Reiko Uzumaki was working in the Konoha Community Gardens. It was a place where she had her own plot of land and grew whatever she wanted. Today she was growing tomatoes. It was a good tomato season.

Today was also the last exam to graduate from Ninja Academy. She hoped her brother could handle it. He really was doing poorly, mostly because he liked to goof off.

It was early morning, so early that no one had any business being up, and that's just how she liked it. Nice and quiet.

She was startled by the sound of someone filling up a watering can. Reiko turned and noticed that they were headed to the well kept plot in the corner.

Should she go say hi? Give him tips? His tomatoes looked droopy after all. Who was it? What other person in Konoha would come to the Community Gardens this early?

Reiko wiped the sweat off her brow and noticed a scent on the air. Fertilizer. She stood up realized that the newcomer must have a hole in the bag of his fertilizer! Perfect! A conversation starter!

Reiko headed over and noticed who it was right away. Sasuke Uchiha! He had a garden?

"Hello Sasuke. What are you doing here this early?" Reiko put down the fertilizer.

"I could ask you the same. That your garden?" Sasuke pointed to the flawless fertile plot.

"Yes it is." Reiko said proudly.

"You'll have to tutor me then." Sasuke said. "Now cmon. We'll be late."

Xxx

"Reiko sat relaxed in the Ninja Academy room.

"The final exam is on the Clone Technique." Iruka said. "Hyuga Mana."

Mana had long dark hair, bright blue eyes and pale skin. She wore a light blue kimono top with white Casablanca lilies on it, and black pants. Inside her kimono were woven weapons and potions.

"Clone Jutsu!" Mana said.

Shuddering into view like water on a windshield were Mana's clones.

"Very good, Mana. Next. Uchiha Sasuke."

Sasuke passed flawlessly, as usual.

"Excellent. Next. Hikawa Kuri."

The class gasped. Reiko looked up. Kuri was under miko—priestess—training, and was not permitted to become a ninja. So why was she taking the final exam?

"Quiet everyone. Kurisuta is going to become a great asset to the village, our very own Miko Ninja. If she can pass the test like everyone else." Iruka said.

Kuri was wearing a red shirt edged in gold, and pants that matched. She wore a black jacket with the Hikawa logo, a Triquetra, on the back.

"Clone Jutsu." She walked forward, closed her eyes, and her clones stepped out from her body, first one, then two. She then sat back down.

Wow! Rei was impressed. Her clones were nothing like that.

"Perfect. Next. Uzumaki Reiko."

Reiko stood. She was wearing a purple sleeveless silk top decorated with silver leaves. Her pants were grey. She stepped forward and concentrated.

"Clone Jutsu!"

In a flurry of leaves and flower petals, her clones appeared.

"Amazing. Next. Uzumaki Naruto."

Naruto went forward and as Reiko watched her brother eagerly...he failed the jutsu. She kicked herself for not training with him more.

Xxx

It was later that evening, and the village was all in a tizzy. Reiko ran to the Hokage's office.

"Please! My brother was tricked! There's no way he would steal from you on purpose!" Reiko said.

She was shoved back, falling on the ground, by angry adults.

"It doesn't matter what you say!" One of them said.

"You're worse then he is and we all know it!" Another said.

"The only reason we don't seal you in some dark cellar somewhere is because we all fear the rage of your terrible brother!" The third said.

Reiko got to her feet. "Say what you want about me! But you leave Naruto out of it! He's gonna be Hokage one day! Then you'll all see!"

"You fool! You know we weren't talking about Naruto when we said 'brother!'" The first one said.

"Stop all this talk." Hokage said. "You know it's forbidden to talk about those things. Come here Rei, and you'll see. It will all work out in the end."

He showed her the view in his crystal ball and she calmed, smiling, their vicious words forgotten.

Kuri was on the move.

Xxx

"I didn't pass...how can I be a ninja ttebayo..." Naruto sighed, though he was coming along with his practice.

"Hey!" Kuri made her way closer, Reiko on her tail. "Naruto! What's that your got there?"

"Oh..." Naruto said. "Mizuki said...if I took it I could pass. I've been practicing!"

"That's great! Show me?" Kuri said. "But after we have to take it back or we'll get in trouble, promise?"

"I promise!" Naruto said, and then made a hand sign. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

A thousand Narutos appeared.

