Hey everyone After months and months of writing different Naruto fanfictions, I finally decided to post one of them. I'm hesitant to finish them all because the manga isn't, and I want to follow the storyline... But, I decided that I'll post this one story and follow the manga as long as I can until I get too fast for it ~.^ When that happens, I'll probably end up starting my own story line, taking off where I get ahead of the manga. Just let me know what you think of the story, any idea's you have, or any ways to make it better. I love to hear everyone's ideas, and would also love to follow some of them, so feel free to post any. Thanks!

Disclaimer: No, I don't own Naruto. I only own Hasu and Akashia, and some of the plot. Everything else goes to our lovely Kishimoto, who is amazing for drawing and writing Naruto.

"Why not let me?" The girl asked with a scowl.

"You know why, Hasu." The woman sighed, obviously not wanting to argue with the girl.

"I refuse to be punished for my blood any longer. I am my own person, my blood is my own... And you hold no authority over anyone who isn't a shinobi." The girl, Hasu, said with a pointed look.

"Have you really gone insane? You are a shinobi, Hasu." The woman said pointedly.

"Not anymore." Hasu said, tearing her Kirigakure hitai-ate from her bicep and slamming it onto the desk before turning around and walking towards the door.

"Namichi Hasu! If you walk through those gates, you'll never be able to come near them again!" The woman called after Hasu, standing up with her hands on the desk. Hasu sighed tiredly, looking over her shoulder at the woman.

"Are you blind, Mizukage-sama? I have no wish to ever see this place again." Hasu said icily before walking out of the room. Hasu looked to the side of the hallway, frowning as she walked. "Come on, Akashia..." She said to a pure white ninja wolf with ice blue eyes. The wolf gave a short nod before following her master.

I opened my deep purple eyes, sighing. "It's so cold..." I whined tiredly. My short crimson hair was tied up in a high ponytail, stray locks framing my face. I was wearing a full-body fishnet suit under my short, crimson kimono that reached my mid thighs. I had black shinobi sandals, and black fingerless gloves with plates on the top. Around my waist was a long black jacket, folded and tied around my waist to look like a regular obi.

"I smell people... Alot of them." The wolf beside me said, though it would sound like a bunch of barks to anyone else. The wolf, Akashia, had ice blue eyes and was pure white except for two markings. Her tail tip was pure black, and she had three claw mark scars on her muzzle from a battle a long time ago.

"How close?" I asked curiously as Akashia sniffed the ground.

"Not far... Many people have passed through here recently." Akashia said calmly, and I nodded.

"Hm... To approach or not?" I mused aloud.

"This is the wind country... It's unlikely we would be welcomed." Akashia pointed out, and I shrugged.

"It's not like we belong to any country anymore, Akashia. How are they to know we used to be from Kirigakure?" I pointed out with a smile. "Besides, we'll go in, get food and shelter for a bit, then leave. Just like we've been doing... Oh well, at least it isn't as cold as Kiri..." I shrugged, and Akashia grunted her agreement.

"And if they decide to fight us? Your skills are based purely for attack..." Akashia sighed.

"Which is why you're here to defend me." I said teasingly before growing serious. "Don't worry. I don't want to pick a fight. If they do, we'll just leave." I sighed, rolling my shoulder. I let out a groan of irritation as I spotted traitorous white flakes floating from the cloudy sky. "Damn it all!" I shouted, pointing accusingly at the sky.

"...Can I help you?" A lazy voice said, and I looked over my shoulder to see a male with black hair in a spiked ponytail, a Konohagakure hitai-ate around his upper left arm. I let out an irritated sigh.

"Great. I'm near Konohagakure, aren't I?" I grumbled, and the man nodded with a frown, seeming to be on his guard. "Oh stop being paranoid... Akashia won't hurt ya." I said with a smile, crouching down and setting a hand on the white wolf, who sat down. The male was eyeing my carefully. "My name's Hasu."

"...Hasu and Akashia? Interesting names... I'm Shikamaru, a Genin from Konohagakure, which you are approaching." He said pointedly, and I nodded.

"Oh... Well, I'm just a strange person from another country innocently wandering lost around the Land of Fire... I don't suppose you could give me directions to the nearest stranger-friendly town so I can be on my way?" I said calmly, and Shikamaru narrowed his eyes.

