Disclaimer: Don't worry. I'm violating Naruto and the characters in this. They'll live. Hopefully.

Warning: Uh... does this count as angst?

Beta: Kalafina94

Beta: silverseed

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Interlude - Omniscient - 5

It had been a while since they declared Yagura dead. It wasn't long afterwards that Mei took up the mantle of Mizukage.

Currently, she was sitting nervously at her desk. It had been weeks since she sent out her messenger and tracking team, and she had received a reply a few days ago. The ones she was hunting down had informed her they would return to speak directly to her.

They were scheduled to meet her that day.

At that very time.

Mei let out a soft breath, and there was a knock at her door.

"Come in," Mei beckoned, placing down the papers she had glanced over.

The door opened and Mei stood up from her desk, her eyes softening.

"Hn. I see you've changed a few things already."

Mei smiled warmly. "Appearances aren't the only things that have changed. Welcome back. Zabuza... Haku."

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Tsunade walked around her office, her eyes dark as she paced. The ones before her stood stiff and straight.

Tsunade let out a soft breath, coming to a stop behind her desk as she looked at each of them. "This will be a difficult mission. I'm ranking it S."

No one spoke, but Naruto was brimming with excitement.

"Not only because you will be dealing with a known S-ranked criminal. but because you will be watching for treason of the Leaf," Tsunade said gravely.

Naruto and Sasuke froze, while Kakashi's eye narrowed. Yagura remained impassive, and I clutched my hands into fists.

"Wh-What do you mean?" Naruto asked, disbelief clear in his voice.

Tsunade let out a slow breath. "While you, Sasuke and Kakashi were out of the village, we came across sensitive information, not only regarding the Akatsuki, but about a man of the name Danzō."

Kakashi looked surprised. "Danzō. You don't mean.?"

"I mean," Tsunade confirmed grimly. "Decades ago, Danzō controlled an elite division of the ANBU. It was. horrible. My predecessor was disgusted by the division and when peace finally came about again, he immediately ordered the group disbanded. Sandaime Hokage went to each known base of the ANBU division and watched each and every one of them burn. Danzō assured Sarutobi that the division was gone, and that was that. However, it has come to our recent attention that Danzō. lied."

"And? What's so wrong about an extra ANBU division?" Naruto demanded, clearly disliking the idea of someone betraying Konoha.

"This division does not fall under my orders," Tsunade snapped. "It follows Danzō's orders only, and much more. it's barbaric. It utilizes war orphans, forcing them to bond with one person, then pitting the two against each other in a fight for survival. It's designed to kill the emotions inside and turn them into mindless, apathetic, obedient drones. Furthermore, it seems that Danzō has been utilizing this division, ROOT, for his own purposes. It was he who leaked information regarding Leaf's security to Orochimaru in the first place in the invasion. And you remember how well that turned out?"

"If he's done all of this, then why don't we take him out now?" Sasuke asked, a furious look on his face.

"Yeah!" Naruto echoed, his fists clenched as he shook from barely restrained anger.

"Because he's one of the Elders, and as such, we need proof. Now, while the source of the information in the first place is sound and damning enough, we cannot risk revealing it yet. We don't know what ROOT is, and we don't know who is loyal to Danzō. We cannot risk anyone else finding out about our source, as we cannot risk Danzō discovering we're on to him."

"Then we keep this a secret?" I asked softly.

"Yes," Tsunade said. "I have added another member to your team to assist you in this mission, and Danzō has decided to add one of his own shinobi to 'assist' you."

"You mean a ROOT member, right?" Sasuke retorted.

"More than likely," Tsunade said, her eyes flashing. "Your mission is this: you are to pursue the lead regarding Sasori's information. You are to eliminate, or capture, Orochimaru at all costs. Along the way, you are to study, observe, and spy on the suspected-ROOT member. When you find proof regarding his connection to ROOT, and to Danzō, you are to disable him immediately and bring him back to the Leaf. Proof regarding ROOT takes priority over Orochimaru."

"Understood!"

Tsunade gave a short nod. "Very well. Yamato, enter."

All eyes turned towards the door, and a young man entered in Jounin attire. However, from the look Kakashi gave him, I assumed that the two knew each other from somewhere, and knowing that because we hadn't been introduced before, I assumed they knew each other during Kakashi's time in ANBU.

Yamato gave us a sheepish smile. "Hello, I'm Yamato. I'll be third in command of this unit, I hope to get along with everyone."

I bowed politely. "Hello, I'm Yamanaka Nao."

"Uzumaki Naruto," Naruto muttered, still annoyed from the latest information.

"Uchiha Sasuke," Sasuke said smoothly.

"Hatake Kakashi," Kakashi said, smiling with his eye. "Second in command."

