It has been a few days since the invasion, and everyone was gathering at the top of the Hokage building for the funeral. Ko was the last to arrive and joined her team with an empty look. Her team was surprised to see Ko since she's been gone since they saw her match. Her face was bandaged along with the rest of her body and walked with a slight limp. She stared ahead at the little memorial not making eye contact with the rest of them. They looked at each other with a questioning expression. Ko watched as everyone lined up to pay their last respects to the Hokage and placed a white flower before his picture then decided to grab a rose and pay her respect. One by one they went, Ko was next in line to place her flower. She knelt before memorial and placed the flower.

"Thank you for giving Sasuke to Orochimaru by letting me live here Lord Hokage." Ko whispered with a smirk but dropped into a sad expression. "I am grateful for showing me that there is a life better than Orochimaru but sadly I am stuck following him. I wish I could've lived and grown up here in the village but it's only a dream and I have come to terms with reality. Going back to my old life isn't what I want but what choice do I have? If I don't go, he'll kill me."

Ko got back up to her feet regaining her composure putting on her poker face and turned towards her team. Sakura gave Ko a weak smile as she walked towards them but was disappointed when she walked right passed her. The group followed Ko as she descended down the stairs but first looked up at their sensei for an explanation.

"Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura questioned.

"Hm?"

"Is Ko going to be okay?" Her face was filled with worry for her female teammate. She didn't know what to do or even how to help her.

"She will be, I think she just needs more time alone." Kakashi replied. "Now, you all should help with repairing the village."

The trio groaned in protest but followed Kakashi's orders and went their separate ways. Kakashi had his book in hand and read it as he followed Ko who was walking towards the forest.

"What is it Sensei?" Ko asked once they were away from the village stopping in her tracks.

"It seems like you need to talk about this," Kakashi said putting his book away as he came out of his hiding place behind the tree.

"I'm fine Sensei, no need to worry." Ko assured and turned towards Kakashi giving him a slight smile.

"You don't have to be strong Ko, it's alright to feel what you're feeling." His words made Ko pause for a moment knowing he was trying to do what a sensei should in this situation, but no one know why she was actually sad. Killing Airi was the least of her problems; her father had made that incident seem small compared to how he treated her.

"How do you know what I'm feeling?" Ko asked with slight anger in her voice.

Kakashi walked closer to Ko and put a hand on her shoulder.

"I can tell by how you're acting. You've been distant from everyone and the look in your eyes show guilt and sadness."

"I'm not guilty, it's something every shinobi does in their life."

"You're still young, genin shouldn't be faced with the struggle of taking a life." Kakashi said in a soft voice trying to connect with his student.

"The rules were to either fight until someone forfeits or dies aaannd she died."

"The proctor is supposed to stop in before anyone dies but no one expected Airi to stay still and take the hit."

Ko looked away from Kakashi then looked at the ground in silence replaying the scene in her head. She looked back up at him seeing a caring look in his eyes.

"I was guilty...but I shouldn't be. It was an accident." She said with a soft tone.

"Ko, it would've been her or you." Kakashi said.

"What?"

"When you were in the hospital for your injuries, I saw Airi's match. Kabuto was no match for her speed and neither were you at first. She was ruthless with him and wanted to finish the match quickly. When she heard that you were her opponent...the look on her face was actually terrifying. She wanted revenge for what you did to her sister and was planning to kill you. It was either you or her, and it was her."

Ko took in his words knowing that he was right, but she honestly didn't feel guilty anymore about it and only accepted what happened. Sure, it was on her mind a lot but she couldn't allow herself to be overcome by her emotions. She'll be leaving soon and must go back to the perfect shinobi her father always wanted. She was glad that he took the time to talk to her about it and would've appreciated it more if she were part of the village and not the Sound.

"Thanks Sensei," Ko said giving him a smile.

"No problem, now, meet up with the rest of the team."

"For what?" She questioned giving him a confused expression.

"To help rebuild the damaged buildings in the center of the village."

"What? Sensei!" Ko shouted.

"It's a mission Ko, now go help them. They'll be glad to talk to you, they've also been worried."

Ko begrudgingly walked to the center of the village seeing everyone helping clean up the rubble and using either their jutsu or hands to rebuild the buildings. Out of everyone in the crowd, she spotted Naruto's orange jumpsuit and Sakura's pink dress so she headed towards them.

"Man this stinks, I'd rather be training!" Naruto whined as he picked up some rubble and walked towards the bins near Sakura.

"I'd rather be sleeping," Ko interjected as she approached them.

"Ko!" Naruto shouted excitedly dropping what he had in his arms.

"Why are you so excited?" She questioned putting a hand on her hip.

"Uh well we didn't think you'd be here."

"It's a mission isn't it? Sensei didn't give me a choice." She said as she walked over to pick up a picker and garbage bag.

"Hey Ko! Your match was awesome by the way!" Naruto shouted only to be hit in the head by Sakura's fist.

