It was quiet between you and Hinata, well it was mainly you remained quiet. The two well three of you, including Mirai who was content as you feed her. Sat outside in her family's courtyard, the spot where she would normally be training with her cousin, Neji. Or just with herself, and a few times for fun with you, it was nice being outside after what happened. It was nice for things to be in a sense peaceful, your injury had healed itself well from the attack upon your back. Lucky you, you couldn't be more thankful for having it really. But you couldn't say much for those who didn't have it.
Thinking about them, made you cringe silently. Despite your gentle smile, you had looking down at Mirai. Though overjoyed that she was safe and nothing harmful happened to her. All thanks to Udon, Moegi with the help of Shino, Shikamaru and Kiba. She was returned to you safely, though you looked her over and had her checked in at the Konoha hospital, everything came back a okay. Which was good, though not so much for Konohamaru, he was doing fine, his injuries bad but not to bad. You knew he would make a full recovery, having manged to heal him. Healing the major injuries, but he was still remained unconscious in the hospital. Due to when Xever cut off his air supply to his brain. Even though you lucky to be saved just in time by Kakashi, who some how teleported you from Xever's deadly attack that surely would have taken you out or shut you down as you put it.
After Kakashi saved you, and thanks to Naruto who was the one to land the blows on Xever. Which left the mutants, to which Gaara came afterwards and took them out along with Rock Lee, Mighty Guy and their team. The Kraang Bots who where still functioning, where taken out by Sai before they got away. Naruto, Hinata and Kankuro came back after Xever fled. Before they could capture or him or for Kankuro finish him off. Everyone was taken back to the village, which was still recovering from the surprise attack by Xever and his team. The fact he could use jutsu like those of this world and he seem proficient in the use of the transformation jutsu. Made you uneasy and nervous, you didn't know who or what he would be next. That haunting looming feeling, made your skin crawl. He or the rest could be anywhere or anyone.
His words still haunted you, how you stood out in this world. This cold blooded world, one like himself could survive in unlike you. Because of that, he put the blame on you, being your fault that those of this world were suffering due to the presence of the Shredder and Kraang. Those words of adding Konohamaru and Mirai to the body count, which seem to increase because of you. It was because of you, they entered this world. His words hurt, but stung with so much truth. After that day, you couldn't sleep, your mind was over thinking everything that happened from then till now. They haunted you restlessly, despite all you tired to do when you had been on Tsunade's research team. You could not figure out anything, and because of that others where suffering. The count of missing shinobis from villages and towns increased. To this world, this new enemy was causing a threat, and fear and panic. That you knew no doubt the Shredder was using, your mind couldn't figure out what to do. Deeply wishing for the others to be here, someone anyone from your home world. To come up with a plan on how to deal with it, figure out a way to draw out Shredder and his men, or at least track down his hideout. Which was hidden well.
Back home, it was easy to find his place. It was just a empty abandon church in the center of city in a manner of speaking, in more darker area of the city. So whenever Shredder did something, it was easy to get to him. Even when getting into his hideout, even if there was small struggle it was still easy. Now, here in this world it was not. He was hiding himself well, very well. The fact he could send his men out, whenever and they could return back to the hideout safely. What was more interesting was how they seem to know this world's land and geography. Compared to you, who was still learning about them, they knew. It was true just as Xever said, they where adapting to this world with great ease, while compared to yourself, where not.
A huge part of you clung to how things where done back home. What you knew what to do back home, not in this world. Which was becoming a huge hindrance, sure you wore their garb, and study upon the many different jutsus and how their chakra worked. Understanding the different kinds of levels of each shinobi, what each village or Hidden Village was and where they resided. Pretty much just knowledge that one of this world would already know, but since you still learning out it, it only made sense. Not to mention the many different people who lived here, a few of them you learned about their life history should they tell you. Like Lee's and Hinata's for example and among others. The fact of knowing this, about them and they not knowing anything of your history, well that is besides Gaara and his siblings and including the toads and Naruto too. Who surprisingly seem to understand in a certain sense, though not fully. He seem to, even telling you a bit about himself during the time both of you spent with the toads in their mountain home.
Other than that, the others of this world did not know. They just saw you as a regular kounichi from Sunagakure, who is Termai's genin always coming to their village or being requested to offer your assistance on missions and a few times, the girl with the strange name. Mainly last name, O'Neil. A name they where not familiar with, but let it be, never really pressuring it. Which was good for you, still because of Xever's words a sense of isolation started to slowly crawl upon you. Making you feel distant and outcast.
