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.

~Flashback sequences.~

~Yukikami Tsu's POV.~

/"So, the little dragon thinks she can hold her own against the best of the best?" Jiraiya-sama announced, his long white hair flapping in the wind. His tone was more amused than anything./

/"Tsu-chan needs to be more careful! I almost hit you that time!" Yuuna was nearly in tears, though she was shorter than I remember . Her baby blue eyes glistening in the moonlight, even with Tou-chan and Hikaru trying to calm her down./

/"If you think you're going to get rid of me that easy..." Hikaru smirked, dusting himself off. The collection of bruises he was sporting almost makes me think he's been beat down by a herd of cattle. "If you can still go on, Tsu. Then so can I!" He dashed forward, intent to prove he something. I still need to figure out what./

/ "If I could bring back just one of your clansmen, I would gladly die a thousand deaths." Mikoto bit back her tears. "Especially your mother and father. I love them more than my own kin."/

/"Does Tsu-chan want some more ice cream?" Saru-ji-chan asked, almost teasingly. He petted my hair, smiling.
"Mou! Saru-ji-chaaaaaaaaan!"/

/"Just one more round, Teuchi-jiji! You know I'm good for it!" Naruto clapped his hands above his head, bowing as he begged. I waved at the chef, signaling that I would reimburse him personally.
He looked at Naruto, not missing a beat. "Fine, but then you gotta promise to start doing better in school!"
"A'right! You got it! 'ttebayo!"/

/"How much ice cream do you plan on eating in one sitting?" Tsume-oyabun asked, one hand on her hip, the other rubbing her temple.
"Hey! Ice cream has a lot of much needed calories, fat and sugars to give me a quick pick-me-up before you train me into the ground... again!"
"Maybe, but you need more meat in your diet! Emi-chan would never forgive me if I let you only eat desserts!"/

/"You really do like your sweets, don't you?" Natsumi-chan asked. Though from the look on Itachi-teme's face, I can tell he's thinking it too.
"Look, I'm eight. What do you expect me to like? Veggies?"
"It would be healthier." The weasel himself spoke.
"A whole four words? You've been saving up, Tachi-chan!" I laughed at the tick mark he was pretending wasn't there./

/ "Kuroikage's orders." Itachi intoned. My entire being tensed for a fraction of a second. "You have done everything he asked and more, but you have not impressed him with the training yet."
"So the training was meant to keep me busy while bigger fish got into position." I chuckled humorlessly.
"No, it was to make you strong enough to give you a fighting chance. Six months was simply too short a time." Without warning, Itachi flickered out of view and I felt a stinging pressure at the back of my neck. The world went black...
"Rest now, Yukikami Tatsuko… when you return to Konoha, your clan shall be avenged, your family's honor shall be sated."/

/"Tsu! I know you're not in control right now! Tou-chan's not upset with you!" Tou-chan's face was set in stone, but his eyes shone. I feared for him, knowing that there was nothing I could do – I was just along for the ride.
I called out for him, prayed for him, begged for Fugaku to let him be! But not so much as a syllable got passed my tongue.
Then my body shunshinned to him, a kunai lodging itself into his chest. "I couldn't die in your mother's arms... can I die in yours?"/

/"Tsu... glad?" Yukie asked, a weird look in her eyes. I guess it has been a while since I've smiled.
"Yes, Yukie. Tsu is glad. Glad that I have you to help me when things go wrong. Promise me that will never change."
"Hai." She nodded solemnly. I smile a little brighter, knowing that her honor would uphold that promise forever./

/ "Tsu! Stop!" Yukie warned. She was standing between Mikoto and me, her arms held wide to act as a barrier. "For. Honor. Stop. Please!"
"You would choose her over me?" I asked, rage overwhelming any hope of logic. "She's part of the clan that stole EVERYTHING from me!"
"Clan? Yes. Thief? No." Who cares if she hasn't done anything yet? I won't give her the chance to crush what little is left of my heart...
I shunshinned around the obstacle. Tou-chan's Eiyuu poised to strike through the Uchiha-teme's heart. Okaa-sama's love for her demanded a clean and painless death, lucky bitch.
I never got the chance. Yukie was beside me in an instant, her teeth ripping through my armguards – metal armguards, mind you – and still managing to tear into my skin.
I stared at Yukie in shock, anger threatening to wash away what little was left of me. Her eyes though... the tears welling up in the corners of her eyes, staining any fur they touched... "Tsu... stop... please..." She looks like I've just betrayed her heart.../

~End flashback sequence.~

~Clearing outside of Takumi village.~

Groggy. That's all I could feel right now. I couldn't feel my body, I couldn't seem to work any of my limbs. It feels like I've been asleep for a month, at least. I try to focus my mind, hoping to will away the numbness that felt all too familiar.
Warmth seeped into me, though I can't say from where exactly. A dozen pairs of eyes are fixed on me too. I hate that feeling – people watching you in your sleep. Talk about creepy.
Inch by inch, I can feel my body starting to wake up. I feel grimy, like I haven't bathed in days. GROSS! I know I'm in mourning, but you'd think Yuuna-chan would bug me to bathe every once in a while! And why the hell didn't Hikaru bug me about training! At least then I would be tempted to hit the sentou afterwards!
I test my muscles, seeing if I've gotten soft. Legs, yup. My mattress feels as hard as rock right now. Arms, yup. This pillow feels like it's bronze. At least it's warm...
Just how long have they let me just lay here doing nothing?
Deciding to try my luck, I open my eyes. I see... green? Trees? Where the heck am I?
"Tsu? You're awake!" I hear a familiar voice. I look a little closer to me, at the patch that was a little blurry before.
"Kiba-chan?" What the hell am I doing sleeping in a forest? In Kiba-chan's lap no less!
"Taichou, we don't have time for this!" I hear another familiar voice calling me. I look around, trying to take the whole scene in at once. Only, the more I see, the less I understand.

