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Chapter 2: The New Roommate

The warm orange orb of the setting sun was slowly falling below the western horizon as Naruto arrived home after kunai training with his team sporting a couple brand new, bright red cuts, courtesy of Sasuke. The one across his cheekbone still stung though a scab had formed on it already. Thanks to the Kyubi inside him, though, the other cuts, having been only minor, had already completely healed.

Having arrived at the door to his apartment, he rummaged in his pouch for a key. It didn't seem promising as Naruto sadly started realizing that he had woken up late that morning and had practically run out of his house in order not to be late for practice. Of course, as usual, being late wouldn't really have mattered since Kakashi-sensei didn't finally arrive until three hours after the scheduled meeting time.

Cursing at his own stupidity, Naruto started pounding on the door, as if some ghost would open the door for him from inside. After a few moments of banging, he switched tactics and tried to ram the door down by repeatedly throwing himself against it. That did nothing more than make his shoulder ache.

Last try: try to ram the door down, but supplement the movement with chakra. Sure, shoulder may get dislocated, but at least he'd get into the house first. The cup noodles of ramen in the kitchen were just calling to him. Standing back from the door as far as he could without falling off the platform, Naruto started concentrating his chakra on his shoulder and feet. In his concentration, he failed to hear someone inside calling, "Okay, okay, I'm coming!"

'Three, two, one,' Naruto mentally counted down in his head. "GO!" He dashed towards the door, eyes closed, almost bracing for pain. So, of course, he didn't even realize when the door opened before him and he plowed straight into the house, nearly hitting the girl who had opened the door for him. He did, though, notice something wrong when he did not feel an impact with the door. Opening his eyes, Naruto had just enough time to realize that a suitcase was in front of him; he had no time to dodge. The momentum he had gathered pushed him forward and he tripped over the suitcase, and flew into the wall. Maybe he should have just kept on bracing for impact.

Naruto groaned and cursed under his breath as he picked himself up, revealing a small crack in the wall where he hit. His whole body, for the most part, was sore now, but, as he finally realized, there were other things that currently dominated his thoughts, mainly the presence of the robed girl in front of him. In one smooth motion Naruto pulled out a kunai and took a defensive position.

The girl held her hands up, showing that she was unarmed and had no aggressive intentions. "Who are you?" Naruto demanded calmly, only slightly relaxing, the kunai held tightly in his grip. The girl seemed nervous.

"My name's Kiaka, I'm new to the village," she said, keeping an eye on the raised kunai. Naruto still was unaware of the girl's intentions. Kiaka went on, masking the nervousness in her voice with cheeriness as best she could. That, of course, didn't work too well. "You must be Uzumaki Naruto. Tsu…Hokage-sama assigned me to this apartment as your roommate. O-ai deki-te ureshii desu, [Nice to meet you,]" she stuttered as she plastered on a happy smile. That kunai in his hand was still on her mind.

Hearing fear in Kiaka's voice, Naruto decided she was telling the truth and put down the kunai, inviting a breath of relief from the girl. Kiaka's expressions became much more calm and relaxed. "Gomen-ne, Naruto-kun, for not opening the door sooner," she apologized. "I was in the shower."

"No big deal, no big deal!" Naruto said with his usual brash cheeriness. He hurt all over now, yes, but OF COURSE it was no big deal. "Oh, nee-san*, what's your name again?" For a split second, Kiaka froze midstep.

"Kiaka," the girl replied as she headed back to the bathroom. "I'm going to change first, then I'll answer the rest of your questions."

She emerged from the bathroom five minutes later having replaced her long robe with a maroon sweater adorned with a wide turtleneck and a pair of dark brown pants. A belt with attacked pouch wrapped around her waist and the standard Konoha-issue shiriken and kunai holsters were in her hands, as she had not bothered to fasten them to her leg. "Ah, cleanliness is a wonderful thing," she announced as she entered the living room where Naruto currently laid on the couch.

She laid her holsters on a chair and sat down on the armrest of the couch. Without Naruto saying anything or moving, Kiaka knew that the younger boy ached all over. Even without the Hyuga eyes that gifted another clan of this village she could tell that Naruto's chakra system wasn't flowing smoothly, no doubt a result from the combination of fatigue from training and running into things multiple times. An urge came over Kiaka to help the boy, but she restrained herself. The extent of her skills was best left unknown for the time being.

Interrupting the silent thoughts of Naruto and Kiaka came a loud rumbling from Naruto's stomach. The hunger suddenly clearly showed on Naruto's face and Kiaka couldn't help but laugh. "I'll make some ramen, is that okay?" Kiaka asked. Naruto's eyes lit up.

"If you knew me better I would call you an idiot for even having to ask," he replied in a humorous matter-of-factly voice. Kiaka disappeared into the kitchen. Suppressing his body's protests to movement, Naruto pushed himself to a siting position and slowly got onto his feet. He followed Kiaka into the kitchen slowly and sat himself down at the table, watching the older girl cook one of his favorite foods.

"Ano, hey Kiaka nee-san, since we're roommates now, how about we get to know each other a little better," Naruto suggested, then went on a little more carefully, "would it be okay if I asked about what you did before you came to our village?" Kiaka smiled.

"It's fine," she replied, "But why don't you tell me about yourself first; while I'm finishing with cooking?" Without delay Naruto dove full speed into talking about his dreams, ambitions, friends, rivals, teachers, and favorite foods, just as one expects Naruto to do when asked to tell a little about himself. And for him, Kiaka was a great listener, reacting where she was supposed.

Finally he was finished and the ramen was finished. Kiaka gingerly set the two hot bowls on the table and sat opposite of Naruto.

"Itadakimasu!" both exclaimed before digging into the food. After a couple seconds or so Naruto looked at Kiaka.

"Kiaka nee-san, your turn to tell me about yourself," he announced with a grin, probably ramen induced.

For a moment, Kiaka just smiled. "Saa… where do I start?" she contemplated aloud.

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notes:

like in the first chapter with Kiaka calling Tsunade, Tsunade nee-sama, Naruto calls Kiaka, Kiaka nee-san, not because she's his sister, but just cuz she's older than him and a young woman. A think a short time line explaination is in order rite now so everyone gets it straight ^^() a few people have asked me to clarify already. Ok here goes:
* Kiaka left Konoha four years after the kyubi was sealed, that makes Naruto four then
* She was gone for 9 years, making Naruto now 13 years old
* She's 18 now, making her 9 when she left Konoha

Hope you like the chapter ^^() I'm sorry I just couldn't help but put some humor into it. When I started writing Naruto was only supposed to find his keys, but then I got sugar high and… you get the idea *sweatdrop*

Till next time, ja ne everyone ^_^ Please review!

Kirsta