People talking, "Hello everyone."
People thinking, 'Yay I already finished writing chapter 14!'
Demon/beast/other talking, "I will eat you."
Demon/beast/other thinking, 'This was by far the most difficult chapter to write thus far.'
Jutsu/Unknown names, "Suiton: Mizudeppō no Jutsu."
'Document'
Italics can be used for certain kinds of emphasis or snide comments.
Bold can be used for forceful yelling/shouting/screaming.
Chapter Eight: Pink Smoke
Kai and Yugito after Naruto leaves
Yugito sighed deeply, shaking her stinging hand to try and make the pain go away. Kai watched from the other side of the cave, a bored expression on his face as he watched Yugito try to learn how to use her Bijuu's hell fire without burning herself.
He'd started counting the times she failed out of utter boredom, '56th… hmm, I wonder what the answer to the Riemann hypothesis is… oh, 57th.' Kai mused, "I've wondered about that myself actually," came Isobu's lazy reply. "I've got it down to the Riemann zeta function, a function useful in number theory for investigating properties of prime numbers. Written as ζ(x), it was originally defined as the infinite series ζ(x) = 1 + 2−x + 3−x + 4−x, etc. When x = 1, this series is called the harmonic series, which increases without bound—i.e., its sum is infinite." Isobu stated, getting a nod from Kai, 'Wouldn't you need to change the form x + iy, where i = Square root of√−1—except for the line x = 1?' Kai asked, totally ignorant of the world around him.
"Damn it!" Yugito cursed loudly as she inspected the third-degree burns covering her hand, watching as they quickly healed over.
"61," Kai said, earning himself a glare from Yugito, "Stop counting! It's annoying." Yugito yelled at him, but he was already ignoring her again. She sighed, leaning back on the soft vine covered wall of the cave. Naruto had once again prepared them a place to stay before leaving, 'Got to say, Naruto looks out for his friends.' Yugito mused, rubbing the glass sphere in her pocket.
Naruto had left almost an hour ago, and she was bored. Tired of burning her hand with Matatabi's hellfire as she learned to control it. Yugito decided to take a nap, beginning to curl up in a way very reminiscent of a cat.
"Yugito, Isobu has detected a strange chakra signature below us." Kai suddenly said, making her sit up and abandon her nap for something hopefully interesting.
"He says the signature is very young for a human and the type of it is one that is entirely new to him, he believes we should go investigate," Kai said, standing to his feet and walking out of the cave. Yugito just looked at him with a dumbfounded expression.
"Uhhh, Naruto?" She questioned, but Kai simply kept walking before he disappeared around the edge of the cave's entrance. "Oh for cat's sake…" She muttered then froze, "I did not just say that…"
Yugito shook her head, getting to her feet she ran out of the cave. Spotting Kai walking by the rocky wall their cave was in, he seemed to be staring at the surface carefully. Yugito sped up until she stopped beside him, walking with him.
"What are you doing Kai?" Yugito demanded, confused.
"Locating the entrance," Was Kai's reply as he continued to walk the edge of the rocky tilted wall.
"Entrance?"
"Yes, Isobu believes there is a cave below us. The only logical place for a cave entrance would be around this up cropping of rock." Kai said as if that explained everything.
Yugito just shook her head and sighed, following after the brown-haired preteen. "Ahh, here we are," Kai said a couple of moments later. Yugito followed his eyesight and found what looked definitely like the entrance to a cave but was blocked up with many large boulders and rocks. Though there was a small gap at the top.
"Hmm, it would be rude to break down someone's hard work to block this up, but I suppose it doesn't matter in the face of satisfying my curiosity. Besides... these rock's don't look like they have been disturbed in several years, whoever is below may be trapped." Kai stated to himself, getting a look of exasperation from Yugito. Nodding to himself Kai began going through hand seals.
"Suiton: Suishouha!" The next moment a concentrated high powered water stream fired out of Kai's mouth, impacting the smaller rocks stacked at the top and pushing them farther inside the cave. Making the gap at the top wide enough for them to fit through.
Kai began walking up the rocks before slipping inside, "We aren't going to think about this at all?" Yugito called after him, "I have thought about it!" Was Kai's slightly echoey reply.
Yugito sighed once more before leaping up the rocks and following Kai into the darkness beyond. "I can't see anything in here!" Yugito cried, trying to make out anything beyond the insufficient afternoon light streaming in.
"Try making your tenant's fire, just with a lot less power," Kai's voice directly beside her made her jump. Calming down she did so, and a couple of moments later her hand lit up in blue flames, not burning her as she didn't try to put as much power into it. The blue flames cast a bright blue glow around the cave, lighting it up.
Yugito saw Kai nod before strolling farther into the cave, Yugito following behind with her hand raised into the air. They walked for several minutes down the empty cave, passing stalagmites that shot up from the floor.
"Uhhhhg, how deep is this thing?" Yugito bemoaned, her right arm hurting from holding it up for so long.
"Isobu sensed the chakra source almost a mile below ground. Now quiet, we are getting close." Kai's voice came out of the shadows ahead of her, she nodded and sped up, bringing Kai back into the circle of blue light.
Sometime later they left the tunnel, entering into a big dark space that her flames could not light up. "Extinguish your flames Yugito," Kai ordered, she didn't really want to listen to him but did so anyway.
As soon as their eyes adjusted to the dark, they could both see a faint yellow light ahead of them in the dark, obscured somewhat by a rock. Kai tapped her arm, and they both began walking carefully across the spiky, rock-covered floor. Being as silent as they could, not wanting to alert a possible enemy to their presence.
"Whoever you are... go away!" Yugito was startled as she heard a young female voice break the silence of the cave, she looked around but was unable to see anyone.
"We mean you no harm, we only wish to help," Kai spoke confidently, continuing to walk toward the now visible fire pit, a ring of light surrounding it. Yugito barely saw him moving forward in the darkness and trailed after him.
"You're with the snake man aren't you? Go AWAY!" Came a distressed and scared, but also angry yell from the darkness. Yugito was somewhat unsettled by the emotion in their voice, she stepped into the ring of firelight and tried to see out into the blackness.
"I don't know of any snake man... but my name is Yugito Nii. My friend sensed you down here, and we came to offer our help, thinking that perhaps you were trapped." Yugito explained, her eyes darting around as she searched the massive dark cavern.
"She's moving around us at a rapid pace, Isobu is having a hard time keeping track of her," Kai muttered to her, and she nodded in return.
