NOTICE: I wrote some notes at the bottom, but seeing that the bottom is long ways' down, I'll give you information of what will become of this fanfic. It is ongoing, I'm sorry it took so long for me to get back to it. Since homestuck is on a hiatus, I'm hoping to get back into writing stories and continuing with the ones' I have still up here. I'll be rewriting most of them, but this one will be of the highest priority.
Well, I'll let you read on; though read the bottom notes too. Please review as well, your thoughts and praise could do me well to finish future chapters quicker. ALSO, this first chapter has more of Kaara's background and maybe three-four times words than any story I created so far.
Trigger Warning: Rape, sexual and physical abuse.. Bullying. I should just write that this is full of angst and thoughts of suicide.
- x -
She wasn't weak but she certainly was lost; losing herself on a path she knew she shouldn't have taken. But what was she to do now? There was one narrow, long winding path that lay before her and she couldn't turn back. No matter how much she wishes.
In a empty room, there stood a tall, pale man cloaked in black standing above a small form laying on the floor. Long, hair covering her tears from the man that continued to abuse her. She didn't cry and she didn't yell for help, no one was going to help her.
"I told you to get me a fucking bottle of sake hours ago, you dumb fuck!" The man shouted, grabbing the girl's hair and pulling her to her knees. "When the fuck are you going to start listening to your superiors?!"
Truth be told, he never told her anything, though she didn't want to anger him anymore so. She stayed quiet, taking his abuse. Fighting back would leave her in a state of near death, she didn't want to have to deal with that again anytime soon.
She lay there, in pain, after he had gone. There wasn't anything else to do in this forsaken place. It was either be beaten by a cocky bastard, like Hidan or just end up this way by another member of the Akatsuki, who could be just as cruel as the immortal nin.
"Kaara, will you get up already? Not only are you going to be late for school again, your father wants to speak to you before you go." She heard the nagging voice of her mother, the girl got up. She felt stiff and sore, she was practicing all of yesterday for another test she knew she was going to fail again.
"Y-yes, of course." She mumbled, getting up and changing quickly.
Downstairs, she stopped in front of her father's office, waiting. She went to knock on the door but couldn't find herself to do such a thing. Why be berated again for making this family look bad just because you failed three consecutive years of ninja academy?
It'd be better if you just ran off to school anyways.
She ate little, ignoring all social interactions with the rest of her family and she got up just as her oldest brother asked her a question. She ignored him.
Her body ached as she was sitting in what she deemed the dining area or kitchen, she didn't know anymore. She heard someone coming and she looked up, a look of fear in her eyes for a split second before they became lifeless again. It was only Kakuzu.
The tallest member of the clan stood in the doorway, seeing a mess of long hair and a hurting child. The only one who he ever felt sorry for. She looked in bad shape, Hidan put a number on her was what he thought.
Kaara was glad he was the only one that didn't dare do anything to her. Glad that he was above beating a younger subordinate for disobeying him, though she quietly respected him so she never really did do anything to anger him in any way. She looked down again, avoiding any interactions. He wasn't talkative as you might think.
She could hear him, the cupboard doors opened with a squeak and some movements here and there. It was a few minutes later, he left and it was a while longer before she looked up.
There on the counter was sitting a bottle of gin. Though she might've been a member of the infamous Akatsuki, she wasn't allowed to drink any alcoholic beverages.
She got up, feeling the stings and aches of her beaten body and walked to the counter, muttering a thank you and leaving the room before anyone else bothered her.
"Here…" She looked up, Sasuke held up a bento box and he gestured for her to take it. She didn't really know what to say at that very moment, but he continued to speak. "You don't look like you eat very much…or at all."
It was quite true so she didn't say anything just nodding back. The young girl wasn't near the same weight as others' her age, and that wasn't something anyone thought was normal. Especially for female ninjas, they had to be strong, just as they were cunning.
"If you want, I could cook you lunch from now on… Well, if you would like that, that is." He sat beside her and she unwrapped the small box, it was strange to see him talking this much.
He was just as quiet as she was. and him being this friendly was also off-putting. But she said nothing, as always.
Everything felt so numb and she liked it, there was a buzzing feeling in her head and everything didn't ache anymore. It felt like a dream, one where she wasn't in a rancid place with rancid people who enjoyed her misery.
No whiny blond asshole, or stupid immortals and heartless men. Just her and this bottle she called a friend, her only friend.
"Stop bothering Sasuke! He doesn't even like you so stop it!" A blonde shouted, staring daggers at a young Kaara. "You're ugly and just as stupid, so what makes you think you have a chance? Huh?"
She was cornered again, the second time this week. "I… I don't want him to l-like me. All I'm-"
"Stop making stupid excuses, of course you like him!" The girl was angry and the other girls behind her yelled in agreement.
"Stay away from Sasuke"
"He doesn't like you"
"You're going to fail this year again, so your not even worth his time!"
They all spouted so much hurtful things and some she didn't think they'd knew. She didn't like the Uchiha, she never once thought of anyone in such a matter. She couldn't. There was never time between practicing and studying.
"I-I… I don't know why you think I like him. There I-isn't even time to l-like boys right now." She muttered and they all launched themselves at her, pulling her hair and slapping or punching where they could.
It was hours before she got back home, her shoes were scuffed and her clothes tattered and torn in places. Her hair was in a disarray and she limped every time she took a step. She had to stay away from Sasuke, that was it. That's what she had to do. Every time he tries to speak to her, she'd have to ignore him and walk away…
Something was off when she realized it was quiet, it was late so her brothers' had to be home.
She walked into the living room area, on the sofa sat her mother, her hands covering her face from the world. Her father sat beside the woman, looking just as hurt as she did. Something happened and she felt more miserable.
"Kaara, sit down." Her father ordered, she did and readied herself for awful news.
She could hear heavy footsteps making their way towards her, she leaned against her bedroom wall, or what was suppose to be her bedroom. There was no bed or anything; it was the person's job to get their own furniture and things for their personal space.
"What the fuck are you doing now? I can't even leave you for a couple of hours by yourself, can I? God, you look like a mess! Give me that too!" He grabbed the bottle from her small hands. "Kids shouldn't even be fucking drinking!"
She didn't need to look up to know who it was.
Hidan took a long swig of the bottle and smashed it against the walls, the warm liquid oozing the walls. She looked heartbroken, her only friend was gone. The man kicked her, "Get the fuck up, Leader's been calling for us!"
Before she could reply with a retort, he grabbed her by the collar of her oversized shirt and pushed her hard against wall hard. "Next time I catch you doing fuck off, you'll fucking beg for me to end your damn life!"
She wasn't fazed by his threat, she smelled the booze off his breath as well. He had been drinking earlier, and by the smell of it, the stronger stuff. What would she had done to get a shot at one of them.
"Kaara, have I not told you to-" The leader paused, noticing she had more bruises than she had the other day, he glanced over to the rest of his subordinates, they said nothing and he sighed. "Forget it, I don't care… Let's just get down to the point…" He continued to talk but Kaara, being slightly drunk ignored it all.
