A/N; Gomen, but it's hard to write when you went to punch a wall but caught your arm instead... I got pissed off :D And have a lovely big bruise to show for it... Once again, keep in mind whether you want training included (note relationships may be altered in the month ;) )
Oooh! Review target upped to between 200 and 250. And I want to know your opinions on who should be in the xmas special. I'll do fluff oneshots on your favourite pairings if you like? SasuKari or anything that tickles your fancy.
Claimer: Kari, Kita, Kazhana Kitome and Tasukaru (Inu-)Kaizo are my own characters whom I love dearly.
Disclaimer: Uzumaki Kushina currently owns Naruto, and would love to accept any challenges to take it off her. Masashi Kishimoto is currently being haunted and will soon be transferred to a psychiatric ward in hospital.
Setsumeino Tsukanai Shinri
Unexplainable Truths
She tilted her head to the side with wide searching eyes.
Okaasan?
The door slid open silently. His footsteps were muffled by the beeping and whirring of machines. He lightly stepped over one of the ANBU bodies and made his way between the beds of the two sleeping patients.
"Being excellent isn't as good as it seems…" Kabuto sighed, looking down at them. "We've stood out too much. Perhaps it was unfortunate that Orochimaru-sama cast his eyes on us." Kabuto pulled out his scalpel, holding it near Sasuke. There was a harsh beeping from the heart monitor to his left, showing sudden distress from Kari, as though knowing Sasuke was in danger. In an instant, the weapon was snatched from his hands.
"Very nice, Kakashi-san" Kabuto commented, as Kari's monitor's beeping slowed, the heartbeat becoming more steady. "You stopped an attack that was in your blind spot. But next time, you should station at least ten people" Kabuto motioned to the three dead ANBU, without turning to face Kakashi.
"You're not a normal Genin are you?" Kakashi said. "You're quite a guy; you noticed my presence and took out that weapon immediately."
"It wasn't that great" Kabuto said simply.
"What do you want with Sasuke and Kari?" Kakashi demanded. "I may have to capture and interrogate you, depending on your answer."
"Can someone as lowly as you be capable of doing that?" Kabuto asked, finally turning to face Kakashi.
"Do you want to try with that lowly person?" Kakashi challenged. Kari's heart monitor gave a harsh beep before settling back into its uneven rhythm. "You were the son of that medical squad leader, correct? Your name is Yakushi Kabuto, isn't it? Are you connected with Orochimaru?"
"If you capture me right now, you might not be able to prove I have any connection to Orochochimaru." Kabuto said.
"Just answer the question."
"And if I say no?"
"I'm the one asking the questions here" Kakashi said. "Just answer it."
"If you let me swim around, you'll find out eventually" Kabuto said with a smirk. "So can you let me go this time?"
"You sure are a selfish kid. Don't screw around with adults you little prick." Kakashi said, pulling out a kunai.
"Please don't act so bossy" Kabuto said, pulling out his own weapon. "I clearly have the upper hand here…" he lowered the blade toward Kari's throat and tightened his grip, ready to strike. Kakashi shot forward, using his leg to knock Kabuto off balance and away from Kari as Kakashi knocked the weapon out of the enemy's hand. As he went to pin Kabuto down, Kari's heart monitor beeped harshly again as one of the dead ANBU got up and ran. Acting fast, Kakashi quickly made a shadow clone to block the door and stop the 'ANBU' from escaping. Two more harsh beeps erupted from the monitor and another seemingly dead ANBU shot through the window, smashing the glass. Kakashi ran to the window and the 'ANBU' removed its mask to show Kabuto's smirking face. Kabuto disappeared into the trees.
"Damnit… He got away" Kakashi cursed. The ANBU fell limp to the ground and Kakashi kage bunshin disappeared. "What a guy…" Kakashi sighed going to check the fake Kabuto's pulse. "Just as I thought… This is the Dead Soul technique; Fushi Tensei, which gets a corpses heart to beat temporarily to control it." Kakashi glanced around at the kunoichi, the chest drain at the side of her bed a quarter filled with blood. "So that's what you were trying to tell me ne?" Unable to move or speak she used the monitor to try and let me know something was wrong. After all, the Dead Soul technique is one that is likely to have originated from the AkumaInu, so she would have been able to sense it. "You never cease to amaze me Kari…" Kakashi sighed looking back out the window. "But if someone as good as him is working for Orochimaru, I'm going to have to work harder…" he glanced at Kari, sitting down beside her bed. While Sasuke just seemed to be sleeping she looked fragile and pale. "Much harder…"
"Aa where's Sasuke's room dattebayou?" Naruto said to the lady at the desk, Kita lying asleep on the top of his head. "And I need to see Kari-chan too what was her room again?"
