Rain and fog, rain and fog…
This day was particularly dreary. As the frogs croaked and the birds and insects chirped, the mist only seemed to get thicker, whiter, and heavier – weighing down upon the compound like a moist, suffocating blanket.
*tap tap tap tap*
Eager footsteps sloshed against wet, grimy stone as you zoomed through the Mizushima clan's compound.
Off in the distance a bell tolled, breaking the mysterious moan of the misty forest. When the fog became this dense you were always sad, unable to see even a meter in front of you – blocked from the comforting green of the surrounding giant trees.
But today you had to hurry – mom and dad were waiting for you and you couldn't keep them waiting – they said they had a surprise!
Hurriedly quickening your steps, you entered a circular tower with greenery flourishing on the rooftop.
If you remembered correctly they were on… the fourth floor?
You hastily shut your dripping umbrella and threw it down, dashing to the staircase and running up four flights.
You approached the door to your parent's bedroom. It was ajar as voices emanated from within.
"I've had it! You're wrong and that's all there is to it! I won't see my only daughter butchered like missing-nin scum." Yuu's commanding tone shook the air.
"I'm a grown woman now, father. Aiko is my daughter! Doesn't that mean anything to you?" Yori protested.
"Yes! Of course it does, you're my daughter and this is what I'm doing to make sure you don't forfeit your life!" Yuu, your grandfather, sounded angrier than you'd ever heard him before.
"Then you should know how far a parent will go to preserve the life of their child, no matter what age." Tetsuo silently reminded the older man. You watched as father held mother's hand supportively.
"I forbid it! Yori, you were fine keeping your bloodline secretive. Your child can do the same. I already disagreed with you sending Naomi off on her-"
"It's not something for you to forbid… and I hated always hiding a part of myself. I don't want Aiko to have to go through the same thing. As for Naomi, she won't be left alone for long. In Konoha, we'll all be a family again soon." Yori fought indignantly.
"Here we'll always live in constant fear that someone will see her abilities – we must act now. For both of our daughters' sakes. You have to understand." Tetsuo tried to reason.
You cringed at the raw anger thrashing about in the air… It sounded like grandpa, mom, and dad were all fighting again. You hate it when they can't get along, and you feel like you haven't been helping.
Ever since you showed mom and dad your new jutsu, they've been fighting with grandpa almost every day. You thought they'd be happy about your new trick since you had just been enrolled at the shinobi academy. You wanted to be a powerful ninja, just like them.
You didn't know what to do. You're supposed to go in and meet your parents, but should you interrupt their conversation?
"No, that's exactly what I was taught not to do. If others are having a conversation, I should let them talk first." You resolved.
"That's right, I'm afraid if we wait any longer someone will see that she's inherited the Mizushima kekkei genkai. She's only a kid, how would she know to keep something like that hidden from everybody all the time? I almost let my secret slip a hundred times had you not assigned a guard to me." Yori's visage hunched with worry.
"Leaving like this will alert the hunter-nin. Stay a few more weeks – put in your reason for moving." Yuu advised.
"They would never grant us a leave, you know that. Extensive analysis is done. They'll even talk to Aiko and it's too risky. If they found out her abilities, they'd strike her down on the spot. It was hard enough to sneak Naomi out." Father shuddered.
At that, you gasped. Did you do something wrong? Are you in trouble?
"Fine then! I can see you'll leave no matter what I say, so I'll go."
Suddenly the door flew open, Yuu storming out. Your body twitched away at the loud, abrupt noise.
"Aiko?" Grandfather stared down at you, a mix of surprise and horror on his face that disappeared almost instantly as you looked back, perplexed and worried.
"Aiko." Your parents murmured.
Tears started beading in your eyes. You balled your fists up to wipe them away as they streamed down.
"Did I do something to make you angry, grandfather? I'm sorry." You started.
"No, no, you did nothing, child. Calm down and go to your parents, now. They wanted to talk to you." Grandfather's large hand landed heavily on your head, ruffling your hair, before he left.
"Aiko, sweetie!" Before you could move, mom's comforting arms scooped you up. You couldn't stop bawling, now on your mom's shoulder. Even if grandfather said you did nothing wrong, something still felt off.
"Is it true? Are you both leaving?"
"Ah, of course. Our little sharp listener caught on quickly." Mother patted you on the back before putting you down and kneeling so that she was face to face with you. You tried your best to stop crying, hiccupping as you did so.
"Tonight, you, your father, and I are going to leave the village and go to the fire country."
"What about our clan? We're going to leave behind the rest of the family?" You asked.
