Naruto wobbled on his feet, and I tried not to laugh as he sank inside the pond with a yelp for the ninth time in the past ten minutes. Keeping count made this even funnier.
"What the heck!" Naruto pulled himself out of the water, a scowl on his face. "Why is this thing so hard to get down?"
"Be patient, Naruto." Karin's chiding voice came from nearby as she walked sideways down a tree with a tiny smile and the grace of a ballerina. "Nobody became a ninja overnight."
Predictably, Naruto whirled around, pointing an indignant finger at his smug cousin. "That's easy for you to say. You picked up tree walking in half an hour!"
Karin preened at the reminder, even if the brat didn't mean that as a compliment. "I guess my chakra control is that good," she said smugly as she hopped off the tree, and Naruto shot her a dirty look, running a hand through his wet hair.
"That's because you have way less chakra than I do."
"Oh really?" Karin arched a dainty eyebrow, a cheeky smirk pulling at her lips. "Must be hard suffering from success, little cousin."
A beat of silence followed, and I couldn't help it. Deep within the recesses of the seal, a loud snort escaped me as I smothered a laugh, the noise of a dying hyena filling my cage.
I'd taught them well.
Oi, shaddap, Kurama! This isn't funny. Naruto snapped inwardly with all the energy of an angry chihuahua before scowling at Karin. "And you're only three months older than me, y'know!"
It totally is.
"And you're also shorter than me, shrimpy," she said in a matter-of-fact way that instantly made Naruto's salt levels double.
Damn. No mercy today.
"We're only six. I've got plenty of time to grow."
True. He'd only hit his growth spurt during the Shippuden time skip.
"Sure, sure." Karin nodded along sagely, her smile turning downright catty. "I'll stop calling you that when you do."
Naruto opened his mouth, a comeback readying on the tip of his tongue, only to close it after a moment and turn back to the pond with an aggravated huff, roasting session firmly decided.
Karin twenty-seven, Naruto twenty-three.
I shook my head with a quiet, disappointed sigh. As my partner, I couldn't root for anyone else, but I had to give credit where it was due. Karin had been spewing a lot of fire lately.
I regretted nothing.
"Whatever." The brat grumbled something more under his breath, and I paused, my lips pursing with conflicting thoughts as Karin walked to the edge of the pond with a skip in her step.
On one hand, watching these two was my favorite Leaf TV channel. On the other, her smug levels might reach dangerous levels by the time she graduated.
I thought about it for a moment longer, then shrugged. Eh. Not my problem.
"Why are you sulking? You know I can tell that you're not actually mad."
As it turned out, the constant ninshū exposure had helped Karin develop her sensory ability way faster than expected. Who would've known.
Naruto pretended to ignore Karin for a moment longer, before finally turning around with an exaggerated frown on his face.
Kids…
"That's because you're cheating with that super chakra sensing of yours."
Seriously? Complaining about cheating?
"It's my bloodline limit," the smug gremlin said with a shrug, and the brat looked like he wanted to argue it for a moment, before giving up. "And you have your shadow clones."
Exactly. Those were the biggest hax, second only to alien farmer bullshit and the pink eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it."
A beat of slightly awkward silence fell between them, before Naruto extended an arm, holding a fist in front of his cousin. "Here."
Karin blinked owlishly, her eyes drifting from the offered hand to Naruto's aloof face. "What for?"
"You're low on chakra. I have a lot to spare."
A brand-new teasing smile bloomed on Karin's face as she made a cooing sound. "Aw so you care."
I held back a sigh, my hopes for a clutch comeback shattered when the brat couldn't even hold eye contact longer than two seconds, a flash of heat creeping up his neck as he looked to the side. "Just shut up and take my chakra, ya know!"
Yeah, it was official… this kid needed remedial lessons on how to handle teasing from girls.
Merciful enough to spare her cousin any further embarrassment, Karin bumped her fist against Naruto's, and I helped the brat work our magic. A sliver of my chakra mixed into his own, before flowing like a tiny stream from his hand, and Karin closed her eyes with a soft sigh, a content smile on her face.
