Hey y'all! Guess what! I drove yesterday and today! Yay! Anyways, sorry for not updating sooner, I'm on vacation! It's been really fun and I actually think I'm getting a teeny tiny tan!

Okay, so this chapter is important for both Kira and Kabuto! Big time revelation that affects the future! Whoo who! Excitement! However, I am putting flashbacks in of right after the third exam so that you guys know what happened. There's some significance in it, so…

It's kind of late, so this chapter might not be the best. I also have ideas for other fics in my head, so I'm having trouble concentrating…

Disclaimer: Sadly, the Naruto series does not belong to moi and some other names don't belong to me either. However, Kira, Jin, Toboe, Rina, Shigure, and Koenma are mine, and I'll be VERY angry if someone dares to steal them! Anyways…

Chapter 10: A night to remember…

Setting: Konoha

Time: A few hours after the test, but includes flashbacks to a few minutes after the test.

Kabuto leaned back in his chair as he starred at the ceiling, pondering over the day. He was worried about Kira, he couldn't find Jin or Toboe, and Uotani and Imai were staying with their families. So, on a night most thought was beautiful, Kabuto found himself alone, with only a cup of tea to keep him company…

-Flashback to after the exam-

Kabuto raced after Team Koenma as he avoided Gaara. Looking over his shoulder, he couldn't see the boy, so Kabuto assumed that he was safe. As he stood beside Toboe, he could hear the chattering of the crowd around them, feel the heat of the sun hanging over their heads, and smell the dirt and sweat in the air. As Jin and Toboe laughed with Kira, Kabuto felt a slight tapping on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw the red-haired Kazekage standing before him.

"What are you doing here Yakushi Kabuto?" Gaara growled. Kabuto gulped as he noticed sand pouring slowly out of the gourd.

"Nya! He's here with us, Kazekage!" Kira giggled as she curled her arms around Kabuto's arm. Kabuto could tell that she was putting on her "I'm such a good girl I can do no wrong" voice to make Gaara leave him alone.

Gaara glanced at the tiny kuniochi and sniffed slightly. "He works with Orochimaru. Everyone knows that."

Toboe jumped in. "Yeah, well, so did Sand if I recall correctly. You guys seem pretty reformed!"

Gaara stared, and Kabuto swore he saw a smile flicker across Gaara's face. Suddenly, a small body slammed into Kira, thus knocking both her and Kabuto aside.

Rina clung to Kira's arm as she gasped, "Gomenosai, nee-chan! I didn't mean too! No one was trading! I'm so sorry!" She put her hands on her knees as she fought for breath. Kira stared at the girl.

"What do you mean?"

"The clan, they went to the test! Gomen, I tried to dissuade them but they didn't listen!"

Kira shrugged. "They would have found out eventually. Its fine, Rina-chan. Really, I don't mind." Rina nodded, and stood. Exhaling slowly, she smiled up at Toboe, Jin, and Kabuto, while she wiped the sweat off her brow.

Kabuto turned when he heard the stamping feet of an orange clad 15-year old running towards him. 'I'm going to die, I know it' was the only thing that crossed Kabuto's mind as he waited for the confrontation.

"What the hell are you doing here, Kabuto! The Old Lady knows you're not to be trusted!" Naruto screamed out while he pointed his finger in Kabuto's face. He was turning red with anger, and Kabuto could see Sakura, Hinata, and Kiba with Akamaru running up behind Naruto.

Kira answered for Kabuto. "He's here with permission, Naruto-kun. I swear its okay!" She smiled slightly as the red receded from Naruto's face and Hinata tugged softly on his sleeve, begging him not to kill anyone in the middle of such a big crowd. Sakura stared up at Kabuto, thinking to herself, 'I knew I felt familiar chakra while I was at the flower shop…'

Kira turned to Sakura. "Hey…you're the girl from the flower shop, right? Do you know where Ino-imouto-chan is? I haven't seen her for a while…" The Rookie Nine stared at Kira.

Kiba said, "Ino has an older sister? I didn't know that!"

Kira immediately began shaking her head, stammering, "N-no! She's definitely not my sister! Just really close family friend!"

Sakura giggled, "She's arguing with Shikamaru by the arena. They've been dating for about a month, but they're always fighting…"

Kira gaped. "My little Ino has a boyfriend? And it's not that arrogant jerk? Oh my god! I'm gonna kill her! She didn't even tell me!"

