Disclaimer: I do not own anything or anyone related to Naruto/Naruto Shippuden
Part II: Dissonance
Chapter One
"Rise and shine, curly tail."
"Don't call me that."
"How can I resist when you make it so easy?"
"Shut it, scarecrow."
"You're going to be late."
"Ngh."
Kakashi stood in the entryway of the hall as he stared at Karibi with an expectant gaze. His mask was up, but his forehead protector was sitting on his kotatsu; he, himself, was in no particular rush to get ready. He crossed his arms as he waited a moment, the 16 year old lying on his futon and ignoring his presence completely as she tried to force herself back to sleep.
She'd been staying at his place for quite some time now. So much so, it had become natural for Kakashi to walk into his home and see Karibi comfortably lying on his bed and reading a book of his. He didn't complain much about it, after all, in exchange for free room she cooked food. And most of the time they were both busy with missions, so it wasn't often that they truly saw each other, but when the off-time was given, he was sure to see Karibi relaxing in his home. He never bothered asking why it was she never stayed at her own place. He didn't seem to care too much where she was staying; just as long as she was sleeping and eating and getting along alright.
"You have ten minutes until your mission begins."
"What are you even doing awake already?" Karibi rolled over as she shot an irritated look at her friend, the man approaching her before he stopped at the bedside.
"I have a new recruit coming in today. Thought I would get a head-start on my day." That had caught the redhead's attention.
"New recruit? Who is it?"
"Look for yourself." Sharing information with others was prohibited among the ANBU, but they were both apart of the division, and in all honesty, sharing with Karibi was second-nature to Kakashi and vice-versa; there wasn't much about the other person that they didn't know at this point.
Grabbing a file from his desk, the squad leader held it out to the awaiting lady as she eagerly grabbed it. Flipping it open, she glanced from the name in bold to the picture in the top-left corner. "Itachi Uchiha?" That had been unexpected. "I'm surprised someone from the Uchiha clan branched out from the police force. You don't see that often." Most members of the Uchiha clan were private and tended to stay out of village business. Since the Kyuubi attack, relations between the Uchiha clan and the village council had become strained. Many accused someone of the clan to have initiated the attack due to the Sharingan's ability to control the demon, but the Third hadn't made any final conclusions; not yet, at least.
"Can't say I'm not a little jealous," Karibi said as she stood from the futon and shut the folder. Kakashi merely shrugged before he took the information, tossing it carefully on to the small table before him. He then watched as his companion made her way into the bathroom, shutting the door.
"How long this time?" he asked curiously as he strolled over to his kitchen sink. He tucked his right index finger under his mask and pulled it down, leaning down to rinse his face with cold water.
"According to the captain, we shouldn't be gone for more than two weeks," the young lady called out from the bathroom as she spit out toothpaste and rinsed her mouth. "Just a simple assassination." Kakashi frowned; when did killing another person become something "simple" to them?
"...You have the highest number of kills in the ANBU right now," Kakashi stated as he turned with his mask already back up, the bathroom door swinging open. Karibi stepped out with her shorts, short-sleeve and flak jacket on. Her mask was in her hand as she raised a brow at her host, confused by the sudden topic.
"What of it?"
"The average amount of assassinations an ANBU carries out is seven a month," the 19 year old pointed out. "Your average is fourteen a month." Karibi narrowed her eyes as she crossed her arms, glaring at Kakashi.
"Spit it out then."
"Nothing. It was just an observation," the silver haired ninja stated evenly as he turned and began to go about his business. Karibi watched him intently before she frowned.
"Kakashi."
"...It's going to eventually catch up to you." Karibi blinked as she watched the young man stop and place his hands on the edge of the kitchen counter. "You may not think it because right now you feel no remorse, but it always comes back to you in the end." She could tell he was speaking from personal experience.
