Chapter 9- Old Friends and Memories
I watched the teams walk away from the door and started to laugh.
"You two are pathetic." I said opening the door. Izumo and Kotetsu grinned when they saw me.
"Hey Kaida." Kotetsu said raising a hand in greeting.
"Hey, you two." I said. I closed the door behind them as they turned back into their older selves. "Aww, I liked seeing you guys like that again!" I teased.
"Sorry Kaida, we were only trying to see what the group is like this year." Izumo said. I was wearing leggings and my white flair kimono top.
"Are you observing this part of the Chunin exams?" I asked them. They nodded.
"That's good, think it will be fun?" I asked. They grinned.
"From what we saw so far, hell yeah." Kotetsu said.
"Yes, the contestants seem very good, especially that Hyuga, and the Uchiha." Izumo said.
"What about the other teams? What do you think about them?" I asked.
"I'm kind of weary about the Sound, they are a new village and I don't really trust them much." Izumo stated. "The other villages seem pretty normal."
"Well, except the Sand, they have one group that creep even me out." Kotetsu said. I nodded absorbing the information. I'll check out the Sound Shinobi later. I can honestly say, that I don't know much about it. Tatsuya refused to give me information, telling me that I shouldn't worry about it. I kind of wish that I didn't listen to him.
"Anyway, why are you here, Kaida?" Kotetsu asked.
"And here I thought I was loved." I teased. The men laughed. "Ibiki asked that I helped him with the exam." I made the few hand signs for the transformation jutsu, before disappearing in a puff of smoke. When I remerged, I looked like a different person. I was dressed in a short black Yukata with fishnet leggings. I had small black boots with bladed knives on my calves. I had a blood red obi and had multiple senbon stitched into the material. The shoulders and arms were left free and both of them were flesh. I still had my wrist, ankle, thigh, and bicep weights but they were shown, rather than hidden like in my regular outfit. Both my arms were covered in multiple scars and was my neck. My straight black hair, was pulled into a high tail had now had curls in it. My eyes were a brown like Tatsuya's, red sweeping through it. My face had minor changes to it, making me look like a different person. My right ear was pierced from bottom to top for a total of 10 piercings. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. I took one out and lit it.
"What do you think? Changed enough?" I asked the two men. They grinned.
"I think you look better the way you usually are." Izumo pointed out.
"But you do look good," Kotetsu pointed out. "Just way more dangerous."
"Good. That's what I'm aiming for." I told them. "I have some people I know in the crowd today, so I don't want them noticing me." they nodded before another Chunin popped their head into the room.
"Kotetsu, Izumo, let's go." He said. He took one look at me and gave me a questionable glance.
"Do I know you?" He looked at my forehead to see my insignia.
"Yes we do, let's go." Kotetsu said pulling him out of the room.
"I'll see you later, Kaida." Izumo said as they left the room.
I sighed, leaning back on the podium of the class and continued to smoke my cigarette. Yes, it was real, I don't smoke often, but I do smoke. It's one of those things that I picked up from Tatsuya.
The Chunin exams was something I could never forget. When I took them it was in Kiri, there was a bunch of us who had graduated together in it. Just off the top of my head I could remember Miku, Kaname, Itachi, Shusui, Kotetsu, Izumo and others there. It was pretty fun, now that I think about it. It was also fairly easy. The first exam was a written exam, then it was a survival test then we were pitted against each other for the entertainment of spectators.
The written test was a piece of cake, it was a simple exam trying to test our knowledge. The survival mission was a bit harder. It was a sort of capture the flag type exercise. Each team had a scroll housed in a building. Each team had to guard the scroll in that building and get another from the other teams. The final exam was fun as well, I had fought a Kiri Genin, he was a good fighter, and it was a fair fight, in one of the final fights I was pinned against Itachi. He beat me, but that was only because I was not supposed to show my full strength, due to being Tatsuya's student. Tatsuya had been there watching us, but h had asked the Hokage to have someone else pose as our Jonin sensei. He didn't want people to know that we were his students. Few people know that I was we were his students back then. The Hokage, Kakashi, Ibiki, Danzo, Lydia, Itachi, and his parents. No one else knew. If someone questioned on how it wasn't public knowledge who our teacher was, we told them we were immediately accepted into Anbu. We had permission from the Hokage to say that.
I sighed. Those were the days where almost every day was fun. Of course we had those few missions where it sucked, but being around Itachi, Shusui, Miku, Kaname and everyone else who graduated with me, made me feel more my age. I loved it. I especially loved those times when it was just Itachi and I…
I closed my eyes and exhaled. Let's let my mind go elsewhere. I didn't want to stray down that path at the moment.
I opened my eyes and walked out of the room. I made my way up to the next floor and stood by the door to the examination room. I could already hear Ibiki scolding one of the contesters.
I let a grin spread across my transformed face. This is going to be fun.
-.-
I opened the door just as Ibiki finished organizing everyone's place in the room. I felt eyes on me and grinned to my partner in crime. He studied me and I walked towards him.
"You're late, brat." He growled out to me.
"Meh, Stop being such a grump Ibiki." I told him. My comment gave him a hint of my identity. I walked over to him and stood beside him. I could hear Kotetsu and Izumo snicker, knowing that I was just having fun.
"So a fair out written exam? You're so boring!" I told the T&I commander, he sighed.
Everyone settled down around the room, and watched our exchange.
"Something like that." He told me. I looked at the desk behind me and sat on it.
I grabbed an extra paper from Kotetsu's hands as he passed by Ibiki and started to look over it. For Genin, these questions were really hard.
"Are you kidding me Ibiki!" I grumbled, reading them over once again.
Ibiki smirked at me.
"What? The questions too hard for you?" He grinned, I rolled my eyes and pointed my fingers at him like a gun.
"As if, I think these questions are too easy." I told him. "I could have done this even before I was in the academy." He raised an eyebrow.
"You shouldn't lie, K." He told me, catching my lie. "You really suck at it." I stuck my tongue out at him.
"Fine, I could answer these questions by the time I was in my third year in the academy." I said. He studied my face trying to find the lie. But I wasn't. My brother had a lot of books around the house, I was able to read by three, and to practice I would read these books. I never had those books with stories about Junichi going to the store, or Tama the Nin-Kitty. I was raised on educational books, reading over my brother's shoulder. Or the stories he told me were actually, real situations, or his own research on how to get stronger. I wasn't lying.
"You would." He snorted. "Fucking Prodigy." I shrugged before turning to the class. I watched them stare at us, a few were talking among themselves.
"Listen up everyone!" Ibiki yelled. "There are a few rules that you need to be aware of and I don't answer any questions, so you better pay attention the first time around!"
Everyone snapped their attention to him as he slammed chalk onto the chalk board. I watched him from the corner of my eye, while the other was glancing over at the Chunin's who was trying not to laugh. "Alright, rule number 1 is this," he started to write on the board. "The written part of the exam is conducted on a point reduction system that some of you might be used to. You all begin the test with of perfect score of ten points. One point will be deducted per each answer you get wrong. So if you miss 3, you final score will be seven." He turned around and looked over at the class. I couldn't help but admire his writing, mine was chicken scratch, hence the reason I will never try to copy someone's handwriting.
"Rule number 2, teams will pass or fail passed on the total score of all three members." A series of muttering ran across the room. I couldn't help but snicker as Sakura slammed
her head onto her desk.
