Nano start
This is the very rough beginning of my Naruto nano. It's not edited at all, so forgive my run on sentences and lack of commas.
Ninja villages were by and large, hard to find and naturally fortified. Usually. Normally. There's always one damn exception to every rule and Konoha was it. Located in a forest with a mountain at their backs and open, tree covered territory surrounding them. Konoha was large and impressive; the very antithesis of what a 'hidden village' should be that currently existed.
'Could be why there's so many damn spies.' A small, brunette woman mentally grumbled to herself as she opened the back door to the restaurant she worked at. Sayo sighed as she rummaged in her pockets for her cigs and lighter. Just that day she'd served two workers, who she knew worked for Mist, but damned if she could do anything about it. She couldn't draw any undue attention to their little group and dropping a line to the local police force would definitely get her noticed. Which would piss everyone off and running from a ninja village was never pleasant.
Sayo leaned against the building as she finally inhaled her first hit of nicotine. The familiar burn causing her to relax. Every one burned like the first cigarette she ever smoked, but that was fine. It was a constant and right now she needed a comforting constant as they found their footing in a new village. One month after Yoshoku Bento opened and they already had to hire additional staff to help with the demand. New restaurants seemed to be all the excitment many people saw in this village.
'Lucky them,' Sayo reflected as she concentrated on inhaling and exhaling, and not on the fact she had to walk back in there and wait tables for the next two hours. She flicked the butt of her cigarette across the alleyway when she heard it. A small hiccup followed by a sniff from the dumpster on the other side of the block. The chakra signature didn't feel right and Sayo had to quell her first impulse to go investigate. Skills she hadn't used in a month kicked in as she grumbled about trash and lazy employees while walking back in. She ignored the hive of activity that was the kitchen as she gathered two bags of trash and made for the door. Only one other person in the itchen looked up from where he was chopping vegetables and after a brief shared glance went back to chopping. The only difference was a firmer grip on his knife, his knuckles white as he waited eyes flashing gold.
Sayo grumbled under her breath as she neared the dumpster, the off feeling she had getting larger and larger as she neared the dumpster. A brief flash of killer intent from above had her pause and look around. 'Act like a civilian. Act like a civilian,' the mantra in her head as she mentally prepared for an attack. She shivered and looked around worriedly. Her hands gripping the garbage bags she hurried her pace like a woman suitably frightened and scared. That's when she heard it again from the dumpster, the soft sob had her stopping in her tracks. For a trap this was an elaborate one, especially in the middle of a ninja village. On light feet she walked up to the dumpster and dropped her trash bags. Every instinct screaming trap, but a loan calming thought bubbled up inside her.
~It's alright Sayo, it's just a pup in a garbage dump.~
'Haha funny. We'll see about that.'
Sayo steeled herself as she lifted the lid, her voice barely a whisper, "Hello? Is someone in here?"
She'd been expecting an attack, an explostion, something violent and sudden. What she found was a small, blond child sitting atop the garbage bags bloody and bruised. His clothes torn and the leftovers of the restaurants down the street decorating him. Her eyes widened in shock as his wide blue eyes looked up and widened in fear. Sayo only had a moment to wonder at the unusual color in Konoha before he was jumping for the edge and trying to pull himself up. "Wait a second!" The urgency in her voice startling herself and the child from his attempt at escape. 'Just a pup? I hope you're right.'
"Umm....Don't run away. I won't hurt you. Who beat you up and put you here?" Sayo figured a sibling perhaps or maybe the gangs of orphan boys that seemed to roam Konoha like packs of wolves. He let go of the edge and seemed to collapse into himself, "Ninjas."
Sayo tensed as she heard his answer, 'This is bad. Bad, bad, bad, BAD!'
~That explains the man up there.~
'You're not helping!
She wetted her lips as she nodded, "Do ninjas frequently beat you up?" She asked as she manuvered towards him, lifting the lid with her till she could toss it open. He moved away from her towards the other side, not quite trusting her. Sayo was instantly reminded of a scared animal and that felt very wrong to her. He wiped his tears on his arm, as he seemed to make a decision. He made his way to her outstretched hands as she stood on tiptoe to reach over, "Sometimes they chase me. Sometimes just the other people. They say it's a game, chase the fox."
