I only own the mother, father, Taiyou, and Michiko. I do not own Naruto.

Dear Mom, Dad, Taiyou, and Michiko,

It really pains me to do this. This is not what I had wanted at all. Yet, maybe this is something that I have always needed. As I write this letter, all I can think about is how you probably won't even notice it until I am long gone from here.

I am leaving. The reason I did not bid any of you goodbye is, well, because there really was no need for it. I love you all, and I know that you all love me in return. I know you would have wanted to say goodbye, but I think it would be better if I explained all of this through a note, rather than words. If I had confronted you about any of this, it would probably end up in confusion for you and anger for me. And we all know I don't do well with anger.

I will return. I just need a break from life. You may think there was nothing wrong with my life, and I will admit that I have lived a blessed life. But I'm leaving because of the neglected feeling that I am tired of experiencing. I think I just need some time to cool down and find my way, and maybe when I return, we can be happy again. Like it used to be.

You are my family, and I will love you always.

Love,

Kaoru

Once night had fallen, the sixteen-year-old girl placed the letter she had written on her bed and grabbed her pack. Her backpack was already filled with her essentials; she had readied herself during the day. She placed her camouflage green vest over her black tank top and adjusted her skirt with black shorts. After tying her black boots to her feet and placing her black gloves on hands, she headed towards the window of her room.

She was just about to leap out of two-story window when she remembered something. The girl quickly turned around and grabbed the colorful scarf she kept hidden under her pillow. It was her most cherished possession. Holding the silky scarf in her hands, a sense of nostalgia swept over her.

This scarf was given to her when she had turned ten. Her parents had gotten it for her on her birthday, after months and months of hearing her nags when she passed the display window of the shop everyday.

Kaoru wrapped the scarf around her neck, reveling in the soft material. She had received the scarf just before her parents had begun the trend of unconsciously ignoring her. It was almost as if the scarf was a subconscious gift that represented the final act of genuine love her parents had to give her.

Shaking off the sadness filling inside her, Kaoru Shoten turned towards the window with a new sense of determination. Picking up her backpack and throwing open her window, she slowly scaled down her house. The Sand Village homes were made mostly from brick and rock, so she was able to easily place her hands and feet on the ridges of the blocks that formed her house.

After slowly descending the building, she readjusted her outfit before walking away. With one last meaningful glance at her home, she left.

As she walked down the roads of her village, her grassy green eyes wandered all over the place, reviving memories long since passed. She would pass book stores that she would spend all day looking in with her younger sister. She would pass old sandlots that she would spend the afternoons playing with her older brother. She would pass restaurants that she would dine in with her family.

"Yeah, would spend…" Kaoru muttered.

After a while, her family seemed to drift apart. She was the middle child, and she was neglected because of it. The fact that she was nothing like either of her parents probably didn't help much either.

Her older brother, Taiyou, was so much like their father. Hayashi, the man of the Shoten household, was strong and well-built. He was athletic and always on the move, whether it be to work or to work out. Taiyou had taken after his father. He was pretty much the stereotypical boy when it came to sports, always excelling in everything he did in physical fitness.

Her younger sister, Michiko, was so much like their mother. Akahana, the mother of the family, was gifted in smarts. Her mind pretty much absorbed everything she saw, and her love for studies made her that much more intelligent. Michiko had taken after her mother. She was an average bookworm, reading constantly and enjoying every moment her brain gained knowledge.

Kaoru was right in the middle.

She was athletically built for the average teenage girl. She had some muscle tone. She participated in sports and athletic events. But it wasn't enough to earn her father's respect.

She was smarter than many of the students in her class. She received good grades, and her teachers recognized her as a student with a successful future in store for her. But it wasn't enough to earn her mother's recognition.

Kaoru huffed, her blonde hair sweeping behind her in its high ponytail as she walked. Her side swept bangs gently bounced with each step she took, and she fidgeted with the beads of some of the braided strands of hair.

Shaking her head slightly, Kaoru became lost in thoughts about her family. She didn't enjoy the feeling of being neglected, and yet, it had become such a routine in her life anymore. She was characteristically neutral in all ordeals she was involved with, and it should have made sense that she was the neutral member of the family in terms of personality.

That didn't make it any easier to accept.

