..::..

So here we are again for another random idea story. I guess I'm more capable of starting stories, than I am at updating them, huh? Oh well. This will be my second Fem!Naru story in Fan Fiction Corner, and I hope it's well received.

Please enjoy the chapter.

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I DO NOT OWN NARUTO

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"Ramen" – Speech

'Ramen' – Thoughts

"Ramen" – Bijuu/Summon Speech

'Ramen' – Bijuu/Summon Thoughts

"Ramen" – God/Deity Speech

'Ramen' – God/Deity Thoughts

..::..

Kushina Uzumaki winced as she gazed at the form of her stillborn daughter. She ignored Tsunade Senju as she swore that she could save the child, or Orochimaru as he gazed at the newborn with interest in this serpentine gaze. Her daughter was dead – Minato – bless his soul, had managed to reseal the Kyuubi no Kitsune into her newly reinforced seal, as Tsunade had returned to heal her throughout her pregnancy to her twins.

Her firstborn was the stillborn girl in her arms, whilst her second born was a healthy baby boy. Kushina began to weep for her lost daughter and handed the child to her sensei, Tsunade.

"Please," Kushina begged. "Please just take her away from me."

Tsunade tenderly accepted the bundle and sniffled miserably as she left the room. Orochimaru followed – consoling his teammate as they left the redhead to her sorrow.

"Tsunade, allow me to offer my assistance," Orochimaru smoothly offered.

The Senju woman hesitated, but the grief of the events and the loss of her niece's parents weighed heavily on her mind. So without knowing what her snake-like teammate had in mind, she handed over the child before fleeing the hospital.

Once she was gone, Orochimaru grinned and injected a syringe into the child. It had been child's play to be there to assist the birthing of the Uzumaki twins, and a quick prick to the firstborn with a needle coated in a powerful sleeping agent was enough to convince the two women that the girl was dead.

The child stirred as he administered the antidote in the syringe. "Relax, dear child. When I'm through with you, you will be the perfect little soldier for our experiments."

He left with the child, who strangely kept quiet – studying the man carrying her.

..::..

Naru Uzumaki stared blankly at her scrolls. Her glowing blood red eyes analysing every possible piece of information contained on them. Her master, Lord Orochimaru had kindly gifted her with only the best of educations, and despite his harsh methods – she dearly loved her master.

"Naru-chan," her Master's voice beckoned from her doorway.

Naru perked up and carefully rolled the scroll back up before moving to kneel at her master's feet. "Yes, Lord Orochimaru – how may I be of assistance to you?"

Orochimaru grinned at the redheaded child. He had owned her for six years now, and like her parents – she was incredibly powerful. His harsh training in conjunction with his silent partner, had borne tremendous results.

His new servant was exceptionally trained and raised. Her body was packed with highly dense and flexible muscle, and her being ambidextrous was a boon. Despite his genetic manipulations, she remained petite and skinny – a by-product of tampering with her tissue on a cellular level. This tampering granted her Tsunade's super strength without the need to augment limbs with chakra.

His silent partner had somehow obtained genetic material on two related Sharingan users from the Uchiha Clan, and his attempts to integrate the genetic material had been a success. She had already adapted nicely to the strain as they'd just performed a transplant to give her the theorised and mythical Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. It still amazed the serpentine man that she could adapt so easily to whatever they did to her young body. All his experiments were leading him to eventually brand the child … to claim her body as his own, but that had to wait until she was older.

The only defect the child had was her inability to speak. Oh she was completely capable of speech, but she remained silent most of the time unless spoken to, and even then, she was silent in the majority of her responses.

True, she never remembered the horrific experiments he forced on her, thanks to a handy memory seal, but the undying loyalty to her master was a sight to behold.

Whatever he went to say was suddenly cut off by a massive explosion from his hideout's entrance.

"Shit, dear old sensei found me at last," Orochimaru snarled. "Naru … proceed to evacuate and don't forget to erase any evidence, am I clear?"

