Part I | Chapter 3
That year, nine teams from Konoha would participate in the Chunin Exam. They were all standing at the gate, ready to part. The genin taking the Exam for the first time were excited to prove themselves. They loudly exclaimed all the great feats and beatings they would indulge in. From the chakra Gohama sensed in them, she doubted those expectations would ever come through. There was also a nervous tension hovering the group. Not only from the participants, but the Jonin too. After the disaster of Orochimaru's infiltration, the Leaf had taken extra precaution, especially considering the Sand's involvement. Even Tsunade was accompanying them. Gohama supposed it served as a diplomatic measure.
Surprisingly, the team she would participate with was still the same one. Although by now everyone knew of Inuzuka and Gohama's fight (they were adherents of showing how much they despised her through their looks), no one spoke of it. Even Tsunade hadn't had the need to chastise their behaviour. There had been no repercussions to her raging and disobedient break out. What was not surprising was how her team kept glancing at her with hatred, but never dared approach her. The first thing Gohama noticed as she saw them was that Inuzuka's ninken seemed well. Relief lifted some of the heaviness in her guts.
"Why did I ever hope he'd be on time?" Tsunade sighed "Let's move, Shizune. He'll just have to meet us there."
And so the shinobi began their five day journey.
As unbearable as it had seemed it would be, the trip was being pleasant. She had always enjoyed the freedom of running through tree branches or the forest ground. Her Kyura chakra manipulation allowed her to run fast and effortlessly, even on difficult terrain. She had lived in Snow, where the soil was covered in snow half the year. It asked for almost as much chakra as when walking above water, especially when one intended to hide one's tracks. She flowed through the branches, the cool air of dawn pushing through her face and hair. She chose to settle on the front line of the group. This way the loathing stares would only hit her back. Gohama found herself thinking of Iruka. He had been the only person who was nice to her. Except Kakashi, in his own stalking aloof way, but she had managed to fuck that up too. She wondered how Uncle Tsukate would feel knowing she had managed to piss off his friend in only a week. Her only frail liaison to Konoha cut in her defensive rage. She was technically a Leaf kunoichi, meaning no liaison was actually needed, but, considering how every single person in that Village either hated or was wary of her, she was no more than a hired mercenary. Too-good-for-a-shinobi-Iruka probably loathed her too now.
Gohama really was a brat, as Mishimoto-san had said. Whenever things didn't go her way, she went into a defensive attack. Nothing like shoving others flaws and liabilities to make them come around… She blamed her poor social skills on the monks. She considered herself a collected and rational girl. Only when she felt her pride threatened did her impulsiveness resurfaced. She had seen it in Kakashi's expression, he was going to say no. And the rejection stabbed more deeply that she cared to admit. Gohama had dug for reasons independent of her, but, in the end, she knew Kakashi probably just didn't think she was worth his time. So, she had accused him of being vain. But it wasn't enough, she scooped farther, she attacked his broken team, calling onto his own feelings of failure. Despicable. Poor guy, he had been welcoming, trying to help Tsukate's niece, only to be insulted when he was asked to do too much.
The group stopped for rest and lunch. Gohama sat on a branch, back against the trunk, and ate. She wasn't tired nor hungry, but there was no reason to save the rations for later. Besides, eating gave her something to do. When she finished, she let the murmur of animated talk from below lull her into a numb observation of the trees' texture in front of her. She let her eyes close and tilted her head against the trunk, her leg dangling. Soon after, a chakra signature jumped next to her.
"Hokage-sama wishes to speak to you."
Gohama sighed. The chastising would come now.
Tsunade was sitting on a portable stool.
"Tsunade-sama."
"You can sit." she said pointing to a stool beside her. "So. You have gotten into a slight altercation with your team's sensei, which resulted in a wrecked training ground."
"I can pay for the repair."
"That's not the problem." she cut in harshly "The problem is I accepted your asylum request because I thought you wouldn't go around attacking Leaf shinobi. Especially superiors. Your insubordination could result in your exile, considering you've only been two weeks with us."
"Will you exile me, Hokage-sama?"
"Not yet. Inuzuka told me you were the one to attack him. Is it true?"
"Yes."
"Why did you, then?"
"I lost control of my temper."
"That much is obvious, Kyura."
"It won't happen again."
"You better hope not. Next time I won't be so tolerant."
Gohama rose to leave and Tsunade added.
"I know Inuzuka Gaku can be difficult, but he is your provisional sensei, so try not to get into any more fights. With anyone else too."
Gohama bowed and left for her branch. The gossiping whispers rising from below.
After a tedious and overheating stroll through the desert of the Land of Wind, the walls of Suna were finally visible. The monochromatic city, painted in a dull and dusty brown, did little to excite the exhausted Leaf shinobi. Everyone was too tired to think of anything other than a cold shower and lying down.
The journey had been unbearable. The hostility never subsided. Gohama had spent most of it at the front line, separated from the rest. She didn't really care if they hated her or not, the annoying part was they didn't leave her in peace. Especially during resting or meal stops. They felt the need to throw her mocking and spiteful comments. But, at least, only the disrespecting and confronting younger ones dared insult her Village and Clan. At least in these cases, most Jonin had the tact to reprimand their students, but that didn't stop their insolence. Once, a green-haired boy joked about the Yukikage's weakness and failure because he had let himself be killed. Gohama responded with a simple "He did have a lot in common with the Sandaime". The kid shut up. After that, no one ridiculed the Arms again. The sensei mostly joked about Snow and Gohama's pale skin, now reddened under the Wind's sun.
One of the sensei, that had introduced himself as Sarutobi Asuma, quietly approached her one night. The rest of the group was divided between animated fire camps. Gohama had chosen a lonely branch to look at the sky. It wasn't cold enough to bother her. He sat beside her and looked up as well, his cigarette dangling from his lips. After a silent moment, he had said "I fought beside Kyura during the war. I was just a child then, much like this genin kids. My platoon had both Konoha and Buki shinobi. The lieutenant was this impossible Kyura, Hideki—"
Gohama chuckled. "Oh, yes…" she agreed "Mother's brother."
"Good to know it wasn't just the Leaf shinobi that thought that…" he said amused "Don't get me wrong, he was a genius but his personality… I did become good friends with a Kyura Tsukate."
Her eyes lit up and her heart warmed wistfully. She gave a small smile. "Father's younger brother. Uncle Tsukate. How was he?"
"He was a few years older than me. Friendly, kind and protective. He saved my life a few times. He lost many in the war. We all did. I hope he found peace now."
