Rurouni Shinobi

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Disclaimer: The Pheox clan does not own Naruto.

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY ONE AZN DRAGON!!!

Summary: What if Naruto wasn't from the Leaf? What if he was from the Cloud? What if Kyuubi attacked the Cloud instead of the Leaf but STILL got stuck inside Naruto? At the age of 12 Naruto is forced to leave the Hidden Cloud village, and he brings someone with him. 5 years later at the age of 17, and living a life as a rurouni he finds himself in the middle of a war between the Leaf and the Sound. (AU)

READ IMPORTANT NOTE AT THE END OF THE STORY!!

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Chapter 10: Interrogate the Interrogators

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Time/place/perspective change

-"…"- Another language (will be explained later, along with everything else… hopefully.)

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

After getting into the apartment unnoticed by a screaming Kankuro, Naruto headed to the bathroom where Sierra was leaning against the doorway clad in a red bathrobe. Kitemi nudging her leg worriedly.

"Kankuro's still screaming outside." Naruto stated, walking past Sierra and went to the sink. Sierra shrugged, watching the blond from the doorway. "He's probably mad at you." He turned around as he washed his face and realized that Sierra face had beenblank since he walked into the apartment, a sign that didn't bode well with him. "Sierra?" He walked closer, worry and confusion etched onto his face. "Is something wrong?"

"No. Nothing's wrong." Her smile was fake and her voice was trembling. She pushed off the wall and turned around and started to hobble off.

Naruto grabbed her wrist and turned her around. He put one hand on her waist supporting her while his other hand held her chin, raising her head and making her looking into his worry-filled eyes. "Sierra? Sierra-neechan?" He was startled to see her usually bright eyes dulled and filled with sorrow. A single tear slid down her cheek as her face remained emotionless. -"Please! Tell me what's wrong."- Desperation started creeping into his voice.

-"Mama, Papa, Oneechan."- Sierra murmured, tears flowing freely down her cheeks.

Sierra took a shuddering breath as Naruto hugged her tightly to his chest as her knees gave out and the blond lowered them to the ground. Naruto rubbed soothing circles on the honey-brunette's back as she cried heart wrenching tears into his chest as she finally broke down. Naruto undid Sierra's bun and placed a small kiss on her forehead before resting his chin on her head.

When Sierra cried herself to sleep, Naruto picked her up and carried her to the bed and tucked her in. Naruto then took off his shirt and changed into baggy pants before crawling in next to Sierra and hugged her closely in his arms with Kitemi curled up at the bottom of the futon. His last thought before sleep claimed him was 1001 ways to kill a puppet-user.

Naruto woke up the next morning with Sierra curled up against his chest, cheeks still wet from crying during the night.

Naruto sighed and got up to make breakfast. He came back a few minutes later and placed a bowl of rice on the nearby nightstand along with a wet facecloth.

"Sierra." Naruto called softly, rousing the honey-brunette from slumber. When she awoken, Naruto helped her to sit up before gently dapping her cheeks with the facecloth. "You will feel better with food in you." He said softly, motioning to the bowl on the table.

He handed the rice and chopsticks to Sierra. "Sorry." Sierra murmured as she raised the bowl and chopsticksto her lips to take a bite.

Naruto shook his head. "If anyone should be sorry it should be Kranky-chan."

Sierra laughed lightly at Naruto's new nickname for Kankuro as she finished off the rice.

"Done?"

Sierra nodded. "Thanks…"

"I know, " Naruto grinned. "You wouldn't be able to survive without me."

Sierra threw her hands up in frustration. "You give him a compliment and it goes straight to his head!" Naruto laughed.

A knocking sound brought their attention to the door.

"Coming!" Naruto called as he brought the bowls to the kitchen. He then went to the door and opened it to reveal Uchiha Sasuke. "And what brings you to our doorstep so early in the morning?" Naruto asked politely.

"Hokage-sama wishes to see both you and Sierra in her office." Sasuke announced.

"Now?" Sierra asked as she used the bedroom doorframe as support.

