CH 2 THE FAILURE

The trek to the village seemed long. Everything looks the same. Kura cooperated well of course; she knew she was not in any danger.

Maybe the intelligence unit can tell me a little more about my past…

She turned her gaze back up to see a larger barrier, and a heavily guarded gate; the entrance to the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Kura could still feel the Hokage's hand on her back, more than likely to ensure she wouldn't run away. Voices of exclamation came from above her as she passed under the gate archway.

"Who is that?"

"Where is she from?"

"Probably an intruder with valuable information if the Hokage has brought her back alive."

Kura ignored the words of these men, she could kill them instantly if her heart desired, but it did not desire such things. She felt Naruto step a little closer, "Don't worry, no one is going to hurt you. I won't let them." He spoke into her ear.

Kura wanted to say she wasn't worried about fighting any shinobi except maybe him, but better judgment decided against it and she kept quiet. Naruto removed his hand from her back and walked beside Kura, maybe so she looks less prisoner material. She felt as though she might be in the heart of the village, it was busy. People everywhere, buildings as far as she could see. They were extravagant, more pleasing to the eye than past village buildings had been. Everywhere she turned to look, hostile eyes buried her. Kura couldn't help but to keep her head level, avoiding the gazes, fixating her vision on something distant and unseen. Kura has always held her head high. It wasn't until the Hokage motioned her to go up a flight of stairs that she broke her concentration on this spot. She felt so much hostility, yet she can understand.

I am alien to them. They have no idea who I am, what I came for and if I am a threat to their village.

Yet Kura believed it was an overstatement for her to be a threat; if this was the man guarding and leading this village. They reached the top of the stairs as he opened the door to this large sky-borne building.

I wonder exactly how old he really is.

Kura did not have a chance to ask before questions bombarded the Hokage himself.

"Who is this?" This voice belonged to a female. Strikingly beautiful, long silky hair. A light blond color. Her tone was very wary.

"She has quite a chakra signature, very powerful. Lord Hokage, why have you brought this intruder into the village? You could have sent a clone to at least warn us first."

"Shikamaru, it's okay. I don't sense her to be a threat. You can trust that, can you not?" This was Naruto's voice, steady and convincing.

Kura surveyed the man to be named Shikamaru. He was tall, some facial hair, but not much. Hair pulled back into a band. Soft dark eyes, she found comfort in these eyes until they looked straight into hers.

What? I can't move?

Kura started to struggle, but it was useless. She was under a jutsu, and it must have been the exchange of eye contact that caught her off guard.

"It's okay, you're under my Shadow Possesion, here I will let you see." Shikamaru turned his head down, forcing Kura's to look down as well, and both of their shadows were attached, as if they were one person.

"Wow" Was all Kura could manage to say. "Such a smooth jutsu, I have only heard stories of the shadow manipulators, what is your clan name?"

Kura's genuine curiosity could be seen as a threat, but her intentions are to be knowledgeable. Shikamaru gave the Hokage a stern look, and did not answer her question. Shikamaru started walking backward which in turn made her do the same, she felt a pressure behind her knee's which made them buckle right into a chair.

"We as the intelligence unit are going to extract all we can from your mind, if you are seen as a threat, you will be eliminated immediately, if not, we will keep you prisoner until we find what we should do with you."

This was a voice she had heard earlier, she surveyed the person it belonged to. Long, light blond hair fastened into a ponytail, it was a female. She was walking towards Kura and kneeled down once she was directly in front of her. Kura had a feeling in her stomach, like a pit. She didn't like the vibe this girl gave off.

"Let's see what your mind has to tell us, hmm?" The girl gave a small cornered smile and placed her hand on Kura's forehead.

It's dark, I—I cannot see…

Kura lost consciousness.

"Ino what happened?"

No answer.

It had seemed like the two kuniochi were lost in a world where not anyone could reach them. Naruto paced slowly back and forth, not taking his eyes off the ground. After what had seemed like an eternity the two men heard a loud gasp. Ino had fallen backwards panting heavily, like she had been holding her breath, Kura still unconscious.

