I do not own Naruto as a game, Manga, Anime series or a character. All original characters are mine though :P

Hi no Ishi (The will of Fire) - Usagi Gaiden (Rabbit Tales)

Everything is falling apart! Tatsuko isn't even sure she can repair it any longer. How will our hero come to her rescue? Will there be a happy ending?

All underlined terms are explained at the end of the chapter.

~Konoha Hospital, Tatsuko age 4~

~Tatsuhi's POV~

"Once upon a time there was a proud shinobi, stronger than any other in the land. His name was feared by all, and few dared even whisper it." Today is your fourth birthday, sweetie. You look more and more like your mother every day. You have her face, her eyes, her hair, her fingers, her toes. I think about you all the time, just as I think about her.
"... when he moved, all you could see was a yellow flash. Until it was your turn, then there was nothing." Can you even hear me? Do you know that your Tou-chan comes to see you everyday? That I love you more than anything? When are you going to come back to your Tou-chan?
"Iwa had tried to ambush his battalion, they were surrounded. Yet Minato did not fear. He handed everyone a dozen of his three pronged kunai-" Hikaru comes to see you too, he talks about you all the time. He's already mastered the basics, years earlier than most would learn it. He says he wants to get stronger so that he can protect his Nee-chan. Not even four years old, but he won't stop training – he's probably still working on the Bunshin no-jutsu I showed him this morning. He's going to surpass his father, I just know it.
"The ones left standing were running, screaming his name in fear. They never saw what happened, they just knew that-" Hikaru's mother hates that I spend so much time watching you sleep – she says that I can better spend my days tending to her son. I think she still blames me for Suipou's death. I can't blame her, as it was my duty to guard both him and Minato. Still, I can't help but feel closer to Minato-nii than Suipou, even after their deaths.
"nnnn..." Tatsuko-chan complained. You've been doing that more and more lately, something that Kenichi-sensei says is a good thing. He said that it shows that you are at least partially aware of your surroundings, which is why I come and tell you stories every morning. Something about the sound of a familiar voice helping to rebuild the brain wiring.
"Hey, you want me to fluff your pillow, sweetie? I'm sure I-"

"mi-zu."
"You want some water?" Wait... did she just-
"hai." I had to fight back the tears. Somehow the logic of how you learned to talk never hit me. I didn't care, you could! Hell, I could probably fill a glass with joyful tears if I tried.
Dashing to the sink, I grabbed a cup, filled it with tap water and brought it back with me. I tried propping up your pillow, lifting you, and calling for the nurse all at the same time. I wanted someone to share in my joy.
"NEE-SAN!" Hikaru cried. His eyes were big as dinner plates, even as the tears came.

A moment that ranked right up there, next to my wedding day, the day you were born, the day I became a genin. All very special days I will cherish as long as I live. How was I supposed to know how tragic a tale this day would truly be?

~Yukikami household, day before Tatsuhi's death.~

I remember it well, child. The first thing you wanted to do was train. And Hikaru refused to be left behind. You remember that? He cried when you told him that you would help making him stronger – stronger than Tou-chan, were your words that day.
I tried starting you out on simple things, like meditations and exercises to build up endurance and strength. You would just stare at me like I had grown a second head, saying that you did most of that before breakfast, and that you were ready for more.
Never once did I believe you, I'm sorry about that. I honestly thought you were just being overenthusiastic, like Hikaru. I remember making you do the exercises again, with your brother. You would smile – the same smile your mother gave me when she was just humoring me – and you'd do it, saying that doing twice wouldn't hurt.
Hikaru looked up to you like no other. And I doubt that will ever change. He would always say that if his Nee-san can do it, then he would train harder until he could do it too. He became stronger, just because he wanted to stand at your side, as your equal. Do you know how proud that made me? Proud of both of you, because you never belittled him for it.
No, you would just break the training into smaller steps and you would train with him until he could do it as good or better than you. You never ran out of patience with him – although I think you could learn to be a bit more patient with yourself, just a thought.
I believe that you will be a fine kunoichi – if that is what you want with your life. I also believe that you should try to take things one step at a time. I know you set your goals high, higher than Nidaime-sama, but remember that you are my little girl too. You should stop trying to shunshin, when walking will get you there safer. Tou-chan has to go now, I'll try to make more memories for you to watch when you're feeling lonely. As weird as that sounds.
Just promise me something, daughter. Promise your Tou-chan that you will fall in love with a good boy. Good girls like you deserve a good boy to take care of them, you know? Well, I really do have to go, you are bugging me to train – again. Remember that I love you. No matter what happens tomorrow with Fugaku, I will not stop loving you.

~Tatsuko's POV~

~Present day, Coast of Nami no Kuni~

"Fucking piece of turtle shit!" My eyes shot open, showing that I was back in the 'real' world. Which would be a bad thing, since Kiba and Hinata are kinda staring at me funny. For completely different reasons, it seems. "Why are you-"
Kiba interrupted my question with a kiss – just a peck on the lips really, but enough for me to not care what the hell I had just missed. All I know is that my arms are killing me!
"Kiba-chan, I'm glad to see you too, but-" I was about to start asking why everyone seemed so worried, because I really had no clue.
"Tsu, the seals on your arm are bleeding. Why?" Aoba-san asked me.
"Seals on...my arms...?" He was right, blood was running down my arms. I made to stand up, wondering what the hell was going on. Then... it all felt so familiar.
Blood dripping from my fingertips... I could sense bodies strewn about... Mikoto kneeling before me, her eyes closed and awaiting my blade to pierce her heart...

