A/N: Well. I haven't done this in quite a while. I think it's been a year now? Don't quote me on that since I'm not sure. Either way, this is the revamped version of 'Ishindenshingan'. The second author's note over at 'Ishindenshingan' hopefully directed everyone's attention over here because I'm going to take that one down. I really hope that everyone finds this version better because I am really in love with it. I put a lot of time into it and I think my writing style has gotten better although it is a work in progress. But enough with my rambling. Let us commence this new story!
(p.s. Japanese titles and words and basically anything Japanese other than names are all italicized. Their translations are at the bottom)
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Chapter 1
The Revelation
My life sucks right now. It sucks big, fat, hairy monkey balls. It's just that bad at this moment. I can't even put it into eloquent words to describe how much I hate it.
Do you know Tsunade-sama? Y'know, the blonde woman who's horrible at gambling and has the biggest tits ever? The one who could smash you into oblivion with just a finger and heal you up right again? Yeah, she's my shishou, the one who taught me all about her super strength, medical techniques, and how to hold my liquor. Right now, she's the biggest influence in my messed up life. Before her though, I had a team that meant the world to me… but apparently, I didn't mean enough to them.
In my world, if you want to, you can become a shinobi by joining a village's Academy at like 6. You go through six years of horrifying amounts of knowledge, skills, and weapons. From there, you graduate at age 12 if you pass the test. Obviously, I passed or I wouldn't even be studying under Tsunade-shishou right now but back then, I thought I just made the biggest achievement of my life. I mean, I got to be on a team with Sasuke-kun! …Well, reality quickly settled in.
Me, being the naïve self I was, thought that being a kunoichi would be all easy-peasy. It's not. I was quickly disillusioned from a fairytale ending with Sasuke-kun when I really learned how douchey he was. Needless to say, my twelve year old heart broke and then quickly hardened back into a state where being a kunoichi was all I thought about. What's-his-face thought I couldn't be a capable kunoichi and I had decided to prove him wrong.
Studying under the world-renowned Hatake Kakashi was kind of enlightening. It showed me the bias people consciously or unconsciously show towards those gifted with a kekkei genkai.
At first, I thought he was just showering Sasuke with attention because of the massacre and him being without a family. But then, why not Naruto too? He's in the exact same situation as Sasuke and may be even worse off! So why didn't Naruto receive special attention?
I finally understood when we were on that mission to the Land of Waves. Sasuke activated his Sharingan and Kakashi-sensei revealed his matching eye. I was just a bystander on the side who thought she had an important job when I realized that important piece of information.
That was all I thought about on our way home. People with kekkei genkai gain attention, whether unwanted or not. That Haku kid was obviously shunned because of his gift, though I didn't and still don't see what was wrong with it. Having that gift caused him to be very strong and that is an enviable trait in the shinobi world.
The chunin exams came and went with little to no fanfare. Oh wait, what am I talking about? Sand and Sound invaded our beautiful Konoha and started smashing it into itty bitty pieces. The beloved Sandaime passed away due to the scourge of the lands, his own student, Orochimaru.
We won and Naruto made another friend. His name's Gaara and he initially wanted to kill me. I don't know what the hell happened but it's all good now. Me and him are actually pretty good friends now.
Hey, remember Orochimaru? Yeah, he planted an evil little seed in Sasuke's mind that he could become 'powerful' if he went with him. I seriously don't see how Sasuke could even contemplate that. Orochimaru's an evil sadist with child molesting tendencies. It gives me the shivers to imagine what that sick freak does in his spare time.
Anyways, something went down and Sasuke lost it. He up and left Konoha in the middle of the night so that he could join the bastard. Naruto, who always thought of Sasuke like a brother, went after him with a bunch of our classmates back in the Academy. I just kind of realized that all of us girls were left behind. Tenten from Neji and Lee's team, Ino from Shikamaru and Chouji's, Hinata from Shino's and Kiba's and me from my falling-apart group.
Needless to say, those couple of days of not knowing how our male teammates were doing kind of brought us together. Tenten was the best off since Lee was still in the village, albeit in the hospital. I was the worst off I think but that's kind of understandable. My team was always trouble despite our lucky number 7. That's irony right there.
Either way, they all eventually came back, other than Sasuke. The prick was able to get to Sound and we haven't really heard from him since.
