I stared at the two heaps of bodies, heart thrumming in my chest. Everything felt far off, my body felt far off.

Mission. I had a mission. Numbly I sealed Yari and Aoi's body and placed them into storing seal on my leg. I was dimly aware of different body parts shifting from fox to human, I felt completely numb. I reached a laboratory and began sealing everything I could, assuming anything could help in our search. The place seemed very recently deserted, I was close to his trail. When I found him I would kill him.

My vision felt tinted red.

Mission.

I kept trying to keep my focus but all I could think about was making the snaky bastard pay for what he did to Aoi and Yari. Looking around trying to focus I found large human sized test tubes, with sleeping people inside, clearly, they had been experimented on, much like Aoi. Spliced with other people. I fought the urge to throw up as my fingers formed into claws tearing into the paper I was holding.

Numbly I made a clone, passing it a few of the disks holding the intel I had uncovered, as well as the bodies. Hastily I wrote a coded message to the Hokage. My clone turned into a hawk and headed off to the village. I continued looking around, sifting through things when I came across a map of several hideouts, all over the continent.

Except for in the Iron Nation. Some were red, others were green. I had a feeling this was Orochimaru's hideouts. There was a hideout circled in the lighting nations land where I saw the teams go. I weighed my options. My hawk would reach the village by sunset tomorrow, it would then take our forces two days to get here. If I wait one day to search through every bit of information, I could leave a clone here and head for lightning, maybe the team on their way would send backup, though going into a main nations territory without permissions was not allowed. Probably why he did it. I did note there was no red markings in lighting either, but I couldn't understand what the different colours meant

So I waited in the hellish hide out, reading through paper after paper of sick and twisted experiments, I found out that Aoi's gifting were minimal despite his blood, which is why he was spliced with a women from grass who had a significant amount of Chakra. There were notes of another Uzumaki in Orochimaru's twisted zoo of sorts, she was very gifted and when people bite her it would heal them. She was very valuable for these experiments.

As I searched, I realized all these notes were Kabuto's, as I read through Aoi's file my vision blurred with rage. He had tried to find Yari, but couldn't track her down. He was convinced she would perform better then her twin brother. I felt sick. I needed out of this place.

Hastily I slammed every paper with a brief skim into seals and moved on. I found two rooms beside each other that had been used. One had a shirt that had the Uchiha crest on it thrown onto a bed, I sealed it careful not to touch it to much and ruin the scent.

The next room had a tray of half eaten food, I assumed that this was Orochimaru's room. I tightened my clawed hand into fists, feeling warm blood trickle from my palms. I gritted my teeth as I tried to stop myself from throwing inferno disks everywhere. The fox part of my brain and human logic colliding like two forces of wind slamming into each other.

After a day of resting, making clones, then gathering more Chakra, and making new clones to search the place, and to be present when the Konoha teams showed up I set off at sundown, right as my bird clone reached the city gates. I didn't bother listening in, knowing Tsunade would say to stay put and not enter lightning. I didn't care what was wise, my fox brain was overriding logic. Someone had taken what was mine, and they would pay.

It was easy to pick up tracks from the groups earlier, and the map that I feverishly copied helped guide me to where I knew they would be. As the sun began coming up, the scents of the team I was following errily faded away into nothing. I halted my running and looked around for signs of them traveling through, but they were traveling on a well traveled road. I took the moment of stopping to replenish my depleted chakra that was used up to boost my running speed here. It must be so nice to be Naruto, with a monster amount of chakra.

"You've been following us." I sniffed the air startled to find no trace of anyone around, yet when I turned to the voice, there was seven people, and now that I was aware, the sound of their breathing and steps, usually so clear to me were once again clear. My mind was a mess and was messing with my performance. I bit my cheek in frustration trying to get control of my brain.

"Naw just going for a vay-cay in Lightning! I heard the lakes here are so beautiful." I joke as the white haired guy who had fought Hayate the night before the Chunin exams came into view, and the six people behind him looking distinctly villainy. "Looks like you guys could use one too." I add lightly.

"Why are you following us Seishin Nara?" Kabuto I believe his name was asked.

"Woah you know my name." I say walking around and backwards slowly as I talk, laying seals on the ground. "Are you apart of the Shin-shiners?" I asked with a smile, feeling my canines elongate. "Look I'm flattered guys, truly but like I said I am on vacation!" Right as the group is on top of the very first seal I placed, I set it off then use substitute Jutsu, to get several feet away, laying more seals as I go. Trying to ignore the smell of burning flesh as two of the men fall into a lava. I look back to see Kabuto has stopped moving while the four men pursued me.