What the fuck!

Everything hit me all at once. The Uchiha Massacre, Tou-chan's death, my ANBU training, having the Sanbi sealed in me... everything.
The intensity of it was too much. My stomach decided to empty itself onto the sand, and my sandals.
"Hinata... help me to take my jacket off." I instructed, already moving to unzip my jacket. She was as careful as she could, tugging at my sleeves to reveal the extend of the damage – a shame we were focusing on different things though.
I studied my arms, the seals to be exact. Yuuna had designed these seals for me when I told her about my plans just before Uchiha Itachi came to pick me up that day. The day I donned the Uchiha name – temporary though it was.
I remember... she cried. She didn't want me to go, and she wanted to apply the seals even less. Why? What was so important...?
On my wrists were two stylized barbed wires, the first level of the seal. Only, the wire was bent – it was cutting into my skin like it was forcefully being torn open.
I turned arm arms this way and that. On the inside of my left forearm I could see the Yukikami Clan Crest – a stylized ninja rabbit striking with a sword. A lot of good memories, and long history behind that crest.
An inch above that were another three barbed wire seals. Another inch above that were four more barbed wire seals. Nine seals on each arm, eighteen in total. Only... the first two were torn. On both wrists, the seals were literally ripped open, cutting into my wrists.
It didn't hurt – not when you're used to people beating on you regularly even in a mild spar. Still, it was worrying. Two seals... the first two were meant to hold back something, I just know it. But what?

"Any time you're ready." Aoba-san crossed his arms, impatiently waiting on me to say something.
"Um, the seals were released. Something broke the seals..." I explained, not sure who, what... or how.
"You're acting strange, Imouto-chan." Sensei told me.
"I am? Ummm... where are we?" I asked, not really recognizing anything around me. Sure, we're on a beach, anyone can tell that much. Sand, surf and sunshine is kinda hard to miss, but aren't we supposed to be doing something?
"Nami." Not sure who answered me, but that would make sense. I thought that mountain in the background was familiar. "Tsu, are you okay?" I looked down at my hands... the cuts had already healed, the blood stopped flowing... and the first two barbed wire fuuin were gone.
"I dunno... I feel fine. Not dizzy from blood loss. The cuts didn't even hurt... I guess..." Suddenly something hit me. "Did you just kiss me?" I asked Kiba-chan, rubbing my lips to see if that was just a dream.
"Uhh... yeah?" Kiba was confused now too.
"What year is it?" I asked, wondering what all I had missed. Everyone looks a little more grown up than I remember them – although if Kiba wants to kiss me again, I won't complain. Kinda brings back some happy memories. Innocent, but happy none the less.
"year?" Kiba asked, though Hinata was kinda watching me funny too. Okay... Maybe this is some kind of prank they decided to pull on me? But then again... they're wearing hitai-ate...
"Oh wow!" I gushed. "You guys graduated too! Congrats!" Okay, in stead of being happy, they are just acting even more weird. Hinata's making a Tora sign, trying to release a genjutsu, Kiba's looking around for a hidden camera like he expects me to pull off s prank on him, and Aoba-san... He's just staring at me. "What? What'd I day?"
"Does the word 'triad' mean something to you?" Aoba-san asked.
"A group of three...?"

~Flashback, Alley of Broken Dreams Orphanage.~

Yuuna's crying, crying so hard that I think I snapped her heart in two. I feel terrible, but this has to be done. I need to make sure this never happens again. There is nothing I can do about him controlling me – he's proven that. There's nothing I can do about him making me do anything he wants.
However, this should be able to fuck his plans in the ass.
"Yuuna, I know you don't want to. But what would happen if Fugaku forced me to harm you, or Hikaru... or Naruto? There's nothing we can do about him claiming me. We can't prove he's lying. And there's no way I'm risking anyone else I love. Please, try to understand."
She just cried harder. You might almost think that she was the one that just murdered her own father in cold blood – Sharingan influence be damned,
"Have my plans ever failed?" I asked. She shook her head, no. "Have I ever let you down? Abandoned you? Turned my back on you?" Another nonverbal no. "Then you need to trust me. This will work."
"But Tsu-chan... this seal... it... I... please, don't make me do this." I sighed.
"Imouto-chan, breathe in." She obeyed, taking in a deep breath. She breathed out, her shoulder slumping from the exertion.
"The seal... it'll lock away any happy memories you have. Everything. You won't even remember what it felt like for Yukikami-san to hug you. Nothing! Everything will be gone! All the memories you che-" She couldn't say anything intelligible after that. It all came out as sobs, half formed words, mumbled warble. It was like her voice became a trombone, and she wasn't used to making the notes she used to.
"Imouto-chan, I know the risks. Now let me ask you this: if you had to choose between your happiness and my life... what would you pick?"

