Serenity Angel: Hey readers! So if you didn't read the memo in the prologue, this is just a reminder that this is a re-written version of my story Never Too Late. Hope you liked the prologue and hope you'll like the first chapter, so without further ado… The new and improved first chapter of Never Too Late!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or its characters except Kaiyamei Hatake and others that will be introduced as the story goes on.
Enjoy!
Four Years Later
Normal P.O.V.
She looked at the majestic sight in front of her. Only a few more minutes till she reached the village. Her village. The home she left behind. It still felt like she never left, but time said otherwise. So did the memories that were etched into her mind. The reasons she ran away… Now looking back, the decision seemed almost pointless. Almost. She was a shinobi of the Leaf village. She had to stand up and take whatever was thrown at her. She only hoped that there was time to make up for what she did, and hoped that those she had left behind had forgiven her. She prayed it wasn't too late. She sighed at the thought, pulling her hood up and heading towards the gates of Konoha. Upon reaching the entrance, the guards that where at watch saw her and stood at the ready.
"Who are you? State your purpose for being here." One stated.
That voice. She remembered it from the old days. She stopped in front of the two shinobi and turned to the one that had spoken.
"So you finally made it huh?" She asked him. She lifted her head up enough so that he could see what hid underneath the hood and as soon as he saw her face, his eyes widened in shock.
"No way." He mumbled, unable to say anything else. The other guard, thinking there was trouble brewing, started yelling for reinforcements.
"New guy huh?" She asked sparing a sideways glance at the other guard.
He answered with a sheepish yes and then called off the order.
"Don't you dare follow that order! Let her through! She is of this village." He yelled to the shinobi that were starting to take action. They faltered, looking at each other before looking back at the gates. Some merely shrugged and they all went back to their posts. She smiled at him and went in the general direction of the gates. Before passing through however, she lowered her face and then turned to the second shinobi. He may not have known who she was and vice versa, but there was no way she was gonna let him get away without making up for the almost slaughter.
"Hey you. For almost causing trouble I need you to do something for me. Go tell old man Hokage that he's gonna have a visitor from the past." She said, her voice a couple of tenor's lower than usual. The other shinobi heard this voice and almost laughed, remembering when she would use it in the old days. The second shinobi looked at her, eyebrow raised and eyes narrowed, a sneer forming on his lips.
"And why should I?" he asked smugly. She wasn't even given the opportunity to answer, for the first shinobi had turned to him, nothing but anger on his face.
"Because she outranks you idiot. Now go deliver the message!" Answered the first, pointing toward the village.
The second shinobi left obviously hurt in pride and she turned to the first and smiled at him, although he couldn't see.
"I knew there was why you were one of my favorites. Always knew when to get serious. See ya around." She said doing a military salute wave-off.
She left the shinobi guard smiling as she walked into the village. She looked around almost faltering a step. It was as if nothing had changed with time. Pulling her hood down a little lower she made her way to the Hokage's office. She looked at the busy streets and store owners. Practically no one had changed either. They just got older. Even old Mr. Ichiraku's ramen stand was still going strong. She watched some young kids pass by and smiled, remembering when she and her friends didn't have a care in the world. She saw so many familiar faces that it was hard not to stop them and talk, yet there was that underlying feeling to go run and hide, but the feeling that dominated most was the one that wanted to talk to the Hokage first. It was her main priority for the day.
She started to walk faster in order to not get sidetracked again, taking a path similar to the one she used to leave- a fact that she didn't dwell on- and found herself there in practically no time at all. She made her way stealthily through the building, not taking the main entrance for she wanted to make sure that it would be the Hokage she saw and talked to first. It was all too easy and almost pissed her off that no one was around. There wasn't even a trap for his door... Still.
She sighed and walked into his office and seeing that he wasn't there yet, made herself comfortable. She pulled off her hood, taking off her cloak all together. She took her long, light-brown tinted white hair out of its messy bun and let it cascade around her, falling to a little below mid-back while plopping down on one of the random pillow seats that the Hokage kept in his office and waited, happy to get off of her feet after such a long journey. She let her gaze sweep the room, taking in everything and comparing it with her memories.
It was always like him to change almost nothing. The same desks and his favorite paintings still hung on the walls. Some new pictures graced the room with the old, making it the only change. She smiled, happy that so far things were the same, but the little voice in the back of her mind told her what she already knew: It wouldn't last.
Soon enough she picked up some chakra levels heading to the room. Voices began to waft from the hallway and as they got louder the door opened. In walked the third Hokage, closing the door behind him and permitting no one else to enter. Not noticing that she was there he went to the windows and opened the shades, letting the setting sunlight come in. He stood there looking out the windows, apparently lost in his own thoughts. She smirked even though it had a nervous edge to it, and decided to be nice when greeting him. After all, they hadn't seen each other in a really long time.
