"Normal speak"
'Thoughts'
"Kyuubi/ Greater Demon/ Summoning Speaking"
'Kyuubi/ Greater Demon/ Summoning thinking'
"Jutsu/ Emphasis"
"Kanpuu Speaking"
'Kanpuu Thinking'
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I do however own this story, disclaimer, and any OC's within.
Main Pairing: Ita/Kinmu, one-sided Sasu/Kinmu
I AM BACK BABY! YEAAAAA THAT'S RIGHT! BE PROUD! TWO YEAR ABSENCE AND I FOUND THE WILL TO WRITE AGAIN! WOOT WOOT!
So I finally went back to start editing my former chapters. I feel like a damn idiot. There was an unbelievable number of mistakes. So, please go back and re-read those, they are actually a bit different, took out the crap about Gingitsune/Kinmuku. Waaay to confusing. So she just has a name that she uses for out in public. So, again, feel free to go back and re-read them.
Previously
She shook her head and looked out into the gennin counting them. "...78. You let 26 teams pass!? This test was way too easy!"
Ibiki shook his head, "There are a lot of talented gennin this time around Anko."
"Bah! Whatever. I'll cut them down to half in this next exam!" Anko smiled darkly. "I'm going to quite enjoy this. I'll explain everything once we've changed places. Follow me."
Her Story
Enter, the 'Forest of Death'!
Chapter 11
Kinmuku let out a bored sigh as Anko lead the teams to the ominous 'Forest of Death'. Pft, it was nothing more than a confined area of extremely large animals and other ninja's.
As Anko's voice called her away from her thoughts Kinmuku sighed and refocused upon the scantily clad woman. "So, I'm going to need you to sign these consent forms so that Konoha is not left responsible in case you die in the process of this exam."
A laugh was heard out in the crowd and Anko's head snapped over to the little blonde girl standing out in the middle of the crowd. "Something funny brat?"
The twerp had the nerve to let her smile widen and opened her mouth, "Well, as a matter of fact Mrs. Examiner, yes, I do." Her smile widened even further to a grin that threatened to split her face in half, "Just the fact that you think any of the good teams out here are going to die." Laughing darkly she stuck her tongue out and blew Anko a raspberry.
"Watch yourself brat. My kunai here might just slip out of my hand and catch you in the throat."
"I'd like to see that Anko-san." The grin faded and she became serious, but Anko could still see the glint of humor in her eyes.
"Whatever gaki. Alright, I need those forms in 15 minutes. Once all are in we will begin handing out scrolls, you will then move to your assigned gate and wait to enter the grounds."
With that the teams dispersed into sections to talk about signing their forms. Team 7 went over to a large tree and sat, Sakura was seated between two large roots of the tree; Sasuke stood off to the side his arms folded over his chest, and Kinmuku sat away from both of them glaring fiercely around at the people too close for comfort.
"I've already got mine filled out. What about the two of you?" Kinmuku's voice shocked the other two, she hardly spoke to them unless they were on missions.
Sasuke let out a puff of air, "Obviously I've done mine. Sakura?"
"I've done mine as well Sasuke-kun, so since we've all already done that should we try to come up with a strategy? We need to know what we're going to do, what if we get separated?"
"If we end up splitting up we'll each show something that no one else knows we have. Sakura, Sasuke what do you have?"
Sakura looked shyly down at her hands and fiddled with her gloves. Sliding off her left glove, she lifted up her hand and showed them a pink scar that curled around her ring finger. "No one knows about this, I genjutsu it when I'm not wearing gloves so no one has ever seen it."
Kinmuku nodded, "Alright, Sasuke what do you have?"
The Uchiha glared at her and pulled a kunai from his holster, "There is a small Uchiha Crest wrapped up under the binding on the handle. It shows with a little pressure from the holder."
Again the girl nodded and Sasuke glared, "So what do you have?"
Scowling slightly she shucked off her jacket and lifted up her shirt, "When I mold a little chakra this tattoo shows up, it's chakra sensitive and is tuned to only my chakra." A small swirled symbol appeared on her stomach and allowed both members to see it before cutting her chakra flow. "Good enough?"
