Violence, mutilation, all that gory stuff. Please note, there is a small section that implies possible sexual assault, briefly. It isn't carried very far. Thank you for your time and for reading my work.

A very special thanks to MinakoTrickster! I really appreciate the time you took to review and thank you for all of your kind words. I recently actually just had a conversation with my boyfriend that I really wished that the other characters in Naruto had been more present. Shino and Ino in particular had always been a point of curiosity for me. I know Ino did pretty well with screen time compared to others, but I always kind of wished that she had been known more being herself as compared to Sakura's rival and friend. Shino was just...interesting. I'm not a fan of bugs per se but I always appreciated how intelligent, strong, and silently caring he was of his teammates. I think that's why I've kind of given him the 'protector' role as I have? Maybe? Kiba I've always liked as he's pretty wild but incredibly loyal, and Akamaru was sooo adorable. As for Momo, thank you for your feedback. I've been trying to work on her having flaws. And I think most of that comes in the way that she sees herself and her own strength in a way. She's unsure and she's terrified but unwilling to back down. I knew when I started writing this I wanted it to be darker, because war is Hell on Earth, and I don't think they really touched on how that can affect you mentally in the manga/show. I also didn't want to make her super strong because quite honestly, Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, and Kakashi are on a whole other level. And I don't really appreciate character bashing, though Sasuke isn't going to be viewed at in a very...welcoming light. I don't know, I never hated him per se but I always felt like his anger was his undoing and he threw away the friendship that could have helped him so easily and I never liked that. But I certainly do not plan on character bashing. Pointing out flaws are one thing to me, but ridiculing everything and every little thing that is done is just...not my thing I guess you could say. Anyway, thank you for your review and your time, it really made me feel great!

Pulling Tides

Chapter Four

Our first B-level mission went to shit. I was still a genin, it was war. It was to be expected.

I killed a lot of people that night. I dragged Sho and Tadashi behind me-Sho was the only one who had helped that night.

Tadashi had freaked out when he woke from his beating. He woke up surrounded by bodies. Takeo-sensei out on a more important mission. He didn't understand for a few days what had happened. And when he did, the twitch in his fingers increased, almost like a tic.

I killed twelve people that night.

I didn't think about it when I did it-instinct and the drive to survive took over. I don't remember how I killed all of them, I just know that I did. It was then that I realized that I was specifically good at killing. I was a decent Shinobi, up until that point. I competed well with my teammates, but I wasn't exceptional.

But that day, it was like something had taken over.

I remember being on the ground; they'd overwhelmed me, my team, cutting circles on my arm, dragging the kunai up and down. I could feel it-but I wasn't aware of the pain at that moment. All I could really feel was the pounding in my chest, the blood rushing and the disgusting laughter. It shook my chest and my soul. I was drowning in it.

Tadashi was beaten and bloody, Sho in the process of it.

Then one of them grabbed my thighs-forcing them open. He ripped the pants I was wearing, tearing them off. He grabbed forward, squeezing my thigh hard. I could smell blood and bile on his breath.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Sho, they ripped his shirt off, tearing at his skin, laughing with glee. He was struggling hard when they placed the knife on the side of his face, cutting from his ear, across his cheek and to his nose. I can see blood drip from a flap of skin, his eyes trying so hard not to let the tears fall. His chest is rising fast-and then they press a finger hard between the torn skin.

I moved faster than I thought was physically possible, ripping my arm from one of their hands, grabbing the kunai and stabbing the man on top of me in the eye.

My speed and size was a plus-I slipped through them, flipping over, and slitting a throat, two throats, three. No, technically that was a stab. and I cracked skull with a chakra filled foot.

The rest was a blur, but when I came too, it was to Sho. We were surrounded by bodies covered in blood. I was clutching my kunai in my hands, gasping and twirling around trying to understand what had happened and searching for a no longer present danger.

He was staring at me in horror, face, dripping with blood. I had never seen him that vulnerable.

He was pulling off his pants, forcing it on me, struggling to put them on me, I grab onto his shoulder and he's suddenly covered in even more blood. It was then that I realized that my legs were cold and that my arm was numb, but radiating warmth. And spewing out blood.. He grabbed his torn shirt and used it to make a tourniquet, wrapping it harshly around my arm. It would scar. Horribly. And it did. But I did regain feeling and use.

