• Chapter 3


    "Yep!" said the voice of Kyoma's long time friend, the voice of Blaise. He still had his spiky reddish brown hair. His enchanting, lime green eyes were, as always, easy to get lost in. He held his hand out to her, offering to help her stand back up. She grabbed it and he dragged her back up, causing her to almost stumble into him.
    Kyoma couldn't help but notice how much he's grown since then, but she knew that he was always going to be the same Blaise.
    "It looks like you still haven't grown much either, eh?" he was smiling down at her teasingly. She glared at him, punching him on his harm hard enough for it to break, but she made sure it was only enough to make him say, "Ow! You still got that strength?"
    "Blaise! I will seriously kill you if you keep on like this!" Kyoma grabbed onto his shoulder.
    "Okay, okay!" he laughed and looked up at the sign above them. "Oh, so you found Ichiraku's? Don't worry, his ramen is the best!" He gave her a sly grin. "I've been waiting to take you and Shy to eat here, since I became Jonin, but we're all too busy to actually take some time and have lunch." He sighed and then muttered quietly but loud enough for Kyoma to hear, "I didn't even get the chance to check out the graduates this year."
    Kyoma smiled, rolling her eyes at him. "So does that mean you're gonna pay for my food!? I'm starving!" She jumped up at him and then sighed. "I wanted to eat here with Shy, but she had to go home and celebrate her brother's gradutation."
    Blaise looked down at her, smiling. She still didn't change. She's still as excited and jumpy as ever, but she always think of the people she considers precious to her. "Don't worry, I'll pay for you. I actually wanted to be the first one to take you to this place, and Shy, but since she's not here, I'll just take her later." He smirked and winked down at her as she gave him a huge grin. "Besides, the old man has a really cute daughter."
    "Well, let's go!" Kyoma yelled punching the air, ignoring the comment made.
    "Kyo!" Shy appeared by them, a bit anxious. Kyoma nearly fell when Shy called out her name, but was caught by the arm of Blaise.
    "Blaise! You're back!" Shy hugged him, smiling. He was surprised at first, but returned the hug.
    Well, I guess they still like each other. Kyoma thought as she smiled at them. They don't say anything about it, but I'm pretty sure they do. Can't believe they still didn't tell me, I mean it'll be nice for one of them to confess that they're crushing on the other! Kyoma sighed, feeling a bit upset for some reason.
    "Oh, yeah!" Shy let go of Blaise and turned towards the both of them, "Hokage-sama, he said that he need us, right away!"
    "Right now? I was about to eat!" Kyoma complained.
    "Yeah, I know. I was almost home when my dad tracked me and told me that we had to go. So yeah, I'm kind of hungry too."
    "Do you have any details to why we have to go?" Kyoma sighed.
    "No, all I know is, that Hokage-sama said if anything goes wrong, the village will be in a huge amount of trouble." Shy's voice quieted a bit by every word.
    Kyoma's face became serious before she said, "let's go", and headed off toward the Hokage's office.
    Blaise and Shy looked at each other and smiled. "Just like the old days eh, Shy?" She said laughing and then ran after Kyoma.
    "Yeah," Shy muttered as she looked to where Blaise and Kyoma stood, "just like the old days." She smiled sadly and followed suit.

    ~*****~


    Kyoma could see a small crowd of people as she was closer to the Hokage. She saw that they all stood below the Hokage. I wonder what happened. Kyoma felt someone coming up to her right. She glanced back, finding Blaise just a few feet behind her. He looked up as her eyes found his. She then looked to her left, finding Shy right next to her, keeping up in the same speed. Kyoma spotted the hokage not to far off and put chakra into her feet. She jumped, landing beside the hokage as he looked down at the group of ninja who seemed to be having an argument.
    "So you've heard?" the hokage asked, keeping his eyes on the crowd.
    "Hokage-sama," Kyoma bowed while Shy and Blaise finally appeared righte beside her. "What is going on?" Kyoma asked, standing up straight.
    The old man looked down for a second and then sighed. "I can't say much, but all I can say is that a blond haired boy has stolen the First Hokage's Scroll of Sealing."
    "Oh, well I wonder how many blondes we have in the village?" Kyoma muttered sarcastically.
    "There's gotta be more than one blond kid here in the village." Blaise said. "I don't think we can go up to someone and just say 'Hey, Little Kid! Sorry, but do you by any chance have a huge scroll that's twice your size? And if so, we're going to have to take you to a very scary place! But don't worry, it's not the worst thing that can happen to you. Just next to the worst."
    The old man frowned at him, causing Blaise to look away feeling slightly guilty. "This kid, happens to be about your age, and as tall as Kyoma."
    "You mean as short." Blaise said teasingly. Kyoma glared at him but continued to listen to the hokage.
    "He has whisker marks on his cheeks and has green goggles. Also, he wears an orange jacket and pants, you can't miss it." The old man grinned as he said this.
    "Yes, Sir." Shy said, bowing her head.
    "I will send you first, because I suspect that you will be the first ones to find him." The hokage said and he looked down at the small crowd. "Good luck."
    "Yes, Sir!" They said in unison before seperating into the village.

