disCLAIMER: While I do not own Naruto nor any affiliated subjects therein, Kishimoto-sama does and therefore he owns my soul.

Chapter 2: Introductions and Inductions

Naruto wiped a spec from his forehead protector and adjusted his Jounin jacket. He sighed as he looked at his reflection. He wasn't much for appearances, but with the static in the air promising thunder storms, his hair stretched as far against gravity as possible. Even wet it refused to be tamed. Admitting defeat, though only because he was in a hurry, Naruto bolted from his apartment and into the street.

Summer was waning into September. Young ninja hopefuls were entering the academy to begin classes. An unfamiliar teacher was greeting the students. Naruto squinted, positive that it wasn't Iruka. Had he given up teaching after so many years? With this thought, Naruto was disappointed. After all, Iruka had been his first real friend.

Naruto's heart lifted when he arrived at the gates of Konoha. Approaching in the morning sun were four figures. Lee and Neji were distinguishable, but Naruto was more surprised than he thought at Temujin's appearance. No longer pale and gaunt, he'd developed a healthy, tan glow. His platinum hair was long, woven into several braids and twisted together down his spine. He wore strange, baggy clothing that didn't seem to suit him as well as the dignified armour he'd worn years ago. He was dirty from the long, hard journey. After Naruto's initial shock at the other teen's appearance, he noticed that Temujin had just recognized him as well.

"Naruto-kun?" Temujin ventured.

"Hee hee," Naruto chuckled, flashing a foolish grin. "Temujin! Recognize me?"

"Barely." Temujin strode forward and shook Naruto's hand. "You're taller than me now."

Naruto scratched his head and continued grinning. Neji stepped forward.

"We are to report to Hokage-sama on our return," Neji tilted his head towards Lee. "She said you may show them to their accommodations, then report to her as well."

"Yeah, yeah," Naruto muttered. "Ah, well, sure. Go ahead."

As Lee and Neji left, Naruto looked at the fourth member of the party for the first time. For a moment, he thought there'd been some mistake in the message, for the person looked like a young man his age. A black bandana enveloped their head, and they wore baggy clothes similar to Temujin's. A green stone dangled from the left ear. The face seemed uncharacteristic, with the exception of the contrast between the tan skin and grey eyes. Dark circles surrounded the eyes, giving the face a gaunt,cadaverous appearance. What alerted Naruto to the gender was a gentle breeze pressing the shirt against their chest to reveal the curves of a woman. He blushed, partly for the mistake, partly for staring.

"Hey, so this is..." Naruto struggled to remember her name.

"Akumako," she said quietly.

Naruto raised his brows at this. "That's a horrible name!" he pointed out brashly. "Why would your parents called you 'demon child'?"

"Because I don't have parents. At least, not human ones." Her eyes flashed, but her face remained stolid.

Temujin sighed. "That's not it. Her name is Akumako Kaori. The villagers gave her Akumako because both parents were foreigners and died and could not designate her name."

"And Kaori?" Naruto wondered at the contrast to her surname.

"I gave it to myself to keep me from going insane," Kaori said.

Naruto squinted at the woman, nearly thirty centimeters shorter than he was. "How old are you, girl?"

Kaori met his gaze evenly. "Twenty-two, boy."

"Gr, I'm not a boy! I'm a Jounin!" Naruto said huffily.

"Whatever that's supposed to mean."

"Jounin are elite ninja. Everybody knows that!"

"Naruto." Temujin pulled him aside. "We're tired and dirty and would really like to clean up before meeting Godaime Hokage."

"Hrm, all right. Follow me."

Temujin and Kaori followed, ogling at the size and prosperity of Konoha. Naruto excitedly pointed out various attractions, particularly the Ichiraku Ramen shop. He promised Temujin to treat him before he left. He said nothing to Kaori, who really irritated him. He couldn't point out what bothered him, but she would half-smile whenever he glanced back at her.

He had arranged for them to reside in the same apartment building as him in a sort of guest room. He hadn't thought ahead about them sharing a room, but Temujin assured that it was okay. Naruto paced in his own apartment for hour, impatient to see Tsunade. A knock at his door brought him to it, revealing a much cleaner pair than before. Instead of braids Temujin had pulled his hair into a long ponytail.

"I don't want to keep Hokage-sama waiting," he said cheerfully. "Braiding would take too much time."

Kaori didn't look much different except that her face and baggy clothes were clean. Fresh kohl surrounded her eyes and the sunken look from smudges was gone. As she turned away while Naruto locked his door, he could see an intricate knot of white hair tucked beneath the black bandana. Two chopsticks were barely visible within the bundle of hair.

Naruto continued to ignore her while he led the pair to Tsunade's office. The high afternoon sun wasn't as hot as it should be as damp winds tore through the streets. Temujin up and sniffed.

"The skies will be at war tonight," he commented.

"All the more reason to visit Ichiraku Ramen for a hot meal before the storm," Naruto suggested. "So long as Tsunade-baachan doesn't take too long talking to us. She'll just go on and ooooon..."

Lee and Neji were waiting outside the door. They bid the trio farewell before departing. Naruto burst into the office unceremoniously.

"Tsunade-'baachan!" Naruto announced. "We're here!"

"I can see that," Tsunade muttered, the stood and gestured to two chairs in front of her desk. "Please, have a seat."

Naruto promptly planted himself in the chair next to Temujin. Tsunade glared at him.

"Naruto, you are dismissed. The meeting is with Temujin-san and Kaori-san."

"But, but," Naruto protested. Before he could think, Tsunade grabbed him by his jacket and heaved him to the door. To Naruto's even greater annoyance, Kakashi and Iruka were entering the office as Tsunade threw him into the hall. Naruto winced as the door slammed, then pressed his ear to it. No such luck. In a stroke of genius, he remembered the large window to the office. Enough kage bunshins and he could...With that thought, Naruto took off for the stairs.