It's been weeks since Kaara was given the news of her brothers' deaths. They held a funeral for them. She couldn't believe that she wouldn't be able to see the smiling, yet annoying faces of her big brothers' anymore.
From the gist of what she got from that conversation weeks ago, they were just going on a simple mission. Turns out they had something that a group of high classed missing nins wanted, and so they were ambushed and killed in the line of duty.
Ever since that day, her mother was a crying mess. Her father too, was not in any better shape as well. In fact, her father has been missing for a week now. She wondered where he had gone, though it wasn't a constant thing she thought of.
She was somewhat, relieved. There wasn't a nagging woman or a father that spoke down at her, like her very existence wasn't needed.
Then there's Sasuke Uchiha, who didn't say anything mean to her. He seemed to be more social with her than anyone else, too. Always mentioning his practices are going well and that he could now do so and so. It was a relief.
Though there was those moments when those girls' would fight her.
She should stop hanging around with him but it was nice, having someone around that didn't always had to put you down. Though, now none of the other boys' want to speak to her too.
She sighed, sitting in a secluded area of the village's park. She had been practicing throwing some kunais and shurikens, she kept failing at it so decided that it would be nice to sit and just watch everything go by.
Then, there came a dreaded feeling in her chest, she turned to see a man with gray-hair that look impossible to get it up like that. His face was covered but one eye, and he looked quiet aloof. A book in his hand.
"You are Kaara Zoii?" He asked her.
"Uh…Y-yes." She stuttered. It wasn't the fact that she thought he looked like a pervert or something that made her stutter. Something else inside of her felt like it was lost again.
The next day, she sat in her bedroom alone. There was not a sound in the house and nobody else but her, as well. She felt lonely. Abandoned, really. There was a suitcase packed full of her clothes and belongings'.
With her family gone, she couldn't live alone. Also, with the death of her parents', the house was now going to one of her distant relatives. Her father left her nothing in his will. So, she was left nothing.
She had nothing.
She was nobody to anyone.
She put her knees against her chest as she began to cry again for the umpteenth time that morning.
- x -
It was late, she sat in her bare room, alone with her thoughts and whatever she was doing at that moment. Which was basically stitching up one of her gashes she got from Hidan earlier. It stung and she hissed, bearing down her teeth to get the suture through her skin and roping it together. She didn't want to bother Kakuzu or Zetsu that night with another wound to stitch up, and neither did she have the money to pay for their services as well.
After many fidgety tries and just getting it about right, she was done. She wiped the blood on her hands with a rag, cleaning the area and her wounds as well.
It hurts and she could only bare with the pain for the time being, it could have been worse. Would have been better if she died.
The girl reached over, groaning with pain as she grabbed hold of the small cotton sheet she used as a blanket. She crawled over to the corner of her room, covering herself and trying to sleep off the pain.
She heard something in the dark, she didn't know how long she was out but it was so dark she couldn't see anything. But even so, it was always dark. There was hushes and stumbles, "I was fucking joking, yeah, you don't have to do it…" That was Deidara's voice she heard.
"Fuck you! I'm doing it, so get the fuck out!"
There was a slamming of a door and the sound of a lock, she could hear Deidara mumble something but couldn't understand what he was saying. Kaara felt scared now because she knew Hidan was near and could hear his footsteps.
She felt him standing just beside her now and she looks up, seeing his silhouette in the dark. "W-what is it do you w-want so late at night?" She stuttered, he doesn't say anything but before she knows it. He's grabbed one of her legs and dragging her across the room.
"Don't… Don't you dare fucking say anything!" He angrily replies, not answering her but a little of her knew what was coming.
- x -
Kaara sat in the small seating area on top of the school, Sasuke sitting beside her and they both don't say anything, what could they say anyways? She wasn't all too happy and he sighed, hoping she'd forgive him for what he's about to say to her.
"It hurts to lose your whole family in a matter of a few weeks, I understand but you should stop moping. It doesn't suit you. You're always too aloof to be this sad, from what I've come to know so far." Sasuke was right, a huge prick for saying such a thing but right.
She wanted to stop this moping and all this stuff that has been happening to her but a part of her wanted to stay like this for a bit. It was mighty selfish of her thinking that it was a relief to not having anyway putting her down but the fact that she had no one else was what kept her feeling down.
Sitting beside Sasuke didn't do very much. She leaves him and goes off to do her own thing.
- x -
She hated him. She hated him so much now, more than anything in her life right at this moment.
Her face hurts more than yesterday and her head ached, not to mention it felt… It felt like he ripped her open last night and she hated it. She never felt more violated up until last night.
Every second she breathed, she wished she had died. She hoped maybe the higher power or gods, whatever was up there looking down on her would just take her life. So she wouldn't have to feel this anymore.
But life never paid her any kindness and it looked like it was not going to anytime soon.
- x -
Kaara finds herself in that favourite spot of the park, sitting on her suitcase. She had no home and nowhere else to go to, as well. She told Sasuke a different story so he wouldn't worry or something along that lines.
She didn't have a home and with no home, no money to pay for food and other necessities. She thought since she was an orphan with a family lost to criminals and in the line of duty, she'd be taken care of. But I suppose that only goes with a couple of special people.
She wasn't anything special.
And the distant family that had indeed inherited her family's home didn't want anything to do with her at all. She meant nothing to them. She knew they're were others' like her too. People who were homeless, orphaned and etc. Though with how happy everyone tries to be here, they refuse to acknowledge the slumps of this great village.
It wasn't great when they ignored some of the wails of those that were hungry and homeless.
- x -
He knocked at her door, there was no answer at first and he waited still. He knocked again and heard her, she sounded weak. Kakuzu could only sigh, he didn't care for her in any way; she was a fine ninja and with each day, the bounty on her head grew more and more.
The door opens slightly, she's peering up at him, her face slightly swollen. He really couldn't see anymore than her face and he was glad for that.
"Here, I don't expect you to pay me right away."
She's not surprise that he would expect payment, but more surprised with the fact that he bothered to bring her a change of clothes. She took them, thanking him and promising she'd repay him as soon as possible.
He left moments afterwards and she stayed in her room, feeling like the world wouldn't mind if she moped in her room.
It was getting late, the sun was setting down and the girl made no means to leave her spot. She lay on a bench, looking up to the sky.. There weren't any home to go to. Besides, it look like it was going to be a beautiful night anyways.
"You really shouldn't be out sleeping out in the open like this…"
"W-what I do shouldn't matter t-to you…" She grumbled, sitting up and staring at one of her classmates. The one that sat next to that overweight boy, with a high ponytail… She forgot his name.
"I'm not to well acquainted with cloud formations, but by the looks of it… It's going to rain tonight." He looked up at the sky, "If you like waking up to wet clothes or a flu, then yeah, sure then so be it."
"Better than n-nothing…" She replied, kicking at her suitcase.
