Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Forgiveness is for Naught ❯ Forgotten Lessons Revealed Emotions ( Chapter 5 )

K=Kottashi G=Gaara

N=Naruto H=Hinata

M=Meru SU=Sasuke

S=Sakura RL=Rock Lee

NJ=Neji TT=TenTen

T=Tsunade KK=Kakashi

TM=Temari SN=Shikamaru

I=Ino C=Chouji

KI=Kiba SI=Shino

 

D.K.Chan here! Fifth chapter is up, and what a doozey it shall be!

 

M: Why is that?

 

DK: Well, quite a bits gonna happen.

 

G: -reads ahead- Uhh…

 

DK: MUWAHAHAHA!!!!!

 

S: What? -reads ahead- Ooooo…. I see.

 

N: -also reads ahead- I don't get it… what is it you guys are seeing that I don't?

 

G: Read between the lines Naruto.

 

N: Wha…?

 

H: -giggles- I already know what happens.

 

M: Me, me Meru does too!!!

 

I: What?! Why do you two know everything before me?!

 

M: Because I'm a real person! I'm SeriiChan's sister! For reals! (ok maybe not for reals, but we act like it!)

 

KI: So then why does Hinata….

 

DK: Because she's special that way you idiot.

 

Shino: Enough, on with this mission.

 

KI: Dude… it's not a mission…

 

H: On to the next chapter, enjoy MinnaSan! -bows-

 

Forgiveness is for Naught

 

Chapter Five: Forgotten Lessons Revealed Emotions

 

Diabolical Kitsutora

 

 

----With Kottashi----

 

`Eh, I hate not being able to go to sleep.' Kottashi turned over on her bed, `I feel like a kid again! Woopie! Nice of my family to still treat me like a kid.' She groaned, how did she end up back in the old routines? Oh well, she had time to think about how to get away from Gaara so she wouldn't upset him. Then again, wouldn't that be running away? She couldn't do that to him, she had to mend what she did… right? Sitting on top of the Hokage monument sounded like a good idea at the moment. Making up her mind quickly, she sat up, slid her legs over the edge of her bed, slipped on her shoes, and jumped out the window. That seemed to be a favorite thing to do with her, jumping out the window.

 

Speeding across the dirt paths towards the mountain monument, she made no sound, as if gliding on top of the ground she ran on. The cool midnight wind softly played with her hair as she ran. She shivered a bit, cool night air became pretty cold when running. In no time she was standing underneath the gigantic monument. Naruto had some big shoes to fill if he planned to become the sixth Hokage. Being greater than Sarutobi or Tsunade would be a very difficult thing to do. Then again, have things changed between the villagers and Naruto? Her lavender eyes smiled up at the monument, things had changed, she could just sense it.

 

Swiftly she jumped from one building to the next, gaining height. When she finally reached her perch upon the fourth Hokage's head, she sat down and serenely looked up at the glistening stars. There was just something about the stars that made her feel so… peaceful. Sighing, she fell backwards onto the monument, things hardly changed here. `Seems a little more quite than it used to be though'. Troubled, she sat up, it didn't feel like it should be this quiet. Something was definitely wrong. She could feel it in the night air, panic began to settle in the young teen, her eyes widened and her teeth chattered. Why was it so cold all of a sudden?

 

“Die bitch! For all that your mother has done to me! Die!!!” Kottashi turned around quickly and dodged just in time to miss a kunai to her mid back.

 

She'd been in plenty of these situations before, so why was she so terrified right now? The ninja came at her again, his skin wreaked of a swamp, it made her sick to her stomach just inhaling the disgusting scent. But what was with the artic air around her. Maybe it was a jutsu? And what could her mother had possibly done to this man? Her mother was probably long dead.

 

“W-what do you want with me?” she managed to stammer.

 

“I just told you, you stupid worthless whore! I want you dead for all the shit your mother's done to me!” He hurled several shuriken at her which she ungraciously dodged, and then charged at her with a kunai.

 

“How do you know my mother?!” the man didn't answer, just kept charging, Kottashi attempted to jump out of the way, but her foot caught on something.

 

Cursing whatever KamiSama who decided to make her so ungraceful, she unknowingly grabbed onto something. Whatever it was, it was warm, slimy and terrible smelling. However, she didn't become dizzy, instead, images pelted her mind. A young boy, brown hair, black eyes, he was terrorizing other boys. He bore a striking resemblance to the man attacking her now, even if the moon and star light was her only way to see. She could feel all his emotions, feel all his pain, feel how it felt to be stronger and in control. It scared her to feel such things. She saw every major event up until now, and even then, she could see him, using some odd jutsu. He sank into the monument, and the next thing she knew, she was crying out in pain, she could feel his kunai digging into the back of her neck.

 

She screamed loudly and jumped back, gasping. Feeling the back of her neck, she felt no wound on her neck, felt no blood seeping down her neck. `What the hell was that just now. What did I do?' Kottashi's mind raced, what the hell just happened? KamiSama tell her what she did to be able to see that man's past, and… a probable future. On impulse, she drew a kunai from the pack on her leg and charged at the Swamp ninja, fearful tears filling up her eyes.