The other two nodded and relaxed for their final few minutes of peace before a five day hell. Within minutes Anko had called up all the teams to a small private booth and handed out scrolls. Team Seven returned from the booth with a Heaven scroll and Kinmuku began to troll for possible targets with Earth Scrolls.
She spotted a team quickly and actually managed to walk past them and snatch their scroll while replacing it with a dummy. Strolling away to join her team she didn't inform them of their complete scroll set, however managed to convince them to let her hold their own scroll.
As their gate opened with a clang the three gennin speed into the forest before coming to a clearing where Kinmuku quickly slid to a halt, making the rest of her team do so as well. "We already have a complete scroll set. Shall we head to the tower?"
Sakura and Sasuke looked at the girl amazed, "And how is it that we have a complete set?"
"I stole one before the exam started. Another team was pretty careless and I stole their scroll. They never noticed and it's not against the rules, so, why not?" Kinmuku grinned, "So let's get out of here before we get caught with our pants around our ankles."
Sakura nodded, but Sasuke glared at her un-happily. "And why did you keep this from us?"
"Because I knew one of you would have made a scene, why deal with that when we can just get there on the first day?"
Sakura nodded, "Alright, let's go. I don't want to be in this creepy forest longer than I have to be anyways."
Grudgingly Sasuke nodded in assent and the three gennin sped back up and were flying through the trees and coming up on the tower at an amazing rate. Within the second hour of the exam's beginning the team came up on the tower.
Entering they were greeted by a board on the wall and Sakura, seeing the two missing words suggested that they open the two scrolls. Seeing no other options Kinmuku and Sasuke quickly slit the seal and threw them towards the wall. They were greeted by the akward site of Kakashi in the middle of reading Icha Icha giggling and blushing crazily.
"Sensei….?" Sakura questioned, "What are you doing here?"
"Holy Shit! How are you three here so soon!?"
Kinmuku smiled, "I stole a scroll before the exam actually started. We just came here right after."
Kakashi nodded, "Good thinking then Rin."
"So what do we do now?"
"You can practice for the next five days or relax if you'd like. But don't wear yourselves out too much. The next part of the exam is soon." With those last words Kakashi disappeared in a puff of smoke giggling once again.
Kinmuku looked at the other two gennin and let out a yawn. "Wellll, seeing as we've gotten here in a good span of time I think I'm going to go find a room to crash in and then I'm going to go train. What say you two?"
Sakura nodded, "I think I'll do the same Rin. I could use a good day of sleep. What will you do Sasuke-kun?"
Sasuke grunted, "I'm going to find some where to train then I'll go find a room. I don't want to have to deal with either one of you." He turned on his heel and stalked off, hoping to find a suitable training area.
Rolling her eyes at his attitude Kinmuku stretched her arms above her head and let out a sigh of contentment as her spine popped. "I guess I'll see you in a few hours Sakura." Turning away to leave the girl to herself she took a few steps forward before being greeted by the ever eccentric Mitarashi Anko.
"Congratulations Team 7. We have never had a team complete the course as quickly as you three. Care to tell me your secret to success?"
"I'd really rather not Examiner-san. Trade secret." Winking one blue-gray eye at the purple haired kunnochi Kinmuku trotted away humming an amused tone. Once again however her way was blocked by the examiner.
"I'm afraid we have to assign rooms kiddo. We have a room for every team that can possibly pass. And since your team was the lucky ones to come in first, you have the pleasure of getting the largest room. How's that for luck?" The woman smiled a mean grin and Kinmuku rolled her eyes.
"Coming Sakura? This crazy bitch has to show us which room we get. And I'm sure you'll go find Sasuke to tell him where we'll be staying the next five days so you'll need to come along. Because I'm sure as hell not going to show you myself."
Scowling at her fellow kunnochi Sakura quickly fell into pace along side her and the examiner. As they passed through a large room however the team could see Sasuke going through a few movements, obviously trying to recreate something that he had seen.
"Sasuke-kun, we're being shown to our room. Would you like to come?" Sakura called down to the disgruntled teen.