Naruto was devastated but determined to bring him back. At that point, I didn't really care about him anymore. Tsunade was already here in the village. She got here somewhere in between the last of the chunin exams and when Sasuke lost it. I think by then, I realized that Kakashi-sensei wouldn't really be willing to teach me anything worthwhile. My kunoichi career was on standby until I found another teacher who could teach me. Having heard of Tsuande-shishou's amazing medical abilities I went up and asked her if she could teach me. She asked me if I was willing to dedicate my entire life to it, I said yes, and I never looked back.
By then, I think Naruto also realized that Kakashi wasn't going to be teaching us anymore. He told me one day that he knew a while ago that Kakashi favored Sasuke. It was hard for both of us to admit out loud that yes, Kakashi really only cared for Sasuke and not his two other prospective students. He was a lost cause then.
Naruto told me that he would be leaving the village to train with Jiraiya-sama, one of the legendary Sanin. Tsunade-shishou was one and Orochimaru was the other. A light came on in my head and made me understand that all three of team 7 had run off to train under a Sanin. Oh how the Kami like to mess with us.
From there, we all separated. Naruto left the village for around two years and I studied hard under Tsunade-shishou. I pushed myself above and beyond my supposed limits and I marveled at how easy a lot of the things Kakashi said were hard for me were. I honestly think he was holding us back so he could focus on Sasuke… oh who am I kidding? He really was and it still pisses me off. Okaa-san and otou-san tell me to let it go but I can't. It's hard when a person that's supposed to show you right from wrong can barely tell you what you're supposed to do. Okaa-san just tells me that some people are like that and you have to just get passed it.
She's so amazing, okaa-san is. With luscious white hair and striking deep blue eyes, Haruno Yukiko could have been a model instead of a courier shinobi. I don't know how otou-san got her but I'm kinda glad he did. Haruno Seichii is a tall man with wavy burgundy hair and dark onyx eyes. He's also really good looking and they make a striking couple. Otou-san is 187.96 cm (6' 2") tall while okaa-san is only 162.56 cm (5' 4") so there's a big height difference between them. Otou-san can carry okaa-san on one arm like she was a toddler.
We're kinda getting off topic but I really wanted to talk about my parents. They're amazing and really supported me about being a combat kunoichi instead of a courier shinobi like them. With the way they coddle me, I sometimes wonder if they're my real parents. That coupled with my appearance have really made me question.
I have pink hair that's long-ish to keep up with my clans' traditions and sea glass green eyes. That's kinda normal for the Haruno family but I guess I get my height from otou-san since I ended up being 172.72 cm (5' 8") and the typical Haruno genes make you kinda short like okaa-san. Is it sad to say that I actually checked to see if I was actually my parents' child? Well I did and I guess there isn't a need to worry anymore. I am 100% Seichii and Yukiko's child.
Getting back on topic, it's been a couple of years and I think I've grown from that naïve crybaby I once was. We've all matured a little and you know what they say, you only get better with age. Or was that only for wine…?
Anyways, Naruto hasn't come back yet and I worry for him. From his recent letter, something came up and he might not be back for another year or two. I guess the Kamis just don't want what's left of team 7 to be together. I've just been taking the odd mission or two to get some excitement in my life and waiting for the moment he'll come back so we can go get Sasuke back and I can kick his scrawny little ass. But that's where we are now and where my kinda mellow life started going downhill… and fast.
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BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BE-!
Moan. The remains of the once beeping alarm clock were shattered all over the far wall of the bedroom and were surrounding a suspicious looking dent in said wall.
The moaning lump underneath the comforter twitched for a moment before a pink head popped up from where it was hiding underneath a pillow.
'…watimeizit?' was the groggy thought. Foggy green eyes slowly roved over towards the smashed clock and the time that was forever stuck there. 8.30 it said.
An angry grumble made its' way passed her lips as she rolled out of her wine red sheets and matching comforter. Landing with a dull 'THUD' on the floor, the young woman lay there for a moment. She slowly brought her arms up and raised her upper body up off the floor. Standing, she gazed blankly at the calendar that hung above her bed on the crème walls. Focusing on the little square that represented today's date, higher level thinking lazily began to form in her mind. Small incomprehensible sounds of panic echoed from her chest as a detail from yesterday was remembered.
'Holy shit! Mission briefing! Tsunade-shishou's gonna skin me alive and hang my remains over her fireplace!' The young woman flailed for a brief moment before dashing around her bedroom. In around five minutes, she was dressed in a jonin uniform which consisted of a black long-sleeved sweater, green flak jacket, and navy blue trousers.
