(Flashback)

Tsunade pursed her lips as she looked over the charts again. I barely spared her a glance, my eyelids droopy as I continued to stare blankly out the window. Sasame was beside her, peering over her shoulder to read the charts.

After a moment, Tsunade placed the charts back at the end of the bed and looked up at me. "I know this is hard for you, Miwako, but... I don't want you to lose hope."

Slowly, I dragged my eyes back over to meet hers.

Tsunade gave me a faint smile. "If I could, I would teach you my regeneration technique, but that would take years. Ever still, this idea might take just long, but... At least it doesn't run the risk of shortening your life span."

"What are you... talking about?"

"Have a little faith in this village, Miwako. We aren't as heartless as you think," Tsunade teased.

I flushed. "Y-You are not, Tsunade-sama... n-none of my friends are."
"Mn. And neither are the mass kunoichi in this village," Tsunade said.

"What are talking about? What's your... what's your idea?"

"It may not happen every day, but it does happen often enough. Because you are a jinchūriki, with your unique regenerative rate and ability to transform lethal poisons into harmless vitamins, you can receive any blood type. And while not all kunoichi choose to take a path without their... reproductive system... it still happens."

"Are you... are you implying...? But... can that even be done...?"

"It would be a first," Tsunade admitted, "but I believe it would work, especially considering your jinchūriki status and healing capabilities."

"But who would want...?"

Tsunade smiled. "Just have a little faith, Miwako."

I had to resist sneering; forcing my face to morph into cool indifference. "I understand, Tsunade-sama."

But I do not agree.

"A-Ano..." Sasame said hesitantly, flushing. "I... I, um..."

The door to my room flew open as Ino marched in, hands on her hips and carrying a basket of various goodies. "Alright, don't worry, Miwako-chan! Ino's here to save the day with chocolate."

I smiled.

(End Flashback)

('･ω･')

I flexed my fingers, my back pressed against the wooden wall in our apartment. Naruto was still sound asleep, and would still be sleeping for another couple of hours, but I had awoken far too early and couldn't get back to sleep.

Oi.

I closed my eyes, slipping into the seal. Without hesitation, I entered the cage and cocked my head. This time, the landscape was that of a vast ocean. Kurama was spread out on the sand, and the sun was bright above us. It beamed down on us, warming me. I could taste the salt and feel the warm grains of sand beneath my bare feet.

"What is it, Kurama?" I asked.

Kurama opened a single eye, staring down at me with his red gaze. "Naruto will be learning the Sage Arts soon enough."

"... I... I suppose so."

"You aren't," Kurama informed me.

"I'm not?"

"No. You aren't. We both know that. Which is why I called you here," Kurama said. "When Naruto leaves for the Mountain... I want you to leave Konohagakure, too. However, only you may come along."

My eyes widened. "Tsunade-sama would never allow me to leave the village."

"Aa. Which is why you won't tell her. Have Naruto cover for you," Kurama said. "He will. Pretend you are both leaving for the Mountain - and you might as well go there, it's closer to the destination I have in mind. When you arrive there, pack for a week's travel and stay."

"A week?!" I exclaimed. "Pein would have attacked Konoha within that time, though! He attacks not long after... after his battle with Jiraiya-sensei."

"Aa. I'm aware. And two days after that, the Kumo messengers arrive for the Summit. You will not be needed in Pein's attack. Besides... what do you care for Konoha?"

"I don't," I muttered, "what I do care about, though, is my brother."

"He'll be fine. If worse really comes to it..." Kurama trailed off, hesitating. "... I'll let the brat use me. We both know I'm more than a match for Pein."

I pursed my lips. "... I know that... I just..."

"You need to do this, kit," Kurama told me. "I need you to do this. Don't you trust me?"

At Kurama's sly tone, I flushed. "Don't mock me, Kurama."

He laughed, the sound echoing around me.

I folded my arms across my chest and turned away from him, looking out at the sea. A breeze ran through, and I released a small sigh. "... Alright. I'll do it. But first - "

I was yanked out of my meditative state by the burning pain digging into my right hand. My heart hammered and my stomach dropped.

It's time. Jiraiya -

Go, brat.

I knew that Jiraiya would be facing Pein. And I knew I couldn't stop that battle. That's why, when I told Jiraiya goodbye and hugged him tightly... I didn't just do that. For years I had been working on a seal that would activate at very specific circumstances and activate in a certain way. After the seal had taken in Senjutsu (a resultant effect when Jiraiya used his Sage mode), it would then begin to monitor the blood-level of its wearer. Namely, Jiraiya.

When the blood reached a certain level, it would then activate and turn into an anchor.

An anchor for my Flying Thunder God.