"It's so warm—
A terrified gasp suddenly escaped Karin as her eyes snapped open, the girl stumbling over her feet as she took a step back.
Oh, shit. I instantly cut off the link, trying my best to suppress my chakra as much as I could. Again? Why was she doing this?
Naruto's aloof mask melted away in the blink of an eye, replaced by genuine concern. "Karin, you okay?"
"W-what the heck is that?!" Karin said, pointing a shaky finger at the brat's stomach. "There's an awful scary chakra inside you, like—it's cold and angry but also feels like it burns and—
She paused, hand drooping limply at her side as she caught her breath. Naruto eyed her for a moment, brow creased in confusion, before his mouth opened in realization.
"Ahh, that's Kurama."
Karin's brows furrowed as she stared at her cousin. "But his chakra feels nothing like that."
"Well," Naruto said, only to pause, his attention turning inwardly. Why did she react like that? This never happened before.
A deep sigh escaped me at his question. Because I always filter my chakra, so that it feels nice and warm whenever she's in here.
But I couldn't keep my chakra feeling all nice and fuzzy twenty-four seven. That took a lot of focus. Battery acid and murder-death-kill was my default state of being.
A thousand years of hate had left their mark on my chakra, and that shit couldn't just be shrugged away.
"He says it's because he usually keeps his chakra nice and warm when we're around." Naruto said while Karin stood there quietly, a thoughtful look on her face.
But what do you mean?
My chakra normally feels like boiling acid.
Huh. Naruto blinked owlishly. Why's that anyway?
Because I've lived for a long time and seen some awful things.
Oh… He went quiet, a hint of sadness washing over him. I'm sorry.
Don't apologize, it's not even your fault.
Yeah, but it must suck having to deal with something like that.
Now it was my turn to go quiet, shaking my head with a sardonic smile. Not even seven yet, and the brat was already showing empathy for cranky old me. Ninja Jesus, indeed.
I'm sure I'll get over it one day.
I'll definitely help you with that, you know!
A quiet chuckle left me at the resolve behind his words, rumbling through my prison. I'll hold you to that, partner.
The link went quiet, though it buzzed with a spark of joy as an infectious grin tugged at Naruto's cheeks. When he looked back at Karin, she was nibbling at her lip, brows knitted with a look of deep thought that made me wish I could've patted her head.
"Well, I don't care how his chakra feels like," she said after a moment, raising her chin with a short, cute huff. "It was a little scary at first, but I'm not scared anymore. Kurama is a nice fox."
A beat of silence followed her declaration, and, in the privacy of my prison, I couldn't hold back a genuine smile. These kids were something else.
"Having fun, you two?"
Naruto and Karin spun around as a warm, gentle voice made itself known, their faces lighting up. Yuzu approached at a sedate pace from across the yard, a soft smile on her lips and hair gleaming in the evening sun like a blazing crown.
A sight for sore eyes.
My chakra truly did wonders. Only a few weeks of treatment at the Kurama spa, and she looked like she hadn't aged a single day past her mid-twenties. Traces of her scars still lingered, her long sleeves and skirt hiding everything save for the briefest glimpses, but who cared. I'd clap those pale, Uzumaki cheeks harder than Hashirama clapped Madara.
A wistful sigh escaped me as she stopped in front of the kids, my attention wandering to the fair skin peeking from her modest neckline before returning to her face. If only I could…
"Well, yeah," Naruto scratched at his cheek sheepishly while Karin nodded eagerly. "I almost figured how to walk on water."
I held back a snort. Yeah, almost.
"I practiced tree walking until I ran out of chakra, but Naruto gave me more."
"He's a reliable boy, isn't he?" Yuzu looked between the two gremlins, sharing a knowing smile with Karin while Naruto looked away in embarrassment. Oh, he was getting double-teamed now. Poor brat was cooked.
"Yep. He's the best cousin I could've asked for."
