One more week until I start my new job in a whole 'nother state :)! Updates will probably be even less frequent. MAJOR trigger warnings for this chapter: descriptions of rape.

Karui remembered every harrowing moment. It was right after a mission. She'd waved Omoi and Samui goodbye. Everything was going well until she saw him. Mu, her old academy teacher. She remembered him being very kind. He had great rapport amongst his fellow shinobi and teachers.

He was also a knockout with parents. They described him as a gentle giant with nothing but the best intentions for his students. No one had ever spoken terribly of him.

He chatted her up for a while. He offered her food on the house, his treat, but she refused. She'd just come from a restaurant with her teammates, plus, it was getting late. Mu was ever persistent. When he realized he couldn't swindle her into a dinner together, he offered to walk her home. He kept her preoccupied with meaningless conversation.

They spoke at length about her recent missions, training, and her friends. The conversation took a complete 180 when her teacher started talking about boys.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" she remembered him asking her, his eyes turned towards the sky as if it was a normal question to ask a 12-year-old as a 35-year-old man.

"No," she answered innocently. "I can't even worry about things like that right now, sensei."

She remembered the way her face heated up at the question. She was so innocent. So naïve. There was no way she could've predicted what came next. They were finally standing in front of her apartment door. Her parents were gone on another mission. Karui could tell because the lights were actually off this time. Her mother would usually stay up waiting for her in the kitchen.

He was standing there watching her as she fumbled around trying to find the right key. "Goodbye," she remembered calling out to him as she unlocked her front door. She walked inside of her house and slipped out of her sandals. As she turned to close the door behind her, Mu invited himself in and looked around suspiciously.

"Are your parents' home?" he asked nonchalantly.

"No," she said, the gravity of the situation finally setting in.

Karui looked around her house. A weapon or an exit would do. Something in the air had shifted and she had to make a break for it.

"You're not supposed to be in here, Mu-sensei," she childishly chided. "My mother doesn't allow guests over this late at night."

Mu's face clouded with an evil Karui hadn't known to be possible. She felt small under his piercing gaze. He jutted his hand out to grab her wrist. She winced from the harshness of his grip. He crouched down to her level and whispered in her ear.

"Your mother's not here."

He pulled her closer to him as Karui began to struggle. In the midst of their struggle, she took the opportunity to bite his arm. He cursed as she ran through the back door of her house into the forested area behind her house. She was running barefoot in the grass too scared to look back in case Mu caught up to her. Adrenaline was the only thing allowing her to continue running after such a strenuous mission.

She could hear him gaining on her. He cursed her as the gap between them lessened. All of a sudden, she felt a large hand slam onto her shoulder causing her to fall. A scuffle ensued on the forest floor. She remembered how heavy he was. The way her back slammed so hard onto the floor when he held her down. How hard he breathed as he finally got her in a secure hold.

She screamed, she bit him several times, and smacked him until he grabbed her hands. Most of the actual assault was missing from her memory. All she remembered was going limp as he pressed all his body weight onto hers.

Karui remembered the creaking of the tree branches and the way the wind whistled. The screeches of birds were shrill and ill-timed, almost like they were mocking her. She couldn't remember how long they were both lying on that forest floor, but even after her teacher got up and left, she remained on the ground, paralyzed to the spot.

It had to be hours before Karui got up. She walked back home. It was slow, painful, and absolutely humiliating. Her body ached all over, just walking at her agonizingly slow pace had put her in excruciating pain. She entered her home and made sure to lock all doors and windows.

Karui trudged up the stairs until she made it to her bathroom. In the mirror, she could see all the leaves and dirt caked up in her hair and clothes. She slowly pulled what she could of the rubble off of her body. She felt dirty. So very dirty. Looking in the mirror wasn't helping either.

Her tear-stained face was blotchy and bruised from fighting off her attacker. She felt stupid for even trying to fight him off. Everyone, including her team, knew she was weak and incapable of holding her own in battle. The more she stared at herself in the mirror, the dirtier she felt.

Karui undressed herself and sat in the running shower for god knows how long. The days, weeks, and months following the assault weren't any better for her. She realized how much she saw her rapist every day. Either she never realized how much she interacted with him before or he was going out of his way to see her now.

It didn't really matter what the situation was, Karui started spiraling. She couldn't focus. She was fidgety and always panicked no matter the situation. It only made training harder. She was already such a hopeless kunoichi and her assault had only exacerbated it. It was also harder to trust her teammates.

Karui didn't think Omoi or Samui were inherently bad, but in her struggle to act normal, she realized how apathetic they both were. Omoi would always comment on her underdeveloped body to complement Samui's. Something so small didn't bother her before, but it made her even more hyperaware of how she presented her body.

Karui changed her wardrobe. She wore big, shapeless clothes no matter the weather. She wanted to drown in her clothes, completely disappear into the background if she could. The fancy braided styles she usually donned came to a halt. She didn't want to bring anymore unnecessary attention to herself so she kept her hair in two braided pigtails.