"Hello old man. Long time no see." She said jolting him out of his thoughts.
He turned and looked at her in the shadows of the room. She stood and walked towards him as he turned toward her fully. His face was devoid of any emotion as he stared at the girl, whose face held the same mask. She took a few more steps forward, bowed and then, at that moment, he smiled. When she was upright again, she ran and hugged the old man, not really having the ability to help her actions He embraced her back warmly, a short deep-throated laugh emitting from his lips.
"It has been a long time, Kaiyamei Hatake." He said.
"Humph. I thought I asked you to call me Kai! " She said pulling back and pouting though she was happy he was so easily accepting of her being there.
"Hah, yes you have. But it has been a while since then hasn't it?" he said tilting his head slightly.
"True Sarutobi, so very true." She said smirking. She was practically the only one that had the guts to call him something other than 'Hokage'. He narrowed his eyes at her but let out a snort, shaking his head a little.
"Well let me look at you child. You have grown much since I saw you last. How old are you now? If my memory still serves me, you should be about 12 or so correct?" He asked as she did a slow 360 for him.
"Yes old man, I am. It's only been four years." She said chuckling herself, despite the pang of guilt that flitted through.
"Ah true, but that is still too long child. Tell me, how have you been?" he said leading her toward his little sitting area.
They spent some time catching up on old memories and what either had missed during the absence in each other's life, though she was keen on editing some parts. Kai almost immediately felt that she had never left, that she was only trying to take a short break from her usual daily shinobi (well kunoichi) duties, like when she was younger. She had always liked speaking with the old man, who had treated her as equally as the adults and unlike the child she was like everyone else, even with her out-ranking most of them.
There was a quiet, peaceful lull in their conversation after a while, until the Hokage decided to break it.
"So Kai, what do you plan on doing now that you have returned home?" he asked taking a drag on his pipe.
She stayed quiet for a while, not looking at him and choosing the words to answer his question carefully. She truly had been thinking about what she should say; if she should come out with everything right then and there, but knew that was too much information at one time. When she had in mind what she wanted to say, she looked up at him with serious determination set on her face.
"I made a mistake in running away the first time. I won't do it again twice. I need to face whatever they throw at me, so I plan on staying. I didn't come back all this way just for a quick visit and to disappear again Sarutobi." She answered.
"Is that so?" he said and looked at her.
"Yes. That is so." She said absentmindedly playing with a lock of her hair. He was quiet for a while, letting what Kai said sink in. After a long moment of thoughtful silence, he looked at her and smiled.
"Then, if you don't mind, I think I may already have a job for you." He said, standing up from his chair and calling one of the shinobi into the room. He whispered something to him, letting the shinobi disappear from the room once he had made his request.
"You came home just at the right time. The new genin are going to meet their sensei tomorrow. Your job would be to help the new Genin with their designated sensei, teaching them a thing or two along the way as well." He said standing up.
"Really? You're serious?" she asked, shocked that she was being given a job to do already, especially one such as this. He nodded his head yes and she thought about it for a moment before reaching her answer.
"Yes of course I will!" She said and just as she had agreed, the shinobi came back with a few books in hand.
He gave them to the Hokage and whispered something in his ear. The Hokage nodded his head and dismissed the shinobi, beckoning Kai over to a table.
"These are the children that passed the academy this year. Remember only three teams will go on, but still I think you would want to know your potential new students..." He said passing the books over to her.
"Oh and if I were you, I would think that you are wondering about your rank… After all, being an ANBU of your high skill level isn't a position one can acquire easily, especially under your conditions..." He said turning toward the windows again.
She froze and looked up at the Hokage with a solemn expression on her face. He always had a hand at knowing his people. Plus, she didn't exactly leave under the best of situations that would put her in a good position right now. She swallowed the small lump in her throat as she waited for his judgment.
"…Due to the circumstances and the possible reasons that I think are behind your disappearance, the real ones I'm sure I will be told of soon, I believe we can say that you're not considered a rouge. You still have your rank. If you want, consider this job with the new Genins a means of making up for running away." He said looking back at her and smiling.
She returned a small smile, relieved. This man was a true saint! She vowed right then and there to work hard with these kids, making them some of the best to come out of the academy, if not the best generation the village had ever seen. She nodded to him in thanks, unable to voice it and then began to look at the books. She knew practically everyone in there, the faces having grown older. As more pages were turned, she began to see faces that showed up a lot in her memories.