~End Flashback~

"Wha... how did you do that?" I asked Aoba-san. He just say a word... Triad... and I had a flashback. I haven't had one that intense sine I was eight! Right after the Sanbi was sealed. Weird.
"Do what?" He asked, all innocent. Too bad the upward tug at his lips betrayed him.
"Triad... a group of three, closely related." Nope nothing, well it was worth trying. "So what year is this?" I asked again. "How old am I?"
"You're twelve."
"No fucking way!" I shouted, at a loss. Two years...! Two Years! "TWO YEARS!" I grabbed my head, trying to will away the ache that this new development was bringing me. "FUCK!" Two years and only the first two seals are broken?
"Where's Hikaru?" I asked, worried about what all I had missed.
"We just-" Fuck no time! Message, code...
"Tell him that three little piggies need to bend over and-"

My head was swimming, and the pain in the back of my eyes was not exactly making this shit any better. I tried opening my eyes, "FUCK!" That was bright! Note to self, the sun needs to die!
"Sensei! She's comin' to!" I heard someone shouting.
"NOT SO LOUD!" I shouted back, regretting it immediately. A fucking hangover! Jeez, I didn't think I had it in me to get stone drunk. I felt around, trying to find something to block out the light – that damn sun is going to be tortured the second it stops shining so fucking bright!
I heard footsteps coming closer to me, they seemed sedated, but I could hear the person's heartbeat going a mile a minute. "How are you feeling, Tsu?" Aoba-sensei. How many times do I...?"Don't. Call. Me. That!" I ground out, wondering what the fucking interest in that name is.
"Good morning, sunshine. Sleep well?" He asked seemingly intrigued by my words.
"Like I'm pushing up the daisies." I complained. I really did feel like shit. Slowly I started feeling around, trying to figure out where the hell I was, and why I felt this bad. "How much did I drink last night?"
"Drink?" He asked, a bit confused.
"Yeah, if I have this bad a hangover, I must have gone nuts. I wasn't a lightweight, was I?" Fuck, Hikaru would never let me live it down if I couldn't hold my liquor like Tou-chan.
"Ah." Was all he said. If I wasn't so happy for the silence, I might have made more of a stink about him not answering me.
It took me over an hour to get up and about again. 'I swear, I'm never drinking another drop of alcohol!' After a half decent meal we set out, crossing the sea to the mainland again. Not much happened, even up to the gate of Konoha. The only thing that seemed weird was how everyone kept fucking staring at me!
Fucking weird!

Once back in Konoha, we made our way to the Hokage Tower. Sensei told us to wait outside while he reported. Oh well, he'd call us if he needed anything. In the mean time...
"So, Kiba-kun... you plan on taking me on another date soon?" I clasped my hands behind my back, trying to be as cute as any girl could be... while covered by a few layers of dust and grime – not a whole lot of bathing opportunities while running across the country, and no one seemed to want to stop long enough to take a dip in a river or something.
"I dunno. I might be... But then, I might not be." He answered vaguely. I swatted his arm, wondering why he was being such a jerk about it. "Hey, be nice. It helps in the final decision." He teased.
I stuck my tongue out at him. "Be that way. Humph." I pouted. "What about you, Hinata-chan? You wanna go on a date with me? Maybe Kiba would like to watch?" I laughed when Kiba had to staunch a trickle of blood coming from his nose. Guys love lesbians – they see it as twice the fun for them.
"...a-a-a... a-no... I... u-mm..." Poor Hinata couldn't form more than a single syllable.
"I was just joking, Hinata-chan. No need to get so flustered." I placed a finger on my chin, pretending to think about something. "Although, Naruto-kun might not mind watching us make out from time to time." That did it, Kiba was knocked out cold. He had a goofy grin on his face... and a slight bulge in his pants. Dunno what he passed out from, orgasm or blood loss. Well, either way, he'll know better than to tease me like that in the future.
Then again, he probably liked that. (-.-)''

Even though everyone takes it easy after coming back from a mission, I was in the dojo training. I hate being as weak as I am. Something inside me knows that I should be stronger, much stronger. Something seems to be holding me back, and I don't know what.
I stood in my Rabbit Palm stance, holding my tantos, awaiting some sign to begin the kata. Something needs to spark everything, nothing changes on its own. Footsteps were coming down the hall, I could tell it was Yuuna... and she was exited about something. "Nitou-ryuu – Rabbit versus Falcon!" I jumped straight up, landing feet first on the ceiling and dove down at the training dummy, beheading it with a double slash from my tantos.
'Where the hell did that come from?' I didn't remember ever learning that move. I turned to see Yuuna. She was just standing there, staring at me with a wide eyed, slack jawed amazement. She started jumping up and down, happy about something, hugging me, rubbing her cheek against mine like she found me to be the cutest little rabbit she'd ever set eyes on.
"Imouto-chaaaaaaaaan! What gives?" I complained. She's not usually this excitable about something. I can see something in her eyes – she's happy. Not that polite smile, or the 'okay I'll play along'... no, she's well and truly happy about something.
"Aoba-sensei said that you guys have a month long mission. Team 9 leaves in the morning, at dawn." She spoke seriously enough, but that look in her eyes isn't going anywhere.
"Then why do you seem so happy about it? I thought you hated me leaving you for a minute?" She really is acting weird. Hell, everyone's acting weird.
"Something that Hikaru told me about. Don't worry, he'll tell you himself when he sees you. You know how hates for me to tattle on him." Well, that seems... plausible. Those two really are pretty close, and if Hikaru has something to tell me he'd hate for anyone to beat him to the punch.
"Well, that's fine then. No point in creating trouble in paradise, ne?" I teased, telling her to run along so that I can train in peace. Something that she had no problem with – for once.

'A mission, huh? I wonder what we're going to be doing then...' Well, at any rate, I had to finish up my training here and I had to write down the last two custom jutsu I created. Once that was done, maybe I can bug Kiba again about that second date? He seemed a bit evasive about it, and I definitely don't like that.
Maybe he thought the first one was a bit... off?

