Naruto Redefined: Volume 1

by andytak3740

Follow the lives of Naruto, Tenten, Hana, and Itachi as they chaotically intertwine. This story will take on serious/gritty themes, begins when Naruto's 8 years old, and strays quite considerably from cannon. It is also heavily influenced by Feudal Japan and Medieval Europe while all "technology" is Fuinjutsu based (Not entirely a lost art).

3. Chapter 3

Authors Notes:

- This has been re-uploaded, with corrections, due to a significant and glaring typo. I would like to thank MoonlightDoom for pointing it out.

- Also, Chapter 4should drop on July 4th and at the latest the week after. College summer classes are killing me... Honestly shouldn't have taken 4 of them.

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Benjiro Orphanage, Dining Hall:

A mass of children sat amongst each other, their chorus of delightful chatter meandering about the dining hall. Near a set of massive steel lattice windows, a trio of girls smiled in the presence of the suns radiance. Rays of dawn's light gleamed from the rims of pewter chalices scattered throughout.

"Come on Oki; you've gotta eat them." Though Kie merely smiled knowingly at the resistance of one little matron, her lips held firm to an expression of horror and disgust.

"No! G-Gross!" Kie rolled her eyes at the statement, her hand holding a two-pronged fork. Bits of steaming collard greens draped across its ends. The rich sulfuric aroma dispersed through the diffusing vapors.

"I know, but you still gotta eat it." Noting the tears at the corners of her eyes, another figure wrapped an arm around Oki's quivering shoulders. Oki focused on the newcomers Jade eyes. A light whimper emerged from her throat.

"Shh, listen. Oki, it'll make you big and strong. You know, there's a lot of kids who'll want it." Shaking her head profusely at Tenten's suggestion, the six-year-old pushed the offending utensil away. Drops of the cabbage's olive stained broth falling atop of the counter.

"G-Give them!" Grabbing hold of her tray, Oki's little fingers reached for a glistening candied Raspberry. A fine dusting of crystalline sugar coating its vivid scarlet bulbs.

"Oh, no you don't. Come here." Pushing the tray away from the brunette, Kie pulled the defiant child atop her lap.

"Now listen here, missy. You're gonna eat your cabbage. If you don't, then no candy. Got it?" She mewled at the threat. Her head away from the table. "Don't wanna. It awful!"

Lightly running her fingers through the girls hickory locks, Kie looked over to Tenten's pensive stare. Sighing, Kie pursed her lips in thought.

"Hm. Alright, how about a deal?" Oki looked over to the older girl, scrunching her brow at the idea. "Deal?" Offering a disarming smile, Kie pointed at the candy with her fork.

"Well, if you eat just one bite, I'll let you have a raspberry. Deal?" The petite girl bit her bottom lip at the arrangement, her eyes darting back and forth from the vibrant treat to the moist leaves.

"Hm, I. Um, O-Okay." Blinking at Oki's yield to the terms, a gentle smile exposed a few Kie's teeth.

"Good! Now say ah." Hesitating for a second, she gradually opened her maw. Not taking a chance, Kie quickly placed the fork into her mouth. "Ah, awk!" Gagging at the putrid flavor, Oki made to spit out the substance.

"No. No. No! Hold it in Oki! If you want your berry you gotta do is swallow." Pulling the utensil from her lips, Kie ran her thumb against her puffed cheeks. "Come on your almost there." Hesitating for a brief eternity, she shakily swallowed the leaves down her gullet.

"Gah! T-That terrible!" The little child merely offered her companions a meager glare to their giggles. Despite her efforts, a cluster of scarlet drupelets caught her sight.

"You did great, Oki! Here." Blinking at the offered fruit, the child's turquoise eyes twinkled in delight.

"Oh! Gimme!" Tenten smiled as Oki hastily ripped the treat from between her fingers. Her hands swiftly popped the berry into her mouth. "Hmm!" The child relished the taste amidst bites. The sight brought a chuckle to Tenten's lips.

"See, that wasn't bad. Now. If you want more. Then you're gonna have to eat another bite of greens." The child's eye widened at the prospect in horror, involuntarily gulping down the last bit of the candied raspberry.

"Wha-?" Chuckling at her dumbfounded eyes, Tenten moved her view back on to Kie. Noting the determined expression sidled beside another scoop of cabbage, the child simply devolved to a bout of laughter.

"No!" The desperate exclamation only served for Tenten to cackle at the girl's misfortune. Her ruckus drew many pairs of eyes toward their table. A few simpering at the child's plight.

"Tenten, pipe it down." Pulling herself together, the eight-year-old stifled her amusement into a set of snickers.

"O-Okay, sorry." Patting the unsettled child atop the head, Tenten voiced her mind. "Oh relax Oki, we all gotta eat our veggies. See." Pointing to an empty tray, she offered a word of advice.

"Look, it tastes bad. Really, bad." Tenten quickly noted a firm stare and stammered out a correction. "B-But, you gotta put them in your belly." Lightly patting her stomach, she directed her attention back to Kie's awaiting fork. "It's really good for you, and it'll-."

Halting mid-speech, her eyes spotted a rush of movement in her periphery. Catching Maiya stepping briskly over to the head table, she promptly pulled Himari up from her chair. Squinting at the action, Tenten proceeded to observe as the Himari grumbled before stepping off into a corridor.

"Tenten, something wrong?" Swiveling in her seat, Kie glanced back in the same direction. Her sight landing on to the caretakers table, her brow furrowing at the lack of substance.

"I'll be right back. Alright?" Rising from her seat, the brunette stepped off toward the hall.

"K-Kie? W-Where's Ten going?" Chewing on her cheek, she pondered over a viable reason.

"I-I don't. Hm. It's nothing, Oki." Despite her assurance, Kie crinkled her lips to the action. She swiveled her head towards a table across from hers. "Hey, Nishi. Can you come here for a sec."

Quietly Tenten crept down the hall, a pair of mint irises stared off to the silhouette slipping past a corner. Taking a moment to check the corridor, the child tiptoed over to the next junction. She peeked from behind the coarse wall. Before she stood Himari digging through a pouch before the boiler room's door. The objects within clattering against one another in her search.

"Shit, come on. Where's the damn key." Rifling through the leather sack for a few more moments, she perked up at finding the small piece of brass. "There you are!" Placing the key into its corresponding lock, she paused.

"Fuck, this's gonna be a nightmare. Come on Himari; you can do this! You just gotta get rid of it!" With a twist, the deadbolt clicked.

"What's happening?" Freezing at the unexpected whisper, Tenten covered her lips with her hand. Widened eyes peered back to the source of the voice, only to find Kie sidled up right behind her.

"What are you doing here?" Whispered Tenten, her body shaking from the waning adrenaline.

"I wanna know what's going on." The brunette shook her head at the response and rounded on her elder.

"What about Oki, you just gonna leave her?" Waving off Tenten's concerns, she maneuvered past her bunkmate. Kie peeked past the corner, her eyes staring off to the darkened hall. The faint traces of light extending from the window at its end.

"Don't worry; I got Nishi to help her with veggies." The brunette grumbled at the explanation as she looked back down the hall.

"What? She's not good with kids." Tenten stated incredulously, merely receiving a dismissive wave in return.

"Oh, it'll only be for a sec. They'll be fine." Begrudgingly, the child returned her gaze back towards Himari.

"W-Wait. Where'd she go?" Rather than answer, Kie pointed to the open door. A few minutes drew by with bated breath. Shuffles and clatters reverberated up the steps curses joining in with the escalating frenzy.

"Shit, where is it? Fuck!" The frantic racket persisted till a loud clang rung from the room. "Argh! This can't be happening. Come on. Where are you! Bastard!"

Heavy and swift footfalls rushed up the steps, the pair of onlookers widening their eyes at the nearing threat. Dashing away from the scene, Tenten halted before another intersection. She promptly snatched Kie's arm and pulled her past the corner.

"T-Tam-?" Denying her the moment, she covered Kie's lips with her free hand. Not too long after, Himari rushed past in a haphazard gate. The hems of her skirt along with her hands remained coated in soot all the while. A pungent scent of kerosene following in her wake. "Maiya!"

Fort Rikona, Management Office:

"Miss Kumi, Squad R154 is here." Placing a finger onto a brass intercom, the woman injected a sliver of electricity into the device. Kumi leaned forward to her tabletop mic.

"Thank you, Ayako. Please send them in." Resting her spine against the leather-backed armchair, the officer shuffled her papers to their proper locations as she awaited the team's arrival. She wouldn't have to wait for long, her ears twitching at the sound of the office door clicking open. Focusing on the personnel entering her private quarters, Kumi offered the group a subdued smile.

"Hello everyone, please take a seat." Noting as Captain Minazuki took the centermost chair, the officer studied his remaining subordinates while they sat on either end.

"Good, now as you may or may not have been informed. I'm the CID officer tasked to your case." Furrowing his brow, Yuki took a moment to glance at her plaque.

"Pardon my question, but what does the CID have to do with my squad? I would have remembered violating any codes or laws." The woman nodded in affirmation to his assumption, her hand pulling a file from within her drawer.

"That may be so, but the CID has been informed of a troubling factor in your squad's debriefing. With that being the case, I am here to check over the details of your reports for some clarification." Looking up from her lap, Shinko met the elder females gaze.

"W-What kind of details?" Pursing her lips at the question, she sighed as she opened a folder.

"Well. As of this moment, your squad is being examined for the issues regarding the moments around Tenma Izumo's passing." Blinking at the claim, the sole female of the group glanced over to her teammate. The look not going unnoticed by the officer.

"I see, well I'm sure that we can sort this out. Right Shinko, Itachi?" Kumi nodded appreciatively to the suggestion and urged the man to continue with a wave. "Good, I'm glad we have a consensus. Now, I would like for Itachi to answer a question if that's alright?"

Minazuki offered a stiff nod to the woman's inquiry. "Of course. What is it that you'd like to ask of him?"

"I have brought a copy of Itachi Uchiha's report and a highlighted quote we would like for you to verify." Kumi opened a file from atop of her desk and placed the contents before the boy in question. "From the report, you state, and I quote 'I entered the quarters and witnessed as our adversary scorched Tenma. He perished before he fully descended to the floor.'"

While she traced the line of text from the sheet, Kumi peripherally observed as Shinko began to shake from the statement. Though Yuki seemingly stiffened, no outward change came about the originator of the words.

"Now. Will you declare, on the record, that this statement is correct Itachi?" For a moment nothing escaped the boys sealed lips. "Itachi, you need to let me know if this account is accurate or missing any pertinent information. Now is this-."

Abruptly, the Uchiha spoke out in an even tone. "Yes." She lightly paused at the sudden interruption. "Y-Yes, what?" At the trivial falter, a twinkle shown within the eyes of the youth. "Yes, the report is correct."

Jotting down the statement, she turned over the sheet and pen to him. "I see. Well, then I am going to need your signature. Here."

