Mayonaka-chan's Story

years 1-6:

It was a joyous week for the people of The Village Hidden in the Sky. The second-born of the Tenshi clan was due to arrive this week and she would be capable of so many things having inherited not one but two powerful kekei-genkai. Both kekei-genkai were inherited every tenth generation. On her mother's side, the kekei-genkai was the metsuki-kyoudai and on her father's side was the gekai. The metsuki-kyoudai was inherited by the first-born female of every tenth generation and the gekai was inherited by the by the second-born of every tenth generation. The new arrival to the Tenshi clan fit the requirements for each kekei-genkai and much was expected of her from both the village and the Tenshi clan. All seemed well.

The Arrival

The whole village stood behind the home of the Tenshi clan awaiting the newborn girl to be brought out and introduced. The mother had gone into labor and word had quickly spread throughout the village causing everyone to gather beneath the family's balcony, waiting for the cry of a baby.

It was 11:45 at night. The mother had been in labor for 2 hours now. No one had moved or said a word in fear of missing the new arrival. The air was so thick with tension that the people of the village could've sworn they felt it pressing down on their anxious shoulders. The children had long ago gone to bed from exhaustion and impatience. The old were only able to stay awake because of the younger adults waking them when they had started to nod off.

Fifteen minutes had passed and right as the clock struck midnight and the bells began to ring, a sense of peace and calm fell over Sukai, lifting the tension away. No one could really fully explain what had happened.

Ten minutes passed and the door on the balcony opened, catching everyone's attention. A boy of 15 years, the clan's first-born, and a man, the boy's father, carrying a baby walked out onto the balcony. The man uncovered the sleeping baby's face and lifted her in the air over the entire village.

"Tenshi, Mayonaka! Born at exactly 12:00am on November 29th! Heir of the metsuki-kyoudai and gekai kekei-genkai!" shouted the man. The village erupted in cheers, waking Mayonaka who looked down upon the village and giggled at the wonderfully joyful sound that had reached her ears.

3 years later . . .

Mayonaka was sitting in her room, studying for the test she had on her family history tomorrow. Mayonaka was a quick learner and was able to walk at 2 months and speak at 10 months. Her parents then decided to teach her some of the basics before she started school. They also thought it important she know about her family history. She rarely left the house because whenever she completed one subject, her parents gave her another, leaving her little free time. She didn't mind though. Her brother, Hebimaru, helped her when he could, but he often had to go train now that he was a jounin. Besides, whenever Mayonaka left the house, people who wouldn't leave her alone instantly surrounded her.

"Mayonaka-sama! Do you want some help studying?"

"Mayonaka-sama! Will you come play with my son?"

The requests and offerings were never-ending. Mayonaka knew they meant well, but all she wanted sometimes was peace and quiet. But when she was home, that's all she ever got.

Her parents, being two of the most highly respected village elders, were always at meetings about ways to keep the village safe. Hebimaru was always training, eating, or sleeping. Mayonaka knew he didn't have time for her. The maid left her alone. Mayonaka didn't have any real friends because she was always forced to play with the children. She didn't get the luxury of choosing whom she wanted to play with. When she did play with them, she was on such a higher intellectual level that it was almost unbearable. Mayonaka knew the true meanings of the words "solitude" and "isolation."

That night, Mayonaka's parents informed their children of some important news. "Kids, 3 years ago, the Kyuubi attacked one of our allies: the village Konoha. The 4th Hokage stopped the Kyuubi. He trapped its soul inside the body of a newborn boy." Mayonaka was mildly confused.

"Mother, why are you telling us this?" Although she was only 3, Mayonaka had the maturity and intellect of someone much older. It was a rare occurrence for her to be confused.

"Your mother is telling you this, Mayonaka, because the village elders are expecting an attack from the Tokage-jigoku."

"Won't the mountains protect us?" Sukai was an incredibly isolated village. It was completely surrounded by mountains, creating a natural barrier to the outside world. It was called "The Village Hidden in the Sky" because many outsiders believed it rested atop the mountains in the sky, surrounded by clouds.

"No Mayonaka. Have you learned nothing from your studies? Not only can the Tokage-jigoku break through the mountains by brute strength, but it can fly over them as well."

"But Hebimaru, not even the birds can fly that high! And the mountains are hundreds of feet thick! That would be entirely impossible!"

"Mayonaka, your brother's right. The Tokage-jigoku is the strongest of all demons. She can do anything she wants to. If she attacks, we are almost doomed to be defeated, unless . . ."

"Unless what mother? Unless what?!"

"Mayonaka, if you agree to become the shell for the Tokage-jigoku like that boy from Konoha was forced to be, Sukai may survive. You are the only one likely to survive the transfer. Would you be willing to undertake this task should Sukai be attacked?"

"Mom, I . . . I . . ." Mayonaka didn't know what to say. She loved her home, Sukai, but, to have a demon inside of her?! She couldn't even imagine it. She was only 3 years old for God's sake!

"Please think about it my Midnight Rose. I know this is a lot to ask of you and it's so sudden, but if you could just –"

"Yes. I'll do it." Mayonaka abruptly cut off her father, knowing she was the only thing that could save Sukai should the Tokage-jigoku attack.