"Congratulations, team." Aoba-sensei announced the second he arrived at our little gathering by the village gate. "Hokage-sama thinks you guys are ready for your first B-class mission." Didn't we just butt in on Team 7's A-class mission?
"Alright!" Kiba was excited, and Akamaru's bark seemed to share the enthusiasm. Hinata, however, was nervous.
"A-ano... B-b-b-bee c-c-c-class..." She clearly didn't feel confident. I put my hand on her shoulder, smiling at her.
"No worries, Hinata-chan. We'll do just fine." I tilted my head to the right, closing my eyes with a smile. "We're a team, right?"
That buoyed her spirits, earning me a little smile from her. "hai." She nodded

"Alright, let me just check what everyone's packed. We won't be back for a while and there will be no 'oops' moments on my watch." He went through Kiba and Hinata's packs, but trusted me enough to leave me be – especially since it was hard to check the contents of a scroll without taking it all out one by one.
We went through the passport checks – me waving to the two guards like they were old friends – and we were off. Team 9, heading out to another mission. A B-Class mission no less. Uncle Arashi would be proud. Tou-chan would just smile and say to 'knock 'em dead' – and mean it too. Why do I feel so worried about this mission though?
Well, whatever it is, we'll deal with it when the time comes.
Together.

'Kami-sama, this feels good!' We were dashing from tree to tree, heading East-South-East. Funny how no on is really asking what the mission is. Well, whatever. It's something of a habit of mine to ask at our first pit stop.
'This brings back so many memories...' And it really does. `It almost makes me think that Tou-chan is at home worrying about how well my team will do without him to watch my back.'

Kiba's out front – his nose can pick up trouble better if our scents aren't messing with his bearings. I'm close behind him, since I am pretty much the handicap Doujutsu user. Hinata is behind me, and Aoba-sensei is taking up the rear. Single file, a strategic placement that works well with teams that are not quite used to each other yet.
Kiba's picking all the landing branches – something that I think he's taking a bit too much pride in. Well, we'll just have to deal with that later on, won't we?
Akamaru and Kiba seem to be chatting among themselves, I can hear every nuance from them, I just don't understand any of it. But they seem worried. That much I know.
Hinata seems a little distracted too. What the hell is up with everyone lately? Jeez, this is why I prefer to just fold away everyone's memories and be done with it. Shit, all this bullshit is really getting on my nerves.

"So, sensei, what's the mission?" I asked once we took our first break around noon. Everyone was already munching on their rations, though Hinata was unusually quiet. Weird.

"Well, Takumi no Sato sent out a request for some back up. It seems that a group of chuunin leveled nuke-nin have targeted them to steal every special weapon they can, for reasons unknown. We are to secure the village, eliminate the enemy and guard the workers until they can construct a more suitable defense around their village." Sensei explained – that seems pretty straight forward.
"Do we know anything about these nuke-nin?" Hmm, chuunin level...
"All of them are from Kusagakure. Three males, two females. Ages ranging from fifteen to thirty-two. None of them ever became ANBU, and there are no known monikers." Aoba-sensei explained.
"They don't sound very impressive." I opined.
"Well, it is just a B-class. Nothing you wouldn't already be used to." He shot back, nodding slightly in the direction of Kiba and Hinata. Good point, they must be nervous. Especially Hinata-chan, she's fidgetting like there would be no tomorrow.

'Well, I'll make sure to keep a close eye on both of them, that way sensei can act without worry for their safety.'

We made it to Takumi within a few days. It wasn't much of a village, just a collection of houses with a lot of anvils for the blacksmiths to use. There weren't too many people either, just under a hundred by my count. It was the definition of a village – small, out of the way and sparsely populated.
Reporting to the village elder, we introduced ourselves and were told where we could stay for the duration of our mission. All standard stuff. Luckily, seeing that I was so out of it.
It wasn't that I was tired, I just had this sinking feeling in my gut that something was going to happen – sooner rather than later. A feeling I hate more than an Uchiha.
Once we agreed on a watch rotation, I settled into my futon trying to get some sleep. I would have the graveyard shift, and there were a few things I would need to deal with when that time came.

Hinata woke me up at dusk, saying that dinner was ready. She offered me a bowl with rice and fish, along with my chopsticks. I ate in silence, tossing ideas this way and that. I still hadn't figured out what was bugging me so much, and it was beginning to frustrate me.
"y-you seem w-worried." Hinata decided to point out.
"I have a bad feeling, and my feelings are always right." I told her plainly. "I already know it's got nothing to do with this mission. But I can't figure out what-"
"Maybe you should take things one step at a time." Kiba announced, just as he walked through the door.
"I wish I could." I said. I got up, thanking Hinata for the meal, and set about packing up my futon. I wouldn't be needing it until the next morning, and if there was anything I learned it's that you put away things you don't need immediately. After that it was my turn to go and do some rounds of the village.

I was more than a little surprised when Kiba decided to join me – seeing that he already did his part. Still, I wasn't going to complain just yet. Not much was being said between us, mostly because it wasn't needed – and in some cases would simply be unprofessional.
Not much worth saying about the village – other than that it was in a forest, which was pretty much home turf for us. That would technically be true for the Kusa ninja as well, but we'll just not count on them being too skilled just yet. Still, it's best to be prepared just in case.
We did a few rounds of the village, with Akamaru sniffing around for any interesting scents.
Nothing special. And yet... it was all that I wanted. And no matter how hard Tsu fought it, it was all she wanted too. She'd thank me in time. I know she will.
And yet, that queasy feeling in the pit of my belly wouldn't go away. And why do I have a feeling Hikaru has something to do with it?

