Chapter 24: Puppets

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'Inner Thoughts'

Writing/Old tongue

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Yukino's POV

Postponing my birthday until I regained my sight I anxiously waited for someone to come into my hospital room since today was the last day here. Hearing the door open I jumped off the bed and put on my shoes. "Temari so you came to pick me up?" I asked her sensing that she was the only one that came.

"Yeah, are you ready?" She asked me from the door.

"Yes," I walked towards her, "Come on, let's leave," I said walking past her knowing which path to take that will lead me back down to the lobby.

"Did your sight return?" I heard her ask behind me.

"No," I replied remembering how after Kitaro left the doctors came in and started examining me and asking a bunch of questions about my wellbeing. As a result, I had to stay for a couple of days. Shivering at the thought of returning and being subjected to more tests and questions I was glad to finally leave. "But it will return soon," I told Temari, "hopefully," I whispered the last bit.

Time skip: "It returned!" An azure-eyed girl whispered excitedly when she woke up one night.

"Chiyo-sama is this correct?" I asked pointing to my worksheet on chakra points. Hearing no response I looked up and saw her sprawled on the floor. Sighing I stood up and walked up to her, "Why are you laying on the floor?"

"…"

"I know you're playing possum. I can still sense your chakra." I told her since this was her third attempt at tricking me since I was taken under her wing to be taught as a medic-nin. Thinking back I remember how after I regained my sight Rasa-sama took me to her and asked to teach me more about medical ninjutsu. I later found out that there were few medical-nin in Suna who go outside the hospital and into the battlefield. Placing my sheet beside her, I started to walk in the direction of the new poison she was making while I was studying.

Glancing back I saw her still laying on the ground still pretending to be dead. 'How long is she going to pretend?' Picking up the vail brought it up to my nose and inhaled it slightly realizing that it was a low-level poison. 'It's missing one ingredient thought,' I realized since the scent was slightly sweet. Glancing at her again I saw how she still insisted on playing possum so without wasting time, I left the room in look for her brother. 'Maybe she will stop if she gets a reaction.'

・・・

Looking over the medical book on a stand beside me and the frog in front of me I began making the incision that she instructed me to do. Carefully removing the organ she told me to remove I placed it on the metal tray. "Done," I said through my mask while holding my gloved hands up. Chiyo-sama came up to me and looked over carefully what I did and laughed. 'Did I mess up?'

"HaHa. You're pretty good." She said, "You remind me of myself in my youth." She continued laughing when she abruptly stopped and looked beside me, "Is that fox going to be by your side this entire time?"

"Yes," Looking beside me I saw Kitaro sleeping peacefully on a desk that was on the room. "Unless he chooses to leave."

・・・

Cleaning up the work station I looked behind me and saw Chiyo-sama asleep with Kitaro on her lap. Scrunching up my nose I sniffed my clothes and realized that the scent of the frog was still on it. Seeing as I didn't bring an extra set of clothes I didn't take it off and placed the rag on the table before wandering around her office.

Walking up a glass case filled with vails all of the same size. Reading the names of each I noticed that they were poisons. Next to that glass case was a working station with a clean mortar and pestle and above it were bowls and measuring cups of different sizes. Beside that was another case which I assumed to have been the antidotes to the poisons across the working station. Remembering that I hadn't replenished my supplies of antidotes from the last time I used them I made a mental note to make them once I returned to the manor.

Hearing rustling behind me I walked back to Chiyo-sama seeing that she was stirring awake. "Huh? You're still here?" She said groggily. Noticing the small fox on her lap she scratched him behind the ear. "Did you finish the book I gave you?" She asked noticing the book on the table.

"Yes. Anything else for me to study?"

"Hm? Did you finish it already? Then read the next volume." She told me.

"Okay." Walking up the bookshelves I looked around but couldn't find it. "It's not here."

"I must've left it in my workshop." She pointed towards the door, "Left hallway, last room." She said sleepily before closing her eyes.

Nodding I quickly left the room and headed to where she said. Opening the door I was greeted with a dark room with puppets and parts hanging from the walls and ceiling only leaving a space leading to the work table where there was unfinished work. Gathering some water from the air to create a small orb I held it in my palm and focused my chakra to my hand doing the mystical palm technique, the chakra from my hand moved to the orb of water making it glow brightly. 'Hikari-tama no jutsu.' Undoing the mystical palm technique I made the orb hover above my head to illuminate the desk. Grabbing the first book I saw I used the light to see the title. 'This is not it…' Placing the book down I grabbed the other book. Looking up I saw the eye of a puppet staring at me, curious I walked up to it looking closely at the joints and material. Drawing the orb back to my palm I split it up as small as I could and spread it back into the air before I left the room.