"No way, Shikamaru, and Choji made it?" She asked looking at him. He nodded his head yes and she looked to the book again.
"Sakura. It figures she would. She was always a brainy kid. Ino. They were the best of friends growing up. Bet they still are." She said turning the page.
"Kiba and Akamaru, what a team there… Shino, He was always quiet. Definitely a potential shinobi though, even without his family background." She said turning to the next page and looked at it.
"No way! Hinata made it too? That's great! Hope she's not as shy as she used to be." Kai said grinning again, and then looked at the next name and her smile immediately vanished.
"Sasuke… I heard about the Uchiha tragedy. Not too long after I left… I can't believe it happened though. I may have not known Itachi all that well, but what he did… Sasuke must be so angry all the time." She with a sigh, shaking her head at her thoughts as she let her eyes linger on the page a little longer. She started skimming the pages after Sasuke's own, offering little pieces of information when she saw someone she knew. After a while her eyes stopped at the weirdest looking picture there. She read the name under it and the shock almost made her eyeballs pop out of their sockets.
"Naruto Uzumaki? Really? He made it? Yes!!! That's my Naruto!" She said jumping up and pumping her fist in the air.
"Only after failing two times... Well technically three... And even then Iruka gave him low scores. He's a trouble maker, that one. But he made it... Would you want to know how he passed?" the Hokage asked. She nodded her head yes and sat back down.
"Well you know Mizuki correct?" He asked and she nodded her head again.
"Naruto had not passed at first and Mizuki tricked the boy into getting the forbidden scroll for him. Iruka had gone after the boy and found him but so did Mizuki. Mizuki told Naruto the truth and tried to kill him. Iruka became involved as well and made Naruto run while he tried to battle Mizuki. One thing led to another and when Mizuki was about to kill Iruka, Naruto stepped in and saved him, using shadow clones… Or so I've heard…" He said taking another drag of his pipe, watching the expression on her face after saying the final statement which went from a hint of skepticism to confusion and slight bewilderment in seconds.
"Shadow clones? You mean the Jonin level ninjustu?" He nodded his head affirmatively.
"And when you said the truth you mean…" She said stopping short of finishing the statement and he just sighed.
"Yes… He knows that the nine-tailed fox is sealed inside of him." Her eyes widened slightly at this and she looked down at his picture in the book, and then turned to the Hokage.
"He was bound to find out anyway. You know that. It was inevitable. Especially with the way the villagers treat him." She said with seriousness on her face and a hint of anger in her voice. He sighed staying silent, almost expecting her reaction.
"True though it maybe Kai, I thought it would still be a while yet before he was to have learned the truth." He said after a short moment of silence, looking out the window.
"Nothing comes out the way we planned, now does it? I thought you of all people would now that old man." She said solemnly, letting the room grow quiet afterward.
The sun had set and dusk had came and past. It was well into the night and half the town was already asleep. It was calm and quiet, a rare occurrence in the Hokage's office. A knock broke that silence in the room. The Hokage gave the person permission to enter. She had turned her attention back to the books, until she heard the person's voice.
"You had wished to see-" She froze, looking up from the book. She turned to the door to see someone she hadn't seen in what felt like a lifetime, only to find that someone looking back at her, his eye wide with shock.
"Ah Kakashi, what kept you?" The Hokage said turning fully toward the man.
"A mission." He managed to blurt out. The Hokage looked from Kai to Kakashi then to Kai again.
"I believe you two have some catching up to do… Kaiyamei you are dismissed. You begin tomorrow morning at the academy." He said as she got up.
"Yes Hokage." She said with formality in her voice, bowing. She grabbed her belongings and walked out into the hallway, passing Kakashi by the door without looking at him. He was about to follower her, but the Hokage requested to have a word with him and he stayed behind.
She let herself lean on the wall opposite the Hokage's office door, letting herself think of her current situation. Of all the people for the Hokage to call on, he picks that man. There would either be Hell to pay, or a lot of explaining to do. She couldn't help but feel grateful though, letting out a small smile at the feeling. She couldn't bear the thought of him calling her…
The door suddenly opened a few seconds later, Kakashi walking out and closing the door behind him. He turned around toward her and without warning she practically jumped him, catching him off guard. He hugged her back all the same and could help but let a long overdue, relieved smile through his mask.
"Uncle Kakashi." She murmured, burying her head into his chest.
"Kai… Welcome back." He said hugging her tighter.
