ENJOY!

~INVINCIBLE~

"Right Here Waiting"

Kakashi x OC x Itachi

Naruto © Masashi Kishimoto

Invincible © Sokuryokudo Kyoutendouchi

~Opening Theme~

"Right Here Waiting- Staind"

Chapter 9

"The Next Chapter! Chuunin Exams?! Again?!"

The weeks following my little crying spree were... different.

Everything felt lighter, softer, more alive. It was like a huge weight had been lifted off of me, and for a while I was able to get up in the morning and actually grin.

Well, when I woke up properly a few hours later. Naruto and I were still zombies in the morning, the Hokage had asked me to rest and wait for my wounds to heal before I went back to missions. He'd even recommended that I go with Kakashi and his team on D-ranked missions. He said my brain probably needed a break. I would have to thank him again, because it was completely true.

After relaying all the information I had gathered to the Third, I joined the group on their D-ranked missions. Needless to say, I was both embarrassed and humored by Naruto's behavior.

Ah that kid knows how to make me laugh.

I had met up with them a little later than when Naruto took off, on the bridge south of the Academy, when they saw me they were suspicious. I just grinned.

"Yo guys." I said, looking at all three of them. Sasuke snorted, after waking up to me and Kakashi complaining he had left to go train, Naruto spiraling around me for hours before I shoved him out of the door. Kakashi stayed with me all night though, talking when I wanted, silent without me having to ask, it was wonderful.

"Yoshi! Why are you here?" Naruto asked, but I just shrugged.

"The Third seems to think I need more rest, so I'm going to be hanging with you guys until I'm cleared." I said calmly, smiling down at the blond firecracker.

"So in other words Kakashi is babysitting you too." Sasuke said flatly, I just stuck my tongue out.

"Well if we go by the totem poll..."

"Hey guys." Kakashi said as he walked over to us, I raised a brow from where I sat on the railing. He was starting to get even worse with showing up on time than I was... than Obito was...

"You're late sensei!" Sakura and Naruto shouted in unison. I snickered a bit, Kakashi giving me a glance.

"Bad Kakashi, at least let us sleep in a bit more if you're going to be two hours late." I teased, but it was light hearted. He scratched the back of his head and chuckled uneasily too.

"Well you know, I get lost on the path of life-"

"Was there a sale at the bookstore?"

"Well even if there was-"

"Was there a book you were hunting for forever?"

"Even if I was-"

"And you didn't find it because I got that last copy?"

"..." Kakashi gave me a dirty look as I grinned, holding up the copy to the earliest editions of Make Out Paradise. It was a collectors item that I had gotten as a treat for myself a few days ago, just to push Kakashi's buttons.

"Seriously? Why do you even read that stuff?" Sasuke grumbled, making me glare at him.

"This is poetry at it's finest Mister. It's lovely once you get into it."

Sakura gave me the weirdest look I've ever seen- caught between a blush and and grin and maybe a scowl. I didn't know what she wanted to say, but I had a feeling it wasn't going to be what she really thought any which way.

"So Kyou," Kakashi began, laughing nervously as he held out his hand. "Mind borrowing it to me?" He asked in a desperately hopeful voice. Playful Kakashi? Hmm, I like this!

"Well, if you manage to keep me entertained on today's missions, then certainly." I teased, flipping through the pages carelessly. In truth I had already read it, I just wanted to push his buttons. Kakashi sighed before turning to his three students.

"Alright, let's get going."

"Seriously? These are what D rank missions are nowadays?" I asked, looking at the team as they walked dogs. Slapping my head, I shook it side to side afterwards. "What is this world coming to?" I muttered, sighing slightly.

"That's right, you never did any D-rank missions, did you? You were already doing C ranked from the start." Kakashi thought out loud as he sat on the branch beside me. His ankles were crossed over my thighs as I let my own legs dangle off the branch.

"Damn straight, this is just getting ridiculous." I muttered, watching Naruto let the massive dog drag him through a mine field. I winced a few times, but Kakashi made sure I couldn't stop him.

"He has to learn on his own Kyou, you can only govern their lives so much." He said, not once looking away from his book. I just frowned.