He looks to her, he pitied the young girl… He overheard his mother's gossiping with a neighbour that she lost her whole family, not altogether but slowly. First her siblings who were out on a mission, then her father who tried to avenge his fallen sons and her mother… who couldn't take the pain any longer.
She was abandoned too, left with nothing and nobody… That's about all he knew.
"If you don't mind me asking, you could come and stay for the night.. At my place, I'm pretty my mother won't mind, since she's always raving about having a daughter instead of a lazy son like me."
She looked at her feet then looked up, "Why are y-you inviting me for? You hardly even kn-know me."
"I know enough, and that's all I need right now to invite you…"
"I…" She stumbled on her words, she had nothing to say at his hospitality. Instead she took her things and followed behind him, they didn't talk or say very much.
"Hey mom, you don't mind we have a overnight stay?" Shikamaru shouted, walking in the living room while he left Kaara in the front porch.
"Oh Shikamaru, what did I say about bringing over Chouji!" The woman berated.
"It isn't Chouji." The boy sighed.
The girl was looking down, the boy's mother came to the front and the woman could see that girl was just as sad as the day she lost her family.
"Oh my, finally! Shikamaru brought home a girl worthy to take our family's name! Of course, you could stay here, dear." The girl blushed, Shikamaru sputtered, standing behind his mother.
"Mom!" The boy blurted.
"Oh, I'm just joking around! Well, let's go set you up in the spare room."
- x -
She was young when she first heard of the Akatsuki, she thought nothing of it when she was younger but now… It was irony in itself that she stood in the ranks of the very same organization that made her suffer in the first place.
Yet, she could never find the strength to leave them. She had no one else and they took her in, even when she showed no promises of being something great. Though, she knew that they think she'd be strong to hold her own, they took her in for their own selfish wants. Not for her safety.
It all seem like yesterday that she had first seen them, it was in the afternoon…
She was tired but she couldn't sleep, she was hungry and thirsty but there was no food or water anywhere near her location.
Then, just like that; she heard them, the footsteps and the loud rants, they were arguing. She lay there against a tree, she barely could see anything and everything felt so far away.
"Well, look at here!" Someone whistled, chuckling afterwards.
"We should just leave her be, she isn't our problem and besides, she's going to slow us down." That one had a deeper voice than the first one.
"Hey, kid…Whatchya doing fucking 'round? Didya know you could just get fucking killed out here?" The first guy laughed, he even kicked her leg.
"S-Stop!" She yelled out, gathering what little strength she had, standing up and pulling out a kunai.
"Hey, hey there now, wait a fucking minute there, we ain't here for trouble." The first guy stood in front of her, she look up… Her vision was blurry, but she could make out there appearance.
Silver hair, pale and with magenta eyes, that was the guy who kicked her. The other wore a mask, but she could tell he had dark skin, maybe dark hair and his eyes… Black sclera and the irises, they were yellow with a bit of green in them.
"Then… why, then why did you kick me?" She dropped her weapon, falling back down to her spot a minute ago.
"Nothing, it was just a bit of fucking harmless fun.. To get you back on your feet, you little shit." The guy replied.
"Hidan, we should be going… you've wasted enough time." The guy behind him spoke up.
"Fuck you, Kakuzu, I'm just having a bit of fun with her… When's the first fucking time you ever had fun?"
They had argued some afterwards, berating each other of whether or not to take her. Hidan wanted someone to boss around, make her his bitch and whatnot. Kakuzu didn't need any setbacks and this kid, was a total setback.
But Hidan won, brought her back with them and they stopped at a town. Where he fed her and kept her alive until they got to that place. Their headquarters and from there, her own life ended.
- x -
She wore one of Shikamaru's shirts and a pair of shorts he said he doesn't wear anymore, it was weird but nothing she could just shrug off. She sat beside him while he relaxed, playing what he said was 'shogi' with his father. She never heard of that game but then again, she hardly did play any games at all. She didn't understand how the game was being played either, but she concentrated on it; trying to find a pattern and such.
"Would you like for me to teach you how to play afterwards?" Shikamaru asked.
"Wha- Um, no, not really. I'm not really interested in learning how to, just… trying to get the jest of how you guys know who's winning." The girl replied.
"Hmm…" Shikamaru didn't say anything afterwards.
It was hours before they had finished, the girl could barely keep her eyes open. "C'mon, Kaara.. You should sleep."
"No, no.. it's okay. I just…you should teach me about that game." The Zoii felt embarrassed.
"You sure about that? It might just take all night… what if I showed you tomorrow? When your well rested." He reasoned.
"But- I want to learn now."
"You should be more patient." He debated.
They spent a couple of minutes arguing but she finally gave up, going to the spare room and sleeping for the night.
- x -
She felt uneasy, leaving her room finally after a few days of holing herself in her room. Not from hunger but the queasy feeling of seeing that awful immortal, she didn't want to think of that night anymore than she did now.
"He isn't here today…" Someone snuck up behind her, surprising the girl. She glanced back, seeing the blond and her posture slacked a bit but still, she didn't feel to comfortable around them anymore. If Hidan, of all people, could resort to that… The others' would as well.
"So, heheh, yeah…" Deidara sniggered, "So, how was it?"
Kaara didn't responded, looking away and she just wanted him to leave her alone.
"Hey, I'm talkin' to you, yeah!" Deidara shouted.
"I d-don't wish t-to talk about it…" The teenager mutters, and the blond chuckled.
"I wouldn't either, with the way you cried that night! I'll have you screaming my name some other day too…" He grins, leaving the girl to now worry about her safety in the head quarters.
Then she felt that familiar feeling, she looked up and could hear her leader's voice within the confines of her mind.
"I have a mission for you, young one… Don't worry, it isn't is difficult is the last one I handed you. You'll be going with Deidara and Sasori to the Village in the Sand."
"Y-Yes, leader-sama, of course!" She replied quickly.
"There, you will retrieve the one-tailed demon, known as Gaara of the Sand… Do you understand?"
"I understand! Retrieve the one-tailed demon with Sasori and… D-Deidara." She irked at the blonds' name.
"You do not sound very assured, is it that you need punishment, hmm?"
"No, no… I will go!" The girl felt everything go quiet for a second, she could never really get use to that feeling of him in her mind. It wasn't something she was fond of, but it was the only way the leader could communicate from the main headquarters.
- x -
The girl woke up as soon as the sun came up, she tidied after herself and even waited out in the area where they played shogi; She looked at the pieces, one by one and analyzed them. She was never good with games, strategies… or anything really.
"You wake up early, that's good… If you become a successful shinobi some day, you'll be very commendable to this village. Well, I may even sponsor you for a spot in the jounin level!"
Kaara was surprised, tensed for a second as she look up to see that boy's father. He smiled and sat on the other side. "Would you like for me to teach you a bit of this game before you run off?"
"I… yes, t-thank you sir!" She was grateful.
