Chapter Twenty-six – Naria's Pov

As Dad and I walked out of Riku's and Kanami's house, the two of them followed us. Kanami had made us a beautiful breakfast and had packed us lunch for the road. I had told Dad I could go alone if he wanted to stay, as I could get there faster, but he'd refused to let me.

"We'll be ready to go once you come back." Kanami said and I nodded. I was amazed at how okay she was with leaving her home, but it showed me how much she loved my brother.

"Are you guys sure you don't want me coming?" Riku asked and I looked at him. "It's obvious you can protect yourself, but I want to help, and I want to meet the guy who saved my sister."

"You need to stay here and help your wife." I said. "We'll find Ayame."

"Good luck, and don't let our grandmother give you hell if Ayame is with her." Riku said and I nodded.

"Don't worry, I don't plan to." I said with a smile. I wasn't letting my grandmother make me feel like crap. "We should hopefully be back in a few days, and then we can head to the valley."

"We'll be waiting." Riku said and I then looked at Dad, who nodded, which is when we both took off running.

"Do you really think Ayame will be in the sand?" Dad asked and I looked at him.

"I hope so, because the alternatives aren't good." I said, because if she was in the sand, I knew she'd be safe.

- Line Breaker -

It took us just over a day to arrive at the sand, as my father needed sleep so we had to stop at night. However, as we ran towards the sand village I spotted two men running towards there, dressed nothing like sand shinobi or any other hidden village ninja.

"Assassins, I think." I said and I looked at Dad. "I'll handle them, but you can back me up."

I dashed forward quickly and kicked one, sending him flying, before I spun and slammed my fist into the others stomach. He unsheathed his sword and I quickly took out my swing blades to block it as he swung it towards me. I deflected it and then sent him flying with a blade of wind. His back slammed into a rock and I spun around just in time to catch the other's arm and force him to the ground.

"So, tell me, who exactly are you after?" I demanded, gripping his arm tightly as I twisted it hard, having put back my swing blades.

"Like I'm telling you." He said and I gripped his arm tightly.

"Let me make this clear: my uncle Tadao has no intention to pay you, so who are you going after?" I asked and he looked at me.

"Your sister. We were told she was here." He groaned and I smiled.

"Thanks." I said, and that is when he tried to get up and attack me, but I grabbed my kunai and drove it into his side. "If you're smart, you'll leave. Though, attacking the sand isn't smart."

I then heard a cry behind me and saw my father take down the other one, who I had known had gotten up.

"We should get to the village." He said and I nodded. "Will that one survive?"

"If he doesn't come after us again, probably." I said, since the wound I inflicted wasn't fatal.

We took off running, leaving the two assassins there. If they were smart, they'd get help, but I didn't care too much if they did. I was not a fan of assassins, but that was because so many had come after me. Those guys though, they sucked in comparison to the other's I'd fought.

We arrived at the sand village gate and I saw the man that had been there the last time I came here standing there.

"You're the girl who protected the Kazekage. What are you doing here?" He asked me.

"I'm looking for someone: my sister. I'm pretty sure she came here looking for my grandmother, Kohinata Aya, recently." I said and he looked at me.

"A girl came here searching for Kohinata Aya. She had brown hair and brown eyes." He said and I smiled.

"That's her." I said and he sighed.

"She arrived two days ago. She was injured and passed out before she could tell us much more, so we took her to be healed. I'm sure you know where she is, but I'd go speak to the Kazekage first." He said and I nodded.

"Thank you. We will." I said and he nodded. We walked into the village and I led my father to where Gaara would be, while showing Dad where we would have to go see Ayame.

I walked towards the office that belonged to Gaara and saw two shinobi standing out front of it. They turned to look at me and my father as we approached.

"You? What are you doing here?" One asked and I looked at him.

"My sister is here, she was the girl who arrived two days ago, but the man at the gate told me I should speak to Gaara first." I said and the other knocked on the door, before going in a second later as I stood there. The other was looking at me weirdly, not that I knew why.

