A/N: Told ya I would update. Man this has gotten a lot of visitors.I'm pretty excited. No one has flamed me yet. But then again no one has reviewed. Did anyone see that last Game of Thrones episode though. Man. Anyway I decided that I was going to try to update bi-weekly. Some character development coming your way. Thanks for reading. Let me know what you think and I did make a few edits in the previous chapter. Not much, I just figured out how to use the divider.

Chapter 6

ame futte chi katamaru

Within a short amount of time Soraya came into a routine. Make Meals for the Akatsuki, train and get tutored by Itachi. The routine helped her not think about the loss of her family which made her more focused on adapting to the new world they was now Masaru and her's home.

Her style had changed somewhat as well. She now wore a flared dress with kimono like sleeves with a halter neckline. Everyday she had a new paper rose in her hair provided by Konan.

Currently, Soraya was dodging paper shurikens that Konan created. Sprinkles of rain coveted them both but Soraya was used to cold wetness that Amegakure provided. Soraya felt scratches behind her and grunted in pain and feel to her knees.

"Always watch your back", said Konan. "Push-ups now."

"Aww man", complained Soraya. Soraya then spotted a flower in front of her face with it slowly burning. "Oh no". Soraya backed flipped out of the way right before the bomb blew up. "WHAT THE HELL". Another one was thrown at her. Soraya used a nearby tree to avoid that bomb. Soraya smiled pricing herself in her new found speed and agility. Then she felt a kunai at her throat.

"Watch your back", Konan stressed. "Push-ups and if you complain this time, I will give you something to complain about."

"Ok Gosh you sound like my mother", muttered Soraya. Konan's heart quickened and red tinted her face. Soraya started her push-ups. Meanwhile, Konan was completing on how to ask Soraya about adopting Masaru and her. Soraya noticing the shift in Konan's feeling looked at her while doing push-ups. She felt a slight fear coming off of her. "Is there something I said?"

"Nothing, where is your mother", Konan asked out of curiosity? It was then Soraya noticed she never had the conversation on what happened on her birthday. Didn't Itachi tell them anything? Soraya was slightly thankful for that.

"They are dead", Soraya felt her throat drying when she said that. And she could feel her eyes to prick with water. Konan stared at her in shock but was slightly relieved at the thought that no one would take Soraya away from her. Konan felt guilty of her jealousy and relief. However, Konan had truly gotten attached to Soraya.

"How did they die?", Konan asked. Konan knew the pain and loss that

"Can we not talk about it," politely asked.

Konan nodded in agreement. "Let's end training for today."

"No, you said you would teach me about Chakra today", Soraya put on a smile and sat down. Konan got the message. We continue to train and pretend nothing was said. Konan now realized why Soraya was fiercely protective of Masaru-because seeing another family member die was not an option for her.

"Fine then, the basics", Konan sat down next to Soraya. "What do you know"

"Okay", Soraya was really enthusiastic about the information she was about to share. "Chakra is a mixture of spiritual and physical energy"

Konan nodded. "Good, Chakra is used to form jutsu and there are three categories".

"Ohh I know this one genjutsu, ninjutsu and taijutsu", exclaimed Soraya.

"Yes, but also know that there are Kekkei genkai abilities, which are genetically inherited traits that allow the user to perform unique techniques.", replied Konan.

"Kekkei genkai?" Soraya pondered on the new information. "I wonder is this what grandmother was talking about", she thought.

"Your's will manifest eventually, if it already hasn't",

Soraya nodded in response. "Wait-how do you know that I have one", Soraya asked suspiciously.

"Nagato has some knowledge of your clan. The Ruis and the Uzumakis come from Uzushiogakure". Konan grabbed Soraya's face with both hands. "Listen to me, only share this information with your brother and no one else, including Itachi"

"Okay fine", Soraya agreed. "But, where is that, can we go!". Soraya was excited about going somewhere new and possibly meeting new extended family.

"That place doesn't exist anymore". Konan said sadly. Soraya smile faded and shoulders slumped. "It was destroyed because of war, and anyone from that village that remained alive hid themselves out of fear of their life."

"Is that why Nagato doesn't have parents, are you from Uzushiogakure to", Konan shook her head in the negative.

"No, he and I were born in Amegakure, but his parents were", Konan replied. "From my own research,it seemed that your clan was very matriarchal and that the women were heavily sought after for marriage"

"Why?", asked Soraya.

"I don't know, it could be because they were renowned for their beauty", said Konan. "But you and Masaru fit the profile from my research" Konan pointed to her eyes. "The brown skin is a rarity of these parts, but the russet colored eyes is a giveaway"

"I hardly believe that beauty is the case in a Shinobi world", Soraya contemplated this new information. These answers just generated more questions. She closed her eyes and thought about the little information her grandmother gave her about this world and suddenly remembered the books that was given to her. Since she came here she has been journaling her thoughts, but completely forgotten about the books given to her. She then remembered the time Itachi challenged her about one of her encyclopedia books. Maybe those books were the answers.

