Aya peeked into the room Ibiki had forbidden her to enter and there she saw him. The body of a servant of Pain. It was all she saw and she wasn't even certain of what she was seeing but she wanted to be in there. She wanted to be part of the process.
Yamanaka Inoichi had been called in to help with the investigation because Ibiki failed. Ibiki failed! The Ibiki who taught her all she knew and trained her up to this very point failed to retrieve any information from a prisoner. Hah!
She felt the disappointment in her heart. How could he fail? But even more so she was disappointed by the disappointment in her heart. Such a useless thing to feel when Ibiki was nothing more than a means to an end.
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
"So today, I thought we might try something different." Kakashi started awkwardly, glancing back and forth between the two shinobi he had called to this spot, "You two…"
"I know you said I would be helping someone with some sparring but… I thought you meant Naruto." Hyuga Neji's white eyes stared Kai dead in the face without looking away, "It's pointless for you to match me up against this one. He hasn't beaten me once."
Kai snarled in the older male's face, "You mean you've never beaten me once so this won't even count as a warm up!"
"And he seems a little delirious."
"You're delirious!"
"Ahem." Kakashi cleared his throat sharply, "Maybe this was a slight mishap on my part but really. It would benefit you greatly to spar with Neji so you should just do it. From your generation, Neji is one of the strongest. There's no one left in the village who can match up to you."
Kai turned his glare onto the older jonin, "You… You're here aren't you! Fight me yourself!"
The copy ninja laughed quietly, "Well I would but there's no point in using that technique on me. I invented it and I'm in possession of the sharingan. I have the advantage on you."
The blonde gritted his teeth, "I swear, one day, I'll even be better than you at using it."
"I don't know what this is about but I'd be glad to use this chance as an excuse to beat down Saizo." Neji cut in, a coy smirk on his face, "And maybe, you'll finally learn your place. Away. From. My. Sister."
"Enough about her, you sis-con." Kai sneered, "If I win, you'll never say a word about my feelings again."
"Fair enough." Neji slid into his most familiar stance, "Come."
Kakashi shook his head at their antics as he cleared himself from the area that would become their battlefield. He had high hopes for Kai, not because he was Asahina's student but because he was much like Asahina herself. He had never bestowed the Raikiri onto Asahina due to his immense fear that she would be hurt using it when she had so many other safer skills in her disposal. Regardless of other skills, he had no intention to teach it to anyone period. He couldn't believe that Kai had convinced him to teach it to him.
With intense speed, Kai spun into a series of kicks. Neji was pressured to defend right from the start but that was only to be expected. Kai was fast to act and Neji was more strategic. This was the period in the battle that Neji would gather information on his opponent. Kai drew his kunai, slashing at the Hyuga genius with killing intent. Neji simply flipped out of the way before returning the failed blow with a rapid succession of jabs towards the blond's face and torso.
It was Kai's turn to flip away, putting some much needed distance between him and the taijutsu master. The blond's fingers were already weaving into some very familiar signs, "Raiso Gekishin (Lightning Rat Violent Quake)!"
Disks of lightning cut through the air towards his opponent but Neji was fast to defend, "Hakkeshou Kaiten (Rotation)!"
Neji's chakra was visible to the naked eye as he released it in a protective shell around his body, the spinning movement gave it the spherical shape that knocked Saizo's jutsu aside but that was his opening.
Kakashi's eyes widened as Kai dropped into the stance that he had found most comfortable when using the Raikiri, the hand signs would have been missed if he hadn't been watching closely. There's a reason this boy was always close on Uchiha Sasuke's tail. Saizo Kai was a genius in his own right.
Coming out of his rotation, Neji barely registered the crackling chakra that whistled like a thousand birds against Kai's palm. With a speed that might put his precious sister to shame, Kai had moved to put the finishing blow on their very short fight.
Neji had sorely underestimated the blonde but he hadn't forced his sister to train with him for nothing. Neji drew a kunai, sidestepping the initial forward rush and thrust from Kai's lightning blade before returning the blow with a strike aimed for the blonde's eye. Neji only had one second to wonder about the smirk that appeared on Kai's face as he turned his whole body.
Kakashi stared on in awe as his student kept his momentum going. The speed used to charge forward in the first place was not wasted when Neji got out of the way. He just kept charging ahead with his head down as if he had expected Neji to react that way but it was a fluke. There was no way Kai could pull that off against someone else. He knew Neji reacted that way because they often sparred. Against a completely new opponent, this wouldn't guarantee Kai's safety.