Naru saluted and silently sped into the darkness of the lair. Another explosion rocked the hideout and he cursed once more. "They know of the back entrance too? It appears I have a spy in my midst."

..::..

"My Lord Hokage," a dog masked ANBU exclaimed as he caught his leader. "It appears that we've lost contact with the Eastern Breech Team."

"The back entrance?" the Sandaime (Third) Hokage pondered out loud. "Then we must make haste there now."

The Dog ANBU nodded and relayed their leader's commands to the rest of the ANBU unit following behind them.

'First I'm unable to strike my traitorous ex-student down,' Hiruzen growled. 'And now there's something that's capable of killing the fresh ANBU unit somewhere in the facility … Kami how I wish I hadn't found out about this.'

The scene that they arrived to was not what they expected. There, standing the in the centre of the room was what could be described as a Mini-Kushina dressed in a torn and battered hospital gown – though the obvious differences alarmed the Sandaime Hokage. For the girl before them had ruby-red Sharingan eyes aimed in their direction whilst standing there, covered in blood without a care in the world.

Her emotionless gaze caused a shiver to go down his spine as he recalled his sensei: Tobirama Senju and his NE (ROOT) ANBU. Her gaze cautiously slipped to the ANBU with him and she shifted to a defensive stance. He had to hand it to whoever trained her, but she was at least as skilled as his ANBU.

"Identify yourself, child," Hiruzen demanded, his chakra becoming palpable. The child blinked and seemed to ponder something before shifting once more to ready a weapon that had been previously hidden.

It was a simple scythe. No extras or defining features – just a normal wooden handled, steel blade scythe. She analysed his stance but backed down as he unleashed his KI (Killer Intent).

"I am Naru," she finally intoned emotionlessly. "You shall not harm my master, Lord Orochimaru. If my death is the reason for his escape, then I die willingly."

The Sandaime grew tired of the events of the day and he knew now that his pursuit of his ex-student was a futile endeavour to continue. Quicker than anyone could process, he appeared before the newly identified Naru and knocked her out with an incredible strike to her stomach.

"Restrain her," he ordered. "Then give her to Anko and Ibiki for interrogation."

The ANBU bowed and left with the child. The only remaining member – the Dog masked ANBU – raised an unseen brow at his leader. "Do you want to tell her … or should we sacrifice an ANBU to do it?"

"Neither," Hiruzen sighed. "We shall not inform Lady Namikaze of this. Even if it is possibly her daughter – any stress would destabilize the village. We told the public that her deceased daughter contained the Kyuubi remember? As far as Konoha knows … the Nine-Tailed Fox is dead."

As it turned out – the newly designed Uzumaki Truth Seals helped the Torture and Interrogation Division immensely. Kushina had been obsessively busy since the events, six years prior. The Seal worked by infiltrating the Chakra Network of the prisoner and compelled them to be truthful.

The Uzumaki girl knew surprisingly little about her master's plans, but they did discover the memory seal behind her ear. Once it was released, her loyalty to the Snake Sannin had been destroyed, though the pain from reliving the experiments was enough to cause incredible damage to her psyche. The six year old girl withdrew in on herself and refused to eat or sleep. In the end, Hiruzen was left with no alternative than to have Kushina Seal her memories.

The irony was that Kushina didn't even register the child's similarities with her appearance. She just moved in, sealed the girl, and left. Kushina's behaviour stunned those present – her sensei Tsunade being one of them, but they understood that apart from her son Kenji, and her loyalty to the Village, she cared for little.

The child became an energetic and loud brat, though through Hiruzen's interactions with the girl, he had become attached to her. She was a breath of fresh air to the village, but that only lasted six months. Word had slipped somehow – though he suspected Danzo – that she was the reincarnation of the Kyuubi. The Village looked at her in fear and loathing and started to abuse the poor girl. Despite this, Kushina remained locked in her Compound with her son, and only ever ventured out to purchase the essentials needed to live.