 

Swiftly the ninja jumped out of her range of attack, “I'll get you yet you little bitch.” Without notice, he formed a few seals, and was gone.

 

“what the hell was that?” the green haired nin slid to the ground, stunned, shaky, fearful and shocked.

 

Heart beating wildly, Kottashi sat down, one hand behind her so she could lean back. After that attack she wasn't sure if she could afford to let her guard down. While with her sensei, and on missions, she had never hesitated or been so klutzy. She had an aim that was true and did what she had to do with or without being told. What she just did, was so unlike her it was crazy.

 

Deciding now was not the best time to think about it, she breathed in deeply. She really needed to calm her racing heart. Closing her eyes, she leaned back and laid down. So much was happening, and on the first day back home too. Couldn't anyone just catch a flipping break around here? Then again, she couldn't complain, this was the life she signed up for when she decided to become a ninja with Shikamaru and the others.

 

Breathing in the cold air calmly, she decided that this was fine. It was life, besides, Konoha encouraged shinobi to have lives besides their job. She smiled at this, she could do what she wanted, and still do her ninja missions. All she had to do was make it past her 18th birthday and she'd be able to get a job in the village. Sadly she put a hand over her heart, she loved Konoha, but she wanted a job in her true village, which as of the moment, she didn't know if it was Konoha or not.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

“Ahhhh!!!!!!” Kottashi quickly jumped up and nearly fell off the monument, but someone grabbed her hand.

 

“You're more trouble than you're worth.” Between gasping for breath and calming her heart, Kottashi took time to look up to see who it was that both scared the shit out of her and saved her. It was Gaara.

 

“Omg, GaaraKun, I'm so sorry, you scared the living shit outta me. I guess my nerves are just fried after that attack…” she paused as Gaara pulled her up onto the monument. “Sankyu GaaraKun, would've been bad if you hadn't caught me.”

 

“What are you doing up here?” he asked, not acknowledging her thanks.

 

“Just thinking is all.” She replied.

 

“What attack?”

 

“Just a few moments ago, someone who said they knew my mother… somehow… I saw his past, I don't know how, all I remember is grabbing onto something, and all of a sudden I was seeing the guys past, and… a possible future.” Kottashi sat down on the monument once again and drew her knees up to her chest, encircling her arms around them.

 

“What kind of future?” Gaara stared at her through eyes that knew much pain, but now knew acceptance, she could have stared into his eyes forever but looked away.

 

“Something that thankfully didn't happen, I saw him plunging a kunai into the back of my neck.” She rubbed her neck as she said this, shivering, “that guy was planning to kill me, he said my mother did something to him, don't quite remember. What I don't get is why I froze.”

 

“You froze?” he gave her a small look of interest.

 

“yeah… I don't know why, I've had five years of training with my sensei, I shouldn't have froze like that. It was like my body didn't remember a thing it was taught, even my mind seemed frozen.” She laid her chin on her knees.

 

“Do you think you could look into my past?” Kottashi looked up at Gaara, he was relatively close, kneeling in front of her.

 

“I don't know how it happened, perhaps if you tell me a little of your past, maybe that will trigger… whatever the hell it is you want to call it.” She gave him a hopeful look.

 

Gaara sat back on his legs, “before I was born, ChiyoSama infused my body with Shukaku the ichibi, when I was born, my mother died because of me. I was to be the villages ultimate weapon…” as Gaara went on, Kottashi's eyes slowly slid closed, she uncurled from her position and sat on her knees, and her hands slowly lifted to the sides of Gaara's face. The red haired youth didn't know what she was doing, but kept talking as she placed her hands near his temples. A green energy emitted from her hands, her eyes opened but were completely white.

 

-What Kottashi is seeing, hearing, feeling-

 

Gaara being born, his mothers death.

 

Being alone, looked on as a monster.

 

Getting the ball for the other children.

 

Being shunned, called a monster, running away.

 

Grabbing those children with sand, being stopped by a blond man.

 

Learning about love, pain, how he can't feel physical pain.

 

Trying to give the girl medicine for what he did.

 

Being shunned again.

 

The blond man trying to kill him.

 

Being alone.

 

More pain, the leader trying to kill him.

 

Being used as a weapon.

 

People going after him to kill him again.

 

Transforming into some huge beast.

 

Blood lust, living and loving only himself.

 

Emotionless, no sleep, people trying to kill him.

 

Killing intent towards Sasuke.

 

Killing opposing nin in the forest of death unflinchingly.

 

Absolute defense, no scratch what-so-ever.

 

Fighting Rock Lee, finally feeling physical pain.

 

Killing intent towards Lee, killing the sound nin after preliminaries.

 

Trying to kill Lee while unconscious.

 

Confrontation with Naruto, finding out he had a monster inside him.

 

Sasuke's fight with Gaara, interrupted, annoyance.

 

Pinning Sakura to a tree, beating down Sasuke, pitiful, weak.

 

Fighting Naruto, learning true meaning of strength.

 

Change, for the better, yes change. Recreating Konoha academy in Suna.

 

Training a student, panic, student kidnapped.

 

Wanted for his power, heartache, will power to save.

 

Pain, drained of chakra, no energy, must save student.