Over to one side are Kage, Uzu and Willow. Kage, being the impatient prick he is, is probably trying to rush to our next target. Only this time Willow seems to agree with him – she isn't smacking him in the head for trying to rush me.
A little closer to home, I see Tsume – no ANBU mask, so it's Tsume – worry written all over her face. Her daughter is there too... Hana. Then there's Aoba-kun and Raidou-kun. We met during one of my undercover missions in Konoha some time back – I can't seem to remember exactly when though. As well, if memory serves the three of them were genin under Aunty Nanami.
Then there's Hinata-chan... wearing a hitai-ate. 'Good going, girl! You'll have Naruto eating out of your hands in no time now!' Where the hell did that come from? We're ten years old! There's no way either of us is ready for something like that!
Still a little closer to home... Kiba-chan. I haven't seen him in years, not since I got my ANBU mask. He seems different, older. He's wearing his own forehead protector too, and it looks like there's stubble on his face – he needs to shave? Whoa! Hairy...!
Everyone has a worried look on their face – I can tell from their posture that my ANBU team are worried too.

I sat up, somehow finding it a little too easy to get up. "What am I missing?" I turn to Willow – naturally, seeing she's my second in command.
"What do you remember, taichou?"
"Na-" I was about to chew her out about her stupid questions – just like her lover boy. Still, she's in uniform, no given names. "Willow!"
"We have a mission, taichou! Recovery of Inu's team!" Kage groused.
'FUCK! Kakashi...' I feel my face screw up as if I'm in pain. 'How many people am I going to lose?'
"Fine, let me-" I got up entirely, suddenly wondering why I craved Kiba-chan to keep touching me. 'Weird!' "get ready." I looked around again. I could see trees, grass, people... no tents.
"Where the hell are we?" I asked already searching through my leg pouches to see what equipment I carried with me. I'm still not entirely sure what the hell is going on, but missions take priority over confusion.

Hinata-chan showed me where our room was – not sure why my stuff was so close to Kiba-chan's though. So I dove into my bag, looking for my ANBU gear... and not finding it. Must have been undercover or something.
I summoned Yukie – if I'm undercover, she's the one I give my gear to so that I can always have it when I need to. After the smoke cleared I notice the solemn nod she greets me with... and a funny look in her eyes.
"Tsu... help?" Yukie asked.
"Yes, my gear. Do you have it?" She nodded, the weird look in her eyes not going anywhere. "Good, grab it for me, I'll summon you again in five minutes." With that she was off.
I rummaged through what little I had there with me. 'Who packed this?' Nothing was where I would usually put it. Nothing. The three scrolls I always carry with my missions gear were missing, only two scrolls marked 'camping stuff' could be found... I don't camp.
Well, not a complete loss, seeing that Eiyuu was actually in one of them. The rest was all worthless junk as far as I could tell. No senbon, no kunai – which made sense since I have my Tessen in my leg pouch – no explosive tags, no ninja wire... nothing I value. Just my tessen, Eiyuu, and Okaa-sama's Nohkan. Some rations bars and a half dozen bottles of water too. 'Seriously... What the fuck! How undercover am I?'

Five minutes elapsed, so I summoned Yukie again. Finally recognizing my real gear! My ANBU armor, my dual katanas, dozens of senbons, bomb tags (?) smoke bombs and a couple hundred meters of ninja wire. As well, a single scroll filled with my pet projects – traps, special bombs and the like. 'That's what I'm talking about!'
I set about getting out of the weird clothes I found myself in. I couldn't help but wonder why I was wearing a Kiba-esque jacket dripping in blood. And started putting on my second skin. Hitai-ate covering the lower part of my face, skin tight shirt, pants, gloves and sandals to ward off moisture and temperature fluctuations (I'll never understand why we have to leave our upper-arms exposed while in uniform). Then my armored chest plate and armguards. Eiyuu strapped at my waist for left handed draw, twin katanas strapped on my back with one hilt peeking over each shoulder. I gave Okaa-sama's Nohkan to Yukie, in case I would need that later, and restocked my pouches the way I am accustomed – whoever tampered with them is dead.
As last, the icing on the cake... my Usagi mask. I remember having to fight another ANBU for this mask when I first joined! Bastard thought he could hog it, just cause he liked the paint job on it! Broke his arm in three places just for having a stupid reason – if his sister had given it to him, then I would have actually let him keep it, but nooo.
Any, leave the past lay. I need to get the mission parameters and get the hell outta here. "Yukie, thank you. I will be calling on you and the team soon. Make sure everyone is ready." She nodded, leaving without another word.
'Wait a minute... when did I get breasts?' I must be working too hard to not even notice stuff like that.

