Shadow Ninja

by moonlight46

Hiya, this story is about my OC (currently name Rin/Kyou) and her life and/or role in the Naruto series that will have twists and will not completely follow the cannon. This story will be using a mix of both anime and manga. How will my OC change the Naruto story? Find out also about her unknown past and true identity along the way. Maybe a few ships weaved in?

14. Chapter 12: End of Mission 1

AN: Here is the next chapter. This Mission 1 is becoming longer than originally thought, so please bear with me on the length of this chapter. This is the last chapter to this arc, so it has a lot in it. I hope you enjoyed this arc and story so far.

Also, the POV will be switching often in the second half of this chapter. Two reasons: 1 being I don't want to write a whole extra piece like I have been for the parts to things Kyou wouldn't know and the other is that the info is too important to cut it.

The next arc this is going into is going to semi connect to the actual Naruto series. I won't be adding or connecting/using the movies, but both the manga and anime will be used if not referenced. Thanks to those who've voted in the poll.

Please R&R!

I do not own Naruto.

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Mission 1 (part 7)

Kyou's POV:

It has been a few days since our talk on the roof and it seems that Gaara has gotten to know me and my habits. Whenever some of our classmates insult him my fingers twitch and then some sand would hold my hand stopping the twitch. They tend to do that when someone is irritating me and whenever I become restless. I think Kankuro noticed this too and his suspicions of me haven't changed. He keeps his distance, but he is acting nicer than before.

Gaara was hesitant to train or spar with me since he was worried about his sand, but after trying it out and noticing that the sand didn't actually hurt me, he was willing to train together. I think this was why he was able to notice things about me more and my habits. It was always fun to spar with Gaara. Kabuto is a close range fighter where Gaara is a mix though he is probably is a long distance one because of his sand.

It is fun since Gaara doesn't always direct the sand and that it moves on its own making it unpredictable. It isn't often that I get passed his sand but when I do it always surprises him though even if I do get passed his sand, I don't hit him. I've learned from other ninja's stories not to hit him, but that doesn't stop me, so I tap him lightly every time I get passed his sand.

I tried getting Kankuro to spar and train with me, but he continued to refuse. We don't spar, but we easily became able to argue just about everything much to the amusement of everyone except Temari who tries to be a peace-keeper. I often wonder if we all are actually getting closer.

I have been avoiding the Kage as much as possible, which isn't that hard since he is never home and busy in his office. I was able to sneak out a few nights with Gaara to look at the stars. It is becoming hard to keep up my act around Gaara, but it is only a matter of time until this mission is over, and I leave. I often try not to think about the end of the mission and how it will affect Gaara.

I've been helping Temari with her cooking though we still burn things about half the time. I was able to teach her ways to make it so that the burnt food still tasted ok, but I wasn't sure if it really does taste better. Kankuro always comments on my lack of taste and I reply with that he has a lack of manners.

It was only a few months later when we were told our house was fixed and that we are able to move in any day now. Kabuto told everyone at dinner one night. Gaara frowned but didn't say anything. Kankuro seemed relieved not that I blamed him since I wouldn't be comfortable with an enemy staying around for a long time. Temari seemed sad but tried to act cheerful and understanding. I could tell that Kabuto was trying to figure out my reaction. I personally felt happy that we were moving back since we'll have privacy, but sad to leave Gaara.

Gaara was already on the roof when I was thinking about going up there. I was laying on my bed inside one of my barriers as I thought of what to do and what will happen next. The counsel is getting restless and so were the citizens even though there have not been any sign of the one-tails rampage. The only way is to pretend to die, but to fool Gaara would be simple. He has seen enough death and killed people to understand death. It is the one-tails who will be hard to fool since he'll know.

I wanted to just turn over and sleep there, but Gaara was expecting me so I got up to go. I was in the hallway when Kankuro came out with his mouth in a firm line. He blocked the path and asked, "What are you doing?" I replied, "I'm going to go look at the stars. Do you want to come with? To make sure I'm not doing something else?" I couldn't help snapping at him since I understand the caution of being around an enemy, but it gets irritating to both sides to not even act civil around each other.

He flinched and frowned as he said, "No, thank you. You shouldn't be outside anyway since it is dangerous for you." I sighed externally as I said, "This is my last night where I can see the stars so even though it is dangerous, I'm going." I started to walk past him but couldn't help myself as I stopped for a moment and said, "Gaara isn't a monster and treating him as if he was is what makes it harder for him to keep control. If you had basically, no one supporting you and everyone basically wanted him to just die including your family, being stable is not easy. If you treated him like the little brother, he is then you'd have less of a problem and just maybe you'll realize who is the real monsters are."

I didn't wait for Kankuro's reply or his reaction to my words. I just continued to the roof with a sense of sadness.

On the roof Gaara was looking at the stars as he always did. His sand was moving in swirling patterns as if it was restless. A small bit of the sand brushed my cheek and the sand's moves were less intense. I couldn't help my smile as the sand swirled around me as I moved to sit next to Gaara.

It was nice and quiet out. The moon was beginning to fade, and the sand was soft as it moved around us. We sat in comfortable silence as the night went on until Gaara said, "You are going back to your house." It wasn't a question, but If nodded anyway. Some sand tightened its hold on me and smiled sadly. "I like your house a lot Gaara, but it is not my home. We may not be living together, but I'll come by often. You can even come to my house and at some nights I may be able to come here" I said. He didn't smile, but he nodded and said, "We'll be on the same team." I smiled at that and hummed. I hope so. I don't know when I'll have to leave because this mission is failing. The Kage is smart and doesn't want to team up with Orochimaru.

….

The next day, Kabuto and I moved back to our house and instantly I felt less stressed. It is not home, but to no longer have to act since the moment we wake up is nice. It wasn't long until the neighborhood showed their discontent, but I'm sure over time they will get over it, especially since I have been earning the respect of my classmates and other ninja. I felt better also since I don't have to have a barrier around me constantly and worried about others feeling Orochimaru's snakes. We have not had any different instructions since the last report. The scrolls he sent last time are more difficult, but I am slowly getting through them.

Once we finished unpacking the house was really quiet and had an empty feel to it. I was laying on the floor staring at the roof in the living room. Kabuto was busy in his room and I had to get accustomed to the new house. I don't remember falling asleep, but I woke up a few hours later with my head on Kabuto's lap. He was playing with my hair as he was reading a scroll probably his latest mission report for the Kage. It felt nice, but it was giving me phantom emotions that I didn't want to deal with right now. I shifted and looked up as Kabuto looked at me as he said, "You fell asleep on the floor. If you aren't careful, you could get yourself killed." I nodded as I curled into his stomach with my eyes closed which caught him off guard. My shoulders shook a bit in silent laughter until he put his hand in my hair again.

He was actually worried. His eyes showed it and so do the wrinkles between his eyebrows. I wish this would not end, but there is only so long before my rebellious nature gets the better of me. The need for freedom will also make me leave them all always.

We stayed like that until dinner which we made and ate in silence. I'm sure we both missed the other place and went to sleep.

It was a while after we all got used to the new routine that my ex-friends came to talk with me during my break. I had thought it was just another battle, but when I saw them, I was surprised. I looked around for any ambushing ninja, but it was only us out here. I came forward. I will at least hear them out. This may get very annoying. When they saw me, they had mixed reactions. They were both relieved and stressed. They're expressions changed to unhappiness and a hint of fear to which I didn't understand until I felt the familiar texture of sand on my hand. I looked over at Gaara and he was frowning as he stared them down. He felt my stare and looked at me. I tilted my head and he shrugged in reply and the sand squeezed my hand. He turned back to staring them down and I sighed with a gentle squeeze back I said to my ex friends, "what do you want?"

They didn't reply with their eyes on Gaara and I was tempted to just leave but Orochimaru wouldn't like that. I said, "Gaara isn't leaving so if you have something to say then say it so we can go." My cold tone made them wince. Jun stepped forward and said, "We wanted to apologize to you. We also wanted to ask if we could be friends again?" There others nodded to his words. Gaara stiffened and the sand that had moved restlessly stilled. Inwardly, I groaned in annoyance. I said, "I accept your apologies-" They smiled happily. "-but unless you take back your words that broke up our friendship and changed your views, I rather we stay not friends. I am Gaara's friend and that won't change." This made Gaara relax and the sand did also.

They frowned and Jun looked at the others. They nodded but he shook his head and said to me, "We can't trust him after all that he has done. We do take back our words, but I can't change my opinion behind them." I sighed and said, "I don't hate you all, but I can't be friends with those who have those kinds of opinions." I frowned but nodded as I said, "I will treat you with the respect of strangers, but not as friends. Also, Jun can you pass a message to your parents for me?" He looked confused but nodded. "Tell them that they can try to kill me again as much as they want, but if they do that they should be prepared for the consequences," I said in bland tone as if I was talking about the weather. Shock spread across all their faces, especially Jun. I figured they didn't know. Now let's see if his parents will take up may challenge.

I shrugged off their surprise as I turned and walked away. I grabbed Gaara's hand and lead him back to class while I hummed a soothing melody. I could tell he was upset and before he could start making plans to murder Jan's parents I said, "Gaara, don't worry or think about Jun's parents. Your father took care of it and if I can survive that wind tornado before, I can survive anything Jun's parents can throw at me. We've been training to be ninja and learning our limit. I'm not worried. There is no reason to kill them." He relaxed a bit, but he was still upset I didn't tell him about it. I sighed and said, "If I told you about it before you would have murdered them without much thought. You already have enough blood mixed with your sand. I didn't want to add to it. Besides they are not worth it." Gaara didn't like it, but it seemed he understood my point because he nodded.

After class was over, I headed home and the stalkers were back. Luckily, they were the nice ones and they stayed out of sight. I wonder if Kabuto is doing ok with all the missions he is being sent on. There was more hostility than when I was an outsider and now my only friends are the Sand Siblings, but otherwise it was the same. The villagers weren't able to not sell me anything, but it was hard. They treated Kabuto entirely different but that didn't bother me. I have started to notice that Kabuto is good at lying and pretending to be someone else. It made the trust I had for his not as strong.

There were no traps left for me at my house, but there was an unknown presence there. I tried to ignore it, because most people wouldn't notice. It wasn't Kabuto or anyone I've met before. I was sitting on the couch with my eyes closed as if I was about to sleep there. It was only after a few minutes the presence came closer. Instead of attacking me the hand shook my shoulder to wake me. It was Baki and he said, "The Kage sent me to summon you. He wants you for something important." I got up after he let me go with a nod. We walked there and there were a ton of stairs before we got to his office.

Once we came in, I saw Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro standing there. They all show different degrees of surprise and emotions. I let my own surprise show and stood where Baki directed me. Then the Kage cleared his throat and we all gave him our full attention. He pulled out a scroll and said, "I have a mission for you. You will be going to collect some of Suna's property. There are also several enemy ninja guarding it from our intel has relayed to me. I'm sending Temari for her sharp thinking, Kankuro for you are a long distance fighter and best one to keep the property safe. Gaara for these enemies needed to be killed. Baki will be observing to make sure the mission doesn't fail." We nodded except Kankuro who politely as he could asked, "why is Kyou coming?" Temari winced but I just shrugged it off. Kage replied while staring straight into my eyes, "It is a test to see the limits she acquired and how far she is willing to go for Suna." There was a silence that turn awkward as the Kage and I entered another staring contest. I took a breath then nodded effectively breaking the contest. I am sure Kankuro was suspicious of the contest and the way I broke the contest made the Kage's interest increased.

We all moved on pretending it didn't happen. Baki took the scroll with the mission details and the Kage said, "You all leave in two days. You are dismissed." No one said anything as walked out of the office but once we were out of the building Kankuro scowled. I shrugged and said, "It is not like I can refuse, and I didn't know about this either." Temari sighed but when Kankuro didn't reply I nodded. Accepting his silence for him understanding. It was getting awkward quickly so I sigh then said, "I will see you tomorrow, Gaara and you guys in two days." They nodded and I waved as I walked away.

When I got back to the house Kabuto was there reading a scroll. He looked up when I dropped myself on the couch. He even raised an eyebrow at my dramatics. "I have a mission and I have it with the Sand Siblings and Baki," I said. He looked surprised at this and turned more fully towards me. I continued after putting my head on his lap, "The Kage is testing my skills and loyalty. He is testing my friendship with Gaara since I haven't seen him kill anyone. He may also be testing how my presence affects the One-tails as Gaara kills. He probably thinks I can control the One-tails." I snorted at this and shook my head at the Kage's foolishness. No one can control the One-tails or any of the tailed beasts since they are beings with free will. Kabuto also snorted at the Kage foolishness and put his hand on my head, ruffling my hair. "I didn't think he would send you out since you haven't graduated but I guess you have something to report now," he said. I nodded and asked, "hey Kabuto, what do you think of me?"

