"Are you alive in there?" I hear a voice snap at me. I blink, snapping out of my thoughts and see Ino before me. The others: Shika, Choji & Sakura stand behind her with concerned eyes.
"I'm fine, sorry, I got lost in my thoughts," I answer her. "What were we talking about?" Ino sighs and Sakura puts a hand on my shoulder.
"We asked if you wanted to come with us to go eat, we were thinking of getting some onigiris"
Sakura answers me.
"Oh, sure that sounds good to me." I say and follow them. Sakura wraps her arm in mine and I can hear her sigh.
"You have to stop blaming yourself. He will be back soon. It's probably just a hard mission, but he will be back." Sakura whispers to me. I frown at her and was about to answer when Ino turns her head. I can tell she's trying to listen.
"I know, Tomodachi-San. Thank you." I state and can tell I Ino didn't like that our conversation wasn't going further.
I wanted to talk, my mind was racing since it had been 2 weeks since Kakashi had left. But I wasn't about to spill my guts out to Sakura in the middle of Konoha where everyone can hear. She squeezes my arm with hers as we enter the shop and sit in a small booth.
Ino turns to me as I slide my plate away from me.
"Are you okay, Kane, you seem to be down a lot lately? Is it Ms. Lu?" Ino asks. Shika and Choji turn as well when they hear her question. All have concern in their eyes and I can't help but wonder what I did to deserve such good friends. I smile slightly at all of them.
"That's part of it, Ino, but I will be okay. I unfortunately can't talk about the rest. It's clan politics." I tell her, not the full truth but partly. I hated lying to them but I knew that the more people that found out would more than likely get back to Lady Tsunade and my mother. Sakura knowing was the only risk I was willing to take. Especially when it wasn't just me who would be judged and get into trouble.
"Ugh, I'm sorry. With how you have looked lately I would have given up my title and status as princess." Ino grumbles, shaking her head. Shika nods but seems to get lost in his thoughts.
"Sometimes I feel like it," I mumble, they all gasp and look at me surprised. "The closer I get to gaining the title of Queen and finding out more and more that goes with that title. The more I wonder if I am cut out for it. I don't know how my mother does it. Honestly, I love my clan wholeheartedly, but I wonder what else my mother gave up just to be Queen."
"Gave up, what do you mean?" Choji asks in between bites. I shake my head. Long-lasting friendships, real girls' nights, fun, love… I think and frown.
"A lot." I answer, I put money on the table to pay for everyone, slide myself out of the booth and walk away from them. All are too shocked to protest and follow me. I knew if I stayed I would have told them everything.
I wander out of the village to the spot where Kakashi took me training. I sit by the small pond, taking off my shoes and slipping my bare feet in. I lay down and stare at the clouds letting my mind drift through everything that has been worrying me. The more I think the more I can feel my eyes start to water. I close my eyes and feel the tears slide down the side of my face and into my hair. I shake my head angrily trying to stop myself from breaking down. Why did I have to go and fuck things up, why did I have to kiss him? Stupid fucking impulses and hormones. Why did you have to go and do that, he could have just remained your crush none the wiser and he wouldn't have gone and left. I sigh as I chastise myself for the millionth time in the past two weeks.
I must have fallen asleep because I am gently shaken awake by a blond-haired boy squatting down next to me. "Hey, are you okay?" I sit up and stretch.
"Oh, I must have fallen asleep. I'm sorry." I say standing up as he stands. I look behind him to see a white-haired man as well.
"It's okay. Are you from Konoha? I haven't seen you before." The man asks.
"Yes, My name is Shinokane Hyohaku-sha. May I ask who you two are?" I reply.
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki! I'm going to be the next Hokage. Believe it!" Naruto almost yells giving me a thumbs up. I smile at him giggling a bit.
"My name is Jiraiya." So this is my other teammate. Crazy knucklehead indeed. I think as the Sanin answers me. I bow.
