Jun wonders on days like these if Konoha is really worth it.

Mind, it is something that lurks on her subconscious at all times. A dangerous whisper that tells her tall tales of freedom and peace. It coos and croons, saying death would set her free from all of Konoha's treachery and deceit.

She grits her teeth, and brings to mind every one of Root's self control exercises as to not scream. Her chakra is a coiled snake, a spring with excessive amounts of force being applied with only her self control holding it back.

The woman in front of her and Yasuhiro seems oblivious to the storm brewing inside her eyes. Yasuhiro however, notices her tense shoulders, her clenched fists, and lightly sets his hand on the small of her back.

"You both did great work," the woman praises, although her gaze only focuses on the clan boy next to her.

Jun exhales deeply.

She should not be bitter. Yasuhiro - kind, cheerful Yasuhiro - has done nothing wrong. Jun already knows full well that in Konoha's eyes, she is just another bastard orphan that can be sacrificed for Konoha's good.

(She is not worth looking at twice.)

"Both of your written scores are excellent, and your ninjutsu and genjutsu skills are exemplary for your age. We will need to schedule another test for taijutsu, but I have no qualms in moving you two up a few levels," the woman smiles, "Hyuuga-san, we can move you up to the final year immediately. But Jun, I'm afraid we can only bring you up to the second to last year. It is required that future kunoichi take at least two years of kunoichi classes before graduation."

Jun believes exactly none of that bullshit.

They are both orphans. But Yasuhiro is a clan member, and she is not.

(They don't think she's worth it.)

Her eyes flash red for a mere second. Jun opens her mouth to spit venom, to make the woman feel the same bitterness and anger she feels. But instead, it is Yasuhiro who speaks first.

"No." He states firmly.

"Pardon me?" The woman raises an eyebrow.

Yasuhiro frowns. And for a split second, Jun sees the veins near his temples bulge. The chūnin instructor obviously does as well, because she is no longer smiling kindly.

"Jun got better scores than me all round. If you're going to move me up to the final year, you might as well let her graduate."

"Hyuuga-san, your concern for your friend is… gratifying, but we can not-"

"You move us both up," Yasuhiro continues, "Or you don't move either of us up."

Jun does not move, does not bat an eyelash. Yet dawning horror fills her mind. She can't lose the chance to move up. Yasuhiro means well, but she can't fail. "It's fine, 'hiro. Really."

"No it's not," Yasuhiro states firmly, "They can't put me ahead like that. We're staying together."

The woman sighs, rubbing her temples wearily. "I can't advance Jun any further than the second most advanced year, Hyuuga-san."

"Then there's no need to advance me any further," Yasuhiro says as if it is the most obvious thing in the world, "Just advance both of us to the second to last year."

"I will discuss it with the office," the chūnin relents, tired of the conversation. "Please head back to your break. Mizuki-sensei will tell you our decision, alright?"

Jun has to force Yasuhiro to bow, her hand placed firmly on the nape of his neck. They leave the room quickly, even as Yasuhiro turns around to scowl.

They walk side by side in silence, roaming the halls until they reach the deserted classroom. Jun settles into her seat next to Yasuhiro apprehensively. He is visibly upset, something Jun has never witnessed from him.

In a way, they are more similar than Jun originally realized. They both repress and ignore their problems. Although Yasuhiro does it with smiles and jokes, while she turns to training and mind numbing studying.

"Hey," she rests her hand on his shoulder. Yasuhiro barely glances at her. "You okay?"

He grumbles something unintelligible under his breath.

"Come on," Jun coaxes, "Spit it out."

Yasuhiro grimaces. "I just- why didn't you say anything back there? You keep on acting meek and subservient. Like- you're-" He drops his head into his hands to rub his bandaged forehead, looking incredibly fatigued. Jun instantly realizes the problem. She doesn't want to admit it to herself at first, but when he doesn't meet her eyes, the realization hits her like a blow she knows to avoid.

"What did they do?" Jun demands, hard anger lacing her tone. Yasuhiro lowers his eyes, refusing to meet Jun's furious gaze. "Yasuhiro, what the hell did they do?" Jun firmly pries his hands away from his forehead. "Did they use it against you? If they used the seal I'll-"

"It's okay." His voice is so quiet it stops Jun in her tracks. Her eyes soften, and her heart yearns for this boy who shouldn't have to have a seal on his forehead define his whole life.

