The clearing was peaceful. The sunlight lit the place up in a bright dream like state. The birds flocked around the area, mainly after the berries in the tree. Another reason they were here was that the human that rested in the clearing had no malice what so ever. They knew they were safe with him, just as they were with the soft boy who came. They trusted these boys to not damage the place, and so were fond of them. They kind of liked the mirror girl as well, but she was always filled with such hatred and pain that they couldn't get near her without being overwhelmed.
One of the birds flew down landing lightly on the boy's chest and watching him in concerned eyes. He looked worn down… Naruto lay there with closed eyes. Outfit dirtied and slightly torn, arms and legs sprawled out. It was times like this that he was thankful to Aiko and Kagami for warning him about training. If he had pushed past his limits and tried to gain the level he had been…
Well it would have been harder to hide his skill, and he knew he would become extremely bored. At least now he could still train without causing too much destruction or gaining a lot of attention. And seeing that for this life he didn't want as much attention as before, he tried to be careful.
In his mind he flipped through his memories, and the ones that weren't his own. He had merged his mind with Kagami. It was an option, however she rarely granted it. So far only he and Aiko had the connection. She was thinking of others that she might do so with. It would all depend really.
When you merged with Kagami you merged with her mind and her memories. She once said that merging with others helped her keep in mind who she was. Which were her memories, her emotions, her thoughts, and not the ones of the several souls she contained. Because the only mind other then you're own you could see was hers. You couldn't see any of the others. The only memories you didn't gain were when she was soul diving. They were blocked out, helping with the separation.
When the God's were granted their titles and powers…. They would be separated into groups. And the leader would be who she merged with. And even then they would have to suffer still to even get to that level. It was a good thing they were waking everyone up by the end of the Invasion. That way she should be able to merge with them once they returned with Jiraya…
Sighing silently he shut off his thoughts and took in the sound of nature around him.
He had been tense since he joined the team. Seeing those two again was horrible. Remembering the trust and teamwork he had with them was even worse. Sometimes he wanted to get rid of them. Other times he wanted to cry and scream and shout at them that he would never forgive them. And yet the last part wanted to lock them away where they would be safe and the real world wouldn't taint them….
Decisions…Decisions….
The soft chirping of new birds joining him brought the presence to mind.
"Hey, if you sleep here you'll catch a cold!" The gentle voice said as soft but firm hands shook his shoulders.
'Haku…'
"Who the hell are you brat!" Zabuza hissed staring at the broken mask covering the girls face. He remembered her she was the one from Kiri on that Kohona team.
"You still act like an annoying old windbag…"
Zabuza hissed his eyes narrowing and the blade flashing through the air. A few strands of black float through the air as she dodges at the last moment. Zabuza sits there in his slumped position panting and glaring. However suddenly he frowns starring at the mask, mainly the strand of silver spilling over it. A chuckle bubbles up and then he's laughing as he flops back.
"I take it it's time to join you're service Athena-Sama?" He asked with a grin.
The mask was removed delicately and placed in her sash. "Kisame has been biting my head off about not having you join yet." She muttered with a faint hint of annoyance.
Zabuza blinks in slight shock before his face softens. "I see you did indeed gain some emotions… at least enough to feel something." He muttered as he moved to sit leaning against the headboard/wall.
Those eyes stay averted. Despite all their meetings, Zabuza still cannot look in them without having his mind/soul ripped apart.
"Hai. The blonde is Ares. He's been helping me…gain a childhood. Until I passed the Genin exams anyway." She said with a shrug.
Zabuza shrugs. He keeps in mind who Ares is though. Both Athena and Artemis spoke highly of their brother.
Suddenly he grinned again. "Kisame, huh?"
He asks and closes his eyes for a moment to gain his bearings and prepare himself. He hears her nod and breathes through his nose. A sigh and he opens his eyes locking on silver.
The pain is immediate.
Aiko breathes in deeply with her eyes closed as she concentrates. It would seem things were going fine so far. She felt pain for her master having to awaken Kakashi. However, she knew that he would be the one to heal her. To make her whole…
So while she sympathized she couldn't say she regretted her master's pain. And if Kagami had refused she would have forced her to awaken him somehow. Kakashi was a valuable player and was needed. As both a God and Kagami's…other half.
Their relationship was odd and she had a feeling it always would be. They would always hate each other just as much as they loved one another. One could say it was obsession and possession that would keep them together.