 

Being forced to transform, pain, more pain, will it not to happen.

 

Defeat the enemy with Shukaku's spear, everyone saved.

 

Happiness, glad, darkness, passed out.

 

Being Kazekage, accomplishment, acceptance.

 

Attack, protect the village, keep them alive at all cost.

 

Taken, kidnapped for his power.

 

Power taken, being dead, being brought back to life.

 

No longer transform, relief, can sleep, more relief.

 

Someone still fears him, pain, heartache, remembering past.

 

Sorry, she's sorry, odd, confused, why?

 

Annoyance, protect the one who's afraid.

 

Heart race, what's with this girl?

 

More annoyance, she's disappeared, fear, attack?

 

-End of past-

 

Kottashi cried out in pain and anguish, she had felt everything Gaara had felt throughout his life, she saw everything he saw. Tears poured down the girls cheeks as she clung to Gaara as if her life depended on it. She gritted her teeth, her eyes wide and disbelieving with sorrow. She couldn't believe the things Gaara had gone through, no wonder he reacted the way he did. But then why did his siblings say he was going to transform, there was no way he could. Perhaps they were just used to it happening.

 

“You saw my past?” he asked, his voice holding no real emotion.

 

All she could do was nod, her tears soaking his shirt, “now you know more about me, can you trust me?” Kottashi nodded and sobbed, just by fearing him for one second she did him a great wrong that he did not deserve, she felt like scum.

 

Gaara grabbed her by the arms and brought her to look in his eyes, “stop crying, there's no reason for you to do so.” Kottashi bit her inner lip.

 

She sat back on her legs, she could still feel all the emotional and mental pain he felt, all the exhaustion he'd gone through, she clutched her heart. “I don't know what to say GaaraKun, expect that I truly am sorry, from the bottom of my heart, for accusing you for doing something you did not.”

 

He stood up, “as long as you can trust me we won't have any problems.”

 

“huh?”

 

“If you trust me being your body guard will be easy, time will pass quicker and you can be free of me.” He turned to look over the village. “I can't stay here forever, I'm the Kazekage of my village, I have to go back.”

 

“GaaraKun…” she clutched her heart again, why did her heart ache so much? “When do you have to go back to your village?”

 

The red haired youth looked to the stars, “I should probably be heading back soon, I can't play around here. I have to be there to protect my village.” Kottashi looked at the young red haired man, he was very loyal to the village that once shunned him as a monster.

 

“If you must absolutely go, then why don't I just come with you, I'm sure TsunadeSama could make it into a mission or something. I escort you to Suna with my brother Shikamaru, you escort me around the village, I train with Shikamaru and your students.” Gaara looked at her.

 

“It's not my decision what your Hokage decides to do, but if I must guard you, that would help, in the morning we'll go meet her and see if she'll allow us to do that.” He seemed to be a little more interested.

 

Lavender eyes met with pastel green eyes, “why not just ask her now, and see if we can't get an early start tomorrow?”

 

He continued to look at her, Tsunade was probably asleep and he didn't feel like dealing with her wrath, but he really did want to get back to Suna as soon as possible. Then again he had to wait for the team that Tsunade had sent to his village to come back with his “gift.” “I said we'll see her tomorrow to see if she'll allow it, not to go directly tomorrow, I have to stay here until the team she sent to Suna comes back.”

 

“Do you know who she sent?”

 

Gaara looked at her, “Most likely Kakashi since he knows the way into the village, and another jounin for backup.” Kottashi nodded.

 

“How long do you think it'll take?” she questioned.

 

“About three days to get there, three days to get back, so I'm stuck here for at least six more days. That's if they don't run into any trouble.” He looked to the girl in front of him to see her reaction.

 

“well,” she sighed, “looks like me and Shikamaru will be doing a lot of training together while we wait.” She sat back down but crossed her legs this time, “it'll be fun training with him again, maybe he'll be able to help me figure out why I froze when the nin attacked me.”

 

“Do you know what village he was from?”

 

“From his smell I'd have to say he was from the Village hidden in the Swamp.” She wrinkled her nose upon remembering the smell.

 

“Many villages seem to be having problems with shinobi from that village lately.” Looking to the left, he watched as two figures came bounding up the side of the monument.

 

Both teens stayed quiet for a long time, not saying anything until the two figures coming towards them were within normal talking range. “Hey HinataChan, NarutoKun, what brings you two up here so late at night?”

 

“Uh,” Naruto stammered, “we were just gonna come find you Kottashi.”

 

“We just thought it'd help you and GaaraKun if you learned his past.” Hinata entered.

 

“She already knows my past.”

 

“Wow that's fast, how'd you tell it so quickly?” questioned Naruto.

 

“he didn't say much, I more like… saw it, felt it, heard it.” Naruto and Hinata looked at her with an odd expression, “I don't know how, but I was able to see his past, along with a supposed Swamp nin who attacked me. I was also able to see part of a future that could have been possible.”

 

“Do you have a Kekkei Genkai?” Questioned the blond haired boy.

 

“It might be, I don't know, if it is, this is the first time I've really noticed it.”

 

“Shouldn't we tell Tsunade then?” suggested Naruto.

