Under the shimmering bask of the early glow, a sparrow gracefully landed onto the windowsill of the Uzumaki Household. Pecking the glass panel and chirping away to the approaching resident. It hovered back before the window flew wide then settled down onto the soothing branch of Kina Hyuuga. She stripped away the scroll latched on its leg and began reading with squinted eyes contemplating over the encrypted message. 'A new mission already?' She perked up in thought, her pale skin glistening in the soft light.
'Today? Protocol A-B-012…' They ought to notify her sooner so she could prepare beforehand but as the mission stated, it will take little time to proceed. Acknowledging the message has been sent, the sparrow flew away to its flock leaving her to ponder how the mission shall be executed for as far as she knew, it will be fairly straightforward.
Eyes gleaming with determination, it soon dwindled when she felt a timid tug on her pajamas. 'Oh right…' Since her roommates are out striving for their dreams, she was left to babysit the sole survivor of a late incident. The young girl looked up to her with googly eyes even without intention. Hunger riddled her, that she could tell. Kina felt compliant from the sympathetic urges she received from Naruto and decided to take responsibility as a caretaker. Isolation would cause a disheartening effect to her notoriety if discovered. "Come on! We're going shopping~!" Taking her small hand, they left through the door for the day's beginning.
"Iruka-san isn't available. I will be your substitute for the day." Mizuki announced and Naruto perked from his seat seemingly disappointed because he intended to request for noteworthy advices.
'Well, guess that couldn't be helped…'
Three weeks has passed since the 'incident' and the Genin exams were not far either. After his request to the Sword Shaman to train him, he has been painstakingly building up his progress under strict regulation from the trainer herself in his 'leisure' time. A couple of weeks of progress may not seemed to be enough but she could see the potential kindled far beyond the horizon. She expected him to have given up for the first two days of her brutal training course and as time went by, she felt satisfied but the ant has yet to reach the mountain top.
Blonde locks swaying and droplets dripping into the lush green landscape, Naruto Uzumaki grunted expanding his muscles into his arms whilst bobbing his upper body like clockwork.
"How many has it already been-Amena-chan?!" He asked raspily to the raven haired sat nonchalantly on his back as he does diamond push-ups under the cloudy skies.
Arms crossed and brows furrowed, she examined the scroll on her legs then looked to him meekly. "It's not like I'm asking you to do crossfit. Well, 100 starting from 0." Gobsmacked, he carried on doing push-ups staring spitefully at the mud of sweat breeding below. "Did you know the Capitol houses multiple prestigious clans?"
"Y-Yeah!" He heavily shrugged his shoulders slowly pushing down as a strand of grass tickled his nose. "Uchihas, Hyuugas, Senjus et cetera. Increased prior to the Recollection." He pushed back up glancing up at her. "You've been studying about the Capitol for quite a while now, are you planning to go there? Or perhaps considering to go back to your clan…"
What intrigued her about him that he can be awfully perceptive. She mildly shook her head, her bangs swaying gently with the breeze. "The seed doesn't go back to its former roots. I'm simply interested or more evidently, curious."
"Nothing good I suppose. It's a mean and nasty place."
"You've left the village before?"
Expanding his biceps once more sweat beading down his chin, he straightened his spine as he was given a contemplating look. "Multiple times, I've been there only once." He turned his head with a lively expression. "It's actually a great place at first glance. The culture, the food, the architecture. It's ridiculously huge, took me days to get by and around just to find the centre."
"The people?"
He shrugged continuing his physical exercise. "Kind and nasty within a wide variety, just like every other places. There I met a nice lady who offered me food in exchange for work. Anyway, the people there are quite suspicious to shady foreigners so since I was a kid, I managed to blend in quite fittingly. When I dove in deeper...I wished I had turned back."
"Hm?"
He tensed up. "Nothing, I forgot my froggy-chan and scavenged from the trash instead." He said jokingly and managed to avoid the topic. "So what makes you keenly interested?"
"Nothing much…just rumours." Her tone was low and quite forgivingly distant. She did not say anything much after that and Naruto knew not to pester too much on it.
Upon completion, they stood across from each other and Naruto was eager to continue despite his obvious sign of exhaustion. "Come on Amena-chan, what's next?! I'm all fired up!"
"...?!" She meekly stared at the sweat drenching blonde and nodded passively. "Alright then, the reason I made you go through this exercise was because you are lacking in most physical attribute, especially in strength."
He perked his head to the side in confusion. "Why's that? I can mostly do everything else with ease. I don't see why this has anything to do with my lack of chakra control."
It's true bodily strength is way above average and looked muscular well enough, but that wasn't the case. "Besides that, mastering your body is the first step to self control. And I'm not telling you to go around shouting gibberish nonsense walking with hands...but to see how far you can go." He nodded though he only understood part of it and her expression suddenly darkened. "You'll be doing this as long as you live and if I see you slack without permission, you have me to answer to."
'Please, you're enough…'
The Uchiha smirked and stood imposingly. "This next step requires you to hit your limit. The only control involves will be expanding your boundaries. Are you ready?"
