"What do you mean? Why do I have to stay?" I questioned the elder with an annoyed tone.
"You still have a lot to learn. If you want to completely control your cursed state, you must stay." He hissed as he slithered around me.
"But the war has already started! I need to help them if I want to redeem myself!" I shouted in anger. I was already able to feel the battle going on.
He was silent for a few moments as he looked down at me never breaking eye contact. "Very well, but you must not lose control. If you're in the cursed state for too long, you'll lose it. Disband the mark as soon as you feel like you're losing control." He warned but I only rolled my eyes.
"I get it I get it, don't lose control."
"Don't take it so lightly Ko, if you can't control it you won't be able to tell between friend or foe. Watch your chakra also, you waste too much chakra in that mode."
"Can you please send me there now? I'll be careful."
"I can only transport you so far, there's a battle close by so I'll send you there."
"Thank you," I said then appeared in a forest. A large explosion caught my attention making me activate my eyes. "So they already started," I concluded as I watched the battle from a safe distance. "Hm Kitty, once again we're drawn to each other." I watched the battle between his team and their opponents, Deidara, Sasori, and two others I didn't recognize.
"Hm so they have long range, short ranged, medic, and probably a sensor also. I need to keep my distance, so I'm not detected. I'll watch for now then engage if they need help." I thought as I watched Deidara blow up one of his comrades who instantly was revived. "Yup, Kabuto is already using the reanimation jutsu. It seems like he can't control them completely yet. I can see them engaging in conversation. He needs more chakra to be able to control them completely, that's why he needed my chakra."
Sasori started to attack them using their own comrades as puppets but a shinobi with a sword jumped up slicing the chakra strings saving them. Kitty took his chance and connected his strings with Sasori bringing him down to the battlefield. They started to exchanged words once more until Sai took out his scroll summoning two muscular giants instantly punching Deidara and Sasori into Kitty's puppets that emerged from the ground.
"Smart," I thought watching the swordsmen use his chakra covered sword stabbing it into the puppet while Kitty's remaining puppets impale Sasori's prison.
The puppet Sasori then used its wire to wrap around the puppet containing Deidara while Sai and the rest of the unit fought the other enemy. After exchanging a few words, the enemy suddenly started to crumble away.
"So their emotions can set them free," I thought as I got closer wanting to hear what they were saying.
"Captain! There's another enemy!" The sensor shouted making me freeze. "They're still pretty far, it seems like they're watching us."
"No way, I'm at least ten miles away. I didn't expect him to sense this far." I could see them looking in this direction making me sigh. "I guess there's no point in hiding."
I quickly ran towards them making it there in no time putting them on guard. Once I was close enough, I stayed hidden behind the tree suddenly feeling nervous. I took in a few deep breaths before revealing myself.
"Seems like you got back at Sasori," I commented looking only at Kitty as I walked towards the group.
"Is that?" One gasped as the others got ready.
"Yeah, Orochimaru's daughter!" Another shouted alerting everyone getting his kunai ready.
Kitty never looked away from my gaze. It seemed like he was holding back his emotions but I could see something in his eyes. He quickly turned his attention from me directing it on Sasori.
"Ko Himura," I heard Sasori say. "I see you're still alive...and even stronger that the last time we met."
"Well it has been a while since you saw me, I didn't think I'd have the chance to meet you again." I said as I walked closer.
"I must say, you are...different." He commented making me confused. "Kankuro...I entrust you with the 'Father' and 'Mother' puppets." I could see him slowly start to fade away. "And when you die, bestow them upon another. Those two are..."
"Yeah, of course, I understand."
"Hey! My man Sasori!" Deidara shouted just as Sasori was gone.
"How is this possible? Did Kabuto stop the jutsu?" One shinobi questioned.
"We thought the Reanimation Jutsu had been perfected but it seems to have a flaw." Kitty interjected then looked over at me. "You would know it, wouldn't you Ko?"
"It's emotion, many shinobi have unfinished business in this world and if it is fulfilled, they can move onto the next world or if they have a change of heart. Kabuto can't control their every thought and emotion, only the body." I explained watching the shinobi start to circle around me.
"Orders Captain!"
"Stand down, she's no threat." Kitty answered making me smirk.
"But captain! She's Orochimaru's right hand."
"I said stand down." He repeated starting to walk towards me.