Seeing the world through the two slits for eye-holes in my mask washed a familiar calm over me. As I got out of the shared room, I looked around to see if any was actually looking. Only Tsume-oyabun and Hinata-chan were anywhere in sight.
Poking my hand up under my mask, I let loose a whistle that summoned my team. "Kage, target location distance."
"Four-hundred fifty-two miles." He answered crisply. Shit, that is clear across the Hi no Kuni!
"Elapsed time since last comm?"
"Four days."
"Known assailants?" I turned to Willow for that one, she'd know who would interest me in that bunch.
"Momochi Zabuza. Unknown total shinobi count." That fucktard again! Fine, I guess I'll finally be able to repay his... kindness... for letting me take his place as jinchuuriki.
"Members of Inu's team?"
"One non ANBU Yamanaka-" Everyone tensed briefly, obviously sensing something they weren't looking forward to. "Yoko, and ...Shirokuma."
I was flexing my gloves when she said that, trying to work out the weird kink that usually comes from not wearing them for a while.
"Suspected survivors?" Sure I heard recovery, but there was no way someone like Zabuza could take out all three of them. Besides, we were to recover a genin team, neither Yoko, nor Shirokuma had a genin team, and they certainly weren't genin.
"..." Willow mumbled something. I focused, activating my doujutsu to make sure I would catch it regardless, then waved for her to repeat. "... none."
My eyes widened in shock, suddenly finding I couldn't breathe.
"wha-"
"The original mission was rescue and recovery, but you summoned Yukiro yourself and confirmed that there were no survivors." Tsume-oyabun stated. Her voice firm, but I could hear the sorrow seeping in – something you really have to pay attention for, since elite shinobi hide it far too well. If you don't know them, you're probably never going to notice.
I walked up to the nearest inanimate object, and rammed my fist clean through it. The next thing I uttered felt like a curse on my tongue. A curse I was going to purge from this world as slowly and painfully as possible.
"momochi... zabuza..."

We were dashing through the trees at far too sedate a pace for my nerves. Unfortunately, Tsume ordered that we take Aoba, Kiba and Hinata along. She, Hana and Raidou were going to stay behind and clean up. Don't ask me, I don't know.
No clue what a chuunin and two genin could do to help the mission... but orders are orders.
I'll be damned if anyone thinks they are running the show here though! They may be along for the ride, but they are babies as far as I know – or care at the moment.
We took our first break around sunset – which pissed me off, seeing that we started just after noon! Still, no point in breaking the genin on their first real mission.
We had a quiet meal, everyone took a long chug at their water bottles, and we sat down quietly. I was waiting for Hinata's breathing to even out and her heartbeat to slow down a bit. Which didn't seem to want to cooperate. She must know that Naruto is on that team too – one of the few reasons I agreed to let her and Kiba come along at all.
She wasn't crying on the outside, but on the inside I could feel her die a little every time she breathed. A feeling I understood all too well.
Still, we need to get there ASAP and this is not helping us do that. "We need to go." I signaled that the pit stop was over and I noticed that Hinata and Kiba were both willing, but they were at the end of their ropes. They simply couldn't keep up.
Well, to be fair, Kiba was keeping up a bit better, but still not nearly good enough to say I wouldn't worry about him on another three to four hour run.
I saw the two pulling out soldier pills, proving my point.
"Soldier pills? You're shitting me right?" More crude than I am accustomed to being, but my team understood why. "No, save that for important shit." My hands already going through the motions to summon backup.
"Yukimaru, Touketsu." I nodded to the two I called. They nodded back wordlessly – Yukie was the only talkative one of the group. "I need you two to carry these two." I nodded to Kiba and Hinata. The former already complaining.
"Nn." Two nods and one short battle to grab an uncooperative Inuzuka later we were heading out.

This time around we were making much better time. I kept speeding up a little every five minutes, to test if Aoba could keep up – which he had no problem with thus far. Up until the point where we got to Tou-chan's 'cruising speed'. A speed we were trained to keep up for twelve hour runs, and a speed I trained both my Usagi and ANBU teams to maintain.
Still, no complaints from the Yamashiro. I kept my doujutsu active – seeing that I was the sensor of my team – so I would know exactly how hard I could push him before he would become winded.
I nodded in his direction, impressed with him.

Around midnight I halted the group. After reverently bowing to my partners, thanking them for their hard work, they poofed back to their home to get some rest. After that, it became a rather interesting night.
"I still don't get why I could-"
"Inuzuka Kiba." My eyes bore into his, focusing just enough killer intent to silence him. "Could you keep up to the set pace?" He wanted to look away – hell, he even looked like he wanted to fidget – but a low level genjutsu Tou-chan taught me long ago denied him that privilege.
"maybe..." He relented, mutely sighing as he finally ripped his gaze away from mine.
"No, you couldn't." I stated clearly. "Now, if you complain again about a clearly given order and I will personally see to your... training... the second we get back to Konoha. Clear?" I know my team understood what that meant, and they would give off just enough a reaction for Kiba's heritage – his sense of smell especially – to pick up on. Fear is the easiest thing in the world to smell, and the hardest to cover up.
"Careful, Usagi-chan." Kiba didn't give an inch. "I might like it." This time, his eyes didn't leave mine.
"Try saying that after surviving longer than five minutes." I intoned. "I'll take first watch. Uzu, you're next. Everyone else, sleep. We leave before dawn."

