Uzumaki Nari

Naruto's home

Nari stepped inside her brother's home. It was small, only meant for a single occupant. Two rooms led off the small kitchen and dining room. One she assumed to be the bedroom and the other the bathroom. Glancing around, she noticed that he kept his home clean very often. She knew her brother was lazy and did things at his own pace, but at least he cleans up after himself. What she did notice was that he could use the bath or shower a little more often though.

'Nari-nee?'

She turned to look at her worried brother. He wore a small smile. He was holding back his happiness and the tears that made his eyes shine. But he was also worried. She could see it with the way he carefully checked her expression for any sign of pain she may be trying to hide. She smiled lightly at him, hoping to dissuade him from worrying. His shoulders slumped as he relaxed. Tears stung her eyes and she flung herself at him, bawling her eyes out and saying over and over how much she had missed him so much and how scared and alone she felt suspended in the darkness she couldn't escape.

'It was just awful, Naru-nii,' she sniffled. She looked in his eyes. 'It was always darkness all the time. I could feel my sanity starting to collapse. But then I would hear your voice and it would strength me to hold on, to fight back until I regained consciousness. But I couldn't get out. All I had was you and I couldn't get out. Not even to touch you or reach out to you!'

He hugged her. She nestled her head on his shoulders and allowed him to soothe her. 'It's alright, Nari-nee, you're back now and I'm not going to ever let you go.'

Happiness washed over her and her tail sprang free from its restraint and started wagging frantically. She could feel the twitching of her new ears on top of her head but the ribbon across her head kept them from springing free. It was irritating for her having to hide them. Pulling away from her brother's warm and safe embrace, she untied the ribbon from her head and sighed in relief and relish as her ears sprang free. At first she had been disgusted and horror shocked with what she discovered had happened to her. Even now, she was still horror shocked, but she couldn't help feel confined when she had to hide away the ears and tail. It felt very uncomfortable.

'I still don't get how you got them,' Naruto spoke.

She turned to him, her bright blonde tail still wagging happily. 'Me neither. But it no longer feels right to hide them. I feel confined and oddly uncomfortable.'

'You can't go around showing them off though. People would think –'

'That I'm a monster? A freak? A demon? They were already thinking that when we were kids, remember?' she sighed and looked out the window. 'Nothing's changed since then, Naru-nii. The villages still think the same.'

'That will change, Nari-nee.' She looked at him and smiled. His perky positive attitude always had a way of cheering her up. It always made her want to see the brighter side of things and to follow her brother anywhere. What he dreams, what his goals are, they are all what she wants. 'Let's show the whole world what we can do, how strong we're going to get and claim that title as Hokage.'

She giggled. 'Only one can be the Hokage.' His smile faltered a little. 'Don't worry, Naru-nii, I know you'll become the Hokage and I'll always follow you and be at your side.'

'Arigatou, Nari-nee.'

'That's what sisters are for,' she said sticking her tongue out.

Somewhere in Konoha, Suna Ninjas

'Do you really believe that little brat was in a seven year coma?' Kankuro asked the rest of his team that sat in the house's living room.

The accommodation was provided by the Hokage during their stay for the Chunin exams. It's the same with the other ninjas. They were either given a small house like this or they were given accommodations in hotels. Luckily, due to their father, they managed to snag a very classy house, quite near the Hokage tower, and a good populace of the village. They were near stores and the central market where they could buy any food that they may need. Kankuro sat on the sofa with his arms stretched out over the back of it. Temari reclined in a single seat near Baki who leaned against the wall. Furthest away, sitting on the windowsill was Gaara, the youngest and most dangerous of the group.

The red head remained quiet and simply kept his gaze of hatred averted. Baki also said nothing and waited for someone else to speak.

'You heard what that silver haired Jonin said, Kankuro,' Temari spoke up. 'He says he can vouch for her being in a coma for that length of time. You've no need to doubt or even consider what was said.'

'It's a pointless waste of time pondering over unnecessary things,' Baki spoke up. His arms were crossed over his chest and he kept them that way. His only visible eye stared long and hard at Kankuro. 'Remember, we're not here about some pathetic little girl. We have a mission to carry out.'

'C'mon, Baki, at least allow us to be a tad curious.' Kankuro moaned. 'Don't you wonder why she's been a seven year coma?'

'It is puzzling, indeed,' their sensei agreed. 'But we don't need to worry about that.'

'She's not a ninja that I can gather,' Temari joined. 'She doesn't have a Konoha headband and she seems too fragile.'

'And to think she's that annoying brat's sister. Damn. I admit the girl's hot for one so young, she totally resembles that brat, and Temari's right. She doesn't have any backbone to be a ninja. It seems she hasn't been out of that coma long.'

'She has a menacing aura about her,' Gaara mumbled, gaining the others' attention. He turned to look at them. 'She's not only hiding something, but it's something powerful.'

