Gogeta: Well everybody I hope you're ready, because this chapter questions will be answered, new ones will arise. Epic battles will rage and a hero shall fall. One man will rise up to reclaim his home and one woman will oppose him. In a far off galaxy long ago, man star ships clashed in a fight that would decide the fate of millions! Sixty-five million years ago, a giant meteor collided with the planet and wiped out nearly every single life form! Then in the Roman Times, Mt. Vesuvius erupted and laid waste to the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Then-
Neji: Shut up, Gogeta! You're not even talking about your own story anymore! You're just making random history referances.
Gogeta: Oh…sorry about that…guess I got a little carried away.
Sakura: Gogeta, we all know you want to be a voice actor, but you're not a Mr. Movie Phone yet.
Gogeta: Yeah I guess you're right.
Lee: Please Gogeta-san, write your story. I am anxious to find out what happens!
Gogeta: Alright Lee, I shall do it for you!
Lee: Gogeta-san!
Gogeta: Whoa back off…I'm not Gai-sensei you know.
Shikamaru: By the way, where did I go? I thought I was actually going to have a big part in this.
Temari: Yeah, same here.
Gogeta: Well you see…you two went and…oh look at the time; I gotta get writing.
Hizashi followed his father through the labyrinth of hallways as they made their way to where Ki'iro was. All the hallways looked similar but Neji reassured them that they were going the right way. Finally they came to a door and Neji knocked just as a large puff of smoke billowed out from underneath the door. Yelling was heard on the other side and Neji flung the door open, fearing fire, but ended up colliding with the slimy side of a large frog.
"Oh, hey Neji." Naruto said, trying to stifle a laugh.
"You and your frogs, Naruto, I swear." Neji said trying to wipe off the slime.
"They the one that came barging in!" Naruto said indignantly.
"Is Ki'iro here?" Hizashi said, rushing in the room.
Ki'iro hesitated for a moment, unsure of if she wanted to talk to him, but she folded her arms and released the Jutsu. The frog vanished in a puff of smoke and Ki'iro stepped where she could be seen, "Yeah I'm here."
"I need to talk to you."
"I'm still mad at you."
"Why?"
Ki'riro's face twisted with anger and her thumb flew to her mouth before forming hand seals in a blur. A puff of smoke erupted from her hand and a small frog croaked appeared on her palm. She flung the creature at her cousin and it struck him square in the face, "I think that makes us even."
The frog popped out of existence when it made contact, but it still left a layer of slime on Hizashi's face and he screamed as she attempted to remove the slime from his face.
Half an hour later, Neji and Hizashi sat in the tub, scrubbing the slime off their bodies. Hizashi had just about finished while Neji still had most of his body to go. Both felt uncomfortable as they hadn't done this since Hizashi was young and they scrubbed in silence. Hizashi moved to get out when Neji stopped him.
"What's your plan?" Neji asked, a hard look in his eye.
"Plan?"
"To get some of Ki'iro's blood."
"Oh…"he hadn't thought about it, he'd simply imagined Ki'iro agreeing to it without question.
"You should come up with a plan. Ki'iro may be care free, but she's not as dumb as her father.
Hizashi bowed to his father and wrapped himself in a towel before exiting the bath, his mind racing.
He came into the living room and found the others sitting around the fire place; Hinata brushing Ki'iro's hair. He walked over and sat next to Tenten, staying quiet.
"How was your bath?" Tenten asked.
"It was fine." He said curtly.
"You'll catch a cold if you stay like that." Hinata giggled, pointing to his towel.
"I'd get dressed but my clothes are covered in slime." Hizashi muttered, glaring at Ki'iro.
"I'll be there's some in the bedroom." Tenten said, "I'll go check."
Tenten left leaving Hizashi with the Uzumaki's. Hizashi remained silent but continued to stare at Ki'iro who had her eyes closed. Eventually, Hinata broke the silence.
"So what did your parents get you?" she asked.
"Huh?" Hizashi said, his focus still on Ki'iro.
"Well, I saw the scrolls…so I just…"
"Oh, these?" Hizashi said, pulling out one of the scrolls. He opened it and summoned a kunai.
"Oh, just like Tenten's." Naruto said.
"It's not that impressive." Ki'iro muttered.