"Lord Gaara, the healer from the leaf, the white haired one Naria, and a man are here to see you. The injured girl who arrived here is her sister." The man explained as I listened in.

"Let them in." Gaara said and the man came back out of the room.

"He'll see you." He said and I nodded, before walking in with my father behind me.

"Gaara, it's nice to see you again, though I wish it was under different circumstances." I said as I walked in and he looked at me.

"Naria, your sister is in the hospital. I'm supposed to be hearing from someone about her condition soon." Gaara said and that is when Rozuko came into the room.

"Lord Gaara, the girl is awake. Her name is Yukina Ayame, and I think she's…" She cut off when she saw me standing there. "Naria?"

"Hi Rozuko." I said and she came over to me, hugging me before I could stop her.

"I'm happy to see you." She said with a smile, before something clicked and she pulled away from me. "A girl is here. Is she your sister?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I know, and yes, she's my sister. She's why we're here." I said, before I looked at my Dad. "You should go and talk to Ayame first. At least she knows you better than she knows me." I said to him in the entrance of Gaara's office.

He placed his hand on my shoulder. "I will, though I'll probably give her a heart attack. I am supposed to be dead." He said and he wasn't wrong, but Ayame still knew him; she barely knew me.

"I'll take you there." Rozuko offered, though she didn't know who he was and she seemed confused by the situation.

"Thank you." My father said and he followed Rozuko out of the room, while I looked at Gaara, who was looking where my father had been. I had yet to mention to him that the man beside me was, but we hadn't had much of a chance.

"Gaara." I said as I walked over to his desk, which made him look up at me. "I'm sorry this has caused you trouble, which I'm sure it has."

"What your uncle is doing is not your fault." He said simply and I nodded, but I was still annoyed that this had been brought to Suna. I was just glad that no assassins had gotten here from the sounds of it. "However, who was that man? I feel like I know him."

"He's my father." I stated and he looked at me in faint surprise. "Yeah, he was saved. And, he's not as bad as I thought. I just forgot a lot about him and some of my past memories, but Demiyah helped me get them back."

"Demiyah?" He asked and I let out a short, nervous laugh as I kept standing in front of the desk.

"She's the demon wolf sealed inside of me." I said and I watched as Gaara stood up out of his chair, which made me look at him in wonder. He walked around the desk and stood near me

"I think it might be better if we go for a walk." He said and I was slightly confused.

"But don't you have to work? You are the Kazekage." I said.

"I have caught up on all my paperwork and I am not needed right now. Also, people have a tendency to find me when I am needed, so it will be fine." He said.

"Alright then." I said and I watched as he grabbed his gourd and put it on his back, which I was still surprised he could carry. I would not want to carry something like that around, but sand was what he used to fight.

We left the building and started walking through Suna, Gaara and I walking besides each other.

"When did you learn the truth?" Gaara asked me as we walked and I kept my eyes ahead. I had to wonder why he spoke to me like this, and from what I had heard, he did not speak to a lot of people like this.

"Before Konoha was attacked, which was dealt with. Demiyah finally revealed herself to me then, right before." I explained.

"Why did she wait?" He asked, not asking about Konoha despite me thinking he would, and I chuckled, which made him look at me.

"I was kinda messed up growing up, so I don't think she wanted to add to it. But, once I met you, again, she felt I was ready. She told me that she is permanently part of me, meaning she can't be taken from me and she will die when I do. She was sealed inside of me as a way to survive, and her bloodline is linked to mine, so I have my own unique dōjutsu and kekkei genkai." I explained as we walked and he looked at me. "It's also why I have white hair now. She's one of two twin wolf demons, but she's the one of light apparently, which does make sense."

"I am glad you have learnt that, as I know it was something you wanted to know." He said, before he looked at me. "You said once you met me again. When have we met before?"

I smiled at him. "I didn't remember this till the block on my memories was gone, but we met once when we were children. My father came here to speak to yours, and I came to talk to you. You were all by yourself, and I was wearing a cloak at the time. Not to mention the fact that we were very young." I explained and he looked at me, slightly surprised.