Thankfully, the mother was nowhere as bad as her daughter when it came to teasing. "Hello, Kurama. Her gaze shifted back to Naruto, that beautiful, vibrant red hair swaying slightly as a gentle breeze blew past. "Thank you for keeping an eye on them as usual."
Hello, indeed.
"He says hi," Naruto supplied helpfully, and Yuzu reached inside the beige apron she wore atop her clothes, pulling out two small, familiar-looking, square pieces of paper.
Karin's eyes lit up in recognition, an excited smile pulling at her cheeks. "Oh! You got them!"
Well, this was going to be interesting.
The girl snatched one of the papers with a giggle, much to Yuzu's amusement, while Naruto looked at his cousin, brows furrowed.
"What's that?"
Chakra paper.
"Chakra paper," Karin said with a smile, eyeing that tiny slip of paper like it held the secrets of the universe.
The brat stared for a moment longer, his mouth opening in quiet realization. Ahhhh. Yeah, you told me about this.
Mm-hmm. Of course I did.
"Can I get one, too?"
"Of course." Yuzu smiled down warmly at Naruto as she held the other piece of paper for him to take. "That's why I have two of them."
"Awesome!" he exclaimed, an excited smile on his face.
You don't need it, though.
Eh? His hand froze on the paper as he blinked owlishly. Why not?
Because I already know your chakra affinity. It's wind.
Oh?! Really? A wind affinity? That's cool, right?
Yes. Very cool. Mass destruction, hold my Rasenshuriken, atomic dismantling levels of cool.
Aww, yeah! Naruto pumped a fist, getting a knowing look from Yuzu and an odd one from Karin.
"Talking to Kurama?" the girl said, Naruto flashing her a sheepish smile.
"Yeah." He nodded, taking the slip of paper and staring at it lamely. "He says I have a wind affinity."
What do I do with this, though?
Keep it for now. It's useful to have one on hand.
"He can tell one's chakra affinity?" Yuzu spoke, a curious note in her tone.
Normally, no, but you're my host, and that's why.
"It's because of this," he said, pointing casually at his stomach.
"I see." Yuzu nodded along, her soft lips parting slightly in understanding, before her tongue darted out to wet them. My gaze lingered once again, a quiet sigh escaping me.
If only…
"Oh, and Kurama says to keep it, since it's useful to have one around," Naruto said as he gave the paper another look before shoving it inside a pocket.
So, what now? Am I gonna learn some cool wind jutsu?
I shook my head, an exasperated smile coming to my face at the predictable question. I'll tell you after you finish the water walking exercise.
Naruto deflated like a wilting sunflower, his shoulders drooping with a sigh. Fine.
Next to him, Karin looked like she was about to burst from eagerness. "Maybe mine's wind, too." With that sharp tongue of hers, I wouldn't be surprised.
"Oh, that'd be cool," Naruto said with a matching smile.
Water or fire would be better. That way, you could do collaboration jutsu.
What's a collaboration jutsu?
I'll explain later. Pay attention.
"Here we go," Karin said as she held the slip of paper between two fingers. A moment later, water suffused the paper, turning it soggy. Karin let out a surprised noise, eyes going wide as she stared at the chakra paper. "Oh! This means water affinity, right?"
"Yes, it does," Yuzu spoke from next to her, smiling warmly as Naruto poked the wet paper experimentally with a finger.
"Huh, so that's how it works."
"It's not wind, but water is great, too, isn't it?" Karin held up the soggy piece of paper with a proud smile, though I didn't miss the trace of uncertainty at the corner of her lips.
Silly girl. Water was great. Tobirama—it's not a war crime the first time—had made it pretty clear to everyone.
A fanged smile stretched on my lips. Yeah, I could work with that.
"It's a common affinity in our clan. The second Hokage had it, too."
All doubt vanished from Karin's face at her mother's reassuring words, the smugness from before returning in full force. She had a good reason this time, though.
"That's awesome, Karin!" Naruto perked up with an excited grin, and the girl preened at the attention.
"It is, right?"
A quiet chuckle escaped me as I watched the byplay. She only needed a single jutsu to become a menace with this element.
