Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Kiai Shinobi ❯ Reluctant Refugee ( Chapter 1 )

 

 

Anzu sighed as she made it past the guard station. Could that have been more awkward? Anzu found herself becoming almost angry at the woman, Yoko.

“How dare she sit there and give me that overload of sympathy.” Yet, Anzu knew that it was nothing but pity and sympathy that was going to get her past the first few months in her new home.

“Konoha.” The name sounded pleasant on her tongue and Anzu felt her spirits lift a little as she continued down the road. It was still early morning if the sun was any indication. Anzu relaxed as she let herself blend into the early morning traffic. The people here spoke differently, she realized after awhile. They spoke the same language, obviously, but their dialect was a bit different. They spoke their words harsher to, she noted. After listening to it as she walked for a bit, Anzu decided that she liked it, but at the same time it reminded her that she was a foreigner. A painful clinching in her stomach forced her hand into her pocket. Anzu fingered the few coins she founded there. Damn, she was low on cash. The boat ride to Konoha shores had been more expensive than she thought. Now she was left with mere pocket change. She paused as she took sight of a ramen shop up ahead.

“Maybe things are cheaper in this town.” Anzu whispered to herself as she hugged her stomach. She had never been a stick-thin individual like most girls in Kiai. She had actually stood out with her larger breasts and curved hips. Growing up the other girls had called her fat, ignoring the fact that she had always had a flat stomach. It had bothered her until she met her two bestest friends. Eiko-san, who had become her older sister figure had beaten up anyone who dared insult her `An-chan'. And then there was Chiyuu-sensei. Even though he hadn't been much older than her, Chiyuu was the son of Kiai's fifth Kinkage. He had taken to training her separately under the supervision of his father. Chiyuu had always just laughed at her when she asked if she was fatter than the other girls. Chiyuu said that the other girl were just jealous that she didn't look like a stick bug, too. They laughed at that and she hadn't felt that terribly insecure about her looks since. Still, Anzu had wished she could loose a little weight here or there. Now, after not eating for…how long had it been now? She couldn't' remember. She really wished she's eaten more before…everything. It didn't matter.

“They're all gone now.” Anzu whispered to herself. The smell of ramen brought her back. Blinking away tears Anzu realize she had arrived at the little outdoor restaurant. Ducking under the flap, she made it to an empty stool and settled in. Shortly after she was approached by large man in an apron.

“What can I get for you, sweety?” He asked, toweling off his hands.

“Will this get me anything, sir?” Anzu laid her coins on the counter. The man leaned over and took stock of the change before giving a sharp bark of a laugh.

“Are you kidding me! That squat wouldn't buy you half a chopstick, girl!” He laughed, pushing the change back at her.

`Great, couldn't have been any louder, could he?' Anzu was totally prepared to slink away respectfully when a screeching voice startled her into a halt.

“Kenshi no BAKA!” A rather pretty woman stormed over to where Anzu was sitting, and over the man, apparently Kenshi.

“Can't you see her forehead protector!” She yelled pointing to said forehead protector. Anzu felt heat rise to her cheeks.

“She's from Kiai you blockhead!” The woman's voice reached a higher pitch. Anzu felt the stares from the other patrons. She glanced around nervously before she caught the gaze of a strange looking man. He had white hair and wore a mask. His forehead protector tilted to cover one eye. Next to him were three others that wore the Konoha forehead protector, they looked a few years younger than herself. The strange man seemed to be frowning as he looked her over.

`It can't be that noticeable, can it?' Anzu gulped nervously, tearing her gaze away.

“Oh my god, look at you!” The screeching woman's voice grabbed her attention.

“You look like you're half starved, you poor thing!” Poor thing. There were those words again. Those ugly words that wherever Anzu travel she couldn't seem to leave them behind.

“What would you like dear, just name it! Anything you want!” The woman's voice was softer now, but still Anzu felt her face absolutely flame.

`Oh god, I seriously don't want to be here anymore!'

“No thank you, ma'am.” Anzu felt her hand shake and heard her voice tremble as she reached for her change.

“Nonsense!” The woman's hand clamped over Anzu's, which was fisted around her change.

“Please ma'am, I'm not really hungry.” Anzu tried again, tugging at her captured hand.

“Of course you are, you're all skin and bones! Come, sit down and tell me what you wan-”

“I SAID I DON'T WANT YOU STUPID RAMEN!” Anzu jerked her hand away before throwing what little change she had at the serving woman who let go out of surprise. Anzu didn't waste anytime, she bolted outside as fast as her legs could carry her. Anzu kept running, shoving past anyone she met until she made it to a forest like place. Anzu kept running until she couldn't hear the noise of the city. Finally she collapsed at the base of large type of tree she didn't recognize.

`Fuck! Is there nothing here I know!?' Everything was different. The way people dressed, the way they walked, even the way they talked. Here in Konoha everyone was just starting to bundle up for autumn while Anzu's southern island blood was already freezing in her veins from the chill. Everyone here always seemed to be in a hurry too. In Kiai everyone took their time with everything. Deadlines were foreign to them.

