Chapter 3

Walking behind Kakashi as Aphrodite walked towards his left I couldn't help but reach my hand up to my sore shoulder. This was bothersome, yes, suddenly being thrown into an anime world that I myself couldn't even fathom a way I would desire to change it. Unlike with Death note, there isn't a whole lot of mistakes that I could point out. In fact, the mistakes, mainly being made by Naruto himself, are what make the anime. It is how Naruto grows to be so strong and such an exceptional ninja. The only thing I couldn't get myself to like was how Naruto was never given an advancement. He was a Genin throughout the entire show as far as I can remember. Though honestly, I'm not even sure if that is correct. It's not like I watched much through the Shippuden part of the series.

Although could you imagine it? Naruto, a Chunin or Jonin, leading his own team! It's rather laughable in my opinion so I guess I could figure why he was never given an advancement as far as I can remember. Even though the strength he achieves towards the end he could definitely go on par with one if not more Kage at a time. I guess there would be more to it than just sheer strength. You would need to show the qualities of a leader more than just winning people's hearts and getting them to believe in you. You would need to be able to plan strategies out and adjust accordingly to save lives. You would need to know when to stay hidden and observe rather than just leaping in and barking at the enemy. Sometimes what's more important than fighting is gathering necessary intelligence that would help prevent bad stuff from happening later on. The survival of your team is the top priority and Naruto… Definitely has none of those qualities. If he ever made an advancement from Genin I could see his entire team dying if they weren't completely badass fighters that can adapt to his whims.

When I think about it. It's much like the Deathnote world. I had to gather my intelligence by placing wiretaps and video cameras around hotel rooms after deciphering which hotels L would move to next just so I could remain in the know about what's going on. Doing things that way allowed me to adjust my plans knowing when Light or I would be tailed. Since the battle against the investigation was a battle of intellect I didn't have to worry about physically fighting. I needed to remain three steps ahead of L at all times while pushing the anime to remain on track. Covering my actions so that I could continue using the knowledge I already had. If I had slipped up it would have meant Light's death.

At one time I believed Naruto's antics to be a cute pure quality of him and enjoyed watching what he would do next. Not like I would swoon over him or anything. He sparked my curiosity. Naruto is the type of character that gets you to root for him as much as it makes you wish to slap him for being annoying. Though… Looking up towards the blue sky I find myself gripping hold of my shoulder just enough to send jolts of pain throughout my body once again. Now that I find myself in this anime… I can't say that I feel the same way I had when watching it. This world is quite dangerous and someone could die very easily. Especially if you are unfortunate enough to be placed on the same team as him. With Aphrodite and I here, we have already changed the course of an anime that doesn't really give leeway for outsiders. It's a tightly knit plot that I believe could be turned upside down quite easily.

Walking into the Hokage Mansion I continue to follow the two in front of me. My hazy thoughts of what is to come, and how just our being here could change it all plaguing my very consciousness. We will have to be on our toes and become strong so we can right circumstances that go wrong. Or... Should I look at this whole ordeal as an adventure? One I don't need to be so fidgety about with constantly trying to one-up the events in the anime. But, to actually try and advance myself. Wouldn't their Chakra actually be what we call energy? Their elemental life energy… that is the energy we know of right? Only we have mastered more control over it. Or at least those like Aphrodite have. Spiritual and physical energy, to combine them… would be extremely difficult. So far I've been able to practice the spiritual energy that Aphrodite had shown me years ago. I had never actually thought of trying to figure out more about it like she had wanted me to. She had said that once I master manipulating my energy to different parts of my body the thought of what I could do would be practically endless. Yet, all I've managed to do so far is coat my entire body in energy so I could return home. I guess I have been quite narrow-minded up to this point.

"Well, Kakashi. What have you brought here today?" A voice with more than a hint of age spoke pulling me from my thoughts. Walking up behind Aphrodite I peer around her to get a glimpse of the old man with a white goatee. Dressed from head to toe in his white and red Hokage garb sitting behind his desk. I watch as his eyes move from Kakashi towards the two of us. The old man, more properly known as the Third Hokage.

"Well... You see... I was out training when I had noticed something peculiar falling from the sky. So I went to investigate and well.." Kakashi fumbled for words to explain us, as his right hand moves to the back of his neck. "I found them lost in the trees." He finally concludes causing me to roll my eyes. What? He didn't want to say that we WERE what fell out of the sky? It was painful too. Far more painful of an experience than simply just getting lost.

