A/N: Good Morrow my dear friends! How is everyone today? Ready for a new chapter? That is all...
"Dismissed Team Ro." Minato ended the meeting with a sigh. "Kakashi, stay for a while, I want to talk to you." Minato added and Kakashi nodded and stood quietly as his team left and closed the door behind them.
"What do you need Hokage-sama?" Kakashi asked and Minato sighed as he stood up and brushed his hand through his hair.
"Have you seen Kasumi? I haven't heard anything about her for the last few days since you reported to me?" Minato asked and Kakashi shook his head.
"I haven't seen her. The last thing she said was she was going to see Hiruzen-sama. My team could really use her right now since we're down a member as well." Kakashi said and Minato hummed.
"Can you send your ninken out to locate her? I'd like to just finalize a few things before the elders get on my back about this if Sandaime hasn't done it already." Minato said and Kakashi nodded, performing a few hand seals and placing his hand on the ground as his summons appeared.
"What do you need Kakashi? Nice to see you again Yondaime." Pakkun said waving to Kakashi and then Minato who smiled and nodded his head.
"It's a long story but I'll explain later, find Kasumi and tell her to report to Minato-sensei as soon as you find her." Kakashi said as the pug raised an eyebrow.
"Okay? We'll get right onto it." Pakkun said with uncertainty but the pack scattered anyway to do their master's bidding.
"Thank you. You're dismissed to your mission." Minato said and Kakashi nodded before he left and Minato sat back down with a sigh. "Where'd you go so suddenly Kasumi?"
XXXXXXXXXX
Kasumi calmly sailed across the rooftops as she headed in a familiar direction with a nervous smile under her teddy bear like old ANBU mask, being reinstated as her old rank and Hiruzen was sorting everything out regarding her almost top secret identity. They had to be careful because Akatsuki may want her dead with what she knows and so early on in their process apparently. Kasumi jumped quietly onto the raised porch in front of the familiar shaped yet different house as she rung the doorbell and waited calmly and she slid her mask to the side of her head. The door opened and Kasumi quickly looked down to a Minato miniature and she smiled.
Naruto was busy running around before his kaa-chan asked him to see who was at the door. Naruto ran and jumped by the door as he opened and looked up with a smile before it dropped. He'd never seen this person before as they looked at each other and Naruto slunk back ever so slightly… Maybe she was like the rest of the villagers and hated him because of the silly fox he had inside of him like his father. She was tall like Kakashi-nii and reminded him of his brother like figure as he saw the silver hair.
"Can I help you?" Naruto asked out in a slightly choked and squeaky voice and the lady just beamed a smile at him. Naruto was cautious, looking into her pretty blue eyes that were duller than his tou-chan's and reminded him when a very thin cloud was in the blue sky but all they held were warmth for him and deep hurt as she slowly got onto her haunches.
"I've come to visit Kushina, your kaa-san. Is she here?" The lady asked as Naruto stared up at her with bright blue and curious eyes.
"Do you know her?" Naruto asked and the lady's smile changed as her eyes held a different kind of warmth to them as she tentatively ruffled his hair and Naruto revelled in the contact from the lady, she was truly nice like his parents and Kakashi-nii and Sasuke's kaa-chan and nii-san.
"She's a dear friend of mine but I've been away for a while. May I see her if she's here?" The lady asked again calmly as she retracted her hand and Naruto beamed one of his rare smiles at her as she smiled back.
"She's in the kitchen." Naruto said as he opened the door and Kasumi stepped in.
"I'm Kasumi by the way but you better be more careful about letting people in Naruto-kun." Kasumi smiled at him as he stared dumbstruck up at her as he closed the door again.
"You know my name…" He said almost in wonderment as Kasumi-nee let out a slight laugh.
"Your parents are both dear to me so of coarse I know your name… She's in the kitchen correct?" Kasumi asked after removing her shoes and stepping quietly onto the floor as Naruto followed her and a duck butt styled raven-haired boy peaked curiously around the corner.
"What are you doing letting a stranger in?" He asked in a pouty high-pitched voice as he knocked Naruto lightly on the head and the blonde giggled as he mock shied away from the boy.
"She knows kaa-chan and tou-chan and get this Sasuke, she even knew my name." Naruto said as the boy, Sasuke, huffed and crossed his arms.
"Naruto, who was at the door?" Kushina's voice came through the house as Naruto began racing to the kitchen with Sasuke walking behind calmly with Kasumi behind him and taking deep breaths, preparing for a death like hug and a harsh beating if Minato hasn't said anything, then it would be just the beating.
"A lady, she said she was your friend." Naruto said as Kasumi was coming closer to the kitchen and saw Kushina pick Naruto up who was giggling.
"Who?" Kushina asked as she tickled the little ball of sunshine.
"Sorry to intrude Kushina." Kasumi said as she came to stand in the doorway and Sasuke instantly went to Mikoto… Now she knew why he looked so familiar, he must be Fugaku's new son she had heard about from Kushina back then.
Kushina had frozen as she looked up with wide and disbelieving eyes and Mikoto gasped as she put a hand over her mouth, by Kushina's reaction, this was the little silver haired girl Mikoto saw Kushina being with years ago. The two boys were watching their mothers with rapt worried looks as Kushina's eyes watered up and they fell over, splashing against her green dress as Kasumi smiled gently and guiltily.
"Seems Minato-sensei didn't tell you anything that's happened in the last few days huh?" Kasumi asked nervously before she found herself crushed in a hug by the sobbing Kushina and the confused Naruto hanging onto her.
Ka-Kasumi." Kushina sobbed quietly as Kasumi curled further around her mentor and friend as she brushed her hand down her long and thick red hair Kasumi always reminded her of her own hair.
"I'm really here Kushina… It's a long and complicated story but I'm here and alive." Kasumi said gently as Kushina gasped a sob as they calmed down slightly and Kasumi gently let go of Kushina as she stepped away, wiping her eyes as Naruto looked at her with worry. Kushina put Naruto down as she wiped the rest of her tears away and next thing Kasumi knew, she was skidding along the grass outside, feeling a burning ache on her back as she groaned and rolled onto her elbows and knees.
