Chapter Thrity-Five

Lacuna Lily: YAY! After a long wait it’s finally arrived- Chapter Thirty-Five! I won’t even go into detail as to why it’s so late, you probably either know or don’t care… or a combination of the two, lol!

My eternal gratitude to my AMAZING reviewers- Lenne Alexa, Fallen to Earth, aznkitty180, Orzhvo Patriach, DemonFox303, and Dusk Ado for your continued support. You have no idea how much I appreciate it!

“Can I ask you something, Hoshi?”

Ice and Hoshi were sitting in the living room of Sakura’s apartment. The two had spent the morning discussing what was going on between the Sound and the Snow. Seeing Ice’s love for her native village made the former Sound kunoichi feel guilty for the hand she played in the manipulation of the Snow but at the same time it warmed her heart. It was that sort of warmth that Hoshi had wished she had experienced in both of the villages she’d previously lived in.

“Certainly.”

“What do you know of the Snow’s Kitase Clan?”

“The Snow’s… Kitase Clan?” Hoshi echoed in surprise.

“Six years ago Kenzo Kitase, the head of the clan, massacred his people down to himself and my teammate Taka. It wasn’t until recently that I’d come to believe that there was another survivor,” explained Ice.

“Oh?” Hoshi asked interestedly.

“Some time ago I was sent to Orochimaru’s Leaf Headquarters to deliver an important scroll for my brother,” continued Ice thoughtfully, “Although she had green eyes the girl who greeted me had the same pallid skin and black hair as one of the Kitase.”

“You’re talking about Kelly then…” replied Hoshi, lowering her head.

“I believe that’s what she said her name was,” recalled the Snow kunoichi, “Is she truly one of the Kitase?”

“Yes. Orochimaru found her after the Kitase Massacre six years ago. Apparently he saved her form her abusive father,” explained Hoshi ashamedly.

“That explains why her body was never found. Still for Orochimaru to be her savior…”

“I know. It seems that her life would not have improved by much if at all,” Hoshi agreed as she fought back tears, “Her devotion to him is unwavering but I know that he couldn’t possibly care about her…”

“How well did you know her, Hoshi?”

“I… was assigned as a member of her team, supposedly because I was the student of the top medic in our village.”

“Kabuto Yakushi?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry,” Ice replied, bowing her head.

“What for?” asked a puzzled Hoshi.

“I received news from a man named Rinji that Kabuto-”

“I know,” Hoshi stated unable to hold back her tears any longer, “The real Kabuto died before an alliance with your village was even considered…”

Though she wanted to ask what Hoshi meant, Ice remained silent. She didn’t want to be inconsiderate as she valued all of her teachers as well.

I hope that Megumi-sensei is well…

“I’m so sorry,” was all the blue haired kunoichi could manage to say to her grief-stricken companion.

“Don’t be,” replied Hoshi as she wiped away her tears, “You’re not the one responsible.”

“Orochimaru,” muttered Ice in disgust, “I understand what you meant earlier- how despicable.”

“Lady Ice.”

“Yes?”

“How can you stand to look at me?” asked the former Sound kunoichi bowing her head in shame, “I was planning to fight alongside the Snow knowing full well that your village shouldn’t even be involved in this conflict.”

“That may be true,” stated Ice thoughtfully, “But you didn’t. That’s the difference between you and an enemy shinobi, Hoshi.”

The Snow noble’s words caused Hoshi’s eyes to widen and a gasp to escape her throat. She eventually brought her gaze to meet the ruby colored eyes of her companion.

“How can you be so certain?” I could be a double agent planted in your company by Orochimaru.”

“I’m aware of that possibility,” began Ice as a reassuring smile formed on her lips, “But I’m also a fairly good judge of character and your remorse seems genuine enough to me.”

“Thank you, Lady Ice,” replied Hoshi bowing at the Snow noble’s feet, “I am undeserving of your forgiveness.”

“Get up, Hoshi.”

Hoshi obediently rose to her feet and smiled weakly at Ice. The blue haired girl shook her head slightly before smiling at her companion. Hoshi giggled nervously, trying in vain to think of something appropriate to say. The two kunoichi stood like this, silently staring at each other, for quite some time before either bothered to move.

The first to act was Ice who reached into her weapons pouch and produced her weapons scroll. Performing a series of single-handed signs she summoned forth a sword, a jian, that had a silver blade and a royal purple hilt. She then put away the scroll and held the sword out toward Hoshi.

“Her name is Snow Crystal. Take it as a symbol of our newly formed friendship.”

“A-are you sure?” Hoshi stammered in surprise. Upon seeing Ice nod she took the jian, “Th-thank you.”

“Perhaps I could interest you in some lessons?” offered the Snow kunoichi hopefully.

“I’d really like that,” replied Hoshi with a more relaxed smile, “If you have any interest in medical jutsu I could offer you a few lessons in return.”

“I’d love that, Hoshi-sensei,” state Ice enthusiastically.

“May we have many fruitful meetings and a lasting friendship, Ice-sensei.”