She realised Asuma thought he was dead. Most people outside the Arms hadn't known about his chosen path. "He's still alive."
Asuma's expression opened in surprise and confusion. The cigarette fell onto his lap. "What?"
"He renounced to his shinobi life and became a monk. I spent my hidden years with him at the monastery."
"So, I mourned for the death of a living friend…" he observed sadly.
"Your mourning was well placed, though. A lot of him died with Buki."
The silence that settled was heavy and gloomy. The sounds of the forest accompanied the mumbling of talk below and the hiss of burning tobacco.
"Don't listen to what people say. Orochimaru's attack is still recent. They are afraid and suspicious of outside people. I think they see in you what could have happened to Konoha. Some are just jealous, though, or trying to fit in, especially the younger ones. Things will calm down eventually." he stood up and put his cigarette out "The Kyura were powerful and honourable. I saw it with my own eyes in the war."
"I hope we still are…"
"It's up to you to show us that, Gohama."
Her reverie was halted by the so awaited lazy fall onto her hotel bed. She easily got a room alone. No one wanted to share one with her. For once, she was extremely pleased with her bad reputation. Finally, she could be left alone. After a shower, she allowed herself to take a much-desired nap.
A soft knock woke her up. She sighed and opened her eyes, trying to remember where she was. Suna. It was already dark outside. Gohama recognised the chakra outside but couldn't pinpoint to whom it belonged.
"Yes?"
"Can I come in?" a shy voice asked.
Gohama rose with an annoyed grunt. She unlocked the door seals and opened it. "Sakura, right?"
"You remember…"
"The hair helps… What do you need?"
"Hm… they told me I have to… share the room… with you…" she was full out blushing, worse than Gohama's sunburn. She still hadn't made eye contact.
"Okay." Gohama said, standing aside to let her enter "The window bed is mine."
She closed the door behind her and locked the seals.
"Oh, the seals… that's why I couldn't use my key."
Sakura walked gingerly towards the bed and sat stiffly at the edge. Her hands in her lap kept straightening the already straightened skirt.
"Give me your key." she did so and Gohama formed a few hand signs "This should work." she informed, giving it back to the nervous girl.
"Thanks… That's impressive… for a genin… I never learnt a seal…" she focused her gaze on her hands.
"Well, my clan is famous for fuinjutsu. Among other things… Why can't you stay with your friends?" Gohama asked flopping back on her bed.
"It's strict two persons for room. I'm sorry…"
"It's not like it's your fault. Besides, you can always just ignore it and meet them after."
"That's against the orders!" she said slightly outraged.
"Who cares? It's not like they'll execute you for it."
"I don't think I'm comfortable disobeying... Especially in another village."
"As you wish. But you'll have to put up with me."
She went for a shower and Gohama just lay on her bed. So Kakashi actually recommended his student. Did he train her? That would explain why she arrived late. The complete group had taken five days, but, with only two people, they could make it in three. He probably decided to train her after their little chat, which meant what Gohama had said affected him. If that hadn't been obvious by his loss of cool. Still, Gohama didn't think Sakura was ready. Her chakra control and flow were remarkable, but without proper training that meant nothing. Kakashi wasn't the right sensei for Sakura's skill set, which meant it was probably for the best he chose to let go of her coaching.
"So, Sakura." Gohama started as the girl left the bathroom.
"Yes, Gohama-san?"
"Just Gohama is fine. Are you training to be a medic-nin?"
"No. Not really… Why?"
"Your chakra is good for that."
"How do you know?"
"I can sense chakra."
"Like the Hyuga?"
"It's different. We do descend from the same ancient bloodline, but their Byakugan allows them to see chakra and pathways. With the Kyura, chakra perception doesn't translate into vision, hearing, and so on… It's a complete different sensorial awareness. Makes sense?"
"Yeah… I never met someone with that ability." She turned her big green eyes to Gohama "Do you really think I could be a good medic-nin?" her tone was hopeful.
"If you're up for textbook study."
"Of course! I'm a bit of a bookworm…"
"Then think about it."
Sakura's expression lit up in wonder and excitement. Her mood had lifted and she seemed less fidgety.
"Are you coming to dinner, Gohama-sa—Gohama?"
"I think I'll pass."
"See you later then."
Gohama nodded.
The dust was rough in Gohama's lungs and throat. She was used to air cleared by rain and snow, rocky grounds and green fields. Sunagakure was everything Bukigakure was not. It was dry, hot and brown. But she enjoyed wandering the streets. The novelty and foreignness was exciting and fascinating. The people seemed hostile and cold towards outsiders, much so than Konoha's citizens. With the last, Gohama was sure their behaviour was only reserved towards her. At least in Suna, the unsympathetic disposition was unbiased. At least after expressing their disapproval, they left the people alone. She chose the restaurant with mostly local customers.
As she entered it, all faces turned towards her with a scowl and then went back to their meals and conversations. She ordered the house special and tried to enjoy the burningly spicy food. It was new, painful and tasteless - as all her brain could process was the burn - and nothing to ever repeat in her life. She was finishing when the door opened. Gohama already knew who would enter. She muttered a few curses through her sore lips. All she wanted was to be left alone. When the silver hair finally came into view, the uninvited scowls focused on their victim, only this time they didn't turn away.
"You have no business here, White Fang!" a rough and deep voice growled.
"It's his son." a woman corrected, no less annoyed.
"I don't care." another man added "You're not welcome here, Hatake."
Kakashi was unaffected. He just shrugged, turned away and left. Gohama sighed in relief. For once, they didn't care about her. For once, it was someone else. Now, Kakashi understood how bothersome it was when people gave two shits about who he was. The people from Sand had even taken care of her inconvenience. She would finally be left alone. Gohama eased herself against her chair. She could get used to Suna, maybe she should have asked them for asylum.
All Kakashi wanted was to be left alone. That small typical restaurant seemed the last place where he would find anyone from Leaf. He had just overlooked the part where Suna wasn't a fan of him. Now, his stomach was growling and he had to find another friendlier place to eat, if that was even possible in this Village. He guessed there really was no other option than to join the others. Being with other Konoha shinobi, would probably inspire some leniency. Kakashi knew where the group would be. They had stumbled, many years ago, on this cheap and cosy restaurant and decided to make it their own every time they were in Suna.
There they were, sitting in the corner both. Asuma, Kurenai, Gai, Genma, Inuzuka, Ebisu, and three others he knew, but not their names. The Konoha sensei in Suna. When Kakashi arrived the table started cheering.
"Ah, Hatake, you're here, I've missed you!" Genma yelled as he hugged his awkward friend.
