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The room was grim, and the night was especially dark from behind a shadowy silhouette of an old man. His shadow was large, large enough to hide his downcast face. All she could see was his deep frown. A frown so deep, that the frown alone told her all she needed to know— disappointment.
Moments ago, a beautiful woman with long blonde hair rushed through the thick snow. The guards on watch were dead asleep, allowing her to slip inside without a trace.

She wore a worn backpack with the top of the scrolls poking out from the open zipper. In her arms, wrapped a newborn child in layer after layer of blankets.

Her arrival was during the coldest winter in Konohagakure. Her hair was stale wet, her breath panted out condensation whilst the baby remained deathly silent in her clutch. She rushed down buildings, passing familiar corners, until stumbling through the compound door.

Almost dropping the baby, she fell to her knees, heaving for air. As she looked down at the child in her arms, she slowly unwrapped the blanket from its face. The baby boy was smiling, to her thankfulness, unbothered and calm.

The calm atmosphere died, however, when a young man entered the room.

He called out for her, but his voice was muffled. The moment she heard the familiar tone of her husband, her breath hitched in effectuation. Even more slowly than before, she gently placed the baby on the floor before stumbling up to her feet.

The worn backpack slid off from her shoulder, and her head remained lowered. She couldn't bring herself to look up while she did this, as she grasped a handle now in hand. She couldn't bear to look at his horror-stricken face as she thrust the handle with the pointed blade his way.

But she had to.

"Kill the man, awaken our child."

The sound of a large body fell to the ground.  Her world glitched and moved in slow motion, only the sounds of her continuous heavy breathing could be properly processed.

Eventually, footsteps thundered the wooden floorboards, and screams of shocked roars echoed all around. Grunts, groans and cries of agony erupted one by one all around her crazed state.

An older man then slaughtered them all before it could progress. Leaving a sick silence which seemed to cure her momentary deranged condition.

Realisation had dawned on her. She found herself back on her knees, holding the newborn child in mental torture.

This talentless woman of the Kumo clan started a bloodbath with her own hands. Killing the man she thought she truly loved. All for one thing, and one thing only.

The scrolls had slid out of the backpack.
"What were you thinking, Kiyoko? After being away for so long, you return with an illegitimate child?!"The older man was present inside the room, looking down at her with a strained, disturbed expression. He held a long katana, tarnished in the blood of his kin.She clutched onto the silent newborn child who was blood-bound to her with tears streaming down her exhausted face."You have caused a massacre by my own hands!! You have lost your mind!" He added, deeply wounded and conflicted, "And maybe I've lost my own...!"The older man had killed for her. He cherished her. But the young woman on her knees wasn't the one he knew and loved.She could only continue to cry harder, blood now evident on her hands and all over the baby's head, slowly dripping down."I-I killed them all, Uncle." Her soft tone was wavering. "I had to! He'd curse the child forever!" She then quickly said, "There was a way to rid of it, I just had to kill... all of us..."The woman was smiling, her forehead creased and her brows knitted together. Her trembling eyes were stained red from stress and tears."But, it was all for the sake of stronger power! Our clan must die for this child! That way... I can... I... can..." She struggled, thickly gulping lumps down her throat.The woman suddenly processed her actions, realising her mistakes. Her whole body violently shook. Her uncle took a step back, processing it all. She gave him the most uncanny smiling expression he had ever seen. It took a lot of things to effect him, but the sight of that was enough to shake his very core."... Who were you with? Is this child even his?" He kept his attention on her but pointed his arm out to a specific male body motionless on the ground.Her dead husband.Upon her silence, he instantly knew. He knew everything.It took a long moment for her to resume, struggling to swallow more lumps inside of her throat."Our clan, my f-failure of a husband..." She couldn't answer, now lost in her endless shame, "No! No!! It's not my fault! It's not my fault! Please! No!!"She held the baby to her chest, then bowed as low as she could with her forehead pressed against his feet. A sign of submission. A sign of begging. As the woman's hair moved over her shoulder, a burning scar revealed itself. The sight alone was dreadful for the overwhelmed man."He's tricked me! Cursed this child! Please, kill me! I can't bear it!""And the bastard child?"She tensed, her shoulders trembling."Make it painless for him, please."The older man clicked his tongue, stiffly turning his head away. He had then raised his arm before dropping the blade into her back. It pierced through her as her body had instinctively acted like a shield.This death was inevitable, mandatory. The old man's heart was in the village, forever loyal to their demands. But, even so, that didn't stop the smallest drop of a tear from falling down his downcast face.With his foot, he gently kicked her body off the newborn so he could continue. He had trained his gaze to not look, not wanting to risk unnecessary nightmares of his own actions. With another thrust down to the second, he suddenly froze. Not even the tip of the blade reached the newborn's nose. The old man then found himself hesitantly turning his head back to the scene - staring at the baby.His dull eyes were like his, staring back with complete innocence. The thin light hairs were clearly similar as well. It was no mistaking that the child was of his blood. And for that, he could not continue.If he were to kill the child, that would be the complete end of his clan. And in that very instant, he tossed the blade aside, falling to his knees. He proven weak against a single child. A child that he knew would wreak havoc in the near future.His stowed away pride overtook his loyalty. Or maybe it was his wavering heart. The newborn just happened to possess the same face as the dead woman."It's all my fault."In that late realisation, he fell into a long moment of despair. Hours ticked by, blood had already dried, and the clan compound was eerily silent. The servants rested without a single clue. And not once did the newborn child cry.The older man finally had the will to move after remaining in the same spot. He had removed the bloodied blanket from the baby, observing the unnatural child. As his eyes trailed down the baby's exposed body, it was then he cracked a small smirk.The baby boy was a girl."What a mess." He muttered, caving in to the little girl's eyes, "Kiyoko... Even then, you still birthed the same thing you hated."A strong selfishness took over as he welcomed the hideous baby into his arms. He coddled it, scanning her wrinkled newborn features. The baby girl still didn't cry. Even as her mother's blood drooled down her face."Kazumi."The old man whispered, wiping the blood from her cheek."Kumo Kazumi."He specified, bringing the baby's bare figure to his face. He dug his nose into her small belly, his teeth clenched and his hold possessively tightened. The child's skin became wet with his hot tears, her little hands instinctively grabbing whatever was closest to her - his beard - as he went on to weep in grief.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"You suck."A young girl huffed out a sigh, using her free hand to wipe the sweat falling from her head. She kept her other hand in a single-hand sign whilst the ground she stood on had cracked into a small crater beneath her soles. The weak wind around her feet whirled rapidly... but not enough to do its part.An older man stood fairly close by, his arms crossed as he observed her formation. He looked to be in his late fifties and he wore a deep frown on his wrinkled face. His hair was white, but not the same colour as the girl's dull blonde hair. His thick beard was down to his neck and his aura was intimidating. However, his demeanour didn't make the girl falter."You know," she heaved out, "in moments like this, you're supposed to encourage me not demean me."Her voice was strained, most likely due to the hours she spent training on this. Though, that didn't bother him in the slightest. It only made his expression harden more as his eyes squinted down at her."Already talking back? You seem bold for someone who could end up running around this entire compound a hundred times." He warned, playfully.The girl's heavy breathing hitched, her lips now tightly closed together whilst her focus became stronger. It wasn't the first time he threatened her with those warnings. If anything, that would've been the least harsh punishment he'd ever give her. And now—the old man could only smirk down at her freshly determined state, and his head tilted back up.After a long second of full concentration, the entire training grounds cracked a reasonably average depth. Much more than the previous one. The weak wind from before had blasted out in the process, almost pushing their figures back if it weren't for their controlled chakra keeping their soles in place.
Is it supposed to hurt?
She thought, feeling the chakra's energy spread throughout her body. She had noticed the lingering feeling of pain after an hour of training this ability, but ignored it to push her limits. There would be no gain without pain.The girl's strained hand then twitched into a balled fist. Exhaustion had her body falling to the ground—bottom first, with her arms supporting the upper weight from behind. She leaned back, panting as she felt the cracks from the broken concrete beneath her calloused palms. The sudden harsh winds immediately died down from this action with a now silent pause filling the air.The old man watched as dirt, dust and leaves fell to the ground. His expression was unreadable, and his head then tilted down. The girl caught a satisfied gleam in his eye.Whatever she done caused the entire training grounds' floor to split away from each other. Soil and weeds now poked up from underneath the parting concrete. The old man stared at the broken floor in thought. With his hand to his chin, he then turned to the girl with a pleased grin that stretched with his wide beard."I hope you haven't doubted my training technique." He teased, amused by this.
A total two-face!
Her thoughts differed her reaction. The girl thickly swallowed an angered lump down her throat before dramatically huffing out loud, "Sorry... Uncle."Her uncle's toothy grin relaxed into a small closed smile whilst he scratched his hairy chin. He then stepped over to her sitting figure, placing a hand on her head which messed up her blonde hair when ruffling his fingers through it as if she were a boy.Her lips twitched into an annoyed frown as she shooed off his hand and instantly pushed herself off the ground. Her bangs were currently swept to the side because of this, though her lack of energy made her ignore it.The abrupt force of natural gravity pushing down against her almost made her tip forward until she stubbornly kept her balance. Her chakra was drained."The graduation is in a few weeks and you're barely prepared for it." He tore his gaze away from her, peering down at the destroyed training grounds of their compound.The girl furrowed her brows, "What? But I've passed all of my tests... and I've even been told that I excel in all three shinobi subjects!" She protested, now watching as his back faced her.Her uncle waved out a motion towards a few servants, making them rush inside."So what? That's nothing compared to the real shinobi world." He then grunted, not bothering to even look over his shoulder to her, "Once you've proven to me that you're worthy enough, then I'll determine whether or not you've truly passed."The old man began to walk inside the compound, away from their training grounds. He had swiftly disappeared into the dark shadows of their empty clan home. Empty because it was only the two of them.The blonde girl glared down at her cracked ground, her fists clenched tightly from his stern words. She ignored him, knowing that she wouldn't need to hear such useless things from him anymore once she graduates from the academy. The blonde would always disregard his reality checks, and so she'd believe that she wouldn't need to prove anything to him—not even her worth.All she needed was the headband of recognition. The shinobi headband. The one thing that would make her feel like a true ninja. Just imagining it inside her head sparked a strong resolution inside of her. It felt like far too much time had past since she had the offer of even so caressing the metal protector with her fingertips. Her uncle was a man she wished to be acknowledged by, yet his every action denied her chances.In his eyes, she was not ready."Real shinobi world? He acts like I wouldn't survive a second outside of this village." She mumbled to herself whilst storming into the building and passing a few servants who had rushed back to the destroyed training ground.The servants shared discomforted glances as they held baskets of tools to fix the cracked ground. One had even sighed, tired from consistently fixing the concrete floor.  —_______________  Long weeks had passed. Surrounding a classroom was faint casual chatter from the groups of students huddled into their own sections. The blonde girl sat in the far back, her chin resting on her palm whilst she drowned out the sound of excitement from all around her. On the inside, she was just as excited as everyone else. Though, she couldn't quite show it well. Instead, she sat peacefully.She was used to this 'peace', of course. Even if the back of her mind told her an entirely different phrase: 'lonesome'. That was... until the sound of a feminine voice snapped her back to the reality around her."... I didn't need to study for this exam! But I bet that Ino-pig needed to." The voice then took another breath before continuing, "I've got it all memorised since the first day!"The blonde girl slowly turned her head away from the window and toward the girl sitting beside her. She had beautiful pink hair that perfectly hung down to her lower back. Her emerald irises shone as she spoke highly of herself after dissing a certain girl who sat at the other side of the classroom."What about you?" The kunoichi finally stopped to smile at her, "I know you're just as prepared as me." She quickly added with full confidence in her tone.She had her arms crossed, leaning them onto the table in front of her with her full attention on the blonde girl. The blonde girl didn't even know what the kunoichi had been talking about before her zoned-out daze.A terrible trait of hers. She spoke too much inside her head, neglecting her right to speak aloud. Completely opposite from the pink-haired kunoichi, who was merely a tolerable acquaintance in her eye."Sakura, I'm always prepared." She sighed."I'm glad you match my patience, Kazumi." Sakura grinned, confident.Just when the blonde went to respond, her name was announced. Iruka's voice had silenced everyone who had been chattering away in the room. But it wasn't just his voice that silenced the entire room."Kumo Kazumi." He called with his clipboard tight to his chest.Kazumi's once parted lips had then closed with her head turned to the familiar homeroom teacher. She quickly stood up, nodding a short goodbye to Sakura before making her way down the steps to the door.She ignored the hushed whispers which she presumed were mostly the girls. They'd talk behind her back, it was nothing new. As for the rest of the many students, their eyes silently watched Kazumi's figure gradually make her way towards the door.As if in slow motion, her golden irises locked on onyx ones. Between a mutual glare held strong rivalry until she completely averted her attention from the certain male. However, she couldn't completely ignore the ruthless daggers from multiple girls.
If looks could kill...
Sakura always said it was from jealousy. She'd preach about how the two of them together were like brain and brawn... Except Kazumi wasn't a complete idiot when it came down to her own intelligence. But she had grown to ignore them. Her face was a natural, trained apathetic one since she didn't bother giving them what they wanted—a reaction.Iruka had led her into the next room, the man then sped up his steps towards the table at the front. She watched as he sat himself beside an unfamiliar shinobi. Her lack of care for the man had her eyes diverted back to Iruka's smiling face."All you need to do is create three clones. Inability to do so will result in failure." Iruka placed his hand out flat, gesturing for her to start. Each time he spoke, the scar above his nose and stretched to both his cheeks moved along.Kazumi positioned both her hands into a sign, recalling her uncle's words from before. "Don't let anyone around you know of your true capabilities." He had always told her to keep many of her abilities hidden. It was a way to throw people off. To have them not expect the least expected. Due to this, she made it a habit to use both her hands around others who weren't the 'annoying' old man.She mumbled the ninjutsu's name.Smoke then appeared all around her still figure. When it had dispersed almost immediately, Iruka smiled widely at the sight of three perfect clones. Kazumi's usual apathetic look turned up into shock from the strange scene.One of her clones sat on the floor; meditating. Another had a small book in their hand; reading. The last was staring dead in the eye of the man who sat beside Iruka, bored.It was as if three personalities had split away from Kazumi's real body. It also seemed like she was gifted with genjutsu abilities, and that made her heart swell with pride for herself. But she quickly had to calm that side of her down."Congratulations, Kazumi!" Iruka then applauded, grabbing a box as he quickly walked over to her, "You've earned it."She looked from his tanned face and basic brown features to the box, the clones popped away into smoke from behind her. Her lips squeezed together into a thin line as she attempted to hold back a long smile... Only to fail miserably once her hand came in contact with the metal's protector.It was as cool as she remembered. Both figuratively and literally.Kazumi expressed a rare grin, taking in the sight of the one thing that made her feel like a true shinobi: the headband. She then wordlessly recollected herself, immediately dropping her lips into a resting slant.
I'm finally a ninja...!
It was a piece of cake for her as she clutched onto it tightly."You'll need to head down to the photography room." Iruka issued, "The man will explain further once you get there."Kazumi's head jerked down in acknowledgement of his words, bowing towards the two men before taking her leave with the headband firmly wrapped around her knuckles. She watched as the metal shone in the sun's light that came through the windows of the hallways. It had the Hidden Leaf village's symbol engraved on it with the colour of the headband being a dark grey.The grey colour matched her clan symbol. The Kumo's: also nicknamed after the name 'cloud,' with a semi-realistic cloud design. It's coloured almost the exact same shade as the headband. She couldn't help but slightly smirk, the thought of showing this off to her grandfather-uncle motivated her to keep moving forward.Kazumi found herself now sitting on a chair with a random man standing straight in front of her. He quickly ducked himself under the black cloth, his arm only being visible outside of it as he held a button in his grasp."Smile!" He forcefully exhilarated.The girl didn't flinch as the blinding whiteness flashed throughout the room with a sharp snap. Her face remained an indifferent look. The photo was printed out onto a white paper form, which had questions underneath waiting to be filled with ink. Kazumi waved off the cameraman and then made her way to the Hokage's office.The blonde girl took out a pen from her pouch, lazily filling out some personal questions. One question asked her what her two favourite things were. She ended up writing answers that were completely opposite to her, not even caring to put much thought into it.Even on a piece of paper, she wouldn't open up about herself.Kazumi found it silly, though it still somewhat amused her. Maybe it was her good mood, she couldn't tell. Kazumi could only think of one thing—and that was the headband wrapped around her hand. She couldn't stop herself from frequently glancing to it, giddy.Eventually, she nearly bumped into a student. Kazumi looked up to see a long line to the Hokage's office, and each student that left the large doors wore prideful smiles.
To be acknowledged by the current Hokage himself...
She found that it was no wonder why they all excitedly conversed with one another up ahead of her. Although The Third's acknowledgment wasn't what she was looking for."Kazumi!" Sakura beamed, sneakily cutting in the line to stand behind and beside her."Hey! You can't—!" A student shouted, though they immediately cut themselves off by Kazumi's glare.Kazumi suddenly grabbed Sakura's shoulders, gently pushing Sakura to stand in front of her in the long line. The kunoichi thanked her with a kind smile, she then proceeded to show off her shinobi headband as she dramatized her own exam results.Kazumi didn't mind this. In fact, Sakura was one of the very few people she didn't mind listening to ramble on about random stuff. To her, it was better than being lectured on the things she already knew about.The way Kazumi viewed it, Sakura was like a breath of fresh air... Only when the topics weren't entirely about boys and her rival.How'd they meet, you ask? Kazumi could hardly remember, hence why she put up with Sakura's presence for so many years. Though the Kumo did recall comforting the pink-haired kunoichi when they were younger—and since then, Sakura stuck herself to Kazumi like glue.It got especially progressive when Sakura had a fallout with their fellow classmate, Yamanaka Ino-pig.
Hardly any of my business.
Kazumi's eyes drooped, leaning the side of her shoulder against the wall while Sakura remained rambling about off-topic things. The blonde girl caught a few sentences such as: "Do you think he saw me with the headband?", "He definitely noticed me!", "I should talk to him before Ino-pig appears!!"Before they comprehended it, they reached the Hokage's door. Sakura excitedly walked inside, later on coming out with a content look on her face. She then waved Kazumi farewells and the blonde finally walked inside, pushing the tall and wide doors open.The lord sat at his table with a long black pipe resting on his bottom lip. He had his eyebrows furrowed as he tried to organise dozens of papers that were being stacked on top of the table. His wrinkled face reminded Kazumi of her old uncle.And so, the freshly new genin then cleared her throat, making him flinch his head up to her with a surprised expression."Kazumi! How's your uncle, Sanjiro?" He immediately asked, beaming with a polite smile. "And congratulations." He then added after coughing out some smoke.She ignored his favouritism-like tone when walking closer to his desk, dropping her paper form into his extended hand, "He's fine. Thank you." She took a few steps back, her posture straightening after respectfully bowing."That's good to hear, and I assume he's beyond proud?""Prouder than ever." Kazumi held back the urge to roll her eyes when she said that with the fakest tone she mustered.The current Hokage and her uncle were close. There were only a few photos she ever saw of them together, and in each one, Sanjiro would be seen with a rare smile. The Hokage still looked old in the photo's as Sanjiro stood a few inches shorter next to him. They almost looked like father and son, in some angles.
That old man... He's probably forgotten about today, and is off somewhere buying those perverted books...!
His aged voice then snapped Kazumi out of her judgmental thoughts."Honestly, you take after him so much... you might as well be his daughter." The lord joked, but there wasn't much of a reaction from Kazumi in return.Because of that, he ended up choking up more chuckles, the smoke included.Her uncle was her deceased mother's uncle. That was why he was much older than regular uncles.Kazumi couldn't help but grimace to herself from his words. She, herself, couldn't deny that truth, but she still found it unbearable to hear every now and then. Kazumi always thought: 'If they were to see what he was truly like, they'd never believe their eyes,' which had her imagine Sanjiro with flushed cheeks as he read the corny, orange books to himself."As the days go by, your appearance reminds me more of your father." The lord suddenly said with a solemn smile after quickly adding, "But, your hair is your mother's."The blonde girl awkwardly smiled, "I'm honoured by your compliments. And I'm sure they were great shinobi before they passed." Kazumi's tone was unbothered, not really caring for the nonexistent that she never got to meet herself.The Hokage stayed silent. Though, with a strained smile, he tilted his head down as if on instinct before ushering her out of the room with a flick of a hand.Kazumi bowed once more before leaving the room after she watched the Hokage stamp an approval on her form. She ignored the irritated looks on some classmates' faces, her back turned as she marched off and out of the academy.They all hated to see the young Kumo win, even from the early days of the academy when her yearly streaks of being at the top would overshadow the others.During those years, she was a complete menace. Just imagining her past actions caused a piece of sweat to awkwardly drop from her temple. No kid-student in the past would believe that in the near future, Kumo Kazumi would become a recluse.The doors then pushed open, sunlight burning onto her light-tan skin. The first thing Kazumi's eyes landed on was the crowds of families huddled into their own groups with the academy graduates. A few groups were familiar clans.She then scanned the crowd for a specific, wise-long white beard, her eyes then grew wide once she found it. Her uncle stood in the middle of the area, leaning against a wooden cane. Kazumi ignored that fake weakness of his and immediately walked over to him, shoving the headband up into the air for him to see.
He came...!
He flashed the fellow villagers a friendly smile before walking ahead toward Kazumi's mutually moving figure, acting as if he needed the cane for support.She was used to that odd sight ever since she was little. Her uncle's obsession with keeping the Kumo's abilities hidden was very extreme. It was so extreme, that Kazumi herself had never seen Sanjiro's abilities. It was like the old man had a phobia. Therefore, he was always teaching it whilst never performing it himself.As the two reached one another, he lifted the cane up slowly before smacking it onto her head roughly."As expected, you passed." He mused, a crinkle in his eye.Kazumi's eyebrows squished together and her once glistening eyes faded. Her free arm raised up to gently rub the top of her head with her palm. Her uncle dropped the cane back to his side, leaning against it again as he observed the area around him. He instantly noticed vibrant blond hair in the distance on a swing, and his face then hardened."Did that Uzumaki boy not pass?" He asked, to which Kazumi simply shrugged without a clue."I don't know..." She trailed off, following her uncle's eyes onto the blond boy, "By the looks of it, he definitely failed." Kazumi's tone was uncaring, but she couldn't help but raise a brow at her uncle's millisecond reaction.For that split second, Kazumi could've sworn she saw a guilty look on his face before it hardened back into his usual stern look. He then beckoned for her to follow him away through the crowd and back to their small clan compound. Kazumi swiftly followed him, walking beside him as she occasionally peeked at the cane he leaned against.
So stupid...
"Do not test me." He warned, glancing at her in the corner of his eye with a playful glare.It was as if he read her mind!Kazumi quickly turned her head away, wearing a cheeky smile on her face as she acted like she didn't know what he meant by those words. She had the urge to kick it, tripping the old man's balance in public. Kazumi thought it would've been funny—however, she couldn't help but irritably knit her eyebrows together.She almost hated how serious he can be when it came down to their shared abilities. Since birth, she was trained to hide them from others unless she was in a truly serious situation. The ideology never sat right with her.Nevertheless, she shook it off like always. Sanjiro, her grandfather-uncle, was all she practically had left. Unfortunately, she had a soft spot for him... despite his many flaws."Now that you're officially a genin, you'll need to train harder." He declared.Her eye twitched in reply.Sanjiro was quick to begin a future training plan for her. Kazumi frequently nodded her head at his words although she wasn't actually paying attention. The entire walk back was like her mind went into an automatic mode.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The early morning's cool breeze sobered Kazumi awake. After doing a small training workout—under Sanjiro's watchful eye, she stood outside her compound gates with an energised Sakura. Any onlooker would assume Kazumi was being held captive."I was thinking of wearing it like this, what do you think?" Sakura asked, awkwardly placing the red Leaf protector atop her head like an actual headband.Kazumi held a hand to her chin. Without even realising it, she spent the last five minutes watching Sakura wrap her headband in all kinds of places. That was until the blonde girl eventually snapped her fingers."I prefer the first version." She quickly spoke when Sakura suddenly had second thoughts and decided to begin wrapping it around her arm.
It... just didn't look right.
"Really?" Her brows lifted, halting her action.Sakura didn't hesitate in placing the protector back on the top of her hair. Kazumi kept hers tied around her right thigh instead. She assumed enemy ninja would be distracted by the placement in time for her to take tools out of her pouch from her left thigh.Sakura didn't comment on this 'unusual' decision of hers and went along to skip ahead as they reached the academy entrance. The classroom was a lot more lively than before, mostly due to the joy of students becoming officially genin ranked."If only you were a boy... it could've been me, you and Sasuke-kun." The kunoichi sadly sighed as she mumbled, though her mood flipped when her eyes landed on a certain raven-haired boy from across the room.Kazumi's face contorted into conflict when catching her words."What do you mean by —"Her processing was interrupted when Sakura abruptly pulled her wrist to drag Kazumi along with her. She then let go of Kazumi's hand when she stopped in front of a specific desk.Kazumi's eyes landed onto light blue irises. It was Uzumaki Naruto. She gazed at him with a mixture of shock and confusion. His face was slightly chubby, highlighting the three-whiskers on both his cheeks. Till this day, Kazumi still couldn't tell whether the whiskers were a tattoo or he had just been born with the strange characteristic. It didn't make his reputation as a 'monster' any better. Alas she was sure the tanned-boy failed; it seemed like her previous observation with her uncle was wrong. Albeit it was strange. Not only was he incredibly weak, but he was incredibly stupid too. Like all others, Naruto was a mystery.A mystery you could hardly call a monster.The two blondes stared at each other for a few more short seconds before Naruto was the first to turn his head away from her and back towards Sakura, his whiskered-cheeks flushed a deep red upon seeing Sakura's face.Kazumi exhaled out of her nose, stiff. It was then she recalled the Uzumaki's open crush on Haruno Sakura, making her deadpan at the unnecessary and confirmed rumour. She'd believe a shinobi had no time for love, which was why she always cringed at her lonely uncle's unusual taste in books.Romance books."Naruto! Move your ass!! We want to sit here!" Sakura shouted with a rude index finger pointed at him and her other hand thrown out, pointing her thumb to Kazumi's chest.Her golden irises blinked down at the thumb, taking a small side-step away.Just like that Naruto's blissfulness was crushed, "Huh!?"Kazumi quickly lifted her arms up, defensive, "I'll pass! Sakura, you can sit there... I'll find another seat." She calmly spoke, not keen on sitting in the same row as her shinobi rival and a halfwit blond.Speaking of shinobi rival, Kazumi's eyes drifted to him.Uchiha Sasuke.He was already glaring at her with those same onyx eyes back at the graduation. His guard clearly up from her superior tone. His raven-black hair was slicked into a weird style; a style he always had since they were younger. His gaze was filled with indifference, yet challenge towards Kazumi's blank stare.Since the first day of the academy, the two were the highest ranked amongst the top five.Kazumi (having more experience) was much more skilled than Sasuke. This was the birth of the Uchiha's strong displeasure towards her, and the beginning of a tense relationship. Ever since then, the two were known for that rocky rivalry. It would be lost media to find out that they once had a diplomatic atmosphere.For some reason, those facts still managed to make many of the girls jealous of Kazumi.
The fangirls are total masochists...
She let her eyes roll away from Sasuke's cold gaze. Sakura's mouth opened as if she wanted to protest at her decision, though her impatience got the best of her. After Naruto had suddenly shouted something at Sasuke, Kazumi watched as Sakura's attention immediately spun back to the boy's as she pushed Naruto's face down into the seat to lean closer to the Uchiha."ARG—MMPH— " The smack of skin on the bench made the entire desk momentarily tremble. "Sasuke-kun," Sakura spoke in a sweet tone, "can I sit next to you?" She asked, ignoring Naruto's pained groans as his face was squashed against the hard wooden texture.
Yikes...
Kazumi observed with a grimace as Naruto had winced from Sakura's abrupt action.He then pushed himself back up after she let go, now glaring harshly at Sasuke, who sat a distance away next to him. Naruto, too, shared a rivalry with him - though, that 'rivalry' was ridiculous compared to Kazumi and Sasuke's.It was almost laughable if you had witnessed it as Kazumi did during the very first years of the academy. Far less intense, much more one-sided envy.Sakura secured the winning spot next to Sasuke, patting the empty space on the other side for Kazumi to take. She could only frown when seeing Kazumi's opposing reaction.Kazumi had shook her head at Sakura, waving the disappointed Haruno off to sit at her usual spot in the back.Judging by the way Naruto looked like he was about to explode at any second, Kazumi made the safe decision to stay out of it. She didn't have time for silly antics and thus made herself comfortable in the seat next to a familiar presence.Just when she had begun to tune her attention towards the window, loud shocked noises from dozens of students gasping made her eyes snap back to the three ahead of her. Naruto had his lips pressed against Sasuke's. And from Kazumi's view, it looked like the blond boy had forced himself onto Sasuke.On cue, a bunch of girls screamed, enraged by this—including Sakura.Kazumi's eyebrows flattened at the chaotic scene, now curling her bottom lip down into a frown. Have a good look at the future generation of shinobi, because Kazumi refused to. The Nara, who sat beside her, wore the same expression. Except it was groggy from being abruptly stirred awake. He even had to take a quick glimpse at Kazumi to confirm that what he was seeing was real.Naruto was immediately jumped by a hoard of angry fan-girls.In the end, he was bruised and beaten, and Sakura still won the seat next to Sasuke.Kazumi then rested her chin against her palm, her eyebrows lifted at Sakura when the pink-haired kunoichi turned around to flash her a wide smile and a thumbs up."Let's hope we're placed in normal teams." The Nara sighed out, tired.Kazumi's eyes rolled away to his, taking in Shikamaru's lazy exhaustion. His hair was a smokey black and tied up into a high and spiky pony-tail... like everyday. His dark pupils were small and his eyes were drooping.Nara Shikamaru.He shared the same thoughts as Kazumi. The two often found themselves exchanging understanding looks whenever something amusing or unnecessary happened inside of the classroom. If there was one person Kazumi wouldn't mind being placed on a team with; it would be him.They oddly bonded over those facts and their mutual laziness, too. Kazumi believed that out of all the unavoidable clan visits, she mostly enjoyed his."You'll probably be placed with Akimichi and Yamanaka, just like your parents were." Kazumi reminded him, a small smirk tugging her lips as she leaned further against her palm.
A generational curse, hehe!
"What a drag..." Shikamaru sounded as if he somewhat already knew of this fact, though he tried to stay in denial in small hopes that it would be different.She then processed his prior sentence.
'Normal teams'? Teams are bad enough... I hope whoever I get partnered with are strong.
She then glanced around the room, analysing worthy classmates. She didn't bother to look at Naruto and her eyes instinctively skipped over the brooding Uchiha, falling onto Aburame Shino. He had his brown hair spiked up like a beehive nest, wearing a turtleneck-jacket that hid his mouth. His round, blackout glasses made him look just as odd.Other than the male's skin-crawling bug obsession, he'd certainly come in handy for tracking down enemies. Though, she mostly liked how laidback and silent he was—similar to Shikamaru.Kazumi couldn't think of anyone else other than the two, making her give up with a noiseless sigh.After some time, Iruka entered the room, closing the door behind him. This caused students to scramble back to their seats whilst hushing themselves to not get caught.Their sensei held his usual clipboard, staring into each of his students' souls. Kazumi and Shikamaru both deadpanned at the young man, waiting for the selections to be over and done with."Starting today, all of you are real shinobi." He began and Kazumi's heart started to beat faster with hidden eagerness, "But you are still genin." Iruka placed his arms behind his back, "So, today we will create three-man teams. Due to an even number of graduates, one team will have four members. Each of those teams will have a jounin sensei. You will follow your sensei's instructions in order to successfully complete your missions."Kazumi pulled a face.
The downside of being a shinobi...
Kazumi wasn't really fond of teamwork. But with the 'it is what it is' mindset, she'd surely get over it eventually. However, there was no saying when her stubborn side would show. After being so used to taking down her comrades, she wasn't quite sure how she'd fair being in a team with them."We tried to balance each team's strengths." Iruka quickly added, making Naruto scream out in shock from a few rows down.The man then proceeded to read off the team's names. Kazumi crossed her fingers from beneath the desk, inwardly hoping she'd end up on a decently strong team.Shikamaru's name was called out along with the Akimichi and Yamanaka. Kazumi didn't bother to share a knowing look with him since she was mentally elsewhere.To her disappointment, it seemed like her luck ran out."... Team seven: Haruno Sakura, Kumo Kazumi, Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke."Shikamaru almost said something until he saw the dissociative look on Kazumi's face. The Nara dropped his head down and back into his previous slumber, also dreading the obvious team he was placed in.On the other hand, 'Doom' was all Kazumi could describe the feeling to be. Fate intertwined their lives together, but she did not want it.Sakura had snapped her body around to her, flashing her another excited smile before turning back around.Kazumi wore an uncomfortable smile, incredibly unsure of how to feel at the very moment. The blonde girl completely shut off the world around her. Kazumi became so deep into her thoughts that she hadn't even been paying attention to the shouting ahead of her.As if time had abruptly moved fast again, she flinched out of her brain when the sound of students shuffling out of their seats had flooded into her ears. She watched as they met up with their teammates.They had normal conversations. Normal greetings. And normal behaviour.Kazumi then turned her head to her assigned team ahead of her.Sasuke was already walking away without a single care for any of them.Sakura immediately rushed to follow him, and Naruto followed straight after her.That wasn't normal."What a mess..." Kazumi muttered, then sighing.She didn't bother going after them, practically already knowing how things would end. Her team was ridiculous—and as much as she appreciated Sakura's company, it was an extremely terrible match, to begin with.Not to mention the worry of being on a four-man team. The burdens were becoming endless for the stressed, blonde female.If her uncle were to know about this, he'd surely have a heart attack and finally leave the shinobi world.Kazumi propped herself down in defeat, now taking out a wrapped chicken sandwich from her pouch. As she chewed her food, her reflections could only remain on her future. She was beginning to feel very concerned by this.  —_______________  "Naruto, just sit down or something..." Sakura frowned.The four genin's were the only ones left inside the classroom. Lunch had ended, and all the other teams had left with their new sensei's. Kazumi sat on a bench at one of the desks, tossing the crumbled-up wrapping of her lunch into a nearby trashcan.Sakura sat beside her, but on top of the desk's table.Naruto had his head peeking outside the sliding door, fidgeting in one spot every now and then.Sasuke sat at the other desk (which was right next to the girl's desk) with his chin resting on top of his knuckles for support, staring at Naruto like he was the only thing to entertain him.Naruto finally looked over his shoulder, "Why is our Team Seven sensei so damn late?!!" He then turned his body back around and crossed his arms with a pout, "All the other teams have gone with their sensei and Iruka-sensei also left..."Kazumi wore a lazy frown, now leaning her cheek into her palm as she watched the hyperactive boy begin to shuffle around once again.Naruto grabbed an eraser from the blackboard, he then pulled a chair towards the sliding door as he wore a mischievous grin. Sakura's brows rose, understanding his cheeky actions almost instantly.He was pulling another one of his infamous pranks.
He'll never stop these pranks, will he?
Kazumi chewed her inner cheek with boredom. She remembered his previous prank weeks before the graduation ceremony. Naruto had painted insults and childish drawings over the noble stone faces of the Hokage's. If she was being honest, it was the first prank to surprise her so far.It was bold and expressive. This one was just straight childish."Hey!! What are you doing, Naruto?!" Sakura shouted, sliding herself off of the table as she stormed up to him.Naruto placed the eraser at the top, keeping his balance on the chair as he giggled frequently. He lodged it securely in the gap above before swiftly jumping down from the chair."That's what you get for being late." He snickered with a petty tone, patting down the invisible dust from his orange jumpsuit."Geez... I'm not involved." Sakura glared with her hands to her hips.Kazumi moved her palm to cover the smirk that twitched on her face.Sasuke had then scoffed out her thoughts from beside them, "Like a jounin would fall for such a stupid booby trap."Immediately after his sentence, a large hand wrapped itself around and inside the door handle. The four darted their eyes to the motion, watching with anticipation as the door began to gradually slide open.A man's head popped itself inside first before his entire body. And in milliseconds, the eraser had fallen onto his strange, silver hair.There was an unnerving echo by the way the object had smacked against his head before falling straight to the floor, leaving chalk dust everywhere.Kazumi's smirk dropped to an uncomfortable frown. She hadn't of expected that the jounin would genuinely fall for it, and by the similar expression on Sasuke's face, it appeared as if he didn't expect it either.Naruto then threw his pointed index finger towards him with a belly laugh.Sakura had tried to apologise although Naruto's loudness deafened her anxious squeaks.Sasuke had to look away, now feeling the same secondhand embarrassment that Kazumi was already feeling.
Seriously?
Kazumi couldn't help but pull a cringed look as she straightened up in her seat.The jounin placed a hand to his chin as he hummed, "How can I say this...?" They watched as he picked up the eraser, now placing it back up against the blackboard's shelf before continuing, "My first impression is..."He paused himself for a short moment, taking a glance at all four of his new students."I don't like you guys."That was exactly what Kazumi needed.  —_______________  The wind was fairly strong, though at the same time it was refreshing. Kazumi leaned back against the steps she sat on, dazed by the clouds above her.Sakura sat beside her, wearing googly eyes towards the Uchiha on her other side. Naruto sat at the opposite far end as Kazumi. They were all currently on the rooftop, waiting for their new sensei's further instructions."Well, let's begin with introducing yourselves." The man's tone was clearly filled with disinterest."What do you want to know?" Sakura tilted her head to the side."How about your likes and dislikes? ... Your dream for the future... and things like that." He merely shrugged, leaning his back against the fence, which was in front of the sitting four."Hey, hey, why don't you introduce yourself to us first?!" Naruto rudely pressured him."Yeah, you look kinda suspicious..." Sakura added, her knees clutched up to her chest.Kazumi tilted her head back down from the clouds, just as curious to know about the mysterious jounin ahead of them.He had silver long hair that quite literally defied gravity. She couldn't tell if it was because of some expensive hair gel he used or if he was just born like that. It wasn't only just that which made him weird, but the fact that he wore his protector like an eyepatch over one of his eyes. To top it all off, he also wore a mask that covered his entire lower face, even his neck.Kazumi mentally speculated that the man could be a secret celebrity or a well-known shinobi throughout the world. Though, she quickly shook her head at those childish thoughts.
He's either super handsome or super unappealing...
"My name is Hatake Kakashi. I have no desire to tell you my likes and dislikes. Dreams for the future?" He then hummed, "... And I have a lot of hobbies."It was then Kazumi concluded that the man known as 'Kakashi' was most likely a celebrity in disguise. Albeit part of that didn't make sense as to why a celebrity would convert to shinobi."So, all he told us... was his name?" Sakura whispered to her teammates.Naruto nodded whilst Sasuke had a single bead of sweat fall down from his temple, disappointed. Her voice snapped Kazumi back to the reality around her; the blonde girl now feeling silly for having such different thoughts from the rest of them."Now it's your turn. Let's start on the right...""Yes!" Naruto instantly shouted, "My name is Uzumaki Naruto. What I like is cup ramen. What I like even more is when Iruka-sensei pays for my ramen." He fiddled with his protector, "What I dislike is waiting three minutes for the ramen to cook."At least his personality is original... sorta.Kazumi tried hard not to judge him.Naruto's mood then became serious. "My dream is to surpass the Hokage and then have the people of this village acknowledge my existence!" He now had both his hands onto his protector, overly ambitious.
Interesting...
   
...

Not!
Kazumi knew about a hundred of students who wanted to become Hokage. And she wasn't one of them."Hobbies... Pranks I guess." Naruto mumbled with a shrug, finishing his introduction.Kakashi scratched through his gravity-defying hair, baffled, "Uh, Next..."Sasuke leaned forward, "My name is Uchiha Sasuke. There are a lot of things I dislike, and I don't really like anything. And I can't really call it a dream... But I have an ambition. The resurrection of my clan and... to kill a certain man." He finished.Kazumi mugged, hunching over slightly. She was beginning to feel the similar doom from earlier. At this point, her team setup was atrocious.Naruto and Sakura wore the same blank expressions until breaking into completely different reactions.Sakura was squealing, blushing at his 'coolness'.Naruto recoiled away, sweat anxiously falling all over his face. He had a worrisome expression as if any moment Sasuke would stab a kunai into his side.Kakashi's expression hardened for a second before turning towards the next person beside him, "Next..."Sakura flinched, excited, "My name is Haruno Sakura! The thing I like is..." She ended up trailing off, gazing at Sasuke with continuous flushed cheeks, "... Well, the person I like this..." She quickly cleared her throat, "And my dream for the future... Uhm? OH YEAH!" She cheered to herself.Kazumi smirked, looking in between their expressions.Sasuke had awkward red cheeks, but a twitch from his eyebrow didn't go unnoticed by her."Looks like you've got yourself a candidate, Sasuke." Kazumi sat up straight to cross her arms, ignoring the bashful gasp from Sakura.The pink-haired girl squirmed in delight by the imagination, holding her burning cheeks in her hands."Shut it, Kumo!" Sasuke snapped back, almost faltering in his idle position.Naruto looked back and forth, offended by not being included, "Hey! Hey! Over my dead body!" He roared, gaining a smack behind his head from Sakura.Her expression was dropped to a scowl, "What I dislike is Naruto!" She swiftly recovered to blush at Sasuke again, "My hobby is..."Kazumi's amusement instantly died down. Kakashi's raised up, thoroughly enjoying their specific interactions.Naruto had his jaw dropped and his eyes dramatically forming pools of water. Kazumi let a genuine smile almost pass across her face.Kakashi wore a deadpan, "I see... And lastly..." He gestured for Kazumi to finish up introductions with her own.
Let's get this quickly over with.
"I'm Kumo Kazumi." Her voice was strong, "I like training. I dislike not being able to train." Although her tone was as dull as her face, "My only hobby I enjoy is reading. And my goal is to succeed in my Uncle's expectations." She reworded it, thinking of it as more of a goal instead.
Preferably to be acknowledged by him... but, that's kind of depressing.
Kazumi closed her eyes with a forced small smile at her own thoughts.Sakura smiled at her as she finished, "You read? What kind of books?"Kazumi placed a fist over her mouth, "Poems..." She cleared her throat, disregarding Naruto's irked face.Sasuke simply snorted, unbelieving.Kakashi suddenly clasped his hands together, making a loud skin-to-skin sound which turned their attention back to him."Okay!! So far for the introductions. Tomorrow we'll start our duties as shinobi."Kazumi quietly exhaled through her nose, relieved.Naruto then suddenly jumped up, "Yeah!!" He saluted, "What kind of duties!!? Duties, duties!!" He repeated the word excitedly before dropping back down to his spot.Kakashi was unfazed by this, "First, we are going to do something with just the five of us.""What is it? What is it?" Naruto went on."Survival training."Kazumi lifted a brow, ignoring the confused gasps next to her."This isn't any normal training. This time, I'm your opponent." Kakashi lightly explained."Then! Then! What is it?" Naruto piped back in again.
God, does he ever have a turn off button?
Kazumi took a quick judgemental glance at Naruto before turning her unintentionally stern gaze back to their new sensei.Kakashi had then swung his head low, chuckling to himself like a psycho as his shoulders shook along with his sniggers. This unsettled the four genin's instantly."What's so funny, sensei?" Sakura asked with a pout.Kakashi waved it off, calming his laughter into a giddy tone, "Uhm—Well, it's just that..."Kazumi uncrossed her arms to lean forward. The blonde girl wore a suspicious frown, waiting for their sensei to speak."... When I tell you this, you guys are totally going to freak out." He warned, otherwise entertained. "Freak out?" Naruto repeated, scoffing in an unconvincing tone.Kakashi then hunched over, his hand resting against his face while he crossed his arms beneath his chest to supported the weight, "Of the twenty-eight graduates, only ten will be chosen to become genin. The rest will be sent back to the academy. This training is a very difficult exam with a failure rate of over sixty-six per cent."Kazumi tensed as he gradually spoke, only to then have her mouth left wide open with shock near the end. She looked at him as if she was accused of murder.Naruto had the same reaction though his was more exaggerated with his eyes bulging out.Sakura flinched into an unmoving position, followed by the defeated croak escaping her lips.Sasuke hadn't moved, but it was clear the boy stiffened in one spot.Kakashi laughed at all of their reactions, his index finger pointing rudely at each of them. "I told you you'd freak out!"It was a silent shock until Naruto was the first fuse to explode."WHAT? NO WAY!! But we worked so hard... then what was the point of graduating?!!"Kakashi remained unfazed by all of this, "Oh... that? That was just to select those who have a chance to become genin."
Should've known!!
Kazumi exhaled longingly out of her nose, "The graduation exam was dubiously easy, let alone the written part..." She mumbled under her breath, earning a disbelieving look from the Uzumaki, who overheard this.Sakura faintly nodded her head in agreement. Naruto's breath then hitched, his side-eye toward Kazumi catching her attention. It was then she knew that the slow blond definitely struggled during the exams. He quickly looked away, trying to play it off with a short whistle. 
Gosh...
"... Anyway, tomorrow you have to show your real skills on the training ground. Bring all the shinobi tools you have. Oh, and skip breakfast, you might throw up." Kakashi then leaned over to his students, giving the four of them individual paper forms that held further details inside.Sakura had shrieked at the possibility of throwing up whilst Kazumi felt a headache emerging as she took the paper from his hand. She ignored everyone around her, now carefully reading through the details on the paper despite her three teammates not bothering to do so due to the overbearing words on the paper forms. Kazumi is undoubtedly the type to read through terms and conditions...
His threats are nothing compared to the training that old man puts me through!
Kazumi then idly folded the paper and placed it inside of her pouch when finished reading through it all.As the blonde kunoichi walked away and headed for her compound, she contemplated whether or not to tell Sanjiro about everything she had been informed about. Part of her knew the old man would put her into the training grounds without a second thought.
Let's be lazy for once...
Unbeknownst to her, Sanjiro knew, and from miles away, was currently setting up the training grounds for her.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The birds chirped especially loud during the crack of dawn. Kazumi was stirred awake by the feeling of the faint sun's rays hitting her skin. The girl pushed herself out of her bed, letting out a long and tired yawn. It was easy for her to get up early. A constant routine she had ever since Sanjiro first started to train her. Kazumi couldn't remember the last time she ever got a genuine lie in. But none of that mattered for a ninja.She recalled Kakashi's words from the other day, "Oh, and skip breakfast, you might throw up." The sentence repeated in her mind for a small minute before she turned her head towards the door.
Uncle must be already awake...
She then pursed her lips shut, swiftly changing into her kunoichi attire whilst grabbing her protector from the table side. The glimmer of the metal from the rising run's rays made her proudly curl a lazy smile down at it. Within seconds, she firmly tied it around her right thigh, prepared. However, Kazumi knew that if she were to take a step out of her room, she would be bombarded by her uncle. She had enough of hearing the same words every day.Any normal person would be driven insane, but she always managed to maintain herself. Plus... her muscles were positively exhausted from the training she received yesterday by him. What's the harm in skipping it for today?The blonde girl decided to skip breakfast as her sensei instructed them to do so. She quickly bolted into the bathroom to wash up, lastly clipping the pouch onto her left thigh. It weighed heavy from the many shinobi tools inside. The soft grey kimono-like robes came down to cover the pouch in an asymmetrical way, leaving space to show-off the Leaf protector on her right thigh. Her sleeves were as baggy as the outfit, hiding her hands. It was perfect for keeping kunai's and hand-signs hidden. She wore a darker grey pair of shorts, just above the pouch and dark-grey headband. Beneath the kimono-like robes were bandages across her chest and forearms. Her shinobi sandals were a natural navy blue, knee-high. Her robes were tied with a dark-grey obi belt over her stomach, keeping a traditional, modest look to her attire. Finally ready, she crouched low enough to hoist herself up and out of her bathroom window.Kazumi sealed her chakra so that the old man wouldn't detect her leaving. The blonde girl was now smirking to herself as she jumped down from the second floor.Like a cat, she landed on both her feet in a squatted position before standing up straight with a look of triumph on her face.There was a saying she learned in the books she'd read. Strict guardians raise rebellious children. Unlike Sanjiro, she reads books with philosophical meanings rather than his unrealistic ones. Kazumi guessed the reason for that was because he was pushing his early sixties and still single. 
The life of a dedicated shinobi must be very lonely...
Kazumi was in thought as she strolled down the streets of Konoha and towards the public training grounds. It was early hours in the morning, which made it peaceful considering how there were no villagers at work yet to throw advertisements or warm greetings in her face. She was also glad she was never a morning eater, to begin with. "Kazumi?" A familiar voice called out, snapping Kazumi's attention toward it.Sakura was walking nearby, the pink-kunoichi now picked up her pace as she rushed over to walk beside her. Their steps synchronized. One heavier than the other. Sakura wore a large bag on her back, possibly filled with random things needed for the survival test. Kazumi, on the other hand, only ever needed her pouch unless the mission was weeks or months long. It would be strange for a survival test to last longer than a day. As for her packed lunch, it was stored within her storage scroll which was located inside her pouch."Sakura." Kazumi greeted with a nod, she then noticed the bags under her emerald eyes. Sakura looked exhausted. It was like she had no sleep at all, and her figure was becoming thinner as the days went by. Not to mention her sloppy, heavy steps that could reveal ones hiding spot. This made Kazumi lift a concerned brow, "Sakura, are you eating enough?"Her question threw the pink-haired kunoichi off guard as she was now sobered awake. Kazumi watched her brows rise and fall. Sakura awkwardly smiled, shaking her head at Kazumi's words. "Of course! I'm just... sorta on a diet now."
Diet?
Kazumi's expression slightly squished. The so-called diet she was on made her look like she wasn't eating at all. And Kakashi's threat from the other day didn't make that any better. As much as Kazumi wanted to run and buy her an apple, she feared whatever their new sensei had in store would end-up truly making them retch. 
We'll probably get to eat around noon.
Kazumi then had an internal idea of sharing some of her lunch with Sakura when that time came. Although she wasn't quite sure why she cared so much in the first place."We're here!" Sakura then suddenly gasped out, "Sasuke-kun's early too!!" She squealed to herself as she tried to look naturally cool when approaching him.Kazumi deadpanned, tiredly following her from behind. Her prior confliction was shrugged off, erased from her mind. This wasn't the first time that Kazumi had to be awake so early, she still could never get used to it. If she were training with her uncle right now, the old man would instruct her to run a large amount of laps just to wake her up.That was the major reason why she snuck out moments ago. And to her gratefulness, it appeared like Hatake Kakashi wasn't that type of teacher. Which was a bonus for her lazy side seeping through. "Kazumi, did you even brush your hair?" Sakura slowly asked, scanning her features with squinted eyes and a hand to her chin.Kazumi rolled her eyes up to her head, noticing a few strands curl and stick up from her scalp and ends. "No... I'll probably just cut it someday." She mumbled, twirling a finger to feel her knotted-like hair.Kazumi's straight, blonde hair went down to her lower hips, and her side-bangs were at the perfect level above her cheekbones. Her bangs in general always appeared swept to one side since she could never cope with full bangs blocking her view. On some days, her bangs would look awkward. She could never get it right. Other than its dulling colour, there wasn't much of a difference compared to the fellow Kunoichi's around her.Sakura had shrieked at her words, "You can't cut it!" The kunoichi then grabbed her arm, scolding Kazumi as she lectured the importance of a young woman's long hair whilst adding: 'I'm so jealous! What are your secrets?!'As Sakura went off track from her lecture, Kazumi kept shrugging at her every added comment. Sasuke, having no choice but to overhear, huffed out of his nose.Kazumi didn't know how her hair was so long. And so, guessed it to be that way because of her genes.However, their conversion didn't last long when Kazumi zoned out enough to hear footsteps drawing near from afar. The familiar vibrant blond was running down toward them. Naruto greeted the girls with a grin, his face flushing especially for Sakura.Kazumi tilted her head down in acknowledgement after smirking when observing his rosey cheeks, then doing the same for Sasuke. She honestly forgot the raven-haired boy was there. He only gave a half-assed nod in return.The two extroverts began rambling on about random topics. Sakura even tried to include Kazumi, though the blonde girl would rather get lost in her thoughts than speak so early in the morning.Sasuke stayed just as silent. The four ended up waiting for almost five to six hours until Kakashi officially showed up from a distance. For a first, Kazumi was not pleased with this particular jounin. "Hey, guys! Good morning!" He greeted them with a wave, then added an unconvincing excuse.
It's far from dawn...
Kazumi clenched her jaw."YOU'RE LATE!"—"YOU'RE LATE!!" Naruto and Sakura shouted at him, in sync with their words and actions.Kazumi tried to ignore their loudness by turning an ear away, albeit she still found it hard to get used to. In fact, there was a lot she still had yet to get used to.Sakura's clinginess. Sasuke's indifference. Naruto's boisterous behaviour. Three traits Kazumi was unable to tackle. Oh, and add: Kakashi's lateness, to that list. Something told her it could end up being a regular occasion. She had her eyes back up at the clouds above her, the sky was a brilliant blue. Kazumi didn't realise how fast time had gone by, now in awe at the bright sky above her which was filled with her favourite thing in the world— clouds.The sound of ringing bells being clashed together made Kazumi snap her head back down to the scene. Kakashi was holding two bells in his hand, jingling them from side-to-side."You only have to get one bell. There are only two, so two of you will definitely be tied to the stumps. And... the two that don't take the bells will fail and be sent back to the academy."Kazumi's eyes trailed down from his dark, small irises and toward the bells in his fingertips. She watched as he then gripped them tightly into his balled fist, causing her brow to uncomfortably twitch."If you want, you can use shurikens and kunais. You won't succeed unless you come at me with the intent to kill." He suggested."But!!" Sakura shouted as her arms were thrown open in a protesting manner, "You'll be in danger!!""Yeah, you're so slow you can't even dodge a blackboard eraser!!" Naruto grinned, his arms behind his head while he added another smug remark.Kazumi rolled her eyes. The first thing Sanjiro taught her was; "Never underestimate your opponent." It was obvious to the blonde girl that Naruto lacked a lot of basic training. As for Sakura, she feared the pink-kunoichi was all brain and no brawn."In the real world, those with no talent often bark the loudest. Well... ignore Mr. Dead-last and start when I say." Kakashi wore the same look as Kazumi whilst he spoke— a deadpan.Suddenly, Naruto pulled out a kunai from his pouch, twirling it around his fingers until it was gripped securely in his palm. The boy took a step back to then push off and head straight toward the jounin.Before he could even get two long steps, Kakashi had disappeared in a flash. The man reappeared behind Naruto, grabbing the boy's arm to position it directly behind his own head. The kunai that he used to attack Kakashi was now dangerously close to his own brain, practically ready to be lodged through the back of his own skull.This action caused the others to step back, cautiously—including Kazumi.The man had redirected Naruto's entire move, locking him into one place.
He's fast!
Kazumi mentally noted, her face hardened in concentration now that her guard was up."Calm down... I haven't said, 'start', yet." Kakashi's voice was monotonous, like usual.The jounin tilted his chin up, peering down at his four surprised students, "Well, it seems like you're finally prepared to come at me with the intent to kill. So, you've finally acknowledged me?" He then released Naruto after ruffling his large hand through his vibrant blond hair, "It seems like I'm beginning to like you guys."Kazumi pursed her lips, her cheeks threatening to burn. Their sensei was suddenly charming in their eyes. 
Maybe he is a celebrity in disguise...
She continued to secretly speculate about his identity with a childish pout."Okay, let's get going." Kakashi's face turned stern, "Ready,"Kazumi shook her thoughts off. She then took slow steps back, noticing two of her teammates quickly doing the same."Begin!"As if on cue, Kazumi and the two others jumped away from their spots. The blonde girl found a perfect area above as she landed on a tree branch close by. She then instinctively sealed her chakra to hide her presence.Kazumi hid herself well like an assassin, with her eyes squinted when trying to examine Kakashi's idle figure.He simply stood, but he was looking around with a content gleam in his one eye. Kazumi felt like something was missing. And that feeling soon dispersed when her eyes fell on a certain vibrant blond who remained standing in the middle of the training grounds."Come here and fight me!!!" Naruto demanded, his arms crossed as he hadn't once budged from his spot. "I said fight me!!" He repeated due to his sensei's confusion.Kakashi continued awkwardly standing.
What is he doing?
Kazumi cringed, not comprehending that the Uzumaki could be this stupid. He had shouted something else while dashing ahead to Kakashi but he immediately stopped in his steps when the man started to shuffle his hand around and inside his pouch.Kazumi stared intently whilst she crouched down on the bark, watching the jounin pull out a small orange book. He then flipped to a certain marked page, his attention completely immersed in it—disregarding Naruto.
That looks familiar...
Kazumi wondered, her eyes squinting further to examine the book in his hands from afar. She could not see the title, and out of pure curiosity, Kazumi enabled her kekkei genkai. Her dull golden irises flashed into a grey. Her eyes looked as if they had gone blind, and her vision all around her turned a basic black and white with only the colours of vital points on her team's bodies.Kazumi had even detected Sasuke and Sakura's hidden positions with this ability. And she once again recalled Sanjiro's words, though, at that very moment, she refused to care anymore.The blonde girl then jumped off of the branch after whispering a certain jutsu with a single hand beneath her sleeve. Not only had her chakra been sealed but now even her visibility was sealed as if she was never there to begin with.Kazumi was invisible. With her chakra concealed, she was like a ghost.Her masked figure made her confidently walk toward the two with light steps, reaching the middle of the training grounds. Now, any normal person would just take the bell right then and there, but the girl's attention was childishly glued onto something else— an all too familiar orange book.She ignored Naruto, who stood with confliction nearby, her chin tilting up as she stood on her tippy toes to see the book in Kakashi's hand. 'Come Come Paradise', she repeated the title in her mind.Kazumi sucked her breath in to prevent her from gasping against Kakashi's skin. 
No wonder the colour looked familiar... It's that perverted book Uncle reads!!
Her eyebrows knitted together as she wore a disgusted expression on her natural stern face. She had been ignoring their conversation until Naruto's shout made her recoil back from the two, who still hadn't noticed her jutsu yet."I'll totally kick your ass!!" Naruto growled out, now rolling up his sleeves as he dashed off from his heels.Kazumi stood, amused. She watched as Naruto punched Kakashi's palm which Kakashi easily used to block Natuto's attack. The blond boy then twisted his body around into a kick towards his upper side only for Kakashi to swiftly dodge it by crouching down.The young Kumo formed her hands into a hand-sign, preparing a simple wind ninjutsu.Kakashi paid no attention to Naruto, his eyes still trained on his small book's page. Naruto cried out as he shoved another punch attempt to his face although Kakashi had disappeared instantly. Seconds before he disappeared, Kazumi released the wind ninjutsu to push against his hands. Kakashi, who had reappeared behind Naruto, assumed it was another one of his attempts, oblivious to his orange book on the ground. Kazumi crossed her arms, pleased at the sight of the fallen novel. Her eyes snapped at the sensation of a fire sign. Kakashi was squatted behind Naruto's stiff stance, his fire hand-sign positioned below. "A shinobi isn't supposed to get caught from behind... idiot." His words startled Naruto."Naruto!! Run away!! You're going to get killed!!!" Sakura's voice screamed out from the bush she hid in.Kazumi's eyebrows rose with slight shock. If she were to push Naruto away by skin-to-skin contact, her jutsu would be disabled. Not only would that be embarrassing for her, but she would also have to engage in a fight with their sensei. Thus, she remained silent and still, practically having front-row seats when observing the scene.
Sorry, man...
Kazumi awkwardly looked away, scratching her neck. "Too late," Kakashi said, thrusting his hand-sign upward.Naruto was too slow to react, his head snapping over his shoulder as sweat beads dropped from his forehead anxiously. Kazumi took large steps back, confused as to why Kakashi wasn't doing an actual ninjutsu. The man bellowed out a silly fake one, shoving his fingers up Naruto's crack which sent him flying through the air and towards a lake.Kakashi had placed chakra into the tips of his fingers. There was no jutsu.This left Kazumi with wide eyes.
Did he learn that from that book?!
She thought with a baffled and gaped frown, stepping closer to his figure with flushed cheeks. Despite her rough way of walking, her footsteps were as light as a feather. "Hm, now where was I..." Kakashi trailed off to himself, staring blankly at his empty hands. He then noticed his orange book laying flat on the ground. Kazumi watched him approach it, eyeing the fallen book with suspicion.Seeing as he was distracted, Kazumi quickly took this opening chance. The trickiest part of this jutsu was to activate it without speaking out the words. If it weren't for Sanjiro's extreme training, Kazumi would've never been able to achieve this.
Silencer!
She formed a sign, her fingers carefully brushing against a single bell as she swiftly took it from his hip. She dampened the sound as if it had never been stolen in the first place. Therefore, it couldn't ring. Rather than a ghost, she was more like a mischievous poltergeist. Just when she was slowly beginning to pull away with the bell that was securely gripped in her hand, the jounin instantly looked over his shoulder, his strong gaze staring dead straight into her own.The man squinted his eyes, struggling to focus his attention on her due to her kekkei genkai. In his view, the girl was nothing but a vision in his peripheral eye even though she stood directly behind him and his eyes were staring directly at her.It was a little trick to throw off the opponent. When the enemy is able to find the user's eyes, they'll only be a faint blur like a forgotten memory in their minds. It wasn't just any trick, rather it was a dirty and witty one. The man's brows furrowed together with total concentration because of this. He was trying to see through her, but it was to no avail.
He's noticed...?
Kazumi gulped, looking around for an escape.Kakashi then swiftly spun around out of slight frustration, throwing his hand out to roughly grab her own by pure luck. The skin contact caused her figure to be shown and her irises to fade back into her usual plain gold. Her kekkei genkai was deactivated, leaving a startled scowl on her face. The world around her bled into colours once again.This abrupt action caused Sakura's focused expression to twist up into silent surprise. Sasuke's face hardened. Neither of them had noticed their blonde female teammate this entire time. The Uchiha grasped leaves, crumbling them."Kumo Kazumi. I've read all there is to you. Sanjiro-sama's distant niece, correct?" He instantly questioned her like she was a criminal through his set gaze.Kazumi pulled back instantly, the bell in her hand mistakenly falling to the ground due to a sudden internal panic.
How did he touch me?! I should've been entirely invisible!!
Her eyes scanned him as he bent down to pick up the fallen bell, and she took a few small steps back. Kazumi expected the man to shrug it off after thinking that what he saw was simply nothing, so the entire outcome had managed to throw her off entirely.It was a rare, first time experience for her... Excluding her uncle Sanjiro. The old pro always yanked her out of her jutsu during their training... And now, Kazumi started to view Kakashi as a worthy person."Hmph, using ninjutsu to harm my precious book... I won't fall for the same trick that he pulled on me." He spoke as if he referred his words to the old man."How did you —?" Kazumi cut herself off to give him an expressive frown. 'Precious book?', she gave up the thought of viewing him differently."I knew the moment the infused chakra inside the bell had disappeared." He lightly explained, having the perfect counter.Kakashi talked as if he already prepared himself for her ability. 
What?! I didn't sense any of his chakra on the bell...!!
Her eyebrows continued to rise when she watched the bell in his hand pop into smoke. Kazumi's eyes then snapped back down to his hip, noticing the real bell had suddenly appeared back and securely next to the other."How clever..." Kazumi breathed out, realising her miscalculations. "Not as clever as a ninja using the art of distraction." He strangely praised her, "But you must always have a plan for a plan."
He's already schooling me, huh?
The blonde girl nodded, a wave of admiration almost forming over her for the silver-haired jounin as she sighed through her nose.Though, she couldn't help but feel her pride crack slightly. The most skilled genjutsu user in the academy was upstaged by a perverted sensei. It was shameful. She should've known there was a scent, but didn't. "Let's see if you're just as good as Sanjiro-sama speaks of you to be." Kakashi readied himself, placing his orange book into his pouch.Her heart accelerated from the sentence, pumping an excited adrenaline through her. Suddenly, the two turned their heads to abrupt shurikens being thrown their way. Kazumi jumped away, now on-guard as she watched Kakashi catch each of them with his single pointed finger. He visibly showed a noiseless sigh from the way his shoulders sagged down."Looks like I'll deal with you later."His words angered Kazumi, making her believe that she was just entertaining prey in his indifferent eyes. However, with a forced inhale and exhale, she immediately calmed herself down. It had been a while since someone had riled her up with just a single sentence.Kakashi walked away, now heading toward Naruto, who gasped for air when he emerged from the lake nearby. He was the one who threw the sudden shurikens.
Kakashi-sensei's letting me off for a reason... if I attack him head-on now, something tells me it won't end well.
Kazumi was in deep thought, not bothering to activate her kekkei genkai again as she disappeared back into a different tree. She decided to watch him this time, resolving to analyse his very little display of abilities in hopes she'd come up with a new and improved plan. Besides, she didn't want to share the same fate as Naruto.
I've made a mistake... I should have never irresponsibly used my jutsu over a perverted book...
Her focused expression was slightly depressed when in a mental reflection.Meanwhile, a bunch of Naruto's clones emerged from the lake, albeit they weren't just any normal clones. Kazumi instantly identified them as shadow clones. A hidden technique, which was practically forbidden.
How does Naruto know that jutsu...?
She shook it off, keeping her eyes trained back onto Kakashi as she had planned on doing so before. In the short time, she studied his taijutsu. Kakashi had been ambushed by Naruto's shadow clones. He looked as if he was unbothered until a clone appeared behind him, locking Kakashi into a strong hold.
He may be stupid but Naruto's strategies are certainly unique.
Kazumi smirked, watching the jounin appear surprised. The real Naruto pushed himself into the air with the support of his shadow clones, balling his fist as he prepared to land a punch onto the stabilised Hatake.Kazumi leaned forward. It was like a blink. Kakashi had transformed himself away, causing Naruto to punch his own clone. This riled up the Uzumaki clones into a full blown fist fight against one other. The brief acknowledgement of his capabilities was shut down, and Kazumi went back to silently judging the blond boy.Kazumi then ignored that idiocy, her eyes narrowed as she tried scanning the area for their missing sensei. She concluded that Kakashi had switched his body with a random inanimate object. Irritated by this, her jaw clenched.
So, he's just as sneaky as I am?
Kazumi then guessed it was why he could detect her, let alone the important fact that the man had read into her personal information and prepared himself beforehand without her knowing. It didn't help that he apparently knew of her uncle. Kakashi was the type of person her uncle specifically despised. She wouldn't be surprised if the first thing he'd do when mentioning his name would be to instantly complain. She bit her bottom lip when her eyes trailed up to find Kakashi hiding above the tree where Naruto was standing.Their sensei set up a trap, dropping a bell, which caused Naruto to incredulously run toward it, happily. Before he could even grab the bell on the ground, he was pulled up by a rope that wrapped around his ankle, causing him to hang upside down.Kazumi began to feel nervous. The man they were up against was childishly tactical.If I use those two jutsu's again, it'll only repeat and fail.Kazumi then started to contemplate when her mind went to one specific and hidden jutsu that she had been trying to master for the past few months.
Should I...?
She had already gone against Sanjiro's words, and at this point, she was just pushing it. Suddenly, Sasuke threw a bunch of shurikens which penetrated Kakashi's skin. Although, of course, the man transformed away again, this time leaving a log.She shook her head.
I shouldn't be so desperate.
Sanjiro had always taught her that being desperate in the middle of a fight could cause chakra exhaustion and utter failure.
But!!!
She then mentally whined, twisting her body to grab the thick tree beside her before smashing her forehead against it with vexation. This was a matter of passing or utter failure as a shinobi... and part of her dreaded the thought of losing.She hated losing. Deep down, that pride never left her.
What would Uncle do?
Meanwhile, again, Sasuke's actions leaked both his and Sakura's hidden positions. Kazumi quietly watched as her two teammates rushed away, leaving her eyes to fall back down to Naruto's swinging figure.
No more wasting time, Kazumi!
Kazumi told herself before making sure that Kakashi had disappeared from the scene entirely. She jumped down to approach Naruto. The blond boy was struggling to reach the rope with his kunai, only to gasp in shock when another kunai came into his view.Kazumi sliced the rope for him, catching his falling body as she supported his neck. Naruto beamed at her, wrapping the girl into a large hug before roughly patting her back with a grin once he had gotten back to his feet.The young Kumo was as stiff as a rock, trying to process the overly friendly gesture.  "Thanks, Kazumi! Wait... were you near when my clones attacked Kakashi-sensei...? You could've gotten hurt by my amazing attacks, y'know!!"Kazumi sighed loudly through her nose.
I released you and this is what I get in return; a useless scolding?
The reason why or even how Kazumi was there completely flew past his head, the boy then jogged away only to get pulled up into another similar trap.The blonde girl spun her body around, leaving. There was no point in teaming up with a complete dunce."Ack—!!! W-Wait!!" He stammered, "Where are you going!?"Kazumi scratched her ear, ignoring his calls as she walked into the forest. She continued to seal her chakra, glancing occasionally around her areas whilst she walked with wary steps.
Where did he go?
Right after that thought, a high-pitched scream echoed throughout the forest.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

'Where did he go?'

Right after that thought, a high-pitched scream echoed throughout the forest.
   ✧˖*°࿐  Sakura was a sobbing mess when she clung tightly onto Kazumi. The kunoichi repeated the words: "he's dead!" multiple times whilst she broke down against her.Kazumi merely stroked the back of her head awkwardly, her attention focused on the forest around her. After hearing that high-pitched scream, she tracked down Sakura's position. The Haruno was trapped in a cruel genjutsu.Kazumi had detected it with ease, releasing Sakura from the illusion. And for the past minute, she was dealing with a hysteric female.Her mind was elsewhere from the jounin's words she'd repeatedly recall inside of her mind, "Looks like I'll deal with you later." She then bit the inside of her cheek.
That 'later' could be at any moment now...
"Kazumi, are you okay?" Sakura then asked softly, now wiping the tears that began to dry on her cheeks. She significantly calmed down, mostly due to Kazumi's laidback aura.Kazumi snapped her head back down to Sakura, "Uh—Yeah." Her focused look turned up into a halfhearted smile."C'mon! We've got to find Sasuke-kun's body!" She suddenly grabbed Kazumi's hand, pulling Kazumi along with her as she ran ahead.Kazumi was too far back into her deep thoughts to process this.
It would probably be best to stick close together, right?
She then had the idea of teamwork, though that was immediately waved away from her brain when she was reminded of her teammates' personalities. They'd instantly shut her down before she could even get the chance to explain. This made her tiredly roll her eyes back down from the clouds, now lifting a brow once processing her current situation.Wait—Why is Sakura acting as if Sasuke died?Kazumi's eyes diverted away from the ground and towards the kunoichi that tightly held her wrist."Sakura, I promise it's just an illusion —" Kazumi cut herself off when Sakura abruptly skidded to a stop, almost making the blonde collide her chest into Sakura's back.She screamed bloody murder upon seeing Sasuke's body stuck inside the ground, "His severed head!!" Her grip on Kazumi was released when she dramatically collapsed — knees first — before falling completely unconscious to the ground.Sakura fainted.Kazumi squinted down at Sasuke, biting back a smirk. A moment ago, she half-hoped that the high-pitched scream came from him. Although this sight was even better.There were no signs of blood pouring out from Sasuke's head, indicating to Kazumi that Kakashi must've lodged the Uchiha deep beneath the soil.
His tactics are so irritating...
She thought, biting her inner cheek once again with frustration. Kazumi stomped up toward Sasuke, her lips twitching upwards in a mocking manner. Sasuke noticed this, an angered vein bulging on his forehead."Does The Amazing Uchiha need help?" She asked, finally breaking into a wide smirk that revealed her tooth's fang.Sasuke glared at her before swiftly pulling himself out of the ground without the need for her help."I don't need help from the likes of you." He insulted, his expression more intense compared to her taunting one.
As I expected.
Kazumi tilted her head down, ignoring the Uchiha's sudden rudeness as she waved him off once he had harshly brushed shoulders with her and walked away."You deal with her. Sakura was the one who desperately tried to find you." She looked over her shoulder, receiving a reluctant scoff from Sasuke.
"Looks like I'll deal with you later."
Kakashi's words appeared back into her mind, sweat forming on her palms as she frantically began examining the area around her. Sasuke had squatted down to Sakura's side from far behind, attempting to wake her up with a soft and demanding tone.Sakura's eyes slowly opened, and the recognition of his voice made her instantly push herself up to squeeze him into a hug."You're alright!!" She yelled out with relief.Kazumi glanced over her shoulder again, watching Sasuke blush slightly from her straightforward action, "Go away!! Don't hug me!"The blonde girl let out a dry laugh, turning her head back ahead as she began walking away from the two. Her overwhelmed state was eased by their amusing interaction, as odd as that made her feel.She rubbed her sweaty hands against her shinobi attire. Her footsteps then came to a halt when she noticed a single bell beside her foot.
He's here!
She jumped back, now glaring at the bell on the ground.
Does he think I'm like Naruto?
Her face contorted into a grimace."Smarter than Naruto." Kakashi's voice was like an echo, and Kazumi was unable to detect where he was as she spun her body around the entire area.The Hatake was a natural teaser.A sudden jingle sound from behind made her snap her body back around to the sound. The bell on the ground from before had disappeared. Her eyes widened when she sensed his presence from behind her, making her spin on her heel fast enough to grab his wrist before his fist could land on her.This action reminded her of when he grabbed her own, exposing her earlier. His strength pushed back against her, causing her to flip backwards to create distance. The two engaged in mild taijutsu. Kazumi successfully landed a few hits on Kakashi before being kicked away roughly. She quickly recollected herself fast enough to kick off from a tree she was thrown at.As she soared towards him, Sanjiro's stern warning repeated in her mind.
This is a serious situation!
She gritted her teeth, reminding herself that if she weren't to get a bell before noon then all of her hard work would be poured down the drain, and she'd never hear the end of it from her uncle.Her right fist then tightly clenched into a ball."Gravity release!" She performed an unrecognisable hand sign in her left, followed by an unfamiliar wind jutsu in her right, sending a wave of chakra to her fist as it became as heavy as a large boulder.Releasing her left hand, she prepared to swing her balled one at him.Kakashi's eyes widened from this, immediately disappearing away just in time to dodge the attack. He reappeared at a safe distance away from her, watching Kazumi slam her fist into the ground. She then slowly picked her arm up from the surface, then channelling the gravity in her arm back to normal.The dried soil from where her balled fist landed created a large crater as if something heavy had fallen down from the sky. Sweat dripped down from her face, instantly exhausted by this jutsu due to its combined chakra nature. She couldn't help but scold herself for not mastering it in time for graduation."Faster than Sasuke." Kakashi noted again, his brows furrowed down with his eyes after dramatically recoiling when imagining his head as the cracked ground.The man was then in thought as Kazumi heaved out, wiping the sweat that was falling down from her jaw.
I'm running out of chakra... I just need to —
A sudden ringing sound from close by made Kazumi flinch. Kakashi then sighed, looking up at the sky."It's already noon. Meet me back in the training grounds." He simply instructed, his usual monotone voice dripped with disappointment.She watched as he disappeared into smoke. Kazumi was still startled by what had just occurred. Though, she was slightly relieved it was over; part of her was unnerved by the fact that she hadn't succeeded in getting a bell. She shook her head, her pride getting the best of her as she then began to walk out of the forest.
At least I managed to hold a bell entirely! That should count as something...!
It was better than doing nothing at all, even if the bell was a fake. She chewed onto her bottom lip, distressed.  —_______________  Ten minutes had passed since the bell rang. Sakura and Naruto were both tied to the stumps.Supposedly, Naruto had attempted to steal a lunch box during the entire time Kazumi and Sasuke were battling with Kakashi's clones. Sakura, on the other hand, did absolutely nothing but chase after Sasuke even after being defeated by a simple genjutsu.Kazumi and Sasuke both sat on the opposite sides of the two extroverts that were tied to the stumps."You guys look really hungry. Oh, and... by the way," Kakashi then crossed his arms as he stared down at his students, "about the training... Well, there's no need for you guys to go back to the academy."Kazumi wasn't buying it since she was already envisioning her funeral whilst her uncle dug the six-foot grave for her. She had her arms crossed with a stern expression, obviously still irked by the events moments before.Naruto and Sakura squirmed happily in the ropes, the two cheering loudly. Sasuke breathed out a quiet sigh of relief."Hey! Then, then...!!" Naruto trailed off, waiting for the man to finish his hopeful sentence.Kakashi smiled with his eyes closed, "Yup, all four of you..." he then shoved his hands into his pockets, "... should quit as shinobi!"Their cheering froze from shock, including the silent Uchiha, who flinched his gaze up toward him. Kazumi frowned irritably. Naruto was the first to break the silence... as always."Quit as shinobi?! What does that mean!?" He repeated, his gleeful expression was turned down into a scowl. "Okay, okay!! We couldn't get the bells, but why do we have to quit!?""Because all of you are just punks who don't deserve to be ninjas!" The man's voice raised slightly.Sasuke gritted his teeth, jumping up from his spot on the ground as he dashed straight toward him. Sakura cried out for him, attempting to move forward only for the rope to pull her back up against the stump.
Yeah, just get us in more trouble...
Kazumi's jaw tensed, upper-lip twitching. As swift as wind, Kakashi had him under his body. He sat on Sasuke like a chair, using one leg to hold down his head while the other was placed securely onto the ground. Kakashi's free hand held Sasuke's arm tightly behind his own back, locking the Uchiha down against the ground like a police officer.The jounin's expression then turned dark."Are you guys underestimating ninjas, huh? Why do you think you were divided into teams and doing this training?" He inquired."Huh? What does that mean?" Sakura asked out loud.Naruto wore the same confused expression as hers.Kazumi pursed her lips. She had an idea in mind, though pushed it back as she was intrigued by what the man would say."Answer?" Naruto finally asked through his confusion."Yes, the answer that helps you pass this test." Kakashi's voice dulled, appalled by the stupidity. Kazumi hung her head low, ashamed. It was now clear to her what the answer was. Although her failure kept her silent. Neither of the genin's answered."So... when are you going to tell us?" Sakura then hesitantly asked, anxious sweat dripping down her face.Kakashi sighed in further disappointment, "...Geez." He looked away from Kazumi's realisation to blink at the sky. Naruto let out a frustrated cry before yelling, "Damn it!! What's the answer already!?""It's teamwork." Kakashi answered.Kazumi exhaled through her nose.
The word 'teams' gave it away... funny how I had second thoughts on that earlier.
She recalled when she had the idea of asking the others to work together, though ignorantly, she shook them off and continued on her own. "The four of you working together may have gotten the bells," Kakashi concluded.Kazumi groaned, leaning her shoulder against Sakura's stump. "What do you mean by teamwork? There are only two bells!!" Sakura shouted out, "Even if we work together and get the bells, two of us would still fail. What teamwork? That just makes us fight each other!!" She then squirmed slightly in the ropes."Of course!! This test is purposely set up to make you fight amongst yourselves.""Huh!?" Naruto gasped at his words.
Oh.
Kazumi deadpanned. Now, that was one thing she failed to decipher. Too focused on passing and becoming a shinobi herself, she not only arrogantly ignored her teammates, but the possibility of coming together as one. Not once did it cross her mind that they could share the bells together. Instead, she had the mindset of: 'Work together, whoever grabs it first wins'. It was pride getting in her way. Albeit it wouldn't have been the first time that happened..."The purpose is to see whether you can forget about your own interest and successfully work together under these designed circumstances." Kakashi tilted his head up, "Yet... you guys..." he paused himself from speaking, staring dead straight into Sakura's eyes, "Sakura, instead of Naruto and Kazumi — who were right in front of you — you were only thinking of Sasuke who was far away!"Sakura sadly pouted.His eyes then diverted to Naruto, "Naruto, you were just running around by yourself!!"Naruto had a bead of guilty sweat fall from his temple. His eyes then snapped down to Kazumi, "Kazumi, all you did was think of you'd get the bells yourself! Not once did you even bother to ask for help!!"Kazumi straightened up into a perfect posture from her head leaning against the stump, embarrassed. His eyes then lastly fell onto Sasuke from beneath him, "And Sasuke, you just assumed the others would get in your way, and tried to do everything yourself!"Sasuke stopped stubbornly struggling under him.The four genin went silent from his words sinking into their thick, inexperienced skulls."The duties are done by the team. Of course, superior individual ability is important to shinobi. But what's even more important is 'teamwork.'" He stressed, gesturing his hand out flat as he talked, "Individual play that disrupts the team can put your comrades in danger. And even get you killed. For example," Kakashi then rummaged in his pouch, pulling out a kunai as he positioned it beside Sasuke's neck. "Sakura, kill Naruto or Sasuke dies! Kazumi, if Sakura fails to do so then kill her and Naruto!" He falsely demanded."What!?" Naruto's voice cracked when he screamed, frantically looking back and forth between Sakura and Kazumi.Sakura merely shrieked out with shock from his oddly serious tone.Kazumi and Sasuke held no reaction.Kakashi then sighed to himself, pushing his weight off of a cooled Uchiha as he placed the kunai back into his pouch."You see? If a hostage is taken, you will have tough choices and then die. You will be risking your lives in these duties." Kakashi began to walk towards a stone close by, "Look at this. The numerous names carved onto this stone. These are ninjas recognized as heroes of the village." He lessoned. Naruto's ears twitched from this, "Hey, hey, hey! I've decided to get my name carved on that stone too!! Hero! Hero!! That's what I'll become!" He declared.Sakura glared at his ignorance.Kazumi scratched her ear with a pinky, starting to get annoyed by his consistent loudness. She truly wished the Uzumaki had an off switch. Sasuke had walked back to his original spot, scoffing at his words once he roughly sat back down on the ground. He ignored Kazumi's side-eye, knowing a single look her way would only frustrate him more. "But... they aren't just normal heroes.""Oh, yeah!? Then what kind are they!?" Naruto grinned excitedly, leaning forward though the rope pushed him back up against the stump, "What, what!?" Naruto added upon his sudden silence.
Now that I'm looking at it...
Kazumi squinted.
I think Uncle told me about that stone before... Why can't I remember?
"They are all heroes who died while on duty."Kakashi's words flinched Naruto into stupefaction before he frowned sadly, regretting ever declaring himself to it.Kazumi's brows rose, finally remembering the stone's meaning, "That's the stone that has a bunch of my clan ancestors on it." She pointed out, not going into full detail on who exactly they were since she didn't know herself. Sasuke's face hardened at the mention of clans.Naruto turned his head away from her, feeling even more guilty. Sakura gazed at her with an upset frown, feeling just as sorry as Naruto. It was no secret that two of the Leaf's prideful clans were near extinction. The Uchiha and Kumo. "Yes, this is a memorial for them. My best friend's name is also carved here..." Kakashi caressed the stone. He then turned his head over his shoulder, "You guys... I'll give you one more chance. But after lunch, I'll make it's even tougher to get the bells. Those who still wish to challenge themselves can eat lunch. But, don't give any to Naruto and Sakura.""Huh?" Naruto scoffed.Sakura continued to frown, more miserably."It's punishment for trying to eat by yourself, Naruto. As for Sakura, it's punishment for not taking this test seriously." He referred to her lack of up-front attacking, "If anyone gives them food, they will fail immediately." Kakashi's face became stern, "I am the rules here! Got it?" He then disappeared on the spot, leaving a tense Naruto and a bleak Sakura."Heh! I don't need any food, I'm fine!!" He kicked, albeit the grumble from his stomach said otherwise."Y-Yeah... and I'm on a diet anyways..." Sakura anxiously added, a growl from her stomach also said otherwise.Kazumi was reminded of her idea hours ago.
She'll end up developing an eating disorder if she continues like this.
Kazumi exhaled through her nose, taking out her scroll as the lunch box was suddenly summoned out of it. She then stood up from her spot.Sakura's attention flinched up to her with surprise, watching as the blonde girl opened the packaging to reveal cold roasted potatoes and rice. Kazumi gripped the chopsticks in her grasp, picked out a potato, and directed it towards her pursed lips—ignoring the kunoichi's worried gaze."K-Kazumi!?" She stammered out with even more anxiety than before, "But, wait!""Here." Sasuke quickly followed, though he merely shoved it into Naruto's view. Naruto's brows raised, looking from the lunch to Sasuke's influenced manner. "S-Sasuke-kun too!? But— you guys!! Kakashi-sensei just said...!" Another growl from her stomach cut her off."Don't worry, I don't sense him near. After lunch, we'll work together and get the bells." Sasuke then stood up as he continued copying Kazumi's actions, but towards Naruto, "Without food, you'll be in the way and that will only hurt us.""He's right, and I don't sense him either. Plus, if I have be honest... I did have thoughts in asking for your guy's help... and I'm sorry I didn't bother to in the end." Kazumi softly admitted, shoving a potato into Sakura's gaped mouth before the pink-haired girl could respond.The kunoichi chewed it instantly with a blissful look on her face. Naruto looked away from the two and towards Sasuke with the largest grin he had ever mustered, feeling just as grateful as Sakura did."Thanks." He giggled, eating the pieces of rice that the Uchiha fed him with."Even though the potatoes are cold, they're still so amazing!" Sakura moaned, gulping them down with a cheesy smile."I prefer them cold." Kazumi plainly replied, making Sakura quirk a brow in genuine surprise.Before she could even question it, a whirl of strong winds startled the four.Kazumi looked over her shoulder, pulling her chopsticks away from Sakura's face to use as a weapon, if needed be. Sasuke swung his body around, instinctively standing protectively in front of her and the tied-up duo."You guys...!!" Kakashi's voice boomed, his dramatic face appearing from the smoke.Naruto and Sakura shrieked in terror from his action, aggressively fidgeting in the binds. Kazumi's eyes narrowed, nervous sweat falling down her jaw. Sasuke placed his arm out, his other hand hovering over his pouch. "... Pass." He suddenly spoke sweetly, his eyes closed and a smile behind his mask.Kazumi and Sasuke relaxed."Pass? But, why!?" Sakura gasped out."You guys are the first...""Huh?" Sakura frowned.Kakashi then continued, "Everyone else would just do whatever I told them. They were all just morons. A ninja must see underneath the underneath. Those who break the rules and codes of the shinobi world are called trash... But, you know..." He then tilted his head up in thought, "Those who don't take care of their comrades are lower than trash." He spoke his thoughts as if it were from experience.Sakura squealed out at his cool tone, gawking at him like she had developed a new celebrity crush. Naruto wore an awestruck expression as his cheeks were tinted red.Sasuke tilted his head down, smirking at his words.Kazumi couldn't help but smile warmly. His words touched her heart. Naruto then began cheering as Kazumi cut Sakura's ropes that were tied around the kunoichi's body. Sakura smiled gratefully at her, picking up her bag from the ground nearby. The two walked off together, Sasuke trailing behind Kakashi with his own bag as well.Naruto's cheering halted when he realised he was left behind by Sasuke. Kazumi was too immersed in Sakura's sudden stories to even realise that the Uchiha hadn't untied Naruto like she thought he would've done. The blond boy began shouting out their names desperately. Although they became too far away to hear."How about a group photo to start this team off?" Kakashi suggested, "Uh... Where's Naruto?" He frantically looked around.Oops.Kazumi looked over her shoulder at Naruto's distant figure still stuck against the stump. She then shot a quick glare at Sasuke, her gaze blaming him.Sasuke glared back, crossing his arms with a look that read: 'Not my problem!'. "That Naruto!!" Sakura huffed, storming back towards him to untie the dunce herself.      ———BONUS:Kazumi was inside of her room, just out of the bath from training. She noticed a small printed out picture lying on her bedside table. It was the picture of her new team, posing in front of an amused looking Kakashi.She simply turned her head away from it, clearly indifferent by its existence. However, later that night, when she tucked herself in bed, she couldn't help but silently pin the printed photo on the cork board above her bed.Unbeknownst to herself, she went to sleep with the tiniest smile evident on her face.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Kazumi hid behind a tree, her head up against the thick trunk as she tilted it out to peer around. Her expression was focused, and her dull golden irises squinted at the target from afar, rustling inside of a bush.Kazumi then placed her index and middle fingers over her earpiece as it began to screech like static noise, indicating that someone pressed the microphone to speak."What's the distance from the target?" Kakashi's distorted voice flooded into her ears."Five metres, I'm ready anytime." Sasuke was the first to respond."So am I." Sakura's voice immediately followed after.Kazumi sighed quickly before pressing further down onto the earpiece, "Yeah..." She mumbled.
This mission sucks...
She tilted her head down, stubbornly kicking a pebble away from her foot. After the survival test, she trained all night to prepare herself for real shinobi missions. Had she of known she would be chasing after a runaway feline, she would've joined Konoha's Military Police Force instead for much more excitement than this.I guess it would've suited her more. An introvert.
"Me too!"

"Naruto, you're too slow. Go!!!"
Kakashi's order made the four genin's jump out from their hidden spots. The shadowy figure of an animal then perked up from the bush. It let out a horrified shriek when Naruto was the one to grab a tight hold of its body, revealing the startled cat.
"Ribbon on the left ear... are you sure this target is, Tora?"
Kakashi's continuous, distorted voice made the blonde girl pull it out of her ear. The mission was obviously over, and so she shoved it back into her pouch without a care.
Since when have the villagers become so useless...
Kazumi silently kicked another pebble, annoyed.From the history books, villages such as Konohagakure were disciplined and well advanced. Yet, she found herself — at twelve years old, in this day and age — helping retrieve a tenacious cat back to their owner."Yeah, we're sure." Sasuke answered for them, standing a few feet away from the three.He had his back turned to his team with an arm raised to his earpiece. Though, Sasuke would frequently glance back at them from over his shoulder. Specifically due to the entertaining sight of his fresh teammates. The cat known as 'Tora' began squirming aggressively in Naruto's arms, making him fall backwards onto his spine. Tora took this chance to claw at his face, and this action caused the Uzumaki to yelp in pain as he begged for it to stop.Sakura bent over with her hands on her knees, giggling at the sight"Just throw it." Kazumi pulled a face at him. Between a perfectly capable Naruto and the bratty cat, the small cat was winning. Hearing this, Naruto was about to launch the sad thing in the air if it meant the pain would cease. However, another voice stopped him.  Sasuke had then turned his body around to face them, watching the scene of his fellow teammates with hidden amusement, "Don't throw that thing!" He firmly disagreed, a secret animal lover. "Tch. You shouldn't have grabbed it so aggressively." Kazumi caved in, swiftly pulling the cat out of Naruto's grasp.Naruto let out a long breath, relieved. He winced as he sat up, dazed from the multiple scratches all over his face. Tora relaxed in her arms. However, Kazumi then sneezed, the girl instantly chucking the cat into Sakura's arms as she sneezed again. Sasuke's brow twitched at her carelessness. Sakura didn't question this, already understanding from the first sneeze as she cradled the cat in her arms with more giggles.
Oh—I forgot I'm allergic...
Kazumi frowned, rubbing her nose with a strong, blocked sniffle.Team seven then began to make their trip back to the Hokage's office once Kakashi had appeared behind them. Sakura smiled at the two near her, now walking along with them as she continued to hold Tora whilst occasionally stroking the cat's head. Sasuke was already walking further up ahead of them, unsociable... per usual.  —_______________  The cat was screaming once again, albeit more loudly than when Naruto had previously held it. It was currently being squeezed to death by a large woman who pressed her face up against the cat's cheek.The woman repeatedly thanked the shinobi in the room as she hugged Tora close to her huge bust.
I can see why it ran away...
Kazumi sniffled through her stuffed-up nose as she thought that.Tora was practically being suffocated by the woman's breasts. Eventually, the woman left the office with a shinobi guide, leaving the Hokage to focus back on his tasks beforehand."Now... Kakashi's team seven, your next duty is..." The lord hummed, skimming through a single piece of paper with his usual black pipe resting on his bottom lip, "Babysitting an elder's grandson, shopping in the neighbouring village, and helping with potato digging."Kazumi hunched her shoulders.
I'm pathetic, Uncle...
She then mentally apologised to the stern old man who popped up inside of her mind. Kazumi imagined Sanjiro ridiculing her for having the lamest shinobi duties. Thankfully, Naruto had voiced the thoughts that his teammates mutually shared."No! No! No!!" He made an 'x' with his arms, "No thank you!!! I want to do — y'know — more incredible missions! Find us a better one!!" He rudely demanded the Hokage.Iruka stood up from his seat next to the Third, "You idiot!!" His hands slammed onto the table, "You are just a rookie! Everyone starts off with simple duties and works their way up!!" He scolded.The Hokage sighed quietly to himself, tilting his kasa hat down so that it was hard to see his current expression."But!! But!! We keep getting the crappiest possible duties!!!" Naruto yelled back.Kakashi quickly bonked the top of his head, silencing the blond boy.The Hokage finally spoke up, "Naruto!! It seems I have to explain to you what these duties are all about!""Nice one, Naruto..." Kazumi sighed, sarcastically."Whaddya say?!" He barked back, balling a fist.Sakura raised a hand to her lips, hiding her snort. Sasuke dreamed of owning a pair of everyday earbuds. Kakashi's flat palm then bonked his head again whilst shooting Kazumi a warning glance. Naruto winced, endlessly injured today. She pursed her lips in response, closing her attention up at the clouds that appeared behind the Hokage's desk. She had not bothered to listen to the lecture. Kazumi already knew all about the duties of shinobi and the ranked missions they go through. She'd even confidently say that she wouldn't even need the academy's teachings when she had Sanjiro, who taught her everything she needed to know. The only thing he'd never speak of is the shinobi world outside the leaf village walls—that, and her deceased parents.Kazumi zoned out with sagging shoulders for so long that she hadn't realised Naruto was sitting on the ground at this point. Strangely, his words were much more interesting than the famous Hokage himself."Last night, I had pork ramen, so miso sounds good for..." He trailed off, although the lord shouted at the new team, which cut off his words entirely."HEY, LISTEN!!"Kakashi sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, "I-I... I apologise." He stammered, shamefully.
Huh? Sensei was listening to him too?
Kazumi's lips opened slightly, looking up at the man from over her shoulder with surprised eyes only to quickly rest her face back into an apathetic expression toward the old man with the pipe ahead of them.Naruto shrugged it off with a deep frown, "Geez... all you do is give lectures like that. But you know what?! I'm not the troublemaking brat you still think I am!!" He then crossed his arms with a childish pout.Those words had silenced Iruka, making their former sensei sit back down. A silence momentarily filled the air, making Kazumi part her lips. As she was about to continue the persuasion, he reacted.The lord smirked while taking a puff from his pipe. "Okay."The simple word caused team seven to snap their gazes at him, relieved.
'Okay'?
Kazumi raised a brow, pouting."If you want it that much..." The lord leaned forward, resting his elbows onto the desk below him, "I'll give you a C-rank mission. It's a protection mission of a certain individual." He lightly explained.Naruto jumped up and onto his feet, "Who!? Who!? A feudal lord?! A Princess!?" He excitedly asked.Kazumi tilted her head to the side, crossing her arms. Anything was better than a D-rank mission. Although she was slightly disappointed the old man didn't have enough faith in them to give them at least a B-rank mission. Her shoulders then tensed when a faint smell of alcohol flooded her nostrils.
Sake?
Her other brow raised, scrunching her nose like a disgusted rabbit. "Calm down, I'm about to introduce him. Hey, will you come in?" The Hokage's words made the large door behind them slowly open to reveal an old man. Not much older than the Hokage.He had dark-tanned skin, evidence of hard work out in the sun with small round glasses that highlighted his bigger nose. His grey hair was dull and messy, matching his small beard. He wore a towel around his neck and a strange, pointed hat made of straw. Kazumi spun on her heel, her face hardened at the sight of him. He looked roughly about Sanjiro's age, (possibly older) and the man leaned against the door's arch using his elbow with a bottle of liquor in his hand."They're all a bunch of super brats." He grunted, "Especially the shortest one with the super stupid-looking face. Are you really a ninja? Hey!?" His words were slightly slurred as he judged the four... mainly Naruto.Naruto nervously cackled, "Who's the shortest one..." He repeatedly looked at his sides, "...with the stupid face..." He spoke slowly as if in denial upon realising that his teammates were taller than him.It went in this exact order from tallest to shortest: Sasuke, Kazumi, Sakura, then Naruto.
Is he drunk?
Kazumi glared at the man, hardly holding any respect for him at first impression."I'll kill you!!!" Naruto then snapped, rushing forward only to be pulled back by his collar."What's the point of killing the person we're supposed to protect!? Idiot!" Kakashi scolded him, letting go."And what's with that boy—girl or whatever, you look super constipated." The man continued, then taking a swig as he anxiously glanced away from Kazumi's menacing stare.
I'd rather protect a prick than an OLD prick.
She quietly grinded her teeth together, peeved by the sassy old man."You, too, cut it out!" Kakashi suddenly appeared beside her, karate-chopping her head.Kazumi's cold eyes blinked into her usual relaxed gaze. Her hand reached for the dramatic lump forming, though her thoughts were elsewhere.
'Boy—girl?' Wait - what's that supposed to mean?
She suddenly thought, now processing his words as she completely ignored the fact that the man had insulted her.Sakura looked like she wanted to comment something about that, though she kept her lips pursed shut."I am the super expert bridge builder, Tazuna. I expect you to provide me with super protection until I get back to my country and complete the bridge." He introduced.Kazumi noted his excessive use of the word 'super'.   —_______________  Kazumi sat on a rock close to the large gates which led to the inside of Konohagakure's walls. She stared at the ground in thought, entirely lost in her mind. Her bag leaned up against the boulder, already packed with everything she needed.Sakura then appeared beside her, peering down at her conflicted fellow kunoichi."What's wrong?" She asked, her voice snapping Kazumi back into the reality around her.Kazumi tilted her head up, her golden irises met emerald ones, "Do I look like a boy to you?"Sakura's brows rose in shock, "Eh??—Uh, well..." She paused for a moment due to embarrassment as her cheeks flushed pinkish before continuing, "No... it's just that..." Sakura struggled to find an appropriate response.Kazumi grew irked by this, "Just spit it out, I don't care." It was partly a lie."You pass for a boy and a girl!" She quickly spoke, although her voice came out loud which made the others nearby turn their attention towards them.Kakashi had an awkward demeanour, too stiff to even approach his little kunoichi's banter. Tazuna swallowed down more liquor, grunting. Sasuke impatiently waited with crossed arms, raising a brow at their conversation. 
Uh?
Kazumi's jaw was slacked open.Sakura immediately gasped, hushing herself as she went on to explain, "When I first met you in the academy... I just thought you were a pretty boy—But, when sensei addressed you like a girl, I didn't realise until I took a closer look at your face. Plus, I didn't believe Ino-pig's words..." Sakura then nervously smiled."Huh?" Kazumi's eyes blanked, not really understanding half of it.Sakura then laughed, "There was a time when my old friend-group had a huge crush on you until they found out the truth from Ino-pig!!"
That's funny???
Kazumi watched her giggly figure with utter confliction. The blonde girl then turned her head back to the ground.
No way... could that be the sole reason why they all hate me?
A heavy cloud loomed over Kazumi's head. She truly sucked at social cues. Kazumi shifted at the weird thought, "Then if I cut my hair, like I thought about doing so before, will I look like a boy...?"Sakura gasped, "No way!! Didn't you hear what I told you before!?" She then ranted the same lecture as before about the importance of a young woman's long hair, not even answering Kazumi's actual question.Their conversation was thankfully cut short when Naruto appeared with his own bag. He came rushing down and outside of the gates with an excited grin plastered on his face."Let's go!!" He shouted, punching his fists up and into the air like a cheer.Kazumi hopped off of the rock, sweeping her bag up with her hand. She followed Sakura as the two girls walked back to the waiting group. Naruto finally arrived."What are you so excited about?" Sakura inquired with her hands on her hips, wearing her own packed bag.Even Sasuke had a bag of his own. It was speculated that the mission would last for days. Kazumi had adjusted her bag securely back onto her shoulder, also curious."Cause... I've never left the village before!" Naruto grinned a toothy smile.Ah... right...Kazumi was reminded of the note in which she left Sanjiro on the fridge. She didn't bother telling him that she was on this type of mission since she'd never hear the end of his complaints. If he knew she was taking on such low-ranked missions, he'd have a childish fit. However, she couldn't say that she blamed him either. If she wasn't so poised, Kazumi would have a fit herself. And since he was close with the Hokage, she had a feeling he'd try to bargain with the old man.
It's best not to tell him the complete truth...
She frowned to herself, though her thoughts were cut off by Naruto's sudden yell."SHUT UP!! I am prepared to do anything to become Hokage!! Once I become Hokage, you will acknowledge me!!!"Tazuna took a silent sip from his drink before plainly speaking, "No, I won't, you brat. Even if you did become Hokage."
I doubt he'd still even be alive by the time Naruto ever reaches that ridiculous goal.
Kazumi eerily thought, rolling her eyes away from the scene."I'll kill you!!" Naruto bellowed, and once again, he was held back by Kakashi."Buffoons," Kazumi murmured.The group began to start their long journey. Sakura (who walked beside her) overheard her, and with a small smile, she inwardly giggled while placing a hand to cover her mouth.Although her smile dropped when she caught Tazuna trailing near her. Curiosity then got the best of her."Umm—Tazuna-San?""What?""You're from the Wave country, right?""What about it?"Sakura then looked over her shoulder to Kakashi, "Umm—Kakashi-sensei? Do they have ninjas in that country, too?" She asked.Kakashi swiftly answered, "No, not in the Wave country. But in most other countries the cultures and customs may be different, but hidden villages exist, and so do ninjas." He spoke with his usual deadpan.Kakashi then began to school about the geography and Kage's of the nations. Kazumi didn't really listen to this since she already technically knew.The blonde girl couldn't help but doubt the current Hokage after listening back into the conversation near the end. Despite knowing to never underestimate an opponent, it was hard not to towards an old man like him. And it seemed like Kazumi wasn't the only one who had similar thoughts."Wow!! Hokage-sama is the best!!" Sakura let out a fake squeal."You guys just doubted Hokage-sama, didn't you?" Kakashi then sighed when he noticed his genin's flinching at his suspicion.The jounin placed a hand on Sakura and Kazumi's head, however before he spoke, the blonde girl immediately threw his hand off of her head, "But, don't worry, there won't be any ninja combat in a C-rank mission." He brushed off Kazumi's rude response.
That's kinda lame...
Kazumi pouted. She was itching to show her worth ever since Sanjiro's words: "Once you've proven to me that you're worthy enough, then I'll determine whether or not you've truly passed." It lingered with her for the longest time."Then, we won't come in contact with foreign ninjas?" Sakura innocently asked with a hint of relief in her tone."Of course not!!" Kakashi then laughed, dropping his other hand from Sakura's head after caressing it in a gentle manner.Tazuna's overweight figure flinching didn't go unnoticed by Kazumi. She suddenly felt the urge to be on guard, and an uneasy feeling erupted inside her stomach.Suddenly, two enemy ninjas appeared from behind, confirming her random instinctive feeling.Kakashi merely stood still as they wrapped their chains all around his body. Kazumi then quickly jumped back, including the others who were equally as shocked."One down." Twin One eerily said before the two brothers tightened their grips and yanked the chains back, which sliced Kakashi's body into multiple pieces.The scene alone was horrific, blood splattered everywhere. Though, Kazumi didn't fall for Kakashi's fake death. Her dull golden irises flickered to a tree where she sensed Kakashi's presence.A genjutsu mixed with substitution.She had ignored Naruto and Sakura's screams, immediately jumping into action when she noticed Twin Two heading straight towards Naruto's frozen body."Two down." He added, closing in the distance.Kazumi ran for Naruto's back, skidding beneath the thick chains that were heading straight towards his neck. She quickly pulled out two kunai's from her pouch, straightening herself up whilst spinning on her heel to face the oncoming chain.As the chain came into contact with the metal kunais, it stopped their deadly action in time before it could slice through the back of Naruto's neck.The blond boy had his head over his shoulder with a stunned expression, a mixture of fear and relief when seeing the familiar blonde girl standing behind him, protectively.All whilst Kazumi had been doing that, Sasuke had jumped in the air, pulling out a bunch of shurikens from his pouch. He directed them, midair, to the chains that were still in contact with Kazumi's kunai's.Kazumi noticed his action, and her strong pushing force against the chains released. It threw Twin Two off guard, unable to stop Sasuke's shurikens from pinning the chain back and away onto a tree ahead of her.Finally, Sasuke pulled out a kunai to securely lodge the chains together inside of the tree's trunk, the Uchiha then landed swiftly on the halted twins' heads. They both were unable to look up from Sasuke's pressured weight. "Go!" Kazumi yelled, pushing Naruto's head down with her whilst the two ducked under their chains that trapped their arms together.Away from the twin brothers, Kazumi took notice of their odd weapon. The same one that sliced through Kakashi's illusion with ease. Sasuke continued in his combat, grabbing a tight hold on the twin's wrist gear as he hoisted himself up in the air, then using that mid-air opportunity to land the soles of his feet onto their faces.Naruto stared back and forth between Kazumi and Sasuke's silent harmony, entirely amazed by their fighting capabilities.Kazumi merely stood awkwardly, her arm still unknowingly in front of Naruto as she watched the twins suddenly detach their wrist gears when they fell back from the Uchiha's strong kicks. Startled, Kazumi gripped tighter to her kunais. The two twins separated from one another. Kazumi instantly stood back in front of Naruto when noticing this, her kunai-held hands now thrusted out as she cautiously watched the surroundings around her.Twin Two headed straight toward Tazuna and Sakura. The pink-haired kunoichi immediately jumped in front of Tazuna with a kunai of her own out and in front of her. Sasuke's figure flashed past Kazumi, letting the blonde girl know his whereabouts at that very moment."Kazumi!" Naruto yelled out in shock, calling for her name in hopes the girl would turn her attention back to their tense position.Naruto's gasp made her snap her head to his figure, the blonde kunoichi roughly grabbed his shoulder, sliding her hand down to his elbow as she yanked his body back and away from the sudden claw hand, which had headed for the side of his head. However, this action made Kazumi the target instead.The claw shoved itself towards her face, but she dodged it in time by tilting her head to the side. Kazumi wore an irked look after recollecting herself from a silent surprise. But then Naruto quietly winced, which made her ears twitch in acknowledgement of his sound.
Naruto?
She thought, glancing over her shoulder to him with concern.
Did the claw reach him?
"Kazumi, watch out!" Naruto hissed through the pain, wrapping his arms around her stomach in an attempt to pull her back from the claw that had redirected itself once again to the side of her cheek, making another move for her face.In matters of milliseconds, Kazumi's golden irises flickered into the faint colourings of grey, preparing herself to activate her clan eyes.Before anything major happened, Kakashi suddenly appeared out of nowhere with the twin's heads locked in his arms. Kazumi's tensed shoulders relaxed, and her eyes blinked to her usual gold. If Kakashi had never appeared at that moment, the blonde girl would've activated her kekkei genkai, which would've caused more chaos and chakra depletion.
Honestly, what took him so long?
The Kumo spun the kunai's in her hands before roughly shoving them back into her pouch. She then gritted her teeth, kicking the dirt on the ground as she subconsciously rubbed the side of her cheek. Coincidentally, it was also the side where the claw was dangerously close to reaching. Almost like a phantom pain.Kakashi then immediately tied the two brothers to a tree by using their chains as a rope.Naruto collapsed to the ground after pulling his arms off from Kazumi's waist, it was like his legs had given up on him. Kazumi didn't blame this normal reaction. After all, if she had never been trained by Sanjiro, she most likely would've reacted the same way as him: frozen and stunned like a deer in headlights.She held a hand out for him in which the blond boy's face hardened after taking it. As she had pulled him up, she noticed the way he looked disappointed in himself. It almost made her feel guilty."Naruto, sorry for not helping you right away. I got you injured. I didn't think you wouldn't be able to move." Kakashi then turned to the other three, "Anyways, nice job Sasuke, Kazumi—and you too, Sakura." He applauded them, "I didn't expect such teamwork improvement between the two of you already." He pointed that out towards Kazumi and Sasuke as he wore a smile behind his mask with his eye closed.The two introverts simply turned away from their sensei, indifferently. Their mutual cold reactions amused the jounin.Kazumi and Sasuke were used to reluctantly working together since the academy sensei's would purposely pair them up during every shinobi exercise. She guessed they found entertainment in observing two of the best shinobi graduates work together to dominate the others.Her golden eyes then landed on Naruto, suddenly recalling Naruto's unusual noise a second ago.
Those claws... I noticed that odd thin liquid hidden beneath their metal hooks.
"Naruto, are you injured?" She asked, pointing to his hidden hand.His face stiffened in response.When Kazumi had slid under the chains to stop them from slicing Naruto's head off, she caught a glimpse of the coloured slime dripping from beneath their claw's hooks.
Fortunately, I was able to dodge it in time... Did Naruto not do the same?
Naruto finally huffed through his nose, about to speak until Sasuke strolled up to them with a smug smirk."Hey..." Sasuke's voice made her glance away from Naruto, "You alright, Mr. Scaredy-cat?"Kazumi exhaled.Kakashi cut Naruto off from internally imploding at the Uchiha's remark, "Naruto, save it for later. Their claws are soaked in poison. We have to remove it quickly." He then proceeded to explain the requirements in order for Naruto to safely extract the poison from his hand.
As I suspected.
Kazumi frowned, watching the blond boy raise his hand up to his face. He gazed angrily yet horrified at his wound."Don't move too much, or the poison will spread throughout your body." Kakashi then turned to the drunkard, "Tazuna-San,""W...What is it?" He instantly replied, still in shock from what had just occurred."I need to talk to you."The group turned around to the two enemy brothers who were half-conscious."These guys are chuunin class shinobi from the Hidden Village of the Mist. They are ninjas known to keep fighting no matter what." The jounin pointed out.Kazumi placed a hand on her chin, with her crossed arms to support her elbow's weight.
Only chuunin's? No wonder why they were so easy.
She smirked down at their defeated bodies.One twin tilted his head down with exhaustion, "How did you read our movements?" He asked."On a sunny day like this when it hasn't rained in days... A water puddle shouldn't exist." Kakashi pointed out again, his tone almost mocking.Kazumi pursed her lips closed. She hadn't noticed the puddle, but her intuition managed to save her at least."Why did you let the brats fight when you knew that?" Tazuna inquired into the conversation."If I had wanted to... I could kill these two instantly, but—there was something I needed to find out." Kakashi then suspiciously glanced at Tazuna as he continued, "Who the target these two were after.""What do you mean?"Kazumi caught on to what Kakashi was trying to imply."Meaning, were they after you, or one of us?" His deadpan hardened, "We haven't heard that there are shinobi's after you. Our mission was to simply protect you from thieves or gangs. This has now become at least a B-rank mission. This was supposed to be a simple protection mission until you completed the bridge."
Did I hear that correctly?
Kazumi's heart skipped a beat. The single word: 'B-rank', echoed at all corners of her mind.Tazuna guiltily tilted his head down. For the first time, Tazuna hadn't responded with grumpy remarks."If it was known that ninjas were after you, this mission would've been an expensive B-rank. I'm sure you have a reason, but it causes problems when you lie about the mission details. We are now operating outside of our duties." Kakashi continued.At those statements, Kazumi raised a palm above her mouth, hiding an eager smirk.
A B-rank?! Maybe I have something to show off to the old grouch after all...!
She dropped her hand from her thinned lips, squeezing her elbow to push down the internal excitement."We aren't ready for this mission!!" Sakura suddenly shouted out, "Let's quit! We will need medicine for Naruto's wound. We should head back to the village and take him to a doctor —"Kazumi cut her off, "And what, abandon this higher ranked mission?" She snapped her head towards Naruto, "Naruto, would you like me to forcefully open your wound?" She offered, speaking uncannily calm.
I'm sure that opening the wound and sucking out the poison would work...
Kazumi mentally prepared herself, wanting to do whatever it takes to remain in the B-rank mission.Naruto flinched at her words, profusely shaking his head before turning his gaze to the ground with seriousness."Ehh!?—Kazumi, are you crazy!? Naruto will die if we don't get medicine in time! Don't be selfish and just realise this is insane!" Sakura shouted back, her arms thrown open in a familiar protest, "Tazuna-San can just switch his request with another team that is capable for this mission!" The kunoichi sounded scared, inexperienced."Don't be rash! I thought you were smart! Don't you realise how important this'll look on our shinobi records?" Kazumi retorted, in an equal protest as she was.Sasuke was quiet, his opinion bouncing back and forth between the two disagreeing girls. 
This is finally my chance to get a first B-rank in my records, I cannot back down now!
"You can't be serious!!" Sakura whined, "Naruto will die!""No he won't! One of us just has to suck the poison out, no biggie!" Kazumi countered, turning around to step toward Naruto.However, Kakashi placed a firm hand on her shoulder, nervously coming in between, "Now, now..." his voice shakily spoke before recollecting himself with a hum, "This might be too much—sorry Kazumi." He then sighed, "I guess we should return to the village to treat Naruto." He concluded.
Are you kidding me?!
Kazumi cringed, perplexed.
Uncle will kill me if he finds out my team backed out of a B-rank mission!
Kazumi had unknowingly begun chewing the bottom of her lip until it bled, now anxiously stuck in her own thoughts. Naruto's pained tone snapped her back to reality, and the sound of flesh being pierced made her brows quirk upwards."Naruto!! What are you doing!?" Sakura was even more stressed, shrieking out for his name as she whipped her body away from Kazumi and to Naruto, her arms still swung out."With this kunai... I'll protect the old man. We're continuing this mission!!" Naruto grinned through his pain, showing off the kunai that penetrated his hand, the poison mixed with blood oozing out and down his wrist.
He did it himself?
Kazumi's brows dropped back down, smiling at the sight. She hadn't expected the blond boy would have such natural courage."Naruto..." Kakashi slowly said, "It's good that you're releasing the poison but... anymore and you'll die from lack of blood." He then sweetly smiled, "Seriously.""WHAT!?? No!! That's bad!! I can't die from something like this!!" He screamed instantly from his warning. "Kazumi offered so I thought it'd be fine if I did it myself!!!" He panicked further, gripping onto his bloodied wrist.
Is he trying to blame me?
Kazumi's brows furrowed, the smile on her face faltering at the dramatic scene."Let me see your hand." Kakashi bent down to his level, taking his hand as he performed basic first aid."Naruto, are you a masochist? What were you thinking!?" Sakura then turned to Kazumi with her hands to her hips, "And are you a sadist!? You've been smiling this entire time!!" She added, to which Kazumi's frown deepened into a scowl.Naruto was still in a shaken up state, and so he failed to hear Sakura's remarks, "Umm—Hey, am I going to die...?""You should be fine." Kakashi's words slightly comforted Naruto.Sakura was clearly upset, now glaring at Kazumi. This made the blonde girl raise a brow, catching her stare. She couldn't read her expression, which only made Kazumi tear her gaze away from her disappointed frown.
What's with her?
Kazumi then watched as Sakura turned her back to her, crossing her arms. Her silent actions annoyed Kazumi further. However, she quickly assumed that the pink-haired girl was still butt-hurt by her previous insensitivity.
Maybe I should apologise...
The blonde girl stiffly placed her hands inside of her pockets.
Future me will worry about it.
Kazumi then walked away with her team, continuing the journey with Naruto's occasional hypochondriac comments in between and a sighing Hatake trying to reassure him.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The surrounding area was a complete white. As if stepped through a cloud, a small boat floated atop the calm waters. The misty air was certainly the perfect touch for a village Hidden in the Mist. Kazumi almost felt momentarily suffocated from the watery air, her nostrils not accustomed to it."What a thick mist..." Sakura spoke in awe, "I can't see ahead..."Team Seven, alongside Tazuna, sat in the small wooden boat whilst it was being rowed by a man, who was an ally of Tazuna's. Kazumi impulsively raised her hand out, admiring the puffy whiteness making her entire limb disappear. It moistened her skin the same way her nose. If one were to fall off boat, one surely would not be seen from again. Naruto and Sakura sat in front of her, both leaned ahead. Like her, they were trying to see through the mist. Sasuke was sat next to Kazumi, not all much impressed by the stark difference. Kakashi sat behind the two introverts, Tazuna by him. And behind them was the rowing man, at the very end of the boat."We should see the bridge soon." The man rowing the boat suddenly said, "The Wave country is at the base of the bridge."A few seconds after he said that Naruto immediately beamed at something up ahead, "Wow!!! It's huge!!" He shouted out, snapping Kazumi out of her awestruck daze.She looked up at Naruto, then over her shoulder to Tazuna's indifference."Hey! Be quiet!" The rowing man hissed, "Why do you think we're hiding in this mist and not using the engine?" He rhetorically asked, "We'll be in deep trouble if Gatou finds us."Gatou.Kazumi's face hardened as she was then brought back into her memories from hours ago. Tazuna had took a wry sip of his sake. ....... 
"I want to talk to you..." Tazuna suddenly said, the attention being brought onto the old man and away from the tied-up twins. Upon their silence, he continued, "It's about this mission..."  Tazuna then walked up to stand closer to team seven as he continued to speak, "You're right, this job is most likely outside of your duties. It turns out that a super dangerous man is after my life..."

"' Super dangerous man'...?" Kakashi then asked, "Who?"

Tazuna merely sighed as he proceeded to talk, "You've probably at least heard his name before." His tone sounded as if the old man was completely over it. Suppressing a grunt, he continued, "The wealthy shipping magnate— A man named Gatou."

Kazumi held no reaction, not informed by Gatou's existence. Based on her teammate's flat expressions as well, they, too, had no clue.

Kakashi's eyes instantly went wide, "Huh!? Gatou...!? From that Gatou company? He's said to be one of the world's few extremely wealthy people."

"Yes, officially, he runs a large shipping company. But, secretly, he sells drugs and other illegal items using ninjas and gang members to take over businesses and countries. He's a very nasty man." Tazuna nodded.

Kazumi then had a feeling where this was going.

"It was about a year ago when he set his eyes on the Wave country. Through money and violence, he quickly took control of the country's shipping industry. Gatou now has a monopoly on all business traffic in the country. The only thing he has to fear now is the completion of the bridge." Tazuna explained the truth.

Sakura had her hand to her chin in deep analysis, "I see... since you're building the bridge, you're in the way." She summed it up.

"And because you're in the way, you're meddling with his corrupt plans," Kazumi added to her conclusion.

"So, those ninjas are hired by Gatou?" Sasuke asked himself in a mumble.

Naruto stood awkwardly beside his teammates, a conflicted look on his face. Kazumi glanced at him, expecting the fellow blonde to expand to their ideas only to deadpan when realising that he hadn't understood a single word that had been said the entire time.

There was utterly no point in trying to explain it to him. So, Kazumi remained silent with her attention back towards the adults.

"But, what I don't understand is... if you knew ninjas could be after you—why did you hide that fact when you hired us?" Kakashi asked him.

Tazuna then tilted his head down, "The Wave country is super poor. Even the feudal lord has no money. Of course, we don't have much money either... not enough for an expensive B-rank mission."

Kazumi exhaled tiredly through her nose. The old man was stingy. Although she couldn't blame him.

"Well, if you quit the mission now... I'll definitely be killed..." He continued with a forced and saddened tone. "But, don't worry about it! If I die, my cute ten-year-old grandson will just cry for a few days!!"

Team seven hunched over their shoulders at his intentional acts of self-pity.

"Oh yeah, and my daughter will live a sad life hating the Leaf Village ninjas forever. But it won't be your fault, not at all!!"

Kakashi decided to play along with his words, "Well, I guess we have no choice. We will protect you at least until you get back to your country." He then shrugged.

'We?' Kazumi thought, starting to get irked by the old grouch.
 ........ The recollection of her memory was pulled away from her mind, and her head turned to see the faint outline of a fairly large and half-built bridge closely by. She'd never say it out loud, but the blonde girl was starting to get seasick from the waves' sluggish movements that were swaying the boat."Urgh..." Kazumi gripped the side of the boat, anticipating for some land to appear soon."We'll be there soon." The rowing man suddenly said, then turning his head towards Tazuna, "Tazuna, it looks like we've avoided detection so far but, just in case, we'll take the route that has vegetation... It will make it harder for the enemies to spot us."
Enemies?
Kazumi gazed at the sky above her, gulping inward nausea.
Looks like this'll be a long mission...
"Here, Kazumi. You're sweating a lot..." Sakura's concerned voice made her eyes look down to the extended handkerchief. It was in girlish patterns and soft colours, Kazumi took it with a bow of a head. Sakura seemed pleased, though her small smile soon fell to a pout upon recalling their previous argument over the mission. Oblivious, Kazumi wiped the handkerchief over her forehead, wearing an uncomfortable frown. Sasuke noticed this, the three of them ignoring Naruto's child-like wonder. The Uchiha crossed his arms, a challenge forming in his pupil."Is the Vigorous Kumo getting seasick?" He taunted, causing her frown to turn into a wiggling scowl. "It's not like we're at sea." Kazumi straightened her posture after patting herself with the towel like it was nothing, chucking it onto Sakura's lap.Sakura's heart-filled eyes toward Sasuke blinked back to normal, her brow twitching at their rocky behaviour. Naruto randomly gasped, causing their attentions to turn toward the fast moving silhouette.The sky disappeared when the boat went under the tunnel, which led to a few docks. Naruto's giggles echoed throughout the tunnel, gasping every second when viewing the scenery around them.Kazumi didn't know why he was acting like this. Other than the mist, the area was nothing special. She was someone hard to please. Sasuke scoffed, leaning away from her. Sakura placed her handkerchief back inside her pouch. When the man's rowing came to an end, and the boat finally stopped at a dock, Team Seven and Tazuna stepped off of the boat—waving away the rowing man before walking ahead to their destination.Kazumi was left to battle an internal nausea that gradually disappeared the more she inhaled the fresh, wet forest air. However, of course, walking was never normal for team seven when Naruto was around."There!" Naruto suddenly yelled, throwing a bunch of shurikens toward a bush.Team Seven and Tazuna flinched, their guard dropping when they realised his silly acts. There was nothing dangerous.
Who is he trying to impress?
Kazumi glanced at his rosy cheeks, and the only person that came to mind was Sakura."Heh, just a rat." Naruto smugly smirked, rubbing his nonexistent moustache."Stop trying to act cool!! There was nothing there!" Sakura immediately yelled at him with a finger."Hey, don't waste your shinobi tools just to impress a girl," Kazumi smirked, ignoring a now flushed-red Naruto as he bolted to her side to repeatedly shush her.Kazumi only rolled her eyes, tilting her ear away from Naruto, who had stood on his tippy toes to reach her.Sakura noticed his embarrassment and instantly scrunched her nose in disgust. It was truly a mystery as to why Sakura disliked Naruto so much.Kakashi didn't know what to do, just hunching over like a tense father whilst Sasuke had ignored them all with absolute ease."Hey... It is a waste... so, please stop throwing shuriken, it's seriously dangerous..." His voice sounded like a timid little girl.But, of course, none of them paid any mind to him.
Is this guy really a jounin sensei?
Kazumi diverted her gaze away from the distressed Naruto and toward the silver-haired man, who had buckets of anxious sweat pouring down from his face.Tazuna then snapped, "Hey midget!! Stop acting like a moron!" He scolded, flinching Naruto away from Kazumi as the blond boy casually walked away, now trying to walk off their negative attitudes.The knuckleheaded boy relaxed his arms behind his head whilst doing so, back in his little brainless world. And just when everything almost went back to normal, Naruto repeated his actions once more, this time toward a bush where Kazumi could sense an unfamiliar chakra trace."There!" Naruto yelled again.This made Sakura storm up to him, smacking the back of his head roughly, "I said stop!!" The boy winced from this."Somebody is after us I swear!" Naruto whined, rubbing the back of his throbbing head."Yeah right!!" She didn't buy his words.Wait...Kazumi's eyebrows furrowed, walking up alongside Kakashi.The two bent over to see a white rabbit. It was quivering with fear from Naruto's murder attempt. Kazumi's lips parted slightly, confused as to why a white-coloured rabbit was inside an environment that was currently in spring.
Shouldn't they be brown-furred?
Her sensei's eyes then met hers, the two exchanging a knowing look as if he, too, had the same thought as her. Sasuke noticed the exchange, shoving his hands into his pockets as he took in their surroundings intently.Tazuna took another swig of his sake, amused by Naruto and Sakura's bickering. He had sweat dripping from his temple, relieved to know that it was just a rabbit."Naruto, what have you done!!" Sakura screeched at him when the rabbit then came into view. Kazumi glared down at the rabbit, unsure of its existence. She appeared to have a mean streak with animals, unintentionally scaring the tiny thing away.Naruto bent down in time to pull the rabbit into a tight hug as he repeatedly apologised to the more startled animal.Kakashi, however, figured out its purpose for being there—Kazumi, on the other hand, was merely confused at its fur colour, though her guard was still up upon seeing her sensei's rare, hardened gaze."Everyone get down!!" Kakashi suddenly demanded, dropping down to the ground in a blink.Kazumi forcefully slipped herself back, feeling the rough impact of her elbows hitting the hard soil.Sakura had messily thrown herself into Naruto, bringing the blond down with her to the ground.Sasuke pulled Tazuna safely down with him.The sudden sound of metal slicing itself into a tree trunk made Kazumi tilt her head down — from where she reclined back — to see a man standing on the handle of his long and thick sword.Team Seven quickly pushed themselves up—Tazuna lagging due to his old age.The unfamiliar ninja had his back turned to them with a menacing stare over his shoulder. He wore a sleeveless tank, revealing his muscular physique with an odd greyish skintone. It looked like he hardly saw the sun. His short, spikey black hair was untouched by wind, wearing an unfamiliar shinobi headband that was sideways on his head in a stylish manner. Almost like Kakashi, he had bandages for a mask. Kazumi noticed the wary grin on Naruto's face, seeing as the Uzumaki took a side glance at Sasuke."Don't!" Kazumi whispered, throwing her arm out in front of Naruto.The blond boy who was originally on his tippy toes, then pushed his body back to his heels, halting himself from ever moving forward. He took an unnerved glance at her, but he obeyed the firm command. Kakashi looked away from the two, relieved, with his attention strictly back toward the dangerous man."Well, well, if it isn't the Hidden Mists missing-nin, Momochi Zabuza-kun." Kakashi dryly spoke, introducing the man to his team.
A substitution jutsu?
Kazumi thought, recalling the odd-coloured rabbit.
He must've switched his body with that animal...!
"Everyone, stay back." Kakashi urged, "This one is on a whole other level."Kazumi bit the bottom of her lip as she and her teammates watched Kakashi slowly move his hand up to his headband protector. As their sensei grasped onto the metal, he began to tug it up whilst he spoke."It will be a little tough," he kept the headband still hovering over a certain eye, "unless I do this..."Zabuza then opened his mouth from behind his own mask, "You appear to be Sharingan Kakashi. Sorry, but the old man is mine." His tone dripped with venom.
Sharingan?
Kazumi couldn't help but take a fast glance at Sasuke in the corner of her eye. She didn't pay any attention or mind to her fellow clans inside the Leaf village, but she knew of the Uchiha's signature kekkei genkai.The only thing left to question in her mind was why exactly a non-blooded Uchiha possessed such ability.Sasuke sensed her stare, his mutually confused eyes meeting hers before breaking away and back onto Kakashi—Kazumi doing the same.
Looks like he's had the same thought...
"Surround and protect Tazuna. Do not enter the fight. That's the teamwork here." Kakashi's tone was serious when he said that.He then began to gradually lift his protector off of his eye, "Zabuza, first, fight me."
It really is the sharingan!
Kazumi's brows rose, though narrowed back down to her usual apathetic look. Kakashi exposed his originally covered eye, revealing the red doujutsu in the same pattern as an Uchiha sharingan.The sharingan was completely different from Kazumi's doujutsu. Kazumi faintly recalled the name of her own kekkei genkai being: 'fantomugan'.The fantomugan¹ allowed her to perform the sneaky abilities that she lightly displayed during the survival test. It was also purely a light grey when activated, and the pupil would be turned into a soft haze just like that of a cloud.To any normal person, one would believe the Kumo's eyes were blind. Instead, it just washes all colours from the world as if they were living through a black-and-white screen.Although, the fantomugan can never match up to the sharingans capabilities. In a way, the fantomugan was like the jester compared to the many other royalty-like eyes."Ah— I already get to see the famous sharingan. I'm honoured." Zabuza tilted his head down to the silver-haired jounin."Sharingan!! Sharingan!!? What the hell is that!?" Naruto barked in frustration.A sweat appeared on Sasuke's temple as he explained to everyone the meaning behind his clan's doujutsu. Completely different from the fantomugan, the sharingan could read all types of shinobi jutsu and the eye gives the Uchiha's power."But that's not the only ability the sharingan has." Wisely, Sasuke stopped himself from explaining further."Huh?" Naruto was still lost.Kazumi exhaled tiredly through her nose.Zabuza chortled, "Exactly. That's not all—What's even scarier is that you can copy your opponent's techniques once you see them."It was clear to Kazumi that the missing-nin had a lot of knowledge on many doujutsu's. This made Sanjiro's strict demands flood into her brain, reminding herself to keep her abilities hidden. "When I was a member of the Hidden Mist's assassin team, I kept a handbook. It included information about you. And this is what it said... the man, who has copied over a thousand jutsu 'Copycat ninja Kakashi.'..." Zabuza's hard stare never faltered against Kakashi's irritated eyes.His words shocked Kazumi.
So he's not a secret celebrity but a well-known shinobi?
She firmly nodded at her childish deduction before appearing serious once more.Zabuza then crouched down onto the handle of the sword he still stood on, "Now... Let's end all the talking. I have to kill that old man."Zabuza's threat startled Tazuna. The four genin's then instantly jumped towards the old man, protectively standing at all of his sides, and preparing to guard Tazuna from any harm.Zabuza's gaze turned back to Kakashi, "But, Kakashi... It seems I have to beat you first."A short second went by, and like a flash, Zabuza shot off from the tree, using his foot to push off the trunk as he brought the sword with him.He was too fast for any of them to react.A strong splash of water brought attention. The missing-nin disappeared into the lake nearby, leaving large ripples in the water. He suddenly appeared above it with a hand sign, it was then Kazumi's guard raised higher, though, she was unsure of what he was doing.This was the second time she'd be up against a person she had no information on—the first was Kakashi. Yet, this time, she could seriously be killed rather than demoted as ninja.She really hated the least expected."Over there!!" Naruto yelled."And on top of the water!" Sakura added with a squeak.Zabuza then disappeared from the spot."He's gone!!" Sakura gasped, shoving her arm up to her face with the kunai still clutched in her hand.Kazumi's eyes darted all over the place, trying as best as she could to detect any signs of chakra nearby. Unfortunately, she could not find any. Her jaw clenched. She was beginning to feel intimidated by this."He'll come after me first." Kakashi's voice reminded them, "Momochi Zabuza. As a member of the Hidden Mist, he was known as an expert in silent killing."Kazumi's ears twitched from this.
So he's sneaky?
She randomly had the urge to read his movements now, in hopes she'd adapt and learn from them. "You don't even notice until you're dead... It's not like I can use the sharingan perfectly. You guys, be careful." Kakashi stressed.Incredible...Kazumi refused to believe such an ability existed. That desire to read him only grew as she anxiously clutched harder onto her kunai, her lips pursed tightly into a thin line."The mist is getting thicker!!" Naruto pointed out, but his voice was cut off by an eerie echo throughout the forest.

