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kakashi~ann you look pretty nervous
ann~”i hear everything. I’m not used to these sounds”
ravi~what kind of things do you hear?
ann~”birds, leaves rustling, maybe some deer? Just so many things”
tazuna~are you sure it was wise to bring this mute?
Kakashi held ann back from swinging at him
kakashi~she’s perfectly capable of fighting and communication is not a big deal. I know sign and these guys have been friends long enough to have picked up on some as well
ann~”can’t we kill him?”
kakashi~that defeats the purpose of this mission ann
she pouted as they went along.
Tazuna~Too bad she isn’t deaf as well
Ann managed to strike him before Kakashi could stop her again
Kakashi~alright ann that is enough. Sir, I’m gonna have to tell you to stop making comments like that. These guys are the type to react without much thought half the time and I cannot always stop them even if I wanted to
He pulled ann the other side of ravi
Kakashi~”he makes another comment let me handle it. You need to show the discipline you normally have”
Ann~”he sucks. We should’ve taken a different mission”
Kakashi~deal with it. You agreed too.
She grumbled as they went along, deeper into the woods.

As they went, Ann continued to hear more unfamiliar sounds. At some point they passed a puddle, which Ravi would have jumped into had Sasuke not pulled her away. After passing it, they were attacked by the Demon brothers. The two enemy ninjas had disembodied Kakashi and went after the bridgebuilder next. However, Ann easily stopped them by herself, and was going in for the kill when Kakashi reappeared unscathed
Kakashi~Ann, step down.
She didn’t stop, but her movements slowed
Kakashi~Ann. As your commanding jonin I order you to step down
He was sterner. Ann complied and stepped away from the Demon brothers. Kakashi came to tie them up then inspected ann
Ravi~Is she okay?
Kakashi~*sigh* Yes and no. She’s uninjured. But mentally she’s not all here. I think she ended up hearing too much and with the attack she just turned off. It’s like she’s on auto-pilot, and her default is ninja…
Sakura~So what does that mean?
Kakashi~She’ll listen to commands and follow them to the letter. She probably won’t deviate far from the order even if it means she’ll get hurt
Naruto~is…is that really a thing?
Kakashi~Yeah. The best we can do is keep her comfortable and tell her things to do. There’s a good chance she won’t act unless we give her permission to
Tazuna~I thought she said this was her first time outside of the village?
Kakashi~There’s still a lot we don’t know about her. *sigh* Ann, you are to stay close to tazuna and help protect him. That is our mission
She gave a slight nod of acknowledgement and went to stand near the bridge builder. Kakashi checked over Naruto next, and the team went on their way.
Sasuke~That’s starting to creep me out…she wanted nothing to do with him earlier. She’s really keeping a close watch on him
Kakashi~We can’t do anything about it for now. We’ll have to make do until we can take time to calm her.
Naruto~What normally snaps ninjas out of this?
Kakashi~Depends on the ninja. I’ve never seen ann act like this before, so I don’t know what kind of trigger she needs.
Sakura~maybe ann just needs something that she never asks for?
Naruto~But if she never asks for it then how do we know what it is?
Ravi~you moron it’s like the only thing she does when she isn’t doing anything related to training
Naruto~Sleep?
Sakura~it’s not bugging sensei is it?
Sasuke~Can ann even be affectionate?
Ravi~Well sasuke was the closest…she likes to cuddle
Tazuna~She likes to cuddle?
Kakashi~Ravi’s probably right…Sleeping is her favorite pastime when she has time off…besides deliveries…
Tazuna~She’s really young to be a midwife…
Naruto~What’s a midwife?
Sakura~I’m not explaining that to him
Kakashi~Don’t worry about it Naruto. I meant like she delivers packages and take out orders
Tazuna~okay. That’s more believable.

