"I'll admit I was childish in my youth. And with so many dying in the war it was not the best of times. But, sometimes I think it was better then. Even when we were all forced to grow up so fast. It was better than missing you."
It was quiet. The kind of quiet that bespoke a rare moment of peace in the midst of war. The setting sun turned the sky orange and red as it slowly sank below the horizon. The children had been called in for dinner after a long day at play or training. The adults had returned from their respective jobs, if they lingered in the village. A slight breeze ruffled the leaves of the few surrounding trees. Birds trilled to one another from the boughs and rooftops of the clustered houses. The Suishoku clan compound was not a large one. It was home only to a handful of families. Much of it sat empty, in fact. Despite that, the clan was still honored with their own land, due to their close ties with the village. And the services they had performed for Hashirama Senju before the founding of the Leaf. This was fortunate, in a way, as the empty homes would soon be full of new families who were to be under the Suishokus' protection. Still, even their ability to help their allies could not lessen the blow of the reason that the houses stood empty.
The Third Shinobi war had much to do with the deterioration of the clan. Due to the nature of their Kekkei Genkai, the Suishoku shinobi were prized allies of the Leaf on the battlefield. Their sensory techniques and skills were unparalleled. Unfortunately, as the war raged on, and as the enemy became aware of this, one by one the Suishoku fell. It had reached the point that the few whole families left had felt the need to take in the orphans left by parents who had been killed in action, putting a great deal of pressure on the living adults. The clan had never been a large one, the nature of their Kekkei Genkai ensuring that. But, they had reached an all-time low in population. It was a dark time, not only for the Suishoku, but the village as a whole. All clans with Kekkei Genkai were valued, and targeted.
Kashikoi Suishoku, the current head of the clan, stood at the gate of the compound. His hands were folded over the top of a tall wooden cane. His eyes, as blue as clear water in sunlight, stared directly ahead, sightless. He was utterly still as he waited. Beside him was a young girl. She fidgeted, not being as disciplined as her father. She sighed, turning her face upward. It still held the round, chubby look that betrayed her youth. She didn't like waiting. Her father had taught her that patience was an important quality in a shinobi, but, she still disliked the need to exercise it. She scuffed her sandal in the dirt beneath her feet.
Kashikoi chuckled upon hearing her.
"Hush, Hinagiku, if our friends see you acting in this way, what will they think?" he asked mildly, turning his head towards her just slightly.
Hina looked up at him with eyes of the same magnificent blue. And of equal sightlessness. They lingered on where she approximated her father to be. As the only child of the clan head, she was next in line for the position of leadership. Under her father's tutelage, she was to act as a shinobi. Under her mother's, a lady. Personally, she wanted to be a shinobi and only a shinobi. She reasoned that, if she had enough power and represented the epitome of Suishoku strength, she wouldn't need to be lady-like. In the mind of a six year old, things were still quite simple.
"If they think badly of me for being myself, then they aren't friends. I should be able to act like I usually do."
The clan head's lips curved into an unseen smile when he heard that response.
"Hm, that does hold some truth…but, these are trying circumstances. If you behave well, it will be like a breath of fresh air to them. Once they start settling, you can annoy them as much as you choose."
Hina gave her father a blank, unamused look. Even if he couldn't see it, her silence and the annoyance practically radiating from her told him enough. One thing her mother had not been able to curb was her strong will. Neither parent knew where it had come from, only that despite their best efforts, their Hinagiku would never be a demure lady. Hina almost always spoke her mind no matter the situation. There was a moment of silence between them before she spoke again.
"I don't see why the Hokkaido can't have their own compound. They're a strong clan. It must be demeaning to have to rely on our charity."
"It takes time to establish land for an entire clan and the call for aid came only recently. And I beseech you to keep such comments to yourself. Our friends have suffered much and need not be reminded of it. They will find sanctuary here, not charity."
A frown stole across the girl's face. She knew very well what the Hokkaido clan had suffered. Due to their respective Kekkei Genkai, the Hokkaido and the Suishoku had been allies since the clan wars in the old days. At the founding of the village, the former had returned to the Suitopi Valley, located on the border of the Land of Fire, where they had originally come from. It was the valley that served as their clan lands, fertile and peaceful place of refuge. It was also where the secrets of the Hokkaido clan could be found. Secrets that made it necessary for the members to return in order to protect them. They had successfully done so through generations of conflict and adversity but, now, with the Third Great Shinobi War raging, their defensive force was depleting quickly. As allies of the Leaf, they were called to arms in order to assist with the Land of Fire's war effort. Together with the Suishoku, they marched into combat. Many did not return.
