Truth: It was her fault.

"You're all ridiculous," Ayano said shortly.

It was months later. Kimimaro had settled into Konoha with Sayuri and Satoru, Kiyomi had become the most exemplary pupil she could ever hope for in her lightning technique, and Miyako was well on her way to mending from her father's death and becoming a successor he could be proud of. The scars from their last C-rank mission that had gone so horribly wrong were distant memories, only thin white lines in the worst cases.

"You remember how the last one went!" Ayano snapped.

"It's been months since then," Miyako begged. "We all want to go out and prove ourselves!"

"Gai's team saw us like that," Sayuri murmured, looking at her feet darkly. "It still embarrasses me that they saw us so… beaten up."

"We've improved, you know we have!" Kiyomi insisted. "The first time things were out of our control, but we handled it! And yeah, last time, things went wrong, but we've gotten so much better! You even said you were confident we could become chunin next time we took the test!"

"I am, but that doesn't mean I want you running out on another dangerous mission!" Ayano snapped. "You're not ready!"

"We are!" Kiyomi insisted eagerly, but inside she was angry.

She'd been planning this for months. This was how she could get Sayuri. Things happened on missions all the time, and if she could separate Sayuri from the rest of them for a while, then she could do it quickly and quietly. She would return to Konoha as a grieving teammate. She didn't even mind playing the part if it meant she could silently revel in her triumph over her unknowing rival.

From the first time she'd managed to create a lightning jutsu, to every step she'd made, she'd seen in her mind's eye how Sayuri's face would look when she realized that Kiyomi was stronger than her, that she was about to die.

"I can't-" Ayano murmured brokenly.

This wasn't about the girls in front of her. This was about different faces. A tall blonde girl, a muscular dark-haired boy, and a small green-haired girl, dead at her feet, because she'd thought they were ready. The last C-rank she'd taken these three girls on had nearly ended in the same way, with dead genin at her feet, cracks in her confident mask, and a gaping hole in her heart.

"Ayano," Sayuri said softly, knowing precisely what was making their teacher hesitate. The anniversary hadn't been long ago, barely two weeks, and as reliable as Naruto's obsession with ramen, Ayano came for her yearly cup of tea and companionable silence with Satoru.

When Kiyomi had suggested a few days before that it was time for them to try a C-rank again, Sayuri and Miyako had both agreed. However, the problem now was timing. To wait a month would defeat the purpose of going now, of being able to prove to Ayano that they were ready for bigger things, but it was so close to the yearly reminder of what would be their biggest obstacle.

"We're not them," Sayuri continued. "We're ready. You've taught us well. You can pick the mission, one with low risks. Please, let us prove it."

Ayano looked at the faces in front of her. Kiyomi, who had recently managed a perfect lightning-feuled kick that caught her by surprise in one of their secret training sessions, kept so to prevent word from getting out that Ayano was sharing her technique. Kimimaro, who was a force to be reckoned with – and even more so thanks to a recent increase on the amount of chakra his cuffs allowed – had been teaching Sayuri in his spare time and she had become faster, stronger, and more flexible, her kekkei genkai more lethal. Miyako's time spent as head of her clan had wrought such a change in her that it was palpable. She looked people in the eye while speaking to them more often and didn't stutter at even the smallest interjection.

It wasn't them, it was her.

They were ready.

Ayano wasn't.

Ayano slumped. "You guys are serious about this, aren't you?" she asked wryly.

"Yes!" Kiyomi exclaimed. "We want to do this!"

There was a momentary pause as the genin waited with bated breath for Ayano's judgment. She sighed and drew a hand through her turquoise hair.

"Okay," she submitted. "Okay. But I pick the mission and if for any reason I don't like how it's going, we bail," she bargained.

"Easy," Miyako promised.

"Alright," Ayano nodded, letting out a woosh of air, still not sure how to believe that she'd really agreed. She still saw Kiyomi and Sayuri lying in pools of blood on those rare melancholy nights when she began to think back on fallen comrades. "I'll go and see what's available. Meet me back here tomorrow and we'll talk about the details."

The three genin nodded, delighted by their success.