"Good. Tomorrow your mother and I will begin your training to help you gain control over both of your kekei-genkai."

And it began.

A Few Weeks Later . . . At Dusk

Mayonaka nervously tugged at her necklace. It was given to her when she was born. The charm was some sort of gourd with strange markings on it. Her mother had bought it at a silver shop. It was one of those necklaces that was said to help point you in the direction of your true love. Mayonaka was told of all this but didn't quite understand it yet, but she still never took it off, not eveen when she slept or bathed.

She was nervous because the Tokage-jigoku had been seen near the village and she had been ushered off to a safety shelter. Over the past few weeks, she had almost fully mastered both kekei-genkai.

The gekai allowed her to heal any physical wound in a matter of seconds using only a minimal amount of chakra. It also allowed her to temporarily transfer any abnormal powers she had, like her kekei-genkai, to anyone else by touch. This meant that if she wanted to heal someone, she would merely have to touch them. It also enabled her to control all of her bodily functions like her heartbeat or how fast her metabolism was.

The metsuki-kyoudai allowed her to see through anything. This ability made it easier to detect injuries in someone's body. She could then either target the wound for an attack or to heal it. The metsuki-kyoudai also allowed her to get inside a person's mind and read their thoughts, or force thoughts or images into their head. It was a very successful type of torture, or a way to send secret messages to one another. Both of her kekei-genkai combined allowed her to feel the emotions of others. The stronger someone's emotion was, the easier it was to feel and the farther away she could feel it.

When Mayonaka heard a knock on the door, she stopped fiddling with her necklace, stuffed it down her shirt, and sat up straight as a chuunin ninja walked into the room. "Mayonaka-sama," he began while bowing to her, "the Tokage-jigoku has approached the village. I have been sent here to usher you deeper into the shelter so you may come to no harm."

At this, Mayonaka gracefully stood up and took the ninja's hand. She didn't want to admit it, but she was terribly frightened and was glad that she wasn't alone anymore. "Ninja?"

"Yes Mayonaka-sama?"

"Where are my parents, and my brother? Why is it that you have come and not one of them?"

"Your father and brother are part of the first line of defense. Your mother is at the field where the battle would take place should the demon get through. She also sent you a message. She says to use your metsuki-kyoudai to remain connected with her through mind. She will tell you when it is time to come so she can perform her jutsu."

They had reached their destination. The deepest room in the shelter. This would protect almost anyone from almost anything. Mayonaka still didn't feel safe. Her hand instinctively went to her necklace for comfort.

"Mayonaka-sama, this is where I leave you. Only come when you are told."

The ninja released his hand from her grip and sprinted back down the hall towards the battlefield. Mayonaka was alone. She sat down, shut her eyes, and began snaking her mind through the village, searching for her mother. 'I'm here honey. Do not be frightened.' Mayonaka heard her mother's thoughts. She locked her mind onto her mother's and wouldn't have let go if the apocalypse had taken place. It was a comfort to know her mother was okay.

A Few Hours Later . . .

The Tokage-jigoku had gotten past Sukai's defenses. Mayonaka could feel the heat of the flames erupting from the demon's mouth, even though she was miles away. She could feel the fear and despair emanating from all of the ninja fighting for the village. Suddenly, she heard her mother's mind shouting at her, 'Mayonaka! Come! It is time!' before her mother could even finish the last syllable, Mayonaka stood up and sprinted towards her mother's voice.

At The Battlefield . . .

Mayonaka found her mother at the back of the battlefield near the center of the village. There were dead bodies and blood everywhere. The horrible stench of burning flesh and hair made Mayonaka gag. She estimated that about half the village's population was lying there dead, having fought proudly for their home. The heat was tremendous. New flames were sprouting up everywhere. The noise was earsplitting. The demon was roaring as loud as she could, the ninja were shouting orders, the flames crackled and the screams of the dying tore through the night. The smoke stung Mayonaka's eyes and burnt her lungs causing tears to run down her face as she sprinted to her mother.

"Mayonaka!"

"Mother! I'm here!"

"Mayonaka I must warn you that the jutsu I am about to perform will kill me. I don't know if your father or brother survived the first attack. If you are the last of the Tenshi clan after this battle, another family will care you for. Is this alright Mayonaka?"

She didn't know what to do. Her mother dead? The thought was too horrible to conceive. She knew that if she refused to let her mother perform the jutsu, Sukai was as good as gone. The smoke was making her mind go fuzzy. She couldn't think straight. Just as the clock struck midnight, Mayonaka numbly nodded her head, and followed her mother into the heat of the battle.

Mayonaka's vision blurred because of the smoke and tears pouring down her face. Her lungs were filled with soot, but she couldn't feel a thing. Everything was a numb blur as she ran alongside her mother. They reached the fire-breathing beast and stopped. Everything skid to a screeching halt.

The demon looked down upon the two insignificant mortals standing so confidently in front of her. She took a deep breath, ready to burn them to death. Within the blink of an eye, Mayonaka's mother performed a series of complicated hand signs and unleashed the forbidden jutsu. Mayonaka could feel the enormous creature's soul entwining itself with hers, entrapped within her small body, and then she passed out.