Title: Blinded

Rating: M

Warnings: Sex, Angst, Gore

Timeline: During Naruto's training with Jiraiya

I wish I could see colors again. I don't care much for remembering how things looked. I just miss the vibrancy and vividness that sets the world alight. I've forgotten the colors of red, blue, or green. I've forgotten the color of my hair and eyes. The only color I've remembered is the color of my mother's necklace. I remembered how it glinted and twinkled. I remembered the way it dangled off of her neck. It was beautiful and it had always shone brightly in my mind. Over the years, though, the image of it has diminished and grown dark along with my hope and will.

I rushed to the Hokage's office. I sped through the streets systematically; Konoha had become a maze that I had no choice but to remember. I knew where every turn was and how many steps it took to get to every single location in the village.

I lost my vision at an early age during the Third Great Shinobi War. My mother and father were merchants from Konoha who traveled constantly to Suna or Amegakure. Tensions were high during the war and the shinobi world was consumed in violence at the time.

I entered the building that the Hokage's office was situated in and navigated through the stairs and turns until I calculated that I was standing in front of my destination. I held my hand up and lightly rapped on the door with the back of my hand.

"Come in," I heard her voice.

I pushed against the door and entered.

"You called for me, Tsunade-sama?" I asked.

I took a few steps forward and stopped when I judged that I was standing in front of her. I could sense her chakra; enormously concentrated as if it resided in the center of her being. I also sensed someone else's chakra. It was quite large as well, but it felt like static as it tingled and shivered against my own chakra.

Sensing my uneasiness, the Hokage spoke up.

"Yes, I have a mission for you," her voice was strong and rang clearly in my ears.

"But first," she continued, "Sanu Kei, meet your partner for the mission: Hatake Kakashi."

"Nice to meet you, Kei," he spoke. His voice was impeccably smooth, but it also lent him an air of aloofness.

I knew of Hatake Kakashi; he was one of the most celebrated ninjas of his generation. He also possessed the Sharingan and was the living legacy of the legendary White Fang of Konoha. These were all the reasons that I disliked him; he was always destined for greatness that he would not have to earn.

I tried to hide my displeasure as I turned and gave a polite half-bow in his general direction.

"Now that we're all acquainted, I need to brief you on the mission," Tsunade spoke. I heard papers being shuffled on her desk.

Hatake stepped forward and I felt his chakra shift closer to me. The air around me slightly fluctuated as I felt him place a folder in my hands. I felt my jaw involuntarily tighten; I was stubbornly independent and hated having people to help me.

I opened the folder. I weaved a sign and then placed my hand on the page. The jutsu made the writing raised and I was able to read the contents using my fingers.

I could hear Hatake breathing slow and steadily next to me as he read.

"Do we have permission to enter the country?" I asked.

Tsunade cleared her throat.

"No," she spoke, "they cannot know."

"We don't know which villages have ties to the Akatsuki," Hatake explained.

"The purpose of this mission is to confirm intel that I gathered from recent ANBU reports," Tsunade continued. "So we must proceed with discretion."

"Yes, Tsunade-sama," I said.

"Be cautious," she said sternly, "and pack light."

I nodded and closed the folder. I turned around and walked out through the door. I could sense Hatake following behind me.

After we exited the building, he spoke.

"Meet you at the gate in an hour."

The air then slightly swooshed around me and I knew he was gone.

I let out a loud groan. Of all the capable ninja in Konoha, Tsunade had to pick Hatake even though she knew I held deep contempt for him.

My world had gone dark and all I could do was cry. I could feel my mother's blood; it had dried and felt like a sticky coat on my skin. The sounds of battle were all around me: the piercing clang of kunais and the loud thud of bodies that fell.

I shook my head to clear away my thoughts. I reached into a drawer and pulled out several garments. I placed them in a small bag along with my weapons.

After I finished packing, I left my apartment and headed out.

As I approached the gate, I could sense that Hatake was already there.

"You're late," he stated.

"Sorry," I replied, "I got caught up in something."

"We should head out," I heard him adjust the pack on his back and he began walking.

I mentally readied myself to begin the long journey that lay ahead us. I took a deep breath and exhaled, while following quietly behind him.