Minazuki straightened in his seat. The man furrowed his brow as he stopped his subordinate from retrieving the instrument. "Whoa, hold on there. Why does he need to sign anything?"

"Mr. Minazuki, signing off is a required procedure concerning statement verification. No matter how trivial the matter appears to be. We merely need for this to be fulfilled so that we may progress onto other matters for review."

Not easing up on the issue, Itachi attempted to extract himself from his sensei's grasp. "There is no need to delay this further sensei, now release me." The flat tone and lack of expression compelled the room's occupants to scrutinize the youngest of the group.

"Are you sure-?" Roughly separating himself from the man's hold, he retrieved the pen. "Of course." In an instant, Itachi drafted his signature underneath the quote.

Notarizing the signed document, Kumi refiled it into its folder. "Now that we have that out of the way let's move onto more 'pressing' matters." The CID Officer reached from within the dossier and retrieved another set of documents and photos. Not providing them any time to adjust, she revealed a thorough report along with photos of a charred corpse.

"O-Oh, Kami!" Visibly flinching back at the sight, a well of tears sprung from Shinko's eyes.

"W-What the hell is this? Kumi?" No matter the tone, decibel, or occupant, her eyes never wavered from their connection with the raven-haired teen before her. On the opposite end of the table, Itachi had yet to separate his gaze from the woman's. He exhaled through his nose and allowed himself to analyze the photos presented before him.

"What is this, Miss Kumi?" Easing her stare, she leaned back into her chair. "These are the autopsy photos of your late teammate."

Shinko rose from her seat, a pale complexion taking hold of her. "Miss, you are to stay put during these proceedings." The teen didn't respond to the order.

"M-Miss Kumi, I-." Swiveling her gaze towards Yuki, she succinctly hushed him. "I'm sorry if this troubles either of you, but you will have to bear it." Shinko shakily retook her seat, yet kept her distraught eyes affixed to the wall at her side.

"Alright, onto the matter at hand. The CID would like to know as to why your report conflicts with the mortician's diagnoses." The officer rose her hand to silence any claims to the contrary.

"As you've stated, you witnessed Izumo's passing from a fire-based elemental technique. However, his autopsy states that a foreign object entered his abdomen between his dextral fifth and sixth vertebrosternal ribs." A stressed creak tore Kumi's eyes from her paper. Her gaze locked towards Hana's shuddering hand and its vigorous grip cracking the armrest.

Allowing for the information to sink in, the woman took a breath before proceeding. "The mortician assigned to his case states that the puncture occurred peri-mortum and did lead to his death." Kumi readjusted her position while she observed the slight narrowing of Itachi eyes. "It states here that Izumo died from a case of Hemopneumothorax, Class Three Hemorrhage, and asphyxia." Shinko pivoted her head around at the statement. Her braids whipped about her head.

"W-What?" Pursing her lips at her unsettled tone, the officer locked with the teen's trembling eyes. "If a medic had arrived within the first two to three minutes his death could very well have been prevented." Silence prevailed over the room, the gravity forcing the room to still. "Along with this information, we've discovered that the varying third and lesser degree burns occurred post-mortum." The officer shifted her pupils towards the raven-haired teen. "Do you have an explanation for the discrepancy Itachi?"

The sixteen-year-old did not waver; his eye's persisted steadfast and resolute. "Then I must have been mistaken."

Yuki's seat groaned against his shift, his hand running through his hair. "See, It was just a simple mistake." Rubbing his clammy palms against his knees, Minazuki rose onto his feet. "You know how vague memory can be after a fight, even I've had my slips."

A stern glare forced him to pause in his action. "Minazuki, sit down." Despite the command to his superior, Itachi rose from his chair.

"Where do you think you're going, Uchiha?" Walking towards the door, he paused with a slight tilt to his head.

"As far as I am concerned, you haven't arrested nor charged me. I won't sit here while you attempt to entrap me for a crime I did not commit."

The CID officer promptly sighed as the youth left her office. "I-I. Hm." Yuki paused as no words formulated from his downcast lips. "There's no need Minazuki; you and your subordinate are dismissed." The captain blinked at the statement, a perplexed expression emerging on to his face.

"W-What, I would have thought that. That we would have been." She shook her head in the negative, Kumi's voice remaining level.

"No. As of this moment, the two of you are not considered to be the primary persons of interest."

Dipping his head to the floor, Yuki stood up to his feet. "If you don't mind me asking, what will you do with Itachi? He may be reserved, but this. This is not something he's capable of. You have to believe me."

Tapping against the table, she pondered on the circumstances. "That may be the case Minazuki, but I've seen cases like him before. Look, you need to talk with the boy." Kumi straightened herself whilst securing an unfilled report.

"The CID is well aware that accidents can occur during a sortie. What we cannot accept is a Nin covering up their mishaps, no matter the situation." The woman handed over the file to the sensei. His hands shakily taking hold of the dossier.

"He needs to learn responsibility for his actions. Now, I am allowing him to make up for the transgression. But, he will have to rewrite his report truthfully and to the best of his ability."

Stripping his eyes from the file, he looked on to the serene woman. "W-What will become of him then?"

"Well, his transgression will be reviewed by the disciplinary board. Depending on the severity they treat his transgression, he can either be given a meager Company Disciplinary Action to a Court-Martial and anything in between."

"I see." Creasing his lip, Yuki sighed as his arm lost its fortitude. The paper ruffling as it made contact with his thigh. "I-I'll make sure he gets this then." He made to step out of the office, yet stopped where he was. "May we leave then, Miss Kumi?" She nodded to the request and waved them out.

"Yes, you may." Despite his effort to help Shinko from her seat, she remained fastened to her post.

"Shinko?" Removing his hand from her shoulder, the girl avoided his gaze. After another attempt, he let her be. Kumi focused in on the teen's adamant refusal, her sensei departing sluggishly from the room.

The officer straightened herself whilst peeking at the sheets. "Miss Inari was it? May I ask as to why you've stayed?" The teen remained inert to her inquiry, hey glassy eyes affixed solely to Itachi's prior seat.

"C-Could he have done it?" Kumi leaned back at the query. Her seat creaked from the pressure onto its frame.

"I'm not sure I understand your question." Shinko's lips quivered, tears racing down to her chin.

"D-Did he. Heh. Did he let him die?" The Woman pursed her lips in response, her head shaking. "That's not for me to say, but your teammate's actions only serve to add suspicion."

Shinko grimaced at her words, her body tensing from the internal strife. Raising a brow at the teen's behavior, Kumi hesitated before speaking. "Miss, what's-."

Her words died in her throat, the girls hushed and shuddering breath penetrated through. "I-I can't take this anymore." Wiping her tears away with her sleeve, Shinko slowly stood up from her seat. "Um. Miss Kumi, do you know if Commander Mori's at his office?"

The officer blinked at the turn in the conversation, her eyes taking a moment to glance at the clock. "Yes, he should be. What's this about?"

Shifting her gaze to the floor, Shinko seized herself a moment to collect her thoughts. "I'll be done with my first tour of active duty this month. I-I don't think I'll be enlisting for another."

Kumi massaged her temple at the news, her eyes watching as she stepped through her door. "Hm." Leaning her head against the cool leather of her chair, she brought her fingers up to the bridge of her nose.

A few seconds later, a young woman with dirty blonde hair poked her head into the office. "It didn't go too well, did it?" Kumi leveled a stare at her wings secretary.

"That obvious? Well, it was to be expected. But, we may have suffered more casualties than I previously thought." Looking around to her desk, she fiddled with a stack of files on her organizer. "Oh, I-I'm sorry." She waved off her concern.

"Don't be; it comes with the job. Cases like these are bound to happen." At the discovery of a file, the officer developed a smirk.

"Say, Ayako. Is today what I think it is?" The secretary's lips morphed into a broad smile.

"You remembered?" Coming into the room, Ayako took a second to lean against the door frame. "Of course. When are you going?"

The woman rubbed her arm, her forearm tensing as she bit her lip. "Well. Commander Mori agreed to let me off early, before noon today. Oh, Denji's coming to pick me up in an hour!"

Benjiro Orphanage, Perimeter Woodlands:

Perched atop of a coarse branch of a thick oak, a few pigeons twitched and chirped. Above the fowls, a set of sapphire eyes observed the creature. A warm breeze whistled by, its vigor tussling the canopy. The breaks in the foliage presented snippets of scruffy blond locks. Tensing his developing muscles, the figure pounced through the bundle of leaves.

Now fully exposed, the child dove toward the startled pigeon. Their grey speckled feathers flashed with every beat of their wing as they took flight. "No!" Landing onto the limb, the boy frantically reached out to the hysterical fowls. In his thrashing, he struck the lilac throated bird.

"Gyah!" Briefly losing his balance, the child clung onto the branch in alarm. Gathering his bearings, the boy perked as hysteric chirps, and flutters brought a twitch to his ears.

He swiveled his gaze down to the moss patched floor, his pupils zeroing on to the pigeon lurching about. "Mine."

The orphan focused in on the animal from his perch. His body crept to a shallower height. Awaiting for an opportune moment, the child once more tightened his sinew in preparation.

"Grah!" Dropping onto the wounded animal, he allowed for his overbearing weight to mash the pigeon's petite frame into the earth. Righting his posture, the blonde stared down to the motionless creature. He cocked his head to the side, warily poking at its abdomen.

Not receiving a response, the boy gently picked it up with his teeth — the fowl's limp form dangled aimlessly atop his chin. Glancing about the area, the blond sprung off through the undergrowth. The youth sprinted past bushes and clambered over any fallen trunk laid before him.

Within moments, he arrived at the edge of the forest, hesitation seeping into his bones. Rising from his quadrupedal gait, he ventured into the field. The boy blinked in mild regard to the bird held between his lips. He quickly relinquished the deceased creature into his hand.

Scanning the swaying fields, his eyes raked through the bundles of lavender shrubs dotted throughout. A hint of camphor drifting through the fresh vernal air. "T-Tenten?" Stepping closer to the tarp-covered shelter, the blonde called out once more. "Kie?"

The boy shifted from one leg to the other, his hopeful smile faltering. A pout emerged atop his sunken lips as he stared out to the lush meadow.

Treading over to his encampment, he plopped down by a small earthen pit. As the sun traversed through the heavens, the orphan closed his eyes to the soothing warmth it exuded.

"Hm, good." A minute smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He opened his eye to the serene field encompassing him. He was awarded to a blue tint that gradually bled back to the vibrant greens and earthy browns of the wilderness.

He refocused onto the fowl that laid between the blades of grass. Lifting the animal for a better view, the whiskered child drew a small knife from his belt. The boy analyzed the instrument for a brief moment as he contemplated over a dilemma.

"How Kie do it?" Placing the blade against the bird's breast, he paused and replaced it into its sheath.

