Okay, new chapter. Just to let you guys know, I've put up a poll on romance. It won't be the only thing that decides it, but it'll probably be it.
And everyone on the poll will get their own chappie, so be patient my lovelies
*cackles*
Okay, going
Konan and Nagato-holding the whining Chibi in his arms- crouch behind the rocks, watching as Yahiko carefully approached the four ninja, who were eating-something.
Konan's stomach rumbled a bit, but she kept it to herself. Food was the second thing on their list
Being trained to end the violence was the first.
"Can I have some food?" Yahiko said, when the white haired man asked him what he wanted, looking confused.
"Where are your parents?" The white haired man asked again.
The dark haired girl-a lot taller now, out of the pouring rain, was sitting cross legged on the ground, biting into a bar.
She looked at him for a second, before recognition dawned.
"Ohhh, you're that kid." She said with a faint laugh.
The ninjas- dubbed the Sannin now, Konan recalled- looked at her sharply.
"You know him, Machiko?" The blond haired woman asked her.
She nodded, digging into her pack and withdrawing three bars. She looked thoughtfully for a second, and with a murmur, she got out a fourth.
Right, the dog.
"Your friends can come out." She said, offering Yahiko the bars.
He watched her suspiciously for a second, then quietly called.
"It's okay, guys."
Konan and Nagato nervously stepped out from behind the rocks, Nagato holding Chibi tighter.
The blond woman sucked in a small breath of air.
"They're all children." She breathed.
The dark haired girl, got up, reaching out her hand and dropping the bars into his palm.
She gave a light smile, waving her hand.
"I'm Machiko, this is Jiraya-sensei, Tsunade-hime, and Orochimaru-sama." She introduced.
Yahiko frowned.
"..I'm Yahiko." He catiously said. "This is Konan, and this is Nagato."
Konan gave a small wave, and Nagato slowly set Chibi on the ground and nodded nervously.
Chibi made his way towards Machiko, ignoring Yahiko yell.
The dark haired girl crouched down and offered her hand towards Chibi, who sniffed it. Machiko pet the small dog, smiling a bit.
"Awww." She cooed, rubbing the fur along his back.
"Machiko." Tsunade said. "We need to go." The three others had packed their bags.
With a last pat, Machiko got to her feet, smiling at them.
"See you around." She said, and turned and joined the three.
The white haired Jiraya hesintated a bit, before finally turning and tossing some crackers to Konan, who caught them in surprise.
With that, the four left.
The four devoured the bars and crackers.
Konan looked thoughtfully at the wrappers, and shrugging, began folding them into an elaborate flower.
"Now what?" Nagato asked, his mouth half full from the rations.
Yahiko got to his feet, his eyes determined.
"Let's follow them!"
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
"We already gave you food, what do you want?" The blond woman asked, turning and glaring at them.
"You guys are Leaf ninja, right? Teach us ninjutsu, please!" Yahiko requested, the two others standing behind him.
Jiraya looked at them with surprise, while Machiko turned fully to face them.
Hopng to appease them, Konan held out the flower.
"Thank you." She said, holding out the paper. "This is for you."
Machiko gave a wide smile.
"That's really pretty! I'm terrible at oragami, can't even make a flower."
Orochimaru-the man with the yellow eyes and purple paint, spoke up.
"Why don't we just kill them and be done with it."
"W-what!" Yahiko shouted, backing away from him and dragging Konan.
"They only have pain and suffuring waiting for them. It'd be more mercifal to kill them now."
"Are you off your godammed rocker, Orochimaru?!" Jiraya said angrily
"One, no way in hell, and two, it's sad, but this probably is you trying to be nice, and that worries me" Machiko declared.
"You know, Machiko, Tsunade, Orochimaru. You guys go back to Konoha. I'll take care of them until they can do it themselves.
"What!?" Tsunade said angrily.
Machiko crossed her arms. "I'm not leaving, Jiraya-sensei." She said.
He glared. "Just go with Tsunade."
Tsunade glared. "I'm not leaving you behind in the middle of a war, stupid!"
"Just until they can fend for themselves." Jiraya reassured
Machiko's anger evaporated. "Then can I help you find a place to stay?" She asked
Jiraya shrugged.