 

“We'll tell her in the morning, it would not be wise to wake her up.” Naruto shivered, that was true, waking up Tsunade could mean death.

 

“That seems wise GaaraKun, so why are you two up here?” Hinata questioned.

 

“I came up here cuz I couldn't sleep,” for some reason, she became aware of the close proximity she and Gaara were in. “I think after tonight though I might go into a coma.”

 

“Why do you say that Kottashi?” Baby blue eyes looked at the lavender eyed girl curiously.

 

“I froze.”

 

“Wha?” both Hinata and Naruto were confused.

 

“I was attacked, and I totally and utterly froze, I could barely move, it was like my body couldn't remember what it was taught.” She started moving her left leg up and down rapidly out of annoyance.

 

“Maybe Tsunade could see why in the morning, right now you really should get some sleep, we all should.” Ordered the Hyuuga heiress.

 

“Yes ma'am!” Naruto said with a salute, Kottashi hit him upside the head.

 

“baka.” Laughing it off, Naruto picked up Hinata and jumped down off the monument, Kottashi blinked in confusion, since when did Hinata need help jumping from one high place to another, or jumping from high places to the ground for that matter.

 

Then it hit her, “Omg Naruto, have you finally realized your feelings for Hinata?” Kottashi quickly jumped to her feet, ready to yell kawaii at the top of her lungs when her legs gave out and she fell, only to be caught by Gaara. “hehehe, guess I got up too quickly.” She tried to pry herself from his arms.

 

However, he wouldn't allow this, he picked her up in his arms, “you're shaking, you didn't get up too quickly, your nerves aren't going to allow you to move.” With that he jumped down the monument as well and made his way to the Nara residence. Once there, he jumped up into a tree just outside her window and then jumped through the window itself. Calmly he walked over to her bed and laid her down on her back, the whole time a ferocious blush was on Kottashi's face. It seemed however, that Gaara hadn't noticed. She thanked whatever KamiSama was looking down on her for that.

 

“Get some sleep.” The Kazekage of Suna ordered, “my guess is you'll be going through intensive training tomorrow.” With that he walked out of her room, shutting the door softly behind him.

 

She stared at the door for a while, waiting to make sure Gaara was nowhere near ear shot. Once she was sure he was out of ear shot, she sat up and shakily took off her shoes. Crossing her room she got into her night clothes and sat at the desk in her room. Still not tired, she decided to draw a little. Drawing her left knee up to her chest, letting her right leg cross in front of her in the chair, she picked up her pencil, grabbed a piece of blank paper and began to draw.

 

Sighing heavily, she didn't even bother to really notice what she drew. It didn't really matter what it was, she just needed to do something to get her mind off of the events of the day. It seemed that the whole day jumped from one incident to another. After a while she looked at her paper, it looked like a bunch of scribbles, were her eyes focusing? Blinking a few times she decided that yes, her eyes were focused and she was just scribbling all over the paper.

 

A yawn escape her lips, and other another one. Putting a hand to cover her mouth she yawned again. Why was she so tired, she slept for KamiSama knows how long. She could feel her eye lids drooping, she was definitely tired, but why? One last look at her drawing and she fell asleep after muttering the name `Gaara.'

 

An hour later, her mother walked into her room. She had got up to go to the bathroom only to notice her daughter's light on. Yoshino look at her adopted daughter with loving and caring eyes, she was drawing before she fell asleep again. A habit she had missed of the girl while she was gone. She took the paper and looked at it. Frowning, she examined it closer.

 

There was a boy on the picture that looked like Gaara, and one that looked like Naruto. It was in a manga style format, the first panel they were fighting, the next the were fighting together, then the last was Kottashi herself and Gaara, their eyes were locked, and she seemed to be in a trance. She wondered what this meant, but put the picture back where she found it, took a blanket off Kottashi's bed and placed it around her shoulders.

 

 

-The Next Morning-

 

 

Kottashi woke up to the smell of breakfast. How she had missed her mothers breakfast meals. They were the best thing on earth, especially when you had a rough night the previous day. Sitting up, she realized that she fell asleep at her desk, and that her mom must have draped her blanket over her. At the thought, she almost went teary eyed, she loved her mother so much, she was the best.

 

Smiling, she stood up and stretched, taking in the wonderful smell of breakfast once more. Over excitement boiling inside her she ran to start opening the door, but found it already open, causing her to fall forwards onto her face. Quickly rising to her feet, she look from side to side and sprinted to the stairs, tripping over nothing, tumbling down the stairs, only to end up at Gaara's feet.

 

He raised a brow to the green haired kunoichi at his feet, “should I bother asking?”

 

“Ehehe, I don't think that'd be wise.” She answered.

 

He said nothing, but helped her to her feet. Once up, she dusted herself off, and looked up only to find Gaara's eyes locked on her. “Thanks GaaraKun.” Kottashi tried to give him a relaxed smile, however it came out embarrassed and flustered.

 

Turning without a word into the kitchen, she followed almost in a daze as the smell of her mother's breakfast grew more evident. Pastel green eyes looked at her with a bit of... not annoyance but… wonder? Kottashi passed him up and sat at the kitchen table, drooling like this had been the first meal she had in years.