"Are you okay?" Jun asks again.

"I will be," Yasuhiro attempts to smile again. It comes out crooked and snaggled toothed. He looks utterly defeated, and Jun tries with all of her five year old body to engulf him in a bear hug.

"I'm going to punch them all in the face." Jun promises solemnly.

"You're not." Yasuhiro can't help but giggle.

"I will," Jun declares with a sweeping gesture of fake grandeur. She pulls away from Yasuhiro slightly, frowning as she runs her fingertips over his forehead. In between breaths, Jun makes a hasty decision, briefly stretching out her chakra to see if any Root agents were nearby. "It might not make you feel better, but-" She sticks out her tongue, black Root seal in plain sight.

Yasuhiro's eyes widen. Not many ninjas in Konoha are familiar with seal work, but loyalty seals cannot be mistaken. Especially when they are placed on a person.

"Is that-"

Jun slaps a hand over Yasuhiro's mouth. "Yeah, it is. Point is though, you can talk to me, alright? You're not allowed to brood. That's for your clan members, remember?"

Yasuhiro looks torn between smiling widely and breaking down into tears. Jun slides backwards in her chair, releasing him as if he were scalding metal. Her hands flutter uselessly. Jun is many things between her last life and this one, but a comforter of crying children is one of them.

"Thanks Jun," Yasuhiro hugs her again. "You're the best." They exchange grins, and the silence is filled with laughter.


They move classes the very next day.

The new class is significantly smaller. Out of the thirty some students still remaining, there are less than 10 non clan kids. And of those, Jun knows she can count on one hand the ones that will make it pass genin.

They get tucked away into the back most row, next to a boy with shockingly green hair. He looks faintly sickly, so Jun keeps her distance.

The teacher begins the lesson without hesitation, diving into a complex explanation on Yin and Yang chakra. Jun only listens long enough to absorb information about the Yin release before she turns back to her book. Yasuhiro dutifully takes notes besides her, occasionally prodding the girl to whisper a pointed comment.

The day passes by slowly. It seems as if the whole world is holding its breath for a big event. Even the sunlight that shines through the window seems lazy. It twirls and bends in wide circles, illuminating the room in a soft glow.

Surprisingly, most of the class leaves the two of them alone, content to go about their daily lives. The only exceptions are a sneering Hyuuga boy with a blank forehead, and a familiar looking Uchiha that stares at Jun with a mixture of confusion and thoughtfulness. But she and Yasuhiro keep to themselves. And that is enough.

Normal classes are arduous and boring. And even the brief introductory book to sealing Jun nabbed from the library is not enough to keep her from dozing off from time to time.

Genjutsu classes and ninjutsu classes go over what she already knows. She spends them helping Yasuhiro, letting him watch her chakra systems as she practices improving her control. The teacher long stopped caring. If Mizuki attempted to make her life difficult by calling her out on every detail, the new one tries to make her life difficult through blatant disregard for her education.

Taijutsu classes are actually her liberation. She is five, small statured and seemingly week. But she has nearly a year of hidden experience. Jun struggles and fights for her victory, but it makes her feel alive.

Konoha is rich with different fighting styles, some unique to a clan. Yet no matter what style, they struggle when fighting Jun. She knows she is not the strongest or the fastest. So she takes a detour. Jun uses their motions against them, deflecting, twisting, and sliding. Doing whatever it takes to bring the opponent to the ground. But on most days when she is paired with Yasuhiro, they don't spar. They dance.

It is her form against his form. His strikes against her counters.

Jun likes to think that it's at least entertaining to watch, if a six and a five year old doing flips and rolls as they try to sweep each other to the ground is considered as such.

It's boring and dull, a repeat of the basic education she already received in Root. But it is filled with happiness none the less.

(But she does not forget the horrors yet to come)

Jun's fifth summer comes and goes. And she begins to countdown the days until October 10th.


Jun is outside when the attack begins.

(A foolish mistake on her end)

She is outside to witness the sun being blocked out by a gigantic shadow. She is outside to witness the first bellowing roar of the Nine Tailed fox and feel its demonic chakra roll over the village in suffocating waves. She is there to witness the skies turn red with fire, there to witness the screams of terror.

