Chapter 5

Karasu sat on the balcony of a small apartment overlooking the ocean. The warm ocean breeze gently brushed against her body. Her face was pale and bags had formed under her eyes. She smiled softly at her journal as she wrote, occasionally looking out to the horizon.

It's been five months since I arrived here in Getsugakure, and four months since Minori

left. Ever since we arrived here, my nightmares grew worse. I guess after a month's worth of sleepless nights and frustration, Minori had enough of me. I don't blame him. He has nothing to gain from helping me. I almost pity him, but I don't know him all that well so he hasn't earned the privilege of my pity. I can't let nightmares stop me from finding the information I need. It's just troubling because I see the same thing over and over again, night after night. I see the day my father killed my mother and grandfather in cold blood. I see their faces, I see his face. No life resides in any of them.

I've been fortunate that Getsugakure is so far off Konoha's radar, that I've been able to seek sanctuary here. I don't have much but everyday proves to be fruitful. I've been practically living in their library and reading up on as much as I can pertaining to the moon. The people here seem to be more attuned to it than the rest of the world. Some of the books I've read, mention how the moon granted them power to used in everyday life like medicine and spiritual cleansing. At least, that is what I could understand. The style of writing is very complicated and old.

Karasu made herself some breakfast and went to the library to search for more information. Hours went by and she stumbled upon something which changed everything. To afraid to speak the words aloud, she reviewed the information mentally.

"It says here that the moon granted the people great power, much of which was used for good, however all power has a darker side. When severe punishment was to be passed, they used the moon to induce mental insanity. It caused such convincing hallucinations that if the victims didn't drop dead of cardiac arrest, they would take their own lives." She covered her mouth in shock with eyes wide open. "There were ancient temples dedicated to each of the gifts the moon provided the people of Getsugakure. Just as a temple was dedicated to rejuvenation and healing, so was there for this power to pass what they considered judgment. From what the text describes, the temples are were the focal points of those gifts, therefore had the greatest concentration of that particular lunar power there."

She flipped through the book until she found what looked to be a map showing the locations of each temple. Each temple had its own unique symbol. The temple of judgment's symbol looked similar to a sharingan eye. From what it looked like, the temple's location was the closest to her apartment. She began to wonder if her reoccurring nightmares had something to do with it. It was just a gut feeling guess, with no evidence to support it. She carefully tore the map from the book and left to find the temple.

The forest was thick, if there was a temple somewhere, it was going to be near impossible to find. Hours went by and Karasu stumbled through the tropical forest. Vines, weeds, roots, and a whole assortment of plant life hindered her mobility and vision. Hours passed and the temple was nowhere to be found.

"Son of a... where is this temple?!" she exclaimed in frustration.

She was tired of searching and frustrated because she wanted to be done with this. She wanted her answers and she wanted to confront her father again.

"Maybe I'll see something from the sky?" she thought to herself. She formed paper wings and fluttered to the top of the canopy. She scanned the area for any signs of the temple or a temple for that matter. Nothing.

The sun was going down and by nightfall, she wouldn't be able to see anything. Time was running out. Then then had a strange thought. She thought about it for a bit and decided it wouldn't hurt to put it to the test. More hours went by and night was upon her. She gazed up at the sky and saw the moon overhead. It's light hazily filling the night sky and the landscape down below. Karasu looked out and saw beams of light shooting down into specific parts of the islands tropical forest. About a hundred meters away was one of those beams.

"So my hunch paid off. Their locations can be found at night." she said to herself smirking. She glided off into the distance to where the moon beam was directing her to.

When she landed she froze before the sheer size of the temple. The columns on either side bore the mark which matched the one in her map. This was the right place. As she stepped forward, her head became hazy. It was as though a force was compelling her to pass out. She fought it and continued into the temple to look for clues.

Karasu lit a torch and explored the inner sanctum. Upon the alter were scrolls which had been abandoned for many years. She carefully opened one up and recognized some of the scripts and words. Some of the symbols also looked familiar and it seemed she was lucky and found the exact scroll he needed.