"I see... Well, why not let these girls explain to us what is going on from their perspectives?" The third speaks as he stands up to walk around his desk. Stopping just in front of us causes me to stop glaring at Kakashi. Picking up the same façade as we had done in the forest, I grab the back of Aphrodite's jacket and yank her behind me.

"If either of us speaks it will be I who does the speaking." I snarl at the old man as I reach behind me with my unhurt arm to look protective over my cousin. How weird would it look if I would protect her against Kakashi and not someone who stops a mere foot away from her? In my eyes, it would be without a doubt 100% suspicious. The old man however just removed his pipe from his mouth to laugh as he peers down at me.

"Protecting someone dear to you young one. Is truly a quality to be admired." He spoke before placing his left hand behind his back. He looked so at ease around us, even under my glare. This goes to show, I am absolutely no threat to him. "Now little one, will you tell me what caused you to be in the forest just outside of our village?" Yes, question me lightly but always be alert. There are possibilities for our arrival that could be enemy or innocent. Raising my head I square my shoulders taking the time to think of what I should tell him. Back in the death note world, I had found I didn't need to hide as I had been. Thanks to Aphrodite for spilling the secret, but unlike there this place isn't full of normal people and normal cops. They are people who quite possibly could and probably would kill us.

"We were running away from someone wanting to cause us harm. Next thing we know we are leaping off the roof of my home and landing in your forest." I inwardly shrug. So be this childish mind I couldn't think of any long words that would help my explanation sound more logical or plausible. However The Third put his pipe back in his mouth and looked towards Kakashi.

"It's possible a teleportation jutsu was used." Kakashi speaks as if just realizing it. Though for some reason his nonchalant summarization of what happened to us made me feel rather… irritated. So, in an attempt to get them to fully grasp our situation I need to figure out something to put into the conversation, even if it's not exactly true. Raising my arm hesitantly towards Kakashi I nearly smirk seeing I have caught their attention. Hesitating long enough to seem like I was nervous before finally grabbing onto his pant leg and giving a gentle tug. I wait for him to turn towards me wondering if he was just going to stand and gawk at me or actually try and make a scared child feel better. It took a moment before he crouched down to my height, his one eye softens as he looks at me. Does he pity me? It's not like he cares when he doesn't even know me. It could be an act for the third. "It's alright." He spoke gently as I let my hand rest at my side again. "What is it?"

"Umm.." I look down rocking back and forth on my toes letting the silence ring out for what I felt was an appropriate time length. Looking back at his face I touched his forehead protector. "What are you? This whole place looks weird." I told him actually trying to let my childish voice show confusion. It was then that Aphrodite piped up as if she had just figured out what I was doing.

"Yeah! Looks nothing like where we're from! I mean where are all the cars and stuff?!" I nearly laughed at hearing her speak. Seriously either she has this whole childishness down from experience or her brain really is losing the fight.

"Huh?" Kakashi and The Third question at the same time looking at one another before he finally stood facing towards the third.

"Is it possible they were actually transported from another dimension?" The Third asks more himself than Kakashi before looking back to the two of us. "Be as it may. I doubt you know how to get back home. You may stay here until either you can, or you decide to return where you came from." He said as he put his arms behind his back. Yes! It worked! Now... Turning I look to the smiling Aphrodite before I tug on her arm to get her to look at me.

"He said we can stay but now comes the hard part cousin. Remember the rules?" I ask her as seriously as I could. I watch her eyes widen before she grins.

"Yeah! Locate a source of water, set up shelter, and then obtain food!" She said with glee holding her left arm up in a fist as if it was proclaiming victory or something. Honestly, I had no clue anymore as to what her body language is saying.

"Yes, Konoha will now be our source of water. We need shelter and to obtain food for survival. But.." I bite my bottom lip as I glance away from Aphro. "I have money but I don't know if it is the same here as where we had been." I hint about the death note world. "Even if it does work here I have enough to get a place, fill the fridge and furnish the house along with some clothes to start out with. The money wouldn't last long meaning we need to figure out a way to obtain a source of money." Crouching down on the floor in thought I notice Aphrodite do the same.