"There's the old Kushina I know." Kasumi gasped painfully with a smile as the dust began to settle around her and Kasumi coughed as she willed herself to get up. Kasumi got up just in time to dodge Kushina's next earth shattering punch and continued to dodge backwards at the wild and angry swings Kushina was taking… The Hot Blooded Habanero was back.
Mikoto stood with Naruto holding her hands she held Sasuke in her other arm, standing in the hole in the wall as she watched her friend chasing after the young girl who looked familiar but she couldn't place it… Something important. Naruto watched with worry for Kasumi-nee as he knew the wrath his kaa-chan had as she chased Kasumi around the garden as she tried to reason with her before having to dodge again. Naruto watched as Kasumi's face changed as he watched closely as she caught the left hook Kushina had aimed for her jaw and Kasumi didn't even flinch or have recoil from the harsh attack as they both froze and Kasumi sighed.
"Will you let me talk now Kushina?" Kasumi asked as her smile came back and Kushina laughed her crude yet sheepish laugh.
"Minato's going to kill me for that hole in the wall." Kushina said with a sigh as Kasumi dropped her fist.
"I'll help you fix it if we can just sit down and talk for a while afterwards, I'll explain what I can." Kasumi said, looking up and seeing the huge hole in the wall and sighing, noticing the size of it.
"I guess but you will explain everything!" Kushina said before locking her grip around Kasumi's wrist as she was almost given whiplash when Kushina pulled her along.
Kasumi made quick work of the wall with a few earth style jutsus she picked up while Naruto and Sasuke played in the mud and the rubble and Kasumi smiled fondly as she helped them pick up a large heavy piece of wall to complete their den with before she headed inside and helped with the washing up as the three women worked calmly, the conversations revolving easily around Kasumi as it seemed they moved and cleaned, almost in a dance as they worked around each other before they settled down at the dinning room table with coffee and tea.
Kasumi had her eyes closed as she sipped her tea contently and listened to Mikoto and Kushina talking about village gossip like usual. She was relaxed and calm as she let the women's voices drone before her ears caught something and her eyes snapped open.
"The Uchiha clan has been kicked out of the village?" Kasumi asked as Mikoto was in the middle of speaking. Kushina and Mikoto shared a worried look before Mikoto turned her chair towards her slightly.
"Not really 'kicked out' per say but we've been confined into a corner of the village… You know the rumours after the Kyuubi's attack." Mikoto explained and Kasumi scowled.
"But Minato-sensei said it was Uchiha Madara who was behind it plus your clan that was kept back during the attack. I'm sure Fugaku has accounted for everyone in the clan that night?" Kasumi asked and Mikoto sighed.
"They said it's a precaution as the investigation is still ongoing." Mikoto said and Kasumi scowled angrily as the cup cracked in her hand and she put it down gently before banging her fist on the table.
"That's bull, I bet the council is behind this." Kasumi hissed and Kushina put her hand on Kasumi's wrist.
"Minato and Fugaku are doing what they can." Kushina said and Kasumi yanked her hand away and pushed up from the table violently as she turned around and began pacing the room with a hand to her head her fingers on her temple and her thumb on the other.
"What did Hiruzen-sama say?" Kasumi asked, stopping her pacing for a few seconds.
"He agreed to it for now while the investigation is going on." Mikoto said and Kasumi resumed her pacing. Kushina watched her friend silently, eyes steeled harshly and angrily yet there was something else there as her lips mumbled to herself.
If Kasumi knew this from the beginning, she could have factored it into her plan but now it's going down the drain already… She needed Fugaku's and the sharingans help against the masked man and she knew for certain Madara wasn't in the village, the chakra he gave off, it would be too hard to hide.
Kasumi suddenly shivered violently as her teeth chattered and she shook herself out of the chilling feeling… She knew what it meant but there was nothing she could do about Danzo right now even if Hiruzen's reasoning had been confusing, almost like he needed someone like Danzo… Kasumi understood in an odd manner yet she knew Danzo was just going to screw his up like everything else he seems to get involved in… She needed to find out more about this and talk to the sources first before she moved her plan around… She needed the sharingan's power against what she had seen.
"Kasumi, are you okay? You're shivering." Kushina said as she wrapped a blanket around Kasumi's shoulders and rubbed her arms with worry in her violet eyes.
"I'm fine… Just a lot to take in, I didn't have the pleasure of information from Konoha's side while I was away. It's a shame this has happened Mikoto and if there's anything at all I can do, please don't hesitate to ask." Kasumi said as she bowed slightly to Mikoto who smiled and waved her hand.
"It's a clan problem so no worries Kasumi, don't tie yourself up in it." Mikoto said and Kasumi nodded with a shaky sigh as Kushina pressed her forehead against Kasumi's with a scowl.
"You're a little warm… Have you been taking care of yourself?" Kushina scolded and Kasumi smiled at her.
"A little overworked and information overload but I'm fine Kushina… Save your mothering for Naruto." Kasumi laughed as she sat back down and held her cracked cup gently as she sipped from it again.
"Okaa-san, are you here?" A voice called as all three of them perked up.
"Nii-san!" Sasuke's voice called as Kasumi smiled fondly, thinking of her own otouto.
"We're in here Itachi." Mikoto called before Itachi was seen with Sasuke on his back and Naruto following close behind. Itachi stopped in his steps as he saw Kasumi as he eyed her and Kasumi noticed his hitai-ate already, only eight years old.
"Seems like Konoha's Silver Ghost lives up to her name… How are you Kasumi-san?" Itachi asked as he put Sasuke down and sat down next to her and Kasumi shrugged with a slight smile.
"Alive." She said before she laughed with Kushina and Mikoto and Itachi smiled as well.
"Good to hear." He smiled and Kasumi ruffled his hair slightly as he fixed it after ducking away.
"Oh my gosh, you're the silver ghost person Kakashi-nii always talks about!" Naruto said excitedly as he dove onto Kasumi's lap and jumped up and down excitedly and Kasumi smiled as she ruffled his hair.
"I was also you're tou-chan's student like him." Kasumi said.
"Then you must be crazy powerful." Sasuke said as he sat with Itachi on his chair and Kasumi patted his hair as he ducked away as well.
"I guess you could say that…" Kasumi hummed and three sets of excited eyes were on her as Kushina and Mikoto laughed.
"Please show us something?" Itachi asked and Kasumi instantly looked at Mikoto and Kushina.