 

Her mother laughed as she heard her daughter sit down for breakfast, “you don't change do you KottaChan?” the young woman giggled.

 

“Iie KaaSan! I don't!” smiling happily, she drooled even more as food was placed on her plate. “Dang those two men! They need to get their lazy asses up and down here so we can eat!”

 

Yoshino smiled as she beckoned Gaara to sit down at the table also, and set food on his plate, “oh they'll be down soon.”

 

She gave her a wry look, “you mean like all the other years when it took them an hour to get down here?”

 

Everyone was silent, the silence was so intense, it even outweighed the silence that was usually around Gaara. “that's what I thought.” She sighed, “that's it I'm going up there to get them now.”

 

Yoshino made a sad attempt to try and stop her daughter, but in the end just laughed. “She'll see her mistake in going up there in a minute.”

 

Gaara gave her a curious look, wondering what she meant when out of nowhere he heard the green haired kunoichi scream bloody murder. Shooting to his feet, his heart raced, but when he saw said kunoichi jump to the landing of the steps, with a really red face, he kicked his own ass mentally for thinking something could have happened, or for caring so much in the first place.

 

“KAASAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME!!?!?!?!” sobbed the poor red faced kunoichi.

 

“Well I tried to warn you…” her mother stated sheepishly.

 

“You did NOT try to warn me that they BOTH sleep in the nude KaaSan!!!!!!” she pointed an accusing finger towards her mother, who just tapped her fingers together and whistled innocently.

 

“Do you honestly expect me to tell you these things?” Yoshino was trying to hard to not laugh.

 

Gaara looked horrified, “I think I'm gonna be sick.” Kottashi ran to the bathroom.

 

Meanwhile Shikaku and Shikamaru staggered down the stairs, digging in their ears, “geeze, does she need to be so loud so early in the morning?” questioned Shikamaru.

 

Yoshino giggled, “you know your sister ShikaChan.”

 

Shikaku bellowed a loud laugh as his son sweat dropped, “hahah! C'mon Shikamaru! You know that was a nice wake up! We're always just in time for our food to be frozen! This times its pippin hot!”

 

“Whatever.” Both men sat down at their places at the table, Yoshino placing their food in front of them.

 

Kottashi stalked out of the bathroom, glaring at both her parents and Shikamaru. Shikaku's reaction was to just laugh like his wife and Shikamaru felt the need to back up. “You… people… suck…” with that she plopped down at her spot at the table, glaring at all three of them.

 

Gaara on the other hand, was a little amused at this display of a family. Gaara began to think back to his own family as he slowly ate after the Nara's shouted `Itadakimasu' at an annoyingly loud pitch. For as long as he could remember, he never felt the love of a family, and until Naruto beat some sense into him, he had never felt love from his siblings, only fear.

 

However, now, he was experiencing an odd show of family love, even though it wasn't being bestowed upon him himself, he could still feel it. These people were very close, even though Kottashi isn't their biological child, she is still very much part of that family love. Then again, wasn't that what his village was to him now? His family? Yes, the villagers and the village were his family now, along with his siblings, but, then again, it'd have been nice to know what it felt like to be loved by a mother or father. Finishing his musings, he hadn't even noticed he was done eating.

 

Which in turn, led Kottashi to giving him a raise eyebrow look as if asking, are you trying to eat the plate? Looking as if he didn't notice anything, he put down his fork, folded his hands together and said an almost silent, `Goichimasu.' The Nara family replied the same and after Shikamaru and Kottashi cleared the table and set to washing the dishes.

 

“ShikaNii, does GaaraKun always try to eat the dining wear?” Kottashi whispered to her brother.

 

“Not that I know of, that'd be something to ask Naruto.” Whispered back the lazy ninja.

 

“Why would he know, they gay lovers or something?” she accidentally asked out loud.

 

Shikaku and Yoshino looked at their daughter with a raised brow, “what? Private conversation here!” Both shook their heads and returned to talking, Gaara sitting quietly trying to figure out what the hell that was all about.

 

After all the dishes were washed, Shikamaru, Gaara and Kottashi left to one of the hidden training fields.

 

“Do you suppose KottaChan will stay long?” questioned Yoshino, a sad look upon her face.

 

“I don't know, she's a growing girl, and for all we know, she could be a child of another village.” Shikaku frowned.

 

“Or perhaps, two villages.” Proposed his wife.

 

“it's always a possibility.” He looked out the open door slowly swinging with the gentle breeze, wondering what the future of their family would be.

 

 

-----With Shikamaru, Gaara and Kottashi-----

 

 

“Damn it! What the hell is wrong with me?” Kottashi yelled in frustration, as Gaara helped her to her feet.

 

“From what you've told me, the training you've been through, you should be a lot more powerful and more coordinated. How troublesome.” Shikamaru rubbed his temples, “let's see how your reaction time is.”

 

“err, fine.” She got into a ready position and nodded her head, Shikamaru also nodded and threw three kunai and eight shuriken towards his sister. Lavender eyes searched for any weapons, but she saw none. “I don't get it did you do anything ye—“ before she could say anything more she saw the kunai and shuriken come at her from different directions, but had no time to do anything. She froze in her spot, her eyes wide with fear, she was going to be hit with each and every weapon.