An hour later, she sighed, "Well you did very well for your first time, kid… With more practices, you may even beat Shikamaru. Maybe, that is." The man chuckled, "Well, you should get going, I think the missus would like to see you."
"Uh… y-yes, of course, again… thank y-you!" She bowed and left the man.
"You were watching the whole time…" The man said out loud, "Do you think she did well?"
"She did better than I expected, I mean… She wasn't a top scorer in class, though, work in classes really doesn't mean much out here, does it." Shikamaru responded.
"I suppose…" His father replied.
- x -
"You should take your cloak along with you, as large as it is… It'll be a very long while getting there, not to mention the heat and the sand." Sasori reprimanded.
The Zoii glances at her cloak he held for her, she never kept her cloak with her… or worn it as of yet.
"Wear it, kid… I haven't even fucking seen you worn it yet! You sure you part of the Akatsuki?" She stood up straight, she felt Hidan behind her.
"D-Deidara said you were out…Why are you back so q-quickly?" The girl asked.
"What? You don't want me around, do you?!" Hidan asked, angrily.
"No… N-nothing like that." Kaara looked down, she heard the shuffling of fabrics.
"Here, put the fucking thing on! Turn around."
Sasori watched quietly, the teenager turned but never looking to the Jashinist and Hidan didn't say anything as well. He had the girl's cloak around her, snapping them close. "You should really get this tailored to your fitting, fucking Kakuzu will have your head if you get it stained or ripped."
"At the rate she's growing, I highly doubt she'll need it, yeah!" Deidara chuckled.
"Shut your fucking mouth, you dumb shit…" Hidan bitterly replied.
"Jealous, hmm? Of course you should be, this mission will make her see who is the better man! Yeah!" Deidara laughed.
"If I were the girl, I'd choose neither…" Sasori muttered, gaining the attention of the other two Akatsuki members.
"You tryna say something!"
Kaara didn't wait any longer for them, hearing the bickers' of old men was pointless.
- x -
"I'm not sure whether how I should go about this…" Sasuke spoke, surprising the quiet girl from her stupor. "I know of your living situation and I know that you have been lying to me, of all people, Kaara." He seemed disappointed, she could see it in his eyes that he was infuriated.
"I thought we had come to a point in this friendship of ours' that we wouldn't be telling lies to one another." He sighed, "What is it that I have to do to earn a little of your trust?"
"B-begging doesn't sound like a thing you would d-do, Uchiha… And it- It isn't that I d-didn't want to tell you. I did, but I d-didn't want you to worry about m-me. Of all the wonderful people in this village, I-i did n-not want you to worry about me, s-someone so low and insigni- insignificant!" She mumbled.
"If you were insignificant, why would I be standing here? Tell me that." The Uchiha growled.
She didn't know how to respond to him, she had a lot of answers to many questions she knew people would ask or would bother to questioned… But never for this, never for someone actually caring for her.
"If you have nothing else to say, then I may ask of you to live with me- I don't ask, in fact I want you to live with me. And you will." Sasuke stood firm in his posture, his voice was assertive.
There was no buts or anything, she accepted. She had to, there was no one like Sasuke Uchiha.
- x -
It's been hours, no… Days, she's been walking since she left the headquarters, she would wish she were back there with the walls, keeping the light out. But she couldn't, her leader has spoken and she must do what she's been told. She took little rests and little sips of water, eating little and though this is not what a ninja would do before a large battle.
But Kaara always had something to live for, and that was a meal and a bed when she finished a mission. Though it was for a day, it was something she could count on.
There was no need for anything lavish before an important mission, she had to focus; listen and see all around her so she will be ready for anything. She knew the other two were way behind her. They'd best be quick if they wanted to join her in the festivities.
- x -
Kaara looked down, seeing Shikamaru among the small crowd in the battle arena. She felt giddy, not for herself but for both Sasuke and Shikamaru… Though Sasuke would never know her excitement to see Shikamaru in the final rounds. It swelled in her pride to see her two friends in the final match.
Though she frowned, noticing that Naruto, Sasuke and another contestant weren't among them…
Where could have that Uchiha gone…?
The last she known about him was that he was training… Though, she never really understood why he does tell her his plans. But there were really no reason to worry about Sasuke, he'll make it. She knows it, he wouldn't miss something as big as this.
Just as she thought that, Naruto came flying in through the door… She couldn't help but snigger quietly to herself, that Uzumaki was such a joker, even in class. Though she was quite fond of his loud and obnoxious behaviour, she couldn't find in it herself to be his friend, also her personality was so bland.
The crowd waited long enough and soon, the first match was on its way. Naruto Uzumaki was up against Neji Hyuuga, she frowned a little… She heard many great things of the Hyuuga and only hoped that the underdog in this situation would win. It'd give her a little confidence to see someone like Naruto being able to win.
- x -
"You shouldn't have kept us waiting, we'll look like idiots being late and leaving that poor girl by herself to this big a task! Foolish!" Sasori reprimanded.
"She'll get herself killed and besides, seeing from Kakuzu's point of view, by now she should be worth a hefty sum with the way Leader has made her do all those infamous missions! Yeah!"
"Nonetheless, you were a dolt for making us way too late!" Sasori sighed.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, Sasori-danna!" The blond replied.
- x -
It was grand that Uzumaki had won against the Hyuuga and very surprising to see that Shikamaru lost, she thought Temari was incredible too but… She was set on the Nara boy winning. She sighed, at least he had tried his best and his strategies, she was in awe with them. She didn't think anyone could be twice, maybe even thrice as smart as her Uchiha friend.
If he wanted to, Shikamaru could be a great chuunin by now… Maybe even a jounin if he put his whole heart in it, but the Nara boy was a lazy boy. And that was that.
"You know, I really didn't want to sign up for this…" Shikamaru sighed, turning away.
"W-well, you did uh, try your b-best!"
"There's that…" Shikamaru replied.
The Nara didn't expected it, the girl had her arms wrapped around him. "I t-thought you were going to w-win, Nara! I really did." The girl let go of him quickly, looking around.
"Uh… yeah, thanks." He too, looked around as well. "Who are you looking for?"
"…N-no one, really." She blushed.
"You act like Uchiha is standing behind a corner, y'sure you two aren't anything…?" Shikamaru asked.
"No…I mean, no we aren't but- I just don't want to- I just d-don't want t-to look like I'm going behind a friends' t-trust. Uchiha takes all human relations a little too s-serious, I might admit." The girl was stumbling in her speech from embarrassment.
"Oh, yeah I can understand that…"
"So, that s-shadow possession jutsu of y-yours', t-that's pretty neat!" The girl smiled, "I w-wish I could be just as smart as you, Shi- Shikamaru but I don't have b-brains. Maybe a little more guts a-and strong skin, but that's n-not something to be p-proud of." The girl sighed.
"Don't be so hard on yourself, besides one of these days you might even beat ol' Uchiha himself."
"Haha, I- I wouldn't go that far, Shikamaru…" She laughed.
