A/N: Well here is the redo. I finally got around to it! And just so you know every character you see in this story that isn't from Naruto and his world belongs to me. I don't appreciate thieves and may karma come back and bite you in the butt! Also thanks to everyone who read the original, but after a flame I go on the last one I realized just how horrible it was. Thank you sun-flavour and sorry I snapped at you again, you were right!
But for all of those who enjoyed it I will still keep it up and to let you know that this story is almost completely different. You can even tell by this first chapter how different it is. Now on with the story!
"The day the child realizes that all adults are imperfect, he becomes an adolescent; the day he forgives them, he becomes and adult; the day the child forgives himself, he becomes wise." - Alden Nowlan
~oOo~
She looked around at her surroundings, and found that once again she only saw the moss and wet stone she saw for the past month. She had no way to tell how much time she spent here except for a guard who stood outside her door. He was always nice but only because she was a child and had her parents taken away from her from their virus they sent onto her village, which they themselves caught when they burned the infected dead.
When they first came to the peaceful village the invading force said they only wanted to pass through, but soon just passing through meant that they would try and make the young girl's village into slaves. For they heard that her village had a very special kekkei genkai that enabled them to summon creatures with ease.
But rumors can sometimes disappoint, as they soon found out as they tried to see this power they sought.
In order to summon these creatures the summoner had to give up more blood then just a small bit from a bite mark on the finger. This girl's kekkei genkai made it so that every time she summoned a beast, which they would do by making a song or make noises of that beast, she, and others with her power, would only have to give up a small bit of chakra ,and the summoned beast would stay until the summoner dismisses it without wasting anything, but would have to give up two handfuls of blood, and four if the beast is strong enough, to summon it.
Though if a person was strong enough and trained enough they wouldn't have to use that much blood; the strongest elders of the village only had to use a small bite to the finger. The only problem with that is that the invaders virus infected the elderly first, and with them the secrets of the village. And being a peaceful village the villagers either gave up and surrendered to be taken into captivity, or a few fought back and died when they released the virus, and some few lucky families used another of their abilities to their kekkei genkai so that they could travel to the summons world with a small drop of blood.
Though this little girl's parents were one of those people who gave up, but while in prison they tried to escape after the people tried to take the young girl for experiments. They got nearly halfway to the village outskirts when the young girl's parents were killed right in front of her with direct injections of the virus. The young girl was also shot but she was one of the lucky one's who had immunity to it already, but she didn't consider herself lucky. She was forced by the guards to watch as her parents bled from nearly every pore and seized around the ground while in their own feces.
The young girl would never forget that day because that was the day she summoned her first beast and the first day she took away a human life. When other guards came, they saw her sitting in a circle of blood with a summoned beast dispersing into a cloud of smoke, with the dead guards and her parents surrounding her. The new guards assumed that to protect their child, her parents killed the other guards to their last breath, and they took pity on the girl who was frozen in a state of shock.
She was then placed in this cell she was in and she could here everything from this spot. She could hear as the invading guards each died of their own virus, she could hear each of the villager's being tortured to do what the guards ordering, she could even hear as they virus changed so that the previously immune caught it and died.
Soon, only she and her guard were left and when he realized this he panicked and scavenged the dead for anything he could use. The last stop he made was to the little girl's cell. She was so quiet that he didn't know if she was alive, but when he realized she was, he took the young six year old girl and fled the village. She was in a state of shock when she actually saw her village again after so long, and to see the sun again that she had to be carried by the guard.
The next day she was finally out of it and when she looked at the guard she couldn't feel hate for him. He may have been one of the men who participated in the invasion of the village but he did nothing to her. She wanted to blame him for everything, but she could never do it because her mind kept thinking that he was a victim too, even though his comrades did bring about their own destruction. Though she didn't trust him all the way yet.
She didn't think she could trust any one for a long time.
As they were walking for their sixth straight day after they retreat when they realized that they didn't know each other's names. The guard turned to the young girl and realized he never even got a good look at her. She had messy shoulder length golden-brunette hair, and her blue-gray eyes seemed too old for such a young child. The only think that made her look like a normal child was her height and weight and that she looked healthy, if not filthy. That made him smile a bit because he knew that from his extra care, she didn't look like the skeletal children he saw in the village.
