Chapter 12: The Truth Behind The Dead Man's Words
Katana's POV

My fingers trembled as my fingers touched the hard handle, my body shook with fear as I looked to the man who smiled broadly in front of me, his eyes dancing with amusement as he held onto my sword. I heard the gently panting beside me, Zuka was roughly tied to the chair seeing as the ropes cut into his skin whenever he moved, "how could you." My voice low and angered as I looked at him. He crossed his arms over his chest and craned his neck.

"The girl?" He let out a low laugh, "she deserved it." His eyes looked around the room as he slowly began to walk around me, we had been here for more than two days I could simply tell by the sight of the light from the window, seeing as the morning light would be bright than darker. I breathed out as I felt the steel blade drift onto my shoulder the cold feeling creating a cold shiver to run down my back, "don't tell me you haven't heard the story." He drew out a long breath before stopping directly in front of Zuka making sure he was listening as well.

"The story is something I had recently found out. The thirteen tails seemed to be an rejected spirit that had consumed many ninja's that soon created it into being an Jinchuriki, the process of it is very confusing itself," he took another breath. "Though it seems amusing if you were to think about it, meaning that little girl was nothing but filled with sins from her last life. Though I heard rumors about her being seen as an sort of outcast, aside from her friends." He sighed and raked a bloody hand through his hair.

"Just something to get you thinking." He grinned sickly, "I wonder. How that child handles everything s-" I suddenly heard Zuka shout, "don't talk about her like that!" I looked over to him with widened eyes, his response was something I found unusual. Dago began to laugh which reached the ends of the room, "don't tell me you fell in love little boy?" Zuka's face fell into enraged blush, he was in love with Kiyomi?

I wouldn't blame him though, she truly is beautiful but is very carefully with her own words. "Zuka." I whispered, "well. Isn't this something?" He tilted his head as he took a handful of Zuka's hair, I grounded my teeth at him. "Don't you dare touch him you bastard!" I shouted, he turned over to me with interested eyes. He let go of Zuka's hair and stood over me instead, he began to stare at me his eyes carefully examining my body.

"You seem young though your body seems to be more mature." He caressed my cheek, I narrowed my eyes at him. "Sick bastard." His lips tilted upwards, "sir. It seems that you have received an call and it is urgent." I looked to the voice, seeing as Raizo stood with an blank look focused on Dago. He sighed before raking a hand through his hair as he flashed me a wink, "i'll be back for you." He than left quietly, leaving me, Zuka and Raizo in the room.

"Why." I spoke looking at him, he stood tall and motionless. "We are family, yet you betrayed us like this!" I shouted. Zuka began to mumble to himself, "Kiyomi. . ." His voice drifted off. I suddenly and painfully recalled the scene, the rain poured over me as I watched Kiyomi's shocking blue eyes look up at me her eyes remaining happy as she smiled through the pain, her fingers drifting off of mine as she slowly closed her eyes.

"She's dead." Raizo spoke. I looked at him seeing as the tears fell from my eyes, "she's strong. She can't be." I softly spoke as if I was chanting a prayer I knew would come true. "Her heart stopped. She was also stabbed multiple times, you seen it." He watched me and Zuka, I heard the large sniffle and looked over to Zuka seeing as thick tears ran down his eyes followed by snot. I breathed in deeply looking at my so-called brother, "you don't know her like we do." I mumbled.

I could imagine seeing her trying to save us now, "Raizo. They say anything interesting?" Dago opened the door as he made his way towards us, he clenched the sword tightly, my brother shook his head as he took a few steps back into the shadows. Dago stopped in front of me, he pressed the front of the sword underneath my neck, "you will start the ceremony now." He declared as he pressed the blade harder drawing blood.

My eyes widened. If I were to perform the ceremony it would cost me my life, the dragon sword would cause my body to completely stop functioning seeing as I am giving up all my power at once to him, the ceremony was only used when granting someone the power or passing the power to another generation though for it too give it to someone out of the linage it will cost my life.

I narrowed my eyes at him, "I am not." He sighed, "Raizo." He spoke as if signalling him something, he narrowed his eyebrows seeing as nothing happened. "Raizo." He called out harder and turned around, "Raizo!" He shouted, nothing happened yet again. That was when I seen the shadow as he lunged towards Dago, he gasped as he ducked feeling the kunai skim his skin. Dago grounded his teeth looking to Raizo who clutched more kunai's.

