Summary: Summary: Naru's dream was for true recognition as a ninja and for a family. On her path as a ninja she swore nothing would come between those goals. But life has a weird system, one that sends Naru on a spiraling path. One that may seem perfect but is it worth the cost? Can she realize this before she ends up trapped?

Rating: OT - language, violence, death, suicide

Poison.

"It is with the utmost pride and my greatest honor that I name the youngest, most beautiful, and most skilled kunoichi as Godaime Hokage!" His gravelly voice called loudly to the crowd below. His liver-spotted cheeks stretched wide as he grinned at the young kunoichi who stood behind him. He removed the odd-shaped hat from his gray hair gently placed it upon my blonde hair and nodded. For decades it had taken residence upon his, only having a brief absence for the Yondaime's short reign before returning to its place. But as of today it would be on my head, I was to display the hat proudly and I would. His dark eyes drank in my orange jumpsuit under the haori, my sparkling blue eyes, and my wide stretched grin.

"Step forward and introduce yourself as their Lady Hokage," He said beckoning to the cheering crowd. I took in a deep breath raised my chin and walked to the edge overlooking the thousands of people who cheered loudly. My body was tense and tears slipped down my cheeks as they cried and cheered, my grin grew more which didn't seem possible.

"Lady Naru," I turned to her predecessor who motioned to a large bowl of ramen with steam rising, next to it stood Teuchi and Ayame.

"We wish to bestow upon you this ramen pool that will never go out! It's the least we could do,"
"Cool!" I cheered and ran forward jumping up and landing in the warm liquid and took in a big mouthful of broth. "This is the greatest day of my life!" I cheered and grabbed a piece of fishcake and bit into it.

"Naru," I popped up over the edge of the bowl finding Sasuke, Kakashi, and Sakura bowing to me before looking up and opening their mouths.

"Beep beep beep beep beep!" I blinked in shock as everyone began to make the same noise which grew louder and louder.

"What?!" I yelped as the bowl began to drain around me. "NO!"

Beep beep beep beep be-beep beep beep I threw my hand out from my warm covers and slammed it on top of the alarm clock that decided to pull me from the greatest dream EVER! I blinked away the sleep sand in my eyes and looked at the pillow latched between my jaws, no wonder my fishcake tasted so wrong.

"Ughhhh!" I groaned and snuggled down in my warm bed but peered out at the alarm clock that glowed bright blue time of 6:00 AM. Why in the world did I set my alarm so early for again? I questioned myself racking my still sleep-muddled brain for the answer. I stared at the date shining above the time, August 20th for a few more moments before it clicked.

Today was team 7's big C-rank mission! Thanks to my charming and persuasive ways I managed to do the unheard of, get a new genin team an out-of-village C-rank mission!

"OH YEAH!" I cheered jumping from bed and throwing my blankets off and onto the floor as I raced around getting ready. I yanked my orange jumpsuit on tied my hair into my signature pigtails and proudly tied my Konoha hitai-ate on my forehead. I had a great feeling about this mission, my very cells were vibrating, starting today we would prove team 7 was the best of the best! And I would prove that a certain Sasuke-teme wasn't that great, or at least greater than me!

I tore through my apartment gathering extra clothes, weapons, supplies and of course instant ramen. I glanced once more at the clock now shining 6:30, I couldn't be late, of course, I knew Kaka-sensei would be late, he always was late, but it didn't mean I had to! I slurped the noodles from my instant ramen cup as I ran through the quiet streets and arrived at the gates finding our client Tazuna, who was nothing more than a drunk asshole, leaning against the gates. But if dealing with him meant it would open the door I needed to get better missions and advancement in rank, then I gotta do what I gotta do!

Sasuke-teme was leaning against the stand glaring at nothing, I swear he never smiled, he just wanted the whole world to burn or something … and of course, glued to his side was Sakura who was trying to gain his attention and would fail miserably every. Single. Time. She dealt with his cold shoulder, jabs at her strength, she was nothing but a lovestruck idiot and he … well … maybe he was a robot…

I inhaled deeply and strode up with a grin on my face. "Morning!"

Tazuna replied with a 'harrumph!' and of course, Teme replied with his usual 'Hn'. maybe it was a secret language… Sakura was the only one to greet me back before we fell into silence to wait for however long Kaka–sensei would keep us waiting.