Sasuke nodded.

"OKAY, LETS GO!!"

"Uh, Naruto?"

"What?" Naruto grumbled.

"We should get changed first." Sierra suggested.

Naruto looked down to see that he was only wearing his baggy pants while Sierra still had her red robe on. Naruto laughed nervously, while scratching the back of his head. "Just let us get changed first. You can wait inside." Naruto motioned for the Uchiha survivor to come inside.

Sasuke just raised an eyebrow at the blonde's action as he walked inside and watched Naruto close the door and grab one of the two packs from the hallway. Naruto then went into the room that the honey-brunette entered just seconds before.

While he waited for the rurounis to get ready, Sasuke decided to look around. He noticed a small beige scroll with red lining sticking out of the remaining pack. He picked it up and noticed some kanji on the side that read: 'My Dearest Son'. He opened the scroll and read the little note at the top:

'Here's with hope that you can one day discover and unlock your bloodline and return home –Karms Arashi'

'Why would they have a scroll from the Yondaime?' Sasuke thought confused. He noticed that below the scribble letters was a set of instructions and diagrams with another, longer scribbled note at the bottom. He carefully replaces the scroll and continued searching the small green pack.

Near the bottom he felt something odd. He carefully pulled it out to reveal a red cloth with a piece of metal attached to it. Engraved on the metal was a series of circular shapes, two ovals -one smaller than the other- attached together with another oval a little ways off. Sasuke realized what the object was.

A hitai-ate. For the Hidden Cloud.

Sounds from the bedroom alerted him as he quickly replaced the hitai-ate and returned to the door unawarea pair of amber eyes watching his every movement from the shadows of the living room…

The bedroom door opened as Naruto and Sierra stepped out fully dressed in their normal attire. Naruto supported Sierra as he called for Kitemi.

Sasuke watched in concealed shock as the red fox quietly made its way to Naruto. He couldn't sense her, even now.

Naruto helped Sierra onto the kitsune's back. "Okay, lets go." Naruto said once he was sure Sierra was comfortably seated.

Sasuke nodded his head as he led the rurounis to the Hokage's office. His mind kept travelling back to the objects he found, but he couldn't make any connections, and this frustrated him more than anything else. 'Whatever they're hiding,' he thought. "I'll figure it out.'

Naruto and Sierra went into the Hokage's office as Sasuke followed behind them. Once inside, Sasuke closed, locked, and sealed the doors, preventing anyone from going in or out.

Sierra watched Sasuke curiously, a delicate eyebrow raised. "You know, that was not very reassuring, or friendly for that matter." Sasuke just shrugged.

"Five and three and one." Naruto stated.

"Honto ni?" Sierra said unbelievingly. She closed her eyes and snorted. "Sasuke, Shino, Neji, Kakashi, and Sano." The ANBU stepped out of the shadows surrounding the room. "Tsunade, Ero-sennin, and Sakura." She motioned to the two sennin and chunin in front of her, standing near the desk. "And that scared guy from the meeting." Sierra opened her eyes as her slitted golden eyes slowly faded to familiar amythest.

Naruto looked annoyed. "What's the meaning of this?" Everything about the situation seemed to scream trap and his instincts told him to run.

"We found some…interesting things about you two." Tsunade stated sitting on her desk, two folders laid open on her desk. She looked behind the rurounis and saw Sasuke silently nod his head. "And by the looks of things, Sasuke did too."

"Why don't you brats sit down." Jiraiya said pointing to the two chairs in front of Tsunade's desk.

Sierra sat down uneasily while Kitemi and Naruto stood protectively at her side.

"Why don't you start Sasuke?" Tsunade ordered. Kitemi glared at the Uchiha, daring him to speak.

Sasuke, unfortunately, ignored the fox as she marched threateningly towards him. "Well, at their apartment…"

Click. Click. Went theclawwed feet of the fox.

"…I found…"

Click.

Click.

"…Two unusual items…"

Click...

Pounce.

