Disclaimer: I own Naruto… NOT!
The Caged Bird
Chapter 9
Anaki woke up early. She ran to the training ground where she had been the day before. The sun was not still up and the air was still chilly.
She began to start training with the wooden punching posts. Her hands were a blur and soon, the post cracked and broke into pieces.
"You're going to have to pay for that you know," said a voice behind her. Anaki whirled around, sweat flying from her face. "Hey, are you okay?" Kurenai Yuhi asked with concern.
Anaki's normally calm face was contorted with something along the lines of desperation, grief and anger. Her eyes were wide with what seemed like fury.
Anaki shook her head and turned away. "I'm fine," she muttered and walked off in the opposite direction.
Should I go after her? Kurenai wondered. Oh well, I bet it's nothing. Asuma better be there on time, she thought and walked off to the amin streets of Konoha.
Dammit dammit dammit! Anaki's thought swirled with the heat rising from the hot water. She had thought a hot shower would help her calm down but the steam that rose steadily from the hot water kept on swirling into memories. Memories she wanted to forget.
Anaki closed her eyes. When she opened them she wished she hadn't. The huge grand mansion of the Jiiku family was burning. Fire was mixed with blood. His evil laughter, accompanied by the roaring flames…
Her father still desperately fighting to the last breath, blood gushing from the wounds of his missing limbs… Her mother screaming at her to take Yumiki-chan and run… Her last defiant look at him before he reached down her throat and pulled out her organs…
His gleeful murderous look at the shock from her mother's face…
Running… As fast as she could… Trying to escape from the fire and blood… Her sister a dead weight hanging limp in her arms…
He caught up to her so quickly… Like the flame carried by a furious wind…
The fear… Not only his powers but… The menacing aura itself…
Just thinking about it made her feel weak. As if he was right beside her… Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the handle of the tap. She could see him… The flames flickering and casting dark shadows across his face…
The knock on the door broke her from her nightmares.
"Anaki-chan? Are you all right? You've been in there for an awfully long time…" Hinata's concerned voice came from outside the closed door.
"Oh, I'm fine!" Anaki called back in hopefully, what was a steady voice.
She turned off the water, quickly dried her hair and got dressed.
Outside, Hinata was fussing over her. "A-are you really fine? You look quite p-pale Anaki-chan."
"I'm really fine," Anaki replied with a grin. There was no trace of the antagonizing nightmare that she had suffered only moments before.
She turned around the corner and as soon as Hinata was out of sight, her face twisted into a one of anguish and despair.
No more crying, she told herself angrily. Crying won't help anymore. Just get stronger!
She headed back to the training ground again. Kakashi, Asuma and Kurenai were waiting for her.
"Oh, it's you from this morning!" Kurenai said with obvious surprise. "Kakashi, she's the one we have to fight?"
Introductions were made. "Okay. Today you're going against the three of us," Kakashi explained. "Hey, are you sure we need three jounin level ninjas? I mean, she's just one girl," Asuma interrupted lighting a cigarette.
"Trust me," Kakashi said reavealing his Sharingan. "She was even with both Kisame and Itachi." Asuma and Kurenai looked a little shocked.
"Um, that's only because I was going all out," Anaki interrupted.
Asuma just grinned. He took out his trench knives and took up his stance. "Looks like I'll be able to get a good fight today," he commented with a chuckle.
"Listen Anaki," Kakashi said. "We're evaluating your maximum potential. You can go all out."
"Are you sure?" Anaki asked a little concerned.
"We're not that weak you know," Kurenai commented.
"Let's begin," Kakashi ordered.
The two male jounins rushed forward. Kurenai made some hand signs and began to perform her genjutsu. Trees shot out of the ground wrapping around Anaki's body making her unable to move.
About two seconds later, the trees shimmered and disappeared. Anaki jumped back just in time to avoid Asuma's trench knives.
Kakashi jumped up throwing several shruikens which she had to parry with a kunai.
Asuma jumped up behind her preparing to slash. She whirled around aiming a kick at Asuma's arms. He dodged and they all landed on the ground.
Suddenly, cherry blossoms appeared. They whirled and twisted in the air as if they were dancing. They enveloped Anaki making her unable to move. She started to look as if she was going to suffocate but suddenly, every single one of them sliced into two and disappeared.
Kurenai was astounded. She was using her strongest genjutus and yet, the girl was brushing them off as if they were nothing! However, she had stalled her long enough for Asuma to attack.
He slashed her across the abdomen. Her face was contorted with shock as blood sprayed across. Then she disappeared with a poof and a cloud of smoke.
Kakashi's eyes were narrowed with concentration. That was a shadow clone! When did she make one? My Sharingan should have detected it…
His eyes widened and he jumped up just in time to avoid Anaki's hand that shot out from the ground.
Crap! He thought as the shadow clone that rose out of the ground disappeared. Anaki was already behind him ready to land a punch.
