"What are you doing?"

"Leaving," I stated.

Aiden looked as if I'd thrown him twenty yards across the room. Then he proceeded to grab my arm. "You can't."

"Watch me," I snatched my arm out of his grasp and zipped up the small bag that held my measly belongings.

"Cashile--"

"I have to leave. Don't hold your breath on my homecoming," I cut him off.

I had made up my mind. I wouldn't rest until the rising Phoenix had been... taken care of. And these two were holding me back.

"But Aisa--"

"Is your brother," I said. "Not mine. He's just another stupid little genin."

He grabbed at my wrist once more. "At least explain," he begged. I stared at him incredulously. He was acting as though this should affect him on a personal level. I was just someone letting him use my apartment. Nothing more. Nothing less. So why was he acting as though this was the end of an era?

I shrugged my shoulders in a nonchalant manner. "I have some business to take care of. It takes precedence over anything else," I informed, implying exactly where he stood in my list of importance.

His expression hardened slightly, a guarded look replacing the desperation from moments earlier. "Does this have to do with what happened the other day? When you told me and Aisa to take off?"

I never did say Aiden was stupid.

Okay maybe I did once or twice...

"Doesn't matter," I brushed off casually and reclaimed my wrist once more.

With a sigh of defeat Aiden massaged his temples. "At least tell me if you're coming back."

I hesitated in my thoughts. "Maybe. Depends," Not that he would want me to come back if he knew why I was leaving.

But that was none of his business. And I was done being weak. It was time for me to prepare to make moves, not just wait to defend against an attack.

And I didn't see the logical point of coming back, unless it was to reclaim my apartment once and for all.

He let out an exasperated breath. "It's never a straight answer with you, is it?"

"Sushi in the fridge. Eat it for dinner. There's some stew also, frozen. Heat it on the stove for 10 minutes, add milk if necessary," I informed, holding a neutral expression. "I can't take it with me, so you might as well have it."

"Cashile--" Aiden pleaded.

"I'll see you around, Aiden."

***

Outside the apartment complex I rested against a bench and took a deep breath of fresh air. I suddenly became tempted to claw furiously at my chest. There seemed to be a rock embedded there.

Slowly my breathing became heavier and heavier. Something was blocking my airways.

An allergic reaction?

Impossible.

The only health issues I've ever really had were inflicted upon me during training. And I haven't taken any hard hits in a while. I couldn't be c-- no way. I immediately dismissed the thoughts from my mind and shut down the waver of emotions I had allowed myself to feel. I could physically feel my eyes deaden and my thoughts cleared.

"Cashile?"

My leg shot out immediately, aiming a precise kick towards the jaw of the intruder of my thoughts before I could stop myself. Thankfully Sakura had attained some skill while I had been away. She deflected my kick fairly easily.

"Sakura," I stated wearily, not bothering to apologize.

"Sorry for startling you!" She squealed, flushed from surprise.

"Apology unnecessary," I muttered, leaning once more against a bench, allowing a brief moment of exhaustion to overcome me.

"Are you alright?" She asked, clearly perplexed by my current appearance.

I stood up and straightened my spine to indicate that I was perfect. "Just fine,"

"Okay, well I've been called to the hokage's office. Apparently something significant has happened."

"Right," I said. She didn't move, staring at me. "Go on, then," I prodded, slightly annoyed when she looked me over once more, with worry clouding her expression.

"Okay..." She agreed hesitantly, "Stay safe, Cashile,"

"Will do," I said, showing a slight gesture of my most famous smirk, to show that I was perfectly myself.

Sakura continued hurriedly in the direction of her final destination.

My mind was cleared, back in to normal. I was at terms with what I needed to do in order to achieve the ultimate goal. In order to beat the Phoenix I would have to sacrifice a lot. I would have to sacrifice other people, sometimes. I would have to sacrifice allies and relationships and reputations.

Something I was willing to do.

And first order of business; renting a room.

There was only one other apartment complex in the area, and luckily I would be able to afford it with my meager earnings as a sensei. Perhaps I should apply for some solo missions. More money would be useful, and a couple of missions shouldn't take up too much of my brainpower.

When I reached the complex I searched for a room at the top level, in a corner of the building, and found one at decent price. Easily escapable, easily defensible... it would work. I dropped my backpack on the floor. Sure, it needed a little tidying up, but it came with furniture and appliances. I frowned at the tiny couch stuffed into the corner. I should have packed my couch into a scroll and brought it here. Ah, well. Too late for that.

I set up my chessboard and rummaged for a tea kettle and tea leaves. Glancing around once more, I shrugged. Well, that's that. I was unpacked.

Now then, for traps..

****

I knocked on the door. Last time I had barged in, and Tsunade had tried to punch me. I had blocked, but I swear my forearm nearly cracked from the force. I didn't want to risk waking her up again. "Come in!" Tsunade called.

"Tsunade, I would like to talk about solo--" I cut myself off, and narrowed my eyes slightly. So this was the presence I had felt in the room from the entrance of the building.

Now I had the attention of all 6 people inside the room. But I was observing one in particular.

Naruto's eyes widened dramatically, and he made a strange gasping noise. I tilted my head, intrigued.

I immediately started to make predictions.

Naruto would attempt to punch me once he figured out what's going on. And shout. A lot. He would create far too much of a ruckus. And overall he would have absolutely no clue about what was going on.

