Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Eyes piercing the darkness ❯ Naruto vs Sasuke the aftermath/picking up the pieces ( Chapter 24 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

ysMan is this one of the chapters I’ve been waiting for, for like ever. I’ve given a whole lot of thought to this one, and I want to go at it as hard as I’ve always planned, why, because it’s probably one of the most important chapters in the story and it’s named after one of my favorite plotlines, so I’m going to flood into this one let’s begin.



        & nbsp;           &nbs p; Naruto vs. Sasuke: The aftermath/Picking up the pieces


It was a lazy afternoon, about two weeks had passed since Naruto had returned with Sasuke and Naruto was taking a well earned rest with both of his princesses at his side, but during one of his tosses to cuddle one of the princesses on each side he caught a scent in his semi-awakened state. Realizing that he recognized the scent, Naruto sat up and stretched, ultimately rising from his spot to gain away from the bed. Almost immediately after moving from his spot in the bed, the girls began to stir, rousing from their slumber without the warmth of Naruto to tide them over.
Naruto: So it didn’t work today either?

He asked himself if they just recognized his distinct heat signature or if it had to do with his scent, for he had even moved them toward each other once to help them sleep after he had awakened, but it didn’t work at all. Heaving a heavy sigh, Naruto walked toward the front door and opened it, and like he had guessed, to the left side of the door frame lay Sasuke, sleeping soundly against the wall as if it were the most comfortable bed he had ever laid upon. Sensing that someone was at his side Sasuke peered left gazing up to Naruto.
Sasuke: Sup?

He asked, rubbing his eyes as he yawned loudly.
Hinata: I’ll make some tea.

She said politely, still somewhat groggy.
Sasuke: Hey, did I wake you guys?
Naruto: Nah, I was probably about to get up anyway. Why are you here though?
Sasuke: I was walking around last night and this spot was just kind of calling to me, I don’t get it much either.
Naruto: Um, did something happen?
Sasuke: Why do you ask?

Naruto pointed over to Sasuke’s eye, now swollen and black, it wasn’t enough to mess his face, but it was enough to be noticed.
Sasuke: Oh, I walked into a door.
Naruto: That door must have been a jounin then because it fucked you up.
Sasuke: Yeah, it was a really vengeful door.

He said with a hint of sadness as Hanabi looked down.
Mika: Well, if you guys are gonna have this conversation outside; can you at least do it quietly?

She asked suddenly emerging from her room right next to Naruto’s
Hinata: Oh, it seems I have to put on more tea.

She said, still half asleep.
Mika: Whoa, that door really did mess you up, hold still alright.

Mika said as she cycled through a round of seals and leaned forward, healing the wound on Sasuke’s face.
Sasuke: You’re good at this.
Mika: Yeah, it seems I have good chakra control when it’s something like this. Sensei said that it must be a hidden aptitude that I have.

Mika leaned away after she was done and Sasuke lifted himself from the ground.
Sasuke: Thank you.
Hinata: Tea’s done.

She called out to the others outside, inviting them all into the house. Sasuke stared down into his tea and closed his eyes.
Hanabi: Are you not thirsty?
Sasuke: No, it’s just that, I’m not used to this.
Mika: Well let it grow on you!

She shouted patting Sasuke roughly on the back.
Sasuke: Thank you.
Naruto: You’re leaving again aren’t you?
Sasuke: Yeah, I took another mission.

He said showing the mission directive scroll to Naruto who looked at it while drinking his tea, which he quickly spit out upon reading.
Naruto: What the hell, do you know this is an A-Rank mission?
Sasuke: I’m aware.
Hinata: An assassination?
Hanabi: Are you sure?
Sasuke: Yeah.

He said with a weak smile.
Naruto: Look man, I know you feel guilty, but you don’t have to destroy yourself.
Sasuke: Don’t worry; I’m not planning to destroy myself. I just feel like I don’t deserve to have all this.

Sasuke stood to his feet and walked away from the table, never once did he touch his tea, once Sasuke reached the door, Naruto called out to him and held out his hand.
Naruto: Take this.
Sasuke: An earpiece?
Naruto: Yeah, these are special; they can hold a frequency to over five hundred miles.
Sasuke: Why?
Naruto: I’ll be able to keep up with you, so I’ll hit you up while you’re on the mission and keep track of how it’s going, and don’t hesitate to ask for back up.
Sasuke: Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.

He said with a wave as he walked away with a brisk step.
Hanabi: Naruto-kun.
Naruto: Yeah, I can already guess.

He said with a sad smile. Sasuke walked through the streets and those who were still ignorant of what he had done, a vast majority of the villagers, still fawned over him, but now he seemed to be able to ignore it better, it was easy to numb it out now; he had more taxing things on his mind.


The day before Sasuke had been staring at his sister who had literally no contact with him since his return. Hanabi had been keeping her company, but she could sense the air, it was hostile. Yukari hopped away from the table and ran through the hallway, headed toward her room to find the object she and her friend, were speaking on which surprised Hanabi to no end, for she had to pass right by Sasuke to do it. After all that time, she hadn’t given him a good or bad reaction, she hadn’t even looked at him, this time was no different.
Sasuke: Yukari.

He called out as she passed him by, his words brought her to a stop and she asked back with a smile.
Yu: Did you say something?

The smile was pure and innocent, making Sasuke believe that maybe there was a chance for him to apologize, but the second he opened his mouth, he found a fist in his left eye, driven forward with enough impact to knock him head first into the floor. Sasuke slowly lifted himself holding his eye without turning up to the girl who now stood above him as Hanabi quickly intervened.
Yu: How dare you speak to me! How dare you call out to me Sasuke? What makes you think you have that right?

She asked, Sasuke could hear the strain in her voice as she sobbed between her words, Sasuke could hear the tears falling to the ground, so in wise choice, he said nothing.
Yu: I don’t want to talk to you; I don’t even want to look at you. You-

Yukari reared back, and did something that hurt more than a thousand punches ever could, she stopped. Yukari pulled away from Sasuke and wiped her tears, turning to walk away from him without a word, she completely denied him. As Yukari walked off Hanabi looked down to Sasuke and whispered.
Hanabi: I’m sorry.

With tears in her eyes, Sasuke’s eyes dropped to the ground and slowly a single tear fell from his eye. That night, he could her shuffling, no doubt it was Yukari moving her things to the other side of the complex, he could tell without looking, she didn’t want to be near him, she didn’t even mean to react to him, but her body reacted before she could think. Sasuke finally lifted himself from the floor and walked out into the open silently wondering around outside until a familiar and welcoming scent caught his newly upgraded senses. Walking toward the scent Sasuke leaned against the outside of Naruto’s door and fell into a sit, and soon after he was finally able to sleep.


Sasuke stopped in front of the gate and stared up, gazing at doors around as he walked through, this time, for good or bad, fully intent on coming back. Sakura found herself staring at the completely exposed back of Raizen as he lifted a massive tree as if it was nothing, assisting in the reconstruction of the southern hot springs and what she swore was him teasing her as his perfect and sweaty muscles gleamed in the warm sun. Trying to stifle this belief she locked it away in her mind, that is until Raizen grabbed a bottle of water and began to drop from it sloppily, allowing the water to drip down the side of his mouth and then down his chest.
Sakura: Okay, now I know he's messing with me.

Raizen lowered his bottle and wiped the sweat from his brow before getting back to work, however during said venture, he was completely surrounded by girls. After finishing the job was no different, even as he walked the streets, even as he ate, he was followed by all sorts of girls, and to a lesser extent, Sakura.
Ino: You know, hiding behind that pole makes you look really desperate.
Sakura: How long have you been there?

She asked turning back to her friend.
Ino: Long enough to know that you're a weirdo. You’ve been staring at him long eyed for the last twenty minutes, I’m pretty sure that everyone’s noticed.
Sakura: So you just sat back watching me?
Ino: No, I have way better things to do, but I did check in periodically. Why don’t you just go say something?
Sakura: Because he’s surrounded by his little fan club.
Ino: Well then maybe you understand what he had to go through, you see where he is right now, that’s not where you were. Instead, you were one of the people in the crowd; try thinking of what you would feel if the person you loved was one of those people?
Sakura: You were right there with me.

Ino closed her eyes with a smile and looked away.
Ino: I don’t deny that, but I was at least able to stay friends with the people who were there for me. I may have been long eyed, but at least I wasn’t staring like a fish.

Sakura looked to the ground and asked with a sigh.
Sakura: Do you really have to kick me when I’m down?
Ino: I’m sorry if that’s what it seemed like I was doing, but I’m only telling you this so that you can understand why he’s so reluctant. Sakura you’re staying away from him because you’re scared, but if he didn’t love you he wouldn’t have said it, but you need to be able to convince him that you love him back, beyond a doubt, you have to prove it. And I think you should probably move fast, because I doubt he’s going to wait forever.

Ino smiled sadly and turned her back to Sakura walking away as her friend watched her back. And then with a heavy sigh she stood from her seat and walked over to Raizen, grabbing his hand through the crowd and dragging him away from the screaming girls as Raizen followed her, completely confused as to what was going on, for he had never noticed that she was watching him.
Raizen: Uh, Sakura, what are you-
Sakura: Kakashi-sensei wanted to meet us in the training grounds.
Raizen: Can I grab my shirt first?
Sakura: Fine.

Sakura released Raizen’s hand and in only a blur he had gone and returned with his shirt, dressing himself as he walked along side his teammate. After reaching the training field both leaned against a tree, staring off into the distance since they knew that Kakashi wouldn’t be showing up any time soon, and they had arrived ten minutes early anyway. For five of those minutes they were completely silent.
Sakura: Raizen.
Raizen: Yeah?
Sakura: I want to talk to you.
Raizen: Yeah?

He asked, neither turning to the other throughout the entire conversation.
Sakura: Raizen, I love you.
Raizen: Sure.

He said drifting his eyes to the side in doubt.
Raizen: Look, I’m not going to just-
Sakura: Don’t speak.

Raizen stopped with a sigh a lifted an eyebrow.
Sakura: You were as blind as I was you know?
Raizen: How so?
Sakura: I liked you too back then.

These words finally gained a response from Raizen as he turned back to Sakura in confusion.
Raizen: Wha?
Sakura: I just wasn’t sure if you liked me back, I was scared that if I tried to confess to you, and you turned me down, we wouldn’t be able to be friends any more.
Raizen: Why would you think that?
Sakura: I even thought a few times that you did like me back, I was even sure of it at certain points, but there was always a creeping feeling that stopped me, the thought always came back, “What if I’m wrong”.

She said as she turned her eyes to the ground, Raizen had that same feeling.
Sakura: And then I did something so much worse and I hurt you. I’m so sorry Raizen.
Raizen: Water under the bridge; don’t worry about it. Besides, I handled it pretty well.

Raizen leaned back against the tree and sighed gazing into the sky.
Raizen: I’m not worried about it so you don’t need to worry either.
Sakura: Raizen, is it too late? You don’t love me anymore?
Raizen: Sakura, I’m not interested in accepting love through pity, I told you that didn’t I?
Sakura: I don’t pity you, I really mean it, I’m not lying; I’m not forcing myself. I want you; I only want you, no one else.
Raizen: How can I believe that?

He asked, turning over to Sakura who had been obviously crying the whole time, bringing a frown to Raizen’s face.
Sakura: I know, I hurt you so bad; I kicked you when you were down, and I abandoned you, treated you badly, and even ignored your feelings, but I’m begging you to please forgive me. I mean it when I say this Raizen. I love you.

She holding onto the crysm in her hands, making it glow pure red, glowing warmly in a beautiful dance.
Raizen: I don’t…
Sakura: Please don’t say anything, you were right, I was stupid and I chased after Sasuke because he was the gold medal.

Raizen closed his eyes with a smile.
Sakura: But all that time, all I had to do was reach out, and I could’ve grabbed tightly onto the platinum medal right next to me. I’ve never been so sure that I was in love before as I am now.

She said with a pure smile. Raizen turned away from her and lifted himself from the ground.
Raizen: I don’t believe you.

He said turning over to Sakura whose smile turned sad, this was something she could understand.
Raizen: So, I’m going to need to confirm it.

He said reaching over, pulling Sakura into his chest as she blushed furiously and then rested her head on his biceps.
Sakura: I love you Raizen.
Raizen: One more time?
Sakura: I love you.
Raizen: I couldn’t hear you that time.
Sakura: I love-

Before could finish her words that time she was interrupted by Raizen’s kiss. Tender and soft, he kissed her gaining the same reaction from her as she gave in to the ravenously powerful sensation she felt. For a brief moment they pulled away from each other, but the powerful shivers they had pulled them back together. Raizen’s hand slowly snaked down Sakura’s back and down to her butt, holding gently onto it Raizen heard her moan under his kiss, he knew that they should have probably stopped soon, but his senses were now gone with the wind, and she wasn’t trying to stop him, since she was in the same boat, so he felt inclined to continue, that is until the sound of someone coughing interrupted them, put a start into both as they pulled away and turned back to the sound, realizing that Kakashi was standing right behind them.
Kakashi: Well, well, I don’t really know what I should say.
Raizen: How long were you standing there?

He asked out loud, he could tell that Kakashi was smiling under his mask.
Kakashi: Oh, I came in somewhere around the “I’m not interested in love through pity” part.

His words brought a deep blush to their faces, mostly because that was pretty much the beginning.
Sakura: Why didn’t you say anything?

