A/N: I'm sorry but I laughed really hard at the feedback for chapter twenty. I thought everyone was going to say something about the Neji flashback, but everyone was like Neji who!? What the hell happened with Shikamaru and Kabocha!? The reviews came in so fast that I wanted to treat you guys to an early release, enjoy!

Thank you for the favorite and/or follow: Little Miss Thunder Child

Crazy Devil Girl: Giiirl, I am so sorry that I laughed really hard at your review! I seriously wait patiently for your reviews; I love your feedback! I laughed because nothing registered but the ending. I apologize that I left you so shook, if it's any consolation my feelings are really hurt too. I decided not to make you wait two full weeks, so this chapter is for you! (;

Deviliciouskitty: *swings open chapter twenty one door and screams where have you been!?* Thank you so much for reviewing, I've missed you around here Kitty! Chapter eighteen was for you and I actually lol. There was so much fighting and no romance, I was feeling a bit Shikoba deprived. Zu was just the first stepping stone for what is to come. I'm so sorry I broke your heart! I'm even more sorry for what's going to come up after this chapter. *ducks and hides*

Pmann1: Hey there, thank you very much for the review! I shall resuscitate you after Shikoba is back together because...your about to die a little more with this chapter and the next. )': I am happy you're enjoying my work so far, please continue to review I enjoy hearing from you!

Mangafreak1997: Hey Manga it's been a while, thanks so much for reviewing! I shall wipe your tears away with a fantastic reunion...in two chapters. I'm so sorry to do that to you, please don't cry lol.

Dani66: Hey Dani it's great to hear from you as always! I laughed because of how straight forward your review is. I'm so sorry to do this to you, and it will only get worse for Shikoba. )':

Guest: Girllll, I am soooo sorry lol! It's about to get a little worse for our favorite couple. )': Thank you so much for reviewing, I really appreciate it because your review made me crack up laughing!

Sanura Bey: *walks over to heart, dusts it off, and offers it back* It hurt me something fierce to do that to them. I hope your heart isn't too damaged from the fall lol. Thank you so much for your review it made me happy! (':

llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

*Normal POV*

Tsuyoi sat perched on the streetlight closest to Kabocha's room in Gorudo's apartment. He sat seething behind his grandmother's mask, the same mask he had worn to "save" Sasuke. He was blind to everything because of the mask's ability to block out genjutsus so the mask didn't have any eyeholes, and was made of a special, chakra based material.

He had heard the entire conversation between Shikamaru and his beloved baby sister. It was safe to say he was livid, and fought the urge to go after the Nara heir. He had come to check up on his siblings, Sasuke, and Kisame's daughter. All three of the missing nin wanted confirmation that their family members had made it through safely to the next round. He didn't expect to be sitting outside of his sister's window listening to her heartbreaking cries as she called out for their dead mother...and even him.

He closed his eyes in pain. He stood to his feet swiftly, not batting an eyelash at the small surface area. He had sat there the entire night, way too long considering he was supposed to be gone before day break for fear of discovery. He left from the light post, and disappeared into the shadows of the buildings, his kekkei genkai coming in handy to make a quick escape. He met back up with Kisame and Itachi right outside of the Konohagakure border. He was happy he had checked on Kabocha last since he spent the most time with her. He relayed all of the information to his two colleagues...teammates was a strong word...he omitted the information about Kabocha's breakdown for her benefit. The left once again to return at a later date again. He was hoping that upon their return he could give a better update.

*Kabocha POV*

My eyes creaked open to see the sun blinding me briefly. I didn't even attempt to rub my sore, dry eyes after all of the crying I did. I began to scoot into a sitting position only to be startled by a voice.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." I whipped my head to face the voice, keeping my body flat on my stomach to avoid my aching back. However, the pain wasn't as bad yesterday. Neji Hyuga sat at my bedside, watching me like a hawk with his pretty phantom eyes.