"Oh, feather!" The blonde placed the creature atop his lap and fumbled to remove its plumage. Sighing at the tedious work, his eyes traversed over the fire pit. "Strike?" He pursed his lips at the absent device and searched around the site.

Brushing past a thicket, a brunette hastened into the meadow. The scent of burnt flesh slithered into her nostrils. An amused chuckle spouted from the girl's lips. Her feet carried her forward; she took in the sight of a sulking child. His fingers poked at a charred object absentmindedly.

"Hey there, little guy!" Startled by the sudden call, the blond recoiled onto his bottom. Despite the sudden spike in alarm, his expression quickly morphed into one of recognition and delight.

"Tenten! Back!" Laughing at the exuberant shout, a bright smile blossomed onto her lips as he dove onto her.

"Haha! Yea, I'm back." She hugged him tightly — her hand ruffling his hair tenderly. After a few moments, her grin wavered as her initial purpose of arrival filtered through her psyche.

"Hey, I. No, we need to talk." Lightly separating his brow from her neck, the boy cocked his head to the side.

"Huh?" Not entirely sure as to how to broach the subject, Tenten grimaced while she took hold of his hand. Sitting down beside the burnt lump, the brunette crinkled her nose. "Ruin." Glancing up to the forlorn child, she rose a brow to the statement.

"What's ruined?" His foot tapped against the ashen remains as he looked off to the side. "For you."

Once again, a fond simper formed across her lips. Tenten leaned forward and planted a faint kiss to his temple. He didn't shy away from the response, yet a light dusting of blush dotted his cheeks.

"Thank you." While she righted her posture, the girl pulled the child into her lap. "B-But, bad?" Accepting the admittance to his failure, she merely continued to smile at him.

"Maybe, but it was nice though." However, a glimpse at the inedible remains of an animal brought about a wave of confusion to her eyes. "But, where'd it come from?" He lifted his head from her chest, his eyes roaming the forest before pointing to a random direction.

"There!" A glint of apprehension formed within her at the claim. "D-Did you find it on the ground." The boy furrowed his brow at the question; his eyes exhibited his thoughts. "No."

At this, it was Tenten's moment to fall into confusion. "Then, how?" He cocked his head to the side, unsure as to how to respond. "Catch. Like kitty!" Tenten blinked owlishly at the child before her.

"W-What?" To emphasize his point, the boy clawed at the air with both palms. His throat produced a faint growl in conjunction with the action. "Gr-." Her breath hitched at the endearing display.

"Oh, you're adorable!" Tenten drew the boy in for a tight embrace. "Gak!" His sound of discomfort did little to thwart her squeeze and nuzzle. The orphan released her hold on the boy, her fingers tucking a few of his locks behind an ear.

Allowing for the moment to drift, she rested her chin atop his shoulder. With her cheek nestled beside his own, the boy leaned back and shut his eyes.

A grimace crept onto Tenten's lips, the moment waning in time. "Hm. I-I need to get you out of here." Her voice trailed off into a light whisper. The blond simply cocked his head to her musings. Glancing toward the boy for a brief moment, she shifted her gaze back to the horizon.

"Look. You're not safe here. Not anymore. H-Himari's looking for you." The child bristled from her lap at the mention of the woman's name. "Don't worry; I'm going to figure something out. Okay?"

Benjiro Orphanage, Front Entrance:

A knock echoed through the main lobby of the orphanage. Its racket elicited a weary grunt from a caretaker. A woman fiddled with a few unkempt strands as she made her way over to the door. Conceding to the unruly threads, she opened the door to find a couple at the doorstep. "Um, is this a bad time Maiya?"

The woman strained to put on a small smile. "Oh, no. Just, um. We ran into a complication or two this morning, but everything's fine. Why don't you come on in Ayako, Denji." Together, they walked through the opening and into the facility.

"Kids get a little rowdy?" A haggard sigh escaped Maiya's lips in reply. "Nope, just one decided to be troublesome today, but fortunately it's been settled." Closing the door behind them, the faint chorus of children conversing with one another could be heard from the halls.

"So. On your last visit, you two felt a connection with a boy? Correct?" She led the couple through the primary corridor. Ayako animatedly spoke through her hands. "Yes! Denji and I got along with the cutest little boy, Keito! Right, Denji?"

The man removed his squinting eyes from a window and offered a polite nod. "Oh, Yes. We've had the most insightful of conversations with the young lad." He readjusted his glasses and continued to search amongst the children in the courtyard.

"Well, that's great news! Why don't I get you two started on the paperwork while I go get Keito?" Ayako following beside the woman dipped her head to the plan.

"Oh, that would be wonderful. I can't wait to see him again!" Together, the group entered the west wing of the building. A small waiting area of blue cushioned seats and a few offices greeted them.

"You two can stay here in the lobby if you'd like, I'll go get those forms." The woman stepped out into an adjacent office briefly before returning. "Here you go Ayako. I'll be back in a second, alright?"

Denji swiveled his head around and brought his hand up to call for the departing woman. "Oh, Maiya. I believe I spotted Keito by the swings." The caretaker paused momentarily and provided a thankful smile.

"Thank you, Denji. I'll be back with him momentarily." Seeing the woman walk down the hall in which they came, he revolved toward his companion.

"You need any assistance?" Not taking a moment look up to the man, she curtly responded.

"No. It's elementary at best." Without removing her eyes from the page, she motioned with her head over to the hall. "Hm. Go see if Eiji and Yoko are still around, Keito could use a sibling or two in the near future."

With a nod, Denji strode off toward the hall. Despite his intentions, he paused mid-step. An unintelligible set of voices barely permeating through a corner office door. Taking an interest in the discussion, he wandered over to the room and lingered before it.

"Denji? What're you doing?" Ayako whispered out to her partner. The man simply leaned into the door, his finger raising a hair. In response, the woman merely pursed her lips and lifted a brow. On the opposite side of the door, Mrs. Kudo could be seen tapping her fingers against her hardwood desk. Her rump braced against the counter's anterior edge.

"I've overlooked your treatment of the child for too long, Himari." Fidgeting within her seat, Himari avoided her piercing gaze. "I-I'm sorry. But, I can fix this! W-We can still find him!"

"You're sorry?" A loud smack echoed off the timber walls. Retracting her hand, the house's matriarch scowled at the cowering woman before her. "Your apologies are worthless to me Himari. I thought I told you that he was to be left alive. But, no! You had to go and threaten to kill the damn bastard! And now, the beast's gone and run off to who knows where!"

The young female persisted through the pain of her reddening cheek, her teeth grit as she straightened herself. "Why does it even matter? The demon's gone, so what if it's escaped? It was weak; it's probably dead somewhere in the woods."

Her superior merely sneered at Himari's words, the sinew lining her neck tightening. With only a whisper of movement, Kudo's hand flew out and secured her subordinate by the throat. "Gak, K-Kudo?"

Pulling the struggling woman closer, the matron only tightened her grip. "You insufferable woman, that child was to be delivered to the Hokage when he developed to an adequate age! He was supposed to become Konoha's new conflict deterrent!"

Kudo took note of the caretaker's change in hue and relinquished her hold. Landing onto her knees, Himari coughs as her bloodshot and teary eyes wavered. "Now I have nothing to deliver. Just because of my pity for you."

Lightly caressing the middle-aged woman's cheek, she starred out over the front lawn. "In a few months; I'm supposed to perform a memory wipe on the damned jinchuriki, practically retracting its mind years. With him gone, heads are going to roll."

Kudo reclaimed her grip onto her assistant's bruised neck. "But, if there's any way out, then I can't have any loose ends." Gagging at the offending appendage, Himari clawed at the hem of Kudo's blouse.

"N-No, Ple-. Gak." Kudo pressed her fingers against the woman's carotid arteries. Within second Himari's pupils dilated as her iris's voyaged back into her skull. Miss Kudo sighed as Mari fell limp within her arms. She steeled her resolve and engrossed herself to the woman's slack expression.

"I'm sorry, Mari." Bringing her head to rest against her abdomen, Kudo closed her eyes in wait. "I hope your grievance was worth it." Seconds drew into minutes as she felt Himari's pulse wane till it fell silent against her grip.

Denji blinked and pulled his head from the door. Stiffly, he walked back over to his partner. "What happened Denji?" For a few moments, the man said nothing as he pondered over the events.

"It appears that Mrs. Kudo is cleaning house, enact an air of ignorance." Hesitantly nodding in understanding, she relaxed into her chair, her eyes raking over her husband.

"Denji, ease your back. You'll appear tense." Taking heed to the observation, he followed her guidance. For a short while, only the strokes of her pencil were audible. However, even they petered out when she finished with the documents.

"Guys! Look who I've found." Together, the couple turned to the approaching pair. Denji smiled as he completed the last signature for the packet.

"Hey, Keito!" The blonde rose from her cushioned seat, a broad smile spread across her lips.

"H-Hey." Ayako embraced the small child, a timid smile gradually forming across his cheeks.

"Are you excited? You're coming home today!" She placed an affectionate kiss onto his flushed cheek.

"Y-Yes. It's just a little. Uh, Fast." A rough hand tussled his hair and brought his attention toward his side.

"You'll be just fine my boy." Kneeling down, Denji placed his hands on either side of his shoulders. "Are you prepared to see your new room? We've acquired a few effects for it as well. What do you say?" He bit his lower lip at the proposal, his lopsided smile preceding his hesitant nod. "Wonderful, what of you Ayako? Are you ready to head home?"

"Of course! Maiya, are we good to go?" The caretaker motioned them down the hall with her outstretched hand.

"Yes. I just need the forms, and you three can be on your way." Denji returned the documents to the matron, the group stepping off onto the porch. "Thanks, Maiya, for everything!"

"Sure thing. Have a great day! Good luck; Keito!" The nine-year-old offered a jubilant smile — his exuberant hand waving back and forth.

"By Maiya!" Waving back, she shed a few tears at the display. "By Keito! Don't forget to come and visit!" He turned around once more. "I won't!"

Maiya sighed while she leaned against the door's frame. The woman sensed a presence to her rear. Shifting her gaze for a brief moment, the caretaker found the curly alabaster locks of her superior. "Isn't it wonderful, Miss Kudo?"

The older woman brought an arm around Maiya's shoulders, a bittersweet smile resting upon her tense cheeks. "It is isn't it?" The Matriarch released a weak sigh as she wrapped her fingers around the woman's throat. Her fingers held firm to her carotids as Maiya's vision dimmed.

Konoha's Outer Circuit, Western Forest:

The sun rose to its peak; the pleasant warmth only subsided in the presence of a faint breeze. Below the canopy of leaves and branches, a pair of children wove through the trunks and stalks of the overgrowth.

"Just a little further." Jade eyes scanned the distance, her grip tightening around her companions.

"T-Ten? Where?" The girl paused mid-step, her gaze analyzing for any discrepancy in their surroundings.