"I think this calls for celebration!" Kiyomi announced as they left the training field, triumphant. "To that restaurant from the first time?"

Sayuri and Miyako nodded gladly and they started down the road to the same out-of-the-way place they'd gone after being first assigned to their teams. That was nearly a year ago now, but it didn't really seem like it had been so long.

They slid into the same table as they had the first time and ordered.

"We convinced her, and we're taking the chunin exam in a few weeks," Sayuri exulted as she sipped on her tea. Kiyomi smirked behind her own glass as Miyako nodded eagerly.

That's right Sayuri, enjoy yourself. You're not coming that from this mission, and you're not making chunin if I have anything to say about it. I've worked too hard these past months to fail now.

The mission was simple. Just like their first, it was an escort mission. A man was transporting scrolls containing sensitive information into the Land of Wind and he wanted protection on his trip to a village, despite the fact that the two lands were allies.

Daichi was a scholar, a thin man who wore voluminous blue robes. He was well-groomed and polite. The information contained in the scrolls pertained to a discovery he was working on with another scholar in Wind. Admittedly, not the most dangerous of information, but still desired by some. He had money to spare, so, for peace of mind, he'd hired a team of guards.

"You're in good hands sir," Ayano assured him.

"I'm sure," Daichi smiled back.

Daichi was much more reasonable than Yasushi had been.

"What sort of work are you doing, or can you tell us?" Miyako asked curiously.

"I'm working on a new medical jutsu that could help regrow lost limbs," Daichi explained, eyes sparkling with the shine of someone who truly enjoyed his work. "It's very complex, I'm not sure that you would-"

"No, no, my family are all med-nin sir, I completely understand," Miyako jumped in interestedly. Daichi smiled happily.

"Really?"

"Yes," Miyako nodded interestedly. "How do you solve the problem of cellular rejection?"

"Well, that's the main problem, and the hope is that…"

Miyako talked shop with Daichi while Ayano, Kiyomi, and Sayuri exchanged pleased looks. They'd worried at the outset of this mission that Miyako would simply remain in a depressed shell, but giving her a topic on which she was keen and worked wonders to distract her from her loss.

Kiyomi and Sayuri caught each other's eyes and smiled, pleased that Miyako seemed to be recovering slowly. Then Kiyomi turned away sharply, forcing the smile from her face.

She's only your teammate, she's not your friend! She's always lorded it over you how much better she is! You're here to kill her!

For the first time in months Kiyomi felt a sliver of doubt about her plan, but then she fisted her hand around the packet of herbs in her pocket. She set her mind to reviewing the plan over and over to distract herself from any second thoughts. She couldn't go back now, she'd worked too hard on Ayano's technique, learning it purely for this purpose.

They stopped for the night just to the side of the path, shielded from the eyes of passers-by by a large bush. They lit a fire and Sayuri prowled around, adding a few plants she'd found to the things they'd brought and created a hearty stew that could be sipped from bowls.

Sayuri took a sip and smiled. "It's ready. Who wants some?"

"Smells lovely," Daichi smiled. "It's been a while since I've had someone cook for me."

"I'll serve," Kiyomi said sharply, bolting up as Sayuri reached for the ladle. Sayuri looked up at her in surprise. They usually had a method for how they handled camp. Sayuri cooked, Miyako handled the fire and wood, Kiyomi put up tents if it was needed, and Ayano established a perimeter. It was rare they crossed into someone else's duties.

"You cooked," Kiyomi shrugged, but sweat had broken out on her forehead. This was a key part of her plan. She couldn't have Miyako and Ayano getting in her way.

"Thank you," Sayuri said slowly, surprised by Kiyomi's thoughtfulness. She settled back on her haunches as Kiyomi started ladling stew into bowls. Then came the tricky part: drugging Miyako, Ayano, and Daichi's bowls. Ayano was a trained jonin, she would be the biggest challenge, but Kiyomi had practiced for hours smoothly pouring the herbs into a bowl until even she couldn't see herself doing it when she watched in a mirror.

