Okay the third chapter of Redemption is here. There is a reason for Kushina's weird behaviour, which will be revealed soon. I'll maybe reveal it this chapter, but if not, then next chapter. Anywho I hope you enjoy the chapter.
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Redemption.
Chapter Three - Tested.
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The three students were about to split and head into different directions, when Kushina stopped Saiyuri. "Saiyuri, eat breakfast tomorrow. You'll regret it if you don't." Kushina whispered. Saiyuri nodded her understanding and the group split. Saiyuri heading off in one direction, and Itachi and Kushina heading off in the other direction. As Itachi and Kushina passed the woods, Itachi glanced at the trees for a moment. "Isn't there a shortcut through there to your house Kushina?" Itachi asked frankly. "No!" Kushina yelled. Itachi blinked. "I mean it's not that much of a shortcut. Hardly worth going through there if you ask me." Kushina said more calmly. Itachi nodded and just followed on after Kushina, wondering what she didn't like about the woods.
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Kushina was sat around the dinner table with her family. Itachi was sat across from her and she looked at her father closely. He grinned widely, along with her Auntie Sakura and Uncle Sasuke. "Did you know Nawaki-Aniki was going to be our Sensei Dad?" Kushina asked coldly. "Actually that was a last minute decision. I wasn't sure about sticking you on a team with your Godbrother as a Sensei. But I figured it was the best thing to do after a lot of thought." Naruto replied. "Did you think about it in Ichiraku's Daddy?" Hinata asked. Making the table laugh. Kushina pushed her two thirds full plate away from her and looked at everyone. "I'm full. I want to go and get some sleep. We have got our squad test with Nawaki-Aniki tomorrow." Kushina said softly. She quickly left the table before waiting to be excused. "What's wrong with Nee-Chan?" Kasumi asked cutely. "I don't know sweetie." Sakura replied, looking up at the empty doorway.
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Kushina stared out of her window, waiting for what she knew was heading her way. Her high-collared, orange, long sleeved shirt rustled a little in the breeze from her open window, along with her hair. She grabbed some thick, orange pyjamas, and stalked off to the bathroom, making sure she got it before anyone else. She never noticed the eyes of Hinata following her in the hallway.
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The next morning, Itachi speedily got dressed, having woken up (in his opinion) late. He pulled on a blue shirt, and white shorts, exactly like the clothing his father had worn as a child (although he didn't know it) and tied his forehead protector around his forehead. He ran downstairs, almost tripping on the last step and nearly falling flat on his face. He steadied himself and zoomed past the kitchen, but then came back and peered in, having noticed a flash of orange. He was shocked to see Kushina eating breakfast. She was wearing the same outfit that she'd worn yesterday, as well as a pair of black fingerless gloves. Her red hair was tied in a braid, and her headband was around her forehead. "Aren't we supposed to skip breakfast? Nawaki-Sensei said that-" Itachi was cut off by Kushina smirking widely at him. "He wants you to think that. Eat something now while you have the chance, trust me it will be better for you." Kushina stated as she happily ate some toast and jam. Itachi just shrugged and sat and ate with her. "After all, she knows her Godbrother better than we do." Itachi thought to himself as he helped himself to some toast.
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Saiyuri was buried under her quilt, glaring at her alarm clock. She reached a slender arm out from under her quilt and picked up the alarm clock with her hand, ever so gently.
Then she threw it at the wall. It shattered after a loud crash, and Saiyuri sat up in bed and pointed at her alarm clock, laughing maniacally. "Ha! That'll teach you to wake me so early you stupid alarm clock." Saiyuri exclaimed. Then she collapsed back into her bed, pulling the quilt over her head. That was, unfortunately for Saiyuri, the moment her mother burst into her room. "Saiyuri, get up. You have to go and meet your team today!" Her mother yelled at her. "HEY MOM I'M TRYING TO SLEEP!" Saiyuri heard the yelling of Sakumo, from the depths of his own bedroom.
Saiyuri groaned and sighed deeply. She crawled out from under her quilt, and slid on to the floor of her room. She hauled her body along the floor and sat up next to her bedroom door. Then she somehow, with great effort, pulled herself up and opened the door, practically oozing along the ground into the bathroom. "I hate mornings!" Saiyuri thought to herself as she splashed cold water on her face to wake her up.