"WHAT WAIT A SECOND, YOU MEAN WE ALL GET SCORED BASED ON A TEAM." She yelled.
"Yes, Sakura! That's what he said." I answered for Ibiki as he opened his mouth.
"BUT." Ibiki cut her off
"SILENCE" he blew.
"I have my reasons, so shut up and listen." He growled. Sakura didn't say anything after that.
"You're so mean, Ibiki." I chuckled.
"Shut up, K." he said.
"Grump." I sang. He ignored me.
"Rule number three, the sentinels you see around the room are there to watch you carefully for any sites of cheating." I could see the smirk which fell across his lips as he pronounced the word 'cheating'. "As soon as they spot you, they will subtract two points from the culprits score." More muttering fell from a few lips in the room.
"Be warned, their eyes are extremely sharp, and if they catch you five times, you will be dismissed before the tests are even scored." He continued.
"Cheating makes civilian babies cry." I muttered, Ibiki coughed into his hands, trying to cover up his laughter. The rest of the room didn't hear me, as they studied the Chunin and Jonin's placed around the room. The Sentinels, in turn, were acting like they were predators, grinning and attempting to scare the Genin with their pencils and clipboards. The situation was quite amusing.
"Anyone who is foolish enough to be caught cheating by the sentinels, doesn't deserve to be here."
"I got my eye on you guys." Kotetsu grinned. The Genin gasped and I couldn't help but spurt out a laugh.
I crossed my legs and leaned back on my hands. I glared over the room and recognized various Chunin in the groups such as Okei and Hayase, two men who I had graduated the academy with.
"If you want to be considered shinobi, then show us what exceptional shinobi you can be." I could see the sweat pouring off their foreheads.
"One more thing, if anyone should get a zero and fail the test, then the entire team fails."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY!" Sakura yelled. I grinned watching Sasuke and Sakura glare threateningly at Naruto. That's true, he is the type of person to get a zero on a test. Ibiki chose to ignore Sakura's outburst in favor of continuing to talk.
"The last question will not be given out until the last fifteen minutes of the testing period. You'll have one hour total." Ibiki looked around intimidating everyone with his glare.
"Begin." He said just as the clock struck noon. I witnessed a great wave of papers as the room turned over their tests. As they got started I watched faces fall. It was quite funny. I kept a grin on my face. I leaned back and grabbed one of the extra pencils from the edge of the extra desk. I then proceeded to fill out each and every question with the correct answers. Once done i wrote a message at the top.
What do you want me to do? I folded the message in half and passed it to my colleague.
"Show off." He grumbled as he looked over the questions. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a beetle float over from the other side of the room and flew over my paper. I reached over and plucked it from the air. I brought it in front of my face and looked over the crowd. My eyes caught a twitched in a boy's face he wore dark glasses with a turtle neck coat. Keeping my eyes on the glasses, as if I was looking into his eyes, I squished the bug and smiled.
"Kotetsu, number 126." I called from the front. Kotetsu blinked before smirking over at me.
"Gottcha." He called.
"Why'd you call him out?" Ibiki asked standing next to me. We were talking in hushed voices and quiet enough that no one would be able to hear us.
"He was being too daring. I did that on purpose." I told the informant.
"He's a Genin." He snorted. I looked over at him.
"That's exactly why he shouldn't have done it. It's better to go for the information that you can get without risk, then taking the risk and going for the information from the people you know have way more skilled then you. Your chances of getting that information falls from 80% to 40%. Then because he actually tried to go right to the source after the person deliberately said they know the information, and thus attempting to draw people out. That chance falls to like a 5% chance of getting the information." I told him. He grinned. "Then there's also the chance that the answers are wrong, therefore 3ish%."
"I really want you in my team." I rolled my eyes.
"So what do you want me to do?" he nodded to the registration sheets.
"I want to know abilities." He told me. I grabbed the sheets and flipped through them. They were the identification sheets for every Genin in the room.
"Got it." I folded my legs under me and stared to sift through the papers.
"What can you do to freak them out?" he asked as I wrote down the abilities of the Genin that I already knew.
"Can I distract them?" I asked he nodded. So I started to hum as I did my work. With the only sound in the room being pencil on paper I was clearly heard. My voice was soft but threatening as I watched the Genin.
And you
Once said
I wish you dead
You sinner
I'll never be more
Then a wolf at your door
For dinner
My ugly handwriting scratched Yamanaka-Mind Transfer techniques on one of the sheets. I read through Ino Yamanaka's sheet and smiled. So she's Asuma's student.
And if I see you 'round
Like a ghost in my town
You liar
I'll leave with your head
Yeah, I'll leave you for dead
Sire
I looked up just in time to witness light bounding off metal planks near the lights. A small sparkle let me know that ninja wire had been placed on them. It led to a brown hair girl with two buns. I found her registration paper and grinned. She's Guy's student. I wrote down a specialization in weapons. I could see Kaname in her, in a situation like this, and the way she solved it, was exactly the way my best friend would have. There was also the scrolls that littered her waist, lots of weapons were probably in there. I had experience with those.
I felt various eyes on me as I continued to sing.
And you once said
I wish you dead
You sinner
I'll never be more
Then a wolf at your door
For dinner
I watched Gaara touch his eye and concentrate. I concentrated my sensory range on him, blocking out the most of my senses. I felt him leak out chakra into the air. It floated around and I realised that the chakra was actually in his sand. I opened my eyes just in time to see one of the participants start rubbing his eyes. Sneaky little shit. I had already filled out his ability so I moved on.
And if I see you 'round
Like a ghost in my town
You liar
I'll leave with your head
I'll leave you for dead
Sire
My attention then fell to Kankuro who had asked to be excused. He was led away by a sentinel. Wait. I bit my lip in concentration. The Chunin wasn't familiar to me, it could be a new one but the two lines down his cheek said otherwise. I had almost forgotten about his bandaged puppet, it wasn't with him. That was his plan. I shook my head. He's also a sneaky little bastard. Those siblings are quite something. I wrote it on his paper and handed it over to the T&I Commander. He raised an eyebrow and attempted to calm his grin.
You were
Sharp as a knife to get me
As I watched the Sound ninja, Kotetsu and Izumo's warnings were still in my head.
You were
A wolf in the night to fetch me back
The wishes I've made are too vicious to tell
Everyone knows that I'm going to hell
And if it's true
I'll go there with you
I smirked as I saw people flinch at my words. I had purposely articulated the more violent words differently, weaving my killer intent into my voice. I knew that those who were stupid enough to let my words bother them would mess up.
"Number 125, 60, 2, you're disqualified." Izumo said with a grin. He winked at me and I did so back. It was all in the way you speak, and carry yourself that can destabilise people. That's the trick to being a great manipulator.
And you once said
I wish you dead
You sinner
I saw the sound Ninja close their eyes as if listening to the people around them. That's it. They were paying attention to the scratching of the pencils. That's how they were getting their information.
I'll never be more
Then a wolf at your door
For dinner
Sasuke was using his sharingan.
And if I see you 'round
Like a ghost in my town
You liar
I'll leave with your head
I'll leave you for dead
Sire
I saw a Hyuga activate his Byakugan and focused on other people's tests in front of him. I stopped for all of two seconds trying to think of who that boy could be. Giving up, I went through my papers until I landed on two that were in the room. I recognized the girl as Hinata, Hiashi's daughter. I studied the boy again. Hizashi's son. It's Neji. I circled his last name and wrote Byakugan.