"There." Offering a weary smile, she tugged the child along. "Please, be it," Tenten whispered under her breath. She brushed past a few more saplings, her shoulders dropping at the sight before them. A lively green embankment dotted with white petals led to the lax waters of a brook.

"We're here. Finally!" The brunette set down her pack. Her companion fell onto his rump. Placing her hands behind her head, the girl took in the suns radiance. "Done?" Tenten peered over her shoulder and expressed an apologetic simper.

"Yea, why don't you rest up?" She leaned over him, her fingers gently caressing his locks as she kissed his brow. "Here, you gotta eat something." The girl sought through their pack, her hand procuring bars candied oats. Standing up from her haunches, Tenten's lips scrunching up in thought. "You're gonna need another fort."

A sigh escaped the child's lips, the boy beneath her none the wiser to the plight about to befall her. His puffed cheeks munched on wistfully, as she ventured into the treeline.

"Ah, heh. Come on, Tenten. Heh, just a little more." The eight-year-old struggled as she tugged a sapling through the forest floor. A few more minutes drew by without incident until she broke through the tree line. The gentle rush of a neighboring stream garnered her attention. She rose her head to scan across the embankment till her eyes found their target.

"Hey, k-kid." Quickly, she adapted her call into that of a whisper. Fore, dozing before her laid the boy at the edge of the rivers mossy turf.

"Hm." Quietly, the brunette placed the tree amongst a pile of its kin. With measured steps, the orphan made her way over to her charge. Kneeling by his side, she placed her fingers against his lips. A moist exterior met their touch and elicited a shaky sigh. She quickly traced his lithe frame with her fingers, their ends halting a midst his pronounced ribs.

"H-He's fine, Ten. He's fine." Shaking her head, she went back to the embankment to the rear of the clearing.

"Alright. Let's see," Tenten stated as she pilfered through the collection of stalks and limbs. "

I-I guess that'll do?" The brunette hefted a large and moderately straight sapling. Lifting one side of the barked trunk, she turned her gaze over to a nearby white birch atop a meager raise. With a grunt of effort, she lifted the shaft of the sapling into the fork of the tree.

"Whew. Heh." She thumped and pressed against the propped beam, its placement steadfast. "There, that should work." Walking off to the heap of branches, she proceeded to pile and interweave them into partitions.

The minutes of the day flew by as the sun began its descent. A soft grunt brought her out of her musings as the girl leaned against another branch. "H-Hey! What are you doing?" Ahead of a moderately sized branch, the boy dug his heels into the ground. His petite frame struggled to drag the timber over to the shelter.

"Here, I got it?" Tenten took hold of the tree within his hands. "No, I do it." Taken aback from the response, she held firm. "W-What? No. You're still getting better. I-."

"No, I help." A meager tug met her rigid grip. "P-Please, I better." She pursed her lips at his determined gaze. "Hm." For a brief moment, Tenten looked over the child before her. "Fine, just. Hm. Just, be careful. Okay?"

Noting her yield to his plea, he extended a grateful nod. Together, the two patched and interlaced branch after branch.

"That should be good. What do you think?" The boy looked over to the sizeable hut, his head nodding in agreement. "Yea."

She directed her attention over to her rucksack. "Come on. We gotta put canvas on it." Drawing forth the wax inlaid fabric, the pair went on either side to drape it over the shelter. With hemp cords, she fastened the tarp down. Once she tied the last line, Tenten stepped back to observe her work. "What do ya think?"

The boy entered and wandered through the stick lined tent. Poking his head out from the opening, a broad grin settled onto his face. "It bigger!"

Tenten closed in on the fort, her hand propping herself over the entrance. "It's bigger. Don't forget the 's'." The child pursed his lips at the light correction. "S?"

She dipped her head at the question. "Yep. 'S.' You gotta use it, or you'll sound weird." Tenten stressed her point with a light poke to his nose, a coy rise to the corner of her lip on full display.

"Why?" Sighing at the child's frustration, the brunette seized a clear spot by the boy's side.

"I know it is. But you've gotta do it right. You still reading your stories?" She pulled her pack over to their position, her hand quickly retrieving colorful tome.

"Yea. Dra-drag-." Scouring past the copious amount of worn pages, Tenten came to a halt once she spotted a boy atop of a feathered beast. "This one?"

"Yes!" Tenten's lips quirked at his exuberance. Her finger landing below the challenging word. "Repeat after me, 'drag-uh-n.' His eye followed her finger as she traced the word.

"Drag-une?" Chuckling at the attempt, Ten outlined it once more. "Almost, it's dragon." Nevertheless, the ever-growing shadows of the trees brought her out from the activity before it had begun.

"Ten, read?" She glanced up to the sky, spotting the few clouds dotting the heavens acquiring a flushed coloration.

"It's getting late. Maybe, just one. Okay?" Embracing her arm, he laid his cheek against her shoulder.

"Okay." Tenten simpered at the contact and gently removed his arm from her. A pout marred his wavering lips to her action.

"Shh, come here." Pulling him toward her, she snaked her arm around his waist. He blinked, perplexed by the shift. Despite the alteration, the boy found himself enwrapping her midriff. His temple rested against her nape. "Better?"

"Hm." Grinning at the response, she leaned back into the central post. With a slight readjustment of the book, the girl read. "Flying high in-."

As the sun drifted ever nearer to the horizon, focus returned to the boy's eyes. "T-Ten?" Said child paused in her readings.

"Yea?" Readjusting his eyes, the boy's gaze remained affixed to the canvas bedding beneath them. "Na-?"

"What?" The child tightened his grip on the hem of her top — his tilted his head in alignment with hers. Pointing to himself, he tapped his finger against his sternum. "Name?"

"Oh." She gently squeezed the child in a hug. In reply, he nestled himself into the crook of her neck. "You still don't remember it, do you?" A slight grimace marred his lips while he dampened her collar. "Hey, it's alright. I-I can give you one." His eyes widened at the suggestion. The boys wavering pupils now trained into her own.

"R-Really?" He sniffled and teared at the suggestion. Ten pulled him back into her arms, her fingers running soothing courses on his upper back.

"Shh. Don't cry." Allowing themselves some space, Tenten wiped at the few droplets trailing his cheeks. "I'll give you one next time, I promise." Faintly she eased herself back, pulling him with her. "Hm. How about I read you another story?" Here merely nodded into her chest, his misty eyes unfocused.

The hues of the forest soon were engulfed in shades of amber. A small figure rose from a bundle of sticks. Shuffling around, she pried a few branches in front of the opening. She allowed herself one more glance into the boy's new abode, the orphans' eyes drinking in the child's serene nature amidst slumber. Tenten bit her lip at the scene laid before her, yet she unfurled and tied the remaining flap loosely to the base of the shelter.

Slinging a bag onto her shoulder, the girl pondered on the matter. "I'll be back soon. I promise." Tenten whispered to the placid breeze ruffling her hair. Still rooted to her spot, she mumbled once more. "Next, time." With her piece said, Tenten, trudged through the undergrowth.

In the dim evening light, a cerulean eye opened from beneath the sheets. Rising from his bedding, the boy stared off at the brook before him. Despite the fading light, a massive silhouette obstructed the skyline. With a raised brow, he pulled the covers off of his person.

Fort Hiroshi, Perimeter Woodlands:

"Shit, why's this so hard!" Saisu looked up from his exercises to find Hana in the midst of glaring at a slip of paper. The sheet smoldered ever so slightly at its epicenter.

"You tell me." Her current partner held his hands apart from one another. Sporadic arks of electricity alighted the gap between his palms.

"How the hell are you having trouble with this? You shot a damn lightning bolt at Anko a month ago." Grumbling at her response, he blinked as a figure emerged from the foliage behind her.

"Well, someone's a little snippy today?" Hana crumpled the sheet of paper within her fist. "I-I don't get it. Why can't I do this?" Anko walked past the teen and sat down between the pair.

"Hm. Seems like you've got a problem with control." Hana blinked at the comment, her brow furrowing in response.

"T-That doesn't make any sense! I can do medical techniques! If anything I have too much control over my Chakra!" Her instructor simply snickered at the remark.

"Yep! You do, and that's the problem." Now the teen simply stared out to Miterashi, dumbfounded into silence.

"W-What?" Grabbing hold of another strip of paper from the teen's stash, Anko lit the slip on fire between her index and middle fingers.

"You've gotten yourself into a common habit amongst green medics. You're concentrating on control over potency and essentially suffocating the technique of any Chakra."

Hana looked back to her hands, a frown marring her lips. "Elements are fickle things. Look, how about you try not controlling the fire for once." Miterashi picked up another colored slip from the box off to the side. "Here, just convert the Chakra and let it flow. Don't hold back. Got it?" Taking the sheet in between her fingers, she thought over the matter.

"How am I supposed to do that? I've always been in control." Her sensei pursed her lips at the comment.

"Your task isn't to shape the fire, just make the spark and feed it. That's it." The teen narrowed her sight onto the target, her eyes closing at the effort. She maneuvered the warm substance through her capillaries and out of her fingers. Concentrating on a single point between her fingers, Hana altered and pushed it to the papers epicenter.

"Hana, stop limiting it. Just convert and let it loose." The teen shook her head in denial of the statement.

"I'm not!" Anko sighed at her stubbornness. "Yes, you are." Opening her eyes, Hana glared over to her instructor as she yelled.

"Then how am I supposed to do it?" The pair spotted a light trail of smoke coming from her lap. The brunette yelped as a small tongue of fire licked her thumb. "Gyah! What the hell?"

A broad grin spread out across Miterashi's lips, a round of chuckles soon following her. "Well, looks like you've got things figured out. Though, it seems that Saisu still needs some help. I'll let you be for now, alright?" The woman shifted onto her feet and walked over to the boy.

"W-What? Anko! Come back here! None of this makes any sense! Arh!" Falling onto her back, Hana stared up to the canopy of the forest. A guttural sigh released from her parted lips at the situation she found herself in. Moments passed on by as she laid there, her arm resting over her eyes.

"I'll be back in a bit." Stripping her attention from Saisu's sparkling hands, Anko found Hana rising to her feet.

"Well, it's getting pretty close to five anyway. How about we call it here." Hana dipped her head in reply.

"I'll let Izu know then." She paused mid-step, offering the pair a defeated wave. "Well, I'll see you later Saisu, Anko." The teen received a wave for her troubles, her feet taking the young woman further into the underbrush. Seconds would bleed into minutes as she trudged past clusters of trees.

Breaching through the tree line, the Inuzuka came across a steaming lake. Hana scrutinized the body of water and flinched as a blinding stream of flames lit the shore. "Shit, Izu! You could warn a girl before you do that!"

The fire quickly dissolved into smoke at the plea. "Hana? How was I supposed to know you were there?" The raven-haired teen jumped down from atop a rocky outcrop.

"Never mind." Turning an analytical eye to the girl, Hana inquired further on the technique.

"Hm. How do you even see with a move like that?" Scratching the back of her head, the Uchiha offered a lopsided smile.

