Our Reflection in Each Other's Eyes.

Chapter 33: Flower of Youth

The man with silver hair bowed to Kyoko as she did the same in return.

"The goal you had was to break his mask. I didn't think you would do it in that many pieces." Lady Tsunade informed.

Kyoko's face was dirtied and her hair stuck up in different directions while some stuck to her forehead.

"This is Kakashi Hatake, he used to be an Anbu but isn't anymore. He's sensei to Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto."

Kyoko bowed again.

"She is Kyoko, the girl I told you about."

Kakashi nodded in understanding.

"It's no surprise you have the strength you do. Orochimaru used you as a spy, did he not?"

"Ah, so you must remember."

Kakashi nodded, "For the age you had, it was a big surprise to all of us in seeing your swordsmanship and the strength you held at the time. I can see you still hold that same strength but I'm sure that with some training you can become even stronger."

"Thank you."

Lady Tsunade smiled before directing Kyoko.

"Now it is your choice, after this skill test in which you've clearly demonstrated your ranking as a ninja, will you become a part of Konoha's ninja force?"

Kyoko looked up in surprise. She thought of the idea deeply before casting her gaze downward.

"I think I've done too much harm to the village to become a part of it."

"Not once did you kill one of our shinobi," she stated, "I can see you genuinely want to change. So please do accept the headband."

She held a black headband out to Kyoko.

"Lady Tsunade, I sincerely don't think it would be appropriate for me to wear this."

"You don't have to wear it now," Lady Tsunade spoke, "carry it with you until you feel like you should."

She took it in hands and bowed to her before repeatedly thanking her.

"Welcome to The Village Hidden in the Leafs."

Kakashi congratulated her before he went in a different direction.

At the passing of time, Kyoko became more confident in exploring the village.

She wakes up early every morning to train, starting first with going for a run. Due to how early she wakes up, she encountered two guys wearing similar green jumpsuits.

After being confronted with her showing the headband and explaining her situation, she befriended them.

Usually, Gai sensei and Lee-kun wait for me to start our morning run. Today Gai sensei suggested we run while wearing ankle weights. He handed me a pair that was awfully heavy, but I still wanted to give it a try.

I put them on and we began. The weights seemed to be something easy for Gai sensei and Lee-kun while I was already breathing heavily after a light jog.

Nonetheless, I pulled through along with them. As soon as we finished I dropped to the floor, unwilling to move.

"Gai sensei, I would like to train with these weights, may I borrow them?"

"Of course beautiful flower of youth! It makes me excited to hear such a youthful question!"

I laughed before thanking him and standing up. We went our separate ways as I put the challenge upon myself to not remove the weights at all.

I went on with my daily training and helped Lady Tsunade as usual. By the end of the day I didn't even feel the weights anymore.

I only took them off before my shower and while I slept. The following morning I put them back on and went for a run with Gai sensei and Lee-kun.

There Gai sensei told me to keep the weights as long as I wished.

By the end of the month the weights were pretty light to me. Gai sensei told me that considering how heavy they were, my speed would increase greatly. He had given me weights for my wrists as well after I told him I practiced taijutsu.

Lee-kun and I trained often and we each used our weights during our fight. Gai sensei said that we were already fast with the weights but he hoped to see us fight without them.

We each removed our weights before preparing to fight.

I was thrilled to discover that I was much lighter and my speed was a lot greater. I could only imagine how much faster I would be if I applied chakra.

I imagined myself to be a blur if I were to do that.

We faced each other in a stance, immediately lunging forward after Gai Sensei's "Go."

I couldn't help but smile as I dodged Lee-kun's punches and kicks as he did the same with my own. All we felt was the wind blow across as we moved at a fast pace.

As Gai watched the battle Kyoko and Lee held on, Naruto and Sakura arrived to see what was the loud noise they had heard. Lee and Kyoko were destroying the training grounds as they dodged one another's hits causing for the one who threw it to hit the ground behind them.

To the onlookers the battle was a blur in which they could just about make out the event. They were all surprised to see the battle in which neither one could land a hit on the other.

"Alright," called Gai, "I think we should end it." He laughed.

The two stopped and dropped to the floor, breathing heavily.

Kyoko laughed as she sat back up to face Lee.

"Wow, I've never had this much fun. Thank you, Lee-kun."

He laughed as he flashed her a smile accompanied by a thumbs up. The two began to put the weights back on before going their separate ways.

"Kyoko, that was you?" Naruto asked in surprise.

"Well of course you idiot. Did you not see her just now?" Sakura stated.

Kyoko laughed before responding to Naruto.

"Yes, that was me. I've been training with Lee-kun and Gai Sensei lately."

Naruto hummed in response before introducing the two girls.

"Ah, Kyoko, this is Sakura one of my teammates."

Kyoko bowed as Sakura did the same.

"This is Kyoko, the girl we saw with Sasuke."

Sakura scrunched her eyebrows in confusion, to which Kyoko began to explain.

"I apologize for all of the harm I caused in the past. I hope we can start anew and I could be forgiven."

Sakura giggled as Kyoko bowed.

"Don't worry," she stated as she placed a hand on her shoulder, "You never hurt me so there is no need to ask for forgiveness. Welcome to Konoha." She smiled.

Kyoko thanked her before Naruto suggested they go eat. Kyoko confessed she hasn't really been to the shops after Naruto asked if she liked Ichiraku's Ramen.

Naruto felt that it was a bigger reason for Kyoko to try the ramen, making her excited.

"Kyoko, is it okay if I ask you some questions?" Sakura asked as they headed to the promised ramen.

"Sure." Kyoko smiled.

Sakura felt a bubbly feeling at the sight of Kyoko's smile, something she, alike Naruto, thought Kyoko was incapable of.

"How dark is Sasuke? Like how likely do you think he is to kill someone?"

She asked this because of how threatening Sasuke was the last time she encountered him. As her teammate she doesn't want to fear him the way she does.