Part I | Chapter 2
Gohama opened the mission scroll. Helping an old lady with her groceries. She sighed and moved towards the civilian district. From roof to roof, she quickly reached the feeble old house with a red wooden door. She knocked thrice.
"Who is it?" A weak voice sounded from inside.
"Mishimoto-san, I'm here to help you with your groceries."
The locks chinked and rumbled and Gohama impatiently waited for the door to finally open. When it did, but only half way, a small decrepit old woman peeked through the crack. She roved her wary gazed twice over Gohama from top to bottom. Satisfied with her scrutinizing, she raised her chin and spat bitterly "You're the girl they've been talking about."
"It's good to know I'm famous."
"They don't say good things."
"Well. It's like people say «No publicity is bad publicity»."
"How dishonourable" the old woman squealed, as if Gohama had insulted her personally "I refuse to be helped by a foreign ninja! I want a Konoha nin."
"I am a Konoha kunoichi. They wouldn't give me this mission scroll if I wasn't." Gohama waved it in front of the hag.
"Then what is that at your waist?" she pointed smugly, as a child catching an adult red-handed.
"That's just a particularity. There's no need to worry about it. I'm still Leaf. I will do everything as the previous ninja that helped you did." she tried to keep her voice soft.
"How can I trust you not to leave with my money?"
"I'm the heiress of a noble clan. I don't need your brass farthing."
The old woman inhaled deeply, her eyes and mouth widened in outrage. "You dare insult me! You rude brat! I'll go to the Hokage myself. Imura-san was right, there's nothing good about you coming here, to our Village!"
She tried shutting the door and Gohama effortlessly caught it.
"You did insult me first by calling me a thief, but I suppose senile old people can get away with anything. Now. I really do need to complete this mission, so, if you'll excuse me, I just need to fetch your grocery list. I'll even pay for it myself." she said the last offer with a sweet tone, forcing the door open.
The old woman started yelling for help. Someone tugged Gohama's shirt from behind and pulled her out the house. He stepped between the old hag and Gohama.
"I'm extremely sorry for this outrageous behaviour, Mishimoto-san. I'll make sure she is dealt with. Now, may I help you with your groceries?"
"Oh, Kakashi-kun! How nice of you to save me. You were always a nice boy." The old woman said while pinching his masked cheeks. "I'll go fetch the list. Please make sure that insolent brat never comes near me again. Such a dishonourable girl. Shameful. Truly shameful. I'll make sure people are warned. She'll taint this Village."
"You know how they are in Snow Country. Barbaric." his indignant tone had a hint of mocking.
Kakashi received the list and the door shut behind him. The rumble of metal and locks echoing through the street.
"Your social skills are wonderful." he commented sarcastically.
"That's what seven years in a monastery does to a person. That and not giving a shit."
"A senile old woman…" he chuckled "Half the people will hate you, the other half will make you their personal hero."
"Do you make a habit of spying other people?"
"I am a shinobi."
"Well, is the great Copy-nin going to steal my D-rank mission?"
"You go to the market." he gave her the list "But it's better if I deliver the groceries."
"I don't need your help."
Gohama jumped onto the rooftop and sped towards the market. There was nothing the bitchy old hag didn't want. The Kyura gracefully balanced the bags on her way over through the ground. It was definitely supposed to be a mission for a genin team, not solo. From the looks people gave her, the old woman had already spread the attack she had been a victim of. When she arrived, Kakashi was laying on the shabby roof, reading his book.
"You read porn in public, but I'm the disgraceful one."
He glanced towards her. "I'm surprised you managed that in one trip. With my team, it took two and they were three brats"
"Well, I am extremely skilled."
"Only as a kunoichi, I'm afraid. Wait here. " he pocketed his book and jump onto the ground.
He balanced the bags even more easily than Gohama. He looked towards her and tilted his head towards the door. She knocked for him. The shuffle of locks overpowered the cicada's singing. Gohama jumped out of view. She heard their amusing exchange.