He nodded.
In day, the market district is crowded as it always been. Goods for the trade, stocks filled up day to day for supply and demand. This is where a certain Hyuuga begins her mission. She disguised herself as an ordinary civilian wearing contact lenses with her child following by her side. They have already bought the necessities for their household but then something caught her eye. She pulled the young blonde haired girl who was taken aback then drew out a lovely looking dress.
"I think this'll look cuuuute on you."
She blushed nervously at the thought of wearing it and hold onto her stuffed bunny. "I-I don't know. I already have enough clothes to begin with…" She cast her eyes away from the kind Hyuuga.
'She's too innocent…' Kina bent eye level then lip forward with tear filled gesture. "Please Kobato-chaan, this is your one time opportunity. Then let it go to waaaaaste." She whined.
As predictable as a child should be, Kobato flushed at her cries. "B-But it's embarrassing!"
"It'll make your Nii-chan crrrryyy!"
"No it won't!"
"Then it'll make your Nee-chan fall into depressiooon!"
"It looks e-expensive!"
"Can't you tell tell what I'm trying to teach you?!"
"huh?"
Kina-"Exploitation!"
Kobato-"I don't understand…"
"Are you gonna buy it or are you giving me free laundry?" A young brunette walked up to them seemingly amused to their exchange. Kina stood apologetically whilst Kobato cast down in guilt.
"I'm sorry for causing a scene in front of your store." She passed the dress to the clerk before realizing it was drenched by her fake tears.
They exchange glances until the clerk spoke casually. "It's no big deal. And by the way, that's not how you should convince an innocent girl. It may work in the future but you're doing it wrong."
It was almost like a challenge to her so she rested her chin onto her palm in a seemingly keen gesture. "Oooh? So I should expect you to do better?"'Why does she look so familiar?'
"Did I scare you?" Her narrow gaze pierced his heart as he never saw this side of her except the time she tried to murder him.
He bolt to his feet sweat beading down his face then pointed a provoking finger at her. "N-No way! You almost scared the jesus outta me! A fair warning would be appropriate…"
She smirked, seemingly pleased at his reaction as he walked closer. "That aside, I've merely shown my raw power but it doesn't fair well to real world situations. I may have broken the second stage but it'll take years to muster all Eight gates."
The Uzumaki gawked in disbelief. "We're going to learn the Eight Gates?!"
She mildly shook her head. "Unfortunately, no."
He dejected his shoulders. "Aww man...that would've been cool." Not to mention excruciating.
However, she had a devious smile on her face which he could hardly tell. "Better yet, you're going to learn something far superior." Naruto perked up in suspense as she took out a plan white Triage card out of her battle kimono.
"What is it?"
"This is a Chakra Gauge. It measures how much chakra you can potentially harvest. Pour a little bit of your chakra and the card will indicate the level in the form of a colour spectrum: Grey means low, Green Moderate and Red means High. You'd get the idea." She pour a portion of her chakra and the Triage card 'soaked' itself from blue to red. "My current level is blue so if I somehow managed to hit the red marker repeatedly, it'll continue to expand. Never is there a limit for human achievement."
She tossed the card over and Naruto was in awe also seemingly curious. Once he began pouring, he was grinning excitedly expecting the best of his result. It earned a brow as his trainer began noticing a faint bluish glow bursting like bass on the high. "YES!YES!YES!" He shouted as the card drenched itself to his rightful expectancy.
"..."
"..."
"Is...that it?" The blonde said blankly as both of them locked eyes to the card - similar to the toxic radiation in the mainstream. Drenched and squishy.
"Snickers~"
"Don't mock me…"He couldn't believe it himself, he poured so much effort and concentration into it and the result were hands down, complete mockery. "Where did I go wrong..."
Amena tried to hide her laughter flashing back to his excitement and now complete utter disappointment. Though in the back of her mind, she shared similar reaction as him. It's the first time she witnessed such a thing so much as being a complete mystery to her. Collecting her ease of thought, she pried the soggy card from his hands and went back to her usual pose adding an amused curved to it. "I think we'll call it a day. Let's get some lunch."
His face once again lit up in joy. "ICHIRAKU'S!"
'Seriously, where have I met her?'
The rogue Hyuga asked herself for the hundredth time as she watch the brunette in an attempt to convince Kobato to try out the lovely dress she was rooting for. Her hair was gracefully long as it should be, naturally reaching down to her mid back. Eyes wide and deep as the earth. Smile contagious to the heart.
The clerk gently perked the gothic lolita dress forward motioning for Kobato to caress its sleeve. "Did you know this dress was worn by a famous princess?"
"Princess?"
She shook her head. "Not just any princess, she was a practitioner of the dark arts. A necromancer. Forbidden by peasants who deemed it heresy."
"What happened?" There was a spark in her eyes and the clerk knowingly smirked.
