Just A Kid

Chapter 8

"Answer me!" Kakashi yelled again, anger tainting his voice as his one visible eye narrowed.

"Done? Why, she's right here," Ishimaru hissed.

'Now my dear, let's see what you can do,' Ishimaru mused in the girl's mind.

Araile's body snarled and before she could stop herself, Ishimaru forced the girl to run right at Kakashi. The nine year old rammed into Kakashi's waist and flew back a couple feet. Since she was small for her age, her attack did not hurt Kakashi. Every time she was thrown back, her body would weaken more and more. Bruises began to cover her arms, legs, and back. Her still-healing back protested with each slam.

As Araile shakily pushed herself up from the cold ground, another sensation began to fill her mind. It was as if something inside her very core was telling her to stop. Her eyes widened in surprise, and a snarl clawed its way out of her mouth as she clutched her head. The sensation was just too strange; Araile had never had this type of thing happen to her before. Her heart began to race as a cold sweat broke out on her forehead. It was as if invisible forces were battling it out inside Araile's mind, and the victor would claim her body and soul. Panic began to set in and in her mental state, she began to ram her head against the nearest tree trunk.

She would do anything to make this sensation stop.

Kakashi watched with narrowed eyes; he knew his charge was different. He had never told Araile her true nature, how she had demon chakra within her. Just like Naruto. If the demonic chakra flowed out, he would have to stop the nine year old.

'Attack him! Attack him I say!' Ishimaru demanded in her mind as the demon struggled to regain control.

Deep inside Araile, the demonic chakra battled against the invading energy that had taken control. Araile growled and rammed her head again into the same tree. Blood began to trickle down her forehead and down her chin, where it splattered onto the ground.

Again and again she rammed, the two forces still battling it out in her mind. Ishimaru released a scream, causing the girl to flinch as his control slipped away from Araile.

'I will be back,' he yelled before disappearing.

Finally, a warmth began to flow through her veins, leaving Araile breathing heavily and muscles shaking.

For now, her demonic chakra had forced the intruder out.

Her knees buckled underneath her and Araile slumped to the ground, eyes clenched shut and breathing heavily. Her right eye peaked open and saw that Kakashi had calmly walked over to his young charge. Araile took a deep breath, wincing at her sore back and lifted herself slowly into a sitting position. As Araile sat up, she looked around in confusion; her eyes back to their normal gold colour. She blinked as blood dripped down her face.

Kakashi knelt down in front of the confused girl, eye gazing at her in concern.

'Blood? Why am I bleeding?' Araile thought.

"What happened?" she mumbled as she wiped her forehead.

Her eyes now half opened, gazed at Kakashi as his figure blocked out the suns rays from hitting her face.

"Let's go back," Kakashi said gently, and Araile nodded slowly before leaning into her caretaker.

He bent down and collected her in his arms, before turning back and walking to where the rest of Team 7 was. Araile's fingers clung weakly to Kakashi's vest as she fought her very hardest to not fall into the tempting clutches of being unconsciousness. As he continued walking, the comforting darkness won. Her eyes shut, and her head lolled against Kakashi's Jonin vest as he continued to walk through the forest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wake up.

Araile's fingers moved the tiniest inch, grasping at the material beneath it.

Wake up.

Her eyelid twitched as the sound of bird songs rang in the air. The morning came, and so did the bird songs. Voices floated over the child as her breathing quickened and she opened her eyes. Her vision blurred a bit, so she sat up and rubbed at her eyes. A loud voice sounded from nearby. Wait, not nearby, almost...beside her.

Araile looked around, confused and still dazed.

As she took in her surroundings, she noticed Team 7 sitting in a circle on the ground.

"Hey, Araile is awake!" somebody shouted.

She looked up and saw somebody walking over to the girl. 

"I heard what happened," the boy said.

Rubbing the rest of sleep away from her eyes, Araile gave Sasuke a small smile.

"Sasuke!" she giggled out as she flung herself on her childhood friend. Sakura squawked in irritation as Araile hugged Sasuke with all her nine year old might.

Sasuke smirked a little and patted her head.

"Well, I think we should give Sasuke and Araile a little time alone now shall we?" Kakashi said as he hurried Sakura and Naruto away from the campsite.