So, I totally did this. Yeah. I did it. Started a new story with a new OC and stole away the Naruto universe to suffer my abuse. Sorry, guys. I will be putting out updates to my other stories, but between college and all my other commitments I have just sorely fallen behind. BUT I'M NOT DEAD! No worries.
c:
- Razz
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Dark Horse [d-are-ck ha-or-s] noun
Noun
1.) A candidate or competitor about whom little is known but who unexpectedly wins or succeeds.
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"What price are you willing to pay, little one?"
"Take my eyes."
"Your sight? What an interesting bargain for a soon-to-be ninja."
"What you're giving me is more beneficial in the long run, is it not?"
"… true. I think you have yourself a deal, little dove."
"Thank you."
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A wail was the first thing I heard when I entered this new world; it took a long moment before I realized the voice was my own – and even longer before I realized there were other voices cooing to me in a language I didn't understand. Vaguely, I could recognize a select few words that lead me to believe it was Japanese, but I wasn't certain until a louder voice – however squeaky and obnoxious – squealed the word "kawaii". There was more gibberish before I felt a sharp pain in my head [accompanied by another loud wail erupting from my tiny body]; suddenly everything they were saying began making sense.
"–it appears she may be blind, Kenshin-san."
"Blind? You can't be serious–"
"I am, sir. I don't think you should–"
I ended up falling asleep, much to my dismay. Being a grown woman in a childs body was going to be awful, it appeared.
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Three years later, I had learned my name was Hato – and there was a tickling at my memory that said I should find this ironic – and that I was born in Iwagakure. However, there was still the problem of my inability to see. My father was a strict man, I realized quickly; even trapped within the walls of this blind childs form I could tell he was very rough – and he didn't much like me. I was the youngest of my siblings – I had two elder brothers and a sister – and they were where I found my comfort. The twins, naturally, were closer to each other than to me, but they always made a point to include me with clan meetings among other things, and occasionally clean up fathers mess when he managed to make me cry. They tried. My sister took little-to-no interest in me after the first time father turned on me with his harsh words.
Our mother was fairly cold as well. Not in the sense of not loving me – she loved us all dearly - and when father wasn't looking she would tell me stories and help me with my disability. She taught me basic chakra control, which benefited me heavily when I realized I could see other people's chakra. I wasn't sure why the presence of my father made her turn apathetic towards me, but I played connect the dots after the first few screaming matches I heard in the middle of the night. Most including me, who she was avidly defending; usually saying something about how he was self-righteous prick and she wasn't sure how she fell in love with him in the first place. It made me smile.
So ask you can imagine, when I heard her hushed giggles and whispers in the night with someone that was clearly not the angry man known as my father, I didn't mention it. After all, he never listened to me anyway; as a woman trapped in her daughter's body, I thought she deserved to be happy. Even if it was sneaking in her lover while the grumpy man was away on missions.
Though, when she woke me in the night with said man and carried me off into oblivion, I wasn't so sure that was the best course of action.
"Where are we going?" I spoke softly, taking my cue from their own hushes voices. I liked the mans voice – it was so very gentle and quiet – they both hesitated. I saw their chakra tremble slightly, though I wasn't sure what it meant. I predicted they were nervous.
"We're going to Kirigakure, little one." His voice cut through the sound of their running and I tensed, sightless eyes widening.
"Really? For how long?"
Neither of them answered me, and I didn't bother repeating myself before I let myself drift off to sleep in my mothers arms.
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I had yet to learn his name, when he and my mother were discussing if I should be put in the Academy. I was terrified – and she was ecstatic. Mother wanted me to be a ninja more than anything else, it seemed, though I couldn't for the life of me understand why. I had never adored the man so much as when he pointed out my obvious handicap, and that we were living in Kirigakure. I didn't understand what that had to do with anything – though something else tickling my mind made me feel as if I should – but it subdued my mother for another month or so.
