This story is a little cross over with Ninja Gaiden. But the amount of their appearances is not enough to put it into the crossover section so I decided to release it into Naruto fanfictions instead.
Warning: English is not my main language. None of Naruto and Ninja's Gaiden characters belong to me.
Reviews are appreciated.
"..." Normal chat.
ABC. Thought.
Chapter 1
"We're almost there."
The masked man in black suit informed about our arrival. One hand holding me tight and the other hand carrying a sword, slashing everything with malice intentions that getting in his way.
Why are we in such a hurry? Why are these people and strange looking machines chasing after us?
While I stared at the mysterious man with a bunch of questions floating inside my head.
Did I do something wrong? Was that why you're fighting them to protect me?
This was the man who had claimed to be Hayabusa Ryu. We first met at a place called *The White Room*, where I had grew up in ever since I was born.
"Come with me. I'll take you to safety."
There, he promised me a peaceful and happy life at somewhere far away from these white ceilings, called Hayabusa village.
"Okay."
Without realizing the true purpose of my birth, I accepted his offer. Leading to what was happening to us right then.
After forever dashing through the misty forest, we reached to a Japanese village. Small, harmless and peaceful, were the first impressions I had the moment I stepped my feet into the area.
Unfamiliar faces, voices started surrounding me so I cowered behind Ryu's back to avoid the unnecessary attentions.
"This place shall be your home from now on. You will be safe here."
He said, leading me into the furthest houses inside the village.
While making our way through the small path, I noticed there were more people who dressed similar to this man guarding all over the place. Some of them seemed to be practicing with various type of weapons at the yard nearby.
Soon we reached the house's gate and I saw a young woman standing by it. She's wearing a pair of red trousers and long sleeves white jacket, her hair was tied into a high ponytail and carrying a broom in her hand.
"Welcome home, Ryu-sama."
The moment he arrived, Momiji stepped out to greet him. She sighed in relief when finding no serious injuries on his body.
"And this girl must be..."
"Yes, it's her."
Ryu confirmed that she's their target as Momiji takes a closer look at the mysterious girl in white hospital gown.
She has round face, small noses, straight orange hair that is bright like the sun down to her neck. Topaz colored pair of eyes and pale skin. Looked to be around eight years old but was quite thin for a kid at her age.
"What's your name?"
Momiji asked her. But she hid herself further behind Ryu's legs and looked away.
'Her name is Nina."
Ryu's reply instantly earned a surprise, as much as confused, look from the girl.
"My name is Momiji. From today, I will be the one to take care of you. So let's be friends, okay?"
Nina seemed to be wary about her at first, but she soon gave in to her kindness.
"You must be hungry. Let's us get you something to eat."
Since the sun almost set, Momiji led Nina into the house to give her a bath and prepared dinner for her.
Inside the bath house.
"Can you speak?"
Since Nina had not once opened her mouth to speak ever since they met, Momoji asked her about it while washing her hair. It's so messy as if they hadn't been washed for ages.
"Y...e...s..?"
Nina hesitated for a moment before answering in broken Japanese.
Alright, now I know exactly what we should work on first. Having made decision in her mind, Momiji fastened up and they soon got out of the bathhouse to grab some food before starting Nina's first lesson. Spelling and Writing.
Three months then quickly passed by.
Spending my time here, Momiji had taught me almost everything that I needed to survive. Language, dressing, cooking, manner, shinobi's history and their lifestyles,...
To defend myself against the enemies that lurking around the area, Ryu suggested me become a shinobi like any other kids his village.
"This is Omitsu. She will be your master from now on."
So I was introduced to Omitsu, the head ninja who was in charge of the children of the village and Ryu's past teacher. At the training ground, she would teach us basic shinobi skills and archery skills.
A few weeks later.
"That girl still can't throw a shuriken?"
From afar, one of the boys in the group commented after watching Nina's countless attempts to throw a shuriken into the aiming board at the big tree up ahead.
"Neither high jump nor dash."
A girl stood next to him recalled that Nina couldn't keep up with her teammates at their physical lesson as well.
"Eh, I doubt she would suit to be a shinobi."
Another boy came up and added in their story-telling.
Well, excuse me for being born without a talent.
Exactly as they said, my progress was much slower than them. Therefore I had to pay double or even triple the effort in order to become a shinobi. But that didn't cause Ryu to give up on me.
So he decided that we would train together whenever I was free from Omitsu's lessons, whether it's days or nights, rains or storms. At the end of the day, Momiji would cook food for me and tended my injuries. Also constantly reminded Ryu to take things easy since I was still a kid.
A couple more months passed.
One day, Ayane and Kasumi showed up at our place. As far as I knew they were sisters from different fathers and were once shinobi from another clan called Mugen Tenshin. By then, they were being hunted down by their own people over some complicated reasons.
My first impression about Ayane that she was a teenage girl with short purple hair and striking red eyes, slender, petite and athletic. Giving off quite an odd, cold aura around her and didn't talk much unless it's required. Suffering from an obsession with violet color and butterflies.
On the other hand Kasumi was a slender, physically-fit and petite young woman with long chestnut brunette hair and amber eyes. Kind, caring and compassionate, acting like a loving older sister even though we were only first met.
From time to time, these two came to our village to discuss important businesses with Ryu. And while they're here, Ayane would help me with my training and Kasumi would shower me with clothes that she bought during her traveling.
"So what do you think about living here, how is it?"