"Here you go," Kiyomi said passing around the bowls. She waited tensely for Ayano and Miyako to take their firsts sips, fearing that one of them would stand up and call her out, but none of them so much as flinched. Ayano didn't break stride in her conversation with Daichi about politics and Miyako was lost in her head again, that melancholy expression on her face.

"Thank you," Sayuri said as Kiyomi handed her the bowl. Kiyomi jumped slightly and a little bit of the stew slopped onto Sayuri's leg.

"Sorry," she blurted instinctively as Sayuri mopped her pants. Sayuri looked up at her and smiled, taking the bowl.

"Not a problem."

"You're being awfully helpful," Ayano mused as Kiyomi volunteered for the first watch that night. Kiyomi shrugged and glanced at Miyako meaningfully. Ayano nodded, understanding Kiyomi's meaning, or at least, what Kiyomi wanted her to think she meant.

"Ah."

Ayano turned away from the fire and curled up under her blanket next to Sayuri, Miyako on her other side. Daichi was on the other side of the fire from them.

"Hmm, I don't know why I'm so tired tonight," Ayano mumbled as she snuggled deeper into her blankets. Kiyomi twitched slightly.

"I know," Miyako agreed, yawning. Daichi was already out, snoring softly and swaddled in a blue blanket that matched his robes.

Kiyomi glanced around, waiting for night to fall, that was when she'd strike, but not here, not in the camp. She had to get Sayuri away from the camp a decent distance before she could try anything. The drugs were strong, but they wouldn't keep anyone asleep though a knock-down drag-out fight like the one she was planning to have.

"Sayuri!" Kiyomi hissed.

"Mm?" Sayuri sat up sleepily, blinking in her direction. "K'yomi? What is it?"

"I thought I heard something," Kiyomi said, slowly drawing a kunai and tensing, staring off into the blackness. "Come check it out with me."

"We should wake Ayano," Sayuri said, snapping into awareness when she saw the glint of the blade. She reached over to shake their teacher's shoulder but Kiyomi stopped her.

"Nah, let her sleep. She said she was tired. It's probably nothing, I'd just feel better if we checked it out. And you've got that sensing thing."

Sayuri rolled to her feet with a grunt and agreed, "I do have that 'sensing thing.'" She sounded amused as she rolled her shoulders, popping them, and strode forwards.

"Which way?"

"Over here."

Kiyomi was sure Sayuri would hear her heart pounding as she led Sayuri deeper and deeper into the trees, but Sayuri continued to walk blithely by her side, head turning in different directions. It gave her a thrill that Sayuri, the great Sayuri Kaguya, hadn't picked up on her trick yet.

"Kiyomi, there's nothing out here!" Sayuri burst out irritably as they entered a wide clearing in the trees. She spun to face Kiyomi, who was so glad she'd said that. Any trace of doubt vanished at the sound of that rebuke from Sayuri.

"Did you want to talk or something?" Sayuri asked in confusion. "You could have just asked, you know."

"No, I didn't really want to talk," Kiyomi said softly. Her arm snapped forwards.

Sayuri cried out and rolled as the kunai sailed over her head. She made to rise, only for a knee to bury into her side. On a normal person a rib would have broken, but she was only winded as she staggered backwards.

"Kiyomi?" she demanded incredulously. "What the-? What's gotten into you?"

"What's gotten into me?" Kiyomi hissed. "The same thing that's always been in me, but I finally decided to do something about it!"

"Wha-?"

Sayuri ducked and dodged a flurry of punches and jumped back, getting some distance from Kiyomi.

"What are you doing?" Sayuri burst out furiously. "Stop it Kiyomi! We're on a mission!"

Kiyomi paused, arms lowering. "You… you think I'm just playing," she realized.

"Of course, why else would you be doing this?" Sayuri asked, confused.

Anger pounded through Kiyomi. "Why else… Why else?" she screeched. "Why? Because of all the times you've looked down on me, made me feel like crap because I'm not as perfect as you! Ever since we graduated and I joined your team, it's been the same thing from everyone. Why aren't you as good as Sayuri? Well you know what?" she shouted, smiling as understanding and horror dawned on Sayuri's face. "I am! And I'm going to prove it to all of them!"