But surprisingly he showed up less than five minutes late, so he could be on time!

"Everyone ready?" He questioned, I cheered with a jump walking through the gates and looking around excited, after all this would be my first time outside the village walls and to another country.

"Why are you so excited Naru?" Sakura asked.

"This is the first time I've been allowed to leave the village, it's gonna be awesome!"

"Am I really supposed to put my life in this shrimp's hands!?" Tazuna snarled, and my eye twitched at his insult.

"There is no call for concern, I am an elite jounin, you're just fine," Kaka-sensei said holding his hands up and trying to placate the man.

'This guy is a complete jerk!'

"Listen you old fart! You never mess with a ninja, EVER!" I pointed towards him. "I'm one of the top ninjas in the year and one day I'm gonna be Hokage, so remember my name Uzumaki Naru!" I adjusted my hitai-ate.

"HA! Hokage are the best of the best right? I don't see anything in you that would put you anywhere close to that title." I snarled as he continued to berate me and drink his stupid alcohol.

"I'll be working up that level fast! Soon I'll be Hokage and you'll regret not giving me some respect just like everyone else!"

"Listen here kid, I won't respect you now, and I sure won't respect you if you could become Hokage."

"I'll make you!" I snarled and whirled towards him about to launch toward him before Kakashi's hand grabbed my jacket collar effectively choking me and stopping my attack at once.

"I've told you once, he's a client, and you can't attack a client!" he scolded. I looked away, wishing that this mission was over already.

The morning passed slowly as we started our journey to the Land of Waves. It was mostly silent or listening to Tazuna's grumbling. I didn't quite understand what the big deal was. We were protecting him from robbers, that was it. It was a stepping stone on my path, and it would propel me forward so I could go on to make Iruka-sensei, Kakashi-sensei, the old man, and everyone proud and regret their treatment of me.

I would surpass them all, I would surpass the Yondaime even! I swore it, my ninja way would never change!

"Mr. Tazuan, you said you're from the land of Waves right?" Sakura asked suddenly drawing my attention.

"What of it?" He snipped. I let out a breath of air trying to prevent another explosion at the jerk!

"Kakashi-sensei, there are ninjas in the land of Waves aren't there?"

"No, not in Waves, but other countries are hidden villages each with their own customs and cultures, where ninjas reside." He replied.

"So, why are there ninjas in other countries?" She questioned.

"To the people of each country, the existence of ninjas means military strength, in other words, that's how they protect themselves and maintain the balance of their lands. Ninja villages are not under the control of the government, but when it comes to small islands like Waves, it has natural protection from the sea, so they do not need a ninja village." He completed.

"Which ones have ninja villages?" she asked. Sasuke let out an almost inaudible groan, rolling his eyes at the history lesson that was coming, and I began to tune out the lesson, too.

"Lands that consist of ninjas are the lands of Fire, Water, Lightning, Wind, and Earth. Each has vast lands, they are known as the five great shinobi nations."

I itched my ear as he continued to talk about how great and powerful the Hokage was, while I had some doubt about the Old Man's great power, I knew without a doubt the Kage were top-notch.

Sasuke gave a twitch drawing my attention, I followed his view to Tazuna who had suddenly gone deadly silent and had guilt all over his face, I shook my head continuing on the journey.

Kakashi-sensei's gasp broke the silence that fell over us again, the scraping of metal on metal made us whirl to him.

The jounin was bound by shuriken chains held taut by two garbed ninjas who wore gas masks over their mouths and a different country symbol on their hitai-ate.

"What the?!" I yelped in shock.

"Ready?"
"Do it." Both enemies questioned and replied yanking the chains and brutally ripping sensei to pieces that fell to the ground. Sakura screamed in horror as dust rose around our slain teacher.

"Kakashi-sensei!" I yelped before the air behind me shifted and I found both enemies standing right behind me.

"Number two," He purred in my ear.

I turned slowly meeting the maddened eyes of the one and could almost see the sinister smirk on his face as he yanked his arm back with a new length of shuriken chains that whipped right to me.

'Move! Move!' I yelped in my head but my body only quivered in fear, I saw the blue and white blur of Sasuke who sprung right into action yanking a kunai and shuriken and launching them at the chain causing them to be pinned in the tree behind us.