He had clearly drunk too much. It was only dinnertime and it was obvious most of the table had already passed their measure.
"I was starting to think Sakura would ditch on my team. Why did you arrive late? Did you finally decide to teach your student?" Asuma said with serious mocking.
Kakashi felt Kurenai kicking Asuma under the table. Was it that obvious he had been neglecting Sakura? If only people would just shut up about him and continue their conversation…
"Obviously that was just an excuse" Genma said "Our friend Hatake here" he put a limp arm around his shoulder "just wanted to watch the Kyura fight. Don't look at me like that! We're all curious. Except maybe Inuzuka that already saw, well, felt it first-hand."
The table laughed. Kakashi took advantage of the change of topic and ordered his miso soup with eggplant.
"You're still so tight lipped about what happened" one of the unnamed sensei "Tell us, Inuzuka. Was it really a fight?"
The innuendo was obvious. Another round of laughter broke.
"Fuck off, Daisuke!" so that was his name "I'd never fuck a Kyura!"
"Why not?" Genma said bewildered, almost offended "The Kyura I've met were always hot. This one is just the same, besides being the last one makes it even hotter. Honestly, when she was running without her cloak and you could see the fi—"
"Is that all you can think about, Genma?" Kakashi asked.
"Basically."
"It's not enough what we have put her through, now she still has to take your shit, Genma"
"Yes, poor girl… The kids were bad enough, but we didn't help at all…" Kurenai said softly.
"I don't think she cares." Inuzuka commented "I don't care."
Kakashi couldn't understand what they were talking about. Did something happen to Gohama during the journey? Did someone hurt her? His guts twisted involuntarily. Inuzuka's reactions were pissing him off; did he have no consideration for her? He feigned indifference and asked.
"What happened on your way here?"
"Nothing happened." Asuma began "It's just the typical gossip and comments."
Kakashi knew well what Asuma meant. He had also been on the other side of that. After his father's failed mission, everywhere he went he could hear people's murmur and ridicule. The mumble of despise and shame. Even now, his father's fame still followed him. That night had shown him that. He didn't really care about any of it, nor what people thought. But maybe Gohama cared, maybe it hurt her. She was a teenager, after all, they were insecure and sensitive. Well, Gohama had had an abnormal life, so she probably didn't act as a typical teenage girl, but still, everyone was deeply affected by evil-speaking. It made people doubt and isolate themselves. It made them question the truth of the hateful comments. Made people believe they were what they were being chattered into.
"What the kids said is true." Inuzuka shared.
"Is that why you wouldn't reprimand their disrespect?" Asuma accused.
"It isn't disrespect if it's true?"
Asuma's voice raised menacingly. "Is it true that the Yukikage was weak and shameful because he died fighting for his Village?"
Kakashi's breathing failed. He tried pushing the air deeply into his lungs, but it didn't reach them, it wasn't enough. His hands began trembling around his bowl and spoon. Could they sense him freaking out? Why did he have to bring the Yukikage into the discussion?
"Of course."
"And the Sandaime?" his voice shook. The table went silent "They both died protecting their Village. They both gave their lives for their duties, their people."
"It's different. The Sandaime managed to protect the Leaf, the Yukikage failed."
"Orochimaru is still alive. We were lucky the damage wasn't as big. The Arms not so much."
The gravity of the past threat weighed on the table. Gohama reminded them of what they could have lost.
"How can you just accept a foreigner to enter our Village, our military because she just asked?! It's ridiculous… We don't know if her intentions are clean. For all we know, she can be planning and fraternizing with enemy nin."
"You're just pissed off she defeated you. A genin." Genma teased.
"First, I won. Second, she just came at me! She's crazy! I mean, after seeing everyone die you can imagine the insanity. No one survives that sane, just look at Sasu—"
A fist to the table stopped him. His fist. Kakashi hadn't realised his hand was even out of his pockets. Before he could grasp his own movements, the thump of hit wood had already broken through the room. The sensei turned their confused gazes towards him. His heated reaction surprised everyone.
"Don't speak of what you don't understand." he threatened with a steady tone.
"It's true, Hatake. You know it." he did know it was true, but that was no excuse to be vicious, especially with people that had suffered enough. "We were talking, next thing she just lunges at me."
"What did you say to her?"
"What?"
"You have to have said something. Gohama wouldn't risk losing her asylum right before the Chunin Exams. What did you say about the Kyura?" his last question was spoken through a frightening hiss.
"That they were like the Uchiha." He shrugged and tried to hide his apprehension.
"What more than that?"
"The truth. That the Uchiha and Kyura were selfish and arrogant clans only worried about their power and blood pureness. That they were the trash of the Villages. That Gohama should go back to her dead village."
"The amount of Kyura and Uchiha that gave their lives so you could be alive… Is that how you repay them?" he growled at the man in front of him "They are worth more than you'll ever be."
Kakashi left the restaurant, not worrying about the reactions he might have caused. He was sick of people comparing the Kyura to the Uchiha. He was sick of the indifference of people, the hatefulness. No wonder Sasuke had defected. He hoped Gohama wouldn't do anything stupid in anger or pain. He was making his way through the streets, not caring about the judgemental gazes of Suna citizens.
"Kakashi-sensei?" a wary voice called for him. He corrected his features into aloofness.
"Sakura?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"I suppose. Why are you alone? Did something happened?" he asked worried.
"No, no. I just saw you and wanted to ask you something about me… as a kunoichi… I mean… my training and where I should focus… I wanted your opinion… as my sensei…"
"You don't have to be nervous, Sakura-chan." he said, ruffling her pink hair.
"Well… The Kyura have this ability of sensing chakra… Gohama asked me if I was training to be a medic-nin. I obviously said no. Then she commented I had a good chakra for it, that I had the chakra of a medic!" her eyes lit up as she spoke the last sentence "It's only been a few hours… It's not like I have thought much about it… but when Gohama said it, and you said so yourself, Sensei, when we tree climbed, about my chakra control… The more I think about being a medic-nin, the more excited I feel. I'm… I… It makes sense when I think about it… I was always quite lost in Team 7, not knowing what my path as a kunoichi was, but now I can feel it. I now I can be great in this, it asks for both my bookworm side and my chakra control. Then maybe, I could help Naruto bring Sasuke back… So what do you think?"
"You're asking me if I think you should be a medic-nin?" She nodded. "It's not my place to decide that for you. Still my opinion is that yes, I think you'll make a great medic. But why ask me when a Kyura said so herself? They made the best medics in the shinobi world, you know. Whatever you choose, I'm here to support you, Sakura."