However, Aiko knew the raw emotion they had felt for one another. The strength of their hate alone was enough proof. You couldn't hate someone that much or deeply without a deeper emotion backing it up.
A smile spread across her face.
A reason there was no doubt Sasuke would fight for vengeance in Itachi's name once he found the truth. He always did love his brother. Same as Itachi had planned to die for the damned brat. At least they wouldn't be repeating that mistake again. She had wondered about telling Sasuke the truth… But Orochimaru needed to die. And to do that he needed to merge with Sasuke again, so he could be sealed.
Kagami had refused to purify or even touch his soul. And his was too slippery to kill or see completely destroyed so they would have to seal it again. And it would be best to get Kabuto out of the way fast. He would become annoying. And while Kagami could purify or banish any souls, reanimated bodied were her weakness. She could destroy them yes, but she feared them. And it wasn't a surprise.
Her entire being was created around and connected to the souls of the world, and afterlife if she opened the connection. A body without a soul was her weakness because it simply shouldn't exist. Her bloodline said that and as such her body froze. Her bloodline wouldn't let her fight against that which shouldn't exist. It also wouldn't allow her to be tainted from them.
It had taken a lot of years for her to even be able to move against her bloodlines lockdown. And it was only by luck that her 'special' attacks needed her will and power not hand signs or body movement. Still it had taken that long to free her mind from the lockdown as well. She said her thoughts became nothing more than a frenzy of fear and panic. She couldn't allow her master to go through that again.
It was amusing really.
Kagami was terrified of few things, reanimated corpses being one because they were abominations. She could handle and accept Pein's forms because it was his soul filling them and as such not an abomination.
Naruto was afraid of ghosts.
And Aiko couldn't stand torture. Being tortured or seeing it.
What a group they made, huh?
Aiko's eyes fluttered open at the hand on her forehead. She smiled up at Kimimaro and gained one in return.
Standing she stretched and smiled. "Let's get a mission." She declared walking toward the door.
Kimimaro nodded following after her.
Hiruzen sighed heavily as he removed the pipe from his mouth. His gaze drifted over to the Kage Bunshin helping with his paper work.
While he himself could only do one, it would seem Kagami and Naruto didn't have that problem. Turns out the girl was a power house just like Naruto. Though that wasn't surprising seeing as she had a bloodline that never deactivated.
Kagami's had transformed with Naruto's jutsu, well a male version.
In place was a pale male with light purple eyes. Silver short bangs that fell above her eyes and framed the sides of her face to her chin, the rest was black and pulled in a tail at the nape of his neck ending at his waist. He was a skinny thing like her, but muscular underneath the soft deceptive skin. He was feminine like Naruto, but neither of them could be confused for a girl. Maybe it they wore unisex clothing…
Kagami's Bunshin was dressed in the same uniform as Ibiki, seeing as Kagami was his aprentiance. No one knew who his aprentiance was, so they kept up the illusion that this male, Mamoru, was it. That way they could get away with her still being on team 7, while Mamoru was with Ibiki. After all they were still covering up her skill. It wouldn't do well for a rookie Genin to already be the Head of Poison and Drug creation, usage, distribution, and counter. Not to mention Ibiki already gave 'him' unsupervised sessions.
People were already paranoid about Inochi's daughter becoming Anko's new play thing. They started drinking or running when they realized that instead she was becoming a mini version of the Snake bitch. But it seemed to be doing her good. At least the emotional and mental torture didn't affect her as easily.
Mamoru was going through the classified files and Council work. So far he had found at least 6 hidden missions. And four orders that had been disguised.
Naruto was working on the less important stuff. Mainly mission paper work and mission reports for D-Class through low A-Class.
His gaze once more drifted out the window and a smile crossed his lips. Now that he knew his time was limited…he was really taking the time to appreciate things. He turned his gaze back down and buried his nose in the orange book giggling. He had never allowed himself to participate in such unclothe behavior as perversion…. But he must say his student was a genius.
Now all he had to do was find Jiraya's original book somewhere and his life would be complete. After all he had to know the story of the character Naruto was named after. That and a nice peaceful day with his family and a promise that Konohamaru would sign the summoning scroll when he became a Genin.
Nagato moved his arm slowly. He was working on gaining muscle in them with a program Konan designed. He would do vigorous training, but slowly so he could 'feel the burn'. He almost regretted telling her the truth. She had become a true slave master since then. It was so different from the passive aggressive person she had been in both his future self's memories and his present selves. Although it might have to do with her 'moving on'.
