'So you and Lee are really dating? Like... dating?' Ino couldn't help but look at Kaiya perplexed, as the two walked down Konoha's streets.

The two never really took a chance to form any kind of friendship, but as it seemed, they got along fairly well, due to similar mindsets. At that moment, the two were assigned a short task of bringing some supplies for people who were rebuilding the terrain and the houses around where Pain attacked.

'Yeah, we're dating,' Kaiya shrugged, 'why?'

'Oh, nothing. He wouldn't stop rambling about it earlier this morning, and I guess it was quite surprising for many of us. He's been a little different than the rest of us ever since we were little, and honestly, I didn't expect him to get in a relationship before me.'

The two laughed lightly, leaving Kaiya to think about the girl's words.

'Maybe Lee isn't like you guys, but he isn't a bad person. He's probably the least bad person out there. He's kind and very passionate about what he does. I'm glad I got to meet him

'He's really lucky to have you, Kaiya. You do have a skill in seeing the good parts in someone. You're really smart and skilled as a shinobi, you come from a good family, and you're beautiful, too.'

As stoic as she generally was, Kaiya felt how she was taken aback by the sudden mass of compliments coming from Ino.

'You didn't really seem like someone who's much into dating, though.' Ino remarked.

Of course, Kaiya deadpanned internally. The eternal backside of the coin.

'Dating was never a priority of mine, that's true, but I don't avoid it. My mum always told me not to get into a serious relationship like that for any reason except out of love, so I never hurried it. I met Lee, we got to know each other... and things happened.'

Ino hummed, approvingly.

'It must be nice getting know someone like that. He was also in the same team as you, wasn't he?' Ino sighed in exasperation, 'I'm really out of luck romantically speaking, then. My teammates are like brothers to me, and there's no other boy with a decent personality.'

'Don't lose your hope like that! At least you know you have someone who'll have your back if anything happens, Ino. Romance isn't a race, so don't rush in finding someone who you think is right for you. Take your time, look for the signs, and it's going to be fine.'

Ino smiled lightly. 'Thank you, Kaiya.'

Maybe it was odd how the two got along seeing some of the differences between them, but somehow, they weren't so different and in the end, they could find a friend in each other.

They took as many supplies as they could- both of them being able to carry amounts of wood that shocked the villagers- and brought them as soon as they could to the supply place near the crater that Pain created. At Kaiya's sight, Lee jumped down a small pile of wood he was sitting on along with Tenten and some of their other friends and hurried towards her, in order to greet her with a large smile.

'Are you free tonight?' He asked, and the two began walking to the small group sitting around the pile of woods.

'Yeah,' Kaiya smiled, 'Why?'

'I'd like to take you out for dinner. If you want to, of course.'

For a moment, Kaiya remembered what Lee told her just a few days ago, about how he wished to spend more time with her. A dinner out didn't sound bad at all, and she did want to spend more time with him as well.

'That would be very nice. Did you have any place in mind?'

As the two continued to chat in the distance, Naruto couldn't help but frown a little as he looked at the two. He didn't fully believe the boy that morning when he said that he had a girlfriend, but as it seemed, everything that Lee said was true.

'I still don't get it.' He said, puffing his cheeks. 'How can she like Bushy Brows so much?'

Sitting in front of him, Shikamaru sighed as he looked up. 'Don't stress too much about it, it's too troublesome. Women are impossible to understand, and both Kaiya and Lee are a little weird if you ask me. So... they're more than impossible to be understood.'

He yawned deeply as he continued to follow the clouds in the sky, without making the slightest effort to acknowledge Kaiya and Lee, who arrived. Laying on the top of the woodpile, Kiba frowned at the sight of Lee holding Kaiya's hand. It wasn't that he didn't like Lee, but it became odd to see him acting so affectionate towards his cousin. Even if he didn't fully realise, for Kiba, Kaiya was like a sister he wanted to protect at all costs from all the bad things that could happen.

'Get your hands off my cousin.' He spat.

'He's my boyfriend, Kiba.' Kaiya said, a string of annoyance making itself present in her tone. 'Relax, really.'