He was whispering to me.

"They're dead, they're dead. They can't hurt you anymore. They won't, I won't let them. You won't let them, Momo, give me your kunai, your arm-you're losing blood. Momo, I won't hurt you, I promise. I'm so sorry."

In my head I didn't understand what was going on.

All I knew was that I wanted my mom. I wanted Takeo-sensei. I wanted Sho to go back to being his insufferable self, not the crying and terrified little boy that stood in front of me.

I wanted Tadashi to be awake and okay.

I wanted out of this war.

I had that bruise for a week, on my thigh. I wouldn't let anyone touch me for a month after that. Even Takeo-sensei, I'd flinch. After the first two times, he stopped trying to touch me until I initiated it.

But I had learned something. I was good at killing. Takeo-sensei, when he came back from his mission had found us all together. It had been the first time since we had met that we all willingly chose to be with each other outside of training or missions. We didn't fight as much after that, even if we didn't like eachother, we cared. We all fought for each other.

He understood immediately that something was wrong. Tadashi had told him pieces. Sho filled in the rest.

He never asked me.

He started training me harder after that. Teaching me faster ways to kill, teaching me more complicated taijutsu that was tailored to my small size and my speed. But Takeo-sensei never let me out of his sight. Even when it was just going through the motions, killing everything in sight with a focused, determined, but detached, he still watched over me.

He was the one who told me that I was good enough to be a Shinobi. Good enough to be a soldier. He told me that killing was apart of war, to look at it as apart of my job. He told me that while I was good at it, not to look at it as a reflection of who I was. He told me that it meant that I was good at protecting the people I love, if I was good at killing in war.

But how do you kill something that won't die?

The White clones were fast, strong, and more of a problem than I anticipated: and I anticipated.

Ducking, I swung out, tanto infused chakra in hand, slicing a clone in half.

It fell to the ground, still moving. One came to my side and I side stepped, flipping over, grabbing it's head and tearing it off with a lunge forward.

I moved onto the next one-dancing around, swinging under flying hands and body parts as I hacked and swung.

I could hardly focus on anything other than the piling limbs.

Someone was burning them as they went-smart idea and so far the only way that I'd seen them truly fall apart. But the only problem was that it took time.

Ducking from a swing, I bring up the tanto and impale it in a head, and drag it down again, slicing across its chest. Leaping over it, I moved onto the next one.

It was like going through the motions, not particularly hard to do mentally, but hard on my body. It took so much effort to tear them apart, to dodge, to pull a fellow chuunin out of one of their grasps.

The bodies were beginning to regenerate.

And so far there was only twenty of us here, with an overwhelming amount coming.

Word had gotten back; hold Nori at all costs.

Back up was coming.

But they didn't say when.

Save as much chakra as possible Shino had ordered, eyes narrowed as they approached. Kiba was seething, a wild and animalistic...thing had taken over.

Akamaru was snarling.

Soldier pill in my pack, just in case, I could fight hours like this-but not days.

I don't have that type of strength. I'm not Naruto Uzumaki or Sakura Haruno.

I'm Momo, civilian born. Civilian raised. A part of me wondered if I was just a little girl playing a role, but another, darker part of me knew that I was meant for this. I was too good at killing things. Too much of a killer to truly be a civilian. Maybe it was just my mind struggling to hold up under the blood bath.

Katsu wouldn't of have made it out here. I wouldn't have wanted him to be here.

Shino was terrifyingly fast-faster than I am. Vicious, as he tore apart the clones with his kunai, bombs, and kikai. A part of me had expected for him to take higher ground, but he cornered his opponent, then tore them apart. He moved eerily accurately, never wasting a single movement.

Kiba worked together with Akamaru to tear apart the clones. They worked in unison, never taking a faulty step. Always understanding who would go where, who went first. It was like they were one. He was chaos, erratic but functional in this battle. So opposite to Shino that they fit. He was the storm to Shino's ice cold ferocity.

We were holding the line. Viciously and tearing apart as many of them apart as fast as possible.

There was an acrid smell of sweat, blood, vomit, and poison mixed with the smell of ashes and fire.

My legs were on fire, burning with exertion in a familiar way. It was all coming back, the flashes of the forest which would probably not regain its lush green in my lifetime. The clones though, they seemed to be flammable in a way that was somewhat terrifying.

