Yeah!!! My finals are done!! At least for this semester.

Hmmm.....So my character, Rai, has been taken into Konoha's hands. Will they let her live? Or will she be spending some "special time" with Ibiki...? Remember that Konoha seems to have the most run-ins with Akatsuki so you can predict how they'll come into play, but you'll never guess how Rai meets with them...If you can guess it correctly, I'll write anything you want after this. Even if it's a SasuSaku or even SasuKari fic....Ugh, please don't get it right. I would make you cookies but I don't know who you are soo...

Anyway, on with the story!

Oh and special thanx to those who have reviewed! Much appreciation goes to you!!

Hehe I made a rhyme!

Rai: Ugh, no one cares, Okami.

Fine...I thought it was cool.

Rai: Okami doesn't own Naruto, Only the real Badass character-Me!

thoughts

Sword talking


Flashback

What has fighting brought us? Why do we fight? There is nothing to gain and much to lose...I have fought for so long-so hard. For what? An empty life, a black abandoned hole where my heart once was...A heart the was warm with emotions and love for those precious to me-

But I am alone. And alone I walk...step by careful step.

****

Kakashi walked steadily down the hall of the hospitable with his famous aloof aura and his nose buried in his book. One hand in pocket, he walked casually to his destination passed many nurses. A few giggling as they looked over at him and he gave them an eye crinkle. Of course he wasn't just walking around the hospitable halls just to smile at nurses or to "get lost on the road to life" as he puts it. No-in fact, he was in search of his favorite pink haired kunoichi and blonde hokage. Both of which-teacher and apprentice- would surely be with each other after Sakura's return from a long mission. He just hoped that Tsunade wasn't planning on using it as an excuse to "celebrate" as she liked to call it.

Coming to a stop at the office, he knocked once before receiving a "come in."

Opened the door enough to walk in, he raised a hand and greeted, "Yo."

"Oh, hi Kaka-kun," welcomed the pink haired kunoichi with a wide smile. "Well, Hatake, what a surprise. What brings you here?" Tsunade, who had thought Kakashi was Shizune brought the bottle of sake from under the desk and continued to drink it.

"Well, I heard a rumor that there was a new missing-nin here and Sakura's team brought her in." Hearing this, the said girl furrowed her brows and looked down. "I'm sorry, Kakashi," she started, "but that wasn't my intentions when we agreed to take her back."

Slightly confused, he tilted his head and leaned carelessly against the wall. "Alright, go on." He said, putting his book away.

She sighed before looking out the window at the many people below. "On our way back from Waterfall, we were ambushed and held our own but as the fight went on, we started to fall behind because we were out numbered. Then one knocked Tenten into a tree and right as one was about to kill her, a kunoichi interfered. She was wounded already and passed out from a fever and blood loss shortly after, with first signs of hypothermia." She took a deep breath, before meeting Kakashi's gaze. "I couldn't just leave her to die. She did help us after all, so we brought her back to the hospitable."

Kakashi pondered it for a moment before nodding. "I would've done the same thing, but I take it that it didn't end up as you thought?" Sakura shook her head. "No. The damn elders found out and interfered. So it's safe to say that the girl is having some one on one time with Ibiki as soon as she's conscious," Tsunade explained and took a swig of sake. "But I don't blame you Sakura. You're a medic, not an executioner."

"Thank you, but I still feel terrible." Sakura clenched her fist. "I didn't mean for this to happen."

"So who is she?"

Tsunade tossed him a file and leaned back before reporting off, "Chigiri, Rai. Age: 20. She is the last of the Chigiri clan...Wielders of the Arashingan. Her nature types are lightning and wind. Both of which combined can be very powerful. She is also known as the Jade Flash...perhaps you've heard of her?" He nodded. "Past and biography are unknown, or so that's what the elders say."

Kakashi looked up from the file, "Do you think there lying?"

She scoffed, "Do you have to ask?"

"Hmm." He looked back down at her file and reports on her past missions. "37 C-rank, 88-B-rank, 65 A-rank...and 72 R-rank.." He looked back up to Tsunade and Sakura.

"That's alot of missions for one kunoichi in her lifetime," Sakura commented.

