Chapter XIV: Endless Noise

The morning light was not merciful with me. Or the light itself was, but not the pinkie who let it come into the room definitely wasn't. I couldn't catch the words coming out her mouth, as I curled up in the futon and blanket trying to put out the light with my pillow. It didn't work.

"Good morning, Kaya-chan!" Sakura's merry voice erupted in my ears and I flinched further in the futon. "Tsunami-san almost finished breakfast."

I grunted and willed myself to abandon my pillow, while trying to get into a sitting position in the middle of the futon. It was so fucking bright. Another cloudless day, I guessed. I vaguely smelled food and caught sight of Sakura's silhouette, hands resting on her hips, staring at me. If it wasn't so fucking painful this would be a good angle for a photo. If I had a camera or my phone. Funny fact: we had cameras in this world. I just didn't own one. The lack of convenience of having a phone and snapping photos whenever I felt like it and however many I wanted was something that I had to come to terms since childhood. Also, no social media. No internet. Nada. Maybe that's why I never developed hobbies in this life.

"Sakura… the light…" I said weakly, berating my eyes from the painful light.

"Ah, right. Sorry." she rapidly pushed the curtains back to cover the windows. "Better?"

"Mhm." I said trying to wash out the blurriness out of my eyes. "I'll be there in ten minutes." Cue to get the fuck out and leave me alone to properly wake up.

"Ok, don't rush, the others aren't up yet."

Then why the fuck were we?

She didn't catch my reaction because she was out of the door in seconds. I finally got up and stretched, yawning again, ready to go to the bathroom. The past four days at Tazuna's house were uneventful. And I was glad for that. It gave me more time to heal my shoulder and I was nearly able to shoot properly. It was invigorating to hold the bow steadily again and feel the vibrations through the entire arm without screaming in pain when the arrow left the string

However, it was still painful and I still bled through my bandages when I strained it too much. Molding chakra and channeling it through the arrows wasn't easy either, but I was getting better and better each day. Little by little. My only impediments now were time and patience. And chakra stamina. I had great stamina, but I was using it recklessly. I have to learn how to use it smartly not abusively… Not that I wasn't telling myself that at least ten times per day.

I spent little to almost no time with the others. We all ate breakfast in the morning together, but immediately after I went for a run in the woods - because I was as fit as Sakura at this point - while the duck, the blonde and Kakashi went tree climbing and Sakura went to the bridge with Tazuna. I tried getting Sakura to run with me, but apparently it wasn't really her thing and someone had to keep an eye on Tazuna. At lunch I would come to the bridge and eat with Sakura - because I knew she got lonely - and then I would leave for my mystery-chakra molding-experimentation session. We all met for dinner at Tazuna's, almost too tired to carry out even a casual conversation. Everything fell rather fast into a comfortable routine.

I finished brushing my teeth and looked in the mirror with the eye drops bottle in my hand. Ever since my hand slipped and I put too many drops into my eyes, I looked like a constipated squirrel that had rabies. Well, actually today it looked a lot better. Because applying more eye drops than recommended actually had repercussions. Well, not exactly repercussions. No, just neovascularization of the cornea. Instead of having nice clear eyes, the white of the eye was irritated, like I haven't been been sleeping for a week or so, while reading in the dim light and drinking coffee instead of water for about 3 weeks. It didn't scare me too much. Bullshit. Yeah, ok, maybe I've spent two hours in the bathroom staring at the mirror, but Tsunami and Sakura's fidgeting was even worse. And Naruto, let's not forget the blondie.

When I got to the kitchen I noticed the other two idiots weren't present. The smell though, crippled my mind. Food, food, food, food. No one noticed me so when I sat down with my plate full of breakfast, Sakura sent me a startled look.

"Kaya-chan!" she said surprised. "I didn't hear you."

"Good morning, Tsunami-san. Good morning Kakashi-sensei." I said cheerfully and then turned my attention to the food as the older woman smiled from the sink. I didn't hear her or Inari return last night.

"Good morning!" Tazuna returned the salute equally cheerful.