Konan briefly debated about sharing the other knowledge about the Uzumakis and Ruis being enemies. Would that upset her? Would Soraya continue to trust them? Konan decided that not telling her all the knowledge that she had would not be fair to her or Masaru. "Soraya, please listen, this knowledge isn't going to change how me and Nagato feel about you"

"How you feel about me?" questioned Soraya.

"The Uzumakis and Rui's used to be enemies", Konan said in hesitation. Konan was waiting for Soraya to say something, but she stared at Konan unfazed. "But before that they were allies that were known to work fiercely together." Soraya still looked unfazed by the information.

"Nagato and you are the only Uzumakis left right", Soraya asked.

"Wait what-I'm not an Uzumaki", flabbergasted at her assumption.

"But you will be." Soraya questioned. "Right?" she asked after not getting a response. "Or are you with Yahiko, you three have so much love for each other I can't tell", Konan blushed.

"Actually-", Konan was then interrupted by Soraya.

"The truth is I don't care if our families were enemies". Soraya paused to try to find the right words to explain herself. "My grandmother right before she died said that family is not always blood, and she's right I never felt safe with my family even as child" Soraya paused again. "What I mean to say is, why should we care about the past, as long as we learn from it, we shouldn't carry any grudges just for the sake of dead people" Konan was astonished at the maturity of her words. Soraya looked her way and noticed the expression of Konan's face and stopped herself from adding more. The worst thing she wanted to do was offend Konan who took her and Masaru in and sheltered them. She wasn't lying when she said she felt safe with them.

"You're right" Konan said with a smile. "Family isn't always blood." Soraya smiled back in glee. Silently she knew what she meant, Konan considered her family. Soraya was brought out of her thoughts when she felt the feeling of anger nearby. Konan recognized Soraya changed expression, she then threw a kunai. Soraya gasped in fright as Konan's kunai intercepted another shurkin. The sound of metal vs. metal made Soraya very alert of the situation and she was quick to her feet.

"Well if isn't one of the Akatsuki." A man came into view one had spiky hair but Soraya was surprised by the umbrella. "Surprised Hanzō hasn't killed you with you're traitorous propoganda."

"Traitorous propaganda?", Soraya questioned. "How does peace have to do with anything propaganda" Soraya pointed at him. "And if you want a fight you can at least introduce yourself, that is the polite thing to do." Konan put a hand on Soraya's shoulder.

"Control your temper", warned Konan. "His name is Shigure, and his the illegimate child of Hanzō's sister"

"So we can't attack him because he's royalty or something", asked Soraya.

"No", said Konan sadly. "The fact is not even his mother acknowledges his existence". Shigure threw another kunai at Soraya and it was easily blocked. Soraya felt sorry for him, she kinda empathized with him.

Flashback

"Why can't you be like your brother, he's only three and he is already at the academic level that you should be at, you embarrass me", Soraya's mother slapped her and left the room angrily and slammed the door. "Don't come out until you finished this"

"Mother I'm sorry, I'll try harder I promise", cried Soraya.

Present

"These Akatsuki", he said in disgust. "Will destroy the way of the Shinobi", accused Shigure. "Maybe killing you will give me the recognition I need", Shigure yelled.

"Shigure, I have no qualms with you", said Konan. "But if you lay a hand on musume, I will kill you" Konan got into a defensive stance and so did Soraya.

Masaru still unbeknownst to Soraya was training with Kisame when Soraya was training with Konan. Itachi oversaw the training with Masaru training. This was mainly to protect Masaru. Kisame had already went too far with Masaru, breaking an arm. If it wasn't for Itachi's knowledge of healing things could have went South with Soraya. It wasn't that Itachi was afraid of Soraya, quite contrary. It was that he loved his peace of mind. He found out that even though she was cool and collected on most things. Her brother was a major weakness.

"Okay runt, there is one thing left to do that we haven't done yet". Itachi sweatdropped.

"Please don't", Itachi said dreading the next step of Kisame's training.

"We fight naked", Kisame said stripping. Masaru stripped quickly as well.

"At Least leave your underwear on", muttered Itachi.

"You gotta be free Itachi if you want to be one with your sword", Kisame pointed his Samehada at Itachi. Masaru gave Itachi a thumbs up.

"Okay, let's go kid", Masaru paused looking for an opening for attack. Then he rushed towards Kisame. He swiped his sword at Kisame, which he easily dodged. Kisame swung his sword and hit Masaru. Masaru went flat to the ground and was out cold.

"Oops I think I went to far again" Kisame laughed. He bent down trying to wake the kid up, instead it turned into a log. "What the Hell". Itachi smiled really impressed with the recent development.

Masaru lept from the trees and swung his word in mid flight. Kisame stopped it with Samada and Masaru lept out of the way. Masaru gritted his teeth in annoyance and charged again at Kisame. Kisame meet him blade for blade. And then Masaru flipped away. Masaru's eyes were downcast and his body was still. His fingers were moving in a very melodic way as if he was playing something and he started humming.