Rushing into the bathroom, she tried to brush her teeth while simultaneously brushing her hair. It was a disaster and ended with toothpaste in her hair and hair in her mouth. Spitting out the disgusting wad of toothpaste, she desperately tried to rinse out her mouth. Shaking her head of the event, she grabbed a roll of bandages and proceeded to wrap her shins in bandages. With a small length of bandage, she tied the ends of her hair together and ended up with a style that looked oddly reminiscent of Neji's. Finished with that task, she bolted out of the room but not before grabbing her black hitai-ate and tying it around her forehead. The ends were especially long and they trailed down the back of her head to dangle near her shoulders.
Despite her short deadline, the young woman could not help but stop in the kitchen for a brief breakfast. Spotting a yellow sticky note on the counter, she jogged over to pick it up and read.
'Dear Forehead,
Didja wake up yet? I suppose you have if you're reading this note. Either way, I left for my mission earlier so I won't be back for three days at the most. Keep the house CLEAN! I don't know what the hell happened last time I was gone, but I do NOT want to find a red thong in the couch again. Do you hear me? Anyways, I made coffee and there's breakfast on the stove. Don't forget your mission briefing! We both do not want you to be suspended from the mission roster for two months again… That was hell in a basket so don't you dare forget! Oh, and good luck with your mission! Don't die!
With reluctant love,
Ino'
"Reluctant love…?" she pouted at that before grabbing the breakfast and proceeding to devour it in ten minutes flat. Chugging the black coffee, she glanced over at the clock.
Two words. Spit. Take. The coffee flew from her mouth in a fantastic arch and splattered all over the pale yellow kitchen walls. Grimacing at the thought of cleaning that up later, she dashed into the living room to snatch at her shuriken and kunai holsters. Finding them, along with her black sandals, she quickly put them on.
She rushed out of the door, locked it and set the traps. Jumping over onto an adjacent rooftop, the frazzled jonin continued her frantic pace towards the Hokage tower near the middle of the village. Her pace was fast, fast enough that most only saw a blur moving across the roofs.
Five minutes later, she found herself panting in front of the Hokage's double doors. Knocking firmly three times, she waited from affirmation to go in.
"Enter," a strong voice commanded. She turned a doorknob and slowly walked inside. She found herself alone in the office. Spotting the lone chair in front of Tsunade's desk, she sat herself in it. The youthful looking blonde woman glared at her.
"Sakura… you're late again," Tsunade reprimanded.
Sakura chuckled nervously. "Gomen, Tsunade-shishou. I slept in."
With one final glare, Tsunade continued. "I have a new mission for you, Sakura. We received a mission request from a client looking for a single superior jonin. The person in question is a rather esteemed individual and is searching for a way to travel home quickly with relatives of his. This is an A rank mission. I don't want any goof ups." She gave Sakura a specific look who just grinned.
"Who is this person, Tsunade-shishou?"
"You'll find out in a second but do you accept?" Sakura nodded determinedly. Smiling, Tsunade called out to someone from behind a door. "You can come out now." The door opened and out stepped a man that made Sakura's eyes nearly pop out of her head.
"Oji-san…?" came a small voice. It sounded somewhat like a child and said so softly that no one heard.
The man in question was standing confidently with his arms crossed over his chest which was quite the contrast to his somewhat frail appearance. He was 180.34 cm tall (5' 11") and was wearing traditional yukata robes in various shades of green, black, and gray. He had a full head of salt and pepper hair that was pulled into a low ponytail but with a slightly receding hairline. There were lines etched around his hard, deep blue eyes and forehead from years of scrunching up his face in deep concentration. Said eyes held the look of a seasoned leader and they gazed around the room with no emotion. When they passed over Sakura, however, they flashed with recognition. The two stared at each other for a while until Sakura broke the tense silence with a timid whisper.
"Oji-san…?"
"Sakura," the man said. His face softened from its' harsh lines, but still held the firmness.
"OJI-SAN!" Sakura yelled as she flung herself out of the chair and at the man. He was just able to open his arms to catch the tall girl. The way he moved caught the hiding ANBUs' attention. He moved with the grace of a honed fighter… He's probably a retired shinobi. The ANBU soundlessly took out a sharpened kunai from his holster and studied the older man.
Tsunade's sharp eyes glanced over at the ANBU on guard and delicately shook her head. The man was no threat to her. Bowing his head, the ANBU put the kunai away but was still on guard.