I know
My way through the night to your door
You know
The blood that I'm owned
Is all
Yours
The wishes I've made are too vicious to tell
The devil already
He knows me so well
And if it's true
I'll go there with you
I grinned as I noticed both Sakura and Hinata, writing away without cheating. They knew the answers themselves. I was happy for them. They were smart. My eyes followed to my youngest brother and saw him freaking out. His teeth were chattering, and from it's shadow, His leg was bouncing.
And you
Once said I wish you dead
You Sinner
Ino had used her mind jutsu on two other people. I recognized Shikamaru from the few times I met him. I worked with Shikaku a few time, and by the looks of it, Shikamaru could be his twin if he wasn't so young. As soon as she finished writing the answers on his paper, she released him and he yawned. He looked over the questions, made a few adjustments and put his head on his arms. Smartass.
I found his paper and circled his last name again.
I'll never be more than a wolf at your door for dinner
And if I see you 'round
Like a ghost in my town,
You liar
I'll leave with your head
Yeah I'll leave you for dead
Sire
I wrote down what I knew about the Akamichi's on Choji's registration form and looked over the Genin again. I spotted a boy in a green jumpsuit and cringed. That has got to be Guy's student. I found him in my papers and read over his file. Yup, I'm right. I wrote down Taijutsu master before looking back up.
And you
Once said
I wish you dead,
You sinner
I'll never be more than a wolf at your door
For dinner
I looked over at the clock. It was about time for Ibiki to move on. My eyes trailed around the room again and landed on a familiar face. I ruffled through my papers and pulled out the one I was looking for. I looked back up at Kabuto Yakushi before writing on his registration paper. Medical-nin, very skilled, be cautious. I wasn't going to sell him out just yet. I'd have to have a little chat with him first.
And if I see you around
Like a ghost in my town, you sinner
I'll leave with your head, yeah I'll leave you for dead
Sire~
I ended the song and looked up to the group in front of me. Whether they were sweating bullets because of the test or because of my killer intent, it didn't matter, they were nervous.
"There's a reason I don't want to get on your bad side." Ibiki muttered from beside me. I smirked, knowing full well that he also felt it. The only people I spared, was the sentinels, they had a job to do so they couldn't be distracted.
"Alright! Listen up!" Ibiki called. Everyone jumped, and was immediately on edge as he manipulated the tension in the room. "Here's the tenth and final question."
"But before I give you the question, there are some more rules you have to be aware of." He paused for effect just as Kankuro walked back in from the bathroom.
"Ah, made it just in time" Ibiki said, directing his attention to the newcomer. "I hope you found your trip to the bathroom… enlightening." I choked back a laugh as Kankuro froze. I could tell he was unsure of what he was going to do. The sentinel of his row looked at me and raised an eyebrow. I shook my head. Give this guy a chance, if I didn't already know that he was a puppet master, he would have gotten away with it.
"Well, take your seat." Ibiki grumbled. He turned his attention back to the group, but I kept my eye on him. He walked passed his sister's desk and passed her a scroll.
Ibiki turned towards the window, as if he was watching what was going on outside and continued to talk.
"These rules are unique to question ten, listen carefully, and try not to let them frighten you."
Let the games begin. I smirked. May the odds be ever in your favour. There is a reason why this guy is now the head of the Leaf's ANBU torture and interrogation division. In the three years between my training with Tatsuya, I've watch him crack down on people, and have worked with him in the field, his favorite method has always been psychological torture.
"Very well then, rule number one. Each of you is free to choose whether or not you are given the final question." He paused.
"Oh, so what's the catch, what happens if we don't want to do it? What happens then?" Temari shouted. As blunt as ever.
"If you choose not to take the tenth question, regardless of your answers for the other nine, you will get zero. In other words, you fail, and that means both teammates will fail as well." Ibiki replied. Everyone erupted into angry chatter.
I couldn't help but snicker, along with each and every sentinel. We knew exactly what was coming next.
"No so fast." He called. "You didn't let me finish. If you do accept the question, but answer it incorrectly, you will not only fail. But also be barred from taking the Chunin exams ever again."
"That's bull man! That's ridiculous" a boy with a dog on his head said. "What kind of bogus rule is that! There is a lot of people here who have taken the test before." So he's the Inuzuka. I went through my papers and found his sheet. I wrote notes on what I knew about the family before looking back up to catch Ibiki's response.
"I guess you are just unlucky." He grinned. He was enjoying this too much. "I wasn't making the rules before, but I am now. But of course if you don't want to take it, you don't have to." I witnessed all the faces of the Genin drop as they contemplated giving up.
"You guys should keep in mind that this by passing this question essential for being a Chunin." I told them as Ibiki and I assessed their reactions.
"If you're not feeling confident, by all means, skip it, you can come back and try again next year." Ibiki laughed.
"Now if you're ready, the tenth and final question, those who do not want to take it, raise your hand. Your number will be recorded and then you are free to go."
And like that, at least a quarter of the Genin left the exam room. They would raise their hands, the sentinels would take down their number, I would put their registration sheet aside and they would leave. I froze as I watched Naruto slowly start to raise his hand. He's not going to quit, is he? No, he wouldn't do that. His hand stopped before he slammed it on the table, gathering everyone's attention.
"Don't underestimate me, I don't quit and I don't run. You can act tough all you want. You guys aren't going to scare me off. No way. I don't care if I do get stuck as a Genin for the rest of my life." He yelled "I'll still be Hokage one day."
He sat back down with a 'humph' and I bit my cheek not to laugh. That was so him, he hasn't really changed since he was young. Maybe a bit more foolish but he's still him.
Speaking of little brothers I glanced over at Sasuke just in time to see him sigh, seems he has figured Ibiki out. Sakura beamed at Naruto in relief.
"This decision could be one that could change your life. If for any reason, you'd rather quit, now's your last chance." Ibiki said, trying to discourage him. He didn't buy it.
"No way, I never go back on my word. That's the way of the ninja" Naruto responded.
I watched in awe as all the tension in the room dispersed. And everyone's eyes settled with determination. Good job Naruto.
"Remarkable that little outburst has given the others some backbone. He's inspired them into staying. 78 left, more than I expected. But I don't see everyone wavering. I think that's it." Ibiki muttered to me. He looked around the room and the sentinels gave him their okay to finish the exam. He looked over at me. "What do you think?"
I took another sweep across the room, before I nodded to him. No one will give up after a speech like that.
"Well then, I admire your determination, if nothing else. For those of you remaining, there is only one more thing left to do, and that is for me to tell you..." He paused for effect. I couldn't help but snicker as everyone was left anticipating the question.
"That you have all passed the first exam."
I couldn't help but snicker at the expression as they stared in shock at their proctor.
"Hold on what just happened!" Sakura yelled. "What do you mean we passed! Where's the tenth question!"
"You can't take a gift without question can you?" I called out with a grin. I glanced over at Ibiki to see him smiling. He was loving every minute of this. After all he is a sadist.
"There never was one!" he laughed. "Not a written one at least. Your decision to stay was the answer to the tenth question."
"Wait a second!" Temari yelled. "So the other nine questions that you gave us was a waste of time! Is that what you ware saying!"