"It's okay with us as long as you're sure about your abilities." Mikoto said and Kasumi nodded seriously.
"I think we have some old targets somewhere…" Kushina hummed.
"Ooh, you can use our den… It didn't work anyway." Naruto pouted and Sasuke huffed.
"I like that den." Sasuke whined and Naruto looked at him.
"We can make another one some other time, don't you want to see what super awesome power she has?" Naruto taunted and Sasuke considered it before breaking with a sigh.
"Fine…"
"Yay! Let's go!" Naruto said, dragging Kasumi behind him as Kushina led him back to the group and Kasumi stood in the garden as she focused on the rock like cave as five sets of eyes waited with anticipation. Kasumi's eyes narrowed as she breathed a breath through her lips and teeth, crouching as she focused on her target and her whole being calmed. Her chakra began to spark around her as there was excited talking in the back ground as it began to rise and spark more around her before her hair whipped and the lightning danced in a thick bolt at the rocks, one straight after the other, almost melding into one as it destroyed the little building and it felt good to let off a little steam, almost engulfed in the blue chakra lightning before it faded and Kasumi released another calm breath as she straightened up.
Kushina was grinning with Mikoto standing next to her with slightly wide eyes yet a face that was impressed. Itachi had wide eyes but a smile on his face, he had a goal to reach for now and Naruto was grinning and laughing manically while Sasuke had a look similar to his mother's.
"Awesome!" Naruto shouted before racing at Kasumi and jumping into her arms as she caught him effortlessly and picked him up easily. Kushina watched with worry, knowing Kasumi wasn't the same but she smiled as Kasumi caught her son easily as her smile dropped, remembering how easily she had lifted her husband up the same way, just over four years ago.
"It's safe to come out now Pakkun." Kasumi called over her shoulder as the brown pug snuck out with a sigh of relief as he walked over next to Kasumi and sat down next to her.
"You're still the same… The kid and Yondaime are looking for you." Pakkun said as he scratched behind his ear and Kasumi pouted slightly before covering it over easily.
"Sensei will find me here and no doubt Kakashi will be coming along so don't worry about it pug. Thanks for your hard work." Kasumi said as the pug nodded and disappeared.
"We better get going then." Mikoto said as Naruto pouted with an 'aw' and Kasumi put him down to say goodbye to Sasuke as Itachi walked over to her.
"You have amazing power Kasumi-san." Itachi said and Kasumi smiled and nodded her thanks. "Would it be okay to use you as a role model? I heard about your bravery during the Kyuubi attack and though I don't know how you're alive, I honestly don't want to know, I would like to live up to a name as honoured and powerful as your own." Itachi said with a bow and Kasumi blushed slightly.
"Go ahead Itachi-kun… What ever makes you strive harder for your beliefs, I'd be honoured." Kasumi said and Itachi smiled before he walked off to his mother and they left with one last goodbye.
"So what's for dinner?" Kasumi asked as she walked with Kushina and Naruto back into the house and Kushina grinned at her.
"Guess…"
"Ramen… Need any help?" Kasumi asked as they entered the kitchen and began working together like a well-oiled machine, preparing the meals for when Minato and Kakashi got there… Kasumi knew she'd have to go back to her official duty the next day and she'd have to clue Kakashi in with her plans for the future but that could wait… She was sure she'd get time to talk to Kakashi alone.
Naruto climbed onto her back as she smiled over her shoulder at him… She couldn't believe this was the little baby she'd seen that night those few years ago… It still felt like only yesterday as her smile wilted down at the pork she was cubing up for the ramen. Kasumi scowled further as she sensed the entity deep within the bubbly child shift uncomfortably with a growl in her head as she blinked her fuzzy vision away… Kushina was right, maybe she'd been pushing it a little hard for the last few days.
"Why do you cut it that way? Kaa-chan cuts it the other way." Naruto said over her shoulder as he rested his chin in the crook of her neck over her shoulder.
"I find the meat soaks up more of the broth this way." Kasumi answered and Naruto hummed.
"Does it really make a difference?" Naruto asked and Kasumi smiled as she began her explanation to the kid as he listened and hummed, keeping her mind away from darker thoughts.
Strangely enough, Kakashi's ninken had come back with nothing but it seemed as though Pakkun had this knowing look in his eye before they left back to their home and left both Kakashi and Minato feeling a little worried about her whereabouts.
"I can't believe Pakkun wouldn't tell you where Kasumi is yet he had the balls to tell us she was okay and in the village." Minato sighed as he walked next to his protégé through the streetlamp lit streets as Kakashi walked besides him with his hands in his pockets.
"She is technically the clan head and its not unusual that someone else's summons would be more loyal to them that to their actual summoner, especially with canines, take the Inuzuka clan for example." Kakashi added and Minato sighed as he rolled his eyes, rounding up to home. They never said anything else as they entered the house to the usual sound of Naruto's laughter as they toed off their shoes and walked in, following the familiar smell of Kushina's specialty ramen.
"Kushina, Naruto, I'm home and I brought a guest." Minato called into the house as little feet were heard running through the house before Minato had a bouncing bundle in his arms and Naruto hugging his father tight around his neck and still laughing as it was infectious and Minato smiled too.
"Hi Kakashi-nii!" Naruto said excitedly, waving his hand furiously at the masked ANBU who eye smiled back and ruffled Naruto's hair as the kid giggled.
"Hello Naruto, how was your day?" Kakashi asked as Minato put him down and Naruto had Kakashi's pants scrunched up in his hands as he beamed up at the teen.
"It was awesome!" Naruto shouted up at him, hopping slightly in emphasis on the last word before he raced off again and Kakashi tilted his head. Normally Naruto would drag him off to play with him if he was so excited and full of energy but the kid just raced off and Kakashi went to the kitchen where he saw Minato disappear to a second before.
Minato had his arms wrapped around Kushina and peaking over her shoulder as they watched outside of the window in rapt attention and Kakashi could hear Naruto was still yet there was something moving outside where Minato and Kushina were looking. Minato noticed Kakashi as he beckoned him over as Kushina scooted back to the stove and Kakashi stood next to Minato, leaning over the counter as he looked into the lightened up garden from the little lights they had put in so Naruto could play outside in the evenings while Kushina cooked.