It was only mistimed luck that prevented the two from meeting … but that was about to change.

..::..

"Team Seven, under the tutelage of Hatake Kakashi and Kushina Namikaze consists of Sasuke Uchiha, Kenji Namikaze, and Naru."

Naru excitedly listened to the other teams being called out. She had never met their third teammate Kenji before, but he was related to the greatest Hokage ever, and her hero: the Yondaime (Fourth) Hokage! She watched a blonde haired child with whisker marks on each cheek enter the room and bow softly.

The boy looked really nice, and she was eager to meet the child of her hero. When she stood and loudly greeted him, the boy hissed at her and shouted.

"What is the meaning of this farce?" Kenji snarled. "Do you think it's a joke to imitate my mother's appearance to get on my good side?"

The girls all glared at Naru, who looked ready to cry – she wasn't copying anyone! She instead bowed her head and replied. "I-I'm not copying anyone, I swear. I've always looked like this."

Kenji scoffed and nodded to their Uchiha teammate. "Sasuke, it's nice to see you again. How's your mother?"

"She's well, thank you," Sasuke replied with a nod in return – before surprising everyone by continuing. "And Naru … despite her many flaws, is not a liar. She has always looked as she has."

Kenji hummed but offered no apology. "Whatever, my mother isn't going to be meeting us for a while anyway. She has important business with the Hokage."

When their sensei did arrive, it was to a deathly silent room. He ushered them upstairs and nodded to them to introduce themselves.

"I am Sasuke Uchiha," Sasuke grunted. "I like very little except my mother and my Clan. I have no interests outside of training and only have one goal: to find what happened to my brother and his friend. I dislike annoying pests and fangirls. I hope to become a great leader of the Uchiha Clan."

"I'm Kenji Namikaze," Kenji smiled. "I love my mother and training. I love the food, Ramen and have an interest in Fūinjutsu (Sealing Techniques). I dislike pretenders and fakes that try to get close to my mother and me because of our status. I aim to be Hokage, like my father."

Naru cringed at the glare that Kenji sent her way, but introduced herself regardless – though strangely more subdued than normal … if she'd paid attention, she'd have noticed the slight tingling of a seal behind her ear. "I'm Naru … n-no clan name or surname. I'm an orphan and I like training and Fūinjutsu. I don't have a favourite food, as I don't get to eat out much, and I dislike prejudice placed on people who have done no wrong. I hope to further my skills and become a Fūinjutsu Mistress and fighter capable of protecting my few precious people and the Village."

Kakashi nodded, though he looked at Naru oddly. While it was true that her loyalty to Orochimaru was all gone by the time they sealed her memories – her recently subdued behaviour was scarily close to her original self. He hastily explained the test for the next day and fled the scene.

"Do any of you want to go to eat?" Naru asked nervously. She didn't know why, but being in the presence of Kenji's Chakra was affecting her deeply.

"I don't think so," Kenji instantly snapped. "I don't want to eat with suck-ups and besides, we have plans."

"We have plans to eat with our mothers," Sasuke decided to be kinder on his response, but winced guiltily when he realised what he'd said to the girl – but seriously … what was with her weird behaviour?

"I-I see," Naru merely replied. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to bond with my future teammates, I don't have much money, but I was willing to buy … how about joining me for tea … I can brew a good pot."

Sasuke hummed – he knew of Naru's lack of funds and was genuinely touched at her forethought, but as just as he was about to speak, Kenji cut him off. "No, we have plans with our families … just go home and don't be late tomorrow."

Naru quietly stood and nodded – she needed to think anyway … her chakra felt off and her emotions were everywhere – all over the place. Once she was gone, Sasuke rounded on Kenji.

"That was rude, and you know it, Kenji," Sasuke hissed. "She has no family … just what is wrong with you today?"

Kenji frowned … he didn't know why he was acting like an ass, but the girl rubbed him the wrong way for some reason.

