This can barely even be called as a fanfic. It's more like a... fake fanfic. Where the main characters barely appear and most of the stuff is made up based on the actually story. Nevertheless, I decided to do a fic like this. I am really trying to shoot for... deep meaning fic. Although I don't think I am qualified to write something like that, I hope I will get better at it. Ah~~ here we go.
People do not like to read useless stuff, Skip to the about 1/5 down and start reading. Don't say the first part sucks. It's necessary for plot. = =
Oh and since i didn't know that fanfic has a really skewed up spacing problem, i'll use the dashes shows elapse of time, i'll resubmit this.
Part 1
It's hard to be the aunt of Pain in Amegakure
"If you have the choice, would you go back in time and redo something that you have done wrong?"
"No."
"Why? Don't you have any regrets in life?"
"No."
"None at all? Not one single thing that you did?"
"No."
---------
I am living in a world where I considered being one of the high intelligent species. Cars, planes, and computers appear every single day. Rockets and space stations are floating around in outer space. It is the year 2009.
The most tragic thing I found in life is something called school. Because it is slowly corrupting my mind with useless information (in my opinion), and what is the use of acing school when there is no hope for you in life?
I am at an age where all my female friends have... that is to say, boyfriends, lovers, affairs... What ever you want to call it. Intimate relationship with the opposite sex... I sound so corny even now. But still everything started under a cherry tree, where Mei and I were eating lunch.
We were with a bunch of other friends, talking and chatting, when someone spotted a guy walking towards us.
Of course, it's not a surprise when guys come to talk to us. All my friends are really pretty, usually it's not my business because I tend to befriends with guy rather than actually gets intimate with them. Humans are superficial. With my looks I can pass as a normal and average. Not that I care. I'm happy the way I am.
But that guy isn't a normal average guy. When I looked up I saw his figure--he was dressing in all black--and I thought that he must be cold blooded, considering its like 90 degrees outside.
And I later found out how right I was. But that's not until much, much later.
He stopped when he was around 5 meters away from us. By this time every member of our little circle all stopped what we are doing and stared at him. Some even whistled, because undoubtly, he is hot.
He has fairly long black hair, his bangs hanging on down from his face. He has delicate and graceful features. He should appear in a comic book, where all male characters are inhumanly beautiful, and later, once again, I had to compliment on my instincts.
"Hello." He smiled at us and said softly.
Several of us gasped dramatically. Hic voice sounds like silk. The kind of voice where it sounds like honey was dripping on velvet. I blinked at him, and then quickly went back to my lunch and ate as fast as possible.
"Hi!"
"Hello!"
"Well, look, what do we have here...?"
Immediately my friends are surrounding him and practically all over him. He did not show any sign of displeasure, instead he talked with them in his soft and graceful way.
"What do you think?" Mei asked me.
"Nine." I said while finishing the last of my lunch.
"...Whoa, that's the highest yet." Mei said.
"Because he's smart." I said
It is true. Judge from what I have seen so far, he has a purpose of being here. If he does not, then he would not put up with their... swooning over him. I believe my friends do have brains of their own and doesn't go crazy over him. I really do not want to have one of them showing on my steps at the middle of the night with a suit case and a pathetic expression on their face that clearly written "I've been dumped."
"So what do you want?" I asked bluntly after finishing my yogurt.
"...Miss..." He smiled at me, and looks startled.
"My name is Chiro." I said in a kind way. Thinking that if he can act, I could act better, it's ok to be nice to everyone at first, just not later on.
He did something that surprised us all. He was suddenly quiet. He closed his eyes and breathed out deeply, then smiled.
Oh my god, when he smiles, it seems like the whole world would melt right there. But it's also strange. Why he smiles like that, as if he is suppressing something inside of him for a very long time, and let it out piece by piece, instead of exploding it.
"My name is Itachi. Uchiha Itachi." He said to me kindly. "I was looking for you."
I might want to point out, at that time; none of us girls cares about Naruto. Therefore we have absolutely no idea who he is. Although it is very bold and sad that he didn't even bother to hide his name.
---
It's been three month since I have met him. I found that he is surprisingly well educated in the history of Japan, and the arms and weapons area. He always smiles when facing anyone. That light smile that would dazzle anybody he wanted to dazzle. As if he doesn't know he has the power to dazzle others, he uses that smile almost all the time when facing strangers. Like our first serious conversation:
"If you think I am going to fall heads over heel for you like all my other friends then--"
Smile, "Did I say that?"
"...Well, if you have any ill intentions and mean any harm to me or the people around me--"
Smile, "Why would I have any ill intentions?"
"......I hate you."
Smile.
".........Stop smiling!"
"Why?"
"It's annoying!!!"
"...Oh. Do you mean that you already has fallen in love with me but don't want to admits it because it would be against your philosophy to fall in love with a stranger you have never met before?" And then smile.
"................. = =+" It is at that time, I realized he is evil. He is not only evil, he is very, very evil.
"Do you want to go out with me?"
I almost chocked. No wait, I did choke. On a bottle of diet coke.
"Why would I go out with a stranger?" I asked him crossly, after I coughed for like an hour. And he sat there looking at me with a smile on his face.
He said in a soft way. "What are you talking about? We're not strangers."
When he said that I almost saw a hint of his true emotion. Is it regret? Is it disgust? I'll never know, because at that point I am no match for him.
"What?" I asked.
"I mean-- We've known each other for 7 hours, right?"
"....."
And that is our first conversation. I don't remember ever agreeing to it, but somehow I'm showing him to my parents and my friends. We always went out together, and the feeling was addictive.
---
After three month I practically was facing enemies on all sides. Everyone I care about doesn't like him that much.
"You don't know anything about him! Where does he work? What does he do? His race and religion... His monthly income (= =lll How realistic is my mom…) What if he decided to ditch you?" That was from my mom.
And so when I got home I asked him softly, "What do you do for a living?"
He thought about it and said, "I'm an assassin."
I roared with laughter.
He smiles lightly and didn't say anything.
"What is your monthly income?"
"Any amount I wish it to be."
"Where do you work?"
"Anywhere I wish to work."
"Do you believe in god?"
"No."
"Are you going to ditch me?"
He didn't say anything, but caressed my face and said, "No."
It's the first time that he lied to me, and I realized later that lying once meaning lying over and over again later...
He was always going through books about history, philosophy, and weapons. I was under the impression that he was searching for something. But whenever I asked about it, he always smiles, and that alone, is enough to take my breath away.
"I'm leaving for a while." He said one day.
"Where are you going?" I asked, sit up from the couch.
"To a place where I belong." He said. And then handed me a pendent. It was a small charm in the shape of a leaf.
And when he walked out of that door, I felt that I was never going to see him again.