"You are in a good mood today." Kakashi observed carefully. I couldn't blame him. The last few days were hell for me and I hadn't refrained from making everyone around me aware of this.

"Where are the blonde and the duck?" I asked gulping the food down.

"Naruto hasn't returned last night – "

"Really?"

" – and Sasuke-kun has just left for a walk." Sakura finished.

"Oh you mean, 'has just left for a walk to look for him'?"

"Someone so young to be outside for an entire night…" Tsunami agreed ignoring the sarcasm. I waved her off.

"I used to spend the nights in and around the Uchiha compound, hidden in the trees and long grass. No one could find me. And I was six." I said as Sakura turned to me with a surprised expression as if trying to determine whether I was being joking.

"I think we should find the two, when you're done eating." Kakashi said with his arms crossed.

"Huh? Why? Do you think Naruto is dead from chakra exhaustion?" I asked and I saw Inari flinch. Ha. He told us that we were going to die if we fought Gatō, but was startled at the actual thought? That child has problems with the concept of death. But who could blame him?

"No, I want to see their progress." Kakashi said not explaining why he wanted me and Sakura there as well. I nodded understanding that he didn't want me to question further. If Kakashi had a bad feeling and wanted to settle it, who was I to complain? No running today.

"Done." I said putting the plate aside. "The food was delicious, Tsunami-san."

"Done already?!" Sakura exclaimed while she was still eating at a slow pace. Her eyes traveled along the table to another now empty plate. Oh.

"Hurry up, Sakura. What if Sasuke-kun is the one dead from chakra exhaustion?"

"Sasuke-kun is not that weak! And I'm not going to eat faster just because you want me to! It's not healthy."

"Ha. Where's Sasuke when I need him?" if it would have been him telling her to hurry up she would have abandoned her food already, but I did not added that seeing as Sakura was about to lash out and strangle me if I said one more word.

When the pinkie finally finished her breakfast, we made our way to where the two idiots should have been. Instead we found no one. Well, well.

"Naruto!" Sakura's voice was annoyingly sharp. "What is Naruto doing? Sasuke-kun hasn't return after he said he was going for a walk either." You don't say. Although, she did seem genuinely concerned about Sasuke's safety alone in the woods. I scoffed. Come on girl, get a grip.

"Where are those idiots?" I mumbled looking around and shading my eyes from the sun. One thing that changed since my splendid idea with the eye drops, was that my eyes became much more sensitive to sunlight. I felt like a vampire, really. As an answer to my question, a wild kunai appeared. A wild Derpina appears. It landed just before our feet. All three of us looked up to the trees.

"Eh, Naruto?!"

I agreed with her tone. High above the ground, in one of the tallest trees, a splash of orange was resting, exhausted on a branch, but managed a grin when he heard Sakura's surprised voice. I smiled back at the idiot who was barely staying attached to the branch, his arms and legs dangling in the air, using the trunk as a very uncomfortable bed.

"Do you want a pillow, perhaps?" I shouted.

"Naruto is able to climb all the way up there now?" Sakura asked incredulously as if the thought alone was absurd. I smirked at her. If only she knew. "Amazing."

"How do you like that?" the blonde shouted. "I can climb this high now!"

"Yeah, we have eyes." I mumbled but then added loudly "Nice work, Naruto. But can you come down on your own?"

"He, he, he." was his answer and jumped in a standing position. Maybe I was wrong. He seemingly had no problem standing up on the branch. And just then, he lost his balance.

"Idiot!"

"This is bad!" Kakashi tensed, but in vain since he still was dependent on crutches in order to walk.

Would I be fast enough to catch him? Perhaps. But the idiot just did some acrobatics and turned upside down without falling from the branch. I can't hear with my right ear. No, it was temporary dysfunctional due to Sakura screaming.

"You fell for it!"

Keh. I laughed at Sakura's still scared expression and Kakashi who sighed in relieved and exasperation. Well, that answers my question doesn't it? I shook my head at the blonde. Naruto will always be Naruto. He was grinning at us like the Cheshire Cat, his whiskered face looking even rounder then usually, as he watched us upside down. That's when his feet detached from the surface of the branch.