"It's better than frogs." Hizashi shouted.
"Think so, huh?" Ki'iro said, a dangerous look in her eyes.
"I know so."
The two young shinobi glared at each other; Hizashi's knuckles white on his scroll, Ki'iro's hands ready to form seals. Just then Tenten came out and when the door closed behind her, both children flinched.
"Hizashi, I found the perfect outfit for you." Tenten said brightly.
Hizashi held Ki'iro's glare for a second and then looked to his mother who had indeed found the perfect outfit. They resembled the traditional Hyuuga clothes except they had several pockets for ninja tools and even had holsters for his scrolls.
"Thank you, Ka-san!" Hizashi said, eagerly taking the clothers.
"Well he's got the suit for it now; how about a match?" Naruto asked.
Everyone in the room stared at Naruto as if he were crazy, "What?" Tenten yelled, "We just got them back and now you want them to fight each other."
"You kidding? That's the best kind of training." Naruto said, "Unless you're afraid Hizashi can't handle it."
"It's not a matter of strength." Tenten shouted.
"Ka-san…I want to do it." Hizashi said calmly.
"Do what?" Neji said, coming out of the bathroom in a towel as well.
"A match, Neji." Naruto declared. "Hizashi vs Ki'iro."
Neji froze for a moment and glanced at Hinata who just shrugged, "If the kids want to…"
"You're with them?" Tenten demanded of Hinata, "Neji please, tell them this is insane."
"Why not?" Neji smirked, "Maybe Hizashi can even the score."
"Jeez, you're still mad about the Chuunin Exams?" Naruto laughed.
Tenten looked helplessly around the room and heaved a sigh, "Fine, if everyone else thinks it's a good idea…but Hizashi is going to win!"
"Won't know until we find out!" Naruto said.
"There's a practice room nearby." Hinata said, her Byakugan activated.
"Well then, what are we waiting for?"
Tsunade emerged from surgery. She'd spent the last two hours in there, but Lee was stable and would make a full recovery with rest. She slowly made her way back to the children's room when she heard fast foot steps behind her. She turned and found Konohamaru running up the hall toward her.
"Godaime!" he called.
"What is it, Nandaime?" she asked.
"Do you know where Sakura-chan is? Please take me to her if you do."
Tsunade nodded and led him toward the children's room. "May I ask why you need her?"
"A message came from Rokudaime. He's in trouble." Konohamaru said, gesturing to Hinata's bird on his shoulder.
"A mess even the great Naruto can't fix?"
"He's in need of medical attention so I'm sending my best healer."
Tsunade stopped where she was and faced Konohamaru, "Who do you think you're talking to?"
"Go-Godaime?" he stammered.
"Have you all forgotten about the Sannin? Have you forgotten I'm the Slug Princess who fought that hag Chiyo and her plethora of poisons? Have you even forgotten that I'm the one who trained Sakura?"
Konohamaru put his hands up before him, "N-no, Godaime, I just-"
"What? Trying to grope me now?"
"Godaime!"
"That's it, Sarutobi Konohamaru, give me that bird and go relay this Intel to the other ninja."
Konohamaru suddenly felt like he was twelve and weak again, "But…Tsu-"
"That's Lady Hokage or Godaime to you! Now go." Tsunade said, popping her knuckles loudly. Konohamaru hesitated a second longer before bowing and handing over the bird. "There's a good boy. Now run along and don't forget to practice your perverted ninjutsu."
Konohamaru sighed and left the hospital as fast as he could while trying not to look like he was running for his life.
Still the same old little perv. Tsunade smiled to herself I love being an old lady; you can just yell at people and they still have to respect you. She checked the message and sent a reply before continuing on the children's room. She entered and found Sakura and Ino preparing lunch, Shizune napping and the three kids huddled in a corner.
"Sakura, are you still slacking?" Tsunade barked.
"N-no, Tsunade-sama." Sakura said, nearly dropping the bowl of rice in her hands.
"Well I think it's time you got back to it." Tsunade said.
"But lunch…"
"Ino and I will handle it."
"Oh, if you-"
"Yes I do insist, now go!"
Sakura shrugged at Ino and hugged Iwa before reluctantly leaving the room. Outside several nurses immediately called to Sakura and whisked her away to another part of the hospital.