Everyone was asleep in under five minutes. Really, it wasn't hard for anyone to fall asleep – we'd been running nearly twelve hours. By Kage's calculations we were half way across Hi no Kuni, which meant we had another day and a half to go. I think it'll be faster though, seeing that at least we only have two to drag along. Still, this team intrigues me.
Aoba is at least competent. Kiba is stubborn and is conditioned to handle quite a bit. Hinata is... delicate, but I see the fire in her eyes. She is by far the weakest link in their team. But she more than makes up for it with her Byakugan and Ijutsu – from what I can gather.
Maybe I can talk to him about his training set up for his team – and maybe recommend someone to fill in for the obviously missing member. He's Aunt Nanami's student after all – she'd want me to keep an eye on him for her.
"You really should get some sleep." I spoke softly, but I knew Aoba would be able to hear me well enough.
"So should you, but you took first watch." He countered.
"A leader does not ask others to do what she would not." I smiled at him, to welcome him by the fire. Still, it was pointless – my mask was still on so he couldn't see it.
"Spoken like a true Senju." He smiled, almost as if he knew I was smiling at him. There was something inside me telling me that I could trust this man. I didn't understand it, but I trust my instincts.
We were quiet for a while, as he fished in his bag for a ration bar and tossed it into the fire. "Old tradition of mine." He explained without being asked. "For good luck." I rolled my eyes, but didn't respond otherwise.
"You're missing a student." I said, not asking or expecting an explanation.
"No, I'm not." He countered. That makes no sense. Two genin, he obviously had to be a jounin – there was no real difference between chuunin and jounin uniform, so it was always guesswork if you didn't know for certain.
"I count three on your team." I pointed out.
"And I count four on yours." He smiled, seemingly enjoying the lack of logic in that. Whatever. "My third student is something of a... wild card." He said.
"I see. Nothing you can't handle it seems. How long have you been a team?" What can I say? Company passes the time quicker.
"A month and a half. And I'm already contemplating chuunin exams." His smile would have given us away in enemy territory, it was that bright.
"Confident." He could hear the smile in my voice. "I like your solution of turning the girl into a medic. It'll build her up quicker than anything else."
"Who said she's becoming a medic?" He raised an eyebrow.
"The crease on her leg-pouch." I said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Hyuugas almost never reach into their pouch. So any Hyuuga who went into their pouch that often would need something in there that her team would need. Only medics fit that description.
"She has the temperament for it." He shrugged. Yeah, she kinda does.
"He's front-line?" I got a nod. "Then the last one is either all-round of one hell of a long range." The problem with front-line fighters is that they don't pull back without orders to do so. That leaves the medic hopelessly vulnerable. To counter that, either you need an all round to guard the medic, or you need a long distance to pick off anything the front-line misses.
"She's both actually." Aoba smiled, thinking about that third student. Who the hell could it be? "I'm starting to see that she could take on my job."
"Interesting." It really was. Not often do you hear a sensei with such high praises for his student after only six weeks.
"She keeps me on my toes." He shrugged, still smiling. I could tell just from his reaction he was close to his team. Just like I am to mine – both of them.
"If you need any help, let me know. Those two have a lot of potential, and if this third one is as interesting I'd love to meet her too." I offered. He just smiled a little brighter, shaking his head at something. "Something I said?"
"Something like that."

Half an hour before dawn came another rather peculiar scene. "If you think you are tagging along smelling like that...!" Willow was to the point of slapping Kiba – something I wouldn't blame her for. Both he and his pup smell like wet dogs.
"What's wrong with how I smell?"
"It's traceable." She countered.
"Listen up!" I got everyone's attention. "Wash down is mandatory on my watch. I don't care who thinks otherwise." I wasn't in anyone's face about it, but I would be more than happy to offer a cold shower to complainers.
"I don't see no water nowhere." He was looking around, but his pup seemed smart enough to keep a keen eye on me.
Ask and thou shalt receive. Three handseals later, and we had our morning entertainment. Kiba was drenched with my water jutsu – low leveled to not harm him or his partner, but still chilled just right. After that he got a bar of soap upside his head.
"Any other complaints?" There were none, so Willow buried the fire and Uzu filled it's location with water so everyone else could wash down quickly. It was something of a morning ritual with my team.
After that it was cold rations for breakfast, and a few pokes of fun at the wet pup – Kiba, not the ninken. Then I summoned Koritetsu and Yukima to hoist the genin for the day and we were off.

By noon we were already passing just South of Konoha. By dinnertime we were nearing the boarder. Night crossings are suicidal, so we called it a night deciding we would cross at first light.
"We're making damn good time." Kage seemed happy – he's the least patient person I know, so the quicker we make it to the target the happier you keep him.
#Good news! Kage's happy!# Uzu signed to Willow and me. I kept neutral about it, but Willow choked back a snicker.
"You okay, Willow?" Kage asked, concern in his voice. She waved him off, having to fight twice as hard to breathe normally now.
"Ne, Taichou, who's watching Red Ridinghood?" Uzu asked. Red Ridinghood was Yuuna's pet name, helps to hide who we're talking about.
"With Inu... out of town... It'd be Neko, wouldn't it?" Willow asked.
"Probably." Was all I said. I knew what they were doing, trying to make light of everything to set me at ease. Trying to dull the pain in my chest with menial questions that they knew the answers to just to keep me occupied. I loved them for it.

