A/N: Hello! Sorry for vanishing for a while. I had no motivation in anyway. But I did write this chapter to be super long and I really hope you guys enjoy it. I how I can start to post every week, but I don't know if that is possible. For now the chapters will be updated as I finish them and all that. I enjoyed writing this chapters, even got me to get emotional a bit. But I'll stop talking and let you read.

As always, please comment, leave a thought or ask a question!

Chapter 41: Tomb's Freedom

June 20th

I head away from the center of the village. I throw up my hood, I am allowed to enter here, so I can read my file. Only, I never have come here before. There is a special jutsu to get into the tomb of Lord Third. Only a handful of people know this, myself, family members and the hokage. It is the same way with the others. But Lord Third is the only place I can get into.

I stayed away to be respectful of Lord Third's last orders to me.

"Tooru," I lean down to listen to Lord Third, "I want you to o sit in the stands."

I widen my eyes. There is a fight going on, but it's at a standstill at the moment. Something making everyone in the stands impatient for.

"My Lord," I eye the man sitting next to him, "I will do as you wish."

I begin to back away, "Oh, and you are not aloud under any thing to come back by my side unless ordered by Kakashi, understood?"

"Understood." I stand up fully.

I look at the man next to Lord Third. Something feels off about him. I look ahead and go into the stands. I wonder around and watch to make sure everything is in place.

If I had been allowed to question…

I open my eyes. Lord Third told me to stay away until Lord Kakashi told me I could go by him. That moment never came. And I had to obey. I had to stay away from Lord Third, even after his passing.

I should have been there to protect him. I could have protected him.

But I was unable to protect him.

And Orochimaru took Lord Thirds life. Something that I could not stop.

Though, I feel no compulsion to follow what Lord Third said to me. I can come here because I want to, not because Lord Sixth told me to come here. I was able to come here because I want to.

I knew Lord Third from the beginning wanted to make Shino, Shikamaru and maybe Neji, even Tenten for Chunin. But Neji showed he could not handle it. And Tenten was taken out. Even her fight proved she wasn't ready though. Shino and Shikamaru showed they were 100% ready to become a chunin. And I was right about something.

Shino never got a chance to show his fighting skill. Shino was over looked. But I know he should have become one. Only, Lady Fifth wanted nothing to hear about it. So I wasn't allowed to talk about it.

I look back at his tomb.

Why did he do this?

Did he really just want power?

He seemed like a caring old man. But I of all people should know, no one is who they seem on the surface. I have been seeing it more. I judge people off states of mind and limited observation. I keep away because…

Why do I stay away from everyone?

I feel my eyes widen and my heart beat faster. I don't know why I feel my body going outside of normal rhythms. But there isn't anything that should be causing this.

I stayed away because I was ordered to.

Don't make friends.

But what am I feeling now?

It's like when I saw Hinata out with Neji.

"Neji!" Hinata projects.

I look down from my spot. The war has been over for a few months. I was ordered to help build the village again. But that doesn't mean I am not searching for enemies around every corner.

Hinata just got back from helping at another place. Lady Fifth is determined to get things built back up again.

"Hinata, you're back." Neji looks… what is that look?

I saw that look on Kakashi when he worked with Naruto. I never asked, but I keep seeing it when people come back to everyone.

"Yes. And I have news." Hinata stops by Neji.

Both of them stop. Neji shouldn't stop moving. He was helping carry things and with he stops everyone has to pause. Some professional move. People can talk when they get home. Though what's the point. It's all a distraction anyway.

"On what?" Neji tilts his head.

"I was talking with Kiba and he was talking with TenTen." Hinata looks around, "Do you have feelings for her?"

Neji pauses. He has color coming into his face.

Color…. I think that is blood rushing to his face. Why would that be happening? Does Tenten have a hold over him?

"I won't lie Lady Hinata, I do like Tenten." Neji turns around.

Hinata grabs his arm before he can walk away, "You should ask her out."

"But the blood—" Neji turns towards her.

"Forget that. My sister is tired of the traditions. But I know for a fact that you can marry someone else. Because of you the caged bird is being removed. Neji go for it." Hinata moves her mouth into what I believe is a smile.

I turn away.

People are stupid. Lord Third wouldn't have allowed it. No way would the head of the clan approve of it.

Gosh.

I feel so blind.

For so long I thought I had the most clarity in the village. What a fool I am. Lord Third, Lady Fifth and Lord Sixth all teach about friendship and how they are important. I look around the tomb, closing my arms around me.

No one is here. And no one will ever be here. If I'm right… I don't think I can stay like this much longer.

The marks all around me prove that much. I know I am unable to preform what I need to do to make everything I am doing worth it. I protect the village. I must listen.

I am a dog.

A dog who doesn't cry.

I must obey orders.

Though, I've watched people not listen to orders and be fine. I have seen people listen to orders and cry. I know I am unable to not listen.

