Balance [Private] [Ayama and Navi]

She watched nervously as Navi inspected Hisoka with his Doujutsu. Though she was worried she eyed the strange sight. The glowing red symbol in his eyes making them glitter with a light all their own. Shivering slightly she glanced away again. In her time spent with Navi she had lost most of her fear of the leaf nin’s strange eyes. But the deadly beauty of the doujutsu was still nerve wracking. Especially for one who had been on the wrong side of the eyes. She slid her gaze from him and focused on her stressed partner. Despite her fear though she was glad of his eyes at this moment. With Hisoka blocking her it would take the abilities of the eyes to find out what was wrong with her partner.

"You're becoming too powerful Ayama," Navi began slowly, putting his thoughts together carefully before speaking them aloud. "Your chakra has advanced to a stage where it has grown to be almost entirely made up of a lightning nature. With all the training I've given you over the last month, your power has grown exponentially, and as your chakra has grown, it has affected Hisoka drastically."

She blinked in astonishment and mild horror. She was doing this to her partner? His strange state was her fault? Horrified she reached out and brushed the smoky fur with her hand. Trying to send him apologies and soothing thoughts.

"Simply put, your bond with Hisoka is growing unstable. While his form was able to control small levels of high intensity lightning chakra in the past, the power level of the chakra he is forced to use to form himself now is too high. This instability is causing him to do things like discharge lightning, which would explain the fire he accidentally started."

“Will it settle down?” she asked nervously, turning her gaze towards Navi again. She had grown close to her feline counterpart in the month since his discovery. She knew that his unwavering loyalty and support was what was keeping her sane. Navi and her were growing closer but Hisoka loved her in a way Navi did not. He was like a sibling, or a childhood friend, he knew everything about her and she knew everything about him. Without his constant presence she wasn’t sure what she would do. She reached out to his mind with her again, nudging his walls, pleading with him to let her in.

"Hisoka's chakra is derived from your own, and he alone must learn how to regulate the power he takes from you. I'm afraid no amount of training I can give will help him. However, if I were to offer some advice, the time he spends outside of your body should be spent on less flammable terrain."

She chuckled nervously at Navi’s joke but mostly relief swept through her. It wasn’t her fault, and she refused to blame Hisoka. It had simply been both their lack of experience and a teacher who knew their bloodline which had caused this. Navi didn’t know enough about their bloodline and while his experience helped him guess at their connection he couldn’t tell them for sure. As Ayama and Hisoka grew, both in power and the closeness of their bond, they learned more about their bloodline. It was a learning process for both of them She just hoped it wouldn’t happen again.

“Did you hear that? You’re going to be fine. We just have to train up a bit. Make it so you can control the chakra,” she pressed the words against his barrier, trying to communicate to him. For a long moment the wall remained, then slowly it lowered. He accepted her mental and physical hug before eyeing Navi over her shoulder. Releasing him gently she kept a hand on his head and turned to him with a sincere smile.

“Thanks,” she was truly grateful, it had been quite a scare and she didn’t know what she would have done if he hadn’t been there. Hisoka grumbled softly but gave Navi a grudging nod of thanks as well. Chuckling at Hisoka’s mumbled thanks she patted his head. The huge cat was still sick though. Or, well as sick as a demon cat made of chakra could get. His form was wavering slightly and the purple underglow had died until the lightning flashes were the greatest source of light. Sighing she turned to Navi.

“I don’t think we’ll be ready to continue training. I’m sorry he’s just,” she glanced at her limp partner, “he’s still unsteady.”

Suddenly she brightened and smiled at Navi, “maybe you could show us some of your jutsu! I’m sure you have something more spectacular than my kenjutsu stances.

“Thanks,” she was truly grateful, it had been quite a scare and she didn’t know what she would have done if he hadn’t been there. Hisoka grumbled softly but gave Navi a grudging nod of thanks as well. Chuckling at Hisoka’s mumbled thanks she patted his head. The huge cat was still sick though. Or, well as sick as a demon cat made of chakra could get. His form was wavering slightly and the purple underglow had died until the lightning flashes were the greatest source of light. Sighing she turned to Navi.

Navi was happy to hear Ayama thank him for his hard work, but was actually impressed that Hisoka managed to mutter a thanks. After standing up Navi couldn't help but show off a smile of triumph to have had the demon cat actually thank him for something.

“I don’t think we’ll be ready to continue training. I’m sorry he’s just,” she glanced at her limp partner, “he’s still unsteady.”