I had never teleported so far in my life. Amegakure was nations away from Konohagakure, and when I created the seal I knew I couldn't make such a jump willy-nilly. Which was why I had begun to create two more seals to accompany in. One of the seals, I wore on my hand. Each seal had a large amount of my chakra reserved in them - chakra I had been slowly putting inside of them during my two and a half year training leave. Each seal had twice the amount of chakra I possessed (not counting Kurama's reserves). One I wore now, the other was on Jiraiya.

I would have made more, however, I ran out of time. The seals themselves took months to make, and were annoyingly difficult. I couldn't tell you how many scrapped papers I had trying to draw them. Out of all my attempts, I only succeeded in creating two. I could recall how that had actually impressed Jiraiya.

The reason my hand was burning, was the other seal I drew. When the first seal became an anchor, this seal would alert me by any means necessary.

My last seal, was another anchor seal. Only this one was kept in Konohagakure at a very specific location.

Kurama. I don't know if I'll still have enough chakra to make it to him and back.

Humph... You can use mine, brat.

I don't want to lose control. Kurama, if I go past four-tails -

Don't worry. In exchange for helping you keep your cool, you owe me big, brat.

I didn't reply, allowing Kurama to instead feel my gratitude. I clapped my hands together and in a burst of bright red light... I was gone.

When the light cleared, I was crouching over Jiraiya's body, breathing heavily. I had burned through the first seal of reserves and my own reserves. My body was shaking and I stared up at the six Peins.

A heartbeat passed.

"I won't let you take him from me," I whispered, my vision slowly going red as I was forced to begin to draw on Kurama's chakra just to keep from passing out from chakra fatigue. It burned through my veins, and my teeth grew sharper, my nails longer. I placed my hand over Jiraiya's back - where I had placed both of the seals when I hugged him goodbye.

"Kyūbi jinchūriki," Pein said, his eyes narrowing. "You came to us. Surrender - "

Fluctuating my chakra, I activated the second reserve seal and felt my chakra burn through me and Kurama's chakra begin to draw back. In a flash of red, both of us were gone.

The light disappeared a final time, and I was immediately enveloped in a cloak of red. Three tails waved from behind me and anger seared itself in my mind. I was shaking with fury, staring down at my still bleeding godfather. My breath hitched as I saw everything as redredred.

Shaking, I jerked my head, locking eyes with a wide-eyed Tsunade.

"Help him," I whispered.

Tsunade's eyes darted down to Jiraiya and I lurched away from her, off the desk. I fell to the floor, shaking and shuddering. A fourth tail slowly formed and my skin started buuuuuRRRRRNNNN.

I was breathing through my nose, and I curled up on myself, shaking.

Why was I HELPING THEM?! I HATED them. I HATEDthisplACE. This mAN abandONED me.

A snarl slowly let itself out of me, and I shuddered again.

"Shizune," Tsunade barked, "get the emergency kit now! Miwako, are you in control?"

Cowardcowardcoward. Barking at me? That witch! That BITCH!

I shook my head, clearing my thoughts. Another burst of rage came through me and I hissed. "Ssssort offffff. I... neeeeeeedtoleeeaaave."

Kill them! Kill them! They DOn't deserve my help. They hATE me. They beat me. Destroy this place. I nEEded to killkillkill them before they killkillkill mE.

Grandfather DIED for them and they put a COWARD in his placethosesonofabitchesdon'tdeservehissacrifice.

Calm yourself, brat.

Another snarl escaped my lips and my eyes locked onto the window. I leapt out of Tsunade's office, smashing through the window and landing on the roof. Immediately, I could feel the ANBU surround me. I knew they sensed my chaaaaaaaaakra and they knew I came from the HoKAGE's office.

"Leave her!" Tsunade roared from her office.

I sprinted past them, my feet digging in unnecessarily hard into the roof and using it as a launch pad. The roof shattered beneath my take off and a vindictive pleasure fluttered in the pit of my stomach. Each roof I ran across, I purposely put in too much of an extra force to take off.

Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiillllllllll them. WHY aren't you kiiiiiiiiiillllling them? DestroooOOOooy them. They wouldn't hesitate to do the sAME in your place.

I shook my head again, continuing to sprint out and away from Konoha. I leapt up to the Hokage's heads, and when my eyes rested on Minato and Hiruzen -

Whydiddyouhavetoleaveme?

Pain jabbed through my heart - fresh grief as if it was only yesterday I had held Grandfather's body, feeling him grow colder and colder. As if it was only yesterday that a man who loved me more than life itself sacrificed everything for me.