"Uh, depends." Hana blinked back the clarity to her vision, her eyebrow rising at the statement.

"Depends? What's that supposed to mean?" Walking over to her companion, Izumi plopped herself down at her side.

"Um, you can't really. You're kinda guessing half the time." The brunette followed her teammate's example and took a seat atop the rocky turf.

"Of course you are." Hana glanced down to her open palms. "You still having trouble." The Uchiha asked, her forefinger twirling a stray lock of hair.

"I-I don't get it!" Grimacing at her partner's plight, Izumi scooted herself closer. "Well, um. What're you having problems with? Maybe I can help."

Incapable of forming words, the Inuzuka splayed her hands out. "E-Everything! Absolutely everything! None of it makes sense. Every technique that I've ever used came with instructions, formulas, and theories. How is this any different?" Izumi bit her bottom lip at her companion's outburst.

"Well, every element is special. Each one has different rules. But, fires a little different. It's the only one that you gotta make first."

She brought her hand up from her lap and snapped her fingers. The action elicited a spark that evolved into a small flickering flame. "Fire doesn't want to be controlled. All it wants to do is eat." Grabbing her roommate's hand, she brought it up to her own.

"W-What are you doing?" Hana pulled her hand back from the dancing fire. "Relax; I'll be your spark." The teen rolled her eyes at the brunette's refusal to bring her hand forward.

"Look, I'm not gonna hurt you. Just convert your Chakra and feed it." She pursed her lips at the request.

"J-Just feed it?" Nodding at the question, Izumi once again brought the flickering flame closer.

"Yep, just put your fingers right here and give it some CHakra." The ebony haired girl pulled Hana's hand by her own. Creasing her lips in the effort, she gradually seeped her Chakra out from her fingers. "L-Like this?" Izumy merely rose a brow at the attempt.

"No, come on give it some more. Don't be shy." She focused her gaze back onto her fingers and proceeded to push an increasing amount out of her coils. A flash emerged from her fingertip as another wisp of flame flickered to life.

"Gyah! Oh. I-I did it! Haha! Izu, I did it!" Her partner's obsidian eyes crinkled in joy at her exuberance.

"See, you can do it!" In their bout of delight, the meager flame went out. "Well, try it again." The Uchiha snuffed her flame and motioned for Hana to proceed. "W-What? But?" Hana stammered at the loss of the source of Chakra.

"Hana, you've gotta do it yourself. Hm, I'll give you a hint. It takes a lot more Chakra to start it than to feed it." The teen frowned at the news, her thoughts going over the relative information. "So, there's a specific activation energy point? Shit, really! Damn, I'm an idiot!"

Izumi scratched her cheek in mild puzzlement. "Uh. What's an a-activation thing?" Her bunkmate blinked at the teen's ignorance and sighed. "It's, uh. Never mind; I'll tell you later." Shifting her gaze back onto her fingers, she pushed a substantial amount of Chakra into her digits.

Konoha's Outer Circuit, Western Forest:

Scampering around the undergrowth, a blond head poked up from behind a shrub. "Huh?" Out from behind his cover, the boy brushed past a few brambles ahead of a rolling brook. He kneeled and brushed his hand through the cool water. Lifting his head to the painted sky, he sniffed in the remarkable scents of the slumbering flora.

"Hm, This way?" Pacing onward, the boy ventured further west. Time drifted past as the sun coasted ever closer to the horizon. With every step, he grew ever nearer to Konoha's Perimeter Wall. Its gargantuan form obstructing the horizon, yet permitted the pastels staining the clouds to illuminate the village valley.

In the distance, a large structure lay conjoined to the expansive barrier. "S-So big. Hm." Glancing about the woodlands, he focused onto a mature Cottonwood. Its immense trunk spanned nearly three meters around — a mass of roots laid at the poplar's foundation. Their parched chutes reached out unperturbed into the river bank, snuffing out the life of anything in their path.

Coming to a halt atop of the hardwood's roots, the child analyzed the knotty and forking trunk. "No." He frowned at the surface and ventured around the gargantuan beast. Not finding any particular point of preference, a shaky exhale whisked past his lips.

Resorting himself to simply trying, the boy took hold of a knot. "Harrumph." With a grunt in the effort, he gradually pulled himself up onto the first junction. A roll of the shoulder followed the small trial in strength. Quirking his lip, he stared up to the varying masts that approached the roseate and amber heavens. He closed in on a favorable trunk and took hold of its ridged bark.

As he clambered up the web of limbs, the blond found himself situated atop the canopy within minutes. Relishing in evening's chilled gusts, he observed the final slivers of dusk's light in the skyline.

He utilized the faint traces of daylight to discern what the large object was attached to the wall. Its stony exterior stood firm against the twilight, the glow of fires lighting several posts on the structure.

As the boy marveled the grand edifice, a faint golden spark lit a nearby clearing. He blinked in mild surprise at the oddity. Maneuvering around a branch, the child focused on an opening in the tree line. The boy didn't have to wait long as another vibrant flash of orange lit up the night. However, unlike the previous event, this flickering light remained for a few more seconds.

"Huh?" Creeping a little further, for a better view. The child stumbled momentarily as the branch terminated before him. "Gah, hm." He ventured down and through the mesh of leaves and timber.

Dangling from a knot on the cottonwood, the boy took in a breath. As he released his grip, the child rolled onto his belly. "Oof. Oh!" A light rub of his chest and wince followed the tumble. "

Uh, hm. W-Where?" The orphan looked up to the branches for guidance. Reclaiming his bearings, the boy continued forth through the woods. The blonde slowed his pace and converted to a quadrupedal gate. His feet carried him around a withered maple.

"Huh?" Within the dim bank of a small lake, two silhouettes sat together. A small orb of fire hovered above the palm of the figure on the left. Unbeknownst to him, the flame bearer's ears twitched.

"Hana?" The Uchiha inquired at her partners wandering gaze. "Someone's here," Hana whispered out, her nose twitched while she sniffed at the air.

"Who is it?" She tensed her muscles in preparation. "I-I don't know." Scanning the forest, Izumi shifted her position.

"Where?" Hana closed her eyes and concentrated, her ears twitching in conjunction with her nostrils.

"Behind us! Izu, blind him!" Diving down the embankment, she twirled around with her hands to her lips.

"On it!" In a matter of milliseconds, she spat out a dimly lit ember. Its trajectory brought the object between Hana and the unknown. With a deafening pop, the cinder bloomed into a miniature star.

"Gyah!" Quickly opening her eyes, Hana's pupils didn't lock on to the form of a potential assailant in the dying light. "Argh, ah!" Much to her horror, a set of contracted and tearing sapphire's met her own.

"Shit!" The trembling blonde's unseeing eyes shifted around their sockets. "Hana, you didn't tell me it was a kid!" Said teen dashed over to the boy's writhing form, her hand reaching out to console him.

"I didn't know! H-Hey, it's okay." Backhanding away the limb, the blond haphazardly jolted to his feet. "Ah!" Hana unintentionally receded from his position and allowed him to stumble away.

"Hana, what are you doing?" Izumi passed her teammate, her feet whisking her towards the stumbling boy. Scampering across the root-packed and mossy turf only increased the difficulty of his mad dash.

"Heh. W-Why?" The boy proceeded to choke on his sobs, his hand occasionally rubbing an eye. In his blind run, a root caught hold of his foot. "Ah! Oof!" Hitting the ground, he visibly winced. He took hold of his throbbing ankle.

"There you are! Hana over here." Izumi kneeled by his torso, her hand pressed against his sternum. "Ah!" She brought his squirming body up to her chest.

"Hey, it's alright. We're not-. Gyah! Son of a bitch!" Shaking her hand in an attempt to ease the pain, the Uchiha marveled at the toothy imprint left on her forearm.

"What happened?" Hana inquired as she burst past a few ferns. "That little shit bit me! Fuck, it hurts!" Having failed to run on his feet, the boy forced himself onto all fours.

"Don't take it out on him. He's terrified." The pair swiveled their gaze at the sound of a solid thud. A few meters northwest, the two found the child rubbing his shoulder. After a soft whimper, the frantic youth dashed off. His feet and hands bustled at a good clip.

"W-What the hell? Hana is he?" Helping her partner to her feet, the Inuzuka led them deeper into the foliage.

"That's. His scent's not an Inuzuka's." The boy blinked away the tears. Much to his delight, the spots in his vision were sluggishly clearing with every passing step.

"Heh. Heh. Heh." Dashing across the woodland floor, a fallen timber garnered his roaming gaze. "U-Up." Without any hesitation, he sprung onto the log and dashed across its coarse bark.

"What's he doing?" The two observed the boy as he vaulted from the log. Within moments he found purchase on the limb of a neighboring tree. His form consecutively leaped and dashed, his silhouette quickly vanishing into the web of roots, branches, and trunks.

"Shit! Come on!" Bounding after the child, Hana's pointed ears twitched with every faint footfall. "This way!" The teen's veered their course to the east at the Inuzuka's instruction. He allowed himself a moment to check his rear, the boy gritting his teeth in frustration.

Dropping from an elevated platform, his hands caught a sapling by the stalk. The boy applied his accumulated momentum and swung his body around. Now with a new course, the blond smiled as he tore past his pursuers.

"W-What the?" Stumbling at the change in direction, Izumi shakily righted herself. "Shit, he's trying to lose us!" Stated the Inuzuka, her feet righting themselves.

"That's not gonna happen." Together they charged off after him, the waxing moon providing a marginal amount of contrast to the night. Above the canopy, the dimly eliminated sky displayed the imposing silhouette of the village walls — the monstrous barrier growing ever closer with each step.

"He's headed to the wall." Hana furrowed her brow at the information, a vague idea promptly forming. "Good, we can pin him down there."

Inner Residential District, Machiya Community:

"Miss, um." Ayako looked down to the boy at her side with a heightened brow. "Hm. Don't do that Kieto. At least call me Ayako." Shaking her head, she reaffirmed her grip around his hand. "Miss is so. Just no 'miss' okay?" Heeding the request, the child offered a nod.

"O-Okay, Ayako. Um, where are we going?" She motioned to a structure near the epicenter of the village.

"That building over there, I was going to introduce you to some of my friends if that's alright?" Keito shrugged at the inquiry, his eyes raking over the fort curiously. "Sure."

Nearing the structure, Denji cleared his throat. "Ko, I'll return within the hour." She turned her head to the man.

"Oh, what for?" Pausing mid-step, Denji scratched his bristled chin. "I must depart to the office for a brief moment. It occurred to me that I had incidentally omitted information to my superior concerning some matters."

Ayako scrunched her lips at the news; her eye's losing their agitation. "Hm, alright. We'll meet back here then?" Noting her dejection, Denji lightly pulled her in for a kiss to the cheek.

"I'll be short, I promise. How about I make it up to you tonight, alright?" The blonde's lips quirked up at the thought.

