"Yuriko! Stop now!" Jiraiya yelled at the enraged girl. Yuriko ignored her teacher and continued to run full speed toward the orphanage.
"Where is he!" Yuriko snarled as she slammed her fist into the door, pieces of wood flew in all directions from the impact. "Where is the Kyuubi child!" Yuriko screamed, grabbing the person closest to her. "B-back r-r-room," the person stammered. Yuriko threw the person to the side, and sprinted to the back room.
Yuriko kicked open the metal door causing it to slam against the opposite wall.
"You," Yuriko hissed, glaring at the little blonde baby in the center of the room. The baby had started to cry from the sudden loud noise. In an instant, Yuriko toward above him a kunai held threateningly above his head. "If I kill you, I kill the demon inside too," Yuriko growled aloud. Without another hesitation, Yuriko brought the kunai crashing down on the baby.
However, just before it would have pierced his skull, Jiraiya grabbed her hand.
"Yuriko," Jiraiya said behind her, "you know it's not the boy's fault."
"It is his fault! He killed my family! He killed everyone! It's his entire fault! All his-"
"Who? The boy or the Kyuubi?"
Yuriko made an angry scoff before wrenching her hand out of JIraiya's, "There is no difference now. They are one."
"Yuriko, I cannot let you harm an innocent child, even if the Kyuubi lives inside him."
"Technically, I didn't harm him…not yet anyway."
Jiraiya placed his hand on Yuriko's shoulder. "To learn to forgive is always the hardest challenge."
There was a long silence as the two stared at the blonde baby.
"Since when are you wise?" Yuriko asked, half joking, half serious.
"Well, it comes with being a legendary sanin you know," he replied scratching his head awkwardly. However, he became serious right afterward, "This child will suffer from a lot of hatred as he grows up. I want you to help him through that."
"You want me to what? In case you haven't noticed, I hate the child too."
"You're a good kid, Yuriko. I know you'll forgive him."
"The day this war is over I'll do that," Yuriko muttered to herself.
"I'll hold you to that," Jiraiya said as he ruffled Yuriko's orange hair. As the two walked off Yuriko made one last comment, "As if this war will ever end."
Eight years had passed since that day and Yuriko had noticed that every word Jiraiya said was true. Every villager, every single one, hated Naruto. He was shunned, ignored, and looked down upon. Yuriko was now 20. Like Jiraiya had foretold, Yuriko did forgive Naruto as she grew up. It wasn't Naruto's fault that the Nine-tails was sealed in him, Naruto wasn't the one who killed hundreds of innocent lives, but it was Naruto who had to bear the consequences.
Yuriko rarely stayed in Konoha for very long. She had joined the ANBU and was usually out on missions, with only a few weeks rest in-between.
During one rest period, Yuriko noticed Naruto being ostracized again. Even the children didn't talk to him, merely because their parents didn't. He was sitting alone on the swing outside the school; just watching the other children go home.
Heeding Jiraiya's wishes, Yuriko somehow managed to befriend the child. Naruto took an instant liking to Yuriko, and Yuriko offered him a home alongside her.
The next day, Yuriko walked Naruto to school. Side-by-side, the two walked down the street while people pointed and whispered amongst themselves. As the siblings arrived at the school, Yuriko noticed a lot of parents glaring at her. She merely replied with a smile and, "Good morning."
At the door, Yuriko squatted down to be eye-level with Naruto.
"Do you have to leave," he pouted.
Yuriko laughed, "I think I'd be a little out of place at an elementary school. But I know you'll be fine." Yuriko patted his spiky blonde hair.
He frowned before dragging his feet to the school door.
"Don't be like that, kid. I'll come pick you up after school."
Naruto turned and held out his pinky, "Promise?"
Yuriko took his pinky with hers, "Promise." Naruto then ran off into the school.
Yuriko too had to go to her own "school," that is, ANBU training.
"You have to stop being so reckless, Yuriko," Kakashi said from behind Yuriko. He lightly pressed a kunai against her back.
"I'm not dead yet, am I?" Yuriko teased.
Kakashi suddenly felt the tip of a kunai pressed against his own back. The clone in front of him stuck out her tongue before vanishing in a puff of smoke.
"Stop treating me like a child. Fight me seriously," Yuriko demanded.
"Fine." In a matter of seconds, Kakashi disappeared from in front of Yuriko and reappeared behind her, a kunai flying upwards. Yuriko managed to block the attack, but the impact sent her sliding backwards. As she slid, Yuriko grabbed a fistful of shuriken and threw them at Kakashi. He easily deflected them with a single kunai before throwing several kunai back at Yuriko. Yuriko drew her katana and deflected those just as easily as Kakashi had. Their battle continued until sunset, each appearing to catch the other, but at the last moment getting away. Yuriko noticed the sun beginning to set against the horizon.
"Sorry, Kakashi," Yuriko said as she ducked Kakashi's oncoming kick, "I have to be somewhere now." Yuriko turned and started to run across the field when Kakashi threw one last kunai at Yuriko's back. Without even changing a step, Yuriko drew her katana just enough to block the kunai, then sheathed it again.
"Never turn your back on an opponent," Kakashi called after her. Yuriko made an ok sign with her hand as she continued to run.
Yuriko finally made it to the school, just before it had closed. She leaned on the door to catch her breath. "I made it," she thought to herself. As Yuriko was going to push herself off the door, someone opened it, causing her to fall straight onto the ground.
"Yuriko?" Iruka asked as he stared at her from above.
"Yo," Yuriko replied giving a quick little salute.
"What are you doing here?"
As Yuriko sat herself upright she replied, "I came for Naruto."
"Naruto-kun?" Before Iruka could say anything else, Naruto jumped onto Yuriko causing her to fall over again.
"Nee-chan!" He yelled with joy.
"Nice…to see you…too," Yuriko grunted as she tried to push Naruto off her. "But for future reference, it's not a good idea to jump on people."
Naruto nodded his head sharply, "Gotcha!"
"I've never seen Naruto so happy," Iruka thought aloud. Oblivious to the fact that Yuriko was standing next to him.
"Kid. Why're you so happy?" Yuriko asked bluntly.
He looked at Yuriko in confusion, "Because nee-chan's here," he replied as if it was obvious. Yuriko was a little taken aback by Naruto's sudden attachment to her.
"Good answer," Yuriko replied jokingly, "Let's go."
"Yuriko," Iruka started as Yuriko and Naruto put on their shoes, "will you be taking care of Naruto-kun from now on?"
"While I'm here in Konoha. Ain't that right, kid?" Yuriko jerked her head toward Naruto. Naruto only nodded, too engrossed with his shoelaces to spare any words. Yuriko sighed before going over to help Naruto once she was done with her own.
"Well, we're going. See you tomorrow, Umino."
"Bye Iruka-sensei!"
The new-bound siblings waved and began their walk home.
"Those too, truly are like siblings," Umino muttered to the empty school.
Hey All!
Sorry I've been MIA for the longest time. I found this while cleaning out my computer. It's from a while ago, but we'll see how it goes!
~Candygrl2008