Disclaimer: Naturally, I do not own Naruto.

Chapter One

Kukiko and History

The silence of the forest is broken by the sound of the wheels on the carriage grinding and creaking as they tumble slowly over the dirty road. I walk on point position, keeping an eye out for approaching enemies and staying out of the way of the dust that our small convoy throws up. Hitoshi covers our backs and Daichi drives the carriage.

I tilt my head slightly to the right at the small tap on my back, recognising the soft touch as Hitoshi. No words need to be exchanged, I've spotted them too. Enemy Ninja move silently through the tree tops, quite a large contingent, four quite close and a hint of a few more in the distance. I rapidly assess our options, the three of us against at least four, not to mention we have to protect the Tea Lords eldest son.

The forest cover seems to open up ahead, light flooding into the road causing me to squint. That's where they'll launch their attack. I turn my head slightly to the left, nodding to Daichi. The horses huff as he slows them down.

I pause for a second before moving into the under bush on the side of the road letting the carriage pass, suppressing a shudder at the familiar feeling of chakra running up my spine as Hitoshi completes a Genjutsu.

Before they can move far away a series of small, quick 'thunk, thunks' echo in the forest. Shuriken and kunai litter the area around the carriage. Hitoshi immediately leaps into action, opening the carriage door, and lifting the client out. Daichi covers his movements, deftly deflecting the long range attacks.

Grabbing the branch above me, I pull my self up and find the closest attacker, located to the right and just above of me. Moving quickly but quietly I manage to get myself behind the Nin, snaking my hands around his head and snapping his neck. I catch a glimpse of an Iwa head band as the Nin falls to the ground. The dull thud of the nin hitting the floor alerts my team to the gap in the perimeter, they leap into the trees and pass me, as I leap into the clearing, ready to keep the enemy distracted whilst they get Kinichi-sama to safety.

"You know the spot?" I yell out to my team mid flight.

"Aa, I know." comes the faint reply of Daichi's husky voice.

"Aa. I know."

Those where the last words I said to Okaasan. I always wished I could have said something more meaningful, I always wished I could remember what I last said to Otousan. Though, even if I knew there was going to be an attack, I still probably wouldn't have said anything more purposeful.

To me, my parents were the two most amazing and talented Shinobi in Konoha, but I guess they weren't good enough to survive the Kyuubi attack. I was only 5 that day, Otousan had been the Yondaime Hokage for only a short while and Okaasan was in the last days of pregnancy.

"Kukiko! There's just no use in sulking." Okaasan laughs over her shoulder from the kitchen at my miserable mood. I sigh and sink heavily into the seat at the kitchen table

"Otousan gets to go with you!" I moan using the same argument I had all week, though it had not got me anywhere yet.

"Aa, but you get to spend the day with Kakashi-kun." I watch as Okaasans shoulders shake, trying not to laugh and concentrate on preparing lunch and dinner.

"Kakashi-oniisan is sssooooooo boring and he makes me go to bed on time!" I rest my chin on my hands before mumbling, "I prefer Asuka-chan, she lets me stay up late and eat sweets."

Okaasan finally sighs, throwing her knife in to the sink and joining me at the table, slumping into the seat, "Otousan prefers Kakashi-kun because he keeps you out of trouble! Remember what happened when we left you with Jiraiya-san?"

I flash a wide grin at Okaasan, "Aa! That was a fun day!"

Okaasan laughs and ruffles my flame red hair, "But it took 2 weeks to repair the damage to the hot springs!"

Okaasan and I laugh, her lifting me into her lap and nuzzling my hair. "You need to stay with Kakashi-kun and stay out of trouble. I don't know what I would do if something happened to you."

Being so young at the time, I don't have many visual memories. I can remember her ringing laugh and the smell of her flowery shampoo. But visually, everything before that is a blur and it shames me to say I remember next to nothing of Otousan. That being said, I have plenty of photos, and Ojiisan (Jiraiya) made sure to always tell me stories of my parents.

A some point in the early afternoon of that day, Kakashi had arrived with Biwako-san. Okaasan said something, that I've always felt guilty for not remembering. I just remember saying "Aa! I know", before being distracted by the dango that Kakashi had brought to keep me quiet.

That night was the first and only time I was able to convince Kakashi to let me stay up past 8 (on a school night even, that had me quite excited) I do not remember how. If I ask Kakashi now he just mumbles something about being excitable about having a little brother or sister coming.