'Gaara –' Baki began.

'Didn't you feel it?' he interrupted. 'When she revealed she had been in a coma, those idiots started asking questions, she receded into herself. It was at that point when that menacing aura appeared.' His eyes narrowed. 'She's harbouring something quite dangerous and it may jeopardise our mission.'

'Now Gaara,' Baki said gaining his attention, 'If we do anything against that girl, we'll be gaining the Hokage's attention. We really don't want to be doing that right now. We need to keep to ourselves and to remain inconspicuous. Once the mission's begun, then you may kill the girl if you still think she's a threat to the operation.'

'Fine,' the boy grumbled unhappily. He turned away from them to look outside, his mind elsewhere, but his eyes hatefully narrowed on every person that passed by.

Somewhere in Konoha, Training Grounds

Nari had wanted to learn how to become a ninja. She even wanted to go to the academy so she could pass the first test to become a genin. However, first she wanted to know where to begin so she wasn't a completely beginner when she started. Would she have the knack for being a ninja or would she suck and have to work hard in order to become better? Well that's what this little test was all about. And who better to teach her than her own brother?

Naruto handed her a shuriken. 'You throw these at the targets,' he advised. 'Of course you have to aim for them.'

She looked at her target. It was a large bull's-eye on the tree trunk. She already knew that she would have to be calm. To be a ninja, she would have to remain calm and focused. Focusing on her target, she allowed herself to calm. Taking one shuriken between her fingers, she threw it and watched as it embedded itself into the very middle. Startled, she looked at her brother who was staring with a gaping mouth. He silently handed her another, a challenge in his eyes. Following the rules, staying calm and focused, she aimed for the target and threw the shuriken. It landed just to the side of the first.

This time she tucked three shuriken between her fingers and threw without having to aim, but looking at her target. She made a triangle around the centre of the target but in the white circle around the red centre. She stuck her tongue out at her brother and did the peace sign. The senbon were next. Throwing them, they punched the red spot around the two shuriken. Too happy, her tail was wagging madly and her ears kept twitching. The kunai were the last to be tested. Throwing them, she hit the four corners of the target. The last one in her hand, she threw up in the tree.

'What was that?' Naruto asked shocked.

She waved a finger at him. 'Patient, Naru-nii,' she scolded with a wink. Counting down from five with her fingers, an apple impaled by her kunai dropped when she dropped the last finger. Staring in disbelief at his sister, Naruto raced over to the weapons and gathered them. The ones in the tree he struggled to get free. With a hard yank he managed but almost fell flat on his ass every time. Nari watched and stifled her laughter each time. Gathering them all together and placing them in their right pouch, Naruto joined her.

'Alright, you passed that test. Time to see how well you do with hand to hand combat.' He readied himself. 'Ready?' she nodded. 'Go!' he said and rushed her.

A few hours later the sun was setting on the horizon. Its fiery colours painted the sky. Nari stood her ground as her brother charged her again. She was exhausted, but so was her brother. She was covered in dirt, but he was covered in it even more. He threw a punch, but she grabbed it and flipped him over onto his back. Instead of quickly getting to his feet, he gasped in air with his eyes closed. She bent over him, staring at him curiously.

'Naru-nii?' she asked poking him with her foot.

He waved her away. 'Leave me alone, I'm exhausted.'

She giggled and settled on the ground just above his head. 'Nee, Naru-nii, how did you think I did?'

'I'm a genin already, yet you kicked my ass.' He stared up at her. 'You just need to work on your chakra.'

She cocked her head at him. 'Chakra?'

He nodded. 'It's the power within us that allows us to perform jutsus to kick the enemies butt.'

She smiled at him, but he thought there was a bit of sadness to it. She turned her blue eyes up to the sky. Sitting up, Naruto turned to face his sister. She was deep in thought about something. But something didn't sit with him right. The expression on her face wasn't something he expected to see from her so soon. She's been out of the hospital for a few hours and she already looks upset and depressed about something.

She looked back at him and placed a hand over where her heart was. 'So what's inside me is chakra?' she closed her eyes and then shook her head. 'Is chakra menacing, dark and evil?' she asked her brother.

'Iie, it's a wonderful feeling.' His enthusiasm about chakra diminished when he begun to realise something she wasn't saying. 'Is that what you feel inside you?'

She nodded. 'I don't know what it is but I felt this same thing before I woke from my coma. I don't like it. Do you know what it could be?'

He took a moment to search his thoughts for anything that could make sense to him. 'We could ask Hokage-sama tomorrow about it.'

Smiling with happiness, she nodded in agreement. She stood and offered a hand to him. He took it and got to his feet. 'Let's head home for a bath, food and sleep.'

'Alright!' Naruto said enthusiastically pumping his feet into the air. 'Race you home!' he called out and ran.

Nari laughed and then ran after him laughing all the way, completely forgetting all about the darkness she could feel within her.