"I am trapped here…" Came the uncertain, distinctly female voice from the darkness, Yugito suspected she was around 5 years old. A couple of seconds later a girl moved into the firelight ring. She had freckles under her blue eyes, and long wavy brown hair trailed down her shoulders and back. She was rather short but fair-skinned, wearing a beige, raggy sleeveless kimono and pink sandals.
"Who are you, how did you get here?" The girl demanded, naturally suspicious. Standing right at the edge of the shadows both demon containers could tell she would disappear in the dark if they made any sudden moves.
"We came in through the cave entrance that was blocked up by boulders, you can leave now if you want, the way is cleared," Kai explained, eyeing the girl carefully, he watched her face become suddenly terrified.
"No, No! I can never leave the cave! If I do, I'll blow away and die!" She exclaimed frightfully, Yugito tilted her head to the side, confused.
"The wind isn't that strong, is it? It's not going to pick you up and blow you away you know." Yugito frowned, trying to understand the brown-haired girl.
"No, you don't understand, I can't control myself." She seemed to stiffen slightly, "My powers aren't stable, I keep bursting into smoke randomly… everyone did it too before…" She trailed off, pain and sadness evident in her blue eyes.
"Smoke?" Kai questioned, 'does she have an unstable version of Naruto's bloodline?' Kai wondered, "No, Kaminoki-sama never gifted it to anyone other than his son, that's not a logical or feasible answer. Odds are she has a similar bloodline." Isobu interjected, revealing that he had been listening to the conversation with the mysterious girl.
"Yeah... my clan can turn into smoke at will, but we can't always control it, and if there's wind then we'll blow away and die." The girl revealed, her tone calmer, Kai nodded in understanding.
"That's terrible!" Yugito cried, the mystery starting to become clear.
The girl shrugged, obviously trying to bottle her emotions up. "My name is Yukimi, I am the heiress and last living member of the Iburi Clan," Yukimi stated emotionlessly, staring at the two intruders in her home.
Kai's eyes glazed over for a moment before refocusing, "The Iburi clan... Possessing a unique unnamed Kekkei Genkai that allowed them to form into smoke. The Kekkei Genkai is unstable though, often making the users transform into smoke at random, while smoke the user is extremely vulnerable to being blown away and dying." Kai said in a monotone, sounding like he was reading from a dictionary. "The clan disappeared not long after it's inception around 100 years ago, they were rumored to have found a cave and moved all their belongings underground where they were not at risk of dying to the wind." Kai finished, getting a surprised look from Yukimi while Yugito just sighed exasperatedly at Kai's need to express his knowledge about everything.
"That is all true, how did you know all of that?" Kai's just to tapped the side of his head, making Yugito facepalm and Yukimi to tilt her head in confusion.
"Never mind… what happened to your clan Yukimi?" Yugito asked, turning to the freckled girl who looked somewhat less nervous now.
Her freckled face fell at the question, and she looked on the edge of tears, Yugito frowned at her expression. "My clan was killed by a white snake man named Orochimaru, he said he could fix our issues with this seal." She slid her left shoulder sleeve down, and the demon duo could see a 3 tomoe seal on her shoulder. "But it didn't really fix it, it just made it where he could control us. I only survived because I wasn't currently in the cave at the time. W-when I came back, everyone was... d-dead." Yukimi broke down into tears, Yugito scooted closer and tentatively wrapped her arm around the sobbing girl.
When she didn't react negatively, Yugito pulled her closer and held her as she cried, knowing that she needed to get this out. Yugito didn't really know the crying girl, but she and Kai were probably the first friendly faces she had seen since the massacre of her clan, and she could relate to the girl's pain.
"Shhh, shhh. It's okay, it's okay." Yugito reassured the girl, Yukimi pulled Yugito closer, crying into her shirt. She smiled sadly at the girl, understanding her pain and rubbing her back comfortingly.
"It's okay Yukimi, everything is going to be okay now." She gave the girl a hug before moving back a bit. Yukimi rubbed her eyes before looking at her, "You aren't going to leave me are you?" Yukimi asked, the insecurity and fear in her voice clear, she just wanted friends. She had been alone for several months now.
"No, cause you are gonna come with us!" Yugito happily exclaimed. Kai stood off to the side, patiently watching the interaction between the two girls. He didn't know much about Yugito's history as she rarely talked about it, but he had gathered from her and Naruto that she'd had a rough life in Kumo, 'It will do them both good to be with another, they will support each other. Hmm, how to solve the issue with Yukimi-san leaving the cavern, she can't stay here after all.' Kai mused.
"But I can't leave the cave! If I go to the surface, I could die! Even though I really want too, it's too dangerous!" Yukimi started hyperventilating, holding on to Yugito tightly like she was afraid she would disappear.
"Don't worry Yukimi-chan, we will wor-" Yugito was cut off as Yukimi burst into a pink smoke cloud. Yugito stared in surprise and shock at the pink mist that now filled the space Yukimi had been sitting in.
A couple of moments later Yukimi slowly formed out of the smoke before it all disappeared, "See! I can't control it, I'll die!" Yukimi started crying again.
"I believe there is a solution to your problem Yukimi, though I will need to consult Naruto-san," Kai said, reminding the freckled girl that he was also there. She turned to him, wiping her tears. "What do you mean…?"
"Call me Kai. How long can you remain as smoke?" Kai inquired, getting a confused look from both Yukimi and Yugito.
"I've never had an issue staying as smoke for a long time, I don't usually stay as smoke though," Yukimi replied, her voice confused. Kai seemed to nod to himself once more.
"Yugito, you stay here with Yukimi. Tell her about Naruto-san and us, ask her if she truly wants to come with us. If she does, begin packing anything that she wishes to bring. I will return to the surface and bring Naruto down when he returns." Kai stated, getting a nod from Yugito. Yukimi just turned to Yugito in confusion.
As Kai turned and walked away into the darkness, Yugito began explaining, "Kai and I follow Naruto. He is an amazing boy who wishes to create a village for people who are disliked, hated, and despised. A place that they can come and live in peace, loved by each other. A family." Yugito began, smiling at Yukimi's hopeful and full eyes. 'Oh yeah, I thought she would be for that.'
Surface
Kai exited the gap in the rocks at the top of the cave, quickly running across the grassy forest floor before coming to the cave. Kai froze before turning the corner into the cave, hearing unfamiliar voices.