I scoffed moving again to sit on my butt, so he wouldn't see me so vulnerable. He rolled his eyes at my defiance to his suggestion. "You're the last person I thought to see at my bedside." I wince internally as the skin on my back pulled.

"Yes, well, Naruto came after I did, but your uncle thought it best to wait for me to leave since we're going to face each other in the final round. Naruto also doesn't like me too much." Neji curtly explained looking at the photo of Naruto and I.

"By the dragons, I wonder why he doesn't like you." I blew a raspberry under my breath. He rolled his eyes once more at my childish antics. I really didn't care, I was extremely tired and in pain. "What do you wa-"

"I'm sorry." He cut me off, not meeting my piercing gaze. I was utterly confused by his apology. "I'm sorry for eight years ago, and for not attending your mother's funeral. I thought you wouldn't want to see me there after the way I treated you so...I'm sorry." I blinked owlishly at Neji's sincere apology.

"Okay…" I dragged out the word, squinting at his stiff form. "I accept your apology. I know you were hurting, and I was too stubborn to approach you again. Tell me why you decided to apologize now." He relaxed once he realized I wasn't going to put him out, and that I accepted his apology.

"I just wanted to know you were alright. Everyone is reeling from the preliminaries, so much happened. Your situation and Lee's being the center of everyone's attention." Neji had always been so cool in my eyes, and I was happy to see nothing had changed.

"Can you tell me who everyone is going against in the next round, please?" I asked him nicely and he nodded at me with a ghost of a smile on his face.

"I'm going against Naruto. Sasuke will fight the redhead that beat Lee. Your two teammates will go against each other. Shino Aburame and Kankuro of the sand will fight. You will fight Temari of the sand, and the wrapped shinobi from the sound will fight Gin from your village. However, there will be a final round after all of those matches." I had to withhold my shit eating grin. I was going to fight Gaara's sister, Temari. I had prayed to the dragons and my prayers had been answered.

"It's a shame that Kina and Sho will have to battle against each other." I said idly avoiding his examining gaze. He was really intent on looking at me face closely. "Neji...why are you staring?" I asked, fighting a blush at his intense attention.

"I don't know what happened to you, and I won't badger you, but your features are different now." His statement startled me enough to look at his face, I could tell he wasn't lying. "Can you do me a favor and hand me the mirror on my desk?" He obeyed my request wordlessly, he also went into my closet with a blush on his face. He came back out with a plain long sleeve, maroon cropped shirt.

"I don't mean to go through your things, I just thought you would want to cover up." I frowned looking down at my completely wrapped body. I was wrapped in white bandages starting at my shoulders and going all the way down to my hips. His slight blush remained as he avoided my eyes. I rolled my eyes taking the shirt and putting it on slowly for his benefit.

"Happy?" I motioned to my clothed body and he nodded with a relieved sigh. He then handed me the mirror. I looked into the mirror as he resumed sitting beside me. I almost dropped the mirror in shock. My slitted pupils were now round, my once sharp and only slightly soft features now completely gentle. My wild curls were now subdued waves, my sharp canines gone, and so were my claws. I felt self loathing roll through my stomach at my changed appearance. I didn't even know who I was looking at.

"What did they do to me?" I winced at my voice cracking. Neji looked at me with a soft look. "Don't be too upset, you're still beautiful." My face lit up, hotter than any flame I could produce. Neji didn't seemed to phased by his statement. He said as if he was stating the time or weather outside.

"I'm sorry I can't stay longer, but I have to go train. The next round will begin in one month's time. Rest, heal, and prepare yourself. You do not have an easy opponent." Neji said standing from his seat. I nodded looking at him as he moved gracefully closer to me. He leaned down towards actually making me flinch. He paused only for a moment before he continued to brush his lips against my forehead. He stood to his full height with a dusting of pink across his pale skin.