"Is he thinking", Itachi asked to himself.

"Runt, why did you stop", It was then Masaru threw a rock at Itachi. Itachi caught it easily, but then had sudden images of Konan and Soraya. "Then he saw the Shigure, the village bastard. Itachi knew that Konan could protect herself so he saw no reason to interfere. However, it was then he noticed two others one with Kubikiribōchō, one of the legendary swords of the Mist . The man was a tall and muscular man with pale skin, short spiky black hair, brown eyes, and small eyebrows. There was bandages around his face. More noticeable was a kid with mask in a kimono. The kid was pulling out Senbon which he deducted could be or not be poisonous. Why were they here? And how could he see what was going on? It was then Masaru was staring at him intently.

"So these images are coming from him" Itachi raised his hands to his chin contemplating the recent developments. Masaru fell to the ground in exhaustion. "He and his sister are connected somehow"

"Wrong", he heard Masaru's voice for the first time in his head. Itachi glared.

"How can he", Masaru pointed to the rock that he was holding.

"I can't read your mind without it" Itachi looked at the rock with his Sharingan, the boy had infused some of his chakra into it. He was using it as some type of conduit. "Man, you have a hard life, so are you going to save my sister or what", Itachi dropped the rock. Masaru then fell to his knees and screamed. The world around him started to turn red and black and Itachi was at his throat with a Kunai.

"Stay out of my head", Masaru nodded in fear. "Sleep." In the real world Masaru just feel to the ground unceremoniously.

"Hey, that's my student, what did you do", Itachi looked west ignoring Kisame's temper.

"Training is done for today, there is something I have to take care of" Kisame gnashed his teeth.

"Whatever kid", Kisame muttered insults to himself.

"Oh and Kisame you may want to dress the boy and yourself, that would even be hard to explain to Nagato", Kisame spirit seemed to be downcast, but perked up.

"You're just jealous of our manliness", Itachi rolled his eyes and left the site.

"Man putting clothes on kids is so tedious", Kisame caught himself with those words. "That girl's speech is infecting my own", thought Kisame referring to Soraya.

"There's two others", whispered Soraya to Konan.

"How does she know that", thought Konan.

"There behind us, and they have killing intent", she added.

"What have you done Shigure", shouted Konan. "All we want is a peaceful world what is so wrong about that."

"Oh really, then why have you been taking missions outside the village for dirt cheap I may add." Konan stopped at the revelation

"Others do it as well, we are still loyal to Hanzo", replied Konan in a more calm matter.

"I don't care, all I know is that Hanzo-sama is getting paranoid by your presence, so if I get rid of a nuisance, I will finally be recognized as his family"

"Dude, I get how you feel, not being recognized by your family is heartbreaking, but if you have to this to get noticed, it's not worth it.", said Soraya.

"Shut-up you stupid little brat", yelled Shigure. "What does a kid like you know about be rejected by family". He retorted.

"I'm not little, but I may be slow" Soraya conceded "However, if you say that again I won't be afraid to knock you on your ass just because you're a boy"

"Little-", before he knew it Soraya was right in front of him with a fist. Konan was surprised at the reserved anger.

" The name is Soraya and I will eventually be the smartest Kunoichi that there is and use my intelligence to help people, that is my nindo, my ninja way"

"Are you just going to stand there or do something" yelled Shigure. "I paid you to kill them"

The man and the girl in the kimono came into the open. "Don't rush perfection kid", said a man in bandages. Soraya could tell right away this man was out of her league.

"Soraya stay out of this", said Itachi who was right behind there.

"Where the hell did you come from", asked Soraya. Soraya was then in a paper cage. Soraya protested by trying to rip the paper bars apart.

"This is too dangerous", said Konan. "You said you want to be the smartest, well be smart", Konan glared at her for her to agree. Soraya shut her mouth and nodded. She sat down in the back of the cage with a pout and angry tears sprung forward, but she pushed them back.

"You to Haku and kid, watch and let the real Ninja's fight", said the man. Haku and Shigure were then in a water bubble. Shigure protested but no one could hear him.

"Seems like the Demon of the Mist is itching for a fight Konan", Itachi stated smoothly unbuttoning his Akatsuki jacket and tossing it to the ground.

"Soraya if I win this battle, I want Masaru as my personal student", Soraya looked up at Itachi finally realizing the gravity of the situation. Soraya didn't really like having Masaru's fate in the balance, but if it made Itachi fight for something then maybe it was worth it.

"Only if Konan comes out alive", she replied softly with her hands on the paper bars.

"Zabuza Momochi", stated Konan getting in a defensive stance. Itachi seemed to be readying himself as well.

"Let's get bloody", Zabuza took his sword from his back prepping for battle. The rain came down even heavier as if nature knew of the upcoming battle.

AN: My first cliffhanger. Wohoo! See you in Chapter 7 Thanks for reading! Still looking for a beta that will help me develop my writing and please review.