Sora's Gift

Naruto slammed the door to the Hokage's office open.

"What's all the ruckus about, Naruto?" Tsunade asked as Naruto stormed over, not even looking up from the document she was reading.

Naruto slammed his hand on the desk, "I found out about the mission grandma!"

"Really?" Tsunade still didn't look up. That got Naruto frustrated.

"Come on, whatever it is you gotta let me go to! You already sent Kairi!"

"No Naruto," Shizune said, "We didn't tell you, because we were worried about you."

"Worried?"

"I understand how you feel about Sasuke, but if you find him you're not strong enough to bring him back."

"And Kairi is?" Naruto asked. The dreaded image of his best friend and sister fighting flashed into his mind. Kairi cared about them and hated Sasuke for hurting them. She was going to fight with everything she had. And Sasuke never backed down. Naruto wanted to do everything to stop that from happening.

"Kairi is powerful," Shizune reminded, "Besides if you use that jutsu…"

"I won't use it," Naruto countered, "Wind Style: Rasenshuriken if off limits. Trust me I know what my body can handle."

"Then-…"

"Naruto," Tsunade interrupted, "Will you tell me, why you are applying for this mission?" Tsunade was sure she knew the answer, but she wanted to hear it from Naruto anyway.

"Well," Naruto began, "I know I'm not powerful enough to overcome Sasuke, but Pervy Sage said something that got me thinking. 'That if there's someone still thinking about you, that place is your home,' I believe if you care about someone, you can change their mind. I want to find Sasuke and tell him, he can come back, cause this place is his home… And Kairi's." He wanted this place to be Kairi's home as well and not the world that rejects her.

Tsunade looked up at him. Looking into his eyes, "Huh, go ahead then."

%%%%%

Kairi jumped to a branch to avoid a punch. The enemy turned on Kakashi. He slammed the Jonin into the ground and started to punch him.

Until a kunai came to rest at his neck. The real Kakashi was behind him. Kairi landed next to him. Pointed her Keyblade at the enemy.

"A shadow clone?" The large man realized.

"That's right," Kakashi said, "It would be crazy to take someone like you in a straight on fight. Your muscles had been enhanced beyond their limits. Did Orochimaru do that for you?"

Kairi didn't think that looked healthy, but from what she'd seen so far, Orochimaru didn't seem to care about people's health.

The man's foot moved a little. Kairi got ready.

"You can run around all you want, but you won't win," Kakashi warned, "Your assets are your speed and strength, but I can anticipate your moves. And Kairi has powerful defenses. Those are our assets. It's pointless to keep this up, just come along quietly."

"I think not," the man said, before shrinking. His bulky body becoming more lean; before vanishing.

"Kakashi, get back!" Kairi shouted. However, they were both knocked from behind when he kicked them.

They both slammed into trees. Kairi quickly got up. She was hit harder than that during training. He was somehow faster than before.

The enemy decided to go after Kakashi. Nearly crushing him, when he tried to stomp on him.

Kakashi had already pulled out his Sharingan to read the enemies movement. Kairi watched as Kakashi had to jump into the air to avoid an attack. She knew Kakashi couldn't dodge midair. So, she threw her Keyblade towards him.

Just in time. The enemy appeared next to Kakashi, to deliver a powerful kick. The Keyblade was already next to Kakashi. Kairi teleported between them and put up another barrier. Since they were in the air, the kick still sent them crashing into the ground. But they took no damage.

"Are you okay?" Kairi asked Kakashi.

"I'm fine," Kakashi said, "Keep the barrier up."

Kairi nodded. She was ready to buy Kakashi time, however, "Guren…"

The enemy looked up, away from them, before running into the tree line.

"What?" Kairi didn't put down her barrier right away. She used her chakra to check to see if he really left first, "He's gone," Kairi put down the barrier.

"That's strange," Kakashi said, "Why would he leave?"

"I don't know," Kairi said, she looked toward the direction they left team eight, "I want to check on the others."

"Alright, we don't know if they're okay," Kakashi nodded before they went looking for their comrades.

%%%%

Sakura waited by the gate. The rest of team Yamato were waiting for Naruto. What was taking him so long? Sakura wanted to help Kairi and Kakashi-Sensei.

Sakura thought back to what she spoke to Lady Tsunade about.

"Kairi and Kakashi-Sensei are looking for Sasuke?" Sakura asked. She couldn't believe it, why didn't they tell her. Was this the real reason Kairi was researching snakes?

