Then There Were Two

Summary: Naruto Uzumaki...Katsumi Uzumaki...are the twin children of the Honorable, Late Fourth Hokage...both outcasted by Konoha, the two find strength in one another that is incomparable and irreplaceable. The Teams...are quite different now, and the future...is looking more than a little bit brighter…or is that but the calm, before the storm?

Anime/Manga: Naruto

Genre: Romance/Humor/Adventure

Pairing: I... know who with who will be. I'll let you guys fidget and wonder.

Rated: M for Mature

-x-x-x-

When a shadow
is forced into the light,
and the blood of the serpents
will burst under brightest stars.

And the wings will carry
these shadow and the light,
and the scars like diamonds will
cut through the veil of night.

At the edge of the dark,
at the heart of the dark,
at the edge of the dark.

- When a Shadow is Forced into the Light (Swallow the Sun)

-x-x-x-

Hayate stared at the man before him, his sword had cut through the armor of the sand, but only enough to draw blood. At that, he found himself struggling to pull the blade out.

"This technique is the Leaf Style Crescent Moon Dance."

His eyes tore away from his sword and he glanced up at the man, Baki of the Sand village.

"Being able to manage it at such a young age. As expected, this village is full of extraordinary Ninja. Your talent with the sword is superb...but, a real sword with substance, can be stopped. However, a wind sword can't be stopped by anyone!"

Hayate watched him raise his hand and felt fear run through him as the wind suddenly picked up. As he thought it was over for him, Baki was suddenly shot to the side by an unseen force. He turned his eyes towards the body of Baki that lay off on his side, unmoving with what looked to be two Senbon protruding from his neck. "What?"

"You looked like you needed help, sorry if I was mistaken..."

Spinning around, Hayate took in the crouched figure that stood across from him on another rooftop, long blonde hair blew carelessly around a small lethal form. "...girl Naruto." He muttered, taking a breath of air as he realized a kid had just saved his life.

"I actually have a name, Katsumi...Katsumi Uzumaki, remember it!" She straightened up and jumped forward towards Baki. Kneeling, she felt herself become giddy at the deathlike trance he was in.

"Right...ehem," he cleared his throat and put his sword back in its sheath. "Reel your excitement back in, it's creepy to be so…happy over killing someone."

"He's not dead," she pointed at the Senbon, "I struck him in the pressure points in the neck. Cut off his oxygen and knocked him unconscious. Oh, though I suppose I didn't need to put him in a death like state, I was curious if I could." She shrugged. "Didn't think it would matter if I tested it on someone who was trying to kill a Leaf Shinobi...but..." she tapped the forehead protector, "sand? I thought Wind and Fire were allies?"

"...so did I." He glanced to the Shinobi that had nearly killed him, "let's get him to the Hokage. We can decide what to do with him and his team then."

Katsumi nodded, standing, she turned and faced back behind her. Eyes trailing the shadows nearby as she watched in silence for a moment before smiling and turning back to meet the eyes of Hayate. "Let's go, keep your eyes peeled though. I don't believe we're alone. A shadow clone to carry this guy would be ideal..."

Hayate pulled his hands together and created a Shadow Clone. The clone lifted Baki in it's arms and the three started towards the Hokage's tower with Katsumi taking up the back and Hayate leading them. Truly, tonight was a night of good fortune.

-x-x-x-

(The Next Morning)

Shikamaru yawned sleepily as he made his way towards the fjord, crossing the bridge as he took in the serenity of the village, he ignored the fact that he should be training for his next match.

"Hey, Shikamaru, what are you up to?"

Turning, he smirked and raised a hand, "nothing. Just taking in the sights. What about you, Kiba?"

"Taking Akamaru on a walk,"

"Arf!"

