44 3/4

Three Days Later – Yamanaka Clan Compound

"Ladies and Gentleman. Welcome." Inochi's somber voice called out to the majority of the clan that had gathered around the primary clan training ground. "I wish we were here under better circumstances, but a legal challenge has been issued for the title of Clan Heir."

Murmurs of disapproval met Uncle's words. I kept my face neutral. I would show the clan the world of difference between their "Precious Princess" and myself.

"My cousin, Kenta Yamanaka, deems my daughter, Ino Yamanaka, unfit to lead the clan upon my retirement or death. Under the Clan Charter. Article 17, Section 3, Subsection G states that anyone may challenge the sitting head or heir at any moment if both participants meet the minimum requirements. For the title of Heir, they cannot be challenged until reaching Jonin, or hold the rank of Chunin and at least 16 years old."

The murmuring increased and now "subtle" glances of disapproval were being shot my way. Idiots.

"With that being said, the match will be governed by these rules. One, no aiming to kill. We are not a clan of violence unless we have no choice. Two, all techniques B-Rank and below are allowed unless they are labeled as forbidden." Uncle stared at me pointedly at that declaration. Drat. There goes the mind-trap.

"Three, we go until one person surrenders, or if I decide the match is over. Do either participant have any questions?" Uncle's stern voice asked us.

"No, Sir." Ino replied, eyes never leaving me. Her chakra quivered, as did her body. Her nerves and fears were spiking.

I shook my head. Uncle nodded at our replies.

"Then participants, prepare yourselves." Uncle called out loudly. Ino withdrew her Katana. I shoved my hands deeper into my pockets. "BEGIN!" and Uncle jumped to the edge of the arena.

"Give it up, Princess. You're weak. You don't deserve to be head. You'll only lead our clan into mediocrity for the 10th century in a row." I said, voice laced with honey coated venom.

She shook her head. "I cannot do that, cousin. I have plans for our clan. Plans you would ruin by taking my title. I understand your pain. I understand your grief. I know you were right the other day. Uncle is dead because of me. I cannot change the past. I can only continue to move forward and get stronger, so that no one from our clan meets a similar fate." She spoke in a calm and confident voice. Each word strengthening her own resolve, pushing away her fears and doubts.

That wouldn't do.

I shrugged. "Suit yourself." And within seconds, near 100 copies of my handsome face surrounded Ino from all directions. Ino's brow furrowed. Her eyes began darting around the arena, attempting, futilely I might add, to pinpoint my direct. Father himself couldn't sense me until the first last minute, and he was the clan's second strongest sensor. Ino was a featherless fledgling compared to father and me.

I attacked.

My eyes widened as Ino seamlessly turned and parried my attack that had attempted to hamstring her. The kunai I lashed out with was sent spirally away.

Ino smirked. "Don't underestimate me, cousin. Or you'll get embarrassed."

I snarled and disappeared once more. I attacked again, this time, her wide open left flank.

My frustrations mounted as Ino once again seamlessly parried my attack.

What the hell was going on?!

Ino's face flushed in anger. "Seriously! Stop going easy on me!" She flicked her sword, the polished metal catching the sunlight, the ray of light momentarily blinding me. Ino was in my face, her sword whistling its call of death at it approached my face quickly. I bent backwards and away from the attack, smirking when the swing sailed overhead, not even clo-

A stinging sensation and wetness ran down my cheek. I flickered backwards and brought a finger up to my cheek. I pulled away, sticky crimson liquid clung to my finger.

"First Blood, Cousin. You sure talk a big game, but it seems like you're just that, all talk." Ino smirked cockily at me.

I shook myself out of my stupor. A lucky strike, that was all. I molded my chakra.

"Lightning Release: Lightning Beast Running!" I called out. The lightning chakra raced from my fingertips, the silhouette of a jungle cat bearing down on Ino. I vanished, coming at Ino from her blind spot.

Ino danced out of the way of my lightning technique, her sword lashing out towards the direction I was heading. I put on the breaks and retreated back. Close call. I felt another sting.

I looked down, and a small puncture wound was visible through my mesh armor. Nothing major, but that was another wound! What. The. HELL?!

Ino opened her mouth, cocky smirk still in place. I drowned her out, and took a deep breath. Focusing. My emotions have been all out of whack the last week and a half. I need to be push it all away, just for now. I took another deep breath and simultaneously felt the flow of my chakra. This was always a good way for me to center myself and calm myself down.

I felt it.

The sneaky, witch!

"Did you use the momentary blindness to cast your vertigo illusion, or was that the trigger?" I asked in a grudgingly complimented tone.

