Disclaimer: Naruto is property of Masashi Kishimoto not me. However, Kosu and Hiro are mine. Warning, possible themes of a dark, violent or suggestive nature and use of mature language as the story progresses… They're ninja after all.

Chapter 2

Symbiosis

The Hokage took a deep inhale from his pipe, slowly releasing the smoke from the corner of his mouth. Hiruzen Sarutobi had prepared for the worst when word reached him that the Nara Forest had been breached. Tensions with the other villages were high, in particular Iwagakure, Kumogakure and Kirigakure. The threat of war hung over them and seemed to increase with every treaty proposal that was declined.

To learn from Shigeharu that it was merely a couple of refugee children was surprising and more of a relief than it should have been. Shikaku had arrived shortly after with the two children and whilst the two scruffy orphans waited outside he had updated the Hokage.

"They say they're from a mining town, likely too small to have a name, but the older boy may be able to identify it on a map." Shikaku added. "Mining towns are usually capable of defending from bandits." Basic fortifications and training were common in mining towns and large farming areas. After all they had surplus of food, equipment and precious metals. What bandit wouldn't take that opportunity? The fact that their town had fallen to bandits was questionable to the seasoned shinobi.

The Hokage nodded his head.

Kosu sat on the edge of her seat and glanced periodically around the room, fingers tapping at her side. Beside her Hiro sat comfortably next, swinging his little grazed legs.

"Can you hear anything?" She whispered. Hiro paused before shaking his head. Kosu frowned and glared at the door.

Her heart rate spike when the door opened and Shikaku stepped out, hands in his pockets. His dark eyes found Kosu.

"The Hokage would like to speak to you." He said. When both siblings went to stand he added. "Just you Kosuke." Kosu tensed and looked to her brother.

"I'll be okay." Hiro assured her. It was still with some hesitancy that Kosu stood and followed Shikaku into the office. Kosu recognised the other Nara clan member as soon as she entered, but it was the older gentleman sat at the desk that had her undivided attention. He didn't look like much. Hands held peacefully in front of him, hair beginning to grey and soft brown eyes aged with experience. But there was something about him that set Kosu's on edge, something around them that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end and her mind screamed at her to run- run far and fast.

"You must be Kosuke." The older man spoke first as she stopped in front of his desk. Kosu nodded. "I'm Hiruzen Sarutobi, Hokage of Konohagakure." Hiruzen paused as he observed the child in front of him. With interest he noticed that as relaxed as the child tried to appear their muscles were coiled, ready to dart away at the first opportunity they got. With purposely slow movements so as not to startle the flighty child he unrolled a map onto the desk. "I'd like to know where you're from." He smiled warmly.

Kosu glanced between all three men before slowly stepping forwards to the edge of the desk. She had to stand on her tiptoes to be able to get a decent view of the map. It wasn't the first map she'd seen. There used to be a large one in their town in the main building. They'd used it to mark the transport routes for the ore as well as known bandit points. Her eyes naturally fell to the South-eastern boarded of the Land of Earth as she searched for her mining town. There were many seams in that area and as a result many small mining towns, to her surprise none of them seemed to be marked on the map.

Back when they had first lost their town Kosu had led Hiro down along the Land of Earth boarder in the hope that the other mining towns would take them in. To her dismay each town seemed to have succumbed to the same fate as her own. After that they had avoided towns all together. The wilderness was safer.

"This map is up to date?" She asked, raising her head to meet the Hokage's gaze. He gave a small nod. Then Konoha had no idea of the amount of mining towns just outside the Land of Earth boarder. Kosu quickly looked back down at the map, her heart rate spiking with excitement as potential sparked in her mind. She just had to check one more thing. Dull grey eyes peaked out from behind a messy head of hair as she looked up to the Hokage. "Hokage-sama, are you friends with the Iwa-shinobi?"

Kosu knew she had hit the negotiation point she needed when the Hokage's dark eyes narrowed and snapped to her face. Both Shikaku and Shigeharu tensed and it was as if the temperature of the room dropped several degrees. Kosu took a deep inhale and relaxed back off of her tip-toes, squaring her bony shoulders.

"What do you know Kosuke?" The Hokage asked.