Jun's stomach turns inside out as she feels the imminent threat of death clawing at her arms, and the feeling of it all around her in the air. Even as she scrambles out of the training ground back into the village as fast as her spindly legs would take her, Jun's cold chakra calls out to the demonic chakra, thrumming together in a cataphonic unity. It terrifies her, and Jun does the only thing she knows how.

She runs.

Jun watches the Nine Tails topple trees and squadrons of ninjas with its tail. Destroy stone buildings with a roar. She can not even begin to describe the size of the creature, let alone fathom its full strength. Its very tails reach up to the clouds, with paws big enough to crush buildings as if they were mere insects. It marches easily over the towering buildings, crushing people and sending homes flying with a slight twitch. Fear floods her being, and she can feel adrenaline pumping through her veins as she dodges shooting pieces of rubble and scours the streets for a hiding place.

People are screaming, shoving others out of the way in an attempt to flee anywhere that is not in the way of the demon. Corpses litter the streets, yet the masses trample on. Either unaware or uncaring.

It is catastrophy.

Above the screaming, Jun hears the trill whistle of ANBU as they move into formations. Yet she has no time to watch in awe. Her grip on the situation is slipping, and she is close to breaking down. Survival is her top priority. Yet within her muddled thoughts, she can only hear one thing.

Yasuhiro. Her mind screams in tune with the chaos. Where is he where is he-

If Kabuto was her stars, and Kaia was her fire; then Yasuhiro is her sun. Bright and everything she could ask for.

Yasuhiro isn't a canon character. Jun does not know his future, nor his destiny. He could die in this Kyuubi attack and she wouldn't know. Jun needs to get to the Hyuuga compound. She must. Her life depends on it.

The Hyuuga Compound is secure, near the center of the village. But what's to stop the Nine Tailed Fox from getting to it? A few measly buildings?

The sky is on fire, and through the haze she can feel her sharingan itching to blaze to life. Her chakra is a tangled mess, and she has never felt so much killing intent in her life. Not even in Root.

She could die too. But Jun has already lived once. Yasuhiro deserves so much more than that. Jun rounds the corner to the burning Hyuuga Compound so fast she nearly stumbles. Her heart pounds in her ears as she scours the area for survivors.

Jun is so distracted by the scream that pierces through the air that she does not notice the wall directly behind her smash to pieces from the force of the Kyuubi's tail. Jun looks up just in time to witness the giant slabs tumble downwards pulled forth by gravity.

They fall together, and the world fades to darkness.


When Jun first wakes, she thinks she is in a dream. She is laying on an old dusty cot, one reminiscent of the one she owned during her time spent in the Root compound. It is so dark that she can see absolutely nothing. Night stretches on for what seems like miles. She breathes in the cool air, and feels the intake of oxygen relax her whole body. There is no pain, and all around her is a quiet that runs over her like water. She goes back under easily.

It is the warmth of her surroundings that finally pulls Jun out of her slumber. Her dreams have never been warm. It is always chilly, with cold drafts from her intrusive chakra. Little by little, she wakes.

Her eyes snap open, and she suddenly remembers the falling rocks. Jun sits up with a jolt, and she clutches at her body in self reassurance. There is nothing. No flaws on her skin except for the scarred over area from when Kaia attacked her.

Is she dead?

She can't be dead. Can she? Not like this, not like this.

Jun pushes her chakra out around her, flickering wildly in panic, but there is no one near.

She is alone.

Jun brings her knees up to her chest. She is barefoot, clad in her usual attire of loose sweatpants and a skin tight long sleeve. There is nothing off, and that is what concerns her. Even the quiet is now eerie instead of calming.

As a last resort she calls chakra to her eyes. Jun's sharingan bleeds into her eyes, and the room comes back into focus. There are seals lining the walls, black ink barely visible in the darkness. There is a faint outline of a door in front of her, and Jun heads to it without second thought.

The light on the other side is jarring at first. But the hauntingly familiar halls both calms and scares Jun, and she hurriedly turns off her sharingan.

She is back in Root.

The moment Jun steps outside, it is as if a wave of chakra and noise washed over her. Suppression seals line the doorway of her room, and Jun suddenly understands her previous sluggishness.

