I'll Show You Insanity

Chapter 14

Kakashi took Yuma to the Hokage tower immediately.

"Kakashi? What happened to Yuma?" Sarutobi demanded, standing once he saw the unconscious girl in his arms.

"She had an episode and I had to knock her out," Kakashi explained. "Sir, please, is she harboring a demon?"

The Hokage was silent a while, thinking as he chewing on his pipe. Finally he sighed, looking sadly down at Yuma as he placed a gentle hand on her forehead.

"Yes, one more powerful than any single tailed beast," he explained. "The Akumuchi, a demon that feeds off blood, guts, gore. If released, a single attack from the demon could destroy everything within a thousand mile radius."

"Sir," Kakashi said, staring in shock. No matter how he felt about Yuma, he needed to know. "Why keep someone so dangerous in Konaha?"

"Simple, to assure the imprisonment of the beast, keep anyone from using it as a weapon, and to protect Yuma. For if the beast were to escape fully, she would die."

"Why are you so connected to her, sir," Kakashi asked curiously. "Is she a relative of yours?"

He didn't think the Hokage would answer, but an answer indeed came. "Not mine, no, but yours..."

Kakashi blinked, unable to believe what he was hearing. "Sir, I... I don't understand."

"Kakashi, your parents are gone, this is true. Yet you did have a single aunt on your fathers side. She is gone now, as well, because of..." The Hokage paused, looking at Yuma.

"The massacre," Kakashi said, shocked. "So... This makes Yuma..."

"Your cousin, that's right. But I'm afraid we can't tell her. Her family tried killing her, and that has scarred and traumatized her. I fear that if she knew you were her last relative, she would loose what sanity she has left and try to kill you. We'd never allow it, of course, but the strain..."

The Akumuchi, Kakashi thought.

"It'd kill her..." Kakashi mumbled, looking down at his last living relative. He held her tighter as she whimpered subconsciously, burrowing into his chest as if she somehow knew of the situation.

The Hokage nodded sympathetically. "Yes."

"I won't tell her," Kakashi vowed.

"And Kakashi, one more thing," the Hokage added. "Her thirteenth birthday is in four months. At midnight that day, the Akumuchi will try its hardest to escape."

"What will we do?" Kakashi asked, more desperate to keep her safe than ever.

"We are having medics come up with a concoction to keep the beast at bay. It will work, I'm sure, but... It might kill her if she's not strong enough..."

Kakashi paled noticeably, despite his mostly covered face. "Then I'll train her, make her stronger!"

"Physical strength matters not in this situation," the hokage sighed. "What will be depended on is the strength of her mind and will to survive for those she loves. The Akumuchi will do anything to break her, and unless Yuma truly believes she should live, she will not be able to live through the process."

Kakashi felt powerless, hopeless. "Then.... What can I do?"

"Do anything you can to get her to believe she's alive for a reason. She needs to have something to live for."

"Right.... Sir, she told me she needs to kill again soon, or she feels that something will claw its way out. She's in pain, sir, terrible pain."

The Hokage sighed. "That is true, and unavoidable. We have many lined up for death row. We'll have to use them whenever this is at its worst, or the Akumuchi will get too restless and escape, and Yuma will die..."

Kakashi looked down at Yuma, who had her small fist clutching his sleeve. "She really believes she's a monster, and if she keeps killing, she'll always believe that. Yet... If she doesn't kill, she'll be killed by the monster inside her, and that same monster will destroy everything.... Why is life so cruel?"

"She will surely have a long, difficult life ahead of her. And it's certainly unfair for such a young girl to go through such things, without knowing the reason," the Hokage agreed.

"She won't know about the Akumuchi?" Kakashi asked, stunned. The elder shinobi shook his head sadly.

"She will panic, afraid that she'll destroy everything she holds dear. Her fear will give the Akumuchi strength. It's best she stays in the dark until we have no choice but to tell her."

"And will the village know?"

The Hokage sighed. "It's only right that they do. As with Naruto, they should know what lurks in their wake. They will, as well, be ordered to remain silent publicly on the matter..."

"We've seen what happens to the boy," Kakashi said, slightly frustrated. "They'll put her through hell."

"We have no other choice Kakashi," the third said softly.

And just then, Yuma stirred.

She cracked open one eye. "Kashi? Grampa Saru? Ah!" She gasped in pain, holding her head. "It hurts!"

Kakashi looked at the Hokage, who nodded.

"Yuma," Kakashi said. "I've found a way for you to help the Hokage and yourself. You're going to deal with someone on Death row, okay?"

She nodded, her eyes snapping open. "Okay."

He set her on her feet and she followed Kakashi and Sarutobi out.