"That's probably for the best," Navi said with a sigh, wondering if it would be best to just end the training session early for today.

Suddenly she brightened and smiled at Navi, “maybe you could show us some of your jutsu! I’m sure you have something more spectacular than my kenjutsu stances

Navi looked up with a jolt, of course!, he had never shown her any of his techniques. After a month of training all she had really seen him do with his chakra other then the academy basics was body flicker away at the end of each session.

Despite his initial feeling of enthusiasm, Navi was cautious to show her his techniques. Something in his mind warned him against trusting a sand ninja, but he quickly hushed the paranoid thoughts. She had placed immense trust in him, and it was only fair that he occasionally return the gesture.

"Hm... I suppose, although what I'm showing you is a closely guarded secret. You should keep it as fervently as you keep the secret of Hisoka, understand?" Navi listened closely for her response, and wouldn't continue unless her voice held absolute sincerity.

Navi stepped back several meters and took a deep breath.

"This... is my kekkei genkai." Navi spread both of his hands far apart and then clapped them together loudly, making a small echo through the field. A few moments passed before an intense, but thin blue aura surrounded Navi. He pressed his hands together tightly, closed his eyes, and took another deep breath before saying the words:

"Raven Style!"

With that, a magnificent blue aura plumed from his body, causing the ground around him to glow from the luminous blue light. A few moments later beautiful blue angelic wings sprouted from his back, spreading out widely from his center. The brilliant blue chakra shined brightly around his entire body, and the initial effect of seeing this would probably seem blinding at first.

Navi's body emitted an incredible raw power, causing the air to become so thick with chakra that Ayama might even be overwhelmed by his presence alone. Finally Navi opened his eyes and unclasped his hands. In each pupil glowed the Navagan, his intense dojutsu glowing brighter then before as it was now even further amplified by his glorious kekkei genkai.

Navi settled for a moment, worried at what Ayama's response might be. The air was still thick with chakra, but Navi's transformation had finally finished. This would be Ayama's first glimpse of what Navi was really like under those cold eyes and his bored emotional state, and he couldn't help but feel butterflies settle heavily in his stomach again as he watched for her reaction.

"Hm... I suppose, although what I'm showing you is a closely guarded secret. You should keep it as fervently as you keep the secret of Hisoka, understand?" Navi listened closely for her response, and wouldn't continue unless her voice held absolute sincerity.

Her eyes widened slightly. What was he about to show her that he sought to keep as secret as she kept her bloodline?

“I swear to keep it a secret,” she inclined her head slightly, her voice serious and completely sincere. She had placed trust in him, and he was placing trust in her. She elbowed Hisoka and the Cat nodded in agreement of her statement. He would keep the secret as well.

"This... is my kekkei genkai." Navi spread both of his hands far apart and then clapped them together loudly, making a small echo through the field.

Her eyes widened further and Hisoka’s head lifted slightly, his ears pricking with interest. For a few long minutes the entire field was still. Even the gentle breeze had stopped blowing, as if the world was holding it’s breath. Then a thin film of visible blue chakra began to seep over Navi’s form. She watched with a faint awe, as it covered his body conforming to his shape. What kind of jutsu was this? Then he muttered two words, the name of the style she would guess, and the world exploded with blue. Narrowing her eyes she raised her hand to shield them as the light grew too intense. Hisoka keened slapping his paw across his face as the blue glow grew brighter and brighter.

For a moment she felt the stirrings of fear as she remained blinded then the light faded and she lower her and slightly peering through her silvery eyelashes.

“Oh!” she gasped, her hand moving to cover her mouth instead of her eyes.

The air was thick with Navi’s chakra, his presence almost overwhelming. She probably would have crumpled under such an intense presence. She would have if not for the sight that now stood before her.

Navi had wings! Beautiful, beautiful blue wings. Her hand stayed at her mouth as she sat stunned, her eyes wide. Never, never in all her years had she heard of such a Kekkei Genkai. She had done extensive research into the bloodlines of every clan ever heard of in an attempt to understand her own. She had looked into obscure clans that had started and died with only a single man to their name. She had read up on mutations that had caused the beginnings of a bloodline. She had read about people who had mouths in their hands, people who could dissolve into water, people who were essentially plants, and even people who could steal other kekkei genkai. But even when she had perused notes on Konoha’s bloodlines she hadn’t heard anything of winged ninja. She could now understand why the Hyuuga had felt threatened. The uses a clan of winged warriors could have, she couldn’t even grasp at them all!

