Thank you for you patience, everyone! You'll be seeing not just this one, but TWO chapters over the next couple days - I already have most of Chapter 50 written!
This one gave me a hard time. I had to reread the entire story so far to get my head in order…I've been getting so caught up in details, and have laid out so many plot threads, that I was losing track of the big picture. Backing away for a couple of days definitely helped. (Plus, there was "real life" stuff that needed taking care of :P )
Again, thank you for your patience, and for your encouragement and feedback! You are all the best :) So now, without further ado…
Chapter 49: They Meet Again
Kaiya must have been exhausted, because somehow, she did fall asleep that night. Her mind was tumbling over every encounter she'd had with Itachi since the night of the massacre. The more she considered the possibility that he actually was trying to help her, as absurd as it should have sounded, the more it actually made sense. Her rational mind, which sounded increasingly like every villager and official who insisted Itachi was a traitor, reminded her that her hope might be clouding her judgment unfairly. In her sleep-deprived state, she let that voice drift away, replaced by a new perspective on every one of those encounters, and the memories that leant support to them.
"Why ask questions to which you already know the answers?"
The genjutsu shattering after she growled that HE had killed her teacher…
Tears streaming down his face as he stood surrounded by the bodies of his clan…bodies he had just robbed of life…but not his brother, and not her…
"What would you do to protect what you hold most dear?"
Protect…
"I will always want to protect you…"
"See you later for hotpot!" Kaiya called to her teammates and teacher. She headed toward the edge of the village. It was kunai day, though Kaiya was beginning to wonder how accurate the moniker was nowadays. Can you call it 'kunai practice' when there isn't much kunai practice involved? She smirked at the thought. There was a spring in her step today. The whole team had passed the Chunin Exams; they were due to start their first mission as Chunin in a few days. Kaiya had come up with an idea for a new seal, and she was dying to brainstorm about it with Itachi.
Speaking of whom…Kaiya had seen him in the stands for her match, but not in the week since. Shisui had let her know that Itachi had to leave promptly for a mission, but promised to meet her today in the training field as originally planned. She'd be going through the Uchiha compound today to get there; her normal route around the outside of the village was blocked off for some Anbu training exercise.
As she approached the compound, Kaiya became very aware of many eyes trained on her. Kaiya was no stranger to dirty looks - being an orphan, it kind of came with the territory, and she'd noticed they increased any time she was around Naruto. Since her final match against the Hyuga, some of that clan had been extra cold toward her as well. Yuuma-sensei said it was to be expected, and they'd get over it eventually, so she wasn't too bothered. The Uchiha had never been demonstratively hostile toward her though; at most, they just ignored her. These looks…she could almost feel the disdain aimed at her like daggers.
The feeling of unease and paranoia increased as she entered the compound. She kept her head high, expression neutral - she was always extra-polite when she did come here, so she was sure it wasn't because they thought she was being rude. Or at least, even if they did, it wasn't because of something she was doing on purpose…
The women who looked at her wrinkled their noses; the men simply glared and followed her with their dark eyes. Was it her imagination, or did one of them flicker red? Kaiya focused on her breathing to keep her pulse from racing. She tried giving some passersby a smile in greeting; they simply scoffed and gave her a wide berth. What the…is this because of the festival? Were we THAT obvious?
"Must be nice to be clan heir," she heard a voice say from her right. "You could get away with anything, it seems."
Her eyes darted toward the source: it was an older teen, male. He wore a lurid smirk. Two other boys, around the same age, were gathered near him, chuckling. Kaiya's pulse quickened; she kept walking. They followed a few feet behind her, their voices carrying to her ears easily.
"Tell me about it," one of the other two said. "You'd even get to screw around with pretty village whores."
"Makes me wish I was clan heir," the first one said. "Damn, that's a fine view…" The other two chuckled again. Kaiya walked faster.
"Awww, I don't think she likes all this attention," she heard the second one say.
"Shouldn't have come here all dolled up, then." Through her growing haze of fear, Kaiya couldn't help scoffing at the boy's assertion. 'Dolled up?' She was in her normal clothes!
"Though I guess with that hair, it's hard not to stand out."
"Wonder if it's natural? You know what they say - fire above, fire below…"
Kaiya couldn't stand it any more. She spun around to face the three older boys. "You have something you want to say to me?" she demanded, sounding much more confident than she felt.