"She's better than she's ever been and that's saying something." Minato said and Kakashi hummed as he slid his hitai-ate up and opened his sharingan. Kasumi was in the back garden, practising hard, flipping and performing high performance katas and flips as they all flowed into one almost like one movement. Naruto was sitting out on the porch, watching Kasumi with wide excited eyes as Kasumi threw goofy looks at him as she trained, her specialty kunai out, one in each hand, as she twisted into an almost horizontal angle and her hand placed down as she changed the angle to forty-five degrees as she kicked up and swiped her hand across the floor under her legs to steady the angle again to vertical, still upside down then brought her legs down to the ground, going straight into a clean back flip then a split leg, three sixty degree flip in the air before she was onto something else again. Kakashi closed his sharingan eye as he pulled his hitai-ate down again, it seemed like the whole move took seconds to perform but his sharingan had broken the three second movement down that quickly… Seems training with Gai was coming in handy.
"Not to mention the aura of chakra she constantly has around her, its very faint but there and could easily turn into a lethal attack at one tiny thought. At least the Foundation did something good for her." Kakashi mentioned as he leaned his elbows onto the counter and continued to watch as he put his chin into one hand.
"Its why she has her kunai in her hand, her chakra is as wild as she is… She'd be able to quickly redirect any unnecessary reaction to another mark where it must be safe." Minato hummed distractedly.
"And the hands are the most likely place it would come from… She's able to use your special shunshin now as well." Kakashi also said distractedly. With one last spin of her kunai in her hands, they were put away into two pouches she had on each hip. Naruto threw a towel at her as she smiled at him and wiped herself down and Naruto bounced around her.
"How long had she been training before we got home?" Minato asked Kushina who was just serving the ramen.
"About two hours straight, strictly taijutsu like what you just saw… I've never seen someone with such packed muscle mass trained to such a point to have such stamina and control apart from Gai-kun." Kushina said as she laid the bowls on the table and returned to the kitchen for the last few things as Naruto came bounding inside and into Minato's surprised arms but he caught him since he was so use to it.
"You two are late." Kasumi said as she walked in with the towel hanging around her neck and her hands on her hips as her chest huffed heavily but it was only through her nose.
"Well we were looking for you." Kakashi said as he raised an eyebrow and Kasumi smirked.
"I see Pakkun played along… He really does have a wicked sense of humour for a dog." Kasumi said as she scratched her head with the towel and both Minato and Kakashi's eyes were drawn to her stomach where the seal stuck out. Both sets of eyes became sad and concentrated as Kasumi quickly whipped the towel off of her shoulders and around her stomach with a defensive scowl as both sets of eyes looked away with embarrassment and sadness and Kasumi released a silent sigh.
Kushina had watched the whole scene and felt sorry for Kasumi in a way. She knew what it was like to have a seal like that and it made her very self-conscious at hot springs in case she got a bit out of control and it showed up. But Kasumi's seal was a reminder to all of them of her death, sacrifice and now burden just like Minato and Naruto's. Except this one was there all of the time and the seal was so black and so prominent it drags anyone's eyes towards it. Naruto had also watched the odd exchange of looks as he looked at Kasumi's seal on her stomach like he'd seen his own now and again when he got angry and had squirmed out of his father's hold. He walked over to Kasumi and reached up to touch it before a hand grabbed his wrist forcefully yet gently as he flinched back with surprise and looked up with wide eyes at Kasumi's face.
Her eyes held fear in them, he could see it but also deep hurt and anger but not for him before it disappeared and she gave him a sheepish look as she got onto her haunches and released his wrist.
"Sorry, I have a no touch policy on it… It can be very fickle sometimes, I'm sure you understand Naruto." Kasumi said gently as she put her hand on his head. The three other people had flinched when Kasumi moved like that with a slight slap of skin but her hold was gentle, as if she remembered who this was as she grabbed hold of his hand. Kushina vaguely thought Kasumi looked as thick as a piece of paper when she sucked her stomach in like that and decided it was time to announce dinner.
Dinner relaxed the atmosphere as Naruto spoke about what he did with Sasuke and the den Kasumi had helped them make, leaving out the hole in the wall thing, Kasumi had put a seal over it to hide it and blend it in. Kasumi was leaning against the archway between the kitchen and dinning room as she paged through a photo album of the Namikaze family with a slight smile as Kakashi got roped into washing the dishes and Kushina was bathing Naruto to put him to bed.
"You said your seal is fickle… Is there something wrong with it?" Minato asked, still sitting at the dinning table as he sipped some tea.
"It's just an odd seal… Its fine, I'd rather not talk about it." Kasumi said as she flipped another page with a small smile on her lips. Minato stood quietly as Kasumi was distracted, he was worried there might be something wrong with Kasumi's seal. Kasumi was busy looking at a picture of what looked to be Naruto's first steps before the book slipped from her arms and the world blanked out but she was still aware… Someone had touched her seal…
The dull thud of the book hitting the floor was the only thing anyone heard before there was a pain piercing scream and a slight crash, which had Kushina and Kakashi running at top speed for the dinning room. Kushina had run straight to Minato who had crashed into the back of the couch and scratching and clawing at his stomach, his back arching off the ground in pain with his eyes shut and his teeth clenched as he groaned in pain. She pulled his shirt up to find the Kyuubi's seal glowing an angry red as she placed her hand gently over the burning hot skin and sent her chakra in. The Kyuubi was hitting against the cage and roaring almost in pain and anger before her chakra chains suppressed it as it calmed down and Minato sagged into her arms.
Kakashi had gone to Kasumi as her scream ended as she lay curled up on the floor and on her side as he gently pulled her to him and cradled her against him after he managed to push past her defensive lightning shrouding her body protectively… Her eyes were vacant and she was shivering violently as her seal glowed an electric blue as it had spread in a delicate line around the sides of her waist and stopped there.
" 'Kashi…" Kasumi breathed out shakily and Kakashi squeezed her gently against his chest.
"Sh, its all right, I've got you… What happened?" Kakashi asked as he gently shifted her into a more comfortable position so she was sitting across his lap as her vacant eyes came back and she closed them and rested against her brother.
"Minato-sensei touched my seal." She breathed out shakily as a violent shiver wracked her body.