The teenager sighed. She just needed some time to rethink her life. Maybe seeing the world and setting off on an adventure would soothe that annoying sense of longing she had. If her family couldn't fulfill that feeling of isolation, maybe a journey would. And this way, maybe her family would, hopefully, miss her and welcome her with open arms when she returned.

Kaoru was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't even realize that she was already at the village gates. She glanced up and saw the large wall of rock that surrounded the village, the giant walls towering over the village. The large rocks circled the village, only opening at a narrow passageway for people passing in and leaving.

She would be one of those people leaving.

The girl took in a deep breath, preparing herself for her departure. Just as she was about to enter the small alley that would lead to the outside world, she suddenly heard screams. Yells, rather, and she realized that they were shouts directed toward her.

Kaoru spun around rapidly, and her green eyes fastened on two figures running towards her. The adolescent couldn't help but appreciate the irony. The two people who were indirect causes toward her departure were the ones who would be attempting to stop her.

The two people finally made it to the gates, and they panted slightly, inhaling and exhaling to quickly catch their breaths.

"What are you doing here?" Kaoru asked.

"What do you think we're doing here? We're here to stop you!" the boy said, his voice rising with each word.

Kaoru sighed. "Taiyou, Michiko, this does not concern you."

"Of course it does. We read your note, we know why you're leaving," Michiko said, her short blonde hair slightly ruffled after running through the village.

"Why didn't you ever say anything, Kaoru?" Taiyou asked, his normally rough voice laced with the hurt he felt.

"Because it's not your fault," Kaoru replied. She slowly brushed her bangs behind her ear, her green eyes fixed on her siblings.

"We… We're going to miss you, Kaoru," Michiko choked out as tears began to fill her eyes. She quickly brought her hand up to her mouth to cover the sobs that took over her body.

"Yeah, do you really have to go?" Taiyou asked. He rarely let his tough exterior falter, but right here and now, his strong and brave personality was completely crumbling at the thought of his sister leaving.

Kaoru sadly smiled to herself. Her parents may have gradually begun to neglect her over the years, but her siblings had always noticed her. They always made her feel like apart of the group, even though she was so unique to the family. When it always seemed she was isolated, she would move to the beat of her own drum, trying to find a home within herself. And while she loved her brother and sister for always being there for her, maybe the home she really needed to search for was elsewhere.

"It's not that I have to. I want to," Kaoru said finally. She flashed a bright smile at the two before her. "I'll be back, don't look so sad! Yeesh, you'd think I was walking into my doom or something. Get a hold of yourselves!"

Taiyou and Michiko were slightly taken aback by her quick change of attitude, but they couldn't help but smile at her lighthearted personality. It was just like her to cheer others up during sad occasions.

"Okay, fine then," Taiyou said with his own smile. He grabbed his sister and pulled her into a large bear hug, his muscles slightly crushing her.

Kaoru laughed as she choked out, "Taiyou! I can't breathe!"

After another moment, he released her. "You know you love my hugs."

She smiled up at her brother. "Yeah, just watch where you keep those muscles." She turned to her sister, and they hugged as well.

Michiko sniffled. "Be back soon, okay?"

Kaoru backed up slightly to look at her younger sister. "For you… of course." She took a step back so she could look at both of her siblings. "Tell Mom and Dad I love them… and I'll be home soon…"

"Okay…" the other Shoten children said in unison.

After one last meaningful glance between the three siblings, Kaoru stepped away toward the narrow pathway that would lead to the beginning of her adventure. Waving her hand slightly as she walked away, she headed down the dark alley.

It was only moments later when Kaoru could no longer see the outlines of her siblings. The darkness of the towering gates surrounded her, enhancing the shadows that were casted by the night sky. But she continued forward, and after a little more walking, she could see the opening that led into the vast desert.

Before she knew it, the rock wall stood behind her, and in front of her, the wide and sandy desert opened out. Kaoru smiled, enthusiasm flooding her.

"This is it…" she said excitedly as she continued forward.

As she walked through the sandy plains, the cool wind blew against her form. She breathed in the crisp night air, and the breeze continued to blow passed her, almost as if it was urging her forward. Internally, she followed the direction the wind drifted towards, allowing the air to lead her to her unknown destination.

The trees of the Sound Village's forest rose high above the ground, completely blocking out the blue sky. The only sounds in the woods that could be heard were the chirpings of birds and the rustlings of the leaves.