"Deal!" She went on to the tip of her toes and pecked his lips. "Now you've gotta keep it." The woman revolved on the balls of her feet, a pleased simper decorating her cheeks. "Come on Keito; I know the girls are gonna love you." Drawing the boy along, the child gave a meager wave back to the still man.

"Well, farewell evening," Denji mumbled under his breath, his eyes losing the pair around a bend. Without preamble, he stiffly paced down an adjacent corridor. Minutes trickled by as the man trekked through the halls of the fort. Coming upon a door, Denji offered a quick rap against its linseed stained exterior.

"Enter." He followed the command and disappeared behind the barrier, a light click of the deadbolt following the action.

"Mr. Goto? What can I do for you at this hour?" The officer placed his pen onto a marble stand, his alabaster brows quirking at the man's arrival.

"I apologize for the intrusion Mister Ikeda, but I thought it would be prudent to relay new found information." The uniformed man leaned forward in his seat, his chin resting against his thumb.

"I see. Then you may proceed Mr. Goto." Motioning for Denji to take a seat, the officer gazed intently at the fidgeting man while he procured a chair.

"At Benjiro, the orphanage, I tapped into a private confrontation with the head Matriarch and one of her subordinates." The gentleman opposite to Mr. Goto, motioned for him to continue.

"It was during their dispute that I caught on to the Matron stating that they were to deliver the 'jinchuriki' to the Hokage in the immediate future." Mr. Ikeda furrowed his brow at the news.

"How certain are you of this information?" Not taking a moment of respite, the brunette spoke further.

"I am certain of it. Except, Mrs. Kudo went on to articulate that they had, in fact, misplaced the jinchuriki." Swiveling in his chair, the officer pulled a folder from within his desk.

"You've fulfilled your duties exceptionally, Mr. Goto. The boons of your efforts will be rewarded in your subsequent payment." The aged administrator unfurled a form before Denji, his free hand presenting him with a pen. "Now, if you could-."

Poking his head about a corner, a spectacled man caught sight of a cheerful group. The youthful adult straightened himself before he strutted his way into the refined lobby. "Oh, are you sure? I think the academy will do him wonders." The woman at the center of the gathering glanced up to the brunette, her smile growing at his presence.

"Well, I just. It's dangerous, and I'd rather he find something he likes." Denji revolved his gaze around the room, not finding the child of the discussion.

"What if he likes being a Nin?" Faltering at the incessant pressure, Ayako's partner encompassed her waist with his forelimbs.

"Good evening, Akagi, Yugao. You two wouldn't happen to know where Keito has scurried off to?"

"What!" Mrs. Goto exclaimed, her eyes quickly darting to and fro. "Oh relax, Ayako." Her lilac haired colleague pointed her thumb off to a cubical.

"The kid's behind your desk." A startled yelp and a soft thud served to zero all eyes to his position.

"Hey, Aya. Didn't you have a bowl of sweets?" She widened her eyes at Akagi's statement. "Keito!" Removing herself from Denji's embrace, Ayako marched over to her counter.

"What do you think you're doing?" Behind the table, said the child looked up with wide chocolate eyes — a sliver of a candied pear dangling from his lips. His hand froze as it reached for another within the bowl. "Gulk." His puffed up cheeks quickly deflating form an involuntary gulp. "S-Sorry. I just."

The woman sighed at the sight of his watery eyes. Kneeling beside the boy, Ayako placed a tender hand against his cheek. "It's okay Keito." She sniffled and bit her lip in thought. "Look, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled. But, I could have sworn my candy bowl was filled earlier."

"I-I, um." Scrunching her lips at the answer, she took hold of the bowl of candied pears. "You can't eat too much, Keito. It's not healthy, alright?" A pair of feet neared the two. Its footfalls echoing off the cedar floor.

"However, partaking in a treat or two won't be too detrimental to your health." Groaning at the boy's open stare to the remark, Kumi added her thoughts into the mix.

"Denji, laymen's terms. Please, you're talking to a kid." The man blinked at the comment, his brow furring in response.

"I-I see. Of course, I'm sorry my boy. It's okay to eat one or two. Better?" Ayako giggled at the change in approach, the attempt odd in nature.

"Better. A little practice will help." A devilish smirk morphed onto Yugao's lips. Well, the kids probably gonna do him wonders there. What do you think Akagi?" said woman merely shrugged to the suggestion. "It'll probably be easier teaching Kieto bigger words than the reverse."

Tapping his forefinger against his chin, Mr. Goto perked at the novel idea. "I say, I believe its time I got you started on a few of my favorite texts. Perhaps a novel or two emphasizing rhetoric, syntax, and lexicon would be in your best interest." As the man pondered on the subject, Ayako merely rolled her eyes.

"Don't worry Hun; I'm not gonna let him turn you into a dork too." Her affirmations did little to halt child's wavering eyes at the prospect.

"W-What's r-rhetoric, and the other stuff?" Denji froze at his question, his glasses trailing down the bridge of his nose.

"It appears that your ignorance transcends even my initial estimates" His forefinger driving the spectacles back into place. "Do not fret my dear Keito. I will amend this transgression to your person, prior to this year's conclusion!"

The exuberant display served only to rouse the two observing women, their giggles filling the sunlit lobby. "Poor guy, you think he's going to survive?" The coy smile emblazoned onto Yugao's lips never faltered as she spoke.

"Hard to say." Answered Kumi, her arms crossed as she observed the scene quite fondly.

Benjiro Orphanage, Front Lawn:

Shadows of the deciduous woodlands vanished in the covering of night. The faintest rays of silver light allowing for brief respites amongst the darkness. A silhouette of a figure peeked from behind a tree, its gaze stretched out into a break in the forest.

"Almost there." Quietly inching her way forwards, the child came to a stop before the timbers gave way to a grassy plane. Releasing a tired sigh, the girl eyed the orphanage in the distance.

"Thank you, Kami." The girl turned her eyes to the woodlands at her rear. "Hm. Maybe it's a bit too far." The brunette pursed her lips at the thought.

"N-No, it's safer this way." With a slight shake of her head, Tenten sighed while she walked across the field. Approaching the structure, she frowned as an impregnable silence forced her pace to stall.

"It's not that late." She tiptoed onto the front porch, her hand taking possession of the stair's railing. In a matter of moments, the orphan found herself in front of the main doors. Hesitating for a brief second, Tenten tested the handle only to find the door open with ease. She peeked into the establishment with bated breath.

"W-Where's everyone?" The child bit her lower lip as her question was left unanswered. Stepping into the building, she shut the door at her rear.

"Guy's, anyone there?" She examined the stairs and the surrounding halls. Slowly, the eight-year-old ventured toward the corridor directly ahead of her. With time, a few muffled voices could be heard amongst the warm amber candlelight. Hurrying down the passageway, she abruptly entered the dimly lit dining hall.

"Whew, t-there here." Sat amidst the tables, a few children remained in huddles murmuring to each other. She quickly scanned the groups for a hint of strawberry blond. "Come on; where are you?" Striding through the aisles, a flash of turquoise forced her to double take.

"Tenten!" Without delay, said child quickly maneuvered her way through the cafeteria. "Oki!"

"Shh. Guy's, keep it down." Coming up to the window-side table, she found Oki situated atop of Kie's thigh.

"W-Why? Is something up?" The preteen merely creased her lips as she gently brushed Oki's locks.

"I-It's. Um. It's Kudo and the others." With a wave, Kie motioned for the brunette to take a seat alongside her. Easing her rump onto the bench, Tenten quietly awaited for Kie to break her silence. Leaned against Kie's shoulder, Oki munched on a chunk of granola.

"Tenten, why. Why don't you have some oats, or an apple or something?" The eight-year-old merely frowned at the suggestion, her eyes wandering past the crowd and over to the barren kitchen. "Kie, where's everyone?"

Leaning toward her companion, Tenten inquired her further in a hushed tone. "Why isn't anyone making supper? Kie?" The child flinched back as the preteen presented her with a firm stare. Seconds drew by without any word. Then with a deep inhale through her nose, she eased her shoulders.

"L-Look. I don't know what happened. But, everyone's gone." Ten's breath hitched at the revelation.

"W-What? Who's gone?" Kie nudged her nose towards the vast kitchen island. "All of them. Himari. Maiya. The others! They're gone! All of them!" Taken aback by her frantic and hushed exclamation, Tenten stammered out. "T-That can't, where'd they go?"

"I don't know, Ten." Neither uttered a sound for moments on end. She glanced over to a tray off to the side, Kie drug the piece of walnut over to her bunkmate. "Here. Y-You've gotta eat." Tenten merely slumped at the offering her hand securing a spoon.

"Thanks. Kie." The preteen stripped her fingers from Oki's scalp and placed them onto the brunette's shoulder. Neither spoke for several moments while Tenten picked through the various dried fruits and oats.

"H-How's the boy? Is he safe?" Halting mid-bite, the child offered a stiff nod. "Yea, he's fine. I put him in a good place. They won't find him. Not there. "

"Hm. Did you. Um. Did you get a name? This time, I mean?" After a swallow, Tenten shook her head.

"He doesn't remember any." Kie bowed her head at the implication. "Y-You should have seen him Kie." Lifting her eyes to the blond, Tenten wiped her cheek with the back of her palm.

"N-Next time I see him. I'm gonna give him one. I promise he'll never make that face again." Her jade eyes glinted in the candlelight.

A slight quirk to Kie's right dimple formed at her conviction. "I think he'll like that." Loosening her shoulders, the preteen readjusted the dozing child within her arms. "Hey, you picked one yet?"

Taken aback by the sudden question, the eight-year-old stammered out a reply. "P-Pick what?" Raising a brow to the inquiry, Kie offered a light snicker.

"Oh, come on, Tenten. A name? Did you pick one?" A light dusting of pink painted the girl's cheeks at the remark.

"O-Oh, um. I guess Aito. M-Maybe, Hikaru?" A wide grin spread itself over her lips, a slight sheen of white present at the corner.

"So he's your little darling then?" The light blush only deepened in saturation at the remark. "What! No. I." Tenten grumbled to herself as she gave her friend a mock glare.

"Realy, Ten? Then why name him Aito?" Exhaling out her nose, Tenten mumbled as she propped her head against her palm. "What'd you say?"

"I-Is it bad? That I. Um. That I think. Like that, I mean?" Kie blinked at the question, her eyes softening at Tenten's pensive lip.

"No. Nothing's wrong. It's a good thing. Really, it is." Scooting up to her companion, Kie wrapped her arm around the girl. "I'm happy. Now, you know how I feel."

Furrowing her brow at the comment, the brunette widened her eyes. "R-Really?" A tear rolled down her cheek to Kie's nod. Ten repositioned herself and laid within her embrace. The spoon periodically refilling in sustenance. Kie shifted her gaze out the dining hall window; her pupils focused on the silhouettes of the forest.

