The next morning. Shade awoke with a bad headache, but didn't complain or act as if he was in pain at all. It didn't last long, as soon as they ate he was better, physically at least.
"Shade," Anna asked, "are you okay? You haven't said a word since last night."
"I'm fine," Shade said, but without so much as a hint of emotion.
"No," Aana said, looking at him with a slightly sad look on her face, "you're not acting right. You're usually happy.
"Why would I be?" he asked in the same monotone voice.
"Oh my God," Aana thought, "he's completely sealed his emotions."
"N-never mind," she answered, looking at what had been the fire, a small fake smile spread on her face. She looked up at the sky. "It's daybreak," she said, "We should get going."
Without a word, Shade gathered his things and the two of them walked the rest of the way to Konohagakure Village. On the way, Aana though to herself about what had happened to Shade.
"That teleportation Jutsu must have put a lot of strain on his body and mind. I forgot how much chakra it used up," she thought as they walked. She then looked at Shade, a sad look once again crossed her face as she thought, "Shade, I'm sorry."
A half-hour later, when they finally reached the gates of Konohagakure Village, they were joined by 4 masked ninja.
"My ANBU," Aana said, "Where were you guys?"
One spoke up. "We were helping to evacuate the village, we knew you were with Shade, so we didn't worry."
"Thanks guys," Aana replied, "Hiro, you made the right choice I believe."
Aana walked up to the gate and pounded, relieved to hear an answer.
"Aana-Hokage," came a voice from inside, "Welcome back!"
"I feel welcome," she said, "Thank you."
"Open the gates for crying out loudi" the guard said.
"Fine! Baka," the other guard whispered.
"I heard that!"
"Ah, stick a sock in it why don't you?"
"Just do it!"
The other guard did so, letting the 6 friends in. The first place they went was directly to the 4th Hokage's office to find some place live.
When they arrived, they were less than surprised to find... "Hey Naruto!" Aana greeted, "Kakashi, Sasuke, Sakura, iruka."
"Aana-Hokage," Kakashi waved back, "What brings you back here?"
All ears were open as Aana explained what had happened, except for those of Shade, who had left the room. Naruto, who was sitting on the floor, just glared at Aana, wondering why there was another Hokage. Finally, he spoke up.
"Alright!" he yelled, "Who is this person! I thought there was only ONE Hokage!"
INNER SAKURA: "IDIOT!"
Kakashi sighed and Sasuke just called Naruto a loser. Kakashi, usually being the first to answer any questions, spoke up.
"Naruto, I know you're aware that there is usually only one Kage per-country," he said as Naruto glared and nodded, "but Kagegakure, Aana Hokage's home, is mostly independent of the rest of Fire Country, so they have their OWN Hokage."
"Oh, I get it now," Naruto said, no longer glaring, "so Kagegakure is like another Fire Country, right?"
"Something like that," Aana answered.
"But she's nowhere near as powerful as Lord Hokage, right?"
Now, the 4th Hokage decided to speak up.
"Every bit as powerful as i am, Naruto," he said, "She may not look it, but she is a force to be reckoned with, a true ninja of Kagegakure."
"Wow," Naruto said in awe, "But how's that possible? She's both a girl AND probably only half your age."
"Aana-Hokage has an ability that lets her transform completely into a literal fighting machine," Lord Hokage said, "And she has achieved the highest level of this transformation."
"Wow," the blonde said again in awe, "can I see!"
"Uhm," Aanna spoke up, "Maybe later, some time when Shade and I train together you can watch and we'll both transform for you. Deal?"
"Alright!"
"I thought you might like that," the young Hokage laughed.
"Aana," Kakashi cut in.
"Yeah, Kakashi?"
"I noticed something was wrong with Shade, what is it?"
"As you know, Orochimaru destroyed our village. But what I didn't tell you is that it cut Shade very deep. And to top it off, I didn't realize he was so torn up and I allowed him to perform a teleportation jutsu even after he had used another forbidden jutsu on Orochimaru."
"What jutsu was that?"
"Funeral Song."
"Then at least we know there's no hope Orochimaru survived. I'm sorry about Shade though, I realize that using those jutsu after all that must have made the gash even deeper. But there was no way you could have known, not with Shade. He hides his pain too well."
The Bridge Builder Tazuna was standing by waiting for his escort to finally get on their way.
''Yeah," she said, looking toward the old man, "You're right."
"Can we leave now?" he asked, growing more impatient by the minute.
"Fine," Kakashi said with his own signature annoyed look, "just give me a minute to say goodbye, we haven't spoken in a long time."
Aana looked back up at Kakashi, "I guess this is 'Jaa, mata.'"
"Yeah," Kakashi said to her.
With that, Aana hugged Kaitashi hard and let go a little.
"I'd kiss you, but you have your face-cover on."
Kakashi lowered his head a little.
"Go ahead," he said.
Aana reached up and kissed him on the mouth through the fabric of his face cover, knowing that he wouldn't agree with taking the cover off in public.
"Someone gag me," Tazuna complained.
"I'd be glad to," one of Aana's ANBU, Shin, said.
"Shut up."
"Make me."
"Alright already! Let's go!" Tazuna yelled, making everyone but Kakashi and Aana, who were too focused on eachother to bother, a little steamed.
"I'll see you when we get back," Kakashi said. Aana, just smiled and nodded.
Kakashi took his team and followed Tazuna out, not to be seen by Leaf for another few days.
Shade wondered back in and he and Aana continued their business with Lord Hokage.