Deciding not to say anything else, Karibi pivoted to the right and made her way to the door. She stopped as she lingered in the doorway. She looked up to Kakashi, the shinobi having returned to doing whatever it was he was doing earlier. She watched him for a second longer before she walked out silently, disappearing as the door swung shut.
§
"It's unusual of you to be late."
"Forgive me, sir." Karibi bowed as Kou merely shrugged, motioning for her to follow after him and two other members of her team. The underground training facility they were meeting in gave them little light to see with, but they had grown so accustomed to the lack of light that their eyes adjusted at a quicker rate than most.
"No matter. Shall we get to work?"
"Hai."
§
She was there again. Staring at him with that fear in her eyes that he couldn't forget. And her lips were trembling as his hand penetrated through her heart. He could feel the warmth of her blood and he could feel the dying beat of her heart against his palm. Her voice was weak, but she continued to say it—like a never-ending record.
Kakashi.
Tugging his arm away, Kakashi stared as the young girl's body began to fall. He reached out, catching her the way his younger self couldn't have. But as she tumbled into his arms, his eyes widened. He stared down and found amethyst eyes piercing into his. He was sure that all of time had stopped in that moment, his breath lost in the back of his throat. A gapping hole was in her chest where his chidori had hit, and there was a dribble of blood trailing down her chin.
He couldn't will himself to say her name. All he could do was hold her as her head hung back, her dull eyes left open as her last breath escaped between her lips.
With a gasp, Kakashi sat up. He kicked his blanket away as he panted, catching his breath for a moment. Looking around with both eyes, the shinobi slowly relaxed after realizing that he was lying in the safety of his home and that he had only been dreaming.
Standing up, the ANBU quickly rushed over to the bathroom. He shoved the door open, leaning over and up-chucking into the toilet. And when his entire stomach was emptied into the bowl, he sluggishly stood up, flushing everything away. He took deep breaths as he leaned against the wall, staring at his reflection in the dark.
He'd never dreamt of Karibi before. Not until that very night. He was always reliving the past or he had no dreams. It had been the first time that Kakashi had seen her in his nightmares. And it left an unsettling feeling inside of him as he thought back to her lifeless expression.
Pushing himself off of the wall, the shinobi rinsed his mouth before he looked up at his bare face. He examined himself, having realized it had been weeks since the last time he had actually seen his own face. Shutting his Sharingan eye, Kakashi took a good look at himself.
The scar over his left eye ended just at the top of his cheek bone, the bridge of his nose angled and thin. He had nearly forgotten about the small mole on the left side of his chin. His narrow and defined jawline along with his pale skin made him frown; he was paler than usual after vomiting as violently as he had. His eyes ventured back up to the scar over his eye as he stared at it. He gripped tightly to the edge of the bathroom counter as he took a deep breath, both eyes now shut.
He had failed to keep his promise to Obito, but he vowed that he would always live by his words. He would protect the ones he had left and he would make sure to keep them from harm's way. He wouldn't lose anymore people close to his heart.
No more.
With that final statement, Kakashi stumbled back to his futon. He slid under the covers and laid on his back, staring through the darkness and up to his ceiling. He took one last deep breath before he closed his eyes, forcing himself back to sleep.
But even when he awoke, the anxiety in his gut had not gone away.
§
"Nakano. Get up." Karibi sighed as she nudged her teammate in the side with her foot; he was probably the smartest and quickest one on the team, but he was also the laziest.
"I have two more minutes."
"Captain wants us moving early."
"What for?" The 16 year old shrugged before she turned and met with her other teammate.
"He said he sensed the Sound ninja a few miles away."
"Right." Hopping to his feet, the shaggy haired blonde dusted himself off, his bear mask sitting happily over his face.
"Three miles south from here." Kou didn't even need to turn to know that his three subordinates were approaching him. "I want each of us coming in on all sides. Understood?"
"Hai."
"Remember, we don't take any prisoners." Nodding, the three watched as their squad leader disappeared first. They glanced to each other before nodding, each disappearing just as their captain had.