"Kakashi, maybe you should take her home…" Kushina said as she helped Minato to sit up gingerly, looking extremely roughed up and tired. Kakashi looked down at her seal and put his hand gently over it as she flinched with furrowed brows as it glowed brighter before reseeding to how it was before and Kasumi became limp in his arms.
"Perhaps that would be best… I'll see you tomorrow sensei, Kushina-san." Kakashi said as he picked Kasumi up and headed towards the door and scooted his sandals on and picked up Kasumi's and the rest of her ANBU uniform she had taken off before he headed out back to his place.
"Thanks otouto… I'm okay now." Kasumi said as she squirmed in his arms and he stopped as he let her down carefully and she put her shoes and the rest of her uniform on in the cold night air.
"What happened back there?" Kakashi asked as he stood and let her use him to lean on as she finished putting her uniform on.
"I don't want to explain it here… Back to your place?" Kasumi asked, looking around as she wrapped her arms around herself, breathing out misted breaths. Kakashi just nodded and led the way as Kasumi stayed behind him all of the way. They entered the warm apartment as Kasumi headed to the bathroom and Kakashi made tea as he listened to the shower, she came out minutes later, looking a little more refreshed, dressed in a long sleeved white shirt and a pair of red track pants as she tucked a scroll into one of her weapon pouches as she got comfortable on Kakashi's futon. Kakashi passed her tea to her as he also got comfortable and pulled down his mask as he sipped on his tea and Kasumi stared with a blank expression.
"How old are you now?" Kasumi asked as Kakashi nearly choked on his tea and lowered his cup as he looked at Kasumi with confusion.
"Eighteen…" Kakashi said, the question of 'why' being passed by one look as Kasumi smiled as she rubbed her thumb along his jaw as he flinched slightly but sat there with confusion. Her hand suddenly jerked away and wrapped around her cup as she looked down to her right and Kakashi frowned slightly, Kasumi had changed too much in four years. "About your seal?" Kakashi managed to force out as she looked back at him and nodded before sipping her tea.
"A soul binding seal. During the chaos, my crazy idea worked and I managed to bind my soul back into my body. A soul is you in its purest form meaning all memories, emotions and feelings are contained but potent in the form the Shinigami held onto. It was also a medium I used to drag Minato and the Kyuubi's soul out and again and somehow bound them back into his body but I think somehow it was the work of the Kyuubi there… My soul felt the pure Kyuubi power and to be honest with you, I was shit scared back then that day, my chakra will lash out at any jinchuuriki if they try to touch the seal with tainted chakra. That's what happened." Kasumi sighed, closing her eyes as she sipped at her tea calmly.
"So in other words, your soul recognises jinchuuriki chakra as death in a way?" Kakashi asked and Kasumi shrugged and tilted her head both ways.
"I guess you could put it that way… I've spoken to Hiruzen-sama." Kasumi said, her eyes drooped lazily but they were sharp as she looked at Kakashi and he lowered his cup as he returned the sharp look.
"And?" Kakashi asked, putting his empty cup down on the floor before pulling his mask up.
"Minato mustn't know but now my plans are messed up already with the Uchiha clan being ostracized. We're going to need their power if Leader-sama has the rinnegan and Madara has the sharingan… I don't see this ending well though." Kasumi expressed and Kakashi hummed as he leaned back on his hands. "I'll figure something out though." Kasumi said before she began explaining the cover story she made with Hiruzen over the last few days when she had 'disappeared' again and Kakashi listened intently and nodded sternly once she had finished.
"Do you have somewhere to stay yet?" Kakashi asked suddenly as they were on their fifth cup of tea.
"No, not yet, I'll find somewhere on my first pay check." Kasumi shrugged coolly and Kakashi tapped his finger against his mug, the clock already reading one in the morning.
"I kept the house like you asked…" Kakashi said softly, looking away as Kasumi looked at him with surprise.
"Have you been back?" She asked, the air feeling a little tense as Kakashi shook his head.
"You can take it for now until you find somewhere but I don't know the condition of it." Kakashi said, meeting her eye again as her lips curled upwards slightly at the corners.
"It's not doing too good and will need a bit of work but I can get a genin team to do that but then again, that was five years ago." Kasumi mused as she stared up at the ceiling in thought.
"I'll get an inspector there tomorrow morning and he'll give me the report… Don't forget the inheritance as well, there should be enough in there to completely repair the house." Kakashi added and Kasumi tilted her head with a calculative look.
"Wouldn't you rather keep that money for now?" Kasumi asked and Kakashi shrugged.
"ANBU's a dangerous job plus it pays extremely well… You deserve that house as clan head technically." Kakashi smirked at her and she just pushed him over before he rolled right back up again without spilling his tea. "You can stay here again tonight then get to ANBU early tomorrow morning so you can meet the team and plan the formations with your skills, they're going to freak out to find you're back so don't hold back most of them are quite cocky." Kakashi added with a raised eyebrow and Kasumi smirked.
"Not for long…"
XXXXXXXXXX
Kasumi fiddled with her mask in her hand, standing by her old locker down in ANBU, white with little round ears at the top and blue around the slanting eyes and a smile with three little lightning shaped whiskers on each side as the nose protruded out like a dog's. Her old mask. Kakashi was right, his team was going to freak out about this because everyone knew her mask as the Hokage's Shadow, as fast as the Yondaime himself. She put it back onto her shelf for now as she put on her regular pouch and leg holster before putting her medical pack on next to her pouch on her right and the two special little pouches on either hip for her specialty kunai before putting her mask on and shutting the creaky locker as she headed out to training ground three to meet Team Ro.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Oi Taicho, is it true we're getting a new member today?" This caught Kakashi's attention as he arrived at the three posts on training ground three to see his whole team had converged but Kasumi wasn't there yet.
"She should be here any second." Kakashi said as he leaned against the furthest post and crossed his arms with Tenzo standing next to him as the team shifted nervously, they were getting a female teammate.
"Unless I'm already here." The voice came from nowhere as a spark of lightning landed at each of their feet before Kasumi landed easily on the path.
"Ko-Konoha's Silver Ghost?!"
"I thought you died three years ago?"
"I did… There's a reason why I have the word 'Ghost' in my nickname you know." Kasumi said as she leaned on one leg and put her hand on her hip.