His hand froze and I could tell he stiffened. A small stabbing like a Senbon needle was thrown into my chest in response to his reaction. I pulled from under his hand to look at his face and his mask was up though his eyes did lighten with surprise. There was a mix of emotion there that I doubt he knew that he was showing. It was enough to make the small fire of hope and feelings within me flicker and shrink to a candle flame. As my own mask slowly slid into place as I got up and went to the kitchen. I started to hum in order to not start laughing bitterly at myself for actually thinking to trust him. I made myself two sandwiches and started to eat them by the window staring out into the village.

For a moment I saw a different village and stopped humming. The sky was pitch black and there was a blue hue over everything. The silence was deafening. The absence of smell was the only thing keeping the fuzzy image from being true. I hear Kabuto's footsteps as he came in effectively breaking my focus on the images and the Sand is what I was staring at once more. I didn't say anything immediately and gave myself a moment to pull myself together. Kabuto put his hand on my shoulder, and I turned to look at him. He looked really worried with his frown and wrinkled eyebrows. I shrugged it off and gave a fake smile that didn't reach my eyes. He relaxed a bit, but his frown was still there. He gave me a signal for a barrier which I made quickly. He said after a moment almost hesitantly, "I care about you. There is a lot that I still don't know, and this mission has shown me that I care. I can see that you have gotten attached to me and care about me too by the way you hang around me and the amount of contact has grown… but there are times it is almost like you're a different person and you keep your past a secret. I don't know if I can trust you." So, he does care. I couldn't help my smile as relief flooded me and he smiled back. I will try to tell him a bit of my past. Half-truths to lie is best. If he truly knew anything beyond my skill, he'd tell Orochimaru. For he is obsessively loyal and devoted. I nodded and dropped the barrier. We went back into the living room where he went back to reading his scroll and I was leaning into his side with my eyes closed.

It was the morning two days later and I have packed a small bag and holster that I put inside full of several weapons. I was heading down the stairs and Kabuto was there with coffee waiting in the kitchen doorway. I smiled as I came up to him and he ruffled my hair. He handed me two pieces of toast and I bite into one nodding my head about to go when he stopped me. I raised an eyebrow until he pulled me into a hug and said, "Be careful out there." I pulled back just enough for him to see my smile and hugged him back. I nodded as he let go and said as I was walking out the door, "I'm not weak and please be careful yourself." I smirked quick enough that he only saw, and he shook his head as he said, " You are going to be late."

I was off to the gate when I saw Jun's parents on the roof. They were waiting there for me because they followed me until I was by the wall when they attacked. They threw several kunai at me which landed in muted thuds into the sand behind me. I ran and dodged as they kept coming at me. Then as they got more angry, they started to use ninjutsu. I couldn't hear them name the jutsu, but I did see them sealing for it. I just barely saw the wind blades before they sliced into me. His dad made a mud wall hoping to trap me. I threw the fallen kunai that I had grabbed as I ran turning them into steps. I had just gotten over the wall when it crashed into the ground and as the sand cleared the three of us were staring at each other. Before either side could do anything Baki landed in between us and I heard the others coming as well.

Sand swept to me before swirling around my feet ready to protect me which scared Jun's parents. Jun's dad frowned and seemed confused as he looked everywhere. Baki had a blank face as usual, but the Sand Siblings all had varying degrees of confusion and frowned. Gaara came up to my side and more sand join around us and his siblings were on the other side of Baki. "What is going on here?" Baki firmly questioned more towards Jun's parents. I frowned with an internal sigh. None of the three of us said anything, but Baki's hard stare was enough for Jun's mom to spit, "Trying to get rid of a pathetic bug."

If I'm so pathetic, how is it that you haven't killed me yet?

The sand around Gaara and me bristled as if it got angry by the simple insult. Jun's dad looked disturbed and confused. "I thought we were testing to see if she will be ok out there? Because we are worried about her…" Jun's dad said after a moment of silence. Jun's dad always liked me less the Jun's mother. I wonder when their opinions switched… Baki looked towards Jun's mother and she just continued to glare at me to which I regarded blandly. This is not as fun as I thought. I sighed as I held Gaara's hand. He looked at me and signaled to Gaara to put his sand away. He did but didn't take his eyes off Jun's parents after. Everyone seemed to relax except Jun's mother. Baki said, "Kyou, was to be left alone. I believe the Kage ordered it. He made it clear he didn't want any more assassination attempts. -" I felt Gaara twitch as his siblings looked at me with surprise as I shrugged. Baki continued, "Kyou is to be tested by this mission that you are currently interfering with. If we were not going to be late, I would personally take you to the Kage. For now, the Watchers will take you there." My stalkers came out and gathered around them. Jun's mother spat, "You will die Kyou." She then turned and walked away. I sighed and looked to Jun's dad and since he didn't leave immediately. He said, " Sorry, Kyou." I nodded in understanding as he followed after his wife.

There was a long silence before Baki firmly asked, "What did you do to piss them off?" "Became friends with Gaara and made it obvious that I prefer Gaara over their son even though we were once good friends," I replied monotone. He stared at me and I shrugged. "What is truly going on here?" he asked firmly. I frowned, "what do you mean?" His stare hardened, "Those two are the best in our village aside from the Kage and ANBU. They are not easily bothered or hate enough to kill. What is going on?" I shrugged, "I don't really know. That is something you have to ask them. All I know is that their son tried to become friends again and didn't know his parents tried to kill me in front of the Kage. So, I told him and for him to pass on a message that was I'm leaving him alone so leave me alone." Shock was on Temari's and Kankuro's faces. Gaara already knew but he was frowning at the ground.

"Why did you threaten them?" he asked. I tilted my head, "Threatened them? I only told them that since they threaten to kill me if I simply said 'hi' to their son. I was keeping up the agreement we came to." Temari was staring at me with a bit of pity and surprise. Kankuro looked disturbed and curious. Gaara simply stared and so did Baki. I shrugged, "Being an Outsider doesn't change even if I do become a ninja for this village and die to help or protect it." He stared at me and said, "You sound sure of yourself." I looked him in the eye and said, "There is no trust in Outsiders ever. If there ever is then villages are destroyed, and everyone dies." Baki's eyes filled with understanding and he nodded though with a frown. The others stared, but Gaara gave my hand a gentle squeeze. I gave him a small smile back which made him relax.

We headed to the Gate after Baki checked that I didn't have any wounds. We were let through after Baki showed the keepers a scroll. Once stepping out passed the wall the sense of freedom filled me as a small hot breeze blew through the air. I couldn't help my smile and happy sigh. I glanced at the others as to why we haven't started moving. They were all staring at me which made me drop my smile. Baki started off and quickly we fell into formation with Baki in front, Temari and Gaara on each side behind, and Kankuro with me in the back. Throughout our running Kankuro kept looking at me and making faces. By the time we settled for camping and Kankuro finally said something. "How the heck were you able to keep up with us? There is no way you can train that well in half a year. Also, why the heck do you seem so relaxed?" he shouted. I heard Temari quietly groan next to me.

I sighed and replied, "I'm able to keep up because I had learned to run far distances since my home was attacked. It would have taken longer getting to your village if we didn't go as far as possible each time. It may not be very long for ninja, but I was originally a civilian, so it took me longer to get used to it. As to why I'm so relaxed, try having people watch your every move for over several months including when you sleep. Then ask me how I can relax outside the hostile village." Temari made a face and Baki stare as did Kankuro. Baki asked, "how did you know they were always watching you?" "The first group was openly hostile to the point they were not always hiding themselves so I could see them glaring at me. It was annoying when I was trying to sleep. It got to the point the friends at the time noticed and decided to prank them. The next group after that weren't so openly hostile, but it is next to impossible not feel it when someone is staring at you" I replied with a shrug.

Kankuro and Temari stared as Baki nodded since he probably heard about it. It was from that point on Kankuro kept his thoughts to himself and we didn't talk the rest of the way.

When we drew close Baki signaled us to be alert. We were still in the Wind country and by one of Suna's hidden buildings that they stop using since it was closer to the boarder. This place was not very far from where the village or town Kabuto and I had used for our back story leading me to believe this really was a test. It was one Kabuto and Orochimaru didn't see coming since I wasn't supposed to be on missions yet and they were more focus on the trust built between Kabuto and the Kage. We were about two miles away from the building behind a tall sand dune.

We silently watched the area as the enemy ninja moved around. I stared and tilted my head after a while with a frown. "Either they were given a heads up about being attacked or there is something going on that the intel didn't catch," I said without looking away. Kankuro stiffened, Baki stared harder at the enemy, as Temari looked surprised. Baki slowly nodded in agreement and Kankuro asked, "how the hell do you know that?" I kept my eyes forward as I said, "They are tense, and the pattern of their watchers is tight. There is also the atmosphere around them that shows they are nervous."

Baki asked, "How can you tell? Which do you think it is?" I continued to stare for another moment before answering with, "The way they are walking is stiff and there is tension in their shoulders. The pattern is tight, and they have several people, but they aren't looking frantic or ready to fight if their expressions are anything to go by. I think someone important to them is coming than they know about an attack. There is also the lack of hostility and they aren't arguing or snapping at each other when they bump into each other. They would at least snap at each other if they are waiting for an enemy."

"How would you know that?" Temari asked. I looked at her with a tilted head. I said, "The Watchers that followed me originally were very hostile and when I couldn't sleep, I'd watch them. It wasn't easy getting over the fact that they wanted to kill me, but I had to sleep." I stiffen and looked to the direction of in front of the building. I narrowed my eyes searching for movement. When I saw it slowly slid further down and motioned to them to do the same.

They did and I closed my eyes. There were several vibrations from the steps of the approaching group. After being in the desert as long as I have, I got used to sensing through the Sand. Two… five… ten… twenty… Twenty. I whispered, "A group of about twenty heading for the building, but their pace isn't fast." Kankuro couldn't help but ask, "how?" "I can feel the vibrations through the Sand if I concentrate hard enough. It's not always accurate since sand shifts and not as connected together" I replied with my eyes still closed.

There was no reply, so I opened my eyes and looked at them and they were all staring at me with various expressions. I tilted my head confused by their stares, especially since Gaara was also staring at me. "Is that not normal for people of your village?" I asked. Kankuro said before anyone can stop him, "No, because that shit is weird." Temari frowned softly and Gaara shrugged. Baki was staring at me with a thoughtful expression that made me uncomfortable. I couldn't help my shoulders becoming stiff. He noticed and turned his attention back to the enemy. I relaxed and turned back also.

It wasn't long before the group came into view. It was as I said there were twenty of them. It looked like five were important and eight of the rest were better trained… I suddenly felt eyes on my back. "Get down!" I harshly whispered as I grabbed Temari making us roll further into the bottom of the dune. The others followed suit and Gaara hid us with his sand. I quietly put up my own barrier but made sure that no one noticed it. Kankuro was about to yell and make some comments but I put my hand over his mouth. We waited but it seemed like nothing happened. They were going to move but I made a quiet noise to stop them. We wait for a moment then they heard it. Two people landed nearby. "Are you sure you saw something?" said a muffled voice above us. A gruff voice replied back, "If I didn't, we would have not come over here. Now, be quiet as I search for them."

I felt chakra mix itself with the sand and stilled. It's listening for vibrations. The others stiffen and then I felt the chakra brush my barrier. The others stiffen ready with their kunai as it brush down the side behind us. I didn't move as the chakra moved around us. It didn't feel my barrier, or it would be pushing at it. "Can you hurry up; the Boss is doesn't like us to be far from him" muffled voice said with some nervousness. There was an irritated sigh and gruff replied, "Fine. I'm done and there is no one here. I didn't feel any chakra or movement. Your boss is an annoying and the only reason I'm here is that he is paying me generously." The gruff man stood up and they left. We sat there for a while before deeming it safe. I relaxed and carefully released my barrier as Gaara moved his sand back into his gourd.

I let go of Kankuro and leaned back onto the sand behind me as I sighed. I closed my eyes and said, "I don't use chakra to feel the vibrations like that guy, so I didn't attract him. I think he spotted our dark colors than our chakra. It's weird to feel the vibrations from the sand, huh." Temari snorted and I smiled as I looked at her. Kankuro mumbled something so I tilted my head and he said louder, "sorry." I smiled at him and nodded.

I held up a hand to Gaara who stared at it a moment before softly high-fiving me. Kankuro snorted this time as Temari smiled. Baki had his blank face up, but I knew he noticed that the enemy didn't feel our chakra. He knew I did something, and I returned his stare with a tilted head and a smile. He shrugged before we all went back to our original positions.

The seven went to patrol along with the others. There were five more, including the two who almost found us. One guy in the middle was dressed up more than the rest and it was obvious that he was the boss. I looked at Baki and ask, "What now?" Baki thought for a moment before saying, "The mission will continue. We will kill them all."

Kankuro and Temari seemed a little worried but nodded. Gaara nodded and I nodded as well pulling out a kunai. Baki stood and signaled us to go as he threw smoke bombs. Kankuro had his puppet out and already attacking people. Temari's giant fan blew the smoke away along with doing damage. Baki was already fighting with them as I started fighting as well.