Kakashi lifted a questioning eyebrow and then turned back into his book.
Kakashi: At first I thought that it would be bad to interrupt such a moment, but then I decided to. For if I didn’t step in when I did it would have been too late to.

Those words once again brought the two into a blush.
Raizen: Why are you on time today!?
Kakashi: Well, I was scolded recently by someone about my tardiness, so that’s something I’m going to start working on.
Sakura: By who?
Kakashi: Someone Raizen knows very well.
Raizen: Huh, you mean?
Kakashi: Now if you like, we can move on to a less awkward topic.
Sakura: Yes please.
Raizen: Why were you on time today anyway?
Kakashi: I was scolded recently about my tardiness by someone we both know.
Raizen: Huh?
Kakashi: Never mind. As I’m pretty sure you’re aware, Sasuke will not be joining us today, he’s off on another mission.

Sakura lowered her head, of course just having him back wasn’t going to bring her team back together.
Raizen: He’s still feeling guilty huh?
Kakashi: Yes, but unfortunately that’s something we’re going to need to leave to Naruto.
Sakura: So what was this about sensei?
Kakashi: Well let me start by saying that I wasn’t arranging a make-out session.

He said turning back into his book, silently chuckling at the two blushing madly behind him.
Kakashi: However, I did have a special job for the both of you. Raizen, you are to be the chunin of a new mission.
Raizen: What is the job and who am I working with?
Kakashi: Your job is to track down a certain person who’s seemed to have fallen off of the grid in the last few months. This man is to be returned to the leaf at all costs or we face a diplomatic problem.
Raizen: So this person is one our criminals yet he’s causing problems for other countries? Isn’t that a job for the Anbu?
Kakashi: Tsunade-sama is quite convinced that you can handle it, all of us are.
Raizen: And the person accompanying me?
Kakashi: One, Kiba Inuzuka. He will be your backup on this mission after all you both seem to work well together and he’ll be crucial to track this man down.
Sakura: What about me?
Kakashi: You are to report to Tsunade-sama, she has a special job for you. No making out on the way there.

He said as he slowly walked away from the two as they once again began to blush like mad.
Sakura: Did we let the wrong person catch us?
Raizen: Well at least we know he won’t tell anybody.


(Music cue: Backside of the TV- Persona4 Ost)
Sasuke walked into a strange bar on the edge of the fire’s borders just far enough to be another country’s territory, but not enough to be out of the leaf’s influence. It had been a full day’s trip and while making his way to the bar he contacted Naruto.
Naruto: Hey what’s up?
Sasuke: I made it to my destination, but I don’t think the person I’m looking for is here.
Naruto: Yeah, I was able to get JJ to check the mission specs; it seems the person you’re looking for is in the bingo books. Trafficking, murder, extortion, you name it, this guy is in it, I’m guessing that’s just one of his bases so just look for him, maybe you’ll find some clues.
Sasuke: Alright, Sasuke out.

As he walked through the bar he could see all sorts of people sitting around, one guy was at the side cupping onto the breasts of two different girls; yeah he had just walked into one of those kinds of places. Ignoring the women dancing around him, he walked forward, obviously suspicious, but less conspicuous than the guy at the far end, with what appeared to be a basket over his head and a sword at his side. Sasuke guessed that he was the hired help and kept walking until he reached the bar.
Hiyoshi: Hey kid, you know you’re not supposed to be in here right?
Sasuke: Yeah under normal circumstances I probably shouldn’t, but I’m not here for what ever’s happening here, I’m looking for someone named Takahiro.

At his words the whole room became full of killing intent as the barkeep, holding onto one of the bottles of sake soon switched to holding the neck.
Hiyoshi: I think you need to leave before you get hurt.
Sasuke: I’m going to be just fine, it’s you I’m worried about, now answer me, where is Takahiro?

Sasuke didn’t receive an answer; instead the man sitting next to him pulled a knife from his jacket and quickly lundged his left hand at Sasuke, expecting to kill him quickly and quietly, instead, Sasuke leaned back, avoiding the blade completely and latched his hands onto both the man’s arm and head, slamming both into the bar’s counter with enough force to knock him unconscious. Without turning away from the fallen man Sasuke rounded through hand seals and launched a fireball behind the counter, knocking the bartender into the wall of bottles behind him. Screams flew from the women in the club and the men of club began to stand up, one drawing closer to him. Sasuke hopped on one of the bar stools and leapt back slamming his knee into the man’s chest three times and landed on top of him on a table. Sasuke had never really been in a fight since he was given the mark, yet he felt his senses warn him of every moving person, like the person behind him, throwing his hand down to grab onto Sasuke, who slammed his fists down into the other side of the table, knocking it up into the man’s chin before he could even finish reaching down. Sasuke rolled to the ground and leapt up latching his left leg around the man’s neck, using his free leg to push the man back, positioning him over Sasuke just in time to avoid the sword coming down for his back, instead making it land into the back of his meat shield.
Sasuke: Fire style: Fireball jutsu!

The body above Sasuke went flying upward, knocking into the man holding the sword, and with the new emergence Sasuke inhaled deeply and launched three fireballs to each side, knocking away the other men coming at him. However the one he missed, or avoided hitting depending on how you look at it, he moved under and slammed his elbow into his chest, then lifted his palm up into the man’s chin, dragging him head first down into a table. Sasuke looked back and noticed that even despite the power he had displayed, none of the men even the ones who were picking themselves up, never once tried to run. Sasuke closed his eyes and grabbed onto something behind him, right above his hip and slowly into vision came a long sword made of blood red chakra. When Sasuke opened his eyes they were blood red, with marks on his cheeks, and newly shown fangs, Sasuke looked up to the men. Everything seemed to slow down in his extreme focus; he scanned the room, down the simplest detail.
Sasuke: Are you sure you want to do this?

He asked, hoping they would keep coming. Sasuke was finally able to test his powers against someone who meant nothing to him, and that was very relieving feeling. Sasuke pulled the sword from it’s long sheath and watched the men come closer and he kicked the table next to him into the men and in one swipe he cut through both. The men began to realize exactly what they were dealing with and started coming at him with weapons as well. Sasuke leaned down under a swinging blade and stabbed down into leg of the man holding it, then ripped it out, slashing through the man’s torso in one swing, yet it was finally brought into his senses that the man with the straw basket over his head had finally stood to his feet and started walking toward him, even with his keen senses, Sasuke could barely sense the man’s presence. Focusing on the people around him first Sasuke spun to the side of the man next to him and cut through his back and then right above his shoulders cutting off his head. By the time Sasuke noticed that man with the basket was right behind him swinging his sword down with so much speed that not even Sasuke would’ve been able to stop it, but the sword wasn’t aimed at him, instead it ripped through the man parallel to him. Sasuke turned back to the man in surprise.
????: Watch your back or it’ll get cut through.

Sasuke peeked back, then back to the enemy behind his new ally. Sasuke pulled back his sword and stabbed into the man's stomach, saving the basket wearing samurai.
Sasuke: You should take your own advice.
????: No I just trusted you to get him.

He said as he placed his back against Sasuke's.
Sasuke: Sasuke Uchiha.
????: Naoto Shuma.
Sasuke: Why did you help me?
Naoto: Is this really a good time to be talking about this.
Sasuke: Do I really look like I'm worried about these guys?

He asked, all while cutting down the people coming after him, Sasuke slashed down, cutting off one of the men's legs as Naoto slashed his head right off his shoulders. Sasuke readied his sword and aimed it at the final man and shouted.
Sasuke: Tell me where Takahiro is!

The man never answered, instead he lunged forth and slashed up at Naoto, however his attack missed, only managing to rip through the basket on his head, finally revealing his face to his new partner.
Naoto: Bad move.

He said briefly before removing the man's head in one blinding swipe, the blade as far as Sasuke could see had never been removed from its sheath.
Sasuke: Did you have to kill him; I needed to get information from him.
Naoto: Of course, I already know where Takahiro is?

Sasuke stared on as Naoto walked away, long hair standing into an upstanding ponytail, which still somehow managed to drape down his back.
Naoto: Are you coming?

He called back in a fairly light voice, and his face could only be described as girly, but his posture and tone all screamed man. Sasuke dismissed his blade and walked to Naoto's side.
Sasuke: How am I supposed to believe you?
Naoto: You don't have to.
Sasuke: Then can you answer my question from earlier?
Naoto: I helped you because you have the same goal as me.
Sasuke: You mean Takahiro?
Naoto: Yes but more than just that.
Sasuke: Huh?
Naoto: Don't worry about it. This one simply believes that you will be of help.
Sasuke: “This one”?
Naoto: Sorry, it’s a bad habit. Anyway, I know where Takahiro is and I’m looking for him like you are, so I propose a temporary partnership.
Sasuke: How do you know you can trust me?
Naoto: Something in your eyes tells me that you are someone who can help.

With that said Naoto moved onto the road and led the way, Sasuke following closely behind.
Sasuke: I’ve never seen that stance before, where did you learn it?
Naoto: It was my father’s style; he taught me how to wield a sword. So what do you say we get going?

He said with a smile, completely overtaking Sasuke, it was almost overwhelming, bringing a blush to his face.
Naoto: Uh, are you okay?
Sasuke: Yeah, I’m fine let’s go.

He said stuffing his hands into his pockets, walking forward down the beaten path.


Raizen: Man this mission sucked.
Kiba: Tell me about it. The guy didn’t even put up a fight.

Both boys released a heavy sigh, sitting on the back of the man they had been sent to catch, as he wiggled and screamed beneath them. As the loud sound of people laughing and chattering came from outside, no doubt because of the festival happening in town.
Raizen: Shut up.

Raizen quickly flung his hand back and slapped into the man’s face, knocking his face to the side.
Kiba: Hey this guy isn’t goin’ anywhere, wanna go check out the town?

He asked with a smile as Akamaru barked in agreement. Raizen thought to himself for a moment and shrugged his shoulders.
Raizen: Why not, let’s go.

He said sitting up from the man’s back, Kiba doing the same. Raizen reached down to the man’s stomach and lifted him into the air with a single hand, throwing him onto the bed as nothing more than a sack of potatoes.
Raizen: There’s a bowl of food and water on the floor in case you get hungry while we’re out. Oh, and don’t think about leaving, because you won’t get far.

He said down to the weeping man who had until then thought himself to be skilled.
Raizen: So what do you wanna do first?
Kiba: I don’t know, maybe we should talk about what happened with you earlier.
Raizen: What do you mean?
Kiba: Maybe I mean the time you spent with Sakura.

He said with a knowing smile that Akamaru soon mimicked in his own way. Raizen jumped back in shock, completely embarrassed.
Raizen: How do you know about that?
Kiba: Her scent’s all over you man, you must’ve been going heavy at it huh?
Raizen: Um, that’s, well….She kind of made me believe her.

He said with a blush as he turned away.
Kiba: ….How far did you go?
Raizen: Not far, Kakashi-sensei caught us, but I don’t know how far we were headed. I lost my head, that’s pretty low of me. I need more training.
Kiba: Hey, good for you man, I still don’t think she deserves you, but if she’s really changed, then I wish you luck.
Raizen: Thanks man.

Akamaru suddenly began to fidget in Kiba’s jacket, bringing Kiba’s attention down to him.
Kiba: Huh? You want out, boy?

He asked as he opened his jacket and placed Akamaru down to the ground.
Kiba: Man, I’m kinda jealous dude.
Raizen: Really, don’t forget our vow man.
Kiba: Yeah.

Kiba turned his eyes to the ground and noticed that Akamaru had been sniffing the air for quite a while.
Kiba: What’s wrong?

Akamaru turned up to him and barked, then turned to a random store across the street with his tail wagging.
Yura: Man, they didn’t have anything in there, what kind of festival is this?

She said walking out with her left hand tightly gripping her stomach. It was at that point that she heard the dog’s barking, spooking her until she noticed that she had heard the voice before.
Yura: Wait that’s-

(Music cue: K2G by Puffy AmiYumi)
Yura turned up to Kiba and Raizen staring right at her, and time froze. Yura’s ears stood on end and she quickly turned away and started running as Kiba quickly gave chase. Raizen stared at them and then down to Akamaru, who he placed on his head and started walking after the two runaways.
Yura: Why are you chasing me?
Kiba: Why are you running!

Yura quickly sprinted down the road and slid to the side holding onto the ground to control her drift as she turned into an alley with Kiba following close behind. Yura ran onto another main street and climbed up the first power pole she saw, quickly reaching the top as she hissed back down at Kiba with her tail fully extended as Kiba hopped around at the bottom barking up at her. Raizen stood behind them and squinted his eyes with Akamaru before saying.
Raizen: Dude?

As if it was a sanity trigger, Kiba looked up to Yura with confusion written on his face as she did the same. Yura then burst out running along the wires as Kiba ran up the pole after her, his balance nothing compared to hers. Quickly eyeing out an escape, Yura dived into an open window on the third floor of an apartment with unmatched grace, and after staring in disbelief and awe for a few minutes Kiba dived in with her, yet much less graceful. Yura smiled and threw a punch at Kiba, nearly making it for his face, but the second before it could land he dodged and threw a punch of his own, which Yura simply knocked away. Yura chuckled during the exchange smoothly dodging everything Kiba could throw at her before finally bringing it to an end by kicking him back through the window he had come in and out into the back wall of the next building.
Yura: Too slow!