Kiba frowned and turned, glaring, he brought a hand up to catch a Kunai that had been heading straight for his head. "Damn it! Who the―Katsumi!? Katsumi!" Kiba laughed as Katsumi jumped down from the tree, she'd been in. A wide grin was spread across her face as Kiba ran forward and lifted her into a tight hug. "It's been forever! Has your hair grown!?" He placed her down and did a quick walk around her while Akamaru barked at the blonde. She was laughing as Kiba gave her his undivided attention.

Shaking his head, Shikamaru raised a brow as he made his way to the two. "What took you so long?"

Katsumi smiled, "we were building Haku a home in the village. He has his own place now, brought to him by the villagers. Oh! They named the bridge after me...weird, right!?" She laughed at his wide eyes.

"The Katsumi Bridge?!" Shikamaru shook his head, "that's unfortunate."

"Hey! No, I told them no to that. Instead, we agreed that the Great Uzumaki Bridge wasn't quite as cringy as the Great Katsumi Bridge. So, the proctor told me that you, Sasuke and Ino were moving on to your next matches!"

"The proctor," Kiba threw his arm over Katsumi's shoulders as he walked on with her and Shikamaru beside him. "Wasn't aware that you two were so close that you sit down discussing the Chuunin exams."

She tilted her head at that. "How close do I need to be to someone to talk about the Chuunin Exams?"

"I think if it was Genma or Kakashi, it wouldn't be so weird, but we've never seen you talk to this guy. Uh...Hayate? Was that his name?"

"Hayate Gekko." Katsumi stopped as she looked up at the Hokage tower, "like Genma, he's a Tokubetsu Jounin. I met him last night. Then I ran into him again this morning. I asked about my brother and he mentioned him passing the Elimination rounds of the Chuunin Exams...which brought on a whole slew of questions. You know, I like to know things. Apparently, Kakashi took Sasuke off somewhere?"

Shikamaru sighed, "yeah, so much for being part of a team. Kakashi spoils Sasuke, that brooding, depressing guy...I just don't get it."

"Well," Katsumi ducked out from under Kiba's arms, "I'll see you guys around. I actually came to see the Hokage, later!"

Both boys raised a hand in her departure, Kiba glanced at Akamaru as the dog laid down and placed its head on its paws pitifully. Eyeing the retreating blonde as she disappeared into the tower. "Come on boy, she's back, you'll see her again!" He grinned, watching his dog perk up and jump onto his shoulder before climbing atop his head.

"Hey, Kiba...I've been meaning to ask, but what do you do about flees?"

-x-x-x-

~KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK~

"Come in,"

Katsumi entered the room where the Third stood looking out the tower at the Village and his people below. She took the old man in and then turned her eyes to Hayate, Genma, Iruka and one other person she'd never met or seen before. The scar across his face left her feeling a bit unnerved for some reason, but she shook it off and walked closer to the desk. Stopping in line with the rest of the Shinobi who'd been called in to meet with the Hokage. She stood in silence wondering what it was that they were waiting on but choosing to remain silent until someone that wasn't her, spoke out.

Glancing down the line of those she stood next to, she caught Genma's and quickly turned her attention forward.

The Third turned and faced those who stood before him, he sighed, "where are Gai, Kurenai, Asuma and Anko?"

~KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK~

As if saying their names had summoned them, the four opened the door and walked inside as one group. Finding places before the Third Hokage who nodded before pulling his pipe from between his lips and letting out a tendril of smoke. "Glad you could all make it. Last night, Hayate overheard some vital information that was shared between Sound and Sand. In the next few days, we need to be vigilante in Konoha's security measures."

"Lord Hokage, the Sand..."

He sighed, turning his eyes to Katsumi, "you are young, so I'm sure this doesn't make sense―"

"No, I get what's going on between Wind and Fire, I understand their breaking our alliance, I was going to say. About the Sand Siblings. Hayate explained to me on our way to inform you of the attack last night, that the mission to tear down Konoha wasn't yet given to the Siblings. From what I understand, they are here as Genin participating in the Chuunin exam, that's what they were told. What should we do about them?"

