Great, forgot to sort out the name tags for this story aswell… making it 3/3 stories I managed to make that mistake on.

Comment and review if you're enjoying the story and thank you for reading.

Thanks to Missrach for editing and keeping me on track.

Lee leading the way, with the Genin following and Monica in tow, walked at a brisk pace down the main avenue of Iwagakure. The road was divided in two at this point, to allow one of the many famous streams of the mountain city to go about its own course. Flanking on either side were tall buildings made with either natural stone or newer glass designs with several interconnecting bridges and walkways. Without a map, it was possible to get horribly lost in such a large and complex settlement. Despite feeling so small compared to the city around them, the mountains rose higher giving the feeling of enclosed space. Monica had heard the village being referred to as the "impassable fortress of stone" before.

Being the first time, she was able to get a decent look around the village, and honestly it was just like she had heard. Her old home was claustrophobic by comparison. Existing inside a hollowed-out mountain on houses not built by skilled artisans, the entire place was lit by artificial lighting and stank of struggle.

Now they seemed to be climbing up a steep path to a higher section of the city. Officially, this part was more for the shinobi than civilian as the frequency of off-duty men and women who still wore Iwa headbands were greater. They were a range of ages. If Monica had to guess, the majority were Genin or lower, if age and skill had much of a correlation.

Once they reached the top, they passed a large building overlooking the city. Monica only had enough to time to read 'academy' before she was pulled from her thoughts.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Omi's voice was soft as she noticed Monica looking around.

"Reminds me of my home." Monica spoke as if she was hypnotised. Omi was right; they could see right down the valley from here. See where the forest of pinewood grew the thickest only to reveal hints of many hamlets and villages hiding away. Waterfalls and streams seemed to be still in the distance and sides of mountains reached up into the clouds which hugged around their snowy peaks.

"Could you tell me about it?"

"Hm? Honestly, I hardly remember it."

"Oh sorry… I didn't mean to." Omi quickly bowed in apology.

"It's alright. I was eleven when it all happened."

"When what happened?"

"I'd rather not think about it."

"Oh." Silence fell between them once more as they carried on walking.

"It was a huge place. Everything was built in marble or polished stone. Coloured tiles were used to decorate everything. Fields of crops seemed to go on forever and just wait till you saw the sea. On clear days, you could almost see the curvature of the planet, and it just expanded out until the sky met the horizon."

"Wow, that does sound nice."

"Home always does." Monica sighed once more. "It hurts knowing I'll never see it, though."

"Aww, don't say that."

"No. You don't understand it was burned down to ashes. Or at least that was my last memory of the place."

Omi just looked at her senior in shock. She did not know anyone who had lost anything, let alone everything, and so couldn't understand what Monica must be going through.

"D-do you h-have a home, n-now?"

"No… but. I have someone precious to me. He keeps me going." They had been so engrossed in their conversation, that they had not realised they had walked into the training field where Naruto, Shikamaru, Hinata and Sakura were waiting. Four more shinobi stood as well, all of which donned the symbol of sand on their forehead.

Naruto was the only one to hear those words from Monica. The uncanniness to Haku, his first enemy along with Zazuba, and her philosophy which in turn forged Naruto's own ideals. However, just like his first conversation with Haku, Naruto was unaware she was supposed to be his enemy.

"Precious?"

"I hold him above life itself. He's all I have left. What about you? Is there someone precious to you?"

"T-to me? W-what do you mean?"

"True strength com-"

"I have not heard that philosophy in a long time, ya-know?" Naruto interrupted which caused Monica to flinch back and blush. "But, you're right. True strength comes from protecting those you love."

Monica bit her tongue back, worried she said too much again. But allowed herself to breathe once more when Naruto seemed to approve, and Omi looked at her in awe.

"Alright, we are going to have a small sparing match, Mrs…" Shikamaru interrupted. Having already worked out a hypothesis and just needed to test it now.

"Oh, err. Uandi."