"Sasuke-sama and Kari-sama are currently not taking any visitors" the receptionist said chirpily as she shuffled her notes and put them to her side.
"HA?! Ne, nande dattebayou?" Naruto shouted.
"I cannot say" the receptionist said simply.
"Ne, lady, nande?!"
"Naruto, be quiet inside the hospital" Kakashi said walking around the corner.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto said, a grin spreading across his face. "Is Kari-chan better yet? Ano sa, ano sa, I have a favour to ask!"
"She wouldn't be better in just an hour Naruto. And you don't have to say any more, I knew you would come to me. So I found someone to supervise your training." Kakashi said simply. Naruto's face fell into a childish scowl.
"Nande?! I want you Kakashi-sensei, dattebayou!"
"I have something to do, so I don't have time to look after you." Kakashi said wearily.
"Mmm… AH!-AHA! You're training Sasuke aren't you?!" Naruto accused, pointing his finger offensively at his sensei.
"Na, don't get mad. Kari-chan needs a lot of work being inexperienced and she'll be weakened for a good while yet. Anyway, I found you a much better teacher then me." Kakashi said with light sarcasm on the last part.
"But I wanna train with Kari-chan!"
"You both don't work seriously enough together, you don't really want to hurt each other when you spar and you have completely different battle strategies and techniques." Kakashi said.
"Who is this teacher then… dattebayou?"
"It is I!" Naruto looked round moodily but his eyes bulged and his jaw dropped as he let out a horrified scream, jolting Kita awake causing Kakashi to rush to catch her.
"You're the… closet pervert!!"
"How impolite" Ebisu huffed, pushing his sunglasses up his nose as a sign of snooty displeasure.
"Ebisu-sensei is a closet pervert?" Kakashi repeated dumbfounded.
"Nande?! Why is this guy gonna be the one overseeing my training, dattebayou?!" Naruto shrieked. "He's weaker than me to begin with!"
"What?" Kakashi repeated with the same confused expression.
"Because, because! Last time when I used my Harem no jutsu on him—" Ebisu shot forward trapping Naruto in a headlock with his hand tight over his mouth.
"Harem no jutsu?" Kakashi repeated.
"No, it's nothing!" Ebisu said a little too happily. He turned and whispered anxiously to Naruto.
"I didn't know you two met before" Kakashi said. "Does Kari know Ebisu-sensei too?"
"We met unwillingly though" Ebisu said with a fake laugh, patting an extremely irritated Naruto on the head. "Unfortunately I haven't yet managed to have the pleasure of meeting this Kari-chan yet, but Konohamaru-kun has had wonderful things to say about her!"
"HENTAI!" Naruto shrieked trying to tear Ebisu apart while the jonin held him back with one hand. Ebisu's eyebrow twitched despite his big fake grin.
"Why him though?" Naruto mumbled. "I really don't like this…"
"Why would I even want to teach you had Kakashi-kun not asked it of me?!" Ebisu cried.
"Then don't!"
"Now, now, you two, don't be like that." Kakashi said. "Naruto, Ebisu-sensei is a personal teacher who instructs the elite. He is a special-jounin as well. He's better at teaching than me, actually. Naruto, out of the four people and one wolf I taught in our squad, your basics are a mess, even worse than Kari's. Have him teach you those thoroughly" Kakashi said as Kita nodded along with him.
"How am I inferior to Sakura-chan and Sasuke?!" Naruto shouted. "And me and Kari-chan are equals dattebayou!!"
"Naruto…" Kakashi sighed. "It's true that your basics are a mess. The basics are important in everything you do. Though Kari isn't as experienced, she picked up the basics with Gai. If you want to become stronger, just listen to what I have to say. Now then, Ebisu-sensei please take care of Naruto for me. Naruto, I'll send Kari to visit you at some point when she's better to see how you're doing. Have something to impress her with." With that Kakashi walked down a hallway and out of sight.
