Baby’s First Battle

AUTHOR'S NOTES; This fic is weirdly easy to write for compared to some of my other ones, so I got it out pretty quick, but fight scenes are kinda difficult.

It's been a while since I've updated this story though, but not long enough for me to feel bad considering all the fics I update. Lol.

Feel free to check out the rest of the series if you want to read about the MC's interdementional cycle of reincarnation, but all installments can be read separately.

As always, y'all be killing it with the support, particularly comments, which are my favorite fuel for writting. You guys are the best. Seriously. 💙

So, without further ado, I give you the next chapter. Thanks so much for reading and commenting!

Discord!

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XXXXXXXXXX

"Kashi!" I call out childishly from my place in Sakumo's lap. I make grabby hands, ignoring the chunin team who are still watching with befuddled, indulgent amusement.

Kakashi ducks his head, sputtering into his scarf in embarrassment. "No!"

Sorry, buddy, this is more important than your dignity. I make a show of wrapping a single, bright chakra thread around his arm and yanking him behind the desk towards Sakumo and I, distracting everyone from seeing the dozens upon dozen more invisible chakra threads I start to unravel around me, preparing them for faster action should the need arise, making sure that it's not far enough away from me to draw attention by distorting my chakra signature. 

Ignoring the chunin team's coos at our cuteness and Kakashi's own protests, I drag my friend into a cuddle pile in his father's lap. He struggles until I dig my fingernails into his side, doing the same with Sakumo-ojisama under his kage robes to get their attention, and carefully hidden from any observers, I quickly tap out a Konoha tap code message. All 12 ANBU are hostile. Incoming attack. Chunin non-hostile.

Sakumo chuckles, patting my head gently, not reacting excerpt for the feeling of sharpening fangs and a predator stalking its prey in his chakra. Again, it's not something other sensors can usually sense since the actual flow of his chakra doesn't change. I had only recently figured out that this was because emotions altered the natural chakra of a person, meaning you'd have to be able to sense natural chakra to feel the difference, contrary to my original understanding of sensing. It also explains why the last sensor who could actually sense emotions was Tobirama Senju himself.

Kakashi allows me to snuggle him for three repetitions of the message before he shoves away with a huff, a new kunai now up my sleeve, the only weapon I have on me, and slinks back to his seat quickly scratching something on some paper he was using as Sakumo continues to converse with the chunin, an Ino-Shika-Cho team, although not the clan heirs.

"Oi, Nara-san, could you take this to Shikaku-nisama? Tell him to choose one of the dates listed for our next Shogi match," Kakashi huffs exasperatedly as he hands over the note before returning to his seat, not having nearly as much ease at stilling his chakra, but it seems like either no one is paying attention, or the assassins don't have a sensor since the hostile signatures show no awareness yet.

The Nara chunin glances at the note only briefly before smirking, his chakra only giving the faintest of stutters that has my hand tightening on Sakumo's robes, a very controlled reaction that reveals none of the dread and alarm his chakra swirled now with. Kakashi tipped him off and I can't tell if that was a good idea of if we're fucked but there wasn't a reaction in the ROOT, so… "It will be a long while before you can give Shikaku-sama a challenge, kid."

"But, one day, I will do it," Kakashi declares with all the confidence of childhood innocence that I'm not actually sure he has.

"I think he's actually eating with his team at that BBQ place that just opened up. If you'd like, I could take you two to see him?" The Nara offers casually, an inconspicuous and clever attempt to get Kakashi and I out of the crosshairs of the incoming assasination attempt. It's a decisive and logical move that would allow the White Fang to go full out without two small children to protect. But, I was the only one who could feel the way the ROOT captain began to signal to his minions, hidden in the rafters and alcoves around the tower and office, the tightening of some of the agents' muscles, the way they began to shift their weight in preparation. Lightning quick, I realize that they are preparing to split up. If Kakashi and I try to leave, some of them will follow, kill everyone around us, including these chunin, and either capture or kill us. The better option…

"No, thank you," I offer cheerfully, voice incrementally more strained than it should be, cutting off Sakumo before he can talk. "We're spending time with Sakumo-ojisama."