It was easy to see until a sandstorm started. I felt blood lust and sinister chakra mixed with the sand. I was able to see Gaara trying to kill the enemy, but they were good at evading his attacks. One actually hit him as the others gathered to attack him all at once. Before they could there was a scream that was full of anger and was animalistic. I recognized that scream. One-Tails! It was almost like these ninjas knew how to provoke him. Damn that Kage this really was a set up for a slaughter and test. I swear you will pay for treating them this way.

I had yet to kill my opponent, but the sand got to him first. The gruff voiced man shouted as he tried to stab me. I just barely was able the dodge but went forward with my kunai. He dodge and I spotted a sword on the ground. It was lying next to an enemy corpse and I rolled for it. I was able to grab and use it to block gruff. He grunted when I pushed him back by using chakra in my legs and arms. He glare and came at me again. Our swords crossed and we can see each other's faces. I blinked and so did he. Shit! It's Kenta! Kenta was one of the people that imprisoned me before I met Orochimaru. He had a mixed expression of happiness and anger. "Who would have thought that we'd meet again. I know some who are looking for you. I'm going to bring you to them!" he shouted. I glared as my own anger flared. The sand grabbed him before either of us could do anything. I looked for the One-Tails as Kenta disappeared in the sand.

He was not fully formed and was about a mile away. I saw Temari and Kankuro far off to the side, but they were just watching as Baki stood behind them. I made a noise similar to a growl. I worked my way to Gaara and once he saw me some sand came to me. It curdled around me and carried me to them. It let go two feet from him. Gaara was unconscious and One-tails was wide awake with his gold-black eyes. I smiled and said, "Long time no see. How's sealed life treating you?" One-tails snorted at me and smiled as some of the blood thirst went away. He lifted a clawed hand and put one claw to my forehead.

What are you doing here?

"I'm sure you have been paying attention. We are on a mission" I replied with a smile.

You know what I mean. Why are you here?

I nodded and sighed. "I'm here under double alias. Kyou is the one for the Sand. My part is to make friends with Gaara and his siblings as well as gather information. Kyou is Kabuto's little sister so I'm like an accessory to help Kabuto.

His boss Orochimaru wants the Sand to help him with something. I think he more wants you than the whole Sand.

Rin is the other since I was captured in my escape. They exchange knowledge for help but I'm able to leave whenever with the knowledge. They also can't come after me whenever I leave" I replied.

Escape? How were you captured? You are stronger than most.

I smiled at the compliment and replied, "I was imprisoned in a cell and drugged for a long time. The people experimented on me every so often. I was a child remember and still am. I was able to escape them but ran out of chakra.

I woke up at Orochimaru's place. Orochimaru is a snake and my body was still weak from the escape. I needed to train, and he has quite a library. He is also training me physically so this body and I can get stronger. He is pretty strong, so I figure why not use him as he uses me."

He won't let you go that easy if he is a snake. I forget you reincarnated. Did you seal your memory of your previous life?

I nodded and said, "It was set to slowly release the memories, so this new mind won't be overwhelmed. Unfortunately, it already released a lot of the past lives memories since I nearly died multiple times…. One of those who imprisoned me is here, but the sandstorm blew him away. Any chance you will go to sleep or do you need help?"

He snorted and the sandstorm slowly was letting up.

Gaara will know nothing of this. Also, it's the damn priest that wants blood.

I nodded with a smile as I said, "I know. Your blood thirst feels different and you don't really care for it."

We'll talk again.

He dropped the claw but only after he put chakra into the mark he made before. I flinched because it hurt. Then Gaara woke up and he looked tired as the sandstorm stopped. Baki and his siblings came over immediately. Before there was any questioning Kenta shouted something. I sighed.

I waved Gaara to rest and I turned. Luckily, I was able to keep my grip on the sword during the storm. I tilted my head as I counted who were left. My eyes met Kenta's eyes and I smirked.

I ran at him with more speed than before and our blades clashed. Slowly I was building my speed as I strike at him. His grin changed to anger as I started to hit him more than he can block. He pushed me back to do the seals for a jutsu, but he didn't expect me to come back before he finished. As I found my footing from being pushed back, I did a one-handed seal activating a jutsu before I rushed at him. The jutsu makes my speed increase even more to the point you can only see the shine of my blade after I hit.

I became nothing but a blade to Kenta mixed with the sand kicked up from my steps. When I stopped, he fell to his knees as he coughed up blood. "If you do see the others, tell them that they should have killed me along with the rest of the village," I said just loud enough for him to hear as he looked up at me. His eyes only showed anger, so I sighed before cutting of his head in one swipe of the sword.

I stared for a moment before looking at the others and sighed. I turned to look at Baki who nodded. Temari and Kankuro wore shocked faces. Shutting them out I turned back and quickly slaughtered the rest of these guys. They didn't even try to fight back. They only tried to run. All who were left are inside the building that I stared at. I stood there covered in blood holding the sword low but not nonthreatening. It dripped with blood as if it was a wound itself. I was thinking about how to get into and kill the rest when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned and it was Baki and the three. Temari flinched back and Kankuro looked pale. Baki had his usual blank face as Gaara had a small frowned.

It must be the cold death in my eyes. I forgot to keep it normal. It's better to not cover it up besides Baki already knows.

Baki cleared his throat as I fixed my eyes to look sad and pushed the death far back. "Kyou, you've proven yourself. Now, we have to kill the rest inside the building and get our scrolls. Kankuro and Kyou go in to get the scroll as the three of us make sure no one leaves, and no messages leave" he ordered. Kankuro flinched but he nodded. I flicked the blood off the blade with one swipe. Kankuro stared at it before moving toward the building and I was right behind him.

We stopped inside before a corner and I was leaning against his back. I could tell he was uncomfortable and whispered, "I got your back, comrade kitty. No fear." He snorted and relaxed for a moment before stiffening to fight. He sent his puppet first and it got struck with several kunai then both of us moved forward. There were five of them waiting for us. Kankuro's puppet rushed forward knocking two down as the third got captured within the puppet. I used the walls to help my momentum as I slashed with the sword several times from different angles. The five were dead within minutes and we continued on like that. I was surprised that we worked so well as a team. Kankuro muttered a few times about his puppet needing repairs but I shrugged it off. A few ran passed us as we continued forward but both of us ignored them in favor of those ahead.

We came to a door that was heavily guarded and quietly dealt with them. We both checked for wounds before nodding at each other. He opened the door and inside was four ninja and the one guy. It was easy to see that the guy held himself important and no one liked him. None of the four were from my past so I was able to focus. The scrolls we were after were in his hand and next to him.

He smirked and said, "Two kids is all the Sand sent. Pathetic. They put too much hope in kids…" He continued on like that with several insults towards the Sand keeping Kankuro's attention as two of the nin went behind us. I kicked Kankuro and blocked one behind me. Kankuro started fighting his as I fought with mine. I was slowly getting closer until the enemy nin pushed me back. Using the push, I grabbed the table to swing myself around. I quickly kicked the scroll out boss guy's hand toward Kankuro as I grabbed the one on the table. I jumped back dodging the blade, but I used the wall to push off. I dove passed and used the wind blades jutsu to kill as the third dodged. I rolled putting the scroll in my pouch as Kankuro grabbed the other. Using a ninja wire I sent the one attacking me at the head. I grabbed Kankuro and we ran. We were running out and just when Kankuro was about to ask me why we were running an explosion rocked the walls. I smiled as he laughed with a shake of his head.

We got out and I handed Kankuro the scroll and Baki stared at us. Temari smiled as Gaara relaxed. Kankuro showed Baki the scrolls and Baki nodded. He said, "This mission is a success. Let's go back." We were about to move when the surviving nin attacked trying to use the momentum of gravity. I twirled the sword before I threw it at him. It hit him right in the stomach. He still landed correctly as we jumped back. I did a one handed seal behind my back so no one would see it and the nin started coughing up lots of blood. Baki went forward and killed the nin as he was choking on the blood. The poison-curse jutsu I put on that was stronger than I remember, but it is a double edged jutsu. If I touch it, I will be poisoned as well. Baki pulled out the sword and held it out to me hilt first. It's a wonder that Baki is not affected by the jutsu. Maybe it's because he didn't cut himself with the blade? I glanced at it before saying, "Thank you, but no thank you. I rather get a sword from the Sand. There is no way I'm going to take a mercenary blade with me. It's one thing to use it at the battle and another to take it along." Baki snorted before nodding. He tossed it and we went on our way.

We got back without anything happen aside from two ridiculous sandstorms. They made us late and cranky. Once we came up to the wall the four of us slumped or relaxed as Baki snorted at us. He dismissed us to go home and rest which we did. I waved goodbye to the Sand Siblings before looking up at Baki with a tilt of my head. He said, "Go home and rest. You earned it Kyou. Be ready to talk with the Kage tomorrow, especially be ready to talk about what happened on this mission." I sighed and nodded before heading back to my house.

Kabuto was there and he looked up at me right after I dumped the bag on the ground. He smiled as I came forward. He checked me over for wounds and finding none he hugged me. I stiffen in surprise before hugging him back with a smile. When he let go and I said, "I told you so." He snort before saying, "Take a bath before going to sleep. Your covered in sweat and sand." I hummed and said, "Also blood so a bath sounds great." He stopped and stared at me, but I walked away as if I didn't feel his stare.

That night I wrote the report to Orochimaru and I hid the fact that my cover has been blown to the Kage and Baki. I didn't tell Kabuto because I wanted to talk to the Kage and I'm getting tired of sneaking around when I can make myself an ally or at least stop the staring contests. I closed my eyes to sleep.

-"Kenta, keep her still for me otherwise go away… Yes, just like that. Now, let's see if you will cooperate this time. -Burning Pain!- No, stop struggling you stupid brat!" Would you hold still if someone was burning you and cutting at your limbs? "Damn this isn't working! Kenta beat her until she's unconscious."-Several blows racked my screaming body- "Kenta, stop! I said, unconscious not dead. You idiot!"-

I woke with a groan as I curled into a ball from phantom pain. Damn I hate this. I shivered unable to completely stop myself. I slowly willed the shivers to stop and pushed the phantom pain away, but the sweat lingered as did the haunting screams.

I started to train since I won't be able to sleep anymore tonight. The stalkers were watching me as I ran laps in the nearest training area. I was running laps to drown out the phantoms. I pushed off mid lap with a jump to flip and land on my hands, but I slid and fell. I landed on my back and stayed there breathing hard. I moved my hands up so I can see if they were scratched up. They weren't but they were stinging from the sand. I put my hands down and stared at the stars.

A presence appeared not far from me, but I didn't move. It came closer and it wasn't Gaara. They came and leaned over me. It was Jun and I sighed. He stared at me and I stared back. His eyebrows were pinched, and he was frowning. "What are you doing out here?" he asked. "Nothing," I replied as I slowly got up. He stepped back for me as I dusted off the sand. I started to walk away when he shouted, "Why?" I stopped with my back to him taking a moment before turning to him. He continued, "Why can't we be friends? Why do my parents want to kill you? Why are you friends with him? Why did you pick him over me?"

I waited silently until he finished with a sad frown. I stared a moment at his face to keep memory of him. He was breathing a little hard from shouting. His eyes were full of pain and his body was tense. I answered with a quiet firmness, "Because we are alike. He understands me." I smiled a small sad smile, "I am an outsider, Jun. This fact won't change, and I will not be accepted. Gaara is the same even though he was born here. He understands me so I can't help being friends with him."

I shrugged as he took a breath, but I continued before he could say anything, "Your parents love you very much so when I stop being friends with you it hurt you. They didn't like that and want to get rid of your pain which would be easy if I died. I don't think they are bad people. I think they are trying to help but went the wrong way to do it." His shoulders slumped and some of the tension left him.

He looked me in the eyes and asked once more, "Why?" I don't know what my expression was, but I could feel the sadness. I replied just as quietly, "Because me and Gaara share the same pain and can understand each other on a level that no one else can." A tear fell down his cheek and I felt my own eyes stinging with the need to let my own fall but pushed the feeling back. Just like I've always had to do. He ducked his head to hide them. "Jun… Thank you for being my first friend and helping all this time," I said quietly. He looked back up as I said thank you. He shook his head and step forward but hesitated. I smiled softly and sadly as I hugged him. He hugged back immediately and tightly. After a moment I squeezed him back and then let go. He didn't want to, but he let go as well. I nodded and walked back to my house.

Little did I know that Jun watched me with a determined gaze.

It was after school later that day when Baki came for me. I was walking out of the building with Gaara when we saw Baki. He told Gaara that the Kage wanted to see me. Gaara started walking home as I went with Baki. Gaara trusts Baki very much and respects him. I walked with Baki who was silent and blank faced as always. We got to the door after climbing all the stairs. He knocked and we got permission to go in.

After we came in the Kage signaled his AMBU to leave and Baki put up a few privacy seals. I stood quietly watching Baki as the Kage did the same to me. I studied the seals and their shapes. They were similar to the ones Orochimaru uses yet different in the strength behind them. Baki stood by the Kage once he was done and the Kage waited for me to give him my attention. I unfocused my eyes as I test out the seals with my chakra, they were not very strong though I didn't break them. I put a thick barrier that blocked both sound and everything else. It was interesting that they didn't freak out when the barrier went through them though they did shiver. I focused back on the Kage and Baki after it was up and completed.