Hinata sat there quietly, she could see your mind was in deep thought, her mind was doing the samething. She thought back to Xever's word that he called you, artificial. Knowing very well what that word meant, she wondered why he called you that. From the look she remembered that both Kankuro and Naruto had, told her they both knew and it seem clear they both took it offensively or to be more precise as a insult towards you. Which didn't make sense, why they would take that word like that. From their darken stare from the word, she saw what seem like the truth of Xever's words. About you being artificial, the question she had, was how you are consider that. Because from her perspective you looked just as human as the rest, walked like them and did everything else. Besides the fact you could fly and expelled this type of energy that didn't seem at all like chakra and not to mention you used this energy to lift things without touching them. Using this energy to allow you to heal and heal others. Your strength wasn't considered a red flag to her, because Lady Tsunade had strength along with Sakura, so it wasn't nothing really. She was amazed though at how much energy you seem to have, before feeling fatigue. Like some sort of living battery or something. Not to mention, how water reacted to you, instead of using jutsu like others to control it, you seem to be able to move it without the use of jutsu. Which of course you could not use at all, but used what was called Onmyodo. Which was used through forms of concentration, chants and certain kanji. That just like jutsu in a manner of speaking allowed you to different things with your energy.
With these things, she wondered if this what Xever meant by you being artificial, sure it wasn't consider normal from others. But she learned to except it and found it beautiful. A few times she expressed her admire for what you could do, often asking why you wrote in your notebook. Which you told her, where spells that you wanted to do. Again, she found nothing really wrong with it. Telling you, that because of it, it made you different which was good. But now, she wasn't sure, not because of herself, it was because after the encounter with Xever she noticed a shift in you.
Wishing you would say something, though she didn't not want to pressure you to say anything, even if it was to relevant any sort of feelings that where festering inside. Clearly showing in your hazed eyes. Despite the smile you wore, unsure what was said or what it was you where thinking, she knew one thing. It was eating you up inside, now if only you would say something about it. Feeling the need to break the silence, Hinata opens her mouth to start up a little chat.
Stopping, when you spoke instead."...Hinata.."you pause for a while before you said anything. She waits attentively for you say something, looking you over seeing your lip quiver just a bit as you bit it to stop it. Exhaling softly, you finally lift your head to look right at her. Though you smiled, she saw the heavy look in your eyes, the wounded look she had seen many times before from her own eyes. But this seem different, there was struggle in them. She watches as you swallow, you open your mouth once again to continue.
The second you, fast paced footsteps where heard coming down the hall. The of you look over your shoulders in the direction, with the footsteps came a voice. A voice both of you knew well, a voice that froze you and caused your eyes to dilate with fear, that turned to guilt once you saw the person that rushed passed Ao.
Kurenai. The woman was patting hard, she stood there looking right at you, you stare right back unable to say anything. Kurenai's red eyes quickly move from you, down at her daughter. Who seem to sense her mother's present and giggled with joy. Ao stood there with Shikamaru who emerged next to him, having accompanied jonin, both watching the mother rush over to her infant and take her from you, holding her tightly but not tight. Just enough, you saw the relief on her face over the fact her baby was safe and sound. The sight would melt anyone's heart, but it did the opposite for you. You felt your chest tighten, that you grabbed it, Hinata notices your action along with Shikamaru.
The Hyuga was about to say something, but you stood up to fast, once you gathered what you had. You thank Hinata and greet Kurenai, bowing to her stating you apologizes which you doubt she heard. With that you back away slowly and walk quickly down the hall and away from the clan's residence.
In the hospital, Konohamaru still rested. He as not awake yet, but that didn't mean people didn't come to see him. One of his guest being you, the door to his room opens up and you silently come into the room. The only sound was the heart monitor and the dripping of his IV, along with the rustle of the wind outside. You stood there by the door, a few feet away from him. Clenching what you had for him, tightly with angered guilt. Swallowing hard, you step forward and make your way towards his bedside. The boy just laid there, with a breathing mask on to provide him with oxygen. His chest rose up and down slowly, it was a good sign to see, but for you it wasn't. The moment of him getting beaten by Xever did not leave you, the fact he came into rescue you, no to defend you. Because you became overwhelmed by your attackers, not to mention you froze from horrible words that wounded worse than being attacked.
He came in, knowing what to do. Not even bothering to think about how it should be done, he just came in and was able to fend them off for a bit. Which was pretty impressive, then getting you and moving you away. The second both of you where attacked again, he still remained diligent and on guard. This boy, this twelve year old boy, had a plan compared to you. Who was lost on what you should do, wishing for one of the guys or April to jump out or to hear Leo tell you what to do. Because of this, Konohamaru suffered greatly. Like always, when you came to visit him, you place your hand on his forehead and began to heal him. Hoping that it would wake him up, but it seem to do nothing. Sighing in defeat, this guilt just became heavier and heavier. Xever's words of you adding two more bodies to your death count, sent a surge of unrecognizable pain through you.
