AN: New chapter, hope you guys like it. Reviews and comments are appreciated.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Naruto.
"Speaking in Japanese"
English
'thinking'
-May 13, 1986-
Unknown Location
A red haired and green eyed women in her mid-20s skillfully cooked breakfast in an isolated house somewhere in the world. Thinking about her life so far and the decisions she made, she held a contemplative face as she slowly flipped some pancakes. Her thoughts were interrupted when a messy haired man with glasses covering his hazel eyes sleepily walked into the kitchen.
Upon seeing his wife cook, the man couldn't help but say "Good morning Honey. It smell great in here; I still can't believe you can cook the muggle way!"
"Hmm?" the woman distractedly asked, "What was that, Dear?"
"I said you're doing a great job with breakfast." the man responded. "What's got you thinking so hard?"
"Just thinking, I guess."
Her husband raised an eyebrow at that. "You're busy thinking about thinking in the morning? Oh no! a paradox!" he teased.
"You prat, you know what I mean"
He sighed at her words. Lately, his wife had been thinking more and more about what happened 3 and a half years ago. "It was for the best, Honey. Just remember that."
"I suppose you're right." she replied as she started to set the table. "Go get the kids, it's time for breakfast."
"As you wish, my Lady." the man said with a mock bow and trotted out of the kitchen.
Konoha Village
An old man wearing red and white robes sat at his desk in the largest tower at the center of the village. His red Kage hat with the Kanji word "fire" sewn in the middle sat tightly on his head. This man was Sarutobi Hiruzen; the Sandaime Hokage, student of the Shodaime and Nidaime Hokages, and teacher of the legendary Sanin. Aptly name "The Professor" for his knowledge of the Shinobi Arts, he's currently the longest reigning Hokage in history.
This famous and well respected man had many likes and dislikes, but he hated only one thing in life. Paperwork, the bane of all Kages, was never ending. Every time he finished one pile, another one seemed to magically appear in its place! He is a Kage dammit! The strongest man in the village! He shouldn't have to do so much work! He wouldn't let paperwork beat him!
Which was why Sarutobi was in his office this day doing something better than signing his hand away. Piles upon piles of paperwork sat on top of the desk, forgotten. He had a familiar orange book in his hands and was avidly reading.
Just as he was about to get to the good part, his door slammed open and a yellow blur rushed in. Outside, an irate secretary could be heard yelling about "demon brats" and "no manners."
"Whatcha reading Jiji?*" a childish voice asked.
Sarutobi, who quickly threw the book back into the drawer, smiled at his visitor and replied "What are you talking about, Naruto? I don't have a book? You sure you aren't seeing things?"
The now identified Naruto pulled a face. "I'm not old like you Jiji. I know what I saw! You had an orange book just now! You just put it away real fast!"
"Sure I did, hahaha" the aged man said in an unbelieving tone.
"Jijiiiiii" the boy whined cutely.
"So, what brings you here today? Want me to treat you to ramen again?" the Hokage asked.
"Free ramen? Cool! You know I never turn down ramen Jiji!" the boy shouted excitedly. A second later, he frowned and said seriously, "But we can't go right now, Jiji. Maybe tomorrow?"
Sarutobi looked amused at the sudden attitude change. "Oh? And why is that?"
"Ummmm. Cuz it's raining outside! We can't go out or we'll get wet." the boy explained.
"Really?" the old man said in a disbelieving tone, "I don't remember it raining earlier this morning. You came from the outside right?" at Naruto's nod, he continued, "You don't look wet for someone who's been out in the rain."
Naruto bit his lip and thought. "That's cuz it just started. Right after I got here." he said triumphantly.
"Well, I suppose that could happen. How about umbrellas then? We've done it many times before when it was raining." the Hokage continued to play along, wondering why his surrogate grandson didn't want to eat "The Food of the Gods."
The boy furrowed his brows and then yelled, "I got it! It's raining invisible burning water! Um, what was that word again, a-a-acin? No wait, acid! It's raining invisible acid! Umbrellas won't work. Right?"
Sarutobi sweatdropped at the outrageous excuse. "Invisible acid rain?"
"That's right!" the boy beamed back.
"So we're staying here because of the rain?" After seeing the boy nod again, he went on "Are you sure it's not because of a prank?"
The boy looked startled and a little guilty but quickly hid it. "Of course not, Jiji! I don't prank…. Oh fine! But she deserved it!"
The Hokage sighed. The boy's pranks were legendary even though he was only 8 years old. Just last week, he managed to sneak in and put itching powder in the ANBU locker room without getting caught. The only reason anyone noticed him was because he sneezed accidentally. And, even though they saw him, the ANBU still had to chase him for 3 hours before finally catching him. "Who did you get this time? What did this person do?"
"I was just walking down the street and I saw this lady pointing at the Hokage Monument and talking to this other lady. I walked closer cuz I never saw them before. She was badmouthing the Hokages! Said they were all fools, especially the Yondaime!"
Sarutobi looked surprised at this. Who would badmouth not one, but all the Hokages when in Konoha? Thinking that it could be a potential spy, Sarutobi hurriedly asked Naruto to describe the lady.
"Well, she had long blond hair and some purple diamond thing on her forehead. She had this big green robe on that has this weird Kanji word on it. Oh! She also had this cool shiny greenish necklace about this big. Umm I think her friend was holding a pig or something."
Sarutobi quickly processed the new information. Blond hair with a purple diamond on her forehead? Green robe with Kanji? Green 2 inch necklace? No, it couldn't be. "Naruto! That lady you were talking about, did she ha-"
He was cut off by a loud familiar voice "BRAT! WHERE ARE YOU!"
Naruto yelped and dove under the desk to hide. Not a second later, the door to the Hokage's office slammed open again and a woman stormed inside.