I activate growth seals and watch as the forest comes alive behind me, then with a simple move of my fingers ignites into a series of blue fire, cooling down into a slow orange flame. I look to kabuto from across the orange field.

"My my is that how you treat fans?" he yells over the screaming of the men caught in branches. One manages to crawl out half burnt to Kabuto's side. I suppress the urge to throw up.

"Only one's who smell of Orochimaru." I jib back.

"Why are you looking for him?" He asks as his eyes scan his surroundings, no doubt for more seals.

"I want to invite him for tea." I take the moments to pull chakra to myself, trying to clear my mind, the fox part of me was screaming while the human side wanted to be sick with the guilt of having killed again.

I managed to replenish a bit of chakra, but got distracted by Kabuto letting off a water spray Jutsu, suddenly the forest fire cleared, just as a flurry of senbon flew at me, as I dodged, they were followed by wind blades. Taking out my tanto blades Kabuto was suddenly in front of me, and I very narrowly avoided a shuriken to the face. Though on his blade was a sweet smell I knew to be poison. Any blade that found it's way to my skin was sure to kill me.

"Well your officially not invited." I yelled throwing a flurry of disks around him. He sweat dropped as they went all around him, then eyes widened as he remembered my oxygen seal, to late though, as the oxygen was taken from his lungs and around him, I threw another set of seals around him. Using the noted from Kakashi, I figured out a way to make a dome of lightning, but hadn't used it. As I threw it around him, it was like he was in a really torturous snowglobe, getting shocked three times before collapsing and the seals both timed out.

As I walked towards him to get information out of him. Something stabbed me in the back, I looked down to see a sword through me. When I turned around I couldn't believe it, but it was Sasuke, with the half burnt ninja beside him. I didn't even notice him go get help. The chaos of my brain not allowing me to think clearly. I should have notice he had left the battle scene. The sword left my body and a gush of warm blood pooled out.

"We have to go, I hear people coming from the north." Sasuke stated.

"We should finish him off." Kabuto croaked.

"Blade is poisoned." Was all Sasuke replied, stalking off, leaving his two companions to limp after not even bothering to help. I fall to my knees, quickly untying my Yukata to expose my wound. Letting off an inferno seal infront of me I stick my twin blades in the blue flames, when the seal dies the tips are red hot. If I don't stop the bleeding, I will die here. I stilled myself, preparing for the pain, shrugging one arm out of my yukata so I could have access to the wound in the back.

Without a moments thought I pressed the burning tip to my stomach and back. Slumping over in pain I breath hard. I was likely bleeding internally, but this would buy me time until back up came. My mind felt more chaotic, even as I desperately tried to push chakra into my balancing seal. The animal and human natures inside of me roared, leaving me little space to think clearly about time passing or my vulnerable state.

As feet approached, I struggled to sit up and look who it was, a familiar mop of white hair appeared and I sighed.

"Kakashi, Sasuke in headed south east, he was here just a quarter hour ago, you can still catch him." I choked out until rough coughs racked my body, blood spraying from my lips, slowly my vision went foggy into nothing as I heard more people approach.

"I got him; you go." I heard a far of voice say.

.

.

I woke up to the smell of ramen, peeking one eye open I around to see my brother, Asuma and Hayate sitting on a hospital bed beside me, the two former in a game of shogi, while the latter ate Ramen and watched.

"Smells good." All three turned to me suddenly.

"Shin!" My brother exclaimed in a rare showing of emotion other then bored.

"Shika!" I said back with a smile. I missed him so much, I wish he had been with me. "Asuma, Genma!" I explained cheerfully.

"Hey Shin, how are you feeling?" Asuma asked.

"Heard you fought that white haired guy we fought and won!" Hayate exclaimed proudly. I smiled at him; how did he know though? "Kakashi lead a back up team for you and there was a Hyuga." I nodded.

"Also an Hana, The Hokage thought you might need a healer." Asuma added. "She was right, apparently you would not have lived another hour even with your on-field cauterizing." He added grimly.

"Also helped that there was a poisons expert." Hayate added.

"Basically, I got really lucky." I summed up with a wince as I tried to sit up. Shika was at my side placing more pillows under me. "Mom would have brought me to life then killed me again if I died." I laughed,

"And that would have been a drag." Shika laughed back. I smiled at my brother, he had aged in the weeks I had been gone, I really missed my best friend.

