"You want the power of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox."

The sentence hung in the air for a second. It brought a warning along, that the battle just changed to a war. Asuma massaged his sore back and fell back to stand on Kakashi's other side. The copycat was clinging to the last shreds of his consciousness. His scarred eye was already closed to preserve energy, and the other one was half lidded. Kurenai's grip on his waist was the only thing keeping him upright.

The five shinobi looked at each other. Finally, Itachi spoke and his soft voice had taken on an edge.

"Your intellect is not nearly as talked about as your eye, Kakashi."

The 'I will kill you now' went unspoken but Asuma heard it ringing in his ears. He braced himself just as Kisame lowered Samehada from his shoulder. None of them managed to make a move though, because the most disgusting Killer Intent surged over the stream.

If Kisame had had any hair, they would have been upright by now. Samehada shivered in response to the heat. Kakashi felt himself age despite his semi-consciousness. The Intent was like acid. It burned and made it's way into every corner. Along with it, Kakashi could smell blood.

"It can't be..." Kurenai shared a shocked look with her colleagues. "Right now?"

The answer was 'Yes exactly now, screw you.'.

Asuma wanted to sob when the lanky figure appeared on the battlefield. Chi fell from the sky with the grace of a shot duck, and just barely managed to remain on top of the water surface. Kurenai bit down on her lip when she saw the state Chi was in.

The Genin moved as if she was drunk, swaying on her feet and dressed like she had stumbled right from the last great war. Her signature haori was gone. Her mesh armor was torn on several places and the iron rings were twisted into little spikes. The remaining top and shorts were caked with mud and hung heavily around her frame. The black bandages around her body did nothing to stop the trembling and twitching of her limbs.

"Chi!" Kurenai called out.

Chi's attention shifted momentarily to the Konoha Jonin. Kurenai held her breath. Chi turned her head and gave them the most unnerving look they had ever received. Her eyes were pale yellow, dotted with flecks of red. The piercing gaze stripped them from any shields they had and scorched their souls. It only lasted a second before she grinned like a feral cat and turned back to the Akatsuki. Kurenai and Asuma braced themselves for the battle.

Chi stabbed the air with her finger, pointing at the two men. "You. Why were you in my home?"

Her voice was scratchy at best, slurred and colored with a mixture of anger. Her outstretched hand shook and she let it drop to her side. Kakashi looked her over. His chest felt tight. Her chakra was pulsing and shuddering.

The water around her feet didn't ripple gently like it did around the other shinobi. It bubbled and foamed, sloshing over her feet as if it wanted to pull her down. She lost control of her chakra.. Kakashi bit the inside of his cheek. He needed to check on the other Genin to see if they suffered any side-effects through their blood-connection.

Itachi recovered and raised his eyebrows minutely. "Ketsueki, correct?"

Chi lifted her chin, "Damn right." Her eyes flashed.

"How did you survive the massacre?" Itachi asked.

Asuma strained his ears to catch the gentle tone Itachi used. They weren't about to get treated to Uchiha Kindness, right? That usually left more people insulted than there were before. It was the first time Asuma found himself praying for an ANBU nearby. One more awake than the former captain he was currently shielding.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes. If the Uchiha massacre was a four-page spread in the Konoha Times, then the Ketsueki massacre was a half column announcement on the last page between two coupons. And the Ketsueki died a year after Itachi had gone rogue. How did he know?

"How did you?" Chi shot back, bringing everything down to a screeching halt. Kakashi coughed and lifted his head. He needed to step in between and get Chi out of there before she got killed, but his legs wouldn't cooperate. Pain and exhaustion had bested him and he knew he wouldn't be of any use. Thankfully, Asuma seemed to smell the trouble brewing.

"Get back here, Chi." he ordered. "Now."

Chi gave no indication that she heard him and instead barreled on. "I've heard about it, you know."

"Chi!" Asuma called again. His knuckles were white as he lifted his blades.

Chi looked at Itachi. "I think I met you once, when I was a kid. I got a good memory..."

Her voice died out. She took a shaking step and almost tipped in the water. "I remember everything."

It sounded way too ominous. Kurenai filed it away for a later session, maybe with a therapist. For now, she had to get Chi and Kakashi out of here in one piece.

"I used to think you went mad." Chi sighed, scratching at a cut on her thigh. "But you never did, right? Sasuke is so mad at you. I think it's because he loves you so much."

