Keisei no Suna

A/N: This is an OCxSasuke fanfic. The OC is my creation, along with any characters regarding her past and also the antagonist in the story.

Chapter 2 – Konoha

Mio couldn't remember much of what happened. All she could remember was….that smug look on her sensei—no—former sensei's face. She did not move but remembered faintly just laying alone in the dirt. She could recall what she assumed to be gates, but of what village? She wasn't entirely sure. All she knew that when she woke up, she did not see the blue skies that she expected, but rather a bright white ceiling. And instead of the sun in her face, though she could've made that simple mistake, she had lights.

"I think she's coming around." A woman had said as heels clacked against the floor.

"Hello? Can you hear me? How are you feeling?" Another voice asked and Mio knew it was to was a different woman. She couldn't reply, her voice dry and rasp from being unconscious and the lack of water. Her eyes fluttered, as she was only able to make out a pink blur before she slipped out of consciousness once more.

"Is she okay?" The nurse had asked the doctor in the room.

"Yes. I think she just needs more rest. Let me know when she wakes up."

"Of course doctor Haruno." The nurse said and the doctor left the room.

"Why? Why did you do this to them, it wasn't their fault!" Mio had yelled at the top of her lungs. She took deep breaths to calm herself but it did not help.

Blood dripped from the kunai in Ren's hands. He had slaughtered them viciously and he did not care for their life. But why…why. That was the question she asked herself. What drove him to do such a mad thing?

Ren did not answer but rather all he mumbled was, "It's your fault." Though he said it to himself, Mio heard it perfectly clear, as if she had been right next to him.

"What did I do?"

"Has she shown any signs?" The hokage sat in his office, setting down the papers he had just finished for the day. Naruto stared at his old teammate and dear friend who only nodded.

"She did wake up a few hours ago but did not say anything."

"I see. We were lucky to find her as quick as we did. If we hadn't…"

"Do you think she is a threat?" Sakura asked, but the hokage could not answer. "I cannot give you an answer to that Sakura. I…from what I saw, I don't think so. Has Shikamaru figured out what the scroll she was carrying was?"

She nodded. "It's nothing more than a summoning scroll, and you know that they are used by—"

"Those who are sealers." A male joined the room, rubbing the back of his neck. "But it's not just any scroll. This one is different." He explained.

"What do you mean?" Naruto asked the tired looking shinobi who shrugged.

"I can't say. Only the woman can answer the questions, Naruto."

While Naruto was hokage, he often told people to simply call him by his name. Hokage held such responsibility and strictness that he did not necessarily like it (granted he did like the small burst of pride that came with the title). Though when in the presence of another official or higher-up, they definitely addressed him with the respect that he deserved which was fine by him. At the end of the day, he was still Naruto Uzumaki.

Just then, the door to the hokage's office opened and it revealed a nurse. She looked at doctor and nodded.

"Well then, seems like she's awake. Let's go pay her a visit." Sakua said and all three left the room.

Mio opened her eyes once more. She had considered that she was not in a hospital and that her mind was simply trying to coax her into believing she was dead.

How cruel. She told herself, as if her mind would respond.

This time, she was able to actually stay awake and saw a nurse tending to her.

"Are you alright?"

Mio nodded. "Can.I…have some water please?" She asked politely, though her throat was unbelievably dry. The nurse smiled and nodded.

"Of course. Let me get you some." She said and left the room.

The blonde tried to prop herself up, and use the pillows as her support. The door opened again and Mio was thankful that the nurse brought her a glass and pitcher of water. Though, she was somewhat nervous to see three more bodies shuffle into the room.

"Glad to see you're awake." Sakura said and moved to check the girl. "How are you feeling?"

Mio took a sip from the glass and felt the coolness soothe her throat. She looked at the doctor and said, "Just a bit tired but I think I'll be fine…right?"

The doctor nodded. "You had some broken ribs, some cuts and bruises, but nothing some healing and a little rest could take care of." She smiled.

"That's good. Thank you."

"I'm sorry, but do you mind if we ask you some questions?" Naruto asked rather quickly.

"No no, I don't mind." Mio replied and he nodded.

"Who are you?"

"Mio Arihyoshi." She responded.

"Where are you from?"

That was the kicker question. When she encountered that question after she left Suna, Mio often said Suna just out of habit. But now, five years later, she wasn't sure how to respond.

"I…well. If you mean recently, I haven't been part of a village in years. I was, however, born and raised in Sunagakure." She responded and Naruto nodded.

"What do you mean by recently?" Shikamaru questioned and she sighed. She never liked explaining. "I mean that I no longer associate myself with the village. I am now part of a circus troupe…or was." She said, recalling the events that took place…how long has she even been out?

"I'm sorry to interrupt but, doctor, how long was I out?"

"About a week."

"Ah, alright. Thank you" A week.

A week since her troupe was murdered.

Naruto remained silent until he asked. "It didn't happen to be the circus troupe with the flag of a lotus flower was it?"