She said running out through the door as Kiba bounced back into the massive hole in the wall his body had made and gave chase after the fleeing girl. Yura slid across the ground, gracefully maneuvering through the many people in the hotel complex, which Kiba just found much easier to charge through as they screamed back at him. Yura found herself at a dead-end in the hallway, aside from the many doors at both sides. Swinging open the door Yura threw herself into one of them just as Kiba came around them corner, and in a hurry he ran in behind her, only to come out another door on the other side as Yura came out of the door next to the one she went in, as the chase continued Raizen finally caught up to them after walking slowly his way there, watching the spectacle he looked up to Akamaru who just nodded and jumped from his head as both walked through a door and began entering and exiting them at random with the other two. After over fifteen loops Kiba and Raizen appeared in front of each other with a frown and started knocking open the doors on both sides until they reached the final door, Yura gazing at Raizen as he motion for Kiba to go after her. Realizing that she was screwed Yura charged down the hallway as Raizen picked up Akamaru once again and slowly followed them. Yura flipped from the window on the far side and latched her nails into the wall of the next building, quickly throwing herself to the top.
Kiba: Stop running!

He shouted after her only succeeding in making her run faster, much to his displeasure. Kiba hopped on the roof with the girl and chased after her along the many buildings on the side, but before she could make one of the jumps she was intercepted by a bird and fell down to the ground. Kiba, worried for her safety forgot the reason he was chasing her and instead dived down to save her. Yura stared up at Kiba and reached for his hand, but right before making impact with the ground she hovered above the surface for a good two seconds and switched to a safe landing position before resuming her sprint away from Kiba.
Kiba: What the fu-

He shouted out before landing right on his face which Yura laughed heartily at. Kiba rose from the ground and spit out the dirt in his mouth before giving chase once again to the fleeing cat-girl.
Yura: Why are you chasing me!?
Kiba: For the same reason you’re running away!

Yura groaned to herself and lowered herself to all fours, running under a large dining table which Kiba opted to run on top of. Noticing that he was able to keep up with her pace Yura moved to the side emerging from under the table and running back into the city streets, Kiba followed suit and found himself only mere inches from her, when both noticed a flash. Turning to the photographer they walked to him and grabbed the picture as Raizen finally caught up and stared down into it too. With a smile all three laugh and Yura aimed Kiba at one of the games, which he played and mastered quickly, winning a large tiger doll that he handed to his date as Raizen returned with cotton candy. As all walked, enjoying their treats and Yura’s new gift they stared down that the picture, suddenly remembering that they were just chasing each other. Now looking to the people next to them Yura ran into the streets, throwing to the side everything she was holding, as she dashed for the village’s gates, only shortly after being swiped at by Kiba, causing her to fall down a steep slope. Even with her reflexes there was no way she was going to be able to recover before she fell from the cliff below. Cursing his blunder Kiba dived for Yura and pulled her into his chest, now along for the ride down the slopes, never once thinking beyond that. On his way down Kiba roughly crashed into the rocks below, shocking Yura at the resilience he had seen in order to protect her, but the cliff below would be more than he could handle, no doubt he would die from the drop. Raizen pulled Akamaru from his head and placed him in his shirt, speeding off after the falling pair. Ripping the shuriken from his holster he launched it down to the bottom of the cliff and grabbed onto Kiba and Yura in one swift pull and lifted them onto his shoulder, reaching out his free hand to pull himself to the shuriken that had finally reached the bottom of the steep fall.
Raizen: Man that was close.

He said to himself as Akamaru sighed in relief, Yura however had been completely focused on Kiba and the blood dripping from his head during the impacts that she never even paid much mind to Raizen. Leaning down, she gently licked the blood on Kiba’s forehead and was shortly after forcibly put to sleep by Raizen as he gently set both unconscious shinobi down.
Raizen: You guys sure have a weird way of flirting with one another.

Raizen gazed down to Yura and frowned, he hated to do it, but it was something that couldn’t be overlooked at the moment, with a heavy heart he placed cuffs on her arms and legs; knowing that when she woke up, there would be no way that she was going to get away from them. Only an hour had passed before the girl began to stir, finding herself in a stone cave along with Kiba, who seemed to be alone save for Akamaru sitting next to him gazing at the cat-girl in their custody. Suddenly understating the trouble she was in, she pulled her hands up, only to find that she had been bound.
Yura: What the-
Kiba: Don’t try to break them, Yubiki gave us those, they can seal off demonic power in low level demons.
Yura: That’d explain why I feel weaker.

She said turning away from the boy, before gaining an idea. With a smile she looked over to Kiba and sent a wave at him, seeing him wince was enough to know.
Yura: Well at least now I know that the Onikiri, isn’t from my father’s side of the family.

She said with a smile before dispelling her technique, assuming that it was useless at this point.
Yura: Where did your friend go?
Kiba: We agreed that he would go on ahead while I transport you, besides; we had a mission to complete.
Yura: I’m not going to tell you anything, so don’t waste your breath trying to make me.
Kiba: I’m just taking you back, I’m not the one you’re going to be talking to.
Yura: It doesn’t matter who it is, I’m not telling them anything.
Kiba: That’s where you’re wrong, remember that girl Ishi you met the village?
Yura: Yeah, the nice airhead.
Kiba: Ishi can read minds; she can probe deeper into your mind than even you could. We’ll figure out everything we need to when we get there.

Yura’s cool mask melted away when she heard that, staring wide-eyed at Kiba who seemed to enjoy her frightened face.
Yura: What are you going to do when you find out?

Her voice trembling and weak, she asked out to Kiba whose faces seemed to grow sad when he realized just how scared she was.
Kiba: That depends on what you tell us. If you talk before we’re forced to take drastic action you may just be locked away.
Yura: I’m not going to talk.
Kiba: Then you’re on your own.

He said as he rolled over and tried to gain a comfortable position, ignoring Yura’s sobs behind him, unwilling to tell her the truth. If the truth of her involvement in the attack on the leaf came out, if she weren’t put to death by the village, she’d surely die in prison. He wasn’t able to tell her that, but he could tell through the sobs she gave, that she had already known.

(Three days later)

Naruto rolled over, suddenly disturbed by the feeling he kept getting, it wasn’t like it was the first time he had awoken with the male morning affliction, but this time it felt like something was making it happen, it was then that he realized something, a single whiff of the sweet smell let him know what was happening, with eyes now wide open he stared up to Hinata sitting atop him.
Naruto: H-Hinata-hime?
Hinata: You’re not going to get away this time Naruto-kun.
Naruto: Hinata-hime, wait you can’t do this-
Hinata: I’m not going to fall for that, I want it, and I’m gonna get it.

Hanabi slowly turned at Naruto’s side and the extra motion on the bed roused her up. Rising from her sleep she rubbed her eyes and mumbled a greeting to the two next to her, until she caught sight of Hinata sitting on Naruto’s lap, holding his arms down and saying her sister would never say. Now completely awake Hanabi scooted from the bed and walked into the kitchen never once being noticed by the two on the bed.
Naruto: Hinata-hime, I can’t, you have to move.
Hinata: Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle Naruto-ku-

A loud thud echoed through the room and above Naruto as Hinata’s face ran blank, suddenly falling down on Naruto with a massive lump on her head. Hanabi stared down at her sister with a blank stare as Naruto shot up to hug her.
Naruto: Thank you, you just saved my life!

He shouted with tears running down his face, then he pulled back and asked to the younger girl.
Naruto: But how did you know Hinata was in heat?
Hanabi: What’s that….yeah sure.

Hanabi’s eyes drifted to the side, avoiding Naruto’s, now she had known the extent of her own jealousy.
Hanabi: What do we do now?
Yubiki: ‘Sigh’ I was so looking forward to seeing them chase each other again. Alright, Naruto, come with me, I’ll carry Hinata.

She said reaching down for the and carrying her in a very undignified manner.
Naruto: Where are we going?
Yubiki: You’ll see.

She said forcing him to come along, Hanabi following close behind. One hour later after Hinata had woken up she found herself sitting across from Naruto in a wide open field with Yubiki standing behind her and JJ standing behind Naruto.
Hinata: What-
Yubiki: We’re going to be training you to resist your impulses, normally a demon wouldn’t be overtaken by these urges so easily, however you were born human so I shouldn’t expect as much, if either one of you stands to go after the other, you will be knocked to the ground, without holding back.

Hinata began to sweat profusely, the person standing behind her was Yubiki noYouko the queen of fox demon and the aura she was catching from her was letting her know, she really wasn’t going to hold back.
Naruto: So how long do we have to sit here?
Yubiki: All day of course.
Naruto: What!?
JJ: Responsible for your own death, you are.

He said holding massive log in his hands, waiting for Naruto to stand up, causing him to sweat.
Hanabi: May your deaths be painless.
Naruto/Hinata: Why?


Sasuke ad been walking for what seemed like forever before he and Naoto set up camp, but as the sun’s rays buffeted them it rose with it and continued on the their trek.
Sasuke: He didn’t attempt my life, so I guess I can trust him, or maybe it was because he was too busy sleeping like a log to try.

Sasuke wondered remembering how hard his companion was sleeping, however each time he tried to wake him up a blade swiped at his face, barely managing to avoid decapitating him.
Sasuke: But I guess when you’re that aware you can afford to sleep like that.

Sasuke sighed, watching Naoto put away the supplies and turned to the forest.
Sasuke: I’ll go scout the area.
Naoto: That would be much appreciated.

He said barely turning to Sasuke before returning to his task. Sasuke walked out into the forest keeping a sharp eye on everything happening around, this allowed him to hear the faint cries of a girl lost somewhere in the forest around him. Sasuke frown, pushing his feet forward as fast as he could, still amazed by the extent to which his abilities had been enhanced. His speed was almost too much for him, he was almost too fast to hold himself up. Finally catching sight of what he was looking for and happy that the girl had been able to hold out until he arrived, throw himself in front of her, cutting off the hungry bear staring down at her, forcing its attention to turn to him.
Sasuke: You don't want to make me mad, leave!

He commanded, to the animal who was reluctant to give in to his threat until it noticed the glare he had thrown it and with it the power he radiated, it was almost crushing. Realizing the danger the beast wisely chose to search for food elsewhere, leaving Sasuke and the girl behind him alone. With a sharp exhale Sasuke turned to the girl and asked with a grin.
Sasuke: You okay?

The girl froze; the sunlight dripping through the trees seemed to accentuate the boy’s features, leaving her in a deep blush.
Sasuke: Can you tell me your name?
????: K-Karin.
Sasuke: Good, where do you live? I can take you back if you want.

Suddenly flustered the girl waved her hands at him, trying to downplay her own feelings.
Karin: Don’t worry about it, I could have fought off that bear y’know.
Sasuke: But you were screaming.
Karin: Uh-
Sasuke: And your legs were shaking, in fact they still are.

He said bringing attention to the girl’s chattering knees.
Karin: They always do that.

She said whispering to the side in a thinly veiled lie.
Sasuke: Heh, alright then, I’ll trust you, you can head back on your own right. Then I guess-

Sasuke turned back in the direction of the camp and peeked back to the girl.
Sasuke: I’ll see you later.

Those words grabbed the girl with an unbreakable grip, holding her in place, staring at the spot the boy was in even after he was long gone. Sasuke stuffed his hands in his pockets and walked back to camp, knowing from the scent that Naoto had begun to look for him.
Naoto: You were gone for quite a while, this one was beginning to wonder if had gotten into trouble.
Sasuke: I had no trouble at all, just a little snag, are you sure you know where this guy is?
Naoto: Yes, I know of everything he does.

Naoto walked into the clearing and readied his sword.
Naoto: We are going to be reaching the village soon, this one is going to require your assistance.
Sasuke: If helping allows me to complete my mission then sure.
Naoto: Thank you.

There was that smile again, a smile that seemed almost unnatural and Sasuke wonder if he was…funny. Shaking those thoughts from his head he walked at Naoto’s pace making sure that he was able to jump in at a moment’s notice. Arriving at the village’s gates Sasuke pulled out his headset and honed in on Naruto’s frequency.
Sasuke: Hey Naruto.
Naruto: Huh? Do you need help?
Sasuke: No, I’m good.
Naruto: Dammit, I was hoping you’d say yes, I’m in kind of a weird situation right now.
Sasuke: Really, what happened?
Naruto: I’ll tell you later, anyway how are things going?
Sasuke: Well-

He paused to turned to Naoto, who seemed to be minding his own business at the moment or more to be watching the people around them.
Sasuke: Well, I’m not alone anymore, seems I found someone who might be able to help me.
Naruto: You sure he’s not just trying to lure you into a trap?
Sasuke: There’s an aura of mystery around him, but I trust him, something about him feels honest.
Naruto: Alright, but be careful. Oh yeah, are you near the Shirotsuki village’s borders?

Sasuke narrowed his eyes and turned back, gazing at a large sign that said Shirotsuki. With a sigh Sasuke asked into the receiver.
Sasuke: How do you know these things?
Naruto: I wasn’t sure, but I thought I’d ask, Claire-sensei told me to ask you to look for a flower around there, something that can help with a “miracle cure” she wants to make.
Sasuke: How am I supposed to know what that is?
Naruto: She said it’s called the moon flower, It’s red and white, she said that it resembles the sun.
Sasuke: Then why do they call it a moon flower?
Naruto: Because sunflower was taken. Anyway, can you look for it?
Sasuke: Yeah sure, I have to go.

