Chapter 18

Newcomers: The Green Beast of Konoha Challenges You!

Team Seven's return journey to the Leaf Village happened without any incidents. No fights. No danger. No stress. Boring by all definitions of the word, yet the lack of stress refreshed the young team after their hard fought battles in the Land of Waves. There were lingering pains, wounds that only time had a chance of healing, but they were home. Safe.

Yet…even as Amari walked through the village with her team, smiling as warm happiness pulsed from her heart, she couldn't help but feel Konoha was different. Changed. Deep down, though, she realized the truth. It's not home that's different…It's me. Everything about their home remained unchanged from their departure, almost as if time had stood still here for decades while they came back aged and scarred. People still went about the routines, unaware of the battle for the fate of the Land of Waves. Unware of the scars on her heart. Unaware of the changes the four Genin went through when they were away.

So…this is what we shinobi sacrifice so others can know peace. Old, young, civilians, travelers; every single one of them blissfully oblivious to what kind of danger lurked beyond their walls, ignorant to the emotional and psychological burdens shinobi took upon themselves to keep their daily lives uninterrupted. She learned pain at a young age. Pain of loneliness. Pain of poverty. Pain of loss. Amari couldn't escape those pains, not when her mirror reflection bore an unforgettable scar. But even then she hadn't realized what it meant to be a shinobi or what kind of emotional and psychological fatigue the people defending her home went through.

"Do you brats think wearing that headband really makes you a shinobi? Don't be ridiculous. When you've hovered between life and death so many times it doesn't faze you then you may be called a shinobi. When you've become so deadly your profile is entered into my bingo book then you may have earned the title of shinobi. But to call upstarts like you shinobi is a bad joke."

Zabuza was right. He hit the nail right on the head and it didn't hurt as much to admit that anymore. They had grown up in peace, never knowing the horrors of war or feeling the urgency to become stronger as fast as possible just to survive another day. Being given a headband did not grant them the right to call themselves shinobi. The title of shinobi couldn't be given like a grade on an Academy test; it had to be earned in combat where their physical and emotional strength were tested equally.

Amari passed her Academy graduation but failed the test to become a shinobi. Had Kakashi been stricter and unforgiving, he'd be in his right to disqualify her as a shinobi. The mistakes she made, the way she let her emotions cloud her judgement and her critical injury did not make a good argument for her status as a shinobi. She was still a child, a child learning what it meant to be a shinobi as she grew up.

While she would never regret saving Haku or her injury, the Land of Waves opened her eyes to how much further she had to go to become a true shinobi. Finding her nindo and dream did help, it defined the path she wanted to walk, but now she had to actually walk it.

In other words, the real work started now.

Upon reaching the Mission Assignment Desk, they found Lord Third still looking as if he was bored out of his mind. Well, he was until his eyes snapped to the Nara's visibly scarred left arm and then the bored look shifted into grave seriousness.

The lecture she received for her reckless behavior went on for a long time. Like really long. She deserved it, she supposed. Even though everything worked out, it could have easily not worked out. Zabuza could have pushed Haku out of his way to strike her down, she could have bled out, her attempt to stop Kakashi might have killed her if his hand had gone straight through her clone and into her.

Stars must have aligned or kami's involved themselves in her meager life for everything to go so well.

"But it did end well. Isn't that what matters?" she asked respectfully.

The stern look of Lord Third kept her silent for the remainder of the lecture.

Adults can be so overprotective. I'm sure him, Kakashi-sensei and mom were all getting into similar danger when they were younger. Only…they didn't get scars like these. Hmm.

Perhaps Lord Third had a point.

Given a brief reprieve from missions, Kakashi dismissed the team for the day for much needed R&R as he all but dragged her with him to the hospital, offering a rushed and clearly nervous farewell to the others as she struggled to keep her feet. His rush was understandable. Dōjutsu's wouldn't save them from the motherly wrath of Kurenai Yūhi when she found it out about her injury.

And it was when, not if. Unless Amari never went home again—which wasn't an option—they would have to face the music and succumb to the eternal genjutsu Kurenai put on them.

As if fate wanted to prove her point, a nurse entered her hospital room long enough to inform her that her mother—her legal guardian—had been notified about her entrance into the hospital and would be on her way.

"We're dead," Amari mumbled to her sensei, deflating visibly as the doctors checked her over. No more ramen. No victory ice cream. No more studying or reading books or hugs. Oh, she would miss the hugs the most. But there was no avoiding it. They were dead men, and girl, walking. They were going to die via motherly wrath, and all would know of their destruction, defeated by the Genjutsu Master of Konoha, Kurenai Yūhi.