Sayo's hands stilled as she felt a spike of killer intent from above her. The child felt it too and started to dart under the other lid, She barely had a chance to snag him before he disappeared. She pulled the struggling child over the edge and against her all the while whispering, "it's alright I've got you. shh It's alright." The child stopped fighting her after a moment as she locked in a silent staring contest with the Anbu above them. She watched as the Bird masked ninja pulled back from the building edge and seemed to disappear. Sayo could still pick up his chakra just fine on the other side of the building.
~You know a civilian would have ran.~
'Shut up. I run, I get a kunai in the back and he claims I was taking the kid.'
~Good point. Are you finally going to let me out.~
'No, stop asking you damn wolf!'
She ignored the bark of laughter in her head as she hefted the little boy onto her hip. Sayo carefully backed up against the other buildings. Thankfully the child was silent as she pushed out her own senses trying to pick up any other ninjas. The only ones she felt were calm, content. Only a few seemed to have been put on alert by the spiking chakra out back. So far they weren't coming to check what was the matter, so this was what? Normal? Sayo made her way back towards the restaurant mindful of the different chakra signatures around her.
'This village is fucked up.'
~There's only one. We could make him disappear.~
'They'd watch the area then, to risky.'
~Aww. You're no fun. Besides you know you want to give this bully a taste of real fear.~
A canine grin filled with many, many sharp teeth flashed in her mind's eye; and Sayo had to push the temptation away.
'Maybe later.'
A chuckle and a soft, ~That's my girl.~ Was the last thing she heard from her live in guest as she entered the restaurant. She felt herself relax as they entered the building, 'To many witnessed for Anbu-san.' The boy on her hip mirroring her as well, not losing the death grip on her clothes though as he looked around them at the back room of the kitchen. A small smile formed on her lips as she gave him a reassuring squeeze, "Neh, I haven't asked you you're name. I'm Yoi, but you can call me onee-chan. What's your name?"
The little boy looked at her briefly before dropping his eyes, "I'm Uzumaki Naruto. Pleased to meet you," she saw a faint blush creep up as he continued quietly, "You can call me Naruto-kun, if you want."
She chuckled as they walked the few steps to the door for the kitchen proper, "Naruto-kun, has such good manners. I'll have to tell your parents what a polite boy you are."
He tensed in her arms and she knew she'd made a mistake, "I don't..." She was about to fish for more information when a loud voice boomed, "Where is Yoi? Customers don't wait on themselves you know. I have two more breaks to get out." Sayo winced as she made her way fully into the kitchen and watched as her boss eyes narrowed at her before they widened as they fell on Naruto. Whatever he was about to say died on his lips and he was left there gapping like a fish. Mori Takahashi was many things, world renouned chef, ex ninja of Stone, and grandfather of six; being some of them. He also happened to have a soft spot for cute kids a mile wide, it was part of the reason he quit being a ninja two decades ago. He couldn't stomach killing people anymore, especially kids.
The vegetable chopper looked up from his work and fought a smirk as they entered, "Hey Yo-chan, where'd you get the kid?" He knew and he found it rather humerous. He watched as she twitched slightly in aggravation as she shot a glare at her brother. She turned back to Mori before she bowed at the waist, the kid grasping her clothes as she did so suddenly. "I apologize Takahashi-sensei, I require the rest of the day off to help this boy get home."
Takahashi looked from Sayo's bowed head to the dirty, blond child clinging to her for a few moments. A small, warm smile working it's way to his face, This was the first time that she had ever actually asked for anything in the years they'd been together. The normally gruff woman was actually being polite.
"Well if Yo-chan is asking so politely who am I to refuse? You'll come in early tomorrow to make up the time though. Get that child to the hospital or police station. We'll manage for two hours.
Takahashi looked from Sayo's bowed head to the dirty, blond child clinging to her for a few moments. A small, warm smile working it's way to his face, This was the first time that she had ever actually asked for anything in the years they'd been together. The normally gruff woman was actually being polite. "Well if Yo-chan is asking so politely who am I to refuse? You'll come in early tomorrow to make up the time though. Get that child to the hospital or police station. We'll manage for two hours."
One of the other workers looked at the little boy his eyes narrowing in hate, "Eto, Takahashi-san that child is..."
