Demon's Path

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto... I do own Kaishi, Ryuo, Michio, Takeo, and Nariko.

[Chapter 9: Deception and Affection]

There was something amiss with Kaishi. Naruto sensed it, Nariko sensed it, and Kakashi sensed it. Hell, even Ryuo could see that something was wrong. It had all begun a year ago, when she'd returned from her time in Suna. She'd become almost possessed with work, going on every mission available. She barely saw anyone, save Naruto who still lived with her. Kakashi had himself become the same, the loss of Shakaku Miaka hitting him rather hard. This left Naruto and Nariko to try and break Kaishi from her new workaholic patterns.

"Is there something that's bothering, Neechan?" Naruto asked the brunette medic nin.

Nariko smiled to the young blonde and shook her head. She hated that she had to lie to him and everyone else. Hated that she had to not tell Kakashi that there was a chance he and Kaishi could have had children, children that Kaishi had told her died. "Nothing I can think of, Naru-chan."

"Oh... okay then, Nariko-neechan. It's just... she's so sad."

"Sometimes we all have moments when we're sad, Naru-chan."

Naruto wasn't an idiot. He knew that something was bothering his caretaker. Like his father before him, he was a genius, he just hid it to keep the villagers from hating him more and using it against him. Kaishi had taught him to never show those that could be potential threats all the cards, sometimes stunning them will give you the opening you'll need.

He sighed as he watched Kaishi finish writing up a report on her last mission at the kitchen table. Nariko had stopped by for a visit and Kaishi had just nodded and worked. He didn't see Kakashi-niisan anymore, and Ryuo-niisan was a jerk. It was just four now: Himself, Iruka-sensei, Nariko-neechan, and Kaishi.

The ten year old ninja in training moved beside his caretaker as she placed the last file on a pile and embraced her. If Kaishi was weak against anything, it was him. "Whatever it is, Kai-neechan, I'm not going anywhere," he said.

Kaishi froze and closed her eyes, a sadness that had started when Itachi killed his clan and worsened since her return from Suna seemed to overwhelm those cat-like, ruby orbs. She turned in her chair and his arms and lifted him into her lap, her own arms wrapping about his smaller frame. "Arigato, Otouto. I have been rather moody lately, haven't I?"

Naruto snorted. "To put it lightly."

Kaishi chuckled softly. "So I've been a major bummer lately. Gomen nasai, for worrying you."

"Is this because of Itachi?" Naruto asked.

Kaishi's expression turned dark for a moment as she nodded, her thoughts lingering on the two babies in Suna she had left behind. "Hai."

~*~*~*~

"She was quite hard to influence, even with the jutsu you provided," the Kazekage grumbled.

"She's a strong kunoichi," Orochimaru stated.

"Her sons will be a great asset. They will influence her to perhaps join Suna in order to be near them."

"In the very least you have leverage against one of the stronger members of Konoha," a Suna jounin offered.

Orochimaru nodded. "Onibashi Kaishi would cause us difficulty, I must admit. Of course, I have a deal with her myself."

The Kazekage laughed. "Ah, hai. To take her over, you would wield great power."

Orochimaru nodded. "She would make a great asset against my enemies."

"Ah, hai... the Akatsuki. It has been a year since you defected from them. Their loss. With our alliance with your... village, Suna shall grow more powerful and gain favor from the Lords."

Orochimaru nodded. "Of course."

The Kazekage smirked. "Now that we have you... I have no need for Gaara."

Orochimaru raised a brow. "The Shukaku's vessel? He's quite strong I hear."

"Strong hai, demo he's unpredictable. I have wished to destroy him for a while now. My baka of a brother in law tried to kill him a few years ago, demo I shall need to try harder it seems," the Kazekage said.

The jounin nodded. "The monster cannot be controlled. It should be destroyed."

The Kazekage shrugged. "Then you can take a team you trust and destroy it."

The jounin nodded, a dark smirk on his face. "With pleasure."

~*~*~*~

"Kai!" a voice called out from down the street.

