You ran through the shadow filled streets kicking up dust in your wake. You passed by people who screamed or hid when they saw you, even calling you a monster. You barely take note of it. You kept running with no idea where to go. The pain in your chest is growing and getting worse. It is beginning to seep up your neck and into your head. You have to get out of this village before someone gets hurt...or worse.

After what seemed like an eternity of winding through the streets and alleyways you finally approach the front gates leading out of hidden leaf village. You sigh in relief at the sight of those gates, but notice a peculiar rumble in your throat as you breathe out. There are also an extra two beats in your steps which seem to tear up the ground around you as you run. But there is no time to investigate as you hear your name being shouted in the distance. You scramble through the gates and make a quick decision to stop in the field Kakashi had first taken you to. You need to catch your breath and hopefully ease the pain growing inside you. You also need to figure out the next plan of action before you are found.

The field, which previously took twenty minutes to walk to, you had arrived to in a matter of seconds. (But how?) even at a running pace using your stone you would not be able to replicate that time.

Something is very wrong...

Your usual loss of control always ended up with you unconscious and paralyzed in some way. But right now, as the stone glows inside your heart pulsing with excruciating power, you have some control. You are aware of your surroundings. All of your senses, although heightened to a level you have never felt before, are functioning at maximum capacity.

You come to the clearing of charred grass, the same place where you lost control two days prior, and stop. Although stopping was quite difficult. You slide twenty feet past the actual clearing before coming to a stop. Finally you have a moment to catch your breath. Heaving for air you collapse to the ground panting. That low rumble in your throat is still making noises. Maybe the stone is attacking your lungs now? Yet you haven't had lung capacity like this before. You think about this for quite some time trying to clear out what is causing the strange noise to your voice. But it is to no use.

Then you hear rustling in the grass from all directions. You have run out of time...Shadows dart through the sky above you disappearing into the field which is now over your head....how is that possible. Only two days ago it was knee deep. There is no way it could have grown this much in that little time.

You panic, unable to see through the thickness and can hear footsteps closing in. You position yourself into the center of the clearing. If anyone were to approach you within ten feet you would know.

You crouch down silently waiting. A snap to your left and right.

The wind picks up

You feel energy sources drawing in all directions.

You hear their shallow suppressed breaths.

Their subtle whispers of attack plans.

Even their smells.

You are surrounded by ninja and they are closing in quickly. Your stone instantly charges sensing the threat and you let out words of warning for them to stop or you will do what is needed.

"Don't come any closer! This is your last chance!" You warn. Although your voice holds a low feline grumble to it...it doesn't feel normal. The words formed are different and don't sound....human....

Suddenly you sense the release chakra all around you and the air begins to swirl upon itself, faster and faster. The grass pulls from the ground ripping right out of its roots. It is so strong you can barely stay grounded. You curl up into a ball and grip the soil with your fingers as hard as you can. You can no longer hear the shinobi approaching, only the tornado tearing up the earth. You cry out in fear, knowing that once the wind dies they will be waiting. Ready for an attack.

You pray to the gods. You pray for them to keep you safe, to keep them safe. You pray for your stone to hold back and not lose control. You cry out as the wind whips blades of grass so strong it cuts small slivers into your skin. You scream over and over, not just because of the wind and grass.You scream for all you have been through. Pain is all you know, whether you are feeling it or inflicting it. It is all you have ever felt.

Your prayers angrily turn into questions.

Why were you given such a harrowing path?

Why were you meant for so much suffering?

Why? What did you do to deserve this?

Then you hear it. A smooth voice echoing through the field and the valley. It pulls you out of your thoughts and the wind dies down.

"Stop! Leave her to me!" He shouts with authority.

You groan and rise to your feet looking around to find his voice. As you stare into the distance you see the entire field gone. Decimated by what looks like fifty highly skilled Jonin who are at a stand still. Some bearing weapons, others with hands full with chakra waiting to attack and defend. Some you know, but most you don't.

Your chest heaves at the sight. All eyes are on you again. There is a silence in the air, as if his voice had pressed pause and stopped the world with just one command. You praise him and curse him all at the same time.

Footsteps approach from behind towards the hidden leaf gates. You turn quickly to meet those steps and instinctively charge up ready to fight. This instinct is fighting against your conscience. It wants you to let go and take over, but you can't let that happen. Not unless absolutely necessary. You hold your position and watch the form of a man approach. It was then you realized the strange look to all the ninja around you. As if you could see the heat generated inside their bodies making up their form. They contrasted the darkness standing out like tiny flames flickering about.

He approaches. You cannot see his face clearly, but you know who it is. From his voice and that lovely scent you are obsessed with.

"Kakashi! Don't come any closer!" You warn. And back up two feet.

He ignores your warning and holds up his hands showing he is unarmed.

"I won't hurt you. Please, just calm down. Let me fix this." He says in a soothing voice.

You whine up at him, but only another rumble spills from your throat. Then a sharp pain shoots through your mind. You stumble to the side and shake your head groaning. The sharp pain brings a vision of you devouring Kakashi where he stands. You argue with yourself over that thought. What is wrong with you?

"Hana, please. You need help. Let me help you." He says.

More footsteps close in and you begin to panic. You scream at them to stay away.

"GET BACK! STAY AWAY!"

Kakashi stops and kneels down, hands still open and raised.

"Please, Hana..come back to me."

You cry for him. That is all you want to do. But you have gone too far. Can you really go back now? You watch him closely, your instinct still unsure of his words and the ninja around you.

"Come. I will keep you safe I promise. Just let me help you." He says and reaches out to you.

His outstretched hands cause you to flinch ready to run again. But he doesn't move, he remains kneeled before you, coaxing you into his arms. Then his scent spirals around you and you breathe him deeply, picturing every loving memory you have of him. You take a step forward, cautiously, carefully. Keeping an eye on the others around you.

