Chapter 4-Like a bird in a cage

Miya was confused, for a lack of better words, it had been nearly a week since she had encountered the two men inside the forest, in what should would later find out was know as the land of birds. Nearly a week since she was forced to accept her condition, if that was even the propper term for what happened to her. Small, that was the best way to describe it.

Flashback start

Looking into the puddle of water what she saw reflected was her, however it was a version of her she had never seen! Miya had always been a grown up, from the moment of her "birth" until she came to this world, she had lived as an adult, in an adult body! She did not have any memories from when she was a child. the furthest back she could even remember was the day she was given her mission. "Protect the flock, keep them safe, find us a new world, that is your mission 01" and she never stopped working towards that goal!

Yet here she was, smaller than she ever remembered being, her body looking to be no older than 13 or 14, not recognizing the person staring back at her she panicked.

"AHHHHHHHHH" She screamed in fear! This was not her, this was wrong! Noting as the shorter blonde jumpped up and pulled out a short one handed looking knife she would later learn was called a kunai.

Running up to he she heard him ask "Miya whats wrong! did you see someone?"

Confusion plasterd across her face she glanced up at him, noticing how he was observing the surroundings as if expecting an attack at any moment. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she sighed before speaking. "No im sorry there wasn't anyone here i just almost didnt recognize myself." Glancing back down at the puddle, then up at the sky she had fallen from she could only wonder just what had happened to her. Perhaps whatever it was that sent her to this place had also affected her body, that wouldnt be the strangest thing to ever happen to a sekerei, neither was it the most harmfull.

Flashback end

It had taken her a while to get used to her new apperance, smaller arms, smaller legs, smaller everything. But after thinking about it she had finally come to accept her fate. 'perhaps this is what takehito wanted, he did want me to live afterall'

sighing to herself she glanced to the two men walking slightly ahead of her, the older man Jiraiya was his name, he was a kind older man, if not slightly perverse, and as much as she wanted to knock one of his teeth out after seing the lecherous grin he would sometimes get, she could not just attack one of the people who had helped her.

Then there was the younger one, Naruto he was called, He was loud, energetic and always seemed to be happy. That however she knew to be a lie, a mask to speak, while he always smiled and showed a happy fromt, sometimes she could see deep pain and sadness in his eyes, he would get quiet and stare off into space it was concerning to say the least.

It had not taken long before the two had offered them to join in their training trip as they called it. As she had no idea where she was or how she was going to live, she decided it best to take the duo up on the offer.

Flashback start

"Listen girl" Jiraiya had stated while staring down at her," we need to get moving, and honestly i wouldn't feel right leaving a youg girl alone in the woods" walking up to her he placed a hand on her shoulder and sighed.

"So we have to options then, first you can travel with us, we can try to find your home, or a place you would like to stay, or i could give you a bit of money and a map and send you on your way" he had stated as he pulled out a small sack and a scroll.

"I know its sudden but the boy seems to like you, and honestly after listening to your story i have a sneaking suspiscion that keeping you safe would be the best for everyone, plus the kid can be a stick in the mud sometimes!".

She stared at the man thinking about the options he had just given her. 'do i go with them, can i even trust them' she wondered. Glancing at the man in front of here she sighed deciding that maybe it would be better to go alone, as she was getting ready to say so however she was interrupted from her musings by the voice of the young man.

"Of course shes coming with us!" Naruto had shouted "How could you even suggest leaving her alone out here after everything pervy sage!" snickering at the nickname he had used she turned to look at the blonde, giving him a smile.

Naruto had returnned her smile with one of his own, a wide grin that streached from cheek to cheek. "I know were strangers and everything Miya but its not exactly safe out here, the could be dangerous ninja or even wild beasts out here! we cant just leave you here to die or get captured!". He was concerned she noted, about her 'strange', when was the last time someone was genuinly worried for her well being, maybe not since Takehito.

Sighing to herself while glancing around and noting the lack of anything resembling civilization she relented.

"Fine, fine i will come with you, as it is i need more information about this place, and as you both seem to know a lot more than me in this regard it would be beneficial to continue with you two".

"YATTT!" she winced as the blonde had shouted and jumped in excitement, causing her to snicker as he tried to raise his fist into the air, only for the wraps on his arm to rip open causing his to scream out and drop to the floor in pain.

"Ow ow ow, that hurts" he screamed while roling on the floor. Deciding to help him out she walked up and offered a hand to the young man, noticing as she approached his slight grumble '...pid...fox...' deciding to ignore it, she helped him to his feet and offered him another smile.

