Without the running to search for Sasuke and Itachi, Kira had found there was quite a bit of downtime. Team Kakashi had not been called out in actuality Jiraiya had returned long enough to pull Naruto for a bit of training. Sage mode was underway. However, instead of working with Naruto for very long Jiraiya left him to train on his own as usual. Instead, Jiraiya went to Tsunade's office for a conversation that Tsunade had been dreading. Filled with the information that Kakashi had gathered from Kira so far.
Meanwhile, Kira had been racking her brain before and after training with her new team. Periodically the three of them would meet up with the other half of their team to train as well. To become accustomed to each other's fighting styles as well as train in different formations, minus Naruto. In training, Kakashi and Itachi knew something was off. Sasuke's previous foul mood towards the two of them had changed. The anger and underlying hatred simmered to a dull roar. He was focused more on training rather than the interactions between Kira and others. The two of them wondered what had happened the night he went into her room. They had expected a change, a show of emotion from Kira herself even with Sasuke but there was none.
No outward reactions between the two of them that said anything at all in order to explain what happened. That aside from watching the second half of Team Kakashi, Kakashi could tell Kira's words to him were true. When it came to strength, ability, speed, even tactical strategy the three of them were well beyond Sakura and Sai. However, they didn't let the gap in skill change anything. Kira herself would call out strategies and even correct any mishaps that would take place. She guided Sakura and Sai into their formations to enhance what already was. A way that Kakashi himself couldn't have done as easily. She was playing off of everyone's strength and guarding their weaknesses.
"She's a good leader." Yamato's voice comes up from behind Kakashi who had been standing on the outskirts of the training area this time. Letting the rest of the team train for a while on their own. Knowing that there will be times when either Yamato or himself won't be around them. These strategies could mean all the difference for their teams. Kakashi grunts without even looking towards those that had shown up to evaluate how well the team was coming along. He remained leaning against a tree with his left hand in his pocket, his book in his right hand so he could even seem like he was reading. "There is a level of trust-building in the team. It is quite possible that Kira herself is adding to it with each formation and tactical simulation." Kakashi mutters moving his gaze down to his book as the team once again faces off against shadow clones created by Itachi and Kira.
Kakashi didn't want to admit it but from watching Kira and even Sasuke he couldn't help but think these past three years had done more for them than they could have gotten if neither one of them had left the village. At first, it was clear even with Sasuke's developed skills and abilities that he hadn't trained for teamwork. His reactions were slow and unrefined, to begin with, but at the insistence of a lone raven-haired female of their team, he kept at it. Now he was easily following quick vague orders when at first he couldn't understand them. Kira herself had been trained to fight with others at her side and from the way she had described the Akatsuki, Kakashi could only see it as Itachi's influence. He made sure that his team would fight and work together as much as possible.
The more their onlookers watched the more they had begun to realize. What they had initially placed as Kira holding back to keep them from knowing what she is capable of was only the way she had been trained. In the Akatsuki, Itachi trained her to get in and get out. There was no moment for error. Whereas when she came to the village she was forced to not go directly for the kill. "Go figure, two ex Anbu fighting like this with two chunin and a genin." Shizune gasps watching the fight play out. "M'lady. Is it really right for us to keep them at their ranks?" She breathes as Tsunade crosses her arms watching the formations unfold. "Even if Sasuke would enter into the chunin exams…" Shizune breathes cutting herself off seeing Sasuke's lightning reach through the air in a compressed form it was more like a sword successfully causing a shadow clone to pop.
"You're right." Tsunade sighs and closes her green eyes a moment thinking about Shizune's words. "However, he has been trained on his own. Once again he is new at team concepts. With some time, he will earn his rank." She finally smiles watching Itachi launch Sasuke into the air in time to catch Sai's bird. "And Kira M'lady?" Shizune asks tearing her eyes away from their training. That question was more difficult for Tsunade to answer. Even though as she watches the girl call out another formation the empty gaze in her eyes worries her. The girl has already proven that if she feels necessary she can and will use anyone to benefit her whims. Her skills allowed her to kill a Sanin without hesitation so quickly he was probably dead before he even realized fully what was happening. She is without a doubt stronger than any Jonin in the village. Like Itachi who has taken on full teams in the past on his own and come out victorious without so much as a scratch. -Am I afraid she's even stronger than him?-
"Sasuke and Kira could probably kill any jonin in their path on their own." Yamato utters as if his thoughts had followed her own. "According to her, if Sasuke and Itachi would have fought when she brought them together, Sasuke would have won." Kakashi sighs further enforcing Yamato's words. "We will wait on Kira's advancement." Tsunade finally speaks up drawing the other three's gazes to her. Kakashi then grunts and looks back out towards his team. "But M'lady…" Shizune begins.