"I see. This was your plan all along." Dago grinned, I looked to my older brother seeing him stand tall. Ninja's from the shadows began to come out as they took Dago's side, Raizo hadn't flatter his stance as he looked ahead. A plan? This was all set up? Meaning it is not true that Raizo betrayed us on purpose?

"Kill him." Dago casually spoke, "Raizo. Watch out!" I shouted. I watched as he twisted and turned in different directions, I gasped in awe as I looked at him. He had become more stronger than me even quicker than I had previously thought about. Minutes passed as he majestically landed on the ground he clenched his weapon in his hand tightly as he panted looking at Dago who lunged towards him and easily knocked away his weapon.

He slashed at him, "no!" I shouted. I watched the splash of red flood into the air as Raizo fell to his knee holding a hand to his chest, "get away from him you monster!" Zuka shouted as I gasped I watched as Dago easily raised his sword with a smirk on his lips.

He was slowly releasing it down to my brother, I let out a strangled scream as I looked at the scene. That was until I watched as an brick wall slammed into the side of Dago, I gasped yet again as I watched Dago slam into the wall. I looked to the source of the person who done this, their had stood a small figure, slowly walking through the blinding light. I began to feel the growth of the tears build up in my eyes.

"Kiyomi." I spoke as I felt the trickle of the tear down my eye.

Kiyomi's POV

"Kiyomi." I looked over to Katana seeing her bloody and battered figure beside her brother who slowly the same appearance, Raizo was breathing heavily as he clutched his chest. The shouts were heard as suddenly more figure busted through the door.

"Raizo!" A shout fell from Rose's mouth as his friends ran towards him, they leaned down and caught him with ease as Rose and Toshi began to slowly heal him. "Dammit. You should have waited for the signal." Toshi cursed, his hood was down exposing the gracious brown locks that curled above his eyebrows his light brown eyes looking down at his close friend, "well look she is alive after all." I looked to Rose seeing the broad smirk on her lips.

I took another step forward hearing the crashing Dago pushed the wall off of him, "I thought I killed you!" He roared with anger laced in his tone, I took another step before making eye contact with Raizo. An pleaded look in his eyes, I felt my seals burn as I looked at him, my nails grew to an extent slowly feeling the angry show on my skin. I narrowed my eyes feeling my hair tangle in the air as I slowly watch it turn to a bright red.

"Katsu." I breathed out as I made eye contact with Dago, my body previously ached but for now it was halted. "S-She's changing." Zuka spoke out, I huffed as I took off. My speed enhanced greatly as I jumped from wall to wall making sure he was unable to keep up I than spun around as I landed into him. I pressed my nails into his skin as I dug into him with roughness, seeing as the crack appeared I pushed harder eventually pushing him out.

I landed onto my feet seeing as we stood in the open field near an cliff, I growled lowly. "I-I will pay you for what you did to my friends." I growled more louder, feeling the rumble in my chest awaken louder as I looked at him. Fear crawling into his eyes as he looked at me, I felt the blood sink through my bandages as I took another step, sure I had reopened the wound in my stomach. He clenched his teeth and gave me an unsure laugh, "I'll just kill you for sure now." He licked his lips.

I heard the harsh breathing, "Kiyomi!" I heard Ayato shout, I felt like an predator as I approached him seeing as he was unsure. "Oh no." Shima gasped behind me, "she's losing it." I glanced back seeing as Ayato and everyone else watched me frightened, "I'll kill him." I let out a growl. Ayato began to approach me with raised hands, "calm down." He spoke in a low voice, I narrowed my eyes as I felt my blood began to halt.

The angry in my body slowly fading as I felt Ayato arms wrap around me, "h-he-" I heard the light shush from Ayato, I felt my hair that tangled with the wind slowly fall onto my back as my long nails disappeared and the previous anger vanished. "It's fine. Don't think about it." He spoke gently, his tone softening as he gently brushed through my hair, I stared into his stomach seeing as he was wrapped with bandaging as well.

"You must be her replacement for a father-I mean she killed her parents, right?" He laughed lightly, "she killed her parents and leaves as a outcast. She's nothing but a waste of space and time, you should worry about your other two students before they get killed." I turned to him seeing the look on his face.

"A monster like you isn't capable of having feelings. You're just a-"I than watched in silence as my hand sunk through his stomach, his words halted midway as I clenched onto his insides before I roughly tugged them out. He coughed looking down at me, "you just proved my point. You just killed another person without a thought." I pulled my hand out completely watching the blood completely cover it.

