A/N: Boo! Well, I was never really gonna post this story, but friends, well…let's just say, they can be VERY persuasive. Plus, this one will be according to my love of Naruto…more specifically, KAKASHI! Anyhoo, I am rather bad at putting romance in, if you have read my other work, you will know this. But, I'm gonna give it a shot…

Also, although I am quite a purist, this fic has a strange new creation of my own that is pretty much front and center. Hope I don't offend people by that!

Anyways, here's the story!

Prologue: Safe Haven

Long, long ago, in far-gone ancient times, there was a house. A great mansion, towering over its grounds. Set by the road in Fire Country, this clan palace was passed down from generation to generation. Each owner of the house followed the family tradition: keep beds made at all times, keep food handy, and ask no questions. Through the years, the place became known to traveling ninja. Tales were told of a place where anyone could find shelter, food, and a warm bed for a night or so. The ninja communities came to know that, if you needed a place to stay on the road, perhaps to get your wounds bandaged, perhaps running from an adversary, you could go there. Rogue ninja could count on a warm atmosphere, good food, and help. Above all, however, no one could attack a ninja who was on the grounds. Even ceremonial fights took place away from the house. A wounded shinobi could go there and not fear that, s he renewed his strength, he would be attacked and killed. A rogue shinobi could go there, and rest assured that no ANBU operative would come for him, and that the owner of the house would ask no questions. The family knew nothing of their guests, except what they looked like, what they ate, and what their wounds were. No one asked them questions, either. You couldn't o up to the owner, and ask if they had seen a ninja with a certain description. They wouldn't tell you. Never.

The family had many shinobi and kunochi among its ranks, and even those who did not follow that path had huge amounts of chakra, with amazing control of it. This made them ideal healers – a wounded ninja could be quickly made fit again under their attentive, if silent, care.

However, through the years, the clan had fallen into decline, until, finally, there were so few members that they had to close the house, being unable to keep it up any longer. The final member was being trained as a ninja in the Village Hidden in the Leaves. She had just achieved the rank of chuunin, and was returning from a mission when the Nine Tail Fox attacked. She was never seen again.

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"Run, Sasuke! Run and get help!" The voice rang through the woods.

Another voice, equally panicked, yet held barely in control, replied. "Naruto, you idiot! There's nothing around here for miles! And, even if I did get help, it would be too late before I got here. I wish Kakashi-sensei was here!"

"Well," the first voice growled, a blonde head coming into view, "he isn't! DEAL WITH IT!"

The pink haired form on the ground stirred, "Naruto…Sasuke…"

Both boys were instantly at her side, "Yes Sakura?" Naruto prompted, grabbing her cold hand, while Sasuke attempted to shield her from the rain with his body.

She smiled weakly at her team-mates' concern, and managed "How badly…" before trailing off. "What does she want to know?" Naruto asked, looking helplessly at his raven-haired companion. The boy rolled his eyes, and turned to the barely conscious girl. "Your chakra is almost completely depleted, you're all bruised, and you are quickly losing a lot of blood."

Naruto hissed, "Sasuke! You shouldn't have told her!"

Sakura shook her head. "No, I needed to know…neither of you know medical jutsu, do you?" The boys looked at each other, then back at her, and shook their heads.

"But I do."

Naruto and Sasuke immediately stepped into a sort of formation, protecting Sakura's body from whatever might be there. "Who are you?" Naruto demanded, as Sasuke readied a handful of shuriken. A tall, billow-y figure stepped out of the rain, revealing a woman bearing heavy cloaks and a broad-brimmed hat. "I am the last heir. Welcome to Higurashi House."

A/N: Woot! Cliffy! Of course, me and my lousy foreshadowing skills…you already know who she is. I'm just not very subtle. More will come soon!