"Let's see, Kari needs to have chest drain emptied and fresh fluids and pain relief" the nurse said, checking her clipboard. "And Uchiha Sasuke just needs more fluids" the nurse slid the door open, humming to herself. Her patients were to be unconscious for at least the next few days. She jumped and almost dropped her clipboard when she noticed Sasuke out of bed. The bandages on his eyes had been removed the day before and he was off oxygen. He needed rest and to wait for his temperature to return to normal. But there he was, sitting beside Kari's bed with a far away look in his dark eyes. "Sasuke-kun! What are you doing out of bed?" the nurse scolded.
"What happened to her?" Sasuke asked hoarsely, looking up from Kari's face.
"Ah, well… I suppose it's alright seeing as she's your girlfriend and you must be really worried about her…" the nurse said with a smile.
"Team-mate" Sasuke corrected. The nurse blinked in confusion. But they reached across and held hands while they were sleeping; we had to push their beds closer so they wouldn't fall. "How long have we been in here? What about the final exams?"
"Three days, the final exams are about a month away, but your sensei should be in soon to tell you about it" the nurse said simply.
"And her?" Sasuke asked, glancing at the wires and machines connected to her, to the bandages on her eyes and the white linen encasing her small body. She looked so frail, the hospital shirt making her look paler.
"I'm sure you know about patient confidentiality—"
"I'm the closest person she's got" Sasuke said coldly. Well, he knew that wasn't true. Naruto and Kita were the closest you could get to Kari and Kakashi was a little more than a teacher.
"Well, she jumped in the middle of the Hyuuga match when one of them went into a rage and tried to strike the weaker one with a lethal attack. She got hit and her heart went into failure. We managed to stabilize her but she hasn't woken up yet." The nurse said, debating whether to use the hand on the shoulder for comfort trick.
"Then these machines are the only things keeping her alive?" Sasuke asked. He felt tired and cold; having woken up to see Kari in that state had terrified him. He'd been sitting by her side for the last half an hour at least.
"No, she's doing well. The machines are just so her heart isn't overworked too quickly, as it was severely damaged during the attack. We would have said she should retire from being a shinobi, but she's making a good recovery and she should be fine" the nurse said. "Now come on, into bed, you're in no condition to be up. The more you rest, the quicker you can train."
Kari's eyes shot open, but all she was met with was white. She reached up to her face and felt fabric covering her eyes. Without a moments thought she ripped it off. Her mind was in a thick daze of confusion. Her pounding head fell forward into her hands and she closed her eyes, memories flooding back to her.
Hinata!!
Kari's eyes shot open again, sweat gleaming on her brow. She grasped the shirt over her chest. No wonder it hurt to breathe. But Hinata… was she okay? Pressing the button on her ventilator the screen went blank. She pulled the wires out of her arms and pulled the oxygen mask over her head. She paused for a moment to see Sasuke peacefully asleep before hurtling out the room, searching for a scent or aura or even a sound that could be Hinata. Luckily, her legs seemed to know where she was going and she burst through a door on instinct. Sunlight blazed through the window onto the white sheets of the bed. Hinata lay still and quiet the machine beeping beside her, jagged lines in neon colours dancing across the screen to the beat of her heart. Kari collapsed by the side of her friend's bed and looked on with horror. Hinata lay pale as the bed she was tucked tightly into, she looked very sick, like she was plagued by some terrible disease. Kari hand lightly touched Hinata's cheek, brushing the midnight bangs away from her clammy forehead.
"Hina…?" Kari whispered before a choked sob rattled through her body. Her eyes stung and wet warmth spilled down her cheeks. Kari wiped her bloody tears away and bit her lip. Hinata hadn't responded at all and lay as still as when Kari first walked in. A pain so different from the Jyuuken strike filled her heart, and the blonde kunoichi saw nothing but red.
"With Lee in hospital and TenTen out today, it'll just be us two at training Neji" Gai said, but his booming voice lacked its enthusiasm, like a deflated balloon. His prized student's condition was really bothering him. But he would probably cheer up a little tomorrow when TenTen was back. "So we must work extra hard to make our comrades proud!"
