Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of the Characters of Naruto. As the title of this website implies, this work is "fiction" written by a "fan". If you don't get that…don't read this story.

If you do get it…you're smart…and read on!

Chapter 1

"Hokage-sama, Asuma-san has returned and he has three people with him," spoke one of the ninjas.

"Good, send them in."

Asuma entered the room swiftly followed in suit by another who knelt slightly behind him. Asuma remained standing waiting for instructions. Two others also entered the room but remained standing back against the wall listening, waiting.

One was a woman, he could tell, even though she was hiding her face under a straw hat. She was about 5'8", slender. Confident was the first word that came to Kakashi's mind when he analyzed her posture. Tall, straight, hands at her sides, waiting without a movement. She wore a long gray Kimono tied around the waist with a red wrapping. The other was the exact opposite. He was a tall man. Standing 6'2", he was impatient. He wore tan pants, black boots, a skin-tight black turtleneck and a tan vest. His hair was shaved on the sides, but the top was long and pulled back. He had his arms crossed over his chest and was thumbing his fingers. He kept looking back and forth between the Konoha ninjas that occupied the room as if waiting for one to make a move.

As if sensing the irritation of the other ninja in the room at her companion's manner, the woman gently placed her hand over the drumming fingers on her companions arm. He stopped immediately, exhaled and flumped down onto the ground sitting Indian style, his arms still crossed. The woman slowly dropped to her knees and pushed her hat back so it was lying on her back, held there by the two strings tied around the front of her neck. She looked at the Hokage and bowed slightly giving her apology at her companion's inappropriate behavior.

Accepting the apology, the Hokage nodded his head and continued the meeting.

"Asuma, I am glad to see that you have returned safely back in Konoha. However, were you unable to locate the person I had asked for?" asked the Hokage while scanning the three individuals.

"Hai. I arrived within the forest where rumors had it that he lived and found his house deep within that forest, however, the man you request was…."

"Was what. We do not have time to be cryptic, Asuma."

"Hai. Gomen. Demo, the man was…the man is…"

"Yes?"

Sensing his queue, the ninja kneeling behind Asuma answered "Dead."

"Nani?" questioned a shocked Hokage. "How?"

"…"

"When did he die?"

"…"

"Where did he die?"

"…"The ninja did not answer. It was not his place to answer, for he didn't exactly know for sure.

All during this conversation, the woman was aware of the stares of one ninja within the room. He was quite tall, she could tell. His hair was gray. He wore a headband that covered his left eye. His other eye, which often times was wandering toward her figure was dark, relaxed. She caught his gaze and held it for a moment while removing a fan from her sleeve. She quickly snapped it open in front of her face and seductively lowered her gaze in submission.

The burly man quickly became aware of the obvious stares from the Konoha ninja and growled noticeably. Kakashi smiled comically at the man, and momentarily directed his attention back to the meeting at hand.

"Are you sure that he is dead? If you cannot answer at least one of my questions, can you answer this one? Are you at least, not mistaken that he is dead?" continued the Hokage.

"Ah…I cannot, but…" he turned his gaze back toward the woman who bowed her head answering the Hokage's question without words. 'Yes, he is dead.'

"Ryuuchi…" Hokage mumbled exhaling heavily closing his eyes.

The woman's attention was immediately drawn to Hokage. Quietly, she asked "How do you know that name?"

Everyone's attention was now on her. Her dark brown eyes focused only on the Hokage. Kakashi was wondering what she meant by the question. Wasn't Ryuuchi the man's name?

"Ryuuchi and I are old friends. I have…I had a favor to ask of him."

"Hmmmm?" she hummed.

"Might I ask who you may be?"

"Hai" she bowed her head slightly, lowering her fan while answering. "I am Shindou Aki." Gesturing toward the man sitting next to her she said, "This is Nevins. The man kneeling before you is Jin."

'Shindou…Aki…that's a nice name.' Kakashi thought to himself.

"Might I also ask what you mean by knowing 'that' name? How you know Ryuuchi?"

"Hai. He was my father. He hasn't used his formal name for….years."

"Your…father?" Obviously surprised.

"Hai…well…adoptive father.

"So ka…" Considering getting her involved weighed heavily on Hokage's mind. If she was his daughter, it would be possible that he also taught told her of that. Should he ask her? What would happen if she refused? Maybe she didn't really know how to do it. But a man's life was a stake.

"Hokage-sama?" she asked, snapping him from his thoughts. Carefully, slowly, she closed her fan and rested it in her lap under her hands.

"Yes"

"I have come in stead of my father. You stated there was a favor you needed to ask of him…however, since he is obviously unable to come…might it be something that I can assist you with?"

"Hmm…your father…did he teach you…about his Sealing Power." Asked Hokage carefully. He wasn't sure how much, if any at all, Ryuuchi had told to this young woman. He needed to determine how much she knew.

"Hai."

Happy with the response he continued "How much?"

"All that he knew. I was also his student"

Quite pleased with her answer Hokage eagerly moved on. "Did you learn of the Five Star Seal?"

"Hai"

"Are you able to…complete it?"

"Hai"

This time, it was Kakashi's time to be surprised…and doublful. The Five Star Seal was a powerful seal. It took most of ones Chakra to complete this seal, if not more and only Hokage-level ninjas were able to use it. Was she as powerful as she just said she was? 'She could be a good sparring partner,' Kakashi thought.

One of the other ninja's couldn't hold it in. "He's not talking about just being able to draw the seal completely, He's talking about being able to use the seal completely. You say you can do that?"

Her expression remained unchanged, her attention remain focused on the Hokage, patiently waiting for him to explain the situation

Finally Hokage continued. "It appears that one of our own has been sealed. The problem is, we are unable to determine what kind of seal it is."

"Hmmmm."

"This Seal has six stars. Has Ryuuchi taught you of this Seal?"

"Six stars?"

"Yes. This man is dying and you may be his only chance for survival….Will you look at the seal?" Hokage asked.

"…hai…"