She had suddenly declared she was tired of waiting and was moving on one day. It had been after another of her weird teasing sessions about Naruto. He was still confused at what she meant. She said she would still be b y his side and love him though, but she would step aside for the champion…
Konan was confusing him more than often lately. Itachi had seemed as confused at him but amused at the same time. Then again she had been acting weird around him as well. If he didn't know any better he would think Konan had regained her memories as well. But she hadn't had them awakened and she had personally told him she didn't remember any of it. So he didn't have much of a clue.
Not that he had had much time to think lately. What with Deidara once again destroying the main building… He could only sigh in relief knowing that those bouts of anger would end soon. At least when it came to his buildings, he knew Deidara would always be temperamental and violent. That's just who he was.
Truthfully everyone was counting down the day till Sasori snapped and finally jumped him just to tire him out. The tension between them could be nothing but sexual. And most of the members of Akatsuki had admitted it. Although there were also bets that Deidara would do the jumping when he was in a particularly bad mood… The first time around Nagato hadn't really paid attention to that. So he couldn't say for sure how it would happen.
Between those two no one could really tell who would jump who. Although the theories and plots were growing day by the day and they seemed to be the only ones oblivious to it.
His mind flashed back to the time travelers.
Athena was finally becoming a human.
Naruto had finally accepted himself as a bringer of war and no longer felt remorse.
Aiko was finally gaining a life of her own, no longer waiting on Kagami hand and foot.
They were coming along great. And he would be the first to admit, that he didn't mind following them. He had realized this the first time he had met Athena originally. There was something about her that made even Madara seem insignificant. And once the others had reached their roles, they had gained that same presence. Although Athena would always continue to be their leader.
After all, a soul was the most valuable thing to a human. And with her abilities and the fact that she was the Judge… most would see her as what she was. The ultimate judgment. And she would always follow Naruto because he broke her from the control she had fallen under. Just as she would always confide in Aiko for being at her side no matter what.
They were the only ones he would accept as his leaders. He had acknowledged that they were his Gods.
A smirk crossed his lips as he paused. The God's of a god.
"Pick up the pace Nagato. Stop day dreaming about the Kitsune!" Konan shouted hitting him over the head with a paper fan.
A sigh escaped his lips as his eye twitched. 'Why does she constantly assume it's Naruto I'm thinking about?' he wondered.
Pushing her lose hair, minus bangs, behind her ear Kagami frowned lightly as she looked around the store. "This is horrible Tazuna-san…" She muttered. "Wave used to be so much…more." She said with a look of distaste on her face.
A small smiled crossed his lips before fading. "So you and the super brat have been here before, yea?" He asked, as he paid for his groceries.
Kagami sighed her arms dropping from the crossed position she found them in most often. "As you can guess I didn't always used to be in Kohona. I traveled for a long time…" She muttered.
Tazuna looked back at her with blank blinking eyes. "Just how old are you?" He asked.
Her head tilted in his direction, though the headband she stole from her Sensei still covered her eyes. "14. I'll be turning 15 in a matter of months…" She muttered shoulders slumping slightly.
Tazuna's eyes widened before he started laughing. "Man, you take the term super brat to a whole new level, neh?" He asked with a chuckle.
"Yea, yea. Laugh it up. I'm a bit taller than Sasuke yet I still look 12…At least I won't have to worry about pre mature wrinkles or anything…" She muttered.
"Does anyone else on your team know you're age?" He asked with a tilt of his head.
"That grey-haired-bastard probably knows. And Naru-Chan. The other two have never bothered to ask my age. I'm not keeping it a secret. I just won't say anything unless asked." She said with a small shrug.
"Why are you the one always with me?" He asked confusion in his tone.
"I'm the only one up to level… Sakura, well to be truthfully she's pathetic and she knows it. She's training for that reason. Sasuke while stronger is easily angered and has ego problems. Hatake needs to remind him just how weak and young he really is. Naruto is working on some family skills. Mainly he's finally learning to use a sword. I might not act it, but I am a sword user. It's one of my main abilities; I just don't have to use it often." She said with a careless shrug.
Tazuna watched the girl and shrugged. "Whatever the reason I must admit I'm grateful. Naruto's nice and all, but I'd rather be stuck with you then the other super brats. Although it is a bit odd you're hatred of the pink girl. You do look like a black haired version now." He said with a snicker.
Kagami rolled her eyes huffing slightly. "She's obsessed with her hair… I cut mine to make an impression. And at this length a braid wouldn't really matter. I used it as a weapon, it's the reason I grew it out in the first place." Kagami muttered, running her hand through the back length strands.