- x -
She sat on top of wall that surrounded and protected the people of this village, there were bodies everywhere behind her on the lower levels and blood caked the outer walls. They weren't a lot but there was enough, they were anticipating an attack but not this earlier she thought.
From her spot, she could see the kazekage's office… It was no secret, being it was right in the middle of everything.
She hadn't been here before, but she was fascinated by this large populated area could even survive in such a horrid place, she had died if she lived here.
And the kazekage had been someone she's seen before, she didn't know him on a personal level… It was the chuunin exams when she was back at home. She didn't think much of him, but just as a blood thirsty boy wanting to find a place in this world. Broken and too far gone than she was; turns out she was pretty wrong and he found his place.
She felt a bit envious, being someone that important…
At least these guards made no noise or alerted any other, the village was quiet and it was nearing dusk; it wasn't long before she waltzed right into that village like there was nothing to fear; she hid from view and made sure she wasn't spotted.
Without her cloak, she looked like any other villager but then again, they'd probably would notice she was a stranger to this place… Luckily, her two comrades were close by and she could feel them coming closer. If she could feel it from here, then the guards would take notice as well. And they being alerted could help her matters.
Gaara of the sand was what was needed, even… even if it meant losing one or two members of the group.
She walk slowly, taking her time…
- x -
She noticed that red headed boy right away, not for his frightening expression… but that blood thirsty look of his and that red hair. "I must kill him!" He cried out.
The Zoii stared from her spot, everyone was asleep around her; the jounins were up and everywhere, and she felt too scared to do anything.
"Get to safety!" She heard someone grab a hold of her, she didn't know who and she was so disoriented. "Are you alright?!"
Sasuke was hurt, she could see from here; And that other kid, he seemed to be unstable right now.
"I have to help Sasuke!" She muttered.
"He'll be fine, Genma is there with him… Just get yourself to safety!" The girl look, seeing it was that man that inform her of the death of her parents'. "Go to Sakura and the others' but keep low, do you hear me!"
She looked back to the arena, the Uchiha was gone and so were the other children. She slowly made her way up the stairs, seeing Sakura, Shikamaru and Naruto.
"Kaara! Are you okay-" the Nara was about to ask the girl a question before she cut him off.
"Sasuke… Go and save Sasuke! I'm no use, so please!"
Shikamaru felt a bit envious, his question being dismissed by that Uchiha boy once again… It was always that Uchiha.
But there was no time, she watched those three and that small dog go off, she went off to find shelter from all this.
- x -
She knew he was in the next room, outside she could hear the explosions from Deidara's techniques. They were here finally, a little late but still here and alive.
"I know you are there…" The kazekage said.
It didn't surprise the girl he knew she was there, she wasn't making it a secret to him either.
"Attacking now is useless, you will only fall in this battle." He said some more.
"Yes, it does seem like it, doesn't it? Maybe you should meet me on the rooftop, see if your prediction will come to fruition."
She found herself on the rooftop, a second later the redhead was a few feet away from her. She wasn't scared of his presence, her expression was the same as his, nothing.
"You are…" Gaara looks at her, he's seen her before. Long ago, when he was a kid in the chuunin exams at the village hidden in the leaves. She was quiet and appeared weak, she didn't really stand out from others' but he knew… The Uchiha held something for her. It was the glares and the looks he gave to whoever spoke or gave her any attention. "You're that girl of the Uchiha, aren't you?"
She scoffs at his assumption, "Uchiha's girl? Is that all I'm to anyone?" She asked, appalled. "You really should be more worried about who you're up against, I was once a weak little girl, yes, but as you can see for yourself, people certainly do change."
"Yes, they do…"
- x -
"I heard from S-Sakura and Naruto of your h-heroism…" The girl smiled, looking down at the lazy shirker who lay half asleep. "T-though, if someone else told me… I-I would've believe them."
"What are you talking about, Zoii? I didn't do anything but hold a few ninjas back." The boy admitted.
"Making you admit you're s-something special is so hard… I-I'm not usually this wordy but y-yeah, whatever. I t-think you're really great-"
"Is it that you like me?" He asks, "Because I'm not interested."
She sighs, "Oh, m-my heart is broken, my c-crush has rejected me so!" She shakes her head, "No, I don't, you j-jerk."
"Then what about Sasuke… Do you like him?"
"Why do you ask s-such stupid questions? I m-mean, that's not really important r-right now, especially for a failure like… me." The girl admitted. "My main goal is to be somewhat decent as a ninja."
"I thought all girls' only thought of boys', especially around your age." The Nara spoke.
"You think lowly of me, is that it? S-should I leave you alone from n-now on, then?" The girl asked, looking away. He doesn't say anything, just looks at her; she doesn't turn back. "Per- perhaps I was wrong about you, maybe you weren't my friend from the beginning… See you, Nara."
Shikamaru got up, he was about to call for her but she was gone.
- x -
It was long and arduous, and getting drops from one of Deidara's bombs weren't really helping as he thought it was. He was more a threat then Gaara was; though fighting with Gaara wasn't all the easy either, what with the sand sweeping here and there.
The girl might have lacked smarts and the hang of strategies, but she had enough chakra, strength and technique to keep herself alive than any other usual ninja. And all those beatings from the akatsuki, they did help her a bit of living with physical pain and going on with her day.
His sand armour was nothing compared to her strength and chakra, so he kept away from her as best as he could.. And since she was not one for far ranges, she had to enlist the help of Deidara… "I'll have to make this fast, Deidara… I knew this boy before, he was selfish but now, seeing he is kazekage. This village, you must have intentions of destroying it!"
"What? But I never-"
"Shut the fuck up, blondie and get right to it. We're blasting this village to pieces, even if it kills us!" Deidara was surprised, seeing this part of her was… attractive. "And get rid of those bastards down below! Kill them all! I want all of them dead for getting in my way!"
She jumped off, freefalling towards the kazekage's floating ball of sand…
- x -
Kaara looked around, she heard something very unusual… She may lacked a lot of things, she heard things people didn't think very much. It was driving her a little crazy; it was a bell. She heard it in her dreams and when she was awake, she'd hear it when she was out of it.
"Sasuke… do you h-hear things, like strange things?"
"What kind of strange things do you ask?" The Uchiha asked.
"Bells, do you hear bells?" She asked.
"You should get your ears checked…" He responded, "Well, if you need me I'll be out training. You know where to find me."
"Yeah," The girl pouted. She watched him as he left, she didn't knew where that ringing was coming from… Perhaps a once around the village would give her a better idea.
She started with all of the gates and nothing there seem of interest, though the bells did get a bit louder… She might be just going mad, there's that conclusion too. But she walked around anyway.
And from her spot, she noticed something strange. Up on a tree, there were two men cloaked in black with red cloud swirls, but they were gone as she blinked. Those two figures were strange, yet peculiar. Her attention was now on those two now.