"Whoa, KITEMI!" Naruto called as he subdued the struggling fox, his arms around her neck. "Don't go mauling the guy!"

Naruto listened intently to Kitemi's yips and growls.

"Well, in that case, maul him all you want." Naruto stated cheerfully as he let go of the kitsune.

"Naruto! Get serious!" Sierra yelled over her shoulder, keeping her eyes on Tsunade. "They already have information on us from those folders on Blondie's desk. 'Mauling' iceberg won't make a difference." Naruto and Kitemi sighed and walked back to where Sierra was sitting. "So you have information on us. Big deal!" Sierra snorted. "That doesn't explain why you want us here."

"True," Tsunade agreed. "But its what's IN the information that we need you to clarify."

"Oh?"

"Let's start with you." Tsunade picked up Sierra's folder. "Your family's dead. Why?"

"What does it matter?" Sierra said icily. "As you said 'they're dead'." Naruto wanted to comfort his life-long friend, as he knew how painful this subject was to her and how she hated herself for running away from the battle that night, but he found himself unable to even out a reassuring hand on her shoulder. For they both had learned from past experiences with the Sand that that small amount of comfort was often seen as a threat.

Tsunade seem unfazed by all this. "And you just so happened to have mysteriously disappeared that same night."

"ARE YOU SAYING I KILLED THEM?" Sierra roared with anger before calming down slightly. "I was RUNNING for my LIFE! I WOULD HAVE STAYED IF I COULD!"

"Then why didn't you?"

"My father ordered me to leave and even then I didn't. My sister had to drag me away. I would never hurt or betray any of them. They're my FAMILLY! Who would kill their own flesh and blood?"

"My brother did." Sasuke intervened. "And he didn't care."

"You're weasel-boy's brother, right?" Sierra asked smugly. Trained instincts and blood kicking in. "It's true that the muskrat killed his family, but he was always a little…how should I say this…UNSTABLE in the head."

Naruto shook his head smirking as he watched Sierra expertly dig her way under Sasuke's skin. Sierra knew how to handle herself under pressure. This is what she was trained for, and this was her expertise. She always followed her motto for this type of work: 'Interrogate the Interrogators'. After all it was always fun getting inside people's heads and seeing through the mind's barriers and lies. And her favourite victim? Orochimaru. This was one big game to her. A game where she controlled the pieces.

"You've met him?" Kakashi asked, left eye spinning with the Sharingan effects.

"Under the most…peculiar circumstances." Sierra replied vaguely.

"Oh?"

"And," Naruto smirked. "I do believe we're getting off topic boys."

Sierra laughed inwardly. Naruto has spent WAY too much time with her. Her styles were starting to rub off on him. Start one topic and change it before they get any information. Expertly leading them on a wild goose chase that takes them around in little circles until they don't know where they started or where they're ending.

"Don't change the subject." Ibiki growled. He was used to all the mental tortures and confusions, and had quite a few years' experiences over the rurounis, but he had not been subjected to this ancient, mythical form of mental evasion that the female was currently using on them.1

Naruto smiled innocently. "What subject?"

"Don't play dumb with me." Ibiki warned.

"He's blond." Sierra tugged on a blond spike on top of Naruto's head. " He's naturally dumb."

Ibiki turned to Sierra. "And what's your excuse?"

"You hang around blonds too much you tend to pick up on their stupidity."

TBC

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

1- In case of any confusion, this is part of Sierra's heritage, because in the past her clan were always being interrogated so they developed this form of evasive interrogation to confuse their enemies.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

READ AND REVIEW!!

If you have any suggestions please let me know. P.S. Sorry if the chapters take longer to upload. The problem is: I know what's going to happen, how it's going to happen, but I can't figure out the events leading up to it happening. (Grins sheepishly) does that make any sense?

