Circle of the Guardian Jinchuriki
Chapter One: Lending A Helping Hand

Sandry

Riding boots in hand, I quietly tiptoed through the stable, hoping I wouldn't wake the servants in charge of the stables. By now I'd learned that they were notoriously light sleepers, and even the slightest sound would wake them. On top of that, no amount of killing intent could persuade them that I could take care of myself just fine, thank you very much.

I looked around before activating the transparency jutsu Pervy Sage taught me and Naruto last year so that we could avoid the mobs. I had no clue why, but they were always after me. And Naruto, and Daja, and Tris, and Briar. No clue why, but they hate us all, for one stupid reason or another. While some might claim it was showing favoritism teaching two Academy students a jutsu, Pervy Sage claimed that it was just because he couldn't let Konoha's future Hokage, head of hospital, weapons maker, poison user and storm master, whatever that meant, die. Whenever he said that, I always got the feeling he knew something we didn't.

I bumped into someone. "So Sandry," The person said sternly. "Have a nice ride?"

I looked up and disabled the transparency jutsu. Whoops. Busted. "Uncle!" I cried delightedly. "So very nice to see you!"

My uncle snorted. "Oh don't give me that Sandry."

I hung my head. "Hai, Oji-san. Alright, yes I went riding, but I didn't want to wake you up. You've got enough to deal with keeping the villagers off my back."

See, Hokage-jiji had this brilliant idea that if he told everyone that I somehow helped defeat the Seiryu, I'd be hailed as a hero. Nope. The opposite happened, and everyone thinks I'm a demon. The only place where they don't look at me with hatred is the Winding Circle temple nearby. They don't think I'm a demon, although plenty of them just ignore me.

For that reason, I pulled pranks with Naruto, since nearly everyone in Konoha and Emalen thought we were demons or ignored us.

In fact, I could count the number of people on one hand who I totally and completely and unconditionally trusted.

Uncle sighed. "I don't know why Hokage-sama had the idea that if he told everyone what you are than you'd be seen as a hero. Well, I suppose his old age has gotten to him."

"What I am Uncle?" I asked.

He shook his head. "Sorry, it's an S-class law, and while I am allowed to tell you, I think it's better that you don't find out."

I pouted. "Uncle!" I protested. "Please?"

"No."

"Pretty please?"

"Nope."

I huffed. "You're no fun."

"Don't you think you should get going? After all, the end of year test is tomorrow." He reminded. "The final review will probably be today."

I moaned. "Thanks for reminding me Uncle Vedris." I moaned.

Probably because I just had too much chakra, I couldn't do a normal Clone Jutsu to save my life, no matter how hard I tried.

He rolled his eyes. "You're just being dramatic. Have you practiced your chakra control?"

I nodded and scoffed. "Of course I have." I told him dryly. "With the amount of chakra I have, it'd be a stupid idea not to."

"Good. Then you should be all set." Uncle beamed. "Make me proud."

I barked a salute. "Hai, Oji-sama!"

Uncle rolled his eyes at me again. "Just go." He pointed in the direction of his private bathhouse, which was my one way ticket to Konoha. Somehow, there was a portal in Uncle's private bathhouses, and it led straight to the Konoha hot springs. That was actually how I met Jiriya, by selling him out when he was peeing. As usual.

Sure, it was a mean thing to do, but I'd be lying if I didn't get a thrill out of watching him get beat up for peeping on us. Tris would probably be too mad and start shooting lightning at him, while Daja would put on her Trader face and say what Briar liked to call 'polite nothings.' Although, if she caught him peeing on her, well she'd probably bash him upside the head with her Trader staff. She's bashed me with it a few times, it hurt.

I tiptoed into the bathhouse so as not to disturb the servants (I didn't want them following me, since it was just impractical) and changed out of my silk pants and shirt (I purposely wore silks so that I'd look like some petty noble girl playing ninja, and when they underestimated me, boy were they in for a huge surprise) and into my bathing suit, and dove into the water, reemerging in the Konoha hot springs.

"Welcome back Gaki." My sometimes teacher Anko greeted.

I beamed. "Thank you Anko-sensei."

Anko would call me gaki whether I liked it or not (she called everyone younger than her gaki) so I may as well just grin and go with it.

"So, have you heard about the Shinobi exchange Sandry-chan?" Yugao, Anbu Cat and my other sometimes sensei asked conversationally.

I shook my head. "Nope. I've been with my uncle for the past week. I managed to convince Iruka-sensei to give me what we would be studying for the next week when I found out that Uncle was having trouble with his heart, and of course that stupid son of his. He acts like he's already inherited, just because Uncle isn't as young as he used to be. What's a Shinobi exchange anyway Yugao-sensei?" I asked.

"Basically, the leaders of two allied villages agree to give eachother one of their Shinobi." She explained. "Rumor is, the Sand is trying to get rid of a problem they have with a Jinchuriki."

I raised an eyebrow. "Well that's interesting. Hey, maybe we'll get lucky and Hokage-jiji will trade the fusspots." I was referring to Fuuton and Doton, brothers who didn't trust anything, work or otherwise, done or said by anyone under Jonin no matter how credible they proved to be. I'd only heard Jiji complaining about them a million times.

Anko sighed. "Hopefully." She grinned suddenly and I did not like the look on her face. "Well he wouldn't have to deal with all the paperwork that they'll surely bring when they mess up another job because they don't trust who's doing it."

I laughed. "Jiji's worst nightmare." I agreed. "Paperwork. If he does trade the fusspots, I'm assuming his theory would be, let them be someone else's headache. Not to mention paperwork. I sure hope they get traded. Anyway, I gotta go. The Academy starts soon, and Iruka-sensei will expect me to be there."

Yugao and Anko waved. "Bye Sandry-chan/gaki!" They called in unison.

"Bye!" I called back.

I changed into my regular clothes and headed to the Academy. Naruto wasn't there and neither was Iruka-sensei, so I assumed that Iruka-sensei was chasing Naruto for some prank he pulled. I crept out of class and went to see what it was. Turns out, he painted the Hokage Monument (and did a very good job of it). I decided to help him out and keep the chasers distracted.

I grinned as I stood atop the Hokage monument. "Look out Konoha, 'cause in just one year, Toren fa Sandrilene will become a Genin, so until then, you're in for hell if you think you can hurt my friends and get away with me. Believe it!"