I was beginning to understand that Shinobi didn't wake up like normal people should. One moment they were seemingly in the land of dreams, and the next they have a kunai at you neck demanding answers. It was as amusing as it was scary. Hinata screaming at Kakashi to release me didn't really help anything either. "Hey, can you guys quiet down? I'm trying to sleep." Itsuki wasn't helping either, but I half expected this of him as he had personally said that sleep was a man's best friend. However, as Hinata pointedly ignored his words, Kakashi continued to hold a kunai -that I had no idea where he got it from- to my neck and me just breathing loudly as I tried to understand what was going on, Itsuki's sleep was put on hold for now. He woke much like Kakashi: transitioning from rest to alertness in the matter of nanoseconds. Though, he did have to blink quite a bit to take in the entire scene. And If I hadn't split earlier, then I would certainly be freaking out a bit. "Um, could you put the kid down?" Itsuki asked tentatively. "He doesn't really look the most comfortable in your… tender grasp." "Let go of Naruto-kun!" Hinata demanded while getting ready to throw Nuibari at Kakashi. I had no doubt that she would hit if he stayed still, but I really, really didn't want a weapon that could theoretically pierce through all types of matter anywhere near me. "Itsuki Amachi, A-class missing-nin, and primary suspect of the mass murders if fifteen civilian towns in Fire Country. As well as committing several counts of post-Third war crimes after treaties had been signed." Kakashi said neutrally through all the yelling. However, I heard a slight growl at the back of Kakashi's throat as he spoke his next words. "Prime suspect in the kidnappings of one Rin Nohara." "What?!" Hinata jumped away from Itsuki like he had spontaneously combusted. Then he gaze turned to Itsuki, something between hurt and confusion splaying on her face. "That's not true, Sensei. Tell him it's not true." "It's…" Itsuki looked conflicted about something. "... I'm sorry." Kakashi was honestly ruining everything as he continued to speak. "As a Konohagakure Anbu, I hereby place you under arrest as according to the treaties signed by Kirigakure. Surrender now before I'm forced to use lethal force." If anything, I felt that Kakashi desperately wanted Itsuki to resist. However, I had felt like I had seen enough, and materialized right next to Itsuki while splitting in the next second. No one had time to react to me suddenly being elsewhere except for Hinata who had seen that trick hundreds of times. Itsuki flinched hard at my appearance, but stared down the now silent Kakashi as we both saw the silver-haired teen try to jump at us. "I think a little de-escalation is in need here." I said slowly, making sure everyone heard me. We were quite a ways from civilization as Hinata and I needed to save time, but I wasn't sure that it was wise to get into a fight with two whole Jōnin. "This doesn't concern you, Naruto." Kakashi stated easily. "While I will ask you what happened earlier, leaving a dangerous criminal on the loose is not wise. Please step aside or I will be forced to use force against you, too." Hinata had finally snapped from all the threats and revelations, but I would rather her have not thrown Nuibari at Kakashi in response to her sanity leaving her. Whether it was from all the training or simply her natural strengths, the needle flew towards the trained Anbu with deadly intent. Kakashi reacted rather calmly to the thrown weapon, easily intercepting it with his kunai. However, what none but me -and maybe Itsuki- expected was that the special effects of Nuibari's tip shattered the kunai in Kakashi's grasp. Shards of metal slashed everywhere, and even scored small lines of trailing red on his body. Still, the small cuts didn't really elicit any pained cries in Kakashi. He just calmly reached down to his hip where a hidden, small pouch that held his extra weapons was. Except all he reached for was an empty waistband. "I'm sorry," I answered for him, holding up the very same pouch Hinata and I had missed when we were removing his weapons. The very same pouch that was easy taken when I materialized away from him. "Can we have a chat without everyone trying to attack, or otherwise, arrest each other? Cause I just want everyone to calm down for a bit, and once that's all over, we can get back to fighting if we have to, okay?" "This is not a matter of talking, Naruto." Kakashi stated clearly, but he still hadn't moved. If he had, then my specter would have seen right through him. I still needed to make time to really examine its new and disturbing looks, too. "No, Kakashi Hatake," I said succinctly, eliciting a flinch from the Anbu. It was time to leverage my knowledge, and hope that lethal force wasn't used against me. "I think this is definitely a matter that can be talked through." "How do you know that name?" The silver-haired Anbu strained, his eyes were flicking towards Itsuki in what was clear distrust. I hid a smile behind my success. "So are you finally feeling up to talk?" My tone was full of honey. "Hn…" Kakashi grunted finally, relaxing on his spot across from the three of us. I don't think he actually relaxed with how his Chakra was moving, but I didn't see any untoward action for the time being. There really wasn't much I could reliably do to contain him other than hope he didn't go for the kill. I could try and see how slowing the world down works with my knife, but I don't think I was comfortable with trying to do that again for sometime. Or if I could replicate exactly how that happened. The whole experience