"It was classified," Tsunade seemed to read her apprentices mind, "I ordered them not to tell anyone, but things have changed," Tsunade held up a bug incased in crystal, "They need assistance. You, Sai, and Yamato will go provide support."

"Yes ma'am," Sakura nodded. Her eyes fell on her teachers Yin Seal, "Milady," Sakura began, "May I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"Well," Sakura thought about what Kairi said, "Is it true, your grandmother was an Uzumaki?"

"Yes, she was," Tsunade stated, "Why are you asking?"

"Well, I've been doing research into the Uzumaki," Sakura explained, "I wanted to understand Kairi's powers better. While I was researching, I learned about the Third Eye Seal."

Tsunade nodded, "I see. Yes, I did base my seal off that power. I never inherited that power, or any of the Uzumaki's power. But that is just how some things are. You don't always get the powers of your ancestors."

"Well…" Sakura felt nervous, "Milady, during the last mission. I think I saw that seal appear on Kairi's forehead."

Tsunade's eyes widened, "What?"

"I don't know for certain," Sakura quickly said, "It happened so fast, and when it was over, Kairi's forehead was normal."

Tsunade looked confused, "But she's so young…"

"Milady?" Sakura asked confused. The way her Hokage looked. Like she was thinking of something she hadn't thought of in a long time.

Tsunade recalled what Sakura told her, about Kairi possibly having the Third Eye Seal. It made her think of her grandmother. And her grandfather. He once said something strange.

"Your grandmother is a very strong woman. I consider her the strongest of the Uzumaki, but I think she considers herself a failure. I don't know why. She never told me, I tried to get her to open up, but she always closed herself up."

Her grandmother survived the longest. When Tsunade was told that her grandmother, was finally giving up the Nine-Tails to the next Jinchuriki, Tsunade went to see her one last time.

Tsunade entered the room. Her grandmother sat on her bed; the gentle smile was still on her face.

"Tsunade," Mito extended her hand.

Tsunade's heart ached, knowing this would be the last time they would ever talk. She would try to say everything she wanted to say, so there were no regrets.

"Grandmother," Tsunade sat next to her and gave her a hug.

"My dear, you are so much like your grandfather and father. It brings me joy to know I will be with them again soon."

"Please don't talk like that," Tsunade gently begged as her eyes watered.

"Do not cry my dear," Mito wiped her tears, "I lived a long, full life. There was pain, but there was also joy. It took time to accept some things, but I can finally say, I have no regrets."

That brought back the memory of what her grandfather once said. About how Mito felt like she was a failure.

"Grandmother," Tsunade said, "You were one of the most powerful of the Uzumaki. Why would you have any regrets."

Mito was silent for a moment, "I guess, we can speak of it. My clan is gone, and it's probably forgotten."

"What is?" Tsunade asked.

"My clan, had a door," Mito said.

"A door?"

"A door, that has always been locked," Mito ran her hand over her forehead, "An Uzumaki can't even get close to it, without a seal, but to unlock it… Well, I don't know how to unlock. I don't think any of us had for a long time now. But whatever it was, I didn't have it."

Tsunade looked confused, "What's behind the door."

"Supposedly, something our founder left behind."

A door. What kind of door? Tsunade didn't know. Mito decided whatever secret it hid, died with their clan. But…

Kairi had a Keyblade.

Didn't Keys unlock doors?

Regardless, she needed to see Kairi about the Third Eye Seal. When she came back, Tsunade would talk to her about it. This felt too important to ignore.

%%%%%

Hinata suddenly grabbed her forehead, and fell to her knees, like she was dizzy.

"Hinata," Kairi was next to her. She leaned down to make sure she was okay.

"Hinata, what happened?" Kakashi asked.

"I saw, us," Hinata explained, "Over and over, endlessly."

That made the group look concerned. After the enemy retreated, Shino said his bugs were acting strange, like they lost their sense of direction, so Hinata tried to use her Byakugan to look around.

"The Byakugan failed?" Kakashi asked.

"Well, something weird is happening," Kairi said as she helped Hinata stand.

Shino sent out his bugs again, but they just came back.

"It looks like they were sealed in by some kind of barrier, along with us," Kakashi deduced.

"Shino," Kairi quickly interjected, "Is there edge we can reach. A physical wall?"

"It looks that way," Shino said.

"Okay," Kairi summoned her Keyblade, "No guarantees, but a barrier is like a lock or a cage. My Keyblade might be able to undo it, but I need to go to the edge to make sure."