"And don't use her appearance as an excuse, Kenji," Sasuke cut the boy off. "I already told you … she's always looked like she has, even when mother and I went to the orphanage to give toys to the kids."

Kenji remained silent, but his mind was in turmoil – he loathed treating others so badly, and he'd made the mistake of assuming the worst in someone based on her appearance. 'I'll apologise tomorrow.'

..::..

Naru grumbled tiredly as she struggled against her restraints. She had just helped her team become officially recognised by their sensei: Kakashi Hatake, but they'd gone their separate ways … the only problem? They'd left her tied to the post of Training Ground Seven – and since the teacher at the academy had thrown her out of the particular class responsible for instructing her on escaping her bindings – she was stuck.

Naru was a small girl – petite some would call her – but she nevertheless had strength in her form. She was unhealthily skinny if you looked closely, but most people called her lean, with creamy, yet healthy pale skin and blood red hair. She possessed eyes the colour of amethysts and even if she didn't realise it – in combat, they sometimes glowed red. Her beautifully formed features clashed horribly with the hideous orange eyesore that she called her outfit.

"Why am I always stuck in these situations?" Naru rhetorically asked herself. "If only I had a capable instructor."

Naru was drawn from her thoughts by the crunching of leaves. Her gaze instantly snapped to the approaching figure that revealed the person to be a woman with incredibly blue, almost black hair and beautiful soft features.

"Are you alright?" the woman asked softly. Normally, bravado would've kicked in, but with Kenji acting awkwardly and the suspicious gazes of Sasuke and Kakashi on her all day – she merely responded with a negative shake of the head. The woman looked at her oddly – no doubt aware of her usually boisterous nature, and was surprised to see the usually loud girl so quiet.

"Ah, I see –the rope techniques," the woman recognised. "I had trouble with those in the Academy too."

The woman could see the awkwardness in the girl's attitude and noted it down as being unused to the kindness shown to her. "My name is Mikoto, by the way. Mikoto Uchiha, I'm Sasuke's mother."

Naru surprised the Uchiha woman by bowing her head softly. "I am Naru … no clan name or surname, ma'am."

Mikoto's heart ached at the slight hitch in the girl's voice at her response, but it was as Naru's head was bowed that she spotted the softly glowing seal behind her ear. "You have a seal behind your ear, Naru. Did you know that?"

"N-No, I didn't ma'am," Naru replied nervously. "I haven't applied any Fūinjutsu to myself."

"That is troubling," Mikoto mumbled with a frown. "And please, you may call me Mikoto, if you like."

Naru gulped and nodded again, but that was when Mikoto struck. With speed from her days as an A-Ranked Kunoichi, Mikoto pressed a finger to the seal and muttered. "Kai (Release)."

Naru screamed in sheer pain as the seal on her memories broke. With the physical pain in her body that came from having Orochimaru's 'gifts' released, came the mental pain as she unlocked her training, her mind and her original personality that had begun to reassert itself in her mind.

Mikoto watched as the girl screamed and writhed in pain, her head and her heart tore themselves apart as she watched the helpless girl. Then something happened that she would never forget. Mangekyo Sharingan eyes suddenly glowed into the sky.

'I-Impossible,' thought Mikoto. 'I recognise those eyes … they belonged to Shisui.'

Shisui Uchiha had died mysteriously of unknown causes. The results of the investigation turned up that his eyes had been taken, but that was all they had discovered … and now Sharingan Eyes that held characteristics to Shisui's were glaring hatefully at the sky – the pain in the crimson orbs was almost palpable.

The pulse of a Shunshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker Technique) alerted her to the presence of another and blinked in shock as the Hokage himself, stood next to her, eyeing the girl rolling around in pain.

"Damn, her seal has been broken," Hiruzen cursed. "We can't re-seal her a second time."

"Y-You knew," Mikoto whispered with a tone of betrayal. "She has Shisui's eyes, Hokage-sama."

