Author Note: Okay I was ALMOST late. But here it is! This is only the first part, I wasn't able to finish the whole thing in a week. *Sigh* I'll have the second part next week. It might have to be three parts, but hopefully only two. Not much to add, couldn't resist the urge to use Arabian Nights song. Okay, so this is NOT going to be a romance fiction, or at least, that is NOT the center of this fic. It'll look that way for a while, but I promise I'll get out of that as soon as I can. Just have to get all that fangirl out of my system. Reviews are wanted, if I get 10 reviews by "Chapter 5" you'll get something special.

Arc One: The Legacy of the Beginning

Episode Two: Courage of the Storms

Disclaimer: In no way, shape or form do I own Naruto. However, I do own Hakari, Kana, and the stupid perverted boy. I'd tell you the name but that would be a spoiler, not a big one but still a spoiler.

A blue tipped bird soared over a city. It was a strange city with sand in the streets from the desert beyond its gates. The buildings were the same color as the sand, and the blue bird was the only color in sight. Upon further notice, the buildings were made of sand, too. Even the inhabitants that roamed the street at this cool hour wore drab colored clothes. No tree or nest offered itself up to be the birds resting point. Finally finding a tall fig-tree by a rather large house the bird settled into the decaying leaves and branches and rested.

A strange noise was coming from the window closest to its perch. The bird raised its head and fluttered onto the window seal, the window was closed to keep the night air out and had yet to be opened.

Inside the window was a young girl's room. The room was mess with scattered clothing, shoes, and jewelry other various furniture. A happy squeak came from the bird's throat; if he could get inside he could make a very good nest out of those articles of clothing. The inhabitant of the room was asleep in her nest. It was a strange nest to the bird, raised off the ground with a wooden log next to it with light and noise sitting on it. The noise must have been a chirper. Humans seemed to like the noise of it, but it bothered this bird.

"Oh I come from a land, from a faraway place, where they'll cut of your ear if they don't like your face. It's barbaric, but hey, it's home," The words of the chirper were lost on the bird. He tweeted again, on key with the beautiful music; it was kind of pretty even if it wasn't coming from a pretty female bird. The song went on but the bird lost interest and flew back to its tree. It was preening itself when suddenly, "BEEP BEEP!" he squawked and flew off as fast as his wing would go.

Inside the child's room she too was screaming, "AHHHH!" she screamed shooting up. She calmed down immediately, and smoothed her disheveled hair, panting from the adeline that had just shot through her body. Her strange purple eyes turned to the alarm clock with an ironic analyzing look. She picked it up, it was a pink piece of plastic, with flashing red lights telling her it was time to get the move on, on top of it was an women in a dancing position in traditional, yet if Hakari wore that out her grandfather would die several times over, dancing outfit. The child turned it over so she saw the bottom of the hunk of evil, blaring plastic. On the bottom was a label that read 'wakes you up soothingly'.

"Soothingly, my ass," was her response as she hurled the offending thing across her room. The power cord was ripped out of the wall and the noise died instantly.
"HAKARI!" came a powerful male's voice from below the floors of her room, "DON'T MAKE ME COME UP THERE!"

"I'm up!" was her shrill, and loud response. With a jerking motion she ripped the covers off her body and threw her legs over the side of her bed, and the slowly, like it hurt, she stood up. She stretched her arms out as far as they would go and rolled her head back. A yawn escaped her lips, "I have got," she said, talking to herself, "to get a new alarm clock."

She padded across the floor of her room to a mirror that stood next to her dresser and plushie chair. Peering into the mirror she examined the damage.

What looked back at her was a sun-tanned, heart-shaped face. Average-shaped mauve eyes roamed her reflection. Her lips were a light pink, they were not perfectly shaped but they had no blemishes. Hakari's nose was button-like, and she guessed it could be considered adorable, not that as a kunoichi she wanted to be adorable. Her general body was petite. She was only 4'6" and was thirteen years old. Despite her small size she was well toned for her age-group. No scars blemished her skin, though that was generally considered a good thing, as a soon-to-be ninja she would like to have some proof of her experience. (Regardless of the fact that such a young girl barely had any.)

