Summary: They had been seeing each other in secret for a reason. They wanted something that didn't involve their family. They already had to deal with expectations and the impending uncertainty of their graduation. Sadly good things have to come to an end.
Pairing: Kagome/Sasuke
Disclaimer:Still broke but please enjoy. Any mistakes are mine, and my goodness I didn't think this chapter would take so long. I wanted to rush through the Zabuza arc, but then I was uncertain about how to go about the finale. Like I had an adequate chapter, but I felt that it was not up to par of the other chapters and would have been just a skeleton of events with little character development and just events of the arc to get it over with. I have been going back and making it better. The other issue was the ending, I shit you not I had the ending planned then started thinking and then I changed it several times. Like I was going to have Danzo appear, but I'm going to hold off on that for a couple more I was brainstorming for the Chunin Exams more, I'll go into detail about that at the end though. Also I apologize for Sasuke, like I know he is out of character. But my god I never imagined I'd have this little unsure insecure boy, maybe this would be more accurate if the massacre never happened? I don't know this is what I written and have to deal with now. I have planned his lovely development from a ball of jealous insecurity, but that's going to take a while like at least two years of in universe time. Well this is long and I'll let you get to your reading. Also warning the pacing is just bad this time around.
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Sasuke stared at Kagome's face, she had been out cold since the fight. Naruto at one point tried splashing water on her face. He didn't care about how unprofessional it looked, he was the one that carried her body all the way to the bridge builder's home. He hasn't left her side, Naruto tried to bribe him with food, and later Kakashi tried to coax him to sleep in another room. He never moved, it was his duty to see over her well being.
His fist gripped the edge of his pants, it was the least he could do. He had failed her, again. He wasn't strong enough, some husband he was gearing up to be. For a moment he blamed Kagome, she had always been ahead of him in class and now in the field. He contemplated if this insecurity would exist if he had been placed on another team. Then he wouldn't have to see her exceed past him, but then he'd be worried about her and that'd interfere with his growth. It was better that they were on the same team. It hurt his pride to have her be stronger than him, but it motivated him. He had to prove to her that he could be a protector and when he was able to take solo missions or work with the KMPF prove himself to be a provider. Then one day show that he could be a great father to their hopefully plentiful amount of children.
He ran his hand through her hair, he couldn't be upset that she saved them. Why couldn't he be more like Itachi. He was skilled, and was told that he was gifted by everyone in his clan, but he wasn't a genius of Itachi's calibre. Hell he'd even settle for Shisui levels of competence. He couldn't discount his brother's friend, because Shisui trained Kagome. He just needed to get better, maybe he could pester Shisui to train them together. That would in theory put them on equal footing eventually.
He was brought out of his musing by her whimpers. His eyes focused on her closed lids. They fluttered, before he knew it groggy blue eyes stared up at him. She blinked allowing her world to focus. Against his better judgement he leaned down and kissed her.
"We shouldn't," she rasped as she turned her head, she still faced him, his lips met her cheek.
"I don't care, I thought I lost you," he said. He moved her face so their lips met. She tensed, but sighed into the kiss and let herself relax.
"I'm sorry," he said and Kagome stared up at him.
"Did you just?" he could feel his lips turn downwards, he didn't want to repeat himself.
"Yes, I'm not saying it again," he pinched her cheek.
"Ouch, what are you apologizing for?" he helped her sit up more to face him. He wouldn't say it aloud, he couldn't admit his weakness to her. This was his future he was holding, he had a lot of work to do to make it secure. He kissed on her head and hugged her closer.
"This is a good spot," Kakashi declared. Sasuke looked around the clearing confused, this just looked like the other parts of the woods. Before he was able to ask his sensei the man hobbled over to a tree then proceeded to walk up it.
"What are you doing?" Naruto asked his blue eyes wide. The Uchiha rolled his eyes. Walking up trees wasn't that impressive, he'd seen Itachi do it before.
"An important aspect of being a ninja is having chakra control. A well trained ninja should be able to walk up this tree with little effort, and no trace. Too much and the tree bark is indented and you've expelled too much energy," for effect his right crutch made a crack in the bark, "However, too little," they watched as their sensei began to fall from the tree before he caught himself on his crutch. Kakashi joined them on the ground and took out three kunai, "Your exercise is to climb to the top of one of these trees, use the kunai to mark your progress."
"Bet I could get the top before you," Naruto said to Sasuke before he took off he only took two steps before he fell.
"Tch, dobe. I'll show you how it's done," Sasuke got a step higher than Naruto before he lost his grip and fell. He glared at the tree.
"Some show," Naruto said with a roll of his eyes before he ran at the tree he didn't get much further before he fell and smacked his head on the ground.