"Eight choices."

"Huh!? What is it!?" Sakura gasped out.

"Liver, lungs, spine, cervical vein, neck vein, brain, kidneys, heart..."

His voice paused for a short moment.
He's naming all the fatal areas...
Kazumi's brows flattened, unsettled.

"Which one should I go after?"

Zabuza spoke as if they were mere cattle, waiting to be slaughtered and used for their essence. The mist all around them became even denser, making it almost too hard to see through this time.
At this rate, if this takes a turn for the worse... I might need to use the fantomugan.
Kazumi mentally dreaded, not wanting to expose her clan doujutsu this early. It would drain her chakra faster than ninjutsu's.Kakashi suddenly formed a hand-sign. Straight after that action, a thick wave of killing intent pushed itself down onto the genin's and Tazuna. The air was heavy and they felt suffocated by the feeling of nothing but phobia and despair.The blonde girl battled against the overwhelming killing intent, already having built a tolerance for it.Sanjiro's killing intent was far worse than this, and the comparison had managed to calm her nerves down. This made it easier for her to stand her ground despite having a few light trembles occur toward her reddened knees.Unbeknownst to her, Sasuke had been shaking harder."Hey, don't worry. I'll protect you guys even if it kills me." Kakashi's voice flooded into their ears, easing Sasuke and the others.Kakashi then looked over his shoulder with a smile, "I don't let my comrades die." His words touched Team Seven.However, the small moment was cut short when Zabuza appeared behind the genin's and in front of Tazuna. The missing-nin formed a single hand-sign again, but before he could do anything, Kakashi flared his sharingan as he darted towards his students in time to push them away from Zabuza's attack.Kazumi and Naruto were thrown off to one side whilst Sakura and Sasuke were shoved just as hard to the other. Tazuna had stumbled back before falling onto his bottom, his jaw slacked open in shock.The Kumo then began to wonder how the old man didn't die of a heart attack yet, and it was a miracle the bottle of sake in his hand hadn't imploded alongside his old heart.Kakashi then lodged a kunai straight into Zabuza's back. Kazumi's eyes widened when seeing water drip out from the spot rather than crimson blood."Water clone?" Kazumi breathed out, taken aback. Her eyes instantly landed on another Zabuza, who appeared behind Kakashi."Sensei, behind you!!" Naruto yelled, pointing a finger.Kakashi snapped his head over his shoulder, startled by this. The water clone dispersed to the ground, the other Zabuza from behind had then swung his large sword through Kakashi's lower body. The jounin was sliced in half, though there was no blood, similar to Zabuza's technique a second ago.Kazumi ignored Sakura's alarmed scream.
He already copied his jutsu?
Kazumi was the last to push herself up off the ground, too infused in the situation."Don't move." Kakashi warned, his kunai pressed hard onto Zabuza's neck. The Kakashi clone from beforehand had popped like a water balloon, copying Zabuza's exact actions from seconds ago as he was now the one behind him this time. "It's over!" His single sharingan glowered."Wow!!" Naruto awed.Sakura giggled, relieved.Sasuke was unsure.
This can't be over.
Kazumi's brow furrowed.Zabuza began to let out a low chuckle. "It's over? You don't get it. There is no way you can defeat me with your monkey-like imitations." He then chuckled manically again, "But that was impressive of you! At that time," Zabuza's face hardened as he looked over his shoulder to Kakashi, "you had already copied my water clone jutsu. You had your clone say those words to attract my attention... While the real you stayed in the mist and watched, nice plan." He brought up the moment when Kakashi had eased his frightened students. "But..." Zabuza's voice became cold, "I'm also not that easy."The voice then appeared from behind him, and the water clone that was originally speaking popped again, taking Kakashi by surprise."That one's a fake too!!" Naruto yelled out.Zabuza had swung his sword back, aiming it for his body once more. Kakashi then quickly ducked down by dropping his entire body forward, now crouched like a frog.This made Zabuza jump a large step back, releasing his hold on the sword's handle and grabbing onto the end, then stabbing it into the ground as he hoisted himself up off the floor. Mid-air, he pushed himself forward to land a swift kick onto his torso's side, the impact making Kakashi soar away and into the lake from nearby.The defeated splash had Kazumi wince, constantly squeezing her palm against her kunai.Zabuza took this as a chance, his feet then landing back onto the ground as he swiftly pulled the sword out from the dry soil. Before he could dash forward toward the fallen Kakashi inside the lake, he halted himself when seeing makibishi scattered on the floor across his feet.This attempt was hopeless for Kakashi as Zabuza merely disappeared into thin air instead."Sensei!!" Naruto bellowed out for him.Kazumi was watching everything. The blonde girl was mentally preparing herself, studying his movements as best as she could in case it would be down to her and her teammates. However, she could only cringe between each analysis. Zabuza was dangerously fast. His speed was both Sasuke and Kazumi's combined—possibly more.Through the mist, Zabuza was seen close by Kakashi. The missing-nin performed another jutsu, this time it was a water prison that swallowed Kakashi whole. A sudden water clone of Zabuza's emerged from the ground straight in front of the genins. Fear struck all of them in an instant.
Sensei's trapped!
Kazumi swallowed thickly as she took in the sight of Zabuza's water clone.The man darkly chuckled, "Wearing those headbands and acting like ninjas. A real shinobi is someone who has survived numerous brushes with death." His body was hunched over with a hand sign, "Only when you're good enough to be listed in my handbook—can you start calling yourselves ninjas... You are not ninjas."His words reminded Kazumi of her uncle. 
"So what? That's nothing compared to the real shinobi world."
She recalled her impulse to prove him that she was a true ninja. But hearing this point of view from someone like Zabuza suddenly made her change her mind. 
Was this what Uncle meant...?
She felt ashamed, finally understanding bit by bit what he meant that day. But she couldn't waver, she couldn't get distracted. Her brows twitched frequently, narrowed, cautious eyes glued onto the clone of Zabuza with a gaped mouth. Sweat formed on Kazumi's palms, swimming down her hand. As the single bead of liquid fell to the ground, Zabuza's clone had disappeared. And a loud pained groan from Naruto snapped the genin's attention over to him.The eerie whack accelerated her fast pulse. Naruto was kicked brutally back and far from the others. Zabuza's clone reappeared, standing menacingly as he peered down at Naruto like he was prey.An immensely overwhelming understanding altered her brain chemicals. She thought of all the times she heard of the term 'death', and compared it to the scene. Although it was a mere near-death sight. She had to move. She had to lift her head and raise her chin confidently high. But Kazumi began to have cold feet instead."Naruto!!!" Sakura screamed for him in terror.Sasuke stood closely beside her with Kazumi in front of the two, wearing a stunned look on her face. He seemed to be experiencing a similar turmoil. 
I had been preparing myself.... So, why can't I do anything now? Why won't I move!?
Kazumi internally yelled at herself, her shoulders tensing with her racing thoughts. The grip on her kunai relaxed, slowly swinging the handle in her fingertip. She could not bring herself to regrip no matter how hard she tried. The shouts from Kakashi were muffled and ignored in her ears as she gazed at Zabuza's tall back view. He stood dangerously in front of Naruto's fallen figure. She couldn't help but visualise the blond boy's death instantly as all she could do was idly stand by.
"So what? That's nothing compared to the real shinobi world." 
Her thoughts flashed back to her uncle's words. Kazumi shakily exhaled, her sweating hand trembling once she forced herself to grip the handle. She had a hold of it now, yet she still would not move. "Naruto, what are you thinking!?" Sakura's shout from behind snapped Kazumi into reality as she caught sight of Naruto sprinting forth.Another eerie whack reached their ears. He was kicked again, making Sakura bellow out more screams, "What are you doing attacking him by yourself!? We genin's have no chance against him!!"Her anger was replaced with shock when seeing Naruto groggily push himself up from the ground. He was holding his protector that was knocked off from his head by the first kick.The sight of his glimmering, scratched headband made her eyelids grow wide. Kazumi stared at him in awe, recalling Zabuza's taunting from before. Blood drooled out from Naruto's mouth, his head slacked over and down with exhaustion.If she was any ordinary person, she would've thought of him as a regular ninja. But this was Uzumaki Naruto she was gawking at. And Kazumi was no ordinary person since Naruto looked like a true ninja in her eyes. "Hey, you eyebrow-less freak. Put this in your handbook..." Naruto's tone was almost slurred like a drunk man—half-dazed by the blow, "The man who will one day become Hokage," he then tied the protector back around his forehead with a pained grin, "... Leaf village ninja! Uzumaki Naruto!!"Her cold feet vanished, Kazumi could not believe who she was seeing. She reminisced about the younger Naruto she very so little observed back at the academy, recalling every and all the stupid things that caught her eye. That all disappeared, including the contempt she once felt towards him. All she could see was his brightened aura that bore an ambition shinning from him.
Naruto...
And for the first time, she no longer felt indifferent towards his goal of becoming Hokage. He had become amazing over a matter of seconds by mere actions. But Kazumi quickly shook her head out of a daze when Naruto started yelling for their names all of a sudden."Kazumi, Sasuke!! Listen!" Naruto suddenly demanded."What is it?" Sasuke quickly replied.Kazumi deeply hummed in response, unable to lift her eyes off of him."I have a plan."Sasuke scoffed at this, "Teamwork from you?"Kazumi's head tilted slightly down, her intrigued eyes glancing through her bangs and at Naruto's glistening blue irises."Now, let's get wild."_________________________________________

Fantomugan¹:

JAPANESE TO ENGLISHFantomu = 'Phantom'Gan = 'eye'

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Now, let's get wild."
  ✧˖*°࿐  Kazumi couldn't care any more less about Zabuza's disturbing sob story. The blonde girl had already created a clone with genjutsu whilst the man was speaking directly towards Naruto. She figured she'd try the same technique Kakashi had done, seeming it to be amusing for her to add on to this copying charade.And thanks to her gifted genjutsu abilities, it pulled off well.She called this her 'mocking desire' — An urge to rile up the opponent. She works best when the enemy becomes desperate.Her real self was hidden away, watching carefully in the mist as Zabuza consistently spoke about his dark graduation. She didn't listen in on the little stuff, but focused more on the disturbing side of his details.A brutal battle between the students which led to many deaths. Zabuza happened to be in the middle of it all and he wasn't even an official shinobi when he explained precisely how he killed each and every one of his peers.His ominous tone never wavered even when showing his eyes squint up in excitement as he reminisced that day like a golden memory.
He's beyond that of a psycho...
Kazumi dug her fingers into the tree trunk beside her, now on guard when Zabuza's squinted eyes snapped down towards the genin's, including Kazumi's clone.The man went straight for Sasuke first, elbowing his body roughly, which sent the Uchiha flying back before then being punched down to the ground when Zabuza redirected his course of attack.If it weren't for the impressive genjutsu Kazumi had cast on her clone, Zabuza would have detected that her presence had disappeared by now. Though, someone like Kakashi with his sharingan would've surely noticed that fact from afar.Kazumi's jaw clenched, now watching as the boy coughed out blood. Sakura had screamed out for his name. Naruto flinched back, and Kazumi's clone stood perfectly still with a focused expression.Naruto abruptly summoned his usual shadow clone jutsu as a dozen or so physical copies of him prepared themselves to attack back with kunais in their hands.Zabuza kept his hand on the handle of his sword, practically allowing the clones to jump on top of him—surrounding him entirely like a bubble.Just as Kazumi guessed, that attack didn't work. But it was good enough. From what she was observing, Naruto and Sasuke were only stalling for more time. Zabuza ended up throwing them off by using his sword as he spun around on his heel. This caused the shadow clones to pop one by one into smoke when the blade smacked against their bodies, and the real Naruto then skidded against the ground with his bag tightly held to his chest.Kazumi's brows furrowed — including her clone — both watching as the blond boy rummaged through the bag all whilst he was still skidding on his bottom.Naruto then threw a large shuriken towards Sasuke, shouting his name before turning to Kazumi's clone and calling for hers as well.He had a look which said: 'Cover me' written in his pupils.Kazumi couldn't help but snort. Her clone hardly acknowledged him, projecting her subconscious with accurate precision. It amused her to know neither one of her teammates noticed yet. She then regarded Sasuke as he caught it. The abrupt impact of the large shuriken made Sasuke stumble back, the boy then recollecting himself as he stood up straight. He held it out high; the shuriken was almost half his height."Evil wind shuriken... Shadow Windmill!!!"Sasuke then jumped into the air after his cry. In mid-air, he threw it toward Zabuza's clone. It flew straight past him instead, making the man flinch back, surprised by this.
He directed it to the real Zabuza!
Kazumi's eyes went slightly wide. Part of her had expected the two boys to attempt to take down his clone, though she felt slightly proud knowing their true intentions.Smart...She then smirked when understanding what the word 'shadow' meant in Sasuke's jutsu cast. It's likely Naruto's involved. This was the one thing that could potentially make Kazumi the scariest opponent to be up against—her observation skills. Even Kakashi and the staff of the academy would notice it, thus she had a long-term rumour of being a prodigy for the many years she attended the academy.The term 'prodigy' was always used for children of important clan heads. Which was why Kazumi felt indifferent toward the so-called compliment. Back then, she wanted to be above that word. Her ridiculous pride was almost embarrassing had it not been for her uncle's influence.  "That's not enough!" The real Zabuza yelled from afar, swiftly catching the shuriken.Kazumi smirked, standing up on the branch.Another large shuriken then appeared, flying past the real Zabuza and then back toward his body. Kazumi's eyebrows were glued downwards, watching intently as he had no alternative but to dodge the close weapon.Kazumi instantly activated her fantomugan, now detecting Naruto's chakra from the other large shuriken as it flew past and under Zabuza—her blind-like irises from the dojutsu consumed her original gold.Everything in her point of view was now in black and white, besides the colours of chakras all around.Unfortunately, the fantomugan could not see chakra points or their pathway system. But thanks to Naruto's great ability with implementing his chakra into his shadow clones, Kazumi could sense it within the shuriken. This surprised her.His capabilities surprise her.Naruto finally appeared from the shuriken clone, holding a kunai with a pained grin. He then threw it at Zabuza's back with all his might, leaving Zabuza no choice but to remove his arm from the water prison.He had dodged the kunai but at the cost of Kakashi being freed. This now posed a threat to Zabuza.Naruto finally fell from his mid-air attack, the blond boy panicked as Zabuza dashed towards him in his viewpoint. He was visibly infuriated, ready to kill.Kazumi's body inside the tree disappeared as she muttered, 'Hazy Cloud' under her breath.The blonde girl dropped from the branch, her robes flying wildly with her long hair. Landing on both her feet, she dashed off from the spot. Zabuza tensed, stopping upon noticing a gush of wind and the suspicious flutter of debris. Kazumi knew immediate skin-to-skin contact would cause her presence to appear, so instead, she went ahead with another somewhat mastered jutsu she had been training on for almost three months now.Forming a single sign, she abruptly slapped the back of Zabuza's thigh. Startled, his head snapped down to his leg although she wasn't there. "Drop." Her voice came out smoothly as she reappeared in front of Naruto in time to catch his body and jump away from Zabuza's now-frozen figure."Who?!! GRAH —!"Zabuza let out a startled groan, the man then tried to pull himself up, but the jutsu kept pushing him back down. The ground below him eventually cracked. Kazumi silently applauded his ability to withstand the immense gravity she placed on him.Surprisingly, he still managed to grip the shuriken he caught a minute ago."Kazumi!" Naruto beamed in her arms like a princess in distress, tears dramatically pricked the corners of his eyes with relief.He completely disregarded her creepy irises as both he and Team Seven began to get used to seeing this doujutsu on her. She ignored his silly behaviour, battling time she had left until the fear of her chakra depleting arrived. The clone of hers from before disappeared into smoke, catching Zabuza's attention as a bulged vein appeared on his jaw and forehead. He noticed her technique being similar to what Kakashi had previously done to him, and that only caused more rage to erupt inside of him. Kazumi gave him the least expected in return to his. After all, you must fight fire with fire or it'll burn you from inside-out. From afar, Kakashi had already known this, as his eyes were as wide as saucers from a mixture of anxious uncertainty. He had to noted to himself the Kumo's quick learning, pride now forming for his blonde female student. Though, that pride diminished at the sight of Zabuza's disorientated look.Kazumi landed beside her other two teammates and from where Tazuna helplessly stood. Sakura smiled widely at her, just as relieved as Naruto was. Sasuke watched in minor shock, the Uchiha hadn't even noticed her clone. It was just like back at the survival test. As much as he was grateful, he could not control the small scowl of envy. "You...!!!" Zabuza's voice came out low and strained as he struggled to stay on the soles of his feet from the gravity continuously pushing down on him. "You... find this like some silly game?! I'll rip you to shreds!!" He growled, gripping tighter to the large shuriken.Kazumi had already gently dropped Naruto onto his feet, the blonde girl then turning around with a hardened stare as her eerily hazy eyes were still activated by her kekkei genkai. Her single hand remained in a shaking sign."If this was some silly game, I would've snatched that shuriken off of you in the process, rendering you even more useless than you are now." She remarked, not helping the tight situation.Sakura tensed with a quiet squeal as Naruto snickered in a taunting tone. Sasuke's face hardened.
I'm slowly running out of chakra...
Kazumi's eye twitched, regretting her snarky remark. If she were to release the gravity, he'd leap for her throat. And with little chakra left, what could she do—other than keep the gravity against him until first sight of her sensei?Zabuza's vibrating gaze never left Kazumi's, his free hand shakily moving upwards to form a hand sign.Now on guard again, Kazumi flinched back, placing an arm out in front of Naruto when noticing Zabuza supposedly sign a jutsu.The hand sign she held in her other began to tingle before straining in pain. Shocked by this, she hunched her body over. This startled her teammates and Tazuna, who were near her."Kazumi...?" Sakura whispered, scared.
This pain... What's happening?!
Kazumi then mentally panicked. She ignored the fact that her body couldn't withstand using this technique in hopes that a miracle would've happen. However, unfortunately, she began struggling to hold on to this jutsu."Oi, what's wrong!?" Sasuke demanded, looking between Zabuza's wrath and Kazumi's weakened state. Kazumi suddenly felt an intense pain inside her throat. It was as if her oesophagus was on fire whilst the pain quickly trailed up her nasal and between her two eyes. It felt like the veins in her eyes were splitting apart, strained and desperate for a cooling ease.Ignoring this, her eyes then squeezed shut as she winced quietly through her grinding teeth. She had to let go of the jutsu. She must let go of the jutsu.Naruto noticed this from being behind her, watching as she raised her arm, gripping her throat tightly. The pain became unbearable, making the hand-sign in her other hand deactivate, causing the jutsu to release from Zabuza's body.She used that free hand to grab the other side of her throat, grasping it as if she had no oxygen.
It burns!
"Kazumi, what's wrong!?" Naruto asked out loud.His voice washed a sudden wave of concern over the others who idly watched by.The pain dispersed moments after her jutsu deactivated. Kazumi quickly snapped her attention back to Zabuza.Her kekkei genkai was replaced with her dull golden irises. The colours of the world flooded back into her view. She was unaware of the blood trickling out of her nose. Her startled gaze then wavered under Zabuza's fury.She was feeling exhausted, the chakra and the unknown pain having drained her. As she sniffed through her blocked-bloody nose, she wiped her arm against it, smudging the blood down her chin."Ah... I'm out of chakra..." She leisurely admitted, alarming Sakura and Naruto.Sasuke stiffened, "You idiot!!" Zabuza cursed the girl inside of his mind, running at her the intent to brutally murder her. In that moment, she truly did regret riling him up."Fantomugan?! You're even worse than the damn sharingan!!" He screamed, lunging forward.Kazumi's breath hitched, yelling for her body to sidestep or even have the energy to throw herself to the side. But she couldn't.Her eyelids were becoming heavy. The large shuriken in his hand was pulled back, aiming to slam it down on her body as she mentally prepared herself to take the hit. Her head tilted down, protectively standing in front of her team with her eyes tightly shut."Kazumi!!" Sakura cried out.Sasuke and Naruto stepped back, one preparing a stance whilst the other preparing another wave of shadow clones. 
Kakashi-sensei, what are you doing!?
Kazumi inwardly called out for him, hoping that their freed sensei would finally jump back into the fight.There was a small silence and the hit hadn't reached Kazumi. Because of this expected moment, she slowly lifted her head, her eyes opened from left to right.Kakashi's body stood in front of her like a protective wall, his arm dripping in blood. She then noticed the shuriken lodged inside of his forearm. He almost sacrificed his arm for her."Kakashi —!" Kazumi gasped out, suddenly stopping herself.She relaxed upon seeing it wasn't chopped off. Although any further and it would've cut his arm off entirely.Her brows were raised, then taking a step back only to stumble slightly on her footing. Thankfully, Naruto quickly caught Kazumi from behind, helping the fellow blonde recollect herself."Thanks..." She mumbled, trying to rub off the blood from her chin before it dries against her skin."Kazumi!" Sakura gasped, pushing her body onto her as she clutched onto the blonde's arm.This disrupted the process, making Kazumi tiredly give up about the blood on her face and turn toward Sakura. The pink-kunoichi trembled against her, clearly worried over whether or not she she was going to die.Sasuke pushed the kunoichi's back, standing in front of them alongside Naruto. 
If Kakashi hadn't appeared...
Kazumi then glanced down at the ground with confliction.
I would've died...
She swiftly imagined her death by the shuriken, making her eyes uncomfortably scrunch. Kazumi never realised how brutal the world was until now. She didn't notice the kunoichi digging her fingertips into her arm until feeling her nails. This snapped her head back to Sakura. The internal panic that begged to emerge had washed itself back down upon seeing a familiar face.The pink-haired girl had tears prickling the corner of her eyes, her worried look twisting up into an immediate ease."Sakura..." Kazumi's voice strained, swiftly pulling her arm out.The blonde girl then gently caressed her shoulder, letting Sakura know she was fine. At that moment, she almost forgotten where she was.Their attention turned back to the front where Kakashi remained standing with the blade still stuck inside his arm."Naruto, great plan. Kazumi, good job saving Naruto in time, you truly shocked me..." Kakashi instantly praised them, "You guys have grown up."Naruto giggled when explaining his plan to Kakashi, fully anticipating Kazumi to appear out of nowhere which made the blond profusely nod his head while saying: 'It was perfect!'Kazumi couldn't help but scoff, baffled that the blond boy had so much faith in her.The added intention by Kazumi to throw Zabuza off made Naruto mischievously grin in accomplishment. But he suddenly slugged his shoulders, wondering what would've happened if Kazumi hadn't noticed his falter.The Kumo had to note to herself that her trickster-like abilities would seriously get her killed one day. The girl once again internally thanked her sensei with her eyes as the two blondes mirrored grim frowns.Zabuza's rage was uncomfortably calmed, the man then let out a low cackle before speaking, "I got distracted and released the jutsu..."Kakashi glared, "Wrong!! You didn't release it! You were forced to release it." He corrected him, his tone almost mocking.That caused an angered vein to bulge on Zabuza's forehead, "Tch... And to think you were travelling with a Kumo on top of that." His eyes snapped onto Kazumi's, "I thought your kind died out years ago..." The man then wore a crazed grin, "I can't wait to be the one to purge your blood once and for all..."Kazumi's tired eyes narrowed, her hands shaking from lack of chakra. She would've responded with a sassy remark of her own if her throat hadn't felt like cooling lava.Kakashi's mocking decided to go further after glaring at Zabuza's unhinged comment, "If I tell you that I don't fall for the same jutsu twice, what will you do?" He then gripped the large shuriken's blade with his other hand.Zabuza snorted, the two immediately jumping away in sync from one another. They indulged in performing hand signs, their speed was so fast, even Kazumi couldn't keep up with reading their signs from her blurry vision.The blonde girl struggled to see, the feeling of exhaustion had suddenly pushed down onto her body. She had lost that adrenaline completely, making her instinctively lean against Sakura who flinched from her hurried contact but nevertheless held her steady with support.
I could really use Uncle's cane right now.
She exhaled longingly through her nose.A crazy large water dragon jutsu was casted by the two men. The two dragons collided with each other, causing a large amount of water to fall and flood around the area. Despite being in pain, Kazumi activated her last amounts of chakra to channel in the soles of her feet.The blonde girl made sure to hold Sakura by the waist securely so that she wouldn't fly away all whilst Kazumi continued to leisurely rest against her. Sakura hid her face away from the harsh winds whipping against their figures.Sasuke and Tazuna managed to stay in one place from the flash flood impact due to the Uchiha protectively holding Tazuna down. Naruto, on the other hand, was slammed onto the ground by the wave. Ignoring his own stumble, he stayed on the ground—just as stunned as everyone else at the sight.Ninjutsu...Kazumi watched intently.Kakashi was not only copying Zabuza's jutsus, but his movements as well.
How intimidating...
Kazumi thought, not expecting her sensei to be this incredible. Though, she deadpanned with furrowed brows.
But what took Kakashi this long to reveal this side of him?
She kept huffing through her stuffed-nose.The young genins couldn't tell what they were seeing from afar, but by the anxious look from Zabuza, it was clear who was going to win this fight in the end.Suddenly, as if the world went moving slowly, Kakashi had summoned a ginormous force of water towards Zabuza. This made the enemy fly back—unable to dodge or block the attack. Zabuza ended up crashing against a tree after being thrown through a dozen of them. Each of those dozens of trees broke in half, collapsing to the ground.Kazumi's eyes followed up the trunk to see her sensei appearing on a branch straight above Zabuza's defeated figure.
He's so cool!
Kazumi awed, her mouth gaped slightly.Just when Kakashi was ready to end him once and for all, a bunch of thin senbon needles pinned Zabuza down to the ground, brutally.Blood splattered out and all over his body, clearly showing he was dead. This action shocked everyone, their eyes shooting up to see a boy, who stood on a branch higher than Kakashi— though, on the tree next to his.He appeared short even at the height of the tree he stood on. This made Kazumi's brows narrow further down with suspicion. The blonde girl slowly pushed herself off of Sakura, wiping the sweat mixed with blood from her chin as she and her team observed from below.The boy had a mask that covered his face as his voice then spoke, "You're right, he's dead."Kakashi disappeared from the branch, reappearing on the ground as he crouched down to Zabuza's motionless body. He instantly checked his pulse before glancing to the mysterious boy in the corner of his eye."Thank you very much," the boy bowed, "I have been searching for the opportunity to kill Zabuza for a long time." He reappeared on the ground level.The male wore baggy robes and shorts. His brown hair tied up in a bun with strands of his bangs falling over the mask. Like Zabuza, he was noticeably pale."That mask..." Kakashi's head faced the boy, "You're a Hidden Mist hunter-nin.""Impressive, you are correct." The masked-boy straightened back up."Hunter-nin?" Naruto repeated, frowning.Kazumi's eyes followed Naruto, just as confused as him."Yes, my duty is to hunt down missing-nins." The masked-boy explained, "I'm a member of the Hidden Mists Hunter-nin team."
Could he have been watching the entire time, then?
Kazumi thought, over-analyzing the male who seemed to be around her age range.It was the first time she ever met a foreign hunter from a different village. It seemed like she still had a lot to know about the shinobi world, which caused her to silently chew her inner cheek.
Tch. So much for the help.
"What the hell!?" Naruto bellowed out, "Who are you!??" He screamed with a pointed finger towards the mysterious boy.Kakashi then pushed himself up, "Don't worry, Naruto, he's not an enemy." He attempted to ease the blond's anger."I'm not asking that!!" Naruto screamed once more, "That Zabuza—That Zabuza was killed...!!" He stammered, "A guy that strong—A guy that strong was killed by a kid!! By a kid not that much different from me! We look stupid!! How can I understand that!?"He was at the point of a breakdown.Kazumi frowned at him.She wouldn't admit it out loud, but Kazumi also felt her ego crushed by the known fact that was screamed out of the distressed Uzumaki's scowling mouth."Well, I know how you feel..." Kakashi shrugged it off as he walked up to the team, "But this is also the truth." He then ruffled Naruto's vibrant hair, "In this world, there are kids younger than you... yet stronger than me."His manner reminded Kazumi of Sanjiro's words once again, engraving it into her mind. "That's nothing compared to the real shinobi world." She stood in constant reflection of his words.
Earning a shinobi headband? That's nothing compared to the level that kid is on...
She thought, glancing up at the boy through her messy bangs. She then looked down at her right thigh, gazing at the dirtied metal protector of her shinobi headband. The admiration she held for it was suddenly gone, making her feel slightly depressed.
Damn...
"Farewell." The masked-boy finished.Just when Kazumi had lifted her head back up to see him, he was already gone—along with Zabuza's dead body."He's gone!!" Naruto gasped out the obvious.Kakashi let out a long sigh, "Now we have to get Tazuna-San back home. Let's go!!" The jounin had a burst of energy.Kazumi uneasily grimaced.
The world is spinning...
Tazuna laughed out loud, tilting his hat down slightly, "Super thanks, guys!! Come over to my house and relax for a while!"
If he says 'super' one more time...
Kazumi's jaw gripped, a headache pounding alongside her throbbing throat.Kakashi suddenly collapsed to the ground in exhaustion, startling everyone... besides Kazumi."Huh!?" Sakura was quick to rush towards him first, "What's wrong!?""Kakashi-sensei?!""He's fine, he's just exhausted his chakra." Kazumi reassured everyone.
And I've exhausted mine...
On cue — as if it were a dramatic jest — Kazumi crumbled to the ground, finally comfortable enough to give in to the fatigue knowing that her sensei did first. This startled everyone again, their shocked gazes snapping to Kazumi this time."Kazumi, too!?"

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Zabuza is alive!"
Kakashi's words repeated inside of Kazumi's mind.
The senbon needles he used managed to give Zabuza a momentary death...
Kazumi sat inside of her head, a meditation technique Sanjiro had taught her once.Her physical body rested itself against the open windowsill, one leg hung inside whilst the other hung outside. Kazumi's eyes were closed in deep thought, the blonde girl wanted to process everything that had been happening.Just a few hours ago she was awoken by her sensei who wore a tense expression as he explained how he knew that the killer Zabuza was alive. To top that, the mysterious hunter-nin was an accomplice.Kazumi somewhat knew it hadn't added up the second Zabuza "died" right before Kakashi could finish him off.  
But before that...
Her brows furrowed as her straight lips curved down into a deep frown.
That thing from before...
Kazumi went to recall what occurred the immense pain burning throughout her eyes and throat.
Zabuza never casted any jutsu... So, what made this pain arise?
Kazumi didn't have the time to process that fact from the fight until now. It may have appeared so, but Zabuza did not use any jutsu to escape the one that Kazumi placed on him. He was only readying himself to do so.She also noted the moment when she felt the pain, her single hand sign faltered which led to his escape. This was new. Kazumi had never felt such a nuisance when using gravity release before. It only ever left her exhausted.
Why is that?
She chewed the inside of her cheek, frustrated by this.
And that pressure inside of me... that sudden urge of an awakening... What could it mean?
Her straight lips then pursed closed, her eyes slowly opening to meet sight with the stars in the night sky.
Was I just sickly from exhaustion and stress?
She felt as if she was missing something important, like something wasn't right with her. Kazumi then let out a small and silent exhale through her nose, her head tilting back to rest against the windowsill she sat on."Kazumi...?" A tired voice snapped her gaze to Sakura.Her body was unmoving as she waited for the pink-kunoichi to continue speaking.Sakura stirred up from the futon, now rubbing one of her droopy eyes as she focused her blurry view onto the outline figure of Kazumi until it became clearer."What are you doing awake? Are you okay?" Sakura then quickly asked, still having concern for her female friend, who had recently passed out hours ago.Kazumi then let her head roll to the side where Sakura was, "I'm fine." She gently smiled at her, ignoring the headache emerging from the back of her head, and the lingering stings inside of her throat.Sakura's emerald irises never left her dull gold ones. Kazumi's face slightly hardened when noticing the small frown on Sakura's face. She couldn't fool the Haruno even if she tried. Sakura was too smart, smarter than Team Seven combined."Umm—If you say so... Please try to get some sleep. You remember what sensei said, right?"Kazumi then recalled what Kakashi issued for them to do: Training. Supposedly, this 'training' would help improve their abilities against Zabuza."Yes." Kazumi plainly replied, her head turning back to the view of the stars in the black, clear sky.The silence implied that Sakura was still staring at her. Kazumi couldn't understand why Sakura had been giving her such expressions, though the blonde shook it off without any further thoughts."I was scared, you know..." Sakura mumbled, trying to read Kazumi."I know.""I thought you wouldn't wake up." She added on to the irony.Kazumi's brow twitched, "I know.""You should probably reconsider and skip training." Sakura tried one last time."I know, and I won't." Kazumi flatly ended, her tone showing slight irritation.Sakura softly exhaled through her mouth, suddenly going quiet.After a while, sound of sheets finally shuffling meant that Sakura went back to sleep. Kazumi then relaxed back into her mind, the frustrated thoughts of the unknown flooding back inside.The pink-kunoichi had her back facing Kazumi, her hands placed under her cheeks like a pillow.
Good, she's asleep.
Kazumi slowly exhaled out of her nose, brows furrowed in a focused manner with her eyes closed.Sakura's saddened eyes were open.  —_______________  "Okay, we will now start the training."It was extremely early in the morning. Kazumi had roughly an hour's sleep at best, her mind in a daze as she observed the fairly light sky above. It was nothing compared to the beauty of the stars she had witnessed the night before.Kazumi had visible dark circles under her eyes, although her teammates didn't comment on this—seeing as how she was already in her own daydream-land to cope.How was she still standing? She didn't know herself. Kakashi asked a question, but it was muffled to her ears. It was the first time she ever lost sleep.Sakura stood close by her, feeling sort of guilty for not trying harder to get the blonde female to sleep. However, those feelings quickly subsided after scowling towards the Uzumaki's idiocy."You're a ninja and you don't know that? What did you learn in school!?" She rudely pointed toward her mentally slow teammate.Naruto's cheeks flushed, both his hands under his chin like a bashful school girl.Kakashi had tiredly slumped over the crutch he leaned against.Kazumi's attention pulled itself away from the sky and to her loud teammates.
It's too early for this...
Her eyes were resting into a droopy, slanted shape due to the light puffiness around them.Naruto sheepishly giggled at Sakura's scolding, "I used to sleep during the hard classes..." He then scratched the back of his head with a grin.Kazumi would've thought of him as an idiot, but ever since his courageous actions a day ago, she started to slowly respect him. That sadly didn't stop Naruto from being a genuine moron, though.
Everyone's learning pace is different.
She thought instead, rather than degrading the Uzumaki in her mind like she'd usually do. Her eyes remained on the blond boy for a minute longer.
Naruto's the type to learn from experience rather than reading like Sakura.
Her strong attribute of observation never failed her. Kazumi's intense eyes bore into his skull unintentionally. When Naruto noticed this, he simply flashed her a peace sign. Kazumi also started to catch on to his behaviour changing towards her.Normally, he would've irritably glared back at her strong gaze, thinking she was judging him... but now he was grinning like an actual idiot towards her—still not listening to Kakashi's words in the distance.She liked that more than his scowls.Their eyes broke away from each other the moment Kakashi finished up.He then urged the pink-kunoichi to explain chakra towards her teammates, specifically to Naruto. Even through all of that, Naruto still didn't understand."Hey? Hey!? I didn't understand that complicated explanation, but isn't that something you learn with your body?"
Knew it!
Kazumi slapped her knee.Team Seven glanced at her unusual self-giggling as she had a hand to her hip and her heavy gaze at the soil. Kazumi was smirking, her tired eyes rolling away from the ground and into the distance. His mere sentence just confirmed to the blonde girl that Naruto did, in fact, learn from experience.It seemed like Naruto wasn't the only blonde who wasn't properly listening to anything around him.Sasuke scoffed, "Unbelievable." He shook his head.Sakura turned her concerned eyes away from the sleep-deprived female, and back towards their sensei. She couldn't help but let out a mixture of a growl and groan as she glared at Naruto, processing his stupidity.Her fist was balled as if she was ready to swing a punch to his head until Sasuke then added, "Naruto is right. We can already use jutsu."She pulled back, smiling innocently at the Uchiha."Nope!!" Kakashi snapped his eyes up to the sky, "You guys are not using chakra properly... Well, you three.""Huh?""What!? Wait—three!?" Naruto screeched, his eyes following Kakashi's gaze, which led to a zoned-out Kumo."Yes. Kazumi can already control her chakra." Kakashi lightly explained.Kazumi slowly lifted her head to them, now shoving her hands into her pockets, "What are we talking about...?"Kakashi sighed, "Chakra, Kazumi. Chakra control.""Oh Yeah! Chakra control? I know... My uncle is my prime sensei." Kazumi then continued, "He's taught me more than the academy has ever done." She yawned.Kakashi deadpanned at the mention of Sanjiro and whatever response that was, "Anyways, as Sakura said earlier, to release chakra means to bring out physical and spiritual energy and mix them together within your body." Kakashi's gaze then redirected towards the other three, "You guys are not using chakra effectively yet."He then went on to explain further about the importance of balance, which Kazumi would zone-out on command.
I haven't had this much lack of sleep ever...
Kazumi would sleep like a well-trained baby due to Sanjiro's strict schedule."So... what should we do?" Naruto then asked with a shy smile as he scratched the back of his neck."Learn how to control it through very tough training."The three had sweat dripping from their temples at his words.Sakura then turned to Kazumi, "But how come Kazumi can do it if it's tough!?"Kazumi's brow twitched."That's because she learnt it a long time ago." Kakashi sighed.Their suspicious eyes made Kazumi nod with a shrug, "He's not lying. Not to mention, it took me a long couple weeks due to my chakra portion.""Chakra portion?"Kazumi shrugged again, this time toward Naruto, "My uncle told me I've got a lot of chakra reserves." Kazumi tried to explain as she was then reminded of her strong ability to perform difficult jutsu's and her fair control of techniques."Chakra reserves?"Kazumi looked away from Naruto, now hunching just like Kakashi did as she held the bridge of her nose."You're hopeless!" Sakura yelled, slamming the top of his head with her fist.The boy winced in pain. And like a flip of a switch, Sakura then glanced back and forth between her sensei and Kazumi, "So, then... What are we going to do?"
Don't look at me!... I'm not the sensei!!!
Kazumi instantly turned her head away from her intrigued stare.Kakashi hummed before answering, "Tree climbing!!""Tree climbing!?""Yeah...""What kind of training is that..." Sakura then whipped her head to Kazumi, "Did you do that too?"Kazumi pursed her lips together before speaking, "Uhh—Well, I guess so..." She lied with an unconvincing tone.Sasuke and Sakura didn't buy it, their eyes turning back to their sensei whilst Naruto stood lost like a puppy.Kazumi then thought back to when she first trained this technique with Sanjiro. The old man made her run up a massive waterfall multiple times. Each failure cost a lap around the entire forest she trained in. Kazumi couldn't help but shiver at the memory.That day she had many cuts and bruises but, effectively, she managed to control her chakra after almost a month of consistency. Kazumi looked up towards the trees around them, it was nothing compared to the giant waterfall she was forced to climb.Kakashi-sensei's a lot softer than Uncle's teachings.Kazumi thought, then bringing a balled fist to rub the drowsiness away from her eyes."This isn't any normal tree climbing. You'll climb without using your hands.""How?" Sakura pouted.Naruto appeared excited.Sasuke raised a brow."Well, watch." Kakashi then formed a hand sign as he began walking casually up the tree trunk with his feet.Just as he said, he wasn't using his hands. The man controlled his chakra toward his feet whilst he gradually walked higher up the thick trunk.Sasuke's cheeks faintly blushed along with the two others, who stood closely beside him in awe."He's climbing..." Naruto smiled."Vertically... with just his legs..." Sakura added."You understand now? Kazumi, come gather your chakra at the bottom of your feet and climb this tree with me." He then urged the blonde kunoichi to follow his steps.Kazumi hesitated but with a tired exhale, she walked past her three teammates and to the tree her sensei climbed on. Kakashi was now upside down on a branch, using the soles of his feet with the channelled chakra to glue his footing onto the branch.Kazumi formed the same hand sign with a single hand, she then felt the chakra channel straight down her legs and to the bottom of her feet. Just as Kakashi had instructed, Kazumi was walking up the tree just as leisurely."Kazumi's climbing too!" Sakura smiled."Just like Kakashi-sensei!!" Naruto added, their expressions swapped.Sasuke continued to watch, surprised. However, when seeing the Kumo do this, a determined drive ran through his veins as his ego refused to be crushed. He had the kind of mindset to think that whatever Kumo Kazumi could do, he could do better.Kazumi decided to stand above the branch where Kakashi hung upside down from, a hand still inside her pocket as she peered down at her teammates. They looked like ants compared to the height of the extremely long trees."Good job." Kakashi smiled down at Kazumi with his eyes closed, his head then tilting back up to the other three from below, "This is something you can do once you can use chakra well."Sakura suddenly frowned, "Wait a minute!! How is learning to climb a tree going to make us stronger!? And didn't Kazumi just say it took her weeks?!" She asked, shouting up at the two above.Kazumi zoned out, the girl not needing to hear any further of this conversation. She always hated listening to the same lectures she'd already heard before.
Should I sneak off and practise the gravity jutsu? But, what if it happens again...
She referred to the unfamiliar pain she had never felt so strongly before. Kazumi was still frustratedly conflicted by this. The impatience that slowly loomed over her would be the death of her faster than Zabuza and his sidekick themselves."This training is nothing to me!! I could do it before breakfast." Naruto's shout diverted Kazumi's eyes from the distance and back down to her teammates. "'Cause I'm most improved!!" Naruto yelled with a kunai in his hand.Kazumi had noticed the blond boy's change of attitude in general when she woke up yesterday. She was passed out longer than Kakashi, so she had not a single clue what the boy was on about.
He's like a chipmunk.
The thought as she compared their faces side-by-side made her quickly bite the bottom of her lip to prevent a teasing smirk."Why don't you stop bragging?" Kakashi deadpanned, "Pick a tree and hurry up and try to climb it."The three formed the same hand sign, then dashed forward for a tree the moment Naruto yelled out a cry.The blond boy ended up tumbling back down from the trunk.Sasuke almost made it to a low branch only for the trunk to crack under his foot, which made him fall back onto his feet. The Uchiha managed to mark his spot before falling down.Kazumi watched, amused, as Naruto was now rolling on the ground whilst yelling out in vexation."This is pretty easy!!"The familiar feminine voice snapped Kazumi's sudden shocked gaze to Sakura. A few trees away sat the pink-kunoichi, swinging her legs on a higher branch than hers.
How!? It took me weeks!
Kazumi thought, her jaw dropped open. Sakura childishly stuck her tongue out towards her team as she then giggled with pinkish cheeks."Sakura-chan!" Naruto gasped."Looks like the best at controlling chakra right now are the kunoichi's." Kakashi commented.Sasuke dropped into a crouched position, irritably huffing out."Wow!! You're so great, Sakura!!" Naruto beamed at her, pushing down his previous anger.Kazumi smirked as she looked back and forth between the two. Sakura was dejected, it was obvious she wanted Sasuke to praise her rather than Naruto, who she had easily ignored."Wow, not only do they know a lot about chakra... but their control and stamina are quite good. As of now, they're the closest to Hokage, unlike a certain someone." Kakashi then glanced at Sasuke, "And I guess the Uchiha clan doesn't compare to the level of the Kumo's."
I like the sound of that.
Kazumi tiredly thought, regarding the glaring daggers coming from a certain raven-haired boy from below.She triumphantly smirked down at him, casually leaning against the tree trunk. Kazumi wasn't speaking, but her body language clearly said: 'Easy peasy.' This made Sasuke scowl and grip tighter to his kunai, firmly looking away to focus back on his own tree.Kazumi lowly sniggered, pleased."Shut up sensei!!" Sakura yelled at him, standing up for her crush.She then looked like she wanted to insult Kazumi's clan in hopes Sasuke would be pleased— however, unexpectedly, Sakura hesitated before flinching her eyes away from Kazumi's raised brow.
What was that all about?
Kazumi thought with a small frown. She observed as Sakura squirmed from where she sat on the branch, her cheeks flushed a light pink once again.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Kazumi, why aren't you training!!" Sakura yelled although quickly wheezed for her breath from exhaustion.The entire time the three had been going up and down the tree, Kazumi was sitting on the same branch as before, reading a small book (which was a poem). More specifically, a simple book of many haiku. Kakashi was back on the ground close by.The blonde girl then flipped a page, "I don't need to." She answered, reading the unrhymed lines.Her smug tone irritated the two boys who had been struggling the most. Sasuke's force increased, only breaking further layers of the tree. Naruto's obsessive retry's had him land flat on his back each time. 
I'd rather not exhaust my chakra on something I've already mastered.
Her eyes then flickered to Kakashi from below.
Why didn't Kakashi-sensei just assign me to guard Tazuna already? Isn't he building that bridge?
She thought, though she didn't mind this— After all, she liked having occasional lazy days. Plus, she wasn't fond of that old man. His face popping up inside of her mind made her physically scowl in annoyance."Damn it!!!" Naruto whined out, he then trudged over to Sakura.Kazumi decided to peek at the two from above her book. She eyed down at them as he whispered something to her.
Oh, asking for help already?
She smirked behind a page, seeing how Naruto gleefully smiled when Sakura willingly whispered back to him."Kazumi." Kakashi's voice called for her.She quickly shut her book, now sitting up from the branch she rested on. The jounin waited for her as he watched Kazumi push herself off the branch, swiftly jumping down from the tree. She landed on her feet, just like a cat."What is it?" She asked, approaching his idle figure.Her eyes flickered to his crutch, reminding her of Sanjiro's needless cane."I'll have Sakura guard Tazuna-San with the bridge now. But, I want you to stay here." He ordered."Why can't I go with Sakura?" Kazumi inquired with heavy eyes."Because you're still recovering. And I'll feel more at ease with you here to watch out in case either Naruto or Sasuke exhaust their chakras too much." He added.The lazy thought from before was crushed, "Okay." She awkwardly shrugged, looking over her shoulder to see her two male teammates continuously fall each time they ran up the tree. Their unyielding manner was quite admirable.
Does sensei want me to help them?
She wondered, seeing as how Naruto still hadn't reached the top of the tree even when given advice from Sakura. If that was the case, she'd make the two run laps and suffer the same torture she went through a few years ago. As oddly happy as that made her feel, she shook it off and crossed her arms.
I'll just observe them and mention their mistakes. If they care to ask...
"Make sure to get a full night's rest tonight," Kakashi finished, ruffling Kazumi's hair in a comforting way.Kazumi clicked her tongue, patting down the slight frizz occurring as she watched him walk off with his crutch towards Sakura. He gave her no time to throw his hand off from her head. Despite the endearing action, she started to enjoy the random head pats. Of course, Kazumi would never say that aloud. Kakashi had then spoken a different order towards Sakura, making the kunoichi nod her head whilst waving off Kazumi.
Will she be alright guarding Tazuna on her own?
Kazumi flicked a few fingers her way, half-heartedly waving back at Sakura. Their sensei disappeared from the forest, leaving Kazumi to stiffly stand near the two boys. It was just the three of them now.The vibrant blond boy then rushed up to her view, wheezing for air before whispering in her ear. Kazumi surprisingly didn't flinch away from his sudden closeness. In fact, the curious gleam in her eye made it almost seem as if she were enjoying his chucklesome acts."Sakura-chan told me to not get excited, but how can I not!?" He asked, struggling to contain his emotions.
For a whisper he's still loud.
Kazumi deadpanned but nevertheless found herself whispering back, amused."Take deep breaths. Watch me." She then took in a long inhale through her nose, her hand placed above her chest where her already steady heart was beating.Naruto tilted his head, mimicking her. Keeping the inhale nice and long, she then exhaled smoothly out her mouth. "If you place your hand over your heart, you should feel your heart rate decreasing. That means you've calmed yourself." She went back to whispering in his ear, recoiling away as soon as she finished.Naruto's brows furrowed before profusely nodding his head in acknowledgement, "Okay!"She watched as he ran back to the tree, copying her actions once more.After a long minute of doing so, the blond boy suddenly screamed at himself, "Damn it, why won't you calm down!!?" His voice startled the suspicious Uchiha who had glanced back and forth between the two.Naruto was having an argument with his own heart.
Geez... I wouldn't be surprised if even in his sleep his heart rate is pumping with energy.
Kazumi mentally dramatized. She then walked over to a tree far behind the boy's to lounge against with her book, again. She'd willingly take a nap if it weren't for her brain forcing her awake now.After secretly observing the two for a while, she came to a conclusion about their weaknesses: Naruto wasn't using enough chakra, that was mainly because he wasn't focused enough. Sasuke was using too much chakra, hence why the trunk kept breaking beneath his feet.
They're not balanced at all.
Impatiently, Naruto then went ahead and dashed up the tree again. Followed by Sasuke whose tree markings were just inches above Naruto's. Over and over again, the two ended up falling back down to the ground."Hey, Naruto!!" Sasuke called out, this broke Naruto's concentration."What the hell is your problem!? Can't you see I'm trying to focus?!!" He then prepared himself to fight Sasuke, though that never came."Well—Umm..."Kazumi tilted her book down, her brow raised as she observed the two."What is it?" Naruto pouted with his arms crossed.The Uchiha struggled to word it out as his face flushed red with embarrassment, "What... What did they tell you?"Naruto gazed at him stunned before twisting his lips up into a wide and mischievous grin. "It's a secret!" He teased, enjoying seeing Sasuke's vulnerability.A long and awkward silence filled the atmosphere before Naruto went back to running up the tree with determination. He was pumped with energy again due to witnessing Sasuke's pride drop. The Uchiha clenched his fist, regretting ever asking the blond male first."Naruto... you're excited again!" Kazumi shouted, not bothering to look any further as she immersed herself back in the book.Naruto slipped down the tree, startled. A pinecone fell atop his head, causing him to loudly wince. Kazumi couldn't help but let out a long sigh, her eyes then catching Sasuke's infuriated ones. A sweat dropped from her temple as her mouth's frown gradually deepened the more steps he took towards her.He looked like a soldier heading for the front lines."What did you tell Naruto?!" He asked, but his tone came out basically demanding because of his frustration.Kazumi hummed, she then leaned forward as she glanced back and forth between the two males. "It's useless to you." She shrugged, standing up whilst placing the book back into her pouch, then patting down the invisible dust from her shorts."What's that supposed to mean?" He glared."Unlike you, Naruto's excitement is getting in the way of his concentration— That's why I taught him a small breathing method... But," her eyes flickered back to Naruto with another deadpan, "... obviously it's not working."The blond boy fell metres down from the tree with a firm thud. She could almost hear his curses as he heaved for air. A smirk begged to twitch on her lips. As much as she sympathised with their discouragement, she was glad to know her feelings were mutual. "Then," Sasuke's eyebrows furrowed harshly, "then what should I do?" Embarrassed again, his cheeks tinted red.
Stupid male egos; too embarrassed to ask for help, they're all useless.
Kazumi crossed her arms, her stance similar to her uncle's. Even her expression was eerily the same—a stern one.
I can't complain, I'm sorta the same way.
"I'll only say this once."
If I was in their shoes I'd want to know, too.
Kazumi hushed her tone to a low level, "Ask yourself, 'why is the tree trunk cracking?' Well, that's because you're applying too much chakra. You're not balancing it like Kakashi-sensei told you to do."Sasuke's eyes fell onto Naruto with his usual cold stare. This made Kazumi harshly flick his nose, his gaze then snapped back to her, "That right there!""What?" Sasuke scoffed with redder cheeks, startled by this as he ignored the pain on the tip of his nose.Kazumi had applied a minor amount of chakra into her fingertips."This entire time you've just been competing with Naruto inside of your mind!" She scolded him, "Just focus on your own tree. Maybe even try to think of it as a do-or-die situation, but in a way that won't kill you!" Her voice was hushed back down to a calm level.Kazumi's words hit him like a brick. The two failed to see the Uzumaki smirking from a distance; he internally applauded Kazumi for telling off the Uchiha.As Sasuke huffed once again, he then walked back to his tree, the boy trying his best to ignore Naruto, who was currently pulling faces at him like a child.
You're no better!
Kazumi mentally screamed, threatening the blond boy with her menacing glare, which made his head snap back to his own tree in fear. Combined with her heavy eyelids and a dramatic sunken skull, Naruto's fear of looking back increased towards the insomniacfied girl.  —_______________  Kazumi and Sakura sat beside each other at one end of the table. The two occasionally shared pieces of their food, even visibly showing which foods they didn't like and which foods they were willing to trade for.Kazumi tried not to notice it but the kunoichi and her were growing unconciously closer. Much closer than their relationship back at the academy.Unbeknownst to her, Sakura already thought of her as one of her closest female friend.Sasuke sat at one side of the table, beside a small boy whom Sakura had revealed as Inari to Kazumi. Inari was the grandson of Tazuna. Albeit the boy was unnecessarily rude to them for a reason that Kazumi couldn't care for.He had messy, short hair like spikes. Round black eyes that did not convey much emotion. His sailor-like bucket hat hid the majority of his expressions other than his mouth. Inari wore a simple shirt in overalls, like a miniature fisherman. There was nothing 'cute' about little Inari's brattishness. Naruto sat opposite from Sasuke, the two boys shoving food down their throats for energy. Kakashi sat beside Naruto and next to Tazuna's chair. The old man had eventually sat himself down on the other end of the table.He wore a grin as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head before speaking, "Wow!! This is super fun! It's been a long time since we ate with so many people!!"The wooden chopsticks in Kazumi's hand snapped in half at the mention of 'super' in his sentence. Sakura flinched her head to Kazumi, her brow raised, confused, as she chewed the vegetable she had just placed inside her mouth.Too tired for anger, Kazumi resulted in casual, frequent small head sways. It seemed that the little to no sleep from last night had finally caught up to her."More!!" Naruto and Sasuke shouted simultaneously, both of them shoving their dishes in the air.Before they could have any more, the two instantly hurled parts of their food out that they failed to digest. Kazumi recoiled away from Naruto and closer to Sakura's side with a disgusted expression. Sakura wore the same look with a deep frown, her body jumping up from her seat to slam her hands against the table."If you're going to throw up then stop eating!!" She screeched at them with a revolted tone."No, I must eat." Sasuke replied, wiping the drool from his chin."Yeah, we have to no matter what. Because we have to become stronger." Naruto added, grinning like usual with a small tear resting on his eyelid."What's the use for that if you're just going to throw up the energy?" Kazumi rhetorically asked, extremely irked. The blonde girl went to glance at Sakura from beside in hopes she'd agree, though her brows furrowed when noticing her disappearance.Then scanning around the room, she found the kunoichi standing near a picture on the wall. Her hands were held behind her back with a curious demeanour whilst she stared at the frame above her."Hey, why do you have a torn picture on the wall?" She suddenly asked out loud, "Inari-kun was staring at this during dinner. It seems like someone purposely removed the person that was in the picture." She cleverly observed.Kazumi's eyes flickered down to the small boy, who sat next to Sasuke.He had his head lowered, confusing Kazumi and everyone else inside of the room. Even Tazuna wore the same solemn look followed by his daughter, Tsunami, who had momentarily stopped washing the dishes by the sink.Something was obviously off in the room's atmosphere. But it seemed extremely personal, causing Kazumi's shoulders to tense."It's my husband." Tsunami then broke the ice.Kazumi looked toward the pretty lady. She looked like Inari, but with feminine features and longer black hair. Her eyes were the same, and she, too, wore simple clothes.Tazuna added, "And... the man called the hero of the city."Their words made Inari scoot his chair out from under the table, his small figure now jumping off of it and onto his feet. Not once did he look up as he ran out of the room, ignoring his mother's callings.Out of frustration, Tsunami snapped her head to Tazuna, "Father!! I have told you not to talk about that man in front of Inari!!" She chided, harshly.Awkward...Kazumi struggled to chew the rest of her dinner. Because her chopsticks were accidentally snapped in half by her frustrated grip, she had no choice but to use one like a fork—stabbing the food with the end of the stick in order to continue eating."What's wrong with Inari-kun?" Sakura asked, concerned."There seems to be some kind of explanation." Kakashi added, just as nosy as Sakura."Inari had a father; not related by blood." Tazuna began, "They were very close. Like a real father and son. Inari... would laugh a lot back then..." The old man then visibly shook in his seat, "But..." he managed to control his trembling, "But, Inari has changed—since the incident with his father."Now curious, Kazumi set aside her empty plate and broken chopsticks as she leaned forward against the table.Sakura had sat herself beside the portrait on the wall.Naruto had his head down, listening to him as if it were a bedtime story.Sasuke leaned toward Kazumi, his arm supporting his head whilst listening along with the others, including Kakashi."The word 'courage' has been stolen from the people of this island. And from Inari...""Courage?" Kazumi raised a brow."Ever since that day... Because of that incident." He lightly ended.Team Seven perked their ears up from this, wanting to understand more."That incident? What happened to Inari-kun?" Kakashi instantly asked.Tazuna noiselessly took off his glasses to rub his teary eyes, "Before I get to that, I first have to tell you about the man who was called a hero of this city.""Hero?" Naruto questioned this time.
Tazuna briefly spoke about Inari's past. Three years ago, when Inari was openly bullied by fellow village children around his age, he first encountered the hero when he was saved from drowning in the lake by an attempt to rescue his dog that was thrown into the lake by the bullies. The hero had taught those bullies a lesson, which sparked an admirable reaction from Inari.
"His name was Kaiza, a fisherman who came here to follow his dreams. After that, Kaiza and Inari became very close. It may have been because Inari's real father died before he got to know him, but he and Kaiza were inseparable, like a real father and son. It was only a matter of time before Kaiza became part of the family."Kazumi tilted her head on both the knuckles her chin rested on, stoically frowning.Naruto smiled against the arm he laid on.Sakura wore the same smile as Naruto, her legs swaying back and forth from where she sat.Sasuke's eyes softened."And Kaiza was also a man the city needed."
Tazuna continued to reminisce about the past. He then revealed how the hero, Kaiza, saved the city's area from being wiped out by the flood. He boldly entered the fearsome rapids with only a single rope. And like a good ending to every heroic story, Kaiza managed to tie the rope to securely save the dam from the storms flooding. After that day, the village acknowledged him as their saviour, including little Inari, who watched him with hope beaming in his eyes.
Tazuna's eyes flickered down at the table, a look of dissociation as he continued on dimly, "And then... Kaiza was called a hero by the people of this city. And Inari could not be prouder of his father. But Gatou came to this city.""And then this incident happened?" Kakashi inquired as he leaned his head near Tazuna's downcast view.The four genin's curiously waited for him to continue. Suddenly on the edge of their seat at the repeated mention of an 'incident.'"What exactly happened?" Kakashi edged on.Tazuna shook visibly once again, this time he did not hold back the disdained expression as he glanced back up into each of their eyes, "In front of everyone, Kaiza was put to death by Gatou!!" His tone stressed the words."What?" Sakura gasped out.Kazumi's brows raised, not expecting such an inhumane outcome to happen.Naruto and Sasuke's eyes went wide, just as taken aback as everyone else in the room.Kakashi's stare merely hardened.
There was outrage everywhere as Tazuna explained explicitly the setting of the situation. Kaiza was tied up onto a cross with both his arms cut off brutally for all the city to see. Blood continuously trickled out from his mouth, while Gatou shouted his threats and punishments for the people to hear. With no remorse and no mercy, he executed the only known hero in the poorest country. The only known man that gave the people last feelings of hope. And the only man that Inari had ever looked up to.

Little Inari was in the crowd whilst it happened. Tazuna vaguely spoke as he remembered the way Inari clutched tightly onto the wired fences, desperately trying to call and reach for his father-figure.

In Kaiza's last moments, he shared a smile and one last glance with Inari before his head was sliced off with a single sword. Inari's last words for him were screaming out his name, the little boy instinctively calling out for his father.
"From that day, Inari changed. As did Tsunami. And the whole city." Tazuna concluded.Kazumi noiselessly exhaled, overwhelmed with an internal feeling she had never felt so strongly before— Injustice.It was beyond unfair. Gatou killed an admirable hero of the village for a reason she didn't know. To calm herself quickly down, she abruptly closed her eyes before slowly opening them after exhaling once more.
I never knew my parents either...
Kazumi put herself in Inari's little shoes.
If a man were to one day step in as my father-figure...
Her mind flashed to the image of her uncle smiling—this caught her off guard, causing her eyes to widen immediately. Her brows then furrowed down, followed by an uneasy drop inside her stomach."Ow!!" Naruto cried out, making Kazumi's stunned thoughts snap away and her eyes fall to his laying body.Naruto tripped over his own footing."What are you doing, Naruto?" Sakura questioned him, confused."If you're thinking of training, take the day off. You've released too much chakra, anymore and you could die." Kakashi quickly said.Naruto pushed himself up from the ground, "I'm going to prove it." He said, now standing on his feet as he marched straight for a door."What?" Sakura frowned."I'm going to prove that in this world, heroes do exist!!" The door slammed shut behind him, leaving the others in silence."Have fun with that." Kazumi muttered, and then stood up from her seat."Huh? Kazumi, where are you going?" Sakura stood up as well, instantly coming to her side."To sleep; I've exhausted my chakra." Kazumi shrugged her off, the blonde girl then heading towards the stairs."Liar!! You barely did anything today!" Sakura yelled, accusingly.Kazumi rubbed her now droopy eyes.
All these unnecessary emotions are making me even more tired.
She thought, then letting out an unattractive yawn."W-Wait for me!" The pink-kunoichi gasped.Kazumi could feel the vibrations of Sakura's feet closely behind her, making her look over her shoulder, confused.Upon seeing the confusion, Sakura giggled, "I want to rest with you."Kazumi shrugged her shoulders, too tired to care as they made their way up the stairs and toward the many rooms. Naruto had already changed into his pyjamas, yawning whilst appearing out of the bathroom. He beamed at the sight of them.When watching Kazumi nearly enter the bedroom with Sakura, the blond boy frowned."Kazumi, don't you have your own room. And, aren't you healed already?" His questions caused her steps to halt, her head turning over her shoulder to him.Sakura poked her head back out the room, glancing back and forth between the two."Huh? Of course I'm healed. And this is my room, too..." Kazumi responded slowly, squinting."H-Huh!? How come you get to sleep with Sakura-chan!! I'm a boy, too!! That's not fair! In that case, I should sleep with you guys too!" He whined.Sakura's face dropped down into horror by his words, anxiously peering at Kazumi's startled look. Sakura placed a hand to her mouth, immediately scowling at Naruto from behind her palm.The blond boy's frown continued to deepen, his hands confidently on his hips whilst he continued."Eh? Say something!!""Idiot. Kazumi's a girl." Sasuke's cool voice broke the silence, walking past the girl's room as he purposely hit his shoulder against Naruto's.The Uzumaki glared at his action, immediately rubbing the area until his anger switched up into sudden surprise when processing his words.Sasuke waved them off, uncaring whilst entering the shared bedroom he had with Naruto. Kazumi was shaken in one spot, and a feeling of anger boiled within her body. Within seconds, all her admiration she built up for the blue-eyed male dissolved.No way..."Honestly, Naruto..." Sakura sighed, feeling guilty as she placed her face into her palm.The pink-kunoichi was reminded of her past when believing the same thing as Naruto. It was highly embarrassing.After a short moment of his silence went by, a dramatic loading screen inside of his brain finished."YOU'RE A GIRL!???" He screamed out, loud enough so that even the adults downstairs could hear.A dramatic, dark menacing aura then emitted from Kazumi, her fists clenched. This reaction caused Naruto to fearfully step back, buckets of anxious sweat falling from his face."I didn't know!! Don't kill me!! Please! I'm sorry!!" He pleaded, quivering."Kick his ass, Kazumi!" Sakura cheered, glaring at the blond boy.Meanwhile, in the other bedroom, Sasuke had a pillow squeezed against his ears to drain out their loudness from outside the door.Naruto hunched over in defeat, "Sakura...!?" His voice trembled, betrayed by his crush.Kazumi cracked her knuckles, glowering down at his now frightened smile. However the blond didn't give up, and he repeatedly tried to reason with her."Man to man—Ack, I meant man to woman!" He quickly corrected himself, "I meant woman!!" Naruto ended up breaking down, theatrical tears falling from his cheeks by Kazumi's cruel state. Her anger was on a whole other level compared to Sakura's. "I'm getting sick of —""That's enough," Kakashi's voice sighed out, gently karate-chopping both the heads of Kazumi and Naruto's, "we could hear you from downstairs. Just go to sleep already."Naruto's face flushed, "Whatever!" He stormed off childishly, reaching the door to his shared bedroom. Before bolting inside, his gaze over his shoulder at her was glistening in a whole new light.The faint noise of Sasuke's yell could be heard from where the three stood, and a racket of bickering followed swiftly after."That Naruto...!! I hope he's not bothering Sasuke-kun too much!" Sakura gritted, glaring at the closed door.She then took a hesitant glance at Kakashi, her eyes quickly falling back to Kazumi's apathetic expression. Just a moment ago, the blonde girl looked like she was about to kill him, and now she stood, calm."Are you okay, Kazumi?" Sakura asked.Kazumi snorted through her nose, "I'm fine. So childish..." She shrugged it off, the walls clearly being pulled back up again.Sakura frowned, wishing that her female friend would open up more and express herself. She and Kakashi watched Kazumi enter their room, passing Sakura's shoulder which was inches away from brushing."I'm glad my little genin's are getting along with each other during this mission." The jounin smiled behind his mask.Sakura shyly smiled, "Good night, sensei!" She nodded, watching his back turn whilst he headed down the hallway and into the furthest room.Her cheeks were slightly rosy, happy to know that their sensei noticed.Sakura would never admit it due to her own fear of embarrassment, but she was thrilled to know that the chances of the four of them tightening their bonds with one another was greater than it was during their first day. Despite the never-ending quarrels, she had faith that this would bring them closer together.Closing the door behind her, she noticed Kazumi sitting by the windowsill, again. Sakura made her way to her futon."Not going to sleep, again? That's kind of dangerous..."Kazumi exhaled, closing her eyes, "I'll sleep in a minute."Sakura immediately smiled, relieved as she tucked herself into her own futon. As she lay down, she couldn't help but excitedly wonder what their future held.The entire house then went quiet."Hey... is it really true...?" Kazumi broke the silence, "Do I truly look like a boy?" Kazumi pouted, disconcert when recalling Sakura mentioning it before they left Konohagakure's gates.She didn't want to believe a word from Sakura days ago. Kazumi found it irrelevant until now.Sakura smiled, "Again, just a little bit... But, don't you think that's a good thing? You can trick future opponents like that." She then laughed, hoping it would make her feel better.Sakura's giggles stopped upon noticing Kazumi's serious gaze."I guess so..." The blonde placed a hand to her chin, deeply in thought.Sakura collapsed her body onto the futon, chortling into the pillow. Kazumi ignored this, still pondering on how she'd utilise this new opportunity.
I could really get away with a lot... From seducing the enemies to even messing with their minds.
Kazumi began to think of the many possibilities whilst Sakura was still in a laughing fit.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

A random beautiful young girl was sitting in front of Naruto, on her knees with a basket between them. The blond boy had permanent red cheeks, admiring her beauty. She had soft features, a natural innocence to her expression. Her small pout made her all the more endearing to Naruto. She wore a red kimono, spotted in darker patterns. And her hair was a luscious black, bringing out the sparkle in her brown eyes.The two discussed, and Naruto's friendly demeanour never once faltered. She then tilted her head slightly down, locks of her long hair swaying into her vision."When a person has something important to protect... that's when they can truly become strong."Naruto beamed, "Yeah!! I understand that very well!" His eyes closed with his long smile, agreeing.The mysterious girl elegantly stood up from the ground, taking the basket back into her grasp."You will become strong." She turned her back, "Let's meet again somewhere." She then started to walk away."Sure!!" Naruto grinned, dazed.The girl then slowed her steps, "Oh... and, I'm a boy."Her—His words startled Naruto, surprising him entirely enough to make him scream out in shock. With his hands dramatically holding his cheeks, and his eyes glued onto the beautiful boy exiting the area, he immediately thought of Kazumi from the night before straight after comparing his beauty with Sakura's, claiming he was cuter than the two combined."Everyone's deceiving me!!!" He dramatically cried out, although he then crossed his arms in deep thought, suddenly accepting the 'weird' world he lived in.   —_______________   Naruto's cry echoed throughout the forest, startling Kazumi. The entire area she stood in was cracked into multiple craters, and she had sweat dripping down her face. She just finished up her secret training when suddenly hearing a high-pitched scream. It was certainly Uzumaki Naruto's.
Did he fall from the tree again...?
She thought, rolling her eyes back to the ground as she positioned herself once again.  —_______________  "How come you never eat carrots, Kazumi?" Sakura leaned over, peering down at the blonde girl's plate.Kazumi frowned, "They're too sweet."Despite enjoying sweet foods, Carrots were oddly the only sweet tasting vegetable that Kazumi loathed.Sakura then took the carrots off from her plate, placing it onto her own. This became a habit during the weeks spent here.Kakashi would secretly watch with amusement as the two kunoichi's shared their food with one another.Though, the peace was cut short when the door suddenly swung open, and Sasuke came trudging through with Naruto's arm slung around his shoulder.The two boy's supported each other's weights, clearly exhausted. They were not the only two growing closer with one another."Oh... You guys are finally back." Tazuna spoke, his words made Sakura turn around in her spot whilst Kazumi remained eating, not bothering to even look over her shoulder. "What's this? You guys look super dirty and worn out."Over the course of the days, Kazumi numbed herself from Tazuna's 'Super' phrase.Naruto smirked through his pained face, "Both... of us... made it to the top..." He wheezed.Sasuke's cheeks were flushed slightly with a pout, his face wasn't as worn as Naruto's. Kakashi glanced at them in the corner of his eye, "All right! Naruto, Sasuke... starting tomorrow, you two will also help protect Tazuna-San.""Okay!!" Naruto beamed, pushing off Sasuke to collapse onto a seat beside Sakura's.Sasuke shrugged it off, taking the seat beside Kazumi's. Naruto had then relaxed himself out onto the table, his forehead smacking against it. This action made Kazumi flinch backwards when her plate shook from his abrupt slam.
He's really overdone it...
Kazumi inwardly sighed, deadpanning."Kazumi, you no longer need to watch over them, you'll also join them." Kakashi added.Finally...Kazumi exhaled with relief, "Understood..."The only reason she didn't appear with the two boys just now was because she ditched them an hour earlier than expected. And... it's not like she'd admit that she'd been secretly running off to train on her own, either.Her eyes rolled away from Naruto, falling back onto Tazuna as his lips parted.He chuckled, "I'm also worn out from today's bridge work. At any rate, the bridge is almost complete."Tsunami then appeared, "Naruto-kun, father, don't overdo it, okay?"The man hummed whilst Naruto let out a defeated gurgle. Kakashi sweetly smiled at the blond boy.Sakura went back to picking off the carrots from Kazumi's plate. Sasuke noticed this, though quickly ignored it, staring down at the wooden table.Tonight's dinner was surprisingly quiet, and that made Kazumi lean forward with a rare, closed smile.She loved peacefulness...."What?" Naruto raised a brow at Inari.Inari stood up, slamming his hands onto the table. Kazumi's smile dropped into her usual stoic frown."Why do you guys bother to try so hard?! No matter how hard you train, you're still no match for Gatou's men!! No matter what glorious claims you make or how hard you work—when facing the strong, the weak will only end up getting killed!!"His words stunned the table into silence, however, not Naruto."Whatever kid, I'm not like you." He spat.Inari frowned deeper, his tears staining his cheeks, "I'd hate to be like you!! You don't know anything about this country, yet you're being nosy!!" His pitch raised, "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ME!? I'M DIFFERENT FROM YOU, YOU'RE ALWAYS CLOWNING AROUND AND ACTING SO CHEERFUL, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW HARD LIFE CAN BE!"Kazumi noiselessly gasped, leaning back with wide eyes and raised brows. Having known Naruto's situation since the early academy days, his words meant nothing to her.
How bold...
She struggled to keep her awkward gaze on the ignorant child."So..." Naruto's face lowered, "It's okay for you to pose as the star of a tragedy and cry all day?" He raised his head, revealing his angered expression, "Just keep on crying forever, you idiot! You little sissy baby!!"It was the first time Kazumi saw genuine bitterness from the blond boy. His words sounded like they were directed to himself, as well. And Naruto then stood up, turning his back coldly with a scoff."Naruto!! You've said enough!" Sakura yelled, although her scolding did not reach his ears as he continued walking away.Kazumi exhaled through her mouth, uncomfortably shifting around in her seat.Inari was deathly still, continuing to cry to himself until he finally rushed out of the room.The young Kumo then turned her head slowly towards the Uchiha beside her, pointing her finger down at his plate."Uh... Are you going to eat that, Sasuke?" Kazumi whispered, referring to the sweet soybeans on his plate.It was the only food he left.
I guess he isn't a fan of sweet treats.
Sasuke didn't answer, simply pushing his plate towards her. He could sense her awkward manner, and couldn't blame her. Sakura, too, started to do the same, except she began to eat Kazumi's carrots with a forced smile towards everyone.  —_______________  The next morning came along, and Kazumi found herself standing outside of the house with Tsunami and Inari. She leaned against a pillar, crossing her foot over the other with her arms crossed as well, watching the mother and son with boredom in her eyes.Just hours ago, Kakashi had ordered for her to stay behind with Naruto whilst he got extra rest. Apparently he had exhausted his chakra from last night, and now Team Seven was split in half. Sakura and Sasuke left with Tazuna, including their jounin sensei, leaving the blonde girl to deal with Naruto herself.But, of course, Kazumi wasn't even within the same room as Naruto. Lately, she was feeling resentful towards the male."Do you knit, Kazumi-chan?" Tsunami asked, smiling warmly at her.She was currently knitting cloth as Inari knelt beside her on the ground, supporting the strings for his mother."No." She dryly replied.This made Tsunami giggle. Inari glanced at Kazumi with his usual cold gaze, his head lowered."What are you looking at, punk?" Kazumi shot a glare back.Inari ducked his head down, pouting childishly. Tsunami's lips gaped, taken aback by the blonde girl's toughness. The woman shortly giggled again, impressively knitting away.The sudden vibrations of heavy steps snapped Kazumi's irritated eyes away from Inari and towards a sliding door."Hey! Hey!" Naruto yelled, sliding the door open as he popped his head through, "Where is everyone?!"Tsunami turned her head to him, "Oh! Naruto, you're already awake? Sensei said that you should rest..."Naruto ignored her, his eyes falling instantly onto Kazumi, "Hey! Why didn't you wake me?!"Kazumi scowled, "Did you not hear what Tsunami-San said?" She was still annoyed with the vibrant boy.Kazumi seemed to have held an unknowing grudge against him, always recalling that Naruto mistook her for a boy. She didn't know why she was so worked up over it. Maybe it was the fact that her walls almost crumbled down for her teammates or maybe it was because she started looking up to him.She didn't know. Either way, she became indifferent, exactly the same as when they first met.Naruto had whined at her harsh tone, dashing back into a room as the sight of his pyjamas flew through the air. He came back out with his ninja attire, dismissing himself from the others.Kazumi had called out for him, startled. She then quickly pushed off the pillar, swiftly catching up to his retreating figure. But before she'd exit Tsunami's home with Naruto, she politely bowed to her and her son from over her shoulder.The two rushed through the forest, jumping from tree to tree. Naruto grumbled the entire time as Kazumi ignored his complaints."Why are you rushing this?! This is precisely why Kakashi-sensei ordered for me to stay back and —"However, a sudden rustle from a bush caught their attention, making Kazumi silence herself and Naruto halt onto a branch. She landed on the same branch as him, eyes scrunched.Kazumi was the first to check it out as she then hopped down a few branches to take a closer look—Naruto following her action from behind. They shared a glance when viewing a random cut up boar with tree marks all around.
Something's off...
Kazumi instantly gestured with hand movements to head back to Tsunami's home. Though, the Uzumaki merely raised an eyebrow at her. Giving up, she muttered the words out for him to understand, which caused his expression to raise with mutual agreement, nodding.As she rolled her eyes at his reaction, she redirected herself on the branch. Naruto turned back around as he followed the fellow blonde through the trees.Kazumi ended up splitting away from Naruto, landing on the roof of Tsunami's house with her gaze locked onto two foreign men. Instinctively, Kazumi sealed her chakra like a ghost.They each had large swords, a rough look, and menacing intentions. To someone like little Inari, it would terrify them, but to someone such as Kazumi, her expression twisted down in disgust. She should've never left behind the vulnerable mother and son.It's a good thing I stayed with Naruto.One of the men had swung their blade down onto the wood, breaking through the house. Kazumi then jumped onto another roof close by, observing their movements with ease.Tsunami had bravely allowed the men to use her as a hostage for the sake of her son's safety, making Kazumi's eyebrows twitch in anger.The moment she was tied and restrained, Naruto appeared beside Kazumi on the same roof. Inari's similar brave actions only made Kazumi feel more on edge, and her body subconsciously moved forward.The Uzumaki blocked Kazumi from moving forward with his arm, a smirk on his lips, "Hold on! I got this!"His words made her deadpan, leaning her body back as she watched him jump down from the roof and towards the two men. She didn't bother stopping him, since the level of chakra she detected from the samurai's were at the lowest of levels.Before they could suddenly kill Inari with their swords, Naruto replaced Inari's body with a log using the substitution jutsu, reappearing with a shocked Inari and a fainted Tsunami."Sorry for being late. But a hero usually shows up at the last second..." Naruto quoted, standing up as he balled his fist with a proud smirk towards Inari, "Great job, Inari!"Little Inari's face brightened up at the sight of him, relieved.Naruto then turned to the enemy ninjas, however, still gazing at Inari—thanking the young boy for distracting them. His lack of attention towards the two samurai caused them to wear aggravated expressions."Naruto..." Inari's eyes glistened with hope.Kazumi had placed a hand on her hip, exhaling through her nose with relief. It was best for her to stay hidden at the moment, knowing she had the card to take the enemies aback."Well, well... if it isn't one of the loser ninjas Tazuna hired." The taller enemy snickered out.Kazumi's expression darkened, and her steps became light when jumping down to the wooden floorboards.She approached them from behind, pulling out an extendable string from her ninja pouch. Naruto had taken out two shurikens, swinging them around his fingers before throwing them aimlessly towards them whilst the sight of Kazumi's slow looming figure caught his eye for a millisecond."Like that'll work against us!"Kazumi sensed the clone jutsu present on the shurikens as the enemies dodged them. With a simple flick of the string, she directed it to their legs, entrapping their ankles together in one swift action.Before they could properly process and react, the shurikens from behind them had popped into Naruto's shadow clones as they brutally knocked the enemies down with their kicks. The two ninjas fell to the ground, unconscious, and the string Kazumi used instantly wrapped their bodies tightly together, secure.Naruto's clones had popped into thin air.
Even if they do wake up, there's no way out of that string. They'll just have to hug each other to death.
Kazumi's menacing glare relaxed as she clipped her pouch closed, then tearing her eyes away from the unconscious men. Naruto flinched his gaze towards the string, snapping his head up to Kazumi with a beaming grin."Nice one!" He cheered, jumping over their squashed and contained bodies to give the girl a forced high-five.Kazumi froze, realising that Naruto abruptly grabbed her wrist to high-five it. She would've slightly grinned had it not been for her remaining grudge. Shaking her hand off with a grunt, Kazumi walked with him toward Inari, and her attention fell back to the mother and son.Tsunami was still passed out from the shock of believing her son had died while Inari remained unharmed."Kazumi, too..." Inari's lips gaped, his shoulders relaxing, he then glanced back and forth between the two, "How did you know those samurai were coming here?"Naruto hummed, grinning, "Kazumi and I noticed a cut up boar in the forest. There were also a bunch of trees and woods that had sword markings on them. They seemed to be heading towards your house, so we got worried."Kazumi nodded along as he spoke.She enjoyed having extroverted people like Naruto and Sakura explain the stuff for her."Never mind that. Inari... Sorry about yesterday..." Naruto sheepishly grinned, his cheeks pinkish. He continued upon Inari's confused reaction, "Sorry for calling you a sissy." With a hand now placed on his head, he ruffled his fingers through Inari's hair, "You're strong!!"His comforting words and apology made Inari's lips twist down, his expression becoming saddened as tears fell from his eyelids and snot dripped down his nose.Kazumi softly smiled at the scene. It was like those words were something Inari hadn't heard for years. Naruto made it hard for Kazumi to stay silently resentful towards him."Damn it..." Inari shakily spoke, immediately rubbing his watery eyes with his fists, "I decided I wasn't going to cry anymore... You're going to make fun of me and call me a baby..." His breath hitched with a sob, keeping his head lowered in shame.Kazumi frowned, including Naruto."What are you talking about?"Inari slowly lifted his head, letting a confused sound out towards Naruto's reply. Kazumi glanced at the fellow blonde from the corner of her eye, watching as his expression was unfamiliar for a moment before suddenly turning into a gradual grin. Naruto raised his arms up behind his neck, flashing Inari his signature smile."It's alright to cry when you're happy!!"His words made Inari's little heart warm, and the boy could only sob harder. Kazumi's smile twitched into an awkward one, diverting her eyes away.She was never good in situations like these."Naruto, we need to go. There's a high chance that the bridge is also in danger." Kazumi firmly spoke, her eyes landing on the unusually still forest from afar, "Looks like Gatou's making another move with his men."The trees were silent, as if wind wasn't present. It left an uneasy feeling inside of her."Right!" Naruto turned his back to Inari, following Kazumi's instant retreating figure.Kazumi's steps were a lot faster, but she caught sight of Naruto saying something incoherent towards Inari. She could only assume it was more encouraging words.  —_______________  Naruto and Kazumi walked down the long and built bridge, noticing the bodies of unconscious builders on the ground. This made the two approach with caution until Naruto suddenly pulled Kazumi with him as he substituted both of them into the fight scene.Kazumi frantically glanced around now that the fog was thinner, her eyes widened. She went from preparing to check their pulses, to being utterly unready in the middle of a paused battle.Sakura was gazing back at her with a mixture of shock and relief, standing protectively in front of Tazuna.Kakashi was close to Zabuza, their attention locked onto the sudden appearance of the blonde duo.Upon not seeing Sasuke, Kazumi searched around instantly with a taken aback step at the sight. From the distance, there was a large igloo-like style prison which entrapped Sasuke inside.
Is that ice...?
"Uzumaki Naruto has finally arrived!! With his trusty sidekick, Ku?... uh, Kazumi!" He shouted, introducing himself and Kazumi to the enemies with an idle stance.Kazumi couldn't help but pull a face at his lame introduction of her, but due to the intense moment, she didn't have the energy to feel angered by the fact that the blond had forgotten her well-known surname.She straightened up, a sweat slipping from her temple as she, and the others, watched him continue."Now that I'm here everything will be fine!! The main character of the story usually shows up in these types of situations and instantly kicks the enemy's ass!!" He proudly stated, with his finger pointing out to them."Kazumi!!" Sakura beamed, disregarding Naruto completely.Naruto hunched over, defeated by that, only to quickly recover.Kazumi ignored both of them, "Hah."Instantly, Zabuza threw shurikens towards the two without a warning.Kazumi pulled a kunai out of her pouch, clutching it tight as she prepared herself to deflect the fast moving blades—Naruto had done the same.However, the blades never reached. She watched in shock as they were suddenly pinned to the ground, her gaze snapping back to Zabuza's figure. Though, it wasn't him.Kazumi then followed his mutually confused look, which had her eyes fall onto the imposter from before.The masked-boy replied to Zabuza's confusion, "Zabuza-San, these kids... Please let me fight them my way."Kazumi's brows furrowed downwards."So you don't want me to intervene, Haku? You're as soft as always."As soon as the attention on the two dispersed, Kazumi quickly turned her head to Naruto, "I can't tell if the prison is solely ice or something else, but I'm sure there's a way to break them from the outside —"Naruto cut off her logical sentence by dragging her towards the 'ice' prison, pulling her through with him.She was at a loss for words from his abrupt action, giving her a split second to think about what he had done.The blond boy then rushed to Sasuke's kneeling figure, whispering something which caused the Uchiha to shout insulting words in return.Snapping out of her daze, her hardened expression remained when examining the multiple mirrors of 'ice.'"Over here."Haku's words made the three spin their bodies around to face one of the mirrors. Sasuke had formed a fire sign, catching Kazumi's curious eye. The introverts both ignored Naruto's startled shout, as Sasuke then blasted a grand fireball jutsu straight toward the mirror. The fire dispersed, the mirror — which held Haku inside — remained perfectly intact."It didn't do anything!" Naruto yelled."You can't melt this ice with that level of fire." Haku remarked."Damn..." Sasuke huffed, recovering from the largely summoned ninjutsu.
'With that level of fire'?
Kazumi's eyebrow raised. She wanted to speak but a bunch of Haku's suddenly appeared in all of the mirrors, startling the three. They had all sent waves of senbon needles, piercing through the genin's bodies. Kazumi had managed to dodge very few as her body fell to the ground with her teammates.The ones she couldn't dodge, however, were stuck lodged inside of her body."Where's the real one?!" Naruto gritted, pushing himself off of the ground."Trying to follow with your eyes is impossible. You will never be able to catch me." Haku coolly said, unbothered.His smug tone made Naruto huff as he summoned a bunch of shadow clones.Sasuke had instantly shouted for him to stop, though the boy didn't listen.Kazumi watched in a silent shock as Naruto's clones jumped to each mirror, punching and kicking as hard as they could. In the end, Haku emerged from a mirror to shut it down, he then transported back into another.
I can't do fire ninjutsu... Genjutsu has no use for this... What can I do?
Kazumi anxiously thought, all whilst Naruto fell with a skid toward her and Sasuke."This jutsu uses the mirrors' reflections to transport me. From my point of view, you seem to be moving in slow motion." Haku lightly explained, making it all click slowly together for Kazumi.
No wonder he's so fast...
"For a kid to master a jutsu like that..." Kakashi's voice spoke up from outside the prison, followed by a low snicker from Zabuza."'Jutsu like that'?" Sakura repeated, intrigued."A kekkei genkai!" Kakashi suddenly replied in realisation, "A deep blood lineage... superior genealogy... It's a jutsu passed down by your ancestors.""Then..."Kakashi answered Sakura's trailed off word, "Yeah, you could compare it to my sharingan. I couldn't even copy it. It's impossible to defeat."
I wonder...
"Damn it!!" Naruto punched his fist down at the ground, "So what!!? I can't die here... I have a dream that I must fulfil!""Becoming a true shinobi is difficult for me... If possible, I don't want to have to kill you. Nor do I want you to have to kill me. But if you come at me, I can destroy my kind heart with a blade and become a true shinobi. This bridge is the place where we fight to defend our dreams. Me, for my dream. And you, for your dreams. Please don't hate me. I want to protect someone precious to me. To work for that person. To fight for that person. To make that person's dream come true. That is my dream."Kazumi chewed the inside of her cheek, taken aback by Haku's inspiring and sudden speech."For that, I can become a shinobi. I can kill you."Sasuke and Naruto smirked, their fire burning up with determination. Kazumi's expression was unreadable, her mind not entirely there."Sasuke-kun!! Kazumi!! Naruto!! Don't lose to that guy!" Sakura cheered from a distance, though her voice was gradually drowned out by Kazumi's thoughts.
"I can kill you."
His words repeated inside Kazumi's head.
"Once you've proven to me that you're worthy enough, then I'll determine whether or not you've truly passed."
Sanjiro's followed after. Kazumi lowered her head, clenching her palm into a balled fist.
To kill is a part of being shinobi...
Her eyes then glistened at her mental realisation.
This was the answer to what Uncle meant!
Lifting her head back up, the final flame of the three was lit.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

'To kill is a part of being shinobi...'

Her eyes then glistened at her mental realisation.

'This was the answer to what Uncle meant!'

Lifting her head back up, the final flame of the three was lit.
   ✧˖*°࿐  Kazumi was almost drained of her chakra after wasting it all up on multiple wind ninjutsu's. A technique she created herself, she called it as basic as it was: 'Wind Bullets'.Whilst Sasuke had continued his fire jutsu's, Kazumi had been using that technique in an attempt to break the ice with a forced impact. Although it was to no avail, the ice remained intact even after dozens of wind bullets had hit each mirror.
Screw it!
Kazumi chose a needle at random, pulling it out from her body. She instantly gasped, pushing down the pain to continue applying chakra into the weapon.Within seconds, she used a last amount of strength to throw it against a mirror. To her surprise, the smallest crack was shown, but it wasn't enough.
Again!
Gripping another, Sasuke's firm hand suddenly stopped her by grabbing her wrist."Don't. You're losing blood." He warned, heaving.The blonde girl steadied herself in one spot, yanking her arm away from his grasp. Instantly they received another senbon blow through their bodies. Shakily, she gripped the same needle again, wincing in agony.The senbon needles were endless, and every time they'd pierce through the genin's bodies, she couldn't help but notice how they hadn't stabbed through any vital points. In a moment of frustration, she glared up at Haku through her bangs, ignoring the oozing blood from all around her body.
Is this humouring him?!
Kazumi felt played... toyed with even. She then gripped Sasuke's shoulder, her eyes going from Naruto's stiff stance and back to his onyx eyes. "Use another fireball." She whispered, coughing right after.His brows knitted together, giving her a firm nod in reply. Using his adrenaline, Sasuke jumped back, bending his fingers into the sign. Haku froze, his expression unreadable. "Fireball jutsu!" Sasuke yelled, putting one last effort into the mass. It blew out above her, making her lean back whilst ripping out another senbon needle from her body. Sasuke flinched, taken aback by her resilience. Kazumi swiftly threw the needle into the blast, instantly forming her own hand sign. A strong pressure of wind enveloped the fire, adding onto the speeds fuel. Haku's eyelids went wide from behind his mask, disappearing from the specific mirror it targeted. Naruto swayed in surprise, watching their combined abilities shatter a mirror. But it was only one mirror, to her disappointment. Any more attempts, and the two would die from overuse in chakra.
Shit...
Her fingers tingled, arms lightly trembling from her progressively low levels of chakra. Kazumi started feeling light-headed. If she were to pull out one more needle from her body, Kazumi feared her death wouldn't be so quick. "You two move well. Your action was clever, though you're foolishly losing blood. But this time, I'll stop you." Haku spoke from the mirror above, holding onto more needles between his knuckles.Kazumi gritted her teeth, her heart racing at his threat. In a matter of seconds, Sasuke's arm appeared in her view, and she suddenly felt her entire body being pulled to a side.Sasuke had grabbed her down with him whilst also managing to harshly push Naruto down and away as well.Kazumi landed roughly onto the ground, next to Naruto's fallen figure. The two grunted at the abrupt impact, and the senbon needles inside of them didn't ease the pain one-bit.Sasuke had landed just inches in front, on a knee with an intense expression.Kazumi weakly pushed herself up, her head raised up to him. She was ready to scowl and shout at him, but the sight of his red irises—and the senbon needles inches away on the ground, silenced her instantly.
The sharingan?
"I see you are also from an advanced bloodline." Haku remarked.
Right...
Kazumi's eyebrows narrowed down, frustrated.Her thoughts went back to her own doujutsu, but that only made her hesitant once again. In this type of situation, the only good use of her eyes would be to disappear from Haku's view... but, unfortunately, that wouldn't guarantee successfully dodging the senbon needles. At that recollection, her expression dropped."Then I can't fight for much longer. My jutsu uses a lot of chakra, there's a limit on how long I can keep up this speed..." Haku tilted his head down, an arm raised up which revealed the needles in between his knuckles, "If your eyes are starting to catch up with me... then this has to end!!"On cue, Haku emerged from the mirror, heading deadly fast towards Naruto's collapsed body. Kazumi's eyes went wide, and in a moment of adrenaline, she pushed her entire upper body off from the ground.The blonde girl threw herself onto his head, an endeavour to protect the fellow blonde. As fast as her movements, her thoughts raced as well.She knew she'd regret this, as selfish of her to think, but her body moved on its own without her consent. With her free hand, she pressed deep and hard onto the side of her hip where she'd prevent the blood loss from her foolish action moments ago.Naruto felt the feeling of Kazumi's weight on his head, making him groan as he slowly lifted his gaze. Both Kazumi and Naruto braced for an impact... though, it never came."Geez... all you ever do is get in the way." Sasuke's voice came out surprisingly weak, "And to think even my rival is struggling."The blonde duo paused at his words, knowing that both the sentences referred to them.Kazumi used a sudden strength in her arm to push herself off of Naruto's head, ignoring his beaming smile sent up to Sasuke. She was on both her knees, struggling to keep her frustrated gaze up at Sasuke's protective figure in front of them.Her eyelids were heavy, and her bottom lip had a small trail of blood drooling out. Kazumi's bangs were messily covering her eyes, causing her to lift her chin higher in order to see him. She was ready to scoff at him until she saw his shaking knees."Sasuke!!" Naruto continued to grin, "You —!"Kazumi's heart sank as her jaw dropped. Her eyebrows creased up in defeat as she took in Naruto's loud silence beside her— Her eyes solely on the Uchiha.Sasuke was hunched, needles everywhere, and the Uchiha spat out blood from his mouth. This caused Kazumi to gulp the thick iron inside her throat, unsettled. Sasuke then turned his head to the side, straining his gaze at the two beneath him. His expression was one that both Kazumi and Naruto had never seen before.A defeated, soft expression."What's with those faces? Morons..." He slowly spoke, and his voice shook slightly. "Why?"Sasuke scoffed, throwing his head back down.Kazumi's stomach did a flip, feeling nauseated."I hated you." He took a long breath before continuing, "Both of you..."Kazumi's jaw locked open, and her heart was beating like an intense drum. It was heavy, painful, as if it would explode. It sent shivers throughout her—fearful shivers.She was witnessing death for the first time."But... But why? What do you mean? Why save us?! I never asked for your help!!" He yelled, conflicted, "We..." Naruto then turned his head to Kazumi, shocked.The blond boy just realised she had done the same, except Sasuke was the one to block the needles for the both of them. His thoughts of imagining her dead as well had frightened him, and his eyes snapped back to Sasuke.Kazumi kept her gaze glued to Sasuke's back, catching every drain of blood trickling down his pale skin. She then noiselessly winced, pressing deeper against her open wound."I don't know..." Sasuke snarled, "My body just moved on its own..."Kazumi harshly bit onto her bottom lip to stop the quivering. It was like a bell rang inside her head at Sasuke's faint words. His body moved without his consent as well, and she couldn't quite understand why her heart felt like it was breaking apart.Realistically, she would've been glad he'd go. That meant another rival beneath her feet, and she would rise to the top again like she did from the start. But this was death. It wasn't a demotion out of broken pride anymore. It was death. And Sasuke was dying.The raven-haired boy tipped backwards. Naruto was stunned as Sasuke fell to the ground with only the blond boy's knee to cushion part of his fall. Kazumi snapped out of whatever trance she was in as she leaned toward Naruto, peering down at Sasuke's weak face.It was the first and last time she would ever witness an expression like that from him. The nausea kept toppling inside her, though she managed to gulp it down, cringing at the taste of iron and vomit.It was all too much for her to process."That man... My brother..." Sasuke coughed out more blood, and Naruto's body began to visibly shake underneath him, "I told myself I wouldn't die until I killed him..." His black irises faded into grey when flickering back and forth between ocean blue and dull gold eyes, "Don't you die, too..."Sasuke's eyes fluttered closed. The slow beating of his heart stopped. Kazumi could not sense a pulse.Her breath hitched, head stuck in one place—which was downturned. She couldn't turn her head away from him, and her eyes wouldn't pull away from his expressionless, dead face. The sight was haunting to look at, implementing deep in her mind.With a quieter wince, her eyes blinked a thin, small tear down her cheek.One flame just died.Naruto's pupils shook as thicker tears streamed down it. Kazumi was unable to cry as hard as him, her expression far too numbed from the physical toll on her body.The denial was enough for Kazumi to momentarily cope. She would've been fine with anyone else, she was morally grey like that. But her teammate? Her long-time rival? A rivalry that was first created out of a children's childish pride over clans.Kazumi no longer felt like a child anymore, the feeling was too real to believe he had fainted from exhaustion by their usual duels.Haku was speaking again, but it was far from her ears. Muffled and gone. She could no longer hear him. All she could hear was the rattling of Sasuke's chest falling one last time, and all she could see was his blood drying on his skin.Kazumi couldn't feel her surroundings, either. Time had stopped for her as she was unaware of the harsh winds. They formed around her and Sasuke like a barrier."... Shut up."Her rigid breathing halted into a breathless one when the sound of Naruto's voice flooded into her ears. Kazumi hadn't even realised she was hyperventilating. She then slowly tilted her head up, her glassy eyes watching as Naruto's once-blue irises turned into a deep orange.A heavy killing intent dropped into the atmosphere, far stronger than Zabuza's... far stronger than Sanjiro's. His pupil squished into slits, reminding her of a wild fox.The loss of her breath continued, and Kazumi felt suddenly suffocated. The ground beneath them broke. Naruto stood up from the surface as if he was a puppet on strings.Sasuke's body had shifted onto Kazumi's knees from Naruto's movements, making the blonde girl flinch at his cold skin.
He really is dead...
She continuously winced, collapsing her chest onto Sasuke's head. She carefully held him despite him already being dead. Kazumi just needed something to hold, to ignore her own looming fear of death as her blood was mirroring Sasuke's cold temperature—burying her face deep into his beatless chest.She gagged and choked from Naruto's immense surge of power.
Why do I recall this memory now...?
 ....... 
"What are these, Uncle?"

Kazumi's fingertips traced past the scrolls across the shelf, bored.

"
They're old medical scrolls that your mother used to learn when she was your age... Not like you'd find them of any use." He rolled his eyes, arms crossed as he continued his way to the training grounds.

"
Hah? What's with that tone?... Whatever, they aren't of any use to me." She scoffed, marching forward to catch up.

A single dust particle flew into the air the moment her fingertips left the scroll's edge.
 ....... Kazumi remained like that, her nails dug into Sasuke's skin when her grip tightened around him. There was nothing she could do, afraid that Naruto's fury would end up killing her if she even moved an inch.She could then hear the sounds of shards shattering before multiple dozens followed after. This implied that Naruto's rage broke through the ice prison.
If I had learned a single medical scroll... Would this outcome be different?
The rough stepping of Naruto's feet dashed past, even small pebbles of stones were kicked up into the air before falling back down.Kazumi had not a single clue what was happening as she trained her heavy breathing to become steady. She could not afford to hyperventilate again, she didn't even want the tears to fall, yet they began to sink and stain into Sasuke's clothes through her closed lids.Never in a million years did she think she would almost cry over him.
No... if I had bothered to take an interest in those scrolls —
"Kazumi?"Sakura's whisper made Kazumi tense.The blonde girl slowly lifted her head from his chest, the tears dried under her heavy-lidded gaze. She didn't raise her face up to her, rather she kept it low.Kazumi automatically straightened herself back, revealing Sasuke's motionless body to Sakura. The pink-haired girl knelt down to Kazumi's level, her hand gently placed on her shoulder.She didn't say anything since Kazumi's silence spoke it all for her. Biting her bottom lip, Sakura slowly turned her head toward Sasuke beneath them. With her other hand, Sakura then caressed it against Sasuke's cheek."You kept him warm." Sakura weakly smiled, feeling his cold skin.Kazumi remained quiet, her head still lowered. Though, her shoulders began to gradually hunch over, and her eyes were heavy."This isn't... an illusion." Sakura's voice started to tremble."Don't mind me... It's best to let it out and cry." Tazuna's voice spoke, his tone deeply saddened by this outcome.Kazumi placed a hand over her mouth, wobbling up onto her feet. Little by little, chakra scent flickered from Sasuke. This caught Kazumi's attention, making her brows knit together in confusion."I always scored a hundred percent on the ninja academy exams... I memorised over a hundred shinobi sayings... I always wrote the correct answers. On one day's test, this question appeared. 'Write down shinobi saying #25'... I wrote down the answer as usual." Her voice broke into sobs.Kazumi didn't see it, but she could hear the tears and snot. She then intensely stared at Sasuke, activating her clan eye for a moment just to check something. To her suspicions, she was right. Sakura was oblivious, still melting down like her world came crashing down."'No matter what the situation...  A shinobi must keep their emotions inside... You must make the mission your top priority... And you must possess a heart that never shows tears.'"She broke down after that, her tears dropping like rain onto Sasuke's face.Her words hit Kazumi like a brick, and finally she lifted her head up toward the sky. The fog was clearing, and she could see the clouds she loved to see so much. Her sinus burned with the urge to let tears fall, though she pushed them back.Barely able to abide the shinobi sayings, Kazumi's saddened eyes lowered to Sakura."Sakura...you're heavy."Kazumi's eyes fell lower, looking down at Sasuke.
Momentary death.
She knew it instantly the moment she felt his chakra pulse begin to reappear. Kazumi dryly smirked to herself.Haku had her at first. She truly believed he was dead until feeling the chakra scent appear. His tactic was a heart-stopping surprise. Literally. Her thoughts delved deeper to the suffocating power moments ago. She couldn't witness it, but she could tell it was from Naruto. In a distance, she then gazed at Gatou's men nearing. Naruto was calmed, hyper-focused on everything at once.Like he hadn't emitted monstrous energy in the first place."Sasuke-kun!!" Sakura pulled Sasuke into a fuller embrace.She cried his name out repeatedly with relief, ignoring his struggles from her rough hold.Kazumi twitched. She gazed down at him, processing all of this with a longer smirk. She certainly learned two new things: Sasuke's true feelings and Naruto's true power. Question was, what the hell does she do with these facts?In that moment of confliction, Kazumi answered that internal feeling with the one thing she knew best from her past. And the oncoming crowd of samurai thugs approaching fuelled her slow rising anger.Upon realising Sasuke's pain, Sakura pulled away after giving him one last cheek nuzzle. Sasuke sat up with the help of Sakura's hand, and he instantly heaved out a sigh."What about Kazumi and Naruto? And that masked kid?""Don't move!!" Sakura stressed, "Naruto is fine! And that masked kid is dead... Kazumi's okay, too, and she's right here."Sasuke glanced at Kazumi from beside him, but her presence was gone. She was now standing a few respectable feet from him. Kazumi gave him a small nod before quickly turning her head away.Even though her reaction was normal between the two of them, Sasuke knew whose tears they were which first stained his clothes. Wordlessly, he turned his head back to Sakura."Dead...?" He repeated, "Did Naruto kill him?""No... I'm not sure... but he protected Zabuza.""I see..." He then glanced back up at Kazumi, noticing her odd silence.Kazumi then looked down at the needles inside of her. The sight of them continued to rile up her irritation.
Haku's dead?
It was likely Naruto's doing. Kazumi wasn't sure how to even stop such overwhelming power from him other than that. She shakily raised her bloodied hand back up to her hip, applying weak pressure. She completely forgot that she was currently losing blood. But forgetting such a thing was even worse, given how she didn't realise her pain was numbing until now."NARUTO!!!" Sakura bellowed, "He's alright! Sasuke-kun is alive!!"Kazumi then watched as Naruto looked over his shoulder, slowly turning his body as his expression softened into a relieved and long, wide smile.Sasuke stood up, turning his head away with an assuring arm up in the air for him to see. This made his blond boy's eyebrows crease up, tears pricking the corner of his eyes as the smile stretched into a grin."Hey! Hey! Hey! You guys are too at ease!!" A snarky voice ruined the heart-warming moment. Kazumi glanced at the crowd of Gatou's ninjas, eyebrows furrowed.
I ought to take out a little of this anger...
"Damn ninjas... You killed our last meal ticket!!"Kazumi then pulled needles out of her body, one by one, blood oozing out.
It's been a while since I've felt such urges...
"You guys are dead!""Now we're going to pillage this city!"The blonde kunoichi then took out bandages from her pouch, using her teeth to extend them as she shakily prepared to stick them against the endlessly bleeding spots on her skin. It wasn't as good as medical ninjutsu, but it was enough to clog the bleeding for now."And take anything of value!'""Yeah!! Yeah!"Kazumi exhaled through her mouth, her bangs overcasting her eyes. Taking a single step forward, with a hand sign barely evident, her entire figure and presence disappeared. A rush of wind nearly knocked Sasuke and Sakura off their footing, realising her disappearance. Tazuna caught himself with his sake bottle."Let's begin!!"On cue, they all began to dash forward. Kazumi already reached the centre, catching words from her sensei and teammate."Damn... this is bad." Kakashi sighed."Kakashi-sensei, don't you have a special jutsu to defeat them all?!" Naruto shrieked."I can't... after lightning edge, summoning, and sharingan... I used too much chakra!"Kazumi glanced over her shoulder within her invisible state, watching a villager shoot an arrow towards the running crowd of Gatou's ninjas."If you come any further onto our island, the citizens of this village will stop you with everything we've got!!" Inari bellowed, wearing a hat protector whilst holding a crossbow.Kazumi turned her head back toward Gatou's men, continuing her silent approach.Her dull golden irises were a hazy grey once her figure flickered in and out of invisibility, trying to control her emotions mixed with the very little amount of chakra she had left whilst she made it past."Okay! I can help out too —" Naruto cut himself off when a sudden chilly breeze went past him.Kakashi's eyes squinted, noticing who this was.Kazumi reappeared in the middle of the samurai crowd after slapping one of them on their butt inappropriately. She immediately startled them all one by one."HEY!" The thug shrieked, raising their weapon.The other samurai copied his action. One had swung his sword down to which Kazumi ducked down to dodge. She ignored them, clasping her hands together into an unfamiliar sign. Then twisting her hand downwards, the jutsu sign went upside down as she muttered something incoherent to their ignorant ears."Rise."Strained veins had bulged on both her temples and wrists whilst her cloudy eyes snapped wide in total concentration. A strong wind formed around her feet which blew out throughout the entire crowd of ninjas.The force of the wind threw the enemies in the air—they were all caught, trapped mid-air. Their weapons fell to the ground as they vulnerably tried to reach the surface below them. Some had even mimicked a swimming action, but it was no use.Naruto's jaw fell, dramatically gasping at the sight. Kakashi sighed, relaxing from his position. The villagers were taken aback, but nevertheless, they continued their rage by throwing arrows and other weapons up at the floating ninjas.Sakura, Sasuke and Tazuna had watched from afar, impressed by her display of abilities.As each weapon pierced through multiple men, they'd fall straight back to the ground, as if gravity had come back to them once more. But it was just the heavy weight of metal pulling them down and stabbing their organs.It was raining samurai all around Kazumi, and as they had all finally fallen to their defeats, she released the jutsu with an extremely heavy sigh. Her anger was calmed, feeling better now that she released some of her stress."Gatou's prestige matches that of these weak samurai: pathetic!" Kazumi's voice broke as she cried out, raising an arm into the air like a warrior. Instantly, the crowd of armed villagers headed for the centre. A few fallen Samurai's got back on their feet, rushing to throw a blade down at her. In a single dodge, Kazumi got away and sunk into the crowd of angered people. Her grey eyes faded into dull gold whilst staggering out of the chaos, wiping blood mixed with sweat from her chin.Kazumi's hands then dropped to her sides, glancing back at the villagers with a small, proud smile. Kakashi had walked over to her, giving her a reassuring pat on her shoulder before walking back toward Zabuza.Naruto swiftly caught up to Kazumi, beaming as he complimented her sudden display. The blond boy pulled her in for a side hug, grinning sheepishly."That was awesome, sidekick! Huh?" Naruto looked up, "Kazumi look! It's snowing!" He pointed out, making her tiredly tilt her head up and follow his gaze towards the sky.
It's snowing... in spring...?
Naruto took Kazumi's hand, not minding the blood smudging on his palm as he walked whilst gently leading her with him back to Kakashi.Kazumi used her other hand to clutch her stomach, now feeling the effects of her poorly bandaged wounds. Each bandage had blood seeping through the cloth. The bloodied duo followed Kakashi as the jounin held Zabuza in his arms, they then watched him place Zabuza down beside Haku's defeated body."Thanks, Kakashi," Zabuza grunted, tilting his head to the side where Haku's head was.He weakly raised his hand to cup his cheek, frowning."If I could... I'd like to go to the same place... as you." A tear fell down from Haku's closed eyelid at Zabuza's unfamiliar kind words.Naruto was a sobbing mess, one hand gripping Kazumi's while the other clenched onto Kakashi's pants for support. Kazumi lowered her gaze at the bittersweet sight. She wasn't quite sure what occurred when she was in her state of shock, though the tragic air said it all for her. Kazumi's eyes became heavier. She closed her eyes, letting out a long sigh through her nose.
Uncle, I've mastered part of this jutsu... Why do I feel no accomplishment?
"He was born in a snowy village..." Naruto mentioned, utterly touched by the snowy moment."I see... He was a boy as pure as snow." Kakashi added."Forgive me." Kazumi whispered, her head swaying back and forth before beginning to collapse face-first to the ground.Naruto — who tightly held her hand and was the first to notice — quickly threw his arm out in front of her to stop her fall. He gasped at her sudden action. Kazumi collapsed in his arms, to which Kakashi mumbled something faintly from her ears."Good job." ....... 
Naruto's cry echoed throughout the forest, startling Kazumi. The entire area she stood in was cracked into multiple craters, and she had sweat dripping down her face. She just finished up her secret training when suddenly hearing a high-pitched scream. It was certainly Naruto's.

'
Did he fall from the tree again...?'

She thought, rolling her eyes back to the ground as she positioned herself once again.

"
Rise!!!" She yelled out this time, causing a flock of birds to fly out from a tree nearby.

On cue, the wind from around her feet reached the large rock ahead of her. She kept her upside-down sign steady, watching with contentment as the rock began to float. However, a stabbing and heavy feeling appeared in her throat, making her release the jutsu instantly—the rock dropped to the ground.

'
This feeling...'
 ....... 
... What is it?
Before she could answer her question, the world turned black in her vision.  —_______________  Kazumi leaned against a tree nearby, her arms crossed as she observed Sakura finish up the handmade graves for Zabuza and Haku.One grave had Zabuza's long and thick sword behind, and Sakura had just placed Haku's cracked mask above his.Kazumi would never forgive them for what they did to her psychologically, but she couldn't deny the pity she felt for the two unfortunate ninjas. Turns out Gatou had done them dirty and Zabuza killed the corrupt man. Haku had sacrificed himself for Zabuza, completely different from what she originally thought. Occasionally, Kazumi hadn't realised the multiple takes she took looking at Naruto's current normal state.Kazumi wore cotton pads under her eyes. That was because whilst passed out, her eyes were bleeding. Both her and Sasuke were patched up around their torso's due to Haku's senbon needles.Sasuke had a few bandages on his arms and face, which were visible. Sakura was completely fine with a few minor scratches and cuts from debris and stones.Naruto appeared somehow unharmed, and Kazumi guessed it was because of his fast healing. She was reminded of Sanjiro speaking of Naruto's secret ability—in which it was classified to not speak of. This left her eyes to squint at him, trying to overanalyse why he was so untouched. Not to mention the monstrous rage. He caught her gaze with a tilted frown, then instantly grinned at her. Feeling guilty, Kazumi quickly averted her attention from Naruto and to the graves.Naruto then went to reach his hand for a piece of the offered food when Sakura suddenly smacked his hand away. This made the blond wince, recoiling his arm back with a scowl."What are you doing?! That's bad karma!!" Sakura shouted at him, scolding him like a mother, her face then relaxed at a sudden question in mind, "But... Kakashi-sensei?"The jounin hummed in response."Were these two correct about ninjas?" She asked out loud, her frown softening into a small pout."A shinobi isn't supposed to pursue his own goals. Becoming the country's tool is the most important thing. That's the same for the Leaf Village." He swiftly replied, his tone matching his face per usual— a deadpan.Naruto pouted as well, "Is that what it really means to become a true ninja? You know what? I don't like it!!"At the mention of 'true ninja' Kazumi flinched. She thought back to the first time she remembered Sanjiro's words from the first battle with Zabuza. The apprehension and emotional shock which all led up until now.Her eyebrows furrowed and her gaze fell down to the ground. She believed being a true ninja was to wear the headband... but now she can't help but realise she was wrong the entire time. 
It's time to leave my past ignorance behind...
She sighed noiselessly through her nose, endlessly disappointed in herself."You believe that too?" Sasuke inquired."Well... Each and every ninja has to live while dealing with that issue. Just like Zabuza. And that boy..." Kakashi tried to explain.A short silence filled the air at the mention of Haku and Zabuza, their gazes falling back onto their handmade graves.Kazumi closed her eyes, jerking her head down.
Life of a dedicated shinobi truly is lonely...
"Okay!!" Naruto suddenly shouted, gaining their attention, "I just decided!! I'm going to be a ninja in my own way!"His words made Kazumi's eyebrows raise. The Uzumaki boy never failed to continuously surprise her.But, for now, she won't complain about it.  —_______________  Team Seven stood by the entrance of the bridge, saying their farewells to Tazuna's family. Inari had his head slightly tilted down, his eyes watery as his lips pursed into a saddened frown. He didn't want them to leave just yet."Thanks to you we've completed the bridge, but... This is super sad." Tazuna sighed, patting Inari's head from below him."Thank you for everything." Kakashi returned his thanks.Naruto grinned, "Don't worry! We'll come to visit!!""Inari shakily spoke, "You better..." He nodded, forcing back the tears which threatened to fall.Sakura looked drained of her soul from this interaction, and Kazumi could already see what was going to happen next."Inari... you're sad, right? It's alright to cry!""I'm not going to cry!! But, Naruto, you can cry too!!" He shouted back, just as stubborn."Fine." The blond boy spun his body around, ducking his head down low, "Later."Inari quietly gasped, the tears streaming down his cheeks. Naruto had the same look, just with his back turned to Tazuna's family as he clenched his bag's straps. Sakura rolled her eyes, smirking at Kazumi who shared the same expression and thoughts.Kazumi was not going to miss them as much as Naruto.Team Seven eventually began their walk down the freshly built bridge.Kazumi had hoped it would be a peaceful journey back, until Naruto broke the calm ice."Yay!! Let's get home fast so I can have Iruka-sensei buy me some ramen! Oh yeah!! And I have to tell Konohamaru about my legendary feats!!""You know the lord's grandson?" Kazumi raised a brow, to which Naruto nodded with a grin at her.Sakura then turned to Sasuke, leaning closer to him, "Sasuke, how about a date when we get back?" She bashfully suggested, giggling."No thanks." The Uchiha denied."B—But..." She stammered."Hey, how about me?!" Naruto yelled, cheeks flushed red."No!! Shut up, Naruto!" Sakura screamed, smacking the top of his head with her balled fist.Kazumi quietly chuckled. Surprisingly, she wasn't too annoyed by the peacefulness being disrupted anymore. In fact, the young Kumo was beginning to get used to their loudness. She no longer hated it."Sakura," Kazumi whispered, catching her attention from beside her whilst they walked, "I'm sorry for that argument."She referred to the time she bickered with Sakura over the mission, protesting against each other. The pink-kunoichi smiled warmly, tilting her head with half-lidded eyes. The setting sun added on to her beautiful features. Peachy-pink was a good colour on the Haruno."I'm sorry, too." She whispered back, nudging the girl with her elbow in assurance, "It worked out in our favours, huh?"Kazumi smiled, jerking her head down. Naruto had poked his head forward into their touching moment, grinning."Apologies? Well, I'm sorry for thinking you were a boy, Kazumi!" He sheepishly added, which only gained a scowl from Sakura as she felt he had ruined their 'girl moment.'Kazumi's rare expression dropped into her usual deadpan, "And I'm sorry for believing you were smart." She retorted, making Sakura giggle."Ehh —??!" Naruto whined.Nevertheless, the two extroverts broke out into a fit of laughter. Kazumi tilted her head back down, peacefully smiling. Sasuke had turned his head away, hiding a smile. Kakashi hummed with amusement, enjoying listening to his genin's childish banter.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Many missions had passed, followed by dozens of more missions to be completed. Team Seven went back to how they usually acted, to Kazumi and Sakura's disappointment. If there was one thing Kazumi learned, it was the fact that she finally started to view her teammate's differently after the Mist mission.All for it to amount to nothing. Sasuke acted like he wasn't protective of her. Naruto continued on his petty competitiveness. And Sakura still prioritised Sasuke over the rest of them. Kakashi did not a single thing to intervene their bickers.  There was one thing that never changed, however—Sakura's clinginess toward Kazumi. The kunoichi's often ignored Naruto and Sasuke's odd behaviour, which was directed to each other, and they would stick together instead.Until today's mission, when Naruto leaned against Sakura for support. His cheeks were swollen and bruised, his breathing constantly rigid and heavy.Kazumi was behind them, her hand resting atop her pouch with a slanted frown. Sasuke walked alongside her this time, though a few steps ahead with his hands dug deep into his pockets.Kakashi was at the far back, following them down the paths of Konohagakure.The young Kumo found herself in thought, wondering why she felt like she was forgetting something. This made it hard for her to pay attention to the brewing argument."It's because you push yourself too much." Sakura scolded, sweat dripping from her forehead as she held Naruto's wrist.Naruto took full advantage of being close to her, not minding the nagging.Sasuke scoffed, "Can't take care of yourself?"This caused Naruto to clench his teeth, now minding as he scowled at the Uchiha's remark whilst he leaned unintentionally further against Sakura.Kazumi's minor confusion left. If she was anything like Naruto, she would've been up in their faces arguing as well. But times have changed, and Kazumi was not like her menace-self during the start of their shinobi studies. This only made her heavily sigh through her mouth, stepping aside as she now observed Sakura pushing Naruto back.The blond Uzumaki was trying to pounce on Sasuke, but Sakura narrowly swung her arm, readying to slam a fresh punch onto his already messed up face.Sasuke simply turned his back, making Kakashi and Kazumi turn their heads in sync to the raven-haired boy.The two (and only) sane members shared a deadpanning glance, silently judging the team's strange atmosphere. Specifically Naruto and Sasuke's.Kakashi then hummed, "Teamwork seems to be suffering lately...""I'll say..." Kazumi rolled the words on her tongue."Get lost, Kazumi!" Naruto spat, fired up.Sakura growled, landing the fresh punch onto his face. He landed against a fence, slumped down with stars in his eyes.Kazumi sighed through her nose, "I don't have time for this tomfoolery."Naruto swiftly recovered, grinding his teeth together. His fury boiled the moment Sasuke parted his lips."Neither do I." He put in, gaining anxious beads of sweat all over Kakashi's face."Hm, scratch that... Teamwork is brutally suffering lately." He added irony, looking like an appalled parent. Naruto calmed down, though he was still frustrated as he balled his fist up, his eyes glaring towards Sasuke's back."Yeah!! Yeah!! You're the one ruining our teamwork, Sasuke! Always hogging the spotlight, you bastard!!" He yelled, his fist trembling. Naruto's eyes wildly snapped back to Kazumi's, "You, too!! Always saving my ass! I don't need saving!!"Kazumi vaguely thought back to the mission they came from. During a simple farming mission, a pack of boars with sharp tusks came running at them in a herd. As you can already guess, Kazumi pulled Naruto out in time before he shared the same fate as a demolished piece of chewing gum. "That's you. You moron. If you want us to stop making you look bad," Sasuke then looked over his shoulder, "then just... become stronger than me."
And me, asshole.
The blonde girl huffed, kicking a small pebble.His words snapped Naruto's childish expression into a serious one, and the two quietly gazed at each other.Kazumi pursed her lips, glancing at Sakura who had been looking back and forth between them with concern. As she looked back at the two males, Kazumi couldn't help but feel as if she was in the middle of a corny soap drama.The Young Kumo could only exhale noiselessly through her nose, slowly getting tired of the bickering. She didn't know which was worse, the silent glaring kind or the straight-up argument kind. Kakashi looked up at the sky before dropping his head back down, now holding his usual book as it was opened to a certain page. Of course he wasn't paying them any mind. Otherwise he would've smacked the heads of all four of them."Okay, that's it for today." He announced, "I have to submit this mission report..."Instantly, Sasuke spun around, "Then I'm going home..."Kazumi scratched her ear, a little disappointed that she couldn't squeeze in a few more minor missions for the sake of her shinobi records. Albeit she was glad she didn't have to do simple chores for the villagers anymore today.
I guess I'll just go train somewhere...
She blinked at the thought, pouting her bottom lip out.Sakura had gasped, snapping her body to Sasuke as she quickly rushed up to him."Hey, Sasuke-kun, wait!" The pink kunoichi then shyly grinned, "How about right now, we work on our teamwork. Just the two of us!" She suggested, her hands clasped together and up to her cheek."You're the same as Naruto."The Uchiha's mere sentence caused an internal boulder to drop against Sakura's inner personality, and her sweet smile twitched into an awkward one."If you have the time to bother me, practise a jutsu or two. Frankly, your ability is below Naruto."
Yikes...
Kazumi squinted, her lips making an 'O'.The boulder against Sakura's inner continued to weigh heavier, and sweat continuously dripped down from her face. His words left Sakura hunched over, her head low and ashamed. It was like a dark cloud formed over her head.Before Sasuke could turn around and leave, he glanced at Kazumi, his expression filled with challenge. Kazumi could tell what he was possibly thinking, given how the two were the only strong genin's in Team Seven.She shot him a small smirk, purposely looking away as if the clouds looked more important than him. By the time she looked back down at Sasuke, his back was already turned and his figure stomped away. The faintest scoff could he heard from him in the distance.This made the blonde girl roll her eyes. Though, as Kazumi's gaze found Sakura's, she felt a little guilty.The only good thing Sakura had going on for her was her brain. Kazumi would hate to admit it, but Sakura was certainly more intelligent when it came down to shinobi theories and strategies. However, the blonde girl didn't know why she'd never use those abilities for anything. It was like the Haruno's true potential would rather lay dormant than be shown.
If she has a lot of chakra reserves like she displayed during the tree-climbing, surely she'd be great at medical jutsu's, no?
Kazumi thought, thinking back to the time when she recalled being forced into Sasuke's compound. She recollected a memory from days ago... Solely when she had gotten back from the tough B-rank mission: ....... 
It was late at night, and Kazumi was inside Sasuke's compound with Sakura and Naruto. Due to the scare of Sasuke almost dying, the extroverts didn't want to leave him alone for the night. It was the same as when they all recovered at Tsunami's house.

As they just returned from the mission,

Kazumi was dragged by Sakura and Naruto before she could even deny the idea of crashing at Sasuke's place.

Sasuke was clearly irritated by this, but deep down, he didn't mind. And so, he'd lay against his bed frame, reading a book which had relations to shinobi stuff.

Sakura, Kazumi and Naruto sat at the floor table, drinking juice from the four cups which were sprawled out on the table.

After a while of boredom, they ended up playing a card game.

Kazumi watched as Naruto's clone whispered to himself; even his clones were no match up against Sakura and Kazumi's impressive minds.

In the end, Sakura and Kazumi won the game, leaving Naruto to whine about how unfair it was.

He'd even point at Sasuke, blaming him for not being his partner. This only made the Uchiha scoff, flipping a page, clearly ignoring him. Sakura smacked the top of his head, scolding him for his bad manners. She'd say: "Sasuke-kun politely allowed us to stay here, idiot!"

Kazumi couldn't help but raise a brow at Sakura's view of him. After all, Sasuke was... far from polite.

Seeing him for years — even back when they were children having to meet each other during the clan meetings — Sasuke was never polite to her. Since the wipe-out of the Uchiha's, they never personally interacted up until now.

When hours had passed, and the extroverts passed out on their futons, Kazumi left through the window, her gaze meeting the starry night sky. Unbeknownst to her, Sasuke had heard her leaving, his mind still conscious despite his eyes being closed and his body being motionless from where he relaxed.

He didn't bother waving her off, and neither did she.

Kazumi made her way back to her own clan compound, walking through the dark gates and into the building. Just like always, it was silent. The servants were asleep, and the compound was still. She'd expect Sanjiro to be asleep or gone, though surprisingly, he was standing beside the sliding doors that led to their training ground.

Sanjiro sensed her presence, looking over his shoulder with his arms behind his back.

"I heard from Hiruzen. You needn't explain." His voice was soft for once, rather than his stern gruffness.

Kazumi flinched her head down, nodding. She respectfully bowed to him, keeping her face low.

"I'm sorry." Was all Kazumi said, closing her eyes as she hid a frown.

Sanjiro sighed, shaking his head, "You and I... really are too similar. Someone won't be pleased..."

She then thought about telling him her frequent pains when using her jutsu, but stayed oddly silent, fiddling with her thumbs.

"You must know that this is a wake-up call then, no?"

Kazumi inwardly winced, nodding as she bowed lower.