Still they couldn't stave off my curiosity for long. Eventually I zoned them out, trying to piece things together best I could. A lot of things weren't adding up. Too many things.
No clear sign of me being undercover other than my gear being set up as such. Yukie had that weird gleam in her eye – she only gets that when she sees something she wants to see, but doesn't believe she's actually seeing it. Then there's the missing third student. And the order to take a genin team on an ANBU leveled rescue and recovery mission? Worse yet and actual recovery! Is Tsume-oyabun trying to break her pup?
Then there's the Hyuuga healer? That's practically against their clan's honor code! There are no Hyuuga medics. None. Who the hell green-lighted her Ijutsu training? It's not like Hiashi to allow his 'heiress' to do as she pleases, sets a bad example to the village.
What's more! What fucking mission was I on? The last thing I can remember before waking up was talking to Hikaru about my infiltration mission into the Uchiha clan. I remember talking to Yuuna about a seal before that. But, everything seems completely different from yesterday.
First off, there's the fact that I feel weaker. Second off, there's me waking up in a clearing in the River country! How the fuck did I even get there?
As well, another interesting thing. I didn't have Kage, Uzu and Willow at this level. Sure I could run them ragged one day, but the next they were practically in wheelchairs! They seem much stronger, more confident. And the budding boobs ain't helping much either!

#Willow. What's Usagi's age?# I signed, wondering.
#12. Why?# She seemed confused, and I could see the muscles in her neck tense.
#Certain?#
#Positive!# Twelve years old. Yesterday I'm ten, Today I'm twelve.
#Fuck!# The seal must have done it's job.
#What's the last thing you remember?# She asked, obviously knowing more than she let on.
#Uchiha infiltration.#
#Certain?#
#Affirmative.#

Well, that's just fucking dandy. Yuuna's seal worked too fucking well! As usual. Why is it that I can never plan anything accurately once her seals come into play? Still, that only answers half the puzzle.
"Yamashiro, who's the third student?" I asked suddenly, centering everyone's attention on me. I could feel their discomfort radiating off them like the midday sun during a heatwave.
"You haven't figured it out?" He smiles teasingly. Fuck... that's the undercover mission.
'I'm gonna kill Saru-ji-chan.' I groaned, crumbling in my makeshift seat.
"Wait a minute! You don't remember?" Kiba and Hinata both look hurt. This is why I hate babysitting.
"No." I say honestly. It stings more than it should. Yes, Hinata is my cousin so of course that hurts her... but somehow Kiba looks more hurt than she does. Just what the hell am I missing?
"None of it?" Kiba asked, but Hinata eyed my just as wearily.
"The last time I remember seeing you was just after my seventh birthday." I nodded to Kiba, then turned to Hinata. "You I've seen more often, because you stalked that boy so much." I didn't care call any names, but everyone knew who I meant.
"Why?" Not sure who asked, or even if I want to give a straight answer.
"Ever since getting my mask I've been on Tou-chan's team that's been guarding Naruto." Technically true, nut they don't need the details. Still, both names sting as I call them. To them, it's been two years since Tou-chan died... but my heart says it's only been a month. To lose Tou-chan... and now...
"That's not what I meant." Kib's upset now, noticing me avoiding the question.
"Counter torture and interrogation seals." Aoba supplied. "That's what those seals were meant to really do. Suppress your chakra and most of your skills and memories so that the enemy couldn't get what they wanted, and completely blot out any memories to avoid mental torture scars."
I nodded, remembering when I asked Yuuna to design them to do just that. "They were meant to wear off after the mission ended. I guess the designer got overzealous." I wanted to add ' again', but that would be a bit much. I told her to make the seal durable so they couldn't break it prematurely. Well, next time I'll just take the torture like a big girl.
"How could that even be possible? Memories can't be erased that easily!" Kiba's reaction wasn't a happy one. Obviously something happened between us he didn't want me to forget.
"It's like placing ten centimeter strip of masking tape on a table and drawing a thirty centimeter straight line." I explained. "You'd barely notice a difference if you only study the line, but once you remove the tape all you see is a missing portion with some residue left behind."
"Residue?" He asked, hopeful.
"There's a theory that not all memories are stored in the brain – which is the area the seal would have affected. If any memories are stored elsewhere I'd still remember them." Like being able to feel like I could trust Aoba.
But wouldn't that mean...? My eyes focused on Kiba, wondering why there was this... urge... that I couldn't seem to fight off hard enough.
"What about all those times in school then?" Kiba asked, trying to get some kind of point across. "You were there and that was before the massacre."
"I haven't really figured that part out yet." I rubbed the back of my head sheepishly. "Messing with memories is a gray area, so I'm probably going to need some time to sort all this out." And my current mission isn't helping me any.

Kiba wanted to say more... lots more. Even Hinata was itching to add her two cents. But it was time to call it a night. All this angst is not good for my emotional stability right now...

I couldn't sleep a wink. Not since hearing about Karu... Sure, my eyes would close, my breathing would even out. But it wasn't sleep. That was just a blessing of training – my body was resting.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop having flashbacks of me and Karu. Training with Tou-chan, our missions together. Hell, we've been partners since I could remember.
At first it was just training partners while Tou-chan whipped us into shape. Then we became partners in crime – anything from pranks together, to just whiling out. We were officially made partners just after the Sanbi incident – since he was the only one that could tell when I was going to freak out and hurt somebody.
Well, that was one of the reasons I trained him in Ototon – him knowing when I was going to freak out, not him becoming my partner. He knew how to counter my every attack, he knew my every strategy. He's even the one that comforted me after Tou-chan's death. And now... we have to go and recover his body...
I'll be the one that gets to carve his name on the monument – a tradition of sorts to help the surviving teammates cope. I'd need to bury him in the Yukikami plot too. Well, his ashes at least – you don't let bodies hang around for people to 'borrow' their secrets.
Or worse yet, if anyone gets their hands on the secrets of the Edo tensei! I'd hate to think someone would use my family against me like that.