A few days prior, an attack had been launched against Suitopi Valley directly. It was one of many such attacks, but, this one had been devastating. It had resulted in the loss of one of the Hokkaido villages and had exacted a high rate of casualties. The most problematic result, though, was that the enemy had driven the clan back further into the valley and had set up camp in order to continue pressing them. Realizing that her people could not successfully defend their homeland without nearly wiping themselves out, the clan head, Yuri Hokkaido, had sent word to Kashikoi, asking for his aid. In honor of the longtime friendship of their clans, Kashikoi had almost immediately replied, opening up the Suishoku compound as a place of refuge. He had then gone to the Hokage. Though the man was constantly besieged by news about the war, Sarutobi knew the importance of keeping the loyalty of the allied clans. He promised that, as soon as possible, the Hokkaido would have land near the village where they could settle themselves. For now, though, the Hokkaido and the Suishoku would be crammed into the latter's compound. The first arrivals, including Yuri Hokkaido's eldest daughter, were set to arrive at any moment.
"…apologies, otou-san."
Her father gestured with his hand, a habitual movement.
"Think no more of it. You have much to learn, yet. Simply be still and think not of your impatience."
After a moment, Hina settled down, as her father had requested, and turned her mind to the jutsu she had recently learned under his tutelage. She closed her eyes, an unnecessary action but one that she found caused others outside her clan to leave her be. It was a sign that she was concentrating on something. Her eyebrows drew together slightly as she focused on the theoretical framework of how the Water Whip Jutsu needed a constant, steady chakra output to maintain. It was considered an advanced jutsu by many, but, the Suishoku had always been proficient in water techniques, and Kashikoi had no doubt that his daughter would soon be able to perform it. Still, it would difficult for the six year old to master. Only hours of practice had enabled her to use it to successfully strike a target with the c-rank Water Bullet technique, which focused on the condensing and kneading of chakra.
The silence drew out for another few minutes, father and daughter each wrapped up in their own thoughts. The peaceful breeze ruffled their dark hair as they waited. When the time came, Kashikoi was the first to sense the Hokkaido's approach. The reason for the Suishoku clan's blindness laid in their extraordinary sensory abilities. They could not see in the traditional sense, but, they were far from helpless. The clan head moved forward, using his cane as his bad leg hindered his progress. He had been on the front lines with Yuri Hokkaido's husband until recently, when he was injured and forced to retreat. Until he healed, he would not be able to return to the front lines. Kashikoi limped out of the gate and into the road that ran up to it.
Sensing her father's movement, Hina followed him, his chakra signature guiding her. By the time she could hear the voices of a large group of people, she could sense their signatures as well. A myriad of 'color' danced at the edges of her consciousness. She was not as well-versed with the clan's enhanced sensory Kekkei Genkai as her father, but, she could identify chakra natures and the variations that accompanied individuals. As was common in the Leaf, she sensed mainly fire chakra natures in the group. However, unlike the shinobi of the leaf, the 'reds' of the fire natures was touched by something else. Something she could only describe as a darkness lurking within. She pushed aside the oddness as the first voice called out to her father.
"Suishoku-sama!"
One of the presences broke away from the others, running towards her father. She 'watched', the movements of the chakra signature and the accompanying sounds allowing her to monitor what was occurring. The newcomer came to a stop before Kashikoi and immediately bowed low. Now that he, the voice had been male, was closer, Hina had a better sense of him, she could pick out that the darkness from earlier was not truly a shadow like it had seemed. It was as though another presence lurked in his chakra. Something primitive but powerful. She frowned, cocking her head just slightly. Despite the friendship between the clans, Hina had not met a Hokkaido since the awakening of her Kekkei Genkai almost a year prior. She had been taught about the nature of the Hokkaido's jutsu and such, but she had never truly witnessed it.
"We cannot truly express our gratitude for your kindness!" the man continued, pulling Hina's attention back to the matter at hand, "Please, if there is any way we can repay this great debt-"
"Please, brother, be at peace," Kashikoi interrupted before the newcomer could become too worked up, "After so many generations of mutual aid, we are beyond debts now. It is a privilege and an honor to offer a second home to you in these troubling times," he raised his voice so that the rest of the nearing refugees could hear him, "What we of the Suishoku have, we offer unto you, our brothers. Our home is your home, our provision your provision, and our might your protection. Come! Rest your weary bodies and hearts! You will be safe to do so here!"