Kazuki trudged along, his green eyes flashing around constantly, keeping alert as he entered deeper and deeper into the forest. Mentally, he sighed at the humidity that the warm weather and the large trees created. It was starting to get on his nerves, and the fact that his target was so deep inside the woods didn't help his patience.

After another twenty minutes of walking, he finally made it to the place he was looking for. At the base of one of the giant trees, a large stone staircase opened before him, going down deep underneath the earth. Before taking the first step into the darkness, the raven-haired boy turned to the cat that was settled on his shoulder.

"Ushiro. Grow," he commanded.

The small orange cat jumped from his master's shoulder, but as he descended toward the ground, a flame engulfed the cat. The animal landed on the grass on all four legs, and the flame burned more fiercely. Then the fire grew increasingly larger, and with it, the cat did as well.

The fire suddenly disappeared, as if a slight breeze of the wind was enough to blow the flame away. In the place of the small kitten was a large orange tiger with black stripes across its body. Tufts of white fur stuck out on his cheeks, giving him a wiser and older look. His teeth were extensively larger, his front fangs coming down to slightly bite at his lower lip. His eyes were yellow slits, squinting dangerously at the staircase before them.

Kazuki nodded. He wasn't going to take any chances when it came to the person he was after.

Together, the human and his tiger descended the stairs, entering deeper and deeper into the darkness. Once Kazuki and Ushiro had made it all the way to the bottom of the steps, they proceeded down the hallway extending before them, following the light of the torches that were clasped to the stone walls.

After walking for a while down the narrow hallway, more and more doors appeared from the dim light of the fire. Kazuki glanced at each one, wondering where she would be.

"Ushiro," Kazuki whispered.

The large tiger nodded his head, and he led the way further down the hallway. After passing several other doors, Ushiro finally came to a stop at a large wooden door. The boy took in a deep breath before he grasped the metal knob and pushed the door open.

Kazuki's green eyes adjusted to the even darker light of the room. A large infirmary-type of room opened before him. Several white beds were spread out through the room, and a computer was set up right next to each bed. Each computer screen showed what appeared to be an examination for a heart rate. Upon closer inspection, Kazuki realized that they were, indeed, heart rate monitors, because when he looked harder, he could see animals placed on each bed.

The boy slightly grimaced at the stench that suddenly reached his nose. It was the smell of blood, and he silently noticed that each of the animals that were on the beds was cut open, intestines and organs clearly visible.

Kazuki turned his head to examine the rest of the room, and his green eyes fell on a seventeen-year-old girl who was standing at lab table, her back turned to him. She was playing with test tubes and beakers, each filled with what Kazuki could only assume was blood and possibly some other strange chemicals she had concocted.

The girl before him was wearing a dark blue hoodie that stopped a little below her chest, allowing Kazuki to easily look at the tan skin of her back. She also wore black pants and black combat boots, and her inky black hair fell down to her shoulders.

Kazuki couldn't deny that he liked what he saw.

"Stop looking at my behind, Kazuki," a monotone voice said, disrupting Kazuki's dirty thoughts.

"Well, you certainly make it easy to look at," the Uchiha smirked.

The girl turned around quickly, her red eyes piercing into his green ones. "So, Kazuki Uchiha, to what do I owe this ill pleasure?"

"Aw, come on now, Rin. Don't tell me you haven't missed me," Kazuki said, grinning cheekily at her. His eyes shamelessly roamed over her body as she faced him, and his smile turned into a smirk. "Hmm, you have certainly grown over the five years since I last saw you."

"Oh, Kazuki," the girl named Rin said, flashing a dangerously convincing fake smile at the boy, "you haven't changed at all. You're still as perverted as ever."

"I take no offense to that," Kazuki said.

"Hmm, have you forgotten that you are a century older than me?" Rin asked, raising a slender eyebrow at him.

"With the mind of a seventeen-year-old, mind you," the boy countered.

The dim light in the room brought out his green eyes nicely, and his black hair framed his pale face. The boy took this chance to slowly circle around Rin, scrutinizing her. Any other girl would feel threatened under his gaze, feeling violated and disturbed at what they would assume was his perverted attitude taking over.

