The Story of Hagami III [Naruto Fanfic | Uchiha] [Completed]

After Story | 4

"Welcome back, Hagami-san." The doors to the Kazekage's Office opened and Hagami stepped inside the familiar room. "I hope your trip wasn't too taxing."

"I'm fine, Gaara-san, thank you." Hagami nodded and she made her way to the Kazekage's desk. She brought her backpack around front, fishing out the three files Naruto had give her for the Chūnin Exams. Soundlessly, she handed them over and took a couple steps back when she sensed a familiar chakra presence. Her head snapped toward it, her eyes narrowing from their half-lidded position.

"Shinki." She greeted him quietly and she felt the difference in his chakra. He relaxed and released the breath he was holding.

"Thank you for the files." Gaara turned her attention. "I'll be sure to have mine written in three days in response to these. In the mean time, you wouldn't mind remaining here, would you? It'd be more convenient for the both of us since it takes almost three days from Sunagakure to Konohagakure." He requested.

"That sounds fine." Hagami nodded.

"You may stay in the same room as last time. The most that's been done to it is that it was cleaned." Gaara informed as he watched Hagami's figure retreat beyond his office doors. With a sigh, he fell back against his chair and heard Shinki walk up beside him.

"Is it alright if the two of us train while she's here in the Village?" He asked, a hint of eagerness in his voice.

"I'm not obliged to answer that question," Gaara responded with a stoic look on his face. Shinki creased a brow. "You'll have to ask Hagami-san herself. She just traveled here alone in half the time it takes our shinobi to her Village. She may want to rest."

"Hai." Shinki murmured.

"But, you're welcome to go check on her, or talk to her. I'm sure she isn't against that." Gaara added and pulled himself into a hunched position over his desk.

"Hai." He murmured with a lighter mood.

When Shinki peered into Hagami's room, his eyes immediately flitted to her sleeping form on the bed. She had neglected to cover herself with the covers and she had discarded her bag on the floor. Surprisingly, however, it appeared that her tantō was beside her actually on the bed.

"Hagami-san..." Shinki trailed off when he didn't even see her stir in the bed. Perhaps she really was asleep and cut off from the outside world. "Are you awake?" Again, she didn't shift at all and Shinki laid on foot into the room.

"I am now." She had been facing toward him but now her eyes were opened. They weren't covered in bandages for once so Shinki could see that they're pale from their loss of vision. "What do you need?" She asked pushing herself up into a sitting position.

"I-I didn't mean to wake you. I can leave-" Shinki offered as the gaze in her eyes made him uneasy.

"No, no, you're fine." Hagami waved her hand and pushed herself to her feet. The tantō that was laying beside her made its way to the night stand and she moved about trying to feel around the room again. Nothing moved but she would feel safer if she renewed her surroundings. "What do you need?" She repeated.

"I was originally going to ask to train with you," his eyes focused on her pale ones, "but if you don't mind, will you tell me about your eyes?" He asked making Hagami raise a brow. Despite her world being in darkness, she could see the timid facial expressions on Shinki's face. She chuckled quietly.

"I guess," Hagami shrugged. "But are you sure you want to listen?"

"What do you mean?" Shinki asked rather innocently.

"What's your goal here? That's an odd question." She eyed him with a suspicious gaze now and Shinki let out a sigh.

"Gomen (Sorry)," Shinki murmured under his breath. Again, Hagami chuckled at how easily he was ratted out. "Why're you laughing?"

"You kind of remind me of when I was younger, how you're poking around for information. I know you want to know if you can wear the eyesight down of an Uchiha because you'll be competing against one who's also trained by me during the Chūnin Exams." Hagami paused. "But the answer is, no. Uchiha eyesight doesn't wear down amidst battle. It can take decades for eyesight to wear down. My eyesight was lost because I used Kinjutsu (Forbidden Jutsu)."

"Kin...jutsu?" He murmured out. "What kind?" Curiosity lingered in his tone.

"That's something that can't be disclosed, Shinki." Hagami's voice became steely and Shinki's chakra 'flinched' as if he's been caught. "Just like your Kekkei Genkai can't be disclosed to other Villages, although I already know, I can't disclose my Clan's Kekkei Genkai."

"D***it." Shinki muttered under his breath. "Wait, you're training another student?"

"My niece." Hagami responded but refused to give out a name. "You'll fight against her, in the Chūnin Exams. That I'm sure of."

"Does she fight like you?" Shinki asked.

"No. I train her when I'm available, so it's not often." Hagami sat back down on the bed.

"Oh." He drifted off into silence.

"All I can tell you is to prepare yourself in terms of using your Iron Sand. You're weak in Lightning Style Jutsu, and if she has the ability to block your chakra, then you're going to need a countermeasure. And I can't give you that answer." A small smirk graced her face and Shinki opened his mouth. But nothing came out and he was left to ponder. "Oh, and keep an eye out during the Exams, especially for unusual chakra." She stood up and began toward the door. Her warning was in reference to the Ōtsutsuki Clan.

"Where are you going?" Shinki asked when she laid a hand on the doorframe.

"Just out for a bit. I can't be in the same room for too long. Also, a lot has changed in your Village. I'd like to get a feel for it again. Afterwards, you and I can train, alright?" She asked with a lopsided grin.

"I guess." He sounded dejected but watched understandingly as her figure retreated.

---

Hagami skidded back a few feet in the soft sand and leapt to her right. She rolled over her shoulder and took out three shuriken. But before throwing them, she infused them with chakra threads. She wasn't as proficient as Sunagakure's Puppet Masters but Hagami had a different goal in mind. The electromagnetic field in which Shinki used for his Iron Sand was weak against Lightning Style jutsu.

She threw them and they each landed in the sand, or rather sunk in as Hagami pulled her hand back. The chakra threads were at the tips of her fingers and a spark of lightning appeared. They shot through the threads and through Shinki's defenses. His Iron Sand fell around him giving Hagami the brief opportunity to strike. But she allowed Shinki to rebuild his defense, much to her impatience.

So, it takes about ten seconds for him to regain control, and nearly a minute to re-gather all of his control. Hagami analyzed and stood up straight. How unusual, I thought it'd take more time. But then again, that Lightning Style jutsu was only Genin ranked.

Hagami didn't allow him to regain any of his other bearings and she struck again. She took out what looked like a single shuriken. But when she threw them, it split into five and Shinki's reflexes didn't come into play until the last second. The Iron Sand shot over him, forming a barrier whilst Hagami darted forward. He let his guard down too soon and Hagami's fist connected with his jaw the first moment she saw. Shinki flew off his feet and landed heavily in the sand.

"Wait!" Shinki shouted when Hagami took a step. A panic filled his voice and Hagami recognized it. She knew he was an orphan, so the thought of being abused or struck when he was vulnerable wasn't too far from his conscious.

"The exercise was over as soon as you touched the ground." Hagami continued her way to him and held out her hand. A soft smile graced her face but her eyes remained distant. "But know that enemy shinobi won't stop if you say that." Shinki took her hand, understanding her warning, to get to his feet and they headed back toward the Kazekage's Office.