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Kushina and Itachi left the house, both having eaten. Kushina had grabbed some energy bars from the kitchen before they left. "Just in case Saiyuri was stupid enough to take Nawaki-Aniki-Sensei seriously." Kushina had stated as she shoved the energy bars in her pocket. Itachi shrugged. Both Itachi and Kushina walked towards the training ground that had been specified for their squad test. Passing the woods on the way.
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Saiyuri had finally gotten herself dressed in her usual black dress, trimmed with pink, and one pink sleeve on the left arm. The dress had no sleeve on the right arm, but Saiyuri had white bandages tied up and down her bare arm, and wore fingerless grey gloves. She ate some porridge before she left. She recalled Kushina had said something about her needing to eat. After she ate, she brushed her silver hair tied it into a high ponytail. Then she tied her leaf headband around her head, like her father did, and left the house, after pulling on some black ninja sandals.
(A/N: If you wanna imagine Saiyuri's outfit. It's basically the same as Kurenai's in different colours and opposite with the sleeve)
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Kushina and Itachi arrived at the training ground exactly on time. Kushina set her pack against a tree trunk and sat down on the ground, under the same tree. Itachi leaned against another tree. As they waited, they took note of Saiyuri running towards them. "Don't wear yourself out Saiyuri. Nawaki-Sensei is late." Kushina called. Saiyuri slowed down and walked over to her two teammates. "Well where the hell is he then?" She asked irritably. "God knows. He's probably going to make us wait." Kushina replied. Saiyuri and Itachi both sighed in disbelief at their tardy Sensei.
They looked around the training ground slowly, and took note that there was some wooded area, and the middle of the field had three stumps in the ground, placed in a row next to each other. None of them realised that their fathers had already trained here before them.
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Nawaki was eating a good breakfast. Tsunade and Jiraiya stared at him, as Mayumi just went to the fridge to get a glass of juice. That was when she noticed her brother. "Didn't he tell his new team he was going to meet them an hour before dawn?" Mayumi asked. "He did tell them that." Tsunade replied as her son bluntly ignored the conversation. "It's nine o clock Mom?" Mayumi stated. "He's obviously decided to keep them waiting. God knows what for." Tsunade replied. "It's the bell test. Starve the brats then attempt to get them to work against each other." Jiraiya stated. "That is so cruel. Naruto-Sensei used that on us." Mayumi stated. "Yeap, and Kakashi used it on him, Sakura and Sasuke. The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, Naruto's father, used it on Kakashi and his teammates. I used it on Minato and his teammates. Mine and your mother's Sensei, The Third Hokage, used it on us. It's a good test. It works." Jiraiya lectured. "I lost you at Sakumo's Dad." Mayumi stated, as she stole a piece of toast from her brother's plate. Nawaki glared at her as she bit into it ravenously and grinned as she ran out of the door. Leaving her empty juice glass on the counter.
"Don't you think you'd better be meeting your team now? You've had them waiting for at least four hours now." Tsunade asked. Nawaki smirked and got out of his seat. "Don't worry Ma. They'll thank me for it. It's patience building after all." Nawaki stated as he left the room. A few moments later, they heard the door shut behind their son. Jiraiya grinned at Tsunade. "Look at our boy! All grown up and torturing his students!" Jiraiya exclaimed happily. Tsunade slapped a hand to her forehead in exasperation.
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Naruto was sat in his office signing papers and gnawing away at his lip, trying not to think of all the strange things that had been happening lately. Sasuke coming back to the village. Finding out Sasuke was sick. Kushina's odd behaviour. He had noticed his eldest child behaving strangely for a while. Even before her graduation exam. She'd become distant from all the people she cared about. Her behaviour was getting stranger by the day, and Naruto couldn't figure it out. Then Sasuke coming back and being ill enough that he was on the verge of death was something Naruto felt he couldn't cope with. He was praying in his mind that Tsunade would find some miracle cure. He knew if anyone could, it would be her. That didn't stop him worrying. He was alone with his thoughts and sometimes the very idea of that fact was something Naruto hated.