The door suddenly flew open, and Tsunade was in the entrance. "Glad your awake Shin." She greeted then looked expectedly at Hayate and My brother, they got the hint and made to leave, along with Asuma, when Tsunade put up a hand. "You can stay Asuma." He sat back down and smiled at me as dread filled my stomach. I knew the reason why I was in this hospital bed was my own stupid fault. Once the door closed Tsunade leaned against it.

"What happened Shin?"

"We got into the hide out and it was empty, that's when Aoi appeared, well, Aoi spliced with someone. At his request I killed him, because his mind was lost. When his heart stopped the other half took over and killed the civilian I was with." I bit my cheek to keep from remembering the moment, but not even just the moment, but from remembering Yari's face. "My Fox and human nature got mixed up, and I couldn't get full control back of my mind even now I feel the chaos…' I trailed off as the two looked at me concerned, but confused because it was just something they couldn't understand. "I had the day before followed with a clone, a few of Orochimaru's people to the lightning boarder, then I found a map of his hideouts, and what I now assume is the Akatsuki hideouts. So I cased the place then left in the evening to see if I could catch up with them, I think with the intent of killing Orochimaru…." I trailed off now realizing how stupid that was. I looked up the two neutral faces and kept going. "I ended up catching up to a team, with the two natures warring inside of me, my senses and intuitions were dulled so I didn't actually notice how close I was to the team, or I would not have engaged. It ended up being Kabuto, I took out five men, and almost killed Kabuto when Sasuke showed up and stabbed me in the back…." I thought again. "Did Kakashi get him?" I asked blearily remembering the encounter.

"Kakashi made contact, but Sasuke was able to slip away and Kakashi wisely thought to retreat." Tsunade told me. "You say even now the two natures inside of you are warring?" She asked me seeming to want elaboration.

"Yeah, my fox nature hates you guys being to close to me while I am weak, obviously I am okay with it, but the fox brain doesn't think common sense wise." I tell her. "It's like when ya- when the civilian died there was a crack in- well within me, and no matter how much I tried to push into my balancing rune, it seemed mute. Even now." I winced both in pain and against the urge to go die alone like a fox would.

"Well the intel you got us, is invaluable, put us ahead not only in the search for Sasuke, but also in the search for the Akatsuki." Tsunade said after a few moments of studying silence. "The village needs your gifts Shin, but we need your mind clear. I can't have my Shinobi running into the lightning unsanctioned."

"Yes Ma'am." I grimaced at the scolding. The blond women folded her arms.

"In the Iron nation there is a village of monks in the Iron, I think it would be a good place to balance. We can't keep putting band aids on this issue, you're to valuable to the leaf for that." Tsunade said. "Master Akimasa has already said he would love to work with you." I looked to her then Asuma, who nodded at me. "But this is your choice Shin." She assured me, addressing the unnamed anxiety rising up in me about being sent away.

"If it will help you feel clear headed and get a handle on this then what's the harm, right?" Asuma asked with a smile. I nodded.

"Sounds like it would be good for me, technically I never went to school anyways..." I joked. "But why don't I talk to my Dad first." I told her, though I knew his answer would be yes, I didn't want to make this decision without him.

"Well, you keep resting, I'll send word to them your awake." She said making to leave. "I'm really glad your okay Shin." She tells me with a smile as she leaves.

"Want to be the one to tell my mom?" I asked Asuma with a laugh. He just shakes his head and laughs taking out a pack of smokes and passing me one and lights it for me. I breath in greedily. "Did you do it?" I asked Asuma.

"I did it just as the note said, Yari and Aoi are buried together, and their head stone should arrive soon, I got Naruto's permission to bury them in the Uzumaki burial grounds, kids really choked up about his cousins too. You won't be the only ones visiting them." He told me with a smile, and I smiled back, of course that kid would simply welcome two people into his heart as family, made me ache that Yari couldn't have met him, felt that belonging he would freely give. She deserved that and so much more. Tears pooled in my eyes but I quickly distracted myself with a burning drag of cigarette.

"I can't believe Sasuke stabbed me." I exclaimed. "Like literally in the back!" I laughed. "Can't believe Ino would choose that sour puss over me. I'm a gem compared to him." Asuma laughed lighting another smoke for himself as mine went out he took it from me and killed in an ashtray in front of him.

"She has been standing outside your door for hours every day." He laughed.

"Days? Wait how long have I been out?" I asked alarmed.

"Well the four days to bring you back, then 3 days after." He said counting them off on his fingers.

"Wow, why so many?" I wondered. Suddenly a voice entered the room.

"Well because not only were you poisoned stabbed through the liver and had a perforated bowl, but you were also chakra exhausted, seriously Ive never seen someone so low." It was Hana my own personal medic/ vet. I shrugged.