"But we never had anyone to help us." I countered, and though it wasn't entirely true, we both didn't actually have parental figures growing up. Kakashi looked over to me as though I had just answered my own argument.

"And look where we are." He said, and I couldn't help but grin as I rested my hand on his knee.

"Yeah," I began, looking down at the disheveled Naruto. "Look at us now." I mused, though I could still feel Kakashi's eyes on me.

"So did you really get up before me and get to the bookstore?" Kakashi asked, but I just chuckled.

"Nope, I was just smart enough not to date the bookstore owner and then call her by the wrong name. So she willingly handed it over to me. Apparently it was supposed to be a birthday present for you, smart girl, I think she actually knew you better than most of them." I said in a cheery voice, Kakashi hung his head in defeat.

"You're too cruel."

"Me? I never called you by the wrong name."

"How long have you had that book anyway?"

"Hmm, a few days. I stopped by before the sale and she handed it to me, saying it would be wonderful revenge, oh and a great gift for me and my upcoming birthday."

Kakashi put his hand to his chin as though he was thinking while looking into the canopies.

"She wouldn't let me in the door today, I guess that's why..." He said absently, making my eyes widen.

"Seriously? Did you do a transformation jutsu? You're ridiculous." I muttered, seeing the Genin taking the dogs back to the owner. Chucking Kakashi's feet off of me, I slipped down and landed softly on the ground. Kakashi followed shortly after me.

"I'm sure you would do the same if you could." Kakashi said casually, putting his book away and looking at me. I rolled my eyes, nudging him lightly.

"Honestly? I wouldn't have dated the owner of the shop. Seriously, what did you think was going to happen? I mean every girl thinks you're sex with legs, but they all know what an ass you can be too." I said, laughing a bit. Kakashi looked at me with a raised brow, and I could tell a smirk was under that mask.

"Every girl?"

It was quiet for a moment, but then I smirked back at him confidently.

"Every girl."

Well, from what I can remember at least.

"You're probably in better shape than me now, figuratively speaking." He said, glancing down at my bandaged body. I chuckled, but didn't say anything in return. It was true, I had gotten in better shape over the years. My body was perfectly balanced now, with toned arms and a flat stomach, I didn't have my baby fat, I had to say, I looked fucking sexy, and I loved it.

Now... if I could just comb my hair...

"What?!" Naruto shouted from ahead, making both of us look at the blond. "There's no way someone as cool as Yoshi would date Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto insisted, and I wasn't sure whether to be embarrassed or proud. Kakashi looked over to me, shrugging.

"Shhhh!" Sakura scolded him. "I was just asking!"

"Yoshi is too busy taking care of this loser, no way she'd go for Kakashi. He's too laid back to handle her." Sasuke said, and I was surprised to hear any input from him at all.

"I think they'd be a cute couple." Sakura said, making me look at Kakashi- a cute couple? Us? I hadn't thought about it that way.

"Nuh uh! It's bad enough Yoshi takes care of a dirt bag like Sasuke! Kakashi can't have her too!" Naruto whined, making me stifle a laugh. Ah, what a kid he still was. Despite the fact that I caught him on multiple occasions sneaking into my drawers of hentai books.

"What do you think? Are we cute Kakashi?" I teased, but the look he gave me... Oh shit...

We continued to walk for a while, before Kakashi said anything quietly. What came out of his mouth was the exact opposite of what I was hoping for.

"Wouldn't know, you ran away before I could think about it." He said, pulling out his book. The never of him! If I recall it was his fault we broke up in the first place! I waited forever for him!

"I'm not the one who fake dated my sister." I countered, frowning when he didn't look up at me. It was so like him, he just shut down whenever he got really angry. I kind of missed asshole Kakashi, he was better than... this thing.

"I did it for you Kyou, you keep forgetting that."

"And you keep underestimating me. You and I both know I could've taken her on." I countered, leaning closer to him to growl as we walked. He completely ignored my efforts to rile him up.

"I doubt that." He said airily, flipping a page. A frown appeared on my lips, so I smacked his book from his hands. We both stopped to look at each other, he looked dull while I was full of rage.