He wasn't left alone for long when a knock came at the door. "Come in." Naruto called again. The door opened to reveal Sakura. She looked downhearted. "What's wrong Sakura-Chan?" Naruto asked. She gave him a small smile. "I'm worried. All this waiting, hoping and trying to get Sasuke back and he's so ill." Sakura said softly. Naruto nodded. He knew he would need to reassure Sakura, as much for himself as for her. "I don't like that he's ill, but unless he can tell us how he became ill there isn't much we can do to help him. Just hope that Baa-Chan will find a way." Naruto said. "It's just not fair." Sakura stated. Naruto nodded. "I know. But all we can do is hope and pray that Sasuke will be fine." Naruto quipped. "You have a lot of faith Naruto." Sakura mused. Naruto smiled. "Yeah I have to have faith. If I didn't, I would never have become Hokage." Naruto replied. "There's something else I'm worried about." Sakura said pointedly. "Kushina?" Naruto questioned. Sakura nodded. "I don't know what's been happening to her lately. I know she never called me Mom. I never expected her to. But lately she's been so cold to me. I just don't know what to say to her. Nothing I say is ever welcome. Even if I ask her if she's hungry, she'll just mutter out a no and leave the house. I don't even know where she goes." Sakura said sadly.
Naruto bit his lip. "I'm worried too. She's been getting distant since before the graduation exams. Apparently she doesn't go to Ichiraku's anymore from what people tell me. She doesn't train with Hinata anymore. I already knew she wasn't eating a lot. I just see her watching the others train from her bedroom window." Naruto stated. "I don't know what to do Naruto. I've tried finding out why she's so cold all the time now. But she never says anything. She always says she's fine and just... clams up." Sakura practically sobbed. Her worry was evident. Naruto couldn't even comprehend what was wrong with his eldest child. He knew he wanted to find out.
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Saiyuri and Itachi were pacing around waiting for their Sensei. Kushina was sitting silently leaning against her tree and ignoring her teammates moving around. That was when their Sensei showed up. "YOU'RE LATE!" Itachi and Saiyuri yelled simultaneously. Kushina just glared. "Really? I must've slept in." Nawaki stated. That made his three students glare at him even more. "Well, since we're off to such a great start let's get on with your squad test." Nawaki stated. "Hey, we just graduated and you're giving us more tests?" Saiyuri yelled. Although she was more prepared by Kushina's comments the day before. "Of course. After all, out of however many team squads graduate, only three squads can pass on to become Genin squads. Those that don't get to go back to the academy." Nawaki stated. He pulled out two bells from his shuriken pouch. "It's your mission to get one of these bells from me. If you don't get one, you fail and you go back to the academy." Nawaki stated. Kushina rolled her eyes and stood up from her spot, leaning against the tree.
"Okay, you've got until noon. Oh and one more added incentive, if you don't get a bell by lunch, you won't get any lunch, and I'll tie you to those stumps there and let you watch me eat my lunch." Nawaki said evilly. Saiyuri and Itachi were both thanking Kushina silently in their minds at that moment. "Doesn't that mean that one of us will fail anyway?" Itachi asked. "Yeap. That's how it works. Have fun with that. It's just as likely that you'll all be sent back to the academy." Nawaki stated.
Itachi, Saiyuri and Kushina all disappeared into the trees, leaving Nawaki alone to think. "This should be fun." Nawaki thought to himself, as he pulled out an Icha Icha book.
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Sasuke was sat in Tsunade's office in the hospital being X-rayed. He didn't like the look on her face. "Sasuke, this kind of illness can be cured only one way. By transferring it to someone else. It's a strange kind of virus that can be removed like a poison. But it would need to go into something else. If the subject is too weak, the poisonous nature of this thing would escape and kill others. Do you have any clue how something like this could have gotten into your body?" Tsunade asked. Sasuke bit his lip angrily. "I think so." Sasuke replied. He started to tell Tsunade what he knew. "When I got to Orochimaru's Lair, something really weird did happen." Sasuke said softly.
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Sasuke walked along the underground corridors of Orochimaru's lair. Unfazed by the darkness of the place now, he walked around unhindered. He bumped into Orochimaru and Kabuto. "We were just looking for you Sasuke-Kun." Orochimaru hissed out creepily. "What for?" Sasuke asked coldly. "We need to check on the status of your health and such now you're here." Kabuto replied. "I'm perfectly healthy." Sasuke replied. "It's just a check up. You aren't scared of a check up are you Sasuke-Kun?" Kabuto asked. Sasuke glared and walked along with the two males to a lab. "Please sit on the table Sasuke-Kun." Kabuto stated. Sasuke glared as he went to sit on the examination table. All of a sudden he felt a pinprick in the back of his neck and everything went black.
