AN: Hmmm. How to put this…?
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Ok, now that's out of my system, I just wanted to say: this chapter was annoying to write because I kept having to re-revise the character's interactions to make them part way believable. Ugh! A Total nightmare!
Please let me know if you think that any particular character is acting OOC and why you feel that way.
Also, this chapter was actually split in two since it was so bloody long, (at least 14k words.)
I WILL POST THE NEXT PART OF THIS CHPATER AFTER AT LEAST FIVE REVIEWS! I really need some feedback since I am so... for lack of better words, 'thrown for a loop' by this section, since I might need to reedit this section... Again. *Sobs* Hopefully it will be alright. ^_^
I would also like to thank you for reading this far! Special thank to patty mayonnaise, Dame Lee Lee, myharlequinromance321, Dchan3, Be-Mindful, Happy, rotten daydreams, Strife666, BP, M, and anyone else I might have missed when looking through all those wonderful reviews!
Warnings: Foul Adult language.
Needless to say when Samira gets mad, she has a potty mouth and tends to sound like a russian sailor that ended up in a penitentiary for two years before become a Yakuza lord... yes she goes Orrrrra! And rolls her r's like a Japanese mobster when she's mad.
...And needless to say her language could be a bad influence on Naruto. Hopefully not.
Anyways, please enjoy, and tell me what you think!
Last time on Unlikely Love...
"To put it bluntly Samira-san, your people are very very useful when it comes to a lot of things, especially when it comes to being a ninja. Some make exceptional ninja when they have the right mentality for it, which is rare. Because of the lack of chakra in your world, your people are stronger physically than ours in several different ways. Your bone mass will be denser, as well as your muscle tone. If exposed, you will barely be affected by most toxins and venom's from this world." Samira's eyes went wide with shock.
"Immune to venom and toxins? Why? How?" she asked, her surprise clear on her face. Shikaku chuckled as he interlaced his finger as he leaned forward to place his elbows on the table.
"What do you have in your world that we do not?" he asked. She blinked before scowling at him.
"A lot. Could you be more specific." Shikaku hummed in thought.
"It poisons the very air you breath." he said. Samira's eyebrow rose in surprise.
"Oh. You mean mass pollution? Well, yeah, that's pretty bad, but that doesn't mean that I should be immune to venom though since those are natural agents that come from animals. Perhaps some low poisons, yes, but not venom." She said with a careless wave of her hand. Shikaku hummed in thought. It was silent fo a minute as he thought. Finally he spoke.
"Samira-san?"
"Yes?"
"Why do you think that we have never tried to cross through the lake that links your world to ours?" he asked as Samira started in shock. The idea of these jutsu wielding ninja invading her home filled her mind leaving her with mental whiplash.
"Y-you what?" she cried.
"We could not survive in your world." he put bluntly as he grimaced 's eyes widened in surprise again and she found herself calming.
"As lightly as you take your home world, a lot of the natural poisons and toxins found in the air and water and earth from your world are actually very potent compared to the toxins from this world. In comparison, there is no competition." Samira frowned before nodding slowly. It made sense. there wasn't anything as potent in this world that could compare to anything she had already been exposed to, meaning that there would hardly be anything that would harm her much.
"I see," she murmured, frowning in thought.
"The same might be said for the alcohol from your world as well. In fact, you will probably have a high alcohol tolerance as well as tolerance to drugs in general. It seems your people are fond of medications." Samira scoffed in irritation at the implications Shikaku was suggesting .
"Oh please. The most I take are pain killers." she said.
"And those pain killers that you take are potent enough to send any one of my ninja into cardiac arrest," said the Hokage making Samira blanch slightly.
"Well, on top of that, you are sensitive to chakra which is an excellent skill. Sensor ninja are in great demand at all times."
"Ninja?" Samira asked hesitantly. They kept bringing up the topic of ninja and she was starting to wonder what they where hinting at.
"Yes. Here in this world, out main solider forces are ninja and Samurai, though the great elemental nations power resides in the power of their hidden villages and their Daimyo." Samira hummed in thought.
"So the more powerful ninja in the village, the better?" she asked quietly, starting to understand what Shikaku was probably hinting at.
"Yes. Strictly speaking, can you imagine the kind of soldiers that could be produced if somehow someone figured out a way to extend the lives of your people? You all are very useful, one way or another." he said as Inoichi shot the man an exasperated look, clearly frustrated with the way that Shikaku was handling the situation. Samira's eyes had gone wide with the implications of what he was saying. It sounded like every village was in competition, but the way he was mentioning soldiers and usefulness... it didn't make it sound like people from the lake would be having much of a choice.
Inoichi opened his mouth to speak in hopes of diffusing the situation before he was cut off by Naruto leaping to his feet, the boy's chair falling in his haste as he pointed a finger threateningly at Shikaku.