"What happened?" Shikamaru asked with concern, he knelt to help Ino to her feet. Ino was shaking violently, it took her a while to say anything. Naruto furrowed his brows with concern, waiting for Ino's reply.

She took a deep breath, "This girl. Inokuma, I don't know anything about their clan but I know they have typically long lifespans and their own secret jutsu. When I tried to see what jutsu they specialize in, I was chased out.. By a pack of, well wild felines is what it seemed to be. I was so overcome by fear." Ino was shaking again, "I ventured into other areas of her brain. Her memories seem to be really broken. I only caught a glimpse of what might have been her parents. I couldn't really get anything out of her. We need to research this. This has never happened to me before, extracting information is my job and I failed!" Ino smashed her fist into a table nearby her as she spoke her last word.

Shikamaru lead her away from the Kura's body and out of the room. There were still no signs on consciousness. Naruto tapped his fingers on his arm with determination in his face, He turned towards a guard, "I need all information possible about this Inokuma clan, stat."

Naruto started towards Kura's limp body in the chair.

"What are you going to do with her?" the guard asked casually.

"She will stay in the prisoner's quarters, but she is not to be treated like one. Do you understand?"

"Yes my Lord."

"I am sure you will pass the message on to other guards as well." The Hokage gave him a stern look, and began to take Kura into his arms.

"Yes" the guard turned immediately and left, aware of his dismissal.

"Well well, what are we going to do with you?" Naruto looked into her face, so innocent while she slept. Naruto took the downstairs flight they had taken to get up to the intelligence quarters and walked a ways.

Kura? Kura, come on. Wake up. You have to be hungry by now. Kura.

Am I sleeping? No. Well maybe, I can't remember what—happened.

Kura fluttered her eyes. It was dark, which she liked; it was easier for her to see. She surveyed her surroundings by sense, without sitting up she could feel she was on a bed. She moved her hands over the surface. Such a soft covering for a prisoner, she could smell a musky underground scent. She had guessed she was beneath the village, as she could hear the footsteps of villagers above her. She could smell—him. Naruto.

What is he doing here? Doesn't he have a village to run?

She heard his footsteps drawing near, but she did not move. He was directly above her, staring into her open eyes. He smiled, "Are you hungry?"

The word hungry made her stomach snarl on queue. Kura blinked an slowly sat up.

"I suppose I am." Kura rubbed her hands over her face. She swung her legs off her bed and tried to stand up, some odd feeling swished her backward, but Naruto grabbed her hands and steadied her, "Easy there, you have been asleep for—awhile."

Kura pursed her lips together, confused, "How long is a while?" Kura felt as though she had only been sleeping for a matter of hours, surely it couldn't have been that long.

"Somewhere around four days."

Kura felt her face get really pale, the nausea was coming back.

Four days.

"What the fuck! How did—why am I? Why didn't you try and wake me up!"

Naruto let Kura push away from him, she pressed her back and her hands against the wall. Naruto gave her a level stare.

"We did. And you wouldn't. On the bright side, we healed up the rest of your shoulder completely. You are healthy as far as we know."

Kura removed her left hand from the wall and felt her shoulder. The bandages were gone. The skin was still smooth and tender, still scarring. Kura tilted her head down. "I am sorry I shouted at you. And yes, I am really hungry." She kept rubbing her shoulder as she spoke.

Medical ninjitsu. Must be.

Naruto just smiled warmly, "Okay let's go eat. You're going to love this place."

Did he mean the food place, or this village?

Kura didn't ask her thoughts out loud, only followed him out of the caged area down a dank hallway. She followed him up the staircase into a bright light. The smells of the village slammed into her sensitive nose.

Food, sweat, dust, the leaves and—fear? Why do I smell fear?

Kura let herself ponder the thought while she walked beside Naruto through the village, no one paid much attention anymore, but the fear she scented. It wasn't until she felt a familiar presence behind her that she turned to look as see where the fear was radiating from.

Her face was dark, confused but she was staring at Kura.

Ino?