"Mrs. Uandi. Normally, we would assume you to have civilian levels of chakra, but we have reason to believe otherwise and on behalf of Iwa, we'd like to test your potential." Shikamaru continued.

A woman emerged from the crowd and unlike the others, Monica knew the Iwa headband. Which was partly hidden behind her black hair. Her attire was standard for Iwa shinobi, brown flack jacket with red shinobi clothes underneath. Her other notable feature were her pink eyes of which Monica couldn't help but gaze into them.

"My name is Kurotsuchi. You've brought quite the crowd."

"Er, e-excuse m-me, but why is everyone s-so interested?" 'Do they know?' Monica thought to herself. Glancing at all angles, she had the sudden urge to run. But wouldn't that give the game away? Prove there was something to hide? Shikamaru was analysing her reactions intently.

"The world is cruel. And you're a survivor. Something we could do with. So, naturally, when the report of some potentially capable individuals arrived at my desk, I naturally took interest. It seems sensible to always seek for great potential in the land of Earth."

Something seemed off, but her hands were tied here. Monica felt like a pit opened up in her stomach. She was supposed to be a normal civilian who ended up rescued. Not recruited and she was running out of time to help Fukushi from the inside. She tried her best to hide the panic that was building inside her. Subtle signals that the ninja around her must be able to soak up.

"F-forgive me. I'm n-not a ninja."

"Well, we all came up here to test that. I'd prefer to leave with an answer if that is alright with you."

Her cheeks were flushed, and Monica swallowed as she glanced at each person around her. Eight ninjas from the leaf. Four from the sand and one from Iwa.

"I'll spar." Omi raised her voice as loud as she can, still not trying to be the centre of attention. But understanding how it felt to be new, she wanted to help her new friend.

"Yosh! An excellent choice young Omi. I can feel the flames of youth burning inside you now!"

Everyone deadpanned at the sudden outburst. Lee then coughed loudly. "I believe it is an excellent choice as Genin would be appropriate, considering we are in the company of someone untrained."

"Very well." Kurotsuchi replied. They could always have a second battle if Monica proved to be superior. She leaned into Shikamaru, whispering into his ear. "So, we are looking for blue fire." Shikamaru gave a subtle nod. They had found Druarni unconscious in the attic rooms of the Genin hotel. She was managed to create enough noise to attract the cleaner, but passed out once more after saying 'it's the girl'. Arra was mortified over the news, and if he was not sweet-talked by Kurotsuchi, their only lead to solving the entire mystery would have been killed for sure. All the clues were lined up, they were just missing the male member of the duo.

Shikamaru stood between the two girls taking position on the training field. The ground was made of hard stone and covered in a thin layer of sand, not offering a comfortable landing spot anywhere. Omi took the academy standard pose. One foot behind the other and her right fist by her right hip while her left hand readied in front of her. Offensive just as Lee would prefer. Shikamaru was curious to see if she had adopted moves from Lee and incorporated them into her moves. That would make for a nasty surprise should anyone assume she was a fresh Genin.

By contrast, Monica Uandi adopted a more defensive stance. Her weight was on her back heel and her hand rested on the hilt of the weapon she hid in her cloak. Lesser trained eyes would not see the subtleties given the cloak. Her left hand was low by her hip and was ready to give different options should the need arise. Going defensive would make sense given the history, should she be the one they were looking for.

"H-hey, Monica? About what you said… earlier, I mean. You don't have to coddle me. I-I should get better myself. So, please allow yourself by giving it your all." Omi gave a smile and Monica simply nodded. Both their hearts were racing. Omi was worried she was outclassed, while Monica feared she would be found out.

"First match, between Omi Nohara and Monica Uandi. No lethal force. Begin." Shikamaru swiped his hand down and took a step back.

