Chapter eighteen

Kakashi lay on Skylar's bed as he watched her sleep after returning from the mission. He had to admit she had some serious balls to be doing what she was doing but it's like Sasuke said, some people knew a forbidden jutsu or two even himself so how could he blame her for learning jutsus like this. Her eyes opened and stared at his grey eye for a while before she grimaced and flipped over onto her other side.

"Oh no you don't, come here Skylar." Kakashi said, grabbing her and turning her around and holding her as she tried to struggle out of his grip but eventually gave up and gave in, avoiding his eye. "Look… I'm sorry for being such a hypocrite, I've learned my share of forbidden jutsus as well so I had no right to talk but what you were doing was dangerous and I was worried about you, you're very secluded lately and after hearing this information you tend to freak out." Kakashi explained as he smoothed her hair back.

"Like Orochimaru did before Hiruzen chased him out of the village." Skylar whispered. "I understand your point but you know me, I can sneak up on a damn Hyuuga with their byakugan activated, even an Inuzuka with their sense of smell, I doubt a normal shinobi would find me unless they were actually looking for me besides, I found nothing of interest in Konoha's archives so you don't have to worry about that anymore." Skylar said with a bittersweet smile as she finally met his gaze and flinched a little but held it none the less.

"So that senbon you gave me…" Kakashi began.

"Was from the archives, the only forbidden jutsu I'm interested in is the reanimation jutsu and how to defeat it but I knew that before coming here anyway, I even know how to use it by accident but I refuse to do that to people, it's not fair… I wouldn't use something unless I didn't mind using it against myself including that flame jutsu, it's avoidable with my skills anyway." She said with a shrug and a slight smile pulling at her lips. Kakashi tackled her with a smile and roughed up her hair while she fought to get out of the hold and escaped with a red flash only to end up landing back on him again and laughing as they lay there peacefully, feeling like a weight was lifted off of their chests and their relationship was mended once again. "Thank you for everything Kakashi-sensei." Skylar said as she got up and turned on the shower while Kakashi decided they needed some real food.

Naruto was surprised to open the door to the apartment and find Skylar upside down on one-handed hand stand doing push ups and Kakashi sitting and reading his usual porn on the couch. Skylar looked up and smiled as she did another push up and Kakashi eye smiled and waved his salute.

"Baa-chan said you wouldn't be back for another day or two… Something go wrong on the mission?" Naruto asked as he dumped his bag down and sat on the open couch.

"My over enthusiasm made it go quicker." Skylar said with very little strain on her voice as she continued.

"Yeah, over enthusiasm my ass, it was a huge ass blue fireball… It was overkill not to mention your quick assessment of the equipment." Kakashi said and Skylar scoffed.

"Well you missed one heck of a power outage all over it must have come back on when I was away on my mission." Naruto said.

"That's where we were, the furnace died again." Kakashi said and Naruto groaned.

"What's with the face?" Skylar asked as she swapped hands.

"It was a mission team seven went out on years ago with other teams since Konoha had few fire and wind natured people, it took three weeks for the furnace to start burning on it's own and I was blowing black out of my nose for weeks on end." Naruto groaned again before stopping and perking up. "Hey, how did you finish it so quickly… Did you have other teams with you?" Naruto asked with suspicion.

"Nope… Like Kakashi said, one huge or should I say two huge ass blue fireballs was all it took, just over six hours plus we fixed the main boards, all in three days of work for one four-man cell." Skylar said with a hidden smirk.

"Wait… Why would a fireball be blue?" Naruto asked and Skylar gracefully got to her feet again as sweat changed direction on her body.

"Have you ever seen a blow torch when it's burning blue or a lighter or match close up at the bottom? It's blue, that's where it's at it's hottest like a blue fireball." Skylar explained as she grabbed some matches and showed Naruto quickly. "I've been working on the fireball for a while now but hadn't had the chance to try it but even in sage mode, it drains me so it was a bit of a failure anyway but it got the mission done in record time… Anyway, I've got a meeting with my dragons to prepare for so I'll be home about evening before dinner, I'll see you later." Skylar said with a wave as she picked up her flak jacket and pouches and flashed to the training grounds.

They were secluded this time of the day as people would be in the middle of missions by now so she had the training ground free as she summoned Seiryu, Byakko and Suzaku. Seiryu didn't look happy and Byakko and Suzaku looked like kicked puppies.

"I heard what you have been doing Skylar-sama and I must say it is dangerous even for you." Seiryu scolded.

"I understand how dangerous it is from a simple fireball I learned from Suzaku's scroll, it drained me out of sage mode and then some, I'm not reckless, I know how dangerous forbidden jutsus can be Seiryu." Skylar explained coolly with determination, she would be receiving the Life Curse seal that afternoon whether Seiryu agreed with it or not.

