Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Naruto : Mugen Kuukan ❯ Chapter Two ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

awoke to warm sunlight filtering in through a window, and onto her face. She opened her eyes slowly, glancing around curiously. She was in a small white colored room, with a large open window. There were paintings on the wall, some of them familiar to her. She could hear voices everywhere. She sat up slowly, her long golden hair falling in her face. She glared through the unruly tresses. Even her hair had been washed. Where was she exactly? Her own clothes laid on a chair across the small room.

The last thing she remembered was…the red head appearing, and her passing out. He must have brought her here, somewhere in Konoha. Her belongings were still off in the woods somewhere. At least they weren’t too far off to where she couldn’t get them without a problem. She wasn’t about to argue about her stuff when she was bleeding to death all over the forest. She was going to be late for her appointment with Tsunade, which wasn’t going to make the woman happy at all. Either she was going to be late, or dead out in the forest. Which she would have been were it not for…

She groaned. She didn’t even get his name, how was she supposed to thank him now? She’d probably never see him again. She moved slowly, swinging her legs over the side of the bed, and standing. As she expected, her pain was little compared to when she first injured herself. Then again, she could have been laying there in that bed for days or weeks. She made her way over to the open window, and glanced out. Konoha was every bit as she remembered it , only much more colorful. It brought a smile to her lips as she glanced around at the village that was more like a small town, with people bustling about. And right above her stood the stone face, where the faces of the Hokage were carved in homage to them.

The door behind her opened, and she glanced over her shoulder to see a familiar face peer in, before walking in, followed by two other young women.

“Lady Tsunade??” she asked, baffled. The older woman offered her a warm smile.

“Wow, awake and on your feet already! You’re every bit as tough as Kakashi said you were.”

“How did you know I was here?” she asked.

“This is the Hokage mansion you’re in, not the hospital, I treated you myself when the Kazekage brought you in.” Tsunade answered.

Her mind reeled.

“Kazekage? The one that helped me in the forest was a red haired guy no older than me…” she said, a bit confused.

The pink haired young woman laughed gently.

“That’s the Kazekage alright, his name is Gaara. He was on his way here for the semi annual Chunin exams that are held here in Konoha, and that’s when he crossed paths with you.”

“Luckily for you, he did too.” Tsunade added. Eiko gawked at them. So the one that saved her rather ungraceful fall after tripping clumsily down the cliff in the middle of the night, was the Kazekage of the Village hidden in the Sand…

Well, at least she knew who to thank for saving her now. Though she felt foolish the Kazekage went through so much trouble. She hung her head.

“I think I’ll crawl under a rock now,” she murmured.

“Don’t feel bad, He keeps asking up on you as well, so you might want to give up on avoiding it now.” Tsunade went on.

“Isn’t the t he Kazekage of the sand village? I thought they don’t travel outside their villages.” she asked.

“The chunin exams are going on right now, and his former squad is here, participating in them. They have adopted their own training regimen since the Kazekage participated in the exams, but once in a while their genin come here. And He hasn’t been out of the sand village in a long time.” Tsunade began.

“I thinks its good, that the sand and hidden leaf are on such good terms,” Eiko murmured.

“Yes, well, certain circumstances have forged that bond even stronger. People think alliances are a weak sentiment, but that’s not the case with the sand village.” Tsunade explained. Eiko glanced to the clock in her room.

“I missed the time I was supposed to meet you,” Eiko spoke up.

“Don’t worry, we have plenty of time to conduct the assessment before the third phase of the chunin exams begin.”

“Assessment?”

“Yes, well, that is, if you would like a place to call home, rather than wandering around the rest of your life. If what Kakashi told us is true, you have a very unique ability that people would love to get their hands on. According to Gaara, the Akatsuki have given you trouble here and there.”

Eiko scowled at the mention of them.

“I’ll take that as confirmation. So, do you feel well enough to get dressed, and see the Village?” Tsunade asked. She nodded in reply. The other tow young women left the room then, leaving Tsunade with her alone. She looked at her with a baffled expression. Tsunade’s expression grew serious. Eiko frowned. Too much was happening too fast.

“To keep suspicion low, were made you a chunin, so no one asks questions your sudden appearance. If anyone asks, you’ve been acting as a recon agent for the last few years, answering directly to me. Team Kakashi, and the Kazekage have been informed of this as well.”

“What if I lack what it takes to be a chunin?” she asked.

“I really don’t think that will be a problem at all. Kakashi doesn’t speak highly of just anyone.”

“Now I regret helping him out that last time…” she grumbled. Tsunade handed her a leaf village headband. She stared at it.

“The choice is still yours. You can leave whenever you want, but keep in mind, as long as you are here, you are under our protection.”

“Why are you so eager to help me anyways?” Eiko asked, looking over the shiny headband of a Hidden Leaf Ninja. Tsunade laid a hand on her shoulder gently. Eiko met her gaze.

“Its very simple, Eiko…I knew your mother, she was a dear friend of mine. When I heard you had survived your families murder, I had to search you out, for her sake. It took this long, but I am grateful to have finally found you.”

Eiko didn’t know how to respond to that. After all those years of fighting just to stay alive, treated lower than dirt, there had been someone out there that was looking for her, concerned for her. Not only that, but a perfect stranger helped her out. She spent so much time hiding from the world, she had forgotten what it was like to enjoy living in it.

“Can I ask you something?” she spoke up quietly. Tsunade nodded.

“Just…how well…did you know my mother?” Eiko asked quietly.

“Well enough to have earned her trust.” Tsunade replied honestly. Eiko inhaled sharply.

“You know what I’m capable of…and you still asked me to come here…”

“You’re not a monster Eiko. What those men did to your clan was horrible. To make you think for all these years that you had to be by yourself, without anyone, was wrong.” Tsunade replied.

“It’s too dangerous. I may not be a monster, but there’s one inside of me, so to speak. I don’t know what kind of blood trait created it, but I swore to myself that I would never again use that ability!” she exclaimed.

“I don’t intend to ask you to. What I am curious about, is your other ability.” Tsunade said quickly. Eiko looked at her.

“Oh, that one? It nothing special…” she murmured

“Eiko…you haven’t had a day of training in your life, yet you can see any ninjustu , genjutsu, or taijutsu once, and you can execute it with precision without even thinking about it. I want to see just how far the extent of these abilities go. It could be your greatest defense.” Tsunade spoke up.

“You want to see me copy other peoples techniques? Isn’t that the same as the Sharingan?” Eiko asked curiously.

“I think this is a on a whole different level entirely from the Sharingan.”

Eiko pondered it all. So she didn’t have to worry about constant attacks, she could train and hone her abilities, and could even perhaps become a Shinobi, and put what she’s learned to good use.

“Alright then. It would be good to stop running for a change. I cant promise anything, but I’ll see how it goes.” she spoke up.

“Fair enough.” Tsunade replied, pleased with that response.

“Can I ask for one thing though, before this all gets hectic?” she asked quickly.

“What is it?”

“I need to thank someone,” she spoke quietly, glancing down at the shiny headband in her hand.

“Ah, I think I can arrange that. Go ahead and get dressed, and Meet me out in the hall, I’ll take you to him.”


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