Then the realization slowly sinks in to me after that day. He didn't come back ever since. The only thing he left--to prove his existence-- was the small leaf shaped pendent. But who cares about that…
"I knew you guys would separate." Mei commented.
I glared at her. Finally I was beginning to lead a normal life, but she was ruining it.
"You guys are too much alike." She said.
"...."If I look half as good as him, then I would have no problem finding my other half, which I chose to be him anyway.
"There was always something... Something strange. You both are really kind..."
"Ahahahaha..." If that guy is kind, then I am an angel.
From the first time that we met, I chose him, I chose him to be mine forever, none other. And how did that affect me? Look at me now. I am practically one of my friends who show up on my doorstep with their suit case and with a pathetic expression written all over their face that clearly says, "I've been dumped."
Oh my god. I've been dumped.
I jumped up from the couch, the chips that were lying on my laps flew away, and lying on the other side of the room.
"What?" Mei asked, while cleaning up the mess I made.
"What is that?" I pointed to the TV.
There was a commercial about Naruto. The DVD version was released outside of Japan.
"Naruto." Mei said naturally, "I kind of liked it. Hey! There is this really cool kid's brother resembles your boyfriend, but he is a mass murderer, and he never smiles, Uchiha-san, I mean. Not him…hey! They even have the same name… Oh no, he gave you a fake name! Poor Chiro… he must be addicted to Naruto too, then…"
I turned to stone.
"I'm an assassin."
"I'm going back to where I belong..."
From that moment on, I decided the next time that I see him; I'm going to kill him.
That is, if I could.
I begin to dive desperately in to the world of Naruto. I read every chapter, watched every episode, and found that Kishimoto wrote a lot of crap, and the only thing I cared about is like... 80 episodes later.
At that time I decided that I am going. I am going to the Universe of Naruto and find him, then kill him.
------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------
I woke up finding my self among piles of garbage. I sat up looked around, and saw that it's raining.
It's around dawn, or twilight. Whichever, and I am surrounded by empty, old, buildings and garbage.
How do I know its garbage? Because it stinks.
And how do I know it's not 2009 anymore? Because with all the corporations, there is no way a place like this would be left deserted.
And how do I know I'm in Naruto?
Because Pain in staring right at me, around a few meters away from me.
I screamed.
"AHHHHH~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"
Not because I'm scared of Pain, but it's just this is too sudden, and yeah, I am scared of Pain.
He didn't do anything. He just stood there, in his dirty little shirt and pants, staring at me.
Wait, shirt and pants?
I stopped screaming and took a close look at him.
He looks no bigger than nine or ten!
The scream turned in to laughter. "Ahahahahahahahahahahahaha~~~"
"...." He still stared at me.
"I'm here!" I yelled, "I'm HERE!!!!!"
He still looked at me like I'm crazy.
Perhaps I am... I don't care anymore. I don't care. Because I am at a time where Naruto didn't even born--or did he? I don't care. I don't care about anything at all. I just sat there, laughs, screams, and then I cried.
I cried as hard as I could, bitterly.
I hate him, I hate him, I hate him, next time I see him I am going to kill him and tell him what a jerk he is and I am going to...
Something was in my hand. It's rubbing against my palm and it hurts.
I opened my hand, and saw a small, green leaf charm. It's glowing.
"Hi…" I said nervously to Pain.
He raised an eyebrow, and I found out that he looks actually really cute without all the piercing stabbing in to him.
"I'm Chiro. How are you?" I asked politely and extended my hand out to him.
He turned around and walked away from me.
"…" At that moment I knew that I cannot let him away from my sight. First, he is the only real connection I have to Itachi. (5 years earlier but whatever) Second, if I don't cling to him, I might not even survive. And I don't want to make enemies with one of the strongest Shinobi in the world. That would be a bad idea.
"Wait!" I yelled, struggled to get up but I found my legs are numb.
He kept on going.
"You… Stop!" I yelled. "Stop it! Do not move! I…I was looking for you!"
Pain turned around and said in his childish voice, "What?"
"I… I'm one of your relatives!" I yelled.
Do not ask me how it got in to my head; it was entirely out of my control.
"…" He turned around and walked away.
"I'm your mother!" I screamed to him.
He stopped.
"'s sister's cousin… a couple of times removed." I added.
This time he didn't even stop. He walked deeper in to the slums.
I stared after him, and suddenly felt so sad. His little body was walking away from me in to the rain; his steps are slow and weak. He clearly hasn't eaten properly for months. But he still held his head up high and walked in to the rain with little dignity he had left.
One day he is going to get it back – all his pride and dignity.
I stood up and ran towards him. He stiffed and did not move an inch. I got in front of him and said, "I'll protect you!"
He sneered and walked past me.
"…" And I followed him.
The more I followed him the more I felt how sad he is, and the more I wanted to protect him as much as I could. I don't know how that is possible considering my abilities are practically none.
"Why are you following me?" He asked, turning around and faces me.
I stopped and said, "Because I looked for you for a long time and now I'm not going to let you go."
"…Why?" He asked.
"Because I knew you when you were just a baby…" I said in a confident way.
"Why does it matter?" He frowns, "I am no use to you, and I am only a child with no special abilities."
"You are unique in your own way." I said in a really angry voice, repeating things that have been told to every person on our planet all through out their life.
"… Whatever." He said, and then turned around.
"From this day on, I will stick to you and protect you. I will care for you and find your lost childhood and—" I said, but was interrupted by a voice inside a pile of garbage.
"Nagato, you're back?" This belongs to a soft and girlish voice. I gasped, not because of the sight of the girl, but the joy of seeing Konan, one of the greatest female ninjas alive. (of course around 5 years later)
Not that I shouldn't gasp, because the sight of her is hideous. I had this idea that all girls should be made from sugar and spice and everything nice, and I have never seen any girl who is this filthy and sad. This urge to wail in front of them swallowed me whole, but then Nagato ignored me and walked in to the garbage piled little tent.
I was soaking wet, but it didn't matter because it's pretty warm in this village. I still would like to be in a shelter before sundown, because there might be ninjas patrolling the street. And I do not have identification, so therefore I will be mistaken for a trespasser, since nobody would believe that I fell right out of the sky…
"Nagato, who is she?" Konan asked him.
"My aunt." Nagato said coldly.
"Bawahahahahahahahahaha~~" Another sound came from the garbage tent. It turned out to be a small boy, with orange hair.
I was immediately reminded of Naruto, but I knew that he can't be here right now. Naruto is in a safe village where there is protection.
"I don't believe you have an aunt!" Yahiko laughed so hard, "She looks nothing like you!"
I want to tell him that he looks like the biggest idiot in the world of Naruto, but then I refined myself from saying rude things like that to children. I am an adult and I will take on the responsibilities of being an adult even though I can barely be called an adult. Still. I am older than these kids. So I cleared my throat and said clearly, "I will protect all of you now."