"Found it!" I said returning to the room that Chiyo-sama was in as she was waking her up with my talking. "Also I didn't know you were a puppet master," I said pointing out the puppets I saw. "I remember seeing someone use puppets during the chūnin exams a couple of years ago. It was amazing." I said as I walked towards the desk set up for me placing the book down to read.

"Are you interested in learning?" She asked with a wrinkly smile on her face.

"Sure!"

Kazekage manor

Grabbing the utensils to place on the table I saw Kankurō take them from me, "Don't worry, I will do it." I heard him say nicely. Confused I turned my head to Temari who was looking at him suspiciously. 'Something is up with him…' I thought glancing at Kitaro to see what his opinion was but I couldn't see him. 'He must have gone home.'

After eating I sat down in the middle of the couch with a book about anatomy that Chiyo-sama let me borrow. A moment later Gaara sat down on one end of the couch as I was already halfway through the book. Glancing at him I opened a small portal and took out a small slip of colored paper. Starting to fold it into a fox I smiled as I remembered that I used to do this frequently with otou-san. 'When I return home I wonder if we can do it again…' Feeling myself tilt slightly to the side I looked to my right and saw Kankurō, "That's cool what are you doing?" He asked taking the small fox I made from my hands.

"…Origami."

"Okay. Hey, I heard you were studying to become a medical-nin that is so amazing…" He continued talking when he moved to another until the topic wandered about him and his puppets. 'This is so strange…' I thought to myself slowly moving more to the left where Gaara was knowing that Kankurō feared him. Seeing Gaara stand up about to leave I took it as my chance to leave as well.

"I just remembered that I have to clean my frogs," I said mentally slapping my forehead. Grabbing my book I ran upstairs I slipped past Gaara using him as a barrier between me and the other boy the moment I reached the hallway. Holding the book tightly, I ran up quietly up the stairs and ran to my door closing it behind me. Sighing I sat down on the slipper chair and continued reading from where I left off.

Knock knock.

Looking at the door I slowly got off the slipper chair leaving the book on the seat. Cracking the door slightly open I saw no one aside from the small bunny toy standing up in front of my door. "Hi," I said hesitantly looking at it with suspicion.

"Hi! Wanna talk to me?" The bunny plush said as it tipped forward slightly and then back. Noticing a thin line of chakra coming from the bunny that led around the corner I stepped out of the room making the bunny step back as well.

"What do you want from me?" I asked looking into its empty beady eyes.

"Move." I heard Gaara say as I saw Kankurō come from around the corner letting the auburn-haired boy pass. But as he moved the bunny did as well falling into a slump. 'So its a puppet,' I thought looking carefully at the plush. Seeing Gaara walking towards his room I moved to pick it up the bunny when his sand grabbed it before I could. He walked past me with the bunny following. 'So it's his. He must like plushies,' I realized remembering the teddy bear he always carried, noting this down in my head for future reference I was about to return to my room when I bumped into the door.

"Oh, you're hurt let me help you." I heard Kankurō say as I felt him grab my arm and lead me to his room.

I was about to speak when he left immediately. Alone in the room, I rubbed my head where the door hit me as I noticed how one corner of his room was filled with parts and plans for puppets. Looking down at the floor I saw a bit of sawdust that was near perfectly sanded wood. Staying where I was I waited for a minute before deciding to leave. At that moment, however, Kankurō ran in with a med kit. "Why are you so interested in me all of a sudden?" I asked suspiciously taking a couple of steps back, "Usually you just ignore me."

"N-no reason." He said which I obviously could tell it was a lie. Teleporting behind him to make my way back to my room I heard him telling me to wait. "I heard you were being taught by Chiyo-baasama and I wanted to ask if you can put a good word in for me."

'Makes sense.' I thought before shaking my head, "I'll tell her about you… but you should be the one to ask her to train you." I told him since there really wasn't much I could tell Chiyo-sama apart from the fact that he just really likes puppets. Like really likes them, since I once saw him talking to them alone in his room which supported my reasoning why I should leave him to do his own things.

"You would do that?" I heard him, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Mhm. But if you want I can teach you what she teaches me." I told him as his face brightened up and he smiled for the first time I was here.

