Chapter four
Shizune yawned as she did her rounds around the hospital. The surgery had been a success but taken an extra three hours with complications that had to be improvised on the spot, leaving her with two hours sleep. She had one more stop to make before she could go and find an empty room and sleep for a few more hours and started to smile as she opened the door to find an empty and messy bed. Shizune blinked and then it dawned on her who was missing and she ran to inform Tsunade right away.
"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune shouted out of breath and with panic to notice everyone in the room: Kakashi, Yamato, Sai, Sakura and Naruto looking at her with worry and also defensively.
"Shizune, can this wait, I'm in the middle of a meeting.," Tsunade whined tiredly, getting no sleep at all.
"Skylar's bed is empty!" Shizune yelled out and everyone in the room visibly stiffened.
"She's in no state to move which means she could have possibly been kidnapped, find her now!" Tsunade said, standing up and slamming her hand on her desk, making it creak. Shizune ran out to get a search squad together while everyone in the meeting ran to look for her, Naruto entering sage mode first and pointed to the direction he could feel her chakra with everyone following. They came upon training ground seven and found something that they didn't expect.
Skylar was there, practising with her scythe, katana's, her Hiraishin and shadow clones like she hadn't just been through a surgery. Sakura was glad to see that she still had the bandages with the seals still on them and she wasn't stupid enough to take them off. Sai drew a message up for Tsunade right away and that they were bringing her back right away. A flash of red and the dull thud of wood behind them let them know where she was going next.
"Hey what's up everyone?" Skylar asked happily standing behind them with her hands on her hips and a smile.
"You nearly sent the village into lock down, you should be resting, the surgery was only complete three hours ago." Sakura scolded her.
"Sorry." She muttered as she sheathed her katana and scythe. "It's odd to have all of you together?" Skylar questioned with a smirk.
"We were in a meeting with Tsunade-sama when Shizune rushed in." Yamato explained and Skylar nodded her head.
"I suppose you're going to escort me back to the hospital now?" Skylar asked sheepishly.
"Actually Tsunade-obaa chan wants you to come back to her office first." Naruto told her. Skylar nodded and grinned.
"Catch you there." She said as she waved a salute and flashed away. Skylar barely missed the full brunt fist aimed for her, as she arrived, from Tsunade.
"Brat, get down here, you're straining your coil already." Tsunade yelled up at her saying she was now on all fours on the roof, clinging to it with chakra. Skylar smirked and dropped down, twisted and landed without a sound as Tsunade moved away from the demolished wall and sat down at her desk. Skylar took a step to the right as the door opened and in walked the grumbling team she just left behind.
"How many senbons do you have now?" Naruto whined out.
"I have ten all together, my usual five, four placed in certain places I need to get to regularly and one that you keep but the four are a lot weaker so I can concentrate on my fighting ones." Skylar explained and turned to Tsunade when she cleared her voice with irritation.
"Since Skylar is so eager, I'll involve her in this meeting. It's to decide your teams, since there are seven of you all under the name of Team 7 except one, I decided to add Skylar with the mix since she works well with all of you and make two teams… Any suggestions?" Tsunade asked.
"Why don't you put the old team 7 back together and put Sai and Yamato with Skylar?" Sakura suggested, wanting to be back on a team with Sasuke.
"The team dynamics and our skills wouldn't work well together." Yamato said and Kakashi nodded and agreed.
"Lets put Skylar with us and Sasuke with Sai and Yamato." Naruto suggested, trying to get his way but one glare from Sakura and Tsunade shut him up.
"Well since Yamato and I are the jonins, we'll obviously be the captains but like Yamato said, we can't put an unbalanced team like him, Sai and Skylar together or swap her with Sasuke and put them together." Kakashi stated. "Or put Naruto and Skylar together since they're both power houses and tend to jump in on their own." Kakashi added for good measure and Skylar pouted as did Naruto slightly.
"Let's start with what we have… The original team 7 worked well but the other team wont be able to work well. Obviously there will be Kakashi and Yamato as the captains and Naruto and I have to be on different teams. Sakura and I should also be on different teams since she trained me in first aid so each team can have some sort of medic on it. Putting Naruto and Sasuke together would be a good idea however, it's in their blood to bicker all the time. Then there's Sai to be the neutral party so why don't you keep Yamato, Sakura, Sai and Naruto together and put Kakashi, myself and Sasuke on a team?" Skylar suggested, making a mental picture to herself. "Or swap Kakashi and Yamato around."
"That's actually well thought out and we'll try it that way but I will be swapping Kakashi and Yamato around depending on the results since Kakashi and Sasuke are similar. Did Kakashi teach you to be this analytical?" Tsunade asked with a surprised smirk.
