I do not own Naruto or any of the characters. All I own is my own character Koei X, and the original plot that has been inserted in.

Naruto

Number 4: Level C Mission!

Saga: Darkness is All I Can See

"Come on!" Naruto screamed as he sat on the floor. His hands were holding onto the bottom of his sandals. "Can't we get a high, more risky mission! I'm tired of doing the easy stuff! I want something more exciting!"

Koei laughed to herself as Sakura looked at Naruto, mortified. Sasuke seemed to be enjoying himself less and less around Naruto while Kakashi didn't know how he was able to put up with him.

"Don't be a fool! You're only a beginner! Everyone starts out doing grunt work! It's where you get experience, so you can work your way up to the bigger things!" Iruka yelled out slamming his hands on the table in front of him while the Hokage just sighed at the predicament that was taking place.

"We've done tons of small stuff. Can't we get some action!" Naruto screamed at him in protest.

"Naruto, that's enough. Knock it off!" Koei threw him a nervous glance. Angering the Hokage was not on her to do list.

"Apparently Naruto needs an explanation of just what these duties are. You see, everyday our village receives many requests. From everything to babysitters to assassination. We take that tremendous variety, and sort them into categories from A to D, based on the decree of skill they require," the Hokage paused and then drew a breath and stared up again. "We have also divided the Shinobi into classes. Based on the level of skills. After we of the upper echelon have sorted all the requests we distribute them to those of the level of ability deemed most appropriate."

Naruto just stared at him, as though he was just waiting for him to finish talking.

"And… If the Ninja in question completes those duties successfully than the grateful person he has helped pays him a fee. Thus far, the four of you have only just attained the lowest rank, level D tasks are the best you could aspire to," the Hokage finished, sighing once more.

Hmm… I had pork ramen for lunch yesterday… So I think I'll have miso ramen today!" Naruto decided, his back was now turned to the Hokage.

"ARE YOU LISTENING!" the Hokage yelled as he rested his forehead on his hand.

"I… I'm sorry!" Kakashi, apologized.

"I don't want to hear it! All the old fart ever does is apologize and then give me a lecture! But it's not fair. There's more to me than the trouble making screw up… THE OLD MAN THINKS I AM!" Naruto screamed before Kakashi could put in another word.

I'm going to be in so much trouble for this later…Kakashi put his hands in his pockets and then took a quick glance at Naruto before he returned his full attention back to the Hokage.

"Very well…" the Hokage started as Naruto looked at him surprised. "Since you put it that way… I will permit you to attempt a C grade task-usually reserved for Shinobi of the Journeyman Level… The protection of a certain individual…"

"All right!" Naruto screamed happily as he jumped to his feet.

"Who?" Sasuke asked, speaking up for the first time.

"Ojiru Ekibyougami," the Hokage said as the door to their left slide open to reveal a tall man, possibly a few inches taller than Kakashi. He had shoulder length brown hair that burled a little at the end and dark brown eyes, almost black. He was wearing a plain black shirt with black pants. A red sash was tied around his waist concealing two swords in two dark blue sheaths. His hands had elbow length black gloved and his black sandals were nearly hidden by his pants.

He smiled down at the four kids and then gave out a sort of salute. "As I've already been introduced… I'm Ojiru Ekibyougami. Some think of me as one of the most skilled men in the world of sword making! And until I've reached my own country I guess you four and your sensei will be my escorts?"

Koei stared up at him with a slight sign of interest in her face. A small smile spread over it and then she dug her hands into her pockets.

A dangerous mission was in store for them.

Sasuke looked at the rest of his teammates as they all met outside of the gates along with Ojiru. Stupid Sakura… When will she ever stop gawking over me! Naruto's no better… Wish he would just realized that I'm stronger than him and get over it… He gazed over the area and then took a quick re-check to his right were Koei was now standing. She had changed her appearance, and it seemed as though everyone was starting to notice it.

Her hair remained the same but she had moved her headband off of her forehead and around her neck where it hung limply, like an oversized dog collar. She was now wearing a huge, long sleeve black kimono (knee length) with dark blue trim. Over her hands she had black cut off glove s and her black pants seemed to be a couple sized to big. Around her left leg still remained her tape and shruiken holster. A plain black scarf hung around her waist, dragging on the ground behind her, holding her five foot long katana in it's plain black sheath. Her sandals were the same but the most drastic change about her seemed to be the reflection in her eyes. They looked hollow and empty, as though she had lost something, something that seemed to have meant a lot to her.

"Where'd you get the sword?" Naruto asked, blinking at her stupidly.

"I got it when I was little," Koei replied, her voice seemed hurt and distant, as though this was not a memory to be brought up.