"Tch." Kai clicked his tongue in annoyance. He wasted one. The Raikiri took an immense amount of chakra and stamina so he couldn't afford to miss a second time. He was also absolutely certain Neji wouldn't react that way a second time.
Kai turned and found himself face to face with Neji's kunai. He almost had his eye stabbed out! But he knew Neji was serious. He had practically bet his precious sister on this match. There was no way he would win this fight easily. Kai turned, spinning out of the way before the kunai could seriously take off his head. He brought up his leg, aiming for Neji's neck.
Neji ducked out of the way, barely dodging the blow that would have snapped his spine. The look in Kai's eyes sent chills down the Hyuga's spine. The blonde was dead serious about winning.
Each blow exchanged was one more point of respect shared between the two males. The purpose of the sparring session was long forgotten. Kai's lack of confidence in the Raikiri prevented him from attempting it a second time. There was so much at stake here.
Kakashi let out a sigh. His student obviously had some prior grudge against Hyuga Neji and obviously, Kai had forgotten the purpose of this fight in the first place. But who was Kakashi to stop them? He wasn't even sure Kai remembered he was standing here.
In a blur of fists, the two were at it. Watching them was extremely… Well, it was just a massive display of the emotions shinobi should not have. Love and pride swelled with every punch thrown. The frustration neither of them previously understood was broken down.
Two men who could do nothing but argue whenever they saw each other were now trying to understand each other just like this. The degree of affections Kai had for his sister. The amount of worries piled in Neji's heart for his younger sibling. Things neither of them could explain in words were being explained through the severity of blows, the deep thought of strategy, and resolve shining through with perseverance through the fight.
Neji's taijutsu was an impossible obstacle for Kai so when the blond planted a firm blow on the older male and put distance between them, Neji thought he had a moment to recollect himself for a new strategy but he was sorely mistaken. In the blink of an eye, Kai was already in position for another Raikiri. He had not forgotten his purpose.
He intended to use this newly acquired technique to win over Kori's brother and protect her in the future. Neji was prepared, or so he thought, to avoid the blow a second time but Kai was just that much more prepared to strike.
Kai had planted a lightning clone behind Neji who had been so focused on hand to hand combat, that the clone at a slight distance went unnoticed. Neji's Byakugan alerted him to the clone that shifted and moved in the background but he had no time to react to the lightning fast Raikiri and the clone behind him. He would have to take his pick between death by Raikiri or death by the clone that was fast approaching his backside. If he was to block either of them, now was his only chance. He tossed a handful of kunai behind him in hopes of distracting the clone but Kai was not going to let an opening go by without punishment.
It wasn't until Kakashi stepped in that Neji knew he had been beaten. Neji tumbled flat onto his behind. Kakashi's body was between the two young males. The copy ninja's fingers were curled tightly around Kai's wrist and the lightning blade crackled fiercely in Neji's face before dying out. No damage was done but when Kakashi glanced over his shoulder at the young Hyuga genius, Neji saw the sharingan and knew Kai's Raikiri was not something he could have stopped without a gift like the sharingan that allowed the user to follow and react to these types of things.
"Tch." Kai pulled his arm away from the copy ninja, "I was close, wasn't I?"
"Too close." Kakashi muttered, pulling his hitai-ate back into place over his sharingan eye, "But I never thought someone would show me what you proved to me today."
"Hmm?" The blonde rubbed his palm, it was slightly burnt from the backlash of his incomplete control over the Raikiri, "You're going to say something sarcastic again…"
"I'm not." The copy ninja grumbled, "I was just going to say that for a shinobi, you've shown me your emotions don't get in the way. You fight better when you've got passion behind you. But then again, I suppose Naruto is the same."
"Geh! Don't compare me to Naruto!" Kai snapped, "I'm nothing like that kid!"
Ignoring the outburst, Kakashi glanced back at the unmoved Neji, "I thought I blocked it… Were you hurt after all?"
"N-No…" The taijutsu master dusted himself off quickly as he stood, averting his eyes from the curious Saizo, "Thank you."
"Well then, that ends our session today. You did well, Kai." The tallest of the three turned to go, "You're all free to go. I have someplace to be and I can't afford to be late this time."
"Ah! Asahina-sensei's due today, right?! Hurry!" The blonde demanded, hurrying after the veteran jonin, "I've got to meet Touga soon."
"Saizo!" Neji called sharply and the pair of jonin paused but only Kakashi turned around curiously, "You have my word. I support you so just… take care of my sister."
