger, putting my left hand close to my face I began to spit out balls of fire, sending them to the bunch of clones in front of me. Causing them to poof out of existence once touched by the small fire balls.

A few fireballs landed on the ground causing grey smoke to take place of the flames, giving the cover to go after the real Naruto. Running past the smoke, I jumped up through the smoke, I landed, one my hands, swinging my legs in the air to kick Naruto, whom was turning around to try and stop me. He was too slow, as I kicked out a leg, hitting his side. Naruto winced from the pain, taking a few steps back. I then lunged forward, I wasn't going to give him space to recover, to ready himself to deflect or attack me.

First, I did something similar to what I had seen Neji do, using his palm to deliver a blow. I had my palm land just below Narutos throat, lifting up my leg, I then kicked him again. Right in the spot where I had kicked him before.

I could see the pain he felt, it was all over his face. Would he back down? I didn't want to hurt him too much. Instead of tapping out Naruto stayed on his feet, sending a punch my way, right to my nose. I was taken back by the blow, so much so I even backed up, instinctively grabbing my nose. Feeling it was bent to the left, and it was dripping, with blood I assume.

We both seemed to take this moment as a break, as I forcefully snapped my nose back in place, wincing at it the brief moment of pain. I could see Naruto looking at me with worry as I removed my hand, he didn't even notice that I had used my bloodied up hand to pulled out a handful of shuriken.

Throwing the metal four pointed stars at Naruto, who changed his focus from my face back to the fight, was barley able to pull out a kunai quick enough to deflect the first few stars.

With his attention on the stars I threw the remaining of the shuriken, using some speed to catch up with my stars, he couldn't focus just on the stars ran at him, he then looked at me, as I went to punch his face, to fake him out. He fell for it, bringing his arms up to his face to block my punch, that wasn't going to happen.

Instead, as the last three shuriken caught up, going into his arms, another one of them falling into my skin as I proceeded to bring up my knee with more force than earlier, till it reached his stomach. He then gasped once again as the wind was knocked out of him. I followed that kick with a punch to his face, sending him backwards a few inches.

I backed up, as Naruto landed on the ground. I expected him to stay down on the ground, ending the fight. However, to my shock he got back up, holding his nose as he staggered back to his feet, slowly forcing himself up. At this moment I could feel the pain on my upper arm, where my shuriken had plunged itself into me. I also noticed that we were being watched.

The person watching was hiding. I doubt Naruto even noticed. It was time we ended this fight.

Walking closer to Naruto who removed his hands from his bloodied up nose, still straight nose, he got into a fighting stance. He wanted to keep going. Using body flicker technique, appearing behind him, I proceeded to copy, Guy - sensei's strong fist, that he used on Rock Lee whenever he'd fuck something up.

My fist collided with the base of Narutos neck, where it connected with his back. My knuckles hitting his seventh cervical. Causing Narutos head suddenly jerked forward at the collision. I of course wasn't going to hit Naruto hard, just hard enough to end this fight. Giving him whiplash.

Falling face forward, Naruto let out a groan, "Damn Nyoko."

I dropped to the ground, attempting to make it obvious that I was exhausted. Grabbing my nose, feeling for anymore blood.

He then rolled over sitting up as he grabbed the back of his neck rubbing it, "You know, I'm glad I won't be meeting you on any battle fields for a real fight." He quickly added, "I wouldn't want to really hurt you after all."

Sarcastically, I showed him my hand, that had some fresh blood, "Hurt me really?" I then rubbed my bloodied up palm into the grass, wanting to get rid of the red liquid.

We were still being watched. It was a male subject, that I could tell. Getting up, I walked the opposite way from whomever it was to the creak that was in the training ground, getting on my knees, I could see my face, the most damage was to my nose area, it was a bit bruised up around it, as well bleeding.. Damn that kid hard.

I proceeded to wash my hands in the water, Naruto joining me doing the same thing.

"So Naruto, when's your birthday?" I asked casually, starting a conversation, as I washed my face.

"October tenth" He answered, "You?"

I looked at him in awe, that was my birthday. Looking back at the water trying to act normal, not wanting to jump to anything, "October tenth." I replied to him, softly. Wondering what his response would be, would he come to the same conclusion I was basically thinking of.

"No way! Awesome, you're twelve too right?" He asked in awe, I nodded answering his question. But to my shock, and disappointment Naruto didn't seem to think what I was, "We're like birthday buddies!"

Before I could hit him, or correct him, or even say a word the person watching had jumped out of the trees.

"Nyoko Namikaze." Looking over my shoulder I saw none other than Iruka sensei, his tone of voice when saying my name was a warning. He knew what I had just learned, what I was about to say.

I narrowed my eyes at him, this sudden reveal of his was only confirming my realization. Not only did I have a blood relative, I had a brother a twin brother. Naruto and I were related! Naruto Uzumaki, was my brother. I was his sister. It couldn't be a couinsidence that he was born the same day as me, was an orphan just like me and looked just like Minato Namikaze. What was wrong with me sharing this with him? We weren't alone!