So instead of just putting out one chapter I put out a couple more instead (in case I become too busy to write for awhile). For those who haven't read the story before I hope you're enjoying it so far :D

Disclaimer: Nope, I still don't own Naruto.

Naruko-ナルコ-

Chapter 2

Fire Ball Jutsu

"Naruto? Narutooo! Na-Ru-To! To-Ru-Na!" It had been over ten minuets since Naruko had been waiting in front of her brother's bedroom door. Waiting for him to eventually wake up.

By the time he wakes up it'll be too dark to train! She crossed her arms and plopped herself on the floor against the door. Her patience was running thin. After another ten minuets had come and gone she couldn't wait any longer. The young blonde decided to take matters into her own hands.

"Narutooo!" she shouted as she barged into her brother's room "Get uh...up?" When she entered the room the first thing she noticed wasn't the dirty clothes that was scattered all over the floor (she'd have to talk to him about that later), but instead it was the window. He had left it wide opened.

"When did he get up?" she wondered. Was she becoming the twin that slept in all day? Naruko hoped that wasn't the case. Her eyes were then drawn to a note with her name on it that was taped onto the wall. After opening and reading the letter she found herself slightly upset.

Naruko,

Went out to play with Kiba, Shikamaru and Choji. Be back later.

-Naruto.

"Doesn't he care about his training at all?" she asked herself. This was the second time he ditched training to go and play with his friends.

Ever since we started the attending academy all he wants to do is hang out with his friends...She would be lying if she said she wasn't a little jealous. As much as Naruko was happy that her brother had finally made friends she also felt like she was replaced in a way.

"Hmph!" she growled while crumpling up the note "I'll just go train by myself! I..."

Then, an idea struck in her head. What if she asked the Uchiha to train with her? It had been over a month since she met him and she considered him a good friend. She was abit stronger than she was just four weeks ago (at least that what she thought), so its not like she would slow him down that much. She didn't see any harm in asking, so she up and left the apartment.

Alright!...Now, how do I get to the Uchiha Complex?...Ah-ha! Her eyes darted to a man with an Uchiha symbol on the back of his clothes. If she just followed him, she would just end up at the Uchiha Complex and then find Sasuke. She saw it like a mission. Follow the man without getting caught. Which seemed easy to her since none of the villagers would even look her way.

For a guy he sure does have long hair. She analyzed, comparing it to her hair that ended just below her collarbone.

The longer she followed him the more proud she felt of herself for not getting caught. In no time, Naruko was sure she would reach the Uchiha Complex. Then, the Uchiha turned into a corner which struck as odd to the petite girl. She wondered if it was a secret passage way and followed him carefully.

"So you're the one thats been following me."

Naruko yelled and jumped in surprise. Immediately she took out a kunai knife and held it towards the voice that came from behind her. "S-stay back!" when she saw where the voice came from she was surprised. It had been the Uchiha she had been following.

Mission failed...she lowered her kunai knife.

"You're Sasuke's friend right?" he smiled. Naruko was amazed, he knew stuff that she hadn't even told him.

"How'd you know that?" she asked.

"Hes mentioned you a few times."

"Wait..." she murmured, processing what he had just said through her mind "You're Sasuke's older brother." She felt stupid for not recognizing him right away. She had seen him come to the academy to pick up Sasuke from time to time.

"Yes I am. If I may ask though, why were you following me?"

"I was looking for the Uchiha Complex so I could find Sasuke. I was going to ask if we wanted to train with me. And well, since you have the Uchiha symbol on your back I thought you were heading there."

"I see..." Sasuke's older brother paused for a moment.

Would it be a wise idea to bring her there? He wondered. If his father or mother found out Sasuke's friend was actually her things might not turn out so pleasantly.

"Sasuke is actually busy today. Hes helping our mother clean the house today. But I'll let him know you were looking for him." She had a hard time believing that, but she didn't pester him. If he wasn't going to help her then she would just have to find the Uchiha Complex by herself.

"Oh...okay. Well uh, I'll see you around. Bye!" Naruko ran as fast as she could away from the older Uchiha. She wasn't going to let dust bunnies get in the way of her training.

Even if he is cleaning, I'll just help him out. That way we'll have more time to train. Naruko was determined, she was going to train today no matter what.

"I told you, Sasuke is busy." Naruko fell flat on her face. Once regaining her composure and stance she found herself facing the older Uchiha again.

Now hes following me?!

"C-can I help you?" she asked in a tiny voice. He didn't reply, the look on his face said it all.

"Okay, okay. I...I'm sorry." she continued "B-but you're not a very good liar..." Itachi raised an eyebrow "And I really want to train with someone! My brother won't because hes busy and..." her voice died down, as he continued to stare at her. Naruko waited for him to say or do something. Anything. The silence started to scare her a little bit. What he said next was the last words she was expecting to hear from him.

"...Follow me."