Only Kakashi saw the small smile tugging at Kai's lips as he tossed a wave over his shoulder and continued on his way as if it wasn't a big deal. The pair strolled down the village path at a leisurely pace. The silence was only broken when Kai sighed.
Kakashi hummed curiously at the younger shinobi, prompting him without actually saying anything.
"How did you know Asahina-sensei returned your feelings?" The blonde mumbled.
The masked man hummed again, thinking about it for a moment, "I didn't. Kori told me."
"Well… That doesn't help me."
"Yes it does. If you confess to her, she'll tell you." Kakashi chuckled quietly at the glare sent his way, "But I suppose you want to find out before you face rejection."
"Be honest. You think she likes me?"
Kakashi's response was a clean, unrestrained, "No."
"Figured."
"Then why ask me?"
"No fucking clue." He shrugged.
Kakashi paused a moment as the fork in the road was quickly coming up. He gestured at the blade on his back and said, "Is that Touga's?"
"Yeah. He said he'd teach me." Kai welcomed the change in topic, "Why?"
The copy ninja shook his head, "No reason. Good luck."
Kai groaned as his senior left him. The implication was all there. Touga was probably an even stricter teacher than Kakashi. The copy ninja was probably warning him about his impending suffering.
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
A girl stood knee deep in a pool of heated water. Contrary to the steam coming up from beneath her, the snow was falling around the steaming pool.
Rokuro took a nervous breath from his place on the cliff overlooking his master. Beside him, Shiratora's eyes were unblinking as he beheld their ambassador's final test of mastery. The two were displaying simply opposite emotions. Rokuro was nervous and fretting almost like a mother while Shiratora stood strict and observant, maybe with a hint of pride for their fast-learning new master.
Behind them, Niiko whispered, "She's completed the absorption. Here she goes."
As if those words were her cue, she turned a dazzling smile onto Rokuro taking her viewers by surprise. The sky itself seemed to tremble with her strength and from her very feet came the chill that froze over the natural hot spring beneath her. The chilling cold of Snowy Peak could not freeze over this spring but the results of Kori's training had led her to this strength just like the ambassadors before her.
Rokuro let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, "She was successful."
"But it shows so dramatically on her body." Shiratora shivered at the slitted pupils showing so darkly on her white Byakugan empowered eyes, "And she cannot gather more nature energy without infusing her Byakugan with initial energy from her innate pool… It's not perfect but she's made it her own skill. Let's move onto the next test."
"W-Wait… Please let her rest a moment." Rokuro stuttered, "Never before have we taken an ambassador onto the next test so quickly."
Shiratora's eyes wandered lazily back to their young ambassador's figure. He took another long look at her, taking in the drastic anatomical changes. Kori's short blue hair turned nearly white, a tail hung low behind her brushing the ice she had created, her white eyes were stained with the slit of black, the ears atop her head replaced her human ears, and flaky specks of ice littered her shoulder blades.
The spring was already starting to melt and return to its natural state as her power over it faded away. She looked up at them with a look that said she could hear them. The features were not fading away and they held strong.
"It looks to me that she herself is eagerly rushing us to administer the second part." Shiratora chuckled, "Let's see how long she'll be showing that will."
Shiratora shuddered as a cold wave washed over him and he turned back to face his student in blatant surprise.
Behind him, Niiko let out a chuckle, "Rokuro… you've done a scary thing. We told you not to give this one prior knowledge of the tests. Now go and take responsibility."
"Halt." Shiratora growled, "The exam requires that her opponent for this round is the one she intends to summon in the final part. She has chosen me."
"N-No! She doesn't know what she's…." Her partner could not lie for her any longer.
She beckoned him but there was no fear. She knew exactly what she was doing.
"Choose your stage, young one." The great beast snarled, "Or so I would say but you choose this one? I have the advantage and I will not hold back. This is your last chance to change your mind."
"Do it." She grinned fearlessly back at him.
There was no hesitation. With a mighty roar and a stomp of his massive paws upon the clifftop, the snow on the cliffs began to pour down into the valley containing the spring with the might of a waterfall. He intended to bury her.
"Please, no!" Rokuro believed as much as he could believe but the worry would not settle.
"I will do her no such dishonor." Was the grunted reply.
Kori breathed deeply, waiting for the avalanche of snow to reach her. She crouched as it tumbled towards her closer and closer. Slowly, she started to spin, her nature energy seeping into the spring at her feet and the hot water that was her opponent in the previous stage of her exam was now her most powerful ally.