I smile gummily in a way that shows my dimples and newly grown set of teeth, making the still oblivious Akimichi and Yamanaka chunin coo, before grabbing Sakumo's robe sleeve and innocently chewing on it, distracting all eyes away from the fast tapping of a message on his arm with my hidden fingers. Retreat unavailable. Sakumo indulgently takes his soggy sleeve back and hands me a lollipop, playing the ever indulgent, soft, father, even as I feel his rage spike at the confirmation that Kakashi and I are being targeted. "Mah, it's best if I spend quality time with the children when I can."

The Nara nods, carefully unhesitant and finishes his report before leaving with his team. Hidden in Sakumo's chest, I grimace, trying my best to analyze our opponents. Twelve enemies. Five fire affinities, tree earth, one wind, one water, one water and wind, and one water and earth. That doesn't mean they can't use other affinities, but those are the primaries, and Sakumo's lightning will be the only lightning on the field. No notable clans that I can detect… orphans, maybe since it would be much harder for Danzo to get his hands on clan children for ROOT-

It's only thirty seconds after the chunin team leaves that the room erupts into noise and motion. In between one moment and the next, the air is knocked out of my lungs, my ears ringing from an explosion, and my surroundings blur from the Hokage's office to the nearby rooftops as Sakumo moves faster than I can process. Then, Lord Fourth's whitebuzzingfurryfangandclaw chakra is pulsing rapidly in a distress signal, dazing my senses further, only the sound of clashing metal and the weightless feeling as Sakumo leaps informing me that the battle has already begun. Adrenaline helps me get my bearings enough to quickly maneuvers myself onto Sakumo's back to free up his hands for jutsu, Kakashi joining me, and I secure us with my chakra strings, cursing as I realize that somehow in our exit, half my strings were already destroyed. Kakashi bats away a stray kunai with one of his own, his ragged breathing loud even past the deafening thumping of my own heart as sweat begins to trickle down my back, but his trembling doesn't keep him from passing over some exploding tags for me to add to weapons. 

Without preamble, the killing intent floods the area from both sides and Sakumo bites his thumb, slamming a hand onto the rooftop and summoning an entire pack of ten wolves, Katsuki's familiar dark coat among them as they work to give Sakumo the time to pick off the enemy nin. Sakumo leaps again, his white light saber appearing in his hand as he dodges a barrage of fire bullets, ducking a water jet, and creating several shadow clones mid air. 

The killing intent ramps up again and a wheeze from Kakashi reminds me that he can't withstand it like me, though he's been doing admirably so far. Carefully, I wrap most of my remaining chakra strings around him, infusing them with positive intent, causing him to shudder and calm even as Sakumo Shunshins us to another rooftop behind one of the enemies and slicing him in half in a kenjutsu exchange so quick, I only recognize it as such by the sound of metal on metal. We don't even get touched by the splattering blood before we're Body Flickering again, Kakashi and I both crying out with whiplash, our muscles not strong enough to handle the speed.

"Fuck. Sorry, kids," Sakumo growls. I notice how what seems like the only five jonin in the whole fucking area join the fight, and I wince when I feel one get thrown off a roof almost instantly, incapacitated. There was apparently a bigger gap between jonin and ANBU elites then I realized.

"Ignore us, Otousama. Better injured than dead. Akari, do you have chakra for those sensory disorientation genjutsu?" Kakashi pants, tone grim but steady.

"Maybe two," I admit, getting lucky with a chakra string, tripping Sakumo's next opponent just enough for him to decapitate them, making me cringe only a little at the bouncing sound of the head. There isn't much Kakashi and I could do besides stay out of the way since we both know the easiest way to get to the Hokage is through us, not to mention both of us are already low on chakra from the earlier training, but there are still a few tricks up our sleeves.

"Pups,-" Sakumo rumbles out, more menacing than I've ever heard him before immediately interrupting himself to meet a water jutsu with a wind'jutsu.

"It won't put us in more da-" I grunt as the world shifts in yet another flash step, ignoring the sharp pain in my neck as I manage to pull off my blindfold. "-danger then we're already in." 

I tense when I feel someone approaching fast. There is an explosion of chakra and a cry of 'Youth!' that briefly has me very worried about Gai, but the signature and size of the blur is off. It's Sakumo's yelp that clears things up, though. "Dai! Since when could you do that?!"