Katsu began to laugh evilly as she watched the blood paint onto our skin, "monster." He spoke before he stumbled back and fell over the cliff, I stood their for a few moments not feeling an emotions running through my head except for happiness. I than felt the hand on my shoulder, "Kiyomi." I looked to see Ren, he was confusing as many emotions were on his face. He gently pulled me into an embrace his hands wrapped around my neck.

"Everything is okay." I stared into the dark sky keeping my lips sealed tightly, "you are not an monster." His tone was gentle. In that moment I took in his words and hoped to believe them because I was sure if I had let go of his words I would fall into insanity, I kept my lips sealed the entire day not saying anything as I recalled the horrid look of Dago's face at me calling me an monster. I tightly held onto his hand not wanting to let go.

"Thank you." Raizo, Toshi and Rose bowed to us, I stared up at the stars trying to recall the bright smile of Asura. "Asura." I whispered his name, Indra's face had popped up with a straight face and crossed arms. "Indra." I felt the smile on my lips. "Who is that?" Ren asked me. I sighed looking up to the stars, "my real brothers."

The morning had came quickly as I stared at the pond watching the fishes swim around inside the water, I watched as the two faces of my brothers appeared Asura's smiling face and Indra's gloomy face as he looked in the other direction.

My fingers drifted on the water as I touched it the reflection of them disappearing underneath the tips of my fingers, I breathed out in an sigh. "That's what your brothers look like?" I turned to Zuka as he peeked over my shoulder, I nodded lightly shocked he was able to see it, "you could see them?" I asked as I got to my feet looking at him. He nodded as he curled his fist and hurled it up to the sky.

He had a bright grin on his lips, "I plan to become a ninja just like you!" I stared at him feeling the bubbling laughter come from inside me and from Katsu. I felt the laugh slip through the tight cracks of my sealed lips as my laughter fell into the air, Zuka stared at me with wide eyes and flushed cheeks. After last night I had gone straight to bed after healing with the help of my team, I had felt uncertain about the incident before where I had killed Dago.

The thoughts seemed to vanish as I looked at Zuka, "I hope to see that one day." He suddenly leaned forward grasping me by my shoulders and hugged me tightly to him, "someday I-I-I will make you my brid-" I heard the sudden shout from the house seeing as Zuka became stiff. "Get your damn hands off of her!"Ren shouted as he tackled Zuka, I raised an eyebrow at the two watching them wrestle in the ground.

I watched as the long beautiful hair fell into my view, the woman smiling gently as she placed a hand on my head. I blushed as she smiled down at me, her eyes seemed to more brighter than the sun which made me secretly admired them. She wore a dark red hairpin that outlined her pale face, I smiled up at her, "Kantana." I spoke out, Katsu as well seemed to more calm than before and kept her lips sealed.

"Good morning, Kiyomi. I hope you had a good sleep." She took my hand in her's proving that it was much bigger than mine, "I did." I looked up at her, her hair waving gently in the air as we walked inside to the house. Inside had been many ninja's among them were Raizo, Toshi and Rose, Yuuto had called for all of us after last night's events. Ayato and everyone else had already gathered in the room, the atmosphere was tight as I sat beside my team Kantana taking her place beside her father.

Yuuto looked around before landing his eyes on me, "I am very grateful for what you have done for us." He drew in another breath, "I am shamed at my previous actions. I know words are nothing I could offer to what I had said to you but that is all I can offer. I was enraged about the fact my daughter and son had been taken I-" I stopped him short. "Those words. I heard them millions of times before, they mean nothing too me anymore. Your situation is understandable after having the last of your family taken away." He gave me a strained smile.

He looked over to Raizo and the other ninja's in the room, "they had been placed on a mission to help assist relaying information to the leaf village and other villages. They had all followed through the last orders given to them, they were all doing it for the sake of the village and their families." He smiled brightly. "They are young and strive for the best, I hope from now as one we will all learn to be one and become better." He bowed down to me.

"We thank you from the bottom of our hearts." Everyone else in the room bowed to us, I looked to Ayato seeing an proud smile on his face. I looked over to Katana as she stood up with a smile and approached me, she took the red hairpin from her hair and placed it in my hands. "I hope you can have this in order to remember me." She tucked a few strands behind her ear, I narrowed my eyes at her.