"Yes..."
 ....... Day by day, Kazumi's pride felt nonexistent. She found herself gradually maturing more inside of her mind after that fateful mission, leaving only her dignity behind. But, she had her occasional childish moments.She suddenly snapped out of her daze when she heard a girlish high-pitched scream from a child.She turned to look at the scene, baffled.Sakura was cracking her knuckles at three children— including Naruto, whilst one of the children shouted profanities her way, trying to protect Naruto's hunched over figure.Two boys in particular got the worst beatings from Sakura as they had dramatic lumps on the top of their heads. It was Naruto and a familiar young boy who wore goggles on his head. The goggles reminded Kazumi of Naruto's before he passed the graduation exam.Konohamaru had a blue scarf draped around his neck. Natural rosy cheeks. And spiked up brown hair with gel. His small, dark irises judged the pink-haired kunoichi. 
Huh? Isn't that the lord's grandson?
Her brows raised, noting Sakura's boldness. As her gaze flickered between Konohamaru and Naruto, she quickly realised that the young aspiring ninja looked up to the Uzumaki.
He wasn't lying about knowing him...
Kazumi deadpanned. It was entirely random."C'mon Kazumi! What are you just standing around for?!" Sakura huffed, slithering her arm through Kazumi's as she dragged the blonde girl away with her.Kazumi faltered, "Hey, Sakura, I should go —""Damn it... that ugly huge forehead... Is that really a girl? Seriously bro?"Sakura halted at Konohamaru's words, her teeth grinding together. Kazumi had paused, raising a taken aback brow at the young boy. He was as unhinged as Naruto."And who's that blonde? Must be her witchy apprentice. So scary... I can't even tell if they're a boy or a girl."Kazumi then slowly looked over her shoulder with a deathly glare.
A kid can't even tell what gender I am... How many times must I go through this?!
She utterly disregarded being referred to as a witch.Konohamaru's gaze flinched away from Kazumi's glare. And Naruto rudely smacked the back of his head. This caused the young boy to flinch, whining at the Uzumaki who simply scratched his ear without a care in response to his complaints.Meanwhile, Sakura had pulled her arm out from Kazumi's, spinning around as she dashed back toward the group once more. She let out a war cry, making both Naruto and Konohamaru's heads snap back up to her, alarmed.Naruto and his little goons began dashing on their heels, desperately running away from Sakura's menacing movements.
Deserved!!!
Kazumi sighed, pushing down the previous anger. She shoved her hands into her pockets, turning around. She then thought back to Sasuke's harsh words that were directed at Sakura, making Kazumi recall those medical scrolls she had at her compound.
I'll see if they're any use —
However, the sound of Konohamaru's faint yelp made Kazumi's ear twitch. Her eyes went wide when sensing multiple unfamiliar chakras nearby, and out of pure instinct, she redirected her steps back to where the group had run off to. She rushed down, brows furrowed upon noticing the dramatic scene.The lord's grandson was being held up in the air by his blue scarf, his small feet dangling whilst wincing in pain. When Kazumi thought: 'deserved', she didn't expect such escalations to suddenly occur.
What kind of jinx did I just accidentally do?
She frowned, getting a closer look."Hey, fatass!! Let go of him!!" Naruto yelled.The boy who held him glanced at his shinobi headband.Kazumi — who had approached— stood behind Naruto, suspiciously eyeing the foreigner.He had a different shinobi symbol from the Leaf, it was the Sand symbol. The unfamiliar ninja had plum coloured paint on his face, patterns in which Kazumi had never seen before. He wore a full black puppeteer costume that covered the majority of his skin, with cat-shaped ears at the top of his hood. Their attire was different as well, and Kazumi's eyes landed onto the sandy-blonde girl behind him.She had her hair tied up, spikes at the ends of her four pigtail-buns which reminded Kazumi of the Nara's ponytail. Her eyes were a deep green, almost teal. The Sand-girl wore her ninja headband around her neck. Kazumi's eyes trailed over her figure and back to the male when gazing at the strange object on his back.
Is it a weapon?
She wondered, trying to analyse the mummified-like thing."Let's play a little game before the boss comes." He grinned like a bully.
A game?
Kazumi flickered her eyes at a tree, meeting onyx irises. Sasuke ignored her, merely keeping his curious eyes on the two foreigners. It seemed like Sasuke was steps ahead of them."Bastard!!" Naruto dashed forward, only to suddenly trip and fall onto his back.The unfamiliar male smirked, "Oh... Leaf genin's are weak."Kazumi clenched her fist, looking back down at the foreigners. Specifically the male with face paint. She wasn't going to indulge, but that comment hit far too close to home for her."Kazumi..." Sakura gasped, anxiously looking back and forth between her and the scene, "W...What should we do? By the looks of it... they're foreign..."Kazumi didn't bother to turn her head towards Sakura, her gaze focused on the foreign male with contempt, "And what of you? They say a person is far weaker when they choose to pick on the true weak." Her wise words felt picked straight out of the poems she'd read.Sakura quietly shrieked.Surprised, his grin faltered to a lour, "Tch, more just keep coming to ruin my fun.""If this is what you consider to be fun, then maybe you should get out more." Kazumi rebuked, expressing distaste for his sadism. The sandy-blonde foreigner grunted, almost like she agreed. Yet, she did nothing to stop her comrade's actions."Ho?" He gasped out a breathy laugh, giving Konohamaru a rough shake with his small eyes trained on hers, "Looks like you're dying to be next, don't get too antsy!" Konohamaru whimpered, attempting to kick at him although his legs could not reach. Naruto then shouted more insults, only to be strangled by Sakura's arm as she desperately tried to shut him up from getting into further trouble."Hey... you're annoying. Basically, I hate midgets. Especially younger ones that are rude... makes me want to kill them." He smirked at Naruto, balling his fist as he raised his arm to ready a punch to Konohamaru.The sandy-blonde foreigner turned her head away, sighing.
This is too much, seriously....
Kazumi tilted her head down, eyes narrowed whilst staring up at him through her side-bangs. Sakura had a similar thought, though her expression was more nervous. Naruto shouted profanities at him again, only to be ignored like a nuisance."Well, after this one, I'll just take care of all 'ya —""How unpleasant." Kazumi went on, grimacing.
Yeah, I'm antsy!
The foreign male stopped, snapping his infuriated eyes towards her. As his lips parted, ready to respond, Kazumi boldly cut him off again."Put him down already." She demanded, halting the foreign male from punching Konohamaru, "Unless you want to start a war." Kazumi sternly glared, "That 'midget' happens to be the current Hokage's cherished grandson." Her tone was filled with nonchalance, "So, why don't you pick on someone stronger?"Kazumi didn't actually know if Konohamaru was cherished, but his existence was enough."Kazumi, don't fight with him!" Sakura harshly whispered, but her warning went in one ear and out the other. She then swallowed thickly, "S... She's right!"Kazumi's gold irises never left the foreign male's dark ones. He was obviously analysing her, wondering if she was as strong as she confidently claimed to be. This made him stop his brash behaviour, lowering Konohamaru only slightly. Seeing as how Kazumi left him conflicted, Naruto decided to jump back in again for round two.Though, before the blond Uzumaki could do anything heroic, a rock was thrown towards the foreign male's backhand.It strained his hand, making him grip his wrist and drop Konohamaru to the ground. With her deadpan, Kazumi looked back up to see Sasuke now lounging on the tree branch. The Uchiha had another rock, throwing it up in the air as he caught it each time; on repeat.
Show off!
Kazumi cringed. Sasuke was just as bad as Kakashi."What are you bastards doing in our village?" The Uchiha smoothly insulted, "You don't really want to start a war with us, do you?" He sneered."Sasuke-kun!!!" Sakura squealed, relieved.
She might just be his biggest fan...
Kazumi sighed."Ah... How many more of you guys are there to piss me off?!" The foreign male's hand shook, showing to Kazumi that Sasuke applied chakra into that rock."Get lost!!" Sasuke disregarded, unbothered.Sakura continued to squeal, this time a young girl and even a boy with snot running down his nose had joined in."Hey punk, get down here!! I hate show-offs like you the most." Whilst he spoke, he pulled off the large object from his back.
What is that?
His action had caused Kazumi to snap her gaze back down to the foreign male, her hand swiftly reaching inside of her pouch, cautiously. She immediately grabbed onto a kunai."Kankuro, stop it."Kazumi's whole body flinched, her eyes slowly looking back up the tree. Her grip on the kunai released as her hand slithered out of her pouch and back down to her side in disbelief.Her gaze went above Sasuke, reaching pure teal irises. She had already sensed Sasuke before he had thrown the rock, but the unfamiliar voice had surprisingly stopped her heart for a millisecond. Even Sasuke was shocked.Just above a branch, stood another foreigner, upside-down with a large gourd on his back. He had fairly tanned skin, more tanner than Kazumi with dull-red hair and black thick eyeliner around his lash-less eyes. What stood out the most was a red tattoo above his nonexistent eyebrow, which said: 'Love' in kanji."You're an embarrassment to our village."Sakura was surprised, looking between Kazumi and Sasuke to note to herself that the two hadn't noticed him either. Naruto frowned up at him, sweat dripping down his temple."Ga... Gaara..." The male known as "Kankuro", anxiously greeted.
Is this the guy he referred to as their 'boss'?
Kazumi glanced down at Kankuro, observing his abruptly unnerved state. She took notice of his sudden change in manner, feeling the need to be on guard as well. There was something ominous about the red-haired figure."Losing control of yourself in a fight, how pathetic... Why do you think we came to the Leaf village?""Listen, Gaara, they started it... and —""Shut up." Gaara coldly spoke, "I'll kill you."His words made Kankuro visibly shake, apologising immediately.Unlike how Kankuro said it moments ago, Gaara's threat sounded far worse. Like he meant every second of it, like he'd do exactly that. 
Naruto... Sakura... what have you guys gotten yourselves into...
Kazumi pursed her lips tightly closed, looking back up at Gaara."Sorry to you guys." Kazumi flinched, watching his figure disappear after sand had swallowed him whole. Gaara then reappeared on the ground in front of his team, making Kazumi flinch again, this time looking straight ahead. The sand dispersed into the ground, falling through cracks."It looks like we got here too early but... we didn't come here to play around." His teal eyes flickered from Kazumi's to his teammate.Kazumi's eyelids widened, impressed."I know that, but..."Gaara shut down Kankuro, "Let's go." He spun on his heel.Kazumi exhaled slowly through her nose, her tensed shoulders relaxing. Though, that didn't last."Hey, wait!!" Sakura yelled, stepping forth.
What the hell, Sakura?
Kazumi closed her eyes, painfully smiling with her mouth closed. It wasn't like she was a coward or anything, but the young Kumo desperately wanted to avoid aggravating their 'boss', or a war could truly break out. 
Hm... Why does this suddenly feel familiar?
Kazumi's brows knitted together."What?" Gaara turned back to them, emotionless. He hardly looked apologetic."Ninjas from the Hidden Sand village, right? Judging from your head protectors, you guys are..." She observed, "You may be allies with the Leaf village, but... it's forbidden for shinobi's to enter each other's villages without permission." She then tilted her head down, stern, "State your purpose. Depending on it, we may not be able to let you go."Kazumi side-glanced at the pink-haired kunoichi, pleased. It was like Sakura was reading precisely from an important shinobi script.The foreign sandy-blonde then pulled out a card, "Hey, talk about clueless... Don't you know anything?" She flashed them her pass, "You're right, we are genin's from the Hidden Sand. We have come to your village to take the chuunin selection exam."On cue, Kazumi placed a palm to her face in realisation."That's what I forgot to mention..." She mumbled, earning a raised brow from Sakura."Eh?? You knew, Kazumi?!" Sakura yelled, irked.The sandy-blonde female pulled a face at their team's dynamics. Compared to their intimidating one, Team Seven looked like a comical mess.Kazumi knew of the chuunin exams fact from Sanjiro. Lately, the blonde girl was in a constant daze. Albeit she remained that way when zoning out, ignoring the foreign girl's long explanation about the said ranked exams. Per usual, Kazumi hated listening to lectures that she already knew about."Hey! Konohamaru!! You think I should enter this chuunin exam thing?!!" Naruto grinned down at him to which Konohamaru giggled and nodded in return.This caused the foreign girl to clench her fist, "You bastard!! You asked the question, listen 'til the end!!"
That's one thing Naruto and I have in common...
Kazumi exhaled through her nose, stepping slightly away from Naruto. Sasuke had then jumped down from the tree, straight in front of Sakura and next to Kazumi. The blonde girl then slowly stepped back closer to Naruto."Hey, you, what's your name?" Sasuke demanded."Huh?" The foreign girl blushed, "You mean me?""No. You with the gourd." He flatly replied, his gaze glued to Gaara.Kazumi could've sworn she saw a demonic grin from Sakura in her peripheral view.
His name's 'Gaara', right?
She shook it off, crossing her arms as she waited for the red-head's response."Gaara of the Desert. I'm also interested in you, your name?""It's Uchiha Sasuke." He smirked, proud of his own surname.Naruto pouted whilst Sakura glanced at him with red cheeks.Kazumi remained indifferent, but she caught herself examining Gaara again.She had never seen such attire before, nor had she ever met someone with pure red hair. This made her wonder if it was natural or dyed, but her useless thoughts were cut short when glancing up from his feet and back to his teal eyes, which were already on her.His gaze was strong, stronger than her own, causing her to shiver.Gaara's eyes were slightly squinted at Kazumi, scanning her features. This made her stiffly raise a brow, taken aback. It seemed that she wasn't the only one openly exploring someone. For some reason, this left her feeling oddly embarrassed."And you?"Team Seven turned their gaze to Kazumi, startled."Kumo Kazumi." She didn't hesitate to slowly reply, her curious eyes locked onto mutual ones.Gaara's small nod didn't go unnoticed by Kazumi and Sasuke, leaving Sasuke to look back and forth between the two, confused. Kazumi stiffly nodded back, barely noticeable yet Gaara could tell.She didn't even know why she nodded. She just did.
What was that?
She tore her gaze from Gaara first, looking at Sasuke. The two shared a knowing look. And eventually, Sakura caught on. Sasuke's attention drifted back on Gaara, his expression more hardened."Hey!!" Naruto beamed, piping in, "I bet you're dying to know my name, too!!"Gaara spun on his heel, "Not interested. Let's go." He and his team disappeared from the spot, leaving Naruto crouched down, sulking."Hey, Kazumi, what was that all about?" Sakura turned to her, looking back at the spot Gaara had disappeared from.Kazumi flinched, not realising that Sakura had noticed as well. She then shrugged, awkwardly frowning."He must know of my clan. Like Sasuke.""Do you think he's into you?" Sakura dismissed Kazumi's very obvious reasoning, leaning in, "I won't allow it, he's a total freak!" Sakura exclaimed, clutching her arm.Kazumi's focused look dropped, her face burning with mortify, "Is my appearance and very evident clan symbol on my attire not the reason?!" She rhetorically asked, baffled.Sasuke scoffed, "I doubt there's anyone in the world who would fall for the likes of her." He turned his head away, adamant. "Uh, no... I mean... It's just... It was so..." Sakura's cheeks flushed, suddenly embarrassed.Kazumi's face went even redder, "You prick!!" She yelled, trudging up into his face where their foreheads smacked together, "Training grounds, now!"Naruto's ears perked up, jumping back into the conversation."Eh? Kazumi's in love with who?""No one, Naruto!!" Sakura screamed, hitting the top of his head with squinted eyes."Wicked bitch!" Konohamaru yelled, irking Sakura once more.History repeated itself. While Sakura chased after them, Kazumi and Sasuke were racing each other to a nearby training grounds, ready to blow off steam with their typical duels.  ———BONUS:"Use your clan eye!" Sasuke shouted, drenched in sweat. His eyes were his onyx ones, refusing to use sharingan unless she used fantomugan. Kazumi staggard up to her feet, just as sweaty as him, "Not worth my chakra!" Her remark made him growl, taking out another set of shurikens. The space between them was significantly larger than at the start when they threw multiple kicks and punches. The two introverts were positively exhausted.Sakura stood next to Naruto, looking up at the slow setting sun with worry. She held two towels, itching to break up their fight. Although this instance was a normal thing ever since the start of their academy years. "Gah!! That's it, I'm gonna —" Naruto shook with excitement, already beaten to a pulp by Sakura, but was willing to join in their fight. "No way!!" Sakura smacked the top of his head before walking over to the panting duo. Naruto planted his face to the ground, a dramatic lump forming atop his head."Admit defeat! You can hardly stand!" Sasuke edged on, gripping the shurikens tight."Says the one that's practically about to fall to one knee!" Kazumi snapped back, raising her kunai's blade to prepare to block the shurikens. "You both lost!!" Sakura screamed, throwing towels at their faces.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Kazumi leaned against the railing, tired. She had been up all night training. It wasn't any better when having an old man push herself to her limits; especially when her uncle was eager to make Kazumi a chuunin.Sakura copied Kazumi's actions, standing beside her on the bridge. The four genin's were impatiently waiting for their late sensei, and finally, Sakura let out a heavy sigh before breaking the silence."HEY!! HEY!! HEY!!! HOW CAN THIS BE ALLOWED?" She spun around with clenched fists, "WHY DOES THAT PERSON ASK US TO MEET AND THEN MAKE US WAIT?!!"Kazumi leaned her head away, squinting from her loud pitch. Sasuke had easily ignored them all.Naruto had punched his fist up, "YEAH!! YEAH! SAKURA-CHAN IS RIGHT!!!"Sakura then continued, "WHAT ABOUT THE FEELINGS OF A YOUNG GIRL WHO OVERSLEPT AND DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO BLOW DRY HER HAIR!!"Kazumi glanced at the lower back part of Sakura's damp hair, smiling in amusement. Given how the blonde girl had been up all night training, she appeared an hour later than the three of them.
They should've known sensei by now...
Naruto added on, "YEAH! YEAH!! I OVERSLEPT, TOO! SO, I DIDN'T WASH MY FACE OR BRUSH MY TEETH!"Instantly, Kazumi's smile dropped. Sakura had grimaced and Sasuke turned his head away, irked."That's... nasty..." Sakura's pitch lowered.Naruto sheepishly giggled in response to their reactions."Morning people!!!"Kakashi's voice made the four of them look up, glaring at the jounin. Kakashi was crouched at the top of a lamppost, waving down as he gave another one of his infamous excuses."YEAH RIGHT!! LIAR!"—"APOLOGISE!" Sakura and Naruto screamed up at him, pointing to Kakashi in sync.Kakashi reappeared on the ground, in front of them, with an unbothered expression, "This is sudden, but... I've nominated you guys for the chuunin selection exam."
About time...
Kazumi sighed, frowning. When Sanjiro had told her about the exams, she had been waiting for the nomination for a while now. Coincidentally, Kakashi just happened to finally announce it the day after Team Seven's encounter with the Sand ninjas."What did you say?!" Sakura screeched."You think this makes up for —!!""Here are your applications." Kakashi swiftly cut Naruto off, thrusting the four papers out for his genin's to take.As soon as they all took their forms, Naruto pounced on Kakashi like a dog, happily hugging him."Kakashi-sensei!! I love you!!!" He was beaming like a normal child, clutching tightly onto the awkward jounin.Kazumi lightly chuckled to herself at the scene whilst Sasuke and Sakura deadpanned.Kakashi stiffly spun around, unsure of how to take the hug from Naruto until the Uzumaki finally jumped off, giggling down at his application form.Recovering himself, Kakashi continued, "Though, this is just a nomination. Whether to take the exam is up to each of you. Those who wish to take it, should sign those papers and turn them in at room 301 by 4pm tomorrow. That is all." Kakashi then disappeared into smoke.The four shared a look with each other before turning their bodies and leaving the bridge. Kazumi walked alongside Sakura whilst Sasuke was on the other end of Sakura. Naruto walked beside Kazumi, chanting his giggles while repeating the words: 'chuunin exam!'Without hesitation, Kazumi pulled out a pen from her pouch, signing the form without reading it. She was determined to climb higher in the ranks of shinobi, and hoped that if she became a chuunin, Sanjiro would surely acknowledge her. The blonde girl could already imagine the old man bowing respectfully, praising her endlessly in her mind.Her childish imagination made her crack a smirk."Hand over that pen." Sasuke demanded, with his arm out towards her and in front of Sakura's face.Sakura looked down at his hand, frowning. She looked up at Kazumi's mutually determined state, utterly unsure of how to feel herself.Kazumi had opened an eye, glaring at him. Either way, she slowly handed him her pen, watching the Uchiha snatch it before instantly signing his signature as well. When returning it, the two shared challenged gazes behind their stubborn, dark pupils.Naruto piped in, "Me too, Kazumi!"She didn't break her glare from Sasuke, aimlessly throwing the pen over her shoulder.Naruto caught it, scribbling a terrible quality signature with a grin. Sakura couldn't help but anxiously look back and forth between the three, still doubtful about the entire thing. Though, Kazumi was too caught up in a staring contest with Sasuke to notice. And Naruto... well, you know; always in his own world.Their heads would inch closer, until they slammed their foreheads against each other, continuously glaring. Sakura finally stopped walking, her head low with a deeper frown whilst Naruto tried to come in between Kazumi and Sasuke's competitive state.The blond boy attempted to join in on the rivalry, only to whine when the two wouldn't even share a single glance with him.In the end, both Kazumi and Sasuke broke their gazes at the same time. It was a tie. Naruto and Sasuke continued walking, the Uzumaki trying to challenge Sasuke to do a staring contest with him as well. Though, Sasuke simply ignored him which caused the blond boy to groan at him in frustration.Kazumi had her head over her shoulder, noticing the pink-haired kunoichi had stopped walking. Sakura was frowning at the ground, the paper in her hand slightly crumbling.She could instantly tell why her mood was suddenly down. And a guilt ate away her insides as she forced her head to turn back straight. Kazumi then recalled a memory which connected to the prior one. One in which involved Sanjiro and the medical scrolls. ....... 
Kazumi straightened up after bowing respectfully towards Sanjiro. With his hands held behind his lower back, the old man walked over to a small memorial shrine.

The blonde girl's eyes flickered to the bookcase, remembering the old medical scrolls. As she approached it, her hand skimmed around the spines, until clutching onto a specific scroll.

Sanjiro had looked up from where he sat in front of the shrine, his expression sterner than usual.

"A sudden interest in medical jutsu?"

"Kinda..."

Kazumi frowned, hesitating to pull the scroll out. The only reason she was even interested in the first place was due to Sasuke's momentary death. Kazumi couldn't imagine herself as a medical-nin.

The scrolls were dusty. So dusty. Even all the other scrolls mixed with books had dust on them. Kazumi couldn't help but feel afraid that her mere grip would tear the spines of the scrolls and books.

'These look like they've never been touched for centuries...'

In the end, she let go of the scroll after the mere thought.

"It's been a while since a Kumo touched this bookcase." Sanjiro sighed, bidding last respects to the shrine before standing back up.

"Don't you use this?"

Sanjiro shook his head, now an arms length behind her. He had his arms crossed, elegantly.

"The only person who ever used these ragged scrolls was your mother." He then glanced down at her, curious, "Tell me, are you interested in learning it?"

Kazumi shook her head this time, "No. I was thinking of letting my teammate borrow one." She then quickly added, "You see, she's weak. Very weak. But, she has potential with the large amount of chakra she has." Kazumi had turned to him, trying to explain.

But his darkened expression made her halt herself from ever continuing further.

"A non-blooded Kumo can never take these scrolls. You understand?"

Kazumi pursed her lips, awkwardly looking down with a small nod.

"Our medical scrolls are more advanced than any normal ones. They're specifically for us Kumo's. No one else." Sanjiro then sighed at her silence, "Besides... I treasure these worn things... despite all that's been tampered." His voice became soft, almost like he longed for the meaning behind it.

"Do you miss my mother?" Kazumi suddenly asked, rather cautiously, as she lifted her head.

Per usual, Kazumi wasn't bothered by the death of her parents. Although she'd notice the way Sanjiro's face would become downcast at the topic of it. It was as if behind his grey pupils, there was a hidden remorse.

A guilt she recognised and had noticed before. When Sanjiro had gazed at Naruto on the swing during the graduation. Or when he'd visit the thick and large tree behind their personal training grounds.

Sanjiro would spend hours there. And she didn't know why.

"The past has been done with. There is no real meaning of missing someone." He responded, turning his back with his eye looking down at her from over his shoulder, "I don't want to see a single scroll out of this compound. Not even I like touching those things." He put in the last word before walking away, into the shadows.

Kazumi exhaled through her nose, glancing over her shoulder at the dusty bookcase behind her.

Her golden irises then fell onto the shrine memorial nearby. She suddenly began to approach it, tilting her head as she observed it. There was a picture of her mother, smiling. Though, it was very faint and worn. Beside her was a man, who Kazumi assumed was her father.

'They look happy.'

Kazumi thought, slanting her frown with her bottom lip pouting out. Even though it was a mournful sight, not a single emotion or drop in her heart was felt. It began to make her wonder what the feeling of losing a loved one was like.

But, that only made her thoughts go back to Sasuke's momentary death. He wasn't a loved one, nor a person she cherished like Sanjiro. The experience of witnessing death was a shock, she'd admit. However after that... nothing.

"Is there something wrong with me....?" Kazumi mumbled to herself, her eyes glued onto the picture of her mother smiling.

She hardly looked like her. The single thing the two had in common was the blonde hair. As for the man in the photo, it was too rough to see. A shadow overcasted his head, with only his body from below his neck visible in the picture.

The only thing Kazumi could note was his tall height. But, as she looked down at her toes, she was barely tall enough for her age.

Kazumi would pay her respects, but a part of her compelled her from doing so.

The wind then blew against her face, causing her head to tilt up and look out to the distance.  Through the opened window and past the fences stood a thick and lonesome large tree. The same tree Sanjiro loved.

An itch occurred within her bloodstream.
 
.

.

.

.

.

.

.
 
I'm sure she'll be fine.
Kazumi thought whilst she gazed at Sakura's lowered face from her peripheral view.
We'll all be fine.
The blonde girl had kept her head straight, going down the familiar path back to her clan compound. The Kumo had a lot of last-minute training to do now that the exams were just a day away.  —_______________  Kazumi released her jutsu, collapsing onto her knees as she gasped for air repeatedly. Her body was strained, and her hands and shoulders trembled in agony. From beneath her, there were multiple cracks on the surface.
Why can't I use my jutsu?
She pursed her lips uncomfortably, pressing her fingertips against her neck. There was a dormant burning sensation that threatened to ignite once again. It was similar to the Mist mission."You are faltering." Sanjiro's voice appeared, walking towards the training grounds.Kazumi flinched, looking over her shoulder to him as she quickly snapped her hand away from her neck."Uncle..." She slowly said, "I must be exhausted again..."Sanjiro's eyes scrunched down at her, his arms crossed and his head lowering. He seemed lost in his own thoughts for a moment before finally looking back up to reply."It seems it needs some touching up on." Sanjiro said, swiftly standing at her kneeling side, "You ought to tell me whenever this starts." He almost nagged, strict.Kazumi raised a brow, but nevertheless allowed Sanjiro to do his thing. It wasn't the first time anyways, since throughout her childhood, Sanjiro had always placed an unfamiliar jutsu towards her neck.She watched his fingers glow a faint grey which matched his activated clan eye, and the burning sensation dispersed the moment his fingers crossed and released.As time went by, Kazumi began to notice familiarity with the jutsu. It was a sealing jutsu. However, very different from one she's seen before.Sanjiro noticed her keen eye, "This is something that'll pass with time. It only entails that you possess strong Kumo attributes.""I see..." Kazumi turned her head away, trying to hide a prideful grin.
I suppose it's nothing...
She rubbed her forefinger and thumb against her thigh before pushing herself up to her feet. Sanjiro had his attention elsewhere, but Kazumi was oblivious to the concern in his hidden, dark gaze.
I need to train harder!
The blonde girl clenched her fist, readying herself to become immune towards the burning sensations.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Kazumi stood outside the building with her eyes dancing between the many examinees all around.Some appeared menacing whilst others were laidback—stretching somewhere in the distance. She felt completely fine, not bothered by this. In fact, she scanned the possible opponents around her just as Sanjiro told her to do. She shouldn't judge them, but she visibly did with her expressions.
So crowded...
"Hey!!! Sakura-chan!!! Kazumi!!" Naruto's voice snapped Kazumi's gaze back to her teammates.The blond boy approached his team, energetic like always. Kazumi couldn't help but envy his ability to be wired every single day. A good cup of bland coffee did the trick, but even sometimes it never seemed to work. With Naruto, it was something natural... since the early academy days."Yeah... good morning..." Sakura forced a smile, her lower eyelids heavy.Kazumi nodded her greetings to him.Sasuke hardly acknowledged him, silently staring.
Did she not get any sleep, again?
Kazumi thought, noticing Sakura's lack of energy within her sapped tone. Naruto ignored it, coming in between the two girls with the paper in his hand."Did I sign this correctly?"Kazumi leaned to peer down at it, including Sakura."Can't you read?" Sakura looked at him with concern, pointing down to the line a few inches above his signature, "It says to sign there."Naruto sheepishly chuckled, messily scribbling it out to redo his signature. Kazumi merely grimaced at it, watching as his second attempt was even sloppier than the first."Will the examiners even be able to read that?" Kazumi squinted."Eh? What do you mean?" Naruto grinned, finishing up his signature with a frog-like smiley face drawn beside it."Nevermind..." Kazumi exhaled through her nose, pulling out a watch from her pouch, "Let's head in early." She suggested, putting it back in her pouch whilst nodding her head to the entrance.Her team acknowledged it, following her steps. Her pace had slowed to match Sasuke's, walking alongside him whilst they made their way toward the exams. He gave her a curious look when noticing her serious eyes."Sasuke, do you sense anything on me? Like... maybe a sealing jutsu?" She whispered, pressing her fingers against her neck.Sasuke's eyes narrowed, even activating his sharingan to see. But, as his eyes faded back to black, he shook his head. Upon her confused reaction, Sasuke turned his head away with a disinterested sigh. He then took a few steps ahead, purposely glancing back at Kazumi with knowing eyes.
Hm?
As his gaze flickered to Sakura from behind them, the blonde girl half-knew what the Uchiha was trying to silently say. While walking, Kazumi looked over her shoulder at the insecure Haruno, her attention focused away from her neck and back to the setting around her. Naruto was happily skipping from behind Sakura, oblivious to everything.
Is Sakura still unsure about this exam?
She turned her gaze back to Sasuke, nodding to show she understood. This made him huff, relaxing his tensed shoulders as his head turned back straight.Once they reached the stairs, Kazumi's stoic face had hardened.
Somethings off... Genjutsu?
They reached the second floor, except the numbers on the doors showed level three classrooms. Perplexed, she raised a brow, though it dropped at the sight of a female being hit to the ground. The blonde girl stopped her steps, making Sakura stop as well.The pink-haired kunoichi frowned, looking ahead and over Kazumi's shoulder. Naruto was now stood beside her, clueless. And Sasuke stopped a few steps in front of his three teammates, his hands still placed inside of his pockets."What did you say? Listen... this is our kindness. The chuunin exam isn't easy. Even we have failed three times straight."
Clearly.
Kazumi pulled a face at the two unfamiliar shinobi. The genjutsu either one of them had cast was the lowest level."... Those that take this exam end up quitting as shinobi, those that die during the exam... we've seen it all."Sakura became alarmed by that statement."... And chuunins often become captains of military teams. The failure of a mission. The death of a comrade. That is all the captain's responsibility... Yet, kids like you think you can pass?"Kazumi glanced down at the brown-haired female on the ground. Her cheek was red and swollen. She wore her hair in two Chinese-style buns, her shinobi Leaf headband tied traditionally around her forehead. Next to her was a male with a bowl-cut and extremely thick eyebrows. He had uncannily round, large black eyes and wore a full, skin-tight green tracksuit with orange legwarmers. Unlike hers, his shinobi headband was tied around his waist.From the looks of it, they were in a team together.
What's going on?
Kazumi quirked a brow."I agree but... you will let me pass through, and also remove this surrounding created with genjutsu." Sasuke broke the tense atmosphere, smirking, "I'm going to the third floor."Kazumi took a side glance at him, bothered.From those words, fellow examinees whispered, baffled. They all wondered what he was on about, not having noticing the genjutsu that had been prior placed."... So you noticed...."Sasuke remained smirking, tilting his head, "Sakura, you must have noticed first, right?" His tone became slightly cocky.
So, this is how you want to reassure her?
Kazumi deadpanned, but appreciated his endeavors to calm Sakura. She wouldn't have done the same; too awkward to even attempt so.Sakura had turned to him, surprised."Your analytical ability and genjutsu know-how... is the most improved on our team." Sasuke almost smiled at her.Sakura blushed at his words, tilting her head down with fondness sparkling in her eyes."What does he mean, Kaz?" Naruto squinted, whispering to the blonde girl as he looked back and forth between the two.
'Kaz'?
She ignored that momentary nickname Naruto had given her, "Haven't got a clue." She whispered back, lying.Explaining to Naruto was the second most draining thing to do on Earth. The first; getting punished by Sanjiro. Naruto's closed eyes and frown resembled that of a lost frog inside of a pond."Of course," Sakura snapped her head up, finally confident, "I noticed a while ago. Because this is the second floor."Naruto profusely nodded his head, "Yup! Right, Kaz?""Quit calling me that." Kazumi scowled, almost hitting her elbow against the uncaring Uzumaki.Naruto simply grinned, placing his hands on his hips.Kazumi was now irked that her team suddenly became a spotlight for the fellow examinees to observe.As much as she took pride in dominating those around her, Kazumi's style was the silent-kill type— the unexpected kind. Funny enough, it just happened to match her clan eye's signature ability.The classroom numbers then changed back to their original number, shocking the room of examinees."Hmm... not bad, but all you did... was see through!"One of the two unfamiliar shinobi's attacked, throwing a kick towards Sasuke. Sasuke mirrored his action whilst Kazumi recoiled back, pulling Naruto with her by his arm.Naruto had gasped, but recollected himself on his footing next to Sakura.Now on guard, an instinct made Kazumi take out a kunai from her pouch.
Above!
She redirected the attack above her instead of below, entirely missing the opponent's leg. Although it was on purpose.Sasuke's mutual kick towards the unfamiliar ninja never came, and Kazumi's blade was against a tanned neck.The familiar bowl-cut male had abruptly appeared in between the attack, holding tightly onto their ankles. The unfamiliar shinobi fell to the ground, and thick eyebrows immediately raised at Kazumi.He glanced at her, disturbed at her unexpected action since it almost rivalled his speed. He expected she'd prepare herself towards the opponent as Sasuke did, but instead, she had read his movements.Sakura stepped back, shocked. She didn't even see both his and Kazumi's fast actions.Sasuke yanked his leg out of his clutch, looking at Kazumi with wide eyes until they dropped back down into narrow ones.When the thick tension slightly died down, Kazumi exhaled through her mouth before dropping her arm down at her side. She slid the kunai back into her pouch, her cold eyes locked onto unusual round ones.
Who is he? I barely managed to catch his movements...
Sasuke and Sakura seemed to think the same thing. Especially after witnessing his figure being kicked to the ground beforehand. They assumed he was weak, underestimating him entirely. This caused her to grimace, mentally scolding herself for forgetting Sanjiro's teachings.Eventually, the bowl-cut male let out a sigh, tearing his cautious gaze away from Kazumi whilst his teammates appeared behind him."Hey... what happened to the plan? You're the one who said we shouldn't draw attention to ourselves." A Hyuuga spoke, glaring at the bowl-cut male.
Hyuuga eyes?
Kazumi observed, only recognising them because of the traditional clan meetings years ago. It was Neji, her former classmate: Hinata's cousin. His long dark brown hair was dull, tied at the end in a loose pony-tail. The Hyuuga eyes were his lavender, pupil-less eyes. A type of clan eye that's permanent from birth unlike her and Sasuke's activate-type ones. Like his female teammate, he wore his leaf headband traditionally. "Well..." The bowl-cut male blushed, looking at Sakura from over his shoulder.Kazumi overheard his strange tone, raising a brow. His female teammate shook her head whilst he approached Team Seven, specifically passing Naruto and Kazumi. He stood straight in front of Sakura, determined."Hi," he smiled, blushing at her, "my name is Rock Lee. So, yours is Sakura..." He then grinned, flashing his teeth with a thumbs up raised, "Let's go out together!! I'll protect you 'til you die!!!" He boldly confessed.The blonde duo cringed at him, and Sakura's expression dropped into a mortified one. Sasuke's brows furrowed, puzzled."No. Way. You're lame..." Sakura strained out, as if she was being choked.Lee hunched his shoulders over in defeat, though quickly straightened up. Seeing as how he hadn't tried anything on Kazumi, the blonde girl felt relieved. Though, that didn't make her feel any better.
He must think I'm a boy, too!
Her jaw clenched."Hey, you two! What's your names?" Neji asked, smirking at Sasuke and Kazumi.
He must not remembered us.
Or, the male Hyuuga didn't put too much care into them at all back then.Kazumi shared a look with Sasuke, deadpanning.Sasuke then looked back at him, "When you want to learn someone's name, it's common curtesy to introduce yourself first.""You're rookies, right? How old are you?" He tried again, utterly interested in the two.Kazumi scratched her ear, turning her gaze away from the Hyuuga. Irked by her rude reactions, he kept his attention on Sasuke instead."I don't have to answer you." Sasuke replied, turning his back.Instantly, the Hyuuga male turned his back as well. Cursing the two stubborn 'males' in his head. Neji's female teammate blushed at Sasuke and Kazumi. Eventually, his team followed him out of the corridor."Sasuke-kun, Kazumi, Naruto!! Let's go!" Sakura excitedly demanded, grabbing Kazumi and Sasuke's wrists.
Looks like she's finally confident...
Kazumi let herself be dragged by Sakura, including Sasuke. On the other hand, Naruto whined, trying to catch up since she hadn't grabbed his.Feeling guilty, Kazumi reached her hand out for Naruto to take, making sure to turn her face to hide an embarrassed blush. Naruto grinned, roughly grabbing her hand whilst giggling to himself.Team Seven was pulled by Sakura, up a couple stairs until they reached an open area. They had let go of each others hands at that point, and Kazumi had to shake a clingy Uzumaki's off in order to do so.Their peace was then interrupted by a familiar voice, which came from behind and above."Hey, you with the blonde hair."Team Seven spun around. It was Rock Lee.
Again... I can barely sense him just like from before... Does he hide his chakra?
For a moment, Kazumi wanted to activate her clan eye in order to know. But, she knew it would be a risk to waste her chakra so early into the exam.Naruto grinned up at him, "Huh? What about me?" He asked with an excited, challenged gaze."Not you, the other boy."Kazumi's brow twitched as she harshly sucked in air through her nose.Sakura and Sasuke glanced at her, feeling guilty.Naruto had hunched his shoulders over, though quickly recovered after processing Lee's words."Hey! Hey!!! Kazumi's a girl!" He yelled, rudely pointing his finger at thick-eyebrows.Lee's bushy brows raised, surprised. They quickly fell, his expression becoming even more determined than before as he glanced between three individuals in particular. He was clearly jealous over something Kazumi couldn't understand.As she was about to respond, Lee's eyes fell directly to Sasuke's with burning passion."You with the dark eyes."Kazumi deadpanned, giving up.
Might as well try to get used to this...
Sakura continuously gritted her teeth at Lee's rudeness."What is it?""Fight me right here!" Lee demanded, glaring harshly at the Uchiha."A fight... right now?" Sasuke frowned with furrowed brows."Yes." Lee instantly jumped down from above, keeping his attention on Sasuke, "My name is Rock Lee. When you want to learn a person's name, you introduce yourself first, right? Uchiha Sasuke."Sasuke tilted his face down, "So, you know?"Lee positioned himself into a fighting stance, "I want to fight you. I want to test my techniques... against the offspring of the genius ninja clan." His eyes then fell onto Kazumi, blushing, "My apologies, Kumo Kazumi, I failed to realise you were a lady."Kazumi's brows raised. She hadn't expected Lee to know of her clan name.
Huh?
"I was going to challenge you instead, but now I could never bring myself to harm you... When I only now wish to protect you." He gave a wink towards her and Sakura, ignoring the pink-kunoichi who instantly recoiled in disgust, "If I win this fight, please give me a chance! Your strength and beauty is a gift from above! Like that of a rare gem!!!"
Huh?!!!
Kazumi's jaw dropped, stumbling backwards.To Team Seven, Kazumi pulled a face which was the most expressive they had ever seen before. It was a mixture of a disturbed shock."Hairstyle is lame... and those thick eyebrows..." Sakura winced at herself, mortified once more.Kazumi remained silent, deathly still as she tried to process what she had just heard.Lee then blew two kisses towards the girls, "Mua! You two are angels!"Sakura dropped her body back, avoiding the flying heart.Kazumi tilted her head, swiftly dodging the oncoming heart without trying. An irked vein bulged below her jaw, brows knitted together at his behaviour.Internally... she imploded.Recovering herself, Sakura screamed at Lee, "Hey!! Don't throw weird things at us!!" Her fist balled.Sasuke glanced at her, sweat dripping from his temple. Though, he was relieved the girl's avoided Lee's creepy actions. Naruto clenched his teeth, getting annoyed by everyone disregarding his presence."You don't have to be mean..." Lee then looked at Kazumi's cold expression, "As expected, you are truly an exception, Kazumi! Your speed and unwavering gaze are enough to make my heart race!!"Sakura shrieked at his shameless words.Kazumi clenched her fist, pushing down the boiling rage, which bubbled deep within her.
No use in wasting my energy on him, I have an exam to go through yet.
Thus, she ignored him. Though, that unknowingly made Lee want to try harder. And not just for Kazumi.Sasuke's expression became stern, "Challenging me knowing the Uchiha name... Frankly, you're a fool. You're about to learn what this name means, thick brows."Lee smirked, "Please." his palm was out flat, preparing himself."Hold on," Kazumi sighed, snapping her head back to them, "we should head to the exam room. We don't have time for unnecessary fights." She sternly spoke, trying to put an end to this before something outrageous happens.Sasuke almost gave in, though his ego ignored her common sense, "This will be over before you know it. Besides, I doubt you want to give this guy what he wants."
He's right!!!
"Urgh..." Kazumi groaned when she noticed Lee wiggle his thick brows at her.Once again, she shouldn't be judging like Sanjiro said, but she was heavily judging! Before any of them could continue speaking, Naruto's booming voice drowned theirs out."Wait! I'll take care of thick brows." He glared, "Just give me five minutes."Kazumi crossed her arms, placing her face in her palm with defeat.
Why did I even bother?
There was not one, but two idiots who couldn't understand the concept of time."Who I wish to fight is not you. It's Uchiha."Naruto instantly lunged forward, "DAMN IT!!! I'm sick of hearing about Sasuke!!"Lee raised his palm, focusing on Naruto's oncoming figure. Kazumi leaned forward slightly, observing Lee's body language.In just seconds, Naruto's fist was redirected to the floor. Adjusting himself, he pushed off, using a leg to attempt a kick back at Lee. Though, Lee spun, crying out a techniques name as he sent the blond boy skidding on his back and straight to a wall.A loud crash echoed throughout the empty room, and Sakura's expression dropped.Naruto was defeated, and it hadn't even been ten seconds.
That can't possibly of been just taijutsu...
Kazumi pursed her lips closed, uncomfortable.For a ninja to produce strength enough to crack craters within floors or walls, they would need chakra infused into certain points of their bodies. However, Kazumi still couldn't sense his chakra. It was like a phenomenon."I'll say this... You guys cannot defeat me." Lee straightened up, standing back in his original stance, "Because... right now, I am the strongest Leaf genin!"Kazumi balled her fist down at her side, irritated by his bold proclaim. She couldn't tell whether he was stuck-up or serious. Albeit she thought back to Gaara's presence two days ago. It would be an interesting sight to know which of the two is the strongest."Sounds fun, I'll do it." Sasuke merely replied.Kazumi gave him a look, even more annoyed.Sakura had noticed the clock on a wall, looking back at Kazumi before snapping her attention to Sasuke with concern."Sasuke don't! Kazumi's right, we should head to the exam room! We only have thirty minutes to get to the meeting."Sasuke reassured her, "I'll be done in five minutes.""What, and end up against Naruto like a toppled ice cream?" Kazumi commented, irritated."Shut it." Sasuke snapped.Kazumi rolled her eyes away from him. At least she warned him beforehand."Sasuke-kun!!" Sakura yelled, upset at him for the first time.Sasuke chose to ignore them as he approached Lee with an unwavering posture and stare.
Geez...
Kazumi's frown slanted, staring at Lee with intensity.The two went at each other in taijutsu.Lee was much faster than Sasuke, bewildering Kazumi entirely. His speed was on Haku's level, and the bowl-cut boy was only using taijutsu... As they went at it, Sasuke lagged by many seconds, finally receiving the finishing blow to his face by Lee's harsh kick."Sasuke-kun!!" Sakura screamed for him, flinching forward, helplessly watching the Uchiha fall to the ground.
Why can't I still not sense any chakra?
Kazumi's brows furrowed, unsettled.It can't possibly be solely taijutsu...Sasuke pushed himself up from the ground, glaring menacingly at Lee. He then stood up with a smirk, his eyes a blazing deep red.
Sharingan?!
"You're wasting chakra!" Kazumi emphasised, but that didn't seem to reach any of their ears.Sakura blushed, grinning as she gushed over him.Kazumi snapped her head to Sakura, noticing her concern had vanished. This only grew more stress within Kazumi, having no choice but to stand still and wait for one of them to fall in defeat.And out of pure spite, she was betting on Sasuke to fall first, grinding her teeth each time the long second hand ticked by on the clock.Meanwhile, Sasuke had dashed up to Lee, confident he'll win this time.Sakura watched with anticipation.And as Kazumi betted, Sasuke lost. Again. Even with the sharingan. This time, Lee sent a swift kick up his jaw. As Sasuke was floating in midair, Lee then reappeared beneath him.Sakura's grin fell.Kazumi felt on edged. She watched as Lee's bandages from his wrist loosened.
Drat...! This isn't looking good for us...
Kazumi hitched her breath, forming a single hand sign. Sakura flinched when feeling her presence disappear from her side. Kazumi had reappeared above Sasuke and Lee, their eyes meeting each other's within milliseconds.Black eyes were wide, and grey hazy irises were narrowed. If looks could kill, Lee would be on critical life-support.The bowl-cut male then caught sight of something in the corner of his eye, giving Kazumi the perfect opportunity for an opening.Before Sasuke could even react to their fast movements, Kazumi spun her body mid-air, grabbing Sasuke's shoulders whilst kicking Lee away and into a wall with the applied chakra in the sole of her foot. Once she could drop to her feet again, she caught Sasuke, carrying him bridal-style.Per usual, the Kumo had saved her teammates, and her grey irises blinked back to gold.Naruto, who had just now recovered from previously being kicked to a wall opposite from Lee's, watched in shock at the sudden scene displayed. The blond Uzumaki even felt déjà vu from the mist mission, beaming happily at Kazumi."That's enough, Lee!!" A deep voice yelled.Given how she was back on the ground, she heartlessly dropped Sasuke onto his own two feet, giving him a hard glare.
Heavy bastard!
The Uchiha returned it—much stronger, rubbing his sore chin. Sakura was relieved, though anxiously looking towards a large turtle. Team Seven's attention then fell onto the new and mysterious masculine voice, observing the turtle with caution.
A talking turtle...?
Lee glanced at Kazumi, hurt, before pushing himself out of the wall and ran to skid over to the turtle. He dropped to his knees, lowering his head out of respect for the turtle."Are you alright, Sasuke-kun?!" Sakura asked, rushing up to Kazumi and Sasuke.Sasuke dismissed her, his eyes shaken as they locked onto Lee. As Kazumi turned her back, Sasuke then grinded his teeth at her.He was annoyed it took only a single movement for her to stop Lee. But he was even more annoyed that she had to swoop in and save him before he could even try to fight Lee off. He wasn't thankful one-bit, blinded by envy and disdain.Kazumi had walked over to Naruto, her narrow eyes still watching Lee and the odd turtle. She was oblivious to Sasuke's glare as the blonde girl offered her hand out for the fellow blonde to take.Naruto took her hand, wordlessly raising a brow at Sasuke and Lee. He stood beside Kazumi, the two blondes frowning at the sight before them."Lee!! That technique is forbidden!!!""Hey, Kaz, what's with that turtle?" Naruto whispered, trying to understand.
Again with the 'Kaz'....
Kazumi sighed, "Haven't got a clue." Her tone was laced with boredom now, and this time she wasn't lying.Lee whimpered, apologising as he didn't know how to fully explain himself.Naruto then punched out his own fist, "Could that turtle be thick brows sensei?!"Kazumi frowned deeper, uncomfortable by that idea, "No way..." She mumbled, then hushing Naruto.Naruto abruptly grabbed her wrist, bringing her with him towards Sasuke and Sakura. When reaching them, he let go, using the same hand to then point rudely at the scene."That's... a turtle, right?""Isn't that obvious?" Sakura scowled."Hey, hey!! Can a turtle become a ninja?!" Naruto asked, again."How would I know?!!"He then turned to Kazumi, only to receive a glare and an expression which said: 'Shut up, I don't know either'."You fool!!" The turtle's voice bellowed, "You think you can get away with an excuse like that?!! You already know what it means for a shinobi to reveal his special techniques...!"Kazumi scoffed out a small laugh, instantly reminded of her uncle's strict teachings to not reveal her true potential. For the past months, she had been doing the exact opposite. "Yes!" Lee responded, as if the turtle was a military superior."Are you prepared to pay?""Yes..." Lee replied again, hunching over in defeat."Then... Here comes Gai-sensei!!" A wave of smoke emerged around the turtle until a black outline of a figure arose, standing on top of the turtle's shell.As the smoke dispersed, an even more unattractive male appeared. His eyebrows were even thicker than Lee's as he struck an unflattering pose. From head to toe, he was the adult-version of Rock Lee.
Good Gods...
Kazumi withered."Geez!! You guys are the epitome of adolescence!" Gai spoke.
What does that even mean?!
Kazumi stared, utterly in shock at his appearance. Even the Uchiha himself wore a very expressive look. Sakura and Naruto wore the same horrified looks on their faces, eyes comically bulged out."EWWWWWWWWW!!!!!" Sakura screamed, "HE'S GOT EVEN THICKER EYEBROWS!!""Super thick..." Sasuke mumbled."Super weird..." Sakura added, her voice dropped significantly."Super unflattering." Kazumi muttered, grimacing."Those are incredible eyebrows... I've never seen that before..." Naruto concluded, oddly impressed.Lee spun his body to Team Seven, balling his fist with an angered look, "HEY!!! STOP INSULTING GAI-SENSEI!!"Naruto snapped back, "SHUT UP!! ALL THESE FREAKS KEEP APPEARING! HOW THE HELL ARE WE SUPPOSED TO REACT?!!""WHAT DID YOU?! —""LEE!!" Gai flatly yelled, making Lee halt instantly."Oh, yes...""YOU FOOL!!" Gai screamed, punching Lee's face.On cue, Team Seven leaned forward, surprised. This was the first time they ever witnessed a sensei hit their own student purposely. Lee then fell to the floor, and Gai had crouched down on one knee."You are..." His deep voice trembled, "You are..." Tears streamed down his cheeks."Sensei..." Lee shakily said back, two waterfalls running down his eyes, "Sensei... I... I..."Gai abruptly pulled Lee into a long embrace, "That's enough Lee!! You don't need to say it!"Lee collapsed into the hug, "Sensei!!!" He cried out."They must be eccentrics..." Kazumi muttered, pitiful.Sakura firmly nodded in agreement. Team Seven continued to appear mortified.Kazumi then glanced at Sasuke, reading his expression with a smug smirk, "You lost to that? Wow... And it only took me a second."Naruto had burst out in laughter.Sasuke gritted his teeth, deathly glaring at her, "Who's the one that owes the freak a dinner date? Besides, he was distracted."
Ack!
Kazumi's smug look dropped, shivering as they both turned their attention back to Lee and the interaction."Yes!! This is what youth is all about!" Gai sobbed, keeping Lee close."Sensei!!" Lee sobbed back.
Urgh... when will it end...? Hopefully, that's enough to make him forget about the deal.
The mere imagination of Kazumi having to deal with Lee on a 'romantic' dinner date sent more waves of shivers.Meanwhile, Naruto had tried to convince Sakura to do the same with him, though instantly got shut down as she screamed in his face."It's alright, Lee... Youth and mistakes go together." Gai stood up, placing a reassuring hand on Lee's shoulder."You are too nice, sensei..." Lee hitched out, appreciating him.Lee then stood up as Gai continued, "But you did start a fight and almost broke my rules, your punishment... will take place after the exam.""Yes!" Lee saluted."Five hundred laps around the practice range!!""Yes!!!"
What?!
Kazumi's muscle memory flinched at the single sentence, recalling Sanjiro's brutal training. She could've sworn she heard his voice.
And he enjoys that?!
She gazed at Lee with shock."Stupid..." Sakura spat."Hey!! Hey!! What the hell was that, turtle?!" Naruto yelled, making Gai finally look at them properly.Gai glanced at each one of them, examining them.Naruto snickered.Sakura shrieked, leaning away at his stare.Sasuke was uncomfortable.Kazumi merely glared at the weird man just because of his intense and familiar teachings."Hey, you guys! How's Kakashi-sensei doing?" Gai asked them, placing a hand to his hip."You know Kakashi?" Sasuke deadpanned.Gai then smirked, placing his hand onto his chin this time, "Know him....?" He giggled to himself.
What is he insinuating?
Kazumi's heavy eyes suddenly snapped wide open.

Huh?

Gai had disappeared, hardly seen by Team Seven's naked eye."People refer to us as 'eternal rivals'..." Gai's voice spoke from behind them.Kazumi spun on her heel, almost stumbling when stepping back.
He's insanely fast!!!
"When did he...." Naruto gasped."50 wins, 49 losses." Gai grinned, pointing his thumb proudly to his sparkling white teeth, "I'm stronger than Kakashi."
Stronger than sensei?
Kazumi noiselessly gulped."See!! Gai-sensei is incredible!!" Lee cheered.Gai then looked down at them, "Sorry about Lee. I swear to this face it won't happen again." He then added, 'beautiful' face, which only made Team Seven frown, again, "You guys should head back to the classroom. Oh, and do say hello to Sanjiro-Sama for me, Kumo."Gai suddenly created a flashy exit, startling the genin's. He had even bided Lee good luck before disappearing into smoke.
He knows Uncle?
Kazumi noiselessly gulped, ignoring the confused gazes of her teammates. It made sense, seeing as how their way of teachings were uncannily similar.Lee had been adjusting his bandages, "Sasuke-kun... I'll say one more thing. Truth is, I came here to test my abilities."Kazumi's expression hardened."I lied before. Most likely the strongest Leaf genin is on my team. I've entered this to defeat him. And you're also one of my targets." Lee then glanced at Kazumi, "It seems our love will be rivalry! Please don't take this too personally, Kazumi, but you were another one of my targets!""What?" Kazumi glared, ignoring his hurt reaction.Sakura scowled, mentally declaring that she'd protect both herself and Kazumi from the "bushy eyebrow freak".Naruto whined, once again annoyed for being disregarded."Be prepared during the exam!!" Lee swiftly shook it off, jumping up and away from the scene, he then took one last glance at Kazumi, "I hope you reconsider my feelings!" And with that, he officially disappeared.
Ugh... right, he won.
"No way! No, no, no way!!! Don't even think about it, Kazumi!" Sakura cringed, practically screaming, though their attention refocused on Sasuke's sudden low growl."Trust me... I'm not." Kazumi muttered, heavy eyes gazing downwards.Sasuke's balled fist trembled in anger down by his side.Sakura then turned to him, concerned, "Sasuke-kun..."Naruto had placed his arms behind his neck, "Oh well... The Uchiha clan isn't worth much these days..."
Purposely riling him up?
Kazumi sighed, but knew it was needed. The Uchiha's pride was crushed. And Naruto just knew how to put it in flame again."Naruto!!" Sakura yelled."Gu... Shut up..." Sasuke mumbled, "Next time... I'll beat him...""Please do... for my sake at least." Kazumi rolled her eyes, not wanting to even have to consider Lee's strange feelings."Bah, if I could, I'd willingly give you to him for free." Sasuke remarked, coldly.Kazumi scoffed, "Why don't you make profit off of me at least? I'm worth more than just being on the house!"Sasuke scowled at her. Kazumi was about to lean towards him to smack her forehead against his until Sakura yanked her back."Kazumi!" Sakura groaned, perplexed by her stubbornness."Sure..." Naruto continued on, disbelieving whilst snickering at their swift insults, "You got your ass kicked...""Hey!! Naruto, don't!!!" Sakura continued groaning, though was still ignored.The pink-haired kunoichi weakly shoved Kazumi's shoulder, warning her to stay out of it. The blonde girl sighed, shrugging her off."You saw his hand, too..." He then glanced down, in thought.Kazumi raised a brow, understanding."That thick brow must've trained really hard... every day. More than you. That's all it is." Naruto shrugged."Possibly even more than me..." Kazumi muttered, arms crossed, "He had not a single chakra scent."Sasuke forced a stop to his trembling, scoffing with a smirk, "This thing is getting fun... this chuunin exam..."Kazumi and Sakura smiled; Naruto looking back at him with a grin."Yup!" The pink-kunoichi sang."Sure." Kazumi dryly replied."Yeah!!" Naruto beamed."Ready to go?!! Naruto, Kazumi, Sakura!!""Hell yeah!!" Naruto roared, balling his fist with determination."It'll be over in no time." Kazumi smirked, leaning her arm on Sakura's shoulder.Sakura giggled again, pushing Kazumi's arm off to instead grab it herself. She clung onto the Kumo's arm, grinning. Kazumi tensed, but nevertheless, relaxed and let her do so.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Kazumi followed her team inside the specific third-floor room, grimacing at the sight. As her stare skimmed over what felt like thousands of eyes, she examined the crowded room.They had all looked towards them, analysing more opponents that seemed to enter continuously. Kazumi glared at each and every one who had glowered back at her in an attempt to intimidate her.It was pathetic. Their eyes of daunting glimmers were no different from Kankuro's brash behaviour towards Konohamaru. Although maybe that could be said the same for Kazumi, as her gaze's level not once dropped. You could put her in a room with the meanest, tallest and buffest person and she would not break. Only the thick, rich scent of accepting death could. She is still human after all. Yet, not a single one of those said daunting shinobi's radiated a sinister energy of death. Unlike Kazumi, Naruto and Sakura were anxious. Sasuke's had a disinterested look on his face, actively avoiding the thick tension."Sasuke-kun!! You're late!!" A familiar voice squealed, wrapping her arms around the back of his neck.Team Seven turned away from the rough air to see Yamanaka Ino embracing Sasuke from behind. Sakura instantly scowled at this.Ino's platinum-blonde hair was tied up into a high ponytail, long to the back of her spine. Her striking light-blue eyes glistened with glee when holding Sasuke so close to her body. Just like Sakura, she was one of the many fan-girls who admired him. "I haven't seen you for a while, so I've been waiting in excitement." She turned her head to press against his, smirking with blushing cheeks.Sasuke was physically hunched over, uncomfortable with her close proximity. It was the first time Sasuke genuinely appeared to be distressed, even if it was in silence. Kazumi almost felt bad for the good-looking fella. Until she remembered who he was. The last Uchiha Prick. "Get away from Sasuke-kun!!! Ino-pig!" Sakura screamed, pointing her finger at Ino.Ino slid her body slightly down from Sasuke's back, her arm still slung around his shoulder with a smug look on her face, "Why if it isn't Sakura... Big ugly forehead as always.""What did you say?!"Ino disregarded Sakura, her eyes then raised up to Kazumi's apathetic face. She squinted before awkwardly looking away. Ino's reaction to her caused Kazumi to frown, deadpanning when recalling Sakura's explanation from the Mist mission.
"But, when sensei addressed you like a girl, I didn't realise until I took a closer look at your face. Plus, I didn't believe Ino-pig's words."
The blonde Kumo would have rather of not known that Ino thought of her as a boy back in their early academy days. To recently find out that she was the first to break news of her true gender only made that matter worse. 
So awkward...
Sakura noticed their small exchange, sheepishly smiling at Kazumi. Though, Kazumi ignored her, focusing on Naruto's big mouth when it opened widely."Oh, the idiot trio!!" He insulted back, defending Sakura."Don't call us that!!" Chouji mumbled-yelled, still trying to swallow a piece of his snack. Chouji hadn't looked different from the day she first met him. Still round, wide and greedy. Although his size makes up for quite the impressive jutsu's. "Man... this sucks..." Shikamaru appeared, pouting, "Nice to see you again, Kazumi." He nodded to her, swiftly standing by her side with his hands inside his pockets.
Shikamaru...
He appeared to be the same as ever. There were few people she tolerated, he was one of them. Kazumi nodded back, "You, too, Shikamaru." She smiled, relieved to see a sane face."Yahoo!!" Another familiar voice came, yelling suddenly.Team Seven and Ten looked over their shoulders."Found you!!" Inuzuka Kiba shouted, smirking with his usual fang sticking out from under his upper lip.A scruffy male with rich chocolate hair. His hair was like a wild lion, sticking up in all sorts of places in a circular angle from beneath his hood. Kiba still kept his signature red paint symbols on his two cheeks, resembling thick fangs. He, and his Team: Eight, approached.The Hyuuga girl had shy reddened cheeks, "H...Hello..." Hinata stuttered, lacking the confidence to have any higher pitch than her low and quiet one.She had the same lavender eyes as Neji, with a softer gaze compared to his. Unlike his dark, brown hair, Hinata had an elegant deep blue, styled in a bob-cut of different lengths. Kazumi liked how different she was from the loud girls.She also liked the faint memory of when Hinata gained an admirable courage to give Kazumi some tips towards her taijutsu. If it weren't for such simple suggestions, Kazumi would've still had quite the rough fight-style. Then there was Aburame Shino, who remained silent from beside Kiba and stared at them behind his blackout glasses. Like Shikamaru, he was the second male she mentally vouched before teams were hand-picked. But that cruel fate had the them split into three different teams, as ironic as that was. "Well-well, everyone is assembled." Naruto grinned.Suddenly, Kazumi noticed Kiba's dog on his head, usually she'd see the dog elsewhere.
Akamaru... cute.
Akamaru barked at her gentle look, his canine mouth creased upwards. She quickly shook it off, reminding herself that she wasn't so fond of animals. "Geez, you guys, too?" Shikamaru continued to pout, sighing whilst walking back over to his own team. In secret, he appreciated his Leaf comrades."I see all ten of this year's rookie genin are taking the exam." Kiba observed, "I wonder how far we'll get... Eh, Sasuke-kun, Kazumi-San?""Leave me out of this." Kazumi rolled her eyes, turning her head away.This caused the Inuzuka to laugh with a fang-smirk, "You're the same as always, Kumo. One day, I'll make you see me as a worthy rival!"
Yeah... good luck with that.
"Whatever you say..." She crossed her arms, unconvinced.Kiba had looked up to Kazumi since the early academy days. But, back then, Kazumi coldly ignored and denied him of his desire to become her rival. She viewed — and still views — Kiba as a useless wannabe.Kazumi finds his ambition and skills to be unmatched compared to hers. Even his very desperation bubbled an irritancy inside of her. If she were to ever be stuck on an island, she'd rather be stuck with the Uchiha than him, to her surprise.
He'll now challenge Sasuke, just like always.
She mentally speculated, glancing back at Kiba from her turned head.Kiba shrugged off his momentary disappointment, only for his ego to continue cracking once Sasuke had opened his mouth to respond."You seem confident, Kiba." He scoffed at him with contempt.Kiba held his smirk, "We did a lot of training. We won't lose to you," he then glanced back at Kazumi, "...both of you."His words made it sound like they were back at the academy, doing training in groups. Sasuke and Kazumi were always grouped together, and each time they'd win against Kiba.This made Kazumi's brows furrow, holding his challenging stare. Though, Naruto abruptly yelled out in frustration before speaking."Shut up!! Sasuke might, but me and Kaz won't lose to the likes of you!!" He growled out."Yeah, Sasuke might." Kazumi almost grinned, looking at Naruto. There were rare times where she'd agree with the humorous Uzumaki.Sasuke's brows flattened, shooting her a side-look.Hinata had tried to apologise to Naruto, but Kiba cut her off."'Kaz'?" He raised a brow."Yeah! That's my new nickname for Kazumi, only I can use it!" He grinned, proudly pointing to his puffed-out chest, "We're friendly rivals!"Kiba looked back at Kazumi with a bewildered expression which said: 'He's your rival, but not me?' Obviously judging the blond Uzumaki.Kazumi shook her head, exchanging a knowing glance with Shikamaru who had sighed out his nose for her."Can I call Kazumi, 'Kaz', too?" Sakura piped in, excited.Naruto blushed, crossing his arms with a nod, "Of course!""What happened to, "only I can use it!"?" Kazumi deadpanned, blinking slowly at the love-struck male."There's room for exceptions!" Naruto firmly nodded once more, blushing even harder.Kazumi pitied the female Hyuuga, who lowered her face with a disheartened frown."Don't get the wrong idea!" Sakura scolded with a yell, balling her fist to intimidate him.Naruto recoiled away, suddenly on edge. Kazumi cringed, knowing that over a hundred set of eyes were possibly still on them. Sasuke was Sasuke; silent and ignorant."Hey, you guys, you should be more quiet!" A voice called, walking to the three teams, "You guys are rookies just out of the academy, right? Screaming like school girls... geez... This isn't a picnic."It was a boy, slightly taller than the others, with his hand to his hip, just above his ninja pouch. He wore round glasses, his short, ash-grey hair tied back into a low ponytail. He even wore unusual attire. Despite the unfamiliar clothes, he had the Leaf symbol tied around his forehead. A fellow ally to the Leaf.Ino finally slid off from Sasuke, giving the stranger a rude look, "Who do you think you are?""I'm Kabuto." He slightly lowered his head, "But, instead of that, look behind you.""Behind?" Sakura repeated, looking over her shoulder with her academy's teams.A large amount of unidentified ninja's was already looking back at them, their expressions menacing."Those guys are from the Hidden Rain, they have short tempers. Everyone is nervous about the exam, quiet down before you cause a scene." Kabuto explained with a guile smile.Kazumi gave them a strong look before turning back to Kabuto, curious.
What's his deal? Why is he even speaking to us?
He noticed her gaze, his smile stretching into a thrilled one. Although in milliseconds, it rested back down into his prior smirk. Kazumi had tilted her head down, suspiciously looking up at him through her bangs.
Something about him is a little off...
She then looked around at her allies from her sides, only noticing their confused expressions.
Do they not feel the same?
She had even tried to look at Sasuke, hoping he was looking back at her with their usual knowing glances. But he wasn't. This made her push it aside with a tired internal shrug, her eyes narrowing with boredom at the new appearance."Well, I can't blame you. You're clueless rookies. You remind me of how I used to be." Kabuto reached into his pouch, rummaging inside."Kabuto-San... right?""Yeah?""So, this is your second time?" Sakura assumed."Nope... My seventh time. This exam is held twice a year, so this is my fourth year.""Pathetic." Kazumi immediately turned up her nose, annoyed."Wow, so you know a lot about this exam?" Sakura continued, nervously laughing as she gently nudged Kazumi's elbow."That's right." Kabuto appeared unbothered by Kazumi's remark."Wow, impressive..." Naruto added.Kazumi frowned, wondering if they were deluded.
Impressive? Surely that just means he's too weak to pass.
She kept her arms crossed, visibly on guard with him. Kabuto seemed to notice, toothily grinning to himself whilst he pulled out a bunch of cards from his pouch."Hehe... Then I'll share some info with you cute rookies. With these nin-info cards.""Nin-info cards?" Sakura raised a brow.Kabuto crouched to the ground, placing the deck of cards on the floor. This made them all collectively do the same, crouching to view better.Kazumi lagged, uncertain, until she was forcefully yanked down by an intrigued blond Uzumaki."They're basically cards which have info burned onto them with chakra. I have four years worth of info here. Over two-hundred cards..." He then moved the cards around, "They look blank, but to open the info on these cards..." Kabuto trailed off."What're you doing?" Ino asked, confused."You can't view them unless I use my chakra, for example..." Suddenly, smoke dispersed from the card, and writings appeared.The card showed numbers and an image of a graph, to which Kabuto explained that they were the amount of examinees and how many of them from different countries.
Interesting...
Kazumi peered down, slightly amazed.
A tool like that would definitely be handy... I could read into my opponents.
She thought back to the survival test, how she struggled due to her lack of knowledge on her sensei. Though, of course, it would be to no use now that the test was over and done with in the past.
Does this come with info?
Kazumi wondered, placing a hand to her chin.They all stood up, (besides Kabuto) with eyes still on the cards until Sasuke suddenly spoke."Do you have cards with info on individuals?"
Good question!
Kazumi leaned forward, interested. It was exactly what she was wondering a second ago.Kabuto gigged, "There are some guys you're worried about? Of course... the info on all of the exams participants isn't perfect, but I do have it.""Gaara of the Hidden Sand and Rock Lee from Leaf." Sasuke went straight to the point."Oh, you know their names? Should be easy then." Kabuto smirked, suddenly slap-grabbing two cards in particular.Naruto squinted, "Kaz, what's going on?" He whispered to her, trying to act as if he understood.Kazumi ignored him, eyes glued to the two cards with pure curiosity.
What will they say?
"Show me."— "Show me." Kazumi instinctively said, syncing her words with Sasuke's.This caused the two rivals to swiftly glare at each other before looking back down at Kabuto and his cards.Kabuto giggled again, "Okay. First, Rock Lee." One card had the image of him followed by written words, "He's a year older than you guys. Mission history: D-rank- 20 completed, C-rank- 12 completed. His sensei is Gai. His taijutsu has improved greatly in this year, the rest is nothing impressive. This year, he gained attention as a talented new genin, but did not participate in the exam. Like you guys, this is his first time. On his team are Hyuuga Neji and Tenten."
He also proclaimed a desire to try and defeat Hyuuga Neji...
Kazumi recalled, rubbing her chin with her thumb. She wondered which of the two was a bigger threat, disregarding the third member entirely."Next is Gaara of the Desert."Her ears then perked up at this, eyes instantly back onto the second card now. Like Lee's, there was an image of Gaara and written words beneath it. She had pull her eyes away from his cold, blank eyes to the writings. "Mission history: C-rank- 8, B-rank- 1... Wow, a B-rank mission as a genin..."
Remarkable
...
Kazumi silently awed his number of C-ranks. Ever since the Mist mission becoming their first B-rank, all others after that had reverted back to minor D-rank missions. She hardly managed to persuade the old bag of bones to give them the occasional C-ranks. Kabuto continued, "Since he's a newcomer from a foreign country... I don't have much info, but it seems he returned from all of his missions without a single scratch."Kazumi's stomach dropped.
Without... a single scratch? Surely that's impossible...
Kazumi then looked up, glancing around the room as her eyes skimmed past many other eyes and faces. Her golden irises then landed on teal ones, which were already looking back at her. She couldn't help but flinch. Out of all the menacing eyes, only Gaara's seemed to strike out the most. 
Gaara...
She sharply inhaled, forgetting she was in a crowded room. It took a long minute until he broke his intense gaze from hers first, turning back to his uncomfortable teammates."Kazumi." A pair of pale fingers snapped in front of her face, jolting her head to the monotonous tone. Sasuke gave her a hardened look, "Don't drop your guard." He muttered, turning his attention back to Kabuto. Kazumi rapidly blinked, not realising how tense her shoulders were. Her eyes looked from Sasuke's hidden expression before following his gaze to Kabuto. "Leaf, Sand, Rain, Grass, Waterfall, Sound... many outstanding genin's from the various hidden villages are here to take the exam. Well... the Hidden Sound village is a small village just created last year. So, there isn't much info... but, the rest of the hidden villages are filled with talented youngsters." Kabuto lightly explained, standing up from the ground."M... Makes you lose your confidence..." Hinata sadly stammered, upset.Sakura pouted, "So basically... all the people here are..." She trailed off, getting cut off by Kabuto."Yup!! Like Lee and Gaara, they are the top elite genin's from various countries!"
It's nothing... really...
Kazumi balled her fist from her side, turning away from Kabuto. Her eyes felt gravitated, like they wanted to look one last time at Gaara although she suddenly noticed Naruto trembling in one spot."Hey, Naruto, don't get so down..." Sakura offered to comfort him with a hand on his back, concerned.However, she quickly retracted her hand once Naruto abruptly puffed-out his chest, pointing to the crowd of bunched-up examinees within the room."MY NAME IS UZUMAKI NARUTO!! I WON'T LOSE TO YOU BASTARDS!!!" He bellowed, causing the entire room to turn their attention onto him.On cue, the Leaf team's was stunned by his sudden announcement."Hey!!! What is he!?? —" Ino strained, yelling at Sakura as if Naruto was her undisciplined dog.Knowing that Gaara's eyes were most likely watching again, Kazumi had no control of her abrupt actions. The blonde Kumo smacked the top of Naruto's head, copying an action that Sakura would've originally done.This caused Naruto to stumble back, off guard by her unfamiliar self. Sakura flinched, not expecting that, though swiftly went along with it. Sasuke, too, seemed taken aback by her odd reaction, harshly grimacing."Ow!! Hey, Kaz, what was that for?!" He whined, genuinely hurt.Kazumi's cheeks were red with embarrassment, cursing at the dunce blond in mumbles. Naruto wiggled in one spot, pleading for forgiveness."You won't lose to those bastards? Big words..." Kiba then scoffed, 'show off', under his breath."What a moron... He just turned everyone into his enemy..." Shikamaru added, supporting Kazumi's rash smack.Their words only made Kazumi feel worse, including Sakura."What the hell are you doing?!!" Sakura screamed, grabbing Naruto into a chokehold."You, too?!" Naruto yelped, "I was just speaking the truth!!"Sakura then pushed his head down, forcing him to bow in respect's, "E—Everyone! It was a joke... He's quite stupid and..." She tried to continue, only for Naruto to cut her off by disregarding her feelings.This made Sakura grab him by the ear, scolding him like a mother.Kazumi hid her face in her palm, extremely embarrassed. She never felt this way before, and quickly blamed it on sudden pre-test anxiety. The Kumo never had even that before, and she couldn't help but feel inwardly erratic with these foreign feelings.Sasuke wore an aggravated expression, huffing out of his nose as he tried his best to pretend like he didn't know any of his teammates.Suddenly, her head snapped up, feeling an instinctive sensation occur. She glanced down in the corner of her eye, watching a single foot jump away within milliseconds.
Something's coming!
Kazumi stepped aback, pulling Naruto and Sakura backwards with her. The extroverts stopped bickering, watching with Kazumi as two kunai's were sent down on the ground, just inches in front of Kabuto's feet.Kabuto jumped away, barely dodging a rough punch his way. But the strong sound waves from the thrust created cracks in Kabuto's round lens, startling everyone. This had Kabuto take the broken glasses off, smirking at the Sound-nins."What's going on? He dodged it... so why did his glasses..." Sasuke trailed off, puzzled."It probably grazed his nose... That's what you get for acting like a big shot." Shikamaru's raspy voice mentioned.Suddenly, Kabuto dropped to his knees, hurling. He had vomited on the ground. Kazumi stiffly took a step back, repulsed by his body's natural reaction."Sound waves..." Kazumi mumbled, her brow twitching uncomfortably. His symptom was similar to motion sickness. Sasuke raised a brow at her, overhearing this. Though, he quickly looked back when analysing Kabuto's state."Ah! He threw up!!" Naruto shouted out the obvious."Kabuto-San?" Sakura called, worried.The pink-haired kunoichi went to rush over, only to be pulled back by a cautious Kazumi. She gave her a look which read: 'Don't', making Sakura noiselessly look back and forth, unsure of what to do.Naruto had already rushed forward, squatting down to Kabuto's height."Kabuto!!""I'm alright..." Kabuto grunted out, wiping his chin."How tragic. Especially because, aren't you a fourth year veteran?" The leader Sound-nin spoke.A spiky hair male beside him added, "Write this down on your cards, 'Three Hidden Sound ninjas, definite future chuunins.'"
Bold. Too bold.
Kazumi frowned, disapproving. Albeit her body tensed when a thick cloud of smoke appeared in the amidst of it all, straight at the front of the classroom."QUIET DOWN YOU WORTHLESS BASTARDS!!"As the cloud quickly fell, a group of older shinobi's came out. One in particular had a large scar on his face, a black leather cloak, and a stare that was far more menacing than the Rain ninjas. Kazumi instantly identified him as someone her uncle respected."Thanks for waiting... I am Morino Ibiki, the examiner for the chuunin selection exam's first test." He introduced, then pointing to the Sound-nins, "Hidden Sound guys, stop doing as you please before the exam. Do you want to fail already?""The leader replied, "I apologise... This is our first time, we got a bit... carried away."
For what reason?
Kazumi's stern eyes judged the foreigners.Ibiki glared up at them, "Here's a good opportunity to say this... there will be no fighting without permission of the examiner. Even if permission is granted, killing your opponent will not be tolerated." His glare became threatening, "Pigs that disobey me will fail immediately. Do I make myself clear?"The room became deathly silent. Many were intimidated, many were not.
I can see why Uncle likes him...
Kazumi noiselessly swallowed.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Kazumi glared down at the back of Naruto's head, sitting multiple rows behind him. Minutes ago, Ibiki issued for examinees to take their assigned seats based on the number they randomly chose.To Team Seven's concerns, they knew Naruto would struggle the moment Ibiki announced a paper test. And his prior shout of dismay confirmed it for them.Don't mess this up for me, Naruto !She wasn't the only one who had the same thought: as her pink teammate who sat two rows ahead from Kazumi, was anxiously rolling her head.Sasuke sat diagonally down a few rows from Kazumi, also looking at the distressed Uzumaki. His narrow eyes snapped over his hunched shoulder, meeting Kazumi's gazing scrunch. She watched him look further, landing on a specific individual seated next to her.Naruto's pea-sized brain was hardly her main worries for now.Because seated right next to her was non other than Gaara of the Desert. She slowly looked at him, suppressing a visual flinch. He had already been looking at her, which made her stiffly snap her gaze back to the front where Ibiki remained standing.
Are the shinobi Gods laughing at me? It's too much of a coincidence to be placed right beside him!
Her heart dropped whilst she thought, her brows furrowed as a single bead of sweat didn't go unnoticed when falling from her temple. The assigned seats were determined purely by raffle numbers; it was the most unwanted luck Kazumi had.Luck because of the sheer mutual curiosity that gravitated their attentions to one another.Sensing her internal discomfort, Gaara tore his eyes off of her side profile, without a care. His stoicism only seemed to irk the Kumo more. "Looks like your teammate's at a disadvantage." He quietly spoke."I wouldn't say that. Naruto's smarter than he loo—acts." She muttered, noticing his gaze fall to the back of Naruto's vibrant blond hair.He was still shaking from mortification."Then, he fidgets too much." Gaara dulled.Kazumi's upper lip twitched, more annoyed. Just as she parted her lips, Ibiki's commanding voice pulled her thoughts away."Do not turn your test's over. Listen closely to what I'm about to say."Her hand flinched away from the paper beneath her palm, balling her fist.Ibiki continued, now writing on the chalkboard behind him with his body still faced to the examinees, "There are many important rules to this first test. I'll write it on the board while I explain, but questions will not be allowed, so listen carefully." The scar-faced man was expressionless, and visually intimidating.Kazumi wasn't fazed unlike many irrelevant examinees who'd nervously quiver to themselves in their spots. And it was clear to the Kumo that Ibiki was a man who wouldn't tolerate hesitance in a ninja. A shinobi in their prime. Sanjiro always told her power didn't make a shinobi, but their actions and choices instead.That was Ibiki. "The first rule: you guys will all start off with nine points. The test is made up of ten questions... and each one is worth one point. But, this test uses a subtraction system."
What?
Kazumi's brain focused for the first time since it was direly important to listen to these instructions."Basically, if you answer all the questions correctly, you keep your nine points. But if you miss three questions, you lose three points and will have six."Kazumi deadpanned.
A child could understand this.
She had just hoped her fellow blonde teammate was understanding this as well."The second rule: this is a team test. Whether you pass or not will be determined by the combined score of your teammates. So, each team will compete to see how many points they can hold on to from the initial team total."On cue, Sakura slammed her forehead against the table. Kazumi had hunched over, pressing her head into her palm with a heavy sigh. And Sasuke shot a quick glare at Naruto's backside.Figuratively speaking... as long as Sasuke, Sakura, and I score all , we'll be safe, right? Kazumi pursed her lips tightly closed, looking back up at the scar-man with a conflicted expression. Nine points off would still be a passing score next to three other teammate's aced papers."Wait a second!" Sakura finally shot her arm up, "I don't understand this initial points system either, but why is it a team test? And why is there ten questions if all we have to score is nine?!" Her tone was stressed.Ibiki glared, lowering his face, "Shut up, you don't have the right to question me. There is a reason for this, be quiet and listen."
Loud...
Kazumi's balled fist shook with momentary anger before relaxing, and a small confusion washed over her as she quickly shook it off to listen to Ibiki's further instructions."Okay, and now the most important rule," Ibiki continued, "The third rule: during the exam... anyone caught by the testing officers doing sneaky activities, namely cheating... will have two points subtracted for every offence."Kazumi tsked to herself. She took pride in her self-made achievements as she then straightened up with her arms crossed."We'll have our eyes on you guys." A voice from one of the examiners spoke, sitting with the other examiners on the side lines of the classroom.Ibiki almost smirked, "Realise that the pathetic ones that get caught cheating will be destroying themselves. As shinobis trying to achieve level chuunin, be proud ninjas."Kazumi let out a noiseless exhale from her nose, determination.It'll be fine. We'll just have to cover for Naruto.  As for the tenth question, perhaps it scales off of how you answer rather than points...She nodded her head down at her thoughts, trying to relieve her bottled up troubles."And the final rule..." Ibiki's voice broke her thoughts once more, "Those that lose their initial points during the test and those that don't answer any questions correctly, will be failed along with their teammates."Kazumi's head shot up, her eyes wide.Sasuke's eyes went wide as well, followed by Sakura's dramatized bulging ones. Naruto had sweat endlessly falling from his face, sensing a murderous aura from all three of his intelligent teammates."The exam will last one hour. Begin!!"The entire room of examinees flipped their papers over, including Team Seven. Kazumi's squinted eyes looked down at it, skimming through the first question. It took her three re-reads to process it, realising she couldn't answer it at all.
What is this? I've never seen these questions before during the academy...
With her elbow against the table for support, she moved her palm over her lips, her knitted brows creasing up in disbelief. She hid a baffled smirk, silently perplexed.
These guys... They're just asking for me to cheat.
Kazumi scoffed, her eyes darting up to the tormenting smirks from the examiners. Sasuke was hunched over, visibly conflicted as well. Sakura had her head motionlessly low in concentration towards her exam sheet, her brisk hand moving.
I could really use her brain right now...
Kazumi exhaled through her nose, even wishing she'd have Shikamaru's brain as well. Though, she won't admit it, Sakura was certainly smarter when it came down to basic shinobi subjects. But, that didn't mean Kazumi was a complete idiot like Naruto.In the end, Kazumi picked up her pencil, clutching it tightly.
I have to try...
Noiselessly gulping, she slowly pressed the pencil tip onto the exam sheet, her eyes still stuck on the first question in which she simply could not answer, yet refused to move onto the next one."Umm..." A random voice spoke out, standing up from Sakura's row, "I'd like to know one thing..."Kazumi flinched her head up, curious."How many teams will pass this test?"Ibiki lowly snickered before dropping his expression into a trained hard one, "It's not like knowing will help you. Or do you want to be disqualified?""Sorry..."
Bastards. They really do want us to cheat!
Kazumi glanced at the side of the room, glaring at the examiners who'd stare back with amused smirks. One had suddenly wrote something down on their charts, making her brows furrow.
Don't tell me... they're marking down people that are cheating?!
She then squished her chin, in deep thought.
Why would they just mark it down?
Kazumi's stern face looked down at the sheet. After a few seconds, she smirked, and her tense shoulders relaxed. Everything was slowly clicking in place for her.
So be it. I'll just create an illusion of myself!
Kazumi suddenly decided to go against her shinobi pride. From what she momentarily gathered, cheating was intended.She straightened up once again, dropping her palm from her face. Kazumi then slid her hand under the table, preparing to form a hand sign. But the sight of sand particles forming in the corner of her eye caught her off guard. She paused to slowly glanced at Gaara from beside her, surprised.
So even he knows, too? 
Gaara halted, narrowing his teal eyes at her attention. Although Kazumi's eyes focused on the strange quiver of his sand, like it was being compelled downwards. Sensing his guarded look, she met his eyes with furrowed brows. He firmly turned his head away, even scooting away like she was some disease. "Hah!" Kazumi huffed out, turning her head away. Stubbornly deciding to focus her on the exam sheet instead, she kept deathly still.In order to preform this, Kazumi would have to create a genjutsu of herself looking down at the paper as if she was reading questions. As she did so, she then activated her 'hazy cloud' jutsu, which made her real body disappear from the spot whilst her clone stayed as if she hadn't disappeared in the first place.It was perfect. Perfect enough for her to lean towards multiple examinees around her so that she could peer down at their answers. As she read the answers from the male behind her inside of her mind, her clone's hand began jotting them down.From the examiners point of view, it was as if she knew the answers without the need to cheat. This made her smirk even more, finishing up all she needed until she reached question ten.
Done!—
From all the other papers she peered down at, the last question was unanswered. This caused her to appear back into her spot, releasing her genjutsu whilst deactivating her special technique. With a raised brow, she gazed down at question ten.' This question will be revealed 45 minutes after the test begins. Listen closely before answering'.   Huh?She read it out in her mind, still confused."No. 102, stand up. You fail."The time ticked by."No. 23, you fail.""43 and 27, you fail."Kazumi watched each and every irrelevant team fail, her finger anxiously tapping against her chin as she found herself back in her prior hunched position against the table.Some examinees had even caused a scene.However, Kazumi's attention was elsewhere, watching Gaara from beside her. An eye formed from his sand, intriguing Kazumi. He used it like a third eye to cheat. He then grabbed it, crushing it, only for it to then reappear below a random examinee.
Amazing...
She silently awed, flinching her gaze away from him before he could notice. Albeit her eyes landed on Gaara's teammate who excused himself to the bathroom.' Kankuro', was it?She watched the familiar male who harassed her team a day ago stand up and leave the room. It was clear there was a reason for this."Okay, we will start with the tenth question." Ibiki's voice spoke up, causing the room of examinees to look up. "Now, before we get into it... I'd like to go over the added rules for this one."
More rules?!
"I'll explain now." Ibiki walked whilst he talked as Kankuro came back just in time, "These are the rules of desperation." He then faced them, "First, for this tenth question, you must decide whether you will take it or not. It has no points whatsoever, but plays a major role on a shinobi's passing."
Huh?
Kazumi frowned."Choose?! What happens if we choose not to?!" Gaara's female teammate yelled.Ibiki's expression turned menacing, "If you choose not to, your points will be reduced to zero... you fail! Along with your teammates.""What does that mean?!""Then, of course we will decide to take the tenth question!!"Ibiki ignored the shouts from random examinees, "And now... the other rule. If you choose to take it and answer incorrectly, that person will lose the right to take the chuunin selection exam again."Uh ? !Kazumi's jaw slacked open, brows knitted downwards together."What kind of stupid rule is that?!" Kiba growled, "There are guys here who have taken the exam before!!" Akamaru (who was on his head) barked along with him.Ibiki could only snigger in response to their distress yells, silencing the room instantly."You guys were unlucky. This year it's my rules." He smirked up at the rows of examinees, "But, I am giving you a way out. Those that are not confident, can choose not to take it and try again next year."
Crap...
Kazumi took slow glances at each of her teammates, trying to read their expressions. She had hoped one of them wouldn't suddenly breakdown and choose not to take it.
Looks like even Sasuke's on edge...
She clutched her pencil tightly, pursing her lips into a thin line."Now... let's begin the tenth question. Those that do not wish to take it, raise your hand. Once your number is confirmed, leave."The atmosphere became intensely thicker than before inside of the exam room.
This has to be another test... right? There's just no way an examiner is allowed to this...
Kazumi then looked down at the sheet, chewing the inside of her cheek.
I know I'll most likely answer it wrong, but I have the confidence that I can at least try!
The pencil practically screamed in her tight grip. She then looked up, intensely staring at the back of Naruto's lowered head.
Don't do it, Naruto. Don't. Do. It.
He was trembling in one spot.Suddenly, an examiner beside of him stood up with his hand raised."I won't take it!" He screamed, hunching over with shakes, "I'm sorry... Gennai... Inoho...""No. 50, fail!""130, 111, also fail!""Me too!" Another shouted."And me!""I quit..."One by one, multiple of examinees stood up and left the room, not surprising Kazumi one bit. Her golden irises fell onto Naruto's back once more, now noticing his shaking figure increasing. Her brows furrowed tighter together, and her hand from under the table clenched into a ball. Her nails stung into the first layer of her palm."I see, he's about to break." Gaara's whisper twitched her eyelid."No, he won't." She practically seethed through her clenched teeth.
He can't.
Kazumi is selfish. It's a trait she'd never deny. She didn't bother to spare a look at Gaara's expression, too focused on Naruto's shaking shoulders.Her eyes then snapped wide when his pale-tanned hand raised up into the air, still trembling. The pencil in her other hand had snapped in half, and a look of genuine surprise dawned on her face.... N — No way...As she instantly recalled the boy's desire to become Hokage, the way he'd shove it down their throats every single day, and his never wavering determination... disappointment then came over her. Though, that feeling quickly became internal frustration.
Damn it...
She noiselessly sighed through her nose, preparing to leave the exam with her team. Her hands unclenched from the broken pencil and her nails left red marks against her skin. If she hadn't felt so attached to her team, Kazumi would've threw a fit if it meant she'd stay taking the chuunin exams. All she could feel was a ringing buzz through her ears and into her brain, at loss for comprehension. However, her preparations to leave never occurred.Naruto slammed his palm onto the desk, "DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME!! I WILL NOT RUN!" He roared, "I'LL TAKE IT! EVEN IF I'M A GENIN FOREVER! I'LL WILL MYSELF TO BECOME HOKAGE ANYWAY, SO I DON'T CARE! I AM NOT AFRAID!!!"Oh thank  the shinobi Go d s!! I never once doubted their mockery !!Kazumi slumped back, exhaling out her mouth as she dramatically slapped her hands together in a praying pose. It would cause shivers down her spine if she knew she picked up that silly reaction from Sanjiro. Her prior doubts about Naruto were proven false, leaving her feeling alleviated. In pettiness, she shot a small smirk at Gaara. He had his blank stare on Naruto, not as impressed."I'll ask you again." Ibiki's expression remained intimidating, "Your life is riding on this decision. This is your last chance to quit.""I follow my unbending words. That's my ninja way." Naruto swiftly replied back, abiding by his mindset.
Look at him! He eased everyone in here.
Kazumi smiled at his back-head, feeling proud of him.After a long second, Ibiki nodded his head, "Good decisions. Now... everyone still remaining... I congratulate you on passing the first test!!"On cue, her smile dropped.
A purposeful scare!!
She then glared at the man, her praying hands curling into fists."Wait... what do you mean? We already pass? What about the tenth question?" Sakura nervously asked out loud.Ibiki then grinned, sending a dramatic shiver throughout Kazumi, "There never was such a thing. Or you could say that those two choices were the tenth question.""Huh?!""Hey!!" Gaara's female teammate yelled, "Then what were the first nine questions for?!!! They were pointless then!"Ibiki quickly replied, "They were not pointless. They had already served their intended purpose. To test your individual information gathering ability. That purpose."He was still smiling, unnerving the room of examinees as they witnessed Ibiki's personality change."First, as the rules explained... success on this test is based on the whole team doing well. This puts pressure on each members to not mess up for their teammates."Naruto leaned back with his arms crossed, nodding at his words, "I had a feeling this test was like that."Kazumi's eyes darkened. "Liar." She spat, her voice reaching his twitchy ears. A shiver ran entirely throughout his body. Hinata had quietly giggled at him from beside him, cheeks red for the class clown."But, the questions on this test were not the type a mere genin could answer. Because of that... I'm sure most of the people came to the same conclusion. 'That to score points... I'll have to cheat'." Ibiki quoted, "Basically the premise of this test is to cheat."
Clever...
"As cheating targets, we had two or so chuunins who knew all the answers mixed into the crowd, to help you guys out."Kazumi awkwardly glanced over her shoulder at the fake genin behind her who she had chosen to take the answers off from his sheet. He flashed her a grin, making her grimace a smile and turn her attention back to the two-faced man.
Tch... should've known! How else could random examinees understand the test?
She then looked down at the broken pencil in her hands, continuing to awkwardly shift around whilst hiding the broken pencil under her sheet of paper.Gaara slowly glanced at Kazumi, seeing her hiding the broken pencil, "I noticed your genjutsu. It was smart." The sudden compliment took her off guard.Kazumi flinched, warily looking back at him. His tone wasn't friendly, nor was it appreciative. It was like he was observing her, as if he had been watching since the start to see if she was a worthy opponent. By the restrained behaviour, it was clear he was mentally sizing her up from the start. It left an unsettling feeling inside of her, and she eventually opened her mouth."As was your technique." She simply responded in a whisper, unsure.Gaara stiffly nodded, his hard gaze pulling from her hands to Ibiki.
Why are all the foreign examiners so weird?
Kazumi pursed her lips, hesitantly looking away as her attention fell back onto Ibiki as well.Naruto laughed out loud, "I saw right through that!! You'd have to be a moron to not notice that!!!""Cheeky idiot." Kazumi mumbled, clenching her jaw to show annoyance towards her dunce teammate.She heard a scoff come out of Gaara's nose despite his impassive face."But, those that cheat poorly, fail, of course." Ibiki then slowly removed the bandana from his head, including his shinobi headband, "Because... at times, information is more important than life... and on missions, and the battlefield; people risk their lives to get their hands on it."Kazumi observed his gnarly scars on his head, surprised. The majority of them were forcefully inflicted wounds, implying that Ibiki was tortured for information in the past.
How noble.
Kazumi looked away."If the enemy or 3rd party notices you, there is no guarantee the info will be accurate." Ibiki swiftly placed his headband and bandana back onto his head, "I want you to remember this. Important information in your hands... can be a powerful weapon for your comrades and for the village. So, we gather information through cheating. This clearly separated those who did not have the right abilities.""But... I don't understand the final question..."Ibiki smiled at the foreign Sand female, "But... question ten is the true purpose of this test."
I see...
Kazumi quickly understood, instantly zoning out when the peers around her were still confused and throwing questions around. It was only then when a gut feeling arose which caused her head to crane towards the window.Suddenly, just when Naruto had finished shouting something, the window was broken into smithereens. The shards flew everywhere, and two kunais pinned fabric on the ceiling.A female ninja appeared, and a black banner with white writings dropped down behind her at the front of the class.
So fast!
Kazumi stared at her with shock."You guys!!! This is no time to be celebrating!" She yelled, throwing her arm out, "I am the examiner for the second test!! Mitarashi Anko! Now let's go!! Follow me!!"The room of examinees fell silent and remained in their seats. This caused the woman's cheeks to burn red, confused. Ibiki peered his head around the black banner, exchanging something to her.
She's... something...
Kazumi shifted in her seat, oddly reminded of Naruto from her actions. After a long minute, Anko snapped her head to Ibiki with an annoyed expression."Seventy-nine?! Ibiki!! You left twenty-six teams?!! The test was too easy this time!!"
Hah? Easy?
Kazumi frowned. Sure, easy for her, but Naruto? In a other universe, she surely failed because of this.Ibiki mumbled another response, which only made Anko shrug and turn her attention back onto the genin's."Ah... I'm getting excited... I'll explain everything once we change places, follow me."
What a creepy vibe.
Kazumi pulled her signature face.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

There was an immensely large forest in front of almost a hundred genin's. The trees were so thick that they looked like large houses, and the forest within was covered in endless bleak darkness. The sight alone was enough to kill a person's mood or cause someone's emotions to feel depleted.Kazumi had her arms crossed, analysing the forest ahead of her whilst a few examinees (who were spread out from all around) shook with uneasiness at the view.It was suspiciously silent in the crowd, the team's eyes glued to the nerve-racking forest in front of them. Kazumi didn't even know a forest like this existed in Konoha's hidden village until now. Her eyes then flickered to the worn sign which was tied against the tall metal fences. It wrote: 'Danger! Stay out!' in bold.Sakura hunched over, dreading this test as her hand unknowingly held Kazumi's. The action didn't startle the blonde girl, since her focus was too strong on the ominous scene. "Another survival test?" She grumbled, internally groaning. She felt Sakura's grip tighten around her tannish hand."Welcome to the stage for the second test, practise area 44. Also known as... 'the forest of death!'" Anko happily introduced.The crowd of students hardly mimicked her gleeful behaviour."This is creepy..." Sakura mumbled with a frown, sweat seeping between their palms.Kazumi could only have a single bead of sweat fall down from her face in response. Sasuke noticed their hand-holding, a short glimmer of amusement shinning only to be blinked away into cold onyx.Anko smirked at their collective silence, "You'll soon find out why it's called 'the forest of death'."
Geez, is she those type of women who get a kick out of tormenting kids?
Kazumi pouted her lips at the thought.Naruto then leaned over towards her and Sakura, "'You'll soon find out... why it's called the forest of death'." He imitated a chicken, mocking the woman, "You think that scares me?!! That's nothing!! I'm not afraid!!" He yelled, pointing at Anko.
Sometimes... I wish he had a turn-off button.
Kazumi and Sakura both shot hard glares at Naruto, though Kazumi's shoulders suddenly tensed and a strand of hair raised from the back of her neck.Anko's faraway voice wasn't processed by Kazumi since her gaze fixated on the sudden kunai flying dangerously towards Naruto's cheek.Kazumi instantly caught on, abruptly snatching her hand out from Sakura's grasp to redirect itself against Naruto's cheek. The tip of the kunai managed to graze his tanned cheek as Kazumi held a firm grasp on the blade's body, stopping it from slicing all the way past.The Uzumaki had winced out from Kazumi's sudden slap against his face, only to instantly realise in horror what she had caught in time. His cheek then burned in pain as if it were a small paper cut.Meanwhile, Kazumi's eyes were wide, shocked from her own quick and protective actions. She had intended to stop it from slicing his cheek entirely. It seemed like the strange woman purposely missed Naruto's brain on purpose. However, Kazumi's anxiety levels raised when snapping her head to the side, over Naruto's back. She sensed the student tormenter reappear behind the two of them; Naruto lagged in reaction compared to Team Seven."Kids like you are easily killed..." Anko eerily spoke, a hand on Kazumi's tense fist with the other wrapped around Naruto's opposite cheek, "Just be glad your teammate saved you from a nasty scar." She licked the small amount of blood from Naruto's grazed cheek, her light brown irises glistened towards Kazumi's wide, lightless ones.Anko then smirked at her, her eyes scrunched in a playful manner. Her look read: 'I like you' causing Kazumi to tense even more."Let go, cutie." Anko eerily giggled, snatching the kunai from Kazumi's hand.Kazumi was snapped out of her daze, realising she should've let go of the weapon by now. She didn't even notice how tightly gripped her hand was around the kunai. Although Sakura did, since the pink-haired kunoichi was nervously reading her reactions from the start.The older woman then took a step back, glaring at a sinister looking person who emerged from behind her. With the kunai now back in Anko's grasp, she redirected it towards the mysterious person, startled."Apologies, I was hoping to retrieve the kunai..." The woman-man spoke, their eyes flickered down at Kazumi with excitement, "But it seems that's not the case." Their tongue was uncomfortably long, just like that of a snake's as they openly smirked.
What's up with him-her?
Kazumi's brows knitted together, her lips uncomfortably pursed together. She wasn't quite sure of the mysterious person's gender. But, for now, she assumed the person was a man with long hair.Anko's expression became serious, "I see... But you know, don't sneak up behind me. Unless you want to die." She quickly smiled again, spinning the kunai around her finger before placing it back into its prior hidden spot.The strange person tilted his head down, his long tongue still stuck out, "No... I just get excited when I see red blood. Plus, you cut my precious hair, so I couldn't help it..." He was about to continue until he suddenly stopped himself from speaking further.Team Seven failed to notice, including Anko."Sorry about that." Anko replied, unbothered.Sakura had grabbed Kazumi's arm, clutching it close to her chest as she anxiously watched the two examiners. She was oddly clingy and touchy today, but that didn't surprise Kazumi given the setting and the freakish people they were surrounded by.Naruto rubbed his cut cheek, looking at Kazumi with admiration before turning his expression sour towards the female examiner.Kazumi's shoulders continued to remain tense, unsettled by a force in which she couldn't explain. She seemed to gaze longer at the unidentified figure as her hand unknowingly pressed itself against her throat.Sasuke had been keeping a watchful eye on each of them, noticing almost everything about Kazumi's body language. As well as Sakura's— the green-eyed girl currently squinting towards the ominous person. During that passing moment, Naruto had been nodding to himself at his own made up scenarios inside of his head.
Something is not right with that man... woman... or whatever they are...
Kazumi hesitantly glanced away from the person, unbeknownst to Sakura who had shared the same thought from beside her."Looks like we have a lot of bloodthirsty ones in this test." Anko finally broke the silence once more, chuckling, "This should be fun." She then clasped her hands together, taking a bunch of paper forms out from her coat, "Now before we start the second test... There's something I have to pass out." She then waved them in the air for all to see, "You must sign these agreement forms."Kazumi's expression hardened, her hand back down at her side."What?" Naruto looked up at the woman."There will be deaths in this one." Anko smiled, "And if I don't have you sign these... it will be my responsibility, hehe."
Another scare attempt?
Kazumi glared, squirming her arm around slightly in Sakura's strong hold.It took a good long twenty minutes until everyone had signed the forms. Kazumi lagged due to Sakura keeping a firm grip on her arm. And... the fact that Kazumi read through each and every word on the papers terms and conditions.The blonde girl chose not to question Sakura's actions in hopes whatever comfort (she emotionally wasn't providing the Haruno) would help Sakura feel more confident in herself as the pink-haired kunoichi reluctantly signed her own form next to her.Sasuke signed away without caring to read it.Naruto signed as well. Though, he was too lazy to read it all, so he just copied Sasuke, believing it was a cool thing to do.Although as time continued passing, Kazumi found herself scanning the area. The mysterious person from before had disappeared. This left her frowning with her doubts unanswered. It seemed the dramatic scene from moments ago was easily disregarded by all but her team.Anko eventually collected the last form, excited, "Okay! I will now explain the second test. Simply put, you will attempt the ultimate survival." Anko then revealed a drawing of the map, "First, I will explain the area in which it will take place. Around practise arena No. 44, are forty-four locked gates. Forest, river, and a town in the centre. From the gates to the tower is about ten kilometres. During the survival in here, you will be asked to complete a certain task. Using your many weapons and jutsu, you will compete in a..." She then posed with two scrolls in her hands, "... No rules... scroll battle!"
Man, they come up with anything these days...
Kazumi exhaled through her nose."Scroll?""Yes..." Anko then pulled out the scrolls for the examinees to see the symbols above it, "You will fight over these scrolls... the 'heaven' and 'earth'. There are seventy-nine people here, meaning twenty-six teams. Half, 13 will get the 'heaven' scroll. And the other 13, will each get the 'earth' scroll. To pass this test, your team must make it to the tower with both scrolls."Sakura's hands slid down Kazumi's arm, now gripping onto her hand, "So, 13 teams will lose their scrolls... half the teams will definitely fail..." She concluded in a whisper.Kazumi simply nodded her head, overhearing this."But, there's a time limit." Anko quickly added, "This second test will last 120 hours. Exactly five days."
What...?
Kazumi lifted a brow, surprised."Five days?!!!" Ino screamed within the crowd."What about dinner?!!!!!" Chouji added, just as perplexed.Anko shrugged, uncaring, "You're on your own. The forest is full of food. Just watch out for man-eating beasts, poisonous insects, poisonous plants..."Kazumi zoned out from Anko's long list of dangers.
Hah! I should've stored some haiku's in my pouch.
She scoffed, disbelieving of this, though she couldn't help but smirk at the same time.
Why am I excited?
It wasn't her first 'camping trip'. And this time, there would be no guidance other than one simple goal."... And 13 teams passing is not likely. As the days go on, the distance to the goal will be farther. And the time to rest will be shorter. And the arena is crawling with enemies. You won't get much sleep. So, not only will some fail by losing the scroll, but some will die from the harshness of the course."Kazumi deadpanned. The excitement inside of her quickly faded."Now I'll talk about what will disqualify you!" Anko smiled, raising her fingers whilst she listed them, "First, those that don't make it to the tower, with both scrolls, within the time limit. Second, those who lose a teammate, or those who have a teammate killed. As a rule, there is no quitting in the middle, you will be in the forest for five days."In Kazumi's peripheral vision, she swore she could've noticed Shikamaru's shoulders hunch over."And one more rule... you must not look inside the scroll until you make it to the tower."Naruto raised a brow, "What happens if we do?"Anko then spoke in an eerily sweet tone, "That will be a surprise for anyone who does.""Best to not bother trying to open the scroll, then..." Kazumi sighed, not wanting to challenge her own curiosity.Naruto stiffly nodded in response to her mumbling comment."A chuunin will be asked to handle classified information. This is to test your trust worthiness." Anko placed her hands into her pockets, "That is it for explanations. Exchange the forms for your scroll. Then, choose a gate to get ready for the start." Her voice became loud, "A final word of advice... DON'T DIE!"
Tch, that's hardly an advice.
Kazumi observed the crowd of genin's around her, noting their appearances. From this point on, everyone was now her enemy. Not including her own team, of course.The main three Leaf village teams then bunched together, pumping themselves up for the test. Shikamaru smirked at Naruto, obviously wanting to go for his team. That only made the Uzumaki throw up his middle finger at them, challenging their expressions.Sakura slowly removed her hold from Kazumi, pulling an angered face at their shenanigans... mainly at Naruto.Kazumi's gaze flickered around, also noting the main teams that were a threat. She'd glance at the Sound-nin duo before then falling onto Gaara's team. Kazumi's eyes purposely skipped Lee's team, not wanting another creepy wink from the male with bushy brows.Already knowing her academy classmates, she held no concern for them. She knew everything she needed to know about them and their fighting techniques. They were no match for her, especially when partnered up with the Uchiha on top of that. This left her to contemplate harder when thinking back to the foreign teams."Let's go!" Naruto beamed, grabbing Kazumi's arm as he dragged the blonde girl with him toward the stands — Sakura and Sasuke following quickly after."Ack! Hey —"Naruto snatched their scroll, chucking it into a perplexed Kumo's arms."Here! You can hold it!" He gave her a thumbs up whilst scratching under his nose, "As thanks for stopping that kunai for me back there! But, you know... I could've handled that myself...!" He grinned, glancing at an irked Sakura with rosy cheeks."Yeah right! Kazumi was on edge because of your stupidity!" Sakura scolded, smacking his thumb back down."Ouch!!""Enough bickering, we still need to find a gate." Sasuke refocused the three with his monotone words.
Right...
Kazumi clutched the scroll to her chest, her expression hardening.Team Seven then headed to a gate after being guided by a random examiner who had just finished guiding another team. They passed through gate 12, walking deep into the forest. Within minutes, a scream could already be heard echoing throughout the forest."That was a human scream, right?" Sakura nervously asked, looking around.Team Seven stopped to look around as well. Kazumi had been staring down at the scroll in her grip, conflicted.
Just in case...
The Kumo begun seeping her chakra into the scroll, not too much, but not too little. With a single hand, she placed a jutsu on it."I'm getting a little nervous..." Sakura then admitted."This... This is nothing, Sakura-chan." Naruto tried to reassure, despite not having a clue either.Kazumi and Sasuke remained silent, aimlessly looking around the area.
A faint chakra scent?
Kazumi's eyes hardened, "Sakura," she whispered, swiftly approaching Sakura's backside with the scroll out, "Hold onto the scroll.""Eh?" Sakura spun around, reluctantly taking it as she messily shoved it into her pouch, "Why?""Something tells me we're being watched. I'd rather not drop my guard mid-fight." Kazumi stood back, exchanging a look with Sasuke.As Sakura's brows creased up in concern and her mouth parted ready to respond, Naruto obliviously cut into their conversation."I... gotta take a piss..." He cheesed, his arms up behind his neck with a frown.Kazumi raised a brow, turning her head back to him until her eyes widened at Naruto suddenly unzipping his pants. Instinctively, Kazumi craned her head away from the unfolding and unflattering scene.Sakura shrieked, instantly smacking the top of his head, "What are you doing in front of ladies?!!! Do that in the bushes!!"
Gross...
Kazumi internally recoiled at him, "Your pants are still slipping." She smacked the side of his hip, managing to cast a familiar jutsu in the process with a hidden smirk.Sasuke raised a brow, a light blush against his cheekbones."Hey! Okay, okay! I'm going!" Naruto's face burned red with embarrassment, rubbing his side and the top of his head where the two girls had just abused.With begrudging winces, Naruto rushed away to a hidden spot where he could do his business. Kazumi could only then sigh, watching as Sakura randomly gushed for Sasuke."When he comes back, we ought to find a team with the scroll we need. And we should stay away from the inner town area. There's likely going to be too many teams huddled and caught up fighting with one another." Kazumi firmly stated, earning a nod from Sasuke."But, what about food and water?" Sakura looked back and forth after shaking her weird thoughts away."We can get all that stuff from the rivers." Sasuke answered."Should be simple." Kazumi commented, just as unbothered.Sakura's face had fell.
I can already sense a possible team nearby. Looks like we got lucky.
Kazumi looked around their surroundings, again.Sakura's eyes swirled before returning to normal once seeing familiar blond hair jog down towards them."Man!!" Naruto came rushing back over, messily zipping his pants up, "So much came out! I feel great now!!"
His chakra scent isn't Naruto's.
Kazumi shared a quick glance with a knowing Sasuke, swiftly stepping forward to place an arm in front of Sakura who was about to approach and scream something at him in response."Huh? Kazumi? —"Sakura cut herself off when watching in shock as Sasuke darted for the fake Naruto, landing a strong kick to his jaw. This sent the fake Naruto towards a tree, knocked down. Sakura had then gasped, processing this."Sasuke-kun... Kazumi... you didn't have to go that far..." She grabbed Kazumi's stretched-out arm, surprised.The fake Naruto wiped the blood from his chin, scowling, "What the hell are you guys doing?""Where's the real Naruto?" Sasuke ignored him, alert."Huh?!" Sakura gasped.Kazumi glanced at her, "He's a fake, it's not Naruto's chakra." She explained.Fake Naruto glared at the two, "What... are you guys saying all of a sudden...?"Kazumi deadpanned.
This phoney thinks we're stupid.
"Your shuriken holster is on your left side, he's right handed. And the main difference is you don't have that small scratch that examiner put on Naruto's cheek. If Kazumi can't sense the real Naruto in you, then that makes you a fake loser who's worser than Naruto at transforming." Sasuke insulted, in a matter-of-fact tone.Kazumi scoffed-laughed at the last insulting sentence, "What's my name?"The fake Naruto raised a brow, looking between Sasuke and Kazumi before slowly replying, "Kumo Kazumi...?"The three then shared looks with each other, altogether knowing that the original Naruto started calling her 'Kaz'. Not to mention the irritating fact that Naruto (on many occasions) forgot her surname. Sakura caught on first, and instantly became unnerved once they all turned their attention back to the fake."Wrong." Kazumi smirked, her gaze narrowed downwards.Suddenly, the fake Naruto disappeared, reappearing as a completely different person. A sweat dropped from his face, trying his best to not waver under Kazumi's change in expression and tone."Ugh! Whatever!! Unlucky, you guys figured it out!! Oh well!" His voice switched back to his original one, "Which one of you has the scroll?!" He yelled, suddenly focusing on Sakura.Kazumi took a big step in front of Sakura, her arm still protectively out with her glare steadily increasing."If you're thinking what I'm thinking, you're wrong. The scroll isn't on her." Kazumi stated, making Sakura flinch.Sasuke warily stepped back, bracing himself whilst they talked."Are you saying you still have it? You can't fool me, I saw you giving it to the girl!" The enemy smirked, outstretching his hand with the other holding a kunai. "Well, if my eyes are fooling me, hand it over!"
So we really were being watched, huh?
"A blond has it." Kazumi mimicked his smirk, "But, you've got the wrong blonde."The enemy ninja then faltered, confused. Sakura had instantly checked her pouch, realising the scroll was substituted into a twig as she pulled it out for all to see. "E—Eh?!" "It's a good thing that idiot holds the strangest things inside of his pockets." Kazumi smiled, shaking her head.Sakura snapped her head up, beaming at Kazumi in awe at her preparations. Even Sasuke was taken aback, his mouth twitching upwards. On the other hand, the enemy ninja wore a furious expression."I should've taken those damn twigs from that kids' pockets, if I had known!!" He growled, charging towards the two kunoichi's with intentions to kill.
Yikes...
Kazumi pulled Sakura back with her, jumping away and above Sasuke who had quickly formed a hand sign, his black irises bleeding into red as he shot a fire jutsu towards the enemy from below. The enemy dodged by jumping away, and the two were now in the trees, fighting in taijutsu."He's doing a good job at keeping the enemy away." Kazumi then turned to Sakura, "Stay here and keep the scroll safe.""Huh?" Sakura's face blanked, flinching harder once the twig in her hand substituted back into the familiar scroll, "Ah!"Kazumi quickly took off to find Naruto while Sakura had successfully hid the scroll back into her pouch. The Kumo dodged a bunch of shurikens that were thrown down at her by the multitasking enemy. Though, after a while, the enemy settled on attempting to defeat Sasuke out of frustration."Sasuke-kun!" Sakura yelled, helplessly standing in the middle of it.Kazumi went straight for Naruto after hearing him cry out for his team. The Uchiha threw a kunai down beside her foot, making the blonde girl lean over to grab it whilst she ran. Upon seeing vibrant blond hair, Kazumi skidded on her knees toward Naruto's tied-up body against the thick tree.He was squirming on the ground, lighting up at Kazumi's sudden appearance. With the given kunai, she roughly cut through the rope, swiftly pushing herself back up.She extended her hand out for Naruto to take, effortlessly pulling the blond to his feet. An explosion then startled them, making her head tilt up to Sasuke in the trees.
An explosion tag?
"Thanks, Kaz!" Naruto grinned, pulling her into a side-hug.Kazumi tensed.When the blonde duo focused their attention back on the fight, Sakura's voice echoed throughout the forest."Sasuke-kun!!" She cried out again."Think you can do that teleport thing again?" Kazumi asked, tilting her head to Naruto.Naruto grinned, "Hell yeah!" He roughly grabbed her arm to cast the jutsu.The two blondes felt Deja Vu as they disappeared then reappeared through smoke. They stood in the middle of the scene, just in time to catch the enemy off guard. Kazumi yanked her arm away from Naruto, brows already raised at Sasuke's improved actions."THE SUPERHERO AND SIDEKICK ARE HERE YET AGAIN!" Naruto shouted, posing ridiculously.Kazumi rolled her eyes, ignoring him. Sakura gave him an unimpressed look. Naruto then huffed, shaking it off as he looked towards the scene.He had then called out for Sasuke, only to be ignored as the Uchiha grabbed the kunai from the ground with infused chakra in the sole of his foot, kicking his leg out, which caused the kunai to fly out from under his shoe once he had released his chakra force.This caught the enemy by surprise. And Sasuke then finished him by stabbing the kunai into the enemy's side.
Brutal...
Kazumi's brows twitched together."This is rough, but I have no choice! Don't just stand around, there may be others!" Sasuke yelled to Sakura, "Listen! Relax for a moment, and you'll seriously be killed!!" He warned Naruto as well.
Ah... we really... might have to kill others...
Kazumi watched, the palms of her hands beginning to sweat. It wasn't like the Mist mission, when the enemies were actual enemies. This was merely fellow examinees, just like herself.It was honestly cruel.The opponent gripped his bleeding arm, jumping away deep into the forest. He had fled.
He ran away...
Kazumi exhaled through her nose with relief, then watching Sasuke appear back onto the ground.Team Seven instantly walked over to him, and Sakura had checked him for any wounds. Sasuke finally gestured for them to huddle close, kneeling to the ground. They copied his actions, listening closely to what he had to say.Sasuke's irises were back to black, wiping his scratched chin with his thumb, "If we get separated next time... Even if it's one of us, don't trust them." He caught for his breath, "This could happen again.""He's right." Kazumi nodded, "Did you notice he wasn't with his team? It's likely he's one of those that check out the opponent's vulnerabilities." She analysed, recalling that there was only one random enemy ninja.Sasuke firmly nodded back, "Exactly. If this happens again, we'll need to use a code word to identify each other. If they get the code wrong, assume they are the enemy no matter what they look like."Sasuke and Kazumi then stared at each other for a long second, exchanging words through a glance. The air around the two became thick as Kazumi slowly pressed her hand on the rocky surface beneath their crouched figures.Naruto and Sakura remained unknowing.
Someone's listening in on this conversation... Hah... Can we just get a break for five seconds?!
Kazumi then glanced down at the ground, purposely refusing to look over her shoulder otherwise it would startle the hidden enemy. Her jaw clenched, training her expression into an apathetic one before it could crack into any kind of knowing smirk.She released her hand from the ground, her pumping chakra dispersing from the tips of her fingers.This time, Sakura nodded, understanding the dire situation."Listen carefully, I'll only say it once. The Nin song, 'Nin Machine'... When this is asked, answer with... 'A large amount of loud enemies is the friend of the shinobi, hide and remain silent. A shinobi must understand the proper time, when the enemy is tired and ill-prepared.'" Sasuke slowly spoke, earning a smile from Sakura."Okay!" She nods, confident.
Wait, why is this familiar?
Kazumi shook her head, her attention falling back onto a serious Sasuke."Seriously? We know this saying from the early academy's rhymes." Kazumi deadpanned up at him, only to receive a glare from Sasuke that said: 'Just do it' in return."Wait! That's impossible to remember..." Naruto whined.Kazumi turned her head to him, not even surprised anymore.
He must've fallen asleep during choir, then...
"Are you stupid? I already memorised it." Sakura insulted him, already knowing by heart the exact academy book in which the nursery quote was from."Hey... is this code word really..."Sasuke cut off Naruto's doubts, "I'll hold onto the scroll." He placed his hand out flat to Sakura."Wait —" Kazumi was about to disagree when a strong wind erupted throughout the area, startling Team Seven."More enemies?!!" Sasuke yelled, blocking the debris from entering his eyes.It was as if a large explosion occurred. The winds were strong enough to split Seven apart, and Kazumi stood alone, lost in the middle of the forest.
Great... Looks like whoever was listening to our conversation wanted to purposely split us up like this.
She frowned, looking around. After a long few seconds of running around, she found Sasuke's chakra with her clan eye activated. This made her irises revert back to her usual dull-gold."Nin Machine." Sasuke glared at her, his kunai thrust out.Kazumi scoffed, "I'm not going to recite a song from a childish nursery rhyme. Naruto's right, you know. Lengthy and impossible.""Tch." Sasuke lowered the kunai, "Just do it."Kazumi glared, "'A large amount of loud enemies is the friend of the shinobi, hide and remain silent... A shinobi must understand the proper time, when the enemy is tired and ill-prepared...'" She quoted, cringing at herself.
Ah... I'm recalling unwanted memories...
Kazumi hugged her arms to her chest, comically shivering.Sasuke turned his head away, hiding a triumph smirk. However, their shoulders tensed when the ruffling sounds of a person emerging from a bush occurred. Their heads turned in sync, watching Sakura appear out of the bush."Kazumi! Sasuke-kun!!" She gasped, relieved.Sasuke raised the kunai towards Sakura this time, "Stay away. First the code-word. Nin song, Nin Machine." He softly demanded."Oh yeah!" Sakura shouted, "'A large amount of loud enemies is the friend of the shinobi, hide and remain silent. A shinobi must understand the proper time, when the enemy is tired and ill-prepared.'"
Wow, she really did memorise it!
Kazumi smiled at her.Naruto's voice came groaning out from a tree, grinning, "You guys alright?"
Really, again?
Kazumi instantly sensed an unpleasant chakra scent from him, causing her nose to scrunch up in disgust.Sakura stopped him, immediately asking for the code-word."I know... 'A large amount of loud enemies is the friend of the shinobi, hide and remain silent. A shinobi must understand the proper time, when the enemy is tired and ill-prepared.'" He quoted the code, too perfectly."What's with all these fake Narutos?" Kazumi grumbled to herself.The real Naruto clearly couldn't catch a break, either. And the fake had flinched.Sasuke smirked, throwing a kunai towards the fake. The fake Naruto dodged it, shrieking.
He dodged?!
Kazumi flinched, surprised."Sasuke-kun, why?!! Naruto said the code word!!" Sakura screamed, stressed."So, this time it's someone good enough to dodge my attacks." Sasuke ignored her."What are you talking about, Sasuke-kun!!" Sakura continued, then looking at Kazumi as if the two were mad inside their heads "Why aren't you saying anything, Kaz?!!"
She's really getting stressed...
"Sakura, calm down." She firmly gazed at her, placing a hand on her shoulder.Her tense shoulders relaxed, though Sakura was still confused.The fake Naruto smirked, rather sinisterly than normal, "Impressive that you knew..." A cloud of smoke appeared all around him until the real being behind it showed itself, "How did you two know? That I was a fake...""We knew you were listening to our conversation from under the ground. That's why I made the code word like that." Sasuke then smirked, "There's no way he could remember a song that long. So, you had to be a fake."The enemy took off their kasa hat, eerily smiling from behind it, "I see... Neither tired nor ill-prepared, are we? This will be more fun than I thought."
Isn't that person an examiner?
Kazumi raised a brow, recognising the person. It was the man-woman with the incredibly long tongue.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

A blonde haired girl tapped her foot on the ground, staring through the window of a small corner store. The store within Konoha was quite famous for their magazines, novels and many more. One book in particular that seemed to nearly sell out was a familiar orange cover. An orange novel that Kazumi had seen her current sensei read.It wasn't just her sensei, Kakashi, who read such books, but her uncle, Sanjiro, as well. Curiosity seemed to always kill the cat when it came down to her inquiries.
Come Come Paradise...
She repeated the title of the specific orange book inside of her head over and over. Eventually, she stopped tapping her foot, and crossed her arms over her chest. A single second went by before the blonde Kumo was last seen standing idling by outside of the building.As she opened the doors and entered, vibrant colours and the faint smell of smoke rose to her senses. The owner hadn't paid attention to her, staring deeply into a magazine as he leaned against the counter.
Where could it be? I heard Uncle's been trying to get a latest copy...
She frowned, wandering around the isle of papers. She'd pass many until coming across an entire shelf dedicated to the trilogy of it. This made her raise a brow."Ho? I remember scavenging around these sections when I was a naughty kid..." A deep voice appeared, making her attention snap to him.It was a random middle aged man. He had no shinobi attire. Therefore, the male looked like a squid in her imagination."I'll give you a recommendation... But, here's a tip!" He said, pushing an orange book into her view, "Place it in between two random books. The owner hardly checks when it's in stacks, he's totally lazy!" Without her responding, he forcefully placed the book into her hold with a large grin, "Ah... youth! Those were the days..." He sighed dreamily before giving her shoulder a pat to then walk further down the aisle.Kazumi hardly processed any of the interaction that just occurred since her eyes were focused on the orange novel in her grasp.
It's exactly what I was looking for...
She frowned deeper, feeling an odd chill come over her.
Hmph! No matter, I'll take a peek.
Just as she went to open the book, a tall figure appeared in front of her. With his arms crossed, the store owner gave her an unamused expression."Hey, kid, what do you think you're doing in the adult section?" He asked, trying to intimidate her.It wasn't working, "... I'm a potential customer? And who're you calling a kid? I'm a shinobi!" She sneered, shutting the novel closed in her hand."Yeah, yeah, what's new?" He scoffed, snatching the book from her grasp, "Get out of here, boy!"In seconds, Kazumi found herself dishevelled, the glass door slamming shut behind her. She didn't even care about the book anymore, but the fact that the man had assumed she was as a male. Knowing the intentions of the filthy book, Kakashi and her uncle were just as she thought: perverted men."Kazumi?" A vibrant blond head forced itself into her view, "What're you doing outside the comic store?" Naruto smiled, "I didn't know you read that stuff!"Kazumi rolled her eyes away from his face.
Oh great... the last person I'd —
She froze, and suddenly, a light bulb turned on inside of her mind. Slowly, her expression relaxed into a small, cunning smile."Naruto, aren't you curious about the book Kakashi-sensei always reads?""No."A weight fell on her shoulders."Who even cares about books?! I'm always here for the portrait magazines...!" He grinned, his cheeks turning a light hue of pink.
Perfect!
"Hm? But, the sorta book that Kakashi-sensei reads has drawings in it..."Naruto pulled a face, "Really? Well..." He rubbed his chin, his face twisting into a conflicted frog, "I can't imagine Kakashi-sensei reading a book with drawings in it... Must be good..."
Take the bait already!
Kazumi deadpanned, "And to think Kakashi-sensei teased you with it during the survival test..."Naruto's gaze burned when recalling the specific frustrating experience, "Eh? Wait! Now I'm interested! Anyways, why're you just waiting around outside the door?" He pointed to her like he was trying to accuse her of something."I got kicked out. It's in the adult section..." Kazumi went to continue, but Naruto had already formed a hand sign."No biggie!" He eagerly shouted, performing an unfamiliar jutsu that created clouds of smoke to appear all around them.Kazumi waved the smoke away, her brow twitching at the sight. Naruto had done his infamous Sexy Jutsu. It was the same jutsu from the academy, transforming the short Uzumaki into a tall female Uzumaki. Rather than a normal woman, she was unrealistically curvy and wore revealing clothes."My Sexy Jutsu gets me anything from this place! You name it!" He grinned, his voice uncannily feminine."... Come Come Paradise..." She slowly replied, heaving a sigh after the last word.
This is getting too weird now...
She cringed, watching Naruto zoom inside the store. However, he reappeared with his hand out and a forced puppy face. Turns out his frog wallet had not a single yen inside."Hey, I'm not asking you to buy it! Just look inside of it and tell me what it's about. Oh, and also the authors name." She recoiled away."Oh!" Naruto disappeared back into the shop, and Kazumi found herself tapping her foot once more as she gazed through the window.
What's taking so long?
Almost half a minute went by. However, she jumped back the moment the doors swung open. The menacing store owner glared down at the Uzumaki, who was back in his original form. She watched him kick the kid out like a ball, threatening to ban him."Naruto!!! Your dirty jutsu won't work on me this time!" The owner screamed with a dried bloody nose and strained eyes."Ouch!" Naruto skidded on his tush, staggering back up to his feet with an uncomfortable frown, "Hey... Kazumi... I found the book, but..."Kazumi instantly walked over to him, "'But'? So? What was it about? Did you get the authors name?"Naruto stiffened, scratching his cheek, "N—Nah... I got so lost in those pages, 'ya know... And I don't even know where the find the authors name!"Kazumi exhaled through her nose, "It's in the back of every book."His reaction read: 'Didn't I tell you I don't read?' Making her feel oddly concerned for his future. With another heavy sigh and blink, Kazumi found herself sitting in a ramen shop with Naruto, watching him slurp away at his beefy noodles.How he convinced her to eat there together after such events? Kazumi couldn't recall in her disappointed trance.She was leaned against the table, mentally contemplating how she'd find out the author of the book. Now, you're probably thinking... Why is Kazumi going to such lengths? Well, one night, Kazumi awoke to the sounds of Sanjiro typing away in a typewriter, even giggling to himself as his attention went back and forth between the machine and orange book.This led her to suspect him of being the creator."You sure you don't want ramen?" Naruto asked with his mouth full of noodles, "You're missing out.""Not in my diet." She immediately turned him down, grimacing at the thought of eating a bowl of it."Hmm? Those orange pants... Those grey robes..." A familiar voice spoke, appearing through the tassels, "Naruto, Kazumi!" Sakura called, surprised.Sasuke and Kakashi appeared as well, making Kazumi fully turn in her seat to them. It was unlike them to casually be all together unless a mission was sent."Sakura-chan!" Naruto beamed, almost drooling from the watery food."Don't speak with your mouth full, gross!!" Sakura scolded, balling up her fist.Naruto quickly gulped down the remaining ramen."Good, we're all here!" Kakashi smiled behind his mask, "Since we've got a new mission.""A mission this late in the day?" Kazumi raised a brow."There's a thug attack in the outskirts of the village. The Hokage assigned us to deal with it." Kakashi explained, his tone dull but his closing smile ecstatic.
Ah.
It was another typical mission. At least it wasn't one where she'd be stuck knee-deep in mud dealing with rotten potato's for the lazy villagers. Or one where she and Naruto would get chased by animals for very separate reasons. "Right." Kazumi nodded, standing up from the stool until Naruto grabbed her elbow with a sheepish grin."Hey... so, you know how I don't have my allowance yet..."Without a single glance, Kazumi threw yen his way like a heaven-sent money machine. Sakura's mouth created an 'o', goggling at the fresh money.Naruto caught it, "I expected nothing less from my friendly rival!!" He beamed, using the coins to pay for his bowl of ramen."Geez... So unreliable!" Sakura quickly shook her head to frown, firmly turning her back to Naruto. Team Seven almost left without him, the blond Uzumaki struggling to catch up as he was dealing with an oncoming stomach stitch. —_______________  "We're here."Seven stops at an abandoned looking area. Windows were boarded for a clear reason, and it didn't surprise Kazumi if it was due to the retaliation of violent shinobi's from other villages. A lot of native Leaf were hiding away for a good reason. "They may seem like low level thugs, but be on guard. These ninja's have a sole objective, and they'll do whatever it takes to do so." Kakashi warned, analysing the area.Sasuke was silent, also taking in the eerie silence in the air. Naruto was frowning, clutching the side of his stitching stomach."What's their objective, sensei?" Sakura asked, anxiously holding her kunai to her chest in a defensive manner."Usually incidents like this happen because they attempt to make a point. Things such as: 'Our village is better than yours' through violent strength at the innocent." The jounin replied, monotonous."The nerve to do this before the chuunin exams. Have they lost their minds?" Kazumi remarked, irked.Kakashi placed his hand on his hip, resting his hand against his pouch, "Yes... well, these type of shinobi are also the type to be discarded and looked down upon by their own villages."Kazumi zoned her attention away from his words and towards his pouch, remembering the possibility of the orange book being kept inside. As Team Seven dispersed from one another to examine the areas, Kazumi carefully approached a grumbling Uzumaki."Naruto." She waved, beckoning him to lend an ear.He raised a brow, leaning his ear to her secretive gaze, "Eh? What?""Kakashi-sensei's likely got that book inside of his pouch. What do you say we team up and try to get it?" She smirked, rarely playful like this.Kazumi had got to the point where after every low ranked mission, a part of her sanity felt like it would slip away by the faint nagging of her uncle's disapproval lingering in the back of her mind, demeaning such shinobi ranks. It wasn't even her fault, but the Hokage's poor judgment for mission assignments. Naruto's eyes squinted, "What do I get out of this?""Closure." She shrugged, "And if I'm satisfied... I'll treat you to ramen.""Deal!" Naruto grabbed her hand and forcefully shook it without a single ounce of hesitance.
A presence?
Her smirk dropped, recoiling her head back from the grinning blond male."Kazumi, Naruto, watch out!" Kakashi shouted, causing Sakura and Sasuke to spin their bodies around to face them.Naruto lagged, looking over his shoulder at the shadow of an enemy ninja. Kazumi's eyes snapped up to the enemy, grabbing Naruto's collar as she yanked him away with her. Their sword missed them both by an inch, the tip stuck in the rough soil next to them."Stick close together!" Kakashi ordered.Hurriedly, Kazumi and Naruto rushed over, dodging shurikens laced with poison in the process.A dozen enemy ninja's revealed themselves from every dark corner, approaching them with the intentions to kill. Team Seven were back to back, reflecting shurikens.Suddenly, a smoke bomb exploded in between them, followed by a strong gust of wind. Kazumi felt herself being blown away with Sakura, ending up inside of a torn building."Sakura-chan! Kazumi!" Naruto yelled, jumping through the broken window and checking on the girls.Kazumi was already on her feet, helping Sakura up. In the distance, Sasuke and Kakashi were swiftly dealing with the thugs, giving Kazumi a sudden idea."Naruto, Kakashi-sensei looks pretty busy. He won't notice his book gone from his pouch, don't you think?" She mentioned, fully focused on Kakashi with a serious expression."Yeah! I already have a few ideas!" He grinned, punching his knuckles together."Eh??" Sakura aimlessly looked between them, "What are you guys talking about? We should be helping sensei and Sasuke-kun!!" She protested, confused.Kazumi huffed through her nose, leaning into Sakura's ear as she explained their situation. Sakura blinked, then gazing at Kazumi as if the Kumo lost a screw."That's so childish!" Sakura gasped, crossing her arms with a pout, "... Alright, how can I help?"Naruto widely grinned, "You'll help us, Sakura-chan?!""Only because I'm just as curious! Kakashi-sensei's always digging his nose in that book... I'm starting to think it's unhealthy." She simply said, trying not to cave in despite her inner-self being fired up with eagerness."Thanks." Kazumi stiffly tilts her head down, deciding to vaguely explain a few strategies that could work.Suddenly, the three of them were back in the middle of the fight. And this time, there was more to it than simple taijutsu and weaponry. Sasuke couldn't help but noticed their odd behaviour, watching how Kazumi's hand would brush against the tip of Kakashi's pouch. Or how Sakura would manage to distract Kakashi's attention while Naruto made his way to the pouch as well — fingers hardly reaching despite using his clones."And that's the last of them!" Kakashi dusted off, securely tying the two enemy ninja's into strong binds.Their clones were long gone, leaving it to reveal just two pathetic shinobi-wannabe's. Naruto collapsed straight behind him, his face planting against the floor with his arm outstretched for Kakashi's backside. He had almost reached his fingertips inside of Kakashi's pouch."Way to go, Naruto!" Sakura sarcastically hissed, trying to keep her volume low.Kakashi noticed, awkwardly turning around to gaze down at Naruto's odd demeanour, "Naruto?"The blond Uzumaki jumped back up to his feet, nervously smiling with a forced thumbs up. The pounding lump forming on the top of his head had said otherwise."Let's have these thugs delivered to where they belong and inform the villagers that they are safe." Kakashi issued, shrugging off their unusual behaviour.As the jounin turned back and picked up the unconscious thugs, he began walking. The genin's quickly followed — Sakura, Kazumi and Naruto purposely lagging behind Sasuke to whisper away with each other."What was that? You almost got Kakashi-sensei to suspect us!" Sakura jumped on to insult in low hushes.
She's more into this than I am...
Kazumi blinked, though still very curious about the author of the perverted book."I almost had it...! I swear!" Naruto grumbled back, rubbing against the lump. "Kazumi's the one who tripped me up!"Kazumi's brows furrowed, "Huh? Did I?" She was too focused on Kakashi's pouch and multiple punch attempts to notice."What are you dorks up to?" Sasuke slowed his steps to sync in line beside them, eyes squinted to analyse their out-of-character actions."Nothing you need to know! You won't be able to do it anyway —""SHUT UP!" Sakura screamed, punching against Naruto's lump which worsened the wound.Kazumi scratched her ear with her pinky, recoiling away from their shenanigans, "It's nothing major... And I don't need your help if anything..." She stubbornly spoke, cringing when catching Sakura's deadly glare."We could use with another hand, though!" Sakura slowly calmed down, batting her lashes at Sasuke.Kazumi's lips thinned, but eventually, the genin's huddled close together when the situation and plan was explained once more. Sasuke wasn't interested at first until Kazumi had to offer a duel after the mission and plan was over. In that specific duel, the loser would have to do whatever the winner asks of.And for two people of different clans, that type of offer was one you wouldn't wish to pass for the sake of honour and pride. A deal that Sasuke instantly agreed on, caving in to his egoistical mindset.His determined look reeked of that same ego, trying to show Kazumi that he could get Kakashi's book as if it was a piece of cake. Sakura and Naruto didn't know it yet, but the small plan had just turned into a game between the Kumo and Uchiha.Unbeknownst to all four of them, Kakashi had been eavesdropping and knew of their childish plans from the start. Thus why he purposely made it hard for either one of them to reach his pouch— even during the walk back to the inner village of Konohagakure.  —_______________  "It's... impossible..." Kazumi huffed out, on all fours.Sakura and Naruto were on the ground as well, overworked from aggressively trying to get the orange book. Nearby, Sasuke was hunched over, breaking a few beads of sweat.Kakashi was now holding the orange book, casually reading whilst acting like he had no clue what his genin's were doing. It was hidden mockery, fuelling the jounin's amusement by his genin's interactions."What a good read." Kakashi mumbled to himself before abruptly shutting the book closed and placing it aside, "Watch over these guys while I head into the building." He ordered, pointing his thumb at the restricted and unconscious enemy ninja's.He seemed unbothered by his students haggard states, humming as he disappeared into the building. Kazumi was the first to get up to her feet, her eyes immediately on Sasuke's. The Uchiha was already looking back at her, his jaw tightening.Sakura wiped sweat from her chin, helping Naruto up to his footing. Naruto had been wasting unnecessary amounts of chakra to get the book without any solid strategies. Sakura had mainly grown tired of constantly having to distract and make up interesting facts to keep Kakashi's attention away.Although the orange book was lying on the side of a fence now, just outside the door that Kakashi went inside. Knowing the deal Kazumi had proposed, there was no way she was going to let Sasuke get the book before her.Who knew what he'd make her do? His laundry? His meals? Kiss his feet? Anything that could chip away at Kazumi's pride was a win in his book. And she'd only do the same thing back if she won the deal. Ideas such as making him use esteem honorifics to address her to fighting him in a state where he is forced to use nothing but taijutsu. Concepts flipped back and forth between their mutual, locked gaze. All she had to do was grab the book and find the author's name, Sasuke's goal similar in their deal. The first jolt of their bodies became the starting gun for their race-like situation. Naruto and Sakura blinked, and suddenly, Sasuke's eyes bled red and Kazumi's faded to uncanny greyness. The Uchiha dashed from the spot whilst Kazumi disappeared, reappearing the closest to the orange book.She grabbed it, jumping back in a defensive manner away from the Uchiha. Sasuke whipped out a bunch of shuriken's, throwing them for the book. Startled, Kazumi staggered back on the ground, watching it fly out of her grasp and pin to a wall.Naruto's face lit up, instantly fired up by their seriousness towards getting their hands on the orange book. Sakura had repeatedly shrieked, trying to call quits before something was to happen.Shadow clones, more shurikens, and the disappearance and reappearance of Kazumi consistently went on until a warm hand finally got a hold of the book altogether."I... got it...!!" Kazumi harshly clenched the book in her grasp, then shooting a glare at Sasuke whose hand was gripping the spine of the book at the same time."I grabbed it first!" He stated, stubbornly attempting to pull it closer. Their bodies leaned forward and back like a seesaw from their tugs.Until their foreheads smacked together and their clan eyes burned with playful fury at one another. In the distance, dizzy shadow clones of Naruto were having a heated argument with each other, accusing themselves of getting in the way.Sakura looked like she was about to faint from the stress of having no power to intervene other than constantly shouting for them to stop fooling around.«RIIIIIIIIP....»
What?
Kazumi slowly looked down at the tearing noise, stupefied as the orange book tore into two. Sasuke was just as taken aback by the sight, frozen. It caused their clan eyes to deactivate. Meanwhile, Naruto's shadow clones finally stopped punching each other when hearing the sound, and one by one the clones of Naruto disappeared until it was only him standing in silent shock."Kakashi-sensei's book!!" Sakura screamed, panicked.Naruto's face dropped to mimic Sakura's panic. Sasuke and Kazumi went almost pale when releasing their grasp on the book at the same time. It depressingly flopped to the ground, torn pages escaping the abused spine. 
Wait a minute...
Her gaze scanned the orange book on the ground, feeling a faint chakra scent. Sasuke almost picked up on it until it suddenly popped into thin air like one of Naruto's clones."To think this would have happened to the real novel..." Kakashi appeared, the real orange book still in his hands.A few shinobi of the Leaf appeared behind, taking in the thugs to be dealt with by the Hokage and officers."My little genin's have some explaining to do." The jounin eerily smiled behind his mask, tucking away the real orange book.
Damn...
A drop of sweat anxiously fell from her temple as she shared a look with the tense Uchiha.  —_______________  The sun was nearly setting in the distance. Kazumi found herself back in the ramen shop, this time with all of her teammates, including her sensei.Sasuke ordered a simple bowl, one containing tomatoes which made her grimace at his taste in food. Sakura had a smaller bowl of ramen, with a side of dumplings. Kakashi didn't order anything, choosing to treat his genin's. As for Kazumi herself, she stuck with a small side of green vegetables.Naruto — on the other hand — was on his second bowl of beef ramen, overjoyed to be eating so much in one day."So it was like that?" Kakashi thought out loud, processing individual reasonings behind their behaviour."Forgive me, sensei... it was childish of me to even propose and do." Kazumi miserably said, poking at her vegetables with flushed cheeks, "I guess I got too carried away...""Eh? It's my fault, too! I should've convinced you guys better not to go so far!!" Sakura butted in, feeling just as guilty."Man!! Nothing better than even more ramen to finish the day!" Naruto dug into his food, oblivious to the apologetic setting."Hey!! Apologise with us, will 'ya?!" Sakura scolded, pulling him away by his collar.Naruto scowled, "Yeah, yeah! Sorry! But, at least it wasn't the real book!" He then grinned, "And thanks again for paying for our ramen!! I think I'd like to go out for ramen frequently with you, Kakashi-sensei!"
Suck-up!
Kazumi pulled a face."Hmph... it got too intense for no reason." Sasuke crossed his arms when finishing his ramen.He was never good with apologies, but his slight guilty pout expressed it much more than his words.Kakashi smiled at each and every one of his students, "I see, but it is through these moments that bring us closer. Here..." He then rummaged through his pouch to pull out the orange book, "You can have it."The genin's paused, surprised. Kazumi raised a brow, watching Kakashi give them the rest of his money to pay for the ramen before waving farewells to them. Dull gold eyes danced between emerald, onyx and ocean ones, before they collectively leaned shoulder-to-shoulder to get a better look.Kazumi had grabbed the book, staring at it in shock. It had the same title, felt real, and wasn't broken. All that checked off her list of suspicion. Naruto then frowned, tired of the silent anticipation."Open it already!" He yelled in her ear.Kazumi flipped open the first page, suddenly confused at the blank pages. Sakura let out a puzzled gasp and Sasuke's brows flattened, already suspecting Kakashi pulled another trick on them.Desperately, Kazumi flipped over more blank pages until she reached the end, just wishing to see the authors name for her own eyes. Although like the other pages, even the back was blank. When gently closing the book, they watched it poof into smoke.
Huh.
A silence fell before Naruto's frustrated groans could be heard from miles away. Sakura and Sasuke's shoulders sagged, tired of their sensei's teasing.
Sensei!!!!
Kazumi mentally enraged, causing the silver-haired man to scratch his ear from the other side of the village— reading the real orange book in his hand.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The enemy took off their kasa hat, eerily smiling from behind it, "I see... Neither tired nor ill-prepared, are we? This will be more fun than I thought."

