As we were moving through the trees, all of the fighting within my blanket was causing a vibration within me. I was having a difficult time discerning who or what any of the movements were. So I had to pull my blanket back closer to me. We have found ourselves periodically jumping into the fray just so Sasuke could train with his new shield. Even though it slowed us down neither Itachi nor I could complain. It's a new power to him, one that can only find its true strength and shape in battle. He has to learn how to more easily draw it up and shape it so it can be done within a matter of seconds. I would rather stand on a tree watching him fight against Zetsus than to push him again like I did the first night. He didn't want to admit it but my attack against his shield still hurts. I know all too well the effects of such an attack and frankly, I'm surprised he's doing as well as he is. I may heal faster than he does but it's from his experience with prolonged pain that allows him to fight through it. "Are you certain you are alright with this?" Itachi questions quietly watching his brother. "He needs to train with it." I mutter drawing his gaze to me. "I meant him using your own skill. Do you not have ill feelings towards copying another's jutsu?" I find myself chewing on my bottom lip as Sasuke brings out his shield in time to avoid an attack from Zetsu. "I can't say much against it. I mean years ago I memorized Naruto's shadow clone jutsu and even a few of Sasuke's own moves like the Chidori. Helping him learn one of mine shouldn't bother me." I inform him only to hear a small grunt from him.

"Then why do you hate it?" Finally looking away from Sasuke, I meet Itachi's gaze. Nearly frowning as his words sink in. "Am I really so transparent?" I ask him with a sigh before turning and following Sasuke who is now running along the ground looking for another fight. "No, I just know you." Itachi speaks quietly enough I almost couldn't hear him. He knows me huh. Well, this is true. Out of everyone in this world, Itachi is the one who is like me the most. Therefore, he does know me best. "I am supposed to be this hotshot supernatural princess. Yet, what took me years to get to the point I'm at, Sasuke did in less than an hour." I mutter to him as we stop again when Sasuke confronts four more Zetsu. "You should be careful, jealousy often leads to hate." Itachi speaks as I watch Sasuke my eyes widening as he emits himself in lightning thick enough it was as if he had coated himself in one large Chidori and runs through one of them. Another one.. of my moves.. and he makes it look effortless. "It's good he's growing. I was worried that he'll end up getting himself killed lacking the rinnegan and your eyes. So, I can't complain." Even though I say this I still feel that anger inside of me. "Hell, at this rate all he needs to do is find his own flames and he can copy me almost perfectly."

These words drew Itachi's gaze to me nearly making me stiffen. I had truly meant them. If my power is what he needs he can have it. Though the emotions swirling in Itachi's eyes were telling me, he caught on to the building pit inside of me. I'm ashamed to admit it, but Itachi is right. If I'm not careful I'll end up hating myself. "Itachi." I speak up feeling a tear threatening to prick against my eye. "When we confront Damen and my siblings. If anything at all happens to me. Look after Sasuke. Beneath his anger and I don't care attitude. He's emotionally frail. Don't let him fall back into the darkness." Hn, Itachi grunts as we move forward again following after Sasuke.

"I learned something from Kakashi when I had asked him to train with me a while back. He chose for us to train by climbing a cliff without any use of chakra. I couldn't really understand why at the time because if we were just building strength we could use weights or any other method to do so. On our way up I noticed how silly I must have looked compared to him from the way I clung to the rock side with my fear holding me back. Once we reached the top though, I was happy. It had given me time to think and talk to him. That's when I realized the real purpose of the exercise. In our life, there will be mountains or even cliffs that stand in our way. We will want to go around them or even wish for them to move so we can get through. Reaching the top doesn't matter, it's the journey we go through on our way that builds who we are. Because if not for the journey we wouldn't grow. I hope that someday, Sasuke can learn that as well." I try to give him a smile however it was unsuccessful. "What brought this on?" He asks from beside me and I nearly frown. "A feeling." That is all I needed to say and it isn't a lie. I've been so focused on my fear of losing Sasuke and Itachi that I've forced myself to ignore the churning. The very root of my fear. What will happen if I can't beat Damen and I fall at his hands?