What's so funny, Kurama?
You'll see in a few years.
Whaaat? Why so long?
Because good things come to those who wait.
Like what?
You'll see. Now let me talk with them.
With a little bit of work, Karin might just become the second most annoying ninja, right after my brat.
__________________________________________
Itachi walked out of the Naka Shrine, mouth drawn tightly and face as if carved from stone. His gaze wandered to the bright, full moon halfway hidden between the clouds before glancing to the side from the corner of his eye.
Shisui was similarly quiet, the normally easygoing air around him replaced by a grim acceptance as he walked in silence, brow deeply creased.
Things have been taking a turn for the worse over the past month but tonight, the steadily growing resentment had reached a dangerous peak. He had no idea what his Father was planning, though. He'd been oddly moderate lately, despite being the one to propose the idea of a coup.
Itachi could only hope that his father would see it fit to not keep him in the dark for much longer. He wasn't certain what he could do regardless, but he could tell that time was running short, and ignorance would bring no solutions. Some of the voices in the Clan have become too loud to ignore, and the chance for a peaceful resolution was slipping away with each day. He understood their grievances, but turning against the village should never be the solution. That wasn't the Will of Fire...
"How's Sasuke doing?" Shisui's voice cut through the heavy silence, holding a note of curiosity. "Still trying to get down that Great Fireball?"
Itachi looked at his friend, the ghost of a smile pushing away his somber thoughts as the image of a happily smiling Sasuke flashed through his mind.
"He's made a lot of progress over the past month."
Something had sparked a fire inside his little brother lately, making Sasuke even more focused on his training. He hadn't asked him yet, but the signs seemed to point towards a rivalry of sort.
A flash of amusement bubbled in his chest, the corner of his mouth twitching ever so slightly. That would do Sasuke good in the future. A shinobi needed to constantly challenge himself to grow.
"He also told me something interesting a couple days ago."
Part of him still felt curious enough to ask but approaching that boy on a whim would not be wise, especially during these times.
"Oh?" Shisui's brows rose a fraction. "About what?"
"That old legend about Indra and his brother."
Shisui paused from his walk, turning to him fully. "From the stone tablet?"
"No." Itachi shook his head, gaze once more drifting towards the pale moon. "A different one. I've heard something similar from Father, but not in that much detail."
Shisui let out an inquisitive hum. "Who told him then?"
"A classmate. Uzumaki Naruto."
Recognition flashed across Shisui's face at the name, his lips pursing thoughtfully for a moment. "Where did that boy even hear about a legend like that? The Hokage?"
Most likely.
They didn't call him The Professor only because he knew all the techniques in the Leaf's arsenal. Lord Third knew many old and obscure legends that the common man was not privy to.
Itachi's brow creased as his eyes wandered again at the moon. The only other reason he could think of…
No. He dismissed the silly thought just as quickly. Why would a tailed beast bother to share ancient tales with their jailer?
"Mind sharing that story? We still have a while until we get home." Shisui said with a smile as they resumed their walk, and Itachi gave a tiny nod, another tinge of amusement tugging slightly at his lips.
Shisui had always enjoyed history ever since he'd known him.
__________________________________________
—and an elf walks out from behind the tree, their green mantle concealing everything but their sharp, blue eyes. What do you do?"
Naruto thought about it for a moment, grinning as he dramatically jabbed a finger at the paper figurine. "I cast fireball!"
There was a moment of silence, before a quiet sigh came through the mental link. Are you sure?
He considered it for a moment before nodding decisively. Why did Kurama even ask? "Yeah, it's obviously a trap."
There was another pause, followed by another sigh.
The elf did not expect you to turn on him, his eyes widening as he tries to roll out of the way to no success. The fiery blast strikes him with a blinding flash and deafening boom, exploding into a torrent of flames. Bloodcurdling screams rise out of the blaze as a burning silhouette writhes futilely in agony, before everything goes deathly quiet, save for the soft crackling of embers.
Acrid smoke fills the place, the smell of charred flesh making your stomach churn as you stare at the smoldering remains of the elf.