Despite their imminent doom, Kakashi chuckled. "Don't be so dramatic."

"Says the man standing next to the open window."

Oh yes, he had the ability to escape because he didn't live with her. He could take A- and S-rank missions on the opposite side continent to avoid her mother. Amari didn't have such a luxury. Troublesome.

The doctors checked her range of motion with her arm and hand, analyzing whether or not her injury hindered her movements or caused pain. Fortunately her injury didn't cause such problems for her. She had full range of motion and there wasn't any pain in her arm…Well, not real pain anyways. Nightmares coaxed out different levels of pain ranging from slight burning to nearly the same levels of agony she felt in the moment. A few times the scars burned without nightmares, but she kept those nuances to herself.

As long as the physical injury was healed, she'd deal with the rest as they came. Just to be safe, though, the doctors decided they needed to run a few more thorough examinations to ensure there was no lingering damage to the tissues, tendons and other internal parts of her arm.

Not long after their temporary departure, Amari felt her mother's chakra just outside her door. A moment later the door opened to reveal Kurenai and the rest of Team Eight on the other side.

"Uh, hi," Amari greeted, waving sheepishly from the bed with her right hand while covertly moving her left a little back. If she could hide it…maybe her mother wouldn't worry too much. She'd think she was here for some non-critical injury.

It was no use. Red eyes found the scars immediately, widening in shock at the lengthy clusters of scars lining her skin from her shoulder to her hand. Then her concerned eyes met the singular onyx eye. Amari's heart plummeted and shrank internally under her gaze. Her dramatization of her mother's wrath had been mostly a joke, but faced with the reality of what her mother actually felt hurt far worse. No disappointment or anger lingered in her red eyes, thankfully. The fear, though, her silent concerns and the way she just seemed to look at her and know everything she was going through…A recent question she had forced herself to face came to the forefront of her mind.

I gained new people to love, people who have made me whole. So why haven't I reconsidered a life with them after I finish Kasai?

By nearly dying, by getting herself hurt, she had hurt everyone around her. Kakashi, Naruto, her team, her mother, even Lord Third. They had all given her a life worth living, people to cherish and live for, yet in that moment…in her anger at Zabuza, in her overwhelming emotions she didn't consider how they would feel if she died. How losing her might tear them apart, or how nearly dying by their hand might have a lasting impression on them.

I'm such an idiot.

"Hey, looks like you got a little roughed up on your mission, Amari," Kiba said, his usual grin replaced by a serious expression when he too noticed the scars.

Hinata's adorable squeak of shock actually coaxed a half-hearted smile out of her as her shyer counterpart rushed over to her side. "Amaririsu! What happened? Are you okay?"

Amari let Hinata take her arm for personal examination without offering any explanation so she could see for herself. Looking over to Shino, she dipped her head in a nod of greeting. He gave a curt nod back, keeping his hands in his pockets and his expression hidden behind his glasses and high collared top. Even then, though, she could feel his gears turning as he examined her new scars.

"You guys just coming back from a mission?" she asked to the group, but mostly Shino.

"Training," he answered. "When Kurenai-sensei received news you were in the hospital, we decided it'd be best to come immediately to ensure our comrade was well. Until you explain the source of your scars it will be impossible to say if it was caused by recklessness or an overwhelming opponent."

An analytical response she expected from the Aburame. Instead of getting caught up on the scars themselves or any emotion, he was cutting to the heart of the issue to learn as much as possible before making an opinion. Amari respected that about Shino. He never lost his cool or let his emotions get in the way of higher thinking. He watched and listened from the shadows, hearing and seeing all even if others didn't see him, and when he spoke it was best to heed his warnings or orders.

Shino did not waste his words on pointless praise.

"Ah, sorry for ruining your training," she apologized.

"Apology acc—"

"No harm done, Amari," Kiba interrupted Shino as he too entered the room.

Shino visibly lowered his head, a shadow crossing his features at being interrupted as if he hadn't even been there in the first place. Amari offered the other boy an apologetic smile. Coarse as he might sound, Shino did care. His way of expressing it could be strange, even possibly perceived as insulting, but he valued his comrades—which only made it hurt more when his comrades ignored him.

"But seriously, what happened to you? Those are some crazy looking scars," Kiba pointed out.

Crazy looking scars? His words weren't meant to mean anything, but they did hit a strange cord in Amari's heart. Were…were her scars really ugly looking to an outsider?

"Kiba!" Hinata scolded.

"What? You know you want to know how she got them too."

"Ye- yes, but—"

"Besides, you're the one who's all hands on with her."