 

Lucky for her, Gaara's sand shielded her from every one of them. “You can't even see the shuriken or kunai, let alone have any reaction time.” Shikamaru shook his head, “you sure you trained while with your sensei?”

 

“Of course I did! It's all we did if we had no missions!” yelled the frustrated kunoichi.

 

“Then what's your problem?” questioned Gaara from behind her.

 

Sighing deeply, she looked down, “I remember everything my sensei taught me, I know what to do, how to react… everything! It's just…”

 

Shikamaru raised a brow, “just…?”

 

“Just… it's like my body doesn't remember what to do. My mind does, it remembers how to move, react, and everything, but my body doesn't.” She looked up, teary eyed, “You have to believe me ShikaNii, my sensei taught me well.”

 

Sighing, Shikamaru walked over to his adopted sister and put an arm around her shoulder, “don't worry, I believe you. Maybe this has something to do with the genjutsu you were put under. In any case, maybe Tsunade can figure out what's wrong with you.”

 

“Sankyu ShikaNii…” again, she sighed, something just wasn't right.

 

“Well while we're here, why not work with some of your ninjutsu, see if your body remembers how to work those.” With an excited nod, Kottashi got into position to gather up her chakra.

 

“What are you waiting for? Let's see if you can still do your ninjutsu.”

 

“Something isn't right, I can't… my chakra control, it's… different.” She squinted her eye in wonder.

 

“What do you mean?” Shikamaru gave her a bizarre look.

 

“My chakra… it's almost as if it's foreign to me.” Both Shikamaru and Gaara looked at her with a funny look.

 

“Meaning…?” Gaara questioned.

 

“It's my chakra, but it's like I'm not used to using it. Umm… in example, something that's wild and unruly, like hair, someone's used to taming it with the use of shampoo or something to that effect, it's like that with my chakra, it's usually unruly and just roams around I guess you could say, but for some reason, I can't get it to concentrate anywhere. That make any sense?” she wondered out loud.

 

“Surprisingly enough, that made a lot of sense.” Stated her dark haired brother.

 

“It's your own chakra, shouldn't you be able to control it?” questioned the red haired youth.

 

“Of course I should be able to, but it's like my chakra isn't used to being handled by me.” She shook her head with a sigh.

 

“Meaning?” Gaara asked once again.

 

“I really have no clue.” She sighed.

 

“Ok, well, I don't even wanna try anything with genjutsu, so let's talk to Tsunade, see if she can find what's wrong.” With a nod from both Kottashi and Gaara, they began walking off.

 

A pair of eyes hidden in a tree overlooking the training ground the three young ninja had just left shimmered slightly. One lavender eye one green eye smiled down on them. It was a sad smile, so many lives would be changed so soon, she absentmindedly wondered if the youths would be able to handle it. Then again, it wasn't for her to worry about it quite yet. As silently as those eyes had appeared in the tree, they were gone.

 

 

----In Tsunade's Office----

 

 

“You sure she'll be able to help ShikaNii?” Kottashi questioned wearily.

 

“She's a medical specialist, if anyone, she'll be able to figure this out.” Replied Shikamaru, as the walked down the hall of the Hokage building towards Tsunade's office.

 

“I don't know…”

 

“You can trust her Kottashi, no worries, Tsunade may be a troublesome woman, but she knows her medical jutsu.”

 

“Troublesome woman, eh Shikamaru?” a very evil presence appeared behind the dark haired youth.

 

“Eh ah HokageSama! I uh… we came here seeking your help.” Shikamaru was frozen in an attention position.

 

“At ease Shikamaru, what is it that this “troublesome woman” could possibly help you with?” Tsunade's eye twitched, she was not happy.

 

“HokageSama, we were wondering if you could possibly help us find out the reasons why I can't seem to do anything.” Kottashi said in a subdued and polite tone.

 

Curiosity rising, Tsunade raised a brow, “what do you mean?”

 

Shikamaru started before Kottashi could open her mouth, “while training with her this morning, I've noted that she has no reaction time, can't see any projectile weapons coming toward her, she doesn't seem to have any ability in Taijutsu and she can't control her chakra. However, these are all things she has learned with her sensei and things she states that her minds remembers but her body doesn't.”

 

“Hmm, interesting, I might be able to help.” Tsunade smiled.

 

Kottashi's eyes glittered, “OMG! Really HokageSama!?!” asked the kunoichi.

 

“These sounds like symptoms I've heard of before.”

 

“HokageSama?” questioned Shikamaru.

 

Tsunade silently walked behind her desk and promptly started searching for something. Once she was done, she walked back over to the group of three and handed them a book.

 

“What's this HokageSama?” asked Kottashi.

 

“Open it.” Instructed the medical ninja.

 

Shikamaru flipped it open and searched a few pages, “it's a book that contains information about other villages.” He noted.

 

“Not all of them, but quite a few of them. Since the first Hokage, we've had the Jounin in our three man cells give us the information they could gather about the villages they've visited. That's how this book has become so full. However, such villages as the Sound, we haven't been able to acquire such information.” She took the book from Shikamaru and flipped through it, once she found the page she was looking for, she handed it to Kottashi.