"It's nice to meet you both. Especially you, Naruto," He looks at me questionably. "I have been temporarily added to Team 7 till my training is finished. Sakura and Kakashi Sensei have told me a lot about you." He smiles at me.
"A new team member! WOW!"
"Sakura will be happy to know you are home finally, although Kakashi Sensei I don't think is home from his mission just yet." I tell him as we start to walk to the gates. We walk in and I stand next to Jiraiya as Naruto runs up a light pole and stares at the village he hasn't seen for more than 2 years.
"Ha, ha, ha, always rambunctious." Jiraiya laughs as he watches his pupil.
"Now this takes me back," I can hear Naruto say from his spot on top of the pole. "The village hasn't changed a bit! I'm home everyone, Naruto Uzumaki has returned to the Hidden Leaf Village!" He punches his fist in the air and I laugh a bit watching. I'm about to yell something at him when Sakura comes running up next to me.
"Is that really him?" She asks, staring at him.
"Looks like." Konohamaru answers from behind her.
"Naruto! Naruto, is that you?" She yells up at him. "When did you get back to the village, Naruto?"
"Oh, just now, long time no see, huh Sakura." Naruto jumps down giving his answer as he lands. Sakura smiles and then stares at him, a tad shocked.
"Wait a minute you've gotten taller than me, haven't you?" She asks, Naruto compares.
"Huh, guess I have." He answers.
"So uh, what do you think? Do I seem more like a woman to you now?" Sakura asks shyly. I raise my eyebrow at her in question.
"Are you kidding, not really, you haven't changed at all!" He laughs. I sigh and look to my side to see Jiraiya shaking his head. Sakura looks puzzled and huffs at him.
"Hey, Naruto!" Konohamaru finally yells. Then shifts into a dark-haired naked girl with smoke clouds covering the private areas. I turn around from the scene shaking my head embarrassed as Sakura gets mad. "Well, what do you think?" Konohamaru asks as he poofs back to normal finally. "Not too bad in the curves department there, huh?" Oh, my god, why does this kid know these things?... I think as I turn back around staring dumbfounded at him.
"Konohamaru, I'm not that scrawny kid anymore and you shouldn't be using Jutsu like that anymore either. It's beneath you." I'm about to praise Naruto for his maturity when he continues, yelling. "I MEAN COME ON KONOHAMARU IS THAT ALL YOU'VE GOT? NOW STEP ASIDE AND GET A LOAD OF MY BRAND SPANKING NEW PERVY NINJUTSU!
HERE WE GO!" I step back in shock just as Sakura punches him, sending him flying down the road we are on.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" She yells as he hits hard enough that he sends dirt flying and his body digs a rut. The kids jump scared and hide behind Jiraiya and me.
"Sakura, maybe…" I try to say but she stomps herself over to where Naruto landed, pulling him up by his leg.
"What the heck is wrong with you, you pervy little doofess?" She shakes the shocked blond. "We haven't seen each other in over 2 years and you have the nerve to pull a stunt like that, in front of our new team member and princess?! Do you have any idea how that makes us feel? Do YOU?"
"Sakura, I think he's had enough," I say as I grab her hand from hitting him again. "Why don't we go with him and Jiraya to report to Lady Hokage?"
"Ugh, fine." She sighs, dropping him. Naruto shakes himself out of his gaze and turns to me.
"New team member, princess?" He questions confused.
"We can talk about all of that with Lady Hokage. Let's go." I say pulling Sakura with me. I can feel everyone's gaze on me except Sakura's. She was still angrily puffing as she walked with me.
By the time we get to the Hokage building everyone had calmed down. Jiraiya leads us through to Tsunade's office and instead of knocking he just opens the door. I'm about to protest when I see a familiar figure standing in front of the Hokage's desk. My brain goes blank as I stare at the man looking at his team.
"Guess who's back!" Jiraiya says as he steps in. My legs stay locked keeping me where I am but I can feel Naruto push by me.