Hinata's gentle hands leapt off her arm like her skin suddenly caught fire as an embarrassed flush colored her fair skin. "Ah! Sorry! I didn't mean to—"

"Okay," Kakashi broke through the nonsense with the single word and authoritative tone.

Are they really that bad? It hadn't occurred to her they might be off-putting. Her team certainly hadn't said anything about them being weird or anything, but just that single innocent mention had her feeling insanely self-conscious and flustered. Amari tried her best to hide those feelings; she didn't want Kiba to feel bad for an accident or believing he hurt her feelings. He hadn't. She just…She didn't even consider how these scars might look worse than the one on her face to others.

Amari clasped her right hand over the biggest cluster of scars on her bicep, eyes averting to the floor. I just need my mesh sleeve back and no one will have to see them. Glancing down to her arm, she followed a few of the scars down her forearm to her wrist. A few will still poke out…but at least it won't be my whole arm.

At least she wouldn't…be a freak or something for people to gawk at.

"If you want to hear the story, you're going to have to give her some breathing room to speak," Kakashi told them.

The others fell quiet at Kakashi's words and looked to her for answers in their silence. Taking a breath, Amari did her best to tell the important bits surrounding the story of their mission. By the end of it, all of Team Eight was either staring at her in shock or concern.

"Why…would you go so far for an enemy?" Shino asked at length.

A valid question. Why would she go to such lengths to spare an enemy? Why would she put herself through so much pain for someone who could have killed her with ease? She smiled weakly at the team, her heart heavy from recounting the emotionally exhausting events, and then she looked directly at her mother; the woman who had taken her in when she had nothing, the woman she loved with all her heart.

"I had a good feeling about him," she said.

Kurenai shut her eyes and exhaled a soft breath at the familiar words.

"Don't worry yourself one bit about repaying anything. This was my choice, and I have a good feeling about it. Call it a hunch, but I think a lot of good is going to come out of this."

Those words, her warm smile, her love…Given a hundred lifetimes, Amari would never be able to repay the debt she owed Kurenai. When she had nothing, when she was nothing but a sobbing child who had her entire world taken from her, this incredible woman had taken her in, gave her a home, a family and more love than she could handle. She guided her. She gave her a reason to keep fighting for a brighter tomorrow and helped her to stand up when her heart fell into the depths of sorrow.

Why?

Because she had a good feeling. A hunch some good could come from taking her in. A hope she might be able to reassemble the shattered fragments of a child's broken life.

"Because all he needed was someone to reach out to him."

Just like I did when you saved me, Mom.

"Well, I'm happy you're okay, Amaririsu," Hinata said.

Amari smiled fondly at her. "Hinata, how many times do I need to tell you?"

A blush took form on her cheeks. "On- one last time, I promise, Amari."

I'm happy to be back too.

"Too bad my cousin wasn't with you guys," Kiba added thoughtfully. "All that water would have given her fair ground to fight that Zabuza guy on. Plus she's a medic-nin so she'd have been able to heal you up faster."

A medic would be nice.

Team Eight left soon after for home, leaving Kurenai, Amari and Kakashi alone together. Without her team there, Kurenai left her original spot to sit on the bed with her daughter, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her into a warm embrace once she was settled. Amari shut her eyes and hugged her back tightly, happy that this place of comfort and love hadn't changed either despite everything else going on internally with her.

Here she was safe.

Here she was home.

"I missed you," Amari said quietly.

Kurenai's grip tightened on her. "And I missed you, little one."

Amari didn't know how long they were in their embrace for, silently holding onto one another as the emotions deep in their hearts emanated through their embrace, but she could've stayed there forever. In her mother's arms the nightmares and pain seemed to be far away. Almost like a bad dream that will pass upon waking up.

If only it were so simple.

"Are you okay, Kakashi?" Kurenai asked after an elongated silence, still holding onto Amari.

"I'm okay, Kurenai. Really, I'm fine. As long as someone doesn't jump in front of my jutsu again, there won't be any problems."

A giggle escaped Amari at his half-scolding, half-teasing tone. "You've got yourself a deal there, Sensei."

Kurenai pressed her lips against the top of her head then detached from her. Reluctantly, Amari relinquished her grip only for two fingers to jab her forehead hard. She brought her hand to her head to rub the spot as she met her mother's chastising red eyes. "There better not be a next time."

"I know I know…no need to be troublesome," Amari mumbled the last part but still got poked again as a reminder of her mother's great hearing. Better than an inescapable genjutsu, she conceded as she rubbed her forehead. "How long do I have to stay here anyway?"