"Yeah, that is a little more then the usual missing-nin, but when you are alone, you have to look after yourself." He looked at her picture; white and black hair, piercings on her ears, scar down her face. But her cerulean eyes were soft and if you looked closely enough, you could see they were dull. A life on the run could do things to a person and nobody knew better then Kakashi. It looked like they had more in common then he thought. "She may have been supporting more then just herself."

Tsunade pondered for a moment before nodding. "That's a possibility. But Ibiki will find out soon enough. Speaking of which, Sakura, aren't you supposed to check on her wound now?"

"Oh, right." Sakura perked up and walked towards the door but was stopped by her shishou's voice. "I don't want you drugging her, either. Have Izumo do it for you."

"Do you really think that she should be drugged?" Sakura asked hesitantly.

"It's only for safety reasons. Try to understand that she won't be happy when she finds out that she was taken in." Kakashi gave another eye crinkle. Sakura returned the smile before adding, "I don't like talking about her like she's a wild animal." This earned a laugh from her teachers.

"You've been hanging out with Naruto too much, Sakura." Sakura shrugged before walking out.

"So, Tsunade. What is her punishment?" Kakashi asked.

"Well, due to her assassination missions, which might I add was, coinincedentally, most of our enemies and her level of talent, I would say that she would be put to death, but she hasn't done anything wrong to us. Even the incident in Suna was minor damage. Nothing to execute her over." She took another long swig.

"But..." Kakashi pushed.

"But she was able to sneak into the Kage's office, scroll room, and Anbu HQ in one night...The only ones I would know to have that talent in this village are enough for me to count on one hand...You being the first one. Any one else would be Akatsuki. So you can see where I'm coming from, let alone what the elders think."

"And what's that?"

"They want to kill her. No trial. No plead. No story. Nothing."

"...They're not interested in her bloodline? Why?"

"Hell if I know." She swished the bottle around to listen to the last gulp left and held her chin up with her hand. "That's what I'm talking about. I think there hiding something about her...But what?"

"Perhaps I could help a bit," said a new voice. Both pair of eyes looked over to see Jiriya in the window.

"What is it with men and doors? It's like asking for directions." Tsunade sighed and gulped the rest of her sake down.

Jiriya laughed before continuing, "It seems as if her bloodline is connected some how to the Uchihas...From what I found out, it isn't anything good..." he sighed."But I have a few sources outside of the village doing some research."

Tsunade nodded. "Good. Then all we have to do is figure out this mess on her punishment."

"As far as I'm concerned, she should be given a chance to explain herself and why she's a missing-nin...Who knows-maybe she's and innocent kid." Jiriya added.

Sakura walked down to the last door in the cells to find Izumo and Kotetsu sitting outside a room. The door itself was 10" thick steel and the walls weren't much different except they weren't steel but a different type of strong material. She remembered hearing Ibiki say that this was the cell that they had if they ever had an Akatsuki member captured. A.k.a. Ibiki's happy room...

"Hey guys," she greeted as cheerfully as she could.

"Sakura, how are you? You look tired...has Lady Tsunade been overworking you again?" asked Kotetsu.

"No. I'm feeling fine." she said shaking her head. "It's not exactly the most cheerful place to be in..." she trailed off and looked at the door.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. Try hanging out here when there's a girl chained to a wall just waiting for Ibiki." Izumo shivered. "If I was her I'd wish I was in a coma and never woke up to see what he had planned."

This didn't help Sakura conscience. In fact, it deflated what ever courage she had to facing Ibiki and telling him to let her talk to Rai. Because let's face it...You get in between a dog and his meal and you get bit. Just no telling how hard the torture expert could bite.

"Hey Izumo, I have to check and see if her infection has cleared up, and Tsunade wants you to drug her before I go in there."

"Alright, I'll be right back." Izumo walked down the hallway to get the drugs while leaving Kotetsu and Sakura alone. "Don't worry, Sakura. If he
gets too rough with her then we'll get Yamato over here to tell him to back off."

Sakura smiled for real this time. If any one could persuade Ibiki to lighten up, it was Yamato.

Cold...Pain...Silence...Deafening silence....

Yup...I'm alive. She thought grimly. There was a stiffening pain through her whole back. Why? Why did it hurt so much? She wasn't chained....