"You'll have to find out yourself, Mister Genius." Ino sing-songed. Her chakra was steady, in control. Her confidence was skyrocketing. She thought her parlor trick was good enough to defeat me? ME?!

I'm Kenta Yamanaka, strongest in our clan. Surpassing my uncle and father years ago.

This two bit, half-ass, spoiled brat thought she was even in the same league as me?

Playtime is over.

The darkness inside me swelled. It fueled the perpetual rage that had been growing since father's death.

My face morphed into a gruesome mimicry of an impressed expression.

I moved.

Ino's cry of pain was music to my ear. The lightning enhanced palm strike sent its voltage coursing through Ino's body.

"Lightning Release: Paralyzing Palm" I condescendingly informed Ino. "You got cocky, cousin. A few lucky shots and your guard was wide open. I'm not here to stroke your ego and praise the "hard-work" you've done. You've been training seriously for four years. I've been training seriously for thirteen. You're out of your league."

I disappeared. The after-images quickly surpassed 100 this time, and the count continued to climb. Ino's eyes grew wide with panic. Her paltry sensing abilities unable to keep up with my true speed. Kidney, rib, nose, jaw, knee. Ino lay on the ground, panting. My barrage of strikes hitting those five points near simultaneously. She pushed herself to her feet. She was bent over, attempting to gulp down lungful's of air. I sneered at the pathetic display.

I was next to Ino. Index finger mere inches from her temple. It lit up, Storm chakra dancing dangerously mere centimeters from her face. Game over.

I leaned in close. Madness gripping my senses once more. "Say hi to dad for me." I whispered in near childish Glee. Ino's eyes shot open, her mouth opened wide to shout. My technique fired.

Uncle's firm grip on my wrist guided the 'Quick Shot' harmlessly into the sky.

His rage and fury made a pathetic attempt to intimidate me. I loved my Uncle, respected him. But this? Pathetic. Just like the rest of them. A clean slate may indeed be in order.

"This fight is over, Kenta." Uncle growled dangerously. "You forfeit this challenge. By Clan Laws, due to the attempted murder of the current heiress, you will be banned for life from issuing another challenge. I will also be recommending to Lord Fifth that you are mentally unfit to continue your duties as a shinobi. I'm disappointed."

I snarled in rage. "Of course. Make excuses and coddle your "precious daughter." This clan is pathetic! I'm sick of MY name being drug through the mud because you ALL have zero talent and lack any of MY motivation. Every attempt I make at bringing this clan back to greatness is met with hostility and contempt. You all may enjoy being paper pushers, but that WILL NOT be me!"

"You were my brother's pride and joy. You shame his memory with your actions." Uncle replied sadly.

"STOP CALLING HIM BROTHER! He wasn't! He was your cousin, and you're NOT my Uncle!" I shouted, the demons were whispering their outrage at this pathetic farce. I need to strike out. Overthrow Uncle. Take over the clan. Weed out the weak! Start with a clean slate!

My Chakra slowly began to build. Uncle was the only full Jonin in our clan now with father's death. Mom and Kono stayed home, they weren't here. I could wipe out the elder's and uncle right here and now and-

Bone-Deep sadness. Guilt. Regret. Remorse. Pain.

All these emotions poured off Uncle in torrents. I nearly gasped from the intensity.

"Kenta." He said. He met my eye, unshed tears were slowly leaking down his face. "He was my brother. By blood. He wasn't my cousin. Inoko was my dear, loving, caring, kind Elder Brother."

My rage vanished. The world around me seemed to freeze.

"What?" I replied eloquently.

He nodded sadly. Tears were streaming unimpeded now. "When Brother abdicated the position of clan head, we met with the Elder's to discuss the ramifications. We didn't want this." He gestured vaguely around him. "So to make sure the line of succession wasn't interrupted in our own children, Inoko voluntarily had his name struck from the main family line. By birth, you are the heir. Inoko and father didn't want the clan to be divided. This was their decision."

My mind reeled. I was supposed to be heir? Uncle Inochi was ACTUALLY my Uncle? Ino was my FIRST-COUSIN.

"Why tell me now?" I whispered loud enough for him to hear.

"I had no choice. I meant what I said. Your father would be so sad to see you like this. My nephew. The ambitious, loving, caring, smart mouth… Reduced to a rabid beast. Inoko was a master, I know you're trained. You've given into your darkness. If you continue to dwell in it, there's no coming back. If that's the case, I will have zero choice but to banish you from the clan." Uncle said seriously. His tears were dry and he met my eye with a determined gaze. His chakra was steady. He was serious.