"Well then sir Jiraiya mr. Naruto i belive were all decided then"

Flashback end

Smiling to herself at the memory of their first encounter, she looked up to the sky and smiled, things were different here, she had come to learn much of this world, Ninja, Samurai, hidden villages, this was nothing like the modern world she was from.

Ninja and samurai, those didn't even exist anymore in japan, yet the two before her had readily claimed to be Ninja! She had doubted them of course, however that would turn out to be a mistake she noted, shivering at the memory of the older perverts self introduction he had insisted on.

The man had summoned, in a puff of smoke a giant toda, and proclaimed himself a super pervert to the world! It had been surprising to see such a power , yet infuriating at the same time. 'Yes' she smirked surprising indeed, but perhaps she would need to rethink hurting the man some, after all perverts were the worst right?

Naruto Uzumaki was having a hard time, it had been nearly a week since he had met his father, the freaking fourth hokage of all people, the student to the man he was currently traveling with, and the man who had shoved a mountain sized fox in his gut the day he was born.

Bitter would be a good word to describe how he felt, happy but bitter, he wanted to be mad at the man he wanted to scream and shout demand answers from his teacher but no he couldn't do that. The fox had stopped him from that stating that the man might overreact and assume the fox was taking controll of him, and as much as Naruto wanted to deny it, he could not.

Sighsing in frustration, his thoughts turned to the third member of the party, she was a quiet girl, usually keeping to herself. However he also felt that she was terrifying, beautiful yes, but terrifying, sometimes he would noticed what appeared to be the face of the shinigami staring over he shoulder, but when he would blink it would dissapear.

He had tried multiple times to start a conversation with the girl, but she always seemed to be lost in thought, constantly observing her surroundings. He knew that she wasnt telling them everything, and that was ok everyone had secrets, its just that he could see in her eyes, a feeling he knew all too well, sadness, lonlieness and bitterness. She had been hurt by something or someone, and he wanted to help her, but he always hesitated, he knew the feeling all to well, and thats how he knew that he couldn't help her unless she wanted it.

Sighing in frustration he began to rub his arms, they had finally healed after nearly a week, a gift from the fox so to speak. It had decided to use its chakra to slow the healing process, as a "punishment for stealing its chakra" it had said. It sucked he thought 'stupid fox', but he also understood, the fox was just miserable and bitter, but it was also nice, he had a feeling the fox didnt heal him so he would have more time to think, and less time to run from his problems in training.

Feeling his stomach start to grumble he groaned deciding he needed a hefty serving of ramed he turned to his teacher.

"Hey pervert I im hungry lets get some ramen!" he shouted out making the older man stuble as he looked up from his notbook.

"Dammit kid, dont yell in my ear, well be there in a few hours so your just going to have to deal with it! " the man grouned out putting a hand over his face in annoyance.

"Ughh fine! stupid pervert"

Sighing to himself he began to ponder on everything, regardless of how he acted, he knew he had to take this seriously, he had to get stronger. There were just too many enemies out there and not enough time. Orochimaru, Akatsuki, Sasuke. deciding to not think about it until he could eat he began to observe the path ahead, the land was barren and moist, rocks and puddles of water all over, not many trees here however, he sure missed those.

Scratching the back of his head, thankfull for the full use of his arms once again, his thoughts turned to another source of mystery for him, Miya she was unique, and he wasn't sure what to make of her exactly. Thinking back to his first real conversation with her suprised him, she didn't even know what ninja were yet she could weild a sword she said, it was odd...

Flashback start

They had been walking for a while and naruto was bored, something he was loathe to addmit happend quite often, deciding to find out more about their new compannion he turned hi head to look at her. "Hey Miya, where did you learn how to fight, was it from a saumari or maybe a super cool ninja" he had asked. Thinking it odd at the look of confusion that overtook her face.

He noted that she seemed to have a distant look in her eyes before shaking her head and smiling at him, head tilted slightly. "My Naruto dont you know its rude to ask a lady such things"? Pausing in his steps remembering her scary look the last time she made that face at him. "Erm sorry ya know, i was just curious i've never really met any samuari before".

Just as fast as the odd feeling she gave off came, it dissapeard as she began to giggle while covering her mouth with her sleeve. "I'm just joing with you, I dont really remember where i learned to fight, as long as i could remember i could weild a Sword with ease, granted practice does make perfect" she smiled while looking at him, her eyes shining as if she was recalling a happy memory.