"As long as the doctor's tests come up negative for anything that requires surgery or sidelining you from missions, I'd guess not long," Kakashi answered.

The word surgery coaxed a shudder out of the Nara. Surgery would be such a drag. Nothing felt wrong, though, so hopefully her body had healed itself really well to keep her from needing surgery. "So I'll be here for a few hours?" He gave a short nod. But that means being stuck in this sterile white room with nothing to do. Boring didn't quite cut what she was about to experience. "Man," she groaned, "I was hoping to relax at home for the rest of the day."

"Don't get injured and you won't have to spend time here," Kurenai replied, a teasing smile tugging at her lips.

Troublesome adults.

And so the waiting and tests began. Ugh, it was such a pain. Her only saving grace was having her mother to talk to since Kakashi left to check in on the others. Throughout it all she was able to explain other parts of their mission she didn't get to tell the rest of her team. Matters involving Inari, finding her nindo, the memory of her cousin, how those moments made her feel and—when the doctors were away—how her fight with Haku and Zabuza advanced her Sharingan from one tomoe to two.

Giddy didn't quite describe how the last bit of news made her feel. She was over the moon, dashing past the stars and exploring parts of the galaxy not yet known to man. Overall it didn't change much about what she could do with it. She wouldn't be able to suddenly pull off Wind Style or Earth Style or copy any other jutsu not in her current ability range. But it looked so much cooler and was a sign of her growth. That was enough to fill her with jubilation.

The tests came back negative for any lingering damage. Her audible sigh of relief earned her smiles from the doctor and her mother, but she didn't care. No surgery, no damage, no sidelines. She was clear for duty and training and looking forward to every moment of it. But first on her to-do list was returning home and having the largest bowl of ice cream her mother allowed; a note Kurenai found absolutely amusing when she announced it proudly on their walk back.

"What brought this on?" she asked with a laugh.

"I don't want to have any more regrets than I already have." She looked to her mother with a closed eyed smile. "That's why I'm going to spoil myself with a victory bowl of ice cream!"

Kurenai smiled back warmly and poked her forehead. "As you command, little one."

All the familiar smells and feelings of home remained when she entered their cozy home. The comfort it gave kept her smiling for the rest of the day. Before having her victory bowl she unpacked her gear and placed Haku's crystalized flower in her room in a small vase, smiling fondly at it once it was settled.

We'll see each other again. That's a promise.

"Amari, your bowl is ready!" Kurenai called.

"On my way!"

She wasn't sure what was waiting for her tomorrow, but after the Land of Waves, a D-ranked mission sounded good.

A Week Later

Amari was being followed.

There was a box with eye holes cut out in the front and painted to look like rocks tailing her through Konoha. No matter where she went it followed along behind her like a piece of string tied them together. When she would stop, it would stop. When she would slow her pace, it would slow its pace.

After a while she decided to just ignore it and pretend it wasn't there while she ran a few errands. It didn't seem like the culprits were any threat to her; their poor disguise made that clear enough. No harm, no foul as the saying went.

Currently she was on her way to meet her Sensei. The team had originally been given the day off today, yet Kakashi caught up to her a few hours ago to tell her they needed to meet at their usual training field alone. He hadn't mentioned why or given her much choice in the matter. He was insistent in his orders, to a concerning degree. Kakashi could be serious when he needed to be, but the way he had spoken…something was off.

The only problem now was this strange box refused to leave her alone. If she waited any longer she'd be late. Late, Amari frowned. She hated being tardy to anything. Granted Kakashi would probably be late anyways, but that didn't mean she had to follow his example.

Time to find out what's under box number one.

Channeling her chakra throughout her body, she disappeared in a blur of speed and reappeared behind the box with her arms crossed. Her stalkers hadn't cut holes into any other part of the box—a rookie mistake without a sensor type. A limited field of vision was a disastrous mistake they were about to pay for.

The box flipped up and out of it sprang three children looking in all directions except behind them—another rookie mistake. Two of them were complete strangers to her eyes, but one in particular—the leader no doubt—wore a familiar blue scarf.

"Hey! Where'd she go?" Konohamaru asked.

His two companions were one boy wearing glasses and a girl with orange hair in two large pigtails. The girl wore a red tank top over a pink t-shirt as wells as grey pants. The boy wore a blue zipped up shirt and a pair of brown pants. Each of them, though, wore goggles of the same make as Naruto's before they became ninjas.

"Ahem!" Amari cleared her throat loudly right behind the Hokage's grandson. Her effort to scare them proved successful; their bodies jolted in shock as they let out short cries of surprise. An amused smirk graced her lips at her victorious sneak attack and their frightened reactions. "Shouldn't you three Academy students be in the Academy?"