"Ohh. Yeah…" She mutters before giving a snap of her finger. "Jobs?!" She questioningly exclaims. I shake my head at her hyperactive mode.

"Look at it this way. Even if we find stores here it is quite unlikely we would be hired by any of them from how little we are."

"Oh. Oops. Guess you're right Kira." She innocently rubs the back of her head causing her long blonde locks to bounce around.

"Besides, could you imagine working in a store? We'd get fired in seconds because I would get into fights and you would be alongside me." Noticing her eyes I actually smirk at her realization of what I was doing. Good just follow along like a good puppet. Standing I look to the two who were just watching us with curiosity and mild amusement. As if they were seeing what we would come up with on our own and how we interact with each other. "Umm. I came up with an idea." I speak innocently causing The Third to chuckle.

"Then tell me, child. What is your idea?" He spoke before falling patiently silent for me to explain.

"Well, I show you a bill I have, you tell me if it's the same currency that you have here. If yes then You, being the leader, help me find a place for us. Long-term food isn't really a problem. There was a river nearby so we could figure out how to fish and stuff. But, we will need an option of what we can look for as a long-term plan for money. We do not take scraps like dogs and I don't like handouts. As…" I look to Kakashi. "Kakashi?" I ask as if I was hoping I was right. Waiting for a nod to confirm my question before I continue. "As Kakashi can tell you. I am more of an action kind of girl. And.." Glancing back to Aphrodite momentarily I take in a breath. "I really wish to protect my cousin. Is there anything I can do that will meet my likes and get me money?" Finally asking my question I look to The Third as I reach into my shirt and pull out a wad of money that I USED to keep in my bra for emergencies so I didn't have to constantly reach into my wallet.

"Well.." Third says as he took my money and inspected it. "Yes, at least your money is the same as ours." YES! I inwardly squeal as I take my money back and just reach behind me, slipping it into one of the side pockets of my backpack. "There is also plenty enough there for the vacancy I know of that springs straight to mind. It is a two-bedroom apartment. Though not the top floor of the building... But it does have a balcony." Nodding to him I couldn't help but look up at his gently smiling face.

"Sounds perfect." I respond feeling my heart hammering for what I really wanted to know... Whether or not he will allow me to be a ninja.

"Now, so I am understanding correctly. What do you have in mind with the request of what you would like to do?"

"Like a Cop!" I shout raising my hands up in fists. "Fighting to protect people and make the world a little safer!" Hunching down I act like I am secretly peeking over something. "A detective! Gathering information on the bad guys before getting to the but kicking throwing them in jail gig!" I found myself giggling. I had wanted to explain to them what I meant but somehow I had ended up acting completely… childish…

The Third laughed at my antics as Kakashi shook his head. It took a bit before they settled down enough for the third to speak again. "Sounds like the heart of a ninja!" The Third exclaimed happily. "Ninja are those who train their body and minds to protect the people of this village and complete missions for even those beyond the walls of this village." As he speaks I let my eyes get wider with fascination. "Ninja fight to protect others as they would their own family."

"Yes! I want to be a Ninja!" Aphrodite and I shouted at the same time before looking at each other and smiling.

"It's not quite that simple I'm afraid." The Third gets our attention again now looking more serious than he had this entire time. "A ninja needs special training and skills to complete missions. In order to achieve those you will have to graduate from the academy." As if that was going to deter me! I already knew about the academy old man! You are just playing right into my hand!

"Mr. Hokage, I want to join the academy." I spoke now more seriously as well keeping a grip on the childish behavior that has been threatening to slip out.

"Me too!" Aphrodite shouts now stepping up next to me. "I want to be a ninja too and fight not only for this village but everyone who needs me." Wise choice of words cousin, he will commend you for your will.

"Then it is decided. In one year you will join the academy with others your age." YES! Outwitted the Hokage himself! Or... Did I? He could have seen right through me and decided to keep an eye on us to see if we were up to anything… Darn. I wouldn't put it past that old geezer. Little does he know though. I just wanted to be a ninja to keep an eye on the anime; to Live it! Oh and of course to further my own strength. If this entire situation has taught me anything it's that. In the Death Note world, I refused to learn anything beyond what was necessary to return home when I wanted to. Here living like that, will only get me killed.