"Gah! We lost her again!"

"This might be serious. We better find her soon. And you're helping us find her, Naruto!"

"But, but, I haven't finished my ramen…"

"NOW!"

-

Kisa, in large contrast to her earlier state of mind, was now sleeping quite peacefully, her mind and body at ease. This nap was just what she needed this time. Peace like this was something she usually only found in sleep, even if nightmares are just as common. Good sleep also stilled the Fever in her, though it didn't work for some of her family. Kisa liked sleep, because sometimes she saw her Mother, who she loved so much, or even other members of her family that she felt obliged to love. Sometimes, if she's lucky, she'll catch a glimpse of Aniki in her dreams.

Sleep only added to Kisa's beauty, giving her an ethereal look. Right now, with the sun overhead, combined with her hair, skin tone, and blissful look, Kisa looked something akin to an angel, resting under a dense canopy of trees.

"…"

Sadly, the dark-haired figure looming over her did not see her as such. On the contrary, he had a right mind to kill the intruder, courtesy and Konoha laws be damned.

Uchiha Sasuke, the pride and shame of Konoha, was not a happy person. He never was, really. Especially of late, after his relatively recent return to Konoha. It took quite a while for him to calm down and settle down after the debacle with Orochimaru.

That didn't matter though. Little did to Sasuke.

Sasuke got what he wanted from being with Orochimaru. More power. After returning to Konoha, it became clear to Sasuke that he wouldn't be getting any more powerful under Orochimaru, so he was done with him. Shortly after he learned what the curse seal really did to him, he got it removed. Mainly with the combined efforts of Tsunade and Kakashi, and earlier, Kabuto. Sasuke didn't know why the traitor medic-nin weakened his seal without Orochimaru knowing. However, he was all too aware that Kabuto had an agenda of his own, and he had no incentive to discourage it.

Sasuke's time with Oto was over, and now he was back in Konoha, among friends, and family.

Was Sasuke glad to be back in Konoha, back home, welcome or no?

Kind of.

Was Sasuke glad to be among his fellow rookie nine, who were somewhat relieved to have him back?

In a way, yes.

Was Sasuke happy to be along side Team 7 once again, with Kakashi-sensei, Sakura-chan, and his best friend/rival, Naruto?

He found that yes, yes he was.

Ultimately, did any of that matter?

Not a single bit.

After taking his first walk around Konoha after his return, he found that nothing at all had changed, and that infuriated him inside.

Konoha itself didn't change much from his perspective. Girls still pined after him, though not as much. Naruto was still an idiot, though he was just a tad bit less annoying. Actually, no, he was still as annoying as ever, but he has certainly gotten a lot stronger since the last time. He showed no surprise at this, and, inside, he expected no less of him.

The Uchiha complex was as empty and devoid of life as ever, and it was when he walked within its walls for the first time in a while that he was reminded of his goal. Of the reason why he turned his back on Konoha in the first place.

To gain more power and kill his older brother, Itachi, murderer of his clan and the man who ruined his life.

Nothing had changed. That infuriated him inside.

So he was back in Konoha. That's fine. For a time. Can he gain more power here? Maybe, but not enough. Far from enough. Fortunately, his time with Orochimaru had taught him the value of patience, and given him a broader outlook on his life, and destiny.

Sasuke will enjoy his time in Konoha while he can, and draw what little warmth he's comfortable with in the form of his friends. But though he tells them otherwise, in truth, his return to Konoha is only temporary. Sasuke's destiny is not within Konoha's walls. Somewhere in the world, there is something or someone who will give Sasuke more power. The power he needs.

He hasn't found it yet, though, so for now he makes do with routine. Routines that haven't changed.

A big part of his routine involved Itachi's old training ground. Sasuke now came here twice, sometimes three times a day. He has too much time on his hands, and he's not comfortable with doing nothing. Every time, he would train as Itachi did, pushing himself beyond his limits.

And knowing every time that it still wasn't fast enough. Not for Itachi.

It was a frustrating routine that he took part in day after day, but still a normal, regular one that Sasuke found a bit of comfort in.

Which is why it really irked him to find this white haired stranger here, in his private and hidden training area where no one else came, asleep no less, interrupting his routine.