"I will not be giving you my scroll with all due respect Skylar-sama." Seiryu said with conviction as he crossed his little clawed arms.

"I understand but I have summoned you here to ask for the Life Curse seal from you." Skylar said and his eyes flared with anger.

"I will do no such thing!" He growled/yelled out with pure rage of a dragon god.

"I know you're not stupid, you could feel how powerful Kabuto has become after his experiments on me and my brother and I cannot defeat him like I am now, he's after me and my life as well as the ninja world to control again and with this seal my plan will be complete and I'd win against him. He's coming after me and if I don't find him first, my friends will die for no reason and I refuse to sit back and watch it again when there's something I can do… Please, at least consider this, what would you do if you were in my position Seiryu?" Skylar pleaded but also with conviction. Seiryu glared at her with his yellow eyes glowing but then he closed them and slumped a little.

"I would be doing the exact same thing as you are right now… I understand however I'm not giving this seal willingly… You've obviously know of the risks it holds and how it works?" Seiryu asked and Skylar took a deep breath and nodded. "Where do you want the seal to be placed child?" Seiryu asked sadly as he prepared himself to give the seal. Skylar removed the plated fingerless glove on her left hand and held the back of her hand up to him. He kissed it and dug a claw into it, drawing blood and drawing a circle covering the back of her hand from knuckles to wrist as she gritted her teeth as it stung.

It was how she imagined having a tattoo would be like but less powerful as she felt the hum of power in her numbing left hand as she kept her fist tight. He continued to draw and lick away the blood every now and again as he chanted a few words low in his throat as the blood dripped to the forest floor, the only witness to what was happening. She wasn't sure how long they had been standing there for but it was getting to late afternoon when he licked away the blood once more and kissed it as it glowed and faded again.

"It is done Skylar-sama, please use it wisely." Seiryu said as he left with Byakko and Suzaku. It was two medieval dragons chasing each other around the circle done in a tribal style of tattooing and full of detail and already faded to black as she replaced her glove back on and flexed her stiff hand.

"Just a few more preparations and then I'm coming for you Yakushi Kabuto." Skylar said to no one as she flashed home and relaxed back on her bed for a while with the new tattoo against her forehead still in the glove as she stared up at the ceiling. Her plan was almost complete and Kiiro would have to be alerted of it soon so she could help out to take Kabuto down, it was only fitting that they bring him down together.

"I thought I heard you flash back in… Is everything okay?" Naruto asked as he closed the curtain across the doorway since Kakashi hadn't gotten her door yet and he sat down next to her on the bed as she sat up and leaned her head against his shoulder.

"Everything's fine, I'm just relaxing a bit after so much work and studying… I think I deserve it, what do you think?" She asked cheekily and he grabbed her and pulled her onto his lap with a little yelp from her as she clung right back onto him.

"I'm taking you out tonight if you're not too tired." Naruto said just as cheeky and she smiled and kissed him.

"Sounds great, where are we going and dress code?" She asked as she put her head against his chest and listened to his heartbeat.

"It's a secret and dress nice, we'll leave here together… I can't believe how long it's been since I took you out on a date." Naruto said as he rested his arms around her and his cheek on her head and closed his eyes.

'He's taking you to meet his parents.' Kurama interjected in Skylar's thoughts.

"Aw come on Kurama, spoil the surprise will you, you stupid fox." Naruto complained and both Kurama and Skylar laughed.

"January twenty-fifth, you're father's birthday… A perfect way to spend a date though I am a bit disappointed I never met half the people I wanted to before they passed away." Skylar said with some regret.

"Well, who else did you want to meet before they passed away?" Naruto asked with interest.

"Well even though they were bad guys, I would have liked to meet the Akatsuki members especially Itachi and when Tobi was still Tobi, the goofy one. The Hokages especially Hiruzen, Asuma, Jiraiya, Your parents, Killer Bee and even one or two others of the previous jinchuuriki and last but not least… Neji… I'm sorry if this has brought up some bad memories Naruto." Skylar said as she realised Naruto was crying as she looked up and wiped his tears away with tears of her own coming to her eyes.

"No… It's okay, guess I… just never gave myself time to mourn properly after their deaths especially the most recent and nearly yours and Kaka-sensei's or even my own after you saved me from Tobi and Madara… Dammit, I don't want to spend a date crying like this." Naruto forcefully laughed as he wiped some of his own tears and one of Skylar's that slipped out.

"It'll be what it needs to be whether it's laughing or crying… I haven't ever lost anyone close to me like those people were to you before." Skylar said. "And I'm lucky I guess to never feel such pain…"

"What about Yusei… I could see you still cared for him like I did with Sasuke through the hard times, hell you even killed him yourself." Naruto said as he brushed some of her hair behind her ear as she turned to lie on her stomach on him as they both cried. Needing a change of subject Skylar pulled out her I-pod and flipped through some episodes of Naruto.