"Admit it, you were looking for an out." I spat, ignoring the three Genin looking at us. "Well you got it Kakashi, your out. But you know what? I'm still here, what does that tell you?"

I want you, you idiot.

I love you, you idiot.

Kakashi watched me for a moment, before casually picking up his book and dusting it off. I tried not to show the hurt that he had brushed off my half confession.

"Kyou," He began, his voice a little lower than usual. "Now is not the time."

"Then when is Kakashi? Huh? Enlighten me! Because all you ever do is run away!" I growled, crossing my arms over my smaller chest. Kakashi sighed, looking as though he was fighting with a little kid. So maybe he was, but I wasn't backing down.

"Uh, Yoshi, Kakashi-sensei," Naruto said, making us both turn to see the three Genin were watching us. "We need to finish the mission."

My face turned completely beat red. Oh shit, we were supposed to be on a mission. I mean, it's walking dogs, but it's still a mission! 765&%* &^~&*()# $%^!#! See that? My thoughts were so bad I had to censor them too, look at me go.

"Right," Kakashi said casually, and they all began to walk again. I frowned, but otherwise walked along with Kakashi in silence.

"Did you hear? The line up for the Chuunin exam proctors is supposed to be brutal."

"What? How do you know?"

"I have my ways, but apparently Anko Mitirashi, Ibiki Morino, and the Blue Flicker are all going to be taking part! I hear the Flicker is overseeing the whole event!"

"What? Those Genin are going to die out there! Anko and Ibiki are slave drivers!"

Didn't I know it.

Who do you think they left all the planning to? All they did was tell me what the test was, and I had to find the location for it. Ugh, it sucks being on hiatus from ANBU. I actually missed the rush now.

The Chuunin exams were coming up in a day or two, other ninja had already flooded in from all over the map. Hotels were full, apartments were full, there wasn't much else to stuff the lot. Naruto was up until late every night, bouncing off the walls that the Chuunin exams were soon. I laughed at him, but blanched when he told me Kakashi gave him an entrance form.

He actually let him enter?

That scared me.

...He couldn't walk a big dog... how- Ah no, there I go again. I have to believe in my little blond bullet, one day he'll prove me wrong big time, so might as well go with it. Sasuke was tense about it too, but the worry I had with him was that he would come in like his shit didn't stink, though I figured he'd get a quick wake up call then.

Hokage said that operating the Chuunin exams, with my Kekkei Genkai in mind, would be a cinch for me. I obliged, only because of my curiosity as to how much it had differed from my own. Turns out it hadn't really, it was almost the same. Huh, a few minor things were changed but...

Not only were Anko and Ibiki slave drivers, they were also artist at torture, just talking to them gave me the creeps sometimes, seriously they messed with your mind so bad you weren't sure if you could trust yourself. They were very proficient, at least.

It would be all set up today though, I just had to drop off one last thing to Ibiki... but I zipped out of there before he could use his games on me. I hated when they thought it was funny, outside of missions my mind would turn to puddy at the first sign of confusion.

Well, at least I didn't have to be in the examinations itself, I could come and go as I pleased, originally the Hokage wanted me as a sentinel for the first exam. However, after deep explanation that I would've caught every single one of them cheating, it was promptly tossed aside. Thank God, Naruto wouldn't have passed for sure then!

Still... maybe that was a good thing.

A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I stretched while walking down the streets of Konoha. Looking into one of the dango restaurants, I noticed a familiar face and grinned.

"Yo!" I said, sidling down next to the green jumpsuit clad man. He looked at me and did that awfully gleaming grin. Oh God it still had that scary shine to it too!

"Shima! I haven't seen you in three months! Have you been hiding away from our matches?" He asked in his usual upbeat tone, I just laughed.

"Nah, I was on a long mission, then recovering, and then I was put in charge of the Chuunin Exams." I said, smirking. "No way I'd skip a match on purpose."

Looking down the table- as Gai went on about my raging youth- I could see the team he'd been working with for over a year. I had to admit, I was particularly fond of Rock Lee, he and I were in the same boat. He too couldn't do any Ninjutsu or Genjutsu. Well I suppose I could do a little bit of Ninjutsu, but nothing involving hand signs... go figure.

