Hello, again, mortals! Well, at least I hope you are mortal... Well, for the one person in the world who acknowledges my existence, Naricissa-san, to answer your question. Since you asked me where "Dakota's Legend" came from... don't ask me that. It's actually an inside joke, but mortals are not supposed to be on the inside of the inside joke. Because you are on the outside. That is why they call them inside jokes...

Arelia: What was that about ranting?

Wha?!?! WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE?!?!

Arelia: Guardian was boring so I came here to practice spells with Inaria. Have you seen her?

Oh. No, I have not seen Inaria. And, much to my prolonged distaste, I still do not own Naruto. If only...

Arelia: -adopts look of shock- Oh, no! You are not going to taint Kishimoto-sensei with your dark magic.

-narrows eyes- And what if I do?

Arelia: -sighs and begins to beat wings- Do you really want to ask that question, friend?

-gulp- Uh... enjoy and review.

.....please?

-Nyroc

"Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." I Corinthians 13: 6-7

Chapter four

Crush Me

"You know Sasuke? Where is he? Is he okay? Did--"

"Shut Up!" The boy's instant stream of questions sent throbbing pains through Motaki's head. She uncovered her ears to glare at him.

"Sorry...?," Naruto looked somewhat hopeful. "So. Long story. Right."

Motaki sighed melodramatically. "So. Sasuke is my younger brother, making Itachi-san the eldest. I got angry a couple of times and left home to go to the Shade Village. Following?"

Naruto nodded.

"Okay. So, in a nutshell, I got to the Hidden Shade Village when I was eight years old. When I was nine, the twin demon spirits, Buchai and Kuyrura, attacked our village. Buchai already had a sealer, so I volunteered to stop Kuyrura. She was sealed inside of me and gave me eight extra lives to spend as I please. Right now, I'm suffering the pain of the second one."

Naruto blinked in disbelief. His gaze flicked out to the water, and then back to Motaki's now-calm face. "You... volnteered?"

Motaki nodded.

Naruto shook his head quickly as if he had water in his ears. He looked at the girl in an almost accusing gesture. "Why?"

A sly smile began to spread across Motaki's lips. "Why not? I felt like I owed the Shade a debt. So I paid it. If you think about it, it makes perfect sense."

Naruto shook his head even more rapidly. "It doesn't make sense. You had a normal life and you gave it up. Why?"

Motaki blinked at the remorse in his tone. Then she threw her head back and laughed, "Naruto, my friend, you really don't understand human nature at all, do you?"

Naruto stared at her.

Motaki sighed as she regained her composure and smiled at him comfortingly. "Those who are powerless want power; those who have power want it not. We have the power to make a difference, Naruto. You need to learn that. Being a jinchuuriki is not a curse; it's a blessing."

Naruto blinked as a smirk streched across his face. "You sound like a feudal philosopher."

Motaki laughed again. "I get that a lot."

Naruto's expression then softened slightly. "Do you ever feel..." he trailed off, searching for the right word, "alone?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I know that I'm not the only one."

The sun filtered through the trees to hit the trail on which the two boys walked.

"She should have been here by now."

Zyc glanced across at his team mate and shrugged. "You know that Motaki takes her own time. Besides, she is suffering right now, so give her a break."

"That's not what I meant."

"Then what do you mean?"

Lakota met his comrade's pale gaze, keeping silent.

Zyc sighed. "Lakota, Karin can take care of herself."

"She never takes this long."

"Lakota," he sighed, trailing off. His team mate's piercing blue eyes met his.

"What?" Lakota demanded, narrowing his eyes.

Zyc smirked.

"You worry too much," a high alto voice sounded in his ear as a kunai knife was pressed into the skin on his neck.

Lakota sighed. "And you're reactions are slow."

The girl laughed and withdrew her kunai as she gracefully disentangled herself from the blades that Lakota had pressed to her back.

"You aren't much better, little brother."

Lakota sighed and smirked. "So, Karin, what took you so long?"

The girl grinned, a slightly psychotic gesture. Lakota hesitated.

"Nevermind."

Zyc broke in impatiently, "So, do you want to resume training, or keep heading back to the village?"

Karin shrugged. "I'm looking around."

Lakota eyed his sister warily and gestured towards the training grounds, turning to walk in the opposite direction of his newly arrived comrade. Zyc sighed and muttered something about 'taking that as a no'.

Stalking away from his easily exciteble comrades, the red-haired boy made his way back to the training grounds and pulled out a scroll. Now that he was alone, he could really get his energy out. He formed several quick hand signs, concentrating on a water technique. His ears pricked and he turned around, sighing, and dropped his hands.

"You do know how rude it is to spy on people, do you not?," he said with an almost accusing tone. He watched as a girl stepped from the bushes, her cheeks flushed slightly in embarrassment.

"Sorry, Lakota."

He stared at her for several seconds with uncertainty before smirking. "Well, well, look what the cat dragged in," he said, walking over to her.

She smiled. "Yeah. You and your cats. Mind if I train with you for a while?" she asked, cocking an eyebrow expectantly.

Lakota returned her smile, drawing a kunai knife. "Sure, Sakura."

Meh. I didn't really like this chapter.

Arelia: Yes. It was kind of... abrupt.

Yeah, I guess. You notice how the 'narration camera' swapped from Motaki to Lakota in the middle? Yeah, I got bored with Motaki. And it was abrupt because... okay, so I've had writer's block for the past month. It's not my fault. And I'm sorry I haven't posted in so long. Flames will be accepted for that.

Arelia: It also does not help when Kishimoto-sensei is lacking in inspirational reading lately...

Yeah. That doesn't help either, does it?

Please review. If you're taking the time to read this sad little attempt of a fanfiction, at least have the decency to save what little sanity I have left. Besides, now I'm giving away free cookies. And they're the good kinds, too... Not that cardboard stuff you get at the market...