Now would be a great time for Chi to fall over. Kakashi prayed feverishly for something to interrupt. He could sense the alarm rolling off Kurenai and Asuma but neither were equipped to deal with this glorious, steaming mess. Genjutsu was out of the question and a conversation was already happening. He hissed through his teeth. "Someone stop her."

"We can't." Asuma whispered back. "They can kill her before we even move."

Kakashi knew that but he was hoping for a miracle. Itachi could kill her before they even thought of moving. Kakashi shifted his weight, apologizing to Kurenai in his mind, and lifted his head. Itachi had gone rigid.

"I don't think you wanted to kill them." Chi let her eyes go over his body. "Itachi Uchiha, notable characteristics being too kind. Should not be a shinobi. Notes written by the Third."

Itachi's face went ghostly pale. Kisame looked at Chi as if she had grown a second head.

"Chi!" Kakashi warned her, putting as much force in his voice as he could spare. "Get back!"

"Why did you do it? You made Sasuke so sad..." Chi whispered. "Who made you?"

If she was completely honest, Kurenai was curious too. She just had her priorities straight. Hoisting Kakashi further up her shoulder, she ran through the countless jutsu she knew and could use. None would work on Itachi though. Where is the ANBU when you need them?

Chi's pale yellow eyes opened wide. The Killer Intent doubled. The Jonin started, grabbing whatever weapon was closest to them. Kakashi wouldn't have been surprised if Chi was drawing from the chakra of the Nine-Tailed Fox. The air became heavy and the water started to form waves. Kisame lowered his stance, eyes trained on Chi.

"Was it... That old man?" she hissed, murder in her eyes. Venom dripped from her voice. "Did he make you kill them?"

Itachi looked up. The Mangekyo Sharingan spun.

"Chi!" Kakashi raised his voice in alarm. "Don't look into his eyes!"

It was too late.

Inside the Tsukuyomi~

Chi was tied to a bed. Thick, rough ropes held her hands and feet apart. Her waist and neck were held down as well. Her first concern was how she got there, and her second was why the world was in black and white. She was in an otherwise empty room with one window besides her. The world outside had a red ground and purple sky. A giant moon hung in the sky. She strained her head to get a better look at the inky pattern drawn on it.

The bed lurched and suddenly Chi was upright. Itachi stood in front of her. He held a katana loosely in his hand. Chi pushed against the ropes that held her down. No movement.

"Don't even try." Itachi's voice echoed when he spoke. Chi stopped. "In this world, I am your God."

"What world?" Chi snapped.

Itachi came closer. "Mine. This is the Tsukuyomi. I decide everything here. I can make a second become a day, a year, even a century. I can kill you and bring you back as many times as I want."

He pressed the tip of the katana against Chi's hip. The pain spread like fire on oil. Chi panted, wriggling to escape.

Genjutsu!

"It hurts much more, doesn't it?" Itachi smiled bitterly. "Especially when you're completely awake."

He was right. Chi could feel everything from the scraping of the rope, to the texture of the sheets. Most of all, she could feel the cold steel piercing through her flesh. The numbness she had felt in the weeks before was gone. She stared at him, eyes wide with fear. Her mouth was dry.

This is fake!

"Do you think torture will work on me?" She bared her teeth in a shaky grin, fighting tears in her eyes. "My sensei tried and failed...O-Orochimaru couldn't break me."

Itachi's smile turned rueful, if only a little. "Are you sure?"

The katana moved like a hot knife in butter. Chi let out a strangled cry as Itachi pulled it back out again. Warm blood gushed down her leg and she looked down in mute horror. She gathered her focus and directed her chakra, but the bleeding didn't stop. A large stain spread over the sheets. She furrowed her brow and tried to control her chakra but it was like grappling with a bar of soap.

"First time?" Itachi asked and she snapped up.

He didn't give her time to reply. In one movement, he kicked her in her stomach. Chi looked him in his eyes as he did. Time slowed down. Itachi's expression crumpled for the briefest moment. Chi's eyes widened. Her fractured ribs broke again. Blood rose in her throat.

The bed crashed through the window with a deafening sound. Chi heard herself scream in the open air. Her stomach lurched and she was hyper aware of the descent. The icy wind whipped around her as she fell alongside a white building. She could just make out Itachi's eyes from the broken window far up.

NOT REAL!