'Isn't that person an examiner?'

Kazumi raised a brow, recognising the person. It was the man-woman with the incredibly long tongue.
   ✧˖*°࿐   "It wasn't Naruto, again?!" Sakura's jaw slacked open, quickly realising that Naruto truly would've never memorised such a long statement.Kazumi dropped her hand from Sakura's shoulder, turning her gaze back to the enemy ninja.However, his dull, dark eyes were already on her, smiling. The smile was neither positive nor negative, and it wasn't pleasant either. It was as if he was looking through a screen. This oddly sent a shiver down her spine, and a wave of confusion washed throughout her skin.
There's... something really off about this person...
She noiselessly gulped, flinching her gaze down at his scroll in which he slowly raised in the air for them to see."You want my 'earth' scroll, right? Since you guys have the 'heaven' scroll..."Kazumi raised a brow, only for her face to drop when the enemy had abruptly shoved the scroll down his own throat. His long tongue wrapped around it like a cocoon, slowly engulfing it down his stretchy throat. Just like that of a snake swallowing its prey.The three genin's instantly became alarmed, unnerved by the person's uncanny actions."Now... let's begin... the battle for each other's scrolls..." He had a hand up to his face, pulling his eyelid down, "...With our lives on the line."Chakra was released from the man, causing the genin's to collapse to their knees. What felt like thousands of slashes tore through their bodies by the man's abrupt jutsu. Kazumi could vaguely feel the tearing in all of her skin's layers, until it pierced into every single one of her lower organs. The pain was extreme, yet neither her nor her team could depict blood.Suddenly, kunai's stabbed through their foreheads, penetrating their brains. The feeling was severe, intense, and real, as she could even feel the way her brain squished together in a defensive manner, like a sponge releasing water — like the brain beginning to internally bleed out.Her head swayed back, and the kunai disappeared from their heads. Her arteries pulsated from the tip of her fingers to the ends of her curled toes.
A genjutsu!!
She hunched forward, trembling in sheer terror. In a split millisecond of a moment, her mind believed it was real; she believed she had felt death. The genjutsu was a far more superior one, one in which she was at no current level to mirror.In the hands of the enemy, it dawned upon her that there was no way out of this; that it was impossible to escape, let alone defeat him. He-she was no parody, but a devil in shinobi disguise.
Who is this person?!
She suddenly felt a bubbling sensation beneath her stomach, and a wave of nausea camethrough. With all her might, Kazumi managed to gulp it down. However, Sakura had projectile vomited next to Kazumi and Sasuke with tears streaming down her face, too frightened to squeak out even a sob.And to Kazumi, who had never once properly cried before in her life, had an underlying urge to do so.
What is this horrible feeling?!
Her breath hitched, and the sound of Sasuke's voice calling for both her and Sakura's names were faint — very faint. An endless buzzing sound as if a bee was trapped in her ear; her eyes glued towards two dull and dark irises that pierced her erratic soul.The enemy ninja was smiling throughout it all, overly excited to be looking ever so deeply into Kazumi's eyes. She was stuck in what felt like a box, nailing her shut. Her pupils shook, watching his mouth open, still smiling."You can no longer move..."Out of all the voices, she could only hear his. Kazumi's number one fear had just became a reality.And in that very moment, she recalled the day she spoke to herself towards a mirror, the day she thought about the ideology of fears: "To not be in control of my own body... I suppose." Her very sentence appeared in her mind, replaying over... and over... and over...She remained stuck; frozen in time.
I'm going to die.
She thought in a practical tone. The only parts of her body that could move was her jaw which was slowly falling, and her brows knitted upwards, registering everything. Her mind, heart, and soul became numb, numb enough to not even physically feel an arm wrap around her figure and the feeling of air pressuring down against herself.The enemy wasn't like Zabuza or Haku at all. The enemy was a true threat."Kazumi!"Kazumi's eyes shot wide, and her senses went into overdrive. The sounds of the forest, the sounds of Sakura and Sasuke's heavy, shaky breathing. Kazumi could finally hear things again, her senses flooded down against her, as rough as being hit by piles of bricks. Most of all, the dark piercing irises disappeared from her range of sight."Kazumi! Kaz!" Sakura deeply frowned, gripping her arm tightly.She was horrified to see Kazumi in such a state, the tears that were already dried on her cheeks had risked to emerge again.Kazumi's eyes were squinted, looking at the blurry Sasuke and Sakura through her vision. The Kumo was fighting an urge to faint, and Sasuke could tell. This made him lean up against the tree, looking over his shoulder and around to keep guard of their surroundings from the hidden spot.As much as the Uchiha was frightened, his rivals petrified reactions unsettled him more so than the enemy itself. If Kumo Kazumi was scared, Sasuke was in for a gruelling experience."Kazumi, quickly snap out of it!" He firmly demanded, frantically looking in all directions."Ah... R—Right..." Kazumi stuttered, rubbing her throat.However, it was extremely hard for them to focus after experiencing that. This left Sakura no choice but to focus her mind in their situation for them."Kazumi, Sasuke-kun! —"Sasuke slapped his palm against Sakura's lips, squeezing her cheeks in so that she wouldn't speak. Kazumi had her gaze back down at the branch they all sat on, her breathing still unsteady. The branch seemed to sway slightly, and the green bushes from the distance were blurred.She was no longer on the ground, pathetically dominated by a single genjutsu alone. Kazumi recognised her surroundings, realising she was up high in the trees of the Forest of Death. Most importantly, away from the enemy.
Did he take our scroll and leave?
Kazumi stopped rubbing her throat to pinch at her skin, hoping it would relieve the urges of nausea.Suddenly, an immensely large shadow overcast her view, making her slowly look up to see an abnormally humongous snake. Kazumi froze, her relieved face falling back into dread. Sakura had grabbed Sasuke's wrist, muffling screams into his palm before managing to yank his hand away from her lips."Sasuke-kun, snake!!!" She yelled.Kazumi's body then instinctively dodged by leaning away on its own, then paralysed once more as she watched a scaley thick body zoom past her view. It was nothing like she had ever seen before. Sakura ducked away, hiding her face behind Kazumi's shoulder.Sasuke had jumped away in time, landing for another tree whilst aimlessly throwing shurikens for the snake's opened mouth, mid-air. The moment the snake and Sasuke disappeared from Kazumi's sight, she broke into a fit of silent trembles.The kunai pierced its eyes, making the large beast fall to the ground in defeat. Sasuke then landed on a different branch— far from the girls, with adrenaline coursing through his rushing veins."Kazumi!!" Sakura panicked, firmly holding her shoulders, "Please calm down!"The blonde was barely recovering from her prior state, disregarding Sakura's attempts at comfort. Sakura then paused when a familiar body emerged from the snake's neck."You guys shouldn't relax for even a moment. Prey should always be trying their best to run away..."The voice made Kazumi's heavy-lidded eyes snap wide, and finally, she moved. Only her head, as her shaking pupils struggled to remain down at the figure from below — entirely unaware of the feeling of Sakura's hands tightly gripping her shoulders.Slime from the snake's insides dripped down his body, and his long tongue slipped out from his lips."... In the presence of a predator, that is..."His body stretched like a snake, circling up and around the thick and tall tree toward Sasuke.Kazumi watched the enemy ninja carefully, it seemed like they were the only person she could concentrate on. Thoughts began racing through her mind. Who they were. Why they were here. And why them of all the other teams taking this test. To her, the man was like a deranged bogeyman from a childish nightmare.However, a pair of multiple shurikens penetrated the tree from above the enemy, halting them from continuing, and diverting Kazumi's rapid attention away from the dangerous figure for only a second."I'm sorry, Sasuke!!" Naruto yelled, appearing on a higher tree branch with his fists on his hips, "I forgot the code-word!"This made Sakura beam with relief, tugging Kazumi in hopes she was looking, "Great job, Naruto!! Look, Naruto's here, Kaz!" She yelled.Kazumi had ignored her, looking back down at the enemy.
His chakra stinks... filled with such evil....
Her irises slowly turned into a grey haze, her blind eyes making the world around them bleak with only chakra scents. The person's chakra was large, dark, and menacing. It was beginning to make her feel sick once more. This intimidated Kazumi to revert back to her original coloured eyes.It was not only the colour and size that intimidated her, but the strange sense of different chakra's all clumped into one. As if he was a master of none. It felt too real to Kazumi for this all to be a test within a test.
Run...
"We need to run..." She breathlessly muttered, causing Sakura, who heard this, to frown in discord.Meanwhile, Sasuke was glaring up at Naruto, "Naruto!! I know you think you're cool and here to save us... but forget it!! Run away!! This one is on a whole 'nother level!!!""Hehe, looks like you successfully defeated that snake... Naruto-kun."
Naruto...
Kazumi quietly winced, cringing."Hey!!! Hey!! It looks like you were picking on the weak!!" Naruto ignored him, unfazed by his sinister nature.Sasuke deactivated his sharingan, pulling their scroll out of his pouch, "I will give you the scroll! Please take it and leave us..." He offered, giving up.Naruto's expression dropped, genuinely stunned. Sakura had gasped, her grip on Kazumi's arm loosening.Kazumi slowly managed to turn her head away from the ominous person, now looking at Sasuke with wide eyes. His single sentence alone was enough to successfully distract her.
Since when did he have the scroll?
Her memories flashed to the scene of them being thrown by the gusts of winds, leaving her dumbfounded. Sasuke had successfully taken the scroll from Sakura. And the enemy ninja had yet to take it away from them. Despite the lingering fear, that realisation was enough to make her shakes lessen."Sasuke!! What the hell are you talking about?!! Why would you give the scroll to the enemy?!" Naruto screamed, pointing at him."I see..." The enemy spoke, standing up on a branch, "Very smart... The only way for prey to escape a predator is to give the predator a different meal..." Although his tone made it clear that the scroll wasn't the kind of meal he was truly after.Sasuke immediately threw it his way, "Take it!!"Naruto gasped, bolting his way through the air as he caught the mid-air scroll in time before the enemy could even so graze his fingers against it. The blond boy then landed on Sasuke's branch, enraged."You bastard!! What are you doing?!" Sasuke's voice cracked whilst he screamed, frustrated at the Uzumaki, "Do you not understand the situation?!!"Naruto slowly lifted his back up straight before swiftly landing a quick blow to Sasuke's face. His force was strong enough to push the Uchiha away and onto an opposite branch."What the hell was that all of a sudden?!!" Sasuke continued, even more frantic."Naruto..." Sakura whispered, wincing at the scene.The pink-haired kunoichi grabbed Kazumi's motionless hand for support, and a pair of golden irises watched in pure shock alongside her. Kazumi then instinctively squeezed Sakura's hand, for a first."I forgot the code-word... So, I can't test it. But... you're Sasuke's fake, aren't you?!" Naruto accused."You moron!! I'm the real Sasuke!" Sasuke shouted, baffled."Liar..."Sakura breathlessly gasped, looking at Kazumi for confirmation. Though, the blonde girl's brows were furrowed, just as confused. She could only sense Sasuke's chakra, meaning Naruto's words weren't actually intended in that way."There's no way such a stupid coward like you is the Sasuke I know!!" Naruto heaved, "I don't know how strong this guy is, but what guarantee is there that he'll let us go if we give the scroll? You're the one too freaked out to understand the situation!!"His blue irises flickered up to where Sakura and Kazumi sat. His brows creased up at Kazumi's haggard state before then turning his attention back down to the enemy ninja, even more incensed than before."Hehe... Naruto-kun, you are correct!!!" His tongue flicked up, as his eyes lazed away from each other like a toad, "Since I can..." He then lifted his sleeve, "Just kill you and take the scroll." His skin revealed a tattoo, pricking his thumb as he slid his blood down it.Kazumi's heart raced, unfamiliar fear creating more shakes of apprehension.Sakura quickly noticed, snapping her body towards her in shock as her arms instantly grabbed her shoulders, again, "Kaz?!!"
What's happening with me?!
The Kumo forcefully swallowed, trying to push away the feelings of uncanny familiarity.Naruto had menacingly glared at the man, "Shut the hell up!!!" He yelled, dashing toward the enemy."No!! Run away!! Naruto!!" Sasuke bellowed.A strong wave of winds blew around the enemy, and an even larger snake appeared beneath his feet. The tail spun and smacked Naruto's oncoming body, whipping him straight into a tree."NARUTO!!!"—"NARUTO!"Sasuke and Sakura screamed out for him in sync, the Haruno holding onto Kazumi's body the moment the blast blew throughout the air. Kazumi peeked up from her messy bangs, horrified at the sight.Blood spat out from Naruto's mouth, his body falling limp in the air."Hehe, go ahead and eat him.""Naruto?!!" Kazumi snapped her head down, watching the Uzumaki scream curses before landing a strong blow on the top of the snake's head.An orange aura surrounded his figure, and his hairs stuck up like spikes. The killing intent reminded Kazumi of the Mist mission, as she was now getting a better view of what exactly it was. Naruto's pupils were slits, and his irises were a deep orange. The whisker-like marks on his cheeks were more evident than before, and his teeth grew fangs which clenched in fury towards the enemy."W...What's going on with Naruto?!" Sakura stammered, stunned."Like a fox..." Kazumi whispered, realising something."Huh?" Sakura shrieked, snapping her head to Kazumi.
"... Tailed-beasts sealed away in human beings, acting like hosts..."
Sanjiro's wise words appeared inside of her memories and Kazumi's expression then went blank.The moment Naruto was blown away, the enemy went straight for Sasuke. He rode the snake's head like a surf-board, dangerously heading for Sasuke's stiff figure."Sasuke-kun!!" Sakura screamed, roughly grabbing Kazumi's shoulder, "Kazumi! Do something!!" She cried, scared.Kazumi's breath hitched, her body leaning forward as she roughly staggered up to her feet. It seemed the internal voice of Sanjiro had calmed her erratic nerves.Sakura ridden her fear when watching Kazumi regaining her mental strength.
I wont make it...
She gritted her teeth, collapsing her side against the thick tree while rummaging her hand through her pouch. With a single kunai that had an explosive tag attached, she prepared to pull it out and launch it towards the enemy. However, the flash of vibrant blond halted her quick movements.Before the snake could reach Sasuke, Naruto appeared in a blink of an eye, two of his own kunais stabbed into the snake from behind with his back leaned against it. The branch beneath his soles were cracked, and it was shown he had applied chakra force to stop the snake from moving further.Naruto then slowly looked up at Sasuke, his orange irises squinted in pain.His abrupt arrival amazed the two girls, including Sasuke."Hey... you alright, scaredy-cat?"Sasuke noiselessly gulped, recalling when he had said the exact same sentence to him before. This time, the roles were reversed. Naruto broke his pride and ego without actions but mere words. The man sniggered at their antics, outstretching his arm as it slithered towards Naruto, grabbing him by the collar. He then pulled his body up into the air, closely towards him. Naruto had squirmed in his hold, struggling."Damn it!! Let go of me!!"
Naruto!
Kazumi flinched forward, frightened. As she clenched back onto the special kunai, the enemy's next sentence threw her off track, confirming her speculations."Hehe, so, the nine-tails brat is still alive..." He then proceeded to pull up his orange jacket, uncovering his stomach which revealed a seal, "When your emotions are heightened... the power of the nine-tails overflows... very interesting... Oh my... The seal is visible." The man tampered with the seal, causing Naruto to gag-hitch his breath, in pain.Sakura screamed for them, her shout cutting off.The man gave one last examination of Naruto, and as his amusement died, he harshly tossed him aside, over his shoulder with his disgustingly long tongue."Naruto!!!" Sakura screamed, throwing a kunai to prevent Naruto's limp body from reaching the ground.It stabbed through his cloth, pinning him to a tree just in time before the Uzumaki could fall to his death.She stood up, "Sasuke-kun!!" She yelled at him, tears rolling down her eyelids, "It's true that unlike you, Naruto is clumsy and can get in the way... But, at least he's not a coward!! Right!!" She then snapped her head to Kazumi, "Kazumi, please stop scaring me!! I know you can do something because I'm just as terrified as you!!!"
'Terrified'?
Kazumi's brows creased up, biting her inner cheek. She released her shaking grip from the kunai, face hardening. Fear had always been a complex emotion inside of her. For years, Kazumi believed she had no such thing. However, Sakura's sentence struck a chord in her.Kumo Kazumi: a girl who felt impenetrable when it came down to fear and hesitance was now understanding the conflicting thoughts running rampant in her.
I'm terrified...
The blonde girl looked towards Naruto's dangling body then back to the enemy's amused position.
I...
Sasuke's sudden movement  — with his second activated tomoe in his sharingan —  caused Sakura to watch in silence.With a kunai in his mouth, a large shuriken in his hand, and four other kunai's in between his fingers, Sasuke had darted forward. He threw the four kunai's first, pinning them onto the snake's head. Then using a tree for support, he gripped it before throwing the large shuriken towards him. Making his way towards him, the enemy dodged the shuriken, and Sasuke instantly slid behind the tree, swiftly taking the kunai from his teeth.... will have self-control!Her shaking hand balled to a fist, and Kazumi forced herself to block out the events from earlier in order to act on her sudden movements out of pure adrenaline. Naruto's orange cloth began tearing, and his limp figure increasingly came closer to falling down to his death. Using chakra control, Kazumi leaped off of multiple branches to reach his and catch him in time before he could fall.In a messy landing on a lower branch, Kazumi gently laid him out, checking his pulse.
He isn't dead.
She almost relaxed her shoulders until the continuous sounds from Sasuke grabbed her attention.Sasuke was still dealing with the enemy. With infused chakra and string, he threw the last kunai and string past the man. The string was already latched onto the shuriken as it made its way back towards the man's backside, with the string making it impossible for him to dodge away."Alright!!" Sakura cheered from afar.
No...
To neither her disappointment nor surprise, the man caught Sasuke's shuriken with his teeth. Just when he thought it was over, Sasuke created a fire jutsu down the line of string, setting the man's head on fire.Sakura and Kazumi wore the same expression, watching his face begin to melt off skin. The sight disturbed them, and Kazumi's heart began hammering in her chest, unable to look away as his true face emerged beneath the fake skin. It melted away like wax.Kazumi let her eyes roll away, moving on impulse as she took a step forward to kick off of the branch and land on the same one as Sasuke's. The Uchiha flinched his head to her, acknowledging her presence despite his eyes also being unable to look away from the enemy's grotesque display."To be able to use the sharingan so well at this age. You truly are the man that carries the Uchiha blood. Just as I thought... I want you as well." He then slowly looked at Kazumi, "Two against one once more? Don't make me laugh, one could hardly move!"Kazumi swallowed thickly."This is bad!" Sakura gasped, jumping down the tree to land on their branch, hurriedly standing behind Kazumi and Sasuke.However, once again, the man had done something to paralyse their bodies, the two trembling alongside Kazumi."I had fun testing your powers. You really are brothers. I sense power in your eyes that surpasses Itachi.""Who the hell are you?!" Sasuke roared, flaring his sharingan at the mention of his elder brother's name.His skin continued to peel away, "My name is Orochimaru. If you want to see me again, then survive and pass this exam." He then began to burn their scroll, startling Sakura and Kazumi, "Of course, defeating my men, the Sound-nin trio, on the way." And just like that, the scroll burned to ashes.
Orochimaru...
"Ah..." Kazumi swayed back, trying to keep her trembly knees steady.She watched the ashes fall from his hand to the distant ground, defeated. All of what Sasuke and Naruto went through was for nothing. Angered by this, Kazumi tightly balled her fist, feeling her fast beating pulse within her hand. Seeing her ticket to passing the second test dissolve like it was nothing had snapped something inside of the competitive Kumo."What the hell are you talking about?! We'd never want to see your face again!" Sakura shakily remarked."How dare you..." Kazumi lowly growled, controlling the trembles with a visible scowl.Orochimaru merely smiled, "You were swift to catch the tailed-beast boy from death, it's almost strange to see you act this way towards me. Is this what they call 'betrayal'? You'll soon see a better way of purpose than rotting within this village and playing shinobi, heir of Kumo." Kazumi's face scrunched with confusion, "Right after I deal with him!" Orochimaru had then cast an unfamiliar jutsu, sniggering to himself."What —"His neck then stretched like a snake, heading straight for Sasuke.Kazumi's heart sank, her jaw locking shut as her eyes opened wider than before. The lack of control in her body suddenly released like a weight being lifted from her shoulders, and in a flash of milliseconds, she pulled a specific kunai out from her pouch, defying the control placed upon her body as she punched her arm out with the kunai's handle gripped in her grasp.Orochimaru's teeth came in contact with the blade, and his mutual wide eyes met her own. Kazumi made sure to push against his mouth, making the corners of his lips bleed through her impressive chakra control.Sakura gasped, stepping back, not having noticing Kazumi's sudden speed. Sasuke had taken a step back as well, processing their actions."Kazumi?!" Sakura gasped."You seem to have a talent for biting things..." Kazumi's arm trembled, trying to keep it together against Orochimaru's unsettling smirk, "'Purpose' what purpose? I live for shinobi duty and I will pass this corrupt exam by all means to do so!""I was hoping to deal with you after these two... but, you really are too cute —"Orochimaru's words paused when the faint sound of a paper tearing was heard. Kazumi gave him a crazed smirk when jumping back with her arms aggressively pushing Sasuke and Sakura back with her.A strong explosion rippled through the air, quivering the thickest of trees and the branch they stood on.Orochimaru's neck retracted a few feet back, hardly missing the explosion which caused more of his melting face to scar with burns. As the smoke almost cleared, he was beginning to look more and more like a haggard monster straight from a myth."Nice, Kaz!!" Sakura grinned, tears pricking her eyes.
How can I make him throw up that scroll of his...?
Kazumi's smirk relaxed into a deep frown, disappointed that he had dodged the explosion from ripping his mouth open.Orochimaru ignored the pink-haired kunoichi, "You dare... pull tricks on me...? ME?!" His eyes rolled back, and a heavy genjutsu was placed upon the genin's, "Open your eyes, Suki, your true purpose is not playing ninja!" His last sentence echoed inside of her brain.
Suki? —
Visions of unfamiliar faces and memories overpowered her thoughts and dampened the screams of Sakura as if Kazumi was trapped inside of a bubble.With his long tongue, he wrapped it around her waist whilst she was still mentally trapped inside of the genjutsu, pulling her physical form into the air. His actions were similar to what he done with Naruto moments ago, preparing to launch Kazumi away. Except the lack of force made it out to be different intentions.Sakura and Sasuke flinched forward, attempting to reach for the motionless Kumo, only for Orochimaru's movements to be faster than their reactions. He had successfully separated them. And in order to continue, he placed the remaining two back into another genjutsu, freezing them in place."I wanted to make this quick, but you've made this difficult." Orochimaru glowered at Kazumi's dazed face.Once he brought her down to his level, Orochimaru then placed two fingers against her neck, which caused a seal to appear.The dark seal was a thin single slit, the length ranging from beneath her chin, and down towards her first rib. Through the rough vivid memories overtaking her thoughts, Kazumi could see this. It glowed grey from his touch, a colour that represented defiance to whatever he intended to do with it.Despite that, his two fingers slowly separated, and the seal had changed — a scaly pattern like that of a snake's body emerged, running in and out through the slit from top to bottom. Whilst he did so, he insidiously laughed, overwhelmed with breathless excitement.However, the scales appeared haywire, and a flash of grey which bled into white light emitted from her neck's skin. This caused Orochimaru to swiftly click his tongue, annoyed whilst ignoring her suffering throughout it all.Kazumi's eyes were shot wide, awakened by an excruciating feeling trickling up her throat. The pain was enough for her to cry out ear-piercing screams; thick pools of tears watering her shaking pupils. It was nothing like the burning feels she experienced during the Mist mission. Rather than her throat being dipped in lava, it felt as though her entire being sunk to the red hot core within the worlds' crusts.Sakura — who had been watching within the genjutsu — could not look away from Kazumi's grim seizure whilst Sasuke remained battling with his own nightmarish delusions placed upon him.The Kumo's scalp was beginning to darken in colour, her genes from within her blood attempting to split away from one another in an uncontrollable manner. Despite the scale pattern unable to emerge fully, the core of the seal was as clear as day on her neck. And that was all Orochimaru needed to see as he had successfully tampered with her seal.
"... —Kazumi."
Upon the voice of Sanjiro, Kazumi focused on the sudden memory being flashed into her mind. It was blurry, yet she knew exactly what it was. The familiar training grounds of her compound bled around the forest scenery. Sanjiro's distant gaze was on her, a stern expression as always. And a glowing grey then rose around her neck when his next words travelled to her senses.
"... —In any case that our clan jutsu is tampered, focus your chakra's core to your neck. Our seal will deal... —"
Kazumi's subconsciousness awoke, and her chakra did exactly as he had instructed in the past. The scales sunk back into her skin, and her darkening scalp paused, which left a permanent black colouring at the top of her head, leaving the rest of her hair to remain blonde. Orochimaru pushed through Sanjiro's strong chakra, his manic grin long gone and now replaced with a deep frown.Orochimaru could not hide his disgust when carelessly dropping her limp figure many feet below, peeved, "Choosing to seek me out for power is an honour... Though, it is clear I have no choice but to take the long route in this... for... Suki-chan, has no choice." The mixture of glowing chakras and seals dispersed.The greyness of Sanjiro's chakra lingered around Orochimaru, causing more of the wax on his body to melt away. Seeing as how he was now on a time limit, Kazumi felt his presence flash away from her falling figure.Her eyes blinked empty tears before fluttering shut into deep unconsciousness, failing to process a single thought after that. Kazumi was utterly unaware of the later sounds of Sasuke's distant agony and Sakura's terrified cries. As a familiar kunai then stabbed through her clothes, the last feeling she could sense was her body being pinned against thick wood, preventing her from falling to her death.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Kazumi was enveloped in darkness; unconscious. It wasn't any ordinary darkness, it was plain blackness. Not a single light or figure could be seen other than herself.However, that quickly changed when her body in the real world began to squirm. And a warm hand placed itself against her forehead. The feminine voice was familiar, whispering for her to quickly wake up and recover. The voice would then say the same thing to another— utterly terrified and desperate.Although the rushed tone of the familiar girl, Kazumi was still travelling in the endless blackness of her mind. Her closed eyes squeezed further shut. Her brows furrowed and stressed. She was fighting an obvious nightmare. 
.

.

.

.

.

.
 
Wind harshly sliced her cheeks, her calves burning from each staggering step when rushing through a void of blackness. An outline, very vague, shape of trees and nature surrounding her, letting her know that through the darkness there is a forest.

Kazumi's breathing was heavy and uneven, entirely not her own. A heavy object weighed down on her chest and arms as she clutched an oval of darkness to her chest. She could not stop running through the forest that was certainly not the Forest of Death.

Her feet smacked against the black ground, lagging like treading on snow. A numbness engulfed her skin, and she realised she was tall. Very tall. Until suddenly stopping into an idle stance.

The ground became closer, and Kazumi shrunk. Despite her body returning to normal, what she was seeing still was unlike her own. Panic threatened to rise up her spine as she gazed around the thick void. From there on and back, it will always be black.

No matter how far she ran. She was trapped in a dream. A memory that was not hers.

"Wakeupwakeupwakeupwakeup." Kazumi's thoughts echoed like a pounding drum around the black world, startling her.

As if summoned, a sudden white light blinded her view for milliseconds. A figure emerged, flickering and glitching erratically. Her mind struggled to keep a hold of the person, noticing them holding onto a long object that was swallowed into the darkness below.

Kazumi's breath caught in her throat, expecting to see the man out of her worst nightmare. But it was not Orochimaru. Instead, she was face to face with a glowing Sanjiro. Her uncle and blood.

Yet, he was not looking at her clearly. He looked down at her like she were the typical enemy ninja he'd show no mercy to. "What a mess."

His words travelled to her ears, accelerating her heart into more uncomfortable pounds until it rang within her throat and pulsated in the tips of her fingers. In the distant back of her senses, she smelt iron.

A dread overtook her rationality, and Kazumi hunched over to speak. However, there were no cords left in her throat. "Helpmehelpmehelpmehelpme." Her thoughts fell out of her brain, thundering along to her heartbeat.

It was unbearably loud. "Acknowledgemeacknowledgemeacknowledgeme." Kazumi felt her knees go weak as she collapsed into the soft cushion of darkness. "Mypurposemypurposemypurpose!"

"Trickedtrickedtrickedtricked."

"Sealseal—The Seal!"

A subconscious scare of a black, long snake snapped out for her. Its fangs dilated to its fullest length and its yellow piercing eyes locked to her throat. Kazumi lifted her panicked face to meet a blade raised in the air instead.

The soft click of a tongue from Sanjiro had her eyes meet his faceless one. As he swung the black-engulfed sword down at her, he dispersed into a cloud of nothing. Kazumi was untouched, though her breathing stuttered.

"You really are as naive as they say... And such a disgrace." Orochimaru's voice echoed all around her, but she never heard those words from him before.

"Whoareyouwhoareyouwhoareyou —"

"Your fate is already sealed."

Her wide eyes fell to an unfamiliar body of a young man on the ground ahead of her. Half of him was dipped in the darkness, cursed. Orochimaru remained pulling all the twisting strings, hidden in her subconsciousness.

"WHO.ARE.YOU.WHO.ARE.YOU —"

The bleak blackness melted away, and a soft hue of orange sparkled into her surprised eyes. The setting was drastically changed, throwing her course of mind off track. Sounds of water hitting against the sand, birds flying ahead into the cloudy skies, and playful steps of running children in similar clan attire as hers.

The symbol of their semi-realistic cloud caught her eye, her wilding heart slowing into a longing. Peace, it was. Everywhere. She longed for it without realising it. A full clan, more people such as herself than Sanjiro. Wind gently caressed her cheeks this time, guiding her into the sun-setting sight.

Kazumi stood up from the sand beneath her, ignoring the tickling comfort it left behind. Her heart swelled as she took that first eager step.

Suddenly, a tug on her collar pulled her back. An unfathomable energy willing her away from her ultimate desire. The further she was dragged away, the closer she could hear the ringing of Orochimaru's mock-filled laughter.

Reality seeped into her brain, her senses returning.
Back to the Forest of Death.   —_______________   "She's dead!! She's dead!!" A familiar scratchy voice cried, shaking Kazumi's stirring figure on the ground."Naruto, stop, she's waking up." Another familiar voice said with a long sigh, elevating Kazumi's head up.
Shikamaru?
Kazumi's stressed eyes slowly opened when hearing his voice, her brows creasing up whilst her eyes then squinted from the blazing sun above her. The sun was high in the sky, nothing like the beauty of it setting inside of her dream. She then blinked the dryness away from her pupils, ignoring the tears slipping down the outer cracks of her eyes.Naruto's head abruptly came into her view, blocking the sunlight as dramatic tears of his own rolled down his cheeks and rained onto hers, the salts mixing together. Shikamaru rolled his eyes at Naruto's behaviour, though exhaled with relief upon Kazumi's wakening."Naruto?" Kazumi raised a confused brow, her face twitching from the drops of his tears.
Wasn't he supposed to be laid out on that branch I put him on?
Her weak gaze then fell to Shikamaru, even more confused. It felt like another setting of her dream: sudden and odd."Shikamaru? Hey... wait, what are you doing here?" She instantly pushed her body up, giving him a surprised tone.Kazumi then wiped Naruto's dramatic tears from her face, ignoring him to focus more on the unexpected appearances of Shikamaru's team. Chouji was nearby, staring at Kazumi's head like he had no shame. Ignoring more of it, she averted her attention away from him and back to an uncomfortable Nara.Shikamaru pursed his lips together, flickering his attention to her hair for a second before cautiously looking back at her exhausted face, "We found you guys knocked out, besides for Sakura." He explained, standing up onto his feet, "We did as best as we could to protect you guys from random Sound-nin's." He then reached his hand out, offering to help her stand on her feet.Kazumi quickly took his hand, appreciating his strength to pull her up onto her footing again. Her arm was suddenly grabbed by the same dramatic, sobbing Naruto. He lagged onto his feet, rubbing his cheek against her shoulder. He'd even cry: 'Kaz! Kaz!' over and over again, which was easily overlooked by everyone who was used to his annoying behaviour."Quit it! I'm not dead." Kazumi deadpanned, trying to shrug his hold off of her, though it was to no avail."You wouldn't move a muscle! Just like a dead person!!" Naruto begged to differ, pouting like a frog. This made her give up, exhaling tiredly through her nose.
Wait—Sound-nin's?
She took a moment to glance around, finally noticing the familiar Sound ninja's passed out on the ground with beaten appearances.
"... Of course, defeating my men, the Sound-Nin trio, on the way..."
"Is that so?" She quietly spoke to herself, recalling Orochimaru's words - throat dry, as she then turned her head back to Shikamaru. Kazumi's shoulders relaxed, modestly lowering her head to him, "Thanks."Shikamaru lazily shrugged, "They were doing too much for a single scroll, anyways.""Scroll?" Kazumi mumbled, remembering that her team no longer had their scroll.What he said didn't make much sense to Kazumi. Shikamaru caught on to her baffled look, but continued to stay out of Seven's bizarreness.
"... Suki..."
Orochimaru's voice rang inside of her ears, making her silently grimace and look away from the defeated Sound-nins. A pounding headache then emerged, having her instantly grab her forehead with a noiseless wince.
Again?
Noticing her state, Shikamaru opens his mouth again, "There should be fresh water a bit south from here. Looks like the majority of the teams decided to stick to the inner town area of this forest." He sighs, his tone sounding somewhat relieved.Kazumi slowly blinked, giving him another appreciated nod, "Thought as much..."Chouji then walked over, poking Naruto's butt with a stick. This made the vibrant blond scowl, telling him: 'to knock it off.'
How long have I been unconscious...?
"Geez, he's so loud, he might just attract more enemies!" Ino huffed.Naruto turned his attention back to Kazumi, finally noticing something.As much as she'd like to be in her thoughts all the time, Naruto had a knack for interrupting her hypotheses."Hey, did you and Sakura make a bet or something?" He frowned, suspicious with his gaze locked on her head."Stop spouting nonsense." Kazumi scoffed, swiftly looking around the area to take in more of her surroundings.She was still inside the Forest of Death, and from a few metres away was Sakura and Sasuke sitting on the ground. The Kumo instantly noticed Sakura's hair, watching Ino finish up fixing it from behind. Her pink shoulder-length hair was cut short, the ends now reaching just beneath her jaw.Utterly confused by this, Kazumi marched toward her with Naruto messily following after, squinting his eyes. She frowned at him, shaking it off when approaching Sakura."What happened? Why is your hair so short?" She squatted down, examining her.Sakura's exposed parts of her body was covered in scratches and bruises, some bleeding. Ino's eyes nervously looked away from Kazumi, quickly walking away and to her own team. Her behaviour didn't go unnoticed."Like I said to Naruto..." She shrugged, weakly smiling, "Felt like I needed a change in style... Do you like it?"
They're hiding something.
Her gaze then snapped onto Sasuke from beside Sakura, brows furrowed.Sasuke was already looking back at her with hardened eyes, but his gaze went from the top of her head to her heavy, lethargic eyes.
Him, too...
"I see..." Kazumi flinched her face down, now in deep thought.
Looks like there was a struggle...
Her attention went to the unconscious bodies of the Sound-nin team.
For even Shikamaru's team to help....
Sakura noticed her analysing eyes, her lips then parting."Those Sound ninjas came for you and Sasuke." Sakura lightly explained, making Kazumi look back at her, "Everyone helped out, even Lee.""Lee?" Kazumi's brow raised, taken aback."He left with his team before you woke up, but he told me to tell you that he protected you." She smiled, "One of the Sound-nins carried you away, but Lee stopped him before they could take you. He even saved me as well."
Sakura...
She spoke highly of the thick-eyebrowed male, which made Kazumi reconsider her prior disgust for him. Sasuke kept quiet to himself, obviously beating himself up over failing to wake up in time. 
If I was awake sooner... Maybe I could've done something. I need to apologise to Lee too...
"I... see." Kazumi repeated, heavily sighing whilst trying to process everything, "Those Sound-nin are after Sasuke and I? Why?""I... I don't know..." Sakura stammered, her demeanour shifting significantly.Sakura looked as if she wanted to add on to her sentence, her anxious eyes looking between Sasuke's neck and Kazumi's scalp, though she remained silent. When Kazumi looked to Sasuke for answers instead, he shook his head, not knowing either.Why specifically us? It's just like...Her mind flashed to an image of Orochimaru from her dream, and her stomach did a tight, uncomfortable twist. She suddenly remembered the nightmare she had, everything she went through, all the time she felt trapped inside the endless void of her dream. She thought weeks— months had passed."Urgh...!" Kazumi almost hurled, hunching over with a palm to her mouth.She had instantly stood straight back up. Naruto flinched away, surprised. Sakura and Sasuke stared at her with a mixture of concern and confusion."Kazumi...!? Are you okay?" Sakura shot up, immediately grabbing Kazumi's arms to steady her.Sasuke stood up as well, looking at each of his team's faces.Kazumi stiffly nodded in reply, gulping down nausea after nausea.
That dream...
She then firmly shook her head, exhaling heavily through her nose. As she looked up at Sakura, she over-analysed the bruises and cuts on her body. Sakura's physical state was much worse than Kazumi's."Sakura, are you okay?" She asked, rephrasing it.Sakura's brows raised, taken aback. She then weakly forced a reassuring smile."Of course..." After gently caressing Kazumi's arms, Sakura let go.Kazumi couldn't help but feel an uneasy feeling inside of her chest whenever she'd constantly catch glimpses of Sakura's fatigued mental state. It was clear as day to the Kumo that Sakura blundered. Even with Lee, who she claimed to have been protecting them alongside Shikamaru's team.Sakura's saddened expression softened into a small smile, rubbing off the dirt from her skin. As she was about to continue speaking, Naruto had poked his head in between them, frowning with creases on his face.He crossed his arms, "Enough of Lee this, Sasuke that," he ignored Sakura's sudden angered vein, "... since when did you have time to dye the top of your head, Kaz? Or is that mud...?"
What?
On cue, Seven and Ten froze. Naruto remained oblivious to the atmosphere, and Sakura had to curse the blond boy in her mind. Kazumi was confused by his words, stiffly looking up at Naruto."We'll catch you guys another time..." Shikamaru awkwardly spoke, bidding them farewells.Team Ten jumped away from the scene, leaving Seven to remain— and a tense silence followed."What are you talking about?" Kazumi broke it, oddly anxious."Eh? Well, I'm kind of hurt, y'know! I thought we were a blonde team, but now the top of your head is a boring black... just like Sasuke's!" He insulted, mostly to Sasuke, "How are we supposed to be an iconic superhero and sidekick duo now?!"Sasuke rolled his eyes away, though looked back at Kazumi's hair, just as intrigued.None of them knew how or why her hair was like this, only Sakura had witnessed it.The Haruno felt drained, burdening the infinite weight of guilt inside. She wanted to tell Kazumi — really — but was too afraid the Kumo wouldn't take it lightly. She feared the blonde-haired girl with a newly black scalp would have a similar psychotic reaction to Sasuke's.Seven stared at Kazumi's back, watching her idly take a look at the strands of her hair between her fingertips. It was blonde, but as she focused her eyes higher to the top of the strands, they were black. Just as Naruto stated."Hey..." Kazumi trailed off, mortified as she glanced over her shoulder and towards Sakura, "How did this happen?"  —_______________  
I've only got one explosion tag left... And my chakra's still low...
Kazumi stood near the fresh river, her hand against her pouch. Hours before, they took camp beside the secluded fresh water. Sakura was preparing the water in the distance. Naruto was no where to be seen. And Sasuke was sharpening his kunai's ready for catching fish with.Kazumi was in charge of keeping note of their shinobi supplies, but they were gradually running out. To her surprise, it turned out that she had been unconscious for more than just a few hours, making their chances of passing the second test to be extremely slim.She then crouched down with a heavy sigh, staring out at the open forest scenery.And for the past ten minutes, she had been alone by the river, trying to process and get used to the new colour at the top of her hair. The black coloured scalp bled down her head like messy dye, causing it to appear as if she had dyed black hair to blonde. Even though it's been days since waking up from the nightmare, she simply couldn't get used to the new look."NARUTO!" Naruto finally came out, bellowing his own name in exhilaration as he leaped over Kazumi's squatting figure to jump like a cannonball into the lake.His sudden action flinched Kazumi's gaze to her rippling reflection, cringing at her distorted hair. She now felt compelled to stare at her reflection, which was why she was trying so hard to avoid it in the first place. The sound of Sasuke pinning four pieces of fish against a tree didn't tear her attention away from it. And Sakura's shout for her team to prepare dinner was ignored by Kazumi's brain, too.
What'll Uncle think?
She'd imagine a surprised old man, though that only made her think back to her previous nightmare hours ago. The image of Sanjiro looking down at her in disappointment caused unnerved drops inside of her stomach as her arms clutched her bent knees tighter towards her chest.She wondered if it was a precognition. A future reaction Sanjiro would have towards her hair. After all, full blonde hair was one of the main signature features on a Kumo — not just the cloudy-like clan eyes. And her dull, gold eyes were said to be inherited by the man in the photo next to her mother.And right now, she couldn't help but feel even more out of place. Upon the idea of a prideful Kumo, her appearance would be far from that imagination.
No... what I saw never happened to me...
In the end, she couldn't quite understand the nightmare, nor could she recall what happened to her in order for the top of her hair's scalp to change so drastically. However, her mind kept going back to Sakura's prior words.
"... A strange jutsu... It did something to your hair..."
Kazumi's brows furrowed when recalling Sakura's vague sentence.
What did that man do to me?
"I kind of like the new look." Sakura's voice flooded into Kazumi's ears, making the Kumo abruptly look over her shoulder."Sakura?"The pink-haired kunoichi knelt down to her level, smiling warmly, "It feels like we've both gone through a shared growth, don't you think? You don't have to feel alone... I'm sure I'll get used to my own hair as well." Sakura's voice was gentle, wanting to comfort her.Kazumi gave her an insecure look. It was a certain vulnerability that Sakura had never seen from Kazumi before. When remaining silent to her comment, Sakura swiftly changes the topic in hopes it would take Kazumi's mind off of her racing doubts."Do you remember when we first met?"Kazumi's expression relaxed, then raising a brow when looking back down at her reflection that now had Sakura in it, "I'm not sure." She replied, attempting to recall the events. ....... 
"As if Kazumi-kun would wanna be paired up with you!" 
A snarky girl yelled, poking little Sakura's forehead.

Teams of two were gathered in the distance, all around and outside of the academy. The class were preparing to train in duels of two versus two.

Sakura sadly frowned, embarrassed by the snarky girl's comment.

"What are you doing to my partner?" A young and eager voice spoke up, walking over toward Sakura with a small paper in her fingertips.

It was a younger version of Kazumi, too.

"Kazumi-kun! It's okay, let's just secretly swap the numbers around for you!" She reassured the 'male', making Kazumi deadpan, confused.

"Why would I want to switch my number?" Her eyes narrowed, annoyed, "This is the first time I'm not partnered with that jerk Uchiha! So, do us both a favour and beat it!" Kazumi snared, pointing a rude thumb to a certain young Uchiha from afar.

He ignored her, including the girl partnered with him, who clung to him like he was her saviour.

The girl's cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment, pushing past Sakura's shoulder when she dashed away. The distressed girl had acted like a delinquent just threatened her for her money; Kazumi was just too blunt.

"Why are all the girl's so weird around me?" Kazumi rhetorically grumbled, judging them.

Sakura nervously fiddled with the matching paper in her hands, "Don't you think I'm useless, Kazumi-kun?" Her strained smile almost faltered.

This made Kazumi turn her gaze back to her, unbothered yet still irked, "No? If anything, I'm super lucky!"
The blonde girl didn't exactly understand where the conversation was going, just keen on beating the Uchiha's group. Again, it was the first time she wasn't partnered with him -—and by the determined look on his baby-face, too, he felt the same way. It was a rare opportunity for the two.
Meanwhile, Sakura snapped her head up, surprised by her response, "Eh?"

Kazumi then placed her fist against her hip, smirking, "With your smart brains, I might gain an extra advantage against Uchiha! So don't mess this up for me!"

"You think I'm smart?" Sakura squeaked, wiggling happily in one spot.

Kazumi simply nodded, her attention elsewhere. She was glaring at Sasuke from the other side of the training grounds, their hard gazes challenging one another.

The two were utterly oblivious to a young Uzumaki who tried to gain their competitive attention in the background. However, it wasn't working. No matter how many star jumps he'd do in between, they would not bat an eye.

A girl then came rushing over to Sakura,  whispering in her ear. As soon as the young Yamanaka recoiled her head back whilst shooting an unhappy glance at Kazumi, Sakura's expression dramatically dropped. Her heart no longer hammered in her chest for the Kumo.

"No way!!!" Sakura screamed, stunned.

"Huh?" Kazumi's expression remained apathetic with a brow raised towards her, "Don't back out now, if that's what you're thinking! We have an entire class to crush!"

Though... that was FAR from what Sakura was thinking.
 ....... "Complimenting my smarts was the first conversation we had together." Sakura giggled, "It was also when Ino-pig told me your real gender. You were so intense back then... Much different from your coolness now." She joked, reminiscing.Kazumi wore an apathetic expression, similar to that of their faint memory. "That's why you screamed? And what do you mean by that? I've always been a passive girl..." She then mumbled, pouting childishly.Sakura chuckled, "Some things never change about you. It's hard to remember what drove me to always hang around you at the academy. It just suddenly happened."The blonde girl's face softened at her, realising that she, too, didn't know either. The two girl's happened to click in place with one another. Kazumi also hadn't comprehended the fact that she was fond of Sakura until now.Her lips parted, but Naruto's loudness beat her to it."Kaz!! Sakura-chan!! I'm making the fish for you!" Naruto's yell caused the two girl's to flinch, dramatic horror dawned their faces.
He's going to burn the fish!

— 'That idiot'll burn my fish!'
In sync, the girl's shot up from their spots, rushing over to the burning fire on the ground. Sasuke scoffed, snatching the fish-sticks out of Naruto's grasp before the tips could be burned from how close he placed them above... well, through the flames.Kazumi swiftly grabbed a fish-stick from him, grimacing down at the poorly cooked meat. She wasn't a lover of seafood, but if it meant she'd recover her chakra, she'd do anything.On the other hand, the rest of Seven had to continue waiting for theirs to cook. Naruto occasionally side-eyed the fish-stick in her grasp, practically drooling.Kazumi then found herself sitting down beside Sakura on the rocky floor of the forest— with Naruto at her other side (who was still wearing his abnormally long underwear in which he used to swim in the lake with). Sasuke was crouched down in front of her at the other side of the blazing fire, his expression serious.
How is he not cold?
Kazumi rolled her eyes away from Naruto's starving gaze. "This is the fourth afternoon since the start of the second test..." The Uchiha mentioned out-loud.Kazumi's brows knitted, her grip tightening around the stick, "If we stall any longer, chances of passing will become little to nothing."Sakura sadly sighed, "Yeah...""The second test started at around 2:30pm... Meaning we only have about 25-26 hours left." Sasuke stated."Many teams have already passed. That means..." Sakura trailed off, trying to calculate inside of her smart brain.Naruto grinned, wiping his drool, "Ah!! I wish it would cook faster!" He then whipped his head back to Kazumi, desperate. "Please can we swap?!"The Kumo exhaled through her nose, aimlessly chucking her fish-stick towards him. Naruto instantly caught it with his hands like a frog's tongue, beaming with gratitude."Kazumi... are you not going to eat anything?" Sakura's inner calculations paused to ask, concerned."I am." She replied, reaching for Naruto's fish-stick which was still cooking.Naruto had already begun chomping down on what was once Kazumi's dinner.
God... I really hate fish.
She gulped, purposely pressing the fish further into the fire.Eventually, they were safe to eat, making the three begin to eat away. Naruto had pretty much finished by the time Sakura took a single bite of her own. Sasuke treated it like simple rations, unbothered. Though, Kazumi had to burn hers since she'd rather taste charred flesh than a fishy one.Sakura had glanced down at the scroll, "You know... there may not be anymore heaven scrolls..."Kazumi forcibly gulped down her fish, raising a brow at her."What do you mean, Sakura?" Sasuke frowned, chewing."Because... the fact that it's the fourth day of this five day test means that eighty percent of the test is over. Plus... there are seventy-nine entrants, twenty-six teams, and only thirteen of each scroll... So, the highest amount that can pass is thirteen teams, right?" She then raised a finger, "And you guys remember, right? That Orochimaru guy burned the heaven scroll we had."Kazumi lowered her face, irked at the mention of him."So that means..." Sasuke trailed off.Sakura finished for him, "From that point on, the amount of teams that can pass went down by one. And we can't be sure that the rest of the scrolls are in tact. If one of the scrolls is destroyed, that makes the other half meaningless."Kazumi's eyes drooped, tired.Naruto cluelessly glanced back and forth between the two."Since parting with our Leaf comrades, we needed two days to heal our injuries. But, we have to be more active now, like Kazumi said, we can't stall any longer." Sasuke sighed, "Either way... the next enemy is our last chance!"The Uchiha then stood up to his feet, tossing his finished fish-stick into the fire before dismissing himself to get water. Sakura remained frowning, unsure of what to do in their very moment. Naruto, on the other hand, suddenly grabbed the scroll by Kazumi's feet, startling the kunoichi to look at him."What the —" He cuts her off."Hey! Hey!! There's a way to get the scroll without fighting any enemies." He whispered, rummaging through his bag.Sakura leaned forward, "You don't mean...""That's exactly what I mean." Naruto anxiously nodded, revealing a bunch of scrolls, "I have a ton of scrolls. Ninjutsu manual, poison manual, blank ones for taking notes...""Since when do you ever need blank ones to take notes?" Kazumi deadpanned, chomping down the last charred piece of her fish stick."Eh?! I study... sometimes..." Naruto trailed off, "Uh, anyways...!! If we change one to look just like the heaven scroll..."Kazumi gave him a displeased look."Wait a second!!" Sakura gasped, throwing her hands out, "Even if we do that, we don't know what's written inside!! When the examiner looks inside, we'll be caught, idiot!!" Kazumi caught Sakura's fish-stick from falling, making Sakura quickly nod to her and finish off her food."These things usually have a pass in them. One that you need two parts to understand." Naruto scratched his chin, "Basically!! Basically! To pass this test, you need to say a password when you make it to the tower. It must be like that!"
Where's he getting at this?
Kazumi chucked her stick on the fire ahead of them, finished with the unpleasant meal. Sakura done the same after taking one last bite of her own."So what?!! Since we don't know what's in the scrolls, making a fake is still meaningless!!" The pink-haired girl then scoffed."But... if we could figure out what's inside the scrolls. This earth scroll...""You... no way..."Kazumi slowly blinked at their silly debate."I'm gonna open this scroll!""No!!" Sakura screamed, punching his head, "Did you forget the rules!! Idiot!! We were told never to look inside the scrolls until we reach the tower!""But... at this rate... we're in trouble..." Naruto pouted, rubbing his head.The blond boy then grabbed the scroll, nervously looking at Kazumi."You're awfully quiet, Kaz..." Naruto mentioned, practically delaying from opening it.She glared down at the scroll, "So? What, you want me to tell you what I think?" She asked, baffled.Sakura then hummed, leaning closer to the two, "Yeah! What do you think, then?"Kazumi pursed her lips into a thin line, conflicted. Her gaze flickered back and forth between two sets of eyes, glistening her way like puppies.
We were told never to open it, like Sakura said...
Her teeth clenched together.
It's a complete mystery for a reason. This is just another trick like the first exam, one to trip us up! It wants us to go against the rules, but this time, I'm sure it's a negative consequence.... And for the purpose of this exam... It's to do with trust and cooperation, right?
Kazumi huffed through her nose, roughly grabbing Naruto's wrist upon her mental conclusion."Pass it to me if you're so tempted to make us fail!" She tsked, using her other hand to yank the scroll out of his grasp.Sakura sighed with relief."Ow! Hey! Why?! But, what if —""She's right. You shouldn't open the scroll." A familiar voice appeared, cutting Naruto off, "Did you forget the rules?"Kazumi spun on her knees, jumping to her feet at a distance from the voice. It was Kabuto: the four-eyed male who failed the chuunin exams multiple times. She gripped the scroll tightly, hiding it behind her back with a glare.
Where the hell did he come from? I couldn't sense him near at all!!
"An enemy?!" Sasuke shouted, rushing back over only to relax at the sight of a familiar face.Kazumi was tense compared to him, walking over to the Uchiha. She tossed the scroll to him, explaining what Naruto was about to do if she hadn't of snatched it from him. This made Sasuke scold the two dejected extroverts as Kabuto watched in amusement."That was close." Kabuto tilted his head, smiling towards Kazumi.The Kumo recoiled from his expression.Naruto and Sakura snapped their bodies back and forth, apologising to their two other teammates and Kabuto. Though, Kazumi couldn't care less, mainly focused on the new presence in which she hadn't sensed.
Where's his team...?
Kabuto fiddled with his nails, "Those that ignore the rules are put in a condition that forces retirement. In a previous exam, within the scroll was a set up hypnotism type jutsu. Those that saw it would be knocked out here until the end of the exam."
They keep the same tests yearly?
Kazumi sighed through her nose."By the way, you're Kabuto, right? What are you doing all alone out here?" Sasuke asked, voicing Kazumi's previous thought."It's not like I'm after your scroll." Kabuto smiled.Sasuke suspiciously glared at him, "Yeah. If you were, you would have just taken it from Naruto before Kazumi could. So, you're also after the heaven scroll.""No..." Kabuto fiddled inside of his pouch, taking out two scrolls, "I already have both. Somethings happened, and I'm on my way to the tower to meet up with my teammates."Kazumi raised her chin in the air, glancing at Sasuke, who already was looking at her. He wore a look that read: 'let's fight him', which caused Kazumi's muscles to tense even more. It would be four versus one, with only two and a half who were capable against him."Well, I'm off...""Wait!"Kabuto looked over his shoulder, his eyes dancing between two pairs of dull eyes — both in which had a guarded look."Fight us." Sasuke demanded.Naruto walked in between the two, "Sasuke, Kaz, what are you on?!!""Guys..." Sakura anxiously squeaked, not wanting to trouble their kind acquaintance.Kabuto turned around, smiling, "You two serious?"Kazumi reached into her pouch, visibly pulling out a kunai with a fed-up expression,"I'm not walking out of these exams without my chuunin title." She says, grey eyes flickering over her gold irises.The Kumo then appeared beside Kabuto with the kunai's tip against his neck, nonchalant. After everything her and her team had been through during this test, she was ready to risk anything and everything just to be a chuunin; to exceed in being a ninja."Kazumi!" Sakura gasped, rushing to her to grab her arm in her clutch."Sorry, but we don't have much time left either." Sasuke mumbled, taking a readying step back. "Keep back, Sakura."Sakura then faltered, releasing her grasp from Kazumi's arm to stare at Sasuke with wide eyes. Naruto sheepishly gulped."It's nothing personal, this is just simple competition." Kazumi added again, her gaze intensifying down at his scrolls.Kabuto had given her a long smirk, remaining perfectly still to avoid the tip of her kunai from piercing the first few layers of his skin."Whoa, wait, Kaz!" Naruto shrieked, stepping in front of her, "Wait a minute!" He then snapped his head to Sasuke with a growl. "Hey!! Hey!! Kabuto-San helped us!" His body pushed space between her and Kabuto."Kaz..." Sakura frowned, grabbing a firm hold of her elbow, "Think with your head for a second... Let's reason here!" She tugs at her arm, hoping she'd back off."Yeah!" Naruto nodded, whilst shooting daggers at Sasuke."Shut up." Sasuke redirected his glare to his team, "Kazumi knows we don't have much of a choice. She wouldn't willingly side with me if it weren't for the fact that we're at a dire situation right now, so why don't you two as well?"Kazumi exhaled through her nose, "I wouldn't willingly side with you ever. But, I'd rather not be stuck as a genin for another two years." Her voice dropped low, purposely sinking the kunai even further until a small drop of blood seeped out from the forming wound.Sasuke had a bead of sweat drop from her tone, "I said it before, this is the only way for us to survive in this forest."After those words, Kabuto recoiled his head away from her, stopping her arm in a defensive manner before she'd get another weak point of his. His grip tightens around her wrist, using his other hand to raise it in defeat."Why don't we just talk first, hm?" He smiled, feeling her strong pressure falter.Her confusion caused him to swiftly pull away, tucking his scrolls safely back into his pouch. Naruto stepped back, relief reflecting Sakura's.Sakura was increasingly stressed, unprepared. She didn't want to go through with their abrupt plan."Talk." Kazumi clicked her tongue, dropping the arm that held her kunai to her side.Naruto grimaced like a frog.The mood shifted slightly when Kabuto's smirk widened, "You're lying." He pointed at Sasuke, his eyes creasing to Kazumi in the corner of his eyes, "You... though... have an uncanny intent to kill me if it means you'll take my scroll..." He redirected his pointed finger at her before placing it over his bleeding neck, "Now that I'm looking at it, what happened to the top of your head?"Team Seven fell silent.Kazumi tilted her head up, irritated. Her tiredness and lack of chakra made it hard for her to retort as her grey eyes faded back to gold. All she focused on was the desire to pass this test. If that meant she'd have to take the harsh way like he said, by all means she would in a heartbeat. Although an aching pain in the back of her chest pulled at her in protest.She ignored it."What the hell are you saying?" Kazumi frowned, clicking her tongue, "The colour of my hair is none of your business." She then flicked up the tip of her bloodied kunai at him, "I'll show mercy if you just hand over the scroll. You're no match for us alone."He chuckled at her harsh reply, shaking it off, "And what would I do after that?""Who knows? Maybe you'll be lucky enough to run into another team still lurking in this forest." Her eyes turned to Sakura's for a split second, recalling the pink-haired kunoichi's previous calculations.Sakura anxiously caught her gaze, rubbing her thumbs together in circles.Kabuto then sniggered, raising his arms up, "I don't appreciate your cold heart. But, since your teammate here isn't as cold as you are, I'll help him out instead." He flattened his palm out to Sasuke, his eyes locked on Kazumi's white-hot stare, "You'll just find your own way there, huh?" He practically mocked.Her eyes quickly narrowed, offended."Excuse -""Please excuse Kazumi!" Sakura shouted, cutting Kazumi off whilst hugging her backside with her palm squeezing her mouth shut, "We really don't want any trouble, right, Naruto?"
Sakura?
Kazumi glared over her shoulder, pushing Sakura's hand off of her lips. Sakura then immediately stepped back, smiling apologetically.Naruto awkwardly nodded, "Y—Yeah..." He seemed taken aback by their behaviour.Sasuke clenched his fist, "What do you mean you'll help me?"Kabuto smirked, tilting his head down to break eye-contact with Kazumi."I'm saying, why would you even ask to challenge me? If this test had really turned you into that, you would've attacked me and tried to take my scroll without a second." Kabuto's eyes fell down to the kunai still gripped in Kazumi's hand, adjusting his glasses, "That's a ninja." He raised his head, now purposely avoiding the Kumo.Kazumi didn't like what he was implying. It made her feel like a heartless person. His words didn't make sense to her, either. It was a test. A test she must pass. However, for some reason a flash of Sanjiro's disappointed expression from her nightmare appeared inside of her mind again, haunting her. This caused her to falter.Kazumi looked down at the kunai with his blood on it, masking guilt. "Ridiculous..." She mumbled."Kazumi...?" Sakura whispered, worried.The Haruno couldn't help but notice Kazumi's complete change in behaviour. It was unlike Kazumi to be so agitated."Kazumi's going to be in on whatever help you suggest. So, if you wish to help me, she's sticking with us no matter what." Sasuke firmly ended, not keen on having his team being split up like Kabuto's was.Naruto crossed his arms, "Yeah!" He inputs, trying to appear cooler than Sasuke.Kazumi's agitation calmed slightly, a wave of gratitude washing away her frustration. She felt appreciative of Sasuke's words, though she'd never admit it out loud.Kabuto then sighs, "Of course... I suppose I wouldn't want such a decent team to be in jeopardy." His tone had the underlying feeling of teasing.
What was I thinking?
Kazumi closed her eyes, her fist which held the kunai shook. After a painful long second, she abruptly shoved it back into her pouch, trying to calm her overwhelming emotions as her expression reverts to forced apathy when opened. Showing peace, she steps further away from Kabuto, refraining from scowling."Sorry." She slowly looked up at him, her jaw clenched. "I—We've been through a lot. So, understand I'm acting this way out of concern for my team. Limited time, little scrolls... It's only natural I'll react this way."
This 'coldness' you speak of, is not me!
Her lips pursed closed after that, the original Kazumi coming back through.Sakura leaned forward, trying to read her face with a sigh of relief. Sasuke glanced at her, his tense shoulders relaxing. Naruto — clueless per usual — simply grinned. Although her odd behaviour didn't go overlooked by him. By all three of them.Kabuto smirked wider, "Don't fret. I don't dislike either of you over this. And I applaud your protectiveness.... So... that being said, I'll tell you the path you should take." He gave one last glance at Kazumi — specifically her hair — before turning around to gesture for Seven to follow him.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Seven and Kabuto began jumping through tree branches, following the older male for the supposed 'path' they could take. Kazumi (who was a few inches behind) kept her stern attention to Kabuto's side profile with squinted eyes. The small cut left by Kazumi on his neck had stopped bleeding by now."Are there really enemies left?" Sasuke asked, doubtful."Yes, no doubt about it." Kabuto nodded, "Just think about it... Do you know the smartest fighting tactic in a large area like this jungle?" He quizzed with a plastered smile.Sakura's brows raised, humming for an answer."The goal to this test is the tower, right? So, when there is only one day left, the easiest place to get a scroll is near the tower." Kabuto answered his own question."Oh!" Sakura beamed, "I see... an ambush! So, basically, we go after a team that has assembled both the heaven and earth scrolls and is heading for the tower!"Naruto flapped his arms like a bird from beside Kazumi who'd swiftly hop on each branch with furrowed brows to Kabuto."You're one-third correct."
What now?
Kazumi pouted."Huh?" Sakura's expression dropped into more confusion."I mean, you guys aren't the only ones thinking that." Kabuto craned his head over his shoulder to continue, "There should be others in your situation already waiting at the tower with traps set."Naruto grinned, "I see!!" He shouted with his eyes closed, "So there are already tons of enemies near the tower just waiting to ambush us!! Bring it on!! If we kick all their asses and get the heaven scroll... we all pass the second test!"Kazumi exhaled through her nose, "And the remaining one-third?" She spoke the thought out for Sakura, boredom dripping from her tone."People I call 'collectors' that appear during this time in the test."
Ah... I see what he's implying.
"Collectors?" Sakura repeated, unsure."I think he means teams who take more than just one of each scrolls." Kazumi glances to Sakura, making the pink-haired girl understand.Kabuto nods, "Correct, those who collect extra scrolls in case they run into a stronger enemy and need a gift to ensure their escape. Or those that try to receive favour and information by delivering an extra scroll to a team from their own village. Or, those that desire to pick off more teams while at an advantage... to ensure an easier time during the third test."Kazumi's face relaxed at Kabuto for the first time, genuinely taken aback by his similar witty mindset. Though, when reminding herself of his personality, her face instantly reverted back to a hardened pout."You should realise without me telling, these ones are strong and confident in their abilities. The worst possible enemies!" The ever-so-wise Kabuto concluded."I see... I finally understand why you appeared in front of us." Sasuke smirked.Kabuto's body jerked, looking under his arm towards the Uchiha. However, Kazumi caught on to that unusual reaction since she had been glaring daggers into the male the entire dash through the forest's branches."You're scared, too..." He finished with a mocking manner.Kabuto paused until slowly smiling, "...Exactly."
Or...
Kazumi tilted her head low, returning a smile of her own.... the ninja has an ulterior motive.Kazumi's fists clenched, looking away from him. She didn't trust Kabuto one bit. From the moment he immediately grinned at her with an unsettling expression during their first meeting, to the very second he appeared when Naruto was ready to risk it all to pass this test — it all left an uncomfortable feeling inside of her stomach. Kabuto was just too convenient. The blonde-haired girl then tried to attract Sasuke's attention, but the Uchiha was lost in his own thoughts that were entirely different from her own. This made her silently gulp, deciding to remain quiet about her doubts, for now.Eventually, they all halted on a branch together, looking out towards the distance where a tower was set."Well, glad to know you've brought us on the right path." Kazumi remarked, gaining a flustered gasp from Sakura."S—She doesn't mean that!"Kabuto simply laughed, "You sure are something, Kumo Kazumi." His expression fell back into a serious one, "Now, we can finally see the tower. We must be careful from here on out." Kabuto stated.Kazumi rolled her eyes away from Sakura's warning glare. She wasn't going to force trust towards Kabuto, Kazumi just wasn't wired that way. And she'd rather not put on a fake smile for him either. She couldn't bother herself to waste her energy on such trivial things."Alright!! Let's go!" Naruto yelled, "There!!" He whipped out a kunai from his sleeve, throwing it over his shoulder and directly towards a large centipede.Kazumi's frown slanted when watching the kunai pierce the bug's body.
Déjà vu...
She'd recall when Naruto would impulsively throw shurikens at multiple bushes during their Mist mission— how he had almost killed an innocent snow bunny."Oh... it was just a centipede." Naruto slowly turned away."Eww... so big..." Sakura cringed, disgusted, "That's nasty... look at all those legs..."
It's no wonder she avoided Shino-San in class...
Kazumi crossed her arms, knowing the bug-loving boy would be offended by Sakura's open disgust for the creature. Although the more she looked at the large centipedes wiggling, hundreds of legs, she felt a shiver run down her spine.Kabuto had appeared to be perplexed as he adjusted his glasses with a bead of sweat falling down his temple, "Naruto-kun... I'd like to avoid unnecessary actions and noises from here on. Moving through the forest like an elephant... will only tip off our enemies. And they do not have a fun welcome party for us."Naruto deeply frowned, disheartened."From this point on, let's move as slowly and safely as time allows."Kazumi kicked a pebble off the branch, irked. A short snort escaped Sakura after having noticed Kazumi's frustrated habit of kicking pebbles. Sasuke's eyes watched the small rock fall hundreds of feet below, unbothered.
Slowly? We hardly have enough time!
To her disappointment, voicing that out would only force her to plainly agree with Kabuto. And unfortunately, it seemed her team held a certain admiration for the male."Right!" Naruto nodded, becoming serious."Okay..." Sakura slowly nodded as well."Yeah..." Sasuke added, focusing forward."..." Kazumi kept silent.Seven then jumped down from the branch, continuing their trek on the ground alongside Kabuto this time.Minutes turned to hours, leaving Kazumi to suspiciously glance around her surroundings. Sakura's entire body was beginning to sweat, overheating by the constant walking. Other than the two introverts, Naruto started to break out into sweat as well."I... can't..." Sakura breathlessly whispered, struggling.Kazumi looked to her weak knees, immediately coming to her aid before the Haruno could fall onto them. She pulled Sakura to her side, wrapping her arm around her shoulder to steady the girl to her feet. Sakura continued to sway, though managed to thank Kazumi's swift response as she leaned into her taller frame for support."Sakura-chan?!" Naruto whipped his head to her, concerned."How long have we been walking? We aren't getting closer to the tower at all!" Sakura whined out, exhausted.Naruto slowly turned his head back, "It seems right in front of us... this is weird..."Kazumi caught on, raising a brow. With Sakura secured in her hold, she scanned around the area with blind eyes. Sasuke had noticed her clan eye activated, turning his body towards the two."Do you sense something, Kazumi?" He asked.With narrowed blind eyes, she nodded with an annoyed expression, "Someone's cast a decently strong genjutsu. It's... very faint."Decently strong... Indeed. Looks like I was way too in depth of my thoughts to notice..."Genjutsu?" Sakura's brows raised, following her uncanny eyes."Seems like... we've already arrived at our welcoming party." Kabuto remarked, unbothered, "Just as Kazumi-chan's sensed, look right there." He then pointed towards a familiar centipede."Don't use that daunting honorific on me." Kazumi quickly said, reluctantly following his pointed finger.Kabuto merely smiled in response.Her blind eyes turned back into her normal dull gold, examining the false creature. The genjutsu was no ordinary one, hence why she couldn't detect it up until now. As for the kunai Naruto had thrown at it hours ago, it was nowhere to be seen on the creature.
It's a... loop?
"Wh...What's going on?!" Naruto yelled.Sakura's jaw dropped.Sasuke took a cautious step back."We're in a pesky loop." Kazumi muttered, causing Kabuto to nod."Looks like we've fallen into a trap. Seems like they've took advantage of our worries and made us walk around in circles." Kabuto sighed."They're watching us."Kabuto then nodded at Sasuke, "They probably plan to tire us out and use that opportunity to get us."Sakura and Naruto wore mutual unsettled expressions. The two were clearly tiring out. Kazumi was nearly at that point, and clutching onto Sakura's energy-less figure wasn't helping that either."Here they come." Kazumi muttered, again, adjusting Sakura's arm over her shoulder as she glanced over it, watching enemy ninja's crawl out from their hiding spots."So they have..." Sasuke huffed.One by one, clones of the enemy ninjas came out from the trees and bushes, surrounding Seven and Kabuto. Kazumi released her hold on Sakura, gently pushing the weakened kunoichi behind her."A lot of them... and these are clones?""Wh...What is this?" Sakura gasped, unsure of who to look at.One enemy ninja chuckled, "You're trapped rats.""Shut up!!" Naruto barked, dashing forward to land a rough blow against his torso."Great job, Naruto!" Sakura cheered.His punch pushed the enemy back, only for their body to detach like goo.
Hah... First Zabuza, now this guy?
The Kumo openly smirked, baffled."Naruto!" Sakura screamed.Kazumi bolted forward this time, ducking under Sasuke's abrupt shurikens as she pushed Naruto down with her hand roughly shoving the blond's head low.She looked over her shoulder, watching the enemy's severed arm reattach itself as he threw Sasuke's own weapon back to him. The Uchiha remained still, his orbs blazing with the sharingan.
He's not dodging?
Kazumi spun around, flinching forward. However, Kabuto had thrown his body over Sasuke in time for the male to miss the weapon. He began wincing, a black tattoo mark appeared crawling up his neck. Sasuke hadn't dodged because he faltered.Sakura had dropped to her knees without hesitation, helping push his upper-body up from the ground.
What's going on with him?
Kazumi was left speechless, eyes locked to the unfamiliar tattoo on his neck.She was then instantly reminded of Orochimaru, and a heavy pit dropped inside of her gut. This made her palms start to sweat, and create small shakes beneath her chest which had her breathing become nearly unsteady.
Doom...
She felt doomed. Over, and over. The fangs from her nightmare snapping and retracting... over, and over."KAZ! Watch out!" Naruto bellowed, throwing a kunai over her head.Kazumi flinched out of her strong daze, her senses in haywire as she caught the handle of his kunai, thrusting it over her shoulder and penetrating straight into the clone's head. She stepped back, watching it explode with wide eyes. She hadn't realised everyone begun taking them down."Nice!" He cheered, spinning around to land a punch on another.
That feeling of dread...
She then squeezed the hem of her shirt, clutching the kunai. It was a similar feeling from when she first met Orochimaru—leaving her in an even stronger panicked trance than before.Kabuto continued speaking from whatever his topic was about, "... The real enemy won't reveal themselves until we can no longer move. At least for now, all we can do is dodge their attacks!"Kazumi wiped her sweating palm against her cloth, readjusting back into the current situation once her cool blood fizzled back into warmth.
The enemy wants to wear us down?
"Alright, if that's their plan..." Naruto frowned, quickly dodging a dozen of kunai's.Seven and Kabuto dodged them as well, their breathing's heavy."Ahh!! There's no end to this!" Sakura groaned."Then, I'll do this!!" Naruto positioned himself, preparing a shadow clone jutsu."Stop, Naruto-kun! Don't waste your chakra! Attacking them is pointless!!" Kabuto stressed.Kazumi took another step back, catching her breath after throwing a kunai towards a clone, their false figure dissolving to the surface in the background."If we defeat all the illusions at once, then while they are returning to normal... the enemy can't throw kunai's, 'cause they will be found!"
He never listens...
Shaking her head, Kazumi glanced at her team and Kabuto from beside her. They all nodded for her to continue, in which she did.The Kumo then silently hid a genjutsu cast of her own, duplicating themselves from behind Naruto. A giant cloud of smoke arose, making their real figures slip and hide in a bush nearby with Sakura quietly giggling to herself at their collective secret strategy.Whilst the enemy ninjas were preoccupied with Naruto's clones, Kazumi hid both her and her team away, including Kabuto. Eventually, the cloud of smoke vanished to reveal their clones with the help of Naruto's abnormal chakra.Kazumi had a knack for mirroring people's technique, finding enjoyment in studying their abilities. And to the enemy ninja's point of view, Kabuto and her team were still currently out of breath and worn from behind Naruto—not even noticing her genjutsu nor the Uzumaki's spreading chakra.Meanwhile, Naruto had performed his shadow clone jutsu. Rows after rows of his clones appearing side by side ahead of them. Each and every one of his clones savagely attacked the enemy ninja's, and their numbers only increased in response. Kazumi felt surprised by the sight, never having seen a living being with such energy and chakra before.Eventually, she made do to slide in a clone of her own, using the genjutsu of herself to puppet the casting as if she was actually there. She used that clone to fight alongside Naruto, even managing to signal to the blonde their final plan.After ages, the Uzumaki successfully took them all down. All but the real enemy ninja. Kazumi dismissed her clone, allowing the genjutsu to continue her worn act of exhaustion."Enough, Mubi. The sun is coming up. It's time for the kill.""Hehe... their spirit is already dead. Only their bodies remain... lucky..."The true enemy ninja appeared with his team behind him, preparing to strike at their vulnerableness. This only made the real Kazumi cross her arms, smirking from her hidden position inside of the bush.
They're so ignorant...
She devilishly grinned with excitement."You..." He spoke towards Sasuke's illusion, "You're the guy who got my shoulder... I finally found you." He then turned his head to face Kazumi's clone, "And you're the one who dared playing tricks with me!"... He's the random from the start of the test?Both the clone and real Kazumi deadpanned. The enemy hadn't left any impression for her to notice beforehand."Making things so difficult... Lucky I can finally return the favour!!"The Kumo flickered her gaze to her team, the three of them nodding to each other and towards Kabuto, who smiled in pleasure. On cue, they all stepped out from the bush, directly behind the opposite team."You're trapped rats." Sasuke quoted back, crossing his arms."How does it feel to be tricked twice? By now, you guys must feel more drained than us." Kazumi teased, feigning interest.Sakura clenched her fist, "Yeah!"The enemy looked over his shoulder, baffled, "Them... How?! Since when?!""Idiots!! We finally got you by the tails!! Bastards!" Naruto yelled with a cocky smirk, punching his knuckles together.Kazumi released the genjutsu, causing the prior figures of her team to disappear while Naruto helped disperse Sasuke and Sakura's chakra-scented clones, "Whilst you mindlessly went along fighting his shadow clones, I simply placed a genjutsu of my own— a much higher level class than yours, might I add." She shrugged with a half-smile."The moment Kazumi did, we hid. You and your team got a taste of your own medicine. It cannot compare to Kazumi's level of mastery." Sasuke added in a bragging tone.
He's so oddly nice lately...
Kazumi tensed only to abruptly shudder in response. Sasuke ignored her dramatic reaction, closing his eyes with a twitching frown as if he were offended. Naruto had heaved out a breath, finally falling onto one knee."Naruto, you've used too much chakra. We'll take over from here." The Uchiha smirked, flaring his sharingan when his eyes opened.Kazumi straightened up to step forward, only to stop — and instead — snap her gaze back to Naruto. The blond had pushed himself back up, landing a harsh punch onto one of the ninja's. He then balled his fist at them with a pained grin, all within a single blink."I'm damn sick of letting you always steal the juicy parts with Kaz!"
His chakra stamina is no joke...
Kazumi's expression hardened. She was surprised he could even stand at this moment, though quickly recalled the unfamiliar and heavy chakra she felt during the mist mission. His ability to replicate clones with similar chakra's, to the mass of his chakra... Despite not being able to properly see what happened, she knew the strong and heavy chakra came from Naruto. Just like it was now, yet less intense.Naruto is strong. More importantly, he is capable. Kazumi smiled at the revelation."You're pretty good. But, we aren't unlucky yet. There's little time left..." An enemy ninja formed a sign, "We'll show you our ninjutsu!"Suddenly, an immense amount of more clones appeared. Kazumi huffed out her mouth in disbelief, starting to get irked by the repetitive technique. If it weren't for Sanjiro's tough training, she would've been utterly defeated by now."Shadow clone?" Naruto asked."No... it's just a normal clone. But there must be some trick, watch out."Naruto then smirked, "Heh... if that's the case, I'll just blast them all 'til I hit the real one."
How long can he last?
Kazumi wasn't really against Naruto's straightforward plan, just impressed by him for the first time— a genuine feeling she never properly felt before towards the dunce."Idiot. That plan won't work." Sasuke replied."Should I use gravity? I'll wipe them out in seconds." Kazumi quietly suggested, mentally preparing. Sasuke firmly shook his head, "You'll drain what's left of your chakra in seconds. Do you want to collapse like last time?" He gave her a hard stare.
True...
The blonde-haired girl slugged her shoulders.Naruto grinned at the two of them. "Nah, you guys stay out of this!" He then dashed forward, letting out a war cry."Naruto, don't!!" Sakura screamed.Kazumi's fingers flinched.Kabuto jumped away from his spot, startling those near him.Each enemy Naruto had punched or kicked would only disperse, revealing the clones. Kazumi gritted her teeth, activating her clan eye. As the world became black and white, she couldn't see any colour of chakra other than the clear clones all around."Sasuke-kun?!" Sakura shrieked, rushing close to his crouched figure.Kazumi snapped her head down, squinting at his trembling shoulders. The boy winced, stifling groans of pain as he gripped the markings on his neck.
Those markings, again...
"Hey... what's going on?" Kazumi frowned, also stepping closer to the pained male.Just a moment ago, he was standing fine. Her clan eyes couldn't help but flicker to his chest, watching his chakra spasm like moving tied knots, unstable and erratic. As she'd follow the consistent motion, it resulted back to his neck. Exactly where the markings were."It's his sharingan!" Sakura stressed, "Sasuke-kun, please stop using sharingan!!" She cried out, grabbing his shoulders.
Huh? But, that's never happened before...
Her eyes then snapped wide, recalling the memory of Orochimaru nearly reaching his neck with his fangs. Her mind thought back to the dream of that snake's fangs snapping out for her, causing her to physically flinch. "No way... don't tell me..." Kazumi mumbled, Sasuke's abrupt voice cutting in between."Stop, Naruto!" He shouted, pushing the pain aside.Kazumi then followed his gaze onto the Uzumaki, noticing Kabuto's figure lying on the ground. Kabuto had jumped away from the spot to protect Naruto."No matter how many you punch... you won't find the real ones.""Then where will the enemies attack from? Normal clones can't attack!!" Naruto shouted."If we knew that, things would be easy... that is their plan!" After seconds, Sasuke glued his red eyes to the surface, "In the ground." He muttered, to which Kazumi overheard.Kazumi narrowed her blind eyes to the surface, noticing a colour appear amidst the black and white setting through her vision. As she was about to step forward — the moment Kabuto was kicked away — to apply gravity against the ground, she stopped to catch sight of the male's expression.Kabuto was menacingly glaring at the enemy ninja, and the said ninja suddenly froze into abnormal quivers. A message was received between the two.
...
She took a wary step back, her eyes blinking back into her usual golden. The moment passed, however, and Naruto then appeared with a slam against the frozen ninja as if time moved quickly and what she saw was just a fragment of her imagination.But it wasn't. That look was unlike any deadly stare she had ever seen."Heh!" He wiped his chin, "You shouldn't create an opening, right?" Naruto looked to Kabuto for approval, unaware of his surroundings.Kabuto instantly sat up, the expression shifting back into his passive smile, "Phew... thanks, Naruto-kun. You saved me."
What was that just now?
Was her eyes playing tricks on her? She could have sworn his glare caused the opposite team to freeze in fright. Without enough time to ponder on it, she looked back down at Sasuke's neck. A realisation dawned on her. It was likely Orochimaru had bit him straight after her world became black.Unbeknownst to her, Sasuke caught on as well. And eventually after a moment, the two had attentive gazes now thrown at an oblivious Kabuto.
Something isn't right.
Anxiously, the Kumo snapped her head away from Kabuto. For a first, she floundered to act casual."What is that thing? An injury? It's a horrible mark." Kabuto asked, abruptly.
"Now that I'm looking at it, what happened to the top of your head?"
Kazumi's shoulders flinched at the memory, feeling as though Kabuto is being far too instigative than typical. His tone made it all seem like child's play.Sasuke glanced up at Kazumi, finally noticing her stiff mannerisms. It caused his suspicions to raise, though he was much better at hiding it."It's nothing." He looked back down at Kabuto, pushing himself up from the ground."I found it! I found it! It's the heaven scroll!!" Naruto cheered, throwing up the scroll for all to see."Pretty convenient, again." Kazumi mumbled, approaching the defeated foreigners to gaze at the Sound shinobi symbols. Coincidentally, Sound-nin's attacked them again. "Right?" Kabuto smiled without a care, "Great..."Kazumi gave him a massive dose of side-eye before clearing her throat, "Let's get going. The tower is nearby." She hurriedly said—merely eager to pass before the sun could rise above the clouds now.Sakura grabbed onto Sasuke's arm, allowing the Uchiha to lean against her frame whilst they followed Kazumi and Kabuto. Naruto lagged, spinning around playfully in delight with the scroll clutched in his hands.As they all reached the tower, two ninja's appeared from a bush, startling them."Oh, you guys..." Kabuto nodded."You're late, Kabuto.""We ran into trouble, sorry." Kabuto sheepishly smiled, walking over to his team."Not much of a team if they didn't bother to find you." Kazumi's brows furrowed, watching Kabuto's forehead pop a faint vein of frustration.Her comments were gradually getting to him, she could tell. It was uncanny how quick Kabuto could put on another mask of ignorance."But!! But! Thanks to you guys, we got the scroll!!" Naruto spoke out before war could break loose between the two."No, it was all because of you guys." Kabuto shook his head, "You were great at the end, Naruto." He then turned his gaze to Kazumi, "And I look forward to seeing how you fare in the next test." Despite his words being towards Naruto, his eyes locked onto Kazumi's suspicious ones. Kabuto mouthed: 'Little Cold Heart' to her gaze only.
What is he trying to accomplish by acting this way?
Kazumi clenched her fists at her side, standing her ground. Sakura and Naruto didn't notice, sharing excited looks with each other instead. Sasuke looked back and forth at the tense two, scowling."We're leaving." He pushed himself off of Sakura to collapse against Kazumi, his figure beckoning her to enter the tower.Sakura wore a surprised look, worried for his state whilst half-cursing the shinobi Gods for not letting her touch him any longer.Naruto loured, clearly wanting to spend more time with the admirable Kabuto, "Rude bastards!!"Kazumi reluctantly held onto Sasuke's wrist, allowing his weight to lean against her as she looked over her shoulder at the four-eyed male.Kabuto slowly smiled at her discomfort, "Can't contain the excitement, eh?" He then waved at Naruto, amused. "We are going to go through this door. Good luck to both of us!"Naruto returned his smile with an innocent one, "Yeah!"Kazumi sharply turned her head back straight, "Let's go."Naruto and Sakura followed behind the two introverts, watching the inside of the building open up to an even bigger area. The tower was discarded, like they were the last team to arrive. That thought chipped away at Kazumi's pride.Seven then suddenly stopped walking to look around the empty place, confused.Naruto appeared at Kazumi's other side to lean an elbow on her shoulder, "Nobody's here...""Oi, I'm not having two of you now treat me like some pillar." Kazumi glared, shifting away from Naruto. The blond boy caught himself before he could fall, whining over Kazumi's bluntness. "Whatever..." Sasuke pushed off of Kazumi, steadying himself onto his feet. Sakura quickly offered an arm out again, only to receive a shake of the head from Sasuke. She smiled sadly, overly studying his worn state."Bah..." Kazumi huffed out, copying Naruto as she placed her elbow against his shoulder this time.Naruto snapped at this, "Hey! Why do I have to be a pillar then?!"The Kumo scratched her ear with a pinkie, ignoring him. Having said those words, Naruto did not bother to move away.Sakura then pointed up towards writings, "Hey! Look at that!"Kazumi instantly tilted her head up, skimming through the words with squinted eyes."Without heaven... What the hell does this mean?" Naruto shouted."Is it purposely missing words?" Kazumi sighed, her brain hurting from reading it.
I don't know what's worse... this or Naruto's discombobulated notes at the academy.
Sakura nodded to her, "This is probably about the scrolls. I think they are telling us to open them."
Risky...
Seven huddled together. Kazumi wrapped her arm around Naruto's other shoulder, leaning closely in as the Uzumaki positioned the heaven scroll out in his hands.Sasuke stood in between Naruto and Sakura, watching the Haruno position the earth scroll out as well. There was a short second of silence, each of them glancing at each other."Alright... let's open them up!" Sakura demanded, pulling the scroll out.Naruto swiftly done the same, causing Kazumi to lean even closer with anticipation—practically squishing him against Sasuke.
What'll happen?
"Summoning jutsu?" Kazumi mumbled, looking down at the open scrolls."Naruto! Sakura! Let go of the scrolls!" Sasuke yelled, pushing them apart.Naruto dropped it, and Kazumi pulled him back with her whilst Sasuke done the same thing to Sakura. Winds whirled, and dust and debris flew around the two scrolls as if a miniature tornado was forming. A figure then appeared within the smoke, arms crossed, and a proud smirk plastered on his face.It was their former sensei, Iruka."Long time no see." He greeted, tilting his head."What's going on?" Sakura gasped."Looks like you guys had trouble," Iruka added, ignoring her question.Kazumi caught his gaze lingering on her scalp, making the Kumo cross her arms. She didn't know why, but there was a hint of shame in her lowered face. Eventually, Iruka sadly looked away, recollecting himself calmly."Huh? Huh?!! Why was Iruka-sensei summoned?!" Naruto asked.Iruka stiffly chuckled, "At the end of this second test, it's set up so we, chuunins, meet up with the exam takers. And I was allowed to be the one to greet you.""Greet us?" Sakura asked, again.Iruka then pulled out a clock, "Phew... just made it in time." He then slammed it shut with a closed grin, "The second test... All four of you pass, congratulations. To celebrate your successful completion of the second test, I'd like to buy you a round of ramen... but...""WE DID IT!!!" Naruto beamed, throwing himself onto Iruka."H...Hey, Naruto... listen until the end.""WE DID IT, WE DID IT, WE DID IT!!! WE DID IT!" Naruto chanted, rubbing his cheek against Iruka's chest before bouncing off to thrust his fists up into the air, "I'm so happy!!!"Sakura moaned in relief, dropping to her knees.Sasuke fell in pursuit, relaxing his behind on the floor, "He sure has energy..."Kazumi hunched over, her palms pressed against her knees as she heavily sighed.
Uncle... I did it...
"YAY!!" Naruto continued, jumping continuously in the air like a starfish."Shut up!" Sakura screamed, her head still pounding from stress.Iruka smiled, "You sure haven't changed in your ability to relax..."Sasuke then huffed through his nose, letting an obvious smile fall onto his face, "I see... if we had open the scrolls during the test, what were you going to do, Iruka-sensei?"Kazumi straightened up, mutually curious."As always, you are sharp, Sasuke." Iruka crouched down to open the scroll further, "As you may of figured out, this test's rules are set up to test your ability to perform missions correctly. So, if you were to break these rules and open the scrolls...""What would've happened?" Sakura asked once he had trailed off."Those exam takers would be put in a condition of unconsciousness for the remaining of the test period. Those were my orders."
It's just as Kabuto warned...
Kazumi frowned, unsure if she should feel guilty for doubting his weirdness. The more she recalled his behaviour, the more she felt compelled to distrust him.Sasuke turned his head to his team, "Heh, good thing Kazumi stopped you."Naruto scowled at him, though quickly thought back to the moment and began thanking them as if it was dramatic fate. Sakura sighed, wiping the sweat from her forehead with appreciation for Kabuto and Kazumi."Oh? Kazumi knew not to open the scrolls?" Iruka grinned, admiring his former students, "Intuitive as always, aren't you?"Kazumi tilted her head away at his praise to hide the oncoming faint blush from her cheeks. She wasn't good at handling sudden compliments. Especially when it was from her respective sensei's. Iruka's grin had relaxed at her childish reaction.Sakura then snapped her head up to the writings, "Oh! Yeah, sensei! What's the meaning of the writing on the wall? Seems like there's a word missing. We can't figure it out.""Who the hell cares?! We passed!" Naruto growled, done with the second test."I'm siding with Naruto on this one..." Kazumi closed her eyes, crossing her arms with a sigh. She couldn't care any more about the test now that it was over."No... I am also here to explain that. You ought to listen, Kazumi... I'm sure this lesson will be useful to you in the future." Iruka sheepishly replied, "Read it. This is the motto of the chuunin written by Hokage-sama.""Should I?" Kazumi raised a brow, intrigued."Motto?" Naruto frowned.Iruka chuckled at their inputs, "Yeah, the 'heaven' in this paragraph refers to the human mind. And the 'earth' refers to the human body. 'If you lack heaven, seek wisdom, be prepared', that basically for example..." Iruka then pointed his thumb to his headband, "If Naruto's weakness is his brain, gain knowledge and prepare yourself for the missions."Naruto's face relaxed to pout whilst Sakura giggled in the back.He then places his thumb against his heart, looking towards Kazumi, "'And if you focus too much on heaven, you'll abandon earth'. Simply meaning... that if Kazumi is too intuitive, she'll lack reason and control."Kazumi blinked, looking down at the cracked surface. His words made her remember Kabuto's taunting words and her apparent lack of reasoning when eager to take both of his scrolls. 
I see...
The Kumo then looked back up to him, feeling a part of herself shifting by his wise words. A new perceptive. Iruka continued, looking towards Sakura this time, "'If you lack Earth, run in the fields, seek advantages.' So, if Sakura's weakness is stamina, then it's saying you must continue to train hard."Naruto wore a triumphant smirk at her with his arms crossed whilst Sakura stuck her tongue out with a nervous chuckle."And if you have both the heaven and earth, you can succeed in even the most dangerous mission." Iruka concluded.Sasuke was indifferent."So, basically all mission becomes safe and easy."Sakura raised a brow, "Then... the part with the missing word?"Iruka smiled, turning the scroll towards them to see, "So... the words that represent a chuunin. The 'person' word from the scrolls goes there. The last sentence is, 'these rules will guide a person's extremes.' These five days of survival were to test the exam takers basic abilities needed to become a chuunin. Chuunin's are at the rank of military captain, you have the responsibility of guiding a team. The knowledge, stamina, and inner wisdom, are all needed for your duties. I want you guys to challenge the next step with this chuunin motto in mind. That is... all I have to pass on to you.""Roger!" Naruto saluted.Kazumi's eyebrows knitted together upon noticing Iruka's foreign look."But... this third and final test... Don't push yourselves too hard. Especially you, Naruto. I worry about you..."Naruto cut him off, "From the moment I received this leaf forehead protector, I'm no longer an academy student! There is no need to worry!" He flexed the headband, "And this is the symbol that I am all grown up, right!? The part about me never relaxing may not have changed, but I'm not a kid anymore!! Now... I'm a ninja!"Kazumi looked at him with a surprised expression.
It really is hard to hate him.
She unknowingly smiled, placing a hand to her hip."I see... I'm sorry Naruto. And Kazumi..." Iruka's words faded away.Naruto grinned with giggles.Kazumi raised a brow at him, watching his eyes forcefully look away from her hair."Ah... Best of luck!" He suddenly dispersed into smoke, leaving a silence.... What?Naruto began running ahead, Sakura and Sasuke tiredly following. Kazumi blanked, feeling unnerved until Naruto's excited shout called for her to catch up.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Seven stood within a crowded area. It was an indoor stadium, filled with teams that passed the second exam. Kazumi had instantly noticed a familiar bob-styled hair, watching Lee catch her gaze and wink towards her direction. He'd even give her a thumbs up, which only made her awkwardly crack a tiny smile in reply.
I should thank him...
She liked the way the male didn't look twice at her hair and state. As she turned to face him, Lee only shook his head with a knowing look, causing her to stay in one place. It was like he had read her mind, giving her a wide toothy grin that stretched on his rosy cheeks. Kazumi's smile twitched, surprised.
I'd like to have a fair match with him...
She turned her appreciative face away from Lee, looking at the other teams around her. Her academy team's passed as well when noticing Hinata and Shikamaru's teams nearby. Kabuto stood beside Team Seven with his own team, and just a few metres away, Gaara's team was visible within the crowd.Gaara stared at the back of Kazumi's head, teal eyes shifting from her black scalp and down to the cuts and bruises against her skin. She caught his lingering gaze, also taking in his state. His clean, untouched appearance caused her upper lip to twitch with envy. 
I doubt he ran into any psycho's like we did.
She quickly looked away before he could notice, clenching and unclenching her fist. Gaara himself was the psycho. Sakura stood beside Kazumi, smiling at the back of Sasuke's head. Naruto stood in front of him, grinning to himself.
Only seven out of the twenty-seven teams passed. That's twenty-two of us in total. If the next test is what I'm suspecting... I'll likely have to go up against at least one or two teams within this room.
Kazumi re-clenched her fist from her side, glancing all around the room once more. She noticed familiar Sound-nin, surprised to see them still standing. She hadn't expected they passed after the condition they were left in. It was still a mystery to both Kazumi and Naruto, though she just shrugged it off and assumed Sakura and Lee handled themselves well against them.One Sound-nin in particular caught her eye, his arm in a brace whilst his two other teammates had bandages wrapped in all different places. He seemed to be glaring harshly at the back of Sasuke's skull, making Kazumi's brow quirk up, intrigued. Before they could unintentionally lock eyes, Kazumi refocused her attention to an eager Uzumaki."Wow!! Wow!! Old man Hokage, Iruka-sensei, Kakashi-sensei, and even Super Brows is here. It's like everyone is assembled!" Naruto shouted, pumped."Heh... I can't say that I'm getting a good feeling..." Sasuke almost smirked.Kazumi then looked at him, her gaze following the Uchiha's up ahead where the jounin's and Hokage stood. She skimmed her eyes past the examiners on the sidelines, as if trying to find someone. Though, he wasn't there. Orochimaru. A fraud among the examiners.The Kumo subconsciously placed her fingertips against her throat.
It should be a good thing he's gone... but, should I be worried about this?
"HOKAGE-SAMA WILL NOW EXPLAIN THE THIRD TEST. Listen carefully." Anko yelled, silencing the chattering crowd, "Now, Hokage-sama, please."The old man nodded, facing the crowd of genin's.Kazumi exhaled out of her nose, removing her fingers from her throat to pay proper attention to the smoker."For the coming third test... but, before I explain that, there is something I'd like you to know. It concerns the true reason for this exam..." He then slowly tilts down his kasa hat, "Why do we all have the allied countries taking the exam together?"Upon the silence, the Hokage answered his own rhetorical question."'To promote friendship among the countries.' 'To raise the level of shinobi.' I don't want you to be confused about the true meaning... this exam is... a replacement for war among the allied countries."
What?
Kazumi's brows raised."What does that mean?" A girl asked within the crowd."If you go back in time, the current allies were enemies who fought each other over who would rule. In order to prevent wasteful fighting, the stage that these countries chose to battle... That is the origins of this chuunin selection exam."
Seriously?
Kazumi deadpanned."WHY THE HELL DO WE HAVE TO DO THAT CRAP?!" Naruto bellowed, causing Kazumi to lean away and wince, "ISN'T THIS FOR DECIDING WHO'S A CHUUNIN?""It is a fact that this exam decides which shinobi have what it takes to become a chuunin. But on the other hand, this exam has another meaning... where each country's shinobi risk their lives to protect their land's prestige.""Prestige?" A random girl asked."Watching this third exam will be leaders and influential individuals from many countries who make up the clients of the shinobi. And these leaders of the countries will also be there to watch each of your battles." The Hokage then lowered his face, "If the strength of the country is clear, that country will receive more clients. And conversely, if seen as weak, they will lose clients."
I think I understand...
Kazumi rubbed her thumb against her finger, frowning."And this will signal to potential enemy countries that "our village has this much power". So it will send a political message to the outsiders.""YEAH, BUT WHY?! WHY DO WE HAVE TO RISK OUR LIVES IN BATTLE?!" Kiba cut the Lord off with a shout.Unfazed, the old man continued, "The strength of the country is the strength of the village. The strength of the village is the strength of the shinobi. And a shinobi's true strength is born... only through life-risking battle."Kazumi glanced down at herself. With her hands slightly raised up, she observed all the scratches and callouses. It seemed that ever since she became a part of Team Seven, life altering changes have been occurring both mentally and physically to her. Though, she quickly understood the Hokage's words since they happened to resonate with Sanjiro's.
Like two peas in a pod... No wonder they're so close.
Kazumi struggled to remain a serious expression when her mind forced her to imagine chibified figures of Sanjiro and the Hokage acting incredulously towards one another."This exam is a place to see each country's strengths and to show off your own strength. It only has meaning because lives are at risk. And that's why those that have come before you have fought in the chuunin exam for this dream that is meaningful.""But then why... do you have to say stuff about it being for 'friendship'?" The same girl from before asked.The Hokage's eyes narrowed, "I said it in the beginning, I don't want you to confuse the purpose of this. By losing life, and establishing balance. This is the shape of friendship in the world of shinobi."Sakura's expression turned baffled."Before we begin the third test, I will tell you one more thing. This is not just a test... this is a life-risking battle... with your dreams and your country's prestige on the line."Ino's expression mirrored Sakura's."I get it." Naruto smirked, crossing his arms."Do you, really?" Kazumi raised an amused brow at him, her face unmoving.Naruto stiffened, trying to hide his guilty reaction."I don't care what it is... just hurry up and tell us what this life-risking battle entails." Gaara's cold voice spoke up.The Hokage nods, "Yes, I'd like to explain the third test now, but..."«COUGH!»A male appeared, bowing respectfully to the Lord through the dispersing smoke, "I apologise Hokage-sama. From here on, as the referee, will you please allow me, Gekkou Hayate.""By all means..."
Gekkou Hayate?
Kazumi tilted her head up, confused. She had no idea who he was."Hello everyone, I'm Hayate." He swiftly turned around to reveal his sunken, sickly eyes and pale face, "Umm, before the third test, there's something I'd like you to do." He coughed, repeatedly.
Is he sick?
Kazumi pulled a face."Umm... it's a preliminary for the third test. To decide who gets to participate in the main event.""What?" Kazumi mumbled, irked."Preliminary?" Sakura repeated."Preliminary?! What do you mean?" Shikamaru asked."Sensei... I don't understand this preliminary but... why aren't all the people here allowed to participate in the next test?" Sakura desperately asked, poking her head up from behind Sasuke's shoulder."Umm... because the first and second test may have been too easy this year. We have a bit too many people remaining."
'Easy'? This man has no idea what we've been through!
Kazumi's expression became aggravated. It was utterly unfair in her perspective."According to the chuunin exam rules, we must have a preliminary and... reduce the number of participants for the third test.""No way..." Sakura whispered."As Hokage-sama indicated earlier, there will be many guests at the third test. So the fights could take too long, we are limited in time.""What about our rights as shinobi?" Kazumi spoke up, glaring, "Every one of us have passed. It's not our fault the first and second tests were "too" easy.""Yeah!" Naruto and Sakura nearly butted heads, clenching their fists in sync with reflected frowns.Hayate sighed, watching as the crowd of examinees began to chatter in idle agreement."Please," Hayate silenced the crowd with his gesturing hands, "These are the chuunin rules. There will always be more chuunin exams in the future."
You're kidding!!
Kazumi's expression dropped, looking at her team. Out of all the others, hers was the only team with four members. This made her fear that they'd be targeted to drop out from the exams. Sasuke seemed to sense her distress, even Sakura. Naruto had decided to pick his nose with a pinky, still frowning."Umm, so anyway, those who are not feeling well... those who feel like quitting after these explanations. Please come forward now. Since we will be starting the preliminary immediately.""WHAT?!! RIGHT NOW?!" Kiba yelled.
...
Kazumi clenched her fist, scanning others around her in hopes many and enough would quit."'Umm'... I'm going to quit." Kabuto smiled with his hand raised.
What?!
Kazumi snapped her head to the tall figure in shock."Kabuto-San..." Sakura whispered.Sasuke's brows furrowed."Umm... You're Yakushi Kabuto-kun from the Leaf, right? You may leave now." Hayate coughed, "Umm... I forgot to tell you that from now on it will be individual battling. You may raise your hand based on your own judgement."
Individual battling? No wonder there's too many. Well, at least we're at an odd number now.
Kazumi thought, originally believing it was going to be teams versus teams."Kabuto-San!! Why are you quitting?!" Naruto shouted, his fist clenched into a ball.The Kumo then flinched forward when registering Hayate's words.
'From the leaf'? I've never seen him around before...
Her tired, suspicious eyes glued to Kabuto's every reactions."I'm sorry, Naruto-kun... but my body is all beat up." Kabuto sadly frowned, "And now we'll have to risk our lives... I just..."Sasuke took a wary glance at Kazumi before looking back at the odd male.Naruto had looked away, his face becoming downcast.Kabuto then gave a small wave to Seven, turning his back whilst he took a few steps.Kazumi tilted her head, "Is this why you always fail the exams?" She abruptly remarked when his back turned, gaining a gentle nudge from a baffled Sakura.Sasuke huffed through his nose, closing his eyes to prevent a smirk.
To suddenly drop out would typically have intentions... Am I losing it, or am I simply becoming wary of everyone now?
Kazumi controlled her chakra, making sure to not activate her clan eyes. As much as she wondered on the speculation of Kabuto being one of Orochimaru's disguises, it was hard for Kazumi to sense the grotesque chakra from him. Therefore, she could only give him scornful looks.Naruto shot her a pouty glare, "Hey! It's not his fault..." He sniffled, dramatically having to look away.Kabuto looked over his shoulder at her, eerily amused, "Maybe next time..." He quietly snickered, turning his head back straight, "... I won't drop out..." Kabuto then walked, exiting the stadium.Naruto's bottom lip finally pouted out in trembles, genuinely upset about this. Kazumi exhaled through her nose, glad he's gone. However, that meant she could no longer fight him, to her disappointment.A skin-to-skin slap sound made the Kumo snap her gaze to Sasuke. He had his hand suddenly gripping his neck, his figure very faintly shaking in pain.Kazumi's expression became stern."Umm... now... there are no more retiring, right?"  As soon as Hayate spoke, the crowds of teams broke into chatter; in debate with one another towards this.Feeling hopeless, Hayate sighed which only made him cough and give up."Huh?!" Sakura gasped, looking back and forth between Hayate and a distressed Uchiha, "Sa...Sasuke-kun! You should also quit this prelim!!" She suggested."Huh?!" Naruto frowned."You've been strange since that Orochimaru guy attacked you! That mark still hurts, right? If you continue...!!" She stressed."What mark? Kaz?" Naruto whispered, confused.Kazumi's jaw clenched, "A snake bite." Was all she replied, recalling Orochimaru's fangs before she fainted.
So he really did... bite him...
She focused her eyes onto Sasuke's covered neck, imagining the familiar sight of black markings she had seen before. It was like he was cursed. Marked by the devil.Sakura shook, clutching her arms to her chest with tears prickling the corner of her eyes, "Please... Please quit... I'm afraid..." She then wiped away a tear, "You're in no condition to fight right now!!"
She's getting loud...
Kazumi tilted her head down, anxious."I can see it!! You've been hiding this pain all this time!!""Be... quiet..." Sasuke muttered, strained as he gripped tighter to his neck."WHATEVER YOU SAY, I'M GOING TO TELL—""Sakura." Kazumi pressed a firm hand onto her shoulder, "There are eyes and ears all around. Calm down. Please."Sakura's brows creased up, hurt."No! He's in pain, Kazumi! His mark! Your mark! Both of you should just quit!! Or I'll tell sensei!" Her voice cracked, terrified.
My mark?
Kazumi removed her hand from her shoulder to take a startled step back. Sakura had gasped when she realised what she said. Kazumi's brows then furrowed and her eyes hardened, her heart pumping with anxiety.Kazumi's words slowed, "What did you just say? I wasn't bit by that —""ENOUGH!" Sasuke snarled, immediately lowering his tone, "Shut up about this mark." He then softly demanded, his eyes flickering to Kazumi's for a split moment, "About both of ours...""So I do have a mark?! I don't understand, I wasn't bit..." Kazumi trailed off, touching the side of her neck to confirm her words was true.Sasuke snapped his gaze away, "During an uncontrollable state I was in, I could see a mark on your throat... That's all. If I don't understand about my own mark, I won't understand yours." He seemed frustrated and disturbed about their situation."What...?" Kazumi breathlessly exhaled, now concerned, "The hell?! Why do I have a similar problem as you!" Her tone laced with loathing, unintentional."Like I'd know! Quit looking down on me all the time!" Sasuke growled, stepping forward to nearly butt-heads with her.Naruto's lips had thinned at their actions, a rare serious expression appearing in his unusual silence.Sakura's breath hitched at her their spats, immediately spinning around to march for their sensei. Kazumi flinched her head up to her, readying to stop her, however, Sasuke swiftly grabbed Sakura's wrist before she could do so. This halted Sakura, causing her to feel obliged to stay."Uhh.." Sakura lowered her face, sniffling, "Why are you so stubborn?! And why won't you listen!" She gazed between the two victims of Orochimaru, "I don't want to see you suffering anymore. To me... you guys..." Her voice began to shake.Kazumi exhaled slowly through her nose, pursing her lips. She felt pity for the pink-haired kunoichi once more. It was clear Sakura wasn't born to be a shinobi."Stay out of my business."Sakura quietly gasped, hurt by his disregard. She then slowly turned to look at Kazumi, her eyes widening more as she watched the Kumo close her eyes and shake her head."While what you've said is a concern... I want no part in this. Leave me out. I must become a chuunin." Kazumi firmly stated, stepping away and closer to a silent Uzumaki.
I must prioritise my shinobi duties. Other wise... Uncle...
Kazumi turned her head away from Sakura's shocked stare and she blatantly ignored Sasuke's peeved looks.
I'll figure out a way to get out of this mess...
Sakura's jaw then twitched, her fingers quivering."Sakura... I have told you before. I'm an avenger. This isn't just to test me. Unlike Kazumi, I don't care about chuunin or whatever. 'Am I strong?' I just want the answer to that. To just fight strong guys here. And they are here. I can't forgive even you... if you take that away from me.""You bastards!! Stop acting all cool!! Idiots! Sakura is this worried and—""Naruto." Sasuke cut him off, "I also want to fight you."The single sentence alone silenced Naruto once again. Sakura had winced, feeling powerless by their lack of hearing."I've fought you since the academy days, Kazumi." Sasuke then turned to her, causing the Kumo to look back at him expressionlessly, "Don't you dare hold back if we are ever to go against each other, again."Kazumi frowned."Your clan eye against mine. I mean it." He glared, voice dropping low.
I've never used my eye against him. And I don't ever plan on doing so.
"Fine." A bead of sweat dropped from her face as she rubbed her elbow.Sasuke glared harder, trying to read her. Ultimately, he looked away first. Sakura cringed, forcing her head low. Her hands shook until clenched into smaller trembles.Kazumi was oblivious to Sakura's silent despair, pulled into her mind when reminiscing the past. She always felt compelled to hide her true abilities in battle all because of Sanjiro's teachings. However, for the past months, she's found herself going against his every word. She couldn't lie. It was almost exhilarating.The blonde-haired girl then looked away from Sasuke, pressing her two fingers against her throat with a look of anxiety.
Surely this won't get in the way of the exams...
Although the weak reassuring words inside of her head were not enough to fully convince her. For a first.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Sasuke-kun..." Sakura whispered, concerned.Kazumi was leaning against a railing, looking down at the other teams as she watched Sasuke's fight unfold. The first match inside of the preliminaries had begun, and he was struggling. His faults reminded Kazumi of the forest test. The very moment when the markings abruptly appeared mid-fight against a team of nobody's.
So this is Orochimaru's influence?
She wondered, also taking note of whenever it would occur, his sharingan was coincidentally flared. She even noticed the Uchiha was hardly using his prideful clan eye, confusing her."Sakura, what really happened while I was passed out?" Kazumi quietly asked, not bothering to tilt her head to the kunoichi as she kept her gaze on Sasuke.Sakura flinched in Kazumi's peripheral eye, obviously uncomfortable with the sudden topic. However, she slowly leaned her shoulder in, her frown deepening. Their conversation was in small voices, away from Naruto's oblivious ear."He... was bitten. I'm sure you've gotten that hint, though..." She gradually spoke as if unsure about her own conclusion, "It's like what we've already seen... Three markings on his neck... but then it spread all over the side of his face and body. And while you were still unconscious, he woke up first." She clenched the railing, her bottom lip trembling, "Sasuke-kun... acted completely different..."As Sakura struggled to keep speaking, Kazumi finally turned her head to her. Sakura was staring deeply at Sasuke, intimidated by her memory of him."I think... he had an intent to kill those Sound-nin..." She finished, unable to look at the Sound team from afar.Kazumi raised her head, finding one of the Sound-nin nearby with their team. One was still wearing the arm brace, endlessly glaring at Sasuke whilst the unaware Uchiha was fighting below. They were the ones responsible for whatever happened while the Kumo was blacked out."Sasuke was the one who broke his arm?" Kazumi asked, turning her head back to the pink-haired kunoichi.Sakura weakly nodded, rubbing her lips together as she swallowed thickly. It really unnerved her, by her odd body language."When Sasuke-kun broke his arm, the Sound-nin released you and dropped you to the ground." Sakura explained, "I don't know why... but they were trying to take you, too."
Ah... Sakura mentioned that when I woke up...
Kazumi's brows furrowed, understanding that Sakura didn't know the reason behind that. She then glanced to Sakura's layered, short hair."Your hair, how did that really happen?" Kazumi quizzed softly, watching Sakura's eyes widen slightly."Oh... It was just a way to get through a fight, is all..." She forced a smile, eyes flickering momentarily to the Sound ninja's female member.Kazumi caught this, turning her head away with a knowing look.
She must've struggled a lot...
Knowing that made Kazumi feel a displaced emotion. This time, she looked at the Sound-female, really looked. The foreign girl had black hair falling down to her fair ankles, tied into a loose bow at the end. She wore cow printed pants and scarf atop her basic shinobi attire. The permanent smirk on her face caused a small twitch from Kazumi's brow.
Damn...
Kazumi forced her stare away before the foreign-nin could notice."A—Anyways... Orochimaru did something to you, too." Sakura's forced smile fell to a weak frown, staring at Kazumi's throat, "I'm just glad you're not losing control of yourself like Sasuke-kun."Kazumi placed her hand over her throat, turning her head away in a hiding manner. An unusual feeling of shame washed over, confusing the Kumo even more. It was the same feeling she felt when Iruka had an unfamiliar look in his eye when seeing her black scalp.
Shame over what, exactly? 
"What did Orochimaru do?" She whispered, surprised the blunt thought lingered in the back of her mind. A part of Kazumi did not want to find out. Although the other side screamed for answers to her discomfort.Sakura exhaled slowly through her nose, glancing from her throat and to the top of Kazumi's black coloured hair, "It was like some kind of seal... It's not there anymore, not like Sasuke-kun's at least." The pink-haired kunoichi frowned.
"Kazumi... In any case that our clan jutsu is tampered
, focus
 your chakra's core to your neck... —"
Kazumi dropped her fingers from her throat, her brain processing the faint words from Sanjiro before she fainted. This made her recall the many times he placed a sealing jutsu on her throughout the years. How he had always touched it up through using his own chakra. It's was definitely different from the typical ways of sealing.
Then... does this mean?
Her brows furrowed, also processing Sakura's explanation. Orochimaru had done something to her seal. A seal that she has yet to understand the purpose of. The idea of that alone was enough to create an uncomfortable stomach twist, her eyes aimlessly falling to Sasuke's fighting stance from below.
We both have seals. Why?
She stared at his collar where his mark was hidden behind. This oddly made her feel protective, like she had to be on guard 24/7. There was an ominous man out to get them both, and whilst she wasn't that much fond of Sasuke, she never wished unusual flaws to occur to him. To both of them."Yes!!!" Naruto abruptly yelled, grinning.The girl's attention refocused to Sasuke's match, tuning back into his situation."Sasuke-kun!!" Sakura screeched, horrified.Sasuke was suddenly twitching harshly on the ground, instantly jolting his back off of the surface only for his opponent to slam their palm to his forehead, pushing him back against the ground.
The mark seems to occur when his sharingan is activated... that can only mean one thing:
Kazumi activated her clan eye, glaring down at Sasuke's opponent with her blind eyes. Through the black and white coloured world, a dark chakra colour was seen absorbing Sasuke's chakra from his opponents hand, which severely squeezed the Uchiha's pulses.
Chakra.
Ignoring the continuous fight, Kazumi looked down at her figure, raising her palms to her view. Of course, she was exuding her own chakra just by activating her kekkei genkai, however it wasn't causing similar symptoms as Sasuke. No markings. No shakes. No pain. Just a never ending effect of her veins having a similar feeling to pins and needles.
Something's still not right... Am I missing something?
Deactivating her clan eye, she then closed her eyes to tune out from the world around her. The sounds of cheering and people became quieter, like a distant white noise. Just as she did during the Mist mission, she was recounting all she could.In a devoid blackness of her mind space, Kazumi focused hard in recalling events... specifically things Orochimaru had said and done. It was almost a fog, as if everything had been blurred out from the expression of his face down to the muffled sentences he'd spew with that bone-chilling malicious intent.
"

With our lives on the line.