I watched him as did the others as he got closer and closer to me. Within seconds, I felt him embrace me making me gasp but soon relax. I could feel my heart beating like a drum against his chest making me blush. I was starting to feel embarrassed since everyone was staring at us.
"I thought you wouldn't make it," he breathed as I wrapped my arms around his torso.
I felt warmth gather in my chest making me smile. "Can't get rid of me that easily." I smirked then pulled away from his arms.
"What are you doing here?"
"Helping with the war of course," I told him blowing a piece of hair out of my normal red eyes.
"Ha and how would you be helping? You're probably also in charge of the Reanimation jutsu!" A shinobi accused.
"Let me show you, I do need some practice with this jutsu anyway."
"What do you mean?"
"Let Deidara go and I'll show you."
"Why would we trust a murderer like you?!"
"Stand down, I trust her so listen to your Captain!" Kitty shouted making his unit confused but they complied. "Go look out for more enemies, I'll stay back with her!"
They only nodded soon jumping on the backs of the birds Sai created. He released Deidara who busted out of the puppet facing me.
"You! I thought I already took care of you!" He shouted with anger.
"Nope, I'm invincible apparently." I chuckled as I held out my hand focusing all my energy onto it waiting for it to glow red.
I lunged towards Deidara who jumped out of the way but my clone appeared behind him in midair kicking him back towards me. I held out my arm catching him by the throat until my clone restrained him. I hovered my hand over his head imagining his life force. Once I could feel it, I yanked my arm up into the air pulling the life force out of the body instantly making Deidara disappear.
"Wh-what was that?" Kitty questioned as I turned on my heel walking towards him.
When I was right in front of him, I reached up to trace his face paint. "Seems like your face is always different each time we meet." I said which made him slightly blush.
"Ko, I-" he started but I put a finger against his lips to stop his talking.
"We're at war Kitty, save everything for when it's over." I said to him wishing we had more time together. "I want to tell you something too but we gotta go. Looks like there's some trouble a few miles away."
He only stared at me for a few more moments before sighing. "Okay kitten," he said making me glare at him.
"What did you just call me?" I questioned making him smirk as he looked down at me.
"What? You can call me kitty but I can't call you kitten?" He questioned with a smile making me narrow my eyes at him. "You look adorable with that face you're giving me." He chuckled making me blush and turn away from him.
"Oh shut up, let's get going."
I started to run as fast as I could followed by Kitty. We were able to reach Kakashi's unit just in time to see Haku and Zabuza exchanging words with Kakashi and Sakura. When we landed close to the group, the two looked directly at me.
"Ah, I see the Himura is still here also." Zabuza commented making everyone look at me. Most gasped and back away getting into a defensive position.
I only walked closer towards them ignoring the stares from everyone. "I must say Zabuza, I thought I'd never see you again. I can finally thank you for what you did for me."
"And what was that?"
"Telling me about my clan of course," I answered making his eyes widen.
Suddenly there was a change. It looked as if they were in pain then purple chakra started to cover them.
"Get back!" I shouted towards them. "Kabuto's hold on them is getting stronger! They're completely controlled now!"
"What? How?" Kitty questioned from my right.
"Notice anything missing?" I asked him motioning towards my neck.
"Your necklace?"
"Yes, Kabuto stole it from me to use my stored chakra. It looks like he's finally using it." I lied not wanting to make myself look bad. I already didn't have anyone's trust, expect for Kitty, and I didn't want them to get even more suspicious.
"Retreat!" Kakashi shouted making everyone jump back. Kitty and I joined the group so I took the spot right next to Kakashi ignoring Sakura's glare. He turned his head to look at me. "I knew you would make the right decision." He said with a smile.
"Of course, no one can tell Ko Himura what to do." I said giving him a confident smirk.
"Kakashi, please stop us once again." Haku pleaded. "My dream was always to be Master Zabuza's tool and die protecting him. The fact that he is under the power of this jutsu means that I was not able to protect him from you back then. Furthermore, not only am I incapable of protecting him, I can't even serve as his tool now."
"No, you protected Zabuza. He died for a different reason. Zabuza never thought of you as a tool." Kakashi said making Haku look over at Zabuza.
"K-kakashi, quit babbling nonsense." Zabuza stammered not wanting anyone to see his human side.
"Hm, how depressing." I commented making Kitty and the surrounding shinobi look at me. "It seems like the afterlife doesn't exist then."
"What do you mean?" Kitty questioned.