Even with the problems between Kakashi and I due to Aphrodite, I've pretty much become an adviser to him. Every day in the village I would go to his tent and offer him my opinions. Helping him with problems he was having trouble deciding. Itachi, though he keeps his emotions in check I know as well as he does how he really feels. It's killing him seeing Sasuke and I together. It hurts him to look at his family and be reminded of what he had done. The reason why we are so close is that he needs me. Even without our previous physical contact, I am still easing his pain. Helping to divert his mind away from the dark pit and keep his attention on what is important. Then Sasuke... I pulled him out of that pit, I've been helping him to live in the light away from the darkness. Mending his heart and soul from his life. I can see it, every time he looks at me. Every time we talk. The more time we spend together. Slowly but surely I am building his foundation up again so that he isn't standing on water. I know with the way his heart is. If something happens to me. He will fall back into that pit. I'm not scared to die. I've never feared death. But anymore, I'm finding excuses not to fall. No, what I fear about death, is what happens to them after I'm gone. I guess that's why I wanted Sasuke to learn what I can do. So I can still protect him just like I used to.

Looking away from Sasuke's recent fight I find my gaze moving over the area. The feeling of Death was ever-growing as if... it was coming closer. "Itachi." I speak up drawing his gaze back to me. Reaching into my pouch I retrieve my book and pen, holding them out towards him. "Let Kakashi know about the state the battles are in, inform him of Zetsu's weaknesses we've found, and..." I look at him from the corner of my eye. "Tell him Damen is coming, have Inoichi pull the ninja back from this area." I inform him as he takes the items. Jumping away from the tree I make my way to meet Damen head-on. With the way, Sasuke's been fighting he needs to gather as much of his strength as possible. Itachi will join me once he is done with Kakashi. But for now, I need to keep Damen away from the ninja still in this vicinity.

With a flip, I drop down from the trees and land on the ground. Pulling a kunai from the holster on my thigh I run my energy through the blade as I wait. Narrowing my eyes as the feeling of Death causes my stomach to turn. "Well cousin, you found us!" His laughter echoes through the trees even before he comes into view. One, I count as my eyes fall on his then move past him. Two, I find Lucas's gaze, though my counting hesitates seeing the black and white furry tail swaying behind him. A.. wolf tail? That's... Adora... well it explains what hit me in the face when we met. Physically shaking the thoughts out of my head I find the light brown eyes of Krista, three. All three were here but then... Someone walks into view behind them wearing a tan cloak with their face mostly covered. A cloak that reminds me of what people in the land of wind wear in order to protect themselves from the blowing sand. -As I thought.- I silently tell myself as my gaze moves from number four back to Damen.

Sighing I lower my kunai. I can't fight four at once. I'm not even sure if I can fight Damen on my own. "Damen." I speak up raising my chin and straightening my shoulders, steeling myself for what is about to come. "I have a few questions if you don't mind indulging me a bit before we fight." Damen's bone-chilling cackle echoes around me nearly causing me to shiver and take a step back. "You are still Naive!" He laughs before placing his right hand on his hip, a creepy-ass smile forming on his lips. "Go ahead, I'll indulge your curiosity." With his snickering, I couldn't help but notice how the twins glance towards each other from the corner of their eyes. The cloaked figure in the back practically flinches. "When I returned home from the Deathnote world. Aphrodite said she was protecting me from you." I state causing his smile to falter. "That was a lie, right." With these words I find myself smirking. Damen's eyes narrow upon me as a low growl rumbles through him. "What makes you say that?" His creepy tone falters showing more confusion and irritation. I finally tilt my head watching him. "It was an act. Your personality that is." I point out watching as his left hand forms a fist momentarily before he reaches up and flips his shaggy hair trying to seem relaxed.