"What was that about?" Ino asked.
"Had to get rid of her, take a look at this."
Ino read the message and with each line, her face got more and more stern, "They found the base?"
"Seems like it."
"I'll head out immediately."
"No you won't. You'll stay here and serve us lunch first." Tsunade said.
Ino looked indignant and mutinous, but one glare from Tsunade convinced her to do as she was told. Tsunade checked to make Shizune was asleep and then called the kids to her.
"Where did Choji-kun and Shino-kun go?" she whispered.
"Choji-san went to help around the village and Shino-san went to report to Nandaime-sama." Shikage whispered back.
Tsunade nodded and looked at them sternly, but none would meet her gaze. "What are you three planning?"
"W-what?" Iwa said, color rushing to his face.
"We aren't planning anything." Shikage said, lowering her eyes. Kurotsubaki said nothing, but a bead of sweat formed on her brow.
"Out with it." Tsunade whispered, "You all have guilty written all over your faces."
"We were trying to think of a way to help Hizashi and Ki'iro." Kurostubaki said. "To do that we had to get past our parents though."
"Are you mad, Tsunade-ba-chan?" Iwa asked, a scared look in his eye.
"You really want to help them?" Tsunade asked and all three nodded, "Well then, let's hear your plan."
"What plan?" Ino said suddenly behind Tsuande.
"Why whatever do you mean?" Tsunade said innocently.
"Please Tsunade-sama. I've been a mother for over six years now. I know when a plan is being hatched." Just then she fell to the ground; a shadow wrapped around her legs, "Shikage!"
"So much for knowing when a plan is being hatched." Tsunade chuckled from her chair.
"Lady Tsunade, are you just going to sit there?" Ino demanded.
"What could I do? I'm just a frail, old lady."
"Sorry, Ka-sama." Kurotsubaki said, lifting a Desert Rose from its picture.
"Kurotsubaki, don't you dare!"
She hesitated for a moment and then let the flower fly. Ino rolled over just in time to dodge it and pushed herself to a sitting position with her arms. She quickly formed hand seals made a square over her chest. Suddenly, the three children were frozen in their seats; unable to move no matter how much they struggled.
"Multi-Body Possession Jutsu." Ino said. Shikage's shadow retreated from Ino's legs and she rose to her feet. "What were you kids thinking? Do you honestly think you could beat me?"
"They might not be able to, but I sure can." Tsunade said, suddenly behind Ino, her hand on Ino's head.
"When did you-"
"Your focus was on the kids, I just took advantage of that. Now you remember the coordinates from that note?"
"Of course…I have a photographic memory."
"Good. I'll probably need some help getting back." Tsunade said and flooded her hand with chakra. Ino's eyes went wide and then relaxed as she fell back onto Tsunade. She laid the young kunoichi carefully on the ground and dusted herself off.
"Ka-san! What did you do?" Kurotsubaki demanded.
"Don't worry, I just made her brain release certain chemicals causing her to fall asleep. She'll be fine when she wakes up." Tsunade smiled at the kids, but then felt something tighten around her own legs. She looked down and found Shikage's shadow there and heaved a sigh, "I'll forgive you kids…you're too young to know how scary I am."
The kids looked confused save for Iwa who looked terrified. Tsunade kicked with her left leg, tearing the shadow and widened her stance. Shikage looked stunned, but she quickly recovered and looked at Kurostubaki who nodded. She threw more flowers and even though they cut Tsunade's skin, she still stood. Again all but Iwa looked confused. Tsunade just chuckled and held out her hand which had a small Katsuyu in it.
"What were you kids planning on doing once I'd been defeated?"
"We were going to help Ki'iro and Hizashi." Shikage said, a slight falter in her voice.
"Do you know where to go?" Tsunade asked calmly.
"The paper in your hand would tell us where to go." Shikage said, trying to sound confident.
"Very astute," Tsunade said, "As expected of a Nara. I cannot; however, allow you to go alone."
"Are you coming with us, ba-chan?" Iwa asked.
"I'm coming, too." Shizune said, suddenly grabbing Tsunade's arm.
"Playing possum, eh?"
"You keep saying people have forgotten who you are, but it seems you've forgotten who I am." Shizune said opening her eyes.