"Hey! Don't think that I'm just going to let you talk about Samira-chan or her people like that 'ttebayo! They are people too! You can't go around talking about them like they don't have a choice as to whats going to happen to them or not!" yelled the boy indignantly.
"You are right Naruto. They are people, but there are those in this village and in other villages that would not care whether they are forcing these people into servitude or not, and while I may be the Hokage, there is only so much that I can do to protect Samira-san," he said to Naruto before turning to face the young woman, "which is why you need a solid cover, Samira-san. The secret of Samira-san's origins if of the highest level, do you understand?" asked the old man as his serious gaze held Naruto and Samira's own. The boy nodded vehemently as as the young woman nodded stiffly, clearly still reeling from what she had learned. I get it now. That's Why the traitor took those people. They where taken from the base to be used as tools by that person, that traitor.She understood now why the men hadn't wanted to talk about it. It sure sounded like this person was intimate with information regarding the base.
"Don't worry! I'll keep my mouth shut, 'ttebayo!" swore the blond vehemently as Samira continued to look at the table in a daze, mind still churning through her thoughts. Life just had to go and get complicated for her didn't it? She sighed in exasperation as she scrubbed her face in her hands, feeling stressed.
"And speaking of cover stories," Said Shikaku causing Samira to look up to meet his dark amused gaze, "We need to make you one, which is why I'm here." With that he pulled out a scroll and Samira had to fight back a groan. This day just kept getting better and better.
Could it get any worse?
There was a knock at the door that Kakashi quickly opened and the answer to her question stepped into the room, all six foot four inches of it, his dark trench coat the same as she remembered it, bandanna and scars all in place. Morino Ibiki's eyes widened in shock as he entered the room before a menacing grin slid over his lips.
Yes, yes it could.
Ch. 7
Enter, the Bear
"Well well well, lookie here. I think I recall leaving you at a hospital and telling you to stay. Maybe I didn't make myself clear enough," rumbled the looming man as he took a step forward, his height blocking out the ceiling light even though he had barely entered the room. His eyes where locked with Samira's, who's eyes had narrowed to slits, her expression deadly. Naruto immediately bristled as he got up intending to leap between Samira and the hulking man. Samira however blocked his way, instead standing so that she could glare at the looming man who had drawn even closer, now standing in arms length as he smiled sadistically down at her.
"Well, you know me. Can't seem to stay in one place too long, jumping from one place to another," she said, her tone sarcastic before she smirked, looking distinctly smug about something. She had just realized that she knew what Ibiki kept stored in that coat of his, since she had explored the one that she had stolen while at the hospital. He however had no idea what she was thinking about and Ibiki's head tilted in wonder as his grin widened.
"You can speak our language now?" he asked before giving a low whistle, impressed. "Well damn, that was fast. Hey, you scramble her brains yet Inoichi?" Inoichi grimaced, but thankfully Samira's attention was focused solely on the scarred man standing before her. And more specifically, his jacket. She remembered what was in which pocket...
"You know... its rude to stare," Ibiki said with a chuckled eyes darkly amused as he returned his gaze to the silent woman who was watching him like a hawk. She merely raised an incredulous eyebrow before bursting into laughter. Oh the irony, thought Samira as she continued to cackle. Ibiki could feel his amusement start to fade into annoyance as she continued to laugh heartily at him.
"Something funny?" he growled menacingly as he leaned down trying to intimidate her into submission by throwing his superior height and weight around.
"Ibiki," the Hokage snapped as he twisted to look at the hulking man over his shoulder, effectively making the hulking man straighten, Ibiki's face going unreadable. It was clear form the old man's tone and expression that he was most displeased.
"Sir?" Ibiki asked, the mirth no longer seen in his eyes.
"Stop antagonizing her. You already created enough of a mess for us," said the village leader, tone still displeased before he turned back around to take another puff of his pipe. As soon as the village leader's back was turned, Ibiki's smirk was back in place as he shot Samira a look, the young woman's amethyst eyes still boring into him. His smirk widened though his voice still sounded professional as he began to speak to Samira.
"Very well Sir. I must say young lady that you are very fortunate the Hokage here has decided to-"
"CRUNCH" the room froze at the sound before turning towards the source to find that Samira's foot was firmly planted in Ibiki's balls. All the men in the room flinched in shock as a high pitched wheeze came from Ibiki. She yanked her foot free and he began to tip over slowly, still wheezing as his tan skin turned pale. Crashing into the wall he slid to the floor and drew a strained breath before curling into himself at the pain, broken moans breaking past his lips. He could barely see though bleary eyes but he could still see the sympathetic looks that all the other men where sending him as he groaned in agony on the ground.
Naruto winced as his hands came up to cup his boyhood protectively before sending Samira a frightened look. She was still smirking over the downed man that was groaning on the ground.