"I-I can't forget my sister." I grumbled, she let out a low laugh. "Of course. When I have time, I will come visit you at the village." My eyes widened as I felt the smile on my lips lit up, "really?" I asked clutching the hairpin in my hand. She nodded brushing my hair away as she sat behind me taking the pin from my hand and began to do my hair, I smiled at the unknown feeling of my hair twist in different angles as the eyes watched me.

I felt nervous as an mirror was handed to me, "you look beautiful." She whispered to me, I smiled brightly up at her. "Heh. You really love each other don't you, maybe I should adopt you?" Yuuto laughed from the front. I than watched the tall figure stop in front of me, I looked up seeing Raizo hold something out to me, I looked at Kantana seeing as she pushed me to it. "What's that?" Ren spoke looking over to Raizo.

I stood up accepting the gift from him, it was a large kunai with an decorated dragon around the handle of it. "It's an gift." His tone was bland as I faced him, 'would you look at that' Katsu snickered at his gift. "Think of it as a thanks for saving me." He turned to other direction covering his cheeks, "oh no." Kantana began to laugh, lifting her hand to her lips as Raizo walked away causing Ren to gasp, "no. No, you can't! I have enough rivals back at the village!" He shouted.

It was than we were escorted by the rest of the village as we made our way to the entrance of the village, I turned around seeing as the waves were focused on us. I watched as Ren and Shima grinned waving back at them with eager expressions at them, I followed their actions and gave an uneasy wave. "Come back soon!" One of the villagers shouted, "we will celebrate with a festival next time." Another shouted.

"I'll visit you soon!" Zuka shouted. I retreated my hand as I began to make my way into the forest along with my team. We made it back safely, I had gone on many missions after that, I began to become more closer to my Anbu team to a point where they had treated me to dinner a few times. They seemed to accept me as their comrade and a friend which made me more happy on my missions.

Weeks had passed and soon followed by with months, five months had passed in total since I had been on the Anbu team and when I had also last seen Kantana, Zuka and Raizo. I had missed Kantana dearly for the fact of having someone else look over me.

"Hey." Nao grounded his teeth as he nudged my head, I reached up trying to tug his hand off my head. "Just because she beat you doesn't mean you can whine like a kid." I grinned inside my mask at Ace's words which allowed the rest to laugh. I was unaware of the figures in front until Toboro had stopped me, "we are having a dinner again tonight." He crossed his arms at me as he slowly tugged Nao's hand off my head.

"Nao's paying." Daichi roared with laughter causing the eyes to fall onto us. We had often taken missions during the morning and arrive late at night though it this latest mission was easy and we arrived back at the village for the afternoon. "It's Raven's fault!" Nao shouted, I raised my hands with an playful gesture. Backing up, I watched as Nao reached back in his pocket grasping shurikens, "hey! Not in the village, people will think you are trying to kill each other!" Toboro shouted at us.

Every since I had gotten closer to them me and Nao often had our playful disputes, which mainly resorted in us fighting it off. He would attack me carelessly but it would always halt because of Ace seeing as he hated seeing us fight for too long.

I watched as Nao threw the precise shuriken, I dodged them with ease trying to hide the easy grin underneath my mask. "Looks like she's still alive." I heard the female voices, I looked over to see an beautiful group of female ninja's their narrowed eyes locked upon mine. I lowered my eyes as I watched them snicker, "I can't believe a monster like her was liked by the third Hokage." I felt my shoulders lower as well.

I felt the hand on my shoulder, I looked up to Nao, he was smiling lightly at me. "Don't worry what they are saying." I watched as my fellow older friends walked in front of me, "since we won't be having a few missions for a while I decided I'll treat everyone to dinner." Toboro spoke as he pulled his mask off, he walked forward as Daichi lightly pushed me forward. "Me too?" I asked pointing a finger to myself, Daichi grinned and nudged my head.

"Of course that includes you." I walked with pride as my gear was still intact, the Anbu sign revealed on my shoulder as people looked at us with amazement and admiration. I felt my chest swell with pride as those girls huffed walking away, we made it to a small restaurant that seemed to be packed. An teenage girl greeted us at the door with a tray tucked to her chest, "Souji. I suppose the usual." The girl greeted Toboro, oh that was his real name.

He nodded, I followed them as I passed the multiple tables that looked at me with bright smiles. I took a seat as Ace sat on my right and Nao on my left, I looked to 'Souji' as he ordered casually. Though the girl sighed pushing away her hair from her eyes, "dad said it'll be on the house for today." Souji's eyes widened, "really? Great." After the girl left, there was a brief silence before anyone talked.