And Papa who watched me wither away and die and Momma who cried and cried and Lala who wore her mask of smiles and -

BeepbeepBEEP of silence and the -

SobbingcryingpleaDING woman who was dying before I even knew her and -

BEATBEATBEATPOUNDPOUNDPOUND because I was scumscumscum -

SharpSTINGofbetrayelthatWON'TGOAWAY -

GrowingcoldercolderandcoooOOOLDEr -

A roar escaped my lips, echoing through the night as I landed on top of the Hokage's mountain. A roar of grief and pain and hate and -

I took off into the forest, sprinting as fast as I could and disappeared in the early morning air.

('･ω･')

It was late afternoon when I returned.

I hopped from roof to roof, ignoring how some of the buildings no longer had roofs, and I climbed up through the now repaired window into Tsunade's office.

Only Shizune was in her office, sorting through paperwork. She looked up when I entered, her eyes widening and she stood up. "Miwako! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine now," I said roughly, clearing my throat. "Where's Tsunade-sama? And Jiraiya-sensei?"

"They are both in the ER," Shizune said softly. "It... it looks like it could go either way."

I breathed out through my nose, closing my eyes and rocking back to the balls of my feet. "... Mn. Is there... I mean, is there anything I can do?"

Shizune gave a short smile. "Actually, Tsunade-sama had a mission picked out for your team - they left some hours ago; it was an emergency mission. The Tsuchigumo requested urgent assistance. Do you know where to head, or - "

"I know," I cut, pursing my lips. "... Sorry, I just... I thought I would be able to stay here with Jiraiya..."

Shizune's expression softened. "I know, but there isn't much you can do. He's in the best hands. I suspect by the time you return, he'll be ready for visitation, so hurry up, okay?"

I breathed out slowly. "Right. Ja ne, Shizune-san."

('･ω･')

I kicked off from the tree branch, leaping up high in the air. I could faintly smell Naruto's scent, and I as continued my pursuit, Kurama filled me in on what had transpired.

During the Third Great War the Tsuchigumo Clan invented a jutsu powerful enough to wipe out villages in one fell swoop. When the war ended, Grandfather demanded that the jutsu be forbidden and locked away. In exchange for the demand, the Tsuchigumo Clan was provided security by Konoha. Should they ever need assistance, Konoha would come to their aide. It seemed that only moments after I had transported Jiraiya to Konoha, Konoha received Tsuchigumo's message.

A group had infiltrated their lands and gotten past their defenses. They had sent their heiress, along with a single escort, to escape while the servant held them off. The heiress needed protection so she could be safely transported to the nearest village - what they perceived as a safe house.

Naruto and the others had already delivered the girl to the village, however...

If I remember correctly, the village wasn't safe anyway. Naruto has a good eye to realize this, I thought, kicking off from the other branch. It was infiltrated.

Aa. He recognized the looks the villagers were giving her. The same kind of looks Konoha give you and Naruto. He's already met Utakata - the jinchūriki for Saiken (Rokubi - Six-Tails) and naturally, they got off on the wrong foot.

My lips twitched with amusement. That doesn't surprise me. Hotaru is the heiress, right? Has Naruto returned to the village, yet?

He just reached it... he's finding out now that they turned on her and handed her over to the enemy. She escaped, yadda, yadda. And he's off. Ah, Sasuke hit him over the head. I'm starting to like that Uchiha.

I sighed. It's going to be a while before I meet up with them. Understandable, as they had such a huge head start. Frankly, if I wasn't as fast as I am now (and I'm not just saying that to be narcissistic) I wouldn't have a chance of catching up to them until the next night.

Kurama snorted and comfortable silence fell between us.

('･ω･')

I landed with an explosion, digging my feet into the ground with as much force as I dared to muster in hopes of intimidation. The Kirigakure ANBU stiffened and two of their guards turned around to face me. I had landed behind them, eyeing them with open disdain and distrust. The leader of the group, or who I assumed to be the leader, was holding Hotaru, our heiress, hostage.

I knew they were, in actuality, after Utakata. However, that just made me more pissed off. Because they didn't care about him. They cared about the bijū inside of him, about Saiken.

They just wanted to use him.

My hands curled into fists.

Naruto, Sasuke, Utakata and Kakashi were on a ledge overlooking us.

"Miwako," Naruto exclaimed, his face lighting up in surprise, "what are you doing here?"

I pulled out one of special blades and threw it towards Naruto. He caught it deftly, recognizing it.

"Back-up. Oi. Kirigakure shinobi. Why are you holding Konoha's client hostage?" I demanded. "Let her go this instant!"

"No," he said, glancing back at me. He turned his position so that his back faced neither groups.

"In that case, we'll take her back by force," Naruto snarled.

I grinned. Raising my right hand, I pulled back the cloth over the palm of my hand. "I couldn't agree more."