Kagome looked at them before she walked up to the tree. It couldn't be that hard, it was a tree. She could walk on water with no problem. With short steps she began to walk up the tree trunk, she heard Naruto and Sasuke's kunai slashing furiously at the bark with each failed attempt.
'I hope the trees are okay after this,' she thought as she took another step, she was close to the top.
'They are, a little irritated.'
'Yeah it feels like a lot of tiny nicks.'
'Mistress you could burn them down and put them out of their misery?'
'What is your problem?' she winced as the voices yelled in unison, her foot slipped down the bark.
'We don't burn enough that's my problem. I haven't had a chance to shine yet.'
'Fire calm down, you'll have a chance. Also she just obtained me and I'm not telling her to drown people or flood places.'
'Hey guys can this wait, I need to concentrate,' Kagome said as she tried to tune them out. It was getting harder to climb. She was so close.
'Well I'll have you know…'
'Mistress!' one of the earth spirits called out as Kagome fell from her place. Time slowed as she oriented herself to land on her feet, but her spirits continued to interfere as tree branches lengthened to catch her. There are a chorus of apologies as the branches supported her until she was stable.
'It's fine,' Kagome said with a sigh as she dusted off bits of twigs. When she looked at her teammates she was tempted to slip away. Naruto stared with wide eyes.
"Holy shit, that's what your spirits can do!" he said as he looked around excitedly, "What else can they do? Can they catch me if I fall?"
'No, we only catch out mistress when she needs us,' another Earth spirit said. Kagome gripped her ears before she covered her eyes.
'Guys please not now,' she said as tried to mentally push them away. When she felt that they were distancing themselves she peered at the rest of Team Seven through the gaps in her fingers.
"Does that happen often?" Sasuke asked walked out to take her hands away from her face, there was something unreadable in his eyes.
"No, like I said before we left. They're just more active," she pulled away her hands, when she noticed that their sensei's eyes were trained on them, "Let's get back to training." As she turned, she felt another hand on her shoulder.
"Kagome, why don't you come with me. I think I've neglected a serious part of being your teacher," Kakashi said behind her, she wasn't sure what he meant.
"What about this exercise?" she asked as he hand tightened on her shoulder not letting her escape.
"I have no doubt that you can do it, you can come back to it later. Naruto and Sasuke I expect the both of you to make it to the halfway mark by the time we return," Kagome looked at them over her shoulder as she was ushered away.
Sasuke glared at the blonde then the tree. This shouldn't be hard, he had great chakra control. The best in their class in was an Uchiha, he should know how to do this. If he could master the Fireball jutsu, this task should be a walk in the park. Kagome had almost had it until she fell. Kakashi probably took her away for advanced training. He shook his head, their sensei didn't take her for special training. If he had to guess it was so that the silver haired man could have a deeper understanding of Kagome's kekkei genkai. Gripping the kunai tight he ran at the tree, he got farther but his feet slipped. Determination drove his feet forward as he repeated Kakashi's advice. He recognized when he placed too little or too much, sweat trickled down his back as the sun drifted across the sky.
Kagome and Kakashi returned as the sun was about to set. She looked a tired as when she came from a day of training with her grandfather or Shisui. Kakashi nodded his head at their development before he hobbled away on his crutches. Kagome sat on the roots of a tree nearby and yawned.
"You guys made a lot of progress," she said. Sasuke's chest swelled with pride, he had made more than halfway.
"I know right, once we master this. We can master anything," Naruto stated while he punched his fists into the air.
"What did you and Kakashi do?" Sasuke asked as he joined her on the roots.
"He just wanted me to demonstrate the extent of my rekkei...Spirit Control as he dubbed it and my spirits agreed with the name," she whisperer the last part, "It was more draining than I anticipated. I can summon a small army. I mean I could before but like it was like thirty or so vine soldiers," she rubbed the back of her neck, "Oh yeah, wanna see something cool?" She stood up and ran into the larger part of the clearing. Sasuke watched as water gathered behind her and take the shape of wings.
"Oh, that's pretty," Naruto said and Sasuke had to agree. Kagome held out her finger to hush them. They watched as the wings flapped and propelled her off the ground.
"You can fly?" Sasuke asked
"Yep, well technically, it's strange that these developed with water instead of wind. Though I was told wind could make flying easier," she landed on the ground and collapsed to her knees, "It's exhausting though," she stood on shaky legs, "I'm going back to the house I'll see you guys tomorrow," her body broke down into flower petals that were carried away by the wind.
Kagome walked beside the bridge builder in a comfortable silence. She was escorting him to the market while Kakashi watched over Naruto and Sasuke's training. The wind carried a cool breeze which was a relief from the sticky hot night. As they approached the market place she noticed that is was not as full as it should be. People with sad faces shuffled through the space. Vendors held the same demeanor, they didn't call customers over to their barren stalls. Some were empty and the poorly dubbed lucky ones had a couple vegetables that were beginning to mold.