Navi’s eyes opened and she once again felt that chill drip down her spine. Those eyes were so intense and they glowed fiercely amplified by his kekkei genkai. For a long couple minutes she was frozen, frosted to her kneeling position. Held spellbound by the combination of overpowering chakra and Navi’s intense searching, stare. Then Hisoka’s frantically swishing tail brushed her back.

She glanced at her perturbed partner, who was crouched low to the ground, his tail waving erratically and his ears laid flat. His large yellow eyes were wide but his expression looked caught between fearful and…. Predatory?

“Cats hunt birds, but he isn’t a bird, he’s…” her partners whirlwind of emotions garbled his next words but she got the gist of it. Hisoka was just as confused as she was.

Broken from her shock she slowly stood, her eyes fixed on Navi the whole time. Slowly she padded forward, her steps silent. Her heart thudded in her ears as she drew closer and her gaze fell to the ground. She was nervous, his overpowering chakra lingered in the air, even though his transformation was complete. She had every right to be nervous. Her eyes flicked up when she got close enough and the chill rippled down her spine again as she looked into his eyes. She held his gaze for a brief second before proffering him a small smile and stepping to the side, inspecting his strange kekkei genkai.

“They’re beautiful,” she murmured, her voice barely at hearing level. She reached out as if to touch one then paused, looking at him.

“May I?”

Broken from her shock she slowly stood, her eyes fixed on Navi the whole time. Slowly she padded forward, her steps silent. Her heart thudded in her ears as she drew closer and her gaze fell to the ground. She was nervous, his overpowering chakra lingered in the air, even though his transformation was complete. She had every right to be nervous. Her eyes flicked up when she got close enough and the chill rippled down her spine again as she looked into his eyes. She held his gaze for a brief second before proffering him a small smile and stepping to the side, inspecting his strange kekkei genkai.

Navi was scared that she was afraid, and worried she would run away at the sheer intimidating power of his kekkei genkai, instead she slowly approached, making Navi's heart race as he wondered what he should do. Navi stood rigid and erect like a statue, worried that even a single movement might frighten her away. Eventually she had crept forward enough to be standing right in front of him, then stepped slightly to the side. At this distance Ayama would feel an immense amount of pressure on her body, as an incredible volume of chakra would be bearing down on her the closer she got.

Navi focused his chakra away from her to try and lessen the stress on her body, while simultaneously attempting to let himself relax as she came closer to inspect him.

“They’re beautiful,” she murmured, her voice barely at hearing level. She reached out as if to touch one then paused, looking at him. “They’re beautiful,” she murmured, her voice barely at hearing level. She reached out as if to touch one then paused, looking at him.

If not for Navi's enhanced senses he would never have heard her, but even the words alone made Navi's heart skip a beat. "They're beautiful".

Navi struggled to find a word to respond with but came up with nothing, instead he just nodded slightly and smiled as she inched closer and closer. Eventually she reached out to touch one of them and paused, as if scared that if she went to fast the beauty would shatter.

“May I?”

At this distance his wing emitted a blue glow that would appear on Ayama's hand. In response to her question, Navi slowly reached a single wing out to touch Ayama's outstretched hand, letting the tip rest gently in her palm.

Each Raven Style was unique to each member of the Yamaki clan, depending on the user's chakra level and nature. As Navi was the most powerful member left of his clan, his Raven Style was the most impressive, giving off a magnificent aura of glowing blue that emitted an incredible level of raw power.

Furthermore, as Navi's elemental affinity was fire, his wings would be warm to the touch. They would radiate a small amount of heat along Ayama's fingers as she felt the powerful wings and only get hotter if she were to trace them back to Navi's back at their source.

Navi had never realized his wings looked so beautiful and impressive, as they had never been activated unless he was facing a powerful opponent. Navi had actually planned on doing a jutsu, but Ayama already seemed so overwhelmed by his display that he decided to stop and give her a few moments.

He raised his left arm to make a handsign and release the kekkei genkai, as Navi was paranoid a spy or passing traveler might see. He stopped himself though, as looking into Ayama's eyes he could see she was entirely captivated by everything he had shown her, and releasing the jutsu so suddenly when she had expressed such interest felt like it would be wrong.

"Oh..um.. thank you," Navi muttered back just as quietly, but smiled back at her warmly. Navi finally let himself relax and let her have free reign over observing him. Nobody had ever gotten this close to Navi's Raven Style unless he was fighting them, and Navi had to keep calming his senses and reassuring himself that Ayama could be trusted.

Ayama could definitely be trusted.