Kiba mumbled something displeased, as he drifted his attention to something else. Silence fell inside the group, allowing Kaiya to zone out for a moment. As she listened to the sounds around her, she couldn't help but hear a quiet conversation between two workers about how Lady Hokage was still in a coma. When she found out about the woman's state, Kaiya felt how a wave of shock and worry, but yet, not as shocked as when she found out who replaced her until her recovery.

In the meantime, the tent that served as the Hokage's office was very busy as a particular Kage meeting was approaching.

'How's Tsunade-san's state?' Danzo asked an ANBU member in his tent.

'Still in a coma, but she's becoming more stable. According to the doctors, her chances of dying are lower than a few days ago.'

Danzo sighed. He was in a tight position with little options for success. He finally reached his lifelong goal, but with Tsunade still alive, he was a mere replacement. In that moment, he was nothing more than a stupid puppet that was meant to keep everyone entertained until the main piece would return. If he made an attempt to get rid of Tsunade, there was a good chance someone would figure it out and get the word out. That would bring him a definite exile from becoming a Hokage candidate.

'Kaiya Kobayashi returned recently, didn't she?' he asked.

'Yes, sir. Just yesterday, at noon.' The ANBU member answered.

'A pity that she left the ANBU,' he mused, 'but it would be an even greater pity if she is put in a position where she can't offer her skills for the village's protection. Especially in times like this.'

'What are you suggesting, Hokage-sama?'

'Bring Kaiya to me and prepare for the Summit. We will leave soon.'

The ANBU members nodded, before spreading away, each responsible with a task. In a matter of minutes, Kaiya was brought to the tent, and upon hearing the man's suggestion, she couldn't feel more disgusted.

'Hokage-sama, with all respect due,' she said, doing her best to control her temper, 'but this is an ANBU-level mission. I'm nothing more than a jonin now.'

'But you are qualified to be an ANBU. You have skills most work for an entire lifetime. You are an opportunity I'm not willing to overlook when it comes to the village's security.'

Kaiya's cheek twitched. You mean your own safety, you old man.

'I firmly believe that there are other opportunities you can choose from.'

'I now also believe firmly that I didn't express myself enough that some farmer would understand me. When you chose to become a shinobi, you swore to devote your heart for the Land of Fire. I'm willing to give you the chance to prove yourself to me.'

Kaiya puffed in amusement. 'If Lady Hokage hears about this, you'll be in no better state than my deceased brother.'

'Not if I can help it.'

Kaiya hated everything about this. The responsibility she now carried brought Kaiya some images and memories she'd rather forget, and the fact that she didn't have to wear a mask as an ANBU made her feel naked and sick.

If Lady Hokage was here..., was the only thought that circled around Kaiya's mind ever since she left the village. It was safe to say that none of the people who knew her well were any happier- some of them even offered to team up against Danzo, something to which Kaiya had to use all her will to convince both herself and them that it wasn't a good idea.

As they walked, Kaiya looked at how the ANBU next to her made some signs with their hand, careful not to be seen by the Fire Kage. It'll be over soon. Kage Summits are boring. Kaiya looked for their scent in an attempt to memorise it, only for it to be a discovery that she already knew that smell. For a moment, she looked at Danzo, who walked in front of them. He was, most likely, still holding no knowledge of the things said to her.

She looked at the ANBU member next to her. Akira? Asumi? Is that you? The ANBU made a sign in approvance, before pausing for a moment, in thought. I'm sorry you had to find out the truth about me like that. Kaiya pursed her lips. It was sudden, but I'm not mad. Hokage's orders are Hokage's orders, and you had to respect them. Thank you for being honest with me.

Asumi smiled under her mask. The girl has been mature ever since she has first met her, but she has grown a lot ever since then. Comparing the Kaiya from now to her fourteen-year-old self from four years ago, it was obvious how she was much more understanding, now that she experienced certain things, and how she grew tougher to be led on the wrong path. In Asumi's opinion, these kind of people were always meant to go through the toughest paths, once they begin to put in their roots.

By evening, they finally reached the place where the meeting was held. It was a large building held in the middle of nowhere, not too far from some canyons. For a moment, Kaiya wondered about the intelligence of the first Kages when they decided to build such a large and obvious building, but the answer would soon come up to her.