"S-samira-chan?" he asked hesitantly, making her blink out of her thoughts and send him a questioning look.
"Remind me never to make you mad," he finished. She blinked in surprised before giving a laugh as she bound over to hug him.
"Oh silly boy, don't worry about me doing that to you. I want you to have kids one day so that I can spoil them rotten and then their auntie will tell them stories about their daddy when he was a kid just like them," she said with giggle as Naruto stiffened in surprise before melting into her hug. Was she really planning on hanging around him that long?! And had she just said auntie? But he didn't have any siblings... if that was what she meant, then wouldn't that make her his sister? Did she really consider him to be family already? The hope made his chest tighten excitedly.
Inoichi, Shikaku and the Hokage however where not amused as they watched the young woman warily like a dangerous beast. From the force of that kick, Ibiki would be lucky to be able to walk straight anytime soon. They had all winced collectively when they had realized what had happened to him. Ibiki on the other hand was seething as he struggled to recover.
"Y-you fucking bitch!" He spat as he raised burning black eyes to glare at her. His voice was comically high, but this didn't keep his words from angering her. She immediately scowled as she made her way to stoop in front of him, her face almost level with his as she glared back.
"You talking to me, dip shit?" she snapped her tone dangerous. His lips curled in anger.
"You fucking bitch, you think that-!" he was cut off as she grabbed his nose painfully tight before yanking it too and fro, as she tutted at him, his face being forced to follow his nose's movements.
"You are a Fucking. Ass. Whole." she bit out with a growl as she shook his nose. He snarl but he couldn't pull his increasingly abused nose away.
"You treated me like shit and terrorized me when I was already going through chaos and hell, so you are going to shut the fuck up and drop it or so help me..." she trailed off threateningly. He stopped struggling for a moment before suddenly yanking his nose free. She tried to draw her hand back but he was faster as he bit down hard on the fingers that had been holding his nose hostage. She yelped in pain before hissing as she ripped some of his nose hairs out making him cry out in pain, releasing her fingers as his eyes began to tear up.
"Fuck," they both growled at the same time. They paused before shooting each other heavy scowls as Shikaku and Inoichi traded amused glances. This kind of reminded them of that time when...
"Ahem," the Hokage cleared his throat pointedly making the occupants of the room return their attention once more to the subject at hand. "Ibiki, I called you here for a reason," the village leader reminded as the tall man scowled before gingerly climbing to his feet.
"Yes sir," he said as his voice cracked, still abnormally high but starting to return to normal. The Hokage regarded him for a moment and the young woman that was currently glaring at Ibiki before heaving a sigh. Ibiki's nose was starting to bleed from where the hairs had been ripped out and the two of them had teary eyes in reaction to the pain that they had received.
"I was going to have you do the official mind read for Samira-san when she returned to Konoha but... I believe that this plan will no longer be feasible. To explain your... obvious animosity towards one another, Ibiki, you will do something during the mental examination that is not considered acceptable and will be enough to warrant some anger from Samira-san. Ibiki, make sure you do it where a proctor or inspector can see it. Do not go to far in provoking her. I will then have Inoichi take your place in leading the exam since Ibiki will be considered compromised..." he murmured before heaving another sigh, this one sounding more tired. Samira felt a little guilt gnaw at her for causing the old man strain before Ibiki's grinning mug caught her attention and she shot him a glare.
"Yes, Hokage-sama. I will think up something interesting in the mean time." said the hulk of a man. The Hokage nodded.
"Very well. Then you are dismissed if you have other duties to attend to. If you do not... there is an ice pack in the fridge and a couch in the other room. It would not do for you to be waddling around the village in pain. Someone might think that something is unusual and we don't want any independent investigations." said the older man. Ibiki nodded.
"Understood." with that he began to waddle into the kitchen area wincing as he walked, making all the other males send him sympathetic looks.
"Alright," said Shikaku as he re-broke the settling silence with a click of him uncorking his ink bottle. Samira shot him an odd look as he set up his writing utensils before looking up to meet her confused gaze, "Time to get to work on your cover story." She immediately grimaced. She did NOT want to talk about this. She entirely missed the way Inoichi shot her a sympathetic look as she shifted uneasily in place.
...
Growing up, Samira was a bit sheltered as well as isolated. She knew this. She didn't hang out with anyone except for her parents, (Beth and Dmitri Cloud,) or adults except for when she was in school, and she only saw her cousins in passing. She never wandered anywhere unattended and if she strayed or tried to go off on her own, she was gravely punished for such risky behavior. After all, a pedophile had tried to lure her away when she was about two or three years old. A family friend 'took care' of the situation, but that is a story for another time.