Your eyes squint like you where producing tears, but none came out. Forcing yourself to smile despite the gloomy look in your eyes. Gently your hand brushes his hair back tenderly. You then bend down and plant a kiss on his forehead."Please forgive me...Konohamaru. I did not mean for this to happened to you, I will repay your kindness..."your other hand balls up tightly."B-because, you have been kind to me...I-I shall vow to repay it. But please, do not anymore..."your eyes shut close tightly."Please, do not offer me anymore kindness. It is not right, I do not...deserve it." you mumble the last part, you then more your hand to rest upon the side of his face. You left it there for a few seconds remembering something which you softly hum to him, before taking it off. Looking around, you look a place to put his gift you bought him and place the box down, then finding a vase you set the flowers there.
During your time with Konohamaru, you had forgotten to shut the door making you unaware of someone who was listening to your every word. Once you finished arranging the flowers, after collecting his dead ones. You give him a soft smile and leave. The same time as you leave, his friends Udon and Moegi come in along with their sensei Ebisu. A average height man having dark hair and brown eyes and wearing his sunglasses. Dressed in the slandered Konoha attire. They look at you a bit surprised, you stun for a second before smiling at them softly. You turn around to the boy.
"He, is getting better."you tell them. Moegi looks up at you, she saw you doing your best to hide your own sorrows. She gives you a sympathetic look, when you turn back to them with your smile. Nodding your head, she watches you leave.
Leaving the hospital, making your way outside. You stop walking just inches from the door, your head hung down towards the ground, you smile began to fade stopping when you heard your name. Making you look up, to see Ino. She waves at you happily as she ran over, she was beaming with happiness. Which was very radiant, for some reason she was happy about something really excited no doubt.
She grasp your hands in her's."I have good news for you!"she cheers, without a word she pulls you with her down the way she came."Come on, this is going to be so exciting!"Having no choice you follow her.
Still wondering what it was that Ino was so happy about and why she forced you to follow her. Because at this time, she would be working with the team. The blonde takes you Tsunade's office, which she just goes straight into. Announcing she had you. In the office, besides Tsunade and Shizune there was also Sakura who greets you with a smile, Ino stops right next to her with you. Besides Sakura you saw other faces you had not seen, two people who where much older, one a woman, the other a man with glasses, they carried a stern look. They stood by Tsunade, on her other side behind her desk. You could feel their look upon you. Which for some reason made you uneasy. But you stood there respectfully.
"May."Tsunade calls to you, you look at her. Her eyes stare into yours sending a message of apology despite it not looking so. It seem like she didn't want to do this, but her hands where tied. She sighs but keeps her face firm."You have been allowed to be back on the team,"she tells you. Ino squeals for you in delight shaking you. This came to a surprise to you."And because of this, I am sending the three of you to Kirigakure, the village has agreed to work with us on this matter, with these strange attacks. They have somethings I would like brought back here for further investigation. So the three of you will go and retrieve it and bring it back here. Understand."
Both Ino and Sakura tell her yes, Tsunade looks at you. But you where not looking at her, she saw a distracted look in your eyes, the other two noticed you had not said anything. They look at you, Sakura whisper to you while Ino nudges you. Both of them trying to snap you out of it, but it didn't work. Shizune looks at Tsunade confused and concerned. Tsunade seeing something couldn't really pinpoint it, she coughs deeply to get your attention. Which worked, it snapped you out of your trance.
You look at her, all eyes where on you."Y-yes."you tell her bowing your head."Thank you."
"Good, you three have an hour to get ready. You will meet your team leader at the gates."The Hokage tells you."You are dismissed. I do expect good results and completion of this mission, you three are my pupils."she tells all three girls sternly.
Which each of you understood, following Sakura who left first and leave the office. As the door closes, Tsunade balls her fist tightly. She hated what she just had to you. It left a disgusting taste in her mouth, the two council members felt no such guilt. After what they found out, they had a lengthy discussion with Tsunade, telling she had to do it along with others on the council, the two older ones expressed that if was for the safety of the village, and because of that all voted yes, to send you.
"If what we know is true."the older woman says.
"Then we must keep a watchful eye, and inform the other villages."the man says.
Shizune listens to their words, which she did not agree with. Her eyes look at her master who doing her best to keep her anger in check over her own guilt."Milady."Shizune says to herself, hearing Ino's voice outside, she looks out the window down at the three young pupils of Tsunade. She smiles, which fades once her eyes lay on you."I'm so sorry May."she holds Tonton the pig for comfort.