Sarutobi allowed himself to smile at the woman who was too busy glaring at the mop of spiky blond hair sticking out from over the table.
"I got you now brat! You can't run anymore!" she yelled triumphantly as she stalked up to desk.
Sarutobi strategically placed himself in the angry woman's way.
"Out of the way Sensei! I need the brat!" the lady all but snarled.
The Hokage got his first good look at his long time missing student and laughed. His student's once blond hair was now an array of different colors, ranging from hot pink to ocean blue. There was smelly green gunk all over her clothes and face. "What? No greeting for your teacher? I'm hurt, Tsunade. Why don't we have lunch together?"
Tsunade turned her glare to her teacher. "I'm not staying for long, Sensei. I would have been gone already if that brat didn't do this to me! I just want some payback now!" she growled.
"So you weren't even going to see me? Even though you were in Konoha?" the old man asked, a little saddened by his student's attitude.
Tsunade had the grace to look a little guilty. "You know I have bad memories here. I didn't want to stay longer than necessary. We were only here because Shizune insisted she needed something."
Sarutobi mentally reminded himself to thank Shizune for this. He had been trying to contact his wayward student for years. Konoha needed her and her abilities. "Well, since you're here. Why don't we talk a little? You know I'm getting old and m- "
"No! I'm not staying here. Forget it!" Tsunade cut in. "Don't give me that look, Sensei. There's nothing for me here. I won't be the Hokage! This village is worthless to me! Only fools become Hokages."
Naruto, who had been quiet so far, suddenly leaped out of his hiding place. His was enraged! He had heard of Tsunade before. Everyone respected and loved her. She had what he always wanted from the people of Konoha and she didn't care! "Don't talk about Jiji like that! you don't know anything! He works so hard every day to protect everyone and you dare call him a fool!"
"No, you're the one who doesn't get anything brat! This is an adult conversation. Stay out of it!" the slug Sanin shouted back.
"Why should I? Jiji wants you to be Hokage and I'm a citizen of Konoha so this will affect me. I don't want some half- assed loser becoming Hokage! You don't deserve it!"
Tsunade visibly bristled at the insults.
"Naruto! Watch you language! And Tsunade! Naruto is a kid, calm down." Sarutobi chided them both.
Before Tsunade could respond, the door to the Hokage's room slammed open for the third time that day. Tsunade and Sarutobi both turned to glare and the person who dared to interrupt them.
"What is it?" they both growled out.
The Jounin who rushed in gulped at the killing intent in the room and started to stutter.
"Out with it!" Tsunade snarled out.
"H-H-Hokage-Sama! There was an intruder in the room where the Council usually meets!"
"What?" the Hokage asked, "Did you capture him? How did he get inside? Was he a Shinobi?"
"Yes, we did capture the intruder. It was a girl who was heavily wounded. She looked about 5 years old, sir!" the Jounin replied.
"A girl? Civilian? How did she get in?" Sarutobi rapidly asked.
"There was a bright light from the room when I passed by, sir. Me and my partner went to investigate and saw the girl on the floor with blood pouring out of her chest! She had on the strangest clothes and was muttering in a different language!"
"Where is she now?" Tsunade asked.
"In the hospital. But, the doctors say that she might not make it. She's lost a lot of blood and there was this small object lodged into her chest."
"Dammit! Move out of the way! I'm going to the hospital!" the Sanin yelled as she rushed out.
"Get some more people and go back to the room. I want to know how she got there; what she was doing; how she got hurt; everything!" Sarutobi commanded.
"Yes, Hokage-Sama!" the Jounin saluted before starting.
The Hokage turned to the wide- eyed Naruto and gently said, "Naruto, I think it's time for you to go back home. I'll see you soon, alright?"
"Yeah. Bye Jiji." Naruto absently said as he slowly walked out.
-May 25, 1986-
Konoha Hospital
Green eyes fluttered open suddenly and stared incomprehensively at the white ceiling. Catherine groaned as she tried to get up. 'Where am I? What happened?' she thought as she let out another groan when her chest exploded in pain.
She felt a hand gently push her back down and she heard a voice speak out. Why couldn't she understand anything?
Catherine finally managed to position herself so that she could see the person next to her. It was a tall blond haired woman with light brown eyes and an odd violet diamond on her forehead. She had a commanding, but soothing voice. Catherine could tell that the lady was starting to get frustrated from the lack of response.
"I don't understand what you're saying." Catherine said out; or she tried to say out but her throat was having trouble doing anything. Not a minute later, a cup of water was slowly lifted up to her mouth and Catherine took a long sip.
The lady had started to talk again. Water must have help her brain function better because Catherine started to recognize the language that was being spoken. It reminded her of the cartoons Dudley used to watch. 'What was it again? Chinese? No….Japanese? That's it, Japanese!'
Catherine racked her brain for anything Japanese related. Her eidetic memory made it easy to remember all the episodes she glanced at while making dinner and the Japanese products in markets that had translations on them. The structure of the language was becoming clearer. There was no doubt that if she stayed wherever she was for a few more months, she would become almost fluent in the language.
"Nice to meet you." Catherine finally said.
The lady looked surprised at her sudden understanding of the language. "Nice to meet you too. I'm Tsunade and the head medic at this hospital. I need you to tell me your name and where your parents are."
Catherine stared up confused. It was too fast and she didn't understand everything.
"Sorry. I no good at language. Slower?"
Tsunade looked at the young girl in understanding and talked slower. For the next hour, the two of them talked nonstop with small water breaks in between. Listening to Tsunade speak helped improve Catherine's own grasp of the language. Then, Catherine was ordered to return to sleep and Tsunade left to inform the Hokage of their little patient.
*An affectionate way of calling a grandfather figure.