Anyways, she had a protective mother who was constantly watching out for her. She could argue that the woman was controlling and a micromanager but she was too confused on whether she should see her in that light or in a better one. Her father... well, he hadn't wanted to be a father but her mother had gotten pregnant two years into their marriage and there was no way he could make her get rid of the baby. It showed though her childhood and she could remember the verbal fights that she would get in with her father that would end with her mother coming to side with her or take the blame for whatever brought Dmitri's ire this time. Needless to say, he didn't like her very much and made a point of letting her know this in the earlier years of her life since he felt that she was spoiled by her mother's over protectiveness. When she got older, she and her father where able to act more civil towards one another. in fact things were going just great until that fateful crash.
However, the thing that probably made Samira's childhood the most difficult was how manipulative her family as a whole was. Her mother, her father, even her grandfather and grandmother. Her father's side of the family had nothing to do with her till she got older and useful. Needless to say, she never talked to them. It's not easy growing up in a family that is so bent on one-upping the other. It really hardened her heart to apathy or being understanding or trying to give others the benefit of the doubt after seeing these people back stab each other and lie and manipulate one another. Samira remembered how they would use a person's love for another against them, or pretend to be hurt or sick when in reality they were just trying to gain the upper hand in the situation. She hated it. And one of the worst parts of it was...
...She didn't even realize the extent of what was happening till she got older, well into her mid to late teens. To have her illusions shattered… It was crushing. She couldn't help but wonder if they ever really loved her at all when she realized that they could have been happier if better choices were made. If her mother hadn't done some of the foolish things she had done. If her father had actually been sincere when asking her mother to marry him, and wanted a family. If her grandfather hadn't all but brainwashed her mother to be dependent on others. If they had all been a little wiser, and kinder and if they all loved a little more and cut back a little on their political ambitions that made up their family.
Yes. They would have had years together; years full of good memories and good times instead of the pain and anger that filled those years. And that was what Samira the saddest. It was what made her weep her grief. She would sometimes weep for the family she could have had, but never would. But then again, there really wasn't much of a shot for the Cloud family to have a peaceful life full of happiness together, from the start. There was just too many variables that pointed to how this situation was going to end; explosively. And it did end, leaving something behind.
The yield was Samira, tight lipped Samira who didn't feel like going into detail about her past, who didn't want anyone's pity, who didn't want anyone to know her hardships. Sure, she smiled, she acted tough and she knew she could be a bit of a bitch when she got angry, but like Naruto, Samira has been keeping up a mask of cheerfulness. For years. All throughout school. It was actually partially because of school that Samira kept up this mask of hers so religiously and she was deathly ashamed of them, of her mother's brash out outspokenness, of both her parent's 'regular' drinking habits, of the foul language used at home, and the fact that her father hadn't wanted kids.
Compared to some households, things were not as bad as they could have been. She may have been verbally abused often in her late teens, smacked about two times, gotten into a physical fight with her mother once but this was all when things where becoming explosive, towards the end. No, things where not bad enough that she couldn't handle it, but that didn't meant that she felt like talking about it.
But Shikaku was asking her to delve into that time in her life. He wasn't just asking about the basics of events. He wanted to know all about her family. He was asking about how they interacted with one another. Her childhood friends. Home life. School. And she found herself not wanting to talk about it. At all. Because that was in the past, it wasn't pretty and she didn't want judgment or anyone's pity. And like an itch, a small fear that still haunted her through her childhood began to creep forth.
Sure there was no such thing as an ideal family, she had learned as she got older, but... what if they looked down on her for her upbringing? For the sins of her parents that she would have to bring up if she was talking about her past? About her own cowardice and passiveness when she might have been able to do something to make the situation better instead of cause more trouble...
If only she had been better. Sometimes she wished she had her wisdom as a child so that things hadn't ended up quite as they had. If she hadn't insisted that her parents had stayed together... then they probably would have been a lot happier. They wouldn't have gotten in that car wreak. they wouldn't have become alcoholics to just deal with having to be around each other...
These memories... that pain... this foolishness and stupidity... it was what shaped her childhood and so much of her life. It was shaped their deaths, and she couldn't help but wonder as her gaze lifted once more to meet Shikaku's dark eyes:
What was Naruto going to think of her after this?
30 minutes later...