Boisterous laughter fills the air as Might Dai, having apparently opened up some of the Eight Gates, joins the battle with the jonin. "But of course I should do at least this much for my Hokage!"

The so called 'Eternal Genin' feels like a firestorm of chakra, burning bright with Yang chakra in a way I can't really describe as he engages with the traitors, keeping up despite his lack of actual battle experience on this level. The summons help wherever they can, using teamwork to harry and harass the enemy, mostly succeeding at keeping them from engaging us until we're ready. Two ninja lunge for Sakumo and his living luggage, and from over the Yondaime's shoulders, I make eye contact and put them under a genjutsu that blinds and disorients them with my Sharingan. The elites notice it instantly, and it's pathetically weak by my clan's standards, but my kekkei genkai makes it so that it takes significantly more effort and chakra to break it then ordinary genjutsu. But, in the few moments of pause it gives them, Kakashi lets his kunais fly, propelled even faster by Sakumo's wind manipulation, the exploding tags attached to them blowing up before they regain their vision and I smile grimly as it sends the two ROOT agents blasting clear off the roof.

"Four - No, five down, seven to go," I report quietly, sensing a Sakumo clone and the wolf pack take out another ROOT with some kind of lightning release that Sakumo can't perform with us on his back. Not only were we limiting his mobility because our bodies can't withstand his speed, but his affinity for lightning and the Hatake white chakra lent themselves to wilder, more wide scales jutsu that Sakumo can't risk while carrying us, limiting his jutsu repertoire. Even Kenjustu, while the best option, would put us dangerously close to the attacking nin. 

I can feel lower ranked ninjas evacuating civilians as destruction rains down, but there aren't other jonin near by to step in despite it being the middle of the fucking day since the streets are emptier due to Wartime, the jonin of the village vastly outnumbered by genin and chunin and most having been sent to the fron lines already. I can feel a small army of high ranking nin coming from all sides, following the distress signal, but the fight is progressing too quickly. A flare of chakra at our flank has me shrieking, "Incoming!"

Sakumo, not daring to turn his back and leave us open, doesn't quite manage to evade a big ass fire and wind combo jutsu as he leaps backwards across the street. It burns across his chest and the side Kakashi's on, making him cry out in pain and my blood go cold. I feel my chakra threads, the ones securing us to Sakumo, snap, but Kakashi, getting nicked by the fire, doesn't notice until he's slipping free, eyes wide as he plummets to the street below.

Panic hits me and I'm moving before I even realize what I'm doing, the world slowing to a crawl.

My Mangekyō spirals free as I throw my last three strings out for the light pole and propel myself off of the Yondaime's back with a flare of chakra that snaps at least one of his ribs, and I watch with horrifying clarity as our hands stretch towards each other, both an eternity and a moment passing. I see the ground get ever closer, knowing damn well that this fall will probably kill us both. Mercifully, Kakashi's hand catches my wrist and I catch his, fingernails breaking skin. We fall, terrified coal orbs meeting panicked, swirling silver and black, and then my strings catch.

The momentum, however, doesn't stop.

I shriek as my shoulder pops right out of the socket, my three puny little threads snapping the second after, and all I have time to think is, Well, at least we might survive this fall since we're feet first now.

Then, we are getting snatched out of the air and I have just a fraction of a moment to meet the shocked gaze of the Nara chunin before my Mangekyō drains the last of my chakra and the world goes black, an enraged howl ringing the distance.

XXXXXXXXXX 

I wake up to the scent of disinfectants and the feeling of pain and fear. I frown, prying my eyes open under a bandage. "Ugh."

I flinch when hands clasp me and I strike at them on instinct, gnashing my teeth in a silent warning that these new baby teeth were still sharp, but I'm relaxing almost as soon as I do it, feeling my parents' chakra signatures. "Oh, hi, Mama-sama, Papa-sama."

"Wh-Ow!" Memories rushing in, I sit up, instantly regretting it when pain spikes through my shoulder and neck. 

"Don't move, foolish child!" My father scolds coldly, but I can feel the worry and gentleness in his hands as he presses me back. I reach to remove my blindfold only for my hand to be batted away. "Your chakra is exhausted. Be patient, silly girl."

I huff. "Kakashi and Ojisama?"

