Sorry in the short delay, progress will be much slower than usual because of work and i had the misfortune of becoming badly ill over the weekend which was when i wanted to post this chapter. I am getting the impression people are less keen on OC characters but i'm sorry it's just how the story goes. Because the base-line was from the cannon (No Neji (I liked that guy)). So in order to bring the new characters up to speed i have to concentrate on them for now. I could just provide info cards but that simply is not good story telling (although I still plan to write out info cards in a few chapters.)
However, all is not lost i have finally sorted out what i want to do with the plot for the foreseeable future but it's still open for suggestions if you want to have your say in it (Like a character, plot line, jitsu etc) If you're wondering by now, there are going to be three acts, the first, I know what i want from the plot, the second i have a pretty good idea, and the third i have no clue.
Thank you all for reading this much and i hope you enjoy the story as it unfolds. Oh and Naru/Hina fans patience is well rewarded as once i feel like you know the new characters i'll begin to develop the original characters. Please review and comment, feedback is something i'd love.
Monica walked with a pace to her old room. Each team had a common room as such, containing a small seating area and two bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms. She entered her room to a complete mess with all her spare clothes thrown and trampled. 'Probably Dentsu and Nago.' She sighed and picked up some less-trampled clothes. She didn't have a spare headband but given the situation she doubted anyone would mind. Monica entered the shower and ran the hot tap and as she waited for the temperature to kick in she quickly stripped and stared in the mirror. Sakura hadn't headed either of her major scars; mostly because they were too old to heal fully. Monica stretched about and watched how the long scar, which nearly sliced her into two pieces, would move and contort to her figure. Monica smiled and she finally accepted her new look. She rubbed the other scar across the right side of her neck. Neither could be covered by hair or clothes without looking like she was trying to hide something so she was alright with them being visible to the world. After all, they meant something to her. Just before she turned she looked back into the mirror and saw a horrifically bloody figure of a man grinning behind him. He was bald and the blood dirt and grime made it difficult to see his skin but the grin unnerved Monica. A thought clicked. Monica fell back from the mirror and was immediately sick. 'That was one of the bandits?' She was shaking and staring down in her pool of bile, her vision kept fading between clear and foggy. The shinobi slowly turned her head to see if the man was still there but she only found herself alone in the bathroom. After a deep breath Monica stood up, still shaking somewhat to what she just saw.
After her shower with new, untorn clothes, on Monica was able to rest on her bed, she wore standard shinobi black pants with a tank top, and a light green jacket on top to keep her warm. She felt relaxed and could steal a quick nap before getting ready to get the page Fukushi was after. The orange haired shinobi instead forced herself up, she could sleep after she's finished repaying Fukushi. With a few quick hands signs she summoned some of her chakra to become visible and warm to the touch. She grabbed the round chakra which stuck to her hands. Next, she wrung her hair with it and dried it as she rubbed her burning hand through her bright locks. Satisfied with her useful jitsu, she found a small notebook amongst her clothes which had been neglected and completely empty. With a quick summon she got the original chakra seal that Fukushi gave her and proceeded to practice the shape without using any chakra infused ink.
A loud bang of a door being slammed signalled Monica to snap the notebook closed. She had managed to get about a dozen of the insignias right and was pleased with her work. Her smile quickly faded once two of her 'teammates' burst into her room with the look of disappointment on their faces. Dentsu and Nago were both wearing standard shinobi attire. With Nago wearing a black hoodie with orange stripes in addition and Dentsu with bandages wrapped up his arms. He was a tai fighter and usually ended up with bruises.
"Why did you have to turn up? We were going to get a new teammate and one that didn't suck as hard as you." Dentsu spoke harshly. "We could have made it to the chunin exams without you dragging us down."
Monica didn't reply, she looked away as memories of failing the genin exams twice filled her head with laughter as her jitsu failed, kunai missed their marks and she had the bad luck of being paired with the best tai jitsu fighter in her class.
"You should have stayed away, now look, you've come back just to drag us down." Nago added to their taunting, causing Monica to shift uncomfortably by her table.
"Psh, she now has a diary" He gestured to Monica's book which she had been using. "What? Now you're writing down feelings? How many guys you sucked off over the last month?"