Somewhere in Sunagakure

Watching carefully as the old woman was making one of her puppets move I decided that it would be the time to bring up Kankurō, "Chiyo-sama it's incredible that you made all of these puppets… You know it reminds me that Kankurō, one of the Kazekage's sons, he's really interested in this and seems to be making his own." I told her trying to casually give this information to her while admiring her puppets for extra effect.

She laughed and walked past me, "You need to concern yourself with your training first before focusing on others. Now, do as I told you." She said as she placed a simple doll in front of me. Smiling that she caught on to what I was doing I looked at the doll and started focusing on what she told me to do.

・・・

"So what did Chiyo-baasama teach you?" The boy asked the moment I came through the door.

"She just taught me the basics." I told him, "Hey, do you think you can teach me how to move the plush like you did the other day?"

"Yeah," He got off the couch and bent underneath trying to reach something. Curious I got off as well and saw yesterday's bunny plush underneath.

"Can't you use your chakra strings?" I told him.

"You're right." He said as I saw concentrated chakra strings coming out of his fingertips. Successfully able to pull out the plush I grabbed his hand and looked at it closely. The way the chakra was controlled made me understand slightly how to perform it. "What are you doing?" I heard him ask.

Letting go of his hand I answered his question, "Just seeing what you do to create the chakra strings." About to inspect the bunny I felt something tug on it as I saw sand pull it away once again. Following the sand with my eyes, I saw Gaara retrieve his plush as he left the living room. "…Hey, I could buy a plush so that we could use practice." I turned to the older boy who was looking at the younger one with a scowl. "You're going to have to come to choose one that would be good to move."

・・・

"So I have to move my fingers like this?" I asked copying his movements as I watched him manipulate the doll he chose because it looked like Temari.

"Exactly each finger controls a limb," he moved his index finger causing the doll to move its arm and point at me. "See?" I saw him move his fingers once again.

Having an idea I brought my knees up to my face and made sure my hair covered my eyes. "Kankurō do a trick," I told him, he didn't look my way and complied. Activating my eyes I focused on the activation of the Sharingan and analyzed his hand movements, seeing the way each muscle in his hand moved in order to create a simple movement. The result of all this was a flip over the table.

"Aiko, can you help me with the bags." I heard Temari say.

Without thinking I lifted my head and replied, "Going!" Turning my head to the boy I remembered my eyes and covered them before he could see.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"N-nothing." Calming down I focused hard on returning my eyes to normal. Once I was sure enough, I stood up and left in the direction of the hallway to help with whatever Temari needed.

"Aiko, help me with dinner." I heard Temari again say again but behind me, 'Wait but it's not even dinner time.' I realized stopping in the hallway entrance, hearing muffled laughter behind me I turned around and saw Kankurō with his hand over his mouth as he was struggling not to laugh.

"Kankurō, did you mimic Temari's voice?" I asked surprised as I rushed to him planting myself on the couch next to him. "How?" I asked when he erupted into laughter. "H-hey do you think you can teach me?" I asked him as he leaned against the small coffee table laughing his head off.

Journal Entry # 8

Kankurō has been a huge help for the puppet technique I'm grateful for it. I want to practice with him more but I have missions to go to so I can't spend the time necessary on it. But the missions are simple all I have to do is help if anyone gets injured. I've been to 5 in the last month since I got my sight back.

Journal Entry #9

Michiko-san returned from the land of steam. She had no new information on any Uzumaki within the land of steam, however, she did hear about a red-haired woman in the land of grass. Being that red hair is a special characteristic of the clan she decided that the land of grass should be the next place for her to look.

Journal Entry#10

I didn't mention this before because I wasn't sure but now I am. Someone is spying on me ever since the day I got back my sight. I'm safe in my room because there are no windows but when I leave this room I can sense someone following me when I'm alone. I don't know what to do about it but I managed to sneak a message to Michiko-san through one of the books I borrowed. As a result, we have changed our conversations to 'Lands we would visit if we could' just in case the person watching us could hear us.

"Your progress so far had been incredible," Chiyo-sama told me as she watched me control the puppet she made for me to use for practice.

"Remember the boy I told you about?" I asked moving the puppet into a sitting position. "He helped me with my training," I told her turning my head to see her reaction.

"Then it seems that the boy has talent." She said as she laughed happily. "Aiko, I have a request for you." She said stopping her laughter. Disconnecting my strings from the puppet I turned my full attention to her. "You should make your own puppet."