Her smile grew as Navi gently moved his wing forward in response to her question. Her fingers brushed the soft warm feathers, staring at the magnificent blue aura it that emanated from it. She brushed her fingers against one long pinion feather, reveling in it warmth and vibrant color. Never before had she seen anything like this. Reaching up with her other hand she laid her hand fully against the feathered appendage.

It was breath taking truly, not just because of how it looked but from the sheer weight of chakra surrounding it. This was obviously a powerful technique, a powerful bloodline. She wasn’t surprised the leaf village had striven to keep the existence of the bloodline a secret. She had deduced that the other ninja whom she had briefly seen at their genin meeting was a member of Navi’s clan. They both were young and she somehow doubted there were mini-Navis running but still. With a bloodline like this villages and nations would strive to gain it in anyway possible. Any children born into this bloodline would have to be guarded closely if word of the strange kekkei genkai got out. The power it promised would be too tempting for other kage.

"Oh..um.. thank you," Navi muttered back just as quietly, but smiled back at her warmly. Navi finally let himself relax and let her have free reign over observing him.

“You’re welcome,” she said brightly brushing her finger gently over another pinion staring at the blue glow reflecting off it. They were truly beautiful, works of art. It was hard to believe they were a powerful bloodline used to help aid in the killing of other humans. Their ethereal appearance was right out of the stories her dad had once told her. Pausing her inspection she thought back on those stories. Surprised dawned across her face. Her father had been a leaf nin, and had most likely been in Konoha at the same time as the Yamaki. Perhaps his fairy tales had been rooted in fact. It was such a startling revelation and she laughed lightly.

“You know, when I was little my father would sometimes tell me fairy tales. One of my favorites was about the ninja who learned the way of the sword from an earthbound angel,” she whispered mirth in her words, “my father was a kenjutsu specialist, like me. Thinking about it now, I wonder if his story was less fiction and more fact. I wonder if he learned kenjutsu from one of your clan mates.” she wasn’t sure why she’d shared that tidbit with him. It was a small note from her old life. A glimpse into a time when she’d had her father. That was a private time for her, something she hadn’t shared with anyone else. So why him?

Taking a deep breath she stepped back slightly. The constant exposure to his overbearing chakra was starting to affect her adversely. She took another shuddering breath and another step back.

"Do you think," she flushed slightly, embarrassed that his chakra was too much, that she wasn't strong enough to stand up to it, "do you think you could dial it back a bit?"

“You’re welcome,” she said brightly brushing her finger gently over another pinion staring at the blue glow reflecting off it. They were truly beautiful, works of art. It was hard to believe they were a powerful bloodline used to help aid in the killing of other humans. Their ethereal appearance was right out of the stories her dad had once told her. Pausing her inspection she thought back on those stories. Surprised dawned across her face. Her father had been a leaf nin, and had most likely been in Konoha at the same time as the Yamaki. Perhaps his fairy tales had been rooted in fact. It was such a startling revelation and she laughed lightly.

Navi blushed very slightly, as he wasn't sure how to act around someone who was actually admiring his jutsu instead of dying by them.

“You know, when I was little my father would sometimes tell me fairy tales. One of my favorites was about the ninja who learned the way of the sword from an earthbound angel,” she whispered mirth in her words, “my father was a kenjutsu specialist, like me. Thinking about it now, I wonder if his story was less fiction and more fact. I wonder if he learned kenjutsu from one of your clan mates.” she wasn’t sure why she’d shared that tidbit with him. It was a small note from her old life. A glimpse into a time when she’d had her father. That was a private time for her, something she hadn’t shared with anyone else. So why him?

Navi listened closely to her story, honored that she would share something with him that was clearly a very private matter. As her father was a kenjutsu specialist of the leaf, he was most certainly familiar with the Yamaki when they were a prominent clan, and he was no doubt referring to them when he told Ayama stories of "an earthbound angel". The Yamaki were nothing short of legendary in their time, but after the Hyuga attacked, their name was immediately lost to history.

Taking a deep breath she stepped back slightly. The constant exposure to his overbearing chakra was starting to affect her adversely. She took another shuddering breath and another step back.

"Do you think," she flushed slightly, embarrassed that his chakra was too much, that she wasn't strong enough to stand up to it, "do you think you could dial it back a bit?"

Navi snapped out of his short trance of reflecting on his clan's history when Ayama interrupted him.

"Oh um sure.." Navi said, unsure on how exactly to "dial back" such a powerful jutsu. Navi quickly tried thinking of a way to get rid of a lot of chakra quickly, and immediately put to use the first idea that popped into his head.