"Lady Yuushima!" Rock Lee said with a grin. Then his face turned hard, his face a flat line. "I have been training hard to someday become as good as you and Gai-sensei!" He said with zeal, making me smile.

"Awesome! How about a little sparring match once the Chuunin Exams are over?" I asked.

"How about I get a sparring match right now?"

It wasn't Lee who replied, making me frown as I turned to look at the entrance to the shop. My eyes widened slightly when I saw the white hair and perfectly tanned skin.

"Tayuusha?" I asked, surprised. He smirked at me, walking in with his light, icy blue eyes watch me. "So, you became a Sensei too? Seems to be the trend." I muttered.

"Well you know, when you're as bad ass as I am, you need to tone it down or you'll outrank the Bingo Book." He said with the same wolfish grin as before. Same old Tayuusha. I hadn't seen him in almost a year now, he'd gotten even taller, scaling about half a foot over my head. I stood up, crossing my arms at him.

"What do you want Tayuusha?" I asked, raising a brow.

"I was hoping you would've found my team, they said they wanted to meet you and took off." He said, looking around. I grunted in acknowledgement before turning to Gai and his team.

"Bu-bye! I'll see you all later!" I said, Rock Lee and Gai talking about the youthful explosions- why did Gai have to drag the poor kid down to his level? Walking with Tayuusha outside, I instantly began my tirade of questions.

"So why were there a whole bunch of Kyoutens after me? Why did you tell them about Naruto?" I began coldly, frowning at him. He shook his head, chuckling a bit.

"We all know about how you sacrificed your own body to protect Konoha. Most of the Kyoutens are upset you wouldn't do the same for us." He said casually, I could tell this had been going on for a while.

"I didn't even know what was happening until a short while ago. It was kept a secret from me." I insisted, Tayuusha looking down at me.

"I know, I believe you." He said, but then looked up. "But not everybody else does. They're trying to overtake the main branch, which isn't easy, but Lady Jiyuuko is growing old. Someone has to step forward." He said calmly. My brow furrowed as I weaved around a few people.

"What about you?" I asked, but he snorted.

"I don't lead, I wander."

"You're a Sensei."

"Because their original Sensei was a piece of trash. He couldn't hold a candle to the Lady." Tayuusha growled, making me frown. "Lady Jiyuuko doesn't have long Shima, I doubt she'll last another year."

"Granny Jiyuuko is... Why didn't anybody tell em something?!" I growled, stomping my foot as we stopped in a back way. "Why is everybody keeping all this from me?! I could've done something, now look at this. All Kyoutens hate me, Lady Jiyuuko is sick, and Lightning is trying to smother us!" I growled. Tayuusha's eyes softened a bit as he patted my head.

"Same stubborn Shima, at least you haven't changed much." He retreated his hand, my eyes getting wide when he stared down at me. He looked so... broken.

"The Kyouten don't know what to believe Shima, they don't have anything to believe in."

"There's gotta be a way to save them. I never wanted this to happen." I insisted, making Tayuusha chuckle.

"The only reason we were permitted by the Raikage to come to the Chuunin exams was to give you a warning." Tayuusha began, making me look at him with surprise written across my face.

"What?" I asked, making him frown a bit before he looked to the ground.

"If you even think about helping us, the Raikage will kill Naruto."

...

My chest shuddered when I heard this, my eyes widened even more as I looked to the ground.

No... this couldn't be true... right?

I swallowed, but the lump in my throat wouldn't go down. There was no doubt in my mind- Naruto would always come first- but was it right to forsake my own family? All because of some sick bastard?

"Well," I began, still looking at the ground. "I have a message for the Raikage." I said, looking back up to him with sharp eyes and a scowl on my face. Tayuusha looked surprised as I spoke.

"You tell the Raikage, if he harms my family, I will skin him alive. If he bars you all in, I'll tear his arms off. If he sends Shinobi after me, I'll slaughter them all. And if he so much as thinks about attacking Naruto, I'll come to the Cloud Village, and I'll kill everything in sight." I said lowly, my entire body tense and ready to attack.

