KEY

Chapter 3

I lay exhausted in the tree branches, I had been running for two days straight and my sides were aching like crazy, I was beginning to feel tired,

“Burn the evidence,” I whispered, I removed my cloak and pulled out a match. my headband symbol made of metal and wouldn’t get destroyed in the fire, I struck the match and set my clothes alight, I left them burning and carried on, I jumped above the trees to see a large wall rising ahead of me, this must be the Leaf Village. I staggered over to an entrance and walked inside, the guards took no notice of me because I had left my headband back in the blazing fire. I passed a group of laughing kids my age who were wearing the Leaf Village headband, a young boy with spiky blonde hair was laughing with them, I recognized him as the Jinchuuriki of the Leaf. He began to walk away,

“Excuse me,” I said quietly, he turned around to face me,

“Uh, can I help you?” he asked, a little dazed,

“Yes, are you Naruto Uzumaki?” I asked, his face lit up,

“Thats me alright, I’m Naruto Uzumaki, believe it!” he smiled,

“Wow, its an honor to meet you, Naruto,” I smiled weakly,

“Thank you,” he beamed, I nodded, “You’re not from around here are you, sister?” he asked,

“Yes,” I sighed, “Do you know anywhere I can stay?”

“Come with me,” he said, taking my arm,

“Wait, Itachi Uchiha, he told me to go to Sasuke, a team mate of yours apparently,” I said, Naruto sighed,

“Fine, I’ll take you there.” he complained,

“Thank you, Naruto, this means a lot to me.” I smiled, he blushed and looked away. He took me to a small  house near the edge of the forest,

“Sasuke! Sasuke, someone wants to see you!” Naruto yelled, I heard someone sigh and get up, their footsteps approached the door as he opened it,

“What now, Naruto?” he asked, his eyes flashed to my face,

“I’d hate to be rude but my name’s Mimi, your brother told me to come here after I escaped from the Akatsuki,” I whispered, Naruto dropped my arm,

“You mean?” he asked, I nodded,

“Can you help me?” I asked, Sasuke nodded and pulled me inside to set me down on the couch,

“Tell me everything that happened,” Sasuke said, his blank stare went through my skull,

“They came to my village and kidnapped me, telling me I was their ‘key’. Apparently without me they cannot create world domination, when they pressured me for the key I ran away with Itachi’s help, he told me to come here to you,” I said, watching his face, Sasuke frowned,

“You might have to take this to the Hokage,” he finally said, I raised my eyebrows,

“Whats a Hokage?” I asked, Sasuke stared at me like I was an idiot,

“Its the best Shinobi in the Leaf Village,” Naruto sighed,

“What will he do?”

“Ask you questions about the Akatsuki,” Sasuke shrugged,

“So he’ll help me?” I asked, Naruto nodded and grabbed my arm again,

“Come on, before the Akatsuki come and get you!” he urged,  I followed him to a large building in front of a stone wall, four faced were carved into it, 

“Are they the Hokage?” I asked, Naruto nodded,

“Yeah, the first, second, third and fourth.” Naruto smiled, taking me inside of the large building, we ran up a few stairs and past some corridors,

“Lord Hokage!” Naruto yelled, throwing me inside his office,

“Why, hello Naruto, who’s this you’ve brought here today?” he asked, looking up from his artwork, we was old, really old, while wearing this strange white and red garment,

“She was kidnapped by the Akatsuki and needs out help,” Naruto said, the Hokage’s face turned serious,

“Is this true?” he asked,

“Yes it is,” I nodded,

“What happened?” he asked, I repeated the story I told Sasuke, “I see, how are you their ‘key’?” he asked,

“Thats the problem, I don’t know. But without me they cannot create world domination.” I said a little shaky,

“Naruto, I want you to take care of here. It should be known that any Akatsuki member that is seen should be killed,” the Hokage noted, a Shinobi I never realized nodded and jumped out of the window. I stood still while the Hokage wrote down something on a scroll, “Do you know what will happen if the Akatsuki get their hands on you after your escape?” he asked,

“No, sir. But I do believe their master will not be happy,” I nodded,

“Indeed,” he breathed, “Naruto, make sure her Identity stays safe,” he said, waving his hand. Naruto nodded,

“I will Old Man, believe it.” he smiled, walking away with me. I followed him out of the building,

“Naruto, would it be best if I were to cut my hair?” I asked, finally a chance to get rid of these stupid locks,

“That would be best, do you have any money on you?” he asked, I smirked and pulled out a handfull of money,

“What do you think?” he laughed,

“COme on, I’ll take you to this place I know,” he said, dragging me through the town, I was still edgy about this place but I knew the Jinchuuriki was desperate for friends and he was nice. I decided to trust him, but I would keep my distance incase something happened.

I walked out of the shop feeling light headed, not because I was sick or ill, but because my hair had been cut a bit longer that Naruto’s, the hair dresser had kindly spiked it for me, as well as selling me some hair spray,

“Your hair looks nice like that,” Naruto said, playing with the spikes,

“Thanks, I was thinking about cutting it before,” I smiled, Naruto walked next to me,

“Do you need new clothes?” he asked,

“If you don’t mind,” I said quietly,

“No! No! Come on!” he said, running ahead of me, I laughed and chased after him, we stopped in front of a clothing store,

“Wow, this is perfect,” I smiled, looking inside,

“Come on,” he laughed, pushing me inside. We scanned through the racks of fabric,

“How about this?” I asked, taking out a pair of pale blue shorts,

“Nice, why dont you match it with this?” he asked, taking out a black t-shirt,

“Perfect,” I said, taking it off him, “Come on, lets go pay,” I said,

“That was quicker than I thought,” he mumbled, I payed the man and took the bag full of clothes,

“Where do we go now?”  Iasked,

“Dont you need to rest? I mean when you got here it looked like you had been runnig for two days straight without any food or water,” he said in amazement

“I’ve done longer,” I shrugged, Naruto took my hand,

“I think you should rest, come on. Lets go back to my place,” he said, walking now. We reached a block of green apartments, we took the elevator up to the fifth floor and he stopped in front of a door, “This is my place, make your self at home,” he grinned, unlocking the door, inside was a small kitchen and dinning area with shelves filled with potted plants, next to that were three doors, one led to a bathroom and the other two led to bedrooms, “This is your room, so you can put your stuff over there,” he said, pointing to a small slot of drawers, I nodded as he left. I sat on the bed and lay down, I was really tired and I needed rest, I let the dreary feeling take over my body and lull me to sleep.