"Oh no, not at all!" my partner in crime said. "Quite the opposite, the first nine question had an important overriding purpose. It was to test your ability to discreetly gather strategic intelligence under the adverse circumstances."
"Well that clears up everything!" Temari muttered, she was still in shock.
"Let me explain, my purpose was not just to test you as an individual, but as a team and how well you function as a part of that team. That's why the test was scored on a team basis. So you'd know that everything you did, or failed to do would directly affect your teammates. I wanted to see how you'd handle the pressure." Ibiki explained.
"Yeah I figured it was something like that, that's why I kept my cool." Naruto said. I rolled my eyes. That guy's lies are as obvious as mine.
"The first nine questions on the test were difficult, in fact as you may have realised, too difficult for any Genin to be expected to solve." His eyes turned to me. "That is unless you're a genius,"
"Aw, you think I'm a genius!" I teased, "How flattering." He ignored me.
"I imagine, that most of you came to that conclusion. That you had to cheat if you had any chance of passing." He stated. "The fact is that the test was designed in fact to encourage cheating, it almost demanded it."
Of course it would have done you little good, unless you had someone to cheat from. So I disguised two Chunin who already know the answers and had them sit in with you.
"Oh come on, I wasn't fooled for a second, you'd have to be a complete dufus not to see it, isn't that right Hinata?" Naruto chuckled nervously.
"Those who were caught at it failed." Ibiki continued. "it's better not to cheat, then to cheat clumsily." He let his hands go to the back of his head and he started to untie his bandana. Everyone stared at him in shock.
"Information, it can be the most valuable weapon in battle. How well you gather intelligence can determine whether a mission's a failure or success." I studied the wounds that littered Ibiki's head. That must have hurt. Even with my gates, that would have been hard to get through. "There will be times, where you'll have to risk your life to get it."
"Stop it! please, no! no! NOOOOOO." I watched in horror as an unknown man took out a mental brander from the furnace and approached Miku. My mouth was dry and I lost my voice from screaming the day before.
I shook the memories out of my head.
"Always bare this in mind, disinformation can be worst then no information at all. It can lead to the death of comrades, or the loss of a village. That's why I put you in the position where you had to gather accurate intelligence. Cheat in order to survive"
And that is why those who were not good enough at it were weeded out. Leaving the rest of you."
"Ibiki is right." I told the room. All eyes fell on me. "I've witness what information does to people. I've witnessed people being tortured and I've been tortured myself. What you have learn here, the need for gathering information from a distance without others noticing is the more efficient way then forcing others to give information. This way they don't know your there and therefore can't leave you will false information. Torture doesn't have that option. They know what information there are giving you, and if they can deal with pain, then they can mislead you or overall not tell you anything." I looked over the room.
"In my personal experience, I refused to give information, twenty-four hours into the session, they resulted to bringing in one of my comrades and made me watch as they started to skin him alive." I told the room. This had happened when I was doing some undercover work for the Raikage, apparently there was an organization that was selling people into slavery, I was supposed to bring down the whole thing. I went in undercover as a slave, and created a rebel population. Unfortunately, I was brought in on a whim to try and get information. They didn't know who or what I really was. "It was gruesome, but before he was unsaveable I gave them false information. Two days later, the whole organization fell apart because I hinted at the involvement of one of the guards. By not being able to trust their own men, they whole place became disorganized." I told the Genin. Ibiki stared at me and smirked.
"Just like you, Took down an organization without barely lifting a finger." He muttered. I smirked.
"It's not just your own life that's on the line when it comes to information, but it's your comrades, your friends, your family, the stability of your village." I finished.
"Okay, but I still don't get what the tenth question thing was about." Temari asked.
"You don't? But the tenth question was what this exam was all about. Surely you see that!" Ibiki said.
"Sure, but explain it anyway!" Sakura called. They really don't get it.
"As I said before, the goal was not only to test you as individuals, but also as part of a squad. The final question gave you two choices. Both difficult." He lifted two of his fingers in the air. "You could chose to play it safe and skip the question, thou it meant that both you and your teammates would be failed. Or you try and answer, but only if you got it wrong, you would lose your chance at ever being Chunin. It was a no win situation."
A few faces lit up in realisation and I looked down at my feet. Yeah I've been put in loads of those situations. Tatsuya is an asshole.
"But it was a situation in which Chunin have to face every day." He walked down the chalkboard before stopping. "To steal a document from an enemy stronghold, you have no idea how many ninja the enemy has or how heavily armed they are. Furthermore, you have reason to believe that the enemy expects you. That you may very well be walking blindly into a trap. Now do you have to option of turning back, and taking a pass on this insane mission? Saying that my comrades and I want to live to fight another day? Can you chose to avoid danger? No, there will be many missions that will seem almost suicidal if you think about it. But you do not think about it. You think only of the goal, and achieving it though courage and discipline." Ibiki said. Everyone looked at him with a mixture of awe and restlessness.
"These are the qualities of a Chunin squad leader. Those who chose the safe of two paths. Those whose determination falters in the face of adversity. Those who would put their comrade's lives in jeopardy in worrying about their own. Whose who would save their own necks at the price of sacred honor. Will not be able to call themselves Chunin. At least as long as I'm here. As for the rest of you, you successfully answered the tenth question I put to you. You have earned your right to continue on to the next step. You have passed through the first gate. "
All of a sudden something hit the glass window with a thump right behind Izumo. Everyone looked over at the window.
"I was wondering when he would show up." I said. Ibiki raised an eyebrow in question.
"What would?" he asked. I grinned at Izumo.
"Can you open the window please?" Izumo stared at me like I was crazy, but opened the window anyway. A few seconds later a raven flew into the room. I got off the desk and raised my arm. It circled the room two times before perching on my arm. It surveyed the room before it cocked its head. I brought him to my face and put my lips to his ear.
"Quietly." I whispered. I watched the raven flap its wings in frustration, before it took off across the room. The raven circled a total of three people, and dived playfully over five.
"Get away you!" one of the Genin cried.
"What are you doing you silly bird." I called. It seemed to enjoy toying with some of the Genin. It croaked before coming back to me. My eyes trailed to the people that it circled. I knew that meant that they would die soon. The Raven had previous showed me the deaths of three other members of this group. Out of 153, six will die. That's not bad, these Chunin exams can be so much worse.
He croaked and waddled its way up to my shoulder.
Those who he had tried to faint attack, were people who enjoyed murdering others. I studied them. The raven didn't need to show me Gaara, I already knew that. Speaking of the kid, I think he was the only one of the three that is suspicious of my appearance. Probably the bird's fault.
The next was Kabuto, I already knew he was a killer, he was in a partnership with Orochimaru. I had to be careful with him. The next three were sound ninja. One was actually the sound ninja I had observed during the test. I'll check out him and his teammates later. The person that was puzzling me. He was a ninja of Kusagakure he didn't look suspicious at all but I couldn't help feeling as if something was similar about him. I reached out with my sensory range and felt out his chakra. Yes, I definitely know him, but I don't know where I've met him.
Ibiki raised an eyebrow and I shrugged.
"You can't control Ravens Ibiki," I told him. "I'm still trying out to learn how to communicate with them" He snorted in laughter before turning back to the class. He looked them over and they all stared at him wanting to know what else he had to say
"I hear by declare this part of the Chunin selection exams completed." He smiled. "There is nothing left but to wish you all good luck."