She also looked at him and saw that he was quite a tall man a bald head. His eyes were a deep brown and she could tell from the small wrinkles under his eyes that either he didn't sleep much, or that he was about his late twenties. She also saw that his skin was lightly tanned and compared to her sun depraved skin she was like a ghost.
When they camped for dinner that night the man said, "My name is Samoa Haru, and I'm sorry for not introducing myself sooner." he was trying to be polite, "May I ask for your name?"
The young girl looked up at him and nodded saying, "My name is Ramose Kari, and it is a pleasure to meet you Samoa-san."
He chuckled and said, "You don't have to call me by my family name. Just call me Haru."
Kari smiled in what seemed like the first time in ages and said, "Than you may call me Kari, Haru-san."
Haru smiled and pat her head as he passed her a roasted fish, "Thank you Kari-chan."
That was the day also that Kari started to try and begin to trust the man more. That was also the day they arrived in their first village since they left Kari's destroyed one. It was also the first day that Kari got a bath since then. Haru turned to Kari and said, "So we don't arise any suspicion we will act like father and daughter, so you will have to use my family name incase anyone asks."
Kari nodded and said, "As long as I get a bath I'll do it." and she smiled.
Haru smiled at her and said, once he realized that he himself needed to clean himself, "I guess I will just have to get a room at one of the hot springs they have here."
The young girl smiled and clapped her hands and jumped into the air cheering. She may be able to like this man soon if he kept being this nice. When they entered the village they got a few strange glances over their dirty appearance, but once they went into the hot springs and got a room, they hardly saw anyone; even when they got to the outdoor baths they didn't meet anyone.
It was a bit weird for Haru to have to wash a young child that wasn't his own, but he only had to get her back and help her with her hair before she announced she could wash herself. They turned around from each other and cleaned themselves before putting on a towel to cover up while they relaxed and talked about what they would do. And after they got out of the baths, and got on their robes Kari's stomach growled, quite loudly and Haru laughed saying, "I guess it's about time for dinner. Let's get back to the room and order some food."
Kari nodded and smiled, "Thank you Haru-san."
Haru smiled and patted the girl's head and led her back to their room, and once there Haru did as he said. Then after five minutes they started to receive their meals and after their meal Kari went to the window and sat on the ledge looking out at the moon. She heard Haru move about the room and when she looked back she saw that he was resting on his bed and she smiled when she saw that he set up her bed as well.
She then quietly went to her bed and slipped under the sheets, and she wished she hadn't. The close quarters of the room was that of her cell and her dreams quickly turned to memories of the past.
She woke up the next morning, being shook by Haru and he was woken by her screams. Haru guessed that what his comrades did to this girl's village made it so that she wouldn't be able to sleep indoors a room due a subconscious reminder of her time in her cell.
When they packed their things, Haru said, "I know of a group of people that travel around and perform around the world. I think they would be able to take us in and give us a spot."
Kari smiled and said, "And can I help perform with them?"
Haru smiled at her and said, "Well I wouldn't see why not, but we would have to see what was open."
Kari nodded and said, "I think that will be cool then if we go."
Haru smiled and said, "Then off to the gypsies we go."
Kari smiled and grabbed Haru's hand as they exited the village. Haru swung their hands back and forth and it wasn't but a day until they reached the gypsy camp. The leader was Haru's twin brother, Hake, who's only difference from his brother was his eyes were emerald, came out and greeted them with open arms. Kari felt a bit out of place as they discussed old times and things she didn't understand but soon Hake turned to her and asked Haru, "So is this one yours Haru?"
Haru smiled a little and said, "Not by blood but I've been caring for her this past week."
Hare looked at his brother and said, "Then I would like to here about it later, but for now let's see what she can do and we'll get you all introduced while we're at it."