Kabuto held Kira back from charging down the street. "She didn't exactly have time to tell you, you know. Sakura-chan here kind of interrupted your heart-to-heart." Kira pouted as she acknowledged his correct observation.

Suddenly, they heard a squeal emitted from Rina, who had just returned from dropping off a message. "Wow! Your dog is SO kawaii!" She knelt in front of Akamaru, placed her hands out for him to smell, and once allowed, began to pet the large dog quite happily as Team Koenma, Rookie Nine, Gaara, and Kabuto looked on. Rina continued with her cuddling, giggling as she conversed with the animal. "Akamaru? That's your name? That means Red, right? Why is your name Red? Because of those pills? Cool! Whose your owner? Really? He looks just like you! Oh my gosh, that's so sweet! You are so adorable!"

Kira looked up at the others and shrugged. "I didn't know she could talk to animals…"

Kabuto glanced around, to see Sakura, Ino, and Hinata's surprised faces at Rina's communication, Kiba looking like he was going to be sick, Naruto and Shikamaru looking bored, Choji eating, Shino not even watching, and Gaara staring at Rina like she was nuts, yet positively adorable. Kabuto shook his head, attracting Rina's attention.

"Oh yeah!" She looked up at a Gaara, and blanched. "A-are you the Kazekage?" He nodded. She gaped and then stood up quickly, brushed herself off, and started patting herself, muttering, "Where did I put those messages…Darnit, where'd I put them?"

Kira interrupted her ramblings with a well-placed, "In the message bag?" Rina sweatdropped, and nodded, slowly pulling out a pile of messages that she had to deliver.

"Um…Kazekage…Ah, here it is. I was told by the Traders to give you this message, sir!" She passed a folded paper to Gaara, who silently accepted the message. "Ah! There's more! Um…Kira, this is for you from me, I just felt like writing to you, and this one is for the Hokage! Gomen, mina-san, but I have to go!" Kneeling down in front of Akamaru, she hugged him and said, "I'll see you later! It was very nice to meet you!" Turning to Kira, she saluted, "It's just about sunset!" At that, she raced away, disappearing quickly into the crowd.

The Rookie Nine (A/N Minus Sucks-ke, but I'm going to keep referring to them like that…) glanced at one another, and then at the older genin. Kira grinned at them, and before a fight could ensue, she turned, dragging Toboe and Jin behind her as she called, "Kabuto! I suggest you go back to your apartment! I'll see you tomorrow!" The three disappeared after a cart passed between them and the remaining group. Kabuto nodded to the Rookie Nine and Gaara, and as fast as possible, left the area. Gaara returned to where Temari and Kankuro were waiting, and then he opened the message Rina had delivered. The others dissipated, going away from the area in groups like Naruto and Hinata; Sakura, Shikamaru, and Ino, and Shino and Kiba.

Kabuto had returned to his apartment like Kira told him too, but he couldn't sleep. Something was bugging him, aside from the fact that he didn't know what would happen with Kira. Suddenly, someone began banging on his door. Padding to the door, Kabuto pulled it open to reveal a haggard Jin, who turned and said, "Interrogation Tower. Level Four, Room 3. Be there in ten minutes." With that said, he retreated into the darkness of the hallway, and Kabuto could only feel the cool air blow against him as the outside door shut behind Jin. As Kabuto kneeled to pick up the now broken mug that he had dropped, he thought, 'But I haven't done anything!'

(A/N Muhahaha…what could be going on? Will Kabuto get tortured? Find out in three- ouch! I was kidding! It's not a cliffy…)

10 minutes later…

Kabuto arrived at the Tower only to find Jin and Toboe waiting at the door. Once they saw him, Toboe nodded to Jin, who opened the door and went running out of sight. Toboe looked up at Kabuto; he could see the strain Toboe was feeling lined out on his face. Kabuto landed next to Toboe and asked quietly, "What's wrong?"

Toboe looked over at him before opening the door. "There are some problems going on. We need your help."

Kabuto raised his eyebrows as the two walked down the hallway to an elevator, and as Toboe pressed number four, Kabuto could feel the elevator…going down. Toboe continued his explanation. "Tsunade, well actually the Third Hokage before her, found a way to lessen the pain that Kira goes through during the night. However, Tsunade can't help tonight, and we can't find strong-enough healers to help. Tsunade told us how strong you are, and I'd like you to help. The procedure is very simple; you probably won't even need to think about it, it's so easy. The most a person can do is relieve some of the pain by constantly healing throughout the night. Can you do that?"