"Alright then, now that everyone's here we can get to work on new formations, Kasumi will be a great asset to the team with her skills so let's get to work before we get to our mission." Kakashi ordered as they began to get up from their perches almost reluctantly as Kasumi could feel their eyes on her.
"Seems like you've been deemed the outcast already." Tenzo sighed next to her as she followed after all of them and Kasumi shrugged.
"I don't care as long as they don't put the team in danger. They can hate me as much as they want." Kasumi said as Tenzo stayed quiet.
Kakashi watched them train harshly, no holds bar as they all seemed to naturally team up on Kasumi during the free sparring time he just gave them to just finely tune working together. Kasumi was quicker, more flexible, more powerful and suddenly the respect had changed for her as she was easily accepted as 'one of the guys' as Kakashi would call it. But Kasumi needed a lot of work in the process… It seems she had forgotten everything Minato-sensei had taught her about 'Teamwork'.
The mission went smoothly as he continued to watch Kasumi as she did her share of killing. She was a kind girl who would have flinched at killing someone with a blade in her hand and wiped the blood off on the body but she had easily slid the blade through the body, the enemy's kunai aimed for her abdomen before they froze and keeled over, dead and Kasumi simply removed her blade like she was taking it out of butter and not a body that was alive seconds before. Tenzo killed much like that, it was the aftermath of being a Foundation and missing nin for four year, such a short time to change so quickly.
"Is anyone hurt?" Kasumi asked the team as they began to clean up the bodies and Kasumi walked over to one of their teammates and began to heal him calmly before they headed back to Konoha to report.
"You fit in well so far Kasumi." Kakashi said as they walked down the road after getting dressed out of their uniform and heading home.
"You're right about them though." Kasumi said distractedly with her hands in her pockets. "They're a cocky lot… They're going to get themselves killed."
Kasumi tapped her pen against her desk as she studied her papers strewn across the large mahogany desk. It had been a few months now that she came back to Konoha, summer finally rolling in, and she was no closer to anything, especially the Uchiha clan trouble. She had moved back into the old Hatake house once it was repaired and moved things around in the large house for one person. All of her belongings had been placed into the old house, including her spider web of metal plates she used to train her lightning affinity in the first place, setting that up in the office and even set up a new one in Kakashi's old room while she took the main room and left her old room as a guest room.
It was odd being back in the old house and it had brought many feelings and memories along, both good and bad. Kakashi refuses to go near the study and she couldn't blame him… It still smelt like disinfectant from so many years ago but it was fading slowly as she sparked another bit of lightning against one of the plates in annoyance as she breathed out a sigh and sat back in the huge office chair… She needed to speak to the source of the problem.
She got up and threw her flak jacket on, still wearing the same uniform from years ago, the long sleeved black shirt with the bands on her wrist and elbows, black shorts and the same grey open front apron as she grabbed her hitai ate and tied her hair back and put her knee high black shinobi sandals on as she headed out of the old house towards the Uchiha Police Station. Fugaku would freak out as would half the station if Mikoto said nothing… She was getting use to the reaction but was beginning to wonder what happened after she had 'died'.
The Uchiha estate always seemed like a different place with slightly different buildings compared to the rest of the village. The indifferent glares from the Uchihas were nothing new, both she and Obito use to get them a lot, directed at both of them when they use to laugh and have a good time walking around the estate just to piss everyone off. Kasumi stopped in her step as she rounded on an old pink building and put her hands in her pockets as she looked up at it.
'Do you think I could help your clan Obito?' Kasumi wondered up at the second story room that had a balcony on it where she used to sit with Obito sometimes. She noticed a glint off of the window and smiled slightly, a smile of sadness but she took it as a sign none the less. 'I'll do what I can.'
"Hatake Kasumi is supposedly dead." A familiar voice said to her as she turned to her left to see Fugaku with his arms crossed with three others from the Uchiha Police Force.
"Then we've come to an awkward situation have we?" Kasumi asked as she turned to face them, hands still calmly in her pockets. "I'll come willingly while we wait for the Hokage to confirm my… 'Resurrection' I suppose you can call it if I can speak to you in private Fugaku." Kasumi asked calmly as the man frowned and nodded to his team as they carefully approached Kasumi and arrested her before they continued back to the Police Station. She walked down the hallways calmly as they took her to a non-metal room and Kasumi couldn't not smile after the last fiasco she caused in the station as she waited calmly as they untied her.
"No need to rush." Kasumi said, eyeing one of them directly as he picked something up from her look as they walked out. She looked around the white tiled room as she tapped a finger on the wooden desk as she waited calmly before the door opened and Fugaku walked in calmly as he sat in the other chair across from her with his arms crossed like usual.
"What did you want to speak about?" He asked, straight to the point and Kasumi eyed him curiously.
"I hear your clan is being investigated for something it didn't do but a former member of the clan did four years ago." Kasumi began and Fugaku ever so slightly tensed up but kept his poker face on.
"That doesn't concern you…"
"On the contrary Fugaku…" Kasumi cut him off with a cold and calculating look as her killing intent leaked ever so slightly, she's never had a good hold over it. "You see, I know for a hard cold fact that the Uchiha clan currently apart of the village wasn't involved with the Kyuubi's attack but I'm sure you know that already… It's the mistrust that's put your clan's back up isn't it? To be blamed for the sin of your forefather?" Kasumi challenged and Fugaku gave a cold look back.
"That's classified information but I wouldn't put it past Minato to tell this information to his closest student Kasumi… The one who was by his side that night. But like I said, this doesn't concern you." Fugaku said defensively and Kasumi hummed slightly.
"Have you forgotten my words already Fugaku?" Kasumi asked, some plea to her voice, which had taken Fugaku back slightly. 'Your kekkei genkai is a gift and an amazing one at that, it shouldn't be treated with disrespect for the dead after they intended to pass on their gift with good intent, you wouldn't have had a problem if it wasn't the sharingan and if anything Kakashi needs help with it… Don't take it for granted Fugaku otherwise you'll become conceited and drive the village apart from your clan.'
"I have nothing against the village Kasumi, they do against us." Fugaku said, feeling a little shaken from he previous comment and remembering those words she said to him years ago.