"Hi, Grandma Tsunade! Kakashi Sensei! I'M BACK! BELIEVE IT!" Naruto announces. Sakura pulls me to follow her and her squeeze on my hand pulls me out of my trance. I look at her giving her a thankful smile and finally turn to everyone.
"Jiraiya, Naruto, it's been a long time, you two. Your training proved to be fruitful, I hope." Tsunade finally acknowledges after the annoyance of being interrupted in Kakashi's obvious status report for his mission.
"Mission accomplished Grandma." Naruto says giving a thumbs up. I raise my eyebrows at his obvious disrespect of calling the Hokage Grandma, but part of me wondered if he was her grandson. She didn't seem to be upset at all about him ignoring her title.
"Then show me what you got kid." She says standing up. "I want you to go up against Kakashi Sensei and Princess Shinokane." She says turning to me, my eyes widen.
"Princess Shinokane, so… She is a princess." Jiraiya's eyes widen and Naruto just stares at me.
"She doesn't look like one to me." He mutters in my face almost like he is inspecting me. I step back, raising an eyebrow and huffing.
"What is a princess supposed to look like? Besides, right now I am the acting liaison for my clan and am training to better my skills under Kakashi Sensei. That's why I am not wearing my formal Kimonos." I retort and push him away from me.
"Yes, Naruto, she is the Princess of the Hyohaku-sha Clan and a temporary team member. Treat her with some respect." Kakashi Sensei steps in finally. "Am I assuming Lady Hokage that since Naruto hasn't seen any of Kane's skills you want to see how he does against a new opponent and for me to assess how much his skills have grown since the last time I saw him." Tsunade just nods.
After this Tsunade explains fully who I am to Naruto and dismisses Naruto, Sakura and I. I turn finally to Kakashi Sensei before I leave. "I'm glad you made it back from your mission safely Sensei." I tell him and follow the other two out before he can say anything.
"Is that, It is! Naruto it's you! Well, well, your back huh? " We turn to see Shikamaru followed by Temari of the Sand. "Naruto you've changed haven't you!"
"He hasn't changed at all…" Sakura says, I smile and shake my head.
"Give me a break Sakura." Naruto sighs, and I laugh.
"Temari, may I ask what you are doing here?" I ask changing the subject as we all start to leave the building again.
"The Chunin exams are about to start. I'm helping rearrange all of that." She answers me.
"Oh, are you helping on behalf of Kohona then Shika?" He nods.
"I am, oh so what are you going to do Naruto, you're the only one in our year that is not a Chunin." He says turning to the blond. Naruto looks dumbfounded.
"What?!" Naruto yells. "Then you're also a Chunin, Sakura."
"Heh, Heh… That's right." She answers proudly. He turns to me and I just smile and nod.
"And just for the record, Kankuro, Temari and Neji from the year above us are already Jonin." Shika adds in. Naruto huffs and then looks desperate.
"What about Gaara?" He asks.
"Gaara is Kazekage now." Temari answers for her brother.
"I see…" Naruto gets a far-off look on his face. "So Gaara became Kazekage, huh?' He clenches his fist and smiles. "That's awesome! But I won't be outdone! I'll become Hokage one day, no matter what! Just you wait, Gaara." He says pointing to Hokage Mountain.
I smile as I sit watching Naruto pace impatiently at the entrance to training ground three.
"Aahh, is Kakashi Sensei going to make us wait forever?!" He grumbles out.
"Well, he's always been like this," Sakura answers from my left side, she was leaning against the gate.
"Geez, you would think he could show a bit of improvement." Naruto says taking a seat to my right.
I give a giggle and look above me as a poof sounds announcing our Sensei's arrival. He was crouching above me on the gate. I blink and stand quickly and turn to face him to keep my thoughts from delving much further at the sight.
"Sorry I'm late, I came across an old lady…"
"That's a lie!" Naruto and Sakura yell at the same time. Kakashi sighs.