Naruto summoned a clone and Sasuke unsheathed his katana, leaping up in the air. Naruto formed a Rasengan. "I'll take the one in the middle, Sasuke, left, Miwako, right."
My hands flexed and I pulled out my tanto. "Last chance to give us the girl."

"Shisho," Hotaru whispered, looking up at Utakata. Utakata tensed, preparing to attack, as well. The shinobi holding Hotaru raised a single hand, and rain began to fall.

Naruto's Rasengan began to die away and at his confused look, Utakata explained, "It's a jutsu that east away the chakra it comes in contact with."

Naruto looked annoyed, and Sasuke and he exchanged a glance. Naruto sprinted forward, Sasuke directly to his left. The first two shinobi snapped out their water whips towards them, but both of them avoided the attack with ease.

Taking my chance while those two were distracted, I dove in towards the kunoichi at the back, whipping out my tanto and engaging in taijutsu. The kunoichi summoned a water whip, snapping it towards me, but I dove underneath it. She pulled out several senbon in the same motion that I dodged her whip, and I raised my tanto. She threw her senbon, but I deflected them with my tanto, moving in on her in the same process. My right hand came out and she caught it with her own.

I smirked in triumph, disengaging from the bout.

She eyed me momentarily, before I disappeared in a bright red flash, my tanto poised in my hands.

They want to use Saiken. Break him, like they already did with Isobu.

I reappeared behind her in the very same second and my tanto dug into her, a surge of sadistic victory overcoming me.

There was a reason Papa was such a feared opponent. The speed to use the Flying Thunder God can't be matched so easily, only very few are capable of reacting to it in time. And a nameless kunoichi isn't one of them.

A tense atmosphere overtook the battlefield as all eyes came towards us.

"Your comrade will die if she doesn't get treatment," I said nonchalantly, removing my blade roughly, slowly, uncaringly. She whirled around to me, but I had already used the Flying Thunder God again and appeared beside Naruto. She was clutching at her chest, trying her damndest to staunch the quickly pouring out blood. My eyes flickered around the group, and I saw another ANBU member clutching their right arm - it seemed Sasuke had cut him with his katana.

"My teammate is right," Kakashi said. "This isn't a battle you can win. I don't know why you're here, nor do I care: only that you are interfering with a Konoha mission."

The shinobi holding Hotaru seemed to be glaring at us, stepping away.

Naruto dug his fist into his palm. "Give us back Hotaru, right now."

Sasuke did not verbally say anything, but his eyes hardened as a dark gleam took to them.

"Tt," the shinobi muttered. "We're on a mission, too."

Yes. To enslave Saiken again. Like fuck I'm going to let that happen. Besides, Pein will be approaching this area soon enough to attempt to capture Saiken. I couldn't bring Isobu back to Konoha, but... but Utakata... Utakata might be a possibility. He is after all, a human. Granted, a missing-nin from Kirigakure, but given how Zabuza is also a missing-nin from Kirigakure and Konoha is openly friends with him, I see no reason why we can't do the same for him.

And I won't let Kirigakure enslave Saiken. And... And Konoha won't enslave Saiken. They... they listened to reason for Isobu, so maybe...

"You do not have the opportunity to negotiate," I snapped. "Your kunoichi is about to pass out any second from blood loss. You might have our heiress, but if you kill her, we will kill you. If you give us the girl, we will let you leave."

Kakashi placed a firm hand on my shoulder. "We only want the girl. Let's not spill any more unnecessary blood. If we continue to use force like this, the repercussions may supersede all of us and affect our villages."

"Last chance," Sasuke said lowly.

A somber silence filled the air, only broken by the watery coughs from the kunoichi. She was wobbling on her feet now.

"Very well," the shinobi bit out, releasing the girl. Hotaru ran back to us, well, back to Utakata.

"Shisho," Hotaru exclaimed, her eyes round with worry. "Are you okay?"

"Idiot. I should be asking you that," Utakata grouched.

I watched the Kirigakure ANBU leave.

If Pein wasn't going to already kill them... I trailed off.

You would?

I don't know what I'd do. Seeing Isobu... Hearing how he felt... what he thought... it still makes me angry just thinking about it. I couldn't help him, and...

Turning away from the others, I stared out at the forest. ... and now I'm presented with another opportunity to help a bijū. Besides, they aren't going to just give up on Utakata. At least... not for a while.

Kurama seemed to sigh. No matter. There's still the matter of convincing him to come back to Konoha, you know.

I'll drag him if I have to. I'm not abandoning Saiken. Not when there's something I can actually do about it. Besides, he dislikes Kirigakure, too, right? Zabuza and Haku still hate Kirigakure. Maybe he would be interested in joining Wave?