had been… alien, to put it in a word. There were certain parts that I could easily remember, but, for the most of it, everything was a blur of intent and instinct. Hinata had gathered Nuibari back at some point, and scooted closer to me while I was observing the docile Kakashi. However, her glossy eyes were still locked on Itsuki with hints of disgust. Whether it was from his acceptance of all those murders, or the kidnapping accusation, I don't think it mattered to the easily riled up heiress. Her Byakugan were pulsing with barely contained fury, though. Itsuki was sitting off to side next to me with an expression of concentrated guilt. Kakashi's words had drilled some kind of painful memories that pulled the normally jovial man into a spiral of depression. He was obviously not in the mood to start the whole heart-to-heart that I was trying to set up. Damnit! I hated feeling like the sanest one around. "So!" I clapped my hands in a sort of awkward silence. Thinking rationally, what I was doing was just fighting a different kind of fight, and that brought me some semblance of balance as I tried to calm a highly trained child soldier turned assassin, a quick-to-murder five year old and a man who's sudden depression locked him in a prison of guilt. The first thing that my brilliant mind came up with was to make everyone feel more comfortable. "Let's start with this little confession circle… er, square?" No one did anything. Coughing into my hand, I drew everyone's eyes to me. "Anyways, how about introductions since everyone is so shy; I can even go first. Does that sound okay?" No one spoke in dissent. "Great! Well, my name is Naruto Uzumaki, I have been cognizant since birth, and have an unhealthy relationship with what I assume is the grim reaper. I was one of the children kidnapped during that whole screw up with Kumo, but everything turned out okay… well, mostly." I frowned at the memories that came back in an unnecessary rush. "Actually, not really." I added. It was so silent that I could probably hear the crickets from across the forest. In fact, I think I was hearing them with my specter's ears. Still, marveling of my split aside, no one had chosen to move or even breathe too loudly after I had introduced myself, and I was fairly certain that Kakashi's heartbeat shouldn't reach those speeds. "Should I have included my likes and dislikes?" I asked the stunned trio before me. Itsuki slapped his forehead with considerable force. "The hell, kid?" He started out strong. "I mean, really, what the hell, kid? You can't just start with shit like that. What do you even mean 'having an unhealthy relationship with the grim reaper'? That just makes no sense!" "Huh…" I supplied, realizing that maybe I was the one that came on too strong. Turning to my ally in these trying times, I prompted my first friend to the stage. "Hinata! Why don't you go next?" The black haired heiress looked conflicted with all the attention turned her way. I felt like she was half a second from either curling in on herself or lashing out with deadly force. Luckily, she opened her mouth was what was a shaky approximation of her normal confidence, "Um, m, my name is Hinata Hyūga, I…" She paused before looking me in the eyes. Then her back straightened with renewed strength. "I am training to become strong enough for Naruto-kun to no longer come back with wounds that put slaughtered animals to shame. And I like swords…" "I'm not that bad, Hinata-chan…" I started before she and Itsuki shot me what could only be described as a stink eye. They still hadn't let down the fact that I blew up parts of my skin when testing Chakra control at times. "... Nevermind, uh, Kakashi! Your turn!" The Anbu just looked at me, then Hinata and finally his gaze lingered on Itsuki. "How do you already know my name?" "Right, because I'm a genius." I answered simply, knowing that the answer that did nothing would serve to irritate him more. Everyone here knew that secrets were the backbone for every Shnobi, and if Kakashi was going to be passive-aggressive about his then I wasn't going to give him any answers. As for why I was trying to antagonize a trained killer; well, I have never been one to do sane things, either. "Itsuki! You're up!" I finished. The oldest member of our group sighed, knowing that he would have to play along now. "My name is Itsuki, but I gave up my last name. I left Kirigakure for… reasons, and i'm trying to take these kids home." Then there was silence again after everyone -sorta- gave their introductions. I honestly didn't think everything would go so well so far. There was a bit less fighting and screaming going on. It said something about how we were all really good at combat, but sucked in socialization. There was also something to be said about a five year old leading the confession circle for Shinobi. This was like an AA meeting, but there were no alcoholics and everyone was trying to kill each other at one point. Honestly, with my track record, I was surprised everything was going so well. "On that note!" I started again. "I'd like to point out that Itsuki did not commit any form of kidnapping." Itsuki sputtered, Hinata eased up on her glares and Kakashi simply frowned frowned under his partial face mask. "You're lying." He accused. "Nope! I'm making a inference based on observation, and past knowledge." I answered easily, finding myself quite at home with the aggression directed at me. "You see, Itsuki couldn't have kidnapped this Rin girl or whoever. He specifically told us that he left Kiri due to disagreeing with their teaching methods." I explained, holding up a purposeful finger. "Itsuki's morals would be