A few hundred meters before they could reach the building's entrance, they were greeted by three men in heavy, metallic armour, with masks that hid their faces and two swords. Samurai.

'Identify yourself,' one of the samurai demanded.

'Sixth Hokage, Danzo Shimura. Replacement for Fifth Hokage, Tsunade Senju.'

The two samurai bower lightly and asked the Kage to follow them as they led him in the building. The hallways were dark, lit only by a few candles here and there at the corners. Before entering a large room, Danzo ordered the ANBU to follow a small stairway that would lead to a balcony on the inside of the room- it was the place where the ANBU members stood to get a better view in case their Kage was threatened or attacked.

The meeting started out simply- the Kages began talking about the Akatsuki and their various attacks on the villages in order to gain the possessions of the Bijuus, nothing out of the expected topic. Although interesting to hear, it was nothing Kaiya didn't know about, and it didn't fully pique her interest until they came up with the plan of a temporary alliance between all the nations. It wasn't out of the ordinary for two nations to form an alliance for one or another reason, but for all nations to put their weapons down on each other made Kaiya wonder how it was possible. Nothing like this ever happened ever since the rise of the 5 great nations.

Then, of course, while the great alliance was a good idea, arguments arose about who should be the head of all this. In this situation, Danzo was surprisingly quiet. Something wrong, Kaiya just couldn't figure out what.

'Hokage-sama,' one of the Kirigakure guards said, loudly,' please take off the bandages around your eye. I believe you stole Shisui Uchiha's eye and made it your own.

The room tensed, as all eyes were set on the Hokage. To steal a Sharingan? Kaiya's eyes widened. Kakashi-san's got a Sharingan, too!

'Shisui Uchiha? The one who's said to be on par with Itachi Uchiha?' The Mizukage asked, in wonder.

'None other. With his dojutsu capabilities, he could enter the mind of an opponent and control it as if it was his own. The one being manipulated wouldn't even notice it happening. It's a top-class dojutsu!'

The Raikage turned his head to Danzo's directions, anger shining in his eyes. 'Hokage, have you been manipulating Mifune?'

His question didn't even sound like a question anymore. It was as if he was already sure of it, the only thing allowing his mind to put it at question was his curiosity of how sincere the man was, and how he would work with such accusations.

'Hokage-sama, whatever you might try, don't think you can fool my eye, which dispelled the genjutsu put on the Fourth Mizukage!' The Kirigakure guard exclaimed.

Something in the guard's voice seemed to trigger the Raikage, but before he could have a proper reaction, a large, green plant emerged from the ground, in the middle of the room. Alerted, Kaiya and the other ANBU members put their guards up, each activating a jutsu or taking a weapon in their hands. As for Kaiya, she immediately took her tachi out and prepared for any possible attacks.

The plant opened, allowing a white, mutilated humanoid being with green short hair to appear, making various alerting questions to appear from around the room. For a moment, a mention of Sasuke could be heard, making Kaiya's eyes squint. Was that Sasuke? No, it couldn't be him. No way in hell.

'This guy,' the Tsuchikage paused, 'He's a member of the Akatsuki.'

'Hello!' The white-coloured Akatsuki member spun around the room with a bright smile. Within a second, every guard was sitting next to their Kage, prepared to protect them at all costs.

'One problem after the other!' The Raikage exclaimed, 'Now what?'

'So this is the Akatsuki?' Danzo asked, quietly.

'Seems like it, sir,' one of the ANBU members said.

'Sasuke Uchiha has snuck in!' The Akatsuki member announced happily.

'What?!' the Raikage exclaimed.

'Let's all go and look for Sasuke!'

Before he got the chance to say anything else, the Raikage grabbed the Akatsuki member by his neck and began questioning the whereabouts of Sasuke, but to no result. The Akatsuki member died before any information could've been leaked.

The Raikage cursed under his breath, before making a hole in the wall and hurrying down a hallway, leaving behind a thick cloud of dust to cover the room. Subtly and carefully, Danzo made a sign with his hand, before getting up silently and walking away, followed by the ANBU members. Kaiya pursed her lips. This bloody bastard, running away from his problems.