"Yagura," Yagura said simply, staring blankly at the man. "First in command."

"Now that you're all acquainted, you're dismissed. You'll be meeting your last teammate at the gates in two hours. Be ready," Tsunade said sharply.

"Yes, ma'am!"

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"What do you think he'll be like?" I asked Kakashi. Both of us were at the stone, saying our goodbyes, seeing how we wouldn't be available to visit the stone for a while.

"The ROOT member?" Kakashi asked, his eye momentarily leaving the name on the stone to look over at me. "Mn. I have to admit even I don't know much about the supposed ROOT division; only rumors. However, from what the report says. and from what I gather. he will probably be unsure of us. Unsure of how to interact with us, I mean, on any other level save professional."

I brushed back the hair out of my eyes, keeping my usual eye closed while my other eye drifted down. "How could someone control such a division? He. he would be an orphan, wouldn't he? And yet, he'd still have to go through such training and."

"If we can find the evidence needed, we can sentence Danzō and put an end to it," Kakashi said, placing a hand on my head.

I nodded, letting out a soft sigh.

"How's your eye?"

"Same as ever. You know Tsunade-sama wasn't able to help me much, and by now the damage has been done," I said, giving Kakashi a soft smile. "Looks like I'll be mimicking you in this regard."

"You could mimick worse things."

I giggled. "That's true."

Turning my back, I started to walk away. "I should probably head home and pack. See you later, Kakashi-sensei."

"Mn. See you, Nao-chan."

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"Do you know him, Naru-kun?" I asked, frowning as I stared between Naruto and the newcomer. Sasuke was awarding the newcomer with a mild glare, as well.

"We both do. He attacked us earlier," Sasuke said flatly.

Yagura adjusted his mask, glancing over. "You're still alive. Get over it, Naruto-chan, Sasuke-chan. He's our new teammate, so you're going to have to get along."

"I'm sorry for attacking you earlier," the newcomer said, smiling at us. I stared at his smile, perplexed and disturbed by it. It was a fake smile, saturated in falsehood and it was wrong to be worn by such a blank face. I disliked it greatly and wanted nothing more than for him to stop smiling. "I knew we were going to be teammates and I wanted to see how strong you were."

Naruto relaxed, frowning slightly as he eyed the newcomer. "Well, that was pretty stupid. You didn't have to go that far."

"I was curious to see how strong you'd be. At least now I know neither of you are packing anything major."

There was a heartbeat of silence before I grabbed onto Naruto, restraining him, and Kakashi placed a warning hand on Sasuke's shoulder. I held Naruto back while he howled, "What did you say?!"

"G-Guys, come on," I said, struggling to hold onto Naruto.

Yagura's staff whipped out and slammed into Naruto's head. With a cry, Naruto bent over, clutching the top of his head.

"The same goes for you," I said, turning to face the boy. "That was quite rude."

He gave a fake chuckle. "Is that so?"

"You're not winning any teammates over like that," I murmured.

"Well don't write me off, yet. I like everyone. Even you, Hitotsume-kozō." (1)

I froze, feeling white hot shame wash over me and I suddenly longed for the comfort of my hoodie. Hitotsume-kozo, a monster with one eye, usually in the form of a bald child. It was both a stab at my age, and the loss of my eye.

"You have exactly ten seconds to apologize before I kick your ass," Yagura said coldly.

"Make that three," Naruto snarled.

"One," Sasuke said.

"I'm sorry, Kozō."

I bowed my head, disliking the fact that my cheeks were still red and I could still feel the humiliation flowing through me. I pulled my goggles down and pulled my hoodie up, before I shoved my hands in pockets. "I-It's fine."

"That was not an apology," Kakashi drawled. "However, due to the fact that we're on a schedule and thus we don't have time to deal with your attitude, I'll let it pass."

Yagura snorted. "Let me make one thing straight, child, I will not deal with your shit. If you are instigating anything and I find out about. I will deal with you."

"I understand," he said, still smiling.

Yamato cleared his throat. "Before we leave, Kame-taichou."

Yagura tilted his head. "Right. Everyone, introduce yourselves."

Naruto glared at the newcomer and moodily muttered, "Uzumaki Naruto."

"Uchiha Sasuke."

"Hatake Kakashi," Kakashi said, perfectly relaxed.

"Y-Yamanaka Nao," I muttered, steadily looking down.

"My name is Sai."

"Kame," Yagura said flatly. "Enough. Let's go."

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I stuck close to Yagura, walking at his side as we began the journey to the bridge. I kept my hoodie up, and my goggles on, with my hands dug into my pockets for the trip. I had the strongest urge to brush my hair over my damaged eye, as well, to almost hide it away.