It didn't stop Mu from popping up to her training sessions from time to time. He would always go out of his way to be chummy with her teammates – offering them free meals, recommending them jutsus to learn, etc. She hated every second of it. Especially when he would go out of his way to touch her like rubbing her back or grabbing her shoulder. That sinister smile never left his face.

Karui's teammates began to catch on to the change months later. She was moody, always looking over her shoulder for danger, and either flat out refusing to eat or unable to keep anything down. Her weight had plummeted so low that she had to be hospitalized. But all that had nothing on the nightmares she would get.

Sometimes she would wake up screaming, others she would just wake up in a cold sweat, and some she would just cry until she was too tired to dream anymore. They were always the same – recounting the events of her assault. Wetting the bed was the most embarrassing consequence of her traumatic event. She started laying down towels on her bed to avoid staining the sheets.

When the pain had become too much, she considered quitting. Her parents agreed. They thought her being a ninja was causing all the stress she was experiencing. She never had the heart to tell them what really happened.

The raikage was the one who signed her up for the international program. Karui didn't think much of it though. Improving her ninja skills was the last thing on her mind. But then she met Sakura, Jinora, and Killer Bee and she couldn't imagine a life without them. That's why the sly jab Sakura had taken last night hurt more than anything in the world.

Being in a relationship with her helped her regain autonomy over her body. Slowly, but surely, Karui felt more comfortable with her body and started the slow steps to forgiving herself. Jinora also helped, bluntness and all, by reminding her of the person she was and could be. Jinora was the rock of the group and always kept them all together.

The implementation of quality mental health therapy in Kumo was also a plus. Karui was finally able to speak to someone about her problems and use prescribed medicine to help with sleeping. She was still confused about how they knew she was assaulted, but she mulled it over for a moment and figured it made sense.

The only time Karui would've been vulnerable enough to recount such a harrowing tale would've been on her thirteenth birthday when they snuck some liquor out of Killer Bee's apartment. She couldn't remember the night at all, but a week later Mu had been pronounced dead. The autopsy report showed signs of a struggle, extreme torture, and bruises and lacerations from a terrible battle. The bastard had died in the most violent way possible. Karui was thankful for that.

She just wished the scars he left her would die too.

….

Something had shifted. Sasuke didn't know what, but the energy between Sakura's team was definitely off. They were all avoiding each other like the plague. If one happened to catch the other's eye, they'd quickly turn and resume acting like the other didn't exist. It was weird and it bothered Sasuke in ways he hadn't imagined they would.

He'd never witnessed a team more dysfunctional than Team 7. When he met Sakura's new team, he had to admit, he'd never seen her that happy. They seemed inseparable and she was so miserable in Konoha without them.

Training was extremely awkward today. Killer Bee was nowhere in sight, but the girls had already been instructed to train in his absence. They only spoke begrudgingly to each other and even then it was just short, terse sentences. Sasuke wondered if that was what he usually sounded like.

To avoid the chasm that had fallen between them, he went a little ways away to practice combining his chidori with his kusanagi. When the technique had blown up in his face for the hundredth time, he felt a hand latch onto his shoulder. He turned to see Karui looking at him worriedly and Sasuke found that he was only a little disappointed.

She explained the inner mechanics of creating the jutsu he was trying so hard to master and he felt a bit embarrassed after she explained it to him like an annoying child. In five minutes he'd mastered a technique he'd been trying to do for a year: chidori katana.

Two other chakra signatures drew close as he packed his belongings. He heard Karui make a hasty retreat. When he looked up, he could see the way Sakura's shoulders slumped in defeat. Jinora seemed apprehensive but unwilling to intervene in whatever it was that they had going on. Jinora gave Sakura a reassuring pat on the back and excused herself.

Sakura walked over to Sasuke sullenly and they started their long walk to the hospital. The quiet was new to him – at least from her. She was usually always babbling on about something no matter if he was listening or not.

He peered over to find her with her head down and her arms wrapped tightly around her body. Instances like this reminded Sasuke of how terrible he was with words. He couldn't be the knucklehead Naruto who, despite all his abrasiveness, seemed forever able to find the right words to comfort someone. A blush rose on his cheeks. He wondered if he would always be this inept at love.

He watched her closely as they passed their usual walk in complete silence. Her eyebrows furrowed in slow boiled contemplation. His hands clammed up and he could feel a knot forming in his stomach. He had never been in such an uncomfortable situation, not one he couldn't fix at least.

"Sasuke," he heard her call in a soft, forlorn voice. Sasuke stopped in his tracks to watch her as she fidgeted uncomfortably.

"I'm just going to head straight home today. You don't have to wait with me at the hospital tonight."

He watched as she turned away. The words he wanted to say got caught in his throat. As he fumbled around, all that he could think was that if he didn't say anything now, then he never would.

"Is something wrong?"

"No," she replied with a soft smile that failed to reach her eyes. "I'm alright. I'll see you tomorrow."