Kakashi pushed a little on the enthusiasm and support part. It wasn't typical of his methods as a sensei, or a person in general, but he felt guilty about the whole supposed neglecting thing. Sakura didn't seem to suspect his atypical behaviour. In fact, she seemed happy.
"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei!"
"Are you nervous for tomorrow?"
"A little… but even if I fail, now I know where to go from here."
"You'll do well." he said ruffling her hair again "Night, Sakura."
Before she could answer, he disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Maybe he could spend the rest of the night left alone. He remembered seeing a perfect spot for an Icha Icha reading session on the roof of the hotel. As he opened the door for outside, a wave of chakra reached him. What the hell was someone doing out here? He entered stealthily, his senses keen. Then he saw her laying down on the edge, seemingly floating, except from the thin layer of blue energy that served as support. It reminded him of Gaara's sand, only Gohama manipulated pure chakra. She didn't acknowledge him, but with her abilities she already knew he was there. Kakashi wondered if he should go back to his room. It was obvious he wouldn't manage to be alone that night. For some reason, his feet kept moving towards the Kyura.
"I heard it was a troublesome journey here." he used an understatement, she would get his meaning.
"The desert can be rather boring."
Obviously she wouldn't say anything but that. Why did he even try?
"Sakura told me you suggested she became a medic-nin." she didn't answer "Where you trying to get me rid of her so I could train you?" he teased lightly.
"And I'm the one with the conceit problem…"
"Then why would you?"
"Why wouldn't I? I'm not as bad as they make me."
"It will fade, it's just because it's new."
"Talking about experience, White Fang's son?" Gohama teased him now. Seeing his confused look, she continued "I was at the restaurant you got, thank the gods, kicked out."
"You sound really amused."
"It's nice to see it happening to other people and being left alone. I might get used to Suna. It's so inconvenient to be the centre of gossip." she whined mockingly.
"Good to know at least someone is enjoying my misery."
"I doubt I'm the only one, Copy-nin" she stood up and her chakra layer dissipated. "I'll leave you to read your porn alone."
He raised his lazy fingers as goodbye.
They were to meet the rest of the participants by the Village's gates. The sun was more unforgiving than yesterday. The already sore skin of Gohama was burning; she could feel the heat stealing her energy. Why Suna…?
A shinobi with harsh features and a white turban covering half his face would be the Examiner's leader. He spoke "The first part of the Exam will test your abilities to complete missions in places surrounded by civilians. Each team will be given a mission scroll that you must complete in the span of 24 hours. If you are unsuccessful, you will not proceed to the next phase. If you endanger a civilian, you will also not proceed to the next phase. You'll wear a florescent bandana in order to distinguish you from non-participating shinobi. Now. Spread to your given posts of entrance."
Gohama tied the bandana to her left thigh. She, Ryu, Nisami and Inuzuka met at gate 13.
"Ryu, keep your head cool. Think before you act." Inuzuka advised sternly "Nisami, avoid fighting big guys and don't be afraid to attack first." he turned towards Gohama pulling her by the collar with the meaning of intimidating her "And you. Don't you dare fucking step on my team." he growled "I'll end you if you do, Kyura."
He let go of her collar, moved away and nodded to both of his teammates, leaving in a cloud of smoke.
A horn sounded. It had begun. They had until 06:00 to complete the mission. The team read their scroll. They were to intercept a scroll exchange between two teams. One from Grass the other from Mist. The exchange hour was around 21:00. The location undisclosed. Abstract traits of the ninja added to the little information they had. The purpose was for them to gather information and then act on it. Simple enough. Gohama could already envision how she would subdue the shinobi and steal the scroll.
"So, what's our plan?" Gohama asked.
"We don't need a plan." Ryu spat out. "We just have to go around searching for Grass and Mist teams."
"Do you know how many teams are there?"
"Two Grass, six Mist." Nisami said.
"Can we really search for eight teams in Suna in twenty-four hours?"
"Of course we can." Gohama ignored his unreasonable and stubborn comment.
"Nisami, what do you remember about the teams? Any fitting the descriptions come to your mind?"
"Well, the scroll says one has a Kekkei Genkai that allows him to make the moister in the air boil and burn the adversary. He can also use it to boil the water…" she hesitated" …inside someone's body…"
"That sure is troublesome." Gohama commented nonchalantly, but already wondering how to counter act the jutsu.
"He wears bandages on his whole body except his eyes."
"That should be easy enough to find."
"From the Grass, I don't know anything since they don't have outstanding abilities."
"This is enough." Gohama reassured coolly. "The mission alone is simple and we do have to interact with other teams. This means each team's missions are interlocked, which complicates things. We have no idea which team has orders to interfere with us, and how they might interfere. We must be on high alert. On the good side, this also means we can gain information about the exchange location from teams by interrogating other participants. We have to be smart with this. We must know when to engage" she stared at Ryu "and when to flee. Now. We must be fairly distant from the other teams. We should head for the centre of the Village, as it will be faster to leave for the exchange from a central point."
"What makes you think you can lead us?" Ryu confronted.
"I'm not leading. I'm presenting a plan. If you have anything better to add, go ahead, kid."
"I'm not a kid."
"You act like one."
Ryu was ready to attack, but Nisami stood between the two, stopping his initiative.
"Gohama-san is right. You are acting like a kid, Ryu-kun. If you want to go through the next phase our best option is following Gohama-san's plan." Gohama was pleased Nisami was a reasonable girl.
They ran into the dusty brown Village. Gohama's heart began beating faster, excitedly. Her blood flowed with impetuous and expectation. Her chakra tingled at her stomach, ready to burst in case it was needed. The anticipation for a fight was making her electrified. She clenched the scroll on her hand. This was what she had been made for, what she had been raised for, trained for, left alive for. The purpose of completing a mission, of laying out all her skills into success. The adrenaline of danger and power. The overflow of her senses with every bit of information. The soft grains of sand at her feet, the distinct murmur of conversations, the smell of tempura from the street below, the taste of the dry air on her mouth and lungs, the tingling of two jonin chakra signatures following them. She was a predator. Every inch of her body moulded into a perfect weapon. This was what she had been made for.
"We have two Jonin following us." she informed the rest of the team.
"Why?" Ryu asked.
"I think they are to make sure the civilians stay safe. They must be accompanying every team."
The team didn't bother to hide their presence. They had to find others and interrogate them. If they were lucky they could come across the Grass team that were to receive the scroll. Then they could follow them or take the location out of them. The luckiest scenario was coming across the Mist team with the scroll. Gohama doubted the Examiners had allowed such two occurrences. They had made a small representation of inter-village's missions. A well thought-out exam.