The bed turned and Chi was faced with a ground filled with thick black thorns. The points stuck up randomly and glinted in the moonlight. Chi's voice went higher in pitch as the bed turned over again. A crow flew over her, claws dragging a line over her nose and cheeks. It turned to look at her before shooting up in a smooth line.

FAKE!

The bed landed awkwardly suspended on the thorns. The first thorn entered her shoulder. The second went right through her throat, blocking her airway. Chi could only make choking noises. Her arms, legs and torso were pinned in place by the massive spikes. The pain was so overwhelming she couldn't even pass out. Her body was warm with blood but she was still not dead.

Itachi's shadow fell over her. His eyes were beacons of light in the grim world. "I hope you like thunderstorms."

Chi tried to speak but there was too much blood in her mouth. Her eyes focused on the suddenly dark sky. Clouds gathered and the ground rumbled. Rain began to fall down.

Not real...

It began to pour. Blood and dirt streamed down Chi's skin. Her hair was plastered to her scalp. Water ran in her mouth. She tilted her head to let it run out.

Fake...

Her eyes looked for Itachi's but he was already gone. Where is he?

A flash of light. She saw him standing in the room, looking down at her. Lighting struck again, closely followed by a loud clash. A thought struck Chi and she rolled her eyes to inspect the thorns. They were smooth, dark and hard as... steel.

Fear gripped her heart. The ropes were strong as ever as she tried to free herself. She could only move her arms up and down the thorns and the friction was enough to make her sick with pain. A cry escaped her lips. Her lungs were about to explode. The pressure on her chest was unbearable. The bed dropped another centimeter and she registered a sharp prick in her back.

Fake...

What did she know about real or fake? Chi spend most of her life wondering if the voices were her own memories. Now she knew. She wasn't even real. It was just a combination of other people occupying her body.

She wondered if they could all feel the pain.

The thunder was so loud, her ears rung even as the lighting picked up pace. When the first rod was hit, Chi felt the familiar tingle in her bones. It was an uncomfortable buzzing that pricked and stung right where you couldn't reach. The thunder that followed immediately made her dizzy.

The second strike hit the huge thorn sticking out of her thigh and the bone instantly shattered. Her leg tore open. Blood gushed out of Chi's mouth as she screamed. The thorn in her neck moved further up, cutting off her voice entirely.

After that, the lighting began to strike home more often. It hit her chest, making her whole body burn up. Her veins were on fire.

Don't talk about him.

Lighting struck right beside her head, the heat leaving an imprint on her skin. Chi blinked hard but her left side remained dark. Was it the cave? Had they never left that place?

You can't speak. Don't do it!

Her right arm exploded. Chi couldn't scream anymore. Each pump of her heart send waves of pain through her body. Distantly she thought she could hear Ryuya screaming. Her flesh burned. Chicould take it. She had to. She could take it.

We all get what we deserve.

Her grandfather's face suddenly popped in her head. His steely gaze, his bushy brows and the way he used to smile. It was so clear that she tried to reach out and touch him. Her cousin, Kosuke, pushed her grandfather's image aside. His warm eyes looked at her. Chi's tears mixed with the blood and rain. Kosuke's eyes began to bleed. His face melted away.

Take me with you.

Her remaining hand twitched. She heard them screaming again. Blood gushed over the ground. A memory of her childhood. The screams lasted until sunrise. It was suddenly clear again. Chi began to shake. The memories didn't stop.

Please...

The storm continued for two days and one night. High up, in the room with the broken window, Itachi looked down at her. The massive crow sat on his shoulder.

The stream, two seconds later~

Chi gasped for air and stumbled, falling to her knees. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Asuma made a move at the same time Kisame stepped forward. Both froze, waiting for the other. Kurenai gritted her teeth, keeping her gaze trained on Chi.

"Itachi!" Kakashi cried out, aghast. "She's twelve!" He tried to move but exhaustion pulled his arm down again. He clenched his jaw. Move! He demanded. Save her! He just couldn't. Three days of torture was enough to bring him down. His eyes burned in frustration.

Asuma's eyes snapped to Itachi, though he aimed them at his headband. "What the hell did you do?"

Itachi didn't reply. He kept his gaze trained on the Genin in front of him. Chi's right arm hung uselessly by her side while her other clutched her neck. She spit on the water before looking around with dazed eyes. Itachi smoothed out his cloak. Chi was still turning on her spot.

"Chi!" Kakashi called her weakly. "Chi, come here."