In that time, the man – who I had taken to calling 'Daddy' per my mothers request – began teaching me instead. He taught me how to send out my chakra to feel the area around me, which was basically just a quick glimpse of a blue outlines that I learned were actual objects. It was helpful in the long run, and once he realized this helped my independence he set out to teach me other things, like how to read chakra. Well, that particular trick evaded me, but he was very encouraging in hopes I would get it.
And it was in one of his lessons that it happened.
"Okay, Hato, just focus your chakra to your hands–" As it turns out, he was something of a medical ninja; I was very surprised. As I followed his instructions, I felt it. Something was very, very wrong, but when I murmured my nervousness he told me it wasn't unusual for one to be nervous; just focus.
I apparently focused too hard.
I, of course, didn't see it, but I heard a blast of power that tossed me back a few feet; Daddy cursing loudly as he caught me and gently set me down. I didn't realize I was crying until my mother was by my side, murmuring softly in my ear about how this was a good thing while she pet my hair and told me I that I shouldn't cry. All I could think about was how this was not a good thing – this was awful.
I started the Academy three weeks later.
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After begging and pleading my parents relented in letting me have an outfit that covered most every part of my body. After blasting the fish to pieces I had refused to let them touch me – much less touch anything else without being sure I was aware of where my chakra was. I even went so far as to stop casting out my visual net, but after the first few times slamming into the wall I realized I had no option as I was not yet adept enough to get around based solely on my other senses.
So, I was covered head to toe in a mixture of gloves, leggings, and skin tight clothes; adorning a hoodie and a pair of goggles – the latter to hide my sightless eyes, as advised by Daddy.
"Mommy.." I murmured, feeling suddenly shy of the now much more affectionate woman as she finished helping me tug on my hoodie and then my gloves. "What… what do I look like?"
Her hands paused, apparently in thought as her chakra quivered sadly. "You're a beautiful girl, little dove. Your hair is white like snow–" I remembered that color from some unknown source in my mind – I didn't see snow, however, I saw clouds. "And your eyes are golden–" She didn't mention the fog that I knew covered them, again, from some part of my mind that could identify things I had never physically seen.
"Your skin is pale white, only a few shades darker that your hair, and you have this cute little beauty mark below your left eye. You're a beautiful girl, Hato." I felt tears fill my eyes as an image I would never be able to confirm was painted for me, glad she had put my goggles on and was now behind me braiding my hair around itself so that it felt short though heavy; tugging my hood up over her creation with a sigh.
"Now let's just get you off to the Academy, shall we?" Her mood brightened considerably, though from her chakra I could see it was a bit forced. She mourned for her child that would never see the world; that pierced my heart. I wished this body would grow faster so that I could escape this child-like confusion as we stepped out the front door.
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"Remember not to be afraid, Hato." Daddy spoke abruptly, catching my attention as we reached our destination. Apparently it wasn't very far from our home, which I was grateful for. "Being afraid implies weakness, and weakness isn't taken lightly – even among Academy students. You have to be perceived as strong, or they'll eat you alive."
Cold fear shot through me at his words, my childish imagination conjuring up a shark-like boy with blue skin munching down on me. For some reason, I felt as if I should befriend him, but how to befriend a figment of your imagination?
"Yes, Daddy." My voice was quiet but calm, as it always was. I wasn't very good at expressing feeling, which was apparently going to come in handy here. Finally, something I was good at. With final goodbyes being short – Daddy said that showing affection was bad in public – they shoved me into the school and left.
Dear Jashin, I was going to die.
Mingling with my nervousness was a sudden wave of nausea, though it didn't show through as I carefully made my way to the designated classroom. I did this by the teacher designated to guide us, and was sure to flare out my chakra enough that the path became obvious to me for next time. I had been warned not to reveal my blindness to the other students, however, the teachers were all aware. Apparently Daddy was close to some of the teachers; they had agreed to discreetly keep in mind my handicap.