After a couple quick handsigns, Navi's chakra became extremely warm to the touch, and Navi puffed out his chest before taking a deep breath. The power level around him would be almost completely unbearable for a second, before the energy became so powerful in the center of Navi's being that it had to be released.

"FIRE STYLE: GREAT BLAZE BALL!"

A massive plume of flame erupted from Navi's lips, aimed away from both Hisoka and Ayama. The magnificent flames immediately formed into a tightly packed radiating ball of fire, illuminating so brightly that it was like Navi had created a miniature sun from sheer chakra.

A few moments later Navi exhaled with a powerful breath, causing the meteor-sized ball of fire to be hurled nearly 300 meters away. To the viewer's eye it would appear as if a massive ball of flame was slowly growing smaller until it was so far away it was about the size of a marble. At first the technique would seem over, but Navi's eyes grew wide and he rushed into action. The ball of fire he had released was too powerful, and if it detonated they would be within range of the explosion...

Navi quickly got behind Ayama and gripped her waist firmly, maintaining a solid hold on her. With that he coiled his blue, translucent angelic wings around her as a protective barrier, then continued the effort by focusing more chakra around them to protect her from the inevitable blast that was about to occur.

"Hisoka! Dissipate now!" Navi ordered, his voice commanding authority as he hastily cried out the order.

A moment later the ball of fire would seemingly disappear and a moment of silence would pass....

But then it erupted, with a deafening explosion that caused enormous bursts of flame to push out in all directions. The sight would be a mixture of terrifying and magnificent, as the searing hot flames instantly obliterated everything within the large radius of its explosion. Navi held on to Ayama tightly, coiling his wings around her. The impact of the technique caused the ground to shake heavily and the flames burst forward to lick the shield of chakra he had placed in front of her.

They had been fortunate enough to be slightly outside the blast zone, but if Navi hadn't stepped in Ayama could have been hospitalized or worse. It was a horrible feeling to have so easily almost killed her, and Navi almost broke down at the thought of killed her so easily.

Navi let go of her waist and uncoiled his wings from around her, stepping away from her quickly with a look of horror spread across his face.

I could have killed her... it was that easy... and I could have ended her life.

"I-... I'm so sorry," Navi said pathetically. His angel wings retracted until they were directly at his sides and coiled slightly at his ankles.

That's it... there is no way she'll ever trust me anymore after that. Navi had taken his power for granted, and he was foolish to think that his seventeen year-old self had fully mastered the intricacies of the Raven Style. Unleashing all of that power so carelessly was an ignorant move that Navi instantly began berating himself for. All of your friends have died anyway, you weren't able to save any of them. So now you're thinking "lets just save some time and kill them first" right? Navi's mind began tearing him apart as a deep depression set in, unleashing the flood of all his past mistakes and failures.

"I should never have done that...I-I'm so so sorry," Navi stammered out again. Navi spread out his wings as if he was about to take flight, intent to spread his wings and fly away. He tried to look up at Ayama, but he couldn't bring himself to take his gaze off the ground.

Beyond all of his mistakes Navi saw how close Ayama was to death, and it made him realize how much he really cared about her.

Ayama blinked as Navi began to form handsigns in quick succession. Was he dissipating the wings? No, definitely not that. His chakra gathered, condensing and heating to the point where she felt herself buckle slightly underneath the immense pressure of it.

"FIRE STYLE: GREAT BLAZE BALL!"

She barely restrained a squeak as the fire burst from his mouth. The heat was intense and the growing ball of flame closely resembled the sun hanging high above their heads. The great blaze ball swirled with fire, still for a second. Then Navi blew and the flew away. She watched as the massive ball of flame grew smaller and smaller, awe rendering her speechless. The oppressive air of chakra had dissipated somewhat with the release of the powerful jutsu. Turning to thank him she suddenly found his arms around her waist and his wings wrapped around both of them, forming a barrier.

"Hisoka! Dissipate now!" Navi ordered, his voice commanding authority as he hastily cried out the order.

The command and fear in his voice galvanized Hisoka into action. The cat stood unsteadily, focusing on Ayama’s pendant before melting into a thick smoke. As he retreated into her utter silence fell. For a moment Ayama wondered if she’d been deafened. Then, the ball exploded.