"Please stop, I really don't want to be dealing with this." Monica begged, she was fighting back tears again. Her voice was quiet and the two boys were barely able to hear her.
"What was that? I didn't hear you?"
"I said piss off!" Monica shouted back and her two teammates looked at eachother and laughed before they left. Their laughter seeming echoing around Monica even once they stopped.
"Eee, for cursing like that, we are going to have your dinner, don't expect any food, you naughty girl." Nago chimed in a childish voice. "We'll be back after dinner, we were gonna let you have some but now you don't deserve it." The two boys left Monica to their feast their laughing continued to drill into her head long after they left her.
Monica breathed heavily and tried to calm herself down, she knew now she could beat them if she wanted to. She had to remind herself that she was no longer holding them up. Hell, no longer going to be with them, she had a way out. Didn't she? She was better, right? Fukushi wouldn't have trained her if she was completely hopeless. Her mind was throwing thoughts and worries around her and she clutched at her notebook hard trying to maintain control. With shaking hands, she opened the notebook back up to try and clear her mind with more practice. She opened to her last one and through no fault of her own the ink had been smudged. To Monica however, she felt like a stone sunk in her heart and she threw the book away in disgust. Slumped to the chair she curled up. Her head ached and after a while of dull throbbing she couldn't take it and threw herself over the bed.
Despite her best efforts, she couldn't find sleep no matter how much she tried. The door slammed again and in the other room she heard Dentsu and Nago talking to themselves.
"What are we going to do about Monica? She'll only drag us down, we will never make the chunin with her. We'll either fail or worse, get killed." Nago's voice spoke quietly but Monica still listened in.
"It'll be fine, we should appeal for her to be removed from the ninja training, I mean lost for a month doesn't suggest she's capable."
Nago laughed. "A ninja who got lost, that'll be a new one, even from Naruto."
"Remember whenever we got Iruka he would tell how bad Naruto used to be?"
"Atleast she's breaking records here." Both boys laughed.
"We just need her to agree though, which I doubt would be difficult, she should have never became a ninja and just stuck to her family." Monica was shocked. She tried to keep the fact she was first in her family to become a shinobi. First outsider too, having moved into Konoha when she was younger because of the increasing violence from the Akatsuki had forced her family to decide that a shinobi village would be safer.
Both boys re-entered Monica's room as she sat up to face away from them.
"Hey, Monica, we've been thinking and we'd like to ask if you could drop from the ninja program." Dentsu would have sounded like concerned partners if it weren't for the fact they were struggling to hold back their laughter from earlier.
"No." Monica said firmly but her voice wavered slightly as she continued. "I'm not going to let you sweep me away." She heard Nago let off a giggle before whispering into Dentsu's ear.
"She's trying to be serious, how cute." This caused Dentsu to burst out laughing when he noticed Monica's pissed off looking face.
"Look Monica, we just don't think you'll be safe." He tried acting concerned again. "Look at yourself, you have scars all over your face. Being a ninja is serious, you'll end up dead."
This time Monica let off a laugh. She had managed to push aside all the voices and found the one she liked. One that also found it funny how weak she used to be. She stood up and glared right into their eyes. A look which her teammates weren't used to.
"Oh, I am serious. Go on, keep laughing!" Monica spoke in a firm voice.
Nago, being the braver of the two. Spoke up. "Beat us in a spar then, tomorrow, in the morning. If you think you are good enough as a ninja, then beat us. If you can't you resign. We can't let a pathetic bitch like you drag us down."
"Why not now?" Monica's voice darkened with intent. It was just like the other night when she attacked that estate. At first, she was timid but soon she found killing them easy. Maybe even enjoyed it. No! she couldn't enjoy it. Fukushi certainly didn't. She had to, just like she has to stand up to her teammates. She pushed her palm to her head to pressure a small pain in her temple.
Nago and Dentsu felt her intent and realised they might have pushed her too much. They backed away as Dentsu reached for his kunai and Nago to his shuriken's. The two genin were about to underestimate her with a few flicks of their ordinance at Monica's arms and legs. Hoping to incapacitate her and she will give up after realising how easy she was to take down.
