Chapter 2
The room we walked into was round and large. Across the room was quite filled, books and folders were stacked in neat small piles around a large brown
desk. In front of the desk hung a sign, I didn't bother with the words, but noticed the leaf symbol on there. More papers and folders stacked on the desk,
behind the desk was an old man. From what I observed, he seemed to be taking a break. His chair half turn from the desk, staring outside the half length
windows. He looked about Grandmother's age, had a lightly tanned aged face with white facial hair, in his mouth, a smoking pipe that was lit.
"Lord Hokage, some visitors have requested to see you." the escort said.
He turned and looked at us, his expression changed, "Kaede?" he said, slightly surprised, drawing his pipe from his mouth. Grandmother smiled, "Yes Sarutobi,
it's been awhile." He nodded, "It has. It's been a few years since I last seen you. What brings you to the Hidden Leaf?" Grandmother's smile faded, "I have a
favor to ask of you, hopefully you can help us in our predicament." The Hokage seem to noticed I was in the room when Grandmother said 'us'. He nodded to
the escort, "Thank you for bringing our visitors, you may leave." The escort nodded, and the next thing that he did shock me, he disappeared in a cloud of
smoke! Grandmother seem to noticed my scare, and patted my shoulder, "It's alright," I nodded, still a bit shocked.
"What is it that you like me to help you with Kaede" said the Hokage, placing his pipe down. "This is my Ren's daughter, Kira" said Grandmother, "She's from
the Wave Nation" I removed my hood and bowed, "Hello sir," I introduced myself. He gave a slight smile, "So this is your granddaughter you always mention,"
I lightly blushed, a little embarrassed. "Yes, she was to rule her clan when she became of age, but some trouble began. An uprising came on, that placed her
family and the higher class of the clan held captive. My son helped create an opening for Kira to escape and run. While she was on her run, I met her." she said
as she finished the rest of the story.
The Hokage sighed, "I am sorry for your misfortune Kira" I nodded, not really knowing how to reply to that.
"Sarutobi, we need need a place to stay and hide. I know I am asking too much, but I couldn't risk hiding Kira at the Water Nation, she could have been
found." she pleaded at the last sentence.
The Hokage sighed, relighting his pipe, silently thinking.
I grew worried, what if he refused us, what would we do then? Thousands of 'what ifs' raced in my head at rapid speed, then was suddenly stopped, "Kira." I
glanced up, it was the Hokage who said my name, and was staring at me. I cleared my throat, "Yes sir,".
"What was it that you always wanted to do, surely you had other things you liked to do when you weren't practicing to lead your clan," he asked, taking a puff
from the pipe. My eyes slightly grew at this question, then as if right on cue, the things I had shoving in the back of my mind rushed forward. "There was
something. When I learned my father had lived outside our island, I had begged him to teach me what I know as taijutsu." I said, "It was the one thing I love
to do" He nodded, "Have you heard of a shinobi or a kunoichi?" he asked. I nodded, "Yes sir, my father explained that it was a person with special talents,
skills or determination that fights and protects the place and people they care." He smiled, "Have you ever thought of becoming kunoichi?" My eyes softened,
"Yes sir, it was always my dream. But being born to lead my clan, I was forced to put that dream behind me." He took a last drag of the pipe, "Kaede, there are
a few opening of residential space, I can accompany you two around and see what you space you want." Hearing those words, I felt like a great weight was
lifted off my shoulders, "Thank you," I said, feeling my eyes moisten a little.
He got up, "Yes yes, let's start by viewing what spaces are open first."
After leaving the tower, we walk down the streets and went to a small store. We enter the small building where papers were posted on the walls, "For Rent" I
noticed they were all title. A woman was behind a counter, behind her were labeled shelves filled with scrolls or folders. "Lord Hokage, how can I be of
service?" said the woman.
"I looking for a space for my friend here and her granddaughter." he said, "They are new residents in our village"
She nodded and pulled out a folder behind her, "Welcome to Konoha, these are list of areas that accommodate 2 persons." she said as she handed the folder
to my grandmother. While Grandmother observed the papers, I seen the Hokage getting my attention to come to him.
"Kira, can you kindly fill me in the details the ordeal with your clan and a brief detail of your clan's ways," he said.
When I finished explaining, he sighed, "You must been through quite a culture shock when you traveled here in the Fire Nation,"
"I was. Your ways here, were new and strange at first, but now, I can only dream that my clan can experience and accept such a change here." I said.
He smiled, "Hopefully you could be the one to lead them into that," I smiled too, "I can only hope". "So, while you hide, do you wish to become a kunoichi
here?" he asked me. I felt my stomach doing flips, "Can I?". "Of course, children your age practice and train to be a shinobi. Most of the village are shinobi in
fact." he stated, "How old are you?" "I'm going to be 15 in a couple months," I said. He thought for a moment, "You have some exposure in advance taijutsu
and defending yourself. You seem very bright and I want you to learn at a fast pace to catch up with others your age and at their level" I was getting excited,
"I'm willing to, I will do anything you throw my way." He patted my head, "That's great you have the determination and will. Alright, it's early fall now... You
have until the spring to be ready to be a genin. That means you will study extensively, and train far more harder and faster than normal. It will be a grueling
task." I still nodded, "Yes. I wouldn't want any other way". "Great, I explain more later, let's rejoin Kaede, I think she found something." he said. As we went
back to Grandmother, she showed me a paper, "What do you think? I've always wanted a business to run."
I read the paper, it was a two story home. It had an attached restaurant with a living space above, with two rooms and a spacious bathroom with a decent
sized kitchen and large living room. Then I remember something, "Grandmother, how can we afford this, don't we need money?" She smiled, "I have some
valuable items with me that can be pawn off to pay this and could get us by for while."
I looked at the attached restaurant, " You want to open a restaurant?" I asked.
"More like a cafe of sorts, where I served tea and small snacks and desserts" she said, "I have quite a skill for baking and cooking, and very good at brewing
many types of teas" The Hokage smiled, "Kaede, will you make those tea cakes?" he said, "Those have always been my favorite," Grandmother grinned, "Of
course, I'll be making plenty of those. So Kira?" I studied the paper a bit more, "Why not, it could be fun." I said, handing the paper to her.
So Grandmother got the place, I had to admit, as much of all the horrible things that happened, I have never been so happy in my life. My personal dream of
becoming a kunoichi was about to come true.
I've never looked more forward to what the future has in store for me.
Alright, I am going along with the Naruto timeline of events, So right now, this would be placed when the rookie teams are still in the Ninja Acadamy. By the time she
turns into a Genin is a bit before they do. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
~KiraSan