I was more than a bit grateful for this as I took my seat in the front of the class – ignoring the peculiar feeling of being watched as I took to drawing circles on my desk. I was one of the first there, much to my pleasure, and took the time to take a few stabling breaths before focusing my chakra next to fill the room for a moment. There were… four other chakra signatures; the one closest to me was particularly large for children our age. Inwardly, I scowled. There were two others closer to each other in the far corner of the room, and I could vaguely hear them chatting to one-another before my attention was focused on the body now leaving the net – the teacher who lead me here, presumably. When he once again faded into the blackness that was my vision, I was surprised to find the pair of chakra signatures had moved closer – now across from me.
"Well, well, looks like we've got a newbie!" I resisted the urge to flinch – he was closer that I thought.
"I'm Hato Kenshin." I introduced quickly – more out of habit than desire to actually know them – and I saw his chakra swirl in amusement.
"I'm Suigetsu Hozuki and this is my brother–"
"–Mangetsu." I blinked as a quick flash of information hit me from seemingly nowhere. They could transform into water. Hozuki clan could transform into water. It was easy to tell which voice fit which chakra, considering one was playfully swirling along with the teasing voice while the other seemed mostly uninterested. Well, not uninterested, per say, but he was trying to appear cool and collected. The underlying twitch and squirm of his chakra said he was equally playful as his brother, if not more so.
I offered a slight smile, nodding to them slightly. "It's nice to meet you." The large chakra closest to me flared in agitation and I tensed, turning my attention its direction. Unfortunately, this was apparently not what my new-found "friends" wanted; I felt my face grasped between two hands and squished together as they gathered my attention again. Children were so strange.
"You're gonna be Ringo-senseis brat, right?" I hadn't heard of this, actually. "That's the rumor, since Fuguki-sensei brought you here; where are you from, anyway?" So was that Daddy's name? No, that didn't seem right. There was another flash of information – Fuguki was one of the Ninja Swordsmen. No, he wasn't Daddy.
"And why are you living with Teshima-sensei? I don't remember him having a – HEY!" Apparently Mangestsu got tired of his brothers rambling; gave him a firm whack on the head.
"How do you expect her to answer if you don't shut up?" I couldn't help it – I giggled against my hand before deciding to respond; ignoring the flicker of embarrassment from the chatter box.
"I haven't heard of being anyones… brat." The word was muttered under her breath as she sighed. "I'm from–" We can't tell anyone where we're from, Hato. Not a soul. "A village on the outskirts of Water. Ah.. Teshima-san is letting my mother and I stay with him at the moment." If that was what was being said, it was probably on purpose. After all, her life was to forever be shrouded in deceit now; there was another tickling warning her something was wrong now. There was something different and unfamiliar. My worries were only amplified when the pair sat on either side of me – the calmer of the pair sitting between me and the stronger chakra as the class filled with other students; our teacher being unnervingly familiar as he reached the front of the class.
The voice gave him away; had I not been prepared for the unexpected, I might have fainted in absolute terror when the information flashed through my mind.
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"Since when do Swordsmen teach Academy students?" I heard my Daddys voice as I exited the Academy, accompanied by the familiar snort my sensei; I tried not to flinch.
"Since the Mizukage gave the order – believe me, Teshima-san, I'm not happy teaching a bunch of brats all day." As it turned out Fuguki was teaching at the Academy temporarily – much to my two new companion's pleasure – and I was physically pained not to cringe. There was a reason I didn't like the man, I was sure, but currently all I had was a gut-instinct he was trouble.
"It's absolutely ridiculous." Daddy seethed as I approached, watching his chakra flicker in well-contained rage. Why was it so bad? I mean, sure, I was absolutely horrified – one of the cruelest ninja in Kiri was teaching me, for Jashins sake – but I wasn't angry. They had a lot to offer us as shinobi.