Navi gripped her tighter and despite herself she clutched his arm desperately, squeezing her eyes shut shockwaves and heat washed over her, backlash from the exploding jutsu buffeting her and Navi. The ground shuddered and the very world seemed to scream as the massive jutsu tore into its earthy skin. She opened her eyes just enough to see through her lashes, watching in horrified awe at the flames that licked at the chakra shield. Destruction lay only inches away, if not for Navi she would have been standing in the blast.

If not for Navi she could have died.

When the explosion had died, Navi stepped away from her, his wings unfurling and returning to his sides. Ayama stood still, hugging herself. Her face was frighteningly pale and her whole body shook. She had almost died, she could still taste the ash in the air from that jutsu. Its power was something she had never experienced before and it had almost been the last thing she had ever experienced. If not for Navi she would be ash herself.

“If not for Navi there would have been no jutsu to kill you with,” Hisokas growl was low, full of simmering fury. Usually Hisoka became loud and vulgar when mad, this low quiet tone he was using unnerved her.

"I-... I'm so sorry," Navi said pathetically. His angel wings retracted until they were directly at his sides and coiled slightly at his ankles.

Turning to face him she tried to control her shivers, digging her fingers into her arms.

“I-It’s ok. I mean, no one was hurt right?” but despite her efforts her voice sounded strained and hollow. Residual fear lingering in every syllable. She didn’t really blame Navi, she couldn’t. He was young, like her and for all his power there was little he cold do to escape that. It was unlikely that he was a total master of every jutsu and kekkei genkai he had. Her eyes lifted from their study of her feet and she watched as Navi’s face darkened and withdrew. His eyes became haunted, filling with past memories, and his face was twisted with horror. Her tense expression morphed into one of worry, and she reached out for him with one arm, confused at his sudden withdrawal.

“Don’t, we should go, he could have obliterated us right then and there.” Hisoka snapped his voice cold and callous. Her eyes narrowed at the unfeeling comment.

“No,” she growled mentally and flung up her own walls.

"I should never have done that...I-I'm so so sorry," Navi stammered out again. Navi spread out his wings as if he was about to take flight, intent to spread his wings and fly away. He tried to look up at Ayama, but he couldn't bring himself to take his gaze off the ground.

Was he blaming himself? He had saved her hadn’t he? She took another step forward then suddenly froze as he spread his luminescent. No! He was leaving, blaming himself. Something, some guilt, some sadness was eating at him. He had lost control and if she had learned anything in the past month it was that Navi was always in control. The sudden threat that he had caused had frightened him. Was he really that horrified that he had almost killed her?

The thought sent flutters through her belly. But it was quickly engulfed in a hot spark of anger. How dare he! How dare he just leave without even explaining. How dare he even consider just running away like that?! That was a cowards move. In fact, she was going to tell him that.

“Wait!” she cried, darting forward. Her hand closed around hiss upper arm and she held fast. Using her other hand she grabbed his chin and forced him to looked her in the eye, hoping he could see the angry fire burning in her ice blue orbs.

“You’re just going to leave? Just going to run like some scrawny academy student? I thought you were better than that! Braver than that!” Her voice was irate, full of her indignation, but the she sighed relaxing the hand on his face so it was softly cupping rather than commanding, “Yes you made a mistake, a major one, but we all do. You aren’t a god, you aren’t perfect, no one is. The important thing is that you contained the damage. You knew to tell Hisoka to dissipate so he wouldn’t be hurt by the blast and you defended me. You still saved my life and that’s what I’m choosing to focus on.”

She smiled, a soft thing full of warmth before she shook off the gooey feelings and stepped away from him.

“And besides, I don’t want to be losing my only friend. Hisokas fine but not exactly one for training.” she smiled sincerely, a hint of mischief in her eyes. She really did consider Navi a friend, maybe more. But for now, he was just her friend, her only friend.

“Wait!” she cried, darting forward. Her hand closed around hiss upper arm and she held fast. Using her other hand she grabbed his chin and forced him to looked her in the eye, hoping he could see the angry fire burning in her ice blue orbs.

Navi jolted up and blinked as his depressing trance was momentarily shattered by the touch of Ayama's hand against his arm. Her other hand reached out and grabbed his chin as she forced his mouth upwards and made him look her directly in the eye. Ayama's icy blue eyes showed immense fury and irritation, and Navi's remained cold and blank.

“You’re just going to leave? Just going to run like some scrawny academy student? I thought you were better than that! Braver than that!” Her voice was irate, full of her indignation, but the she sighed relaxing the hand on his face so it was softly cupping rather than commanding, “Yes you made a mistake, a major one, but we all do. You aren’t a god, you aren’t perfect, no one is. The important thing is that you contained the damage. You knew to tell Hisoka to dissipate so he wouldn’t be hurt by the blast and you defended me. You still saved my life and that’s what I’m choosing to focus on.”