It was such a silly mistake, too. I didn't lose it in an especially adventurous way. I lost it due to unsanitary things seeping inside to it. To infection. I didn't lose it like Kakashi lost his eye, in a real fight with an opponent. I wasn't even able to continue fighting after losing my eye - I had passed out almost immediately in the fight. It was such an embarrassing way to lose an eye. I suppose there could be worse ways, but as a kunoichi, it was pretty embarrassing. Losing such a vital part. because of lack of hygiene.

What kind of story would that tell?

I was ashamed of my eye.

My fingers twitched inside my pockets and my hands curled into fists.

Not to mention, it was yet another sensitive area to poke and prod at. I understood I was young, that in a way I was above the average person in this village due to the fact I had graduated so early and already I was a Jounin. I knew that because of my age, I wouldn't earn some people's respect for a long, long time. I knew that and I had long ago accepted that. On missions, I would be doubted by our client; on joint team missions, I would be doubted by fellow Konoha shinobi.

It was both frustrating and degrading.

Most importantly, though, it made me feel self-conscious.

I was sick when I was first born. Horrendously so. When I was young, I was always poked and prodded at by the doctors. I was sick, deathly so, from a disease that left me breathless and rarely conscious. I was forced to perform so many odd tests, strip down nude and be stared at by painfully blank faces. All the while they wrote down in so many ways of how wrong and messed up my body and brain was.

Eventually I became so self-conscious of myself, I started to retreat. Anything that drew attention to myself was quickly frowned upon because some small part of me wondered how much more there was wrong with me.

It helped, immensely so, that my family was literally a therapist family. Papa knew what was happening to me right away. Even if I had such a young body, I had already proven that my mind was vastly more developed. He talked to me constantly and I listened and learned. It was thanks to him that I didn't go down that road. However, old habits died hard, I supposed.

I would always, I supposed, feel some sort of self-conscious reaction to attention. I would always worry over whether or not my body was okay and if my mind was okay, because it wasn't and it isn't normal in the slightest. I would always have a more easily fatigued body, and I would always have that mutation inside of me, that one little DNA mess up, that left me excluded from the vast majority of the clan techniques.

I was hesitant and shy, only because experience taught me to feel and act that way at such an early age.

It was hard not to be. It took actual effort not to be so with my friends; with the ones I knew accepted and loved me anyway.

Over the years, I had been forced to confront this: on missions, I was occasionally called upon to speak for the team, or I was supposed to lead, or it was I who gave the mission report. In the beginning, it was nerve-wracking and stomach-churning, but through practice (and encouragement), I was able to overcome my shyness enough.

Now, though, I had thought I was nearly done with it. I was confident in both my abilities and my appearance. I trained under one of the greatest Mizukage, and brightest person I knew. Kakashi trained me especially to overcome my handicap. Naruto, Sasuke, Ino, Shikamaru, Chōji. all of them believed in me.

I thought I had the confidence.

Yet it was one remark from a stranger that actually had me doubting that.

I made such a silly mistake in the past, and because of that mistake, I will forever be marked by it. I will forever only be able to see through one eye and there's nothing I can do about it now.

What's to stop me from making another mistake?

And maybe instead of it affecting me. what if it affects everyone?

What if I failed in such a way that I could never make amends?

I could feel my nails digging into my skin, and I bit down hard enough on my bottom lip that I was beginning to taste blood.

"Well, what is it?"

At Sai's voice, I looked up sharply, embarrassed to have been so deep in thought I was actually caught off guard by his voice. I peeked around my shoulder to see Sai staring at Naruto, who was glaring moodily at him.

Naruto, however, seemed lost in his own line of thought and didn't hear him.

"If you keep on staring at me like that, I'll hit you," Sai said.

"Where did that come from?" Naruto snapped, holding up his fist. "Where do you get off saying things like that? Listen you - " Naruto cut himself off, looking disgusted by Sai.

"I really have nothing personal against you," Sai said, smiling.

"Yeah?! Then why'd you say it?"

"You don't understand. I was only trying out a certain personality type."

A personality type?

(Why do you need to try out a personality? Don't you have one already? Don't you know who you are?)

"If you were trying to do it, then that means you meant it!" Naruto snapped. "You. You really rub me the wrong way; we don't want someone like you on this team."

Yagura stopped, and Kakashi and Yamato stopped, as well. Yagura glanced back, and although I couldn't see his face through the mask, I knew his eyes were narrowed coldly.

"Enough, Naruto," Yagura said lowly. "Save it for after the mission."

"That's right. Calm down, Naruto," Kakashi said. "That's no way to talk in front of your own leader."

"Mutual respect is a must for teamwork," Yamato added. "I would have thought you understood that by now, Naruto."

Naruto scoffed, glaring at Sai. "Teamwork? We aren't even a real team. Not with him. It's clear that no one wants him here, so why.?"