"…" They stared at me for a few seconds and turned around, kept on doing whatever they were doing before. Konan was cleaning out a small fish, Nagato made the bed (after staring at it intently I figured out that it was a bed) and Yahiko was circling around me and asking me if I have food. Because he looks like that he would kill me if I don't have anything to eat.
"Gather around!" I yelled, "I have gifts for all of you!"
Immediately they all gathered around.
What superficial kids…
"This is a first time meeting gift. For Konan, this comb…" I pulled the small jaded comb decorated with tiny water color like roses imprinted on the surface. I cringed a bit because this cost me a total of $34.99 back in the days when I was on earth.
I saw her face glowed under the dim sunlight, her hair failed to cover her joy of receiving a gift, and she held it against her cheat for a long time after that.
Yahiko looked as if to tell her not to take it, but then he saw her joy too, so he didn't say anything.
"And for you…" I said to Yahiko, "a small pocket knife, to defend yourself, and your friends…"
I reached in to my pocket and fervently hoped that the small knife I put in the day before to warn off any muggers is still in my pocket. And to my surprise, it still is. It is a gift from my father, since he believed the best gift to give a girl my age is either pepper spray or pocket knife. I chose the pocket knife, because I could peel apples with it. It's quite elegant and enduring, actually. The surface is decorated with a couple pieces of amethyst, and swirling shapes embedded on to the actual metal surface.
"Use it wisely." I said importantly to Yahiko. He looks as if he received a million bucks. Actually I have no idea what to say in a situation like this, and that is exactly what my father said to me when he handed me the pocket knife. Except I didn't care about that as much, and Yahiko looks like he has burnt my words on the surface of his heart.
Nagato looked at me, expecting. I begin to feel bad. Because boys his age always wanted weapons for gifts, and believe it or not, on Earth it is not a habit of most people to carry a weapon with them all the time.
"Here." I took out my piercing from my ear. I only have one piercing on my left ear. And thank god I decided to wear the ruby earring the day before. Because it matches his hair and I am convinced it will look good on him.
His disappointment could not be described in words. I wanted to smack him, but I controlled my self and said, "Do you know why I'm giving this to you?"
"No." He said truthfully.
"It is to remind you, all the blood that has shed for you. To remind you to be strong and keep on living no matter what happens…" I said, sweat dropping, and making up things on the top of my head, "And do you know what ruby stands for?"
He looked respectfully at it and said, "No."
"Courage." I said, "It stands for courage."
Nagato's eyes glowed for a moment, but he quickly hides it.
By now the other two are staring at us, and all three of them have admiration in their eyes. I feel quite proud of myself, and said. "Ok. Promise me to use them wisely…"
They immediately went back to what they were doing before.
I snickered to my self. Even though they are Atatsuki, they are still children. And all children could be easily satisfied, but none of them could be lied to.
And my life at the Amegakure begins.
---
I soon learned the harsh realities of Amegakure.
The War of Amegakure broke out a couple of years ago, and now a new leader has emerged from the rest, Hanzo.
To say Hanzo is ugly is an understatement. To say he is low and pathetic is another understatement. He is the second cruellest person I have ever met in my entire life.
Unfortunately Uchiha remains at number one.
That is not the point. Because the second day I have start to live with the trio, Hanzo somehow has got the news a trespasser has successfully trespassed his village without being noticed, and thus has to be dealt with.
I suspect the three little brats knew about Hanzo coming for me, it's not necessarily any one of them who has betrayed me, but the fact that they knew I was going to die and still didn't react at all is what ticks me off.
The first night of sleep was exhausting. I was used to mattresses and isn't used to hard floor, with only my jacket as a blanket. And at the break of dawn, I heard a yelling came from outside of the garbage tent.
I was still half asleep when Yahiko pushes me out of the garbage tent as subtly as he could manage, and I was face to face with two shinobis.
"What?"
Before I could even be fully awake, they grabbed me by my arm and dragged me towards the center of Amegakure.
And so I was facing Hanzo.
"How?" He asked.
"Huh?" I was totally confused and didn't understand the situation at all.
"How did you trespass my village under my nose?" He yelled at me.
I whimpered and said, "I… I… I'm really sorry… I dunno…"
He looks like he was going to eat me alive.
Any other time I might find his huge head somehow funny, but then right now I would give anything to have the ability to smash his head in two.
"How?" He gritted his teeth and repeated.
I blinked and said, "I really don't know…"
"If you don't tell me," He said, "I will kill you."
"I know." I said stupidly, "but you see, when I got to your honourable village, which I think is the greatest village in the world by the way, I lost all my memories and…"
By this time I squeezed out all the water left in me through my eyes, which is a bad idea because I will be badly dehydrated later.
He laughed really hard, as if he doesn't believe me at all. Who can blame him? It's not like that I have a good excuse to trespass in his country.
"I really am innocent. I have no powers of any kind and I am not a ninja, there is no other place left for me to live… please take me in to your lovely country…" I sobbed in heart breaking way.
He looked at me for a long time and said, "Well…"
---
And that is where it got me to my position now. I am locked in a cell down in the dungeon (I'm not sure that it is a dungeon. It looks like one. Maybe Hanzo tortures people in this dungeon for his own please, that sick basterd. ) I am pretty sure they have used the art of hypnotism on me, because I passed out and woke up in a dungeon.
I first screamed as hard as I could, asking to be let out. But then I knew it is no use. When ninja in a black mask came up to me and said in a really menacing way, "If you don't confess, you'll be stuck in this death jail for the rest of your life!"
I was horrified. What is a death jail exactly? It is a jail, which criminals go in to until they die. There is hardly any chance that I will be ever let out. So I sat there and starting cursing Hanzo. From his ancestors to himself, from his dog to his socks…
And from that moment on I developed an undying hatred for Hanzo and swore to kill him sometimes. I think I was stuck in there for a day and a night when I heard a scream came from above.
I ran to the bars and tried to understand what's going on, but it was completely dark, and then I saw a pair of bright light, coming right at me.
"Auntie!" a childish voice yelled at me.
Any other day I would be hopping mad, but right now I am so grateful, because it's Nagato, Nagato came for me! I won't have to endure the sound of rats and the smell of shit in this death jail anymore!
But then a torch was lit, and I saw Hanzo and his ugly huge head behind Nagato.
"He told me you're his aunt." Hanzo said, still suspicious.
"…" I stared at Nagato, he was staring at me with his wide eyes, "Yes." I said, "Yes I am."
"Why didn't you say something before?" Hanzo asked, and I figured when he talks, his whole head gear must tremble too.
"Because Nagato doesn't think of me as his aunt, you see, he thinks I abandoned him when I actually didn't …"
"Did you?" Hanzo asked.