"What can you offer?" Kosu asked in reply.

"You're in no position to be playing games Kid." Shigeharu said, his clenched fists the only sign of his frustration.

"I'm not playing." Kosu frowned up at the youngest ninja. "If you think I'm not aware that any one of you could kill me or my brother before we'd even realise you'd moved, you're wrong. I'm perfectly aware of what shinobi are capable of." She paused and looked back to the Hokage. "So since words and knowledge are the only tool left in my arsenal. I'm going to use them. So I'll ask again Hokage-sama, what can you offer me and my brother?" It took all the self-control she had to keep the nervous tremble from her voice.

Hiruzen regarded the child in front of him and the corner of his mouth curled upwards in amusement. He had wondered how two children could survive in the wilderness for so long, now the answer was obvious. This child was the reason they survivied.

"You realise that we could torture you and your brother until you gave up your knowledge?" Hiruzen said lightly. Kosu felt her blood run cold and stomach drop to her feet. "But we won't." Hiruzen added in a cheerful tone. Kosu swallowed thickly, she could feel the beads of sweat rolling down her back. "Here's my offer." Hiruzen placed his pipe down and folded his hands in front of him. "Train at the ninja academy here, become a shinobi of Konoha." Kosu raised a brow at the old man. "It's the job of a shinobi to protect the Village and those who live here. That includes your brother." He watched her carefully as her brow lowered and seemed to be coming around to his words. "You'd have more than just words and knowledge in your arsenal." He repeated her own words back at her and her eyes widened.

"How do I know you're not lying, that this offer is genuine?" She asked.

"You only have my word." Hiruzen replied simply. Deep in thought Kosu jumped when Shikaku took a step towards her. Her head tilted to the side in curiosity as he took a small crystal from the desk and offered it to her. It was strange, as it sat in the palm of his hand it seemed to glow faintly. She took it from him and held the dimly glowing crystal between her calloused fingers.

"The crystal lets us know you're chakra sensitive. You meet the academy entry requirements." Shikaku explained. Kosu stared at him in confusion.

"Chakra?"

"One of the many things you'll learn about, if you train at the academy." The Hokage explained. Shikaku took the crystal back from her and returned to his position at the side of the desk. Kosu looked to the Hokage and met his expectant gaze. With a deep inhale she stepped towards the desk once again, rising onto her toes and reaching for the brush and ink. All three ninja watched as she added the land contour lines for multiple mining seams along the south-east boarder of the Land of Earth. She then marked five small mining towns and put the brush down.

"The area is rich with ore." She pointed to the seams. "The mining villages have been there for generations, with trade routes to Iwagakure, Kusagakure and Amegakure. Iwa had been slowly increasing their demand and we'd been struggling to meet our agreements with all three villages. When our town couldn't reach Iwagakure's demand they came to the town and took everything by force – that was a couple of winters ago." Kuso clenched her hands into fists. "They left us with nothing and it was only a matter of time before bandits took advantage of it. We didn't stand a chance." Her brow furrowed. "Hiro and I hid and ran when we had the chance. No one else…" She trailed off as the screams of her memories echoed around her head. "…survived." Swallowing thickly, she looked back at the map and used her finger to draw a line between all five mining towns. "We tried each of the towns, anywhere to take us, to be safe. But each town had met the same end as ours. We headed south-east after that, as far away as we could get." Kuso exhaled heavily and looked at the three ninja in the room before stopping on the Hokage. "I asked if Iwa is your friend because the ore we mined is perfect for crafting weapons – and they've stolen enough to equip an army."

Deafening silence encompassed the room, broken only by the Hokage picked up his pipe and took a long, thoughtful inhale.

"Thank you," Hiruzen finally said. "Your academy classes start tomorrow 08:30 sharp at the school attached to this office building. Shigeharu would you mind showing these two to the orphanage?" Hiruzen turned to look at Shigeharu.

"Of course Hokage-sama." Shigeharu bowed his head slightly and turned to Kosu.

"Thank you Hokage-sama." Kosu smiled weakly before turning and following Shigeharu out of the office.

Hiruzen waited until the door had closed and he turned his wise eyes to Shikaku Nara.