When he woke up he sat up groggily and looked down to see a scar on his left leg. "So Kabuto he won't be able to escape now." Sasuke heard Orochimaru ask. "No Orochimaru-Sama. It's just as you ordered." Kabuto replied. Sasuke felt nervous of the whole idea, and wondered what had been placed inside his body exactly.
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Tsunade nodded and bit her lip. "I'm going to go and get the X-rays developed. We'll soon see what was placed in your leg." Tsunade said softly. Sasuke nodded understanding and Tsunade left. "I wonder how Itachi is doing?" Sasuke thought to himself.
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Itachi looked at Saiyuri and Kushina steadily. They had all gone off in different directions, but Kushina had found him and Saiyuri within a few minutes. "To pass this test we need to work as a team." Kushina stated plainly. "What do you suggest Kushina?" Saiyuri asked. "We need to let Nawaki-Sensei think that we've fallen for his plan for now. He's expecting us to attack him solo. So let's attempt it and see what he's capable of first. Then we can at least formulate some form of strategy." Kushina replied. "I'll go first." Itachi offered. "Okay Itachi. Saiyuri, you go next and I'll go last. Have you activated Sharingan yet Itachi?" Kushina asked. "No. Not yet." Itachi said softly. "I've got Byakugan, but I'm not perfect with it yet. If I use it too much my whole head hurts. But I'll learn it in time." Kushina stated. "Who told you that?" Saiyuri asked. "My mother wrote a diary about activating the Byakugan bloodline. I read it when I was looking through some of her things." Kushina said softly. Itachi and Saiyuri didn't ask any more questions about the subject.
Itachi got up and charged out of the wooded area. He attacked headfirst, charging in directly. Nawaki-Sensei didn't even try as he blocked the attacks of his male student. Itachi glared fiercely. "You've got to come at me with the intent to kill, or you're not going to succeed." Nawaki said blankly. Itachi leapt backward and made some handsigns. Nawaki's eyes widened. "Phoenix Flower Jutsu!" Itachi yelled as he spurted the little fireballs from his mouth. Nawaki dodged very quickly. "Guess I need to take you kids seriously. I keep forgetting who your parents are." Nawaki thought to himself, as Itachi made more handsigns. "Grand Fireball Jutsu!" Itachi called out. Then released a huge fireball from his lungs.
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Tsunade came back into the room, where Sasuke was lazing on the examination table. She didn't look happy in the least. "What did you find?" Sasuke asked. "There's a small canister in your leg. It's so minute that any other healer wouldn't have spotted it. I'm observant so I would've found it sooner or later." Tsunade stated. "What is it?" Sasuke asked. "It's a deadly poisonous virus. It was generated by Kabuto and Orochimaru obviously, so that if you betrayed Orochimaru, which you have, they could activate it. After you killed Orochimaru, Kabuto must have activated it." Tsunade stated formally. "So I'm finished unless I can give this thing to someone else." Sasuke commented bitterly. "I can give you medicine that will slow it down a lot. But I can't get rid of it. So yeah, eventually, you'll die from it. If there's an antidote, Kabuto will be sure to have it. But I doubt he'd give it to us. Even if we could find him." Tsunade commented sadly. Sasuke nodded his understanding.
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Itachi was quickly thrown away from Nawaki and Saiyuri took her chance. She made the hand signs for Raikiri and soon the glowing electric ball was in her hand and she charged with it at Nawaki. All this time, Itachi and Kushina watched, just as Saiyuri and Kushina had watched Itachi's little bout. Just to get tips on their Sensei. Saiyuri was grabbed by the wrist and thrown into a tree, where her Raikiri made a huge hole straight through it. Saiyuri felt rough as she pulled herself up from the ground.
That was when Kushina made her entrance. She made a Rasengan and leapt downwards from a tree at her Sensei. Nawaki dodged and tried to get away from Kushina's speedy volleys of kicks and punches, while she kept trying to pummel Rasengans through his chest and stomach. "Well I did tell them to attack me with the intent to kill." Nawaki thought to himself bitterly as he barely dodged one well-aimed Rasengan.
After a while, Kushina noted that Nawaki was a lot faster and stronger then she had anticipated. She found herself thinking of a strategy. She knew she had to implement it soon. It was already half-twelve, by the way the sun stood in the sky, and at one, she knew that they failed. She stood back and waited for her teammates to come to her side.