Well, I guess it's just me now then. Taking care of Yuuna is up to me now... not looking forward to breaking the news to her though. At least I know she'll take it as bad as I will – once I don't have to act tough in front of the troops.
Honestly though, do the Heavens know no mercy? Sure, the calender might declare two years since Tou-chan's death, but Kami-sama should know better in my case! To lose them both in so short a time... how is that right?
He who lives by the kunai, dies by the kunai. Well, I guess it's only a matter of time before my number is up. Pity the fool who thinks I'll not go down swinging though. Pity him, and his accomplices.
"Taichou, it's time to go." I heard Willow announce. My eyes opened, not that anyone would notice since I slept with my mask on. I got up, stretched my muscles and we went about waking everyone. Dawn is in less than an hour away and we are crossing the channel to Uzu no Kuni the second we have any light at all.
How ironic that Naruto would meet his end in Uzu. And that Uzu would be part of the recovery team. That's going to get confusing really quickly. I just know it. An ANBU codenamed Uzu recovering an Uzumaki in Uzu no Kuni. I'm sure the Kami would think it's comedy hour with that one.
Just don't ask for a chuckle out of me.

A meal and some warm up stretches later, we were all staring out to sea. There wasn't a cloud in the sky – well, not a rain cloud anyway. The waves were calm, almost soothing. And the first rays of dawn were kissing the sky. Had the circumstances been different, I would consider the scene serene.
A shame a funeral air hung over us.
"Move out. I want to make landfall before it gets dark." Maybe I should have summoned help then...

That night we camped on yet another beach. Only this time... everything was different. I recognized this beach, but that shouldn't be surprising since I've been here half a dozen times before.
No, what made this beach different... was the flashback I got.
Kiba, Hinata, Aoba... I shouldn't have flashbacks with them... And yet, a scene was playing out I couldn't quite put into words. It was fuzzy – out of focus.
Fucking weird. And it shouldn't amount to anything. Yet somehow...
"You look lost." Kiba teased, smiling at me.
'That smile...' My breath caught in my lungs. I could feel my cheeks warming up – by far the most intense blush I'd ever experienced! 'This can't be right! Kiba and I are just childhood friends. I shouldn't be thinking about him like this!'
It didn't stop the feeling, ease the blush... or explain how Kiba could tell anything about me – seeing my mask never once came off. It shouldn't make sense!
"We camp here tonight. I'll take first shift." Best to ignore him for now – I can't afford for any distractions.

A fire was made, food was cooked – fish and some fruit off the nearby trees mostly – and we partook in a quiet meal.
I didn't pay attention to any of it. Mechanically shoveling the food down, unceremoniously tossing the leftovers of my meal into the fire to keep it going – or maybe to see the symbolic turning to ash that seemed to fit so well with the mood.
Nothing makes sense right now. A two bit piece of shit like Zabuza shouldn't have been able to get the drop on Kakashi, let alone Kakashi and backup. There is no logical way to explain that. And yet here we are, making our way to where their corpses should be.
The broken heart fuuin was designed to last six months to a year, not two plus years. I shouldn't have missed out and half of what I did. Granted, I would have hated missing out on anything, but this is ridiculous.
And to make it all worse... I'm... Kiba's... when the fuck did that happen! No one should have been able to get this close to me! Ever! Not even Hika...ru...
Tears were streaming down my face. I honestly held out longer than I thought I would.

I got up, walking into the forest. "Willow, I'm leaving you in charge." Was all I said, somehow keeping any and every emotion out of it. I didn't shunshin. I didn't disappear. I didn't move so fast no one could hope to follow. No, none of that was my style.
I just walked. And walked. Until I got to the one tree I knew would be there waiting for me. The little hands carved into the bark faded with time, but were still clearly visible. Two hands, side by side. Carved under one was 'Shirokuma'... under the other 'Usagi'. And between the two a single kanji... 'Unity'.
"Partners to the bitter end... Ne, Karu?" I don't know why I said it out loud. It just felt right.
"He means a lot to you." I didn't have to turn around to know Kiba had followed me – no one else would dare to.
"We came through this way on our hazing mission. Kakashi told us that it was a tradition for all ANBU recruits." I spoke my mind, not even aware of the reason. It felt right to tell him. It just... felt right.
"We came through this way on the way back to Konoha. We were on top of the world." Him more than me. Still the bittersweet memory put a smile on my face. "We carved our names and the outlines of our palms right here. This was supposed to be our secret place."

/"If anything happens, and we get separated, we can always meet up here. If Konoha is too far, at least." Karu said, still carved out the outline of his hand. "This is our spot, Tsu. A place no one but us can know about."
"What about Inu? He's standing right over there." I told him. Boys are so weird sometimes. (-.-)''/

I just stood there, my fingers flitting over the two imprints. My hand looks huge. Or maybe the imprint just looks small.
I wasn't fighting the tears. Not sure what that even means – seeing as only Tou-chan and Saru-ji-chan had ever seen me cry before. Well, at least the mask is denying him the actual sight. Though I doubt he wouldn't be able to smell it.
"It's alright to cry." Why do people feel like that makes things better?
But then... he wrapped his arm around my waist from behind. He was gently pulling me back into his arms. I dunno why I didn't fight it. I don't know why I didn't want to fight it.
I just know that it eased the pain.

