Chapter 4

"Fuyuki-san," Naruto began while they were being led through the town by Fuyuki, towards the residence of the Kesshokage, "why are you here?"

"Me?" she blinked, surprised, "Oh, I was born here."

"EH?!" Hinata, Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura stopped in their tracks and whipped round to face Fuyuki.

She laughed, "My mother came here when she was heavily pregnant, she..." Fuyuki's face fell a little, "she was in very poor health... to say the least..." Fuyuki frowned, "Some of her bones were broken and she was covered in bruises – presumably inflicted by my father. She gave birth to me two days after arriving and... she died straight after."

"Fuyuki-san, I'm so sorry" Sakura said sympathetically, her brow furrowed in sadness.

Fuyuki smiled in response, "Oh, no, no don't be. Since then I've been in Kesshokage-sama's care."

"Kesshokage?"

"She's the village's main protector, although she is not accepted as one of the 5 -kages, we still regard her as our leader." Fuyuki's violet eyes sparkled with pride, "She told me that my mother named me – right before she died. Fuyuki – it was her name too. Kesshokage-sama said... she said that I resemble my mother a lot appearance-wise."

Fuyuki swept a lock of her curly, ebony-coloured hair behind one ear slightly lost in thoughts of her mother.

"Your mother must have been very beautiful," Naruto noted sincerely.

Colour rushed to her porcelain cheeks, she raised her hands in an almost apologetic gesture:

"Oh no! No! Naru-san, your too kind!"

Naruto laughed, the atmosphere was suddenly light again – well aside from a fidgeting Hinata who was gazing at Fuyuki with a jealous glint in her white eyes. Nobody noticed this of course, Hinata was too quiet for any of her actions to really stand out.

"Ha,ha. No Fuyuki-san you're too modest!" Naruto grinned.

"He's right," Sakura agreed, nodding intently.

Fuyuki was too flattered to notice that Sakura used He when referring to Naruto – Sasuke on the other hand was not. He saw that some of Fuyuki's attendants also noticed this, he could see a portion of the group looking at Sakura and Naruto strangely, he saw some of them nudging each other and whispering.

"Please regard us kindly" the four ninja from Konoha said in unison bowing low to the Kesshokage.

The trim, sandy haired woman eyed the shinobi suspiciously. Her elbows were resting on the large desk she was sat behind and her head was perched on her hands.

"... and you say that they are all female" she inquired, addressing Fuyuki.

"Yes Ma'am"

"Did you confirm it yourself?"

"No Ma'am – I had my subordinates check-"

"YOU FOOL!" the Kesshokage growled, jumping to her feet and slamming her hands down on the table, "How can you be sure they are definitely women if you do not check yourself?"

"Kesshokage-sama" Fuyuki gasped her face falling into a picture of hurt for a split second before she managed to compose herself and bow deeply, "my apologies my lady – I was careless."

The Kesshokage exhaled sharply and marched towards the nin looking them up and down. The pure aggressiveness of her leer was enough to make Sasuke and Naruto break into a cold sweat. Naruto gulped dryly whilst Sasuke's hands balled into fists.

"YOU!" She barked her arm extending forward in a sharp movement.

Naruto and Sasuke's bodies stiffened and then immediately relaxed as the Kesshokage grabbed a mortified Sakura by the scruff of the neck.

"Who are you trying to fool?" she snapped, spraying Sakura's face with tiny droplets of spit.

Sakura choked and spluttered torn between feelings of anger, embarrassment and fear.

Naruto exploded with laughter. Tears spurted from his eyes and streamed down his cheeks while he gasped for air, even Sasuke couldn't refrain from smirking.

Hinata cupped her hand over her mouth and looked worried. She timidly raised her other hand towards Sakura as if to try and pat her on the arm in reassurance or comfort, but retracted it quickly when she met the kesshokage's gaze.

Sakura suddenly found her voice:

"I'M A GIRL DAMMIT!" She screeched pulling away from the Kesshokage, massaging her neck.

The Kesshokage's face reddened and a large vein started to protrude from her forehead and throb violently.

"Fine" She breathed, straightening up, and turning to Fuyuki "Go outside and check that she is telling the truth."

Fuyuki gave a short bow and lead Sakura out the room. They returned minutes later, Fuyuki confirmed to the Kesshokage that Sakura was indeed telling the truth.

Sakura rejoined the Konoha-nin unable to look Sasuke in the eye and crushing Naruto's toes beneath her sandal when he dared to laugh.

"Fuyuki, show the Konoha Shinobi to the rooms where they be staying."

"Yes ma'-"

"Wait," interrupted Naruto, "aren't you gonna ask why we're here?"

The Kesshokage's face transformed into a tender expression, a smile flickered across her lips turning her into a complete stranger.

"All women are welcome here, they need no reason to seek comfort here – or excuse to receive it."

With that they were all lead out of the room by Fuyuki, who turned to give one final bow when she reached the door and then shut it carefully behind her.

"The Kesshokage she comes off at first... a little hostile, but she has good reason to be like that – the things she has lived though... she has faced many hardships and overcome them, as you can see underneath she is a gentile person – we all respect her very much. I am so very grateful for what she has done for me. -- ah! Sakura-san I am so terribly sorry for before!" Fuyuki cried turning to Sakura and bowing again, her face a little embarrassed and worried.

Sakura looked as if she was trying to blot out the afternoons events and raised a hand to silence her:

"no" she sighed, her other hand masking her face, "no, forget it -- don't talk about it any more -- just show us our rooms."

Feeling obliged to her wishes Fuyuki lead the party down several flights of stairs.

"Wow, we're going really far down" Observed Naruto after the eighth staircase.

Fuyuki turned and smiled, "Yes the building goes deep down into the earth – nearly two whole miles, but the floors that are the furthest down are just used as storerooms as they are naturally cool. Don't worry, this is the last flight for you."

Turning down into a large corridor, they had reached their destination at last. Two doors stood adjacent to each other.

"The rooms are for two people each – so you'll have to split. There is a bath 3 doors down and on the left – the door's marked so you can't miss it. Bathe whenever you feel the need, I will leave you to get settled and will send for you when it is time to dine-- please excuse me." Fuyuki bowed low and then smiled warmly at her new acquaintances, they returned the smile – even the raven haired slightly "closed off" looking girl. Fuyuki left them feeling quite happy and content with the new friends she had made.

Okay – now I am really thinking of turning this into a naruXsasu fic. Please PLEASE review and say whether you'd prefer it to have some SasuXnaru or hina/sakuXnaru or sasuXsaku – I love getting reviews so Pllleasee go for it D But BE NICE – I am very fragile.