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Naruto found himself doing paperwork again. Sakura had left and he'd tried to get his mind off of what she'd said all morning. There was a soft knock at the door then. "Come in." Naruto called out, as he signed another document. He looked up from the paper when he heard the door open, and saw Hinata. "Hey sunflower, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at the academy?" Naruto asked his second born child earnestly. "It's lunchtime. I just wanted to talk to you Daddy." She said softly. "Okay, come and sit down then." Naruto said, gesturing to one of the many seats in the office. Hinata grabbed one and bought it over to sit next to her father. "Daddy have you noticed that Kushina Nee-Chan is acting really weird lately?" Hinata asked softly. Naruto sighed deeply. He knew this would happen sooner or later. He'd noticed, Sakura had noticed, it was only a matter of time before Hinata noticed. She was as perceptive, if not more so, then her mother had been. "We've all noticed sweetie. She's just becoming a young lady now. It's all the hormone stuff you all talk about in Iruka-Sensei's biology lessons." Naruto said kindly. He hoped that Hinata would leave it at that. He didn't want his ten year old daughter to worry about her older sister. Hinata giggled a little at his comment. Then her face turned serious again. "I don't think it is that though Daddy. I think something's really wrong with Nee-Chan. She's not acting like herself at all. She doesn't eat her food properly, or go to Ichiraku's anymore. She doesn't even train with me anymore. She just stays in her room all the time. I see her watching out of the window, and she always looks angry Daddy. Whenever Mommy asks her a question she goes all cold. Haven't you noticed?" Hinata almost begged. Her pale lavender eyes brimmed with tears.
Naruto sighed again. "I know Hinata. I'm trying to figure out what's going on with your sister. I'm hoping it's just a phase. But you come and tell me if anything else is wrong okay?" Naruto asked. Hinata nodded. She knew what her father meant. If Kushina did anything that might be considered bad, to come and tell him. Hinata hopped off of the chair and made to leave the room. "Hinata?" Naruto called her. She turned and looked at her Father curiously. "I know you're worried about Kushina. But don't worry. I think whatever it is that's bugging her she'll come and tell us when she's ready." Naruto said. Hinata nodded and left the room, leaving Naruto to his thoughts once again.
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Itachi and Saiyuri came and stood next to Kushina. Nawaki was confused, as to what his new students were planning. Kushina smirked at Nawaki evilly. He saw the smirk and was prepared for an attack. Instead Kushina gave a bright smile that almost reached her eyes. "Well Sensei, you've had an unfair advantage over us." Kushina stated boldly. "That was obvious from the start of this exercise. I'm a Jounin. You're Genin." Nawaki quipped. Kushina kept smiling. "Well there is that. But there is something else Sensei. You see you had us tell you about ourselves, and you didn't tell us anything about you." Kushina said sweetly. "You know this is wasting your time." Nawaki replied. "But it's our time Sensei? Right?" Saiyuri asked, playing along. "Of course. But how would telling you about myself make any difference to your situation? You only have half an hour to get the bells. Not even that?" Nawaki asked. "Well it depends on what you tell us Sensei." Itachi quipped, also playing along with whatever plan Kushina had. "Fine if you have to be awkward about it. My name is Nawaki, you guys call me Nawaki-Sensei. My Interests are nobody's business, and my dream for the future is to master the sage style like my father and Godfather." Nawaki reeled off.
He heard the ringing of bells, about two feet behind him. He turned around and was met with a shadow clone of Kushina smirking at him. Then the clone ran to the side of Nawaki and threw the bells to the real Kushina, just as Nawaki punched the clone out of existence. Kushina gave one bell to Saiyuri and the other bell to Itachi. Nawaki glared. "Did your father tell you what this test was all about?" Nawaki asked. "No, even though I asked him. But I figured seeing as you all go on about teamwork so much, that it must be something to do with that." Kushina replied stoically. Nawaki sighed. "Alright you guys pass. You did work as a team. I guess that means you all get lunch." Nawaki stated. "I didn't even get to tie anyone to the stump." Nawaki grumbled. "Serves you right for making us wait four and a half hours Sensei!" Saiyuri yelled. "I might just tie you to the stump for loudness if you don't stop yelling for a sec Saiyuri." Nawaki stated. Saiyuri blinked as Itachi and Kushina smirked next to her.