Sakura muttered into his robes. She was so close to tears at the moment since she hadn't seen her grandfather in years. Can you really blame her? The last time she had seen him, he was still in the shinobi trade, so she was constantly worried that he had been killed.
"Magomusume, we're still in the company of others," the man softly reminded her. Sakura flushed slightly and stepped away from her grandfather. He cleared his throat. "Ohayo. My name's Haruno Ichigo. I am Sakura's grandfather and your client. I want you to escort me along with my daughter and her husband back to our home village."
Sakura's eyes widened. 'Is it time…?' She sharply glanced over to her grandfather and, reading the question in her eyes, he nodded.
Closing her eyes, Sakura thought about her time in Konoha. Opening them again, her eyes were tired and resigned.
She sighed. "So be it." Tsunade's eyes narrowed at the exchange between her student and her grandfather.
'Something's going on… and I don't like it…' Nodding, Tsunade stamped the mission scroll before handing it over to her student.
"Be at the gates tomorrow morning at exactly 5.30 a.m., Sakura. The time span of the mission was not disclosed so you will have to ask your grandfather. Don't be late."
Nodding, Sakura accepted the scroll delicately. "Good day, Tsunade-shishou." She led her grandfather out of the room and shut the door with a resounding finality.
Tsunade laced her hands together in front of her. "I don't like this… Something's going on… more than the simple escort." She twitched her finger and the ANBU from earlier appeared kneeling before her.
"Hai, Hokage-sama?" he asked his voice deep and inquiring.
"I want you to dig up any and all information on Haruno Ichigo and the Haruno family."
The ANBU simply nodded before disappearing once more. Tsunade sat back in her chair, her eyes still hard and questioning.
"What are you going to do, Sakura?"
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Walking next to her grandfather, Sakura couldn't help but worry over what was going to happen once she reached the Haruno compound outside of Konoha. It was a daunting thought.
The walk to her parents' house was made in comfortable silence. Between the two of them, Ichigo and Sakura had a very good relationship.
They stopped in front of a cozy two story home with a well-maintained garden. Sakura knocked and turned to her grandfather.
"Okaa-san and otou-san will be happy to see you oji-san. We've all been worried since the last time we saw y-" Sakura was interrupted when a body collided with hers and sent them both tumbling towards the ground. Sakura had let her guard drop for a single moment since they were in front of her parents' home and wasn't exactly expecting her mother to tackle her into the ground.
"Oh my goodness! I can't believe you're here, ichijo! I haven't seen you in forever!" Yukiko gushed as she clung to her daughter's shoulder, who was still face first in the ground.
"Mmph mef mopfh," Sakura mumbled incoherently into the ground. Yukiko scrambled off of her daughter and she gasped violently when sweet air reentered her lungs.
"I LIVE!" she yelled as she continued to breathe in lungful after lungful of air.
Yukiko grinned at her dramatic daughter and dusted herself off. She and Seichii bowed to Ichigo.
"Come in, come in! It's a relief to see you, otou-san!" Yukiko said as she ushered them all into the house. Sakura followed and sat herself down on the tatami floors in front of the kotatsu. Seichii and Ichigo also sat around the low table while Yukiko bustled around the kitchen fixing snacks and tea.
The three at the kotatsu engaged in small conversation, mainly Sakura and Ichigo, mostly about current shinobi affairs as they waited for Yukiko.
"So… what is this about, otou-san?" Yukiko asked after she settled herself in place. Ichigo was silent for a moment as he gently sipped at his tea. Sakura reached for a mandarin orange and started peeling it as her snack.
Ichigo finally glanced up into his daughter's eyes that were oh so similar to his own. "It is time." It was all he said and it was all they needed. Seichii's eyes closed as a breath escaped him. Yukiko stared in slight shock.
"I-is it?"
Blue eyes stared hard into hers as a lightening eyebrow rose.
"I just wasn't expecting it to be so soon, otou-san." Ichigo shook his head.
"Sakura will hopefully be my successor. It must be now so she can become used to this gift and start to understand the ways of the clan."
Seichii spoke for the first time in a rumbling baritone. "I thought the clan was still debating about who would be clan head?"
Salt and pepper hair fluttered when Ichigo shook his head again. "Yes, but they want all participants in the compound."
It was silent except for the small sounds of the peeling of Sakura's orange. She popped one in her mouth and chewed slowly before speaking.
"I am going."