A murmur ran through the crowd as they came to a halt before the Suishoku leader. Relief overtook weariness. Hina kept her face turned towards her father, in awe. He had spoken with such authority and power that the decree could have been made by the Hokage himself. He had given the refugees the assurance that they needed after being driven from their home in the Valley. The trek to the Leaf Village would have been a long and dangerous one, where they were open to attack at almost any time. But the hope of finding sanctuary with their allies had kept them going. Kashikoi had promised them all that they had hoped to find upon reaching the Leaf.
"Come with me and we will see to it that you are properly settled."
A moment later, Hina's hand was swept up by her father's and, together, the two of them led the Hokkaido refugees into the Suishoku compound.
XXX
Over the course of the next week, more and more refugees arrived to seek a home with the Suishoku. It quickly became crowded, as the Hokkaido clan numbered nearly three hundred. When the compound had been built, the Suishoku had been nearly the that size, but, since then, some of the older houses had been left empty for so long that they would not be fit for habitation until they had been fully repaired and cleaned. Two families at least, ranging from three to seven people, were living together in one home. Seven seemed to be the cap on family size and only the largest families seemed to have so many. Though, this number would include the parents, many of whom were not present. To receive refugees of fighting age was uncommon. Anyone who above the age of twelve who had combat capability, and was not injured, ill, or so old as to be more of a hindrance on the battlefield, was either deployed in the war effort or had remained behind to cover the exodus. Couples without children shared houses five or more at a time. Most were elderly and said that they did not mind sharing with those that they had known for so very long. Those who were young were not shinobi or were injured. A few young single people took smaller houses together or stayed with child relatives whose parents were absent.
The population of the Suishoku compound became quickly mixed. Hokkaido and Suishoku became mixed together, sharing everything. Though the Hokkaido far outnumbered the Suishoku, it was the latter who maintained the position of caretakers. They took their duty seriously, providing every assistance they could. A system was set up so that space was divided efficiently and families were tracked so that no one was separated. The Village provided as much aid as they could in the form of food, bedding, and other necessities that the Hokkaido may not have been able to take in their flight from the Valley. Chuunin who remained in the Leaf gave assistance where they could. Business owners who had enough surplus gave what they had available. For a week, the compound was in turmoil.
The Suishoku clan leader's house was not spared. By unspoken mutual agreement on both sides, the clan leaders' families would live together. This came at first in the form of the only child of the Hokkaido clan, Suitopi Hokkaido. Named for the valley in which she had been born and raised, she had none of the sweetness that the flower of her name held. The clan heir was a child who had been forced to grow up before her time. At the age of eight, she had already found herself on the battlefield numerous times due to the heavy fighting on the border where her home had been located. Her mother was the proud matron of the Hokkaido clan. As Kashikoi was her father's Suishoku partner, it was only natural that he be the one to take the girl in. As soon as she set foot in the house, however, it became apparent that she had no intention to graciously accept the help offered.
Hina, being only a year and a half younger, had made an immediate effort to befriend her. After all, the two had met before on a few occasions, though few words had been exchanged between them. The effort was rejected with a good amount of meanness on the older girl's part. The blind heiress's extended hand was slapped aside with a snarl.
"I don't need some blind girl following me around!" Suitopi spat, "I need to be on the battlefield with my mother and father!"
With that, she had stomped off to claim the room she'd been given. Hina remained where she was, staring after her with a frown, her hand still slightly extended as she 'watched' Suitopi's chakra signature move deeper into the house.
Kashikoi, who had heard the exchange, suggested that Suitopi merely needed some time to adjust and that Hina should wait before she tried again. Hina agreed. But, she was a rather impatient child. Her training had been put on hold by the flood of refugees who had come to live in the compound. She did not attend the Shinobi Academy due to the nature of her Kekkei Genkai. When the Academy had been founded, it was decided that Suishoku children would study within their clan, where their apparent 'infirmities' were common, rather than exposing them to the difficulties of falling behind the other students or needing special assistance. Hina had very few friends her own age. The other Suishoku children regarded her with an annoying amount of respect, calling her "Hinagiku-sama". She disliked that. And the children of the village were attending school. She had nowhere to go and nothing else to do but befriend the prickly child who had come into her domain.
Her attempts to let Suitopi settle lasted all of three days, after which boredom finally got the best of her. She was yet too young to do much to assist with the moving process. Her father feared that she would be swept up in the chaos, causing unnecessary complications as a result. She had been left to sit with her specially made braille texts on jutsu. By the end of day three, she had thoroughly internalized the theories of the Water Whip and the Water Clone. She had even managed to create something like a Water Clone in order to practice the necessary chakra control. The Suishoku, due to their ability to sense and feel the flows of chakra, had always been proficient in chakra control. Even from a young age, their children were skilled in ninjutsu. Hina was no exception. But, one can only study jutsu for so long. Especially when one is blind and must read through one's hands. And most especially when one is a six year old child.