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Kushina arrived home with Itachi. She immediately climbed the stairs to her room without saying a word to Sakura, who was in the hall when they came in. Sakura sighed and went back to the kitchen. Neither Sakura nor Itachi, noticed Kasumi climb the stairs. The four year old clambered up the stairs and walked over to Kushina's closed door.
She knocked tentatively. "Nee-Chan can I come in?" She called. "No." Kushina called back coldly. "Please Nee-Chan? I wanna sit wid you for a little while." Kasumi called out. Sasuke watched from the shadows of the hallway, as Kushina opened her door and glared at her four year old, half sister. "Go away Kasumi. I've got better things to do then to play with kids." Kushina hissed and then slammed her door. The four year old child started crying. Sasuke walked forward and picked up the little girl. "Nee-Chan's being so mean Unca Sasuke! Why is she being mean? Wads wrong wid her?" Kasumi wailed. Sasuke hugged the crying child, trying to offer some form of comfort. "I don't know Kasumi. I wish I could tell you." Sasuke said softly, as he carried the four year old down the stairs.
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Itachi was sitting on the porch of the house, cleaning his ninja tools and thinking to himself. He felt someone sit next to him, and saw it was his father. "What's wrong Father?" Itachi asked. "Something is wrong with Kushina." His father told him sternly. "I want you to keep an eye on her and make sure she's alright. That she's not in any trouble." His father added. Itachi nodded. "I understand Father." Itachi replied.
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Sasuke left Itachi cleaning his weapons, and went inside. He saw Sakura with Little Naruto and Sasuke, who were playing happily together. Kasumi wasn't there. Hikari was seven, and Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura had just gone to enrol her in the academy. "Hey Sasuke." Sakura said kindly. The two boys looked up at Sasuke expectantly. "Daddy, you gonna play wid us?" Little Naruto asked cutely. "Yeah Unca Sasuke!" Little Sasuke added. "Maybe later boys." Sasuke replied. The two nodded happily, and continued playing their own game. What game it was, Sasuke couldn't figure it out at all. It was like the two year old boys had a language and state of play all their own, as they sat their babbling contentedly.
Sakura got up from where she'd been sitting, and walked over to Sasuke. "What's wrong?" She asked him. "Where's Kasumi?" Sasuke asked. "She's in the garden on the tree swing. She seems really unhappy today. I've tried asking her what's wrong but she won't tell me at all." Sakura said softly. "Something is off with Kushina." Sasuke stated boldly. "I know. She's not been acting like herself for a while." Sakura replied. "Is she usually hateful towards Kasumi?" Sasuke asked sharply. Sakura's eyes went wide. "No. She's never once said an unkind word to Kasumi, or Sasuke or Hinata. She loves them. She'd do anything to make them happy." Sakura stated. "Well she was rather cruel to Kasumi today." Sasuke quipped. "What do you mean?" Sakura asked. Sasuke went on to explain what he'd witnessed earlier on and all the blood drained from Sakura's face. "She's never been like that before. I don't know what's wrong with her." Sakura said softly. "When did she start acting this way?" Sasuke asked. "I'm not sure exactly when I noticed she was changing. But it was before graduation. I know that much. After graduation she changed drastically. I just... I wish I knew what she was thinking. I wish I could tell what was wrong." Sakura said softly. "I'm going to go and try to talk to her." Sakura added. She went to go upstairs and Sasuke sighed. "I don't know if this is something you can deal with Sakura." Sasuke thought to himself.
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Kushina glared as her door opened after a couple of knocks. There was Sakura looking at her. "Kushina are you okay?" Sakura asked. "Why shouldn't I be?" Kushina shot back. "Because it's not like you to be cruel to your baby sister. It's not like you to be cruel to anyone." Sakura stated. "Maybe you don't know me as well as you think you do." Kushina shot back venomously. "What are you talking about Kushina?" Sakura asked. Kushina glared at the shock on Sakura's face and got up from her bed, where she'd been sitting. "I'm going out." Kushina stated coldly. "Where are you going?" Sakura asked softly. "Saiyuri's. I'll be back before nine." Kushina stated fiercely, before barging past Sakura and down the stairs. Sakura sighed deeply, and wished she could read the girl's mind.