    ~*****~

    "Let's see," Kyoma muttered to herself as she was walking in a forest in the village. "If I was a twelve year old kid with an important scroll that can get me in major trouble for stealing, where would I be? What would I even be doing with it!?" She banged her head in frustration as she continued searching.
    I'm pretty sure there would be some awesome jutsu in there though. I'd probably use it to become stronger. But, stealing is out of the line unless I absolutely have to. She stopped as she heard a voice that wasn't her own. She put her right hand to her weapon pouch.
    "Man! This is tougher than I thought!" Someone cried. She walked quietly towards the voice and hid behind a tree, masking her presence. She saw exactly what she's supposed to be looking for. She opened her mouth and closed it. That's the boy, the boy who was on the swing! But, why him? I don't get it! She remembered the women who were talking harshly about him. She then shook her head, how did he get the Scroll of Sealing?
    "What the?" she muttered to herself, as she stared in amazement at what seemed to be a hundred of blond spiky haired boys.
    "I did it!" the boy yelled punching the air. All of the clones then disappeared as he dismissed them. "I can't wait to show Iruka-sensei! I can finally become a genin!" He laughed a bit as he slumped onto the ground.
    I don't get it, this isn't how you become a genin.
    She watched as he seemed to be taking a break. Maybe I should talk to him now. She was about to come out from the tree when a man appeared by Naruto. He had on the green vest that most ninja in Konoha wear. His hair was pulled up in a ponytail, and he had a large scar across his nose. He had an annoyed look on his face as well.
    Iruka?
    "Looks like I found you." He said looking down on the boy. His voice was more annoyed than his face.
    "Hey, Iruka-sensei! I found you!" The boy smiled pointing at Iruka. His voice wasn't rough, it was the kind of soft voice, but with an energetic edge.
    "Idiot!" Iruka yelled. "I found you!"
    The boy put his hand behind his head, smiling. "You've found me. I only learned one jutsu."
    "Wait, you're all beaten up. What were you doing?" Iruka said.
    "Never mind that!" The boy yelled anxiously, "I'm gonna do an incredible jutsu! If I do it you'll let me graduate, right!?"
    Iruka had a shocked look on his face as the boy held his hands into the sheep hand seal.
    "Naruto."
    Naruto? That's his name? Kyoma made sure to stay hidden after almost revealing herself.
    "Yeah?" Naruto said, still holding his hand in the seal.
    "Where did you get that scroll on your back?"
    "Oh, this?" Naruto looked down to the scroll now hanging on his back. "Mizuki-sensei told me about his. And about this place, too!"
    "He said that if I show you this jutsu, that I'd definitly graduate!" Naruto said, looking extremely proud.
    This boy, he's so, determined. Kyoma felt different now, as she looked upon the face of the boy.
    Kyoma almost gasped as several kunai was heading towards the boy.
    Iruka pushed Naruto out of the way and was pushed against a wooden ware house by the kunai that wasn't meant to be his.
    "Nice job in finding him." The man Kyoma knew to be Mizuki was on a branch clost to her, he had wind shuriken on his back.
    "I see what's going on." Iruka said, putting his left arm around his chest. There were kunai in his legs and arms and one in his stomach, other kunai were on the wall beside him.
    "Naruto." Mizuke yelled, "give me the scroll!"
    Naruto looked confused as he looked to both teachers. "What's going on?"
    Kyoma watched the scene, clenching her fists. She didn't know what was going on, but she didn't like it.
    "Naruto! Don't give him the scroll! Even if you die!" Iruka commanded Naruto, desperately. "That is a dangerous scroll that has forbidden jutsu sealed inside it, Mizuki used you in order to put his hands on it!"
    Naruto turned to Mizuki, anger flashed in his eyes.
    "There's no point in you having it." Mizuki smirked, pointing to the kid. "I'll tell you the truth."
    "No! Don't!" Iruka yelled, seeming to know what Mizuki was talking about.
    Ignoring Iruka, Mizuki continued. Kyoma leaned forward, finding herself getting lost in their conversation. "Twelve years ago, you remember about the demon fox that was sealed, right?"
    Oh yeah, I heard about that. Some guys who looked like regulars at the restaurant I was at were talking about it. But after that I hadn't seen them since.
    "Since that incident, a new rule was created for this village." Mizuki had an evil look in his eyes.
    "A rule?" Naruto looked up at the man, looking confused.
    "But Naruto, this rule was never meant to be told to you."
