Sorry it took so long, but I've been looking into Job Corps and I'm having to prepare to leave for Utah soon. I'd appreciate it if some people could give me reviews for ideas and such later in the story, since I don't have as much time as I intended to write. I hope you enjoy the story!

Disclaimer-I do not own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto does.

It was about midday in Konohagakure. The breeze was strong and the sun was shining brightly through the trees. Along the outer wall of the village, a number of guard Nin were patrolling the outskirts. Unfortunately, no one could sense what had happened outside of the village. No one knew of the destruction that had occurred.

All except the strongest ninja in the village- the Hokage.

In his office, he was sitting at a Kotatsu table. The blinds were partially closed; only miniscule rays of light leaked through. They bounced off a crystal ball placed on the table. With the added gleam of the ball itself, it looked almost celestial. He ran his hands across it and stared inside the crystal before looking up. It was as if he was waiting for someone…

As if on cue, a cloud of white smoke poofed into the room. When it dispersed, a man took its place. He wore a black, skin tight suit and grey vest along with some select pieces of armor- shin and arm guards, shoulder guards, and a porcelain tiger mask. The things that made him stand out were his long orange mane of hair and a yellow pelt stitched onto his left shoulder plate. He kneeled to the ground in a cat-like stance and bowed.

"Ah! Just the man I was expecting. Please, sit down."

So the ninja sat at the Kotatsu. The crystal ball began to glow and colors swirled around inside it. When ceased, he could see the image of a person floating down a river.

"Just last night, a village nearby was attacked by unknown ninja. The girl," The Hokage pointed towards the image displayed, "is the only living resident left. Your mission is to retrieve the girl as fast as possible, without interference from any other land's ninja. Set up your team and leave immediately!" He had a stern look on his face. "This mission has to be a success."

"Yes, Hokage-sama!" He shouted in a confident voice. And once again, he poofed away.

Just moments later the team was darting in the forest. It consisted of ANBU of mainly the same stature and gender; All of them were males with relatively messy brown hair and muscular tone to their bodies. Only identified by their masks, there was Tokage (lizard), Kuma (bear), and Washi (eagle). Along with their leader, which we will call Tora (tiger), they jumped through the trees with lightning fast speed and reflexes. If you were a passerby, it would look as if they were flying. Barely catching a glimpse of what could be a breeze. However, that was what was expected from the ANBU of Konoha.

It took about thirty minutes before they approached the river the crystal ball depicted. It had calmed down since then, but there was still a steady current. Luck seemed to be on their side, because without warning a violent wave came flowing down the stream, with the girl floating on the surface. Kuma walked onto the water and picked up the girl by her torso.

"This has to be her, Tora. It looks just like her..."

"Good. Set her down. Tokage, check her for wounds. Washi , check the perimeter for any other bodies of chakra."

The girl was set on the ground gently. Tokage examined her swiftly, finding nothing he couldn't heal on his own. His hands glowed a soft green as he got to work.

"She has a few lacerations, two broken ribs, and minor internal bleeding. Which I can heal," he hesitated, "However, she's unconscious at the moment. Whoever did this to her knocked her out pretty badly. I'll need some time to wake her, if you want me to."

"Well if you're going to, you better hurry." Washi got into a defensive stance. "a group of nin are coming this way."

Tokage healed as much as he could, but alas, as soon as he got to her ribs the ninja had arrived.

The village of Kirigakure was a small trek from the leaf village, so it was a surprise that their ninja would be so far away. Their leader was the most prominent of the group, with his hair tied back in a tight ponytail and the kanji for blood painted on his cheek. The rest had tracker masks on; you couldn't tell the difference between them.

The ANBU got in fighting stances, Tora being front and center, the other two covering Tokage.

"State your purpose, Kiri ninja," Tora growled.