Tazuna blinked in shock. "I didn't know hair could be used as a weapon…" He said in confusion.
Kagami nodded. "Anything can be used. I am a master at that. You see I was taught that anything and everything can be used or turned into a weapon. You just need the skill to do so." She muttered.
Tazuna frowned as he watched the 'blind' girl, though he knew she could see perfectly. "Just…how strong are you?" He asked.
Kagami paused for a moment in thought. "Let's just say…that if I really wanted to…I could make sure Hatake was never a ninja again, and leave it at that." She stated simply.
A few moments paused as they walked. Tazuna shocked that this kid was as strong as her sensei, and Kagami thinking over what she had said. 'Why can't I hate him?' She wondered. Shaking her head she sighed.
"Thanks for teaching me." She said glancing in his direction.
Tazuna laughed in pride. "Not many females want to learn my trade. It's an honor to teach someone interested." He said with a grin.
Kagami nodded a small smile crossing her lips. "Yes… Well I plan to make a place for my family one day. I just have to figure out where." She said in a wistful tone.
A few incidents happened, a man reaching for her bag to get her wallet. His wrist was snapped, and a few coins handed over. The second was a kid tugging on her kimono. She handed over some coins, a few pieces of candy, and her lunch. The kid ran off with wide eyes calling thanks over her shoulder.
Tazuna watched with an odd smile on his face. "Have a soft spot for kids do you?" He asked.
"Hell no!" She declared with a scowl, which softened a moment later. "I have a soft spot for the suffering, mistreated, and damned… Put me near a happy kid I'll run away. And if I come across a spoiled brat…well I end up scaring then for life." She said with a shrug.
Tazuna blinked then chuckled lightly. "You Shinobi sure are something." He muttered as they headed home.
Naruto smiled slightly as he sat on the pier.
Kagami had snuck off to speak with Zabuza about tomorrow.
Kakashi was reading his book.
Sasuke had finally passed out.
And Sakura…he felt badly for her. If Kagami wasn't such a sadist she would leave the poor girl to heal. Instead she made sure to leave bad injuries so she could heal them afterword and started again the next day.
He wondered how Kagami would react to seeing Gaara again. If there was anyone that would affect Kagami worse than Kakashi and Madara it was Gaara.
He had a feeling he would have to stop her from jumping him. Now that Naruto wouldn't be scared or effected he could admit Gaara was adorable. In that, 'I'm a psychopath that needs to be cuddled and loved,' sort of way. If he didn't know Kagami had always cared for Kakashi he would think those two were perfect for each other.
He supposed her bond with Gaara transcended even the one she had with Kakashi. They loved each other, but weren't in love. They were closer then siblings, but would never be lovers. He wondered if Kagami would try and get close to him during the Exams.
He knew for a fact all demons respected Kagami to a level. So Shukaku wouldn't demand her blood. Too afraid she would suck out his soul and shove it in a plush toy or worse… Although Kyuubi would never admit to him what the other option was.
'You don't want to know kit.' The voice said with a twitch.
'Is it really that bad? Kagami wouldn't let me in the mindscape while she visited you.' Naruto thought smiling slightly, glad that he had Kyuu back.
They had become close toward the end. And luckily demons could absorb their future selves. They were thinking on having Kyuu shock Shuu to his future memories.
'Just trust me kit, it was bad. It's the reason you will never let that she devil near me again, understood!' He demanded.
Naruto chuckled slightly. 'If she wants to talk to you, I can't stop her. She's Athena, she's the Judge. I'm just the war hound.'He thought in amusement. 'Her authority overrides mine when it comes to souls, especially souls trapped in other objects or people.' He thought in amusement.
'Sometimes I curse you're meeting her.' Kyuubi thought with a dropping head.
Naruto shrugged his gaze turning up to the moon. Frowning lightly he watched the beams that fell past the clouds landing on the water below.
'What are you going to do about you're mates?' Kyuubi asked as he rested his head on his paws closing his eyes.
Naruto frowned lightly. 'How can you be so sure? I mean… That Itachi and Nagato…'
A loud snort almost made him jump. 'Trust me kit. I know they are you're mates… I've told you, you're aura has three different slots. That means three mates. I know Nagato and Itachi are two. Nagato because I could feel it when we fought him, and Itachi… It's obvious. I think he might even have a suspicion about it. You two have always felt too comfortable around each other, no matter the situation.'Kyuubi snorted in amusement.