"I feel like training alone sensei" Neji said quietly. "Any news of Kari yet?" it had been the same routine for the last couple of days, they would train half-heartedly in the morning, Neji would ask about Kari, then he would go and train alone. Anyone could see Neji wasn't himself; he was colder and completely shut off.
"She hasn't woken up yet" Gai said. "The doctors said she's making good progress though." Neji made a grunt of acknowledgement and went to leave but Gai grasped his shoulder before he could take the first step. "It's not your fault Neji, she jumped in on her own accord and I'm sure she wouldn't change her mind for an instant if she had the chance to."
"Hai…" Neji said, walking off towards the Hyuuga compound.
Neji span slower in his rotation, finally coming to a stop. He knew he had to prepare for the final exam but all he could think about was her. How he had hurt her. He'd asked to see her, but she was too ill for visitors. He had asked how she was, but he wasn't a member of her team so they wouldn't tell him. His sensei only heard a little now and then on his daily trips to visit Lee and TenTen but it was tearing Neji up not knowing if she was alright. He sighed sliding into stance and activating his Byakugan when he noticed something strange.
A large amount of chakra heading this way.
Before Neji could pinpoint it and try and see who it was an explosion of pain hit the side of his head and he was thrown to the side.
"What the—Kari?!" Neji cried, staring in disbelief at the panting kunoichi before him. Chakra was radiating off her body in waves, her eyes a blazing red. Just as he was about to sigh in relief and ask how she was, she came at him again, chakra blazing around her fist. Sensing her rage he narrowly dodged her attack and shut off her chakra points but it didn't seem to have any effect.
"Doushita?" Kari shouted. "Aren't you going to go for my heart again?!"
"What's the matter with you?!" Neji cried grabbing her arms and holding her still.
"You didn't hesitate with Hinata did you?!" Kari shouted, struggling against his grip but the fact she wasn't completely healed was painfully obvious.
"What's all this ruckus out here?"
"Nothing Hiashi-sama!" Neji cried, looking round at the Hyuuga head; though hatred was clear in his eyes.
"And he's just as bad! Belittling Hinata just because she's not perfect!" Kari shouted, turning her blazing eyes on Hiashi.
"Exactly who do you think you're talking to little girl?" Hiashi said coldly, the veins of his Byakugan appearing beside his eyes. Kari smirked and pushed Neji away hurtling towards the Hyuuga head.
"Kari don't!" Neji cried grasping the back of her hospital gown and pulling her back. Hiashi's eyes narrowed, observing the enormous peculiar chakra that the girl was emitting. His eyes travelled to her ears, which were back as a sign of aggression and her tail that was bristled to the tip, he finally settled on her eyes.
"Just what are you?" Hiashi whispered.
"Otou-sama! Message from the hospital!" Hanabi cried walking out, to find a strange scene; Neji of the branch holding back Kari who was glaring at her father, the Hyuuga head. "Kari-san?" All eyes turned to her. "Hinata is to be discharged this afternoon."
"Yukata!" Kari breathed, a smile coming to her pale face. Her eyes cooled to their usual blue, green, grey mix. Hiashi didn't miss the warning look from Neji and though rather affronted by it, chose to agree with it.
"You're a friend of Hinata's I presume?" Hiashi said, his eyes boring into Kari's, analysing her.
"You have a problem with that?" Kari said, her voice carrying a subtle threat. Hiashi smirked.
"Your strength may be presumed as arrogance little one." With that, Hiashi walked inside without a backwards glance.
"What were you thinking talking to Hiashi-sama like that?! You could have been killed!" Neji hissed. Kari scoffed bitterly.
"Wouldn't be the first time would it?" Neji's eyes widened, shocked and hurt by her sudden cold attitude towards him. She had always been so warm and friendly; loving in fact, and now she acted as though she despised him. She broke out of his lose grip and went to leave. "You'd better hope Naruto-kun beats you in the first round…" and with that she disappeared.
"Neji?" Hanabi asked, confused at the behaviour her usually stoic cousin was showing. She was ignored, and Neji went to continue with his training, deciding Kari probably needed time and space before she would forgive him. And she would forgive him, because she surely must know how painful the guilt was…
Kari sighed and sat against a tree bark. She'd been wandering around a forest completely lost in a thin hospital gown. True, it was the beginning of July, but she was still uncomfortable in the stupid thing. It felt like paper. She leant back and hit her head lightly against the trunk. Boy she hurt… With a light sigh she was swept out of consciousness, the sun peeking through the clouds at her, warming her bare legs.