They went up-and just kept fighting until they couldn't anymore and then they just turned to ash.

But it's taking too long. They were catching each other on fire but they were also spreading it.

I just want it all to end. I've had enough of fire for a lifetime.

They called for a ash bath. The sky was filled with soot, clouding the already cloudy sky. It was morning again, technically. Though, I couldn't really tell. When the ash bath had started it was dark out, but it had looked like the sun was beginning to rise.

Seated facing the closed gate of Nori, I wondered if the chakra wall would break under the intense heat of the fire they'd created to take down the clones.

I was leaning up against a building, Kiba laying flat, caught somewhere between sleep and hypervigilance. He was silent, eyes closed.

But at the slightest sound out of the ordinary, like a scream, he was up, watching with his dark eyes.

Akamaru was covered in mud and ashes. He sat protectively in front of Kiba, and for a second I realized that I always seen him as a pet, not a trained shinobi, a part of Kiba.

Shino stood to my opposite side. The edges of his hooded cloak touched my shoulders.

We fought for twenty seven hours-and my chakra was nearly depleted.

My hands were shaking-not used to the lack of movement or purpose, I hadn't stopped since I was actually torn out of the fight by Shino. I was too focused and unfocused, I didn't even hear the order that was given. But Shino hadn't hesitated, I think he realized early on that he may have to pull me out. I was terrified of stopping because if I did then my body would truly give in and then I wasn't quite sure I could get back up.

My clothes were soaked in blood, a mixture of my own and my own comrades. I had scrapes on my face, above my left eyebrow, I pushed the blonde bangs back, shaking as even more sweat bleed into the blisters and torn fingers from handling the tanto.

It had been Takeo-sensei who had encouraged me to use chakra to infuse the tanto. It had worked, remarkably well, but it was a hassle to keep that amount of chakra control during a fight that spanned for hours.

My chest had just stopped heaving.

There was a beetle placed just under my ear, close to Kiba and Akamaru. It had stayed there after my first injury.

A slice to the side of my waist.

It would heal easily once cleaned but I didn't have the energy and we didn't quite have a medic at the moment.

I turned to look up at Shino who was focused on the ash bath.

I stretched out my legs slowly.

Exhaustion was beginning to take hold, and hold hard.

"Go to sleep, Momo." I grunted.

"Ash bath can only be so effective. It takes them forever to go up in flames and turn to ash." I murmur. The heat was beginning to spread and for the first time in a long time I was actually sweating without exertion. It was making me tired to the bones. But the ash bath was a new thing; we weren't quite sure how well it would work.

"You overtaxed yourself." It was getting hard to fight it, and while I sort of wanted to glare at him for being so cocky, I was tired. So instead of fighting I nodded, turning to lean up against his standing figure. The ground and wooden wall wasn't a bedroll or even that cot I slept on for a night at camp.

He shifted, but didn't pull away.

"You smell better than Kiba." I whispered in exhaustion and explanation, eyes slipping closed as the heat sinks into my body, easing the pain somewhat. For once, underneath the sweat and exertion I smelt forest instead of blood or chakra burns.

He doesn't say anything, but he doesn't shift away.

And then I close my eyes, letting the hazy tiredness take over.

"Just...wake me up when you need to rest. And I mean it." I said quietly.

I woke up fast-disorientation hitting me hard as I held my breath, trying to focus on where I was.

Taking a deep breath in, the smell of vomit and blood was strong; but not stronger than the smell of fire.

I was still leaning against Shino, who was in the same position as before.

Groaning, I stood up, sliding up the wooden walls. My knees and wrists cracked and my neck throbbed. I take a sharp breath as blood rushes to my head, and I feel a hand grab me, keeping me from falling over. I grasp back onto it, warm, strong and calloused. I hold onto it like an anchor and steady my breathing before I let go and slowly stand to full height, which isn't very tall.

My entire body was stiff, aching, and burning.

Kiba was fast asleep-twitching and Akamaru was keeping an eye out.

"What's happened?" I ask thickly.

He doesn't say anything at first.

I can still sense them-but they're dying off.

"Mifune has ordered us to stay here. The ash bath is working. They're going to be spreading the information across the borders."