As she walked, she noticed Kakashi, Sasuke's sensei waiting near a booth. She stopped beside him, "Uh, h-hi Kakashi… H-have you s-seen Sasuke?"
"I just called for him not long ago, he should be here in a minute… So what are you doing here, Kaara? Have you been practicing everyday?" The gray-haired man asked.
She looked into the booth, noticing the same cloaks as before… She was looking for them, she didn't think she'd find them so easily and quickly. She showed nothing on her face though, "I should wait here, I wanted to tell Sasuke something."
"Alright, but don't dodge my question now." Kakashi said.
"I-I haven't, really…" She responded, still looking at the two, she presumed they were men by their build.
"Why not?"
"H-hey, there's Asuma and his g-girlfriend!" That girl turned to indeed see Asuma and that woman who was the sensei of Hinata, Kiba and Shino. Her name was pretty much unknown to the girl.
"Oh, are you two on a date, perhaps?" Kakashi asked.
"Oh quiet you, I only came here to pick up some dumplings for Anko, and what do you mean girlfriend?!" She stares at Kaara, "Didn't anyone tell you not to make accusations like that with ease?"
"W-well, miss… You misunderstood, I mean as a girl, you are his friend. Does that not mean you are friends?" She asked, she never got the concept of relationships, really.
"Oh, uh… of course, forgive me." Kurenai looked to Kakashi, who in turn shrug his shoulders.
"So, what are you two doing here? Such a strange occurrence, really!" Asuma stated.
"We're waiting for Sasuke and I also need to get something for a grave." Kakashi answered.
- x -
It wasn't long, they were being tailed and Kaara looked to the ground, bits of sand coming from the kage's body. She glared at him, stupid boy was making trouble even if he was unconscious.
"I'll take care of this…" Sasori walked up ahead of them, towards the oncoming opponent. "Go ahead, the both of you… I'll be there behind you."
Kaara contemplated of staying behind, it was her job to see that none of her comrades were hurt.
"Remember, girl… it's only your blood that shall spill; for me and everyone in this organization. This is the payment you must be pay, for allowing us to keep you alive!"
"But Sasori-"
"You do not need to worry about me, watch over the Jinchyuuriki and Deidara.. I'll be fine. Remember, my blood will never spill. You, of all people, should know." He assured her.
She nodded, "Of course… L-let's get going."
- x -
They all noticed Sasuke coming, and Kaara glanced back to the booth. They were gone! "Uh… Sorry, Kakashi, tell S-Sasuke I'll see him later! I had s-something t-to do!"
She raced away as they all looked at her, Sasuke stopped beside Kakashi. "Where is she going?" He asked, "And why are you here so early?"
"Yeah, Kakashi, why are you waiting for someone? That's very unusual." Asuma admitted.
"Oh, Kaara said she had something else to do and can I not for once, be on time?" He asked.
She could hear the bells now, it was dumb really chasing after older men in weird cloaks. But with so much free time and no other friends to keep her occupied, this was the only thing keeping her amused.
And she seen them, walking by the river; she could hear tidbits of their conversation. She just watched them, with their strange, straw hats… She felt a bit guilty, creeping on strangers.
"Kids shouldn't be this curious… And foolish to follow strangers." The girl glanced back, they both were behind her. "What is it you want?"
- x -
Kakashi, Naruto and Sakura stood before Tsunade, Iruka and the rest of the committee that handed out missions, Sakura berated Naruto on his disapproval of the mission they were handed when a dark-haired decoder came in immediately.
"There's an emergency, Hokage!" She shouted, running towards the older woman.
"What's all the commotion?" The fifth asked.
"We recently received an emergency message from the Sand." The decoder informed.
"Emergency… from the Sand?" The blond teenage boy asked, Sakura let loose of her hold of the Uzumaki.
The woman had handed the fifth the decoded message, "What?"
"W-what happened?" Naruto was the first to ask.
"The Kazekage of the hidden village of the sand has been kidnapped by the Akatsuki." She said out loud for all to hear.
"Gaara!" Naruto looked nervous, and so did everyone else did.
"We have more information of the Akatsuki than they did, that is why they request our assistance." Tsunade replied.
'T-Tsunade-sama, don't tell me you're sending them!" Shizune said.
"There's no choice and we cannot be picky right now, beside Kakashi has fought the Akatsuki before. So- Team Kakashi, I'm assigning you a new mission. You are to go to Hidden Village of the Sand, find out more of the situation they're in and send a report to Konoha." The kage sighed, "You will furthermore follow any of their orders and back them up!"
- x -
"I-I…" She stammered, "Y-you caught my attention a-and your bells; the bells on your straw hats, they've w-what I've been h-hearing for a c-couple of d-days now."
"You… heard our bells, did you?" The shorter one questioned. He may be shorter than his friend, but he still was a lot taller than she was.
"Peculiar…" The other said, "Very peculiar, maybe we should cut her ears off? Could cause us some future problems…"
"N-n-no! I want to k-keep them!" She held onto her ears, looking terrified up at them. "I-I promise I w-won't follow strange o-old men anymore!"
"Old men? Did you just refer me to as old?!" The tall hollered.
"Quiet, she's young and her perception is rather off-"
"Step away from her! Kaara, get over here right now!" Someone called, Kaara turned around to Asuma and his female friend. She felt like she was stuck, she didn't really know what to do… Safety was far away from her spot and by the looks of it, his weapon was long enough to cut her clean.
"Stay where you are kid, if you wish to keep your life." The tall one said.
"I… W-who are you t-two, may I ask?" Kaara asked, looking back at them.
"Hello, Asuma and Kurenai…" The one that spoke to her first said, ignoring the girls' question.
"You know our names, that must mean you come from the leaf village." The woman said.
The one that ignored her question took off his hat, showing his appearance and Kaara stood there… Looking at that man. "S-Sasuke…?" She asked, it wasn't Sasuke though.
"You know my brother then, well I'm his older brother, Itachi Uchiha." Itachi replied.
"Oh, friends' of yours', well I have to introduce myself; I am Kisame Hoshigaki!" The other man took off his hat as well, he had blue skin and white eyes, dark blue hair.
In a split second, Kaara was lifted and she looked up, seeing Kakashi holding onto her. "Using a child for cover is despicable…" He said.
When they were quite a way from them, he put her down and warned her to leave right away. "N-no."
"Listen to me, these men are dangerous. You are not safe here."
"Let them go, I don't think they want to battle…" She said.
"These men are dangerous and these are the same people that killed your brothers'…"
She looked at Kakashi intently, "They were… they're the Akatsuki?" And he nodded, answering her question without a word. "T-Then let them go, you'll all get hurt! If they could take down my brothers', then- then they can get you too!"
"Aaah!" They heard Asuma cry, and Kaara saw blood spill from the arm of Asuma.
"See! You'll get hur-" There was no way, he had to subdue her, summoning a clone. He sent her away, getting her to safety was a priority.
- x -
She stared at the pale boy, she sat on top of Deidara's bird with him; Was this right? She thought to herself, was this right to bring people who changed for the better to their doom?