They both stared a moment before the Kage said, "You can make barriers without seals." I hummed and replied, "Yes, it was something I have been doing by instinct since I was very young. I don't plan to kill either of you, if you are worried about it." They relaxed a bit but the Kage began a staring contest with me.

Finally, he asked, "What does Orochimaru want and your purpose here?" I tilted my head and replied, "Orochimaru wanted me to show how trustworthy Kabuto is like an accessory. He doesn't know about this meeting or that you know that Kyou is a mask. I'm not a complete ally to him and I'm an outsider to him as well. I don't know exactly what he plans but I don't agree with him. I have grown tired of pretending to be weak and you almost blowing my cover to everyone else."

They look surprised and a bit more of understanding could be seen in Baki's eyes. "If Orochimaru doesn't know about this meeting then how will you explain it to Kabuto? Both of you seem fond of each other" said the Kage. I shrugged and said, "I'll tell him that you both are looking into my character and that I was lectured for all our staring contests. Orochimaru and Kabuto don't know much about me either so depending on how you want to spin how the mission went they are likely going to believe it."

They were quite processing all that they have given. I said, "I think Orochimaru's goal is destruction of a strong place or to gain power. He probably mostly wants the One-tails in Gaara." I saw Baki stiffen and the Kage gave a hard stare. I gave them a flat look back. After a few moments a spark appeared in the Kage's eyes. "Did you have something to do with stopping the One-tails rampage several months ago?" he asked. I smiled and tilted my head asked, "What rampage? The one that happened due to Orochimaru's failed experiment?" He glared at me, but I just smiled back.

He said flatly, "You're never going to admit to anything to do with the One-tails." My smile widened as I said, "Your catching on faster than expected. I can say one thing about the rampages though you won't like it." They nodded for me to continue. "The One-tails isn't the one who wants blood but the crazed priest that was the guard who was sealed with him." They didn't say anything immediately and I gave them a moment before saying, "... I don't belong to anyone so there is no one that has the information I have." I shrugged and continued, "I suggest that you don't make a deal with Orochimaru but keep an eye out. He is a crazy scientist who only cares for power and has no morals. Kabuto is his most loyal lackey and will do anything for his master. I'm only going along with them to gain knowledge and strength, but they have no power over me. I'm not something they can use to bargain with."

The Kage asked, "Why now? Why do this now instead of later?" My smile turned sad as I replied, "Because the only way I can leave the Sand now is to die. Gaara has become attached and the dead priest is quiet as I'm around. I've was able regain trust and respect. It is only a matter of time before Orochimaru will end this mission, especially if you make your choice clear. I can promise you I won't destroy the Sand, but Gaara may not recover even if the One-tails tells him otherwise. I'm not sure how it will happen, but if I do survive then I will help fight Orochimaru. No matter the way this all ends, I won't become part of the Sand."

The Kage isn't like it but nodded and I dropped the barrier. Baki started to walk me back but stopped. I put up a barrier as he pushed me against the wall with a kunai to my throat. He asked, "Do you care about Gaara or anyone?" I stared into his eyes and said, "I care for Gaara and truly wanted to be his friend. He is a good person who lives a hard life." Baki glared at me and asked, "Then why did you act otherwise in there, as if you didn't?" I said, "Baki, think for a moment. Your Kage has sent assassins after Gaara and leaves him in pain as well as uses him as a weapon. If I acted like I cared your Kage will use that to hurt Gaara further. He doesn't care for Gaara and is not completely different from Orochimaru. I will tell you now that we are away from him, that I will not truly die in the end and plan to send word to Gaara as soon as it was safe to do so. I try to be cautious and I don't know just yet Orochimaru's goal. I'm more worried about him since Orochimaru is a very powerful and he has plans for the Sand that if I stay here, I won't be able to stop him."

This made Baki blind and he moved the kunai from my throat. "You are doing this for Gaara aren't you?" he asked after a moment. I blinked and nodded with a relieved but weary smile. He let go and said, "If you hurt them more than you have to then I'll kill you." I laughed and said, "I will hold you to that Baki, please do. I rather suffer than hurt them since we became friends. ...I should give you a heads up that I'm friends with the One-tails though I can't tell you more than that since knowledge is dangerous as it is powerful." He stared at me then nodded as we walked back and I accidentally said aloud, " No wonder Gaara respects and trusts you." I saw Baki stiffen and look at me. I smiled as I continued walking and he did as well with his blank face as usual, but I could see the pride and happiness the comment gave him.

---

Good-bye Sand

For the next several weeks the Kage sent me on undocumented missions with Baki and the Sand Siblings. Kabuto was also sent on several missions that were obviously the Kage sending Kabuto away to stop annoying him. Kabuto either doesn't know of the meeting or doesn't have enough time to bring it up.

Ever since the first mission the stalkers are no longer watching me. I apparently have earned enough trust or respect that I don't have to be watched anymore. The villagers are still distrustful and don't like me, but they have mellowed out. I have been getting decent grades and Orochimaru has been satisfied by my mission reports.

Everything seemed to be going great, but that is why I wondered what the coming disaster would be...

~*Scream of agony* It burns! It feels as if millions of particles were running through my veins. Chakra that wasn't any whom I knew was pouring into me and clawing at my stomach. They got hold of something in the swirling void and was slowly inch-by-inch pulling him out. *Inhuman Scream of defiance* My eyes snapped open seeking the red flame in this void of darkness. It was still there but shrinking. I stared as the cold bands seemed to sink further into the ground and the rattle of chains shifted with the invisible wind, "GAARA! NO! GAARA!" The beautiful red flame in the distance went out. Tears built and fell stinging my eyes just like sand. Naruto….it's cold. Crystallizing clouds appeared with each exhale… the void within me grew and my feelings faded… Goodbye…~

Dull pain thudded in my head in time with each heartbeat. My eyes opened to white and black. Then it shifted to the stars and the night sky slowly as they focused. I opened my mouth as I choked on air. Then sat up coughing as I gasped desperately for it to extinguish the fire burning my lungs. Slowly the burning disappeared, and I registered my room had crystal spikes all over and growing about two inches to eight inches from every surface around me and my breaths were puffing clouds from the cold. Warm liquid caressed down my cheeks and added to the small dark pool just below on my sheets. Ice slowly crawled down my spine as I grasped hard on my arms almost drawing blood. More of the liquid fell as I leaned over the pool more with my long hair blocking out the world around me.

A few minutes later, little-by-little the crystals disappeared, and I sat up careful to keep the pool from spilling. It was a pool of blue-black and the moon reflected like a mirror image in the center of it. Frozen in a cruel dark liquid that slowly hardened and shrank into a small disc that stopped when it was a little smaller than my palm. The edges curled and twisted as the surface shivered before it showed a crescent moon like a capital "C" and a small red flame resting and burning in the middle edge of the lower part. My hand slides in the space under it as it slowly drifted down and my fingers closed over it and a defiant roar sounded faintly in my head as the silences of the night slowly become as it once was. Breath became even once more as I slowly laid down and lowered my barrier to the normal one it was and releasing the Genjutsu that had been intertwined in it. I put my fist that enclosed the mirror over my heart as I started at the ceiling until the darkness of sleep took me once more. Gaara….

In the morning that followed I woke and squeezed my hand around the mirror and sighed as I stared at it when I opened my hand. It was dark and twisted but beautiful sign. I wish it was a nightmare, but it wasn't.

There is a way to protect Gaara, but it might not work, and I don't trust his father to be willing to help. It is a four part jutsu, but it takes too much chakra for most to do. If I simplify it down to a two part jutsu then anyone can do it.

I made sure my curtains were closed and a new barrier was around me. I took the over shirt I was wearing off and pushed chakra into a seal that was over where my heart would be. It appeared with my chakra then I put the twisted mirror onto it. The seal glowed brighter than in a flash of prism light the mirror was gone from my hand. It had been sealed away for the time being. I got ready for the day and left for school yawning into my hand along the way.

I stuck by Gaara all day and didn't leave for any sparring. I napped through all classes and no one bothered me. His sand seemed to notice something was off, so it constantly swirled around my hand. Gaara could too I think since he kept glancing at me with concern in his eyes. I gently grabbed his hand and said, "It was a weird dream. In it I thought I was being chased by lightning that turned into flower petals and then Kabuto was singing. It was weird." He made a face which made me chuckle and he nodded as if agreeing it was a weird dream. We hung out at his house and Temari cooked dinner with me. Kankuro wasn't a grump about it which had me stare at him. He noticed and said, "If you were going to poison us or kill us you would have done it by now."

I smiled and asked, "Does that mean you will spar with me?" He stiffened a bit and shrugged. I decided not to push it and we all ate in a comfortable silence.

Kabuto's POV:

The house was empty when I got back from the last mission. It felt cold and I was too tired to care about the blood drying on me. I sat on the floor and leaned back against the couch to rest. It felt good to be back here and even better when thinking of seeing Rin soon. I don't know what to believe when it comes to her, but she does make things more fun and warm. It's great that she has gotten used to me though I don't want to admit it, I've become dependent on her. She always knows how to make me smile and her reactions are always interesting. I've learned more about her here than I did back at the base. Looks more alive and energetic than I have seen her before. The Kage has gotten interested in her, but I won't let him have her. I barely have gotten to know Rin and I won't let Orochimaru use her for this deal. I already reported that the Kage refused the deal now Orochimaru wants us to come back in the next two months. I think he noticed how much Rin has gotten close the Sand Siblings and feels freedom here. She really care for them and I doubt she'll ever admit it to me. I wonder if she'll try to stay….

Kyou's POV:

I went home and Kabuto was there covered in sand, dirt, and was sitting on the floor against the couch. I dropped my bag and went over to him to check if he was okay. I did as he taught me by checking his pulse and chakra. I sighed in relief when I found out he was okay. I put my forehead on his shoulder, and I heard him say, "I'm okay, just tired. I'm going to shower and go to sleep. I'll be down when it is time for dinner." I nodded against his shoulder before grabbing my bag and heading to my room.

Kabuto's POV:

I woke to feel her small warm hand on my neck checking my pulse and her chakra gently checking my own. I could feel her panic in her chakra and then her relief. Her sigh of relief made me feel better about being here on the floor then going to my room. She shift and put her forehead on my shoulder. I wanted to ruffle her hair, but I was too tired. It was as if whenever Rin was around my body automatically relaxed and I healed faster. I'm sure she has been using her chakra on me every time I come back with injury. I understand why she doesn't tell me anything about who she was though I wish she would trust me more. Ever since I told her how I really felt she seemed to stop distancing herself from me. I took a deep breath and remembered that I was covered in blood and dirt. The blood is touching Rin. It made my stomach twist. I said, "I'm okay, just tired. I'm going to shower and go to sleep. I'll be down when it is time for dinner." She nodded her head against my shoulder and grabbed her bag on her way to her room I couldn't help my sigh at how quickly it became cold.

Kyou's POV:

It was some hours later I had fallen asleep on my desk and woke up with a yawned but went down to make dinner. I was making sandwiches because it was easy and a bit more healthy. Kabuto came in and sat at the table. He looked better but he still look very tired. He still slumped back in his chair and his skin looked a bit paler. I brought over the sandwiches and we ate in silence. After he ate one of his sandwiches, he turned to me and said, "Kyou, how is it going for you?" I thought for a moment to finish the bite in my mouth. I replied with, "I'm doing good and am friends with Gaara and his siblings. The civilians are starting to accept me again and most of the ninja I have met respect and possibly like me. I also have been away from the Kage as much as possible aside from when he is giving me a mission, or we are reporting back." Kabuto stared at me before he smiled and ruffled my hair.

I put up a barrier and he felt it. He sighed and his smile dropped. "I got new orders from Orochimaru. We won't be here for much longer. The Kage doesn't seem to like me and Orochimaru has decided on a different tactic." I tilted my head but nodded and asked, "How much longer before we leave?" Kabuto had a thoughtful expression before saying, "2 months, give or take a month." I nodded and said, "We are going to have to fake my death in order for me to leave. How do you think we are going to do it?"

Kabuto looked surprised and I replied, "Gaara and his siblings are not going to just left me disappear, especially since Kankuro was so suspicious before. There is also the Kage since he has some weird interest in me that I have no idea how to stop." I glared at the table and Kabuto chuckled and nodded. He looked thoughtful and said, "I ask Orochimaru about how we go about this since he likes these things." I smiled and dropped the barrier and we ate dinner. We relaxed together on the couch with Kabuto resting with his eyes closed as I read from a book leaning into his side. He fell asleep, but when I went to get up his arm stopped me. It curled around my stomach keeping me where I had been. I quietly chuckled and relaxed back into his side.