Dawn came, signaling the end of my watch. Nothing happened, unless you count the village head having a drunken fit in the middle of the village about rabid mole rats stealing his shoes to get a little closer to the moon? Yup, that immediately stole the number one slot of weird shit I've seen while on patrol.
Um, the claim, not the thief. I didn't see anything stealing his shoe.
I don't even want to know how much he had to drink. Or what he was drinking – though I highly doubt it was alcohol inebriating him to begin with.

Anyway, on a more positive note: Kiba spent my entire watch with me. It was the sweetest thing anyone had ever done – seeing that my shift was twelve hours long and he had repeatedly told me that he didn't mind missing out on sleep so long as he could spend some time with me.
And what's more, when we got back to our room – yes, we're all sleeping in the same room – he even asked if we could put our futons next to each other. This was a dream I had been fantasizing about for years now. It's something I'm sure all girls have thought about – sleeping next to their future husband at one point or another.
Just because I was also thinking about whipped cream, chocolate syrup and honey doesn't mean that Jiraiya has corrupted me to my core... right?
Anyway, we're on duty so I know he'll behave. We agreed that he would sleep closest to the door – thereby earning him the position of the only man since Tou-chan to ever try to protect me. Well, to ever have me not slap him for trying to protect me.

The morning was peaceful and I was pretty tired, but I simply couldn't fall asleep. Too many thoughts dancing across my mind. Even with those perfect whole note snores. Even with watching Akamaru drifting up and down on his master's chest as they both slept. Even singing my favorite lullaby had no effect.
The feeling that everything was going to end soon was stifling. I wanted so much to burn every imagine into my mind, to remember everything perfectly. And yet I knew it was pointless. The only hope that I had... lay with Kiba remembering it for both of us. That sucks.
Laying there, on my right side, gazing at his sleeping form... I tried to will myself to fall just a little deeper in love with him. I tried to burn this beautiful image into my very soul.
The slow rising of his chest. The way his nose flares and contracts when he breathes. The look of perfect peace the he seemed to glow with. I wanted to find some way to keep this with me forever. 'Why did my plan have to work so perfectly? Only for it to turn around and bite me in the ass...'
The slope of his nose, the bushy eyebrows, the fang tattoo on his cheek... 'If Tsu doesn't love this boy as much as I do, I'll kill her myself.' I managed to give myself a headache trying to figure out how I could pull that one off. Leave it to me to think of the perfect paradox.

Waking up in the early afternoon, I find a surprise waiting for me. Well, technically not for me, seeing that Aoba is the one walking on clouds.
It seems that Saru-ji-chan decided to send Hana, Raidou and Tsume as back up, just to make sure we were perfectly safe. I didn't mind so much, seeing that I was used to Tsume-san giving me orders.
"Tsume-san." I inclined my head respectfully, doing my best to not call her 'Oyabun' like I used to. I petted Kuromaru, and nodded to the other new arrivals with some apathy – I was never one that liked people thinking I couldn't handle my mission. Still, two of the three arrivals were Kiba's blood relatives and deserved to be honored as such – no matter how much the situations stinks of Saru-ji-chan's meddling.
"Tsu-chan, how nice to see you again." Tsume-san greeted me. Her smile seemed to widen just that much more when she noticed the tick mark on my forehead.
"To what do I owe the honor of having you three as backup?" I asked, completely negating the fact that Aoba-sensei was in charge of this mission.
"Hokage-sama sent us. He said he feels he had underestimated the situation and wishes to correct it before things get out of hand." Funny how that same cocky smile on Kiba's face would refuse to let me breathe, but on her face it just pisses me off.
"I see." My way of saying 'Do I look like an idiot?'. Still, orders are orders. Just don't ask me to like it.
"As I am the highest ranking shinobi here, it stands to reason that I call the shots." Came the declaration that nearly skyrocketed my blood pressure. Still, I kept my tongue. "We will be split into three shifts. Kiba and Tsu are with me. Raido's with Aoba and Hinata's with Hana. Eight hour shifts, double linked patrol routes. Keep the radius around the village random." And so my two cent tour of hell began.

"You know, Tsu, if you keep staring at Kiba like that your panties are gonna to need changing." Yeah, my night went more or less just like that. Every time we stopped Tsume-san would point out every time I even glanced at her son, then she would go on about how much of a stud her pup's become. She even went so far as to say that she would love nothing more than to be a grandmother, just not yet.
It was hell. Mostly because I secretly loved every moment of it, but would sooner die than admit it.
"Oyabun, shouldn't you be out showing the world that Anko-chan isn't on your level yet?" I shot back, trying to get her to shut up.
"What? And miss this?" Her barking laugh filled the night. So much for stealth, ne?
"Miss what?" Kiba played ignorant, obviously enjoying every moment of it. I just rubbed the bridge of my nose, praying that she wouldn't hear him.
"You mean ta tell me you can't smell her excitement when she watches you?" She tisked. "Maybe I need ta train you harder." I didn't think it was possible, but I still managed to blush just that much deeper. "Not that I blame her, she can tell how strong my son is. You're going to be such a lady killer."
It was boiling up inside me to say something. I wanted to tell her, in no uncertain terms, that he was mine and that I wasn't sharing him for him to become a 'lady killer'. But I knew it would only make things worse.
"I doubt she'd want to share though. Still, I'm sure she has enough stamina to keep you happy." Yup, a whole new level of blushing. Once again breaking my previous record in under five minutes. "Little Tsu, my daughter-in-law. Emi and Tatsuhi would be so pleased. Best make sure to give me lots of pups to play with."
Yup. That was how my entire eight hour shift with Tsume-san and Kiba-kun went.
"And, Tsu. You oughta start callin' me 'Ka-san'." I sighed, wondering what I did to upset Kami-sama this time.