The man took his chance and left the room before anyone could notice. He hurried down the halls, his guards following him close by. As they exited the buildings, distant yells and yells could be heard. Kaiya shook her head lightly. Whatever happened there didn't matter so much to her anymore, the summit was finally over. She could go home.

Alas, fate wasn't by her side this time. About an hour later, just as they were crossing a bridge, a kunai landed before them. Entering in an alarmed state, Kaiya put her hand on her tachi, ready to attack at any moment. Danzo turned around for a moment, before making a quiet sign for the ANBU members to do so.

Turning around, Kaiya's eyes landed on the rather imposing figure of a masked man in an Akatsuki mask.

'It's been a long time, Danzo.' The masked man greeted. 'We haven't seen eachother since the Uchiha incident.'

Kaiya frowned. Uchiha incident? Was there a connection between this man, Danzo and that horrendous mass murder? In a way, Kaiya hoped it was just a misunderstanding. On the other hand, she realised that the old man would be capable of working and supporting something like that if that something that would be eliminated stood in his way. But still, why? How did the Uchiha wrong him?

Danzo's eyes lingered on the ground as he sighed. A large cloud of black smoke accompanied a loud booming noise. As the black smoke cleared, Danzo let his stick fall on to the ground. He took his right arm out of his jacket, to reveal a sort of odd seal around his arm.

'Fū, Torune, Kaiya, keep him occupied,' Danzo said as he tinkered the seal, 'Asumi, go back to Konoha and warn them about Akatsuki's appearance. I'm going to take the seal off.'

'Yes, sir!' The four said in unison. Three of them prepared to fight, as one of them disappeared in the forest behind them.

'Are you going to really fight me, Danzo?' The masked man asked with curiosity in his voice. The man had skills, but his stupidness appeared to be stored within him in the same amount of his best skills.

'Madara,' Danzo told the ANBU members, ignoring the man's question, 'his abilities are way beyond your God.'

'Torune, we'll attack to distract him,' The redhead ANBU member, Fū, said, ' Kaiya-sama, attack him and weaken him as much as you can.'

All the members agreed, before making their way to the so-called masked Madara. Torune and Fū jumped in the air, making the first attacks. Torune charged a handful of kunais in Madara's direction, only for him to dodge all of them effortlessly. Yet, Torune did manage to bring the man to the edge of the pillar he was sitting on, giving Fū an advantage to use his Mind Transfer jutsu, but to no use. Just as Fū was about to activate the jutsu, the Madara disappeared inside the pillar.

'He vanished into the pillar.' Fū said alarmed, as both he and Torune climbed on the pillar.

Kaiya wanted to facepalm herself. 'Fū, Torune, don't be stupid! Don't put your guards down like that!'

She jumped and stabbed the pillar on multiple places with chakra infused kunais. That'll bring him out for sure. It took a few moments, Madara eventually jumped out again. As he jumped out behind the redhead ANBU, Fū had the quick instinct to attack him with his sword. Yet again, his sword went right through Madara's head as if it was thin air. Madara turned around and grabbed the sword. Just as he was about to make an attack, Torune threw a kunai in his direction. Unluckily for Torune, the kunai went through Madara's head like through thin air, caught by Kaiya. Luckily for him, Madara got distracted by the kunai, allowing Fū to push him away.

Kaiya hurried to recollect all the kunais stabbed into the pillar, before looking for Madara. He was still standing, a few metres away from the two ANBU members. She jumped as high as she could, before throwing all her kunais towards Madara, from all directions, towards his entire body but one spot. As planned, they were all going through him. But what if...?

Kaiya pushed herself back to the ground as the kunais were still falling and grabbed Madara by the leg, pulling him off the pillar. Surprisingly, her plan worked- her hand didn't go through his leg. She took this occasion and didn't hesitate to pull the man to the ground, kunais that stabbed the ground around him. She pressed her hand against the ground, releasing the chakra that remained in her kunais from the last attack, creating a chakra wall in the ground. Seeing the man's reaction to chakra when using that technique, this had to work.