"Where each individual had names of a flower….yes. It was that troupe. " Mio was somewhat flattered with the fact that he even knew just who the troupe was. Granted, she didn't believe her troupe was all that popular to begin with.

"Mio-san…do you know anything about the massacre that took place there?"

Mio's eyes started to burn. She felt the tears soon to fall from her emerald eyes and she bit her lip to hold them back. "I…It was my old sensei." She responded.

"Ren Matsuchi. A-Ranked criminal and wanted by Suna and the man behind the multiple murder cases as of late."

She nodded. Then blinked before casting a glance. "Murder cases?"

Shikamaru nodded and held a couple of files up for her to see. "You can read them if you want…but you are under suspicion since you did have a relation to him…" Mio furrowed her brows.

"I…believe me when I say that I despise him. I…I know that this is asking a lot but please When I am well, please let me go so that I may pursue him." Mio requested. Naruto looked at his friends and looked at the girl.

"Mio-san, you are under the suspicion that you may be asso—"

"I AM NOT!" She yelled. She hasn't yelled like this since…

Since Ren yelled at her as to why she was leaving Sunagakure all those years ago.

"That man who had…had killed my friends, my troupe. The only thing I had in this world he just took from me in one night. And I will never forget it. I will find him." She said. Mio's hands were trembling, clutching the sheets.

Since the interrogation, Mio was left alone to gather her thoughts and ideas on how exactly to catch Ren. Well, one thing was for certain, she had to finish up her healing and get out of Konoha. Staying in one place won't do her any good and she couldn't exactly relax with Ren out to get her…if he's trying to get her, that is. The blonde looked out at the window to her right that was opened to let in the summer breeze. The air tickled her skin, goosebumps rising and giving her the shiver that was in some way relaxing.

Mio, however, did not take into account on what she would do when she found him. If she killed him, wouldn't she get in trouble too? And if she had alliances with Konoha, wouldn't that involve other nations as well if they had to deal with Ren? She was swamped with the thoughts that ran through her mind.

She had finished the lunch a nurse had brought up and left the empty tray on the table beside her. The glass of water still filled half-way with ice in it. Mio examined the room, seeing the painted pale green walls with small undistinguishable markings. The door was closed and all she could hear were the distant voices from the outside and shoes patting on the tiled floors.

Before she knew it, a knock was at the door before Naruto had entered along with the doctor, Sakura.

"How are you feeling, Mio?" Sakura asked, performing her usual routine of overlooking her clipboard that rested in a basket at the end of the bed.

"The usual. I actually think I can do some walking now. Would it be alright if I took a walk around the area? I won't stray far, hell, I'll take a guard if ya want me to." Mio offered, and though Sakura gave Naruto a rather concerned expression, Naruto smiled and nodded. "I'll walk with you."

"Alright. Is it okay if I change into my own clothes?" Mio turned to Sakura who nodded. "Just be careful putting it on, we don't want anything to open back up." She warned, which the summoner nodded. "Doctor's orders." Mio grinned.

"I'll wait for you outside, Mio." Naruto told her and the two left the girl to change.

The red cut kimono was, surprisingly, washed and cleaned and rested on a chair in the corner of the room. The rips that were made were sewn shut, and it looks almost brand new. Almost. Mio had little trouble slipping it on, seeing as she had to really move her arms more than anything. The red and flower designed kimono had a tanktop-top, no sleeves at all with only a black fishnet one piece under, the bottom only went to the middle of her thighs The kimono went down to her feet and had an opening on her right side, letting the wind hit her legs. She left her brownish-dark beige scarf behind and slipped her sandals on and quietly left the room, her hair in a rather loose braid swept to her left.

Her banages, brown wrap, pouch and scroll were left behind in her room with the rest of her belongings. She was way too lax for her own good.

Mio met Naruto outside, smiling and looking at nothing in particular. Simply just admiring the season that graced the village. He turned to see Mio walking towards him with a weak smile. "Ready?"

She nodded and they started their quaint walk.

They were taking the road that lead into the village itself, people talking and bustling around. Stores opened to welcome in any air that would help in the warm weather.

"So what do you plan on doing?" Naruto asked randomly.

Mio turned to look at the male who stood a few inches taller than she was.

"About Ren? I'm not so sure. I have nothing to really go off here…I'll just be running around blindly yelling, 'come get me! I'm over here!' until he comes maybe?" She gave a weak laugh. "I really don't know. I want to go after him…whatever means necessary. He needs to be stopped." She told him and Naruto only listened, smiling to himself.

"Alright."

There was a silence before the blonde girl spoke up once more.

"I won't let you get in the way either, Hokage-sama." She told him, not bothering to look at his expression either. Instead, she was startled by his chuckle. "Call me Naruto and good. Because I never said we were letting you go easily in the first place, Mio-san." He stated and now she was the one to let out a sigh.

"Just Mio is fine and what do you mean?"

"I mean that, you are still under suspicion, and Shikamaru won't let you go so easily. But I'm allowing you to go after him, it's your right. However…"

"However…?"

"I have one condition."

Mio nodded, and saw that he leading her back to the hospital already.

"And that is?"