All of a sudden, she lost her breath and began to pant frantically. It was that feeling again. Her mind growing more hazy, her vision beginning to blur. She tried to fight it but failed. She fell to the ground and rolled on her back. Looking up at the ceiling, she could barely make out an opening which revealed a full moon overhead.

"Shhh. Calm yourself Karasu. Everything is going to be ok." a familiar voice said to her.

"You, it can't be!" Karasu exclaimed.

"Karasu, you're too worked up, you're going to suffocate." her father replied calmly. Don appeared kneeling down next her placing his hand on her shoulder.

"This can't be. How can you be here?" she asked.

"I've always been here, Karasu." Don said stroking her hair gently.

"Why did you come back?" she asked.

"Because I have some unfinished business." Don said.

"What do you mean?" Karasu asked.

"Killing you!" He said devilishly and he wrapped his hands around her throat beginning to choke her.

"D...dad. Stop!" she said brokenly as the air was being cut off from her lungs. "Wait. This can't be. This isn't real. It feels so real though. I have to fight it!" she thought to herself.

She quickly made a hand sign, formed her wings and blew her father off of her. "You aren't real!"

"Oh, I'm very much real Karasu. I can no longer allow you to live any longer." Don said.

"Come and get me, old man! Killing you will make me feel better after you murdered Mom and Grampa." Karasu said taking a defensive stance.

Don disappeared into the shadows and reappeared right behind her. Karasu felt a sharp pain piercing her back. She knelt with Don holding a blooded knife in his hand. Blood trickled from her mouth.

"Sir, shall we engage?" an anbu agent asked.

"Hold your position. Whatever is happening to her now, it's killing her." the anbu captain said.

"What exactly is killing her?" the agent asked.

"You mean to tell me you haven't felt it in the air yet? This place wreaks of genjutsu, a horrible nasty kind. One like I've never felt before." the captain replied.

"I have been feeling a bit strange, sir. That would explain a lot." the anbu replied.

"It can't end like this..." Karasu thought to herself. "I've only just begun. I... I have to see my real father again. I have to make him pay for what he did!"

With a cry of anger, Karasu's body began to glow green. Her family's bloodline possessed the ability to access green chakra which had an assortment of unique properties. One of which was gaining power from the moon.

"You aren't real! I will not be stopped by some cheap trick and I will destroy anyone and anything that stand in my way!" Karasu screamed.

The green chakra surged through the cracks in the stone. The whole temple was now lit green. A tree sprung from the ground just a few feet from Karasu and the projection of her father.

"Now die!" she screamed and the leaves blew off the tree and became gold. She directed them at her father. He became engulfed in a bright light and vanished.

"I don't believe it. Whatever she was fighting is now gone. Quickly before she regains a sense of reality!" the anbu captain said.

Karasu shook her head and as she reached for the scroll to put it in her back, she was attacked by the multiple anbu agents sent to kill her.

"No way, how did you guys find me here?" she asked.

There was a stone cold silence among them. The anbu captain made a signal and the agents attacked her. Karasu slipped into the shadows only to be cut off before she could escape.

"You aren't going anywhere this time. Your life is over." the anbu said.

Karasu's anger began to swell even more now. Her body again engulfed in green chakra. "No, it's your life that's over..." she said in a dark tone.

She made a hand sign, expelling her chakra throughout the temple. The air became thicker and hazy. The anbu began to act insane.

"What's happening?!" the anbu in front of Karasu asked. He began to hallucinate that demons now inhabited the temple. His mind had been lost to the genjutsu of temple.

As Karasu walked out of the temple, the anbu agents were slaughtering each other thinking they were seeing demons attacking them.

Day later, word reached Konoha that the anbu agents were brutally murdered. Sasuke and the anbu lead captain were infuriated by this news.

"There is no way she could have taken out my best men. I don't understand!" the lead captain shouted.

"Now, now, captain. I'm sure there is a reasonable explanation as to why your men failed." Sasuke said.

"You seem to be awfully calm about this situation. Do you realize what kind of power she is about to unleash?" the captain barked back.

"I do, however try to look at the bigger picture here. Right now, she's on the move and there's only so many placed she could be. Given her track record of luck right now, we won't be able to stop her until she has everything she needs." Sasuke said.