"Idiot! Sensei said not to bring it up." Sakura scolded.

"It's alright Sakura, I know my match was awesome."

"What was it like?" Naruto asked nervously.

"What do you mean?"

Ko looked at her teammates seeing curiosity in their eyes, even Sasuke who tried to act like he wasn't interested.

"Uh well...you know." Sakura said softly.

"Oh you mean me killing Airi? Uh well it was kinda hard to deal with but it was either me or her; no biggie. It was a little unexpected though, I thought she'd move." Ko brushed off crossing her arms behind her head.

"What did you use on her? That genjutsu."

"Well I did some research on that jutsu Orochimaru used on us and learned that. It came in handy." She lied. Ko had actually been practicing genjutsu over the years since she discovered her abilities. It was the main reason she meditates so much; wanting to strengthen her mind which meant strengthening her genjutsu as well.

"You managed to learn a complex genjutsu like that in a month?" Sasuke questioned.

"I'm full of surprises Sasuke. So tell me, what were you three doing when Orochimaru attacked the village? I was cooped up in the infirmary and they wouldn't let any of us leave."

"Well I saved everyone from Gaara!" Naruto boasted crossing his arms and nodding to himself.

"Uh huh, maybe some details would help." Ko said crossing her arms in disbelief.

"Sasuke chased after him and we had to follow Sasuke but ran into Gaara's siblings on the way. Thankfully we had enough people to handle them while we went after Sasuke. When we finally caught up to them Sasuke couldn't move and Sakura got injured so I saved the day by summoning my toads and defeated Gaara." Naruto explained with a huge grin on his face.

Ko looked at Naruto's smiling face then over to Sasuke's who looked like he was going to kill his knuckleheaded teammate. Ko smirked at Sasuke's reaction knowing he doesn't like to be showed up by someone who isn't an Uchiha; especially Naruto. Ko could see he hated Naruto for improving so quickly and catching up to him.

"This could be something I can use on him," Ko thought to herself and she watched his scowl towards Naruto deepen.

"Huh, so I guess Naruto had to save poor defenseless Sasuke. Seems like someone is growing with their abilities while the other is now struggling to catch up." Ko concluded.

Sasuke's hateful gaze now turned onto Ko who kept a smirk on her face. Without warning, Sasuke lunged at Ko shoving her up against a battered building with his forearm against her throat.

"Wanna say that again?" He said with anger with his face close to hers.

"Sasuke!" Naruto and Sakura shouted taking a step towards him to pull him away.

"It's all good guys, I was pushing his buttons." Ko reassured.

She looked back at Sasuke who was still glaring hatefully at her.

"Why are you doing this?" He whispered so only she could here.

"Just wanted to see when you'd snap Sasuke. It's no big deal."

Sasuke glared at her for a moment then released her and went back to cleaning up the debris without another word. Sakura and Naruto watched him with a worried look then back at Ko who was rubbing her throat. The four went back to their mission cleaning up the rubble that laid throughout the streets. Ko looked around at the destroyed buildings and the ground below them seeing everything they had to clean.

"Ugh if I knew I would have to clean up my mess, I would've summoned a smaller snake."

There were a few dumpsters at the edge of the roads where everyone throws the rubble into. Ko picked up a piece of a shop and threw it into the dumpster hearing the loud noise it made when it hit the bottom. She looked back at the road seeing the many more pieces she had to pick up and throw out.

"How long is this going to take?" Naruto grumbled.

Of course Naruto tried to show off by grabbing the biggest piece of the building and lifting it over his head but everyone could tell that it was too heavy for him. Naruto stumbled as he walked towards the dumpster but his feet started to shake.

"Uh Naruto," Ko started.

"I'm fine," Naruto said with a shaky laugh while his arms and legs shook even more.

He took a few more steps only to drop the piece and fell to his knees.

"You could've asked for help Naruto!" Sakura scolded.

"Loser," Sasuke commented.

"You don't have to impress us," Ko chimed in.

They walked towards the piece Naruto dropped and together, picked it up throwing it into the dumpster. Sakura went over to Naruto holding her hand out for him to take which he gladly took and got to his feet.

"Don't work too hard Naruto, Sensei will come for us soon." Sakura scolded him again.

Naruto stuck his tongue out at her and went back to cleaning, glaring at Sasuke as he walked back.

"This is a very dysfunctional team." Ko thought shaking her head as she continued to clean up the mess on the street. "They all hate each other but they all have a bond that I don't understand. They have grown on me, but I probably won't miss them when I leave." She looked up at her three teammates eyeing them one by one. "Sakura is useless and annoying, she also only cares about herself. Naruto is just annoying and pretty dumb, and I'm stuck with Sasuke so I have to tolerate his arrogance. I just hope it won't be just Sasuke and I with Father and Kabuto." Ko froze. "What if he leaves me alone in another base? Calm down Ko, he wouldn't....right?"