Later that night, I was staring into the fire. Everyone else was asleep – not pretending to be, but actually sleeping... I checked.
Uzu – Kitsunaga Kenta, as he was known before the Kitsunaga massacre – lay in a tree. Kage – Sarutobi Jun, a fourth cousin of Saru-ji-chan's – was in another branch of the same tree as Uzu. Those two should have been brothers, I just know it. Willow – Kohaku Natsumi – is by the fire, next to Hinata. Aoba is sleeping against the trunk of a tree.
And Kiba... He's laying down on the other side of the fire from me. Just laying there. Snoring lightly. A perfect whole note.
'Who the hell snores in perfect hole notes?' 'And the way his nose flares when he breathes!'
Feature after feature... everything I noticed called up something in me. A feeling I've never known before. Or at least... not like this.
So much to take in... and yet no time allotted to do so. And what's worse... I didn't understand any of it. I wanted to cry, to shout, to scream, to pummel anything that did or didn't move. I wanted to hug the nearest person, weeping as I told them my life story.
But more than any of that, I wanted to get so drunk that I couldn't tell which way was up.

Even above that. More than the desire to breathe... I wanted to understand one thing. One thing that made less sense than anything else I currently found myself in.
How the hell did I start liking Kiba? I can't be feeling that for Kiba. Or anyone! People aren't supposed to be allowed to get close to me for me to like them. They are supposed to be at a comfortable distance both physically and emotionally, so that I don't have to worry about losing anyone.
Even before Tou-chan's death I had learned from the cacophony of Senju long gone – who coincidentally love talking to 'the librarian' in their memories – that getting close to people was dangerous. Lovers dying in your arms, friends betraying you, allies turning their backs on you – enemies even worse, but you expect that from them. As such I never let anyone that close to me.
Tou-chan, Saru-ji-chan and Hikaru were the only ones that got 'close enough'.

So how the hell did Kiba do it? The same Kiba that used to eat his buggers. The same Kiba that wet his bed at night. The same Kiba that used to pick fights with me, just to see who could fight better – and somehow still got confused every time I beat him.

/"I know Tsu-chan's stronger than me!" A five year old Kiba cried, wiping the tears from his eyes. "But one day I'll be strong enough to protect you!"/

/"Hey Tsu, nee-san sent an extra bento for you. Told me to give it to you or she'd kick my ass." Kiba smirked, clearly lying through his teeth.
"Kiba-chan, are you trying to bribe me with food again?" (-.-)''
"Depends, will it convince you to teach me that jutsu?"/

Yeah, that Kiba... Things used to be so simple. I guess. Back then we were... well not friends, that was a little much. We hung out a lot. With Tou-chan being close friends with his mom, it was inevitable. So you know what? I blame this shit on puberty!
Fucking hormonal bullshit.

Morning came. I still got no sleep. It's times like these I'm glad I can just wear my rabbit mask 24/7 and not worry about bags under my eyes, or any other icky stuff that comes from lack of sleep.
Today's the day. According to Kage's calculations we should make it to the ruins of Uzushio just after lunch.
"Taichou, are you gonna be okay?" Willow asked after breakfast. Sure, she's being quiet enough, but not for people to not overhear us.
"I'll live." Was all she'd get out of me. I can't blame her for her concern though. Uzushio holds a lot of memories for me – it's where Tou-chan would always take Hikaru and me when we needed an extended training mission for one reason or another. I don't know why – he'd always just say that the place meant the world to Oka-sama.
Anyway, no point in dawdling. I couldn't summon any help for the run this time, since my rabbits would need to conserve their energy for the fighting. Kiba was more pleased about that than he should be. "Move out." I droned, and we were off.

Kage took lead – what is it with guys and wanted to take the lead? All of us kinda just fell in behind him. We wouldn't need any actual formation for another few hours, but I still made sure we stuck with Southern Cross formation – crooked four point star – with the genin in the center. It afforded as much protection for them as we had to offer – which wasn't saying much yet, seeing as we still had no clue what the hell we were walking into.
Not a whole lot happened. And after the first few hundred exotic trees were passed, they became a bit more commonplace. We weren't making good time, but we were on schedule. Whatever that means in Kage's world.
'I think Kage and Inu would end up killing each other if they were ever on the same team.' I had to choke back the tears – gotta stop thinking. Time to start doing! Kakashi will be avenged. Naruto will be avenged. Ino... is along for the ride.
Hikaru though... he'll laugh when his murderers are in his grasp again.

The time came for the final strategy meeting. I was still mostly clueless with Aoba and his team regarding their skills – so sadly they were scouts and just keeping the hell outta the way.
Kage handed me a map – only Kami-sama knows how he has a map for everything – which I stretched out and placed some stones to keep it in place. "Aoba should be back soon with recon. But I'll be frank, it's a formality. They're going to be in this building here." I pointed to where the biggest building was – just North-East of the center of the map. "It has the best natural protection, and is easiest to defend during an attack."
Willow, Kage and Uzu made no motion to show they heard me, but I know they did. We've been through enough missions together to know that for a fact.
"Now, we are going in with Silent Night. Willow will take this entrance." I tapped the emergency exit, to the South-East. "You're job is the basements. I think there should be three levels, but the lowest one is lower priority."
"Kage will take a window over on this side." I tapped the North side. Well, the building's round so it made little difference where that is concerned. "You need to act as my sniper."
"Uzu will the air vent on this side." I tapped the Eastern side. "It's well hidden, but you should be able to find it. Two floors up. Start on the top floor and work your way down."
"I will be going in through the main entrance and scatter the rats around. I'll have Aoba and his team stake out the surrounding area to monitor anyone trying to get away. That way we can track 'em down if needed."
"We only need one survivor to entertain Ibiki, clear?" Three nods, and no questions followed. After that we just sat and waited for the squirt brigade to get back.