The Sandaime winced at Mikoto's tone. The only reason she had survived the Uchiha Attack, along with some others was due to her skills and the actions of Itachi Uchiha and Kushina Namikaze. But the current Uchiha were only loyal to the Village because of her voice on the council. If Mikoto was displeased, then even with their diminished numbers – they could cause irreparable damage to either the economy or the Village itself.

The girl stopped screaming and simply stared at the darkening evening sky. She remained there, unmoving for five minutes before she ever-so-slightly shifted her hardened gaze to the Hokage. Her eyes said it all to the old man.

'Why did you do it?' they demanded an answer – and she had every right to an answer. Naru was recovering … slowly, but surely, she was recovering, but since her recovery was slow, they decided to seal her.

"For what it's worth, Naru," Hiruzen spoke. "We hoped that by sealing you, your mind could recover unhindered until you could be unsealed safely."

"Bullshit," Naru finally croaked in response – her voice affected by her screaming earlier. "You had no right, old man."

"You're right," Hiruzen readily agreed. "But it was the safest course of action to protect the village."

"The Village – you're worried about the Village?" Mikoto screeched. "They abused the poor girl!"

Hiruzen glared at Mikoto and growled right back, his chakra causing his authority to project.

"You don't think I don't know this?" he snarled. "I tried to assist Naru, hell I even tried to adopt her, but as her mother isn't dead, I can't!"

Silence reigned for several tense minutes before Naru finally made Hiruzen realise his slip-up. "W-What did you say, Hokage-sama?"

Hiruzen winced at Naru's tone – he certainly didn't mean to reveal this information so quickly or in the manner in which she found out, but it was too late for that now. "Your mother is still alive, Naru. You were stolen by Orochimaru when he faked your death when you were born."

Naru merely nodded and started to tear up. Hiruzen moved to comfort her, but Mikoto moved first. She consoled the distraught girl before eyeing the Hokage.

"Surely, this can wait until tomorrow?" Mikoto quietly asked – still soothing Naru. "Sasuke has informed me that Kakashi has given them tomorrow off to prepare for training with Kushina. I shall escort Naru to the hospital tomorrow."

Hiruzen pondered the suggestion before nodding. "Very well, but I shall have ANBU watching."

He turned his critical gaze to Naru and ordered the girl. "You will not attempt to flee and you will remain with Mikoto Uchiha until you are cleared by Tsunade. You are not permitted to kill anyone as my ANBU will be watching. Furthermore an analysis on what has been done to you genetically will be performed, am I clear?"

Naru, who had reverted to her original personality merely nodded and accepted the help of the Uchiha Matriarch to stand. She then wordlessly moved to exit the training ground, leaving the two adults behind.

"You may wish to address Kakashi's teaching methods," Mikoto commented as she moved to leave. "He left Naru tied to the training post without support."

Hiruzen groaned and added it to his mental list, but his first destination was the Namikaze Compound.

..::..

"Hiruzen, what are you doing here?" Kushina asked in confusion.

"Kushina," Hiruzen spoke in his 'Hokage' voice. "We need to talk, in fact, bring your son too, if he's home."

Kushina blinked, but nodded and called Kenji down. "I have heard reports of your interaction with one, Naru."

Kenji blinked and nodded with a scowl. "The girl was imitating my mother … stupid suck-up."

Kushina growled and swatted her son on the arm. "That was uncalled for, young man. So what if this Naru looked like me?"

"Everything about her is like you mum," Kenji whined. "Her aspirations and everything are the same, apart from not wanting to be Hokage."

That hit Hiruzen hard – after the sealing, she had wanted to become Hokage, just like her Oji-san.

"Wait … Naru, Naru … isn't that the girl that Orochimaru abducted?" Kushina asked. "I sealed her memories about that, right?"

Kenji gasped at the casual comment from his own mother. "A-Are you serious – you really sealed her memories?"

"And her power," Hiruzen added, warning Kushina with a glare. "But that is not why I'm here."

"Then why are you here, Hokage-sama?" Kushina tilted her head in question.