"Perhaps I have." Tsunade said, "Think you can still keep up with me in your old age?"
Shizune said nothing, but scooped Shikage up into her arms, "I'll carry this one."
"Guess that means I have Kurotsubaki then."
"What about Iwa?" Kurostubaki asked, climbing on Tsunade's back.
"The son of Rock Lee?" Shizune laughed, "He can keep up with two old ladies by himself."
Iwa smiled sheepishly and ran to the door, "Let's go then! I'll be the first one there!"
"How do you know?" Tsunade asked.
"I just do!"
"Just like Lee-san?" Kurotsubaki asked.
"Exactly." Shizune and Tsunade said together.
Naruto opened his eyes and found that Hinata had dozed off. For a moment he felt happy but then his memories came back and with them, a flood of dread. He rolled off of Hinata's lap and forced himself into a sitting position. His body ached and his right arm felt numb, but he refused to sit around. He gently shook Hinata awake and she instantly tried to make him rest longer. He resisted, but she grabbed his right shoulder and he winced.
"See, you haven't completely healed yet!" Hinata said, quickly removing her hand.
"I'll be fine, Hinata, we have to start moving." Naruto said, trying to get to his feet.
"Don't make me do this." Hinata begged, holding up two fingers and flooding them with chakra.
"Don't threaten me right now!" Naruto roared, "Hizashi and Ki'iro-"
"Are in good hands…Neji and Tenten-"
"Will need help!" Naruto said, "You don't understand."
"I don't understand…" Hinata said quietly, "I think I understand how you feel. Don't forget, that's my family in there, too."
"That's not what I-"
"I feel like I'm tearing my arm off because I want to save them just as much as you, but we need to wait or your condition could worsen." Hinata said, her voice getting thick as tears formed in her eyes, "If that happened…if anything happened…"
"Hinata-"
"I can't lose you, too, Naruto!" Hinata said, quiet sobs shaking her body, "I…I just can't"
Naruto watched her for a moment and then put his arms around her, pulling her close to him. She buried her face in his chest and gave into her sorrow. He laid his head on top of hers and felt as if her sorrow was flowing into him as tears formed in his own eyes.
"I…I want her back." Hinata said, finally calming down.
"We'll save her and Hizashi." Naruto said, still holding her close.
"I wish I shared your confidence."
"I do have to tell you something though." Naruto mumbled, but at that moment, Hinata's bird landed on her shoulder.
"I have returned, Hinata-sama." It said with mock respect.
Hinata's head snapped up and she quickly removed the note from the bird's leg. Once it was off, the bird gave a slight bow and vanished in a puff of smoke. She read the note quickly and she seemed to relax a little.
"What did it say?" Naruto asked.
"It seems the letter was intercepted." Hinata laughed.
"What?"
"Oh no, sorry…it was just found by Godaime rather than Nandaime." She explained.
"So what did ba-chan say?"
"'Tell that little idiot I'm on my way.'" Hinata laughed.
"That sounds like her." Naruto laughed as well. He felt himself relax as well, Tsunade-ba-chan is coming. His arms relaxed slightly and Hinata's hands moved to his biceps.
"Don't let me go…not yet." She said looking up at him.
"Never." Naruto said, smiling back at her.
They stared into each other's eyes until they both leaned forward and shared a kiss. Hinata leaned back and smiled for the first time in what felt like months and nestled back into Naruto's chest. He laid his head back on top of hers and for a while, they were happy.
Ki'iro and Hizashi stood opposite each other in an arena similar to the one the Chuunin Exams had been held in. Hizashi had been given practice tools and stood armed to the teeth. Ki'iro's hair had been tied into a bun and she stood poised for attack. Tenten stood between the two, a kunai with an exploding tag in her hand.
"Now I want both of you to be careful." She said sternly. "This is just a sparring match." Neither child responded, but continued to glare at the other. "Now when this kunai explodes, the match will begin." She took a step back and threw the blade as high as she could. It exploded in midair and the two kids rushed one another. Hizashi threw a handful of shuriken, but Ki'iro ducked and dodged continuing to close the distance.
"Don't let her get too close, Hizashi." Tenten called.
