A/N: Ahem... Hello. Due the fact I decided to finally catch up with Naruto(around hundred chapters or so) I began digging up my old OCs(and created some new). I realized that I like all of them even if some tweaking might be in order. Then I realized that I really don't want to play around in Konoha environment and wanted some legimate reason to put all of my OCs in the same village anyways. So I picked up Land of Rivers, Village hidden in Valleys, a canon place without much information. So I began tweaking it and forming a new world there... Place all my characters despite their origins in the same village... And Ta-Da! Here is this fic.
I don't know how much I'll write this. After all I have other projects going on and stuff... I simply can't help it when inspiration strikes. In general this fic is sort fo a note book for me to which I can collect all my OCs in.
But now, enjoy the first chapter: introduction of one of the key players and other important events, as well as clarification of what is Tani.
Chapter one: Village where the paths meet
They say people like to interfere with the life of others. Some say it's curiousity, some say it's concern, some say it's a desire for control. And some... some say it's mere circumstances and coincidences that lead life to most intriguing conclusions.
People of Village Hidden in the Valleys in the Land or Rivers pick whichever interpretation pleases them. They are known interferes with mostly benign intentions. This interference causes ripples to mindscapes and landscapes as the Wheel of Fortune and Fate turns to different direction than originally intended.
When Village Hidden in Leaves was founded at the Land of Fire, other four great ninja countries followed soon after. In their footsteps smaller countries began forming their villages too. And as you may have guessed already, that is where the heroes of this story live.
Village Hidden in the Valleys, as its name states, is situated on an area with a lot of terrain changes and has three big rivers running through it. The people of the village and the country have maintained their neutrality by non-aggression contracts with neighboring countries Fire and Wind, and for the longest time close ties with Village of Rain.
The village, called Tani by its residents, was founded mere six years after the village of leaves, by three major clans: Torino, Hanada and Aoi.
The first one was known for their members being talented Chakra Sensors even when one remains as a civilian. The extent of their ability is so strong that the children are given a name of a bird aside from their real one to keep them safe. No one outside the Clan would know who was connected to whom until the children were way into the adulthood. And even then, the person might prefer their bird name over their real one.
The second one has strong spiritual energy and are thus capable of connecting numerous people with their Hivemind Technique which allows no secrets being hidden and genjutsu being cast on an individual without actually seeing them. Naturally there is also counters for this and the children and taught a strict moral code once they are begin learning the technique.
The last clan had produced exceptional sword masters throughout generations as well as brilliant negotiators. While not many people paid attention to them as much as the other two, they were still valued in the village. Especially when the members of Torino and Hanada clans start an argument for arguments sake.
In the village they have a governing body of a council formed with the members of clans, other shinobi families and the represents of guilds. Leader of the small country of Rivers is called River-Rose (Kawabara). This role has this far been rotated between the three founder clans and the next and fourth to step to this role is Torino Taka, current heir of Torino Clan and son of the first River-Rose Torino Tsuru. In memory of the three founding clans there also was at least one shinobi team with children of each of the clan.
But why is the interference of Tani so special? What exactly do they do to deviate from other smaller shinobi countries? Why, despite the anger they may cause, are they never attacked directly?
First of all, they have never allied themselves in any of the Great Shinobi Wars and rather benefitted from them afterwards in the negotiation table.
Secondly, they welcome any and all refuge seekers into their village as long as they had no malicious intentions towards other citizens. And unless the people wanted to leave voluntarily, people hunting them down would be turned away.
Thirdly, they mimic any and all countries out there. Even the village itself had five sectors within that represented the Five Great Shinobi countries and were modified according to the terrain there. And because of the diversity of people living, they had the richest culture there was possible to be.
So thus many of the heroes of this story originally came from other countries, bringing their techniques and knowledge with them. They are a sanctuary, an archive and home.
Year 13 BNT(Before Nine-Tails): The Nattoo family with their son Ueno moved to Tanigakure from Iwagakure during the Second Great Shinobi War.
