Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Naruto Shippuden, or anything other than my OCs.
"He's healthy." Shizune informed the mother to-be cheerily, putting away her medical tech, "You're in the final stretch now so please be more careful. In just a few more weeks, we'll have you admitted to the hospital to prepare for the birthing process."
"I'm glad." Asahina grinned, rubbing her tightly stretched belly.
"Have you thought of a name yet?"
"I'm leaving that to Kakashi." The redhead snickered at the exasperated look on her lover's face, "Although he's having a lot of trouble with it."
"I have other things to think about too so it's not helping." The copy ninja grumbled.
"Like what?"
"Stuff."
"Stuff?"
"Things."
"Things? Like what?"
"Stuff."
"... Kakashi, you're thinking about my team again, aren't you?"
"That and Sasuke."
Shizune giggled softly, "Well, you two have a lot to think about for the future but please remember that today is the day Hyuga Kori is going to be discharged. Tsunade-sama is personally giving her the final check."
"Oh. That was today." Kakashi grumbled.
"Don't act like you didn't know." The pregnant kunoichi snorted, "You were the one who told me about it yesterday."
"Jealous?" He teased, quietly.
"Who would be jealous? So petty." She huffed, "I'm heading home first. Find out if Toshi reached Suna safely for me."
"Alright."
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
Being discharged from the hospital should have been an exciting thing but it was not completely a joy for Kori. Kai had informed her that there was not a single response from Gaara waiting for her and she had been told by Tsunade that the details of her team's battle with the Akatsuki had been relayed to her Clan leader. An extra lecture was probably waiting for her at home and she was not excited at all.
She cursed her rotten luck when she found Hiashi waiting for her upon her arrival, "Hiashi-sama…"
"Kori. I heard you've been targeted. You protected your eyes well but I'm afraid that it's really getting out of hand." The Clan leader scowled at her forehead protector, "I really don't know what I can do for you. There is only one option. You should just take up my offer to be transferred to the Main Branch of our family. You will be much better protected if you would just accept my offer."
"I've told you time and time again. Joining the Main Branch isn't going to do anything for me. Neji isn't going to be able to come with me and I don't belong there."
"You're just stubborn. You certainly weren't born into this side of the family but you are the sole exception to our normally strict rules. This will only benefit you and our clan."
"And I'm saying I don't want any benefits." She said firmly, "I am just staying in my rightful place. Is there a problem with that?"
"... No." He sighed, "Continue as you have been then."
There was a small silence between Kori and her brother when she entered the house. Neji had always known that his sister was different. As children, he had always just assumed she had just been lucky but now, he was more knowledgeable and mature so he knew there was something else at play here.
There should be no way for a person to reject the effects of the Main Branch's curse. It was a technique that sank into the very depths of a person's brain to destroy the brain cells upon activation. Only at death should the seal disappear, taking the Byakugan's ability with it.
Each time Kori had been marked, the seal burned away leaving nothing but a clean forehead. She was the envy of this side of the family and she always would be. Was it her chakra that overpowered the seal or was it her brain? Was it the very strength of her Byakugan that refused to be contained? There had to be some sort of explanation and yet nothing had been found.
"You have a guest." Neji murmured as his sister went by without a word. She paused just a moment at his comment and then continued on into the building without looking back.
At the entrance to her room was the heavy figure of a white tiger. Kori paused, her brother slowly coming up behind her to listen in, "Rokuro. What are you doing here?"
"Shouldn't you be asking how I got here without being summoned?" The tiger purred, crouching against the floor playfully.
"I doubt you always need a summons to get here. Don't you guys live somewhere connected to our world?" She grinned at the rare playfulness of her usually strict and noble partner.
"You're much too sharp for your own good, Kori-sama. I traveled so long to get here without your summons. The gate connecting Snowy Peak to this world is all the way in Kirigakure, you know." The feline stood and prodded its way to the Hyuga's feet, "Unlike those toads, our portal doesn't come out near Konoha. Then again you're the first person from Konoha to ever summon us."
She smiled, her partner's soft fur rubbed against her legs as he walked circles around her, "Are you guys really all that special?"
"I would say so." He stood in place and stretched out his tail proudly, "I actually came here today to discuss that particular aspect of my tribe."
"Hmm?" She hummed with interest.
"We would like to make you our official ambassador to the people." He continued, "You are Snowy Peak's only connection to the human world. Usually our ambassador is a shinobi from Kirigakure but our tribe has no such loyalty to one particular village."
"If your ambassador is usually from Kiri… Why did you end up choosing me?" She asked curiously.
"I did not choose you. Your natural energy chose me." Rokuro purred in a low voice, "There are certain people among the humans who manipulate natural energy in a particular way, sometimes they don't even know that they're doing it."
"I don't understand." She murmured, glancing over her shoulder at her silent brother, "What are you saying?"