Yukiko shot up from the kotatsu. "I forbid it! Sakura, do you realize how dangerous this is? This isn't some game! You could die if something went wrong like so many of our other clan members did!"
Sakura sighed before turning green eyes up to her mother who had tears brimming in her eyes.
"Okaa-san… Do you think I don't know? Momo would've died had I not been there to stabilize her heart. There are so many risks to undergoing the procedure that so many of us do not even think about it. And those who do take the chance, like Momo, would die unless there was someone there to fix what went wrong. But I realize that I have to if I want to take the mantle of leadership in our clan. Would you rather have one of the other cousins be in control of everyone? Someone who doesn't have as much experience as I do?"
The tears in Yukiko's eyes became too much to hold and they spilled over. A sob broke through her lips at the thought of her baby girl dying. She collapsed to her knees and let the cries out.
With a sad smile, Sakura moved over towards her mother and held her as she cried. Seichii and Ichigo maintained a silence as they watched mother and daughter.
When Yukiko was done, she was exhausted from her crying jag. Seichii reached over, plucked Yukiko out of Sakura's arms, and settled her by his side. She sagged against him.
Sakura stood. "Oji-san, I am going to go home and pack. I suppose I should bring only a couple set of clothes since my entire traditional wardrobe is at the compound?"
Ichigo glanced at her from watching his daughter. He nodded.
She leaned over to peck her father's cheek and brush her mother's hair out of her face.
"I will see you all tomorrow morning at 5.15 and then we'll set out."
There was a silence in the air when Sakura left.
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These are the translations of Japanese words throughout the story, in the order that they appeared in. Hopefully I got them all.
-sama - it is mainly used to refer to people of much higher rank than oneself
shishou - it is a Japanese title used to refer to or address teachers or masters
shinobi - a covert agent or mercenary; uses espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat. Basically, a ninja
-kun - used by persons of senior status in addressing or referring to those of junior status, or by anyone when addressing or referring to male children or male teenagers. It can also be used by girls when addressing a male they are emotionally attached to or have known for a long time
kunoichi - a female shinobi i.e. female ninja
kekkei genkai - (bloodline limit) abilities passed down genetically in shinobi clans
Sharingan - a genetic eye technique that naturally occurs in Uchiha clan members: instantly memorizes and replicates any movement it has seen which means they can memorize handsigns/movements for jutsus, grants the user increased clarity of perception which allows them to track and predict the movements and actions of fast-moving objects, a brand of scenarios that suggests actions and thoughts to the opponent which acts as an effective way to produce amazing genjutstus or implant memories
-sensei - title used to refer to or address teachers, professors, professionals, and other figures of authority
chunin - shinobi who are qualified to watch over and guide other shinobi. They have reached a leverl of maturity that primarily consists of leadership skills and tactical prowess.
Sandaime - the third Hokage; the longest-ruling Hokage
Sanin - the Three Legendary Sanin shinobi who consist of Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya. They all originated in Konoha and were taught under the Sandaime
Kami - word for spirits, natural forces, or essence in the Shinto faith; sometimes translated as 'god' or 'deity'
okaa-san - mother
otou-san - father
-san - the most commonplace honorific; closest English equivalents would be 'Mr' 'Miss' 'Mrs' or 'Ms'; universally added to a person's name
jonin - generally highly experienced shinobi with great individual skill who serve as military captains; sometimes assigned as sensei to a genin team
hitai-ate - basically, your average forehead protector; headband
shuriken - commonly known as 'throwing stars', they are concealed weapons that are generally used for throwing, and sometimes stabbing or slashing
kunai - commonly portrayed as a knife that is used for throwing as well as stabbing; it has a grip that could also be used in hand-to-hand combat more readily than a shuriken
gomen - "I'm sorry" or "Sorry"; it is a rather informal version
oji-san - grandpa, or also 'male senior-citizen'
yukata - a casual summer kimono usually made of cotton
ANBU - Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai; an organization of assassination squads that serves directly under the village's leader
magomusume - granddaughter
ohayo - "Good morning"
hai - "yes"
ichijo - daughter
tatami - type of mat used as a flooring material in traditional Japanese-style rooms
kotatsu - a low, wooden table frame covered by a futon or heavy blanket, upon which a table top sits. Underneath is a heat source, often built into the table itself
So, how's the revamped version? Tell me about it and your opinions so I can know if I'm actually doing something right... Anyways, happy reading!
Peace~
-h3rshy