A kunai flew towards her temple. She caught it between her fingers. The team assumed a fighting position.
"You can come out of your hiding, now. It won't protect you."
A wave of kunai and shuriken aimed for them. Gohama used a wind jutsu to stop their flight. It was followed by an earth jutsu, making a soft layer of rock between the buildings, where the thrown weapons fell, instead of on the street with people. Next, she formed a lightning circuit, meant to draw them out of their hideouts. Two Sand shinobi and one kunoichi appeared.
"We finally meet the Kyura everyone's been talking about." the brown-haired shinobi said "What a disappointment you are."
"I can understand. Losing always disappoints me too." Gohama replied.
He scoffed. "Let's see about that." he said as he jumped towards Gohama.
She easily evaded his punch, counterattacking with a kick against his stomach. Before he could raise himself from his knees, Gohama gripped his hair and pressed a kunai against his neck.
"Your mission scroll." Gohama ordered.
"You won't do it." The shinobi in her grip said.
"Care to test that?"
She started adding pressure onto his throat, he hissed as his skin was cut and a line of blood slid through his neck.
"Fuko-kun, it's better if we just give her the scroll. You saw how she overpowered you… we can't possib—"
"Coward!" he yelled against the girl.
The other teammate casually observed the scene. He sighed and reached for his pouch, throwing the scroll towards Ryu.
"It's not worth the trouble." he explained between his teammate insults.
"What does it say?" Gohama asked.
"They have to capture a nin from Rock and interrogate him on his mission."
"This means we three can be targets…" Nisami commented.
"Yes. One more reason to have our defences up." Gohama let go of the sand nin "They're useless. Let's continue."
The sun was burning on their heads and backs. They had been scouting the Village for hours, but no useful information had turned up. They interrogated the teams they had come across, but none had seen a shinobi from Mist covered in bandages or any Grass teams. Gohama leaped onto the ground level and the rest followed. It was best they stopped to freshen up. The Kyura would never show how the desert heat was affecting her. She had her go-to outfit: black loose ninja pants, a black t-shirt that left a strip of her midsection bare and her sage green Kyura cloak that reached her ankles. Against her own pride, she had to forgo the cloak, tidily keeping it in the team's pack. Ryu had argued against it, considering all of them were carrying it, but Nisami convinced him to relent. Still, the dark clothes absorbed the heat of the sun, burning against Gohama's skin. She could feel the clothes clamming. Even her own hair helped with the overheating, especially on her head. Her movements were becoming dragged and extenuated. The hotness of the sun and air boiling under her skin, pushing her down, constricting her reflexes, dizzying her balance. Mixing with the intense smell of sunscreen, the heat was making her sick. Everything was sucking the energy out of her. How she longed for the cool streams of Snow, or even a tree's shade from Fire. She didn't care where she was if it meant leaving Suna's inferno. She had to get out of her black clothes.
While Ryu and Nisami rested at the nearby food stand, Gohama went shopping. She wasn't picky. At all. If it was light and fresh, it was more than good enough. She bought beige loose linen pants and a white tank top. If she needed to be stealthy at night, she would put her clothes back on. After finishing paying, she heard a loud crash coming from the direction of the food stand. She rushed there only to see one shinobi manhandling Nisami and two others fighting Ryu off. How had she missed their chakra signatures? Fucking heat, fucking Sand. One sent an attack towards Ryu, which he deflected. The rock shards were sent towards civilians. Gohama had to protect them or she was out of the Exam. There was no time for hand signs, she had to give away her chakra manipulation. A shield of chakra appeared right before the shards could hit the innocent bystanders. A cloud of dust engulfed the street. Gohama sensed the three Rock shinobi chakras fleeing with Nisami's one. First she went to Ryu.
"What the hell happened?"
"What do you think happened?" he growled back, coughing due to the dispersing dust.
"Fair enough. Let's go!" Gohama jumped onto the roofs, but he didn't follow. "Ryu?"
"We have a mission to complete."
"We still have another five hours until the exchange."
"We don't even know where it is!"
"She's your teammate."
"It's our mission!"
"We don't know what they're going to do with her. What if they kill her?"
"We can't waste any time. We spent all day and didn't find shit. Five hours is nothing. We'll fail. Rule #04 "A shinobi must always put the mission first."
Gohama was bewildered by the indifference of Ryu. Nisami was his teammate, his friend. How could he leave behind a person he cared about? How could he fail that person so?
"Fuck the rules." Gohama hissed "I won't leave any one else behind! You can follow me or wait here. We'll come back for you later."
She started running. The chakra signatures disappeared. Closing her eyes and ears, she tried enhancing her sensorial field. She sensed a flicker of a possible correspondent one. She followed it. Spreading chakra to her feet, Gohama could feel the terracotta rooftops denting as she stepped on them. Seeing her approaching them, the three kidnappers disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Fuck. Why hadn't she made a contract with her clan's summons again?
The Kazekage Tower was just ahead of her, the centre of the Village. She sat on top of it, not caring if it was forbidden. Her eyes closed, her ears and nose blocked with chakra. All her awareness shifting onto her chakra sense. The overload of information made her head ache and dizzy. She pushed through the heat smothering her and the dizziness confounding her. The massive chakra of the Kazekage and the one-tailed beast threatened to overpower her sensibility to other signatures. Maybe the Kazekage Tower wasn't the best option. She pushed through.
The Jonin following her, the civilian children running on the street bellow, the patrons at the restaurant, the drunk stumbling through the street, the lovers on the alley, the genin on the exams, the Jonin following them, the Sand shinobi off duty, the families wandering, the friends hanging out, the Village chakra. A home. Gohama pushed through her longing ache. The Rock nin and Nisami on the inner portion of the sixth octant. Not moving. This would make it easier to find them.
Gohama almost fainted when she broke the sensorial overload. That had been a new skill brought by necessity. It was good to know she could extent her sensing field to a few kilometres with the sacrifice of a clear mind and a third of her chakra supplies. She pushed through the vertigo. It was part of a shinobi life to push through. Gohama was already experienced in that, unlike most genin on the Exams. It was a cursed advantage.
Lighting release chakra filled the air near their location. They weren't fighting, their signatures were stilled. Only one option came to mind. Interrogation. She didn't bother to form a plan and be prudent, the poor girl was being tortured. How cruel of the Examiners to allow it, realistic, but cruel. As she reached the roof above them, the screams pierced her already fragile mind.