He said turning off his receiver as he came closer to what appeared to be a mansion of a restaurant.
Naoto: Who were you talking to?
Sasuke: My boss, it’s kind of complicated so I’ll tell you some other time. Is this the place?
Naoto: This is our destination.

He said pushing open the door, holding his sword at attention as the people inside swarmed it.
Casem: You must be Naoto Shuma.

He said holding out his blade at Naoto’s neck.
Sasuke: They seem to have known we were coming.
Naoto: Yeah, I’m pretty famous around here.

He said as he quickly unsheathed his sword and in one smooth motion cut cleanly through every section of Casem’s body. The men to the side moved in on Naoto, but Sasuke quick movement cut them off, slamming his palm into one man’s stomach he disheveled him, knocking him into the next two. Sasuke spun on his heels and threw his right leg up, jamming it into the mouth of the man to his left side. Sasuke then flipped to the side, dodging an attack from one of the Casem’s men, grabbing onto the man’s collar he dragged him down head first into the ground and jumped to the side, delivering a double scissor kick to another’s chin, which Naoto followed up by slashing down through his side. Sasuke smiled, this person was good enough to mere with his moves, it was almost as if he could remember Sasuke’s motions. The sound of air whistling alerted Sasuke to the danger long before the blade could reach him, and without even turning back he ducked down, allowing Naoto to block it with his blade, he placed his free hand on the blunt side of his blade and pushed forward, sending the blade forward with enough force to cut through both steel and bone, not only that, the slash seemed to carry throughout the entire room slashing through tables and even the wall. Sasuke was surprised by the attack, it didn’t seem to be chakra, but it wasn’t a natural force that Naoto had used.
Naoto: Get down.

Sasuke ducked low to the ground and narrowly avoided an attack from one of the enemies, but the second he rose back up his foot slammed into the man’s neck. Sasuke grabbed onto the man’s neck and twisted with as much strength as he could, as them man twisted to the ground Naoto slammed his sword into his body and ripped upward, sending forth another wave of energy
Naoto: Demon wave!

Naoto’s sword began to glow and with a single slash in the air behind him, he managed to send a rushing arc through the many men to his side.
Sasuke: Are you sure you even needed my help?
Naoto: I am sure.

He said with a smile as he turned back to the men in front.
Sasuke: I’ll take charge.
Naoto: As you wish.

He said moving to the back. Sasuke stood on the first step leading up the many stairs in the building and waited for the men to come down at him, and like he had expected, they did. With out pause they all rushed at Sasuke, however the hit of the first man was deflected, and Sasuke managed to twist him in front of the next attack with very little effort, with chuckle Naoto watched the man tumble down the stairs as he switched to the front an swung his sword up through the next man’s body. Without ending his motion, he turned back behind Sasuke, who grabbed the swinging arm of the man in front of him and kicked into his face, knocking him from the side guardrail.
Naoto: Leave the rest to me.
Sasuke: You got it.

He said stepping back allowing Naoto to rush forward, slashing from each side, ripping through the bodies of the many men trying to stop him, and as he reached the middle of the stairs he leapt into the air, pulling his sword to the side as the powerful glow once again enveloped it.
Naoto: Crescent blade.

In a skillful slash, Naoto moved his sword at a blinding speed, the air around the blade was severed completely, rushing with the blade own motion, it was able to cut through even the steel on the other side of the room as well as the three men waiting at the top. Sasuke, following in the wake of destruction Naoto had left behind, leapt up above Naoto’s head and blew a fireball in mid-spin, twisting like a dragon he sent it forward burning through all of the opposition, only to have it slashed through by a single man wielding a blade much like the make Naoto was wielding.
Mineno: I see you came, just like he said you would.

He said slowly walking out into the open from what appeared to be the kitchen.
Naoto: So you’re here, I heard he’d hired you, but I didn’t think that it was true. I thought you had more honor than to work for a guy like him.
Mineno: I don’t care about the money or him, but you on the other hand.

He said aiming his sword to Naoto.
Mineno: Are something else entirely.

Naoto lifted his sword and lowered his stance preparing for the fight to begin, but a glimmer in the back went noticed only by Sasuke. Naoto stepped forward and slashed down for Mireno’s leg, but a single step back was all it took for him to avoid it, and send a hastened slash down for him, but it was caught mid-swing by Naoto’s blade and deflected to the side. Naoto lifted his elbow and slammed it into Mineno’s nose, and in his stunned state he slashed for his neck, aiming to decapitate him, but Mineno was able to back barely out of the blade’s range, and kicked into Naoto’s face, knocking him back along the ground.
Mineno: Hunting wolf.

He shouted releasing a wave light around his body as Naoto had been doing and rushing forward in a blinding flash, slashing for Naoto who had barely managed to avoid the attack in time.
Naoto: Rising dragon!

Naoto slashed upward, knocking away Mineno’s blade, and spun around a second time, releasing amazing amounts of light as he placed his hand on the blunt end of his blade and slashed upward again, slashing right through Mineno’s sword altogether.
Mineno: Nice.

He muttered to himself now staring at the shards of his prized blade flying into the air. Naoto lowered himself and thrusted his blade forth with the same light as Mineno had earlier.
Naoto: Hunting wolf!

With a shout of the exact move and exact motion Mineno had used Naoto rushed forward in a blinding flash, but before the attack could land Sasuke moved in and grabbed him, swinging him away from the hidden blade Mineno had in his kimono’s leggings, but that was unintentional, what Sasuke was really trying to avoid was the several poisonous darts flying at Naoto. Mineno effortlessly knocking away all of the darts before they could reach him and stood tall with a smile.
Mineno: As expected of a ninja, you saw those long before the fight even started.
Naoto: Coward.
Mineno: Hey, they weren’t my idea, Takahiro, just really doesn’t want you to find him, but he’s decided to abandon this place, so I don’t see any reason to stay here, and you broke my blade so I really don’t feel like fighting anymore. I’ll see you later, when you decide to go after him for real.

Mineno turned away from the two and walked down the stairs, laughing at the fallen men he had to pass on his way down.
Sasuke: So Takahiro isn’t here? What are we doing here then?

He asked with an angry tone of voice aimed at Naoto, who chose to ignore his call and walked toward the kitchen.
Sasuke: You’re not going to answer me?
Naoto: Come with me.

Sasuke frowned, stuffing his hands in his pockets he walked forward. Naoto disposed of the weapon that had been used to ambush him and continued to the back room. Sasuke’s eyes opened wide at what he saw, staring at Naoto as he slowly tried to open the cages filled with girls, probable from the neighboring villages. All connected to the cages by chains and crying pleading with Naoto to hurry. As Naoto opened the cages and freed the girls they all rushed him, crying as he assured them they would be safe and led them to an exit that avoided returning to where the bodies of the men lie. One girl turned back to Naoto just before escaping and gave him a kiss, which brought a warm smile to his face as he watched her run off.
Naoto: Those girls were going to be sold into prostitution and slavery. This is what we were here for, not so that we could find him, but in order to remove the evil he has already laid. What good is killing someone when you leave their influence to destroy everything they touched?

Sasuke watched on as Naoto began to walk away, leading them down the road.
Naoto: Besides, living like that is a woman’s greatest fear.
Sasuke: I see.

Sasuke said as he followed with his eyes to the sky.
Sasuke: So, where do we hit next?

Naoto smiled back and said.
Naoto: I know just the place.


Kiba stared back, leading his prisoner down to the road, much to her displeasure. Yura at many times stopped walking, but never once tried to escape, this was one of those times.
Kiba: Are you going to keep doing this the whole way?
Yura: I don’t wanna go.
Kiba: Too bad, you’re going to tell us where Orochimaru is.
Yura: Not happening.

She said again, being stubborn simply out of fear.
Kiba: This is why I don’t like cats, they never listen!
Yura: Better than being a stupid lapdog.
Kiba: Just keep talking.

He said leading the girl down the road once again, but this time he seemed to have doubts. The closer they grew to the leaf village, the more he began to question his choice. He would have the time to choose his path soon enough, judging from the taste of moisture in the air. Kiba turned back to Yura and threw her onto his shoulder, much to her surprise. As she vainly struggled above him Kiba walked toward an old hollowed out tree trunk and placed the girl down as she looked away with a huff. Both sat in complete silence for a few minutes before finally gaining the strength to speak.
Kiba: Yura?
Yura: Yeah?
Kiba: Will you talk to me? Please, I don’t want things to end like this.
Yura: Then let me go, I can’t answer the questions you want to ask, either way if I tell you now or later, I’ll be soon as a liability. Either way it goes, I die.

She said turning away from Kiba once again, casting her eyes to the dirt around her.
Yura: Hey Kiba, do you know what Orochimaru-sama is like?
Kiba: I know enough, he’s a monster.
Yura: Exactly, you know that he is a fearsome and powerful man. Yet he treats me well, I am not to be harmed, I may go anywhere I wish, I may do anything I wish, but there is only one rule.
Kiba: That being?
Yura:….

Yura closed her eyes and laid down on the floor.
Yura: What was your life like Kiba?
Kiba: Wha?
Yura: Did you have to fight for food; did you have to steal everything you ate? Did you have to watch your back so that no one killed you while you slept, or be kicked into the forest despite having a place to live in the village?

Kiba looked down to Yura with pity, Akamaru standing next to Yura licking away her tears.
Yura: Hey Kiba, did you know that on the day before Orochimaru arrived, the villagers invited me in, only the boys though, and I thought it was weird, but I was so happy that they were kind to me. Then they drugged me…..And tried to rape me.

Kiba looked to the ground in rage clenching his fist so tightly his knuckles turned white.
Yura: I resisted, having demon qualities made it harder for me to be knocked out by a simple drug, but I remembered how disgusted I felt, I was too demonic to keep around them, but human enough for them to enjoy. I ran and screamed for help, but those who saw either encouraged it or ignored it, so I punched one of the boys in the face. In my weakened state I’m sure the punch didn’t hurt, but it was what they were waiting for, the monster to “go wild”. So they all swarmed from their houses, and they attacked me, until I felt my heart stop. Four hours later, I just woke up, completely healed, but dazed and slowly I walked away from the village as they watched, just as surprised as I was that I had gotten up. The last thing I remember about that day was crying in the streets as they stared at me with eyes of pure evil.

She said with tears flowing ceaselessly down her face.
Yura: The next day, I had decided to kill them myself, I was so tired of it, I just wanted them dead. So I went to do it, but I was so scared that I collapsed, and Orochimaru-sama appeared, they killed everyone but the village leader, I killed him. So I ask you Kiba, what is a monster? Are all monster so easy to point out as Orochimaru-sama? Anyone you’ve ever known could be a monster if given the right incentive. That’s why I hate humans so much, I loathe them so intensely that can barely see straight around them, I just wish they would all-

Kiba grabbed onto Yura’s hand tightly and gazed outside into the falling rain.
Kiba: What was your mother’s name?
Yura: Why are you asking me-
Kiba: Your mother’s name, what was it?

He asked again, Yura turned to Kiba and finally looked into his eyes, he had been crying with her, instead of allowing her to dwell on the pain he asked her something else. Yura turned away and let the tears fall.
Yura: I hate you too.
Kiba: Yeah.
Yura: I hate all humans, especially ones like you who pretend to care.
Kiba: Yeah.
Yura: You’re no different from those boys back then.
Kiba: Yeah.

Kiba reached down, rubbing Yura’s head as she shivered beneath him.
Kiba: Go ahead, I’ll take it all okay. Just yell at me all you want.

Yura buried her face in the ground and muttered.
Yura: Her name was Momo Inugami.
Kiba: I see.
Yura: …..Can you listen to me until the rain stops?
Kiba: Sure, why not.

He said through half lidded eyes, holding tightly onto the hand of the girl as the rain battered the tree they rested in.


Naoto: Are you sure we should be doing this? I mean we could always get the flower later.

He shouted put I Sasuke who was currently climbing up the side of a cliff, trying to get the flower Naruto had specified earlier in the day. Sasuke wasn’t completely sure that it was the flower in was talking about, but it was the only one he had seen fitting the description, though they didn’t have much time to look what with the four establishments they had busted up before the day was even over. The rain falling down on them made traversing the mountain tougher than it needed to be, but Sasuke was impressed with Naoto’s advancement. It was obvious that he couldn’t use chakra, but somehow he was climbing up the cliff with ease.
Sasuke: Just a little more and we can go. I’ve already gotten two, one more can’t hurt.
Naoto: But this rain is freezing cold.

He said barely above a whisper, but loud enough for Sasuke to hear.
Sasuke: Well, I’ll be done soon.

Sasuke retorted, turning over to Naoto for the first time since reaching that high on the mountain, it was only then that he got a good look at him, the rain had fallen over Naoto’s body, making his clothes stick to him like wet things tended to do, that wasn’t the problem. Naoto had a beautiful figure, and for a while Sasuke found himself once again questioning if he was…..funny.
Naoto: Are you okay?
Sasuke: Huh? Uhh, yeah.

Sasuke finally reached the top of the cliff and grabbed onto the flower. After plucking it and placing into the small puddle in the cave on top of the cliff he turned back and helped Naoto up.
Naoto: Did you always know this was up here?
Sasuke: No, but I did notice it on the way up, so I figured it was a win-win.

He said as he gathered a few of the sticks around the cave and made a fire.
Sasuke: This should do.

