Disclaimer: Naruto characters belong by all means to Masashi Kishimoto, I only claim that lazy OC of mine.

A/N: Hello! I just wanted to clarify that the time period from now on is a year after Naruto and Sasuke left the village to train, hope you guys enjoy!

Chapter I

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending."

Maria Robinson

さあ変えよう

There once was a tale that traveled even through the smallest villages in the country. It was said there was a place hidden by leaves, where the sun shined ever so warmly and even through the coldest days, it almost stubbornly beamed proudly. Laughter and safety were almost a given if you had the luck to live there and of course, it seemed to be utopian, unmarred, a place where anyone could find easily find happiness.

"Boom"

Red eyes narrowed ever so slightly over the sound of angry thunders.

However, no matter how much they glorified the stories, it was nothing more than a mere man-made ideology, while there were certainly some points that she could acknowledge, the story alluded to the well-known Land of fire, which sure, she could admit had a many positive aspects, like for example it's one of the largest, influential and wealthiest countries in all of the elemental nations, and was home to none other than the village of the tales, the leaf village.

In that utopian almost dream-like place, the one person who held the utmost power was none other than the prestigious Daimyō, a dignified lord who by no means shall ever be defied.

they made sure she knew that well...

Her thoughts, although completely pointless, were her only means of distraction, were once again was disturbed by rumbling thunders. Her attention shifted back to reality. Lazily eyeing her humble new apartment, which consisted of a small living room, her bedroom, and a bathroom. Everything in it was painfully empty and colorless, not that she minds.

Suddenly the peaceful silence was abruptly disrupted by a sudden knock on her door. Brows furrowed almost immediately after she processed the noise. Her confusion was clear as day, no one had any business with her in Konoha. She moved in less than a week ago, unless maybe...

She shook her head, disposing of all pointless thoughts, she was safe, she was in Konoha now. Although she kept reassuring herself over and over again, her traitorous legs didn't make a single movement to alert her presence, hoping the person would simply give up and go away.

However, much to her dismay, whoever knocked had time to spare, because minutes after with admirable persistence, they knocked again, and again and guess what? again. Annoyed by the tenacity of whoever was so focused on she cussed in an inaudibly mumble and decided simply get it over with.

Slowly she walked to the door to meet the insolent intruder. Not even halfway through with opening the door, it already came to her attention that the intruder was a male, one that she sure as hell had no business with. The second thing she could process was simple, he was hot, but let's not focus on that for the time being.

The man stared back blankly, silently waiting for her to acknowledge his presence, in other words, he wanted her to make the first move, not showing even the minimal intention to declare his purpose, which ticked her beyond words, that imprudent little shit.

Since none of them seemed to be taking the lead, she took her time to check him out- no uh, to inspect the intruder. He had unusual silver hair, with a weird hairstyle that seemed to defy gravity itself, after that all she could see was his lone dark grey eye, the rest of his was covered by a mask, which she regarded as... weird, but she wasn't one to judge on others fashion tendencies. Nonetheless, what really did poke her attention was his forehead protector, which was undeniable stated that dude was a ninja.

Now, the question was what the hell did he want from her.

She couldn't read his expression but she understood he must be waiting for some sort of response, which finally she conceded by raising a single eyebrow.

Visibly pleased by the response he stood if just a little straighter than before. Not knowing why she suddenly felt uncomfortable as he seemed to get serious. His grey eye burned her own for what seemed an eternity and in her head, she was regretting she ever opened the door. She broke in cold sweat went he moved forward, before giving her a warm, cheerful smile, that reached his only eye.

What?

She blinked once, then twice.

Confused and her brain barely processing what the fuck just happened, while inwardly scolding herself for being unable to hide for a second how he caught her off guard.

She thought she heard a small laugh, instinctively making her snap her head towards him again with a glare.

"Good evening," He suddenly spoke, no trace of the smile he had in his face, and for a second she wondered if she only imagined it "I heard about a new neighbor moving in the same floor so I couldn't wait to give my greetings as soon as possible," He explained apologetically.

Oh, well fuck... sure, that made sense, and she felt like the dumbest bitch ever, when she considered the fact that there were only two apartments per floor, of course, it was only natural, there was no way it was them.

Letting out a relieved sigh she didn't even know she was holding, her guard relaxed if ever so slightly and she forced the fakest smile before nodding towards him

"I see... nice to meet you" she answered politely. "Thanks for taking the time to greet me," she said smoothly, her eyes never leaving his.

He responded with another eye smile.

The room ventured back to the unnerving silence, with the occasional thunders as the only background noise.

"Well, I'd hate to disturb any further," he said, after what seemed like ages, in her head she happily conceded,

just leave and never come back hot stuff, she thought

"If you need anything, you know where I live." He said amusement in his eye, she cringed slightly, she sure as hell wouldn't be going there.

"Thank you, how kind of you," she said, her expression hopefully not betraying her by showing her inner "But I'd hate to disturb" She finished, hoping he took a hint.

The last thing she wanted was to openly associate with Konoha shinobi, and this man smelled like trouble through and through.

The sound of the rain went through their corridor, and at that moment she wholehearted wondered if he'd get mad if she shut the door in his face. The man seemingly unbothered as he was, disregarded the fact that she was visibly uncomfortable with him, and instead, took his sweet time to stare at her.

She had an aloof aura that strangely reminded her of his own, not to mention the fact that she certainly wasn't ugly. She had a round face which sides were covered by her light brown hair, which somehow went well with her pale skin. But what seemed to attract him the most were her eyes. She had striking scarlet eyes that made blood pale in comparison. Both eyes had a glint he'd seen before, confirming his suspicion a small smirk formed in his lips.

"Well, it's been a pleasure meeting you today" she pressed, incredibly irked by him now, he almost snorted but contained it skillfully.

He composed himself, smirk still in his masked face, once again looked at her in the eyes "The pleasure's been mine" he said, amused face suddenly remembering something. "Silly me, I almost forgot to introduce myself, The name is Kakashi Hatake," he said expectantly,

She seemed to consider something for a split second before slightly shaking her head and smiling towards him "It was very nice meeting you Hatake-san" with that she bowed politely before closing the door.

jeez, talk about cold, thought Kakashi before venturing back to his apartment humming a little random tune, smile never leaving his face.

A/N

Hellooo! greetings readers (if there's any), I wanna start by thanking anyone who read the first chapter of empress dismay, my first language is not English but I'll promise to try my best, please feel free to correct me anytime!

Anyway, the first chapter! so many mysteries, things will slowly start making sense while the story progress, so, please hang with me, see you soon in chapter 2