Kari and Haru nodded and they went out and introduced to the members of the nomadic performers. There were the dancers named Nave, Sandra, Melina, and Amice, as well as fire eaters named Samuel and Ezekiel. There was a tale spinner named Marie, and a fortune teller named Nadia, and an animal tamer named Cristo. There were some other people who helped out named Namé, Josephine, and Rikard. Once everyone was introduced Hake turned to Haru and put him in charge of guard duty and to teach Kari the way of a shinobi.
Haru thought that would be for the best and when she wasn't training, Kari would be errand girl and help Cristo with the animals seeing as how he and the animals enjoyed her company. Haru was the only one besides Kari that knew that was only so because she was so close to the summons and their world due to her power.
As soon as assignments and other arrangements were given to Haru and Kari, it was time for some dinner and Kari took this opportunity to talk more with Cristo to see what she would have to do, which she found out was to help clean them and after them, feed them, and just play with them, and then after dinner, Haru would take her and train her. Kari thought this was acceptable and thought that she would be able to do this.
She then looked at the sky and thought that this was a good way to make a new start to her six year life, and thanked Fate that she was given this chance… she just wished that her parents were here to join her on this new adventure.
The next day she had got started on her job and met all kinds of animals she only thought she would see from summonings, but was glad she did. She loved them all and thought she wouldn't mind doing this forever, but training was boring. She was glad that her parents trained her in some of knowledge about chakra control and some other knowledge that a shinobi should know, but there was still a lot to learn. Haru tried to make it interesting, but some things, like math, Haru just couldn't find a way to get to be fun; he never really liked it, but it was essential.
Kari was dead tired after their lesson but wished it would speed up a bit and she could learn things faster. She was always good at remembering things, but that wouldn't increase the time of the lessons or decrease the amount she needed to know anytime soon.
She slipped into her sleeping bag, and turned to Haru and said, "Thank you Haru-san."
He smiled and said, "You're welcome Kari-chan, but may I ask for what?"
Kari looked at the sky and said, "I realized that I'm not mad at you for what your comrades did because you didn't leave me."
Haru looked at her with a sad smile and said, "But it doesn't make up for what we did."
"No, but," Kari began, "you have always been nice to me, you took me away even though it would probably make it harder for you to care for me, you gave me a new home, and a new life. I think you made up for your sins against me."
Haru then asked with a small chuckle, "And how come a six year old can come up to this conclusion."
Kari turned to him and said, "Cristo and I were talking about ourselves today and he brought up that fact, and it got me thinking, so thank you Haru-san." and she smiled at him and he pat her head.
"Well then I should thank you for forgiving me." Haru stated with a small smile, "Even though I have yet to forgive myself, even though I did only guard the prisoners, I still was with my comrades. Even though I gave you and the others more comforts, I did nothing to stop them."
Kari nodded and said, "I still forgive you Haru-san." and she then yawned and said, "Good night and thank you." and she was asleep.
~oOo~
Two years later the young girl is now eight and had excelled in her shinobi training. She may not be a Chuunin but she was a very high leveled Genin. Haru was very proud of her and she and he made a family of their Gypsy tribe. All the females of the tribe took t her quickly and then few men in their group soon came to accept her as well. Haru on the other hand, being the leader's brother, respected as such and as protector of their family.
Kari though recently was always doing something by herself lately and Haru was worried. Even though she never really gained her color back from her time in captivity except for a small tan, she seemed sickly pale and even more tired than her normal energetic self.
One day, Haru followed her and realized that once she started to sing, and her eyes grew the tiny, black, twelve zodiac animals around her iris, that she had been training her kekkei genkkei. He mentally cursed when he saw her cough up some blood, but it was only a handful, and he wondered just how many times she had been training, and what shocked him was that such a large summoning appeared. He then realized that she was also using a cloaking jutsu so that the camp wouldn't see and he wondered just how skilled this once weak girl actually was. Was she training extra every night even after their extended training?
He headed back to camp and pondered some more on this subject when Hake came up to him and asked, "So where is our little Kari?"
Haru looked at his brother and said, "She's out practicing her kekkei genkkei."
Hake's eyes widened and said, "Is that why she's been so pale?" Haru told Hake about this when they first arrived.