Cerulean eyes shot open to be surrounded in darkness. Fear racked Rai's body as she turned her head slowly to see the heavy biting chains. Heart pumping uncontrollably, she jerked at the chains, only for the chains to jiggle like they were laughing at her struggle. As if teasing that her freedom is a dim light and all she could do was stay as a prisoner...Freedom nevermore.

She continued to struggle feverly; pulling at the chains that held her to the wall. Blood spurted out of her shoulder and her wrists became raw. But in her panicked state, she couldn't feel the pain. Wide-eyes looked around the room for something to help her. All she found was the looming darkness.

I have to get away-now! She repeated. Why you ask? Because this was a dark game of survival...To live a life as a missing-nin is to value freedom over your life because freedom was your life. She wasn't afraid of the haunting chains but instead, what they promised...What came after being chained. She had been tortured many times, but that never diluted the fear...Never.


I have to stay calm...stay calm...She took a deep breath and held it for a few seconds before releasing it. She looked at her situation. Chains on each wrist. No problem. Good thing she could multitask with her chakra or this would hurt. Her heart beat began to slow and her mind started working. All she needed to do was...

Voices? Some one was coming. She quickly slumped against the chains and evened her breathing to a minimal just in time as the door swung open and light poured in. She listened to the foot steps. She counted three people. Two men and one woman...One walked towards her. The foot steps stopped in front of her and a hand gently took her arm. Eyes shot open and she activated Arashingan with a flare of lighting that wrapped around her body. With a scream, the three strangers fell back as she shot the chains off with her lightning.

"Hey wait-Stop!" yelled one of he men as she flash stepped out of the room. She could hear the three people in pursuit as she ran down the hall. On each side of her where cells and more cells. Judging by the quality of them , she guessed she was in Konoha after she had met up with the nin.

Behind her, Izumo, Kotetsu and Sakura struggled to keep up with her. Sakura was in the lead with the other two behind. "Prisoner is escaping," Kotetsu reported into a microphone on his ear. "We're still in the building right now." Sakura could hear a voice on the other end and she could only imagine what kind of fit Ibiki would have if she escaped.

"Right now, but we won't be for long. We're coming up on the exit quick." Izumo added. Each of then got a reply before they both said "roger" in unison.

"So?" Sakura asked as they turned down another corner.

"They said that they have reinforcements building up at the gate. She won't be able to get out no matter what." Izumo explained.

"How could she still use chakra?! We drugged her and took her chakra reserves away. She should barely put up any resistance." Kotestsu panted.

"I read a book about bloodlines and she happens to have Arashingan which gives her full chakra when she activates it." Sakura explained.

"That's not fair." They said in unison again. Just as they turned another corner, they saw 5 Anbu nin on the ground. Two were unconscious while the other three stood up shakily. "She works fast," Izumo said impressed.

"Hey, you three," called one of the men. "She went this way, so come on." Now there were six of them as they charged to the exit of the building. "So what happened?" asked Sakura.

"Well, that girl came flying around the corner and did some crazy flips. We tried to hit her but when we came close, she would disappear in some speed walking thing." The man turned to Izumo and Kotetsu. "Didn't you guys drain her chakra?"

"We didn't know that she has a bloodline to give her a full supply," Kotetsu defended.

Rai raised her sore hands to block the sunlight that blinded her. The air was refreshing and filled her lungs as she took off towards the gates. Turning down an alley, she saw a group of nin at the end running towards her. She quickly jumped onto the rooftops and ran with her arms behind her. Looking around for more ninja, she saw three groups from the right heading for her and the ones from the alley followed behind her.

If they want a fight, they'll get one. She turned towards the group at the right and charged. She pushed chakra to her feet to run faster and right as both sides met over an alley, she jumped down and took off towards the eastern side of town. What she didn't know was she was heading for the hokage tower...and a trap.

Suddenly a group of ninja landed in front of her and she slid to a stop. Not giving her time to recover, they threw hand full of kunai and shuriken at her which she dodged with cartwheels and flips while grabbing a few here and there in mid-air just to intercept another or throw back. Noticing there attempts where futile, they charged at her with weapons and clones ready. She kicked and punched her way through the men and flying kunai, occasionally getting cut and nicked on her arms and legs.