"Uchiha Sasuke-san and Kari-san?" the nurse asked as she led the way through the maze of the hospital. "You have five minutes; I cannot permit more than that. They still need to stay in bed and she's not at all well."
"Hai" Sakura and Ino agreed. Ino clutched a single red rose while Sakura had three daffodils in her hand.
"Sasuke-kun, Kari-chan, you have guests… two cute girls!" the nurse said good naturedly as she opened the door, she walked in smiling but then gasped and dropped her clipboard at the sight of two empty beds. "Sasuke-kun? Kari-chan?" she rushed to the wardrobe and threw the doors open. "Their clothes are gone! This is bad! They shouldn't be walking around outside in their condition! Doctor! Doctor!" the nurse cried rushing out the room.
"Sasuke-kun…?" Ino said surprised. Sakura looked at the ground worriedly and tightened her grip on the flowers. Had they already been captured by Orochimaru?
"This rock-climbing training is tougher than the last time…" Kakashi grumbled as he struggled to pull himself higher, one hand tied behind his back. "If I was as supple as Kari I wouldn't be having this problem… Damn, my body has weakened. Maybe I should piggyback her for the first week as my own training… Will I make it to the top in the time limit?" Suddenly the rock underneath his foot crumbled away and he was left clinging on by just three fingers. "Che… week and a half…" he closed his eyes and concentrated, opening the first of the eight inner gates and flipping himself upwards to grab the edge of the top. Kakashi blinked as a shadow blocked the sun.
"Hey. Don't suppose you've seen Kari-baka wandering around?"
"Hm, so you've finally come? What do you mean have I seen Kari? She's having treatment in hospital isn't she?" Kakashi asked, easing himself up and untying his hand.
"Not when I woke up. She was gone and her bed was cold. The machines were off and the bed was wet from the wires she'd ripped out because there was blood on it." Sasuke said. He still looked pale and tired, but seemed well enough. "I brought her clothes, seeing as she'll refuse to go back." Sasuke held up a bag. He knows her well... Kakashi thought with a small hidden smile.
"She's wandering around in a hospital gown?" Kakashi mused. "I would have been contacted if she'd been found; I've probably got a letter waiting at home to tell me she's run off. Have you tried asking Kita?"
"Where the hell would Kita be?" Sasuke asked.
"With Naruto" Kakashi said simply.
"And where would Naruto be?" Sasuke asked annoyed.
"With Ebisu."
"Who?"
"Wait a minute…" Kakashi made a hand sign and a puff of smoke appeared around his head. The next second, Kita's white fur was mixing with Kakashi's grey mane, light blue eyes wide and confused. "Kita do you know where Kari is?"
"Hai! She got lost and fainted in the forest and a nice lady took us to her house to rest." Kita said at once. Kakashi gave Sasuke a 'well there you go' look and stood up.
"Lead the way Kita-chan."
Kari sighed deeply, inhaling the smell of fresh clean air that was coming off the cool plump pillow. A thin blanket was laid over her with the softness of Kita's ears and she felt complete and utter contentment. Until she realised she didn't know where she was. Kari's eyes fluttered open to see a lady sitting at the side of her bead waiting for her to wake. Kari sat up abruptly her cheeks flushing a deep red.
"Ahh! Um…? I! Err…? Hi?" Kari managed to cough out. She took in the woman's appearance and was startled at her beauty and radiating kindness. She was quite dainty, skin the colour of white rose petals with a soft pink brushed across each beautifully sculpted cheekbone. She had a small straight nose and slightly large yet beautifully shaped eyes framed by thick long lashes. Plump lips were lightly coloured red. Her eyes were a deep grey, like dark steel yet soft and warm. Her hair was sleek and shiny ebony that fell down her back like it was woven from the finest silk. She had a long elegant neck that sported a necklace but it was mostly hidden under a simple yet pretty kimono. This woman seemed nothing short of royalty.
"Don't worry dear, your safe" she said gently a warm soothing voice like melted honey. "I just didn't want to leave you sleeping outside and I was sure you were uncomfortable in that hospital gown so I put you in an old kimono if that's alright." As she stood up Kari noticed that she was wearing a hitai-ate much like Sakura's.