Kakashi's hands were a blur as he fromed hand seals and turned around. Katon: Gokakyuu no Jutsu! (Fire style!Fireball Technique!)
The great ball of flame seemed to swallow her. "Hey, don't you think that was overkill?" Kurenai asked a little concerned.
"I think-" Whatever Kakashi was about to say was cut off as Anaki appeared, perfectly fine, behind him and punched him hard.
He slammed into the ground making an impact crater. Asuma ran over beside him.
"Knocked out cold," he muttered. "Hey Kurenai," he called. "She's probably got a punch about as powerful as Tsunade-sama. Be careful!"
Kurenai's eyes widened. Anaki landed neatly on the ground. Geez, just how strong is she? Kurenai wondered.
Asuma ran forward with his trench knives ready. Anaki whiupped out her hand and caught the flat of the trench knives between her fingers. He aimed a kick at Anaki but she was a blur, gone before his foot reached the place she had been standing before.
Kurenai didn't notice her presence until a second too late. Anaki had a kunai pressed against her throat. "Take off the trech knives Asuma-sensei," she said calmly.
Asuma scowled. Man, she really got me there.
"Okay, that's about enough," Kakashi said as he climbed out of the crater. They all lowered their weapons.
"You're not hurt seriously are you Kakashi-sensei?" Anaki asked.
He nodded his head. I'm getting rusty, he thought with a sigh. I can't believe I was defeated that easily.
"Come to the Hokage tower in about two hours," Kakashi informed her and walked off.
"Hey," Kurenai called out to the girl. "Wanna go get lunch?" she invited.
"Sure!" Anaki said enthusiastically.
"What about me?" Asuma asked sadly. "Go get your own food!" Kurenai said petulantly and walked off with Anaki.
"Women, I will never understand," Asuma said with a sigh as he lit another cigarette.
Anaki and Kurenai were strolling down the busy streets of Konoha.
"You're extremely strong," Kurenai commented.
"Thanks!" Anaki replied happily.
"But you know, that type of strength doesn't come naturally," Kurenai said.
"Well, my training wasn't exactly a stroll in the park," Anaki replied quietly. "Oh, can we go get some dango?" she suddenly said.
"Sure," Kurenai replied with a grin. They entered a dango shop. The only table with space was occupied by one person.
"Hey, Kurenai!" Mitarashi Anko cried out happily. Kurenai sighed and walked over to her table with Anaki following at the rear.
"So, who's this?" Anko asked with a slightly insane smile. "I'm Anaki Jiiku. Nice to meet you!"she replied politely.
"So you're showing this kid around Konoha?" Anko asked Kurenai after she ordered some more dango.
"No. Asuma, Kakashi and I tested her on the Hokage's orders," Kurenai replied.
Anko's eyebrows shot up. "Oh, does that mean the Hokage's interested in keeping her as a Konoha ninja?"
Kurenai shrugged her shoulders. "Probably."
"So did you beat the shit out of the kid?" Anko asked a little too excitedly. "Complete opposite," Kurenai replied dryly.
Anko looked quite excited at the news. "Hey, kiddo," she said getting Anaki's attention. "How about we have a spar sometime?"
Kurenai shivered at Anko's leering, grinning face. They were friends and all but sometimes she could be really creepy.
Anaki didn't seem fazed at all. "Sure!" she replied happily. The dango arrived, Kurenai was astounded.
Anko and Anaki were dango-eating monsters. They were both trying to eat as many as they could. Kurenai didn't dare try to reach for one as she feared for her arm's safety.
In a heartbeat, there was one dango left. Anko and Anaki were staring at each other studying each other's movements.
"Hey it's just a dango…" Kurenai tried to say. "MINE!" they both screamed at the same time.
Anaki reached out with amazing speed. Anko, on instinct, realized she was going to get it first and performed hand signs.
Snakes shot out of her sleeves mouths hissing. They both reached for it at the same time and that caused the plate to fly into the air.
The dango was flying, thrown from the plate. Anaki and Anko both watched the dango fall into Kurenai's hand. She popped it into her mouth.
Anko was furious. "No one gets away with stealing my dango!" she screeched. Anaki however wasn't paying attention. The dango incident seemed to have been forgotten as she started to walk out.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!" Anko yelled and chased after her. Kurenai sighed. She felt a little sorry for Anaki-chan. After all, Anko's obsession with dango was legendary.
"I've had enough of you and your stupid god!" Kakuzu yelled at his partner. "Money is the only important thing!"
"Jashin is greater than anything you basterd!" Hidan cried back
"I've had enough of you, you son of a bitch!" Kakuzu snapped as black threads shot out from underneath his cloak. The threads sliced off Hidan's head neatly.
"Maybe you'll shut up about your stupid god now!" Kakuzu grumbled.