"Because Gato controls the road he's raised prices so much that no one can afford food," Tenzo picked up a pitiful carrot that was priced the same for a healthy bunch in Konoha.
"Why did he raise it so much that the people he's extorting from can't afford to pay anymore? Wouldn't it make more sense if he kept it high but reasonable so people could feasibly pay for it. Then the need to build the bridge wouldn't be so high, then" Kagome stopped when he looked at her with disapproval.
"I'd be concerned if you controlled anything like this," Tenzo said before he took a swig from his bottle and walked on.
'I take offense to that our mistress would never do such a thing' Kagome winced as there was a loud cheers of agreements.
'Yeah and if she controlled the fields if these people displeased her, she'd burn everything.'
'Why would she even bother she could put guards around the farm and keep it all to herself.'
'We could zap 'em away.'
'Mistress don't mean to intrude, but we could grow a few vegetables to tide them over until the bridge is finished.'
'I can do that?' Kagome asked as the bridge builder handed her the basket so he could talk to another vendor.
'Not quite, you don't have the chakra reserves to do it on your own, but we can lend you power so you can do it.' Kagome felt her shoulders sag as vines etched up her arm, 'I didn't mean to offend you, I hope you…'
'It doesn't matter, just do it,' she focused on the intense connection between the earth and her. It was overwhelming as she drew plants through the hill. She could feel individual seeds being pulled from distant fields to rest under the soil of a close hill. Teeth clenched as her blood vessels began to contract as water was called forth as well. Bile rested at the back of her throat as her chakra depleted. There were gasps behind her as she fell to her knees, one hand was pressed into the earth to ground her. Tears clouded her eyes as waves of exhaustion lapped at the edge of her conscious. Her hand balled in the dirt, as people rushed passed her. Her grasp on anything faded away as she felt weightless. She felt a hand on her shoulder and the deep voice of the bridge builder.
"Can you guys stop eating so fast that you puke!" Kagome yelled and surprised everyone at the table this was the first time she had spoken since the meal started. The two stared at her with wide eyes before they began to eat slower, yet still an abundance of food. She felt a tinge of guilt, but she couldn't think with their loud chewing and immediate purging. Most of that anger was targeted at herself and how weak she felt. Earlier had drained her more than she anticipated and any semblance of her recovering from her fight were erased. If she only she was stronger.
'M'lady you took out an S-class ninja a day ago do you not remember?'
'No that's because you helped,' she thought as she pushed her food around. She didn't care that it made her look rude.
'You also got the bells from the white haired guy,'
'No, that was because I used you to help. I wouldn't have been able to do anything without you guys. Any power I have is from you.' she placed her chopsticks down to sip at her tea. She didn't deserve food, food was for strong people.
'You're being irrational.'
'You are able to summon us because you have the strength. We'd be useless without you.'
'They're right, no one in Higurashi clan can handle us properly, unless their the Father. Only a few have tasted my flames, but they can't use me right.'
'The Father, my father?' she asked
'Oh heavens no, your father can barely use water. The Father is Inu no Taisho-sama, he was the first to conquer the nature spirits and now we serve your clan.'
'Very few people can have more than one elemental connection.'
'Weak people who have tried to force themselves to have more have lost their minds.'
'Because their mind gets crowded?' she took another sip of her tea.
'No because of the lack of harmony,' that response was a growl that made the buzzing of the spirit's agreement go quite. Before she could ask what it was her shoulder was tapped. She looked over to see Sasuke staring back at her.
"Are you alright? Dinner ended a while ago, and you've been staring down your tea," his hand slipped under hers to take the cup away.
"Sorry the spirits were talking," she said as he crouched beside her.
"They seem to be talking more, I've never seen you space out this much before we left Konoha," he said as he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"They're always talking, I usually tune them out, but I'm being dragged into a lot of conversations lately," she smiled at him.
'Rude, we do not talk all the time,'
"Did they just say something?"he asked
"Yeah, how did you know?"
"Your eyes glaze over when you or they do," he ran his finger underneath her eye. There was a moment of stillness before he leaned closer.
"Are you going back to training?" she asked with leaning back, his hand tightened on her shoulder.
"Yeah, wanna join?"
"I'd love to," Sasuke pulled the cup and placed it on the table before he grabbed her hands to drag her outside.