Both yanked at the chain but it was pinned tight, it was the perfect time for me to move, and yet, nothing!

Sasuke landed on their gauntlets flipping up and kicking both in the jaw throwing them down which made them break the chains and they tumbled to the dirt.

'Wow…'

Both quickly untangled and raced into their jobs, one rounded towards me, and I screamed in pure fear as his bladed hand shot towards me about to take me down.

I shut my eyes tight. "Get behind me, sir!" Sakura's voice echoed, a sharp pain slammed into my body and I hit the dirt with a cry, a muffled thud sounded, and the gag of someone.

I heard Sakura let out a gasp, I opened my eyes to see the familiar shoes that belonged to Kakashi-sensei standing there with an enemy unconscious under one arm and the other at his feet.

'What?!' I wondered and turned to see broken pieces of a log laying in the place where we watched his body fall earlier.

'He used Kawarimi….' I figured in complete awe struggling to catch my breath and calm my heart.

"Sorry Naru, I should have acted sooner, I didn't mean for you to be hurt, I never took you to freeze in battle," Kakashi-sensei said, I looked at him as he stared down at me before looking at Sasuke. "Good job Sasuke, you too Sakura," He complimented.

'I couldn't do a single thing … but Sasuke, who's never been in battle either acted like it was nothing! He didn't even break a sweat! But still saved me!' I thought looking at my rival, not a scratch, bruise, or stain on his body.

"Hey," Sasuke called pulling me back. "You okay, scaredy-cat?" He asked with a smirk, I let out a yell as I shot up from my place in the dirt.

"SASUKE!" I snarl stomping forward about to punch him in his smug face.

"Naru!" Kakashi-sensei barked making me jump in fear. "Stop it, their claws are poisoned, you were hit," I looked down to see blood running from my hand, I didn't even feel it. I huffed at the deep gash. "We'll have to open that wound so your blood can flow getting the poison out of you, for now, no sudden movements," He scolded, I hunched and felt my cheeks burn.

He turned to Tazuna who was pale. "And as for you Mr. Tazuna, we need to talk." The man jolted in shock. "What is it!?"

"Our attackers are chunin ninjas from Kirigakure in the land of Mist. They are known for their teamwork and determination of their missions, they rarely fail." Kakashi said as he tied the two up to a tree. "They have been following us since Konoha."

"How did you know?" The one groaned as he came to.

"Hmph, a puddle, on a clear day like this? When it hasn't rained in weeks," Kakashi stated.

"If you know they were there, why'd you let the kids handle it?" Tazuna asked.

"I could have dispatched them right there, but I would have learned nothing, but by playing dead I could figure out if they were ninja attacking ninja or…." He trailed off looking at him again. "You. they were after you," We all turned to the man curious. "When you requested this mission, you said nothing of chunin ninja being after you, you requested protection from robberies and typical ambushes. Had we known this was the level we would have staffed and charged properly." Kakashi-sensei said in a tone I never heard him use before, it was anger. "This is now a B-rank mission."

"We're not trained fully for this yet, we're only new genin, we can't do something like this." Sakura jumped in trying in a nicer tone. "And I really think we need to get Naru checked out with that poison." She said Kakashi-sensei turned his sights on me, and I jolted back, my breathing now huffing as my body shook.

"I suppose so, this is a danger and who knows what that poison will do…" Kaka-sensei said rolling his eye, I let out a whimper as I stepped back slowly.

My heart was thundering in my ears and my breathing was fast but so shallow I couldn't get enough in my lungs. "I suppose we have to." He sighed.

I whimpered feeling the disappointment radiating off of him, I moved to reach my kunai holster but as soon as I began to raise the blade it fell from my fingers as my legs gave out and I hit the ground.

My head vibrated in pain from the harsh connection with the dirt, I watched blurry-eyed as they surrounded me, and Kakashi-sensei pulled me in his arms.

"Naru! Naru! Hey! Listen to my voice! Hey! Don't close your eyes!" He barked and yet his voice continued to fade, my vision started to go gray as I felt the sting of pain in my hand.

"Naru!" Sakura yelled before my body gave up and I felt all the strength leave me and I was wrapped in sweet darkness…