Chapter 7

After Kakashi had dropped me off at my old apartment I had gone inside it. The Hokage's name, come to find out was Tsunade. The slug queen. A part of me wanted to kick myself because I had forgotten who she is, but the other part of me was still stuck in a state of confusion. She sent me back to my apartment. She didn't question what I had told her and have me tortured. She didn't hold any ill will at all towards me. Instead... She welcomed me back to the village and had told me she was going to give me some time home before having me decide if I still wished to be a ninja. I told her that I hadn't needed any time. I am a ninja and nothing was going to change that. I even tried to talk her out of keeping me home and off of missions for a while but she would hear none of it. Her reasons... I need to rest.

There was dust absolutely everywhere in my apartment. So instead of resting, I spent hours cleaning it up even had to clean my bedding to rid it of all the layers of dirt. The sun was high in the sky before I had even set down on my bed and pulled out my blue book and a pen. I wrote Itachi's name on the empty page and waited.

It was sometime last year when I had figured this out. I was off with Sasori and Deidara rather than with Itachi like usual. Every time we had to be separated it was lonely. So one mission I focused all of my free time on linking two particular books together. It no longer mattered how far apart we were, we could now communicate. At least until the last tailed beast the three of us fought. One book got ruined from how badly burnt I had gotten. I had made another set but until the other day, there had been no reason for me to give it to him. We've been together constantly now for months.

When I saw my name appear I couldn't help but smile. I wanted to tell him everything. Including where I was, even what had happened last night. There was so much in me just bursting to come out. Tucking my feet onto the bed in front of me I rest my back against the wall. Placing the book on my thighs I begin to write. The page was completely filled by the time I finished and I sat there watching the ink fade. Showing it was transferring to the other book.

His responses were short like usual and were taking quite some time in between receiving them. He was busy and FishFace was trying to read over his shoulder. He wasn't upset with me at all though. He was actually glad that I was back in the village. He asked me how long I thought this mission was going to take and I felt a ping of loneliness return to me. A drop from my eye slipped from its confines and fell to the paper we have been writing on. I frown at this as I watch it disappear.

Maybe I'm just tired. I thought when Itachi didn't say anything since I never did answer his question. Resting my arms over my knees I lay my head forward upon them. Only planning to close my eyes for a few moments as I wait. I was just so tired. An exhaustion that when you are used to being constantly on the move you learn to push to the furthest recesses of your mind. An exhaustion, I am now feeling the full brunt of. For once there was no set time for me to wake up. No reason for me to get up. No missions, no jobs, no expectations, no loud mouth FishFace. Just silence.

A knock at my door brings my eyes to open. Sitting up I look down at the book that fell off my chest. Rubbing my head with a groan I realize that I had actually fallen asleep and at some point, I must have laid down clutching to the book. Getting up off of my bed I walk out of my bedroom and make my way to the front door. Covering a yawn with my right hand as I go.

Opening up the door I raise a brow seeing Captain Yamato looking down at me. I tilt my head trying to work my mind through my sleep as I rub the back of my head groggily. "Oh, sorry to wake you." He says as another yawn is drawn out of me.

"I thought the Lady Hokage gave me time off.." I mumble and rub my eyes. Yamato's large eyes just seem to peer down at me.

"She did." He says as I could tell even he was trying almost a little too hard to show emotion as he speaks. "uhh... A week ago." My eyes widen and I place the palm of my right hand against my forehead.

"Really? A week?" I ask him. He's not messing around with me right?

"Yes, Kira Lake." He answers making me frown.

"Can't believe I slept that long." I yawn again. "And just Kira."

"Lady Hokage wants you to come with me to the training grounds." He says, finally getting down to business. Huh? Training grounds? I sigh and walk away from my door, leaving it open for him.

"Come inside and have a seat then. I need to get ready." I wave to him from over my shoulder before disappearing into my bedroom. Grabbing another outfit from my bag I slip into the bathroom to take a shower. I don't really care if he listened to me or not. He could stand in my doorway all day long for all I care. I am in serious need of a bath though.