"Chi, sweetheart!" Kurenai tried. "Please!"

Chi fell on her butt and straight into the water. An oil like stain spread over the surface. Kurenai pulled Kakashi forwards with her until Chi's head resurfaced again. The Jonin paused. Chi stood straight, the water reaching her waist. The cold water had cleared some of the fog in her head because she was still and looked behind her.

Her eyes turned the shade of fresh blood, rich and bright. Her pale lips split into a wide grin. Grime ran down her cheeks, making her look like she was crying black tears. Kurenai didn't know exactly why, but she felt like she was witnessing a rebirth. Chi turned back to look at the Akatsuki again.

"Do you know why I'm the last Ketsueki?" she whispered, choking on the name. The water around her began to push away.

"Chi..." Kakashi couldn't stand anymore. Kurenai gently lowered him in the water.

"It's because I killed them." Chi answered herself.

Not even Kisame could stop himself from snapping up. Chi's eyes were distant. "I killed them. He made me do it. Grandfather said that I was the chosen one. We needed to cleanse our blood.."

The words bounced around Kakashi's skull. His initial reaction to call it mindless babbling by a victim of severe torture, was quickly shut down by the evidence. Chi's behavior, her reaction to Sasuke, the way she shrunk into herself and the way she killed as if it was all she had ever done.

The rumors he heard.

Rumors of a child crying in the Forest of Death. A child covered in blood, screaming and crying. It was considered a tale to scare kids away from the place, but even the adults were afraid. The Nara's refused to talk about it, only feeding the rumors.

Kakashi felt like an idiot. Everyone thought it was the old man Sai who had killed the entire clan. Villagers whispered about him being senile and depressed after the death of his wife. Sai was never seen outside of the district unless there were meetings with clan heads. The times he did show himself, he acted like a lunatic. No one was safe around him. Of course he would have been able to massacre his entire clan.

Except he had never even killed so much as a fly. He was notorious for making others do the dirty work, even as a Genin. Kakashi knew that, yet he still bought into the rumors. It was easier to believe than the other possibility.

"I have a gift." Chi continued. The words spilled from her lips, a waterfall of secrets she kept her whole life. "I used it to kill my siblings when I was a baby. I couldn't control it. I was hungry..."

Tears rolled down her cheeks, but Chi kept smiling. Her eyes were unfocused. "I killed them. I remember now. He told me."

A shudder went through her body. Chi coughed and doubled over. The Killer Intent wavered. Kakashi took a breath. He could guess what gift she was talking about. The jutsu that made blood explode from bodies all around her. It was the easiest way to kill a group of people. If Danzo knows about that then...

Asuma neared her, forcing himself to remain composed. Kisame noticed him, but didn't respond. He glanced at Itachi, trying to convey his message of 'What the hell?' through his eyes. Itachi didn't see him, he was too busy staring at Chi.

"Kisame," Itachi eventually said quietly, "kill them all, but take Kakashi alive."

"With pleasure." Kisame replied, lifting Samehada. The kid would go first, he decided. The way she kept holding eye contact with them unnerved him. After that it would be the woman because her eyes were second to the little girl. Then the bearded man and finally he would tie Hatake up and drag him along over the ground.

Asuma was at Chi's side in an instant, arms coming around the Genin and pressing her against his chest. Ignoring the pain in his back, Asuma lifted her and jumped back to Kurenai. Chi was limp in his arms, but he felt like he was transporting a bomb. Her body was cold and stiff and he subconsciously pressed her closer.

When they landed, Chi tried to push him away. "I need to go."

Her voice was as weak as her arms. "I have to protect... Hokage..."

"Hush, Chi. You're safe now." Asuma grabbed her arm and turned her around, wrapping one arm around her waist and holding her against his chest. His heart raced in his chest and his eyes pricked. I never blamed you Chi. His free arm came up and he glared at Kisame.

"I won't let you kill her!"

Kisame grinned "As if you can stop me."

Kurenai braced herself, letting Kakashi sink in the water and support himself, as she stood in front of him. Kakashi breathed an apology as he tried to get up again. His legs were like lead. He lifted his head and opened both of his eyes. Immediately the Sharingan began to leech the remains of his chakra. It made him dizzy. He kept his eye open for another second but let it fall shut when dark spots began to swarm his vision.

There was a brief moment of absolute silence. The shinobi sans Kakashi got ready to fight one last time.