"I'm here about what happened thirteen years ago," the Sandaime informed, ignoring how Kushina and Kenji both tensed. "It appears that … Kami this is difficult … it appears as though your unnamed daughter was alive after all."

Kushina hiccupped on a sob. "Please don't say such nonsense, old man. I held her lifeless body in my hands."

"I'm afraid that I'm deadly serious, Kushi-chan," the Sandaime replied – reverting to her childhood name. "We were deceived by Orochimaru – he held your daughter for six years … until she was recovered by my ANBU unit when we discovered Orochimaru's vile ambitions. Your daughter was recovered and treated for her many mental traumas … I …"

"I demand to see her," Kushina barked. "I demand to see my daughter!"

"You are interrupting, Kushi-chan," Hiruzen glared. "She was unable to completely recover from her unknown incarceration at his hands, and was then subsequently sealed … by you."

Kushina froze. 'I-I sealed my baby girl?'

"Wait, if Naru is the girl that kaa-chan sealed," Kenji put the pieces together. "Then the reason she looks like her … is that she's my sister!"

"You are correct, Kenji-san," the Sandaime acknowledged. "That is not all, however."

At Kushina's teary look, he continued. "Once sealed, she was given to the Konoha Orphanage. I am loathed to admit my failures … but they abused her there. I still don't know who, but someone on the council slipped the rumour that she was the reincarnation of the Kyuubi."

Kushina winced horribly. "But that would mean that the Village …"

"Yes," the Sandaime nodded. "The Village itself, mistreated her. She has not had the required nutrients that she needed for an aspiring Kunoichi, neither has she been educated correctly. It seems that several of the instructors are responsible for sabotaging her education."

Now Kenji felt really bad. He just automatically assumed she had been dieting and not paying attention.

"There, I have informed you of her past … now to the present," the tired Hokage announced. "She was left alone and not helped on training ground seven after your team's test, Kenji. Naru was discovered by Mikoto Uchiha still tied to the post."

"And now we come to my being here," the Sandaime sighed. "The seal on her was broken tonight. There have been questions about the extent of Orochimaru's experiments on her genetically, as it appears that she has somehow been able to possess the Sharingan."

Kushina instantly stood and moved to leave. "Then knowing Mikoto, she'll be staying at her place until tomorrow."

"SIT DOWN," Hiruzen boomed. "Trying to approach her now is foolish, Kushina. Naru is still in shock over her awakening and her health has been called into question. If you reveal yourself now by charging in there, then she could shut down."

Kushina crumpled into her chair and started crying. Hiruzen was right, of course. Naru would have been too traumatized to accept her so freely.

"She will be at the hospital tomorrow," the Sandaime informed the shaky duo. "After she is comfortable with it … you will be granted the right to see her."

He bid the stunned Namikaze duo goodbye and left to do some paperwork.

..::..

Sasuke Uchiha blinked in confusion when his mother returned home. For timidly standing behind her was his teammate Naru.

"Mother, why is Naru here?" Sasuke asked.

"She will be staying for some time, Sasuke," Mikoto responded. "There are … complications surrounding some things that have come to light this evening."

Sasuke grunted, he knew not to argue with his mother, and he wasn't blind to the incredibly protective stance that she had taken with his female teammate.

"Now, please show Naru to the guest quarters," Mikoto instructed.

"Follow me, Naru," Sasuke merely replied and moved down the hallway, only stopping to make certain that his oddly behaving teammate was indeed following him.

"Dinner will be ready in an hour, Naru-chan," Mikoto called after them, surprising the redhead.

Naru nodded in her subdued manner and resumed following her Uchiha teammate. When Naru surveyed the guest room that she'd be occupying, she almost cried. It was a beautifully traditional room, complete with tatami mats and a comfortable looking futon. Sasuke noticed her reaction and filed it away … he was feeling surprisingly protective of his teammate.

"Sorry, it's just a futon," Sasuke apologised. "The bed that the room had was too large, so mother had it removed."