Haru looked over where he last saw Kari and nodded, "It seems as if she's been practicing on it quite a lot because she isn't letting out a much blood as what we found out is normal." Hake nodded and Haru continued, "and she seems to have been practicing extra after our lessons because she put up a pretty large cloaking barrier."
Hake smiled and said, "I remember a time when she wouldn't even want to practice and said she wanted to quit. I wonder what happened." Haru nodded and Hake continued, "Well then, we'll just have to get her to eat more or sneak some vitamins or something in her food to make sure she regenerates her blood faster. Can't have one of our own working herself sick." Hake then walked away and Haru smiled, Kari really had a good life here.
Kari walked back exhausted. She really didn't want to stop her training but she knew that if she didn't she would be in trouble. Their tribe already noticed her lack of energy and color, but she didn't want to worry them if she didn't come back. When she sat down for dinner she leaned against Nave and asked, "How long until we get to the next town?"
The dancer smiled and said, "If we travel on through the night we should be there for the morning."
Kari nodded and accepted the bowl from Ezekiel and took a bite, and noticed that something was different about it. She was just to tired to care. Once she ate it she got tired and Samuel asked Hake, "So when are we heading off?"
Hake said, "Well since we're all done and cleaned up, as soon as we pack everything up we'll head out. Kari you can take your spot in the cart."
Kari nodded and when she took her spot she soon felt the others join her and she was soon asleep. But she was once up again screaming and concerned people surrounding her and looking concerned. Tears spilled from her eyes and she hugged Haru and he pat her back and said, "It's okay Kari. That's all in the past. Nothing's wrong now. Shh, ah that's a good girl." Kari started to calm down and started to hiccup. She thought that she would never get over what went on in her home village.
Cristo came up and asked, "She is free to come to my cart, it may not be as warm but it isn't so confining and is more open."
Haru nodded and asked, "Kari? Do you want to go to Cristo's cart?" Kari looked up and nodded before clinging onto Cristo as he led her to his open cart. Another thing she thought she would never get over is not being able to sleep in and enclosed space. Once there, Cristo gave her a heavy blanket and she was placed on a cot next to his and said, "If you need anything I'll be right there on the drivers seat." and she nodded and he left.
She fell asleep and was glad when she woke up in the morning and had no nightmares of the past to tell about. She stretched and went up and sat next to Cristo with a smile and said, "Thank you Cristo-san?"
He smiled and said, "You don't have to thank me, Kari-chan. I would do anything to help you."
Kari smiled and said, "So how much longer till our next show?"
Cristo said, "We're going to be there in about five minutes or so." he then tossed her an apple and said, "Eat up."
She nodded and then started munching on the apple she was given. Once she finished they had stopped and were in the entertainment center of the town. Kari smiled and helped everyone set everything up, and once it was, the dancers used there skills to lure people into watching their show. Kari, on the other hand, served the people they lured in and brought them drinks while they waited for the show to begin.
Haru kept an eye on the customers to make sure none left without paying and to make sure that no one was there harassing the gypsies. Once enough people were lured into their area Kari quickly went to change into her outfit to help Cristo out with his animals.
The dancers were up first and Nave, with purple eyes, and Sandra, with milky silver eyes, moved around, their long brunette hair flowing with each step, Melina, with obsidian eyes, and Amice, with her bright amber eyes, jumped around and their curly blonde and raven hair bounced along with them. Each of their eyes the shade of their clothing.
After they were all done their belly dancing, Ezekiel with his dirty blonde hair, and Samuel, with his shaggy white hair, each with their crimson outfits and orange eyes showing their talents, did their performance of juggling, eating, and breathing fire. No matter how many times that Kari saw this, she couldn't believe they could do all of that without a single use of chakra. After they left Cristo and Kari came on stage and bowed.
Cristo smiled and moved a hand through his short blonde hair and the twinkle in his sea green eyes meant he was ready. Kari got out the first animal and she jumped on the graceful creatures back and did a hand stand while a tropical bird landed on her foot. Cristo ordered the lion around the stage and let it do tricks while Kari and the bird move and jumped and fly around so they wouldn't fall and still make it entertaining. Cristo then took Kari's place on the lions back while she called the birds to fly around the audience and collect whatever money they had thrown during the performances now and previous.