They stayed like that, saying nothing more, many an unspoken emotion thick in the air. They pulled back and looked at each other, Kai giving him a small smile before walking with him to the exit of the Hokage's building. A soft wind blew pass once they where outside and she smiled moving a lock of hair out of her face before silently falling into step with Kakashi. They didn't talk for a while, enjoying the fact of being in each others company. Plus it had been four years. What could that say after all that time? Could they let everything come out that very instant on the street? She hoped not. Hell, she was grateful that there wasn't the least bit of tension between the two of them right now.
She let the cool air from the night blow across her face again, letting her mind wander back to the past she wished she could forget. A past that had its roots set deep in her mind and had been the controlling factor for her decisions for a full four years. A past that, though she had decided to finally face, still haunted her and wanted her to make the decision to keep on running. After all this time it still hurt too damn much, the wounds still cut too deep into her soul. It was to be expected, naturally… but she had hoped that the pain would only be dull ache now after so long. The village she could handle with most of its occupants and all of its scorn, she knew that now, though she wished she knew that back then… But she hadn't really begun to think of facing her yet… She was far worse… Worse than the pain of the memories, worse the pain of loss, worse the pain of what she did…
"How bout sleeping at my place tonight? I don't think you'd want to bother your mother and sister at this time of the night." He said, bringing her out of her musings.
She nodded her head though her smile had faded a little. He let a beat of silence stretch between them.
"We'll talk tomorrow. I bet you're tired." He said pretending he didn't notice the falter in her smile.
"Yeah kind of." She answered almost in an absentminded manner.
He noticed this as well, but chose not to comment, and they walked in silence the rest of the way. They had reached his apartment in a matter of thirty minutes, the night quiet besides their soft footfalls. They walked up to the apartment quietly and quickly, making sure as to not disturb the other tenants and wanting to get inside as soon as possible now that they where there. Pulling out the key to the apartment, he opened the door and flipped the light switch on, illuminating the moderately sized living room.
It was the same as it had been four years ago and as spacious as ever for just one man to own. It was spotlessly clean, maybe even cleaner than before. A couch and sofa faced the T.V. and the window behind it. A few pictures hung here or there. The only thing different was that there were more books on the bookshelves as well as another picture or two. She could see the kitchen from where stood as well, all neat and orderly. She smiled at this, and the fact that her mind hadn't suppressed the memory of her second home.
"Welcome home… You remember where your room is right?" He said moving past her.
"You still kept it?" She asked, surprised and following him with her eyes.
They had made a room for her in Kakashi's apartment for the times that he would baby-sit or, as she got older, slept over when she wanted to, or when she couldn't make it home from weariness after a long mission. She had kind-of half expected him to turn it into that reading room he had always wanted; despite the fact she knew that he was lazy.
"Well you are my niece Kai…" He said looking back at her before heading toward the kitchen. She couldn't help but get the feeling that he was holding something back after that statement, but chose to stay quiet rather than ask that he say what he wanted.
"You hungry?" He asked heading toward the fridge and she thought about it for a moment.
"…No, I'm going to go to bed. We seem to both have a busy day tomorrow. Good night Uncle Kakashi." She said hitching her pack higher on her shoulder and heading down a hallway.
"Good night Kai." he said smiling, or at least she thought so from what she could tell from his one-eyed expression.
She headed down the hallway and stopped in front of a door that still had her name written on it in that neat spidery scrawl, though the paint at faded a little with time. She took one breath with her eyes closed before opening it, flipping on a light switch and closing the door behind her. She opened her eyes to see that everything was practically the same. The same sea blue color that happened to be her favorite, with little flower decals still posted to the walls. There was still that one corner filled with stuffed animals, pillows and toys from the old days. She could bet that if she opened her closet and drawers, her clothes were still there too.
The only thing was that the bed had gotten bigger. She guessed that he had changed it while she was away, and maybe, on his part, hoped that she would come back one day… She bit her lip to quell the rush of emotion at the thought that someone was still expecting her to come home, thinking back to what he had stopped himself from saying... The fact that somebody had missed her. Well she was back and she wasn't going away again. No more would the past rule how she lived. What kind of kunochi was she? A true shinobi would stand their ground, no matter what was thrown at them and go down fighting. She had fought hard to get where she was, to become what she was by her own standards and no one else's, to be as strong as and respected as she was, only to run when the going got tough?
She yawned suddenly in her musings, the journey finally getting to her. She shook her head, deciding to deal with her self issues later, much, much later. She changed into shorts and a tank quickly and slowly sank into the bed.
A real bed.
How long had had it been she had gotten to experience this? Obviously way too long. She had expected to stay up a little while longer, with all the thoughts still buzzing around in her head. To her surprise she fell asleep within minutes, feeling more at home than she had in years.
'~To Be Continued~'
A/N: Well that's the first chapter rewritten. Tell me what you think please!