Sayuri was stunned. Kiyomi was really and truly out for blood. They'd never gotten along as well as Miyako and Sayuri had, but they'd had each other's backs, had trained alongside each other, fought alongside each other, had defended each other… and now Kiyomi wanted her head?

"I don't understand," Sayuri said slowly. Kiyomi threw back her head and laughed, the anger pounding through her veins preventing her from hearing how deranged she sounded.

"You don't understand?" she repeated mockingly. "Oh, that's priceless! You don't understand why I hate you? Why I can barely stand to be around you? Because you think you're perfect, everyone thinks you're perfect, and you're not! And I'm so sick of it! So here and now, I'm going to kill you, Sayuri Kaguya!"

Sayuri's face hardened. "You'll never get far. Ayano and Miyako won't let you."

"Ayano and Miyako won't wake up," Kiyomi grinned, lifting the empty pouch and tossing it towards Sayuri. She took it and brought it to her nose, inhaling. Her eyes widened and she looked at Kiyomi furiously.

"You drugged them!" she accused.

"I learned that little trick from you," Kiyomi simpered.

"You… you traitor!" Sayuri hissed, heart bleeding. She'd always known that Kiyomi was a little jealous, but that's all she thought it was, a little envy. She'd always thought envy in small doses was a good thing, that it encouraged you to try harder, but this wasn't a small dose. This was a heaping helping, and Kiyomi was drowning in it.

"You drugged your teacher, you drugged your friend, and you're trying to kill your teammate!" Sayuri said, sliding deeper and deeper into betrayal and anger as she lost control of her tongue. Now she was just out to hurt Kiyomi. "Clearly, everyone who said I was your better was right!"

With an enraged howl, Kiyomi attacked, sending a fireball towards Sayuri, who dodged effortlessly, swords sliding out of her palms. Kiyomi's kunai clashed against Sayuri's sword and the two traded blows, Kiyomi swiping furiously and Sayuri blocking deftly. Sayuri hooked a sword around the kunai and sent it spiraling into the night with a quick flick.

Sayuri leveled the point of her sword at Kiyomi's throat. The girl swallowed, her throat bobbing against the tip.

"You'll never beat my swords," Sayuri said, coldly furious. "You know that."

"Maybe not with a kunai," Kiyomi allowed, but she was still smiling. Sayuri's eeys narrowed in confusion as Kiyomi swept away from the point of the sword and dropped back onto her hands, kicking out at Sayuri's knees. Sayuri leapt back, getting some distance, which was exactly what Kiyomi wanted.

Strong legs scythed through the air, Kiyomi's hands flying through signs and lightning ripped up her limbs. Sayuri screamed and threw herself to the side, heart racing. The hairs on her arms stood on end as a bolt of lightning seared past her.

"That's Ayano's-" Sayuri gasped, utterly floored. Ayano had taught Kiyomi this secret technique? Why? Had Kiyomi learned it purely to bring her down? Her betrayal hit her all over again, that Kiyomi would go through the effort of learning the immensely difficult technique purely to kill her.

"Yeah, it is," Kiyomi crowed. "You're going to lose, Sayuri Kaguya! Bone cannot defeat lightning!"

Sayuri lay on the ground, panting. She had a dilemma. The Kaguya in her was screaming to tear Kiyomi apart for this, until she was nothing but little, bloody, traitorous pieces. But she didn't want to hurt Kiyomi. She remembered all the times they trained together, the times they went to that restaurant and laughed as they sang along to whatever song was playing. However, Kiyomi was all but forcing her to use deadly maneuvers to counter the lightning.

"It's time to pay!" Kiyomi roared as she flipped, legs sparking. "You knew you had this coming!"

Sayuri had no time to think about how she should react. She barely had time to react as Kiyomi's feet came down hard towards her stomach. She braced her feet against the ground and discharged chakra, sending herself skidding along the ground. She braced one hand on the ground and used her momentum to flip over it, landing on her feet, heart pounding with adrenaline and concern.