Monica closed her eyes and internalised her jitsu in response. Time slowed for her once she opened her eyes. Her chakra became visible and deflected every shot at her shooting blue embers as the weapons collided. Her dark eyes reflected the bright blue embers as they danced around her body. Blue fire erupted around every surface near her and raced passed the two genin. The sofa to their left was now burning bright blue flames. The walls too supported the unnatural fire. Dentsu and Nago turned to flee through the main door. Once they turned a kunai shot past their ears and struck the oak door in a dull thud. Fire seemed to pour from the kunai and coated the door in a hot blue cloak.
"What's your problem Monica." Dentsu asked trying to hide his fear but to no avail.
"No, what is your problem Dentsu?" You called me shit? Where were your tips to fighting? You were meant to be the better one with tai fighting. Nago where were you when I struggled with nin jitsu, I could have found out my fire affinity so, much, sooner."
The two boys struggled for an excuse but Monica continued regardless.
"Where were you when I was injured? Where were you when I was alone, or stuck. Why did you never care? You call me shit? So prove it then you little bitch!" Monica was practically screaming at the point. Dentsu lunged to strike at the screaming orange-haired woman. He thought his tai-jitsu would be sufficient to taking her out. He had been training non-stop with Lee to make up for his teammates lack of progress. Dentsu aimed for a kick to Monica's face.
"Too slow!" Her words dripped with venom as she ducked, punched his thigh on the outstretched leg and immediately spun around to kick him square in the chest. Knocking her former teammate back. Dentsu quickly regained his stance and with a right armed punch her lunged at Monica.
"You bitch you should respect who's better than you!" Monica parried his right arm away and grabbed his left wrist as he tried for a second attack. She then punched him in the jaw followed by a quick strike in his throat causing the genin to fall to his knees winded. Monica turned to see Nago jumping over the fire to try and flank her. She dodged out of the way of a kunai whist summing herself a kunai to defend. Her ability to arm herself was not expected from Nago as she plunged the blade into his right side before he could swipe at her neck again. Nago burst into smoke as his shadow clone dispelled. Monica quickly realised and turned to the real Nago who had been running through hand signs. He kept getting the signs wrong however. His panic was evident in his eyes and sweat as he got his jitsu wrong again.
"Y-you would have killed me?"
"Why what's wrong?" Monica mocked. She loved how the tables have turned now she was back. "Didn't you say that being a ninja was serious, that you could die?"
"I didn't, please don't do this, I'm sorry!" Nago was crying as he still rushed his jitsu over and over. Monica however, calmly palmed through a short string of hand signs and Nago looked in fear as he had no idea what Monica was sighing. He found out as she pushed her hands out and a blue fireball shot out at her target. The younger ninja took the shot into his chest and he was blown out of the window of the hotel. Almost to his death if he hadn't managed to catch to balcony's rail. Pain flooded through him as the glass had pierced his jacket. He struggled but managed to pull himself up towards safety.
Monica was walking towards Nago while dragging the stunned Dentsu. Tears in her eyes as her anger overwhelmed her. Nago quickly looked around for a potential escape. He saw a demon walking towards him with fire now burning throughout the room. The deadly blue flame licked everything in sight. Monica approached and crouched down after dropping Dentsu. Her voice bubbled with the tears that streamed down.
"Where were you when you left me in the forest to be raped." Nago's eyes widened as he realised the weight of what he did a month ago, only to calmly denying any knowledge of where Monica was. He was defeated and slowly relaxed his grip on the balcony. Monica heard a bang. Just before the door opened all the fire vanished as quickly as it had been summoned. Leaving most of the furniture and the room untouched. Albeit a little singed.
"What's going on!" The hotel owner and Lee burst into the room moments after the fire cleared. Had it been anyone else who could sense chakra they would have known that the entire room had a thick presence from the skirmish.
Monica cried out. "Please help me! He's falling!" Monica grabbed Nago and tried to pull him up only to pretend to slip her grip. Nao noticed her strength was deliberately weak and she was more than capable to help him up. Lee rushed forward to save Nago who fortunately managed to hold on long enough.
"What happened here Monica?"
"T-they were having a sparring match and it got out of hand."