"We're talking about fifteen floors, and more than a hundred shinobi!" Aoba was pissed. Does he know who's in charge here?
"Yamashiro Aoba. In case you have forgotten yourself, this is an ANBU mission and you are along for the ride. I am calling the shots. I am in charge. Now, if my team has any issues with the numbers, they are more than welcome to speak up." I looked over to see three shrugs. Nope, they have no issues. "Now, if you have an issue with having your team monitor the area just say so and you can hide behind that mountain over there." I pointed over my shoulder.
"Tsu cut the shit! I am not risking you and your-"
"AOBA!" That got him to cool his jets. "This is my mission. My team will do their job, and they will do it well. Now, you are going to tell me where the highest concentration of walking corpses is."
"..." He crossed his arms, seeming to almost pout like a big baby.
"Now!" I barked out.
"... main hall. Ninety percent of the troops are there. Twenty in the basement levels, ten on the top floor." He was clearly not happy with how things were going, but I was in no position to coddle him.
"Good. Now I want your team to spread out and keep out of sight. Things are going to get messy and fast. And no heroics. Frankly Konoha has lost enough good shinobi for one week." I intoned, already walking in the direction of the building we were going to rip apart one shinobi at a time.

"Any updates to the strategy?" Kage asked seriously once we put enough distance between Team 9 and us.
"Yes. Kage, you are going to back Uzu up. Once you two finish up go and help Willow." I explained seriously.
"Taichou, what about you?" Willow asked. Her sentiments were echoed in the others' eyes as well.
"I will be fine. Besides, if I attract all the attention, your jobs will be made easier. It'll work out." I said.
"Taichou be serious! We're talking about ninety plus shinobi here!" Uzu pointed out. Everyone seemed to think I was going to kamikaze through the front door. Which I technically was.
"Any of you want to warm the bench?" I asked seriously, reminding them that I was in charge. Youngest on the team of not, I know for a fact that I am the strongest shinobi present and accounted for. "Besides you guys are forgetting that I am not going in solo. I'm taking Team Usagi with me." That was kind of a double pun. Seeing that our team is officially known as Team Usagi, but I call Yukie and the guys the same thing. "Now just chillax and make sure to remember that there won't be any survivors on my end. Keep someone important looking but as little trouble as possible. Okay?"
They still looked tense. "Could you at least take Aoba with you? He looks capable." Kage just had to go there.
"Kage I-"
"We're worried about you, taichou. Is that wrong?" Willow interrupted.
"I'll live." I shot back, which didn't sit well with her at all.
"That just makes me worry more."
"Look, don't make me overrule your objections."
"You wouldn't even if you could." Willow countered. Fuck, mind readers and their bullshit.
"Fine! Kage go get Yamashiro then and we can-"
"You rang?" Stalk much? (-.-)''
"Any other complaints?" I tried to ignore Aoba anyway.
"Nope. I'm good." They just piggied me to make sure I don't go suicide bomber on them, didn't they.
"Kage, I will be sending a few extra trainings your way when we get back now. You do know that." The muffled sigh was music to my ears. No debt goes unpaid. "Anyway, you know what to do. Move out!" Three blurs immediately left the area, essentially abandoning me to my babysitting fate. I fucking hate babysitting.

I turned to Aoba. "Let's go. And don't die on me. That's an order."

We skulked up to the main entrance, making sure the only communication was via signs. Once there I went through my handsigns to get the party started. I – Inu – Tori – Saru – Hitsuji... Kuchiyose no-jutsu! I didn't utter a word though, stealth works best that way.
Once the smoke cleared I was once again face to face with my second team: Yukie, Touketsu, Yukimaru, Yukima, Koritetsu and little Gan-chan. They each nodded to me, and I nodded back seriously.
#Battle imminent. Gan guard.# I nodded towards Aoba. #Yukie, with me. Others know plan. No casualties, no prisoners.# There was a round of nods and we walked up to the main entrance – the doors were closed so no one would have known we were coming.
I activated my doujutsu, taking stock of clusters and locations. Once I issued some simple orders – Yukima and Touketsu go right, Koritetsu and Yukimaru go left and Aoba stay the fuck out of trouble – it was time to crank up the music.
I knew the others would wait until the first bang to get underway, and they had more than enough time to get in position. #Yukie, Great Breakthrough.# Both me and her were blazing through handsigns...
'Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil. For thou art coming with me if I die.' Tou-chan always chanted that before a major mission. I see no reason why I shouldn't. The wind picked up, and the front door flew in without any warning. Just in time for my jutsu to meet hers.

'PARTY ON BITCHES!'

End Chapter 29

A/N: Hmm, this looks interesting... I wonder what's going to happen next? Oh, and RedRangerBelt, does this chapter answer some of your questions? (^_^)