"No, she's always been an over thinker, even proved something on such little information to go by… Perhaps she should see Shikaku some time and quell her brilliant mind." Kakashi said proudly as he patted her shoulder.
"Oh, that reminds me… The clan heads want to meet you soon, they're getting restless since you were put back into hospital again." Tsunade reminded her. Skylar sighed and groaned.
"Fine, when can my bandages come off, I'd like to see them." Skylar asked.
"One week, the whole time." Tsunade warned. "I'll start arranging the meeting times and dates now for next week." Tsunade said, writing it down to remember. "Oh and here's your chunin flack jacket, you can add it to your uniform or take on the regular Konoha uniform." Tsunade said as she stood up and handed Skylar her jacket and hitai-ate as well.
"Ne, Tsunade-obaa chan, how come Skylar gets to hop up and Sasuke and I don't?" Naruto complained and Sasuke hn'ed in agreement.
"Naruto, you have always been a shinobi of Konoha and you have to work up the ranks properly and it's also punishment for Sasuke however, Skylar still has to attend the next chunin exams as well to prove her position." Tsunade said with a smirk and Naruto started bragging and pointing a finger at Skylar. Skylar grabbed the finger and twisted, having Naruto down on the ground quickly and whimpering in pain.
"It's not nice to brag Naruto-kun." Skylar said sweetly, still holding his finger and new uniform in the other arm. "Is the meeting finished yet Tsunade-sama? Cause I have to go and teach this little genin here some manners." Skylar said with a smirk. Sakura was blushing at the comment, Tsunade was smirking with Sasuke, Kakashi watched like it was his Icha Icha all over again, Yamato was wide mouthed like when Sakura admitted she liked Naruto and Sai was taking notes on the situation.
"Of coarse it is, you're all dismissed." Tsunade said, trying to hold her laughter. Skylar bowed and with a flash, she was gone with Naruto.
Skylar let Naruto up and he pouted at Skylar who just stood with her hands on her hips with a smile. She took his other hand and dragged him under a short curtain and he just noticed he was Ichiraku's.
"I'm paying." She said to Naruto as she sat down and Naruto sat down next to her with a fond smile.
"Ah, Skylar-chan it's good to see you back again, how's Iruka and Naruto, it's good to see our favourite customer back… What can I get the both of you?" Teuchi asked.
"One miso ramen with the works please." Naruto said.
"I'll have the same thanks." Skylar said to him and he began making their meal.
"When did you come here?" Naruto asked as he scooted closer to Skylar and hooked his arm around her waist.
"Iruka snuck me out of the hospital when I was feeling a bit down and brought me here, he also brought it to eat a few times when he came over for our lessons. He's a really great guy and very caring, it's nice you had someone like him around, it's not as lonely then." Skylar said with a bittersweet smile.
"Did you have someone like that?" Naruto asked as he broke his chopsticks apart as their food was set down.
"No, I did have someone that said those things but kind of used them like blackmail, left me beaten up when I finally got a backbone and stood up to him… He went to jail not to long afterwards though so at least I did something right otherwise I would probably also be in jail." Skylar said as she dug into her food.
"So, this is the one place out of the four and Tsunade-obaa chan's office, where are your last two senbons?" Naruto asked, finishing his ramen and changing the subject.
"Home and the training grounds by the memorial stone, Kakashi took me there once plus it's an important training ground, one full of history, since we're part of one team really…It's where my new path started." Skylar said with a smile as she gripped her jacket and hitai-ate on her lap. "It's really peaceful, I can see why Kakashi spends all his time there… So what do you want to do for the rest of the day?" She asked as she lay some money out on the table for their meal.
"Well you seemed happy to train again earlier… Have you tried sage mode yet?" Naruto asked as they stood up and he took her hand and they began walking around.
"No, I haven't regained my chakra enough to try something so dangerous, I'll need to keep working on it with Iruka but I have more chakra than him at the moment so that's a plus."
"So taijutsu battle royal it is then… Mind flashing there for me?" Naruto asked into her ear, making her blush and flash them to the training ground.
They began and somehow ended up having Lee, Kiba and Akamaru and Tenten watching with slight awe at Skylar's skills even though she can't see just yet. Skylar annoyed them when she grabbed Naruto and flashed them back to her apartment and eating food Kakashi had prepared earlier and Naruto went home while Skylar went to sleep, happier for once since a long while ago.
Skylar groaned in annoyance with Kakashi laughing silently next to her in Tsunade's office as she began telling and complaining to Skylar about the clan heads that want to meet her and wanting it all done on the same day and not getting it their own way. She had a total of nine major clan heads to meet on one day and Tsunade was pulling her hair out at this.