"No!" I gasped, "After the war, I was trying desperately to find him, but I could not because I have no money and I am not a ninja…"
This is the time I squeezed out all that water that was left from my body through my eyes. "Nagato!" I gasped and grabbed his small fists through the bar. "Please let me get out of here… I have to take care of my nephew…"
Hanzo looked at us for a long time. It's mostly me that was crying and Nagato stood there looking stubborn.
"Fine." He said finally, "You are now a citizen of Amegakure."
"Thank you! Thank you so much!" I said, and got all teary eyed. But later on I learned that Hanzo had an aunt that dies for him when he was young. So maybe that is why he was so kind hearted. Although I think he regrets it later when I steal food from his tray constantly to feed the three little black holes at home.
"As a citizen of Amegakure, you must contribute to our society, so starting today; you will work as one of the town hall janitor…"
I stared at him as he rambles on and on, and is horrified because in truth I have never worked for a day in my life. The most I did is to wash the dishes, no, only one dish. And that was my own dish.
I hate you. I said in my heart.
Nagato squeezed my hand back and looked at me in an expectant way. I suppose from now on I'll have to support three little brats now…
---
When we got back to the 'home', it's already dawn. Konan and Yahiko were waiting for us outside.
"We're back!" I said happily.
They both ran towards us, past me and to Nagato, asking if he was alright, and I was left alone behind them.
I figured the day Orachimaru suggests to kill them, I'll raise my hand in complete agreement.
The home they were living in consists of several sheets and a pole. The space is tiny and could barely fit three children. It was covered in junk in disguise, and it smells horrible.
I thought the first thing I would do is to get them a home.
"What are your names?" I asked the Konan and Yahiko.
"I'm Konan." She muttered softly.
"I'm Yahiko." The orange haired boy said.
I extended my hand out to them and smiled, "I'm Chiro. It's nice to meet you all…"
Of course they didn't shake it. Yahiko ran in to the forest to hunt for food, and Konan was preparing another tiny fish, Nagato said to me, "Make your self useful."
---
I have been here for almost a month and I felt like I could just lie down and die any moment now. Why do I think like this?
Let me give the dearest reader a typical day of me living in Amegakure.
I wake up at 5:33. Because there is no candles here and I go to sleep at around seven or eight. How was I woken up? Nagato was responsible for knocking my head with the washboard. Which is clearly family abuse, I should sue.
Of course there isn't any breakfast. So what do I do? I go to work on an empty stomach, and hope that Hanzo isn't particularly hungry that day, so I might scrape some leftovers. And I cannot eat it all. I tried to steal as much food as I could without Hanzo noticing. He has a huge appetite and loves to give out feasts to important people from other countries. At time like that I try to steal some food that is easy to preserve in this moist and warm environment. Then I will hide it on the way home. Because on the first couple of days I made a mistake of holding them in my arms and I was robbed, the three brats have nothing to eat; therefore I cried myself to sleep and endured their looks with the little dignity I had left. It is clearly I am not adapted in this environment.
In the mornings I am supposed to mop up the entire front hallway. Amegakure rains all the time, therefore everywhere anybody go will be muddy. And they don't even care about making the marble floor dirty, since I am going to mop it up around eight or nine times a day anyway. Between those times, I should clean out the stair handles, dust the vases and paintings, and basically keep the front hall clean. Around noon I will go to the kitchen and present the food trays to the dining room. I have to do it because I am the only one, other than Hanzo himself, is presentable to people in other countries. I am not thin to the point people could see my ribs and my bones on my finger. I have a feeling, a few more month of this, I will be. Also I don't have a deathly look in my eyes, the look that says to kill Hanzo. I do not hate him that much, since I have never experienced real hate. My number one enemy remains to be that damn Uchiha.
Around five or six in the afternoon I was allowed to go home. I ran home as fast as I could because I hate being in the streets alone. It looks like the set of 'I am Legend.' Except Will Smith is nowhere in sight, and there is no super cool racing cars. The citizens of Amegakure stared out at people who walk out on the streets in broad daylight (no day light. Cloudy rain all the time) behind the ruins, and wondering if the pedestrians have any food they can take away by force. I have seen women holding out their baby to strangers, begging for food, and that disturbed me so much that Nagato was actually worried.
"What is the matter with you?"
I told him what I saw.
He said, "Oh, so?"
I stared at him.
"It's common here."
"But… you're only a child…"
"There are no children in Amegakure." He said sadly.
I was confused, "What? But you are…"
"There are no children in Amegakure." He said, more determined this time.
After I got home, I watched and rested while the children practically inhaled all the food, and that is the time where I make a vow to bring more tomorrow. Bring more table cloth, more bread and buns, more rice and dried fish, more drumsticks…
Then it's time for bath. Nagato and Yahiko think I am insane to take a bath every single day. But in a village where there is no shampoo or conditioner or soap, a steaming bath is all I had left to enjoy my day. If that is taken away from me, I will kill something. Konan watched afar the first couple of days when I'm off to the hot spring (it's in a cave so there is no rain) then finally I persuaded her to come with me.
"All girls are supposed to be pretty and clean. Wash yourself every day, take care of yourself. Get in to this habit…" I said continuously as I scrubbed her hair, which was coated in dirt for about several months. I try the best I could, and finally after I week I see clean hair. Then I realized the feeling of been a mother.
"Is it true that you're Nagato's aunt?" She asked me one day.
I felt that Konan has opened up to me. She kind of follows me around when Nagato and Yahiko are busy, and sometimes she even talks to me.
"Of course!" I said confidently.
"…"
After a long time she said, "May I call you auntie too?"
I first stared at her, and then I hugged her as tight as I could.
"Of course you may! Of course you may!" I yelled.
I got Konan and Nagato in to a habit of using correct manners and languages. Although Yahiko doesn't bother.
"What's the use of that crap when I'm going to die soon?" He asked me.
I don't know how to answer him, because, whether he knows it or not, he is going to die soon.
And so Konan started calling me auntie.
Every time she does, I think about how, in the future, when Nagato forms Atatsuki, every single member has to call me 'auntie', even Kisame and Uchiha, Deidera and Sasori… Oh my. Thinking of that makes me feel so happy. I'd be like the elder of all Atatsukis.
Then I thought about by the time that happens, I will be old. At least five years older than Uchiha. Which sucks.
"Why is she happy and angry at the same time?" Nagato asked Yahiko.
To which Yahiko replied, "She is insane. It's not like that's news to you."
"Hey! I'm your auntie!" I yelled, and smacked his head.
He replied in a dull way. "Yes, auntie."
After the bath it's time for bed. I couldn't shake away this uncomfortable feeling that our neighbour, the man whose tent and poles are stacked in the garbage pile next to us is staring at me and Konan every time we get back home. I don't want to think about it anymore.