"Yuushima-"

"That is a promise, not a warning." I said finally. Tayuusha looked like he wasn't sure what to say to that. His eyes were wide as if he couldn't believe it. Then his whole face softened, and a warm smile broke out across his face as he ruffled my hair.

"I knew you were crazy, but this takes the cake." He said, seemingly satisfied with my answer. I smirked, clasping a hand on his shoulder, my lips turned to a flat line.

"I'll do what I can Tayuusha, but you have to keep my updated. I can't do anything if I'm kept in the dark." I said strongly, making Tayuusha nod. We both continued to walk then, trying to keep our gazes at the world around us. Activating my Kanshugan, I hunted down my little blond. Chances were he'd already started some trouble with the new arrivals.

Ah, they were coming.

"Tayuusha-sensei!"

Four figures were running up to us, but three stopped when they looked at me. Naruto came running right up to me, grinning.

"Yoshi! Is this your family?!" He asked, grinning. Tayuusha snorted, but when I looked at him he seemed amused.

"He's almost as loud as you were." He teased, making me stick out my tongue before turning back to Naruto.

"Yup, this is the Kyouten Clan, my clan." I said with a smile. The three on lookers looked to their sensei- I noticed all three of them were Kyouten by the white hair and tanned skin. Waving, I greeted them softly. Tayuusha nodded with a smile, and they all grinned and ran up to me.

"So you're the Blue Flicker?" One asked.

"That's so cool! You're a Kyouten but your hair is red?" The second asked. The third one was quiet as he watched me, but the other boy and girl were grinning as they continued their onslaught.

"I thought Kyoutens only had white hair! I've never seen red before!"

"You idiot! Kuromaru-sama has red hair!"

"Oh yeah, but he isn't a pureblood!"

"Hey Naruto, is she really your mom?"

"No way! She's way too young to have kids... right?"

"You never know, my mom had me when she was 16!"

"Yeah but she's younger than Tayuusha-sensei!"

"Oh right, so Naruto are you adopted?"

"You should feel lucky! The Blue Flicker as a mom? I'd be so happy!"

The onslaught continued, but I couldn't listen anymore as Naruto joined in to talking with them. Looking at Tayuusha, I could see he wasn't even fazed. It seemed being a sensei gave you incredible patience, something even parenting couldn't give you. With a weak lift of my fingers, I pointed down at the group as I wearily looked up to Tayuusha. He looked at me with a raised brow, my whole body swaying from all the noise.

"Tell me again why you would want to play Mother Hen?"

Ending Theme Song

"So Soon"- Marianas Trench

READ THE GOD MOTHER LOVIN' DAMN NOTE!

Ugh, sorry for taking so effing long guys! I've been stuck in a rut with this story for a while, and I realized the path I originally wanted to take was way too OOC and Mary sue, so I've been working on other stuff until I could find the right path to take! I think I stepped away for too long from this story, because I came back to 20 reviews and nearly died crying. I'm so sorry I took so long guys! After you gave me so many reviews! But it's okay! I'm almost done high school! Woot! I'm soooo happy right now and I'm trying to publish this before I go to school... meh I'm late half the time anyway.

REVIEW OF THE DAY:

Today it goes to WhyteGriffin: Wow, seems you and a lot of people are very insistent that Yuu and Kakashi would've ended up together! I have to say I'm on the fence, because if Obito and Yuu had been together, I honestly think as Obito and Kakashi had gotten closer Yuu would've come to see Kakashi as a brother, not a romantic interest. Even if Obito and her went seperate ways, I couldn't quite see them hitting it off as much. I hate to say it, but the real reason they got so close was because of Obito's death, otherwise I don't think they would've gone past the rivalry stage, well maybe gotten friendlier, but I doubt much would've changed.

I hope that helped you!

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Do you think Yuu and Kakashi should be closer by now? What do you think is holding them back?

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EVERYBODY REVIEW!

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CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISMS PLEASE! REVIEWS!

Cheers!

Kiwi-chan