"Adorable! Isn't he? Our Yo-chan finds such cute boys!" The vegetable chopper made his way over to the two as Sayo straightened up. He pinched went to pinch Naruto's cheek but his sister's hand and
Ninja villages were by and large, hard to find and naturally fortified. Usually. Normally. There's always one damn exception to every rule and Konoha was it. Located in a forest with a mountain at their backs and open, tree covered territory surrounding them. Konoha was large and impressive; the very antithesis of what a 'hidden village' should be that currently existed.
'Could be why there's so many damn spies.' A small, brunette woman mentally grumbled to herself as she opened the back door to the restaurant she worked at. Sayo sighed as she rummaged in her pockets for her cigs and lighter. Just that day she'd served two workers, who she knew worked for Mist, but damned if she could do anything about it. She couldn't draw any undue attention to their little group and dropping a line to the local police force would definitely get her noticed. Which would piss everyone off and running from a ninja village was never pleasant.
Sayo leaned against the building as she finally inhaled her first hit of nicotine. The familiar burn causing her to relax. Every one burned like the first cigarette she ever smoked, but that was fine. It was a constant and right now she needed a comforting constant as they found their footing in a new village. One month after Yoshoku Bento opened and they already had to hire additional staff to help with the demand. New restaurants seemed to be all the excitment many people saw in this village.
'Lucky them,' Sayo reflected as she concentrated on inhaling and exhaling, and not on the fact she had to walk back in there and wait tables for the next two hours. She flicked the butt of her cigarette across the alleyway when she heard it. A small hiccup followed by a sniff from the dumpster on the other side of the block. The chakra signature didn't feel right and Sayo had to quell her first impulse to go investigate. Skills she hadn't used in a month kicked in as she grumbled about trash and lazy employees while walking back in. She ignored the hive of activity that was the kitchen as she gathered two bags of trash and made for the door. Only one other person in the itchen looked up from where he was chopping vegetables and after a brief shared glance went back to chopping. The only difference was a firmer grip on his knife, his knuckles white as he waited eyes flashing gold.
Sayo grumbled under her breath as she neared the dumpster, the off feeling she had getting larger and larger as she neared the dumpster. A brief flash of killer intent from above had her pause and look around. 'Act like a civilian. Act like a civilian,' the mantra in her head as she mentally prepared for an attack. She shivered and looked around worriedly. Her hands gripping the garbage bags she hurried her pace like a woman suitably frightened and scared. That's when she heard it again from the dumpster, the soft sob had her stopping in her tracks. For a trap this was an elaborate one, especially in the middle of a ninja village. On light feet she walked up to the dumpster and dropped her trash bags. Every instinct screaming trap, but a loan calming thought bubbled up inside her.
~It's alright Sayo, it's just a pup in a garbage dump.~
'Haha funny. We'll see about that.'
Sayo steeled herself as she lifted the lid, her voice barely a whisper, "Hello? Is someone in here?"
She'd been expecting an attack, an explostion, something violent and sudden. What she found was a small, blond child sitting atop the garbage bags bloody and bruised. His clothes torn and the leftovers of the restaurants down the street decorating him. Her eyes widened in shock as his wide blue eyes looked up and widened in fear. Sayo only had a moment to wonder at the unusual color in Konoha before he was jumping for the edge and trying to pull himself up. "Wait a second!" The urgency in her voice startling herself and the child from his attempt at escape. 'Just a pup? I hope you're right.'
"Umm....Don't run away. I won't hurt you. Who beat you up and put you here?" Sayo figured a sibling perhaps or maybe the gangs of orphan boys that seemed to roam Konoha like packs of wolves. He let go of the edge and seemed to collapse into himself, "Ninjas."
Sayo tensed as she heard his answer, 'This is bad. Bad, bad, bad, BAD!'
~That explains the man up there.~
'You're not helping!
She wetted her lips as she nodded, "Do ninjas frequently beat you up?" She asked as she manuvered towards him, lifting the lid with her till she could toss it open. He moved away from her towards the other side, not quite trusting her. Sayo was instantly reminded of a scared animal and that felt very wrong to her. He wiped his tears on his arm, as he seemed to make a decision. He made his way to her outstretched hands as she stood on tiptoe to reach over, "Sometimes they chase me. Sometimes just the other people. They say it's a game, chase the fox."