'Isobu, why didn't you warn me there were people here?' Kai asked his inner Bijū, only getting a snore in response. 'Of course, he goes to sleep at such an important time.' Kai bemoaned before focusing on the matter at hand.
Kai slowly peeked around the edge, seeing 4 people in the cave, 3 kids, and one adult. Upon closer investigation, he realized it was a Konoha Genin team and their sensei. 'Rats, they must have stumbled across the cave, or Naruto was detected, though that is illogical.' Kai thought.
Two of the Genin were sifting through things in the cave, carefully looking at the vines and flowers on the wall. One of the Genin, the only female stood quietly near her Jounin sensei.
One of the boys had messy black hair with shaved sides and dark-colored eyes. He wore a sleeveless brown shirt and brown shorts. The other boy had messy brown hair and purple eyes. He was wearing a dark blue shinobi garment, complete with a face mask, and a zipped teal vest over it. His forehead protector was adjusted over his left eye.
The girl next to her Jounin sensei had dark blue hair and pink eyes that Kai could just make out under her bangs. Her outfit consisted of a black dress with a cape, as well as gloves and a ribbon on her head.
The Jounin had brown hair and wore the Jounin uniform for Konoha, "Find anything Hoki?" The jounin called, "No Hagane-sensei, but these plants are weird, they are growing straight out of the rock!" One of the boys replied.
Kai watched as the girl whispered to her sensei, the man's eyes widening just barely. Kai's quick mind went through all possibilities and likely things she could have said, 'She told him I was here, must be a sensor.' Kai decided, backing away from the cave quickly and leaping up into the trees. 'Get back here Naruto, I can fight them, but the probability of my success is low.'
"Whoever you are! Come out now!" Kai recognized the voice of the Jounin, moving over a branch he peered out of the tree. The Jounin standing in front of his 3 genin. The two boys were looking around the trees for him, kunai drawn. The girl in the back simply had her hands at her sides as she stared directly at him.
"Yeah come out here!" One of the boys shouted, and Kai sighed. "This is so boring…" He said to himself, dropping out of the tree in front of them. Kai planned to hopefully stall them by talking, therefore gaining himself more time instead of them trying to find him and attacking. 'The fight would most likely last around 30 minutes, the Jounin is likely to allow his Genin to fight me once he sees how old I am... if they do attack. I can extend the time before I am inevitably beaten by a couple minutes if I talk to them.' Kai analyzed.
"State your name and purpose in these woods, this is Konoha territory." The jounin said, his eyes narrowed at Kai.
Kai sighed, "My name is Kai, I am here alone. Just traveling through, I saw this cool cave on my way by and was staying here for a while before continuing on." Kai explained, two of the genin's eyes narrowed at him, though the girl was entirely silent and emotionless, her eyes obscured by her dark blue bangs.
"Why are you traveling alone Kai-san?" The Jounin asked, his stance relaxing, though Kai knew he was still on guard.
"My parents were attacked and killed by bandits, I'm trying to reach my family in a nearby village…" Kai trailed off, faking tears in his eyes.
"That's horrible!" One of the boys, the one named Hoki cried. Kai just nodded, pretending to be holding in sobs.
"What village are you traveling to Kai-san? Perhaps we can take you there." The Jounin offered, 'Crap!'
"It's the… the... The Doki village? No… that's not what mother said." Kai was about to try to BS some more and subtly prepare to fight when he saw Naruto materialize from thin air behind the Jounin, placing a simple tanto against his neck that had appeared in his hand. Kai noticed the papoose immediately on Naruto's back, carrying someone or something, though it was obscured.
"Sensei!" The other genin boy shouted, his eyes wide as he stared at the boy who'd suddenly appeared, all three genin taking in his horns and strange appearance in shock.
"You are bothering my friend… Sleep." As he said the last word, the Jounin attempted to turn around, lean away from the tanto in Naruto's hand and simultaneously stab Naruto with a Kunai.
Though he never made it that far, the next moment all four Konoha shinobi felt a tremendous drain on their chakra, taking them down to just above zero. They collapsed to the ground with chakra exhaustion before passing out immediately. Naruto stared at them blankly for a few moments, 'No need to pointlessly kill children...'
"How long have you been watching?" Kai asked, an annoyed look on his face.
"Since you said you lost your parents, run out of BS?" Naruto chuckled, observing the collapsed Konoha shinobi. Kai just sighed in annoyance before moving on.
"What is that on your back?" Naruto looked up, "I'll explain later, where is Yugito?"
"Underground," Naruto's pale eyes widened in surprise, "What?"
"Isobu sensed a strange chakra underground, I was able to locate a cave entrance nearby." Kai started, "We went down and found one girl by herself living in a massive cavern, she is the last of the Iburi clan which due to their kekkei genkai hid underground because wind can kill them." Kai summarized, and Naruto's eyebrow rose.
"I'm guessing Yugito is with the girl?" When Kai nodded he gestured for Kai to lead the way, "I'll explain who's on my back once we meet the girl." Naruto explained at Kai's questioning look at the white bundle on his back.
Kai nodded and began running through the trees toward the cave entrance. They both entered through the recently made opening into the darkness beyond.
"Hmm…" Kai heard Naruto hum in the dark, the next second a bright light appeared to his right. When his eyes adjusted, he saw an orb of floating light above Naruto's head. Kai wasn't surprised by this, having seen Naruto's ability to create objects before.
It was several minutes later that they entered into the large cavern, they both saw the campfire and began walking toward it, though Naruto had seen the cavern and the houses hidden in the dark before they entered the cavern.
"Kai? Is that you?" Yugito's voice called out through the darkness.
"Hai, I have brought Naruto-sama with me," Kai responded, enjoying the slight growl of annoyance from Naruto.
As they came within sight, Yukimi screeched in fear before bursting into pink smoke, a moment later she reformed cowering behind Yugito's back. Naruto just sighed before extinguishing his ball of light and sitting down on the ground by the fire cross-legged, his white cloak splayed out around him.
"Yukimi-chan, it's okay. This is Naruto, nothing to be afraid of." Yugito tried to reassure the girl cowering behind her. "W-why does he have horns and no pupils!?" Yukimi squeaked as she made eye contact with Naruto over Yugito's shoulder.
"That is because of who my parents are," Naruto started, suddenly wondering how to explain to the girl why he looked the way he did. At Naruto's calm and soothing voice Yukimi nodded before meekly coming out from behind Yugito.