The white washed walls of the makeshift hospital wing are smooth beneath Jun's touch. The halls are jam packed with more operatives than Jun has ever seen at once in Root. Still, the hustle is efficient and no louder than a whisper, underlined only with the thrum of medical chakra.

Jun sets her sights on the exit. But before she can even begin to move, a hand clamps down heavily on her shoulder. Jun whips around to face her assailant, but the sudden movement leaves her dizzy and seeing double.

"Please return to your room, operative," the girl in front of her says, steadying Jun with her arms. "Med staff's orders."

"I feel fine," Jun huffs, face tinged red in embarrassment at her near fall.

"Med staff's orders," the girl repeats, leading Jun back into the room. "You were recently healed and put on a significant amount of painkillers. Please do not take this temporary ease as a sign of recovery." As Jun is none too gently pushed back onto the cot, the girl grabs onto a dangling silver cord. A thin curtain of light spills out from the waning light bulb, illuminating the previously dark room.

Jun is quick to protest. She is not willing to stay in Root after her liberation. The dark hallways are something that still haunts her waking moments, and no matter what, Jun is still too cowardly to face her walking phantoms. "But I am currently on a mission from Danzo-"

"Danzo-sama has ordered you to stay in the compound to await further orders," the girl informs her tonelessly.

A needle is gently slid under the skin of her forearm, and the medication kicks in before Jun can object.


After days spent at the hospital next to Gran's side, Yasuhiro is forced to return to the Academy. Even though he reads ahead and takes notes on all the planned lessons, both he and the clan know he must return if he is to go above and beyond Konoha's expectations.

He worries for his Gran, because she is all Yasuhiro has left. But Gran continues to insist, and he finally relents. Besides, Yasuhiro has not seen Jun since before the attack. Even though Yasuhiro tell himself that Jun will be fine, there is a nagging feeling that does not seem to disappear.

With a skip in his step, he bounds towards the classroom, expecting to be greeted with a snarky remark and a tight one armed hug. But instead, there is no dark haired girl to greet him with a wide grin. No one to lightly bump shoulders with. In her seat, there is an empty space, and Yasuhiro feels his gut drop to the floor.

Jun has never missed a day of the Academy. No matter how much people sneer or she is mistreated. The green haired boy that sits in the third seat of their table gives him a sympathetic look, but says no more as the instructor enters with a loud "settle down!".

He can't focus. Yasuhiro's pen wobbles unsurely as he tries to take in the lesson to no avail.

There are a thousand things that could have happened to Jun. A thousand reasons as to why everyone refuses to meet his gaze. But he refuses to believe in the worst. It couldn't have happened. Not to Jun, who grins and shouts and treats him just as he is. That could never happen to Jun.

Throughout the lecture, Yasuhiro continuously glances at the side to an empty space and opens his mouth to talk to a person that isn't there.

(Yasuhiro has never realized how empty it was before Jun.)

Before long it is taijutsu lessons. Yasuhiro stands alone in the field as everyone splits off into little social cliques to partner up. Without Jun, Yasuhiro feels oddly small in the midst of his class. He backs up towards the edge of the field, hoping the teacher will forget about him and let him be.

The teacher doesn't approach him. There is no need.

An Uchiha boy reaches Yasuhiro first.

The boy is all smiling eyes glinting with mischief. "You want to partner up with me?"

"No thanks," Yasuhiro declines politely, lowering his head out of habit. If his Gran found out he was interacting with Uchihas, he would never hear the end of it. Yasuhiro turns to find another cluster of people to hide behind, but the boy's next words stop him in his tracks.

"Ah, that's a shame," the older boy links his hands behind his head in fake nonchalance, "Well, I guess no one gets to hear what I heard about your missing friend." Yasuhiro turns around in disbelief, furrowing his eyebrows as if he can't believe his own ears. The boy shrugs once more, a satisfied grin on his face as he turns to leave.

"Wait!" Yasuhiro yells, shoving his hand into the boy's face, "... I'm Yasuhiro Hyuuga."

"I know," the Uchiha grins cheekily.

"What happened to Jun?" Yasuhiro demands, slipping into a fighting stance to mimic the boy in front of him.