The whole walk was full of curious looks and glares. As Itachi, the prodigy of the Uchiha clan and Naruko, the monster of the village walked into the Uchiha Complex many questioned him,"Why did you bring her here?"

Itachi simply ignored the questions and continued to walk without stopping.

"Itachi! Welcome...home," his mother said. Her eyes glanced down at Naruko and then back at Itachi with the same curious look the other members of the Uchiha clan has given the two earlier.

"H-hello..." Naruko stuttered in an unsure tone. In respects, she slightly bowed to the woman, hoping it would change the her impression of her.

"Glad to be back," Itachi began "This is Sasuke's friend. Naruko Uzumaki."

"Mikoto? Mikoto, where are you?" called out a strong, booming voice.

"I'm right outside..." she replied "Itachi is home." Within minuets another adult walks outside. Without even looking at Naruko he walks up to Itachi and asks:

"Itachi, what is she doing here?" The longer Naruko stayed the more she felt un-welcomed. She was starting to see why Itachi was hesitant on bringing her here.

"I...I'm sorry. I'll leave- -" before she could finish, Itachi interrupted her.

"As I was telling mother, this is Sasuke's friend. Naruko Uzumaki. She was looking for Sasuke, to ask if he would train with her."

"That monster wants to train with my son?" Itachi's father questioned "Itachi, you're a very bright shinobi, but bringing her here was an idiotic idea."

"I assure you she means no harm. For a child, shes very skilled. She managed to follow me without notice." Naruko looked at Itachi in surprise, he went so far as to stretch the truth in front of his parents. "Who knows, maybe she'll even surpass me one day with the immense amount of chakra she has. I'm sure she would make a wonderful comrade to have."

You knew I was following you from the beginning...She felt guilty for putting him in this situation, the last thing Naruko wanted was for him or Sasuke to get in trouble because of her.

The Uchiha men looked deep into each others eyes. It was as if they communicated telepathically or in some foreign language.

"...Very well," Itachi's father sighed "She is welcomed here for now."

"T-thank you very much!" Naruko immediately bowed to the elder Uchiha.

"Itachi. Remember to attend tonights meeting. We have very important things to discuss," he added on.

"Yes."

Naruko glanced at Itachi and became curious about the meeting, but she said nothing. She was already walking on thin ice and knew it was a boundary she was never to cross.

"Come child, Sasuke is out back," the elder Uchiha said as he walked back inside.

"Yes sir," Naruko replied. Following him without hesitation. While following him through the house Naruko was stunned. This was much larger than her apartment and much nicer. There was just one thing that was missing that bothered her though.

"Tell me, how did you become friend's with Sasuke?" She became so preoccupied that she almost didn't hear Sasuke's father when he asked her a question.

"Ah..." his voice sounded like a ticking time bomb to her. One wrong word and Naruko feared that he would kick her out "We met on the first day of school sir."

"I see..." he said with a dry amused tone. Once they stepped out back, Naruko's eyes widened at the view. Out in the distance was a huge lake with a small dock.

"Its so pretty..." she whispered in awe. When she squinted her eyes she was able to see a familiar figure in the distance "Sasuke!"

When the young Uchiha saw his friend run out of his house he became confused "Naruko? What are you doing here?"

"I came to ask if you would train with me," she replied once she got close enough for him to hear her.

"Why didn't you just train with your brother?" he wondered. It would make more sense for her to train with her sibling, than for her to travel all the way to the Uchiha Complex.

Naruko crossed her arms "Because he doesn't want to train! All he ever does is goof off and play with his friends...Its like he never has time for me anymore."

Sasuke blinked in shocked, he wasn't expecting her to sound to angry. But it also reminded him of his brother. Ever since Itachi was promoted to ANBU captain he has never had any time for his brother.

"...As long as you don't slow me down," Sasuke said "Father is going to teach me a new jutsu today."

"A jutsu?" Naruko said in awe "What kind of jutsu?"

"Its called the Fire Ball Jutsu. Its the first jutsu every Uchiha learns when they come of age." spoke his father as he walked onto the dock.

"Can I still try to learn it?" Naruko asked.

I doubt she'll be able to perform it "If you wish, you'll only be wasting your time though," the older Uchiha told her.

"Thats okay, I'd still like to try sir."

"Very well then," he sighed.

"I think I'm ready to try it out!" Sasuke shouted, after an hour of practicing the hand signs. Running to the edge of the deck, he inhales a deep breathe and performs the hand-signs perfectly "Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu!"

"Wow!" Naruko gasped "He did it!" Even though it wasn't a big fireball he still did it on his first try.

"I wanna try!" It was then Naruko's turn next. Running up next to Sasuke she does the same as he did earlier and inhales a huge amount of oxygen "Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu!"

Heat then accumulated in her mouth and within seconds Naruko's view was surrounded with flames.

"I did it..." Naruko whispered after finishing the jutsu "I did it! I did it!"

"How did you do that?" Sasuke asked in a low tone "It was big just like fathers..."

