A/N: My apologies for not having managed to place an update a week ago. Too many things to do!! I ended up staying late at work, tried to go return an accessory for an iPod for the second time--the first time the saleswoman directed me to a piece that was NOT what I was looking for, then when I went in…they were closed, I had to go grocery shopping and make cookies. Oops too much to do on Sunday… So now it is Sunday again, and I have returned from a week in the sun.
As usual I do NOT own anything famous at all. Not yet! Please let me know how I'm doing, I really want my story to be well written. Everybody knows how much of an annoyance it is to find a story with a good plotline, but then lousy writing. We're soooo close to the chuunin exams, and I want to make sure everything is progressing well before then!
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Despite boisterous comments Naruto had been somewhat subdued the whole return trip. Kaiyou was confused, she had nearly killed Haku, for a moment she had wanted to with this perverse desire. Sasuke was quiet, as usual (well, he was normally quiet except for when he feuded with Kaiyou). Kakashi had to wonder when the boy would really open up. Sure he'd proven to be mentally stable, but that didn't mean he was healthy. He idolized and envied his older brother, in some macho competition he felt that he had to be better than Itachi. His near-death had not, visibly, changed anything about him. Shino watched Kaiyou carefully, with an obvious curiosity. He had changed the least-he had not not nearly died, nor had he had a strange experience. He was aggravated that he had not been useful against Haku.
Kakashi was watching his adoptive little sister carefully. He had felt the demonic chakra flowing around her, and knew she had to be feeling weird. Kaiyou knew about Kyuubi, and knew that he knew. He also knew that she would want to talk to her father first, and that she wasn't the clingy sort who would seek him out, even when the others were asleep, to take refuge with him. Kaiyou had always tried to be bright and sunny, about anything that mattered.
With a quiet, and shockingly introspective team, their arrival back into Konoha went unremarked upon, except by the Hokage, his staff, and the families of the other genin. Kakashi's returned was heralded by a sudden increase in jounins walking around the village with their nose stuck into an orange book.
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Six small homes, all painted cream with either blue or grey trim stood in a cluster. A buzzing sound permeated the air, a low undercurrent, around the homes. Inside those six homes dwelled the branches of the small Aburame clan. In a central location between the six homes was a large building, a dwelling for their 'allies'. There were other such buildings in the area behind the homes; the Aburame sector was at an edge of the village near a wooded region.
As he politely accepted a plate of dinner from his mother Shino finished telling his father about his mission. Uchiha-san nearly died. I was unable to assist, with low chakra levels and my colony not being able to handle the ice-user. Father I want to learn a weapon, beyond kunai and shuriken. As it stands I am unable to assist my team as well as I ought. I need to be more well-rounded."
Shino's father nodded. They would contemplate which weapon Shino was suited to. He was right; it was unwise to specialize only in techniques that would be limited against certain fighters, or those who knew of the Aburame abilities.
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Sasuke slipped his sandals off and padded on bare feet into his home. Over the years his mother had kept up the traditional gardens with the water features. Few Uchihas had survived, and none had been born in the last six years; of 28 survivors most were adults who had already borne children, and those children had been among the slaughtered. There had been four others, younger members of the police force, on guard duty, beyond him and Itachi. The district felt very empty.
Padding his feet along the halls he stopped and knocked on his brothers' door. Sliding it open he saw his brother leaning against the wall in his pajamas, a box of Pocky next to him, reading a book. Once against Sasuke wondered how his brother was so much more skilled than he, if he spent all of his spare time….being a sort of strange cross between Chouji and Shikamaru. ..or maybe Kaiyou and Shikamaru. Laziness, but a strange obsession with a food….and the ability to eat inhumane quantities of it without gaining weight.
"How was the mission?" Itachi's voice was quiet, but curious—to those who knew how to listen for it.
"We accomplished it, despite our client having mislead us." And he broke into the story of the mission, about the Demon Brothers, Kakashi's evil training, the battle on the bridge. Lastly he backtracked to Haku, what he really wanted to talk to his brother about. "One of our opponents was a guy. He looked really feminine. Kaiyou mistook him for a guy—right up until he told her! She was so upset that he was more feminine than she is!" Sasuke couldn't help but chuckle at that; it had been funny at the time, but it only grew more so as time went on. Particularly in the light of vengeance, something to rub in her face, as payback for the 'uke' comments he received from her on a daily basis.