At the beginning of day four, as the family convened for breakfast, Hinagiku ensured that the only seat left open at the square table was next to her. She sat primly in her seat short legs swinging free. Her mother set a large bowl of a scrambled egg and meat mixture before her. The Suishoku had adapted cooking methods over time, but, their meals were simple, made of things that could be created through touch and seasoned through sniffing what was to be put in. Eating was a habitual thing. The use of chopsticks was nearly impossible, so the Suishoku were the only clan in the Leaf to utilize utensils like forks, knives, and spoons on a regular basis. Hina would poke at her food with whatever utensil was provided in order to assess how it should be consumed. For this breakfast, she was able to use a fork. The table was quiet as they began the meal. A few minutes later, a new presence entered the room. Hina continued to eat, sensing as Suitopi took the empty seat and muttered a 'thank you' for the meal. The younger girl waited for a few moments before speaking.
"Did you sleep well last night?" she asked sweetly.
There was a pause in Suitopi's eating.
"I guess."
Hina smiled, taking another large bite of her breakfast. Barely taking the time to chew and swallow, she spoke again.
"That's good. Your family will be arriving soon, right?"
Suitopi's fork scraped as she poked at her food.
"…yeah."
"Do you have any brothers or sisters?"
"No."
The Suishoku heir paused only long enough to think up another question as she bit down on another forkful.
"Any pets?"
Suitopi gave a derisive snort.
"No."
Hina nodded, still smiling. Her mother had always said that a smile put people more at ease. She had never personally seen the effects of a smile, but, she did try.
"I have a pet. A cat named Mochi. I don't know what he looks like, but he's really fat! And his fur's soft. I like to lay my head against him and listen to him purr. He likes it when I practice manipulating water with chakra, but he doesn't like to get wet," she frowned, "He's not a very-"
She was interrupted by a slamming noise. She stopped, mouth still open in mid sentence, blind eyes staring in surprise. She could sense the sudden spike in chakra that signified anger.
"I don't give a damn about your stupid cat!" Suitopi snapped.
There was a moment of silence. Hina's mouth slowly closed, her expression becoming unreadable. She had tried. She had been patient. She knew that Suitopi was upset, but, in her mind, the older girl was being unreasonable. Her clan would be safe in the Leaf and, soon, the last of the refugees would arrive. Word had just come the previous day that the last line of defense had left the valley and was covering the escape. There had been minimal casualties. She should be happy.
Kashikoi sighed, guessing that Hina's feelings had been hurt by Suitopi's outburst. He would have to intervene. He sat up straighter and took a breath to begin mediating.
He never had a chance to speak. The next moment, there was a splash and an indignant shriek.
"What the hell?!"
Hina looked at her housemate coolly, holding a now empty cup in one small hand. Suitopi stared at the diminutive figure next to her, green eyes wide. The front of her nightclothes were soaked through with the water that had previously been in the cup. Droplets ran down her face and neck. She held her arms out, away from her sides, still in shock.
Hina's mother placed a hand on her forehead, closing her eyes. She had tried so very hard to curb her daughter's temper.
"I am trying to be nice, Suitopi Hokkaido. Our clans have been friends for generations, and, since we're next in line, it seems like a good idea that we should be friends too. But you're making it very hard with your selfishness. Your mother and father are fighting to help your clan and all you're doing is pouting in your room because you can't fight with them. You haven't even offered to help with the refugee efforts. You're the only representative of the Hokkaido's leadership and you're being a sorry excuse for an heiress. Moping around and cursing at six-year-olds doesn't help the war effort in any way."
The small girl made her speech in a matter-of-fact tone. She imitated the authority her father had used in his welcoming, albeit with much less warmth. Suitopi stared at her. It had obviously never crossed her mind that the child would ever retaliate against her. In the eyes of the older girl, she was just a little thing with tangled dark hair and a small, pale face. Somehow, though, Hina managed to convey an authority beyond her age. Suitopi was caught between being angry at the sudden soaking and feeling genuinely embarrassed by her behavior. She found that she could not manage to formulate a proper answer to the lecture from her younger counterpart.