Kagome watched as they trained for a while before she felt her feet lead her away. There was something deep in the woods that was calling to her. Her spirits buzzed in her mind and spread out their influence. Nature swirled around her and brought her a moment of peace. With a giggle she tipped on her toes down the worn path, she didn't do it for long periods because the rocks jabbed her toes. She continued to dance walk down to the path. It was something she used to do a lot in Konoha before she graduated. Before she was engaged to Sasuke, whose clan members were exceedingly judgemental. So damn judgemental, like they had nothing else to do but turn up their nose at everything. Like she was less than them because she had entertained the idea of being something other than a ninja. She took a few more violent steps. Nothing she would ever do would please them, or anyone. In the distance she could hear the rumble of thunder. At least her grandfather could be momentarily satisfied, before he raised his expectations exponentially.
"You dance beautifully," a soft voice said behind her, it startled her and before she turned she scolded herself for not paying attention to her surroundings.
"Thank you," she said as she turned around, her hands clasped in front of her. The person that had surprised her was very pretty. They had longish black hair, and soft facial features that paired nicely with their snow like skin. They were dressed in a simple pink yukata.
"I'm sorry for sneaking up on you," the person said.
"It's alright, I should be more aware of my surroundings."
"Your feet were aware of them, even if your mind was not," they looked up as a raindrop hit their face, "Your passion has brought rain as well." Kagome looked up, she couldn't confirm that she drew in rain. It had been clear before she wandered off, though this clouds felt special, maybe they were her's.
'They are,' water confirmed, 'Your intensess brought the rain. It's been so long since I've felt a pull like this.'
"Are you alright?" the person asked
"Yeah I'm fine, sorry I zoned out. So what are you doing out this late?"
"I'm gathering herbs for someone close to me, he was hurt a few days ago," the person gestured to a basket that was nestled under their arm.
"I'm sorry to hear that, if you want some healing herbs I feel some over there?" she said inclining her head further down the path.
"Feel?" They asked and Kagome's shoulders tensed.
"I have a connection with nature," she said as she continued to tip along the path.
"That must be interesting," the person tilted their heads to let the drops hit their cheeks.
"It is, but it gets bothersome the deeper my connection gets the cumbersome it becomes," Kagome let out a giggle as the spirits raved in the back of her mind.
"I'm Haku by the way," the person said as they walked beside her, she was surprised at how easily the person gave their name. If they were the enemy they would have attacked, maybe this person meant no harm to her.
'Such a pretty boy, like that Itachi person,'
'Boy?'
"I'm Kagome," she said with a theatrical bow before doing a twirl.
"That's a fascinating name," Haku said as he watched her, "I wasn't aware Konoha ninja were trained to dance." She stopped mid step.
"No, only me. People don't appreciate that I do it," she continued her dance as the downpour increased, "I'm not a true ninja, I'm too weak."
"The storm brewing begs to differ," Haku said as he crouched in front the plants.
"My powers are just a circus trick," she quoted what she overheard from an Uchiha while training with Shisui.
"I doubt that," Haku said as he looked at the sky, "This wouldn't be happening," he waved his hand around, "Are you a ninja because you have someone to fight for?"
"Fight for?" when she thought about it, she was a ninja because her grandfather put her in the academy while her father was away on a mission. He had also been to one to discourage her from being in anymore performances. A lot of her life choices were based on her grandfather, her father had always been away. For as long as she could remember he was never home for more than a few weeks.
"My strength comes from fighting for someone special, someone that means the world to me. Surely you must have one, you wouldn't be upset about the criticism if you weren't," he covered his eyes as the sky's darkened with more rain.
"Fight for someone," she repeated rain ran down her cheeks and mixed with her tears. "I have a few."
"That's more than me. I only have one. He raised me and I'd do anything for him," Haku said as he tilted his head back to let the rain run down his face.
"I guess most important to me are my brothers. I'd do anything for them. I protect them from our grandfather. He's not abusive, he's really intense about training. There's only so much I can do, the youngest will have to experience what I did and I can't stop it. My other brother, he has such big dreams and I will help as much as I can."
"What are you dreams?" Haku turned to look at her.
"My dreams are selfish," she could feel the pit in her stomach, "I want to runaway. I don't want to be a ninja. I killed a few days ago, and I felt proud of myself."
"Were you protecting your teammates?" he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I was, but I didn't have to kill," she stared at her hands as she balled them in her lap, thunder clapped angrily.
"Do you have anyone else you hold dear?"
"My fiance, I guess," she shrugged.
"Do you not want to be engaged?" Haku took a liberty and pulled her closer to his side.
"No, I do. At least I think I do. I have feeling for my fiance. It's a form of love, but I feel so uncertain around him and his clan." she rested her head on his shoulder and noticed his soothingly clean scent. "There's not much I can do to please them. Every step I take, is in quick sand and I'm just sinking myself."
"Well they must be keeping you around for something?" Haku nudged her when she shrugged.