After a few more dazzling stunts with animals of all kinds, Marie, with a blue robe with silver crescent moons spanning the whole fabric that matched her hair and eyes began to tell a tale of a great warrior and his quest to slay an evil wizard that plagued the lands. Each word she spoke seemed to be live as she infused a genjustu with her words to let every member see it in the world around them, every word feeling like a reality.
After she was done Kari and the smaller animals collected any money that was given and Hake then went on stage and said, "Thank you all for coming. Now if you wish, you may visit our fortune teller as you leave free of charge." since they made more than enough that night they could afford to let them do it, "but remember, not all fortunes are good ones and you may only get one!"
Nadia then came out in her simple green dress and shawl and bowed. She was a short, elderly woman with white hair, but her golden eyes which could really tell the future, were as bright as moon. Many of the customers went to see her, but only a few non-believers left right after the show.
Namé with brown hair and eyes, Josephine with green hair and pink eyes, and Rikard with light brown hair and purple eyes, and Kari cleaned up the area and once everything was cleaned and the rest of the customers were gone, the all sat down and had dinner.
And once dinner was done Haru pulled Kari off to train with her some more. Kari was surprised though when Haru said, "We're going to be training with your kekkei genkai tonight." her eyes widened and he continued, "I saw you practicing it last night and I want to supervise you so you don't do something dangerous."
Kari smiled and said, "Alright. And sorry for keeping it from you."
Haru smiled and shook his head, "It's better to ask forgiveness for not asking and doing it, than it is to ask forgiveness after asking and still doing it. Now let's set up a barrier and we'll see what you got."
Kari nodded and said, "Well I'm going to try something different today instead of singing my summons." Haru raised an eyebrow and then she continued, "I'm going to try and summon it by thinking the song after I try making the song by means other than my voice."
Haru nodded and said, "Let's see what you got."
Kari nodded and then started to tap the ground with her foot patting her body, and even blinking and each time she tried she summoned a creature and only coughed up a hand full for all of them together. Haru was proud of her and then said, "Now how long have you been training on this?"
Kari looked at the ground guiltily and said, "Since I decided not to give up training."
Haru smiled and said, "No wonder you're so good at it. Every day for the past two years?" Kari nodded and Haru pat her on the head saying, "Now try thinking the song, and if I see a summon or no summon, but I see blood come from your body, we're stopping for the day."
Kari nodded and then thought of the song her mother sang to her constantly when she was a child. Kari felt tears come down her cheeks and then a flying fox bat as large as the tall trees surrounding them said, "So summoner-sama finally summons me again." The bat smiled and licked the blood tears off of Kari's cheeks and the young girl giggled. The bat then looked at Haru and said, "And this is her guardian? I am grateful for your help for this you master. It is sad what happened and I am angry but if you were the reason for my anger you would be dead right now." the bat then bowed to both the shinobi and said, "My name is Koumori but I have to go, my pups need me. Please excuse me for not staying lost Summoner-sama."
And she was gone in a puff of smoke and Haru picked Kari up and carried her back to camp, saying, "When we get back you're going to eat your food and then we'll be sure to go right back out to train on more jutsu, alright?" Kari nodded and Haru placed her next to Josephine and the woman passed Kari her food that was infused with blood regenerative vitamins.
A mysterious bi-colored man, in a large Venus flytrap, half way merged with a tree, smirked and said, "It seems we found her. Madara-sama should be pleased. So what do we do? We return and report, and maybe we can get a bite to eat on the way. That sounds good." the man ten merged back with the tree leaving as he appeared, completely unnoticed.
A/N: Well it has been a while since I worked on Kari's tale but it is completely different from the original. I hope you all like it and no flames…. I only want constructive criticism if you didn't like it or nothing at all. Though, if you did like it please tell me and I'll be glad I decided to redo this to make it better. Remember to review and I'm glad you took the time to read it.