"Well, well," First said, his eyes raking up and down her form. "The view's even better from here!"
"You're right, being the heir has its…perks," Third piped in. He stared at her chest, which had recently developed a noticeably more feminine shape. Kaiya resisted the urge to fold her arms over her chest and hide from their eyes. She didn't want to give them the satisfaction of seeing how much they unnerved her. With a sudden jolt, she realized they were in a quieter, empty side street, with no houses or businesses around to promote traffic.
"Yeah, the heir always gets the nicest toys," sighed Second. Kaiya's fists clenched.
"I wonder if he'd mind sharing this one?"
Kaiya took a step back when they took one forward. She quickly assessed the three young men in front of her: They were all Uchiha Shinobi, and while she didn't see any Sharingan in their eyes, that didn't mean they didn't possess the dojutsu - and her biggest weakness, genjutsu. She was in the Uchiha compound, essentially a self-governing region of the village; if she attacked them, even in self-defense, it would be their word against hers. The word of three clan members, against one twelve-year-old orphan girl…Those sort of odds hadn't been kind to her before. And if they were even a fraction as skilled as Itachi or Shisui…there was no way she could stand up to all of them. She'd just have to make a break for it.
"C'mon, then," First drawled as he came closer. "It's obvious you've got a thing for Uchiha men - well, boys, anyway…Why not try someone more…experienced?"
Kaiya flickered to the side just when he reached for her - only to be caught by Second, who pulled her arms behind her. She snarled and stamped at his foot; he pulled back easily, then hooked a leg around hers so she couldn't balance or kick. Her struggles only drew further laughter from the trio.
"That's right," First chuckled, coming up and taking her jaw in his hand. "That Body Flicker style…Little whore must be doin' Shisui, too - can't imagine why he'd show her that trick otherwise!"
"Must think she's hot stuff, flickering around like that," Second said, smirking as Kaiya fought against his hold. His grip tightened, bruising her fair skin.
"Hmmm…" First gripped her chin harder. "Wonder if Itachi knows how much his little toy gets used…" He leaned in toward Kaiya. She growled at him.
Suddenly, he was thrown to the side, as was Third. Kaiya took advantage of the confusion and slammed the back of her head into Second's face. Second let go of her arms and turned around, clutching his broken nose, only to come face to face with Uchiha Shisui. The latter's dark eyes glared down at the boy menacingly.
"Sh-Shisui-san!" Second stammered. First and Third stood shakily from the ground. "What are you -"
"You're a disgrace to the Uchiha name, all of you, behaving in such a way!" Shisui yelled. "Get out of here before I throw your asses in jail for assault!"
The three teens backed away. Before they left altogether, First sent Shisui a glare. "I don't know why you're defending that girl - she's nothing but a -"
Shisui's eyes flared into the Sharingan, cutting the boy off. "Get. Out." They ran.
Kaiya nearly jumped when she felt Shisui's hand on her arm. "Come on, Kaiya," he said gently, dispensing with his usual nickname for her. His eyes had returned to normal. "You're not going to the training grounds today."
Kaiya just nodded and followed Shisui, matching his considerable speed as they flashed out of the compound. As he led her through the trees surrounding the village, Kaiya's mind came out of its survival mode freeze. She'd never seen Shisui like that before - granted, she'd only known him for about six months, but still…Was that the Shunshin no Shisui people only spoke of in whispers?
They stopped at the top of a cliff overlooking the Nakano River. The full realization of what had almost happened back at the compound hit Kaiya then; if it hadn't been for Shisui's intervention…she sank onto the grass and drew her knees into her chest. What had all her work been for, if she couldn't handle three teens on her own? And why bother if all it got her was this kind of animosity from her own fellow villagers?! She couldn't protect others if she couldn't protect herself, and if she couldn't earn the respect of others through her efforts, it wouldn't matter how strong she was…
Shisui sat beside her. "Itachi will be meeting us here as soon as he can - he's been held up by his father." He put his hand on her shoulder again. "I'm sorry, Kaiya. What you just saw…I'd like to say it was just some bad eggs of the clan. Well, they're definitely bad eggs, they've given us trouble before - but truth be told, you shouldn't come around to the compound for a while."
Kaiya nodded. She was having a hard time finding her voice. "Is it because of the festival? Because they saw me with Itachi? Or is it because you taught me that Body Flicker style?"