Naruto blushed slightly sucking his head. 'What about the third?' He wondered.
Kyuubi paused grinning slightly. 'It's just not time for that kit. You'll learn eventually…' He muttered. Another snort was heard. 'Now stop thinking and let me rest. My mind's still worn out.' He thought.
Naruto nodded and the connection was removed. Sighing he gazed once more at the moon and smiled slightly. 'Well, Ita-Kun what are you up too?' He wondered.
It was only Tazuna's trust in the girl that kept him from shouting. Finding his workers all on the ground looking dead had not been pleasant. Kagami's hand had stayed on his arm though and that kept him calm. Kakashi and Naruto also hadn't reacted much, although Sasuke was tense and Sakura had gasped looking around with wide eyes.
Zabuza stood there with his sword over his shoulder and Haku stood at his side. Naruto ran his hands over the sword's he had nicked from the would be assassins. They had stayed at the house longer this time, getting rid of them, but not before allowing Inari to try and save his mom. After all the village did still need it's will back.
Sasuke and Sakura had been sent out to gather the kunai from last night's training. That had taken almost 2 hours to complete between them. By the time they had arrived the assassins had been dealt with. Kagami had been in the middle of finding out where Gatou's hideout was. While she knew where Zabuza had stayed, she wasn't sure that was where the man had stayed. Needless to say, Sasuke was only more interested in her now luckily it was still in a power based way. And Sakura had finally realized what a child she truly was…
Naruto's gaze drifted toward the masked boy and a smile spread across his lips. A small shift of his fingers in a wave told Naruto Haku realized that Naruto recognized him.
Zabuza huffed lightly walking toward them. Sakura and Sasuke tensed but stood still when Kakashi held his arm out.
Zabuza stopped a small distance away. Looking the group over he snorted slightly. "You can call you're brats off. There's no need for us to fight." He said as he stabbed his sword into the bridge.
Kakashi blinked slowly. "Oh?" He asked lazily.
"Hai… We found out that Gauto is planning to set us up. He has betrayed us and will not be giving us our payment." Haku said in a formal tone.
Zabuza nodded in a jerky almost twitchy manner. "Yea, and that's the only reason I took this pathetic job, if I ain't gettin' paid… There is no need for me to listen or complete my contract. I just have to make the traitor walks into this trap." He said with a shrug.
Kakashi blinked and nodded slowly. "I see…" He muttered. A moment paused and he was once again buried nose first into his book.
Zabuza made a noise of annoyance as he released the mist jutsu.
Kagami stepped away from Tazuna and stepped forward to meet the two.
A grin crossed Zabuza's face, visible without the bandages. "Quite a bunch of brats you've joined Kana." Zabuza mumbled with a sarcastic tone.
Kagami's head turned as if she was glancing at them as well. "Meh…They'll grow up. We are hoping that this little adventure might make their first 'experience'… It all depends on how many will be scared off the backup…" She muttered with a tilt of her head.
The grin grew and he jerked his head toward the boy. "I had hoped the same, but I'm sure it will be for the best that he remains pure…at least a bit longer." Zabuza said with a ruff growl at the end.
Kagami's lips twitched. She knew the man thought of Haku as his son. He didn't act on those feelings in fear of the boy dying or he himself… However, now that Kagami had given him permanent employment, he had decided to do better. And that meant keeping those that would taint Haku away. Not that he would be any gentler or kinder; in fact he would probably be crueler. At least this way he wouldn't be worried about anyone seeing the care he felt for the boy.
Naruto stepped forward stopping at Haku and handing over one of the swords. "This way we match!" He said with a cute grin.
Haku smiled behind his mask and bowed his head. "Thank you Naru." He said taking the sword. "Maybe next time we meet we can have a match?" He asked.
Naruto grinned and nodded swiftly. "You bet! I'm sure the sadists won't rest until we're good enough for a spar." He said with a chuckle that Haku returned.
They both winced when their mentors smacked them in the back of the head.
Sakura and Sasuke however were watching the scene in shock and interest.
"Hey…Sakura?" Sasuke muttered.
"Yes Sasuke-Kun?" She replied with a frown.
"Doesn't this seem…somehow rehearsed to you?" He asked with a slight twitch.
"I was thinking the same thing." She answered with a deadpanned expression.
Both turned to look at Kakashi. He looked up catching their stares and eye smiled.
'Something's not right about this…' They thought. Shaking their heads they looked up and blinked in shock. 'Where's Kagami?'