"I'm glad you're alright. Don't hesitate to reach out to me." He said right before he left my room, closing the door behind him. I let out a breath of air I didn't know I was holding. I rolled off of my butt and onto my stomach. I had gained a good friend back, but I lost one of the most important people. I buried my face into my pillow, not wanting to shed anymore tears. I came close especially thinking about the way I looked now. I felt disgustingly normal. I didn't have any of my abilities or striking features. I felt stripped.

I sucked my tears up as soon as my door opened once more. I didn't turn to see who it was, not caring in the slightest who it is.

"I see you're awake, and everything is alright between you and Neji." I knew it was uncle Gorudo judging by the voice. It was extremely close to father's pitch, but his voice had soft edges instead of jagged edges that cut people and gave them tetanus.

"Yes and yes. Now, why do I look like...this." I sat up quickly, ignoring the pain, and motioning all around my body to the different changes. The softness in his face disappeared, a hard took over his face.

"You look like that because you don't know how to control yourself. You will continue to look like that until I decide you have learned your lesson and you have learned to control your bloodline trait. I sealed it away, and I am the only one that can unseal it, which I won't be doing for quite some time. You have gotten reckless and complacent with your abilities, so you don't deserve them right now." Uncle scolded me ruthlessly, I full on cringed and almost whimpered at the brutal scolding.

"I won't even touch on the Shikamaru situation right now. Even though you really screwed that up, judging from what I heard from Shikaku." I actually let out the whimper this time, turning back on to my stomach to bury my face in my pillow. The whimper disappeared just as soon as it appeared because of his statement. It annoyed me a little that he was gossiping with Shikamaru's father. "I'm done scolding you for now, I am sure your father and brother will have more to say at the end of the week. I am now in charge of your training since you no longer possess any of your enhanced qualities."

I was trying my best not to tune him out, but he was making it hard since he was kicking me when I'm down. "I won't say I'm angry with you, but I am highly disappointed with you, Kabocha Kasai. I expected more from yourself control. I'm serious this time about being done scolding you. I have to get meet with Hikari and your father back at the lava village. Shosha and Kina are going to be training separately back home. I will retrieve you tomorrow for training, regardless of the pain you're experiencing since you brought it on yourself. The only break I am giving you is the fact that Shosha is about to wake up, and he's going to come in here and berate you, so I would suggest you make your escape now." Uncle finished leaving the room in a swirl of flames, his last sentence making me get my butt in gear.

I ignored the stretching pain in my back to grab the closest bottoms I could reach. A pair of black spandex, short shorts. I slipped them on quickly, listening as Shosha thumped around in his room. I didn't even bother with shoes as I crossed my room in seconds, flinging the window open, and almost falling out of it to escape. I clambered onto the roof, and proceeded to scale down the apartment building clumsily. I fumbled onto my feet once I reached the ground and made a break for it.

My bare feet tapped against the ground quickly as I picked up speed to put distance between my brother and I. I looked over my shoulder to make sure I wasn't being followed and ran into a soft body. I fell back onto my butt, but still hissing loudly at the pain shooting through my body. The dull ache turning into full blown stabbing pain.

"Kabocha?" I blinked quickly, not knowing who was speaking to me until I looked up. Choji stood in front of me, much to my surprise. I was surprised neither of his teammates were attached to his hip like usual.

"Choji, hey!" I said enthusiastically, and then realized who I was truly speaking with. He was Shikamaru's best friend, which meant that he wasn't my friend anymore, right? My smile dropped into a frown as he stared at me. He held out a hand to me, and once again I was shocked. I hesitantly reached my hand out and took his, he helped me up easily.

"How're you holding up?" He asked casually, I didn't know if he was making small talk to be nice or if he really meant it. "I'm...fine…" I dragged both words out, not really meaning it at all. My body hurt, and so did my heart.

Choji avidly stared at my face, completely oblivious to how uncomfortable it was making me. The changes to my features were unmistakable, and I'm sure he had questions for me. He quite frowning, a smile blossoming on his face startling me. "Wanna go eat?" He gestured to the barbeque place that we frequented.