"You're a ninja?" Kari said in shock. The woman looked round and laughed, returning to where she was sitting with a glass of water in her hands.
"Hai, I've been in the ANBU for years now. I get to work with my husband on missions so we're together a lot more than we would have been." She said placing the glass in Kari's hands.
"But you're so… you don't seem like a ninja… if you get what I mean" Kari said timidly.
"You're quite right, but you don't seem to be that average either." The woman said warmly. "Kita said she would be back soon."
"Kita was here?" Kari asked, her ears perking. Kari's eyes widened and she quickly put her glass on the windowsill. With a soft gasp she dived under the covers. "Aa! Forget you saw that!" Kari squeaked, completely oblivious to her golden tail poking out from beneath the sheets.
"It's okay dear, I'm not going to throw you out or anything" the woman said with a soft laugh. Peeking through the gap Kari sat up, feeling rather stupid.
"Umm, I don't mean to be rude, but who are you?" Kari asked sheepishly.
"Not at all, watashiha Kazahana Kitome." The woman said gently.
"Nice to meet you Kazahana-sama, I'm Kari" Kari said, feeling awkward.
"Call me Kitome, I don't want to be treated so highly" Kitome said gently.
"KOI! OKAERI!!" A voice boomed from outside.
"In here!" Kitome called back in a softer voice. Kari stare in awe as the strangest man strolled in through the door. He was a tall man of a muscled build with slightly tanned skin. He had silver hair of a lighter shade than Kakashi's tied in a pony tail from which it softly spiked in jagged layers until it met his mid-back. He had large piercing silver blue eyes, a lot like Kita's. He had an easy going good natured smile though seemed slightly wild and rough around the edges. His voice was a little rough but was warm and strong. Then there was… Kari gawped at the large silver wolf ears perched on the crown of his head and the thick, fluffy silver tail reaching mid-calf.
"Ahh! Hokage-sama said a job well done and—Ehh?" the man paused and stared at Kari with a look of comical confusion. "Kitome there's an odd girl in here? Was she here when I left?"
"No Koi" Kitome said smiling.
"Neee! She's got ookami ears!" the man said with glee, rubbing one of Kari's ears.
"Kaizo, you're making her uncomfortable." Kitome said softly.
"Ahh?! Gomenasai!" Kaizo cried sitting beside Kitome. He then tilted his head to the side.
"She's not got blue or gold eyes." Kaizo analysed.
"Yes Koi."
"So she's not a Tasukaru."
"No Koi."
"But her face is identical to…"
"Yes Koi."
"Well poke Ryuujin-sama in the eye…"
"Umm?" Kari said. "Maybe I should go…"
"You're the reincarnation of the Torai-Kenshi jinchuuriki!" Kaizo cried in shock, his jaw falling lax. "Which means…"
"You're the reincarnation of our daughter that died before she was born" Kitome said gently. Kari blinked and her head thudded, unable to comprehend what she was being told, the world swirled and she fainted onto the soft pillows.
Oh Kari-chan found out! Kitai's voice said airily. This saves a lot of explaining!
Oh really Kitsune-baka?! Kumouri snarled, her growl dripping with sarcasm.
Urusai both of you, she needs to wake up before the others get there Kokoro said.
"Hey, sorry about that" Kaizo said sheepishly as Kari's eyes opened less than two minutes later.
"So you're like my Otosan here?" Kari asked timidly.
"You really think so?" Kaizo asked, eyes' sparkling as his heart was touched.
"Kaizo-kun" Kitome gently reminded.
"Right. Well I come from the Tasukaru clan, one that has a rather wild and vicious reputation due to the fact we raise Ryuu and Ookami as partners in battle. I'm an Ookami Tasukaru. And due to my father's genes I'm not as frightening as I should look" Kaizo explained with a grin, and now Kari looked, he did have large sharp canines. "Kitome-chan is from the Sorano clan, though gets her surname from her father instead. The Sorano clan was nicknamed the clan of Tenshi due to their peaceful nature and their kekkei genkai of large feathery wings, which is due to the fact they mostly use air element techniques. Neither clan originates from Konoha which is why you won't have seen many people that look like us about. The Ookami Tasukaru tend to make their home in Kiri, while the Ryuu Tasukaru make their home in Kumo. What's left of the Sorano clan can be found in Kumo or Yuki."