"You should see some of the quirky stuff the Akatsuki did sometimes." Skylar said with a smile as she showed scenes with mostly Deidara in with either Sasori or Tobi then showed him fighting Pain when he lost control when he hammered Pain into the ground and he actually laughed at the rough times he faced. "I laughed my ass of when he rolled his eyes back and asked 'Do you hate me?'" Skylar said still laughing and Naruto smiled tenderly. "This is all over now, yes there will be hard times like now but you're stronger now and surprisingly wiser…" Skylar got a soft knock on her head for that one. "And you've made it through with your most precious bonds still intact and still creating more and you'll continue to with me by your side with Team Kakashi and Team Yamato and all of the rookies, Gaara. Tsunade… The whole damn world, you'll forever be remembered in this world and my old one and maybe even in others out there." Skylar said as she looked seriously into his blue eyes that had darkened with sadness and regret as she ran her hand through his hair and smiled sadly. "Okay… Enough wallowing with sadness, let's get dressed and go on this date to wish your dad happy birthday and brag about me stealing his jutsus." Skylar said with a grin as she stood up and Naruto put a smile on as well as they got ready for the date.

The visit to the cemetery was short as Skylar could imagine how happy Minato would be for his son, finding someone who was like Kushina on the outside but had Minato's mind, the complete opposite of Naruto but balanced him out anyway just like his parents. Skylar unconsciously gripped Naruto's hand tighter as they walked through the quieter side of Konoha where residents were already going to sleep.

Skylar had met her real dad years ago now and only knew him for a few months before she was whisked off to save the shinobi world… She knew her brother Yusei but not in the brotherly way, she could never see him that way, that area of her old life felt numb now as she didn't even know her mother as she died giving birth and who knows if Yusei and her had the same mother but definitely the same father… Their blood and jutsus proved that.

Her old memories were being overshadowed by the new ones she's created so far in her current world and it was saddening some how as she stared at the brown of the ground as they walked but then was stopped by hands gripping her shoulders gently as she looked up into the worried blue eyes of Naruto. He was wearing an orange button up shirt and black jeans and Skylar was wearing a faded black sundress that went past her knees.

"You look down… What's wrong?" Naruto asked gently as he cupped her cheek and stepped up close to her as she looked down at his stomach and placed her hand over his and her other hand on his arm holding her hip.

"I was just thinking… About my family… One small area of our lives that could make a huge difference but it did… I don't think I told you much about my father or Yusei, which is unfair since I know some of your parent's lives… Perhaps more than you do." Skylar began as she looked up at the stars and flashed them to the memorial stone, still watching the stars.

"You don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to." Naruto said gently as he cradled the back of her neck in his hand as he held her against him in a hug.

"Not all of it's sad so I'll just skim over those parts… We have happy times otherwise we wouldn't be close to these people now would we. People just tend to focus on the negative easily… Anyway, let me tell you about how I first met my father…" Skylar began with a smile as she flashed them to Ichiraku's for dinner… Ramen was really growing on her.

"No way, you really punched him right in the gut, the first few seconds you lay your eyes on him… That's exactly what I did to my dad now that I think about it." Naruto said with laughter as Skylar laughed along with him.

"Yeah, I probably got the inspiration from you in the first place." Skylar added as she continued. Naruto listened intently while eating his ramen and had finished five bowls while Skylar had barely touched hers because she just couldn't stop talking and smiling. Naruto loved the way she was smiling right then, it almost made her glow with happiness and it made his heart skip a beat painfully but in a good way as she threw her hands around and explained, holding chopsticks to add to the effect. Naruto had stopped eating now as all of his attention was on her now as she explained her life from the orphanage, friends, foes and all the pranks in between and he didn't notice he had a hand resting on her thigh and it was moving up slowly over the dress when he hit an unnatural bump and Skylar stopped in mid sentence as she looked down with Naruto who flipped her dress up a little and smirked at her pouches on her legs and she blushed and laughed sheepishly.

"Old habit die hard… I guess?" She asked with a sheepish grin and rubbed the back of her neck and Naruto picked up his shirt and showed a few kunai stowed away in his belt as well and they both laughed about it before their teams decided to drop in.

"So the two love birds on a date huh?" Sasuke smirked as he walked in, hand in hand with Kiiro who was wearing a bright yellow sundress above her knees. Sasuke was wearing exactly what he wore in the sixth Naruto movie and Skylar twitched and smiled to hold in her laughter as everyone else piled in after them.

"I wouldn't talk teme." Naruto challenged and eyed their hands, making Sasuke blush and Kiiro smile happily as they all ordered. Skylar rested her arms on the counter and eyed her left hand that was heavily covered in make up to hide the seal since Kakashi and Sasuke would see through genjutsu so would Kurama and tell Naruto but good old make up was simpler besides she sucked at genjutsu anyway, she was a more hands on combat type like Naruto and most of the two teams.

