Story of Aiko Yamura
A/N Hey guys! I noticed I only got two reviews last chapter, and I'd like to see more this chapter. Please tell me what you guys think of this story! I would appreciate suggestions and support.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. OC's used in this chapter (except Haru Hyuga) belong to me. Haru Hyuga belongs to a friend of mine, and will have her own introduction later in this story.
Yamura clan compound (my OC clan)
Hiroshi Yamura was pacing back and forth in his study, anxious on any news regarding his wife, who was in their bedroom giving birth to their first child.
"You're going to make a hole in the floor if you keep this up." Hiroshi's best friend, Sasori, said jokingly.
"Can you blame me? I'm a nervous wreck!" Hiroshi said.
"I can see that. I'm sure she'll be just fine. You know how strong Tenma is." Sasori said.
"You're right. I guess I'm more nervous about actually being a father. I mean, my own father was never there for me. What if I can't be there for my child?" Hiroshi said.
"Don't worry too much about that. Yes, there will be times that you will have to be away from home, but I think I know you well enough to know that you will find a way to make it up to Tenma and your child." Sasori said.
Then, came the moment Hiroshi had been waiting for: the cries of his newborn child. He practically ran into the bedroom, eager to meet his child. He was intercepted by Lady Chiyo, Sasori's grandmother.
"Congratulations, Lord Hiroshi. You have a healthy little girl." She said, smiling.
"How is Tenma?" Hiroshi asked.
"Why don't you see for yourself?" Chiyo said, moving out of the way.
Hiroshi's wife Tenma was propped up in the bed, holding a bundle wrapped in a pink blanket. She smiled when she saw her husband enter the room.
"Isn't she beautiful?" Tenma asked as her husband got closer.
Upon further examination, the baby in Tenma's arms was almost an exact "clone" of her mother. She had her mother's fair skin and a tuft of light brown hair. The little girl then opened her eyes, and revealed that she also had her mother's green eyes. Hiroshi knew right then that he loved his little daughter.
"Would you like to hold her?" Tenma asked.
Hiroshi nodded, and accepted the bundle from Tenma. He held his pinkie out to the little girl, who grabbed it immediately.
"She has a firm grip." Hiroshi said.
"Just like her father." Sasori said jokingly.
Even though Sasori would not admit it, he too had fallen in love with the little girl. He mentally vowed then and there that he would protect her in order to fulfill his duty as her godfather.
"What should we name her, my love?" Hiroshi asked his wife.
"How about Aiko?" Tenma suggested.
"Love child. Alright. Aiko Yamura it is." Hiroshi said, cradling his daughter as she fell asleep in his arms.
Three weeks later
Three weeks after Aiko's birth, Hiroshi began to see a sudden change in Sasori. He began to almost distance himself from others, and spent more time in his workshop than anywhere else. Hiroshi knew that Sasori loved being in his workshop and all, but what was wrong with him? Did something happen? After all, Sasori only barricaded himself when something happened. The last time he had barricaded himself was when his parents had died. Knowing that, Hiroshi decided to pay his friend a visit and see for himself what was wrong.
He found Sasori in his workshop, working on another puppet. Hiroshi breathed a sigh of relief.
Good, nothing happened. He's just working on another puppet, Hiroshi thought.
Sasori soon became aware that someone else had entered the room, and quickly covered his puppet before Hiroshi could see it.
"I was starting to worry about you, Sasori. How could you didn't tell me you were working on another puppet?" Hiroshi asked.
"It's a surprise. I don't anyone to see it yet, at least not until it's finished." Sasori said.
Hiroshi left not long afterwords to allow his friend to continue to work on the puppet. That same night, Sasori deflected from Suna, and the third Kazekage disappeared under mysterious circumstances. After the Fourth Kazekage had been appointed, he declared Sasori as an S-class missing-nin. This left Hiroshi devastated.
Two years later
The next two years passed without incident. Hiroshi missed his best friend terribly, but knew that if he ever found Sasori while on a mission, his orders would be to either capture or even kill him. He was appointed as the Fourth Kazekage's bodyguard, as he had been the Third's bodyguard. He saw it as a way to care on a family tradition, and he hoped that someday, his daughter Aiko, or even his two-month old son Ichiro would follow in his footsteps.