"The Mizushima clan will stay here, the Mist village is their home. From now on, our home will be in the Leaf village." Father explained.
"But I'm a Mizushima too, why isn't this my home anymore?"
"It is your home, but since your mom and I need to move to the Leaf village, we're making it our new home and we hope you would accept it too."
"Accept it? If you and mom think it's good, I will too." You hugged dad's leg.
"Haha, great, that's my big girl. I know you'll like it." Mother beamed brightly, now reaching for something from her pocket. "Now for your surprise. Are you ready? No tears, please."
At her words, your sadness disappeared completely. You wiped your face hastily as she and father giggled.
"Hmm, I see you're almost ready. First a kiss for dad." He pointed at his cheek while you clambered up him hastily like a monkey, smooching his cheek and jumping down - looking at your mom eagerly.
She laughed, "All right, all right. Hold out your hands and close your eyes. No peeking."
Obediently, you did as told and felt something cold and metal drop into your hands followed by a warm kiss on your forehead.
Your eyes snapped open, focused on the metal charm in your hands.
"It's a 3D rendition of our clan's symbol made out of a chakra sensitive metals." Dad proudly stated.
Mom eyed the piece of jewelry fondly, "It was owned by my mother, me, and now you. Keep it on you at all times and it will protect and amplify your abilities."
"You'll take care of it, won't you?" You nodded your head vigorously at father, in awe of the craftsmanship a tiny piece of metal could contain.
"That's my girl, your grandmother would be proud. She was a Shinajii user like you are, but you remember what we talked about, right?" Mother's face suddenly became serious.
"To keep Shinajii a secret?" You recalled.
"Yes, good job. Keep it a secret here in Kirigakure. When we get in Konoha it'll be fine to tell others." You nodded diligently to let them know you were listening.
Suddenly father lifted and swung you around while you giggled. "Okay, now it's time for someone to go to school, can you guess who?"
"Hmm, I might know who it is – perhaps a certain little girl…" Mother sang.
The benevolent, good-natured adults gazed at you expectantly, seemingly waiting for an answer.
School, huh?
"I don't want to. I wanna spend time with you, mom and dad!" You scurried to them and wrapped an arm around each of their legs, hugging them both tightly.
"You're so sweet, but don't want to spend time with your friends?"
"No, I love you guys the most." You hugged them tighter.
They grinned, dad stroking your hair. "You've always been such a shy guy, and even though that's okay, you also have to go to school to learn how to become a great kunoichi."
"But… but what if someone is being mean to me?"
"Have your instructors been too harsh!? If you've been harmed or ordered to kill anybody, you don't have to – you can come to your father or me immediately! You know that, right? Those old, traditional practices aren't supposed to be taught anymore!" Mother's pitch raised.
"Has anything happened at school?" Father coaxed.
"No, nothing like that… It's just… Hideaki is always so mean to me for wearing glasses – he says I look like a frog!" You burst out. Your fists balled up, moisture accumulating around your eyes. "I hate it! He's always so mean and then he makes sure I fall down or get hurt."
As you confessed, you hung your head down – ashamed and embarrassed to be telling mom and dad your problems at school.
"Pft!" They both made a weird, sputtering sound.
"Naomi would complain she didn't like her glasses either." Yori whispered to Tetsuo whom nodded jovially.
"Hmm?" You shyly peered up into the faces of your parents and instead of seeing disappointment, like you expected, you saw them trying not to break out into fits of laughter.
You suddenly grew self-conscious and shouted at them while crossing your arms. "What's so funny?"
"Sorry, sorry, nothing. You know, don't worry. You don't look like a frog at all! If you're that unhappy, there's always contacts." Mom tried to soothe you.
"And even if you did look like a frog, you're the cutest frog of all!" Dad gushed.
"That doesn't help! I don't want to be a frog at all." You cried.
"Okay, I'm sorry. Like your mother said, there's always contacts."
"What're those?"
"They're like glasses that you wear on your actual eyeballs."
"Eww, that sounds like it hurts." You scrunched your face up and squished your eyes shut, sliding your fingers under your frames.
"No rubbing Aiko, you'll hurt your eyes." Mom chided.
"You have to get going for class, you don't want to be late. I believe in you. I think you'll solve your problems with Hideaki." You basked in father's supportive gaze.
"Yes, always believe in yourself. Mizushima's don't back down because of fear."
Your parent's encouraging words were already starting to invigorate you and you could feel yourself start to smile.
You'd try your best with Hideaki, then. The least you could do was try.