"Shibito X? married to Yuki X? Ojiru asked, raising an eyebrow at Koei. "I made that sword, some when ten years ago for your father? I never forge a sword that I've mad, especially one such as yours. It was probably the only one I wasn't willing to give up, but alas I did… Do you mind if I look at it once more?"

Koei glanced at him, a little hesitant, but removed her sheath and sword when Kakashi gave her a glance.

Ojiru pulled the sword out of its sheath and then shook his head, disgusted. "It's stained with blood. Why wasn't it cleaned properly after use?"

Koei stared down at her feet, then held out her hand, as if signaling him to return the sword.

Ojiru sighed and sheathed it, handing it back to her as she replaced it once again between her scarf and kimono.

"Well if were done here why don't we get started then?" Kakashi asked rolling his eyes at the five of them as he started off North of the Konohagakure Village.

"Alright!" Naruto screamed throwing a fist in the air. "Finally this mission is getting started!"

Sakura glanced sideways at Koei for the fifth time in the past ten seconds. What's wrong with her! She looks so sad! But how the hell can she be! I mean after all she's got Sasuke walking right beside her! Sure he's not talking to her, but still! I'd kill to be that close to him!

Drawing in a breath Sakura slowed her pace down until she was now at Koei's side.

"What's wrong?" Sakura asked looking at Koei. "You're sending off sad vibes and I can't concentrate. What happened?"

"Oh!" Koei said, a little taken aback as to what had just happened. She then replaced her surprised look with a small smile. "Nothing! I'm fine! But thank you fro worrying!"

"Whatever. But if you want to talk to me about something… Don't be afraid to do so," Sakura picked her pace up to get back to Ojiru and Kakashi. Naruto was leading the way, though he had no clue as to where they were going.

Koei sighed, the smile still on her face as she looked back down at her shoes. She and Sasuke pressed forward.

"The blood…" Sasuke began, snapping Koei back into reality. "it was your mother's wasn't it?"

Koei didn't say anything but instead continued to look at the ground. Finally she opened her mouth to speak when she figured Sasuke wasn't going to quite staring at her if she didn't answer. "Yes. It was my mother's blood."

"Then you're father killed her with that sword… Why do you still keep it if it just bears bad memories?"

"Because…" Koei begun and then looked up at him, hurt. "Because it's the only thing I have left to remember her by. Sure it may not be a memory I want to remember above all others… But still! It's the only thing I have left! After he killed her he left me with my mothers dead body, blood all over the floor! He left me! Just like that!"

Sasuke's face twitched as he took in all of what she had said to him. Koei's eyes lined with tears as she forced herself to look back down at her shoes. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told you that. You didn't need to know… I'm so sorry."

"Don't be," Sasuke said, staring up at the sky in front of him. "It's better for you to talk out your feelings with someone. Better than keeping them locked up inside of you."

Koei sniffed as she continued to look at her feet, then rushed forward up to Kakashi and Ojiru.

"Master Kakashi!" Koei raised her voice as her body begun to tense. "Can you be so polite as to tell me exactly where we will be escorting Mr. Ojiru too?"

"Oh," Kakashi replied, laughing at her sudden formality around them. "To the Village of Rain."

"Village of Rain?" Koei asked.

"You know, such as you come form the Village of the Leaf?" Kakashi looked at her, confused as to why she didn't know this.

"Sorry Master, I just wasn't thinking everything through clearly, I understand now," Koei spoke quickly when she noticed Kakashi's expression. "S-so this mission? We're not going to run into any other Ninja's along the way are we?"

"How come you're so worried?" Ojiru asked, smiling at her softly. "Of course we're not. If I were expecting someone to kill me I would have been put under the B or A task. Not a level C." He laughed at her and patted her on the head before returning his attention else were.

"Thank you Master, Ojiru," Koei said, bowing as she left, this time going to Naruto's side.

"Hmm?" Naruto asked looking at her. "Something you want?"

"No… Is it wrong of me to want to talk to you though?" Koei asked, sounding hurt.

"No not at all…" Naruto said, taken back at her sudden change of mood. She was so sad, or at least sounded lie she was, though her facial expression seemed to be happy. "It's just a little different and stuff. I thought you were mad at me for hugging you the other day. 'Cause you didn't talk to me after that and everything…"

"Sorry about that," Koei said, flashing him a small smile before going back to staring at her feet. "I just had a lot of my mind the next day. It wasn't anything that you did at all. Honest!"

"Oh… Uh, well I guess that makes sense," Naruto trailed off. "So this guy we're protecting, he made your sword right?"