Shisui was quiet for a moment. "Probably both, in part." He shook his head. "I should've just arrested them - might do them good to cool off in a cell for a night…"
"No." Kaiya's voice was low, sad and frustrated. "That would've just made it worse. They'd get angrier, take it out on someone else, and it wouldn't change how they see me."
Shisui looked at her in shock. "Kaiya, that's not the point -"
"Stop…" She buried her head further against her knees. "It won't make a difference to them. Besides, I'm used to those kind of comments…well, I guess not those in particular, but you were at the Chunin finals, you heard what that Hyuga said to me. He wasn't the first, and I know he won't be the last. I hoped that…well, that by becoming a Chunin, they'd back off, start seeing me as a Shinobi, not a no-name wannabe, but I guess that's not about to happen…"
She lifted her head. "What they were saying, though - about Itachi…is he going to have trouble with the clan because of…well…me?" It felt ridiculous to even ask. Why would HER presence even matter to such a powerful clan?
Shisui sighed. "Honestly? In the short term, maybe."
Kaiya lowered her head again. "Then maybe I shouldn't even be here…" she said quietly.
"No, you really should be here," Shisui said firmly. His tone made Kaiya look back up. He gave her a confident smile. "Don't worry too much, Speed Demon. Itachi is working to change the clan, at least as much as he can right now, as am I. It'll take a while, but I have faith in him…and it's clear he adores you. He won't give up so easily."
Kaiya snapped her head back toward the river, a deep blush coloring her cheeks. He…adores me?
Shisui glanced over his shoulder. "Isn't that right, Itachi?" he called.
Kaiya's eyes widened; she kept her gaze trained on the waterfall as Itachi's steps neared them. Her cheeks were still burning. He sat by her side, opposite Shisui. His fingers brushed the sleeve of her shirt, lifting the fabric to expose the darkening, hand-shaped bruise on her arm. Kaiya tried to hide her face further in her knees. She didn't have to turn to see Itachi's expression darkening; she could feel the rage coming off of him in waves.
"Who did this?" he asked, looking at his cousin.
"Oh, that?" Kaiya said quickly, straightening and pulling down her sleeve. "It's nothing - just something from training…I guess Gorou doesn't always know his own strength…" She gave him what she hoped was a reassuring smile.
Itachi looked from Kaiya, her face falsely cheerful, to Shisui, whose grave look told him what he needed to know.
Shisui stood. "I'll let you two talk," he said, then gave them a playful smirk. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" He flickered away.
Kaiya's eyes considered the spot Shisui had just vacated. "And just what wouldn't he do, then?" she commented dryly.
Itachi circled his arms around her, drawing her into a gentle embrace. She unfolded her arms and legs and clung to him, fighting the lump in her throat and the tears of frustration threatening to spill from her eyes. She hated how much those three had scared her, how easily they'd overpowered her. I'm a CHUNIN now, for crying out loud - doesn't that mean something?! I should be able to handle myself!
Itachi buried his nose in her hair. "I won't let anything happen to you," he whispered. "I promise - I'll protect you."
Kaiya shook her head and pulled away. Her eyes held fire within them. "I'll protect myself," she said. "I won't wait around for you, or Shisui, or anyone else to 'rescue' me. I'm not some damsel in distress, you know," she finished with a small smirk.
Itachi's dark eyes stared into her shining blue ones. He brushed a crimson lock from her eyes, his hand coming to rest on her cheek. "It doesn't change anything," he said, no hint of humor in his voice. "I will always want to protect you."
Her smirk faded. "Then I will always try to get stronger, so you won't have to."
Getting into the apartment was surprisingly easy. Danzo-sama's seal-neutralizing tags, planted the last couple times he'd knocked on this door, worked well to cancel out her locking seals. It seemed a little odd to him - she struck him as a much more detail-oriented person who'd take more precautions than this. But, Danzo-sama did say that there shouldn't be an issue…perhaps he knew something about the redhead that Sai did not. It was likely. While Sai had done his homework on the target as he always did for missions, Danzo-sama must have had his eye on her for a long time.
Briefly, Sai wondered why Danzo-sama was even interested in this woman. Yes, she did apparently have a talent for Fuinjutsu, and she was the daughter of the Fourth Hokage (Root's records on villagers were much more extensive than the standard), but what threat did she present to the village?