Well it was easier to fall asleep after the second night. Much easier. Especially since I was too mentally tired from not chewing Tsume-san out for her comments. As it turns out she was right, Anko is nowhere near her level.
I'd spent a few weeks under Anko's tutelage when Aoba-sensei dragged me into the T&I department, and I can honestly say I'd gladly be under her thumb right now. Hell, I'd rather be under enemy fire than go on another patrol with that much incessant teasing.
Too bad I didn't have a say in the matter.

Three week had passed since Tsume hijacked our mission. Three weeks. Twenty-one days of eight hour shifts with nothing but me hearing how excited Kiba makes me. And Kiba enjoys it more and more every time. He keeps asking his mother why she thinks this, or what makes her say that. And Tsume is not the type to sugar coat anything to spare me any embarrassment. Oh no.
Honestly I was getting to the point of either raping him, or killing her. Something was going to happen, it was just a question of what.
What's worse was that she would smile just a little bit wider whenever we lay in our futons. She would tell me that the next day would be more intense, and that she would have Kiba training shirtless before our shift was to start.
And she would follow through on it too! She seemed to enjoy making me drool over her boy. And what's worse, she took some sick fascination of making me spar with him – still shirtless. Even going as far as to say that I should spar topless with him!
Yup, give me Anko any day. She's much easier to take. The only thing that gave me any level of reprieve was watching Hana teach Hinata-chan some basic Ijutsu. Right before Kiba walked back into my field of vision... sweaty and bare backed.
He'd always have the knowing smirk on his face too! Like he was remembering his mother teasing me about my panties getting wet – which he probably could smell too! It was a constant battle between the abject horror of them knowing – and yes, I could tell Hana was noticing too – and a twisted arousal of Kiba wanting to turn me on like that.
Weren't there laws against shit like that? Yes, there must be!

"You know, if you want to have some privacy to think about Kiba and rub out all your frustration... I'd understand." Tsume was consistent, if nothing else. I was just getting undressed to take a nice long, relaxing soak. Alone. Until I heard her announce her presence.
"Oyabun, what makes you act this way towards me?" I asked bluntly.
"What? Are you saying I'm lying about any of it?" There's that smirk again.
"Why are you mentioning it at all?" I sailed around the question as best I could.
"Why are you avoiding the question?"
"Are you upset with me in some way?"
"Are you always this evasive?" Pointless. That's what the conversation was. Pointless, and as far from relaxing as possible. I just decided to let it go, hoping to just get clean and get some sleep.

I was beginning to hate patrols. And I trained myself to not look at Kiba at all. It was all becoming just another mission to me. The comments slowed, until Tsume realized what I was doing and changed her tactic.
"Kiba, maybe you should start walkin' around in the buff." Fuck. Thinking about that got my blood pumping again, and the blush on my face to deepen further. What made it worse this time, was that Hana and Hinata could clearly hear it too.

That was the point I decided it wiser to simply walk away – I'd heard enough.
Not surprisingly, Tsume followed me. At that point I couldn't decide if she was worried about me, or just wanted to rub it in a bit further. "WHAT DO YOU WANT?"
"I want Tsu back." Was all she said, dead serious.
"I want Tou-chan back! I guess neither of us is happy then, huh!" I shot back, balling my hands at my sides.
She just stared at me, obviously unsure how to reply. "Life is not as cruel as-"
"As what? As Orochimaru, who killed uncle Arashi when he defected? As Kyuubi, who killed my mother? As the Uchiha that slaughtered my clansmen in their sleep?" I was through with being repeatedly embarrassed. Anything that drew up the anger needed to not let her connection to Kiba sway my desire to shut her the hell up would suffice right now. Just leave me be, just let me-
"So you giving up on your clan will end that?"
"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME!" My head was starting to hurt again and I could feel a burning sensation in my forearms.
"We want you back. Is that wrong?" I placed both my hands on my head, trying to ease the pain welling up.
"Tsu is-"
"Hurt. Heartbroken. Downtrodden. But Tsu is not dead." Her voice was softer, gentler, than I could ever remember hearing it.
"WHAT DO YOU KNOW?" The pain was welling up, bordering on unbearable. It was like something was building up and ready to snap at any second.

"Emi-chan... forgive me." That was all the forewarning I got, before Tsume bashed her fist into my skull. I ricocheted against a few rocks, and landed against the base of a tree. Don't worry though, my face broke my fall.
Picking myself up, I turned around to face my opponent. "so that how you want to play this, huh?" Her face showed no emotion, but I felt her emotions at war with her actions. Her chakra was saturated with a million different things at once.
Still, there was no way I was going to just let that slide! 'Superior officer my ass. This bitch dies!'