While attending a meeting with the Kazekage, the meeting room was suddenly attacked by Orochimaru, a missing-nin from Konoha. Hiroshi immediately went over to the Kazekage's side, ready to attack if necessary. Orochimaru smiled maliciously before taking out his own weapon to attack Hiroshi.
A ferocious battle ensued, and just when it looked like Hiroshi was going to win, Orochimaru raised his weapon and stabbed Hiroshi through the heart and retreated without even attempting to attack the Kazekage.
Could it be that he was after Hiroshi all along? If so, then why? The Kazekage thought.
Despite Lady Chiyo's best efforts to try and save him, Hiroshi passed away a few hours later. His wife was soon notified, and mourned his loss. Part of her wished to seek revenge on that snake, but she knew she could never leave her children. They were their father's legacy, especially Ichiro, who had inherited his father's dark brown hair and overall appearance. So, she promised herself that no matter what happened, she would keep their children safe.
One year later
A year had passed since Hiroshi's death, and Tenma was staying strong for her children's sake. She missed him everyday, but knew in her heart that Hiroshi would not want her to be sad. Since Hiroshi's death, Tenma and her children were placed under ANBU protection, with the Kazekage's brother-in-law watching them carefully. The last thing the Kazekage wanted to happen is that Hiroshi's wife and children were killed.
Three-year-old Aiko took a liking to the Kazekage's brother-in-law, Yashamaru, right away. She saw him as the uncle she never had, and he saw here as his cute little tag-along. He told her many things about himself and his family, and talked a lot about his youngest nephew Gaara.
"I think you and Gaara would get along very nicely, Aiko-sama." Yashamaru said.
"When will I meet him?" Aiko asked.
"Perhaps when you two are a little older. Gaara is very shy, but I think once he gets to know you, he will warm up to you." Yashamaru said with a smile.
"I hope so. I want to make a friend. A real friend, that is. No one around here sees me as me. They only see me as the daughter of a hero. I want a friend who sees me for who I truly am." Aiko said.
Yashamaru patted her on the head.
"And you shall, Aiko-sama. I am sure of it." He said.
Just a few weeks later, Orochimaru returned. He went straight after the Yamuras, quickly knocking out the ANBU before going after Tenma.
"What do you want?" Tenma asked, holding out a katana to defend herself.
"Why, I only wish to reunite you with your dearly departed husband." Orochimaru said "innocently."
Tenma glared at him and lunged at him in an attempt to force him away. Yet another ferocious battle ensued, which ended in Tenma being stabbed as well.
"Be sure to tell Hiroshi I said hello." Orochimaru whispered in her ear before retreating.
As soon as Yashamaru came to, he went to find Tenma and the children, praying that they were alright. He soon found Aiko, trying to shake her mother awake.
Did Aiko witness Orochimaru attacking her mother? Poor child, Yashamaru thought.
He carefully pried a reluctant Aiko off her mother so he could assess Tenma's wound. He knew the blade had pierced her heart, but he was determined to save her. He did not want Aiko to be orphaned at such a young age. However, no matter how hard he tried, he could not save Tenma. She passed away in the hospital early the next morning, leaving behind her two young children.
Now, the Kazekage was in a dilemma. What would he do with Hiroshi and Tenma's children? They will need to go somewhere. Many villagers offered to take them in, but he could not simply give the children to just anyone. They were the heirs to a prestigious clan, after all. The orphanage was out of the question for the same reason, and there were no other clans that would take the children in.
"Perhaps you could take Aiko and Ichiro in as your wards." Yashamaru suggested.
The Kazekage pondered the option for a while before agreeing. He knew that Yashamaru had grown fond of the little heiress, and he also saw it as an opportunity to give his youngest son a friend. So, a few weeks later, Aiko and Ichiro were brought into the Kazekage's home and made unofficial members of his family until the day Aiko turns 16. When that day came, she would be allowed to take over leadership of the Yamura clan should she want to. Otherwise, leadership would go to Ichiro.
Yashamaru brought the children to the mansion, with Aiko clinging shyly to his legs. She was soon introduced to Temari and Kankuro, the Kazekage's oldest children, but didn't see Gaara, the child who was her age.
"Yashamaru, where's Gaara?" Aiko asked.
