The Lost Shinobi

In The End, It's Only Me

I woke up to see Naruto completely upset. It was only the first day of no exams, and he was obviously upset. He thought that Kakashi-sensei was going to train him, but he got Ebisu instead.

His face practically showed the anger. I knew that it was best if I didn't say anything once he was like this. I've had past experiences. So, I changed into training clothes and escaped through the window.

I walked around for a little while until I got hungry. I walked over to Ichiraku Ramen, where I would almost always go thanks to Naruto. But it wasn't only him, I would go with someone else. Instead of messing with my head I heard Old Man Teuchi cough to get my attention.

"Want anything, Akiko?" He asked. I grinned and just replied, "Same as always." He smiled and I saw Ayame, already cooking the ramen. Ayame was a good friend of mine, almost like a sister, but that was probably because Naruto always dragged me here.

Ayame served me the food a while later, then sat next to me. "So, I heard that you've entered the Chunin Exams?" She asked. Before I stuffed my face with food, I looked over to her and nodded, "I'm one of the finalists, and I'll be fighting a strong opponent."

She smiled, "Well, in that case I hope you win." I smiled at her, then put on my bravest face ever, "You know I will!" She got up, and walked back to the kitchen. I slurped my ramen with a gentle sip. I paid for my food and left.

There was pretty much nothing else to do, so I went over to a training field. Nobody was there, so I just took off my headband, since I wasn't going to battle an opponent yet. First, I practiced my Taijutsu, which I needed to perfect, then my Ninjutsu. I didn't bother with Genjutsu, since I had no need of it.

I practiced for around an hour until I finally got tired. I sensed a quick presence and turned to see Kakashi-sensei on a tree, reading Icha Icha. "You really are a bad influence, ya know?" I asked him. He didn't seem to care. "Perv," I muttered. "I heard that," he replied.

"Why are you here anyways?" I looked at him, as if he was going to attack or something. He looked over at me with his one visible eye. "I've come to tell you that the Hokage wants to see you," he replied. I huffed and blew some hair off my face. "Why me of all people?" I asked. "I've got orders not to tell."

I rolled my eyes and put my headband back onto my forehead. Kakashi sensei got down from the tree and walked me through town to the Hokage's Dome. I felt a mysterious presence beside Kakashi's somewhere, I just didn't know where. So I looked around and didn't see anyone.

'They're up to something.'

'What gave it away?'

'Come on, Kakashi? Of all people? I know he's your sensei but, it seems suspicious.'

'I'm just going to see what Old Man Kage wants. It'll be quick.'

'I hope so.'

We reached the Hokage's Dome and Kakashi-sensei knocked on the door. "Come in," the Kage's raspy voice answered. Sensei allowed me to go first and I saw the Hokage with some big white haired guy. This guy needed a haircut, badly.

"Who's this Hokage-sama?" The white haired guy asked, his eyes had a creepy stare. I backed away, and Kakashi Sensei seemed to glare at Jiraiya with his one eye. "Jiraiya, this is Akiko, daughter of Sena Uyakata and Zabuza Momochi."

Jiraiya, this guy was creepy. "Daughter of one of the Twin Demons? She must be one of Konoha's precious weapons." I chopped him on the head. It was quick but I saw the Hokage's face sweat drop. "I'm not a weapon, and I'm not a demon spawn if you're thinking about that. Got it?"