"A legend tells a tale of a young vampire capable of shrouding the world in darkness. She can turn mortals into chained slaves by the wave of her hand commanding them to bid her will. She reign the lands and build her own kingdom but never had she cease her dominance over the next. She was merciless, laughed at the misery of humanity! However, her crude ruling caught the attention of the Heavens." Kobato gasped. "Warriors of Asgard descended from the sky and waged a fierce long war against her slaves then finally overthrowing her fiery throne, ceasing her tyranny."
"What happened to her?"
The brunette continued to pull the strings drawing her to the myth. "She was baptized, reduced to nothing but an addition to the ashes. What the Sages say, when legend meets time, a legacy is born. And so her dress remains. Some believe she was never completely banished, for her downfall was the impossible and her soul was tempered."
"Does that means...she's still alive?"
She shrugged her shoulders. "Who knows? That may be the case. She may still be roaming in the souls of time waiting for the right moment to be reborn…" The women pointed to the tiny heart of the awe-inspired girl. "...or in the hunt for a worthy protege."
By now, Kobato was surrounded by sparkles staring flashing wide to the gothic dress. The brunette ease her grin and let the girl clutch to the dress. "If it fits, you may be the one." Without further ado, the yellow flash disappeared into the changing room.
"Not bad…" Kina complimented causing the clerk to boast in motion of her accomplishment. "I gotta admit, that was rather convincing. But that was crude of you, lying to a little girl."
No shame, no pay. "Well, you can't always expect kids to be grown ups. Their imaginations could go out of proportions sometimes. The dress has been in my family's possession for quite possibly decades and still in pristine condition." But then she remembered she's interacting with a customer. She bowed respectfully. "It wasn't all a lie, it's actually based on The Red-"
"-Fury Necromancer." Kina finished surprising the storyteller. "I'm as surprised as you are, though quite a sugar-coated twist you added there. In actuality, she fell in love with a mortal which significantly weakened her. Weakness exposed, she was exploited which then led to her utter demise by the betrayal of her love and war. Hammered to a star. Castrate to death. The End."
The clerk frowned. "I don't like the end."
"Neither do I." There was an awkward silence surrounding them until a silly looking rooster crossed between them oblivious to the atmosphere within a bustling street. "It's Atsumi by the way…" Kina gave away her forged name.
"Ichiraku Ayame…" It sparked a split second reaction from the disguised Hyuga as Kobato make her appearance looking aspiring than ever before.
She looked like she wore it in a rush out of will. "Nee-chan! How do I look?" Kina keenly observe head to toe, chin to finger with a contemplating look.
"Hmmm, I think there's something missing here."
"Oh!" The clerk perked up then pull out a maiden's scarf out of thin air and knot it over the young girl's head. "Now you look like an exact replica of her!" The girl brightens up once more for being dressed as her new role model. Atsumi paid for the price but she was told to hold on for a moment as the woman went off back. She came back with a carrying bag and opened it up for Kobato to see.
"What's this?" Inside were various items such as DVD's as well as fairly thick book.
Ayame gave her an earful grin. "They're artifacts from the dark era, accept this as an honour for your upbringing(purchase). They may come in handy."
Kobato gasped in hard and looked up to the clerk as if her destiny has finally being known. "Arigatou!" Ther clerk waved them off as they blend into the crowd just in time for another customer to show up.
Kina was smiling in satisfaction upon hearing the young girl humming a soft tune as they walked hand in hand. This may be the first she had seen her happy other than putting up a feebly fake smile. Feeling a pair of affectionate eyes peering into her, Kobato shift side to side and blushed at her stare.
"What?"
She shook it off dismissively. "Nothing…" Unbeknownst to Kina, this moment was treasured and lock safe in the chest of memories.
He doesn't know when was the last he had taste such delicacy. His mouth is practically watering with anticipation as he was metres away from his favorite food stand. The only thing that's holding him back from acting like a complete savage was his strapon in the pain trainer.
"I can't think of any better reward than this." The Uchiha thought out loud erecting an exasperated look from her disciple.
"Reward? You mean I have to earn it?!" Two weeks of pain and torture for this?! He wouldn't actually complain in fear of her devilish persona but this is sedition!
She flock it off over her head. "Like I said, your diet isn't exactly ideally good not to mention your tendency to sleep right after a meal. Besides, there are very specific benefits for a healthy lifestyle. At least I never forced you into consuming only vegetables. Not a reasonable way to do things. But, I digress."
She's right though. How could he complain? As they approach the ramen stand, Naruto dashed through the blinds expecting to face his childhood heroes. "Huh?" The counter doesn't seemed to be tended in the moment but the boiler is still on. "Seems like he's at the back." They sat side by side patiently waiting for the chef to show up. The atmosphere turn chilly as Naruto sat quietly meaning to ask a question. "Uh...Amena-chan."
"Yes?" She amusingly perked her head to the side seeing Naruto shifting uncomfortably on his seat trying come up with a question. "You know you can ask me anything, right?"
He bit his lips and brace in. "What made you decide to train me?" She was taken aback as there was a deep curiosity looming in his eyes.