Alone, you try to make your way out of the forest, but the forest is unfamiliar to you and soon, you become lost. Pale light filters through the thick foliage, casting too little light to help you navigate the forest in the dead of the night as ominous sounds come from the distance.
Prepare for an ambush. Roll for initiative.
Naruto blinked owlishly, staring at the spread-out board on the table in front of him.
Wait, what do you mean ambush?!
Naruto, you were supposed to meet the forest guide whom you hired the last day at the tavern. Who was an elf. Whom you just killed with a fireball. Kurama said, voice deep and dramatic. Now, you're lost, and monsters are coming.
What? How was I supposed to know that?
Seriously. What kind of crap was this? Not even Karin would've figured it out.
Well, maybe if you tried talking to the guy instead of toasting him on sight?
But he looked super shady! Only people up to no good lurked like that inside a forest.
Why? Because he was waiting for you like that?
Duh. Wasn't it obvious?
Kurama was definitely making this game harder on purpose, just because he couldn't understand the awesomeness of Fireball.
He was an elf. Kurama's grumpy voice returned with a tired sigh. He wasn't holding any weapon. You could've tried talking to him first.
But what if he tried to attack me? That happened before with those shady guys at the stables. Better I hit them first with fireball.
Naruto, there was nothing to hint at an ambush. You can't solve every problem with fireball.
Why not? Fireball is great. I wish I could do a cool jutsu like that. A smile pulled at his cheeks as a thought came to him. Maybe he could find someone to teach him how to make a super cool fireball?
The link went quiet, Naruto looking around idly before Kurama spoke again. This is why Karin stopped playing with you.
Brow furrowing, Naruto's mouth opened indignantly. But she was in the blast range. 'Course, the fireball would hit her, too.
Naruto, you tried to light up a campfire with a fireball.
Well, duh. How was he supposed to make a fire otherwise? It just proves how fireball is good at everything.
That's not the point. Kurama said, only to pause again, an awkward silence stretching between them. You know what, it's getting late. How about we continue this tomorrow?
Naruto looked up at the sky, a frown coming to his face as he noticed the dark orange shades of the sunset. When the heck did the time fly by so quickly?
Aww, do I have to?
Naruto. Kurama's voice became firm. You'll be late for dinner if you stay any longer.
A pang of hunger stirred in Naruto's stomach at the reminder, his eyes going wide as he perked up. You think it's ramen again?
No way. You've had that for three days straight.
And Kurama's words had him deflating just as quickly, his shoulders drooping. But I want ramen…
Why are you sulking? Yuzu makes great food. You're lucky to be able to taste it.
Naruto's gaze went back to the horizon, an unpleasant feeling stirring in his chest as the frown returned to his face. Do you miss being outside, Kurama?
Kurama went quiet, and Naruto picked up one of the paper figurines from the board, turning it around idly in his hand as the sound of leaves rustling in the wind filled the yard.
I do. The fox spoke after a while, voice softer. It gets quite boring in here sometimes.
Naruto chewed at his lip, unsure of what to say. Kurama didn't say anything else, and Naruto looked back at the board. He placed the figurine down with a sigh and quietly packed everything up, Kurama's words staying at the back of his mind the whole time.
Maybe Kurama did something bad in the past, but he wasn't a bad person. He didn't deserve to keep staying locked inside that cage anymore, did he?
__________________________________________
Anko chewed absentmindedly at her dango as she walked back from her favorite shop, a half-eaten skewer in one hand and a large paper bag in the other. The days in between missions were always slow ones, especially when she had no new toys at the T&I to play with.
A frown pulled at her lips, and she took a forceful bite out of her dango. Kurenai was away, too, which left her with little to do aside from training, dropping by the ANBU lounge to check on the fresh meat, and hitting the bar in the evening.
A quiet huff escaped her. Boo~ring~
Rounding a corner to a busy street, a familiar-looking mop of blonde hair caught her attention up ahead. Head swiveling left and right as he looked around, that Uzumaki brat was strutting along the street at a quick pace.