"
The first recollection of his words already caused Kazumi's blood to run cold.
"

You can no longer move...

"
The second making her brows knit together, her eyes squeezing tightly closed.
"

Right after I deal with him!

"
The third causing Kazumi to bite her inner cheek, unnerved. With each memory of the ominous man's words and actions, her heart sank and raced. It was strange, given how she never felt proper fear before.
So this is fear?
The last time Kazumi could recall similar feelings was when she nearly believed Sasuke died on their first C-rank mission. It was then emptiness resided in her thoughts. After that, there was nothing else she could think back to. This made the Kumo try harder, focusing intensely for anything she missed. But it was to no avail.Slowly, Kazumi opened her eyes, feeling downcast. The buzzing sounds of everything around her flooded back to her senses, like she had un-paused a movie.
In the end... I still can't remember all the details.
She felt useless, pathetic. How could fainting cause memory failure? She was now at a loss for thought."Kazumi!" Sakura gasped, roughly grabbing her elbow.Kazumi flinched, snapping her head to hers by the sudden action. She then followed her emerald eyes to where Sakura was anxiously looking. It was Sasuke. An entire side of his neck plagued with black markings, all the way up the side of his face and down his left arm. It was just as Sakura previously described.However, it appeared as quick as it left, making Sakura's grip loosen on Kazumi's elbow with relief."It looks like he's resisting it.""Resisting what?" Sakura repeated, tracing her hand down Kazumi's arm until she gripped onto the Kumo's hand for comfort.Kazumi didn't protest."That mark or whatever is enabled through his sharingan's chakra. But, Sasuke's managing to push it down somehow." She awkwardly replied, unsure."So... he'll be fine?" Sakura asked, hoping to hear what she wants.Kazumi shook her head, "I'm not certain. But if we're being realistic here, wouldn't resisting something like that be worse? He looks strained and constipated.""Constipated, hehe." Naruto giggled from where he was crouched. "Eh—Eh!?" He gripped the railing bars like a monkey in a zoo.
Isn't that fighting style similar to Lee's?!
Kazumi's brows raised, snatching her hand away to pull herself closer to the railing. As she grabbed it, she leaned her weight over the top for a clearer view. Sakura and Naruto straightened up, shocked as well. Even the crowd of watching examinees had surprise written on their faces. Sasuke messily perfected Lee's exact kick, and without the sharingan.Sasuke and his opponent ended up landing away from each other, fallen. Out of the two, only the Uchiha sat up from the ground, heaving and exhausted. But yet, the victor."THE WINNER OF THE FIRST MATCH: UCHIHA SASUKE... HAS PASSED THE PRELIMS.""YES!!!" Naruto roared, almost throwing himself over the railing.Sakura remained silent, still anxious for him.Kazumi could not control the twisted frown on her face. 
And here I thought that was a special thing only I could do...

«THUMP!»
Kumo Kazumi froze.
«THUMP, LUP-DUP!»
The loud applause and chattering faded from Kazumi's hearing, her head abruptly turning in a certain direction— disturbed. Her heart was hammering inside of her chest for a reason unknown to her.A dark, hidden figure, almost a mile away, stood with his head tilted down. It was like something out of her nightmare as piercing yellow eyes gazed through her trembling soul. The same colour eyes as the snake from her unconscious dream.She then pushed herself off from the railing, taking slow steps away from her team. The slow steps turned into gradual fast paced steps, eyes glued to the ominous being. Naruto and Sakura were late to react, not noticing her disappearing from their sides. The hammering in her chest was instantly confirmed by the familiar fear.
Orochimaru!
And in that very moment, the one thing she felt she was missing, returned.
"

— No choice.

"

"... Suki —"

Her eyes snapped wide, watching his figure disappear into thin air. This caused her to stop walking, a single bead of sweat slipping down her open jaw.

"Suki-chan has no choice."

She couldn't recall that sentence from him, but it was vaguely his voice from her disorientated memory prior to her blackout."Kazumi. There you are, child." A croaking voice said, his hand pressing firmly onto her shoulder.Pulling her out of her trance was Sanjiro. His expression was stern, analysing her heavy breathing and shock."I was going to deal with this after the prelims, but that old bag of bones insisted for the sake of his chuunin exams." Sanjiro grunted, referring to the lovely Hokage as he swiftly picked her up into his arms, "Don't look so confounded, there's much to do."In a blink, the old man disappeared from within the crowd, leaving with Kazumi. They reappeared in one of the dark rooms of the exam building. Sanjiro then gently slid Kazumi to her footing, helping her back straight as smoke gradually dispersed.The younger Kumo almost stumbled, leaning on a thick pillar for support while her eyes squinted at the new setting and dim lighting."Where am I? Where did Orochimaru go?" She softly asked, frantically looking around.She suddenly flinched when her eyes landed on Kakashi, his hand on Sasuke's bare shoulder blade. His words were faint, as Kakashi turned his head away and to Sanjiro, his shinobi superior. Sanjiro's brow twitched at the mention of the snake-man, "This is no coincidence for her." He spoke, his eyes flickering to the last Uchiha, "As for him... who knows what sinister plot that bastard is thinking to involve the Uchiha."Kazumi's nose scrunched, conflicted."Uncle —""Continue with your sealing ritual. With this, it should be enough." Sanjiro ordered, receiving a swift nod from an intensive Kakashi. "Keep to the Hokage's code, I will deal with this one in private." "Yes, Sanjiro-Sama."
Sealing ritual?
Kazumi noticed the paper tucked away into Sanjiro's pocket, her eyes then looking towards onyx irises that were already looking back at her. Kazumi's shared purpose in his mark didn't go unnoticed by Sasuke, as he crossed his arms and gave her an unfamiliar expression of worry. This left Kazumi to uncomfortably look away, turning her head back to Sanjiro.She couldn't help but wonder why he wasn't questioning the black colour on the top of her head. That alone left her wary of him, strange enough. Too much was being thrown into her face for Kazumi to process anything."Uncle... my match could happen in any second." Kazumi reminded him, intent in passing the preliminaries.Sanjiro snapped his stern gaze down to her, "Your match isn't scheduled until far later." He gave her a blank look, "Now— let's go."There was something empty about his words as his wrinkled hand found her shoulder again. Kazumi blinked to Sasuke, the last thing she saw as another wave of smoke emitted from a jutsu.   —_______________  "Do not use your gravity jutsu for a while, at least not until I've touched up on your seal." Sanjiro spoke, guiding Kazumi into the dark room."What?""You've been feeling pains, haven't you?" He cut her off, continuing, "Those pains disappear whenever I keep on top of your seal."Kazumi slowly nodded, "The clan seal, right?" She then pursed her lips.She knew it already, but she needed words of affirmation. Lately, the burning sensations she felt made her question whether it was truly to do with her clan power or if it had a deeper meaning to it."Yes." Sanjiro dryly said, the familiar glow of his chakra against her throat taking away all the lethargy and pins within her bloodstream. Kazumi caught sight of her reflection in a glistening pillar, watching the colour of her hair revert to its usual dull blonde. "Huh."Orochimaru did something to her seal to cause blackness in her hair, she confirmed. Kazumi firmly held trust in Sanjiro, he was her uncle and last remaining family, after all. Once he finished, Kazumi looked back at him."How come it changed my hair?""You saw those markings on that Uchiha boy, did you not? That's Orochimaru's way of marking his targets." Sanjiro took out a piece of parchment. "But I will not stand by as he tries to claim you as one of his experiments."She looked down at the writings along the paper, then back up to his gaze. "How many more victims are there? And why Sasuke and I?" "I've known that man since he was only a genin in Hiruzen's team. At that time, I held no interest for him despite his genius. Since becoming a traitor, it does not surprise me if he's here to greed off of Uchiha Sasuke's eyes." As he explained, he placed out many candles in a form of a ritual circle.The bland darkness had her squint through it, "And me?"His grip tightened on the parchment once placing the last candle down, masking his turmoil from her. "Like the Uchiha, you are also a last of a clan. I'm far too old to settle down, so it would be unlike Orochimaru to target me instead. I can only guess its the same greed in mind for a man like him." 
That's it?
Kazumi's brows pressed together. His words contradicted Orochimaru's overly familiar behaviour towards her. Then, again... he was a deranged eccentric in her eye.Sanjiro carefully pushed her to step inside the circle of candles. "Remain still and silent." He suddenly demanded, pressing his two fingers against her throat after performing an unfamiliar jutsu with the parchment.As the candles lit, he slowly traced his two fingertips up her throat— directly on the appearing tattoo line. Her eyes almost went wide, nearly forgetting to mention that mark already left by Orochimaru to him. Although it startled her more to realise that Sanjiro was one step ahead, per usual.The line began to disappear back into her skin by the time his fingers reached beneath the tip of her chin. The familiar spasms of her blood dispersed. Relieved, Kazumi slowly exhaled through her nose."You're strong, remember that Kazumi." Sanjiro sternly whispered, taking a step back as the candles flames went out in an instant, "You're a Kumo. Nothing else."Kazumi raised an uncomfortable brow, noticing his familiar downcast eyes. It was similar to whenever he'd speak of her deceased mother."This... will only hurt for a moment." He warned, taking a kunai out from his sleeve.Kazumi's eyes snapped wide, only seeing the sight of Sanjiro's pained expression within her blurred vision. It went like a blink, as she was frozen by fear. She didn't know how to react or move, since it was the first time she ever felt scared in her uncle's presence.In Sanjiro's point of view, he spewed his blood on the ground—his blood then circling around the candles, which lit them up once again in the shade of red. This time, the spasms in Kazumi's blood returned, and so did the single line mark on her throat. Using the parchment, Sanjiro continued out the ritual in hopes of it being complete.However, as Sanjiro muttered incoherent words whilst forming hand signs, a scale pattern like that of a snake appeared from the line, scaling up her throat and down her mid-chest. It was defying against the ritual.A ritual to cast the mark permanently away.Kazumi's head felt heavy, her eyes quivering and blurry as the spasming sensations only heightened."This time... I will rid of his chakra plaguing you!" Sanjiro rasped, focusing harder with each ticking second.
It...
Kazumi managed to process only a little of the moment, her hands grasping her knees tightly. The familiarity of melting lava psychologically impacted her senses, feeling the dreadful burnings residing in her oesophagus.The top of her hair went back to a disastrous black, bleeding down midway as if to consume. It left the ends of her hair blonde, just like a dye.
Burns...
"You'll kill her." A voice smoothly hissed, appearing from the darkness of the room.Sanjiro's sealing abruptly stopped, causing Kazumi to fall back against the hard floor, unconscious."Hello, Sanjiro-kun." Orochimaru swiftly walked over, emerging into the only source of light: the candles.Sanjiro's face darkened, straightening up from the sight of both Kazumi and Orochimaru in one room together."So, you've finally made a return. My closest friend's student; the one to put a knife in the back of his companion's blind spots, and the one who torments my relatives." Sanjiro implied irony, throwing his bloodied kunai dangerously close to Orochimaru's feet to send a warning sign.Orochimaru's smirk only widened, amused. It was no joke how similar Sanjiro and his dear grand-niece was. "Your seal is just as meaningless as Kakashi-kun's. I'll say this again, I need a lot pieces for this goal. Suki-chan is a part of my plan." Orochimaru then tilted his head down, grinning like a mad-man, "Why don't you pray thanks to Kiyoko's shrine for me? I would break in and do so myself, but that would only hinder my limited time.""You dare mock her even in death?" Sanjiro scowled, taking a large, readying step back with his blind eyes flaring in anger. "Were it not for Hiruzen's demands, I would take every pleasure in killing you in a heartbeat.""I'm flattered, I have no desire to fight you for now —"Sanjiro cut off Orochimaru by reappearing behind the snake-man, his hand grasped Orochimaru's shoulder with his blind eyes activated. Heavy gravity was placed upon him, making Orochimaru fall to one knee, pressurised by the overwhelming force of Sanjiro's seething rage."Yet you're asking for war?" Sanjiro threatened, the marble splitting beneath Orochimaru's knee. "Do you truly believe Hiruzen is not aware of your existence in the exams? You seemed to have made quite the impression during the second test..." He took his hand away from Orochimaru's shoulder, as if disgusted.Orochimaru's amusement was long gone, now hostile. But a wave of pure envy etched across his scowling face like he craved that power of domination in Sanjiro's blood. He had frowned at the old man, his piercing yellow eyes widening to an uncanny size. Genjutsu leaked from his frustrated gaze, and Sanjiro's entire vision was over-casted by another one of Orochimaru's twisted illusions.Within that genjutsu appeared the flesh of Kazumi and Sanjiro's bodies sliced to pieces. Over the bodies stood a tall, familiar woman with a disorientated expression hidden behind her dishevelled blonde hair. She held a bloodied weapon in her grip, the same haunting stance he had a glimpse of thirteen years ago."Kiyoko's death truly did have an effect on you."Sanjiro nearly faltered at the sight of her, only to roughly cancel the genjutsu as if it was child's play. His body flinched back, realising he stopped his gravity."Per usual, my level cannot compete with yours... Yet." Orochimaru disappeared, standing at a faraway distance from Sanjiro. "Although I could kill you now, that would not fit into my preparations." Orochimaru was now standing behind Kazumi's fainted figure, showing off his proximity to her, "Her, too, but that would ruin everything I've built up until now."Sanjiro lowered his sweat-drenched face, glaring up at Orochimaru's slow, stretching smirk, "You sick man..." The colour was drained from his face, trying to shake off that reoccurring memory. Orochimaru ignored his way of flattery, "This 'curse' you see it as, is not any ordinary one. The advanced sealing ritual you just attempted won't work against genes. You can continue your personal clan sealings, though nothing ever lasts, or do they?" He riddled, his eerie smile increasing."You can bring that Uchiha into this for all I care, but you should know I won't remain idle if Kazumi's involved. I won't let you. So, what is this 'goal' you're trying to achieve?" Sanjiro interrogated, eyes narrowing at him.Orochimaru scoff-laughed, "Selfish as always. You should be aware by now since it's a power I'm sure you've seen crafted before." He steps back, his menacing smirk descending into the darkness.The reddened candles blew out, leaving an even darker dimness in the room. "You're no different from Kiyoko... resorting in forbidden jutsu's in the name of 'love.'" His cackles echoed the empty space until Sanjiro was left alone with an unconscious Kazumi.The words hit him like a brick as he snatched up the kunai from the ground, shoving it into his pouch. He then quickly walked over to Kazumi's limp figure, crouching down to pick her up into his arms. His blind eyes scanned the area, finally reverting to his usual grey when unable to sense Orochimaru any longer. Orochimaru's last sentence repeated endlessly in Sanjiro's mind as the old man could only pathetically look down at Kazumi's depleted face."Forgive me, Kazumi." Sanjiro grimaced down at her unconscious state, "I must pull you out of the exams..." He sighed, his hands threading through the black strands as he then took her straight toward the buildings' hospital.  —_______________  "TSUCHI KIN VERSES KUMO KAZUMI!" Hayate announced."Huh? Kazumi's not come back." Sakura pointed out, frantically looking around."Is she pooping...?" Naruto frowned, also looking around with a salute and squinted eyes."UMM—DUE TO ABSENT CIRCUMSTANCES, KUMO KAZUMI WILL BE FORFEITED —"Suddenly, a figure appeared from the tunnel, the sun's rays exposing a more tainted colour of her hair. The blackness was now coming down to the middle of her head, as if the colouring was seeping down her hair in an attempt to completely consume her blonde.A heaviness was evident in Kazumi's slanted eyes, looking more haggard from her current state. As she walked up to her awaiting opponent, she threw off the hospital wrap from her shoulders, revealing baggy, comfortable clothes beneath. Her determination made Hayate pause from continuing his statement."Her hair..." Sakura mumbled from the sidelines, anxious."Eh? How's Kaz gonna fight without her ninja pouch?" Naruto's brows knitted together, leaning over the railing."Huh?!" Sakura gasped."UMM—AHEM... FORGETTING THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE MATCH WILL PROCEED!" Hayate announced again, his flat hand punching down in a chopping motion, "TSUCHI KIN VERSUS KUMO KAZUMI!"
Sorry, Uncle.
Kazumi glanced over her shoulder, ignoring the irked look from her opponent. She couldn't help but feel thankful for the cruel disruption moments ago, which gave her this opportunity to participate in the preliminary.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Moments before Kazumi's appearance, Sanjiro had carried her to a hospital room. There, he lay the girl on the bed. Nurses hurried over, preparing the IV drips for Kazumi's depletion. The old man then watched carefully, making sure Kazumi was getting the hydration she needed in her system.

"Her body underwent a lot of stress." A nurse commented, analysing her motionless figure whilst the other's assured Kazumi's comfort.

Sanjiro was silent but nodded his head at the woman's statement. Of course, he knew the reason behind this. It was much more than the failed ritual. And by Kazumi's behaviour, Sanjiro knew that she had an encounter with Orochimaru during the second test. It was something inevitable to him.

Keeping subtle with white lies will soon catch up to him.

Yet this still infuriated him, and with a stern look, he turned around to face the door, "Keep an eye on her."

The nurse bowed, "Yes." She looked up, gazing at his backside leaving through the door.

Nearly an hour would go by, and the nurse was still studying Kazumi's state. With her clipboard tightly held to her chest, she flinched from the sound of heavy bodies falling to the ground outside.

With a gasp, she jumps up to her feet, swinging the door open to look out. Her eyes widened in terror, witnessing the sight of multiple nurses and assistances on the ground. Immediately, she dropped her clipboard to rush to the closest person, checking their pulse in a crouched position. Before she could process their status, a swift pile of sand whipped the back of her neck, causing her eyes to roll back. The mysterious person held no emotion when looking down at the defeated nurse.

The same person then entered the hospital room, approaching the bed where Kazumi lay. With an arm held up, the same clumps of sand slithered to her figure, dangerously wrapping around her neck. As he put pressure and squeezed, Kazumi's brows furrowed.

In a restless dream, she could see herself standing at the head of the bed. Sand attempted to swallow her whole. A similar look to that of a person being entombed. By the sudden alarms of danger going off, Kazumi jolts awake, eyes widened at the sight of Gaara and his cold, teal eyes. Thick amounts of his sand retracted back, giving her back her airways.

"I itch to kill you, but I itch more to fight you." He spoke in a low, downy tone.

As the rest of his sand seeps back into his gourd, Kazumi pushed herself up from the bed, looking at him with startled suspicion. However, she quickly observes her setting. When she realised she was in a hospital room, internal panic arose.

"The prelims... are they over?" She asked, cautiously turning her head to him with heavy eyes.

This time, his own brows furrowed. He had half-expected her to have panicked like the nurses, though her mind was elsewhere. Disregarding her exhaustion and the odd colouring of her hair, Gaara squints his eyes.

He then watched her grip her throat, the same place his sand had tried to suffocate, "No... They have just now projected your name on the screens."

At that sentence, Kazumi instantly snapped the IV cord out from her vein, ignoring the dull, sudden pain with a sharp hiss. Gaara took a step back, nose scrunching at the sight and smell of her blood. His fist tightly balled, like he was trying to keep control of himself.

Kazumi had then rushed barefoot to the door, opening it. She flinched, taken aback by the unconscious hospital staff on the floor. Slowly, she gulps when glancing over her shoulder. Even though it was clear Gaara intended to help her, she couldn't dismiss nor ignore the Sand-male's severity towards the weak.
"Thanks —" She paused, no longer seeing Gaara standing at the head of the bed. "Huh?" She frowned, turning her head back straight as she tried to process everything.To Kazumi, it wasn't a shinobi's calling. Her duty she dreamed of painted the perfect picture of significance. The strong like herself would be above the weak. And the weak would remain safely untouched —irrelevant even. For that fact, she could not bring herself to associate with the likes of him. In her eyes, he was a shinobi much more irritating than Sasuke and Kiba combined.
However, as her barefoot painfully smacked against the cold tile of the hospital's floors when rushing to the stadium, a small smirk was evident on her sapped face. Because at the same time, she felt immense gratitude for Gaara's cruelty.
   -_______________   "WOO, KAZ!" Naruto's cheers appeared to be the loudest in the indoor stadium, making Kazumi awkwardly sweat.She wore nothing but a plain jumpsuit. No headband, no pouch and no shoes. Were it not for her abilities, Kazumi would not be standing there with effortless confidence.Sakura held her hands together, nervously eyeing the match below.Kazumi's eyes were elsewhere from the irked Sound-female, locked on Gaara instead — who was walking back to his team from above. His teal eyes watched her every move and expression. It was clear he was giving her the silent: 'Do not lose or I won't be able to fight you' look. She had no clue why Gaara was so determined to fight her. Kazumi just hoped it was to due with her clan symbol and not from any kind of murderous intent."Hah, I see. Must be hard being on a team with such a pissbaby." Kin remarked, smirking towards Kazumi.Kazumi glanced to Kin, "Which one: the Uchiha or the blond idiot?" She asked, gaining a scowl from her."The girl, obviously!" Kin placed a fist to her hip, looking Kazumi up and down, "Now that I've seen you more clearly, you're a girl, too, huh? Such long hair... Would be a shame if I gave you a similar haircut as that pathetic girl."Kazumi's eyes narrowed, unaware of her hand placing itself above her thigh. When feeling nothing but air, she froze. Just her muscle memory believing she had her shinobi pouch strapped to it.
Damn...
Her ears then perked up at the sound of Kin taking out a few needles, clutching them between her knuckles. The sight reminded Kazumi of the Mist mission.
Senbon needles?
"Don't look so afraid, I promise to try to give you a decent hair style. So many fake shinobi's these day's... Just what kind of kunoichi doesn't even have a shinobi pouch on them?" Kin heckled, bringing the needles to her face as she took a readying stance ahead.Kazumi's fingers flinched until she finally took a step back as well."BEGIN!" Hayate bellowed, swinging his flattened out palm above his head."This will be an easy win!" Kin yells straight after, throwing her needles dangerously at Kazumi's way.Kazumi turned her body, dodging the needles. She looked over her shoulder, noticing them being pinned to the wall. Another load of needles was thrown, and Kazumi dodged them again, watching them being pinned in a similar manner. This caused her to raise a brow.Slightly intimidated by her indifference, Kin yanked back a barely visible string. The sudden ringing of bells filled the stadium, and Kazumi focused on the sound with confusion.
Bells?
She then flinched her head up, feeling an overwhelming sensation of the world spinning and moving. This only seemed to worsen her already dishevelled state, and the vibrations against her bare feet made it harder for her to stay on both footing. For some reason, a memory back to the first test flashed into Kazumi's mind. She recalled the shockwaves that nearly killed Kabuto, crushing his glasses. It was then she knew."You may dodge exceptionally, but not anymore." Kin grinned at the vista of Kazumi on one knee, "I'll make this quick!"An illusion appeared, creating multiple figures of Kin ahead of her. Each held the same needles, preparing to all be thrown. Kazumi's head almost swayed, observing with surprise as a set of needles were released.The needles sliced past her cheek, others missing. It was the perfect strategy to throw off Kazumi. Like clones, she was unable to differentiate between which set of needles were real until the senbons tips cut a few strands of her hair. The world moved slowly when Kazumi's gaze met the tip of the needles, which redirected in a manner of slashing entirely through her back-length hair. Kin was adamant about cutting off her hair.Sakura, who watched from above, had her mouth wide open and brows angrily pressed together. Naruto simply frowned like a frog, lost by the idea of Kin's desire to cut Kazumi's hair. But, Sakura knew. The pink-haired kunoichi couldn't help but feel like the main target for such backhanded actions.The constant soundwaves made it difficult for Kazumi to move. However, she purposefully fell forward as her face met with the hard ground. This stopped the senbon needles from slicing through her uncanny hair. With an angered huff, Kin prepared another batch of needles to be thrown and used again."What a childish goal you've got going on. Is soundwaves all you Sound-nin can do?" Through her spinning vision, Kazumi stiffly stands back up to her feet, grimacing.Whenever she moved as she did now, an overwhelming urge to vomit her guts up occured. This was beyond any sensation ever, especially when Kazumi is already prone to motion sickness from boats.Kin's illusions all speak at once, creating a harsh echo, "It's not a goal. Rather, I despise kunoichi's who only focus on their appearances. You, yourself, look like a typical boy-chaser. Just like the rest of them! I'll show you more than mere soundwaves!!" Kin then yanked back harder, her clones creating a more intense soundwave than before.It was enough to crack the 360° walls around them, and enough to make Kazumi's reflexes hunch over, finally vomiting.
Overconfidence will kill her!
Kazumi frowned deeper, too drained to even want to process such a bold insult from the overpowering shockwaves. As she wiped the excess bile from her lips, she knew any second now Kin's chakra would drain from the consistency.It was Kazumi's sheer resilience that kept her standing."KICK HER ASS, KAZUMI!!" Sakura screamed, a vein pulsating from her temple."That's strange." Kazumi half-heartedly smiled, analysing Kin's appearance through her messy bangs, "Such long hair, much longer than my own. Tied into a bow, at that..." She then looked up from Kin's hair that dangled between to her ankles, "Compared to me, you're much more of a sore thumb." She stumbled back, throwing her arms out to shrug.A gesture to infuriate the Sound girl. Kazumi had something she lacked, and it was willpower to push through the sensations of her ribcage rattling violently from the soundwaves. Kin's teeth gritted together, seeing through this. Kazumi's comfortable clothing, which was prepared by the hospital, made her look like a total bum. Kin could only pull a face, her multiple illusions instantly throwing the needles her way. "How dare you try to call me a boy-chaser like them!""I never did..." Kazumi mumbled, stepping towards the illusions with heavy eyes rolling away from Kin's strained ones.
Can't have her jingling anymore of those bells.
Kazumi eyed the string.Kin flinched, pulling back on more strings as the bell's shockwaves continuously made Kazumi's world spin. Kazumi pushed down the internal pain, her blind eyes pierced into Kin's black, wide ones. Even though it was a tough sight, Kazumi could still manage to find Kin's real body's chakra through the colourblind world. And just as the Kumo expected, Kin's chakra was progressively depleting by each ticking second."Are you asking to die?!" Kin snapped, throwing even more needles at Kazumi.A few pierced Kazumi's skin whilst the remaining missed by inches. With a victorious smirk, Kin prepared to yank at the final needles only for her to freeze in one place.Kazumi had gripped around the string, putting gravitational force into her chakra as the string smacked to the ground. "No more games." She growled. The surface cracked into a crater, and with a harsh whip, the string snapped in half, slashing against Kin's eye. Letting out a startled yelp, she stumbles back, dropping a few strings to the ground whilst she released the remaining tied to Kazumi. With her free hand, Kin pressed her palm against her damaged eye, multiple wailing from her clones created a surround sound from sudden agony.The dirty-blonde girl's throat burned, her spinning world calming gradually now that the ringing bells were crushed with the damaged ground. Kin's illusions dispersed as well, revealing her true body. From her unsettling cries, Kazumi slightly backed off, still keeping the gravity against Kin like a prison."Do not use your gravity jutsu —"Sanjiro's words were like a fog in the back of her mind; easily ignored. An overwhelming desire to dominate occurred within Kazumi as she stared at Kin's other hand pressed to the ground. She felt hungry, like a predator staring at the prey hiding in the shadows. An erratic voice in the back of her mind urged Kazumi to pounce and end it all. The feeling was unfamiliar to her and frankly disturbing. Kazumi felt pulled into a mental panic. One side wanted to release the jutsu and back away entirely whilst the other edged Kazumi to keep going, promising twisted achievements.Meanwhile, the gravity jutsu was affecting Kin, making it hard for her to breathe and collect herself from the awkward position. The gravity's pressure caused Kin's pressurised hand to tremble, her attempts to fight against it becoming vain. Kin's teammates bellowed for her to get up and take a distance away, but it was to no use.
Shit! I almost lost control...
Kazumi returned to controlling the weight of her gravity release, shakily exhaling at the sight of Kin's struggling movement and sounds.She forced herself to shake off the unnerving thoughts, "What defines a shinobi is not appearances but willpower. And you clearly don't have it." She insulted, recalling how someone like Zabuza was able to withstand the immense pressure, "Right now, you should be wishing you came up with a plan before jumping ahead to conclusions about my looks.""H—How can I when this—argh—fight only ju—just happened?" Kin stammered, choking back from feeling a lack of air."That may be true, but as a shinobi I am always analysing other ninja around me. While you had that permanent smirk and your head in a cloud, I took my time taking you in from head to toe." Kazumi mimicked the smirk she once saw.Kin's expression fell to horror, "How are—argh!—you doing this without a h—hand sign?!"The smirk fell to solid confusion as Kazumi looked down at herself and the advancement of power she felt burning in her bloodstream. It wasn't much different, but the obvious changes were clear. Her gravitational pressure was much more improved than before. Without needing to hold a hand sign, Kazumi mastered the effect of performing the gravity jutsu through her chakra, just as her uncle could do. Whether it was to because of the splitting seal inside of her or her own progression, she still appeared menacing as ever to Kin's lower perspective.Kazumi then stepped closer, ignoring the erratic cheers from Naruto in the distance. As she pulled out the bloodied needles from her body, she clutched them between her knuckles in a similar manner. "W—What the —" Kin struggled, squirming and wiggling as hard as she could to release herself from the pressure."I really didn't wanna reminisce this feeling." Kazumi remarked, already having a tolerance to senbon needles.
I'll admit it's unfair to put these preliminaries suddenly on our shoulders... But, a true shinobi cannot stop for even a second... or it would mean death.
Her brows knitted together, tired. She ignored the intimidated looks from watchful eyes above and the priceless shock from Kin. If it weren't for all she learned so far, Kazumi would not have known such hardships."No! I can't lose!" Kin groaned to herself, her hands strained as she slowly but nearly attempted to unclench her trembling hand from the pressurised string."... This will be an easy win, your words not mine." Kazumi approached behind Kin, grabbing a clump of her long, black hair as she pulled her head up through the gravity, "Why don't we finish this, then? I could give you a needle... Maybe you'd submit... Or maybe you'd rather cut your hair, and I'll let you get out of this. Let's see... What matters more to you: looks or willpower?" Kazumi's tone was by-all-means serious.The sudden pressure and release caused Kin to feel lightheaded, her eyes nearly rolling back from Kazumi's roughness. Kazumi dropped the bloodied needles next to Kin as promised, waiting for her to do something.The Sound-nin girl's jaw was slacked open. Kin was heavily breathing, her hand just barely managing to grab a hold of one of the needles. With glitching movements, her black eyes struggled to focus on the needle and her pressurised hand."How does it feel to know karma exists?" Kazumi leaned down to her ear, eyes locked to the needle in Kin's hand."STOP THE MATCH!" One of Kin's teammates bellowed, managing to trigger Kin's stubborn pride at the perfect moment. A new wave of fury burned redness into the white's of her black eyes, and Kazumi could see her veins bulging from stress. Kin's about to blow.Swiftly, Kazumi released the gravity off from Kin and took a step back. If Gaara was somewhere watching with twisted anticipation, she certainly wasn't going to give him what he wanted: a cruel show. No, Kazumi just needed to rile Kin up.She watched the Sound-female abruptly stand to her feet like a drunk man after successfully snatching the rest of the senbon needles."You crazy bitch!" Kin roared, swinging her body around to face her.To Kazumi's suspicion, Kin was just like any ordinary girl. More so, Kin was a hypocrite. This fact made Kazumi mirror a triumph smirk that Kin once flashed from the start as she took more steps back from Kin's shaking anger. Her grey clan eyes faded back to gold — no longer needing to detect Kin's chakra."I'll—I'll kill you!!!" Kin cried, her quivering irises struggled to fight back the aftermath dizziness as she messily performed acts of taijutsu.Kazumi would have no choice but to block a couple of Kin's stabbing attempts until she finally found an opening. With another sudden spin, Kin kicks her leg up and around to reach Kazumi's side. Although Kazumi took advantage of her off-calculated strike to step aside and punch Kin's chest. A few needles in Kin's grip fell to the ground the moment Kazumi's applied chakra forced out. A dramatic crashing sound immersed the stadium.The attack had sent Kin straight to the opposing wall, creating a stable crater which glued Kin tightly inside. She was defeated and unable to move as her head finally slung forward. Kin fainted through the smoke of debris."KAZUMI!" Sakura screamed, invested.—"Watch out!" Naruto's followed after.Kazumi's reaction was delayed as her head turned to the senbon needle. Kakashi appeared in front of her, his hand gripped around the sharp blade. The dirty-blonde let out a breathless sigh, wide eyes focused on the extremely close tip of the needle. If her sensei had not of appeared in time, the needle would've gone straight through her brain."Ah..." Kazumi exhaled with relief, seeing Kakashi pull the needle away from her face."WINNER OF THE SIXTH MATCH: KUMO KAZUMI HAS PASSED THE PRELIMS!" Hayate announced, followed by the prideful cheers from her team and allied Leaf comrades—Kin's teammates glared similar-like daggers down at Kazumi's skull, just as they did to Sasuke.A few shinobi jounin's jumped down to aid Kin, pulling her unconscious figure out from the wall. Kazumi took a moment to stare at her, taking in the fight she had. Her brows furrowed when watching them take Kin away to the infirmary for urgent care.
Maybe she was a few steps ahead of me after all...
Kazumi noiselessly gulped, frustrated by that speculation. It was not just that which suddenly annoyed her, but the connection Kin and her team had with Orochimaru as well. If it weren't for Kin's unnecessary views during the fight, Kazumi would have interrogated the self-righteous Sound-nin.Alas, she got nothing. Just as she felt unanswered when speaking with her uncle, at that. "Kumo Kazumi, your things." A random shinobi appeared, holding folded familiar, grey clothes that had her clan symbol on, as well as her shinobi pouch and headband.Kazumi bowed her head, taking her things from the man. A medical ninja appeared beside her, swiftly healing the pierced wounds dealt by Kin's needles. However, their healing progressed down towards Kazumi's inner elbow, noticing the bleeding vein. Silently, they healed that as well despite their confusion.Once all was tended to, Kazumi's eyes then glanced over her shoulder, noticing Sanjiro's intense gaze down at her from the side lines. He was much further away from Gaara's team.
Uncle was watching...
Kazumi awkwardly pursed her lips. Had it not been for the fact that he had purposely tried to pull her out of the prelims, she would've felt pride swell in her chest. Instead, it was nothing but irritation. 
I am stronger than you think.
The unwavering look she gave him finally made him pull his attention off of her."You've exhausted the majority of your chakra, Kazumi. This stage is over, you can relax now." Kakashi gave her a reassuring push against her shoulder. "Good job, I can't be any more prouder." The Kumo nodded her appreciation, her cheeks flushing at his praise. "Thank you, sensei." She breathed out.As he turned to leave with the confiscated needle, Kazumi pulled her eyes from the needle to immediately walk straight through the inside tunnel. She quickly entered a room to change back into her shinobi attire, grateful to feel the cushion of her sandals beneath her feet. Kazumi then left to march her way back up the stairs where the stone bleachers was. Kakashi was right, the heaviness on her shoulder's occurred harsher now that she used up a lot of chakra.
Whatever, I'm closer to moving up in the ranks than before...!
She puffed her cheeks out, looking around for Sanjiro but he had already left. She couldn't tell whether it was good or bad that he disappeared. Looking further ahead, Gaara's team was gingerly observing her. When noticing her gaze, they looked away— including Gaara himself, whose eyes lagged to look away at something else.She didn't bother to analyse what expression he currently had. "KAZ!!" Naruto called, rushing over with a wide smile.Sakura was right behind him, followed by Shikamaru's team.Once Naruto reached her, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, "You were so cool out there! As expected from my friendly rival! Don't go easy on me if we're up against each other next time!!" He grinned.She pouted, cheeks going a soft red hue from embarrassment, "Get off of me." Kazumi gently pushed him off, gaining a cheeky giggle from him in return."Yeah! When you riled her up..." Sakura trailed off, shyly looking down, "You... really got her good!" She looked back up, giving Kazumi an appreciative gaze, "Good thing Kakashi-sensei stopped that needle in time.""No kidding..." Kazumi muttered, still hung up on that."Classic strategy..." Shikamaru sighed, "Nice job, though."Chouji crunched onto a piece of potato crisp, agreeing with Shikamaru by his chunky smile."Thanks." Kazumi nodded to each of them, ignoring Ino's: 'What kind of psycho offers someone to cut their own hair off mid-fight?!'Sakura gave her a look after hitting elbows with Ino, "Well... I guess the scare was deserved on one end. That crazy foreigner almost killed you!" Ino rolled her eyes, hiding a smile from Sakura's actions.Kazumi then frowned, noticing the shift in Ino and Sakura's atmosphere. The two kunoichi's looked more roughed up than before, leaving Kazumi to wonder if they had a match together. Before she could even ponder, a bowl-cut male zoomed past Shikamaru's idle team."CONGRATS!" Lee came barging in, cheeks red with excitement, "I routed for you through and through!" His thick brows wiggled together, squirming, "I look forward to a possible fight with you, my rare gem!"Sakura sheepishly smiled at his behaviour, pulling Naruto back from going off on the thick-browed male."Lee..." Kazumi paused, her upper lip folding up as her corners creased into a smile, "Thank you." She genuinely spoke, her words holding a bigger meaning.Lee quickly understood, and the two recalled the second test. He then broke, dramatic tears falling from his cheeks."An angel?!" He cried, "I will remember this for the rest of my life!" Lee declared, bowing a complete ninety-degree angle before prancing away like a school girl back to his team.Kazumi stood stiff."Very... eccentric..." Ino cringed."Another nickname for Kazumi, huh, Kaz?" Sakura silently teased her, though immediately scowled at Naruto's fidgety aggression. "Quit it, Naruto!!""You know what, I don't think I care any —" Kazumi paused mid-sentence, brow twitching the second Naruto's raspy yells bled through her ears."ARGH! THAT —" Before Naruto could explode, his name appeared on the fighting screen."UZUMAKI NARUTO VERSUS INUZUKA KIBA." Hayate announced.Naruto's entire demeanour changed, "YES!!! It's here, it's here!! Finally!!! It's about time!" He slipped out from Sakura's arms.Kazumi recoiled away from his loudness, frowning.Hinata's team appeared with a grinning Kiba."Nice win back there, Kazumi-San, though I was hoping to have gone against you instead. Maybe once I win this round, I'll see you in the finals!" Kiba's eyes narrowed, his aura shining with confidence.Akamaru barked from his shoulder. Hinata squeaked out a congratulatory word. Shino just remained silent.Kazumi turned her head away from Kiba, giving Naruto an encouraging pat on the shoulder, "Give it your all, Naruto."Kiba's brows furrowed, his sharp teeth clenched, disrespected by her ignorance."Yeah?" His smile switched to a frown, "YEAH! YOUR OPPONENT IS ME!" Naruto bellowed at the Inuzuka, frustrated by Kiba's lack of attention on him.Sakura's face flattened, giving Naruto an unamused look."Well, let's get this match over with!" Kiba forced his gaze away from Kazumi, failing to notice her exhaustion."Hah! First one down gets the first punch!" Naruto challenged, butting shoulders with the animalistic male as the two then charged down the stairs and into the open stadium.
I'm out of adrenaline... And chakra...
Kazumi swiftly sat down, hunching over as she covered her face with her palm. Sakura quickly caught on, anxiously leaning against the railing. Hinata's team had walked to the other side, wanting to get a better look.
To think a couple of shockwaves would leave such an effect on me...
The dirty-blonde Kumo rubbed her temples, trying to ease the aftermath of her fight. Kazumi's biggest flaw is her inability to comprehend when her body is over its limit. It's just one of her many terrible habits.
Uncle hasn't come to congratulate me... Must mean he's upset.
She slowly lifts her head, watching the distant figures of Kiba and Naruto jumping around and fighting each other below."Here." Kakashi's voice rang, his hand holding a bottled water, "You fought well." He spoke, smiling behind his mask.Kazumi nodded, unable to stretch anymore smiles. As she took the water from his grasp, she noticed Sasuke's lack of appearance as well. When opening the cap, she gazed down at the water inside, her mind going back to the ritual. It was faint, though she knew a ritual occurred to Sasuke's neck.She had just hoped it worked. Since Kazumi felt more useless than usual upon realising how unstable her own seal was becoming. Blinking it away, she takes long sips and gulps. The cold water sizzled like a fizzy drink down the lingering burning sensations within her throat. Like that of water being poured into fire.Sakura cheered for him, similar encouragements as Kazumi's round. Shikamaru's team whispered doubts about Naruto. Shino was silent, but Hinata had an nervous look, her lavender eyes focused on Naruto.From the whispers, Sakura shared a knowing smirk with Kakashi. Out of the academy graduates, only Team Seven knew of the Uzumaki's improvements.
I want to... Keep watching...
Kazumi's heavy eyes blinked slower. Her vision blurred, watching a vibrant blond moving faster than her gaze could keep up."A word, Kazumi?" Kakashi bent down, his head close to her ear.She nods, allowing the jounin to help her up to her feet and take her away. Thankfully, many of her peers were distracted by Naruto's sudden abilities to notice her vulnerability."The seal Sanjiro-sama has placed on you isn't complete. I'll have you back in urgent care. Your uncle should return to finish it up." Kakashi mentioned, guiding the drained Kumo to a small room."He'll touch up on it, right? I can go back to the exams in my usual state, right?" She asked, eyes focusing on the ground.Nurses hurried her inside, giving her wary glances. She recognised some to be few of the many staff that were unconscious moments ago. They looked like they hadn't a clue what Gaara had done to them, relieving Kazumi.It was strange to share a secret with the red-haired figure."Yes... What you need the most right now is rest. I shouldn't mention this, but this is important to you." Kakashi paused, standing by the door as Kazumi was being tended to by the nurses, "Sasuke's recovering; getting the rest he needs. Get past the stubbornness of fighting back the fatigue, or you'll never restore your chakra levels to its full potential. It's okay to rest, even for a moment sometimes."Kazumi's shoulders relaxed when being set down on the hospital bed. A familiar IV drip was placed back inside of her vein, giving her the chance of healing once more.Her sensei's words hit deep, and Kazumi never realised just how intense she could be to herself. One of the most important lessons of shinobi was to know ones own limits, yet she failed to see that. "I understand..." She quietly spoke, gaining a pleased shimmer in Kakashi's eyes."Sanjiro-sama will be with you shortly." Kakashi's voice was faint.The dirty-blonde girl's vision was spiralling, disorienting with each passing second. Finally, she let her heavy eyes close tightly shut, her mind enveloping black.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Sanjiro sighed, sitting beside the hospital bed whilst staring down at Kazumi's unconscious, resting face. Kakashi was gone, left to go keep watch over Naruto's match. This left Sanjiro to usher the nurses out of the room so he could attempt the ritual once more."There must be a reason for its failure... It's impossible..." Sanjiro muttered, placing his fingertips against her throat in a similar manner as before, "It's as if it's been forcefully pushed through; overlooked..."Kazumi's brows immediately knitted together as her throat burned. An instant cold sweat was breaking out, startling Sanjiro."It's trying to consume her... I made a mistake using that parchment." He frowned, emitting a light grey colour which sunk into her skin.The light looked almost like purification, pushing away the already pushed. At this rate, he realised it was already too much tampered with. Any more, and Sanjiro feared it would break Kazumi's chakra core."It will be painful..." Sanjiro's eyes hardened, separating his fingers as the tattoo mark appeared against her throat, "Orochimaru seems intent on getting his way... Looks like I have no choice after all." He then paused, staring at her resting expression.She was becoming more uncomfortable, her lips curling downwards as if she was fighting a nightmare. In a moment of softness, Sanjiro's eyes went a complete haze, blind when flaring his clan eye. A genjutsu was placed upon her, relieving Kazumi from the psychological damage of what he was about to perform."It might take away the trauma if I give her some memories from my past..." He smiled, his brows creasing upwards. It truly pained his heart to see her like this.As the grey light grew brighter, Kazumi's back arched. Her physical body was undergoing stress despite her sudden, relaxed expression. The blackness of her mind was pulled into a sudden long dream. One she felt she couldn't get out of. One she felt compelled to stay in. 
.

.

.

.

.

.
The scenery was a drastic change from black. Warm colours created a nostalgic feel to the air. Kazumi could see herself in another person's perspective, someone tall and strict with a beating heart that seemed to soften the moment a blonde girl appeared in view.
It surprised Kazumi since the young girl looked almost like her from head to toe. Except the girl's eyes 
brimmed
 with a 
beautiful
 grey colour, similar to her uncle's. And her features were a lot more softer and feminine, though there was a lonely look in her gaze.

Near in 
the
 background was other blond-headed people with the same clan 
symbols
 as hers. This 
led
 Kazumi to 
believe
 she 
was
 in another unattainable dream. That she was witnessing the 
revival
 of her clan. However, something was off 
about
 this so-called dream.

"Uncle! Please train me today!" The blonde girl said, tightening an ordinary headband 
with
 no shinobi symbol around her head.

Kazumi's 
movements
 
weren't
 her own as her 
mouth
 opened to reply, "You keep 
coming
 to me 
for
 progression 
yet
 your stamina is still lacking. No 
matter
 how many times you seek me out, my answer will still be final." The voice and tone was familiar, sounding just like her uncle, Sanjiro.

Immediately, Kazumi knew 
what
 this was. She was looking through a memory of Sanjiro's. It 
almost
 made her smile physically from where she lay in the real world, recalling when Sanjiro 
wasn't
 as interested in training her as well at first.

The young girl puffed her cheeks out, sitting down on the 
wooden
 floor. Sanjiro 
hadn't
 
moved
 an inch, unbothered by the girl's 
strange
 
actions
 of protest. What he originally 
thought
 to be out of spoiledness 
turned
 out to be genuine determination. Especially when he 
couldn't
 help 
but
 
open a
 curious eye at her. The blonde girl was focusing her chakra in a meditating manner.

"So you know chakra control?" Sanjiro muttered, almost amused.

The girl nodded, remaining focused in her 
thoughts
, "I need 
to
 get stronger... If 
I
 don't, father 
won't
 acknowledge me."
Her words about his elder brother caused Sanjiro to frown, closing both his eyes. It resonated something inside of Kazumi's chest, which she assumed to be the familiar feeling of kinship.
"Is that your only reason for becoming shinobi, Kiyoko?" Sanjiro quietly asked.

The blonde girl, Kiyoko, stopped meditating her chakra. She then 
slowly
 tilted her head towards him, her grey eyes unwavering.

The little girl Kazumi was seeing through Sanjiro's eyes was her mother. A strange lightness fluttered in Kazumi's chest at the revelation.

"No... If 
I
 
become
 the best of the best shinobi... Maybe father will give me a chance to be this clan's true heir." Kiyoko admitted, bittersweet.

Sanjiro turned his head away, sighing heavily through his 
mouth
. Confusion dawned over Kazumi when 
watching
 this.

"I only train Kumo's who are worthy of keeping their ultimate 
abilities
 a secret. Can you swear to not fall into egoistic ways such as your father?" The middle-aged man asked, pitying Kiyoko.

Kiyoko nodded, "I swear to not become like your elder brother, Uncle."

Sanjiro 
then smirked
, "You ought to be careful 
how
 you address your own father to people. Just be glad 
I
 hold slight resentment to him."

Her cheeks went a soft red, pouting, "If you resent him, then 
I
 do too."

Suddenly, the dream shifted into another setting. It was dark, no 
longer
 a warm sunny day. The moon was in a crescent phase, being the 
only
 source of light for a matured blonde woman.

She looked like an older version of Kiyoko, and by the servants desperate calls, Kazumi was right. Kiyoko was outside, on the ground in the middle of the private training grounds. She had scrolls scattered everywhere, blood adorning her hands and parchment papers.

Kazumi felt her body move once more against her will, sliding into the shadows in a 
hiding
 position. She knew this was likely another memory of Sanjiro's.

"Lady Kiyoko, please reconsider! Osamu-Sama has 
already
 decided your path." The servant begged, too 
afraid
 to get 
any
 closer to Kiyoko's manic state.

"No! I do not wish to get married off!" Kiyoko snapped, glaring harshly at the servant, "Drag 
your
 master out here, let him see that 
I've
 nearly perfected this jutsu!" She demanded, hardly referring 'Osamu-Sama' as the 'father' title anymore
.

The servant gasped once 
revealed
 a clearer sight of the scrolls, but before she could react any more, Sanjiro appeared from the shadows and ordered silence from the person. Kazumi could feel herself moving at a storming pace for Kiyoko. As much as she curiously attempted to see the scrolls, it was a blur in the memory.

All Kazumi could see was Kiyoko's teary eyes 
looking
 directly back at her. That same lonesome gaze was much stronger than her youthful one.

"It would seem you are your father's child." Sanjiro's tone laced with disappointment, forcing his head away as if it physically 
pained
 him to see her.

Strong pains of regret beats within Kazumi's chest, but this wasn't her emotion... it was Sanjiro's.

The sounds of 
scrolls
 closing, paper 
crumbling
, and Kiyoko's heavy footsteps mixed 
with the
 night's cold winds. 
Those
 
sounds
 became 
never ending
, becoming a sorrowful wind chime. Kazumi 
didn't
 understand why, but she was feeling Sanjiro's 
every
 desire and emotion. Since right now, all she wanted to do was 
separate
 herself from Sanjiro to run after the 
distraught
 woman.

Kazumi wanted to save her, to stop her. Although the memory faded to black and Kazumi's senses slowly returned. She was waking up.
 
.

.

.

.

.

.

.
 "It's completed..." Sanjiro sighed, removing his fingers from Kazumi's throat.Kazumi stirred awake, her body immediately lunging forward in an attempt to grab someone. Although there was no one there to grab when she awoke."Uncle..." She squinted, feeling lethargic from the sudden release of the genjutsu, "Is it over?"He closed his eyes and reopened them before speaking, "The touch up is complete. It should be impossible for Orochimaru to tamper with again."Kazumi's posture sagged, feeling a weight lift from her shoulder, "Ah! The prelims! Did Naruto pass?""Yes." Kakashi's voice appeared, quickly entering the hospital room with a respectable bow towards Sanjiro.
Nice...
Kazumi exhaled through her nose, relaxing back against the hospital bed. Though, she raised a brow when Kakashi bent down to Sanjiro's sitting figure, whispering into his ear. His words were incoherent to Kazumi as she watched Sanjiro's eyes narrow."He was wise to not interfere with my ritual when he had the chance." Sanjiro grunted, "Have you at least figured out the Uchiha's involvement yet?"Kakashi shook his head, "Not quite... He was rather aggressive."
Who?
Kazumi pursed her lips, dryly swallowing. She then realised the tingles and burns subsided, making her press her fingertips towards her newly touched-up seal against her throat.As she looked away and towards a nearby mirror ahead of her, her eyes widened at her appearance. The blackness at the top of her scalp which ran down the strands of her hair was now back to her normal dull blonde. With a deep exhale through her nose, Kazumi's accelerated heart had calmed for the first time in days.She finally felt normal again.Kakashi quickly stood back, smiling behind his mask to Kazumi, "The preliminaries are finished. The Hokage ordered for me to give you the next matches line up. They won't begin until next month, so you have time to train and get to know possible opponents." He then walked to the bedside, placing down the large paper copy."Thank you." Kazumi turned to him as she gratefully nodded, watching his back leave through the door.She then leaned over to grab it, immediately analysing the paper with Sanjiro, who stared at her every move. However, she frowned. Sakura wasn't shown on the matchups, but neither was Ino's. 
They must've tied...
Kazumi's eyes fell to hers, her frown only remaining. Her next match was with another Sound ninja. The same Sound-nin that tried to kill her team whilst she was unconscious. Luck was never on her side, same as the universe. 
Dosu Kinuta... Great, just when I thought I'd be done with that soundwave crap.
She tried to recall the bandage-faced male, but he was just a blur in her memory. Humorous nausea threatened to ripple inside of her stomach at the thought of experiencing motion sickness again."You'll be against that Sound ninja, it seems..."Her brows abruptly furrowed, even more realisations sinking into Kazumi's fresh state."Why did you try to pull me out of the preliminaries?" Kazumi went straight to a point, rolling the paper up to look at Sanjiro with a cautious gaze.Sanjiro lowered his eyes, "Your seal was just far too unstable, so I was afraid... But, I'm surprised.""Surprised?" Kazumi tilted her head, relaxing a bit."You managed yourself well despite your chakra trying to split away and release the seal mid-fight. I'm... proud you've made it this far." He slowly spoke, looking back up to her dull, gold gaze.She awkwardly shrugged, giving him half a smirk, "You didn't make me run up an entire mountain for nothing, Sensei."Sanjiro scoffed, "You make it sound like my training is torture." His eyes closed.Kazumi swiftly pulled a face before his eyes opened to see. Her expression then softened, recalling the preliminary match."I'm sorry for jumping into it. I must've sullied the Kumo name for appearing without my shinobi attire."Sanjiro waved it off, "What matters is that you've won. Let your future opponents see that you can win a battle with little to no tools for support. I'm sure many of them have you in their list of concerns for the upcoming matches." He crossed his arms, proudly boosting.
So he was just worried...
Kazumi continuously relaxed."You'll need more training. I think it's time I wrap up everything to do with our signature abilities. Perhaps I can even train you to adapt to shockwaves..." Sanjiro trailed off, muttering possibilities under his bushy, white beard.
Just my luck, really!
Kazumi forced a smile, closing her eyes. No matter how hard she tried to block out the nausea, she could still feel lingering effects."Can one even adapt to such things...?" She mumbled, flinching her head up to Sanjiro once he had suddenly stood up."It is settled. Rest up for now, I'll have you discharged tomorrow noon for our first day of training." As Sanjiro was about to head out the door, Kazumi grabbed his sleeve to stop him."Uncle! About that genjutsu you placed on me..."He sighed, turning to face her, "So, you knew it was a genjutsu.""That girl..."He continued cutting her off, "Yes, your mother."
Kiyoko... My 
mother
...
Kazumi released her grip, looking down at the ground."It was all I could think of at that moment to ease you. Forgive me if it upsets you."Kazumi shook her head. What she saw didn't upset her. Although it picked away at her curiosities. Sensing Sanjiro's familiar closed off atmosphere, she didn't bother to press on. Kiyoko had always been a heavy topic for him."Rest well." He bided farewells, exiting the hospital room.
Could it be...? 
There's
 just no way...
Kazumi frowned, shaking her head as she almost crumbled the paper in her hands. The woman from the genjutsu reminded Kazumi of the nightmares she had. A nightmare of memories she never recalled having. It felt impossible to see the perspective of Kiyoko in her dreams. But, the disappointment from Sanjiro was vaguely familiar.
I 
can't
 let this control my thoughts...
She squeezed her eyes shut, mentally preparing herself for what's to come. She had a lot to train on, especially regarding Dosu and the possible matches against Gaara, Neji and Lee.Kazumi was yet to find out that Lee was actually hospitalised and eliminated from the prelims. As for Sasuke and his disappearance, he never once crossed her mind.
Ah!
Kazumi snapped her head up, shaking her thoughts out of her head. As she was about to inquire more about the ritual and the fear she felt to her uncle, Sanjiro was already gone."Damn..." She muttered to the floor, sliding her figure off of the bed as her shinobi sandals touched the ground.Suddenly, the door swung open, "Kazumi!" Sakura's voice called out for her, rushing into the hospital room.Naruto poked his head up from around her shoulder, swiftly following Sakura inside with a toothy grin and scratched up skin, "Kaz!"Kazumi slowly looked up to them, brows raised. Sakura had let out a long gasp upon noticing her hair, her reaction looking relieved. Naruto was indifferent to it, though clearly glad the Kumo was looking more like herself again."Your hair's back to blonde!" Sakura commented, gently taking a strand into her fingertips.Inside the pink-haired kunoichi's mind, she held hope for Kazumi and Sasuke's situations. Naruto, on the other hand, suddenly scowled."Yeah, yeah quit with the weird hair dyeing! More importantly, you missed my awesome match! I'll let you guess who won!!" He crossed his arms, smugly smirking at her.Sakura pulled a face, but she couldn't help herself from proudly smiling at him. The blonde hair fell back down to Kazumi's chest once Sakura let go."You?" Kazumi deadpanned, having already seen his name up against Neji on the paper copy. "Hell yeah! You should've seen it!! Be prepared for what's to come when you're up against me." Naruto puffed his chest out."Okay, we get it!" Sakura growled, balling her fist.Naruto instantly straightened up, sheepishly rubbing his neck.Kazumi scoffed through her nose, turning her head to Sakura, "I never got to see yours."Sakura's cheeks went a faint pink, as if embarrassed, "I was against Ino... we both lost since we both were knocked down..."Kazumi raised a brow at Sakura's lighter tone toward Ino. Typically, the pink-haired kunoichi would refer the Yamanaka as 'Ino-pig', but that wasn't the case anymore.
So... there really has been development between those two...
Kazumi then recalled the academy days. Sakura coincidentally hung herself around Kazumi the most when her friendship fell out with Ino.
I'm
 glad...
Kazumi slowly smiled, "I wish I had seen it."Sakura profusely shook her head, "N—No way! Anyways, are you feeling better? Kakashi-sensei said you collapsed from chakra exhaustion." She suddenly asked.Naruto popped his head back into their conversation, just as curious.
That's
 the excuse he used? Well... 
he's
 
not
 half-wrong.
Kazumi nodded, "I'm better. Congrats on passing, Naruto. I'll try to make some time for you guys in the middle of my training." She patted Naruto's shoulder before walking past him for the door.Naruto nodded, giving Kazumi an appreciative grin. With a similar mentality, he couldn't protest the same."Wait! Shouldn't you be staying longer?!" Sakura gasped, stepping forward.Kazumi shrugged her off, waving at the two from behind her shoulder.
I'd
 rather recover back at my 
compound
 than in a building that smells of death.
The young Kumo grimaced to herself, successfully escaping the hospital as if it were a prison. Her mind lingered on prior events throughout the way back.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Again."The wind harshly whipped through the trees, rustling and breaking into the bushes. The endless sound of repetitive destruction surrounded the atmosphere, causing the few servants to hesitantly keep their distance. Within the chaotic training were intense winds that nearly surpassed that of gravity: sound.Sanjiro, with his usual training robes, held an open scroll that projected soundwaves. The soundwaves blew against Kazumi, her blonde hair slapping against her face where her grey irises pierced with determination toward his natural ones."Again." Sanjiro repeated, brows narrowing with his eyes.As his grip tightened around the opened scroll, Kazumi could feel her veins tensing from the consistent waves of gravity. The second blow clashed with the soundwaves, managing to penetrate the barrier hardly."You are not focusing your gravity through your chakra. Forget about your hands." Sanjiro grunted.His note made her hand quickly ball into a fist after being caught using a hand sign. Gritting her teeth, she swung her hands out in front of her, squinting her strained gaze as the ground began to break beneath the soles of her sandals.The watching servants couldn't help themselves from shrieking, taking cover behind the walls of the compound. Others had ultimately ran inside, not wanting to risk getting pulled into the blows.Her feet sunk into the hard ground from the pressurised gravity surrounding her figure, giving her a wavering aura of grey. Sanjiro's eyes opened wide, his own chakra activating to control himself from flying away from her gravity."Again!" His voice raised, much more eager than stern.With a last release, Kazumi's hands flexed, her voice letting out a pained cry when successfully swallowing her gravity jutsu through the soundwaves. As her arms swung down, the soundwaves broke into the ground, creating a whip of wind to slice throughout the area before leaving silence.The scroll in Sanjiro's hand closed, a hole evident in the middle of it. Dust and debris from the cracks around the ground rolled out, looking like that of a calm before the storm."It's decent improvement —" Sanjiro paused, watching her hunch over.Kazumi projectile vomited, swaying from her trembling knees. The old man quickly strides to her, catching her body from falling to the ground by placing his palm against her forehead. Her blood was scorching hot from exhaustion, implying the little chakra she had left."Seems I've been pushing you too far these days." He admitted, looking around the compound for the servants.Sensing his gesture, the servants appeared out from their hiding spots, rushing to the grounds. One had swiftly taken Kazumi into their arm, helping the girl back inside the compound. The other had swirls in their eyes when blankly staring at the destroyed training grounds. Nevertheless, they went straight to fixing and cleaning the place.Sanjiro then followed the servant who took Kazumi inside, keeping his eye on Kazumi's state. He was aware of her physical weakness compared to her power's incredible potential. The old man didn't know whether to be glad or afraid by that fact.But it would need adjustments, if Kazumi was to prevent herself from breaking not just her chakra core but her mind as well."For the remaining few weeks, I suggest you recap your taijutsu. The less you use our clan abilities, the more you'll gain." Sanjiro spoke as Kazumi leaned against the wall with a heavy sigh."How—hah—would I do that...?" She caught for her breath, warily looking up at him."Are you aware of a young boy named Lee?"Kazumi nodded, surprised by the mention of him."He's a shinobi who's developed through raw strength. You, on the other hand, developed your powers through chakra." Sanjiro's eyes flickered elsewhere, in deep thought for a moment.Kazumi pursed her lips before replying, "Are you suggesting I start building raw strength? What does that have to do with my training?" She pushed off of the wall, intrigued through her light trembles.The aftermath of overusing her gravity left her almost loopy.Sanjiro looked back at her, "Yes." He then rolled up his robes sleeve, revealing his thick, trained bicep, "Our gravity intensity measures through our physical strength more so than the size of our chakra. So, rather than controlling chakra to your feet in order to climb a mountain, climb it with your bare hands and feet instead."Kazumi's expression dropped at his words, her eyes unable to look away from his bulky arm. A mixture of admiration and slothfulness was clear by her silent reaction."That was theoretical, right?" She nervously smiled, falling back against the wall to lean against it.His stern expression did not waver. A stoic look he gave silenced her entirely.
With only 2 weeks left... That 
means
...
She counted in her head, realising she'd most likely be waking up early again and going to bed lethargic from training her muscles twice a day."Your training seems to be uncannily similar to Lee's sensei." She remarked, brows creasing up in defeat.Sanjiro smirked, "Little Gai? I respect his familiar ways." His words laced with reminisce.
'Little'?
Kazumi raised a brow, recalling the bushy-browed older male. He was possibly taller than Kakashi and more intimidating in Kazumi's perspective."Ah, right. I think that guy mentioned knowing you?" Kazumi sighed, forcing herself not to shiver from the memory of her first introduction with Gai.Sanjiro let out a scoff-laugh, "I thought nothing of him, at first. But he exceeds any other shinobi I've ever seen. Do not underestimate his students, Lee, especially. If you are to win against that Sound-nin, you ought to begin improving in areas that are weak compared to your future opponents."Kazumi nodded, slightly understanding a bit more. Other than Dosu and Lee, she had yet to go against others she had never fought before. The only thing that could delay such improvement was the fifty-fifty system. The young Kumo knows she can not accurately speculate who'd win in the other matches.For that reason, it motivated her much more than her lingering irritation.The old man noticed her focused look, his hand then pressing firmly on her shoulder. This made her snap her head up to him, eyes glistening with hidden excitement."It's better to be a master of none than a master of one." He smiled, his gaze faraway from hers.As Kazumi went to smile, the touching moment shattered, her mind betraying her emotions. She was suddenly pulled back into the memory of when she last fainted during the unsuccessful ritual — the way his similar faraway gaze mirrored the moment she felt itching fear. This left her to crease her mouth back down, her upper lip twitching from the unwanted recollection."Uncle, what does Orochimaru want from me? Will he interrupt the exams again?"Sanjiro's smile fell, "Try not to dwell on that mistake. You should have no use for him anymore, thanks to that." His wrinkled finger pointed to her throat where the clan seal was beneath, "As for the exams, not even Hiruzen is sure. Although for now, it's likely that ruining the exams is not what he's after."
No use for me, huh?
Kazumi noiseless gulped, her eyes feeling heavy whenever she thought back to the second test.
That's
 good...
She didn't want to admit or tell Sanjiro about the unfamiliar feeling of fear she experienced."This takes me back to when I trained for my chuunin license." Sanjiro crossed his arms, reminiscing. "Oh, yeah? Who was your mentor, the Hokage?""A mentor, me? Absolutely not."Kazumi's face fell into a dramatic disbelief. 
Uncle's self-trained?! Impossible!!
She couldn't imagine being at her level of expertise without him.  -_______________  It was late at night. Only the lights from very few lampposts were on. The moon was full, illuminating the public training grounds. Kazumi was in a district further from the training grounds that she was in during the Bell test months ago. The area looked near abandoned, one of her favourite places compared to all the other public training spaces.Multiple shurikens were pinned to trees, kunai's scattered, and evidence of elemental chakra staining the training grounds. She took up Sanjiro's advice and had already seen drastic improvement in her abilities.As alarming as it was, it was twice as addictive. Kazumi chased the thrill of the new development, overworking herself to levels she'd never been able to achieve before. The physical pain could be stubbornly ignored without fainting. However, it couldn't change the heaviness she felt inside of her skull and the trembles after each release of gravity.
I
 
need to get stronger than the soundwaves. More powerful than Gaara's sand... I need to be logical against shadow possession, faster than Sasuke's 
sharingan...
Her mind began to swirl, overwhelmed by the multiple skills she had to keep up with. Kazumi was determined to go by Sanjiro's wise words. This wasn't about ego or pride anymore, but security in herself.
Security against Orochimaru.
Her shoulders tensed at another back-of-the-mind thought violating her mind.In her world, if she could be at the highest ranks of shinobi, she could prevent the traumatic events from ever happening to her team again. A determination born from pure goodness. A will to never feel the dreadful fear again."How pretty..." Kazumi muttered, half-lidded eyes staring at the full moon."There's an increase in your chakra." A cold, downy voice casually said out from behind.Alerted, Kazumi swung her body around, her head craned up to witness the sight of Gaara standing on the top of the nearby lamppost. His lifeless, teal eyes narrowed down at her figure, his arms crossed with dried blood staining his sandals. There was something off about his current aura."So quickly too... I suppose this night isn't so irritating after all."Kazumi ignored his unusual talk, still focused on the small blood stain. When catching her gaze, he tilts his chin down."What are you doing hanging around Leaf owned training grounds?" Kazumi cautiously asked, taking a step back.She felt incredibly unlucky in the moment since she exhausted the remaining chakra she had left."Am I unable to train here as a competitor in the exams?" He asked. His demeanour was the opposite of wanting to train.Kazumi frowned uncomfortably, "There's... training grounds built specially for visitors like you." She couldn't deny his question. He had the free will.Although sharing her biased spot with a character like his left an uneasy feeling in her stomach."They weren't big enough." Gaara sighed, "I'm not actually here to train. I caught the scent of your chakra. It's an amusing coincidence that you're out here during this full moon..." He then looked up at the orbiting ball in the night sky."What's so amusing about that?" Kazumi fiddled with the button of her pouch, guarded.
What 
is
 he up to? 
Shouldn't
 he have watchers escorting him 
around
?
"I went looking for food to feed him a while ago... In the end, I was attacked. The attacker became its food. Picking up your chakra scent after that made me curious to know what you'd think." Gaara lightly put, indifferently looking back down at her.
'Him'?
Kazumi frowned, puzzled by his statement.
Who would dare attack a foreign shinobi during the exams?
"It's almost a shame. The threat happened to be someone you anticipated going against." Gaara apathetically mocked, seeking to gain a reaction from her."That wouldn't make sense since the person I anticipate going against is you." Kazumi remarked, clenching her fist.Gaara fell silent, his gaze hovering from her chakra core to the full moon. As he expected, she was eerily calmer than his own siblings."You are one of the first people in too long to have thanked me." His words were empty, like he had been used to that."I never asked for you to wake me up. You could've left me to fail the prelims... Why did you not?" Kazumi's brow twitched, flickering her attention from his empty gaze to the full moon."Nothing comes to mind other than the desire to fight you." Gaara replied, monotonous, "Would you like to know why?" His voice echoed, making Kazumi instantly look back at him.However, he disappeared from the lamppost. Startled, she flinched back when his sand reappeared ahead of her at an arms length. His figure emerged from the sand, not needing to move a pinkie to travel around. It made Kazumi jealous of such abilities."The voice inside of me... He tells me to stay away from you." Gaara's eyes scrunched, trying to read her like before, "My sand keeps sinking whenever I'm close to your chakra." He then raised his hand slightly, making the sand from his gourd trail out and slither to her sandals.Kazumi's brows furrowed, but before she could recoil away, the sight of his sand seeping into the cracks of the hard ground caught her eye. It reminded her of when she first met him. When at the end of their encounter, she watched his sand sink into the cracks of the ground in front of her.
Am 
I
 
still
 
releasing
 my gravity?
She frowned, utterly lost. By her reaction, Gaara pulls his sand away, getting the answer he wanted. His expression shifted into contempt, like he was disappointed by an average outcome. Kazumi could feel herself becoming unnerved, jumping away to create a larger distance."Why come so close to me? You've clearly harmed someone. What makes you think I won't report this?" Kazumi felt irked."So, that's what you think of it." Gaara mumbled to himself, lowering his chin.The embarrassment and esteem she displayed for him prior to the first test was long gone. After finding an accurate judge of his personality, she felt compelled to dislike him. And all the more reason to be on guard."Because you don't actually care about morals. I've observed you enough to know."Liar..."You're wrong." Kazumi balled her fist, squeezing the hem of her shirt, "You don't know me!" She scowled, more to herself as the back of her mind felt a connection to his calculated statement."Then, I'll ask properly." Gaara slowly looked up to her, "The attacker who tried to kill me became nothing more than something to quench his thirst. Do you think that's an appropriate action?" His teal eyes were a lot brighter under the moon's light, almost piercing her soul.Kazumi slid her hand into her pouch, a single bead of sweat falling from her jaw, "A fitting end for an idiot. They threw the first punch, did they not?"Gaara paused, his eyes scrutinising. A glistening wave came as quick as it left over his eyes. He acted like an abused animal being understood for the first time.It made Kazumi sick."But, you've done more than harm... haven't you?" Her brows furrowed, glaring, "That's where I draw the line. Killing an enemy isn't playtime, it's a sacrifice shinobi are forced to make. You are just insane." She heartlessly said, the truth sounding like a thousand knives."Seems I've misjudged you..." Gaara mumbled, his head twitching whenever his gaze fell to the cracked ground, "You are neither good nor bad. It's frustrating..." He looked back up at her, "And I expect another thanks when we next meet again. You'll see what I mean when the time comes to fight again."
What?
Her mouth gaped to frown, unable to say anything more when watching his sand rise up his body whilst he turned around. Out of sudden curiosity, Kazumi swiftly pulled out a kunai from her pouch, throwing it straight at his blind side. Her eyes went wide when Gaara casually glanced over his shoulder, his sand acting like a cushioned shield when engulfing the blade. It then spat the kunai out as if the sand had a mouth of its own, his teal eyes ominously unaffected by her attempts."I am impenetrable." He stated without a trace of boosting in his tone, his eyes focusing on her startled expression before having to tear away to look back ahead. "I saw that bloodthirst back at the preliminaries. Why didn't you just kill her? It would've been over and done with quicker, and she wouldn't have almost killed you."
Shit! He's more dangerous than Dosu and Sasuke combined...!
Kazumi blinked out of the thought, processing his question. "Death isn't something I can just pick and choose for somebody." Her response made him look back at her over his shoulder, suddenly interested again. "She had her taste of my warning, that alone is enough for me." Her eyes narrowed at his look.Gaara squeezed his non-existent brows together, snorting through his nose. It was quiet and light, a mix of enjoyment and doubt into one. "Frustrating, indeed."By the time his sand dispersed, he disappeared after putting in the last words — not after getting one last knowing look at the particles of his sand, which sunk the closer it reached Kazumi. Just like all the times before, Kazumi flinched. Her shoulder's relaxed slightly when studying her surroundings to make sure he was completely gone. However, it was hard to feel any comfort in that fact when she could never detect him, to begin with.When noticing the remaining sand, Kazumi crouched down, her fingertips lightly tracing against them. Unlike the physical texture, it felt soft in her touch. Her face contorted to confliction when watching the sand fall into the cracks of the broken training grounds.
I'll need to start staying away from the public training grounds for now...
She then frowned deeper, wondering how Gaara even found her chakra scent from so far away. It seemed more like a planned meeting than just coincidence. The girl then stood back up straight, recollecting herself and cleaning up her area.As she descended into the darkness of the night, Kazumi failed to regard the tiniest pieces of sand that slipped out of the pocket of her shinobi pouch.  -_______________  Many people walked by the endless white walls. Kazumi's nose would uncomfortable scrunch by the smell of death in the familiar hospital. After getting a scolding from the higher ups when appearing after having left a day earlier than the actual release, she finally managed to scurry away to find Sakura."Kazumi's here!" Sakura's face lifted, waving for the blonde to join her.Ino was sitting next to the pink-haired kunoichi, acknowledging Kazumi with a friendly nod. The young Kumo approached them, then noticing the heavy mood within the air."What's with the flowers?" Kazumi pointed out, raising a brow at the flopping stems in both of their hands.Ino sighed to herself."They were for Sasuke-kun... But, he suddenly left the hospital before recovering." Sakura explained, saddened.
Seriously? I skip training to see that prick and he just leaves without a word?
Kazumi stiffly shifted, leaning against the wall beside them. She couldn't remark a thing to that since she, herself, did a similar thing.The blonde Yamanaka then snapped her head up to Kazumi, "Hey, you're close to Sasuke-kun, right? Do you know where he went?"Kazumi's brows furrowed, "No... Why, has he disappeared?"Sakura and Ino share a glance before looking back to Kazumi. Ino's shoulder's fell, letting out yet another bored sigh.
Ah... he disappeared...
Kazumi deadpanned, "So, then... Where's Naruto?"Sakura rubbed her squinted eyes with her palm, "Kakashi-sensei mentioned him training under someone."Her eyes became heavy, pulling her knees to her chest as she buried the lower half of her face into her knees. Sakura had visible bags under her eyes."Sakura, are you getting enough sleep?" Kazumi crossed her arms, anxious.Sakura flinched, immediately giving her a sheepish smile, "O—Of course..." She stuttered, surprised.Kazumi did not buy her white lie. Out of her teammates, she was more concerned over Sakura's wellbeing. With an open-mind, Kazumi understood the burdens Sakura was carrying. The pink-haired kunoichi was the only one awake and struggled alone during half of the second test, she possibly witnessed more of what Orochimaru done. The Kumo felt an undeniable soft spot for Sakura the moment she knew of Sakura's ridiculous diet and mindset.In fact, Kazumi hadn't realised the soft spot she felt towards Sakura actually begun the day Sakura followed her around during the academy days."He'll come back when the exams start up again." Kazumi quietly assured, nearly mumbling as she lowered her gaze.
That idiot... Why's he always got to be so dramatic?
A chibified figure of Sasuke wearing a brooding frown and his back turned popped into Kazumi's mind, making her grimace to herself.Sakura's nervousness eased, her expression almost relaxing.Ino pouted, "I hope so! I've been keeping these specific flowers fresher than usual for him."Compared to Sakura, Ino was more annoyed than depressed."No!! You must not!!" A nurse's voice cried out, grabbing the girl's attentions.Kazumi leaned forward slightly, peeking her head out the open wooden window where she could see Lee doing push ups with one arm, the other broken and inside a wrapped up cast."Lee?" Kazumi raised a brow, confused by his hospital attire, similar to the robes she wore during her preliminary match."Lee-kun, stop this! Your body isn't -""Please be quiet for a bit!!" Lee shouted back to the nurse, heaving and huffing as he continued exercising."What's Lee doing at the hospital?" Kazumi asked, gaining a horrified look from Sakura and a surprised one from Ino.For some reason, Kazumi felt her stomach twist."I suppose you haven't heard since you abruptly left before his match." Ino had sweat fall from her temple, "He lost against Gaara... And well... Apparently, because of his serious injuries... They say he'll never be able to become shinobi again..." She spoke quietly, flickering her eyes back to the bowl-cut male."What?" Kazumi pushed away from the wall, leaning her body against the wooden railing as her wide eyes trained to Lee's figure.
"He lost against Gaara."
Ino's sentence repeated inside of her mind, recalling the dangerous Sand-nin from nights before.
To think Gaara is capable of doing such a thing...
Kazumi noiselessly gulped, her stomach sinking the more she watched Lee desperately struggle to continue regular push ups. She was so sure she'd have the honour to go up against Lee, only to find out way too late of his current state. A pang of guilt stabbed through her chest, a rare feeling she hardly felt."Lee-kun!" The nurse gasped, stepping forward once the male collapsed."Lee-San!" Sakura cried out, jumping over the wooden railing to rush over with Ino following behind.Kazumi lagged, shaking her shock away to catch up and inspect him.He had sweat all over him with bandage patches on his face."I'll bring the stretcher, please watch over him!" The nurse ordered, hurriedly running back inside the building.Sakura immediately fell to her knees, holding Lee's hand into her own. Ino crouched down, worriedly looking down at him. Kazumi remained standing, staring down at Lee's unfamiliar state. She'd replay the memories of his confidence, the way he'd always flash a smile and thumbs up even after being harshly kicked or punched. The Lee before her now wasn't the Lee she could recall.
Gaara...
Kazumi squeezed the the ends of her robes long sleeves, narrowing her eyes.Sakura's eyes teared up, "Hey... Why do boys... try so hard?"Ino was silent before dryly replying, "... Why ask me? I'm a girl, too...""Sorry..."Ino then turned to Kazumi, "But, Kazumi, you have a similar mindset to them. You must know why they're like this!"Kazumi shook her head, "It's not necessarily gender that matters here... When a shinobi cares so much about their abilities, it becomes their entire life. Of course, even I'd push myself the same if I was in his shoes. Shouldn't you understand that at least, Ino-San? You're heir of Yamanaka."Ino fell silent, her eyes falling to the ground, "Yeah... I guess I should..." She sadly nodded, feeling almost ashamed.Sakura winced to herself, looking between Kazumi and Ino's shared fate.  -_______________  A breeze blew against the curtains beside the hospital bed, revealing Sakura's flower in a vase of water, which was next to Lee's resting figure. Kazumi and Sakura sat next to each other in separate chairs at the head of the hospital bed. Kazumi was leaned against the windowsill, staring up at the moving clouds in the sky."How's training going for you?" Sakura slowly asked, gently smiling.Ino had already left."My old man's making me work on raw strength. Kinda like what Lee can—could—uh..." Kazumi bit her bottom lip, jumbled.Sakura sighed through her nose, looking at Lee's resting face."Sakura." Kazumi hid her eyes in her palm, no longer at the clouds.The pink-haired kunoichi snapped her gaze back to Kazumi, tilting her head, "Yeah?""If I'm to go up against Gaara, I won't hold back. I might even have to kill him." Kazumi clenched her fist, suddenly standing up as she headed for the door.Sakura stumbled to her feet, "Kazumi?!"Ignoring her shock, Kazumi left through the door. She could not stop thinking back to the night with Gaara. At any moment, he could've done the exact same thing he did to Lee. Much worse, she could've fell prey to his talk of 'quenching the thirst' of the insanity within him... However, because he didn't, Kazumi felt furious by that different outcome.
Just what makes me so different? That you'd even spare me at will?
As she stormed down the halls, particles of hardly seen sand fell out from her shinobi pouch, leaving an incredibly thin line of sand.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

A week passed by like a blink and Kazumi found herself in a familiar place where faint sounds of running streams and chirping nature surrounded the area. Sanjiro leaned back against a tree in the distance, his eyes focused on a bright coloured book in his hand. The mountain she firmly grasped hadn't changed in the slightest. The only differences she could notice were the grass growing over the dented spots she had punctured all those years ago. Only now, the same spots would be punched in, preventing yet another span of developing nature.The hidden away forest was deserted. Sanjiro would occasionally look up from his pages to see Kazumi's dangling state against the mountain. Her grip tightened around a loose rock, her last food threatening to slip off with the other. As she heavily breathed, she sucked in one last inhale before reaching for the nearest stable rock near her. However, as she did so, the loose rock broke, her arm falling to her side and her back tilting away from the mountain as she watched the broken rock fall metres to the ground."Ack...!" Her eyes rolled, allowing herself to fall back against the mountain whilst her feet applied chakra to keep her from deaths door. Sanjiro then shook his head, eyes lowered back to his book to scribble words inside, "Restart!" His strong voice reached all the way to her ears. "Fool!!" And his insults shouted straight after.For the past four hours, Kazumi had been restarting from the bottom of the mountain each time she'd break the rule of using her chakra. With a beat, fed-up huff, Kazumi slid down the mountain and to the surface. Once reaching the bottom, she smacked her forehead against the rocky wall, deadpanning. 
Urgh, I'm gonna be sick... Is this the type of training Lee went through? I can't handle this without my chakra!!
Kazumi hunched over, pressing her palm to the mountain as she hurled out vomit. Sanjiro was indifferent to this, his grey eyes gleaming with satisfaction over his book. "Oh, and don't forget to run around the forest and punch the trees." The old man added, his attention falling back to his perverted book as he regripped the pen in his fingers.He seemed focused and nearly lost in his editing. Kazumi could hardly understand why."A hundred laps and a hundred punches..." Kazumi mindlessly mumbled to herself, heavy eyes focused on the dark clouds above as she pushed off the mountain's side to begin the cardio part first. Whilst she ran, her steps progressively became clumsy, nearly tripping over the simplest of things like small pebbles and sticks in which she'd stubbornly kick away. When she finished, she'd collapse against a familiar tree that had almost a thousand indents the size of her fists. As her bruised knuckles made the first punch... after a while, the girl let out cries of determination throughout the calculated punches.Without chakra, her punches hurt. Without chakra, her developing stamina made her lungs burn. Although the hardness of her muscles was proving, the efforts were not in vain... as much as she'd dramatize it to be on the inside. 
99...
As she punched, her mind flashed to the memory of Lee's desperation. He had it a hundred times worse than her. And as she'd replay the sweating, pained state of him, her motivation sparked. 
"Like that of a rare gem!"

"I routed for you through and through!" His thick brows wiggled together, squirming, "I look forward to a possible fight with you, my rare gem!"

110...!
Her punches became faster, an anger bubbling within herself. The faces of Gaara and Orochimaru caused her gold eyes to fade into grey, a similar colour aura surrounding herself as she continued. 
167...!
Each punch began to puncture deeper holes than before, and her bleeding knuckles no longer felt the intensity once activating her chakra.
"I am impenetrable."

"

You can no longer move.

.."
"Two hundred!" She roared, her heart rate spiking as she slammed her bloodied fist against the tree.Sanjiro lowered his book to watch the thick, tall tree fall forward to the ground, leaving a stump. The tree had a large hole, reminding him of the hole she had pierced through the sound scroll. A loud thud from the massive tree pulled Kazumi out of her erratic actions, her breathing rigid and overworked. She had blinked away her clan eyes. "You've hardly applied your full chakra when punching that tree in half." Sanjiro appeared next to her, the book no longer in his hands. Kazumi wiped her sweat-drenched face against her robe, still trying to catch for her breath, "Sorry... I've also... done more than a hundred..." She apologised between each breath, hoping he wouldn't give her another punishment. Analysing the abused tree, he then glanced down at Kazumi, "You've worked intensely. Maybe now you can create a crater the size of that open area.""W... What?" Kazumi frowned, squinting up at him. He clicked his tongue, grabbing her arm. She did not protest when the old man yanked up her sleeve, revealing her toned, flexed muscles she had developed in the short span of time. They were tense, dripping with sweat. Kazumi rarely breaks a sweat during training, however this one was another level. "Your raw strength is still not enough to break through the layers, but I believe you've trained hard enough to spread the gravity wide." He stated, releasing her arm as her sleeve fell back down. "Uncle..." Kazumi shook her wrist, "Do you think this raw strength can break through even the impenetrable?" She hesitantly asked, looking out to the wide area around them. Sanjiro narrowed his eyes, "It depends. What is your definition of impenetrable?" She pursed her lips before replying, "Wind? Sand...? Manipulated chakra nature...?" She looked away, hoping he wouldn't know who she was mainly wary of. The old man sighed out his nose, "Do you know why I have decided to overlook the times you displayed your Kumo abilities?"Her stomach twisted, surprised. She then snapped her gaze back to him, wide eyed. Kazumi felt like a fool, blinded by everything she had done until now. 
That's right! Uncle has seen too much!
"I... Sorry..." She bowed her head, "I never did it to show off, I swear! There was just moments where..." Kazumi trailed off, unsure. One part of her wanted to explain her need to feel stable and safe, although the other part of her didn't want to be seen as weak and incompetent. Sanjiro wasn't thinking as far as the blonde child."I grant you my late permission." He swatted his hand, "I'm frantically trying to teach you all I know in one month, since there will come a time where I won't be around." His hand then rested against her head, "You are worthy of that, I see it more clearly now. For that, I am less on edge with everything."Her heart skipped a beat from his words, gold eyes sparkling, "Thank you... Uncle..." She smiled, lowering her face as his hand ruffled through her messy hair."So, your definition of impenetrable is chakra nature..." His hand fell to his side, gaze looking out to the open area, "Let's see you fair against wind during a storm." Drops of rain fell after that statement, startling Kazumi.She spun around, keeping her eyes to his walking figure. As he stood in the center of the raining field, he turned to her. "I hope you haven't neglected your ninjutsu, child!" He beckoned, grey eyes flaring as his hands formed an unfamiliar hand sign. Chakra held him place as a whirl of wind surrounded his figure like a globe, creating a three-sixty shield. The shield had a mixture of the rain's liquids and wind chakra, blowing out through the field. Kazumi then stepped forward, keeping a distance as she analysed the ninjutsu, "Can you teach me that as well?" "Greed will only get you so far." Sanjiro formed another sign, placing his palm against the ground.Kazumi flinched back, jumping away from the breaking ground beneath her. A medium level gravity was placed upon the ground. Any ordinary person would've fell down with the cracked ground had it not been for chakra control. "I've realised your lack of offence. Why don't you try getting through my defence this time?" He then stood back up, remaining still within the whirl of wind and rain, "While you're at it, focus on the ground. That is my only hint for you."
What?? 
Kazumi pulled a face, taking in a deep breath as she continued jumping through the gravity and away from the broken ground, closer to his idle stance. The more space decreased between them, the harder it was for Kazumi to get closer to his figure. Sanjiro was an exceptional teacher in moments like this. However, his excelled abilities made it hard for Kazumi to keep up. Taking a kunai out, the blonde girl threw it towards his shield, her face dropping as she then watched it fly out and stab straight to a faraway tree. His stern look read: 'What will you do now?'. And the only thing that came to her mind was his hint from moments before. 
The ground...?

"... Create a crater the size of that open area.."
An idea popped into her mind, like a piece of the puzzle completing. Her eyes became grey once more, a similar colour aura flickering off and on her skin as if it was unstable. She then crouched down, placing her fingertips to the cracked, moving ground — keeping herself steady with her chakra control. Her eyes strained when the already broken pieces of ground began floating in the air."Break." She muttered.The widespread surface beneath them shattered, a heavy gravity breaking into the ground and dominating Sanjiro's. Her hand shook as her chakra spread out, managing to nearly break the entire widespread of the open area, creating the exact crater that Sanjiro wished for. He blocked out the jutsu with ease, stoically watching her. Not a hint of surprise came until witnessing the broken pieces of the ground shake and move."Rise." She slowly stood up, grey aura enveloping the area, a much different contrast from when she made the rogue samurai fall to their defeats. The ground beneath them raised like moving terrains, startling Sanjiro, "Enough! You'll kill yourself!" His grey eyes glared at the decreasing amounts of her chakra core. Kazumi ignored him, manipulating the floating pieces to surround his whirling shield. Unlike the kunai, the rising ground was unable to bounce off from the shield, entrapping Sanjiro into an awkward position. 
It hurts!!
The veins from her head down to her flexed hands burned, a more painful strain than before. However, the sight of Sanjiro disappearing inside of the enclosure caused her to falter, confused by her unstable ability. A hand released, falling to her side. The lack of one arm made the other forcefully pull away from the painful sensations of her muscles stretching apart. And the abrupt release of control caused the rising terrains to collapse down. A thick wave of smoke clouds blew out, and the silence from Sanjiro unnerved Kazumi's panting state."Uncle!" She bellowed, letting go of her chakra control, which only caused her to stumble forward from the moving ground and strong winds. A blast of wind broke through the terrains, Sanjiro's shield dispersed to the ground the second his hand sign released. He was left untouched, relieving Kazumi. Although her relief paused when staring at the small gash wound against the side of his face. It was the first time she ever left a single mark on him. She couldn't even leave a simple scratch or bruise up until now. "Powerful... Indeed... Not even I knew such a strategy existed." His tone was filled with intimidation — not by Kazumi, but from the Kumo talents itself, "By now... you should understand why I am so hesitant."Kazumi steadied herself when the moving ground stopped, pulling her disheveled hair out from her face, "Yeah... I could've killed you."A twinkle of amusement washed over his grey eyes, "You managed to create a hole in my shield. Perhaps this answers your question about the 'impenetrable'?" His expression dissociated, as if he, himself, understood clear and well how dangerous their gravity release was.
Maybe I do have a chance against Gaara's sand...
Kazumi ignored him, caught up in a sudden eagerness to fight the Sand-nin, "So... because I managed to cut you... Can you teach me that wind jutsu now?"Sanjiro grew an irked vein, a speed unimaginable to Kazumi when reappearing beside her to smack the top of her head. The smack made her cry out, immediately placing both her hands above the dramatic lump forming. "Ouch! Sorry! I won't ask again!" "Climb that mountain without chakra. We're not done here until you've reached the top." He demanded, pressing his finger against his cheek where he used a simple medical jutsu to heal the gash. "Yes, Uncle..." She lowered her head, feeling her soul being sucked from her body by the mere order alone.   —_______________  "Hey, Kazumi's awake." The familiar voice of Shikamaru rang, sitting in between two hospital beds with a book open in his hand. Kazumi tiredly looked away from him, staring up at the white tiled ceiling. Knowing she had fainted the moment her foot touched the top of the mountain and ended up back at the hospital made her mood sour. "Kaz? Haha!" Naruto's voice cackled from the bed he recovered in right beside hers, "Good training like mine, eh?""Don't... talk to me right now..." She blankly said from her supine-like position, unable to express her surprise from Naruto's similar condition, "How long have I been here?"Naruto's grin contorted to a scowl."A day before Naruto... so, four days. Geez, when my father mentioned your clan head had you climb up an entire mountain without chakra, I almost didn't believe him until now." Shikamaru answered, "And Naruto just woke up five minutes ago." "Here, catch!" Naruto shook the disheartened expression to grin once more, throwing an apple straight at Kazumi's head.Kazumi loured, slowly pushing herself up from the bed to grab the shinning, indented apple. Her gaze then fell to the fruit basket on the table in between their beds."What the hell is wrong with you..." Shikamaru sighed at Naruto's antics, "This idiot asked me to help him draw on your face a second ago. Thought I'd let you know."She immediately glared at Naruto, crushing the apple in her hand. Naruto shrieked, falling out of his bed, "Hey! Why'd you go and expose my prank like that? Besides, I didn't actually do it!!" His head darted back and forth between the two clan prodigy's. "Typical." Kazumi pulled away, grimacing at the sticky texture of the crushed apple in her hand. Naruto sheepishly laughed, "Hey, since we're all awake now, wanna pay Chouji and Lee a visit?"Shikamaru deadpanned, "You just want to eat in front of Chouji's face!"Kazumi then stood up, walking over to the table where she grabbed the fruit basket, "Let's go."
Better make this quick and just leave... I'd hate to linger longer in this depressing place...
Naruto beamed, standing back up to rush at her side, "Want me to hold that?" "Piss off!" She deadpanned. Shikamaru chuckled, opening the door for them."K... Kaz?! I apologised, didn't I?!" She rolled her eyes, calming her sour mood. Her screaming muscles experiencing the aftermath of her physical training was not helping her emotionally. As she stepped a foot outside the door, she felt her pouch begin to aggressively twitch against her thigh. Pausing, her brows furrowed when opening her shinobi pouch. Her eyes then went wide when watching particles of sand jumping out from the pouch, falling to the ground. It then suddenly zoomed across the ground, straight toward a specific opened doorway."Knock on Chouji's door, he'll think a girl's coming to visit him." Shikamaru smirked at Naruto, nodding his head to the opposite room. Naruto mischievously grinned, spinning on his heel to do exactly that. As Shikamaru was about to follow, Kazumi parted her lips."Who's in that room over there?" She asked, focused on the open door with a wary look, unnerved by the fact that she had witnessed sand being pulled into the room. Shikamaru turned to her, raising a brow, "Lee's, why?" "Lee?!" She gasped out, dropping the basket of fruits to rush for the opened door.Sensing an off vibe, Shikamaru rushed after her, "Naruto!"Naruto froze before he could knock on Chouji's door, frowning at their dashing figures. Without hesitating, he swiftly caught up, picking the fruit basket up on the way. "Hey, you dropped this..." Naruto trailed off, pressing the basket against Kazumi's back.Kazumi hadn't acknowledged this, too focused on the sight of Gaara hovering over Lee's bed. His sand surrounded Lee's resting figure and a thick bloodlust filled the air. It was as strong as Zabuza's, but with much more malice. Naruto stopped talking when witnessing this, immediately shoving the basket into Kazumi's arms when leaping to Lee's bedside—his fist balled and his lips frowning. Shikamaru followed after, swiftly activating his shadow possession to keep Gaara in place. This caused the red-haired figure to freeze, his eyes veins bulging from straining against the jutsu whilst his flexed arm aggressively shook for freedom. Once Naruto reached Gaara's defenceless state, he slammed a punch against his cheek— Shikamaru winced out in pain straight after. His punch made the side of Gaara's face crack, like all Naruto did was break a barrier of sand that protectively covered Gaara's skin."What are you doing here, you bastard?!" 
"I am impenetrable."
Gaara's words reappeared in her mind as her hand had a sudden grip around a pineapple from the basket. Applying chakra, her eyes locked to Gaara's."Hey... Naruto, when I'm using the shadow imitation jutsu, I move the same as him." Shikamaru grunted, snapping his gaze over his shoulder to Kazumi.His narrowed eyes made her regain common sense. The pineapple in her grasp fell back into the basket as she clicked her tongue in annoyance, the applied chakra dispersing."Sorry..." Naruto shifted, jumping away from the entrapped Gaara.Gaara's teal eyes glared at the three of them, lingering longer at the pineapple."Hey!!" Naruto shouted for his attention again, "What were you trying to do to thick-brows?!""I was trying to kill him..." Gaara honestly answered.It unsettled Kazumi how casual the word 'kill' rolled off of his tongue. Even from when they first met, she assumed it was a harmless threat. It must've been another Thursday to him, making the Kumo tilt her head down.
Psycho...
Though, as her eyes focused on the ground, her emotions became a mix of anger and pity. She couldn't quite place why she suddenly felt sympathetic. Perhaps it was because of the clear emptiness in his lifeless eyes. Or maybe, she knew that deep down he was a shinobi who couldn't be easily fixed."What?!" Naruto and Shikamaru gasped out."Why is there a need to do that?! You won the fight! Do you have some personal grudge against him?" Shikamaru interrogated, a drop of sweat falling down his cheek."I do not." An eerie silence fell in the room."I'm going to kill him just because I want to kill him."
"Why didn't you just kill her? It would've been over and done with quicker, and she wouldn't have almost killed you."
More of Gaara's words from that night came into her mind. Little by little, Kazumi felt herself grasping the situation. Something wasn't right, and she could feel that."Lee isn't going to hunt you down for what you did, he's not like that." Kazumi spoke out loud, trying to level with Gaara's insanity.Naruto and Shikamaru shot confused looks their way."We meet again." Gaara's indifferent eyes rolled away from the two males, looking straight into dull, gold irises. He held no reaction to her comment.His words made her recall his want for her gratitude, "Thanks?" Her tone wasn't genuine, causing Gaara to look down in thought. "No, that isn't right. You should only thank me once you've realised what I done." Gaara denied it."Tch, more useless riddles." Kazumi muttered under her breath. "Ha?" Naruto growled, looking back and forth.Shikamaru recoiled away slightly, just as confused. "What does he mean, 'meet again', Kaz?!""He woke—found me in time before my preliminary match..." Kazumi awkwardly stated, setting the basket of fruit aside, "You brute, what's your obsession with killing and blood?" She sneered, turning back to him.Gaara slowly looked up. "The same reason as always.""What the hell are you talking about?! You stay away from Kaz, BASTARD!!" Naruto yelled, pointing a finger at him."Gee, obsession over blood and killing you say? You must've had a messed up childhood... How self-centred can you be?" Shikamaru remarked, chills running up his spine."If you get in my way, I'll kill you too." Gaara threatened him, brows knitting downwards."What?! Go ahead and try!!" Naruto's hand clenched to a fist, trying to rile him up."Hey, Naruto, stop!!" Shikamaru anxiously shouted, biting his bottom lip. "If you know me, you should know I wouldn't allow that." Kazumi stepped forward, her arm out in front of Naruto. "Stop..." Shikamaru began, placing his hand on her shoulder, "Listen, we're not too bad ourselves either. And we didn't show our 'special moves' during the prelims! Plus, its three on one, you're at the disadvantage. If you listen to what we say, we'll let you leave quietly." 
He's bluffing?
Kazumi dropped her arm, straightening out next to Naruto. Gaara didn't seem to be listening, his gaze snapping away from Shikamaru's resting hand to his eyes, "I'll say it again, get in my way and I'll kill you."Shikamaru tensed, his hand slipping off from Kazumi's shoulder."I won't be killed by the likes of you!"Kazumi swung her arm out again, this time stopping Naruto from pouncing on Gaara."I told you to stop it!! His strength is like a monster, don't you understand that?!" Shikamaru gritted.Naruto angrily smirked, "I have a real monster in me... I won't lose to the likes of him!" He fearlessly spoke."Think with your head for once, will you?" Kazumi sighed."She's right —""A monster, ay?" Gaara cut Shikamaru off, "Then... it's the same for me. As you said, I had a messed up childhood. I was born into the world by taking the life of the woman I would have called my mother. To become the ultimate shinobi... with my father attaching the incarnation of sand upon me through ninjutsu. I was born a monster.""Tailed-beast..." Kazumi muttered out, finally understanding what he meant that night.It seemed only Gaara heard her faraway words, his face lowering, "... Called Shukaku, it was sealed within a kettle. It's the living spirit of an old Hidden Sand priest."Shikamaru knew what he was saying, "A possession jutsu that allows one to be possessed before birth. To go that far... that's crazy." He smirked in disbelief.
Even I know that isn't what a normal parent does...
The cruellest thing Kazumi could recall of a parent was Sakura's complaints about her parents back at the academy. Of course, Gaara's was a different level of cruelty. "Heh... That's something a parent does? What a strange expression of love." Shikamaru continued to ridicule."'Love'?" Gaara repeated, apathetic.Kazumi's eyes flickered to the red tattoo on his head, the kanji reading: 'Love'. Gaara caught her stare. The mood dropped and the atmosphere became heavier each time his lips moved to speak. Kazumi's blood ran cold from his monotonous words, how he spoke of family being mere pieces of meat and flesh connected to him. She'd then remember back to his sibling's strange fear around his presence during their very first encounter. He talked about them like they were assassins, waiting to stab a knife into his back where he'd have the final opportunity to slice away the fat from his sibling's meat. Stripping and discarding the disliked parts until he had none left for him. He made it sound like it was normal.Kazumi was the first to have her expression fall to sympathy."By sacrificing my mother's life... I was created as the villages greatest masterpiece as the Kazekage's son." He blinked, unaware of her expression, "I thought that was love... Until that incident occurred."Shikamaru had beads of sweat, "Huh?""What was it?" Naruto tilted his head, brows furrowed.Gaara paused, his expression dissociating. His eyes that focused on Naruto turned to Kazumi's expression after finally noticing it from his peripheral view."... What happened?!" Naruto pushed on.Gaara smirked, his face twisting into a manic grin, "For the last six years from when I was six-years-old... my own father tried countless times to assassinate me!"Shikamaru was in more disbelief, "Ha? But, you just said your father spoiled you! What do you mean?"Naruto was stunned into silence.Kazumi's brows knitted together, creasing upwards, "A dreadful realisation..." She muttered, cringing.Gaara's grin relaxed to a small smirk, his expression remaining a light mania, "That's right, a being too strong can become an existence of fear.""Powerful... Indeed... Not even I knew such a strategy existed." His tone was filled with intimidation — not by Kazumi, but from the Kumo talents itself, "By now... you should understand why I am so hesitant."Sanjiro's statement resonated her with Gaara's confession. To be the strongest was both a blessing and curse. At least, that was how she viewed Gaara's perspective. As Gaara spoke more in depth about his existence being a tool, Kazumi could feel her heart ache. A feeling she was unsure of. Like oil and water, she couldn't mix with him. But, his words of self-loathing struck a cord within her.Then, why does he —"... exist to kill every human besides myself." His words flooded to her senses, his expression becoming more apathetically relaxed, "... Fighting for only yourself. Living while only loving yourself..." His words cut on and off in her ears, only processing the words she felt itch the back of her skull, "... My existence will not vanish..." His teal eyes gazed into her gold ones, a shadow overcasting his insanity-filled pupils.
"Because you don't actually care about morals."

"You are neither good nor bad."
Kazumi clenched her fists, frustrated. Her internal confliction made her unaware of Naruto's struggle and Shikamaru's calls for her as sand arose from above her. "Let me feel it!" He yelled, the veins in his eyes reddening at her.Her lips parted, lagging the reaction when focusing more on the vague twitch in his eye than the dangerously looming sand reaching closer to her face. An incredibly faint sensation of wind surrounding her figure caused strands of his sand to almost fall to the floor. Before either one could react against one another, a deep, firm voice bellowed into the hospital room. "That's enough!" Gai appeared, standing his ground strictly."Kaz..." Naruto gasped, calming down from his fit of shakes as he quietly processed."The final exams are tomorrow, don't get so antsy. Or do you want to stay here starting today?" The bowl-cut jounin warned, breaking the tension.Kazumi frowned, the whirls of winds she felt no longer occurred. And Gaara's sand slithered back into his gourd, clenching the side of his temple."Ugh!" He covered half his face with his palm whilst walking away, giving the three of them a death glare, "I'll definitely kill you guys... Just wait..." His gaze over his shoulder loitered on Kazumi's surprised look, having to harshly whip his head back straight before pushing past Gai to walk away.Gai sighed, "Visiting hours are over, it's best you leave Lee be. I'll be keeping watch." He assured, warily looking at Gaara's retreating back.The three reluctantly left, feeling the door slam shut behind them."That was too intense..." Shikamaru awkwardly frowned, second-guessing ever wanting to go up against the red-haired male."Uh... yeah..." Naruto glanced to Kazumi, pouting slightly.Kazumi's gaze fixated on the trail of sand left behind, her hand rummaging inside of her pouch. She felt her knees go weak as she crouched down to exhale sharply. Shikamaru quickly placed a hand on her back, his words muffled in her state of shock. Naruto, too, bent down to reach for her, though he was just as faraway in her senses.There was no sand to feel inside of her pouch anymore. It was left empty this time, like some near-sense of connection was torn. She didn't understand why, but it upset her. Whether it was for simple tracking or not, she believed it meant something more. Like maybe Gaara could be saved. Although as Naruto's hand waved in front of her face, she forced herself to shake off the strange emotions.
Gaara...
There was no saving him, she concluded.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The night's cold air blew in the wind, making fallen leaves brush against the ground. The night before the main event, Kazumi decided to go back to the abandoned training grounds despite mentally declaring she wouldn't do so for a while. She didn't know why or what possessed her to do it, but whenever she wondered over it, her mind would think back to Gaara.Her idea of fighting to kill him during an upcoming match felt far from achievable. Like the other times before, Gaara left her conflicted. Although it wasn't just Gaara, but other's she grew to attach herself to.Lee, for example, his unfamiliar kindness and determination to become strong and protect those around him. The very thought of his current state made Kazumi feel bitter inside. Ever since the Mist mission, Kazumi knew that a part of herself was developing for the better.As she packed up her mess and stored away her used tools, she took one last glance around the familiar area. She couldn't sense anyone. Whether Gaara was truly lurking in the shadows or not, he would still be undiscovered by her lack of sensory skills.For now, she'd stick with her intuition. An intuition she had to thank Sanjiro for engraving inside of her since childhood.
If you're out there... Know I'm prepared.
She frowned out into the shadows around her. Once taking steps away from the open field, her hand resting inside of her sandless pouch, she realised that this could be the last time she would properly speak with Gaara again.Unaware of the future disasters to come... Blissfully ignorant of her own personal doom, a tall silhouette who was not Gaara smirked at her retreating figure. His yellow eyes pierced brighter than the moon's waning gibbous.  -_______________  The birds were chirping, streets bustling with villagers. Kazumi walked past some stalls where a few excited owners would offer free, energising snacks for her to take. Whenever she'd try to decline, they'd only laugh and shove the snacks into her arms, giving her pats on the back for support."Good luck with today!""The world is watching, and their leaders!""I've reserved seats to get the best view, don't let me down, Kumo heir!"Through the chaotic morning, Kazumi managed to slip past their hustles. Her arms were loaded with free food, making her grimace to herself.
It's so lively... I wonder if Sasuke's already there...
She thought, entering a dark, run-down building. Despite the month having already ended, neither her nor her team has seen Sasuke.
Oh... well... He better be there for his match.
She'd recall his confident declaration of going against her. Clan eye to clan eye. Although Kazumi still wasn't taking it as seriously as him.The blonde girl stopped at a door, awkwardly knocking on it as she tried not to let the snacks fall. After a moment of silence, Kazumi pulled a face."Naruto... Are you still asleep?" She mumbled, frowning deeper.Moments like this were when she'd wish she had the byakugan.
Is he seriously asleep?
Her hand managed to grab the knob, curiously twisting it open. To her surprise, it was left unlocked. Kazumi didn't know whether to feel concerned or relieved by that."I'm coming in! Sorry for the intrusion..." She spoke, kicking the door closed behind her.Kazumi paused, taking in the small apartment. The walls were worn and stained with a few empty picture frames. Without slipping off her shoes, she stepped through and into the small kitchen, noticing the empty cups of ramen scattered across the table.
It's so messy...
She cringed, her gaze finally falling to the door near the kitchen. She then walked down the tiny hallway, entering the equally messy room in which was Naruto's bedroom. A clothesline was tied from one wall to the other, right above and in the centre. The clothes were hung; dried, yet the others were on the ground; likely used.It was the first time she ever stepped foot in a room that was so strangely bleak. Even the light from the sun peeking through his curtains wasn't enough to fill the evident loneliness lingering in the musty air.Her frown faltered into a relaxed one, feeling a familiarity with the stuffy room. It was a smaller version of her clan compound. Disregarding the mess cleaned by her servants, the little décor and furniture was like her compound. Sure, it was a house. But it never felt like a home. When spotting Naruto's sleeping state, she wondered if he felt the same."No... Give back..." Naruto's groan snapped her attention back to him, his sprawled out body rolling around."Naruto?" Kazumi slowly approached his bedside, clutching the snacks to her chest as she raised an unsettled brow down at him. Her concern deepened from the desperation in his voice."Don't... no..." He shifted, trembling as his hand reached out to grab his pillow."Naruto...?" Kazumi leaned in, a single bag of crisps slipping from her arms and falling to the ground."That's my ramen!" He scowled, his eyes squeezing further shut in his stupid nightmare, "I paid for it! Don't..." He trailed off, mumbling and growling.Instantly, Kazumi's concern washed away.
Seriously?
She swiftly dropped her arms down to her side, watching the mountains of snacks fall on top of him. The plastic bags slapping his face startled Naruto awake, drowsily looking around the room until relaxing at her presence."Kaz?! What are you doing here?" He yawned, slight bags under his eyes.Like her, Naruto didn't get much sleep last night."I thought I'd walk with you to the main event." She shrugged, "Don't get the wrong idea, I just want to make sure you wake up in time." She quickly added, feeling embarrassed for some reason.Naruto's eyes sparkled, "Wah!! Okay!" He beamed, throwing his sheets off as he jumped to his feet, stumbling out of the bedroom to wash up.Without changing his underwear and taking his dried orange jumpsuit from the hanger, he chugged down some milk and grabbed a cold ramen cup. Noticing his diet, Kazumi took one of the snacks that was given to her and forced it into his view before he could eat the leftovers.With a sheepish grin, he appreciatively accepted it, having to look away when Kazumi heartlessly chucked the cold ramen into the trash bag.
I'd be caught dead eating junk like that...
She grimaced at the soggy noodles, looking back at Naruto. He sloppily tied his shinobi headband around his forehead, giving her a thumbs up. He even did a little pose, showing off his backpack. As much as she wanted to question why he spent less than thirty seconds in the bathroom, she decided to bite her tongue. Knowing Naruto, his poor hygiene was questionably normalised."Where'd you get so many snacks from?" Naruto asked as he left with her, chomping on the street food and crisps.Kazumi walked alongside him, "I'm quite known by the residents. They like me too much." She frowned, shrugging. 'Lock your door next time!', She added straight after, only gaining a whistle in return.Naruto looked away, grinning, "That's cool. It must be nice...."His words made her slowly look back at him, taking in his downcast smile. Despite the depressing response, he was smiling. She couldn't help but think back to the lonesome apartment she was just in, silently wondering how Naruto even survived for so long.He was just her teammate. A fellow shinobi. Kazumi didn't care. She focused back ahead, ignoring the wary eyes of a few bystanders that gazed at Naruto."I have a chef who cooks my meals." Kazumi suddenly says, her guilt betraying her body language, "You can eat with me any time and any day. If I'm not there, I'll have them know to cook you up a meal." She offered, hesitantly looking for his reaction.Naruto's blue eyes became a brighter hue, reflecting the sky, "For real?"Kazumi scratched her cheek, "Yeah... It's not a problem nor a big deal."He then laughed, a hearty full one, "Thanks, Kaz! Hey, I'll win my match and repay you by giving my all against you!!" He declared, pumped with energy at the thought as he stuffed the snacks in his mouth.
That's if I win against Dosu...
She recalled the layout of the matches. If she won against Dosu, she'd be up against either Shikamaru or Gaara's female teammate. Theoretically speaking, if she won against whoever was the champion of that match, she'd have a fifty-fifty chance to go against Sasuke or Gaara in the finals. As Kazumi looked at Naruto's determination, she let an awkward smile slip past.
Naruto...
She couldn't imagine the blond boy winning against Neji, let alone Gaara."I'll cheer for you." Kazumi nodded, noticing the chuunin exam area becoming clearer in the distance.She wouldn't let her doubt get the best of her. Deep down, Kazumi knew that Naruto's true strength had nothing to do with his physical abilities.Naruto beamed, "Yeah? Same!" His smile weakened, looking down at the ground, "Hey... How would you win against a Hyuuga?" He asked, suddenly conflicted. Crumps fell down his chin to his jacket when finishing up the snacks.Kazumi processed his question, pursing her lips in thought.
A Hyuuga, huh?
She remembered back to her first duel with Hinata. Getting her chakra blocked by Hinata's taijutsu frightened Kazumi at first. Their eyes when seeing chakra was much more advanced than the fantomugan. Where Kazumi can only see the chakra core and present scent, Hyuuga's could see much more with their byakugan. From the chakra core to the main points in a shinobi's body.It was an eye to not be messed with, especially up close."I'd keep my distance." She replied, her tone slow and calculating, "They've got a knack for rendering chakra useless." She remarks, knowing of their remarkable ability to see chakra to a greater degree than the fantomugan and sharingan combined."Eh?? So... I just avoid him?" He winced, confused.Kazumi sighed through her nose, "Not necessarily. Otherwise, you won't win. Just fight like you normally do... I heard you farted on Kiba's face in order to win the prelims. I'm almost annoyed that I missed such a scene."Naruto immediately cackled, cheeks pink, "Oh man! You should've seen his face!"Kazumi tilted her head away, hiding a smirk. Having already holding a dislike towards Kiba made the news of that happening to be a humorous outcome for her. His confident barks of going against her in the final rounds were nothing but a memory blowing away like a leaf in the wind; forgotten."Hah, well... I can summon the greatest animal now! It will be fine...""Your sensei had you learn summoning jutsu?" Kazumi quirked a brow."Frogs... yeah..." He pouted his lips out, letting a drained sigh escape after hearing his own words on his tongue."Ah... Good luck with that, Naruto." She muttered, forcing a smile.
He'll need it more than me!
Naruto snapped his head up, catching sight of the nostalgic training grounds where they had become genin's by Kakashi. Kazumi noticed as well, flickering her eyes back to the main event appearing a few feet away."I'll catch up with you! I need a moment to think..." Naruto waved her off, entering the forest.Kazumi returned a small wave, strictly focusing her steps to the large building. Her heart was pumping with cold adrenaline from both excitement and anxiety. She was closer than ever to becoming recognised as a chuunin. As she entered the building, she showed her identification to the shinobi staff. Swiftly after, they guided her to an admission room.The room was empty, to her relief. The last thing she wanted was to be waiting around with her tense opponents. Instead of sitting down, she leaned against the wall nearest to the door, hearing the faint sounds of the loud and anticipating crowd. That alone made her become more aware of her situation.
Uncle will be watching alongside the Hokage...
She thought, feeling near jittery. With a deep inhale, she forced the overwhelming emotions aside. Her shaking nerves calmed, her cold adrenaline remaining. As she trained her expression to a stoic one, her door opened just in time after almost an hour of torturous silence. With his usual pin-needle in his mouth, Genma flicked his fingers for Kazumi to follow him out.The crowd roared as her foot stepped outside into the light, her figure walking towards the centre as they announced her name. She stood in the middle of the large arena, watching Genma lead out the other competitors.The sight of Naruto relaxed her tensed shoulders, staring at his blond head bobbing towards her. He instantly stood beside her, giving her a wide, toothy grin.Shikamaru and Shino appeared swiftly after, their names all being announced by the Hokage. From the other side of Kazumi, approached Neji, Gaara, Kankuro and Temari, their names announced and flooding into Kazumi's ears. It was louder than the excited crowd from high above."Ah... A good thing I managed to pass on the toilet last night..." Naruto commented, pressing his hand against his abdomen.Shikamaru sighed.Kazumi ignored his nervousness, noticing her opponent: Dosu, was missing. Seeing her frantic looks, Naruto looked around upon realising Sasuke was still missing as well."Be silent and face the customers." Genma ordered, "In this main tournament, you guys are the stars." He stated, causing Kazumi to clench her wrist in her hand, pushing down the looming eagerness.Kazumi then watched as the current Kazekage of the Sand sat beside the Hokage. Her gaze flickered to Gaara for a split moment, recalling his sudden trauma dump from last afternoon. He noticed her gaze, giving her a lifeless, indifferent look. Kazumi snapped her eyes away first, pursing her lips.The Hokage announced his gratitude for the people attending and the customers watching. Announcing the total of nine competitors for the top spot. Kazumi's heart sank. It meant that between Sasuke and Dosu, one of them was gone."There's something I'd like to tell you before the matches." Genma turned to them, showing a new version of the match line-ups, "Look at this."Kazumi and a few other's wore surprised looks. Dosu's name had disappeared from the line-up, making her name conjoin with whoever was the winner between Shikamaru and Temari's match. Shikamaru shared a look with Kazumi, both wearing a bead of sweat on their faces from the abrupt change."There have been some minor changes to the tournament. Check once again to see who you are fighting."Kazumi slowly gulped, her gaze finding Gaara's one once more. Gaara had a peeved look on him, mixed with a heartless disregard for the disappearance of Dosu's name. It was then she recalled his eerie words from the night of the full moon.
"... It's almost a shame. The threat happened to be someone you anticipated going against..."

No way...
Her mouth gaped, brows furrowed as she was unable to control the disturbed expression visibly forming. Her hand tightly gripped her wrist, realising that her training against soundwaves was practically all for nothing.
This is what he wanted thanks for?
She gritted her teeth, forcing her attention elsewhere to avoid glaring daggers at him. Gaara's menacing look relaxed into an entertained one filled with apathy by her obvious reactions. He appeared satisfied by her knowing realisation.Naruto frowned to Genma, "Hey! Hey!!" He raised a hand."What?""Sasuke isn't here yet. What are you gonna do?""If he doesn't appear by the time of his match, he will receive a default loss."Kazumi bit her tongue, holding herself back from questioning Dosu's missing existence. She wanted to know but was afraid of her suspicion becoming true. It was as she speculated: Gaara had done something unforgivable.And to Dosu of all opponents. If he thinks he'd get a genuine thanks by Kazumi from that, Gaara is sorely wrong."Alright, guys... this is the final test. The arena is different from the prelims, but the rules are the same; there are none." He announced, gesturing to the many trees and lumpy terrain of the natural-looking arena. "You fight until one of you dies or acknowledges defeat. But if I determine that the fight is over, I'll step in and stop it. You got that?" He issued.Kazumi took in the arena around her. It was certainly to her advantage. The forest-like setting gave her many opportunities. Upon the silence, Genma continued."Now, the first fight: Uzumaki Naruto and Hyuuga Neji. Those two stay here whilst the rest of you go to the waiting room."As Kazumi turned to depart, she quickly pressed her hand on Naruto's shoulder, "Distance..." She smoothly muttered, wishing him luck with her gaze before walking off with the other's to the waiting room.Naruto had stared over his shoulder to her, swallowing thickly by her reminder.She took the stairs with Shikamaru beside her and Shino trailing behind. The other's silently followed, the air thick. They reached an area up above, the room open with a railing to witness the fight's below. Kazumi instantly leaned against it, watching Naruto's fight."Two fights in a row, what a drag." Shikamaru approached, gripping the railing beside her.Kazumi flashed a teasing smile, "What, can't handle fighting two girls?"Temari, who overheard this from leaning against a close by pillar, smirked. Although her smirk dropped, surprised. Like all others, she never realised Kazumi was a female. But that didn't seem to affect her."Bah! Don't even start with me." He shortly chuckled, shaking his head, "You think Naruto has a chance?"Kazumi gazed down at Naruto, who was already being beaten up by Neji's fists, "Yeah."Shikamaru frowned, doubting her straightforward response.The sane duo focused back to the match. Neji's impressive taijutsu, even against Naruto's shadow clones, perplexed Shikamaru. Gaara's eyes focused on Kazumi, wanting to witness any reaction from her. However, she was stoic. Her stoicism rivalling Shino's.But that was only through nerves. In order to remain unfazed, Kazumi pushed down all but adrenaline. She knew Gaara was looking but ignored him. His audacity to continue his odd behaviour after going as far as dealing with Dosu... making all of her efforts from training to seem in vain... It made her overwhelmingly frustrated with him.
Neji-San...
She studied the Hyuuga instead, trying to recall all she knew from him in the past. ....... 
A young looking Kumo stood behind an older man. It was Kazumi from years ago, before she entered the academy. Her hair was short and messy from training, 
she
 gazed at the lilac-white eyes of the Hyuuga clan head. Sanjiro spoke politically with him, trying to slither his way out of any ridiculous proposals the Hyuuga head suggested.

Originally, they were there due to a sudden demand. From the near wipe-out of the Kumo's, the Hyuuga clan head saw an opportunity to grab more power. Which led to now, Sanjiro 
denying the Hyuuga
 his wishes for arranging a marriage between Kazumi and Neji.

In the near distance, Hinata's little head poked out from her hiding spot, curiously staring at Kazumi with her usual soft, red cheeks. Further behind and near the Hyuuga training grounds, Neji was training his taijutsu against a stuffed, fake torso on a stick. When the Hyuuga head laughed, Kazumi focused her eyes back up at him.

"Surely you don't see my vision. This could be the restoration of your clan... As well as a benefit for my side as well." He tried to coerce Sanjiro, but it was to no avail.

"My clan may have been known for many arranged 
marriage's
 in the past, but that is no more. I will not have my successor following the traditional ways." Sanjiro closed his eyes, strict and firm.

"A pity. Well, comfortable alliances 
is
 enough for me. I'll have tea brewed
, please
 get comfortable." He ushered for his servants to brew, walking further inside the compound with Sanjiro following behind.

"Uncle?" Kazumi frowned, watching their backs leave.

She suddenly sensed a presence much closer behind her than before, spinning around whilst Hinata's small voiced squeaked. The younger version of Neji appeared, his hand flat out and dangerously close to her neck. His lilac-white eyes had veins bulging around his temples, a bandage covering around his forehead. He gazed at her with contempt and annoyance as he watched Kazumi stumble back and fall to the ground.

As she looked up at him with wide eyes, she took in his features. He was clearly older than her by a few years. And she couldn't get used to the odd anger behind his dull, white eyes.

"You're quick. But I would've struck you from where you sat on the ground and finished you." He coldly said, taking a step back.

Hinata had a palm over her mouth, silently hoping a scene wouldn't occur. Kazumi quickly got up to her feet, glaring. Her ruthless personality 
making
 her scowl at him. A complete contrast to her passiveness years later.

"Are you trying to challenge me right now?"

"You're not worth my time."

She clenched her jaw, her gold eyes defying as they faded to a blind grey. Neji took a readied step back, his brows knitted together. However, Sanjiro's hand on her shoulder stopped her. The Hyuuga head appeared as well, giving Kazumi an amused look from his scrunched eyes.

"You needn't stop them. Have them fight, I'm always interested in the Kumo abilities. Especially since such display disappeared after the tragic collapse."

Sanjiro merely shook his head, swiftly carrying Kazumi's tantrum-filled squirming body into his arms, measly chucking her over his shoulder.

"I'm afraid it's too late for that. You must offer tea another night, sorry." Sanjiro sighed, recoiling his face away from Kazumi's stubborn and enraged state, "This one 
need's
 another scolding."

Immediately, Kazumi straightened up. Her expression relaxed into a comical modest one, and she was no longer squirming childishly.

"I see... Maybe in the future." The Hyuuga head sighed, looking down at Neji with disappointment.

Neji had bowed his head to him, lowering his face with slight anxiousness. Hinata, who watched the Hyuuga head appear closer, slipped away and left. Sanjiro, who noticed, ignored this, bowing to the head as he received a bow in return before leaving. The entire walk back to their own clan compound was Kazumi muttering her frustrations out. Even Sanjiro struggled to have anything nice or respectable to say about the clan head.
She had never met a boy so rough. Kazumi could not include Sasuke's shyness and Shikamaru's laziness, their personalities did not compare. ....... Unaware of Neji's trauma, she concluded that he was an original version of Sasuke's rough, brooding nature.As she zoned back into the fight, a wave of smoke dispersed as Naruto's trembling figure slowly got back up from the ground, his sixty-four chakra points sealed by Neji. He formed a sign, managing to expel chakra out despite his points being blocked. A manic explosion of orange, evil-scented chakra flooded the air. Kazumi instantly knew what chakra this came from, a chakra completely separate from his own.
The tailed-beast chakra again!
She silently gasped.Naruto was a lot faster, spinning around him, kicking off walls. Even his punches were accelerated, much stronger and rivalling Neji's. From their contacted punch, they flew to other sides of the arena, their bodies in the ground. Neji emerged, approaching Naruto, who lay defeated.
No...
Kazumi lowered her face, her hair covering as her eyes faded to grey, desperate. As she analysed the surroundings, she could see his erratic chakra beneath Neji, her blind eyes blinked before widening back to gold. As she saw, Naruto appeared out of the ground beneath him, taking Neji aback. With an uppercut, he knocked the Hyuuga male down. He spoke sadly at Neji's defeat, his words striking cords within him. When Naruto spoke of his main jutsu being his weakest one back at the academy, Kazumi smiled.His improvement was astonishing. She had to thank a side of herself for not doubting Naruto."WINNER: UZUMAKI NARUTO!" Genma declared.Naruto roared with the cheering crowd, blowing kisses back and forth to Sakura and Kazumi. Kazumi lightly chuckled, waving at his excitement. For him to still have energy after having his chakra points blocked was beyond her."Whoa! He actually won!" Shikamaru grasped the railing, surprised, "Seriously? I had assumed he was a lame-ass type like me..." He turned to Kazumi, "You were right..."Shino muttered, "Lame-ass? And I admire your faith in your comrades, Kazumi-San."Kazumi shrugged."Everyone's cheering him... He's totally a kick-ass type." Shikamaru restated, having a change of perspective now, "Plus, I probably can't beat him... How depressing..." He sighed."Such a lazy outlook to that." Kazumi remarked, amused.Shikamaru did not deny her comment, his brow twitching as he let another heavy sigh escape. Naruto came running up the stairs, scratches and bruises covering him head to toe as he approached them."You better win now, Kaz!" He shouted, excitedly shaking her before pulling her in for a side-hug.Kazumi stiffened, rolling her eyes away from his intrusive actions. Shikamaru flinched away, knowing if he, himself, tried something like that, he'd be six feet beneath the ground. Upon the shouts of confused watchers and customers from the lack of Sasuke's appearance, Naruto released Kazumi with a deep frown."Anyways, what's the deal with your teammate?" Shikamaru leaned back against the railing, "Is he not planning to come?""Confucius once said: 'The wise do not approach the dangerous.' A wise decision, perhaps?" Shino mumbled from behind his coat."What are you guys talking about?" Naruto pressed himself against the railing next to Kazumi, "He's definitely going to come!" He leaned his chin on his arms, shooting Gaara a hardened look."Do you know at least, Kazumi?" Shikamaru sighed, puzzled."Why does everyone assume I know everything about him? Like I'd know." She clenched the railing, "Knowing him, he loves to make a fashionable entrance at the last second."Naruto snapped his gaze away from Gaara, cackling at her words, "Yeah! So, he will come! Believe it!""I'd like to assume myself that by your statement alone, you seem to know everything about him." Shino quietly said, adjusting his black-out round glasses.An irked vein popped on her forehead, though it was instantly calmed down from Genma sudden announcement."LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! THE CONTESTENT FOR THE MATCH HAS NOT ARRIVED YET! THEREFORE WE WILL PUSH THIS MATCH BACK AND BEGIN THE NEXT ONE!"
There we go again with Sasuke's princess treatment!
Kazumi huffed, partly relieved he did not actually drop out of the match. Naruto let a sigh of relief escape his lips."Hey, this means that my match just got one step closer!" Shikamaru exasperated out. His gaze flickered between Temari and Kazumi, not keen on going against someone like Kazumi the most.As Genma announced Shino's match with Kankuro, the Sand-nin abruptly declared forfeiting. Shino's brows raised higher than his glasses... for a first."What the hell is going on?" Kazumi muttered, cutting herself short when Temari suddenly pulled her fan out and blew a strong wind through the air. With a flick, the wind transported her to the centre of the arena."Looks like you're eager. Shikamaru, get down here!""Kaz, watch this!" Naruto grinned, shoving Shikamaru over the railing and pushing him to the Arena's grounds, "Go for it, Shikamaru!!" He crashed like a thud, blankly staring at the sky.Kazumi pulled a face. The crowd yelled for their fight to finish, anticipating other's instead of his. The lack of roaring cheers made Shikamaru sigh to himself. The Kumo glanced at Kankuro, not dismissing his strange actions.
Those Sand-sibling's seem tense...
She focused back to the match, ignoring Naruto's rambles in one of her ears.
Why?