"Gaara is probably in his room. Would you like to find out?" Yashamaru asked, holding out a hand to her. She nodded and took his hand.
Yashamaru led Aiko down a narrow hallway. There, at the end of the hallway, was a single door. Yashamaru knocked on the door gently, asking Gaara for permission to come in. A shy little voice answered, and Yashamaru opened the door, ushering Aiko in.
"Gaara, I'd like you meet Aiko Yamura. Aiko, this is Gaara." Yashamaru said, introducing the two children.
Aiko resumed clinging to Yashamaru's legs, unsure of what to say to Gaara.
"Um...it's nice to meet you." Gaara said shyly.
"Why don't you two play for a while? I have to go see to something." Yashamaru said, gently removing Aiko from his legs and leaving the room.
The two children stood there in silence, unsure of what to do. Neither were used to interacting with kids their own age, and they were both very shy.
"Do..you like to play with blocks?" Gaara said.
"Yeah..I do." Aiko said, giving him a small smile.
The two spent the next few hours playing with Gaara's blocks, while at the same time warming up to one another. Yashamaru quietly peaked into the room and smiled when he saw the two playing together.
Looks like I made the right choice to introduce them, He thought, leaving them once more.
Gaara and Aiko played for several more hours until Yashamaru brought in some food for them. After they were finished eating, he told them it was time for Aiko to go to bed.
"But..I wanted to play longer!" Gaara said, pouting.
"Now now, you two can play again tomorrow and any other time you want. But right now, I need to get Aiko to bed." Yashamaru said.
"See you tomorrow, Gaara!" Aiko said, leaving the room with Yashamaru.
Over the next week, Gaara and Aiko continued playing together, and became very close. One day, when they were in the village playing hide-and-seek, Shukaku possessed Gaara, intent on killing Aiko. He eventually found her and captured her, encasing her in a cocoon of sand. She then fell to the ground, appearing to be dead. Gaara brok the possession and picked Aiko up, terrified that he had killed his only friend. Then, Aiko began to stir.
"A-Aiko! You're alive!" Gaara said through his tears.
"My wind protected me." Aiko said.
"So...You're a monster too?" Gaara said.
"Well, I have a monster inside me, although he prefers the name Daiichi. He has eleven tails. How many tails does yours have?"
"One." Gaara said.
"So we are the same, Gaara." Aiko said.
This incident, instead of drifting them apart, caused them to grow closer.
Three years after Gaara and Aiko became friends, Yashamaru attacked Gaara one night out of nowhere, losing his life in the process. This changed Gaara, and he became someone who killed others to prove his existence. Although Aiko did not approve of his ways, she remained his loyal friend. They became teammates when they graduated from the academy at age 12, and joined Temari and Kankuro on a team under the instruction of a Jonin named Baki.
A/N And that's a wrap on yet another long chapter! Now, I would like to explain some things about Aiko that were not explained yet.
Her clan, the Yamura clan, are known as the "Snakes of the Sand." Each clan head has protected a previous Kazekage, and are the most trusted clan in Suna. They specialize in Taijutsu, and even created the Lotus Techniques. They also have a special dÅjutsu known as the Orochigan. When activated, it causes the user's pupils to because thin and snake-like, hence the name. The Orochigan grants the user increased senses of hearing and smell, as well as making them temporarily colorblind. Excessive use can cause the user to be permanently colorblind. The Yamura clan also carry around desert cobras, which are tamed. Basically, they use the cobras in about the same way that the Inuzuka clan use their ninken.
Also, this is the last chapter of "Introducing the Cast." I decided that I want to move on to the real story, so the characters I did not introduce will receive their introduction in the actual story when they appear. I also mentioned another character, Haru Hyuga. As stated, she is my friend's character. She is also Hinata's twin sister, and has almost the same mannerisms as Hinata, minus the fact that she is even more timid than Hinata. Sakura will be on Team 10 instead of Team 7.
Lastly, explanation on Sasori. Yes, I know he left the village at age 15, but for convenience in my story, I decided to make him five years older when he leaves. This means that Gaara was born before his father became Kazekage. This story will not follow in-canon all the time, and this event is an example of that.
So, explanations aside, this story is officially done! Next time I write will be for "The Fourth's Legacy!" Please review this chapter. Your reviews are appreciated :)