Letting out a huff about his training being ignored Sasuke nodded and leaped up to the platform to join the three women.
Within minutes the team reached their room and almost immediately Kinmuku leaped to the bed closest to the window. "This one is mine. Don't even try taking it." She hissed to the other two earning a laugh from Anko.
"Having a bed by the window probably isn't the greatest thing. You'll see things happening out there that you may not like you know."
She turned and glared at the purple haired woman. "Does it seem to you like I care Anko-san?" Her eyes glinted fiercely and she flopped down on the bed mumbling to herself about 'purple haired bitches thinking she can't take care of herself'.
Sakura rolled her eyes at the normally stotic gennin. Picking a bed close to the door Sakura set her pack down and eyed her fellow Kunnochi. "Must you be such a pain in the ass Rin?"
A low growl was her reply and once again Anko let out a sinister chuckle. "Get some rest kiddies. And by the way, Uchiha, the practice area is three doors down the left. There is actual training gear in there so you don't have to fight imaginary opponents."
"Hn," Was the only reply she received so she rolled her eyes before exiting the room. The door quickly reopened however, "By the way, dinner is in three hours. Be punctual or you won't get food."
Snapping the door shut behind her the two Kunnochi let out contented sighs and the one brooding shinobi merely rolled his eyes. Setting his own pack down on the floor by the only remaining bed Sasuke exited the room to continue his training.
Sakura let her eyes trail after him wanting to follow. And a few moments later she did leaving Kinmuku to herself. The young gennin grinned into her mattress and let out a sigh. Rolling over she grinned upwards at the ceiling, excited to have arrived so quickly.
Sitting up as she felt her pack and sword dig into her back Kinmuku let out a sigh. Pulling one strap over her shoulder she shucked off the pack and set it on the floor next to her bed. It was followed by her katana that was gently lifted over her head and set to lean up against the wall. Looking out the window she looked into the dark forest and grinned as she saw the second team draw close to the tower.
The team was that one from Suna, the one with the crazy red head on it. Bolting out of bed she headed down the stairs and flew past the large arena-like room and past the area where she could hear Sasuke training. Landing in the area where she knew the team would enter she stood at the top of the platform grinning madly. The doors clanged open and the team of three walked in.
Blood hung heavy in the air, and she knew the scent of it came from the red head. Her grin grew wider.
"Congrats on making it here so soon. Not soon enough to be first, but second isn't too bad now is it?" The grin she held threatened to split her face and the elder two gennin became frightened. They knew she wasn't talking to them, and worse yet, she was taunting Gaara of all people.
"You may want to shut your trap kid. You may end up dead before you even have the chance to blink." Kankuro grounded out, and was surprised and more than a little worried when he heard dark chuckling emerging from the girl's mouth.
"I'm terrified cat-ears." The grin was gone from her face and she stared at him, her chilling stormy blue eyes daring him to try something. Anything.
Gaara watched the girl carefully, something about her was different. Powerful. Lifting his head he met the girl's eyes and allowed a brief moment of surprise to light his face as he found himself looking into onyx black eyes instead of the cold storm blue of earlier.
"You are of interest to me Byakuya Rin. We will fight and mother will taste your blood." His face was expressionless as he spoke and monitored the kunnochi's reaction.
"I can't wait," she hissed "To wipe the floor with you and show you that your 'mother' has nothing on my 'father'." Her onyx eyes bled to red just around the pupil to reveal that it was not circular like a normal human's, it had become a thin black slit, like a fox's.
A dark grin had spread onto Gaara's face and his siblings backed away close to the wall, his sand popped the cork on his gourd and began to slide out.
"Shall we fight now Byakuya Rin?"
"Well now Gaara, I'd love to." Her grin revealed her teeth, extended canines poking over the bottom of her lip. Grasping the railing she tensed to leap over and meet her fellow gennin in battle when Anko appeared.
"Hey now. Did I forget to mention it to you when you got here or back at the beginning? There will be no fighting until everyone is here. Fighting of any kind other than sparring will get you disqualified immediately."