Konohamaru, either bravely or foolishly, turned to her with a look of defiance and a puffed out chest. His attempt to be tough only came off as adorable to her eyes. "No! We have a day off!"

Days off weren't unheard of, but that only left her with another question. Why would they spend their day off following me around? Surely there were better ways to spend a day off as a kid, not that she knew much about days off or being a kid. Both of those were foreign concepts to her at this point. "Okay, so why are you three stalking me?"

Konohamaru faltered and scratched his quickly pink turning cheeks. "Uh…Well, you see…"

Amused by his embarrassment, Amari rested a hand on his head and proceeded to ruffle his hair gently. "Nice to see you again, Konohamaru." She let her hand fall back to her side and lifted her chin up at his friends. "Are you going to introduce me to your two friends?"

He beamed and nodded vigorously. "Sure thing! This is Moegi and Udon. We're the Konohamaru Ninja Squad!" The trio of kids took up poses with all the seriousness of innocent children.

Amari giggled at the overzealous introduction. They were a cute bunch, she'd give them that. Full of life and adorableness she could already see causing her a problem somewhere down the line. "I'm Amari in case Konohamaru hasn't told you." She nodded in greeting to the three. "How's Iruka-sensei been? Still yelling his lungs out at troublemakers?"

Konohamaru sighed and Moegi giggled. "You bet, Amari! Isn't that right, Konohamaru?" The smaller girl teasingly bumped Konohamaru's side with her elbow.

Amari gazed down at the boy, who was definitely trying to avoid eye contact. I think I'm beginning to see more resemblances to Naruto in him. She sighed internally. Of all the traits you had to take from Naruto, you had to take the skipping class ones? "Konohamaru, are you giving Iruka-sensei a hard time?"

"No!"

"Uh-huh." The Shadow user poked him below his goggles. "Don't be troublesome and pay attention to your studies. You'll need them if you plan on surpassing Naruto."

He grabbed at the spot on his forehead and puffed his cheeks out in a pout. "I know…"

"You still haven't answered my question for why you were following me."

"Boss said that because he was busy training that you would play ninja with us."

Narutooo, I'm going to crush you. That knucklehead was in so much trouble when she got her hands on him. He could have easily told them no without throwing her name under the bus, but no. Her best friend in his infinite wisdom decided to tell these kids she would play with them without considering the possibility of her being busy. Not only would it bum these kids out for her to tell them no, but then she'd seem too stuck up when they knew she had a day off.

Is there really any harm in it?

She could spare some time for them, couldn't she? It'd probably be a refreshing change of pace to play ninja with these kids. Back in her days in the Academy and at the orphanage she never played ninja. I was so focused on becoming strong enough to be a ninja that I never really tried being a kid. Part of her regretted that, but with her new found resolve from the Land of Waves burning within her, she decided there was no such thing as being too old to play a children's game.

Though that wasn't to say she wasn't going to have a little fun with them beforehand. "I don't know, Konohamaru. If you're messing around in class I may not be willing to do this."

The reaction was instantaneous—puffed cheeks in an indignant pout. "Oh that is so not fair!" he whined. The corner of her lip tugged up into a victorious smirk. And then the brat switched tactics from pouting to unbeatable puppy dog eyes. "Come on, Big Sis. I promise I'll stop messing around so much if you do this."

Big Sis…

Now she had to do it. What kind of pseudo-sibling would she be if she didn't play around with her little brother? A pretty bad one. Sighing in mock exasperation, she turned her eye to the girl of the pair. "Moegi, will you make sure he keeps his promise?"

She gave the Shadow user a two finger salute and a smile. "You bet, Amari!"

With a nod at the confirmation and a mental note to check in on Iruka-sensei later, Amari proceeded to play ninja with the trio. It would only be for a little while and it wasn't like Kakashi was known for being on time. If anything, she probably had hours to spare based on previous experience. I'll just lead them over to the training field to appease my need to be early.

A sound plan in her eyes that allowed her to be on time and still play with the kids.

So the four set off in their game of ninja with the Nara of the group leading them to the destination of her choosing and embracing her inner child. The laughter, the smiles, the chakra she used in creating clones to make things more interesting, all of it made Amari feel unburdened and unrestrained by her distant and recent past; as if the shackles of pain had finally been broken off by these three innocent kids to help her escape her internal prison.

When they finally reached the training field, their game devolved into a simple game of tag, or as Konohamaru put it, "Everyone tackle Big Sis!"