Omi opened with a quick throw of kunai. One, then another was sent towards Monica. The first shot was wide, but the second shot was parried by her weapon, which she equipped in one quick movement. Monica summoned a kunai in her left hand and tossed it much like she had the night before against Druarni. The deadly tip sailed straight for Omi's neck, forcing her to clap her hands on the blade before she was hit. Her eyes were widened momentarily out of the accuracy of her projectile. Monica was about to activate her trap, when she clearly hesitated. In turn, this allowed Omi to spin the kunai and throw it back to her creator. Running after the blade as she expected for Monica to either catch it or dodge it. Either way, knocking her out of position.

Neither happened as the kunai was unsummoned and Monica leaped through the smoke to slash at her opponent. Omi ducked under the sword before delivering a punch to Monica ribs. The fist connected, but left Omi open to the pommel of Monica's wakizashi and the poor girl was thrown across the field. Blood running down her eyebrow. She looked up at her approaching opponent.

Omi's hands snuck behind he back to retrieve a handful of shuriken. Once the orange-haired kunoichi had walked to almost striking distance, Omi pumped chakra into her legs and leaped up above her sparring partner, raining shuriken down from above. Swordsmanship would not have been enough to stop the attack. Far too many projectiles were in the air, even though they were limited to the damage they could inflict.

Monica did not wear armour, nor was she remotely fast enough, so she thought about the second jutsu she had learned. Moulding the chakra like it was second nature, she formed several small balls of blue fire. Each shuriken pinged off the jutsu giving a metallic tang. Crossing her arms, she weathered the remaining shuriken, though her defense was far from perfect.

Monica hissed in pain as her arm, thigh, and shoulder were cut by the sharp blades. Omi was already on her. Taijutsu was her preferred tactic, but she needed to disarm the woman before she gets a successful swipe. The fireballs were a little unnerving to the Konoha ninja. Had they been paying attention to the crowd, several members just added the final piece of their collective puzzle.

The leaf ninja elbowed Monica hard and forced her back, a light jab to her right bicep before faking an opening for Monica to stab forward. Omi turned in and twisted the handle of the wakizashi out of Monica's hand, kicking the merciless weapon out of reach. Monica's leg wrapped out Omis and pulled her to her knees. Omi retunred the favour by dropping fast and rolling Monica over. A kunai from nowhere appeared in Monica's hand and slashed painfully across Omi's chest, above the breast but just glancing harmlessly off the bone. Omi leaped back and bit back the pain. Her beige coat now stained.

Monica scrambled back with some distance now, cursing away the pain from her twisted hand. However, being unarmed was never an issue for the foreigners. Monica's hands started to glow with blue fire. With a look of crazed excitement in her face she readied her jutsu.

"-Fire style: Fireballs.-" She did not care that she had used her native tongue as her first fireball shot from her left. The excitement from the battle seemed to engulf her despite the audience. Taking a step back to fire the second from her right. She was readying the third by the time her first projectiles struck around Omi.

Omi saw the projectiles and took to evasion. Where she was a moment ago, a fireball struck with explosive force. Blue flames licking the ground ahead and the heat pricked up on her neck. She needed to close the distance once again.

Seeing Omi roll out of the way of her final fireball, Monica noticed she had picked up a kunai laying near her and charged again. The foreigner stood her ground and sailed through several hand signs. Few breaking the traditional hand signs and appeared unique to the audience. Holding her left hand, she waited until it caught fire in her own blue flames. Omi instantly regretted going on the offensive as she blocked with her right hand and a burning fist struck her in the chest, leaving a painful burn which was sure to blister.

Now, it was becoming obvious who was better. Monica started to concentrate on the combat and forgot her previous reservations. Her nerves and fears did not seem important anymore as she eagerly engaged hand to hand with the Genin. Ducking and spinning, Monica weaved through more hand signs and a blue banner of fire revealed itself in front of her. Smoke popped, and her sword summoned itself only to be snatched out of mid-air by her right arm. Time seemed to slow for both girls. Omi was spinning with her kunai at the ready while Monica also spun with her sword. Monica was lower to the ground and Omi was too high. Her attack missed while the Wakizashi slit across her abdomen.