!!IMPORTANT NOTE!!: I AM SOOOO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING SOONER!! I WAS PLANNING TO UPDATE IT FOR ONE AZN DRAGON'S BIRTHDAY BUT THE MY INTERNET CRASHED AND MY COMPUTER WENT DOWN AND THEN I WENT ON HOLIDAYS AND THEN CHRISTMAS WITH MY FAMILY!! I will try to have the next chapter out soon but it might take a while because there is a ONE-shot that I've been waiting to write soooo, yeah.

I can promise you though that I will NOT abandon this story. Not when it's making so many people happy. I could never do that to my loyal fans.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE!! THANK-YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING PATIENT!!

SAY HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO ONE AZN DRAGON IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE AND READ HIS STORIES!!!

I need help deciding what can/could happen to Konoha without Naruto living there.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

clicke: Plot…? Well, your going to have to wait and see now won't you…

One Azn Dragon: For once we agree on something…Don't worry, I'm a yoai-fan but I can't write it…XP ANYWAYS The pairing for Naruto is planned but so far Sierra is going to remain single… Give me some help here!! And I also wrote a minor fluff scene for u so be happy.

HAPPY BELATEDBIRTHDAY OAD!!!! NOW YOU'RE AN OLD FART!!! XD (I'm soo dead for that comment…oh well)

Narsakuwoo: Yes, both you and One Azn Dragon are very…persuasive…I have a little idea in mind but I'd like to hear if you have any ideas for the one-shot.

Inferno-Dragonz: Unfortunately (or fortunately…) Kanky-chan has to look SOMEWHAT decent in order to get the perverts chasing her…er him…ANYWAYS he won't be doing Henge around Sierra and Temari anytime soon so you don't have to worry TOO much…I hope…

Izumi-17: Huh…? Damn it!! I forgot to include that!! I'm soo stoopid!! I'll add that…somewhere. Heheheh. As for Sasusaku…it's open for discussion, but don't get your hopes up…Because I WAS planning on another girl for him…but then I read the recent manga chapters and changed my mind…slightly. So I can't promise anything, but I'll keep it in mind!!

l-laze: NOW THAT'S THE TYPE OF REVIEW I LIKE TO HEAR!!! CONSTRUCTIVE AND HELPING!!! Those are actually good suggestions…bribery…I like it!!

Writer-golore: This question seems to be popping up left, right, and centre!! They aren't STRONGER than him per say…you know how Naruto angered Kiba into making wrong moves when they fought in the Chunin Exam…How he got him angered and attacked in a fit of blind rage…same thing. As for strength, they're PROBABLY as strong as Gai or SLIGHTLY stronger…I don't know precisely because unless they fought each other we won't know, ne? Also, Sierra and Naruto are good at getting under people's skins and inside theie heads sooo...yea. Hope that helps…probably doesn't…oh well any other questions, ask and I'll to answer to the best of my ability without giving away any spoilers.

Kashisenshey: Now why would you do something like that? AND TWICE!! And yes…That IS suggestible!!(wink)

A(n) Unflawed Character: I'm not going to even bother answering your review. You know why? Because why should I listen to one 'constructive' review when I got 144 other ones telling me they LIKE my story and a bunch of other ones that REPEATEDLY claim that my OC doesn't act as a Mary-Sue. I have one question for you: If you think my character is a 'Mary-Sue' why bother reading this story…'Cause guess what? She's not going anywhere. End of Discussion.

Gilgamesh987: Call me a bitch. Jerk just sounds too…manly, even if I'm a tomboy. And let me make one thing clear. I have been sick for about 6 weeks now and counting. I am more concerned about my health that my stories. The only reason I've updated my other ones before this one is because they had more typed and written. I am sorry I haven't updated since August but I've been busy with my other stories and I've just recently started high school so even now I'm still adjusting. So all I ask is that you are patient with me and I'll get the next chapter out as soon as possible.

I AM SOOO SORRY TO EVERYONE THAT HAS WAITED FOR OVER 4 MONTHS FOR THIS CHAPTER. IT WAS A LITTLE RUSHED SO IF IT IS POOR COMPARED TO MY OTHER ONES THEN I AM DEEPLY SORRY.

-PHEOX