"It's not just that." I continue. "Aphrodite has lied to me since we arrived. I've known this and at first, I used her so I could become stronger in order to survive this world. Is it not plausible that the reason for doing so would be she is actually working with you and all of this is just some elaborate plot? The questions I've had over the years could never piece together what I know is true. With this assumption, most of it fits perfectly into place. So, was that day a lie?" Damen clicks his tongue and I nearly smile looking past him toward the light brown eyes of my little sister. "You could say it all began to fall into place the day you brought my siblings here. That day on the roof of my home you made me into a child again when you could have easily killed me. Then two teenagers show up and question if I was Aphrodite or Kira. Hoping I could take them to you. It wasn't until after they figured out that I am not Aphrodite that they decided to leave, and yet. All that happened was Lucas disrupting my energy so I couldn't follow them. Aphrodite knew I had siblings but never once told me about them, they weren't even at the house when I had returned. Even having met the proof of their existence I had to back her into a corner just to get that information from her."

I look from my sister back to Damen seeing his ever-growing anger. "You call me Naive, but the fact is, I've always been good at one specific thing. Rational deductions and analysis. I can put puzzles together. One this confusing took me a while though." I admit with a shrug. "My thoughts were further solidified when I found out you were after the ninja and not me. You amassed a force of kin that could easily kill me without much trouble, and yet. You were after the ninja instead?" I tilt my head and give him a smile. "You wanted to see if I would act against you to save their lives. To save the lives of those who kill from one order given by their leader. To save the lives of people whose hands are tainted in blood and nearly all of them enjoy their occupation. The very type of people I would have deemed criminal before this, right? But in order for you to know that, you had to of heard from Aphrodite. Which further solidified the prospect of you and her working together."

"But.." Lucas begins and I hold up my right hand to stop him. "I'm not finished Lucas so please wait." I inform him before dropping my hand and meeting the anger within Damen's bright red eyes. "You two confused me at almost every turn in the road, you know that. Made me second guess myself more times than I could count. Such as if you are in league with Aphrodite then how could you not know that the two men you had chased after and was preparing to attack are members of my team. A team I made certain to build in preparation for the day you and I would come face to face? Itachi Uchiha, a man who if we were in the Deathnote world either Light or I would have killed without a second thought as one of the worst criminals. A man who massacred his entire clan and had joined the Akatsuki. Fulfilling jobs and orders from the one he knew as Pein only further staining his hands in blood and crime. Sasuke Uchiha, another we would have marked and judged as a criminal. He purposefully threw himself into darkness and rejected his village in order to train under a heinous and very dangerous criminal all for the sake of obtaining more power. I may not know how many people he has killed but I do know that Orochimaru had him taint his hands. Two brothers, exact opposites of one another and still harboring immense power each. Far surpassing even elite ninja."

Smiling I close my eyes a moment letting my energy blanket seep over the area. "If you killing ninja was to test if I would protect them where in the past, within the death note world I would have killed them myself. This is the result of your lack of information." Just then two of them behind Damen take a step back as two people appear at my sides. Sasuke's arrogant smirk is in place at my right and Itachi's empty expression on my left. Opening my eyes I glance at both of them. "About time." I mutter causing Sasuke to chuckle. "So Damen. My question for you is simple. Why? What's the point to toy with me as you have been? Why the charade? Why lie to my siblings and tell them I did this of my own free will? Just... Why?"

"So you figured almost everything out, have you?" Even though Damen had asked a question I found myself tilting my head understanding this was more of a statement. A statement that caused the twins to look at him in confusion. "It's simple really." He begins to chuckle. "In the beginning, the adults were worried about you but knew you would return. A few of them wondered if you would follow Aphrodite's instructions she was told to give you to further your own power. The day you returned, yes. It was a test, and you failed. Miserably. Not once in the past did you even think about building on your own power." I furrow my brows listening to him as I bite my bottom lip thinking of his words. A test? Well, I guess I can see it. "I am guessing the adults came up with a way to further my own strength without risking bringing me to the open. They wanted me to have enough power to protect myself for that day. So they sent you and Aphrodite to judge my abilities, and set it up that if I should fail I would be thrown into a situation that gave me no other choice but to become stronger." I speak my thoughts aloud causing Sasuke to click his tongue in annoyance. "Man, your family is messed up."