"Oh, Kakashi-kun! Come in, come in! Look at you carrying all those bags! And so handsome, like your father! It's a shame you hide your face. You must break many hearts… Don't you have a girlfriend?"
"I'm afraid it's just me." Even from the roof, Gohama could distinguish his embarrassment.
"I have a beautiful grand-niece. I can arrang—"
"Ah," he cut the woman off and Gohama chuckled "I'm flattered, Mishimoto-san, but my shinobi job steals all of my time."
"Stay for tea, then."
"I have to deliver the mission report as soon as I finish it. But thank you."
"So busy! That isn't good for a young man such as yourself. You should enjoy life, especially women, Kakashi-kun, before you settle for one. It's really a shame such a handsome man is still single…"
"Have a good day, Mishimoto-san."
"Wait, before you go, Kakashi-kun. Make sure you straighten things out with the Hokage when it comes to that insolent Kyura. If you'll allow me to say such things, but if that's what all of them were like, maybe it's for the best… you know… Thank the gods, a brat like that—"
Gohama's anger boiled at those vicious words. She was ready to burst through the house when Kakashi spoke "I will not allow it. The Kyura were an honourable clan, one of the best in the shinobi world. What happened was unfair and tragic. Only a senile old woman such as yourself could ever say something so spiteful."
There was silence. It was only broken by the sound of a door shutting softly. No locks rumbled this time. Gohama felt a strange feeling tug at her chest. She left before she could meet Kakashi.
There were only three days until the Chunin Exam. Gohama decided she should meet her team that day. She had completed all the missions requested by the Hokage. The C-rank one was a simple escort job to another town in the Fire Country, lasting only a day with no dangerous encounters. Gohama had actually hoped for some action. She had been so bored in the past week and a half. Only solo training had entertained her. She had thought Kakashi would spy on her abilities while she exercised, but he never did. Sparing with the Copy-nin would definitely had kept her entertained.
The Jonin Headquarters was beside the Hokage Tower. Tsunade had told her she should find her provisional team's sensei there. She reached the reception.
"Good morning. Do you know where I can find Inuzuka Gaku?"
"At the common room."
"Which is?"
"At the end of the corridor take the left, then the second left, then all the way to the end."
"Thank you."
When she passed the second left, she could hear, from the opened double doors at the end of the corridor, the murmur of animated conversation, some loud laughs would break through the mumble. She walked the distance confidently and entered the room with no hesitation. Quiet. All eyes turned towards her. She hated how her heart fastened and her hands became humid. She was ready to speak when Kakashi stepped in front of her. She hadn't even noticed he was there in the mixture of too many powerful chakra. In the back of her mind, she left a note to train that aspect of her sense.
"Last I heard you were still a genin." he joked.
Whispers began filling the room. Gohama focused on Kakashi, frowning in disgust as she saw him drink tea through his mask.
"Tsunade told me I could find Inuzuka Gaku here."
"Hansuke." he called.
A man with light brown hair and tanned skin walked towards them. His look was fixated on her Arms' hitai-ate. As he reached them, his eyes settled on Gohama's for a second. They were a deep hazel, his gaze intense. He quickly averted it towards Kakashi. Quite an attractive man.
"Yes?" he asked the other Jonin, voice deep and smooth.
"Do you know where Inuzuka is"
"I think he's training with his team. No idea where."
"Mm. By the way. Gohama," his hand slid towards the hazel-eyed Jonin. "this is Giranai Hansuke. Hansuke," he moved his hand towards Gohama "this is, well…, I think everyone knows who she is by now."
"Nice to meet you, Kyura-san." he said without looking at her "Excuse me."
They both watched him head towards a group of chatting Jonin. Kakashi shrugged.
"You have to search for Inuzuka on the reserved training fields' log." he said as he was taking off.
"Kakashi." she called.
"Kakashi?"
"I'm not going to call you san, much less sempai."
"Sama is good for me."
"Where can I find this book of reservations?"