Itachi too, couldn't help but chuckle in his low voice. Sure the girl wasn't feminine, but that didn't mean she wasn't distinctly female. Everything about her was petite, she was just too young yet to have developed a feminine flair to accompany her size. She wasn't like Sakura or Ino, trying to appear sexy even though it was impossible for a twelve year old. "Get your laughs over that now, brother. She is still young." She was barely considered adult—deemed so by becoming a genin-- but her age and body belied her status in society.
Sasuke scowled. It was weird to think of his female teammate as a female—something disturbed him about it. "Yeah, yeah, rub it in. Anyways this guy, he talked to us, when we met up before the battle. He was wearing pink…but he said something that made me think. Do you protect something nii-san?"
Itachi looked at the raven eyes of his younger brother. "Yes. This family. Konoha. Clients sometimes."
Sasuke nodded. Maybe that was what made his brother strong. He needed to find something to protect too. His team. His mother. What remained of his clan.
"Now you say this boy was feminine and wore pink? He's even more of an uke than you are brother."
A shocked silence, then an angry yell and the sound of boys wrestling filled the air of the Uchiha district, making it seem less deserted than it was.
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Kaiyou was sitting at her kitchen table with a large bowl of ramen in front of her. It was the size of a fishbowl, and was take-out from Ichiraku's that her dad had brought home for them. He'd already been briefed about the mission, of course, but now she was filling him in on the details. Or had been, she was just finished, but for one last thing. The joking about Haku, and bragging about her training was over; she was serious.
"Dad, I felt it. Kyuubi. …I I looked at my hands and saw claws, my reflection in the mirror…I wasn't me. I wanted to tear Haku to shreds with my bare hands…and my teeth." She looked down, bangs of reddish-blonde hair falling into her face, hiding her bright blue eyes.
Minato reached over and tilted his daughters' chin up. "But you didn't. You control the demon. It is not able to control you, unless you let it. The seal prevents it from controlling you unless you allow it control over you. Use too much of its chakra, Kaiyou, and it will be able to overpower you-use too much and you open yourself up to it. With training we can help you control it, strengthen your will so that most of its chakra will be yours. Its mind may be ancient, and its chakra powerful; but your body is yours and it cannot change that."
Kaiyou smiled softly. "So I can control the chakra? But I don't even know how to use its chakra. It only came out when I was angry. I was afraid for Sasuke."
Minato grinned. "We'll have to work on that."
XxOOxX
The next few weeks went quickly, and slowly, for Team 7. For Kakashi life went on much the same, but he had more free time. Minato was currently working on Kaiyou's training, helping her with Kyuubi. Sasuke was working with his brother; with an active Sharingan in each eye, those genjutsu that he had been learning would now be more effective, as well as his speed would need working on. He could now encourage the growth of his jutsu library. Kakashi would come in there, soon, but for now he was left alone in regards of Kaiyou and Sasuke's training. Shino was receiving training from his family. Kakashi hadn't quite managed to get it out of the boy what he was training on.
Most of his team he only saw why they showed up for a daily D-rank mission. It was weird not seeing them, after hours on end of being with them for the mission to the Wave. That mission had definitely improved their already commendable teamwork. For three genin so different they sure had learned how to work together. Well, except for Kaiyou and Sasuke fighting. Without that nobody would quite know what to do with themselves.
His genin were, however, due to meet him in an hour. Or rather, three. He was quite happy to get to announce to them that they would be participating in the chuunin exams. His excitement had bounds however; he was quite happy to relax and spend a few extra hours sitting in his chair, at the coffee table, with his book out in front of him, mask hiding his grin and muffling his giggling. Now, normally Kakashi tried to hide his giggling as he read, but in the privacy of his own home…well, there wasn't anybody else to comment, now was there?
A knock sounded on his door only half an hour after the meeting was set to begin. Before he even got up to open the door it opened revealing three familiar heads, a tiny female figure in front. "Nii-san! We're sick and tired of you being late, so we came to get you this morning! Daddy gave me the afternoon off, and you're not going to waste our time! Up! Let's go!"