Now I understand what Itachi meant. This child...she may either become a great asset to Konoha...or the demise of it. The older Uchiha's eyes were glued onto the young girl.

"Let me try again," Sasuke said "Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu!" As he attempted the jutsu for a second time, it didn't get any bigger. It was still as big as the first one he did.

"Why did I think you would be like Itachi," sighed his father with a disappointed tone. He then walked back to the house without any further words.

"...Sasuke?" Naruko called out "Hey, don't give up. We still have plenty of time to train."

"Easy for you to say! Father always treats me like this, its always Itachi! Every single time! He does everything so perfect...and I..."

"...Hey, remember when we first met?" Naruko asked while taking a seat next to the Uchiha. "When I was crying and you saved me from Aka."

"Yeah, what about it?"

"It helped me realize allot. If I kept giving up every time I cried or fell, I wouldn't be where I am today. I'd still be the same crybaby I was on the first day of school. I...what I'm trying to say is that you can't give up just because of what your father said. You have to toughen up."

After a few minuets of silence, Sasuke sighed and got up "Hmph, I don't need a crybaby to tell me to be strong."

Naruko then shot up "Hey, I'm not a cryba-" Before she could finished, Naruko flinched and was poked in the forehead once again "Ah!"

"but thank you though," he really appreciated that her support. For once it wasn't about Itachi and that was enough to boost his mood.

"Why do you always do that?" she asked him while rubbing her forehead. She hated when he would jab her in the forehead.

He just avoided the question and told her to watch out "Step back, unless you want to get burned. Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu!"

"Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu!" A huge fireball came bursting out the Uchiha's mouth and brightened up the lake.

"You did it!" Naruko cheered. Finally their several hours of training was beginning to pay off.

"Just wait till Father sees this!" Sasuke could hardly wait.

"Hey, wanna try to make a super big fireball?" Naruko suggested.

"Huh?"

"On three," Naruko held her hands in the first hand-sign. Sasuke got the message and did the same "One...two...three!"

"Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu!" the two yelled in unison. A large fireball then came bursting out and hovered above the lake, causing it to ripple and splash. For a moment, it looked as if the sun rose back up.

"That was amazing!" Sasuke exclaimed in awe.

"Uh-huh!" Naruko agreed before falling into a mini coughing episode "Wanna call it a day? Its pretty late."

"Yeah," nodded the Uchiha "Lets train more tomorrow afternoon, except this time at the training grounds."

Nauko's eyes widened a bit "Really? You'd want to train tomorrow too?!" she was happy, she not only had a friend, but a new training partner too.

"How else are we supposed to get stronger? You don't want to be a crybaby forever right?"

"I am not a crybaby!" Naruko exclaimed, she didn't cry that much. At least thats what she thought "You...you duck-butt!"

"Duck-butt?"

"Y-yeah! You heard me!"

The Uchiha smirked "I'd rather be a duck-butt than a crybaby any day."

"Ah!" There really was no winning with this kid. ""Hmph, just you wait! I'm going to kick your butt tomorrow!"

"You kick my butt? That'll be the day." Eventually the argument ended with Sasuke winning, though Naruko would never admit it. After reaching Sasuke's house, his mother and him walked Naruko out of the Uchiha Complex since it was dark and she didn't know her way around the place. What surprised her on the way back was that Sasuke's mom was being allot nicer to her than she was earlier. She appreciated it, though it would have to take some time to get used to.

Once she got closer to home Naruko began to wonder if Naruto was home, and if he even bothered to clean the apartment. She remembered his room being a complete mess earlier.

Please be clean, please be clean! She hoped, she was already exhausted from training.

When she opened the door to her apartment she wasn't surprised. It the same as her and brother left it, a complete mess. She couldn't blame him though, its not like she bothered to clean earlier anyways.

Looks like I'll be late for training tomorrow...

"Naruko! There you are!" Naruto shouted as he walked out of the bathroom, with steam following from behind "Did you get my note?"

"Yeah...Did you have fun?"

Naruto nodded and told his sister about what he did with his friends "...But then we got caught by stupid Iruka-sensei, so now we have to go back to the Academy tomorrow to clean up the mess. Ugh, stupid sensei. Doesn't he have anything better to do than sit around the Academy on a Saturday?"

"So I guess you're going to be busy tomorrow then huh." It didn't shock Naruko that she'd have to wait another day to hang out with her brother.

"Yeah, because of the stupid sensei.."

Naruko then yawned "Well, I'm going to go shower then hit the hay."

"Yeah, I got to go to bed to. Night!" Naruto smiled.

"Night!" As she closed the door to the bathroom, her smile slipped into a frown.

I know I shouldn't be mad at him...Hes finally found friends that accept him. Naruko thought to herself. Before they joined the Ninja Academy, it was just her and him. At least I have a friend who accepts me too...thats good.

The rest of the night was full of silence. Once Naruko finished in the bathroom and layed in bed she stared up at the ceiling, deep in thoughts until she fell asleep.

I have to get stronger...I have to...