"Yet you're still adding fuel to the fire… I'm not stupid, I've watched a lot of things over the time I've returned and I know the threats out there and without your clan, we will be facing hundreds of casualties… Not just in Konoha but around the ninja world, reconsider my words again Fugaku and know I'll help any way I can." Kasumi said before the cell door opened.
"Sir, the Yondaime is in your office." One of the police members said and Fugaku nodded before standing up.
"Go easy on sensei… He has a lot on his back Fugaku." Kasumi asked, as she got comfortable on her seat. Fugaku stopped by the door at those words as he thought a hundred things at once before nodding and leaving Kasumi alone again as she leaned back with her arms crossed comfortably.
XXXXXXXXXX
"You're late again Kasumi." Kakashi said, his back facing his sister as she rounded up with Team Ro. Kasumi could easily see Kakashi's back was tense with his arms crossed and the annoyed anger in his voice even though it was true… Duty had been the second thing in her mind recently.
"Sorry." Kasumi muttered, she wasn't in the mood for giving an excuse that day after seeing the Uchiha Police being treated disrespectfully and then having an argument with Hiruzen before she arrived on duty. Kakashi turned around as his red mask bore into her blue mask as the air got thick between the two siblings.
"Do you even take this seriously?" Kakashi asked harshly, he was in captain mode and Kasumi didn't take kindly to his tone of voice as she frowned an angry glare from behind her mask but kept the angry tension from her body.
'No not really.' Kasumi thought but she let that thought out with a deeper puff of air.
"I do sir." She answered coldly as he glared at her for a second longer.
"Then make sure you're not late again." Kakashi said before he turned to the rest of the team and began explaining the mission. Kasumi had learned she was the only one who could get under Kakashi's skin and she had to watch her words to him since one mission ended up with them getting into a fight after it and then ending up in the hospital in between it somewhere… the rest of Team Ro had stood back and let it happen, after they ran low on chakra, they could finally drag them back while the two got chewed out by the Hokage. They had been equally as quiet about what actually happened, as was the team and Kasumi had kept her mouth shut since then.
"You really like getting under senpai's skin huh Kasumi-senpai?" Tenzo whispered to her as they stayed in position up in a tree as they waited for the signal from lower down.
"It's not like I do it on purpose. Knowing him for your entire life, you tend to learn what ticks him off subconsciously." Kasumi whispered back.
"I wouldn't call being late to team meetings 'subconscious'." Tenzo said back, finding this strangely amusing and Kasumi could hear it on his voice behind his cat mask.
"Yeah well I've had other important things on my mind recently." Kasumi half snapped back and Tenzo shook his head.
"I hope you don't bring that 'baggage' with you on missions like now." He added as they received the first signal as they all tensed.
"I wouldn't put my team in danger like that. Don't worry Tenzo." Kasumi said as she received her signal and moved in for her attack first on the unsuspecting Kumo nin below.
Kakashi's frustration had ebbed away as the mission passed by smoothly, he knew Kasumi was just getting under his skin and he knew he shouldn't be letting her do this to him when they worked on the same team. He stood next to her as she calmly charged up a Raikiri and plunged it through the Kumo nin's heart after getting the information Kakashi wanted in a genjutsu and Kasumi dropped his collar as the body dropped to the floor.
"Perhaps you shouldn't use Raikiri so much." Kakashi mused as the team began cleaning up the bodies and their involvement with what went on as Kasumi held her right wrist as she flexed her hand, full of blood. "It's a little messy, especially on these types of missions." He wasn't jealous that she knew his techniques because he knew how she used her lightning that shrouds her body and he knew how Hiraishin worked and even managed to learn Minato's Rasengan, even if Hiraishin and the lightning didn't work well for him.
"Perhaps you're right." She said calmly back as she cleaned most of the blood off on the dead nin's shirt. Kakashi was just surprised at the blunt force she could exert to push the technique through a burly body, for it to actually pass through the man's back. "The electrical shock of Chidori through the body is cleaner…" Kasumi mused, staring at her hand again as Kakashi just stood there next to her and watched… She was darkly distracted somehow.
"Let's head back. Our work here is done." Kakashi said as the team gathered around and they headed back quietly.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Good job Team Ro, you're dismissed." Minato said with a nod to the team as they began to leave. "Kakashi, Kasumi remain behind please." Minato asked as Kasumi held back an annoyed groan as she stood quietly next to Kakashi.
"Is there something else you need Hokage-sama?" Kasumi asked and Minato smiled and shook his head.
"Do you two have any plans for tonight?" Minato asked and they both shook their heads even if Kasumi had something up her sleeve, she needed to sort out the awkwardness between Minato and herself. "Good, Kushina's cooking up a storm and she wants you two to be there, is six okay?" Minato asked and they both nodded silently. Minato's eyes flashed with something as his smile wilted ever so slightly before it was gone and his smile was back in place as he waved his hand lazily. "Dismissed then."
XXXXXXXXXX
Kasumi was lost in thought as she walked along the many roads of Konoha… She was putting off Minato's house for as long as possible but it seemed not to be working so far as the sunset washed the colour orange over the village. The air was getting colder with winter finally rolling around as Kasumi wondered around in her uniform, she wasn't sure on what to wear when Minato had 'told' them to be there. With the cooler air though, she had swapped the black shorts for black baggy pants, secured at the bottom of her legs with white strapping and wore black ankle length sandals.
She couldn't put it off any longer as she rounded up on the 'different' and unique house and walked to the door, knocking politely before she had an armful of Naruto and Sasuke on her back… Apparently, they had warmed up to her as she noticed a slightly sheepish Itachi holding the door open. Itachi had apologised but Kasumi waved it off as she put the two troublemakers down again as they ran through the house and Kasumi closed the door behind her. She followed the almost festive sounds through the house and into the back garden where her chest ached as her breath hitched.
"Dynamic Entry!" The familiar boisterous voice called as Kasumi instinctually ducked, knocking Gai's leg as he lost his equilibrium and in a second, Kasumi was behind him, pinning him not to softly to the floor as she pressed his cheek and tailbone down, with her knees, to the floor, successfully restraining him before stepping away at laughter coming from the lit up garden… She had restrained Gai with a seal, placing five kunai, equidistant from each other around Gai as he struggled against the black seals on his body.
"Looks like I win this time Gai." Kakashi called as Kasumi looked out at the crowd again with shock.