"Hokage Tower. Thought you knew".
"Why do people assume I know where everything is?" she mumbled to herself.
"Because you appear to be a smart girl." he mocked, back already turned to her. "I suppose it's just an appearance, though."
Gohama left for the Hokage Tower. Again.
Finally at the training field 9, she saw her team for the Chunin Exam. Gohama decided it was best to access their abilities from a far. The sensei had red fang markings on his cheeks and a large dog was beside him. A boy and a girl, both maybe fourteen years old, constituted the team. They were sparing with each other. The girl couldn't balance her lack of strength with speed or cunning, so the boy easily overpowered her. Still, his movements were sloppy and rash. They were just using taijutsu. The girl was finally thrown onto the floor with a hard punch. Gohama approached them, standing beside the sensei.
Without turning away from his students, Inuzuka commented "So you're the Kyura everyone has been talking about."
"I'm flattered"
The kids reached them. The girl had long blue hair and dark eyes. The boy was taller, with broad shoulders, light hair and blue eyes.
"Guys, this is Kyura…" he looked towards her, expecting her to complete his words.
"Gohama."
"She'll be part of our team during the Chunin Exam. This is Nisami and Ryu." All three nodded at each other. "The best way to acquaint with each style and abilities is fighting. So, who starts?"
"Me." Ryu said with a cocky smile.
Gohama could already sense from his chakra that he had water nature. She would go with earth then. They jumped onto the middle of the clearing. His hand seal movement wasn't fast, so Gohama caught onto the jutsu before he unleashed it. The boy was starting hard. A massive high-pressure wave rose from the stream that crossed the field, but she had already disappeared into the trees. A hole was left on the soil. Ryu had wasted 30% of his reserves and he hadn't even made sure he hit the target. Rash. She couldn't understand what their sensei was thinking. They were clearly not ready to be Chunin. His disappointed look was amusing.
Gohama took the chance to surprise him from behind, sweeping his feet. He fell onto the ground but recovered quickly. They began exchanging blows. He was strong, but his technic was all wrong. He punched and kicked with no thought, hoping one would hit the target. Gohama easily avoided them. Again, he used the same jutsu. Now aware of the force of the water, she could safely build an earth wall. He was at 40%. They began a taijutsu fight.
"Think when you fight. Every time you punch, you open your defences. I could easily win with counter-attacks. Use your strength along with your brain."
"What do you know, Kyura?" he said bitterly "You're not the sensei."
"She's right, Ryu!" Inuzuka shouted "If you'd only listen to your sensei…"
He became enraged, his blows more frantic and sloppy. Again, he tried using his water release. This time he put more chakra into it. Gohama managed to reinforce her rock wall. The kid fell. Stupid kid. He finished his chakra reserves. She rushed towards him. If he wasn't be able to go to the Exam, she couldn't go too. She made another wall of earth separating them from Inuzuka and Nisami. As she laid a hand onto his bare stomach, Gohama pushed chakra into his core. Light blue energy spread from her palm and disappeared into Ryu's skin. The stupid kid was coming back. Now, he just needed a night of good sleep. She sighed in relief. The benefits of the Kyura Kekkei Genkai.
The girl and sensei appeared from behind the wall, the massive dog following them.
"What happened?" Gaku asked.
"He used too much chakra and fainted. He's back now."
"What have I told you, Ryu?! You have to think. Being a shinobi isn't just about cool jutsus and force. So reckless. If it were a mission, you'd be dead."
The kid dropped his head sheepishly. "I'm sorry, Gaku-sensei."
"Training his over. Go get some rest. Nisami make sure he gets home well." He tilted his head as a sign to Gohama "Kyura let's talk."
Gohama's heart jumped a little. Had he realised she had donated chakra? She didn't want her abilities discovered so soon. It was always best to surprise the adversary. Let them underestimate her.
"Yes, Inuzuka?"
He gave her a pointed stare at the casualness, but dismissed it with a shrug.