"What are you trying to say, just leave her uncontested and complete her mission? No! She'll kill us all." the captain said.

"That's only half true. What I'm merely saying is let he gather everything she needs so when she's ready to perform the jutsu, she will be in one place and easier to take down. Doing that jutsu the old fashioned way take a lot of preparation and she will be most vulnerable then." Sasuke said.

The captain grunted "I don't like it one bit but you make a very valid point. We'll keep close tabs on her and when the time is right, we will end her life."

Karasu fled the moon kingdom and did stop until she found herself in the land of bears, near where Hoshigakure was located. As she entered the village she looked around for a place to stay. She found an inn and booked a room. When she entered her room, she saw a letter sitting on the bed addressed to her.

When she picked it up, it only had one sentence.

"Meet me in Uzushiogakure in three days. - Sasuke U."

Three days later, Karasu met up with Sasuke. The desolate area was a depressing sight. To think that not even a hundred years ago, this place used to be a civilization. All that was left were ruins and rubble. No one to be found. It was empty. This was probably one of the best places to meet since no one would ever think to search for a wanted criminal in a place like this.

"Karasu it's nice to see you made it." Sasuke said relieved

"Let's get down to business. I don't have the luxury of time. I've had some really bad people on my tail sine I left the village." Karasu said bluntly.

"Now, now, Karasu, the anbu aren't all bad people. They are just doing their jobs." he replied.

Karasu looked shocked. "How did you know?"

"I have friends among the corps and they keep on complaining about a young girl who keeps outwitting them. You've caused quite the stir among the anbu. I know they are desperately trying to find you. I don't want them to because they have orders to kill you, no questions asked. I want you to see your father again." Sasuke said.

"Everywhere I go, they keep fining me. It's only a matter of time before they catch me and kill me. What place could possibly be safe for me?" Karasu exclaimed.

"Right under their noses." Sasuke said.

"I'm not moving back to Konoha, that's the worst place!" Karasu said.

"In a matter of speaking. You won't be going to Konoha. There's a place I know of that might be of use to you. It's in the land of dreams; on the border of the land of fire. You'll be close enough to where you'll be under the radar. I'll personally escort you there. However, as a necessary precaution, you will need to take on a new identity." Sasuke said.

"Strange, that was where I was going to anyway. I guess great minds think alike." Karasu thought to herself. When she heard she had to change her identity, she looked at Sasuke curiously, "What do you mean new identity?"

Sasuke held out a small bag of things to her, "Inside is everything you'll need, and you'll want to grow out your hair too."

Karasu looked in the bag to find a container of silver hair dye and blue contacts. "Do I really have to do this? I like the hair I inherited from my mom."

"I know you do, it's only temporary. However, that's the exact reason why you need to dye it. You're too recognizable because you look exactly like your mom." Sasuke replied. "So, go on and get ready. I'll be waiting and we can be on our way."

When Karasu was finished, she stepped out from behind one of the buildings looking almost completely different.

"Well now, I barely recognize you. I doubt anyone else will be able to either." Sasuke said pleased.

After a week of nonstop traveling, Sasuke and Karasu reached the land of dreams. There Karasu planned on studying the effects of dreams in Yumegakure. Hopefully here, she would have the peace she desired to figure out a way to see her father again.

"Just beyond that clearing is Yumegakure. Before we part ways, have you thought of a new name for yourself?" Sasuke asked.

She nodded. "I think I'll keep it simple. I'll go by Kara."

"Very well then, Kara. I wish you the best of luck." Sasuke said waving goodbye and leaving.

Karasu departed ways with Sasuke and entered the village. At first she caught some weird glances. A complete stranger in a small village would draw attention. She explored the village some before she finally left for the outskirts. She decided to live just outside the village in the forest so she could be alone and do as she pleased without drawing attention. She used her wood element jutsu to create herself a fully functioning home. It wasn't too big but just enough to accommodate her. She placed it by a stream which was located some distance away from Yumegakure. She bought supplies and then rested for the remainder of the day.

That night, she began to dream of her father again.