"Shikaku I want you to assemble a three-man squad and recon the areas he marked on the map. Verify that they are destroyed, that the ore is gone and if there is any evidence of Iwa involvement." Hiruzen laced his fingers together. "This is a C, potentially B rank mission, leave as soon as you've gathered your equipment."

"Lord Hokage." Shikaku bowed his head and body flickered away. Hiruzen sighed and looked back down at the map, eyes drawn to the most recent additions. Kosuke was a runt of a child, malnourished and under developed for his age. But there was a fierceness to his mind, sharpened by whatever horrors he and his brother had experienced.

In any other life Hiruzen doubted that Kosuke would have ever taken the shinobi path, never even come close to it. It was a shame really, he could of had a nice simple life as a miner. But it was too late for him now. Hiruzen had only had to look at Kosuke once to know that he had already taken his first steps on the shinobi path – intentionally or not. The year fending for himself and Hiro had prepared him in a way the academy often struggled to. Kosuke knew how harsh life could be beyond the village walls.

"Kosu?" Hiro raised his head as the office door closed behind Kosu and Shigeharu.

"It's all sorted Hiro." Kosu took his skinny face in her hands, running her thumb over his cheek. "We're going to stay here."

"I'd hoped so. The people here are really nice." He beamed up at her, his head tilting slightly to the left. Kosu followed his gaze and caught sight of yet another leaf shinobi. Adorned in the standard dark green flak jacket with a single white sleeve with a red triangular trim over his left upper arm. Her eyes drifted over the tantō strapped to his back before finding his face. A surprisingly kind face, surrounded by a head of shocking silvery grey hair.

"Sakumo-san." Shigeharu tilted his head in greeting as he caught sight of the infamous jonin. Sakumo raised a casual hand in return. It was then that she spied the small origami dog in his other hand. Kosu glanced down at Hiro, surprised that he even remembered how to make them.

"Come on you two." Shigeharu reached out to place a hand on Kosu's shoulder. His hand never made contact with her however. She turned sharply and glared at him and his outstretched hand. With a sad gaze he lowered his hand and turned. Kosu took Hiro's hand and followed after Shigeharu. She glanced back over her shoulder at Sakumo just before she turned the corner.

X

"Just wait here for a moment." Shigeharu said to the two children before walking down the small path to the orphanage. Kosu nodded, extending her arm and pulling Hiro close to her. The pair stood in front of a large apartment complex, four floors high and painted dark green. It was a large rectangular complex with a courtyard in the centre.

"Nakamura-san?" Shigeharu called as he entered the orphanage, briefly glancing out to the court yard to see if she was out tending to the garden there.

"Please, my name is Hiroko." The warm voice Hiroko Nakamura insisted as she entered the reception hall from a side office. Shigeharu smiled in return as he turned to face the short, well-endowed woman.

"Hiroko-san." He amended. "My name is Shigeharu Nara. You should have already received word that you'll be having two children join you?"

"Yes!" She clasped her hands together in front of her chest. "Found in the wild those poor dears and one of them blind." Shaking her head in despair. "I've arranged beds for them-"

"About that," Shigeharu began. "The eldest, Kosuke, is to attend the academy."

"Ahh." Hiroko nodded. The orphanage was a home for all types of children: civilian or ninja. That being said, in the past ninja trained children matured mentally at a faster rate than civilians so it was often better to give academy students a self-contained unit. The orphanage had studio apartments just for that. "We have an apartment available."

"With room for two?" He asked. "I don't think it's wise to separate the siblings." Hiriko nodded.

"I'll start organising it right away. When are they arriving?" She asked.

"Er- They're outside." Shigeharu admitted.

"Ah!" She slapped his shoulder. "Don't leave the poor things on the doorstep. Bring them in." she tutted and turned around busting back into the office in search for a key all the while shouting to one of her assistants to bring the spare clothes and toiletries to reception.

"Oh, Hiroko-san." She paused, key in hand and turned to Shigeharu. "Kosuke isn't fond of physical contact." He warned her. A sad understanding passed over the woman's bright blue eyes.

"Bring them in." Hiroko said. Shigeharu nodded and left the orphanage, returning moments later with two small scruffy children in tow.