Navi's eyes showed no emotion as she gripped his jaw angrily with started to rant at him. He absorbed her insults and let them sink in as she called him a scrawny academy student, and tuned out the part mentioning his past bravery. She lashed out at him harshly, but there was a small level of comfort in her words which she had attempted to use to calm him down. It wouldn't help now, Navi was having a breakdown and his mind was tearing him apart with each word she uttered.

“Yes you made a mistake, a major one, but we all do."

She has no idea about the mistakes you've really made.

"You aren’t a god, you aren’t perfect, no one is."

Just shut up, I don't need your sympathy.

"The important thing is that you contained the damage."

"Shut up. Now," Navi murmured to silently for anyone to hear but himself. Navi had never cried and never raised his voice. Until now he had always told himself that a ninja had to be emotionless and detached to be effective.

"You knew to tell Hisoka to dissipate so he wouldn’t be hurt by the blast and you defended me."

"Yeah? well what about everyone else I couldn't defend?" Navi muttered angrily, his fists clenched tightly and his blood coming to a boil.

"You still saved my life and that’s what I’m choosing to focus on.”

And then he lost it.

Navi's hand shot out and grabbed Ayama's throat, his eyes leveled with hers as he overtook her icy blue stare. The chakra level around them immediately spiked and Navi's wings glowed with a blinding hue, his form turning from beautiful to ferocious as he tightly gripped her neck.

"I saved your life huh... thats what you're choosing to focus on?" Navi spoke through gritted teeth, his previously distraught emotional state twisting into blinding rage.

Navi's eyes glowed brightly with the red symbol glaring at an unbearable intensity. He held her throat so that she couldn't look away even if she struggled, and after a few moments all of his chakra was whipping wildly around him, showing off a divine and terrifying display of power.

Navi wasn't able to forgive himself, and Ayama wouldn't understand. As Ayama was forcibly seeing Navi's eyes she would fall under a familiar genjutsu, one which Navi hadn't even meant to cast on her...

Ayama would find herself observing a young boy hiding in a dirty alley, whimpering to himself. After a few moments, Ayama would probably realize that this was the same "Demonic Hell Viewing Technique" as before, but this time, it was Navi's past that was unfolding on front of her.

The young seven year old Navi panted heavily with tears in his eyes while doubled over on the ground. He had just escaped narrowly through an open window in the kitchen, panting heavily and moaning. Now the boy lay in this rancid alley, his parents' blood covering his clothes and tears filling his eyes. An ominous man (whom Ayama might recognize from the Hyuga clan) entered the alley and saw him whimpering pathetically in the dirt.

Ayama would watch as fear filled Navi's heart and the man advanced. Navi desperately clawed backwards until he bumped up against a corpse. The corpse being a member of the Yamaki clan, with a kunai sticking out of his chest. "Come here little one" the man said in a deep and creepy voice, slowly approaching. Navi whimpered loudly, still laying propped up on his back, pressed against the corpse of the fallen comrade.

The Hyuga member knelt down and grabbed Navi's neck in a choke-hold position, grinning maniacally down at the hopeless boy. "STAY AWAY!" Navi screamed, ripping the kunai from his fallen comrade's chest and impaling it deeply into the Hyuga member's neck. Blood erupted from the man's mouth and spilled onto Navi, a waterfall of thick red liquid pouring onto his chest. The man coughed a few times, gasped for air, and collapsed.

Navi lay panting heavily next to the slain man's corpe, tightly clenching a kunai in his right hand. Slowly, the young boy's hand opened and the kunai knife rolled from his grasp. Immediately after watching his family get slaughtered, Navi had taken his first life. The emotional wave was too much for him to handle, and the pathetic boy slid into the fetal position as he shivered in fear, tears running down his dirty cheeks.

Ayama would then be ripped from the illusion and find herself being screamed at by a very unstable and intimidating Navi. "Why aren't you saying anything! Why don't you understand?!?" he yelled, shaking her throat as he spoke. Everyone whom he had failed, and everyone who had ever died that Navi could have saved had he been stronger. All of those feelings that Navi had repressed until now were spilling out, and Ayama was witnessing all of it erupt in front of her.

He was muttering, adding something in between her sentences. But she ignored it, continued talking. For a moment she thought she had reached him, that he was ok. Then his hand snapped out clenching around her throat. She gasped, as his own eyes bored holes into hers. His fingers held her fast.