Tsunade returned to her seat, struggling with her irritation at Naruto. When she finally sat, her face was composed.

"Kaori-san. Temujin-san. I am Tsuande, Godaime Hokage. I understand you wish to be taught the way of Shinobi, and you wish for Konoha nins to be ambassadors to your country. Which is called..."

"It doesn't really have a name," Temujin admitted. "Sad to say, war has been a part of our culture, and we've never known life without it. I don't even know what people kill each other for. I haven't been there nearly as long as Kaori, since Haido-sama found and took me in at a very young age."

"In your message, you mentioned the villagers shunning those with, er, talents."

Temujin glanced at Kaori, who refused to meet his gaze. "The people are...most of them...typically anyone who's different is treated horribly and often times executed. Sometimes there's a trial,but Kaori-san..." Temujin clamped his mouth shut. He fidgeted a moment before continuing. "I shall stay here for a few days and then return to my country. You having the shard of Gelel stone will cut down on communication time. I would like to send a request for ambassadors when I feel things are prepared there."

"We shall conduct interviews among the Shinobi and even civilians to find suitable teams to send you," Tsunade promised. "Now about this training. Things have improved here, but that doesn't mean I can just spare teachers for one girl who grew up on the wrong side of the sea."

Kaori gritted her teeth but remained silent. Temujin flinched, searching for words to explain the situation.

"I..made a promise not to discuss anything without Kaori-san's permission. Honestly I don't know as much about her as I would like to. However, I believe she is disciplined and hard-working enough for your teachers. She's a sailor for a shipyard and is accustomed to teamwork. I doubt anything I say will convince you, and I doubt she'll say anything to convince you. Hokage-sama, I am asking this as an act of good will. I don't think you should 'spare' teachers, but let her show you what she can do so far without instruction."

Tsunade studied Kaori, who returned her gaze this time. "Okay, Kaori-san. Give us a demonstration."

Kaori swallowed and pushed away her chair. She started when she saw two older men flanking the door. One was cooly leaning against the wall while the other stood attentively. The former was tall with even taller silver hair, the latter sporting his brown locks in a ponytail atop his head. Now she felt even more nervous, for they looked like important people. She glanced at Temujin, her eyes asking him what to do.

"Do what you did when the raiders boarded the Inazuma," Temujin said.

Kaori grew angry as she thought of the droves of pikes embedded in the Inazuma's hull. She held her arms slightly away from her body, her hands outstretched. And she focused.

Tsunade couldn't for the life of her place what kind of technique this could be, a small part reminding herself that Kaori couldn't have learned any justus. Her eyes widened appreciatively as two blue-hued short swords appeared in each hand. Chakra swords. She studied Kaori, who was very focused but also very in control. Kaori's eyes flitted to her chair, then with almost clumsy swings hacked at it. It took two swings from one arm and one from the other to clove the furniture in two. Before the pieces clattered to the floor, the swords had disappeared and Kaori was out of breath.

"Whaaaaaat?" came a screech from outside the window. The company looked to the panes to see Naruto dangling upside down from the hands of a Naruto replication. Having seen Kaori's display, he forgot himself. Upon being discovered, he dropped himself. Crashes could be heard far below as the shadow clones accidently dropped the real Naruto.

Tsunade sighed and rubbed her temples. "Temujin, would you mind going to see if he's all right?"

"Of course not." Temujin couldn't resist a smile. "Should I invite him to come back in?"

Tsunade waved her hand. "Just go, please."

Kaori was ill at ease when she was suddenly left alone in the office with three important people. And she was the focus of attention.

"Kaori, the Shinobi behind you are Hatake Kakashi and Umino Iruka." Tsunade pointed consecutively. "I've called them here in specific discussion of you. Iruka-sensei, since you would handle the initial instruction of a student, what would be your decision based on what you saw here?"

Iruka stepped forward, stroking his chin. "Since she has no inkling of ninjas, Chakra, or jutsus, I would say a basic education is the top priority. Fortunately, unlike my other students she has a grasp on life and its realities. Am I correct?"

Kaori smiled slightly and nodded her head. Iruka put her at ease, and if she understood correctly, he would be instructing her.

"Kakashi-sensei? Your thoughts?"

Kakashi appeared to yawn beneath his mask. His visible eye blinked slowly as he pondered Kaori. It was unnerving; it felt like he could see right through her.

"She has no talents as a ninja and couldn't possibly hope to develop any."

Kaori blanched at this.

"Sure, she made weapons out of chakra," Kakashi continued, "but they lasted nor more than two minutes and it took several swipes to take out a mere chair. Control is impressive, but she lacks in every other area required of a Shinobi. A lost cause, and those are my thoughts."

Kaori was bright red at this criticism. Problem was, she felt as though Kakashi knew what he was talking about. He didn't look like the sort to screw around. Iruka whacked the other nin's arm with the back of his hand. Tsunade rubbed her temple once more.

"Iruka, you are willing to train Kaori-san?"

"Yes," Iruka answered positively. He gave Kaori a slight thumbs-up.

Tsunade sat in her chair. "You will have one month to teach Kaori the ninja basics, after which we will have another meeting to demonstrate progress, and Kakashi will again give us a review. Essentially, Iruka-sensei, Kaori-san's future as a Shinobi lies in your hands."

The door flung open and a battered, sweaty Naruto burst in.

"What'd I miss?" he yelled.

"Only the induction of the oldest person in the history of Konoha to the Ninja Academy," Iruka said with a smile.

"Huh?"

Temujin grabbed Kaori into a big hug, while Iruka rustled Naruto's hair. Kakashi had already slunk out, and Tsunade stared at Naruto in disbelief.