Kabuto nodded slowly. "Does Kira know I'll be helping?"

Toboe shook his head. "I don't think she'll really notice though. She goes into a sort of daze during the night. She shouldn't mind though; she knows I told you about the curse."

Kabuto gulped as they reached the floor. Once the door opened, Toboe led the way to the room. Outside the door, Kabuto could see Jin and Koenma waiting. When Koenma saw Kabuto he nodded, and then left the building. Jin slid the door open, revealing a large room. Kabuto could see Tsunade kneeling next to a futon; Kira was curled into a ball in the middle, not even moving. Tsunade glanced up and nodded at Kabuto. He watched silently as she pushed her chakra into Kira's body, allotting enough time for her to explain to Kabuto what to do.

Once he'd been briefed, Kabuto kneeled next to the futon that Kira lay on. She'd moved; she was lying on her stomach, her knees tucked up beneath her as she pressed her forehead against the floor. Her skin was pale next to her black hair; the sweat glistened on her cheeks as pain began spreading throughout her body. Kabuto could see a pile next to the futon; her forehead protector, her long-sleeved shirt, and her shoes were placed next to the mat. Kabuto pressed his hand against Kira's back below the tank top that she wore, beginning the healing session. Little did he know that this would be one of the longest nights of his life.

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In another tower, Tsunade listened as a young kuniochi with white-blonde hair and a message bag at her hip informed both the Hokage and the Kazekage of messenger nin who had killed Orochimaru's spies. The girl explained the secrets the interrogators had gotten out of the spies, for instance the day that Orochimaru planned to attack, what he planned to use, and everything else they had found out. Rina stated without a pause that, no matter what Tsunade or Gaara had planned, it was too late. The war had begun.

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The sun was rising slowly in the east as Kabuto leaned back on his heels, wiping sweat off his forehead. The night had ended; Kira's torture was through for another month. She was unconscious, having passed-out almost two hours previously. Kabuto slowly slid over to the futon. Picking Kira up, he cradled her against his chest as he moved her from the floor to the soft couch that was provided. Laying her down on the couch, Kabuto brushed the sweat-soaked bangs off her forehead and turned around to lean against the couch as he sat on the floor. Throughout the night, Kira hadn't said a word; Kabuto had only heard strangled gasps that slipped from her lips every few hours. Kabuto didn't think she'd realized that Tsunade wasn't the one doing the healing; Kira seemed too out of it to notice.

Kabuto gathered his strength and walked over to the door. Opening it slightly, he looked out to see it Toboe and Jin were still waiting. Kabuto opened the door fully so they could get in, waiting for them to shut the door behind them before informing them that the healing was done. Toboe and Jin found places to sleep as they waited for Kira to wake. Kabuto, placing a hand on her forehead, checked again to make sure that there were no injuries from the night. Finding none, he slowly backed away to the door. He silently watched as the other boys slowly fall asleep, their heads dropping to rest on their chests as they dozed.

As Kabuto's gaze drifted across the room, to where Kira slept, he thought of why he had come to Konoha. 'To become truly strong.' His thoughts focused on memories of Naruto protecting Sakura and Sasuke, even Kabuto himself in the second part of the Chuunin exam, to Naruto fighting against Hyuuga Neji to protect his dream, to Naruto fighting Gaara/Shukaku to protect Sakura, his friends, and the village that he called home. Kabuto turned back to Kira and the slumbering boys, laughing shortly, he whispered, "Maybe I have become truly strong…"

"When a person has something to protect, he becomes truly strong…" Haku, episode 12

A/N Okay, that's it. I don't really like it, and I feel like it's missing something. I want more fluff to show up, but I don't think that's going to happen. Oh well.

Please review people! It's very important that you guys tell me if I'm missing something or if I made a mistake! And I was very upset to find that only one person reviewed in the week since I updated last. Naughty readers! You hurt my feelings!

Oh! Coming up soon: Kira, Toboe, Jin, and Rina decide to find out what it feels like to be drunk, and Kabuto gets a very big surprise.

Que sera, sera, I always say. Nighty night!

MWAHs to y'all!