The water suddenly erupted with such force, Kisame thought it was another Genjutsu. A wall of water rose and burst apart in millions of glittering drops. Judging by the very real wetness of them and the fact that none of them had moved, he concluded that it was real. He turned to see the figure at the end of the wave. All he saw was green spandex with a shining black bowl cut.

Itachi stiffened as Might Guy arrived at the battlefield. Asuma wanted to kiss him if not for his reputation.

"I see I've come just in time." Guy bellowed, puffing his chest. The spandex strained. His eyes had none of the usual sparkle. This was Guy at his most serious and fearsome. He lifted his hand in his signature Taijutsu pose. "How about I join this battle?"

Kisame huffed "Who the hell is this weirdo?"

"Might Guy." Itachi answered before Guy could speak. Itachi stepped back. "Stand down, Kisame. This is a fight we can't win. Not today."

"What are you talking about?" Kisame demanded. "This guy is no big deal for us!"

"He does not use chakra." Itachi cut him off. "Let's go."

Guy looked between the two parties. On one hand there were the Akatsuki whom they needed to defeat. On the other hand were Kakashi and Chi who looked like they could die any second, and Kurenai and Asuma who looked injured. Guy flexed his muscles.

Kisame protested a little more but Itachi's look stopped him. Itachi looked back at the Konoha shinobi.

"We'll meet again." he said quietly. The two members turned away and were gone in a flash.

Asuma let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He looked down at the mop of brown hair. Chi was a dead weight against him, breathing slowly against his chest. She had passed out the moment he had hugged her. He put his blades back and lifted her up. He could feel her bones poking through her clothes.

Kakashi let out a groan and fell forward. Kurenai stepped in and caught him before he went under. She pulled his arm over her shoulder and lifted his chin. The copycat was out. She grabbed his waist and lifted him over her shoulder. A sharp pain shot through her back, remains of the battle, and she had to put him down again.

The three remaining Jonin shared a look. They were at the edge of a metaphorical vortex. The only escape was to turn around and leave the water all together. The thought didn't even linger for a second before they banished it.

Guy jogged closer and lifted Kakashi on his back.

"I shall see you at the hospital, then?" he asked, knowing the answer. Asuma sighed and looked at Chi in his arms. Kurenai squeezed his bicep.

"I'll go make sure that Sasuke doesn't hear of this." she said. The others nodded before they all took off.

Deep underground in the outskirts of Konoha, meanwhile~

Danzo had an empire. It ran underground and through Konoha like veins. He ruled it with an iron fist. It was his domain. Consisting of a vast network of caves and tunnels under the mountains surrounding Konoha, his agents trained and worked. He knew everything, like a spider sensing vibrations in her web.

At least, he used to.

His kunai flew and buried itself in the heart of a young girl with raven hair. She coughed once and fell over, blood pooling around her. Danzo seethed, glaring at the other agents. In just a few messages, cracks began to show in his empire.

"Find him." he ordered the remaining agents. "NOW!"

They were gone in seconds. A group of children neared the body and picked it up by the limbs. Danzo watched as they half dragged and half carried the girl away. A fifth child stepped closer and began to wipe the blood off the ground.

Danzo glared at the little door of Kabuto's cell. Former cell, because the brat had escaped. How, when and with whom, were all unclear. All Danzo knew was that the ROOT agents had discovered the cell empty five minutes ago and they already lost track of him. They had lost a medic with ties to Orochimaru, in one of the most complex territories in the country. A medic who could now enter and go as he wished.

A tap behind him.

Danzo spat on the ground and adjusted the bandages on his head. The cell gaped at him.

"Speak." he said.

A pale man bowed curtly and spoke. "We have spotted Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshi-"

Danzo slammed his staff in the ground with enough force to bury it in the hard soil. He turned around. The man's face was devoid of expressions.

"Say that again." Danzo hissed.

"We have spotted Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki in the village, Sir."

Danzo forced himself to breathe. "And what," he began through gritted teeth, "were they doing here?"

The man shifted minutely. "We suspect a battle, Sir. Our spies tracked them to the Ketsueki district and then in proximity of Sasuke Uchiha, Kakashi Hatake, Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi. They presumably met somewhere but our spy was intercepted by Kakashi Hatake and send away. We have since lost track of them all."

Danzo felt his whole body itch. He looked at the agent, contemplating whether he should kill him now or later.

Later, he decided. This one had some promise. "Find them all."

