Destroyed Hopes

On one snowy night, a child was born. It was December 23. Another member from the Kaede family has been added. "Since it's December and the snow is falling down, let's call her Yukino," the father, Kaede Moriya, exclaimed. The two year old Haku came in the room just in time to see his little sister. His smile widened as he saw her being held by their mother's hands.

Yukino grew together with Haku. They played together outside while their parents work. Sometimes, they help their parents in work and chores. They lived their life happily and contented, even though they are poor.

On one tiresome afternoon, they stopped from work to have some rest. They went to the river to wash their hands. He unexpectedly discovered that he can manipulate the water. He caught Yukino's attention as she looked at Haku. "Why don't you try it?" he asked. Yukino turned to the water and took water into her hands. She was as amazed as Haku. They have the similar abilities, manipulating water. They saw their mother, Kaede Natsumi, and called her. Their mother's eyes widened as she saw what her children could do. She suddenly spanked both her children angrily, "Why do you have this!" She cried, "I'm so sorry." However, Moriya completely saw what happened. His eyes are now raging in fire, "You will pay for this Natsumi." Then, he went to the town.

"So she's the one that's causing bad luck in this town," a man said. Kaede Moriya told the story of what he has seen a while ago, "I can't believe that she didn't told me that she has a advanced bloodline!" he said, clenching his teeth in anger and confusion. "Let's kill them before the bloodline spreads throughout the town," another man said. All of them, the men in the village, brought with them their weapon to be used to kill of what they called 'the cause of wars.'

The door banged open. The three other members of the Kaede family have just finished eating dinner. Kaede Moriya came into the house with the villager's men. Haku and Yukino were grabbed by two men. "Why are you doing this, Moriya?" their mother asked. Their father's warm tears streamed down his face, "I have to do this, Natsumi." And with that he struck the knife through Kaede Natsumi's chest, thus, ending her life. Haku and Yukino became frightened and struggled to escape.

Haku was dragged to the front of Moriya. Haku could feel his body shake with fear, until he saw his father crying, What's happening here? he thought, Why is Ottou-san crying? Why is he trying to kill us? Their father didn't want to waste time. He took another knife and attempted to strike Haku through his chest. In a split of a second, he made giant icicles that completely destroyed the house.

"What have I done?" he asked himself, "Why did I kill Ottou-san and Yukino?" He sobbed as he took one last look at the destroyed house.

After a while, a Konoha ninja saw the destroyed house. Curious if someone survived, he went inside to look. He saw a little girl, who is breathing heavily and wounded all over her body. It was Yukino. The ninja carried her and went to the hospital.

Yukino's consciousness came back. She slowly opened her eyes and looked around the room. She saw a ninja sitting beside her, reading a little book. The man saw her and smiled, "Are you feeling fine, kid? You were heavily wounded the last three nights I took you at the hospital back at the Water Country." Yukino just stared at the man, unable to say anything. He just continued, "I'm Hatake Kakashi. Nice to meet you." "What happened?" she asked. Kakashi frowned, "I saw you in a house. I brought you here to give you proper treatment. I saw a man and a woman with a knife struck at her chest. They're both dead. I gave them the proper burial near the house. There are also other men but I am unable to reach because of the icicles. I'm sorry of what happened." Yukino bit her lip to stop herself from crying, "My parents are dead and there's no doubt that my brother is dead too." A tear rolled down her cheek. Kakashi reaches to lock her in his arms, "Don't worry. It's all right. I'm here."

After a week, Kakashi and Yukino went to the grave of the Kaede parents. They offered flowers to each of their graves. "From now on, I will be your child's caretaker," Kakashi spoke, "I will take care of her so you can rest together in peace." Yukino looked up at Kakashi. Two birds from a tree not far from there flew together towards the beautiful sky. "I won't let you down," Kakashi looked at the birds then to Yukino.

After weeks passes by, Kakashi and Yukino headed forth to The Fire Country. "The place is lively. I know you would like it there," Kakashi explained, "There are many other kids your age who're nice and friendly. I'm sure that they wanted you to be their friend." Yukino smiled slightly and nodded. He saw her and smiled back that made her blush.

It's the second day of classes at the ninja academy. All of us are waiting for our sensei. The class gets noisier, thinking that Iruka-sensei isn't coming. The front door slid open and Iruka-sensei entered with a girl following him from behind. "Sorry everyone. I'm a little late," he said, "By the way, I would like all of you to meet our new student, Kaede Yukino." She smiled and took a bow, "I'm Kaede Yukino. Nice to meet you all." "Yukino," Iruka-sensei said, "You can sit on the empty chair over there beside Sasuke." I blushed, What has come into me? She sat beside me after Iruka-sensei started to discuss. I looked at her, "Nice to meet you too, Yukino."

After a long and boring lecture is our recess. As I noticed, Yukino went off alone. I approached her saying, "Would you like me to show you around?" She nodded. It's unusual for me to be friendly, I thought. "You're Sasuke, right?" she asked. I nodded, "Uchiha Sasuke is my full name." "Then, can I call you Sasuke-kun?" she asked shyly. I nodded once more, "Either Sasuke or Uchiha is fine with me."

Reiji: I'll call you idiot, Sasuke.

Neji: (nods) It suits you well.

Sasuke: (rolls his eyes) Hn! Mind your own business!

"I'm from a foreign country that's why I don't know anybody here yet," Yukino told me. "I see," then I asked, "What brings you here?" "Kakashi-san brought me here," she replied, "Back then at the Kirigakure, he saved me." "What happened?" I asked once more. She looked down, "Ottou-san killed Oka-san and Onii-san and tried to kill me too," she turned to me, "It's because of our advance bloodline. You know that?" I nodded, "It is said that those who have advanced bloodline causes wars. But here, in Konoha, we don't do those." Her eyes widened in surprise, "Really?" I smiled, "Don't worry. Konoha is a peaceful village." She smiled back as I blushed, Damn! She's cute! "You look better with long hair." "Onii-san used to say that too," she said. "Sorry I didn't mean to offend you," I apologized. She shook her head, "No, it's alright."

Reiji: So that's why—

Neji: --Yukino has long hair—

Neji & Reiji: That means she likes Sasuke at that time?

Sasuke: (shrugs and looks at Yukino)

Yukino: (blushes) Not really.

Reiji: (sighs) Good. There's still space for the both of us to be inserted in the story

Sasuke: Kono--! The story is only for the both of us.

Neji: You're out of luck.

Reiji: I just called Yukino-sama and she said that she will.

Sasuke: Did you plan this or what?

---

Translations:

Kirigakure

Village Hidden in the Mist.

"Kono--!"

"Why you--!"

-kun

Informal and intimate honorific primarily used for males. It is used by superiors in addressing inferiors, by males of roughly the same age and status in addressing each other, and in addressing male children. In business settings young women may also be addressed as kun by older male superiors.

Oka-san

Mother.

Onii-san

Elder Brother.

Ottou-san

Father.

-sama

Honorific. Usually means "Master" or "Mistress."

-san

Honorific. Carries the meaning of "Mr.," "Ms.," "Miss," etc., but used extensively in Japanese than its English equivalent.