Don't be so optimistic. It doesn't suit you.

Whatever. All I know is that Tsunade would be far more open minded to a jinchūriki entering the village than an actual tailed beast - and a jinchūriki may be more open minded to persuasion.

"Why were they even here?" Naruto muttered.

"Because Utakata is like Zabuza," I huffed. "They're just trying to keep anymore of their nin from joining Wave. They didn't push for him, of course, because they knew they'd lose. They had no leeway, except for the hostage, and if they killed the hostage then it would look bad for them (and thus their village) and we would kill them. Or at least I would."

"You're like Zabuza?" Naruto questioned, squinting at Utakata. Utakata stared back at him neutrally.

"And us," I commented. "He's a jinchūriki, too, right?"

At that, Utakata's eyes widened and his head snapped around to stare at me. I shrugged and patted my stomach. "Naruto and I are the Kyūbi jinchūriki. Kurama sensed Saiken inside of you."

"S-Saiken...? You mean... that...?"

"Creature who was imprisoned against his will? Yes. That one."

"Wow, you're like Gaara and us?" Naruto asked, grinning brightly. "Maybe ya aren't so bad after all! Saiken... that's... the slug one right? So then you're a grouchy-slug!"
"I am not grouchy," Utakata snapped.

"No matter," Kakashi said, completely unbothered by this new development, "now that she's safe, we should head back to the castle and rethink our stance."

"Goodie," I mumbled.

('･ω･')

On the way back to the castle, Hotaru had managed to get injured – don't ask how, I wasn't looking. One moment she was talking with Naruto, next Sasuke was hitting Naruto over the head and scolding him. I carried Hotaru on my back and when we reached the castle, I placed her in her room. I then proceeded to shoo everyone out, saying that only Utakata could guard the door. The only reason I was allowing that was because he kept fluttering around her like a mother hen. A grouchy, stubborn, mother hen.

"U-Um..." Hotaru began hesitantly, brushing back some golden hair. "You don't have to treat me, Miwako-san..."

I shushed her, placing a finger over her lips and offering her a faint smile. "Don't be silly. You hurt your arm and shoulder, so it's easier this way. Besides, I'm the only girl on this team, so..."
Hotaru blushed and nodded her head. Satisfied that she wouldn't protest anymore, I asked her to take off her shirt so I could properly treat the wound. She looked hesitant, and fidgeted nervously, but after a moment she took it off.

"Please... don't tell anyone..."
"Well, Utakata is at the door, so he can hear... Is that a scroll in your back?"
There, with bulging veins accompanying it... was a scroll. Right inside her back. With a gentle finger, I traced it along the path of the veins. I channeled chakra into the tip of my finger, and in reaction, seals began to make themselves present upon her back. Within a matter of seconds, I could read the sealing code written on her back to contain the scroll.

Hotaru flushed. "... Grandfather... Grandfather entrusted the Forbidden Scroll to me, so..."
I raised my hands, still scanning over the seals with a deft eye. "He put it inside ya. No need to say anything more. I get it. My father and mother entrusted the Kyūbi to me and Naruto. We didn't actually get a say in it, but..." I shrugged. "Kurama, the Kyūbi, is now my best friend."

You're too sweet.

You're sarcasm is noted, but it's true. You are.

Hmph.

Hotaru kept her back to me, as she looked down at her lap. In that instant, the door to the room slid open and Utakata stormed inside. "Is it true... do you...?"
His eyes settled on the scroll in her back and his expression darkened. "That's... the forbidden jutsu of the Tsuchigumo Clan. Your grandfather had it engraved into your own body?!"

Hotaru glanced back him, her expression shameful. She looked away from him, hugging herself closely. Utakata approached her slowly, reaching out a hand and resting it on her shoulder. "To hell with the jutsu... to hell with the clan... to hell with one's own master! And all these selfish guys who do atrocious things to those who serve them without a hint of remorse. They think of us... as mere tools. Tools... who don't speak."

His words rang true to my ears, and I knew Kurama was agreeing. Hotaru agreed to take the scroll inside of herself for safe keeping, because she believed it would restore her clan. She believed she could one day master it and bring back honor to her nearly-extinct clan. She took that burden upon herself, and it had only ever brought her grief.

"Hotaru... I know you think this jutsu will save your clan. I know you thought you were prepared to handle the burden... but..." I bit my bottom lip and approached her other side. Utakata pulled her robe back up, covering the shameful scroll. "But that jutsu needs to die with the past. My Jiji had it sealed away for a reason. You need to let it go."

While I was speaking, I had continued to read the seals, and when I was done, a chill settled over me. The seals on her back, that contained the scroll, were going to be rather... problematic.