"Senpo: Kaiten (Sage Art: Rotation)" The Hyuga Clan's technique was heavily infused with steam. The chakra that was normally released from every inch of her body was lessened, instead replaced with nature energy and hot water that was the basis of her new senjutsu.
The avalanche made contact with the kunoichi's rotation of water, energy, and chakra. The snow began to melt on the spot, what wasn't melting splattered left and right from the speed of her senjutsu kaiten but she remained unharmed. As the cold snow stole away the heat of the water sphering around her, the melting ceased and the rest of the avalanche was pushed away to either side of her bit by bit. After long minutes, it was safe and she slowly stopped her spinning.
"One move." Shiratora huffed down at her, her tail was now flickering in and out of existence, the ice specks behind her shoulders were also gone, "You've bested me under the rules for the second test. Congratulations."
Her hearing was starting to fade back to normal and his voice faded away, the distance too far for human ears to hear. She was out of energy, all that was left of her beastly anatomy was now the slitted pupils. She would have to gather more for her last and most difficult challenge: the summoning of your chosen partner with senjutsu instead of chakra.
She plopped down right on the spot, slowing her breathing and letting the warmth of the water relax her muscles. Perfect stillness.
Now out of earshot, Rokuro muttered a breathless, "She intends to just zoom into the final stage."
"She's on a roll. What right do we have to stop her?" Niiko chuckled, pleased with his own part in the Hyuga's success, "We can only call her arrogant if she fails to summon Shiratora-sama. If she succeeds, we hail her as the most ambitious master we have ever served."
"I truly hope she's an overachiever and not an arrogant woman who doesn't know her place." The lord of the white tigers murmured as he hurried to leave the area with Niiko right on his tail.
Rokuro intended to linger only long enough to catch one more glimpse of her but he witnessed the opening of those tainted white cat eyes. It only took a moment for Niiko to sense it; the whisper of the winds. He was not the only one. Both Rokuro and Shiratora heard the same whisper and the nature energy infused Byakugan did not let this chance go unnoticed. Rokuro saw his partner weave the familiar signs and he spun to face the spot where Shiratora stood-or where he stood just a moment ago-with wide eyes.
The legendary beast heard her voice call out to him. Her voice rang in his ears and suddenly, everything was just happening in slow motion. His body was no longer his for that one slow moment.
"Senpo: Kuchiyose. Shiratora-Sennin."
There was no blood, no chakra. Kori felt her nature energy leave her body through her facedown palm and her weight jerked upwards as her summoning appeared beneath her. She felt her tail and ears vanish all at once, leaving only her nature-energy-tainted Byakugan and white hair.
Even using the whisper of the wind, he had taken a lot of energy and she was sure he would take much more if he was to enter combat. As if to give her a small display of the cost, he formed a snowman before them and that was it. Her hair returned to its normal shade of dark blue and her pure white Byakugan shone through once more.
"We have nothing more to teach you." The strongest tiger purred under her touch, "We'll dispatch a unit to Konoha at once. Koichi will summon you in the village so you don't have to travel through Kirigakure."
"They will be waiting for you." Rokuro assured the uncertain kunoichi, "You've been gone quite a while. Is there a part of you that doesn't wish to return to your rightful place?"
"No." Was her immediate answer, "I've always wanted to go home. I came here for the people who are waiting for me but would they really be waiting for me if they knew this is the kind of power I was earning?"
Shiratora's eyes rolled up in an attempt to see the young girl riding atop his head, "Kori-sama, this is a proud sage power. You shouldn't be ashamed of any of the power you've attained and that includes your new form. Even the most famous of shinobi have been forced to transform into much more aesthetically displeasing beasts in order to attain this power. You're certainly not hard on the eyes in your slightly changed form."
Kori scowled at the sage's skull, "I look like a monster… No offense to you guys but a human should not look like that."
Rokuro glared up at his master in a rare display of irritation, "Kori-sama, your brain works in strange ways. If you've seen the Kazekage and you can still call him human, how can you even stomach calling yourself a monster?"
"Gaara-sama's got nothing to do with this!" She blurted, her cheeks turning a bright red at the thought of the young Kazekage, "Wh-What if he thinks I'm strange…?"
"He's got no right!" Rokuro was clearly frustrated at the tilted logic, "If no one thought your Byakugan was strange, no one will think this controlled power is strange either. The Kazekage was a monster because he couldn't control it."
"... That's not his fault." She grumbled, "And people did think my Byakugan was creepy."
"No one important." Rokuro corrected.
"... He's not a monster."
"...That's the important part?"