The Life of Ki (Naruto Fanfic)

The Himan District

"What are you doing here!" Naruto shouts, pointing an accusing finger at a crazy-looking old man.

Currently, I stand off to the side of one of the main roads of Konoha.

When Naruto told me this was the 'Team Kakashi meeting place', I should have known something was wrong.

We're only about a block from my apartment complex, but aside from it being familiar in that sense, Team Kakashi has never met in such an exposed place. Furthermore, the rest of Team Kakashi is nowhere to be seen.

The only person waiting in this spot was a creepy old man that Naruto immediately launched into an argument with.

I lean back onto a wall in the shade of one of the buildings.

I cross my arms as I watch Naruto and the old man interact.

The old man gives me and Naruto a blank stare as he glances between the two of us.
In tired irritation, I return his appraising look.

Upon closer speculation, this man probably isn't that old. His thick white hair bushes out in shaggy spikes as it cascades down his back. A headband on his forehead probably holds some significance to a select group of people, but in my eyes, it only tells me that this man is a ninja.

Aside from a few warts on his face and red face paint that drips down from his eyes like tears, I don't really note much else about this guy.

Naruto seems to know this guy considering he's screaming at him. Then again, Naruto screams at a lot of strangers.

Naruto stomps his foot in anger as he faces this old man. "Where's Kakashi!" Naruto demands to know.

"Where's the Uchiha?" The man retorts to Naruto. "I told you to go get that kid, brat!" The man points an accusing finger right back at Naruto.

"You shut up you pervy old man!" Naruto shouts back angrily. "You told me to gather Team Kakashi for a meeting!"

"THEN WHERE IS THE UCHIHA!" The old man practically tears his hair out.

"He and Sakura weren't home! Besides, I don't take orders from you. Where's my sensei?" Naruto crosses his arms angrily.

I remain silent as I watch this man and Naruto bicker.

Slowly, I begin to back away to see if I can escape without them noticing.

The white-haired man suddenly glances at me as if just recognizing that I am, in fact, also a breathing human being.

"Who are you?" The man asks me, his chin jut out with stubborn suspicion.

Truthfully, I should be asking this man that question.

Does Naruto even know this sketchy looking guy? He seems kind of creepy, and I really shouldn't be talking to strangers.

I alternate what foot I lean on as I debate whether or not to tell this man my name.

"I'm Ki." I relent. "You are...?"

The man gives you a crooked smile. "I am Jiraiya, the fiercest of Konohagakure's Sannin, the most powerful of the Sa-"

Naruto cuts in and shoves his finger into Jiraiya's face. "He's a pervy sage!" Naruto informs me.

I blink in surprise as Naruto and 'Jiraiya' begin to argue intensely.

I've never heard of this man, Jiraiya, but hadn't Naruto mentioned briefly that he was taught by a sage for a short period of time before the Chunin preliminaries? Even if so, is this man really a sannin?