"Welcome back Kasumi!" Most of the crowd cheered as Kasumi whimpered in panic as she disappeared back inside and collapsed with a shaking hand to her head as she slid down the wall behind the door with wide eyes. Her entire year was there: Asuma, Kurenai, Genma, Raidou, Gai, Ebisu, Anko, Ibiki, Ko… To many faces at once right then, she was content with being a shadow to most but relevant people and hold anyone else at arm's length. Her seal was burning as well as she shut her eyes tight and clenched her teeth as she clutched at the clothing surrounding her stomach.
"Are you okay Gaki?" A familiar yet boisterous voice asked as Kasumi looked up with shock.
"Jiraiya-ji chan?" Kasumi breathed as she looked up at the old Toad Sannin.
"You didn't think you could spontaneously disappear on us and come back to live like you were still dead did you?" He asked as he held a hand out to her as she took it gingerly.
"I was hoping for that actually… It's been a while old man." Kasumi smiled gently at him as she stood on her feet.
"It has and you've grown as beautiful as your mother… The party was beginning to miss you out there." He said as he leaned against the counter and Kasumi lowered her eyes as she looked towards the door with hurt on her face.
"Just tell them I died… Again. Three times lucky." Kasumi muttered extremely low but Jiraiya had heard it and scowled as he crossed his arms.
"As a shinobi its dangerous to joke about death you know?" Jiraiya warned harshly but Kasumi scowled further.
"I've died twice, my two best friends are dead, my parents are dead… I'm practically dead to Kakashi. Death doesn't make a difference to me Jiraiya." Kasumi said as she looked at Jiraiya with a scolding gaze, which made the Toad Sannin frown.
"Kakashi's only trying to do what you do and that's holding everyone at arms length, he was devastated after your death." Jiraiya added as the noise outside began to rise again and Kasumi felt her seal on Gai being deactivated.
"And he holds onto it because it's made him a better person. In a world of sin such as our own, the dead shouldn't come back, I should have just stayed in the shadows under Hiruzen-sama." Kasumi said straight up to his face.
"That's a sure way to loose your path Kasumi-chan." The wise old voice spoke up and Kasumi groaned as she turned around and dropped her head to the counter with a loud thud.
"Perfect, of coarse you'd be here right now Hiruzen-sama." Kasumi groaned against the table.
"You've lost your Will of Fire and what it means to be a Konoha shinobi…"
"Say that to the Uchiha clan sir." Kasumi snapped coldly as she stood up straight, facing him with a challenging glare of anger as Hiruzen actually flinched at that and looked down with regret clear in his eyes and Kasumi's anger simmered slightly. "I'm sorry…"
"You're right Kasumi-chan… No need to be sorry but I value the opinions of my comrades who have been looking after this village for as long as I have even if Danzo is more of the dark side, he has the want to protect Konoha just like any of us." Hiruzen said and Kasumi released a hissing breath through her teeth.
"It's not just Konoha 'They' are wanting to destroy Hiruzen-sama! It's not just Konoha I'm trying to protect here and I can't have my loved ones getting in the crossfire again and dying in place of me because I failed and showed weakness again! EVERYONE is a part of 'Their' plan! Why can't you understand this!" Kasumi asked, tears of frustration coming to her eyes as her hands shook against the counter top, her seal was burning again. She didn't notice the little audience of Itachi, Tenzo, Kakashi, Naruto and Sasuke watching as they had come through the doorway and heard Kasumi's voice raised. Kasumi managed to calm herself calmly and breathe slowly as she pinched the bridge of her nose as the room stayed silent. "I need a drink…" Kasumi sighed as she moved to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of cheap sake and drank from the bottle.
"You should watch what you drink." Jiraiya said as he crossed his arms and Kasumi leaned against the fridge with another sigh, her eyes closed.
"I'm twenty already Jiraiya, I'm old enough to kill so therefore I'm old enough to drink." Kasumi said, she didn't care about the little audience moving along but Kakashi stayed behind as he nodded to both Jiraiya and Hiruzen.
"You know what happens when you drink too much…" Jiraiya added and Kasumi's eyes snapped open angrily with a glare at him as her knuckles turned white around the bottle.
"Do I look like my Otou-sama?" She asked in a low and dark voice as Kakashi flinched and became tense as he looked away and both Jiraiya and Hiruzen frowned. Kasumi looked away with annoyance as the bottle shattered and her hand cackled with lightning as the shattered pieces of the bottle and the sake dripped down her arm. "It seems I'm just pissing everyone off today." Kasumi sighed as she grabbed a cloth from the counter and cleaned her hand.
"And it seems my little surprise just made it worse?" Minato asked as he came around the corner and Kasumi just let her hair fall into her face as her actions stopped completely.
"You had good intentions sensei… But thank you for trying." Kasumi said as she moved quickly but slowed down just before she fell into an embrace with Minato as he hugged her back with a gentle smile and rested his cheek against the crown of her head.
"Go out there and try to have some fun huh?" Minato asked as he pulled back, holding her at arms length by her upper arms as she smiled and nodded before daintily jogging out, grabbing Kakashi's wrist on the way as he was dragged outside and Minato's smile dropped as he watched the two siblings leave to the outside again. "She has something that runs deeper than the sadness Kakashi has in his heart… So much anger and pain." Minato mused sadly and Hiruzen hummed.
"She has been through a lot in her short life Minato. Give her time." Hiruzen said as he patted Minato on the shoulder. Minato breathed a sigh and nodded before giving his elders a smile, grabbing a beer before he walked out into the cool night air and leaned over the balcony as he watched the small party.
"She'll be fine Minato. She's a strong girl." Kushina said as she came up and stood next to him, draping her arm comfortingly over his back and he sighed, taking a sip of his drink.
"Everyone keeps saying that but I can't help but worry that maybe she's not okay, that she needs someone to see past the hard external shell she's built around herself. Three years is a long time for a shinobi of her calibre to be missing and to suddenly come back again to this structured system… She may not follow it perfectly and it may be enough to snap her further than we can fix."
A/N: Aw Chibitachi is SO CUTE! And yes, Kasumi is being an Emo bitch but who could blame her after what she knows and being around S-Ranked psychos for three years? But never fear, she will get better :)