“Who am I kidding?” Anzu sighed, wrapping her arms around her knees. The blue peasant top shirt and the fishnet tank top underneath were loose, she noticed. Maybe she really did look as hungry as she felt. Even her black training pants were sitting lower on her hips than normal. She missed her old clothes, but she had been forced to sell them quite awhile ago. The weather had gotten too cold and she noticed that the farther North she went the more people, men especially, stared at her attire. All the girls wore in Kiai was usually short shorts or a sarong with a bikini top of some sorts. It was just way too hot in Kiai to be modest. In fact, sometimes the summers had gotten so hot everyone just sat around naked. Kiai's Kinkage said that the human body was nothing to be ashamed of and she had believed him. Everyone had relatively the same parts. In fact she had trained with Chiyuu naked many times and nothing sex-like had ever happened. Not once. On her travels, though, she had quickly discovered that most, if not all men, took it as an invitation if a girl walked around naked. After a few villages she had decided to trade her old duds in for something more northern.

Anzu sighed again. Sighing seemed second nature to her now. It was easier and quicker than crying. Also, Anzu discovered, once she started crying it was wicked hard to stop. The whole journey had been awful. Just one awful struggle after another. The worst part was she was starting to get used it. She hardly even noticed people staring at her tanned skin anymore.

`I wonder if I stay here will my skin turn white like everyone else?' Anzu thought to herself. To blend in again? To actually fit? She scowled after a while. She'd never fit in after that scene at the Ramen bar. Who could possibly live that down?

“I shouldn't have yelled at that lady.” Anzu mumbled into her arms.

“She was being pushy.” The sound of another voice startled her. Looking up she realized sitting cross legged in front of her was the boy from the ramen shop. He had dark hair and pale skin.

“Who are you?” Anzu asked, feeling a bit irritated she hadn't sensed him. How long had he been sitting there?!

“Uchiha Sasuke. Who are you?” Sasuke's voice was deeper than she expected it to be from glancing at him in the ramen shop.

“Hotaku Anzu.” She replied, relaxing a bit.

“You're older than me.” Sasuke stated.

“Well, how old are you?” Anzo asked, settling into her own cross legged stance.

“Twelve and three quarters.” His answer made Anzu giggle. She struggled not to snicker when Sasuke asked her what she was laughing about, his face serious as death.

“Nothing, you just seem like the kind of person who would count quarters. And, yes, I'm older than you. I'm fifteen soon.”

“You're an orphan.” Sasuke was frank. He was blunt. Anzu found the younger boy almost refreshing.

“Yeah. I guess.” Anzu sighed, looking away. Blunt may be refreshing but it was still blunt.

“I'm an orphan too.” Sasuke's confession snapped her attention back.

“You are?” Sasuke nodded sharply before standing.

“My teammate, Naruto, is an orphan too. Come with me and we can sit around and be orphans together.” Sasuke stood extended a hand and Anzu smiled, taking it. Sasuke pulled her to her feet and Anzu blanched.

“Hey! I'm almost three years older than you and you're taller! No fair!” Anzu pouted half heartedly and Sasuke nodded.

“I'm tall.” Was his reply. Sasuke began to lead her out of the woods.

“Sasuke?” Anzu asked.

“Hn?”

“Why did you come after me?” Anzu hadn't failed to notice that the younger boy had yet to let go of her hand. In fact he held it with almost a sort of…conviction.

“My sensei sent Naruto to go after you. But then I knew he'd just mess it up so I came instead.”

“Your sensei is the man with the mask?” Anzu paled at his nod, stopping abruptly. Sasuke simply raised an eyebrow. Embarrassment filled her up again at the though of facing that mysterious man after he had watched her throw a temper tantrum that could rival any two year old.

“What if I don't want to see your sensei?” And she didn't, either. Anzu didn't find that prospect appealing at all.

“I would just bring you anyway.” Sasuke stated with complete confidence.

“You can't make me come with you, Sasuke.” Anzu laughed. What an arrogant little preteen.

“I can,” he replied.

“I may be younger than you, Anzu, but I am stronger and undoubtedly faster. Come.” Anzu felt herself being led along completely dazed. Who was this boy? He certainly didn't act like a twelve year old.

`Twelve and three quarters' Anzu mentally corrected herself. She sighed again before intertwining her fingers with Sasuke's. What a day. Anzu gave a glance to the sun through the forest canopy.

`It still isn't even half done yet either!'

 

 

 

 

AN: Hey lovers! How do ya like my first chapter? Anzu is my little composite character. She's me and a bunch of my girlfriends put together. Aint she great? WELL anyways… Feel free to vote for pairings or any scenes you'd like to see go down and I'll do my best to smush them into my plot. It doesn't even have to involve Anzu. If you wanna see Ino and Sakura bitch fight covered in tapioca pudding I just might throw it in there. LOL, this IS for you guys after all. LEMME KNOW, just review!

Peace,

Pan