He shoved the questions aside. It was not his place to know these things. He was merely the tool Danzo-sama had chosen to complete this mission.
Once inside, Sai looked around. It was a small studio with a single bed over some drawers, a short bookcase, and a tiny kitchenette off to the side. A low table took up much of the floor in the middle. There were two windows - a small one next to the bed, and another, larger window with a narrow balcony railing on the outside. They allowed the early morning light in.
She kept the place tidy; her rush to leave was only evidenced by her casual clothes being left out on her bed. Sai started with her shelves, carefully checking and replacing the books (many mysteries, as well as a few on history and a couple art collections) and looking for any hidden compartments. Drawers were next. He didn't blush as he went through her clothing; a mission was a mission, a target was a target, no matter the age or gender. He did note that there was only one item he'd never seen her wear before: a carefully folded kimono, cotton, deep blue with yellow lilies. It was at the bottom of her clothing drawer, not completely ignored or neglected, but not taken out often, either.
Sai gently lifted it out - there was something underneath, something much more solid. A small box with a lock…He reached for it and had to pull back immediately; his index finger and thumb felt as though they'd been burned on contact. There was even a red blister forming. Chakra burn - this is protected by more than just a key, Sai realized. This seemed more like the redhead's style. He reached into his pack for a standard-issue Root glove that would cover all of his fingers. The cloth was treated to protect the skin from direct contact with chakra; Sai found them a little stiff for drawing, hence his having two fingers cut out. It looked like he'd need them for this, though - Danzo-sama would probably be very interested to see what the target was hiding in here.
There it was again - that sharp pang in his midsection. Sai was confused. He hadn't had anything sweet recently, and no one else in Root was sick…
Kaiya woke early the next morning and lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. She'd slept well. Her head felt much clearer. She wondered if it was too much to have hope because of a few returned kunai…it didn't have to mean anything, and it did make for a rather weak argument for why Itachi couldn't just be a mass-murdering psychopath…
She clenched the sheets around her. No. She'd said it to Hikaru: Every memory she had of him disproved the 'psychopath' story. There was something else going on - something she was missing. She started with some questions.
Why would someone kill their own clan?
The commonly accepted answer: Hatred. Did Itachi really hate his clan so much? He wasn't happy with them, but Shisui himself had said that the heir was working to change their ways as much as he could. How had he been doing that?
Kaiya didn't have time to muse further. Sakura had stirred, and there was a knock on their door. Kakashi's voice came in from the hallway.
"Time to get up. We're leaving immediately."
Temari and her squad were held back from joining the Kazekage Rescue Team by their council. She'd been incensed; Kaiya couldn't blame her. However, after listening to the reasoning of the Suna council, she couldn't help see the logic. In Temari's place, Chiyo, the old woman from the treatment room, joined them.
"What the hell?!" Naruto grumbled as they left. "Don't they see that getting Gaara back is more important than some stupid border?"
Kaiya sighed. "Unfortunately, they had to make a decision. A Hidden Village without its Kage is an open invitation to outside enemies."
"All the more reason they should be focusing on rescue efforts though, right?" Sakura asked, just as upset over the decision as Naruto was.
Kaiya frowned. "Part of a village's defense is its image - the appearance of strength. If outsiders get wind that Suna is currently without its leader, they could see an opportunity. Until we get Gaara back, the best thing they can do is keep up appearances. Having too many Suna Shinobi on this mission would raise suspicion…but having Gaara's own siblings carrying on normal duties?" Vaguely, she recalled someone else saying a similar thing about their own village: What keeps Konoha safe, and other nations away, is its reputation of strength.
"That would keep up the illusion that nothing was wrong," Sakura finished.
Naruto was still outraged. "Well, I don't like it! Gaara worked way too hard to just be abandoned by them!"
"I don't like it, either," Kaiya answered. "But that's why they asked for our help."
"Then we won't fail!" he yelled, speeding forward.
"Naruto," Sakura called, annoyed. "Stop rushing ahead of the group!"
Chiyo came beside Kaiya. "You speak with a good deal of clarity I don't often see in young people," she commented.
Kaiya kept her gaze forward. That was very much like something Danzo had said. "You can thank my teacher for that. He used to deal with stuff like that - one of his first lessons to us was that information can be more powerful than actual strength."
"He'd be right," Chiyo said.