Kakashi was surprisied, to say the least, to find that the boys were cooperating with her. Shino stole his book and calmly deposited it in his own kunai case. Their mentor could only hope that he would return it later. He didn't want to know how much trouble he'd get in if another of Kaiyou's friends … followed his habits. Minato wasn't thrilled about Kiba's perverted comments in front of his fair-minded daughter, to say the least. Sasuke gripped Kakashi's arms and Kaiyou was pushing him out the door, all while his mind was reeling in shock…
How could they ruin his morning reading?
He'd get the book back from Shino later, and coddle it for the rest of the day. Kaiyou was an evil woman to encourage its theft. Good-humoredly (and keeping his book in sight) he allowed his imouto to push him towards their traditional meeting spot. Arriving there she cheered.
"Yatta! Team 7 officially met for the morning. Now what's the news? C'mon do you have a good mission for us this morning? New stellar training? C'mon tell! Tell!"
Shino and Sasuke just stood behind her and caught each other's eyes with a long-suffering look. Really, they liked the girl. She was a good teammate, and friendly, but did she have to be so energetic all the time?
"Kaiyou it would be advisable for you to be quiet and listen to what Sensei has to say. He is attempting to speak," Shino advised her. Sure enough, for the past minute of Kaiyou's cheering Kakashi had been looking bemused, and had opened his mouth (as shown by a stretching of his face mask) and ended up closing it when her ranting continued.
"Oh," was all she said, as she quieted, with a kindly response by her dear friend Sasuke-, the traditional "Tch, dobe."
"Maa, maaa. I would have told you eventually. You didn't have to drag me away from my pre… you didn't have to drag me, neh?" Two dark haired-heads, and one fair-haired head shook at this statement. Unless they had wanted to wait an additional two hours, yes they did have to drag him to their meeting. "And sorry Seafood, I have no new training to add. Just some paperwork."
The genin groaned, or blanked out their faces' emotion even further, depending upon their nature. Each of them had already learned to loathe paperwork. What sane ninja didn't hate paperwork? …well Iruka didn't seem to mind it too much…he did occasionally help out Kaiyou's dad after all…Kakashi handed it over, and gave them instructions on turning it in before dashing away.
It would be more fun to spy on them for their reactions. Maybe a photo…
Kaiyou just moved to shove the paper into a pocket. She'd get a clone to do it later… But Shino reached over and stayed her hand. "He called a meeting to give us paperwork? Normally we only have to fill out a small mission report, as practice for solo missions or being the team captain."
Sasuke nodded, in a condescending manner. Kaiyou looked at the paper she'd already been about to crumple…then she looked up and grinned into the proud faces of her teammates.
"YES! The chuunin exams! We get to become amazing, awesome chuunin! NO more dumb D-ranks." Suddenly the grins on the boys' faces lit up, then Sasuke settled his down into a smirk. Only so much emotion could be expressed on his face in one day. His high collar hid Shino's smile.
"RAMEN! My treat! Let's get ramen for lunch!"
"It's only eight dobe." Kaiyou looked surprised. "Then breakfast! A snack! Whatever! It's on me!"
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On the way back from the bridge, towards ramen, Kaiyou ran into her little brother--adoptive, that is. Konohamaru and his loyal gang of pranksters. "Nee-san! Let's play ninja! C'mon!"
A small argument ensued. Kaiyou had promised to treat the boys to ramen (which they weren't really hungry for, but she had insisted and it was far too troublesome to dissuade her) but she had also promised to play with Moegi, Udon and the ever-boisterous Konohamaru. Somehow, inexplicably Konohamaru managed to convince Kaiyou to play with him, just for a while. Then they'd all go to ramen together.
Shino and Sasuke would have snuck off, but every time they made an attempt she grabbed the collars of their shirts. "Hey, I still gotta treat you to ramen! We're gonna be chuunin soon! No problem! Just after I turn this little squirt into fish food if he won't tell me!"