Name: Samira Cloud
Location origin: United States of America
Age:22
Gender: Female
Height: 5 feet 6 inches
Weight: 124 lbs
Education Level- Bachelors degree
Family-
-Mother: Beth Cloud -deceased-
-Father: Dmitri Cloud -deceased-
-cousin: Andres Cloud -deceased-
-grandfather: Arnold Roost -deceased-
-grandmother: Emma Roost -deceased-
Background-
Samira Cloud: Born in the spring to Bethany and Dmitri Cloud. Grandfather and Grandmother Roost did not approve of daughter's choice in husband (a foreigner) or the child but came to Samira's birth anyways. Partially mended their previously strained relations. Seven months later, after a disastrous visit to Russia, Bethany and Dmitri would divorces and the mother would take custody of child. The mother remarried the next year and would separate from new husband a year later due to undisclosed information regarding her new husband ( He lied about something(?) Subject matter unknown.) Child would be around age two. Her mother would then return to Roost family and travel through the southern United States for the next two and a half years. A year later, she would remarry Dmitri and Samira would start school. Would change school often all throughout school career before finally graduating high school and going on to complete college. At around age fifteen/sixteen, her mother was killed in a car accident and her father put in a coma. She would leave her hometown to live with her Grandfather and Grandmother on her mother's side (Roost.) Best friend crashed into Lake a month previous to Samira and was reported most likely dead after being unable to recover body. A month later, Samira crashes into Lake and enters the ninja world.
Shikaku frowned as he looked over everything that was on his writing tablet before sighing in frustration. Despite the fact that Samira had been speaking about her past, she was still exceedingly vague over... well, everything! She would give him basics of the situation, what happened, who was involved, and a few more minor details but she wasn't really telling these stories of her past like he needed her too... she was just giving him a brief over view of what happened before rapidly moving along.
Inoichi sighed as he looked at the mostly blank tablet and the stiff young woman sitting in front of an increasingly impatient and frustrated Shikaku. Inoichi knew mostly why she didn't want to speak, and was hesitant to shatter what little bit of privacy Samira thought she had. He was afraid she would have a violent reaction... After all, finding out that someone want snooping through your memories while you were asleep and saw EVERYTHING that you wished to keep private tended to make people VERY angry VERY fast. He winced thinking about what had happened to Ibiki. She was abnormally fast for a civilian and he had felt her chakra flare before she had struck Ibiki. A chakra enhanced kick to the groin wasn't what he wanted today. Besides she was still a bit fragile dealing with all this new information and her new living situation. Too much too fast would overwhelm her.
They where currently sitting in silence as Shikaku continue to stare at his barely filled in scroll with increased agitation.
"And that's all?" the shadow user finally demanded, a bit incredulous at how little she had told him and the fact that she didn't seem like she wanted to expand on anything. Her lips tightened and she shot the man an annoyed look but didn't comment as Shikaku sighed in irritation and rubbed his eyes wearily.
Bloody hell, this was going to have to be the first time he thought of asking a woman to talk more about themselves, but he would have to just to get a feel for what her cover should be.
"Could you please expand more?" he asked with a sigh. Samira pursed her lips as she crossed her arms over her chest defensively.
"About?" she hedged.
"Everything! You barely gave me anything to work with," grumbled Shikaku.
"Isn't that enough?" she asked as she gave a dainty sniff, clearly not budging. Shikaku started to glare.
"No. It's not. For your cover to be believable I need to hear from you what your past was like so I can craft a past that's as identical as possible so that you are less likely to have a slip up since the basics will be the same." He said sharply dark eyes boring into hers. Samira cringed but otherwise remained quiet.
"What's the matter princess? Cat got your tongue?" Ibiki taunted from a chair that was at the edge of the living room so that he could still see into the kitchen and dining area.
"Hey! Shut the hell up and leave Samira-chan alone scar face with the big jacket!" Naruto yelled as he entered the living room in time to catch the comment from the head of T and I. Ibiki scowled.
"What did you say kid?! Want to say that again?" he snapped as Naruto's eyes narrowed and the boy grit his teeth.
"I'm not afraid of some freak who thinks wearing a trench coat is going to make him look cool! You leave Samira-chan alone or you'll have to deal with me, 'ttebayo!" yelled the boy as he pointed a finger threateningly at the 'freak in the trench coat.'
"Watch it squirt, or else this freak is going to crush you," Snapped Ibiki. Naruto smirked smugly.
"Like Samira crushed your balls?" Ibiki growled as he began to get up. Shikaku sighed in exasperation as Inoichi shook his head. To think that Ibiki would rise to a kid's taunting. Kakashi however decided to put down his boring grey novel for a moment to intervene.
"Ma, ma, no need to get so worked up, Ibiki-san. Naruto, why don't you go help Samira-chan with her profile, hmm?" Naruto paused before turning to send Samira a questioning look as he moved to her side before sitting beside her as Kakashi placated Ibiki.
"Hey are you making your profile?" he demanded with interest as the two other men argued. She blinked, before she nodded hesitantly.
"Uh, yeah..."
"Great! I'll help! Don't worry, this won't take any time at all 'ttebayo!" he said confidently as he took the scroll so he could look over what Shikaku had written so far. He frowned as he came to the background section.
"Ne, Samira-chan, this part is empty," he said as he shot her a curious look. She looked at him hesitantly not sure what to say to that. It wasn't that empty...