Hotaru shook her head. "It's – It's the Tsuchigumo Clan's last hope. I – I can't – I – "

"You can," Utakata growled. "That jutsu has brought you nothing, but pain. You owe this clan nothing – it was dying before you were born!"
She shook her head, more violently this time. "I – "

I placed a hand on her shoulder, locking eyes with her. She struggled to meet my eyes, but my gaze was firm, and unwavering. "I may not look it, but I am very good with seals, and I know that if you don't remove that scroll soon... you will die."

She stiffened at that, and Utakata gave me a surprised look. I pursed my lips, firm on the matter. "That seal is decaying away inside your own body. You have, maybe, a month before it completely erodes away and you self-destruct. I don't know who sealed that thing in you – maybe they just weren't as proficient with seals, or maybe they wanted this thing gone from the world because they knew it would only bring pain. That jutsu wiped away villages in the blink of an eye."

Hotaru's shoulders sagged in defeat. "But... I... Then I guess... I'll just have to master it in the month!"
"That's not going to happen," Utakata said bluntly, brutally honest.

Hotaru cringed. "Then... Then we have to find someone else who can. I remember Oji-san mentioned a cousin of mine... Shiranami... maybe if we find him..."

"You would hand over a completely power-house of a jutsu to someone you don't know?" I demanded.

She winced.

"Miwako-san is right," Utakata said. "You can't be so reckless with it. We have to get it out of you. Miwako-san... could you...?"

"Yeah," I said quietly. "I can."

"But," Hotaru protested weakly, "there has to be... I can't let my clan just... just die out!"
"And who says you need this jutsu to prevent that from happening?" I demanded. "Why do you need to rely on this jutsu? What's to stop you from going out on your own and making a name for yourself? For your clan? The Yondaime Hokage didn't come from any famous clan, but he turned himself into something. What's to stop you from doing the same thing?"

"I – I'm not a seal master like – "

"Maybe not now, but you could be, couldn't you? My point is: you don't need that thing to restore your clan. You're still alive and kickin' aren't ya? You got two legs, don't ya? Then get up and do something."

Hotaru was staring at me with wide eyes and a gaping mouth.

I blushed, then huffed, and pointedly looked away.

Wow.

Sh-Shut up.

Did you just...

Sh-Shut up! I-I mean it.

Did you really just...

Kurama, I-I-I'm warning you...!

Hotaru's eyes shined and she lurched from her sitting position to tackle in to me. "Th-Thank you, Miwako-san."

Did you just talk-no-jutsu this girl?

Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!

I thought that was Naruto's thing... but now...

Feeling extremely uncomfortable, I awkwardly returned Hotaru's tight hug. "Um. There, there... I just... I mean... uh... a little help, Utakata-san?"

Utakata just smirked at us. I huffed and puffed, but my dark glares just made his smirk widen. Hotaru finally pulled back from me, then turned and hugged Utakata. Utakata's eyes widened and he stiffened immediately.

When Hotaru pulled back, she was smiling brightly. "I know what I want to do. I-I want to get this out of me... and then... and then... I want to make a name for myself – for my clan! Shisho... you said earlier that you were leaving, and now I know for certain: I want to come with you."

Utakata paled at that. "I told you not to call me Shisho. And what makes you think that I'll agree to take you along with me?"
Hotaru opened her mouth to reply, but I cleared my throat. "You two can have this little spat later. I need to treat Hotaru's wounds first, and then we need to talk about the mission. So unless you want to see her shirtless, Utakata-san, I suggest you go back out to guarding the door."

He flushed.

('･ω･')

"Okay, so I'll remove the jutsu later tonight," I said, glancing around at everyone. We were all gathered in Hotaru's room, and the girl was sitting awfully close to me. "I need some time to gather the proper supplies, but it should be simple enough. Thankfully, it's using a space-storage seal within itself, so I don't need medical training... However..."

"However," Kakashi went on for me, "we need to take care of the bandits who were after Hotaru in the first place. Undoubtedly, they'll keep striking until they're either dead, or the jutsu is destroyed. Frankly, I'd feel better if it was the aforementioned. Better not to leave loose ends over something this valuable."

"Thankfully," I continued, "they had entered the castle, so their scent is all over the place. With Pakkun and the others, Kakashi or I could track them down with ease."

"But," Sasuke said, "let me guess: you need to stay here with Hotaru, so Kakashi and either myself and Naruto, will actually track them down and eliminate them."

"Close," Kakashi said, his eye crinkling into his eye-smile. "I, Naruto and Sasuke will track them down. Utakata-san and Miwako will stay here with Hotaru. While Miwako's extracting the jutsu, Utakata-san and Bull will keep watch."