But Rin knew better. She had seen the flash of red in his eyes as he activated his Sharingan. He wasn't examining her, he was examining her chakra. He was obviously studying her to be sure that she was suitable for whatever mission he had in store for her.

"The answer is no, by the way, Kazuki," Rin said, closing her eyes as she turned away once he was done with his examination.

"No what?"

"I'm not taking any mission. I'm far too busy with my research," Rin said as she picked up various test tubes filled with animal blood.

"Oh yes, I can see how castrating poor animals is so much more important than listening to a direct command from my father," Kazuki said sarcastically as he stared at the animals, all of them cut down their front to show the bloody insides.

"If it was that important, Madara wouldn't have sent you to get me," Rin said, not even bothering to turn around to see the result of her insult.

Kazuki silently fumed at the blow towards his ego. He inhaled deeply to calm himself before he lost control of his temper. He let his hand pet Ushiro's orange fur, and it helped him to calm down a little. "So you don't want to go."

"Not in the slightest," the girl said. She picked up one test tube labeled 'X', pouring its contents into another test tube with blood already in it. The second test tube was labeled 'Tiger Blood'.

"Well… what if I told you that this mission could involve you finally getting the chance to kill…" Kazuki said as he stared at the girl. Rin was just about to turn around and retort when the boy cut her off. "Humans, I mean."

Rin's red eyes widened a bit, but they quickly relaxed as she sent him a small smile. "Well then, that changes things, doesn't it?"

"I thought it would. So how long will it take for you to pack?" Kazuki asked, a triumphant smile plastered across his face.

"I'll be out in five minutes," the raven-haired girl said as she gave her new squad leader a small but fake smile.

Kazuki and Ushiro left the room, and Rin took the time to clean up and pack her things. She glanced at the animals spread out on the beds, and she shrugged. They were all pretty much dead anyway, and those who weren't might as well be after the toxic chemicals she had been feeding them.

Rin then went about picking her most favorite and most dangerous chemicals and packed them away in her pouch. She looked over at the test tube labeled 'Tiger Blood', and after she had added the 'X' chemical to it, the blood had turned black, and it had started smoking.

On the outside, Rin Takahashi showed no emotion as she packed a sample of the blue liquid away into her bag. On the inside, she was smiling maliciously with the thought of killing.

A white blur whizzed through the green forest. A second blur of green and black followed quickly behind. The branches of the forest shook with the force of the fast-moving forms, but only slightly because of the speed the two blurs possessed.

The white shadow slowed down a bit once it reached a clearing. It turned its majestic head around to gaze back into the woods, waiting for its master. After moments of silence, a form quickly emerged from the forest, gasping loudly.

"Kumade! Stop going so fast!" the girl said as she inhaled deeply. The short girl flicked her long chocolate brown hair as she walked over to the white stag standing before her. The girl tried to glare at the deer, but her hazel eyes were laughing with excitement.

The antlered animal nuzzled his master, and she slowly patted her hand on his head. Her mini green and black kimono rustled only a little as the animal gently nudged its large muzzle into his master's shoulder.

Yuna smiled at her stag. "Stop trying to butter me up. You know that it doesn't work on me," she said, sending her pet a playful glower.

The male deer stared at his master with big brown eyes, trying to kiss up to Yuna. Kumade's ears went down, and he gave her the biggest puppy-dog look he could muster.

The brown-haired girl broke into fits of giggles. "Kumade, you know I could never stay mad at you." The white stag immediately straightened up and gratefully nuzzled his master once again. The girl softly petted his head before taking a step back. "We have all of the herbs Mother needed, we can head back to the village now. What do you think?"

The stag turned his brown eyes to the rest of the clearing, and Yuna could see the sense of longing in them. She gave her deer a reassuring smile, her hazel eyes meeting his brown ones.

"You read my mind, Kumade," she said. "How about the usual spot?"

The deer nodded his large head. He knelt down slightly to the ground so that his front legs were bent, making his body slanted yet easier to climb onto. Yuna did just that and settled herself on her stag's back. Once she was secure, Kumade darted into the forest.

The white deer quickly and majestically leaped through the woods, his antlers slightly leaned forward to block any stray branches and leaves. Yuna held on by grasping his neck, but her head was slightly raised to allow the wind to blow through her long chocolate-colored hair. A smile spread across her face; she cherished the feel of the wind blowing against her skin and through her hair and the beauty of the woods as she zoomed passed the different images that made up her clan's forest.