The two boys ended up leaning against a tree as their female teammate chased the group of academy students. They chatted lightly and smirked about the situation. Kaiyou had been easy to convince to play; all Konohamaru had had to do was say he knew something about Shikamaru, but that he wouldn't tell her--Kaiyou had immediately yelled to the boys about food later, and that they had better wait, while she … attained the necessary information on Shika-kun.
They were still leaning against the tree when Konohamaru ran face-first in the belly of a tall foreign genin, clad in black…and was that make-up on his face? Konohamaru stumbled back and moved to run, but the foreign boy caught his long scarf. Suddenly Kaiyou was serious, as an older taller blonde came up behind the other ninja. They were both wearing an hourglass hitai-ate.
"Hey! Let him go!" Shino began to walk forward towards his teammate, and Sasuke took a better position, sneaking about, rocks in hand.
"I don't think so! This little gaki stumbled into me. I think I should have some fun." The boy shook Konohamaru. Kaiyou dropped into a fighting stance, Shino standing behind her, in a balanced stance himself.
The other blonde grabbed the boys' shoulder. "Stop it. He wont' like it. Starting fights." Kankurou pushed Temari away. "Just a little fun, it won't hurt…much."
He dropped Konohamaru and reached for the bandaged package on his back. "No stop! You're not using that!" Temari wasn't pleased by her brothers' actions. He would be here soon, and would not like this.
"Bring it on!" Kaiyou's hands reached for a weapon apiece.
Sasuke interrupted the two hot-headed youth's fun, the bully. He threw a rock that squarely hit Kankurou's hand, causing him to release his puppet. (Not that Team 7 were quite sure what the bandaged…thing…was.) "What are you doing in Konoha? Trying to start a war?"
Temari wasn't quite sure what the boy meant by 'trying to start a war', but she did get to feel smug. This boy obviously didn't know about the chuunin exams. Kankurou was too busy rubbing his hand and scowling. "Aww, how cute, the wickle boy thinks he is tough! Well, boy, we're here for the chuunin exams."
Shino spoke up. "Then I would be careful whom you insult. Messing with Kaiyou and Konohamaru is not wise."
Kankurou scowled and reached for his puppet again. "You calling me stupid?"
"Enough!" A wave of bloodlust swept across the genin, making each straighten their backs and go wide-eyed. From the other side of the tree Sasuke had perched in a boy with crimson hair and black-lined eyes dissolved and reappeared on the ground in a torrent of sand. He was the source of bloodlust. "Do not make me angry." Temari and Kankurou stiffened and backed away from their own baby brother. He turned bright turquoise eyes upon Team 7.
"Who are you?"
"Oh! I'm Kaiyou! Should've introduced myself earlier," she babbled. The bloodlust was getting to her mind a little bit. There was something familiar about it, but she wasn't quite sure what.
"Not you, girl. Him," his cold eyes focused on Sasuke. "Uchiha Sasuke and you are?" Sasuke was cold and firm standing behind Kaiyou.
"Subaku no Gaara." The boy vanished in a swirl of sand once again: a low bloodthirsty sentence went unheard through the swirl of sand.
Shino scowled to himself. He hadn't gotten to introduce himself! He never got any of the action…well, at least, he reassured himself, his techniques were still an unknown to the foreign shinobi.
Kaiyou stood shaking off her fear, and the sense of something strangely familiar. As the group turned to walk off, perhaps back towards Ichiraku's, the game of ninja long forgotten, and the three academy students long gone (fled) another face popped into her mind. She turned to the boys. "Why am I always meeting feminine shinobi? Those two both wore make-up and Haku wore pink! PINK! And MAKE-UP! Maybe it's just all foreign shinobi that are feminine…I don't remember Daddy saying anything about that though…" She brightened, shaking off the memories. "Oh well, it's not my fault they're all too girly!"
It seemed that, for now, Kaiyou had no more worries about being unfeminine. She'd just decided that all foreign shinobi were too feminine, and that it wasn't her that was lacking.
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Okay, well that is one more chapter complete. Once again SORRY it took so long to get here! I think you can expect another chapter in two or three days (I'll be especially inclined to be kind and get it out if people tell me how I'm doing.) blah blah blah, END CHAPTER
Simplice :P