There was at least a paragraph there.
"...I guess… Sort of?" she said slowly, uncertain, her eyes cautious. The boy pursed his lips for a moment as he hummed in thought.
"But what about your family Samira-chan? Didn't you tell me that you used to have a lot of cats? What about your home? The one by that lake? Oh and that your best friend-" "Is dead." She said, cutting him off. Naruto blinked as he realized that she wasn't looking at him. He sat forward slightly to see her eyes better and in them, he could see the pain and sorrow. Wait, now that I think about it... Naruto looked down at Samira's profile again, his eyes pausing when he came across the section that mentions family. He swallowed hard. Whenever she had talked about anyone, which was rare, it had always been in the past tense and he hadn't thought to ask her about it till now. Deceased, deceased, deceased… It seemed that she was alone, like him.
"Samira-chan?" he asked hesitantly, his own thoughts roving to his own past. How long had she been an orphan? She was twenty two so it couldn't have been long unless… she had never had parents. No, he remembered her telling him about her mother and father in passing so that couldn't have been it. She turned to look at him her face blank, eyes flat. They stared at each other for a moment as time seemed to stand still.
Naruto suddenly threw his arms around her as he sudden leapt at her. Samira yelped as the two of them where thrown off balance and tumbled to the floor.
"Naruto, what-"
"I'm sorry." Whispered the boy as he clung to her, hiding his face in her chest. She continued to stare at him in confusion as she carefully wrapped her arms around him. After a moment the boy looked up, his eyes brimming with tears.
"I'm sorry. I-it was pretty tough, wasn't it?" he whispered, referring to her past. Her face twisted as her lower lip trembled slightly. She cleared her throat and rapidly blinked the tear away before they could gather.
"Naruto, I don't like talking about it because there is just so much that I don't want to talk about. I don't want to be judged by anyone for my life." She murmured as she raised them to where they were both sitting.
"Judge you?" Naruto parroted uncertainly. The woman held back a flinch but the boy caught it.
"Hey, Hey, I would never judge you Samira-chan!" he said as he scrambled to stand in front of her sitting form, his hands on her shoulders as he gazed at her seriously, trying to reassure her. "No matter what, you'll always be Samira-can! That won't change, and I know that you're a good person, so it's ok." Said Naruto earnestly as he took her hands in his.
"But that's not the only reason Naruto," she murmured as the boy's face twisted in confusion. After a moment she sighed before elaborating.
"I don't want... I'm afraid that I get started... I will end up drowning in my feelings, and I'm not comfortable sharing that with strangers," she paused as she grimaced, her gaze flashing to Shikaku. Naruto's eyes widened and he swallowed, his grip on her hands tightening slightly.
"Samira-chan." he whispered, his face grave with concern. She deflated slightly as her grim expression broke away, showing her worry for the suddenly gloomy little boy.
"Hey! It's alright! I'm fine. I have been for a long time now and things are good. I just don't like dwelling on the past," she murmured as she ran her fingers through his hair comfortingly. She didn't want to upset him. A second later Naruto had enveloped her in a crushing hug. He had seen the concern for him in her eyes and he found his heart swelling with warmth as happiness bubbled up in his chest. She really was a kind person, and he really hoped that she would stay his Nee-chan forever, until he had kids and she could tell them stories about their father and tease him.
"Don't worry Samira-chan." he whispered as he continued to hold onto her, his grip fierce and comforting, "I think that you're one of the strongest ladies I know! And it may be a bit hard, but I know that you can do it! You've face hardship before, so facing this profile will be no sweat. And Shikaku-san is cool. He will understand if you start getting mad or upset or something, and if he doesn't get it, Inoichi-san will." he said, his voice determined at the end. Samira blinked while trying to understand his words.
"Really?" she asked quietly. Naruto nodded confidently, blue eyes blazing.
"Yup! And you know what? I bet these guys will admire you after hearing about your past!" he said with a mischievous wink before starting to snicker. As he had expected, Samira's cheek lit up in embarrassment at the thought. He knew how bashful she could be at times and this would be the perfect way to lighten the mood.
"Yeah, I definitely don't want to talk about it now," she said jokingly as Naruto groaned in disappointment.
"Aw, Samira-chan! No fair! I wanted to hear about you when you were a kid too!" Samira-chuckled as she ruffled his hair.
"Well, I could tell you a couple of stories. But that's all!" she said, still a bit prickly towards the subject, but Inoichi could feel his smile growing. It was a step, towards their goal, but a solid step, that much was certain. But first, they where going to have to move this to the living room. it would be easier for everyone to hear what she had to say that way.
A good ten minutes later the two of them where outright laughing over some of the funny thing that she had gotten up to in her childhood and teens.
"You where a goofball when you were a kid, weren't you?" Kakashi teased as Samira snickered eyes sparkling.