I do remember riding on Kakashi's back through the streets at night dozing off a bit, apparently having come back from the academy training ground, whilst Kakashi chatted (or listened disinterestedly) to Gai-san. That was when we all felt it. A surge of hatred and intense chakra from the forest. Even a barely trained academy student like me could feel it.

And that's it. That's all I remember of that day. I do know what happened, from when Kakashi recounted the story to me a few years later.

When he felt the chakra he immediately took me to the Hokage office, where a secretary evacuated me to the mountain hide away with the rest of the civilians. I was the first one there, so completely missed the Kyuubi attack. Apparently, I was a 'very well behaved young lady', I didn't cry or scream. I have always hated that, it makes it seem like I was not at all worried about my parents. I could tell from the chakra, from the sounds of fighting and destruction outside, that we were under attack and facing a fierce opponent. But for some reason, it did not really occur to me that my parents would be in danger. I guess that is what it is like when you are young, your parents are indestructible, they are constant.

Sandaime Hokage always said that the worst part of his job is having to tell families they've lost some one and that I was no exception. Apparently I did not believe him, instead I laughed saying 'that's not a funny joke!'. I believed it was a joke for a few days, till Ojiisan finally got me to realise my parents weren't coming back. Then I was difficult to deal with, I didn't cry so much as 'loose the life in me'.

For a couple of months I would have nothing to do with Naruto, my own little brother, the last of my family and I ignored his existence. Everyone tries to tell me 'it's okay, you were only young' but I still feel so guilty. By the time I had finally calmed down, Sandaime put in new laws. No one was to mention the Kyuubi and Naruto would be Uzumaki Naruto, presumably to protect him from anyone who would seek revenge on Otousan. Everyone already knew me as Namikaze Kukiko, so we couldn't be raised together and I hated Sandaime for a very long time.

Sandaime and the Elders kept trying to impress upon me that it really was for the best, it really was the only way to protect Naruto. But I never really understood it, even as I got older and 'wiser', I resented the higher-ups so much, I just wanted to be with my brother. I wanted him to know about me.

But they never backed down, no one ever supported me and I never broke the rules.

And so time dragged on.

I managed to graduate the academy at aged 10, become a Chuunin aged 12 and Jonin aged 14. I joined ANBU for a short period, whilst my old Genin team mates caught up to my level, and we reformed the team. Sandaime indulged me, allowing me to form a team with my old friends, and concentrate on A and S rank missions. Though I am expected to undertake political assignments to the other hidden villages, apparently it looks good to send the Yondaimes daughter on a trade negotiation. Though most of the time I can not help but feel the Elders are trying to marry me off and create strong ties between the villages. There is always a high ranking Lord or Shinobi leader and their son around on this assignments.

But just because I never obviously broke any laws and always do what is expected of me, does not mean I never have contact with Naruto. Ever since he was old enough to live on his on, I would sneak into his place and tidy up, cook meals, do the washing, anything he needs done before he gets home. Before that I would leave him sweets, keep an eye on him when he was out playing, once I even sat and spoke to him for a while when he was real sad. Otherwise there is no real contact between us, he recognises me as Namikaze-san, knows I am Yondaimes daughter, but nothing more. I watch him from afar, make sure he is okay.

And it hurts.

That's just how things are and how they will remain. Though I really wish things were so different, I dare not change them myself. Deep down, I know it is for the best.

So, that's me. That is all that is of importance about Namikaze Kukiko. Sure there is more to my story, more to how I got to age 18 without being killed, without being kissed and thankfully without anyone else I love dying.

But what is probably more interesting, is what's going to happen now that my distraction didn't go as planned and I'm now tied to this tree and surrounded by enemy ninja.

A/N: 'ello there~! Thank you for reading this chapter, I hope you enjoyed. Just slightly revamped this Chapter. (though it's still rubbish )

First things first, I am just going to assume that anyone reading this knows what all the characters look like and know a few basic Japanese words (but feel free to speak up if I use anything you don't know~^^)

Secondly, it is a character injection type story, but hopefully not too horrid to read O.O~ And I know loads of people do the "oh I'm Naruto's older and mysterious sister" ones, but I couldn't resist! I am sorry *hangs head in shame*, but Fanfic authors always bring something new to the game and I plan on it!

And thirdly, naturally it starts off slow... dead slow... with no action! but next chapter has Fights!