Madara activated the technique that allowed him to pass through objects, but to no use- the ground was just as hard as before. As it seemed, the girl formed some chakra strings that she attached between the kunais surrounding him. Blocked by chakra? How was this even possible? He looked at then girl and frowned behind his mask. The girl didn't look much younger than him, yet somehow, a distant yet familiar resemblance was present in her eyes. Kakashi.

'Kaiya-san!' One of the guards called out, behind her. 'Are you alright?'

Madara's eyes widened, as a memory came back to him.

'Yeah, I'm fine,' Kaiya yelled back, turning her head towards the guards for a moment, 'I immobilised this Madara guy with a chakra wall and some chakra strings! Mind coming for a second and lend a hand?'

In the distance, Danzo watched the scene unfold with a smirk on his face. Nothing less to be expected from the ex ANBU member.

Fū and Torune came next to Madara, approaching carefully. Torune knelt down and took a closer at the man who didn't move a single muscle. He stretched his hand towards the man's mask in an attempt to take it off, when the man suddenly began shaking. Torune took a step back and accidentally touched Fū's arm with his hand. Fū fell to the ground, grabbing his arm in pain as Madara continued to battle with the chakra strings until they eventually broke. Torune took Fū and jumped on the pillar, before apologising to Fū and removing a purple wound lying on his arm. Kaiya tensed as she looked at the man. The chakra strings weakened enough for him to break them. She had to work on that technique. She needed to improve.

'You.' Madara said as he approached the two on the pillar, looking at Torune, 'You're a shinobi from the Aburame clan, aren't you? A shinobi who knows secret ninjutsu. You must be Shikuro's brat. To think you're in the Foundation... Danzo, you've got an impressive ray of subordinates.'

And with that, Madara disappeared inside the pillar. Kaiya cursed under her breath as she jumped on the pillar, next to the two ANBU members.

'Torune, forgive me.' Fū said, shame in his voice.

'It's okay,' Torune answered as he took his jacket off to reveal his skin turning purple,' but don't relax. See if you can sense his location.'

Before anyone could do anything, Madara appeared behind Torune and grabbed him by his shoulders as a spiral of air conjured them, sucking Torune in. The spiral disappeared, and so did Torune.

'Torune!' Fū exclaimed.

'Oh well, it looks like my right arm has been infected with those venomous beetles.' Madara said matter-of-factly, before grabbing his right arm and twisting it in a manner that resulted in the arm making a disgusting, squishy noise. Blood. His arm fell to the ground, a white liquid flowing out from it.

'What the hell is this?' Kaiya asked as she took her tachi out.

Madara pushed his arm towards the ANBU members with his foot, before disappearing into the pillar. For a moment, Fū followed the arm with his arm and, when he returned his focus on the problem, Madara appeared in front of him, along with the air spiral that took Torune away.

'You're next.' Madara said.

A/N

Hello, everyone! How's your day going?

I may or may not have worked for nearly a month on this chapter. School, tiredness, writer's block, procrastination. That's it. That's what happened. Honestly. This chapter needed a hella lot of research because of the Kage Summit (honestly, God forbid there'd be a proper video with the Kage Summit talk on Youtube, cuz there ain't none ), and this spin was also really unplanned.

You see, there was this gap between the Kobayashi Alpha arc and the Fourth Ninja War arc I had no idea how to fill. Then, I was writing the beginning of this chapter with no idea what to do, and I thought 'Hey, new idea! Make Kaiya struggle a little and send her to the Kage Summit. It fills the gap with good tea, y'know? Kaiya finally gets to meet Sasuke properly. Shit happens.'. So I did that, and now we're here. I wrote some nice 3.9K words for all this tea. Lit.

And yeah. I think Kaiya'll return back to Konoha in the next chapter. If I may be 100% honest with y'all, I'mma wrap this shit up with Sasuke and we'll see what we do next before getting into the w a r. That'll be the real tea and I'm really excited about it.

Why?

Because I'm here! Nah, but for real, I'mma write the McFrick out of some characters that honestly deserved more screentime. I'mma add the real tea there, too. Excited? Yes. The war arc? Not so far anymore. Me? Hyped up. Hotel? Trivago.

See y'all in the next chapter!

-Avery