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

When Kazumi first attended the Shinobi Academy of the Leaf, both her demeanour and appearance were the complete opposite. Her smaller frame wore simple grey robes with a used pouch tied around her arm rather than her left thigh. Within that pouch were her tools. Her blonde hair was short, like a bob-style cut to her shoulders with unkempt bangs swooping to her right.No shinobi headband to be seen where it would be placed in the future—around her right thigh. Kazumi held a natural peeved resting face, a contrast from her usual deadpans. This was the past — and in the past, Kazumi was a troubled child.Having no knowledge of what a mother and father was like, she isolated herself from the fellow children around her. Kazumi simply believed her isolation was because of her lack of care toward the kids who praised and boosted about their family. There was nothing she could relate to, making her feel like an odd one out.But this never seemed to affect her.So, instead of lingering around the playgrounds, she caught the eye of her aloof grandfather-uncle, who ended up teaching her shinobi basics. Which all led up to here, where she stood, in front of the large door."Wanting to become shinobi is an important role. You'll have many future responsibilities." A familiar voice spoke from behind.As she turned around, she was met with a six-year younger version of her last remaining relative: Sanjiro. Nothing was changed other than him having a smaller, unkempt beard compared to his future long one. He gave her an empty gaze, his face worn and mourning. For the six years she had been living, not once has she ever seen him smile. Even during an important day such as this."I know." She looked back to the door, blinking.
If I can occupy myself and become the highest ranking shinobi, maybe Uncle will smile...
"What... really makes you want to become a shinobi, child?" He slowly asked, as if hesitant.She looked back at him again, this time glancing over her shoulder with a small smirk."I want to get stronger! If I don't, you won't acknowledge me as the next heir..." She replied her smiling expression shifting to a flicker of her mother's youthful face.This caused Sanjiro's eyes to widen, Kiyoko's words assaulting his memories: "I need to get stronger... If I don't, father won't acknowledge me." The vaguely similar sentence threw him off, his aloofness softening for only a moment until recollecting himself back to his gruff, closed off demeanour."I—I see..." He cleared his throat, "You cannot take back this choice or you'll become more of a mockery than that Uzumaki boy." He warned, turning his back to her as Kazumi watched him leave.
Who?
She frowned, stiffly nodding, "Yes, Uncle." She muttered.He placed a lazy hand atop her head, "Try to control yourself." Kazumi wanted to shoot him a pout, but he had already left. His remarkable speed did not faze her in the slightest.When face to face with the door, she finally opened it. The rowdy room was loud, filled with children her age. Some were on desks, messing around. Others were running and chasing one another across the large room.At the appearance of Kazumi, the majority of the girl's froze to stare at her, their eyes glistening and cheeks burning light red. And the majority of the boy's in the room stopped messing around to size her up, giving her suspicious looks."Waa!! It's another prince!~" A girl announced, locking hands with her friend as they both squealed in delight."What a pretty boy! I'm so jealous!!" Another squealed, hearts in their collective pupils.Kazumi's brow raised, looking over her shoulder to nothing but air. Shrugging it off, she stepped further inside to memorise the interior of the room.It was spacious with desks and a blackboard. The mountain with the faces of the Hokage and predecessors were in the distance from the large windows, as if to inspire students. It didn't have an affect on Kazumi since she wasn't interested in being Hokage at all. Instead, she was much more inspired by the idea that Sanjiro once stood in this room at her age, preparing to become shinobi. "Kazumi!" A familiar voice called, approaching her with a friendly wave and lazy smile.It was Shikamaru. He didn't look any different from his future self."Shikamaru!" She flashed a grin, "We're in the same class?""Yeah... Hey, you never told me you were attending this academy. What a drag... and here I was thinking I'd get stuck with Chouji." He sighed, scratching the back of his neck.A crunch sound occurred, making the two look towards it. Chouji stood beside Shikamaru, munching away at his bag of junk food. Like Shikamaru, not much of Chouji changed. He had crumbs falling from his chubby cheeks to his shirt."Oi! It's not so bad being stuck with me! If you're lucky and I like you, then you'll get free chips!!" He spat out, chewing through his words."Haha! You're big!" She pointed out to his belly.She stood back, amused by Chouji's chubbiness. It was quickly assumed as baby fat by her. Kazumi even saw many advantages with it as well. Although Chouji had scowled at her, ready to throw a punch until Shikamaru's arm blocked it."Calm down! She doesn't mean it in that way!""'She'???" A piece of chip fell out of his gaped mouth.Her amusement turned sour, "Hey... What the hell does that mean?!" She stepped forward, clenching her small fist. Shikamaru pushed himself in between them, frowning sideways. A single bead of sweat fell from his temple."Oh man... Quit it already, guys!" He sighed, "Just find your seats already." Shikamaru gestured his head to the desks behind them.
"Try to control yourself."
Sanjiro's reminder flooded into her small head. Kazumi clicked her tongue at Chouji, instantly walking away from the confliction. Chouji bit into a chip, victory plastered on his chubby face until Shikamaru groaned: 'You, too!!'As Kazumi walked up the steps to find her assigned name, she couldn't help but overhear the whispers of gossip the closer she got to a specific row."What's he doing here?""Right?! I was told he'd never have a chance at attending!""What a pain! Now we gotta deal with the freak in our classes? As if he'd ever become shinobi..."She lagged, following the wary eyes to a blond, tanned boy. He had his chin against his arms, leaning into his desk with a frown. It wasn't much of a sad look, but more of an apathetic one. Like the insults weren't even insults but a fact. He caught her gaze, immediately giving her a guarded glare with his ocean blue eyes.
Eh...?
She would've gave one back at him if it weren't for the strange, heartless whispers about him. When resuming her steps to her assigned desk straight behind him, she settled into the middle seat."... Uzumaki Naruto..." Her eyes remained on the back of his head as she overheard the familiar last name said by her uncle moments ago.
That's the infamous monster? A kid?
She raised a brow, her gaze flickering to the whispering girls. When noticing her, their disdain flipped to heart-filled eyes, squealing as they both argued over who Kazumi was looking at first.
Yikes...
She gave them a judgmental look, making their faces drop to mortified expressions."Kazumi-San!" An eager voice spoke from beside her, causing Kazumi to tear her head away from the gossiping girl's and towards a raven-haired boy."Sasuke-San?"It was Sasuke, a few months before his clan massacre.He nods, unnervingly shy by her presence, "I never doubted you'd not enter the academy!" He spoke confidently, "You're my rival, after all..."Despite his eagerness, he remained calm. Their wavelengths ironically becoming swapped in the near future."Oh yeah..." She scratched her ear, almost forgetting that fact.Like Shikamaru, she first met him much younger than six-years-old due to clan meetings. For some reason, he seemed to admire her clan's abilities out of all else's. However, as much as he tried to get her attention by boosting his own clan and speaking highly of his family, Kazumi found it hard to click with him.As all others, she couldn't relate. There was a pattern towards that issue, making it difficult for her to form proper bonds and connections with her peers. In the end, she thought it best to stick to herself.Sasuke was someone who did not know what having little to none relatives was like from the start. She'd have to force herself to feel thankful... She still had Sanjiro at the end of the day. But Sanjiro wasn't her father or brother. He may be her grandfather-uncle, but it sure felt more like sharing a space with a grouchy roommate than a relative."I'm looking forward to growing stronger alongside you..." Sasuke trailed off, beaming with excitement. He didn't seem to notice her faraway gaze.The one-sided gleeful atmosphere between the two prodigy's practically had almost all the girl's and even a few boy's to paint the picture in their minds. Eyes filled with affection as they witnessed the two 'princes' of the academy get along. A collective dreamily sigh bounced around the room.Meanwhile, a chibified image of Sanjiro smacking the thought cloud into her mind appeared: "Don't be cheeky! Form alliances!" His words chanted inside of her head, reminding herself of his strict ways."Same here..." She forced a lazy smile, extending a hand out to him.Sasuke's eyes went wide, immediately taking her hand as he shook it vigorously. She tried not to glare at the same hand that handled her ass nearly a year ago. Sasuke was the first person to show her what simple taijutsu was like —  of course, she failed.
Uncle's trained me a lot, I won't fall flat this time...!
Her eyes blinked up into a closed-eyed smile, pulling her hand out from his first. Sasuke couldn't control his eager grin, rubbing his hands together."Kyah!! I wish I was assigned in between them!""No, it should be me assigned there!""Ha?? Neither of you can!"A fight between groups of girl's broke out. The only girl that seemed sane in the room was a reserved Hyuuga, anxiously watching it break out from afar. She had zero courage whatsoever to stop them."Tch! Girl's are so annoying! I'm glad you're at least normal, Kazumi-San." Sasuke scoffed at the scene, awaiting similar praise in return."You're idea of normal is strong, so I'll take that as a compliment." She smirked, crossing her arms.Sasuke firmly nodded, excited to be pleasing her. As he sat back, he attempted to coolly show off his reserved side. Each time he was ignored by her, he continued to comically try again, leaning back against the desk with his feet up. His actions only seemed to attract the gawking fan girls instead, to his disappointment. 
When's the sensei coming?
She placed her elbow on the desk, trying to drown out the sounds of the arguing girls as she glared at the clock on the wall. In front of her, the blond Uzumaki smacked his fist on the desk, annoyed over a reason beyond her.Finally, the sliding door opened. Shikamaru and Chouji had reached their seats together before their new sensei could scold them. The girl's were broken up and forced to retreat to their seats as well. As the brunette man with the scar above his nose stepped to the front of the room, he gave the sudden calm classroom a warm greeting: "Good morning, future shinobi! My name is Iruka Umino!"  —_______________  "WINNER: KUMO KAZUMI!" Iruka announced, helping a few injured girls up from the ground.Sasuke sat on the ground, his eyes wide as he used his elbows to support his upper body. A look of realisation swept across his face when gazing up at the prideful smirk on Kazumi. Even though it was a fair match, he couldn't push away the bitterness he suddenly felt towards her being stronger since the last time he fought her. Not to mention the lack of clan display she gave to him in which he anticipated going up against.His excitement of being able to win against her more was utterly diminished as he pushed himself up to his feet with an uneasy frown. A few girls rushed over to him, offering their towels and water. However, he couldn't keep his eyes off of her and her know-it-all smile."Argh!! I'll get you next time!!" Naruto growled at her from the distance, a bruise bulging out and above his goggles.
Too
 easy... But am I going too far?
Her smile faltered, ignoring Naruto's background-like existence. Sasuke then stormed up to her, pushing the crowd of girl's away from him in the process."I want a rematch!" He stubbornly shouted, balling his fist with a determined gaze, "You weren't even using your clan abilities against mine!"Iruka had beads of sweat, trying to multitask a bunch of riled up kids, making it hard for him to intervene from far away.Her brows furrowed, giving him her resting peeved expression, "What clan abilities?" So much for listening to Sanjiro's warning. "You don't even have your clan eye awakened yet!" Kazumi remarked at him, "But... if you so desperately want your butt to meet the floor again, be my guest."The sudden switch in her personality startled Sasuke into more fury. This was her true-self unlike her controlled actions that were monitored by Sanjiro's peaceful strictness. Deep down, Kazumi wasn't sure how to erase her pride when overwhelmed with constant glory.She was concerningly ruthless, Iruka had noted — staring at the group of knocked down boys on the other side of the academy's training grounds. With taijutsu alone, she defeated them. The jounin was aware of her uncle, knowing just by her fighting-style where she had adapted and learned from.Suddenly, the young Uchiha let out a war cry, forming his hands into a fire sign as he blew out a fire ball for her. Taking a cautious step back, she prepared herself to jump away until freezing up when snapping her head to an oncoming Uzumaki.After hearing their banter, he was pumped up and ready to join the duel. As his fist dangerously neared Kazumi's nose, she had no choice but to lag in a sudden panic.
I can't dodge both!
Heat edged one side of her body from the flames whilst the tip of Naruto's knuckle grazed her nose's bridge."Enough!" Iruka appeared, blocking the jutsu with ease whilst grabbing Naruto's shirt and pulling him up into the air — away from Kazumi.He aimlessly kicked and punched for her multiple times mid-air before giving up when realising he couldn't reach. She then glared at the blond idiot's attempts to harm her as Iruka dropped him onto his feet.Sasuke caught for his breath after performing the large ninjutsu, his glare mirroring the other two blondes. The tension was palpable, causing the class to anxiously stare. Girl's instantly dubbed the two 'princes' as hot and cold, when in a silent understanding.Because of this, it oddly made them swoon over them even more. One side of the fan girls deemed Kazumi the 'hot' prince to be more attractive whilst the other side begged to differ with Sasuke's 'cool' princely attributes.Basically, above all, it was stupid."NO MORE FOOLING AROUND!!" Iruka screamed into their ears, "What is with this generation?!"Once the physical side of classes were over, Kazumi and Sasuke shared glares, purposely ignoring the blond Uzumaki, who's head bopped up and down in order to attract their attention between the challenged stares. "A rival of Sasuke's is a rival of mine!" He'd bark, only to receive judgmental looks by his cruel classmates.  —_______________  A year passed by in the academy and Kazumi remained at the current top of the class. Frankly, she found the lessons to be boring considering how Sanjiro already taught her the majority of the basics in which Iruka covered with the class.She had sharpened up a lot herself. Sanjiro's lectures engraved into her mind, unknowingly causing her to become a lot more reclusive than before. Kazumi felt like a mini-shinobi machine, far too focused on her grades and rank.Her blonde hair was down to her shoulders, much longer than the bob-style she once had. It was definitely a short-lived phase. Kazumi still stuck to wearing grey robes just like her uncle, trying to mimic his monk-like style and mindset. Only on the outside did it work. She also discovered that wearing her shinobi pouch around her left thigh was easier compared to being tied around her arm. Despite the long year and time spent at the academy already, as Kazumi turned seven, she still couldn't form allies with anyone around her. The only person that came to mind was Shikamaru. His laziness was what made Kazumi acknowledge him since he wasn't interested in being her rival like all others. However, that didn't make them particularly close. The occasional nods and smiles were exchanged even during clan meetings. A recent clan meeting was one she had with the Hyuuga's, the thought of almost being married off sent a shiver down her spine. As for Shino and Hinata, they were far too quiet to interact with. Kazumi feared her attempts would end up awkward and an utter failure.Rain poured down against the window, the seat next to her where Sasuke usually sat was empty. It was empty for a while now. Roughly up to a near month of his absence. Although Kazumi knew why. The entire classroom knew why from the group of fan girl's heavy shoulders and sighs of longing as they all missed the specific Uchiha.A massacre of an entire clan occurred. A wipe-out that hadn't happened since Kazumi's clan's descent. It spread an entire controversy within the village. The type of politics Kazumi firmly avoided. The door suddenly opened, revealing a downcast Sasuke. Iruka froze from writing on the chalkboard, instantly greeting him with pity and warmth. The fan girl's wore sympathetic looks, some practically held back chokes of sobs.For a first, Kazumi wasn't wearing a single negative reaction. It just wasn't appropriate given his circumstances. Sasuke coldly brushed Iruka off, walking straight for an empty seat that wasn't next to Kazumi. He sat himself in an isolated desk, his expression darkened and empty. It reminded her of Sanjiro's except Sasuke's was more angry than mournful. Iruka did not comment nor scold his behaviour, instantly focusing back on the lesson.Kazumi would be lying if she said his sudden lack of interest in her didn't affect her since she almost came to think of him as an ally despite their likeable aggression. Her head turned to the empty spot where Sasuke should've been sitting. A flash of recollection to when Sasuke held that brimming happiness for her was blinked away as she focused on the empty seat. Rain poured heavier against the glass, creating a melancholy rhythm alongside Iruka's jotting chalk and the pitiful whispers all around. Kazumi stared at the back of Sasuke's head from the row beneath hers, unaware that from that day on, the tension between the two would carry on into intense rivalry rather than the alliance she originally wanted. Even when they would be partnered up during exercises — becoming almost tied in every subject — it was not enough to mend their relationship. The future progressively felt bleak. And Kazumi's outlook towards Sasuke changed for the worst.The two introverts were dipped ankle-first in a pond of isolation. On opposite sides of the waters.   —_______________

A Year Later Into the Academy:

Lately, Kazumi felt like there was a strange presence staring at her from her blindside. As she walked down the halls of the academy, she'd occasionally scan her surroundings, pouting childishly when she couldn't sense anything. She was taller and her blonde hair was at the small of her back. Her grey robes were cut and styled into a more shinobi look, giving her more access to movement after shamefully slipping over her robes one night training with Sanjiro. Thankfully, only the old man was there to witness such a horrendous slip up. Then, out of nowhere, the sound of a person stumbling out from their hidden spot rang to her ears. Kazumi spun around, brows knitting. She had expected it to be Naruto or the pesky  Inuzuka — with the cute dog — who still couldn't get over being rejected to be acknowledged as her rare, few rivals.Instead, it was a pink-haired girl. She looked strangely familiar to Kazumi, but the blonde couldn't put a finger to it yet. The unfamiliar girl squeaked out a gasp, her cheeks just as pink from embarrassment. "No, I will not give your letters to Uchiha Sasuke. I'm not actually close with him..." Kazumi immediately went to the point, sighing depressingly.The girl shook her head, "Uhm, while that would be nice..." She squirmed happily at the thought, having to shake her fawning away to refocus, "I wanted to... thank you for sticking up for me during our shinobi exercise...!" She bashfully said, looking down at the ground. "No one's ever thought of me as smart before other than just a big forehead..." Kazumi's brows raised, finally recognising her, "Sakura-San? Oh! That strategy you had me do back there towards Shino-San's pair was extremely sufficent." She praised, mentally having to take note of Sakura's smart analogy. As keen as Kazumi was to defeat Sasuke's pair, they ended up losing because of Sakura's abrupt figure fainting at the menacing touch of Sasuke. The pink-kunoichi collapsed the moment Sasuke's hand grabbed her elbow (merely to win) as Sakura deluded herself inside of her own fantasy. Kazumi found it hard to get upset over that fact.
He has become pretty scary and brooding...
She awkwardly scratched her cheek.Sakura looked up, pursing her lips as her eyes glistened at Kazumi's kind words, "T—Thank you... again..." She stammered, having an obvious friend-crush on Kazumi, "You can drop the honorifics with me..."Unaware of her that, Kazumi merely waved her off, "Alright... Uh, It's nothing, I just hate meaningless situations." As she turned to leave for lunch, Sakura swiftly caught up to match her steps in sync with Kazumi's."Ah! Heading for lunch? Can I come? I'm parched!" She smiled widely, gluing herself shoulder-to-shoulder with the blonde Kumo.Whilst Kazumi protested at first, as it continued to go on throughout the weeks and eventually, years.. she gave up. Without realising it, Kazumi genuinely enjoyed the company of Sakura. For so long, she was ignorant to the fact that she finally found an ally even if it wasn't a clan prodigy. "So, you don't like Sasuke-kun or anything, do you?" Sakura pouted, curious."Don't ever ask me that question again!" Kazumi felt chills, hugging her elbows.Sakura laughed, "I think you and I are gonna get along well! Ino-pig doesn't know what she's lost!!""Huh?"Sakura paused, surprised, "You're not aware of what the girls think of you?"Kazumi shook her head.The pink-kunoichi slapped her hand against her own mouth, stifling giggles into her palm. The genuine obliviousness from Kazumi amused Sakura to a further extent, deciding to teasingly keep it a secret."What's so —""Man! I sure hope they serve sticky rice instead of fried today!" Sakura shifted the conversation, giggling some more.Kazumi uncomfortably frowned.
Why do I feel like I've just missed an important thing?
As the two girl's descended down the hallway's of the academy, Kazumi could feel herself clicking well with Sakura: The first and only person she could feel gratitude for and the kunoichi who later taught Kazumi passiveness in the near future. 
Maybe my future isn't doomed after all...
Kazumi let a hidden smile crack as she listened to Sakura's rambles. The Haruno quickly got comfortable with her.  —_______________

Somewhere:

Kazumi focused on chakra control in front of the waterfall that Sanjiro had abruptly ordered for her to train herself at. He was in the distance, per usual, nose deep in his books as he occasionally demeaned her failure. For two weeks, she had only been able to get halfway up the waterfall.
How come Iruka-sensei doesn't teach this?
She pouted, exhausted from constantly attempting to control her core. Kazumi couldn't quite figure out why she kept falling. Each step strained both her ankles and broke the surface of the mountain. Thus leading her to end up falling back down with an extremely harsh thud. Were it not for her reflexes, many bones would've been broken."Nuh-uh, I don't see you running!" Sanjiro yelled out, turning a page. Kazumi froze, gulping harshly. The young eight-year-old aspiring shinobi let her shoulders sag and her eyes roll as she kicked off the wall of the mountain and went to run her twentieth lap around the forest. By the fourth week of consistency, Sanjiro tilted his book down to witness the sight of Kazumi successfully controlling her chakra to her feet and running up the waterfall. When reaching back down, she was drenched from the water, pulling a grimace. Sanjiro had appeared, taking in the sight of her improvement with softened, scrunched eyes. A part of him felt healed inside to see a version of what he wished Kiyoko could've been. The thought felt better to know when regarding Kazumi as Kiyoko's direct child. "Well done..." He let a rare smile appear, shoving his book into his pocket before gently patting his palm against her head.Kazumi tensed, her eyes going wide from shock. She had never seen him smile like that before, causing her heart to feel fuzzy and warm. It was equivalent to how her peers would feel when being praised by their respective parents. Deep within her heart, she could feel herself finally resonating with her peers. The same peers who would boost their clans or families.Kazumi now had an overwhelming urge to show off her prime sensei and uncle."Now, run up the waterfall without getting wet!" He suddenly demanded, stepping back to take his book out into his hand again — he walked off and back to his previous faraway spot.Her face dropped, "HA?? HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DO THAT?"When he hadn't responded and chose to let her figure it out herself like always, she aggressively kicked the pebbles near her feet with a huff. All that swelling emotion inside of her chest comically shattered down like crumbled ice.
Damn it!!

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The crowd was at the edge of their seats, finally interested in the fight. Even Kazumi was focused, making sure to analyse Shikamaru and Temari for her next match since she'd be up against whoever won this one.Temari's wind manipulation was impressive, making Kazumi wonder how she'd approach without using up too much chakra. From the way she viewed it, Temari seemed specialised in far range combat.Shikamaru's shadow possession wasn't overlooked by Kazumi either. She never would've thought it could stretch so far out and even transport beneath the broken grounds. He finally had Temari in a lock, keeping her entrapped with his possession. As Shikamaru approached Temari, he raised his arm in the air.
This is it!
Kazumi nearly leaned over the railing. His actions made her wholeheartedly believe that her upcoming opponent would be him. Ino's cheers could be heard from across the arena. And Naruto's — from beside Kazumi — rang extra louder in her sensitive ears."That's it, I give up..." Shikamaru's face fell, exhausted. Upon the silence and Temari's confusion, he repeated, "I give up."The firmness in his voice surprised Kazumi, making her lean away from the railing with a small sigh. It turned out Shikamaru was not going to be her future opponent. Alas, she should've expected this. As he explained the overuse of his chakra and clear knowledge of not standing a chance within ten seconds of his shadow binding, Genma declared the winner to be Temari."He really is the laziest..." Kazumi mumbled, a little disappointed.Back at the academy, she never had a chance to go against his clan's special ability. For a similar reason alone; he simply could not be bothered with exhausting his chakra."Wise..." Shino mumbled."WHY DID HE GIVE UP?! IS HE AN IDIOT?!!" Naruto growled, climbing over the railing, "This pisses me off!! I'm gonna go give him a lecture!" Before he could jump down, Kazumi yanked his collar and pulled him back."Quit it! Shikamaru has his reasons." She sighed, "Besides, it's my match now."Shikamaru's figure strolled back through the tunnel to the waiting room, his slanted frown permanent.Naruto's expression shifted to sudden delight at her words, "Oh yeah!! Kick ass, Kaz!" His demeanour flipped.Kazumi shook her head, taking the stairs like a normal person. Shikamaru exchanged a nod when making his way back, looking over his shoulder to watch her enter the arena. The waiting crowd became rowdy, cheering and roaring at her appearance. Temari remained in the centre, wiping sweat from her chin as she analysed her next opponent."NEXT MATCH: KUMO KAZUMI VERSUS TEMARI OF THE SAND!" Genma jumped away, "BEGIN!""Don't forfeit like your shinobi friend over there." Temari taunted, unfolding her fan out as she jumped back, performing a wind slash through the air.Kazumi's figure had specs of her own wind whirling around her, sensing the trajectory of the attack. The Kumo quickly ducked away, jumping as she spun for a nearby tree. Her gaze snapped up to where the Hokage sat, trying to find Sanjiro with her back pressed up against the bark.
Where is he?
She then momentarily recalled Sanjiro's promise to be there at her matches. Even the advice of not spending all of her chakra during the first fight. When shaking out of her daze, a frown appeared from pure confusion. He wasn't by the Hokage's side. At least, not anymore for a reason she did not know."You're quite the dazed opponent, aren't you?" Temari remarked, swinging her fan as she created another strong slice of wind towards Kazumi.The blonde girl craned her head up, watching the wind slice the tree in half with ease.When stepping out from the destroyed tree, she gave Temari a wary gaze, "I have a lot on my mind..." She muttered, forming a hand sign.
I've only got one explosion tag... Could this work?
As Kazumi performed her ninjutsu, bullets of wind emerged above Temari, dangerously attempting to pierce through her whilst it rained kunai's that were laced with genjutsu. The kunai's were masked behind the look of her wind bullets. One kunai in particular had a hidden explosion tag, perfectly sealed from the genjutsu. Unaware, Temari dismissed them by her large fan, her expression showing frustration."GO KAZUMI!" Sakura's voice echoed through the cheers, riling Naruto up into more of his own from the opposite side."Your mind should be focused on me only!" Temari scowled, "Come on! Show me that fancy ability from the preliminaries! Or am I not worthy?" As she yelled, she swung her fan, creating dozens of wind currents throughout the atmosphere.Activating chakra control, Kazumi avoided the harsh currents from slicing her skin. Feeling herself being pushed back, her feet struggling to keep its place on the ground."My abilities aren't for entertainment." Kazumi arched a brow, intrigued by Temari's fire deep inside. "There's a weakness to your little gravity, isn't there?" Temari ignored her, "As long as I keep you at bay, you're nothing!" Her winds became stronger, and a shout from the Sand-nin with the painted face stressed for her to not overuse her chakra.
That's right... Keep them coming...
Kazumi feigned weakness, bringing her arms up to her face whilst the winds attempted to touch her skin. Her chakra had created a thin shield, hardly noticeable around her body, attempting to mimic Sanjiro's three-sixty shield with wind.It was nothing like the sphere of wind, rather chakra hugging her from head-to-toe. Temari's eyes scrunched to slight reluctance, noticing how hard it was to push the winds against Kazumi's body. By now, if it had been Shikamaru, he would've been sliced to pieces. Kazumi was a rare exception.Because of this realisation, Kazumi quickly let her foot raise up, causing the winds to push back at her upper body. Through her blowing blonde hair, Kazumi's eyes were eerily blind, the cloudy-like pupil darkening into a near grey. Like that of a storm cloud, though it faded away once Kazumi released her chakra on the other foot.A triumph smirk stretched on Temari's face, watching Kazumi being successfully pushed and thrown straight to the wall of the arena.The crowd roared, on the edge of their seats. Naruto had gripped the railings, shouting more encouraging words. And Shikamaru, who sat on a chair from inside the waiting room, let out a relieved sigh — pleased he wasn't going through the trouble of fighting Kazumi.He knew as Kazumi knew herself. This was only the start."Looks like you cannot manipulate my winds." Temari spoke, closing her fan as she approached Kazumi's figure from the dust clouds, preparing to finish her off.Kazumi was lodged into the wall, her physical state fine. She swiftly pushed herself out of the crater, dusting off the debris. Other than her feet, Kazumi's entire body was untouched. A faint, grey aura erratically switched off from her figure, causing the whirls of winds she felt to disappear. As much as coating her body in chakra strained her, Kazumi couldn't help but glance over her shoulder, shooting Gaara a challenged look. His teal eyes were glued to her, a twinkle of interest in his gaze by her new ability.It was like his sand, however less manipulated by will. She watched as his face lowered to the ground, his head overshadowing a hidden expression.
'Impenetrable'? There's no such thing.
Kazumi then quickly formed a new sign, her blind irises locked to Temari. 'Hazy Cloud!' Her presence disappeared, making it so that she was invisible.Temari squinted when she finally reached Kazumi through the puffs of large smoke, noticing the faint outline of her silhouette suddenly disappear. This was nothing like the skills Kazumi displayed during the prelims, throwing Temari off by a mile.Before the Sand-female could process, Kazumi's invisible figure formed a single hand sign, causing an explosion to go off. The explosion from the tag attached to the kunai made Temari snap her head over her shoulder. It was triggered nowhere near her, giving Temari an unnerving feeling inside.Although Kazumi had her reasons for doing this since not every fight needed to have explosions directly thrown at the opponent for them to be startled.Temari suddenly spun to face the scene when seeing the outline of Kazumi reappear at the other side of the arena.However, it wasn't Kazumi. It was a genjutsu of her. Just her average tricks that could be scripted down for the perfect horror movie."This damn smoke!" The Sand-female hissed, swinging her fan through the air as it dispersed instantaneously.When finally being able to see, Temari's smirk fell, startled by the clone of Kazumi's lack of injuries."How?!" Temari gasped out once the clone of Kazumi's gaze met Temari's round eyes, "Shit!" When recollecting herself, Temari gripped her fan and jumped away from the clone to create distance.Although Kazumi was one step ahead. She recalled Temari's determination to stay at a far distance, making her nearly chuckle when her invisible body began carefully jumping for Temari's blindside. A game of cat and mouse with erratic winds occurred within the stadium — causing even that of the watchful crowd to be nearly blown back.The Sand-nin was too focused on the fake Kazumi, preparing another ninjutsu attack until the feeling of her large fan was harshly kicked out from her grasp. Taken aback, Temari watched her weapon fly and stab straight into a wall."TEMARI, BEHIND YOU!" Kankuro screamed out."What —" Temari hitched her breath, turning her head to meet Kazumi's frightening white eyes next to her face. The contact from the weapon revealed the real Kazumi as Temari harshly blinked, recovering from a peripheral vision-like state.Kazumi swiftly treaded around her, ducking down to punch her chakra infused fist against Temari's gut the moment she was stunned. A blast occurred as Temari was sent with the similar fate as her fan, pinned three feet deep into the wall. With a shaky sigh of relief, Kazumi released the genjutsu, shocking the crowd and customers. In their eyes, it was like a pesty fly was buzzing in their peripheral view, although each time they turned to look, nothing was there.Kazumi was there. She is always there. And that frightened some people.It was dirty play, Kazumi would admit. But, that was the entire point of her clan's abilities: To be like a jester. The trickery impressed the watching customers whilst the Hokage merely lowered his kasa hat, ignorant to the Kazekage's atypical behaviour beside him. Anyone who never experienced a fight with her would fall for those said tricks.With a haggard groan, Temari pushed herself out from the deep wall, falling to her knees."I let you get a few hits just to see how strong your winds were." Kazumi spoke, blinking the blindness away, "And you're right, gravity is nothing to wind. But, it seems short parallel moving winds are nothing when up against flexible tricks." She rephrased Temari's earlier statement, grimacing.Genma had already jumped down, mentally trying to determine whether or not to let it continue out or announce the victor. The Sand sibling gritted her teeth, staring at her fan lodged in the wall from far away. Kazumi had guarded it, knowing that without it, Temari was at a major disadvantage. For long seconds, Temari kept her gaze to the ground, her arms shaking. At one point, the crowd began to yell for the winner to be announced.Temari was stumped.
Why isn't she doing anything?
Kazumi frowned, taking a shuriken out from her pocket. She watched Temari side-glance to her brother's, a look of horror dawning on her face before throwing her head forward to hide the reaction.Confused, Kazumi looked to where Temari's gaze went, noticing Kankuro's back facing them. Gaara had disappeared from the railing. Genma's face hardened, "WINNER: KUMO KAZUMI!" He determined, stepping forward to place an arm out in front of Kazumi, pulling her attention back to the scene.It was then the crowd finally cheered after the sounds of disdain. Naruto had almost thrown himself over the railing. Sakura had stood up from her bench, jumping ecstatically. Throughout all the cheers, Kazumi couldn't feel satisfaction as the sounds of those cheers were drowned out by her deep thoughts.Did Temari know? Kankuro, even? What their brother, Gaara, did for Kazumi to be fighting Temari instead of Dosu. Sanjiro was not even there to witness her fight —her efforts. All these jumbled facts had her feeling unpleasant. She finally frowned, her eyes blinking back to gold as they focused on Temari's sweating face. Kankuro jumped over the railing to grab Temari's fan before rushing to her aid. Guiding his sister away, he made sure to glare at Kazumi before leaving. He had smacked shoulders with her when heading for the stairs.Kazumi looked over her shoved shoulder, narrowing her eyes at the Sand siblings. Their protective easiness did not go unnoticed. Temari, who weakly leaned against him. Kankuro, who made sure his sister could still stand. And yet Kazumi never once saw that same easiness being directed to Gaara.Kazumi shrugged her shoulder, adjusting her prying posture.The Sand siblings were hard to understand. Especially after the dark info dump Gaara had spoken of the day before. Something still wasn't felt right.As she was about to part her lips and question Genma, even with a sudden intention of mentioning Dosu, a whirl of leaves lifted from the ground and surrounded a spot in front of her. Sasuke appeared, his hair longer and covering the sides of his face. Kakashi had his back to him, flashing an apologetic smile behind his mask to the proctor."Sorry... we're late..." Kakashi trailed off, tilting his head to Kazumi.Kazumi acknowledged her sensei with a blank nod, bewildered."Your name?" Genma narrowed his eyes, shifting the resting needle in his mouth."Uchiha Sasuke.""Good to know you're not dead somewhere..." Kazumi slowly muttered.She felt overwhelming relief. Ever since her suspicions about Dosu, she was starting to believe something bad had happened to him, too. It also didn't help the fact that Sasuke momentarily died during their first B-rank mission — creating a permanent memory in her brain.Sasuke dryly cackled at her, "Impossible."A small, relaxed smile stretched on her face."HAH! How late can you be?!" Naruto bellowed, jumping over the railing as he eagerly approached Sasuke, "I was beginning to think you weren't showing up 'cuz you were too afraid to fight me!" He challenged, grinning.
Such a lying tease...!!!
Kazumi cringed at the blond boy, recalling him having zero doubts about Sasuke beforehand."Heh, don't get so worked up, you total moron." Sasuke smirked, "I'm guessing you both won your matches?" He shoved his hands into his pockets, appearing nonchalant.Kazumi nodded, still indifferent to her win. "Of course! After I kick your ass, Kaz's next!" Naruto confidently barked."Bah, what did I just tell ya?" Sasuke shook his head.Kazumi turned away, "'Clan eye against clan eye', you said it." She spoke, glancing over her shoulder before walking away and for the same set of stairs.Sasuke's brows narrowed at her words, understanding them. A spark of excitement disappeared as quick as it came from her words, a sentence he had always wished she'd have said back in their academy days. Kazumi didn't bother to look back at him whilst she walked, too caught up in her racing, uncertain thoughts. The words didn't mean much to her as it did for him.Sasuke's attention then fell to Genma as soon as Kakashi questioned his current status in the matches. Meanwhile, Kazumi stopped to lean against a pillar leading to the stairs of the waiting room, waiting for Naruto.As the Uzumaki finished up his childishness, he walked off to catch up with her."Wow! Wow! That's the thing you did to Zabuza, right? It was so hard to focus for a moment, just like that time!!" Naruto grinned, energizingly stepping faster up the stairs than Kazumi, "But, how come you didn't just use your gravity?" He frowned, secretly enjoying the sight of the incredible ability."Yeah..." Kazumi exhaled out of her nose, feeling a light tremble occur to her hands from the aftermath of her improved jutsu's, "I chose to not drain all of my chakra so early into these last matches. I still have either you or Sasuke to fight..." She spoke, her mind thinking back to Gaara as well."It'll be me!" He grinned, "And about that offer of me eating at your place, I'll happily have a deserved meal with you tonight after I crush you and Sasuke!" He punched his fists into the air, elevated.Kazumi chuckled, covering her rare smile with her hand. Naruto's eyes went wide, his ears perking up like a dog from her reaction. However, the atmosphere shifted. The Uzumaki stopped walking, pressing his back against the wall of the stairs—peeking through the bars of the railing. Kazumi frowned, standing beside him as she peeked over with confusion. From far, two foreign shinobi's had stopped Gaara. Their conversation was cut short by the ear piercing screams of pure agony, the sounds of their bodies and flesh being torn apart by sand reaching the blonde duo's ears.Instinctively, Kazumi pushed Naruto further against the wall, her arm firmly pressing against his chest. His wide, petrified eyes focused on her as the steps of Gaara echoed closer. The two were shaken up, although gulping it down, Kazumi kept her gaze to the ground, silencing her heavy breaths. Gaara had stepped down the steps, walking past them in a murderous trance, making his way down to the arena.Naruto violently shook against her before slipping for the steps Gaara took, slumping down as he finally exhaled. Kazumi placed her hand over her chest, trying to calm her rapid beating heart."Hey... He really did just kill those shinobi's, right?" Naruto breathlessly asked, hoping he was just hallucinating.Kazumi uncomfortably pursed her lips before replying, "Yeah... If we had been a moment earlier..." She trailed off, processing the near death experience."Do you think Sasuke's in trouble?" He frowned up at her, concern etched in his face.
"I will definitely kill you guys, just wait..."
"I... I'm not sure..." Her fist clenched at the recollection of Gaara's matter-of-factly statement.Naruto seemed lost in his own memories, beginning to tremble to himself.The smell of thick iron finally flooded to their noses, reminding Kazumi of the brutal attack. As she glanced to the blood drenched hallway, she let out a breathless gasp, snapping her eyes away from the mangled corpses. She then sat herself next to Naruto, her guard dropping from the faint sounds of Sasuke's fight, which had already begun.
I didn't expect Gaara to kill someone with such ease...
"Naruto, I think Gaara meddled with the exams." Her slight, unsteady voice snapped his wide eyes to her although he kept silent for her to continue, "During one night, he appeared with blood staining his sandals. He also mentioned taking care of someone I anticipated going against... That can only mean Dosu since... Sasuke's finally here..." She admitted to him, brows furrowed at her own words."What?! Why didn't you tell us sooner?!" Naruto frowned.Kazumi couldn't respond. As she wanted to say her doubts, she found it hard to find them. There was an invisible pull when it came to Gaara, and she wasn't sure why. She speculated it was a hidden fear she must've felt towards him, but disclosing that would only make her feel more vulnerable. Especially when there was a high chance of her going against him.
And Sasuke's fighting him...
Her eyes snapped to their sandals, processing that as well. Sasuke could die fighting Gaara. It made her think back to his momentary death, causing a throbbing ache between her eyebrows by the memory. "Come on, let's find Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto abruptly stood up, his expression twisted down into his rare seriousness."If you're thinking of interfering with the fight, that's unlikely!" She instantly stood up after him, brows knitted together."I have to try! I can't have Sasuke fighting someone like that, let alone you!" He turned around, looking over his shoulder as he rushed up the stairs, "You coming?!""Ah...!" Kazumi staggard forward, quickly following after him. Her eyes flickered to the ominous murder scene over her shoulder, nearly tripping over her own footing as she then refocused and continued dashing for the opposite direction with Naruto.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The blonde duo reached the stairs that led to the audience. Naruto skidded to a stop, immediately leaning against a railing whilst heaving for air. Kazumi hadn't broken a sweat, although the unsettling anxiousness on her face was evidently there."Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto called out, and familiar faces turn their way.Sakura looked at Kazumi with a surprised smile, though it fell to a small frown from seeing the look on the young Kumo's face.Lee had flashed them a smile as well, and Kazumi couldn't help but focus on him for a moment. He was leaning against a crutch, still patched up on his cheek. He was likely there to witness her fight against Temari of the Sand— So unaware of his near death by Gaara the evening before the matches.Kazumi noiselessly gulped, guiltily looking away from his smile and back to her sensei."What's up?" Kakashi's deadpan met their faces."Sensei! Stop this fight right now!!" Naruto's words startled everyone, "He's totally different from us! He's not normal!!""Naruto... what are you talking about?" Ino rolled her eyes."He lives to kill others! Anyway, at this rate... Sasuke will die!!" Upon the doubtful silence, Naruto swung his arm out, "Kaz's with it too! Gaara has messed with the matches!! Who knows what he'll do to Sasuke?!" He yelled, desperate."Messed with the matches? How so...?" Kakashi's brows furrowed, looking straight at her."It's... not really confirmed, but I have a strong reason to believe he killed Dosu." She softly spoke, gulping down the anxiousness. She tried hard but couldn't get the gory sight from the hallway out of her head.Her words stunned her fellow genin's, and Lee's round eyes went wider."Is that so? Well, it's far too late for that now. And don't worry, he and I weren't late for nothing." Kakashi sighed, closing his eyes.Kazumi clenched her fist, irked. She couldn't believe the lack of concern from Kakashi right now. How could they not cancel the match after hearing such claims? Originally, Kazumi would've been just as indifferent, but as time and experience developed through her, she started to perceive things much differently. Much softly."What do you mean you weren't late for nothing?" Sakura asked, curious.Kakashi looked over his shoulder with a hum to her, "You wanna know?"Naruto growled, "Look!" He pointed to them, "We don't have time for this!!""Be quiet and watch him." Kakashi cut him off, focusing his gaze to Sasuke's fight, "You'll be surprised..." He stated.
What?
Naruto shared a look with Kazumi, both baffled. However, they listened to their sensei, their gazes simultaneously falling to Sasuke. The Uchiha had a blue colouring aura from chakra emit in his flexed hand whilst clenching his wrist. Now intrigued, Kazumi stepped closer."No way... Is that...?" Gai looked over his shoulder to Kakashi.Kakashi smiled behind his mask, "The reason I trained Sasuke is because he is the same type as me." Sasuke's coloured aura broke the ground beneath him before dashing for Gaara's 'impenetrable shield'.Gai was taken aback, "I see... So, that's why you only trained in taijutsu. And had him greatly increase his speed...""Yup!"Kazumi pursed her lips, staring at the chakra in his hand. It reminded her of her own aura that tended to erratically appear and disappear. She couldn't help but wonder how Sasuke was managing to contain it without instantly releasing from the pain.Sasuke's new technique bounced off the walls of the arena whilst Gai had begun to explain the assassin-like jutsu: Chidori. As the raven-haired boy done the impossible, Kazumi walked over to the railing, gripping the bars.
He penetrated his sand!
"Yes!" Kazumi couldn't contain the excitement, her eyes glistening.Whilst Kakashi and Gai continued to boast about the chidori, Kazumi was lost in the sight of the crumbling sand. If this was how she was witnessing it to unfold, Sasuke might have a chance at surviving.Naruto had noticed her rare eagerness, his expression twisting into a sour downcast— jealous of Sasuke's new strengths."Hey, Sakura...!" Kazumi swung her head over her shoulder to the pinkette, though instantly froze from the unsettling scream. Snapping her attention back to the scene, Gaara had began crashing out."BLOOD...! IT'S MY BLOOD...!!!"Her jaw dropped open, heart racing. Sasuke struggled to pull his arm out, creating more spasming lightning in order to break away. Once Gaara's sand completely diminished from the ground and revealed himself, he had taken a wound.Kazumi felt a strong wave of genjutsu occur, pushing away from the railing. She watched as rows after rows of people fell victim to the sleeping genjutsu. Unaffected, her eyes met an ANBU's from behind their mask, her callous gaze startling them.Once they ran to a specific direction after the chilling eye contact, Kazumi looked over to her surprised sensei's."Would've expected nothing less from Sanjiro-sama's blood..." Gai remarked, his hands in a release sign.Kakashi had a bead of sweat fall from his temple.Sakura had struggled but perfected a release after shouting: 'Release!'. The genjutsu deflection stopped a few from falling to their slumber. Meanwhile, a burst of smoke threw itself into the arena. Chaos broke out, and the Hokage was taken hostage and away from the scene.
What the hell is happening?
"This is bad... Nine traitors..." Gai spoke out.Kazumi pursed her lips, gaze focused on the spot where the Hokage disappeared. A strong explosion vibrated the grounds, and she could vaguely sense the scent of her uncle's chakra where the Hokage had been taken to."That ninjutsu barrier..." Kakashi's words flooded to her ears.Kazumi squinted her eyes at the flames, trying to find her uncle within the mess."Kakashi, look within the barrier!"Gai's words made his eyes widen, "Orochimaru!"Her heart fell, and she was unable to look away from the barrier as she could see the dark outlines of multiple figures. In that moment, Kazumi recalled Sanjiro's words in the back of her mind: "... Although for now, it's likely that ruining the exams is not what he's after..." Kazumi's eyes narrowed, trying to pick her brain for the possible reasons."Sasuke-kun's gone!" Sakura gasped.Her processing was cut short from the detection of an attack, making the blonde girl spin on her heel to the Haruno, "Sakura!"Kazumi fell forward, stumbling herself onto Sakura as her back faced the sudden approach of two foreign shinobi's. Kakashi appeared above them, punching them away before either one could harm the kunoichi's. He then ducked his head beneath his legs, giving them a reassuring smile."Kazumi, Sakura, stay down for a bit... I'll even the odds a little." Kakashi ordered, deflecting fast moving attacks above them.Kazumi slowly released her hold from Sakura, letting a relieved sigh escape. Sakura had a tear prick from the corner of her eye, giving Kazumi an appreciative look. The two kunoichi's kept low; one focused on Naruto, the other trying to keep up with the sights of moving foreign shinobi."Naruto..." Kazumi sighed, crawling over to Naruto's sleeping figure, "Sakura, help me release the genjutsu. My chakra will only continue to drain."Kakashi's shoulders relaxed, pleased by Kazumi's instant efforts to work whilst including Sakura."Ah!" Sakura quickly followed, inspecting Naruto from the floor."Girls," Kakashi's firmness caught their attention, "This is the first mission you've had in a while. Naruto will be happy.""What kind of mission?" Sakura frowned up at him."Sasuke is in pursuit of Gaara and the others from the Sand. Sakura, nullify the genjutsu placed on Naruto. And Kazumi, tracking him the way you normally do won't work from intuition, the forest is simply too large. You'll need something better!""What?" Kazumi mirrored Sakura's frown, watching him move around to fight back against the oncoming shinobi all whilst preparing an unfamiliar hand sign.Sakura then looked over her shoulder to the knocked out Ino and Chouji, "Shouldn't we wake up all of us? That way...""Most likely shinobi from the Sand and Sound have entered the village. With more than the basic four man team, you'll lose speed, and it becomes harder to remain hidden. You learned that during the patrols drills at the academy, right?" Kakashi pressed his palms down."Oh! Yeah!" She then glanced to Kazumi, "But, four people? Who's the other person?" Sakura looked back at Kakashi after receiving a shrug from Kazumi."Summoning jutsu!" Kakashi yelled, and the sight of a small dog appeared from smoke."A tracking dog..." Kazumi pulled a face."This guy, Pakkun, will be able to track Sasuke down using his scent." Kakashi explained.Kazumi felt her nose go runny, making her sniffle.
Ugh... don't tell me I'm allergic to both cats and dogs...
"A little doggy?!"Pakkun barked to their faces, "Hey, missy! Don't call me a cute little dog!""She never said you were cute, mutt." Kazumi furrowed her brows, recoiling away from the pug's close face as she squeezed her stuffy nose."How rude! You expect me to work with an animal hating human?!" He barked at Kakashi.Kakashi's serious eyes made him slightly falter."Kazumi never mentioned hating animals, either!" Sakura added."Enough! Nullify the genjutsu, Sakura!" Kakashi demanded, deflecting a foreign shinobi from attacking them.Sakura ducked back down, quickly forming a release sign, which woke Naruto after placing her fingers against his back. The blond groggily stirred, rubbing his confused, tired eyes."Kaz, Sakura-chan? What happened?""We'll tell you later!" Sakura pushed him down, "Keep down!""Alright! Now that he's awake, let's go find Sasuke." Kazumi grabbed Pakkun by the neck, gently chucking him into Sakura's arms. The pinkette held onto the startled pug, her eyes suddenly going wide. It was like déjà vu from the time Kazumi had thrown Tora, the cat, into her arms after harshly sneezing."Find Sasuke?" Naruto repeated, puzzled.Sakura snapped her head up, gasping, "Behind you!" She screamed.Kazumi spun her upper body back to Naruto, pulling him down to the side with her. A loud crash occurred, and Gai had pinned the foreign shinobi against the wall— breaking through it in the process."Kazumi's the leader for this mission!" Kakashi shouted, "Find Sasuke and help him! Now go!" He pointed to the broken wall."What, why am I the leader?!" Kazumi tensed.Sakura quickly stood up, pulling Kazumi up with her whilst Naruto's continuous confusion copied their actions."Like you said, Leader: let's go!" Sakura pushed her out the wall, jumping straight after with Pakkun still in her arms. The dog's saggy face blew rapidly from sudden wind.Kazumi's expression blanked when escaping/falling out of the same wall that Gai had punched through."Wait for me!! What's going on with Sasuke?!" Naruto cried out, jumping out and after them whilst pulling up his pants.Managing to make a safe landing, they fled through the forests tallest trees as Sakura did all of the explaining to a sobered awake Naruto. Each time they came to a confliction, they synchronised looks towards Kazumi for guidance. This could only make more beads of sweat form on her face."This way!" Pakkun's nose twitched, turning right.The three followed him, jumping branch-to-branch."Hey, you guys! Pick up the pace!" The pug looked over his short neck, frowning."Huh...?! What is it?""From behind... two squads with eight... no, one more! Nine men are chasing us! Doesn't seem like they've got an accurate fix on our trail yet... But, they're closing in quickly while on the lookout for attacks!"
Shit...!
"In that case, should we ambush them, Kaz?!" Naruto suggested."Ambush..." Sakura muttered.Kazumi grimaced, "Those traitors are likely Sound-nin, followers of Orochimaru... Their abilities in hunting are unmatched even if we did a surprise attack...""She's right. It's no use!" Pakkun flattened his doggy brows.Naruto gripped his hair, "Arghh!! Then, what the hell do we do?!" He pulled at the strands, whining."W—What if we create a decoy? Something to divert their attention away?" Sakura's hesitant words brought attention."While that could work, and they'll be distracted... one of us would have to stay behind. I'm out of explosive tags, so I can't trick them..." Kazumi sighed, her eyes focusing to the ground as she dashed on tree branches.Her words made them all fall silent, including the dog."I'll —"Kazumi skidded to a stop on a thick branch, looking over her shoulder with narrowed eyes. Her action made the other two stop running, Pakkun's reluctance lagging."No, Naruto... I'll catch up with you guys. You need to find Sasuke." The young Kumo decided."What?!" Sakura's face fell."No way! I'm not leaving you here, Kaz!!" Naruto growled, throwing his arm out, "We'll just keep running until they lose our tail, yeah?!"Pakkun grunted, "Unlikely."Sakura and Naruto's shoulders sagged, synchronising a heavy sigh."Hurry up and get the hell out of their tracks! I didn't stop for it all to get in vain! Besides, I've got plenty of chakra left to catch them off guard." She assured, looking back to the two.Sakura uncomfortably pursed her lips, "Kazumi... you could die..."
I know.
Kazumi clenched her fist, "That's just all part of being shinobi... We're on a mission, an important one! My uncle always told me that hesitance leads to death, have faith in me, alright? I won't die..." She let a defeated smile stretch on her face.Naruto glared at the branch before looking back up to stiffly nod, "I trust you, but the second you're at a limit, run away!""Sure..." Kazumi sighed through her nose, giving them a little white lie."Good!" Naruto crossed his arm, "... So, in that case, you must be assigning the new leader role to me now, right?" He grinned, sheepish."Naruto!" Sakura huffed, rolling her eyes, "C'mon, we're wasting time for Kazumi!""The girl's right! They're nearing!!" Pakkun barked."If anything, Sakura's the leader now!" Kazumi smirked, jumping off of the branch as her back faced Sakura's dumbfounded reaction.Naruto had scowled, stubbornly kicking off to run the opposite direction with Sakura and Pakkun, making sure to grumbly complain about Kazumi's last remark.As Kazumi's feet met the ground, she looked up to where her team left. Inside of her mind, she knew the chances of being annihilated by the rogues was a strong possibility. But, she kept in mind the need to keep them stalled.
I hope they make it to Sasuke...
Kazumi frowned, looking down at the footprint beneath her sandals. After a long second, an idea clicked inside of her head, causing her to run off into bushes— purposely leaving footprints away from her team's direction.The sound of multiple people appeared, scoffing at the prints left by Kazumi."We know you're hiding around here, amateur!" One said, swinging a kunai around his fingers.With light steps, Kazumi ducked into a different bush, watching two of the rogues approach the bush with the main footprints."They're not there?""Hmph, tricks won't work on us!"Kazumi formed a hand sign, creating a genjutsu of herself appearing from the bush. The submissive clone of Kazumi had her arms up, admitting defeat."Gotcha!" The masked man's eyes gleamed sadistically, thrusting his kunai's blade straight for her neck.Hazy greyness swallowed her gold irises, her hand twisting into a new sign. The clone jumped away, engaging in taijutsu against multiple punches and kicks. One of the nine men managed to land a hit, making the clone pop. Startled by this, they all frantically looked around the area, trying to determine where she was."It's the Kumo!""He must be doing the fantomugan trick!"
This is going to hurt... Even drain all of my chakra...
Kazumi winced to herself, her hand lightly trembling. Her figure disappeared into thin air, jumping out of the bush. The rustle made them spin to the sound, preparing an attack. Dashing around, she took out a bunch of kunai's. 'Silencer!' The sudden silent kunai's were thrown towards six of them, penetrating their blindsides.The targeted six groaned from the sudden pain."Shit! Behind!" One yelled, making other's continuously spin.A strong wave of ninjutsu blew through the air, straight towards Kazumi. Unable to dodge in time, her invisible body smacked into a tree, making her cough out blood from the heavy soundwave."There!" Another points to the crater against a tree.In a fast speed, two appeared at both sides of Kazumi, punching their chakra infused fists into her sides. The skin-to-skin contact revealed her as she was sent collapsing to the ground. The pain was intense, but she was getting exactly what she had planned and expected."I'm a girl, traitors!" She snared, on her knees, as she smacked her bruised hands to the ground, "Break!" The ground shook, breaking apart.The nine men struggled to stay on footing. Kazumi split the ground deep enough to cause three of them to fall deep within, the ground enclosing on top of them."Stop her!"A long line of shurikens was thrown, "I'll have your head!" He declared, directing the tools to surround the entirety of her neck.Kazumi's blind eyes went wide, a grey coloured aura of chakra surrounding her figure. A strong eruption spread out from her body, pushing the shurikens and the remaining six men out and away from her. Knocking out two, the last three struggled to push against the sudden burst of winds."What the hell is this?!""Get back, it's gravity!"Her heavy eyes snapped up to the three men, her chakra becoming thicker as the winds flew the shuriken's through their necks. Blood splattered, remaining mid-air before smacking straight to the grass. They gasped out, and Kazumi's eyes squinted from the sight of their grim defeat. The collapse of their bodies caused her to release the jutsu. The abrupt release made her pant, catching for her breath as she fought back tiredness from chakra depletion.Her heart was racing, faded gold eyes struggling to remain on the slowly dying men.
It's over...
Kazumi gripped the broken ground, her eyes falling to the stained red grass.
I need to catch up now... I can't rest...
Staggering up to her feet, she crossed her arms, clenching them close to her torso. The pain from the punches remained, making her feel as if an internal injury occurred. After wiping the drying blood from her lips, she turned to slowly prepare her chakra control to her feet. However, the moment her foot touched the trees trunk, the realisation of a presence disappearing startled her focus elsewhere.
Huh?!
Her head instinctively recoiled back, a blade slicing downward and deep against the side of her left lip's corner. The sight of her blood in the air took her aback, her widened eyes falling to one of the previously 'knocked' out men. If she had lagged a second more, the kunai would've been send straight through her cheek."I'll kill you!!" He yelled, throwing a kick towards her.
"... but the second you're at a limit, run away!"
Naruto's serious words flooded to her mind as the man's leg was blocked from her bruised arm. The thought nearly made her do so if it weren't for the idea of her team's position being revealed."Stop getting in my way!" Kazumi groaned, keeping at taijutsu against him.Each kick caused a few rough punches against her. Each punch caused a kick straight to her chest, eventually throwing her across the forest. In the distance, the other knocked out man pushed himself up from the ground. It was now two against one. An improvement from it being nine, though that hardly helped her situation.
Is Uncle fighting with the Hokage?
She heavily breathed out, closing her eyes. Her head tilted back against the thick tree, her hand clutching her wounds.
I hope they kill that Orochimaru bastard...
"Finally!" The woken Sound-nin dashed up to Kazumi's resting figure, running at the other side from the other.Their nearing body's with clenched shinobi tools caused Kazumi to tense up, weakly reaching her hand into her pouch. She was running out of kunai's.
Maybe I should just cast another genjutsu and get the hell out of here...
She slowly blinked, unflinching at the sight of a fist closing in at her face. Although, as if time stopped, it never reached her face. This made her blink more rapidly, shifting herself straight up against the tree. An unfamiliar shinobi of the Leaf held the second Sound-nin over his shoulder, unconscious and defeated within blinks. The other was paralysed still, a long black shadow held him in place, stopping his fist from reaching Kazumi."Damn... Sorry we didn't make it in time, Kazumi..." Shikamaru held onto the jutsu, surprised she was still holding up.The man appeared to be his sensei, looking over at the defeated and bleeding out rogue's. As he turned back to Kazumi, he threw the defeated ninja to the ground, finishing the paralysed one in seconds. Shikamaru released the jutsu, wiping sweat from his forehead. Kazumi watched him rush up to her, helping her to her feet."There's still three under the ground... Dead or alive, I can't tell..." Kazumi heaved out, leaning against Shikamaru with an appreciated nod.The man chuckled, the cigarette bopping from his moving lips, "A genin level took down near nine traitors? I'm almost intimidated, Kumo heir. We'll take it from here now!" He smirked over his shoulder as the remaining three punched their way out from the ground.Shikamaru's brows raised, impressed."Thanks..." She bowed, holding her gut as she refocused chakra back to her feet."Woah, where are you trying to go?" Shikamaru's brows flattened, taking in her injured state."How did you find me?" Kazumi breathed out, turning to him.The lazy Nara awkwardly scratched his neck, "Asuma pointed out the scent of those traitors and I figured one of you guys likely stayed behind to deal with them." He wisely guessed right, "You should rest, once these guys are dealt with, we'll take you somewhere safe and get those injuries treated." He pointed to her bruises and the gash in the corner of her lip.When recalling the mission Kakashi gave her, she shook her head, "I've gotta find my team... That Uchiha just couldn't stop himself..." She grunted, "If things aren't dealt with and I don't come back, send word for me." Kazumi reapplied chakra to her feet, pushing herself off from Shikamaru's frame."Seriously?!" Shikamaru felt her hand lightly pat his shoulder before she dashed up the tree. Before he could protest more, Asuma yelled for him to focus since the remaining three had began their new hunt.Clumsily landing branch-to-branch once more, her hand tight to her stomach, Kazumi increased her speed through the forest. Her eyes were wide with adrenaline, following the footprints left by Sakura and Naruto.A good thing I stayed behind...She bit her bottom lip, staying on the path that led to her team.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Kazumi's thoughts were elsewhere when mindlessly tracking down the footprints left by her team. She stabbed each tree whenever she went in circles, pointing to a new direction. The bottom lip she bit onto burned from the gash. 
My chest hurts...
Kazumi looked over her shoulder, the wounds acting up as her gaze focused on the explosions and the sight of large summons surrounding the barrier.She felt split into two. One part of herself wanted to find her uncle whilst the other felt the need to help her team. Profusely shaking the nerves away, she came to a clearing where she could see the smoke and sand.Abruptly stopping on a branch, she sealed her chakra. In the distance, Gaara had a hand to his head, groaning in pain as if he was stuck in internal misery. His other arm was outgrown into complete sand, pinning Sakura's unconscious body to a tree.As Naruto attempted to jump and attack, the sand from Gaara's gourd smacked him away like a mere fleabag. Sasuke's figure was lying against a branch, familiar markings covering one side of his body.She clenched the trunk of the tree, narrowing her eyes at the dangerous situation. As she physically and mentally prepared herself to drain all that's left of her chakra, her fingers pressed to her throat. She could feel the strength of the seal against her throat weaken then revert back to stability. 
Will Uncle be alright...?
Shaking her head one last time, she had to trust her uncle's abilities. Giving it her all for the sake of her village was a necessity as a Leaf shinobi. So, why did it pain her heart?
Please give me strength...
An image of Sanjiro and all she had been taught came as fast as it went... Kazumi then reluctantly let her fingers go from her throat, forming a sign in front of her instead. Her eyes faded to grey, and her presence completely disappeared.She took off from the branch, infusing her chakra against a tree, straight above Sakura's captured state. Gaara's manic eyes snapped to Kazumi, sending a surprised shiver down her spine.Naruto had bellowed for Gaara to focus, though stopped when noticing his random frustration."I see you!" Gaara gritted, his voice nearly disorientated, "But I can't?!" His head snapped to his sides, seeing her in his peripheral vision even though she was straight ahead of his gaze.Naruto's brows furrowed, though after painfully long seconds, it clicked in piece. This caused him to beam, understanding that Kazumi was finally here.Kazumi had pursed her lips, watching Gaara's confliction. It was similar to Kakashi's from the bell test. It seemed that strong levelled people could manage to sense her, however only in their peripheral view.His sand stubbornly smacked all around his sides, becoming more frustrated. Each time his eyes fell to her invisible ones, she'd reappear at all sides of him like an annoying buzzing bee.This caused trees to break down and nearly slash at Kazumi, who had instantly shifted away from the sudden attacks.Seeing as how she kept him occupied, Naruto summoned a frog. His sudden loudness and bickering with a tiny frog diverted Gaara's attention away for a split second before forcing himself to focus back on Kazumi once she had begun to throw tools at him.The tools were infused with silence, and even penetrating wind could not create sound by the fast-moving shurikens and kunai's. With sight alone, Gaara deflected all that appeared.
What is Naruto doing?!
She frowned, struggling to keep Gaara occupied.Kazumi instantly paused when Gaara hunched over, his face being completely swallowed by the beast inside of him."She won't be released from the sand unless you beat me." His arm retracted away, although leaving a strongly secure sand-like netting against Sakura, "Not only that, it will get tighter and tighter as time passes and eventually kill her."The deranged Sand-nin flexed his now sand-engulfed arms, creating sharpened pieces of sand that spat out for Naruto. Having to protect his little summon, he was pushed away, landing roughly against a different branch.Seeing as how Naruto could hardly do much, Kazumi switched from distracting her opponent to fighting head-on."Reveal yourself, Kumo Kazumi! Give me a taste of the power that sinks my sand to the ground!!" Gaara shot sand towards the tree, smashing the top half she was on.Kazumi skids down, dodging in time as she watched it break the top half off, leaving the remaining where Sakura was entrapped. The pink-kunoichi groaned, the sand hugging tighter to her body. The sound of her pain startled Kazumi, making her kick off of the tree.For the sake of Sakura's safety, she kept away from that tree.
Might as well reveal myself...!!!
Kicking off multiple other trees for a jump-start in speed, she landed on Gaara's hard, grown back, infusing gravity into her last kunai when stabbing it through his hardened sand. Her grey eyes flared a darker shade, strained and overused.Gaara snapped his monstrous head over his shoulder to her, yelling out in pain whilst his emerging tail curled. Her figure was finally revealed, and Naruto had smiled widely from the branch. However, his smile fell at her physical state.The corner of her lip was bruised and dried from bleeding. All down, her skin was covered in cuts and bruises. It was clear to him there was a struggle when she had stalled the nine traitors. Although a wave of admiration spread throughout him at her willpower to continue on.It was a trait he knew of well; a trait he strictly respected."I WILL CRUSH YOUR POWERS!" Gaara declared, his tail attempting to grab her.Kazumi gripped the handle of her kunai, sliding down his beastly body with a raspy cry. The kunai broke through his hard skin and all the way down to beneath his tail. Gaara continuously squirmed around in his large, beastly form, finding himself multitasking against two blondes once Naruto had prepared shadow clones. Sucking in large amounts of air through his grown-out jaw, Gaara blew it out twice as painful against Naruto and his clones. Kazumi's other hand grasped his cracked flesh, holding on for dear life as her hair harshly whipped against her lip's wound. Her eyes noticed his tense state upon her kunai being close to a specific place.
He must have a weak point, right?
She struggled to look up at him from the winds, wincing from the harshness.
Or is it too late?!
"I won't kill you both for now, I'll enjoy playing with you!" As he spoke, his tail redirected down his back for Kazumi, successfully wrapping around her figure, pieces of his sand dripped down like water, catching her eye.
Shit!
Her grip was roughly yanked away from her last kunai, feeling herself being carried away from his body. He threw her out for his sand-engulfed hand to grab instead, preparing himself to throw her towards Naruto's collapsed body. As Kazumi's hands grasped his sand, she infused her chakra, gluing herself to him."YOU PEST!" He growled, trying to ruthlessly shake her off, but it was to no avail."You noticed my genjutsu during the first test, I'd be lying if I said it didn't impress me!" Kazumi suddenly admitted, clinging onto the sand as he furiously shook more.
He's becoming more and more dominated by that beast...
The winds made it hard for her to see and speak, her head swaying from the endless moving as of she was on a rotating platform—yet she still tried to keep her gaze on him."So what?! I was only analysing the worthy opponents around me!" He suddenly pulled back to lift her higher, readying himself to smack her to the ground."And you're right, maybe I don't have many morals left in me! I fight for what I deem is right! I selfishly choose the people I want to protect the most!!" She continued on, her words stunning Naruto, who had managed to stagger up to his feet after the blow. "And right now, I want to fight to protect you!"Gaara's sand tightened around her, his monstrous face scowling at her words. Beneath the sand, Kazumi had formed a hand sign, her grey, fearless eyes unwavering."I know you've been tracking my every move with those sand particles! You've been on my mind ever since you spoke about your past!!""Shut up!"Kazumi winced, feeling the sand becoming tighter than before. "I thought of how bleak it must've been dealing with all of that alone! How I pitied —""I said, shut up!"Naruto held a taken aback look, registering her words. "Kaz!" He worriedly called out for her, but she simply shook her head."I wanted to kill you so bad for what you did to my comrades..." Kazumi tilted her head up, her heavy, blind eyes locked to Gaara's unsettled, round ones, "But, that loneliness you speak of so proudly... Loneliness you see in Naruto and maybe even me, I don't..." She trailed off to gasp, the sand pressing cruelly against her wounds."NO! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" Gaara yelled in protest, launching his sand down to the ground."KAZ!" Naruto cried out, his brows creasing upwards in disbelief.Kazumi squeezed her eyes shut, the sound of her crash becoming muffled in her adrenaline-filled mind. Not processing the pain, her hands flexed against the sand that threatened to crush her body entirely.
Explode!
Her eyes snapped open, dark greyness clouding her entire blinded irises. The sand rippled from the pressure of gravity, and beneath the hardened shell of his impenetrable skin blew out an implosion. Gaara let out an ear piercing scream, his sand retracting away only for thicker chunks to glitch back to her."MY SAND!" He groaned, feeling the sand continuously being sucked down to the Earth.Kazumi weakly cackled, watching it rain sand over and around her.
I don't... want to kill you...
She closed her eyes, finishing the sentence in her mind whilst she panted for air. Each inhale felt like daggers were digging into her bruises. And every exhale wasn't enough."BASTARD!!" Naruto roared, jumping with multiple shadow clones for Gaara.Gaara, with one arm being stuck in her jutsu, used his other to disperse the shadow clones."1000 years of pain!!!" Naruto let a war cry out, stabbing a kunai up Gaara's behind.Kazumi fluttered her eyes open, her dark irises narrowing to a blurry black and white view of Naruto mimicking Kakashi's perverted move. This nearly made her falter her jutsu from shock, her chakra depleting at a steady rate."Naruto!" She called out, tired eyes going wide as she watched Gaara's tail smack Naruto away in response.An explosion occurred from an explosive tag, making her brows rise higher than her eyes. Naruto successfully came up with a decent strategy. Gaara's tail was blown away, revealing his weak spot. With no tail and only one arm, Gaara was finally at a disadvantage against them.Feeling a wave of rush, Kazumi squinted her eyes, her hands flexing more strained than before."Rise!" She spat out, her body defying gravity with the last arm attached around her.Gaara's monstrous eyes snapped to her, taken aback. As he was about to let go, Kazumi increased the pressure of the gravity, a strong whirl of wind surrounding her entrapped figure. Naruto, who had landed up against Sasuke, rolled his head. Sasuke had pushed Naruto off, staring at Kazumi's intense winds.Having to use chakra control to stay in place, Naruto and Sasuke's eyes locked to the scene, witnessing more of Gaara's defences being pulverised."FALL!!" She bawled, feeling veins popping around her hands and temples.The sand-arm broke off from Gaara, gravity punching it straight to the ground. His grip released from lack of control, finally letting go of her body. She watched the collapsed arm sink into the soil below, a wide smile stretching on her face mid-air."ARGH!!!" Gaara moaned in agony, his last defence gone.A harsh whip of wind erupted out as she released the jutsu, the whirl of winds around her pushing her away from Gaara.
No!
Her smile fell, arm reaching out for the entrapped Sakura. Having planned on using up the rest of her chakra to break the sand-netting from her, she gazed at Sakura's pained expression become further from her reach, unaware of her near death if it weren't for Sasuke catching her in time.They crashed back into another tree, Naruto becoming the cushion this time. Gaara's darkened eyes menacingly pierced through Kazumi's soul. Muttering incoherent words, his voice became more disorientated.
This isn't Gaara...
It was clear that by now, Gaara was being completely swallowed by the tailed-beast inside of him."Can one of you... launch me to Sakura's tree...?" Kazumi heaved out, watching smoke emerge around Gaara."What?! Are you crazy, Kaz?!!" Naruto protested, groaning from the impact."He's right! You look dead..." Sasuke glared down at her, lying her out on the branch beneath them."I've got enough chakra in me to blast that sand out from Sakura." Kazumi frowned, pressing her finger against her throat where she felt her seal wildly act up.
Uncle?
"Focus!" Sasuke snapped his fingers in front of her face, "Keep your eyes open."With a gulp, she tiredly watched him quickly pull out bandages from his pouch, crouching down to wrap them around her bleeding spots. He then took out a used handkerchief, grabbing her wrist to force her to hold it against her ruined side of her lip.Kazumi winced from the contact, weak eyes focusing on him, "Thanks..."His brow twitched, "You'll likely kill Sakura in the process." Sasuke scoffed, "Besides, it'll be Naruto saving her." He looked over his shoulder to the blond male, "I know you can." He then placed a hand on the branch, glaring at the recovering Sand-nin, "Once you've got Sakura, take Kazumi, and run... as far... and as fast... that you can.""What —"Sasuke spoke over her confusion, "If it's just for a while, I'll be able to hold him in place. You've done more than enough Kazumi, but your chakra's depleting at a dangerous rate."
Ugh, he's right...
Her eyes squinted, flickering her gaze to the entrapped pinkette."You —"Sasuke cut off Naruto as well, "Never again." He trembled, pushing himself up to his feet, "I already lost everything once before... I don't ever want to watch those dear to me die before my eyes again."Kazumi's weakened eyes glimmered widely, feeling touched by being considered someone dear to him. Especially since all they've gone through in the past and back at the academy, she assumed Sasuke disliked her as much as she disliked him.As she recalled her indifference when they first met, his eagerness to become a friendly rival, to the sudden coldness he revealed the day his clan died. All she could feel was regret. If she had known what it was like to grow up in a loving household such as his, could she have been kinder? Shown more interest?Maybe she was at fault this entire time. It took her too long to realise that.A tear fell from the corner of her eye, burning the gash on her lip, "I'm sorry, Sasuke-San..."Startled, he snapped his head down at her from the familiar honorific she used to give him."I used to be so foolish..." She then bit her bottom lip, holding back heavier tears.Sasuke clenched his fist, digging his nail into his skin. It was an apology he longed for since before his world turned upside down.Naruto lowered his face, smiling.
I understand now... To be recognised is to be seen...
Kazumi closed her eyes, submitting to exhaustion.
I see you now... Sasuke,
Images of her Leaf comrades flickered in her mind until all she could see left was her uncle's rare smile.
I see... all of you...
Her head rolled to Gaara, half-lidded eyes seeing enraged cream ones before her vision went completely black. Naruto's words were faint from her ears. The last sensation she felt was her body being grabbed by rough sand and the lingering scent of Naruto's orange chakra.

-_______________   Kazumi stirred awake, her eyes slowly blinking to the window next to her bed. The dark night shadowed the clouds, only the moon and stars could provide a light inside of her hospital room. As she looked down, she noticed a pile of sand resting on top of her stomach, the pile leading to a spot in the corner of the room."It's only been a day. You've recovered considerably well." Gaara's voice spoke from the dark silhouette.Kazumi shot up from the bed, her back pressed against the bars. Her alarmed reaction did not faze him. Although the sand quickly slithered off of her rather than strangle her. Seeing it retreat submissively caused her to quirk a brow."Sorry," He stepped into the dim light, bowing his head as the sand reached back into his gourd.His apology threw her off, tensing her shoulders, "What?""I tried to take you with me. I wanted to bring you down with my misery, let you see the depths of my loneliness..." His words had her recall the strong grip she felt around her body before collapsing, "I thought about what you said when I fought Naruto, even when I lost control and Shukaku took over."Kazumi's brows furrowed, her tense shoulders easing slightly."It's all over now. Your team is safe, and I am finished with living like this." He reassured, his fingertips against the tattoo on his head, "Naruto has helped me understand it all now... At first, I thought you viewed things the same as me, so when you suddenly mentioned pride in loneliness... I nearly hesitated." He closed his eyes, guilt evident in his posture and tone, "I was never proud. It was all bitter, I just wanted to pin all of my problems on the world." His eyes opened to reveal a softer hue of teal, "I was so disappointed in your morals, but now... I want to have the same thing as you... Those morals, friendship, ties..." Gaara bowed his head, "I want to be like you, see like Naruto... I will start by rekindling my relationship with my siblings..." His sincereness caused her head to lower, her bed-hair covering her gaped reaction, "It might be too much to ask, but I'd like to start over with you as well..."A thick silence filled the atmosphere; Gaara did not dare to look up until he heard her voice.Kazumi's shoulder's relaxed, lifting her face to express a relieved smile, "I'm glad our words could reach you..."The red-haired figure slowly raised his head, looking up at her with surprise.The blonde shifted off the bed, her legs dangling as her body faced the moon, "There's no need to start over, just continue on from there. I'm starting to understand similar things as well. Despite what state we're in, we manage to share similar goals." She gently said, watching his eyes meet her gaze, "I want to be kinder... More involved with the people around me. I'll accept your wish, only if you confide in me."Kazumi patted to the empty spot on the hospital bed, allowing him to get closer. Gaara hesitantly stepped forward, deciding to stand next to her instead. She did not seem to mind this, turning her head to the window where the moon was."Confide?" He repeated, staring at her."It's something friends do, even though I never really done it before... But, I want to start doing so. Like back in Lee-San's room, you spoke about your past. I'd like to hear more of it, especially without the bloodlust in the air." She kept her smile, "You're a remarkable person... and it's rare for me to let my walls fall down."Gaara's soft eyes glistened, nodding in a mutual understanding, "I... promise to never do that again, if you promise to confide back."Raising her brows, her gaze fell back to him. The comparison of their words made her reply with a small chuckle.For the next hour, they spent their time talking about each other's pasts. Kazumi learned more of his neglect, in turn, he learned about her troubled childhood. Of course, it was different beginnings, but they managed to somehow perceive one another in such a short time. Gaara would even go on to speak highly of Naruto, feeling grateful for the both of them. Kazumi replied back with her appreciation for Sakura, glad the pinkette put up with her indifference for so long."I want to learn more about this new definition of love. To love others, to live for others. But, what if I am incapable?" Gaara admitted, feeling regretful.Kazumi looked up at the moon, "Start small." Her finger poked his chest, gaze snapping back to his, "Start with yourself. I'll start by being kinder with you. It feels good to not be alone, doesn't it?" She smirked, pulling her finger away.Gaara fell into silent awe, watching as she leisurely leaned back on the bed, keeping her gaze on the moon. The gash on her lip was bandaged up, including other parts of her body. He admired her greatly, in ways he never felt before."I feel a pull towards you... Is it because you mess with my sand?" He muttered, incoherent to her ears.Kazumi hadn't heard him, her chin tilting down. The silence was no longer thick; comforting instead. Gaara thinned his lips, glancing at her face where the moon illuminated her main features. Kazumi was undeniably attractive, having androgenous features that could make even the girls swoon.
He was never a psycho
, he
 just wanted to be seen... For so long...
"I see you." Kazumi mumbled, looking up at the dark clouds that began to hover in front of the moon, dulling the room more.She let out a heavy sigh, cursing her past self.Gaara quickly followed her gaze to the clouded moon, turning his head away to hide a small smile. The tip of his ears burned the same brilliant red as his hair. He then walked back over to the opened window, making Kazumi's eyes follow his movements."I think you're more remarkable, though." He confessed, "Since the start, you've always had courage. You are one of the very few who do not fear me as casually."
"You are one of the first people in too long to have thanked me."
Kazumi softly sighed out of her nose, "If you're staying a while in this village, don't be a stranger. I never hated the sand you left in my pouch, even if it was to just track me."He paused, looking over his shoulder to her, "I won't invade your privacy again. It seems there's a lot I still need to make up for..." He snapped his head down, teal eyes wide. "I said, I never hated it." Kazumi smiled, "You can use it to always find me, maybe I can use it to know you're alive and well."Gaara's wide eyes fixated on her scrunched ones, lowering his face again as small pieces of sand slowly emerged out of his gourd. Like a bashful child, the sand carefully wrapped around her hand. Kazumi looked down at it, familiarising herself with the soft texture. She felt a sense of security, a complete contrast to her previous disappointment when the sand in her pouch left permanently."Thanks..." Her gaze snapped up to him. He revealed his small smile, appreciating her gratitude. Unlike before, she meant it again. However, his expression fell into a serious one when watching his sand slither up her arm and towards her pouch against the table, making itself at home inside."Kazumi... I say this out of concern..." His words made her look up at him with a sudden frown, "Before the matches, my sand picked up the scent of a powerful being. It only seemed to occur when you trained alone... His chakra was overwhelmingly vile... If it's someone you know, that would partly relieve me."
Uncle?
She looked back down with furrowed brows. 
No...
Her eyes shot wide, suddenly recalling the one person who managed to create pure fear throughout her bones."Orochimaru..." She whispered, unnerved. If what Gaara said was true, that meant the snake had been watching her for a long time. Seeing her growth, maybe even analysing her weaknesses to use against her. It made her sick to think about. "I'll see you again soon..." Gaara softly said, hiding his downcast face.Kazumi felt stiff, nodding at his farewells. By the time she looked back up at him, he was gone. Just like the time he had woken her for her preliminary match. She stared at the window he left through, now in deep confliction.The clouds finally moved past the moon, lighting the dull room once more. She found it hard to fall back asleep, overly concerned by his words. The once enemy had warned her of Orochimaru. The horrifying scenes during the second test assaulted her memories, haunting and aching her brain until first light beamed against her window.She heard no news of her uncle yet. Despite Gaara reassuring that her team was okay, she still felt the need to see for herself. As she hugged her knees, feeling her skin warming from the rising sun, she was lost in hours of wake, hoping that her uncle was alive. With her head hiding itself in her arms, she prayed for the miracle of Orochimaru's death.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Within a white noise of soft rain mixed with the sounds of running machines in the hospital room, a familiar nurse stood with an anxious look, staring at Kazumi's relaxed state."Chakra depletion is a serious condition. It would be better to stay and recover than attend the funeral." The nurse hesitantly said, clutching a clipboard to her chest."I won't be engaging in shinobi fights, if that's what you're worried about..." Kazumi frowned, looking towards a nearby mirror. She gazed at the reflection of herself, staring at the black colouring that seemed to reappear at the top of her head. It reminded her of the odd sensations she felt prior to fighting Gaara. The seal against her throat was becoming a familiar mess.Kazumi had her speculations. After all, without Sanjiro topping up her seal, the burns return to her throat. Ever since her encounter with Orochimaru and what he had done has left her to believe the colouring in her hair was his 'marking'. "I understand that, but simply moving around will put strain to your core." The nurse firmly stated, denying Kazumi of leaving.
This is so irritating...
Kazumi's brows furrowed, now turning her head to the window where rain harshly pattered against. With a heavy sigh, she nodded. The Kumo wasn't going to protest any more than that. She wanted to change for the better. If that meant knowing when to keep her lips shut and keeping her cool, she'd do so. "A few more days rest and these drips will speed the process of growing back your chakra reserves. It's a good thing you have stable chakra, otherwise you might've died... Know your limits next time, and do not treat chakra the same way as you would with breathing air." The nurse slowly smiled, hurriedly setting the clipboard down to begin replacing the IV drip with another, "... The late Hokage would have wanted his people to be healed and safe before anything else." She sadly spoke, mourning the recent loss.Kazumi remained still, leaning back against the reclined bed as she kept her gaze to the window. The Hokage mountain was outside, the Third having a single slit crack down his rocky face. The miracle Kazumi prayed for all night long never came. With heavy, exhausted eyes, she refocused her attention to the dark clouds above. Lost in a daze, Kazumi hardly processed the stab through her vein once the nurse replaced the IV drip. Not until the door closed and she was back to being alone. She hadn't bothered to ask about her uncle's whereabouts since each time she did, the nurses twisted her words and purposely deflected the questions.The only thing keeping Kazumi from not having a complete breakdown about it was the sole fact that he was alive and safe. However, it was all she knew.Glancing to the IV stand, Kazumi silently contemplated in her mind.
I'll get a scolding for this... again....
Her brows flattened, slanting a frown. The stubborn streak charted in her heart has just dotted down another point.  —_______________  Kazumi blinked away blind eyes, reopening them to her usual gold. She ignored the painful stabs from her core, focusing straight ahead. She walked through the village, bringing along the rolling IV drip. Through the rain, Kazumi couldn't help but notice the new wary eyes of villagers. It was unfamiliar and confusing to her. Shrugging it off, she reached the specific area beneath the faces of the Hokage's.Crowds of shinobi in all black were gathering around, noticing her with surprised glances. Her awkward frown remained, dragging along the IV drip until stopping when noticing the familiar faces of her team. Sakura had seen her first, her saddened expression lifting up to a shocked one. "It's Kazumi!" She pointed out, rushing over, "They let you out?" She excitedly asked, looking towards the drip stand. Naruto's eyes went wide, following after, "Kaz!"Even Sasuke came over, although more slower than their eagerness. Instead of greeting her with a stoic frown, his face was a lot more relaxed and softer. The affect her apology had on him did not go unnoticed. "No," Kazumi deadpanned, squinting up at the relentless rain, "I'm sure they won't come back to my room and check any time soon." She puffed a cheek out, unaffected by Sakura's face falling into concern.Sakura gulped, looking away from the darkness on the top of her head, "Really?! Why do you always break their rules?!!""Nice, Kaz!" Naruto's voice was louder than the pink-kunoichi's, "I knew it wasn't anything serious!" Sasuke scoffed, "She was near deaths doors."Sakura vigorously nodded at his statement, "Honestly... Kazumi... You put too much on yourself..." She sighed.  Kazumi took a moment to stare at the healthy faces of her teammates, letting a small smile stretch across her face. In the current state she was in, Kazumi would fight another nine traitors and go through it all again. Sakura was no longer stuck against a tree, Sasuke was fine and Naruto looked as if he had endless chakra, like always.A pleasant emotion filled her chest, overpowering the physical pains. 
I'm glad...
She stepped forward, pulling Sakura into a short embrace. The pink-kunoichi tensed, surprised. Naruto dropped his chin onto Sakura's shoulder, grinning like an orange cat towards Kazumi. Sasuke blinked at her, silently understanding the unfamiliar changes in her—since he, too, felt their bonds tying stronger than before."Uh... A... Are you even listening?!" Sakura quickly recovered once Kazumi pulled back, feeling bashful from the sudden comfort—whilst smacking the back of her hand against Naruto's grin, causing the blond to stumble backwards with a groan.Kazumi shrugged, "Not really..." She then lowered her face, smirking, "But, hey... who can live to say they kicked the asses of nine grown men and fought a manic beast straight after?" Naruto instantly grinned, "Nothing my friendly rival cannot handle!" He tapped his hand against her shoulder, feeling pumped up by her words.Sakura pulled a bewildered expression, "What's gotten into you...? Is Naruto influencing this?!" She scowled, yanking the Uzumaki away by the collar.Kazumi shook her head, looking up to meet Sasuke's narrowed eyes. He had a small pout, shoving his hands into his pockets, "Drop the formalities with me, I prefer just my name." He turned his head away.Through his stubbornness, she could clearly see his own apology hidden beneath, "Hah, here I was thinking you'd be overjoyed." Kazumi teased his ego, a heavy weight falling onto her head suddenly after.She quickly squeezed her eyes closed with her fingers, trying to massage the headache away. Sakura stepped to her side, ready to support her fellow kunoichi just in case.Now wasn't the best time, but Sasuke couldn't help himself. "When are you going to explain the deal with your hair? Or must we stand by and watch whatever this thing is take a toll on you?"Naruto nodded his head, poking his finger at the top of her darkened scalp, "Yeah! I totally thought it was mud at first, like some weird trend I missed..."Kazumi dropped her hand away from her face, trying to blink away her tiredness. "It's a seal." Her words surprised the Uchiha as all three of her teammates remained silent for her to continue. "Sasuke, do you remember when I asked if you could sense it before the exams? Turns out its something my uncle casts to keep drawbacks at bay." Her voice went quieter. "Orochimaru... tampered with it, and now this colour likes to come on and off as if I'm being tormented."Sasuke subconsciously touched his neck where his share of a marking was exposed—more understanding glances at her. Naruto lowered his chin, in rare deep thought as Sakura watched Kazumi shrug with a frown."I'd like to vent about the damn irritating thing, but I still have zero clue about it." The Kumo looked out at the forming crowd of mourning shinobi, "And besides, it's starting." Seven followed her gaze to the people in all black.Their eyes were still occasionally on her, though she ignored it. Very faint wave of whispers caught her ear instead, making her look at all sides, confused. Before she could even wonder, Sakura's face popped back into her view."You look tired... Kazumi." Sakura looked to the bags under her eyes, "It's okay to go back and rest..." She squirmed, still worried.Every now and then, Sakura's eyes fell to the scarring place in the corner of Kazumi's lip. It was small, but visible— a reminder of the sacrifice she made for her and the Uzumaki. The pink-kunoichi even seemed hyperaware of their surroundings, also noticing the whispers and grudgeful eyes.Kazumi shook her head, wanting to say her silent goodbye's to the Third. Even though she never liked his favouritism, she respected him as much as she respected the other elders. Knowing that he was close to Sanjiro, she felt the need to be there in place for him. 
Did something happen?
The young Kumo watched multiple sets of unfamiliar eyes look away from her, feeling oddly small in the moment when gazing back to her team's backsides. She felt as if she was missing something, maybe even kept in the dark.In the crowd of shinobi in black, Kazumi stood out like a sore thumb with her IV drip and hospital robes."She's right, it's starting..." Sasuke muttered, following the crowd. The three other's swiftly followed after him, Kazumi having to drag her IV drip along with her. She shook away the thoughts, looking towards the slowly appearing stone with flowers. They reached the front where the memorial stood. A portrait of the wrinkly old man with a large smile was shown, surrounded by florals and offerings. The lightness of the atmosphere suddenly dulled. Not even Naruto was smiling anymore, his sad eyes falling to the sobbing mess from Konohamaru nearby.Iruka placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, hoping to ease the crying young boy. Kazumi noticed this, looking down at the child. The loss of his grandfather hit harder in her perspective. As cruel as it felt, Kazumi was glad Sanjiro lived. But, the lack of seeing him left an uncomfortable pit in her stomach.
Just what happened?
Kazumi grimaced down at the ground, trying to push down the infuriated tingles in her blood. Orochimaru still lives. He had done so much: manipulating the Kazekage, pulling Gaara and his siblings into the mess, to even putting her uncle in critical condition. As well as the littlest things such as a mourning grandchild. A single, vile man done this. A man with no family to mourn him. The sheer audacity of this outcome was enough for Kazumi to fall into a strong silence.Her fist clenched at her side, swearing to herself in the harsh, pouring rain that she'll never freeze up in the presence of Orochimaru again. As she looked back to the photo of the Hokage, a sudden buried memory appeared inside of her mind. ......
A short blonde haired, smaller Kazumi clutched to Sanjiro's long robed sleeve. Inside of the Hokage's office, the two discussed a placement for Kazumi in the shinobi academy.

"Are you sure, Sanjiro? She has the ability to be placed in the highest levels. She could graduate early!" The Third spoke, puffing out smoke from his pipe.

Kazumi cringed from the smell.

"Hiruzen, Kazumi must start from the beginning. She should learn at a steady pace, even if she's already aware and knowledgeable of the early subjects." Sanjiro sternly said.

The Third hummed deeply, letting one last puff out before setting his pipe aside. The old man with the kasa hat then walked around his desk and towards the little Kumo. His wrinkled eyes stared into her natural peeved ones with amusement.

"You're still going against your clan's traditions, aren't you?" The Third raised a brow up at him, "Well, there's no stopping all you have been through... I understand." He then bent over slightly, resting his hands against his knees for support.

Kazumi tilted her head away the closer the Hokage leaned towards her face. A flicker of reminisce appeared in his glistening eye, as if he was looking into the reflection of someone he once knew.

"You're teaching her well, Sanjiro. But, don't forget... Your impressive abilities shouldn't be kept hidden for so long. I know Kazumi-chan will use them for the right thing, as a future shinobi of this village." He smirked, watching the two Kumo's mirror irked looks.

"Old man... Is she eligible for the academy's first year, or what?" Sanjiro grunted, tired of the Third's obvious entertainment.

He let out a hearty laugh in response, nodding, "I was wondering when you'd start calling me by that again, you brat! But of course! Now..." His arms swung open, ignoring Sanjiro with his cheeks tinted pink for the cute child, "Come give this amazing Uncle a hug, Kazumi-chan!"  He grinned, overly confident.

Kazumi recoiled away, hiding her mortified face into Sanjiro's robe. The Third turned as grey as Sanjiro's eyes
, his heart dramatically shattering from her repetitive coldness.

"Maybe next year..." He quickly recovered once the colour returned to his skin, clearing his scratchy throat.

Sanjiro deadpanned, hearing the same response the years before. No matter how much Hiruzen tried, Kazumi was just as bad of a brat as Sanjiro.

"She's still shy... It seems..." The older Kumo looked away, knowing the same excuses couldn't be used for much longer either.
 ...... Kazumi's brows creased up, her smile falling into a deep frown when processing the current situation. If she could, she'd jump back into that memory and give the old man the silly hug he wanted. "It's over now..." Sakura tilted her head, wrapping an arm with Kazumi's.Kakashi waved for his genin's to come over, making Sakura pull a half-dazed Kazumi along with her. Naruto seemed to have a grin on his face, looking towards a leaving Iruka. Sasuke was focused on Kakashi's serious expression, looking back and forth between the jounin and young Kumo with a knowing frown."Kazumi, shinobi officials are gathered in the late Hokage's office. There are some important matters to be discussed." Kakashi placed a hand on her shoulder, his words causing her to unhook Sakura's arm out from her own.As her lips parted to respond, Kakashi already performed a jutsu. The jutsu had Kazumi teleported into the office with her hand still gripping the IV stand. Kakashi walked over to the standing officials, their hard eyes observing Kazumi. A few familiar jounin's stood in the room as well, including the clan heads of the Leaf village."She's here as you asked, but please reconsider... Wouldn't it be better for her to see Sanjiro-Sama's state first? The news is too much for her right now, and we only just came back from the late Third's funeral..." Kakashi tried to state, concern etched in his natural monotoned face and tone. He spoke to two old people in particular who were the only people sitting down at the front of the room. Their postures made them appear regal and important, not that Kazumi cared for that fact.The old lady huffed, "We've a lot on our plate, thanks to this child."The old man beside her had twice as hard of a gaze, "We should be finding our reliable shinobi to become candidates as the Fifth, but this delay must be discussed for the sake of the Leaf's safety.""A child is jeopardising the Leaf's safety?" Kakashi attempted to reason, "She's been trained and developed through Sanjiro-Sama's teachings for thirteen years. That is enough to know she won't be a risk... I know her.""One's origins does not equal ones decisions. She shares the blood of the man who killed the Third Hokage; a traitor." The old man was firm, full of strictness.Kazumi felt her feet go cold, snapping her head down to hide her wide eyes. 
What?
The coldness spread up her legs to her chest, making her heart desperately pump for warmth. Whatever she was hearing better be the world's most cruellest joke. Kakashi's brows furrowed, "It's adults like you who'd rather put the world on a kid's shoulders rather than your own."The elders fell silent, narrowing their eyes."Age does not matter when you are a shinobi of a hidden village. Don't you recall Uchiha Itachi's crimes he made at the same age as hers?" The old woman croaked through the dreary silence, "She could be a pawn for all we know."Kazumi clenched her fist, slowly raising her head. Her sensei went to respond, but nothing came out of his masked mouth— taken aback."Shouldn't we be questioning the child instead of squabbling over useless views?" The Hyuuga head glared, "Nothing should be decided while Sanjiro is still hospitalised.""I agree," The head of Nara crossed his arms, "Calm down, Kakashi-San." Their words created a debate in the chattering air, making Kazumi's tired eyes flicker all around the room. Her pumping heart felt shallow and colder than her fingertips and toes. The comparison the old woman dared to say had her just as struck."Uh...?" Her jaw slowly fell, internal panic behind her small pupils, "I'm no pawn..." She exhaled, clenching tightly to the base of the IV drip."For all we know, she could've already known he was her father!" A voice shouted, overpowering her smaller one, "A conspiring occurred, why else would she shamelessly attend his funeral?!" Kazumi swallowed, brows knitting together from shock. The dripping sound of her IV was just as loud as her racing pulse that seemed to reach her ears.
Oh my god...
"... Child of Orochimaru!" "... She shares no connection!""... Kumo's are already as dangerous as the Uchiha's! They've been a plotting clan from the start!""... You dare slander the ally of my clan?!""... It's not hard to realise, she's a threat!""... At least put an order in issue, something harmless!"Kazumi's breath shortened, seeing the eyes of enraged officials and only hearing snippets that assaulted her senses. It all made sense. The desperation from the nurse. The wary eyes of villagers. The judging looks throughout the funeral. Even as far back to the chuunin exams. 
How could I have been so blind?
Kazumi bit her tongue, her harsh grip trembling the drip's pole when recalling Orochimaru's odd sense of familiarity towards her."... She should be stripped of her shinobi rank!""... Surely that's too much..."  "Having her stay in the village until a Fifth is chosen should suffice!""... What then? The new Hokage would decide her fate?!""... Yes!""... No!""... By then the traitor would come back and this time take her back with him!""Are you hearing yourselves?""I need a cig..."The atmosphere was too thick for Kazumi to breathe in. Her gaze blurring from the threatening tears wanting to emerge.

"Suki..."

Kakashi's arm came into her view, protectively covering her from the harsh eyes. Without thinking, Kazumi slid her hand into his pouch, stealing a kunai. The sight of the blade in the air startled the officials into another silence, the action confirming their every suspicion until witnessing her press the tip against her chest— straight above her heart.Kakashi dropped his arm, a single wide eye gazing down at her, preparing himself to stop any irrational actions, but none ever came."There's two ways I can use this tool." Kazumi remained strong, her body trembling from utter heartbreak, "I can rid myself, but either way I know I am no use to Orochimaru anymore, Sanjiro-Sama stated that fact himself. Ultimately, you'll lose a valuable shinobi." She optioned, "Or..." She then slowly turned the blade around to face their stern faces, "... You'll let me train my entire life just to kill Orochimaru. I won't dare wish for ANBU rank, let alone Hokage status. I... will be nothing more than a genin." She squeezed the handle of the kunai, letting a thin tear slip down her cheek.She could feel all she worked hard for fall down a drain by her own words, creating a more painful sensation in her chest than her healing chakra itself. It was all too much for her to bear, and whilst the idea of stabbing her heart felt pleasing, the mere fact that Sanjiro was resting and alive kept her from doing so."Kazumi..." Kakashi's eyes scrunched sadly.Kazumi quickly dropped the kunai down beside her feet, bowing her head down, "Even use the Yamanaka's mind transfer to see for yourself." The young Kumo felt her knees go weak, making her slowly drop to the floor, bowing her head against the cold, wooden surface, "Please... Let me see my uncle... It's my only wish." She squeezed her eyes closed, letting more small tears stain the wooden floorboards as her hand had slid down the base of the IV drip."I sense no malice in the Kumo heir." The head of Yamanaka wore a pitiful look, "These generation of shinobi cannot control their origins... That includes Uzumaki Naruto's tailed-beast sealed inside of him. The Third Hokage knew that, yet still kept them alive and as thriving shinobi despite knowing their situations himself. To disrespect her is to disrespect our late Third's judgment."Those words managed to cool off the fearful fire on the opposing side. The old duo hadn't held much of a reaction.Anko stared at Kazumi with sympathy, closing her eyes in deep thought. "You all respect those elders decisions... This may become difficult indeed..." The old man grunted, "We will wait until the awakening of Kumo Sanjiro. When someone of proper status has a say, it wouldn't be so jumbled and childish such as today's events." He sneered down at Kazumi's bowing figure."Raise your head, Orochimaru's offspring. This is not over." The old woman sighed, flicking her fingers.Hidden ANBU appeared in view, escorting them out of the stuffy office. Kazumi remained bowing, not moving an inch. This made the old woman prop an intrigued brow when walking by, though Kazumi's actions of extreme respect was ignored by the old man. Officials of both sides left shortly after the old duo. "We wish for your uncle's fast recovery." Kurenai lowered her face, saddened for the young Kumo. The head of the clan's shared knowing looks before leaving, jounin sensei's following after. Kakashi stayed behind, picking up the fallen kunai."You did well to speak for yourself." He praised, placing it back into his pouch, "Sanjiro-Sama is strong-willed. When he wakes up, this will be dealt with." He reassured, crouching down to place a comforting hand against her back."When I was hospitalised after that mission, did you know? Did all of you know?" Kazumi quietly asked into the moist floorboards, feeling ashamed. Kakashi noiselessly sighed out of his nose, "It was discovered during the Third's fight against Orochimaru. He had announced it, putting Sanjiro-Sama in a twist that led to his coma state now. That's all I am aware of." His eyes softened, becoming heavy when feeling the vibrations of her light trembles against his palm."A coma...?" Kazumi repeated, wincing to herself.
Everyone knows... And uncle hasn't woken up...
Kazumi bit her bottom lip until it bled. An overwhelming urge to bury herself into a hole emerged. A never ending sensation of wanting to flee. As she thought back to her team's normal interactions, she felt her shoulders relax.
Yet nothing changed...
Kazumi gradually eased, pushing her head up from the cold floor to reveal wet cheeks from dried tears. Kakashi flashed a closed-eyed smile from behind his mask, standing up to offer her a hand. She quickly accepted it, regripping her IV drip whilst giving him a thankful nod."I won't allow you to become a victim of Orochimaru. You're rational enough to understand your place now." Kakashi's words were full of security."I admit, I might have lied. I actually don't know whether or not he will come back for me..." Kazumi shamefully lowered her gaze, "I think it's obvious that my place is to be bound to the village and lose my shinobi title..."Kakashi shook his head, placing a hand on her shoulder, "You're just a kid, then... after all. Those officials don't know what they're saying." His words made her snap her eyes up at him, surprised, "No... your place is right here, as you are. A member of Team Seven, a rightful chuunin; heir of Kumo."Kazumi clenched the IV drip, her expression breaking once more, "What if I turn into something I'm not?" Her voice shook, fearing the inevitable. "With Sanjiro-Sama, your comrades and I around? Impossible."
Impossible.
Kazumi repeated that word over and over inside of her mind until she could finally swallow that lump. It's definitely a word she appreciates the most.Her shoulders sagged, whipping her head away as she clenched her teeth. Closing her eyes, more tears were squeezed out, "Okay..." She choked out, making Kakashi's hand firmly squeeze her shaking shoulders."Let's have you visit Sanjiro-Sama now..." He spoke, and it felt like Kazumi's ending world was placed on pause.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The room had a more empty atmosphere than Kazumi's hospital room. A nurse had taken away the IV drip from her, seeing as how her chakra was healing drastically already. The depressing weight of the room prevented a scolding, making the nurse leave out of respect shortly after.Sanjiro was resting in a white bed, wires after wires attached to him. The young Kumo held the cold hand of the older Kumo, her eyes slightly puffy from her recent breakdown. Kakashi had already left once bowing in respect for Sanjiro.
Can he hear me?
Kazumi pressed her lips together, heavy eyes focused between his cold hand in hers and the slow rising of his chest. As she mustered the courage to look back at his wrinkled face, she took in his features. Unlike normal, his long beard was tattered, and his grey hair remained permanently bed-head. She had never seen such paleness on his face before, and horrifying bags that seemed to dig into his skin."They want you awake." Kazumi mentioned quietly, forcing her eyes back to his cold hand as she gripped it tightly, hoping her little warmth could help, "And they want me gone... even though Kakashi-sensei insisted I was rightfully chuunin rank now..." Her brows pressed upwards, "Did you know, too?"The silence was louder than any silence she ever been through before. The running machines were equivalent to mere white noise."From the start... If you knew, why did you keep me?" Kazumi lowered her head, her messy hair falling over her shoulders, "This is too mean... If I was you... knowing that man..."Her grip on his hand shook, her body breaking into light trembles. She held such strong disdain towards Orochimaru. The thought of a vile man like him having a child disgusted her; to a point where she would've purged the child along with him. But, that child was herself. Whatever cruel twist of fate this was, it was a type of dark secret she would have preferred never knowing about for her own sake.If he knew, perhaps that was why. That burden, her burden, had been on his shoulders since she came into the shinobi world.Kazumi then sharply inhaled before continuing to push the heaviness off of her chest, "I mean... You showed me that genjutsu of my mother for a reason, didn't you? You wanted to see the psychopathic genes I'm forced to share with, didn't you?" She weakly joked, shakily exhaling out, "You could have told me sooner. This isn't fair... Having this sprung onto me out of the blue... I wasn't prepared..."She paused, her blurry eyes focusing back to Sanjiro's apathetic face. Not a single twitch nor movement occurred. She suddenly felt sceptical, wondering if her words were even reaching his ears. Then, there was the dreadful thought that maybe he was just ignoring her every word. However, Kazumi would not allow that."You could have told me from the start. Maybe instead of chasing for your acknowledgement, even the drive to see you smile at my efforts... I could have sought out Orochimaru and learned more..." She mumbled, swallowing thickly right after.Although her words riled up a reaction within Sanjiro. His hand that she held possessively squeezed back, startling Kazumi. A familiar energy tingled her chakra, the sensation similar to the genjutsu she was placed in weeks ago. ......Kazumi was pulled into another memory of Sanjiro's, witnessing the liveliness of her clan from when they were once alive. She felt herself walking in his perspective, past the  fences and  atop the large hill. It was the same tree behind her compound, the very tree Sanjiro would longingly gaze at during the quietest of days.
Sitting beneath the thick oak was a mature blonde woman, similar looking to Lady Kiyoko. She had her eyes glued to the childish, romance novel. And it was no wonder where Sanjiro's weird tastes stemmed from.

"My foolish brother is not planning on breaking the arrangement any time soon. I have tried all I could to convince him." Sanjiro's voice rang in Kazumi's observing senses as the view was closer to Kiyoko's beautiful features, "Since our childhood, he still refuses to listen to a word I offer him." He sighed.

Kiyoko did not remove her grey eyes away from the page, "I don't understand... He's your older brother. Shouldn't my father listen to you, Uncle?" Her bottom lip pouted out, puffing a cheek out.
Sanjiro held his arms behind his back, shaking his head, "Never mind  that, you  should be preparing yourself for the marriage tomorrow. Why bother hiding out here when it is inevitable?"
Kiyoko went quiet, finally tearing her eyes away from the book to look up at him with saddened eyes, "This cannot be fair... I'm the first born despite my sex. I should be heir, not my younger brother. He's the one who should be married off, not me!" Wetness filled the bottom of her eyes, "You said it yourself, my chakra and abilities exceed Susumu's! Why do I have to be the slab of trash tossed away from succession?!" The tears slipped down her cheeks.

The old man closed his eyes, and Kazumi felt a similar resonation within her shared chest with Sanjiro. He was relating himself to Kiyoko's troubles.
"I understand, but you are not trash. Life is like that, we cannot easily pick and choose. If we could, a greedy man like Osamu would not be heir, although no matter what... by tradition... He is the first born." Sanjiro grunted, "You should understand that if you claim to be like me. You'll become just as worse as  they, if  you chase after too much power.""By  tradition I  am the first born!" She deeply frowned, "Choosing to show the world our potential isn't greedy!""Say you do, what then?" His grey eyes opened, "Become monitored like the Uchiha clan? Be at threat of  outsiders desires  to take our eyes? This is not a fairy tale." He glanced down to the colourful novel in her hand, "You've had your meetings and  photo's  with your future husband. And you will get married to Takeru!" He stressed, glaring.Deep within his  aging  heart, Kazumi could feel the ache so vividly. Just as much as her, he wanted to give Kiyoko the rightful place as heir of Kumo.  Though, he  was blinded by hidden weakness, too afraid to lose it all. Susumu, the current heir, wasn't as gifted as his sister, Kiyoko, but he was not exactly like his father either. That was enough to ease Sanjiro's concerns.  "There's no need to play pretend, I know you love 'that man'. It shouldn't be a complicated process."
"That love is different... Takeru is my precious childhood friend!" Kiyoko winced, "Why won't anyone see this?" She snapped her head down, tossing the book aside and onto the grass.

"Kiyoko, please..."

"No." Her tone dropped, "You are not the type to meddle in tomfoolery that's beyond you, right?" Kiyoko's face relaxed, a bitterness residing in her teary eyes, "What will you do if I decide to do so? If I decide to take matters into my own and find someone who will give me what I want?"

"No one can." Sanjiro sternly denied, "Do not test my patience."

"Insanity... Just because I am a woman..." Kiyoko said no more than that, a knowing glimmer blinking away the last tears as she elegantly stood up and walked away. 
Sanjiro's brows furrowed, his eyes falling to the book on the ground. Her sudden ignorance concerned him. It was growing at a  more stronger  rate than her simple complaints.The setting shifted into night. Kazumi could see the familiar storage room, but it was now polished and used as  an office  in the past. An older man that closely resembled Sanjiro sat behind the desk. He had a more dominant look in his wrinkled face. The abnormally old father hadn't had children until his prime years were over. Another reason Sanjiro disliked him.
"Osamu," Kazumi's lips moved on its own by Sanjiro's perspective, "Is there no room in your head to consider second thoughts?"
The older man, known as Osamu and Kazumi's direct grandfather, smirked, "It's been signed. Takeru resides in the compound until tomorrow's blessings." He waved the marriage contract into their shared view, "Kiyoko's the one with a change of heart. She must  be finally   seeing  things my way." He grunted, pleased by the outcome.
There was no mistaking it, that was Kiyoko's signature.

"What did she say? Anything out of the ordinary?" Sanjiro asked, trying to mask his worried tone with a cold look.

Osamu paused, tossing the paper. He then grinned, dryly cackling to himself when recalling a memory.

"In fact, she did! She mentioned the prospect of bearing a son, boldly claiming that the child would hold more succession rights than Susumu. Ridiculous, isn't it?" Osamu's face lowered, hiding a cruel expression, "Do you know why I chose Takeru out of anyone else?"

Sanjiro's brows pressed together, his silence being the only reply for Osamu.

"That man from low-birth is infertile."
The past broke into pieces as Kazumi felt herself being sucked out of the memory. The only words she could hear were the ringing, taunting heckles of  Osamu and  his last statement: "It's truly a shame that she was born a woman... had she been not, she would've made a fine heir for the Kumo clan." His words dripped with amusement, clearly already having seen through his daughter's delusions and capabilities.
Kazumi's deceased grandfather was just as corrupt as Orochimaru.
 ...... Kazumi blinked a tear down her cheek, the grip from Sanjiro released as he fell back to his motionless state. She remained in quiet processing, finally piecing things together. In order to uphold her dignity, Kiyoko had went to obscene lengths to fulfil her wish. It was obvious that getting involved with Orochimaru and his infamous ways of experiments led Kiyoko down that last resort.Yet, what managed to make Kazumi huff was the tragedy of her being born a female instead. As sickening as it sounded, she was partly glad her mother wasn't alive to know. Or maybe she knew, like Kazumi could know. It was all overwhelmingly clear.Her fallen clan is filled with sins of many mistakes. Nothing like a prideful one Kazumi once fantasised about having.
But, I still don't understand...
She thought with a gaped mouth, conflicted. Deep within her heart, she knew that the beautiful woman wouldn't have stooped so low. As for the older man, the only time she'd know of her grandfather was through his achievements. Not to mention his name and a few other Kumo members on the memorial stone. This seemed to leave a bitter feeling left, especially after seeing the type of shinobi he was through Sanjiro's memory.As Kazumi stood up, staring at his normal vital signs on the screen, she then wondered how long Sanjiro would remain in the resting state. There was still so much to ask him.However, her head suddenly spun when turning around to reach for the exit, making her stumble forwards and lean against the sliding door. Kazumi's expression twisted into a pained look, her eyes squeezing shut as if her brain was splitting into two.
"... You'll soon see a...

- better way of purpose than rotting within this village...

— and playing shinobi..."

"Suki."
A deafening ring rattled inside of her senses.
"Your fate is already sealed."
Pressing her palm against her mouth, uncontrollable tears streamed down her cheeks. Her stomach churned, gulping constantly to push down internal nausea. She can hear the overwhelming fear inside of her chest, it punched against the walls of her ribcage, desperate for escape.
"Suki-chan has no choice."
Orochimaru's words assaulted her ears, and her mind wilfully replayed the scenes she saw when blacked out in the Forest of Death. How Sanjiro's unfamiliar silhouette stood with a dark, blooded blade before her. It had her remind herself of the unsuccessful ritual, the abrupt scare she felt in the old man's presence.Through her blurring vision, her hand attempted to reach for the sliding door, messily pulling it open. As the lights of the hospital cleared her view, a hallucination of a dark, blade facing her eyes braced her in shock."Are you alright, miss?" A palm pressed against her shoulder, steadying Kazumi, "You look pale..." The nurse spoke.Snapping out of her frozen daze, her heart continued to hammer in her chest as she looked over her shoulder. As she was about to announce what she witnessed from Sanjiro, she kept her lips shut instead.
Was that all in my imagination...?
Her fist clenched, blinking profusely. The tears disappeared as quick as they fell, like it was all a daydream."You don't look like you're in your right mind, Suki."Kazumi's head snapped back to the nurse with round eyes, nearly losing balance, "What did you just say?"The nurse tilted her head, puzzled, "Eh? Kazumi-San, I said your release isn't until tomorrow. Even if your chakra's at stable levels, you still look fatigued." Her hand comfortingly held her elbow, guiding Kazumi out of Sanjiro's room.Kazumi relaxed, wincing quietly to herself as the world seemed to be at a slow, overstimulating pace, "Oh... yeah..." She muttered, looking everywhere but straight ahead.She felt as if all eyes were on her, even though that wasn't the case. As they approached closer to her familiar hospital room, her gaze caught sight of a mirror. Within that flicker of a second, she could see the blackness from the top of her head's scalp was gone. Her tense shoulders relaxed.
Did Uncle do this for me?
Kazumi forced her head straight, heavy eyes staring at the tiled floor. A saddened expression appeared, feeling guilt for her conscience fearing Sanjiro that moment before. No matter how hard she tried to think, the weight of what she seen rested against her shoulders like stacks of bricks."Is it possible for someone in a coma to hear others?" Kazumi hesitantly asked, being supported into her room and back onto the bed.The nurse helped her get comfortable, "Well... In some cases, the brains of patients in coma's can process sounds."
Ah...
Kazumi fell back against the hospital bed, her teary eyes focused on the white ceiling."Hm... Huh?! Your chakra reserves have completely returned...?" The nurse gasped, her chakra struggling to remain glowing against Kazumi's chest from the initial surprise.
What now?
Kazumi reverted back to tense shoulders."That's great! You might even be released this afternoon! I'll have a word with the doctor." The nurse flashed a relieved look, oblivious to Kazumi's unnerved reaction.The sliding doors closed behind the rushing nurse, leaving Kazumi in a sickening silence. The world moved like normal, but Kazumi's still felt fast and bleak. The young Kumo rolled on her side, letting her arm fall over the bedside as her cheek sunk into the pillow. In fact, her whole body sunk into the bed.An uncontrollable force made it hard for her to care to move.She simply sunk.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The hallways of the hospital was flooded by busy nurses and moving patients. Kazumi was dispatched, wearing her casual clothes with her shinobi pouch tied around her thigh. With one hand, she kept it inside the pouch to feel the comfort of Gaara's sand. The other hand pressed against the window of Sanjiro's recovering room. Her eyes were less heavier than before when scrunching down at Sanjiro's resting face. It was covered by an oxygen mask. Since the sudden action he done, he was recorded down with shortness of breath in his coma. The fact alone made it hard for Kazumi to leave the depressing building. 
I'll try to visit...
She closed her eyes, forcing her head away as her hand slipped down from the window. 
I should've went to him...
Kazumi bit her bottom lip, opening her eyes. The guilt gnawed at her brain, keeping her up at night. Her once strict sleep schedule was being interrupted just like from the Mist mission. She couldn't help but notice it occur whenever she wasn't with Sanjiro. As her thoughts lingered on the possible outcomes, Kazumi also knew that deep down, she could not leave any affect. What could she have done against Orochimaru? It terrified her that the man managed to leave her uncle in such a state. Not to mention the death of the Third. "Please wake up." Kazumi pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to push away an oncoming headache with a mumble. Her steps proceeded, walking further away from the hospital premises. —_______________   Throughout the entire walk back to her compound, she held her head down. A complete contrast from her usual confident, chin-up walk. The villagers had uncomfortable gazes on her, some whispering to others. Kazumi recognised a few to be the same ones who would flash smiles and ask about Sanjiro's wellbeing; their expressions now a foreign frown. There was also more familiar faces, ones who had bombarded her with freebies before the chuunin exams. They turned their backs at the sight of her, a look of betrayal evident in their small pupils. With a gulp, Kazumi kept her eyes away from theirs. She feared that if she looked any longer at their behaviour, she'd feel herself spiral in doubt.Surprisingly, the area of her compound was empty. As she stepped through the gates and went down the familiar garden into the traditional building, not a single servant was in line of sight. By now, they would be cleaning or caring for the memorable objects. But it was silent once her foot met the wooden floorboards. The dark building filled with shadows from lack of sunlight held no one inside. The rooms were beginning to match the dustiness and negligence of the shelves that Sanjiro ordered for no one to touch. Kazumi's gaze stayed on the scrolls, reminding her of the woman in Sanjiro's memories. A burning warmth erupted across her cheeks, spreading to her eyes where they threatened to moisten up with tears.
This is all your fault!
Her brows narrowed downwards, frustrated. It was hard to believe one ignorant woman could cause this future she was currently living in. In a fit of sudden suppressed rage, she stormed to the shelves. Sanjiro's voice rang at the back of her head: "... I treasure these worn things... despite all that's been tampered."  His soft voice that longed for Kiyoko was ignored, swatted away by Kazumi's mind that tortured her with their dreadful sins. Harsh thud after thud followed, books and familiar scrolls sprawling out on the ground. Kazumi had frantically threw each one, dust blowing out and fogging up the entire corner. She sharply coughed, squatting down to duck her face from the thickness of the dry powder. A long second passed by— the dust surrounded an outline around her to the floor. Kazumi pushed herself back up straight, not feeling any sense of instant relief after the uncontrollable action. In fact, it only added fuel to her indescribable guilt. Her legs then moved for her, taking her to the kitchen where she'd usually find her personal chef. However, it was just as empty. A small note then caught her eye, making her hand slowly reach and take it to her view. It was signatures from all the servants, a large word beneath that said: 'Resignation'. She stared at it for a moment before letting a scoffing laugh escape. Crumbling the paper, she threw it over her shoulder. 
Looks like we won't get that rewarding feast, Naruto.
Kazumi bitterly smiled to herself. Her head turned to the breeze from an opened window, staring at the faraway, thick tree. That same night, Kazumi stared at the ceiling of her bedroom. She realised just how quiet her clan compound was now that there wasn't anyone inside but herself. Her gaze went from the pinned picture of her team above her, back to the ceiling that had holes from throwing shurikens. One shuriken loosened, falling down to shred through the pillow. It was inches away from her earlobe, though she didn't flinch. Instead, she rolled on her side. The moon lit a dim glow in her trashed room, outlining her sinking figure. —_______________  Gripping the strap of her worn bag, Kazumi awkwardly stood in front of a familiar apartment door. She felt incredibly vulnerable right now, hence why she refused the idea of staying with Sakura at first. Kazumi knew she would give her nonstop looks. Sasuke was out of the question. She couldn't deal with another moping prodigy around her. It also did not help the fact that he was marked by Orochimaru. Which all left her to here: Naruto's lonesome apartment that had chipped paint on the front of his door. Softly knocking, Kazumi watched the door immediately open. Naruto's suspicious eyes went wide in sudden surprise, his frog-like scowl twisted up into a wide, relieved grin."Kaz!! You've recovered already?! Oh, oh! This means... new mission?" He asked, fully opening the front door.She shook her head, "No. Actually..." Kazumi then scratched her cheek, finding an odd lump threaten to form inside of her throat, "I need a place to stay at. Uh... You see..." She refused to look him in the eye when his excitement died down into a frown, "... My servants are on a brief leave... I can't offer you that meal right now...""Okay." He stepped aside, "Come on in! Man, it's been a while since we last had a sleepover!" He beamed, the excitement returning, "Next time bring Sakura-chan! ... And maybe Sasuke, I guess..." A strong wave of ease washed over her as she stepped inside and took off her shoes. There was a comfort in his easy ways to shrug off the feelings of disappointment. And like the last visit, the apartment was still a mess. He had empty ramen cups cluttered on the tables and countertops. Piles of clothes spread out like miniature mountains on the floor. "Do you lock your door now?" She asked, almost teasing him from that time. Naruto sheepishly nodded, glancing over his shoulder to the near broken lock on his door when closing it, "Totally!"He hid the lock with his back, catching it behind him before it could fall to the ground. Kazumi mentally noted to fix it when he wasn't looking.A small smile then formed on her lips as Naruto eagerly guided her to his bedroom, having tossed the lock onto a countertop before doing so. She watched him rummage through the wardrobes for a futon, throwing one out and beside his bed straight after. "You don't have to stay for long... as fun as that would be..." He forced a smile, setting the portable bed out for her. "It's just until my uncle wakes up." Naruto frowned to himself at the mention of her relatives state, trying to focus on the task of making her feel at home instead.Kazumi placed her worn backpack next to his tableside, her eye catching the frame of their team's photo. It was the photo that was taken right after Kakashi's bell test. The same copy in her bedroom above her headboard.In the photo, Kakashi stood tall in the back, his hands on the male's heads. His eyes closed with a smile behind his peculiar mask. Naruto had his arms crossed, scowling at Sasuke. The Uchiha had an arm to his hip, ignoring their existences. The girls were in the middle. Sakura wore a wide smile, her fists up to her cheeks in a coy manner. Kazumi stood stiff beside her, her lips pursed into a thin line with both arms down at her sides. Back then, their dynamic felt out of reach. But as Kazumi looked back to Naruto, who attempted to squish a pillow together, she realised how far she came with them.
I wouldn't want anyone else making a bed for me right now...
She smiled larger, kneeling down to help pull the extra sheet over the futon for him. He gave her a grateful chuckle, messily standing up only to trip over a pillow. "Ouch!" He cried out after smacking his bottom to the ground. Kazumi pushed herself up with her knees, lending him a hand up. Naruto took it, swaying whilst rubbing his sore tooshie with a grimace. "You don't need to do anything else for me." Kazumi reassured, analysing the messiness of his apartment. "I've got a lot on my mind, Naruto. Please don't mind me." She bowed her head to him while unzipping her worn backpack.Naruto tilted his head when observing her place rubber gloves on and a mask, "Eh? What are you doing?"As she adjusted the gloves with a tugging snap, a determined gleam shone in her natural, slanted eyes, "Cleaning."His cheeks flushed from embarrassment, "Huh??! My place isn't that messy!!" Although he suddenly paused, squinting his eyes when taking in his unhygienic surroundings. A thick silence weighed on their shoulders. Naruto finally caved in, lowering his face in shame, "Yeah..."  —_______________  Naruto collapsed to his bottom, using his arms to prop up the weight of his body from the pristine floor. Sweat drenched him from head to toe, heavily breathing. During the process, he treated it like a game; trying to compete against her. He may win compared to chakra levels, but her overall stamina was much more dignified than his. Kazumi wiped the sweat from her head, only sweating small amounts. She stood nearby, holding onto a long duster. Naruto's apartment was spotless thanks to their shared efforts. The mountain of clothes were managed and junk were thrown out."Is this seriously a hobby for you? I'd rather read!" Naruto complained, flopping his back against the squeaky clean floors.Kazumi poked the end of the duster against his cheek, "Cleaning is a basic skill, just like cooking." She looked down at him."So?" Naruto grumbled up at her, feeling his head move against her poking manner."So get in the habit of it?" She sighed, her tone questioning his lack of basic necessities. Although she could not blame him.Within the clean apartment, she could now see the reflection of her own abandoned compound. It left Kazumi to wonder what life would've been like without Sanjiro. Her, alone, could not manage servants without him. They taught her everything she needed to know in order to care for herself whilst being cared for in return. In the end, those said servants deserted her. Naruto never had such pleasures."Ugh... Did you actually come here to nag or something...?" He pouted, his face squishing together like a squashed toad. "I bet your room is as clean as a hospitals." Kazumi brought back the duster to her side, setting it against a wall. His remark had her momentarily think back to the state she left her compound in. The scrolls and books scattered out. Even her bedroom was a mess since more fits of unfamiliar rage decided to make her thrash things around.It was odd. She'd much rather clean his place up than the one she left behind. The blond Uzumaki had shot himself back up, scooting himself under the floor table. His previous annoyed behaviour flipped to his usual childishness when pulling out a pack of cards from beneath the table.With a raised brow, Kazumi bent over to peek under the table. Her brows flattened at the sight of clutter and empty ramen cups hidden away. "Play cards with me! Loser owes the winner three bowls of ramen!" Naruto patted down at the table, in front of him. Kazumi pulled off her gloves and mask, setting it on the ground beside her. She scooted in slightly, making sure her knees did not touch the junk beneath the square table. At the sight of flower pictures, she raised a brow."Hanafuda? You understand this game?" She asked, genuinely taken aback. Naruto formed a hand sign, creating a shadow clone of himself that became the card holder for them, "Yup!" They both said in sync, "I used to watch the old men!" The original Naruto spoke whilst the shadow clone prepared the eight cards in silence."I understand it... But my uncle was never one to enjoy gambling with me." She murmured.As each round went by and the clock's hand kept moving, Naruto progressively had more shadow clones appear around him. Each wore struggled looks on their faces, now on their tenth-times-the-charm round. Kazumi was stacked with higher points, winning all the rounds by strategically matching the pairs.Her consistent and new generosity kept the game going on. That was, until she realised she was being indifferent by habit the entire time. She frowned at Naruto's endless determination, causing her to finally try at the game. This led to his first win. Kazumi would never tell him it was because of her purposely taking the wrong cards."YES! YES!!" Naruto bellowed, his shadow clones jumping happily in the air with him. The cards flew out, scattering across the once tidy floorboards. He kept cheering over his win, tackling and being thrown around by his excited shadow clones. It made her smile, enjoying the outcome of her kindness. Although a sudden slam of a fist against the apartment wall caused them all to freeze. "Quit the damn racket!!" A muffled voice yelled from the apartment next door, enraged. Kazumi glanced to the open window where the breeze came in, surprised that the sun was already set beneath the horizon's line."Sorry!" Naruto cried back, smoke popping everywhere once dismissing all of his shadow clones, "Eh! Eh! So, you owe me three bowls of ramen now!" His gleaming face invaded her view of the window.Recoiling back, she let out a light chuckle.
On the eleventh round? How is that fair?
"Someday the one thing you love will try to kill you." She smirked, "I think it's only fair if I get something in return." Naruto's grin dropped to a confused scowl, "Huh? Those were just my warm up rounds! They don't count..." Kazumi pulled a face, turning her head away. A gut feeling appeared inside of him, realising he was at risk of the delicious deal being called off."Fine!" He dropped to his bottom, crossing his legs and arms with a stubborn expression, "But you still owe me three bowls!" This caused her to look back at him, placing a thoughtful hand to her chin. After a long second, she finally decided, parting her lips."For the time I spend here, let me manage the groceries!" She looked back up at him with a triumph smile."That's it?" Naruto deadpanned, "You payin'?" Kazumi's brow twitched, "Hey... What the hell is with that response?" Her tone dropped, shooting a harmless glare.Naruto's smile wiggled to a silly one, "Haha! I... I was just about to offer splitting the pay!" He nervously scratched his neck, "Who even cares about cards and deals now? I'm starving!" The blond boy stood up, rummaging through his kitchen for a ramen cup, "Want some ramen with me?" "No... I'll pass on food tonight." She cringed, smelling his bullcrap.As he boiled the water and poured, he sat back in front of her with an anxious look. A silence fell as he mixed the sauces in the cup, painfully waiting for the noodles to break. Kazumi's narrowed eyes glistened with rare amusement, hiding another smirk with her hand when leaning against the table."The deals still on, right?" Naruto quietly rasped out, attempting to cover up his clear addiction to ramen.The young Kumo let out a hearty cackle, her shoulders shaking with her laughter. Naruto's cheeks painted a light pink, embarrassed."What's so funny?!" He spat, burning his mouth when impatiently shoving the ramen down his throat.
I can't believe I'm having so much fun...
She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, calming her laughter whilst revealing a stretched smile, "Yeah, it's still on. Just as long as you don't make me eat that stuff..." "If anyone else had said that, I would've been offended!" Naruto puffed his cheeks out, swallowing the ramen, "Then, just as long as you make sure to include cup ramen in the groceries, too!" He added to the conditions, entertaining her further as he ate like a chipmunk storing its nuts."Right... right..." —_______________  Kazumi leaned her back up against the wall, sitting on the futon with the sheets over her legs. She wore more lighter clothes, like Naruto, who was laying in his own wooden bed beside the futon. Her gaze focused on the window where the stars became more clearer, shinning miniature spotlights in the room."How come you didn't choose to stay with Sakura-chan? I know I'm cooler than Sasuke..." Naruto asked, his voice much gentler than normal."I don't know." She shrugged, "I guess you're the only one that isn't bothered by anything. Gaara now knows that, which I think is why he came to visit me in the hospital after the incident. He talked really highly about you." Her hand rested atop her pouch, patting it lightly in thought of his sand. Naruto flipped to his side to face her, propping his head up with his elbow, "Gaara visited you?" He instantly grinned down at her, "How is he? I can't seem to run into him anymore..." "He looks at peace." She smiled back, "I'm sure we'll see him again soon. And with his siblings, at that..."Naruto's grin became lazy, his legs kicking up, "I'm great, aren't I?" Kazumi gripped a spare pillow, launching it perfectly against his face. He let out an 'oof' sound as it fell off his bed. And he had jolted himself up on his knees, grabbing his nose."What was that for?!" He groaned, swearing he felt a small amount of applied chakra into the force."You are great, but don't get ahead of yourself!" She couldn't help but scold.Naruto then laughed, falling back onto his bed with a flop, "I'm really happy you came to me first." His sudden sentimental words made her quiet, "Before the Mist mission, I always thought of you as a know-it-all weirdo with a world of your own inside of your head... And you were annoyingly cool, too...!" 
Is this an insult or a compliment?
Kazumi's mouth gaped with an awkward bead of sweat falling.His tone then lifted, "But... When I found out you were a girl, you suddenly became even more cooler in my eyes. More so than my own self! I began to accept your know-it-all ways by trusting your confidence." He cheekily grinned at the ceiling, "I even did all I could to break down those iron walls around you... Since to me... you feel like an older sister that I wish I had. I mean, all you do is nag now and give me good advice! You're not afraid to protect me and help me out, it's refreshing." He closed his eyes.
He noticed all of that?
The blonde Kumo stiffened, almost embarrassed yet touched."That classifies as an older sister for you?" Kazumi raised a brow, not sure what the feeling of a sibling was like, "Aren't we the same age...?" She deadpanned.Naruto shrugged, sitting back up to look down at her whilst his legs swayed off the side of the bed, "You're older than me by months and not just anyone can have that kind of role in my heart, ya' know!"  "So, what's Sakura?"Naruto's cheeks burned red, "My future wife, of course!"
Oh... Naruto...
She shook her head, amused, "And Sasuke?"He went silent for a moment before speaking, "I dunno yet... but, if I had to say it... Obviously a stupid little brother or something!"Kazumi laughed. She laughed hard. His description of Sasuke was just a reflection of himself. Her laughter made him pull a frog-like grimace."Whatever, I'm going to sleep! Night!" He pouted, roughly snuggling inside of his sheets as his back stubbornly turned to Kazumi.She placed a hand to her lips, calming her giggles. His way of perceiving her warmed her chest. Even as a whole team, it left her bones and running blood feeling fuzzy. For the first time in days, Kazumi could drift off to sleep without being kept up by the weight of her own reality.
Good night... Naruto...
She smiled, letting her heart and mind rest.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Kazumi felt a comforting breeze against her skin, her gaze focused on the puffy white clouds from above. The sky was a warm orange, and there were the muffled chatters of many people around her.