The Uchiha Matriarch sighs. "Kakashi is in the bed next to you, resting. He only had a burn across his leg and some scratches. Yondaime-sama had more severe burns, but barely any of it will even scar. He had a few other injuries, but he's already up and about reassuring the village and regaining order. I'm sure he'll be back to visit soon."

I pause. "You… aren't mad at him for this mess, are you?"

My father huffs. "When he protected you as he did his own son? Using his own body as a shield. Of course not."

"Make sure he knows that. Sakumo Ojisama is too hard on himself," I remind, knowing my father will recognize the reference to Sakumo's almost suicide. Father nods grimly.

"What about Might Dai? And the other jonin?" I ask.

My parents' chakra flickers in mild surprise. "Might Dai killed two of the enemy using his forbidden technique, resulting in hospitalization, but is now making a full recovery. As for the others,-"

My mother informs me that the casualties were minimal since as soon as reinforcements started coming in, the assassins destroyed themselves and the corpses of their companions with suicide and fire jutsu. In fact, after that chunin team caught Kakashi and I, Sakumo went on a rampage and the battle ended pretty quick. 

I cock my head in confusion. "But, I don't really understand. Why the hell would they attack in the middle of the day, in the center of the village? That's so stupid."

A rumbling chuckle proceeds Sakumo's arrival. "It would be stupid, but I don't think they were planning to attack us at my office. They were likely waiting to follow us home and attacking while we slept. At the Hatake Compound, it would have been significantly harder for reinforcements to arrive in a timely manner, and if they had taken you or Kakashi hostage while we were caught unaware…" Sakumo shakes his head, his silver pony tail distracting me as I feel it swish through the ambient chakra of the air as he perches on my hospital bed. "It's why I attacked first when you confirmed that they wouldn't let you and Kakashi leave. It was better to take the initive and spring the attack while they were surprised."

I think back and realize that the initial few moments of the battle happened too quickly for me to sense accurately, so I had mistakenly assumed that they attacked us first, but this actually makes a lot more sense. From the moment the attack started to my falling unconscious, it hadn't been even five minutes. It would have been hard for even typical ANBU agents or the police force to come defend the Hokage in that amount of time, especially with wartime protocol thinning the numbers of nin in village, and all the clan ninja are either in compounds away from the center of the village or at the war front. None of the high ranking nin were just chilling out around the tower. They all had shit to do, and the rate of normal missions being taken had slowed dramatically as tensions ramped up across all the nations, meaning even less high ranking nin were at the tower.

Damn, even though we sprung the trap early, we were still in a ridiculously precarious position. Danzo, that lucky fucker.

"So, what are you going to do now?" I ask curiously, cautious not to turn my tender neck too much.

Sakumo hesitates. "Kid…"

I freeze. "Oh, gods, don't tell me you aren't gonna do anything!"

"Akari-chan!" My mother scolds. "Mind yourself! We told you, the bodies were destroyed and unrecognizable. We didn't find the original twelve ANBU they impersonated and likely eliminated, either. There is no way to know who orchestrated the attack, although there is likely a mole if they knew how to catch three whole squads of guards. There isn't anything we can do, yet."

"…what?" I ask, my mind going blank.

I don't know what my face does, but it's enough for Sakumo to lean closer in concern. "Don't worry, pup, we'll be okay. The security is being heightened as we speak-"

"No, no, no, I- what do you mean you don't know who did- Oh." I hadn't realized I never indicated they were ROOT. "Oh."

"Akari-chan?" Sakumo asks worriedly.

"Right before I warned you of the hostile, there was a shift change, wasn't there?" Sakumo nods hesitantly, confirming my theory. "Yeah, there would have to have been since their killing intent was too low for anyone to feel without looking for it. It wouldn't have woken me from my nap, not when I've got a resistance to killing intent to begin with."

Sakumo straightens. "Right, you were napping. So what woke you?"

I stick my tongue out at him and all the adults stiffen in sudden understanding. 'Shit."

I agree emphatically. "Yeah."

Sakumo entwines his fingers, head resting on his hands, my beloved Ojisama sinking beneath the persona of the Yondaime. "Do I have theUchiha's support in this matter?"