After moments of running, Kumade came to a stop by a river. Yuna slowly descended her seat on the stag, and she walked over to the gentle stream. She watched the blue water slowly move along, the sound of the river easing her senses and enhancing the serenity of the forest.

Yuna removed her black sandals and placed her feet in the water, taking a seat on the edge of the river. She placed the satchel that contained the various herbs she had collected along the way on the green grass. Then she removed her quiver from her shoulder, placing it beside her. She placed her bow directly next to the sheath of arrows, making for easy access if she needed them at a moment's notice.

The teenager laughed at that thought. It was a peaceful time, there was no need for aiming an arrow at anyone unless she was catching dinner.

The adolescent sighed as she let her body fall backwards, the soft grass making a comfortable makeshift napping place for her. If it was up to her, she would be able to stay there forever. It was the most peaceful place she knew of. She had come here often during her childhood, always wanting to enjoy Mother Nature's abundant gifts. And as she grew older, she came here as an escape from her life.

Yuna was an only child with two loving parents. Maybe too loving, in her opinion. They were constantly showering her with attention, which would always lead to certain expectations, which would then lead to her being annoyed at the troublesome hassles she would be forced to deal with.

As a part of the Nara clan, she was expected to learn how to create medicines from deer antlers and other herbs that came from the forest. Yuna didn't have problems with that; she enjoyed creating new things.

What bothered her was the fact that she was also expected to become the head of her clan. She was to learn everything there was to know about being in charge of her clan. Her parents were constantly pressuring her about it, and it wasn't something she was comfortable with. She wanted to have fun when she wanted, but she also wanted to be able to enjoy the tranquility that life had to offer.

Yuna sighed. Life certainly was becoming hectic lately, and it wasn't a change that she would say that she quite enjoyed. The teenager closed her hazel eyes, hoping to forget about those bothersome issues going on in life at the moment. Right now, she just wanted to relax and enjoy nature's….

A sudden rustle in the bushes behind her awoke her from her daze. With the reflexes of a cat, she stood up and grabbed her bow and an arrow from her quiver, expertly aiming at the brush. Holding completely still, Yuna held her form, awaiting the presence of the mysterious figure. Kumade stood beside her, not moving a muscle, but his eyes stared intently at the forest's edge. There was no sound except for the rustling sound coming from the bushes and the rushing of the water in the river.

After what seemed like a lifetime, a figure finally emerged from within the trees. It was a girl, Yuna noted, who looked like the same age as her. She had blonde hair pulled into a ponytail with a few beaded strands here and there. She was sporting a camouflage vest over a black tank top with a skirt and black shorts.

Yuna did not lower her bow, and the other girl's green eyes widened in surprise. "Who are you, and what do you want?" Yuna growled.

The girl quickly threw her hands up in a surrendering gesture. "Hey, whoa, lower the arrow, please. I don't mean to hurt anyone."

"Then why haven't you answered my questions? No one but the Nara clan is allowed in this forest without permission," Yuna said, her hazel eyes glaring dangerously.

The blonde straightened up, her own grassy-colored eyes challenging the girl before her. "It is normally polite to give your name before demanding another's."

Yuna stared at the girl before her. Seconds passed between the two with neither breaking the silence. Finally, "My name is Yuna Nara. My clan owns this village, and as a member, it is my duty to protect it."

"Well, don't worry about it. I'm not here to attack this forest. So you can relax," the girl said. "My name is Kaoru Shoten, and I was only passing through."

"And how does one come about just 'passing through' this forest while being so far off the path?" Yuna countered quickly, not daring to lower her weapon.

Kaoru bit her lip, a sign of nervousness, Yuna noted. Then the blonde flashed an anxious smile, fiddling with the beaded strands in her hair. "Haha, well you see, about that… I guess I just kind of got lost…"

Despite herself, Yuna couldn't help but chuckle at the way Kaoru said she was lost. After accepting the girl before her, the Nara lowered her bow and arrow. "Well, alright then. How did you get off the main path?"

"Well, this may sound stupid, but I was following the wind," Kaoru said.

Yuna thought about commenting on that, but she couldn't deny that everyone had their own little manner of travel. It was too troublesome to tell her how weird that sounded anyway.