"How old are you, kid?"
"Sixteen."
"Genin for how long?"
"Since I was seven."
"A long time."
What a stupid observation. "I lost track of my rank when my Village was destroyed." She replied sharply. He didn't take that well.
"I have to be honest. I'm not happy with Tsunade's orders of having you in my team. So, don't you get all smug and leave my team behind, okay kid?"
Gohama scowled. "And why would I do that?"
"You Kyura are the Uchiha of Snow."
"If you knew anything, you'd compare us to the Hyuga."
"I'm not talking about blood and history. Think about it. Two cocky and selfish clans, killed in one night, with only one survivor. The rotted clans of the Villages."
Without hesitation, Gohama lunged into him. She took a kunai from her holster, so he wouldn't know she could summon weapons without a scroll. He avoided her attempts to stab him. She had no control over her own movements, but her head was clear and cunning. There was one objective and all her being moved towards it. She didn't think about it, she just moved. He held a kunai too. The clash of metal echoed through the clearing. They limited themselves in a taijutsu battle. However, Inuzuka was a Jonin, he was gradually overpowering her. He was stronger and he was faster.
His chakra showed he had intrinsically earth nature, but also manipulated the water and fire ones. Gohama would have to read his hand seals in order to defend herself from his attacks. Ninjutsu seemed the safest approach. She formed the seals. Lighting spread from the soil, electrifying the air. With no wind release, he had no way to evade her attack. He tried escaping its range, but wasn't fast enough. He fell to the ground, holding his chest. Gohama saw his dog fall too and felt a prickle of guilt.
Before she could reach him to attack again, Gaku pulled himself into all fours. His dog transformed into a clone of himself. Gohama had never seen anything like this. He had managed to surprise her. She inwardly cursed and warily waited for their attack. The both started rolling at a brutal speed towards her. She evaded them, but they followed her too quickly. She managed to make the seals and form a thick wall of rock, slowing them enough to escape, as they broke through it. Again, she used the Lightning attack. They managed to roll away from the danger zone. When they stopped spinning, Gohama could feel their raged stare boring into her. She knew her own face held an even more hateful one, multiplied by the five kage bushin she had just created. She wouldn't lose. She couldn't lose.
Gohama ran ready to attack and finish the fight. They began rolling again, but instead of creating two spinning disks, their attack was so fast they seemed too make thrice the whirlpools, seemingly small hurricanes. She tried dodging them. Her kage bushin were dispelling. She had to use her Kyura chakra manipulation. As she started forming a shield around her, one vortex hit her and she lost her bearings. She was thrown across the field, unable to prune her fall. Another hit and another. Pain shot through her nerves. All her body hurt, she couldn't be sure which parts she could move. She stayed still and focused on her chakra. When they reached to hit her again, she released her chakra in its pure form in an energy explosion. They flew across the clearing. The dog transformed back into its original form. Both lay on the floor, panting and hurting, the same as Gohama. Inuzuka rose with loud grunts. He picked up his yelping ninken.
"Look what you've done, you fucking Kyura! Go back to your fucking dead Village!"
He disappeared with a swirl of leaves. The prickle of guilt grew into a full burn. She couldn't move. She tilted her head and glanced towards the field. The soil was overturned. The first rows of trees encircling the clearing wrecked. She was panting from the pain and from the failure. He had walked away and she couldn't get up. She had lost. She had fucking lost.
It had been between ten minutes to three hours. Gohama couldn't discern how long she had stayed there, lain between the rumble of a devastated training ground, doing nothing but looking at the sky. According to the sun, it was two in the afternoon, but she didn't know at what time she had gotten there, much less how long she had stayed. Did people already know about her fight with Inuzuka? Was it possible Tsunade would revoke her asylum? After two weeks out, most of the shinobi world probably had learned there was a Kyura heiress alive. It was dangerous to travel the nations now. She had become dependent on Konoha.
