Chapter 16. Assault

A few months later.

It did not take long for Konohagakure to learn that Uchiha Sasuke has finally gotten his revenge on his brother. For Nami, knowing that Itachi had passed hurt intensely. The hurt began to turn into anger as she vowed to clear his name. Shimura Danzou would pay. It seemed as Itachi's death was not the only thing that would trouble her. The news of Jiraiya's passing spread through Konohagakure and many mourned the death of the legendary Sannin at the hands of Akatsuki. Naruto became unconsolable as he lost the primary fatherly figure in his life. Eventually, to preserve the village and become stronger, Naruto returned with the toad sage to Mount Myoboku and continued his training at rapid speed. For the first few days after Jiraiya's funeral Nami felt numb. She was tired of losing people all around her — it was becoming too much. The life of a shinobi was cruel, with only fleeting moments of happiness. It was becoming too much.

For Nami, the priority was Sachiko — her young daughter, who was now seven months old was thriving. It did not take long for Sachiko to wrap her mother around her tiny fingers — for Nami her love for Sachiko was so intense, its intensity growing each day. She took her time to become accustomed to her new role as a parent. She did not want to break her promise to Itachi — she would make damn sure that little Sachiko would have a happy life. Thanks to the Uchiha vault, she didn't have to worry about Sachiko's future. Instead, she focused on raising the little girl while continuing her medical studies. And the important thing was that she was never alone. Kakashi was always there, always ready to lend a hand, to change a diaper, to feed her, to burp her. Kakashi treated Sachiko like she was his — this only made Nami fall so much deeper in love with the silver-haired copy-nin. They were a family. Her, Kakashi, and little Sachiko — and even Naruto, taking on the role of an uncle quite well.

Then it came suddenly. There were several explosions occuring on various parts of the village, its attacker's intent on driving the place to the ground. Akatsuki. The shinobi and the civillians scattered as panic ensued in the streets of Konoha. Nami was in the living room, looking out the window trying to find the location of the explosion, as Kakashi entered the apartment abruptly.

"Nami take Sachiko and leave right now. You hear me… Leave the village," Kakashi said quickly.

"Akatsuki is attacking," she said, and she grabbed the little girl and her tanto blade.

"I'll find you after it's over. Go," Kakashi said as they parted on the street.

Kakashi rushed to apprehend one of the attackers. Nami rushed, shielding the child as she avoided the blasts. She holds the child closer to her and looks over to a woman next to her who held her young child with her. She needed to find a place of safety. Their home was under attack, and although Nami was currently still off-the-mission roster, she could fight. She was capable of joining her fellow shinobi and protect their home. She had skills that would aid them. Her mind made up, she glanced up to the civilian woman.

"Listen carefully what I say to you. Wrap your arms around me tightly and hold your breath. I'll get you far away from here," Nami said.

"Hai. … a-arigatou," the civilian woman said.

Nami channeled her chakra and sped off, taking the woman, her child and Sachiko with her. It only took a few seconds and she was nearly a half hour away from Konohagakure — they could watch the scene of destruction from their location with ease. The civilian woman and her child spoke to her," Arigatou.. domo arigatou."

"I will go for others. Please, look after my daughter until I return ok?" Nami said to the woman.

She was placing her trust in a complete stranger but knew she had to return to battle and save whoever she could. Konoha has had enough loss.

"Hai, of course. You have my word," the woman said as she gently took the little girl from her.

"Her name is Sachiko. Mine is Nami," she replied as she readied herself to return to Konoha.

"Mine is Mikoto. I will take care of her. I promise," the woman said.

Mikoto, how fitting, Nami thought as disappeared once more.

Within half an hour, Nami transported more of the civilians into safety. As her chakra lowered to fifty percent, she increased the number of people she would take, pushing herself as she tried to help in any way she could. As she flickered back towards Konoha for umpteenth time, she was pushed back as the whole village was reduced to nothing. When the dust cleared, Nami rushed in to help find any survivors of the blast.

Already there were so many casualties. She looked up and saw her brother battling one of the Akatsuki — was he the leader? Naruto! He was back! She wanted to rush in and protect him. She wanted to take him and flicker away halfway across the world. But … they would follow. This needed to end.

She raised her hand, accumulating majority of her chakra into her hand and then releasing a summoning jutsu against the ground. From a cloud of smoke several felines appeared, surrounding their summoner.

"Find any survivors and bring them to safety,' she ordered to several of the felines that bounced around the area and then her eyes turned to Sora, "Sora-chan, keep an eye on my brother. Report to me if anything goes awry!"

"Hai, boss!" the nekonin replied and the cats dispersed.

The large leopard came forward towards the kunoichi, breathing on top of her head.

"Shiori, protect the living," Nami ordered, her voice shaking as the loss of the large amount of chakra.

"I will little one," the leopard replied.

Her eyes fell towards a pile of rocks. There were the Akimichi team, helping to collect any survivors. His son Chouji leaned over a body, in shock. Nami hopped down towards them.

"Chouza-san, do you need help?" Nami asked.

Before Chouza had a chance to respond, his son looked up at her and moved aside revealing the body.

"Nami-san, I'm sorry," Chouji said sadly.

"For what?" she asked.

She glanced over at the motionless body, laying on its back. Her eyes fell onto the silver hair, then the facial mask, then the vacant eyes. His Konoha hitai-ate lay next to his body. Nami felt her heart shatter. It's a genjutsu. A hallucination even. Surely, it isn't… Her body went into shock as she struggled to comprehend what was before her eyes.

"N-no," she uttered, her voice breaking," N-no."

She dropped down on her knees next to him and began to look him over, looking for any sign that there might still be life within his body. She gently touched his face, all hope vanishing from her hopeful eyes. As the realization of his death began to hit her, her eyes welled up and she began to be desperate.

"Kakashi! No! No… you can't leave me .. we haven't had any time! I can't lose you! We're … we're supposed to grow old together … have children … grandchildren … and you being late to every date we go… it cannot end like this … I love you … please…. please wake up … please!" Nami cried as she cradled his head.

"Listen to me, right now Hatake Kakashi. You have to hear my voice, please. I love you, you stupid yet brilliant, pervy man. I have loved you since I was seventeen. I want to marry you… don't you dare abandon me! Not you! I can't … I won't be able to go on! I won't …. please … you need to wake up… you need to … please!" Nami cried as she had his head in his lap.

"He can't hear you little one."

"You're a guardian of the underworld, aren't you?! Do something! Please! PLEASE!" Nami pleaded.

She was beyond desperate — looking towards the leopard as her only possible choice to save what she lost. The leopard stood near her, letting her grieve.

"I cannot."

"Then take me too. Because I cannot bare anymore loss!" Nami cried.

"I cannot do that either little one. You have a cub to look after."

"I can't go on … not anymore. I am not strong enough to do this anymore," Nami broke down.

Her body started the shake as she closed her eyes, surrendering to her tears. She laid down onto her lover's chest, yearning to hear a heartbeat. When the deafening silence came, more tears flowed down her cheeks. The black leopard watched the young woman grieve over what she lost. After a moment, Shiori pressed her front paw into the earth, rushing a wave of white chakra light into grieving woman, letting it consume her.

"My little Nami-chan, it's ok … mama's here."