The match was over with Monica gazing to the distance. Her purple eyes lost all shine as her bloodlust had taken over. Omi also stood behind Monica facing away. Silence for a second until Omi coughed up blood and fell to her knees. Monica's eyes widened as her body visibly started to shake. Reality hit her like a wall. She dropped her sword and turned to catch Omi before the blade even clattered on the floor.

"-Shit. Shit shit shit shit.-" She applied pressure to the wound and tried her best to comfort the Genin. "-Stay with me. You can't die. Please.-" Monica started to panic, trying to weave hand signs, swearing each time she got it wrong. Seeing the blood of someone innocent staining her hands breaking at her sanity. "-You had not told me about who was precious to you. Your home? Come on you had a life to live." Sakura had jumped in while Shikamaru and Lee tried to pull the crying girl off Omi. "-Okay. I was jealous. I'm sorry I did not mean to strike so hard.-"

"I… m… fault… I told y… not coddle me." Omi's voice was hoarse. Monica was pulled away while Sakura was able to give first-aid. Monica stood up shaking as she realised everyone had now made a ring surrounding her. She rubbed her hands nervously as her tears kept streaming down her cheeks.

"Purple eyes, female, uses blue fire, red hair, speaks another language, used a unique jutsu we recognise from a scene of a crime." Shikamaru listed off each feature down his list. "This is beyond coincidence. Monica is the girl we've been looking for."

"You are under arrest for the killing of four Iwa ANBU, one Kiri Jonin, assault on one Kumo Jonin, excessive force on one Konoha Genin, and the killing of several citizen of Stone." Kurotsuchi listed out the charges. Now they had to apprehend her partner and the whole mess could be resolved. She gave a sigh. "Anything to say for yourself, Kunoichi of unknown origins?"

"-Fukushi please… forgive me.-" She muttered before subtly clenching her fist. "I'd rather die." She spoke without emotion in her voice, steeling herself as best as she could. Perhaps if there was another way… If things had panned out differently then, maybe… Just maybe she would have found paradise.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath in. Since she was young she was taught to never greet death with fear in your heart. Slowly, she opened her eyes and crouched as she did so. Kunai slowly formed in her hands as she waited for someone to attack first.

'Hm.. to have travelled so far only to end it here. I miss Fukushi… I miss my home'. She thought sadly as her body instinctively turned to block the oncoming strike from one of the sand shinobi. She might have managed to slash him or her across the chest, but her mind did not register it. 'Maybe this is my hell.' She flicked one kunai that missed Naruto's head. He only had to side step. A rope from a Johyo wrapped around her legs and tripped her up with a tug. She tried to burn through the rope, but had to dodge a naginata by rolling to the side. The woman tried to spring up to her feet, but a knockout strike to the back of her head defeated her. 'I mean… why did I deserve to survive?' Her unconscious body hit the floor face first.

"Sorry girly, we need you alive." Kurotsuchi answered her earlier question.

Later that evening, Naruto found himself leaning over the edge of a bridge that crossed near a waterfall. He was idling himself by staring at his bandaged right arm, wearing a jacket which had considerably less orange painted over it. Although, it still had his favourite colour in two stripes which lined around his mid-section. He gave his headband a quick rub as he thought through events that have passed him by. The evening mountain mist had started to cover the valleys off to the distance and the shadows that the mountains casted had made the scene look beautiful, yet cold.

"Naruto?" Hinata asked. She had spent the last hour trying to find Naruto, not that there was anything to do. She just wanted to see him.

"Hn? Oh, hey, Hinata. Need something?"

"Oh, no no. I just wondered where you had gone."

"Ah, well. I just wanted to think, that's all."

"You always enjoyed having time to yourself." Hinata walked until she was next to him and looking over the village below.

"Never thought I'd get to enjoy other villages like this."

"Ano, it's nice not having eyes watching you from afar."

"Yeah… it's good, though."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, for the first time we've all managed to get along. It's good."

"All thanks to you."

"You as well. You have a way with words. A certain finesse that I don't have."