"Oh you bet! And completely awkward when it came to being social. Needless to say, I did not click with my age group till around high school." She said with a chuckle.
"Whaaaat? But you're so cool Samira-chan!" whined Naruto as she rolled her eyes at his exaggerated speaking.
"Yeah yeah, flattery will get you nowhere with me kiddo," she said as she mussed up his hair. He pouted.
"Aw come on. This is supposed to be about your profile Samira-chan! You've got to get it done sometime," he groaned. She scowled at the floor for a moment as her mind churned. The boy had a point, she was going to have to face the music at some point and there was no telling how long this could take. After telling those few stories she had started to warm up to the idea, but still...
No. She wanted to stay here with Naruto. She wanted to be here with him and get to know this village as a citizen. If she was going to do that however, she was going to have to get this done.
"Fine." She said, making them pause and look at her at her serious tone. Naruto's eyes widened as he scrambled into a sitting position instead of lounging on the floor.
"R-really?" he gasped. Samira immediately scowled.
"Yes. Really."
"Wow."
"Yeah."
"Your father was a real prick when you where little." Kakashi noted. Samira snorted.
"That's an understatement. But I was an annoying little shit that he didn't want back then too so I can't really blame him too much for it."
"Hn." He hummed thoughtfully.
"Your relationship with your mother was… complicated." Kakashi stated carefully with a grimace.
"Fuck, how many more understatements are you going to make over this?!" Samira groaned as she slap a palm to her face, leaving a red mark.
"Sorry, sorry. Geez. Sensitive much?" Grumbled Kakashi as he pulled out the grey book that he had been reading.
"Yes, I am! Very much, thank you." Muttered the young woman.
"You weren't joking when you said that you would end up crying and ranting over this, where you?" Ibiki said, sounding a bit grumpy. Samira gave a harsh bark of a laugh, the bitterness in it almost palpable.
"You know, when people say they don't want to talk about something, its usually for a good reason. Maa, I could go for some alcohol," she said with a sigh.
"I second that," Said Shikaku dryly as Ibiki nodded.
"I'm in." he said before the sound of a growling stomach cut through the tense silence in the living room. Everyone turned to look at Ibiki who blinked in surprise before he scowled, his cheeks flushing in embarrassment as his stomach growled again. Most chuckled quietly as Ibiki sent his comrades a glare.
"Well, I was feeling a bit peckish myself. Why don't we grab a quick bite to eat first before we hit up the bar, ne?" asked Kakashi as his eye crinkled shut in a smile.
"We can't all be seen together since it would seem a bit odd. How are we going to disguise ourselves?" Asked Samira as she stood, looking curious. Inoichi grunted as he fished a scroll out of the jacket that he had left by the door before opening it and unsealing a wig and a contact lense case.
"You, are going to have to use these."
"What about you?" With a smirk Inoichi put his hands in a familiar hand sign and there was a poof of smoke. In his place was a nondescript Konoha ninja around is height and with his body type.
"Don't worry about that. Just get you own disguise on."
...
Shikaku sighed looking over his notes in the light of the lamps in his study. It might have taken a while, but he had enough information on Samira Cloud now to be able to craft a permanent cover for her, from childhood friends to pets and locations. He just needed to research areas that would be hard to check for validity. Thankfully for him, her first five or so years of life where spent traveling with her mother and grandparents, through the southern United States. He would make sure to have Jiraiya take her to some areas so she could familiarize herself with them enough.
Shikaku paused a moment to think about how the toad Sannin would react when he found out what they were about to ask of him...
Needless to say, Shikaku laughed without humor before breaking out the saké bottle at the sudden amount of stress he was feeling. Yup, definitely not a good reaction... Oh boy, he better get to work on her cover. He shook his head after taking a big swig of the alcohol to calm his nerves before settling down at his desk so he could get to work. He was going to be for a long night.
...
Naruto sat out on the roof as he looked up at the stars, thinking on what Samira-chan had told him and the others regarding her past. She had seen a lot and done a lot in her twenty two years... she had been through a lot too... he frowned his eyes sliding shut as he recalled what she had said about her first and only kill.
Flashback
"I wish it hadn't happened but... he made a choice, and that choice led him to the end of his road, me. And when it came down to it, I chose my life over his. I would do it again too. I have no regrets over my actions. If I do regret something, it's that he didn't choose a different path."
Flashback ends
He sighed, knowing that one day as a ninja he was going to have to do the same, just like Samira-chan. He would face it then, when the day comes... but until then… he closed his eyes tiredly.
...