"I- uhmm! I'm actually not hungry-" My stomach growled loudly making me scowl fiercely, stupid treacherous stomach. Choji burst into laughter proceeding to drag me into the barbeque place against my loud protests. So here I sat across from my love's best friend...he didn't seem at all bothered by yesterday's events or my different features. Choji actually seemed unbiased to it all, I didn't know whether to be relieved or concerned.

"Listen, Choji-"

"I already know what you're going to say, and all I have to say is don't worry about it." He said as the food came. He began to drool heavily, placing tons of meat onto the grill for both him and I. My stomach growled once again making him chuckle. "Actually Choji I was going to ask...how is Mar-...I mean Shikamaru." Choji outwardly cringed, dropping the meat he had picked up back onto the grill.

"Shikamaru, huh, I've never heard you call him that, ever." Choji whispered solemnly. The meat was about to burn. I quickly snatched it up, dispensing the majority of the meat onto his plate. He was still looking down sadly, his entire demeanor making me regret my question.

"Is something wrong? Is he hurt?" I asked trying to contain my panic. Choji shook his head with a sad smile. "Not physically anyway." It was my time to cringe violently, my heart breaking just a little bit more. My soul crying out for him.

"Maybe we should lea-" Choji started but was cut off by Ino's screeching voice. "What is she doing here!?" I could always pick Ino out of a crowd regardless of my lost attributes. I looked over my shoulder to the angry blonde to see Shikamaru by her side, and Asuma standing behind them. Ino and Shikamaru gasped once they got a good look at my face. Asuma's face went from relaxed to shocked. Their eyes darting from my now soft face to my wrapped torso and bare feet. The cropped shirt I was wearing showing my midriff clear as day, and I'm sure my bare feet looked strange.

"What a drag…" Shikamaru grumbled looking off to the side, at least that's what I think he said. "We're just eating Ino, and now we're going to leave." Choji stood, grasping my wrist and pulling me to my feet so we could leave. My eyes never leaving Shikamaru's defeated body, I didn't when he said see ya' round it would be so soon.

"Oh no you don't!" Ino screeched once again, snatching me out of Choji's grasp as we were passing her. "Woah, Ino calm down." Asuma tried to calm his seething student down before a fight broke out, and I was more than ready for a brawl regardless of my sealed bloodline trait. She was being way too aggressive, and I felt something in me thump to life. I bared my teeth at her as she gripped my shoulder harshly.

"No, I won't calm down! She owes all of us an explanation, especially Shikamaru! She turned into a monster yesterday, continuously lies to us, and breaks Shikamaru's heart and I'm supposed to keep calm! Choji you traitor you're supposed to be on Shikamaru's side!" Ino yelled in my face, and I could feel my skin redden in anger and embarrassment at the scene she was making. "Don't call her that, Ino." Choji growled at her not caring that she called him a traitor.

"Ino stop being so troublesome, there are no sides. Choji can be friends with whomever he wants, stop being so dramatic." Shikamaru scolded her riling her up even further.

"But out Shikamaru! She's got explaining to do, and she's not leaving until she gives us one!" Ino's harsh grip moved from my shoulder to my wrist. I felt a blank expression take over my face, The thought of her being my friend left my mind completely, my mind now registered her as an enemy because of her hostility.

"You want me to explain, right Ino?" I asked her and she glared back at me with a nod of her head. "You called me a monster, right?" I asked her my next question everyone seemed to freeze including Ino, her glare faltering into something akin to fear.

"Let me show you just how much of a monster I can really be because make no mistake. Almost all of my chakra may be sealed, but my techniques will forever be ingrained in my muscles." I told her flatly.

"W-wha-" I didn't even give her a chance to stutter out a response. I held up my captured wrist between, easily twisting so that her wrist was in my grasp instead of the other way around. She winced as I added pressure fast and unforgiving, in the blink of an eye I twirled her around and wrenched her arm up at an awkward angle behind her back. She screamed as I dislocated her shoulder, and broke her wrist simultaneously. I felt Asuma coming, I shifted to the left feeling the wind from his hand pass my face. I could briefly hear everyone telling me to stop, so I granted their wish. I planted my foot in her back and kicked her forward, she landed in a crumpled heap. Asuma and Shikamaru were at her side in an instance. Neither were fast enough to stop me, or they were too shocked to even move much like Choji.