Part of her wondered what the shrimp might be up to, though another couldn't help but notice the side-eyed looks and glares he drew from most people as he passed by. The same looks that she used to get and still got sometimes.
Another frown came to her face as she pushed away those thoughts. The kid looked like he could handle it, so he should be fine.
Shrugging, she snatched the last dumpling from the skewer, chewing slowly to savor the sweet and tangy flavor of the topping. She should've bought more of these sort—
"Ah! It's the dango lady!"
Anko paused at the obnoxiously loud voice, pinning the blond shrimp with a glare as he walked up to her, smiling cheekily. She ignored the few heads that turned in their direction, propping a hand on her hip. "My name is Mitarashi Anko, you brat. Better remember it."
A flash of annoyance twitched on the kid's face as he stared at her, before pointing a thumb at his chest. "And I'm Uzumaki Naruto."
Anko resisted the urge to roll her eyes. If he didn't like being called a brat, he should stop acting like one.
"Yeah, I know," she said casually, and the brat blinked owlishly.
"Really?" His brow climbed up in surprise, and she looked at him flatly, not deigning that with an answer.
A beat of silence passed as the brat eyed her skeptically. "Is that a ninja thing?"
Anko gave a quiet huff, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly. "Yeah, it's a 'ninja thing'." Right up there with common sense. Whoever had spilled the beans to the civvies must've been retarded, but the flak jacket always came with a full briefing on the jinchūriki.
"Well, I've got stuff to do," Anko said as she stepped around the kid and resumed her walk, gaze drifting to the paper bag before she smothered the urge. That was the post training snack.
Not even two seconds later, the brat called out indignantly after her, "Hey! Don't just leave like that!"
"Tag along if you wanna chat," she said, not breaking her stride as she toyed idly with the empty dango skewer between her fingers. The sound of rushed footfalls followed from behind, the brat falling in step at her side and throwing her a dirty look.
Anko rolled her eyes. If she lived another ten years, she was never having brats if this was how annoying they could get.
"So?" She threw the kid a sideways glance, the ghost of a smirk twitching on her lips at the annoyed look on his face. "Playing hooky already?"
"It's the lunch break," Naruto said, voice whiny and sour as he stared up ahead, "and I'm looking for someone."
She threw him another glance, eyebrows arching with a flicker of curiosity, "Aint'cha a bit too young to be stalking girls already?"
She didn't expect to get much of a reaction, but the look of utter confusion on his face gave her pause.
"What? Why would I be stalking girls?"
Anko blinked, mouth opening slightly as she looked away. Right. Orphan. The first year didn't get into that stuff, so he was clueless about a lot of things. Well, at least he had some family now.
"I'm looking for a guy they call the Eternal Genin."
Now, that got a full rise of her brows.
"Oh?" She said, head cocking a fraction as she smirked. "You wanna hear more about your future career?" Her smirk widened as the brat predictably took the bait, his face scrunching up in annoyance.
"I'm gonna be Hokage, ya know!"
"Dreaming big, huh?"
"It's only a dream until I make it happen," Naruto said, fists balling at his sides as she spared him another look from the corner of her eye. He might be a whiny, snot nosed brat, but who knew. Maybe he'd surprise everyone. And if nothing else, that stubborn determination would help him as a shinobi.
Anko toyed with her dango skewer as they lapsed into silence, the brat walking with a frown at her side. Why was he even following her still?
"So, you wanna ask me something or what?" she said as the training ground came into sight.
The kid pretended to ignore her for a while longer, before sending her a curious look. "Do you know where I can find that genin gramps?"
"Maybe." Who didn't? "What'cha need from that old guy, anyway?"
"He's been a ninja for a super long time," Naruto said, a flicker of excitement flashing across his face. "I bet he knows a lot of useful stuff, so I'm gonna ask him for advice."
Oh? Maybe this brat was smarter than he looked.
"What, like not dying?" Anko said, a teasing smirk curling her lips as Naruto shot her another annoyed look. This kid was so easy to wind up.
"That's not very useful."