He said removing his shirt causing Naoto to blush behind him.
Naoto: W-W-W-Why are you undressing?
Sasuke: So that I don’t catch a cold, you should too.
Naoto: N-N-N-No, I’m good, I don’t catch colds.
Sasuke: Look dude, you don’t have anything I wanna see so, don’t worry about it okay.

He said walking over to Naoto and tugging on his shirt
Sasuke: Now com’n.
Naoto: No, wait don’t!
Sasuke: Stop being stubborn. I won’t be able to figure out where Takahiro is if you get sick.

After managing to lift enough of Naoto’s shirt Sasuke noticed the medical wrap on Naoto’s chest, and being wet like everything else on him, the medical wrap began to slip away. Falling off, giving Sasuke his first look at live breasts. Naoto, being frozen by the moment, didn’t know how to react after being exposed and Sasuke, being a guy, was frozen because he was only mere feet from a girl’s chest. This moment of shock had only last several seconds, but to them it was an eternity. Sasuke stared in wonder, how exactly did she manage to hide those things? Sure she had used medical wrap, but her chests were D cups, maybe it grew like that because she tied them down. But now at least Sasuke knew that he wasn’t….funny, it was just his natural male instincts telling him that he was traveling with a woman. With that revelation Sasuke leaned back with a sigh saying.
Sasuke: Oh thank god!

Those words managed to drag Naoto from her shock, and with a solid punch to the face she shouted out at Sasuke.
Naoto: What kind of pervert are you!?
Sasuke: Wait I didn’t mean it that way.
Naoto: What was that, how else could you mean it?
Sasuke: I don’t know how to explain it, but it was relieving to know that you’re a girl.

Naoto stared at Sasuke and sighed, pulling back down her shirt and turning away from him.
Sasuke: I understand now, so I won’t look, I promise.

Naoto peeked back at Sasuke and began undressing slowly, feeling warmer with every strip of clothing she removed, despite the cold rain still on her body. Sasuke quickly pulled a towel from his bag and tossed it back to her, allowing her to cover her body with something else.
Naoto: T-Thank you.

She said nervously as she wrapped the towel around her body and turned back to Sasuke.
Naoto: You can look now.
Sasuke: Okay.

Sasuke turned back and suddenly noticed why she had chosen to wear such baggy clothes, simply so that they wouldn’t conform to the amazingly feminine figure she had and despite the way she had acted earlier, she didn’t seem to mind much anymore that Sasuke was staring right at her body.
Naoto: Is something wrong Sasuke?
Sasuke: No, I’m just coming to grips with things.
Naoto: I see.

She said turning away from abashed boy on the other side of the cave.
Naoto: So why are you looking for Takahiro?
Sasuke: Nothing special, I just have to kill him, that’s all.
Naoto: Hmm, so he’s not the one.
Sasuke: Huh?
Naoto: Don’t worry about it.
Sasuke: Is Naoto your real name?
Naoto: No, it’s Mimiru Shingawa.

Sasuke turned away and started laughing, holding his mouth in a failed attempt to stifle his chuckles.
Mimiru: Is something funny about Mimiru’s name?
Sasuke: No, it’s just, it’s surprisingly girly.
Mimiru: Mimiru is a girl.

She said with a frown.
Sasuke: You call yourself by your first name?
Mimiru: Sorry, it’s a bad habit that I never broke.
Sasuke: Is that why you called yourself, “this one”?
Mimiru: Yes, it was in order to break that habit, but unfortunately it’s a hard one to break. I can remember not to do it, but it still comes out.
Sasuke: Hey, since you asked me, why are you looking for Takahiro?

He asked as he scooted closer to the girl, trying to gauge whether or not she truly minded. The look in her eyes let him know that she had no problem with him coming closer; she seemed to have loosened up a lot since he discovered that she was a girl.
Mimiru: It’s a long story.
Sasuke: Well I’m not sleepy yet so why not.
Mimiru: Well, before Mimiru was born, my father and Takahiro were close friends. They grew up together and were even trained together, but there is always one way to split up two of the closest men.
Sasuke: A woman.
Mimiru: Correct, my mother was this woman, and though both men feel in love with her, she chose my father. Takahiro accepted this and became happy for father, but my mother was always sickly, and when I was born, I was given life at the expense of hers. Takahiro blamed my father, he always brought it up, and even as I was growing up, there were things I never liked about him. Uncle Takahiro always brought a different auntie, or he always smelled like sake, or he was always angry. But he was always nice to me, that is until six years ago.


Six years ago.

Takahiro: Com’n Sagashi, you haven’t gotten rusty over all the years of being a father have you?
Sagashi: Not more rusty than a drunk like you.

He said in a playful manner, making Takahiro laugh in a gruff voice as he grabbed the wooden sword placed on the wall. Mimiru sat behind them studying every motion they took as they moved around the dojo, with the sound of colliding wood filled the room. Sagashi quickly gained the advantage over Takahiro and held his sword to his neck.
Sagashi: This is my match Taka.
Takahiro: Yeah, you got me.

He said up with a smile, suddenly releasing an amazing amount of killing intent as he ripped free a hidden short sword from his kimono leg and sliced off Sagashi’s arm in one fluid slash, and then showing his blatant skill with a blade he lifted himself up, slicing through Sagashi’s neck with grace befitting a samurai. Sagashi dropped to one knee, holding rightly onto the wound on his neck as his heart broke into hundreds of pieces.
Sagashi: Why?

He choked out in a barely audible gurgle as he dropped to the floor in a pool of his own blood.
Takahiro: I guess, I just got tired of all the bullshit. Every time I look at your smug face, I feel empty inside, I couldn’t take it anymore, rest easy old friend.

He said straightening the neck of his kimono as he turned to the frightened little girl staring at her father’s body.
Takahiro: Shit, I forgot you were here. Did uncle scare you Mimiru-chan? I promise I didn’t mean to.

He said as he walked toward the cowering girl as she tried her hardest to get away from him. Finally gaining the strength to run, she reached for the sword next to her father and turned to Takahiro, but not before he could grab her hand and held her to where she couldn’t fight.
Takahiro: Don’t be that way, uncle just wants to play with you little.

Takahiro pinned Mimiru against the wall and crushed her hand, forcing her to drop the sword she was holding with a yelp.
Mimiru: Please don’t.
Takahiro: Don’t worry, I just want to look at you a little.

He said rubbing on the girl’s cheek. Before she would’ve smiled at such a show of affection from her uncle, but now it terrified her, she had no idea what to expect from him anymore, and the amount of killing intent he was releasing was so overwhelming that even the untrained girl could feel the pressure.
Takahiro: I always thought you were so beautiful Mimiru-chan, you look so much like your mother.
Mimiru: Uncle, please.

She begged, but after seeing him reach for the sword on the ground next to her she knew that begging would do no good.
Takahiro: But you have his eyes.

He said with a growl as he mercilessly pushed the long sword into her stomach, slowly he pushed further and further as the girl screamed and cried in pain. At many times, she could see a small slimmer of humanity in his eyes as he did it, hoping that he would stop, but even with tears flowing down his face, he continued to push harder.
Takahiro: You know, there was a time, when hearing you cry like that would’ve filled me with enough anger to kill an army, but I just don’t care anymore. No matter how many woman I sleep with, no matter how many people I kill, no matter how much money I get or how much I drink. I can’t fill the hole that she left in me.

He said as he finally finished pushing the sword all the way to the hilt into the girl, his training allowed him to avoid hitting any of her vital organs. Takahiro turned away from the girl as she cried out in unbelievable pain, but instead of finishing what he had started he walked away and left the house and the girl as they were. After two days had passed people finally noticed the smell of death coming from the house, and upon investigation they found the girl, who had managed to pulled the sword from her stomach and crawl all the way to the door before finally giving in to the pain and passing out. Most had thought her dead, but the faint heartbeat led them to believe otherwise, through sheer force of will she survive those two days on the verge of death, only for one thing, vengeance.


Mimiru: When I awoke, I was in the care of an elderly couple. They had been looking after me during my experience, but I only saw ahead of me, looking for the right moment to go after Takahiro, it had never presented itself until now.
Sasuke: Then how did you learn to use the sword?
Mimiru: I have photographic memory: I was able to remember everything about how my father fought and apply it in combat. I picked up how to use chi on my own.
Sasuke: Chi?
Mimiru: It is the life force of all things, you don’t know this?
Sasuke: You mean chakra?
Mimiru: No…..Nevermind.

She said with a smile, turning to Sasuke once again.
Mimiru: Look.

Sasuke turned back, only then noticing the large and disfiguring scar on the girl’s back. He had noticed the scar on her front too, but it was way less attentive to his interests than the other things he was looking at.
Mimiru: He pinned me to a wall, he left me for dead. This scar is probably much worse because I had pulled out the sword on my own, but I didn’t know what else to do. But Mimiru decided that she would not rest until she got revenge on him. When she is done with him, he will beg her for death.
Sasuke: So you want revenge on him? Then why are you working with someone who wants to kill him before you?
Mimiru: Because you have the same eyes. The eyes of someone who has been hurt by someone they once trusted, someone who wants to exact vengeance on the person who hurt them.

Sasuke’s eyes went wide, looking at the girl as she once again covered herself.
Mimiru: I hid that I was a woman in order to fool him and to save myself from the fate those girls today would have suffered.
Sasuke: I see, so you’re afraid of that.
Mimiru: I want to have an honorable death should I fail to defeat him, but he would not allow me so, for I am a woman.
Sasuke: You know it would be a lot more believable if you cut your hair.
Mimiru: My father said that a samurai only cuts his hair when he has shamed himself.
Sasuke: I’ve never heard of that one.
Mimiru: Is it untrue?
Sasuke: I don’t know, don’t worry about it. So we go after him tomorrow, what do you plan to do after that?
Mimiru: Nothing.

She said in a low tone of voice.
Sasuke: What do you mean?
Mimiru: Once Mimiru has achieved her goal, she will commit Seppuku. I have no other need for this world.

Sasuke slowly turned up to the girl in shock as she continued to speak, interrupting her Sasuke spoke out.
Sasuke: You’re going to kill yourself?
Mimiru: Yes.
Sasuke: Why?
Mimiru: Because life for me is empty, I have nothing for me in this world. I don’t have any desires and nothing interests me, once I finish my business I will leave this world.

Sasuke frowned, grabbing onto the girl’s shoulder and pushing her down to the ground, knocking away the towel as he positioned himself over her.
Sasuke: That’d be a shame.

He said with a smile, waiting for the girl under him to give a reaction that never came.
Mimiru: Go ahead.

She said, not even trying to push away. She stared into Sasuke’s eyes with no emotion simply staring, waiting for him to finish what he started.
Sasuke: You’re not going to resist?
Mimiru: Tomorrow is my last day in this world. I wouldn’t mind knowing a man’s touch.

Sasuke’s face shrunk and in a split second he was on the other side of the cave stoking the fire.
Mimiru: ……You wanted me to struggle, are you a sadist or something?
Sasuke: I was only half serious anyway.
Mimiru: That’s still half serious.
Sasuke: Were you serious, you barely know me.
Mimiru: Well, you’ve seen me anyway, there’s no reason for me to be shy, besides I kind of trust you. Inside your eyes there is sadness, just like mine.
Sasuke: The person who betrayed me was my brother.

He said suddenly starting a story Mimiru wasn’t prepared for.
Sasuke: I wanted to be just like him, he was everything I wasn’t. And out of nowhere he just…..killed everyone. In order to become strong enough to kill him, I betrayed my little sister, all of my friends and my entire village. But when I left they came after me, my best friend brought me back. He helped me, took me in, looked out for me, even when I thought everyone there was a hindrance, he was there for me. Now I’m just sad, because I know that no matter what I do, I can never make it up for what I did. Sometimes I wonder if I even deserve to be alive after what I did, but even still they all smile at me, holding out their hands to me.
Mimiru: Because they care about you. It probably hurts your friend to know that you have such a self-destructive stance on it. If you truly want to pay him back, then live, and be happy.

She said with a smile aimed at Sasuke which made him laugh.
Sasuke: This coming from the person who wants to kill herself.
Mimiru: No one will miss me.
Sasuke: I would.

Mimiru blushed and back away slightly aiming her face to the ground and away from Sasuke.
Mimiru: You don’t know me.
Sasuke: Maybe, but something about what you said, really hurt me.

Mimiru finally looked back to Sasuke as he spoke to her.
Sasuke: What if I said, I wanted you to stay with me?

Mimiru blushed deep red and opened her mouth to question his words, but before she could Sasuke laid down whispering the words.
Sasuke: Good night.


Mimiru locked her eyes onto the boy’s back and sighed lying down on the other side of the cave. She wanted to inquire further into what he had said, but she no longer wanted to have attachments to this world, that would make leaving it harder than it needed to be, so instead she closed her eyes and went to sleep.
Sasuke: Hey Naruto.
Naruto: I was sleeping man.
Sasuke: I figured, but I need to talk to you.
Naruto: Yeah?
Sasuke: First I think I found the flowers, but that’s not the problem.
Naruto: Okay then get to it.
Sasuke: I was wondering, what is it like to be in love?

Sasuke’s words brought pause to Naruto as he could hear him suddenly walking around and then came the sound of a door opening. Sasuke stared at the wall blankly for a while as Naruto seemed to be walking further than just outside and then what sounded like rocks falling, as if Naruto was climbing up something. After the six minutes of silence that it took Naruto to reach hokage mountain Naruto finally screamed.
Naruto: WHAT!!!!!!!!