Hinata didn't reply, but turned away to hide her blush. Speaking his mind, he felt so much sincerer in his complement.

"Hey, Hinata?"

"Hmm?"

"If… if we were actually on the bad side… would we still be partnered up like this?" He blushed before coughing and continued. "I mean we've always assumed we were on the good side. But if we weren't, what would actually change?"

"Well…" Hinata begun. "It's nice to see you've picked up philosophy." She giggled at his response of defeat. Naruto was painfully aware how much reading he needed to catch up to become Hokage. "What brought this on?"

"You see right through me." Naruto stood up straight and turned to give Hinata his full attention. "Something that Monica said just as they entered the field. She was talking to Omi about her precious people."

"I've heard you mention this before… Haku wasn't it?" One of Naruto's favourite things about Hinata that he quickly found out about during the war, was she would always listen and remember each and every story he had. It showed through references like these.

"Yeah those who we consider our enemy do what they do for the same reasons we do what we do."

"Unless you hurt people for greed." Hinata added.

"Y-yeah exactly, but most people are just misunderstood, ya know? Our business just so happens to collide against each other."

"You're talking about Monica and her partner. Aren't you?"

Naruto sighed heavily. "Yeah. Usually I'd need to fight them to really understand their motives, but right now it's so clear cut that I just can't help but wonder if I can help them."

"You're really kind, Naruto. Knowing you, you'd be able to help them."

"What about you? You think it's right that we should help them?"

Hinata was silent for a few moments. Naruto rarely needed confirmation off anyone but given that he and Hinata worked together for so long, asking for her opinion would make sense. Often, he would ask for Kurama's opinion as well just, so he could make his mind up in confidence.

"I've seen you turn worse people than them." Kurama's voice rumbled from Naruto. It was low so only the pair could hear him.

"I agree with Lord Kurama." A small smile crossed her lips, knowing he liked the name.

"Your acknowledgements have been noted." The beast smoothly replied.

"Thank you, but yeah, from everything we know, they are definitely the wronged party here." Hinata's eyes lit up with an idea. "Would you kill for me, Naruto?"

Naruto's eyes widened in shock to such a question. Her crystal eyes turned to face him and for a moment they gazed into each other. The question was not out of place given the talk that Naruto just had, but the implications were so widespread and unpredictable. While Hinata was a precious person the answer was normally easy. Yes. But if the cost was the lives of the elemental nations or even another person Naruto considered precious, he wasn't sure. Was there a point where one person was worth everything you had worked for? The blond was silent as he worked through the conundrum, but it was when Hinata slowly looked down and averted her gaze. Her breath hitched slightly, and, in that moment, Naruto fell back on his gut instinct.

"Yes. I would." Hinata's gaze snapped back into his sapphire eyes. Searching for any sighs of him lying or not being entirely truthful. She gave him a warm smile.

"Really, Naruto?" Kurama asked. He understood the answer since Naruto fought Pein. The fact Hinata's perceived death was the closest Naruto had gotten to giving in. "This is not something to take lightly. But you already knew that didn't you."

"I get it. Yeah, I think I have my answer now. Of course Monica would head straight into the home of their enemy for her precious person. W-what about you, Hinata? Would you follow me into hell?"

Hinata blushed and glanced away before looking back with a smile on her face. "Without hesitation."

"This is the part you kiss her." Kurama advised which made both jump apart.

"Kurama! Why would you s-say that? That's something only couples do!"

"Fine. I'll turn around." And the nine-tails presence receded.

"I… err. sorry. I-He di-"

"It's okay." Hinata leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. Her heart raced, and her body felt hot, but she stood away before anything else could happen. "I'll wait." Naruto just stood there stock still. "We should go and find the others and see if we can help those two." Hinata walked away, trying to resist the urge to run off out of nerves.

"H-Hey, what did you mean by that?" Naruto called out after her before catching up.

"You're still an idiot, boy." Kurama muttered from the depths of Naruto's psyche.