"When I realized I was sort of lost, I suddenly heard the sound of rushing water, so I thought I would at least follow it to find my bearings," Kaoru continued. "That's when I stumbled upon you pointing that thing at me and your deer looking about ready to charge me."

Yuna softened up then, laughing at Kaoru's explanation upon meeting herself and Kumade. "Sorry about that, Kumade here is just overly protective. And I was just shocked to see anyone else in this forest."

"Understandable," Kaoru shrugged. "So… uh… where exactly am I?"

"You're in the Nara clan's forest, just outside of the Leaf Village. Where were you headed and where are you coming from?" Yuna asked. She bent down and placed her arrow back with its companions in the quiver. She slung the sheath over her shoulder, strapping her bow to her back.

"Well, I have no set destination, but I'm coming from the Sand Village," the other girl replied.

"Alright then, I'll lead you to Konoha. You can get settled there for a while, and when you're ready, you can continue to… wherever it is you want to go," Yuna said, turning off into a random direction.

Kaoru smiled as she slightly ran to catch up with her fellow teenager. "Thanks. I owe you one."

"Ah, no problem. I would have had to go back to the village anyway, it's not that bad to have another companion along the way home," Yuna smiled.

As the pair walked, the two girls became engrossed in conversation about their lives, learning more and more about one another. Two different girls with different family lives, different experiences, and different hopes for the future quickly became caught up in conversation, enjoying the friendship that had grown just from one pointing an arrow at the other.

Neither of the two girls seemed to notice that they were being watched. Kumade stopped in his tracks, his ears going back as he thought he had heard a sound. He turned his head around to stare into the forest, his brown eyes searching for something. After scrutinizing for a few minutes, the call of his master awoke him from his staring at the forest. He quickly leaped away, prancing gracefully at Yuna's side.

Sitting silently on a branch, Megumi watched the two girls and the stag walk in the opposite direction, not even aware of the Urufu's presence. The girl smirked evilly, and she absentmindedly patted her wolf pup's yellow head as she rested on her shoulder.

"Pathetic…" Megumi muttered.

She could sense that the two were gradually escaping the effect of her father's tsukuyomi, and yet, they obviously weren't doing it on purpose. Megumi could sense that much. For some odd reason, the genjutsu was just… breaking.

Normally, a genjutsu would have been broken by the victim using their own chakra to force the enemy's chakra out. Sometimes, other people had the ability to break others out of the genjutsu by inserting their own chakra into the victim's body.

But none of that was happening. It just seemed that the tsukuyomi was getting weaker. And Megumi knew for a fact that that wasn't what was going on. She silently pondered how these two girls and the deer were able to rid the effects of the Infinite Tsukuyomi. They obviously weren't very skilled if they couldn't even sense the girl and her wolf. So how did they break the jutsu?

Megumi scowled. She turned on her heel, and glanced at the wolf on her shoulder. "Inazuma," she said, addressing the pup. "Grow."

The golden-colored puppy jumped from her master's shoulder and stood beside her on the tree branch. Right before her eyes, electricity began to engulf the canine. The wolf appeared to be being electrified, but she wasn't in pain. The shocking continued, sparks of electricity leaping around in all directions.

Then, gradually, the wolf grew larger. Her golden fur looked more ragged, a result of the electricity. Her fangs were noticeably sharper and larger as she bared her teeth. Her black eyes seemed to enhance the dangerous aura surrounding her, completely destroying any remaining piece of the cute pup that had once been standing there.

Megumi smiled at her pet. "Let's go." The two took off back towards the Leaf Village, sensing that the mysterious people who could suddenly break her father's jutsu were migrating there. The girl couldn't help but smile at the irony.

The Leaf Village is where Madara Uchiha had started his rein of invincible control, and she was sure the Leaf Village would be the place where her father would crush these pests.

Kaoru Shoten belongs to cvhoneybee on TONFA. She is the descendant of Gaara.

Rin Takahashi belongs to Star of the Sky on TONFA. She is the descendant of Kabuto Yakushi.

Yuna Nara belongs to enchanted_ninja_girl on TONFA. She is the descendant of Shikamaru Nara.

Ushiro, Kazuki's tiger, also belongs to shadow4000 on TONFA.

Inazuma, Megumi's wolf, also belongs to lilmissmindy on TONFA.

I hope you liked this!