in direct conflict with the idea to kidnap some girl, so he's either been framed by someone else in the higher ups of Kiri. Or Kiri needed a scapegoat for whatever that was, and they simply added it to his file after he left the village. I am more partial to the first bit as Itsuki is apprehensive at telling us the details. As such, they must have some form of leverage over him to keep him quiet instead of telling the truth." Everyone was looking at me again. "What?" "Naruto-kun, please don't change." Hinata answered while leaning in closer. Her expression of tightly contained murder had subsided into a idle undercurrent of readily available violence. Kakashi was also calmed by my reasoning, and Itsuki just sat back in his spot with a slight smile. "No comment." Was all he said, completely answering the question without actually answering anything. I'm glad that Shinobi were adept at that. "Great!" I said in the ensuing comfortable silence, and even joined my two halves as I felt that there wouldn't be a fight anytime soon. My wounds still needed my Chakra to heal, too. Everyone was nicely getting along without threat of death so far. "Now that we're all good, can we start heading back to Konoha now?" "Uh, kid, I think you're still forgetting something very important." Itsuki said, derailing my attempts to get home. "Hn," Kakashi added helpfully, and, while he was no longer looking to tear Itsuki's throat out, he still didn't trust our friend. "What was that about being cognizant at birth as well?" "Uh… Well, I mean, it's exactly what it sounds like." I answered, unsure that what I said was the right decision. Kakashi was pensive at first, but asked quietly, "Does that mean you remember your mom and dad?" "Yeah," I could never forget them if I tried, and I never really could forget the love they showed me despite my brief time in the world. There was very little that could make me forget them. "Their names were Kushina and Minato, right?" I recalled Hiruzen mentioning them by name several times around me, but I never got confirmation. Kakashi's wide eyes and silent stare were all I needed to know that I had my first actual lead to my parents without the threat of death nearby. Itsuki sputtering again while Hinata and I were watching on was also slightly amusing. "Your dad is the Yellow Flash?!" Itsuki asked incredulously. I frowned, remembering that one of the Kumo-nin had definitely called me the son of some flashy guy. "I think so. Why? Was he important?" "Wait," Kakashi interrupted. "Prove you're Naruto instead of an imposter. I'm having a hard time believing that you actually were some kind of genius since you were born." "I'm Naruto," I argued, annoyed that he was being so paranoid. "I remember them fighting the Kyūbi, and sealing it in me. I remember the Hokage take about them while I lay in my crib. There is no reason for me to forget them. They died for me." I growled out, feeling corrosion creeping into my voice. "I would never forget them. If you're still doubting whether I'm just pulling random facts, then I can point out all the instances of my caretakers ignoring me, dropping me on the ground and 'forgetting' to feed me. Do you need anymore? Because I can easily pull up many mo-" "Naruto-kun," Hinata's hand pressed against my own, and my head snapped in her direction. "Calm down, please." She stressed her words, looking directly into my itching eyes. I blinked once as I felt the Kyūbi's Chakra flowing through me. When had I… "I think," Kakashi breathed nearby. Whether his questions were answered in my outburst, or show of baleful energy, I don't think it mattered. He was convinced, to some degree, that I was telling the truth. "I think I believe you. I am sorry for doubting you, Naruto." "Yeah, yeah, who cares." Itsuki warded off Kakashi's apology easily. "I'm more concerned about all this neglect I'm hearing." His eyes turned to Kakashi with disapproval. "If he really is the Yellow Flash's kid, and the damned Nine-tails Jinchūriki for crying out loud, why the hell is he not treated like some damn hero, huh? Are all your civilians some kind of brain deficient idiots with a death wish?" "Yes." I answered easily for Kakashi. Everyone turned to me. "Well, I mean, the brain deficient part… um, yeah…" Then I frowned. "The way you say Jinchūriki makes it sound like there are more, but that can't mean anything, right?" I mean, I knew that there was that demon inside Gaara, but that wasn't some giant demonic fox. A terrifying thought hit me. "There are more, aren't there? More creatures with powers similar to mine, I mean." Kakashi nodded solemnly from the side as I processed the new information. Everyone just had something of a bomb to add to this conversation didn't they. I turned to my last sense of hope, and smiled at Hinata who innocently watched everything happen. "You wouldn't happen to have anything crazy to add, would you?" I asked the silent girl, not really expect in her to nod. She then brought up her hand, and sparks began to jitter off her pale palm. "I can do this." She stated equally while dragging false lightning into her hand. The dazzling blue streaks of concentrated death whirred like a dance of beautiful, inanimate snakes. That was how we all figured out that Hinata had somehow learned Lightning release by copying what those Kumo-nin had done before. By the time we had figured out that Hinata was some kind of genius herself, everyone had forgotten about asking me about that little fiasco in the previous town. Still, I wasn't too hurt with not explaining myself as I really didn't know what it was either. The sun set long before everything made sense again.