"Why'd you ask?"
He tapped the counter like an amateur pianist and looked back at her. "Well, I never thought that someone would one day pull me out of my self-deluding misery." He said it with such admiration and gratitude that it felt like nail was planted into her chest. "You went as far as pulling me up for accomplishment, train me like hell, urging me what I meant to be. All the while respecting my innuendo. It takes a special kind of person to do that!" Nail after nail clot her blood pressure to her head. "Uhh...Amena-chan?" A bead of sweat trickled down his head for there was the darkening of uncertainty and inaudible mumbling.
What is this feeling?! Why is she feeling so embarrassed by his heartfelt sense of obligation? She thought she had finally grown into him! Okay! Calm down! Remember your training and compose yourself! Don't show him this side of you.
Amena did a 360 on her stool and faced Naruto like a typical Uchiha...which didn't help much to disperse his deepening confusion. "If I you aren't a threat how am I supposed to kill you?" Her voice was stone cold that sent a shiver to any staredown.
He was severely deflated by the answer. Completely. "Oh...I see. You're right." He faced away avoiding eye contact with the distraught Uchiha. OH NO! NONONONO! Why did she say that?! Before she could slam her head, Naruto smirk from the corner of her eyes. "Heh, you can try."
"Huh?"
He flashed his foxy right at her. "You heard me! After this, I'm going to be ten times stronger than you! I don't care what it takes, even if it's you murdering me in my sleep. You'll see...you will not underestimate me again! I can guarantee you that" Suddenly, a unanimous determination rose from his eyes completely taking Amena once again, off guard.
For what seemed like eternity, she sighed in relief and satisfaction then forward her engrossing gaze to the enigmatic blonde. "If you cling onto those empty words for too long, you'll lose your way. Just another person living in an unsavory life. But…" Her smile widened, just a bit. "...if what you say is nothing but promises, then I'd like to see you try."
His contagious smile grinned viciously at her. "Oh yeah?! One of these days you're going acknowledgement me as your equal."
"Huh? You want to hold a candle for me? Tch, as if. A torch is brighter than your hair."
"Dammit!" He retorted and his slammed his head onto the table emitting a vibrant shock just enough for the bell to ring.
'You're so weird…I wonder...'
Ring!
"Coming!" The voice of an older man coming closer shouted from the back has ward off the gloom from Naruto.
Strangely, he grinned ear to ear as he hovered his attention towards the guilt-driven Uchiha. "Amena-chan, watch this." He whispered as an aproned man stood before them.
"What would you like to have?"
He pop his head off the counter without neither looking nor consideration…"Yes, do you serve Blue Waffles?"
"We used to but your mom stopped working." His partner snickered. He was baffled not by the comeback but by an unfamiliar voice and realized he was talking to a brown haired stranger. "Uh...do I know you?"
The man frowned then feebly hand out the menu. "Sir, that's none of your business. Now, what would you like to have?"
"Raizo, that's not how you talk to your customer." Naruto looked behind the man and there stood Teuchi looking disappointed.
The man grunted. "What? A man without respect deserves none!"
"If a man of respect knows well then he keeps his virtues to himself." Teuchi gave his humble reply leaving no room for a counter argument. "Now, move on."
Raizo stared up in the distance then put on a really strained smile. "My apologies, sir and madam. What would you like to have?" Both glanced to each other and proceed to their orders. He wrote them down and went off to the boiler.
"Remember, not too hot as your head."
"Aye."
Teuchi sighed and apologized to the pair. "I'm sorry about that. Things had gone way south for him these past few weeks. The lad found a job, gets robbed. Got his earnings, gets mugged. Rent an apartment, fire. Kicked out from three other jobs due to mistreating of customers."
Naruto shrugged it off. "Harsh, why did you take him in? He doesn't seem to remember me…" Observing the new employee, he noticed burnt marks and scars engraved on his arms. Old and recent.
"Pay him a good wage and my protection fees will be free for the next few months. Strings attached my boy." Naruto nodded and Teuchi noticed his eyes shifting around. "If you're looking for my little girl, she's running the family's ol shop. Can't leave her with him…" He whispered the last sentence and put on his usual friendly smile. "So where have you been? You look different…"
They exchanged mutual conversations until their servings were laid before them. "Oh, it's you." Raizo said with a mildly flat tone completely opposite to when they first met.
Naruto-"Took you long enough to notice."
Amena-"Took you long enough to stop using that overused joke. Thank you, Raizo-san." Naruto coughed violently.
Raizo-"Woah, two burns in a row. We need a doctor here."
Teuchi-"I think it's three for his tongue."
Naruto-"You guys are killing me here!"
Raizo-"If you have half of a fried brain, you'll know it's called ROASTING!"
"Just, shut up!"
Naruto swallowed the last broth into his bowels and finally finishing it off with a satisfying burp. "Ahh~! That was awesome! How was your's Amena...chan?" Apparently, without him all the while noticing, she was laid flat clutching her abdomen. Head faced away, painful grunts and sore moans.