"That's right. There is nothing to fear, Hana."

You breathe out heavily, and let go of a portion of the stones power and take two more steps towards him.

"Kakashi, don't let me hurt them." You say.

Then a sudden rush of energy roars towards you and you are hit hard in the side by a stream of flame. It burns your flesh and sends you further into the field away from Kakashi.

He screams out for his comrades to stop. But no one is listening. Then a barrage of jutsu rains down on you. From frost, to flame, from lightning, to water and earth. You are hit in every direction possible, unable to gain any ground.

After a hit from a shard of ice which stabs into your side the ninjas pause to gather more chakra. Barely standing you search for an escape route and see one in the distance towards the lake Kakashi had taken you to before. You charge up your stone, bits of earth crack around you and raise into the air. But before you can put your power into motion four jonin leap across your vision and slam heavy footed kicks and power packed punches into your sides and head. You are thrown back once again away from your destination. They give you no rest and close in again for another attack.

You leap to your feet and dodge the first two, skidding by them. The other ninja scurry to catch their footing and come at you with Kunai in hand. You send a shock wave of energy out into the valley knocking everyone standing to the ground. But half the others had anticipated this and have already lept out of the way dodging your blast. They barrel towards you and you crouch down gathering energy ready to blow them to bits.

Then something happens. You feel arms wrap around your shoulders and hear his voice again.

"I won't let them hurt you anymore..." he whispers.

You pause in shock, unable to do anything to him. Your instinct screams at you to eat him alive but your conscious..No... your love for him is too strong. He squeezes you harder, pressing your forehead into his chest. He holds you in a tight embrace telling you he is sorry. You peer up at him, his eyes are closed shut, chakra energy pulsing around his body in a white wistful aura. He is protecting you. And just when you thought it was all over for you, the ninjas stop their attack and land cautiously in the field. All chakra energy is released and the world around you falls silent once again.

It is you and him against the rest, as they watch, waiting for the barrier to fall. You groan into his chest feeling the broken bones, seared skin, and open wounds inflicted on you.

"Shhh, I won't let them hurt you again." He whispers, his voice wavering and you feel drops of water hit your left cheek. If you weren't shaking so badly right now you would have noticed the hitches in his breath.

He holds you for quite some time, stroking your head down your shoulders and back. With each caress you let go of your stone's energy. However, it doesn't seem to bring you back to a normal state. Your senses are still heightened, your vision is still seeing heat signatures and there is still a low rumble in your throat.

"Hana." Kakashi calls you quietly.

You groan, burying your face into his chest.

"Don't let me go." You plead.

He sighs and removes his hand from your back. You hear him rustle around in one of his pockets then he stops.

"Please forgive me."

You press into him further, nearly pushing him over. He raises his hand, and you expect him to continue his gentle touches. But he doesn't. Instead he apologizes twice over and sinks a sharp tip of a needle into your neck. You gasp at the feeling but only a loud roar escapes your mouth. He forces the contents into your body and holds you steady then throws the syringe away.

The strength in him was astonishing, you tried your best to break free from him. He holds you into his chest gripping the back of your head hard as you try to get away.

"What did you do?" You ask him.

He doesn't respond, only apologizes again. As he holds you close, a faint dizziness rushes through you followed by fatigue. You realize he had injected you with some type of sedative and in minutes of administration you collapse. You close your eyes, unable to fight the drug pumping through your blood and you fall into a deep sleep.

———————————————

Dreaming....

"Again!"   His stern voice shouts, startling you out of your fatigue.

You nod quickly submitting to his authority.

"Yes, sir."

You get into position and power up your stone. It hurts, god it hurts. But you clench your jaw through the pain and pour the power out. Blue wisps of gelel magic seep from your hands....it burns...

You falter your position stumbling as you move into your combative sequence landing to the ground.

"Pathetic!" Your father shouts "No daughter of mine will embarrass me like this!...if you fall again I will throw you into the pool."

You whimper at him and the thought of drowning in the pool again.

"Yes father."

You stand in position. This time looking at your opponent. Your brother. He has a permanent smirk on his face with a chin held high in superiority. He's way ahead of you, he knows it and so do you. But your father is determined to trigger your new cohort instinct. If you can turn, and become the cohort you will surpass your brother and be the top assassin in the Bloodclaw ranks. You will be the most valuable assassin in the world.

"Again!" He snaps.

And you power up, then shoot forward towards your brother. He gasps at your speed but defends flawlessly.

"Yes! Keep going Neko!" Your father encourages.

You strive for your brother's perfection, trying to out match him in strength, agility, and tactics. But he is just too experienced. He hits you in the temple hard and knocks you back skidding to a stop miles away.

Now you lie on your back watching the cloudless sky and the vultures circling. You almost wish they would just eat you already and take you away from this terrible place.

"Get up, neko. You're embarrassing us." Your brother says with slight sincerity.

"What's the point?" You reply.

"Don't give me that shit. Get up or I'll finish you right now." He threatens and steps on your hand.

You gasp.

"Do it then!"

He grinds his boot into your palm and laughs.

"Get up."

He steps off your hand and reaches out to you. You huff at him and take his hand letting him help you up.

"I know you can feel the instinct. Stop being such a loser and let it go. I'm tired of beating you up all the time." He smacks the back of your head pushing forward back towards the training ring. And continues to scold.

"You're useless right now. If you don't let the transformation happen the stone will destroy y...."

"I know! Ok? I know! I get it. I'm trying." Tears swell in your eyes.

He sighs at you.

"Let's try again tomorrow. I'll tell dad to lay off a bit..."

You say nothing to that as relieving as it is, you will also be locked away with nothing to eat for dinner.... Punishment for everything....for that is his way...