"Well then, shall we?" He says gesturing to follow into the training grounds. On our way in, Kakashi slips a note into my hand. I look at him but he just continues to read his book. I fall back a bit and open the note.
Kane,
For this training, you will use your Guarding Vine Jutsu on me. Keeping me inside. Keep them away for as long as you can. Do not go easy on them, I have with me two extra bags of blood I can give. Good luck this is also to show Lady Tsunade how much you have improved as well.
Kakashi Sensei
After I am done reading it the note dissipates into ash and I look up at my team.
"Are you okay, Sakura, Naruto?" I question watching them wallow on the ground in what seems to be despair. I blink recognizing that this is normally how Sakura would get when she thinks too much about Sasuke. I guess Naruto is the same.
"Sasuke's name is off limits for these guys…" Kakashi sighs, I nod as I walk to stand next to him. "Understand everything?"
"Yes, Sir." I answer. He nods and rummages through his pack for two bells. Sakura and Naruto come alive when they hear the ring.
"Well, let's see how much you've grown... You haven't given up on Sasuke, have you?" He questions, I look at him surprised at the semi-low blow but watch as Sakura and Naruto become determined. I must be missing some context. I think.
"Absolutely not!" They both answer.
"That's why I continued my training!" Naruto continues. Kakashi nods and ties the bells to his belt.
"The rules are the same as when we first met." Kakashi starts to explain the training exercise. "I don't care how you do it. Just take a bell away from me. If you don't…"
"Come at me with the intent to kill," Naruto interrupts.
"We won't be able to get the bells. Right?" Sakura finishes the sentence.
"Correct, you have until sunrise tomorrow." Kakashi nods. Closing his book. I grin at the two as they seem to become more determined. Naruto tightens his headband and Sakura puts on her gloves. "Now then, shall we begin?"
"What about Kane?" Sakura asks, looking at me. I cross my arms and clench my fists concentrating chakra to create seeds in my right palm.
"Oh, don't worry about me, Tomodachi." I give her a sly grin. "I know what I need to do." I tell her, she tilts her head but I can tell she's trying to read my face like she always does.
"Not going to do it while reading your book this time around, Kakashi Sensei?" Naruto asks. Sakura turns to him.
"Or have you already finished reading?" She asks.
"Nope… I thought I'd save the fun for later… Besides, Well, I get the feeling that I may have to get a bit serious this time around." Sakura and Naruto both nod. I tense as I watch both of them tense as well. Naruto's eyes flicker to the bells for a second then to Kakashi's face. I silently uncross my arms, throwing the seeds in Kakashi's direction as I do this.
"Let's go!" Naruto yells and throws five ninja stars at Kakashi. I grin and make some hand signs.
"Guardian Vine Jutsu!" I yell and jump into the air. A dome of vines and various plants envelops our Sensei protecting him from the ninja stars.
I giggle a bit as Naruto looks at me in shock as I land on top of the dome.
I knew that Naruto and I were playing on the same field; neither of us knew the other's skills, however, Sakura did, and her familiarity with my Jutsu was a problem. I had to hope that I could keep her at bay and rely on the fact that from everything she's told me about him, he was a knucklehead that just ran in. Sakura would not have the time to tell him about my skills; I was hoping I was partially right considering that he didn't give Sensei time to say start.