~Clearing just outside Takumi, with Tsume and Tatsuko~

~Narrator POV~

Tatsuko's hands were flying through seasl, fast enough that Tsume actually had to focus to keep track.
'Tatsu-Hitsuji-Tori-Tora-Hitsuji-Tatsu – Hyouhiryugan!' It had been years since the Senju had used any seals to activate her doujutsu, but she knew better than to underestimate this opponent.
However, once her doujutsu was active, more handseals followed. 'Tatsu-Tora,Hitsuji-Tori-Tora – Suiton: Tajuu Teppoudama no-jutsu!'
Tsume was immediately on her toes, knowing those handseals well. Even though the Inuzuka was a Doton user – which would technically put her at an advantage – it made no difference against Tsu. Sure, had it been any other Suiton user on the planet, it would have been a moot point. But...
Jumping back to avoid the first wave, and simply dodging the others as they came, Tsume was trying to figure out why she had to be the unlucky one to deal with this.
Just out of curiosity, Tsume blazed through the handseals needed for her Mud Wall jutsu and took another few healthy leaps back. The wall was strong enough to stop Chouza's Bullet Tank, but she still wasn't terribly surprised when round after round of Water Bullets tore through it.
'The only advantage I've hot over her is speed. Just like Hokage-sama said.' Tsume thought sadly. 'And this is with sixteen seals still hampering her. How strong have you become, Tsu?'
Well, if that was the case, Tsume was intent on taking full advantage of it. She shunshinned behind Tatsuko, hoping to make short work of the battle.
"Nice try." The blond did a somersault, damn near wedging her foot in Tsume's mouth – had it not been for the jounin's quick reflexes to block it.
'Not as quick as she used to be, but as mentally agile as ever.'
"You wish to take advantage of my lack of speed? Fine. No touching. Ototon – Kagote no-jutsu!" Two blurry hands, each equally large as Tsume herself, popped into existence. One hand stayed close to Tatsuko, while the other seemed to ball into a fist. Kinda hard to say for sure, seeing that you can't see it directly.
Tsume was put on the defensive this time, ducking and dodging a damn near invisible hand – on instinct alone, one might add. Luckily it was only one hand... um, fist... one appendage that was trying to squash her.
"How the hell am I suppose to even see this coming?" Tsume asked, soon realizing that talking to herself was not smart with this opponent.
"You want to see it? Easily arranged." A single handseal followed (mostly just to help the 'genin' focus), making the jounin wish she'd shut up when she had the chance. "Katon – Endan!" The stream of flame wasn't aimed at Tsume. Not exactly.
No, instead Tatsuko hit her other jutsu, engulfing the once invisible hand and...

"Fuck." Where once was an invisible hand, balled up in a fist, was now a glowing, flaming avatar of pain and an all expense paid trip to the hospital – if you're lucky.
The intensity of the flames were making the Inuzuka sweat, even though the... thing... was still ten meters away from her. 'That's what I get for asking...'
The punches were just breaking trees before, but now it was melting boulders, scorching the earth... well, let's just say that Tsume was grateful she was faster than the girl. VERY GRATEFUL! And even more grateful that she ordered Kuromaru to stay behind – this was not a battle she wished to fight, let alone risk her partner's life in.

This went on for far longer than Tsume felt comfortable with. She knew that Tatsuko would tire eventually, but it certainly didn't seem like it. What's worse, was that this was only half the attack potential, and it was obvious that even then she wasn't willing to permanently harm Tsume.
It was grating on the Inuzuka's pride. Here was this wisp of a pup using jutsus that she obviously came up with herself, and wielding them well enough to deny any advantage. 'Tsuhi, what the hell did you teach this girl?'

Just then, the un-ignited Kagote shot out and grabbed Tsume, pinning her to a tree trunk. The other one – the one that could barbecue her instantly – hovered nearby.
"Apologize." Came the threat.
"Tell me how to help you." Tsume wouldn't give an inch.
"You can't. Only Hikaru-"

Before Tatsuko could even say another word, she sensed a team enter the clearing – an ANBU team. Two males, one female. All three jumped between the combatants, prostrating themselves.
"Usagi-taichou, we haven't forgotten your orders." The sole female announced, not even bothering with pleasantries. She looked up, showing the three stylized tears falling from her left eye on her mask. Tatsuko turned away from the familiar mask – and the memories it called up.
"what do you want with me?" Tatsuko asked, her voice barely more than a whisper. There were motifs behind her orders, and this was not helping any...
"Taichou, we need your help." The one with a jet black mask announced.
"Hokage-sama has given us a mission that we have no hope of completing without you to lead us." The last one, with a swirl on his forehead announced.
"... what?"
"..." All three ANBU were silent, seemingly wondering if this was the best course of action. "...Rescue and possible recovery of... a Konoha genin team."
"Look! Stop dancing around my questions! If you three refuse to respect my-"
"Inu-senpai's team." Before the words fully registered, the trees surrounding them snapped.
"...wha-"
"We wouldn't have gone against your orders for anything less." The female said, sadness evident in her voice.
"Willow, report." Tsume said, suddenly finding she was no longer subdued.
The female ANBU nodded. Launching her report with a salute.