Sasuke’s ear stung from the sheer volume in which Naruto had shouted and he was hearing him through an earpiece.
Sasuke: Well that seemed unnecessary.
Naruto: No it was very necessary, so the guy you were traveling with-
Sasuke: No, it turned out he was a girl.
Naruto: ……Did you check, y’know there are surgeries for things like that.
Sasuke: No, she’s a girl, I kind of knew from the beginning in some way or the other.
Naruto: So what’s the problem, she doesn’t like you or something because from what I’ve seen you don’t have problems getting girls.
Sasuke: First off, girls throw themselves at me; I have no idea how to get one on my own. Second, that’s not it, there’s something that she feels she needs to do, and then nothing else.
Naruto: I see.
Sasuke: How did you understand that?
Naruto: I’m pretty good at reading between the lines. Why do you think you love her?
Sasuke: She’s different, first off it’s refreshing to know that she understands me, but more than that. She was able to understand me better than any of the girls in the village. She read me, and she never judged me for it. Instead, I think that she joined me on the journey, because she knew how lonely I was, and she wanted to be with me.

Sasuke said with a sad smile, never taking notice that Mimiru had woken up during his talk and silently listened to his words.
Sasuke: I guess it’s like with you, she’s lost and alone, so I want to save her, but I found one thing that bothered me during this entire thing. Is it possible to fall in love with a smile?
Naruto: Man you’ve changed, of course it is, and if that’s what you want to do, go for it. Just jump up and say, “Baby, you’re my forever girl.”
Sasuke: I’m not so sure about that, but I’ll take you up on that. Talk to you later.
Naruto: See ya, my himes are probably freaking out right now.

Naruto dropped the communication and Sasuke smiled turning back to Mimiru who still lied motionless. Sasuke laid down with a smile and Mimiru let loose the tears in her eyes, she didn’t want to get close to him, but for the five days they had been together were some of the most comforting times she had had in a long time. She had liked Sasuke, but she life was painful for her, dreadful memories that would never fade into darkness. With her heart now made stone, she closed her eyes, knowing what she had to do. As morning rolled through Sasuke stirred on the cold damp floor of the cave. Lifting himself to a sit he instantly noticed the lack of company that had been there the night before. Sasuke stared at the spot Mimiru had been in before and sighed, she was going to make this hard for him, but at least now he knew where he needed to go. Sasuke quickly hopped to his feet and dressed himself then ran out into the open following the scent the girl had left behind.
Mimiru: This must be the place.

She said staring up at the large building, once again under the guise of a man, this time however she covered her face walking to the gates with her sword at the ready, and much like she expected, the guards began to spill out, all brandishing swords of a particular make.
Mimiru: That bastard made replicas of the Kageinuichi?

She though to herself in disgust as she pulled her sword, now wielding a sheathed sword at her right side she walked forward.
Mimiru: I am Naoto Shuma, and I have come for Takahiro, call the coward out that we may cross blades.

She shouted in a masculine voice. The reply to her call however was nothing more than a swift charge for her, but it was a response she had expected. With eyes now closed she waited for the men to close in, the first rushing with the wind. Reading the gust coming at her she lifted her sword, blocking the attack with the grip of her blade and slashing down through the man’s chest while simultaneously deflecting the blade to a safe distance away from her body. The next man approached her from behind, but her instincts warned her to the attack allowing her to safely and smooth dodge away to the side while stabbing her sword back into his stomach. Mimiru lowered her stance and pulled the sword to the side, ripping through the man’s body, spinning to the side quick enough to completely split the next man in half.
Mimiru: Reverse lotus.

Raising up from the ground using the momentum of her spin she released another wave of chi, sending forth blades of air that tore asunder all who approached her. Without pause she ran for the door leading into the mansion before her and rolled to a low guarding stance, waiting for any surprised that may have come at her upon entering, but nothing ever did. Sliding her sword into it’s sheath she walked forward, slowly approaching the mansion’s main room  Each corridor, despite the greeting she had met on her way in was desolate, completely silent, but she could feel that in beyond the door she now stood before, there was life. Mimiru placed her hand on the door and slowly pushed it open, releasing a strong glow of light in the otherwise darkened house.
????: My, I didn’t think it’d take this long for you to come after me Naoto.

Said a large middle aged man, no doubt the person she had been looking for.
Takahiro: Do you care for some sake?
Mimiru: No, I have come for you, I care little for the false pleasantries you offer.
Takahiro: I see. I was wondering at first if I could hire you onto my payroll, but that’s something I don’t see happening after finally meeting you. I believe that we have a bit of business with one another to take care of.
Mimiru: That’s right, I’m going to end your destruction once right here.
Takahiro: Yeah about that.

Takahiro sat down in the chair parallel to Mimiru and picked up a glass, with a snap of his fingers Mimiru was finally able to understand why the inside of the mansion was so empty.
Mineno: I can’t believe that you came here alone. What happened to the other boy that was with you?
Mimiru: He has nothing to do with this.

She said holding onto the grip of her sword with her left hand, ready to draw it at a moment’s notice.
Mineno: You do realize that you are outnumbered right?
Mimiru: I’ve noticed, but that has never stopped me before.
Takahiro: Such fire aimed at me, it makes me proud. Well Mineno, why don’t we see what he can do first hand.

Takahiro snapped his fingers and the samurai around the girl began to charge, but with only sliding her right foot back and lowering her stance all charging froze.
Takahiro: Impressive.

He said with a clap as his men fell to pieces making all others back away from the masked samurai with caution.
Takahiro: It’s been a long time since I took up the blade, so don’t expect too much okay?

He said as he walked away from his chair and drew the blade at his side. Mimiru took this as her golden chance and focused all of her chi into the blade in her hand. Trying to use the same technique she had just used she slashed for Takahiro’s neck, but in a single motion he brought up his blade and blocked it, sending the girl’s chi fluttering to the side in a blur. Takahiro stepped forward in a single stroke and slammed the hilt of his sword into Mimiru’s stomach, knocking the wind from her. Casting aside the pain she felt, she grabbed onto the hilt of her blade with her free hand and dragged it into the air, barely missing her intended target. With a cackle Takahiro turned his body and twisted with a vicious backhand slash that completely threw the girl off balance. Mimiru smiled despite herself and used the power behind Takahiro’s attack against him. Rounding her blade she dragged it up through the ground and directly in front of Takahiro’s face, sending forward a wave of chi that was impossible to block at such close range.
Mimiru: Roaring dragon!

She shouted with force as she sent Takahiro flying back into the back wall, and with the face of a fox he stared at her across the room. Standing to his feet he snapped his fingers ordering his samurai to move in once again. Mimiru turned back and met their blades with hers, but the moment she did a blade slashed across her sword arm, if it hadn’t been for her quick reflexes she would have last the whole thing.
Mimiru: Coward!

She shouted out in rage as she backed away from the samurai in front of her, only to be slashed at from behind Mineno. Mimiru barely avoided taking a fatal blow, yet before she could recover from the attack Takahiro was at her throat with the blade in hand.
Takahiro: You lose.
Mimiru: Where is your honor?
Takahiro: Sorry, I guess it got lost in the shuffle with everything else I left in my old life.

Takahiro smiled and pushed the blade closer to her neck. Mimiru closed her eyes and thought back, it was foolish to go there without Sasuke, but he made her feel safe.
Mimiru: Maybe I should’ve at least said goodbye to him. I was just scared, that if I fell for him, I’d want to live, but living with these memories is painful. I’m sorry Sasuke; at least, I’ll have an honorable death.

She thought to herself as Takahiro’s blade moved closer, but instead of beheading her, his sword slashed down through her clothes, causing her to quickly open her eyes and stared in shock.
Takahiro: But it seems that ghost of the past have come to visit me.
Mimiru: Wha-
Takahiro: Hello Mimiru-chan.

He said with a smile on his face Mineno stared in wonder quickly bringing the girl’s attention to her exposed body which she instinctually chose to cover.
Mimiru: You knew?

She asked, suddenly afraid of her fate.
Takahiro: Of course I did. You’re fifteen now right? I was truly surprised that you were alive, but I would never forget those eyes.

He said walking closer to rub the girl’s face. Mimiru’s cool visage melted away at his touch, he had done it before, right before he tried to kill her. Trembling under his touch she tried to back away.
Takahiro: Don’t crawl away from me Mimiru-chan, I’m really sorry about what I did back then, so I’ll make it all better okay. You’ve grown very beautiful Mimiru-chan, I’m actually amazed.
Mineno: Man, I can’t believe that the person I was so geeked to fight was a girl, and she’s a knock-out. Mind if I take a go?
Takahiro: Sure, but it’s coming out of your pay. Find her a room, and try not to leave marks, and cut the veins in her arms so that she can’t hold a blade. We don’t need her escaping now do we?

Two of the samurai at her side pulled up her arms and readied their blades. With tears in her eyes she began to run through her memories, memories that had plagued her and otherwise been useless, but she needed to think up a way out, but nothing came, instead was the face of a boy that had been with her until just that morning.
Mimiru: Sasuke, Sasuke, Sasuke, Sasuke, Sasuke, Sasuke………Help me.
????: Fire style: Fireball jutsu!!!!!!

All holding onto the girl’s arm and those around could do little more than scream as the fireballs engulfed and slowly incinerated them into cinders. From the flames of his own design Sasuke emerged, walking through the blaze with rage filled eyes.
Sasuke: Who the hell do you think you are?

He said stepping closer to Mimiru and handing her his shirt. Mimiru grabbed onto the shirt with one hand and carefully placed it over herself, making sure not to reveal to much of her body to the men in front of her
Mimiru: Sasuke.
Sasuke: You left me in a dank cave, what were you thinking?
Mimiru: Sorry.
Sasuke: Don’t worry about it, I make sure to yell at you about it later. For now I have a mission to complete.
Mineno: So you finally decided to show? You know you’re going to die here right?
Sasuke: If that’s what you think, I’m not going to argue with you. Just don’t be counting on it being easy.
Mineno: Is that so, then I’ll make sure not to underestimate you too much.

He said with a smile, pulling his sword from his side with a smile. Sasuke grabbed onto the air behind him and activated his Sharingan materializing a single katana from thin air.
Mineno: You intend to take on a samurai in a sword battle ninja?
Sasuke: Don’t worry, you might just win. I’m giving you the advantage for now, just come with me, and leave the rest of the unpleasant business here to them.

Sasuke charged forward and swung his sword upward in the underhand position, knocking Mineno back through the thin wall behind him, but before the samurai could recover from the blow three fireballs flew at him from the room ahead. Smiling at the quick assault, Mineno slashed through the fireballs before even reaching the ground and touched down with a sliding roll, never removing his sight from the direction the fireballs had come from, and to reward his faith Sasuke leapt from it with his sword drawn back, but before he could make a move Mineno swung his sword through his body, making the shadow image fade at his touch.
Mineno: What the?

Gazing down, he noticed Sasuke positioned under him with two fingers placed to his lips. The erupting flame from Sasuke’s mouth sent the man flying back into the wall far behind him with a massive thud. Mineno fell to his feet and lifted his blade, slashing at Sasuke with a wave of chi that he barely managed to block, however it did manage to knock him off balance, an opening that Mineno filled by stabbing his sword into Sasuke’s stomach Sasuke stared down at the blade with shock, leaving Mineno to believe that he had finished the fight once and for all, but the smile that soon appeared on the boy’s face led him to believe otherwise. Sasuke’s blood began to flow around him and with a smile he snapped his fingers, igniting the blood into flames that quickly covered the area around them.
Mineno: What the hell is this?
Sasuke: Burn in the flames of hell.
Mineno: You’ll die too!
Sasuke: Is that so?

He said reaching out his hand, pulling all of the flames to his arms. Sasuke pulled back and slammed both of his hands on Mineno’s head, causing an explosion that completely incinerated the man in front of him.
Sasuke: Karyu-bakudan.

Sasuke turned away from the charred corpse of the man he had been fighting just minutes before and walked away from the flames, blowing the smoke away from his fist.
Sasuke: Now to get back.


Mimiru rolled along the ground, smoothly dodging away from the blade her uncle had sent at her. She was relatively unhurt, but the swings were getting closer and closer to taking her out. With a single hop she avoided the next barrage of wind slashes aimed for her, but she was quickly being pushed into a corner. Reaching to her right side she pulled the cover adjourning her second blade and revealed it’s beautiful black sheath and hilt to Takahiro, which brought him to a pause.
Takahiro: The Kageinuichi. I never would’ve thought that you had it, but it does explain where his sword went. He never kept it in his house, guess he was paranoid about things like that. Mimiru, hand me that sword.
Mimiru: No, This is the sword that will destroy your life.
Takahiro: Is that so? Alright, then I’ll pry it from your hands. Try not to resist too much, I don’t want to kill you, people like you have other uses.