Gohama finally found the inner will to rise. She probably had a broken rib. The cuts were all superficial. She would not go to the hospital or a clinic. Besides, she had always healed fast. By the Chunin Exam, she would be in acceptable shape. In a swirl of snowflakes, she was at her Inn room. She grabbed her med kit and tried to amend most of the damage.
The night was still and calm. The moon was low, the crickets chirping loudly at the abandoned compound. He stared at the facade of a rundown house through his one droopy eye. He wouldn't dare see through the sharingan. It was only for showing the future and the house in front of him, the street at his feet and the compound had no future. It was as quiet as death, with no life, no time. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and jumped onto the balcony. His steps had been the same as the ones so many years ago, too many years ago, but now there was no one to call for, no one to drag to the training grounds. He didn't know what had brought him there after so long. His feet driven by an unconscious urge. What had triggered this urge? Probably Naruto leaving with Jiraya with one goal in mind. His absence had reminded him of Sasuke's own absence. Or maybe it had been the arrival of the Kyura girl. Her presence reminding him of the Kyura's own absence. So similar to the Uchiha's.
He peeked through the tarnished window. The room was as he remembered from when it had life. But now a cover of dust and quietness set through the floor and furniture. It was dingy and eerie. The room mocked him in its crystalized state. Simultaneously, identical and different. It shouted to him loss. As much as he tried to block his ears to the shouts, as much as they pierced him and hurt, he always came back there to hear them. As he was doing now. A chakra signature rose him from his sorrow. He quickly jumped away from the balcony.
"What are you doing here?"
"I should ask you the same thing." he replied.
"I asked first."
Gohama remained frozen in front of him, waiting for his response. Maybe he could just disappear, but that would seem suspicious.
"Reading." This was hardly better.
"In the dark, in the Uchiha compound?"
"I enjoy the quiet." he lied.
"Why that balcony?"
"It's surprisingly comfortable."
Gohama examined the house behind him and then spot of his Leaf hitai-ate that covered the sharingan. "Ah." she replied, unconvinced. "Well, I'll leave you to your reading then."
"I answered you, now you answer me."
"I'm taking a stroll."
"In the Uchiha compound?"
"I enjoy the quiet." Kakashi had no witty quip after she caught him with his own line.
She continued lazily walking down the street. He, with no particular reason, at least not one he recognized, fell into step beside her. They kept silent for some time. Gohama seemed absorbed by the buildings they passed. She suddenly stated "Uchiha Sasuke was your student."
"Are you here because of him?"
"Someone compared the Uchiha to the Kyura. Sasuke to me."
"Was that what made beat and be beaten by your team's sensei?" Kakashi asked amused.
"Provisional team." she corrected. "Did he already boast it to the entire world?"
"No, he actually kept silent. I think he was ashamed of losing against a genin."
"I lost."
"Then how are you perfectly fine and he ended up in the hospital?" She subtly winced at that information.
"I was the one that lost." Kakashi couldn't understand why she was so focussed on that fact. He was going to ask her to explain the circumstances of their fight when she asked "How do you know it was me?"
"The chakra burns."
"Mm. Do you think Tsunade will deport me?"
"If she wanted to, ANBU would have already imprisoned you."
"How's his ninken?"
"Recovering, but good. The fight got a little out of control" his tone became lighter "But I can understand. Being compared to Uchiha can be quite the insult. Especially Sasuke."
"The comparison didn't bother me."
"So you think you're similar to Sasuke?"
Gohama scoffed. "Why not? Our circumstances are almost the same."
"Almost?"
"At least, Sasuke had a village to defect from." she said nonchalantly.