"WHAT HAPPENED?!" Teuchi roared in shock.
"Shit, this is what I get for trying to become a chef…" Or a chemist.
"I think I'm about to puke."
Teuchi open up the board to the counter still terrified. "Quick! The bathroom is just at the corner!"
"I'll help!" However, the Uchiha flushed and shook her head violently waving her hand in disagreement. This is without a doubt embarrassing for Amena if he saw her in such a state, not to mention vulnerable."Ah, okay. Take care." They made haste leaving Naruto and Raizo alone in a complete staredown.
"..."
"..."
"I'm so fucked…"
"No kidding."
Raizo sighed and deflated his arms to the counter. "Welp, better prepare another route for me. Look at the bright side, at the very least, your tolerance to my cooking is ten times stronger than her's. That's something you got going for you, which is nice."
"Thanks...I guess?" He looked down at his empty bowls and evidently, her's was half-empty. He could sense an ominous vibe strangling him as he set his gaze onto the bowl. SNAP! His eyes snap tight at the sudden brightness by Raizo's stock camera. "What the hell was that for?" He squinted his eyes as Raizo meekly wait for the picture to be printed.
"That's going in my Album Of Failures." He slid the photo into his apron before shaking off his depression. "In the meantime…" He put his hand into his pocket as if holding onto something whilst acting shady. He leaned in and whisper. "Hey kid...wanna buy some charms?"
"What?"
"You heard me, charms." He whispered cautiously for only God himself to hear. He slowly retracted his palm from its enclosure and display the secrecy to the bluish oval orbs. The item reflected from his eyes and his immediate reaction was confusion.
"A...bracelet?"
"This ain't no ordinary bracelet." He caressed the black marbles in bling-bling. "During my servitude as a slave, I ventured in many mines more than any men alive. Each piece originate from different nations, unique to its own degree."
"But, they all look the same."
He unexpectedly grinned at him. "You're right, they are made by the same fundamentals in which they are created. To us species, we conceive them as values to be harvested for profit. Evidently, we fight for the things that values just as much as gold to a grain of sand. We wage war for gold, surrender by loss, and unite by our morale values. That my friend is the value of Human Nature."
"What are you saying?"
"What I'm saying that everything in this world, has value. For as long as Mother Nature has shown, there's reason to its ingenuity. Even down to a piece of bracelet. Technically speaking, we're all connected."
Naruto took the time to absorb and snickered. "Woah, you almost convinced me there."
Raizo whined exasperatedly and clasped his hands in desperation. "Come on man! Help me out here! I'm going to get fired soon and I really need something before hell's gone upside down!"
Naruto got a laugh out of it and took out froggy-chan. "Fine, I'll buy your stupid product. How much is it?"
"1000 yen."
"That's preposterous!"
"Fine! 950 yen!"
"Lower it more!"
"Dammit man, this thing is made from by blood, sweat and god knows what I put in there!"
"and why the hell should I buy it?!"
"ALRIGHT! 700 YEN! That's as low as I go, deal?!"
"Ok."
A while later, a sickly looking Uchiha retreated from the back as followed by the Ramen chef. "I think you should take her home." Naruto nodded and Teuchi direct his stare to the shivering man. "As for you, we need to talk."
gulp!
"Let's go, Amena."
Kobato looked around in curiosity and wonder at the children of her age roaming along one another, laughing, crying, playing, and all in the company of parents. For her time in the orphanage, she emptily watched as one by one the occupants were adopted. She was a shy, isolated girl, and with no memories of their lives excluding their deaths, though it was nothing but a faded event. She held none dear except her deceased caretaker. Disturbingly, she could not recall past events involving her because fading memories was the burden she carry.
"Why didn't you go back to your family?" Kobato asked without a tone in her emotion.
Out of all people, why does she have to be the one to be victim here? What gave it away? Oh riiight, it is common knowledge Hyuugas are prominent in the country second to the Uchihas. Known to be loyal to death, betrayal punishable by death, and other stuff.
"You wouldn't believe if I told you." She has no reason to answer, but in order to gain her trust she feel to obliged to do so. They walked into a cheap dango restaurant and sat in the corner far from prying ears after ordering their meals. "To easily put everything down into perspective, I ran away. It was prior to the Recollection and the clan had to make priorities before moving out. First order of business was separating the clan and in order for the Main House and Branch House to keep ties, I was chosen for an arranged marriage." She sighed, biting her serving before continuing.
"You were the princess?"
She nodded and smiled weakly. "Exactly as you said. If someone were to say 'Family is everything', they're half correct. From the day we are born, we are always forced to the something we forbid. In my case, it was complicated." She directed her gaze to the girl. "Let me ask you this: If you could define one important aspect of 'family.' What is it?"
Kobato swallowed a lump before answering. "Loyalty?"
Her eyes were grim in that regard. "Loyalty eh? You're absolutely RIGHT!" She slammed her fist onto the table startling everyone around her. "I believe in loyalty above everything. It's all or nothing with me."