"You know, the last time I saw him. His eyes, they said everything." Tenten squinted at her words, her head lifting from her bunkmate's collar. "Everything?"

"The way he sees you. He likes you, a lot." A smile came about the preteens lips and shook her head.

"I-If you never helped him, I don't wanna know what would've happened." Together, the pair fell silent. Minutes drew by them without a sound. The soft clinks and taps of utensils striking bowls and plates filling the room — an occasional hushed voice broke through the monotony.

A set of quite footfalls neared the room. "What are all of you still doing up?" The children situated throughout the chamber flinched from the quite yet pervasive voice. "Get up, and head to your bunks. All of you." Hurriedly, many children sprung from their seats at Kudo's order.

"K-Kie?" Rubbing Oki's back soothingly, she stood up from her post. "Shh. It's okay Oki." Turning her head over to Tenten, she waved her over with her chin. "Come on, Ten. Let's go."

Perimeter Wall, River Outlet:

Brushing past a dense thicket, Hana came to a quick stop in front of a drawn-out field. The thin stretch of clearing followed the massive barrier past her line of site. However, her ears twitched in the presence of rushing water.

"You see him, Izu?" The Inuzuka whispered out while she knelt down onto her knee. Coming up beside her, Izumi scoured the air for any signs of life.

"Hm. The kid's here. Head left, we'll corner him with the river." Hana aligned her eyes to the large arches affixed to the barrier, the current's water snaking its way between the gates. "Alright. We've scared him enough already. So, no quick movements. Got it?"

"Yea, yea. I get it." Hana leveled a firm stare onto the Uchiha. "Alright follow my lead." Not awaiting a response, the Inuzuka slowly crept her way toward the embankment. Together they neared the shrubbery concealing the boy. Hana rose her hand and paused as she heard a faint growl amongst the rustling foliage.

"What the? Izu, back up a bit." Furrowing her brow, she glanced down to her kneeling partner.

"What? Why should-" Hana turned her sharp pupils over to the standing girl. "Izumi, just do it. Alright?" Involuntarily, said teen backed off from the harsh whisper.

"S-Sorry, it's just. Something's not right here." Being as ginger as possible, she crouched down and crawled her way through the thicket. "Shh, it's alright hun. I'm not gonna hurt you."

The light growl only increased in volume when she neared the child. His teeth laid bare and in full display. Now in partial view, Hana took in his disheveled and dirtied appearance. However, his eyes enraptured her attention as they waivered in preparation. Easing in her approach, the Inuzuka turned her head to the side while offering him her hand. At seeing the display, the child remained seated.

"Come on." She mumbled under her breath, her peripheries indicating a lack of movement. The minutes drew by as the torrential waters continued their course past them.

Then within a few moments, the boy hesitantly advanced on all fours — his instinctual attributes lending their services once more. Gradually, the child came up to her knuckles and evaluated her scent. Nothing occurred for seconds on end, the two locked into an impasse.

The boy lightly rubbed his cheek against her thumb, warily assessing her reaction. The brunette exhaled in relief. "Good." Hana cooed, her palm opening to caress his cheek. "Shh. everything's okay." She stated in response to his stiffened physique.

"See, I won't hurt you." The boy's eyelids drifted closed from the sensation. A smile formed across her lips to the action.

"So, you got him?" The youngster blinked and backed away from Izumi's silhouette. "Shh. It's okay. She's a friend." Bringing her forward with a wave of her head, Hana repositioned herself to allow for room.

"Alright, Izu. Come here, but. Don't do anything rash. Nice and slow; got it?" The Uchiha affirmed her order with a dip of her head as she eased herself onto one knee.

"Hey, there little guy." He elicited a light purr as she added her hand to the comforting strokes. "Hana. W-What's wrong with him?" She creased her lips to the inquiry.

"I think he's feral." Taken aback by the conclusion, Izumi pressed further. "L-Like an animal?" The child relaxed in posture. Hana gave a reassuring smile. "Maybe. He's young though. It can be fixed."

"Come on; let's take him to the police." With a light tug, she pulled the tired child up into her arms.

"Hey! Who's down there?" A pair of bright amber beams illuminated the group of children situated around the field. "Gyah!" Wriggling out of Hana's hold, he darted off to the side.

"No, Shit! Look out!" She pursued after the boy as a splash befell her ears. "Gak." Quickly halting in her chase, the teen faced the dark waters of the river. "No. No. No! Damnit!" Glancing towards a silhouette drifting towards the gates in the distance, the Inuzuka grit her teeth and hardened her resolve.

"Hana, where'd he go? Hana? Wait, Hana! Don't!" Her companion paid Izumi's cries no mind. The girl dove into the churning waters without hesitation.

"What the hell's going on here?" Izumi winced back from the bright lights meeting her face. "Get that out of my face!" Blinking away the spots from the bright lamps, the Uchiha focused in on the uniformed personnel converging on her.

"You're trespassing on government-." Izumi quickly disregarded the individuals as she ran towards the looming gates. "Oh thank Kami!" Grabbing hold of the nearest officer, she pulled him towards the ports in the wall! "You gotta help her! Hana!"

The man quickly matched her pace, his hand waiving for his compatriots to follow. "Miss, what's happen-?" However, a hand and head burst from the water and took hold of a stone pier. "Gyah. Heh, heh."

"Oh, Kami! Hana!" Shifting her weight, the waterlogged teen pulled a limp form up to the surface. "Y-You've gotta help them!" The Anbu didn't hesitate to act as he proceeded to enter the water.

"Yoko, brace me!" The woman quickly abided his command, her arm wrapping around his torso. Yoko's opposing hand secured within a crevice of the gate's abutment. Reaching out into the water, he motioned for the teen's attention.

"What are you guys doing? Can't you walk on the wall or something?" A Nin quickly apprehended her flailing form from behind.

"Miss let them do their jobs." She jerked from within the man's grip; her eye's narrowed to the man.

"Do their jobs? Their not-" The officer held her shoulders taut and forced her still. "That's because they can't, Genin. The wall's sealed off, and the rapids won't support them. That's all they can do."

She cowed at the information, a silent stream of tears cascading from her cheeks. "Daiki, inform Commander Ito of the situation. We'll need a medic and support." With a nod, the fourth officer dashed off towards the looming Fort.

"Hana, Hana! Listen to me!" She lifted her head against the currents pull; her cheek pressed firmly against the boys. "I need you to hand me the kid! You understand!" The teen didn't express any sign of acknowledgment; her body merely shuddered against the frigid rapids.

"Hana! Give me the kid!" The bark startled the youth out of her trance, her pupils refocusing on border guard opposite to her.

"Hana, give him the boy!" Izumi frantically cried for her squadmate to act, the roar of the river consuming her.

In response to the orders, Hana grit her teeth and repositioned her grip onto the blonde's shirt collar. Forcefully, she drove his body further inland. "That's it just a little closer! Yoko, a little slack,"

Unbeknownst to either group, a hole within the cotton shirt tore under pressure. "That's all I've got, sir!" No matter how much either reached, the boy remained inches away from reach.

"Gyah!" Extending to her limit, her tears intermixed with the river's waters. As they neared each other, the child abruptly vanished.

"W-What." Izumi blinked at the disappearance as she felt the lack of weight in her outstretched hand. "T-Tell me you have him!"

The man merely bowed his head at the turn of events. With a shake of his head, he reached out once more. "Hana, take my hand? Hana!" Despite his calls, they never penetrated her psyche. Her eye's remained firmly on to her fist with a strip of cotton held within. Slowly she shifted her rigid gaze to the churning waters within the gate.

"Hana, look at me! Hana! Don't do it! Hana!" Not paying anyone else any mind, she lurched herself into the rapids.

"Hana! Oh, Kami!" Izumi cried, her hand rising to cover her mouth. "Shit! Yoko help me out." The captain lurched out from the waters, his feet quickly taking him towards the walls access port. "Yoko, you're with me. Naoki, did you notify the Tower?"

"Yes, sir." Pointing to the girl, he motioned for the pair to head off. "Alright, take her back to Hiroshi and notify Ito of the situation. Come on Yoko!"

"Wait, No! Let me go!" Naoki held her firm, drawing her towards the fort. "No!"

Konoha Territory, River Bank

"Gah. Heh, heh. Argh! Come on!" Clawing up the pebble embankment, Hana heaved a body out from the dark waters. With shaky fingers, she propped the child's mouth ajar. The girl leaned down to the boy's lips while she placed her numbed fingers against his carotid.

"N-No, damn it!" Taking hold of the child's tattered shirt, the Inuzuka ripped it from his torso. As she tilted his head back, the teen pinched his nose and forcefully exhaled into his lips. After two breaths, she overlaid her palms against his sternum.

"One, two, three-." Water gushed out from his lips with every chest compression, yet she pursued on. Finishing the set, Hana placed a palm against his right pectoral and left oblique.

"Come on; please be there." An irregular arrhythmia revealed itself to her. "Y-Yes! Heh. Alright, uh. He's twenty-five-ish kilograms, right? So, 100 joules." Hana took a breath while she eased her shoulders. Then with an influx of electricity, the child's body jolted in place.

"Give me a good beat, please." She provided another set of breaths, a grimace fashioned itself to her lips with the next set of chest compressions. "Twenty-nine. Heh. Thirty. Puff, Puff." Hana replaced her hands on either side of his body for a quick diagnostic. Following the green glow, she pursed her lips as the boy lurched once more.

"J-Just give me something, anything." Within a few agonizing seconds, a strengthening and steady beat reverberated through him. "Ha! Yes, yes!" Shifting him gently into the fetal position, she urged him to clear his chest.

"That's it; just let it out." Fluids hurled from his lips as he lurched on the bank. Hana placed a hand against his chest, the emerald light applying pressure to his lungs. "Urk." Out from his lips, liquid surged from his lungs. "Urk, Guh. Heh, heh."

"Good, just breathe. Nice and easy." She softly cooed into his ear. Her jade hand slid over his mouth. Gently propelling air into his lungs, Hana took a moment to relieve the stiffness of her limbs.

Slowly, the child shifted beneath her. "Hey. N-No, don't move." Bleary and dilated pupils met her own. "Shh, it's alright. I'm here." Stroking his back, Hana simpered down at the petite boy. A wayward breeze whistled by, ruffling her unkempt hair as a quiver tracked down her spine.

"You just had to fall into the river?" Squeezing her fists, she tried to reacquire the feeling to her digits. "Hm. It wasn't your fault." The brunette traced her fingers across his clothed back, his chilled and clammy skin meeting her touch.

She balked at the sense, her eyes quickly roaming the shore. A few meters down, a large bundle lay near the water's edge. "P-Please, be it." Reaching towards the obscure object, a broad smile developed as she retrieved it.

"Oh! Thank Kami." She took a minute to unfasten the canvas pack. "Please be dry." Scrounging around the bag, she pulled the desired article from within.