Surprised I looked at her for a moment expecting her to laugh and just say it was a joke but she didn't, "Are you sure I just started doing this a month ago."

"Everyone has to start somewhere," she said walking towards the door. "If you need to you can borrow my workshop for as long as you need until you complete your puppet." Standing up, I followed after her as she guided me to her workshop. Looking inside I saw a chair in her desk that wasn't there before.

Sitting on the chair I looked back at Chiyo-baasama who waited for me to draw my plans. Looking down at the paper in front of me I thought carefully as to what kind of puppet I would make. One to kill and attack? One to restrain and capture? Tapping the pencil on the desk I realized my puppet didn't have to have any of that I just need to create a puppet that would be useful to me, one to fool, like the bunny plush that Kankurō moved before to get me out of my room.

Placing the tip of the pencil on the paper I began sketching a person's body. I was drawing the hands, face, and details that my puppet would have. My puppet would be different from any that Chiyo had in her possession essentially I was making a real-life looking doll that I could use for my journey.

Gaara's POV

She was with him again, for the past month and a half Aiko has been talking to him mostly and something about that angered me. The way her face lit up happily as she talked to my brother about something she was making caused a tight feeling inside me as I remembered that she would smile like that mostly towards me when she stayed awake late. It was like that for a while until she started learning from that old woman who gave her a common interest that she could share with my brother. The dolls I took to draw her attention went ignored as she just retrieved it the next day when I was in the academy. Just like that, she would continue her practice with him until he felt tired and went to sleep or when the clock approached nine where she wouldn't come out during the night like she used to. There was something about her made me react this way that I didn't know about, something that I just couldn't place. The answer was right in front of me but I just couldn't place it.

"You should add knives here!" I heard my brother say as I looked over and saw him pointing to something she drew.

"No. I just want to make my puppet like a real-life doll remember?" I heard her say as she frowned slightly and started erasing.

"Then just add this instead, you will thank me later."

She sighed and nodded redrawing something he did, "Fine… just because you know more. Oh, great puppet master." She said laughing at the last part.

"Laugh now but I will show you one day when I do become the best puppet master Sunagakure knows!" He laughed in response.

"Are you two done?" I heard Temari say as she glared at the two who flinched.

"What time is it?" Aiko asked looking up at the clock. Her eyes widened as she quickly picked up all of her materials. "Sorry! I will go to sleep! Night!" She fumbled with all her stuff and kissed Kankurō on the cheek. She seemed to realize what she did and fell to the ground slamming her head on the floor. The other went into shock and just stared ahead before his mind processed what happened as it turned into different shades of red.

"What was that for~" Temari laughed at Aiko's embarrassment as the other girl was on the floor with her face all red.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled. "I used to do that to my otou-san at home before I went to sleep…" She stood up and apologized to him. "I'm sorry Otou-san told me that kisses (on the cheek or forehead) towards boys I didn't consider family was forbidden." Poof! Hearing this she turned around quickly with big eyes as the small fox tilted its head in confusion. "I-I-I'm going to sleep! Forget about it please!" She said loudly one last time as she grabbed her stuff and left without looking back. The small fox looked in the direction that she ran in and gave us a quizzical look before following after her with a small yip.

・・・

Staring at the blank ceiling of my room I turned to my side when I caught the whiff of something delicious. With the grumbling of my stomach, I sat up and opened the door as I did the smell of something recently baked became stronger. Walking down to the kitchen, I heard the oven being opened. Standing by the hallway wall I saw her taking out a cake with oven mitts as she placed on the kitchen island she looked up and flinched before placing a hand on her heart. 'Why does she always do that? Do I scare her that much?' "Hi!" She whispered while taking off the oven mitts. Seeing her calm face she seemed to have gotten over what happened earlier.

She turned around and had a decorating bag. Sitting on the dining room table I watched as she began decorating the cake she took out, "So… how have you've been?" She asked as she focused on what she was doing. Giving her silence as a response she glanced up before resuming. "Something happened. Didn't it?" She walked over to the sink and washed her hands when she suddenly pulled out a candle out of nowhere that she placed on the island beside the already decorated cake. 'How did she do that?' Doing a couple of hands signs she held the candle in front of her only half an arm's length away before blowing softly creating a small flame. Placing the lit candle on the cake she picked it up and placed it on the table in front of me. "Happy birthday, Gaara."