"Fine."
They managed to get to a small house.
Machiko catiously opened the door.
It was in pretty good condition for an old house. There were only a few leaks, there was a sink, and it was right next to a pond.
"Well." Machiko said, dropping her bag on the floor. "I guess we can make it work."
"We?"
"Sensei, I'm not leaving you."
"You just said that you would help find a place."
"Sensei why would you trust me?"
Jiraya glared at her.
Machiko glared back.
"Before you say it, I told Tsunade and Orochimaru I would be staying, and they agreed because they figured you can't take care of yourself, much less three children and a dog."
"What about your family?" Jiraya challenged.
Machiko shrugged. "They all still have a few years left in their shifts. I'm sure they'll understand."
"What if I stay for longer then three years?"
She shrugged. "Then these children have terrible survival instincts."
Jiraya groaned. "Fine. You win."
"Always do, sensei."
With five people working, getting the house into livable condition was easy. Konan and Machiko set up dividers and plugged the ceiling, Nagato and Yahiko bailed out the water, and Jiraya fixed the sinks.
"Yahiko, come with me to fish." Jiraya announced "Machiko, show Nagato and Konan how to cook and put up some protective barriers." He handed her a sheaf of paper.
Machiko nodded. "Yes sensei."
Yahiko and Jiraya pulled on coats and went out in the pouring rain, while Machiko pulled rusty old pots and pans out. She wrinkled her nose. "Ew. Okay, first I'll show you how to clean pots."
By the time the pots were gleaming, Konan's arms were sore. Machiko had finished the rest of the pots, and was going around the outside of the house putting the seals up.
Jiraya and Yahiko walked in, the latter beaming with pride as he held a huge fish up.
Machiko pushed past him, grabbing the fish.
"Stay back, this time it's my turn."She said dramatically, waving her hand with a flourish.
She showed everyone how to grill a fish, how to salt it, and how to prepare it properly.
"I used the fishing technique you taught me!" Yahiko said eagerly to Jiraya, who grinned.
"You can even cook a fish with a fire technique!" He added.
Machiko cut in. "Why would you do that? Grilling is so much easier- and it tastes better."
As the two cheerfully talked, Konan turned to Nagato, and was surprised to see he was crying.
Yahiko had noticed it too. "Eh, what's the matter Nagato?"
Nagato sniffled. "It just reminds me of my family, and…"
"Quit crying! Everyone will think the Hidden Rain country is full of wusses!" Yahiko shouted.
"Yahiko!" Konan snapped.
Machiko put down her chopsticks and rubbed her eyes. "Boys." She muttured.
By the time they were done, it was already dark. Konan, Nagato and Yahiko rolled out their futons, when Machiko grabbed her arm.
"Why are you sleeping there?" She asked with a puzzled frown. Konan shrugged.
"Come on." Machiko said, pulling her arm to a small, curtained off section of the house, in the corner. There was already a futon neatly laid on the ground, and Konan catiously rolled out her futon as well.
Machiko was digging through her bag.
"Hmmmm, I really have to get Kushina to label these seals better" She mumbled to herself.
She grinned in triumph when she unvieled a short, simple kimono.
"Here, this was too big for me, but I think you could fit it." She said, thrusting the kimono at her.
"Why did you bring a kimono that was too big for you?"
She blinked.
"No clue." She confessed. But a grin split her face.
"But at least you'll look nice in it!"
Machiko was a constant in Jiraya's lessons on survival. She was right there when they were fishing, she was hammering the fence as they learned how to build. She was a bright constant, always singing and humming, petting Chibi, telling jokes and seeming to have a good time.
She barely seemed like the quiet girl who had saved their dog.
At least until the Hidden Rock chunin came.
The four had been out walking, when a man had appeared.
Machiko had instinctibaly pulled Konan back, dropping into a crouch. The man sneered at her.
"Hand over any valuables you have, and I might let you go."
"Konan." Machiko muttured lowly. "On the count of three, run."
"B-but, you and Nagato and Yahiko."
"I'll be fine. One."
"Two." Machiko continued, narrowing her eyes at the shinobi.