Hina calmly set her cup back in place and began to eat again. There was a long pause, then, Suitopi began to eat as well, giving up on answering, though annoyance radiated from her in an almost tangible wave. When the Hokkaido heiress left the table immediately after finishing her food, Hina was subjected to a long lecture from her mother on her unladylike behavior. The girl sat silently, answering in the correct places. Though, it was quite obvious that she did not regret her actions in the least. Kashikoi did not provide his input. He often told his daughter that a leader acts on what he or she believes is best for the clan's wellbeing. As a child, this applied to her own personal well-being. Her goal was to befriend Suitopi, and she had acted in the manner that she believed would advance that goal. Childish though it may have been. After breakfast, the Suishoku child retreated to her room and dedicated her time to the creation of a fully functional Water Clone.
Later that day, Suitopi exited her room. She was a bit late to do any real good, but, she did make herself useful in what ways she could. Hina, who had chosen to spend the afternoon playing with Mochi, smiled smugly when she sensed the older girl leave the house. The cat meowed, pawing at a small puddle in the center of the room, before heaving its bulk up and waddling over to flop into the child's lap. She gently found his head and rubbed behind his ears, cooing to him.
"There, Moshi. You're happy about Suitopi too, aren't you?"
The cat began to emit a rumbling purr, pressing his head fully into her hand
XXX
At the end of the week, the remaining Hokkaido refugees arrived. They were bloodied and weary, and some were injured, but, they had made it to their destination. The scene created when they walked through the gates of the Suishoku compound was bittersweet. Children were reunited with parents, brothers with sisters, grandparents with grandchildren, and so on. But no one could ignore the wails that broke out when the first little one realized that their parents were not among those who had covered the escape. Family members desperately searched through the crowd. Some were met with a joyous reunion. Others were left to continue scanning faces in slowly dwindling hope until realization struck. Hina stood off to the side. Next to her was Suitopi.
Over the course of the last two days, the girls had begun to get to get to know one another. They had discovered that they were similar in many ways, and different in many others. But, after amends were made for previous behavior, they got along splendidly. In that Suitopi enjoyed using Hina's blindness against her and Hina was savage in her use of sarcasm. Most of the compound's inhabitants were sure the two girls hated each other, especially when Suitopi would do things like kick a rock into Hina's path and trip her. And Hina would respond in kind, picking up the same rock and tossing it aside only to send it flying into the older girl. Suitopi would scowl while Hina blinked innocently and told her 'oh, I didn't see you there.' For whatever reason, though, they stayed together, and had wandered the compound in search of things to do for the past two days.
The girls remained on the porch of the leader's house, keeping out of the swarms of people in order to avoid being caught up in the throng. Kashikoi stood with them, blind eyes looking calmly out over the heads of those gathered. His 'view' of the crowd was much the same as one seen with working eyes would be. A mass of individual chakras pressed together just as the bodies did. Varying shades of blue slipped between the warm colors of the Hokkaido, marking where Suishoku clansmen walked among the refugees. Hina remained silent as Suitopi stood on her tiptoes, looking for her parents. She glanced at Hina, green eyes narrowed and brows furrowed when she failed to pick them out among the crowd.
"Do you-" she stopped abruptly, realizing what she was about to ask.
Hina blinked once, a slow, lazy movement of her eyelids. She seemed utterly unaffected by the chaos.
"See your parents? No. I don't."
Suitopi scowled at her and went back to searching, her expression turning darker as she attempted to catch sight of them through the throng of much taller people. She could see the top of the gate across the main yard, but only because of its height. Beside her, Hina shifted uncomfortably. She could not sense the goings on as well as her father and, thus, was left with only the impression of a wall of chakra directly in front of her, writhing and shifting. She knew this to be the crowd and, being blind, was acutely worried about possibly being swept into it and lost among the overwhelming mass of chakra signatures and unseen bodies, unable to work her way out. Kashikoi, sensing the way his daughter's signature flickered in anxiety, reached over to lay a gentle hand on her head. She immediately calmed, her father's presence and touch familiar and comforting. He patted her hair gently and then waded into the crowd limping along quickly with the aid of his cane. He had picked out one very familiar signature among the multitude
The people parted, letting the clan leader through. Even those troubled by the emotions that superseded the loss of a loved one managed to draw aside so that a clear path from the house to the gate was made. As the people separated, one man was left in the newly made space. He stepped up to meet Kashikoi, striding quickly forward. The man wore a standard Hokkaido shinobi uniform, torn in some places and bloody in others, with a pair of short swords strapped to his back. His blonde hair was gathered in a tail that hung over one shoulder, stray strands falling to frame a war-wearied face. His expression betrayed his exhaustion, but, he gave a genuine smile as he and Kashikoi met and clasped hands. Sui shot forward, sprinting full tilt towards the blonde man.