Pulling away from her reflection she kicked off her panda-slippers and tugged off her thick sweat-pants and candy themed top. Lying on her ornate green chair, it belonged to her grandma years ago (and her great grandmothers before, and so on), were her clothing articles.

A pastel pink under-dress with a chocolate-colored over dress, a pink and brown hat, and chunky brown boots with pink stockings, it might not be the most ninja outfit, but Hakari could move surprisingly well in it. Before she donned her hat she flat-ironed her curly locks forcefully, "Back you demon curls!" she yelled as she methodically ironed her bangs and signature blonde locks.
She stuffed her hat on her face and looked at her reflection, most of her hair was shoved behind her shoulders only two locks hung over her shoulders. Frowning Hakari tried to push back her bangs but they refused to stay out of her eyes. They had been shortened through the years so they no longer got in her eyes; she still had the pointy lock hanging over her nose.

"HAKARI!" This time it was a women's voice. Hakari dashed out of her room and hopped down the stairs.

On entering the kitchen which was the room that the stairs emptied into, Hakari had a plum hurled at her head. Hakari caught it easily and looked at her mom, "Perfect aim as usual, mom," she remarked sitting down at her spot at the low table.

"Your reflexes are improving," was her mother's only remark from her position at the stove. Hakari's brother was struggling not to laugh as he ate his breakfast soup. A nectarine to the back of the head, and a faceplant into soup shut him up.

"Don't forget, dad had to pour water on your head to get you up in the morning!" Their mother exclaimed, glaring at him, "Hakari is still light-years ahead of you!"

Hakari giggled and passed her brother a small, white napkin. He cleaned his face, "Yes, Hakari-chan is perfect," he grumbled and laughed.

"It wasn't fair," Hakari whispered to him, a smile on her face, "You're back was turned."

"I HEARD THAT HAKARI!"

"Got to go!" Hakari said springing up and ran out into the courtyard, taking her captured plum with her. A frying pan sat in her seat now. Hakari laughed cockily as she entered the building on the other side of the courtyard.

The building she entered was her father's butcher shop. Her father was about to open shop, just finishing up some meat. Hakari nodded her head to him, he frowned at her thoughtfully,

"Don't be late getting home," he said in his gruff voice, "I'll need you home later."

Hakari nodded her head and dashed out the door, taking a bite out of her plum. She trotted down the paved road her eyes roaming the sides of the roads. Street carts were opening up that sold many different things. Grinning she paused at one that sold food.

The lady who ran it was a dumpling-shaped women with graying raven colored, and styled, hair. She had lines around her mouth from smiling so often. Her clothing were more colorful then most of the people of the place, and she was already starting to sweat.

"You really should get an inside shop," Hakari giggled, "You're already sweating, it's not that hot."

The women startled turned to face the younger girl, "Oh Hakari! It's you." she smiled sweetly, then sighed, "Yeah, you're right, though this is not my home-land," she rubbed some sweat from her brow.

"Wearing white and muted colors help," Hakari giggled, the women swatted playfully at her head. "Where that drab? No way!" she exclaimed, "So what will you have?"

"Have any Anpan?" Hakari asked licking her lips looking through the glass at the fresh food already prepared.

The women laughed and fetched her one, "Made just for you." She said winking at Hakari, who giggled in response taking it.

Hakari began to dig through her pouch where she stored a few ryu for snacks and treats, but the women shook her head, "You've been such a help to me I couldn't ask any money from you. And it's good luck for the rest of the day!" The women smiled cheerily at her.

Hakari rolled her eyes, luck being a recurring topic. She bowed to her, "Thank you Etsu-san," and departed waving; the women waved as well until Hakari rounded a corner and disappeared from sight.

Hakari veered slightly off track and knocked at the door of a rather old house, chewing on her sweet-roll. A girl with rusty brown eyes, almost looking red in the sunlight, and light, purple hair opened the door.

"Hey Kana!" Hakari chirped.