"So… she's an angel and your like a beast?" Kari asked puzzled.
"Hey that was cold! I'm a puppy at heart I'll have you know! Anyway, so the story goes, that Kumouri, the AkumaInu got out of hand and escaped from the depths of hell to wreak havoc upon Kokoro's domain the Earth. Feeling the disturbance, Kitai, Tenno Kitsune, rushed to Kokoro's aid. My mother and her twin sister started to seal their spiritual energy inside mine and Kitome's baby while it was still inside the womb. The whole Sorano clan save Kitome and a few from Kumo were sacrificed in the sealing. Once sealed, life went on pretty much as normal until we got a mission. We decided it would be one of our last before we both took a break for Kitome's maternity leave. But on that mission she was stabbed and the blade caught the baby through the heart and head, shattering its skull and making it dead in both heart and brain. She gave birth to our dead daughter a week later, three months premature. But she was still beautiful…" Kaizo sniffed and Kitome rubbed his back silently, ignoring the fact that she too was already crying.
"But with Kitai and Kokoro signifying life and Kumouri signifying death, they were able to merge with you and save the world from unbalance and chaos." Kitome said. "So you protect this world."
"But I come from another world…" Kari said weakly, finding it too much to take in, it just made too much sense…
"Kitai controls space and time, she can go forwards or backwards but cannot interfere. They entered another dimension and chose you as being the closest match to our daughter or took the foetus of our child from the past and placed it inside your birth mother." Kitome said as Kaizo wiped his eyes stubbornly.
"What was her name? Your daughter I mean..." Kari asked, ignoring her own urge to cry.
"Kareiko" Kaizo said fondly. "What's more, we were carrying twins, but the first miscarried early in the pregnancy. So you could be the twin foetus."
"If Kitai controls dimensions does that mean at some point I'll be able to go home?" Kari asked, a sudden hope sparking inside her. Kitome gently touched her shoulder.
"Your spirit might, but your body would be destroyed or left behind. Many people have experimented with gruesome results. The Second Hokage banned the research." Kitome said softly.
"It's okay, I have a better life hear anyway with Naruto and everyone…" Kari said forcing a smile, trying to hide her disappointment.
"Now I know what you mean saying I'm a bad liar…" Kaizo said with a grin. "Ne? You know Uzumaki Naruto? Ah! We—OW!" Kitome had thumped him on the head rather hard.
"Kaizo-kun, you're running your mouth off again." Kitome scolded. "Kari-chan you're welcome to ask us anything and we'll be honest as we can with you. It might be able to make you understand any of your skills or personality traits better" Kitome offered kindly. "And you're also welcome here anytime you like, so please come by when you can."
"Skills? Anou… twin katana?" Kari asked.
"My dad, Hotaru Kohaku; Konoha's greatest swordsman seen in a long time. Also my mothers father, who's still in Kumo bossing everyone around the lazy git." Kaizo said.
"Poor defence?"
"Kitome's bad point, but she improved dramatically whilst a Jounin" Kaizo nodded.
"High speed taijutsu and chakra infused strikes?" Kari asked, getting interested.
"Typical Tasukaru fighting style, though you probably have Kitome's dancey style looking at your build" Kaizo said scratching his cheek.
"And tears of blood?" Kari asked.
"That's a sign of the Torai-Kenshi" Kitome said as Kaizo slightly cringed. "It's said that Kumouri turns inner suffering to physical pain."
"Arachnophobia?"
"You get that from Kaizo-kun" Kitome said with a soft laugh as her husband turned pale and his fur stood on end, silvery blue eyes darting across the floor and up the walls.
"Neh, our turn to ask questions!" Kaizo decided. "Are you a shinobi yet? And if you are what rank?"
"Genin taking the Chuunin exams" Kari said smiling. "In the final exam next month!"
"That brings back memories." Kitome said with a soft smile. "Kaizo was on a team with Uchiha Fugaku and I was on a team with Yondaime. Then he got his own team and we went into ANBU and he went on to be Hokage."
"We're so OLD…" Kaizo sighed. There was a light knock on the door and Kitome left to answer it. Kaizo scooted closer to the bed. "So… Are you at the stage where I get to go and beat up boys?" Kaizo asked. Instead of being embarrassed, Kari snorted with laughter at his serious expression. "What?! I'm an ANBU! Of course I need to be all… err… whatchamacallit!"
