Chapter 5

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The sleeping situation was a little awkward. Naruto was more than willing to let me stay with him, but I couldn't do that! Besides, after this time I'm more comfortable sleeping in the trees anyway. I slept in the tree we ate ramen in that night, and I slept peacefully. It was the most beautiful feeling in the world. I awoke to the sunlight gently kissing my face. Before heading off to Naruto's for breakfast and to get cleaned up, I went into the village and grabbed a few personal items for myself.

After eating breakfast I stepped into his bathroom to clean myself up. I scrubbed my skin and my hair. After putting on the new clothes I snagged myself, I felt like a whole new person. The image in the mirror shocked me. Peering into the glass I saw a girl I didn't recognize. Her long red hair fell softly three inches below her collarbones. She had a cream coloured complexion with a gentle trail of freckles across the bridge of her nose. Her green eyes were sparkling and wide with surprise. She wasn't tall or rail thin, she was just under 5'3 and had soft curves. She wore a white shirt that allowed her belly button to be visible, and blue pants.

I touched my hand to the mirror and she did the same. I smiled, and her answering smile was beautiful to me. "Hello, Stranger," I whisper to her.

Beginning to feel vain and silly I stepped out of the bathroom. I feel ready and fresh. What a strange, but welcome, feeling.

Naruto must have noticed a change in me because when I am within his sights he seems speechless. His big blue eyes take in my sparkling clean appearance while at the same time trying to be subtle about it. "Jeez, Red…wow." He manages at last.

Feeling my cheeks growing hot, I look at my toes and change the topic rapidly. "I thought you said today you had some people for me to meet."

He grins, "Yeah, I will. But first I want you to do something," He stands and stretches. "We can talk about it while we walk there," he holds out a hand for me. "Don't worry, I'll keep you safe from any monsters we meet on the way."

I take his hand a laugh, "Whose afraid of the big bad fox? Not I!" He laughs along with me.

We started walking to the opposite side of the town, he keeps his hands in his pockets and watches me as I am thrilled and amazed at everything we encounter. He suddenly bursts, "I want you to try and read my mind again."

The statement shocks me to a dead stop. "Why would you want that?" I look at him like he's crazy.

He shrugs his shoulders "You never know, you might need to be able to recognize my mind in case I'm in trouble. Or maybe you're in trouble and you put a command in my brain, how am I supposed to know that's you unless you practice it?" He can see that I am still very unconvinced. "And I'm deadly curious." He smiles sheepishly.

It's only right that I warn him. "Naruto, you don't understand how this…thing I can do works. If I get especially used to hearing someone's mind, sometimes I can hear it when I don't mean to. I don't need to focus, or seal, or anything! It just randomly happens." I glance at his face, ready to gage his reaction at that piece of information.

He seems even more curious than afraid. Doesn't he understand?

"I've already heard your mind twice," I try to explain, "I don't know how often, or how long I have to listen to someone for them before it becomes too easy to do. Some people are easier than others, I guess. Maybe I'm more attuned to some people"

He keeps up a steady pace, "I feel another story coming on." He says excitedly.

I grin and launch into my story without preamble. "While I was staying at Diablo's…facility, I met a girl. Her name was Kia, and she was known as the great trickster. She was always planning or pulling nasty pranks on people. Through some miracle, or maybe some of her magic, she befriended me. We hung out a lot, and fought a lot of battles together. She suggested that I use my…ability… to tap into her mind while we fought. She wanted me to use it so that I could cover her back, or back her up properly. Of course she didn't know exactly how powerful my powers were. I never trusted her that much. It's probably because she was the great trickster, because eventually I agreed. It was a great strategy at the time. However, I became very used to hearing her and eventually could do it without trying. I never told her that either, that I would randomly hear though or two. One day, we were sitting quietly under a tree and without meaning to I could hear her planning my murder. She was meeting with Diablo later to try and get his permission to kill me. She was jealous because I was quickly becoming a favorite of his. She was going through ways to try and trick him into agreeing, and ways to try and trick me into killing myself if he didn't." I sigh, "I was so angry. I let her feel me quietly there in her mind, let her know that I heard it all. Then, she was terrified. I commanded her brain to flood with pain, and it did. She screamed; and screamed; and screamed, until she begged me for death. She thanked be as she bled out…" I let my voice trail off and bow my head. My heart pains for the friend I thought I had had. My eyes well up.