"Wha, you just knew! thats tottaly cool ya know! Do you know any jutsu?" he had shouted out, reminded of so called geniuses like Neji and Sasuke, People born with talent, who also worked as hard as they could towards their goals, they always had cool jutsu and moves didn't they?

Smiling a bright smile at her he couldnt help but notice the confusion enter her eyes again. "Im sorry but what is this Jutsu thing you speak of, i dont belive i have ever heard of it before"? Hearing this Naruto paused in his walk confused, Didnt everyone know what jutsu were, i mean little kids grew up hearing stories about ninja and their cool jutsu!

"You know super cool moves that use chakra like the fireball or my shadow clones" he stated. Noticing that she still looked confused he decided that showing her would be a lot easier than him trying to explain, so he brought his hands in front of him in a familar cross shape. 'Shadow clone jutsu' he shouted as two exact copies of himself appeared.

She gasped, he noted that he look of surprisewas really cute, something he noted might be better kept to himself, less he get beat up by another girl, or worse his teacher noticing. "Wha, what the heck is that how are there three of you" she practially shouted at him.

"Hahah thats my shadow clone jutsu you know! i just channel some chakra and poof now theres a bunch of me!" He could see as she processed the information, realization dawning on her face 'still so cute' he thought.

"Thats quite amazing Naruto and you said you could do other things like make fireballs, ive known people who could control the elements before but i dont belive ive seen something like this, and this chakra you said what would that be" she had asked, dangit he never was any good at explaining things like this but he had to try.

"Well Sakura said that chakra was the ermm energy from you body and from your brain! and you controll it and make it do cool stuff!" he exclaimed thinking he got the point across, eyes drooping as he saw her looking confused again.

"Dammit kid how many times do we have to explain this to you!" he startled as jiraiya shouted towards him, forgetting that he was there.

"Listen up, both of you ill explain it one more time, Chakra is the combination of Phsycal and mental energy, you must balance your body and mind , creating a perfect unison of the two, this causes your body to produce chakra"

"Chakra is the energy of life, it is everywhere in everything, the plants the trees the rocks and even the toads!" he watched as Jiraiya explained Trying his best to remember this was important after all.

"Once you have chakra you can use a combination of phsycal hand signs and mental images to achieve different results those being called jutsu, now everybody has a different ammount of natural chakra in their body, and through excercise , training and expanding your limits mentally and phsycally you can learn to harness this energy more effectiveley"

Noting that the explination Jiraiya gave was a lot better than his he smiled and looked towards Miya. "Yeah thats chakra and jutsu! every ninja can do it, it just takes some training!"

"That is quite interesting, where im from we dont have anything of the sort, there were Ninja in the past but they couldnt use anything like that, they were just farmers trying to protect their homes" Miya had told him. Now that was a surprise to him, no Chakra, granny Tsunade had told him that everything needed chakra just to live.

Flashback end

That had come as quite a shock to the young man, he didnt quite know where she was from, or how exactly she ended up here, but he was certain that if people didn't have chakra where she was from then it couldnt have been from this world right? But that left the even bigger question, where was she from exactly? Shinto teito she had said, In a place called Japan. Now naruto was never the best in school, but he had seen a lot of maps when he was younger and dreaming of exploring the world, there was no place called that anywhere.

It was while he was thinking about this, he noticed a shadow covering the three of them, wondering what happened he glanced up, thats when he saw it, there was a big white bird flying in the sky above them, what appeared to be people on its back.

It was in this moment that many things happened catching the blonde off guard, First he heard Jiriya shout "Shit get down"! Followed by the man slamming into him and Miya

'Katsu' was the last thing he heard before all hell broke loose.

BOOOOOM! The ground around them exploded, rocks and debries flying everywhere, followed by another series of explosions, Boom, Boom, Boom Naruto was stunned, slight fear overtaking his visage, as he glanced around, He looked at Jiraiya standing in front of him and Miya arms raised in a defensive stance, an earthen wall crumbling around them. That was when he noticed two things in his adreniline filled state, first being the black robes, with red clouds. "No not now" he whispered out, glancing to his right he saw Miya, Blood trailing down the side of her face, pain apparent in her eyes.

Growling his head snapped back to the two figures rapidly decending towards them, eyes taking on a reddish glow, his visage becoming more feral. It was at this point His world went black.