Hizashi ignored her and pulled out a kunai, holding it in a defensive stance. Ki'iro didn't hesitate and she began to go through her Jyuuken moves. Hizashi's shard eyes expertly followed her movements and the two seemed to be locked in a deadly dance. Ki'iro drew her arm back and Hizashi struck at the opening. Her arm came forward and the back of Hizashi's kunai slammed into it, just behind the elbow. She retreated rubbing her arm; it was hurt, but not broken.
"Why don't you get serious?" Ki'iro asked. Hizashi said nothing, but drew a second kunai, the points facing her. "You'd better get serious if you want to win!"
Ki'iro made a seal and her Byakugan activated. Hizashi scowled, jealousy blooming in his chest and he threw more tools which Ki'iro easily dodged. She bit her thumb and formed more seals; summoning a frog to her shoulder. Its cheeks puffed and it spat water bullets at Hizashi. He slashed at one with his practice kunai and the force of the water knocked it out of his hand. He dodged the rest of the bullets and next thing he knew, Ki'rio was on him again. She lashed out and her fist and it collided with his cheek. Hizashi stumbled backwards, a look of rage on his face.
"No Jyuuken?" he roared, "Why aren't you being serious?"
"You don't want me to be serious." Ki'iro said and launched another attack.
Hizashi answered with more tools and Ki'iro managed to dodge, but a kunai struck the frog on her shoulder and it vanished. Hizashi smiled triumphantly and rushed his cousin, the tools falling from his hands. Ki'iro threw another punch, but Hizashi caught it and his hand closed over hers. She scowled and punched with her other hand, but Hizashi caught that one as well. She struggled to free herself, but Hizashi's grip was too strong. He tightened his grip but Ki'iro ignored the pain and head butted him instead. Hizashi hissed in pain and squeezed harder on her hands. She heard her fingers popping under his and the pain drove her to her knees. She continued to resist the pain, but she couldn't keep a small squeak of pain from escaping her lips.
"Stop it." Ki'iro muttered.
"Stop what?" Hizashi asked, squeezing as hard as he could.
"STOP CRUSHING MY HANDS!" she screamed and flooded her hands with chakra. She shot her chakra into him and Hizashi was blasted backwards. He flipped in the air and landed on his feet. He looked up and dread filled his heart. Ki'iro had flooded so much chakra into her hands that they were glowing.
"That's like my Twin Lion Fists!" Hinata said.
"You taught her that?" Neji asked.
"No…I never taught her anything like this."
Ki'iro slowly advanced on Hizashi, her face perfectly calm, "You wanted serious. You got it."
Hizashi fumbled for another kunai, but Ki'iro closed the gap in two steps and attacked. Hizashi's eyes couldn't follow her hand as it tapped his shoulder and retracted only to launch forward again and strike him in the chest. He stumbled backwards, his arm feeling weak and his chest feeling tight.
"Is that?"
"Sixty-four palms!" Hinata said amazed.
Ki'iro lunged forward again and unleashed a flurry of attacks. Hizashi tried to dodge, but Ki'iro landed every hit. She focused on his upper body before finally sweeping his feet out from under him and then drove her palm into his chest, slamming him to the ground. The floor cracked beneath him and the wind was knocked out of his chest and the scrolls from their holsters.
"Not quite sixty-four…but it was the same type of attack." Neji said, "She may just be the next Hyuuga genius."
Hizashi lay on the ground gasping for air. He saw Ki'iro take a few steps back and then leap into the air. She flipped several times before forming more seals and summoning frog as large as she was. The pair plummeted earthward, aiming for Hizashi. He tried to move, but his arms were numb and the frog fell towards him. The frog slammed into the ground and all the adults held their breath in anticipation. The dust cleared and revealed that the frog had landed on its feet leaving Hizashi stunned, but unhurt.
"Ki'iro wins!" Naruto yelled once he'd found his voice. He continued to cheer and soon all the adults were cheering. Ki'iro released her Jutsu and the frog vanished. She landed lightly over Hizashi; the smile back on her face.