She was almost willing to let them win, but she was having far too much fun to give in so easily. Of course there was a fine line she had to tread to ensure they were still having fun. By letting one or two of them get a hold of a clone or herself now and then kept the group hopeful that this time would end in success.

All the fun ended when her limited sensory abilities caught the presence of a powerful shinobi lurking in the trees nearby. "Everyone stop," Amari called. Her two clones were already aware of the presence the same as her. Even Konohamaru seemed to feel it—the feeling of a shinobi preparing to do battle.

As Amari activated her Byakugan, Konohamaru stepped closer to her side while her clones remained close to the other two. "What's going on, Amari?" Udon asked.

It isn't just one shinobi, she analyzed, a grave expression on her face as her left eye scouted the surrounding area. Five of them, and they're all staying right on the fringes of my sight where my vision becomes too foggy to make out clear shapes. By chakra alone, they were strong, but only one was of Jōnin level. That chakra source was to the East with a second, weaker shinobi. North and West were two different signatures, again too far for her to see them and around the same strength as the other weaker chakra signature. Another shinobi was directly to the south and seemed to have two chakra sources, though that was harder to tell.

They've surrounded us, and…Her brow furrowed. It seems they know of my sensory limitations. No way it's a coincidence they're all just out of sight. Concerning as that fact was, there was good news: Kakashi meant to meet her here today and it was already past time for him to be here. Meaning he should be arriving soon.

It was a hope she would have to hold onto.

"Big Sis?"

"We're being watched." Scouted for a reason I'm too afraid to voice. Now wasn't the time for fear. These kids needed her to protect them until Kakashi arrived. If that meant holding off these five shinobi and taking a beating for their sake, she'd do it. She'd be beaten into a state of near death if it meant saving these kids. Amari looked down at Konohamaru's worried expression, her one eyed stare strong and defiant. "I'm getting you three out of here right now. Moegi, Udon—"

A blast of shuriken and kunai aimed right at her and Konohamaru penetrated her vision from the North. Damn! Not allies! Definitely not our allies! "Hold on!" Amari and her clones grabbed onto the shocked children and Body Flickered deeper into the forest to the South.

As she appeared out of her first Body Flicker—her clones next to her carrying Moegi and Udon as she held on tightly to Konohamaru—Amari's mind sped up to match her pace on the possible cause of the attack. Damn it, she cursed, Body Flickering again in synchronicity with her clones. This is about my eyes, isn't it? Just like Mizuki, these shinobi must have learned about my eyes, only they're coming after me specifically.

The trio of blue-haired shinobi hopped through the forest at high speeds until the real Amari decided on a spot far away from her enemies to settle down and think of a plan. Landing on a large tree branch, they set the kids down so she could examine them for injuries they may or may not have endured.

All three children were unscathed.

Good, she thought, relieved for a brief moment before falling back into seriousness. I've endangered these three just by being around them. Amari clasped her left hand over the graze wound on her right bicep to try to keep it from bleeding too much. Naruto, I wish you were here to back me up right now.

He wasn't though, and that made it her responsibility to get these frightened kids out of here. The trio huddled close together between Amari and her clones. Eyes darted around the surrounding canopy of trees for their assailants, a few tremors of fear visible as they waited for an imminent attack. Reminds me of the others when Zabuza first showed up.

These three hadn't faced the reality of a shinobi battle yet. They hadn't faced the Demon of the Hidden Mist or Haku or even Mizuki. They're still Academy students. She couldn't fault them for their fear. Everything in the Academy was just training with classmates, in theory circumstances they had to figure out and make preparations for without real consequences.

This, however, was real. This battle could mean the difference between life and death—a fact these three didn't need to be facing at such a young age.

Right now these three needed her to be the pillar of calm Kakashi became for her team. They needed her to be the invincible warrior who made promises she would die to keep if she had to.

They needed her to be Amaririsu Yūhi, the Konoha kunoichi.

Since her injury in the Land of Waves, Amari had been free to just be Amari. She hadn't needed to access her inner warrior and become the fearless kunoichi who told Zabuza Momochi to not underestimate her in a death battle. But for these kids, for their lives Amari would reignite the fires of her inner warrior and become Amaririsu Yūhi again, child of Uchiha and Nara blood and kunoichi of Konoha.

Fun and games were over. These people, whoever they were, would regret ever attacking her. But first…

"Listen to me carefully," she spoke to the kids, lowering her hand from her arm and kneeling down onto one knee in front of them. Their frightened eyes met hers. "No matter what happens, stick close to me. I won't let anyone harm you three." She smiled confidently at them. "I promise."

