Chapter One
It was refreshing, after so many cold, bitter days, the feel spring brought. The air was lighter and loose, the ground was soft with lush green grass, the sand was slightly warmer and not in soggy lumps. It seemed as if everything was rejoicing for the new weather. Kyoko smiled as she spotted her young apprentice attempting to make an end of winter snow angel. Or was it a sand angel? Either way she was getting her clothes all sandy. Holding back a grin she called her over saying she was finished with dinner. Her eyes twinkled with pride as she watched her apprentice walk with a graceful gait that seemed almost unnatural for someone so young. She was indeed training her well, she thought with a proud grin.
At first glance the small wooden cottage they resided in seemed, boring, homely; plain, but upon closer inspection it would become clear how special it was. Almost entirely hidden to the normal eye were several seals placed specifically, each one highly significant. They were made to alert the creator overall, but each one was keyed into chakra signatures. One that was covertly placed beside the stairs harmonized with anxious chakra, and reached as far as the beginning of the sand that ran along the left side of the cottage. Another was stuck to the top of their chimney, reaching out as far as the first waves and woods that surrounded the house, though it was made to distinguish threatening/harmful chakra. It was a complex system made to keep enemies watched and tagged.
Although the outside was undeniably advanced there was still more to say about the inside. With weapons strategically placed in every hidden nook and cranny it would be crazy to try to enter with any ill will. The walls were almost entirely covered in foyer. Three sides were consumed with wall to wall bookshelves and the last one was littered with scrolls of almost every kind. In the middle of the scrolls sat an unused stone fireplace. Then of course there was the small kitchen. It was a tiny area certainly not big enough to house numerous guests, but it was perfect for the two females. Small wooden cabinets lined the walls near the regular sized fridge. About once a month Kyoko and Tomoe ventured out to a small village south and stocked up on necessities and hurried back. Two little rooms branched away, one on the left and one on the right, each with a small bathroom. To the right was Kyoko's room, mostly empty aside from the few personal belongings sitting upon her desk and dresser. Her bathroom was very similar to her bedroom, nothing but the bare essentials. In a stark contrast was Tomoe's bedroom to the left. The young girl, though quiet had quite the nice room. Her room was decked out in various hues of lavender and blue. Several plants were spread out, most appeared exotic and fragrant. An easel with various brushes sat in one corner near her window. Paintings the child had made hung about the room in frames or lay on her desk drying. Many were of the rolling waves outside her window, the flowers around her room, or of the woods near her house. In her bathroom she had heaps of seashells, conch shells, sea glass, and sand dollars. She strung some along a cord that she hung around her mirror. The seven year old was very artistic and intelligent.
After shaking the sand off of her clothes and hair Tomoe followed Kyoko inside. Inside she was greeted with a plate of omusubi. Sitting down at the old wooden kitchen table she eagerly dug in, it was her favorite food. Standing off to the side Kyoko watched her ward, her face openly showing how amusing it was to watch Tomoe eat. "How was it?"She asked knowingly. Tomoe stretched and feigned indifference, commenting on how it was 'okay'. Kyoko swallowed her laughter at the child's poor show of acting. She practically swallowed her plate when she was eating! After several minutes she ushered the girl out the door, it was time to train. "Instead of working on any specific techniques today we'll be focusing on your chakra element. Last month we determined that earth was your nature, as well as fire…, for the most part we will mostly focus on earth though." Kyoko said as she started instructing the girl.
Watching Tomoe follow her lesson, began to bring tears to Kyoko's eyes. She was so much like her father… While she had inherited features like her hair, skin coloring, build, nose, and mouth from her mother. Tomoe has the exact same mannerisms, bone structure, and eyes of her father. She was a very beautiful little girl, with her twinkling onyx eyes, straight ebony hair, a clear and pale complexion, pink lips, and gentle voice. She practically embodied her father and his side of the family, watching her train so smooth and effortlessly brought back bitter sweet memories and fresh tears.
Author's Note: I do not own Naruto or any part of it, except for my own characters and plot. I will try to update often. :)