"Well when you can replenish you don't need to worry so much about chakra exhaustion." I shrugged as she scowled at me. She pulled back my blanket and for the first time I realized I was shirtless and in nothing but boxers, on my stomach was a gnarly looking scar. "Ew that looks nasty." I say look at it.

"It was easier to treat you when you were knocked out." I smiled cheekily at the burnet but let her push me down and rub salve on my wound. Complying when she asked me to turn over so she could do my back. I tried not to flinch as she touched sensitive flesh, just as she was finishing up, placing a bandage on my back my parents walk in, my mom already in tears as she opened the door.

"Shin!" She cried running towards me clamping her arms around my neck. "I was worried sick!" she complained pulling away for a moment before grabbing me again. The fax part of my brain hated this, but the human melted in her comforting touch.

"Sorry…" I apologized as she squeezed me.

"No smooshing my patient!" Hana scolded. "He is still tender; I don't want anything to rupture." She tells my mom as she lets me go and nods. "Here is a bottle of pain killers, and vitamins that should speed up recovery." She told me placing a pill bottle on my side table before helping place pillows under my back so I could sit up. "I'll be back tomorrow morning!" She says as a goodbye leaving out the door just as Shika comes in.

"How you feeling Shin?" Dad asks sitting beside Asuma.

"Well, in pain, but okay." I shrug.

"Liar." My mom squints at me as I pull my legs into a cross legged position and Shika sits on my bed.

"My head is fuzzy and I'm tired." I relent as my brother mumbles the word troublesome.

"Tell them what the Hokage said kid." Asuma tell me, I look at him surprised. I thought he would want to be clear of this place before asking that.

"What did she say?" Dad asks with a knowing look. I'm sure he could guess.

"Well I wouldn't be hurt right now if it wasn't for my fox and human natures creating chaos while I was in the field." Mom winced at that. "She thinks it would be a good idea to go to Iron nation and train with the monks there under master Akimasa. It would be good to have a permanent fix, not just bandaid quick fixes." I explain to my family. Dad nods in agreement, and after a few moments so does Shika, we all look to my mom.

"How long?" She asked in a whisper.

"Hmm, I'm not sure actually." I say softly. "I'm sure an extended period of time. But one way to look at it is, even if I don't go, I will be sent on mission after mission, but that way I will have a ticking time bomb in my head that makes those missions more unsafe then needed." I argue. "This way I'll be gone, but I'll be getting better." I reached my hand out and she took it. "Maybe they will teach me good work ethic in chores too." I joked, amking everyone laugh.

"Well it sure would be nice for one of you to not be so lazy." She joked back.

.

After two day I was ready to go home, my dad came and picked me up alone, he led me down a different path home, a longer way. I wanted to complain because I was still very sore but he looked very serious. It wasn't until we got close the to Uzumaki cemetery that I realized what was happening. My heart hammered with every step we took closer.

"I don't know if I can do this yet…" I whispered knowing my dad would hear me. He surprised me by taking my hand in his. He wasn't a distant father by any means but none of us except my mom were really physical touch people, so this was very rare. By his hand in mine, I felt filled with courage as we stepped into the yard of Yari's ancestors, one patch of dirt still fresh. I felt sick as a slew of memories hit me, the loudest of them all was the crack of Yari's neck. Tears began streaming down my face, when I started crying, I wasn't sure.

"I'm not sure who you were -Yari, Aoi." My dad started talking and I looked at him startled. "But I'm glad my son met you, spent time with you as long as he did, that you got the honour of knowing such an honorable man. You will be remembered not only by my son, but also by me." He said softly looking down at the dirt, there was a wooden post with their names, the headstone clearly not in yet. We sat there for a bit as I cried.

"It's me who is thankful to have known you." I whispered letting go of my Dads hand and sitting in a crouch. "To have spent days in silence or noisy complaining with you and despite you knowing basically nothing about me, to feel known by you. I wont ever forget you, even if I wanted to, even if that's easier." I touched the dirt, she would be so happy to be buried with her brother, all she wanted was to have him with her again. I just wish they would have been together alive. My blood boiled at the thought of what ORochimaru took from them, from her, and the thought of finding Sasuke who seemed to have willingly go with him made my blood curdle.

"Lets go home." I tell my Dad looking up at him. "Thanks."

.

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It's been a MINUTE or two since I updated this story! started writing it at as a kid, and randomly read it a few months ago on a plane, and thought, what the hell? why not continue, I enjoy Shin's story and mind a lot! Hope you all enjoy!

Snowwy :3