"Naruto-sama, Yukimi would like to come with us and eventually join the village you are going to build," Yugito said, at this Yukimi nodded in confirmation. Naruto totally ignored Yugito's teasing tone once more.
For the next few minutes Yugito, Yukimi, and Kai caught Naruto up to speed about Yukimi's unique situation. Explaining how someone named Orochimaru came and wiped out the clan, giving her a strange seal.
"Kai, you said you had a solution?" Naruto inquired.
"Hai, more like a possible solution, it wouldn't work long term. But it would work long enough for us to get to the lady you said knew sealing. I'm guessing that she will know a better way to handle it, as well as look at the seal on Yukimi's neck." Kai explained and got a nod from Naruto. Yukimi and Yugito sat quietly off to the side as the two conversed.
"Her name is Kazumi, continue."
"Hai. Now then, I suggest that you create a large glass spheroid, that's hollow inside. Until we reach Kazumi-san, Yukimi can travel inside the container in her smoke form. When we camp, you can create a larger glass dome and put her inside of it. This will prevent Yukimi from being blown away while we travel." Kai explained, getting wide eyes from Yukimi. Naruto seemed to think about the idea.
"I believe that would work, what are your thoughts Yukimi-san?" Naruto asked, his pale eyes turning to the freckled girl, scaring her a little bit with his strange appearance.
"I don't really want to travel in a ball, but I want to get out of this cave more, and this sounds like it'll work…" Yukimi said unsure, "Where are we going to get a glass ball from though?" At this Naruto held his hand out and Yukimi watched in fascination as glass began to form in it. Not long later Naruto held a perfect sphere of glass in his hand.
He dispelled the bowl upon seeing her nod, "Now that we have that sorted... allow me to introduce myself. My name is Naruto Ōtsutsuki-Kaminoki, there is much to know about me, though now is not th-" Naruto was cut off by a wail and the bundle on his back moving, shocking both Yukimi and Yugito.
As Naruto lifted the moving cloth bundle off his back, Yugito spoke, "What on earth Naruto? Is that a child?"
"Hai," The next moment Naruto unwrapped the white cloth, revealing a girl with pale eyes like his own and brown hair, the girl was crying but upon seeing him calmed down considerably. Naruto smiled at the brown haired girl before turning back to those present.
"This is Hyūga Hanabi, she was being kidnapped by Kumo from the Hyūga clan when I was in Konoha. I saved her from the man and decided to bring her with me." Yugito's eyes widened at this, "Shouldn't you return her to her parents?" She asked in shock and confusion.
Yugito was surprised and taken aback by the look Naruto gave her, "You do not know the cruelty of the Hyūga clan…" He scowled, the look on his face showing his extreme hatred for the clan.
The next moment Yugito felt the slightly familiar sensation of Naruto's mind connecting to hers and before she could ask why she felt a large influx of memories. She watched from an empyreal view as a Hyūga 'trained' a child mercilessly into the ground, striking the child repeatedly. She watched as a different Main branch member made a hand seal, and a crying Hyūga maid collapsed to the ground screaming in pain. Yugito's eyes widened in horror, and the next moment the memories stopped.
Naruto looked emotionlessly at Yugito as she seemed to be in deep thought, He had sensed that she was starting to become upset by the memories and therefore cut off his connection. Naruto didn't want to make Yugito feel bad as he knew she had a hard life of her own and didn't want to remind her of it. 'But she must understand why I brought Hanabi with me.'
"I understand Naruto, I would've done the same thing," Yugito said firmly, looking up and nodding at him. Naruto sighed in relief, he didn't want to get into a fight about it. 'Yes what I technically did was kidnap a child, but it's for their safety. I would be an even worse being if I brought the girl back…'
"What is her name Naruto-san?" Kai inquired, having remained silent through the entire ordeal he changed the subject. He hadn't cared why Naruto had brought the girl, sure that he had a good and logical reason for it. 'And based off of Yugito's reaction I would say that is true.'
"Hanabi… Hanabi Ōtsutsuki," Naruto's voice sounded decided; like he'd finally decided on something. Kai nodded, "You're adopting her." It wasn't a question.
"Can I hold her?" Yugito asked, getting a nod from Naruto. Yugito got to her feet and sat down next to Naruto, taking the young, wide-eyed Hanabi from her new adoptive father carefully. Yugito rubbed the girl's nose, making the adorable girl giggle.
"We need to return to Gaara and the others, our group is growing, and I need to make sure that everyone is safe," Naruto told Kai, getting a nod.
"Yukimi, are you ready to go?" Naruto's voice was kind, trying not to scare the last Iburi. "H-hai, Naruto-sama," She replied respectfully, fighting down her stammer. Though she was confused when Naruto brought his hands to his face and groaned.
Yugito giggled at his exasperation, she spoke in a whispered tone to Yukimi across the dancing fire. "He doesn't like being called sama, I just do it to bother him." She said with a hand to the side of her mouth, as if that somehow prevented Naruto from hearing her.
Naruto ignored her, "We leave first thing tomorrow then," Naruto stood to his feet, Yukimi once more took in the royal, commanding appearance and aura Naruto had. His high horns made him look intimidating, but she could also see the kindness and thoughtfulness in his eyes. 'He cares about his friends, and is strong enough to protect them as well.' Yukimi decided.
"Yugito, have you explained to Yukimi what you and Kai hold? As well as who I am?" Naruto asked sternly, getting a no from Yugito. She'd only explain a few necessary things and Naruto's goal.
"Do so then, and watch over Hanabi for a bit, I have something to deal with." With that, he burst into smoke before disappearing. Yukimi's eyes widened majorly, "He's an Iburi too?" She asked in bewilderment and some hope.
Kai shook his head, "No, his bloodline is very similar to your's in that aspect though. But it has it's differences, your bloodline shifts your body into actual smoke. His turns him into a form of chakra particles that look like smoke." Kai explained.
"What is he going to go do?" Yugito inquired, stroking Hanabi's long brown hair.
"I had some trouble on the surface, a Konoha Genin team found the cave, I distracted them, and Naruto-san knocked them out. They are all still on the surface and might wake up before morning." Kai explained, getting a nod from Yugito before she turned her attention back to Hanabi. Yukimi had scooted around the fire and was now drowning Hanabi in attention.