I turned and left the restaurant, not even bothering to look at some of the shocked or appalled faces behind me. I should have stayed at home to get scolded by Shosha because now I was even more hurt. One of my longtime friends had called me a monster in front of a restaurant full of people. The only one to defend me was Choji, and I had thought so much more of Mar- Shikamaru. I thought he would've tried to defend me at least but he didn't. That fact chipped away at my heart more and more, the pain in my chest felt almost unbearable. Each thump of my heart becoming more and more painful. Tears blurred my vision blurring everything in front of me.

"Kabocha!" I thought I heard someone call out to me far away. I kept walking with my head down not paying attention to anything but my rapidly thumping heart. I stopped in my tracks trying to calm my breathing. The pain in my chest much worse than any other physical pain I was experiencing. "KABOCHA!" A male voice cried out as I fell to my knees, and then onto my front. Blurry footsteps were the last thing I saw before darkness consumed me.

llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

I blearily blinked my eyes open, a feeling of deja vu washing over my body. This was the second time in two days I ended up unconscious unaware of my surroundings and location. I let my gaze drift around to see where I was. I recognized the photo across from me, it was the same photo of Naruto and I that I kept in my room except this frame was black instead of orange. There was also a picture of Kakashi and his team to the right of me. I also didn't need my senses to smell the strong scent of boy. I was definitely in Naruto's room.

"Oh thank Kami you're awake! I thought I was going to have to go get Sakura or worse...your brother." Naruto let out a huge sigh of relief upon seeing me awake. He looked so happy to see me awake and semi-well.

"You're not...angry with me…" He looked at me confused. "Why would I be angry with you? You're my sister, I could never be angry with you. You may annoy me sometimes, but I'm never mad at you. Did something happen?" He asked me sincerely making me cry. He began to panic and jerkily moved his arms around wildly.

"Why do you always cry when I'm nice to you!? Stop that!" I began to laugh at Naruto's frantic pleading. "What the heck is wrong with you!? You were crying and now you're laughing. I will admit that the laughing is a lot better." Naruto said laughing along with me. Once we calmed down he looked at me seriously.

"Listen...I heard what happened with Ino earlier, and what happened with Shikamaru. I'm not good with all this...this mushy stuff, but I just w-want you to know that you're always going to be my best friend...you are and always will be." Naruto looked away from me with a sheepish grin on his whiskered face. I laughed once again, I felt a grin take over my whole face at how cute he was being.

"I...I love you Naru-nii." I sighed out with a smile, his face lit up like a flame and started throwing his arms around again. "Woah, woah, woah! That's a little much-"

"Shut up, dummy. I meant that I love you like I love Shosha and Tsuyoi." I laughed again slightly, a sad smile quickly taking over instead. Naruto stopped being weird to look at me with concern. "You know it's funny because I've never said I love you...only to my mother and I was very young then…" I looked back up to the ceiling and then back at him as he sat down on the bed by me.

"You're only the second person that I've admitted to loving. I...figured that I loved Shikamaru too... I never told him because...I just realized it when Gaara, that red haired boy that injured Lee, snatched me up at the tower before everyone got there." I watched Naruto stiffen at the mention of Gaara and him putting his hands on me.

"He didn't hurt me, Naruto, but in that moment I realized my love for Shikamaru. I loved...or love him and he wants nothing to do with me. My momma is dead and I loved her more than anything or anyone. My oldest brother has my love and he will also never return. I am afraid of love at this poi-"

"Stop that! You're not unlovable and it's not like everyone you ever love is doomed! Stop being so melancholy. Shikamaru is being an idiot right now, forget him!" He huffed jabbing me in the forehead making me frown.