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Kakashi felt rather offended when Saiyuri told him about her bell test. "I made it difficult to pass and Nawaki ruined my torturous masterpiece." Kakashi stated blandly, looking forlorn. "But Dad, Kushina is smarter than most of us Genin. She just figures everything out quickly. It might not even be Sensei's fault. Although he did give her a huge gaping opening to distract from." Saiyuri said, causing Kakashi to sigh in defeat.
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Kushina rubbed at her neck absently as she walked along the streets. "What's wrong with me? Why am I trying to hurt everyone? Why did I shout at Kasumi like that? What the hell is wrong with me?" Kushina let the questions go through her head over and over and over again as she walked into one of the many wooded areas in Konoha.
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Itachi had explained the bell test to everyone at dinner. Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura were all shocked. "Well consider yourselves lucky. We actually listened to Kakashi-Sensei." Sakura stated. This statement made everyone laugh loudly. "Where's Kushina?" Naruto asked. "She said she was going to see Saiyuri, and she told me she'd be back before nine." Sakura said sadly. Naruto looked at the empty place at the table, wondering, not for the first time that day, what was going on with his eldest child?
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Kushina was sat in the training grounds. She'd taken a place sitting in a tree. She rubbed at her neck angrily. That was when someone appeared in front of her, standing on the tree branch. Kushina growled angrily at the hooded intruder. "Kushina-Kun, why are you so angry to see me? I thought you liked hearing the truth?" The hooded stranger stated. "Why should I believe you're telling me the truth?" Kushina hissed. "Why should I believe that my father never loved my mother? Why should I believe that Auntie Sakura hated my mother? I can't believe that!" Kushina exclaimed. "It's all true. Ask your father's friend Sasuke. He knows your father loved Sakura from childhood. He didn't even notice your mother. She was just a consolation prize for him." The hooded stranger stated. "Go away and leave me alone!" Kushina yelled.
"I'm afraid I can't do that. You see, you've got my mark now Kushina-Kun." The stranger stated plainly. Kushina's hand shook as it reached her neck. When she pulled down the high collar, a heaven curse mark, exactly like Sasuke's, was visible on her neck. She covered that spot angrily. "I didn't ask for this!" Kushina exclaimed. "Of course not. You're powerful Kushina-Kun. I can teach you many things. Things that will make you powerful. Things that will allow you to wreak revenge on those people who wronged your mother." The male voice stated. "SHUT UP!" Kushina yelled furiously. "I'll go for now. But soon you'll come to find me Kushina-Kun. I'm in Otogakure and soon you'll seek me out, for the power you need. I bet you've already started hating them. Your Father, your precious Auntie Sakura, your brother and sisters. I bet that even your best friends are thinking there's something wrong with you. Sooner or later you'll hurt them. Then there won't be any turning back." The stranger stated. "Who are you?" Kushina whispered. "Why did you do this to me?" She almost begged. "Because you're the strongest Genin. The strongest Ninja I've seen for a long time." The stranger stated. He pulled down his hood, and Kushina gasped in shock and horror.
One side of the man's face had long black hair, paper-white skin, and snake like features. The other half of his face had a relatively normal complexion, long silver hair and half a pair of glasses. Kushina felt anger, hate and fear boil inside her. The pain of the mark on her shoulder increased. She had been feeling it strongly ever since she'd been given it. "You will come looking for me child. You'll be compelled to. The mark will compel you to come to me eventually. When you're ready, you'll destroy those pathetic teammates, shun your family and arrive in Oto ready to be my student." The snakelike side of the man stated. Then he left.
Kushina felt the mark on her neck burning. She just about managed to get down from the tree before another wave of pain hit and she leant against it, remembering exactly how she got the mark in the first place.
xXxXxXx FLASHBACK xXxXxXx
Kushina was walking home from the academy. Her bright red hair was loose and floating in the wind as she ran along the streets. "I got all A's. My last report card before graduation has all A's." Kushina thought brightly as she ran past people. "I'll take the shortcut through the woods to get home, and then I can show Auntie Sakura and Daddy my report card faster." Kushina thought to herself. She carried on running and turned off into the woods. She didn't get far before she heard a whizzing sound. A shuriken flew past her, cutting her shoulder, and tearing her black t-shirt. She held on to her shoulder and glared around, as she looked for a clue as to where her assailant might be. That was when a hooded figure stepped out from seemingly nowhere.