Karibi landed eloquently on a tree branch as she hid in the leaves. She narrowed her eyes at the three Sound ninja, watching as they hovered over a map of her village. She shook her head, glancing to her left and waiting for the signal. As she waited, a sudden high-pitched ringing caught her attention. She winced as she bent over, clamping her hands over her ears. She squeezed her eyes shut before she fell to one knee, grinding her teeth as the ringing shot through her temple like a needle.
"Karibi?" Suddenly, the ringing stopped. A voice—A voice she hadn't heard in years spoke her name, like a whisper in the wind. "Karibi?" She heard it again.
Slowly, the 16 year old opened her eyes. She carefully stood to her feet before she began to tremble; there, standing at the base of the tree, was Kushina.
"I—Impossible..." Karibi nearly fell from her perch as she watched the woman smile up at her. She was wearing the same clothes in which the young ANBU remembered seeing her in, and her expression was so kind and so gentle.
"Karibi." She said nothing more, just her name, and it sent shivers down her spine.
Hesitantly, the redhead hopped down from the tree branch she had been perched on, landing a few feet away from her long-lost guardian. She eyed the woman suspiciously; everything about her was so real.
"It's me, Neko-chan." Karibi froze as the woman in front of her smiled widely, holding a hand out to her. She stared, awestruck by the hand that was extended out to her. She hesitantly raised a hand, her fingers quivering as she carefully grasped the woman's.
It was warm and firm. She was actually holding Kushina's hand. Karibi could feel the way her fingers curved and the way the warmth from her hand enveloped her own hand. In that moment, she truly believed that she was holding her guardian's hand. In that moment, tears of joy were running down her face.
"K—Kushina-neechan?" Said woman smiled widely as she nodded her head, pulling Karibi into a warm embrace.
"Karibi." Shutting her eyes, the young lady held tightly to the woman before she suddenly felt a chill roll down her back.
"Karibi." Kushina's voice was suddenly darker. It was distant and cold—never how Karibi had heard it or remembered it sounding. Cautiously, she opened her eyes and the color drained from her face as she gazed at the woman, blood gushing from a gaping hole in her chest. "Karibi!" Kushina shrieked as she began to sink into a black abyss, gripping on to the 16 year old's arm. The burgundy haired shinobi panicked, tugging her hand back as she tried to escape the woman's grasp.
"You can't leave me!" Kushina screamed as she clawed at Karibi, grabbing on to a fist of hair. The ANBU grunted as she tried to pull free from the dying woman's grip, wincing as strands began to rip out from her scalp. "How could you?!" the sinking woman yelled as she pulled hard on Karibi's hair.
"Let me go!" Karibi snapped before she began to stumble to the ground, sinking into the blackness as well. Her amethyst eyes widened as she began to scream, trying to force herself to stay above whatever she was being pulled into. Kushina was already neck deep, her hands clutching for dear-life to Karibi's hair.
"Don't let them take me!"
"Please! Let me go!" The frightened, young kunoichi gasped as she felt the life being sucked out from her. She frantically reached for anything, grabbing a knife and acting without thought. She aimed the sharp end and sliced through her hair, cutting inches and inches off from it. She flew back, scooting away and panting, her long hair now sitting just past her shoulders. She watched in terror as Kushina's morphed face pierced through her, her eyes wide and strands of her dark red hair stuck between her fingers.
"How could you! You're a disgrace! Look at what you've become! A monster who would let me die!" Karibi shook as she hugged herself, eyes burning with tears as they dripped down her face. She watched helplessly as Kushina sunk further in to the darkness, her fingers just poking out from beneath.
"Karibi!" With a sharp gasp, said ninja sprung up as she began to scream, shoving away the hands that were trying to hold her in place.
"No! Get away from me!" she screamed frantically as she thrashed, trying to escape from whoever was holding her.