Naruto gave me a worried look. "That's... dangerous, though."

"No, really?" I asked sarcastically. "It won't be dangerous if you do your part and take care of those bandits, Aniki. Besides, I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself."

Naruto pursed his lips, but didn't reply.

Sasuke sighed. "Alright, then. When do we head out?"
"Now," Kakashi said, seeming to smile beneath his mask.

In the same instant, both Kakashi and I summoned the ninken. I summoned Bull, while Kakashi summoned the rest of the pack. Bull, the massive black bulldog, gave me a happy bark and licked my cheek. I giggled and wrapped my arms around him, smothering my face against his soft fur.

"Bull's on guard duty for Miwako, the rest of you, we'll be tracking down bandits."

('･ω･')

"Those pieces of paper are going to take the jutsu out of me?" Hotaru asked, peering down at the many seals I had drawn around us. I glanced up at her, offering her a faint smile. We were outside of the castle (as I would need a lot of room to safely extract the jutsu), and sprawled out on the grass. It was a beautiful night; the temperature was just right, not a cloud in sight in the starry sky, and perfectly quiet.

"Yeah. I need a lot more than I normally would because of the lock on the seal. I have no intentions of using the jutsu, so I don't need to know the key. But, because it's staying locked, I have to take extra measures to get it out of ya," I said.

"Hmm," Hotaru hummed, peering closely at the slips of paper. "It seems so strange that such a tiny piece of paper can hold so much power."
I grinned at her. "That's nothing. A 'tiny slip of paper' is currently holding the Kyūbi inside of me, much to his dismay."

Hotaru giggled and Utakata snorted, then asked, "Miwako-san... you said you were a jinchūriki... who placed the bijū inside of you?"
"My father," I said. "Well, technically my mom, too, but mostly my father."

"Do you hate him?"
I blinked in surprise at that. "Hate him? No. He's my father. And... well... my circumstances were a bit... different. Kurama said that Saiken said you hate your master because he tried to take Saiken from you."

"Saiken...?" Utakata trailed off. "Is that... Is that his name?"

"Yep."

Hotaru peered up at Utakata. "Utakata-sama, are you friendly with your bijū like Miwako-chan?"

Utakata shrugged. "We have... talked... but... I do not know what we'd call each other."

"To be fair," I reasoned, "I went out of my way to make Kurama my best friend."

"Are you even allowed to talk about this?" Utakata asked. "I thought most villages swore their jinchūriki into secrecy."

"Yeah, I was sworn into secrecy... until I became a Chūnin. Now Tsunade-sama doesn't really care who I tell. They're going to figure it out anyway when they see me using the power, right? I'm not ashamed of the fact, either. Are you, Utakata-san?"

Utakata shrugged. "I am indifferent to the fact that I am a jinchūriki. My only real animosity is towards..."

"... your master because he tried to take Saiken out against your will, yeah," I said, nodding my head.

Utakata's eyes narrowed. "How are you communicating with Saiken without my knowledge?"
I felt pleased that he used Saiken's name. "Kurama. The bijū can talk to one another. Don't ask me how, because even I don't know that."

"U-Um..."

Our eyes moved over to Hotaru who was fidgeting nervously. "U-Utakata-sama... is that... is that why you don't want me to call you Shisho...? Because your Shisho was... was not nice?"
He shrugged and looked away.

"But, but you're not like your Shisho," Hotaru protested. "You're very nice! When you want to be. Sometimes. What I mean is, I would be honored if you let me call you Shisho, because you're a wonderful – "

Utakata sighed. "Just give it up already."

" – then can I call you sensei, seeing how we'll be traveling together?"

"I still have yet to agree to the whole traveling together thing."

"Well why not?" I asked. "She obviously enjoys your company and you obviously enjoy hers."

"I do not – "

"Tsundere," I sung.

Utakata stammered and flushed. "I am not – "

" – not a tsundere?" I finished for him, smiling coyly.

"B-Brat," Utakata accused.

"Thank you," I said. "Alright, almost done, Hotaru. I'll add in some numbing seals so you won't feel a thing."

Hotaru beamed. "Thank you, Miwako-chan."

"Sure, sure..."

Bull barked loudly, then growled. I caught a new scent in the wind, as a man appeared before us. He was tan with wavy black hair and dark eyes. I recognized him as Shiranami – the leader of the bandits. "I'm afraid I can't let you do that."

I stared blankly at him, then I turned to Utakata. "Watch Hotaru. I got this."
Standing up, I cracked my knuckles. "No offense, shinobi-san, but the sooner I finish this up, the sooner I can get home and check in on my godfather. He was kind of in critical condition last I checked, so I'm really not in the mood for your little bullshit."