"You said I was amazing, and you weren't afraid of me." He said and I smiled at him.

"And you made me a teddy bear." I said and he looked at me.

"I've always remembered that, as you were the only child who wasn't afraid of me back then, but I only met you the once and I didn't know who you were." He said.

"Well, I had no reason to be scared of you. You were just a kid like me." I said. "Haven't you realized yet that I don't judge like that. Sure, people can be stupid and do bad things, but what happened with you wasn't your fault. I've had people try to kill me, even back then, so I know what it's like."

"I am still unsure of how you do that; see me in such a light." He said and I looked at him as we came to a stop out front of the hospital.

"Gaara, who am I to judge you for being different. You had a demon in you, and it tried to drive you insane and take over. The fact that you're still standing here, and are the way you are, is amazing. Yes, you did some bad things, but so what. You changed, and now you're the Kazekage of the sand village and you protect all these people, people who once hated you." I said in earnest and he seemed surprised. "And, you saved me."

"You are the one who saved my life. I cannot see how I saved you." He said and I smiled.

"The same way Naruto saved you." I said and his eyes widened. "Gaara, I'm going back to help my village and my family. A while ago, I never wanted to see that village again. I dropped the walls I spent years making after I met you, and I'm better for it."

"Then I am glad." He said, before looking up at the building. "You should go speak to your sister. No assassins will breach my village's walls and get to you." He promised.

"Well, I did take two out not far from the walls, so if they're smart they shouldn't be a problem. You shouldn't have a problem for a while." I said. "But thank you."

"I'll leave you to talk to her. I should get back before someone comes looking for me." Gaara said and I nodded. "I'll have a room prepared for you and your sister to stay in, as well as one for your father."

He left after that and I smiled after him, before heading into the building. I found the room my father and Ayame were in, and I found Ayame hugging our father tight. She had definitely grown up. She had waist length brown hair and she was dressed in a pink jacket and black pants with black sandals. Well, at least she'd dressed appropriately while running.

She pulled away from our father and that is when she spotted me, and her eyes widened. "Naria?"

I smiled. "Hello Ayame." I said calmly, as I wasn't sure if she was scared or not. I had no idea what she thought of me.

She smiled and ran over to me, hugging me tight.

"I'm so glad. I knew you were alive, I heard uncle ordering assassins after you." She said as she pulled away from me. "I was never scared of you, never, but Mother kept me away. I know everything that happened, everything, that's why I left. I wanted to find you and Riku and get your help. I thought grandmother could help."

"You know our grandmother thinks I'm a monster right." I pointed out and she nodded.

"Yes, but she was the only person I knew how to find." Ayame admitted.

"According to Ayame, my brother and son are in this together." Dad said and I looked at Ayame.

"So Nobu is being a full-fledged idiot?" I asked and Ayame nodded. "Fantastic. Why am I not surprised?"

"Because Nobu thinks being a prince makes him better than everyone else and is a pompous ass." Ayame said and I looked at her, doing my best not to laugh.

"They never hurt you, did they?" I asked and she shook her head.

"They wouldn't dare, but they've been making life hell for the people and not fun at all. They fired all the old guards and hired new ones that are horrible. If it wasn't for a maid who knew of the old underground tunnels, I wouldn't have gotten away." Ayame admitted and I sighed.

"We're going to help you, and so is Riku and his wife." I said and her eyes widened.

"Riku's married?" She asked and I nodded.

"I can explain it to you if you want me to, or Dad can if you feel better with him." I said and she looked at me.

"Naria, I don't know you because of Mom, and then you had to run because of Uncle, but you're my sister and I don't think you can be worse than Nobu or Uncle. I don't care that you have a demon or whatever it is in you." Ayame said, and I was surprised, but still happy. She didn't take after our mother at least.

"Excuse me?" Someone asked and I turned to look at them. "The Kazekage asked me to show you to your rooms." Well, that was quick.