I don't have much time. Maybe a puppet instead of a physical body or clone would work? I need to see a puppeteer spar or practice up close to know for sure if it will work. Then all I have to do is collect some chakra without the One-tails or Gaara knowing. Collecting the chakra won't be very hard, but at least the One-tails would notice if I have it on me. There is also who I can trust this jutsu to and make sure they can do it before we leave, not to mention I have to do it stealthily enough that no one would know including the Kage & Kabuto. Ugh this is going to be annoying. But… it is worth it to protect Gaara.

I touched my shirt where the seal was and shifted until I got comfortable. I fell asleep after being lost in my thoughts.

Kabuto's POV:

Why is it that I always feel better after ruffling her hair? I was surprised how attuned to me she was and how quickly she was at making barriers now. She didn't seem all that happy about leaving, but she seemed to accept it. I wonder how we will act when this mission is over, and we are back at the base. I hope we don't have to change our behavior to how it was before.

Kyou's POV:

I woke up in my bed the following morning with a groan. I really hate nightmares. I got up and got ready for the day with a yawn. I grabbed breakfast and lunch from Kabuto who was up waiting for me. I hugged him before I left and ran to school. I got there a few minutes before the bell and I dropped into my seat by Gaara. He had his usual mask in place. His arms were on the desk in front of us, so I folded my arms and rested my head on them. I made sure to move enough that my hand was discreetly on his which made him jump at the sudden contact. A small swirl of sand rumbled barely touching down my back making me jump a bit. Gaara's blank mask was still there but there was also a spark in his eyes. He must have learned it from Baki. I smiled as I relaxed and rolled my eyes. The lessons were boring as always, and I swear everyone in history paid attention and not fall asleep by sheer will.

It was after school that I walked with Gaara back to his house, apparently Temari wanted to hang out with me. When we got there, they were in their backyard. Kankuro was practicing with his puppet and Temari was meditating. Kankuro saw us in the doorway and stopped. Gaara nodded to Temari and Kankuro nodded once back. He seemed to hesitate for a moment before calling out, "Kyou, let's spar." Shock was the definition of all three of our faces making Kankuro laugh. I smiled and said as I came up to him, "Just don't go easy on me." He snorted and we got ready. I saw as I got into position that Gaara sat with Temari to watch and smiled at him.

Once there Kankuro didn't waste any time and sent his puppet at me. I blocked it with a kunai, but it was heavier and stronger than I thought making me slide back. I dropped to the ground to avoid the blade from its arm from catching me. I push with my foot by using some strength to push the puppet over and behind me. I quickly rolled to avoid some kunai, but I rushed at Kankuro. I was three feet from him when I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand straight. Without thinking I jumped and did a flip as his puppet came at me. It stopped before hitting Kankuro but just barely as I landed on my feet. The yard was quiet before Kankuro smiled and laughed. He sent his puppet at me again as I smiled, and we continued to fight. I blocked and jumped as he threw his puppet at me. I was able to rush at him a few times and even hit him once. I started to get the rhythm of how he was handling the puppet. He's very good at this. I wonder how he would feel if he found out I was able to be a puppeteer too.

It went on for a good half an hour and by the end it was a tie. We both were breathing hard and covered in sweat. I had a few shallow cuts from his puppet, and he will have a few bruises from my hits. We both dropped laying out on the sandy ground. Temari snorted as she came over and said to Kankuro, "I thought you didn't like her." Kankuro didn't say anything since it was true before. I snort and said, "Kankuro is like a standoff-ish cat. It's why his hood has cat ears." Kankuro groaned as Temari laughed and I wave to Gaara so he would come over. He chuckled too which just made Kankuro groan again and muttered about us all poking fun at him. It was nice even with the sand soaking up every drop of blood that fell. I'm sure no one else noticed or they'd freak out. Temari kept poking at Kankuro and Gaara would snort or chuckled at his reactions. I wish this didn't have to end. I smiled and continued to watch the siblings talk and tease each other. It was fun and gave me hope when they even teased Gaara a bit too.

Later that night I was sitting in my room on the floor. Kabuto was asleep and I had thick barrier up just in case. I had some sand in a pile like a small dune in the corner. I sighed as I slowly used it to make a seal and markings on the floor by pouring it in little handfuls at a time. Once I was done, I carefully sat in the center. I did a series of hand seals while ending with the monkey seal. It pushed my chakra into the sand making it all glow and my mind shift to a different world. It was the world of the mirror that had nine colorful flames in the darkness spread out. I went to the red flame. Gaara. I gently sat by it and gathered it into my hands. It rested two inches above my open palms. I smiled at the warmth that came from it.

I closed my eyes and slowly there was more colors surrounding the flame. There were two different colors one a deeper red that made me smile and the other a sandy gold. I gently touched the gold, but it didn't wake up. I said something in a different language but all that could be seen was my mouth moving in this absolute silent world. The gold color shifted to grow and became chakra. I gently using my own to pull a small spider web stream of it to the seal on my chest. It continued on its own. It filled a small scroll and once the scroll was full, I gently push it back into the color. Then I gently did the same to the Gaara's flame. I needed far less than the gold. The deeper red reacted after I finished which I shared my feelings and intentions to it. It curled around me a moment and it felt warm like I was being hugged. Silent tears fell and the gold color started to mix with black grains. The gold awoke and stared at me. The gold-black knew what I was doing. I froze as it went to brush the moon mark and then went back to sleep. I slowly ease Gaara's flame back and stood.

I checked on the other flames and sat near the yellow-gold one. I put my hand out palm open and it came bouncing into my hands. The cold chill it had felt like earlier slowly became warm. Once it was warm again, I had to go and it when back to its place. I slowly went to where my place is and sat down. I slowly eased my mind back into my body and when I opened my eyes the sand slowly stopped glowing. I sighed in relief and directed the sand back into the small dune in the corner. I made sure no one else could sense the scrolls of chakra before dropping the barrier. I may not being watched by the Kage anymore but that doesn't mean I'm not being watched.

I went to sleep after looking up at the crescent moon.

~There was sand everywhere when I opened my eyes. It was night with the same moon and many stars. I sat up and there was no one around from what I could see. The wind was there but only every so often and it was gentle as it passed me. The sand was soft as usual and it was not cold but not hot either. There was no sounds aside from the wind and the very soft whispers from the sand. It was only a few moments later that I felt another presence.

"Sister, it has been a long time since we last met in our dreams."

I kept my eyes on the stars as the presence came to sit next to me. "It really has been a long time. Yet, it looks like we've not changed."

"We have not changed. I do wonder of your actions. Why did you collect chakra from me and the boy?"

I smiled and said, "You seem to be protective and care for the boy. More than you have shown before in anyone."

"I don't care for the boy."

I snorted in response.

"Fine… I do care, but not more than you. No one is ever more entrusted and cared for than you."

I smiled and leaned my head against his shoulder. I took this moment to be warm again filled with the warmth from his words. The things and memories won't reach here. It was nice but as he said it is only a dream. Dreams do have to end.

"I collected the chakra because I had a nightmare. When I woke ink-blood tears were falling from my eyes. They formed the twisted mirror…. It had a crescent moon and Gaara's flame burning in it."

He put his arm around me to hug me to his side. He knew what it meant and knew how it affects me. I turned and buried my face against his chest as my arms circled and tightened around him. I was crying hard against his chest. He hugged me back and started to hum a weird song to help sooth me. It was a song drunks often sing when they are happy. It was very funny since brother did sound like a crazy drunk half the time. His song finished and he launched into another. It was too much for me not to laugh at. He finished the song as I tried to stop laughing. "Thank you, brother. I will do all I can to protect you and Gaara."

"Thank you, but this world is empty without you to prank everyone with. Our siblings are also not very fun." I snorted and said,

"Not even Kurama? I thought you loved fighting with him? Or was it something else?"

He pushed me away and growl as I chuckled.

"Whenever I find out who his keeper is, I will have Gaara become a rival of his so I can kick Kurama's ass. Gaara will be able to win easily."

"Yeah, you don't care at all for Gaara. If you can let him sleep sometimes or he won't be able to last very long mentally."

"I will try. He'll be fine since he has you now."

"..." I looked at my hands for a moment.

"Brother, I'm going to have to fake my death. The snake won't let me stay and I'm worried about what he is planning. Gaara may not be ok after it. I won't be able to contact him to tell him the truth. Will you please take care of him?" I felt brother's eyes on me before he pulled me into another hug.

"I will. Take care of yourself and stay free, sister. Always." I nodded and hugged him back. ~

I woke the following morning with a new resolve and determination. I had the chakra within two small scrolls within the seal making it not possible for anyone, including those with special sensor ability to feel or see it. I went to school as usual and Gaara didn't notice it from what I could tell. We hung out at his house and before we could do anything the Kage summoned Temari and Gaara for a mission. Kankuro came out to see them off and once they were gone, I figured I'd go home until Kankuro said, "I'm going to kick your ass today." I snorted and smiled as we both went to the back to spar. As usual we were laying on the ground after the spar trying to catch our breath. Kankuro seemed sad that he didn't get to go. I wonder if this happens a lot when Kankuro isn't sent on a mission. The middle sibling is often forgotten about. "You are not easy to beat," Kankuro said with a sigh. I smiled and said, "You aren't either. Your puppets are hard, and you are fast. Every time we spar hard, I always have a few bruises. It is nice to fight with a friend than because I have to." I felt his eyes on me and I stiffened as I said, "What? Did I say something wrong?" "No. I didn't think you considered me a friend since how I treated you before," he replied.

I snorted and said, "You were being cautious and were protecting your family. I don't have a reason to dislike you or think anything bad. You had my back in battle and even spar like this. You also don't want to kill me which always helps." He laughed at that and I felt content. "You will probably want to kill soon, but this nice," I said. I think I'll teach him the jutsu and he will always be there for Gaara. "What makes you think that?" he asked. I replied with, "Because I am not a good person. I will eventually hurt you and everyone else… Kankuro, what would you do if you could predict a person's death and have a chance to save them? Even if it makes everyone think you're crazy and evil?" He sat up and stared at me with a concerned frown. He replied, "I would save them. What's up, Kyou?"

I closed my eyes as I sat up and sighed. I looked at him and said, "In several years from now Gaara is going to be in trouble and will end up dying." Kankuro asked, "How? Why?" I replied, "I have dreams that sometimes are actually visions of possible futures. In several I've had lately they are about Gaara. There are people that are after him and want to kill him. They don't care about Gaara, but they are after is the One-tails within him. When a tailed beast is unsealed or taken from their Jinchūriki, the Jinchūriki will die." He stiffened and was about to yell at me, but I cut him off with, "I've known long before you met me. I was here and helped stop the One-tails when he went on a rampage over a year ago. By the way, the One-tails isn't the one after blood, but crazed priest that was seal with him."

Kankuro looked pissed as he asked, "how? -" "The mark the One-tails put on me is of friendship. I wouldn't be telling you any of this if I didn't trust you and believe it was important. I'm not a Jinchūriki but am similar to them." I said while cutting him off. He looked surprised and let me speak. I sighed and continued, "I am able to contain chakra within myself. It is often true that when the sealing happens there is too much chakra that can't be sealed. It often goes into the sky and disappears. There was a sealing near where I was born, and the extra chakra didn't just disappear it sealed itself in me. I can't use it but it's what keeps me alive no matter the injury. It's how I survived the wind tornado. There is no way I'm telling your father that though." He looked like he wanted to disagree with me but nodded and said, "No wonder your brother is so protective of you." I snorted and he stared at me. "I'm not sure if you know, but Kabuto is a follower of a power man. He is a ninja that doesn't belong to a village. He sent Kabuto here to negotiate a deal of some sort. It's not going well, and I think your dad is smart for not accepting the deal," I said. He glared at me and said, "If he sent Kabuto to be a mediator then the whole story about your background is a lie. Why did he send you? Why are you telling me any of this?"

I tilted my head and said, "I'm just Kabuto's accessory to help give him a better image. This is actually the first time they let me leave their base since I met them. I don't follow Orochimaru and Kabuto is not my brother. I'm telling you things they don't know about, because it is the only way you will listen to me. There is a jutsu I've learned from my real village that can help save Gaara from his possible future. I might be here under orders but that doesn't mean I don't care about Gaara."

I could tell he was going to yell and accuse me of a lot of stuff, so I said quickly. "Kankuro, I really don't care what you think or feel about me. I'm only doing this and telling all of this shit because Gaara doesn't deserve that future and you can save him from it. So, you either drop whatever you are thinking, or you can tell yourself later a lie when he dies. Also, everything I told you can easily get me killed by Kabuto, Orochimaru, and your dad." He stared and me and asked, "Why do you care so much about him?" I said, "Gaara has a good heart and is a good person. If everyone in your village would actually treat him better and supported him there wouldn't be rampages. He is nothing like me and he shouldn't have to die because other people want the One-tails." Kankuro stared and said, "Nothing like you?"

I smiled sadly and said, "A monster that lives in the shadows and bloodshed."