"I got you good, huh?" she said brightly. Hizashi scowled at her, but said nothing. "Here, I'll fix your arms for you." She knelt next to him and tapped his arms, returning the flow of chakra. She stood back up and held out her hand. Hizashi propped himself up on his elbows and felt one of his scrolls open under his hand. He reached out with his other hand and took Ki'iro's, returning the smile. Then he yanked her arm and she fell forward. Through her Byakugan, she saw as if in slow motion; the chakra flow down his arm and undo a seal in his scroll. He grasped the kunai he'd summoned and stabbed at Ki'iro. It sand into her flesh, leaving a terrible gash from her nose to her ear. For a second, time seemed to stop and the only movement was the blood flowing from Ki'iro's face. Then her mouth opened and she let out a scream that shook the walls of the arena. Her hands grasped at her face, but they found nothing but bone and her screams became louder and more frantic. Hizashi stared at what he had done to his cousin as if transfixed, but then he came to his senses, drew in his legs and kicked Hizashi off of him. He rolled over and bolted for the arena door, the bloody kunai clutched in his hand.
Ki'iro lay on the ground screaming for Hinata and Naruto, but no one came to her aid. Only when she managed to see through the blood, tears and pain did she realize that she was alone. Panic began to mix with her pain and she felt as if she might faint when she heard a voice. She looked for the owner of the voice and only then did she notice Inchiki sitting in the stands. He was shaking his head and making 'tutt tutt' noises.
"Inchiki-san?" she said, "Where did my parents go?"
"My dear, I turned them off." He said simply, making his way down the stands to the arena floor. "They had served their purpose."
"What?"
"Those weren't your real parents." Inchiki said with a chuckle.
"But…but they knew things…things only my real parents would know."
"That's the power of this genjutsu." Inchiki said. "Or more correctly, the power of this room you're in."
"This arena?"
"Stupid girl." Inchiki sighed, "Ever since you woke up chained to a wall, you've been under my genjutsu in the same room."
"That's impossible!"
"Oh it's completely possible." Inchiki said, "Want to know another secret?" Ki'iro said nothing but stared at Inchiki with her good eye. "The one you have a crush on; your precious little cousin, he was working for me." Inchiki said with an evil delight. "I told him that if he gave me some of your blood, I would bestow a Byakugan unto him. Although I daresay I never expected him to go this far."
"What?" she said quietly.
"That's right. He never cared about you; he merely wanted your blood to acquire something 'he felt cheated out of.'" Inchiki said.
Ki'iro's eyes went wide as Inchiki's words echoed in her mind; you desire something you feel cheated out of. "So that's what you meant when you read his palm." Fresh tears formed in her eyes and her hands balled into fists. An anger unlike anything she'd ever felt began to boil in her chest and she felt it spread through her entire body. "He was my cousin…my family…I've always been nice to him…so why…why…"
"He never saw you as any of those." Inchiki said. "He merely saw you as a means to an end."
The anger in her chest began to boil over and Ki'iro actually felt her skin growing hotter. Then she began to notice that her vision was slowly returning to normal. She touched her face again and this time she felt her own skin; it had healed and her eye had regrown. She followed the path of the gash and felt a large scar where it used to be. She glanced at her arms and she found that all of her small cuts had healed.
"What power is this?" Inchiki demanded.
Ki'rio looked at her hands and she found that they were steaming. Then they began to feel like they were on fire and the sensation spread throughout her body. She fell to her knees moaning in pain and the steam became thicker; shifting from grey to scarlet. Ki'iro threw her head back and screamed as the red chakra enveloped her and formed into the Kyuubi's Cloak. Her lavender eyes turned pure scarlet and her hair began to change. The bun came undone and her normally blonde hair was now a fiery red.
"What an odd transformation." Inchiki said, quite beside himself with curiosity.
Ki'iro turned to him and attacked him. The attack was so fast Inchiki didn't have time to react, but it went right through him. She roared in anger and continued to attack Inchiki who only looked curious.
"Have you lost control of yourself?" he asked as she passed through him again. "I already told you, this is a genjutsu; I'm not really here." Ki'rio either couldn't hear him or didn't understand him because she continued her assault. "I must say though, you are very persistent and I'm amazed you have this much power. I'm even tempted to make a DBZ reference about it."
Ki'iro roared again and slammed her hands to the ground. She held her mouth open and a small black ball formed inches from her lips.