"Wow! That's fantastic!" Kuri said smiling. "You're amazing! Best in our class!"

Reiko beamed. He'd done it! Not only had he done the clones, but he'd made a friend!

They vanished and Naruto beamed. "Ya think so?"

Kuri started to answer but paused. "Someone's coming."

"You hide!" Naruto said.

Kuri hid in the trees.

Mizuki appeared. "Give me the scroll Naruto."

Kuri couldn't contain herself. That weasel! "Don't—"

"Don't give it to him Naruto!" Iruka said.

"IRUKA-SENSEI?!" Both confused kids chorused.

Kuri came to her senses first and realized they needed cover. "Synthesia!"

In a eerie call of sound, they were shielded from sight.

Kuri gripped Naruto and pulled him into hiding with her.

"Naruto! Mizuki is trying to get the scroll for himself! He was lying to you!" Iruka said.

Naruto opened his mouth but Kuri put a finger to her lips and touched her ear, mouthing 'listen.'

Mizuki laughed. "Lying. Everyone is lying to Uzumaki Naruto. Because they are all afraid of you Naruto—you are the nine tailed fox. Isn't it ironic, then, that the one who befriends you is a fox, just like you? Don't deny it girl, your jutsu betrays you—synthesia? You are one of the Dominion's children, a tennyo."

"What?" Naruto looked at Kuri in shock. "You only became my friend because of..."

"It isn't true Naruto." Reiko said. "I have a special power but I didn't make friends with Naruto just for his power! Naruto is Naruto! He will always be himself! And no one else! However..."

Naruto gazed at her through the musical smoke.

A light glimmered around her, and faded. Behind her was a shadow of a person.

"I am not all human. But I'm not a Jinchuriki. I can never be changed from what I am. I am a tennyo. And I did NOT befriend a Nine Tailed Fox. I befriended a very human, very kind, boy named UZUMAKI NARUTO!"

The last words were a growl.

"So he has a friend. That doesn't change how Iruka feels about him, does it Iruka?" Mizuki said.

"I'm warning you—" The shadow was gone, but she looked very angry.

"Iruka's parents were killed by the nine-tailed fox. Face it Naruto...he hates you...just die!" Mizuki threw a shuriken.

Iruka was the first to move, and he got stabbed protecting Naruto.

The smoke dissipated suddenly as something cut through it, a large arrow Kuri reached out and caught.

"It doesn't matter who you are..." Kuri said, pointing the weapon at Mizuki.

"But if you lay another finger on our sensei..." A thousand Narutos chorused.

"YOU'RE DEAD!" Kuri and the Narutos spoke as one.

Xxx

It was late now, Naruto was lying asleep in his bed, still wearing his forehead protector. Kuri couldn't pry it from his hands.

Kuri leapt back to her apartment happily.

"Why do you keep watching him?" Reiko asked from inside the house.

"Same reason you watch Sasuke." Kuri said.

"Please..." Reiko said. "It isn't like that."

"Isn't it?" Kuri laughed. "Eventually you'll admit the truth to yourself. That he means more to you then anything else."

Reiko rolled her eyes and headed back to her room.

Xxx

Reiko sat on the bed beside him, eyes glistening gold, voice coming out in an almost melodic tone, the kind of voice that was meant to lead you to your death. "You know...eventually you'll have to stop causing trouble, brother."

Naruto's eyes were open and they were gold as well, matching hers. The voice that issued from his mouth had the same cadence as hers, nearly hypnotic, though he had a low growl. "You have wounds. Small but I see them. So, who shall I kill for you then?"

Reiko rolled her eyes. "Don't be a fool Kurama. They were disparaging me for being who I am, a true kitsune. If you had taken human form as I did, then you too would be picked on."

"I would never do that," Kurama, for he was indeed speaking through Naruto's sleeping form, laughed. "And even if I did, and became a Hanyou, a half-demon, like you, I wouldn't let others lay their filthy hands on me."

"You should have learned your lesson the last time. It saddens me that you remain so hateful. I only pray that this boy, this Naruto, will change you." Reiko replied

Kurama laughed again. "As if this little kit will change anything. My plans remain the same. Though I saw something today that peaked my desire."

Reiko looked at him warily. "And what is that?"

"Well, how often to you find in this land...a genuine miko?" Kurama countered.

Now it was Reiko's turn to laugh. "Talk about taking the path of most resistance. She will be your destruction."