As she glanced around, she noticed the familiar sight of blonde-headed Kumo's. A sight she could only fantasise about in her dreams. With a soft smile, she stood up to step towards her clan.

However, as her foot stepped off the ground and met wooden flooring, she felt gravity push her down. As if her own ability was betraying her, Kazumi felt herself being pulled through the floorboards and down into an endless abyss.

The uncanny void of blackness stayed as a reminder. Although this time, she wasn't seeing Orochimaru's taunting. It was a different figure. The more she squinted, the more she could see the outline of Sanjiro's darkened silhouette.

He was in the exact same position as the dream from the chuunin exams, holding the familiar and long blade that was engulfed by the darkness. It was the same end of the blade that startled her in the hospital when her mind began to play tricks on her.
Sanjiro's mouth opened, though the words that escaped did not match his moving lips, "Foul-blood." His voice unsteadily echoed around her head, causing the young Kumo to grab her face and dig her nails into her skin— desperately begging for forgiveness.
Moving against her own will, Kazumi felt the pain of her nails into her melting skin. Just as Orochimaru could do, she was copying. A reflection of the dark ground beneath her 
shown
 the dull, black hair and her eyes becoming a lighter shade of gold.

The more her skin peeled off, the more she resembled the snake man.

The weight of the gravity was too intense, making her hunch over. She used her back like a shield. Through her messy bangs, she could see the slightest movement of Sanjiro slowly raising his blade, which dripped 
of
 blackened blood.

Suddenly, the ground broke through. Kazumi instantly fell, the gravity released from her dreaming form. Like the dream of falling in your sleep, Kazumi pushed herself up from a bed with wide eyes and erratic breaths.

The scenery was much different, causing her to relax. Her mind made her get up and leave the unfamiliar home. She wasn't inside Naruto's apartment, but elsewhere.

"Oh, you're finally awake, big sister!" Naruto appeared with a flimsy, cheap tuxedo, "We still need your blessing!"

Sakura was next to him in a white, long wedding dress, "Please accept me as your sister!" She batted her eyes, flashing a dramatically large diamond ring on her ring 
finger.
......"Huh?" Kazumi mumbled, shifting slightly in her futon.......
"I look forward to us becoming a big family!" Sakura beamed, "How's little Sasuke? You two have such a handsome baby brother!"

"More like a stupid one!" Naruto corrected with a scowl.

Kazumi looked down to her raised arms, her face contorting into a bewildered shock. Sasuke was in her arms, his original head huge but his body in the form of a newborn. He gave her the usual glare, wearing his natural mean face.

"Fight me!" Sasuke demanded, a small balled fist attempting to reach her.

"Ah..."
......"AHH!" Kazumi shot up from the futon, her blonde hair a dishevelled bed-head mess. She didn't know which dream was worse, leaving her to blankly stare at the sun, which peered through Naruto's window."Urgh... No... Five more minutes..." Naruto grumbled, rolling on his side as he pulled the pillow up and over his face.The blonde Kumo looked down at her arms, trying to process what creature she had just held in her dream. Shuddering, she hugged herself whilst squeezing her arms tight. 
Should I invest in a warding seal...
She grimaced, wondering if Naruto's apartment had just cursed her nightmares. Shaking it off, she stood up to her feet. "Naruto..." She poked his side, watching him pull his sheets over his head, "I'll be back soon." She sighed, deciding to leave a note for him.With slow and tired steps, she used his apartment to get ready to head out.   —_______________  The early morning streets of Konoha weren't busy. This was a good thing since Kazumi did not want to deal with the prying, mean eyes. She made her way down to a local small market that seemed to be open every hour of the day.With a basket in arm, she began shopping. It was a first for her. Being used to the servants' supply ingredients with the household funds had her never need to go out to buy them.As she reached for a tomato, a pale hand came into view with hers."Hah, since when do you shop so early in the morning?" Sasuke asked, snatching the tomato from the stand and wrapping it up.Kazumi took a different one with a huff through her nose, glancing at him through her hair. Although her eyes widened when her mind played tricks on her, recalling the dream of him as a baby in her arms. This caused her to pull a shocked look, colour draining from her face.Raising a brow, he grimaced at her stupefied reaction, "Later." He turned his back to her, heading down a different isle."Gee... Perhaps I need glasses?" Kazumi murmured to herself, rubbing her eyes.Not even glasses could fix the hallucinations. Plus, she had 20/20 vision.Shrugging it off with a yawn, Kazumi took the last of the ingredients and headed to the cashier. The man behind the machine had a wary gaze, recognising Kazumi."I don't serve to traitors of the village." He firmly stated, alarming her."What did you just say?""You heard me." He was gruff, "Beat it!" As soon as he yelled, the familiar pale hand slammed paper yen to the counter.The man flinched his attention onto Sasuke, and Kazumi glanced to his apathetic expression towards the owner."She's with me, so serve me!" He practically demanded, brows furrowed.The man looked back and forth, still unsure. But their unwavering pairs of eyes unsettled him. Specifically Kazumi's blank stare.Eventually, he heavily exhaled, taking the money and cashing up the groceries. Kazumi lowered her gaze as she took the bagged foods, unbothered by the man that had not exchanged a word longer than that. Not even for an apology.Although she half-expected that once stepping outside of the building. She patiently waited for Sasuke, gripping the thin plastic bag's handle. As the Uchiha followed her out with his own groceries, they shared a silent look.One filled with understanding, and the other with appreciation."Thanks..." She bowed her head slightly, then reaching into her pouch to pull out cash, "Here." She offered to pay him back with a small smile."Is this happening to you a lot?" Sasuke took the money, making her drop her hand back to her side as her lips faltered to a thin line.Kazumi looked to the window of the store, watching the man scowling as he purposely closed the blinds. All the moments of similar behaviour occurring to her for the past couple of days left her to ponder how long it would last.How long she would last; being shunned and all."It'll pass." Sasuke replied to her silence, "What's with that amount of groceries anyway? It's not like you're sharing food anymore." He changed the topic, pointing to the near splitting plastic.His words made it sound like Sanjiro was dead.She scoffed, "I'm staying with Naruto until the head of Kumo recovers." "Not Sakura?" He looked surprised, though instantly covered it back up with the usual indifferent expression.
Funny... Naruto said the same thing....
"Nah..." She awkwardly looked away, tightening her grasp on the saggy plastic bag, "If Kakashi-sensei calls for a mission, send it to Naruto... I'll be there."Sasuke stiffly nodded, "I'm meeting up with him later, so sure..." He then turned around to prepare himself to walk away. Instead of going straight away, he looked over his shoulder with a small pout, "If that idiots' a strain, my compounds open to you." Sasuke offered, "Don't think too much of it... I just understand your situation. I'm a little more used to it if it makes matters easier."
Naruto sure is a strain... But, seeing his current living state... I'm not sure I wanna overlook that...
She looked down, smiling at the memory of the night before, "Thanks, but I'm alright. I think we'll end up driving each other crazy." She weakly joked, looking up to meet his small smirk.Sasuke's face twitched. "Yeah, whatever." He looked back straight, strolling down the street with his bag and his hands shoved coolly into his pockets.Kazumi kept her small smile at the back of his head, her gaze outlining his unusual hairstyle. Ever since the chuunin exams were over, she felt a shift in their relationship. Whenever thinking of him, she could no longer recall the memories of believing they hated each other.Instead, she focused on his innocent attempts to become her friend from those years ago. She liked to imagine a scenario where she hadn't of disregarded him. 
We should've been friends sooner...
Kazumi softly exhaled out of her parted lips."Say hi to Sakura for me, though!" She waved, immediately turning her back to quickly walk away.The Uchiha flinched, scowling at her unfunny remark. Rather than indulging it, Sasuke held no reply to her comment.This made the walk back to Naruto's apartment more entertaining.  —_______________  Kazumi wiped sweat from her chin, finishing up a bunch of paperwork. She was under watch, as irritating as it felt. Kazumi had an obligation to check-in. This made the officials know of her whereabouts. No matter how many times she'd stress her refusal to leave, none seemed to trust her as much as Kakashi."What a pain..." Kazumi shoved paper into her pouch, making her way back from the hospital after a visit to Sanjiro."Kaz!" Naruto rushed towards her, "I've been looking everywhere for you, ya know! I'm starving for some ramen, won't you treat me to it now?!" He grinned, dragging her through the streets.Kazumi had an awkward last bead of sweat fall, ignoring the disdainful eyes and whispers. One of the worst combination of characters were seen together, though she began to care lesser by each passing day."Geez, can't you wait until later?" Naruto shook his head, ducking under the tassels and pulling her inside the small ramen shop, "Nope! I might die of hunger!"Kazumi looked around the unfamiliar place, sitting herself next to Naruto. After processing his words, she shot him a look."Did you not see all the groceries I brought back?" She asked, knowing full well his cabinets and fridge was packed full.Naruto sheepishly whistled, "Nah... My hunger nearly died after seeing all those colourful things..." Kazumi deadpanned at his description of vegetables, ready to respond until the Uzumaki almost jumped out of his seat."Three bowls each, old man!" Naruto beamed at the Ramen Guy. The man nodded, greeting Kazumi with a casual smile.It took her by surprise. Kazumi thought he'd deny her like the other person did. "Wait... each?" Kazumi repeated, three bowls dished up and prepared in a flash in front of her and Naruto. Naruto already started to eat, slurping mouthfuls of ramen into his mouth with the chopsticks. He then gave her a confused sound, tilting his head.Kazumi leaned to the other side, taking her yen out to estimate the total. She was a few coins short after paying Sasuke back. This caused a dark aura to cloud atop of her, making Naruto almost choke on his noodles. He felt strong déjà vu from the Mist mission."I got some cash on me!" Naruto swallowed the noodles before fumbling out his frog wallet, only taking out what was inside: a penny and a bunch of clips, "Whoops..."Kazumi sighed, shaking her head. "C'mon Kazumi, try the ramen at least!" Naruto pushed a bowl to her, eager to see her try the magnificent dish."We both promised our side of the deals here. I told you not to make me eat this!" She frowned, squinting at the soup-like meal."Argh! Stop treating ramen like its a crime!!" Naruto growled, aggressively slurping.To Kazumi, it was a crime. Sanjiro forbade her from having such unhealthy diets. Naruto couldn't stop himself from chuckling to himself, amused by her reluctance."It's only fair you try it!" Naruto's words made her raise a confused brow at him, "Since you didn't hold your end of the deal! My once ramen cup filled home is now a veggie nightmare!" He spat, genuinely upset by that.Kazumi suppressed a groan, gulping as she picked up a pair of chopsticks. Her action silenced him, anticipating for her to try it. She couldn't argue any further, but she had no choice. Who knew ramen cups could be more expensive than high quality fruits and veg? 
This is never to be mentioned... 
Kazumi blinked the nervousness away, hoping to not receive some form of karma by this. Grasping the chopsticks, she fiddled with noodles until picking a fair amount up. Naruto's helped bring the meat and egg into her grip with his own chopsticks, excited.He leaned in, grinning from ear-to-ear once she slid the noodles into her mouth. The mixture of tastes made her narrow eyes go wide, a shine occurring for only a millisecond within her small pupils.
It's... actually really good!
She shoved more into her mouth, slurping in a similar manner as Naruto. The blond Uzumaki pumped his arms into the air, success written all over his face."Ah! Wait for me!" Naruto suddenly gasped at her intense speed, just as eagerly shoving noodles inside of his mouth as her.He took it as a challenge halfway through, wanting to finish before her. Empty bowls slid, clashing together as Kazumi wiped her lips. Naruto finished a second later than her, his eyes swirling from overload. Clearing her throat, she straightened up, "I guess two or so ramen cups can be an exception." She had changed her mind about ramen, trying to ignore the chibified version of Sanjiro giving her a gruelling lecture inside of her mind.Naruto laughed, pulling her into a tipsy side hug, "I bet you regret all the times you denied it now!" He teased. Ignoring him, she recalled the bill yet to be paid.
Ah... Should I make a run for it?
However, that thought was paused by a figure of a man appearing through the flaps."Well well, look who we have here." A charismatic voice spoke from behind, causing the duo to snap their heads over their shoulders in surprise, "Sanjiro-Sama's heir and my little trainee. I heard this is where you go to all the time, Naruto... but I never expected to see Kumo Kazumi in such a place." He widely grinned at their hugging manner, "Am I interrupting a date?" In sync, Kazumi and Naruto pulled mortified expressions—both pulling away from one another at the same time.Whilst Naruto screamed at him and fidgeted with red cheeks, Kazumi took a moment to take in his features.He had wild long grey hair, practically white, with red paint slashed down his eyes like scars. The man looked around his fifties, but that was too generous and so Kazumi quickly re-guessed around the sixties instead. The man even had a small piercing against the side of his nose, making it look like a toad's wart. There was something oddly familiar about him to Kazumi. "Pervy-Sage!!"
Pervy—what?
Kazumi's brows knitted together, concern instantly etched onto her discomforted look."Oi! I told you to quit calling me that!" He gritted his teeth at Naruto, instantly replacing his frown to a smirk, "Who's paying?" As he asked, Naruto pointed to Kazumi. "Well, it's on me." He winked at her, slamming down a couple yen and coins onto the counter between them.
Well, that's one thing resolved...
She looked back up at him whilst Naruto had happily thanked the man, "Who are you? Why does Naruto know you?"This made the older man bellow out a laugh, entertained, "I guess it's no surprise the bastard never talked about me!" He then leaned his head further in, grinning, "Jiraiya: Naruto's awesome mentor!" Jiraiya puffed his chest out, proud.Naruto looked at Kazumi with a cringed look, shaking his head at the last sentence. The old man was oblivious, pointing his finger over his shoulder, "It's a great thing you're with Naruto, actually! Since I wanted to speak with the both of you."
"Jiraiya"... "Jiraiya"... Why's that name familiar?
"Your uncle is quite a fan of my work, no? I'm sure you know what I mean." He smirked at her confliction. 
No way...
Kazumi ignored Naruto's confused scowl, looking into Jiraiya's playful gaze. "I have not a single clue." Her brow twitched, awkwardly returning a smirk. 
He's the author?
A semblance of success flittered in her chest until it was washed away by the reminder of the novels genre.Jiraiya laughed again, amused, "You're a mini version of him! They also weren't exaggerating... you truly look like a boy..." He placed a hand to his chin, as if noting something else that he kept to himself.
Uncle has the strangest connections...
She thought back to Gai, Lee's sensei. And now it was him, a supposed pervert who proclaimed to be an awesome mentor. She felt a headache wanting to emerge."Hey!! I'm so sick of people saying this! Kazumi's a girl! She's not a boy, and will never be a boy!" Naruto defended, his eyes closed as he yelled.Jiraiya ignored him, analysing the girl intently. Kazumi didn't know it yet, but the man knew a lot about her uncle. And more importantly, Orochimaru."Naruto, Kazumi... let's talk outside." Jiraiya proposed, hurriedly.With a sigh, she stood up. Naruto followed, waving goodbye's to the ramen guy. She expected more firm lectures about her current status, though whilst they walked and he talked, it turned out to be a complete different topic. It was almost refreshing. "Eh!!! Why! Why! Why! Why do we have to go on a trip with a pervert sennin! Why should I go? And what would Kaz go for?! I won't have you ruin her innocent mind with your pervy weird stuff!!" He yelled out like a protective guardian.
If only you knew.
Kazumi rolled her eyes away from them. She knew about the birds and bees a long time ago. It wasn't anything to dramatize, like Naruto made it out to be.Long story short, Jiraiya wanted to convince Naruto and her to accompany him on a mission regarding a woman. Kazumi zoned out, bored by this. She didn't really care, even when Jiraiya tried to convince her with the same method he used on Naruto.
I doubt the woman knows a technique better than chidori.
Kazumi then frowned when watching Naruto think otherwise as he instantly agreed and got excited over the thought.She thought back to Sasuke's new ability, just as jealous as Naruto. She only had water and wind related ninjutsu capabilities. It wasn't much of her strongest suits either, hence why she lacked lightning release."Count me out... I'm not going somewhere with some random old guy, Naruto." Kazumi proceeded to walk ahead."Really?" Jiraiya smirked, casually looking away with a whistle, "Last time I heard, she's renowned for her sly genjutsu's. The same kind of stealth you'd see in the movies!"Now that interested her, making Kazumi childishly pout and slowly look over her shoulder, stopping in her tracks."She sounds pretty skilled... suspiciously skilled." Kazumi continued to walk, slowing back to their pace.Jiraiya chuckled, "Incredibly hot, too!" Naruto felt even more enthusiastic of the idea, pulling Kazumi's arm, "Alright, now we really gotta go! Come on, Kaz! It'll be fun! He's not that pervy..." Though he felt hesitant towards his late words.Kazumi heaved out a defeated sigh, "Alright..." She firmly turned her head away, hiding an embarrassed blush. She did not agree because of his statement, but rather the mysteriousness of Jiraiya. He spoke like he knew Sanjiro, and decided she'd see what the man was like. It wasn't every day Sanjiro had specific people he respected."Yes!!" Naruto cheered, pulling at her before letting go, "Let's pack up right now! Last one back to Pervy-Sage owes the other six bowls of ramen!!" He dashed ahead. Jiraiya raised an intrigued brow by their relationship, remaining amused by their interactions."Six?!" She gasped out, trying to calculate the price in her head. Upon the amount getting higher, she kicked off from her idle shock, straight at Naruto's tail.The blond Uzumaki shrieked, creating shadow clones in hopes to distract her. Although the girl simply punched them into smoke, disappearing from his sight. Jiraiya placed a hand to his chin, smirking in deep thought by her familiar craftiness.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Kazumi stood outside the gate's to the inner Konohagakure village. Their goal was to stop off at the red light district somewhere in Hima, relatively close to the inner streets of the hidden village. Jiraiya stood near Kazumi, wondering how much longer they would have to wait for Naruto. 
I can't believe this guy got signed permission to take me out... To a red light district at that...
The young Kumo crossed her arms, wearing her worn backpack on her shoulder. It had all the necessities she'd need for a short trip."Is that brat always late like this?" Jiraiya pouted his lips out, squinting when noticing Naruto's faint figure struggling to run towards them in the distance."Not as worse as our sensei." Kazumi replied. Jiraiya raised a brow.Naruto panted, dragging a ridiculously large sack. If he weren't wearing orange, but red, he'd look like a young Santa Claus."Let's go! I made it..." He trailed off, flinching in shock at her laidback appearance, "What the hell?! How did you make it before me? I didn't even see you in my apartment!!" He yelled, taken aback. She scratched her ear, smirking, "Six ramens... wow..."Irked, he balled his fist, "Damn it!! My paychecks depends on our missions now!" He whined, his statement coming out quite depressing."Are you really serious about this? You're bringing everything you have... Aren't we just going for a trip?" Jiraiya crossed his arms like Kazumi, merely watching the blond continue to struggle. "Unnnhh!!! Actually! I take back it back!! I was just joking, Kaz — Uhhnnn!!!" He strained, pulling the overly heavy bag. Kazumi sighed, walking over to Naruto as she placed her hand on his shoulder to stop him. Naruto whipped his head to her confused."I'm calling the bet off. I also have extra stuff with me anyway." She pointed over her back towards the backpack, "You don't need that." She gave him a look.Naruto's distress had completely disappeared as he grinned, "Okay! But... we're not sharing toothbrushes or anything... are we? —"Kazumi instantly cut him off with a pained grimace, "Of course not! I have left over yen! I'll buy you the necessities." Jiraiya laughed, "I like you!" He complimented, but it felt far from that.
Un-like me!
The blonde girl forced a smile, beginning to have second thoughts as the three started walking away from the gates. After traveling through a forest for a while, they went through a certain clearing. It was a long walkway road. Some passerby were hikers or normal people taking a stroll. The day felt calm, and Kazumi was at ease.She definitely needed as much fresh air as she could. Her skin was still pale, but staying out in the blazing sun made her feel healed inside."Hey, hey!! Pervy-Sage, what sort of jutsu are you going to teach me this time?" Naruto asked, gleeful.Kazumi tilted her head to the two males. She recalled Naruto's exceeding performance during the chuunin exams, causing her to gaze at Jiraiya. "This is the guy who trained you?" Kazumi inquired, finally interested in Jiraiya's existence. Jiraiya purposely posed, trying to act natural. But his goofiness made it hard for her to keep a serious impression of him. She could see the faint twitch in his lips at her reference to him being 'this guy', as opposed to 'legendary sennin' he claimed to be. 'Pervy-sage' did not help his identity in the slightest."Yeah! It took a while since he was so busy gawking at the girl's hot springs..." Naruto frowned at the memory, keeping a close eye on his sensei.Jiraiya playfully smacked the top of his head, "Lying little brat!" "Hey! Ouch! I'm no liar you old man!" The Uzumaki cried out, rubbing the top of his head."Uh... I see... You're one of those eccentrics, huh?" Kazumi tried to remain nice, though her disgusted scowl failed her.Jiraiya had continuous weights of harsh words dropping onto his shoulders like dramatic rocks at their reactions."Hey you kids... don't you know what an amazing person I am?" He frowned, but suddenly posed with an ugly expression, "It's been said that I'm the Toad-sennin! And that's not all... In the north, in the south, east and west... the Legendary Three ninja's white-haired frog-summoning-child! The handsome man that can silence a crying child! He's Jiraiya-Sama, that's me!" His hand were stretched out to their faces, winking."Huh? More like make the child cry..." Naruto blinked, walking ahead with a sniggering Kazumi beside him.Jiraiya paused to stare at their backs, his cheeks burnt red from embarrassment. He quickly caught up, pouting down at the two blondes."Excuse me, excuse me, but the great pervert-sennin's travelling companion is me, isn't it? Kaz, too, but you don't train her..." Naruto brought up, eager."The name is Jiraiya, damn it..." "I've got a hidden talent, don't I? Really? Hey, hey! Why did you choose me?! You're doing a sennin-class in cool jutsu and I'm the only one who ranks high enough to get in, right?" Naruto excitedly moved his arms around, showing off.
Is he really one of the legendary three?
Kazumi wasn't trying to say she didn't trust Naruto, but his behaviour towards the old guy was strange. She simply couldn't trust such bold claims from a man she just met."The fourth Hokage was my apprentice, and you resemble him in a funny way. That's the reason." He replied, passive.Naruto's cheeks flushed with esteem, falling into a daze."And how do you know my uncle?" Kazumi decided to ask upon the past-like topic, clutching the strap of her bag.Jiraiya smiled, "He was pretty close to the Third and a jounin when I was still chuunin rank. He's one of the few clan heads that graduated extremely early, though was hardly credited for it at the time." He then rubbed his nonexistent moustache, "Believe it or not, he didn't have such a stick up his ass back then!" Kazumi tilted her head, "Eh?" "In fact, he introduced me to the beautiful world of adult novels —""Yeah, I've heard enough. Thanks." She deeply frowned, clenching her jaw.Jiraiya grunted, turning his head away."Are you sure you're really The Jiraiya?" Kazumi asked, shaking Naruto out of his momentary daydream of becoming Hokage through Jiraiya's teachings.Jiraiya closed his eyes, nodding firmly, "Of course! Do I not radiate awesomeness?!""No."—"No!" Naruto and Kazumi both simultaneously said, too bluntly.Jiraiya froze, watching the backs of the two walk ahead after shrugging him off once more. He pulled a funny face, catching up. Naruto babbled about random topics regarding his desire of becoming Hokage. Meanwhile, Kazumi held the bridge of her nose, trying to erase the idea of Sanjiro being the reason for the books existing.Eventually, an inn appeared. "We're here!" Jiraiya pointed out the checkpoint, heading inside first with the two blonde's following straight after."What a strange town..." Naruto commented, looking around."We're staying here." Jiraiya mentioned, waving for them to get closer to the front desk.As they did, Kazumi noticed the multiple suggestive women around the area. Right... they were in the red light district, after all.One woman in particular caught their eyes, seductively pushing strands of hair over her bare shoulder. She was certainly beautiful, Kazumi would admit that. The girl even found herself blushing slightly when the woman winked her way, completely ignoring Jiraiya and Naruto.The male's roared in delight, deluding themselves. "She winked at me! Ah! My pulse has sped up!!" Jiraiya rushed to Kazumi, shakily throwing a key into her grasp, "Here is the room key. Go up to the room and have Naruto show you the chakra refining training! Or whatever, I don't care!!" As he sprinted away, Naruto pulled himself out of the blushing daze, gritting his teeth, "What the hell are you saying, pervert-sennin!!"
A faint genjutsu scent?
Kazumi paused, raising a brow at the beautiful woman. Before she could even remark, Jiraiya pulled the woman away with him like a panting dog— leaving the two blonde's in a fed-up silence."I'm saying this as your friend, Naruto, but I think you should reconsider who you call your mentors." She walked to the stairs, glancing at his frustration.He followed her, taking the steps, "Gah, I agree!! That Pervy-Sage always does this to me! 'My training' right— I can see what he really had in mind!!" Naruto vented all the way towards their door, looking like an angry chipmunk."Something tells me he made all that stuff up about that mysterious woman." Kazumi remarked. The Uzumaki grabbed chunks of his hair, pulling them with a strained groan.She gave him an understanding look, recalling the amount of times she'd see Sanjiro reading the orange books when he should be critiquing her training instead.As she unlocked the door, they stepped inside. The single bed made her sigh out of her nose, placing her backpack down to take out the rolled futon. Whilst setting it up, Naruto locked the door behind him. He stormed up to the single bed and collapsed face first. Naruto continued to complain about the old man as Kazumi patted the sheets down. When finishing up, she stood back up straight with a pair of scissors in hand, "Hey, if you're not up for that guy's training, help me out."Intrigued, Naruto tilted his head, his cheek squished against the mattress when raising a brow to her.  —_______________  Kazumi stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom, thick pieces of her hair was sprawled all over the tiled floor. Naruto was on his tippy toes behind her, trimming away with his tongue slightly out in focus."How's that?" Naruto peeked his head out from around hers, eyes widening.It was slightly uneven, though had character. Naruto cut her blonde hair all the way up to her neck. Rather than the long length she had before, it was like a wolf-cut, curling in the back of her nape. Her bangs levelled with her cheekbones, the ends sticking to her skin. Like round bob-hair, it was messily layered. Her gaze lingered longer on her face, realising she hadn't looked in the mirror in a while now. The gash wound on the left side of her lips was already faded into a white line. Beneath her eyes were small bags, evidence of her nightmares."Whoa!" Naruto admired his work, but also her more feminine structure with shorter hair, "You look more like a girl now!" "That's better..." She looked down, hoping now that her nightmares won't make her see herself as Orochimaru. Lately, she felt as if she was struggling with her self-identity. It seemed like cutting the hair off did the trick."What do we do with all the hair?" Naruto set the scissor's down, looking at the mess of blonde strands.Kazumi was too busy imagining the reactions of her peers to notice, let alone care."Leave it for —"A knock against their room's door made her stop speaking. Naruto focused his attention elsewhere, huffing at the idea of Jiraiya crawling back for a stupid request."What the hell does he want now?" Naruto huffed, crouching down to scoop up the pieces of hair with his hands.Kazumi shrugged, walking out of the bathroom to head for the door. The more she approached closer, the more an intuitive sensation caused her to be on guard. With slow movements, she reached the knob and turned it, pulling the door open. Her gold eyes met a pair of red sharingan ones. Although they weren't Sasuke's."Is Uzumaki Naruto-kun residing here?" The black-haired male with stress lines asked politely, tilting his head down at her.Kazumi brushed off strands of her cut hair from her shoulders, looking down at his attire. He wore a black cloak with red clouds. Something about the red clouds irked her, coming from someone who's clan symbolised the cloud in a much lighter colouring. As she looked back up at him, she then noticed another guy in similar attire.He had odd blue skin and a shark-like face, possessing a thick and large blade on his back. Both of their hidden village headbands had a slit through them. That, alone, was all she needed to know about the situation."Never heard of him." She instantly pushed the door closed, although his hand gripped it in time to stop it from closing.
Shit...
Kazumi slowly looked back up at him again, swallowing thickly. "Who is it?" Naruto yelled, dusting the hair off of his hands after flushing the chunks down the toilet and appearing around the corner of the doorway."Do you always keep strangers in your room?" She could hear the shark-man's smirk, amused by her attempt to hide Naruto. "Hey... What's going on..." Naruto warily approached, pushing Kazumi back from the door. She was forced to let her pressure go from the door, causing the dark-haired man to push it completely open. As Naruto got a better look of him, he had a similar thought as Kazumi."However, could this child really be the nine-tails?" The shark-man shifted the topic, doubtful upon seeing the blond boy tremble lightly.
How do they know that?
She shared a look with Naruto, concerned. "Apologies to pause whatever you were up to." The dark-haired male continued his unsettling politeness, "But, Naruto-kun, we would like you to come with us." His red gaze pierced into Naruto's, "Come out of the room..."Naruto instantly obliged, stepping out of the room. Kazumi quickly followed, placing a firm hand on his shoulder in hopes to ease him."Hey," Kazumi lowered her face, her expression hardening up at them, "I don't care how strong you might be or how much you try to scare us, I won't hand him over to you." She stated, feeling anxious bubbles in her blood.The shark-male grinned, revealing his sharp set of teeth over his cloak's covering, "Aren't you a funny one? Let's see if you start caring once I tie you up and have you helplessly watch as I cut both his legs off." He declared, raising his hand to hover over the handle of his weapon.
Is this the karma I get from eating that ramen?
Kazumi slid her hand into her pouch, gripping the nearest kunai's handle.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

'Is this the karma I get from eating that ramen?'

Kazumi slid her hand into her pouch, gripping the nearest kunai's handle.
  ✧˖*°࿐  "Kumo Kazumi-San, I suggest you step aside." The dark-haired male spoke, knowing her name, "Kisame, have patience."Her brows furrowed, confused."Itachi-San, it's time we got started. We don't need them running around, I can deal with it." Kisame gripped the handle, his gaze intensifying.
Itachi?
Kazumi recalled not caring about the clans she knew of. But if there was one memory she engraved, it was the time she was forced to meet Sasuke years before the Uchiha clan's massacre. Of course she knew of Itachi. How could she forget such a humble man? Her confusion twisted to surprise.
If I recall as far back, he stopped Sasuke and I from ripping each other's throats out when we were little... 
She almost deadpanned at the memory, her expression nearly faltering.
He's also the one who massacred his own kin at merely thirteen-years-old...
The shark-man forced himself back into her view, breaking her thoughts."Well...?" Kisame trailed off, ready to brutally murder the two.Before anything could occur, a person's steps made them all pause."Uchiha Itachi..." Sasuke's voice appeared, making them all turn to him."Good grief, today is a special day, don't you think? This is the second time I've seen another sharingan." Kisame commented."I will... kill you!" Sasuke had his sharingan flaring, his expression eerily cold.Kazumi would've never thought she'd get stuck in the middle of a family feud. Although... it wasn't just any regular family feud, since the two Uchiha's looked about ready to kill each other. She tried to take a step back, but the shark-man strongly glared down at her."Fidget around once more, and I'll show you what it's like to breathe without lungs." He warned, menacing.
Not sure I'd like to know...
The girl glared back, catching herself on her heel. Naruto was in front of her, stunned out of his own mind. It didn't surprise Kazumi that Naruto was clueless about Sasuke's family history. Almost everyone in the village knew of the fact that Itachi, first born and ex-heir, had wiped out his entire clan.Sasuke ignored Kisame, his senses heightened with furious red eyes. In that moment, Kazumi noticed the young Uchiha had two tomoes.She frowned, glancing at a worried Naruto. He gave her a knowing glance, brows furrowed as if ready to attack— however, the older Uchiha suddenly spoke."Cool it." Was all he said, tone soft yet his face was emotionless.The shark-man abided, clicking his tongue."That sharingan." He turned his head away from Kazumi and towards Sasuke, "You seem to be familiar with Itachi. Who is this guy?" He then widely smirked at Itachi."He is my younger brother." Itachi replied, unbothered behind his harsh gaze.This fact didn't surprise Kazumi as much as it did for Naruto."I heard the entire Uchiha clan was wiped out... by you. A similar tragedy as the last."The young Kumo tensed. Before the wipe out of Uchiha, it was Kumo."Ah, now I know why I recognise that last name." Kisame flickered his eyes to Kazumi, mockingly, "It's off the shinobi records, so mysterious..."She lowered her gaze, conflicted by his remark.
Off the records? What's that supposed to imply?
Kazumi uncomfortably thinned her lips. She raised her head, stern eyes towards Itachi. With his back facing Sasuke, he then turned around to completely face him. There was a massive difference in their expressions. Sasuke appeared to be betrayed behind his fury whilst Itachi shown indifference.Suddenly, a glowing blue light emitted from Sasuke, specifically down to where his outstretched and strained hand was. Chidori."I've been wanting to say this to you... I've lived hating you. And also that I have lived only to kill you." He raised his arm, forming a chidori as he snarled, "I have lived for this!"The shark-man wasn't paying attention to Kazumi anymore, making her swiftly step back like she wanted to. She ended up yanking Naruto by the arm as well the moment Sasuke started dashing towards them at a heightened speed. He was in for the kill.Itachi stayed where he was, not even twitching like a normal person would've.By the time Naruto looked away from Kazumi after not receiving a look from her, his eyes continued to widen when seeing the older Uchiha's hand effortlessly grasp Sasuke's wrist. The chidori had exploded the wall opposite to theirs from the redirection. Naruto then clasped his hands together in a sign, gathering chakra.Kazumi whipped her head to him the second she felt it, startled.
Hold on!
"Naruto —" She cut herself off with a wince, taking in Naruto's immense, vile chakra.
The tailed-beast!
She recoiled away."This bastard...!" Sasuke grunted.Itachi harshly twisted his wrist, "You're in the way." A chilling pop of bones then echoed to her ears."GUAAH!! Sasuke dropped to the ground, pressing his broken arm into his stomach in pain.Kazumi looked at Sasuke, horrified. In that moment, the world seemed to wobble?"Sasuke!!" Naruto yelled, turning his hand sign downwards."Too late!" The shark-man said, swiping his weapon down at him.Kazumi snapped her attention back to Naruto, sensing the weapon nearing at a fast speed. She kicked Naruto, applying chakra in time to put a reasonable distance. Although Naruto's vile chakra already disappeared as he skidded to a stop.
What was that?!
"Ouch!" Naruto fell to his bottom, startled when staring down at his chakra-less state."My 'samehada' eats up chakra." He answered her thought, ignoring Naruto's struggle to continue as he pushed himself up from the ground, "You're fast, but I'll just do the same to you! Now that his jutsu is gone, you shouldn't be anymore trouble." Kisame swung his blade once more, "First of all, should I chop off —"Kazumi's fantomugan was activated, dodging the whip of coloured chakra in a black and white view with a spinning sidestep. But her wobbling vision had her smack her shoulder against the wall, catching herself. This caused Kisame to momentarily pause, taken aback."Kaz!!" Naruto gasped, rushing to her.
First that guy, Zabuza, and now him? What a knockoff.
"...A leg? An arm? Or perhaps our heads? I've heard it all before. You're nothing special." She ended his sentence, pulling her kunai out from her pouch the moment he swung his bandaged blade again.She stepped back, clashing her kunai against his sword."It's no use, I'll just transfer your chakra out with our blades touching!" Kisame recovered, riled up by her sassy boldness.Kazumi felt the applied chakra from her force being sucked away, her strength weakening. With clenched teeth, she focused the chakra to pull away, attempting to activate gravity through the weapon's contact. A thick wind whirled around her arms, slithering to his blade. Although the fast moving rate of her chakra being sapped caused her to quickly break away, realising the danger of it."Damn it!" She hissed, stumbling backwards and into space when managing to dodge another slash of chakra. The wall she left had a slash through it, a fate her body would've had if it weren't for her reflexes.Seeing the perfect opening opportunity, Kisame prepared himself to swing at her again. Naruto's eyes went wide, his figure sliding in front of her, preparing to take the hit. Kazumi's eyes mirrored his, reaching an arm out to grab at the Uzumaki's shoulder."No —!" Kazumi gasped, her clan eye deactivating when unable to reach him.Naruto squeezed his eyes closed, slapping his hands together in attempts to try again.A sweat dropped from her temple, pupils shakily looking over the shark-man's shoulder to see Sasuke still in pain on the floor. She then looked back at him and his bandaged blade nearing Naruto, feeling utterly hopeless in the heat of the alarming moment.Wind whirled, cutting the shark-man's train of thought when a frog the size of a boulder appeared in front of Naruto and Kazumi. His demeanour faltered when the frog's padded arm caught the blade in time, blocking the weapon from hitting them.Jiraiya came up behind the two, holding a familiar beautiful woman over his shoulder with a smirk.Kazumi's appreciative expression twisted back down into a frown."You don't seem to know very much about me. I'm better at getting girls than they are at getting me. Even though it doesn't look like it, it's my specialty." Jiraiya spoke, thrusting his arm out, "I, Jiraiya, this epitome of manliness! I will fall for no woman's feminine wiles! When you're someone like me, you'll only have to flash that sexiness to have women fall at your feet!!"
Uncle, I can't believe you read his novels...
Even Kazumi would never stoop that low if she was a man. She rolled her eyes back down to Jiraiya, stepping as far away as she could from the man. Naruto practically yelled out the thoughts for her, in a much childish manner."OH YEAH? That girl just winked and you were scamping after her! And she wasn't even winking at you!!" He shouted, pointing a finger to him.Jiraiya scowled.
Naruto noticed that?
Kazumi looked away, embarrassed."And now you're trying to look all cool and classy— you pervy sennin!" He finished humbling the man.Jiraiya leaned down, "I get it! Hey! Can you stop calling me that in front of others?!"Naruto puffed out his cheeks like a chipmunk, "Screw that! It's those guys over there we should be worrying about, pervy-sennin!"Kazumi cracked a tiny smirk, though dropping back into a frown when looking back at the scene. Sasuke was still on the floor."Take the lady, random lady." Jiraiya gently pulled the unconscious woman off of his shoulder and onto Kazumi's.Kazumi silently huffed, "It's Kazumi..." She took the woman immediately out of concern. As she placed the woman on the ground against the wall, Jiraiya pulled a face at her new hairstyle. Ignoring his silent judgment, Kazumi stepped protectively in front of the woman. She didn't know why she felt so grateful of his appearance.The shark-man lowly sniggered, "So it's one of the legendary three ninjas, the great Jiraiya, eh? You like beautiful women but we weren't thinking that such a simple method could successfully stall you away."
I should've known something wasn't right with that genjutsu trace.
Kazumi's expression hardened."You guys know the pervy sennin's real identity?" Naruto asked.Jiraiya awkwardly added, "Er, not really, I wouldn't call that a 'real' identity.""In any case, it seems you have already undone the genjutsu binding the woman."
Hmph!
Kazumi crossed her arms, irked.
How could I forget why I came here in the first place? There's no sly, genjutsu master here!! 
She assumed it was because she was so caught up in the moment with Naruto to remember or fully notice. The unconscious woman softly breathed out from behind her."You guys wanted to draw me away so you used the sharingan to cast genjutsu on the woman, huh? Not a very manly way of doing things." Jiraiya glared.Itachi's brows furrowed from behind his rouge headband."So, you really are after Naruto." Jiraiya concluded.
What would they want his tailed-beast for?
Kazumi frowned, taking a nervous look at Naruto's perplexed face."No wonder Kakashi knew about this. You were the source of information. To 'abduct Naruto', those were the orders given to us by the higher echelons of our organisation. The 'Akatsuki'." He added.Kazumi pulled a face, now taking in the design of their cloaks. The cloud patterns were like an insult to her clan symbol.The frog disappeared into smoke, "You won't get Naruto." Jiraiya spoke in a matter-of-fact voice."And why not?" Itachi challenged."Because right now, right here, you two will die by my hand." Jiraiya swiftly answered.Kazumi raised a brow at him, impressed by the sternness. Maybe there was something cool about Jiraiya after all."Don't do it." Sasuke's voice strained out, standing back up onto his feet, "This guy is mine!!" His tone sounded crazed as his breathing was rigid.Kazumi pursed her lip, looking back at the younger Uchiha. His fury was pushing through his broken bones. It was uncanny to behold."I have absolutely no interest in you right now." Itachi kicked him tons of feet away."Sasuke!" Naruto gasped, "You assholes!" Naruto pushed forward.Kazumi tightly closed her eyes at the uncomfortable sound of Sasuke's pain, snapping her arm out in front of Naruto to push hard against his chest.Confused, he looked at her."What —""Naruto, they want you." Kazumi reminded in a harsh whisper. "One wrong move, and they might grab you in one finale swoop." She couldn't allow that to happen, her eyes opening into slants.The Uzumaki swallowed a tight lump, stressed."This fight is mine." Sasuke heaved, "Come on!!"
Sasuke's losing rationality here...
Her brows creased up, disheartened by the distressing scene. Itachi had his head lowered, ominously walking straight to Sasuke's sitting figure against a wall. As he reached him, he punched him in the gut, then elbowing him. The brutality went on and on, stunning Kazumi into silence at the sight. Itachi continued, consistently thrusting his hand into Sasuke's weak points, and causing blood to be spat out from his mouth once more.Naruto grabbed Kazumi's arm for assurance, clenching it. They both wore rattled looks.Kazumi had no clue what to do. Her common sense told her it would be suicide to intervene, yet the frustrated part of her senses wanted to dash forward and angrily hit blows onto the older Uchiha. Naruto felt the same, though leaning closer to the frustrated part as he bared his teeth like a rabid dog."No mercy at all..." The shark-man commented with a sharp grin.Sasuke fell limp to the ground, and Itachi picked him up by the throat, pinning him to the wall.An eerie silence filled the room, Kazumi's heart was pounding out of her chest as if it was the loudest in the room. Finally, Sasuke's ear-piercing screams flooded their senses, making her heart sink and her hand cover her mouth."Itachi, I advise you against using your eye so many times in a single day." Kisame remarked, again.
He's a monster...
Kazumi swallowed thickly, comparing Itachi to Orochimaru's brutality."ASSHOLES!" Naruto roared, pushing Kazumi's arm as he leaped forth.Her hand fell from her lips, pushing herself off her heels when reaching out for him. Instead of pulling him back in time, the tips of her fingertips grazed his collar instead.The shark-man thrusted his sword near his legs, making Kazumi's eyes widen."Naruto!" She hitched her breath, regripping the kunai.Kazumi then dashed for Naruto, preparing to spin around and deflect the strange weapon from touching his body. However, it never came to either of them. The room became sticky, like that of a toad's oesophagus. Kazumi would've grimaced, disgusted, if it weren't for the situation making her thank the pervy man.The toad's oesophagus walls pulled Sasuke in, acting as a shield from Itachi. The flooring had Kisame's weapon pulled through from the tip, and their feet all entrapped."Too bad, Itachi, Kisame. You are already inside my stomach!" Jiraiya grinned.Kazumi ignored Jiraiya's sudden yapping, struggling to move her feet from the sticky flooring of a toad's mouths' insides. However, the consistent use of frog abilities caused a realisation to form.
He really is... The Jiraiya-sennin...
She snapped her head over her shoulder to his serious confidence."Wha... What the heck is going on here!?" Naruto stammered, taken aback."Naruto, Kazumi! Stay still you two! Don't worry it's just my jutsu." Jiraiya reassured.However, the inside feeling of a toad's mouth wasn't entirely reassuring for Kazumi.
I can hardly move...
Kazumi grimaced deeper, wanting to move but chose to stay still as the older man issued. She figured it was like quicksand. Gripping tighter on her kunai, her gaze constantly flickered from multiple voices."Kisame, come!" Itachi ordered."Shit!" Kisame grunted, pulling his sword out from the sticky surface."Ah!" Naruto gasped, watching them run away."No one sneaks away without my awareness from here!" Jiraiya smirked, his hands still pressed against the ground.The fleshy walls began to close in, intending to swallow the rogue's whole. Suddenly, in a blink, a vibration occurred and they disappeared, leaving a destroyed hole from the far end of the flesh-filled corridor.
No way...
Kazumi's arm dropped to her side, her grasp weakening against her kunai. She then slowly slid it back into her pouch. The stickiness subsided, giving her better mobility in the squishiness. "They're gone!" Naruto shouted, he then went to inspect the unusual blackness of the hole."All right! Well, now, everyone okay after that?" Jiraiya asked, crossing his arms in triumph.Jiraiya quickly warned for Naruto not to go near it straight after. Although Kazumi ignored both of them to rush towards Sasuke instead.She pulled him out from the wall, gently setting him down with a worried look. Looking at Sasuke's downcast face, his expression was blanked, his eyes lifeless."Sasuke, can you hear me?" She quietly asked, snapping her fingers in front of him.Sasuke didn't flinch nor blink. That was enough to make her sharply inhale. "Kaz... What's wrong with him?!" Naruto asked, running over to her as he watched her inspect Sasuke's fazed state.Jiraiya had finished sealing the black flames away."I'm not sure... shock?" She muttered, pressing her fingers against Sasuke's cold, faint pulse. Her gold eyes faded to grey, checking his chakra. It was present, but at a critical level.
That Itachi must've hit all the points in the body...
She blinked back to gold, weary. It was a small guess since she didn't have Hyuuga eyes to confirm it. "DYNAMIC ENTRY!!" A deep yet uncomfortably familiar voice yelled out, appearing inside the room as he landed a kick against Jiraiya's side.
It's Lee-San's sensei!
Kazumi's brows raised, snapping her head to the bowel-cut man.Jiraiya recovered with a nose plug inside of his nostril, frowning with wrinkles at the man with thick brows.Gai awkwardly scratched the back of his head, "Oh no... sorry for the direct attack. I was in a rush with using my forehead protector as a mirror... I didn't mean it." He apologetically chuckled, "The forehead protector didn't give a clear enough picture, so I hit your face by accident."
Sounds like a lie...
"You didn't do it on purpose...?" Jiraiya squinted.Kazumi rolled her eyes away, looking back down at Sasuke. She frowned, sympathetically staring at his empty eyes. He was in a trance, like even a slap wouldn't pull him out of it. Sasuke looked like he was in a coma with his eyes wide open. Without thinking, Kazumi knelt down, swiftly lifting him into her arms. She hoisted him up, holding him bridal-style."There's nothing you can do." Jiraiya suddenly said from beside her. "Sasuke needs to get to the hospital. He seems to have fractured a rib. And for some reason... the sharingan caused a mind attack to make him lose his senses."
So his chakra points are alright?
She exhaled out of her nose in relief. On the mention of a fractured rib, Kazumi instantly supported his back with her arms. She watched his broken wrist fall limp at his side, causing a twist in her stomach.Naruto nervously looked at him, then Kazumi, then back to the older man."Pervert-sennin! Sasuke... is he going to be okay?!" Naruto's voice almost trembled.Jiraiya replied, "He took a tolerable amount of mental damage."Naruto shook with anger, "Damn it... What the hell!! What did that guy do to Sasuke?! Kaz, Pervert sennin, what do you say? A change of plans...! Some time ago, it wouldn't mean anything... But not this time! Time to track down those 'black mantle' men!""Naruto..." Kazumi mumbled, frowning."I will take of business with that guy! And since that's the case, I'm going after him!" He loudly declared, furious."And die?" Kazumi's monotonous input made Jiraiya nod.Naruto was hardly the rational type."Hmph. You go after him right now, and you'll be killed." Jiraiya huffed, "That guy's on a whole different level. He came because of you. His distance is the only stopping him from —"Naruto threw his arm out in protest, "Well! What kind of guy always escapes? Everyday, being fearful, living in a nightmare! —""Shut up for a minute!" Jiraiya spat, shocking Naruto, "You are weak."Naruto then fell silent.Jiraiya looked at Kazumi's gold eyes for a long moment, frowning deeper.This made her raise an awkward brow, wondering if the man was silently asking for her to scold him as well. But that was far from what he was thinking."Excuse me, Gai," Jiraiya turned to the bowl-cut man, "this child's feelings are understandable, but we must quickly rescue Sasuke."Gai looked down at Sasuke in her arms, "Kakashi also has approximately the same jutsu... He stays in bed until his senses return to normal.""Kakashi-sensei?!" Naruto yelled.—"Kakashi-sensei...?" Kazumi synced, much quieter as if a confused mumble."When students are injured... well, this time I think it's harmed the mind... medical care specialists should be around in case this should continue to happen, don't you think?" Gai thought out, unsure himself."So... to go searching for that person..."Gai's eyes widened at his suggestion, "That person... could it be?"Kazumi's eyes narrowed, confused.Naruto tilted his head, looking between their eyes like a lost puppy."She is one of the three like me. This will work as a payment for the illness."
One of the legendary three?
Kazumi looked down at the ground, her grip on Sasuke firming. She tried to recall them, cursing herself in her mind for not paying attention to Sanjiro whenever he'd reminisce to her. Firstly, Jiraiya flashed in her mind. Deadpanning, she thought long and hard on the other nin. All she could remember was the fact that it was a woman skilled in medical ninjutsu.
What was her name...?
"I'll take him." Gai cut her train of thought, giving her a reassuring grin.Kazumi shrugged, carefully handing Sasuke's limp body to Gai.  —_______________  Jiraiya, Kazumi, Naruto and Gai — who was now carrying Sasuke like a piggy back ride — stood just outside the main entrance to the Leaf village."Jiraiya-Sama, please find Tsunade-Sama... and bring her back to us!" Gai bided, confident in Jiraiya's abilities.Kazumi stood next to Gai, apathetically glancing at Sasuke every now and then to make sure he was still breathing.The name of the legendary female sennin was: Tsunade. But, they hadn't a clue where her whereabouts were."Don't you worry, we'll find her!" Naruto loudly spoke from opposite them and next to Jiraiya, "Take care of Sasuke... Kaz, Mr. Thick-Brows!" He clenched onto Kazumi's worn backpack strap.Before they reached the gate, Kazumi told Naruto to keep her backpack. There was nothing inside it in which she'd need anyway. With the money left by her clan, she could buy back all her necessities.Jiraiya placed his hand on Naruto's head ruffling his hair. Kazumi instantly zoned out by that action, immediately thinking back to a memory of Sanjiro doing the same to her. This caused her to lower her face slightly, her eyes feeling heavy and tired. There wasn't an hour that would go by where she wouldn't count down the possibility of Sanjiro waking up. She couldn't admit it out loud, but she started to miss the old man's rude awakenings and exhausting trainings.She didn't even realise how far into her trance she was until Naruto repeatedly shouted for Kazumi's name, even using her full name."Are you sure you don't wanna come? It'd be super awesome if you did!" Naruto asked once more, nervously smiling. He clearly wanted to spend more time with her.Kazumi flinched her head up to him, her lips pursed before speaking, "I'm sure. Besides, I'll need to take care of Sakura... I'm sure she'll be on edge for days." She spoke with a reassuring smile, easing Naruto's small doubts.If the situation was different, and it was back to square one— when they had all just been teamed up as Team Seven, Kazumi wouldn't have bothered herself with them. But, things were different now. And she started to enjoy the new.It was certainly better than her isolated days back at the academy.Naruto frowned, "Unnn! Fine! That's reasonable I guess." Despite shrugging it off, he was still bummed out."Just don't get my backpack ruined or worse... destroyed." Kazumi sighed, "It's the only one I have."
And to be frank, I'd rather not constantly waste money.
Thought the girl who had a thick load of cash in her compound safe... somewhere. Kazumi's the only one in Sanjiro's will and testament anyways. But the bag was special. It had a different meaning than just a worn backpack. It was one of the only things Sanjiro gifted to her. It had been around with her since birth, and all."Don't worry! I'll keep this backpack guarded with my life!" Naruto beamed, throwing a thumbs up."Ah... you don't need to put your life on the line." Kazumi mumbled, shaking her head."Cute little brats." Jiraiya mused, ignoring their edgy scowls, "Well, see you, then." Jiraiya waved with a smile, turning around with Naruto.As the two walked away, Naruto continued to look over his shoulder at her. He'd consistently wave, until even at a point where he could no longer be seen."Amusing kid." Gai grinned, looking down at Kazumi, "Fashionable new hair, Kumo heir! Care to take this power-up suit?!" He pulled out a latex costume similar to Lee's outfit.But Kazumi wasn't smiling back, "No thanks." Her response made his grin awkwardly falter."No worries!" He looked away, holding back tears. —_______________  Kazumi sat in a chair within the hospital room, her body leaned back with her leg over the other. She looked out the window, gazing up at the sky filled with clouds. No matter what the situation was, the clouds in the sky always seemed to fill a calmness inside.
Does Uncle dream of clouds, too?
Her breathing was slow, steady, and bleak. Sasuke's breathing was similar, though much rigid and weaker from where he laid in the hospital bed close by. Gai had already left the moment he placed Sasuke down in the room and issued for doctors to take care of him.
Perhaps this 'Tsunade' can wake Uncle up, too...
After a long minute, the door suddenly swung open. Kazumi looked away from the window, not surprised to see Sakura's frantic state. She rushed inside after clumsily closing the door from behind, stumbling over to his bed."Kazumi!" Sakura's head snapped up to her, "What's wrong with Sasuke-kun?! Ah... AH! Your hair!!" Her eyes had flinched to Kazumi's short hair. It was even shorter than Sakura's."Yeah, I cut it." Kazumi calmly replied, "And... he's had a mind attack from the sharingan." Sakura's brows creased up, looking down at Sasuke as she immediately grabbed his cold hand. She stood, eyes shakily locked on him. Kazumi could tell she wanted to cry, but her eyes only squinted in a heavy gaze."Where's Naruto?""On a mission with some guy." Kazumi continued to swiftly respond to her, "They're looking for a woman who can help Sasuke."Sakura immediately felt relieved by that, her tense shoulders relaxing."Why didn't you go with him?" Sakura curiously asked, reluctantly pulling her hand away from Sasuke's to take a seat beside her female friend."I wanted to stay here with you." Kazumi smiled at her, "Naruto can handle himself fine, he's got an alright mentor... I guess."Sakura returned the smile, her hands raising to play with the short strands of Kazumi's hair. Kazumi didn't mind, enjoying the company of her favourite kunoichi."I like it!" Sakura grinned with a giggle, "Welcome to the short-hair club! I'd invite Ino, but she'd rather die than cut off all her hair..." Kazumi snorted, "That's a relief... Naruto was the one who cut it."Sakura's brows raised, "Eh? He's surprisingly good! You look a lot more feminine... Weird, I always thought long hair meant femininity." She sheepishly scratched her cheek, dropping her hand from Kazumi's short hair.They fell into a comfortable silence. Sakura gazed at Sasuke's resting face whilst Kazumi looked to the clouds again."I hope that when Naruto comes back... Everything can go back to normal again." Sakura bitterly whispered, her smile straining slightly.Kazumi looked to Sakura, then to Sasuke's curse mark on his neck. It had an unfamiliar circle lining surrounding it now as if it's form was changing. "Yeah..." The young Kumo glanced back at the slow moving clouds, swallowing.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

There's a tree in all of my memories. Although I never went to it, never touched it. But my eyes did. I could outline it, measure it to be taller than me from the farthest distance. It's thickness both ancient and comforting, like there was a protector inside of it. Or at least, that was how my old man would view it. He'd never say it, but I just knew it in his faraway gaze.That I knew the tree meant everything to him. More than my own itching existence.When I come back to my senses, the eyes of servants fall to me. I was never one to constantly make demands, but their hawk-like eyes made it feel otherwise. Like a computer screen, they never once shown genuine emotion. I'd catch them obeying every duty and order from my old man for all the hours of a single day. How easy they could wear a smile then so suddenly turn their backs and drop their smiles into attentive frowns.Perhaps they had been through a lot, or at least seen too much. My old man made it clear with his stern eyes that could silence even the Hokage. And not just because they were close, but because even the Third left him alone.Overall, Kumo Sanjiro is a miserable old man with a reclusive energy that seems to latch forever in the air. However, something about my deceased mother's uncle gravitated me to him. It wasn't just his strictness that could earn the respect of God's, nor his intimidating aura that makes a child begin to tear up, but the littlest of cracks of his tough persona instead. I only watched him from afar since he never came to me first unless necessary. As young and small as I was, I assumed he had no idea how to care for a child that was abruptly dropped onto him. I thought of it as confusing, seeing as he happened to be the only clan head in the village who never once married.Did he ever get lonely? What even counted as lonely? Our signature frowns? Our blank stares? I pieced a lot in a short amount of time. Kumo Sanjiro was just like me, Kumo Kazumi. But not because of our shared name. No... rather the longing.He longed for that tree as much as I longed for his gaze. I wanted him to look at me, notice my existence. I grew tired of staring at the familiar tall wall of his back. Although I knew such wishes were selfish since I, myself, had walls of my own.Then there was the thought: 'Perhaps I exist to cease his loneliness?'In time, I found a way to slither myself through the cracks in his walls. Sometimes without even trying. I commented on anything I could find of him. How his fingers twitched against the old cane after every traditional meeting. Or when he'd sit on the wooden steps outside, never once looking away from the tree. Even his firmness when protecting me from marriage offers. He held such a strong negative view for arranged marriages.I never knew why. Part of myself couldn't help but feel grateful for that. And that seemed to attract me more to the grumpy, lonesome old man. At least I still remember the first sentence I spewed that had his eyes on me for the first time ever.
"Is that woman my mother?" Kazumi stood behind the kneeling old man, his hands intertwined together.

Sanjiro had his eyes on Kazumi over his shoulder, although her gaze slowly turned to the frame. A smiling beautiful woman next to a man she seemed to cherish. The emotion in the frame was a complete contrast to the dull, pale world around Kazumi.

"Yes." He simply replied, standing up from the shrine.

"May I ask how she died?" The young Kumo's curiosity was dry.

Sanjiro's eyes slightly scrunched, his eyes holding Kazumi's for the longest time, "Maternal mortality."  He finally looked away, "Your father... like the rest of our clan: from the Third Shinobi War..."

There was something empty about those words.

"Shinobi... Huh..." Kazumi pursed her lips out, disinterested. She couldn't completely understand why her clan was sent out to die. It did not make sense.
The word 'Shinobi' stuck with me for a while. My old man had the symbol on a headband, though he never wore it. I began researching about it. I even went as far as to studying the meaning behind it. Yet it was still hard to understand. In an amidst of confusion, I turned to the smartest guy I knew. Well, someone I was forced to know.
"Like I'd know. The word 'Shinobi' has multiple meanings for everyone." A tired, focused voice spoke, studying the shogi board.

Kazumi moved a piece, bored, "Are you just too lazy to answer?"

A young Shikamaru tensed, "I usually don't mind light conversation over brain boosting matters, but that question is just too complex right now." He then moved his own piece, leaning back with crossed arms and a triumph smirk, "I win, again."

"Damn... I was close." She muttered, staring at Shikamaru's winning pieces.

"What was that?" He tilted his head, pulling a lazy frown.

Kazumi's hand roughly gripped the corner of the floor table, her brows furrowed as she strongly yanked it over. Shikamaru's eyes went wide as he watched his precious shogi board getting launched across the room, the pieces flying everywhere.

"Seriously, again...?!"

Kazumi stood up, ignoring his amusing stiffness, "Same game next time, yeah?" She controlled the feeling of destruction inside her bones, oddly holding back her intense actions whenever it came to Shikamaru.

He only let out a long sigh in response, "You're the only person who makes me want to purposely lose..." He remarked, his lazy pupils dreading the thought of having to pick up the mess.
In the end, I never got the answer to that question. Even as I hopped from different libraries, read through random books regarding shinobi ways, and even interrogated uncomfortable jounin's, I got nothing.I guess my determination led me to the latter option...
"Sanjiro-Sama, please train me."  Kazumi grabbed his robe's sleeve, staring up at his rounded eyes.

They dropped into slants, "No." As he turned to face his back to her, Kazumi slapped her hands together, copying a hand sign from a book. The action made him look over his shoulder upon sensing weak chakra.

"One more night, and I will show you my potential!" She released her hands, a small whip of wind dispersing.

His brows knitted uncomfortably together, "You... wish to prance around as a shinobi?" He slowly questioned her intentions, "You have every right to live a normal life. Get older, get married, settle down, grow even older. Then, die."

His description of a 'normal' life had Kazumi prefer the prior.

"What other way will I get you to acknowledge me?" She mirrored his frown and blank stare, both her arms down at her sides.

He fell silent. After a thick second, he glanced away, walking deeper into the compound.

"One more night." He regarded the declaration, causing Kazumi to wear a rare surprised look on her face.
Like a drug, I was addicted to the ideology of his regard. I nearly broke core and bone to conjure up the chakra levels in one night. From there on, he took interest. But, I never made enough progress. In a weird way, I was steps closer to understanding my old man and the shinobi world around me. It motivated me to push myself forward. 
"At that rate, the shinobi academy won't ever accept you." He harshly remarked with arms crossed, standing at a faraway distance.

A few servants anxiously shuffled around whilst Kazumi continued to break sweat and fall to the ground. The personal training grounds had not a hint of use, proving her uselessness.

"I thought the whole point of the academy was to shape us as shinobi..." She retorted, holding a shuriken between her fingertips.

The wooden outline of a human's weak points had not a single shuriken pierced to it, all having missed and fallen to the floor.

Sanjiro's expression hardened. The servants tensed, rushing back inside after cleaning up piles of mess. If it had been any other who'd talk back to him in such ways, they would not be able to blink before meeting face first into cold soil.

Kazumi turned around, annoyed. Ever since Sanjiro took an interest in her, she was getting every other emotion than contentment. It wasn't what she originally wanted.

"You ought to be careful with your words. If that had been said to any other superior —"
She stopped him mid sentence with a shuriken accurately thrown to his face. With a flick over her shoulder, she sent it passed his ear. A servant flinched, nearly dropping the basket of supplies.
"Sanjiro-Sama!" They gasped, relieved to see him unharmed.

Sanjiro hadn't moved, just silent. His gaze went from the pinned shuriken to her back. An arm raised for his hand to cover his lips.

"Another miss. Purposeful or not, next time... aim for my head." His brows furrowed, hiding an entertained smirk behind his hand.

Kazumi kicked a loose rock, taking note. Her boldness did not go unnoticed by him and the overworked servants.
 .......Visiting one compound to the other was nothing knew. I hardly took pleasure or care for remembering the faces of the other clans. When I look at their dynamics and eyes full of contentment, I feel more isolated than ever. Especially when it is the specific emotion I sought for. Maybe it's the way their compound was always bustling with kin. Or maybe it was the large gap between my uncle and I. Every clan and village people looked at me with acknowledgement. Every one of them but my old man.Despite all of that, how could that be fair? Out of all the clans, mine was the only one that seemed to have died out from the recent war. I think that bitterness drove the majority of my irrational ways. 
"That's enough, Sasuke!" A gruff voice demanded, making said name flinch to a stop.

Kazumi was on the ground, scratches and bruises against her skin. She was in a daze, her skin settling the stinging sensations. It was her first spar, the first time she ever engaged in a training fight.

The little Uchiha held his hand out for Kazumi to take, impressed by her taijutsu. Kazumi pushed herself up on her own, looking towards the man who had shouted. Sasuke's father, his harsh stare focused on his second son.

Sasuke was a little discouraged by her disregard and his father's gaze, but quickly shook it off. When the clan head's began chatting about academy potentiality, Kazumi kept her eyes on her reddened hands and knuckles.

Training to become shinobi was quite rough, she took note of that. But at least she wasn't 'getting older, getting married, settling down, to then die of old age after all of that', as Sanjiro tried to say before.

"You're really good! If you enter the academy in the future, I'd like for us to be friendly rivals!" Sasuke's grin stretched the little bruise on his cheek, eager.

Kazumi was not focused on him, her attention caught on Sanjiro, who spoke politely to Sasuke's father. No matter what she did, Kazumi could never be able to read him. And so, a thundering pulse coursed throughout her.

More than frustration, curiosity took over her hyperaware senses.

She leaned down, blank, prey-like eyes locked on Sasuke's dropped guard. Pushing herself forward, she landed a hit against his side before he could react, making him fall to the ground. The Uchiha head focused his attention on the erratic display although he did not do anything to stop her. Not even Sanjiro did anything, his eyes reluctantly following.

As she neared him to strike again, Sasuke rolled away. His eyes held determination, oblivious to her troubled actions taking the better of her. Once the two jumped at each other, a pair of hand's grabbed them by their collars.

The first son raised them mid-air with a peaceful smile, "That's enough now, as father said." He calmly stopped, gently releasing them, "Kazumi-chan's time with us is over."

Catching for her breath, she raised an arm to cover her mouth. Her narrow eyes focused on Itachi's politeness, uncomfortable. Even if she wanted to, an urge inside of her kept herself from acting out any further.

"Older brother...!" Sasuke frowned, "Can't she stay longer? Kazumi-San's way more fun than normal girls..."

Kazumi turned her head away, eyes scanning around for Sanjiro. She purposely skipped over the Uchiha head's interested look, finding her uncle. He was no looking at her anymore, making her finally give up.

Itachi humorously chuckled, shaking his head, "No... I think it's been settled." He slowly looked to the young Kumo, his friendly eyes holding the smallest amount of dubiety for her.

Wiping her mouth with her arm, she shielded her face from his deep black eyes. 
At that time, I did not understand why I was physically weaker. But as I compared Sasuke's training to mine, I realised that my old man hadn't given me an actual chance. It was like he had just been watching me without lifting a finger the entire time.Because of that, I spent the rest of my time sparring against others. Not just clan heir's, but regular children who aspired to become shinobi. Unintentionally, I made myself known as a prodigy to the adults. Uncle did not seem to like that.He would sit back on that wooden step, staring out at the tree. His conflicted, apathetic face held the familiar longing. At one point, I stopped seeking him out. Connecting with other people became increasingly hard. All I wanted to do was understand, but it only seemed to make me feel more lost than ever.There was an eerie indulgence in my blood. An ego that made me feel alive although I was not content. Why could I not feel it? Out of all emotions, I knew of... nothing. Instead, my mind told me I was a genius. A genius for thinking, moving and acting in certain ways.My itchy existence burned. I felt like I needed to let it melt me entirely so I could be born anew. However, my old man managed to make those feelings disperse with a single touch. His determination to rid those sensations caused me to believe that there was much more to him than I originally thought.
In an abandoned office of her compound, Kazumi read through a book, a specific sentence having her stare in a long daze: 'Never give up what you're craving'.

Setting the book aside, her steps found their way to Sanjiro after long weeks of silent touch ups to her chakra. Her bandaged knuckles were hidden beneath her long sleeves, proof of her troublemaking habits taking the best of her.

Sanjiro could sense her behind him, "Pride seems to be a curse in this near extinct lineage." He began, holding the picture of the familiar woman, "You must be aware already, but I refuse to continue training you."

"You never trained me to begin with." Kazumi's brows furrowed.

"So you were aware? It unsettles me how alike we are sometimes." He gripped the photo, staring at the tree in the distance.

She did not understand him one bit, let alone what it meant to be shinobi. There was no place in her mind that could relate to his sentence. However, his pitifulness reeled her in.

A phenomenon she could not explain. She wanted more than his acknowledgement. As she recalled all the foreign interactions human beings had with one another, one action struck out the most.

A smile. Kazumi wanted to see him smile at her.

"Okay..." She exhaled out, shuffling to sit on her knees beside him.

A silence occurred when two pairs of gold and grey eyes focused on the tree. One mind with all the answers, the other ignorant to it all.
Each passing night, I sat myself next to him. After every training I done by myself, I resided to sitting in that exact position beside him. Down to the simplest of things such as sitting beside him for every touch up, my eyes going from the glow of his chakra to the tree ahead. I thought he would stop after a while, but it was obvious he was lingering to see my improvement. And it worked. I stopped seeking out fights, stopped letting this strange desire to become the best overtake me. Maybe it was boredom, who knows.Oddly enough, I started to understand him without words. 
"What makes you want my acknowledgment?"

"You feel the same way I do."

Like a rift in the moment, Sanjiro took in her unwavering attempts. Instead of being haunted by the image of Kiyoko in her face, he started to see his past in her eyes. A potential that was overlooked so easily by his clan all those years ago, even after becoming jounin.

His lips parted, unable to stop himself from letting out the words he burrowed deep inside of him like a plague.

"I only train a Kumo who is worthy of keeping their ultimate 
abilities
 a secret. If you want to be acknowledged, can you swear to not fall into egoistic ways?" He blinked, his tone full of emptiness.

Tilting her head to him, she nodded, "I swear, Sanjiro-Sama."

His sternness relaxed. Kazumi suddenly admired his nonchalance. It was a complete difference to the rush of adrenaline. And for some reason, she wanted it much more than acting out in her troublemaking ways.

"Do not address me as such anymore."

"Uh... How do I address you?" Kazumi deadpanned.

"Just... Anything but that." He sighed, looking away from her. It was clear he sucked in all aspects that involved affection.

"Alright... Uncle." She pursed her lips into a small smile, feeling an improvement between them. But, not just improvement.

Contentment.
 .......For the past few years before the academy, I witnessed the rare sight of my uncle improving alongside me. The day he flashed the warm smile when I had managed to succeed in chakra control was like a lucky charm to me. Despite my pride always lingering and my anger towards feebleness sticking, I never once fell to egoistic ways. Oftentimes, my old man would be there to smack the top of my head when I get too ahead of myself. Other times, I went through punishments to reflect on my rough actions. Punishments that had me do ridiculous physical workouts. They weren't so bad until he started making me run while holding heavy objects and maintaining good posture. Unexpectedly, the punishments shaped my personality. It had me strive to avoid them. A split between passive and impassive, I was in between for once. When I finally enrolled in the academy, I thought I would be far too proud to talk to anyone. 
"So, your clan symbolises the cloud, huh?" A high-pitched voice said, chewing on her lunch as she felt the breeze outside, "That's pretty cool! They're fluffy and attracting." A young Sakura pointed up to the individual clouds in the sky, "They're like you, in a way!"

Kazumi stiffened, a bento resting on her lap as she followed Sakura's pointed finger to a specific cloud, "Huh?" She raised a brow, staring at the clouds with a shrug, "It's my clan symbol, so sure."

Sakura moved her finger to the other clouds, pointing out the way they were all in the same sky yet separated by air, "Well, you're always alone. Sometimes I gotta pull you with me to lunch!" She grinned as the singular cloud had air push the fluffy vapour against another cloud, their fog-like bodies emerging as one.

"I don't get your philosophy." Kazumi opened her bento, her blunt ignorance making Sakura hunch her shoulders over.

Their lunchtime was suddenly interrupted by hurried steps behind them.

"There she is, that big forehead!"

"No, wait! She's with Kumo..."

Kazumi looked over her shoulder to a group of girl's. They looked familiar. Sakura followed her gaze after the silence, her expression turning into concern.

"There's nothing I hate more than useless loudness!" Kazumi shouted out, turning back straight as she began picking up her rolled wrap and shoving it into her mouth.

The group of girl's flinched. Sakura looked back at Kazumi's munching cheeks, surprised.

"Let's just go!" Another girl stressed, pulling the group away.

Kazumi still didn't pay them any mind, engulfing her lunch as if she had a strict time limit. Sakura placed the chopsticks against her smiling lips, giggling to herself.

Suddenly remembering something, Sakura set her lunch aside to muster up puppy-dog eyes, "Ah! Kazumi, can you do me a favour?" She then blushed, fumbling out a small note with a sweet treat taped to it, "Can you give this to Sasuke-kun for me?" She squeaked, too shy.

"I already told you, no." Kazumi wiped the crumbs from her chin, frowning.

Sakura lowered her face, "Not even for me?" She pouted, disheartened.

Kazumi's lips parted, an offended mixed annoyed look plastering her face. As much as she wanted to explode right then and there, like Shikamaru, she seemed to develop another soft spot for someone. That someone being a character she never thought she'd get on with.

A lovelorn pinkette.

With furrowed brows, Kazumi placed her palm out flat to her. Sakura instantly dropped the letter into it, her pout twisted up into a gleeful grin.

"D... Don't say it was from me or anything..." She twirled a strand of pink hair around her finger, bashfully anticipating the letter reaching him.

Grasping it until it lightly crumbled, Kazumi nodded.

"Don't ruin it!" Sakura shrieked, frantically waving her hands around as pieces of glitter fell out from the letter.

Later that day, Kazumi marched down the hallways of the academy. After successfully dodging an annoying Inuzuka, she reached Sasuke. Alone per usual, he was walking with his hands shoved in his pockets.

"Sasuke." Kazumi informally addressed him, standing in the middle of the hall.

Sasuke stopped in his tracks, looking over his shoulder with indifferent, cold eyes. The same indifference she used to give him. Trying not to feel butt-hurt, she raised her arm to bring the love letter in his view.

"It's for you." She pouted, waiting for him to take it.

Sasuke's face drained of colour, tensing. As he spun around, he wore an emotion that was not yet recorded nor named.

Quickly recovering, he smirked, "Ha, I'm flattered..." His cheeks burnt an uncomfortable shade of red, "But I have no time for stupid romance. Especially not with you!" He insulted, the colour returning to his face.

An angered vein bulged against her neck, though by Sakura's wish, she did not reveal the true owner of those feelings.

"Delusional prick!" She snared, applying chakra into the letter as she launched it straight for his face.

Sasuke stepped aside, watching the letter smacking against a wall. The pink glitter blew out everywhere like dust.

"Who'd knew I'd attract the unapproachable Kumo heir..." He whistled, crossing his arms as he feigned obliviousness to the truth.

Storming up to him, she smacked her forehead against his, "Outside, now!"

Purposely pressing his forehead further, he returned the glare with his own.

A crowd of curious students appeared, including Sakura. She awaited for his reaction to the letter, only to shriek at the sight of it being destroyed against a wall instead.

"Use your clan abilities, then I'll consider!"

"On you? Nah! Not worth my time!!"

"Kazumi!!" Sakura cried out, her voice deafened by the group of fangirls screaming in both delight and encouragement.

"Enough!" A pair of tanned hands yanked the two prodigies away, Iruka's stressed eyes stopping their quarrel, "You know the rules, no fights during break!"
 .......With closed eyes, I felt my cheeks burn from the embarrassing memories.Back then, I wish I could've been more open with myself. I've learnt a lot from all of my mistakes through everything I've been through. I realised a lot of things all at once, as the ticking clock on the wall filled the silence."Thank you." I whisper, watching Sakura place fresh flowers into the vase next to Uncle's recovering state.He was still in a coma. At this point, I've even begun counting the minutes until Naruto's return with the famed Tsunade.She gave me her usual smile, "I'm certain it won't be like this for long." Her reassurance felt like the only fuel I could run on right now.I rest my hand inside of my shinobi pouch, feeling the tickles by familiar sand. Uncle's slow breathing and sleeping expression is a sight I never want to witness again.A door slid open behind us, and I turned to meet a random shinobi. "The legendary sennin: Tsunade has returned as the Fifth Hokage!" "Naruto's back!" Sakura gasped, her steps rushing to my side.An immense wave of relief massaged the tenseness inside of my bones. A strong sense of hope that I had never felt before eased my every thought. Right then and there, I knew my sleepless nights would be over.Or so I thought."The Fifth wishes to see you." The same shinobi then said, his task at hand returning to me.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The air was thick, Kazumi stood in the Hokage's office. Ahead of her was a young looking woman, though it was merely her chakra keeping her beautiful youth from aging. Tsunade, a legend for her incredible healing abilities and strength.Her blonde hair was tied in a low-pony tail over her green cardigan. Despite the youthful appearance, her clothing style matched her true age—at least. Kazumi's gaze lingered on the small blue diamond marking smack-dab in the middle of her forehead before falling back to her light brown eyes."This is the child?" Tsunade raised a brow, studying Kazumi's awkwardness. In respect, Kazumi half-bowed to the new Hokage.Naruto bounced happily, smacking his hand against her back, "Yeah! See? Harmless! You'll still agree to the deal, right?" The young Kumo almost fell forward as she then straightened up to stare."What deal?" Kazumi's brows furrowed, looking between the two.A few hidden ANBU were present, but it was just the three of them and Jiraiya. Sakura was busy waiting inside of Sasuke's hospital room.Tsunade shared a knowing glance with Jiraiya before looking back at her, "I've become aware of the situation. I also know from Naruto that you've taken on nine traitors for the sake of the Leaf. That's an admirable feat from someone of your current status..." Jiraiya held a serious expression, crossing his arms, "Well, I'm with Naruto. I've observed her enough to know that she's no threat to the Leaf. In fact, it's far from what you're thinking, Tsunade. She's a carbon copy of Sanjiro-Sama." His tone was slightly amused, reminiscing their past with the old man.Kazumi shot him a look, surprised. Was that his reasons for taking her on his fake mission? He gave her a wink, making her recoil away.Standing up from the desk, Tsunade sighed, "As bad as that fact is... it's better than... you know..." She glanced back to Kazumi, "For Orochimaru to put him in that type of state... The same man who used to throw us across forests..." She lowered her face, in deep thought for a moment."That was a joke, right?" Kazumi tilted her head, getting no reply from the forced smile Tsunade wore.Jiraiya had a bead of sweat fall from his cheek, trying to avoid recalling that memory of the menacing Sanjiro from their childhood."I've already tried to reason with the shinobi officials." Kazumi looked away to sigh, "I don't mind whatever punishment I am given." Her expression hardened, "On the condition that Sanjiro-Sama awakens and I get to kill Orochimaru."Naruto looked back and forth, confused, "Like I said... Harmless! She jokes about killing all the time...!" He nervously laughed, scratching the back of his head."Naruto, it's best we leave the new Hokage with Kazumi." Jiraiya cleared his throat, leading a reluctant Uzumaki out of the office."Hey, wait! Old hag, our deal!!" He cried, the large doors slamming in his face.Kazumi had her eyes over her shoulder, slowly turning back to a cautious sennin, "What deal?" She repeated.Tsunade smirked, leaning back against the desk as her brown eyes stared down at Kazumi with no fear, "That cutie begged me to not punish you. You should be glad you have someone like Naruto, he's a good kid after all..." Kazumi's brows flattened, getting straight to the point. "All the Leaf officials want me gone... They even want to drag my incapacitated uncle into this when he wakens..." She frowned, the thought of Naruto defending her causing a vulnerable side to show, "I don't... I don't want anything to happen to him. My uncle should not take any accountability. I'll... happily cease to exist, if need be." She lowered her gaze, extremely anxious for her fate."Is hunting down Orochimaru what you wish for?" Tsunade asked."It's not a wish." Kazumi looked up at her, eyes narrowing, "I'm sick of my ignorance. In only one day that man managed to change my life for the worst." Her fingertips pressed against her throat, the light buzz from the invisible seal tingling her skin.Tsunade aimlessly looked around as if uninterested, "He's a powerful person... capable of giving you exactly what you want as his offspring. I would not blame your choice if one day he comes back to offer you exactly what you want."Her words boiled Kazumi's blood within, "What I want is his death! I don't care if I lose my life in the process.""If it's not a wish, perhaps... are you driven by revenge?" Tsunade sighed, focusing back on Kazumi."No." Her response surprised the Fifth, "I want to purge his existence altogether. As a shinobi of the Leaf, I'll even take my own life to prevent his lineage from ever continuing. Including mine." Her fists clenched, "I don't need any offers from him... All I need is my uncle's guaranteed safety and the permission to train my whole life for that opportunity!"Raising a hand to her chin, Tsunade's smirk returned, "Seems Naruto was right about you. You live for shinobi duty, don't you? Alright, I'll refuse the officials ideas and heal Sanjiro-Sama. I'm sure that old man will be happy to see me as the new Hokage."Kazumi felt a weight lift from her shoulders, relieved tears threatening to emerge, but she swallowed them down.
"It's off the shinobi records, so mysterious..."
"I never got to ask the late Third, but do you have the records to my clan?" Kazumi suddenly asked, Kisame's words playing inside of her head. The shark-rogue made it sound like her clan was massacred.The Fifth fell silent, "If I find them, I'll send them over to you. I can promise that as well." She then wore an intimidating expression, "However, you're a rational person, no? I'm sure you can understand." She walked towards Kazumi, her tall frame towering over, "Let's add onto those conditions... Say you break this agreement and do betray the Leaf, then I'll have you executed the next time you are in Leaf's grasp." She warned, holding no mercy for anyone."I understand." Kazumi nodded, slightly admiring Tsunade's strong lengths for the village hidden in the Leaf.
I should have no use for Orochimaru anymore... Just as Uncle said.
She inwardly sighed, trusting Sanjiro's words.Tsunade then placed a firm yet comforting hand on Kazumi's shoulder, causing the young Kumo to flinch her gaze up to the beautiful woman, "To think all this time they were fearing a child. And here I thought I was going to deal with a psychopath-in-the-making. Let me tell you one thing, you don't resemble Orochimaru in the slightest!" Her hand raised to ruffle through Kazumi's hair, giving her a soft smirk."I'm glad... I really am!" Kazumi stiffened, raising an arm to cover her teary eyes.Tsunade's smirk fell into a pitiful frown. The young looking hag pulled Kazumi into an embrace, allowing Kazumi to breakdown in silence. She shook against her, failing to hold back her tears as they soaked Tsunade's chest.After a short while, Kazumi stopped shaking. Tsunade held her shoulders, pulling her back to get a look at her reddened eyes. Kazumi seemed to be in a small daze, unused to the heavy waves of sadness."I'll have a look at Sanjiro-Sama now." She spoke quietly, leading Kazumi out the office with her hand guiding her by the shoulder.Jiraiya disappeared, though Naruto was still outside waiting. As the doors opened, he kicked off the wall with an anticipating look. Although his eagerness fell into concern by Kazumi's puffy eyes. When refusing to look back at him, Naruto's gaze lifted to Tsunade. The older woman nodded to him with a small smile.Relieved, Naruto's expression relaxed into an understanding smile as he took in Kazumi's rare vulnerability. The three walked in silence to the connected hospital, the bustling nurses and atmosphere of death irking Kazumi. "Sakura and I will wait for you in Sasuke's room!" Naruto flashed her a grin, running down the hallway."He's this way." Kazumi turned to the opposite one, heading straight for Sanjiro's room. Tsunade followed, entering after when reaching it. The woman studied Sanjiro's state instantly, stepping towards the bedside. Kazumi watched as her hand placed itself on his forehead, her blood going cold from expectancy. "You're in luck, he managed to save the littlest amounts of chakra left in him." Her hand glowed from medical jutsu, "His body went through too much stress from little to no chakra, putting him in that forced shut down state." She explained as a nurse inside the room took every note on the clipboard, "I can get him out of this state by momentarily giving chakra until his restores... However..." She paused, making Kazumi anxiously bite her bottom lip's skin, "Sanjiro-Sama will finally retire as a shinobi, it seems."Kazumi let out a breath she hadn't realised she was holding, "That's fine. He hardly took up missions unless specifically given by the late Third anyways." Tsunade dryly chuckled, "Hm, that does sound like him." As her hands continued glowing, she pulled away after having it spread to his core, "Looks like he's been using parts of his small portion of chakra to hold up against a seal."
My seal?
Kazumi rushed over to the side of his bed, confused when not seeing his eyes instantly open. Tsunade noticed, amused."Don't worry, he should wake up soon. I made it so he needs extra rest, his body will have to get adjusted to the sudden intake of chakra, after all." She reassured, releasing the jutsu.Kazumi pursed her lips, her eyes round and glistening with pure gratitude, "Thank you!" She bowed, lowering her head with esteem appreciation for the young looking hag.Tsunade walked over to her, her hand abruptly placed against Kazumi's throat. Startled, Kazumi's invisible seal no longer tingled her skin."What..." Tsunade breathed out, surprised as she studied the hidden mark, "He's been pushing back genetics this entire time?"Kazumi's face fell, "Huh?""If I had been days later, Sanjiro-Sama would've been sapped of all chakra. Why is he keeping this seal on you? It's almost useless." She asked, only to receive more confused looks in return. Tsunade then leaned her head to Kazumi's ear level, seriousness washing over her face, "It's best you get him to stop that before he becomes permanently injured."
But... he always said it was because of my unstable abilities...
Kazumi looked down once Tsunade pulled her hand away, swallowing the light burns away.Stretching her arms, Tsunade looked as if she didn't break a single sweat from the high level jutsu's, "Alright, who's next? That Sasuke kid?" Straightening up, Kazumi tore her gaze away from Sanjiro with a nod. As she followed Tsunade out of the room and pointed out the room number, Kazumi recalled the state she last saw Lee in. "I hope it's not a lot, but I'd like to recommend Lee-San. He's in a rough state as well..." Kazumi suggested, walking down the hall. Tsunade was steps ahead, "Gai's student, right? Yeah, Naruto and Jiraiya mentioned him. It's not a lot, you're talking to the new Hokage here, Kumo heir!" She smiled, confidently approaching the doors.Kazumi felt endlessly eased.As the doors slid open, they appeared through the curtain. Naruto jumped from his seat and Sakura slowly turned to them."May we come in?" Tsunade wore a polite smile."Is your uncle good now?" Naruto asked, grinning excitedly as he walked towards them.Kazumi nodded with a gentle smile.Sakura's brows raised, noticing Kazumi's puffy eyes although remained quiet. When her eyes flickered to Tsunade, she admired the Fifth's beauty. "Sakura-chan!" Naruto snapped his head around to her, his finger rudely pointing to the Fifth, "He'll be alright now!! She's healed Kaz's uncle, so Sasuke's gonna be fine too! She's a great doctor!"Jiraiya and a black-haired woman appeared inside the room, mirroring smiles of their own. Kazumi looked away from them, nodding at Sakura."He's right... My uncle... will be okay." She agreed softly, watching the pink-kunoichi's cheeks become rosy.Sakura stood up to walk around the bed, bowing her head at Tsunade, "I heard from Kazumi... Please... Please help Sasuke-kun!" Tsunade grinned, "Alright! Leave it all to me!" As her hand pressed onto Sasuke's forehead, they all watched her perform the familiar medical jutsu, "He'll wake up soon." She looked over her shoulder, successful once again.Sakura's eyes welled up, her eyes glancing all around the room until the sound of Sasuke shuffling in his bed occurred. Surprised, Kazumi witnessed him groggily move, his eyes slowly opening. He had an exhausted look on his face from the days he had been asleep for, struggling to get adjusted to the world around them.
I hope Uncle can wake up just as soon...
Kazumi looked down at the ground. Tsunade placed a hand on her shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. It was like the woman read her mind. Once releasing it, she had a content gaze at the scene.Sakura let the tears fall as she collapsed herself against Sasuke, who had pushed himself up to curiously look around the room. She pulled him into a tight hug, "Sasuke-kun!" "Sasuke... you..." Naruto paused, staring at them.Kazumi quickly stepped forward, gently grabbing Naruto's arm as she tugged him along with her. His look of realisation shook into an accepted smile, following her to their side. Sakura moved over, giving space for Kazumi and Naruto to join in on the hug. Sasuke's trance blinked away, his emptied eyes softening for a split second as he allowed his head to rest against the comfort of their warmth. —_______________  As a day went by, Kazumi found herself sitting in a familiar ramen place. She was on the third bowl; Naruto was already on his sixth. Despite calling off the bet they had, Iruka suddenly appeared to offer them ramen. Somehow, the blond Uzumaki persuaded the poor guy to spend a lot on ramen."Congratulations on becoming a chuunin, Kazumi." Their former sensei applauded her achievement, "Where's the jacket?"Slurping the noodles, she smiled, "Thanks. And... I'd rather not wear that shabby thing." Iruka's smile twitched out a defeated sigh, "I heard Shikamaru's a chuunin, too." She mentioned, causing Naruto to pop his head into the topic.His brows knitted together at the sudden knowledge, "I get you, Kaz... But Shikamaru's a chuunin now?! Why?!" He practically spat ramen, envious.Kazumi pulled a face, scooting preferably closer to Iruka."Didn't you hear what Hokage-Sama said? Even if you lose a match, if you have enough skills you will become chuunin. Kazumi fought strategically and Shikamaru used intelligence. The village council rated them high and they were acknowledged."
I'm surprised... Perhaps Tsunade-Sama allowed my title to remain...
Kazumi swallowed, too full to continue eating anymore bowls."What?" Naruto's face fell from discouragement, "Then, what about Sasuke?!""The only ones promoted were Kazumi and Shikamaru."Naruto's shoulders hunched, choking on his ramen.Kazumi leaned her arm back, smacking it against his backside. Naruto swallowed his piece, gurgling from the watery ramen. Iruka let out a laugh."Oh, Kazumi, how's Sanjiro-Sama?" The man then asked, causing Kazumi to look down at her empty bowl in recollection."He's good..." She felt herself zone out. ......
Kazumi had just finished up telling Sanjiro everything that had happened thus far. She sat in a chair next to his recovering bedside, the sound of familiar monitors filling the silence. He was sat up right, his face weakened from the many days he had been in a coma for.

"I cannot release the seal. Not until I am on the brink of death. I can only maintain it." Sanjiro's voice was notably fragile, "But there's not need to fret a thing, it won't kill me." He smiled, his hand reaching to place above hers.

Kazumi could feel his cold touch, her other hand placing on top of his in hopes her warmth can make it disappear, "Tsunade-Sama says it's useless. If that's the case, I don't mind." She frowned, putting his life above her own.

He simply shook his head, "I made an oath."

There was no trying to convince him, making Kazumi sigh out her nose, "If you keep going at it, you will be retiring faster than expected."

His laugh was short and breathy, "What a reward!"

"Uncle..." She pouted, becoming more worried.

His wrinkled face relaxed into an urgent one, "Kazumi... Forgive me for keeping you in the dark for so long. I knew that if you knew the truth, you'd go down a path much harsher than the one you're currently living. For your sake alone, I went to great lengths to keep it hidden. That old bastard Hiruzen had every right to shun me from the village yet he chose to help me instead... That assistance was enough to keep me going for you."

"I trust you, Uncle..." Kazumi's voice was quiet, but the loud thoughts in the back of her mind screamed for answers about their clan wipe-out, "Now that Orochimaru has no use for me, I will continue to live as normal." She smiled, looking down at his cold, old hand.

Once again, her thoughts contrasted her words. Deep down, she knew there was deeper meaning to everything so far. However, as Sanjiro wanted to protect her, she wanted to protect him. Even if it meant little white lies would be casually exchanged to one another.

"That ritual I done to you..." He suddenly began, looking towards the window, "Was not like Kakashi's. It was a jutsu made by your mother." His words caught her interest, "Before you were born... Before she died... Kiyoko had a talent for ninjutsu. A talent which exceeds my own. The Kumo clan was never a ninjutsu based one. Our abilities resided in our unwavering genjutsu's and secret techniques... Somehow she managed to delve into the medical side of ninjutsu, something that Kumo's didn't necessarily need or knew we could possess. She was suddenly sick in the head, constantly disappearing and reappearing with solutions. Such solutions that could pose us a threat to the shinobi government."

"Why was she doing that?" Kazumi leaned in. It wasn't everyday that someone like Sanjiro would suddenly talk about the woman.

"I don't know." Sanjiro quickly responded, frustrated at himself, "When it started, I hadn't noticed the signs until she began creating advanced medical scrolls beyond my knowledge. By doing this, I knew she would attract the attention of the Kage's, risking the Leaf's stability. 
One of them being a scroll I used, thinking it would fix everything although it only made matters worse." He turned his head back to Kazumi, "I hope you haven't been experiencing any side effects of any sorts..."

She pursed her lips, recalling the minor hallucinations she had under extreme stress, "No."

"That's a relief." He closed his eyes, "Her medical scrolls appear to be defective. I wouldn't of given any of them to you no matter how interested you could've become in medical ninjutsu. Let alone give them away to random shinobi."

"Ah..." Kazumi lowered her gaze from his, internally glad she didn't take any of them to throw into Sakura's arms. It was no wonder he was so stern by the idea.
"It must've been difficult. I'll have new servants hired in the compound —"
"Actually," Kazumi quickly cut him off with a sheepish look, "I've been staying at my teammate's home for the time being. Until you're strong enough to leave." She lightly explained, pulling her hand off from his hand to scratch her cheek.

"That's good... Might I ask who?" He raised a brow.

"Uzumaki Naruto..." She slowly said, the name alone sounding dumb on her tongue.

"I see... I suppose even people like you can consider such things." He teased her ego, though as time went by, she found her pride beginning to lessen in a positive way.

"Hah!"

......"Haha..." Kazumi chuckled to herself, carrying a small basket of tomato's.Naruto frowned at her, concerned, "What kind of present is that?" He judged, his words snapping her out of a daze.She was a lot light-hearted than usual. Of course, that being because of Sanjiro's awakening and her world progressing at the natural speed it was supposed to. 
I guess it's no surprise that Naruto doesn't pay attention to other's.
"Sasuke's always got tomato's. I reckon he owns a whole harvest of it somewhere." She mused, entering the white building with the Uzumaki."Seriously?" Naruto stuck his tongue out in disgust for vegetables, "Who the hell leisurely eats that stuff?!" "Probably him." She passed down a corridor.Naruto jogged ahead, swinging the door open. As she followed him inside, their heads peeked from around the curtain. In sync, their eager expressions disappeared. Sakura was standing in shock, staring at Sasuke who sat in the bed with his face turned away. Kazumi looked down to the shards of ceramic. "Can't use your arms?" Kazumi lightly mocked, ducking under the curtain as she walked closer to his bed."Yeah..." Naruto nervously laughed at her comment, unsure.Sasuke flinched his gaze to her, alarmed. With a wary look, she slowly placed the basket of tomato's onto the bed, watching him glance down at it. Stepping back, her narrow eyes focused on the shards and Sakura's conflicted eyes."What happened...?" Naruto mumbled, brows furrowing.Sasuke's brow twitched, swinging his arm out. The basket flew past Kazumi. Her blank gaze followed the splattering tomato's as Sakura quietly gasped to herself from his consistent actions.
What a waste...
Sasuke purposely avoided her reaction, spinning his head to face Naruto's squashed expression. He wore a nasty glare, the intensity making the bags under his eyes more apparent. "What?!" Naruto grimaced, cheeks pink from the harsh look, "Why are you looking at me like that?""Hey, Naruto...""What??!""Fight me... Now!"Sakura's jaw dropped, looking between the two boys."Huh?! What are you babbling about...? You're still recovering..." He had a bead of sweat fall from his words.Sasuke flared his two tomoe sharingan, "Shut up and fight me!!"Naruto and Sakura fell into stunned silence. Their eyes flickered from Kazumi curled scowl and back to Sasuke, tensions rising."Didn't take long for your prickly side to show already. Quit embarrassing yourself." Kazumi glared, her heart hurting from his tantrum."Piss off, Kumo! Unless you wanna join in, I can take both of you!" He yelled at her.Kazumi's thread of reasoning snapped."Those tomato's cost me all the yen I had left in my wallet!" She shouted back, raising her arm."Kazumi!" Sakura squeaked.Naruto's frown deepened at the uncomfortable sound of a strong slap echoing off the white walls. Sasuke hadn't flinched from her assault, his head slowly turning back to hers with a swollen cheek. No applied chakra, just raw strength.Kazumi's reddened palm shook, half-shocked by her force. She didn't mean to hit him that hard. She was just... scared?With prey-like eyes, he leaped. Sasuke jumped off from the bed, landing a blow at her side. Kazumi stumbled through the curtain, falling to the ground whilst rolling on her side. Beds and metal tables skidded with her, some a scattering mess. Sakura's eyes began to water already, hesitantly taking steps away."Kaz!" Naruto gasped, watching Sasuke kick-off.The Uchiha grabbed her wrist, attempting to yank her up. "Fight me!" Kazumi's body shook from his harsh pulls, her wide gaze focused on his red glare. In momentary shock, she realised why she didn't dodge in the first place when she was fully capable of doing so. Her walls were down, they still were despite his behaviour. That unknowing trust she held broke into two, and her face twisted down in frustration. "Knock it off, already!" She loured, roughly kicking his chest.Sasuke staggard back into Naruto. The blond Uzumaki grabbed his collar, slamming Sasuke up against a wall. "Bastard!! What the hell are you doing?!" His tight grip quivered, dishevelling Sasuke more.Sasuke's slanted eyes rolled away from Kazumi's to Naruto's, "You guys thought you helped me?" His head swayed, clearly not in a right state of mind. Kazumi pushed herself up from the ground, wincing from a bruise already forming against her hip. Sakura anxiously rushed to her side, clutching her arm for emotional support as she helped the young Kumo stand."That foolish Fifth or whatever... butting into other people's business..." Sasuke trailed off, his tone utterly disgusted.Kazumi's brows knitted together, looking from his swollen cheek, her bruising hip, then back to his red rage. Whatever Itachi did, it was effective.Naruto shook him by the collar, "What!?""Sasuke-kun, what's wrong with you? Naruto, tell him to stop... I mean...!" Sakura desperately croaked out.Naruto smirked, pushing Sasuke back once releasing his collar, "Hmph! Well, then... I was thinking about it too..."
Fools...
Kazumi frowned, taking in Sasuke's uncanny behaviour. It wasn't the first time he acted out in those ways although it was the first time he held genuine disdain. She didn't know why, but she felt their normal ways were straying further away.She then felt a smooth, wetness beneath her sandal, making her move her foot aside. Beneath was a demolished tomato, causing her to wince.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

A strong breeze from the hospital's rooftop blew throughout Kazumi's short blonde hair. Sakura stood close by, her arms up at to her chin as she tried to analyse the thick tension. Naruto and Sasuke stood many feet ahead, idly facing each other with mutual glares."...I've changed!" Naruto's voice said."You dimwit idiot, what are you so full of yourself for, huh?!" Sasuke insulted.Kazumi felt herself being absorbed back into the bickering, her gaze falling from the clouds to the two males. Sakura let out small sounds, highly on edge.Naruto smirked the insult off, "Eh, what are you losing your cool for? That's so unlike you. What?! ... Are you afraid now that you challenged me to a fight, huh? Sasuke?""Shut up and fight!" A bead of tired sweat appeared on his head.The young Kumo's gaze narrowed."Before we start, you better put on this Leaf headband.""I don't need something like that..." Sasuke scoffed."Just do it!!"Sasuke's eyes widened as he frowned, and Kazumi could see his sharingan clearly, "You won't even lay a finger on me, let alone my forehead." His thumb pressed to the nonexistent headband on his forehead."No!!" Naruto shouted back, gripping onto his own shinobi headband, "I'm saying this is a symbol, that we fight as equal Leaf ninjas!!!""Kazumi... Why won't they listen to us?" Sakura whispered, tugging at her long sleeve. Kazumi pursed her lips, lowering her face as she kept her eyes trained at their behaviour. For a first, she couldn't find an answer."That's why I say you're full of yourself!! You think you're on par with me!?""Of course I do! In fact, I've never thought of myself as inferior to you... not even once!" Naruto truth-bombed."You're pissing me off!" Sasuke screamed, a rasp forming in his throat.Sakura's beating heart could be heard by Kazumi, the anxious drum stronger than her own. The pink-haired kunoichi turned her head to her with permanent wide eyes."You must stop them! —""Sakura," Kazumi softly cut her off, placing a comforting hand on her own to push her grip off of her sleeve, "If I intervene now, you'll see three fools fighting one another." She then swallowed thickly, inwardly trying to find a way to peacefully end this. If she approached head-on, Sasuke will only pull her into the fight. Naruto's too stubborn to listen at the moment, as well. Kazumi felt stumped.Discouraged, Sakura dropped her arm back to her side, feeling useless."That's because you're still weak, Sasuke-CHAN!" Naruto remarked.Sakura's head whipped back to the two, gasping harder."NARUTO!!!" Sasuke raved, running towards him."SASUKE!" Naruto bellowed back, running as well.Kazumi's eyes faded to grey, activating her fantomugan. As their fists collided, and Sasuke's foot smacked against Naruto, she kept track of the amounts of chakra they were using. In any case their fight progressed to a serious one, she would intervene. "Why are they doing this?!" Sakura cried out, watching their taijutsu."They're blowing off steam, specifically Sasuke." Kazumi muttered, following their movements. 
This must have to do with the encounter with Itachi...
She speculated, recalling the familiar anger he shown towards the ex-Uchiha heir. Sakura's brows creased upwards, never being able to fully understand this.Naruto then produced a shadow clone jutsu, causing hundreds of them to appear all around Sasuke's angles.The Uchiha fought, kicked, and pushed oncoming clones. Dropping his hands to the floor, he propelled himself up midair. Naruto's clone jumped up as well, kicking against his arms but that didn't stop Sasuke from casting a large fireball jutsu downwards onto the clones from below at a distance.They all dispersed, and as the winds whirled, it revealed Naruto with a single shadow clone beside him, helping form a glowing rasengan. That seemed to have caught Sasuke off guard, confused by the unfamiliarity of the jutsu. But as Naruto pulled his arm back with the freshly made rasengan, Sasuke swiftly conjured up his chidori.
Oh, shit...
Sweat fell from Kazumi's gaped jaw, unable to pull her gaze away from the progression of their fight. She said she'd intervene, but her feet wouldn't move."Stop! You two!!" Sakura screeched out, sweat all over her forehead.Naruto jumped up into the air with his rasengan, using his shadow clone as a stepping stool to head straight for Sasuke who had put in his own force to reach Naruto in return."KAZUMI!!" Sakura screamed, grabbing her shoulder roughly, "They'll kill each other!!"Kazumi blinked out of her surprised trance, her grey eyes reverting to gold. There was no chance she could intervene now or she'd be at risk of the two ninjutsu's colliding into her. With quick steps, she pulled Sakura back with her, forcefully pushing her head down to shield her from the anticipating blast.However, it never came. To her relief.Kakashi had appeared, throwing the two males away and into different water containers. Their conjured jutsu's blew into them instead of themselves, acting like a rough cushion. "Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura called out, rushing towards the jounin.Kazumi quickly followed, eyes locked to the two broken containers."Hey you two! What are you doing on the roof of the hospital? If you're fighting, you're getting too heated... both of you." Kakashi scolded, his tone a rare strictness."Sorry, sensei... I was prepared to stop them until they used those sudden jutsu's..." Kazumi apologised, noticing the difference in their broken containers."It's not your fault." Kakashi shook his head, placing a hand atop her head.Usually, she would've pushed it off, but she didn't. Sakura stood anxiously behind the two sane shinobi's, also looking at the containers.Sasuke's indent was larger than Naruto's. Although unbeknownst to them, Naruto's indent erupted even larger from the backside of his container."What was that jutsu just now?" Kazumi asked, her eyes flickering away from Sasuke's destruction and towards Naruto's. "The rasengan..." Their sensei replied, slipping his hand off of her head. Kazumi blinked again and he was already gone. Turning her head back to the Uchiha, she watched Kakashi reappear above him to lecture him. However, Sasuke just ignored Kakashi as he jumped over the roofs' fencing, leaving. The total lack of respect made Kazumi cringe.
Damn it...
She tilted her head down, eyes softening into heavy ones. She felt herself tense when a warm body collapsed against hers, her arms instinctively raising to stiffly wrap around it. Sakura held onto Kazumi with trembles, sobbing into her shoulder.Kazumi's heart uncomfortably sank.When Kakashi finished up his talk, he jumped back down to approach his little kunoichi's, "It's alright!" His words made Sakura slightly pull away from Kazumi to look at him, "Soon things will go back to the way they used to be!"
No...
Kazumi's eyes slowly looked up to meet the Hatake's. They shared a knowing look before he jumped away and left the scene.Naruto walked over to them, awkwardly rubbing his neck. The three stood in a depressing silence before the Uzumaki could quietly apologise to them. He seemed taken aback with himself, but more so with Sasuke's state. "You idiot..." Kazumi sighed, grabbing his arm as she pulled the dejected fellow blonde into their shared embrace. His face scrunched to that of a saddened frog, flopping his head onto her shoulder in quiet repent. Sakura tears dried up, grateful for Kazumi's assurance.The young Kumo looked down to her hip, feeling the familiar bruise throbbing. "Don't try to stop us next time..." Naruto stepped away.Sakura looked down, "Naruto... I need to tell you something. Kazumi already knows... So, come on a date with me." She offered. Naruto nearly tripped over nothing, "Eh?!"Kazumi stiffly looked away, awkward. 
—

_______________
  "Yes, it's true. Although I am embarrassed to admit my shameful past." Sanjiro cleared his throat, unbothered by her light chuckles. Kazumi was in the hospital room, listening to a story of his encounters with the legendary sennin's. He purposely left out Orochimaru, mainly talking about the times he'd humble Jiraiya and reject Tsunade's innocent advancements for him. Finding out that the grouch was attractive in his prime came at a shock for Kazumi. Though, not nearly as shocking as his past chaotic behaviour."To think that woman really became Hokage..." He sighed."I never knew you were so...""Troublemaking? Yes... I suppose I was too hypocritical to you." He weakly smiled up at her, admiring the new hair that suited her, "You resemble me too much, you know... Understand that my actions were only to prevent you from making the same mistakes." Kazumi smiled, pulling a chuunin jacket onto her lap. He noticed, closing his eyes from satisfaction."Well done. I heard from the Fifth, but I still wanted to see it from you." He praised, opening his eyes to meet the sight of her wearing it."It's not really my style." She slid it off right after, "Too much in the way." As she commented that, Sanjiro cackled."That is true..." He trailed off, relaxed.Kazumi looked from the monitor to the vase of wilted flowers, "I'll replace these." She stood up, walking towards the plants.Sanjiro's eyes followed her, shaking his head, "Leave them be, my dispatch is around the corner. You needn't spend any more yen."As her fingers lightly touched a stem, the head of the flower fell off and sunk into the vase's water. She grimaced, tearing her eyes away."I'm thinking of no longer having servants around." He began, his head turning to the ventilated windows, "I hope you don't mind it just being the two of us in that compound. I might even try to grow a garden or maybe join some book clubs..."Kazumi smirked, "You're really enjoying the idea of retirement, aren't you? Should I treat you to a new cane?" She offered, sitting back down on the edge of his hospital bed.He sighed out of his nose, "Just because I am no longer a capable shinobi does not mean I no longer have experience." He playfully warned, shooting her a look.
Ah, right...
She deadpanned, knowing full well she could not go up against a fully recovered Sanjiro in taijutsu alone. Her expression fell into a faraway one, her minding forcing her to remember dull memories."You seem troubled. I heard from a few panicked nurses about what happened this morning." He mentioned, leaning his head back, "Care to enlighten me?""It's just my teammate Sasuke... He doesn't seem all there lately. I'm worried he'll keep acting out, in ways I can't control." She let out a long sigh, "I've already seen him die once, I don't think I can handle it again.""You've become so soft, my dear." His words made her pout, her cheeks tinting light red from embarrassment. She could not deny the statement. "That is a good thing." He reached to ruffle through her short hair, "You must stay on the path that your heart is choosing. I know you favour logic over emotion, but I'm starting to realise a lot in a short time... That the way of the heart is the way to success." His hand fell to cup her cheek, his thumb gently caressing it."Okay..." She nodded, closing her eyes to allow small tears to fall.He wiped them away, "Hm, seems I should buzz for the nurses to bring a mountain of tissues over here." He teased.She kept her eyes closed, "That reminds me... I burnt all those orange books you used to read whilst you were in that coma." She lied, holding back a grin as she opened her eyes to meet his colour drained skin."Y... You wouldn't dare..." He gasped.She stifled a snort, opening her eyes. The glassiness of her golden irises held life inside. Sanjiro quickly scolded her after realising her lie. Albeit the girl didn't listen to a single thing, too focused on relishing in the comfort of his presence. 
—

_______________
  Kazumi sat on a bench. Rather than going back to Naruto's apartment, she sat outside near her clan compound instead with her worn backpack on her shoulders. The sun was slowly setting, painting the world a soft orange. As villagers past by every now and then, she ignored their foreign eyes.Even after her uncle's awakening and the settlement of Tsunade as Fifth Hokage, their opinion of her didn't change. Kazumi did not know what she was expecting. Because of this, she made sure to keep it from Sanjiro. She couldn't risk putting her old man through a stroke if he knew.In her hands was a rolled, old scroll, given to her by Tsunade. A voice in the back of her head refused to know although her hands already opened it. Looking down at the words, she felt sucked into the scroll. Pulled into the past... Into the truth:
The night was much darker than usual nights. Shadows cast illusions on the dim walls. The streetlights had blown out fuses to add onto the ominous atmosphere. A blonde, beautiful woman staggard into the quiet compound with a newborn clutched harshly to her chest yet it did not once cry in protest to her grip.

The woman, Kiyoko, charged for murder, stabbed three immediate Kumo members in their sleep: Her step-mother, Watanabe Matsu... the first son and heir, Kumo Susumu... and the head of Kumo, Kumo Osamu...

However, leaving Kumo Sanjiro alive.

Faking innocence, Kiyoko was in a hypnotic trance. By the time she came to her senses, she had already killed her husband, Sato Takeru. On both her knees, she held the newborn closely, hiding her face from the wild, grey eyes.

Chaos submerged in the compound, members outside of the immediate family succumbed to madness. All targeting one person only, Kumo Kiyoko. In attempts to kill her, Kumo Sanjiro had no choice but to slaughter his own kin to stop this.

As ruthless as it may be, he favoured Kiyoko over his other kin.

Thick iron could be smelled from miles away as the compound became drenched in a permanent red. From the farthest of corners, yellow piercing eyes flared in the dark. Orochimaru's spineless laugh was easily muffled by the terror-struck cries. With each death, Kumo kin snapped out of their trances far too late.

A familiar blade that Sanjiro held came into view, the same one Kazumi saw in her nightmares. It pierced through Kiyoko's back, inches away from the newborn's eyes.

Two sole survivors were recorded down: Kumo Sanjiro and Kumo Kazumi. Subject of the event: homicidal massacre.
Suddenly, the scroll burned her fingertips, causing Kazumi to release it. The scroll of truth fell to the stone floor, her wide eyes watching it completely disperse from existence.It dawned upon her that Orochimaru had treated her clan like bloodied puppets on a string. He was there the entire time to watch the fall. But, Kazumi had no idea why. She did not even know what her so-called purpose was for Orochimaru.Whatever it was, she knew it was still sick and twisted.All this time she was lied to. Her clan didn't die out from a shinobi war. Heck, Kazumi should've looked closer at the memorial names. Blind. Kazumi had been so blind. 
I'm going to burn all of those scrolls!
She clenched her fist to stop the sickening trembles, turning her body to head back to her empty clan compound. As she walked the familiar path to the isolated area, she abruptly stopped in her tracks. Without moving her head, she analysed the area around her with a hand slithering into her pouch to grasp a kunai.
There's multiple eyes on me...
As she slowly turned back around, she flicked the kunai straight for a bush. The sound of metal clanking against it made her ears perk, and out appeared a group of four unfamiliar shinobi. Their attires weren't Leaf, and their appearances were strange.Kazumi's jaw tensed, watching one of them pick up the thrown kunai and lick the blade. This made Kazumi cringe, tilting her head down with her gaze locked on him. It was a person with red beads hanging around his neck, maybe a few years older, and his expression was empty yet shown amusement at the same time. From the atmosphere alone, she could tell he was the leader."You're as sharp as a snake, good. Lord Orochimaru will be pleased." He said with a smile stretched on his green lips, throwing the kunai down to her feet.
Sound-nin!
"More followers of that man?" She muttered back in pure disgust, his brows raising in response."Hmph, you are lucky you're his offspring!" A chubby male spat, wearing a natural mean stare towards her."Quiet, fatso! Isn't it obvious? The Lord mentioned that she hasn't awakened yet!" The foul-mouthed girl smacked the side of his shoulder.The tall, dark-skinned male with multiple arms smirked, all of his arms crossed over the others."Who the hell are you?" Kazumi frowned, irked.
Out of nowhere... around night as well...
Kazumi looked at the setting sun, the world gradually becoming darker with each ticking moment. 
They're not here to fight.
She concluded, glancing back to their odd demeanours. "We're Lord Orochimaru's bodyguards. My name is Sakon. My elder brother's name is Ukon." The supposed leader introduced, his eyes scrunching from glee at her puzzled reaction.On the mention of his elder brother, he simply pointed over his shoulder to 'nothing'.
Eh?
The young Kumo's face was visibly unimpressed."I'm Tayuya. The fatties' Jiroubou." The masculine girl shortly bowed, nodding her head to the mean-face male beside her."So unladylike." Jiroubou remarked to her constant insults, displeased."Kidoumaru." The male with multiple arms finished, analysing Kazumi's physique. "Suki-Sama, the lord —""I've heard enough." Kazumi's voice cut in firmly, her stomach churning from the refer, "I'm in no mood to get violent." As she turned around, she gave them a harsh glare over her shoulder, "Tell your leader it was another failure." The short-haired girl walked back on the path until the presence of Sakon appeared at her side in an instant."You're as ignorant as he said." He smirked at her, wrapping a casual arm over her shoulder, "No worries, that won't last."The word 'ignorant'  made Kazumi tense up, her infuriated eyes locked onto his small pupils. A hot second went by before Kazumi spun around to push him away although Sakon had already jumped back. "Let's just knock her out." Kidoumaru cracked his multiple knuckles, sadistically staring her down."No," Sakon shook his head, raising a hand to one side of his face, "we cannot hinder the Lord's plans. We're only here to make the offer, remember?" His statement faltered Kidoumaru and Tayuya from advancing.Kazumi clenched her fist at her side, "No matter what you offer, I won't accept it.""Not even for power?" Sakon added, moving hair away from his face to reveal the cursed markings, "You're cursed just like us. But, you're different. Yours is biological." His markings were like a skin disease, horrible compared to other's she seen thus far."That is why you must come with us. We're giving you a choice here." Tayuya continued once Sakon hid the markings back with his hair, "You're not even in the first stages yet. You are in a dangerous position with that seal constantly pushing it back." Her finger pointed to Kazumi's throat, surprising her."They're right. You'll eventually die if you stay any longer in this village..." Kidoumaru kept his eerie smirk at her, his tone light compared to the dull fact.
Dying's better than accepting this crap.
Kazumi's glare kept them edging her on."You're different from the Uchiha. His curse is almost consuming him, yours will consume your core bit by bit like a withering old man. A silent killer, unless you remove that irrelevant seal." Tayuya dropped her arm back at her side, displeased.
 "Why is he keeping this seal on you? It's almost useless."

Uncle's been warding off the curse mark this entire time? Then... that means...
Kazumi looked down at the cold ground, processing the high chance that she had the curse mark since birth. Biological, they said. The single word makes her shiver."Our offer remains... Come with us to Otogakure. This is an easy route and your mark can be controlled. And of course... It can grant you power. Power that succeeds our own combined." Sakon tilted his face down, staring up at her with the faintest twitch of contempt in his small eyes.She blinked up at them, rolling her head back, "You mentioned Sasuke... Have you made the same offer?" She questioned, ignoring the offer with an anxious swallow.The four Sound-nin's shared looks with one another. The quiet, chubby Jiroubou sighed in realisation. Kazumi was like a thick brick wall, their words bouncing off like it was nothing special. Tayuya snorted, "Perhaps. And perhaps he was more willing than you right now.""Whatever you told him, I won't have him fall greedy to your shitty offer!" Kazumi scowled, flaring her nostrils. "Looks like she wishes to take the hard route!" Sakon dryly cackled, thrilled by the idea, "I look forward to meeting you again when you're... fixed."Kidoumaru sniggered."That's enough spitting, ya fairy!" Tayuya hissed, her eyes harshly reminding his of something Kazumi was oblivious to."See you soon, Suki-Sama." Sakon cheekily smirked.Tayuya clicked her tongue in annoyance. Jiroubou grunted, slapping his hands together. As Kazumi lunged forward with glowing grey eyes, a strong wind blew back on her face. Startled, the last thing she processed was Kidoumaru's multiple hands waving and Sakon's twisted expression before they disappeared from the spot.Her eyes blinked to gold, her breathing rapid and strained. If they hadn't of disappeared from sight, Kazumi was seriously thinking of killing them—stirring the village awake in the process.
Ridiculous!
She inwardly cursed them, not able to shake off the fact that they had approached Sasuke. 
No... He wouldn't... right?
She bit her bottom lip, brows knitted together in confliction. After what she saw from him that morning, she was overly concerned. If spoken right, anyone could coerce him in the vulnerable state he is in. 
I'll burn those scrolls, then kick down his door...
Kazumi relaxed her shoulders, closing her eyes as she let out a strong exhale. The entire walk back felt as if she was walking on a thin strand of thread, wobbly and threatening to slip off.Her steps progressively felt weak. Shaking off that feeling, she continued until she reached the secluded area of her compound. The backpack felt heavier than before, her hands clutching the straps.The familiar intuition made her feel on guard as she stood outside the door of the inner house. The flat silence made her gulps sound louder, sweat drenching her palm when reaching for the handle to slide it open. 
Did they put something on me? 
Kazumi's face squashed together at the thought, her head hurting. She felt as if she missed something important. Though, like always, her actions went first before she could process a thing. When the door slid open, she stepped inside the dark room. With only the rising moon to cast a light inside, she squinted at the silhouette of Sanjiro. He was sitting in a wheelchair, the sight alone making her brows raise."Uncle? Did they dispatch you early?" She asked, her unease washing away as she slid the worn backpack off of her shoulder and to the floor.As the young Kumo stepped further inside, she froze. "I've always been curious about this 'awakening' Orochimaru-Sama spoke of. Even way back when we first met at those pathetic exams." A clone of Kabuto's frame appeared from the shadows, holding a long blade towards Sanjiro's throat.Kazumi's breath caught in her throat, stunned. Sanjiro was unresponsive, his heavy, drained eyes focused on hers. In his weak state of sapped chakra, he could not move an inch. The image unsettled Kazumi to her core, a sharp shiver running down her spine."You were pretty close to discovering my true intentions, so perceptive... Like me." He almost mocked, his glasses shinning from the glow of the moon, "I was going to wait for the right moment, but you just done it for me. For that, thank you. I can assure you in the future, I will be begrudgingly on the same side as you. Therefore, I never want to thank you ever again. Nor do I ever want to associate my talents with yours." He forced a smile, tilting his head to the side. His entire words drenched with jealousy."You... You were one of those traitors..." Kazumi slowly pieced together, scoffing, "That doesn't surprise me in the slightest!" Kabuto's smile dropped, pressing the blade to Sanjiro's Adams Apple, "With the greatest honour, I get to be the one to do this to you! All whilst fulfilling my Lord's important step for his project..." He grinned, wide, crazed eyes behind the shine of his glasses, "Orochimaru-Sama played Sanjiro for a fool, purposely putting him in this state! I couldn't help but wonder why he wouldn't just send him to the late Third's grave... But now... now I know."Her eyes narrowed, heart racing in fear for Sanjiro at his killing intent. She then took a step forward, preparing herself to form a hand sign. "... That Orochimaru-Sama is above all of this filth!""I've wanted to fight you the moment you placed your annoying four-eyes on my team!" She insulted back, eyes flickering.The chakra she felt bubbling up was possibly the most powerful she conjured in the heat of the moment, only for it all to disperse by hands grabbing all of her angles."Welcome to the hard route, Suki-Sama!" Kidoumaru's smile was callous, his multiple arms pinning her down to the floorboards.Tayuya was at her other side, applying chakra to keep Kazumi down as well. Jiroubou's wide frame stood behind her with thick hands on both her shoulders, draining her chakra from progressing. As she snapped her head down, Sakon stood in front of her, hardly shielding her from the sight of her uncle stirring. "Uncle!" Kazumi screamed out, squirming in their hold.She felt her world slowing, her shaking pupils struggling to focus on his face. Sanjiro's eyes blinked, his lips trembling out a silent apology. His entire posture was defeated, like he had been chewed out for hours. Suddenly, she didn't feel as bold anymore. Kazumi's insides forced her to momentarily surrender. "UNCLE!" She screamed again, her rigid breathing catching in her throat, "W—Wait a moment!" Her voice cracked into rasps."Shit! Stay still!" Tayuya groaned, feeling her chakra being pushed down from Kazumi's force.Kidoumaru's arms strained, letting out grunts from the pressure. Sakon had spun around in shock, witnessing the winds whirl from around her body. The whiteness in her eyes reddened from strained veins, the wooden floorboards beneath her splitting. As Sakon raised a readying kunai's butt to her head, sand burst out from her pouch. Their attention fell to the sand as Kazumi's was still locked to the scene ahead.Kabuto paused for a moment, taking in the sand before hardening his face, "What are you guys doing?! Get rid of it!" He scolded, staying in position whilst watching the sand rush out from beneath them."Jiroubou, absorb the chakra!" Kidoumaru ordered, his cursed markings emerging to add onto his strength as he spat a web to her feet, entrapping her down."I said, wait..." Kazumi's voice turned hoarse, overwhelmed.She gritted her teeth, progressively releasing gravity from her body. Although it did nothing to stop the chubby Sound-nin from breaking the ground and enclosing soil around the rushing sand. With wide, white eyes over her shoulder, Kazumi helplessly gazed at Gaara's sand disappearing as it then sank limp to the surface.She instantly looked away in silent realisation, their applied pressure endlessly keeping her down and at bay whilst her chakra slowly recovered. She was still too weak. Too prone to failing. Tayuya and Kidoumaru's markings seeped back into their skin as Jiroubou went back to absorbing Kazumi's strength. Sakon knelt to Kazumi's level upon sensing something erupt within her, his kekkei genkai flared.
Uncle...
Kazumi's mind went stable compared to the adrenaline rush on the outside. Through her hazy eyes, she kept them trained on Sanjiro's like her life depended on it. She felt a concussive force against her ears by the gravity exploding out from her core, finally pushing the Sound-four off from her frame. It tore through the web, giving her better access to move. The four foreigners got sent flying at each corner with gasps."Let him go..." Kazumi trailed off, breaking the floorboards beneath the soles of her feet. "It's me you want." She choked out, her power consuming her.The split ran all the way towards Kabuto's toes, alarming him, he then acted on instinct. As the blade raised, Kazumi's eyes darted to meet Sanjiro's. Her view became like that of a fish eye, analysing his parting lips: 'Kazumi' he mouthed with complete confidence, closing his eyes. Kazumi's entire body seized up.A wave of nausea and shock came over her as the empty thud vibrated to her feet. Her shaking eyes followed the sound of something heavy rolling until it hit a wall. The head of her uncle's grey hair was on the ground, separated from his body.The sickening realisation faltered Kazumi, making her stumble backwards in disbelief. Lost, she instantly released the gravity around her, her gold eyes unable to look away from the clumps of grey hair. Her chest sunk into oblivion, a heaviness becoming too unbearable to think straight. A gut-wrenching scream rippled out of her lungs.Kazumi screamed. And screamed. And screamed for the entire street to possibly hear. She felt a piece of her soul taken from her, a part of herself that was him.Kabuto had shouted something to the Sound-nin's, but everything around her was too cloaked by the sharp ringing in her ears to hear. In her peripheral view, Kabuto's clone popped. His disappearance stirred something inside of her, something more bitter than the burning sensation against her throat."Get back here..." Kazumi snarled, taking a step only to feel the slow world begin to spin. The thread she felt she was on had snapped, and her face fell first to the shattered ground. Sharp pieces of the wood stabbed her face's skin, but her adrenaline hadn't registered it. Kazumi's furious eyes flickered away from the spot Kabuto disappeared from and towards Sanjiro's grey hair, her face softening into a hot flush.She tried to reach for it. She wanted to push herself back up and lunge for him although her entire body felt like jello.Tayuya's mouth moved, Kidoumaru's unnerved face reacting. Kazumi still couldn't hear, she wasn't even able to feel the four arms wrap around her shivering torso, pulling her up from the floor. Her head then rolled forwards, heavy, repelled eyes staring up at the blood trail that drooled into the broken cracks. Following it, there he was. Her sleeping uncle. Sleeping, yes.A brief moment of strong confusion washed over her, she then hitched her breath. The view of his very real defeat became further out of reach from Kidoumaru's grasp firmly holding her over his shoulder like dead weight.Kazumi's head then dropped, swaying aimlessly from their retreat. In her blurry gaze, she could faintly see black strands of her own hair smacking against her burning skin. Unable to find the strength to react, she let her eyes roll back, exhaustion taking over— knocking her unconscious before her mind could torment her with more registering.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Kazumi finished eating a ball of rice, raising a brow at Naruto's edginess. Sakura stood next to her, twirling her finger through a strand of Kazumi's long blonde hair. Sasuke had his arms crossed, also noticing Naruto's mischievous manner bubbling.Team Seven were currently outside, waiting for their sensei to appear and give them demands. Like always, Kakashi was late. Even after they finished their mission, there was almost no point in waiting for his goodbyes."Hey... don't you guys wanna see it?" Naruto suddenly spoke, his lips curling up like a cat's, "It's about time...""What?" Sasuke asked.Sakura stopped playing with Kazumi's hair to frown at them. "Kakashi-sensei's... real face!" Naruto pulled a scary grin, using a flashlight to luminate his expression when leaning towards the two girls.Kazumi's brows furrowed down at him, unimpressed.Sakura flinched back, shrieking, "What are you doing?!" She shouted, smacking her fist over his head.Sasuke turned around, shoving his hands into his pockets, "That's stupid." He huffed, "I'm not interested. Today's mission is over, so I'm going home...""Yeah, I agree..." Sakura instantly straightened up with a dreamy smile, although Kazumi could read her like an open book.Of course she'd be interested. And as for Kazumi, the topic played on her mind ever since she first met the jounin. "Well, I'm in." Kazumi nodded, surprising her team.Sasuke stopped walking away to look over his shoulder at her, irked, "You can't be serious.""Kazumi?!" Sakura gasped, cheeks red. Without realising it, Kazumi's easiness pulled Sakura's true feelings for the unknown.Naruto cackled, giving Kazumi a rough pat on the back, "That's great!!"Kazumi rolled her eyes, ignoring his antics.Sasuke scoffed, snapping back around to storm off. However, Naruto's mischief did not decline when it came to Sasuke."Maybe he has..." Naruto's words paused Sasuke, "Lips like cod roe?"Kazumi looked up at the sky whilst Sasuke fought an internal childish battle. Her mind imagined Kakashi pulling down his mask to reveal fat lips like piles of traditional cod roe squished together. The moment she looked back down, she watched Sasuke wiggle side to side, obviously intrigued.Naruto sniggered, "Or maybe buckteeth?" Sasuke stiffened, and the interaction caused Kazumi to nearly laugh."What about a tiny mouth?" Kazumi suggested, elbowing Naruto's side.Naruto sniggered louder, struggling to contain the giggles. Sakura placed a shy hand over her mouth, shocked by Kazumi's imagination. The concepts continued eating away at Sasuke's curiosity until he finally spun back to face them."Fine!"Sakura then inwardly cheered, pumping her fists. Naruto and Kazumi shared a knowing look, their own grins buzzing.   —_______________   "But... this is rare..." Kakashi's voice sighed.The ramen man and his daughter produced a bowl of ramen for Kakashi. Inside the little stall, Seven sat on one side next to a skeptical Hatake. At the sight of ramen, Naruto wiped the drool from his mouth, hiding his mischief.Kazumi wore a lazy smile, leaning against the fellow blonde. Sakura had her hands down together, innocently cheesing whilst Sasuke simply leaned against his elbows on the table, focusing on Kakashi's masked face.Team Seven began to daydream:
"All four of you treating me..." The man trailed off, crossing his arms, "Snow might fall..." The second he looked up, a thick load of fake snow fell atop of Kakashi.