"It wouldn't be hard to replace me, there are a lot of girls that would give their lives up for the chance to be with my fiance. I sometimes feel like I shouldn't be with him because there are girls that would be more wholeheartedly devoted to him," she thought of the Sasuke Uchiha fanclub and the intensity of their 'love' for him.
"But they aren't and you're there for a reason," Haku moved her head, "You're worth more than you know, not only to yourself but also to those you protect and those who protect you." He stood with a stretch of his back. "It was nice meeting you Kagome, I hope you find happiness."
"Thank you, I hope that your person gets better," she gave a meek wave as she hugged her knees to her chest.
"I hope so as well, the rain's letting up," he said before he left.
Kagome flopped onto the wet ground and ran her fingers through the damp soil. Feeling the roots, the rocks, the indistinguishable things made her feel even lighter than she did already. She let her chakra seep into the earth around her and it allowed her to have a deeper sense of calm. Grounded in the moment with the hum of nature, she laid there still. She wasn't even sure how much time passed.
"Sasuke I found her," the loud familiar voice drew her out of her little world. Cracking an eye open and tilting her head she saw a familiar orange jumpsuit.
"Dobe stop shouting," Sasuke said as he emerged from behind the blonde. His face was contorted in a familiar scowl.
"We got worried, you've been gone for hours," Naruto laid on top of her and rubbed his head into her stomach, "I'm so happy you're okay."
"You were gone for a long time," Sasuke said as he pried Naruto off of her, "Are you alright?" He asked as he sat down beside her. She looked between them before she felt her lips tug into a smile.
"Come lay with me," she said as she reached towards the sky. They looked at each other before taking a spot beside her, sandwiching her between them.
"Hey Kagome the clouds are gone," Naruto said as the stars became visible once more. Kagome just hummed and interlaced their hands.
"C'mon hit me," she laughed as she flew in a loop once more to avoid the kunai. It had been a couple days since she'd seen Haku and she couldn't feel better, things felt a little lighter.
"You're going too fast," Naruto said from the dock. Over the rush of air by her ears she could hear him stomp his foot on the wood. Kakashi had taken Sasuke to watch over the bridge builder, and her brother wanted to practice throwing kunai. She was still getting the hang of her wings. Turning and stopping were difficult and made her dizzy. Nothing had made her feel disoriented since she was five and just learning how to use an aerial hoop.
"I don't know how to slow down," she yelled as she flew lower as she turned around her wings clipped the water. She lost her concentration and smacked into the surface of the water. Half of her face was submerged and she thanked her chakra control or she'd be soaked.
"Kagome are you okay?" She heard Naruto shout as she pulled her head out of the water. She gave him a thumbs up as she spat more water out of her mouth. Standing her feet began to sink, with a curse under her breath she jumped up. There was a feeling of weightlessness, a pull at her shoulder muscles and she was in the air again. Before she could goad Naruto to train again she saw him screaming at a small child in a blue and white hat. With a sigh she flew closer, the child came into focus, she recognized him as the grandchild of the bridge builder.
"And I'm telling you kid, you don't know jack," Naruto shouted hands on his hips.
"Yeah I know your smile is pissing me off," the boy's voice cracked as he yelled.
"What's going on here?" she asked as she landed on the deck.
"None of your business," the child snapped at her, "Why don't you go back to flying or being passed out. For ninjas you guys seem to be fairly useless, you aren't in a hurry. You're just here to take our money."
"We're protecting your grandfather until he finishes the bridge. Which should be in a about a week at the rate it's going," Kagome said and even knelt down to his level.
"That's what you say, you're not better than Gato's gangsters," she was not prepared for the kid to stomp on her exposed toes and march away. Kagome hissed in pain and balled up her fists. That little brat, before she could move Naruto grabbed her hand.
"Let me handle this," the blonde said as he walked after the boy. Kagome watched them go, she tilted her head as wind swept past her. Well Naruto can handle things without her, but that didn't mean she wouldn't keep an eye on them. Reaching into the water, extracting some seaweed, she formed into a dragonfly and sent it after her brother. She smiled before she sat on the dock with her legs hanging off. The breeze picked up as she lounged there. Her eyes began to drift shut, she watched as Naruto and the boy argued with each other. Though something Naruto said struck a chord with the other. The scene reminded her of how he interacted with Souta, that thought made her heart ache. How was Souta doing? Or her father?
'Wanna see him?'
'Souta or my father? I mean I'd settle for either, what kind of question is that?' she asked the water spirit.
'Just jump in,' Kagome sat up to look at the water below and dragged her foot along the surface to make ripples.
'Won't I drown?'