Her head snapped in the direction from the ANBU building. She had just returned from a mission, missing the Academy graduations. She wanted to go home, see if Naruto passed, and then celebrate either way. Her mind snapped back to the jounin approaching her from down the hall.

"Kaka-kun?" she asked.

Kakashi nodded as he approached. "Yo, how have you been?"

She shrugged. "Busy as hell. Sondaime sent me on a mission during graduation. I think he secretly hates me."

"So you don't know?"

"Know what?" she asked, a brow raised.

"I'm leader of Team Seven this year."

"You passed a team? Who's on it?" she asked.

"Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke, and Uzumaki Naruto," Kakashi answered.

"He passed... He passed!" she cheered as she hugged her old friend and ex-boyfriend.

Kakashi laughed. "Hai. He passed."

"And he's on a team with Sasu-kun? That's great! I'm so proud! I need to go find Naruto and celebrate. They passed your test too? That's even better. If anyone can handle those two, it's you."

Kakashi hadn't seen Kaishi this happy in years he smiled. "Hai. Although who knows how sane I will be. Hopefully, Sakura will be of help."

"She's the pink haired girl with the crush on Sasu-kun, ne?"

"Hai," Kakashi answered.

"You'll be fine. She's a smart girl. I can't believe my Otouto's a ninja!" she said happily. "I have to go, Kaka-kun... we'll talk later, ne?"

Kakashi nodded. "Sure, Kai. Go see Naruto."

~*~*~*~

It was her monthly visit. Gaara looked out his window towards the entrance to the village. She would be here soon. She and her children were the only ones he would let near him now. Not after all those attempts on his life. Temari and Kankuro could come near, just not within touching distance. Especially Kankuro, he looked too much like... him.
"Is it the third week of the month, already?" Temari asked, noticing the almost eager look in Gaara's eyes.

Kankuro looked up from his puppet with a raised brow. "Kaishi-san is coming?"

Temari nodded. "By the expression on Gaara's face."

Kankuro chuckled and shook his head. "I don't know why he likes her so much, demo she is pretty hot. The little brats aren't too bad either."

Temari nodded. "Michio and Takeo are sweet little things. Kaishi-san is kind as well as strong."

Gaara ignored their conversation as he spotted her. She was walking towards the building. When she was in Suna, she didn't wear her hitae ate, although most knew she was from Konoha anyways. She seemed dressed casually in black and dark red tunic and pants. Her scarf was always there, her hair pulled back into a low horsetail. Gaara vanished in a swirl of sand, appearing before the female Konoha ninja in an instant.

Kaishi smiled to Gaara with her eyes. "You're getting better every time I visit."

Gaara's face seemed impassive, his eyes filled with all his expressions: Happiness to see her, pride that she noticed his progress, and a comfort with her around, although no one but those who knew him well enough could tell. "Welcome back, Kaishi-neechan"

Kaishi nodded her head. "It's nice to be back, Gaa-kun."

Gaa-kun. Only she could get away with speaking so familiarly with him. She showed no fear in his presence and never avoided looking him in the eye. She was special.

"They're sleeping right now," Gaara said.

Kaishi nodded again. "That's okay. I can spend some time with my Gaa-kun then," she said as she placed an arm around his shoulders and hugged him slightly.

Anyone else who got past his sand and could touch him were usually attacked. Not her. Not her boys. She never dared hurt him, never dared give any indication of harmful intent towards him. He could tell when it was really her. This was her, not those doppelganger assassins his father had sent in her image. They hadn't felt like her, hadn't smelled like her, hadn't looked at him like she did now.

He knew his father was using her, using her children against her. He also knew that if he tried anything, the boys might be hurt. He knew that, deep down, she knew too. Knew that the Kazekage was using and manipulating her, she just didn't want to admit it. She wanted to believe that she had made the right decision, that Takeo and Michio would be safe here from whatever wrath this Uchiha Itachi would bring upon them.

He understood being hated for no reason. Understood needing to protect what you value. He promised her, without actually saying it, that he would protect those boys for her. Protect her children as best he could.