Kai sighed before looking off into the darkness, 'I wonder where Naruto will decide to build the village?' Kai mused as Yugito began to explain to Yukimi the concept of Bijū. Hanabi watching everyone with wide eyes, staring at the darkness surrounding them curiously.
Amegakure
Nakada stood calmly on one side of the training ring, Yahiko stood on the other, wearing his typical black cloak with red clouds. Nakada's clothes had changed as well, ow wearing a white t-shirt with the Uzumaki spiral on the back and black ANBU pants along with black shinobi sandals. On top of that, he wore an Akatsuki cloak as well, only in his size. Nakada at times would also wear a gas mask that was common to Amegakure, though he wasn't right now, having it sealed inside his cloak.
"Hajime!" Nagato called from the side, this was a battle to see how far Nakada had come, and Nagato could proudly say his cousin had grown in great leaps. There was still much to learn and around and a half years before Nakada would even consider returning to Konoha, but Nagato knew that once he did he would be phenomenally more powerful than anyone near his age.
Nagato observed as Nakada's 3 tomoe Sharingan flared into life as his cousin backflipped out of the way of Yahiko's water whip. Nagato remembered going with Nakada into his mind to meet and tame the Kyuubi.
Upon arriving the beast had called Nagato and Nakada fools for something. Nagato had not bothered to listen before slamming the massive fox to the ground with his chains. The Kyuubi had growled at him, and his cousin. Nagato didn't care if the Kyuubi wanted to work with his cousin or not, he made it very clear that the Kyuubi would work with his cousin.
After that Nakada had attacked his training with a new vengeance, want to become strong and avenge his friend against the Shiroi Oni pushing him on. Nagato could say with ease that he was proud of Nakada.
"He's improved, but he still needs work," Konan commented on his right, getting a nod from Nagato in response.
"I hope to get him strong enough to defend himself with ease and protect himself against those that may want him for what he contains," Nagato said, watching as Nakada fired off several powerful wind blades toward Yahiko.
"Hai."
With Naruto 2 days later
A white blur could be seen flittering through the branches of the trees if one were to look closely. A moment later a blue and brown blur's shot through the limbs, following the same path as the white.
Naruto landed and launched off another branch with efficiency. With Kai and Yugito going to their max as well as using the power of their Bijuu they had all been able to travel at an extremely high speed since this morning. Floating by Naruto's right shoulder was a small pink glass orb with swirling smoke in it, this was the form of Yukimi as she traveled with them so to not risk her dying.
Fastened to Naruto's back was his new adopted daughter Hanabi, who had her head and arms out of the cloth wrapped around her, her arms wrapped around Naruto's neck as she watched in front of them.
"Dad, where are we going?" Hanabi questioned with childish curiosity. Naruto had spent a lot of time with the girl when they set up camp last night. He had gotten to know his new daughter and had explained to her that he had adopted her. He had asked her about her life, and she had made it very clear that she didn't like her clan.
Flashback
"Hanabi-chan, what's your favorite color?" Naruto asked, holding the pale-eyed girl in his lap as he sat by the fire. Sitting on the other side was Kai whose eyes were glazed over, indicating he wasn't paying attention to the world around him. A ways off Yugito was inside the glass dome Naruto had made for Yukimi, talking to the freckled girl. Naruto couldn't hear them through the glass, but it looked like they were having a good time.
Hanabi took on a thinking look, "Pink!" She decided loudly, making Naruto smile, "Like Yukimi-chan!" Hanabi continued adorably, making Naruto holder her closer, glad she was apart of his life. He had spent a lot of time talking with his parents and getting their thoughts and advice on how to raise a child. Because in reality, while Naruto may project an aura of power and knowledge. He still had much to learn at the age of 7 almost 8, even if his real age was much higher than that.
While Naruto's age since forming as a physical entity was only 7ish, his mental age and maturity had rapidly expanded as he grew, by 4 he already had the mentality of a 10-year-old. By today, he was more around the mental age and maturity of at 20-year-old, according to his mother anyway. Naruto wasn't sure how much he believed that... perhaps his mind could operate at that level, but he didn't have that level of knowledge
Naruto could confess that he was very anxious and stressed over having taken this girl away from her family, afraid that even though the Hyūga were terrible people, he wouldn't be able to give the girl the better life she deserved.
"That's very nice Hanabi-chan, you should tell Yukimi that sometime," Naruto said warmly, while his mind was in turmoil over his decisions he had made since even leaving the sand. He knew that he had to stand by what he had done and make the best of it.
"Naruto-kun, ask her about her life in Konoha, with the Hyūga." Naruto heard his mother say, 'I will.'
"Hanabi-chan, what did you think of your life with the Hyūga?" Naruto asked, unable to keep the trepidation and anxiousness out of his voice, the stress killing him. 'If she says that she wants to go back I will turn around right now and take her back…' Naruto decided.
"Well, Tou-san is always so mean, and I never met Kaa-san, they all said she died," Hanabi said as she looked up at the sky full of stars and the bright full moon. Naruto had been happy to find that Hanabi was much smarter than most children her age, the Hyūga clan forcing her to grow up faster.
"Everyone is so mean, saying I have to always act like a proper Hyūga should. Tou-san is always mad at me for messing something up and then will train me until I can't even stand anymore." Hanabi's eyes began to water, Naruto immediately saw this and pulled her closer to him, stroking her hair.
"It's so painful, and he wouldn't stop." Hanabi cried, Naruto comforting her as best he could. "Don't worry Hanabi-chan, you aren't ever going back there, I promise."
"I get to stay here with you? And brownie? And kitty-chan, and pinky?" Hanabi asked excitedly, her words coming out in a rush. Naruto only smiled and nodded, getting a yell of excitement from the pale-eyed girl.
"Do you have to be so loud?" Kai asked, his eyes having refocused. Hanabi's only response was to stick her tongue out at Kai.
Naruto was very confused when Hanabi suddenly looked very fearful, looking at him in fear and cowering slightly. Naruto's confusion only rose as she spoke.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to be rude, I'll do better I promise." Hanabi said, her voice attempting to be emotionless. Naruto's eyes widened as he finally understood what was going on. His eyes flashed a bright red in anger at the Hyūga, 'They will pay for this, for the torture they put their children and the branch through.' Naruto swore, as much as it pained him to admit it he was related to the Hyūga main branch. Though he hated it, he'd decided then that eventually he'd free all the branch members and offer them a spot in his village.