Relief colored their features and their jitters eased. Before she could begin to explain her plan, the presence of another enemy appeared above them. Amari's gaze snapped up and caught only the sight of a blur shooting right at them.

Have to move!

The Amari's grabbed onto the kids again and Body Flickered out of the way, jumping back through the forest towards the center of the training field as the cracking of bark and resounding boom of the powerful attack followed them. They're not messing around, she noted, eye hardening. But then, neither am I.

She would have gone further south, but just before she Body Flickered she sensed an additional chakra source waiting for them. I can't risk a trap when I have to care for these three. If she was captured in a net or they planned to use poison bombs, these three would suffer because of her. She refused to let that happen. No one was going to lay a finger on these innocent kids so long as she had breath still in her body.

Where's that pervy Jōnin Ebisu when I need him? Isn't he supposed to be watching after the Hokage's grandson? If she saw him after this all cooled off, he was going to be in for an earful.

Sensei, where are you? I need you here. Skilled as she was, she was no match for a five on one assault with a powerful Jōnin among them. And they tracked me faster than they should have been able to…The Nara sighed and continued jumping through the trees. Which means the shinobi that just tried to attack me is either a sensory type or is in communication with their sensory shinobi.

"How troublesome," she muttered.

With a sensory type among them she had no chance of disappearing or escaping. They'd be able to track her anywhere so long as they kept her in whatever their radius was. I just have to hold out until Kakashi-sensei arrives.

She hoped like hell he wasn't going to be too late.

Amari and her team of clones landed back on the field and immediately set the children down. "Girls, Manji Formation. Protect the kids."

All three kunoichi took up defensive positions around the kids, dual kunai out and prepared to meet steel with whoever was attacking them.

"Big Sis, do you know what these guys want?" Konohamaru asked.

Much as she wanted to say it was her eyes and her fault, rational thought dictated there were two real scenarios. Either this is about my eyes or…Her Byakugan eye vision shifted to look at Konohamaru. Or they are after the grandson of the Third Hokage. For the first time in her life Amari found herself hoping her eyes were the target. If they weren't…if these people were targeting the grandson of the Hokage…War would be on the horizon.

I can't tell them that. It'd only spread fear and unverified information in an already dangerous situation. Not that it matters anyways because these jerks aren't going to lay a finger on my eyes or these kids.

"No. But…" She locked onto the quick moving shinobi from the South heading right for her. A few more meters and I'll be able to see who you really are. "In the end, whatever they want doesn't matter because they're not going to get it."

I bet that ninja tool user will throw their weapons right as the taijutsu user gets here. I can depend on my clones blocking the tools, but this taijutsu user is physically fast. Amari glanced down to her bandaged arms and legs. And I'm weighed down.

Today was a bad day to put the weighted seals back on. Manji Formation should keep them covered, but if I instead make a run for it…She allowed her gaze to move to the East where the Jōnin was. They'd just stop me. Even if I did escape they would just track me and then I'd be in an unknown area trying to protect them.

Here though I have the advantage. I know these grounds. I just have to—

Amari's thoughts halted abruptly in shock when the shinobi from the South became visible. She's…an Inuzuka. Her grip on her kunais tightened in confused anger. Why? Why are my fellow Leaf shinobi attacking me? The kunoichi had to be maybe a year older than her at most, and yet here she was, hell-bent on attacking her for what Amari had to assume was a chance at her eyes.

What is so damned special about these eyes that people would betray their comrades for them? She was seething inside, on the verge of exploding in venomous fury.

Before she could act, the Inuzuka jumped from the tree and tackled her to the ground. Amari used the momentum of her assault to flip the ninja off of her and towards her North ally to use her as a human shield, but no other attack came. Seems there isn't much communication here, she thought as she kipped up onto her feet and spun back into defense. They missed a perfect opportunity to attack at the same time.

Not all hope was loss then. There was still a chance to outmaneuver or outsmart these traitors.

The Inuzuka kunoichi bore the markings of her clan on her face with pride, though her face was far softer in appearance than Kiba's more feral features. On the top of her head was a jet black ninken of the same size as Akamaru resting in the past shoulder length mess of untamed wild dark-brown hair. Her outfit consisted of a zipped up dark blue hoodie, what seemed to be a black shirt under it, clothed black gloves with metal plates on the back of them, shin length black shorts and blue ninja sandals.

Her ninja headband was tied around her forehead and, unlike Kiba, her eyes were ocean blue and held a will that could back down many weaker willed people, at a guess. Amari wasn't a weaker willed person though, not anymore. What kept her from relentlessly assaulting this shinobi without thought was the need to figure out why an Inuzuka was betraying the village. The Inuzuka were known for their fierce loyalty.