'Just trust me, I won't let you drown.' She knew she should question it more but what else did she have to do. Taking in a breath she dove in. Sinking down she felt her chest burn for air, but she would trust the spirit. She waited for another minute, it became difficult for her to hold her breathe.
'Water?' she asked as water bubble escaped, she couldn't' hold for much longer.
'Let go,' if she could glare at the spirit she would, if this was the entities version of a joke she wouldn't die to find out. With a push of her arms she began to swim towards the surface. However, each movement felt like she was moving through mud and she wasn't making progress. She began to flail her arms, she clawed for the distant light as more air escaped her as her vision began to go dark.
"Kagome...doing...Kag…" a deep voice washed over her, it sounded like her father. She guessed this was her confirmation that she was dead. Why would water do this to her?
'I would never, child open your eyes,' Her eyes felt heavy as she opened them to see concerned brown eyes
"What are you doing here?" he asked as she stared at him, "You're not supposed to be here."
"I know I'm on mission, but I needed to see you. Well not really, one of the spirits suggested it," They weren't in the dome, there were trees surrounding them. Something about these trees felt familiar, she could hear voices in the distance. She reached a hand out for him, but her hands connected with a firm barrier.
"I'm sorry I missed you, I was barely able to see your mother before..." he stopped as he looked away, she couldn't see past him, she could feel people. She watched as he turned to talk to them. He looked just like how she remembered him. His black hair was swept up into a high ponytail, his short scraggly mustache, his slightly tanned skin, and even though he was crouched he still looked imposing in his standard jounin uniform. Someone peaked over his shoulder.
"What's so fascinating about this river, Kagome does the same thing," her eyes widened as she saw the aloof face of Uchiha Fugaku, "You even have that far away look," the man made eye contact with her, but he didn't see her.
"It's difficult, I'll explain later," her father said with a nervous smile, with the signature clan 'Hn' the clan head walked away.
"I can't believe you're marrying into this clan," he said more to himself.
"You're alive," she said.
"Yes, I'm alive, and," his eyes glazed blue.
'I made a miscalculation, the other spirits have been trying to get through. Naruto and the other's are in trouble on the bridge.' the water spirit said.
"I'll see you when come home, I'll at the gates," her father said as his image faded away.
'M'lady Naruto is under attack,' the plant spirits said in unison.
'How am I even going to get there I'm at the bottom of a river?'
'Hold on, I'll get you there. We're just on one side of the river,'
'Just tell me if I can do it,' Kagome said
'You can, but it would take…'
'Water' Everyone shouted at once.
'Alright, all you have to do is…'
Kagome stood on top of a rapidly moving wave, her arms controlling the rushing wave. Wind whipped past her face as her moved her arms faster. She was close enough that she could see the amount of thugs on the bridge. There was a ice dome to the right of them and flashes of white fighting flashes of black. She jumped off of the wave, but continued to let the water trail after her, with a furious sweep of her arm the water crashed into the thugs. She could feel some of them die in her watery clutch, some of the men had time to gasp at her sudden presences before they were carried off the unfinished bridge to the water below.
'Magnificently done my lady, it brings tears to my eyes.'
She ignored the water spirit as she rushed over to the ice dome, she could feel Naruto, Sasuke, and someone that was familiar but she couldn't place. The two stood back to back while they stared at the ice panels surrounding them. When she was a few meters away, she saw Sasuke go through the hand signs for his clan's signature jutsu. Naruto turned his head, their eyes met.
"Kagome, don't come in here," Naruto shied away from the heat that came from the other's fire, "You'll get stuck."
"What do you mean?" she paused mid step as she saw the thin barrier that connected the panels of ice, the chakra that permeated the surface was familiar.
"Go protect the bridge builder, Kakashi-sensei was having trouble before we got stuck," Sasuke said as he and Naruto stood back to back, their gaze trained on the entity inside the ice.
With hesitant feet she ran over the cluster men that surrounded Kakashi, she couldn't could, but she could feel her sensei and the bridge builder in the middle of it. Lightning engulfed her right hand as she pierced through the torso of the first thug she saw in the giant horde. The few that had been near him turned and watched in horror as their comrade fell stone ground, his blood pooling under him staining the bridge. The silence was soon filled with outrage as they charged at her with their weapons raised. Kagome faught through them well enough, they weren't hard to fight. The problem came from them swarming her. She couldn't count how many there were, it was overwhelming her though. A hiss breezed out of her clenched mouth, her lower back and left arm were slashed.
She used the limbs of the closest person to climb above the crowd. Propelling herself into the air, her hands went through the hand signs Uchiha-sama showed her. Heat collected at the back of her throat, with a flip in the air she exhaled blue flames. While she didn't have the range to get the entire group of men that had surrounded her, there were a good portion on the ground. Their flesh melting off as they let off agonizing screams and moans. The smell made her eyes water.