The man nodded and turned around to leave. Danzo clenched his fist and called out after him. "When you find Ketsueki Chi, bring her to me."

Her prank at her district didn't sting. In fact, he had known even then that it was fake, but he took the opportunity to let her stew alone. The kid was sharper than most gave her credit for. Beneath her gruff exterior was a keen spirit, eager to learn. Her up-and-down performance ratio had put her on the bottom of the ranking but Danzo could see the potential. Moreover, he could see the danger she formed. If Chi were to continue down this path, Konoha would be at risk.

Danzo looked back at the cell as the agent left. Whether Kabuto would return or not, there was space for another. Everything for the safety and prosperity of his village. With Hiruzen gone, it was time for Danzo to prove just how right he was.

He turned around and walked to his office, high above the cages. A tall woman waited in front of his door. She followed him silently as he swept past her and marched to his desk. His office was humble, no more than bare room carved out of stone. There was a desk, a chair and a door leading to a storage room on the right.

Danzo didn't sit, instead he walked to the opposite wall and pressed his hand against a seal. The seal activated and a square just large enough for his face disappeared. He looked through it, to the labyrinth of tunnels and cells that spread on the other side of his office.

"Speak."

The woman sunk down on one knee. "Target develops as predicted. Individual sessions with Cat will be paused soon for the her first mission."

Danzo nodded slowly. At least something good had come out of today. "Response of her team?"

"They believe the target's fear stems from Chi's performance in the Chuunin Exams. The slit throat had a similar effect to the other Genin."

Danzo turned to the woman. "Tell Cat to make a report and deliver it to me."

He eyed the pile of documents on his desk. "No more than two pages."

The woman nodded and Flickered away. Danzo rolled his shoulder and closed the gap in the wall. With a sigh he sat behind his desk and pulled the first sheet to him. Konoha had lost its Hokage, but not it's leaders. Without Hiruzen, it was up to Danzo to make the decisions, aided by the Clan Heads and the Elders. He played with his pen, staring at the door. It wouldn't be long now, before all the pieces fell into place where they belonged.

Restricted area of Konoha's Shinobi hospital, an hour later~

Ibiki stared blankly at the white door in front of him. Inside the room was Chi. On both sides were a dozen ANBU cops ready for anything. Ibiki understood that they had to be there, he just wished they would conceal themselves.

Nurses entered and left the room in three-hour intervals. None of them spoke. He caught glances of Chi whenever the door opened. He could enter the room, but he choose to wait for his other students. They might need his support.

Besides him, on the hard wooden chair, laid a list of the injuries Chi had sustained. Ibiki had only given it a brief look before his headache became too overwhelming. She would be transferred to a different department by nightfall. There was nothing they could do for her here. Most of her recent injuries seemed psychosomatic though some tests had diagnosed her with sepsis, without any of the common symptoms. The doctors had no choice but to consult their books again.

The old injuries were broken bones and internal damage that had gone untreated for over two weeks. He remembered how Chi looked when she emerged from the balcony during the exams. He should have noticed the injuries.

He rubbed his eyes, feeling anger heat his chest. Why did I have to get these brats? Couldn't they have just left me alone?

He leaned back, forcing his hands to grip the armrests before he did something more violent. If they meant for them to die, why did no one just-

Ibiki swallowed hard. He couldn't finish the thought. Bitter bile rose in his throat. He sunk lower in his chair. His life had gone from 'regular bad days' to 'a steaming pile of bad weeks followed by hangover mornings'. Being a teacher was hard and he did the bare minimum. His hands crushed the armrests. Even in his long career as a torture specialist, he had never hated himself this much.

The urge to get up and run to the bar didn't take him by surprise.

A nurse came up to him, exiting a room behind him. She was around his age, tight lines around pale lips and dark smudges under her eyes. She nodded at him and waited until he gave a tired nod back before speaking.

"Two Genin of Team 11 are waiting by the door. They say you are their teacher."

Ibiki swallowed again and got up stiffly. "Yes, let them in please."

The nurse gave a curt nod and left, her heels clicking on the tiled floor. Ibiki looked at her retreating back and measured steps. He was so incredibly tired. If he could, he would crawl into the first empty bed he saw and sleep until hunger woke him up. I should have retired.

He once vowed to turn his team into little demons that would give Danzo a heart attack just by standing in his proximity. Ibiki scoffed at himself. The kids had turned into little demons, but not the right kind and were definitely not giving Danzo any heart attacks.