"Well if you put up a good enough fight," he shrugs, "I'll tell you."

The instructor blows his whistle, signaling the start of the fights. Yasuhiro does not hesitate to activate his byakugan, veins bulging as any surrounding chakra lights up like a beacon.

Yasuhiro inhales and exhales in tune to his pounding heart. Deep breaths, he reminds himself. Focus. Just like you practiced with Jun.

They circle each other warily, only rarely exchanging blows to gauge the other's ability. And then with a compressed release of chakra, the Uchiha disappears.

Except, not quite. Yasuhiro's byakugan is barely enough the follow the afterimages of the boy's chakra as he reappears behind him and lashes out with a vicious crescent kick. It is only countless practices with Jun that lets Yasuhiro pull up a guard just in time for the kick to come smashing down upon his block. Yasuhiro goes flying, gritting his teeth and rolling into a protective ball as he tumbles through the dirt. His 360 degree vision saves him once more as the Uchiha flickers over again and attempts to bash him into the ground. With a hooking motion, Yasuhiro pulls the other boy off his feet and hurriedly scrambles back up into his stance.

For a split second their eyes lock, and a silent challenge is ensued. Yasuhiro sinks low into the stance, white eyes darting back and forth as his palms move in a flurry of strikes in exchange with the irrationally fast boy.

They match blow for blow, kick for kick. But the left jab completely blindsides Yasuhiro, and the match ends with him sprawled out in the dirt, heavily panting as his chest heaves up and down.

The sun is blocked out when the Uchiha curiously sticks his head over Yasuhiro. To Yasuhiro's surprise, the older boy extends a hand.

"I'm Shisui Uchiha," he grins widely, "Pleased to meet you." Yasuhiro only grunts, nursing his tender jaw as he's pulled to his feet.

With nothing to do as the spars around them rage on, Yasuhiro pulls on the blankest face he can manage, byakugan fading even as he stares sharply at Shisui. "Was that a good enough fight?"

"I was going to tell you anyway," Shisui says, voice full of mirth. "But thanks. You did help me see how my body flicker would do against a Hyuuga."

"My taijutsu is not representative of my entire clan's," Yasuhiro mutters, a frown overtaking his face.

"That's fine," Shisui is smiling, and Yasuhiro has to fight the urge to not scowl and remain diplomatic.

"So?"

"So what?" Shisui is still smiling.

"So what happened to Jun?" Yasuhiro all but demands.

"Well," Shisui crosses his arms, fixing Yasuhiro with a level gaze, "What do you think happened to her?"

"I-" the words clamp up in Yasuhiro's throat, and he is left speechless. He looks down at the ground, a mixture of shame and despair burning within him.

"Woah, um-" Shisui hurriedly backtracks, "Look I didn't mean it like that. She's just been gone for a few days, it could just be a sickness or-" A pause. He seems to be considering his next words very carefully. "It's not as bad as you think. Probably."

What tact. Yasuhiro can practically hear Jun's voice snort. It only makes his worry grow and bloom into a larger snarling vine.

Yasuhiro takes a deep breath to compose himself. "Has there been anything from her orphanage?" he questions, fiddling with the tips of his sleeves. He was definitely not avoiding the thought process of Jun being gone and him not even knowing. Nope. Not at all.

"The teachers won't say anything about the missing students," Shisui admits, "But someone from her orphanage came and said she was in the hospital."

"That can't be right. I was just recently at the hospital," Yasuhiro frowns. He remembers having spent ages scouring the list of hospitalized victims for Jun's name, but returning with nothing.

"Well," Shisui claps a hand on Yasuhiro's shoulder. "Go ask the orphanage then. It'll be worth a try."

Yasuhiro certainly hopes so.


Despite his rush, Yasuhiro does not forget his duties. He keeps his Gran company as he does his schoolwork, staying at the hospital until the dusk sky fades into night. Only when the nurses enforce the visiting hours schedule does Yasuhiro leave. But he does not head home. Riding the last waves of the waning crowds, Yasuhiro finds his way to the Konoha Orphanage.