"Hanabi-chan, I'm not like the Hyūga. It's okay for you to be you." Naruto said kindly, he got a wide-eyed expression from the girl who was now looking at him in surprise and happiness.
"Really? I don't have to be all polite and talk like everyone else?" She said hopefully.
"Yes, Hanabi-chan, you can be you. In fact, I'm ordering you not to do any more of that. Though you ought to still be nice to people, that's just good manners." Naruto said, and the next moment he was glopped by the girl as she jumped onto his chest and knocked him over, yelling thank you's in happiness.
Kai only chuckled as he watched the display from the other side of the fire, 'Hanabi is a very excitable girl, she will be quite a handful in the future.' Kai mused, watching in amusement as Naruto was unable to get up because Hanabi had taken a fascination with his horns and was now pulling and tugging on them.
Kai turned his attention from the newly made father to the glass dome a couple of feet off. Yukimi and Yugito still discussing something that he couldn't hear within the dome.
Kai's eyes glazed over once more as he connected to his inner Bijū his partner, and friend that he discussed everything with. 'Do you know anything about how to create a working, efficient village system?' Kai asked, "Not in detail as it's not a concept I would usually care about. But there obviously has to be some sort of hierarchy, a low-level joining level, and the leader/kage." Isobu replied lazily.
End Flashback
"Umm, dad?" Hanabi asked again, poking Naruto's left horn, drawing him out of his thoughts.
"My apologies Hanabi-chan, what were you saying?" Naruto asked, his Byakugan eyes focusing on Hanabi's face beside his head. "Where are we going?"
"To meet up with some others." Was Naruto's simple reply, realizing he wasn't sure what to call the group of people and Bijuu that were following him. "Uhggg, where?" Hanabi groaned in his ear.
Naruto chuckled, finding her impatience to be amusing, "The Land of Grass." He replied, enjoying messing with his newly adopted daughter.
"How much loooonger?" She asked dramatically, Naruto could feel and see her flop down on his shoulder. Naruto smiled before returning his vision in front of him. "We will get there when we get there," He replied teasingly, getting another groan from Hanabi.
'Naruto-san, do you really think I will ever be able to be free on the surface?' Yukimi's voice came through the mental connection he had created with her since when she was smoke, she couldn't talk. So Naruto had opened a long-term mental link with her.
'Yes, Kazumi-san is very well versed in the arts of sealing, we will figure out how to remove that mark that is hurting you and a way to fix your bloodline.' Naruto replied, getting a mental nod and thanks from Yukimi.
1 week ago with Gaara
Gaara was bored, Naruto had left some time ago and even though he had been training Rei, and that had been entertaining… he was still bored. On the positive side of things he had been training hard with Kazumi and was getting much stronger.
He had learned a more extensive variety of Wind Jutsu from Kazumi that she knew; also he'd gotten faster and stronger as well, Kazumi having put him through physical training, which he was doing now.
Gaara was silent and his face emotionless as he continued his push-ups, Kazumi had made him do them for hours until he could do over a hundred easily. After that, she'd come up with a somewhat torturous way to continue his strength training. As he got a handle on his other exercises, he was to add more sand to his now nearly perfected sand armor, making it heavier and thus harder to do the exercises.
Gaara currently had a large block of sand on his back as he pushed himself off the ground once more, his arms and shoulders shaking slightly. Taijutsu was by far his worst branch of the shinobi arts, and Kazumi had quickly picked up on it in one of their spars. Despite Kazumi's age, she was still very powerful and gave him a hard time if he didn't go all out on her, her seals were impressive and very hard to deal.
Gaara shifted all the sand off him and got to his feet as Kokuō appeared in a blur of white in the clearing. He saw that the Bijū was clearly requesting with its eyes for him to make eye contact with it, and he did so.
"Sand Ningen, 3 humans of your village are approaching this direction, they are on a straight course to arrive here shortly." Kokuō's silky voice said within Gaara's mind, he nodded.
'Thank you Kokuō, I will deal with them and inform Kazumi-san and Rei. I suggest you hide in the trees, if they are too much for me then you are to protect Kazumi and Rei.' Gaara ordered sternly, getting a nod from the large horse like Bijuu, who disappeared in a blur of white the next moment.
"Look's like Rasa-baka isn't letting you go as easily as we hoped. Now that I'm looking, I sense a jounin level chakra as well as two other smaller pools, they are too far away for me to identify." Shukaku spoke in Gaara's mind as he quickly walked toward the plant dome that opened up as he reached it.
"Kazumi-san, three shinobi from my village are approaching this location, I will deal with them. I suggest you stay inside. If I am defeated you are to escape, Kokuō-san will guard you." Gaara's monotone voice alerted Kazumi and her granddaughter to Gaara's presence in the dome.
"Who's coming Gaara-sensei?" Rei asked curiously, only getting a shrug from the sand wielder.
"Understood Gaara." Kazumi's older voice came calmly, giving her a nod the redhead walked back out of the dome that looked more lived in over the weeks.
Gaara began walking calmly in the direction Shukaku said the ninja were coming from, intending to face the shinobi as far away from their abode as possible, 'I do not wish to risk Kazumi-sensei's and Rei's safety.' Gaara thought.
The 1 tail container walked through the shade the tall trees provided, a couple of minutes later he stopped, his cold green eyes peering up into the darkness beneath the tree's leaves. The next second a kunai flew out of the shade toward Gaara, it was easily batted away by his sand, the redhead didn't flinch. 'An explosive tag.' The boy mused as sand rose off the ground and surrounded him in a small oval like dome, right as the kunai exploded.
Gaara was stoic as the sand dropped to the ground around him, he stared blankly at the shinobi who had appeared in front of him.
"Baki," He stared at the man who used to be his sensei. Baki flinched at Gaara's emotionless gaze, readying another kunai in one hand. Baki was about to speak when the redhead cut him off.
"Rasa sent you didn't he?" Gaara asked, not deeming the man worthy of the title 'father.' Baki nodded slowly, hesitantly.
"You can tell him that I am not returning to Suna. I will not kill you, as you did teach nii-san and me. But only if you leave now." His voice was dangerous, sand rising up around him, some of it falling slowly from his long since opened gourd.
"I'm afraid I can't do that, my orders are clear. Take you back at all costs." Baki said, his hands starting to go through seals. Gaara only stared at him, never moving as Baki shouted his attack.
"Fūton: Shinkūha!"
Gaara was clearly not amused as his sand fell to the ground once more, having blocked the blades of wind from reaching him.