"Who are you?" Kushina hissed. "I'm a friend Kushina-Kun." The figure said. "How are you a friend?" Kushina yelled. "I'll tell you the truth that your father wants to hide from you." The stranger said. His voice sounded snakelike, and Kushina didn't like how that made her feel at all. She pulled out a shuriken from her own pouch. "Get lost or you'll have one less eye today." Kushina stated calmly. "Did you know that your Father never loved your mother at all?" The stranger hissed out. Kushina felt herself shaking. "That's not true! My Dad loved my Mom. He grieved for years over her death." Kushina hissed. "Maybe he felt guilty for marrying her when he didn't love her." The stranger stated. Kushina felt burning anger boil in her blood as she stared at this stranger. "Who are you to say anything? You don't even know my parents!" Kushina yelled. She ran forward, pulling a kunai out of her kunai holder and made to stab the stranger in the neck, but surprisingly, the stranger grabbed her wrist, holding her in the air by her arm. His head moved and she felt something clamp down on her neck, as though she was being bitten.
Her eyes went wide as unbelievable pain attacked her whole body. She made to scream, but a hand clamped down over her mouth, muffling her scream. All her muscles were paralysed, and she couldn't move. She could feel her body convulsing, but she wasn't sure what was making this happen. The stranger moved her to lay down on the ground. Then he stood up. She didn't see his face. She couldn't move her body at all. "Now you have my mark, sweet Kushina-Kun. You'll hate, and seethe and boil with anger. You'll strike out at everyone you love. When you finally kill someone, you'll belong to me. You'll be so filled with darkness that you won't be able to stop yourself looking for me, for power." The stranger stated. Then he left her there.
xXxXxXx END FLASHBACK xXxXxXx
Kushina remembered that she'd lain there until quite late, when the pain finally managed to ebb away, and then she had gone home. Her Father and Sakura had been so angry that she'd arrived home at one in the morning. They'd been out searching for her. For some reason she didn't tell them about the strange man that had bitten her. She just said she'd fallen asleep in the woods, looking at the clouds, and when she finally woke it was dark, and she didn't know what the time was. Of course, her father and Sakura had forgiven her, and worried that she was working too hard at the Academy. She never did show them her report card.
After that she'd had many visits from the stranger, who kept trying to goad her into a fight, or to leave with him. She'd managed up until now to keep herself in line. When she graduated, she felt this wave of hatred well up within her, and she had been unable to control it since. It was getting out of control.
Kushina felt the pain ebbing away. "I have to go home now. I'm probably late." Kushina thought to herself. She walked home, wishing with all her heart that she didn't feel so full of hatred.
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When Kushina finally arrived home, she had just taken off her ninja sandals, when her Father and Sakura confronted her. "Kushina where have you been? It's nearly eleven!" Sakura asked. "I'm sorry I'm late I didn't realise the time." Kushina hissed out. Sakura looked at her with concern. "Are you alright Kushina? You look like you're in pain. Have you got injured?" Sakura asked softly. She made to put her hand on Kushina's neck, and Kushina pulled away instantly. "What's wrong with you Kushina? You're not acting like yourself." Her Father asked her. "How can I tell him what's really wrong with me?" Kushina thought. "I just lost track of time Dad. What's the problem?" Kushina spat out angrily. Her mark was starting to hurt again, which meant that the man was nearby. "Kushina you don't usually talk to your Father with attitude like that!" Sakura exclaimed. "Just leave me alone will you!" Kushina yelled and ran off upstairs. Leaving both Sakura and her Father to what she knew would be a sleepless night. But right now, her blood boiled with hate and she didn't even care, as she entered her bedroom and lay down on her bed. Soon she was in a dreamless sleep.
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Okay everyone. I hope you all liked this chapter. I did reveal Kushina's reasons for her weird behaviour, slightly, as for anything else you'll have to wait and see when I update next week.
As a side note, I will be updating next week. But I will not be updating from the fourth to the eighteenth of May as I will be in Spain. Ya see I love writing but I saved my meagre funds and paid to take my dear mother away to Spain for her birthday. So while I'll still be writing like a nutcase (my laptop goes everywhere) I won't be able to update till I'm back in merry old London.
Oh and just for referance if you can't guess who the creepy guy near the end of this chappie is, then you obviously don't read Naruto Manga. But that's fair enough anyways. Anywho, any questions, feel free to ask me in a review or PM. Bye for now everyone I'll be updating soon.