Part Two - Found

Disclaimer: The concept of Ranma 1/2 and Naruto belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, and Masashi Kishimoto. This is a product of pure amusement values, with no profits made.

Rain.

Step. Step. Plop. Pause. Step. Step. Step. Step. Slosh. Pause. Sigh. Step. Step. Step. Step. Step. Step. SPLAT.

A pregnant pause, accompanied by the endless rain; mercilessly pounding from the dark heavens above, soaking the petite redhead to the bone.

Ranma glared down with murderous intent, specifically, at the point where her foot sank knee-deep into a hole, probably dug by some paranoid rabbit with too much time on its hands. Though the intensity of the glare only made him, or rather, her, in all her drenched glory-shoulders hunched, one knee bent awkwardly, and strands of fiery red clinging to her mud-splattered face and forehead-appeared cute, in a helpless fashion. Not that there were a soul around to admire Ranma's sodden femininity.

A large vein began to throb on her temple. The glare doubled in intensity.

Rain. Silence. Defeat.

Ranma uttered a soft curse under her breath and sat down on the muddy ground, "Why not? It's not like I'll get any dirtier."

Ironic, that a month ago, she received the blistering heat from the Wave Country, while now, in a land named after heat and flames, she was treated to the bone-chilling rain.

Raising his face skyward, Ranma closed her eyes, accepting the chilling kisses from above. Liquid trailed down her face, washing away the mud and grime, creating streaks of their own.

Cold. Cold. Cold. Cold. Warm… Cold. Cold. Warm… and salty against her tongue.

Sighing, she opened her eyes, planting both hands against the ground to support herself, and wretched out her foot from the mud hole with a heavy grunt.

There, that wasn't too bad…

…And stare in incomprehension at her naked, bared foot, caked with slimy mud and decaying vegetation.

Glaring never helps. She decides after another long moment of silence and immobility.

One step at a time.

Scooting forward, she stuck her arm into the hole, it was deep enough to her shoulder, and began the tedious task of fishing her slipper and sock from a mud-filled rabbit hole, all the while chanting her mantra silently in her mind.

"Can we help you with something, miss?" An unfamiliar voice inquired politely behind her back, loud and clear, despite the pounding rain.

Startled, Ranma twisted back, her mouth forming an automatic loud 'no'; she almost had it in her hand, and froze, as several things popped in her mind.

1) They were two people.

2) They were staring at her in an expected manner.

3) They were both garbed in very familiar outfits.

4) They both wore a metallic headband with a crest that looked like a leaf.

Pulling her arm out of the mud hole with another loud 'splat', she stepped unevenly towards the two shinobi, ignoring the feeling of rocks under her bare foot, small pains.

"Hidden Leaf Village?" Hope. Painful anticipation.

The lead shinobi shared a look with his companion, unsure of what to make of this petite girl-child. Dangerous times. Yet…

"We are."

A slim hand snatched his arm with impossible speed, smearing mud and bits of rotten vegetation; blue eyes stared into his from mere inches away. Before he could even realize her too close presence, and respond to this threat.

Desperation.

"I need your help."

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Ranma stood in the center of the room. Clad in a simple black sweater and dark pants, a pair of new slippers on his feet, his traditional pigtail, still wet from the blissfully warm shower, weighted heavily at the back of his head.

Silence. Followed by the rustling of papers.

The older man looked up from his seat in front of Ranma, frowning. The trio of ninja around him tensed in various states: the man with the blood-like tear marks down his cheeks being the most obvious, who had immediately placed his hand on the handle of a kunai, the ash blond woman uncrossed her arms, and the last, a pale man whose face was half-hidden by long raven hair, had stood a little straighter. Then the three relaxed as the man gestured to Ranma with a hand.

"I seek the Hyuuga Clan, of the Hidden Leaf's assistance." Ranma stated, blue eyes flickering from the silent milky-eye man to the sitting Hokage next to him.

Another ripple of tension pass through the room.

This is it. His last, and only chance. He took a deep breath, calming his rapidly beating heart.

One step at a time.