"She's right." Kakashi sighs cutting off the brunette and drawing her attention to him. "Even now she harbors emotions for each member of the Akatsuki except for one. She understands them in ways we never could. Her fondness for the face of the Akatsuki is most likely from his desire to put an end to all war and killing. We can't honestly say that once Obito is out of the picture that she won't return to the organization."
"But that's saying her loyalties are still with the Akatsuki?" Shizune pipes up as Tsunade closes her eyes in thought. "You're wrong." Yamato speaks up drawing all of their attention to him. "Kakashi is right. Her loyalties have never been for the Village or the Akatsuki."
"I'm not sure I understand.." Shizune breathes as her eyes waver over towards the girl in question. "Yes, it's people." Kakashi sighs causing her eyes to widen in a mixture of disbelief and shock. "Kira has always had a difficult time forming bonds with others but when she does, her loyalties are unwavering. No matter her position or even her orders, she will always protect those bonds." Kakashi clarifies for her causing a newfound wave of sadness for the girl. "If that's the case, then for the past three years knowing the Akatsuki's objective she was in pain. She knew that eventually, they would target Naruto."
"That is why she cut her emotions." Yamato speaks as he realizes this now looking to Kakashi for clarification. "I believe so. She couldn't handle the pain knowing that the people she cares about would inevitably fight and die against each other. Even now." Kakashi pauses as he sighs, he's known it ever since she had told him about the Akatsuki and a vague idea of what happens. The pain in her gaze she couldn't hide. "She knows that right now they are training to fight against them. She knows more of the Akatsuki will die so she has cut the emotions she had begun to feel."
"Has she told you more about this Pein?" Tsunade questions opening her eyes to look in Kakashi's direction making him sigh heavily. "Nothing more than what she felt necessary to tell me. He is one of Master Jiraiya's students from the last great shinobi war and that if Master Jiraiya faces him, he will die at Pein's hands."
"But that means..!" Shizune speaks out as her heart races and her eyes echo her shock from what she is hearing. "Hm, I think you're right." Tsunade speaks quietly her calm tone washing over Shizune calming her down. "It's possible the fate of this world may rest with your teams and her willingness to stop what's coming."
After training, I walked away from the field fully expecting to leave Sasuke and Itachi behind with the others. However, they followed. It was almost like a sudden switch had been flipped and we were sent into an alternate reality. Believe me, I know what it's like. After the night Sasuke had come into my room it was like everything changed. The brothers weren't fighting, Kakashi wasn't following me around. None of the three had even made a move to get me alone as they had been. It is almost like what had happened was only a dream cooked up by my mind and now everything is normal. It's weird and for some reason it's nerve-wracking.
Reaching into my pouch I feel their eyes on me as I retrieve my canteen. I had realized after I woke up the night Sasuke snuck into my room that I may have been insensitive going to Itachi every time I felt myself losing control. Most of which was brought on by Kakashi's scent and taste. There was only ever one person in my life I would crave like that and at first, it bothered me. I couldn't understand what it was about Kakashi that made it so difficult. It felt… different than with Light. Except for when I was seriously injured I never lost myself with him. Yet with Kakashi, something about him calls out to the beast within me.
Since Kakashi now has put distance between us I felt... Normal. Like I have complete control again. Bringing my canteen up to my lips I let the contents slide down my throat. Just enough to replenish my energy and sate my thirst. After a couple of swallows, I cap my canteen and slip it back into my pouch. "I think it's about time." I speak lowly knowing their eyes were already on me anyways. Stopping I turn to look at them as I speak. "Any ideas of how to put an end to Zetsu before all of them are released for war, Itachi?" This question brought the Uchiha's gaze back into focus, pulling him from whatever he happened to be thinking about with his silence. "I thought about simply sealing them in their hole but I'm pretty sure Obito would break the seal anyway." I mutter and bring my right hand up to the back of my neck. Rubbing my neck as I bite my bottom lip and look away from them.