"So, how come everyone's together tonight?" Skylar asked as she ate her cold ramen and looked at everyone through the corner of her eyes.

"Surprisingly enough we bumped into each other outside and then we saw you two sitting here and decided to come and join you." Sai said coolly with a smile. Everyone chatted while they ate and Skylar stepped outside for some air just around the corner from the ramen shop and in the shadows as she thought when Kiiro came to join her.

"We'll be moving out soon but I'm not sure exactly when so just be ready so we can leave straight away and take Kabuto down… You haven't told anyone that you're coming with me because my cover already has been blown but they don't know when I'll actually take action?" Skylar asked quietly and Kiiro shook her head.

"I haven't told anyone, not even Sasuke… I guess you're just waiting for information now?" Kiiro asked just as quietly.

"Correct, my dragons are on the hunt and getting closer slowly. We'll probably leave within the week and leave at night… I'll flash into your room and we'll leave over Konoha's walls, I already have a senbon placed out there so it'll be an easy escape." Skylar said as they high-fived and linked fingers.

Skylar kept waking up with the same dream she freaked out over a while ago, it all felt so realistic but in a way it did happen. The snakes were kind of a representation of Kabuto now but she wasn't sure about the woman her father was holding hands with, perhaps it was just her mind making a happy and complete family. It started four days ago after her last date and she could feel her nerves getting to her going up against Kabuto. All of the missions they took were one day quick and easy luckily because this was the night they would go after Kabuto as Byakko hovered in through the roof and settled around Skylar's waist in his ethereal form. The information was relayed to her telepathically and she nodded.

Skylar got up carefully so as not to wake Naruto and got dressed in her maroon tank top, a black flak jacket like Konoha's and replaced all of her scrolls into the breast pockets and placed her straps for her weapons on and holsters on her tight black pants as she pulled her knee high shinobi sandals on quietly. She folded up her Konoha flak jacket and lay it next to the bed on the side table with her hitai-ate on it as she tied her hitai-ate that said 'shinobi' around her neck loosely and placed her fingerless gloves on after washing away the make up and flashed next doors to Kiiro's room.

Kiiro opened her eyes after Skylar stared at her for a few seconds and nodded. Kiiro got up and dressed quickly in the same attire but with a navy blue tank top on as she also lay her flak jacket and hitai-ate on her side table and took Skylar's hand and with a red flash, they were outside Konoha and heading for Kabuto to end it all.

Naruto stretched when he woke up the next morning and his mood instantly dropped when he felt he was alone in the bed. He opened his eyes and noticed Skylar's jacket and hitai-ate were folded up on the side table and thought it to be a bit weird but maybe she just went out for some training since her weapons and such were also gone. He got up and showered and dressed for the day's missions as he moved into the kitchen to find Kakashi cooking breakfast.

"Morning Naruto. Sleep well?" Kakashi asked with an eye smile as he lay the food down.

"Yeah I did… Hey did you catch Skylar this morning before she went out?" Naruto asked as he dug in to his food.

"No, I woke up at four this morning and didn't see her but her shoes were gone already so maybe she just couldn't sleep… You know how she is." Kakashi said as he also dug into his food.

"It's weird though. Her flak jacket and hitai-ate were folded up and placed neatly on the side table." Naruto said and the warning bells in Kakashi's head were going off as he froze and pulled up his mask when a banging on the door began. Kakashi called for them to come in and there was Sasuke out of breath holding Kiiro's flak jacket and hitai-ate.

"Let me guess, they were on her side table, folded up neatly?" Kakashi asked the out of breath Sasuke leaning against the doorframe in panic. Sasuke seemed shocked but nodded his head and Kakashi sighed. "Let's get our teams together quickly and report to Tsunade-sama, Skylar's on the move." Kakashi said quickly as he got up and the panicked rivals had big eyes and followed after him quickly.

"They're probably onto us by now." Kiiro said as she watched the sun rising ahead.

"Yeah, most likely… We're close so don't drop your guard. Byakko said he thinks Kabuto might have seen or possibly sensed him so we may be walking right into a trap." Skylar warned her best friend.

"He'll probably have his army waiting for us to tier us quickly so he can capture us and use us since we're his successful experiments." Kiiro said with slight anger to her light voice.

"I want you to wait in the shadow s and I'll make a path for you to get Kabuto, it's only right that you get to challenge him Kiiro." Skylar said with a sad smile.

"Thanks… Do you think we'll live through today?" Kiiro asked timidly, looking down away from Skylar.

"I'm planning on surviving but if things go wrong, well… It was an honour to work with you Kiiro." Skylar said, taking the girl's hand.

"It was an honour to work with you as well Uzumaki Skylar." Kiiro said with a grin and squeezed Skylar's hand as they came to the destinated clearing.