"Yeah," Koei answered. The smile had faded as she crossed her arms behind her back. "He made the sword for my father, at least. But I received it in the end."

"So what happened to your mom and dad?" Naruto asked, looking at her out of the corner of his eye.

"There just gone," Koei said, narrowing her eyes. "My mother was murdered and then my father just left."

"Oh…" Naruto paused, if trying to choose his words carefully so he wouldn't offend her. "I didn't have any parents. I grew up by myself to…"

"I know," Koei replied, sighing. "And it's horrible right? Growing up without any parents. No love?"

"Yeah," Naruto said.

The wind begun to pick up, blowing everyone's hair out of place. Koei was still walking at Naruto's side; with a dead silence; all you could her was the wind and their footsteps.

"It's beautiful!" Sakura screamed, finally breaking the silence.

"Huh?" Koei glanced up as her train of thought was interrupted. She looked around to see pale pink blossoms falling all around them. "Oh. Are you talking about the cherry blossoms, Sakura?"

"Yeah."

"Don't any of you find this just a little peculiar?" Kakashi asked, speaking up for the second time on their trip. "Cherry Blossoms?"

"I don't see anything odd," Naruto said looking around.

"Cherry Blossoms in this weather?" Kakashi's eyes darted everywhere at once.

"What are you talking about?" Naruto shouted. Getting a little angry. "What's it got to do with the weather!"
"They only bloom in the spring. We're in autumn right now," Koei stated, her voice shaking along with her hands.

"SO what," Naruto replied, crossing his arms over his chest looking at her. "What's this got to do with anything?"

"Koei?" Kakashi asked looking at her worried.

Now on her knees she was looking around, utterly horrified. Something was bothering her. Fear was written all over her face as she was shaking up a storm as she tried to stand up again.

"What's wrong with you?" Sasuke asked, walking over to her side as she looked out in the direction she was starring, to only find nothing.

"C-c-cherry Blossoms…" Koei stuttered out, voice shaking. "Do y-you know what this m-means!"

"Huh?" Sakura looked over at Koei. Why's she so scared all of a sudden? I can't sense anyone's charka.

"Sakura? Naruto?" Kakashi asked, his voice was calm, to match his expression. "I want you to protect Ojiru at this moment. Sasuke? Get over there with them too."

Sasuke gave Koei one more quick glance before doing as Kakashi had ordered him too.

"Koei?" Kakashi asked, now at her side. "What is it that you see?"

"H-he's here…" Koei breathed out. Another wave of fear assaulted.

"Who Koei? Who?" Kakashi asked, now looking over to where she was standing, to only find her gone.

"KOEI!" Naruto screamed, amazed at what had just happened. He hadn't even noticed she had disappeared. His full attention, along with everyone else was on Kakashi.

"You look well Koei," a cold voice rang.

Everyone flipped around, looking for where the voice had come from. Ojiru was the first to spot the speaker.

"Up there," he said, pointing with his hand to a tree twenty or so yards away.

A tall man about six seven was standing on a tree branch. His shoulder length white hair flowed over his face and over his leaf headband. Wearing a skintight long sleeve shirt and black cargo pants he held Koei by the throat with his left hand. His sandals were black and his eyes red, they pierced right through Koei's own. Half of his face was covered in bandages along with his arms and a small part around his right left.

"Well! Aren't you going to speak!" he shouted at her. "Or am I gripping your throat to tight! If I were you wouldn't you at least be trying to save your own skin! We'll Koei, what does it feel like to se me again! WHAT ARE YOU FEELING RIGHT NOW!"

"LET HER GO!" Naruto screamed. "Put Koei down now! Stop hurting her!"

"Whose the idiot?" the man asked, lowering his voice.

"Didn't you hear what I just said!" Naruto took a step forward. His hands were in fists, he looked as though he were about to attack. "WELL!"

Shifting his head in Naruto's direction he stared at his with his red eyes and then slowly released his grip around Koei's neck. "Is that what you wanted?"

Koei fell, her body lifeless. Now only twenty feet away from the ground she stared down at the death below her. She couldn't save herself even if she tried. She'd die, right here and there.

Closing her eyes she waited for the impact but felt nothing. Opening her eyes she looked up to see Kakashi holding her in his arms. HE was looking down with a concerned expression, then spoke to her.

"Are you alright? You're neck is starting to bruise."

"Fine," Koei answered as he set her down.

"Do you mind telling us who you are?" Kakashi looked over in the new man's direction.

"Ask her," he replied, laughing coldly. "She knows who I am. Well, introduce me to your friends Koei!"

"He…" Koei paused to look down. No one could see her face. "He's my father. Yuki X."