Then it's bed time stories.
I begin. "Once upon a time, there is a beautiful princess lives in a beautiful castle…"
"This story sucks." Yahiko said, "There is no way that kind of stuff exists…"
I smacked his head and continued, "She has all the nice things in the world. Beautiful jewellery, beautiful room and clothing, and delicious food…"
"This isn't interesting at all. Who cares about a princess?" Nagato said calmly.
Only Konan remains to be my faithful listener.
"But she wasn't happy." I finally finished a sentence, and I glared at the two boys.
"How come she isn't happy when she lives in such a wonderful fake, place? She's not living in Amegakure, her parents aren't killed in the war, why isn't she satisfied?"
"Because she's lonely. Now…"
"But being well fed and clothed, why is she still sad and lonely?"
"Because no one was there to be with her."
"Was she all alone locked in a room?"
"No, there are servents and guards…Now…"
"Then why is she lonely? She has people to talk to—"
"Do you STILL want to hear this story or not?" I yelled.
They quickly cuddled together and looked at me with Bambi eyes.
"Lonely – as in she need love and…"
"Why…"
I snapped. "Ok, you know what? Let's change a story. Once upon a time there is a ninja called Harry Potter."
"What?"
"Harry Potter's parents were killed by a nine tailed beast called Voldemort." I said, looked around to see if there is any interruptions.
None. Lovely.
"Harry Potter went to live with his aun – I mean, his cousins." I reacted quickly and changed that part. Because I don't want them to have this idea that all aunts and uncles are mean.
"They treat him horribly…" I continued on with the story.
…
When I got to the part where Harry was making friends with Ron and Hermione, the three little brats are still wide awake.
"…Are you ever going to fall asleep?" I yawned.
"My favourite part is where Harry's parents died saving him." Nagato said.
"Mine is when he was abused…" Yahiko said.
Konan whispered softly, "I like the princess story…"
"I'll tell it to you alone tomorrow at bath." I said, and fell asleep in one second flat.
---
If I have known this would happen, I would never get up and go to work this morning. But nevertheless, I did get up and I did go to work, and this happened.
As I said the close to the only food source that we have is practically the food I steal from Hanzo. Because Hanzo doesn't bother with minor details like this since the tension between countries are extremely intense, he was deriving battle plans in his office room. But I suppose I have nicked too much food.
When I was carrying the food tray to his office room, I put three pieces of rice balls and some dangos in my lunch pocket. Then I thought about how I made myself promise to steal more food yesterday, therefore I secretly took one out of half a dozen bread and fish sandwiches. One of those could feed the three of them for 2 days. But I hide them in my pocket so I don't look too suspicious. If people looked at me closely, then they will find a slight bulge on my stomach. I will tell them because I have edema. The pressure in my lymphatic system exceeds what i take in, therefore excess tissue fluid builds up in my stomach. It's what African children have when they starve for a long period of time. I hope that people won't notice my chubby arms and faces (compared to the people here, I am like a cow. Yes I admit that. ) when I tell them I have edema.
Although I think my actions has been monitored for a long time, because I saw a head staring at me, and then it disappeared.
And my suspicion was confirmed when I went in to the office room, Hanzo looked at the lunch tray and said coldly, "Is it my imagination or is it that my lunch was getting smaller and smaller everyday?"
I said, quite earnestly, "It's your imagination."
Hanzo got so mad, He flipped the table and paper fluttered everywhere, and the lunch tray was smashed to the ground.
I burst in to tears.
Oh, Why why why must he do this? That lunch tray could feed us for two weeks and he flipped it on to the ground like nothing. Didn't he know that wasting food is a sin? Oh the poor wheat growers, the poor meat farmers and the poor chef who works at the kitchen gives me a cookie or two everyday I walks in…
Oh, Hanzo is an enemy of the people…
I wailed as loud as I could, mourning for the precious food that was covered with dirt.
And from now on I lost the long term food ticket.
And that's not all.
By the time that food was cleaned up, Hanzo yelled to me, "Stop crying!"
I continued on crying.
"I'm going to kill you!"
Oh, who the hell cares about you? I care about the wasted glucose and nutrients.
"Alright! You're fired!" he yelled.
"I am?" I stopped crying and look up at him.
"Yes! Get out from my sight!" He yelled.
I stood there, and then snapped back to reality.
"Thank you thank you thank you!!!"
And with that I swung around, ran as fast as I could, and slammed the door shut behind me.
Because I spotted something interesting – the map of the world is on his table, and according to that map, Konoha is sending her teams here… very soon.
"So… You lost your job." Yahiko said coldly, while munching on the sandwich.
"Uh huh. I hummed while hanging up his laundry. He only has 2 set of clothing. But I think, when I have enough money earned to buy food, I'll buy them clothing.
"Yeah, I got my salary too." I said, "Too bad I can't spend it."
"Why can't you?" Konan asked.
"There isn't any market around here." I said.
They all stared at me for a long time, then Nagato said, "So… You think that this is all there is to it in Amegakure?"
"Yeah." I said, "What else is there?"
Silence…
"Let me draw you a map of Amagakure." Nagato said. "It is split in to East and West parts. The East part is made from rich people. People who has too much money and has nowhere to spend. Basically, idiots. And then there is the West. It's made from people like us. Destitute, people who lives in slums…"
… Back in the good ol' days I still count as a rich girl. Now I am a destitute. I live in slums with three little brats who are stronger than I am in combat (don't say I didn't try, because I did, and that is another story) and thinks I am utterly useless.
"Oh, let's go there and buy something then." I said, and took out my salary.
Yahiko took a good look at it and said, "In our currency, this amount could get you… an apple."
"……." I stuttered, "An a… apple?"
"Ah.. Maybe a candied apple." Konan said softly.
"You mean an apple made from gold and encrusted with silver leaves and…"
"No, just an apple." Nagato said quietly.
I felt like crying. There is no way I am going back there and yell at Hanzo to give me a pay raise. Especially after I quit that place by slamming the door shut.
"Let's go to the market and see what we can get." I said, calculating how we should divide an apple in to the food that must last for the rest of the week.
The three of us walked to the market.
"That's the fish stall, that's the rice stall, that's the fruit stall…"
"I'm not blind, Yahiko." I said.
"Anyway, the three of us are going to look around, you can look around too. I heard it's exhausting shopping with a women." Yahiko said.
"You think I'm a woman?" I asked him incredulously.
"Oh, I'm sorry – I heard it's exhausting shopping with a hag."
"…" By the time I want to smack his head, he already left, along with the other two.
And I realize, they have the ability to slither around in crowed places, like Eyeshield in 'Eyeshield 21'.
In truth, I have never been to a market. I have been to what they call a super market. I used to think that a market is a filthy place, and I was quite right.