"You basterd!" Hidan's decapitated head screeched at him. "Do you know how much that hurts you fucking retard!?"
"You seem to have no trouble when it comes to stabbing yourself in your rituals," Kakuzu grumbled as he picked up the still swearing head.
"Be careful you dumbass!" Hidan's head screamed. "Keep that attitude up and your head will mysteriously vanish," Kakuzu threatened him menacingly. Hidan, still disgruntled, resorted to swearing more obscenities under his breath.
"That's better," Kakuzu said. He placed the head on top of the neck. Black strings shot out from Kakuzu's cloak and started to weave in and out of the skin re-attaching the head.
After the operation was finished, Hidan and Kakuzu resumed to arguing and travelling closer to Konoha.
"Well?" Tsuande asked Kakashi.
"She's more than just good. She could be a rank of a special jounin if she wanted to," Kakshi replied.
"I expected nothing less from someone who is a part of the Jiiku clan," Tsunade said contently.
Tsunade began to ask detailed questions on Anaki's abilities. Kakshi answered them but Tsunade still had a feeling he wasn't telling his whole opinion.
"Someone's coming," Tsunade said quickly. "You're dismissed for now."
Kakshi disappeared without a second thought.
"Tsunade-sama? You wanted to see me?" Anaki peeked her head into the Hokage's office.
"Come in!" Tsunade said. "Do you like Konoha? How have you been doing?"
"It's exactly like what you've told me except a thousand times better!" Anaki replied with a grin.
"I'm glad. If you like Konoha, why don't you join and become a Konoha ninja?"
"Really? You mean it?" Anaki said with disbelief. "Absolutely," Tsunade said holding out a Konoha headband.
"Thank you so much!" she said and gave her a big hug. It's the least I can do for you and Kyoko, Tsunade thought as she hugged her back.
"I've always wanted to be a Konoha ninja," she chattered excitedly as she tied up the headband.
"Okay! Now that you are an official ninja of Konoha, you have a mission coming up. Do you know the Land of Wind?" Tsunade asked.
"I know the region and I don't like it. Too much sand."
"Well the Kazekage requested a team of ninjas to deal with some rouge ninjas," Tsunade explained.
"I thought Sunagakure had a formidable array of ninjas at their disposal?" Anaki asked with an eyebrow raised.
"I'll explain after your teammates arrive," she said.
Soon enough, Lee, Sakura, and Neji came into the room.
Tsunade began the mission debriefing.
"Neji's Byakugan will be a good asset as there are a lot of hiding places in the desert and you aren't very familiar with the terrain. Sakura will be the medic-nin. Neji you're the team leader."
They all nodded. "Your mission is to track down and capture a rouge ninja from the Sand and two unknown accomplices. They tried to assassinate the Kazekage."
"Garaa-kun is fine," Tsunade continued. "But at least twenty strong Sand ninja has been killed and numerous were injured. Garaa would love to hunt them down but there's a high possibility they will attack again and the Sand village needs him. Also, the attackers are not just your normal rouge ninjas looking for a bit of revenge. They are very strong and the Sand doesn't have ninjas that are strong enough to deal with them. Even if they are, they are all needed inside the village. That's why they requested help from us," Tsunade finished.
"You leave in half an hour. Time is of the essence. Rest of the instructions will be given at Sunagakure,"
"We'll do our best!" Sakura said confidently.
Back at the Hyuga compound, Anaki was packing up. Hinata enter the room just as she was about to leave.
"Anaki-chan! I h-heard that you're now an official kunoichi of Konoha! Congratulations!"
"Thanks Hinata-chan!"
"Hinata? Father wants you now," said a voice from behind them.
"Oh, Hanabi-chan, I'll be right there in a moment," Hinata said.
"Is this your little sister?" Anaki asked. "Yes. Hanabi is younger than me by two years."
"Oh, I better go! I have a mission to go on!" Anaki scrambled for her bag.
"Good luck!" Hinata called out behind her.
Neji was already outside. "What took you so long?" he asked her.
"I met Hanabi-chan," she said tartly. She fell silent the whole way to the west gate looking as little sullen.
God, did I say something wrong? She seems kinda sad. Maybe I should apologize… Neji was pondering over Anaki's sudden spell of sullenness.
Having a little sister… Anaki thought. Her vision blurred slightly and she rubbed her eyes.
Oh my god, Neji was panicking inside. I'm pretty sure I saw a tear there. Was it me? Please don't start crying… he prayed.
Thankfully, for Neji, Anaki did not have a strong outburst of emotion of any kind.
They arrived at the west gate. Lee was talking about youthfulness. Sakura seemed very happy when Neji and Anaki arrived.
"Let's go," Neji said. "Alright! We will defeat evildoers with our power of youth!" Lee cried.
The four ninjas blurred out of sight.
A/N: Yes there were spoilers in this one for those who still do not know about Kakuzu and Hidan. All reviews are welcome!