They continued on, and eventually took a boat ride across the water. Ann had yet to come back to her senses, and the gennin couldn’t get her to do anything when they needed her to without Kakashi having to repeat it.
Naruto~Why does she only listen to you sensei? Ann never listens to you
Kakashi~heirarchy of rank and command. Unless I was incapacitated, it seems like she won’t take orders from any of you.
Ravi~Who do you think she would listen to next if that was the case?
Kakashi~Honestly, I think between you and sasuke
Sasuke~me?
Sakura~Why ravi?
Kakashi~The two of you don’t express a lot of leadership skills, but you definitely have the ability to. The two of you are strong in character as well
Naruto~But I’m strong in character!
Sakura~dumbass he also said leadership skills
Naruto pouted. After a while of walking in silence, Naruto let his thoughts get the better of him and tried to impress everyone and show that he was useful. After being yelled at, ravi and sakura looked behind the bushes to see where his kunai had landed.
Kakashi~Ann, be ready for anything, but do not attack our team.
She blinked slowly as a sign of acknowledgement. The other two girls came back with a dazed white bunny.
Kakashi~The rabbit’s okay. Looks like it’s just dazed
Ravi~naruto! Don’t ever do that kind of s**t again!
Kakashi~Good thing ann isn’t here for this…She’d say something about having it for dinner
He saw ann’s ear twitch
Kakashi~Duck!
He and ann jumped at the others to bring them to the ground as a sword flew over. The sword hit a tree, and a man appeared on the handle
Naruto~t-that almost…
Ravi~Who is he?
They all got up
Kakashi~Zabuza momochi
Zabuza~I’m honored that you know me. Now I kill the bridge builder
He disappeared and thick mist appeared
Sakura~This mist is thick
Kakashi~Ann, do not wonder off. Stay with the bridge builder. Protect at all cost
Ravi~Why are you giving her that kind of command?!
Kakashi~If she’s acting like she does then she’s had this kind of experience. It’s not like she can deny it now anyway
Zabuza appeared between the team and tazuna, and ann wasted no time attacking him. The two fought, and ann lead him away from the group before zabuza was able to grab and restrain her. He laughed at seeing the blank stare in her eyes
Zabuza~No wonder you attacked me. It’s happened again. We got more training to do brat. Now obey
Naruto~ann won’t turn…right?
Kakashi~Shouldn’t. Unless he knows the triggers, or she recognizes a stronger person as the person in command
When he let ann go, the team stared when she didn’t resume attacking him
Zabuza~It looks like your brat isn’t as trustworthy as you thought.
Kakashi~Guys, stay tight. Ravi don’t be afraid to hurt ann if it comes to it. You’re going to want to
They gulped but closed their formation. Kakashi went closer to where zabuza and ann were while lifting his headband.
Zabuza~So you’ll fight me now? What about if I make her do it?
Kakashi~She only has to recognize it’s me.
Zabuza~Let’s test it then. Go say hi
He handed off his sword to her and she started towards him

Ravi~This is really bad guys
Sakura~W-what can we do though?
Sasuke~Follow command. Hope for the best
Naruto~But that’s bullshit. We should be able to do more than this!
Ravi~well it’s not like we can hold our own against sensei. We won’t be able to against this guy, or ann. She’s unhinged right now, and that means no restraints
Sakura~So…sensei wasn’t exaggerating?
Ravi~not in the slightest
Tazuna~If that’s the case then why is he trusting you brats to protect me?
Sakura~because…because if we can actually work together we can beat anyone

Kakashi~Ann, I really don’t want to fight you
He blocked a few of her swings, but just barely
Kakashi~Ann! You need to stop this
She swung more.
Zabuza quietly~Take it easy brat. You’re not trying to kill your sensei. Just need to pay him back for not taking care of you.
Kakashi~Why did you turn to him so easily anyway?!
She knocked him down and was going to swing at him had zabuza not given her a stern, but quiet command.
Zabuza quietly~you’re going to fake recognize him and drop my sword to the side. You’ll follow his commands again, but none of his commands will overrule mine unless I allow it and anything I say you will follow first.
Ann dropped the sword and her graze went down
Kakashi~ann?
Zabuza~You brat. You leaf ninjas are too soft. I should have done this myself
Kakashi~Go back to the others, quick. Make sure to tell them you’re back. Go!
Ann trotted off to the others as zabuza came to attack Kakashi next

Sakura~S-someone’s coming
Ravi~It’s ann!
Sasuke~She could still be under the command of that other ninja
Naruto~Hold on. Has ann ever waved her arms like that?
Tazuna~Is she trying to sign?
Sakura~She wants our attention. What do we do?
Ravi~Be ready to defend if she attacks
Ann~”I’m back. Sensei said to help”
Sasuke~How do we know you won’t betray us again?
Ann~”I’m back. Sensei said to help”
Tazuna~I don’t think your sensei said to do anything else
Ravi~help us protect him
Ann went to her spot in the formation.
Naruto~How do we know it’s not a set up?
Ravi~we don’t. But we’re gonna have to trust her

In the end, Kakashi had defeated zabuza. Or so it seemed. Zabuza was pinned to some trees after Kakashi released the water vortex jutsu. Struggling for breath, he managed to choke out another command to ann before being taken out by senbon needles to his neck. Ann had collapsed just as the hunter nin took zabuza away, and Kakashi collapsed shortly after.
Naruto~How the hell are we going to take them now?! Kakashi’s a fullgrown adult and ann is heavier than him when she’s knocked the ******** out!
Tazuna~We can always make a sled of sorts to drag them
Ravi~That’s the best thing you’ve said all week
Sakura~Materials?
Sasuke~ann always has a stash of wire somewhere. We can use it to tie branches together to make a basket of sorts for them to share
Sakura~Are you sure that’s a good idea?
Ravi~They can’t fight against it even if they wanted to. I can barely feel their chackra.
Naruto~Let’s do it.