"Give it up, girl," said one man. "You won't get out alive."

"Pretty confident aren't you?" She asked while dodging an earth attack that sent a boulder hurling at her. The man used a plant jutsu to make vines reach out at her. "Time to trim that ego, Wind style: Blade of Dance," she said as she sent another wind attack towards the vines, cutting them into pieces.

"Let's see if you can stand on two feet, with that ego of yours." She did a series of hand signs and created a whirlwind that blocked every one in what looked like a tycoon with leaves and dust flying up, dispelling all the clones. There were a few strangled screams from the men as they held onto a street light pole and a gutter from the side walk.

Her hair whipped wildly as she grinned. All this attack did was create an illusion that they where in a whirlwind while making wind speed around them. It was a mix of a genjutsu and ninjutsu. One of the many that she created. Hehe, It get's them every time. With that out of the way, she ran towards the only exit she knew of...By the hokage tower.

She didn't even get 30 feet of the tower when she was suddenly surrounded by nearly 20 ninja. Well-Damn.


You know...If you summon me with the seal, I can help out.

Not now...But definitely soon.

Anbu and Jounins alike surrounded her and at the head of them all was a tall man with a long trench coat and bandana forehead protector. His arms where crossed over his chest and he gave Rai a glare that would've made her blood run cold. Then again she had a secret up her sleeves. After all, as far as they knew, she was unarmed...Foolish mistake. Especially when dealing with a pick pocket...

Sakura and the other 5 arrived to the tower to find Rai surrounded by almost 20 ninja. For one thing, the white haired kunoichi seemed calm. But Sakura knew the look on her face. It was the look Kakashi got whenever he was thinking of a plan... What was she thinking?

One of the men that Sakura was with grabbed for a kunai only to meet an empty bag, looking down he cursed, "Damn it! That bitch got my weapons!"

The other five looked down at his then at there's...Empty kunai pouches were strapped to them and they exchanged glances; they were thinking the same thing, "How the hell did that happen?"

Rai didn't wait long before a fight broke out. Weapons and ninjutsu attacks flew at her, but she could only dodge. As soon as she tried to make a hand sign, something else would aim at her. She threw a few weapons but they where only blocked; her movements where futile.

What the hell?! I can't get a hit on them!


What did you expect?


I expected to get it out of here easily.

Keh, then you would be using me by now if you wanted get out of here so badly.

Don't patronize me. She ducked under another hit but was kicked into a wall by a punch to the stomach. The wall crumbled under the impact and she laid in the rubble while glazed eyes stared hard through the dirt. Her right eye began to blur and she cursed silently. "Kuso!"


What's happening to your eye sight?


Are you actually worried?

Yes I am. Now answer the question. His voice was demanding.


It came as a side effect with my scar. She stood up shakily and cracked her neck while walking out of the cloud of dust. Fact was that she enjoyed fights. Always did...But 1 kunoichi against 20 ninja was crazy. It was suicide. She wasn't a fucking magician.

That's it...

No holding back. Rai could hear the smirk in his tone.

Hell yeah. She stopped in her tracks and stood in the middle of the group of ninja. She sighed and got into a stance. A dark chuckle was heard and she looked up to see the man with the trench coat and scars.

"Still got fight left in you, eh? Well that will all change after one night in the cell." Ibiki grinned and folded his arms.

"Are you threatening me?" She shook her head and bit her thumb, preparing for her summoning. "That's not wise."

"And you escaping and attacking a village is?"

"Well if you would be so kind as to allow me to pass, then I'd walk right out the front doors and you would never have to see me again." She drew a sign on the back of her hand. A man in an Anbu mask made a move to stop her but Ibiki raised his hand to stop him.

"Let her humor me. She won't be too much trouble."

"That's what you think." Rai hit her hand on the ground and a red light shot crimson rays from under her hand. As she raised it slowly, her kantana emerged from the ground to her hand. "Now..." She looked at the confused stares. "Are you ready?"

"A sword? Interesting." He raised his voice in a dominating level. "Take her down-alive."

