A/N: New story. Don't kill me. This will likely be my main focus right now, as I'm pretty determined. ALSO: There is a poll up on my profile regarding this story already (for curiosity's sake, if anyone even becomes interested in this). Also x2: Imp. A/N at the end.
/[v]+[v]+[v]+[v]\
"To be nobody but
yourself in a world
which is doing its best day and night to make you like
everybody else means to fight the hardest battle
which any human being can fight and never stop fighting."
― E.E. Cummings
/[v]+[v]+[v]+[v]\
There was something to be said about living in an area with weather that ranged from consistent drizzle to heavy downpour – and none of the words Chika had for it were particularly nice. Perhaps if she had better living conditions she would have a few nicer things to say, but then again most of the people in the Land of Rain didn't live in the best conditions. Or maybe if she herself had been a shinobi like her husband Yuuma had been –
No, she wasn't going to go there. Not when the barest thought of it – of him – caused her heart to wrench painfully in her chest.
Shinobi weren't a problem – or the problem, rather – for Chika. No, she had a family history that left her on a neutral plane when it came to shinobi. But that didn't mean that the thought of someone that she cared for being a shinobi and getting hurt didn't upset or hurt her; then again that was pretty much the same for most families, wasn't it? That wasn't really important right now though, what was important was getting Yuuka and then getting home.
Fingers – damp from the mist of rain that Chika's rather miserable patchwork umbrella didn't quite block – clenched around the handle of a rather beat-up basket, said basket was being held quite close to her body as she hurried along down the streets. After all, with the state of disrepair the Land of Rain had been in for years upon years, there was no lack of petty thieves – most were children (though the numbers were thinning as they were pulled into the academy), and while Chika pitied them (she had two of her own, after all, and these street-kids reminded her of what-could-be) she didn't pity them enough to lose what food she had with the meager money she and Souma earned.
Chika was rather disgruntled by that – having her twelve year old, genin ranked son being the main source of income for their home (and if she was being honest she was also displeased with the fact that her son was a shinobi – as being a shinobi in Amegakure was never a for-sure thing when it came to safety). But her own part-time work as an assistant at the local, shabby apothecary just wasn't enough.
"Got what you needed, dear?" Speaking of the apothecary – there was the brittle voice of the older woman the owned and ran the place.
A blush nearly rose to Chika's cheeks as she realized she hadn't really been paying too close attention to her surroundings – never a good thing, in most cases, but everything still seemed to be in her basket (or maybe she really was just too paranoid now-a-days).
"Ah, yes, I did, Fukui-san." Chika smiled kindly at the older woman, "I'm sorry for leaving Yuuka-chan with you for so long."
"Oh, no, not at all," the patter of the rain provided a dull ambiance to the conversation, though the dreary outside didn't dampen the kindness in Fukui's smile or voice, "She's a smart little thing – asked all sorts of questions about the salves and other products and seemed to take everything in like a sponge. And you know how much I like to prattle on. And haven't I already told you to call me Asuka, dear?"
Chika's smile was one full of motherly pride – but behind that pride was a modicum of worry. Because while Chika was proud of how intellectual her little Yuuka was, that didn't mean she wanted knowledge of that little fact to spread around. While there was no war, Rain didn't have an over-abundance of shinobi, and if Yuuka wanted to be a shinobi later on that was fine – but she didn't want her daughter carted off without a decision and much too young with too low of a life expectancy to go along with that youth.
Intelligence was a dangerous thing – any person could tell you that, especially the shinobi.
"Yuuka-chan does love to learn, I'll admit."
"Don't worry," Asuka's smile was kind, knowing, "I wouldn't say anything to get Yuuka-chan carted off. While we need shinobi, we don't need shinobi this small."
The responding smile Chika sent her was grateful, but strained, "Thank you, Fu- Asuka-san. I know it's inevitable, but I want her to have a childhood of some sort beforehand."
"Is it inevitable?" Asuka's gnarled hands shuffled some papers aside, "There are ways."
Before Chika could even think of responding the drumming of feet broke through the pitter-patter of the rain –
"Mommy? Mommy, Fukui-san told me all about that healing salve."
"Did she now?" Chika placed a hand on her daughter's head to ruffle her deep turquoise hair (a token from her father), smiling softly as eyes the same pale blue as her own peered up from a pale and smiling face.
"Mmhmm," Yuuka rocked back on her heels, "I know everything that goes in it – I could probably make it."
The two adults had few doubts about that – Yuuka was young and often got a bit distracted, but with the proper supervision the child could undoubtedly do many a thing that other four year olds couldn't do, including making a salve or two. Though there was little chance that they'd be letting the child near anything just yet, as the ingredients for the apothecary were generally very hard to come by in Rain. Yuuka was smart enough to know not to touch anything without permission too – though that never stopped her from roaming around Asuka's private, small, indoor garden (nor did it stop her from pestering her mother with constant questions about starting her own).