The air smelled of blood. The girl kept running as fast as her little legs could carry her. The chakra impulse wasn't enough. Fear clenching her body and shaking her movements. Screams would follow her anywhere. How could it take so long to reach her exit? It didn't take as long when she raced Father. Father… The dirt stained tears never stopped flowing. The scream. A young girl's scream. It was terrifying. Gohama's eyes widened and her heart leapt away from her ribs. She had to get away. Oh gods… The scream vibrated through her guts, it dripped in horror, drowning Gohama away. She had to leave. She had to keep running.
Gohama froze, her back falling against the hedge of a rooftop. The scream. It sounded the same, it felt the same. Her muscles twitched but wouldn't move. This time her duty was to act, not run away. Why wouldn't her body obey her mind? Weak… She closed her eyes and ruled her breathing, her pulse. She sent chakra onto her legs, waking them from their stupor. Now of all times, she had to remember that night… She had never had a trigger during action. She had to push through. Just push through. She could do that. Yes. Push through. This time she wouldn't leave her behind, she wouldn't fail the screaming girl. A new resolve drove her into acting.
Gohama hid her signature and jumped onto the shinobi torturing Nisami, landing a chakra powered punch onto his face. He flew towards the building across from the deserted small square. The screams turned into sobs and whimpers. Shielding Nisami against the wall, Gohama waited for the other two to attack. The first had been successfully knocked out.
"So the Kyura comes to the rescue. Who would have known?" the blond one snickered.
"It would be nice to chat, but I prefer to fight."
"I doubt you'll think the same after we beat you."
"I don't know. I can be very stubborn."
The other nin lunged towards her. They exchanged hits. His taijutsu was reasonable, but not as good as Gohama's. Not when she had spent seven years doing nothing but training. She overpowered him quickly. He chose to try ninjutsu. A wave of mud flowed towards Nisami and her. She grabbed the girl and jumped away to avoid it. The mud followed her. Making the hand seals, she blew a ball of fire that petrified the mud. Now was her time to attack. She ran towards the nin, a tanto in hand. He pulled out a kunai. The clash of metal echoed through the square. She found an opening in his defence; when she was about to strike, she realised the blond one was almost reaching Nisami. Gohama stopped her attack and turned around. She rose her hand towards the Rock nin, throwing a pure chakra spear. He used an earth wall to stop it. Gohama was already between him and Nisami when he dispersed the wall.
The Kyura's blood was running frantically through her veins. She could end the fight quickly, but it felt amazing to battle someone other than Uncle. To decipher the enemies' moves and abilities. To use them against them. Her insides swelled in exhilaration. She smirked and he smirked back.
"Come on, Rocky. Fight me."
"My pleasure."
He whistled. His teammate joined him. Together they started a taijutsu fight against Gohama. She could handle both of them.
"Is this all you got? It's no fun…" she pouted.
The blond scoffed and moved away. He did foreign hand signs to Gohama. From the ground under her, rose sharp pillars. One scrapped her side before she was able to evade them. She felt like laughing in excitement. A lightning circuit would also affect Nisami. She went for wind shuriken. They cut through their barrier. Before they could react, Gohama locked them on mud ground. She stood behind them, pressing kunai to their throats.
"It was entertaining, but I have a mission to complete. Now, have you seen any Grass teams?"
The blond one scoffed. "We won't give you nothing."
"Your friend is not the only one with Lightning release." she dropped the kunai pressed onto the other nin. Her hand moved to the back of his neck. "Again. Any Grass teams?" They remained silent. Gohama let a weak amount of electricity flow onto the shinobi's back. He tried to control his grunts, but fell onto his knees. "Still, nothing, huh? What about a Mist nin covered in bandages?"
They remained silent. Gohama forced more power into her lightning release. The shinobi started screaming and trembling under her hand.
"Gohama-san, stop!" Nisami yelled.
"They did the same to you, girl."
"I know how it feels… It's too cruel! Stop, please!"
"Strength isn't just about force. A shinobi must do everything to complete their mission. We need the information." Gohama replied coolly, another round of electricity flowing through her hand.
The screams echoed through the walls. The blond nin began wincing for his teammate.
"All right…" the blond started. Gohama stopped the current. "The bandaged guy... We saw him in the third octant, on a pub with his team."
"How long ago?"
"Before we took the girl."
Gohama knocked the two out and dragged them onto one of the pillars. She used wire to tie the three up, after that, she took their weapons away. Beside Nisami she asked "Can you run?"
The girl tried standing up, but her knees buckled and she fell. Gohama hoisted her onto her back.
"Where's Ryu?" she asked.
"Waiting for us."
"Thank you for saving me."
The enthusiasm from the fight had vanished, leaving place for a bitter and quiet heaviness.
After the information of the Rock nin, it took them less than two hours to find their targets. Besides the one with the boiling Kekkei Genkai, there was a kunoichi with water affinity and a shinobi with the wind one. They had stayed for two hours in surveillance. Only ten minutes until the exchange. Gohama could sense the Grass team approaching. Two earth affinity, one water. There were six jonin following the three teams.
The children's park was quiet and deserted at this time of night. Tension was building up. Nisami was still too weak to fight. Honestly, Gohama wished Ryu would also stay out of it. He would just be a liability. She wondered which Mist shinobi had the scroll, probably the Kekkei Genkai one. Nobody would dare near his touch. But Gohama could do it if she covered her body in a thin layer of chakra. Six ninja. How would she be able to fight them all? The wise approach was to let the exchange happen and follow the Grass team, then steal the scroll from them. Hopefully, far away from the Mist one.
Ryu was nervous. His fingers entertained themselves with clicking open and shut his kunai pouch. His breathing was shallow and fast. Even his chakra had an agitated flow. Gohama turned to study his features. They were rigid and his mouth's corner twitched from time to time. If he couldn't calm down, the kid wouldn't help the mission at all. Poor kid. He really seemed lost in real action. Too eager to prove himself, too eager to support his ego.
"Ryu," he jolted at her calling "you have to relax. You can stay with Nisami and protect her."
"No. I want to fight."
She sighed. "Remember, we're following Grass, not acting on the exchange."
It was 21:00. The Mist team reached the football field. Dramatically, they stood on the middle circle. Soon, the Grass team appeared. Gohama couldn't make out their words. One of each team took a few steps forward and the scroll passed from one hand to another. Chakra spiked beside her. Before she could do anything, Ryu was already running towards the enemy nin.
Fucking Ryu.