I sit down on the ground.

I take in a breath.

Nothing is going to be okay. I know that. I have to stay away from people. It's the only way to make sure I stay together. I cannot show weakness to people. Not now. I have worked too hard to get where I am now to throw it all away. Just because I was ordered to make friends with Kiba and Shikamaru. I wouldn't be able to do it on my own. Orders are to be followed. It doesn't mean I have to like them. In fact, these orders are dumb. At least Lord Third let me be by myself. He saw no need for me to be around others. For that I am thankful.

Still doesn't point to a fact.

I am sitting in a tomb.

Alone.

I walked away from Shikamaru. Just like I always have. Just like all those times when I was younger. I always walked away.

Walking up the stairs. I need to stay away from the kids playing ninja. They don't understand the horror of being a ninja. Though, why should they?

I should go to Lord Third.

I turn the corner and see a boy with a spiky pony tail and a boy eating chips. I tuck my hair behind my ear.

"Oh, hello," the one eating chips shoves another handful in his mouth.

I nod. I am not allowed to talk with them. I turn around and head back down the stairs, but not before I hear a little bit.

"Shikamaru, wake up," I think the one with chips said.

"What?" Another step down.

Why am I walking so slowly? I should be gone already.

"The girl with green hair was just here," I stop.

They remember me?

"There's nothing we can do…" I shake my head.

No, they shouldn't. I must leave. I move my feet and walk away.

Even then… I was only the girl with green hair. I still should be. I know for a fact that no one will want me around. I hated the other kids, playing ninja. I haven't seen their names on anything.

Not that I care.

I have to memorize everything.

Walking away was the only thing I knew how to do. I never wanted to be with anyone. I wanted to show Lord Third that I would listen to him and follow what he told me to do. Nothing changed that. I wanted to be useful to the village.

So why was I cast aside?

Older people dismissed me, saying I should be asleep or at home. A mission is not place for a child. Even a child and picked by the Hokage himself. Many people questioned why I was. Most elders in the village knew of my family and the name Kato. No one knows what happened to the others. No one knows.

I don't remember. I was young. I hadn't learned yet.

If I could only know what happened to them, maybe I could take down…

No. That goes against Lord Third's wished. Even Lady Fifth. After Saskue left the village, I was told to never go after the people who killed my family. Lady Fifth even made it an order. So I never looked into what happened. I never saw what happened to them when I was running away.

What if I had?

Would things be different?

I wonder where my life could have gone had I known. Knowing would make things easier. I don't even know if they are dead or alive. My guess would be that they are dead. No way could they have survived this long, I remember the prison and the lack of food.

I believe we were separated.

Other than that?

I have no idea what happened.

I wish I did.

Lord Third never looked into it. Or maybe he did, and he never told me what happened. For fear I was too young. If he found out though, wouldn't have Lady Fifth known? She could have told me.

Or maybe it's another secret that Lord Third took with him to his death. It seem like he had a lot of those. Another one being how to break this.

Do I want it broken?

No, I hate interacting with people.

I am at the hospital. I was informed that Lady Fifth is treating people here. She usually is. Being the medical ninja she is. I need to tell her what I found out though.

I walk down the hall and I see someone. Spikey hair, blonde and black.

No interactions. But I see them sitting outside of an occupied room. My guess is that is where Lady Fifth is.

What even happened here?

The girl with blonde hair looks at me though.

"Who are you?" she slowly turns towards me.

"I wish to speak to Lady Fifth," I move my eyes to the door, indicating I have no intentions of talking with them.

"She's not coming out anytime soon. She is helping people out." This voice is deeper. Must be the boy.

Of course she is. I expect nothing else. But that doesn't stop what I have to tell her. But she made it very clear if she is helping someone I am not allowed to talk. I must wait until she is done. So, I will stand here and wait for her to be done.

"Look, its been a long day, just wait until tomorrow." I sneak a glance at the girl.

Sand. She is from the Sand. I know we fixed ties with the Sand, but are they even allowed in the hospitals? That seems slightly counterproductive. No, not important. I need to Lady Fifth about the information about the Sound ninja. She needs to hear this, and soon. I think I know what Saskue was taken by that man.

"Geez, let her be Temari. She won't bug us," the male voice again.

Temari. Daughter of the Kage in the Sand. Eldest of three. She is a wind user and carries a fan with her. Distance fighter and a very good one at that. Temari is a force when fighting. She is also said to have a temper around others. But she has been said to be caring through her exterior.

"I see," I turn on my heels.

"Wait," I hear someone stand up, judging by the voice it's the girl, "Just like that you're leaving? I thought you had something to tell her."

"I have other things." I walk away.

I hear more talking but I block it out. No use waiting around when I could be drawing out what I could be doing.