Yep, that sounds like Naruto.

He opened his mouth and I dully prepared myself for whatever stupidity would come pouring from his mouth.

"GHOST!" He shrieked.

Yep.

I allowed my head to hand for half a moment. He was so stupid. I decided to play with him and looked up, allowing a deadly feeling to leak into the air.

"That's right, Naruto," I whispered seriously, deadpan. "I am a ghost coming back to haunt you. It's your fault I died, Naruto. Yooouuurr.... faaauuullltt." I stood rigidly still, looking straight into his eyes as I allowed a haunted look to paint my face.

"Ahhh!" Naruto shouted, running to hide behind sanin number two, Jiraya. "Sakura! Granny! Pervy Sage! Shikamaru! Don't let her kill me! Ahhh!"

I turned to give Sakura a "Can you believe him?" look, but her eyes were averted, looking depressed. Okay, so maybe the "your fault I died " hit a little too close to home for her. I filed the information away to use later.

"Dammit Naruto, shut up!" I finally ordered sharply when no one else stopped his obnoxious scene."I'm not a ghost!"

He paused. "You're not?" he asked suspiciously.

"No," I sighed.

"But you're dead!"

"No I'm not," I rolled my eyes. "But sorry to disappoint."

Naruto turned to Sakura. "Not a ghost?" He verified.

"Not a ghost."

"Not dead?"

"Not dead."

"And you didn't tell me?"

His mood switched from idiotic and lively to gravely serious in a heartbeat.

"Well I was a little busy beating you up for your pervy ninjutsu you little idiot!" She shouted. Anger flared in her eyes as she remembered.

Naruto turned back to me, a hostile aura surrounding him. I paused, finding myself wary of this serious side of Naruto. And a lot more powerful, I noticed. He stormed towards me and grabbed the front of my coat with one hand, something I allow him to do. If he felt as though he had the upper hand physically it may make him more comfortable and receptive to the idea of me being back.

"You bitch," he hissed, voice cracking a bit from emotion. "We mourned you! We buried an empty casket! And you had just faked your own death? And now you have the nerve to come back?"

"Naruto, you don't--" Shikamaru started to speak, but I interrupted him. I didn't need anyone to explain for me, and I certainly didn't feel obliged to immediately explain myself to Naruto.

Instead I placed my hand on the inside of his wrist. He barely noticed it, didn't realize that that small move shifted the balance of power in my favor. "Know the full story before you leap to conclusions," I warned.

"I don't need the full story because I know you," he snarled. "I know you would betray us in a heartbeat!"

"Maybe that's so," I agreed. Before I could continue my sentence, his fist hurled viciously towards my face. I easily deflected his punch with a slight movement to the back of his elbow so that it connected with the door behind me. Before he could even register that I had dodged his blow I clenched the wrist of the hand holding onto the front of my jacket and twisted. It broke his grip. I wrenched at his arm, keeping a hold of his wrist and bending it at an awkward angle. He was restrained in milliseconds. I leaned forward and whispered the ending of the sentence in his ear. "But I didn't."

Tsunade cleared her throat and I obediently released Naruto, shoving him away from me.

"As I was saying--" she spoke up.

"Wait, I'm supposed to fight her? She's my opponent?" Naruto yelled incredulously.

Well, he was clearly out of control.

I let out a choked laughter. "No, definitely not. There wouldn't be much of a fight."

Naruto argued, "Still arrogant as usual, Cashile. I could take you down no problem."

He was receiving warning looks from the rest of the room, which he either expertly ignored or was completely oblivious to. I leaned towards the latter.

"Wait, did something happen to your face?" He suddenly asked, looking utterly dumbfounded, just noticing the large scar that marred my face.

I glared at him. "I would love to oblige to a take down, but I have more pressing matters to take care of right now. And besides, you're opponent is waiting outside the window," I informed casually.

I had noticed Kakashi's presence around the same time I had felt Naruto's.

None of the adults seemed surprised by my observation, but Naruto seemed to not believe me. He ran to the window and lifted it open.

"Kakashi-sensei!" He exclaimed.

I rolled my eyes. Seemed like I would have to wait to talk to Tsunade about my solo.

"Kakashi, Cashile's back!"

"So I've heard," Kakashi replied dryly.

"Was I the last to know?!"

"Er... Yeah, pretty much," Shikamaru nodded, rubbing at the back of his head.

"Back on task!" Tsunade ordered. Immediately the room fell silent. "Right, so Naruto, Sakura. Your opponent will be Kakashi..." She hesitated for a moment. Before she eyed me, clueing everyone else in, I spoke up. "Oh, no. No, no, no. I have priorities,"

Sakura gazed at me with a confused look clouding her expression. "Cashile, what are you saying?"

Shikamaru raised his eyebrow and shook his head slightly. Always catching on half a second after me. He was smart, maybe even could create better team strategies than me, but my observation skills were simply through the roof.

"What I say takes priority over anything else," Tsunade shot me down. "It's settled then. Kakashi, your opponents will be Naruto, Sakura and Cashile."

_________________________________________________________

Hey guys! What do you think? NARUTO's BACK!!!! Hope you enjoyed! Finally updated!! Let us know what you think and hope you love it!

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Sorry for the longer than usual wait! School sucks, nanowrimo is a bitch and I'm perpetually exhausted! But here's an update for you!

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