Gaara lost his grin and he simply looked at the instructor, looking as if he had to debate whether or not to follow her instructions.
Kinmuku however backed down almost immediately. "Understood Anko-san." She released her grip on the hand rail and took a few steps back. "We will continue this later Gaara-san." Turning her back she began to head towards the training room when she heard Gaara's voice.
"Are you too afraid to fight me now Byakuya Rin? Are you weak enough to let one woman stop you?"
The Kunnochi froze in mid-step and looked back over her shoulder. "No. If I really wanted to fight you right now I would Gaara. I have more important goals to consider however. I can not afford to lose here because of one stupid boy." The reply was snarled and although her eyes were no longer that frightening onyx color she continued to have the slit pupil.
Without another word she removed herself from the area and headed to the training room. Sasuke was viscously attacking a dummy that would fight back by twisting and turning at swift speeds. Sakura sat off to the side entranced by Sasuke's training.
"Why don't you get some training in yourself Sakura?" Kinmuku's voice surprised the young Kunnochi and made her turn her head to the side to see the other gennin. The sun-kissed girl was intently watching Sasuke's movements and seemed to be breaking them down.
It seemed that moments before Sasuke would let out a hiss of frustration Kinmuku would shake her head and make a 'tsking' sound. Obviously fed up with just watching the girl jumped over the railing separating any observers from those training and leaped at the dummy a few over from Sasuke's own.
The whip that both of her teammates had forgotten she had (along with the author) slid down her arm and into her hand, and lengthened considerably with a small spike in chakra. Twisting her body and flicking her wrist at what seemed like random times to Sakura's untrained eye the dummy's flexible arms were soon pinned to its sides. Letting out another burst of chakra Sakura could see a light blue sheen appear on the material of the whip. Tugging slightly the dummy simply fell apart.
Sasuke who had stopped to watch the mysterious girl let his mouth drop open slightly. "How did you do that!?" Kinmuku's eyes snapped open, and instead of seeing Sasuke's angry eyes as she expected she turned in the direction of the voice to see Sakura standing and gripping the railing angrily.
"Years and years of training Sakura. Would you like to learn how to at least use a whip? I have a spare in my pack, if you would like to learn."
Slack jawed Sakura nodded and Kinmuku simply let a small smile grace her face. "I'll go fetch it." Leaving the area for a few moments the golden-haired girl returned within moments with a medium length whip curled up in one hand.
Then, the real fun began as she taught the finally eager Sakura.
Five Days Later
"All of the scrolls have been collected. Multiples from the same team in a few cases. Seeing as it is impossible for any others to enter the tower we will now begin the next round in our Chuunin Exam."
Seven teams had made it. Of those seven teams one person had dropped out when given the option. Kinmuku surveyed the teams assembled. All of the 'Rookie Nine' had made it, along with Matio Gai's team. Gaara's team had obviously passed along with the team from sound and one no-name team from Konoha as well.
A sickly man was presiding over them. He carried a small sword on his back and was obviously stronger than he seemed.
"We would like everyone to move into the rafters once the first two names are chosen." He motioned to a large screen that was emerging from behind a wall. As names flashed by it finally landed on two. It was Sasuke along with one of the no names from Konoha. In a matter of minutes Sasuke had defeated the other ninja, despite his weird ability to suck chakra from his opponent.
A moment later the next names had been decided, Ino against Sakura. With her few days of training in the whip Sakura easily bested Ino. She was an incredibly quick learner after all.
The next few fights continued on with nothing incredibly interesting. Hinata and Neji's fight was rather shocking but Kinmuku was not entirely amazed. Finally it came to her fight, and she grinned, she got to fight Kiba.
Leaping down from the stands quickly followed by Kiba, they headed to the center of arena. "Ready to fall dog-breath?"
"Only if you are fox-face." Kiba grinned and as soon as the proctor dropped his hand the two were attacking one another. Within minutes the fight was over. Kinmuku emerged victorious and she laughed grinning before shaking hands with Kiba. "Good effort dog-breath."