Mimiru drew her sword, the beautiful polished black steel gleamed in the sunlight. As she waved it, black chi spilled from the sharpened blade, erupting on impact with the ground, sending Takahiro flying. With a laugh, he threw his blade down at the girl only to have it deflected to the side by her skillful parry. Now unarmed, Takahiro landed to the ground with a smile and turned away from her, running down into the hallways of the mansion, leading Mimiru to give chase, but once she caught up she learned why he had lead her, in the far room, was an armory littered with different swords on the ground. With a chuckled Takahiro grabbed one and threw it at the girl which she once again parried, but this time, Takahiro grabbed another and slashed for the girl’s legs, yet thank to her quick action she managed to avoid it by leaping above Takahiro’s head and swinging her sword down for him. Takahiro rolled back, swinging his sword up through Mimiru’s shoulder, knocking the girl back into a slide along the ground.
Takahiro: Sorry Mimiru, but you’re not going to be walking away from this one.

The girl lifted her hand and stood back into position, holding her sword drawn back. Mimiru swung her sword to the side, trying to behead Takahiro in a single slash, but thanks to his reflexes he was able to dodge, but not avoid the following slash that Mimiru sent upward, slashing across the man’s chest. Mimiru smiled and threw herself to the side, slamming her knee into Takahiro’s chest, sending him sliding back across the ground. Recovering with a roll Takahiro grabbed for two of the swords and launched them both at the girl at the same time, but instead of deflecting them this time Mimiru evaded them, giving Takahiro the opportunity he needed. Focusing all of the chi in his body he rushed past the girl in a blur. Reaching out, he grabbed onto the swords and swung back, slashing along the girl’s chest, and then picking up a third, slashing down her body. Mimiru fell to the ground and coughed blood, backing away from the man above her.
Takahiro: What’s wrong Mimiru-chan? You’re not scared are you?

He said walking up the girl as she looked behind him, Sasuke was standing there with a smile, waiting for her to win. With that in mind she twisted her body and kicked one of the blades from the ground, knocking it above her she reached up to it and slashed down through Takahiro’s arm, forcing him to drop his blade. Mimiru sheathed her black blade and grabbed onto the hilts of various swords in the room, throwing them into the air above her. With each walking step she grabbed one of the swords and slashed across Takahiro’s body, never once stopping to pause, each one imbued with her chi, slowly pushing the man back she pulled free the sword from her right side and lifted it into the air.
Mimiru: Fury of the fallen king!

She shouted out, slamming the sword down across Takahiro’s chest, engulfing him in a massive flash of white light, he was hurled into the back wall, where with the same blade Mimiru charged across the ground, slamming the blade into Takahiro stomach as he had done her so many years before. As he screamed out in pain she pushed further, slowly inching the blade into his stomach. In his pain Takahiro finally noticed the blade being pushed into him was the one he had used on the girl, the irony made him laugh despite himself. Mimiru smiled as she released the blade lifting another from the ground next to her foot. She raised Takahiro’s left hand and stabbed the sword into his fore arm, then repeated with the right arm ignoring the man’s pained screams she continued, stepping away slightly to grab another sword. Mimiru glanced into Takahiro’s eyes and lowered herself to his legs, slashing through his Achilles tendon. As he screamed in pain she rose and placed the sword to his neck.
Takahiro: Finally going to finish it huh? You’ve probably been dreaming of me for a long time right Mimiru? Hahaha, I have that affect on women. This isn’t going to help you know, I’m still going to haunt you even after I’m gone. So go ahead and kill me.

Mimiru chuckled at Takahiro and reached down to something far below the wound she had given him, to something of great importance to any man. With a smile at the sudden fear in Takahiro’s eyes she pulled her sword back and Sasuke turned away unwilling to see what happened next. A sense numbing scream crossed his ears, letting him know that what he had thought was going to happen had just happened. Sasuke finally turned back, watching Takahiro writhe in pain screaming and crying as he stared into the emotionless eyes of the girl before him. With a chuckle he whispered to her.
Takahiro: Finish it you little bitch, this is what you wanted right, kill me and be done with it.
Mimiru: Who ever said I wanted to kill you?

She asked slowly backing away from the man leaving both he and Sasuke confused.
Takahiro: What?
Mimiru: I destroyed everything you ever touched; I killed all those who followed you. Your empire has crumbled to the ground and all you’ve ever gained over the years is gone. And thanks after I removed your “appendage” you will never again be able to enjoy the company of a woman, and with the muscles I cut in your arms you’ll never again be able to wield a blade. No one will ever again fear you, you will be nothing. Mimiru is satisfied.

She said with a smile, she had cursed him, even if he lived he would never have a happy life after everything that she had done.
Takahiro: What are you saying? Kill me! Kill me you sick cunt!
Mimiru: No, killing you now, would be a mercy. If you want to die, kill yourself.

With tears in his eyes Takahiro screamed at the girl, ordering to her retreating back to finish what she had started, but his cries were ignored. Sasuke stared at the man, lost in misery and remembered Mimiru’s words, “I will make him beg for death.”
Sasuke: I wonder if I should do that to Itachi.

He said to himself, picturing it in his head.
Sasuke: Not even I’m that cruel.

He whispered silently as he followed behind the girl, he didn’t need to complete a mission that was already taken care of.


Sasuke awoke alone once again, except this time there was no scent to follow. Now in a panic he frantically questioned around town as to the whereabouts of the girl he was with, but he was unable to figure out where she had gone. Knowing what she planned to do he bashed the wall to his side, cursing himself for being so careless, yet in a temple not far from the village he was in, in the dim light of the candles and the gleam of the blade in front of her, Mimiru lifted her blade prepared to finish her mission, but each time her blade grew close to her, her mind settled on one irreplaceable memory.
Sasuke: What if I said I wanted you to stay with me?

Mimiru dropped her blade in tears, crying loudly, the easy way out was no longer an option. Stoning her heart she lifted the blade again and reared back, giving a clean slice.


Sasuke stared at the flowers in his hand, they had been kept alive so far, but it was only a matter of time before they perished in the small vase he had. Trying to focus only on the flowers he was able to keep Mimiru from his mind, at least for the moment, but the sweet smell she emitted caught his senses and ahead of him he was able to see her, standing at the gates with noticeably shorter hair than before. Sasuke smiled walking closer to her as she finally noticed his presence she looked at him and then gazed down.
Mimiru: I wasn’t able to do it.

She said silently, turning away from Sasuke.
Mimiru: Mimiru really didn’t have any plans after this. And it’s all your fault.

She said linking her eyes to Sasuke’s.
Mimiru: You’ll take responsibility right? From now on, my life belongs to you; my blade will defend your life even at the expense of my own.

Sasuke smiled with his heart for the first time in years, staring into Mimiru’s eyes.
Sasuke: Do what you want, but no sacrificing yourself, got it.

Sasuke continued his walk out of the village to head home, except this time, he wasn’t going alone.


Kiba awoke holding onto Yura as she slept soundly under him, breathing quietly under his grip she leaned closer into his embrace. Kiba never said it, but he wished the moment could’ve gone on forever. However at the moment they were walking toward the leaf village with their hands hung low, even Akamaru could feel the heavy air around them.
Kiba: Yura.
Yura: Yeah?
Kiba: Why don’t you stay in the village with me?
Yura: I can’t.
Kiba: Why not, you know what will hap-
Yura: Will you hold my hand when they do it?
Kiba: What?
Yura: I don’t want to die alone; can you do that for me?
Kiba: Yura, if you just tell us.
Yura: I can’t, don’t you understand, if I do he’ll kill me!
Kiba: We’ll protect you!
Yura: I’m supposed to believe that a village that couldn’t even protect it’s own kage is supposed to protect me?

Kiba winced under her words and Yura stopped looking down to the ground.
Yura: I’m sorry.
Kiba: ….
Yura: Kiba I didn’t-
Kiba: Why can’t you trust me?
Yura: Kiba, it’s not that I don’t, but I can’t go there. I can’t stay. I’m sorry.

Kiba stared ahead, finally seeing the leaf gates in sight, and at that very sight he froze. Yura stared at him for a minute as he seemed to contemplate something and with a turn he released the girl’s binds and turned away.
Yura: Wha-
Kiba: Go.
Yura: But-
Kiba: Do what you want Yura.

Kiba never turned back to the girl, but he could feel her getting closer, and soon she stood in front of him. Leaning up, she locked her lips onto his and leaned against his chest.
Yura: I love you Kiba.
Kiba: Then why do you insist on going back?
Yura: Because if I stay here, he’ll attack you.

Kiba’s eyes went wide as saucers, staring down at the girl in his arms.
Yura: If I died here, he wouldn’t care, but if I were to stay he’d go through great lengths to get me back, even if he had to rip through your village and drag me back by force.
Kiba: What do you-
Yura: Do you think he didn’t notice that you had captured me, no doubt he’d been following us from the beginning.
Kiba: What makes you think he cares about you that much, you’re fooling yourself.
Yura: Kiba, remember how I told you about that one rule he has for me? It’s why Kabuto call’s me the “pet cat”. I’m treated well, I don’t get hurt, I’m not used in experiments and I may go as I please should my more wild instincts demand it. But there is one rule, I must always come back. I may never stray to his enemies, and I must return within a week, or he’ll come looking for me, and he’ll kill everyone near me.

Kiba closed his eyes and held on tighter to the girl, finally understanding everything. Yura couldn’t leave, she was just a prisoner without a cage.
Kiba: Why you?
Yura: Do you know how rare my power is? I’m a powerful tool for him to get what he wants.

Yura finally released Kiba and stared deep into his eyes.
Yura: One month from now, Itachi Uchiha will be in a small village named Arukechi on the borders of the tea country. Orochimaru-sama intends to capture him and hold him prisoner until he is able to transfer his soul into his body.
Kiba: What? How could he even do that? Itachi Uchiha is too strong!
Yura: Yeah, unless you have someone like me.

Kiba took a single step back, eyes wavering in shock.
Yura: Because he was unable to gain Sasuke and now he’s forever out of his reach he must get Itachi before the Akatsuki becomes active. With the Orochi with him he could easily kill Isane and Kisame, but Itachi would need to be taken down with being killed; only my power could weaken him to a state where he’d be helpless in battle. If we were able to capture him, I could hold my power over a single area for six months, and then repeat. Itachi would be ours.
Kiba: So we just made him an even bigger threat than before.
Yura: Tell everyone if you wish, but that will only make Arukechi a war zone.

Yura turned away from Kiba and said with an ice cold tone.
Yura: And if we meet there, we’ll be enemies. So don’t hold back.

With those words and a heavy heart, Yura departed, leaving a stunned Kiba standing without a single clue as to what to do.
Kiba: How much of a risk did you take telling me that?

He asked himself, lifting Akamaru to his shoulder and walking with the dog to the village gates where Raizen was waiting for him.
Raizen: You came alone?
Kiba: Yeah, that’s gonna be hell explaining to Tsunade-sama right?
Raizen: It would be, if I told her.
Kiba: You didn’t?
Raizen: I know you better, so why do I get the feeling that things still suck?
Kiba:….Prepare for war.

He said in a cold voice alerting Raizen to the severity of the situation. The final battle was drawing closer with every passing second.


JJ: Is that a harmonizer?
Naruto: A what?
Ino: Isn’t that the thing you said dragon hunters use?
JJ: Dammit, I guess there’s some dirty business I have to handle first, guys come with me. It’s time I settled things.

Next time on Eyes piercing the Darkness: A race against time: Bitter feelings unleashed.
Mika/Ino: We won’t let you win!



Omake theater open.

Canon Omake #1: Reality.
Sakura: And then I did something much worse and I hurt you. I’m really sorry Raizen.
Raizen: Don’t worry about it, it’s water under the bridge. Besides I handled it pretty well.

(Three years ago)
Raizen sat in his dark room, gorging himself on apples as his radio blared in the background, completely nullifying all sound around him.
Raizen: You left me out in the rain; when you just walked away. This song is a, story of true love tragedy, I gave up my heart, I tried to give you all of me. It’s come to the ending some how, I don’t know what to do, but I don’t want to forget now, I love you baby, I still love you. Rain you know exactly how I feel. Your songs always make me feel better, but it doesn’t heal my aching heart .

He said falling limply to the ground, humming to the proceedings of Rain’s love story.

(Present day)
Raizen: Yeah, I handled it really well, hehehehehehe.
Sakura: ……I’m sorry.

Canon/Omake #2: Waiting.
Hinata stared at Naruto with crazed eyes, but the last time she tried to stand up she had been put down to the ground with the most excruciatingly painful blow to the head she had ever taken. It had taken Claire coming to heal her in order for her to regain her senses, but after telling Naruto something she couldn’t hear due to her still ringing ears, Claire had departed, it wasn’t going to be so easy next time.
Yubiki: Don’t worry, after today you’ll be able to instinctually resist it as long as you are able to resist today.
Naruto: How long do we have to sit here?
Yubiki: Until the day is over.
Naruto: Then maybe we could take a break once in while?
JJ: Don’t worry; we are taking a few breaks.
Hinata: Really?
JJ: Yep, me and Mika are alternating.

He said walking over to the girl and tagging her in as she preferred to make her own mallet instead of taking JJ’s. However hers was much bigger than the boy’s before.
Naruto: Why are you doing this to me? This is torture, you know that right.
Mika: We’re having just as much of a hard time as you are.
Naruto: No you’re not, you’re enjoying this.
JJ: Hey, there’s nothing enjoyable about tormenting your friends like this.
Mika: But if you have to torment them, you might as well enjoy it.

She said throwing the mallet onto her shoulder.
Mika: Now make sure to be really still.
Hinata: ‘Sob’ My legs hurt.

Needless to say, the day was very long and painful for the two foxes, but thankfully for them, they would never have to experience it ever again.