Year 9 BNT: Ryuu no Ryuko runs from Suna, crossing the desert at the age of six. Due the war raging on, no Hunter ninjas were sent after her despite her possessing knowledge of a unique summoning technique.
Year 6 BNT: Namikaze Nanami
In the aftermath of the Second Great Shinobi war many lives were lost. One of those lives was of one Kazekoi Kenta, fiancée of Namikaze Nanami. The young woman was just a girl back then, only seventeen and a chuunin of Konohagakure. Not many people had known about the relationship of the two, except for Nanami's older brother by a mere year, Minato.
"I'm leaving." The girl stated firmly, her hands clasped behind her back to mask her nervousness. A pair of blue eyes stared into other pair near identical.
"May I ask why?" Minato frowned. When the girl didn't answer, he sighed. "Come here, Nana." The young man patted the place next to him on the large stone situated at one of the numerous training grounds in Konoha. Nanami looked aside, obviously reluctant to comply with her brother's request, but relented. With little difficulty, she climbed up the rock and sat next to Minato.
Silence reigned for a while, neither sibling looking at each other. Eventually Minato sighed again.
"Is this something to do with Kenta?"
Nanami bowed her head so that her mouth and nose were buried into the large scarf she was wearing. Minato took that as a positive answer.
"Where have you planned to go? Konoha is safe place and you like it here, don't you? You've never before expressed a wish to leave."
"Because we were drafted into the war almost straight out of Academy." Nanami bit out. Minato kept silent and waited until the girl had reigned her temper once again. "I will go to Kawa no Kuni, to their ninja village Tanigakure no Sato."
"Kawa?" The man blinked. The land had expert diplomats and neutrality. After the last war they managed to chop a great bit of Kaze no Kuni and Hi no Kuni and become a buffer zone between the two in the hopes to quell any more wars. But at the same time its fate might be the same than that of Kusa and Ame that had they terrain trampled by the wars constantly. Previously it had been a bit aside that it wasn't hard to dodge. Of course in the last war the neutrality had been violated, thus the result at the negotiation table. "Are you sure?"
"Yes… I need to go somewhere else… Away from here and other Great Ninja Countries. Kawa accepts anyone they deem reliable. Only wanton killers are gotten rid in sight and other criminals that can't justify their actions to the council board of Tani."
"They are peaceful and neutral… Yet have angered many villages because of their reluctance to give up the criminals they've deemed trustworthy." Minato mused. He could see his sister relaxing and maybe could soon to get out the reason for her desire to leave.
"It is a good environment too. They copied the Ninja Academy concept from Konoha and improved it. The children are treated equally despite which clan or civilian family they come from…"
Ninja Academy… Why did Nanami bring that up again? A second time in this conversation… Minato frowned and looked at the girl. She was wearing the standard ninja gear with a short sword strapped on her back. Despite that, the man knew for a fact that she hadn't been participating any missions since the death of Kazekoi Kenta. He had been a good man but got injured badly in the mission last month. The month when Kenta's former team leader Hatake Sakumo had taken his own life. Minato suspected that Kenta had been too shaken of the older man's death and thus had made a blunder. After all Kazekoi had been the only one not slandering the White Fang for abandoning the mission in the previous war, thus saving his and his comrades lives. Yet… When Kenta had finally passed away from his wounds in the hospital he had said something strange according to the doctors.
"Keep the future safe."
"Nana… You are expecting a child aren't you?" At the question the girl tensed up. She looked at the young man nervously from under her blonde bangs and nodded then. Minato smiled. "Congratulations."
And finally Nanami's face broke into a teary smile. "Thank you, Minato-nii."
Year 3 BNT: Namida clan from Kusa no Kuni moves to Kawa no Kuni. At first they try to settle outside Tanigakure but within a year move inside the safety of the walls.
Year 5 BNT: Letter to Minato
"My dearest brother,
I'm glad to tell you that I've given birth to a healthy little boy. Currently I'm recuperating at one of the guest rooms of Torino Clan's compound. You might remember from my previous message that they welcomed me warmly to the village and have been supportive to me throughout my pregnancy. Not to mention the whispers that claim the heir Taka has shown romantic interest in me. At least that what his sister Karasu claims. She is a talented medic-nin and helped the midwives deliver my precious little boy.