"It's not something I'm particularly happy about all the time," Kaiya muttered. "I can understand Temari on a far more personal level. If it were me…"
"Whether or not we like the game of intel is immaterial," Chiyo said bluntly. "We play because we must - because, as you said, sometimes an image is more important than the truth."
Kaiya was quiet for a moment. "Can I ask you something?"
The old woman gave her a wry glance. "You just did."
Kaiya couldn't help a small, brief smile. It disappeared when she asked her actual question. "Back in the village, you said it had been a while since you doted on your grandson. He's one of the Akatsuki members who took Gaara, isn't he?"
To her credit, Chiyo didn't hesitate in answering. "He is."
Kaiya wasn't sure what to feel about that: Pity, that the old woman would be forced to fight her own grandchild, especially considering how much her son's death clearly impacted her? Doubt that she would actually go through with this mission? Admiration for her tenacity and apparent dedication to her village, and her Kage?
The conflicting emotions must have shown on her face, because Chiyo scoffed at her expression. "Don't you pity me, young lady. We Sand Shinobi - especially the older generation - are made of much tougher stuff than you Leaves!" The words were harsh, but there was a teasing glint in her eyes.
Kaiya thought back to how the old woman had jumped like a cat from a two-story building to join them on this mission, and once more found herself smiling. She decided she liked Chiyo.
Suspended within a cloud of stormy, draconic chakra, Gaara was somewhere between the conscious and unconscious realms. He was aware and not aware of the demon within him between dragged out forcefully through his eyes and mouth. The physical and psychic agony of the extraction defied imagination, to the point that he almost didn't feel it at all. Almost.
The nine stood perched on the fingertips of the demonic statue, for the most part uncaring of what the Jinchuriki felt during this process. Itachi had long ago learned to turn off his gentle nature. Killing one's brethren required it. If he were a praying man, he'd have sent up a plea for someone to interrupt the jutsu, to let this boy be spared, to foil the plans of this group. All he could do was continue to play his role.
"Another guest…" Zetsu announced. Itachi focused his attention on the plant creature.
"It's getting a little noisy out there, isn't it, Deidara?" Leader commented, looking to the blond terrorist.
Deidara sputtered. "Well, the Jinchuriki was stronger than expected, hm…"
"I told you at the start, didn't I?" Sasori grumbled. "Your methods aren't suited for covert operations."
"I'd say your traps were pretty loud too, wouldn't you? Hm!"
"What?!"
"Stop fighting amongst yourselves!" the Leader commanded. "Concentrate on the Jutsu! Now then…who should I send this time…"
"It's another Leaf team…and they have two of our targets, and the Copy-Nin, Hatake Kakashi…" came Zetsu's low voice.
Itachi hid his shock behind a mask of practiced disinterest. TWO targets?! Don't tell me Konoha sent them both…
Hidan immediately volunteered to be sent out. Zetsu suggested it might be better to send another Leaf Shinobi instead. Itachi wasn't sure which would be worse: they'd have no idea how to fight Hidan effectively, but if it was Itachi, he wouldn't be able to hold back without garnering suspicion and putting an even bigger target on Kaiya's back.
Kaiya…I promised that I would protect you. You said you'd just get stronger so I wouldn't have to. Please, please have gotten stronger.
The Leader appeared to consider for a moment. "Well then…It's decided. And Itachi - see if you can confirm if this is the seal specialist we're looking for."
Already forming a few possible plans in his mind, Itachi nodded. "Understood."
"Everyone, halt!" Kakashi called, seeing someone in their path. Automatically, his old Anbu instincts took over, giving him a sense of calm collection and alertness. A cold combination of rage and dread buzzed just underneath.
Chiyo's eyes narrowed. "Those eyes…"
Naruto clenched his teeth. "You…"
A cold wind blew past, ruffling the black-and-red cloak around his form. Eyes the color of blood stared back at them, his aura unassuming, yet deadly.
Kaiya had to fight herself to avoid eye contact. Only the months of training with Kakashi for this very scenario kept her gaze down and away. Competing urges battled within her: The need to protect her brother, and the desire for answers, for confirmation that this really was the same person she'd loved…
Not the time, she told herself. Whatever's going on, he's the enemy here and now. This could be a stall…we have to get past him to get to Gaara.
"Who is this?" Sakura asked, tensed to fight.