Canon/Omake #3: Hanging out.
Naruto: Com’n you have to try it.

He said slapping the back of his new friend grateful for the decision he had made.
Gaara: Are you sure? I’ve never had anything like this before.
Naruto: Trust me, you’re gonna love this, it’s called “Ramen” and I think you guys destroyed the stand during the invasion.
Gaara: Did you really have to mention that?
Naruto: Well, it’ll be a good chance for you to make amends, by donating to their fine establishment. Besides, you’re the one who said you wanted to talk.

He said ordering for both of them as Gaara stared down at the counter in front of him sullenly.
Gaara: Why were you willing to help me?

Naruto turned back to Gaara as if he had asked the most obvious question in the world, with a smile he turned to Gaara and responded.
Naruto: Because you’re a good guy, you’ve just been pushed too far. Besides you seem like all you really need is someone you can trust, and Mom always said, there’s no one you can trust more than someone you can eat with.

He said as Teuchi handed them their bowls with a smile.
Gaara: Is it really that simple?
Naruto: Well it’s not complicated. All you need to do is find someone you can count on won’t poison the food you eat, if they can give you a heart filled smile while they eat, then they’re your allies, someone you can depend on.
Gaara: Then you can depend on me?
Naruto: We’re talking right, and you came to help me when you heard I was in trouble. That means we’re friends.

Naruto smiled at Gaara as he stared down into his bowl and after thinking long and hard over whether or not they’d poison him, he took a bite, instantly smiling into the bowl.
Gaara: Delicious.
Naruto: I know right?

(Back in the sand)
Temari and Kankuro stared at Gaara with renewed fear, for he had invited them to eat with him, yet he had the creepiest “I’m going to kill you!” smile on his face. Though he had only been trying to take Naruto’s advice, smiling wasn’t exactly something he had grown used to over the years. Looking up to his siblings he asked in curiosity.
Gaara: Why aren’t you eating?

Wearing the same smile, it was then that they began to wonder if their lives were in danger.
Kankuro: You know, I just ate a big breakfast before we left so, I think I’ll excuse myself.
Temari: Same here, besides I have to be up early tomorrow, y’know, missions and whatnot.

They said nearly falling trying to get away from the table leaving Gaara sitting there with the cold wind blowing past him.

(Two days later)
Gaara: I don’ think they’re going to trust me so quickly.
Naruto: Huh, well those things take time; then again maybe they’re just weird.

He said with his hand to his chin sagely.
Naruto: Eh, I don’t think you have to worry, they don’t seem unwilling to be around you right? Because they’re family, they’ll look out for you.
Gaara: Maybe you’re right.

However, for his brother and sister, the smile he had made that day, would haunt their dreams for eternity.

Canon/Omake #4: Upon his return.

Mimiru sat against the wall of the Uchiha complex, waiting for her new boyfriend to finish whatever he was doing inside. Yet whenever she let her guard down she could feel eyes on her. She wasn’t a ninja, and she didn’t dress to look so, but the new outfit Sasuke had given her seemed to show off more than she was used to, so it was evident to her that the eyes falling on her were mostly men. She had managed to avoid the gazes, but it was notably more obvious than before. Opening her eyes she slowly reached for her sword, but quickly receded when she realized that they were young men, no older than nineteen, approaching her with the eyes of playboys.
Ureshi: Hey, you new here?
Mimiru: Yeah.

She said turning her attention to the road to her left, trying her best to show them that she wasn’t interested, they didn’t catch the hint.
Ureshi: I could tell, there’s no way a girl like you could’ve lived here long and I not notice.
Bonta: Why don’t you hang out with us and we’ll show you around?
Mimiru: Get lost.

She said with authority, never showing her face to the men or turning her head to them.
Ureshi: Eh, excuse me?
Mimiru: I’m not going with you, and I’m not particularly fond of being hit on either.
Bonta: Oh is that what it looked like to you, I assure you we’re not trying to. We just want to make you feel more at home.

He said reaching for her arm, but the second he did everything he was wearing went flying to shreds in the air.
Mimiru: Now, imagine if I was aiming for your vitals, your shirt could be your heart you know, care to keep bothering me?

The men before her weren’t normal men, they were ninja just like most of the village’s population, but they hadn’t even seen her draw her sword, or move at that. Covering his most sacred part Bonta and his friend ran, yelling empty threats about coming back for her as she sighed in boredom.
Sasuke: I see you’re making friends already.
Mimiru: Well, that’s what happens when you make me wear such revealing clothes and hide in your house-oh my dear lord!!!


She screamed jumping to the side when she saw Sasuke’s face.
Sasuke: I tried apologizing to my sister again. She started punching me and then there were fireballs…..let’s just say I had it coming for pushing the issue.
Mimiru: She hamburgered your face good.
Sasuke: Yeah, well at least she did something.

He said walking through the village with a mask over his face.
Naruto: Hey Sasuke what brings you back here so-oh my god!

He screamed as Sasuke removed his mask during his sentence.
Sasuke: Can you do something about this?
Naruto: You want the address of a good plastic surgeon?
Mika: So this must be Mimiru?

She said as she walked over, focusing her chakra to heal Sasuke’s face.
Mika: It’s nice to finally meet you. Did you meet with the hokage yet?
Mimiru: Yes, she said I should wear something that stands out less.
Hinata: Yeah, you’re rather….full.
Hanabi: Yeah.
Naruto: How the hell did you pass for a guy?
Mimiru: Mimiru had to do a lot of work to pull it off.
JJ: Hey Naruto I wanted to know if I could borrow your-DAMN!

All attention turned to JJ as he stared at Mimiru with wide eyes and instantly cleared his face.
JJ: Sorry, I just wasn’t prepared for that this early in the morning. My name’s Norugi.

He said extending his hand to Mimiru who shook it with trust.
JJ: Take care of this little idiot for us, he tends to go stupid when he’s moody.
Sasuke: Hey!
Mika: Done. You’re all set.

She said with a smile, allowing Sasuke to move once again.
Hinata: So what do you have planned for today?
Sasuke: Well it’s time that I did something I’ve been avoiding, if you’ll excuse me.

He said with a polite bow before walking away, it was only then that Mimiru noticed the smiles on everyone’s faces, seeing it, brought a smile to her. After following Sasuke all the way to the training grounds he came face-to-face with his teammates, all embroiled in deep discussion  Raizen was the first to turn and after noticing what was following Sasuke he dropped the scroll he had been reading just before he arrived.
Raizen: …..Wow.
Sakura: What’s wrong, huh?
Kakashi: Nice going, seems you’ve snagged one too, huh?

Sasuke finally reached the spot in front of his team and with a sharp exhale he bowed before them shouting.
Sasuke: I’m sorry.

Staring at Sasuke all closed their eyes and waited for him to speak once again.
Sasuke: I know that I-

Before he could finish Raizen slapped his back with a smile and said.
Raizen: Welcome back man, you’re gonna have to tell me all about how you met the model over there.
Mimiru: Model?
Sakura: I’m Sakura Haruno, nice to meet you. Naruto’s already told us everything so you don’t have to worry.
Mimiru: You know about me?
Kakashi: Quite, now that you’ve finally arrived Sasuke, we can begin the mission. You’re going to be coming with us on this one.
Sasuke: But-

He began, but one look at the faces in front of him and the forgiveness shining in their eyes, he shut his mouth.
Sasuke: So what’s the mission?

He asked catching up to the stride of those in front of him. As they chattered Mimiru watched on, smiling at the friends Sasuke had been blessed with. His life was far more exuberant than he had let himself believe. If she had a life nearly this wonderful, maybe she would have been able to forget about Takahiro. Closing her eyes, she prayed that her life with these people would be a bright one.
Sasuke: Mimiru!

The girl opened her eyes at the call of her name.
Raizen: You’re coming too right?
Kakashi: I have to admit, I’m rather curious to hear of the strength Samurai possess.
Sakura: You’re more than welcome to come along.

Mimiru aimed her head to the sky and closed her eyes, catching a glance of her father through her closed lids.
Mimiru: Papa, it’s okay for me to be happy right? I want to live my life here, with Sasuke and his friends. So please watch over Mimiru, wherever you are.

Opening her eyes, Mimiru ran to the pace of the others, embarking on the first mission in a long time that team seven had been reunited.

Omake theater end!


JJ: Hey everybody and welcome again to-
All: Character introduction corner!

After their shout the world behind them began to blur and they were overtaken by the show’s new high-res intro. Once it ended Sakura and Ino stood staring wide-eyed at JJ who seemed to be smiling at the sight.
JJ: Money well spent.
Sakura: How do you always get these things?
JJ: By selling your clothes in online auctions.
Sakura: Wait….what?
JJ: Ino-chan will you do the honors of introducing our next guest?
Ino: Sure.
Sakura: You were just joking right?
Ino: Today’s guest is Mimiru Shingawa.
Mimiru: Mimiru is pleased to be here.

She said with a polite bow.
Sakura: You’re Sasuke’s girlfriend right?
Mimiru: I don’t know if I’d use that term, I’m more of his bodyguard.
JJ: I don’t know if I’d use that either, you’re more like a confidant, who sometimes gets far closer to you than any friend ever should.
Ino: That’s what we call a girlfriend right?
JJ: Yep.
Mimiru: Please, can we just leave it at that?
Sakura: Sure, we didn’t bring you here to embarrass you. Can you tell us your stats?
Mimiru: Alright.

Strength: 12
Endurance: 14
Speed: 15
Chi: 20
Weapon skill: 20
Taijutsu: 12
Ninjutsu: None.
Genjutsu: None.

Sakura: So what is chi?
Mimiru: It is a power drawn from the inner confines of the body. Pulling it out is simple enough and using it can effect the body and amplify one’s strength. In certain instances it can be projected, but if used carelessly it can physically exhaust the one using it.
Ino: So it’s like chakra?
JJ: No, chi is a power that can never be expended, it is also something it is mostly used by samurai and martial artists. While it can’t be applied in battle in the same way as chakra, it is in many ways more powerful, such Mimiru being able to focus it in such a fashion as to destroy an entire room with a single slash. Since it doesn’t diminish like chakra does, it can be used endlessly by someone of strong mind. Chi is like the counter-balance of chakra, for someone who uses one can never use the other. Think of it as a road with three paths, during your journey down the path in front of you, and at any point you can switch to the left or right, but you can never move back to the straight path or the one on the other side. Chi is something that can only be harnessed using the body, or expelled from it.

He said with a smile before bringing up an image.
JJ: Think of it being like chi users are warrior class, and these with chakra are wizards.  While not as accessible as chakra the strongest human to ever live uses chi, that’s actually saying a lot.
Mimiru: Chi is a force whereas Chakra is more of an energy.
JJ: Yeah if you want to make it simple.
Ino: What is your strongest attack?
Mimiru: It’s called million blades, I wasn’t able to use it in my battle with Takahiro, but I believe it’s on the same level as Sasuke’s phoenix descent.
JJ: That makes me curious to actually see what you can do.
Mimiru: Mimiru will be happy to take you on any time Norugi-san.
Sakura: Called you tell us a little about the kageinuichi?
Mimiru: This blade what’s forged from an unidentified black steel. It was my father’s but he hid it away long before his death. He had shown me how to find it before then, so I easily remembered where to go and how to get it. It’s able to amplify chi and it’s exceptionally light for it’s strength. I wasn’t actually able to find out why it works the way it does, but from what I hear it has many different powers that has yet to be discovered.
JJ: And now it’s time for.

The fourth wall breaking moment~
JJ: Now-
Sakura: We have a song now?
JJ: Yep, turns out there are a lot of people who want your clothes.
Sakura: You are just joking about that aren’t you?

Ignoring that JJ returned to the business at hand.
JJ: Mimiru was one of the characters that was always intended from the beginning, since I along with ninjas also have a particular fondness of samurai. However while her story has always been the same, she had many different appearances and names, one of which being the character that inspired her. Her sword style was also inspired by many samurai that I’ve come to admire over the years, the main one being the legendary Mushashi, the other’s being anime characters such as Kenshin, Setsuna from Negima, and Haohmaru from samurai showdown. Many of these characters traits have been passed on into Mimiru’s persona, the strongest of which being Kenshin, like her referring to herself in the third person.

With a breath JJ continued.
JJ: It was one of the things that bothered me though, for example, she’s going to be a hugely important person in the story from now on, but she appears so late in the story for example, it’s pretty much at the endgame arc of the story before she is even talked about. Mimiru in the original draft was intended to be Raizen’s girlfriend, but after the developments between him and Sakura it was decided that she would meet Sasuke instead. She was also a much better fit for him, since seeing himself in someone else would be great reasons for them to fall in love, whereas Raizen has never let his lust for revenge conquer his life. Mimiru shares a tattered past with Sasuke and it often becomes the glue that holds them together. I hope people like her and she grows into the character I always wanted her to be.
Mimiru: Mimiru is grateful for your support.
JJ: Don’t worry about it.
Ino: Isn’t it about time we end this too?
JJ: Yeah, it is.
Sakura: JJ, you were joking about all that right?
JJ: About what?
Sakura: About selling my clothes?
JJ: So to everyone out there and everyone reading.
Ino/JJ/Mimiru: Shine eternal!!!!!!
Sakura: Wait, you’re just joking right!?

Without the question ever being answer he screen faded to black.
Converting /tmp/phpQzorYC to /dev/stdout