Lee's eyes lit with a familiar passion. "Ah young genin fighting in their youth! Can't wait to see more of this passion when you get back to the training grounds." Lee stood up and almost had tears running down his eyes. "I vow to allow this passion to flourish so these genin will become grand shinobi. Yosh!" Monica and the head of the hotel had the look of cringe on their faces. The two boys were too shell shocked to register what Lee said. "Oh, and Monica, Shakamaru says you and your team can help them search while you recover. Sakura wanted to check up on you anyway." Lee have them all thumbs up before leaving after talking to himself about the power of youth, no one was listening.
Once the team of Genin were left alone. Monica spoke calmly, even with a smile, as if they had been friends this whole time and their ass-kicking never happened.
"Now I trust you to not tell a soul about me." She received two shakes of their heads. "That you'll help me from now on like good little bitches?" Two nods. "Am I beautiful?" She got two nods and Nago muttered yes under his breath but Monica still caught it. "Now what about my scars?" Nago and Dentsu blinked.
"Erm, they make you, err they suit you? Make you superior? Pretty?" Nago was lost for what to say to her but didn't want to offend her again so soon so a scatter of complements was his best course of action.
"Good! Now go and get me some food, I'm hungry after that." She smiled coldly. As Nago and Dentsu got up slowly. Nago fell to the floor immediately as he realised to true damage of Monica's attack. White hot pain seared through his chest. Dentsu looked up at her expecting face.
"I'll get the food, Nago you rest up." Dentsu spoke with a whisper as his throat was still sore frim Monica's strike.
"Oh, and boys, cross me and I will kill you both, without hesitation." She giggled which unnerved them both and left the two to pick up the pieces and get her food. They remained silent as they could feel her intent. To them she could and probably would back up that promise with action.
Morning came and Nago and Dentsu found themselves in their common room talking quietly to themselves; Monica was either asleep or at the very least had not presented herself from her room.
"Do you think she's serious?" Whispered Nago who had dropped his jacket on the account it was completely ruined from last night.
"She did beat your ass didn't she or did you just imagine being flung from the window?" Dentsu said sarcastically and motioned at the wide open window letting in a light morning breeze, just enough to shift the curtains.
"Damn who is she?"
"Look, at least we can use her to get to chunin now."
"Is that all you think about Dentsu? She threatened to kill us, doesn't that make you think?"
"Hmph I think we should tell our Sensei."
"Now that would be a bad idea now won't it." A female voice from directly behind them spoke out causing the two teammates to freeze.
"H-how did you g-get there?" Nago stuttered as he turned around half expecting fire to engulf him.
"Try living in hell, you pick up a few things." Monica smirked whilst the two shinobi were still unsure about her new personality. The ninja tried to answer her but she just continued regardless. "Now be good little bitches and stay here and stall anyone who comes in. I will be reading and you are not to enter. Can you do this for me?"
Both Nago and Dentsu simply nodded and watched her walk away into her room. Monica stopped at the doorway before flexing her arm and a burning blue orb appeared just above her fingers as she made the internal jitsu.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" The pair stood and stared at the burning chakra. At first, they thought she was about to strike out at them but. If either of them had been paying attention they would have noticed a tear of sadness in her eye although no one would be able to tell why. Not even Monica would have known truly why she was sad.
An hour passed as the team of genin waited for someone to arrive. Monica was not with the two teammates and instead she resided within her room and was looking through the large leather-bound book which Fukushi had allowed her to access. It was his greatest treasure and held thousands of pages full of information. The issue is that none of it was in Japanese. Monica had a very hard time finding anything she recognised but she glanced through each page reguardless. The book itself must have been hundreds of years old with pages browned and ink faded. Monica had to be careful whenever she turned each page as many had been ripped out and replaced by slotting it back in unbounded. She guessed those were the pages Fukushi managed to return. She turned another page and a relatively new looking piece of paper flew out from in between the new page and the page after that. 'shit' Monica cursed as she carefully put the large book to one side and reached off her bed to the piece of paper that had fallen to the floor. She gazed at the writing and realised unlike the rest of the pages this one had Japanese and the native language of Fukushi side by side. Monica began to study just as a knock echoed from the common room door outside her own room. Without batting an eye Monica hid the translated page under her own notebook and with a quick series of hand signals she stored the great book into its pocket dimension.
