The Akatsuki's One Thousand Winds
Chapter One: Sunagakure's Dirty Little Secret
The council members sat around the round table of the discussion room where the four, huge stone statues of the previous and current Kazekages loomed over them. The lights were dim and two guards stood at the opening of the room. It was silent as the council members waited for the Kazekage to join them. As he entered the room, they stood up in unison out of respect. They all sat back down together with the Kazekage.
"Kazekage-sama, we have a huge matter at hand. Our village is at risk of incredible trouble with the Akatsuki-" One council member began but was stopped by the Kazekage's cold glare. "Sir, the debt hasn't been paid. They've already threatened to destroy the village.. and we're at a disadvantage as one of the members happen to be one of our own." Another cried out with worry. The atmosphere in the room was dark and full of anxiety. The Kazekage raised his head and looked at each and everyone of his council members, "I admit, our dealings with the Akatsuki has not been the best choice for the village but our current financial state is already endangered. I thought that I could bare with their asking price but.. I seem to have thought wrong. We must think of something as quick as possible. How much time to we have?"
"They're expecting something by tomorrow, Kazekage-sama," The council member who spoke earlier answered promptly. The Kazekage snarled, "We don't have enough time to raise the kind of money they're asking for but I refuse for this village to be crushed. I've worked too long and too hard for it to be at such a risk." As the Kazekage said this one council member stood up and looked him straight in the eyes. His name was Isuma Yamauchi, the Head of the Yamauchi Clan of the Hidden Sand Village. "Kazekage-sama, I have a proposal which will hopefully smoothen our dilemma at hand," The Kazekage looked interested and nodded for him to continue, "You see, Kazekage-sama, my wife is not long to give birth to our youngest daughter. You all know of our Kekkei Genkai and we value this more than money, as would the Akatsuki. On the sixteenth birthday of my daughter, I will hand her over to the Akatsuki as payment." Many of council members looked horrified but could not even distinguish the pain Isuma must have been to make such an incredible sacrifice for his village. The Kazekage looked sceptical and concerned for the now heavily-burdened man, "Isuma-san, this is a very big proposal. Are you sure this is what you're willing to do?" Isuma nodded sincerely and gave a very weak smile. "A million lives over one is the better option." His face may have not showed it, but his guts twisted with pain as he said this. He knew his wife would be devastated at this news. "But.. Isuma-san, this is your child!" One member protested. "Ibari-san, we all must make sacrifices for our village. This is mine. I still have many years with her, and throughout those years I will teach her how to protect herself. She will know that doing this is a great honour." Isuma smiled at his friend.
"Isuma Yamauchi, I am honoured to have you as my council member. Your sacrifice will benefit this village greatly. I cannot thank you enough." The Kazekage stood up and gave a reassuring and grateful look towards Isuma, who bowed his head. That was that. Isuma had given up his own daughter for the village's sake, and from then on history was made.
A month passed exactly and Isuma's daughter was finally born on the 25th of January, six days after the Kazekage's youngest son, Gaara, was born. Her fate was sealed before she was even born. Isuma's wife, Sayuri, had accepted her child's fate (without ease) and wanted to spend each and every precious moment with their daughter.
Sayuri lay in the hospital bed, cuddling her new-born daughter with Isuma by her side, tears of joy as well as sadness welled up in his eyes. "We have so much time with you, my darling, but once you're gone I want you to remember where you're from and who you are. This is why we are naming you Chikaze. Chikaze Yamauchi of the Yamauchi Clan. You are our thousand winds," Sayuri spoke gently to her tiny baby which had a mop of coal black hair and mesmerizing light pink eyes. Little Chikaze gurgled happily as she lay in her mother's warm arms. Isuma stroked his daughter's head so gently, his heart breaking in two as he realised the value of what he was giving up. But it was far too late to go back on his word. "A million lives over one is the better option." Those words rang constantly in his ears as he looked as his beautiful daughter. His tears had turned into ones of sorrow. Isuma's heart grew heavy over the years but greatly appreciated each second with his youngest one. Watching her grow into a fierce yet gentle, merciless however kind individual was not enough for him.
Isuma would teach her anything and everything to protect herself. He did not know what these Akatsuki members were capable of nor the way they would act towards a young woman such as Chikaze. His heart grew heavier knowing she would be thrown into the deepest end of the pool as she would be surrounded by power-hungry and blood-thirsty men. However he had to keep reminding himself that this was his decision and he would go through with it. After all, it was for the village and its people.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own ANY Naruto characters (in the manga or the anime) apart from the Yamauchi Clan and insignificant characters (i.e. Ibari). The plot is mine. If there are any similarities with other plot lines they are all coincidental.