It was pouring rain from the blackened skies above. Karasu stood before the entrance to Amegakure and up ahead, she could barely make out the person, but it looked like her father. He was walking into the village at a slow pace as if he carried a huge weight on his shoulders. Karasu decided to pursue the person. When she got close enough, she identified the person as her father.

The rain soaked Don's body. His clothes drenched and his hair sagging over his face. In his hands, he carried a bouquet of flowers. He followed an all too familiar path until he came to an all too familiar grave. The headstone read "Konan, a loving woman who left behind the sole remainder of her heart." Don knelt down, placing the flowers on her grave. Karasu standing next to him as this all unfolded.

"Hey Konan. Sorry it's been a while since I last visited. Of all days, I choose to visit you on the anniversary of your death. Please don't think I've stopped caring. There's a lot going on right now and let's just say work is keeping me busy... Please forgive me." Don said.

Karasu looked over at her mother's grave. Don did say Konan had died years ago and their love was never able to fully blossom. Here, she nor her mother existed.

"I miss you so much Konan..." Don sobbed.

Konan looked over at Don's back as a mysterious light began to illuminate behind him. Her eyes widened as she couldn't believe what she saw. Her mother materialized behind her father, kneeling down behind him with her arms wrapped around him in a warm embrace.

"M...mom?" Karasu said on instinct, unable to contain the sight of her mother.

Konan looked up and over to Karasu and just smiled. She walked over to the front of Don and leaned into him for a kiss. She stroked his hair gently for a few seconds before standing back up to approach Karasu.

"So you are me and Don's daughter?" Konan asked calmly.

"Y... Yes. I am." Karasu replied nervously unable to think of what to say to the ghost of her mother.

Konan embraced Karasu and smiled with tears in her eyes. "Karasu, I can't tell you how happy it makes me to know that somewhere in reality, you exist."

Konan fell to pieces and hugged her mother back. "I'm so happy to see you again. I've missed you greatly. But how did you know my name?"

"Your father has told me all about you. When he first came back from his dream world, he was here almost the very next day to tell me about all that had happened during his twenty years there." Konan replied.

"He did that?" Konan asked very shocked.

"He did. He was a bundle of emotions that day. He was happy, but distraught. He was pained the had to leave you behind the way he did, but when he spoke about you, he spoke with pride. As prideful as a parent could ever be." Konan replied.

"I may have forgiven him, mom, but I still want to make him pay for what he did. He destroyed my life and now I'm paying for his sins!" Karasu exclaimed.

Konan looked over at Don, "Karasu, tell me, who do you see there?"

"I see the bastard I'm going to kill if I ever get my hands on him!" Karasu replied.

Konan placed her hand on Karasu's shoulder, "Take a closer look."

Karasu stood behind her mother's tombstone and observed her father. She just stared at her father who knelt in front of her mother's grave clutching the necklace she had given him before he returned home.

"Tell me, who do you see there?" Konan asked.

Konan looked to her mother displeased. "I see a pitiful excuse for a father."

As she said these words, her dream ended, and she woke with tears in her eyes. She wiped them from her face and bitterly mumbled, "Pitiful excuse for a father, tch."

Karasu ate her breakfast, got dressed and headed into the town to see if there was any place where she could research what the village knew about dreams. As she looked around at building to building, she was abruptly called out to by an older woman.

"You, yes you with the blue eyes and the silver hair that shines like the moon, come here!"

Karasu turn and saw the old woman beckoning her over to her so she approached her.

"Can I help you, ma'am?" Karasu asked.

"The real question is what can I do for you?" she old woman replied.

"I'm in a bit of a hurry, so please get to the point." Karasu replied as politely as possible.

"I can tell by your looks that you are deeply troubled by your dreams. I'd bet a mountain of gold that you've lost sleep many of nights because of it. Probably driven away some people you care about, haven't you?" the old woman proclaimed.

"Even if that were true, how would I be sure that you aren't bluffing?" Karasu replied.

"Call me a woman who has extensive knowledge of the dream world. It is a realm which we mortals have the ability to visit, but only for a limited time while we sleep. It serves many purposes and stands to grant us great benefits if we are willing to learn how to properly connect to it." the old woman replied.