"You do," my father says darkly

The Hokage nods before becoming my kind Ojisama again, reaching out and brushing his hand along my bandages. "Akari-chan, thank you for protecting Kakashi."

I wave it off with my good hand. "That's a given. Don't thank me for that. I, uh, I apologize for using you like a springboard. Are your ribs okay?"

Sakumo barks out a laugh, the atmosphere lightening considerably. "Mah, all that matters is that you two are safe."

"Hey, Ojisama? You should promote Maito Dai. He's too strong."

Sakumo nods. "Indeed. He's only a genin because people refuse to team up with him, assuming he's weak because he can't perform most jutsu. What a waste of talents. I've already decided to make him a tokubetsu jonin."

"Our clan owes him thanks. And a gift. The other jonin, too, but Dai is a person that deserves our respect for both his hard work and strength." I add to my parents, tapping my eyes to indicate that I've Seen something.

My mother smiles. "You are a good girl, Akari, and a good heir. We will make it known to the clan that he is a friend to us."

I grin just as I sense two incoming signatures, the adults sensing the same soon after, but I'm intrigued by the spike of sheer astonishment that fills them as the hospital door slams open. I don't think they would be surprised by Orochimaru-sensei so it must be the other nin, an unfamiliar kunoichi, albeit a powerful one that has them losing their shit.

Orochimaru slithers over so quickly I would think it a jutsu if I didn't know better. The earrings Kakashi and I gave him jingles as he leans over, a medical ninjutsu coated hand resting on me, something that felt oddly cool and minty, as he performs a diagnostic on me before vanishing to do the same to Kakashi, hissing incoherent but furious words all the way. I smirk at the worry in his chakra, smug even when he pinched my cheek harshly. "Ow."

There is an incredulous choking sound from the unfamiliar nin that has me returning my attention to her and there were three rather noteworthy things about her. One; Her boobs were actually ginormous, what the hell?! Two; There was a complicated seal on her forehead. And three; She was filled with a grief as deep and consuming as the ocean itself.

"And here I thought this snake bastard dragged me across Fire Country to cash in some of the favors I owe you, Sakumo-sempai, but I'm starting to think it has more to do with the brats laid up in bed."

"Tsunade-hime," Sakumo greets warmly, if surprised.

She huffs and walks over, scowling as her palms lights up with medical ninjutsu, resting over me as well. "Someone wanna explain how these little kids got dragged into an assasination attempt?"

I tune out the conversation, focusing inwards as I watch in wonder as her chakra floods my body, repairing the damage on a cellular level, soothing inflamed tissues, muscles and tendons on a microscopic level. I, of course, had a decent handle on medical ninjutsu by now, having spent the last several months actively learning it, but the difference between what Tsundae was carelessly doing, healing beyond what the other doctors had already done to the best of their abilities, and what my mum or even Biwako-sama were capable of was worlds apart. I immerse myself in my senses, taking the opportunity to learn while I have it.

"Oi, what the hell is up with this kid's eyes?" Tsunade blurts abruptly.

 "No one really knows," my mother says a little stiffly

Tsundae signs. "Relax, Mikoto-dono, I meant nothing by it. I was just surprised. I've never seen anything like it." Tsundae tugs off my blindfold, examining my eyes. "Huh. I thought the fading of color in the center of the iris would be cataracts, but it's not. She doesn't have a pupil at all. Fascinating."

My father leans forward, focus intent. "The doctors said that even a transplant would likely not help."

Tsunade grunts. "Yeah, I can see why. Do you know why the transplant of dojutsu is so difficult and prone to failure? It's because they require two optic nerves when a typical human has only one, and while the typical Uchiha, and other dojutsu users like the Hyuga, has two optical nerves, she has three. A Sharingan transplant into a non-Uchiha would mean that the single optic nerve would have to be connected in such a way that the dojutsu was either always on or off. Unless the medical nin managed to grow an extra optic nerve for them, but even then the brain connection- ah, well. It would be very difficult even for me, if not impossible. Since this kid has three, there wouldn't even be a place in her transplant to connect her extra nerve to." 

While I could feel my parents, and even Sakumo's disappointment with Tsunade's conclusion, I'm not particularly upset, or surprised. I am like this because the gods said so. Nothing a mortal could do would allow me better eyesight since my poor vision is a part of a contract with Fate. Treatment was simply never going to work, and I'd never, even for a moment, thought it would. I'd long since stopped mourning this fact.