When she first seen this guy, he was dangerous and unstable… And today, he was the leader of a village that cared and acknowledged him as someone who wasn't dangerous anymore.
"Do you have a crush on that kid, yeah?" Deidara asks.
"…No, I-I just don't understand h-how… much he's changed, personality-wise."
"Well, you should look at yourself, hmm… You were such a weakling back then, though that seal on you didn't help either, yeah." Deidara commented.
The girl grabbed her cloak, it's true she wasn't able to use her chakra or use the best of her abilities due to a seal that was cast upon her as a child; though she hardly remembers it too well. It restricted many of her abilities… Over time, after they released the seal, she was able to have full control of her chakra. With practice and more training, she was able to hone her skills.
"Hmm, Sasori is coming, longer than expected, yeah…"
"M-maybe he was having fun w-with that one, seeing he was a p-puppet controller as well." The girl replied.
"…Hmm, why is it you stutter so much, yeah?" He asked.
Kaara glared at the blond, while he smirked back at her. "You should- You should keep irritating questions l-like that to yourself, Deidara-sama!" She responded.
Deidara laughed at her, when he wanted a laugh he'd pick on her speech impediment… Though he had one himself, but she wasn't gutsy enough to bring it up,
- x -
She woke up with a gasp as she thought she heard the sound of bells, she looked around seeing she was back at Sasuke's place; she still didn't refer it to as her home. She got up quickly, looking around… It was still around afternoon now.
"Itachi… Kisame, that's what they're names were…" She muttered to herself.
Sasuke was back and that worried her, she put on her shoes and ran towards Naruto… There was no answer, she ran to Sakura's place who had no answers to her questions. She was just as lost as Kaara was.
Next, she headed to the Hatake's apartment, only to be greeted by other jounins who waited at his bedside.
"W-what happen to K-Kakashi?" She asked.
"He overexerted himself during the battle with Itachi and Kisame…" Gai responded.
"I-I…" She sighed, "Sasuke, where is Sasuke then?"
"He's fine, from what I can tell he doesn't know about his brother being in the village yet." Kurenai replied this time.
"Oh… O-okay." The girl was relieved, she knew what Itachi did and… She knew how much Sasuke wanted to kill his brother as well.
"Then… W-why were they here? I m-mean, don't the Akatsuki-"
"You do not need to worry about them anymore, Kaara, it is out of your hands right now." Kurenai reprimanded, "There is no use for someone who will only get in the way."
"I… yeah, of c-course…" She admitted defeat; though the bells were driving her crazy.
Maybe it was a premonition, something was telling her she had to do something with them; the akatsuki.
- x -
She walked along with Deidara and Sasori, it was late afternoon and if they kept at this pace. They'd be there in a few hours-
"We should rest," Sasori suggested, "We're early yes, and it'd make the leader happy; but you two, you seem to be struggling just keeping up with me!"
Deidara and Kaara looked at one another, they both were struggling. "You're both injured."
"No, w-we can keep going! B-besides, we can heal our wounds w-when we get back!" The girl proclaimed.
Deidara didn't say anything, his injuries weren't all that bad but… He didn't know if she had any.
"B-besides, Sasori-sama and Deidara-sama, the faster we get the Jinchyuuriki there, the faster you can extract it and we can go on for the others'." She hissed, "I c-can keep going, its okay- I'll be f-fine. You should know injuries like these shouldn't do much for me."
Sasori didn't say anything, "Fine, let's keep going then."
- x -
"I- W-what-" Kaara couldn't understand, where was all this coming from. "R-run away? Why would w-we run away for?" She asked.
"Don't you understand? There's nothing here for me and nothing her for you too! Without me here, who'll take care of you? Who will watch over you?!" The Uchiha responded, trying to win her over.
It was working and they both knew, Kaara had nothing and no one here.
"I…I, fine, I'll come along." She couldn't find any words for him to make him stay or allow her to stay behind.
"Then it's settled, we're leaving tonight when everyone is asleep."
She could tell he's been planning this for a long while, he had become cold and distant lately. His attitude has changed as well, not towards her but his fellow team mates.
And it felt like it was going to fast for her, she stood beside the Uchiha with a backpack over her shoulders. "Are you sure we should go…?" She asked one last time.
"Yes, I'm sure of it!" He sounded assured of this decision but she felt uneasy.
"Sasuke!" Kaara didn't turn to see the owner of that voice, it was obvious who it was that stood behind them. "Are you really going to just leave us? After all the things we've been through, as a team?"
Sasuke didn't respond, but she kept asking him questions but he still declined to answer anything. Kaara glanced at him, he was calm and very assure of himself.
"Running off with a girl like that? You could do so much better, is she the reason why you're leaving?! Has she persuaded you to go with her, is that it?" She accused the Zoii.
It was now that Sasuke turned, Kaara never seen that look on his face before… Maybe before, a long time ago when they were young and he hated everything. But it was new, even to the Zoii.
"She isn't the reason, Haruno… She's only coming along because I've asked and wanted her to, nothing else. It's my decision to leave, not her persuading me. I've always wanted to leave, but now that I know that I'm not strong enough… I have to leave. I have to leave and get stronger, to avenge my family!" There was such anger in his voice, like he wanted to shout.
"And if you should say anything else demeaning to Kaara, then say it now!" He spat.
Sakura stood back a bit, never hearing that tone from the Uchiha before and even Kaara felt a little abashed. Sasuke was defending her and in front of one of her long time bullies'.
"I- Why do you defend her? Am I not closer to you than she is?!"
"You have no right to choose who is close to me." Sasuke replied, he disappeared for a second. A soft thud could be heard and the Zoii turned back, Sakura lay on the ground unconscious.
"Let's go, Kaara!" The Uchiha was beside Kaara again, she followed behind him.
- x -
The process of extracting the Jinchyuuriki was long and tedious, the teenager looked up seeing the redhead; chakra surrounding him, keeping him lifted up above the ground. "While you wait, young one, you should get to bandaging yourself up…"
The teenager sighed, there was time to do that later.
"It'll be a day or two before any of those shinobis coming after us, rest a little…" Leader commanded.
"Uh.. Y-yes, of course, Leader-sama!" She never questioned him ever.
Hidan just looked at her, watching as she sat in a corner of the dark room, oh how he hated how he had so much control over her.
"Another thing, Kaara… Once you are rested, you'll be heading to Hidan and Kakuzu's location at once."
"…Y-yes, leader-sama." The girl said, she decided it was best to take a nap. From her estimates, it'll be a few days by the time she'd get to them.
- x -
"Orochimaru said nothing about excess package… hey, who is she?!" One of those strange nins asked, poking at the young girl beside Sasuke.
"You touch her again and I'll see it to that you lose that arm…" The Uchiha glared.
Kaara stood behind him, "Sasuke… I- I want to go back."
"No, there's nothing there for you." He replied.
