The Silent Avenger: A Shino Aburame Love Story
Three straw dummies stand in front of the rising sun, casting their long silhouettes in a young girls direction. Hefting yet another kunia, she takes account of the crisp morning breeze, and the distance between her and the target; and sends the weapon hurling into a bulls-eye with a deft flick of her hand. A satisfactory grin spreads a cross Otsu's face; twenty one kunia; no misses. Sprinting across to the dummies, she begins to pull out and count the knives.
"18, 19, 20. Twenty?" Frantically Otsu starts counting again, this time including all the unthrown kunia. "47, 48, 49. only forty-nine out of fifty; I'm missing one!"
She begin to methodically search the clearing, cussing profusely when it doesn't show up. "Dammit, I know all of them hit, so where did it go!"
Suddenly she hears a thud above her head. Without looking up, Otsu grabs her kunia and turn around. Standing in the middle of the clearing is Ten-Ten, grinning ear to ear.
"Nice work Otsu. I see you've become my equal with the kunia. Not surprising though, since I taught you, but it's remarkable that you caught on so quickly." She bends down and picks a kunia from her bag, holding it speculatively in front of her. "I don't know why you decided to specialize in this though, I mean with that jutsu of yours and all."
Otsu glares at her from across the clearing with murderous thought running through her head. Raising her kunia, Otsu advances menacingly on her. "How many times," she growls, "Have I told you to leave my knives alone!" Ten-Ten drops the knife as she backs up with her eyes widening in terror.
"Oh, um, I-I'm s-sorry Otsu, please don't. Don't k-kill me!" She turns and flees the field.
Otsu on the other hand feels the need to settle things in a more violent manner. Picking up the dropped knife, she begins the pursuit. Ten-Ten isn't hard to track, broken twigs and overturned rocks mark her passage. Finally, half a mile away, Otsu has her backed into a corner grovelling in fear.
"I d-didn't mean any harm. I promise, I-I just wanted to. . ." Otsu cuts her off with a curt flick of your hand.
"I'll let you live this time, but you're still going to pay." Ten-Ten winces as she pulls out a kunia; closing her eyes, she prepares for the worst. Taking careful aim, Otsu throws the knife. Ten-Ten screams.
Not two yards from where she is standing, Ten-Tens left bun lay in a heap on the ground. She looks first at Otsu, then her bun, and with a whimper of fear, she leaves with tears streaming down her face. Feeling vindicated, the young girl turns back, and returns to her clearing.
"That was a bit harsh, don't you think?"
Startled, Otsu turns to see a tall, dark haired guy in sunglasses and a grey over coat looking at her from across the clearing.
Shino walks across and stops a few feet in front of her. "Otsu, you went to far this time. By now, Ten-Ten is adding more dirt to your name, and all because of what, a kunia?" He stops and then adds, "Otsu, why are those specific knives so important to you?"
Closing her eyes speculatively, she replys in a somewhat subdued voice. "It's a long story, Shino you may want to sit somewhere." He looks around and finally sits between the gnarled roots of an old oak tree. Silently she follows suit, sitting mere inches to his left.
"First off, have you heard of the village hidden in the mountains?" He nods. "Nine years ago, in the land of Otsukagakure, there lived a great feudal lord, Matahachi Miyamoto, a strong leader whom people could look to as a fair and just ruler. He held the belief that the county's wealth belonged to the citizens. His daughter, Otsu Miyamoto," she sighs, "Me, also held that belief. But a greedy man by the name of Takuan Osagi didn't. He believed that the poor were inferior to the rich, and the wealthy dominated over all else. He tried and failed to get my father to believe this. So on the night of my ninth birthday, and coronation, he and fifty assassins attacked and killed the entire Miyamoto clan. I to would have died that night, had it not been for my savior."
Otsu's expression darkens, "My savior was a youth from the hidden leaf, barely older than my self. He brought me to Konohagakure to train as a leaf ninja. They say he died the night he brought me into the hospital." Her gaze grows distant as she remembers a time long gone. "Once healed, I utilized my fury and channeled it into strength as I avenged my family. I've devoted my life to this task. These knives are the same that killed my family, the same that pierced the hearts of the murderers, and the same that are going to kill Takuan!"
Shino thinks silently for a moment, then finally speaks. "I get it now, you keep your knives as a constant reminder of your past, and also to remind you of your single goal, the avengement of your family. In a way they are trophies, giving you a sense of self worth; a reason to live."
Otsu stares at Shino dumb-founded, not only did he figure out why she keeps her knives, he also put it into perspective. Curiously she gazes at Shino and wonders how he could read her so well. A question comes to mind, but is quickly dispersed as he breaks the silence.
"Otsu, Kurenia has received word from Tsunade; we have an important assignment. For the next few days, we are to act as body guards for a wealthy merchant as he travels from his country to the land of waves. Us two will will guard him from the Konoha border to the island coast. Our mission starts at sundown when we meet our client at the rendezvous point."
Shino stand up, "Bye Otsu," and hops away. Otsu remains there, momentarily stunned, but the over riding need to pack for the upcoming journey gets the better of her, forcing her to stand and hop home.