"They been giving you trouble?" She asked.

Gaara shook his head. "Only Michio. Takeo is good."

Kaishi laughed. "What did the little rascal do this time?"

"Painted some pictures with Kankuro's face paint."

She laughed again. "What a little beast! How mad was Kankuro."

"He locks his door now."

Kaishi shook her head and sighed. "So, I hear you, Temari-chan, and Kankuro-kun are going to be in the Chuunin exams?" she asked.

Gaara nodded. He knew what his father planned for the chuunin exams, how he wished to use himself and his siblings to destroy Konoha with that Orochimaru man. He knew that he shouldn't, demo he didn't really care, Kaishi would be here for the Chuunin exams, so everyone he cared for from Konoha would be safe. "Hai."

"I wanted to go and watch you and the other contestants, demo I have a mission for my village after I leave here on Sunday."

Gaara shrugged. "You probably won't miss much."

~*~*~*~

The Sondaime was dead. Orochimaru had killed the Sondaime. She couldn't believe it. The name of the man that had seen her grow and had always acted as guiding light for the village was dead. Dead at the hands of a villain that had saved her own life.

She had returned to Konoha from her mission to only be shocked. The village was pulling itself together from near destruction. The Sondaime was dead, as were many others, and it was all at the hands of Suna and Orochimaru. Gaara had attacked Sasuke and Naruto had beaten him. Naruto had learned the Resangan from the legendary Sannin, Jiraiya. Itachi and the Akatsuki had attacked Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi for the Kyuubi. The legendary Sannin, Tsunade, was now the Hokage and Godaime. Sasuke had left the village to join Orochimaru, and Naruto had attempted to save him, only to lose him.

There was so much one could miss in a few months.

Right now she was standing in front of the new Hokage, waiting for the buxom blonde to stop muttering over papers and files and notice her.

Tsunade looked up from her files and raised a brow. "You're Onibashi Kaishi?"

Kaishi nodded. "Hai, Hokage-sama."

"Says here you're one of the best Konoha has to offer."

"That could be said. Although I don't always agree. I could be better."

Tsunade chuckled. "So could we all. Of course, not many could do what you have. Graduated from the Academy at age nine, became a Chuunin at twelve, Jounin at 15 and ANBU at 16. You're one of the best ANBU captains according to Ibiki."

"I'm talented at being a ninja. So that's what I do."

"You're more than talented. You're a damn genius. Not to mention must have the patience of a saint."

"You met Namini?" Kaishi asked.

"Well, hai, demo that's not what I mean. At age eleven you took in an infant that no one would touch. A blonde boy by the name of Uzumaki Naruto."

Kaishi sighed. "I take it that you've met the boy?"

Tsunade laughed. "If it weren't for that brat, I wouldn't be here. Stubborn thing, isn't he?"

"He's steadfast when he focuses on something, hai. He's had a lot to prove that he shouldn't have."

"Hai, he has. He has a good heart too."

Kaishi nodded. "Very good."

"I take it that you have been briefed on our current situation."

Kaishi nodded again. "Hai, I have. A lot's happened lately."

"A lot is an understatement. Konoha's gone to hell."

Kaishi shook her head. "Not quite hell."

Tsunade raised a brow as she focused her brown eyes on the dark woman before her. "You've seen hell haven't you?"

Kaishi nodded. "More often than I'd like."

Tsunade nodded in understanding. "I have a mission I'd like you to undertake. A-class."

Kaishi straightened her shoulders and nodded. "Of course. I'll do what I can for Konoha."

Tsunade watched the woman change from that, momentarily, tired and wounded creature to a strong kunoichi in moments. Whatever she had gone through, Onibashi Kaishi had come back and would always be someone strong for the village. Even if it broke her.

And it very well might.

~*~*~*~
A/N: I love the reviews I've been getting! They help me be motivated to post more. We've now entered the realm of the show and a few questions brought up by the last chapter might be answered for you. Please remember to review! I love it so much!