He spoke with a voice like smooth, black velvet. "It has been a while, Kakashi-san, Naruto-kun…Kaiya." His eyes settled on the redhead. The way he said her name still sent shivers up her spine.
Kaiya drew her kunai, ignoring the shivers. There were more important matters at hand. "Itachi."
Sakura gasped. She took a good look at the man ahead of them. This is the man who's tormented Sasuke and Naruto…the one who Kaiya once loved… Her hands tightened into fists.
"Uchiha Itachi, eh?" Chiyo stepped forward. "Ah, so he's that brat who killed his entire clan…"
Itachi's eyes swept over the group. "I see you've brought not one, but two of our targets for us," he commented coolly, looking first to Naruto, then to Kaiya. "A little reckless of the Leaf, wouldn't you say?"
Kakashi spared a glance toward the redhead, immediately seeing that he needn't have worried. She was calm, eyes already cast downward to avoid the Uchiha's gaze, kunai in each hand. She moved in front of her brother, confirming what Kakashi had told Tsunade.
"Don't look into his eyes," he told the others. "One glance and he can trap you in a genjutsu. If that happens, you're done."
Chiyo furthered the advice with an old saying about fighting the Sharingan: "If it's one on one, run away. If it's two on one, go for the back."
Naruto nodded and stepped forward. "I'll take his back-"
"It won't be that simple," Kaiya pointed out, holding her arm out to keep Naruto back. "He was the pride of his clan…and he's got a genjutsu that can't be broken."
"Mangekyou Sharingan," Kakashi clarified. "If you're caught in it, you can experience days' worth of illusions in mere seconds. In my case, I felt three days of torture and lost consciousness for a week."
"Impressive, Kakashi-san," Itachi commended. "I see you didn't suffer my Tsukuyomi for nothing."
"That's not all," Kaiya added. "You were exhausted after using it twice. You tried to leave right away and avoid a fight after that."
"There's some risk with that dojutsu as well," Kakashi commented. He uncovered his own Sharingan. "Hey Itachi…how much has your eyesight weakened?"
For a brief second, Itachi's eyes widened - as did Kaiya's. She glanced to Kakashi. Weakened? Naruto, meanwhile, looked curiously at his sister. How did she know so much about this guy?
"I underestimated you back then," Kakashi continued, his voice holding a dangerous edge. "But I'm not that pathetic. It's not going to work like last time, you see…"
In a quieter voice, meant only for their group, Kakashi gave instructions: "Naruto - you and Kaiya will cover me. Even I can't contain him alone. Sakura, Chiyo - try to stay back." They nodded.
The group tensed; it was time to begin.
Itachi raised a single finger. "It's about time you came with me…"
"Kaiya," Kakashi said in a low voice. "Trap him." He ran toward Itachi with astonishing speed.
Kaiya released her kunai around the field and made four shadow clones. Each clone took a senbon needle from her pack. A quick prick from each of her teammates, and she was ready to set the barrier; she couldn't have the others trapped with the Missing-Nin, after all. The clones scattered, teleporting to the four points. Keeping her teammates from being trapped in the barrier required an older style setup, but with Kakashi and Naruto keeping Itachi occupied, and her Hiraishin allowing her to move in an instant, it wouldn't be as much of a hindrance as before.
The clones disappeared and Kaiya hit the ground with her palm. The script for the barrier immediately spread throughout the field, visible to her eyes. The whole process took barely three seconds. She glanced back to the other females on the team.
"Sakura, Chiyo," she called, "You can get in and out without a problem, but stay back!"
Kaiya turned back to the males. Kakashi had been thrown back, his fist blocked by Itachi; Naruto came at the Uchiha from above, but hit only a shadow clone. Kaiya activated her sensing jutsu within the barrier; Itachi was still inside - right behind her.
She spun, eyes down, blocking a blow that would have knocked her out. She aimed a kunai-armed hand at his gut. The blade made contact, stabbing first through fabric, then skin and muscle, and into organs until it was buried to the hilt. Blood spurted from his abdomen and onto her hand.
It took Kaiya almost a full second to realize what had just happened. There was another second where she stopped breathing. In the third second, she felt, more than heard, Itachi coughing blood; the thick, warm liquid spattered onto her face.
"Kai-ya…nee…chan…"
Kaiya's eyes widened. That was not Itachi's voice. She dared to look up.
Naruto stood in front of her with her kunai buried in his gut.
O.O