"Naruto, you dummy…" I don't give Sakura the time or day to speak. I throw two of Naruto's ninja stars at her and the other three back at him. They both jump over them, Naruto makes four Shadow Clones, I pause never seeing someone make that many at a time before. I grab my senbon tessen fan and flick my wrist causing the needles to fly at all five Naruto. Three are hit and disappear. The other pulls whom I'm assuming is the real Naruto out of the way and flying towards me. I have to jump in the air and dodge as Sakura comes flying at me as well ready to punch me. My dome activates sending a giant fly trap at her to catch her but her punch to the poor plant causes it to wilt and die. They both land on top, Sakura smirks at me, she knows my plants can't hold too much chakra to withstand her punches. I land in a tree and send more needles at her as well. I need to keep her away from it, damn it. But how do I keep him away from it as well? Sakura jumps in the air dodging but also readying a punch to the top of the dome. I make some hand signs causing a flower to grow where she is going to punch. "Release!" I yell and the flower puffs out some pollen. "Naruto, don't breathe it in!" Sakura yells, pulling back and landing away. Naruto listens and jumps next to her. I land in the pollen, holding my breath and slide down the front of the dome grabbing my Gunpai as I do.
"Smart Sakura." I say as I land flicking the Gunpai open a tad.
"We have to run her out of chakra, Naruto. She uses plant pollens to make sleeping powder and poisons, she can also make the plants do whatever she wishes. However, we need to make her use these Jutsus a lot. The more she does the more it uses her blood and chakra up. She doesn't have any extra blood on her. So that will weaken her." Sakura crudely explains my weakness to him. I laugh and start running at them both.
"You are not the only one who's been training a lot Sakura. If you think I have not come up with a way to handle some of my weaknesses you are wrong!" I yell back as I swing the Gunpai at them.
"Blood, what do you mean Sakura?" Naruto questions.
"I can't fully explain that right now!" She yells as she jumps and goes to punch me; I let go of the Gunpai, and it fully opens and hits Naruto, sending him into a tree. I roll away from her punch just in time and flip up to see two Naruto running at me with a blue orb.
"Rasengan!" He yells. I slam my hands into the ground making vines grow and grab his ankles, one kills the shadow clone and I use the other vine to throw Naruto towards Sakura.
It was probably around midnight, one o'clock in the morning now; I was exhausted and was forced to use one of my blood bags already. I land on top of the dome panting and glaring at Sakura. Her punches hurt like hell and I had just taken my 5th one to my stomach. I go to my knee and force the dome to adjust slightly to me on it. One vine wrapped around my wrist and pierced my skin and into a vein. Inside the dome I make the other end of the vine wrap around Kakashi's wrist. He knew this meant I needed the second blood bag.
Kakashi's POV
I watched from a small crack inside the vine dome my students fight. I was proud of all of them. They were holding their own immaculately but fighting two against one was tiring Kane out quickly. Her only advantage I knew was that I had blood for her to keep up her stamina. I was impressed that she has lasted as long as she has. I look down when I feel the vine squeeze around my wrist. She needed the other blood bag. I grab the bag from my vest pocket and pull off the port. I insert the end of the vine in and watch it drain all of the blood quicker than last time. I hear her move above me as the vine dies.
"So that's how you're staying up!" I hear Sakura say. She must have seen Kane use her Blood Transfer Jutsu. "You're taking some of Sensei's blood." Kane laughs.
"You're only half correct there." The princess retorts from in front of the dome. I see her come into view with her Wakazashi in hand. "I would never take a team member's blood without their permission."
"Hmm… I'm sure you would love his blood though." Sakura grins. I glare from inside the dome as Kane tenses. Low blow Sakura. I think.
"You forget that technically you are an opponent, all blood tastes the same. I can just take yours or Naruto's right now to keep me up." Her tone was a warning to the pink-haired girl.
"You can't keep Sensei in there forever, you have to give him back at some point." Sakura teases her friend about her crush on me. Sakura is baiting her, trying to rile her up. From my peripheral vision, I watch as Naruto tries to sneak up on the princess. I watch her closely to see if she would notice him, but she doesn't.
"I'm not the…" She tries to say something but Naruto comes barging into her side with a Rasengan. At that moment I make a shadow clone and use Earth Jutsu to go underground. Shadow Clone me watches as Kane flips in the air and the dome turns to dust. It jumps in the air catching the princess and landing where the dome used to be.
"Part one of training done." Shadow Clone Me says and puts the passed-out Kane on the ground.