Watching Sakura flowers falling from their tree in the middle of our yard, Momiji asked me.
"Except for the extreme trainings. This place isn't so bad. Everyone is nice to me and I learnt a lot from them."
Eyes weren't leaving the Sakura tree, I spoke.
"Plus your food is delicious."
Therefore my comment about Momiji's cooking instantly earned a smile from her.
"Oh right, I had made some mochi this morning. Do you want to get them with me?"
Receiving Momiji's offer to collect my favorite treats in the kitchen. I quickly accepted.
"Of course. I will help making some tea too."
Four years later.
"Happy 12th birthday!"
Everyone cheers the moment I, in a casual shinobi-in-training outfit, step into our living room after receiving a long battle lesson from Ryu.
"I haven't seen you only for a while and you've already reached this tall!"
Before I can even react to the surprise celebration, Kasumi has rushed over to give me a tight embrace.
After four years Nina has reached to 150cm. Still keeping her hair short and loose around her neck, wearing no accessories or whatsoever. Overall she looks the same from before, only taller.
"Don't tell me you forget your own birthday already?"
Seeing my dumbfounded reaction, Momiji huffs in annoyance while helping me to get out of Kasumi's strong grip.
My birthday? Oh right, I was too busy with all the training and completely forgot about it.
Once reaching to the table in the middle of the room, a strawberry cake with twelve burning candles can be seen sitting on a big white plate. And a *Happy Birthday to Nina!* sentence is written in chocolate cream on its surface.
"Here, I'm sure you will love it."
Kasumi hands me a gift box and I open it up to find a sleeveless Kimono lying neatly inside. Orange color with black trim, the dress is down to my knees plus a net t-shirt inside and even stockings, knee-high boots and arm-guards.
"Now that you've grown and starting to become such a fine Kunoichi. I say we should get prepared, right?"
She says, while caressing my hair.
"And this is my gift for you."
When it's Ayame's turn, she places something on my head that appears to be a orange with black pattern butterfly hair-clip.
It's then I realize that both of these items are orange themed. Did they go and pick my gift together or just a coincidence?
"Don't forget about me! Tada!"
And Momiji hands me a mountain of books, all of which is titled as Naruto.
"Wow you collected everything? Has the story completed yet?"
Needless to say how awed I am at the sights of the books neatly placed in front of me.
"For the first and second part, yes. But for the next part... Well I'm not going to spoil it until you finish reading these!"
She points at the spiky yellow haired boy at the cover page and tells me briefly about his story.
Manga about the hidden shinobi world? Interesting. Perhaps I should give it a try.
After taking a quick scan onto the first several pages, I find them quite an entertaining read.
"Sorry I'm late."
A familiar voice cut through my thoughts and in instant I turn around. Seeing Ryu is standing by the living room's door and seems to be carrying something in his hands as well.
"This is yours. Happy birthday, Nina."
His gift is a pair of daggers which hilts is covered by small red ropes that act as an decoration.
"I have them made especially for you."
Then Ryu explains the crafted weapons origin but I'm too busy admiring its beauty to listen. These daggers are neither too heavy nor too light, length around my arm and completely fit with my movements.
"I... I don't know what to say. Thank you. Everyone."
Completely lost for words by the incredible gift, I begin muttering in incomplete sentence and Ryu pats my head.
"Never stop trying, okay? We believe in you."
"Okay!"
Holding back the tears forming in my eyes, I nod excitedly.
"Alright, let's us start cutting the cake!"
After everything has calmed down, Momiji announces to begin our the party.
"I'll handle the grilled chicken."
Kasumi immediately offering her help. As I too, putting the dagger around my waist and start spreading the plates, cups onto the table. While Ryu is, well, just chilling at his own seat and enjoying the food we provide quietly.
The night goes by peacefully for us just like that. Also...
I was completely drawn into the books that Momiji gave me for my birthday that ended up reading them nonstop. To the point be able to finish everything within one week, without skipping any practices, of course.
But that didn't mean the end of it as Momiji started showering me in DVDs with hundreds of episodes. Including the original series, Shippuden and OVA, etc.
Somehow I still managed to watch them all within a short amount of time and not slowing down my training progresses, miraculously...
In one afternoon.
Cannot wait for the next part of the story to be out fully to read. I sneak into Momiji's room to take a peek into some of it since I'm sure she already has them collected in the beginning of their release.
A traditional Japanese room, isn't too large but cozy. Its structure is similar to any other rooms in the house, mine included. There are a couple of Miko attires hanging on the wall, a small wooden desk at the corner and a high neck vase contains fresh flowers from our garden.
"Yes! Found it!"
After passing the shelves, books by books, I spot the familiar name on the cover page.
There are only four volumes for now but I can live with that.
Gently I take Boruto first volume off the shelf and starts reading. And before I know it, the sun has already set.
Aww! Time sure does fly fast.
Reluctantly I put the books back to where they belong and get out of the room.
"Nina! Hurry and get out of here!"
All of a sudden, I hear a loud crashes by the hall along with Momiji's horrid scream.
"Momiji nee-sama!"
Following direction of her voice, I reach to our yard and there, multiple unfamiliar men in black suit can be seen carrying some kind of mechanic weapon in their hands that I've never seen before and surrounding Momiji into a circle.
Guns? No, they are far different from it. Just what exactly are they and how can I counter them?!
Notice my presence, one man steps out of his group and starts approaching me.
"We've finally found you. No. 9."