"You know that you can't beat me with that." The red head's voice was not prideful or arrogant, it was him stating a fact. Gaara kept his face emotionless with great effort as Baki shouted.
"Temari, Kankuro, get down here!" Nothing happened for a couple moments, but Temari and Kankuro did eventually appear out of the trees and on the ground by Baki.
"Temari… Kankuro…" Gaara murmured, time seemed to slow down as the redhead, his brother, and sister exchanged looks, two of them filled with fear.
"You will return with us to Suna," Baki ordered, his voice stern and demanding. Inwardly he was not so confident, the boy's lack of reaction to his siblings was unsettling, 'Does he not care about them now? This isn't good, they were my ace.'
"My siblings, are you ready now?" Gaara asked, ignoring the jounin entirely. Baki was horrified as he saw both Kankuro and Temari lose their frightened look, instead nodding firmly to their red-headed sibling.
Gaara actually smiled, gesturing for them to come. The next second they did, leaping across the tiny clearing and landing to his left and right.
"Temari, Kankuro! What is the meaning of this?!" Baki roared in anger at the two siblings.
Temari smiled, "Naruto offered us a place in his village, we weren't planning to join him for some time, but we changed our mind when Rasa ordered us to bring back Gaara." Temari explained, getting a mixed look of shock and anger from Baki.
"The night before we left the village on this mission, we packed everything we wanted to bring in scrolls, there is nothing in the village to return to," Kankuro said, pulling out and flipping a scroll through the air before catching it.
"You are going to betray the village of your family?!" Baki yelled at them in anger. The blond and brown haired boy only nodded, Kankuro's fingers twitched, and Temari's hand moved to the fan on her back.
"Die." The next moment sand erupted across the ground, rushing toward Baki in an endeavor to crush him. Baki dodged out of the way of the sand, only to be nailed with a large gust of wind.
"Fūton: Reppushou!" Temari yelled as she swung her fan, the wind flying out and nailing the unsuspecting and unprepared Jounin.
Baki flew through the air for a few feet before regaining his balance and landing on his feet, the wind while strong was not that powerful and not enough to really hurt him. Baki's eyes widened as a wave of sand loomed above him, making him change places with a log to save his life.
The next moment Baki had to immediately dodge and roll across the ground to avoid the sharp arm blade of Kankuro's rattling puppet.
"Sand Shuriken!" Gaara's somewhat maniac voice echoed through the trees before dozens of shuriken made of sand flew through the air toward Baki.
'I can't win here, I need to retreat back to the Kazekage, regardless of whether he will kill me for my failure.' Baki thought as he blocked and sliced apart several shurikens with his wind blade.
The next moment Baki disappeared in a shunshin of sand, his presence gone. Gaara's eyes narrowed where Baki had disappeared.
"Kokuō... do not let him escape." Gaara suddenly said, confusing his siblings greatly before they heard a loud, frightening roar behind them. The next instant their hair and clothes flapped from the sudden gust of wind as something flew by them.
Kankuro's and Temari's eyes widened as trees were uprooted from the sudden freak wind as it vanished in front of them through the forest.
"Gaara! What the hell was that!?" Kankuro shouted as trees fell over and toppled to the ground.
"Gobi," Gaara replied, turning and walking away, "Come." Temari and Kankuro looked at their sibling in confusion before following him through the trees. Gaara's sand flowed past their legs as they walked, raising up and rushing back into Gaara's gourd, a cork of sand appearing and closing up the gourd after it was all gone.
"Where are we going Gaara-nii?" Temari asked curiously, still confused as to what that freak wind was, 'He said the Gobi…'
"To where the others are staying," Gaara replied over his shoulder.
"Others? Naruto?" Kankuro asked, but Gaara shook his head.
"No, Naruto is out looking for the other Bijū containers," Gaara said, pausing for a moment. "Much has happened since we left Suna, I will introduce you once we arrive,"
"Gaara, you said the Gobi. Like the Bijū?" Temari asked, it finally clicking for her.
"Hai, that was the 5 tailed demon horse."
Temari's and Kankuro's eyes widened in amazement. The next moment they stepped through the trees and into a large clearing. The two Kazekage siblings immediately saw the camp that had been erected over time. The large dome made of vines, trees, and flowers. There was also a large campfire, and an assortment of items covered the space. Showing that people had definitely lived here for a while.
"Where is everyone else?" Temari asked, still eying the strange dome of plants, 'Naruto must have made it.'
"Inside," Gaara said, he quickly walked across the clearing toward the dome, his siblings trailing after him.
"It is safe to come out now Kazumi-san, Rei," Gaara called out, a moment later the vines moved out of the way, revealing an old grey haired woman in a simple blue dress. Next to her was a small girl, in similar clothing, her hair light blue.
Temari and Kankuro immediately noticed the girls and old woman's eyes, their distinct lack of pupils and irises. It looked very similar to Naruto's eyes but wholly white and blank.
"Who are these younglings Gaara?" The older lady who they assumed was Kazumi asked kindly.
"This is Temari, and this is Kankuro. They are my siblings." Gaara replied simply, gesturing to each of them respectively.
"Oh hello you two, Gaara has told me about you. My name is Shoiha Kazumi, and this is my granddaughter Rei." Kazumi said with a smile.
"Hello! Welcome to the family!" Rei said happily, waving at them.
"Come on inside you two and get settled, we are all waiting for Naruto-san's return," Kazumi said, backing up out of the entrance way and gesturing inside.
Kankuro and Temari said their thanks and were about to step inside when there was a massive gust of wind. All 3 of the Kazekage siblings turned and saw a large white horse like creature, 5 tails moved through the air behind it. Kankuro and Temari were astonished and shocked to see blood dripping down the creatures horns.
"Thank you, Kokuō," Gaara said, giving a small bow to the white beast that towered over them. The Gobi hadn't returned to his full height on purpose, but he had regained all his power and was beginning to refill his reserves for Naruto.
The giant horse-like creature nodded before 'trotting' off.
"What was that Gaara?" Temari asked in confusion, though she suspected what had happened.
"Baki is dead," Gaara replied emotionlessly as he turned away from the horse back to them.
"There was someone else with you children?" Kazumi inquired, getting a nod from all three of them.
"Yes, our sensei, Baki," Kankuro replied, though he was confused by the look he received.
"Did he send reports back to Suna?" Kazumi asked sternly, Gaara's eyes widened moments before his siblings did.