By now you must be in stitches to know when exactly he was born and what I have named my son. Very well, I shall sate your curiousity. His name is Kazekoi Minami. After a lot of thinking I decided to give him his father's family name. And his first name… Well, naturally it is a combination of the names of the two of us. And now when I write this missive, it has been exactly a week from Minami's birth. Meaning that his birth was on the January 25th, the same than yours. Which also reminds me to wish happy birthday to you. I hope you like your present. I hope you will never need it but with the way nations have been stirring, I'm afraid a new war might begin soon.
But how have you been, my dearest brother? Do you still have your team? How are they doing? And what about Kushina-san? Are you two still together?
From your lovable little sister
Nanami"
Year 5 BNT: Kisaragi Shigure
Shigure knew he was short. After all he was only nine years old. But he wanted to change the world. He wanted to protect his village Amegakure. And this… This organization called Akatsuki might be the way. Shigure knew people had joined it with a goal to establish peace. The boy didn't know exactly what peace was though. Absence of war? Wasn't that right?
Nevertheless, the boy still though that organization led by a man named Yahiko was his answer. Shigure was a skilled ninja. Sort of. At least he thought he was doing alright but didn't have people to help him. Only street thugs to fight with and they were lousy rats. Easily down and the scurrying away. But he could always learn more. The senbon needles he always on his person had already been in frequent use with varying successs rate.
So yes, Shigure was short and young and looked down on but it didn't give any right for this man to laugh at him.
"Just go away brat." The man, wearing the robes distinctive to Akatsuki, made a shooing motion with his hand.
"No! I want to help! I can help! I don't want this country be stepped on again!" It was the Third Great Shinobi war now. And during the first months of the war the organization had been established.
"Kie, what is going on here?" A woman's voice asked from behind the man.
"Konan-san?!" The man, now known as Kie, jumped. Shigure tilted his head to see a woman in Akatsuki garb, blue hair and a paper flower in her hair. The boy wondered why she had that flower since it was made of paper and in this country paper easily got wet.
"This brat wants to join…" Kie began but didn't continue when the woman's attention was already on the boy.
"Is that so? Why don't we go to talk with Yahiko and Nagato then?"
"Really?" The two males asked, one in disbelief and the other with excitement.
"Why not? It sounded like you really want to help." The woman offered a small smile that was pretty but somewhat out of place on her otherwise stoic face.
A year later Yahiko was killed as well as almost everyone else of the group. Only Nagato (who was the new leader), Konan (who would follow her friend anywhere) and Shigure (who had been hiding during the entire confrontation) were left. At first Shigure decided to continue following the two founders but then began to realize that the new direction of the organization was too much for him.
"I've seen enough war." The then twelve-year-old boy had told the two and left, making his way slowly to Tanigakure no Sato.
Year 1 BNT: Torino Karasu
There was tension in the air. Karasu frowned as she walked on with her two brothers: Taka and Washi. The three of them were a team: Tori no San. It was a funny play of words even though the situation anything but funny. It was the war after all. The trio had infiltrated the Kusa no Kuni to look for casualties who could still be saved and maybe thus expand the ninja forces of Tani or then gain respect and debt from the other countries when fully healed ninjas were returned to them.
"Anything?" Washi asked and turned to look at Taka who was keeping the rear of their group.
"There has been a battle not far from here." Taka replied. "Most likely between Konoha and Iwa. The Chakra saturation is reaching even this spot."
The Torino clan was known for their powerful Chakra Sensor ninjas. Some specialized to larger areas, like Taka, and some rather pinpointed individuals, like Karasu. There was some people who tried to claim that their ability was originated from the Hyuugas' Byakugan. While it could neither be confirmed nor denied, the specifics of their abilities were being kept under wraps and children given cover names to protect them. Some people didn't understand why because their family names was more than enough indication of who they were. But it could be attributed as just a quirk of the clan, like Uchihas' superiority complex or Hyuugas' Curse Seal placed on the Branch Family members.