"Suisen," the Suishoku leader's voice carried as the crowd began to quiet somewhat, their eyes drawn by the two in the center, "It does me good to meet you well and whole."
"As whole as can be presently, Kashi. It's been too long," Suisen's eyes flickered down to the other man's weak leg, taking in the way Kashikoi favored one side. He frowned slightly, "Though I see you have not yet recovered."
Kashikoi shook his head slightly, raising one shoulder in a small shrug.
"The healing goes slowly. But, it continues," he smiles, "Soon enough, you and I will be side by side on the battlefield once again."
Suisen gave a bitter smirk in return.
"I hope not, friend. I'd rather us sit at home and try our wits over a game of Shogi than on the field."
At that moment Suitopi slammed into her father's side, throwing her arms around his waist. He barely moved, years of shinobi training ensuring that it would take more than a flying hug to fell him. The small girl, so much like her father in physical appearance, pressed her face into his stomach, saying nothing. It was obvious that no words needed said as his hand settled on her head. Kashikoi chuckled.
"I will agree with you there, Suisen…but let us continue our conversation another time. It appears that your daughter has missed you more than I," he stepped back, gesturing towards his home, "Please. Young Suitopi has already become quite at home. I hope you can do the same."
Suisen nodded once, absently petting his daughter's hair.
"I shall, thank you," he then raised his voice so as to address the entire congregation of both clans, "My people of the Hokkaido! Our Suishoku brothers have offered us sanctuary in the midst of this war, despite their own losses in the conflict. As we stay here for a short time, I ask that you be respectful and assist in what ways you can to ease the transition. Go to your current houses, seek comfort with each other, care for those who have lost loved ones, ensure the children are looked after. We are safe now but there is still work to be done. Tomorrow, I will be speaking with the Hokage personally regarding a more permanent settlement within the Leaf's boundaries."
There was a collective murmur, perhaps of relief. Then, a voice cried out.
"Where is the Lady?"
While Suisen was a respected leader among the Hokkaido, his wife, Lady Yuri Hokkaido, was the true head of the clan. The matron was well known for her savagery on the battlefield and her craftiness in the realm of politics. She was everything a woman in power should be: strong, bold, intelligent, wise, beautiful, kind, and stern. The young girls of both clans very much aspired to be like her.
Suisen turned his head towards the voice but, as the throng was so thick, it was impossible to pick out the speaker.
"My wife remains in the Valley."
This news was met with a generally negative reaction from the refugees who had not been among the last to arrive. Groans of despair, angry cries, and calls of denial rose from the crowd. They had obviously hoped to glimpse their leader's face, to see that she was unharmed and still able to lead them to safety. And they had been denied that glimpse. Suisen's expression hardened. He raised both hands, unaware of the distressed expression on his daughter's face.
"Silence!"
The word was hardly a word. It was more of an animalistic growl that tore through the air like a thunderclap. The gathered people immediately complied, wary of provoking him.
Suisen Hokkaido was the polar opposite of his friend, Kashikoi. The latter was calm and collected, the former prone to violent bursts of emotion and split second decisions. Kashikoi had been compared to a reflective pool on a quiet day while Suisen was like a tornado. How the two had become so close was a mystery, but, they had been friends since boyhood. It was no surprise that the Hokkaido matron, Yuri, was so happily married to him with her reputation being what it was.
The Hokkaido consort's green eyes swept the crowd, narrowed. He would not allow his people to work themselves into a state of despair. It angered him that their first reaction had been to turn to negative emotions. Pride was something the Hokkaido valued greatly, and few had more pride than Suisen. That his clan had not held onto their legendary strength in this time of tumult upset him.
"She remains not by her own volition but because she must defend the last stronghold. There are too many precious secrets hidden within, things that cannot simply be carried off. She and her guardsmen have retreated into the last fortress we hold. There she continues to fight, so that you, her people, can remain safe without fear of the enemy learning our traditions and the secrets of our power. Would you bring her here on a whim and leave those secrets unprotected?"
No one dared to answer. A few shifted uncomfortably. Suitopi pressed her face into her father's clothing, holding on to him tightly. Noble cause or not, her mother was absent, nothing could change that. She had thought that they both would be coming. She pursed her lips, willing the feelings of disappointment away. Her mother wouldn't want her to display anything but strength. And her father was with her. She would make them proud.
Suisen's eyes swept the crowd once more. Then, he relaxed just slightly.
"Go, do as Lord Suishoku said."
The crowd dispersed within minutes, leaving only the two clan leaders standing together. There was a brief moment of silence. Then, Suisen sighed, running a hand over his blonde head. Kashikoi reached out and laid a hand on his arm.