"It will take Suna shinobi some time to reach here at the earliest, considering that the Kazekage won't send out shinobi until the next time he is supposed to receive a report." Gaara analyzed, getting a nod from the old seal master.
"Yes, but this location is compromised, we will need to move as soon as Naruto returns," Kazumi said, gaining a nod from Gaara.
"Hopefully he returns soon, now come inside you two," Kazumi said, and Kankuro and Temari obeyed, walking into the plant dome.
Present
Kazumi sighed in satisfaction, having finally finished Naruto's seal. She looked up and took in her surroundings after having ignored them for some time. Rei sat next to her, scribbling some primary seals on paper as she tried to get better at making them.
Off in the clearing Temari and Kankuro were both attempting to fight their brother together, and it was going quite poorly for them. Gaara had set his gourd of too the side and was fighting without his sand entirely, not even wearing his sand armor.
She watched as two forces of wind collided with each other, both Temari and Gaara pouring chakra into their attacks. Gaara's actually overpowered Temari's wind and flew toward her, though she was pulled out of danger by Kankuro's puppet. The next moment Gaara engaging Kankuro in a taijutsu fight, something Kankuro was terrible at.
Kazumi turned to her sealing supplies and began to seal them away. Today would hopefully be the last day they would spend here, as Kokuō had reported detecting Naruto approaching earlier this morning.
They had all hurried to pack up and seal everything and were now waiting for Naruto's arrival.
"Grandma, do you think Naruto is in trouble? It's taking him a long time to get here." Rei said, her voice etched with worry and drawing her grandma's attention to her.
"I doubt it Rei-chan," Kazumi replied, but internally she was wondering the very same thing.
It was at that time that Kazumi saw a figure cloaked in white burst out of the branches of the trees on the other side of the clearing. The next instant they landed on the ground and Kazumi could clearly tell it was Naruto. Though much had changed about him, he looked somewhat taller and older, his horns changed as well.
"Grandma! He has someone on his back!" Rei cried, shooting to her feet and running across the clearing toward Naruto. Kazumi chuckled at her granddaughter before getting to her feet and walking forward, seeing two more people appear behind Naruto.
"Naruto!" Rei cried before leaping up at Naruto, Naruto grabbed her out of the air and gave her a hug.
"Hello Rei-chan, good to see you!" Naruto said with a smile, though the next moment Rei punched him in the chest.
"What took you so long!" She yelled at him.
"Oh lots of things, my apologies," Naruto said, looking up and seeing everyone walking toward him. He was surprised to see Temari and Kankuro there as well, but he nodded in greeting to them.
"Seems like some things happened here as well while I was gone," Naruto commented, getting a nod from Gaara.
"Naruto-san, who's that?" Rei asked, pointing at the small brown haired girl on Naruto's back that was holding onto his horns and looking at everyone curiously with wide pale eyes.
Naruto reached up and picked the girl off his back, setting her down on the ground.
"This is Hanabi," Naruto said, and Hanabi gave a shy and hesitant wave to all these new people.
"Hello Hanabi, my name is Kazumi," Kazumi said warmly, though she wondered why such a young child was with Naruto.
"Allow me to introduce everyone," Naruto started. "This is Kai, holder of the Sanbi, and this is Yugito, holder of the Nibi," Naruto said, gesturing to each of them.
Naruto then lifted his hand and grabbed hold of a floating pink ball by his shoulder that none of them had yet noticed. "And this is Yukimi-chan," Naruto said, confusing several people there.
"But that's a bal-" Rei was cut off as the glass ball expanded into a large glass dome as Naruto put it down on the ground. The pink smoke swirling inside condensed together to form a freckled girl who waved at them with a smile.
"Whoa!" Rei said, "She can turn into smoke!"
"Yeah!" Hanabi said in reply, the way she said it made it sound like 'of course she can, duh.'
Naruto nodded with a smile before turning to Gaara, "I believe there is much we need to catch up on."
END CHAPTER - 10,045 words
LEAVE A REVIEW, THE MORE THERE ARE THE FASTER THE CHAPTERS COME (Yes, seriously. Every new review inspires me to write more and faster.)
I don't really have much to day about this chapter. I'm not sure how many chapters there are that have Yukimi in them and I think she's a pretty forgotten about character. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and stick around for future ones.
Also, the group is growing really fast!
It now includes:
Naruto
Gaara
Kokuō/Gobi
Kazumi
Rei
Hanabi
Yukimi
Yugito
Kai
Answer to reviews since the last chapter:
Antex-The Legendary Zoroark: I only post these as fast as I write the chapter 6 chapters ahead of it. So I finished chapter 14, reread and grammar fixed 8, and here we are. I hope you enjoyed Hanabi's parts in this chapter, it wasn't entirely focused around her. But she will have more 'screen time' so to speak later on. In fact, I make sure to try to include everyone and not have too much background characters.
Eien no henko: Glad you are loving the story :D In response to Naruto shapeshifting, he can but it will be a while before he learns that he can. You have to keep in mind that he hasn't had much time to train and master his abilities. As to blocking off chakra being stolen… meh. Probably not, unless I see a logical understandable way.
Ezeakel: I take pleasure in writing them, but more in reading yall's reviews
ShinigamisStalker: He's almost 8 years old now as explained in this chapter. Which conveniently I had already written in long before I posted it (I didn't start posting until I'd written 10 chapters, which is around 100k words.) Yes, he's 'survived' 3 kages though he didn't directly fight them all. As too his family background, you are missing the point that his father is the freaking God Tree, who controls the entire earth basically.
Hardpointz: Write more reviews and I write faster.
Levin Kluge: Thank you!
Nick Fini: Thank you as well :D
AnimeMan4235: Will continue my friend. I put a lot of effort and time into making this story mesh together correctly, that there be reasons and backstory and explanation to how things happened. Not that they just did because the author wants them. One of the biggest non explained things thus far is Nakada's family background, but I have that chapter already written out.
Edenz Lelinger: I PM'd you but I'll answer you here as well. I apologize for the small writing errors, I will probably go back over time and fix them. As too the style of switching from the different characters point of views, just wait... It gets much much better. I improve the style tremendously later on. How long will this story go for? I'd love to hit 1mil words. I have massive plans for the story, I hope to do something that has never been done in any story that I've ever read. I don't plan to abandon it either, of course, things happen but I believe I will accomplish my goals on this. Thank you!