Chika had no idea why the girl had a fascination with plants, though. More specifically flowers – Chika supposed it started with an old musty anthology with some rough sketches from this very apothecary that started it (and back then all her baby could do was look at the pictures). Her fixation was probably only worsened by the fact that she didn't get to see most of them, and Chika could only imagine what the child would do once she did.
"I'm sure you could, Yuu-chan." Yuuka beamed up at her mother all while gripping at the fabric of her pants, "Ready to head home, then? See you tomorrow, Fu- Asuka-san."
But the whole way home Chika couldn't help but wonder – was it possible? Could she find a way to make it to where Yuuka didn't have to become a shinobi? Or where she'd at least have a choice, or at least a better chance? The simple answer to that, Chika decided, was yes. Though the only real way to do so would be to leave Amegakure – leave the Land of Rain altogether – and enter either a civilian town in another land or one of the larger villages with actual Kage in charge.
Something like that, though, seemed almost impossible.
Besides, Rain wasn't that bad; Chika didn't like the way things might work out, but there was nothing particularly horrible about her home now that Hanzō wasn't in charge. And they weren't in the beginning, middle, or end of a war – the civil unrest was simmering down too. A wispy breath pushed past Chika's lips –
Surely, by the time Yuuka got out of the academy things would be even better. She still had a year until she entered, and hopefully five or six years until she graduated. But despite all of that Chika still felt unnerved, but she pushed it aside as general parental worry – possibly exacerbated by motherly instincts.
Her little Yuuka would be fine; Souma too.
Now if only Yuuka didn't find stomping in particularly deep puddles a fun pastime.
/[v]+[v]+[v]+[v]\
Souma knew his mother didn't much like him being a ninja – not that she wasn't proud or supportive, it just made her jumpy. He couldn't blame her for that after the loss of his father on a mission gone wrong a little over two years ago. It hurt to remember that day, and sometimes it hurt to look at his little sister Yuuka – for as bad as that sounded, the four year old did look a lot like Noya Yuuma aside from the color of her eyes (plus, Souma was pretty sure something had happened with his maternal-grandfather, too, but his mother wasn't too fond of speaking of her childhood).
Perhaps that was why their mother seemed fonder of her than him – even if seeing the similarities hurt, Yuuka was a reminder in both blood and looks; not that she wasn't fond of Souma himself either. Souma figured that his mother was probably scared to lose him like she had his father, and he was scared of that too. But –
"Souma-kun," his teammate's muddy-brown hair swished around her shoulders as she turned, "Asahi-sensei is ready to go – he and Kensuke-kun are waiting just past the tree line."
"Right," Souma hefted his pack onto his shoulders, pushing his light brown bangs back as he followed after his teammate, "Let's go, Nami-chan."
It was with some regret that Souma thought back to this mission – it was a simple C-Rank where they had to deliver s package to a small civilian town in the Land of Grass – and how much he was going to miss the weather and plants of the neighboring land. As of last evening they had made it back within Rain's borders and the difference was significant, but Rain was his home and he wasn't planning on leaving or giving it up any time soon.
After all, their leaders had fought hard to get Rain out of the hands of the Hanzō. Souma might not remember it happening – but he was very grateful after having heard the stories.
"Say, Souma," Kensuke drawled some time during the final stretch of their trip home, his expression making him constantly look morose, "What exactly was that stuff you brought back from Kusa?"
"Oh – they're books on the different types of flowers. My sister likes plants, so," Souma flicked some damp hair from his face, "I figure she'd like to read about 'em…eventually."
Kensuke was silent for a moment, Ame coming into view just through the fog and drizzling rain, "Your sister seems really weird."
"Kensuke-kun." Nami admonished, a hood covering her hair and fluttering around her face, "You shouldn't be rude.
"You seem like a good brother," Nami commented to Souma before her voice gained an odd tone that was a mix of amusement and confusion, "But it does seem a bit odd to bring home a book on flowers to a four year old."
Souma shrugged, their fast past gradually slowing as they approached the gates, "I guess it is kind of weird. But that's okay, isn't it? I mean, everyone is at least a little weird in some way or another."
Nami's lips twitched up a bit at the corners, "I guess so."
"Whatever." Was Kensuke's only contribution.
"Alright, Team D," the three genin turned to peer up at their sensei, whose face was casually disinterested and whose voice always seemed to have a sharp edge, "Go home, decompress, and we won't meet up until one for general training tomorrow."
The man disappeared in a burst of water, spraying the three genin with more water alongside what was already falling from the sky. He'd done it every time since they'd met him – so it wasn't much of a surprise in the long run; though that didn't mean it didn't annoy the three genin any less now that they were somewhat used to it. But with the way he and the others quickly bid each other goodbye and split up Souma figured that they were just about done with each other after that mission – spending more than a week together in fairly close quarters had left him feeling a bit swarmed and annoyed, so he figured it was probably the same for the other two as well (or maybe he was just weird; he wasn't overly fond of big crowds or constant human interaction in close quarters).