Only after a week did I learn that Saskue left the village. Which made any plans I was making useless. But that didn't stop Lady Fifth from scolding me about not knowing when everyone was talking about it. Making things worse for me, because now I had to worry about how to gather information within the village.

Which I did accomplish, but it took Lady Fifth scolding me to learn it.

Lord Third…

I look at the tomb. It's been years, but I cannot shake this feeling. I don't like the feeling that I am helpless. Always. My powers are used as a storage. I know weakness of all the ninja in the village and the clan's secretes. But I know who work together.

Lord Third didn't tell me everything. I know he didn't, why would he tell me everything? Nothing would work like it did if I knew everything. I know I don't know the whole story. Still doesn't stop me from sitting in the tomb of a man who locked me away from the world.

There's the tightness in my chest. The short of breath to where I feel like I am gasping for air. My eyes can't focus on anything. I am having a hard time knowing where I am looking.

Why do this?

I was never a person of importance to the village.

Being the ears everywhere I hear things all the time from the adults. I hear things the others would say about me. I couldn't care about it when I was younger. But now, I feel everything rushing at me. I don't want to remember but I feel like I have to remember now. After Lady Fifth pointed out I needed to pay attention, the comments became louder and louder. Almost paralleled the words I heard in the dream.

"Who is she?"

"I bet she has nobody."

"I pity the girl"

"Mom, why is she always alone?" "Because she doesn't have anyone to care…"

"She shouldn't be here."

"Didn't her clan die long ago?"

I couldn't take it. I put my hands over my ears. I don't want to hear those words ever again.

I am the girl with green hair.

I don't even have a name in the village. I don't even have family. I am all alone. I know Naruto and Saskue found a family… but how can I do that when I was forced to be isolated from everyone in the village? I never had a chance to be around people. Not I trust no one. Now, I hate everything.

I don't want to be a ninja anymore. But it's the only thing I know how to do.

I close my eyes.

My breathing becomes heavier. I don't have anything else to do. I got caught, and now Lord Sixth is focused on other things. I never matter long enough for concern. I always stay in the shadows. Away from light.

"Why did you do it?" I hear the crack.

Is that my voice? It must be since I am the only person in the tomb.

I look up at Lord Third's tomb. He gets to lay there, as a hero of the village. No one questions what he did to be the hero, they only care about the end product. They only care that he was strong and kept the children safe.

I feel a wetness to my face.

Tears.

"Why?" I grab a rock.

I can't stop them from coming anymore. I can't control it.

I hate being alone.

But I don't trust anyone. I don't know how to talk to anyone. I want to leave this place.

"I hate you…" I look at the tomb.

I hate Lord Third.

I hate that he did this to me.

Someone so helpless. Someone who didn't know better. I hate how he made tis turn out. I hate this. I… there are no words to describe how I feel. I want to leave. But what would I do? Lord Third placed this in me. He was worried about Saskue and Naruto going evil, but why did he not worry about me? Naruto and Saskue were in the public eye, I was not. Did he think he could keep me hidden from the world forever? No, I have to come out eventually.

I need to be a person.

I need someone to care for me.

Lord Third was not that person.

Lady Fifth was not that person.

I don't think Lord Sixth is that person either.

I throw the rock at the tomb, "I… hate…. YOU!"

Nothing is stopping the tears from coming. I have to left it out.

But it didn't end so well in the dream, the dream where I felt like I could be myself. A dream where people cared about it. I know for a fact I longed for it, but I know I am… scared about the idea of being around someone else. I live with Tenzo, but I don't know him.

That's a lie. I know of him, his reputation and how he works in a team. But I don't know why he act's the way he does.

I know of people. Not the person themselves.

"Why me? Why did you do this Lord Third?" I choke.

I get to my knees. I didn't go to Lord Thirds funeral. I wasn't allowed. I couldn't be anywhere near him. I felt bad, not going to the funeral. But I was under orders even then. I said goodbye from a distance.

He shouldn't have done it. He should have let me attend like a normal person, not become like the others before me.

I bow my head in front of him, "Forgive me, but I need to break a rule Lord Third. I need someone to help me… forgive me…. Forgive me…"

I want to think I heard these words. I want to believe I did.

'Be free my child'

That was his voice.

Can I be free? I want to be free.

I want those words to be from Lord Third. Maybe they are, or maybe I am rationalizing the rules I am about to break. Rules that are never meant to be broken. But I know I need to break them right now to heal.

I slowly get up. I walk towards the tomb.

I place my hand on the tomb, one thing comes to mind. The old man smiling, laughing at a picture I drew of the others playing ninja. I feel a smile come across my face. I need to do this.

"Forgive me Lord Third, I need friends." I place my head down on the tomb, "I won't forget the rules though."

I calm my breath and rub my eyes. Lord Third won't be forgotten. But I can't forgive him yet. Not until I know. I need to know.

I hold my head high, and walk away from the coffin.

I can find out. I have to find out.

It's time for me to be free.