"So far, those who have been resurrected either don't remember the afterlife or it seems like they just woke up. Haku and Zabuza would've seen each other in the afterlife and would've had this conversation."
"Why are we even teaming up with the snake princess?" One commented from my left making me look in his direction.
"Why must you associate me with my Father? I'm nothing like him."
"Tsk, says the one who destroyed a whole village."
I would be lying if I said his words didn't hurt but they were true. Ever since his death I've been trying to be my own person and stray from the tool Father wanted but it seems that's all everyone sees. Suddenly, the deceased were completely taken over making everyone on guard.
"Here they come!" Kakashi warned.
"Captain Kakashi! That Hidden Rock shinobi, a user of the explosion style kekkei genkai. He's a former demolitions unit captain like Deidara. That's Gari!"
"And that woman is the scorch style kekkei genkai use from the Hidden Sand, Pakura!"
"I think we can handle them, right Kakashi-sensei?" I said looking at Kakashi who was surprised by me calling him sensei once again.
"Ninja art: Hidden Mist jutsu!" Zabuza said creating a mist around us.
I activated my eyes able to see everything once again.
"The fighting unit will comprise mainly of sensory-type shinobi! The rest will take a Manji Formation at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock and provide cover! We will pinpoint Zabuza using only sound!"
"And what about me Sensei?" I questioned looking into his lone sharingan eye.
"Protect as many as you can. You're the only one who can see everyone's movements."
"You got it," I said as I started to create clones. "Alright girls, protect everyone, it'll take some chakra but use your eyes." I commanded and they dispersed.
Right away I could see the enemy starting to attack but my clones either sacrificed themselves or blocked the attacks to protect the shinobi. I jumped in front of a shinobi creating an Earth wall against the scorch user but it was about to go right through it. I grabbed the man's sleeve yanking him away before it could hit us.
"T-thank you," he stammered but I just went to the next person blocking the Pakura's attacks one more.
"Scorch style: super steam kill!" She said as a hole was burned through two shinobi.
"My insides!" One screamed before his death.
In a flash I made it to another group blocking Haku's attack with my kunai. With most of my clones gone, it was getting harder to protect these people. I needed to conserve my chakra which wasn't something I'm use to making it difficult. Lee and Gai came from above kicking Haku away so I ran towards the ice user. Suddenly, the enemy started to summon more of the undead.
"What? They can summon more of them?" I questioned out loud honestly shocked by this jutsu; there was still more I needed to learn. Father only taught me the hand signs and that I needed a dead body and DNA of the undead person. He never mentioned he could keep summoning them at will. It takes an enormous chakra source so my necklace must be helping in this.
Haku tried taking advantage of my distraction but I easily blocked his senbon needles with my kunai. I could see the Seven Swordsmen of the mist had been summoned which did freak everyone out but Haku was my main priority, all I needed to do was get close enough.
"Ice style: Blasting Ice Crystal!" He shouted then shards of ice flew towards me.
I took out my sword blocking the shards as I ran towards Haku. Just as I was about to reach him, he disappeared into his mirror. He attempted to attack from behind but it was useless, my eyes already saw him. I jumped out of the way landing on his shoulders. My hand glowed red as I grabbed onto his soul pulling it from the body releasing the jutsu.
"Well that's one down. I need to go after Zabuza now and diffuse this mist." I said as I sheathed my sword sprinting towards the main battle. I could see Kakashi-sensei facing him ready to strike with chidori. He struck him in the chest then caught him in a paralysis jutsu thanks to a Nara clan member. "Now's my chance." I said running towards the two. The sand shinobi behind them was about to use a jutsu but I landed right in front of her. "That won't be necessary," I said catching their attention.
"And why's that snake brat?!" She harshly questioned with hate in her voice.
I held out my arm as my hand glowed red walking towards Zabuza and Kakashi-sensei. "Because I have a better method." I latched on to his soul ripping it out making his body disappear. I turned to face the two who had wide eyes. "Another secret to the Himura clan, I can either give my life force to someone or take it away. This is why Madara wanted me to join the Akatsuki. He knew I was a threat to this war."
"Amazing," Sensei breathed.
I looked down noticing his wound and walked up to him with my hand glowing green starting to heal him.
"You're too reckless sensei," I commented but he only chuckled. "We have to get back to the others. The swordsmen are cutting them down."
"Let's go," he said giving me a close eyed smile. He was the only one besides Kitty who was happy I was here.