"ALRIGHT! We did it that's one down!" Naruto yelled. "YEAH! WOOHOO!"
I chuckled. Ibiki looked over at me and I shrugged. Naruto was always like that. I felt a foreign chakra coming rushing towards the room from the window. A split second decision had me jump forward so I landed on the desk in front of me. At the same time, Ibiki stepped back.
It crashed through the window. I watched as it unraveled the cloth from its body and shot kunai from the corners. Realising who it was I jumped off the desk and walked towards the sentinels and out of her point of view.
"Heads up boys and girls, this is to time to be celebrating," the woman said. She wore a long tan jacket with a fishnet shirt and shorts. She also had a right orange skirt on. "I'll be your next proctor, Anko Mitarashi."
The large cloth behind her had "Here comes the second test's proctor, Anko Mitarashi. Ready for the second test!" she didn't let them respond.
"Good!" she cried. "Let's go! Follow me!" I snickered from next to Izumo. Hopped onto the open window sill next to him and watched her. No one in the class responded.
"You're Early, Again." Ibiki growled from the edge of the curtain. He glared at her.
She blushed, finally realising it. Ibiki walked around the curtain as gracefully as he could before standing beside Anko.
"How many are there?" she asked in surprise.
"Ibiki! You let all these guys pass!" she scolded. "Your test was too easy! You must be getting soft." I snickered at the thought of the T&I commander getting soft.
"Or it could be a stronger group of candidates this year!" he mentioned, he looked over at me as if to get my opinion. I nodded. These are some strong contesters. Anko hummed in thought.
"They sure don't look it." she observed. "Trust me, before I'm done with them, more than half will be eliminated."
She looked over the group some more.
"This is going to be fun." She snickered. "Alright you maggots! You got it easy so far, but things are going to be different first thing in the morning. I'll let your squad leader know where to meet me. Dismissed~"
Everyone sat there unsure what to do for a good few minutes, it was kind of funny to watch.
"What are you waiting for, get going!" Anko barked. As if it woke them up, the candinates started to up and leave. That also meant that we could talk among ourselves.
"So what are your plans later?" Izumo asked me, I shrugged.
"I need to talk to Kaname and Miku, they were sent on a mission and I haven't been able to probably finally talk to tell them that I've moved." I told him. From the corner of my eye, I saw Kotetsu stretch before getting off his chair and coming towards us.
"What about you two?" I asked.
"We are going out for some Sake, want to come?" Kotetsu said as he neared.
"I might join you, what time are you going at?" I asked.
"In a few hours, we need to confirm the candidates. Then talk with Anko before we can go. We are helping in the next stage as well." Izumo said.
"Really!" I said surprised. "Lucky, I'll find you guys if I can get out, Ibiki needs me for the assessment. We are going over the way people were getting information to further the leaf's knowledge about the other nations, and to build a better profile on our new Chunin candidates." I told them.
"So that's why you were here!" Kotetsu said, yawning. He looked like he wanted to take a nap.
"Yeah," I said. I caught Ibiki's eye as the last Genin left the room and he cocked his head to the side. The raven on my shoulder rubbed it head on mine affectionately before it jumped off my shoulder and swooped outside. I watched it fly away before excusing myself.
"Sorry, guys. Ibiki's calling me." I said as I walked away. "I'll catch up with you later."
I approached the proctors from behind Anko.
"What's up?" I asked the sadist.
Anko turned towards me and narrowed her eyes.
"Who the hell are you?" she asked. I knew about her, but I wasn't sure she knew about me. I've mentioned it before I was always a sort of shadow to Itachi and Shusui, everyone knew I was there and that I was talented, but never paid much attention to me. I looked around the room, making sure that no Genin were left before I let my transformation drop.
"Kaida?" she whispered in surprised. "Well damn! I knew you were back but I knew thought I'd run into you here!" she said with a grin. Okay maybe she did know who I was, it was still kind of surprising.
"Hello Anko, it was nice to see you too." I smiled. She grinned slapping me on the back.
"You really grew up!" she said with a smile. I gave a nervous laugh.
"I'd say the same, but you pretty much look the same as you did before I left." I told her. To that she laughed.
"That's true."
"Kaida, I want to know your impressions of the group." Ibiki asked me. I nodded before tapping my chin in thought.
"Like you said before, these guys are a strong group. I was particular impressed with Our Rookie 9." I told the proctors.
"Rookie 9?" Anko asked, clearly amused. "Already giving them nicknames?"
"What you don't like it?" I laughed. "This generation is going to be be something."
"Why do you say that?" Ibiki asked. I held up nine fingers.
"The rookie nine, is made up of a very good line up of people." I told them. "Starting with team 8, we have Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame, and Hinata Hyuga. This is a very good and a very strong tracking unit. You have the Inuzuka nose, with the bugs of the Aburame heir, and the Hyuga's Byakugan. They are also skilled as a sensory unit."
I put down three fingers. "Next is Team 10, the young Ino-shika-cho generation. Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, and Choji Akimichi. Off the bat, they are all heirs to their own clans. Second they were trained to work together from birth since their fathers are our Ino-shika-cho group, and therefore have great team work. Although they are not a good team to fight upfront in battle, this team is great for stalling or capturing enemies."
I put down three more. "And finally we have Team 7, one glance make it look like it was whoever was left over. Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sakura Haruno."
"At one glance?" Ibiki asked. I nodded.
"These three don't really get along, Sasuke and Naruto are always arguing and Sakura always has to try and break up the fights. Sakura has the brains of the group. Sasuke is the heir to the Uchiha clan, and had top scores in the academy, while Naruto was dead last, the only thing that he seems to have going for him is his will to keep going. But when they want to, my brother has told me that they have amazing teamwork, and can work together without even speaking. Like its second nature to them. They aren't left overs, if anything I'd say that the Hokage placed them together for a reason." I mentioned.
"Maybe." Ibiki shrugged.
"Kaida! We are heading to the bar in an hour! Invite Miku and Kaname!" Kotetsu yelled. I raised my hand.
"Yeah, I will." I called. "Just don't get into a fight with Miku when she drinks!" they laughed before leaving the room.
"You're going out drinking?" Anko said, she looked excited.
"Yeah, just to catch up with them." I told her. I raised my eyebrow in question.
"You shouldn't have said that." Ibiki muttered.
"I want to come!" she said ignoring his comment. I blinked in surprise.
"Sure," I said. "But you still have to be a proctor tomorrow."
"Damn.." Anko mused. "Oh well, I'll be there!" she left soon after.
"There's a large chance she's going to be hung over tomorrow because of you." Ibiki told me. I looked over at him and grinned.
"Oh well." I shrugged.
"What did you think about the others in the group?" he asked me. I handed him the registration papers.
"There are some strong ones in the group. Guy's team, one of the Sound ninja teams, and the Sand team with the puppet. Those are the ones who I would bet on along with the Rookie 9." I told him. I watched him go through the papers.
"There is one person in the room that I am not allowed to talk about." I said quietly. His eyes snapped towards me. "Possible two."
"How much of a threat are they." Ibiki said seriously.
"If you don't weed the person out soon, something big might happen. " I told him. "Or it may not. I don't have much information myself on the guy, just a few details."