A constricting heaviness weighed on his chest. With her comment, he finally understood the dimension of Gohama's loss and loneliness. When he first learnt about her being alive he obviously realised she had to be lonely. Being the last survivor of a Village meant being the only one. But now, as she compared herself to also lonesome Sasuke, he, more than understood, felt her loss. She was missing more than Sasuke, more than Kakashi himself. She had lost her home. Sasuke in all his solitude still had Konoha. Kakashi in all his loss still had his Village. In one night, Gohama had lost her loved ones, her acquainted ones, her clan, her Village, her home. How she held herself with that firmness in those so Kyura eyes was bewildering. There was pain too. How could it not be there? He felt a bitter taste in his mouth. Kakashi wasn't Kakashi without the bitter feel of guilt. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye and wondered what she was thinking as she examined the abandoned Uchiha houses.
"I met your other students the other day. Before Naruto left." Well, that was a surprise.
"Yes. They were at Ichiraku."
"So that's why you disappeared." she observed accusingly.
He brushed the back of his neck. "Hm... no. There was this old lady that had lost her kitty and nee—"
"Excuses... He's the nine tails jinchuriki, isn't he?"
Did she learn about it from gossip or examining him? Kakashi supposed she could be able to recognise a Jinchuriki. The Kyura were also known as the Jubi Clan. Their own jinchuriki had disappeared in the massacre, probably killed along with the ten tailed beast (1). Rumours said that, after the death of the previous Kyura vessel, the Biju had been transferred into a child. A child is easily killed. A child can't control a Biju's power. The Arms were vulnerable without their greatest military asset. He didn't answer her question.
She chuckled. "He asked me what my name was."
"Well, he can be a little distracted."
"Not my last name, my name."
Kakashi understood what she meant. When people looked at her, they only saw a Kyura, a last Kyura. They didn't really care about anything else concerning Gohama besides her clan. Except Naruto. But Naruto was Naruto.
"He's like that."
"Still, an Uzumaki…"
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"The Uzumaki were always rivals to the Kyura. Similar powers you see. I'm surprised Konoha and the Arms were such great allies considering you wear their crest."
Kakashi absently looked at the symbol in his uniform's biceps. "Naruto doesn't really care about those things. Besides, he's not very familiar with his clan. It's really just his last name for him."
She pondered for a moment. "So, a last Uchiha and a Jinchuriki, huh? The Hokage must really trust your teaching abilities." she teased. The bitterness burst even more blazing. She couldn't possibly know how those words affected him. It was better if he didn't say anything at all. "Now, you just have the pink-haired girl to teach. Sakura, isn't it?"
"Mm."
"I doubt you'll keep being her sensei, though."
He let out an annoyed scoff. "You're presuming about what doesn't concern you, Kyura."
"Am I? I mean, for the past two weeks you've been either following me or reading your porn on some random roof. The Chunin Exam is coming and you haven't cared about training with your student. I'm not judging though. You're right, it's nothing of my concern." Before Kakashi could even linger on all of Sakura's case, he was taken aback by her next words. "I just brought it up because, in case you're not going to teach her anymore, I was thinking that maybe you could train me. After I'm a chunin."
Her tone was casual, almost indifferent. She had halted, waiting for his answer. He realised now they were at the Uchiha compound entrance. Was he curious about training a Kyura? Yes. Did he want to train Gohama? No. Definitely not. He had given up on teaching after team 7's obvious fiasco. He didn't want to keep being Sakura's sensei, much less start with Gohama. She was like Sasuke. He had fucked it up with him, he would obviously fuck it up with her. He tried to avoid a clearly unavoidable answer.
"You're very confident about the exam." he said in an amused teasing voice.
"Yes." she said matter-of-factly. "I've been thinking—"
He continued trying to switch the theme of their conversation. "Never a good thing."
She rolled her eyes at his mocking. "—about what I'd do after becoming a chunin. I came to the Leaf because Uncle had nothing more he could teach me. He trusts you and you are the Copy-nin; besides, now that I know you were sensei to an Uchiha and a jinchuriki," why did she use past tenses? "I thought you could be a good training partner."
"So you're looking for a training partner" he mockingly emphasised "not a sensei."
"Something like that. What do you say?"