"What part did you not comprehend?" He followed her gaze and found Neji simply glaring a hole into his fur, "Or perhaps we should discuss this another time?"
"All of it." She admitted almost emotionlessly, "What is this natural energy you're talking about and what exactly is it that you're claiming I can do? I don't mind either way. Is there some secret that he can't know?"
"There are no secrets to be told today." The beast settled against her feet once more, "Have you ever felt a certain strength that separates you from others?"
Looking into her partner's eyes, she knew that he was waiting for a positive answer, "I'm not sure."
"Well I am absolutely certain you have something special." He purred happily, "In this place, the humans call this power Sage Power. The toads teach it, the snakes teach it, every special summoning teaches the worthy ones how to control the secret art of their tribe. The basis for sage power is nature energy. It's our equivalent to chakra. Our tribe is a little different in the way that we only serve worthy masters. We will not be summoned by just anyone and we have no failed 'sages' that turn into stone statues while learning our secrets."
"But I don't know how to use nature energy."
"Not true. You were able to summon me all those years ago in your time of need because you host nature energy within you. If you did not you would have summoned an ordinary cat and not one of the mighty white tigers of Snowy Peak." He sounded almost disgusted with the idea of an ordinary cat being at his master's side, "It's quite obvious really. All human bodies naturally host chakra, am I correct?"
"Yeah." She was now aware that Neji was onto something she did not understand, "Something wrong?"
"I'm thinking." Her brother grumbled at her, "Ignore me."
"Well, some people also just naturally harness nature energy or for some reason their bodies host nature energy. Nature energy can be used for various things but generally techniques using nature energy are called senjutsu. Although explaining it like this will get you nowhere. I came here today to take you back with me and teach you sage mode if you are ready to learn it."
"Ehhh… I don't think I can go back with you if Snowy Peak is in Kirigakure…"
"There's nothing to worry about. We aren't walking back. Koichi will Reverse Summon you and then I will simply return to where I came from like usual."
"Oh." She didn't really think there was much to think about, "How long is the training going to take though? Because I can't leave the village without permission."
"Yes. Yes. I know." He sighed, "But I'm eager to take you home with me so I insist that you get permission now."
"Absolutely not." Neji blurted before his sister could even turn around, "You know I'm against it. And Hiashi-sama would never let you leave without proper supervision."
"Hiashi-sama doesn't have to know." She grinned childishly, "All I have to do is inform the Hokage and get her to agree. Hiashi-sama can find out through the grapevine."
"Absolutely not!"
"If you're that worried, come with me!"
"NO!"
"... Please?"
"No means no, Kori." He huffed, already preparing an extra rebuttal or two.
"Either you give me permission and you smile and wave goodbye, or you end up finding out through the grapevine too." She huffed right back at him, "So take your pick."
"Do your training here! Is that so hard to ask?"
"That is a difficult task." Rokuro cut in, "She won't learn properly or as quickly if she doesn't return to Snowy Peak with us. There is an abundance of natural energy flowing through the mountain range of Snowy Peak, more so than there can ever be here."
"Then she doesn't have to learn it." Neji said sternly, "She's been doing just fine without your techniques and she'll continue to excel without them."
"There's no doubt about that but the skills of my tribe will obviously give her just one more extremely powerful skill."
"To protect my unsealed Byakugan." She added quietly but it was her one valid reason among many selfish excuses.
Neji hesitated, glaring the white tiger down as if it was his fault that she didn't bear the same mark that he did, "Well, that's certainly a good reason but there's no telling what kind of danger you'll be in if you go to that Snowy Peak place!"
"Rest assured. My tribe will protect her with our very lives." The feline stretched out his powerful claws, "I live to protect our human ambassador."
Neji let out a big sigh, "I am against it. You shouldn't go because it's dangerous but if you just so happen to disappear, I suppose there's nothing I can do about it."
"Of course!" She grinned at his hint, "You'll just have to 'hear it through the grapevine' like Hiashi-sama! I'm off!"
"Excellent!" In his excitement, Rokuro pushed its head between her legs and scooped her up onto his back. She barely managed to turn and wave goodbye before her majestic companion whisked her off in the direction of the Hokage's office.
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
Sunagakure, the Village Hidden in the Sand. Yui stood barely concealed behind a building under the desert sun simply staring at the village ruled by the Kazekage. She didn't know what she expected from a village that was called the Village Hidden in the Sand but she certainly hadn't expected all the… sand in this village.
It was hot and it was sticky and she absolutely hated it. There was only one thing worse than what she was seeing in front of her. The sight of Toshizo talking to that monster through the window of the building off to the side of her hiding place made her sick to her stomach.
She couldn't hear what they were saying and reading lips was proving to be quite the difficult task but she couldn't care any less. She simply wanted to be out of the desert sun. She hated this mission and if that beast didn't exist, she wouldn't be here.