The door at the end of the hallway opened and Shinji and Ryuya were led inside. They spotted him as soon as he saw them. Ibiki noted with dim amusement that they actively held themselves back from running at him.

Up close, both girls looked anxious and jittery. Neither had slept well judging by their puffy eyes and low shoulders. He understood their feelings. The exhaustion and painful joints could probably be blamed on Chi having used their blood for something during her fight. Ibiki didn't trust his voice enough to speak so he simple gestured at the door.

He could have been bringing them to Orochimaru himself, because both girls jumped and paled even more. Ibiki felt the weight in his stomach grow heavier. Each step he took to Chi's room felt too big. He grabbed the handle and pushed it down. The locks clicked and the door slid open. They all shuffled inside.

Chi was dressed in a white gown. Her dark hair was cleaned and split into two simple braids, spread out on either side of her. The black bandages were replaced with white ones. There was one bag with clear fluids hanging besides her bed, the line leading to an infuse near her collarbone. Chi's right arm was covered in compresses.

Ibiki exhaled slowly through his nose and dared a peek at Ryuya. She was staring at Chi as if she never saw her before. Ibiki nudged her and whipped around.

"She'll be fine." Ibiki said, nodding at Chi's still figure. "They are keeping her in a coma to be sure. She'll make a full recovery."

Ryuya's response took longer than either one of them had liked. Ibiki just felt glad that her relief was sincere. She sighed and looked at Chi. "That's good..."

Shinji had walked around the bed in the meantime and leaned over Chi to look at her face. "She's dreaming."

She pointed at Chi. "Her eyelids are moving."

Ryuya moved closer, curiosity beating her apprehension. "You think she's having a nightmare?"

Shinji shrugged. "Could be. She has enough bad memories I think."

Whether Shinji's movement jostled her, or if Chi was waking up, Ibiki couldn't tell but Chi's head rolled to the side. Before Ibiki could blink, Shinji was standing against the wall. Ryuya had jumped behind him. Both of their faces were tight.

"That's it." he heard himself say. He reached behind him and grabbed Ryuya. She squawked in surprise. Without hesitation, he threw her besides Shinji against the wall. The latter was looking at him with wide eyes as he neared her. Ibiki felt as if he was floating outside his body. The girls scrambled to get away as Ibiki cornered them.

"The two of you need to fix your attitudes and show your teammate some kindness." he growled. "You act as if she's the enemy!"

Both looked at the ground. Shinji spoke up first. "I know-"

"She's dangerous, sensei!" Ryuya interrupted her.

Ibiki and Shinji stared at her. Ryuya's cheeks turned pink but she continued, deliberately not looking at either one. "She's dangerous! She'll go insane soon and then she could kill us. My p-parents told me about her family. We shouldn't be a team..." her voice trailed off, stuttering to a halt when she looked at Chi. Guilt washed over her face. "She's scary..."

"She saved your life." Ibiki replied tonelessly. His head was pounding. "She saved you, let you use her chakra, carried you, did all the heavy work, and was the only reason you two survived the Chuunin Exams, and you don't want to be in her team?"

His voice became more agitated as he spoke. Had these kids learned nothing? Was one gory display of Chi's powers enough for them to scramble back? "Are you two betraying your friend?"

The door opened and the nurse entered, frowning at Ibiki. "If you are going to shout, please do so outside of this room."

Ibiki gritted his teeth but nodded at her. He turned to his students, who were still cowering. Her noticed how Shinji's knuckles were white as she gripped the ends of her jinbaori.

"Out." he ordered, barely restraining himself. "Both of you get out of my sight. Go to the office and ask Shikaku for an assignment."

They nodded timidly and hurried passed him. Shinji's steps faltered as she looked at Chi. Ibiki saw her features soften and her eyes turn glossy, but she turned away quickly and left with Ryuya.

Alone, Ibiki took a deep breath, conscious of the nurse still in the room. He forced his shoulders to relax and looked at her. "Can she hear us?" He pointed at Chi with his thumb.

The nurse shook her head. Ibiki chewed on his lip, and left the room lost in thought. He had planned the entire afternoon for this, but it seemed that he now had some free time. In the evening, his shift would begin again and he would be in the office, waiting for anyone with information. Right now, his feet took him to the bar and he didn't bother to stop them.

He was going to drink, to the loss of his team.