The reception was beautiful. Tiles of a lotus pattern decorated the floor and high arched windows let light flood in from the front and from the courtyard. Kosu's head tilted up as she followed the lines around the large room.

"Hello my dears, my name is Hiriko Nakamura, matron here." A warm voice pulled Kosu's attention from the ceiling and to the elderly woman by the dark wooden reception desk.

"This is Hiro and Kosuke." Shigeharu introduced as he motioned to the two children.

"Thank you for taking us in Nakamura-san." Kosu said.

"There isn't a child here who calls me Nakamura-san. I don't expect you two to start the trend. It's Hiriko. Hiriko-san if you must." Hiriko insisted. Kosu nodded slightly whilst Hiro beamed.

"You sound lovely Hiriko." Hiro grinned.

"Thank you dear." She smiled. All heads turned as a teenage girl entered the reception struggling with two cases in her arms.

"Here." Shigeharu darted to her side and helped her with the cases.

"Thank you Akira-chan." Hiriko nodded to the green eyed blonde. "These are our two new residents, Kosuke and Hiro. Boys, this is Akira she used to live here and kindly comes back to help me out."

"Hi boys, you're going to love it here." Akira, bright and chirpy, beamed at them. Hiro raised his hand to wave slightly.

"Shigeharu-san do you mind carrying the cases?" Hiriko asked the chunin.

"Lead the way Hiriko-san." He smiled. Hiriko clapped her hands together, a key still firmly clasped in one weathered hand, and motioned for them to follow her through the complex. As the group made their way through the complex, up a couple of floors Hiriko continued to talk the entire time. She spoke all about Konoha, the other children at the orphanage, the garden outside and the prospects for them growing up.

"Here we are." Hiriko smiled as she opened a black door.

Apartment 2C

Inside was one of the larger apartments consisting of three rooms: a bathroom, a bedroom containing two beds, and a living space consisting of a kitchen unit, a table and chairs and a couch. Kosu looked on in amazement, barely paying attention as she took the key from Hiriko.

"This is for us?" She asked.

"Of course." Hiriko nodded warmly. "And in the cases are some basics: toiletries and clothes and such." Kosu looked to the cases that Shigeharu placed on the floor. This is really all for us?

"I'm afraid I have other duties to attend to." Shigeharu said. "I hope you settle in well and best of luck Kosuke," he looked to the children. "Hiriko-san." He nodded to the women before turning and stepping out of the apartment.

"Bye," Hiriko called after him. She turned back to the siblings. "Now where was I? Oh yes! Now with regards to food all children here receive a monetary allowance that you can either spend yourselves and cook," She pointed to the kitchenette, "or you can give it back to the orphanage and join us with the group meals. There's no need to decide right this second and we'll provide for you for the next few days whilst you get used to it here. Obviously you're welcome to change your mind and any point no matter what you decide. Speaking of money, you will also receive an allowance for clothes that you're welcome to spend and you Kosuke will receive an allowance for any supplies you will need for the academy." Hiriko paused and smiled down at the children. "Do you have any questions."

"Yeah, erm… can I feel your face?" Hiro asked shyly. Hiriko blinked in surprise.

"If he feels your face he knows what you look like." Kosu explained.

"Of course you can my dear." Hiriko bent down and took Hiro's hands, guiding the young boy towards her. Kosu watched as Hiro laid his tiny hands on the woman's face and gently felt across the planes of her face. Across her forehead, down the bridge of her slightly upturned nose, along her plump cheeks and back to her hairline. Hiriko smiled as Hiro's hand found the tight bun her greying hair was tied in and his brow wrinkled in confusion. "My hair is in a bun." She explained. Hiro's frown quickly turned into a smile as he felt and learnt something new.

"Thank you Hiriko." He stepped back.

"Thank you Hiriko-san." Kosu echoed.

"You're welcome dears. I'll leave you to get settled. If you need anything come find me. I live onsite in the apartment just off of the reception." She explained before turning and closing the apartment door.

Kosu exhaled slowly and wrapped her arm around Hiro's shoulders.

"I like it here." Hiro announced.

"… Me too, little brother." She admitted quietly.