I'll Show You Insanity

Chapter 46

It was the last day of the chunin exams.

Yuma hadn't slept well the night before, and it showed. There were dark circles under her eyes, making her face appear gaunt and haunting. She had a horrible feeling in her gut- a feeling that something would go horribly wrong....

Today...

Nevertheless, she dressed in her favorite spider themed dress that her Grampa had gotten her when she was dismissed from the asylum, and put on a cheerful front as she went down for breakfast.

"My favorite! Thanks, Kashi!" She chirped hugging her older cousin before sitting at the table and digging in.

Kakashi noticed the girl's ragged appearance, and recognized it as similar to the day that the Akumuchi nearly killed her.

Worry flooded through him like a typhoon. "Are you alright, Yuma?"

"Oh, yeah! I'm great!"

He sighed, knowing that he wouldn't get much more than that out of her, and let the subject drop.

~~~

"Grampa!" Yuma giggled, flying at the elderly man.

He was delighted as he caught her, temporarily ignoring his guest, the Kazekage, as it had been far too long since his dear Yuma had greeted him in such a manner.

"Yuma, dear, how are you?" He asked jovially, embracing the small girl.

"Good!" She chirped in return.

The Kazekage cleared his throat, making the duo look over at him. The Hokage smiled a bit sheepishly.

"Ah, pardon me, my friend. This is Yuma; Yuma, dear, say hello to the Kazekage."

Yuma studied the man clad in similar robes to her Grampa, eyes narrow as she took him in. This man gave her a bad feeling....

Nevertheless, she shook off the thought, and forced a bright smile toward the stranger.

"Hello, Mister!"

The Hokage chuckled fondly as he placed a hand gently upon Yuma's head. "Yuma here is possibly one of the most impressive shinobi in all of Konaha," he boasted lightly with a small chuckle.

"Oh? Pray tell," the Kazekage pressed, eyes glinting with interest as he observed the rusty eyed girl.

This planted another seed of discomfort in her gut, and she avoided his hungry gaze as to avoid tearing out his eyes and causing a scene for her grandpa's sake.

"Yuma is Morino Ibiki's partner in torture and interrogation," the Hokage explained, and the Kazekage's eyes widened with interest. "And she is also very strong for one her age. I dare say even I would hesitate in a match against her."

The cold eyes of the village leader flickered to the fellow Kage. "Oh? I would enjoy observing such an exceptional child in battle. Is she going to be in the exams?"

The Hokage laughed, a warm booming laugh that made Yuma smile and forget her worries for the time.

"Now, I hope you aren't thinking of stealing our Yuma, my friend!" He chuckled before sighing contently. "No, she isn't in the exams. The poor dear had a bit of an... incident before the exams began and was not well enough to enter. However, with her permission, I may be able to set up a match for your entertainment," he added, looking inquiringly at the grey haired girl on his lap.

"I get to fight?" Yuma asked, an excited smile on her lips as she beamed at him.

He nodded, smiling warmly. "If you're feeling up to it, but try not to kill anyone, hm?"

The girl gave a slight whine, further piquing the Kazekage's interest as she pouted slightly at the prospect of being denied the ability to kill.

"Okay, Grampa, I won't kill anyone..."

"Thank you, dear."

"You're welcome!"

While it was true that the Akumuchi was gone for good, and Yuma no longer had to kill to keep out of an agonize state. However, with her background, she had grown used to killing, enjoyed it even without the demon, but now could leave her victims alive just as easily as she could leave them as an unrecognisable, bloody mass of mangled flesh.

"Perhaps, I could volunteer a shinobi of the Sand to spar with her," the Kazekage suggested slyly, a shinobi in mind as he spoke.

"Excellent idea," the Third beamed.

With this decided, the Hokage immediately sent his only guard away with instructions, causing the Kazekage to raise a curious eyebrow.

"And what if an assassin were to target you while your protection was away?" He inquired as the shinobi flashed away.

The Hokage chuckled. "Have you forgotten already, my friend? It seems as though the years are catching up with you! With Yuma here, I am in no danger of being assassinated."

As thought to prove his point, Yuma straightened and looked directly at the strange man, taking the opportunity to glare warningly at him without her Grampa noticing.

"I will slaughter whoever dares threaten my home and my family," she swore chillingly, eyes holding bloodlust. "They will die a slow, agonizing death, pleading for mercy, only to be disappointed brutally with a fate too horrific to be put into words, and it will be no one's fault but their own, for thinking that they can threaten what I hold dear."

"There, there, Yuma," the Hokage chuckled, patting her head. "Calm down, dear. There's no need to get so riled up."

After holding the Kazekage's gaze a moment longer, Yuma smiled at the grown-up she was so fond of. "Okay, Grampa."

The Kazekage gave an unseen smirk at the grey haired child.

She would make quite a fine vessel.