"I agree. Ending their creator should come first, however." He pauses as Sasuke looks from Itachi to me once again lost with our conversation. "If we did there is a good chance they would be released prematurely." Itachi finishes and I nod with a sigh. "So maybe we should have someone seal Zetsu while another team confronts Obito." I mutter my thoughts before crossing my arms under my breasts. "But if we do that it would cut down our fighting force since we are the second half of team Kakashi, plus I'm not sure how long we have until Pein attacks." Turning from them I sigh. "Ideally we could take out Obito, seal Zetsu, and make Pein realize the path Obito had placed him on officially preventing the war and the destruction of this village. However.." I pause closing my eyes.
"It would prevent Naruto from realizing he needs to control the nine tails." Itachi breathes as he realizes it and I nod. "I think we should wait for this Pein guy and then focus on this Obito." Sasuke mutters officially causing me to turn and look at him as Itachi peers towards him from the corner of his eye. Seeing he has our attention he gives a grunt and smirks. "Really it's not difficult." He grunts before he starts walking again. I turn and follow him watching the back of his head. "I have only one problem with that." I mutter and watch as his shoulders give a twitch just before he looks over his shoulder in my direction.
"Problem is, if Naruto does fight Pein, Pein will die when ideally I could use Pein as an asset against Damen and whatever he is planning. Then again if Naruto doesn't fight Pein there is a good chance the nine tails seal will break and cause a headache down the road. Plus then I'd have to be the one to tell him he's the fourth's son and I don't really want that hassle." I puff out my cheeks and look away from Sasuke as I see his eyes widen with this reveal. "It is also possible that Obito's webs run deep enough that Pein would still decide to summon the ten tails." Itachi pipes up and I look over my shoulder to him with a nod.
"Deep down, Pein is a good guy. He wishes to fight for a universal and everlasting peace by dominating the fighting forces of the nations. I can see his ambitions and understand them. I've actually witnessed ambitions such as his come to fruition. However.." I look away from him with a sigh. "I don't know why, but I think Naruto could bring a similar outcome without such drastic measures. I mean look at what he has done with the tensions between the leaf and sand already and he isn't even Hokage yet."
"Wait, Naruto becomes Hokage?" Sasuke interrupts our conversation causing me to smirk as I look at him seeing he was now walking beside me. "Yes, he does." I answer him honestly. "Sorry Emo." I give a light giggle as his eyes narrow. "Once Naruto achieves full control over the Ninetails his power actually rivals all of the Kage. That's the difference that has always been between you two. He has a beast inside of him that gives him power. Yours is truly your strength alone. You can or will rival even the power of the nine tails but never surpass it. That is a fact you will have to get over." I sigh as I step out onto the street of the village falling silent so the seething Uchiha can get over it.
Jumping up onto a roof I sigh and sit down, leaning back on my hands even as the two of them follow behind me. I wonder if all teams are like this? Spending their days training together only to break off from training and staying together rather than going their separate ways. Even if they aren't, I have a feeling I would be lost as to what to do with my free time. "How's Mitsuki?" I ask as I close my eyes, leaning my head back so the sun's rays can more fully touch my face. "She starts the academy next term." Itachi was the first to answer and I could hear the smile in his low monotone voice. "Sure, and she's already been annoying us to train her." Sasuke chuckles as he props his right arm over his knee and closes his eyes. "She's been asking about you too, you should come and visit." I feel myself smile at his words. "I've been giving you guys time together as a family." I sigh and open my eyes, raising my right hand and sifting my fingers into my bangs raising them from my eyes.
"Hn, Idiot." Sasuke grunts and I look towards him from the corner of my eyes seeing his eyes closed and a smirk on his features. "You are a part of the family." He reiterates before peeking an eye open out of his brother's view looking in my direction. The tenderness of his gaze nearly has my breath catching. "He's right." Itachi sighs looking ahead of himself out across the village. Their words bring a warmth to my chest having me close my eyes again to dwell on the feeling. It's a warmth I haven't felt in such a long time. "Maybe that's what makes us a good team." I speak up after a minute and look towards the sky. "Because we aren't simply just teammates." I all but whisper enjoying the warmth swirling inside my chest. For the first time since I got to this world.. am I actually happy?
