I decided to return to the village after Gai had showed up. The clone I left back in the village had disappeared, so my time was up. Meanwhile, Naruto and Jiraiya went to look for the new Hokage. 

When I returned to the village, I went to where Kakashi was, ready to be scolded and lectured at. But instead I found him in the hospital in a weak state. After getting Sasuke into a room, I went to visit Kakashi who was lying in bed, still unconscious. 

I would have gone with Naruto and Jiraiya, but I had to return to the village because of Gai. He still doesn't trust me. But, that's not the only reason why I came back to the village. My form is changing... 

My nails are still sharp and so are my teeth. I'm running out of time... I need to devour more chakra. So I can become human... "This is the first time seeing you without shackles and chains. No. Make that the 2nd time." I turn my head to the doorway to see Ritsu. 

"What are you doing here?" I growl at him. 

"To check on you. I knew you would be here. Here to devour that man's chakra I see. You really haven't changed." Ritsu glares. 

"I'm only here to check on him. He's my guardian." I turn back to Kakashi, then turn back to Ritsu. 

"How long are you going to play human? You know what you are, Akina. You should take pride into what you do best. And that is being a Shinobi Killer." 

"I suggest you keep that mouth of yours shut." I growl at him as my eyes glow. 

"You're starting to change back, right?" Ritsu notices my form taking a change, causing me to growl at him more. "I've been watching you, Akina. You've been fighting with that boy you've been clinging to lately. It's surprising that he's not dead yet. I wonder why that is." 

"What's your point?" 

"I'm just wondering... How long is he going to survive if you keep fighting with him? Will you go to the next meal you see and claim them? Or will you go back to your original ways." After he said that, I threw a kunai at him, hitting the wall beside his head. 

"Get out..." I growl. 

Ritsu shrugs his shoulders and leaves the room. I glare down at the floor as I start to chew on my thumbnail. He's wrong... I will become human... I have to. 

~Sakura's P.O.V.~ 

After hearing what happened to Sasuke, I rushed to the hospital as fast as I could to check on him. The nurses are doing everything they can, but Sasuke isn't waking up... 

I've been by his side for hours, and I just realized that Kakashi-Sensei is here too. I should check on him. "I'll be right back, Sasuke." I tell him before leaving his hospital bedroom. 

As I'm walking down the hall, I hear faint shouting coming from one of the bathrooms. Then, I begin to hear glass breaking. 

"Hello? Is someone there?" I slowly push the door open and see Akina, shouting, 

"DON'T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT!!!" She punched the mirror with her bare fist, making it shatter and having shards drop to the ground. 

"Akina! What are you-!" I couldn't finish my sentence when she looked at me with a murderous glare. Her eyes were glowing in the dark. Her teeth were sharp as canine ones. And her nails were covered in dry blood while they were also sharp. 

I could only stare at her in horror. She is...becoming a monster! 

"A-Akina..." I stutter out her name. She walks over to me and walks pass me as she says, 

"Don't ever speak to me again." She growls and I watch her walk down the hall. This is bad... I have to tell Naruto about this when he gets back. 

~Akina's P.O.V., Time Skip~ 

Naruto and Jiraiya finally came back to the village with two women. One with long blonde hair and a big chest, and another with short black hair, carrying a pig. Which is one is the new Hokage? 

I watch them enter the village from the hospital window from Kakashi's room. I've been staying by Kakashi's side ever since I came back to the village. I couldn't go out because ANBU were everywhere. And if they were to spot me, they would put me in a holding cell with Ibuki. 

"He's right over here." I hear Naruto's voice coming from the hallway. Him and the two women enter into Kakashi's hospital bedroom. Where did Jiraiya go? "Hey, Akina!" Naruto smiles at me.

"Darling..." I whisper out. 

"Everything is going to be okay. Grandma Tsunade is going to help." Grandma Tsunade? Tsunade Senju? The granddaughter of the first Hokage? The old man talked nonstop about him when I was in his office. The woman is beautiful. 

"So, this is Akina that I've been hearing so much about." The woman, Tsunade, walks over to me and leans down to my height. With her intense glare, I know she's thinking about what I am. She knows I'm a Shinobi Killer. "She's beautiful for a girl her age." Tsuande speaks again and leans up straight. "I'm Tsunade Senju. It's nice to finally meet you, Akina." She puts her hand out for me to shake. 

"Likewise." I nod my head and shake her hand. What a fake smile. "Can you really help Kakashi?" 

"I will see what I can do." Moments later, Kakashi woke up but he was feeling weak. It's because of his sharingan that he is so weak. 

Afterwards, Tsunade and Naruto left to go wake up Sasuke and help Rock Lee since his body is in critical condition. Once they left, Kakashi turns his head to me, followed by a sigh. "Where were you, Akina?" He asks. 

"What do you mean?" I ask back, playing innocent. 

"I know that was a clone when Gai and the others took me back to my house. Don't make me ask a 3rd time. Where were you?" 

"...I was with my Darling." I turn my head the other way. 

"You do realize that the Akatsuki were after you and Naruto." He begins to glare. "I wanted you to stay inside the house so you can stay safe and away from them." 

"....What is the Akatsuki Organization all about?" I question. "Why go after me and Naruto?" 

"Because Naruto is a tailed beast. He is the host of the 9 tails. The Akatsuki collect Jinchuriki and seal them away for good, thus killing the host. But I'm not sure why they were after you. You're not a tailed beast. But I had a feeling that it wasn't Naruto they were only after." 

"It's because of my power." I answer his question as I turn back to him. "The Akatsuki know about my power and want to use it to capture tailed beast, such as Naruto. They almost had me until I was able to steal away their chakra. They said I was a prize to the Akatsuki." 

"Thank goodness Jiraiya was there to protect the two of you." Kakashi sighs. "Akina, I need you to stay with me at all times so I know that you are safe. You can't go running of to see Naruto all the time." 

I glare at him when he tells me this. "Are you trying to tie me down?" I grit my teeth together. 

"I am not. I just want you safe." 

"Because I'm a Shinobi Killer? Because I can't be tamed like the old man tried to do!?" I shout, taking a step closer to Kakashi. "You're so eager to tie me down and keep me under control like everybody else! You're just the same as they are! I knew it!" 

"Akina, what are you talking about? I'm just trying to-"

"Why can't everyone just leave me be already!? Why is it so hard for everyone to understand that I want to be on my own for a change?! Everybody... They're all trying to control me! They're-" Suddenly I am pulled on the bed and held closely with my head lying on a hard, muscular chest. 

I feel a hand on the back of my head, gently stroking my hair, and instantly I am calming down... "It's not like that, Akina. It was never like that. I don't know where you got that idea from, but I'm only trying to keep you safe." Kakashi whispers to me. "You're not use to this kind of protection, are you? You're use to the old habits, aren't you?" 

"...I am..." I slowly nod my head. 

"It's going to be alright, Akina. I'm not going to tie you down or force you to do anything that you don't want to do. If you want to be with Naruto, just ask me and I'll let you go. Just ask me next time." Kakashi sighs and holds me closer. "I'm sorry it seemed that way, Akina. I didn't mean for you to get upset. I'm really sorry." 

Kakashi continues to stroke the back of my head as I calm myself down. The way he's holding me is so relaxing and gentle... I remember somebody holding me like this before... A long time ago... That's why I have to become human. 

So I can be with him again... 

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