"I… I…" I attempted to speak, but the words wouldn't form. I couldn't even form a coherent sentence if I was being honest with myself.

"Kenta. You ARE the pride of this clan. We love you SO much. Everyone. You challenge us to be our best selves. Your goal for greatness has inspired SO many of the younger kids. Look at Kono! She's flourishing having such a wonderful role model to look up to. Do. Not. Lose yourself!"

I looked at Uncle. The raw need and desire to hear his words was palpable.

"How? I can't… So angry. All the time." I instantly turned my head and vomited up what seemed like everything I had ingested the last week. Ino. INO! I almost killed her! I thought about purging the clan! I made plans to murder an unborn child!

Monster.

I was a monster.

My frantic gaze searched the crowd. I needed to climb back to the light. I needed to ground myself. I clumsily fumbled into my pouch, infusing chakra to the seal lining the wall.

Nothing.

I tried again.

Nothing.

"No, no, no. Where is it?" I mumbled in blind panic. I felt a gentle, yet still firm hand grip my shoulder. I reeled back, eyes wide and panicked.

"What are you looking for, Kenta?" Inochi whispered soothingly.

"My book. My note. They. They're all that I had left of Dad…" My sentence trailed off. A hazy memory pushing itself to my active consciousness.

"I don't need this anymore, Dad! I will become what I need to be to keep my promise! I swear on your honor!" I screamed to the heavens. The battered book and crumpled note igniting in flames as the uncontrolled lightning arched from every pore of my body.

My eyes widened. "No, no, no! I need them!" I grabbed uncle's collar. "Please! I… I don't know what to do. They grounded me. Kept me anchored. They're gone. I destroyed them. Please, Uncle." My voice was pleading, laced with emotions.

"Go to the people who can help. You know who they are." He replied gentle. Lovingly. After everything I did. He still cared.

I nodded. And then I was gone.

********************************KENTA IS STILL NOT OK!*********************************

I pounded frantically on the door. My breaths were once again coming in short, panicked gasps.

I continued pounding.

The door opened, concerned orange eyes met my panicked teal eyes.

I grabbed Fú roughly by the shoulders, my lips crashed into hers. I kissed her deeply, roughly, absolutely desperately. Fú was the only one who could help me. I needed her more than water.

Fú roughly shoved me off, her hand made a loud cracking sound and my entire head rang from the force of the slap.

My panicked mind momentarily halted due to pure shock. Fú raised her hand once more. I resigned myself to my fate. Fiance or not, I was rough and out of line. I deserved the beat down I was about to get. If I'm lucky, she will kill me, and this gut wrenching pain I was in would finally end. I could see Dad again…

Her hand gently caressed my throbbing cheek. My eyes met hers once again. Her smile was nothing but warmth and complete understanding. Unconditional love. The same look my father gave me when I bawled my eyes out all those years ago after toying with that Kaguya kid.

"I was wondering when you would come. Chomei has been in an absolute tizzy. Kyubi has been griping and complaining about you for the last week." Fú's casual tone had an instant effect on my tortured soul.

"What… What do you mean?" I asked lamely.

Fú opened her mouth, but before she could answer, a blonde rocket shot past her. Naruto's fist met my face and set me flying back. I crashed into the ground. He was on top of me now. Punch after punch.

"How. Dare. You. Say. Those. Awful. Things. To. Ami!" Each word accompanied by a new punch. Finally Fú's shock wore off and threads wrapped around Naruto, confining him and holding him in place.

"Naruto. Please. Let's let Kenta speak first before we kick his ass from one end of the village to another." Fú chastised half-heartedly. Unconditional love, but definitely pissed. Yikes.

Naruto grudgingly agreed and got off of me. I pushed myself to a sitting position. My face aching something awful. A missing tooth, broken nose, possible double shiner. Naruto didn't hold back.

"Why the face?" I managed to groan out.

"Making the outside match the inside." Naruto's scathing reply came. "If you want to act like a complete monster, might as well look the part."

The rage ignited, it attempted to take control.

It died out as quickly as it was lit.

"You're right. I have been an asshole, haven't I?" I jokingly groaned.

"No. Normal Kenta is an asshole. You've been downright evil and cruel!" Naruto shouted.

I could only nod. He wasn't wrong.

"Come on, Naruto. Ease up. Let's hear him out. He came here for a reason." Fú gently pushed the blonde back a few steps. She then turned and took a step towards me, hands glowing a beautiful green. However, I shook my head.

"Just replace the tooth if you can. Naruto's right. The rest of this can heal naturally." I said.

Fú nodded, grabbing the missing tooth. She placed it back into the empty socket, the cool relief of her healing chakra making me sigh in relief.