I left him to focus on that and left.
-.-
"Hey Kaida-chan!" Miku called from inside Kaname's apartment.
"What? Kaida's here?" Kaname called. I closed the apartment door and walked towards the bedroom.
Peeking inside, I saw Kaname half-naked, pulling off her Anbu gear and Miku sitting on her bed dressed in a simple blue kimono.
"Hey you two." I smiled.
"Yo!" Kaname called but tripped over her pants and fell onto the floor, causing Miku and I to start laughing.
"And you yell at Miku for being clumsy." I snickered. Kanmae glared before pulling on her pants.
"What's up." she growled.
"When's your lease up?" I asked her. She looked at me questionably as she threw on a shirt.
"Next month, why?" she asked.
"I was given a clan house by the Hokage, I want to know if you guys want to live in it." I asked them both. Miku thought fast and blurred the sound in the room with a seal.
"Is it only to live there?" Kaname asked, I knew she was suspecting me.
"That's your choice." I told her. "I feel as if I don't have a choice in this, I've already been pulled into this. I'm giving you guys the choice."
"I'll come." Miku said, "I like the idea of having a permanent sleep over." I smiled and looked over at Kaname.
"Of course I'll live with you," Kaname sighed, "But I'm not sure if I want to involve myself with this."
I nodded, getting exactly what she meant.
"I'm not going to ask you guys to get involved, and even if you do decide to I'm not going to force you into anything." I told them. "This is my responsibility."
My best friends nodded, they knew I'd never force them.
"Are you really going to follow in his footsteps?" Kaname asked me. I shook my head, with a grin.
"I'm planning of cleaning it up a bit." I told them. "Starting with demanding all information before I even think of taking up the missions. I will also be rejecting missions. That is something that Tatsuya never does."
"What about the killing of innocents?" Miku asked.
"As long as I can help it, there will be as few as possible." I told her. "Unless I can't help it. I won't."
"What would you want us to do?" Kaname asked. "If we decided to help."
My bit my lip in thought.
"I'm not sure." I said. "Information gathering, Fetching messages, things like that. Nothing you don't want to do."
She nodded.
"What happens if you get a mission for someone that we have wanted to fight?" the weapon lover said.
"I'd give it to you if you want, but there would have to rules, like keeping the identity of Cerberus quiet." I told her surprised that she'd even want to kill someone.
"So Cerberus would become a group effort." Miku asked. I nodded.
"What about our place here? In Kohona?"
"Cerberus is already being protected in the village." I told her. "We still are Jonin of the village and have immunity from harsh questioning by the Hokage, or anyone else, as long as we can, once in a while, guide them with information that we are not bound in secrecy with. Cerberus' identity will never be known as long as we are around. There are those that know I'm working with it, but I have secrets from them and have their silence."
We fell into silence. I let the two think. It's a big decision that they didn't have to go through.
"I'm going to take time and think about it." Kaname sighed.
"I will as well." Miku said. I nodded accepting their answer.
"Good. I want you to think about this closely." I told them. I got up and stretched.
"Now," I grinned. "Kotetsu and Izumo want to go drinking." My teammates looked at each other and grinned as well.
"Just them?" Miku asked.
"Anko, overheard us talking." I told them. Kaname smirked.
"Sure, let's go!"
We left the apartment and hit the streets.
"Where are they?" Miku asked. I stretched out my sensory range. I caught their chakra, and turned down one of the side streets.
"One of the bars in the restraint district." I told her. We made our way into the night crowds, moving with the crowd toward the restaurant.
We passed by the first three before I turned into the next.
"MORE SAKE PLEASE!" I heard Anko yell.
"Seems like we are at the right place." Kaname snickered. I sent her a grin.
"Woot!" Miku took off towards the back to the bar and Kaname and I followed.
We got to a private room and opened the door just in time to see Anko slam her foot on the table and was pointing at Kotetsu. Everyone in the room looked up at us, stopping their actions.
"Hey Kaida, Kaname, Miku." Izumo said. We moved behind the occupants of the room and moved to the back of the table. The table was rectangular. Anko, Miku and Kaname sat on one side, while I sat next to Kotetsu and Izumo on the other.
"Hey guys." Kaname replied.
"Took you long enough!" Anko said turning to us, she was already half way drunk. Kaname snorted grabbing the sake off the table and pouring it into one of the small cups on the table, almost immediately she drowned it.
"Hey! That's MY Sake!" Anko grumbled reaching for the bottle again.
"It's mine now!" the tall red head grinned.
"Share." Miku said passing over her own cup, Kaname filled it up.
"Hey!"
-.-
"HEY MACARINA!" Miku called as she stumbled out of the bar. We all laughed before Kaname and Anko went off into another argument.
"OH YEAH! Just wait! Tomorrow you'll take you off of being summoned from the scrolls and make you guard duty!"Anko yelled at her. Kaname stuck out her tongue.
"As if you could change that now!" she countered.
"You're helping in the second phase of the exams?" I asked my best friend.
"YUP!"Miku chirped. "We are both part of it!"
"Lucky," I pouted.
Kotetsu slung one of his arms over my shoulder.
"Don't pout Kaida! You worked side by side with Ibiki! That's a feat!" he said.
"Yeah! Not everyone can do what you did. You really freaked them out! Too bad Blondie messed up their squirming with his speech." Izumo mentioned.
"Blondie?" Kaname asked as she stopped arguing with Anko.
"Naruto." I clarified. She nodded, a drunken blush across her cheeks. "What team do you have?" I had received a drunken briefing of the test from Anko just twenty minutes ago, so I knew how the tests were going to function.
"Some sand team. From their file I found out they are siblings or something." Kaname snorted.
"I have the new Ino-shika-cho group." Miku grinned. I nodded my head.
"Kaname, Did you know that those kids are the kids of the Fourth Kazekage. And they made my raven freak." I grinned. To the others it seemed like I drunk a bit too much but I knew she caught my drift. She knew of my abilities. She caught my eye and nodded. She also knew about the Shukaku, and Tatsuya's relation with the Kazekage.
"Your ravens are quite stupid, Kaida. What kind of bird runs into windows!" Izumo asked.
"Well that bird scared the crap out of you!" Kotetsu laughed. I knew they knew of the kids as the Kazekage's. I remember reading it in their file. I couldn't help but noticed he still hasn't lifted his arm from my shoulders.
"Anyway! I'm gone! I have to be up early tomorrow!" Anko said wobbling away.
"I'm leaving too~" MIku said, cheerfully! "I have to do a small shift at four in the morning."
"Are you sure you will be sober enough to do the shift?" Kaname snickered. "That's in five hours!"
Miku waved her hand.
"I'll be fine Kaname-chan." She skipped away as well chorused our goodbye.
"And then there were four." Kaname grinned.
"Three," I stated. "The Hokage has me on morning guard duty for the next five days."
All three pouted at me and shook my finger.
"No way!" I told them. "There's no way I'm staying out with you longer! I also have to be up at four as well!"
"You suck!" Kaname stuck out the tongue again.
"Do that again and I'll bite it!" I growled playfully.
"WOOOW, save that for the bedroom girls!" Izumo laughed.
"Better yet! Don't!" Kotetsu grinned. "We get a front row seat." I looked up at him and glared.
He winked and I rolled my eyes.