Because of the mud, everything is muddy. The rain has stopped for once, but the day was still dark and weak. I strolled to a fish market and asked, "How much is one fish?"
The man stared at me and said, "One fish?"
"Yeah."
The man said something I didn't understand. I only understood the number, but not the units behind it. After thinking about it, a fish must cost way more than an apple, so I pulled out my salary and said, " Is this enough?"
The man's eyes sparkled, then quickly snatched the money, and handed me a fish wrapped in a plastic bag, and shooed me out of his stall.
I stood there in the middle of the market and feeling pretty proud of my self.
Around 15 minutes later Yahiko came and found me, "Finally! There you are! I thought you died some place…"
I held up my bag and said, "Look! Look at what I bought!"
"Cool. Now where is the rest of the money?" He asked.
"Rest?" I was dumb founded.
"Don't tell me you used all the money you had!" Nagato popped up and feel looked surprised.
"Why?" I asked, "I thought it's a pretty good deal…"
"Chiro." Konan said to me softly, "Because of the weather here in Amagakure, apples are extremely rare and precious. So an apple is probably worth around 50 pounds of fish…"
Despite my age and maturity, I wailed as loud as I could right in the middle of Amegakure market.
---
"What are you waiting for?" Yahiko asked me.
"What?" I looked around.
"You were always looking for something." Nagato observed, "You seem really restless nowadays."
"That's because a war is coming." I said.
"Huh?" Konan asked, looking up from her origami.
"I can sense these things. Amegakure is going to be engaged in a battle soon." I said.
"Maybe that'll bring some life to this dull place." Yahiko said.
"You want to change Amegakure, right?" I asked, "You need to find a good teacher…"
"There is nobody here that wants to teach me."
"Maybe someone from other countries will. They will want to teach you no matter which country you are from, and all three of you will be very very strong." I said knowingly. Knowing the future sure comes in handy sometimes, although I can't see the future of myself. Probably one day I am going back. I don't belong here anyways.
"Konan, are you cold?" Yahiko asked her, she was sitting beside us, with stacks of old newspaper, and folding paper cranes.
I am proud to say that I taught her how to fold them, and I also told her that a thousand means one wish. So she sat on the stool and folds paper cranes whenever she has time.
"No." She replied simply. It was a sunny and nice day, probably one of the first ever since I came to Amegakure. I miss Earth.
The boys and I were lying under the sun and looking up at the clouds. Many clouds floats by and they form all kinds of shapes.
"Do you like wasting time like this?" Nagato asked.
"Looking at clouds relaxes you. And you need that. You will grow old before your time comes." I said.
"Do you like clouds?" Yahiko asked.
"I do! I do! I love them!!" I yelled suddenly.
They all stared at me.
"Just remember that I love clouds, especially red ones with white edges." I said to them word for word.
"…You're weird." Nagato said.
"Oh, and I love long black clocks too." I said. "They are very cool and mysterious."
"What is she talking about this time?"
"I don't know. Maybe she is crazy…"
"I thought we already confirmed the fact that she is crazy…"
"Why did I get stuck with a crazy aunt?"
…
---
It's not looking good. Our food supply was running out fast, and Konan got sick.
She came home one day coughing, and so I put her on the bed (sheets) and told her not to move. She needs all the energy she could for her helper T cells to kill off any viruses. Or else her third line of defence immune system doesn't work as well if she doesn't rest…
Anyway she fell asleep as fast as she could.
I dried some towel and put it on her forehead, covered her with sheets and proceeded outside for the continuous lesson with the boys.
Teaching them is really hard. Because they think education is a waste of time. (I think so too, but let's not set a bad example for the kids here) Therefore learning useless things like math and language is a waste of time. What interests them is Biology and Physics. For example, they can calculate the amount of time and the length of string they need to across the other side of the cliff and steal berries from a farm. What will the tension on the bridge be when all three of them steps on it, and will it hold all three of them. And they are interested what to eat to be strong so they will decrease the chance of being hungry.
Those are really useful information to survive out here. I bet I know more than Uchiha on areas of Chemistry and Calculus, and you have no idea how proud that makes me.
Things are getting rough too. Hanzo came more than one time to the West side for boys or men who could still move, and forces them to the training camp where they train to be ruthless war machines. It is there I lied to him that the boys are actually nine years old. And they glared at me all weeks after that.
"Is there a war coming up?" I asked Hanzo.
He merely looked at me and walked away.
It is only a couple of days after I realized that Konan is getting worse.
She doesn't cough anymore. Instead she has a fever, and her fingers are so cold when her face is incredibly hot and burning. She used to sit there and folds origami, but then she doesn't have the energy to even lift her fingers. We give the last of our food supply to her and feed her bit by bit, watching as she mutters gibberish, and begin to do recognize us anymore. Although she asks for my presence, I stayed with her all the time and try to make her feel better.
But the third day after she got sick, I realized something.
It was subtle, but there is was – small red dots are appearing on her body.
I wanted to cry. What is this? Small pox? Chicken pox? Cow pox? Why are there so many poxes and how could I know what it is and treat it? All I know is to take Tylenol, but there isn't any here! And what the hell was Tylenol made out of anyway?
I'm not afraid; I had vaccine when I was little. Because our wonderful federal government has paid for it, and I doubt Hanzo will pay for this.
"Konan has a very series disease. None of you can get close to her. Wear the masks all the time, do you here me? If one of you gets close to her, she will affect you and that will make her feel very bad. And please do not cause me any trouble, do as I say or I'll whip you with garbage bags." I said to them solemnly.
They didn't really pay attention to the last part, but their faces were filled with worry and fear for their friend, and I promised I will do everything I could for her.
"Aren't you afraid that you will get it too?" Nagato asked me.
"I'm not afraid of it." I said carelessly, thinking that if I had to explain the concept of vaccines to him, it would take hours.
And who knew one day that sentence will save me my life.
I told the boys to get water from the stream, boil it, and also get water from the hot spring, and try to find any source of soft food that Konan could eat.
But it's not working.
She gets sicker and sicker every single day.
On the fourth day she isn't burning up, but her whole body temperature drops and she was shivering, I held her in my arms and for the first time since I came here, I cried with all my heart.
She was asking for Nagato and Yahiko.
"Why aren't they here? Are they ok? What happened to them? Why won't they see me?"
He little lips were quivering and her hand was shaking. I cried and told her that they are all fine. They are trying as hard as they could to make her better, and all she has to do is to lie down and rest.
I know that Konan is going to survive this, but what scares me is that I came here and disturbed all the sequences, therefore the future is a blur, and I don't know if I am able to overcome this obstacle.