"A bruised nose is punishment enough. Don't want that pretty face ruined by a horrendously crooked nose. Only thing you have going for you right now." Fú joked lovingly. At least I hope it was a joke.

Twenty minutes later, my tooth was good as new, and my nose while still sore, was at least straight.

"I…" I started to speak, but words escaped me.

"Come on. Let's take a walk. There's a nice bench by the pond. I go there when I need to clear my mind." Fú suggested helpfully.

I complied, and we slowly made our way to the pond out back. An uncomfortable silence stretched over our group.

We arrived at our destination. Naruto and Fú sat down at opposite ends of the bench, leaving the super comfortable middle seat all mine. I sighed and plopped down between my fiancé and best friend.

The silence stretched on. I didn't even know where to start. I racked my brain, but Naruto came to the rescue.

"This is about your weird mind games and what it does to your own brain, isn't it?" Naruto asked with a frown. The heat from earlier no longer there. I stared at him in shock. I didn't think Naruto knew! I turned to Fú and she nodded slightly.

"We're not idiots, Kenta. We know your M.O." She explained.

I sighed deeply. "It is. Normally, after a fight where I jump headfirst into the darkness, I read a note I wrote down when I was five years old. It was my dad's advice when walking the line practitioners of our art walk. I read it each time. I have it memorized. But something about physically holding it and reading my childish handing writing did more than just regurgitating it out loud."

Neither Jinchuriki said anything, so I continued.

"When my dad died… I… Didn't jump into the darkness willingly. I fell, head first, and began to drown. I've been so angry. My emotions are like a ticking time bomb. I… I've had thoughts. Bad thoughts. EVIL thoughts. I'm disgusted with myself, but… I can't see the light anymore. I'm afraid. I don't want to become the thing my dad warned me about, but I need help finding my way back this time. Now more than ever. I can't do it on my own. Kono. Kono is afraid of me! I scared her! I hurt her! I'm disgusted by myself, but I STILL can't claw my way back to the light!" My control broke, and by the end I was sobbing openly.

Without hesitation, two sets of arms wrapped around me. Soon the back of my shirt and my shoulder joined the front of my shirt in their dampness. Two of the most important people in my life joined their own tears with mine. My sorrow was theirs. My anguish was theirs.

Fú was the first of us to pull herself together. "Since you came back. I've watched you slowly sinking into that darkness. I felt helpless. I knew if I approached you, I might make it worse. I wanted to help you. Hold you and drive your sadness away. But I couldn't and it drove me mad. I haven't slept since you came home. I thought I was going to lose you, love."

I kissed her, much more gently and lovingly this time. "I'm sorry. I need you. You're my rock. My anchor. I need you. I love you." I whispered to my beautiful woman.

"I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. Get it all off your chest. Tell me everything. I will pull you from your darkness, even if I have to dive in head first to do it." Fú's eyes now blazed with fierce determination. The rage in my chest was slowly being smothered. A loud throat clearing had my ears burning.

"Yo. Still here. Be sappy and gross when I leave." Naruto mockingly reprimanded.

I turned to my best friend. My brother. "Naruto, I…"

He held up his hand. "The day you introduced me to your parents was possibly the happiest day of my life. The first time I met them, their eyes were similar to everyone else's, yet they were different. They weren't full of scorn or disdain. They were just wary. I was hopeful. The second time I met them, the wariness was barely there. The third time I met them, their eyes were full of nothing but love and acceptance."

Naruto smiled at the memory. "They were the first, real people that genuinely cared about me. Gramps did his best, but he was Hokage, so he didn't have much time for me. Old Man Teuchi and Big Sis Ayame have always been kind, and they were there to make sure I wasn't starving. Your parents though. They taught me, and not just ninja skills. They taught me manners. They taught me acceptance. They taught me morals and values. They taught me all those things only a parents can teach, ya know?"

I nodded sadly, hearing about Naruto's childhood still left a sour taste in my mouth. Fú's hand reached across my body and squeezed Naruto's hand in comfort.

"Your Dad, Uncle Inoko… I miss him. So much, K-kenta." Naruto's voice broke with emotion at the end. He cleared his throat and continued. "I know that he wasn't my dad, but he's the closest thing I've ever known to a real dad. Every night I try to recall a good memory we had together. There's so many. But then I end up crying myself to sleep, cuz there won't be any new ones. I wish… I wish I could see him one last time, ya know? Say a proper goodbye. Tell him thanks for caring for me."

I nodded in understanding, an idea suddenly overtaking every other thought.

"Come on, you two. I need some actual joy in my life. I have just the thing."