'If you ignore the screams, that fire was amazing,'
When she landed she shared the thugs mortification of their fallen teammates. She didn't, she had just killed more and it had been quick. Dwelling wasn't an option as she was once again swarmed by the men. Not wanting a repeat of what she done, she drew the water that was still on the bridge from her arrival. With sharp movements she used the water to cut through the men, she didn't stop to engage in deeper combat. If they were in her way they were cut down, blood rained while screams permeated the air. She pushed on, she had to task, she had to get to the bridge builder. The last body in her way was slashed in two and behind him stood the horrified man.
"Are you hurt?" she asked as she looked for thugs to take down, the man shook his head. Her eyes continued to search the area, but there was so much she could see with the fog.
'I really wish there were plants around,' she thought, then she'd have a clearer view of everything.
Her form tensed as she felt an overwhelming sinister chakra consume the air, but it wasn't from Zabuza. It felt enticing, the sound of shattering glass was muffled as she staggered a step towards the chakra. It felt, she couldn't even describe it.
'Hehehe, crave it child.' a garbled voice said from deep within her with a purr.
'Mistress, NO!"
She stopped when she saw Naruto on all fours an orange aura surrounding him. He snarled, at the masked figure in front of him. Behind him she could see Sasuke on the ground with senbon needles sticking out of him. Her heart stopped, she grabbed the bridge builder's hand and tugged him behind her. Ignoring his minor griping about the pain in his wrist, she began to check Sasuke's vitals. He was breathing, shallow, but air was getting in. There was no area of heavy bleeding, just small trickles from where he was hit. His eyes were unfocused and tinted red, so possible concussion. Looking around mist still clouded the area. She didn't know what to do, he looked okay she guessed.
"Sasuke!" she yelled as she grabbed his shoulders, she resisted the urge to shake him, "Say something!" Black eyes looked in her direction, but not at her. She grasped his hands, normally they'd curl around her's, but his were limp and felt too cold for human skin, "Can you move?" her voice got caught in her throat, his eyes shifted again before his lids fell over them. She didn't know what to do, his hand slipped from her's. She couldn't help, her head turned when she heard another snarl from Naruto. There was a fight to complete, the quicker it's over the quicker someone could help Sasuke.
"Stay here," she said as her hands went through the signs for a proper clone jutsu.
With a leap she joined Naruto in the fight against the masked person. She continued to use water lashes to attack, while the feral boy used erratic punches and kicks. Every water attack was frozen and manipulated against them, but before the fight could go much further she managed to encase the person's legs. This allowed Naruto to drive his fist through the mask and shatter it. The force propelled the person a little ways away there body collided loudly on the stone as they rolled to a stop.
Kagome paused when the person started to stand on shaky legs. It was the man from the forest. His face was bloody, his posture beginning to slack with exhaustion.
"I'm sorry we had to meet on the battlefield," his words broken by gasps for air, "But I can't let you beat me."
"We don't have to fight, why are you here?" she asked lashing out her water to stop Naruto from attacking, he was wrapped in a water sphere. She winced as she felt his chakra fighting against her.
"I am here to kill the bridge builder, to stop the bridge from being completed," he said as he pulled out more senbon "That is my mission, given to me by my master." His eyes didn't hold any conviction to his statement, they were were too soft, kind even.
"What kind of master would make you condemn an entire village?" she asked as she felt her control over the water sphere weaken.
"The same kind that dictate your life. He is someone I hold above all else, I am but a simple weapon to use as he pleases," he rushed to attack her. Time froze as he came closer, she couldn't attack without releasing Naruto. She didn't want to let him out, he wasn't calming down. If anything he was getting worse.
'That fox, he's always been eager for a fight. That's the reason the fool is where he is now.' the unknown voice purred.
'Who are you?' Kagome questioned as she moved to avoid Haku.
'I could help you subdue the fox at a cost.'
'What?' she gasped as her side was slashed.
'You aren't ready for me, but you're close.'
'Tell me how to help Naruto!' she screamed as she was hit again.
'Jump into your little bubble and touch him. I'll do the rest.'
Kagome collided with the ground, she held her ribs as she stood up. She didn't have any options.
'Water, Lightning, can you guys form a barrier around the bridge builder and Sasuke if I'm incapacitated?'
'Of course.'
'Anything for my Mistress,'
With a final jump the penetrated the bubble Naruto was in and grabbed him. Her world was consumed by the overwhelming power. She was suffocating, but it was intoxicating.
'Hello old friend,'
Kagome opened her eyes to see a cage with giant red eyes staring back at her.
"Pleasure to meet you in person little miko," the creature said as it came closer to the bars to reveal a orange haired fox with nine tails whipping behind it.