Souma about wanted to hurl his pack across the room once he got home, as the pack that previously hadn't been a bother had seemed to triple in weight once he got home and the fatigue started setting in. Which was also why Yuuka was able to effortlessly bowl him over once he stepped into the main room.
"Sou-nii is home!" Yuuka's high pitched tone crooned over the pitter-patter of rain, "How was Kusa, Sou-nii? How different is it to Ame? Think I can go there one day?"
"Kusa was really nice, Yuu-chan. There were a lot of plants and the grass was really green." Souma took the weight of his sister settled in his lap without a problem, an amused glint lighting his eyes at Yuuka's bright expression, "It's super different to Ame; there are a lot more colors – and they're really bright. It doesn't rain as much there either.
"In fact, it didn't rain at all while we were there." Souma took notice of their amused mother in the doorway to the kitchen and sent her a smile before finishing up with his answers to Yuuka's questions, "And I'm sure you can go there one day if you become a super strong kunoichi."
Yuuka fidgeted, but before she could continue what would most likely be a series of questions, she stopped herself.
"Yuu-chan? Did you have something else you wanted to ask?"
A sheepish grin crossed her pale face, "Sou-nii is tired. I can wait until you're rested."
"Yuu-chan is right, Souma." Chika proffered a cup of tea to her son, "Come have a snack and then clean up and get some sleep."
Food sounded great to Souma, though one more look at his little sister's face sent a jolt through him – he had a feeling he'd been forgetting something. Souma nearly cursed as he tripped up on the edge of a loose floorboard, his mother sending him a look that could curdle milk as his almost-slip-up and Yuuka giggling with a knowing grin off to the side (he'd heard her curse before, though there was no way he could tell on her as he was undoubtedly the one she'd learned them from. Though she was smart enough not to say them around their mother – but Souma was sure the twerp would slip up sooner or later).
"Here, Yuu-chan, I brought some stuff back from Kusa." The two encyclopedia like books were placed almost immediately into Yuuka's enthusiastically outstretched hands, "They're books about flowers – kind of like an encyclopedia. Sorry I couldn't bring you real ones."
"I've never seen some of these!" Yuuka was flipping through the pages one by one so she could see all the different plants, and she had sunk to her butt almost unconsciously as she did so, and Souma couldn't help but to smile – though part of him, deep down inside was both worried and afraid.
Yuuka was smart – no normal four year old would talk like she did, nor did they have the patience to sit and read an anthology on plants, nonetheless be able to comprehend it like she did. It wasn't normal, Souma knew that, and it kind of scared him because it was just so abnormal; but it also worried him for the same reason. Especially since their mother had requested that he not tell anyone much about Yuuka until she eventually went off to the Academy (in about a year she would do just that – little Yuuka turned five in less than a month; six was the starting age).
"I think these are my favorites!" Yuuka shimmied in her spot, "They're called tulips and they come in a bunch of colors, but they look real simple.
"You're the best, Sou-nii!"
Yeah, his sister was weird, but he could live with that.
/[v]+[v]+[v]+[v]\
"Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit"
― E.E. Cummings
/[v]+[v]+[v]+[v]\
A/N: Tulips & Chimneys is going to be somewhat of a massive struggle for me, I'll tell you that first and foremost. It's something I haven't attempted before (that being a story that consistently has 3k+ words a chapter and involves a prodigy-OC).
And yes, Yuuka will be a prodigy. She will be both smart and skilled – how skilled I can't (and won't) just come out and say, nor will I say what skills she has/might have. As for where we are in the Naruto timeline – well, if you caught it above, it's after the death of Yahiko and Hanzō.
Take that as you will.
Chika doesn't want people knowing about Yuuka's intelligence because she wants Yuuka to be a child for a little longer, considering how much death and horror has happened in the recent past of Amegakure. Souma kind of understands – and he is afraid because he has never seen/met a prodigy child. Someone who he can clearly tell is different, but is his sister, so he doesn't want her to be hurt in any way.
I think that covers most of what I wanted to say.
/[v]+[v]+[v]+[v]\
Yuuka Noya – Four-going-on-five – (優花; "gentleness, superiority" "flower")(野矢; "field" "arrow")
Turquoise hair; short and in two small pig-tails with straight-cut bangs. Icy-blue eyes. Very pale.
Souma Noya – Son/Brother; Alive, genin – 12 – (颯真; "suddenly, smoothly" "real, true")
Light brown hair; shaggy, bangs semi-long. Icy-blue eyes. Tan-ish skin tone.
Chika Noya – Mother; alive, civilian – 32 – (千花; "Thousand""flower")
Light brown hair pulled into a tidy bun at all times. Icy-blue eyes. Tan-ish skin tone.
Yuuma Noya – Father; deceased – (優真; "gentleness, superiority" "real, true")
Turquoise hair, black eyes, was very pale.
/[v]+[v]+[v]+[v]\