WHAT THE FUCK?!

From the corner of my eye I could see movement and then something blue. Oh. Swiftly, Sasuke arrived on the branch the idiot blonde stood before, catching him by the ankle and dangling him upside down. Naruto was too tired to move anymore, as Sasuke was holding his ankle with an annoyed expression on his face.

"You idiot."

I didn't have to try too hard to hear those two words. I sighed, watching the Duck with a vague sense of envy. He's fast. And had an almost perfect chakra control, or at least enough to concentrate on catching unexpected falling objects, like Naruto. I'm mean. Yeah, I was.

"Way to go, Sasuke-kun! You amaze me! Kaya-chan? Where are you going?"

I was walking already in a random direction, distancing myself from team seven, checking out the trees and luminosity around. Too bright, and branches of the trees are too thin. I would cause useless damage to the environment. This isn't a good spot.

"Training." I told her calmly without turning as I grimaced at the clear sky I could see through the not-so-thick green crowns.

"Kaya, don't go too far."

I looked puzzled at Kakashi, but nodded. Haven't we established already that I won't? What's with him today? He was playing Mother Hen. I had no idea what Kakashi sensed and I didn't, but I needed to train. Urgently.

Ҩ

I used too much chakra. I was panting hard as I opened and closed my fist. My left arm was shaking from overusing it. Shit. There was a sharp pain running through it even at the slightest movement. So many days already (what, like, three-four?) … and I was back to not being able to shoot. Just once more. I reached for an arrow stuck in a branch above me.

Fuck. This really hurts. As I set the arrow in the string and stretched my left arm holding the bow straight, I channeled chakra in the arrow. I exhaled a ragged breath, almost against the wood of the arrow, feeling my arm and insides burn from the pain. My target this time was a pine cone on a high branch, at a reasonable distance. Just before I released the arrow I knew something was wrong. The fletching of the arrow brushed roughly against my fingers and I knew it would deviate its direction, but that wasn't it. My fingers burned. What the hell? I retracted my hand startled by the sudden pain. I didn't even bother to see the arrow missing the pine cone, as I automatically looked down to my fingers.

"What the hell?" I exclaimed.

The skin was red, and very sensitive as if I've just waved my hand above flames. Or poured hot wax on them. What did I just do? I didn't touch the string with the fingers to get anything close to a rope burn. But the tips of my fingers were pink and the wind brushed against them and urged pain to spread instantly. As if … A wild idea went through my head and I looked up suddenly at the pine cone. I must have at least grazed it at the very least. And sure enough, the pine cone dangled from left to right still attached to the branch with only one notable change: it was on fire.

I stared at it. My mind went blank, forgetting about the pain in my shoulder and the softly burning sensation of my fingers. I just watched the pine cone as the little flame consumed it slowly, encouraged by the timid wind which only fueled it. It was rather bright and hauntingly contrasting against the violet tinged sky. I had no idea how dark it got until then. I shook my head, still staring at the pine cone, which fell when the flame reached the peduncle. If the pine cone is on fire, then…

"Oh!"

The arrow wasn't easy to find, but there it stood, stuck in stony ground. I doubted that it could have set fire to the grass, as most of it was rather green and not dry, but there were some patches of yellow bristle grass and I remembered how when I was a little I enjoyed setting on fire and watch it burn. Thankfully, the area where the arrow landed was rather stony, so the little flame died down. However, the arrow was beyond saving.

"Oh, well." I mused silently as I inspected the arrow as the wood came apart in my palm, too fragile to hold.

I made my way back to Tazuna's house, my mind fixed on what just happened. I should have seen that coming. But surely my chakra control isn't that good?! No. On the contrary. My chakra control wasn't good. Instead of having the effect I wanted – think about Asuma's wind knives – I just reached into my chakra nature and set fire to the arrow. Or at least that's what I thought happened, but in all reality I didn't have a fuuuucking clue what the hell happened.