The ticking of a clock echoed eerily throughout Naruto’s apartment making the knuckle-headed blond want to tell it to ‘shut the hell up’. It wasn’t too long before Kelly had left that Naruto had realized the terrible mistake that he had made in letting her leave. It would be only a matter of moments before Jiraiya would return with Tsunade’s verdict and he would expect Kelly to be present upon his arrival.

“What am I gonna tell Pervy Sage when he gets back?” Naruto thought frantically aloud as he paced back and forth, “I’m such an idiot!”

Subconsciously Naruto’s pace increased as he became more and more panic-stricken. His heart seemed to beat to the ticking of the clock and before long he was practically running back and forth frightfully. He came to a complete hault once he heard the door to his apartment click open. He silently prayed it would be Kelly but it was no use.

“I’m back!” called Jiraiya after closing the door behind himself.

“H-hey Pervy Sage,” greeted Naruto nervously.

Normally Jiraiya would have scolded his pupil for calling him ‘Pervy Sage’ but he was to focused on the matter of Tsunade’s verdict to care.

“Is Kelly awake yet?”

“About that…” replied Naruto as he fidgeted with his fingers.

“There aren’t any problems, are there?” demanded Jiraiya crossing his arms.

“Well… you see…”

“Spit it out already!”

“Kelly is…” Naruto began before gulping nervously, “Kelly’s not here.”

“WHAT!?” exploded Jiraiya in a great rage, “You let her escape!?”

“It’s not what you think!” Naruto cried desperately.

“Then what is it?” demanded the irritated Sannin.

“When she woke up we talked. She told me about her father and how loyal she is to Orochimaru for saving her,” Naruto explained, “She asked for time to think. I felt bad so I gave it to her.”

“What did she say about her father?” questioned Jiraiya hastily.

Naruto lowered his head, “That bastard killed Kelly’s mother but he didn’t stop there.”

“What happened?”

“That son of a bitch beat her down and raped her- his own daughter.”

The news hit Jiraiya like a ton of bricks. He knew that Kenzo was a dishonorable, abusive, and sadistic man but never could he imagine that he was capable of raping his own daughter.

“If Orochimaru hadn’t done the job already I’d kill him myself!” exclaimed a now extremely angry Naruto with fire in his eyes.

“I understand how you feel,” agreed a now distraught Jiraiya, It wasn’t enough to take Kari away for good. He had to stoop so low as to rule their daughter through the sickest form of intimidation possible!

“I screwed up,” stated Naruto regaining his companion’s attention, “There’s a pretty good chance that she’s still in the village. We can’t let her get away.”

“Good point,” Jiraiya agreed with a firm nod, “There’s no time to waste so let’s go.”

A light breeze moved through one of the training areas of the Leaf. It was a cool, relaxing breeze but the lone kunoichi at the grounds felt she had no time to enjoy it. Here yes closed, she battled an imaginary opponent. Her movements were fluid and had all the elegance of some sort of dance. If not for the jian in her hand it would appear to a mere observer that she was, in fact, dancing.

“Where’s your loyalty, baby sister?” taunted the image of Yoshiro with a smug grin.

“Who are you to question my loyalty, you son of a bitch!?” exclaimed Ice in disgust.

“That same bitch is your mother, too”

“Fuck you!”

“Admit it, Ice- you’re just like me.”

“I’m nothing like you!” spat the angry kunoichi.

“Ah, but you are. You only made that deal with that little bitch from the Sound for your own selfish reasons.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about!” cried Ice before impaling her brother in the chest with her jian. She then slowly opened her eys and muttered, “Bastard.”

“Are you alright, Ice?”

The unexpected question caused Ice to jump, dropping her jian in the process. Familiar laughter filled the air as the embarrassed kunoichi turned to face her friend and teammate.

“How long have you been standing there, Taka?”

“I came in at ‘fuck you’,” replied the Kitase with an amused smile, “Who were you fighting if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Yoshiro-teme,” Ice replied with venom in her voice.

“Ice- no, Lady Yukikage- your brother has been slain,” stated Taka with a heavy frown.

“I know… I encountered two former Sound ninja who told me everything,” replied Ice solemnly, “How is Shinta?”

“He’s keeping an eye on things in the village for us.”

“That’s good to hear. Why are you here?”

“I’m here for two reasons,” Taka explained, “Firstly, to assist you when necessary.”

“And second?”

“Our supposed Yukikage’s ‘fiancée’ was none other than Kelly Kitase, my childhood friend, a ninja of the Sound, and heir to the Kitase Clan,” replied Taka becoming even more serious, “I kidnapped her and turned her into the Leaf Village.”

“Hoshi will be relieved to know that. I am, too,” stated Ice with a weary smile, “She’s in good hands.”

“I sincerely hope so…” replied Taka looking to the sky, “I hope so…”

Lacuna Lily: Isn’t Taka sweet? If only all guys were so caring, lol!

Kabuto: Why do I have to be dead?

Lacuna Lily: Quit your whining, Yakushi or I’ll obliterate your soul so you can’t watch over your precious Hoshi anymore.

Kabuto: Damn you, Lacuna! –sighs- In Chapter Thirty-Six Kelly reflects on things and Hoshi begs her to stay in the Leaf Village.

Lacuna Lily: Good boy, Yakushi, good boy! –turns to readers- As usual, thank you for reading and please show your support by reviewing. Thank you!