Samira sighed as she wandered up onto the roof, the dark making only mildly difficult to find the missing boy. He was breathing softly from where he lay stretched out, asleep, the quiet buzz of the night life a light hum in the distance. Samira tilted her head back to gaze up at the stars for a minute, just enjoying their beauty. Should she just let him sleep out here? She shivered as a gust of the cool air hit her and she swiftly made her way over so she could heft the boy into her arms with a grunt. No, it was too cold, and it was time for bed. He hadn't brushed his teeth or gotten ready for bed but he must have been tired so she was just going to let him rest for now. After all, today had been a long day.
...
Ibiki made his way slowly through the streets of Konoha as he headed towards his destination, lost deeply in thought. In his mind's eye he couldn't help but remember the way Samira had laughed tonight, at a rather dirty joke that Kakashi had cracked over dinner. It had been so light and silly, as if she hadn't been stained by suffering and pain... Then there was the fact that she was acting at ease despite the fact that she was wearing a wig and contacts when she entered the restaurant and they had all been under various henge, including Naruto. After all it would seem suspicious if they went as themselves to a restaurant with an unknown woman. Any decent ninja of Danzo's or under the council would put two and two together and their cover would be blown for this operation.
She was rather competent though, he had realized listening to the way she talked and told them over her past. He had definitely enjoyed her biting wit before, and she was rather observative at times. Maybe she really did have what it took to be a ninja. She was definitely ballsy enough to make the cut, since she had stood up to him and hadn't back down from a fight even though it could have been dangerous. Still she had kicked him in the family jewels. But then again, he hadn't been the kindest person to her when they first met… He could have at least given her a heads up before acting like he was going to drop her from a tree limb... He found his scowl creeping back into place. What an annoying woman. Going and making him actually feel a bit bad for taunting her. Well he wasn't going to go easy on her when the time came for them to battle in a game of sharp words just because he might mildly respected her now. She seemed to not want pity or special treatment of any kind, so he wouldn't give it to her. Besides it would probably be more insulting to her if he went easy on her. But... just in case... he would keep an eye out and make sure he didn't push too far when trying to taunt her. He could feel a few prominent ideas swirling around in his head for what he should say to her next time they met. It would be when she returned to Konoha after training with Jiraiya, and he would have to say something to make her livid. His eyes widened as an idea struck him. It was brilliant!
Satisfied with his plan he cracked a dark grin before bursting into laughter, making the shinobi around him shoot him nervous looks. After all, when Morino Ibiki started laughing like that, it was usually time to run. Especially when he seemed so pleased about something... Nope, definitely not good...
...
Kakashi made his way easily across the village roof tops, mind adrift as he looked back on his childhood. She had brought up a lot of things today that had gotten him thinking on his own past, and his own mistakes. He thought about his father and their rocky relationship before his father committed seppuku, traditional suicide to wipe away the shame of one's actions. He thought about his friends, or lack thereof and how he treated people growing up, and he found himself smiling sheepishly at the memory of the first time Gai challenged him. He was such a brat back then acting aloof whenever Gai challenged him. Minato sensei had been kind and patient considering how annoying Kakashi's extreme attitude back in the day when all he could do was follow the rules. And he had paid the price... unthinkingly his hand reached up to touch the covered sharingan, his mind replaying how he had gotten it. Not paying that much attention he almost ran into a low hanging wire but he sensed it and reacted quick enough to leap over it in time. He skidded to a stop before sighing.
"Yare yare, she just seems to drag up the past no matter which way I look at it," he murmured to himself before continuing towards his apartment. This time however he paid attention to his surroundings. He could think when he finally got where he needed to go. They were going to have a big day tomorrow. All of them. After all, Jiraiya would be arriving early tomorrow, and they would be able to set their plans in motion.
Fliscent- Aaaaand CUT! Excellent job every body! Take five!
Samira- whew. All that drama! Yuck! Couldn't you have done something else for my back ground? I don't want to be an emo or something.
Fliscent- *sighs tiredly* we've been over this Samira. You've been faced with adversity, and it has made you a strong person, strong enough to be able to be a ninja. Get over it.
Samira-But, but-!
Kakashi- Maa, Maa, Samira-san. Its already been said and done. Just let it go.
Itachi- I do not see why I am still here...
Fliscent- *scowls* to go get my FIVE REVIEWS! Didn't you tell me to take five, Itachi?
Itachi- your puns grow boring, foolish little girl.
Fliscent- *evil grin* You're going to regret saying that. Just you wait. I am a patient woman, Itachi-kun.
Itachi- -/_\- foolish little woman I doubt that there is anything that you could-
Fliscent- *Hold up plot draft*
Itachi- O/_\O*
Fliscent- Yes?
Itachi- TT^TT ...N-never mind.
Samira- ACK! MY EYES!
Kakashi- Maa, I think we all know now what really cause Itachi's blindness...
AN: Remember... at the very least FIVE REVIEWS FOR PART TWO! Mwahahahaaaaa! I could post it tomorrow if I got all those reviews today... kukuku...