"Fine, I'll go." You were kind of looking forward to school now.
You giddily dashed out of the room to gather your training supplies and leave for class.
o-o
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
o-o
Perched atop a giant tree, the instructor's voice caught everyone's attention.
"That's enough for stamina and endurance. Free climb for 10 minutes, then lecture!" A billowy, aged man called out to the group of children swinging and clambering on leafy branches.
"Aiko-chan, now you swing. Chōjū will catch you and launch you off to me. I'll catch you with a twist, but you've got to stick the landing. It'll be perfect this time for sure, just watch." Suigetsu grinned at you confidently.
"I'm ready, the seven swordsmen are all acrobatic – I will be too." Chōjūrō's normally calm eyes flared with quiet ambition, though you felt you had to complain.
"Why do I have to be the person launched?"
"You're the only one who can do it – you're aerodynamic." Your blue haired friend reasoned.
"Psh, I bet you don't even know what it means." You spluttered.
"I do, and it's true." Suigetsu chimed in.
"How am I any more aerodynamic than you guys?"
Suigetsu impishly pranced around you, "Stop questioning, just trust us."
"That's exactly what I did last time and both Chōjū and I broke our arms." You scowled.
When your gymnastic friends wanted to throw you around or trade you off to each other mid-air, that was when you had to draw the line. Playing with them was fun, but it wasn't fun when you broke your arm and couldn't practice for a couple of weeks. It was so boring and painful and your parents didn't seem happy at all.
"Ugg, I remember that." Chōjūrō mumbled gloomily. He winced a little at the memory, rubbing his arm wistfully. "Maybe we shouldn't do it then."
"Eww, don't look now, but stupid Hideaki's coming over." Suigetsu announced.
"Duck!" Chōjūrō yelled.
"What?" Though you weren't sure what he meant, you immediately climbed down the rope you were clinging onto to see a paper shuriken whiz by. It would've struck you had Chōjūrō not told you to get out of the way.
"I didn't think you'd see that, froggy, what with your eyes being so bad and everything." A boy contemptuously strode up.
"How are you doing, Hideaki?"
"How are you doing, Hideaki?" He mimicked you in a high pitched tone, to which you tilted your head in bewilderment.
"I'm not Hideaki, I'm Aiko." You clarified.
"I know that, duh." Hideaki scoffed.
"Then why-" You weren't able to finish speaking as Hideaki impatiently cut you off.
"Well, whatever, actually I came over to give you something."
"What, like a gift?"
"Yeah, a little gift." He affirmed.
"No, it's okay. I mean, it's not like I have anything for you." You said falteringly, Chōjūrō and Suigetsu backing you up.
"She doesn't want anything…" Chōjūrō mumbled.
"Stupid, get out of here! Aiko doesn't want or have anything for you." Suigetsu brashly declared.
"Here, just take it!" Hideaki yelled out gleefully, jabbing a hand into his pocket before jamming a fistful of something down the front of your clothes. He took advantage of the fact that you were still idly clinging to a rope and thus, your hands were occupied.
Immediately, you felt multitudes of slimy, wriggling masses against your bare skin.
"Eeekk!" You scurried up the rope, mounting the tree and quickly trying to banish the confused worms from your shirt with clumsy hands.
Unfortunately the tiny, squirming creatures had gotten caught on the folds of your top robe. Without thinking, you hastily threw it off, shrieking at the sheer amount of creepy crawlers that scuttled out of the cloth - making sure none remained in your undershirt.
"Ahahahahahaha!"
"You're really rude!" You informed the chortling boy, yet only received more laughter. The whole class caught onto what was happening started laughing their heads off as well.
Even turning to your friends, they were unable to keep from sniggering. They said 'sorry', but still looked unremorseful and entertained.
Feeling the weight of the ridicule, you frowned – slowly shrugging on your now bug-free top robe.
"Oh? What's wrong, huh? What can you even do about it?" Hideaki derided, staring at me snootily from atop a tree branch.
Though you hated getting dirty and feeling surprised insects crawling all over you, it was just Hideaki playing a prank to get laughs and attention like always. Last week it was Dami, now you. And you had to admit, if you were watching, you'd be laughing too. So maybe you can just talk things over with him?
'It's not a hard choice, I'll forgive him…'
Though you were initially hurt, even you can understand his prank was funny. Now there was nothing left to do but talk to him.
"Hideaki… It's no problem, I forgive you."
"Heehee! Yeah I know it was grea- What?" He seemed smug and triumphant initially, but telling him you forgave him obviously caught him off guard.