Shocked, I looked at the cake and then at her, 'When was the last time someone told me that?'

"Gaara? You need to make a wish before the candle completely melts." I heard her say as she was pointing to the candle.

'Wish?' Looking down at the small flame I closed my eyes and knew what I wished for. 'I wish for you to stop making me feel this way…' and with that, I blew out that single candle.

3rd POV

(grief and sorrow)

The sun was slowly setting behind the mountains of Inari as two figures sat by each other only being separated by a wooden statue of a woman facing the sky. "It's been a month since she left." the figure of a white-haired woman spoke looking at the setting sun with her sharp blue eyes.

"It has." replied a woman with black hair streaming down her shoulders her eyes closed in thought.

"Are you going to speak to her?"

"No. It is better for her to learn how to live on her own." the woman replied taking a deep breath.

"How much time do you have?" The white-haired vixen asked her old friend after minutes of silence.

"I have all eternity," with a smile she opened her eyes and looked at her hand. "But I assume you are asking how much I have here. In this place." Extending her hand she brushed her fingertips on the statue next to her and saw her fingers go through. "As you can see I only have a couple of years before I return to my original state." 'I thought I had more time.' The black haired woman left out.

"A spirit shackled between this world and the other." The woman beside her sighed with a smile. "What are you going to do now that your selected male specimens have dropped to one?" The woman asked remembering a previous conversation they had.

"Nothing." The woman replied simply placing her hands on her lap looking at the sun barely visible. "For now I can only hope that she passes on her genes."

"And if she doesn't?"

"Then I guess I may never have another chance to save my clan." The woman told herself as she had already reflected on how harsh she had been to the young girl. 'But, I can't stop. This harshness is what is helping build the life she is living.'

"Right… that was your oath back then…" She vixen smiled closing her eyes interrupting the woman's thoughts.

Flashback

A young woman with straight black hair reaching up to her waist did the summoning signs for the first time and summoned a white fox. "I am Kuzunoha of Mount Inari. What is your purpose for summoning me?"

The young woman walked up to the fox and kneeled down. "I am ––– and I summon you to be my partner." The young woman stood up and stared at the fox. "In my time of need, you will be summoned to help and nothing more."

"For you to require aid you must be fighting something to protect. What is this thing that you are protecting that requires me to aid you?" The fox said staring down at the young woman, whose eyes were clear and bright as if she's been sheltered from the difficulties of life.

"To protect my family and my clan." The woman said without hesitation.

"That is the same answer everyone gives me." the white fox said shaking her head.

"Wait!" the woman said knowing that the fox before her was about to leave. "I am ––– and I'm giving that up because out of everyone I have the talent necessary to protect everyone in this village without fighting!" The young woman said on the verge of tears. "I swore that as long as I have that blood running through my veins that I would protect this village even if it meant giving up my life!" The young woman outburst placing her hand over her heart her eyes were staring directly at the white fox her resolve strong and unbreakable. Surprised by this the white fox agreed, only to see if she would really keep her word and to her surprise she did.

Flashback End

"If I fade away like before… will you watch over her to ensure that my family doesn't die once again?" The woman asked barely visible to the fox woman before her.

"That is my reason for helping you, remember?" The vixen asked looking at the woman with a smile who disappeared. "Why do you always leave before answering me?" she asked no one in particular. Sitting by the cliff they were at she inhaled and called out the person behind the trees, "I know you are there, Kamen-san."

Emerging from the shadows of the trees a masked figure came out their head slightly down looking away. "Forgive me for eavesdropping."

"It's not a problem, after all, it involves your precious kit." She said tapping the seat beside her inviting him to sit down.

He saw this and approached her only standing by her side. "If she doesn't find someone will you force her to bear children?"

Shaking her head she placed her chin on her hand, "No. She has a likable air around her so I'm sure she won't have a problem finding someone. The problem is that that girl is destined for tragedy since the moment she was created. Do you understand what I mean?"

"You're worried about her sanity."

Nodding she looked at him with sharp eyes. "No matter what happens you need to make sure to be there for her when she can no longer take what life throws at her."

Yukino's POV

For the rest of those weeks, I spent most of my time at Chiyo-baasama's workshop listing the materials I would need to collect and buy for what I was going to do. Taking advantage of my missions I bought brushes and dyes that I needed after completing them.