"Captain! She's not stable!"
"We need to return to the village immediately. Yoshino, deal with the bodies. Make sure this entire debacle can't be traced back to the Leaf."
"Hai."
Karibi continued to cry out as Kou and Nakano grabbed the delusional redhead by her arms and legs. Her pupils were so small, it was almost impossible to see them, and she was pale—like she had been sick for weeks. Her breathing was ragged and she was sweating like she had just run a marathon; whatever genjutsu she had been put under, it had been strong.
"We need to immobilize her or else we're never going to make it back to the village," Nakano pointed out as the squad leader nodded. He pulled out a blue pill from his pouch before he and his subordinate carefully set the horrified Karibi on the ground. Nakano held her down by her arms as Kou swiftly opened her mouth and popped the pill in.
And within seconds, she fell asleep.
*Three Days Later*
"I have a new mission for you." It wasn't a mission. She knew it. Kou was just unsure of whether she was ready to get back on the field. She wanted to tell him that he was wrong and that she was fine, but she knew that no words would change his mind when he had already decided what he wanted. "I want you to test new recruits."
"Me?" Karibi kept her hands by her side as she frowned behind her mask. Her squad leader nodded his head as he handed her a pile of folders.
"You're one of the best ANBU we have. You have the most assassinations under your belt and almost all of your missions have been flawless." The 16 year old tried not to remember the last incident. "You know what we're looking for. Anyone you see unfit will be booted out and the Hokage can decide what to do with them from there."
Hesitating, Karibi glanced down to the folders before she nodded her head, holding back her sigh. Her captain nodded as he motioned for her to leave. Taking the folders with her, the redhead walked out, not noticing the shadow behind her captain.
"Hokage-sama."
"I'm glad to see her condition has gotten better. Thank you for doing this." Kou stared after his subordinate before he turned to look at his leader.
"If I may..."
"What is it?"
"...Karibi has been one of the most promising members of the Black Ops. She's strong, smart, quick, and gets her job done," the captain stated as Hiruzen nodded. "...But she's no longer fit to do this, sir." It was time for her to move on.
The Hokage stared at the captain for a few seconds before he nodded his head.
The time for Karibi was soon coming, where she would have to face the hardest decision of her life. But for now, Hiruzen would keep her doing what she was doing; she was hanging by a thing thread, and there was no need for him to break it.
§
Sitting on a stool, Karibi waited patiently as Tseuchi mingled with a few customers on the other end of the bar. She glanced over to them but said nothing while she began to twiddle with her short hair.
The redhead had awoken two days after her mission. She was resting in the ANBU's personal infirmary when Nakano came to check on her condition. He had explained everything, commenting on her hair. So, after being released with her captain's order, Karibi had decided to get her hair cleaned up by someone who actually knew what they were doing. Although she was still getting accustomed to the long bob she was sporting, it was a bit refreshing; it wouldn't get in her way so much now.
"Karibi, sorry I'm—your hair!" The young woman turned and smiled slightly as Hana stopped with wide eyes. A smile came across her lips as she rushed over to her friend's side and sat. "It looks good!"
"Thanks. Thought I would do something different," she lied with a weak chuckle as the brown haired woman nodded.
"Well, it a good look for you."
"Thanks. Anyways, enough about that. How has your training been going?" Karibi caught Tseuchi's attention as she motioned for him to take their order. And after they finished eating their ramen, they walked throughout the village for a bit until the sun was finally setting.
"Kiba's just entered the academy. Apparently Mayuri-sensei retired."
"Wow, retired? Well, he was getting old," the redhead commented as Hana chuckled at her former teammate.
"...Naruto is in his class." Karibi came to an abrupt halt as Hana stopped and looked back at her friend with a softened stare. "...According to Kiba, he's the class prankster." The Uzumaki said nothing as she stared with doe-like eyes ahead, avoiding eye-contact with Hana.