Kobato looked at her with doubt. "Is that why you leave?"
"Sacrificing my freedom with loyalty? I'd rather have the former. That's all the gist to it. My image has changed but their intentions are still stagnant." It may sound contradicting but the time of change was chaotic.
"Is it because of Nii-chan?"
She saw it coming a mile away. Her cheeks flushed a shade of pink refreshing back her childhood. "You should have seen it. His devotion and dedication was intoxicating. He proven his loyalty and his chivalry to defend me." She giggled in her emotional vigor. "He lost his flame and became a commoner, but my return sparked an inferno."
"You love him?" Kobato asked covering her mouth.
She perked her head to the side in an amusing gesture. "Guilty as charge. Fortunately, they don't know that." Not a moment too soon, a crowd was formed outside. "It's time." They made their way out and noticed the crowd giving way to a small convoy. People began shoving and shuffle about as the convoy made their way to the embassy located a few blocks from where they stood.
'As expected, this is quite a security.' She activated her Byakugan for short range visual indication and confirmed the target in sight. In a cart, surrounded by a group of well trained men. The man in question is Kawamura, a head member of the Shinto Company owning several state land market. A political candidate as well as rumored arms smuggler.
Rank - S
Mission - Retrieval Of Classified Documents
Target - Kawamura Shinto
Specifications - Kawamura is always seen with a suitcase handcuffed to his left hand. He would never leave his state without it. His bodyguards are hired men and their loyalty is certain to their pay. Target must live and harm is up to the mission executioner. Proceed with caution.
"I guess this is it." Just as when the cart was about to passed them, she immediately noticed another pair of all too familiar lavender eyes tailing behind. 'Shit' She shunshined away along with Kobato to an isolated alley.
"Hm?" The user of the famed eyes noticed a cloud of chakra dissipating into thin air. "Get your guard up, we may have company." He relayed to his team and tightened their security.
Swish
"What's going on?" Kobato looked up in confusion to see Kina pondering heavily to herself.
'Was that...Neji?'
(Line)
"This is quite a crowd…" Naruto murmured as he squeeze through people with Amena hanging to his neck.
"Arrrrrggghhh." Amena moaned feebly, and realization dawned over to him.
"Oh right, she get nauseous in crowds.'"
'How the hell am I going to do this?!' The War Dancer thought to herself in dismay to the current event about to unfold. Never in all of her missions had she ever encountered a Hyuga in close quarters, she always avoided them. But why does it have to be him?! Neji Hyuga is skilled, a professional, as well as her former servant. 'I'm gonna have to brainstorm my way through this.' Then she looked at Kobato and wonder...
Later
In few minutes time, the envoy will arrive to his destination to attend a meeting within an undisclosed sector of the embassy. She had survey the vicinity and found a likely place where in the moment a group of men have arrived and waiting. The building is under guard by Chunins and the likelihood of being caught is medium but the consequences is dangerously significant.
Planned established and ready to execute
She bent down eye level with the understandably nervous girl and ease her with a reassuring smile. "It'll be okay, follow the plan and we can go home and watch movies."
A glint of determination surfaced from her timid personality. "I'll do my best!"
Before beginning, Kina disguised herself as an employee who brings her child to work weekly. They dressed for work and the first security checkpoint stood before them. Countless scenarios flooded her mind but she would never let it affect her. She breath in all courage she could ever muster and handed her forged identity over to the officer. Kobato looked up in awe at her execution, easily swayed by her facial straight facial expression.
Meanwhile, 'I'm feeling a sense of deja vu here.'
"Suzuha-san." The chunin nodded in confirmation and handed the IC back to her with a friendly smile. "Did you forgot something again? This is becoming a bad habit…"
'Suzuha' laughed sheepishly and waved off dismissively. "Haaaahaaeehh...Shinimase, it's just that things has been quite a hassle lately. This guy definitely looks familiar!'"
He nodded. "I can tell, I was pulled from academy to fill in."
Academy? "I'm sorry to hear that, but we're really in a hurry here." She motioned at her child who stiffened with her legs clasped together. "...Saini-chan needs to use the potty-pooper."
"Hnngh."
"Hm?"
Saini, embarrassed, hid behind her mother at his gaze. He laughed cheerfully. "Hahaha! Good to see you too, young girl. You've grown well." Then his radio was received.
"Iruka-san, take check. Secure outer perimeter. Over."
Kina taught her mind was about to explode in meeting her teacher once again.
"Received, I'll close off Gate A once the centipede arrives. How copy?"
"Copy, over and out."
The radio crackled and the chunin looked back apologetically. "Sorry for making you wait. You may come in."
"Arigatou." She went through the open gate and stiffened when her name was called.
"Uh, Suzuha-san. That's the visitor's route." He unlocked the gate behind him and Suzuha swore to herself for walking into burning coals.
"Hahaha, oopsie." They passed by him and entered the employees only tunnel. "Wooh!" She released a sighed of extreme relief. "That was close."
"You almost broke, down there."
"Quiet, you!"