"Listen, why don't we just have one big party on one day with all of the clans and then I can mix and mingle with all of them through the whole day, I'll bring Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto, Sai and Kakashi as well, the three guys representing the last of their clans and Sakura and Sai as my guests." Skylar finally got frustrated and said flat out.
"The Hyuuga's want to perform a special ritual with them though." Tsunade said.
"Then I can do it in front of everyone if it doesn't involve taking my clothes off." Skylar said defiantly with her arms crossing. "Tell them that if they all want to meet me one the same day and unwilling to compromise, this is their only choice."
"It's not that simple…" Tsunade began.
"Look, I know that things are still a little bit different and you can't just tell a clan to do something or other but they better get use to it, they can't always have their way, I'll even apologise to them in public for doing it this way but I need to get going again and stop Kabuto and any other threat… It's to their own advantage as well." Skylar said with understanding but also ending the conversation right there. Tsunade sighed and began writing something down.
"Shikaku, Inoichi and Tsume won't mind since they've already met you and I doubt the Akimichi clan or Aburame clan will mind or the others but the Hyuuga's…" Tsunade said as she bit on her thumbnail.
"I'll go today and tell Hiashi personally Then if he has a problem with the ritual then we can do it the next day, I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I ask personally and meet him early on, it'll boost his ego, just don't tell him I've already met Shikaku, Inoichi and Tsume." Skylar said with a knowing smirk. Tsunade nodded and dismissed them as Kakashi led her down the streets, her arm hooked with his.
"So you want to do this now, while you're thinking about it?" Kakashi asked.
"Yeah, might as well. Maybe Hinata is there and we could just hang out for a while if she's not busy." Skylar said with a slight nervous smile. Kakashi squeezed her hand and let go again as he began leading her to the Hyuuga compound. Skylar could feel they had arrived as the amount of stares she could feel intensified and they stepped up a few steps and Kakashi knocked and they waited as the door opened.
"Hatake Kakashi-san, what can we do for you?" A youngish girls voice asked.
"Hanabi-sama, we would like to meet your father Hyuuga Hiashi-sama, this here is Uzumaki Skylar, she would like to talk with him personally, is he here?" Kakashi asked politely. They began moving in the house and stopped in the central piece of the mansion, the main families training area and Skylar felt another presence step up to her.
"Uzumaki Skylar, this is the clan head of the Hyuuga family, Hyuuga Hiashi." Kakashi introduced them and Skylar bowed respectfully.
"Please excuse my intrusion Hiashi-sama but I would like to inform you myself that a meeting with the clans of Konoha has been turned into one event and I have heard that there is a ritual you would like me to perform and so I came to inform you myself in case there is complications regarding this." Skylar spoke formally to the man.
"Thank you, that was very kind of you. It is nice to meet the saviour of this world especially earlier than expected, I heard you gained some serious injuries during your fight, how have you been healing?" He asked calmly but still formally as he gestured for them to sit on the porch with them.
"Yes, well Tsunade-sama has taken good care of me and I should be up and ready to go within a week now, I've just been in hopefully my final surgery so I am hoping for the best." Skylar said with a nervous smile as Kakashi sat calmly next to her with Hiashi on her other side.
"That is good to hear. Now concerning the ritual, you will need to learn two different movement ritual dances with myself and Hinata as the next heir however it will be difficult to learn since you cannot see and the same day you are able to see will be the meeting day, how would you like to go about this Skylar-san?" Hiashi asked, surprisingly nicely.
"If it would be okay with your families beliefs, I would like to perform it at the actual get together in front of everyone… If not it can be set for a later date… Concerning learning the dance, there will be no problem, I have a special skill that can help me may I show you Hiashi-sama?" Skylar asked, trying to hold her smirk down.
"Alright then… Hinata, come here for a second and teach Skylar the ritual dance we've been talking about." Hiashi ordered.
"Yes father, come onto the training ground for a second Skylar please." Hinata asked and took Skylar's hand and led her to the training ground. "Just mirror my movements, this should impress father." Hinata said with some pride to her voice as she began to move and Skylar could feel the movements and mirrored them, flowing together like water. Hiashi's eyes widened as he watched and looked to Kakashi with confusion.
"I thought she isn't able to see?" He questioned and Kakashi just eye smiled at him.
"She can't but it's almost like she can sense the persons movements, she adapted very quickly to not being able to see, you won't have any problems teaching her the rituals but she cannot push herself to much yet, her coil is still healing slowly." Kakashi warned the man carefully as they watched them move, meld and move apart again, Kakashi smiled that Hinata was smiling as was Skylar as they seemed to be holding in giggles at shocking Hiashi. They ended after a while and Hiashi said to come back at any time to practise the dance she will be doing with him but it's more of a spar and with a respectful bow, Skylar left with Kakashi who laughed a little away from the compound and Skylar looked at him questioningly.