“Fight,” Hisoka’s voice was full of fury and fear. With good reason, the very air around Navi had turned dangerous. His chakra, which had diminished when Navi had released the jutsu, was now overpowering and suffocating. Her knees weakened and tears swam in the corners of her eyes. She reacting instinctively, heedless of the blade by her side and the kunai in her pouch she instead clawed at his arm, panic and the beastial side of her bloodline taking over. But it was useless, her unusually sharp nails merely skated off his arm and the chakra surrounding it. Her legs kicked uselessly and despite her attempts his iron grip kept their eyes locked.

"I saved your life huh... thats what you're choosing to focus on?" Navi spoke through gritted teeth, his previously distraught emotional state twisting into blinding rage.

She gasped softly, the sound a mere hiss as his tight hold restricted her air. Her movements slowed as his Navagan filled her vision. Her face paled frighteningly and fear crashed through her mind. His chakra danced around him in an awe inspiring light show. But she couldn’t enjoy it. The sheer pressure of his chakra was like a fist clenched around her heart and lungs. Her breaths came fast and stuttering as she tried to control her reaction to the impressive display. As she tried to rein in her fear.

Then she was no longer in his grip.

For a moment she thought she had used her body flicker technique. That she had escaped. But then she heard a soft sound. Turning she spotted a boy with very distinctive red hair crouched in the back of the alley. His cheeks were tracked with tears and his clothes were soaked in blood. She gasped in horror, stepping closer to the crying child, her heart going out to him. But as she reached for him he looked up his eyes widening in horror and she recognized those eyes.
Those were Navi’s eyes.

"Come here little one" the man said in a deep and creepy voice, slowly approaching. Navi whimpered loudly, still laying propped up on his back, pressed against the corpse of the fallen comrade.

Her head turned to watch the Hyuuga man draw closer and then she realized what this was. A genjutsu, a genjutsu showing Navi’s past. But why? Why was he showing her this? Or… had he not meant to show her this?

The Hyuuga advanced leaning down to grab the small boy around the neck. She could only watch with a mixture of horror and resignation as Navi panicked and ripped the kunai from the chest of his dead clan mate, and stabbed it into the Hyuuga’s neck. Her eyes closed, as she refused to watch the terrible scene any longer. Suddenly she was slowly being throttled by Navi again.

Ayama would then be ripped from the illusion and find herself being screamed at by a very unstable and intimidating Navi. "Why aren't you saying anything! Why don't you understand?!?" he yelled, shaking her throat as he spoke.

Her body had gone lax when she had fallen under the genjutsu and now his hand was the only thing holding her upright. The tears that had threatened earlier now spilled over, carving glistening lines down her cheeks. She didn’t know what to do, she didn’t know what to say. She didn’t know what he needed, what he wanted. This situation was new to her, these emotions unused.

“I’m sorry,” her voice came out a choked sob, harshened by the hand around her neck, “I’m so so sorry.”

She didn’t know what to do, she didn’t know what to say.

And she was sorry. Sorry she couldn’t help him.

“I’m sorry,” her voice came out a choked sob, harshened by the hand around her neck, “I’m so so sorry.”

Navi's fury slowly began to fade as he saw tears running down Ayama's cheeks. His grip loosened slowly until her neck slipped from his grasp, causing her to fall onto the ground. His face grew somber and Navi's eyes fell downwards, his Navagan gaze resting on his feet.

"Of course you wouldn't know... how would you have known?"

A pained look settled in Navi's eyes as he slid to his knees in front of Ayama. The burdens fell heavily upon his shoulders, the loss of his team, the destruction of his clan, and the casualties of war. Navi's wings faded away slightly, and the chakra level surrounding him became bearable, eliminating the intense level of intimidation he was previously exhibiting.

The lives of those he could have saved, and even the lives of those he had taken away remained firmly implanted in his mind. Until now Navi had held all of these feelings in the entire time, wearing the mask of a calm and collected Leaf Jounin who followed orders precisely and expertly. This breakdown was long overdo for him, as Navi hadn't expressed real anger at any point in his life.

His voice grew hoarse and a strange watery substance blurred his eyes. Navi held out his hands, both palms outstretched and resting on his knees. He felt a single drop of water trickle down his cheek and drip off his face onto his palm. Navi smiled as the tear settled in his open hand.

"So that's what it feels like," Navi whispered to himself, his whole body still shaking from the traumatizing shock.