With no choice, Gohama followed suit, making four tsuchi bushin on her way. She didn't manage to reach the kid before he was fighting one of the Mist nin. He was quickly overpowered. Really who the hell thought he was ready to be a chunin? Only that Inuzuka. Ryu had now a kunai pressed to his throat. A hand gripping his hair. He was turned towards Gohama. How was she going to work this out?
"Look if it isn't the oh so special, oh so unique, oh so alone last Kyura?" the bandaged shinobi mocked with a leer "What a pleasure."
"Pity I can't say the same thing. I'll take the scroll now." she reached out her hand.
Gohama was still too far away from Ryu to prevent his throat from being split. One of the tsuchi bushin under the ground was approaching, but it was still very risky with so many earth shinobi. She had to keep the ninja distracted.
They laughed at her words. "You can try. But one move and your little friend gets a kunai to his throat."
Gohama smirked. "He's deadweight. He means nothing to me."
"You traitor!" Ryu yelled outraged, panic slipping through his voice "You fucking Kyura! You deserve to be dead with the rest of your kind!"
"The one dying tonight is you, little kid."
She adverted her eyes from her squirming teammate. It had to be timed perfectly. She materialised behind the Grass shinobi with the scroll and stabbed him with her tanto. At the same time, her bushin had emerged from underground, kicking the Mist shinobi away and throwing Ryu out of the fighting area. Before they realised which was the priority, Gohama had already the scroll in her hands and moved away from the centre of the field.
The bandaged shinobi started laughing. "That was smart, Kyura. Too bad the scroll is still with me." he took it from his back pouch.
Gohama opened the one in her hand and it disappeared with a puff. Fucking Mist guy. He continued talking "And too bad you have a soft spot." he looked towards his teammates "Go for the kid."
Her other three tsuchi bushin stayed with Ryu, while she went for the real scroll. She couldn't allow the exchange to happen. First, she would get rid of the Grass nin. Without them, there could be no exchange. They started a taijutsu fight. It was more difficult than she had expected, especially when she had to keep track of all chakra signatures there. The bandaged nin observed her battle, probably learning her weaknesses. One of her bushin dispersed.
"Get the fuck out of here, Ryu!" she yelled to her teammate. He obviously ignored her.
Gohama decided she would risk using chakra powered hits. She still had half her chakra reserves. The tsuchi bushin, in order to have a reasonable fighting quality, needed more chakra than she was used to, but there was no need to save it anyway. Gohama had never ran out of chakra. One of the Grass nin was finally unconscious. Two to go. She made another tsuchi bushin to help Ryu; she could sense his chakra faltering after using his water jutsu in the desert. At least, he had managed to take down one of the Mist nin with it. One more of her Grass nin was out of the game. The chakra signature of the bandaged nin moved towards her. He was losing confidence.
"Nice of you to join us." Gohama politely said.
"I have to defeat a Kyura at least once and since you're the last one…"
A thin shield of chakra covered her body. She moved away from him. Considering he could boil her body's water, it was sensible to have an at least mid-range fight. Gohama began with wind release, creating a sharp vortex meant to slice and toss away. The opponent created a water wall that took most of the damaged but not all. He was thrown across the field, managing to balance himself and not falling. He had some cuts on his arms and stomach.
His chakra spiked. The next attack would use a lot of chakra. Gohama tried to reach him before he finished the hand seals, but was too late. Her chakra field was faltering. He was boiling the air. Gohama glanced over Ryu, with chakra she ordered her bushin to surround the kid and if they could, form a shield. The other Mist nin started screaming. The bandaged one was mental. He was wounding his own team. Her two bunshin were going to disperse, but not before they used a wind wave to push the boiled air up. With two puffs, she felt their burning on her own skin.
Ryu scream from pain, she tried to reach for him, but the bandaged nin had grasped her arm. His grip tightened. His light blue eyes, filled with rage and determination, locked on Gohama's green ones. Suddenly, a sharp agony overtook her forearm. He had passed through her field. The scorching spreading from her bones onto her skin overwhelmed her, from inside out. She shrieked against her will. She frantically tried to wiggle herself from his hold. No rational thinking had place in her mind, it was drowning in only pain and the need to run. Instinctively, she pushed chakra from her skin onto his hand. He retrieved it hastily. The relief was short lived. The burning didn't seize. Gohama could smell the nauseating stench of burnt flesh. Intuitively, she looked towards her left arm. The skin had melted, she could see the boiled muscle and bone. She felt herself ready to throw up. The arm was gone, Gohama was sure, it was already dead. Falling to her knees, a hand came to grip her hair, another pressed a kunai to her neck.
"The prestige of ending the Kyura clan forever."
He sliced her throat. Blood spurt onto his hand and fell down her white shirt and milky skin. Ryu froze across the field. The only move he made was to throw up and fall onto his knees and hands, shivering. The kid wasn't ready for the shinobi life.
Gohama smirked. Her hair became slimy on the Mist nin's hand. Her body limp. The white and red from her figure gave place to dark brown. Her body melted onto the soil in a pool of mud.
A blade came to rest on the nin's throat. "The scroll." Gohama ordered from behind him.
He tried to form hand signs, but she surrounded his hand with a chakra field. The blue energy constricting, breaking them. The shinobi yelled. Gohama pushed him onto his knees and took the scroll from his pouch. This time making sure it was the real one. She knocked him out. Next she went for the last Grass nin, after a slacked fight, she knocked her out too. Joining all six of them onto the posts of the swings, she imprisoned them with chakra-powered wire.
"Come, kid." she coldly said as she reached Ryu.
He silently followed her, his legs still trembling. They went for Nisami that hadn't left her spot since the beginning of the fight.
Gohama examined her slightly burnt skin. It had been so close. She could have lost her arm. It still stung immensely, but after feeling what her bushin had suffered, she was grateful for her timely escape.
She decided to search for a pharmacy, so she could alleviate the pain with an ointment. On their way there, she sensed a familiar chakra signature. Glancing at it, she saw a kunai flying right towards Sakura's forehead while she was distracted in a fight. Summoning her own blade, she threw it towards its flight. Metal clanged against metal. Both Sakura and her opponent snapped their gaze to Gohama. She nodded in greeting.
Resting on a roof, they expectantly opened the Scroll, revealing the information they had to memorize.
Tomorrow is the day after today.
"Well. That's anticlimactic."
The three waited for the Exam to end.