"Come, my brother. You need rest just as much as the others."
As the blind man gave a small tug to lead him toward the main house, Suisen began to protest.
"Kashi, there is too much I still have to do. I must speak with the Hokage immediately-"
"In your present state?" Kashikoi chuckled, his grip tightening as he gave a firmer tug, "No, Suisen. I know all too well how irritable you can be when you're tired. And you're exhausted, which means your temper is more volatile than ever."
Suisen scowled deeply but allowed himself to be pulled towards the house. He took Suitopi's hand, gently drawing her to a more maneuverable distance. Though she tried to walk proud and upright, the way she held onto his hand with an iron grip betrayed just how much she had missed him.
"Fine, Kashi. Tomorrow then. But I'm not waiting any longer! I have to settle these things myself."
Kashikoi released him when they reached the porch, still smiling slightly at his friend's grouchy tone.
"Yes, yes. Tomorrow I will not hinder you," he paused by where he sensed Hina waiting and held out his arm, "Here, little one," he prompted.
Hina's small hand reached out, feeling for his proffered escort. After a brief moment of searching, she found it. Kashikoi's smile widened. She was coming along well in her sensory abilities, but, she could not quite pick out three dimensional images yet. He could still remember those days when everything was a blur of chakra pulsing in blackness. Soon, though, she would learn. She was a talented child.
Together, they led their new Hokkaido housemates inside, where the Suishoku matron had already begun to prepare a midday meal.
Later, after Suisen had made use of the bath and had allowed himself to indulge in a brief rest, the evening found the two men sitting side by side on the porch of the main house. Their daughters played together in the yard. Though, the term 'played' could only be used loosely, as it seemed that the two had begun to fight. It had started when Suitopi tripped Hina, who'd responded with kicking her in the leg. From there, it had only escalated. The men hardly paid any mind. As long as no one was seriously injured, they were not concerned. It was not uncommon for shinobi children to fight more than they played.
"It's gotten worse since you left the field, Kashi," Suisen told his friend, "It was mostly shinobi from smaller nations at first, like you saw. But then Iwa sent troops. Their earth style suited them well in the Valley. We were hard pressed."
Kashikoi took a thin pipe from between his lips, letting a small breath of smoke spiral into the air. His expression had been twisted into a small frown.
"I see…my injury came at a most inopportune time."
Suisen scoffed. His long hair had been pulled back into a high ponytail, his bangs framing his face. He was still considered a young man, only in his late twenties. But, with the uncertainty of a shinobi lifestyle, he was old enough to be seen as a survivor.
"Is there an opportune time to get injured?" he rearranged himself, lounging in his yukata, "I needed you out there, Kashi, no denying it. But I'd rather have you at full strength than hobbling around like some old man."
The Suishoku clan head shook his head slightly, closing his blind eyes as he inhaled from the pipe.
"Soon, my friend, I will be able to rejoin you. The doctors say that I will be without the cane in a matter of days. After that, it's only few short weeks until I am fully operational," his lips quirked in a smile, "You know, our daughters remind me of us."
Surprised by the sudden change in topic, Suisen's green eyes shifted to where Hinagiku had managed to wrestle the older Suitopi to the ground and was sitting on her stomach, allowing her dead weight to draw breathless, indignant cries from her victim. He cocked a brow.
"Really? How so? I mean, I'll admit that Sui takes after me, but little Hina has more brass than you ever had, oh, Gin Shita no Kashikoi."
The moniker "Kashikoi of the Silver Tongue", or sometimes "Idaina Kosho o Kashikoi", "Kashikoi the Great Negotiator", had been given to the Suishoku clan leader after he managed to bring peace between two shinobi clans who had been bitter adversaries since the time of the clan wars. At the Hokage's request, he had gone with Suisen to act as a mediator when the two newest clan heads had expressed interest in ceasing animosities. Through words alone, he had negotiated a treaty for them and kept unnecessary escalation from occurring. Suisen had told him many times that his name should have been "Iraira Sutekina Otoko o Kashikoi", Kashikoi the frustratingly nice guy.
Kashikoi shot him a slightly reproachful look at his usage of the nickname. Suisen was unrepentant.
"Yes. She takes after her mother in that way," the Suishoku head agreed, "Stubborn, and very much her own person already."
His friend grinned as Suitopi managed to throw Hina off.
"Sounds like Sui, too….you think they'll be good bondmates?"