Care to use my chakra?

That would be over doing it, wouldn't it? He's not that big of a threat.

Perhaps.

He raised a finger at me, then began to move it quickly, drawing kanji in the air. I recognized the kanji as bind. It flew straight at me and I deftly dodged it, leaping up into the air. With a snarl, my leg swung out and my foot connected in the exact spot he once was. The ground erupted beneath me, as he leapt away.

In the same instance he was in the air, I grinned maliciously and flung out my hands. Red lightning bloomed to life inside of them before erupting out. The lightning took shape of a fox, racing through the air. His eyes widened and he wasted no time in drawing the kanji for barrier.

The attack blazed straight through the barrier with no problem, and my eyes widened in surprise at that.

That attack is pumped with my chakra. No simple word-binding jutsu can stop that.

Heh. So if Naruto had just drawn on your chakra to begin with in his battle in canon, it wouldn't have been so difficult?

Correct. That's also why Saiken won so easily... aside from the fact that he's a powerhouse and this silly little man is a pathetic worm squirming on the ground.

The attack slammed into Shiranami with deadly accuracy. He flew high up into the air, until I couldn't properly see him, before he came spiraling down. He collided into the ground with a loud crunch, forming a small crater. I walked over to him, pulled out my kunai and proceeded to slice his throat.

Better safe than sorry, I thought. Then, with a bright smile, I turned around and said, "Welp. That's taken care of. I'm almost done with the seals, so bear with me, okay?"

Hotaru smiled back at me. "M-Mn! Thank you, Miwako-chan."

"Sure, sure. Hey, Utakata-san, you can stop holding Hotaru now."

Utakata promptly released his hold on her shoulders and pointedly looked away from her.

Those two are such a cute couple.

Why do you say that?

Aw come on, don't you see it? He's so flustered and such a tsundere, and she's all happy around him, willing to go out of her way to make him happy... Nothing? Really? Bah.

Stop what you're doing. You're not a romantic. Don't go down that road or I will pump you so full of energy, you won't be sleeping for weeks.

Don't be like that.

Hmph.

Unable to help myself, I grinned.

('･ω･')

"Aaaand... done," I declared. Hotaru and I were panting heavily from the extraction. While there was no pain in it, it was still a tiring process. It was dawn, and the rest of team seven had returned a couple hours ago.

Naruto, who had been soundly asleep at my side, snorted and rolled over. I looked down and affectionately kissed his forehead. "Wakey, wakey, Aniki. All done."

"Thank you, Miwako-chan," Hotaru panted. She was kneeling in front of me, her back to me, but she turned her head to smile at me.

I blushed. "Don't mention it."

"Are you alright, Hotaru?" Utakata inquired, looking at her closely.

"Yes... Sensei."

"Still haven't decided," Utakata grouched.

Hotaru and I just exchanged smiles.

Naruto yawned and sat up, rubbing his eyes. Sasuke, who had been sitting a little ways from us in the grass said, "Is that it, then? It's destroyed?"

"Not yet. Here, pyro, go burn it up," I said, tossing the scroll to him. Sasuke smirked, held it up and then breathed out a little fire. In no time, it was a pile of ash.

"Well," Kakashi said, "the bandits are taken care of, the scroll is destroyed... looks like this mission is complete."

Utakata sighed. "I suppose you will return to your village, whereas I..."

"Come back to Konoha with us."

All eyes snapped towards me. I remained firm, however, my eyes hard. "I know you're a jinchūriki. I know that you're a fugitive, but... You need to come with us. You can officially join Wave - as they have many nuke-nin - but you need to come back to Konoha with us."

Utakata turned to face me, his gaze calculating. "Why?"

"The Akatsuki is after your bijū," I said, wasting no time in getting to the point. "Even if you reconcile with your village and are no longer a nuke-nin, the Akatsuki will find you. I... I'm begging of you to please come back to Konoha with us so we can protect you. Even if it's only for a little while until the Akatsuki is dealt with. They're unimaginably strong and have already collected most of the bijū by now."

Naruto's eyes widened. "That's right! The Akatsuki are bad news. For now, you guys should come back to Konoha."

Hotaru looked worryingly at Utakata. "If we don't, then the Akatsuki will come after us...?"
Utakata looked away, his brow furrowed. "... Must I always be on the run?"

"Not always," I said. "But, please, be patient for now."

"Utakata-sama..." Hotaru trailed off.

"I understand," Utakata said. "I'll come to Konoha with you."

"And I'll accompany him," Hotaru said firmly.

Utakata sighed. "... You know what? I give up. Fine. Come with me, Hotaru."

Hotaru beamed.

I smiled.