In a flash, Naruto's arms shoot around me and draw me close to his chest. "Akako… you know what I promised you. I want you to do it! You'll see you can really trust me if you do. It'll prove me to you. Maybe it can even help me, you might be able to hear the fox separately from myself."

I couldn't deny the hope building in his voice. "Okay, Naruto. You win, let's go somewhere quiet so I can concentrate."

We may our way to our destination. An abandoned spot that looks like it is used for training. We sit in a grassy spot. I take a deep breath, "Don't look," I order sternly. He obediently covers his eyes. I complete my seals and feel my hearing stretch out. I zero in on Naruto. His mind opens up very quickly, is that a sign of my skill? Or am I getting too used to hearing him? I'm not sure. I shake off such thoughts and concentrate. The animalistic edge still frightens me a little but this time I am ready and expecting it. I realize quickly it's an involuntary shield. The fox is trying to protect his mind. When I try to listen deeper, an angry growl is all I hear. Let me in, I coax it. Slowly, slowly his mind becomes crystal clear. Naruto is trying to decide what colour my hair truly is.

"Red," I mummer.

His mind shows a moment of confusion followed by amusement. We spend some time going back and forth, him asking me questions in his mind and I answer them out loud.

"There's two guys coming to meet us here soon, I don't want you to attack them by accident, okay?"

Before I can agree I hear footsteps approaching. Glancing over Naruto's shoulder I see a boy enter. He's our age, wearing dark clothes, dark hair, and dark eyes. While he is approaching, he assess me with those dark eyes, and quickly dismisses me. It pisses me off, he's obviously used to receiving and rejecting a lot of female attention. His blatant disrespect would earn him instant death where I came from. He stops behind Naruto, "Who are you?" He demands at me.

I instantly dislike him and his snotty attitude. "None of your fucking business." I reply sweetly smiling widely.

For a second he is surprised that I dare answer him in such a manner. His eyes turn cold as he says, "Well whoever you are you need to leave now. We're here to train with our Sensei and complete real ninja tasks. So run along, this loser," he spares a glance at Naruto, "will come find you when we're finished and then you two can play pretend."

Naruto jumps up and gets into his face, "Hey! Who are you calling a loser?"

I stand calmly, brushing dirt off my pants and make it look like I am walking away, however, without warning my hand rockets out in a fist and catches him in the face. The impact is so strong it sends him flying back.

I smile confidently and cross my arms until he springs back up on his feet. He looks beyond angry. His eyes! What's happened to them? They're all red! I step back in confusion as he launches himself at me with a roar.

Before I can raise my hands to defend myself a blur knocks me back on my ass. I look up, it's Naruto! But something's wrong with him too. He and the dark boy have clasped hands and are pushing against each other snarling. Naruto's nose has a strange crinkle, his nails have extended into claws and his eyes have changed too. It is only then I realise that the fox is taking over, and that thought springs me into action.

I jump to my feet and complete my seals, the dark boy doesn't even noticed I've stood back up. I used his distraction to gain access into his mind. It does shock me to find out how real his hate is for Naruto in this moment. I send a command for him to calm down, relax and stop doing that eye thing…sharingan? I also learn his name is Saskue from my quick peek in his mind. He reacts almost immediately to my command. Without hesitation I make the quick jump into Naruto's mind. The fox is in full force but it is not directed at me, it's too focused on the battle in front of it. I slip around it and use the same command. This time he offers a little resistance, but with a little extra force he complies and I feel the fox retreating.

I open my eyes. Both boys are on their butts on the ground staring up at me. Saskue looks at me with disbelief and slight interest. Naruto is grinning and proud.

In the trees we hear someone clapping.