A/N: Hey everyone. Finals are over! I've been somewhat lazy since then, but I've been developing characters over the last few days, and I have some major new developments. An old face will make an appearance and some surprising things will be revealed. I plan to bring two more characters into the front row of main characters, and a new villain will appear. Here we go!

Chapter Twenty: The Truth Behind the Hirano Twins

A month had passed since Tsumi Osada had invaded the village. May had arrived in full bloom. The trees were bearing leaves and the plants bore their fruits in the best days of spring. Rise and Kaze had recovered well from their battle with Tsumi. Naruto had been teaching them all better control over their power, and Rise had learned to form a pact with the beast inside.

Rise awoke on May Twelfth to the sound of a hummingbird flying by her window, drinking nectar from a feeder she had bought when she was seven. She watched the little bird drink it fill and then fly away.

"Spring is here!"

She said happily. She dressed quickly in her usual clothes and exited her room and into the hallway. She saw her entire family in the living room already eating. She took a seat at the table and she ate silently. She had plans for the day with Kaze. Upon finishing, Kaze and Rise excused themselves from the table and headed out into the streets of Konohagakure. Kaze was taking Rise swimming in a mountain lake that had been found recently. Rise had her swimsuit on under her clothes. On the way, Rise saw Nanjo. Nanjo hurried to their side, a grave look on his face.

"Can you guys come with me? Yuzu and Suzu's dad just arrived, and he's really injured. Apparently, he knows Serah's dad."

Rise looked at Kaze, who nodded. They walked through the city streets until they reached the Uchiha Manor. Serah was sitting by the main gate with Hiro. Hiro saw his cousin and he waved.

"What happened to him?"

Rise asked quietly. Yuzu and her twin sister were being comforted by Nanjo, who was hugging both of them. Yuzu looked up at her friend and classmate, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Akatsuki was after my dad. They wanted the power that he has and the power he passed down to us."

Rise swore loudly.

"Damn those Akatsuki bastards to hell! They won't stop at Kaze and I, but they have to go for them too?"

Rise felt her anger seethe. She knew she had to regain control, so she closed her eyes and she thought of the first time that she had kissed Kaze. With a few deep breaths, she regained her composure. Sasuke came out of the house and brought the kids inside. Yuzu and Suzu smiled as they saw their father sitting in a chair, with only his right arm bandaged. They hugged their father and smiled. The man had spiked orange hair that culminated in a single braid down his left shoulder. His red eyes and soft pale skin gave him a gentle look. Sasuke sat across from the man and spoke.

"Its been a long time Jugo."

The man nodded and chuckled.

"A long time indeed, Sasuke. So, have you heard the news?"

Sasuke shook his head without speaking. Jugo continued.

"Suigetsu and his wife were killed. No one knows what happened, but it would taken an exceptionally powerful Shinobi to eliminate Suigetsu. The only clue they left was part of Samehada's bandages."

Sasuke reeled slightly.

"Suigetsu, dead. Not long ago, we had an attack by Akatsuki after these two, directly on the village."

Sasuke cocked his head towards Rise and Kaze, causing Rise to flinch. Jugo then spoke.

"So you're Naruto's kid. And you look just like Gaara ."

Rise nodded with Kaze, and they both smiled.

"That's right."

Jugo grinned and he patted his twin daughters on the head.

"These two inherited my curse. It seems to be stronger in Yuzu than in Suzu, though. I sent them here after their mother was killed, because I knew that Sasuke and Naruto had kids with similar abilities. Nanjo, I wanted to thank you for the kindness you've shown to my girls. You're probably the only one who could restrain them without hurting them if they lose control."

Nanjo grinned and he nodded.

"Its my pleasure, sir. Yuzu is a great girl, and Suzu is probably the nicest person I've ever met."

Jugo grinned and he closed his eyes.

"I'm glad that Konohagakure still teaches its kids the values it did twelve years ago. Can you give us some space? Sasuke and I need to talk about top secret information."

Rise nodded and she stood up with the other four Shinobi in training and they left the room. Rise closed her eyes and she laid her head on Kaze's shoulder. Kaze held her hand in his and he stroked her fingers. Nanjo was talking to the twins. Kaze whispered to Rise.

"Let's go. They need their time together."