This was a new kind of fight. She'd never fought Ayano's technique before in their sparring. It was too dangerous. She only had one advantage. Bone didn't conduct electricity well. If she was going to do any blocking, it had to be with her swords. If any of those kicks hit her skin, even a little, they had enough power to floor her and send her muscles seizing long enough for Kiyomi to finish her off. Mind made up, Sayuri gripped the handles of her swords with more purpose and set into a stance.

The lightning Kiyomi was producing around her legs charged the atmosphere and the heavy clouds that had lingered overhead all day burst, drenching them to the skin in seconds. The two girls panted as the rain fell, eyes blazing at each other from across the field.

"You're not going to beat me," Sayuri said, voice pitched just loud enough that Kiyomi could hear her over the rain. "I'm not going to let you."

"It's not up to you," Kiyomi snapped. "It's up to me. It's always been up to me to show everyone that you're not as great as they think. Miyako's been your devoted slave since the beginning and Ayano's blind." She flashed a sardonic smile. "Funny, that, considering you're the blind one."

"If you're trying to insult me with that, you're dimmer than I thought," Sayuri said coldly. The smile dropped.

"I hate that tone. That damn condescending tone," Kiyomi growled, flying forwards again.

Sayuri used the time it took her to cross the field to strip off her shirt. Bones burst from her skin, a rib blocking Kiyomi's electric-charged kick.

"What did you say about lightning beating bone?" Sayuri challenged. Kiyomi disengaged with a snarl and came back as Sayuri from the back. Sayuri spun and twisted as Kiyomi came at her from all directions, frantically blocking her powerful kicks with her swords and bones. She realized that Kiyomi must have been holding back in their spars for months, because her kicks now rattled Sayuri's arm to deflect.

Sayuri hated Kiyomi for making her use deadly force against her, but she was so damn fast! She couldn't risk slipping and getting hit, because that would end it all for her. Sayuri shoved against Kiyomi's leg and sent her flying. Kiyomi righted herself in midair and skidded to a stop. She jumped back towards Sayuri.

"Larch Dance!"

Kiyomi drew up short with a curse. She'd always thought this technique was such an amazing defense, but right now she hated it, absolutely hated it. It made it impossible for her to get close enough for a kick without getting turned into a pincushion by the needle-like bones bursting from all over Sayuri.

"You can't just spin forever!" Kiyomi shouted at her.

"Try me."

Kiyomi growled under her breath, working to find a solution. The spinning made it impossible to aim at any vital spots unless she just started hurling and hit one by dumb luck. But Sayuri was too good for that and Kiyomi was too good for that. She had to stop her spinning, that was the only option.

Kiyomi's eyes landed on Sayuri's feet, the source of her spinning, and she smiled, plucking a kunai from her pouch. Stop her feet, stop her spinning. There were no bones protecting them. As soon as she threw, Sayuri would have two options. Jump back, or get pinned to the ground by a foot. Either way, she would have to stop spinning.

Kiyomi threw and Sayuri jumped back. Kiyomi hurled a second kunai and Sayuri cried out. It skated along a ridge of bone and bit deeply into her shoulder. She ripped it free and tossed it into the air. Sayuri caught the spinning blade and sent it flying back at Kiyomi, who swayed to the side easily.

"That's first blood to me," Kiyomi said jovially, lunging back in.

"Camellia Dance!"

Again she was forced back, cursing bitterly and weaving frantically to try and avoid the deadly thrusts.

Except… they weren't deadly.

Kiyomi's eyes narrowed. The key to the Camellia Dance was that any one of the stabs was fatal if it connected. That was what made it so dangerous, and why it was a good foil for her lightning-fueled kicks. Each technique needed only one hit to take someone down. Or at least, that's how it usually worked, but none of Sayuri's thrusts were directed towards fatal areas, only painful ones.

Realization dawned on Kiyomi and she turned to block one of the stabs with a leg. If she was right, she could probably turn the tide of this battle long enough to win. If she was wrong, she was about to lose a leg.

Sure enough, Sayuri diverted her attack to the side, momentum carrying her forwards into Kiyomi's fist. The blow connected with her stomach and she doubled over, the breath knocked from her.

"That's the difference between you and me," Kiyomi whispered into her ear. "You're not willing to hurt me, but I'm very willing to hurt you."

