Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Ranma ½. I do have a few of my own characters in here though, so I would appreciate it if you asked before using them.

Notes

This was originally done for NanoWrimo in 2007. With this story I made the word count!

Characters form Ranma ½ and Naruto may be out of character

While in the Neko-ken, characters roll their rs (I am not going to spell it that way, since it is to hard to write/read that way)

"Hi" Speaking

'Hi' Thinking

Painful Pasts and New Beginnings

By: Shlandria

Chapter 9

In the Hokage's office, it was chaos. Everyone was trying to talk at once, demanding his attention, it didn't help when the ANBU brought a blood covered, stressed out Ryu, who hissed and growled at everyone, especially those who got too close to him, from the safety of the arms of the older ANBU who had brought him in.

The Hokage glanced at the ANBU holding Ryu, making sure the man had a firm hold on the boy. He then decided to get some semblance of order. "That is enough!" The Hokage said adding a bit of chakra to his voice. That was all it took to gain instant quiet, except Ryu who was still hissing and growling, albeit more quietly, at those who got too close to him.

"That's better, now I would like to know exactly why you are all in my office this evening, especially since some of you are injured. I would also like to know why Ryu is acting the way he is." The Hokage said in an authorative tone of voice.

One of the ANBU stepped forward "Sir, my team and I heard cries of help from some of the villagers, while we were on patrol. They said a crazed boy had attacked them and was currently attacking others, so we went to investigate. When we got there, we met up with two other teams. We saw the boy Ryu fighting a large group of villagers; it looked like they were just defending themselves. We spoke with the other two teams and one of the other teams took over. They told us to get the villagers away from the boy and keep them at least ten feet from him. We were also told to get the ones who needed immediate medical attention to the hospital, and to bring the rest here."

"He speaks the truth Hokage sama. The ANBU holding Ryu said. "My team and I had just gotten back from a mission, and had met up with another team on the way. On our way to check in, we heard the sounds of a battle, so we went to check it out. Though it seemed like Ryu here was attacking the villagers, he was only interested in those within five to ten feet of him, he was not chasing after them, and he was not moving far from his spot, it was as if he was protecting something or someone. My team took over, since we know him. We were not sure exactly what happened, and so we had the villagers brought here, hoping to get to the bottom of things." He said.

"That boy attacked us, Hokage sama we were only defending ourselves!" One villager said, cries of agreement coming from the others. "Alright, that is enough." The Hokage said to the villagers. "You said it looked like Ryu was protecting someone or something, did you see what or who he was protecting?" The Hokage asked the ANBU member. "No Hokage sama, there was nothing there and we saw no one else nearby." The ANBU member replied.

"When did the fight start?" The Hokage asked. "It had to have been not long after it started getting dark Hokage sama. We weren't too far away when some of the villagers came and got us." The first ANBU member said. "Did any of you see the young Uzumaki while all of this was going on?" The Hokage asked all of the ANBU members. They all gave him a negative answer. Hearing this he sent another ANBU team to find Naruto, he then had Ryu brought to him.

"Ryu, I know you can understand me. I need you to tell me exactly what happened once you and Naruto left my office this evening." The Hokage said in a calm and clear voice. Ryu was still very tense, however he had calmed down to the point where he could talk again. "Jiji, they tried to hurt him, he is my otouto. I will not let them hurt him." Ryu growled out. "Tell me what happened Ryu, you left my office, and then what did you do?" The Hokage asked patently.

"We left your office, and then we headed to otouto's apartment to get his stuff." Ryu said baring his fangs. "Did you make it to Naruto's apartment?" The Hokage asked. "No jiji, they attacked us. They wanted to hurt him." Ryu said. "Ryu what happened to Naruto? Where is he?" The Hokage asked. "I was protecting him. I told him to run. They wanted to follow him but I wouldn't let them." Ryu growled out trembling slightly in anger at the villagers. "Do you know where he is now Ryu?" The Hokage asked. "No jiji, but I can find him." Ryu replied.

The villagers were not happy with the way things were going, however they didn't want to anger the Hokage. Those who were willing to protest had the ANBU to worry about, every time they would try, they would find several kunai and swords aimed at their throats.

"Ryu, I want you to find Naruto and bring him here." The Hokage said to Ryu. "I want you and your team to go with him, Naruto is to be found and brought here immediately." The Hokage said to the ANBU that had been holding Ryu. Upon hearing this, Ryu and a team of ANBU left to find Naruto.

"Let's start by going to where you were fighting." The leader of the ANBU team said to Ryu. "We can try to pick up a trail from there." He said, Ryu just nodded his head in an affirmative and followed him, the rest of the ANBU behind him.