Rai raced at the charging shinobi with her kantana, luminous with a black and purple glow, charged with lightning and gave a crackling echo in her ears. Right before any one was in too close of range, she stabbed her sword into the ground making it crack and a crater form while a paralyzing lighting streaked through the cracks, immobilizing 1/4 of the unfortunate nin. More came at her and she swung her body around the hilt to kick a man in the chest. She dodged a punch and constantly tried to knock them out. The longer the fight went, the better they became at dodging her attacks. Now she was nearly through-well she wasn't making any progress...

Of course, Rai was exhausted and was again losing too much blood. Two men came at her; one with a spear-like staff and the other with a pair of sai. The first twisted and cut at her but she dodged, sloppily, until she was backed up against a wall. Her shoulder was now useless from the strain so she was fighting with one hand and half of her sight. He came again with a swing to her head, but she rolled against the wall to get away-meeting the sai master with a welcoming slash through her cheek. Blood pooled down her cheek to her jaw line as she punched him in the stomach and kicked the one with the spear in the chin. He backed away from the kick but wasn't out of reach of the hilt of her kantana that hit him in the back of the head, knocking him out. She looked down briefly before shaking her head. "I was trying to prevent you from a headache...foolish."

Suddenly a pink blur entered her vision and she turned her head to see the pink haired kunoichi running at her with a fist held high. Rai narrowed her eyes when the glow of chakra around her fist turned blue. She knew that style, though she wasn't good at manipulating the strength. Lowering her sword, she stood and waited for the impact, but like she predicted, the pink haired girl punched only inches away from her head to the wall behind her, making it crumble to the ground.

Rai didn't flinch.

"What-...Are you crazy? I could have killed you!"

"Then why didn't you?" Rai asked softly. The pink haired girl gave her a confused look. Rai could see that she was younger then her. She looked as if she was 16-17 maybe. Just one look and Rai noticed that she wasn't your average Kunoichi.

"W-what do you mean, 'why didn't you'? I wouldn't just kill you without you fighting back." That didn't come out right...


Go figure. Inner Sakura said.

Rai gave a rich laughter that sounded lyrical. "I get it. Well between you and me...If I'm going to die. I would rather have you do it then that big gorilla," she said pointing at Ibiki and she flashed stepped away from Sakura so they had some distance between each other. "So are you going to kill me?"

Sakura stood there for a moment. "No...If I was going to then I would have left you in the forest."

Rai stood still for a moment...Yup, she was different. "Very well." She bowed. "I will take my leave then." Before anyone could stop her, she disappeared from there sight, only to reappear in a short distance away. But that wasn't all. In a head lock with a blade to his throat was Yamato. He face showed his shock at her speed while she stayed calm with a glassy eye look.

With a small nod to Ibiki, she was gone with a flash of chakra. The said man growled deep in his throat. "Sakura-you tell Lady Tsunade what's ," he pointed to three Anbu teams, "We're going after her. I don't care if she is alive or dead. Mission is to subdue her and get Yamato away from her." With that they left in pursuit of the white haired kunoichi.

Rai struggled to carry the man with her while using chakra to surround them both. She didn't get far before she had to stop. Her grip loosed around the man's neck, but he didn't resist. "Why?" she asked. "Why are you doing this willingly?"

"I'm not." He smiled a small smile. "I would never want to be a hostage willingly. I don't think anyone would, but you don't seem to be the type to use this kind of escape."

"Oh yeah?...How do you figure?" She could now see the gates through the park.

"I could've gotten away three times now."

Rai looked at the man for a moment before shrugging. "It's not my style. I prefer to just knock every one out, but normally I use the cover of night to help. And I'm not wounded." she added bitterly.

"Speaking of which, how did that happen?" he asked as if they where talking about the sky. It was like being held hostage happened everyday.

"Well I ran into some missing-nin before the pink girl's team. I think there names where Karin and Suigetsu." At the mention of there names, Yamato tensed slightly. Rai noticed this and stopped walking. "You know them?"

"Hai," he answered. "They are Orochimaru's ninja...Said to be traveling with Uchiha Sasuke."

"...Strange."

"You do know who that 'gorilla' was back there, don't you?" He questioned.

She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I believe he is Idate's brother, right? Umm...what was his name...."

Yamato sweat dropped. "Ibiki."