Having everything I needed I spent most of my free time when I was not practicing to be a medical-nin like Chiyo-baasama, polishing and shaping the puppet the way I wanted. Having the body of the puppet ready an idea came to mind as I decided to add something else to it. Inside one of the arms of the puppet, I made a small compartment to hide stuff inside.

Grabbing the head I made sure the porcelain I added was smooth before deciding to decorate it. Holding the head still in my hands I carefully painted the lips a pale pink before moving on to the hollow eye sockets. Around them, I glued on carefully Kitaro's dyed shed fur that I spent hours cutting to the right size. Placing one eyelash on I leaned against my chair and sighed. Looking around me for Chiyo-baasama I walked up to the door and closed it. With a smile, I activated the Sharingan and continued to work taking advantage of the abilities the eyes gave me.

・・・

Finished with the head I deactivated my eyes relieved. Rubbing my eyes lightly I stood up and wobbled to the side, "Woah." I said seeing the room tilt slightly, 'I must've used them for a really long time…' Sitting back down I opened the drawer beside me and rummaged through it looking for eyes that I could use for my puppet. 'I need to make her look as ordinary as possible…' I thought finally landing on brown eyes.

Looking at the head's long black hair I brushed it carefully. 'Shadow clone jutsu,' Seeing my shadow clone I motioned for it to help keep the body stable while I popped the head in its place. Stepping back we both admired the creation we made, looking at each other we gave each other a high five before I undid the jutsu. Looking at my creation, she was five feet and four inches tall, the average height for a woman at least that's what I read. Her black hair was straight medium length, slightly passing her shoulders, and was it parted lightly on the right side. She was dressed in a simple dark blue dress that covered most of her body and joints. Grabbing her hand I extended her arm pulling the sleeve back to inspect it to see if the arm could move normally. 'The silicone is hiding the joints, that's good…' I thought as I placed the arm back, taking out a scroll that I made for it I sealed up the puppet and ran back to the manor saying goodbye to Chiyo-sama on my way out.

Peeking around the corner the living room was empty so I took out my scroll and set up my puppet making sure that it would surprise the siblings. Creating my chakra strings I made sure that they were well hidden when I heard someone coming down the stairs. "Hey– Who is that?" Kankurō asked coming to a stop as he saw the woman beside me.

"This?" I asked, "It's Rei." I said as if nothing.

"Wait… is that the puppet that you've been working on?" Cracking a smile I nodded in confirmation. He walked over with a smile and started looking it over, "Did you add the poison senbon?" Moving one of my fingers one of Rei's hands went up and moving another finger made a poison covered senbon come out from her palm. "So you did!" He exclaimed motioning for me to put it back which I did. He stared at the puppet once again and stayed silent.

"Is something wrong?" I asked leaning against my puppet making it place its hand on my head.

"I was just thinking that if you want to make it look more real you should make the breasts bigger… ack!" Stunned I saw Temari pulling his ear.

"Don't tell her to do weird stuff like that!" She said pulling him away from the puppet that I worked on, risking three days of sleep. 'Maybe I should tell him that…'

"Owowow. Fine I won't." Temari let go and he rubbed his ear.

Smiling I felt myself tilt forward and saw my eyes close. Opening them immediately I took out my scroll and sealed Rei up again before deciding it was time to sleep. "Night…" I yawned as I passed the siblings.

A couple of days later.

Gasping for breath I looked at the dead bandit in front of me. "T-thank you," I told the shinobi in front of me who just protected me.

He glanced at me and glared, "Go check if the merchants are fine." he said harshly.

Hearing this I nodded, "Are any of you injured?" I asked the merchants who we were supposed to protect. That was my mission and currently I seemed to be doing a bad job at it, I was able to sense another shinobi apart from the ones in my current team but I wasn't able to react on time to their attacks resulting in me needing someone else to protect me.

・・・

Thinking back on my mission from earlier I realized that I haven't spent enough time practicing my other jutsu, shaking my head I looked at the puppet I made. Brushing the hair slightly I drew my hand back and took out a scroll. "I'm sorry Rei," Sealing it up I placed it away in one of my portals. With a sigh, I went to the workshop where Chiyo-baasama was with my head lowered, "I'm sorry you wasted your time teaching me this. Learning this requires most of my time and focus and because of that I have neglected other aspects of my training." Lifting my head I saw her face of disappointment in me.

"Leave. I no longer have an interest in teaching you anymore." She said as I nodded understanding.