Rise nodded and they left quietly. Nanjo smiled at them as they walked away. Yuzu called out to Rise as they left.

"Thank you!"

Rise turned her head back to smile at them and she waved. Rise then crouched low to the ground and pushed into the air with Kaze right beside her. They landed high in the mountains near the lake. Rise and Kaze sat in a field of flowers, talking. Rise felt a chill in her bones and she scanned the area with her Byakugan. She threw a kunai into the water, only to watch it take the shape of a young woman no older than sixteen. Rise backed away as the girl drew an object from her back that was wrapped in bandages.

"How convenient. You're alone. I'm not here to hurt you. My name is Tsukigetsu Hozuki. My father sent me here just before he was murdered by a man in purple robes and before he forced me to join Akatsuki. He thinks I'm here to capture you both."

Rise backed up and she pinned herself to the tree nearest her.

"You're an Akatsuki too?"

Rise felt herself shivering in fear, but Kaze held her hand and stroked her hair. Tsukigetsu spoke again.

"Against my will, but with a purpose. I'm going to kill the leader, my father's murderer. I came to tell you one thing, Rise. You need to grow strong. Strong enough that you won't ever be defeated. Because if we get you, this world is done for. Between Madara and Gimchi, there are a lot of people who want to use what's inside of you. Kaze, protect her. Now I must leave. Rise, the next time we meet, we'll be enemies. I hope by then you will be strong enough to defend yourself."

Tsukigetsu dissolved into water once more and she disappeared. Rise felt a sigh of relief and she shook her head.

"Let's not tell anyone about this Kaze. We just need to get stronger, like she said. Come on, let's get in the water."

Rise said and she took off her outer clothes and she dove into the water. Kaze did the same and he dove in as well. They stayed there for a long time. Rise eventually rested her back on the shore. She closed her eyes and she spoke in a soft voice.

"Kaze, do you think I'm weak?"

Kaze, who had been examining a school of small fish that were swimming with them, shook his head.

"You're not weak Rise. You stood up to Tsumi and you're the top of our class. I'd say you're stronger than anyone."

Rise sighed and she looked into the sky.

"I just don't know sometimes. People have been protecting me since I was a baby. I don't want anyone else to die or get hurt because of this damn beast inside of me."

Rise shook her head and she sighed. Kaze put his arms around her and he held her.

"You've changed Rise."

He said softly and Rise wriggled out of his arms.

"What do you mean, I've changed? For better or for worse?"

Kaze closed his eyes and he whispered.

"Neither. You're just different than you were almost two years ago. You used to be so... so much like your father at our age. You know, wild and free. Now you're more serious and focused. I like the new you better."

Rise laughed and she nodded.

"You've changed too you know. You're not the shy little twelve year old you were back then. You're more outgoing and you don't blush around me as much. We're growing up Kaze. Things are going to change after we become Genin. We might not be in the same cell. We may not see each other much. Will we still be able to be like we are?"

Kaze shrugged.

"Who knows? We'll still be living together, so we'll see each other some times. I don't want to lose you Rise."

Rise looked over at him and she smiled. She circled her arms around him and she kissed him hard. Kaze put his hand on her cheek as their tongues interlaced. They lost themselves in that kiss for a long time. Rise eventually pulled back and she whispered to Kaze.

"I love you Kaze. That will never change."

Kaze kissed the nape of Rise's neck and he whispered in return.

"I love you too Rise. And my love for you will never change."

Rise hugged him and she took his hands and laid them on her growing chest.

"These and everything else on me belongs to you, Kaze. I'm ready to start getting more serious with you."

Kaze swallowed hard and he nodded. He kissed Rise softly as he felt her softness.

"Me too, but we need to be careful so no one finds out. I can imagine what your mother will say."

Rise laughed and she pushed him away playfully.

"Me too. She'd never let us see each other again."

Kaze laughed and they embraced. The moment was right, but the place was not. Rise kissed Kaze on his cheek and she drew herself out of the lake.

"Let's go home. I'm hungry."

Kaze nodded and he drew his shirt over his head. Rise grinned mischievously and she quickly untied her top and put her shirt on. Kaze felt his face burn as he saw Rise topless for the first time, and she just laughed.

"Get used to it."

She said and they returned home. They had less than five months until they became Genin, and tomorrow they had an exam at the Academy.

TO BE CONTINUED...