"I couldn't agree more." Fugukis chakra swirled in dark amusement and I suppressed a shiver as they both apparently caught sight of me and calmed. The larger man ruffled my hair, causing me to stiffen in surprise at the affectionate action – was I supposed to know him? "Though I think it's a favor to yourself, Hitoshi – after all, it's your daughters… disability that was so conveniently pointed out before I was assigned. You know how fond your brother is of you." Daddys chakra twitched and spun, clearly irritated by the suggestion. I was still stuck on 'brother'. Daddy had a brother? I had an uncle?
"I doubt Yagura has the time to worry about me and my family." More information made me tense slowly; my chakra flaring out quickly in alarm as a face was given to the name. A panicked hiss whispered to me that I needed to save him – I needed to save the Mizukage.
From what?
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It had been a year before I introduced myself to the large chakra that sat so close to me – though my Hozuki brothers both attempted to talk me out of it at first. We weren't particularly close – they harassed me, I occasionally shared test answers, etc. – but they were loyal, at least. Mangetsu in particular was very protective of me, though I think this may be because he was the eldest of our trio; soon him, the large chakra, Suigetsu, and myself were to be put in different classes. I wasn't sure why, but Fuguki had informed us that this would be our last year together, and that we should pick up our training.
I didn't hesitate to obey.
But that is all beside the point; a year later I met Kisame. I had expected his harshness, but I was startled to find he was downright cold. I couldn't see him, but when I would greet him I could feel the narrow-eyed suspicion radiating from him. For some reason that hurt my heart; I wanted to help him. With what, I was unsure, but I did. When he had given me his name the images flashing quickly through my head had caused a migraine, and I was not surprised at all when he was able to smell my nervousness every time afterward.
"I want t-to train with you." I wasn't sure what had possessed me that day, but the words tumbled out before I had any kind of a handle on them. I felt Mangetsu tense beside me, but promptly ignored his swirling chakra – Suigetsu just seemed more amused than anything. Kisames large chakra curled in amusement, though it had hints of irritation and even more distrust.
"No." I was disappointed – possibly a bit shocked, really – when he denied me so easily, but didn't question it. I was beneath him, after all; he was going to grow to be an amazing ninja, whereas I… I had no part here. My sightless eyes closed behind my goggles as I nodded, accepting the response with as much grace as I could have.
That was the day they all moved to separate classes; I was once again left alone.
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"To slow, little dove." Daddy commented as I lurched forward, palms up and ready to blast him to pieces. The unfortunate tree located behind him ended up with the full force of the blast as he flipped behind me; I felt frustration begin to ebb at my patience. After months of my mothers begging, I submitted to letting them teach me about my… kekkei genkai. Apparently I was capable of using the explosion release; while this greatly pleased me, I was irked to know I couldn't use it publically. No one could know I was Iwa born – and, much to my dismay, so was my special talent. However, it was a wonderful backup plan in a life or death situation – even if it prevented me from being a medic as I so desired. Though, due to my mothers chakra testing it showed that my natural chakra nature was water. Baffled, of course, they continued on ignoring the fact I held one of the most medic-based natures available. Go figure.
I felt a sharp pain in my back before I flew forward; letting out an alarmed squeal as the chakra surrounding me spun in a rather disorienting way before I landed – rolling pathetically before hopping to my feet and spinning to meet him head on. I was just fast enough to catch his arm; I felt his chakra strain in panic as he swung around and punched me square in the head. Though the blow made me stumble, I was not as easily disoriented as those with vision, and I kept my grip on his arm. My chakra flared just enough to show I would have blasted him to pieces before he relaxed and I allowed him free.
"Better – but had this been a real fight you would have a kunai lodged in your head and most probably your lung." He poked me in the forehead and I stumbled slightly, narrowing my eyes a bit at him.
"I'm not fast enough." I summarized and felt him twitch in amusement before his chakra curled around me, giving me a familiar warmth as he healed my major bruises and cuts. Not to mention my burning hands, for that matter. I didn't realize my kekkei genkai could cause the user this much damage, but after my first sessions panicked tears mother had explained it took a while before I would learn to keep the effects from injuring myself.