"Hm. It'll do." Hana placed it onto the ground and continued to pull moderately damp gear from its confines. From within the pack, she withdrew a kunai.

"I know it's a little chilly Hun. But, I'm gonna make it better, okay?" Not waiting for an answer, she began to remove and sever the clothing from his person. Retrieving a moderately dry shirt, she wiped down his damp skin from any lingering moisture.

"Come here Hun; let's get you nice and warm." She shifted his position onto the canvas tarp and draped a wool sheet over the youth.

"Just give me a second." Brandishing the knife to her own apparel, she quickly cut through the linen covering her. Fully stripped, she eased herself into the confines of the canvas.

"There we go, where's the-. Oh, there it is." With a quick tug, she brought in another canvas cloak to line the bare patches. Now fully covered in the assortment of textiles, she pulled the naked blond into her exposed torso. Through stress and exertion, the blond could merely blink. His half-lidded eyes remained unfocused as he laid within her bosom.

"There you go." Fully embracing the child, she took the respite in inactivity to check him physically. Within the confines of linen and fleece, a soft emerald glow stemmed from her palm.

"Oh, baby." Her palm drifted above the fresh scrapes and blemishes that littered about. Relinquishing a tear, Hana brought her hand to rest against his breast.

"I-I'm sorry." The Inuzuka pressed her hand to his sternum, the ethereal wisps of the technique permeating through his skin. In the presence of the luminous energy, his chest grew translucent. A sniffle crinkled her nose at the sight of faint marks and inflammation lining his ribs.

The gaseous light encircled the damage as its tendrils penetrated the internal wounds. "I'll fix this Hun." As the minutes trickled by, faint marks on the bone and tissue coalesced and reformed.

"T-There. Heh. That should do." She pulled her hand from the boy's chest. His brow having lost its furrow whilst he shut his eyes. Slowly, Hana cupped his slumbering cheek. His light breaths grazed her skin. With a tender hand, the teen brushed his disheveled locks aside.

"Who are you?" No verbal response escaped his lips other than his shallow breaths. Within the bounds of fabric, Hana ran her fingers across the boy's arms. The teen's eyes widened as she felt the cool and clammy skin of his hands.

"Shit, you're cold. Uh, let me see your hand's hun." Placing them between herself and the boy, she insulated them with her abdomen. With a stretch, she pulled up a leg and felt his toes.

"N-No, it'll be alright Hun. Hana's gonna make it all better, okay?" Pulling his feet to her, she pressed them between her thighs. Now fully embraced by the brunette, the blond lied fully swathed by her limbs. Every few seconds, Hana's palm would roughly drag against his lower back. Slowly but surely, marginal amounts of heat radiated from the contact.

"D-Don't worry Hun. Tomorrow I'll take you home. I-I promise." In the coming moments, her arms and shoulders grew slack. The lids framing her chocolate eyes narrowed. A faint image of an ebony crowned female entered her psyche as she neared the brink of unconsciousness.

Widening an eye, she peered through a small gap above her head. The faint sterling light of the moon glistening off of the shore. An invisible crease formed on to her quivering lip.

"Izu, I. We need you." Allowing her tears to flow once more, she laid her chin atop of the blondes scalp.

"P-Please, Kami. Bring Izu." Despite the earnest plea, only varied beasts of the woodlands answered her prayer. "They'll come. She'll come. I-I know it." She whispered under her breath.

"H-Hey, heh. You wanna hear, a song. I-I can sing you one." Shutting her eyes, she sang a wavering melody from her lips.

"T-There is nowhere for you to h-hide, the hunter's m-moon is shining." Her hoarse voice sung amidst the moons watchful gaze. A choked sob seized her breast.

"I-I'm running w-with the wolves tonight. I'm running with the w-." Ever so gradually, the curtains of her pupils sealed together. Her breath evening as she drifted from her state of awareness.

Fort Hiroshi, Main Office:

"You guys can't keep me here! I've gotta help her!" The firm line affixed across the secretary's lips never waiver, nor did he flinch from Izumi's glower.

"Uchiha, one more outburst and I'll have you written up for insubordination, now take a seat until ordered otherwise." Her moistened eyes widened at the statement, the droplets held within surging past her lids.

"B-But, Hana's out there! And you. Y-You, want me to do nothing!" Grabbing the man by his collar, she attempted to uproot him to her level. Despite the effort, Izumi's head slammed against the oak desk.

"Gyah!" The secretary retained a frown as he pinned her to the table. Struggling against his grip, she persisted in sobbing.

"P-Please, I can help. Heh. I can find her!" Her eyes staggered as she stared up to the man atop of her. With a deep breath through his nostrils, he eased his grip ever so slightly.

"Uchiha." She balked at his acknowledgment, her teeth grit and bare. "D-Don't call me that! My name's Izumi! N-Not, Uch-. Not that." His pupils narrowed at the remark.

"Well then, Izumi. As much as I value your care for your fellow comrade, I cannot sanction the sole exodus of a Genin without authorization. No matter my empathy of the situation." He softened his gaze to the young woman, his head rising to meet a solitary figure by the door.

"Eiji. If you could watch Izumi, here, for a little while." The Nin approached without reservation, his hand firmly gripping her shoulder.

"Of course Mr. Okada." At the soldier's presence, the secretary released his hold and bowed to her level.

"Now, Izumi. This fine gentleman is going to take you to a chair right over there, and he's going to ensure that you stay put. Another outburst like that and you'll receive a letter of reprimand to your commanding officer. Is that understood?" The Uchiha trained her eyes to the floor, her body growing slack as she choked back a sob. Retaking his seat, he motioned for the pair to depart.

"You're clear to proceed Eiji." With a stiff nod, the Nin led the teen towards her designated armchair. Finally situated, Izumi placed her head into her hands. As she sat with the Nin to her back, the teen jerked and shuddered amidst the tears.

On an adjacent wall, burl instrument dangled. Its pendulum perpetually swayed and ticked with the passing seconds. Accompanying the Windsor stained clock, Mr. Okada proceeded to mark at the assortment of documents situated before him. His hand occasionally removed the pen from the parchment whilst he dipped its head into the ebony filled basin.

A notable clink followed each and every dip. In unison, they formed a chorus of sounds that drowned out her thoughts and sniffles. However, a final chink failed to bring forth a succession of strokes. Rather, a quick ruffle of pages and a creak of timber drew her eyes up to the secretary's desk.

Placing the reports into a file, he stood up from his perch. With a swift cadence, the man stepped towards a cabinet to his rear. "Hm." She shifted her gaze towards the wall in front of her.

The pendulum ever so persistent, it continued to tick away the seconds. Not truly paying the instrument any mind, she absently noted as the longer hand neared the verge of surpassing yet another numeral.

With an unfocused stare, she eyed the floorboards. However, a click and a boisterous creak pierced through the droning atmosphere. Quickly shifting her eyes toward the source, the teen's bloodshot eyes widened.

"A-Anko?" As the woman entered the lobby, Saisu, and an accompanying Genin promptly entered after her. "How are you holding up, Izumi?"

"H-How I'm d-doing? Hana's out there a-and you're asking how I'm doing! I-." A stern glare cowed the teen. Easing her gaze, Anko sighed while she brushed the teen's hair to the side.

"S-Sorry," Izumi whispered, her sensei merely ventured off to Okada's desk without uttering a word.

"Izumi, you snapping at people won't help her." Said girl jerked her head over to Saisu, her teeth grit with passion.

"S-Snap? Why am I the only one that seems to care! S-She could be-." The boy knelt before the teen and lightly embraced her. Incapable of holding herself back, she crumpled within his arms. As she shuddered against his collar, a few tears managed to circumvent Saisu's defenses.

"Look, I-I know it hurts. But, you. Hm. You can't let it control you. Dictate your actions." Removing himself from the raven-haired youth, he cupped her cheek. "You've gotta stay strong, Izumi. If not for yourself, then do it for her. Hana needs you to be level headed, alright?" Izumi sniffled in response, a hand rubbing at her moistened cheeks. "Alright?" She shifted her eyes up to her comrade, their pupils locking as Izumi's regained their focus.

"A-Alright." Saisu offered a nod and a strained smile to the answer. Rising to his feet, he looked to the officer keeping her in place. Without a word, he released the girl.

"Come on; let's see what Anko's up to." The Uchiha hesitated momentarily. However, she soon joined her partner at the secretary's desk.

"Hm. I see that your subordinates have joined you Ms. Miterashi. Will they be accompanying you on your venture?" Anko peered at the pair to her left, her eye peripherally examining Izumi. The Jonin's lips remained pursed until she refocused on to Mr. Okada's placid simper.

"Yes, has Ito approved the sortie parameters?" Raising a finger to his neck, he spoke through his choker.

"Commander Ito, have you sanctioned Miterashi's Mission?" Awaiting a signal, he remained rigid with a stamp at the ready. For a few seconds, nothing altered the man's stance. "Hm." With a roll of his eyes, Mr. Okada pressed down on a device once more.

"Of course Commander. Yes, it's Squad 271, may I enquire for the mission's status?" After a moment of inaction, the secretary nodded in affirmation. "Of course, Sir." Pressing an ebony handled instrument onto a scarlet pad, he branded the document with their Company's insignia.

"Well, as per your request, squad 271 has been granted a seventy-two-hour sortie. Expect to encounter aid on the ground Miss Miterashi. They will confront you on the details pertaining to your subordinates known behaviors." She retrieved the marked file from his hands. A shallow dip of her head marking her departure.

"Miss Miterashi, the captain sends his condolences. Anticipate additional support when they become available." Pausing mid-stride, the Anko shifted her gaze back to the man.

"I-I appreciate it." Within the moment her eyes grew unfocused and wavered, and yet it vanished in an instance. "Come, we're wasting time." Briskly, Izumi and Saisu went after the leaving woman. Pocketing the form, she led her squad through the corridors towards the forts barbican conjoined to the perimeter wall.

None spoke as they neared and were permitted past the gatehouse. Once through the barrier, all limiters were set aside. In a burst of acceleration, Anko disappeared into the foliage. Not ones to be left in her wake, her Genin's charged after her. The foliage blurred into the night as the leaves shown in the slivers of moonlight.

As time waned on, flashes of memories breached the surface of Izumi's conscious. Hana's tranquil simper or gentle embraces. The visions only brought forth waves of tears that obscured her view. The clear droplets tore off of her person and into the air.

"Y-You saved me," Izumi mumbled out, a turbulent heat traversed through her coils. The pervasive warmth bled into her capillaries. "Now, I-I'll save you." With every passing step, her voice elevated in volume. Her skin grew translucent while her eyes glowed a rich crimson.

"I won't lose you!" Within a millisecond of her roar, Izumi's eyes snapped to a pair of vibrant and pulsing garnets. Her hands splayed to her rear, discharging a controlled inferno. The resulting noise equivalent to that of a detonation as she rocketed forward. "Izumi, wait!"