"I'm not even sure how her eye works, or that it can even really be considered a Sharingan at this point, and unless you want me around in there and sever the nerves to figure it out…"

"I'm good, thanks," I deadpan, using a chakra thread to pull her arms away from my face without moving, not wanting her to continue the examination if she was getting all mad scientisty on me. I'm cringing at the mere idea of her cutting shit up in my eyes just to see what happens, but I was wondering something. Are my eyes already Eternal Mangekyō or am I gonna be massively fucked over later? Because my freak biology means there isn't anyone to swap peepers with. 

"Oh? Chakra threads, at this age?" Tsunade asks, aura flickering with genuine intrigue.

"She's mine and you can't have her," came Orochimaru's petulant response. "Besides, knowing you, you'll just abandon her when it suits you."

My eyes go big and I try to melt into my hospital bed at the sudden face off between Sanin. My parents and Sakumo look like they, too, want to evaporate away from the sudden awkwardness and spiking tension between the two powerful ninja.

"The fuck is that sopossed to mean?!" Tsunade barks, the metal railing of my bed bending under her fingers. "I left Konoha but I didn't abandon anyone!"

Orochimaru scoffs. "Guess I'm no one, then."

Tsunade recoils, all her anger vanishing, replaced by stunned hurt. I decide to step in, partially so I could avoid having to witness this messy and emotional confrontation, and partially because I need to take advantage of it. "Ojisama, Maru-sensei can help you with your gardening problem."

"Eh?" Sakumo takes a full second to understand my meaning, having obviously been wondering if he'd need to evacuate the hospital since the sanin were getting dangerously close to throwing hands. "Ah!"

Orochimaru reappears at my side, looming over me threateningly. "What exactly are you volunteering me for, you underdeveloped homosapien?"

I flick the earrings we gave him knowingly. "An, come on. I know there have been some weeds you've been wanting to kill."

His confusion that only existed due to his uncharacteristically emotional state vanishes as soon as I stick my tongue out at him pointedly. His chakra turns positively treacherous as mild killing intent begins to leak. "Oh, is that what's been happening? Kukuku…Yes, Sakumo-sempai. I can help with those out of control weeds or yours."

Orochimaru sticks his own weirdly long tongue out, sending ripples of surprise to the gathered ninja. Even I'm a bit surprised that he chose to expose himself. Sakumo and Tsundae are both stunned, likely trying ing to figure out how the fuck Danzo managed to ensnare a badass like Orochimaru. The answer was actually relatively simple; The seal was placed a long time ago when Orochimaru was a lot younger and weaker. Hiruzen gave his favorite student to his bestie's shady ass private army.

The reminder made me want to punch the old man in the face. Hiruzen was a good person, but perhaps his desire to end conflict was so strong, he let too much shit slide, and as a result, there was no deterrence for people wanting to act out of line. Hell, the way Iwa and Kumo have been provoking us, it would have been better to start the war awhile ago, or even just acted decisively enough that they stopped testing us with raids and skirmishes on the edge of Fire country. That's not to say I think he is aware of even a quarter of the shit ROOT gets up to, but still. As much as I liked Huirzen, I also kinda hated Lord Third.

I tune the adults out as they fill in Tsunade, smiling when Kakashi wiggles his way onto my bed, careful mindful of his bandaged leg as he lies down next to me and taking my hand in his. "Is your shoulder okay?"

"I can barely feel the pain anymore. I'd gladly do it a hundred more times if I could catch you. Sorry my strings broke," I say preemptively, feeling his guilt.

"My fault for not being able to stay on Otousama or catch myself," Kakashi says tightly.

"Ridiculous," I dismiss. "Let's just agree it's neither of our faults."

Kakashi agrees, guilt vanishing as we watch the adults discuss around us. "You okay after our first kills?" I ask, silencing the entire room as all the adults stopped pretending they weren't eavesdropping. Nosy fakers.

"I don't regret it since our lives were on the line. It's not like I wanted to let them live after they were trying to hurt you and Otosama," Kakashi says thoughtfully. "I don't feel good about it, but… I don't really feel bad about it either. I'm… content, or satisfied, maybe?"

