Ch.3 – A Witch – (Kaede's P.O.V.)

I had now met the person I knew I would need to keep around; Von. She had what I needed, her powerful chakra and jutsus, and I had what she needed, Spellbinding. Of course, I figured this out because her aura told me all. Even if I do have a conscience, it doesn't bother me to realize I need to change her aura. Her aura was a thick bright green with silver lining and orange blotches; this meant she was a healer who was abundant and has a lot of energy and creativity. Not many humans would ever bare this combination of aura meanings. Most people had a deep red in there somewhere, but Von didn't, she had a pure soul. It was very possible that this experiment would be harder than I thought.

"Yes? No?"

My head came back to reality. "Huh? What?"

"Have you decided on staying?" Kakashi asked.

"Um… yeah, sure." I replied, just realizing I was in the middle of the forest, spacing out. Meanwhile, one boy was no longer around.

"Yeah, you're staying or yeah, you've decided?"

This made my head throb from thinking too much. "Both?"

Kakashi let out a giggle I never thought I'd hear from him. "Alright then, come with us and we'll go see Tsunade." I never saw him as a cheerful guy, at least not in battle.

When I followed them, it took only about five minutes to arrive at the Hokage's Office. Already in the office were two Genin dweebs and a young medical ninja; they were the ones I saw at the restaurant. The one with the blonde hair I recognized to be the one with the really strong chakra. However, I also noticed that his aura was ¼ corrupt and on it's way to a whole, only it seemed to be healing itself from time to time. His chakra and aura were deep red, only the aura had a thicker band of orange. This boy had potential, and a lot of it too.

"Oh, hey Naruto and Sasuke!" Von cheered happily. Then she looked over at the others in the room and nodded. "Tsunade, Shizune," she paused and growled as she said the next name," Sakura."

Sasuke smiled and waved, while Naruto jumped on Von and gave her a tight squeeze. "Sasuke here told us everything! Sakura healed him up. Angel!" He said the last part with every bit of perfection in his voice.

"Guys, I want you to meet a newbie. Her name is Kaede." Kakashi stated, sighing at everyone's overreaction.

While everyone waved at me, I just froze. "Hi?"

Naruto eyeballed me up and down suspiciously, followed by squatting and sniffing me like a dog. Sasuke went back to his own business. Sakura smiled sincerely and greeted me. Shizune waved with a small smile and Tsunade got up from her desk. As she walked towards me with an emotionless face, I grew pale. She was much taller than me and she had huge-

"Tsunade, do you mind if she'll be staying in Konoha?" Kakashi asked subtly.

She stopped a foot away from me. "Oh? Nice to know everyone tells me these things ahead of time," she paused and rubbed her temples," Fine. She can stay."

"Very well then. Kaede, come with me." Kakashi motioned his hand.

"WHAT?" Shouted the little blondie from behind me. "You're just going to let a random stranger in with no checking, no securing that they're a decent person?"

"Shut up Naruto!" Sakura yelled and punched him in the side of the head.

Kakashi, Von, and Sasuke led the way outside of the large building and stopped in front of the entrance. The three decided to go to lunch at Ichiraku's Ramen, considering the last time was interrupted. Soon enough we were seated and talking in Ichiraku's Ramen. But while Von and Kakashi were having an argument over some book that Kakashi was reading, Sasuke interrupted.

"Wait! Where's Kaede going to live?"

This question flipped me out of my seat as I realized he was right. There was no way I could stay with one of them, then I would just look suspicious trying to investigate them. Yet, at the same time, it could be a bonus. It would make it easier to figure them out.

They stopped their arguing and looked at Sasuke, dumbfounded. "That's a good point."

"I HAVE NO MONEY! %$*#!" I cursed. "But then again, I could get a job."

They all just stared at me in shock over what I had said. Well, screamed. "You can bunk at my house until you find a place to live." Von offered.

Sasuke seemed to scowl at the thought of me living with him and Von, as if I was breaking up their home. I could see it on his face. Apparently, Sasuke made his feeling so obvious as to have even Kakashi deny Von's request.

"Actually, I could just talk to Tsunade about the living arrangements and I'm sure she could hook something up."

"Thank you, that would be very appreciated." I replied with a warm smile, the first of many.