He frowned but asked, "So what's this jutsu?" I let out a relieved sigh and said, "It was originally a very extensive jutsu, but I changed it to fit the situation. Now I'll teach you the hand seals first. It is like a Genjutsu but a lot stronger. In order for this to work in the future you will need a puppet that will look like Gaara. This jutsu will deceive all involved and their senses and make the people after Gaara think the puppet is Gaara. I don't know what or how they captured Gaara but if you can switch using this jutsu it will save him." Kankuro nodded and said, "I'm only doing this for Gaara." I smiled and said, "I know. You love him a lot even if you're bad at showing and expressing it." I taught him the seals and after he practiced it a bit it was time for me to leave. I dropped the barrier and Kankuro was startled as it dropped passed him. He stared and me as I sighed. That was very draining and at least now Gaara will be saved. I wave at Kankuro and went back to my house.

It took Kankuro all of a month to learn the jutsu. He showed me how quickly he can do it and how it didn't take as much chakra as it first did. I smiled and gave him to two scrolls which held the chakra. He looked at me confused and I said, "Now that you mastered the jutsu I'm giving you these. I have a feeling Gaara won't agree to being saved or protected. These hold a small amount of chakra from him and the One-tails who is the one that gave them to me. I didn't hurt Gaara and no he doesn't know the One-tails did it. If you put these within the puppet along with the jutsu you will have saved Gaara." He took them and stared at me a moment before saying, "Thank you." My eyes widened and I smiled sadly as I said, "You are welcome. I wish all of this wasn't needed. Kankuro, you won't have to worry about me for too much longer. Orochimaru wants Kabuto to go back so I'm going to have to leave as well. Stay safe yourself and no matter what happens next it has been fun." I waved as I left before he could react.

Kankuro's POV:

I watched her leave as I thought, Kyou who are you? What is going to happen?

Temari's POV:

I had come home from shopping and was bringing out some rice balls for Kyou and Kankuro when I heard them talking. "...You won't have to worry for too much longer. Orochimaru wants Kabuto to go back so I'm going to have to leave as well. Stay safe yourself and no matter what happens next it has been fun," said Kyou. Kyou, you finally told Kankuro. Thank you. I hope you stay safe after all this. Keep your promise to me that you will tell us you are ok when you can. Thank you for not hiding any of this from me since the beginning.

Kyou's POV:

The Kage has sent Kabuto on another mission and I was left alone in the house. I was tired from all the sparring, constantly using chakra, and the emotional dread of leaving Gaara. I may have a lot of chakra, but it isn't endless. All the time it took to train Kankuro meant having thick mixed barriers that needed constant attention and chakra. If I didn't pay attention to it and someone comes by… well it would be difficult for me to keep it quiet and non-violent.

Maybe I should take a nap…

I laid down on the floor and closed my eyes. Kabuto never understood why there is a constant thin layer of sand on the floor throughout the entire house excluding the bathroom. He tried very hard to sweep it out, but it never worked. I was like a spider in her web with the sand giving me extra awareness and an alarm system should I fall asleep. Ever since the One-tails marked me I have been able to manipulate the sand like Gaara, but unlike Gaara it won't protect me without thought to guide or move it. It didn't take me long to fall asleep and it was a nice dreamless sleep.

I woke from the sand pricking and felt out with the sand that the house was surrounded, and they were all armed ninja. None were in the house yet. They felt like jounin and higher ranks by their chakra levels. I internally groaned. Why? Just why? I continued to play being asleep and they moved into the house by the window in my room.

We are leaving in a few days, so why not have some fun now?

Five came in and they set off the traps. Loud thuds and wind shrieking by the wires then the ninja. I had set a trap with the rug on my floor to wrap around the intruders and throw them out the window. It resets itself so my room won't be easy to come in from, especially since it has a hair trigger that is next to impossible to not pull. It was a pulley system and no seals so there was no chakra required making it invisible to others who focus on that like most ninja.

The others decided to try the kitchen which set off the blades trap. It was a simple trap that the academy had talked about where there was kunai sent up like arrows to go off and attack. This time I made them with a spark of chakra so the intruders would be able to avoid being killed by the trap. I made a series of these in the kitchen over time for fun and protection.

They didn't even try the other windows or the basement. It is great they didn't try the basement since the more violent and complex traps are down there. Something Kabuto found out by accident though he wasn't as harmed as I thought he would have been. Only a few cuts and light poisoning where if someone not careful enough could easily die or seriously injured. I often used the basement to keep up my training and flexibility as well the place where I make all the traps. It was the only place the stalkers couldn't watch me without being obvious and away from other people's watch as well. The people of the desert can be seriously nosy and gossipy.

The traps didn't seem to make them go away since a few were at the front door. They picked the lock and came inside. The ones just outside the door suddenly disappeared, freaking them all out until they looked down and saw the pit. I wonder what the fallen faces would be like. Finally, one came to grab me, and I let them. I pretended to be deep asleep and they take me out of the house. They never noticed as we left the small -poof- and note I dropped before I was out the door.

They didn't bind me up or do anything but carry me. I was surprised by this for two reasons, the first being that someone I know is either helping them or they have the info from stalkers, and the other is that they are not from the Kage since he knew to not underestimate me like this. They took me to the Kage tower and instead of going up the stairs they carried me down a secret set that were hidden by the wall next to that first part of the stairs. It was lit by torch light since there were no windows and the air has a stuffiness that made it seem like this place isn't often used. This path is familiar. There a while before we finally stopped by a door. The ninja knocked an interesting rhythm of one, pause, four, pause, and three with the last being very hard. I felt myself being put in a chair and tied there. Before I had the chance to pretend to wake up cold water splashed into my face. I coughed and sputtered from the harsh wake up. Before me was the council to the Kage excluding Baki. All these people want me dead and off to the right I saw Jun's parents. His dad looked ashamed while his mom looked triumphant and excited. I looked at the council and double checked Orochimaru was not hidden within them and he wasn't. No wonder the path felt familiar this is the path that my puppet went to get into the secret office.

One of the council members came forward and said, "You have become very dangerous, Kyou. We know you belong to Orochimaru and that he wants us for something. The deal was a good one, but I heard that you were the deciding factor for our Kage to go against the deal. He would often listen to us, but recently he has been rebelling, especially when it comes to you. We have also learned that you have information about the One-tails and how to control it. Kyou, tells us what we want to know or…" The leader of the group trailed off and looked at Jun's mother who was smiling.

This is going to fucking hurt.

I looked up at the leader's eyes with a tilted head and said in a panicked and innocent voice, "I have no idea what you're talking about. I have no information to give you about the One-tails." Jun's mother hissed and his father sighed. The council rumbled with aggressive muttering and angry glares. The leader looked calm and then he slapped me hard enough to turn my head. I sat that way for a moment pretending I was shocked. The leader said as I turned back to look at him, "Lies won't help you down here. No one knows your here. So, we can do anything we want with you. The Kage has his hands full and won't notice, your brother is off on a mission, and the Sand Siblings are outside the village. So, you better start talking, or you will find out how much pain you can handle." -pfft!- Their face dropped as I started laughing and then they turned to rage. I quickly got control over myself and smiled.

Jun's mother yelled pissed, "What the hell is so funny?" I looked at her and said, "You for one." Which straight up pissed her off and would have come over to kill me if not for Jun's dad. I looked back at the leader and continued, "And this whole cliché situation is another." The leader's face was still blank, but his eyes held a bit of a glow of humor too. I smiled widely and I said, "I don't have any information about Orochimaru's deal. I was just sent here as an accessory for Kabuto so I'm telling the truth about not knowing anything. As for the One-tails that is something you have to ask him about I have no idea why he is calm around me or anything like that. I do know however that if you kill me inside the village that the One-tails will be pissed when he finds out." This made a few members pale and Jun's mother more angry. The leader leaned closer with a blade pressed against my cheek. I simply stared back. His amusement increased and said as he backed off, "I see why the Kage has interest in you. But it won't be what saves you here and we can hide your disappearance much longer than you think."

He waved Jun's mother over and the other members muttered about it possibly not being a good idea. Jun's mother came up to me smiling and before she did anything I said, "Loyalty and honor of a ninja that you hold dear. Truly wasn't expecting how off hinged you are, but anyone can see through that bullshit you always spouted." She froze as did everyone else in the room. Jun's dad looked panicky and worried. I ignored him and watch as Jun's mother expressions changed. Her smile dropped immediately into mixed feelings of her own disloyalty and her beliefs and then her anger showed with her lips twisted into a growl and her brows pinch low. She punched me in the face hard. It was only for a moment, but it was there her regret and confusion. I had no broken teeth and wasn't bleeding yet. I turned back looked at her and said, "This just proves my judgment of ninjas and they can't be trusted." She glared and punched me again. "Stop with your bullshit! We know that back story was false! Kabuto told us himself and that you made it up! You are a ninja too!" She yelled as continued to hit me. When she stopped, she was panting, and I was breathing hard too. "The best convincing lie is a mix of lies and truth," I said as I gulped a few breaths. She froze as I spit some blood out of my mouth. I looked up at her and said, "My village was attacked by rogue ninja and my parents did die to protect me. I live on to cherish their sacrifice." She stared at me in the eyes and I saw her wavering to believe me. "Shut up, shut up, Shut up!" She continued to yell as she hit me. When she stopped again, she stared at me and I saw her fighting herself. I simply stared back as Jun's dad took her away and the hard blow to my head knocked me out.

When I awoke, I was on the floor in a cell only this time there was a gate instead of a wall and door. There were two by the door keeping guard and it was quiet. "So, I'm not sentenced to death yet?" The Baki snorted coming out of the shadows to stand by me. "No, not yet though if you do what you did today it won't be long," he said. I snorted and said, "Should you be talking to me? Those two would be more than happy to tell their boss. I doubt they will kill me since they are very scared of the One-tails." Baki moved to the wall I moved to sit up against and said, "I'm sure they'd be happy to rat on me, but since you put one of your barriers up, I doubt they will know or notice. You sound so sure the One-tails would rampage if you are found dead." I replied, "He did mark me as his friend so it's hard to not believe it. Beside he will know immediately when I die since that is part of the mark. The mark tells him I'm alive but where and how I am isn't part of it. He can share his chakra with me without side effects thanks to it too but is all."

There was silence before Baki said, "Kyou, you weren't lying when you talked about your village and your parents." I nodded and stared at the wall as he continued, "I thought as much ever since what you said about outsiders. It wasn't just an opinion but a warning. You were trying to warn them about you." I smiled up at Baki and said, "Yeah, I hate lying to them. I truly care for them." Baki replied, "Especially Gaara, right? Not just as a friend either." I turned away to hide the blush. Baki chuckled and I turned back to him and said, "Yes, especially Gaara. Don't you dare ever tell him or anyone else for that matter Baki." I couldn't see but I think he smiled as he said, "I won't, and it isn't obvious. You did very well to hide it, but your eyes softened only one time for a moment. A small mistake." I looked at my hands and whispered, "Even a small mistake will be the end of anyone." It was silent and I looked up at Baki.

"Kankuro knows the truth. I wanted to give him some confidence since he was right in the end. Protect him and make sure Temari doesn't fall she is strong, but she is still human. Gaara may return to how he was before, if not worse. Baki, don't let him. He will regret it." He stared at me before nodding. I smiled sadly and said, "Take care of them for me, Baki. They need you more than you will ever know, and you will mean more to them than anyone will ever know." He didn't say anything for a while. "I will. Take care of yourself, Kyou." "Crow," I replied. He stopped walking to the door and stared at me with surprise. It was funny seeing his eye widen. He nodded and said, "Take care of yourself, Crow." He left and I was alone again.

The injuries were simple and not life threatening, but like before there was nothing for me to do.

Kabuto will notice when he comes back. I have to admit this was good timing since I was supposed to fake die soon. I wonder in what way Orochimaru decided how I will die. Soon… soon I will be free.

I went to sleep since there was nothing else to do…

I was carried back into the room and tied to the chair again. The same water to the face awakening happened making me cough. Everyone was there and so was Baki which I found interesting, but I ignored him in favor of the leader who came up to me. I looked up at him in the eyes silently. He slapped me just like yesterday, but I simply ignored the slightly stinging pain. I saw that there were two different ninjas standing there instead of Jun's parents. I turned back to the leader and waited. "Tell us what we want to know." It was a firm order with a threatening undertone. I simply stared at him and tilted my head. Easily pissing him off and he motioned for the ninja to come over. One had a kunai and the other was watching in the corner. The kunai nin came forward and lightly pressed the blade against my neck but it didn't break the skin. When my blank expression didn't change, he moved on to almost stabbing me in the eye. I only blinked in response with a frustrated huff he looked behind him. He got some kind of signal since he turned back around and started cutting me lightly.

All shallow cuts. I flinched at them, but I didn't say a word nor gave them the satisfaction of hearing any noises of pain. First, it was my arm then it was my leg and continued with my hand, neck, and cheek. When I only stared as each occurred the nin and the council got frustrated if their muttering was any indication. He started making deeper cuts and this went on for about an hour, I think. It was hard to tell. I simply stared in response until he cut my forehead and blood dripped into my eyes. Before I could try to rub my eyes, a hand covered them. It wiped the blood away and pour a bit of water in them to help clean them. I opened my eyes and it was the nin from the corner. He sighed and said to the council, "Stop for today unless you want to kill her by blood loss." There was lots of muttering and I'm guessing a signal since I was punched in the head again knocking me out or at least that is what they thought. I had put a barrier to block the punch so I could stay conscious. The same nin who carried me before did the same this time and the corner nin cleaned my wounds and bandaged me up. He left after that but there was a sad look on his face.