"Did you hurt yourself thinking about that big word...melancholy huh?" I stuck my tongue out at him and laughed as he fumed. He stopped suddenly and nudged me. "Move over." I rolled my eyes, moving over so he could lay beside me in the tiny bed.

"For your birthday...I'm getting you a bigger bed." I told him staring at the ceiling. "I'd prefer ramen, thanks. Also, we won't be doing this much longer so the bed won't matter. I'm gonna try for Sakura really hard and hopefully-"

"If you finish that sentence I'm going to kick you out of your apartment." He burst into laughter, my scowl cracking into a smile. "Besides...do you think any girl will want to have sex with you in a twin bed?" His laughter stopped abruptly, his face taking on an ashen look.

"Bed it is." Naruto agreed seeing my logic. "You're welcome." I sang out tiredly referring to me purchasing his future birthday present.

"I'm tired." I told him next and I felt him nod beside me. He turned, pulling the covers over us and then turning his back to me. I closed my eyes feeling more content than I have in the last two weeks.

llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

I opened my eyes actually feeling refreshed instead of injured. I woke up curled against Naruto's side, he was half on and half off the bed on his back. I had all the covers rolled around me in a ball. I sat up feeling slightly crumpled with my dirty feet and yesterday's clothes. I needed a shower and food. I got up to make me and Naruto's breakfast. After I finished with making eggs, toast, and rice. I went to shower right after I was done. Thanking the dragons that there were a few miscellaneous items left from the last time I shopped for Naruto.

I frowned at my appearance after I came out of the shower, not used to the soft, tired features looking back at me. I turned to look at my tattooed back, the seal taking up the entirety of my back. It was an actual dragon with several tribal lines coming out of it. I was irritated even further by its beauty. I threw on a grey shirt of Naruto's, tying it in the front, and putting back on my spandex shorts minus my underwear since they were dirty. I definitely didn't want to put them back on, so commando was the next best thing.

I exited the bathroom right into a hard body. "Ouch!" I rubbed my nose and craned my neck to look at my brother munching on toast with egg on it. "That is for me and Naruto, fatty." I scowled at him and he scowled right back leaning in crunch on the toast in my face. "If anyone is fat it is you. Your abs are completely gone." I sneered at him, pushing him out of my way to find Naruto at the table half asleep eating. I self consciously looked down at my flat, slightly toned stomach. Shosha was being a shithead.

"Don't ignore me! I've been looking for you everywhere you little-" He stopped as I turned to face him remembering what Naruto said to me last night. No one was cursed by my love, and I wanted to know how'd he react to what I was about to say.

"Sho-nii…" He blinked owlishly at me waiting for me to continue. "You're a great big brother and...I love you." It took him a moment to react to declaration, his entire face lit up with a bright blush. He began to stutter and splutter unlike anything I had ever seen from him. I tried to keep a straight face, but I started roaring with laughter as soon as Naruto started laughing at Shosha.

"Quiet y-you two!" Shosha cried out one hand covering his face, and the other pointing from me to Naruto. I calmed down wiping away my tears. I walked over to my big brother, wrapping my arms around his waist and resting my head on his chest.

"Thank you for always looking out for me...you and Tsuyoi." I whispered the last part for only his ears. His entire body was stiff for a moment, and he wrapped his his arms around me tightly, resting his cheek against the crown of my head.

"I heard what happened with Ino, and I wanted to find you...I'm taking you home...to the lava village." He told me rubbing my back. I nodded nuzzling my face into his warmth. "Take me home, Sho-nii."

"Uhm...before you go there's something I forgot to mention yesterday. What's up with your face…" Leave it to Naruto to ruin the first sibling moment I have ever had with Shosha, but I guess I wouldn't have it any other way.

lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

I promise y'all things will get better for Shikoba, buuuuut they might get worse first. I'm sorry please don't hurt me lol. See you guys two weeks from this upcoming Sunday! Might be sooner if the reviews are just as fierce as the last chapter (;