Once I am in my room again I tie my pants snuggly against my hips. My eyes moving to the blue book for a moment as the thought of checking to see if Itachi has written to me crosses my mind. Shaking my head I grab it and slip it into the pouch now resting back on my hip. Pulling my hair up into a ponytail before I grab my canteen from my pouch and walk out of my room.

Bringing the cold metal to my lips I let the chilled sticky substance run down my throat as I walk into the living room to see Yamato sitting in the only chair within this room. "Done?" He asks looking at me before he stands and walks to my front door. This guy, is really wound-tight isn't he? I follow him out of my apartment and shut the door before taking another drink from my canteen. Taking my time mostly to see how patient this guy could manage to be.

As we walk onto the particular training field that The Hokage wanted me at I notice some other people already there. Capping my canteen I slip it back into my pouch as we near them. Naruto standing near a raven-haired boy wearing a white outfit with a blue sash. From the way they were glaring at each other, only made me think they had been fighting. Then there was Tsunade and the black-haired girl from the night I was in the Hokage's office and standing next to them was Sakura smiling in my direction.

What made my body go rigid was the sight of long bright blond hair wearing a red kunoichi dress. Her bright blue eyes glimmering in the light though reflecting much less than they had before the chunin exams three years ago. She had her right arm resting across her stomach so her hand was on the opposite hip and her left hand tucking her hair behind her ear. When Yamato stops I walk up beside him standing in front of Tsunade.

"There you are." Tsunade smiles as her blond low riding pigtails blow in the breeze. Naruto makes a sound of question as if he hadn't realized I was here yet. Looking at him I watch his eyes soften as he smiles.

"Welcome home." He says gently causing me to raise a brow.

"Well, I guess you can be quiet when you want to." I smirk only for him to give me a small smile. Has he really grown up this much? My smirk changes to a warm smile as I walk up to him and stop in front of him. He bows his head slightly to look down at me. That same odd look on his face. "Thanks, Naruto." I tell him matching his own tone. "For not giving up. You gave me back my courage so I could escape." I reach up and curl my fingers around the upper bicep of his arm gently as I look into his warm blue eyes.

Letting him go I move away from him and move up to Sakura. "What? Not going to yell at me for being late?" I ask her and try to chuckle as I watch her green eyes quiver.

"Don't be silly. I'm just glad you're back." She smiles before throwing her arms around me. I raise a brow and nearly sneeze when her pink hair brushes against my nose. I thought she hated me. Why is she hugging me? I sigh and pat her head lightly.

"I didn't know you actually cared." I tell her honestly before I smile and close my eyes hearing her shaky breathing as she tries not to cry. "I'm back now." I tell her quietly and wait for her to stop trembling. Maybe I've been wrong this entire time. Is it possible that it wasn't just Sasuke that cared about me?

"We're friends, don't ever forget that." Sakura whimpers into my shoulder before she finally pulls away wiping her eyes with a gloved finger of her right hand.

"I won't anymore." I tell her and try to give her a smile before I turn and look at the one I really wish wasn't here. I have to seem like I've wanted this. I tell myself. Keep on point for the mission. Walking up to Aphrodite I stand there looking at her. Her gaze that meets mine almost feels like she was trying to read my thoughts. Begging me to let her in. "I was told something while I was kept by the Akatsuki." I say causing her to look more confused as to what I could be getting at. "What is What is, What's done is done." I tell her causing her eyes to widen as I hold my hand out to her.

She looks down at my hand a moment before she throws herself forward and wraps me in a hug. "I'm so sorry cuz! I was wrong, I made a mistake, I.." I pat her head like I did Sakura, going against every fiber of my being to not kill her.

"Living in the past only hurts us." I tell her gently before she pulls away from me. Tears brimming in her eyes. Even I couldn't be fake enough to come right out and say that I forgive her. A betrayal like that... Is more than just difficult to forgive. It's practically impossible. But I can settle for learning not to trust her and being able to act like I can forgive her. I give her a smile that I am getting really good at before turning and looking back to Tsunade.

