Alright, so this one-shot takes place in the Naruto world. I couldn't focus on my work because this idea kept plaguing me, so I wrote some of it out. Hope someone enjoys it while they wait for me to update something else. Anyway, here you go.

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It was a day like any other in Konoha. The sun beat down, warming the streets as people wandered about buying and selling items, meeting up with friends, and heading toward the Hokage's mansion for missions. One certain person stood out more than the rest though, as he looked the items over with a well trained eye. He was about to open his mouth and speak with the stall owner when there was a shout behind him and he was abruptly knocked off his feet.

Sitting up, he looked over to see a child in an orange jumpsuit, his blond hair being ruffled by a hand as he rubbed the back of his head. Getting to his feet, he held out a hand to the boy. "Are you alright, Naruto?" The blond started, looking up toward the man.

Naruto smiled, "Yeah I'm okay. What about you, didn't I knock you over?"

Smiling he ruffled the blond's hair, he responded, "You did, but I'm alright. Watch where you're going next time."

"A-ah." Closing one eye, Naruto looked up at the man. "Excuse me, but do I know you? You called me by name just barely."

"Oh, sorry. I don't know you personally, but more through rumors. I hear you're quite the prankster."

"You better believe it! I'm the best prankster in the entire village!" Naruto's eyes sparkled. "Even better than that, I'm gonna be Hokage! Look here, I'm already a ninja!" The man's eyes saddened slightly before his smile took its place.

"Well then, I suppose I'll have to wait and see for that."

Naruto smiled and began to run off before looking back. "Oh yeah, old man, what was your name?"

His smile faltered at the old man, but he replied nonetheless, "Hiroshi Fukunaga. I'm not an old man though, I'm barely 17!"

All Naruto did was wave with a look of shock. Hiroshi sighed, turning back to the stand filled with vegetables he was at, and ran a hand through his black hair.

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A few days had passed since Hiroshi had met Naruto. He had just finished some business and he sighed as he closed the small bag at his side. Though he knew he had to, he couldn't help but hate what he just did. The business that he did every month was eating through the small amount of money he could make.

When Hiroshi returned his attention back to the road he was walking on, he saw an older man in the distance. The man looked slightly tipsy, but that wasn't what caught Hiroshi's attention. It was the clothing. It was unmistakably from a different part of the world, and though that wasn't uncommon here Hiroshi got curious. Running forward slightly, Hiroshi caught up to the man.

"Excuse me sir, I couldn't help but notice you weren't from around here. Where are you from?"

The smile on Hiroshi's face faltered at the man's reply. "I'm not from around here, but I doubt telling someone as useless looking as you where I'm from would help anything."

Instead of becoming dejected, Hiroshi laughed a little. "I suppose I do look pretty useless. You see though, I'm a traveling merchant, and I like to keep tabs on what goes on in the world."

"A traveling merchant, you look pretty weak for that." Hiroshi simply continued to smile, trying to bear the constant insults he was receiving from the man. "If I tell you will you leave me alone?"

"Hm... I might?"

The old man grunted in reply. "Well then, show me the way to the Hokage's office and I'll tell you. This village is too large."

"Of course! First off, we should turn around, we've been walking away from it for a while now." The older man grumbled, but followed Hiroshi down the street.

As they walked, the man filled Hiroshi in on what was happening in his country, and the youth couldn't keep the look of sadness off of his face. Poverty, dictatorship, and sadness were the only tales that the man could tell. By the time that they reached the Hokage's building, Hiroshi was close to tears.

"Well then, I suppose this is where we will be parting ways." The man looked into Hiroshi's eyes and saw a small light of determination there. "Maybe I'll see you again, my name is Tazuna."

"Hiroshi Fukunaga, nice to meet you, Tazuna." Looking off to the left, Hiroshi scratched his cheek a little. "Listen, the building here is a bit like a maze, perhaps I could help guide you to where the Hokage is? I mean, I wouldn't want you to get lost this close to your goal."

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Hesitating a moment in distrust, finally Tazuna nodded. "Sure, lead the way Hiroshi."

Hiroshi was grinning as he walked into the red building that was the Hokage's Tower. He had just finished up all the business he needed to take care of before setting off, and now all he needed was to sneak his way into being present in a certain mission. Taking a left, he arrived at the hall where people would wait for available ninja teams to take on their mission. It didn't take long to find who he was looking for.

"Hey, Tazuna! Still here huh?" He raised a hand and Tazuna, who had been nodding off in a chair, looked up.

"Ah, Hiroshi, didn't you just leave me here yesterday?"

A chuckle escaped from Hiroshi. "Now, now, if I didn't know any better I'd assume you were trying to chase me off. Just coming to check in. I need to let the Hokage know I'm about to set off."

"I see, quite a wait you've got then, boy. It seems like this will take all day." He smiled then though, happy enough all things considered. "I'm next though."

Hiroshi sighed as if troubled. "Ah, I really need to set out soon though, otherwise I won't make it to the first rest point..." He glanced over at Tazuna. "Hey, why don't we make a deal?"

Tazuna leaned forward in interest. "Oh? A deal?"