"...Have you seen him at all since—"
"No...No I haven't," Karibi stated as she began to walk ahead, not wanting to continue with the conversation. Hana frowned before she sighed and followed after her friend.
The walk was now silent. At first there was a tenseness in the air, but soon after it dissipated, Karibi's shoulders sagging and a relaxed look on her face. And when the two reached a fork in the road, Hana began to make her way to the left as Karibi headed straight. They hugged one another, knowing that the next time they would meet would be a long time ahead.
"Good luck," Karibi said as she held her former teammate. Hana smiled as she nodded.
"Just make sure to be safe. Alright?"
"As always." With a smirk, the 16 year old began to walk away, Hana watching with a solemn expression on her face.
§
He was tired. But now that things with Guy had been settled after that last mission, Kakashi felt as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders; the pile of guilt wasn't so heavy now.
Approaching his front door, Kakashi blinked when he noticed the lights already on. His eye softened as he let out a breath of relief, twisting the door handle and stepping inside his home. As he slipped his shoes off, he immediately found Karibi on his futon, orange book in hand. He raised a brow as he saw a twisted expression on her face—almost as if she were eating a sour apple or a sour candy.
"That looks painful."
"Some find pleasure in pain."
"That's quite the oxymoron." Sitting up, the young woman shut the book and tossed it on the tea table. She sighed before she looked to Kakashi, the man standing with a slightly surprised gleam in his eye.
"Cut your hair?" Karibi blinked, having almost forgotten she had a new hairstyle so different from her old one. She glanced down before she slowly nodded, her heart skipping as her fists clenched; when had she balled her hands up? She shut her eyes as she remembered the illusion of Kushina, the woman's morphed face making her want to cringe.
Something must have gone wrong. Something must have made her chop it all of. Kakashi could tell by the way she was acting. And if it wasn't that, he had realized something was definitely wrong when he noticed his dream-catcher he had gotten Karibi several years ago hanging just above his bedroll; something had definitely gone astray.
Footsteps pattered against the wooden floor as the 19 year old approached his friend. He took a seat beside her while she cautiously opened her eyes, looking over at Kakashi with an apprehensive expression on her face. "...It was a strong genjutsu. I should have known it was coming," she stated quietly as Kakashi said nothing. "...It was only an illusion...but it was so real in that moment." Karibi shook her head as she let out a tired breath. The silver haired shinobi stared quietly before he smiled under his mask, taking a piece of hair between his fingers and twirling it around.
"It looks nice."
"...It's different."
"Different isn't always bad." Karibi glanced up at Kakashi as he smiled at her. The kunoichi relaxed after moment and nodded before standing up to her feet and motioning for Kakashi to sit down at the small kitchen table.
"I'm starving."
"There's some rice. Not sure if there's much else. I haven't been around lately."
Standing beside each other by the refrigerator, the pair looked inside, Karibi pulling this and that out and handing it to Kakashi. He held his hands out, awaiting for whatever she was going to give him, like he had done this a thousand times before; and he truly had. And as the young woman began to cook, Kakashi sat down at the table and watched with a fond gleam in his eye.
Tonight, the dreams would be peaceful.
*One Year Later*
"Karibi-senpai!" The 17 year old sighed as she stopped and looked back at Izura, the aspiring ANBU catching his breath. He straightened up after a moment before he frowned.
"You didn't approve of my papers."
"No. I didn't."
"But I'm the best out of all the new recruits." He wasn't boasting; he truly was the best one out of everyone.
"Yeah. You are."
"Then why didn't you approve me to become officially apart of the ANBU?" The short-haired shinobi stared at the black haired ninja before her, his boar mask hiding his true face, but she didn't need to see it to know what type of expression he was making.
"...You're the smartest and strongest, and you're also the most knowledgeable on ninjutsu," Karibi stated. "But you're also the kindest. And in any other circumstance, I would say you have the makings to be a great shinobi. But here?" Karibi turned and began to walk away. "That makes you the weakest." Izura's expression softened as well as his eyes.