"You just managed to shock the most stoic man in Konoha into awe, I doubt the Hyuuga family will interfere with you ever again." Kakashi said with laughter still in his voice as he led Skylar home.
Skylar relaxed in a bath, it was the end of the last day she had to keep her bandages on and couldn't wait to see everything and every one again after nearly a year. She had the bandage off already but kept her eyes closed as she almost drifted off to sleep.
"Skylar, are you okay in there?" Kakashi called with a knock at her door on the bathroom. Skylar sat up with a fright as water splashed around in the bath at the sudden movement. "Skylar…" Kakashi called again and opened the door as Skylar formed the hidden mist jutsu to cover herself.
"Yeah, I'm fine, I just nearly fell asleep, thanks." She said, facing the doorway.
"You should still have your bandages on." Kakashi said as he walked in and dropped her clothes onto the toilet seat for her, averting his eyes carefully. "I'll be in the living room, dinners cooked and waiting for you." He said with some concern as he left and closed the door and Skylar dropped the jutsu. She got out, dressed, ate and wished Kakashi a good night before retiring to her room, bandages in place once again.
The next early morning, she yawned and sat on a hospital bed waiting for Tsunade to come and take them off and check her one last time before heading off to meet the clan heads. There in her room with her was the team and Iruka with a smile and chatting quietly to Naruto, making him blush and stare at Skylar.
"Well this is quite a gathering but let's get on with it so we can go home early and prepare for the huge get together." Tsunade said as she strolled into the room with Shizune who gave Skylar Tonton to hug since they left the pig with Skylar a lot when she was in the hospital if she was to get to overexerted during training and have a burning case again. It felt like forever as she felt the pressure from the bandages fade as she got down to the last one and removed it completely. "Alright, close the blinds, shut the light off… Open your eyes slowly." Tsunade instructed as she heard the click of the light and the blinds go down. The tension in the room rose as Skylar took a deep breath and began sliding her eyelids open. Her eyelids kept blinking as she tried to focus, eyebrows tilting and relaxing as her blurry vision became clearer. Tsunade placed her hands over her tearing eyes and checked for the damage and healing and found everything perfectly in order.
"Open the blinds slowly at her command." Tsunade ordered and light began to flood the room. "It will be a bit sensitive for a while until your eyes adjust again but how are they feeling?" Tsunade asked once the blinds were fully opened and the lights turned on.
"Apart from the tearing up and the sensitivity, everything seems to be in order, I can see perfectly." Skylar said with a smile as she looked at everyone in the room and smiled down at Tonton in her arms. "And my depth perception is a bit off but with some training, it'll be corrected soon… So, who's ready to party?" Skylar asked with a smile and Naruto cheered. They left their separate ways and Skylar flashed Kakashi back to her apartment where he was still staying with her.
"I guess I can return to my old apartment now." Kakashi looked around almost sadly.
"Only if you want to, I love your cooking and quiet presence, I don't mind a roommate except maybe I'll soundproof the walls." She said with a grin as she looked around the room for the first time. Kakashi scoffed and laughed.
"Looks like I will be going back after all." Kakashi said with a laugh as he moved into the kitchen and put the kettle on.
"Come and visit as much as you can since your teammates live right next doors to each other." Skylar said as she looked around the house. Kakashi watched the happiness radiate off of Skylar, her eyes having returned to their light purple in colour. Skylar stepped into her room and looked around and smiled at the weapon rack on her wall next to the bathroom door, there hanging diagonally was her prized scythe Tsunade allowed her to keep and just under that were her katanas hanging in their usual x-shape. She scoffed and nearly fell over when she spotted her kimono for the night, it was a completely different colour Ino and Sakura said it was but at least it wasn't pink. It was blue and it had shimmers of purple in the light with a multicolour dragon down the whole length of the back and like a mountain range view around the edges, luckily it was a long one to the floor as asked by Hiashi to be worn.
"I did try to tell you it was a completely different colour to how you were explaining it." Kakashi said as he passed her a cup of coffee.
"Yeah, now I know who to trust when it comes to fashion… I swear those girls are more blind than I was." Skylar mused and Kakashi hummed as they both sipped their beverage and stared at the kimono.
"At least it fits like the girls say it do." Kakashi said with a grin Skylar could see since his mask was down and as he walked out, he smacked her ass hard and left laughing.
"Pervert!" Skylar yelled playfully as she shut the door and debated putting it on.