"Well, I need to set out soon, so if you let me come in with you I'll be able to talk to the Hokage faster." A mischievous grin spread across his face. "As for what you'll get in return, will this do?" After rummaging in his bag, he pulled out a bottle of sake.

Eyes lighting upon the alcohol, Hiroshi's plan was an instant success. "Let me have a swig, and take a seat friend."

"Friend am I? That was a quick decision." Nevertheless though, Hiroshi sat down next to Tazuna and handed the bottle off.

It was nearly silent between the two as several quick gulps of sake were swallowed. "Anyone that gives me sake is a friend."

Before either could speak again, the Hokage called out for the next person to enter. Standing, Tazuna beckoned to Hiroshi to follow. Hiroshi opened the door for Tazuna, slipping through behind him.

Noticing the group of four shinobi that would, no doubt, be guarding Tazuna, Hiroshi relaxed slightly. He felt more confident now. Ignoring the group, Hiroshi walked up to the Hokage unnoticed.

Eyes shifting focus, the Hokage jumped ever so slightly when he noticed Hiroshi. Before the old man could speak, Hiroshi did.

"Lord Hokage, would you let me join this group in their travels? I need to go out and sell some things."

Narrowing his eyes, the Hokage looked him over. "Hiroshi, are you traveling to the Land of Waves then?"

Nodding affirmation he gestured over. "Yes, but there are bandits on the way. If they were to just be there it would deter bandits, so I would like to travel with them at least until the border."

At this point, the five had stopped bickering and looked over at Hiroshi and the Hokage in interest. Noticing this, the Hokage lowered his voice some. "Hiroshi, are you sure you are prepared for this. I mean you-" Hiroshi cut him off.

"I'll be fine, I've prepared everything that I'll need, no worries." He patted the bag at his side, the grin still in place on his face.

The Hokage sighed. "I suppose I'll let you go then. Make sure to tell-"

"Already did it, thank you Lord Hokage."

Looking over at the group of ninja, the old man sighed once more. "Well then, Kakashi, you will have another person tagging along with you. This is Hiroshi, a merchant from Konoha."

A shout escaped from one, catching everyone's attention. Naruto was pointing, and Hiroshi's smile simply widened. "Hello Naruto, it's been a while hasn't it?"

"You're that dude I knocked over a few days ago!"

"Looks like we'll be traveling together." Letting his eyes stray from the blond, Hiroshi noticed the jonin, Kakashi, had a small look of suspicion in his eyes.

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Hiroshi arrived at the gate first, and lowered the massive pack that he had to the ground. The bag was pretty heavy, and he decided it was wiser to conserve the strength that he could. As he waited he considered what he just got himself into.

Here he was, a mere merchant, deciding to go to a different country that was ridden with oppression. Not only that, he wouldn't be back for nearly a month with all the sales and such that he would hopefully be doing. Barely enough time until he needed to be back. In all, he likely wouldn't sell much either. He had to go though, he couldn't just sit back and ignore everything.

By the time he realized he had been spacing out, everyone else had gathered. He looked them over, noticing that Naruto had a single bag that was almost as large and full as his pack. Looking them all over though, he realized the Naruto had most likely overpacked. A few seconds later, the thought was confirmed by Kakashi.

It took quite a while, but soon enough they were walking down the road. For a little while, it was pretty quiet, but soon enough someone had to speak up. Hiroshi looked over at the girl, Sakura if he remembered correctly, as she spoke. "Tazuna, your from the Land of Waves, right?"

A little irritated, Tazuna replied, "What about it?" Hiroshi looked over at him, wondering why his attitude had changed so much from when the two talked.

"Hey, Kakashi? Do they have ninja in that country too?" A brief look of surprise overcame Hiroshi. He assumed that they would have taught academy students about other shinobi villages. Maybe it was only the major ones though, that would make sense he supposed.

Either way, by the time he came back from his thoughts, he had missed whatever Kakashi's response had been. Hiroshi shifted his pack on his shoulder, resettling it. They had been walking some time now, and were a fair distance away from the village by now. It wouldn't be surprising to run into other travelers at this point.

The sound of water dripping into a puddle caught Hiroshi's attention then, and he turned back toward the sound to see a ninja rising from a small puddle in the ground. He had no time to say anything before Kakashi was wrapped in chains. Everyone had turned at this point, and everyone shouted out as Kakashi was shredded to pieces.

Hiroshi was shocked to say the least, but it wasn't the first time he would have been in a tricky situation. The two ninja charged forward before being stopped by Sasuke's own attack in reply.

As he watched the battle, Hiroshi took more than a few steps back to ensure that he was well out of the way. He knew that there was no way he could take part in a battle like this. When Kakashi finally showed his face once more on the battlefield, Hiroshi was more than pleased that the fight was over.

Taking off his pack, he rummaged through it, being sure to stay out of sight from the rest of the group. He was beginning to feel nauseous and he didn't want his symptoms to get worse. Taking out a pill, he swallowed it whole, already used to the size. One less day he could be away from Konoha.

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That's all I have written, so if you liked it let me know. This is something I would be totally willing to write if enough people like it. Even then... meh, who knows.

-Nicky~