They swam through the employees without batting an eye as she en route to 'her' office. They slipped through an empty office adjacent to the conference room and Kina handed a cosmetic item over to Kobato. Kina bent down and playfully ruffled her hair. "Now it's up to you." She pecked her forehead causing the girl to be extremely embarrassed.
"Hnnngh!"
She smiled amusingly and combed back her hair. "Good luck."
Determination flashed right out of her eyes as she hold tight onto her stuffed bunny. "Hai!"
The door clicked close and Kina stares fleetingly at the wall. 'Naruto's gonna kill me!'
Now she's alone standing at the door of the conference room. Her knees weak, arms heavy, palms sweaty like mom's spaghetti. 'I don't think I can do- Pull yourself together! She's counting on you! Make her proud! She had forgotten when was the last time she became conscious to the world. This is a whole new experience for her. Adrenaline pumped through her as she reached for the handle with her trembling hand.
Within the CF room, their casual off-topic conversation was interrupted by an unexpected visitor.
"A-ano...I'm lost. Could someone show me to the way to the wee-wee room?"
The entire room was in complete utter silence at her request until one of the security who knew the girl stepped forward. "Follow me, kid."
-'Nice!'
Kina silently cheered as she deactivate her disguise in order to save chakra. 'Good, good, good. He should be in the lobby right abooout...now!...Yes! Alright! Things are going smoothly."
At the same time with Kobato. "Here you go, kid." The tall chunin grunted deeply gesturing to the ladies room.
'Saini' brightened up and bowed respectfully to her escort. "Arigatou HugeMan-san! You're a very nice person." The man blushed and laughed half-heartedly. "I've got a present for you." She fiddled her hand to her pockets.
"Oh no, you shouldn't." He was hesitant until she took out a red bracelet, grab his hand, and put it on herself.
She smiled happily. "Now you look like NiceMan-san! You can go back to your work now. Don't worry, I know my way to mommy's room."
"You sure?" He asked embarrassingly but she reassured him.
"Yup! ByeBye!"
"ByeBye…Heheh" Off she goes into the private room as he later returns to his post.
His coworker noticed his silly smile and said, "What the hell are you wearing?"
"Shut up, I'm NiceMan-san now!"
"What?"
'Yosh!' Kina fist pumped because she won't have to worry no more. Kobato will remain stationary within the ladies room out of harm's' way until a signal is given. She made a quick scan of the room and knew exactly where the man will be sat and his arm positioned. She has to do this quick or the other Hyuga will take notice. She blanket the room with a temporal anti-chakra sensing cloak but a Byakugan can still see through. It's something or nothing.
She stared down longingly at her arms and began chanting indistinctively.
"I, War Dancer of the High God, as a dancer of the Lion, beseech thee... Enku of the Aurora, Qilin of radiant light, thou who doth rule thunder and the heavens, come clad in raging fire to pierce Hell's monstrous demons!"
A tornado of vibrant blue energy torrent right out her arms and a weapon was forged from within its witney display. Responsible for countless assassinations and death, she held firmly onto the culprit with stern eyes. Her sharp ears hears the sound of multiple rocking footsteps and she took a deep breathe before preparing her next move. 'This is it.'
CF Room
"Kawamura-dono, I hereby welcome you to our meeting. You had a nice trip I presumed."
The royally clad man nodded and shook hands. "Like well. Let's get this over with."
Neji Hyuga relayed his instructions to his team. Gai isn't here so he doesn't want to jeopardize his first mission in order for his leadership to be acknowledged. "Lee, you'll be guarding the door. Tenten, you're with me on the platform."
"Yosh!"
"Understood." She tailed behind him and looked around. "So this is what a Conference room looks like."
"Yes, they're not interested for us escorts prying into their conversation. We'll be above keeping watch just in case if anything happens."
Kina
A wave of nostalgia washed over the War Dancer as she set her gaze onto her fellow clansmen. 'You've changed quite a lot...Ji-chan.' A nickname she proposed long ago. 'I'm sorry that you're going have to fail this mission."
CF Room
Kawamura sat down onto the empty leather sit and placed his suitcase onto the table. Target is in sight as Kina pulls the iron-fibred string which emit a clicking sound of metal grinding. She made a quick glance at Neji's Byakugan activated. Forwarding her energy to her fingertips, an arrow manifest right out to its silhouette, and its aim dead point.
His eyes are ever so slightly, sharp and cautious. Darting his vision left to right, he is not aware an assassination is about to take place right below his feet. Unfortunately, for Kawamura or Kina, the target is sat opposite of the arrow so he may sustain serious injuries when she's over with.
'Left of his spine, above his kidneys, below his heart. Survivability, 70%. Chance, 99%. There it is.' Her grip onto the bow was statue. The chakra arrow flamed once more and took a form of a needle with an arrowhead. 'Alright...Sorry Ji-chan.' Breathing in control, she deactivate her Byakugan and murmured,'KAI!'