Sayo's hands stilled as she felt a spike of killer intent from above her. The child felt it too and started to dart under the other lid, She barely had a chance to snag him before he disappeared. She pulled the struggling child over the edge and against her all the while whispering, "it's alright I've got you. shh It's alright." The child stopped fighting her after a moment as she locked in a silent staring contest with the Anbu above them. She watched as the Bird masked ninja pulled back from the building edge and seemed to disappear. Sayo could still pick up his chakra just fine on the other side of the building.
~You know a civilian would have ran.~
'Shut up. I run, I get a kunai in the back and he claims I was taking the kid.'
~Good point. Are you finally going to let me out.~
'No, stop asking you damn wolf!'
She ignored the bark of laughter in her head as she hefted the little boy onto her hip. Sayo carefully backed up against the other buildings. Thankfully the child was silent as she pushed out her own senses trying to pick up any other ninjas. The only ones she felt were calm, content. Only a few seemed to have been put on alert by the spiking chakra out back. So far they weren't coming to check what was the matter, so this was what? Normal? Sayo made her way back towards the restaurant mindful of the different chakra signatures around her.
'This village is fucked up.'
~There's only one. We could make him disappear.~
'They'd watch the area then, to risky.'
~Aww. You're no fun. Besides you know you want to give this bully a taste of real fear.~
A canine grin filled with many, many sharp teeth flashed in her mind's eye; and Sayo had to push the temptation away.
'Maybe later.'
A chuckle and a soft, ~That's my girl.~ Was the last thing she heard from her live in guest as she entered the restaurant. She felt herself relax as they entered the building, 'To many witnessed for Anbu-san.' The boy on her hip mirroring her as well, not losing the death grip on her clothes though as he looked around them at the back room of the kitchen. A small smile formed on her lips as she gave him a reassuring squeeze, "Neh, I haven't asked you you're name. I'm Yoi, but you can call me onee-chan. What's your name?"
The little boy looked at her briefly before dropping his eyes, "I'm Uzumaki Naruto. Pleased to meet you," she saw a faint blush creep up as he continued quietly, "You can call me Naruto-kun, if you want."
She chuckled as they walked the few steps to the door for the kitchen proper, "Naruto-kun, has such good manners. I'll have to tell your parents what a polite boy you are."
He tensed in her arms and she knew she'd made a mistake, "I don't..." She was about to fish for more information when a loud voice boomed, "Where is Yoi? Customers don't wait on themselves you know. I have two more breaks to get out." Sayo winced as she made her way fully into the kitchen and watched as her boss eyes narrowed at her before they widened as they fell on Naruto. Whatever he was about to say died on his lips and he was left there gapping like a fish. Mori Takahashi was many things, world renouned chef, ex ninja of Stone, and grandfather of six; being some of them. He also happened to have a soft spot for cute kids a mile wide, it was part of the reason he quit being a ninja two decades ago. He couldn't stomach killing people anymore, especially kids.
The vegetable chopper looked up from his work and fought a smirk as they entered, "Hey Yo-chan, where'd you get the kid?" He knew and he found it rather humerous. He watched as she twitched slightly in aggravation as she shot a glare at her brother. She turned back to Mori before she bowed at the waist, the kid grasping her clothes as she did so suddenly. "I apologize Takahashi-sensei, I require the rest of the day off to help this boy get home."
Takahashi looked from Sayo's bowed head to the dirty, blond child clinging to her for a few moments. A small, warm smile working it's way to his face, This was the first time that she had ever actually asked for anything in the years they'd been together. The normally gruff woman was actually being polite.
"Well if Yo-chan is asking so politely who am I to refuse? You'll come in early tomorrow to make up the time though. Get that child to the hospital or police station. We'll manage for two hours.
Takahashi looked from Sayo's bowed head to the dirty, blond child clinging to her for a few moments. A small, warm smile working it's way to his face, This was the first time that she had ever actually asked for anything in the years they'd been together. The normally gruff woman was actually being polite. "Well if Yo-chan is asking so politely who am I to refuse? You'll come in early tomorrow to make up the time though. Get that child to the hospital or police station. We'll manage for two hours."
One of the other workers looked at the little boy his eyes narrowing in hate, "Eto, Takahashi-san that child is..."
"Adorable! Isn't he? Our Yo-chan finds such cute boys!" The vegetable chopper made his way over to the two as Sayo straightened up. He pinched went to pinch Naruto's cheek but his sister's hand and