On the fifth day Konan completely lost her conscious. She doesn't recognize us anymore. She would ask for her mom and dad, and scream every time we tried to approach her. They boys were equally worried, but they don't know what to do anymore. They never cry in front of my face, but once Yahiko shook me so hard, making me promise that she will live, and I cried and told him that she will. She is an angel. She is the purest out of all of us and she will live through this.
Yahiko dropped his hand and slipped on to the muddy ground, the rain swallowed us whole, and he didn't get up for a long time.
Finally I decided that this cannot go on.
"I'm going to the East side for medicine." I said to the boys, "I will be back. Take care of her."
"I'll go with you." Yahiko said.
"No, I will. Yahiko, stay with Konan." Nagato said, and his eyes shone a little from underneath his bangs.
The path to the East side took a long time. I was walking very fast and thinking of strategies to steal medicine. So far I have came up with act and cry and beg them for it.
Nagato didn't say anything when we were walking. The rain fell continuously. I walked toward him and straightened his rain coat, (made from garbage bags by me) and patted his head softly.
I hoped that Hanzo is in a good mood this morning, or at least, in a giving mood, because other than luck, I don't see any other thing that's on my side, and luck is slowly leaving me ever since I came here.
From the distance I could see the building. It stood alone among all the brick and straw made houses. The room is bright red, made from materials that I suspect is blood, but it's not washing off from the roof, and its light reflected in the rain drops, shining in my eyes.
The guards are standing at the front and they stiffened when they saw me walking towards them.
"I have important information concerning the invasion of Amegakure that I have to inform Hanzo immediately." I said loudly.
They looked at each other.
"I am 100% loyal to Amegakure!" I promised.
Nagato didn't say anything behind me.
"If Amegakure was attacked, you two are to blame." I said.
"Let her in!" A voice roared from the inside.
I shivered, and the two guards stood aside, letting me and Nagato in.
I walked inside steadily, and found my self shivering. Nagato stood by me and squeezed my hand lightly.
"I have a deal to make with you." I said.
He sat at the top of the steps, looking down at me in a cold and pathetic way. I breathed in and out, thinking if I were to drop an atomic bomb, then this whole universe would be extinguished, therefore the nine tailed beasts were nothing but a small insignificant source of power anyway. But thank god Nagato doesn't know what an atomic bomb is. And I am not going to tell him anytime in my life.
"I know which ninjas Konoha is sending to Amegakure." I said.
He rose from his steps and I quickly said, "You will not ask me how I know. But all my words are the truth."
Hanzo did not say anything, but eyes me suspiciously.
"I want supplies." I said, "Supplies that will last for one week -- or two weeks, at the most."
"Supplies as in--"
"Food and medicine, I want to go and chose them myself."
Hanzo raised an eyebrow. But he said, "Tell me first."
"Jiraiya, Orachimaru and Tsunade." I said.
He made a noise that sounds like somewhere between a pffft and a pfffui.
"It time that you keep the end of your deal." I said, dignified.
He raised an arm, and waved. Immediately I was swept off my feet and landed a couple of meters away.
"Get out." He said coldly.
I bit my lips and said," you promised me food and supplies."
"I did not promise you anything." He said.
I felt Nagato stiffen beside me.
"But --" I tried to argue, but Hanzo spoke.
"I know why you are here. For that pathetic little girl you were living with. She has chicken pox, does she not? If you do not leave immediately, I will send people to kill her, just as well, so the disease does not spread to others."
I bit my lips so hard that I suspect I tasted my own blood. Nagato didn't say anything. He stood in front of me quietly and did not move.
"I'm a busy man." He said, "You have three seconds to get out of this place right now."
I didn't move. Instead I shove Nagato behind me and said, " I want the medicine, I --"
I couldn't see what was happening. Because Hanzo got in front of me and grabbed my collar, and slam me against the other side of the hall.
I didn't make a sound. The pain in my head is killing me alive. I wish, at that moment, that he could just chop my head off, be done with it and then my head wouldn't hurt as much once it is cut off from my neck.
"Chiro!" Nagato ran towards me, and helped me to stand up. I held my head, and discovered that it is bleeding. Perhaps I have a minor concussion.
"Let's go back, Chiro, let's go back." Nagato whispered to me, "It's no use, he will kill us if we stay here, It's ok to be brave, but it isn't ok to be stupid, that's what you told us, isn't it?"
I controlled myself not to cry, I stood up slowly, and looked at Hanzo coldly, and slowly stepped towards the exit.
"On second thought--" Hanzo said, "I will give it to you, because we have an abundant supply of it and I don't need it as much, consider no one had chicken pox yet, but if you want it, keel down and beg me for it."
What the hell is with him and his sick attitudes?
I couldn't believe my ears; Nagato gripped my hand tightly and stiffened his upper lips. I shook away from him and stepped closer to Hanzo.
It took all my will power, all my control not to scream and not to cry. The whole world seems to be in a blur and I forced myself not to blink or cry. This is the most humiliating thing that has ever happened to me. And I am only a teenager, this kind of stuff happens to characters, not readers.
"Well?" He asked, a sneer appeared on the side of his lips.
It is at that moment I decided, as soon as Jiraiya that idiot gets here, I am leaving for Konoha, As soon as I get to Konoha, I'll go straight to the Third or the Fourth (is he is still alive) and beg him to adopt me, to teach me.
I felt stiff, and cold. The whole world is leaving my mind. I slowly knelt down, and felt my knees touch the ground.
"And?" He asked impatiently.
I opened my mouth and nothing came out. I tried to speak but I found my throat croaked like a frog.
"Please." I whispered.
"I didn't hear you." he said, annoyed than ever.
"P..Please." I said, louder this time.
"Louder!" he roared.
"PLEASE!" I screamed at him.
Silence.
He looked at me in a pathetic way, as if I am beneath him, and then he throws me a bag that was handed to him by a man in a medical squad uniform.
The bag of pills slammed against my face, and the string was loosened, causing the pills to fall out of the bag.
I didn't move. Hanzo laughed loudly, walking past me, crushing a couple of pills as I tried to gather them all up in that bag.
What does pride mean? Pride means nothing at a time like this. Pride means nothing when you are facing something or someone important to you. Pride is only a stone in the road that you have to get rid of. It is meaningless and useless at a time like this, as I discovered.
"Chiro, I'm sorry." Nagato said to me, and helped me up.
Years later, I remembered that I knelt there for a long time, thinking about pride, and how brave I was.
Pain remembered it too.
Good, so it is not a wasted effort then.
---
Konan is getting better.
We could clearly see the changes. Her face is getting brighter and brighter, there are reflections in her eyes, and her cheeks and lips are red and healthy.
Her origami paper crane was hanging on the side of our tent. Tiny, small origami cranes, Konan was constantly making them, and she is almost half way there.
"One day, I am going to kill Hanzo." Yahiko said to me.