She snapped her fingers and pointed, "That's the one. Miroku, Ibiki."

"...Morino."

She tilted her head, "huh?"

"Morino, Ibiki," He grumbled and put a hand to his forehead. This girl was going to get killed if Ibiki got a hold of her and Yamato just happened to like her.

"Whatever." She scoffed.

"You know Idate?" Yamato asked.

"Of course. That kid's helped me out quite a bit."

Before he could ask her to elaborate, she tensed and whispered a quick, "Sorry" before taking him into another head lock. She turned around to face the new guests and her clam temperament did a 180.

"Surrender," ordered one of the men in a cat mask.

"You mean you wish to surrender to me?...Very well, I accept."

"Don't play games, girl. if we have to then we will use full force. Now be wise and surrender." Ibiki' voice was low and full of silent threats. His piercing glare was reflected back.

With a stubborn raise of her chin and narrowed viridian eyes, she scowled. She would be damned if she was locked up again...She just couldn't do it and keep her sanity. "Will. Not. Happen." There was no playfulness in her tone and a few Anbu exchanged nervous glances under there mask. Yamato could feel the blade push closer to his throat.

"Last chance...Surrender!" Ibiki demanded in a booming voice.

"Death first!"

There was a pregnant pause before Ibiki's scowl turned to a leashed rage and he promised in a low dark voice, "By the time, I'm finished with you,
you'll beg me to kill you."

Yamato felt her grip loosen in defeat. Just like he knew, Ibiki called her on her bluff...Or at least part of it. She wasn't afraid to die. That much was obvious. What wasn't true was that she would kill Yamato if she wasn't freed. Just when he thought that she was going to let him go on her own choice, Kakashi arrived with Jiriya right behind. His forehead protector was up to show his sharringan eye.

His and Rai's eyes met and that was all it took. What you ask? Rai didn't even know. They stared for a moment and Rai's limbs seemed to go stiff. She couldn't will herself to move and her sword began to grow heavy. What's happening?! I-I can't move.


You haven't reached the third stage of you're bloodline yet?!


N-no...

Rai, you have to look away! If you keep looking when he say-

But he was cut off by Kakashi's voice. "Let him go."

Without a word, her body moved on its own and released Yamato from her grip. He turned around to look at Rai, expecting to see a defeated frown, but was shocked to see her once fiery eyes dull and glassy. Her features even looked bloodless and he signaled to the others not the hurt her.

Ibiki just ignored the gesture and started to walk towards her-clearly going to unleash his fury, but Kakashi stopped him with a confused shake of his head. He hadn't expected her to actually listen to him. "...Good. Now-uh, drop your weapons."

She looked up at him and softly asked, "All of them, sama?"


What. The. FUCK?! she screamed in her head. It wasn't her talking-that much was certain. It was as if there was a mind transfer jutsu, but she would've already figured it out and had it dispelled. This-whatever this was-didn't make sense. Not only that but it seemed that her connection to her kantana was gone.

"Umm...Sure? All of your weapons sound good." Kakashi scratched the back of his head and looked back at the others who looked just as confused. Turning back, they saw her drop her sword and sheath, a whole two scrolls the size of a small cat, three kunai pouches, a foldable staff, two pairs of sia, a pack on her back filled with kunai, senbons, and shuriken. In her belt was another two kantanas.

Dropping all this onto the ground-albeit unwillingly in reality- everyone sweat dropped and looked on with "wtf" expressions. Only ten minutes ago, she was weaponless and now she had enough for a small fricken army and-what's this? She wasn't DONE?!

She proceeded to pull out extra sendons and shuriken along with a wad of paper bombs and some bandages. Lying among the weapons, Kakashi could see some keys with a small frog key chain and a lucky rabbit's foot, a wallet, and...socks?

She kneeled on the ground with her hands in her lap before breaking the men out of there shock state. "Now what?"

A hit on the back of the neck later by the gorilla himself and she was knocked out cold. Kakashi walked up next to Ibiki who looked all too pleased with himself. "Was that really necessary?"

"Necessary? No- but I feel a Hell a lot better." He grinned.

I think I'll stop it there, but I will put the next chapter up soon. How is it so far? Good, bad? Let me know please.

Ja ne