This type of treatment went on for several days. I can only tell from the torches being replaced or re-wrapped how much time has passed. Every time I simply stared as they hurt me and it did hurt, but not as much as it did in my first imprisonment. I sometimes wanted to laugh at how little it hurts or the fact that they were too emotional to properly do it.

I wonder how much longer it will take Kabuto. Pretending to not be able to escape is starting to bother me. There is also nothing to do either especially since they have started cutting very deeply.

I was resting in my cell staring at the ceiling when the leader came. I looked at him to acknowledge he was there before staring at the ceiling again. I couldn't move without reopening a deep wound on my stomach since the kunai nin is getting rather frustrated that I have not broken yet. The leader stared at me and said, "You are not a normal child." I snorted and I heard a sigh. "You are a ninja, aren't you? There is no way a normal child can take that much pain without expressing it unless they experienced it before. Whose ninja, are you?" He asked against the bars with a sad voice as I stared at the ceiling. I debated whether I should answer or not. He sighed and I think he was about to leave when I said, "I'm not a ninja. I just experienced this before and I'm just very stubborn." He chuckled but it sounded sad before he left. I watched his retreating back until he was gone.

I closed my eyes to hide them as they changed. My eyes went entirely black with color part having a blue tint underneath. My shadow stretched out touching the shadows of the walls it went using the shadows to find its way to the Kage's office. He was there working on a mountain of paperwork. He seemed frustrated and if I was not wrong a little worried. I looked over his shoulder and at the documents on his desk. The Sand Siblings has returned yesterday, and Kabuto returned the day before. Their mission reports were on the desk. I pulled my shadow back and started coughing from using it. I was still having a hard time using my abilities. I then used it to leave a chakra trail to the underground rooms. I started outside the main entrance by putting a thumb amount of chakra like a bread crumb. I put another just passed the doors. I continued to do this with small distances between each one. Until I got to the wall that hid the stairs. I went on the stairs right behind it and put a good two fists full of chakra there. After that a few more thumb ones leading down the steps. The bottom of the steps is where I stopped since there is no way the council wouldn't notice them. I pulled my shadow back and changed my eyes back.

I rolled to the side as I coughed up some blood which freaked the guards out. I would have laughed if I wasn't so tired. I heard them shouting and the corner nin came into the cell. He put his hand on my stomach. It glowed with healing chakra and he did the same to my lungs. I was able to breathe better after. "Thanks," I croaked from my sore throat. No one like coughing up blood or puking it. He didn't say anything but nodded. "I forgot not to move," I said once he was done. He frowned and asked, "Why couldn't you move?" I replied, "The hole in my stomach is sensitive and would reopen if I move too much." He looked surprised and nodded before saying, "You should be ok to move now, but I'd advise against it." I smiled and closed my eyes as he left.

It wasn't long when there was tons of shouting and an explosion. It shook the entire building and the bars rattled. I woke up and felt Kabuto's chakra coming down the stairs and surprisingly so was the Kage's. The two by my cage were starting to shift closer to the cell. Before I could attack them Baki was there and knocked them out. He opened my cell and helped me up. There were sounds of metal hitting metal and shouting. "Kabuto found your chakra trail and the Kage was pissed that the council went behind his back." I snorted and said, "I bet and I'm guessing you are going to get me to them because you didn't do anything but watch until now." He snorted and said, "I'm the one who persuaded them not to kill you after day two. You really enjoy pissing people off." I replied as we moved out of the cell and up the stairs, "Like you don't."

We got to the top when I pushed Baki forward as I pushed myself against the wall barely dodging the kunai in time. I looked around the corner it was the kunai nin from before and he looked pissed. Before he could tell the others, I dashed forward, and roundhouse kicked him in the gut. He was sent harshly back into the wall and coughed up blood. I smirked at him as he slid down unable to catch his breath. There was a large dent in the wall from the impact. I turned to the staircase and Baki was waiting there. I rolled my eyes when he went ahead. I followed closed behind and we made it to the main hallway. I sense several chakras around, but I also noticed several dead bodies. "This underground council had a large amount of followers considering all these bodies. It is a wonder that they didn't try to take over," I said looking at all the bodies. Baki grunted and said, "Hurry up and move."

I sighed and we continued until we got outside the whole building. I let my body heal at a quicker rate than that of normal people for the battle that I'm about to enter. The fight had been pushed to outside, though it was probably from some members trying to flee but failing miserably. There was Kabuto facing one of the council members as was the Kage. I whistled because the Kage was doing pretty well for being stuck in the office all the damn time. Kabuto saw me out the corner of his eye and I smiled. He quickly finished off his opponent and came over. He checked me and I smiled as I said, "You found my trail." He smiled and pulled me into a quick hug. I squeezed back before looking back out.

"Can I fight, or do I continue acting like a weak brat? Considering the village is being invaded?" I asked while looking at the mess of a huge battle. They both looked down at me with confusion and I pointed at the wall there were several battles raging from all the smoke clouds. Kabuto looked at me and said, "Go ahead and have fun. Just make sure not to die without me." I snorted and replied, "It will take a damn lot more than you think to actually kill me." I dashed off and thanks to the corner nin I don't have to worry about my stomach. I stole someone's sword and saluted to Baki before joining the battle.

(3rd person POV)

They watched as Kyou ran into the battlefield slashing at enemy ninjas as she went. Kabuto couldn't help but stare at her as she went after all this was his first time seeing her battle outside of practicing. Why did she steal a sword and salute Baki? When did she get that strong? She is killing them like it's normal. How many people has she killed?

Baki snorted in response to the salute and looked over at Kabuto who was staring. He said, "Your sister is quite strong. On the first mission we took her on she completely slaughtered the remaining opponents without getting injured. She'll be fine and she is definitely on her way to being as strong as Gaara." Crow, you are a real mystery. I will take care of Gaara and his siblings so enjoy your last real battle. I hope when we meet again, I am not your opponent.

Kabuto looked at Baki with surprise, but before he could respond the sand ninjas called them to help. They went into the battlefield and disappeared among the fighting.

Kyou's POV

I was fighting some of the invading ninjas when some sand swirled around a few pulling them away into a large ball of sand. It collected more before it vibrated as it squeezed itself into exploding (a giant version of sand coffin). I looked over my shoulder and there was Gaara and Temari. Kankuro was already fighting when I got here. I smiled and would have wave, but a group went right at Gaara. Then some more came at me too. These ninjas were wearing headbands with four straight lines carved into them. I wonder what village they belong to. It took a while to defeat the invading ninjas.

In the end, most were killed in battle and the remaining ones have been taken prisoner. There were two council members left alive and forced to kneel to the Kage with their arms tied behind their backs in a way so that they couldn't seal. I walked over still covered in blood, sand, and other gore from battle. Gaara was still on the wall with his siblings to help protect the village. I had given them a high five before heading to report to the Kage. Most of the civilians were not hurt though a bit shocked. Several sand nin had injuries including myself but mine were minor and the medics from the hospital were going around healing people including Kabuto.

I stepped up to the Kage and he continued to glare at the two at his feet. I sighed being tired from battle and from my imprisonment. I said, "There is about 85 percent of the invading ninjas as dead the others have been captured and taken to the prison. There are about half of our ninjas having minor injury, few with major injuries, and all the medics are taking care of them as I report. A few squads of not injured ninja have been formed if you want to send them to make sure there isn't any reinforcements."

The Kage said to Baki who was not injured, "Go give the order to check if there is reinforcements, but not to engage them if there are, only to report back. Also tell my children to continue to stand guard on the wall." Baki nodded and as he passed me, he patted my head and the Kage glanced at me. He glare even harder at the council members and said to them, "I am the Kage of this village. You were a council to advise me and don't have power, yet you all took action as if you did. You have went against my orders which is treason. Both of you will be sent to prison until your death."

The leader of the council appeared behind the Kage and I ran. Instead of the Kage getting cut my back took the blades with a relatively deep cut like an X on my back. I turned around and used my sword to stab the leader in the heart surprising him and everyone else. Anyone else would not be able to move with my injuries, especially after my imprisonment. Before the leader could pull himself off the blade, I made a sealed one handedly. Lightning appeared on my blade and went straight into the guy and electrocuted him in a quick but deadly strike. His smoking corpse fell off the blade as I let go of the blade. There was silence. Everyone looked at the two council members to see what their reaction, but they were staring in shock.

Kabuto appeared when I fell to my knees and started to heal me. He got me mostly healed and took me to the hospital. I slowed my healing rate which made me pass out on the way to the hospital.

I had lost a lot of blood not just by the battle but with my imprisonment. I woke up in the hospital with Kabuto sleeping in the chair by my bed. I smiled and heard a noise at the door. I looked over there and it was Baki walking into the room. He stood on my left with a brief glance at Kabuto. I looked up at him and he stared at me. "You look better. It surprised everyone that you fainted from blood loss. The medics scrambled to tell the Sand Siblings that you are ok just very tired and had blood loss…" he said. "Did the One-tails surface?" I asked. Baki shook his head and I sighed in relief. I tilted my head and Baki said, "You were examined and even though you were out because of the blood loss. It wasn't enough to put you in danger. There are wounds all over that were healed far more than expected. They were some that apparently were healed before getting here as well…" I smiled as I said, "Kabuto did heal me before bringing me here. The corner nin healed my stomach before you came to bring me out."

He stared before saying, "You are not going to admit to anything." I smiled and said, "I'm just a kid. What is there to admit?" He stared and said, "The lightning you used against the council leader and the fact that you sealed with only one hand would be a start." I stared at him and replied, "I did that? Are you sure? I was actually kind of unconscious after Gaara did the giant version of sand coffin. I was like that until I woke up here so..." Kabuto twitched in silent laughter and I ignored him.

Baki stared at me then started to walk away. When he was at the door I said, "Kage, next time use a person I don't know, or you will be found out every time." Both Kabuto and the Kage stiffened. Kabuto looked up as the Kage turned to face me. He dropped the Genjutsu of Baki and asked, "What gave me away?" I smiled as I replied, "Several things, but most importantly is that Baki does not talk as much or asking things." The Kage nodded before leaving and Kabuto stared at me. I looked at him and whispered, "Chakra. Everyone has different chakra. Orochimaru-sama taught me that." Kabuto nodded and checked my body again before saying, "Sleep some more your body needs it." I nodded and laid back down. I put my hand palm up under Kabuto's and gently held his hand before falling asleep again. I felt his hand ruffle my hair before sleep took me.

I actually had been asleep for four days which I found out after I woke up again a few hours later. Once I cleaned up, I asked if the Sand Siblings came by, but the nurses only exchanged a few looked before getting me back in bed. I was left alone aside from Kabuto visiting. The Kage gave him time off from missions to help rebuild the village and to visit me in the hospital.

It was the third day since I woke up that the Sand Siblings came to visit. I smiled at them when they came in. Gaara came and sat on the chair by my bed. Temari and Kankuro stood on the other side of the bed. Kankuro was frowning and Temari whacked my head. I rubbed the spot and smiled apologetically. I looked at Kankuro and he put his hand on my head. I blinked and he said, "You should take better care of yourself. Fainting from blood loss wasn't funny." I smiled and said, "Sorry, I over did it. I should have paid better attention to my limits." Both Temari and Kankuro nodded and left to go help with rebuilding.

Gaara silently sat in the chair and I held out my fist to him and he fist bumped with me. He stared a moment before saying, "This is not just due to the blood loss and injuries you had in battle. You are stronger than that." My smile turned sad and I said, "The council decided that I had information and was a threat, so they imprisoned me. They were going against your dad's orders, so they are going to be punished." Gaara stared into space and I saw a bit of the darkness creeping into his eyes. I moved slowly to hold his hand which broke his thoughts and I said, "Gaara, I'm fine. They will be punished. Besides I already killed the leader, so I have got my revenge for my time with them. No one is at fault except possibly me for not taking them seriously when they came to kidnap me." He shook his head and squeezed my hand as he said, "Not your fault." I smiled. We continued to sit in a comfortable silence until the nurses urged Gaara to leave so I can rest. He left with a small wave and I laid back with a sigh.

The next two days were uneventful aside from the nurses telling me to rest. It was night when someone came in through the window. He nudged me wake and I opened my eyes and it was Jun. I sat up and he whispered, "We need to get out of here. Some people are going to attack you if you stay." I stared at him for a moment before getting up and he grabbed my hand. He led me down the hallways keeping me out of sight with his own body. We barely made it outside when an explosion went off. I sighed and Jun tugged me into a run until we were near the wall. His parents were there which made me stop short. He looked confused and his parents signaled us forward which I did cautiously.