The fight between Lee and Gaara was by far the most interesting and Kinmuku let out a deep growl of hatred as Gaara crushed Lee's arm and leg. She shook her head in disgust and looked away from the sight of Lee trying to continue fighting.
The final fights passed un-interestingly and the remaining competitors returned to the floor.
"You will each draw a number from the box that Ibiki-san is holding. Anko-san will come by and you will tell her your number. Once everyone has picked a number we will put together the finals list and you will see your position."
Each gennin removed a number and earned a position. In the first round it would be Gaara vs. Sakura, Temari vs. Dozu, Kankuro vs. Neji, Shino vs. Sasuke, and finally Kinmuku vs. Shikamaru.
"You all have one month to train. Be ready to face your opponents by then and meet in the arena where the annual Kyuubi re-enactment is held. Off with you all!" As the groups of gennin dispersed to speak to their Jounin instructors Team 7 remained where they were.
Kinmuku held her hand out to Sakura, "Congratulations on the good fight Sakura. See if you can get your own style down for the whip. I won't have time to teach you anymore, all you needed is the basics and you've got that. Work hard on it." Sakura nodded, surprised to hear any sort of praise from her.
Finally Kakashi walked over to congratulate his team. "Good work. I'm proud of all three of you. You're rookies that have managed to do what is nearly impossible, passing your Chuunin exam on the first try. Sasuke I'll be training you during the break. Sakura you'll be working with Kurenai during that time, Hokage-sama isn't sending anyone out on new missions so she'll have plenty of time to work with you."
He looked at Kinmuku to see her fidgeting. "Obviously I haven't set training up for you Kinmuku."
"Yea I know, Otoji and Oba will teach me. Can we go now sensei?"
Kakashi nodded smiling at her obvious enthusiasm. "Fine, get out of here." The blonde gennin grinned and disappeared in moments. Reappearing a few seconds later she had her pack and sword on her back and was rushing out the door. Kakashi made a movement to stop her and escort her back with the rest of her team but was surprised to see her disappear via shushin.
"Well…it would've been nice to know she could do that…" Kakashi shook his head and turned to the other two gennin. "Well should we get on out of here?"
With those few words the three ninja headed out of the tower. Sakura went home to take a long hot shower and say hello to her family before she went to train with Kurenai. Kakashi took Sasuke home with a promise to meet him in the morning. Sasuke would have to pack for a three week journey and they would begin training.
Kinmuku arrived home moments after her shushin and let out a long sigh as she stepped through the gate and into the garden. "Tadiama!" She shouted at the top of her lungs. A grin spread on her face as Tsunade, Jiraya, and Danzo's heads appeared before the former two rushed out and grabbed their granddaughter.
"So, how was it gaki?"
"Pretty good. I made it to the final round. But I had to see something that I would rather never have to see again. Speaking of which, Oba-san, can I get you to help with something? You have to do it as yourself though, we can't use the genjutsu." She had a frown on her face as she thought about Lee's accident with Gaara.
"A kid got hurt really bad in the preliminaries. His life revolves around Taijutsu because he can't use jutsu. This kid named Gaara….he crushed his arm and leg. Can you please try and heal him? I don't want him to have to go through life without being a ninja. It is everything to him."
Tsunade nodded, seeing the conviction on Kinmuku's face. "We'll go in two days, you'll have to help me heal him though. And we may have to reveal who you really are, if I'm seen in public with you by the Sandaime he'll know within seconds who you are. Are you willing to risk that?"
The girl looked sternly at her Oba-san. "I would do anything to keep someone from losing their dreams Oba-san."
Tsunade smiled, "Good answer Kin-chan. Now why don't you go in and get some rest, we'll talk tomorrow about what we have to do to heal Lee-san up and then we'll get to work."
Kinmuku nodded, "Otoji, I think it's about time you reveal yourself to the world again. I get a bad feeling about the finals, I think something is going to happen…"
Jiraya nodded, "I got that feeling too. It's about time I started up my research in Konoha again." He let a perverted grin spread across his face before Tsunade hit him upside the head.