"I'm going to give you weights; you're going to wear them at all times, alright, Hato?"
"Yes, Daddy."
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I was seven before I understood why they split us all up; the warning came in the form of a cocky Kisame – and a less so Mangetsu, though he was equally proud of himself for his victory - who apparently felt it in his heart to warn me of the dangerous new exam. Unfortunately for me, my exam would be sooner-rather-than-later, and I was left winded at the realization I was going to die.
"You still wanna train, birdy?" Kisame teased and I scowled to myself. Maybe… this was his way of showing me he hadn't forgotten my desire to befriend him? His swirling chakra seemed a bit pained (more than enough confirmation for one more confident in themselves), though I didn't comment as I nodded and dropped into my usual stance.
"Of course, Hoshigaki-san."
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"Hato." Mangetsu managed to break through my trembling with a hand on my hair. As it turns out, he and Kisame ended up on the same genin team with some random clan girl – Mangetsu predicted I would end up on a team with Suigetsu, who I hadn't seen much of since we were split besides the occasional appearance when I was practicing with his brother. "Relax, you're the smartest in your class."
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I'm the best fighter." I hadn't told him I was blind, but I feel as if he knew there was a reason for my terror; he was good about keeping me calm. He and Kisame had both immediately taken me under their wing to train with – I wasn't complaining, despite their harsh fighting styles – and them on top of my parents own training lessons should have me completely prepared.
But Jashin, I was going to be killing my classmates. People I had studied and learned with – trained with and failed with. People whose families I knew and–
I didn't realize I was crying until my goggles began slick and uncomfortable; Mangetsu had the decency not to comment as I pulled them down and wiped them clean.
"You're going to do fine." His chakra was comforting as it churned worriedly; swirling around us gently.
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There were twenty four of us standing there; surrounded by the arena I had been standing alongside with Mangetsu. Kisame had shown up to ruffle my hair just before I stepped down, whereas I hadn't seen Suigetsu the entire time. Though I suppose he was probably worrying about his own fight right now. I was pained I didn't get the chance to say goodbye to one of my few acquaintances. The arena was full of parents cheering for their own child – though the only one that caught my own attention was my mother's cool voice echoing down on me.
"Do NOT disappoint me, Hato Kenshin." It was the voice from my childhood – the one she used around the man I was forced to call father.
She was angry.
I took my taijutsu stance slowly, eyes flaring my chakra net out as I exhaled the breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. I wasn't blind to the fact I was going to be one of the first targets – I was known for being a pacifist, not to mention my meek nature – seeing as I was the top of my class. I needed to channel my darker side.
Hesitation will get you killed.
Mercy will get you killed.
Emotions will get you killed.
Everyone's got one of those, right?
"Begin!" The Mizukage – my uncle, Yagura; the man I needed to save – commanded from his perch above us, bodyguards on either side. I reacted first. The unfortunate girl had been focused on her friend across from her (saying final goodbyes, I assume) and my kunai planted itself right in her temple before said friend charged me and I was forced to flip away. I was pleased that my ability to feel by chakra was growing so rapidly, otherwise my accuracy may have been more horrendous.
Immediately after my initial attack it was a free-for-all; the girls friend who charged me was taken down by a quick jolt of chakra that I suspected may be a water bullet.
I mostly dodged – though I did manage to take down two other classmates; assisted in the death of nearly all of them – before I realized, much to my relief, I had made it to the final seven. However, they apparently realized it as well; I saw a pair charging at me from my left. Their chakra was focused; immediately I knew they must have had a joint attack in the making as I hissed softly. Shockingly, it was an earth wall to my rescue was I leapt back; letting out a yelp of surprise as I was hit with a heavy blast of water and planted against the arena wall. From the semi-familiar, fading chirping sounds, I apparently missed a blast of lightning to mix with it.
