Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto characters, only Uma Kasumi, Hakumi belongs to someone else. Some other unknown characters arise.
Summary: Uma Kasumi is an ordinary village girl, going through some strange turn of events, she is found by a group of Konoha ninjas. There, her life takes a turn from ordinary to extraordinary.
CONTAINS SPOILERS.
Uma Kasumi
Chapter 1 – A Village Life
I always had my special place. Where no one could find me, where I can be alone, to think, to dream. I climbed the highest tree in my small village, and sat within its branches, my sketch pad at my side. This is where I am now. Sketching out my dreams, my goals, what I'll accomplish when I leave this village.
"Ooo, I can't wait," I murmured softly, "I'll leave this village, and travel, become whatever I want to be!"
My pulse raced in anticipation, I felt like I could jump off this tree and land perfectly on my feet. I shook my head, that would never happen, I'm not a ninja, I thought, chuckling.
The sun was beginning to set, the leaves turned a dull green, then a soft orange.
"Kasumi!" I heard my mother call, "Get down from that tree, I told you to stop climbing that thing."
I rolled my eyes and began climbing down.
"Yes, oba-san." I said through my teeth.
Agilely, climbing down, I jumped lightly from branch to branch with much ease. I was able to see my mother, shaking her head in disapproval.
This tree sure is tall, I could barely see my mother. I laughed at how small and insignificant she looked. I couldn't stand that woman, Uma Masuyo. My father left me to die in a forest, and she found me. I hated him, hated him for leaving me behind, for leaving me in this wretched village. Ever since I learned what had happened, I would badger Uma to tell me as much as she knew about him, she would not say a word. I never understood why.
The village was quiet and peaceful. But very small, we only had one doctor, one market, and less than 100 people living here. All you could aspire to be here is, a farmer or a merchant. It was pathetic, I never planned to turn out like that.
Uma had different plans for me. She found me to have exotic features that would surely land me a good husband. So, she's been setting her sights out to have me marry a very rich lord. That's why she hated me climbing trees, if a lord were to pass by, he would not like a girl who climbs trees.\
Around the time I was 6 years old, my only company was cats. Stray cats and cats with owners would follow me around like I was their master. One cat never left my side, a black cat I named him Michi. Uma was angry whenever she saw Michi near me. She would throw pots and pans to make it go away, but it always came back. People in the village called me a witch. I could hear their whispers of me every time I passed them. Not only would the cats follow me, they'd obey what I tell them to do. One time, I told Michi to climb up a tree and fetch me an apple. As soon as the words were out of my mouth, he jumped into the thicket of the tree and shot out landing in my arms. In his mouth was a shiny red apple.
I asked Uma if my ability to control cats had anything to do with my father, but she said nothing. All she said was , "Your father had no special abilities whatsoever, maybe you're just, special, Kasu."
She changed the subject to when I was found.
My mother said she found me wrapped in a blanket with Leaf symbols on the fringes of it. Tucked in my tiny hands was a scroll, from my father. About a year ago, my mother finally showed me the scroll, she couldn't open it. Apparently, only I could.
It read:
My dearest Kasumi,
I'm sorry I had to leave you. It was of uttermost importance that I leave you and your mother. I made sure you both were in safe, good hands. Leaving you and your mother was the hardest thing I could have done. I assure you, it was for the best.
Here, I'll tell the story of tonight, the night I left you behind.
I was told to bring you to Konohagakure as soon as I could. I was not told why. As I reached the border to the Land of Fire, I was followed by ninjas. It took me some time to escape, but I did. This is where we are now, I told your mother to follow after, if anything happened. I can hear them getting closer. I will lead them on a false trail, but in doing so,
I'll have to leave you, forever, my dear.
Hate me, for leaving you, if you must. But, know this, you are strong. When time's are hard, you know what to do.
With all my love,
Your father
My mother read it after I did and began to cry. After that, she wouldn't let me out of her sight, the only place I could go was my tree. Even after reading that scroll, she told me nothing of my father, even his name. I was even more determined to leave, and to seek out the Hokage, to ask him about my father.
I stepped on a branch and prepared to jump off, when I heard a deafening crack.
I gasped.
Branches and leaves began to pass by me very quickly. I was falling. I could hear my mother screaming, but it could have been the whistling of the wind rushing through my ears. I could feel sharp branches scratch and bite at me all over my body. A sharp pain tore at my side.
I could barely breathe. I didn't want to die, not yet, not while I had my whole life set for me, to travel, to explore. Tears slowly seeped out and flew with the wind.
I couldn't die without knowing anything of my father, I had to know. Maybe I'd see him, when I died. I smiled, feeling my hair whip around my face. I could see my father. He'll tell me everything.
Suddenly, I felt a pair of strong arms grab me. I heard my mother sigh in relief. Who was this? I thought drowsily. As I opened my eyes to see who the stranger was, I met a pair of sky blue eyes staring at me, his golden blond hair glinting in the setting sun.
"It's alright," the blue-eyed stranger said to me, "I'll take care of you."
I was shaking so hard that, the dark blue ribbon tied in my hair fell to the ground and my teeth were chattering. He smiled at me and placed his gloved hand on my forehead. Instantly I felt calmed. An instant wave of fatigue washed over me.
Before I hit unconciousness, I said, "Thank you, what is your name?"
The blue-eyed man said, "Minato."
I nodded my head and let darkness take me over.
Uma Kasumi