Naruto and Fú stood and joined me. "Where are we going, love?" Fú asked gently.

"My house." I said.

"You have something you need to do first though." Naruto interjected. "Two things really."

I was confused at first, but his meaning hit me like one of the punches he threw earlier. I nodded in resignation. "Ami first, then Ino."

We left the little slice of Heaven that Fú had made her home. I knew that by the end of the day, I would be emotionally run down. Worse than I already was at least.

*******************************Much support, Lol – Lots of Love***************************

I knocked sharply on the cozy little two-story home of Ami's childhood. Three seconds later, the devil herself answered. I opened my mouth and took a breath.

I moved my head just slightly so Ami's fist didn't re-break my nose. I groaned in pain. Her second jab met its mark, the sickening crack sounding for the second time in just a few hours. I tasted the metallic taste of blood flooding my mouth.

"Ok, I deserve-URK" I wheezed, clutching the boys as Ami's quick knee met its real target. I slid to the ground, holding back the tears of pain, subtly checking that both the little ones were still there and not reduced to pulp.

"I was going to continue to pound you face in. But looks like someone already beat me to it." She sent a smirk and wink towards Naruto. "That last hit was every hit I had planned rolled into one. You may apologize to me now for your absolutely BOORISH behavior, Kenta Yamanaka!"

I spent a full minute trying to catch my breath. Ami was very patient when she wanted to be. Finally, the pain receded enough for me to think rationally. The demons growled in warning, the darkness was attempting to reclaim its parasitic hold. A hand and reassuring squeeze from Naruto helped clear my thoughts, banishing the darkness temporarily. This wasn't going to be like the other times. I needed my family and friends if I wanted to pull myself from the darkness this time around.

"Ami. What I said to you. What I did. It's inexcusable. Everything I said, I sincerely hope you know I didn't mean it. I was speaking from a dark place. You know I have nothing but complete respect and admiration for you." I said, completely sincere.

Ami scoffed. "Tell me something I don't know, Yamanaka. You were an absolute brute. However." She bent down until she was eye level with me. "If I let some appalling comments ruin the five year friendship we have, it wasn't real to begin with, was it? I know your style. I know you lash out when you're hurt. I know the more you hurt the nastier you get. You're the brother I never had. You and Naruto. Losing either of you knuckleheads would be devastating. Team 11 is a family. Family's fight. Sometimes viciously. I love you, moron. Make it up to me with an all you can eat dango buffet." A flash of Anko momentarily overshadowed Ami's form.

I smiled in gratitude. "Of course, Ank- I mean Ami. Thank you. This time is bad, Ami. Even now, it's a constant struggle to stay in control. I need you. I need everyone." I was whispering my omission by the end. I HATED being this weak. However, mom would always say, admitting and seeking out help is a form of strength itself.

Ami straightened. "Now, what are we doing? I'm bored. Have you apologized to Ino? The only one that really matters, mister?" Her voice was laced with alarm bells and warnings.

"You were stop one. Ino will be the most draining. Come with us? Going to my place after to give Naruto his present." Ami's eyes lit up in excitement. I had told her what our family got Naruto for his 17th birthday. With everything that had recently happened, now seemed like the perfect time to gift it to him.

Our quickly expanding group left Ami's house and made our way back to my clan compound. This was a conversation I was NOT looking forward to.

*************************Cinnamon Roll Kenta Yamanaka**********************************

I walked slowly to Ino's door. Words were replaying over and over in my mind. How could I even begin to apologize for what I've done over the last three days? I tortured her! I tried to KILL her! Nothing, nothing I could say would EVER make up for what I did.

The rest of my support team was waiting down the road. They all agreed this was something I needed to do on my own. I was nervous. I was afraid without Naruto or Fú with me to drive away the darkness, that I would explode. I needed them. This was a bad idea. I turned around and caught the briefest glimpse of mint green. My resolve strengthened, knowing my support was within intervention distance.

I stopped a few feet from the beautifully hand-carved door that led to the main family house. Finding out just how closely Ino was related to me made the crushing guilt become two-fold. Not that it makes a difference. Ino could be a 5th cousin, twice removed, it still didn't excuse my actions. But this was as close to intentionally hurting my baby sister as I could get without meaningfully hurting Kono. I did a quick scan, Ino's signature was the only one in the house. I took a deep breath and rapped sharply on the thick oak door.

I waited impatiently, Ino's signature slowly making its way towards the door. It paused; she was probably realizing now who was behind the door. The words continued to tumble in my mind as the butterflies seemed to be mating and reproducing at an unnaturally accelerated rate. She stopped. The only thing separating my cousin and I was two feet of solid oak.