"We should go and look." Washi stated and glanced at Karasu. "Are you alright, Karasu-chan?"
"Yeah… Just tired to all this fighting." The black haired girl rubbed her pale blue eyes.
"No worries, after this battlefield we'll rest." Taka comforted the youngest of them. As she was the only medic of their team, it fell upon her to check the injured ninjas while Washi and Taka sealed them into storage scrolls in a deep comatose state. Not that there had been much people still able to be saved. Some civilians and one or two shinobi from either side. But visiting the battlefields was still grueling.
The siblings made their way to the opening where several Iwa ninjas were lying. The terrain there was fractured and in general disarray. The usual result from Earth Techniques in the other words.
"They are all dead." Washi mused a crouched by the closest one. "They all experienced a quick death. And according to the lingering Chakra signature this was done by only one person… Damn, such a strong Konoha-nin…"
"H-Hey! Karasu! Where are you running to?" Taka shouted suddenly.
"There is one still alive!" The young woman yelled over her shoulder. "Underneath all these rocks!"
Indeed there was a rock formation that looked like a cave had collapsed. Most likely the cave had been made by Iwa-nin and then made to collapse upon whomever was there trapped. Karasu was already by it, her hands against the stone and her eyes closed. She was trying to pin point the Chakra signatures exact location so they'd get the victim out of there sooner.
"He is closer to the north-west side of these rocks. And not in a good condition…" The woman informed.
"Alright then, step aside Karasu." Taka fastened his gloves better on his hands and began a series of hand-seals while walking to north-west. Washi and Karasu followed the eldest of the siblings, prepared to move the body of the unfortunate victim into safety as soon as the rocks were out of the way.
"Doton: Suna no Kiso."
(Earth release: Sand Foundation)
Taka slammed his palm against the stone which immediately began to crumble into fine, fine sand. Washi and Karasu both crouched slightly to see better when the barely alive ninja would be visible. It took at least two meters into the stone before a hand was visible.
"There!" Washi began pushing the sand aside and grabbed that hand, a way too small of a hand which seemed to have been crushed by the stones. Actually, when the sand was gone(thanks to some Air Release technique) and the boy on a solid ground, it was obvious that a half of the kid's body was beyond repair. At least beyond mere field healing's help.
"This is sick… Putting kids into war…" Taka muttered on the background while Karasu was already assessing the damage and healing what she could. It seemed that the boy's left eye was also missing but it showed signs of being surgically removed by a medic-nin. Probably the boy's comrade… After all he had Konoha's hitai-ate and there was only two clans in Konoha who had eye-based bloodline limit. The Uchiha's and the Hyuuga's. So there was no wonder that the eye shouldn't fall into the hands of enemies. The Torino's could understand it. After all their Sensor ability could also manifest in the eyes, making it more accurate but less broad. Karasu was a good example of this. Her eyes had once been dark blue but after years of training were of very pale shade of it. The short-range talent of hers came handy as a medic in pinpointing the problems of chakra flow just by sight and thus observing the healing process differently than a regular medic-nin.
"What do you think, Karasu?" Washi asked after a moment of silence.
"He will live. But probably never continue as a ninja. Unless…" Karasu trailed off with a thoughtful frown on her face.
"Unless what?" Taka frowned. He didn't like the feeling he was getting from his sister.
"There is a technique of restoring body… by transferring the damage on the user… And usually costing so much Chakra that the user dies afterwards if the wounds already don't do so."
"What?!" The brothers exclaimed.
"I want to save this boy. War is wrong and he is only a child despite being a ninja. He deserves another chance. And I'm tired. So tired to all this." The woman rubbed a hand across his face. "This far I've managed to heal his lungs and made sure his heart keeps beating. But everything else… The broken bones, torn muscles and tendons, crushed skull, bruised internal organs, damaged nerves… It is a wonder he is still alive."