"Three!" Machiko shouted, and Konan raced away, glancing over her shoulder once to see Machiko lunging at him, and their kunai flashing.
They raced across the rain soaked landscape, intent on getting Jiraya.
She felt fear squeezing her heart, leaving her unable to breathe.
Please be safe, Yahiko, Nagato, Machiko.
Konan raced up to the shealter, slamming open the door.
The white haired man looked up at her in surprise, from his comfortable spot on the floor where he was petting the sleeping Chibi.
"Jiraya-sensei." She gasped. "A shinobi-Machiko fighting him."
Jiraya shot up, and raced past Konan.
"Wait!" She cried after him.
"Don't follow me, boil water and get some bandages!"
Terrified, but knowing she couldn't do anything, she lugged a pot and set it to boil.
She was setting out the bandages when Jiraya burst in, Machiko on his back.
"Sensei, I'm okay." Machiko said dizzily.
"Just don't move." Jiraya snapped, putting her on the table.
Konan's hand flew to her mouth when she saw Machiko. Her face was beat up and scratched, and she had a bruise blosseming on her cheek.
"Can you do something?" Jiraya asked sharply.
Konan nodded, taking a deep breath. She grabbed a jar of salve and some bandages and raced towards her.
"Stupid brat. Chakra exhaustion and badly beat up." Jiraya said lowly. "The guy didn't seem that powerful, you could have killed him."
Konan's hands stiffened, but she continued wrapping up Machiko's wounds.
"I didn't want to kill him." Machiko murmured. "I just tried to do a genjutsu so he forgot he met us." She gave as shaky laugh. "Turns out I suck at genjutsu."
"With that beating you gave him, he'll remember." Jiraya said, smiling a little more.
She laughed again.
"Are you okay?" Nagato asked in concern.
"Did you beat up that asshole real good?" Yahiko asked.
She nodded.
"He will never forget it." She deadpanned.
Konan stepped back, satisfied she had done all she could do.
Machiko looked at her heavily bandaged arms. "I look like a mummy." She chuckled.
Her eyes sharpened, and she glanced at Jiraya.
She raised her hand, wincing a bit as she did so
She rapidly signed something to Jiraya, who blinked.
Konan remembered something about how Konoha had a sign language, but she was curious on what had caused her to be secretive.
"How about you guys go outside and get some food, Machiko will need it." Jiraya ordered. Konan, Yahiko and Nagato nodded.
Jiraya paused. "Actually, Nagato, you stay."
"What?" Nagato said catiously.
"Hey, what's going on?" Yahiko said angrily.
"It doesn't matter."
"No, you say it in front of us or none of us." Yahiko said boldly.
"It's okay, Sensei." Machiko said quietly.
Jiraya nodded reluctently, and beckoned Nagato forward.
"Let me see your eyes." He requested.
Nagato hesintated, then lifted his long red bangs off his face.
Machiko's eyes widened a bit, and Jiraya sucked in a sharp breath of air.
Konan blinked.
"Nagato, your eyes are like, purple." Yahiko said in surprise.
Konan turned to Jiraya. "What important about that?"
Jiraya exhaled slowly, but smiled ever so slightly.
"It means I'm going to teach you ninjutsu."
Yahiko whooped.
Machiko was a constant in the life, and honestly, Konan was glad she was still here.
Having two boys (three if you count Jiraya) and a dog wasn't the best of conversation partners.
Okay, last is Yahiko, and then we go back to Konoha, first Mito, then Fugaku, Sakumo, Hiruzen, Then we get to the more beloved and well known characters, which are Obito, Kakashi, Rin, Asuma, Kurenai, Raidō Namiashi Might Guy, Ebisu, Genma, Yuago, and then epilouge!
*checks the number*
Dang, but then it won't end on an even number, so you know what, I'll just have a bunch of omakes, like what did Machiko change, like her during Kushina's birth (I mean besides freaking out) and surprise! I'm going to do something starring Mikoto and Kushina! So that'll be four more, then the epilouge
So, about 20 more chapters to go, about one third done, cool? It'll last a while, don't worry, school's starting and I can't knock these out as fast anymore
So read, review and check out my poll!