Later that evening, Kakashi woke. Tsunami noticed as she was cleaning
Tsunami~Oh, you’re finally awake. Would you like anything?
Kakashi~just the rest of my team
Tsunami~They’re up and about. One is sleeping on your other side. She refused to go to with the others to clean up. I think she fell asleep
Kakashi looked to his other side to find ann huddled next to him
Kakashi sighed~ I’m glad she’s okay.
He relaxed back into the sheets and gently rubbed her back
Kakashi~How long before the rest of them shows up?
Tsunami~Shouldn’t be long. The girls liked checking on you every couple of minutes
The door opened and he found Ravi and Sakura
Ravi~Thank god you’re awake!
Kakashi~I’m glad you care about me…What did Naruto do?
Sakura~He will not stop trying to go through Ann’s things. Sasuke isn’t doing anything help us either
Kakashi~Call them down
Ravi went out
Ravi~Guys! Down!
Naruto~Why should we?!
Ravi~I will throw you down the stairs!
Naruto screamed and the two were soon down
Kakashi~Good. Sasuke, you should have helped the girls stop Naruto. You’re just as private as her, you should respect it too. Naruto, if you were successful in it, and ann found out, she’d have killed you. The best she’ll do is maim you since you didn’t get into her things. Right?
Naruto~R-right…
Sasuke~Yeah…
Kakashi~Has ann been right here since we arrived?
Ravi~Yeah. She wouldn’t say anything. She didn’t want to leave.
Kakashi~Been asleep since?
Sakura~Woke up long enough for the bathroom, refused to leave your side, and she fell asleep at some point
Kakashi~And she didn’t say anything to anyone?
Sasuke~No. That bit was the only time she was awake. We didn’t catch her going up to her things or the bathroom
Tsunami~She was really quiet. I was actually impressed that you and her were able to sleep through the other four
Kakashi gave them a look
Kakashi~She’s a heavy sleeper when she chooses to. Can’t speak even if she wanted to though
Tsunami~but…you were just saying…
Kakashi~she’s a mute
Tsunami~o-oh…
Ann groaned a moment and stretched
Ravi~think she’ll wake?
Kakashi~If she’s been asleep for as long as you say, yeah
She cuddled more into his side. The door opened and tazuna came in, but the noise of the sliding door startled ann making her throw a kunai at him. Ravi reacted in time to push tazuna out of the way
Kakashi~ann, it’s okay. You’re safe
Ann was still in a panic while Kakashi petted her head. She looked around the room frantically, trying to back away from everyone, but Kakashi held her in place.
Sakura~is that a common reaction in older ninjas?
Kakashi nodded
Tazuna~But she’s the same age as you?
Kakashi~like I said, not a lot we know about when it concerns her past. There you go, take deep breaths
After a few more moments ann relaxed and looked around more slowly to process the room.
Ann~”s-sorry…It’s…sorry…”
Ravi~Guess we should have taken their weapons?
Naruto~Like I’m gonna grab it. Their reflexes are weird
Sasuke sighed and pulled out the kunai from the frame and gave it back to ann
Kakashi~are you lucid? Or are you going to relapse?
Ann~”I’m fine. I’ve been lucid since we encountered zabuza. I’m sorry that that happened”
Kakashi~wait, why do you have a sign for zabuza’s name? And how do you know him?
The others stared at her too after the question sank in. Kakashi was right, because she either spells out tazuna’s name or refers to him as “builder,” and yet she has a a specific sign for zabuza.
Ann~”I…uhhhh…i…”
She signed out nonsense trying to figure out how to explain herself
Kakashi~You also started to listen to him after he restrained you a few seconds. He said something that made you know he was someone to trust.
Ravi pushed Kakashi over and pulled ann to them
Ravi~figure out what you want to tell us first. Kakashi just wants to interrogate you because it means he can finally figure out who you are. He probably already figured it out too, but just want you to say what it is just to confirm it. You didn’t even attack us, and you know it. You only fought sensei and he was probably still holding back just in case you happened to snap out of it during the whole thing.
Kakashi~you didn’t have to push me over
Ravi~You don’t have to be so hard on her either
Kakashi~If ann breaks again I don’t want zabuza to take advantage of her again
Naruto~Wait a minute, but I thought that hunter killed him?
Kakashi~He used needles to take him out and went for the back of the neck. If he knew what he was doing, he could have killed him like we thought, but he also could have just put him in suspended animation. That hunter nin took his whole body away. When you dispose of a body you do it on the spot, and if identification is needed, they normally take the head or the hand.
He eyed ann, but she looked away when she made eye contact with him.
Sasuke~So because of that, you believe there’s a good chance that zabuza guy is still alive?
Kakashi~Yeah…
Ann~”I have a sign for him because he’s my uncle…He’s the reason why I can fight like an older ninja. He’s taken me on his missions and has made me kill before. I don’t enjoy it. There was one that I lost control. Zabuza said that I almost killed him too”
Tazuna~What did she say?
Sakura~Nothing good…but nothing that will jeopardize your life either.
Tsunami~then how do we know we can still trust her?
Kakashi~Because she just told us something that I’ve been trying to figure out for years. We’ll try to make the best of the situation. For now, get some rest.