"Thank you." I said and I looked over at Dad, who nodded.

We followed the shinobi to the rooms Gaara had gotten for us, which I really did need to thank him for, and showed us which room Ayame and I would be staying in, and which room Dad would be staying in, before leaving.

"I've spoken to her, so I'll let you two speak. Just make sure she rests." Dad said and I nodded, before leading Ayame into our room.

"Is father okay? He's been acting weird." Ayame asked and I sighed as I sat on the bed beside her. This room had two beds, unlike last time, which is when we slept on futons.

"He feels guilty for many things. Trying to kill me, despite it not being his fault. Not stopping Tadao before he could do all this. Killing Mom. Having put Riku through the pain of thinking he'd killed him." I explained so she understood.

"Our lives got so messed up because of Uncle Tadao's and Mother's actions." She said and I was surprised.

"You brought up Mother, why?" I asked and she looked at me, sad.

"I loved Mom, I did, but she treated you so badly. Father only didn't speak out because he didn't want to tear the village apart. You didn't deserve how Mother treated you or how the people treated you." Ayame said. "I don't know why you want to help."

I sighed. "I was a mess for years Ayame, and I built walls and acted cold because I didn't want to be close to anyone ever again. I was mad, I was sad and I didn't want to care. But recently, I've begun to change and see things differently. In the process I began to let the real me out and learn who that is, and I realized that life is too short to hold onto hate. Holding onto hate and the past only causes me pain, no one else, unless I take that hate out on others who have done nothing. So, yes, I was treated badly in the village, but they were scared. Also, despite it being ten years, you're still my family and family has always meant something to me." I explained, before taking her hand in mine. "But Ayame, despite every bad thing she did, Ayana loved you, and she didn't love much. But you, she loved."

"I know Mother loved me." She smiled, before squeezing my hand. "But I saw what she did to you. The way she taught you to be a princess, and the way she started teaching me were different. I don't remember much, I mean I was just four, but some of my first memories were watching Mother hit you. I saw my mother hit my sister who wasn't doing anything wrong."

I was taken aback by that. "I never knew you saw that." I said, because I had hoped she never did.

"You were my big sister, I wanted to be around you, so I used to sneak in and watch you. Especially when you danced. One thing I remember is you dancing." Ayame said, before she looked sad. "When I saw Father, I only knew who he was because of photo's I've seen, same as you. For a second, when I said your name, I wasn't sure it was you, but Father said you were here too. We've been separated for ten years."

"I know." I said. "And you should know that while I'm helping, I'm not going to be living in the valley after this. I live in the Leaf and I am happy there, but I will come and visit as often as I can."

"I wish you'd come back and stay, as I want to get to know my sister, but if you visit I'll be okay. I just want to get to know you, and Riku." Ayame said.

"Well, Riku will be the lord once this is all over, so you'll have him, and his wife Kanami is really nice." I said and she seemed surprised.

"Father doesn't want to be lord again?" She asked and I shook my head.

"Dad didn't want to be lord to begin with because, like me, he felt like he was born to be more of a free spirit and to fight to protect, though he loves the people just as much. He feels that he messed up because of what happened, and while we all know it wasn't his fault, he doesn't want to be lord again and Riku is ready to be." I explained so she understood.

"You're really smart Naria, and you seem to understand them." She said and I felt like laughing.

"Well, I haven't always been like this exactly, but I've started to work things out and Dad and Riku have always been easy to work out." I admitted, because I had always been able to work out what Riku was thinking, and now I remembered that things weren't much different with Dad.

That's when there was a loud knocking on the door and I got off the bed, going over to the door and opening it to reveal our grandmother, who's eyes widened when she saw me.

"Hello Grandmother." I said.

"I thought this was Ayame's room." She said and I nodded, stepping aside.

"She's here too. Come on in." I said, because I was going to be polite until she decided to be rude, which there was a chance of since I could see the look in her amber eyes.

She stepped past me and looked at Ayame. "Ayame, I heard you were injured and looking for me. Why are you here and not in the valley, safe?" She asked, and it was obvious she was concerned.