 

“HokageSama?”

 

“look at it.” Tsunade urged.

 

She scanned through it, “Hmm, Past and present Hokage's, top ninja, location, general analysis on abilities of each ninja, and the village as a whole, their Hitai-ate symbol, how many missions we've had their, how many times they've had ninja work with ours… how many of their ninja that are now our citizens? HokageSama?” Tsunade nodded her head. “Ok… main exports, main imports, description of the village, description of the villagers and ninja, academies curriculum, average attendance, teachers, dates of droughts and other natural disasters and how long they've lasted, proof of alliance with Leaf, Jounin that have taken on pupils not of their village…” she stared at that part for a while. She looked over the different pictures, her eyes widened when she saw her sensei's face.

 

“Kottashi?” Shikamaru questioned.

 

“This…” she pointed to the picture, “this is my sensei!”

 

Tsunade took the book, “I thought someone from this village would be your sensei. That's not all, look at the general way they teach their students.” She handed the book back to her, pointing to the section Kottashi was to read.

 

She began to read, “ `generally trained in a genjutsu while their Jounin sensei manipulates their chakra outside of the genjutsu to allow them to train for several weeks at a time. This method is used so that the mind will know the pain and concentration so it can slowly guide the body through the training as well once the Jounin sensei has completed the training in the genjutsu. It was once widely used, it is not as popular because of the death rate of trainees.

 

However, new abilities allow the Jounin sensei to train their pupils without the fear of them getting killed. This style of training is beginning to pick up once more and modifications are being made to make it more effective.' I can't believe this was how I was trained.” Her eye twitched.

 

Tsunade took the book back, “I could probably help you by loosening up your muscles so you'll be better able to train your body to do what your mind knows.”

 

Kottashi's eyes were drawn to the floor, “what's wrong?”

 

“Does that mean… my sensei also placed that other genjutsu upon me?”

 

A brow twitched and a knot was made, “Ittttaaaiii!!!!” Tsunade hit Kottashi upside the head. “What was that for HokageSama!?”

 

“That was for being stupid. Of course your sensei didn't place the second genjutsu on you! It was Uchiha Itachi!” she growled out angrily.

 

“Uchiha Itachi, but why? What would be the point of putting me in that genjutsu? To kill me?” she questioned.

 

“I don't know, that's what I'm still trying to figure out, but trust me, your sensei is a good person, everyone from that village are good people, excluding a few people.”

 

Everyone was silent for a long time, “So HokageSama, when can you loosen up my muscles? I want to prove to myself, wherever she is, that I can go through this training.”

 

Tsunade smiled, this was a true opportunity to try something new, “once these two leave the room I can begin right away. Shikamaru, if you see Shizune, let her enter.”

 

“Hai, HokageSama.” With this Shikamaru left the room.

 

Gaara bowed slightly and also left. “Alright, now that they're not here, let's begin.” Tsunade began to clear her desk, “it won't be comfortable, but lie down here.”

 

Tsunade instructed Kottashi to strip down to her undergarments and to lay flat on her desk so she could start loosing her muscles. As she did so, the lavender eyed kunoichi sighed.

 

“Something wrong Kottashi?” questioned the Hokage.

 

“Just a lot going through my mind I guess, my sensei looked at lot like me, and I never noticed.” Again she sighed, what the hell was going on.

 

“It happens, Naruto looks a lot like Yondaime. I have a feeling that's not the only thing bothering you though.” Stated the older blond woman, green light emitted from her hands as she worked on loosening Kottashi's muscles.

 

“I suppose not… HokageSama, GaaraKun is the Kazekage of Suna, ne?”

“That's right.”

 

“Then why is he here? Shouldn't he be in his own village, protecting it?”

 

“In any other case, he would be, but Temari and Konkurou should be on their way back, they can take care of the place.”

 

“So what's GaaraKun doing here?”

 

“Waiting for the arrival of something he's going to give to me. He hasn't said what it is, but has said it's very strange.”

 

“I see… HokageSama, if I just stayed by your side while you got to know me and my past and all that nonsense, do you think maybe GaaraKun wouldn't have to baby sit me? I mean, he doesn't seem to enjoy it too much, and I don't want to take away his freedom.”

Tsunade's hands worked down the girls arms, “If that was possible, I would have suggested it. My being Hokage here doesn't allow that. Not only do I have my duties here, but also at the hospital. I'm our top medical expert, and I have to keep up on my studies to improve on all operations.”

 

“I know a few medical jutsu… sensei didn't show me any particular jutsu besides just how to heal small cuts.” Once again she sighed as Tsunade worked on her abdominal muscles.

 

“Well that's better than nothing, the more medical jutsu a ninja knows the better. However, the better that ninja knows in what situation one must absolutely use the jutsu is even better.”

 

“Like when going through bacteria infested swamps?” she questioned.

 

“That'd be one situation.” She was now working on the muscles in her thighs.

 

“Ne, HokageSama, you have ShikaNii taking down records of pretty much everything about me. Don't you already have records on me?” Tsunade raised a brow.

 

“It's odd yes, but I have no records on you in the village, I've looked for them many times before I asked Shikamaru to do it for me. I know it's an inconvenience but…” Tsunade started as she worked on her legs.