"Very funny you two!" Kaname said. She stretched up towards the sky and yawned.
"Okay, I'll get going too then." She muttered.
"I'll walk you back!"Izumo said as he walked over to my best friend. I looked up to Kotetsu and rose an eyebrow.
"Were you just ditched by your best friend?" I teased. "I thought you two were joined at the hip."
"Yeah well God knows what he's going to try and do." The Chunin yawned.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked. "He's likes her?" Kotetsu nodded.
"Oh! Damn. I sure missed some things!" I said scratching the top of my head. He nodded. Too bad he doesn't have a chance.
"You really did." I sighed before glancing at his arm, still over my shoulder.
"So what are you going to be doing on this fine evening?" I moved out of his grasp and turned around to face him. He shrugged.
"I'll walk you home then find something else to do." He said as he followed me.
"I'm a big girl Kotetsu, I've been walking home alone since I was four." I teased.
"But you're a lady, you never know what kind of bad guy will come out to try and attack you." He said. I walked away with a mock gasp.
"That's quite sexist!" I told him. "I take offense to that! You mean to say that all these years of training and I still don't know how to defend myself!" He didn't know of my involvement with Tatsuya, these passed few years were spent on an Anbu mission for him.
He smirked and rolled his eyes, knowing full well that I was joking.
We reached the top of Hokage Mountain before taking a path into the forest area beyond that.
"Wow," he muttered. "It's been a while since I went back here."
"Since our academy days right?" I looked over at him and he nodded smiling. Thoughts of the academy brought up memories of Itachi but I masterfully suppressed them.
"Survival training!" he tried to stifle his laughter.
"What are you laughing about?" I asked curiously.
"Just thinking of the pranks we pulled back then." I joined in laughing as we reminisced.
"Remember when we caught that wild boar?" I asked him. He bursted out laughing.
"Yeah, we brushed its teeth with Hayase's toothbrush."
"Do you think he ever found out?"
"I don't know, but he took extra long brushing his teeth that night."
We reached my house in laughter. I got to my door and turned to face him.
"This house is quite amazing." Kotetsu whistled. Two lanterns happened to be lit by the doorway and I knew Lydia had done it. She's really sweet, always thinking about others.
"Yeah, I couldn't believe it when the Hokage offered it to me." I told him.
"Do you know who lived here before?" he asked I shook my head.
"No I don't, but they must have been a pretty amazing clan to have this." I smiled. My blue eyes caught his darker and I felt something change in the atmosphere. I swallowed looking away. I didn't know what this feeling was.
Ah, well maybe I did but didn't want to admit it.
I looked back up at the spikey blue-haired man and his eyes intensified. His hand rose and touched my neck, before letting his fingers trail up to my jaw. I felt my heart beating fast, banging against my chest.
Kotetsu took a step closer and I felt his breath on my face. I knew what this meant. I wasn't ignorant, over the years I spent with Tatsuya, there had been a few men who wished to 'warm me' as they put it. But it never happened, I never let it.
"Kaida?" he asked me, breaking me from my thoughts.
"Yes?" I asked. His lips came closer to mine, and I didn't move away.
He pressed his softly to mine. It was light, as if testing his welcome. I let my body relax and kissed him back. It felt good, it felt warm, and I felt wanted. His other hand snaked around my back and pulled me closer to him. We were flush together, with no space between us. His body was warm, and I seemed to fit perfect in his arms. His other hand wove itself in my hair and his lips kissed me harder.
I grabbed his shirt in my hands and enjoyed his kisses. Just because I never went all the way, doesn't mean I didn't allow kisses.
My right hand moved up onto his neck, trailing my nails lightly on it. He shivered, and I knew he enjoyed it.
"How about we take this inside?" Kotetsu breathed. My right hand trailed up and placed itself on his lips stopping his advance.
"Sorry, Kotetsu." I told him. My heart beat calmed down and I talked. "I don't go further than this."
His eyes widened before he sighed. I dropped my finger from his lips and laid it on his chest again.
"That's a shame." He said. I laughed before I pushed away from him.
"We are friends, Kotetsu." I told him. He scratched his head and sighed again clearly disappointed.
"Friends with benefits?" he asked, trying again. I rolled my eyes with a grin.
"Very funny Kotetsu, I wouldn't give my friend my virginity." I told him. A blush crossed his cheeks.
"Oh, you're still a virgin!" he laughed nervously. "Then it's a good thing we didn't! I don't want to be strangled by your brother."
I laughed.
"But it is a shame." He looked into my eyes once more. He leaned forward and gave me one last peck on the mouth. "You're going to have to forget about him one day, Kaida. He can't rule you're your love life forever."
My eyes widened in surprised before I smiled softly.
"Yeah, maybe I will have to." I touched my left shoulder in thought. "But it's pretty hard when you have a constant reminder every time you look in the mirror." I laughed nervously. Kotetsu hugged me close. He had always been a good friend. We graduated together, we even took the Chunin exams together, even though his team lost the first time they took it, and we passed.
There were five of us who passed our Chunin exams. Miku, Kaname, Shisui, Itachi and me.
"I'm going to get going." Kotetsu finally said as he pulled back. "Tell me if you ever change your mind."
"Thanks for tonight Kotetsu." I told him. He smirked before walking away, back down the path. I watched him leave before smirking.
"Oh and Kotetsu!" I called after him. He turned around.
"Yeah?" he asked.
"You'll make someone happy one day." I told him. "You give great kisses." I opened my door and walked in.
"Tease!" he called after me.
I chuckled before closing my door and taking off my shoes.
I walked into the kitchen before grabbing a glass of water. I tried to resist gripping the cup.
Sometimes I wish I could forget about him. Itachi had been the person I confided in the most. I knew him before I was accepted into the academy. Kushina had brought me to visit Mikoto, Itachi's mother, within the first few days that I spent with her.
"Hello Mikoto!" Kushina said holding my four year old self on her hip. I observed the woman silently, she had dark features and fair-skin but a bright smile.
"Kushina!" she said, her eyes moved towards me shocked.
"Who's this little one?" Mikoto asked looking at me. I tilted my head to the side.
"My name's Kaida." I told her curious who this women. "What's yours?"
"You're so cute Kaida! Kakashi is so lucky he has a sister like you!" Kushina said pulling me into a hug. I squealed in laughter before catching a little form near the door.
"I'm Mikoto Uchiha," she told me, she smiled. She looked back up at my part-time guardian.
"Please don't tell me you stole her."
Kushina gasped.
"I wouldn't do that! Minato found out that his new student was leaving his sister at home alone, so I volunteered to look after her on my days off." The red-haired woman said. I looked up into her blue eyes and she grinned.
"It's like having a daughter! She's so good it's unbelievable!" she squealed. I put my hands over my ears from her voice and looked back at the Uchiha.
"Where's her parents?" Mikoto asked. Kushina froze, looking over at me to study me.
"Um." She paused.
"They are dead." I filled in. "But I'm not sad, all I need is Kashi."
Mikoto's eyes softened even more and smiled.
"How old are you Kaida-chan?"
"Four." I answered the woman.
"I have a son that's three, do you want to meet him?" she asked. I looked behind her to see a little boy at the entrance to the house.
"Mother?" the boy asked.
"Just in time!" Mikoto said. Kushina put me down onto the ground so that I could be closer to him. "Come here Itachi. There is someone who I want you to meet."