She ducked behind the wall and out of view when she thought he was sensing her presence. She really wouldn't be surprised if he knew she was there. He was the Kazekage after all but it would make no difference if she was not caught. And she would not be caught by this monster. Just the very thought terrified and disgusted her.
She just really wished she could hear what they were saying.
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
The Saizo Clan is famed for their strength and skill in their own style of Raiton Techniques. Kai, at his young age, was hailed as a genius among them for having learned their various types of jutsus one after the other. Their clans forbidden techniques were the only techniques he had yet to learn. However, his father claimed they cannot be taught without reason because they're forbidden. They were only meant to be used in war.
So with the departure of Toshizo for Sunagakure, Kai felt that now was the time to ask his father for training in these techniques. He didn't want to be left behind. And yet, his father did not give him the desired response.
"Kai, you are not ready. The skills you possess now is all I can give you." His father scowled, "I appreciate your eager attitude but you cannot learn these techniques."
"Why am I not ready?! I've learned everything else and this is all I have left to learn." He demanded, "You have to teach me."
"Kai." His father spoke sternly, "In all honesty, I cannot teach you because you use these techniques at the cost of your life. Even I have never used such a technique in my life."
"Wha-?"
"But I know that it's doable without training for the members of our clan who possess the blessing of thunder as you do." His father gestured to the hair that stood up on the back of his own head and then his son's, "Kai, you have received the blessing whereas your brothers did not. You will be able to use the technique when the time comes but it will be at the cost of your life and one other. One day, you will watch someone do it, you will not forget it. That is how I learned it. But it has cost me dearly."
Now, Kai had no choice but to concede. He has to leave without any training plans. He had no guarantee for strength so he had to go to Plan B.
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
Toshizo stood facing Gaara awkwardly. He had arrived in Sunagakure about an hour ago and had been shown to his room. Kankuro was busy so he was told that they would not train until Kankuro's work was finished. So why was the Kazekage standing here as if he had done something wrong?
"Did I miss something?" Toshizo asked cautiously, "Or is there something you want me to do for you?"
Gaara blinked at him for a short moment, "Isn't there something you're forgetting?"
"Umm…" He reached back and unstrapped his weapon from his back and put it aside, "That it's rude to carry my weapon in this hospitable room you've lent me?"
The Kazekage stared blankly at him as if he had told a bad joke, " No."
"..."
"..."
"Uhh… Could it be that… you think I have a letter from Kori-san?" The aspiring puppeteer tried to hold back a smile at the look from the young foreign leader, "I don't. I'm sorry to disappoint you."
"It's understandable." The sand shinobi murmured, "She's a ninja too. She must be busy."
"Kori-san just barely got out of the hospital from what I know. She probably couldn't reply." He thought about it for a minute, "Actually I think she might not have received your reply to her previous letter? She seemed to be waiting for a reply…"
Gaara's eyes widened for one short moment and he gave a curt nod before turning and leaving just as quietly as he had come leaving Toshizo to blink dumbly after him.
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
Asahina stared blankly at her student for a moment or two and cautiously asked, "Kai, do I need to remind you that I'm pregnant and can't do much?"
"I know you're pregnant but what other choice do I have? There's nothing left for me to learn from my father." Kai grumbled, "I'm asking you because you're the last hope I've got left."
The rounding jonin knew Kai was not one to approach anyone first with requests. He was prideful and talented. He had come all this way just on his own strength and basically self-taught techniques. She knew there was some emotional turmoil fueling Kai's actions at this point.
"You're good with a sword, right?" The blonde asked with an almost child-like hope behind his eyes, "If I can learn that I'll be stronger."
"I can't teach you to wield a sword in my current state." She said, her own heart nearly ripping in half at the look of utter disappointment her student could not hide. She had taken away his only option, "I'm sorry. But there's just one suggestion I have left for you. Go to Kakashi. Ask him to teach you the Raikiri."
"Don't joke around." The younger ninja growled, "He wouldn't even teach that trick to you. I'm not Sasuke so there's no way he would even think about it."
"But you have something I don't." Asahina smiled at the look of stunned confusion, "I'm sure you'll think of some way to learn it. The technique itself is rather simple but getting him to teach you the proper way to use it is just impossible."
"Being pregnant killed your brain cells, huh?" He grumbled in disbelief, "I got a lot of things that you don't but it's not going to change the fact that I don't have a Sharingan. He's not going to teach it to me."
"With that attitude, of course he's not." She slammed her hand on the table in front of her hard enough to get a small reflexive twitch of surprise from the hardened fighter before her, "Kakashi's not stupid so there's no way he'll teach the Raikiri to just anyone but he isn't stubborn. He can be convinced."
"... So you're basically saying that I've got to go and ask him all on my own cause you can't help me?" He knew he was right when a sly smile began to spread across the face of his instructor, "You demon."
"I'll take that as a thank you."