Her team had passed through to the next phase. They had met Gaku at the infirmary. Ryu was still slightly distraught, but glad he had passed. Inuzuka blamed Gohama for Nisami's kidnapping. Neither Ryu nor the girl had disclosed her implication in getting the girl back and their teammate's refusal to do so. Honestly, Gohama didn't care, as long as he left her alone. Nisami hadn't recovered from the torture. Gohama could understand, it would take time and patience. However, that would pose a liability if teamwork were needed for the next phases. Gohama hoped not. She was sick of dealing with rash kids that weren't prepared for the trials of a shinobi life.
After getting her forearm healed by Tsunade, Gohama could finally rest. She had never thought the heat of Suna would affect her so much. At least, now she could be better prepared. She stopped by the door. There was another chakra signature in her room. A Jonin. Sakura was also there, which meant she probably knew him or her and had opened the door. Still Gohama couldn't shake off her uneasiness.
She hid her chakra signature, unlocked the seals and opened the door silently. Sakura was laying on the floor. The nin hovering over her. Fuck. She couldn't take out a jonin in a fight. He still hadn't noticed her. Bringing chakra to her fist, she hit him on his nape. He fell with a thud on the floor. Next, she examined Sakura. The girl was breathing normally, her pulse and temperature also normal. Probably passed out on sedatives.
The nin that had attacked the pink haired girl was Suna. There was nothing in him to explain what had or was happening. He carried only kunai, shurinken, senbon and typical battle scrolls. Gohama's pulse sped up. Where they after her? Uncle Tsukate had warned her about the risk of kidnapping. As heiress of the Kyura, Gohama supposedly carried the almost lost secrets of her clan. What could she do? Reinforcements would certainly come. For now, tying the guy up was the only thing that came to her mind.
She sat on the edge of the bed, tanto in hand, trying to ease her body and think with a rational mind. People she trusted. No one. That was no help at all. Besides, everyone hated her. They probably preferred if she was kidnapped and left their lives. This was no time to wallow in self-pity. Possible trustworthy people were Tsunade, she had accepted her in the Village easily enough, and Kakashi, after all Uncle did trust him. Gohama had no idea where to find any of this people; maybe Tsunade was at the hospital, too far away to risk reaching. Kakashi should be at the hotel, he probably didn't even leave his room that day.
Next step was finding Kakashi. Gohama focused on the chakra signatures. He didn't seem to be on this floor. She was ready to leave the room when the sight of pink hair made her halt. Could they kill Sakura? She would be deadweight, but Gohama would never forgive herself if the poor girl ended up dead because of her. She hoisted the girl onto her back and opened the door. From the elevator appeared two Suna nin. They exchanged glances. The shinobi where obviously after her.
The stairs. She started running, avoiding the senbon thrown towards them. She kicked the door and jumped flight after flight. Her frantic movements were gnawing on her endurance, but she couldn't control them. Her ankles were screaming, her arms and back burning from the weight and sunburns. Kakashi wasn't on the floor under them. The corridors were deserted. The group had chosen the best time for an attack. Everyone seemed to be sleeping or locked away in their rooms. No Kakashi on the lower three floors. The nin were still after them, but far enough that Gohama had trouble sensing their chakra. The floor searching had luckily confused them.
Finally, a person. She was from Konoha, one of the sensei. Gohama couldn't trust her.
"Excuse me; do you know Kakashi's room?" her words stumbling on her breathing.
"Isn't that Sakura?" she asked with suspicion, raising her eyebrow.
"It's why I'm asking."
"Is everything okay?"
"Everything's fine. The room?"
"Two floors down, 04."
Gohama started running again. The nin had entered the corridor. Stupid, time spending questions. She made an earth wall to slow them down. Once on the stairs again, the sound of breaking rock echoed through the walls. The corridor of Kakashi's floor was empty. She could sense his chakra inside his room. The relief did little to calm her. The nin would reach her in any moment. She fiercely knocked on the door. No answer. Fucking Hatake.
"Kakashi, I know you're there just open the fucking door!" she pleaded while knocking. His signature didn't move "Don't ignore me! Your student is passed out!" he started strolling towards the door. "Faster, Hatake!"
The door finally opened a crack. A single dark eye peeking through it. Gohama pushed it open with the help of chakra and hastily closed it behind. She lay Sakura on the bed and finally looked towards Kakashi. He was impassively waiting for her to say something, while she sat on the end of the bed, hand clenching around her tanto, trying to level her breathing.
"Someone's after me."
He kept looking with his droopy eye. Irritation was bubbling under her skin.
"Fuck, Kakashi! Your student is passed out, I'm saying someone's following us and you just stare!"
"First you need to relax." he casually said.
"Relax?" she stood up and threw her tanto in his direction. It embed on the wall behind him "Relax? Do you have any idea of the consequences if they get me? I have a bloodline limit to protect!"
"Were they Suna?"
"Yes."
"Ah."
"Wait… How did you know…?"
Gohama suddenly regretted throwing her tanto away. She summoned a kunai behind her back. Kakashi started moving towards her.
"Now, now, Gohama. Let's not do anything hasty."
Fuck. How could Kakashi be with the Suna nin? She remembered Sakura. She reached the girl and held the kunai to her throat.
"We both know you won't do that. You just carried her even though they are after you. Not her."
Gohama dropped Sakura's head. She jumped next to the window. Sealed. Kakashi blocked the door. The Copy nin… she had to go all in. She formed a chakra shield around herself. In an instant, he was beside her, her hair still flowing from the gust of air. He was fast. He gripped her forearm. She fought his hold. They began a taijutsu fight. Kakashi managed to evade every hit. He hadn't even tried to attack. He was careful to continue blocking the door. He quickly overpowered her, sending lightning release through her pathways to disperse her chakra shield. Even if she hit now, little would it do. Kakashi took hold of her wrists, securing them on her back, and shoved her front against the wall. He had her pinned perfectly, including chakra shackles. Who even carried chakra shackles around? She couldn't escape.
"Uncle Tsukate trusts you." she accused while wriggling against his hold.
"I'm trustworthy."
Gohama scoffed. "What did they offer you? Huh? What's your price, Hatake?" she asked scornfully. "Another stolen Kekkei Genkai?"
Kakashi thrust her harshly against the wall, his whole body smothering her. "It wasn't stolen." he growled beside her ear.
The Suna nin walked through the door. Kakashi loosened his hold on her. Her neck was pinched.
"Sorry about the complication." he said while brushing the back of his neck "A misunderstanding caused by a paranoid kunoichi."
"I'm not fucking paranoid," she squirmed against his hold "I was right not to trus—"
The drugs cut Gohama's words. She couldn't move her tongue, it was too heavy. Her legs gave up holding her weight. Last thing she remembered was being hoisted onto a shoulder.