"My, my, such malice we have. I didn't expect Konoha ANBU to act in such vulgarity." The leader smirked at Tora, in which he stood his ground and raised his kunai. He grunted at the ANBU in disgust. "We were ordered to retrieve this girl by our Kage. What say you, ANBU?"

"What a coincidence! It seems as if we are in the same situation. Unfortunately for you, we got to her first." Although the enemy couldn't see it, Tora had a cocky grin on his face.

"Hehe, you don't know who you're messing with Kitten. Attack!"

The masked Mist ninja darted across the water and charged the ANBU. They had no choice but to defend against the onslaught whilst Tokage was healing the child.

"Tokage!" Tora shouted as he tossed a scroll to the medic nin. "Get back to Konoha as soon as possible. We can't afford to lose her!" He threw his kunai at the attacking ninja and withdrew his katana, slicing at him with great swiftness. With that, Tokage opened the scroll and cradled the girl in his arms. A cyclone of wind engulfed him, and he was gone.

I woke up in a blurry daze. I remembered I was about to drown, I thought. But now...Now I was seeing bright lights everywhere I looked. Did I die or something? My eyes cleared and I could see I was in a white room. Light was streaming out of a clear window, where I could see buildings and lush trees. It was a nice change, but still confusing. When did I get here?

People I couldn't recognize were standing around me. Masks and white uniforms were everywhere. I tensed up and tried sitting, but I noticed I was strapped to something. A bed? Just great!

"She's awake! Inform the Hokage immediately!" one of them exclaimed as he went running out of the room. Another one, a lady in a white dress, leaned towards me and smiled.

"Hello sleepyhead! I was pretty certain you'd be out for quite a while! Do you feel well enough to talk sweetie?" She looked friendly enough, so I confided in her.

"Y-Yeah, I guess so…"

"Great! I'm Anzu. What's your name?" She asked.

"Nina-"

Then as I was speaking, the door swung open. An elderly man in what I guessed was his sixties walked inside the room. He was wearing a white robe and a shade with the kanji for fire on it. He stood by the nurse and smiled at her.

"Hokage-sama! You're just in time. She's just about to tell me her name." It annoyed me a bit for him to interrupt me, but I went on as is.

"My name is Ninamori…"

"Oh, what a pretty name that is!" She cheered.

"Indeed it is, Anzu. Might I have a moment alone with her please?"

"Of course Hokage-sama! If you need me I'll be checking up on Akimichi-kun." She walked out of the room hurriedly and left me along with the old man.

"Ninamori-chan, how are you feeling?"

"Umm…" I have no idea where to start. So much has happened so fast, where do I begin? "Well, my body's okay besides being strapped to this THING. But..." I could already feel tears on my face. I looked up at the man and he looked at me almost like he cared. I didn't know if I could trust him, but the look in his eyes was all I needed to warm up to him. He didn't know me and I didn't know him, but I already felt like I could tell him anything. "..So much has happened. E-Everyone I knew is gone. I'm all alone now."

"I'm so sorry, my child." He smiled at me sadly. "I know what you've gone through for I have seen it with my own eyes."

"What?" The fire, Kazuo-san, those horrible people, he saw it all? "Then you know who destroyed my village?"

"Yes. Those people with the red and black cloaks are part of a group called Akatsuki. They are a criminal organization of S-class missing ninja. They're the most wanted group in the shinobi world. It sounds like they were after something in Yoake, but they didn't find it."

I started sobbing right there and then. I couldn't believe that everyone was just killed for nothing. My body was shaking uncontrollably and I couldn't stop it. The Hokage pulled me into a hug and whispered into my ear. "Everything will be okay, my child."His eyes crinkled as he smiled at me again. "I would like you to live with us in the Leaf village. You can be protected here."

"Really?" I gasped.

"Of course. Konohagakure is your home now, if you wish."

"Thank you Hokage-sama!" I hugged him harder.

"Please, call me Sarutobi." He chuckled at me as I squished him in a hug. From what he said, I could be happy here.

This is the start of my new life.