Kakashi tried to keep his stance relaxed. He felt his hands getting damp inside his pockets. He was trapped. He didn't know how to get out of this situation. Honesty was out of question, he would never admit he was a failure as a sensei and he would fail with Gohama too. Besides, he didn't think her being stuck with him would do any good for her already damaged person. He also didn't want to hurt her with a blunt no. Why he cared about her feelings was out of his mind at the moment.
"You need a team, Gohama."
"Two people make a team."
"With people your own age."
"That's a petty excuse… If you don't want to train me you can just say it."
"It's not an excuse. I'm serious. When they work, teams are great. Our team wouldn't work."
"Now you're the one presuming, Hatake."
"I'm not presuming." he said harshly "Look at Sasuke."
"Just because he left to become stronger doesn't been it didn't work."
"No, it doesn't. But his self-destructive obsession with revenge does."
"No team would have been able to stop that."
"Are you speaking from personal experience?" he asked bitterly.
"So this is what it's about. You're afraid I'll ditch you like he did. You're too scared of tainting your perfect genius of Konoha reputation with another failure." she spat with disdain.
"You think you're so smart. What do you know, kid? You got here less than two weeks ago. You know nothing."
"I'm right about Sakura. Now that you lost the two prodigies, you don't care about the weak girl with girly pink hair. Maybe you never did care."
"Don't you dare talk about my team," he hissed "Kyura."
"Is it really yours? Is it really a team?"
He crossed the space between them in a flash and held the collar of her cloak with a harsh clasp. She didn't waver. Her eyes as defying as her words. She was almost asking him to hit her, to lose his grip. With his typical self-control, he released her cloak and stepped back.
"A shame Inuzuka couldn't beat that conceit out of you." he said with no emotion behind it "I won't train you, Kyura."
A cloud of smoke replaced his figure.
Gohama stared at the dissipating smoke. Everyone hated her. Maybe they were right. Maybe the Kyura were a cocky and selfish clan. She had been a child when the massacre happened, she hadn't had the ability to understand the Kyura's faults. For her, they were her family and her home. In fact, as a Kyura herself, she seemed to be an insufferable person. After less than two weeks, Gohama had already pissed off three people. Maybe that side of her came from her clan's blood.
When she arrived at Konoha, she expected pity. All she got was disdain and hatefulness. Honestly, she found it better. Pity had always made her feel weak and pathetic. No one pitied great people. Being hated meant there was a reason to be hated. Kakashi had made it seem that being compared to an Uchiha was an insult. Gohama knew little about the extinct clan relations with Konoha, but they were still one of the most powerful clans in all shinobi world. Their bloodline limit was the Sharingan. That alone put them almost on a godlike level. The Kyura could only ascend to that level because of Seiryu, the ten-tailed beast. She grew up with stories about the Jinchuriki and Seiryu's power. Her own grandfather had been a Jinchuriki. He had been fundamental in assuring the Buki's safety during the shinobi wars. No one dared mess with her Village when the great Blue Beast was alive. Her heart ached knowing the massacre would never have been possible if her grandfather had been the Jinchuriki. All her will was powered by that understanding.
She let herself stand by the entry of the Uchiha compound. Would her own Village look the same? A ghost town, frozen in time. The echoes of a lost life whispered by the still set tables, the still messy homes, the still personal furniture. Gohama had never managed to go back since the day she left running through the mountains, as Father had ordered. Her heart wished she had disobeyed. Her mind knew the reason behind the Yukikage's command. At the time, she hadn't realised the meaning of leaving behind her Village. At the time, she hadn't known it had been the last breath of the Arms. Maybe if she had known she wouldn't have ran. But she hadn't and now she accepted her burden dutifully. The Yukikage's rule was still alive through her. It wouldn't perish until she perished too. Bukigakure lived on through Gohama.
With heavy steps, she went back to the Inn. Gohama was beaten up, body and soul.
(1) I decided to make the Kyura jinchuriki the ten-tails because I didn't want to replace canon jinchuriki characters. So, during the Fourth Ninja War, the ultimate beast, in this story, will have eleven tails.