"May I speak to the girl in your team?" I soothing voice spoke to Nago and Dentsu. Monica didn't recognise it. So with a frown she got up to her door and with a deep breath she composed herself and opened the door just as Nago knocked on her bedroom door.
Monica stepped out as Nago stepped aside and she eyed up the new woman. She had full cloud attire, a white flak jacket with black shinobi pants and top. She had long black hair which one lock seemed to permanently cover one eye to which she would flick back every so often. She was only armed with a set of kunai which rested in her jacket.
"I'd like a word with you, would you mind coming with me?"
"Not at all, would you mind if my team would come with me? They could be of assistance." Monica spoke sweetly to the cloud jonin. Nago and Dentsu shifted uncomfortably as they really didn't want to go with Monica and the jonin.
The woman sighed. "I guess it's fine if they tagged along, I'll probably need them anyway."
Monica simply smiled and nodded and she turned to lock her room
"My name is Druarni. Come with me I only need to ask a few questions, pick your brain over something if you will."
"I hope I can be of some assistance."
Druarni lead the team of genin out of their hotel and down the road. Druarni lead while Monica was close behind. Dentsu and Nago trailed back a bit in awkward silence, they both had the feeling of foreboding and neither dared talk about the tension in the morning air. The jonin lead genin arrived at the same hotel that Naruto, Sakura, Shikamaru, and Hinata were staying at. Monica kept a poker face on as Druarni lead them upstairs to the top level. The hotel was a lot grander than where the genin stayed. The stairway in the grand hall was made from carefully calved stone whilst the walls were decorated with intricate carvings and the wood was a deep mahogany brown. Clearly Iwagakure wanted to give their guests the best possible impression whilst they stayed here. The party reached the top floor and down a corridor to an oaken door. Druarni proceeded to unlock the door and invited the genin inside. Her room was much in the same layout as the genin, two bedrooms and a central common room complete with a kitchenette only her accommodation was slightly bigger with more ornate and expensive furniture.
"Sorry I had to bring you here, I didn't want our privacy to be disturbed, I'm sure you can understand." Druarni spoke calmly whilst heading to a bench to the back corner of the common room. "Tea?" Everyone shook their heads and politely declined. Druarni still put the kettle on and fished out a mug. Without looking up at her guests she continued to speak. "You're team four genin fom the leaf yeah?" Druarni paused. "And Monica? Was it? You were the missing genin for a month correct?"
"Yes Ma'am" Monica spoke politely to answer her question.
"What happened if you don't mind me asking?"
Monica was about to reply when Nago spoke up. "It was our fault." He shifted quietly as his contribution earned him a quick scowl from Monica. "We made her slip and left her in the forest as she was knocked unconscious." Nago admitted he also mouth sorry to Monica.
"And why… Nago? Did you leave her?"
"I-it was just a joke, we thought she would catch up and not go missing for a month." Druarni sighed at the boy's stupidity. You know Iwagakure is having issues with crime here.
"Yeah I found that out the hard way." Monica spoke coldly and showed off her scar down her left ear and neck.
"Well." Druarni continued. "You all may or may not know about the high-profile killings that have been occurring here recently. Nobles and ANBU and even a jonin from the Mist all fell victim to an attacker."
Monica turned away to face her teammates. "I was aware of a serial killer, but I never saw him." Monica lied as she kept her voice as level as possible.
"Well our informant and our late ally from the Mist has confirmed the killer had an accomplice." Druarni probed on. Monica shot up a look at her teammates who tried not to react but the subtle signals which Druarni picked up off Nago and Dentsu spoke volumes about Monica.
"I don't know what you're talking about?" Monica spoke, keeping her cool.
"You see, his accomplice had bright orange hair and utilised fire jitsu." Monica now looked dead ahead with dark grey eyes and slowly as she could she brought he hands together to form the first hand sign. Dentsu and Nago had the look of horror on their faces. The boys had worked out where Druarni was going with her question.
"Now don't get me wrong, as far as I know you're the only one I know here with orange hair. Also I saw your little stunt last night with Nago. A bright blue fireball struck him. I saw on my way out of the Tsuchikage's tower." Monica finished a second hand sigh, slowly so she did not attract attention.