"What's this?" Inchiki asked. "A powerful chakra attack? I wouldn't fire that in here…I'm not sure what the repercussions would be…"
Ki'iro roared again and fired the ball. It streaked across the arena and slammed into the wall. It exploded, but there was no debris, just a large hole. Electricity began to arc all over the arena and it phased in and out of focus. Finally the arena and Inchiki vanished, leaving Ki'iro in complete darkness. She looked around, searching for the one thing that occupied the entirety of her mind: Hizashi…
She stood by herself, breathing heavily when she suddenly sensed life nearby. It was on the other side of the wall, but that mattered little to her. She punched through the wall with one punch and emerged into a long, stone corridor. She turned and found her targets. She stayed low, growling quietly, sizing up her prey. Her eyes narrowed and then she lunged.
Tenten and Neji dove to either side as Ki'iro lunged at them. They each retreated a few steps and took defensive stances.
"What is that?" Tenten yelled.
"It…it can't be…" Neji said, examining Ki'iro with his Byakugan, "What did you do Naruto?"
"What? What is it?" Tenten demanded.
"It's Ki'iro."
"No way!" she said and dodged another lunge from Ki'iro, "How do we fight her when she's like that?"
"I'm not-wait, the seal!" Neji said, 'Just in case', "So this is what you meant."
Neji moved himself between Ki'iro and Tenten, waving his arms. She roared and lunged at him, but Neji dodged and threw the seal at her. She ducked at the last second and landed on Tenten, pinning her to the gound. She roared again, but Tenten kept her face stern,
"Ki'iro, wake up and stop this!" she said firmly.
For a moment, Ki'iro looked uncertain, but then her face filled with rage again, "Hizashi." She mumbled.
"Yes, Ki'iro, I'm Hizashi's Ka-san."
"Then…you'll share his fate." Ki'iro said in a voice that wasn't hers.
"What…" Tenten squeaked, but Ki'iro's mouth hung open and another black ball was forming. "Neji, I don't like the look of this…"
"I'm here." He said, suddenly next to her. He'd recovered the seal and he slapped it to Ki'iro's forehead. The black ball and the Kyuubi's Cloak dissipated and Ki'iro's eyes returned to their pale lavender while her hair remained its fiery red. She looked exhausted but she focused on Tenten and quickly got off her. She backed away into a corner and hugged her knees.
"What just happened to me?" she asked in a scared voice.
"Ki'iro-chan?" Tenten said quietly.
"Stay back!" Ki'iro yelled, "You're not real."
"What?" Neji said, "Of course we're real."
"No…Inchiki said everything was fake."
"But we're real." Tenten said softly and slowly moved toward her. She held out her hand and while Ki'iro looked scared and unsure, she made no attempt to run or stop her. She put her hand on Ki'iro's shoulder and gave her a warm smile. "I like what you've done with your hair." Tenten said brightly. She tucked a bit behind Ki'iro's ear and gasped when she saw the scar on Ki'iro's face.
"What is it?" Neji said, also coming closer. Tenten pointed to the scar and Neji's face grew grim. "It's amazing you still have that eye."
"I…I think I regrew it." Ki'iro said quietly.
"Can you still see?" Tenten asked.
Ki'rio nodded and activated her Byakugan, but to her dismay, it only activated in her good eye. She hung her head, but was too exhausted to weep.
"How did this happen?" Tenten asked, putting her arm round Ki'iro, "Who did this?"
"It was…it was…Hizashi-" Ki'iro's head suddenly snapped up, her eyes burning back to scarlet. The Cloak reformed around her and the seal on her forehead caught fire.
"Get back!" Neji said grabbing Tenten and retreating.
"What happened this time?"
"It seems her anger is stronger than Naruto's seal."
At those words, Ki'iro fired another black ball and it shot straight at Neji's heart.
Gogeta: Alrighty, just as promised here's the next chapter. I can't promise when the next one will be up because I have caught up with how much I've actually written again. Don't worry though, I know exactly where the story is going now so I should be able to pump out the chapters pretty quickly.
Naruto: Aren't you going to talk about the other chapter you put up?
Gogeta: Why? Everybody already knows that chapter five is up.
Naruto: No, chapter two for your other story
Gogeta: Oh, no I'd rather not.
Konohamaru: But it's your most popular story.
Gogeta: Yes and I hate the fact that Sakura's Long Night is my most popular story…ah crap.
Choji: Haha, we got you to say it.
Gogeta: I hate you all.