"Kaizo-kun, Kari-chan's team has come to see her!" Kitome called. At once Kaizo shot to his feet and dusted himself off.
"I need to make an inspection!" Kaizo cried with a grin. It was odd how close his personality was to Kari's. The kunoichi got out of the bed and trailed after her sort of new father.
"Okaasan!" Kita cried rushing up to Kari. Sasuke looked confused, Kakashi looked even more puzzled. With perfect timing, Kaizo and Kari tilted their heads to the side and let out an annoyed;
"Whaaaat?"
"It makes sense now…" Kakashi said to himself. "She's the reincarnation of the daughter you lost before birth."
"You've grown Kakashi-kun, we haven't seen you since Minato passed away" Kitome said, looking up at the Jounin.
"Kitome-hime, you haven't aged a day" Kakashi said, bowing politely.
"Ehh? Are you sure that's not White Fang back from the dead? Okaasama might be pissed with me again" Kaizo said, making little sense to Kari.
"Kaizo-kun, it's Kakashi" Kitome said simply. "And Mikoto's son as well. Don't you remember their youngest, Sasuke?"
"I'm too old for complicated confusing… things" Kaizo sighed, flopping down on a cushion as Kita jumped on top his head.
"Is anyone going to explain what's going on?" Sasuke asked impatiently. "How do you know my mother, and how do you know me? Why do you both look like Kari? Who are you people?" Kakashi thrust his fist into Sasuke's head with a painful sounding bang.
"Kazahana Kitome and Tasukaru Inu-Kaizo are the elite of the elite in the ANBU. Kari is either the reincarnation of their daughter or their daughter whose foetus was placed in the womb of a different mother from another dimension. They know you because Kaizo was on the same team as your father and Kitome was your mother's best friend." Kakashi hissed.
"Gomen Kitome-sama, Kaizo-sama" Sasuke grumbled. "But it doesn't explain how they're related to Kari when she's from another world."
"Kakashi told you, the Torai-Kenshi transported the foetus to a different dimension—"
"The what?"
"Torai-kenshi, the three canine demons of balance; good, neutral and evil."
"What?"
"Kaizo-kun…" Kitome sighed.
"Its one of those times I've let my mouth run again isn't it…"
"Hai."
"Well Kari, you have some pretty impressive parents here" Kakashi said kindly. "There incredibly strong and well known shinobi. Kitome's the Sannin Tsunade's niece and was on the same team as the Yondaime."
"Yeah…" Kari agreed, Kita on top of her head. After having the Torai-kenshi vaguely explained to Sasuke (leaving out as much as possible) the Uchiha had gone into a stony silence. "They're nice people. So I guess my other parents aren't my parents then?"
"I don't know Kari" Kakashi said gently, noticing it was a sensitive topic. After finding out so much truth after so much uncertainty, her minds bound to be reeling. But she seemed to be taking it well. Kakashi had talked with Kaizo about Kari's team and her current level and such then they had left. Kitome had given Kari something, though Kakashi wasn't quite sure what. Right now they were walking through a rocky sort of desert and finally came to a stop. "I had better explain your training then…" Sasuke looked up to show he was listening.
"You're both going to be staying out here until the Chuunin finals as survival training. You'll be working together in constant teamwork so you learn to trust each other and focus, not thinking about how stupid or embarrassing something might be. As well as me training you, you will be training each other. I will provide food as you both need a healthier diet and we will train for a maximum of twelve hours a day. You will be left alone to sleep and I'll take Kita so you've got nothing but yourselves. You're going to have a chakra chain attached to you, so you can't go more than a metre from each other apart from training. You will have toilet breaks when you need them and as Kari's a lady I'll allow you both to use a bathroom and not the natural surroundings. Training will be slow to begin with so not to push yourselves, especially as you should both still be in hospital. No complaints about anything I ask you to do." Kakashi finished.
"Hai…" they both agreed. Kari glanced at Sasuke, but he looked away, purposely ignoring her. Kari sighed, her ears lowering slightly, hurt from Sasuke's obvious pissed attitude and folded her arms over her yukata.
This is going to be a long month…
But are you wanting to read about that month? Review please?? :)