"Because it's not safe in the valley anymore Grandmother. Uncle Tadao and Nobu are doing horrible things, and they want us dead." Ayame said as she stood up and Aya shook her head.

"Nonsense." She said and Ayame stepped away from her.

"How would you know? You haven't returned since Mother died, which Tadao was behind." Ayame said and Aya looked at me.

"Is that what you told her?" She asked and Ayame was not happy.

"No, it wasn't actually. I heard him admit it to Nobu, who didn't care. Tadao used a Genjutsu on Father to get him to help Mother kill Naria, and if you don't believe me, Father is in the next room and can tell you what really happened." Ayame said.

"Your father is dead." Aya replied.

"Actually, I'm not Aya." I heard Dad say and I turned as Aya spun around to look at the doorway.

"Itaru." She said in shock.

"What my daughter says is true. Tadao and Ayana conspired to kill Naria and used a Genjutsu on me to get me to help. They controlled my mind, but Riku interrupted before we did, and in that time, I killed Ayana as she tried to get in-between Riku and I, as she was afraid he would work out I was being controlled as I was told to kill him if he came in and wanted him out of there. Riku drove a sword through my chest to take me down once I lost all sense again after I killed her, and after that he fled, while Tadao imprisoned Naria for a year so he could pin blame on her. Then, he tried to kill her." Dad explained and I had begun to realize I had misinterpreted some of what had happened.

"Ayana wouldn't do that, and how can you not sound regretful for killing my daughter?" Aya demanded and my father looked at her steadily.

"I did not want to kill Ayana, but I am not going to regret the fact that I killed her the night she tried to kill our daughter. I was being controlled, she was not." Dad said. "And don't stand there and tell me she wouldn't try to kill Naria, because you knew her thoughts and that she didn't want Naria around. She hired people to try and kill our daughter and I had to put extra security on her to protect her, which many thought I was doing because I didn't trust Naria, but it was my wife who I did not trust."

"Wait, what do you mean Mother had tried to have Naria killed before that?" Ayame demanded, before looking at me. "Naria?"

"He's not lying – half of the assassins that came after me were sent by her." I admitted, because I had been flat out told by Nobu and it was something I believed. I then looked at Aya, who was looking at me in rage. "You can think what you want about me, I don't care, but you should believe Ayame. She came here because Nobu and Tadao are up to something, and she has no reason to lie. Tadao has been sending assassins after Riku and I for years, despite us not being together and us having no intention to ever return."

"And how exactly did you survive?" Aya demanded as she looked at me.

"Demiyah, the demon inside of me, saved my life." I said and she shook her head.

"So, you are a demon child." She said and I looked at her.

"Aya, that is my daughter." Dad said in anger.

"Dad, don't. I don't need you speaking for me." I said, before looking back at Aya again. "You speak as though having a demon inside of me is the worst thing in the world, but it isn't. I'm different, but that doesn't make me bad or dangerous. From what I've seen, the only reason children like me become messed up is because people are incapable of looking past the demons in us and seeing us for what we are: Children. I didn't ask to be this, but I certainly never did anything wrong as a child. Ayana and Tadao tried to kill me because… well, I don't know why. And as for you, you can see me as a monster all you like, I don't care. I know who I am, and to be frank, Demiyah may be a demon, but she cares about me more than Ayana ever did, so what does that say about my mother?"

Aya looked at me in shock, surprised by what I had said. "You've never spoken this way to me before."

"Maybe because after meeting me once and calling me a disgrace, you avoided me like the plague. You live in a village ruled by someone who used to have a demon in him, and yes, he was messed up as a child because the demon tormented him and people kept trying to kill him, even when he didn't hurt anyone, but he had a right to be, and despite all that people care about him and he's an amazing Kazekage. Yes, demons are dangerous, but having a demon inside of you isn't made easier by people being disgusted by you, and just 'cause you have a demon in you doesn't mean you'll lose control of it." I said seriously, because I had learnt a lot. "I might be a demon child, but I have come to live with that, so you really should too. I can't change this, but I did not deserve how you and my mother treated me, but that's just who you are and now I've learnt that it doesn't matter what you think."