Were her eyes really important enough to her to disregard their home?

"What the hell is this?" she questioned, her voice hot with anger. "Why are you attacking a fellow Leaf shinobi and Academy students?"

Why are you betraying your home?

"We aren't here for them. You can stop protecting them," she replied, her voice calm and devoid of dishonesty.

Amari snorted in disbelief. "Right. As soon as you tell your ally to the North to stop throwing ninja tools at me then I'll get right on that, and while you're at it maybe you shouldn't use a taijutsu technique that nearly hurt them as well." She shook her head. "I'm not going anywhere and you're not going to get near them as long as I'm still breathing."

"Heh," the kunoichi laughed. "Looks like you're pretty loyal to your friends."

She sent a glare at the Inuzuka. Just like you should be to your Village. "I'll give you one chance to walk away. If you don't, I won't stop until you're unable to continue fighting."

Her enemy's lips split into a wide, feral grin. "Oooh, feisty! I'm going to enjoy this challenge."

"Mimi, wait."

Suddenly the Jōnin's chakra appeared between the two kunoichi's. Damn, so fast! Amari and her clones grabbed the kids and jumped a good distance away from the stronger ninja. Once her eyes finally fell upon the Jōnin, her jaw dropped.

"Guy-sensei? Is something wrong?" the Inuzuka asked, clearly confused by his sudden appearance.

What was he doing here? If he was her Sensei, why was he allowing this fight? Wasn't he an ally? Wasn't he a friend of her mother, Asuma and Kakashi?

"I am so confused," muttered Amari, shaking her head at the strange turn of events. The sound of her voice made the bushy-browed ninja turn to Amari. He wore a serious look but nothing that hinted at what was going on. "You were there when I was found, and you were at the Academy watching me with Lord Hokage, Asuma-sensei, Mom, Uncle Shikaku and Kakashi-sensei…Why? Why is your student trying to attack me and the kids?"

The Inuzuka, Mimi apparently, cocked her head to the side. "You have no idea what's going on, do you?"

"Are you two trying to kill us?" she asked.

Mimi's features became sympathetic at the question. "So that's why you looked so angry."

Two more strong but familiar presences appeared behind Amari. Turning to face the surges of chakra, she found Kakashi standing next to her and Iruka standing behind Konohamaru. "Iruka-sensei, Kakashi-sensei?" A defeated sigh escaped Amari. "This is such a drag. Can someone please explain to me what's going on? I am so confused."

"Thought you'd get away, huh?" Iruka asked, an evil grin on his face and a vein bulging on his forehead in irritation.

"Get away? I thought you said you had the day off?" Konohamaru smiled and laughed nervously at the accusation. Frowning in displeasure of being duped, the Shadow user dispelled her clones to give Iruka the freedom to grab the troublemaking leader of the three students. "Iruka-sensei, I had hoped to see you soon, but I didn't know your students were skipping out."

He offered her a smile. "Don't worry about it, Amari. I was planning on taking Naruto to ramen later. If you have the time, come join us. As for you three."

Iruka and the three students disappeared in a swirl of wind and leaves.

Left with the two Jōnin and the Inuzuka, a very confused Amari looked to her sensei for answers. "Sensei, why were they attacking me? I was playing with the kids and then suddenly a swarm of ninja tools came at us."

"I have to apologize for getting you dragged into this Amari, but you see…" Kakashi rubbed the back of his neck and looked up to the sky with a troubled expression. "How to explain this?"

I don't think I've ever seen Sensei so confused at how to explain something. He never was one to beat around the bush in the past, so to see him trying to find the words to explain whatever this was worried Amari.

What exactly was going on here that would keep Kakashi from saying the truth?

"What my eternal rival is trying to explain is I have challenged you, Amaririsu Yūhi, to a contest!" Guy declared.

Eternal rival? Amari turned to her sensei for elaboration but received a sigh instead.

"I believe I am the one at fault for this misunderstanding of youthful battle. You see, I thought you challenged yourself to protect three kids while fighting my students. An honest mistake, I assure you."

Honestly stupid, in her opinion. What kind of idiot would put such a ridiculous stipulation on themselves? I'd get enough of that kind of stress from regular missions.

"Sensei, should I get the others?" Mimi asked.

"Go on, Mimi."

The Inuzuka looked up to her companion. "Ready, Aoko?" Her pure black ninken gave a bark and the two took off in the direction of their teammates. Sensing a troublesome situation ahead of her, Amari decided to deactivate her Byakugan to conserve chakra.

I've got a bad feeling about this.