"...I will assign two of you to follow the sand siblings during the Chuunin Exams until we can figure things out."

"Can I make a suggestion, Lord Hokage?"

Genma put a hand on Katsumi's head, "I'm going to cut you off before you do. It's a bad idea, no."

"You don't know even know what I was going to say!"

"Hm, tell if this sounds familiar." He turned fully to meet her eyes, "let me guard them alone. The Jounin need to be stationed in case our Barriers are breached, and I'm more than capable of playing Sentry with three Genin." Well? Am I close?" He teethed his Senbon as he gave her a clearly annoyed look.

She blushed and turned away, crossing her arms and saying nothing.

"I completely agree,"

Katsumi leaned forward and glared at Iruka who ignored the look she was sending his way.

"Sending a Genin to watch those three. They're too dangerous."

"I'm sure you'll find this a unanimous position," Kurenai muttered more to herself, but everyone agreed.

"I disagree," All eyes turned to the Third Hokage who was staring into Katsumi's determined, albeit, bothered eyes, and smirking at the familiar look in them. One he'd seen many times before in another hot-tempered Shinobi of his. "Katsumi, you will be responsible for watching the three sand shinobi, Gaara, Kankuro and Temari."

"Understood!"

"What?! No, Lord Hokage, she's too young and inexperienced!"

"Iruka, I understand your worries," The Third held a hand up, halting any thoughts Iruka might have for continuing to argue. "We never did elucidate on last night's activities. While all of you were asleep, Katsumi showed up and saved Hayate's life. He made certain to clarify how close he'd come to death. There was no doubt in his mind, that had she not shown up and taken action, he wouldn't be here, and we would be none the wiser to who was behind his death or what that might mean for Konoha."

Katsumi fiddled with a lock of her long hair, pulling it and rolling it between her thumb and pointer finger, she tried to fight off the looks she was receiving.

"Why was she out so late?" The man who she didn't know asked curiously, suspiciously.

"I was returning with Pakkun from the Land of the Waves. I stayed behind to help the villagers clean up after Gato and his men wreaked havoc on their homes." She said this, locking her eyes with his stony stare.

"Pakkun?" Kurenai frowned, "Kakashi left you with his Ninken? Why didn't he just stay?"

"Well, I'm sure he could have, but I think he was just tired of the Mission by this point. Not to say the choice to leave me behind was a good one, I told him I wanted to stay behind and basically kicked him out of the village."

"Then how can we be sure that you haven't been compromised?" Again, this from the one who she couldn't identify.

"Ibiki!"

"That's nonsense!"

Ignoring Kurenai and Genma's suddenly raised tones, Katsumi tightened her fists at her side, "Compromised?! Are you serious?" She stepped out of line, moving closer to the man so that she had to crane her neck in order to meet his eyes. As intimidating as she had wished it was, it really wasn't. "Everyone I've ever loved is here in Konoha! As much as the villagers themselves bug me, I won't risk the safety of those I care for!"

"Katsumi!" The Third raised his voice, "Ibiki, you need not worry yourself over Katsumi's loyalty to the village. She has and always will, do what's necessary to protect those who can't."

She scoffed at that, "those are your words. Not mine."

He chuckled, "such a sassy girl you've turned out to be, I'm sure of it. I can see it."

"See what?!"

"..." he smiled, "Konoha's Will of Fire, it burns brightly within you."

"Konoha's "Will of Fire" burns brightly inside of both of you...so let it burn."

She heard Tsume's voice echo in her head from so many years ago, a flutter in her chest found her feeling sick. 'Is it the Will of Fire that's inside of me...or something else?' Red danced before her eyes as she recalled the fight in the Land of the Waves. Really, she didn't know what to think anymore.

-x-x-x-

Me: Here is chapter 25. I wrote this and then after rereading it, I changed my mind, and rewrote it. So, it's not the original Chapter 5. CHA!