~Tatsuko's POV~

"Inu's team had returned from their mission in Nami, with two nuke-nin subdued. One Momochi Zabuza, the other was identified as Yukikami Haku." Willow began her report.
'Yukikami? That's not possible.'
"In the absence of Senju Tatsuko, Yukikami Hikura took it upon himself to welcome her into the Yukikami clan. As a token of good faith, Yukikami Haku revealed the location of Gato's hideout, the stash of money and a horde of scrolls he'd been collecting. Yukikami Hikaru immediately announced the Yukikami clan's request to eliminate the thugs, and claim the treasury in the name of the Yukikami clan."
'Leave it to that idiot to actually fall for so simple a plot. They were nuke-nin for a reason.'
"Hokage-sama agreed, albeit reluctantly. He ordered that Inu send status reports every six hours, as insurance that everything was going according to expectations. The last report arrived a day before we were sent out, announcing an ambush."
'Kakashi would never not report. And seeing that he, Naruto and... and Hikaru were there... odds are that they...'
"We agreed that seeing that a superior team has been... incapacitated... that our only hope was to re-employ Usagi-taichou to complete the mission." Uzu announced, sadly he was still two or three heads shorter than Kage. Sad though.
'No, they are fine. Nothing's happened to them, they are just late reporting. It happens all the time.' I told myself over and over again. 'This mission is just precautionary.'
And yet the nagging feeling in my gut, the same one that's been bugging me since this mission began... it just kept getting worse.
'Well, I'm sure that Hikaru would be smart enough to call on the Usagi clansmen to aid him. I could just summon Yukiro... if anything bad happened then he would know... right?' That seemed like a logical enough plan.
I bit my left thumb, smearing some blood on each of my digits. "I – Inu – Tori – Saru – Hitsuji... Kuchiyose no-jutsu!" The smoke was less thick this time – after all I only summoned on rabbit. "Yukiro, re-" Before I could tell him to report... the smell of blood filled the air. Human blood, and rabbit blood.

"Tsu... gomen. Karu... Karu... gomen..." Yukiro's usually pristine white fur was bathed red and brown. Some patches of old blood, some of fresh blood. His left arm held limply at his side, with him struggling to offer me something with his right. My mind couldn't even take in if he was wearing his armor or not...
"A kodachi." The words left my mouth before I could even- "NOOO!" I dropped to my knees, barely able to breathe. Tears blinding me. I wrapped my arms around me, trying to hold on to what little warmth I had left.
The clearing was soon filled – the others must have heard my scream. 'This is what you wanted to avoid... this is why you refused to let anyone else in...'
I could sense someone walking towards me, their chakra lined with worry and concern. I should know that chakra signature... I know I should.
"Taichou, we've wasted enough time coming here to get you!" Kage warned.
'The longer the back up team takes... the lower the chances of survival... but...'
"kage... this is shirokuma's..." I explained, my voice breaking. I took the kodachi out of Yukiro's hand, hugging it as if it were Hikaru himself. "karu wouldn't let himself fall to some simple trick... they must have tried to flank naruto..."
Over and over again I fought the image of Hikaru-

"I understand! But there are-"
"shut up." I warned Kage. "yukiro is hikaru's personal summons. he wouldn't leave his side if there was any hope for a single member of that team." The rabbit nodded in agreement, silencing any further argument. "the mission is no longer accurate. this is now a retrieval mission for four... corpses." That last word left a bad taste in my mouth.
'this is all my fault... i should have stayed with him... i should have interrogated those two before i left... i should have done something... anything...' I wiped the tears from my eyes, looking up at Kiba. 'was sacrificing my little brother worth spending time with you... time I won't remember anyway...?' I didn't have an answer to that.
"What are you going to do?" Willow asked, but I could see the same question in Kage's and Uzu's eyes as well.
'There was only one answer to that question. An answer I had been avoiding for quite some time now.' My eyes locked with Kiba's, trying to apologize.
"there is a debt to pay... and a yukikami never leaves a debt unpaid." Tears were once again spilling onto my cheek. 'kiba-kun... karu... everyone... i'm sorry.'
I focused chakra into the remaining seals on my arms, knowing that this was the end I feared and revered.

I-Ushi-Tatsu-Tori-Ne-Inu-Ne-Tatsu-Tora-Tori-Ushi-Tora... "mina... gomen..." Broken Heart Fuuin... Kai!

I could feel the barbs tearing into my skin. The weeping wounds, bathing my jacket to match Yukiro's fur. Yet somehow, it hurt far less than the pain in my heart.
Darkness was catching up to me far quicker than I anticipated. I had hoped I would have more time. I had so much I wanted to tell Hinata-chan. I had so much to to tease Aoba-sensei about. And Kiba...

I felt myself falling, no longer having enough control over my own muscles to fight gravity. Only, I never felt myself hit the ground. A pair of arms were holding me.
"kiba... I wonder..." If there was any way to go... it was in his arms. "could you... make her... love you... like i do...?"

End Chapter 28.

A/N: This was where The Countdown Arc was officially supposed to end. There are several reasons why it didn't end here, but the most important one is the slightly angsty cliffhanger this chapter ends with. I'd apologize... but nah! You guys will love me when the next few chapters come out (^.^)

Put the pitchforks and torches down... please? (^_^)''

Nitou-ryuu – School of two blades, a dual wielding school of martial arts.
Takumi no Sato – Artisan Village.
Oyabun – Boss. Usually only used by Yakuza, and criminals. It's kinda of Tatsuko's way of teasing her and showing respect at the same time.
Suiton – Tajuu Teppoudama no-jutsu – Water release – Multiple Water bullets jutsu
Ototon – Kagote no-jutsu – Sound Release – Hands of Divine Protection jutsu. This was introduced when Tatsuko was defending Naruto from Mizuki, for those who don't remember.
Katon - Endan - Fire style - Flame bullet. The jutsu Jiraiya uses when the toad spews oil in their collaboration jutsu.