The Hyuuga Clan, while not of extreme secrecy, reserved their dealings betweens other ninja. For a simple man to march straight into the Hidden Leaf's territory, and named out the Hyuuga with little hesitation. A third party was definitely involved, the question is…

"By whom?" Silk and velvet. Fresh pine with the tang of musky moss. A serpentine hiss. Short, and to the point. Although he stood in a position deferential to the Hokage, his pale face half hidden in shadows, and seemed to be within the same age as Ranma, he carried himself in a casual, yet imposing way that commanded obedience, or pain.

"The Village of the Hidden Mist." Ranma replied calmly, unflinching from the arrogant tone, in another time, he would have mocked and taunted, and soon engage himself in a pointless battle. In another time. He did, however, notice the looks exchanged around the room after his announcement.

"You're not of the Mist." This time, it was the young woman who voiced out her comment. She glared at him, after seeing his look of surprise, almost daring him to deny her accusation.

"No." Ranma murmured. "I came from an eastern island." True. "That neighbored the Hidden Mist." False.

Silence.

The Hokage had his arms crossed, leaning back in his chair, and eyeing him, along with his trio of students with interest in his eyes. His silent, milky-eyed companion pulling off a good imitation of a statue by his side.

So, it's Lesson of the Day: How to handle a could-be threat, eh?

Silence stretched, became incredibly bored and lonely, and was promptly broken by what seems to be the most brash out of the three.

"Say something, damn you! Are you a spy from the Hidden Mist?!" The white-haired young man with red markings down his cheeks yelled impatiently, smacking the wall loudly with the palm of his hand, then wilted when five pairs of eyes shifted to him, ranging from fond amusement to 'you're embarrassing me' death glare.

"I'm just saying…" He wilted even more as the woman's glare intensified. Their pale companion looked away with a smirk, mouthing something that sounded suspiciously like 'fool' under his breath.

A soft cough brought their attention to the previously silent Hyuuga elder, finally, the man has destatue-lized to the living world.

Seeing that he has the room's full attention, the Hyuuga spoke, addressing to Ranma in a crisp manner, "What is your purpose with my clan?"

"There is little I could do for you, Ranma-san. The mark you bare may be passive, yet it affects the inner Chakra flows of your body in such complexity that with all my knowledge, I stand helpless." Pause. "Though perhaps… have you heard of the Byakugan?"

"I was told that the Hyuuga Clan residing in the Fire Country, and carried a powerful bloodline that allows them to detect the Chakra paths of all living beings."

Simple. Yet it raised even more questions.

The Hyuuga shared a look with the Hokage, receiving a nod before he stepped forward, hands performing the seal of the tiger; veins appeared around his eyes, and the irises became visible within those milky depths.

Creepy. Ranma stared back, resisting the urge to flinch.

Concentration. Examination. Surprise.

"Ahhh…" The man started, releasing the seal. Curious looks were shot his way, soon turning to annoyance when the man refused to comment more.

A brief moment of silence.

"He is of no threat to the Hidden Leaf, Hokage-sama." The Hyuuga elder commented in a tone touched with fascinating to the Hokage before addressing Ranma. "Hyuuga Hiashi, am I correct in assuming that you seek us in search of a…"

"…Cure." Ranma finished, ignoring the startled looks from the trio, though the Hokage's poker face was starting to get on his nerves. His once calm and collect demeanor giving away to relief, hope and anticipation causing him to stutter his next question, "C-can you… will you… can you restore my strength?"

Calculation.

"Difficult to say at this point." Hiashi replied automatically, seeing Ranma's face, he added, "Though perhaps a member of my clan trained in the medic field could provide better insight."

Pause. A side gaze. Inquiry. "Hokage-sama?" Is there anything else?

"The reports I received stated that you were female." The Hokage commented, flipping the pathetically few sheaves of paper.

A few eyebrows rose at that comment, then slide to the youth in the center of the room with unmasked interest.

Ranma tensed, then, deliberately relaxing his shoulders, he shrugged, the lie casually slipping pass his tongue, practice makes perfect. "It's… my bloodline."

"Oh?" Curiosity. Pause. "You still haven't given us your name."

Consideration. A flash of inspiration. A wry smile that spoke both bitterness and amusement.

"Ranma." Saotome. "Of the Village of Jusenkyou."

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TIMELINE - Year Three, early July.

No, Hyuuga Hiashi isn't the twin, he's their father, clan elder, whatever.

Talking to Lizzie is wonderful! Wonderful!