"I-It's alright, Sasuke-san," Naru returned. "I am not used to this, is all."

"Not used to a futon?" he asked.

"No," she shook her head softly. "I'm not used to either a bed or a futon at all. I sleep in a sleeping bag on the floor of my single room apartment."

Sasuke's eyes widened at the revelation, and it showed on Naru's face, that she was being perfectly honest with him. As soon as Sasuke excused himself, he heard her sob. Something had happened, and he was going to make sure that Naru was going to be safe.

Dinner was an equally quiet affair, but Sasuke and Mikoto shared a pained look when Naru respectfully, but desperately ate the food before her with reckless abandon. It was now starting to alarm the young Uchiha at just how little he knew of his female teammate, and his sudden urge to protect her skyrocketed. Mikoto saw the fire in her son's eyes and smiled – this would be good for all of them.

Sasuke, on orders from his mother, escorted Naru to the bathing area and had to hold back a feral growl when he saw her eyes light up at the sight. True, their bathroom was exceptionally beautiful and traditional, but the look in her eyes was something that he would never forget – the sheer joy at seeing the bath and then the nervous apprehension when she was told that she was allowed to use the products in the room. Naru obviously had no knowledge on such things, and it was clear that her life was not as happy as she had once made him believe.

Panic and shock in equal measure coursed through him when Naru started to shed her clothing while he was still there, and it occurred to him that if she wasn't used to bathing, then the chances were that she didn't know about not stripping in front of a male. The next sight however, caused Sasuke to gag and shout for his mother.

The scars and needle-like marks that littered her back were faint, but there were bruises and wounds that looked fresh. When Mikoto burst into the room, Naru cowered. Sasuke waited until he was out of the room until he snarled. Whoever was responsible for this would pay dearly – he now had no question in his mind that he would protect his teammate.

..::..

Naru's eyes fluttered open and she instantly sat up in her futon. She turned a curious glance to the door and then narrowed her gaze seconds later – someone was in the courtyard. She slowly stood and took an ornamental spear off the wall, before silently padding her way to the door that Sasuke had pointed to earlier, after her bath.

The nightgown borrowed from Mikoto was large on her tiny frame, but it was still modest. It swayed in the cool night air as she glanced at the fence across from her. Her eyes bled red and she took careful aim, before letting the spear fly. A pained scream echoed in the courtyard, and Mikoto and Sasuke both burst outside. A man with a Chunin flak jacket whimpered as he looked at his impaled shoulder.

'Lord Danzo didn't say that I would be hurt,' the man thought – his pain made worse when he tried to move – that meant that the spear was lodged in the wall behind him.

Mere moments later, two ANBU arrived on scene and grimaced at the Chunin. They knew that he would talk, and that meant that the Hokage would know that they had deliberately let the man through … after all, Danzo promised them all great riches and a possible promotion for the capture of the girl.

Naru watched the man whimper with cold indifference before spinning on her heel and moved to return to her temporary room.

"The Hokage said not to hurt anyone," one ANBU spoke up.

"No," Naru rebutted. "He said not to kill anyone … and I have not."

Naru was shocked when Mikoto looked her over for any injuries, all the time exclaiming that she was glad that she was alright. Naru tilted her head silently in confusion … the woman was … odd – at least in the way that she didn't understand.

After the mother calmed down, Sasuke placed a soft hand on her shoulder and nodded in respect. Naru blinked but nodded back, before moving to her room.

'I miss my scythe,' Naru mused as she lay back down to sleep. 'Tomorrow they find out what my former master did to me … I just hope the nice Uchiha lady will still like me.'

..::..

There we are for the newest idea. I hope it was decent enough for everyone, and I apologise for any errors. I know that some authors have done a Naruto with a Scythe before, but I hope I haven't gone too close to another's story. If by any conceivable chance I have, please inform me.

..::..

AS ALWAYS: PLEASE READ AND REVIEW.

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\^o^/