I've just gathered chakra in my arm and then I channeled in the arrow… oh. Oh. it clicked. Fire jutsu was the Uchiha trademark, no? What if, I happen to have fire nature chakra and because I have no idea what I'm doing, I reached into that? But in order to do so, I'd have to gather chakra in my chests and… I stopped in my tracks. What did I do just before releasing the arrow?

"Holy shit." It makes sense.

I entered the house only to find both Sasuke and Naruto on the floor, heaving for air.

"Not you too, Sasuke!" I said putting the bow and quiver aside as usual. "The. Floor. Has. FEELINGS." I examined their tired faces and dirty clothes. "Not to mention you both look as if you battled some pigs for mud pit dominance."

"We climbed to the top." Naruto grinned ignoring my remark as the Duck sent me another death glare.

"Congratulation. You want a medal? Took you some time." I commented. "Ah, I see. You decided to share your small victory with Mrs. Floor."

"Kaya-chan, what's wrong with your shoulder?" Sakura asked as I came closer.

"I might have overused it." I grimaced as I tried to lift my arm and failed with a loud wince.

"Do you want me to help you with that?" Tsunami offered as she put a bowl of salad on the table and my mind went automatically to Sarada. … you know? The one in the distant future? The daughter of two of my team mates? I felt sick to my stomach for some reason.

"Yeah, thank you."

The dinner was uneventful (I didn't touch the Salad), but the food was delicious as always. After Tsunami looked at my shoulder she concluded that overusing it like this would only delay the healing as the wound almost reopened. That's why it got all bloody again. Urgh. Then again, Tsunami wasn't a medical expert, but I did promise not to use it again until the wound is healed completely. And this time I meant it. What happened earlier scared me. I can't continue training on my own. No, I needed guidance and an explanation.

"The bridge is almost complete." Tazuna announced as we all finished eating. "It's all thanks to you."

"But don't push yourself so much." Tsunami commented already gathering the dishes. Tazuna just smiled at her, but did not seem to take in her words.

"I wanted to ask this before," he started looking at Kakashi "but why are you still here when I lied about the mission's details?"

Because you tried to make us feel guilty with your imminent death if we didn't, you old fart. Kakashi took a moment to think, while I rolled my eyes preparing myself for a lecture about shinobi values or citation or something like that. And the grey jounin didn't disappoint me.

" 'Not doing right when you know it is right is a coward's way. There are no weak soldiers under a valiant commander'" he said with a solemn face. Or something close to solemn, I couldn't truly say because of the freaking mask. "They are the teachings of the previous Hokage."

"The Fourth? Sounds like he was a very smart guy." I remarked. Oh, humor. Minato was, perhaps my favorite Hokage, but he didn't get much screen time until later in The War. That I had fresh in my mind. Well, he is dead. "And very honorable."

Kakashi nodded with no other word. It was sad. That out of his team, he was the only to survive. Or at least to his and the village's knowledge. I guess he was right. His friend's names are all written on that stone. The K.I.A. Rin, Minato, Obito. And many others. They were dead to him. We were taught to form bonds between us only to have them severed at some point, either by wars, battles or time. Or ourselves. Still, people like Kakashi didn't give up on those bonds. Now I sound like Naruto. Or like advertising. Naruto Shippūden the Movie: Bonds. I almost snorted.

"Why…"

I looked at Sasuke's right to see a shaking Inari. Is he crying? Seemed so. He still had the fishing hat on his head that he insisted on wearing it even inside, even during dinner. In summer.

"What?" Naruto asked rising his head from the table. I could have sworn that he was sleeping just seconds ago. His question only made the little boy explode. Well, not literally. That would have been hilarious. And gory. He got on his feet and smashed his hands on the table.

"Why are you trying so hard, ending up like that?" he exclaimed pointing at the dirty and tired state that Naruto was in. "You can't beat Gatō's men even if you train!"

"Someone is throwing a tantrum" I mumbled massaging my temples.

"No matter how hard you try and say those fancy words, weak people are going to lose against strong people!"

I gritted my teeth. Is he even hearing himself talk? But he's just a kid. Just a traumatized child who witnessed the execution of his adoptive father. A father that he considered a role model and held in the highest regard. I snorted at his last words when Inari's voice ended in a high pitch. I don't ever want to be anywhere close this kid when he has a shouting fit.Too late.