Kinmuku let the two elder ninja do their play fighting as she trudged inside letting out large yawns as she headed up a set of stairs towards her room. She passed by Itachi's room and peeked her head in. "Guess who's back." She smiled and winked at him shutting the door before he could react to her.
She kept going even though Itachi had called to her and slipped into her room. Mashiro leaped into her arms nearly toppling her over in her eagerness to get to her master. Laughing lightly Kinmuku collapsed on the bed and allowed Mashiro to lick all over her face. Hugging the creature closely to her body she let out a sigh of contentment and let her eyes slip shut.
Within minutes she was fast asleep.
Two Days Later
The whole day before Kinmuku and Tsunade had been studying up on total nerve damaging and crushed muscle and bone tissue. They had finally found a way to heal the boy up and were on their way to the hospital where Lee was being kept.
Having to walk through the busy mid-day streets Tsunade decided to wear a simple henge till the two managed to get to the hospital. It remained that way until about a minute away from the hospital. As Tsunade stepped into the hospital with the strong blonde Kunnochi following behind her there was several amazed gasps from the staff.
"Tsunade-sama has returned!" Was the standard comment.
"Yes, I'm here because I heard of an unfortunate case from my charge. I need to see Rock Lee."
The nurses nodded and lead the way to Lee's room. As they entered Tsunade made a concerned sound. "That's a pretty nasty wound. Is the boy conscious?"
"Y-yes m'am. I am awake. Why are you here?" Lee's voice was feeble but very aware.
"My charge and I are going to heal you. I'll have to put you under alright?"
Lee nodded and within minutes he was no longer aware of anything that was going on. A pair of nurses moved him to a stretcher before moving him to an operating room. Kinmuku began to write out seals on the floor and as soon as they dried the nurses set Lee in the center of the seal.
"We'll need two exchange nurses. One for me, and then one for the other nurse. My charge will be able to handle herself, make sure to have a soldier pill on stand by for her though."
The two nurses nodded and then stepped out of the room. They returned with the two nurses with the largest chakra supplies and most experience. Within minutes Tsunade and Kinmuku had sat down and began the healing process. An hour into the process Tsunade switched out with the first nurse. 15 Minutes later they switched out again. The second nurse managed to last 45 minutes and Tsunade retook her position and they finished out the procedure.
Kinmuku was breathing heavily and popped the soldier pill into her mouth. The two switch out nurses shook hands with Tsunade and gave Kinmuku a pat on the back, "Congrats kid. You have some monster stamina to manage what you did."
The nurse that had lasted longer turned to Tsunade, "Tsunade-sama. Hokage-sama is outside waiting for you."
Tsunade sighed and nodded. Putting one arm around Kinmuku's shoulders to support the worn gennin the two Kunnochi exited the operating room and Lee was returned to his room. Sarutobi sat a mere 10 meters away on a bench waiting for Tsunade.
"Welcome back Tsunade it's-" He cut off what he was saying as he saw the golden haired girl standing next to Tsunade. "You. What are you doing here?"
Tsunade straightened. "Hiruzen. This is my charge, we were here healing the unfortunate case that is Rock Lee."
"You took her in. She killed Minato and she killed Kushina!" Sarutobi shouted standing up ready to attack the gennin at her side.
Tsunade looked coldly at him. "As a former student I'm going to tell you this now. She is a hard worker. Minato has made peace with her. The winds atop the mountain no longer roar. Let it be Sarutobi." She snapped. "I came back here only as a favor to her. Don't make it so that I never return to Konoha. With or without this gennin's pleas."
Sarutobi glared darkly at the young girl but she took it in stride. "Hello Sarutobi-san. It is a pleasure to finally meet you. You've known me as Byakuya Rin for the past six months or so. I would prefer it to stay that way if you don't mind."
Sarutobi was shocked by the girl's formality. "You will not win me over so easily child."
"I plan not to. I simply want our relationship as superior and subordinate to remain as it was before you realized completely who I am. I am aware that you had suspicions. Let them remain that if you would please Hokage-sama." She turned took Tsunade's hand and the two exited the hospital leaving a stunned Kage in their wake. It would be nearly three weeks before anyone caught sight of the strange golden haired gennin again.