I saw their chakra – now much smaller - as they made their way towards me again; I slummed down and gasped for much desired oxygen. My earth-using savior was apparently down for the count, and I whispered a soft thank you to the air as the duo darted into my range. Without much thought I threw my leg out in a weak attempt to trip one of them before rolling back into a standing position. A third classmate came from behind me and I narrowly missed a lethal blow to the head (not that taking a wound to the shoulder felt much better), a scowl pulling into place as I realized it was just us four now – and they were apparently going to play three-versus one.
"Cowards." I grumbled as I tugged off my gloves (quickly followed by the weights around my calves), hearing my mothers disapproving shout from the stands before I leapt back to avoid a sudden flare of chakra – only to be pelted by senbon upon landing. My body ached as I resisted the urge to collapse to my knees, hissing softly instead and bracing myself in my usual stance. There was a part of me screaming not to blast them to pieces – to remember what they said about using my ability publically – but I couldn't hear it over my self-preservations own screech. There had to be a medium; I supposed if I wasn't going to live to find out then this would be the time to see. I focused my energy on keeping it at the lowest possible power, pleading with myself not to make it too obvious.
I was shaking as the first one made the mistake of getting too close and I pressed my palm against his chest before twirling and elbowing him in the jaw. He went to his knees before there was a flicker and his chakra faded out, though I didn't have time to marvel as the other two began another weapon-based assault and I was flipping to escape.
Their signatures were steadily decreasing as I continued avoiding; searching for my opening I couldn't physically see. I had never loved Daddy as much as I did in that moment for beating speed into me. Speed was where I had the advantage, and I had every plan of using it as I lurched towards one of them and – internally screaming in victory – I made contact with her forehead. My fist connected with her lightly, but it was more than enough as her chakra signature lurched in surprise before flickering out of existence.
One left.
Desperation was clouding my mind as I leapt at the last contestant standing in the way of my life. They were wise enough to dodge, much to my frustration; we began a game of cat and mouse. I was now on the offensive, to my joy. However, I took a moment to remove some of the weaponry currently embedded in my flesh and a slow smile spread across my face. Maybe…
I faked a few handseals for the sake of peace – channeling my explosive chakra nature into the needles littering my body as I pulled them out; gaze flickering around to find the weak chakra signature that was my opponent. A flick of my wrist sent the senbon flying; shortly afterward there was a familiar blast of explosive power. Had he not cried out, I may have missed him shooting out of the dusty chakra-mixed mess, but he did; I immediately gave chase to the boy. I threw another chakra-infused weapon and it missed the blue form by inches, landing firmly in the ground behind him before exploding.
"I forfeit, I forfeit!" The boys shouts gave me pause, halting my movement as he stopped his. Him probably staring at my battered body while I stared at his weakly flickering chakra signature.
There was no sign that the fight was to be stopped after a moment of silence, and I slowly approached his form and extended my hand. Glancing upward, I caught sight of Yaguras' chakra – swirling in agitation and obvious disgust – and knew he wasn't going to stop the fight.
Which is why when the boy placed his hand in mine - his chakra flickering in relief - I offered an apologetic smile before his chakra froze from the usual lively movement before flickering into nothing.
His grip slipped from mine as he collapsed, and I felt myself sway slightly.
Then I blacked out.
I just want to throw out there that this is JUST AN INTRO. It's a bunch of clips and snippets of information, but the real story hasn't even started yet so don't freak about being confused. You're supposed to be right now because she is, and it's from her perspective; I'm not great at writing first person POV so everybody just take deep breaths and bare with me. If you have questions: reviews are great and I will be happy to answer any and all. Constructive criticism is also great and appreciated.
Now,
1.) Hato, Mangetsu, Kisame, and Suigetsu are NOT FRIENDS YET. They will be (obviously) but they are not yet. More along the lines of taking pity on her / assisting a future comrade [because she's to be mentored by Ameyuri Ringo]. I believe the Seven Swordsmen don't just "happen" and that they're selected young, so that's the twist I'm using.
2.) This does not completely follow cannon exactly - very little, really. Hence "semi-AU". Don't freak.