"Shut up. I'm different from you, dattebayo." Naruto said resting his head back on his stretched arms, using the table as a pillow, apparently.

"You shut up!" Inari shouted. "It pisses me off when I watch you! You don't know anything about this country, and you're so nosy! 'I'm different from you', someone who doesn't know any pain just laughs all the time!"

"What the …" I hissed staring at Inari.

"Is that why you are pretending to be the main character of a tragedy and just cry?"

I turned to Naruto, baffled. What. The. Hell? I couldn't believe my ears. It took me by surprise so much that what I was going to say just… dissolved into astonishment. This was very out of character for Naruto. Or was it? Hm. Depends. Depends if he's talking about Inari, or himself. Because Naruto was twelve. All three of us are twelve. Yeah, and Inari who's… eight? Or younger? I couldn't say.

"An idiot like you can just continue crying. You crybaby."

I had to stop myself from bursting into laughter. He's right. Yes, he was, but a harsh Naruto was weird to observe. Inari seemed taken aback by the blonde's words.

"Naruto, that's too far." Sakura scolded.

"No, no, let him speak. For once it's not utter garbage. He's right." I intervened. "Crying solves nothing."

I didn't continue. On one side, I was really in the mood of debating this because I was tired of being told I was going to die by a kid, but on the other side, the discussion would have reopened old wounds of many people present in the room. Me included. Naruto didn't say anything else either; he just got up and walked away. So I was right. He has been talking about himself as well, not only about Inari.

"Naruto…" Sakura said softly watching the blonde walk away.

"You should all rest. Tomorrow we are all going with Tazuna to guard the bridge." Kakashi said breaking the silence as Inari still sobbed unable to hold back the tears.

"Tsunami, we'll help you with the dishes and clean up." I nodded looking to both Sakura and Sasuke. I have to keep my mind occupied. And at the same time, I didn't want to be the only one to help Tsunami, so I was dragging the other two in this as well. Wow, I'm such a good friend.

"You don't have to do that." Tsunami said.

"Ne, Tsunami-san, we don't mind helping." Sakura smiled.

Inari stormed outside, leaving only us six in the kitchen. I didn't register my actions, not really, just mechanically cleaned out and washed the dishes, with Sakura and the duck, while the scene played in my head over and over again. Both scenes. The arrow that I unintentionally set on fire and Inari's outburst. The first one because it was concerning my progress with the chakra manipulation training. Had I gathered chakra in my chest instead of arm? Perhaps. I have been too tired and in too much pain to actually pay proper attention. I was cursing myself for ignoring details. Chakra control was all about details and concentration. I have to ask Kakashi for help. Yeah. I could study by myself about chakra control; the library back in Konoha was rather ample. But, I wasn't stupid enough to think that I could do everything on my own.

The next morning, I was dead to the world until I heard Sakura shift around the room and stumble on … something. Everything was slow and silent, or at least that's how I felt as I ate breakfast, still half asleep and missed what Sakura said to me across the table, making everyone shift their attention to me.

"Mhm?" I said as I played with some rice.

"Sakura has been talking to you Kaya, for several minutes actually, but it seems you are still half asleep." Kakashi said in a bored tone. "Perhaps you should stay here and rest today."

"No, I'm fine." I waved my hand. It still hurt. "I just need to wake up properly. Sorry Sakura, I didn't hear a thing you said. Where's Naruto?"

"He's still asleep." the duck scowled while the pinkie looked at me with a perplexed expression for being mentally absent for minutes during a conversation and letting her essentially monologue.

"Chakra exhaustion?" I guessed and Sasuke nodded.

"If you're done eating, we can go to the bridge." Tazuna said enthusiastic since now it wouldn't be only Sakura guarding and observing the progress the workers did with the construction. I peaked at it while I was having lunch with the pinkie the other days and I had to admit that I've never been fascinated by construction before. Until now. I just want to sleep. And I could. However, I decided to set aside training and archery for the meanwhile until my shoulder healed, and until I gathered the courage to address Kakashi concerning my problem with chakra control. There wasn't much I could do.

