****Winner of the Most Popular Naruto Fanfic Watty Award 2013/14**** **Currently being rewritten as the original is old and awful in this author's opinion** A coming of age story about a young Ninja, confused and hurt by the instances in her past, struggling to find her place and figure out what it all means. Can the kindness of a new Village warm a heart that time has taught to be cold and cruel? Can new friendships replace broken bonds, lost to the past? Is it safer to stay, or is it safer to run? A story not about one's physical strength, or of obtaining great power, but a story of overcoming and learning to change as old wounds heal.

Naomi. No one knows her last name. No one cares enough to ask. She's your average outcast in the village, only she's a genius. As smart as Shikamaru but as worthless and untalented as Naruto, she strives to be noticed. So when Shika finally does and her life takes a turn for the worst, can she return to the man she loves? Or will Orochimaru kill her in the effort?

Meet Sakuya Ishio a young girl who is a Junin in her ninja rank and she falls in love with her childhood friend Naruto but how does he feel about her or will Sakura steal him away?

Ezmei, the not-so-known Village Hidden in the Mountain's prized possession. I mean, that is to be expected when she is the daughter of the two most powerful voodooist alive, who's grandparents founded the very village they live in, right? Right. Hm, what will the poor village do when Ezmei betrays them and leaves without stating why? Well, they can't really do anything considering Ezmei has started an organization of young voodooist just like her, and are traveling for an unknown goal. This small secret organization, however, does make our beloved Akatsuki curious. Thinking the organization's goal will somehow get tangled in with the Akatsuki's goal, Deidara and Sasori are sent to get rid of them. What Sasori and Ezmei don't know, though, is that the mild rivalry they obtain during their first encounter can, and possibly will, growing into something much stronger.