Another Nine-Tails?!

Temporary Watch

Alright, maybe scared was an understatement. Akiko was downright terrified. She'd seen what Tsunade was capable of, even healed the damage she inflicted on Orochimaru and Kabuto.

"No. I changed my mind. I-I don't wanna go in!" The redhead shook her head, pulling on Kakashi's left arm. The Anbu entered the room ahead of them, most likely informing the Hokage of the situation.

"She's not going to hurt you." The jonin turned around and attempted to make her release him, but she refused to do what he wanted.

"I don't care about being hurt. Believe me, I'm not! Yes, I'm scared of the Hokage. Terrified, actually. I've seen what she's capable of. I don't want to be on the receiving end of it. But I don't care. She'll use me to get to them."

Kakashi heard the door open behind him, as well as a glare. Akiko stood in front of him, trembling slightly. "Kakashi, here is your mission." The man walked forward, the girl still latched onto his arm. He grabbed the folder off the woman's desk, taking note of the cat-masked Anbu standing a few feet behind him.

"Akiko," he tugged her shaking hands off of his vest and knelt down to speak to her. "I promise, I'll be back. Until then, be on your best behavior and do what Lady Tsunade asks of you."

"But I go with you. I can help!"

"No. You will stay here, where it's safe. What if you get hurt, or kidnapped?"

"Oh, yeah, sure. I'm a Jinchuriki, if you haven't forgotten! No one will hurt me, and get away with it. Not if Karma has any say in it. I. Can help."

"No. You're going to stay here." She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She knew the village needed him as they were running short on shinobi. The Leaf was wide open to attack at the moment. He stood up and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"No! Kashi!!" The female Jinchuriki shouted, trying to make him come back. But he was gone, and she knew it. She quickly grabbed her outfit and ran out of the office.

Someone picked her up as she got one foot out of the office. She kicked at the air in an attempted to get the masked-man to release her. But he was much stronger than he appeared. "Calm down, okay? I'm not gonna hurt you."

"Let go of me, damnit!" She managed to turn her head and bit into his right shoulder. Kabuto was right; sharp teeth were a good advantage when she couldn't use her hands. She landed on the ground with a rather harsh thud, followed by a grunt of pain from the man. She turned around, and growled the Anbu. "I told you to let me go."

"Akiko," Tsunade spoke up, earning the girls attention. "I just want to talk to you."

"I have nothing to say to you." She growled out, glaring at the woman. She didn't care that the blonde was a medical ninja. Or that she was even a Sannin.

"Alright." The woman paused, her eyes shifting to the Anbu. "This is Tenzo." He snapped his head towards her. "Go ahead and remove your mask." He hesitated for a moment but did as she asked.

'1st Hokage...' It took Akiko a moment to realize that Karma wasn't being hostile. Her eyes turned red as the beast took control, with permission from her host first. "You two smell of him." Tsunade straightened up, instantly noticing the voice change.

"Him?" Tenzo muttered, confused. He looked at the Hokage, who gestured for him to stay calm.

"The First Hokage, who is responsible for the enslavement of my siblings and I." She glanced at the Anbu from the corners of her eyes.

"You're the Nine-Tails." The vixen's attention was turned to the blonde woman. She felt the alarmed that coursed through the man behind her.

"Not the one who threatened the village. I wasn't involved in the attack." She shook her head. "Tell me, why do you smell of him?"

"I'm his granddaughter." A hum left the girl, now spotting the similarities. She looked over her shoulder and at Tenzo.

"And you?"

"I can use Wood Release."

"Ah, a rebirth. I didn't think that was possible among humans, but I suppose that I was wrong. The 'God of Shinobi' walked among you again." She shook her head again. "What are you going to do with my host?" There was a hint of hostility in her voice, as if she was warning the woman sitting in front of her.

"She's not like Orochimaru. When I fought him, her chakra was nothing like his. It was full of hate, but not ruthless. She's not a killer." She paused, looking outside and at the heads of the previous Hokage. Her eyes lingered on the Fourth Hokage. "Her parents sacrificed themselves for the village. They were heroes-"

"And yet, you all refer to their children as monsters..!" Karma interrupted with a growl. Clearly, she had a strong option about the topic of the Tailed Beasts and their hosts.

"All Jinchuriki are seen that way, regardless of their parents-"

"Oh, I'm aware. The son of the Kazekage was treated as a monster, so much so that his own family gave up on him." She interrupted again, her claws beginning to form.

"I want to save her from Orochimaru."

"My host has lived a life of pain in this village. She's happy with Orochimaru. By 'saving' her, you would take her from somewhere she belongs." She bared her teeth. "The moment she disappeared, you should sent Anbu to search for her. But you didn't, and now she doesn't belong to the Leaf anymore. She never did." She stared into Tsunade's soul before giving control back to her host, knowing she heard everything. Her now dark purple eyes found the floor very interesting.

The room was dead silent for a few minutes. "Do you want to stay in the village or go back to Orochimaru?" Akiko looked at Tsunade in surprise. The scene of Hai and Kabuto bleeding flashed in her mind, making her shake her head.

"I can't go back."

The blonde grew confused as younger girl's voice cracked. "And why not?" She shook her head, refusing to tell the woman. "Alright. Tenzo will watch you until Kakashi returns from his mission."

Akiko glared at Tenzo from the corner of her eyes. "No."