"I already explained. Nago and Dentsu got a little too violent with eachother."
"I think you know what I am trying to say."
"I think you're wrong." Monica snapped coldly as she slowly completed the third hand sign.
Druarni smiled. "If you're right we will find out in a couple days. The pair of killers were sold out to us yesterday. If you aren't his accomplice, then we will find out when the pair of them strike."
Monica was stunned, she could not quite contemplate what she just heard. Fukushi would be walking into a trap. No, she had to remain calm, he can handle himself. She had to keep her end of the promise she made. She bit her lip with the tension as she brought the forth hand sign together. She begun to shake noticeably. Nago and Dentsu both looked like they wanted to admit something to the jonin but obviously were not willing to gamble on who would win the foreshadowed combat. If they warned Druarni about Monica and Monica won, they'd suffer for it no doubt. Druarni could tell Monica was lying by now, she made it so obvious to her and so she twitched her hands ready to cast her move on the orange haired girl.
"Monica I am arresting you on suspicion of deserting and murder." Monica finished her jitsu and a bright blue banner of chakra erupted from her hands. Druarni quickly blazed through her own jitsu. Monica grabbed the hilt of her wakizashi and with the speed that would have impressed any jonin she turned to face Druarni and struck her from right to left across her stomach. The cold blade effortlessly cut through the woman's jacket and caused her to clench her fists in pain and thus ruin her jitsu. Monica followed up by impaling the jonin on her sword. Monic pushed herself closer to the impaled woman and spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.
"You, will, not, get, in, my, way bitch! I'm going to help Fukushi and I won't let anyone stop me." Monica's words were cold. She then propped her boot onto the jonin's waist and pulled her wakizashi out of her chest. Monica stood up straight with her soaked weapon to her right and looked over her shoulder at the two teammates who feared for their lives. The woman had Druarni's blood covering her front and even a splattering over her face. Monica smiled.
"Damn and I liked this jacket, could you two do me a favour and bring me a change of clothes? Can't go around looking like this." Monica sounded as if she just had an accident and spilled something like tea or a sauce down her front. She threw her bedroom keys to Dentsu who flinched and dropped the keys to the floor. He stumbled and tried to pick them up off the floor. He fumbled around as he was too shaken to have good coordination. The two silently left at a pace, not fast enough to look suspicious but fast enough to comply to an order.
Twenty minutes or so Nago and Dentsu burst through Druarni's door to see Monica still coated in blood, of which it had now darkened and in some places cracked from becoming so dry. The orange-haired woman sat stretched out on the lounge with a few sake bottles from the raided drinks cabinet. See didn't acknowledge their entrance and stared darkly into space. Her once innocent grey eyes now coloured with dark feelings and intent. An intense look not softened by emotion, similar to the stare Fukushi glares at the world with. Her gaze instantly snaps to her teammates and with a voice unnaturally quiet and reserved she spoke to them.
"Oh? You're back? I'll be out in a few minutes, wait for me?"
Monica slowly got up and held her hands out to receive the new clothes and being careful to not let them touch the blood. Without a sound the two genin boys left the room and patiently wait for Monica to return. The two shinobi were either smart or dumb to comply to her every order but after what they've seen they had no doubt over the grim situation they found themselves in?
"Hey, Nago, do you think we'll make it out of this alive." Dentsu whispered without facing his friend.
"If we don't disturb her." Nago sighed quietly, obviously uncomfortable with Monica's unexpected reaction. "Why is she doing this?" a tear fell from Nago's eye as he almost caved but the click from the door behind made them both jump and Nago wiped his eyes before turning around to see Monica. She still had damp hair but at least not caked in blood anymore. She wore a slight smile and her eyes seemed human again. The orange-haired shinobi playfully pushed her teammates away who immediately flinched. After a short giggle at their reaction Monica smoke out.
"Come on let's see Shikamaru, they'll be waiting for us by now surely."
Monica skipped out and slowly closed the door, with a few hand seals her left hand burst into a sudden blue flame. She slowly pushed her fingers through the keyhole as the metal bubbled and hissed under the intense heat from the chakra. The lock mechanism had been welded shut and therefore utterly destroyed.