Kashikoi's expression became thoughtful. Ever since the alliance of the Hokkaido and Suishoku, the clans had been performing a ceremony known as "Bonding". This ceremony took place when two people, one from each clan, agreed that the other was a suitable combat partner, and served as a physical reminder of the brotherhood between the clans as whole entities. The ceremony consisted of a seal, infused with some of their partner's chakra, being placed on each of them. This chakra-infused seal allowed for each of them to sense when the other was in peril, or, in dire straits, even tap into the partner's chakra stores. For the Suishoku participant, such a bond meant that they were able to enter combat with a protector and use their sensory abilities and ninjutsu skills to the fullest without worrying about being targeted because of their blindness. The Hokkaido participant was granted near-constant access to the Suishoku's sensory abilities and, due to the nature of the bond, able to use their rather volatile Kekkei Genkai without fear of losing themselves. Combat advantages aside, the pair had each other as loyal friends and confidantes. Allies even until death. In a world where deception was a tool used constantly by friends and enemies alike, this was a priceless gift. Kashikoi and Suisen had been young teenagers when they bonded. Over the years, they had made a name for themselves on the battlefield and were heralded as one of the most fearsome Hokkaido-Suishoku pairs in the history of the two clans. "Kosho to Arashi" they were called, the Negotiator and the Storm.
Kashikoi gave a slow nod. A bonding between the clan heirs would be a wise political move, to reinforce the ties between the clans.
"Perhaps. They have a while to show how far their affinity goes. And bonding before the age of twelve is rarely a good thing. It causes complications when the body goes through changes during puberty," he said with a frown.
Suisen rolled onto his back, folding his arms behind his head.
"…We may not have as long as you think, Kashi. Sui's already seen battle. We were forced to pull everyone who had combat ability and put them in action," his expression tightened, "She's only eight… And I know the Leaf's already begun to send out kids as soon as they graduate. They don't last long, usually. Though, there are a few that have pulled through."
A sharp look was thrown his way.
"Hina will only be seven when the graduation takes place next month. It is unlikely she'll be drafted, even when she registers as a genin."
Due to the private nature of the Shishoku's training, it was up to the clan elders when a young shinobi met the requirements to be a genin. At that point, they would become a registered ninja, as though they had attended the academy. It was not uncommon for children of seven or eight to meet the standards. The Suishoku were naturally proficient at chakra control, and therefore were often far ahead of their age group in ninjutsu. Their taijutsu skills were basic due to their blindness. Though physical training was upheld, the clan did not see much point in developing advanced hand to hand skills that would be of little practical use. Genjutsu was a rarity among the clan members, as they lacked the sight to create visual illusions. Thus, training was devoted to their Kekkei Genkai, ninjutsu, and core curriculum. Hina had progressed in leaps and bounds in her studies, her pure Suishoku breeding showing through. The elders had deemed that, in May, when the graduation at the Academy occurred, she would be among those who moved on to become genin.
"Genin or not, a registered ninja is liable to be drafted…" Suisen closed his eyes, his voice monotone, "…Sui will be registering too. Her combat experience will make her a target, but, we have an agreement with the Leaf. Our combatants must be registered."
"I know!" Kashikoi brought his fist down on the wooden porch with a dull thud.
It was the closest to losing his temper that Suisen had seen him in a long time. He looked over at him, concerned. He knew that his friend was just as worried as he was. Their daughters were children. And their fathers had no choice but to offer them up as soldiers.
Kashikoi took a deep breath, allowing himself to relax.
"Please…Suisen, don't remind me…let me love her as a child for a little longer…before she comes to me asking how to clear her conscience of the guilt of killing."
Suisen was silent for a moment. Then, he nodded.
"Alright…they have a little time left. We'll leave them to it."
At that moment, the girls decided that their combat needed to be taken to the next level. Suitopi gave an agitated cry, her hands flying through a series of signs.
"Fire Style-!"
"Don't you dare, Suitopi!" Suisen was on his feet in an instant.
Kashikoi sighed, taking another pull from his pipe.
Welcome to Unwilling Sword! Melissiaew and I are back with a whole new story. This does not mean that we've given up on Survivor and Seeker of Suave or Not. We just opened up a new project. We're quite excited about this one as it's already completely drawn up. It just needs typed. Unlike Magi, the Naruto series is complete and we have full access to events and such.
A word of warning, this story will be dealing with some very dark themes as it progresses. It will also have very suggestive spots as the characters age, as well as a good deal of blood and death. Cursing will be kept to that seen within the series. I have rated this "T" with the understanding that T covers up to 16+, at which point the story should be rated "M". I assure you, the rating will not be bumped up to "M" at any time.
I hope you enjoy the fic as we continue! Please, leave a review and give us feedback!