His first thought was that it was a dumb enemy kunoichi who found her way here on the far obscure side of the Konoha woods. If that were so, there'd be nothing wrong with killing her on the spot. The fact that she had no headband didn't deter that thought either. But Sasuke stayed his kunai and evaluated the situation further. A Konoha citizen? No citizen came out this far from Konoha.

Wait a minute. Wasn't there talk in town about a new arrival to Konoha? Sasuke hardly listened to what word was spread around Konoha, but even this reached his ears. Alternating stories of a madwoman, psychotic killer, demon in human guise, and other heresy. Is this her?

Sasuke glowered at Kisa's sleeping form and decided that he wasn't impressed in the least. However, Sasuke also knew better by now than to trust appearances alone. Perhaps the rumors had some merit. This girl, fragile as she looks, could turn out to be a formidable foe. Maybe.

We'll see about that. Sasuke decided that she had slept long enough. "Hey, wake up." The girl stirred but didn't wake. Sasuke raised his voice to a more threatening level. "I'm not going to ask you again." Still she didn't wake. Not wanting to drag this on any longer, Sasuke nudged the girl in her side with his foot.

With no fuss or dramatics whatsoever, the girl's eyes simply snapped open. Only her startling bright green eyes moved to gaze up at Sasuke, who was doing his best to let his displeasure be known silently.

For a moment Sasuke thought he saw something stir behind her eyes, something… wrong. It almost gave Sasuke a shiver. But it was gone the moment it appeared, and all that stared at him was an innocent face and green eyes that looked scared.

As she damn well better be. At least she wasn't a fangirl. Lord knows he'd seen enough of them to recognize them on sight. He saw no starry adoration in her eyes, which was good. Sasuke suspected that the very sound of his voice would be enough to awaken a rabid fangirl from slumber, but fortunately, this girl wasn't one.

It was after briefly musing on fangirls that he realized that all she was doing was staring fearfully at him, and nothing else.

"…"

"…"

This was getting annoying. Sasuke gave it another five seconds. "Get up."

Slowly, the girl sat up straight, eyes always on him. Now he got a better look at her. What was she, 12, 13 or something?

"…"

"…"

Sasuke impatiently crossed his arms. "Well?"

The girl's gaze began to drift off to the side, and then to the other, and back, seemingly looking for something, but taking her time doing so.

What was this girl, retarded?

Then suddenly, the girl bolted up, catching even Sasuke off-guard but he automatically had a kunai out. But the girl wasn't going for him. She turned and made a beeline toward some spot deeper into the woods. What was she doing over there? She wasn't heading to town, and his highly keen sight detected no weapons or hidden items in the area. But she seemed to be meticulously working on something rather frantically.

Still wary, but also curious, Sasuke waited where he was until the girl finally stood from her spot and came back his way, with what suspiciously looked like a flower in her hand.

Sasuke suppressed a groan. Looks like he has another fangirl. Maybe killing her wouldn't be all that bad-

The girl held out the item to Sasuke with both hands, her head bowed.

…What the hell?

It wasn't anything threatening at all, but neither did it seem like any gift that Sasuke received by anyone.

The girl was bearing… a daisy.

A daisy with half of its petals carefully plucked off and the stalk bent in half.

Sasuke said the only thing he could think of.

"Is this a joke?"

The girl bowed her head lower, and spoke in a soft and subdued voice. "It's a peace offering. The missing petals and broken stalk reflect my sorry and humble state to assure you that I mean no offense, and I chose a daisy because… well…" The girl peeked up at Sasuke. "I discerned you as the type to dislike flowers, so I picked out the simplest and most unobtrusive one possible." She bowed her head again. "It's the only peace offering I'm able to offer at this moment, so I ask that you not kill, molest, or rape me in any manner, shape or form."

…Wow….

Okay…

Sasuke didn't let it show, but he honestly, for once, felt a bit awkward.

It was nice that someone took him seriously for the superior shinobi that he was, but he most certainly was not a molester or rapist. That was a bit much, even for Sasuke. Though he was quite sure that Orochimaru would have no qualms about abducting this crazy girl. Though he could see now that though her body was developing very nicely, it was also thin and a little on the pale side.