"What's the bitches' name then, we'll at least have to fucking know it." The only girl in that group asked.
"She's not a bitch and it's Kaara, she isn't someone I want anyone hurting or playing with. She is mine, and mine alone." The Uchiha made it clear to them all.
"Yes, Sasuke-sama!" They all said.
Kaara felt strange, she was Sasuke's and only his… What did that even mean?
- x -
A few hours later, she awoken, putting on her cloak; "Leader-sama, I'll b-be heading towards Hidan and Kakuzu now!" Pein nodded back, "I'll be s-seeing you t-two in a few days then… Um," She looked down and back up at everyone. "Everyone, p-please be careful while I'm away!"
To assure her, everyone nodded or waved her off.
"Like any of those shitty fucking idiots can even bring us down!" Hidan smugly replied.
She left immediately after hearing Pein's explanation of keeping a low profile; "They know you are someone of a great threat, but they don't know how you look or where you hail from. I want to keep it that way for a while longer, Kaara."
- x -
From her spot on top of the late Madara's sculpture in the waterfall, she could see Sasuke… His battle with Naruto was ongoing and just as gruesome than she imagined. They were both intent on deeply hurting one another physically.
All that ran through the girl's mind was escaping, running away from all of this and never looking back. She wanted to stay and be with Sasuke, repay him for all the things he's done for her-
But that, that person opposite of Naruto wasn't her Sasuke any longer, it stopped being her beloved Uchiha. She was nothing but a possession to him, that's all she felt…
She stood there a while longer and his new form, whatever that was- She was gravely afraid of it and especially his intent now.
There was a time she wanted to be like Sasuke, but now- She felt she made a mistake idolizing him.
She ran; this was her chance, she could repay him one day when he came to his senses- But not today, she was too afraid of being around him. She was afraid of becoming what we was becoming and she didn't want that; the thought of revenge consuming her thoughts, wasn't something she wanted.
- x -
Kaara was a few hours away from the extracting point, the Akatsuki had many hidden quarters all over the lands; even if anyone found about this one, it wouldn't had meant anything at all. There original hideout was in the Rain village, with its incredibly secured borders. There was no leaving or going into that village, if you aren't an Akatsuki that is.
But yes, she thought to herself, it'd be a long while before she would meet up with her comrades; she remembered how she was first introduced to everyone- Not all at once but slowly though.
"I remember you, you're the girl that called us old men…" Kisame got a good look at the girl, Itachi also stepped up and looked at her.
"Why this girl? She was strange when she could hear us days before we got to the leaf village… Nothing else beyond that." Kisame again said.
"There's a seal on her back; she said she hasn't noticed it before, but then again… She has never paid any attention to the marks and scars on her body." Konan spoke.
"And with that info, I leave you to do with the unsealing… There must be something special about this girl if she has a seal on her."
They managed to undo the seal without any difficulties; but that didn't mean she didn't lose anything over the years' she was with them… Her hearing wasn't as good as it once was, all those close calls from Deidara's bombs.
"From now on, you'll be wearing these- Leader said they'd help you controlling your chakra since you've had them locked away for so long." Kakuzu handed the girl a set of a metal bracelets, as she clasped them on she didn't feel any different than before.
"Hmm, that's better…You weren't keeping your chakra levels down, these will help you with that." He informed. "Though, one of these days you won't need them."
Unsealing the seals' though wasn't the problem from the beginning, it was the vast amount of chakra she emitted that was troubling; not for her, but for the Akatsuki organization itself. Hiding something like that, wasn't at all easy.
"Kaara… Since you are now able to control your own energy, it is time that you are trained to befit a ninja of our level! Right now, you are weak in everything a ninja your age should be capable of doing. Though it is time consuming, but we have time on our side right now." Kaara nodded, listening to the leader, "As of today, both Hidan and Kakuzu will be training you. They will teach you to defend yourself, Taijutsu and maybe, if you are lucky enough to survive, their own techniques."
The girl was unsure of this plan but she nodded, looking nervous she went back to her mentor's.
"Stupid kid, you better not be such a fucking dipshit, ya' hear me?! I'm fucking going to train you hard and you better be fucking grateful!"
"I'm with Hidan on this one, child; I will not go easy as I had done so far…"
The girl was confused, they were going easy on her so far, she gulped; It was just going to be more harder for her.
Things went unexpectedly, the Zoii had advanced faster than they assumed she would; and it was many gruesome months, but they taught her all they knew. She was moved to the team of Kisame and Itachi, this one was twice as hard; she hadn't a lot of knowledge of ninjutsus, counterattacks and genjustu.
It was a little less than a year before she was able to switch to the team of Deidara and Sasori; with them, she had to learn to battle against long range fighters and ones that dealt with weapons of explosives, poison and puppets. But being a close to mid range attacker, there was little she could do against long ranges.
The last few months of her training was with Leader himself and Konan, they were much difficult and she spent many of her weeks' in their hold, crying to herself. He was relentless and never once let up, no matter how much the wounds he inflicted on her would sting and hurt.
She didn't know what they had in store for her, but she didn't ask; they're was no questions for her and she remained silent. She needed to trust them, it wasn't a need though… It was more of a she had to, than needed.
- x -
End Notes: I am quite sorry that this took rather long and sorry for even writing it so long as well; but there's a reason. I wanted to let you see a more thorough story of the main character, of how she ended up with the Akatsuki. How she became from this to that, though I did go too fast with that last part of this chapter, I will though, give it more spotlight in a later chapter.
First thing, Kaara; She is a the kind of person that is dependant on others' as a source of power and... human relations. She's strong, yes but that came with a price as well; her freedom and her life. She's no longer really alive, she only lives for the organization now. When she was a kid, her hearing was sharp and she could hear a pin drop from miles away but.. working with Deidara is messy.
Like in the story, she's been in close calls with his explosives; though Zetsu tried his best to regain them to their original state but failed. She relies on her sight and her chakra, which she'll use them like sonar waves. It'll pinpoint her location to her enemy, yes, but only ever uses it in battle and even then, she's quite strong and years spent being a punching bag for her group, has made her immune to most attacks.
Her relationship with Hidan is quite a tricky one; it's abusive in many ways.
Her relationship with Sasuke too, is abusive. He only wants her as an item that he think he's won by allowing her to be his friend, to care and protect her.
Her relationship with Shikamaru is a lot better than the other two, she respects him greatly, just as he does to her. Though his jealousy did get in the way and he lost what little friendship he had with her... Though he'll be a big part in the future chapters.
I know I left out many things in the original, but the story was too quick and too subtle in my opinion. And I'll guarantee you one thing, she'll indeed kill Kakashi Hatake in the next chapter.
I cannot write sex scenes no longer I would but I just can't really, and I'll try my best in putting more descriptions in the fighting sequences but I make no real promises here. There's only so much things I can describe... I don't know what else to say and I know I'm suppose to tell you something imporant. I just cannot remember it though.. So goodbye for now, I'll be busy on the next chapter.