Beaming, Team Seven cheered for great success, now waiting for the big reveal. In a flash, it all disappeared. Kazumi felt her wallet starting to struggle when ordering another round of fresh ramen. Right after the repetition, an implosion in the ramen drenched his face. Kazumi's wallet almost emptied for a third round whilst her team continued cheering. Then lastly, a comically large boxing glove smacked Kakashi to the ground, somehow destroying the ramen bowl at the same time. Each time, it was all dismissed.

Kakashi was basically impenetrable.

...
In every possibility, Kazumi could only shake her head when looking at the costs drain her wallet. "Like that..." Kakashi eyed his students, seemingly to be imagining same scenarios with a wary look at his genin's. The four of them tensed, frantically looking around to play it off coolly."Or if it's not that, are you guys up to something?" He leaned over, watching them tense further."Wh... What are you saying?!" Naruto stammered out, awkwardly giggling."Kakashi-sensei, we're celebrating your release from the hospital! Now... Now p... please eat, eat!" Sakura edged on, falsely chuckling."Yeah... it's all on me today!" Kazumi forced a smile, looking between the ramen and their sensei.Sasuke kept a rare smile at him."All right... I can't pass up this opportunity if it's from my cute little students. Then, I'll eat it without hesitation." Kakashi smiled behind his mask, reaching for chopsticks.
Plan's in motion! This better work, Naruto!!
Kazumi's smile fell to a serious expression, including her teammates who intensely watched him as well.As Kakashi pulled the wooden chopsticks apart to feast, he raised a hand to his mask where he slowly began to reach for it, "Thanks for the treat..." He hummed, teasingly placing a finger to nudge down."Oh! Sasuke... What a coincidence!" Ino's voice barged in, her team pushing Kakashi aside and hiding his view from them."Hey, Kazumi!" Shikamaru grinned while Chouji eyed Kakashi's food.Naruto and Sakura screamed, irked. Kazumi hunched over, defeated."Go away!! Ino-pig!!!" Sakura stressed, a ruckus occurring.Plates and condiments scattered everywhere between the mini brawl against teams. Kakashi had already finished his bowl, expressing gratitude. "I'm finished! That was good..." He happily sighed out.Sasuke paused mid-choking Chouji, just as shocked as everyone else. Sakura had her hand pulling Ino's mouth back whilst Ino gripped Sakura's hair. Naruto stopped himself from punching Chouji, dumbfounded at Kakashi.Meanwhile Kazumi and Shikamaru stood away from their brawl, raising different brows at Kakashi. 
So quick...
"Huh? Something wrong?" Kakashi looked towards them.Sakura innocently laughed, "N... Nothing's wrong!!"Kazumi couldn't stop herself from pinching the bridge of her nose. Shikamaru noticed, giving her a sympathetic pat on her shoulder.As she looked back up to see the ramen guy and his daughter with hearts in their eyes, she nearly toppled over. 
Now I really gotta know!! 
Kazumi leaned her face to her teammates, highly curious.  —_______________   "I will not allow myself to be denied a glimpse of him!!" Naruto scowled, kicking dirt.The four of them were far from the ramen shop, disappointed. Kazumi sighed through her nose, counting how much pocket money she had left."But, how are you going to see it?" Sakura frowned."That's... We'll see it somehow..." Naruto pulled another scary grin, using his flashlight towards the two girl's.Sakura punched his head, "I'm asking you how! You idiot!!" "She's right... That ramen idea of yours was a failure." Kazumi sighed, watching him rub his head."Ugh! Then, do you have a good plan, Sakura... Kaz?!" Naruto groaned.Kazumi whistled, rolling her head away to ignore the question. Sakura scratched her cheek, unsure.I'll need time to think... Better to see what we're dealing with first.Kazumi mentally decided, crossing her arms.Sasuke turned around, "We'll follow by completely marking him. If we do that, he'll eventually take his mask off."Naruto pouted at him whilst Sakura cheered, "Sasuke, you are really bright!""What's the big deal? That was so average!!" Naruto whined. Albeit Kazumi couldn't help but agree.
It wouldn't surprise me if that guy wore his mask even to sleep!
"I think —" Kazumi froze."Did you say something?" Sakura's voice dropped low, menacing."Well, that's fine..." Naruto immediately changed his mind. A sweat fell from Kazumi's face. "What was that, Kazumi?" Sakura straightened up with a sweet voice."Yeah... Never mind..." The blonde girl pursed her lips, not wanting to experience Sakura's wrath. —_______________  Kakashi strolled down the empty streets with a paper bag of groceries. The sight of an all-too-familiar book shop had Kazumi grimace from where she was hidden with her team. Kakashi instantly dropped his groceries to press himself against the glass, specifically eyeing a copy of the perverted novels."What's Kakashi-sensei doing?" Naruto's brows knitted uncomfortably.Sakura and Sasuke closed their eyes in disbelief."I'm disappointed in him." Sakura commented."You and me both —" Kazumi's eyes shot wide once Kakashi abruptly looked over his shoulder.Instantaneously, the four ducked down from their hidden spot, alarmed."He noticed us!" Sasuke hissed."Stupid Naruto! We were found because of you!!" Sakura immediately blamed."EH?! I tell you it's not my fault!" Naruto screeched."Uh, my fault..." Kazumi admitted, ignoring the disarray looks.
The sight of that shop made me accidentally release my chakra...
"What?!" Naruto and Sakura's faces dropped. Sasuke sighed heavily, shaking his head.However, as Kazumi peeked up from the billboard, she noticed Kakashi's eyes goggling at the large poster, completely ignoring them."He ignored my chakra?" Kazumi frowned, puzzled.Sakura peeked out as well, "Eh? Maybe he didn't notice... Ah! He's begun to move!!" "We'll follow his track!" Sasuke declared, watching Kakashi run like an idiot."Yeah!" Naruto nodded."Hey... But, what if  —" Kazumi got cut off mid-sentence by Sakura who pulled her along with them.
I give up...
"What? He's gone?!" Sakura gasped. Kazumi scratched her head, lazily frowning."Damn, he got away..." Sasuke glared at nothing."Darn it, where did he go?!" Naruto groaned."What are you guys doing?" Kakashi's voice appeared behind them, shocking the four, "Do you guys have business with me?" Kazumi pinched the bridge of her nose, frustrated. Kakashi amusingly scrunched his eyes at her before reverting back to his fake skepticism. "N —Not really!!" The three shook their heads, frantically. —_______________  "Hey, how did he find us out?!" Naruto asked, frowning.They were back to square one again, and Kakashi was gone. Kazumi leaned against the fence, biting her nail in deep thought."Isn't it because there are too many of us?" Sakura put in."If the presence is erased, the number of people shouldn't matter!" Naruto disagreed, "Or... have you forgotten the jutsu? Sakura..." Naruto pulled that irritating scary grin again with his flashlight.This time, Kazumi was the one to punch his head, "Quit it!!" She yelled, disregarding his butt-hurt reaction.Sakura huffed out her nose, praising Kazumi's actions."It will be good training to shadow him." Sasuke spoke, "From now on, we'll go about it individually.""That's not a bad idea, actually..." Kazumi put a hand to her chin, walking off as planned."Y —yeah, let's just leave Naruto here!" Sakura blushed."What?!" —_______________   "Want a sip?" Sakura smiled, offering her drink to Kazumi.Kazumi nodded, taking the drink. Sasuke took a sip of his, the three of them waiting for Naruto's results."Y'know... What if we're doing this wrong?" Kazumi muttered.Sakura raised a brow, "Huh?"Sasuke partly understood, though the appearance of Naruto diverted their attention away. He came running back, standing underneath the shaded umbrella with them as he sheepishly scratched the back of his head."He got away..." Naruto confessed."Clumsy as usual." Sakura insulted."You idiot..." Sasuke added."Really?" Kazumi sighed, handing the drink back to Sakura."Sorry..." Naruto hunched over."I better give it a try then." Sakura set the drink aside, walking off. Naruto replaced her seat, attempting to take a sip of it until Kazumi grabbed the drink and swallowed it whole.Dark clouds came over the sky, rain pouring down. Sakura had been gone for a while."K-Kaz?!" He whined.Kazumi rolled her eyes, setting the empty cup down. Sakura eventually came back with her tongue slightly stuck out and a finger scratching her cheek sheepishly.On cue, the three of them hunched over."Should be simple." Sasuke stood up, leaving the umbrella. After a while of him gone, the rain stopped. Sakura suspiciously eyed her empty cup, deciding to blame Naruto over Kazumi. The blonde girl couldn't help but laugh."Sasuke-kun! How did it go?!" Sakura gasped at Sasuke's entrance.Sasuke stuck his nose up, "No more shadowing..."Naruto and Sakura hunched over. "Says the one who claimed it was simple." Kazumi smirked, gaining a deep scowl from Sasuke in return."Why don't you do it!?!" Naruto and Sasuke shouted at her.
Ack...

—_______________   Kazumi concealed her chakra, watching Kakashi sit on a rock and continue to read his book. She was high in a tree above him, holding an apple and glancing at its shininess. Within the apple was particles of sleeping powder she snagged from Sanjiro's nightstand.Whilst Kakashi giggled to himself over a certain scene in the novel, Kazumi accurately aimed the apple down to his book. She'd admit that she purposely did that, though solely to catch his attention in hopes he was feeling peckish enough to eat it.The orange book was knocked out of his hands, and Kakashi flinched with surprise, "Oh? A lucky apple?" He thought out loud, picking up the apple and inspecting it.
That's it! Eat the apple!! 
Kazumi clenched her fist in anticipation, patiently waiting. Suddenly, Kakashi craned his head up, startling the blonde girl.She quickly hid behind the leaves of the tree, sweat profusely falling from her face.
That was close...
Kakashi looked back down to begin reaching for his mask, teasingly tugging it down until randomly stopping, "Hm... This is no apple tree... Is it... A bad omen?!" He dramatically theorised, throwing the apple away.
Oops... He's right.
Kazumi jaw dropped, perplexed by Kakashi's way of thinking. She looked at the tree she hid in, realising her simple mistake. Kakashi then quickly stood up from the rock, rushing away from the 'cursed' tree. Shaking her shock away, Kazumi swiftly jumped down from the tree to catch up.Although he was already gone.She stopped running to catch for her breath.
No way... this guy...

...
In a blink of a dazed moment, Kazumi found herself standing in the same defeated spots of her teammates, lost."Almost...?" Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura hunched over, depressed. —_______________   The next day rolled over, meaning a new mission in the morning. Kazumi hardly got sleep knowing what she went through the afternoon before. Even in her dreams she struggled to unmask Kakashi. She currently stood outside the main gates of Konohagakure, wearing her own worn backpack. Sasuke appeared just as restless since he kept eyeballing Kakashi. Sakura had a fed up frown, staring at Naruto's energised figure."Off we go!!" Naruto excitedly pumped his fists up.
Perhaps today's mission will get a little muddy?
Kazumi clenched her fist, already thinking up too many possibilities that she conjured up the night before. Even disrupting Sanjiro's routine of training her, which led to a rough scolding of multiple laps around the village."What's the matter? You guys seem to have lots of energy today." Kakashi noticed, shielding his eye from the sun."I have lots of energy!" Naruto posed, eager."I'm ready to go!" Sakura added, balling her fist.
Watch your back, sensei...
Kazumi stared holes into Kakashi's face. Sasuke quietly analysed him."Oh? That's excellent!" Kakashi smiled with his eye closed, walking ahead.—_______________  Team Seven arrived at a checkpoint. Kazumi tried her best to hide her disdain for such low ranked missions, though the twitch of her brow said otherwise. "Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!!" The lady beamed, admiring them, "Please come in and feast!"They stepped inside to see the sight of multiple dishes on a table. A sudden switch in Kazumi's brain had her take back every doubt once her eyes fell on the beautifully wrapped chicken in her favourite sauces. "Incredible!" Sakura complimented, grateful.Naruto licked his lips, his fingers wiggling desperately, "Looks delicious!!"Even Sasuke was amazed as he hid his drool."Extravagant!" Kakashi smiled."Keep at it, boss!" Kazumi flashed a thumbs up to the lady, to which she darkly giggled in response."Dig in, sweet dears! And take your time..." The lady then shut the doors.Without hesitation, Seven sat themselves at the table, praying gratitude. Kazumi reached for the wrapped chicken first, nearly drooling.
Uncle only ever gives me these big ones when I've met his expectations!!
She fidgeted, overjoyed to be able to eat such a large dish."Kaz!" Naruto whispered, slapping the wrap out of her hands. His gaze reminded her of their previous goal, making her reluctantly set it down with a small sigh.
Oh... yeah... Kakashi-sensei's face!
"Something wrong, Kazumi?" Kakashi raised a brow, "And the rest of you haven't even laid a chopstick on the food.""Not really, but why don't you, Kakashi-sensei... hurry up and eat?" Sakura offered, anxiously fiddling with her fingers."Y —Yeah... I suddenly realised that our amazing sensei should take the first bite, not us!" Kazumi added, silently heartbroken that she couldn't stuff her face with the chicken wrap.
No way am I gonna let a piece of food stop me from seeing this!
Kazumi gulped."I'm flattered... But, I'm on a diet." Kakashi patted her head.Kazumi's upper lip twitched, leaning her head away, "Oh... Is that so?" She feigned disappointment. "Ah!" Naruto suddenly pushed Kazumi back with his arm whilst grabbing the teapot, "My hands slipped!" He shouted, purposely throwing the tea towards Kakashi.Kazumi's wide eyes watched the liquid miss her by inches, rolling backwards away in time as Kakashi flipped the table up to dodge. Team Seven froze from his action, and Kazumi nearly teared up at the squashed state of her chicken wrap.Naruto and Sakura were the first fuses to blow, like always, "How could you?!""Ah.. Ah..." Kazumi shook, trying to piece the obliterated chicken wrap back together, though it only made it more unappetising to look at. "Oh, sorry, sorry! I unintentionally..." Kakashi nervously apologised, trailing off once being shouted in the face by his students.A dark aura surrounded Kazumi, causing Kakashi to gulp and quickly clean up the mess. Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto appeared at her every side, whispering to one another."Hey, what's the next move?" Sakura asked."We go by force." Kazumi firmly stated, shooting daggers at an oblivious Kakashi."EH?!""Not yet!" Sasuke reasoned, "I have an idea.""Idea?" Kazumi looked up at him, doubtful. ..."Darn... I wanted to see it too, but this is a hot spring..." Sakura's voice snapped Kazumi back to reality.The two kunoichi's were in the steamy water. Kazumi floated on her back, deadpanning at the sky while Sakura made depressing bubbles in the water with her mouth."I can see a chicken wrap in the sky..." Kazumi dreamily sighed, staring at the outline of it in the clouds.Sakura shot her a look."Kakashi-sensei, aren't you ready yet?!" Naruto's voice shouted from the other side."All right, I'm coming in now!" The jounin shouted back."I do wanna see it!" Sakura then shook off the water from her face, swimming over to the edge. 
Ugh... This is such a pervy idea, Sasuke...
Kazumi cringed to herself, sighing heavily before stepping out the water to stand beside Sakura in their towels. Kakashi began to walk out to enter the male springs."Gah... I can't see anything at all! What about you, Kazumi?" Sakura whispered, trying her hardest to look through the gap.Kazumi rolled her eyes, forcing herself to take a peek as well. However, the second she even so catches a glimpse of something she shouldn't see, she'll disregard the entire idea."It's too foggy..." Kazumi mumbled, only able to see a dark silhouette of their sensei.Kakashi then stepped into the hot springs, the smoke revealing towels wrapped around his lower face with his shinobi headband still covering his eye."Thanks for waiting. I'll just soak for a little while." He said, waving at Naruto and Sasuke.Immediately, the two boys ducked themselves under water to muffle their screams of stress."This is pointless!" Kazumi pouted, her eyes suddenly going wide at the faintest sight of a needle flying through the air.Kakashi ducked his head in time to join Naruto and Sasuke in the water. Instead, it reached a jumping frog."What happened? I want to know!!" Sakura whined."Hey... Did you see that?" Kazumi frowned, looking at Sakura.The pink-haired kunoichi tore her face off from the fence to give her a funny look, "See what? Ah! Don't tell me you saw..." With cheeks turning pink."NO!" Kazumi screamed, instantly understanding what she implied."Where are you going!! Wait!" Sakura gasped at Kazumi's retreat, following her inside the small hut. —_______________  
Why is it so hard to see his face...?!
Kazumi had a mutually dishevelled look as Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura's. Throughout the entire morning of the mission, they still couldn't get a chance. And seeing as how nothing really happened, Kazumi ruled off the needle being one of the two boys'. "Please come again! Please come again! Thank you for coming!" The lady continued with their customer service, bidding them farewells.Kakashi had a giddy aura when walking away with swagger whilst his four students sagged their shoulders and followed after. Eventually, the air smelt like manure. They arrived at the location of the mission: the farm they've been ordered to clean."Alright, split up!" Kakashi shouted, heading off on his own.The four huddled together once more, exhausted."I can't stand it anymore..." Naruto spoke, "I have too much stress stored inside.""I had a nightmare of that chicken wrap being out of my reach, you know..." Kazumi sighed, saddened.Sasuke tilted his head down, "I'm almost at the end of my patience as well...""Sasuke... actually, me too." Sakura admitted."Then, it's the last resort! We go by force, just as Kaz said before!!" "Force?!" Sakura and Sasuke repeated....Kazumi blinked and found herself wearing a random shinobi outfit. The four of them were in disguises."Can't you see? It's shinobi outfit.""Uh... When did you get this ready?" Sakura frowned."Well, well, never mind that, never mind..." Naruto averted that topic.
What a minute... Where did he get these?
Kazumi wondered, looking down at her disguise and back up to the unfamiliar shinobi headbands."What do you do with this?" Sasuke questioned."We'll strip away the mask with force!" Naruto explained."Finally..." Kazumi clenched her fist, distracted by the reveal of Kakashi's face over her own suspicions."Let's go!" Naruto yelled, running over with his teammates to the working Hatake, "Hey, Hatake Kakashi!"Kakashi stopped his work to turn around, "Hey, what are you guys up to?"
Bah, of course it won't work!
Kazumi stiffened."W —What are you talking about? We are simply enemy ninja!" Naruto corrected, "It's not that we want to see what is behind your mask... or anything!""Fool!" Sakura pushed him over, "Don't say unnecessary things!"
Huh?
Kazumi spun on her heel when sensing an unfamiliar chakra scent. A man with an ugly face appeared with a pointed finger, wearing the same shinobi outfit as Seven's disguise. Before they could react, Kakashi had his students tied up and in the air."Stop right there!" He demanded, "Kakashi! It's time for you to pay for your crime! You shall die!!" He then took out a bottle, "With this medicine I prepared that will make you cry... What?!" He dropped the bottle upon noticing his 'comrades' in a bind, breaking it."Oh, just when I thought how long you guys were going to sneak around..." Kakashi leisurely said, effortlessly dropping his students down, "You finally come out."
What a cruel twist of fate!!
Kazumi dizzily thought, trying to recover from Kakashi's speedy ways."Ah, well, you know... But, before that, Sasuke, Kazumi, Sakura, Naruto!" Kakashi looked down at his students, unimpressed.The four of them tensed, sobered up from the attack."Why are you guys dressed like that?" He sighed like an all-knowing parent towards their troublemaking kids."Huh? I... Well, yeah... so..." Naruto stuttered, struggling to speak."Caught you!" Sakura suddenly said, saving their conflicted moment.Kazumi exhaled through her nose, playing along, "That's right! You've been deceived!! That was a crap shot with those needles of yours back at the hot springs... So I had Naruto steal your outfits!" She half-lied."You did?" Naruto raised a brow, instantly straightening up from the kunoichi's stern glare, "Yeah!""We were well aware that you were targeting Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura pointed, cleverly. Sasuke scoffed."What?! Then our plot was exposed from the beginning!" The ugly leader stepped back, surprised."Of course! This was a trap to lure you guys out!" Sakura shouted, "We caught you off guard!" She mockingly said."So we were completely caught in the trap." He continued on like a dunce."Darn! We underestimated you, thinking it was kids!" His followers added.
We are kids... shinobi kids...
Kazumi deadpanned."I don't quite get what's happening, but oh well..." Kakashi merely walked towards the foreigners and that was enough to send them on their knees begging for forgiveness, "There's no use in apologies..."
Yikes...
Kazumi looked away from Kakashi's brutality. In the end, the foreign shinobi's were tied up and defenceless. Ignoring their yapping, Kakashi dusted his hands off."By the way, who are you guys?"Kazumi cut the ropes around them with the kunai, watching the enemies wail in distraught by Kakashi's disinterest.   —_______________  "So, what is behind the mask?" Kazumi went straight to the point as the sun began to set in the background.Team Seven finished the mission and they were on the trail back to Konohagakure. "Yeah!" Naruto placed his hands on his hips."What?" Kakashi didn't look away from his orange book, "You wanted to see what's behind this mask?" "Obviously!" Naruto grumbled."Then you should've asked that from the beginning." Kakashi's blunt sentence enraged Kazumi inside."Well, can you show us?" Sakura asked, fluttering her lashes."I don't mind..." He finally set the book away from his face, flashing a smile at Kazumi with amusement.She pouted in reply. "Really?!" Naruto squeaked, squishing close together with his teammates.Squashed in between Naruto and Sasuke, Kazumi squinted up at their sensei whilst Sakura hugged onto Kazumi's backpack from behind."Sure thing." Their hearts hammered in anticipation as their sensei reached for his mask, "All right..."Gulping, Kazumi could imagine a prince behind the mask or a complete hideous beast. Either option sent her imagination wild."Behind this mask..." Kakashi gripped the top, slowly pulling it down, "Is another mask!" He happily answered, pulling it down to reveal the second layer.In sync, the students slumped to the ground. 
No way!!!
Kazumi mentally screamed, trying to hold herself together.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

I'm laying in a puddle of nothingness. Darkness stretches all around me, the same void from all of my nightmares. I don't try to wake up. I don't try to do anything.

This bleakness embeds in me. A cold sensation of the black floor beneath me. I can't tell what it is. Maybe it's my mind. Perhaps my state of deep thoughts I always enter has been dipped in slick oil.

I don't care anymore. As long as I don't wake up. I can't wake up. I'd rather stay here with this elephant sitting on my chest than wake up to a world without him.

A world without Uncle. My grandfather. My father figure. My mentor. The last relative I had. The first person my small hands touched and the last person I saw.

Bitterness resides in me, festering into what feels like insanity. I couldn't do anything. But I could replay the moments with ease, and no matter how hard I looked for that loophole, there was nothing.

Sakon drugged me, I confirmed within this endless blackness. He had done so the second his arm suspiciously wrapped around my shoulder in false friendliness. That spinning world... If I hadn't of been so weak...

All those long years of training under Uncle's wing, all for naught. I must have betrayed him in a sense. I dread to think the outcome as I wallow in this self-pity of mine. Because deep down, I knew nothing would've really changed.

I am back to becoming this incomplete puzzle. Incapable of expressing everything and nothing that begs to burst out of me.

Oh, well. Minutes, hours, days, years could go past right now and I wouldn't care.

"I'll kill him." My thoughts echo around me and the void, as it always does. "killhimkillhimkillhim—KILLHIMKILLHIMKILLHIM 
—" Still on the ground, I'm arching my back, out of breath.

There's a strain in my chest, like a hand gripping my heart. The thunderous beating creates a harmony around these ceaseless thoughts that continue to seep out of my head and echo all around me. It's wild and callous and utterly distraught all into one.

And then it all stops. I feel my blood run cold. It's like I'm dying. My eyelids are heavier, and my eyes lose focus. There's nothing to focus on in this blackness yet I still try.

Because I'm dying. And maybe, just maybe... a small part of me wants to live. Even if it's as small as a pea against this void.

"Suki," A soft, cowering voice of a woman hums into me. I'm seconds away from losing all my senses to death. "Suki, wake up." The distortion of the desperate voice made it hard for me to recognise it.

Through this spiralling vision, a familiar light defies the darkness all around. It floats above my motionless figure. Our faces inches from touching. Even this close to it, it had no features to recognise either. It wasn't my Uncle, I noted, as its curves came into view and she was much smaller. Still very much a random lady.

Her face practically blinds me. "Suki... don't be scared." It coos like it cares for me, her bright hands grabbing my shoulders and lifting me gently off of the cold shadows as if I was completely sluggish in comparison.

I'm not scared.

"I'm here, I've always 
—" Her voice startles to a stop with a sharp whip, and those erratic thoughts inside of my mind overpower her words.

"KILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILL 
—" I'm finally moving again, I'm reaching my hands to her arms that are already holding me. She's no longer pulling me, and this time, I've grabbed her shoulders to assert my control.

My head floats to hers. I let my heavy gaze grow wide and adjust my sight to the blinding light of her face. She doesn't protest nor move when my head goes directly through her face as if she was a ghost. I used her to stand by myself, to feel my bare feet against the puddle of darkness beneath me.

Control is overwhelmingly refreshing.

"Suki, wait...! 
—"

Like a candle being blown out, the woman disappears. I hold no interest for that action as my interest lies elsewhere. My blood pumps back warm, rich blood. Not like any other blood, it was new and just as refreshing. It brims with power that travelled everywhere in my veins canals. Finally, the erratic thoughts stopped entirely.

I'm whole again. I just know it as I gaze down at my hands that seem to have a flicker of that woman's light. A small grin rises to my cheeks from the glow, until it falls and my body tenses to that familiar seize.

In my hands blinked a round object. It was cold against my new profound warmth, reminding me of that death inside of me. But also reminding me of his. That grey hair, which fell limp over my arms. The object hauntingly turns against my will for me to see that lifeless, wrinkled face.

I'm suddenly stained in red; not my blood. This wasn't how it happened, but this feeling... No! It's all my fault! I killed him!

"Nonononononono 
—" A new thought floods out of my mind and into this bleak void.

I lose my grip, my hands like slippery butter. Uncle's head falls to the ground with a thunk. Just like that night. I did that. I let his head fall. I recreated that. This void is reminding me of my sin that's no different from my clan's.

I am no different from them.

My lips part, and I'm screaming without a sound. This strong scream that rattles my lungs strain my entire body. Yet, there was no sound coming out. I am inconsolably frustrated since I keep trying to scream until I can hear myself.

"Shit! What's happening?" Tayuya's very faint voice reaches my half-conscious senses and I continue to noiselessly scream out in the void. "Fatass, hold it down, now!" A sound of a pounding fist against wood right after.

Jiroubou grunts out, "Bitch!" Whilst pinning down wood that I can hear from directly above me in this hugging darkness. Two pairs of arms copy, likely Kidoumaru.

"You idiots, move!" Sakon's voice appears as well, slapping against the wood that now feels to be all around me in these shadows. He spoke jutsu's too muffled to decipher.

"What have you done?" My mouth shuts closed into a thin line at the voice of Sasuke. "Enough of this, it's clearly 
—"

Before I could even process him and the fact that all the chaos around me subdued, I fell flat on my face against the void's ground. This cold texture, I faintly recognised to be wood.

I'm inside wood. 
  —_______________    A harsh light hits against me. I quickly open my eyes to meet with the rising sun overhead. My brain felt fried, used over and over to no mercy. I could not remember a single thing from the dream, just the feeling of being lugged around in a wooden box.I sagged forward, my empty gaze focusing on the nature surrounding me. This wasn't my messy compound, it wasn't even night anymore.My throat was parched. I could, however, recall screaming until my voice broke. Until I became a newborn again, trying to rasp out the word 'papa'. 
"No," His gentle tone pushed through my memories, the touch of his calloused hand caressing my chubby cheek. "Grand-papa."
A realisation washed over me. Kumo Sanjiro is dead. My uncle. I could quickly feel that wallowing misery in my dream; that heaviness on my chest. Between the five stages of grief, I wasn't so sure what stage I was at.With everything piecing together, I smacked my head back against the hard bark of the tree behind me. Hot fluid fell down my cheeks, making me blink them back rapidly. The tears spilled out like delinquents, tears I hardly spewed in the past. Lately, it felt that all I ever did was cry— exhausting me.I tried not to envision Uncle, but my mind torments me with the scenes of that arm raising the blade. That, and my old man mouthing a word I can't decipher.With stuttering exhales, I took a moment to gaze out at the horizon. Eventually, the pooling tears stopped. Throughout that, I felt rot building from inside-out. "You're awake, Suki-Sama..." A voice appeared, causing me to turn towards it.Sakon, Tayuya, Kidoumaru and Jiroubou stood close by. For a moment, I almost expected to see a different team of familiar faces, though the illusion was blinked away.'Suki'... Yes... I'm Suki...My face squishes in confliction. An odd feeling made me wonder why the name I've always known was foreign to me. Without realising it, my lips part to question this feeling."Why do you call me that name?" I roll my puffy eyes up to the first person in my view."It is the name our Lord addresses you by. The name you've always had. You have awakened, haven't you?" Tayuya replied, studying me.I look away from their intense stares, my head lightly swaying like a feather. I could envision my thoughts so vividly that I was pulled into a short daydream. I held onto the emotion of fury, enough for me to stand up and take a kunai from my pouch. With that same kunai, I grab Tayuya and stab her. I grab the rest of them whilst hallucinating vivid faces of Sound-nin and kill them as well. I blink once more, the birds flocking from trees bringing me back to my senses from where I sat up against that tree. Then, guilt gnawed away at my pale flesh.I can't comprehend a damn thing. I'm just a bubble wishing to be popped.Sakon added with a smirk, "You already look good as new. I hope you don't mind, but we had Uchiha Sasuke-Sama as the temporary leader until you woke up.""Sasuke?" I mutter, looking back to their faces. He was the last voice I heard in my subconsciousness. And the last memory I had of him was his fist colliding into my hip back at the hospital. Although it no longer throbbed in pain. Their sentence registered in my mind, making me straighten up against the bark.He shouldn't be here. He isn't here. But Sasuke's voice was very real in my mind."No, he's..." My brows knit together and I go to pinch the bridge of my nose in hopes a headache would not emerge. But I couldn't move my arms.Startled, I snap my heavy gaze down at the spider-web like string holding me to the tree."It seems she's still recovering from the latest awakening." Tayuya mentioned, "We had you restrained, forgive us.""Had we not done so, the awakening would've been disrupted." Sakon finished, sharing a glance with Kidoumaru.The male with multiple arms walked over to me, leaning down to my level, "They're right. You understand your purpose now, don't you?" He bit back a sadistic grin, freeing me from the binds.Purpose? I can't count the amount of times I've been blinking. My glossy eyes felt like mirrors to a vanquished soul buried within me, reflecting nothing but deflecting everything. This new sensation..."My purpose... has nothing to do with playing ninja." My hand grazes the shinobi headband around my right thigh as I stood up. I pull it off with ease, staring down at the Leaf symbol for a moment, "I..." A loud pause occurred, and the sounds of nature stopped.A soft, warm light invaded my mind. I felt sucked into a distant memory of Uncle's rare smile. It undeniably wavered me.
"I might even try to grow a garden or maybe join some book clubs."
My head twitches from the hazy memory of his calm words. They were filled with affection and peace. Out of everything I could've remembered, it was his useless words of aspirations. One that had nothing to do with shinobi. But for some reason, I could finally understand it. There was no more room in my heart to feel a devotion for the life of a shinobi.It was meaningless now.The soul I was before had been evaporated clean from existence, it seems. I've been rewired and cut from the same cloth as these traitors surrounding me.My brow twitches, a finger flinching against the cool metal like it could harm me.The loud noise of my thick swallow tuned me back into my surroundings, hearing everything as swift as it previously dispersed. Very quickly, I knew what I must do in this situation. "I am a vessel..." A new profound strength in my chakra crushed the metal, red veins in my eyes popping from strain.Bitterness lays heavy on my chest as I watch the short grass immediately hug the metal protector. The chakra within me fizzled and popped, creating aftermath shakes. I broke out a defeated sigh. Jiroubou had grunted in silent approval."Like us all, you've died once." Sakon's voice was eager, illiterate of my complex feelings, "All but one."Of course, I must look like one of them now.I carelessly follow Sakon's eyes to a figure high up in the trees. Onyx eyes never left mine, his determined gaze held the littlest of curiosity. I felt my shoulders tense, my face blanking at the sudden sensation of interest.Up until now, I had not realised how lifeless I was acting. Like a limp doll bending to their will. The sight of Sasuke pulled me back to some form of humanity. I kept my gaze on Sasuke as he jumped down from his lounged position, landing in front of us."We're far enough from Konoha village." Sakon turned to Sasuke.I felt my eyes shoot wide for a moment. Tayuya's vague snort reminds me of her words from last night. "Perhaps. And perhaps he was more willing than you right now." I side-glance at her, hiding my contempt with my dishevelled black strands. I was supposed to find Sasuke last night, to confront him of our shared encounter.I pull my gaze away before she could sense my stare, locking eyes with Sasuke again. Regret pulled at my heart for not checking up on him first. I had every time to do so, yet spent it focused elsewhere. Sasuke's eye's quickly narrowed into a cold gaze since I must've unintentionally given him an expressive look. He looked far gone from reality. Like that of a greedy pig for sustenance, he was the greedy kid for power.I sense Tayuya take a step at my side, holding out a worn backpack, "It's yours." She said, gesturing for me to take it.I harshly blink my eyes from Sasuke to the bag in view, slowly grabbing it. Without a second thought, I slung it over my shoulder and buckled it tight."We've all got our important orders from Lord Orochimaru. The last and finale one..." Sasuke turned to Sakon to cut him off, "I'm asking what the hell that is?!" He demanded, irked."You must 'die' once."That headache I previously prepared for throbbed without a warning. The topic of it had me revisit agonising sensations from memories I could not acknowledge. Unknowingly, I clutched my hand to my chest just to feel my live beating heart.I grab at my temples like it would dull the pain, nearly dissociating from the conversation ahead of me until Tayuya brought a small bottle of blue liquid into my line of sight. What the hell?"This is...?" I give her a hard look, the pain in my brain intensifying. "For the pain." That was all I needed to hear as I snatched it up and gulped it down. It wasn't poisoned, but even if it had been, I don't think I would've cared. A strong desire over-clouded my usual judgment, feeling the first hydration of the new day. Tayuya wore a satisfied look."You're telling me to die... once?" Sasuke frowned, questioning Sakon's intentions.Sakon rummaged for a small jar of beads, "Seishingan. I'll have you swallow this." He pulled it out from his pocket."That wasn't what I saw from her awakening." Sasuke's gaze flickered from mine to the hallucinogens, "The hell is that?"I had already tossed the bottle back to Tayuya when finished. Whatever was in that liquid successfully eased my pains. I noted how these traitors had no intention to harm me, let alone kill me.As I attempted to care about the topic ahead of me, a strange dizzy effect occurred. Very similar to the feeling I had when walking back to my deserted compound. Drugged again or not, I preferred it over the pains."We've already told you about Suki-Sama's awakening. It's different from ours. This will dramatically increase your seals contamination speed." Sakon began."Keep in mind, yours is still level one. That pill will save you from death." Tayuya put in as if bored, shoving the empty bottle back in her pouch."And in order to control the level two curse, your body needs time to get adjusted. You will probably possess the same level of strength as us. When the seal is awakened to level two, there is only a few minutes until you 'die'." Sakon then sniggered, "Just as you witnessed from Suki-Sama last night."Sasuke looked back at me, alarmed. His reaction looked like he hadn't known that.In reply to his look, I simply wiped lingering drool from my chin with the back of my hand, "So... that dream of my heart exploding was just my death?" I nearly cracked a smile through the discomfort.Unbelievable. Fuck them.Sakon let out an amused laugh, watching as I leaned against a tree, "Suki's biological awakening has fixed her, but it isn't complete. To die is to be born anew, exactly as Lord Orochimaru anticipated. And as you can see, she is still standing and briming with power that exceeds our own." He glazed, admiring the position I had.I couldn't return his feelings. This was all ridiculous. Anger bubbled inside of my blood as I snapped my attention to Sasuke.Must be nice to have a choice in all of this. That Uchiha bastard.My mind violated me with uneven memories the night before. "So, what... Last night these clowns appeared to you like some divine interception? They offered you this and you'll just stand there and take it?"Some patterns of those memories changed and curved, frustrating me to no extent. My words obviously affected him since Sasuke now wore the same glare he gave Naruto. Ouch."Ah! Yes... I can already feel my godlike abilities evolving..." I irrationally remark, quickly lowering my head to prevent a snigger.Sasuke grimaced through his glare, stiffly looking away from my heavy gaze.I could hear Sakon heckling like the hyena he was at my left. "Suki-Sama has developed a sense of humour, it seems." Sakon smirked, "But don't dismiss my intentions, I truly wish to be in your place. You shouldn't be acting like a careless fool about this and instead be grateful."Grateful, hah!I lift my head to him. "Is that a threat?" I mustered a controlled glare. This made him feign heartbreak, pissing me off. I was not far off when comparing a side-by-side portrait of a clown next to him. Tayuya scowled at Sakon, "Zip it, fairy!"He only rolled his eyes in reply.I lower my gaze to the ground, recalling the feeling of my heart stopping in my chest. How my blood went cold, and all I wanted to do was give in and sleep forever."Think you can die for power, Sasuke?" I grit out, but I could see in Sasuke's flaring eyes how he twisted my words into that same competitiveness. Man, I really regret apologising to this prick. I let my face fall to apathy. Sasuke's hard gaze locked on mine before forcing them back to Sakon, "So... What'll happen after I die?" He carried out.I cross my arms, heavy eyes closing to acknowledge this. First, he punches me when my walls were down for him, and now he chooses to go through the one thing I was forced into against my own will. Sasuke's lost his mind.Thick iron walls raised in both my heart and mind. Just like the day I was forced into Team Seven. This consistent betrayal was too much to bear. So I kept silent, hoping I'd disappear into the forest's shadows. I should be leaving now, running away. But I stay in this spot against the tree. Perhaps I've lost my mind, too.Instead, I watch Sakon approach closer to him, "Don't worry, that's what we're here for." He took Sasuke's arm and placed the jar of hallucinogens in his palm, "Our barrier jutsu, the same one from last night, will reduce the side effects of the curse. It'll soften the effect of death to a temporary coma."As Sakon backed off, Sasuke raised a brow, "Your barrier skills, how reliable are they?"Sakon smirked over his shoulder to me, "Suki-Sama, do you remember the feeling of death?" He asked."Hard to answer... not really." I replied dryly."What about physically, then?" Sakon teased, trying to edge Sasuke on.My lips thin before parting them, "No." The lie came out with ease.I guess my pettiness never left.The singular word made Sasuke's slanted eyes go round.Kidoumaru had smiled with one of his thumbs pointed to him, "And hey, Sasuke-Sama! We four are usually the elite guards of Lord Orochimaru. See, our strongest skills are creating seals and barriers."Sasuke silently stared at them before looking back at me, "I have one request."The Sound-four obliged without a word while I simply gave him an uninterested look."My resting state must never leave Kazumi." He firmly ordered, entrusting his vulnerability to... me.Kazumi? What a familiar name. Why is that? Why is it that a part of me stutters upon the specific name? I push off of the tree, my head twitching. Like a flip of a switch, an overwhelming stab reverts me back to ceaseless confliction.I ignored the anxious looks the four traitors gave to each other since a memory of Sasuke's words crossed my mind.
"I already lost everything once before... I don't ever want to watch those dear to me die before my eyes again." 
The same sentence from Sasuke played in my mind like an echo. That apology I regretted remained, there's no taking that thought back. He may have changed, but his emotional connections stayed.I stepped towards him, "Then, I have a request as well." As I came closer, I could see the uncanny yellow of my eyes through his, "Address me as the name I've always had, then maybe I won't be careless with you." His face was inches from mine, and I made sure to lower my lips to his ear so that only he could hear. "You want a truth? While you were so busy trying to appease me, I never had a single thought about you back then and now."Stepping back, I wore a poker face in contrast to his alarmed glare. Simply put, I've declared myself to being someone un-dear to him. Kind of funny how quick it is to disdain someone, I would laugh at that if I weren't so drained.Now it's his turn to think 'ouch'... If he's even thinking at all right now other than either wanting to punch me again or jump head first into death.An uncomfortable thick silence filled the atmosphere. I watched the way Sasuke's fists clenched at his sides, affected by my words. I could almost feel the wary energies from the Sound-nin's behind us.His bottom lip curled downwards, "Done, Suki." The monotonous tone could fool a blind person, but I knew that the name churned at his stomach.Because it certainly has been churning at mine for the past twenty-minutes.I walk back to a tree, leaning against it for support. Sasuke had already shuffled a single bead out and swallowed it down with no hesitation. I almost couldn't believe how willing he was. Then, again, this wasn't the Uchiha Sasuke I knew. I wonder if he thinks the same thing as I looked at the deep black colouring of my hair's strand between my fingertips.Looking back, I see Sasuke hunched over, clutching his chest in oncoming pain. I tried not to care, truly, but my body flinched. The stubborn Uchiha fell to his knees, and Sakon had ordered a demand whilst whipping out a large scroll.In a split flash of memory, I could see Sasuke's momentary death from the Mist mission a near year ago. An overwhelming shadow of uncertainty gripped at my face, pulling me back a few steps from the sight of his agony."Hurry up you idiots, or Sasuke-Sama's going to flip!" Sakon yelled, dropping the scroll to the ground and starting the summoning. Tayuya had an arm behind me to stop me, "Stand back, Suki-Sama. Until it's over." I didn't even realise I stepped that far away.Before either of us could react, the summoning was made. A round, tub-like casket appeared with a bunch of seal writings all around. Jiroubou picked Sasuke up with ease, carefully placing him inside.With my eyes still locked to Sasuke as the lid enclosed like a coffin, I felt paralysed. The mere concept of death had me look down at my pale palms. I could still see the blood; feel the overwhelming fear of death itself. Those chilling sounds of Sasuke's heart stopping and Uncle's head falling emerging into one gut-wrenching beat."Alright! Get ready! Let's begin!" Tayuya disappeared from my side, likely with the other traitors by the tub. Meanwhile, I couldn't take my damn eyes off of my hands even as my gaze went heavier and I thought I could collapse at any given time.One blink, the red blood on my hands was there. Just like that nightmare over and over. Another blink, and it just disappeared into thin air. "His death is yours." Kidoumaru's voice assaulted my hyperaware senses, he then leaned away to give me his usual sadistic look.I forced my head up to meet sight of the motionless tub. It had slapped seals all over the wood. It was far too late now. "Tell me everything about our plans. Do not leave a single detail out." Shrugging Kidoumaru off, I approached the tub. As I placed a hand on the dark lid, the scent of Sasuke's heart rate decreasing made my gaze narrow. The wood's texture was just like the wood's sensation from my nightmare. Sasuke's dying to be born anew, like me."Yes, Suki-Sama."I look over my shoulder to the smug Sound-four after grasping the straps of the tub and hoisting it over my own backpack with ease.—_______________   
"... Leave Konohagakure... The lair in Otogakure... New vessels..."
I gripped a flat stone before launching it across a lake. It skipped over the water and straight to multiple trees, knocking them down with the other hundred by my new chakra force. Next to me was the sounds of the sizzling tub, a reminder of Sasuke's death now currently in my hands. If I was half the person those Sound-nin were, I would've threw open the lid and killed Sasuke while he was in that vulnerable state."I haven't a care nor clue." I mumble, picking up another to repeat the same thing. I was bowling with rocks, knocking down the pins being the trees. I'm fully confident that what I've done has created chaos. That fact makes me huff. After getting a small understanding of the Sound-four's plans, I abused my power to get away from the situation. Turns out, I couldn't leave Sasuke behind. It was no wonder I didn't just dip the moment I woke up. The very faint sounds of destruction ripple through the forests to my ears. I got away the moment random Leaf-nin appeared to capture us.I didn't want any of this. And in order to process, I did what I do best: run. The flash of multiple Leaf-nin faces and their mixed expressions haunts my thoughts until the last rock ended up being crushed to dust in my palm. I pause to watch it disappear with the blowing wind.
"Pride seems to be a curse in this near extinct lineage." 
My old man always had a unique way with words. I purse my lips tight together as I rest a hand above my right thigh. Without the shinobi headband, it felt bare. But I had no choice in the matter. If the second those Sound-nin knew of my hesitance, I wasn't quite sure what would have happened.Something else against my will, again. I had to regain control before that possibility ever happens again.Taking a kunai out from my pouch, I lean to kneel down at the edge of the lake and stab it into the moist sand, "Sorry, I couldn't pick up anything from you to use." I apologise, heavily closing my eyes.The kunai had nothing attached like any ordinary offering would. When opening them, I caught sight of my reflection in the water. I couldn't recognise myself anymore. The once sun-warm strands were now like the slick oil from my nightmares.Just when I had gotten over my identity crisis, it comes back.Upon staring at myself, I was notably pale. And not just on my hands, but my face as well. The colour of death, I weakly joke to myself. My veins were more clearer against my skin because of this and my eyes were a harsher yellow than my old soft gold. Just like the colour I caught look of in Sasuke's eyes' reflection. I'm like a replica. A clone of him. Orochimaru.My silence was deafening. All I could focus on was my appearance. Looks like since Uncle's death, the seal died with him. It was just as he said. Exposing me of who I am behind the altered features he put upon me the moment I was born.Was he ever ashamed of me? Maybe in those last moments he was. After all, he died because of me.The corner of my left lip still had that faded white line, the wound I got against one of the nine traitors. My eyes followed down to my throat where the visible mark of a line seal was shown. I'm also guessing the lack of Uncle's chakra caused this to appear. Whatever Orochimaru did back at the exams, this was the mark. As Sasuke had his, mine was now showing permanently. Just a plain thin line. Yet it was hideous.I grimace, distorting the reflection with a smack against the water's surface.The constant sizzles from Sasuke's coffin made it hard for me to ignore. Haggard and deprived of lightness, I push myself up to my feet and dragged on to the coffin-like pail."A promise is a promise." I whisper, carelessly lifting it back onto my shoulders. Sasuke rocked against the coffin.There's nothing left for me anymore. I have nothing to lose. Might as well go on to the path to Otogakure and kill Orochimaru. And not instantly, of course since I'd stand no chance. Slowly and calculated, is what I'll do. If that evil man wants to riddle-me-this, I'll just do the same back and strike him when I'm ready. When he's ready.The vibrations of Sasuke's restless death inside of the wood had me look over my shoulder and frown. I wish —
A presence!
I whip my head to the new face, meeting teal eyes.For a second, my heart almost stopped again. I blurrily saw Gaara until I blinked and met sight with a completely different person. Green eyes.It was far from teal. What was I kidding myself for? "Puh." I scoff out my lips, partly relieved. "I don't blame you for leaving those fools. Perhaps you made a right judgment and realised their faults?" The unfamiliar male started, "I expected nothing less, Suki-Sama. Their poor impression leaves a stain for all of us." I cautiously tilt my chin down, looking up at him, "Another one of Orochimaru's? Here to kill me for doing so?"He shook his head, "Never. I'm here to guide you back to Otogakure with all the will that's left in me and as efficiently as one can." His shoulder-length white hair cascading over, "Allow me to be your saviour."Saviour? These Sound-nin are on another level of delusion."Who are you?" I ask, noting his brazen statement."Kimimaro, leader of the Sound-four. I am someone who will fulfil our Lord's dream. That all starts with you." He leaned his head back, strands of his hair showing the two scarlet dots on his forehead.I couldn't muster a reaction to his ego-inducing words."Drink this." Kimimaro brought a familiar bottle of blue liquid into my view, "I'm sure Tayuya has given you the first dose since I can already sense your chakra growing." I dryly swallow like all hydration had just left my system.With furrowed brows I snatch it nevertheless. His green eyes scrunched with satisfaction when watching me drink it whole. A similar relief washed over me, followed by the lethargic sensation of temporary bliss as my hands lightly shook.What is this? The sight of that blue liquid always makes me stir."We don't have much time. New Leaf-nin's have already found the redirection of your path. Rest assured, I will kill Tayuya once I get back for her lack of control over order." Kimimaro firmly granted, gesturing for me to follow him immediately. I watched his back face me, eyes sagging. Whatever the blue liquid was, I kind of wanted more. 
Control of what?
As I stepped deep into the forests with the mysterious Kimimaro, that thought lingered. My grasp found the straps of the pail, adjusting the weight of it and holding onto it tightly as if I feared to let it go.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Twigs and leaves snapped under my direct steps, contrasting Kimimaro's lighter footing. His back faces me, guiding me just as he said.I think he almost told me everything there was about him, like he was some slow-dying patient. All I cared for knowing was the fact that he was once the leader of those Sound-nin, which makes me question just how powerful the white-haired male is. If I thought the situation in between those four traitors was bad enough, being put in the same atmosphere as their ex-leader has my senses spiked. I almost pity them all, had it not been this circumstance as I continue to have sloppy tracks from whatever new affect the blue liquid was currently giving me."My purpose is rewritten for our Lord. I am a body no more with only the power of will left." Kimimaro's calm tone couldn't relax me in the slightest.In other words, he's more of a disposable pawn than a devotee."I'd hate to not have my own body, sounds dull." I comment, staring at his side profile.There was something softly menacing about him that gave me a similar vibe to Gaara back when I first met him."Think what you wish, Suki-Sama. But this is only the beginning." He's a tall wall, too loyal to Orochimaru. No response, I look down at the grass, grasping the straps of the sizzling pail against my back. Whether or not Sasuke was listening in as well, I didn't care. Looks like there 's still endless hell awaiting me by Kimimaro's words.I could turn and run, again. But then what? Risk Orochimaru sending his followers out for me once more? I don't think my heart can cope with another death."I can tell you are conflicted. Once we reach Otogakure, Lord Orochimaru will supply more doses to fix you." Kimimaro's topic of the blue liquid caused my face and hands to twitch fitfully. 
Fix, fix, fix... 
Fix. That damn repetitive word. I scowl just at the thought of it, "These doses... What are they?""That's a question I can't completely answer." He shook his head, looking over his shoulder to my heavy gaze.Shit. "Why give them to me?" I reworded, stubborn."They're there to ensure your stages of awakening are not interrupted. Lord Orochimaru hand-crafted these for your taste only." He lightly explained, hardly giving me a glance no more.A noiseless, long exhale escapes my nose. I couldn't suppress the chills running up and down my spine like an instrument. All this time I was born for Orochimaru. It's honestly no wonder Uncle never mentioned anything.My old man knew exactly what I was like... from the start as I were that once troubled child. He knew I'd be interested. Knew I wouldn't be standing here today. The mere imagination of being under Orochimaru's command sickens me.I try to shrug off the shivers and instead fixate my attention to the bright sky. Those beautiful clouds paint smudges atop that never ending blue. After a while, a crunch of straw caught my eye. We had stepped into an open field. As I was going to remark about how stupid he was for leading me into a vulnerable area, I suddenly realised why Kimimaro's face was hardened. And in that very moment, I felt my fizzling blood sober up at the scent of a very familiar chakra behind me."KAZ!" A raspy, desperate voice shouts.My heart stutters in my chest as I turn to face Naruto. He's panting with exhaustion, whiskered cheeks flushed from running. He's got a couple notable bruises and scratches along his tanned skin, signs of struggle.His appearance surprised me. After only ever seeing random Leaf shinobi, I was not expecting to come face-to-face with him. Yet here he was holding onto my crushed shinobi headband. When I had finally noticed that, he gave me a gritted expression, like it confirmed the headband he found was mine.Shame. All I felt was overwhelming shame and disgust. I couldn't look away from the reflection of my unfamiliar features in his glossy eyes, couldn't comprehend what he must be thinking to see how different I've become."What the hell happened back there?!" Naruto snapped, adjusting his posture, "You suddenly leave and drop a bunch of Sound-freaks on us!! We couldn't even reach you because they were so adamant on keeping us away from you!" He took a step forward, causing Kimimaro to take a step as well, "Kaz...?" 'Kaz'. Now, I do remember that word. But I find the more I concentrate on it, the more my head wishes to burn. "We? What are you saying?""Shikamaru, Chouji, Neji and Kiba are now fighting against those freaks all for me to finally get to you! They're putting their lives on the line for you!" His response continued to surprise me.It was... even more unexpected, to say the least. "That's not any of my concern, don't tangle me up on all of this useless chaos." I have one goal now. I don't think even Naruto can stop me. This emotion is slowly consuming me. For so long I've never known what true fear was until I met Orochimaru. And because of that same man, I am now experiencing this emotion. Grief.I think it's only fair that I give him every negative emotion there is to me. He's strangled my fear and taken my grief. Orochimaru can have my rage, willingly."What's wrong with you?!" Naruto looked to the coffin over my shoulders, "They're lying to you! Whatever they've told you, it's not true! You remember the promise with that old hag, Tsunade, don't you?! They are trying to rule you out as a traitor, but I know that's not you!" He winced, like looking at my face any longer than a minute pained him."Leaf-nin spew more than they can chew." Kimimaro put in, uninterested in our theatrics. So the bastard can joke.I almost smile at the ground."Hey!" Naruto growled, and I hear him take another step. "Listen to me for one second! This isn't a joke, Kaz! Stop fooling around already!!""'Suki'," Kimimaro growled as he corrected him, "How should I cook this impertinent one, Suki-Sama?"I roll my eyes up to their faces. Even if I open my lips to respond, I'm not so sure my vocal cords will obey me."Say something, damnit!" Naruto's voice nearly cracks with each rasp as he then wildly snaps his eyes to Kimimaro. "Your 'Suki-Sama' still has her toothbrush and futon at my place! Quit talking about Kaz like you know her!!"Now that hit a blow in my chest. Sasuke may have brought me back to humanity, but Naruto's now dragging me into reality.I hunch over as a weight crashes down on me. I let my guard drop for a millisecond, and suddenly the coffin on my shoulders weighs a ridiculous ton. It's like the weight of everything inside of my aching chest.Pieces continue clicking in place, and my eyes grow wide as I register everything. My comrades are facing against the Sound-four... freaks, Naruto prefers. Their lives seriously on the line. I take a quick glance at Kimimaro through my messy hair, seeing his stance shifting into preparations for a fight.I'm brought back into this sickening fear of death. Seeing Uncle's lifeless eyes flash over mine. I need to keep going. If I don't, Naruto's done for.Before Kimimaro could notice, I straighten back up like nothing in the world can shake me. "Uzumaki Naruto, a tiresome opponent. Don't bother playing with him, his chakra hardly ceases." My breath momentarily leaves me.So, let's go. Let's ignore Naruto. I need to get away from Naruto. Just existing will be a liability of a lifetime. "Do you take me for Sakon's sadistic ways?" Kimimaro frowned, far from the 'toying' kind.I quickly shrug, the pail shifting slightly, "Piss off, Naruto. I'm going to Otogakure with Sasuke. You can call off whatever useless mission your on and stop." Avoiding his reaction, I turn to Kimimaro. "Let's go." My strictness has undertones of warning.He gives me a calculating look before agreeing with a subtle nod. "Listen to her, or I'll have no choice but to step in and stop you from hindering her goal." He amicably gives Naruto the decision. I hear Naruto's breath hitch and it makes my stomach twist, "K—Kaz..." His steps vibrate backward. "Don't tell me it's true... Don't tell me you're really going with these guys!!" He cried out, "You've got Sasuke in that coffin, right? You are taking him with you? For what?!"Slipping the pail off my shoulders, I let the wooden box thud to the ground. Sasuke shifts inside, kicking against the wood. The sound reminds me of my subconsciousness, how I was the one once in that box. I wonder if that Uchiha's having similar nightmares."What are you doing?" Kimimaro firmly asks."I can't be asked to deal with his death anymore." I look up from the tub to Naruto's round eyes, "It's not like we're kidnapping him. He's the one who willingly left.""Death?!" Naruto's voice cracked.My eye twitches.Kimimaro exhaled through his nose, calmly explaining, "Lord Orochimaru has already completed the jutsu of immortality. In order to require all jutsu and the entire world, he needs time.""What does that have to do with them!?""Immortality doesn't necessarily indicate the immortality of his body. He must replace his body with a newer and stronger one before his current one succumbs." Kimimaro hovered his hand over the seals of the tub.I quirk a brow to Kimimaro, oddly intrigued."That's what Sasuke's for?!" Naruto exasperated."Not quite. He has his uses elsewhere. Our Lord wishes to extract his eyes, you see." The white-haired male raised his arm, giving Naruto one last warning to leave, "Suki-Sama's existence has the key to immortality without the need of self-destruction. However, it is still unclear whether or not her existence will involve a vessel to make Lord Orochimaru's dream a reality... If only I could be there to witness this outcome's truth." Kimimaro finished in a mutter.What. The. Hell.That snake man is on a pedestal higher than that of a psychopath. A mad genius. It irks me how impressive Orochimaru's lengths go to. But surely he's just mad. I would know if such a jutsu existed. Uncle would not have kept me this far in the dark.Blasphemy!"And you're just going to side with the guy who killed your old man?!" Naruto abruptly snaps at me without a warning, throwing my crushed headband to my feet.Another blow to my chest. Although his words process in my mind for a moment, and I quickly grew cold feet. As I focused on the headband on between my sandals, I think back to the eerie sound of Uncle's head. It's a sound I cannot erase.I dig my nails into my face, hunching back over. I don't care if they see this. I don't care about anything at all. I dig further until it splits at my already healing scratches from the night I fell face first into those torn floorboards. A sound like that of an injured animal groans out of me before the bile rising up my burning oesophagus has me vomiting out of my control.Silence surrounds me. Unbearable silence, except for Sasuke's coffin that sizzled. My eyes are so unfocused now that I'm not sure whether or not I'm back in that ceaseless void."I was there that night..." My words betray my fear of vulnerability, "Held down... Orochimaru wasn't there, but I could hear his spineless laughter in my consciousness. That night, it wasn't any of them who killed him." I push my upper torso up to see Naruto's chilling shock through my teary gaze, "Kabuto... That four-eyed bastard... Kabuto..." The image of Kabuto swinging the blade down glitched and repeated over and over again. It's tormenting me. Reminding me each time that it's all my fault. The sizzling from Sasuke's coffin burns hotter in the air."Naruto," I slur, desperate to scare him away, "I have died once. Just as Sasuke's going through right now, I have been there!" I'll seriously lose my mind if my existence kills another. "Does it look like I have the time to side with anyone?!" I harshly shout, blinking in the welling tears, "You haven't a single clue of what I am experiencing! So, why is it so hard for you to stay away?! And don't you try to poison me with those same irritating words of encouragement!!"His surprise slowly fell to horror. Horror for the turmoil he must see inside of me. I can feel an internal chain around my neck tugging me to run, but this bubbled up fury has popped."Seems I must give you another dose, Suki-Sama —"
Because it's working!!
I pull my hands from my face, blood under my nails spitting at the grass. Whipping around, I slap a hand onto the lid, smudging blood.  "Wake up." It burns my skin, but I ignore it to ooze chakra out and into the box.Kimimaro clicked his tongue, having no choice but to jump away and put in distance. Naruto remained in his place, likely still dazed from my explosion. It was the first time I ever raised my voice at him, after all.The seals successfully tore off earlier than expected and the lid exploded. A strong gust of wind nearly knocked Naruto off his feet. Through the thick smoke, I strain my gaze at the sharingan before Sasuke's head completely turns away.A minor transformation appeared until instantly leaving. Sasuke was brimming with an enhanced chakra. I couldn't cope with the burns any further, so I stagger back with a sharp hiss and quiver.An uncanny laughter from Sasuke caused Naruto's fox-like whiskers to darken. The blond boy's rage increased the more he took in our destroyed states."Suki..." I snap my head to Sasuke's voice, not long after tensing from the scent of Naruto's vicious tailed-beast.Sasuke's dramatic features were gone, his tone and manner letting me know exactly what he was insinuating. I'm not following him. I'll get to Otogkaure my own way. First, I need to make sure Naruto won't die from my mistakes. "Get the hell out of here..." I demand. Sasuke's smirk curled downwards as he kicked off from the ground and disappeared into the trees, leaving the open field in time before the smoke dispersed.The sound of fast movement had me sway around, my unfocused gaze finding a blade nearing the back of Naruto's neck. My stomach sinks at Kimimaro's action, and my body moves at a faster speed than ever before."What?" Kimimaro stumbled away, missing Naruto's hair by an inch, "Suki-Sama?!" I release the simple ninjutsu of wind, taking a step in front of Naruto. With a hand falling back to my side, blood trailed down and stained my grey sleeve. Hidden under that sleeve, I cross my bloodied fingers to cast a genjutsu."You...?" Kimimaro's eyes narrowed down at the small spot of blood in the grass then back to my cold expression, cautious.Naruto let out air he hadn't known he was holding, just as surprised. Although Kimimaro's shock faded into his eerie stoic.I huff, "I won't let you kill him.""These Leaf-nin's keep getting in your way, Suki-Sama. They must be dealt with; Lord Orochimaru's orders." Kimimaro stated.I ignore Naruto's blatant side-eye toward my skull."Exactly." With my other hand, I place it onto Naruto's shoulder whilst the world around me fades to black and white. I feel him flinch at this, but before he could react, I already applied gravity."If you allow me to do so, I can continue to help you. Bonds are needless." Kimimaro attempted to reason, sensing an off air.The gravity pushed my fellow blonde down, and I use my foot to tear apart the ground beneath him. I sent him into the soil, only his neck and above was seen. Naruto gasped, unable to move against the applied gravity and enclosed ground around him.This should keep him at bay while I get this over with."Kaz?! What the hell are you doing!?" He barked, squirming.Kimimaro grunts, pushing out another bone blade from the other palm. "You are not my saviour." I seethe."So, you are on their side now? But, that doesn't make any sense... By now you should be craving more power." Kimimaro's brows pressed together, doubting Orochimaru's confidence, "Lord Orochimaru had everything prepared..." He muttered, conflicted."Oh, I am craving more power." My lips stretch up, revealing my trembling hands. "Perhaps you should've ruled out intense hatred for snakes." With the same hand, I wave it out to the squirming Uzumaki.Gravity pushed him multiple feet away through the ground, "KAZ!" "You're a great deceiver, Suki." Kimimaro dropped his hands, the bone blades scraping together."No..." I shake my head, slipping a hand into my pouch. There was nothing else inside, making me realise that the shinobi tools were discarded by the Sound-nin's.All but one tool. The kunai I used for a short offering to Uncle.I snigger at the irony, "I'm just a great protector. And I'm doing this my way!"Naruto stopped shouting."More like a great fool. Lord Orochimaru has given you a chance for great power, now he won't be pleased." Kimimaro's glare heightened, his body language giving me one last chance to mess him up."Looks like he'll just have to take the hard route." I mock, "That man will never know who killed the last of your will." I muster my best arrogant smirk for him.That does the trick."Your ignorance will be the death of you." He shot back, pointing out the tip of the bone from his arms.My head twitches, frowning. I truly loathe the word 'ignorant'. "Including those around you!" He adds, twisting his palms down.Bones shot out from his fingertips, aiming for my eyes. Letting natural gravity push me back, I catch myself with my hands, propelling myself away to dodge in time. The sight of his abilities had me realise far too late that his weapons were not any ordinary ones.I tried not to cringe at that fact whilst he leaps for me at intense speeds.I jump away in time to turn my body away from his thrusted blade of bone. My blind irises snap up from the bone to the sight of him reappearing by Naruto. Instantly, I blink the world back into colour, releasing the entrapped gravity from around the blond. Before Kimimaro's edge could reach his neck again, I frantically drop to one knee.With a hand punched to the ground, I eject Naruto out of the enclosed ground using more ninjutsu. The Uzumaki swiftly recovers to create shadow clones of himself. The shadow clones work together to land safely away from Kimimaro, all highly alert from our actions. They pop into smoke straight after."Kaz! Let's kick this guy's ass quick so we can catch up to Sasuke!!" Naruto shouts, cracking his knuckles.Kimimaro straightened up, unflinching. The faintest twitches on his face made it clear to me that my betrayal mattered."Naruto, I think you're mistaken." I keep an eye on Kimimaro, "Sasuke is beyond changing. Like me, he will not stay in Konohagkure. But I'm not like him." Naruto faltered, confused, "Like you? What are you saying?!" I pause to look around the area. The faraway sounds of battle shown that the Sound-four were still preoccupied my Leaf-comrades. I appreciate their attempts, but I no longer side with anyone. "I will not waste away beneath missions that do not benefit me." I weakly admit, "I have nothing left... And I won't be satisfied until I kill Orochimaru myself.""Then... I cannot let you live, Suki." Kimimaro declared, "Not even you will hinder his plans." I smirk, studying his weaponised bones, "How will your lord feel knowing his only chance of success is dead? I'd like to see you try!" A nasty laugh burns out of me, overjoyed by that imagination.Kimimaro's stoic face nearly broke into an irked one, his composure threatening to falter. I absolutely adore riling up my enemies.Within seconds, I'm clashing against Kimimaro. Without shinobi tools to block his bones, all I could do was sharply dodge.Each dodge caused places of my skin to be grazed by his bones, some splitting and bleeding already. I'm so sick of being sliced around. My vexation succeeds in landing strong hits at Kimimaro's blind spots. "Hey..." Naruto growls out, an ominous chakra lapping over him. The foul scent caught Kimimaro off guard, his eyes snapping to the hundreds of shadow clones, "I won't let you go...!!" They surrounded us, though I wasn't bothered. I'm actually more surprised that Naruto didn't take this chance to run after Sasuke. Mid-taijutsu fight against Kimimaro, I grip a hand around his blade whilst he was distracted, ignoring the pain of the raw bone digging into my skin.Applying enhanced chakra into my grip, I teasingly pull it through the strong layers of his muscle, my face close to his ear where I watch his eye's grow wide."I know your real body is dying." I reveal, recalling countless times where his words hinted this, "Once I finish you off, I'll try to be as quick as I can so Lord Orochimaru can meet you in hell... I don't care if I have to pull out all two-hundred of them!!" I yank back with all my might, tearing his bone entirely out of his body. I quickly kick off of him, spinning around and landing at a distance. With the bone still in my hold, I mimic his sword-like posture, whipping his blood off. Adrenaline made my shakes stronger, my heart racing with excitement. My death granted me this enhanced power. I should feel sick about this, but the sight of Orochimaru's strongest ninja in agony had my feelings elsewhere."You..." Kimimaro lowered his face, crazy eyes solely on mine as his skin slowly regenerated, "BITCH!!"I return him a guffaw, getting pulled back by Naruto's protective shadow clones. Naruto's infuriated clones closed in, attempting to tackle Kimimaro, "I'LL CRUSH THOSE BONES!!" Kimimaro performed his signature jutsu's, blowing multiple clones away as more bones stretched out of his body. He looked no different from a monstrous beast. But from a distance, Naruto and I partnered together in situations like this was far more menacing in a strangers point of view.Like a dance, he targeted the main Naruto, "Out of my way...!" His blade millimetres from Naruto's heart.A sudden shout and strong kick from Lee's appearance prevented that from happening. Lee had his palm out flat, in a fighting stance, "The Leaf's proud azure beast has reincarnated... I am Rock Lee!! You've a lot of nerve to hold my rare gem captive before I've even had that promised date!""Thick brows!" Naruto awed. My face fell flat. Before my feelings could get caught up in more uncertainty, I pop into smoke. The bone blade fell to the ground, useless. Alarmed, Naruto's shadow clones faltered, popping into smoke as well. Lee raised a thick brow, "A genjutsu?"Horror adorned Naruto's face once more, his heart sinking. Kimimaro grunts, restless at the idea of me endangering Orochimaru.From multiple feet away in the trees, my real body stood on a branch. I had been standing there the entire time ever since I blocked Kimimaro's attack with my arm. The genjutsu I placed had me reflect myself into a simple clone while keeping my chakra hidden. My mastery of chakra was advanced enough to put it in a non-existent being. 
"You're a great deceiver,"
I scoff out of my nose, satisfied by Kimimaro's displaced movements.Pulling my attention away from the scene now that Lee was there, my foot hovered off of the branch. Readying to step off, a familiar voice stopped me from doing so."Kazumi." His smooth tone called out from above, making me crane my head up. When seeing no one, I look back straight to meet sight with the male's face as they hung upside down directly in front of me.Gaara's face was inches from mine, his feet holding chakra down on the branch above me. His red hair cascades over his head from his upside down position. It also made it hard for me to go straight ahead. Instead, I step back before I could slip. I blink at his teal eyes, which bore into mine. He definitely won't allow me to jump around his adamant posture. "How long have you been here?" I question, refusing to look at my reflection in his warm gaze."Long enough to see a reaction in your eye. You still care about your comrades. That is why you bothered with a genjutsu, which would stall the Sound-nin's attention off from Naruto even for a moment." He read me out like an open book, using his sand to reappear at my level of the branch, crossing his arms."So? My emotional connections have nothing to do with my plans." I train my gaze to not look at myself in his eyes, "If you're trying to persuade me to stay, it won't work.""I'm not trying to do anything." He shook his head with a small smile, "I would prefer if you stayed, though. Perhaps to at least confide in me like we promised."I look from his leisure stance to the fight faraway and below. Naruto was no longer there, leaving Lee against Kimimaro. It wouldn't surprise me if my blond dunce believed I was already escaping with Sasuke by now.Who would've thought Gaara would find me instead."It seems my sand did not make it back in time to help you, I'm sorry." He suddenly apologised, "It seems they cut off my senses that night." I tore my eyes back to him, my face relaxing for the first time in ages. I can see that night so clearly in my mind. By the look in his face, he knew. I could feel my face creasing into an expressive look."I'm turning into someone I'm not, aren't I?" I exhale, locking my eyes with the reflection of my distraught in his pupils, "Who is 'Kazumi', and why does it pain me to hear that name? Did Kazumi kill my uncle? Is that the very name and version of myself that doomed my uncle's fate?" Gaara's eyelids went round, "Not at all!" He was taken aback. "What's going on? What's made you think this way?"Closing my eyes shut, I used my fingertips to squeeze against them. "I've died. Since I've died, I can't understand anything. Memories of those I care about call out to me, but I cannot hear them say my name. All I am now is 'Suki'. Yet that name brings on this sense of fear and dread inside of me."The same fear I have of Orochimaru. Something wasn't right. Each time I think of that unfamiliar name 'Kazumi', I start forgetting it entirely. It lined up perfectly with a vague memory of Uncle mouthing that word I cannot decipher before he met his fate.I've lost a portion of me, not just my soul. Just another reason to kill Orochimaru."How can I help you?" Gaara's tone hushed, careful."Don't call me anything. Not right now. My head's splitting." I sharply inhale before shakily exhaling again.I need to calm down. But it's hard when you're the last Kumo left. Nothingness embraces my senses again as I drop my hand from my face and open my eyes to zone out. "I know that so long as I stay in this village, I can never find peace. Does this even make sense? That snake is the last thing I have connected to Uncle."Uncle was right there, in front of me again in that never ending loop. No loophole to find, still. He continues dying. For him to cease to exist in seconds... Then, for me to wake up in a body pumping with blood unlike how it used to be.Too cruel."I need to go." I lower my gaze, stepping aside.Before I could step off the branch, Gaara stops me once more. He's holding my elbow, and I look up with shock at his hurting expression. "You didn't kill Kumo Sanjiro-Sama." His words stun me, and I feel like loose spaghetti in his firm yet gentle grasp. "And you're not like these traitors. I don't want you to go, because you'll only continue to forget yourself down a road of hate. What if you forget about your team? Your other bonds... and me?"My bottom lip twitches up into a pout with my upper as thin tears slip down my eyelids to my cheeks. Progressively, I feel the tears get thicker and hotter until my eyes, nose, head and chest burn altogether. Despite his hurt, Gaara smiles at me. I feel his hand slide down my arm to lift my sleeve up, revealing my bleeding wound. I honestly forgot all about it, but seeing Gaara notice it suddenly makes me register the pain of the gash. Wordlessly, Gaara took out bandages from his pouch to swiftly wrap them around that same arm. His brow twitched, pushing down the light reaction he felt for my injuries.I did not protest nor move as he done so, too busy trying to breathe through my blocked nose and see him through my watery eyes."Whatever you choose to do, I will still find you remarkable." He finished tending to my arm, using his other hand to brush tears from my cheeks. My bandaged arm fell to my side, the sleeve cloaking it. I'm at a loss for words. I can so clearly see this unfamiliar version of myself through his teal eyes, but he's still the same Gaara I know. And he still accepts me. He still acknowledges me."You don't care what I become?""I do care. But I care more about what you think."I exhale slowly. There's no way I deserve this guy. ...Huh? My cheeks flush and I dart my eyes away from his. Why did I think that? It's not like I owned him, or was with him. A flutter in my chest contrasts the burning ache, making my head feel a lot lighter than before.Sand seeped out of his gouge as he spoke, entering my empty pouch, "At least this time... I would prefer to know that you're alive." His teal eyes landed down on Kimimaro and Lee's fight. I follow his gaze, unintentionally hovering my hand over my pouch. Lee was struggling although handling himself well despite being humorously intoxicated."Sunagakure are now allied with the Leaf. So, if any case you're in trouble, I will back you just as I would for Naruto. I may have made a small promise to the Fifth before coming here, but I'm willing to break it." His words touched my heart.I wipe away the rest of my tears. After speaking with Gaara, I feel a part of my soul return. Just as my humanity and reality did."You're going to such lengths for me... Why?" I ask.Gaara turned his head to the side, "Because I admire you. I know you'd do the same for me again." I look from his soft side-profile to the burning crimson at the tip of his ear.His foreign features were eye-catching, to put simply. Now I realise why I was so enchanted by him from the start. Gaara's undeniably handsome. I quickly clear my throat, also turning my head from him.Do I look stiff? I definitely feel stiff. "The choice is always yours." He looks down at the fight, "I will finish what you started, so that you can finish what you need to find deep within you."Sand surrounded him before falling from the branch. Startled, I look around for him only to find Gaara reappearing faraway at Lee's side. 
"... Leave Konohagakure... The lair in Otogakure... New vessels..."
Finish what's deep within me, huh?My turmoil. —_______________   My heavy breaths mixed with the strong whip lash of wind against my face. I had been jumping from tree-to-tree for too long, wasting time trying to follow the trail of Naruto and Sasuke. Through many twists and step backs, I finally picked up their chakra scents.
Right!
I snap my head to the scent's path, a redirection from where I was originally running. Instantly, I dash faster. Even applying chakra force into my steps. Although the more I did so, the more erratic my movements became. A branch beneath me broke from the uncontrollable force. This caused me to fall to the ground and stumble out into a rough clearing. The clouds above were a dark shade of grey, covering the sun.In pure anticipation, I pushed myself up to my feet, ignoring the agonising pain of bruises and my recovering wounds when sliding down the large statues. "Naruto —!" I cut myself off, the smile I had dropping at the sight of two shinning lights high above in the sky.Too late, again. My teammate's figures were heading for one another. This time, death was guaranteed. My knees buckle and I feel my eyes vibrate at the sight of the blue and purple chakra's. I fell to my knees, blinded by the lights.Rasengan and chidori clashed, erupting against each other. It blew wind out immensely, enough to knock me off of my knees. I fell back, rolling on my side. With shaking arms, I manage to conjure up enough strength to push my head up, my view still blinded by the lights now erupting together.I breathe out, wincing from the strands of my hair and debris cutting against my abused face.A powerful wave of water then towered over me before I could react. It was as tall as a tsunami, making me instantly wrap myself in chakra to cushion the impact. I was sent smacked into the mountain and through a waterfall. Soaked from head to toe, I stagger out of the mountain once the calamity subsided.Heaviness returned to weigh against me as my mind throbbed painfully. I squint to prevent myself from rolling my eyes back, and used adrenaline to limp across the demolished field through the heavy pouring rain."Naruto!" I gasp at his distant silhouette laying defeated on the ground. My heart rapidly hammers in my chest, my haggard state falling forward on all fours before getting balance back up to run over. Nonononono! —"Naruto!" I call out again, collapsing on my knees next to his motionless body. I hunch over, giving his shoulders a rough shake, "Naruto?" On instinct, I place an ear to his slow beating heart.He was out cold. But not dead."Haah...!" I wheeze out, pulling my face away. I thought for sure he was dead after seeing that. "You crazy idiots! Have you lost your mind?!" I scream through the loud rain, my attention catching to a glimmer.A shinobi headband with a slit through the Leaf symbol was on the ground next to us. It was clearly Sasuke's. Another glimmer made my eyes fall down to the other object, which was my crushed shinobi headband that still remained gripped in his hand. After all that trouble, he still kept on to my symbol. Even after he chucked that thing at my feet... I'm overwhelmingly relieved that he's alive. But what of —"Make up your mind, Suki." Sasuke's voice carelessly spoke from behind.Sasuke. I was just wondering whether or not he'd made it.I push myself up to my feet, looking into his empty eyes."You're a hypocrite." He sneered, "As I suspected, you're faking it. To think I thought of you as my rival for so long... I'm ashamed..."What is he babbling on about? I part my lips, but Sasuke continues."That idiot thought I hid you away. He was determined to die against me if it meant we'd both come back." Sasuke glared, disillusioned by Naruto, "I don't care whether you come to Otogakure with me or not, but I won't let you go as far as killing Orochimaru until I get all the power I need." His eyes drooped, lethargic.He already knew.I try to smirk, but it comes out weak, "I'm guessing you no longer want that fight with me, huh?""Not worth my time." Disappointment was evident in his tone, cracking at the pride I worked hard on controlling for so long."I'm doing this my own way." I turn my head away from him, my messy, soaking hair hiding my expression."You're always doing things your own way." Sasuke's words snap my attention back to him and his mutually soaked state. "Since the start, you've always had that privilege of doing so! I liked that about you, did everything I can to be the same way in hopes you'd acknowledge me as someone worthy. But no. So, what's so different about me?" He steps toward me, giving my shoulder a shove. Anger easily ignites in me from this as I stumble back a couple steps. "The hell?!""I held back each time you displayed your Kumo abilities to others who weren't me! You're supposed to be my rival! You want a truth, too? I actually despise you!" He shoved at me again, and his forehead butts against mine.It's completely different from our childish fights. I feel my skull shake from the force of his own skull.A sharp point then presses to my neck, making me flinch. Sasuke had a kunai dangerously close to my pulse. "The bond I need to kill isn't Naruto's, it's yours." His crazed glare shudders me from inside-out. "I can then finally..." He winces through his rasp, drawing blood against the first layer of my skin.I take a moment to keep my eyes on his. Rather than looking at my reflection, I look into the depths of his onyx abyss. The betrayal, envy, jealousy, agony all into one. Vivid memories of our childhood revolving me disregarding him hits me like a brick."You're completely... blinded by that snake's manipulation." I whisper, my voice somehow reaching his ears through the heavy downpour. "Have you forgotten who I am?" Sasuke scorned, "I still need to take all I can from Orochimaru before you even so try to mess this up for me. You're not the only selfish one!" He raises his arm back, prepared to stab the kunai into my pulse.I blink away the startle and throw myself against him. We fall harshly into the mud, the kunai flying out of his grasp. He's quick to kick me with whatever pent-up frustration he's got against me, and I grit through the pain of that jab. In response, I punch his jaw, watching his head and body fitfully move beneath me whilst I done the same on top."Don't do this! Let's stop for today and go back —" I hitch a pained gasp as Sasuke manages to push himself up and twist me down against the mud.The air leaves my lungs for a moment like a whip and now he's above me, punching my jaw in retaliation. I raise my arms to block my face, hoisting my upper body off the wet ground with what's left of my adrenaline to smack my head against his face.He staggers to his feet, holding his bleeding nose. I'm quick to stumble onto my feet as well, panting for air at an arms distance from him. I realised how raw our fight was. No chakra, no jutsu's, certainly no clan abilities.Pure frustration. We're worlds apart. We always had been.I adjust my throbbing jaw, glad it's not dislocated. My face stung from blows, and seeing his grimace confirmed he felt the same."If you try to ever fight me again, be it with your clan eye. Or I'll seriously kill you." Sasuke snarls, wiping the blood from his nose as he turns and limps away, holding his side.He didn't retrieve his ruined shinobi headband. And I was torn between following him to Otogakure and staying in Konohagakure. My ears twitch at the paining gasps from Naruto's unconscious figure and I look at him.That, alone, was enough for me to stay."Sasuke, please." I bit my bottom lip, caving in. "I'm sorry. I really am. I don't mean what I say... I don't know why I say what I say and do what I do..." Silence. Other than the heavy rain. My heart sinks when looking back to the place I last saw Sasuke. I thought he'd stop and listen like he always done, but he was gone. Shit!"Am I too late...?" I spin around, choking on a sob at the sight of Kakashi. "S... Sensei...! I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." I wail, "I couldn't stop them again...! I'm so sorry...!!" My legs push to step closer to him, but I end up falling on my knees now that the adrenaline rush is over. "I—I shouldn't have... I..." I blink again and again and again, slower each time."Take a deep breath. You done the right thing. What matters more is getting Naruto back to —"Kakashi's reassuring words were faint. My vision went black, but I could feel my body fall forward into a small dog and hear my sensei's rare panic.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"You want a truth, too? I actually despise you!"
  ........My eyes shot wide open, immediately blinking the wateriness from my vision. The first thing I saw was that uncomfortable white tiled ceiling above me. I was laying in a semi-comfortable bed, just as white as the room.Everything came crashing down on instances. Although I found it incredibly hard to react anymore.It's over now. I can stop thinking. I can stop imagining that unattainable loophole.I didn't bother to move, simply moving my gaze instead. Attached to me were many medical cords, pumping whatever it is I need to keep existing.With a simple tap, my finger found a button straight beneath my hand. The action had me recline myself to sit upwards. I'm met instantly with a mirror ahead of me, right next to a door to the bathroom. My empty, yellow eyes stare back at me and my expressionless exhaustion. The short, dark strands of my hair was maintained, and some ends had grown much lower against my nape. All across my face were patches of bandages. I'm a recovering mess. I look down at my arm this time to see the bandages Gaara wrapped for me gone. Left there was a scarring from Kimimaro's blade of bone. Darker coloured compared to the white line on the left side of my chapped, ruined lips. It's over, I keep reminding myself. But it doesn't feel like it. 
"Think what you wish, Suki-Sama. But this is only the beginning."
I rub my dry lips together.Was there even anything to call such an empty emotion? Sasuke left, I knew that for sure. I dreamt of his back turning, his words of severing ties replaying. It would have to be one excruciating nightmare if I saw the sight of that Uchiha in Konohagakure.Everything's gone to shit. Not only has Orochimaru killed a part of my soul, but he's scarred my team. My bonds. The wafting scent of floral has my nose twitch. I finally move, only my head, to look at the vase at the bedside. A bunch of flower stems sagging together.How long have I been out for? They looked to be rotting.The itching in my blood has been subsided. If I really was back in Konoha's hospital, Lady Tsunade must've done this. I dryly swallow, not feeling the burns like I would've. She's likely placed a portion of her chakra into me, like Uncle would've done if he was alive. I found out far too late that doing so pushed the genes I have connecting to Orochimaru back.Perhaps he really was ashamed. Well, without Uncle's chakra, I can never have that prideful Kumo blonde hair again. And my eyes will never be that soft gold. I find that whenever I look too deeply into these piercing yellow of mine, I get pulled into unwanted memories. A permanent migraine squeezed at my brain, making me almost wish I had an entire supply of whatever those blue liquids were. "Kazumi?" Shikamaru's voice called, appearing inside of my recovery room. I glance at his restless face. It's that name again. It doesn't frustrate me as much as before. Albeit it leaves a bitter smell in the air. He walks over to my bed, sitting himself down in a chair, "I'm glad you were the one who came back." Shikamaru sighs out, "Ino and Sakura have been in and out with flowers for the past few days."Days. I've been out for days."Sasuke's gone, isn't he?" I look away from his complex expression, staring down at the white sheets instead.Despite the blur, Sasuke definitely tried to kill me. Or at least threaten he would. What was he thinking? In the end, he didn't even kill Naruto. I didn't feel right to be here while he's under Orochimaru's influence. But if I had followed him back to Otogkaure, could I have done anything?Sasuke chose this. I just wished he chose me. Our team. Our comrades. Our village."Yeah..." Shikamaru guiltily lowers his face, "It was a mess when you disappeared, Kazumi. The Fifth and a bunch of officials tried to rule you out as a traitor. I only found that out when coming back to announce the failed mission... Despite my efforts, it took until Gaara and his siblings stepped in."My brow twitches and I feel like I'm forgetting something, "I'm guessing you were assigned leader, then." I mumble, "Sorry for the trouble I caused."Shikamaru looks back at me, knitting his brows downwards, "Trouble?! Do you have any idea how terrified I was? You were like a complete different person... Kazumi."
'Kazumi' he mouthed with complete confidence, closing his eyes. 
But it's 'Suki' that I hear all around me.The migraine worsens. "Stop..." I hunch over, wincing at the pain of the movement as cords shuffled with me. It lingers.I see Shikamaru clench his fist, "For the past days you've been knocked out for, I made sure to keep coming every morning just so I could be the first person to say this to you... I cannot forgive you for what you caused! Sure, now that it's all over, no one will say this. But it will be always behind their minds! I'm just the first to voice it!!" He vents. I hurt him. I hurt everyone around me. I grab the bridge of my nose, widening my eyes at the thought of Sakura. Had she been waiting all this time, hoping for me to return with Sasuke? Did I fail her? Everyone?"Sorry..." I repeat over and over quietly, shutting my gaze. "Naruto... Is Naruto okay?""He's safe..." I hear Shikamaru stand up from the chair.Quickly opening my eyes, I snap my head to his retreating, disappointed figure. His steps were controlled, but I noticed the littlest tremble at his shoulders.Don't go. I can see Sasuke's back leave again. The firm shut of the sliding door snaps the imagination away. Shikamaru left.
"You're a hypocrite."
Sasuke's words assault my ears. I grip tight to the white sheets, doing anything I can to calm the quivers dancing across my skin. I want Orochimaru dead. And only one person comes to mind: Tsunade. Throwing the sheets off, I yank the cords out of my inner elbow— stopping the process of hydration.Then snatching a rolled up bandage, I untied it to wrap around the bleeding spot. I push myself to the side of the hospital bed, feeling my bare feet touch the cold, tile ground. Using a bar on the wall, I hoist myself to stand and stagger for the same door Shikamaru left through. Before I could reach it, the sliding door opens. Beautiful pink hair stops my irrational steps."You're really awake!" Sakura's face lights up at the sight of me, running over to my frozen stance.I couldn't flinch as she collapsed herself into me. Her arms wrap around my torso, her head instantly nuzzling my shoulder. Sakura's warm breath softens me like jelly. "I'm so glad...!" I feel her visibly shake against me, pulling her head from my shoulder to reveal her glistening green eyes, "You shouldn't be walking! Tsunade-Sama hasn't completely cured you!" Sakura untangles from me, carefully taking my arm to sit me back down on the white hospital bed.I abide without another word, way too focused in taking in her eyes full of life. She's safe. 
"I cannot forgive you for what you caused! Sure, now that it's all over, no one will say this. But it will be always behind their minds!"
The quick recollection of Shikamaru's vent startles me. Is Sakura thinking the same thing? Will even her not forgive me?This shouldn't affect me, but it does. I guiltily look down as if I was a puppy being scolded."I'm sorry.""Don't say that."The silence straight after has me look back up at her. Sakura's forcing a smile, approaching the bedside for the vase. I see her mouth move, but her words a suddenly faint once my gaze falls to the vase. She grabs for the wilted bunch, and my breath leaves me. Its head sags further until it weakly falls limp to the floor. The heavy bud creates a sound so similar to the eerie one of Uncle's. I'm sick all over again as Sakura moves quick to replace the flowers with new ones.Sakura looks back at me with alarm written across her face. I didn't even realise I'm standing again, the coldness seeping up my legs and to my heart. Then, my world wobbles. Trays and other items fly up in the air, passing by my unfocused view.Delicate objects shatter around me, and I miraculously miss getting sliced by them once falling to the floor at an aways distance."Kazumi!" Sakura gasps, and I hyperfocus on the headless stem falling out of her grip, "What's—"I cannot hear Sakura anymore other than my heaving breaths. I keep trying to fill my lungs with oxygen each time it leaves. I blink, Sakura's gone and the stem is rolling away from the bud. I blink again, she's in front of me, her warm hand waving in my vision. It's as annoying as a bee, so I slap it away. The skin-to-skin sound of it finally focuses me back into reality.I'm sweaty all over as I focus wild eyes onto Sakura's. She's stepped away from me, holding the wrist I slapped with stupor. I grit my teeth, a tsunami rising up my eyes as I fall forward to smack my forehead against the cold floor.Still unable to hear; I know I'm pleading for forgiveness. My mouth words: 'Don't kill him', along the lines. I can't control myself.I'm out of control.Hurried steps vibrate the ground against me and multiple hands grab at my body, pulling me off the floor. I vaguely see Sakura's distraught figure stepping further and further away from me until bodies of nurses block my vision.  ............. 
A bunch of nurses ran inside the room, including Tsunade, who was eavesdropping the entire time. Tsunade was monitoring the young Kumo's state since the start.

"Tsunade-Sama! Something's wrong with Kazumi!" Sakura cried out, anxiously unsure of what to do.

Tsunade observed Sakura's teammate and the room's mess. She then gently pushed Sakura back from the scene, distracting her attention from the sight of nurses injecting a tranquiliser in the Kumo. Within seconds, she fell forward, succumbing to rest.

"Is Kazumi going to be okay?!" Sakura asked, being guided out of the room by Tsunade.

"Old hag!!" Naruto appeared, rushing to them from across the building with his face drenched in sweat, "What's going on? Is Kaz awake?!" He tried to peek in the room, but the privacy blinds stopped his view.

"That seal on her is growing stronger... Especially now that the one person who maintained it's effects can no longer physically do so." Tsunade exhaled out, mourning Sanjiro, "I can keep putting pressure on it, but Orochimaru's played unfairly. With it still being incomplete, there's a risk I could end up breaking her mind." She glared over her shoulder, pitying the young Kumo's state.

If it weren't for her comrades loyalty, Tsunade would've carried out the discussion they had together.

"Is that what's making her like this? Is there no way to get rid of it?!" Sakura frowned, hopeful yet worried.

Tsunade looked back down at them, "Cursed seals aren't simple. Kumo Kazumi's seal is biological, meaning it was placed on her since before birth. It's not as easy as the contract types." She sighed, "Her best scenario is to remain hospitalised... and to well... stop being a shinobi."

"Stop being shinobi?!" Naruto's eyes grew wide, devastated, "No way! Kaz always gets back up!"

Tsunade's shoulders fell, "PTSD." Her single word froze the two extroverts, "Post-traumatic stress disorder. A common trigger one might develop through unspeakable experiences. Once something like that begins, it becomes the very end of a shinobi."

Sakura tilted her head down, bringing her arm to her eyes. She sobbed to herself, gaining a comforting hand from Tsunade. Naruto looked from Sakura's distraught to the privacy blinds. They suddenly opened to reveal a calmed, unconscious Kumo in the hospital bed.

The cords were reattached to her body, more bandages wrapped around her. Shikamaru leaned against a wall nearby, watching what's left of Team Seven crumble. Ino held a fresh flower similar to the one Sakura had, stopping in front of Chouji's door to stare at them with concern as well.

"Kaz..." Naruto breathlessly whispered, his eyes threatening to water.

"I'll continue with all I can. Kumo Kazumi will go through a period of recovery until then." Tsunade gave Sakura's shoulder one last squeeze before turning around to enter the hospital room, "But the last thing her body can handle is another ritual." The door softly closed behind her.

Naruto blinked out of his trance once the privacy blinds blocked his view once more, a small tear falling down his cheek. Sakura wiped her wet eyes with her hands, trying to keep her composure. However, it was hard for her to do so.

Sasuke was gone and their female teammate was in critical watch. More importantly, she was permanently scarred. The end of Seven was unavoidable.
 —_______________   I'm relaxed in a wheelchair, the comfortable hospital clothes hanging loosely against my skin. I stare at the many shapes of puffy clouds, blinking slowly at the caressing wind throughout my shaggy hair. "Doesn't this take you back?" Sakura's voice was guided by the wind to my ears, making me look down at her.The pink-haired girl was sat on a blanket, smiling up at me. Ah, yes. Our picnic date."Yeah." I grip the handles of the wheelchair, pushing myself up. I wasn't actually entirely sure what Sakura meant, but I learned very quickly that white lies were the solution to really... everything."Let me help you —"A hand to Sakura's face cut her off from continuing. With ease, I slip down the wheelchair and sit myself on the soft blanket beside her. I look up at her defeated smile, watching her shuffle closer. "You wanted me to give Sasuke your letter." I suddenly remembered our childhood back at the academy, turning my gaze up to the clouds.I felt light-headed, just as I did when Gaara stopped me. At ease.Sakura's cheeks went a light red, but the downturned crease in her eyes shown sadness, "It got completely crushed." She weakly laughed, hiding her affliction.I see right through her. She looks back at me, keeping her smile. Her hands touch the small, short low-ponytail at my nape."Good thing Naruto's skills hasn't ruined your hair forever, huh?" Sakura jokingly changed the topic, entwining a few loose strands together. "Who would've thought that doofus had a creative side?" I reply, seeing her purse her lips through her inward giggle."I'll get stronger, too." Sakura's soft smile had the littlest of determination, "Tsunade-Sama has taken me under her wing... Though, I'm not sure when the lesson's start."Tsunade, huh? I can actually see how fitting it was. Last time I checked, Sakura had insane chakra control. Far better than my own jumbled one. 
"Do not let that heart rate spike above a hundred!"
"That's good." I say, more to myself, "She's an admirable woman.""Right?" Sakura instantly agreed, envious of the Fifth, "I still get light shakes just knowing she acknowledges me!""Hey...! Having a girl-date without us?" Ino's voice suddenly appeared, the platinum blonde girl approaching with a basket.Both my brows rise.Sakura's face lit up before reverting to it's competitive pout, "This is a surprise for you to be interested in us, Ino-pig!"Ino released a breathy laugh when sitting herself down on the blanket, "Your one to talk, Forehead! Who's the one who kept pestering this idea?"Sakura's cheeks went pink, not denying the statement. I then blink up at the appearance of Hinata, more surprised."H—Hello, Sakura-San, K—Kazumi-San..." Hinata whispered whilst she spoke, "I made some cinnamon rolls..." The lavender-eyed girl set down a tray of said pastries, joining us on the blanket with an elegant posture.Surely I'm dreaming, because I don't want to wake up.  "Wow!" Sakura gasps, humorously shy in Lady Hinata's presence, "They smell amazing!"Hinata bows her head slightly to hide her bashful cheeks, "T—Thank you...""And they look good, too!" Ino adds, snatching up a piece to take the first bite.Sakura quickly follows, their tastebuds melting together in sync from the heavenly tastes of cinnamon. "H—Here, Kazumi-San... You should eat." Hinata respectfully places a roll into tissue, reaching out and gesturing for me to take.I stare down at the glistening pastry, then back up to their mutual pairs of glistening eyes. All of them arranged for this. For me. I smile despite the guilty lump swallowing down my throat.My hand takes the tissue with the cinnamon roll, "Thanks." I breathe out, picking the roll up and into my mouth.I can sense their eyes waiting for my reaction like hawks. It makes my cheeks burn, oddly shy at their attention.The texture was as soft as Hinata's personality. It tastes as sweet as Sakura's smile and the icing was as crunchy as Ino's confidence. "It's good..." A smile rises to my eyes."I'm glad!" Hinata's rough hands pressed together, pleased.I hear Sakura let out a relieved exhale, and watch Ino suddenly rummage in the basket. The Yamanaka pulled out a flower, startling Sakura. This made the pink-kunoichi snap her head to me in my peripheral view.My mind went blank."My mother handcrafted an artificial chrysanthemum, that way it'll never die." Ino explained, placing the realistic stem in front of me on the blanket.I follow it closely. And a hot-thick second went by.Sakura shot Ino a scowl before throwing a hand out to quickly grab for it, "I'll take —""No," I abruptly said, gently picking up the white flower in my hand.Ino was unfazed by the tenseness in Sakura, munching away on the cinnamon roll as I looked back at her, "You like it, huh? That's great! But... we Yamanaka's usually hate that artificial crap." I hold tight to the plastic texture.Hinata quietly held her hands together, nervous. "Honestly...!" Sakura huffed out, ready to blow a fuse at her rival.Emotions swirl in my chest. So much different to the aching. It's like a burning sun entered my chest, overwhelmingly warm throughout me. Expecting the unexpected is something I'll cherish."I love it." I breathe in, a thumb carefully caressing the immortal texture, "Thank you, Ino-San." My smile burnt as warm as that sensation, "Hinata-San, Sakura, too." Hinata cupped her own cheeks, hiding an ever shyer look on her face as she squirmed and stuttered. Ino crossed her arms after engulfing the last piece of pastry, satisfied. Sakura had a dumbfounded expression, which eventually turned into a smile.Yeah, if this was a dream, I never want to wake.  —_______________   Rain stormed down from the skies. Many shinobi were dressed in all black. A funeral for the best, one of the many few elder shinobi of the Leaf: Kumo Sanjiro.The atmosphere was mournful and silent, like a thick cloud of fog engulfed the area. A few delicate hearts wept to themselves whilst others maintained the shinobi blank stare. Although I wasn't so sure what to express.I was the only one at his grave. The only one allowed to do so during these minutes of respectful silence.I grip tight to a familiar cane, Uncle's cane. I used it to steady myself on my feet, the wheelchair behind me. The heavy rain tries to obscure the sight of Uncle's stone slab and memorial. I can feel strands of my hair stick to my contemplating face.In a sense, this was bound to happen at some point. Uncle was old. Yet unusually young for a grand-uncle. He deserved to die a natural death.Orochimaru took that from him. No, Kabuto. Even if it kills me, I will rid Yakushi Kabuto's life in the same manner. I never understood revenge until now.Since my blood now bubbles for it.This is the second funeral thus far. I live to dread another. I look over my shoulder.From far back, Kakashi had his head down in respect and an eye closed. Gai stood with his students, having the same manner as Kakashi. Tsunade's eyes are already on me, and I quickly look away to focus elsewhere.Shikamaru is stood by his team with a guilty look at me. I look away as well.In front of Kakashi, stood a depressed Sakura and a frowning Uzumaki. With a small exhale, I get down on my knees in front of the gravestone. I reach to touch the stone's texture, hearing Uncle's teachings in the back of my mind start to fade. It took a lot of courage to look at the recorded dates beneath his name.
You suck.
I dryly smirk at the memory of his training weeks before my shinobi graduation. Time has gone by so fast. In the past, I would've never thought this future was awaiting me. Taking out the artificial chrysanthemum from my pocket, I place it down with the cane and offered fresh flowers.
Farewell, Uncle.
A simple thought such as that ached at my heart. It combined with the pounding pique in my blood. The pouring rain was then paused by an umbrella appearing above her, making me crane my head up to meet teal eyes. ....... "I see, so that's your decision." Gaara's voice was gentle, sitting on a bench with sand atop our heads to block the rain, "Does your comrades know?"I was next to him, "You told me to confide..." I sigh, tapping onto metal in my pocket, "And no... Every time I even think about it around them, a lump swells in my throat."How could I even begin to explain? Naruto and Sakura would never let me leave to pursue my desire. But I can't idly stay here knowing that Sasuke's out there without someone to support his blindside. It's dangerous thoughts, I'd admit. But I'm not built that way to just say goodbye and move on. I have the perfect opportunity to manipulate Orochimaru with the position I'm in. The blood I have that ties us together.Tsunade's scheming gaze she had on me for the past week tells me I need to find her soon. Meanwhile, the funeral is over. After greeting others and listening to their condolences, the valued shinobi left. I decided to reside in this burdensome rain, still surprised to see Gaara. We spent this moment of time to speak casually. Turns out Gaara delayed his departure to Sunagakure for my sake.I like that.The Sand-nin spoke about the fight against Kimimaro, how the deluded pawn died on his own accord. Gaara's voice was compassionate the whole way through, but it was clear Kimimaro was no different from soulless. In return, I had admitted my impulsive desire to leave Konohagakure and discover what's still left of Uncle.It's a drag that my only way of knowing is through Orochimaru.Gaara shook his head, "I'm not judging." Upon noticing the rain stopped, I watch his sand seep back into his gourd, "Come to Sunagakure... In any case you need to." He offers, "I don't care what you do... just let me know you're alive... Don't be a stranger to me, Kaz." His tone was wary, afraid that clinginess would have me slip away.I could never slip away from him. I think I'd rather die.
You're always so understanding...
I thin my lips at my folding thoughts, placing a hand over his in appreciation. I feel him flinch before settling into stillness once more."My departure is soon." He mentions, teal eyes focused on my cold hand with the burning red ears that I enjoy seeing, "You shouldn't go down a path of hate.""I don't think it's hate." I quickly said, undeniably soft from his small voice, "Just a strong sense of justice." I attempt to reassure, "Of course... I'd be lying if I said I didn't hate... them. I would also be lying if I said I wasn't a selfish person." I grimace at myself.In a world filled with righteous shinobi fighting against the wrong, I wobbled between the line of good and evil. I think Gaara could see this, knowing since we first met how I'd prioritise my own goals. He then flipped his backhand over for his palm to hold mine. My stomach does a funny flip. "It appears I won't be breaking that promise to the Leaf's Fifth."I lift my gaze to his downcast one, recalling his promise.
"I promised to convince you to be of use for her... It was irrational on my part, please forgive me. But they were near close to ruling you out as a traitor. I... didn't expect to meet you in such a state right after."
"You can still departure with my siblings and I to Sunagakure." He tries again, and I feel a painful tug at my heartstrings."No, Gaara." I say as he nods like he's trying to understand his own conflicted thoughts as well.His hand felt soft unlike the rough texture of Uncle's gravestone. Gaara is far too kind for his own good.
I can't go.
My hand unintentionally squeezes his. "I promise the next time we meet, I'll visit Sunagakure with you."Gaara's cheek twitches when stretching a small smile, pleased, "I'll hold you to that.""Kaz! Gaara!" A scratchy voice calls, I whip my head to see Naruto approaching with an already grinning Sakura.I feel Gaara slide his hand out from beneath mine, clearing his throat. The warmth of his touch was gone, and my hand feels cold once more. I try not to let that disappointment show on my face."Eh?" Naruto raises a brow, blinking profusely as if he saw something important disappear from his eye. Sakura pouts her lips out, cheeks red at Gaara's obviousness. Now my cheeks were just as red. I duck my head away."Naruto..." The red-haired figure stood up, "I have to get going now... My siblings are waiting for me."I slowly gaze out to them.Temari waved from afar, next to the face-painted Kankuro. The blond boy straightened up, immediately at Gaara's side to pester when he'd next come back to visit. Gaara simply bowed his head at me, bidding farewells he left with his siblings. I blink a couple of times just to shake off his handsome face from memory."I saw that..." Sakura teasingly said at my side, offering an arm for me to take.I roll my eyes, "Don't be ridiculous." With Sakura's support, I hoist myself into the wheelchair with a defeated huff.This wheelchair is so tedious....The pink-haired girl's giggle plays at my heartstrings some more, "That's what you think...!"Ack!My face felt hot again, and I duck my head away from her mischievous stare. Thankfully, Naruto came running back, already grabbing onto the handles of my wheelchair."Naruto, make sure you take her back to the hospital this time! No more stupid races with Lee-San." Sakura firmly said, waving me goodbye to rush home.I blanked, immediately thinking back to the memory. During the week I had been awake for, on one specific occasion, Naruto was pushing me around. Although after bumping into Lee and fighting over my quality time, they ended up racing one another.The blond dunce ran whilst pushing my wheelchair along with their mess. It caused multiple nurses to faint."Yeah, yeah!" Naruto grunts, carefully pushing me along the trail of the establishment. Ugh, I can't wait to ditch the hospital soon.A thick silence was present. 
"That idiot thought I hid you away. He was determined to die against me if it meant we'd both come back." 
Sasuke's words flooded my mind. There was a lot I wanted to say. A lot I wanted to thank Naruto for. And a lot I wanted to admit to my team, but he'd never accept it. Never accept the idea of me leaving for Otogakure. Would he throw a rasengan my way just at the thought of it? Sweat anxiously adorns my face."I..." My voice cracks."Let's get stronger!" Naruto beat me to it, "Pervy-Sage is taking me on for another three years." He announced, proud.You, too... Naruto?I look down at the ground as it moved, "Hah, good luck with that guy." I sighed through my nostrils.Naruto hunched over, "Thanks... I'm gonna need that." He frowns in my view, already not looking forward to more of the perverted old man's shenanigans.To be honest, I miss walking in on Uncle's similar strangeness. I gulp the lump, remembering to not let the self-pity swallow me whole.A curvy figure then suddenly steps in front of our path. Naruto stopped pushing my wheelchair to greet Tsunade as "old hag!" with a pleasant surprise.Naruto's certainty bold to be referring the Fifth Hokage as such names.I meet her strong gaze, quickly picking at the skin of my thumb's nail. This is it. The perfect moment to speak with her."You can stop here, Naruto." Tsunade orders, taking over, "There's important matters to be dealt with, Kumo Kazumi."Naruto reluctantly let go, stepping aside, "See ya later, Kaz!" Trusting Tsunade's judgement, he ran off after giving us a wave.I offer a flick of a hand in reply to his departure, then looking up at Tsunade from over my shoulder. The young looking old lady did not bother to grab the handles of my wheelchair. "You can stand up now. No need to act weak!" The Fifth smirked, amused.Nothing gets past her.I squint, preparing to face the inevitable. With a long sigh, I grip the sides of the tedious wheelchair before standing up with total ease."You've turned into quite the trickster, haven't you, Suki? Or do you prefer Kumo?" Tsunade remarked with the new name, acknowledging my situation."Kumo, is fine. I'm just following my old man's footsteps." I shrug. Giving a reaction to a woman like her was a death trap."Even to the grave?" Tsunade's words had me sharply flinch, "Come, there's a lot to discuss." I shakily exhale, watching Tsunade's back face me. Without uttering another word, I follow behind the Fifth's footsteps.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Rugged hands pulled the pulse bands off from my fingers. Ibiki, the sharp, intimidating man held indifference in his gaze. The Yamanaka head was in the corner, using his signature jutsu to enter my mind for the past hour. I decided to keep silent throughout it all unless spoken to, cooperating with ease.It didn't seem to surprise Ibiki in the slightest.There were multiple ways they gathered information from me. One: the one-way mirror within the dim, small room. Two: the polygraph that had kept record of my pulse. Three: Ibiki's dagger-like words that could make a guilty man break into tears. And four: The Yamanaka head's jutsu, Inoichi's mind reading."That will do." Inoichi sighed, unbinding me from the chair.My wrists felt release from the tightness, leaving red marks.Ibiki flicks his wrist, then guiding me out of the interrogation room. We left behind the blond man, soon entering the Fifth's office.Tsunade had been sitting at the Hokage's desk. For a moment, I thought I saw the late Third smile at me with his pipe. I shook it off, watching Ibiki approach her."Kumo Kazumi is not a traitor." Ibiki concludes, "From what we've uncovered, it was a kidnapping. She shown unwillingness from the start. As for Uchiha Sasuke, his intentions of leaving are sure." He then set down a file for Tsunade to inspect."You may leave." She nods, instantly opening it.Ibiki bows his head slightly before turning around and leaving the room. Despite it being just us left, I knew ANBU lurked. Couldn't sense them, but I knew. A strict protocol every Hokage acquires.All in which knowledge I knew from my late uncle.I was stiff in the joints, gripping my already abused wrists behind my back. I'd squeeze each time Tsunade exhaled out of her nose. "Immortality jutsu." Tsunade suddenly spoke, "What do you know of it?"I purse my lips, raising a brow. Surely Inoichi would've written down the majority of the details, and it was no secret that the Fifth knew of Orochimaru's plans. My purpose.
 "I am a vessel..."

"He must replace his body with a newer and stronger one before his current one succumbs."
With wide pupils, I pieced together what felt like the shortest time to process."Orochimaru is—was dying?" I mutter, focusing my attention on Tsunade's analytical eyes. "Sasuke's —""Stop there." Tsunade heavily sighs, leaning against the desk, "Yesterday, I was informed by Jiraiya that Uchiha Sasuke isn't dead. As far as we know, Orochimaru cannot use Sasuke nor you as a container for his soul for at least three years."My shoulders sag, exhaling almost trembly. Though, the weight of that fact settled just as quick. My mind hopped from one possibility to another. One being the chances of Kabuto being the container."Then... that means he's already used someone?" I catch on, proceeding to scratch the already broken skin around my nail.Nothing else would bring a smile as big as the sun to my face other than the idea of being able to kill Kabuto's body and Orochimaru's soul at the same time. It sent excited shivers throughout every canal inside of my bloodstream."Precisely." Tsunade smirks, standing up from the desk to walk around it where she then leaned back against it, "I've noticed this before, but you are quite the dangerous being with that brain of yours. It's not everyday a hidden village possesses talents like yours."I thin my lips, "Thank you." In the past, I would've felt extreme pride. Now, I feel nothing to that regard. "I'll put it plainly... I want to continue to use that talent of yours." Tsunade crosses her arms, her tone practically cocky.Here comes that promise...I quickly part my lips, "My mind is broken... I've even ruined my shinobi headband, something I cannot take back. I have disgraced the word 'shinobi' with these actions. I deserve punishment, and I'll gladly be stripped of my position as a chuunin of the Leaf." My tone was monotonous, somehow amusing Tsunade."Your recovery is fast." Tsunade took something from the desk behind her, hiding it from view as she walks closer to my unnerved posture, "I still remember that fire in your eyes when I first met you in that desperate state. "I want to purge his existence altogether. As a shinobi of the Leaf, I'll even take my own life to prevent his lineage from ever continuing". Sound familiar?" She asks, surprisingly quoting my words perfectly. My eyes narrow. Where is she taking this? The beautiful, old woman abruptly raises her arm. Surprised, my gaze snaps to an oncoming assault, albeit it never came.Instead, I was met with a floppy flower. It's head was weak, but not enough to fall. I saw a flash of Uncle's wrinkled face progressively blurring in my memory and a stab occurs in my head. I pick up the pace against my thumb until my nail completely splits it. A hot, sticky texture of blood stained beneath my nail."I still see that look." Tsunade mentioned, putting space between us.As if blinking out of a trance, I give her an exhausted look. I'm still so very affected by Uncle's death. Too cruel...I then lowered my face in shame, unable to lash out. In my current position, did I have the right? Upon the word 'traitor' alone, all eyes would have turned to me had it not been for Sasuke's willing runaway.  "It's an improvement, at least. It shows you have a strong control of yourself." Tsunade praised, "An average person would've relapsed to insanity."I'm not an average person, apparently."Why test it on me?" I ask, my bleeding thumb shaking as the tense grip around my wrist lessens. I let them go to have my arms fall limp at my sides."You're not an average person." Tsunade strictly confirms, causing a twitch in my eye, "You're a ninja of the Leaf. A prodigy. And I want to use you." She then took a thick file and gestured for me to take it.Hesitantly, I accept it. It had 'CLASSIFIED' written in bold. Now that was intriguing."Your physical talents highlight your mental ones. I understand that you came back on your own accord after the murder of Kumo Sanjiro-Sama, your kidnapping and Sasuke's betrayal to the Leaf. That tells me all I need to know. You've even deceived Orochimaru's brainwashed followers... Whether you were just conflicted or not, doesn't concern me." Tsunade leans her face down to my level, "What concerns me is whether or not you can continue that charade."Why did this sound like a mission? I don't deserve that luxury."No, no, no... It's been clear enough that I'm not longer a Leaf shinobi." I shake my head, uncomfortable."Open the file." Tsunade steps back, leaning back against her desk again, "Keep in mind, this stays between us and the officials."Scoffing, I flip open the file. Inside, I was instantly met with my crushed shinobi headband. It was bent back to shape, leaving shameful creases in the metal as a reminder of my actions. I felt my hard face break into a softer one.My gaze quickly catches sight of my clan's records. The massacre that fuels my hatred for Orochimaru. Then, to the records of Sanjiro's death, it's ink fresh compared to the prior. I'd be lying if I said reoccurring dreams of that night hasn't been happening."I'm aware of the risks. But, if you're anything like Jiraiya says, I can keep hold on the chances.""And what does he say?""That you're a carbon copy of Kumo Sanjiro-Sama."My face nearly lit up from the familiar words. The teasing sentence from the late Third flooded my senses: "Honestly, you take after him so much... you might as well be his daughter!" It was then I could finally feel something to be proud of in that moment. With my wretched new appearance that was strikingly similar to Orochimaru, I feared I'd never hear those words ever again."Don't think I'm doing all of this out of impulse or impatience. I have taken a long pleasure in digging up everything left behind the late Third I could get of you. You were eligible for early graduation, yet did not." Tsunade said, "I'm giving you your first S-rank mission. A permanent one that you must do alone."I closed the file, noiselessly gulping up at her."Consider yourself an ANBU from here on, Kumo Kazumi, for your new name will be 'Suki'. You must not betray the Leaf. You may act as a traitor, but everything you find in Otogakure must be reported back like an ultimate spy. I'm giving you a chance to assassinate Orochimaru before his plans to destroy the Leaf spring in action."My heart races, the blood hammering down to my bleeding, pulsating thumb. I'm at loss for words."No one will know of your title until Orochimaru's death is confirmed. No one but the officials and I. It is only until you come back to the Leaf village that I can then rid of your criminal records and all relations to Orochimaru."My pupils dilate. Vivid imaginations of Kabuto's death thrums."It does not matter who you get involved with. After all, the second you step foot into Otogakure you will become a traitor to everyone's eyes but my own. However..." Tsunade's tone drops significantly, "Should you never return after his death or decide to never report back whilst he lives, your title and mission will be stripped alongside your existence. I will not hesitate to send every shinobi of the Leaf and allied countries to kill you."Snapping my eyes down, I feel my brows furrow. It was a lot to take in. Sensing this, Tsunade sighs, "I will give you no more than a day to...""I understand." I cut in, "Other than you... My team... my comrades... they won't know?" I ask, my voice on the verge of breaking."No." Her response was flat.I blink down at the floor again. Images of my team smiling brightly back at me had sweat produce on my palms. Sasuke's back was turned, though that didn't stop my strong connection with him. Just as I was strongly connected to Naruto and Sakura as well. Even my current sensei, Kakashi, who I grown to like.And others I unexpectedly feel fond of. Including the siblings of the Sand.But I'd have to burn it from memory. I feel blue. Too blue."I can see a confliction. I know you want to leave... I also know you feel as if you don't belong. All the exact qualities of every ANBU member handpicked by Hokage's. Don't make the decision anymore difficult than the turmoil within you. You won't have the fortune of getting the special training required for an ANBU since we cannot arouse Orochimaru's suspicions.""Why is that?" I frown at her."Because he was once ANBU himself." Tsunade replied, dully.My frown stretches deeper, perplexed. That would explain his strength. And how easy it was for him to frighten me."Even if I were to put you into a division, that traitor knows far too much. He's not a fool, child. The moment you show similar abilities to ANBU, he will know." The blonde woman tilts her chin down, "The second you step foot into that new world, you will go through what could be described as hell."I couldn't help but scoff. "Nothing new.""That's the exact same thing Sanjiro-Sama would often say." Tsunade shortly laughed.I control my expression from pulling a deadpan. Registering many things, I couldn't ignore the surge within me. Be it the enhanced chakra or just my strong sense of justice. This is the exact offer I was hoping for, and waited for the past week to discuss about it.I must have pretty bad bags under my eyes by now.If I don't take this chance, will I return to those fitful sleeps? Even if someone else had the pleasure to assassinate Orochimaru, I would not rest until his blood was on my hands. Does this make me no different from him? Is this a part of me that's him? Violence can be so contagious.Without realising, my hands were shaking at my sides. I had to clench them into a tight fist to stop this. To stop myself from recognising my blood relation to him. My father, Orochimaru. That term disgusts me."I have a day to think about it, right?" I quickly question, earning a small nod from Tsunade, "Then, I have already decided. But on one condition."Tsunade raised a chin, "That is?""Let me keep that one last day, please..." I bite my bottom lip, bowing in deep respect.
Please.
I kept a low, silent bow until Tsunade's voice would reply. —_______________  The wind was cool against my skin. I had my eyes closed, resting my head back against a thick, ancient tree. I was sitting atop the very hill Uncle loved. It was my first time being incredibly close to it. In all of my memory, the tree was far away as if out of reach. Uncle only ever managed to touch it with his gaze, and now here I am touching it was my presence for a second time. The tree was taller than me, just as I used to imagine it to be. I place a palm against the thickness of the bark, feeling the comfort radiating from it.My head rolls to the left, opening my eyes to meet sight with my mother's name engraved in stone. The gravestone was corroded by nature's reclaim, old. Unlike Uncle, who was buried with our clan, Kumo Kiyoko was buried alone on this hill.This confirms my suspicions. My deceased clan was once cruel to this woman. My mother. I'm not so entirely sure how I should feel now. It's neither resentment anymore nor sympathy. I can't blame her. Even if the woman was the cause for everything, one thing was clear: Orochimaru had the bigger influence.But a thought lingers in my mind. What made her run off to a monster like him...? This so-called mother of mine. A title I'd only ever see in fiction where a mother's bond is strong enough to sacrifice anything for their child.So, what kind of useless sacrifice was this? If only she were alive, I'd ridicule her as if I was the older one. She'd probably be glad to know I took after her uncle instead. Or maybe that woman hates everyone to do with Kumo.And that's why she'd rather be six feet under than live for me. I hug my knees to my chest, like I had just reverted back to when I was an even smaller child. I used to hide in the shadows of my compound, watching the servants frantically look for me. My gaze softens at the recollection of Uncle's genjutsu's.Kiyoko was so youthful and beautiful. I'd argue that her beauty rivals 'old hag' Tsunade. Maybe that wasn't the point.Maybe there was something much darker to it. I hoped not. I hoped that maybe my mother did want to see me. She'd watch me grow like all other parents would. Alas, her will to live was too weak. My weak mother, Kiyoko.I'm soft to weakness. Sakura, for example.As if I just put on glasses for the first time, I finally understood why Uncle longed for this tree more than my own itching existence. Kiyoko's remains have been composted into this tree. Like me, he was soft to his weak person."Thanks for keeping a hold of this." I mumble, reaching for the tied Leaf headband on the corner of the stone. It was Uncle's. I snagged it in time before it got respectfully buried with him. It had many scratches, clearly used until its very last shine.I decided to tuck it away in my robe's hidden pockets. After a moment of processing, I stood up to press my back against the thick bark. My usual hard stare was gentle, taking in the nostalgic sight of my deserted compound from the distance by the tree. The floorboards remained shattered. Shelves empty. Compound empty. Not a single sign of life inside of it anymore."I'll end it once and for all." I glance down, imagining the sight of my uncle and mother sitting side-by-side in peace, "And come back to give you that garden." I then push off of the tree to walk past the illusion, "It would be wise to look away from my actions and stay here until then. Since it's my responsibility to take the burden of this 'cursed' clan."I sigh through my nose, clutching the straps of my bag. It destroys me inside to know Uncle had dealt with all of this grief by himself. Now it's my turn to return that favour. I will no longer be ignorant. I refuse to."For I am the last Kumo." A small tear streaked down my cheek. I get it now. This lonesomeness now embedded in me. For that, I cannot allow Sasuke to be alone. As dumb as it probably sounds, I don't care if we end up only pulling at each other's necks. With my head down, I left the compound to the many streets. I kept my head permanently low, concealing my chakra until I was entirely invisible from the naked eye.

—_______________  The walls and ceilings were painted white, like a hospital. The strong dimness of the lights flickered, hiding the overgrown nature and moss that corroded the ceiling. My sandals clacked at an eerie pace against the tiles, my yellow eyes illuminating in the dark. It was far too easy to slip through the cracks.After weeks of travelling, I pushed through the endless dark of this lair.I walked steadily down the long, never ending hallways. One hallway in particular had half a hundred of caged cells. Within them were victims of Orochimaru, discarded and rotting like used or to-be used lab rats.It smelt revolting, violating my nostrils like inhaling strong smoke.Sets of many curious and tired eyes locked on my moving figure. Occasionally, I'd look back into their gaze. The pure yellow frightened them, I could see, as they chose to cower away and hide in the shadows.Unsettled, I train my attention straight on.Eventually, I reached a door. When entering, I felt the tip of a kunai pressed against my throat. I pause my steps, slowly turning my eyes to red ones. The sharingan flared back at me as Sasuke appeared from the darkness.He had a mean resting face, his body tattered with bruises and experience. His hair grew a few inches, still in its unusual shape. I could see his cursed seal taking a physical toll on his body, painting a harsher black than before.He's alive.I raise a hand to his cheek, hovering over it to momentarily press a finger to his skin before dropping my arm back to my side. He was brimming with unfamiliar power, I just had to make sure what I was touching was real. He's real.My action made him step away and drop his kunai, "What are you doing here?" He asked, glaring.I pull my eyes away from his to focus in a specific direction. Straight ahead and in the dark, Orochimaru was there. Watching me."For power, of course." I answer, never tearing my eyes away from that darkness, "I've brought back some useful information, Father." A bitter taste burns the tip of my tongue.I ignore the unreadable look Sasuke gave me in my peripheral vision since a low, sinister chuckle echoed off of the faraway walls until it reached my ears. Orochimaru quickly emerges from that same darkness, his appearance different. In that moment, my heart starts to race with anticipation.However, the figure of Kabuto appeared shortly after, staring me down with a deep contempt. Like a shard of glass shattering, my blood pumped. How dare he?
How dare he?
My heart tightened. 
I'll kill him...
My mind replayed the scene of his barbarity. 
I'll... kill Him!
That hand inside of my chest tightened around my heart again. And blood gushed to my ears, my body like a ticking timebomb ringing in my hearing.
I'll... kill...

HIM

!
It thumped and drummed like two tormenting twins at each end. My chest tightened like a heart attack. But it wasn't. It was rage."Information for me?" Orochimaru's voice found my haywire senses, intrigued, "How did you find this hideout?""Stop it." Sasuke's quiet warning for my ears only straight after. The rush inside my machine-like body calmed as I flickered my attention onto his rare concern.An eerie coolness released the intense tension. I was prepared to blow up right then and there had it not been the sudden words of Tsunade ringing in my damaged head.
"You're the child of Orochimaru, seeking power."
Sasuke's face swiftly hardened.I look back to Orochimaru. "Your security is lacking." I take out a folded note from my sleeve, "Including your so-called followers." I then threw it out to him, letting it slowly meet the ground by his feet.Orochimaru didn't move as Kabuto quickly bent over to snatch it. His eyes behind the glasses went wide, showing Orochimaru the paper.I had Tayuya write down their plans and route to Otogakure. That included the hidden base, which took me weeks of journeying. The snake-man hummed, smiling."What do you think... Should we kill those responsible?" He asked, testing my judgement.I cross my arms behind my back, digging my nails into my skin, "Why waste further potential?" I looked to Sasuke's surprised expression, "It would be the same as killing him, would it not?""Right, hassle is a means to disrupt success." Orochimaru was pleased, his favouritism only fuelling Kabuto's jealousy.Now I know how to get under his skin."That brat needs a punishing. She has no right to be speaking so informally! The audacity to come running in and —""Enough." Orochimaru silenced Kabuto with a hiss, "No one lays a hand on this child unless I say so." He then waves for me to come closer.Kabuto had a baffled reaction, crumbling the paper in his hands. If looks could kill, I'd be under the ground."What are you planning?" Sasuke whispered, noticing my reddening arm.I give him a quick lazy smile, "You're not the only selfish one." I did not bother to see his reaction as I walked toward my father. "Suki-chan, you're finally home." Orochimaru's eyes were full of greed, placing a hand on my shoulder to guide.The honorific sent a chill up my spine.I brush past Kabuto, my yellow eyes likely piercing his uncertain ones. My gaze threatened to strain, lips parting to let out a deep sigh. I wonder if Kabuto could feel the anger radiating off of my uncanny calmness. I was far from calm on the inside. Seeing his discomforted look confirmed that thought.Because if looks truly could kill— He would have been dead first. I'd make sure of it.We left the room behind, and Orochimaru's grip on my shoulder squeezed possessively. A large window appeared in the new room, showing sights of figures fight against one another. Blood stained the floors and walls of that room yet Orochimaru did not spare a single glance at their twisted determination.It was no different from a corrupt training ring. But why is Orochimaru so obsessed with bloodline abilities? He quite literally inserted himself into my clan rather than taking me in as he done for Sasuke.I'm almost scared to find out the truth. Scared to predict that I possess something stronger than I realise.Down multiple hallways, and passing frightened faces and frowns, Orochimaru led me to a pure white room. Inside was a single chair and table filled with medical tools. The tidiness and cleanliness showed an odd perfectionist side to Orochimaru."I'm impressed you made it this far with your erratic seal that's yet to be finished." Orochimaru states, closing the door behind him.I had an uneasy feeling, looking all around at the chair and medical tools. The journey to Otogakure gave me enough time to prepare myself for this 'hell' Tsunade refers it to be. She's right, my subconsciousness says. I just hope that in another life, I'm not this meat put up for slaughter.In the eyes of a wolf, I felt like a mere fox just scraping by."I've waited too long for this." Orochimaru leaned his face to mine, yellow eyes meeting their kin, "You are a project I've had my eye on for years. One that dominates all the others I've succeeded thus far." He then walks over to a tall statue with white sheets covering it.Orochimaru pulled it off to reveal a man-sized pod standing tall. Inside, blue liquid fizzled and popped as wires were attached to many ends inside and out. The rich blue looked exactly like the doses I took, increasing the beat of my heart."My Project Suki."Project...?I watch his eyes squint in delight, pushing down an instinct to kill. Right now with my level of power, I was no different from a weak lamb in his predatory gaze.If... that's the case... If my suspicions are right...I swallow thickly, preparing myself to speak."One of my strongest bodyguards died not so long ago." He suddenly brought up, and I immediately knew who he meant, "With his last will, he assured to do anything to retrieve you to me. But for some reason... that mission failed. Why is that?"He must believe I've lost my memories.I clench a fist behind my back, watching him touch around the pod's wires, connecting them, "I was dragged back against my will. I would be lying if I said I wasn't curious about their pathetic attempts at keeping me in Konohagakure. In the end, I realised my true potential will never be in the Leaf." "Hm, yes... Sasuke-kun said the same thing about you when I asked him myself." Orochimaru nods, turning on a few switches that made the blue liquid swirl.What? Why would Sasuke lie? I blink a couple of times, taken aback by the swirling pod of blue liquid."But Suki..." He paused to give me a wide, sickly entertained smile, "Why do you speak as if you've lost all memory?"A familiar chill made the hairs on my neck rise. I froze like ice, unsure of how to respond. Instead, I train an impassive look at him. A hot second passed as my mind feared I had made the wrong judgment. "... Good." Orochimaru proceeded, sniggering to himself. The moment he turned his back, I let out a noiseless sigh. I forgotten just how intimidating this bastard was."Does it matter? I'm here for power so that I can become your ultimate vessel." I quirk a brow, "Tell me more about this 'project'."The snake-man appeared pleased by my straightforwardness, I note, as he's slowly approaching me."In due time." Orochimaru guides me to the chair, where I sat down reluctantly. Restraints appeared from the chair, mechanically locking me down.
Shit.
Shocked, I then noticed a long, thick wire connect from the man-sized pod to the metal table next to me. Orochimaru attached it to a needle, giving me no time to react when grabbing my arm and stabbing it in the vein. My eyes grew wide, the blue veins visible from my pale skin becoming even bluer. Liquid from the pod was suctioned through the wire and straight to my bloodstream, rendering me in a state of half-consciousness in the seat."Before you uselessly die, I must finish these doses to complete your first phase awakening. This is the only way to save you from eventual death." His words grew fainter and the world in my vision swirled.Minutes felt like hours, hours felt like weeks. I could hear the sounds of multiple manipulative voices, feeding into my delusions for power. Orochimaru's laughter. Sounds of blades unsheathing. The buzz of death."That old man had you set-up for death, and he was prepared to die with you." Orochimaru taunts in my ear, and I weakly stir.No! He's lying. In the last state of reason, the only thought that crossed my mind was: 'Is this how the victims are brainwashed?' Before an agonising sensation burned throughout my entire oesophagus. "I will find Kiyoko's seal within you. I don't care if I have to sap your sanity to do so."