"You know why, Naruto," Yagura interjected, his voice sharp as ice. "If you cannot uphold our mission, then you will be removed from it and sent back to Konoha. You want to be Hokage, right?Then grow up. You're going to have to deal with people you don't like, people you might even hate as Hokage, but you can't lay a finger on them due to political or financial reasons, understand? Think of this as practice, if you must."

"Hokage?" Sai echoed, smiling as he (fakely) chuckled in amusement. "That's impossible for someone like you. No one as weak, as reckless, as worthless as you could ever reach the esteemed title of Hokage."

Before Naruto could move, Sasuke stepped forward, eyeing Sai indifferently.

"You," Sasuke drawled, "have tried my patience. You insult not one, but both of my teammates."

Sasuke smirked while Sai continued to smile. "I only speak the truth."

Sasuke's hand shot out and Sai was sent flying backwards into the ground. My eye widened in surprise, and I could feel the shock radiating off of Naruto and Yamato. Yagura seemed faintly pleased and annoyed, while Kakashi was a cross between amusement and indifference.

"Test my patience again, and I will use this," Sasuke said, gesturing to his katana, his eyes never leaving Sai.

"Not while we're on a mission, of course," Yagura said smoothly. "Or at least, not while we're on my mission."

Sasuke glanced over at Yagura, smirking. "Wouldn't dream of it, Kame-taichou."

"Hn. Fine, then. I'll be sure to watch my mouth."

"Ttt," Yagura muttered, turning away. "Are you done, yet?"

"Kame-taicho, if I may."

Yagura glanced over at Yamato.

"I think our teamwork needs to be dealt with now," Yamato said, eyeing Sasuke, Naruto and Sai.

Kakashi nodded his head. "I agree. Maybe we should lock the trio of them in one of your cages, huh? Wouldn't that be kinky."

Yamato flushed. "Senpai, I don't think now's the time to joke about that, but."

Yagura considered the two of them.

"Cage? I don't want to get into any cage with this guy!" Naruto exclaimed.

"Perhaps it's not necessary," Yamato said slowly. "If it's fine with Kame-taichou. maybe we can make a quick little detour?"

I glanced over at Yagura and he snorted. "Fine. Listen up, you three. Either you behave yourselves starting with this detour, or Yamato will lock the three of you up until you learn to deal with each other. This is my last warning."

"Understood," Naruto and Sasuke muttered, while Sai smiled.

I was starting to really hate that smile.

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Interlude - Nao - 5

Papa retracted his hand, his eyes wide. "Un... Unbelievable."

Kame (Yagura?) swayed, a dazed look in his eyes. "What... what did you see?"

"Come with me," Papa said sharply.

My eye widened and I shot Papa a horrified look. Papa returned it with a pained one of his own. "I will not harm you, I swear. However. your memories. I need to properly unseal them and the Hokage needs to know about them."

Kame hesitated, looking at me. "I don't. I don't know. I'm sorry, I just."

I took his hand, holding it in my own. I was nervous, and my heart was pounding, but I kept my gaze on him. He returned my gaze, his eyes never leaving mine. "It's okay, Kame-kun. I. I won't let them hurt you, okay? You can trust Papa."

He squeezed my hand and slowly looked back at Papa. "Can. Can Nao-chan come with us?"

"N - "

"I'll go with her," Ino said quickly, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Come on, Papa. I've been to work with you tons of times and I've done extractions before. Nao won't get hurt."

"You don't know that," Papa snapped. "I'm sorry, Y-Kame. However, when your memories unseal, how will we know you won't turn around and attack us? It's too dangerous, even if we do bind you."

"Please, Papa," I pleaded.

"No," Papa said firmly.

Ino scowled at him. "He's Nao's friend! She has a right to be with him, and more importantly, she's his friend. I don't care who he was, but right now, he's Kame and right now, he's in a new place and is about to be prodded at by complete strangers. He's not an enemy; he's a friend."

"Nevertheless."

"Papa," I said quietly, "I never ask for much, but I. I'm begging you. Please. Please."

Papa looked stricken, torn at my request. For a long while, he didn't speak. Then he closed his eyes and I could have sworn I saw him age ten years before my eyes. He let out a sigh. "Very well. I. Ino. Please."

Ino smiled. "Don't worry. I'll protect her. She is my precious person."

Kame looked relieved and shot me a thankful look. I blushed, smiling shyly. "Thank you, Papa. Thank you."

"I only hope I don't regret this decision," Papa muttered.

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(1)Hitotsume-kozō (一つ目小僧) are a yōkai of Japan that take on the appearance of a bald child with one eye in the center of its forehead.

Question: Favorite Naruto legend? (Person. Not an actual legend)

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