Wow! It's been a while! This is the slower, rewritten version of "Eye of the Beholder." Between school and lack of inspiration…and that lovely thing called procrastination…this is the third chapter final posted.

FYI: I live in the United States and am so used to its monetary system rather than Japan's. I have no idea how to convert cost from American to Japanese costs, so I'm sticking with American monetary system. So don't be freaked out if you see dollars in the story!

"This is normal conversation."

These are thoughts.

Bijuu (demon) voices/speaking/thoughts

Enjoy!

++++++++++Chapter 3+++++++++++

February 20 XX05

It had been a little over four months since Naruto had moved into her humble abode. Besides Shikaku-san, no one had visited the girl since she had moved there. Every once in a while, Naruto could have sworn that she felt eyes on her but whenever she would turn around to check, no one would be there.

Whenever she would mention her feelings to the Hokage on their ritual weekend outings, he would only chuckle and pat her on the head. After all, it wouldn't do for Naruto to realize that Anbu was keeping tabs on her under his orders.

It was once again morning and Naruto already finished watering her plants and garden. She had already begun her daily routine of stretching and exercising. Naruto glanced around to look at her property as she did so. Already, the front and back yards looked much healthier with the weeds gone and proper maintenance being applied. Over the course of the weeks, besides gardening, Naruto had begun reading the various books in her possession. The ones to especially catch her attention were the ones on the basics on being a ninja and money management. Even as a four year old, Naruto knew that one of the most important factors of life was money. Naruto calculated how much it cost to buy from the market vs. growing her own groceries and realized that the only thing she really needed from there were the meats, fishes, grains, and dairy products. And since none of her clothes had yet to be outgrown and needed to be replaced, along with the monthly orphan stipend, the blondie was actually building quite a nest egg.

Of course, the thing that the book suggested she do was invest in worthwhile and profitable causes and/or open a savings account. Which led to her present dilemma as she finished her stretching: what should she do? I can't open a bank account quite yet because no way will anyone there serve me in a honest way. Naruto frowned underneath her mask. She proceeded to run laps around her back yard as she tried to think of a possible solution. She received a monthly stipend for food, clothing, and basic essentials. Electricity and water bills were automatically paid for by the Hokage's department and she didn't waste money on second-grade products at the market. Naruto calculated the amount of money she had on hand to put on the bank and was amazed at the total. Wow, I didn't even realize it but I have a bit more money that I had thought. Let's see, I get $500 dollars each month from the stipend. I only really spend $150 on food since I grow my own and catch my own fish in the river as well as the traps I have in the forest…and since I haven't bought any new clothes or much books, I have about…$1,200 to put into the account. In case of emergencies, I'll keep a bit on hand and start an savings account for $1,000 instead.

Naruto was actually pretty surprised at her musings and slowed down her jogging to cool her body down. After all, the book said that it was better to take things slowly when students were as young as she was. Naruto stood in her yard, thinking about what to do, when she felt it again. No, it wasn't the usually eyes that she felt staring holes in her back whenever they thought she didn't notice. Naruto rolled her eyes. I don't know how Jiji didn't think I would realize that he put watchers on me. I think he's going barmy from doing all that paperwork after all. No, these eyes weren't the curious and watchful ones that she was used to. These eyes felt more malevolent…darker in a way. A sudden chilly breeze blew towards her and clouds shadowed the sun. Naruto looked around and noticed that the sky had actually been darkening and the mood outside was turning stormy without her realizing. Shivering, Naruto walked back inside her house, hoping to warm up.

After her shower, Naruto made her way into the kitchen to make herself some lunch. The curtains in the living room were drawn and thunder could be heard. Rain was falling down harshly and every once in a while lightning could be seen flashing in the background. It made the vague outlines in the curtains seem just a bit creepier to the four year old.

Naruto actually enjoyed storms. It made everything smell fresher and more energizing outside afterwards. But this…this storm was foreboding. It doesn't seem natural. It seems ill-omened. Naruto shuddered once again and gasped when the lights flickered. Please. Please don't die on me. Unfortunately, her pleas were left unheard as the electricity went out during the storm. A soft squeak could be heard upstairs. Naruto stilled. Another soft squeak could be heard. The only places that really squeaked were the stairs and entrance way. And Naruto knew that she was alone. Wasn't she?

Naruto snuck into the kitchen. For once, the dark was actually helping her. She grabbed one of the knives out of the sink where she had made lunch in what seemed ages ago. She made her way back into the living room. The child hid near the bookcase near the windows, while she continued to hear footsteps come all the more closer.

She held her breath. Soft yet harsh breathing slowly started to make its way around the room. Naruto knew it couldn't have been a shinobi because the invader's actions were too noticeable, too amateur to be anything but a civilian. And here I thought they couldn't touch me here. I thought I was safe. Naruto cried softly to herself. Then suddenly a flash of lightning appeared and her lone assailant and she stared at each other before he jumped at her. Naruto dodged and moved before the knife…no…kunai of her attacker struck her. Unfortunately, in her haste, she left behind her knife. While her assailant tried to recover his balance, Naruto opened her window and ran outside to the back. The wind was howling and the rain felt chillingly cold. Her would-be attacker grabbed the fallen knife and charged after her. A roar of anger escaped his mouth. Startled, Naruto slipped in a patch of mud and her would-be attacker soon caught up with her.

Naruto screamed and raised her arms up in a futile attempt to try to protect herself. Blood splattered. But…I don't hurt at all. Is death supposed to be painless like this? Naruto thought to herself before opening her eyes. They widened. An Anbu was in front of her and had stabbed his kunai into the assailant's chest. It had been his blood that she had felt.

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So yea! That's Chapter 3. Hope it was descriptive enough?

12/13/11