I smiled and said," Oh, you don't have to worry about that. He is going to die in two weeks, at the most."
"Why?"
"Because Konoha is sending their troops here, and they are far stronger than Hanzo."
"How do you know?"
"Because they are trained by the Third Hokage, and he is a very strong Ninja."
Yahiko didn't say anything, he looked to south, where Konoha is.
"Why are they coming?"
"..."In truth, I didn't know much about the history of this world. The plot seems more important than the history at that time.
"When do we get to learn Ninjatsu?" He sounds frustrated.
"Ah, do you know what the character "nin" means?" I asked him.
"No. Does it matter?"
"Yes it does." I answered. "It means 'tolerance'"
"So?" Yahiko asked, impatient.
I sighed and looked up at the rain that was falling down. It rained the first day that I came here too. It rained when Itachi heard about Sasuke. It rained when Sasuke killed Itachi. It rained when Sasuke and Naruto fought…
It always rains when something bad or sad has happened.
I begin to wonder if I will ever get to meet the main characters. I even begin to wonder if I wanted to meet the main characters – or Itachi.
"Aunt Chiro, I want to ask you about the –" Konan came to me with a paper crane in her hand.
She didn't finish her sentence because somewhere not far away, a loud noise came, and almost knocked us all over.
Konoha is attacking Amegakure.
---
The battle last for over a week. The three kids were constantly running over there trying to see what has happened so far. Since I know for a fact that they are not going to get involved, I didn't stop them. But I told them all very clearly to stay away from the ninjas. Stay away from the battle, stay away from anything that poses as a potential danger to them.
At last, one day when I was humming a song and washing laundry by hand, I saw a huge fro popping out on the other side of the horizon, along with a slug and a snake, I knew it is time. The time has come for Hanzo to die and for Konoha to win. Although I thought it is really funny how Konoha attacked Amegakure and left its civilians in ruins and pieces, but not that it's any of my business. Politics is a funny thing.
It's not around a week after when we were strutting along the rain, looking for food, we found three figures dimly walking away from us.
"Catch them!" I yelled, and immediately was sure that they are the three Sannins. I mean, for now. Who knows, one day Team 7 might over come them.
"Please, do you have any food…?"
I watched as they act all pathetic and pitiful, I tried not to laugh. It is true that we are starving, but the children's art of deception is clearly achieving the highest level.
"We should kill them, letting them live would cause more pain and suffering…"
"I'll stay behind and take care of them; you and Tsunade go on ahead…"
I continued to watch the famous scene unfold in front of me. This marks the beginning of the path to Pain. Poor Jiraiya, he dies in Nagato's hands, despite how everything else turns out, he is making one of the biggest mistake in his life.
Not that I'm complaining. I love the children.
"I have a request." I said, taking a big breath. This is what I have rehearsed for the past two weeks for.
They all looked at me.
"Nagato, Yahiko and Konan. You three are in excellent hands now." I said, "That is why it is safe you leave you three here. I plan to go back to Konoha."
"Aunt Chiro, you were from Konoha?" Nagato asked me quietly.
"Yes, I was." I lied through my teeth.
"I don't know you." Tsunade said, frowning.
"Well, I really don't expect you to remember me, but I know you. I know all three of you very well." I said coolly. "And I know the Third personally as well."
"Really." Orachimaru narrowed his eyes at me.
It took all my control not to shiver.
"Yes." I said, "For example, Jiraiya is a pervert, Tsunade loves her boyfriend and her brother, and Orachimaru is addicted to power."
Orachimaru lung at me, but Tsunade stopped him. Jiraiya was laughing his head off.
"Very well, but you need a close examination." Tsunade said. Her eyes softened.
I smiled at her.
"Why do you need to go back there?" Jiraiya asked, "Out of curiosity."
I have prepared for that too. So I answered, "I am in debt of the Third, and I am determined to repay it."
"Why would you want to do that?" Jiraiya asked.
"…" I didn't say anything.
"You're welcome to come with us." Tsunade smiled at me kindly, "How old are you?"
"16." I said.
"What? You said you were 19!" Yahiko yelled.
"I said that so you would listen to me." I said, "It's hard being a single aunt raising three kids."
"…"all of them looked at me in a way that I feel pretty ashamed of myself.
"Alright. I'm leaving." I knelt down in front of the three of them, "Promise to be good, listen to Jiraiya, but don't listen to him all the time. Use your logic. Konan, stay away from his if he is being an idiot. I think this past 6 month has made me very happy being with the three of you. We will meet again, I promise. By then, please don't try to kill me, because you three will be very strong." I said.
They didn't say anything. Konan cried silently. I kissed her cheeks, and kissed the boys on their forehead, and said, "The next time I see you all, make sure you three are worth of being the strongest of Amegakure."
Konan nodded, Nagato nodded, Yahiko turned his head away.
"I am very sorry for not telling you about this, but one day you will forgive me. We will keep in contact by writing to each other, won't we?" I glared at Jiraiya so hard he actually fell back a step.
"Yes!" He said.
"…"
"Can we go now?" Orachimaru sounds annoyed.
"Yes!" I stood up, and let go of their hands. "I'll miss the three of you very very much."
"Wait!" Nagato suddenly ran up to me.
I looked at him, and felt so sad that I might actually cry if it's not for Orachimaru is staring at me.
"This." He opened his hand, and sitting in his palm is the red ruby, it looks like a drop of the purest, finest blood in his hands.
He put it to his ear, and pierced it through.
I gasped and tried to examine his wound, but he said to be, "Thank you, Aunt Chiro. For everything."
I cried. We both know it's a lie, but it's a well meaning lie, and he apparently accepts me as his aunt just now, whether or not we are related.
"I will be brave." He said, "I will protect all my friends, and one day, I'll go and get you from Konoha."
I cried harder.
"Then we will live in Amegakure, by that time I will be strong." He said to me quietly.
I wailed very childishly.
Years later, I still remember, how the ruby hangs on his earlobe, and how drips of blood is leaking from the wound, they mixed together, and I couldn't tell the difference which is which. The color is the same as his eyes and his hair, burning in to my memory, and I will always remember it.
The sad little figure, standing in the rain, and saying goodbye to me. He was making a promise that he will fulfill 5 years later.
And that concludes my adventure in Amegakure.
---
There are so many things lies ahead of me that I can't help but get excited, although I have no way of knowing my future, I still feel extremely lucky that I have transferred to this world.
I walked behind Tsunade, and waved goodbye to the children.
I could see their reflections on the ground; they are distinct and clear, as if burning in to my memory.
What ever happens next, I know that I will always love them as my own relatives, no matter what they turn all to be.
And that's enough for me.
End Part 1
Sry about the time differences. Critiques are welcome. Lov u all. oh, POD hurry up with the beta thing~~