 

“No, it's ok, I understand, it's a precaution. We aren't in the most peaceful of times right?”

 

Tsunade raised a brow, “you aren't even concerned that the records on you can't be found.”

 

“No, why should I b—WAIT?! THEY CAN'T BE FOUND!? WHY THE HELL NOT!?” the green haired kunoichi's eye twitched.

 

Tsunade sweat dropped, was this girl slow or something? “I don't know, but you weren't in any of the records when I first became Hokage. I've had Shizune search for whatever was torn out of the records, but she never did find it.”

 

The poor girl began to tense up, “Omg this is not good! Someone can use that information to their advantage!”

 

“Well would it really matter? You only stayed in the village a month after you graduated from the Academy right? During that month you had no missions, so there's not much anyone could use against you besides the basic stuff.” Tsunade stated, now working on her back.

 

“I suppose that's true,” she answered, calming down considerably, “then what's the point of ripping out that kind of useless information.”

 

Tsunade finished and placed her hands loosely by her sides as the green light around her hands disappeared, “I don't know. What I do know is that new records will be started now that you're back in the village.”

 

Sitting up, she drew her knees up to her chin, hugging them close to her chest, “I don't think there'd be a point in doing so HokageSama, I mean, I probably don't truly belong in this village, once my body learns everything my mind knows…” she looked out the window.

 

“you're going to search for your true village.” The blond haired Hokage finished for her.

 

“Hai…” they were both silent for a while, “I love Konoha, it's so awesome here, peaceful yet energetic. It's just… even though I have a family that loves me, friends that look out for me… I just don't think this is the village I was meant to grow up in. There's a feeling in my heart that I've yet to visit my true village.”

 

Tsunade hugged the young kunoichi, “I understand what you mean. It took me a while to figure out that Konoha was my true home.” She smiled at her, “now get dressed, you're going to be training with Shikamaru for a while, I suggest you further stretch out your muscles.”

 

Kottashi smiled lightly, “hai, arigatou HokageSama.”

 

 

-----With Kakashi and Anko-----

 

 

Anko silently leapt from tree to tree, “so what is it we're supposed to retrieve Kakashi?” she questioned.

 

The silver haired ninja looked at her as he silently jumped from tree to tree as well, “TsunadeSama didn't say. I don't think KazekageSama told her.”

 

“What do you suppose it is?”

 

“Could be anything, could be information, or maybe layouts to another village. Records, weapons, who knows.” He turned his attentions forward.

 

“I don't suppose we'll be able to get there and back without trouble.” Anko suggested sarcastically.

 

“When can we ever do anything without interference?” Kakashi said, as he sweat dropped.

 

Both Anko and Kakashi looked onward. Wondering what it could be that Gaara didn't trust himself to carry to Konoha. Kakashi knew better than Anko, but both jounin knew that Gaara was a trustworthy person. Gaara had shown them that himself, and not to mention, Naruto showed him trust in the Kazekage as well.

 

-Flash back-

 

“TsunadeSama.” Bowed the young red headed Kazekage.

 

“Ah, GaaraSama, you finally made it.” Tsunade smiled.

 

“I need to ask a request of you TsunadeSama.” He said sternly.

 

Tsunade gave him a serious look, “I'm listening.”

 

“There is an object in Sunagakure that I wish to give to you to examine.” He stated.

 

Tsunade blinked, “ok… then can I see it?”

 

“You'll have to send a team to Suna to retrieve it, I could not bring it with me.” He said, his face straight.

 

“Why couldn't you bring it with you GaaraSama?” she questioned wonderingly.

 

“The object which I wish to let you examine has strange properties. Since Shukaku has been taken from my body, I have yet to fully regain control over my abilities. The object wouldn't have been safe within my grasp.” He explained.

 

“You can't tell me what it is?”

 

“I'm not exactly sure what it is myself.”

 

-End of Flash back-

 

Kakashi had been standing inside the office door while they conversed. After that, Tsunade had asked him to help round up the jounin. He continuously wondered what it was. If Gaara didn't know what it was, then what made him think that Tsunade would be able to find out. He also wondered what the `mysterious properties' bit was all about. There were too many questions, and for the first real time besides when Naruto came back from training with Jiraiya, he was excited to find out what it was.

 

D.K.Chan here! There was an interesting chapter!

 

KI: Not really…

 

DK: Shut up dog boy!

 

KK: I finally get to be mentioned a little more.

 

N: Ne KakashiSensei… you're an important part of this story…

 

SN: All of you are troublesome…

 

K: How could you say that ShikaNii?! ~sobs~

 

SI: That is just the way he is.

 

DK: You are so boring Shino.

 

C: I don't think so, ShinoKun is very smart.

 

N: So is Shikamaru but he isn't THAT dull.

 

H: Both of them are very smart and fun.

 

K: What crack house did you just come from HinataChan?

 

H: Nani?

 

DK: ANYWAYS! Enough of this babble! Next chapter! Kakashi and Anko reach Suna and gather up what Gaara wanted to be delivered to Tsunade. Meanwhile Genma and Kurenai investigate the Sound village. What will unfold while these two teams are on their missions?