"Where are you from, and why are you in the Land of Fire?" Shikamaru asked seriously but lazily, and I sighed again.

"I'm from the Land of Water, and I'm here because I'm lost. Didn't you hear me the first time?" I grumbled. "Sheesh... Would you like me to tell you my life story now?" I asked sarcastically.

"No, I'll let you tell that to the Hokage." Shikamaru said, motioning for me to turn around. I rolled my eyes at him, putting my hands on my hips as I stood from my crouch. Akashia let out a low growl, but I swatted her muzzle lightly.

"Stop that, Akashia... Didn't you hear me the first time? I already said I don't want to pick a fight... And if I just leave, then I'll be chased, and that'd just be no fun at all... I guess we'll just cooperate... Oh, would you like me to remove my weapons?" I offered Shikamaru, who nodded with a frown. I shrugged boredly and pulled my hip pouch, thigh pouch, and the hidden kunai in my sleeves away from me, dropping them on the ground.

"All right... Come with me." Shikamaru said, and I nodded.

"Oh, what about Akashia?" I asked, and Shikamaru glanced at me.

"She's coming too." He said simply, and I nodded again. I followed him as he led me through the tall trees, Akashia running alongside me.

"...That's it?" Hiruzen stated questioningly from behind the desk he sat at. I was standing on the other side, my hands folded calmly behind my back as Akashia lazily laid beside me.

"Yup."

"...You quit being a shinobi, and abandoned your village to avoid persecution, came to the Land of Fire, got lost, and wandered too close to Konoha... That's it?" Hiruzen asked again, frowning.

"Yup." I replied.

"...Do you intend to leave without causing any problems?" Hiruzen questioned.

"Sure. Though I'd really like it if you could point me in the direction of the closest village that I could get a place to eat and sleep in..." I said with a shrug.

"You no longer hold any ties to Kirigakure... You are welcome to be here in Konoha, however if you wish to roam freely about the Land of Fire, you'll need to go through a process and get the Daimyo to approve citizenship." Hiruzen said calmly, and I sighed, looking down at Akashia.

"Akashia... What do you think?" I asked her, and the white wolf raised her head, her ice blue eyes meeting my deep purple ones.

"I miss being in a village and doing missions..." Akashia said quietly, though it would have only sounded like barking to Hiruzen. I looked at the wolf sadly, rubbing the back of my neck before sighing. I crossed my arms over my chest, looking up at Hiruzen.

"I would be honored to be allowed to stay in Konoha... However, I don't suppose I'd be allowed to become a shinobi here, would I?" I asked with a wry smile.

"No... Not until you are willing to allow your mind to be searched by one of our best. To ensure you have told me the truth and are trustworthy." Hiruzen said, and I frowned.

"Would the information discovered be kept between me, you, and the interrogator alone?" I inquired, and Hiruzen frowned before nodding. "I'll let you know my decision in a weeks time... you may want to keep my past to yourself, unless you want me to be hated around here... People are so untrustworthy around random and mysterious strangers. I haven't a clue why." I said nonchalantly, and Hiruzen nodded.

"Keep in mind we will have ANBU watching your every move for some time." Hiruzen said seriously, and I nodded.

"Gotcha... I saved up a fair share of Ryô doing missions, so I'll be fine in that regard for a few months..." More like years. I added mentally. Akashia stood up, shaking herself as she did. On all fours, Akashia's head reached my upper chest, a bit higher then my elbows. "Oh, I don't suppose you know where I can buy chromium, nickel, copper oxide, and manganese?" I asked curiously, and Hiruzen looked at me strangely. "For glass making." I explained, and she frowned.

"There should be plenty of places in the store district... Don't leave the village without being told, or without someone accompanying you. You will be followed by ANBU constantly, and if you attempt to leave the village without permission, you will be stopped." Hiruzen said seriously, and I nodded.

"You're a nice guy, Hokage-sama. Honest. Any other Kage would have chased me off... after trying to kill me." I said with a smile, bowing to him. "Thank you for your generosity." I said seriously before straightening up. He nodded, waving me away lightly with a small smile. Briefly, I wondered if the only reason he was letting me stay was because he felt bad for me. Either way, I'm grateful.