I looked at him, the fire had worked. "Ash bath is dangerous though, all that wildlife...they'd need to teach too many people the ninjutsu to keep these shields up. If anyone loses one of those clones..." I muttered.

I could only imagine. Towns going up in flames. Homes destroyed.

But then again, that was already happening. Entire towns left abandoned.

"It's the only thing that's worked." He replied evenly.

I nod, and then look at him.

"Are you going to rest?"

He turned, staring evenly. "No."

I rolled my eyes and stretched.

"How long was I out?"

I turn to look at Kiba as I hear a snore.

"Three hours." He says.

"That's it?" I muttered, kicking a stone.

"You sleep like the dead." He noted.

I didn't use to. I use to move, constantly.

Not anymore.

I turned to inspect him.

Even after a full day and some hours, he looked composed.

I was dead tired, but there was no way that I could continue in that position.

"They will be doling out appartments soon. No more civilians are here. Nori will become a military stronghold." He says calmly, watching over Kiba and I. "They're going to be shipping us back to camp next week, once Nori is settled."

I sniff in, nose clogged, and I wonder if Ino is okay.

"We will be placed as a permanent team within the fifth division. It seems that we work well enough together that they will not separate us for now." I blinked, slightly surprised.

Although, it wasn't like we hadn't gotten along.

A part of me missed Sho and Tadashi, but was glad that I no longer had to deal with their misconceptions and ignorance.

A genin appears in front of us in a flash and I flinch, startled into action. Kiba is awake and standing, Akamaru growling.

Shino's hand shoots out, across my face to grab Kiba, to calm him.

The genin stumbles his apologies, immediately backing up several feet before giving us an apartment name and room number.

"M-Mifune-s-sama said you have a full day to recuperate. H-help yourself to t-the apartment." He stumbles out.

I swallow, ducking under Shino's arm before patting the kids head.

"Next ones you approach, do so from a distance." I say quietly. He nods.

"Y-Yes Kaga-san!" He runs off and I turn to look at them.

Kiba is still on high alert but he's fading fast.

"C'mon." I mutter.

The apartment building is in the middle of Nori, tall but older looking. It's far away fromt the fire but the soot reminds me that it's still there, just outside of Nori.

The apartment is small, single-bedroom, with one bed and a couch, which is torn to shreds It looked like whoever was living here before had hidden something in it then tore it apart in a hurry to get out. The walls are pale and there are picture frames with no photos. There is a kitchenette and anything canned has already been taken, but most of the food still lingers. Kiba finds cookies, and we all eat them until they're gone. It's the first treat I've had in four months. I don't think I remember anything tasting so good.

We all take showers, I go first.

Under the hot water I'm tempted to spend forever, but I know it's limited. I wash off the grime, the blood. I spend extra time cleaning the wounds. The soap smells strong, but clean.

I then dress in a left over shirt and shorts. Kiba found them in the drawers. There was enough clothes for each of us, and tomorrow we'd have to clean the blood stained ones. But today we were tired. The shirt hit past mid-thigh and the short went mid-calf. Whoever lived here before was sized closer to Shino, who was broader than I thought he was, underneath all those layers.

I climb into the middle of the bed, unwilling to be pressed into a wall, and wanting to be surrounded by steady breathing. It was how I slept with Takeo-sensei, Tadashi, and Sho on missions. For the first time in a long time, I actually feel comfortable. I actually feel clean. I feel...safe. But I also felt the weariness bone deep.

Maybe it's being so close to home. Maybe it's because this apartment reminds me of the one I shared with mother and Katsu when I was young. Of the bed we all shared. Maybe it makes me more willing to give in for one night.

The curtains are all closed, but the ash in the sky will block out the sun for a day at least.

Shino climbs into bed next, closest to the door and the window. His kikai have taken residence all over the house, guarding and protecting. The kikai he had placed on me had returned after the shower to my neck.

Kiba and Akamaru come last. Kiba to my back and Akamaru at my feet. Both are asleep almost instantly. Kiba is sleeping on his side, facing my back. I realize somewhat amused, that we are both facing Shino, who has been our protector this entire time. Shino who has kept us sane, with his silent but constant and unwavering stability. Shino is quiet, and I'm unsure of if he's asleep but I don't really know but he looks the most peaceful since I've met him.

It's quiet. And it reminds me of home. It reminds me of before.