"Oh, yeah?" She drawled, lifting a brow challengingly. "You think that genin grandpa can give you better advice than a special jōnin?"
"Totally, ya know." Naruto shot back without hesitation, her eyes narrowing slightly. This brat was making fun of her. Shamelessly.
"Then why don't you go ask someone else? I'm pretty busy, you know?" She shrugged dismissively, getting a skeptical look from the brat.
"Doing what?"
"Training, obviously." She threw an idle glance around as she came to a stop, jabbing a thumb to the side at the empty training grounds.
She expected to get another round of whining, but the kid stayed suspiciously quiet, his eyes briefly shifting to the paper bag in her hand before they narrowed slightly as he gave her a funny look.
"Is that full of dango?"
Anko blinked at the sudden question. "Yeah, and?" Did this brat have a problem with dango?
"It's not healthy to eat so many sweets," he said, a chiding note in his tone that made her brow twitch.
Again with this bullshit?
"That's none of your business, brat. I eat whatever the fuck I want," she huffed, the little twerp meeting her glare with a shrug.
"If you say so. I was just trying to be nice, but if you wanna end up looking like this, sure, keep stuffing yourself with dango."
Look like what—
A brief spike of chakra had her tensing, her eyes widening a fraction as the brat made the Ram seal. A puff of smoke exploded around him, revealing a sight that gave her pause.
For a quiet moment, Anko stared blankly at the familiar looking woman who smirked cheekily at her. It was like seeing a twisted mirror image of herself, who must've been born an Akimichi and regularly ate two times her weight in dango.
"Hi! I'm the future dango lady. Nice to meet'cha!" The plump abomination spoke in a sickly-sweet tone, before striking a seductive pose to further mock her, puckering her lips with a wink.
A beat of deathly silence passed as Anko stood there, her eye twitching.
"That's it, brat. You're in for some spanking."
A moment later, she palmed the dango skewer like a senbon and threw it with a flick of her wrist. It zipped past the brat's face, and there was another puff of smoke as the transformation ended.
Smirking, she stalked closer as the cloud of smoke dispersed, only to pause mid-step, staring dumbly at the empty spot.
What the fu—
The realization hit her like a slap in the face.
Shadow clone. Again.
This little shit—
A muscle jumped in her jaw, grip tightening the slightest bit around the dango bag as her eyes narrowed dangerously. Twice in a row. This brat was asking for it. Big time.
Blowing a harsh breath through her nose, Anko took a quick glance around and made her way inside the training grounds. At least there wasn't anyone around to see this shit.
As she walked, her eyes wandered to her stomach, a frown coming to her face at the reminder. That plump, twisted version of herself flashed to mind before she banished it with a scoff. A moment later, her hand snaked to her belly, and she absentmindedly patted it.
Flat and tight. She could bounce coins on these sweet abs. No way she'd ever end up looking like that.
__________________________________________
Hiruzen took one more glance at the jutsu formula laid out on the floor, gaze shifting to the bound, grim-faced woman at the center of it. An unfortunate spy from Stone, brought over from the T&I at his request.
They normally stayed imprisoned, or received a quick, painless end as mercy, but this endeavor required a sacrifice, and such was the life of shinobi.
A quiet sigh escaped through his nose as he stepped closer, jaw set grimly.
This was it.
His chakra stirred as he stepped closer.
Tiger → Snake → Dog → Dragon
He blurred through the seals, kneading his chakra before clapping his hands as a soft white glow lit up the center of the array.
"Impure World Resurrection."
The woman began screaming as countless flakes of ash crept up her body like hungry ants, clinging to her flesh and giving it new shape.
Deathly pale skin, an oval face, vibrant, red hair that flowed down her shoulders, and a pair of dark eyes that gleamed with twisted, unnatural life. She looked the same as on that awful night.
Kushina stared at him for a long, quiet moment, a flicker of confusion flashing across her face before her eyes narrowed.
"Hiruzen." Her soft voice cut through the tense atmosphere like a cold edge. "What is the meaning of this?"
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