"...You could be far more useful doing something else," Karibi stated before she turned the corner, leaving the young man to his own thoughts.
Staring after the woman, Izura smiled slightly.
She wasn't failing him; she was sparing him.
§
Hiruzen looked through all the new members of the ANBU as well as those Karibi did not approve of. He smiled slightly as he glanced up at the unsuspecting woman; it was time.
"Well done, Karibi."
"Thank you, sir," she said in reply as she bowed.
"Your choices as to who shall become a part of the Black Ops and who shall not have shown me that you are ready."
"Ready?" Karibi blinked as the Third Hokage stood from his chair while he turned to gaze out the window at the evening sky. "Sir, what exactly am I ready for?"
Hiruzen remained silent for just a moment before he finally shut his eyes, his hands locked behind his back. "From this day forward, you shall no longer hold your duties with the ANBU Black Ops." Karibi's eyes widened as she stared through her cat mask.
"...Wh—What?"
"I have a new task for you."
"What—Hokage-sama, I don't—"
"This year, Naruto will be turning seven." Karibi froze at the name, whatever she was going to say now completely forgotten. "His current caretaker wishes to be released from her duties. It seems she is not equipped to deal with a child as rambunctious as Naruto." The truth was, the woman didn't want to be affiliated with the monster that had almost destroyed the village.
"...Hokage-sama, what are you trying to say?"
"You are relieved of your Anbu duties and shall be given a new position as a jonin. From this day forward, you shall be Naruto's guardian."
Part II has finally arrived! And Naruto's introduction starts here! So thank you to everyone who's stuck around until now for this moment! I'm sorry that it took so long to get here, but that was just how this story ended up playing out. Whoever is reading this, I can only hope that you're enjoying this story so far, and I can only hope that you will like where I take Karibi and Naruto's relationship from here :D I'm excited to post some writing of them together! And I'm also excited for exploring more of Karibi and Kakashi's friendship/relationship. There's going to be a lot that plays out, and I think there are going to be some future Naruto and Kakashi moments as well, and although I know that is a bit different from the show, it only makes sense that Naruto and Kakashi would have some type of relationship with Karibi tying them together!
Thanks to all who have given this story a chance and thanks to everyone for supporting this story. I'm glad that my writing is entertaining for you all, and I can only hope that this work of mine is good for whoever is here :)
Reviews:
ajwehri: Yes! The big moment has finally come! Naruto's official introduction into Karibi's life is here! You will be seeing much more of Naruto in the next chapter, and you'll see the dynamic between them as well! I'm relieved to hear that you enjoyed reading the moments between Karibi and Kakashi. Although that is a big part of this story, I didn't want the romance to be the main focus of the story, because I wanted this story to really just be about Karibi and the trials of her life and her relationships. But I wanted to make sure there were still moments with those two ;) Thank you for reading thus far! I hope you continue to read this story and enjoy!
Cindy: Hello there, and thank you for reading! I'm so happy to hear that you like this story as much as you do! I understand where you're coming from. A lot of the time, couples always have such HUGE obstacles in their way before they can finally admit to each other on how they feel, and even before that, there's always something in the way of them realizing their own feelings or something along those lines. I won't touch much on how the romance is going to go, but I promise (or hope, really) that you'll like what's in store for Kakashi and Karibi! They really do deserve a consistent happiness in their lives! Thank you so much for reading. You have no idea how much I appreciate you taking the time to do so and even to review :)
korohoshi: Yes, they were definitely getting their k-i-s-s-i-n-g on! LOL Naruto is coming! Next chapter will be his big reveal into Karibi's life, so please be patient with me! Sorry that it's taken up to this point to get there, but we're here now, so that should be a good thing! I'm happy to see you are enjoying this story, and I hope you will continue to! Thank you so much!