"Who are you?" she looked around water covered the floor and her steps slouched when she turned around. "Where are we?"
'He is our greatest ally, well once greatest.' a voice said from beside her. Kagome turned her head to see herself? Well this entity looked similar to her, they had to same stature, but the entity's hair was as pale as the moon and her eyes were gold.
"It's nice to meet you," Kagome said with an unsure voice as she bowed, "But I need to get back, there's a fight and I'm needed."
"Our spirits are doing as they were told, you are protected. The boy will continue to fight, you will miss the rest of it though," her white haired self said as she walked to the side of the cage to touch the bars.
"You didn't answer my question," Kagome said frustrated. "I don't have time for this, I need to go back."
"No, you are going to stay here and bask in the essence of once great servant," the fox whimpered before it's fur bristled.
"Naruto, help!" she screamed, "I'm trapped!" she ran to the sealed doors and began to bang on them with all her might. "Naruto!" There had to be something she could do, break the seals maybe.
"Don't you dare do that you'll kill us all," her other self said.
"Let me out, I don't want to be here, You said you'd help get Naruto under control, you lied to me."
"He is under control, as we speak he is talking to the boy you were fighting," the other her stopped, "Oh my that's unfortunate,"
"Is Naruto alright?" Kagome asked as she looked for another way out.
"He is fine, what a one track mind you...we have," the white haired girl tutted.
"You're talking in circles, what do you want?" Kagome yelled and the cage shook from the force of the energy she was releasing.
"There it is, not quite but close," the white haired her purred as she walked closer and grasped the other girl's face, "You have a little taste are what we are capable of. Do you feel it?"
"Who are you?"
"I'm you."
"No you're not," Kagome was on the verge of crying from frustration.
"I am, I'm the you that links you to the greater part of our clan. I'm what makes you better than your grandfather and your father, even your brother. I'm what makes us great. I'm what will save you when no one else will. I'm the one you can depend on." The last line was whispered against Kagome's lips, before the other her pulled away. "We'll meet again, then you'll understand."
Kagome gasped as she began to fall, but no sound could leave her lungs. The world began to fade and the overwhelming power was gone. She was alone in the dark, it was cold.
'Hello?' she called, 'Naruto! Sasuke! Can anyone hear me?' she asked as she started to run, there had to be a way out, 'Kakashi-sensei, anyone?' her legs gave from under her, 'Anyone, Water, Earth, please. I don't want to be here. Please it's dark,' she covered her head with her arms, 'Please.' the last cry echoed in the empty space around her.
"Kagome!" she looked up, there wasn't anything there, but that sounded like her brother.
"Hello?" she called
"Kagome, wake up!" that was Sasuke, she started to run again, they had to be did she go?
'Mistress,' she saw the silhouette of her water spirit. The pale, elegantly dressed woman walked over to her.
'Water,' Kagome yelled as she ran into the woman, 'I'm so happy to see you. I didn't know where I was, and there was another me and,' she was stopped by a slim finger being placed on her lips.
'Mistress, you've been here too long. You need to go back the conscious world, I'll send you. We can talk later,' the woman ran her fingers over Kagome's face. She felt another pull, this next one her world was flooded with light.
"She's awake," Sasuke said over her, she was cradled in his arms.
"What happened?" Kagome asked as she sat up, lightheadedness washed over her and she was back in his arms.
"You wouldn't believe it," Naruto yelled in her face as he began to take a mile a minute. She caught every couple of words. Haku was dead, as well as a person named Zabuza, and there was a lot of tears and fighting. Naruto went onto to describe more events that happened, but she couldn't keep her eyes open. Exhaustion took her, this time true rest. The white haired her didn't appear.
Deciding the fucking ending is what took so long, like I was going to end with Danzo showing up, then I was like no her father has to show up and then I was like, no I need to set up the other her for something in the future. My good I'm happy that I'm done. I debated doing the fight with Haku and Zabuza properly, but every time I tried to type it I just got bored. Because everyone knows how the fight goes, it's sad but the direction I was going it didn't fit and would have been horribly tacked on and ruined the already fucky pacing. So life for the ending I just typed and see where my mind took it and this is how we are here now. Again I'm sorry if this isn't worth the five month wait. I just want to move onto the Chunin Exams which I think I'll take more time with and enjoy unlike this arc. I think I'm going to type an entire chapter of filler of just nothing fluff and character development. Anyway thank you for your patience, I love you guys so much. I will try to have this update soonish, I can't promise because I'm studying abroad and I don't know how busy I will get. Like it shouldn't take me five months, but I'll try to go to the once a month as always if you see any mistakes or inconsistencies let me know and I'll fix them. Love you guys Ja Ne~