After my check up was done. I left the whole "Kill Hidan" thing to Shika. Asuma was forced to retire after I told Lady Tsunade that he was supposed to die in the attack. She decided that it was the best all around: Asuma could focus on Kurenai and their daughter and the timeline wouldn't be messed up too much because the active shinobi were the same as before.
I was freed from the hospital, yes, but ordered not to practice any jutsus. Unfortunately, this left me in the state I dreaded most: completely and utterly bored. After I had walked around and met everyone still in town, I still had at least 12 more hours to kill. After all, I was forbidden to train for the rest of the day, so I took that to mean I could start back at night.
In the end, I had asked Iruka to help me learn to throw kunai and shuriken properly. After shredding my fingers for 3 hours straight, I gave up on the shuriken. I could catch them, but not throw them. I was awesome at kunai throwing, though, because I had to practice throwing daggers to use my hirraishin jutsu.
We walked into town to get dango for a break, and the next thing I know Anko slammed into me at breakneck speed, shoving me to the ground. A kunai flew over where my head used to be, and she yelled at some Genin training closeby.
"Hey, maggots, watch where you're throwing those! You almost killed a civilian!"
Anko didn't know who I was yet. She and Ibiki had been in T&I all morning. Apparantly, one of the genin did know me. This genin was also apparantly suicidal.
"She's not a civilian, she's a ninja! Didn't you see her headband? You must be dumb for a jonin."
Anko looked at me again and, after seeing the Suna head and around my neck, turned to glare at the young shinobi. As she stalked toward him, I decided to get involved.
"If anyone's dumb, then it's you kids. Anko saved the life of a Suna representative. If I had been killed, Gaara would have definitely started a war with Konoha, which would have been all your fault."
At that, Anko paused and turned to me. "How did you know who I am? You're from Suna, you shouldn't know the more obscure shinobi from Konoha."
"I'm Kira, and I have special knowledge about important people, one of whom is you. Do you want to come with Iruka and me for dango? We were on our way to get some when this happened."
"Sure! I'm always up for some dango!"
And that was how Anko and I ended up in a dango eating contest. Much to Kurama's joy, I ended up winning while Anko ran to throw up. By that time, it had started getting dark, so I decided to go ahead and practice my jutsus earlier than I originally planned.
That was how I spent the rest of the time until the mission to try and capture Itachi is announced. 'Tachi is one of the people that I'm determined to save, but I will need to be careful to be able to do it. As soon as Lady Tsunade calls me in and informs me of the mission, I ask her not to be an official team member.
"Something important happens close by. I need to be able to split off from the rest of the group to ... negotiate... with someone."
I would have to talk to 'Tobi' about Sasuke's eyes. I'm sure we can reach an agreement before too long. Sasuke did need to learn the truth, even if it makes him go crazy. It was what made him help Naru in the end.
"Of course. Whatever it is, please be sure to inform me as soon as you can."
"It will be a long time before that is possible, but I will." I couldn't tell her about saving Itachi at least until Naru knew the truth.
We all set off the next day. After traveling for several days, we made it to the town near the Uchiha Hideout. Kakashi split everyone but me into groups, then turned to me.
"Are you going to be in a group or on you own? Lady Tsunade informed me that you have another task to take care of."
"I'm going to be on my own. My task needs to be completed soon. I'll see you around, though."
After getting a nod from him, I transformed back into my wolf self and flew away. I hovered in the air over the building, waiting out Itachi and Sasuke's fight. Even if it made Itachi die, I couldn't stop this fight. It's what stopped Oreomaru from taking over Sasuke's body as revenge for killing him. And so, I ended up getting a chakra intensive dodging workout, trying to avoid getting electrocuted or Amaterasued.
I hated this part. I hated just sitting back and watching it. There was nothing else I could do, though. I couldn't cast a genjutsu an Sasuke and heal Itachi, his sharingan would see through it, so I was forced to watch and wait while Itachi was forced to fight the person he loved most.
As soon as Sasuke passes out and Zetsu left to get Tobi, I flew down to check on Itachi. He was still alive, but just barely. Whatever disease he had had ruined his organs, and he had almost no chakra from fighting Sasuke.
Quickly turning back into a person, I immediately started using medical jutsu on him. I could tell that it wasn't going to be enough, though. 'Tachi didn't want to live anymore. I knew he thought of this death as atonement for his crimes, but I thought he would at least have some will to live.
I let the green healing chakra fade and started sobbing for their broken family. Sasuke wouldn't know to mourn this day for about another week, while the other family members he had were dead and couldn't mourn 'Tachi's death. Itachi had been at the top of my save list. Ever since I found out what he did I had looked up to him. I always hoped to be able to go as far for my precious people as he did for his.
Turning back again, I flew off to avoid the people on their way before letting off a long, mournful howl. I met back up with the group when they started toward Konoha, but didn't change back. I didn't want people to try and get me to talk about what was bothering me.
That plan flew out the window when Kiba and Akamaru kept bugging me. I turned back into a person, but was still silent and sad most of the way back. When we were almost back, Naru took it upon himself to try and get me out of my funk.
"You don't have to tell me what happened, I know it's something bad, but I want you to know that I'm here if you need someone."
He gave me a warm, caring hug, and I broke down. I hugged him back tightly, bawling into his shirt as the others walked on ahead to give us our privacy.
"I couldn't save him. He was the one I wanted to save the most, who sacrificed the most for the people he cared about. The one I couldn't save was the one who deserved it the most!"
Naruto listened patiently, letting me get it all out, before telling me what he thought.
"If he was such a great person, then he would undoubtedly understand if you couldn't save him. You can't save everyone, Kaida. It's unfair to put that much pressure on yourself. Besides, you can't kill yourself with sadness and stress. You've got Gaara waiting for you back in Suna. Remember, you're going to surprise him."
"Thanks Naru." I said softly, grinning slightly at his last comment. He always knew exactly how to help people feel better or change for the better. He might make a good psychiatrist one day.
For now, I would focus on the good things and try to come up with a new strategy. I might be able to bring Itachi back then he is Reanimated. Better late than never. At least now I could think well enough to start making a plan.