The little boy walked towards his mother. As soon as he spotted me he paused in his step, before he came forward.
"Introduce yourself." Mikoto said, her voice was soft, guiding her son.
"My name is Itachi Uchiha." He said. I studied the boy. Even at that point, he did not act his age, but significantly older. He also had his long hair, tied back in a small pony tail on the back of his head. "It's nice to meet you." He was polite.
"Mine is Kaida Hatake." I replied. Our eyes met and an untold understanding came between us.
"Aww, they are so cute together." Kushina said grinning. Mikoto was smiling as well.
"Now you two play nice okay?"Kushina said. I nodded before looking back at the little Itachi.
"How about you take Kaida and go play in your room." Mikoto pushed. Itachi nodded before moving towards the door.
I undid my sandals before following him in as Kushina and Mikoto came in after us
We got to his room and I looked around. I wasn't expecting what I found in his room.
"Is this a history of Kohona." I asked him as I walked to his book shelf.
"Yes, have you read it?" he asked. I shook my head.
"But my brother told me about it." I said looking through his shelves. I didn't see any "Nin-cat and the Nin-Dog" on his shelves. I grinned at him as he picked up the book.
"Want to look at the pictures?" he asked me. I nodded and walked towards him. I sat next to him and we started to go through the book.
"Can you read yet?" I asked him. He shook his head.
"No, I can understand some words but I can't fully read." He admitted. He flipped the page and I recognized the Hokage Mountain. I read over the text at the bottom of the page. "Can you?"
"I can." I told him. "My brother has been teaching me, I'll read you what I can."
I hissed in annoyance as my metal hand crushed the glass. I sighed, trying to push back the memories that had surfaced. I picked up the glass, and threw it in the garbage. I then walked to my room and into my private bathroom. I brushed my teeth before moving to my room. I got dressed into my night clothes and laid down in my bed. It was cold. Maybe I should have accepted Kotetsu's invitation only to have some warmth. I curled up under the covers and tried to lull myself to sleep. Sadly my mind tried off on another memory.
"Hn."
I raised an eyebrow at the older Uchiha.
"What's on your mind?" I asked turning towards him. He glanced over to me from his place on the grass. I had come back from my three years intensive training with Tatsuya and had just become Chunin. I was to turn 12 in a few months.
"Nothing." He replied. We laid on the grass looking up at clouds near the ruins of the old part of the village. There was a soft cool wind, directing not only the big white fluffy clouds in the sky but lightly touched our skin.
"You're almost as bad as me Itachi. Don't lie to me." I teased. He looked over and rolled his eyes. He was a sight, his arms folded behind his head, his eyes closed. I rolled over onto my stomach.
"So?" I asked, he didn't say anything. I plucked grass from the ground and threw it in his face. He sputtered a laugh before wiping the grass from his face.
"What was that for?" he asked, an eyebrow raised.
"What's the matter?" I insisted. He was silent again and I shot more grass in his face.
"Hey!" he wiped the grass from his face and plucked it from his hair.
"I'll keep doing it." I threatened. He sighed before turning onto his side, facing me. I raised an eyebrow expecting him to continue. He studied my face silently and I plucked more grass, keeping a pie for more ammunition. He slammed his hand on the pile and I smirked.
"That won't stop me." I told him, plucking more grass and placing it on top his hand.
He laughed before catching my eye.
"What would you do if someone confessed to you?" he asked me. I looked at him in question. I wasn't expecting an answer like that. I thought it through before answering. "As in they loved you?"
"I'm not sure, probably reject them. I'm a bit too messed up for that." I told my best friend. I started opening up to him about what happened with Tatsuya, and started to regain myself. I was coming out of my head, slowly but surely. "Why? What would you do?"
"It depends on the person, but I would most likely reject them as well." He told me. I gave him a mischievous grin.
"Oh?" I teased. "Does the little Weasel have a crush on someone?" I swear I saw a pink tint light up his cheeks but it was gone before I could comment.
"Do you?" he asked me. I froze, looking down at the grass some more. I started to nervously pluck the grass and piling more onto his hand. I did have someone I liked, or what I thought might be love. The only examples I had of that, were of his parents, what I remembered from Kushina and Minato, and Tatsuya and Lydia. That person was Itachi himself. But as I said before, I was too messed up for love and I didn't want to risk the friendship we had built.
I could feel his gaze linger on me, studying me, trying to understand me.
"What if that person could handle you, all of you, not just the part you chose to show them?" he asked me. I shook my head.
"The only person that could ever do that is you, Itachi." I stated, I found my courage to look back up at him. By then, his whole hand was covered in grass.
His onyx eyes caught mine and I swallowed my nerves.
"I don't think that's true," he said. "but if it was, wouldn't that be okay?" I furrowed my eyebrows in thought, trying to figure out what he was saying. His eyes kept watching me, judging my reaction.
"What do you…" I started but trailed off. I understood. I knew what he was trying to say. My cheeks went pink and my mouth was left gaping like a fish.
"You should close your mouth before you choke on a fly." he smirked. He moved his hand that was covered in grass to my face and let his fingers trail up my jaw. He pulled a lock of hair behind my ear before retreating. I closed my mouth before looking away.
"What if things change because of this?" I whispered. I heard a thump and felt his arms pull me closer to him. I sighed before scooting towards him and putting my head on his chest. It's not like we haven't done it before. I had actually woken up on his chest that morning.
"It won't." he said in full confidence. I looked up and him and watched as he laced his fingers with mine.
"How can you be sure?" I asked him. He held me closer, warmth spreading all over my body from his touch.
"Because I'm an Uchiha." He said in full confidence. I sat up and looked down at him.
"That is not a proper answer, Itachi." I frowned. He sat up as well and let go of my hand. It went to my face instead. Without any other motivation he closed the distance and our lips met in a soft kiss.
I can't say that it was the most graceful thing. Neither of us had experience, but it gave us an idea, of what was to come.
He pulled back and placed his forehead on mine. We looked into each other's eyes and read each other's thoughts. His eyes opened up to me, telling me everything, showing me his feelings, how much my presence weighed on his heart. I swallowed my nerves, he was so sure of himself, so sure that this was right, that we were right. I had no idea what he saw in my own soul, but he gave me that crooked smile that I loved so much and pulled back. He kissed my forehead before pulling me back to the ground.
I sighed knowing it was no used to fight it. I was in love, and we'll take it as it went.
He kissed my forehead and held me close.
I could feel his body heat.
It felt so…
Cold.
I put my hands to my ears and casted a knockout jutsu on myself.
I don't want to deal with this shit right now.
Sleep Kaida
Hello everyone!
i just wanted to start this off by apologising fro my lack of commitment. it has been quite a few months since i posted the last chapter and my life has been quite... challenging? it i can put it that way, i hit a few speed bumps and fell flat on my face, but things have finally started to align itself once again.
On a differenet note, i can't help put share that i have offically broke an arrow with my throat and have walked across fire... no joke. i took a few seminars on self development at my martial arts school and got to experience what a different state of mind can do.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me thus far; aka, followers, favoriters and my viewers.
I also want to thank Stellar Nymph for catching my mistake. i will be going back to change them as soon as I have time.
Thank you for everything and i hope you enjoy this chapter.
Have an amazing day.
P.S. This chapter is 13 176 words.