    "Not to me? What's the rule? Why can't I know?" Naruto seemed determined to find out what everyone else knew.
    Mizuki laughed maliciously.
    "What kind of rule is it?" Naruto asked.
    "The rule is, that nobody is allowed to talk about the fact that you are the demon fox."
    Naruto's face turned to a look of shock.
    "What?" Kyoma muttered, her face as shocked as the boys'. The demon fox? This boy? No, he can't be! She bit hard on her lip, she could smell the blood from Iruka. She wanted to be there, she wanted to help. Right now, she even had a strong urge to kill Mizuki, but she also had a strong feeling that she shouldn't interfere here.
    "What do you mean?" Naruto said, probably unable to accept what Mizuki said.
    "Stop it!" Iruka yelled to Mizuki.
    "It means, you are the nine tails demon, that killed Iruka's parent and nearly destroyed the village! You were sealed up by the hokage that you admire and-"
    "I said stop!" Iruka yelled again.
    "You have been lied to by everyone!"
    Kyoma could see the tears welling up in Naruto's eyes as he looked down.
    "Didn't you find it od how everyone hates you?" Mizuki said, "Iruka is the same, even he hates you!"
    Kyoma heard a small growl from the boy. Her eyes widened as chakra surrounded the boy. His eyes were filled with anger, but tears still spilled from his eyes. Pain that the boy probably held in for years. Kyoma could feel his hurt inside her own heart. She felt tears in her own eyes.
    She quickly spun around and pulled our her kunai, copying the man now in front of her.
    "Sound familiar doesn't it." The man in front of her said, smirking.
    "Tamata," Kyoma frowned, "what do you want?" She wanted to look back at the scene she was watching, but now she had another matter to deal with.
    "Oh, nothing." He said, "Hikari-chan just wanted me to check up on you is all. But, I've noticed that you've found the monster of this village as well." He smiled at her.
    She clenched her hand around her kunai. She hated his smile, all she wanted to do was cut it off with her own kunai.
    "You and him are the same." Tamata said, glancing at the boy behind them.
    "Yeah, I've noticed." Kyoma said, her voice cold.
    "Just like you, he was treated badly by everyone. Never had any friends. Sounds kind of sad, doesn't it?"
    Kyoma held onto her kunai tighter, grinding her teeth. "I never asked for your opinion. Now tell me the real reason why you are here, or I'll cut your stupid smile off your face."
    "Okay, okay! Calm down Princess." Tamata held his hands out in surrender. "Hikari-chan, she has a mission for you."
    Kyoma rolled her eyes, "well maybe I'm sick of her missions."
    "You know what will happen if you don't do what she says." He put his hand to her cheek, smiling. "Everyone you love, will die."
    "Fine," Kyoma pushed his hand away, "what does she want me to do?"
    "She has a new plan. In order for it to work, she wants you to gather information about the ninja here in your village. The new genin as well."
    "Fine." Kyoma muttered. "Now leave me be."
    "As you wish." He smirked and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
    She looked back to the kid, but he was no longer there. She felt a hand on her shoulder and she grabbed it, flipping the person onto the ground.
    "Ow!" Blaise was on the ground, twitching a bit.
    "Oh, hey Blaise!" she smiled down at him.
    "Hey." He said, making big breaths. He stood up and smiled at her. "I was looking for that blond kid, but couldn't find him. Then I found this forest and wondered if he was in here, but it turns out I found you instead." He laughed rubbing the back of his head.
    "Uh, yeah." I hope it goes alright. "I looked all over the forest, but didn't find him."
    "Oh, you sure? I'll double check." he said, beginning to walk forward.
    "So you don't trust my own abilities!?" Kyoma yelled trying to sound mad.
    Blaise froze and turned back towards Kyoma, smiling innocently. "Of course I trust your abilities," he said, "how about we go for some ramen?". He smiled again, knowing that Kyoma wouldn't be able to resist the though of food. She smiled back excitingly but then she calmed down.
    "Actually, I wanna stick here for a while." She turned towards the spot where Naruto was and sniffed the air, she still held a small scent of his chakra from here. It smelled different than anyone else's.
    "Well, can I stay here with you?" Blaise asked her looking slightly concerned.
    "No!" Kyoma yelled, turning to him. "I mean, I just wanna think here is all. It seems peaceful."
    Blaise didn't look convinced, but he shrugged. "If you say so, I guess." He gave her one last 'better not be looking for trouble' look and took off.
    "I'll do anything to protect you guys." Kyoma said to herself. Even going against you.