The action didn't offend him. If anything, it bordered on comical for Sasuke, as well as being pleasing for the show of deference. He allowed himself a small smirk.

"I don't want your offering, but I won't kill you either. I'm not even going to touch you if I can help it."

The girl looked up at him with inquiring eyes. "Really?"

Sasuke didn't like repeating himself. "Yes."

The girl looked a little relieved and had less tension about her. In a swift motion, she popped the "peace offering" in her mouth and ate it without complaint.

"…"

Sasuke guessed those rumors had some merit after all. This girl was definitely disturbed in some way.

He really needed to train, but he was no longer motivated to kill this girl outright. So he decided that a more civil approach would work best for getting her out of here.

"Are you really that weak?"

That's about as civil as Sasuke felt like being.

She looked at him with surprise then gazed at him carefully, as if evaluating him in some manner. "What do you mean? Among the general shinobi population here in Konoha, or in comparison to you specifically? Theoretically, I should be able to hold my own against some of the shinobi here, but if you mean yourself, I think it's safe to assume that your power and skill exceed mine."

…This girl might be crazy, but she was also smart. "Do I now?"

The girl shrugged. "I simply speak what is most likely."

Sasuke nodded knowingly, though he felt kind of disgusted at her subdued and submissive attitude. He then remembered the issue at hand. "You know you're trespassing, right?"

The girl looked saddened by the question, and slowly nodded. "I assumed when I woke up that I was. Please forgive me for my intrusion, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going, but I was in serious and dire need of rest."

Sasuke was willing to believe that. As this training area was mostly hidden, it was more common for people to come across it accidentally if they didn't know where they were going. That didn't make it any less forgivable, though. "And you guessed that this is a training area, correct?" She nodded. "That means that if you're not here to train, then leave." He let a little anger slip into that last sentence.

The girl just looked at him, then turned her gaze elsewhere, as if listening to something else. She straightened up and nodded firmly. "Right, I understand."

Sasuke didn't let his relief show. Good, she got the idea. She wasn't going to cling to him, and she's finally going to leave. Now she could leave him alone to-

"I'll train then."

Twitch!

"…" Can't she take a hint? Now Sasuke was starting to get annoyed at this girl who, up until this point, actually amused him and didn't annoy him as much as practically everyone else.

He most certainly wasn't going to allow her to train here with him. But though she wasn't all over him, it didn't seem like she'd be leaving right away.

Calm down, Sasuke, she's not worth killing.

"Are you even a shinobi?" He guessed that she was, since by now he could feel that her chakra level was a moderate one. Let's see if she's honest about it.

"Umm… to a degree, yes."

To a degree? What was that supposed to mean? You either are a ninja or you aren't.

"What village are you from, cause I know you aren't from Konoha." Depending on the village, Sasuke may be allowed to kick her out himself.

"Umm…" The girl fidgeted and looked away, losing a bit of focus before turning her gaze back to Sasuke. "I don't come from a shinobi village. Not one as you would know it. It was more of a… secluded community, and none of us had seen a shinobi village. We've long since disbanded, so…."

Way to be vague and mysterious. Well, where she came from exactly didn't especially matter to Sasuke. He then asked a simpler question.

"Do you know any jutsus?"

"Oh! Mhm, I know a handful of jutsus…" The girl then looked a bit… depressed? "Though... It'd be better for my personal well being if I didn't have to reveal them all."

Well, she seemed to have at least some sense as a kunoichi. And it's not like he asked to see them all. He didn't particularly care what this stranger knew.

Although… Could he possibly learn something useful?

"Let's see a few."

The girl looked at him quizzically, as if she didn't hear what he said. "Why?"

Sasuke shrugged, then he came up with the perfect excuse that he'd say, which would always work against Naruto, the dobe. "I don't know you at all. You seem more like a civilian to me. I don't think you really are a shinobi, or much of anything else."

Clean hit.

It seemed more likely that the girl would cower even more from the taunts, like Hyuuga Hinata back in the day, but Sasuke was hoping for another reaction. Not disappointed, Sasuke got the reaction he wanted, and he allowed himself another smirk at the dramatic change, since it was clear that he had struck a chord.