"Don't talk with your mouth open," the girl scolded, walking out. She wore a rusty red shirt that was cut in many places and tan shorts that came down to her knees.

"Never a hello with you," Hakari pouted as the two walked on, it was still several minutes till they reached the school.

"RACE YOU TO CLASS!" Hakari suddenly announced, and then quickly took off.

"Hey! No fair!" Kana called after, taking off as well. Hakari had the lead, and the two seemed to run at the same speed. Kana caught up as much as she could and was a few paces behind her. The two ran through the halls, most of the students had gone into their classes already. Hakari flung open the door and was then thrown forward on top of a desk by an over eager Kana. Dazed Hakari rubbed her eyes and found herself face-to-face with a red-haired youth.

"Gaara-kun!" she yelped, turning a strange shade of red. Gaara appeared to raise an eyebrow, which was hard since he had none.

"Hakari…" he said in an awkward greeting, Hakari scrambled off the table and giggled.

"Kana and I were racing," she explained scratching the back of her head.

"We heard, the whole school heard..."

"Heh… so how are you?"

"Annoyed…"

"Oh… that sucks…"

"Eh…"

Hakari was still rubbing the back of her head when suddenly she found herself again face planted against Gaara's table. Gaara looked up startled to find his sister glomped to the back of Hakari. "Good Morning Hakai-chan!' she yelled in Hakari's ear. Hakari spasmed slightly, "Hey Temari…" she managed to choke out. Temari hopped off of her and Hakari got up, again. Her forehead was bright red, and she was obviously seeing stars. Gaara let out a low growl and Temari fled.

"Don't worry about it Gaara-kun. I'm used to having my head smashed into things…" It wasn't a lie. When you were as small as she was, getting crushed into things by excited big people was a daily thing.

"Sit." Gaara commanded, pulling out a chair next to him. Hakari did so, because she was inclined to not because he told her to. Even if Gaara could be a psycho killer, Hakari did not take orders from anybody! Except teachers, and people who ranked above her, and her parents, and her brother on occasion… okay she did take orders, just not from Gaara!

Now bored, Gaara was no source of either entertainment or conversation; Hakari looked across the room at the comedy going on. Kana, who had been going to her seat, had been confronted by a rather stupid youth. When Kana had first met Hakari she had been a quiet girl, whom she could still be from time to time. Her temper existed as a cold flash rather than Hakari's boiling lava temper. However, Hakari had a negative effect on her mental sanity. Kana had developed a similar temper to Hakari's, she could explode as well, and when she did, she was almost just as physical about it. The only difference was, Kana threatened first, Hakari hit first then threatened.

"YOU REPEAT THAT YOU LITTLE PERVERT!" Kana screeched. Hakari's amethyst eyes widened ever the slightest. Kana could yell?

"All I said was that you looked nice!" defended the youth that was the victim of her temper. The youth was an average sized boy, with a mess of blond hair- not as blonde as Hakari's- and dark, sea blue eyes. He looked innocent enough in his white tunic with the brown ornate embroidery and the brown pants, but Kana did not freak out over nothing.

"That is not what you said!" Kana shouted, "I'll mess you up kid!"

"Okay, so I asked you what size you were. It's a normal question!"

And Kana followed her threat, she did mess the kid up...without mercy. The poor boy had an unoccupied chair flung over his head. Hakari winced, that boy had some brain damage whether from Kana or birth she was not quite sure. Kana took the seat that the boy had fallen out of, and the boy was forced to sit next to her in the chair that had been slammed over his unsuspecting head. How ironic.

"Troublesome..." Gaara remarked rolling his eyes, looking irritated and bored.

Hakari laughed, and moved to put her hand on his but the sand flew up and blocked her. A frown appeared on her normally smiling face. She pressed her hand down so that only a thin layer of sand separated their hands.

"Don't be so serious..." she muttered and drowned off, causing him to look at her. She scrapped her fingernail against the sand soothingly it moved out of her way until she touched his skin. Gaara jarred and looked at her, "You can laugh," she finished looking up at him slowly, meeting his jade eyes.

Before anything more could happen the teacher walked in.