"Are you sure about this Karasu?" Washi asked carefully.
"Washi! You can't seriously agree to thi-." Taka began.
"But I am. I agree to anything Karasu wants to do. Because she is right. This was is wrong and this boy should have never been here. And if we can help… even one person, then why not?" The middle child looked seriously at the eldest before turning to assess his sister. "But are you absolutely sure you want to do this? The technique is one step from being forbidden."
"Washi-nii… You of all people know me. You know how tired I'm to all of this." Karasu smiled wanly. At those words Taka came to kneel beside his siblings and pulled them into a hug.
"The last time together. As Tori no San." The heir of Torino clan stated and whispered then. "Any last requests, Karasu?"
"Look after each other. Look after the boy. He will become a Torino through me now." Karasu filled her hand with Chakra and let it hover by her left eye. She slowly pulled away from her brothers and began the transplant process. "Keep his heritage secret from anyone outside the Clan… And Taka-nii…"
"Yes?"
"Marry Nanami-san finally. You've been engaged for a year now."
"Fuinjutsu, Yangton: Fushoo-sha no Seikatsu Tensoo!"
(Sealing technique, Yang release: Wounded Life Transfer)
And thus Torino Karasu gave her life in saving the boy of Konohagakure. The boy of Uchiha clan, Obito, became Washi's adopted son and brother to Torino Itami. And while the boy would always remember Konoha and his old team fondly, he'd also find a new home at Tanigakure.
It should also be noted that in the next message that Namikaze Nanami sent to her brother, she cheerfully informed him of her finalized marriage and congratulated of him becoming the Yondaime Hokage. At the same she lamented the fact that Minato had been unable to attend the wedding ceremony but she admitted that Minato was probably too busy and in general wouldn't enjoy the stuffy ceremony. Besides, she had also been unable to attend his inauguration ceremony.
"By the way…" Nanami wrote once coming back from visiting Washi. "Minami has made a friend. He was a bit lonely at first but seems nevertheless to enjoy life at Torino compound. I've seen him stare at Tsubame-chan for hours end occasionally and yesterday I was introduced to her brother Fukurou-kun. He is such a sweet boy and has been recuperating from a mission gone wrong. He absolutely adores both Minami and Tsubame-chan. Speaking of children, when have you and Kushina-san though about having a child? Oh, wait you need to marry her first. Hah, that's strike two in things I did before you Minato-nii…"
And thus you know now how major players moved to set the board again. Later on there would be repercussions just as there will be more stones thrown into the river and cause ripples.
AN/: Alright... Here was some made up techniques, characters mentioned, characters created solely for this fic... And a great turnabout!
During this fic I try to use the English names in narration unless I deem it stupid sounding. In the speech of the character I prefer Japanese.
NOTES:
-Namikaze Nanami and Kazekoi Kenta: Created solely for this fic and Nana is already one of my favourites! Minami is the character I was thinking when creating these two. Back in the day he resembled greatly the fourth Hokage so I thought why not make him actually related to him. Originally he was named Minami Kazeto but I decided to change it because the surname sounded stupid.
-Shigure: An new character that I needed for a team. And diversity of villages. And thought why not make him an ex-member of the very first Akatsuki.
-The Torino's: Karasu is the only original one of my OCs and her function in reviving Obito is still the same but the timing, company, and the jutsu itself is different since she is from the time I still thought Obito was dead(from around Kakuzu-Hidan arc). The Torino clan is weird in their secrecy but in the other hand so are all the other clans too with their quirks.
-The Hanada's: Flower Field Clan. I try to differentiate them from Yamanaka's but it's sort of hard...
-Jutsus: totally butchered Japanese with the help of GOOGLE trnsltr... But they sound grand, don't they?
()
This is all I have for the opening chapter. I hope you enjoyed this and would like to know more about. Unfortunately I have no art about these because they are all pretty new... In the up-coming chapters I'll take a character at the a time and write about the major events in their life as we approach the time line of the canon series. In the next chapter you shall have: Namikaze Nanami!