"It's the best plan we got," Kakashi said, "Let's-…"

"Here they come!" Kiba warned.

Suddenly a barrage of crystals shot from the trees. The team had to scatter in order to dodge.

Kairi rolled onto the ground before casting barrier. The crystals bounced off her magic shield, impaling the trees and rocks around her.

"That's impressive."

Kairi didn't put down her barrier as someone tried to attack from behind. Like the last attack they were pushed back.

Kairi looked behind her, keeping the barrier up. Landing not to far from her was a woman. Blue hair pulled into a messy ponytail, a green kimono like garb hung from her body. The way she smirked made her look vicious.

She held out her arm, "Jade Crystal: Blade."

Suddenly a crystal formed around her arm in the shape of a blade.

"So, you're the crystal style user," Kairi realized. She quickly used her chakra to scan the area. Kairi frowned; this woman was a clone. Kairi practiced with Naruto enough to know the difference between a real person and a clone.

Seriously! Everyone can use the clone jutsu, but me!

Kairi deactivated the barrier and shot forward. Keyblade and crystal clashed. Kairi unleashed a furious flurry of slashes.

Kairi ducked beneath a slash before, stabbing one forward. The woman ducked backwards, while trying to deliver a kick. Kairi dodge rolled to the side and shot a fire spell at her.

The clone was a crystal-based clone, so fire had no damage, but that still caused a smoke screen.

Kairi threw her Keyblade. The clone used her blade to deflect the blade into the air above her. But Kairi wanted that to happen.

She teleported to her Keyblade midair, "Rasengan."

The clone looked up just in time to see the Rasengan, before, Kairi pierced down, shattering the crystal clone.

Kairi stood their gasping, "That… was too easy."

While Kairi hoped she was getting stronger, she wasn't naïve. That fight too easy. The clone wasn't very strong, why?

"Come on Kairi, tap into your dad's battle genius," she muttered as she thought. Okay, Kairi scanned the area, there were more clones. If they were as weak as the one Kairi fought, the others shouldn't have a problem. However, it was too easy. Why?

If defeating them wasn't the plan, what was? Kairi thought back to the first attack. Splitting them up. That was it, they were trying to divide them!

Kairi used her sensory chakra. She needed to find someone so they could stick together. Kairi felt the closest chakra; Hinata.

Kairi's eyes widened. Hinata wasn't alone. The real one was getting closer! Kairi sprinted towards Hinata's location.

%%%%

"Sixteen palms!" Hinata sent her palms into the woman, she was basically pinned to the tree now, "Thirty-two palms!"

Hinata, finally stopped as the woman slumped down the tree in defeat.

Hinata felt victory, "I did it!" Her victory was short lived, as the woman suddenly broke and shattered into crystals, "What?"

"Crystal Style: Jade Crystal Prison!"

"Hinata look out!"

Someone pushed Hinata roughly, forcing her to stumble to the ground. As she did, she heard a scream.

Hinata pulled herself together as fast as she could.

"Well," she heard the woman spoke, "Not the one I wanted, but she'll do."

Hinata looked up, her blood went cold at what she saw. Where Hinata stood only seconds ago, was Kairi, incased in a giant pink crystal. The realization, struck Hinata hard and fast; Kairi saved her, but she was captured instead.

"Kairi!" Hinata shot forward, but the crystal suddenly sunk into the ground, taking Kairi with it. The woman jumped into the tree line.

"Come back here!" Hinata shouted as she chased after her. She had to stop her and save Kairi! If anything happened to her, Naruto would never get over it!

%%%%%

Kairi was floating. What happened? Did someone take her heart again? She hoped not. Kairi opened her eyes.

"Sora?" She whispered. He was far away, but she could make out that it was Sora. Sora held out his hand. Suddenly, four lights drifted from his hands. Almost like fireflies.

As they got closer and closer, Kairi could make out the colors: Red, blue, yellow, and white.

They were so pretty.

Kairi reached up with her hands. She wasn't really thinking, she was just acting. Everything felt so fuzzy.

When they were close enough. Kairi gently grasped the four lights into her hands. She felt them enter her palms and enter her body. Four words floated through her mind.

Valor…

Wisdom…

Master…

Ultima…

His gift to you… use them well…

And the poll about Kairi's hair is over. It was close, but Long Hair, won by… a hair.

Bad jokes aside. Kairi's gonna get long hair. Not soon, I have it all planned out.

Stay Tuned!