The bracelet on one of the security guard exploded in a flashing white display of rays which blinded everyone in the room including Neji. At the same time, the arrow was released and it pierced through multiple layers of concrete, intestines, and finally shred off Kawamura's hand as the arrow landed onto the opposite side of the room.
"Yes!"
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Moments before
'I wonder when the Chunin exams will initiate. YOSH! I CAN'T WAIT! I will show Gai-sensei my power of youth!' Lee exclaimed pumping his fist. At that moment, the door behind him violently burst off onto his back like a giant frying pan sending him to the opposite wall.
Naruto and Amena
"!?"
The ground beneath them rocked violently as they looked back and a huge plume of black smoke erode fiercely from the Embassy. Panic arise from the crowd as they try to run away, shoving and scrounging however they can. A body flew off from the plume of smoke and it landed with an unsatisfying splat right in front of the couple completely paralyzing them in shock. The body was beyond recognition as pieces of rubble flew across the sky destroying everything in its wake.
"W-What the hell?!" His mind just clicked back to the horrific event of the incident. Flashes of death and echoes of screams shrieked his mind into panic.
Amena noticing his horrific distraught expression, slapped him across the face which successfully retrieved him back to reality. "Knock it out! We have to help any survivors!"
"O-Okay!"
Later
"Wake up! You have to get out of here!"
Kina was awaken by a light shove to her shoulder. Her ears bleed of a high pitch noise like her head was hit by high magnitude blast. Heavy and disorienting, she lifted her head up from the littered ground before fluttering her eyes open. Ash disintegrate her vision as toxic smoke intoxicate up her nostrils.
"Thank goodness, you're awake!" The male voice sounded relief. "Quick! You must evacuate immediately." Once she got her bearings together, her conscious tells her that he has a bowled hair cut and weird eyes. His nose looks completely crushed. She could distinguish that he gasped as she got up to her knees. "Y-you're a Hyuga!"
Lee barade himself for thinking such a thing at this moment. He support her up to her feet as she touched her bleeding forehead when a stray rubble hit her before. 'What happened? Where's Ko-chan?' She gaze longingly at the wall and saw a huge hole of which where the Conference was once built. All she could see was blood and limbs smeared across the charred floor as she was escorted out of the room. "K-Kobato…" She coughed profusely, moisturizing her inners.
"Don't worry, you'll see your Kobatau!" Lee exclaimed as they got to the ash-fogged hallway.
'Ko...ba...to...Kobato?...Kobato!...KOBATO!' Without thinking, she left her only support and ran down the sore throating hallway.
"HEY! That's the wrong way!"
"LEE! GET OVER HERE!"
"Oh right! My team!"
She kicked the door off its hinges and hastily checked every cubicle but none she was looking for. "W-where is she?!" She ran out and almost lost her balance as the building once again was rocked by a trembling force. Sirens wail everywhere as she tries to compose herself. 'A secondary?! Kobato! Where are you?!'
N and A
The couple hit the deck as another explosion brought everything into shambles but this time what they saw hit them hard. The fiery plume was a toxic green and everything it touched disintegrates into molecules, including solid concrete. It reminded them of that day.
"Amena! What's going on?!" Naruto was sweating profusely as he drag an unconscious civilian underneath a shelter.
She looked back at him and only saw panic in his traumatic eyes. It's obvious he will never get to used to such a thing. However, that mysterious fire, she must identify its origin. "Uzumaki Naruto! You have to calm down!" She kneeled infront of him and held his face tight forcing him to concentrate on her and only her.
"..?!.." He looked into her black void and saw only him.
"Senpai, whatever you're feeling. Forget it now. Right now, I need you to follow me. I need your help." Her demeanor was serious and calm, which surprisingly managed to ease his concerns.
"A...Alright!" He exclaimed loudly and both nodded firmly. "Lead the way!"
Kina
'This...this fire! This sensation! It's too familiar.' She thought to herself as she coordinate carefully through the thick plume. Down the hallway, a wall to the outside stood her way. Her first flare blue of chakra and as she finally approach it, the wall crumbles as she jumped through. She was mid air and there stood Kobato surrounded by stray green flames and charred bodies sprawled lifelessly around. "KOBATO-CHAN!"
She landed right by her side, she was crying holding tight to her stuffed bunny. "I-I killed them!" Kina held her head close to her bosom, caressing her hair with her glowing hand.
"Shhh... .Tch. There, there. It's not your fault, Kobato-chan. It's not your fault. You're going to be alright." She repeatedly whisper those words, kindly and soothingly. Within her range, she detected a menacing presence leaving the area. 'Whatever that was, they must have tried to attack Ko-chan.'
"Kina!" A female voice shouted as her two favorite people came running and notice the young girl sniffling in her shoulders.
"Give me a break."
Chapter...what is it again?
There you have it folks!
It's been a loooooooooooooong time and I have finally return! The war has settled and my ass is sore. Jesus Christ I missed doing this. I hope my English didn't cringe you too much. If you see any unforgiving mistakes, please PM me.
Any questions will be answered upon request.