I nod. That was a decent mindset for a little ninja, probably the best mindset he could have, actually. He squeezes my hand. "What about you?"

It takes me a second to remember that this is supposed to be my first kill as well, and I smile wryly thinking over the many, many people I've sent to meet the gods. "Same. I'm okay."

Kakashi glances at me curiously. "But I thought you believe life is really precious?"

"It is. But that is not a philosophy to uphold at the cost of others' wellbeing. Otherwise, all your doing is washing yourself of the responsibility and guilt of ending a life yourself when it may be the better option. Besides, we're ninja," I tell him. I didn't exactly want to say in front of these people that I didn't actually view death as bad, anyway, but it was the bigger reason I didn't mind killing people too much.

"Perseve when possible, kill when necessary," Kakashi concludes thoughtfully and I tip my head in acknowledgement.

"Geniuses are kinda freaky," Tsunade mutters, flabbergasted and I shoot her a dirty look. Rude. "Anyway, this has been interesting, but I'll be leaving Konoha after I've heal sempai."

I frown. That's not optimal. Her power and Inyo-ninjutsu are too valuable for this war, and I'd like it if her trauma could be eased earlier, her future years of wandering having not helped her pain and grief at all. What can I do to make her return and stay?

I duck my head, hiding my eyes as my Mangekyō spins to life. Quickly, bits and pieces of the past filter through in scattered and disordered turns.

-"DAN!" Tsunade's horror stricken scream rend the air-

"The barrier-"

-Orochimaru runs through the clearing just as an explosion rocks the earth, his snake-like eyes filling with despair-

"-kage candidate-"

-Danzo stands before kneeling ROOT, giving his orders-

"-too risky to let him live-"

-Tsunade smiles at her younger brother, offering him a necklace as a birthday present-

"-another Senju with the Momuton-"

-Orochimaru watches Tsundae shriek her devastation into the air-

 I flick my eyes off, squeezing them shut. I struggle against the tiredness. I'd nearly completely drained myself again, but I'd gotten better at controlling it with the help of my grandfather, Ryōuke Ojiisama, the only other Magekyō user I knew. My head hurts and my body feels like stone, but I got what I needed. "Sakumo Ojisama, you should just tell her your suspicions."

"… My suspicions?" He asks cautiously.

Sorry, Ojisama, I'm gonna be throwing you to the wolves for this. "That Danzo took out Nawaki Senju and Dan Katō, and perhaps more of the Senju, in order to control the kage candidacy."

The temperature in the room plummets as killing intent surges. "…What?"

Kakashi starts to involuntarily shake and Sakumo places a hand on each of us, before speaking in a deceptively mild tone. "You are not a child, Tsunade, and you will control yourself."

Somehow, it's one of the most menacing things I've heard in this life and Tsunade must agree because she actually twitches and reigns herself in with gritted teeth, albeit with hints of guilt, and Kakashi relaxes again, grumbling irritatedly about needing exposure to get over K.I. "Tell me what she's talking about."

The thing is, I was lying. But, the White Fang is not a stupid man, so he picks up what I'm putting down immediately. "…Both Nawaki and Dan's deaths were suspicious. As though someone leaked information for the ambushes."

Tsunade's clenched fists finally make my bed railing fall apart under my interested gaze as I try to figure out how to replicate that bullshit strength of hers. "Okay, fine. D-Dan I- I could understand as an elite Ninja taught by Kagami Uchiha, who in turn was taught by both the first and second Hokages even though he wasn't directly one of their genin. Fine! But, Nawaki-"

"-was a Senju with the potential to awaken the Mokuton and a desire to be the Hokage," Orochimaru cuts in grimly, silencing the entire room,

"Orochi?" Tsunade's voice is weak,

"I-I can't say," he chokes out, face twisted.

The rest of the room watches in helpless silence until the Slug Princess seems to gather herself, radiating steely determination despite the heavy grief still lingering inside her. "I guess I'll have to ask Danzo myself, then."

Something tells me it wouldn't be very pleasant for him.

XXXXXXXXXX

AN; One of my first full fight scenes. How was it? And that surprise appearance?! Even I didn't see it coming. Also, bear with me yall, im having dome formating issues. This is newly eduted.