But when Yasuhiro arrives, the orphanage is already closed, all lights shut off except the street lamp out front. Mind set, Yasuhiro knocks and peeks into the front windows, repeatedly pushing the doorbell as if that is the solution to his problem. But only silence and the whistling of the wound through the trees can be heard in response to his attempts. Just when Yasuhiro feels all hope is lost, a shadowed figure exits the side door of the orphanage, looking to be the exact stature and size as Jun. Yasuhiro quickly ducks around the corner of the building, heart pounding heavily out of fear of being caught.

He spots short spooky black hair, and Yasuhiro's hopes begin to rise. Breath held, he wonders if the person really is Jun.

Except, that can not possibly be her. Yasuhiro reads and understands people far better than dusty old textbooks. It is something that comes to him as naturally as breathing. Gran always says a walk can tell you a lot about a person, from the way they carry themselves to the slightest flick of the eye.

Jun walks silently, stalking forward with deliberate steps. She bears wary eyes and an arched back that looks like she's always ready to fight or flight.

The figure is hunched, shoulders swaying and sagging close to the ground. There is no sign of Jun's alertness nor her stride. But that is unmistakably Jun's croppy black hair and her wavering chakra signature.

Yasuhiro crouches forward unsurely, sneaking just a few feet closer. The figure abruptly pauses in their movements, chakra simmering down to a stop. Then without a word, the world around him crumbles as a chill seeps into his bones.

He's falling and falling but he can't scream because there are hands clawing at his throat and oh god he's going to-

A sharp spike of chakra jolts him out of the illusion with a forceful push. He's dizzy and disoriented. To be frank, Yasuhiro's not quite sure how he's still on his feet.

"Yasuhiro?" a panicked voice sounding oddly similar to Jun's cries out, "I didn't know it was- are you okay?" Yasuhiro wants to respond, but he feels nauseous to the core. Clutching at his head, he squeezes his eyes tightly shut and waits for the ground to become steady once more.

Warm arms steady him, and blearily, he forces his eyes to open.

"Yasuhiro?"

Jun stands in front of him, stabilizing him with her arms. A wave of relief passes over Yasuhiro, and he slumps against the girl, propping his head onto her shoulder.

Jun winces, her unseen bruises throbbing in pain. She reaches up and returns the hug none the less. But by then, Yasuhiro has already noticed her injuries. He pulls away and gives her a once over and furrows his eyebrows.

"Why weren't you at the Academy?" Yasuhiro demands. He's incredibly glad to see her, but the blue and black bruises that line her arms and jawline are not a comforting sight. "Were you at the hospital? Where did you get these from?"

"Don't worry so much," Jun brings her lips into a grin, but her eyes are pained and tired. "These are just from an accident, don't worry."

"Jun you can't avoid my questions like that," Yasuhiro shakes her lightly. Jun's eyes quickly dart from Yasuhiro to the shadows in the treeline, and Yasuhiro instantly knows something is wrong. Incredibly wrong.

"It's fine, really." Jun continues to smile. Yasuhiro's never seen her like this before, forced and rigid. "I'll be back to the Academy in no time. It's getting late though. You should head home if you don't want your Gran to worry."

Yasuhiro doesn't mention that his Gran's in the hospital. Jun's eyes keep flickering from him to some unseen threat in the shadows. She wants him to leave, although he doesn't know why.

"Alright," Yasuhiro relents, squeezing Jun's forearm in support. Her shoulders visibly relax in relief, and she squeezes his shoulders back. "Well, I'll talk to you later then?"

"Yeah," Jun detaches from him, giving him a light push back onto the road. "Later."

With a heavy heart, Yasuhiro gives her a small wave and turns to leave. It only takes a few steps forward before a he feels a rush of chakra behind him.

Yasuhiro doesn't have to look back to know Jun is gone.


Wowie I'm like, a month late with this update. I just struggled so much with this chapter for some reason and I really don't know why. Thank you guys for all of your reviews and continued support! It really kept me going ;^))

I'm not going to get another chapter out this week for sure, but if it makes you feel any better, I'm doing 20,000 words for Camp Nanowrimo, so there will (probably) be semi-lengthy updates during all of April!

(Also really I write half of my chapters at midnight so really if there's any mistakes or plot holes don't be afraid to point it out) It's also totally cool to just come up to me and talk about this story. Because honestly, I have a general plot line and I'm winging everything else.

Currently still unbeta-ed. So all mistakes are my own.

Thanks for reading!