The Story of Zakuro
Standard disclaimer:
I do not own Naruto, however I do own all original characters. I put a lot of work into creating these people, so don't steal them.
It was a cold and cloudy morning in the as the sun cast a reddish hue to the dawn sky. The spring cherry blossoms were covered with a thin layer of frost and the air was silent with a stillness that can drive a man mad. A crow ruffled his feathers and flew from his roost on a small branch as the silence was suddenly broken with a female cry of pain that pierced the cold air inside the Hyuuga compound like a kunai. The soft crying of a newborn baby quickly followed, but faded in less than a minute. The head of the family stirred from his morning meditation and sighed.
"So, the bastard's finally born, eh?"
He rose slowly and left his mat to walk on into his office to prepare to attend to the matter of decreeing what would be done to the now newborn baby.
Hyuuga Hanada looked at her new son and smiled.
"Zakuro, that's what I shall name you. My sisters have had a total of eight sons, you shall be known as the ninth son. I shall protect you and do my best to make you a shining star of the Hyuuga clan."
At that moment Hiashi Hyuuga opened the door and was blocked by a Konaha midwife. He roughly brushed the midwife aside and inserted a small amount of gentle fist while he was at it. The hapless midwife collapsed ten feet away and feebly coughed up a thick, viscous blob of blood. Hiashi gazed at Hanada with cold, pupil-less white eyes as she tried to shield her infant with her body.
"Hyuuga Hanada, the elders and I have decided that the child's life shall be spared, as he is innocent of any crimes and you are the true sinner here today. Furthermore, we are also agreed that your life shall be spared, at least for a while, as no self-respecting Hyuuga would raise your bastard. However the Hyuuga bloodline must be kept pure, so as punishment for this flagrant violation of our laws, you are sentenced to be put to death in ten years. Additionally, your son will have the branch seal upon his forehead, and your byakugan is to be sealed away from your use with a permanent sealing jutsu. Do not speak now, for this is decided. Anything you might say could only make it harder for yourself. It is too late to help your case by telling us who the father is now. At this point, we really don't care. The final decision has been made."
Hiashi turned abruptly and left the room to return to a cold stillness marked only by the soft gasping of the wounded midwife and the hiss of the wind through the open door. This speech was the last time that Hiashi would talk to Hanada for the rest of her life.
Although she had been his favorite cousin, almost as close as the sister he never had. She had broken the most unforgivable rule of the Hyuugas. She had taken a lover and conceived a child without the approval of the elders. The elders generally traced the lineage and bloodline of any potential mate for a Hyuuga to ensure that the cherished Byakugan would remain unchanged and a permanent part of the Hyuuga clan. It was on this powerful eye bloodline trait that the Hyuugas had become the most powerful and influential clan in Konoha. While there had never been a Hyuuga Hokage, it was common knowledge among Jonin that title of Hokage rested upon the approval and blessing of the Hyuuga elders.
Hanada had taken a secret lover and become with child. She had refused to take the herbs to terminate the life growing within her, but she also refused to reveal the identity of the father. Only her close relationship to Hiashi had spared her life at the hands of the elders. They felt indignant by her secrecy. They assumed that the father must have been from a weak or disgraced family. The truth was far worse. She had taken to bed a man with short spiky hair, a pointed face and nose, and red eyes with three bars in each one. An Uchiha! She had committed an extreme crime.
The union of the two eye bloodlines of Konoha could create a new bloodline and competition for the title for strongest clan. The Hyuugas did not want someone starting a new clan with a special bloodline in the city that they so completely controlled. Another concern was that both bloodlines came with the potential for mental instability.
Combining the two bloodlines could create an incredibly powerful person with a potential for mental instability far exceeding that possessed by either individual clan. Hanada felt sure that her son could not become a monster, but she knew that it would be impossible to convince the elders. So silence was the only option. Silence had paid off now. She had ten years to train him, make sure he was as wise as he was strong, and to avoid all strong emotions as they could lead to the breakdown of his mind due to the combination of bloodlines. So, she had ten years to make him a man. Ten years to save his life, for then, hers would end. She must not waste any time. She had to ensure that he could defend himself after she was gone. She had to do her best to instill a caring mindset in him, but with the Uchiha blood, would it be possible? Oh well, there was nothing to do now but just wait and see. She held her baby close to her breast and they both drifted off to sleep. The training would have to start soon, but now was the time for love.
This is the first chapter of an epic work. I will submit a new chapter about once a week for the next few months until the epic conclusion. Please submit reviews. The plot is set in my head, but I would gladly accept suggestions on writing style and details.