"I forgive you and be strong."
"Huh?"
"Wasn't your family moved from 2nd to 3rd rank caste? It happened recently, so good luck. I hear the lower caste schools are really tough." You frowned.
"So you knew…" On his face swam a mixture of shame.
"I think we all knew…" Chōjūrō added in quietly.
"My clan said I should pity you. Your kind have been enemies in the past, so how could we all trust you today?" Suigetsu cattily probed.
Your friends had finally stopped their breathless hooting at your expense and now they were taunting the taunter.
"You know, trash like you shouldn't even have come to school today. Once a traitor, always a traitor." Dami piped up venomously – another frequent victim of Hideaki's attacks.
"What a pitiful traitor." The usually bubbly Suigetsu derided – other students following in suit.
Now Hideaki was being made fun of, but that wasn't good. That definitely wasn't what you were going for.
"I'm not like that, okay? You're all wrong." He defended himself, tears springing to his eyes as he yelled at everyone to stop. You didn't like seeing Hideaki or anyone suffering, but you didn't know what to say or do.
Dami stepped in to shove the bully from behind. Another emboldened classmate did the same, shoving him from the side.
"S-stop!" You shouted.
Dami gave Hideaki another shove, a malicious glint in his expression. Hideaki stumbled, his eyes glossy with tears.
"Stop it!" Anger welling up in your chest, you waved your arms futilely. A gust of water shot out, drenching Dami's face and hair.
Across the courtyard, in a distant tree, your vision connected with a body concealed amongst leaves – a piercing set of eyes that emanated an uncomfortable, prickling aura. The wind blew the greenery away just enough see the face of a malevolent, scowling man looking right at you. A chill ran down your body.
"Urgh, what is this?" Dami complained. Sufficiently distracted from his previous endeavors.
Hideaki took the chance to glare at you and seethe, "I'm leaving. I hope you're happy, Aiko."
"I'm sorry… I wanted to wish you luck." The unsettling man's gaze and form were gone in a flash, leaving you with nothing to do but apologize.
"I don't need your luck." Hideaki scoffed and ran off, the class still laughing rambunctiously and insulting him all the while.
"Hey, don't worry about it. Just make sure you're all cleaned up." Chōjūrō patted your arm timidly.
"Yeah… thanks Chōjū." You didn't like how it went with Hideaki since you'd meant to forgive him and move on, but what disturbed you the most was that man in the faraway tree. Did you imagine him? Why was he looking at you like that? His features were burned into your memory.
o-o
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
o-o
*tap tap tap tap*
Your quick steps thudded lightly against the floor as you whooshed into your parent's room. "Mom, dad!"
"Aiko, you're home. Mommy's been packing for you." Mom smiled lovingly as you jumped into dad's arms.
"When are we leaving?"
"As soon as night falls." Dad answered with a hug.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes, mom!"
"I have a good feeling about everything, may Tlaloc see that we have a safe journey." Dad murmured.
"Yes, lord of water, grant us fine passage." Mom offered a succinct prayer.
That night, your family left for Konoha. Apparently, you had an older sister already living there whom you'd never met. Her name was Naomi and she was about five or six years older than you. As you watched the full moon overhead, you felt nothing but excitement. You couldn't wait to meet Naomi or see Konoha.
You watched choppy, silver-lined waves being created by boat you sailed in. You were crossing the murky, black ocean and soon you'd reach the Fire Country's port city. Konoha wouldn't be far off.
As you neared the port, your heart stopped. That same scowling man you'd seen at school was glaring at you again. This time he wasn't in a tree, he was walking along the docks. Soon, you couldn't see him at all anymore. You told your parents whom visibly paled.
Walking the road to Konoha was scary. Shadows wavered with the wind and moon - their ghastly bleakness made it seem as if every crevice of the forest hid monsters.
On those miserable dirt roads, you lost your parents…
The hunter nin came out of nowhere. You recognized his face – that sullen man with a fierce scowl was back. You were told to run and not look back.
…But you did look back and you saw blood everywhere – the fallen corpse of your father streaked in crimson. Your mother, her jaw hanging agape, her wide open eyes glassy as she soullessly reached out for you. Your chest tightened in terror, sobs breaking out in short and erratic bursts.
You only made it as far to Konoha as you did because of a kind girl with the same colored hair as yours. She must've been a shinobi. She found and led you to your destination while fending off as many attackers as she could. However, soon she disappeared – along with the hunter nin. You have no idea how you made it into Konoha that morbid night, but here you are.