Sasuke watched her figure fade into the crowd. Technically, he was supposed to accompany her everywhere she went, but even he knew when someone needed to be alone. He had certainly made her aware of that fact when he needed time alone in their genin days.

Sasuke stuffed his hands in his pockets and made his way towards his own apartment. There was nothing else to do if he wasn't guarding Sakura, plus, the tension he felt from whatever her team was dealing with had drained him of all his energy. On the path towards his apartment, Sasuke had unfortunately caught the eye of an aimlessly wandering Naruto.

"OI! TEME!" he shouted across the busy street.

Try as he might, Sasuke couldn't ignore him if he tried to. The idiot just had to come running over to him flailing around stupidly.

"Sasuke! Didn't you hear me calling you?"

He tried to keep his irritation from bubbling up to the surface. He turned to face Naruto with a calm, collected expression. "I did. I was ignoring you."

Sasuke didn't give Naruto time to think as he swiveled back around towards the direction of his apartment. To his dismay, that didn't discourage Naruto from tagging along.

"TEME! I came to see you because I know you'd be bored without me. The least you could say was thanks."

He didn't bother giving Naruto the satisfaction of a response. He simply trudged on until he was standing in front of his apartment building. Naruto babbled on senselessly anyway. He'd tuned out the conversation before it even started. He didn't realize Naruto was still talking until the elevator doors opened.

"Nee teme, are you even listening to me?"

"No," Sasuke spat out, completely annoyed.

Naruto pouted, but didn't let it bother him. "So…you've been with Sakura for the past few months…"

Sasuke's head shot up, feeling the accusatory lilt in his tone. He frowned but regarded his friend with suspicion. Naruto, with no malice, looked at him as innocently as possible. Curiosity abound in the blonde's eyes. Sasuke scoffed and turned his head.

"Yeah. So?"

"Is there something going on between Kaka-sensei and Sakura-chan?"

The elevator came to a full stop. The doors opened to reveal a lively hallway chocked full of teenagers performing the stupidest pranks possible. Naruto's excitement peaked. He looked eager to join them, completely forgetting his previous question.

Sasuke tried to use his friend's momentary distraction to sneak away. Thankfully, Naruto caught him walking to his door just in time. They entered his small apartment and Naruto couldn't help but snoop around nosily. Sasuke stopped him before he could destroy the vase he was toying around with.

"You didn't answer my question earlier," Naruto said after regrouping.

Sasuke shrugged. "I don't know. She doesn't tell me anything."

Naruto slapped Sasuke on the arm. Sasuke looked offended for a moment but resorted to glaring. Naruto looked slightly annoyed at Sasuke's non-answer. "Stop being such a teme and tell me."

Sasuke sighed. He knew he wouldn't get through Naruto's thick skull by ignoring him. He knew from multiple personal experiences that it only furthered the boy's anger and caused more unnecessary agitation. "She told me she wants to formally quit Team 7," Sasuke explained.

He watched as Naruto's face fell. Sasuke nervously rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't know if her situation has something to do with that, but she wants a permanent position on her new team."

Sasuke couldn't escape the strange feeling that settled in his body as he dredged up the memory. He brushed it off when she told him, but just remembering the incident brought about all these new feelings. Naruto backed onto a nearby wall. All the joy seemed to have been knocked out of him. Sasuke found it hard to keep eye contact.

"Ah," Naruto finally responded. "I'll talk to her."

….

Danzo, under all his false pretenses of dignity and sophistication, was delighted about the mess he'd caused. He was standing around in his Root base when one of his ninja came to him with the news. The Akatsuki had successfully invaded and attacked the Sand village. He didn't care for the details of why or how, just that it got done. He had plans for the shinobi world that would only be accepted after some "forceful" change.

The ninja world was becoming chock full of spineless ninnies who cared too much for polite pleasantries and righteousness. No one was willing to put in the work for a perfect world, but everybody had suggestions.

As far as Danzo could see, he was the only one with the drive and vision for the betterment of the shinobi world. This new crop of ninjas was too green. They gallivanted around as if they knew it all with no respect for their predecessors and without a care in the world.

It was okay though. Danzo would be the one to give them all a reality check. The reports had come back that two Akatsuki members had demolished the Sand village and captured the Kazekage. Danzo couldn't remember, but in his brief time speaking with members of the Akatsuki, they were collecting jinchuuriki and stripping them of their tailed beasts.

Danzo couldn't care less, but he knew this would cause uproar. Jinchuurikis were signs of status in the hidden villages. Losing your jinchuuriki meant losing your power. He hoped to destabilize all of the villages. Then it would be easier to swoop in as their competent leader and lead the ninja world back to its former glory. Root programs would be set up in every village and stability and lawfulness would finally reign all over the land.

Danzo smiled to himself. When everyone woke up tomorrow to the Kazekage being missing, they'd be sent into a tizzy. Yes. This was just what the world needed. A purge of all the world's evil before the good bubbled to the surface.

Tell me what you thought about this chapter! I love reading you guys' comments :)! See you next time.