Okaaaaay. Yeah, I know it took a long time, and I'm sorry, but I've been having technical difficulties lately. Really, I do apologize. However, I enjoyed this chapter. It is written in first person, narrated by Kumari. I hope you enjoy it too! Oh, and because of recent manga chapters, I'm aware that my story has strayed far from the possibility of being in some ways remotely cannon, but I started the story long before then, so I'm sticking to it.

"How was training today?"

Hell, I probably would have ended up killing someone if Naruto-sensei and Sasuke-sensei hadn't stopped me. "Fine."

"Your teammates?"

Well, Seiya's a cold-hearted bastard who thinks he's too good for my help, and Hideki just sits there, glaring at something no one can see. "Fine."

"Your sensei?"

Naruto-sensei? What does he know about me? What right in hell does he have to act like he understands me?"Fine."

"Well, that's good, why don't you-" Mother was about to slide a bowl onto the table when a knock came from the door. "What?" Mother asked under her breath as she answered the calling.

"Good evening, Mataki-san, is Kumari in?" I yanked my head around to see my teacher at the door.

Mother did not move. She was plastic, just like she always is.

"I'm sorry," he outstretched a hand. "Uzumaki Naruto, I'm Kumari's sensei."

I could see the disdain in my mother's movements as she awkwardly gripped Naruto's hand. "Uzumaki-san," she said with false warmth. "Hai, Kumari is right in the kitchen, did you need a word with her?"

"If I'm not interrupting anything."

"No, of course not. Kumari!" she called, but I was already at her side.

"I'll be back in a little," I muttered, not meeting her gaze, which I felt blazing on my shoulders. I bowed a little to Naruto. "Sensei," I mumbled, and walked briskly out of the door. "What?" I asked, digging my hands into my pockets.

"Well, a few things. We've got a mission tomorrow."

"And? We're ninja, that's our job. Doing useless crap for people who could do it themselves but are too lazy."

Naruto smirked. "This is an B-rank mission, one that could even be bumped to an A-rank."

My eyes shot up to my sensei. "Really?"

"Hai." I swore I saw his eyes flash over with sadness for a moment. "But more importantly, I need to speak with you about today. Do you know what it was?"

"No," was my automatic response. "I don't know anything about it," I lied.

"Hn," he responded, giving me a disbelieving look over.

"Why is it important?"

"Well, Kumari, I know you're not going to be completely comfortable with me saying this, but I know."

". . . " I waited for him to continue. "Know what?" I finally prodded.

"That feeling."

I felt my eyes stretch their borders as my gaze met his, far above my head.

He nodded sagely. "The fifth edited and reinstated the law of unmentionable things, so I doubt you've ever heard this but there's a reason you're mom isn't all too fond of my being your sensei."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, in total denial.

"Oh, cut the crap, Kumari. Anyway, I was saying something."

"Unmentionable law?" I said flatly.

"Right. Let's see, how should I put this? Oh, okay, I've got the world's most powerful, most demonic, and most evil monster locked inside me. There, how was that?"

I blinked, halting in my pace. He gave a half smile. "Yeah, that happens when people find out. Anyway," he looked straight into my frozen eyes. "I want to help you control this. I've had the same feeling. You can't control any aspect of your mind or body. The beast takes over."

I did the only thing I could think to do: I nodded.

"You don't need to talk about it any more than you want to, but I'm willing to help you." He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Well then, I'll see you tomorrow morning."

"Naruto-sensei!" I called instinctively.

"Kumari?" he turned back around.

"It's called Bloodlust."

"Is it a kekkei genkai?" his voice was quiet as he spoke to me.

"Yes, native to the Mataki family. I'm the first one to have it in four generations," I admitted. "I don't know much about it. My parents and grandparents are ashamed of it, and there are no more living members with the trait. I know it opens up knowledge of almost any and every jutsu ever created or discovered. But-" I grabbed the back of my neck.

"But what?" he came a little closer.

"It hurts. This mark comes up-" I lifted my hair from my neck, exposing the stinging, burning tattoo-like mark. "And it hurts. It still hurts right now, but I can just grin and bear this pain. The Bloodlust comes from it, I can tell. The irrational thoughts and need to fight and break things and hurt other things comes from it."

He examined the canvas of my neck, careful not to touch the mark or any close surrounding area. "Have you ever seen what it looks like?" he asked.

"No," panic crept into my voice. "Why?"

He chuckled. "Just curious," he regarded it a moment more, then shook his head. "Right now, I can't say definitely how you should begin to control it, or even to make it stop hurting, and I'm sorry about that, but I'll find a way," he assured me with a smile. "But you will need to put a certain amount of trust in me, if you're willing."

I was taken a bit by surprise. I released my hair and looked up at him.

Naruto rubbed the back of his head and glanced around. "Kakashi-sensei would have my head for this, but . . . alright, I'm not trying to spill everything on you at once, but my teaching style isn't being a sensei. It is to be a teammate. I want you to rely on me to protect you, and as such, I expect dedication from you. It sounds a little different, I know, but," he gave a huge grin. "Ask around, I think you'll find I've taught a few people a few things."

Instantly, gratitude flooded through me. "Naruto-sensei, I'm sorry I've been disrespectful to you, you are my sensei and I shouldn't have been nasty to you."

"It's alright. Team twelve seems to operate this way so I go along with it. "

I bowed to him, deeply this time, grateful for his quirky wisdom. "See you tomorrow?"

"South Gate at sunrise!" He called as he began leaping through the rooftops of Konoha.

I walked home with the broadest smile I'd worn in a long time.

In the shadows of buildings on either sides of the street, a pair of green eyes and a pair of grey eyes met, narrowing upon encounter. Each stole one last glance at Mataki Kumari, then vanished without a sound.