Though her face was still gentle, she underwent small changes. Her eyes at first grew wide before they narrowed and hardened, a fist slowly clenched, and the way she held herself became more stable and firm. What's more, all her focus was now totally, completely, on Sasuke.

She was angered, and, frankly, she didn't look as crazy now.

"And who might you be then, good sir, because I don't know you either. I doubt I could ever forget that countenance of yours." Her voice was still soft, but now had sarcasm and maybe a hint of malice.

Sasuke preferred it this way. He found that he didn't like to take advantage of innocents and weaklings like his former master. He preferred fighting and killing shinobi who could stand their ground. Because only when fighting other shinobi will you get stronger.

You weren't a shinobi if you weren't proud of it. But more than just being proud of it, you have to back it. And when you can back it, perform it again and again. This is how all shinobi should be, focused, direct, unyielding, merciless, and above all, strong.

Not prettying yourself up or chasing after someone you'll never have, wasting all your time that you could use to make yourself stronger.

Not keeping to foolish promises or proclaiming dreams and doctrines that have no meaning in the long run of being a silent, killing elite.

And not walking with uncertainty, keeping a face that is meek, downtrodden and servile, like the girl in front of him was before.

All of them were weak, in one way or another, and Sasuke innately despised the weak.

But now, the green-eyed, white-haired girl in front of him was looking a little stronger, and this pleased him more than her death would.

Because of their interactions, Sasuke wasn't surprised to hear that she didn't know him. However, he was more than happy to change that fact. This girl will know who he is.

"Uchiha Sasuke of the Uchiha clan," he said with no small amount of pride. "You?"

"Nakada Kisa of the Nakada clan," she said in turn with a hint of pride.

"Pfft. Never heard of any Nakada."

"Never had the 'honor' to meet any Uchiha."

Still smaller, but now standing straighter, "And now you may ask me again, politely, Uchiha-san."

Uchiha-san? Funny as the thought was, it sounded strange hearing that out of a girl. Sasuke said it again in his mind, and decided that he much preferred the honorific than the affectionate Sasuke-kun that followed him everywhere.

"Alright then, Nakada-chan. May I see a few of your techniques?" Sasuke knew what was coming and smirked.

He activated his Sharingan.

"Only if I get to see a few of yours, oh most mighty and on high Uchiha-san." Kisa was still mad, but now had a small smile.

Her eyes glowed balefully.

Somehow during their discussion, the two of them made it to the middle of the training ground.

"…"

"…"

The two leapt up high, and both formed two seals, which surprised the two of them, but only encouraged them more.

Their handseals were identical.

Simultaneously and in perfect synch, Uchiha Sasuke and Nakada Kisa unleashed their starting jutsu.

"Katon: Goukakyuu no jutsu!" Grand Fireball technique!

-

-

-

Character Notes: I'll be frank. I actually dislike Sasuke. No, I don't hate him, just dislike. However, I couldn't let that hinder my fic, because, truthfully, Sasuke plays some major roles in this fic that only he can fill and no one else. It's unfortunate that it took ten chapters for him to finally make his debut, which I think is a great one for him, as well as a further look on Kisa and the effect Sasuke has on her. Before you ask, I actually want to deviate from a SasukexKisa, if only because I find the task of making a stable relationship between Sasuke and Kisa a very daunting task, emphasis on the word stable. Fluff is possible, but it's difficult for me to realistically create anything long-lasting between Sasuke and, well, anyone. That's what I'm going for in my portrayal of Sasuke, realism and truth, the most realistic approach on a slightly older and more experienced Uchiha Sasuke. Actually, I try to make everything here as realistic as possible, but Sasuke is a more sensitive topic.

I'll have further notes on Sasuke in the next chapter. I want you guys to have the first word.

Can't reveal any deep dark secrets on Kisa or the Nakada clan quite yet, though you'll definitely be learning more. However, I can promise you that next chapter will show some clan specific jutsus. And don't worry. Not all of them can be swiped by Sasuke.

Please voice any other questions regarding this chapter. I'd be glad to cover them in my notes.