"Alright, the warm welcomes are done. Kira, I called you here for one thing." Tsunade speaks up her eyes turning more serious as I walk up to stand in front of her. "You have been gone for three years and you still express that you wish to be a ninja." She reiterates as I try to keep my hands still at my sides. "I need to see if you can keep up with your teammates still." She finally smiles as she looks down at me.

I nearly sigh before I give her a nod. "I understand." I speak plainly. It's obvious she needs to know what skill level I'm at. Sakura and Naruto have spent the last three years training and all she's gotten to hear is two reports about me, who knows if anyone ever mentioned their assessment of my skill level.

"When Naruto returned from training I had him and Sakura spar against Kakashi. Since he is still out on his mission there is only one person I could think of that would be able to properly gauge your skills." I replace my sigh with a smirk before turning to look back at Aphrodite. "I see you already figured it out." Tsunade chuckles and I nod. I'm glad it's Aphrodite. I myself want to see how I measure up to her now. "Alright, everyone clear the field." Tsunade says leading the other five away to only leave Aphrodite and I.

We move around on the grass until we are face to face about ten feet apart from each other. The last time I fought her she used a mid-distance wind jutsu. There's no telling what else she has learned. Tilting my head I watch her closely as I pull my gloves up further on my hands. She gives me a smile. "I've been waiting to do this again, cousin."

"Well, you got me. Now let's get this over with." I sigh causing her brows to furrow in confusion.

"Where'd your spunk go?" She asks and I shrug. She frowns before suddenly disappearing. Feeling her movements through the air I turn around and catch her fist before she could even land her punch. I tilt my head wondering why she is holding back as I raise up on my left leg and keep her in my grip. Twisting her fist she lets out a whimper that causes her eyes to squint for a mere moment. Taking that moment I shove my foot into her stomach and let go of her. Sending her rolling backward hard enough dirt was being kicked up each time she hit the ground.

She sets up and touches her stomach as she places her gaze back on me. "That wasn't even one of your chakra kicks." She says as she coughs. I stand there and wait as she gets up when she realizes I wasn't going to say anything. No childish banter to get us riled up. No cocky comments to keep the fight light-hearted. I sigh as I bring my foot back down to stand on it. Her lack of attack causes me to raise an eyebrow.

"Are you done already?" I ask her and she frowns at my words. Her eyes mixing with emotions I couldn't understand. With another sigh, I push forward at her for a head-on attack. She raises her arms to block only for me to drop down and kick her legs off of under her. Using my momentum I finally do gather up some chakra into my foot as I roll and slam my sandal into her stomach, releasing my chakra outwards at the exact moment of impact. The ground cracks beneath us before dropping into a crater. Jumping from the piece of earth I was on I land on the untouched ground outside of the crater.

It took her a few moments to gather her breath fighting against her broken ribs and ruptured organs before I feel her move through the air. Closing my eyes deciding if I should end this now or not. Leaping into the air I avoid the kunai that was thrown at my feet. Turning in mid-air I look down at Aphrodite. She was disheveled with a line of blood rolling from her mouth. Her eyes quivering as she watches me just before I see her raise her hands to form hand signs.

Pulling my energy out in response I coat myself in it as I pull it tightly against my body. The speed of this movement only having come from the grueling training I undertook. It was then a wave of wind smacks into me even before I began to descend from my leap. Raising my arms to protect myself out of habit I notice a blue tinge to the wind. Filled with chakra that would have cut me if not for my shield. She's repeating herself from last time? The only difference was this time she didn't have the smoke and dirt cover from my fire jutsu. Smart, she must have realized last time, she got lucky.

Flipping in mid-air so my back was to her momentarily as I complete my own hand signs. Compressing chakra tightly into my chest. Once my feet hit the ground I turn and bring my fingers to my mouth. The fireball I expel from my lungs rapidly grows in size leaving me looking up at the massive ball that was now standing higher than the trees outlining this training ground. Taking this chance I leap backward to the trees and jump up onto a branch away from the heat. In order to take the time to come up with a battle plan that wouldn't make it seem like I am too strong. I've been trained to get in and get out. End it as soon as possible. Drawing out a fight is not really something I am used to.