"Take care of Naruto, please." Kakashi said to a smiling Tsunami as we exited the house. I was dragging my feet, half-tempted to leave the bow and quiver with arrows in the house. "He used his body to the max, so I think he won't be able to move for the entire day."

"Don't worry, but Kakashi-san, are you feeling better?" Tsunami inquired. What an interpretive question. I mentally smacked myself. My mind was perverted when I was tired. Well, no one could blame her; Kakashi is still young and still appealing. I shook my head violently. "And your shoulder, Kaya-chan"

"Yes, I am well now. Somehow." Kakashi's hesitation made me a little uneasy. How would it be, today of all days… But no, we couldn't be that unlucky. Right?

"We're fine, Tsunami-san." I smiled or tried to, still sleepy. "Don't worry about us."

"Bye!" Sakura said happily. What pills is Sakura on? Because I refused to accept that some people are in a perpetual good mood.

And to think that Naruto sleeps undisturbed right now. I shook my head. No. I this was a kind of training as well. As a shinobi, I could be on a mission for days, with little sleep, while receiving countless wounds and being on the run. What the hell am I doing? Self-motivation? To keep me awake I started humming. The walk to the bridge was one of twenty minutes or so. The city was small and we weren't exactly stopping at every house and street to explore it.

We came close to the bridge and I stopped in my tracks with a strong feeling of déjà-vu. It can't be. Feint but surely, I could feel two people with considerable amount of chakra. Now I was widely alert of my surroundings, searching for the source of the chakra.

"Something is off." I said.

Before Sakura asked what, I held my hand up to stop her. There was an unusual silence on the bridge, no man in sight. Tazuna walked further, forcing us to follow since we were supposed to guard him. I looked at the grey jounin trying to tell him that something was definitely wrong. If Kakashi noticed my attempt, he didn't show it. But he sent me a long look and then focused back on the old man.

"What is this?!"

Tazuna's exclamation made all four of us to come to a halt. Ah, so here's the answer to my dilemma. The few men that worked with Tazuna were lying on the bridge some of them motionless, some of them shaking, but neither capable of making any move to get up. But there was no blood.

"What's wrong? What happened?" Tazuna continued to ask bewildered.

"Kaya," Kakashi warned as I got closer to where Tazuna stood.

"What do you think is wrong?" I asked acidly with a strong feeling that we were being watched. They're alive." I said as I took some steps toward the men. "Just incapacitated." I looked around narrowing my eyes. "Someone is here."

"It can't be…" I heard Kakashi say and I returned to the others, searching our surroundings for Zabuza.

I can't believe I didn't remember this. I should have. I knew the confrontation was unavoidable, but it would have been nice to remember when. Thanks a lot, brain. As a cue to who was with us here on the bridge – ah, beside the unconscious people lying around randomly – mist started gathering and I shuddered lightly, the pain from the last time pulsing in my shoulder.

"Sasuke, Sakura, Kaya, he's coming."

Oh yeah. We actually were that unlucky. I knew I should have stayed in bed today.

Neeeew chapter!

I don't really like how this one turned out, tbh :( But if I keep re-writing it again and again, I still feel like I'm not going to like it, mainly because it's just building up for the next one. Aaaaanyway, flaming arrows! I debated whether or not I should include that. Or if Kaya's Chakra nature should be fire, but it made sense. Although, it would be a throw off to have it be water or air :)) I'm afraid that, in my attempt to write things that 'make sense' I miss on many opportunities to come up with unique techniques or ideas for my character. I dunno. I do have a soft spot for stealth characters in RPJs. Also, quick question: how useful do you think Kaya will find archery in the near future? As in, how much do you think she might or might not regret her choice regarding weapons?

See you next chapter!~

Oh, btw. I won't be able to post next chapter in one week from now, it will take 2. Because I'm unemployed and still have a rent to pay, so I gotta do some interviews. COVID can suck my #$%^. So, I'll see you in two weeks~