Sayuri staggered back, gasping in a desperate attempt to get air. Her eyes widened as Kiyomi's foot came flying towards her shoulder. No time to react, no time to get a bone out far enough… This was what she feared, that it would only take one hit, one lightning-fueled hit on skin to knock her down, and here it came.

Sayuri closed her eyes as the kick connected, sending her flying backwards to skid along the ground, twitching violently.

Kiyomi's eyes blazed with triumph as she lunged towards Sayuri, the girl crumpled on the ground. She let out a fierce yell, which turned into a howl of denial as Sayuri's clone exploded into a cloud of smoke. Kiyomi hit the ground and spun, searching frantically for Sayuri.

Kiyomi's eyes widened as a bone sword slid through her side, and in front of her, Sayuri looked just as startled as she was.

"I guess I am the better one," Sayuri said softly. Kiyomi snarled as she pulled herself off of the sword, dropping to her knees in a puddle.

"Sayuri! Kiyomi!"

Sayuri whirled and Kiyomi looked up. Ayano and Miyako were leaping out of the trees, both of them looking horrified.

"Sayuri, what the hell were you doing?" Ayano snarled as the two landed next to her. Miyako wrenched the sword from Sayuri's hand.

"It wasn't- I didn't-" the girl stammered helplessly. She knew how it looked.

"It wasn't her fault-" Kiyomi gasped from the ground, one bloody hand trying to staunch her wound. "I came at her."

Sayuri looked down at Kiyomi, as shocked as Ayano and Miyako. If Kiyomi wanted to destroy her, this would have been the way. To let everyone think Sayuri had gone rogue and tried to kill her teammate. It would have been perfect, she had even used the drugs used in the stew before. But as Kiyomi glared up at her, hatred rolling off of her, Sayuri understood. Kiyomi wanted true victory, not a lie. Even now, she still had her pride.

"Kiyomi," Miyako whispered. "Why-?"

"Because I'm so very tired of being second fiddle. For once in my life I wanted to be the best. Not my sister, not Sayuri, me," Kiyomi bit out around agonized pants. Miyako crouched down, hand glowing with glowing green healing chakra.

"Kiyomi, let me-"

"No!"

Kiyomi swatted Miyako's hands away and heaved herself to her feet, taking a few steps back. She looked at the three women assembled in front of her, all looking at her in betrayal. Her plan had backfired on her. No one was proud of her. They were all looking at her with so much damn pity it turned her stomach. They would never smile at her again, not in the same way. They would never invite her over just to talk or go out to eat like friends. It was all over.

Kiyomi floundered through the rain towards the opposite side of the field. Sayuri started to go after her, but stopped herself. This girl had just tried to kill her, after all.

Kiyomi paused, sagging against a tree, and glanced back at them. "Don't come after me," she whispered, barely audible over the drizzling rain. With that, Kiyomi spun and staggered through the trees, vanishing.

"No-" Miyako whimpered, stepping forwards. Ayano caught her by the arm, tears trailing wordlessly down her face.

"We have to respect her wishes," Ayano said softly. "If this is what she wants."

Sayuri hit the ground on one knee, holding the wound on her shoulder, staring blankly in the direction Kiyomi had run.

"She just attacked me," Sayuri said dully. "I didn't realize… I didn't know that she… that she hated me…" She was shaking but she didn't realize it until Ayano fell to a knee next to her and placed a hand on her uninjured shoulder to steady her.

"Kiyomi!" Miyako wailed, dropping to her knees. Ayano threw her arms around each of her remaining student's shoulders. The three of them sat there, huddled in the rain, staring after Kiyomi dully.

Minutes later, Daichi came crashing through the trees.

"I heard shouting!" he panted. "Is everything alright?" He took in the sight of the three women on the ground.

"No, it's not, but you needn't worry," Ayano replied, voice and eyes dead.

"Where's the other girl?" Daichi asked, looking around for the missing member of his escort. "Kiyomi, was it?

"Gone," Sayuri choked out, and for the first time in years, she doubled over sobbing.

Because the truth was, it was her fault.