"Well since we know each other more better I suppose you should know our real names now." Souji spoke, my eyes flickered to Daichi as he spoke, "Daisuke." He raised an eyebrow as I kept my lips sealed tightly. "Souji, though it seems you already know that." He shrugged his shoulders as he rested his chin on his hand, "Akio." Ace responded quietly, I looked over to him seeing as stared ahead calmly.

I turned my head to Nao, he scratched the top of his head a bit and turned away, "Naoki." He stated his arms over his chest, I tilted my head at him staring at him. He turned to me with a deep red blush, we began to eat as we conversed about anything that came to mind. I stretched my arms once I stood outside, the day was still bright, I heard a light sigh from Souji. I heard the shout from the distance, it was a figure racing towards us quickly.

I narrowed my eyes hearing as my name was called in the direction, I looked closer seeing as the purple hair raced towards me with quickness. "Ayato?" I spoke, I than felt as I was picked up roughly and thrown over the shoulder, my eyes widened at this uncalled action as I looked to my other team seeing them grin and wave goodbye to me. I huffed as I looked at Ayato his eyes widened in panic, "what happened?" I asked as I bounced in the air as he clutched my body to him.

"I forgot to tell you we are taking a team picture and this is the only day we could do it." He rushed into the open field seeing as other teams had been their, I spotted Kiba's and Naruto's team. I narrowed my eyes seeing as Shima and Ren had stood in front of the camera unsure of what to do, "sensai!" Ren shouted as he waved his arms catching the attention from other people, Ayato grinned.

He made his way over to them, I hopped off of his shoulder with ease, he clenched his fist and lunged it towards the air. "Team Nine has finally arrived!" He shouted, I watched as the four of us received uncertain looks from other people.

Ayato giddily made his way behind us and bent a bit forward his hands on Ren and Shima's head's who smiled happily, I simply stared at the camera unsure of what emotion to put on my face. Though with a quick flash I watched as the camera peeked out from underneath the covers, "it's done." I sighed as I looked over to a grinning Ayato.

'Enjoy it.' Katsu spoke in the back of my head, I narrowed my eyebrows at her words. "Kiyomi!" Naruto waved eagerly to me as he approached me, "hi Naruto." He grinned at me his blonde hair shining in the sun. "I felt like I haven't seen you for a while." His hands were wrapped behind his head, "likewise." I tilted my head, seeing as Sasuke approached us with his hands in his pockets and Sakura with a bright smile along with Kakashi.

"Hi Sasuke and Sakura." Sakura greeted me happily while Sasuke looked at me, his dark eyes watching me. "I see you have gotten prettier, Kiyomi." Sakura leaned forward in my eyes, I was taken back by her words and blushed lightly. She grinned and eagerly lunged at me with a hug, "you're so cute." She spoke to me. I looked up to Ayato seeing him smile dearly at me, I bit the inside of my lip as I looked to Sakura.

"Are we friends?" I asked lightly. She smiled at me, "of course we are." She hugged me tighter embracing me which surprised me, I blushed at her actions knowing I have another female friend. I glanced at Ren and Shima, right, I always had this many friends from before why couldn't I see that.

When I arrived home I gently placed the photo in the frame I received from Ayato earlier that day, my fingers ran over the glass of the frame gently admiring every bit. My eyes went to Ayato who sported a bright grin his purple hair shining in the photo, my eyes than moved to Shima his smile reflecting his true emotions as his smile was gentle and loving, than my eyes moved to Ren. He wore a broad smile, something I had barely never seen on him, his arm wrapped around my neck along with Shima the two brothers holding me close to them.

I looked to my face in amusement feeling the smile grown on my lips, I had kept my lips straight though it was evident to see as the happiness in my eyes. My hair was gently swaying in the wind as my bright eyes faced forward, I smiled at the picture. I gently place it down looking to the next photo at my side table, it was my 'family' me, Hayato, my mother and father all smiling together as we were huddled together.

'They are not your family. Still, you call them that?' Katsu asked clearly showing her disappointment, I looked over to the smiling Hayato I hadn't seen him in the past few days though I had heard he had been asking about me for a while. 'Your real family is dead.' She hissed to me. 'Did you forget who you are.' Her tone became more hardened, 'Ameya Otsutsuki.'