"You really believe that, don't you?" Aya asked and I nodded.

"Yeah, I do, because it's true. People can be afraid if they want to be, I won't fault them for that, but the extent matters. It hurts as a kid, but I'm not a kid anymore. I know who I am and no one can tell me any different." I said. "But we're getting off point. The point is that Nobu and Tadao have it in for us, and they're treating the villagers poorly from what Ayame and Dad have said, so we're going to go and stop them."

"How, by killing your brother?" She demanded and I sighed.

"I'm certainly going to try to beat some sense into him, but none of us are going there with the intent to kill. We're going there to stop them." I said, because I was rather pissed. "Unlike my uncle and my mother, I couldn't think of outright killing my family. The only reason I'd do that is if it was the only way to stop them and save other people, but I would still feel bad."

"Ayame, why did you come find me? Were you intending to ask me to fight?" Aya demanded and Ayame crossed her arms.

"I came to you because you were the only family I could find, and I thought I'd be safe with you, but all you are is judgmental." Ayame said, shocking Aya. "You can go Grandmother, I have Naria and Father helping me. They'll keep me safe and help me help the village, and so will Riku."

"How can you trust her?" Aya demanded, pointing to me. "Or your father? He killed your mother."

"What happened to Mother is not Father's fault, it was hers. She made her choice. He's my father, and all he's ever done is love us, and it's obvious he still does. As for Naria; she's my sister." Ayame said, before pointing at the door. "Now go, because I don't want someone in my life who hates my sister for no good reason."

I was surprised by that, and I had to try not to laugh as Aya stalked out of the room.

"I cannot stand that woman." Dad said once she had left.

"How did you stay married to Ayana? She was worse than that." I asked, because if it was me, I'd never had agreed to the marriage in the first place. "I sometimes wonder how I'm related to them."

"Thankfully, only Nobu seems to have taken after them in the personality department." Ayame said and I smiled at that, while I saw Dad sigh.

"Trust me, you have no idea how grateful I am that you two did not take after your mother, and that Riku doesn't either." Dad said, before sighing. "I just wish Nobu had grown up and not followed my brother."

"We'll find a way to stop them Dad. I don't want this to be happening either, but unfortunately I don't see Nobu changing his mind and we know Tadao won't." I said, before looking at Ayame. "You've been around Nobu more than we have, so what do you think?"

I really wanted to smack Nobu when I saw Ayame's face become sad. "For a long time, I had hope that Nobu would change and stop following Uncle's ideas, but he's just as bad as him and all he wants is power. He loves ruling over people and being in charge, and I don't think he'll step away unless we make him."

"Funny, considering he's letting Tadao be in charge." I said, and that is when I saw the look on Ayame's face. "He's playing our uncle, isn't he?"

"I think he has his own agender, yes, but I don't know what it is." She said and I sighed.

"Well, let's worry about that once we get back to Riku's. For now, I am going to rest and you two should too." Dad said, before smiling and leaving the room.

"Well, he isn't awkward at all." I said and Ayame laughed from beside me, making me smile a little. "Would you like to go out and get something to eat? Or I can go and get something for us?"

She stood up. "No, I'll come with you. I feel okay." She said and I looked at her for a moment, but after that I figured she was telling me the truth and headed for the door.

I opened the door to reveal Rozuko, who had her hand raised to knock obviously, but now had a rather surprised look. "I was just about to knock."

"Obviously." I said, motioning to her still raised hand, which she lowered. "We're about to go out for something to eat, but you're welcome to come with us if you want to talk. I have no idea where to get food here."

She looked past me at Ayame. "You don't mind?" She asked.

"No, I'm okay with it. You obviously know Naria, and I want to hear how." Ayame said and I rolled my eyes.

"Then lead the way." I said and with that, we left.