Leaving the room workshop I activated my eyes and opened a portal taking out quickly a small pouch as well as five gems from my jar, where I kept every gem I ever created stored. 'This should make up for the materials I used…' Deactivating my eyes I spotted Ebizō-sama walking in my direction.

"Oh, Aiko-chan have you seen my sister?" He asked as we ended up meeting halfway in the hallway.

"Yes, she's in her workshop," I told him holding the small pouch in my hands tightly.

"Thank you."

"Wait," I said before he could pass me. "Can you give this to Chiyo-baasama."

"Of course," He took the small pouch from my hands.

"Thank you," I told him with a smile, "Bye." Leaving the house with a sigh I decided to head back to the manor, 'This was the right decision,' I thought.

As I was halfway to the manor I decided to go to the library entering I saw that it was once again empty. Looking up at the second level I went up and just decided to go to the end and sit at the table to think quietly to myself about everything that has happened. Crossing my arms I put my head down and decided to just clear everything from my mind, not even after a minute of trying to think I heard a familiar voice call my name.

Lifting my head I saw Temari with a stack of books in her hands. "Hi," I said putting a smile on my face. Looking at the book titles I realized that she took the advice I gave her, "So it seems that you're reading about it," I pointed to her book.

"Right, I want to thank you for the advice you gave me." She said placing the book down and taking a seat across from me. "I also want to thank you for getting along with Kankurō, he doesn't like younger kids because of Gaara but the fact that he talks freely with you is relieving."

"That's good," I said realizing that he may no longer do that since I was no longer being taught by Chiyo-baasama. Sitting in the chair we both began talking about the differences in our village and I learned that the academy here was much harsher than the academy in Konoha. 'That's interesting… although it doesn't seem that different from the training I have to go through under the twins…' I thought almost missing the harshness of their training and their sadistic smiles when the did it.

"But that doesn't make sense I thought it would be tougher seeing how skilled you are." Temari complimented saying how in the majority of my missions she only heard good stuff about me.

"Thanks the thing is that I learned almost everything from my guardians," I admitted to her.

"That makes sense." I heard her say when she looked up and stood up, "It's almost dinnertime."

Looking up I saw the time and nodded, "I'll do it this time. You can rest." I told her. Helping her with the two of the five books she picked out we proceeded to go down the stairs when I saw Michiko-san at the front desk.

'Nonononono. Please, don't say my name,' I silently pleaded. As if time seemed to slow down I saw her look up from a book she was reading her eyes slowly turned to us and she waved with a big smile, "Yukino-chan!" With that time resumed and I stared shocked at her.

"Yukino?" Temari asked looking at me as I replaced the look of shock in my face with a sheepish smile.

"Yeah, that's my last name," I said loudly looking at Michiko-san hoping that she would understand. "Yukino, Aiko Yukino. Yep. That's my full name." I laughed lightly. "It's so weird that I just decided to tell you guys my first name."

I looked over at Michiko-san and she nodded, "Yes, I agree that her name is a bit weird… but in my opinion, Yukino seems to be such a pretty name that I just choose to call her by it instead." She said with one of her smiles, "Wow… it seems you're carrying a few books are you going to check it out?" Michiko-san asked skillfully changing the subject as if she's done this before. Which I found later on to be true since the people that come to her library are usually those with secrets to keep, people of high class, or secret lovers.

・・・

Arriving at the manor I quickly ran to the living room and put the books down on the coffee table. Shaking my arms to allow the blood to flow again I sighed relieved, hearing a thump on the table I saw Temari place her books down as well before she sat down on the couch. "Hey, Temari what's for dinner?" I heard Kankuro say as he came from upstairs.

"Don't know. Ask Aiko," She groaned.

Seeing him turn his head in my direction he waved. Sighing I decided to tell him the truth. "I'm no longer training under Chiyo-baasama… I quit…"

"What!" Temari exclaimed bolting up in her seat. "You were being taught Chiyo-baasama!" Nodding I lowered my head.

Without asking, he scratched his head and said, "Oh. Then will you still be able to help me? I still need help with drawing out my plans…"

Relieved that he wasn't disappointed I smiled and nodded. "Of course. What do you need help with?"

"Well–"

Temari cut him off before he could tell me what he needed help with, "Kankurō, remember that Aiko decided to make dinner tonight." With an awkward smile, I nodded remembering that I did agree to do that.

・

The next chapter may take longer to come out since I've been debating whether or not I should split it up into two parts. The decision ended up being one whole piece since it will be connected together.