Before I got close to them, I grabbed Jun and I jumped back. Sand exploded where we would have been, and Jun just stared at the spot. I would have laughed if I wasn't dodging kunai which gave Jun time to snap out of it. He ran to where I was and threw some kunai back at the figures that were attacking. Thanks to his attack I had time to seal the wind blade jutsu at them. Once all the sand settled, I saw the other parents and some villagers were where the figures were before. From the smell of fresh warm blood, the jutsu must have cut them but the smell didn't have the metallic smell of the blood from a vital point or artery. Jun saw who it was and shouted, "Why are you attacking us?"

The parents glared at me and I just sighed. I grabbed Jun's shoulder and said, "They are part of the council who wants me dead because they see me as a threat." He looked at me in question and I shrugged as I said, "Ask your parents since they know more than me."

The other parents suddenly moved, and I push Jun out of the way again, but this time I was cut by the blades that were in the shadows of the originals. It hurt a little and I noticed immediately that they were poisoned.

Great. This is how I'm going to fake die. Ugh, I hate politics.

Jun did the wind blades jutsu with his parents aimed at the other parents. I got myself up and tried to fight too, but I was only able to defeat some of the civilians. I dropped to avoid an attack when Jun's parents blocked my opponents. "We will take it from here. Just rest since you are heavily wounded and still not recovered," his mom said as his dad went back to fighting. I said, "Okay, but don't die Jun needs you both." She nodded before going back to battle. Jun was fighting and his opponent ran further into the village and Jun followed. I sighed as I sent a small snake puppet after them.

It was only a moment later that the sun rose, and Kabuto's chakra was racing to us. He attacked with a smoke bomb to break up the fight a bit and landed near me. I smiled at him as I said, "Good morning," and he glared at me. I looked back at Jun's parents and said, "Kabuto, help Jun's parents. Their opponents are increasing, and they are fighting to protect me as surprising as it is." He stared at me then glanced at the battle. He sighed before saying as he ruffled my hair, "Stay out of trouble." I snorted, which made him smile. He left to fight with them.

I noticed my ex-friends excluding Jun coming. I thought they were going to stop their parents, but instead they attacked me after they saw me.

Of fucking course! This is such a pain!

"Why?" I shouted the question at them as I dodged their attacks. They didn't answer immediately but when they did, they said, "We believe in our parents. You are the one who stopped being our friend!" I continued to dodge and then shouted,

"Your parents are the reason we are not friends. What's wrong with being friends with Gaara? He a kid just like us. There are only two differences which are that he has a raging beast sealed within him that he never wanted or asked for and he is alone. I don't know about how people in this village are raised but I don't believe that any of you have a right to hate him. He is doing his best to contain the beast, but we are just kids. How in the hell are we supposed to have the strength or knowledge to do it? How the hell is he supposed to be strong with no fucking one to support him and everyone's trying to kill him?"

This made everyone stop and it was quiet. I glared at them as I recovered my breath. They seemed to hesitate to continue fighting as if questioning it, but their parents decided for them. They attacked me altogether as they said, "You damn brat! Stop trying to ruin everything! You and that monster should just die already. Who cares about what you have to say. You are a threat that needs to be destroyed."

I dodged as best as I could, but I still got shallow wounds. I asked, "Threat to the village or to your agenda and control over the village?" This pissed them off and they came at me more furiously than before.

Sorry, Kabuto but I'm not sure I can last much longer as Kyou. I won't die here. I'm going to break my cover.

I let my healing rate increase a bit to stop myself from dying of blood loss, again. Jun's parents protected me when I was about to be killed by blocking the jutsu with their own. I ran from behind them and attacked with more speed than before as well as strength. The parents grouped close together to keep their backs safe. I felt my mouth quark into a smirk for a flicker of a moment. I sealed like last time, but unlike last time I did it with both hands. It increased my speed and I attacked. They didn't have time to block all the hits and half of them fell when I skidded to a stop by Jun's parents.

I was panting a bit as I stared at the remaining parents. "Are they dead? Did you just kill them?" Jun's mother asked in the following silence. I spat some blood onto the ground before saying, "No. They alive and no critical injuries. They are either unconscious or unable to move."

Jun's mother stared at me then said with a sad frown, "You are stronger than a child should be." I shrugged and said, "I won't die until my own dreams come true. So, everything: the danger, pain, and hatred will only make me stronger."

I didn't wait to see or hear her response as I darted forward again. This time I tried to shake their gaze, but they were very attentive this time. I quickly sealed again though it was different. I brought my hands up to my mouth with my fingers together thumbs at the bottom like a water drop or spade shape. I took a breath and blew over the tips of my fingers.

The breath turned into strong wind similar in power to the wind tornado, but one level lower. It wasn't just wind, but cold almost icy wind mixed with the sand. It was enough to make them and my ex-friends weak, especially since it was still early, and desert was still cold. Jun's mother finished it with ninja wire to tie them up.

Snake puppet POV:

Jun was led towards the tower and his chakra was slowly starting to get low. His opponent stood at the entrance and was waiting for Jun. I slithered forward to await the moment to sink my fangs into this guy. It came when all of the hidden reinforcements attacked Jun at once with a physical attack which rocked the ground. The guy grunted not knowing that I poisoned him, and I slithered up onto Jun. He didn't seem to notice though I can't blame him. His opponents were not going to give him a chance. He was beaten pretty bad and was about to be killed. This is when the sand grabbed all his opponents and crushed them in a giant sand coffin. Jun looked up at Gaara who came up to him. Gaara frowned then sighed. He then held out his hand to help Jun up. Jun stared at it for a moment before taking it. They both let go once Jun was on his feet. Gaara was staring at me on Jun shoulder. I gave my chakra to Jun to help him recover until Kankuro came. I had given almost all the chakra with only a spark left. Kankuro stared at me and Jun grabbed me and handed me to Kankuro. I curled around his arm before letting the spark of chakra go.

I saw their faces staring and me with "what the fuck?" expression. It was the last thing I saw.

Kyou's POV:

All the parents and ex-friends were either unable to move, unconscious, or tied up. I sigh relieved and sat down. My vision went fuzzy for a moment from all the blood loss I just lost again. Kabuto came to support me which surprised me since I didn't see him coming. He started to heal me as Jun's parents kept an eye on the others waiting for the other ninjas to come.

No one else saw him cut me though it was shallow it was to administer poison. I felt it enter with fire into my veins causing my to cough up blood. My body reacted badly to the poison surprising Kabuto before I whispered to him, "Some of the blades were coated in poison too. Don't worry I won't die from this." He didn't nodded and started to desperately heal me.

I could feel Gaara coming as my chakra started to disappear which alarmed probably the One-tails. The Sand Siblings were there with the Kage and Baki wondering what was going on. Kabuto was crying as he actually tried to heal me which made the Kage and Baki come closer. I felt Kabuto's warm tears as they landed in my face. He had already healed most of my wounds but there was a stab wound close to my heart that was bleeding far too much. Gaara knelt next to me and I smiled weakly. I put my hand on his cheek as my eyes soften, I said to him, "We will always be friends." He didn't cry but he held my hand against my cheek as the sand touched mine. Temari looked like there were tears in her eyes and Kankuro was frowning but the shock in his eyes showed him realizing I was dying. I noticed the darkness creeping in as Kabuto's face came into focus as I looked up at him. He was seriously scared and believes I'm dying.

He is so going to be pissed when I wake up at the base completely ok. The bastard Orochimaru made a serious poison and mixed with the other would actually kill most people. Too bad I'm not normal and that poison can't kill me.

I smiled at Kabuto and said, "You are going to miss my childish pranks, now right?" Kabuto's eyes stared into mine and he stopped crying and I saw understanding mixed with doubt deep within his eyes. He smiled that held sadness as he nodded. I looked at Gaara and smiled as I said, "Gaara, one day someone may understand you and your pain more than I do. Gaara, you are not a monster." The darkness overtook me before I could see everyone's reactions.

(3rd person POV)

Gaara simply stared as his friend stopped breathing. Her eyes lost their spark. Kyou, why did you die? He looked at Kabuto who was staring at Kyou just like he did. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and he looked up at its owner, it was Temari.

Temari wasn't crying but she looked like she really wanted to. Kyou, did you have to be so reckless? You made it so believable that even Kabuto thought you were dying. I hope you get the chance to tell us you are ok, or I will really think you died here.

Kankuro looked at his sister and Gaara and put his arm around Temari's shoulders to comfort her. Kyou, this is what you meant….

Baki looked at the Sand Siblings and frowned. Kyou, next time I see you I'm going to punch you. You hurt them more than you needed to.

Kage looked at the body and said, "We will get a place among our graveyard ready for her. Given the state of the village we can't hold the funeral until we finished repairing and cleaning. I would like one of our medical ninjas to find out how she died." Everyone looked at him and glared.

Kabuto said, "Thank you for the offer but I'm taking Kyou to be buried with our parents." He got up carrying her easily. "I'm leaving this village and I won't return. My purpose here is gone so it's time I leave, especially since you clearly didn't want me here." He looked at the Sand Siblings and said to them, "Kyou, really cared and was happy to be with you. It was the happiest I've seen her since our parents died. Take care."

"The rogues that overran your village will kill you," said the Kage. Kabuto looked at him and said, "I have no fear of death. When I die, I'll be with my family. I will also fight with Kyou's spirit of not going down without a fight and taking as many with me as possible."

Kabuto turned to leave and never looked back. They all let him go.

---

Back at the base Kyou/Rin was still sleeping on her bed and Kabuto looked worried. Orochimaru had given him the antidote for the poison but suggested to not use it until he was sure the other poison was out of her system.

Orochimaru had smiled once he saw Rin since her heart started again on its own as well as her breathing.

Rin's POV:

-The darkness was endless. Even the nine fires were smaller and fuzzy as if mist cover the space in between them and myself. I was sitting staring at the darkness around me and sighed. The poison was very potent, but I'm here to make sure the One-tails knows that I'm not dead. It was after reassuring him that I am alive did I start to just sit here. Hey father, I'm awake again. -

I woke up from my mini coma that was thanks to the poisons and blood loss. I was completely healed, and I noticed Kabuto was not here nor was Orochimaru. I got up and saw that my clothes were the same as when I was at the Sand. I wrinkled my nose at the smell. I quickly cleaned myself then went to find Kabuto. He was in the 'throne room" as I dubbed it since it basically was with it having a chair for only Orochimaru to sit in.

They were talking. "...not waking up. What were you thinking? She could never wake up!" Kabuto said. "You must have gotten attached to be acting like this and questioning me," was Orochimaru's reply. "She is only a child there is no way she will survive this!" Kabuto shouted. Orochimaru replied with, "You underestimate her Kabuto." Before Kabuto said anything else, I opened the door and walked. "Seriously, Kabuto I said I would be fine," I said. They both turned as well as both showing surprise. I raised an eyebrow not at all amused.

Orochimaru smiled and Kabuto came over and flicked my forehead hard. I winced and said, "It's not my fault you didn't believe me." He frowned and said, "Your heart stopped and so did your breathing for a whole day." I rolled my eyes and said, "If you didn't freak out so much you would have known they both started back up once we were out of the village. My heartbeat and breathing was slow. Slow enough that it felt like to those who panic or are impatient that I was dead. Also, the mini coma was due to the blood loss mixed with both poisons. I wasn't going to die."

I glared at Orochimaru and asked, "What was in the poison you used on me?" He replied, "It is the poison that is used on those with lots of chakra. It is similar to the ones we found traces of in your system. I didn't think about it not mixing well with other poisons." I frowned but I nodded accepting it and said, "It's a serious poison that would kill most people. I suggest you don't use it unless as a last resort. After all it would kill even you Orochimaru."

It was a tense silence and Orochimaru nodded. Kabuto frowned and grabbed the towel from around my neck and started trying to dry my hair. I groaned as I tried to get him to stop. He did but he was still frowning at me. I rolled my eyes at him and let him finish. Orochimaru chuckled at this and said once Kabuto was done, "Rin, you will rest for three weeks. After your rest I will be sending you on another mission. This time you will also be going alone. I will give you the details in two weeks." I smiled and nodded. A yawn got the better of me and I started to walk out. I was at the door looking back as I said, "You didn't figure anything out yet. Thank you for the freedom, but are you sure Kabuto is the only one who got attached?" I closed the door behind me and left with a smile.

---

AN: Thank you for waiting for this chapter! Thank you for reading!

This was a long chapter! This arc was a lot of fun to write and hopefully it was fun for you all to read.

-The next chapter will come out in a couple of months, but I'm in school so it will take me a while to write it. Holidays and school was the delay behind this chapter.

Moonlight46: Mission 1 is finished.

I look forward to seeing how this is going to change the Naruto series, or not. Also, my OC may be OP but that may not be a bad thing.

Kyou/Rin: Please Review so this author doesn't randomly change my character or create too many plot holes.

Kabuto: Why do I feel like something bad is going to happen when I'm not with Rin?

Moonlight46: Because you care about her as if she is your little sister and you still don't know who she is.

Looking forward to your thoughts/comments.

Naruto: Believe it!