I had convinced my dad to give me training. Boy, it was hard. But I had to get stronger. I needed to get as strong as possible so that I could make a difference in the plot and keep my brother safe. Hopefully, neither of us would die! Of course, shit has a habit of going to hell in a hand basket, so I was more than worried about that.
My father was surprised at my determination. He also thought I was adorable, as he told me on several occasions when my body refused to cooperate with taijutsu and other things and I pouted because my body wasn't doing what I wanted it to. I trained long and hard while my brother was developing so that I could spend time with him when he had finished enough that he could speak. I didn't want to be like Itachi. REALLY didn't want to be like Itachi.
Speaking of Sekki, I was my brother's favorite person in the household. I loved to spend every spare second of my day with him, and he became very attached as a result. Even though he couldn't talk, it was the adoration that immediately sprouted on his chubby little baby face when I walked into the same room as him that convinced me of this.
By the way, I adored him just as much as he adored me, and if I could, I would have skipped training to hang out with him… except for the fact that he was one of the reasons I was training in the first place. So, I didn't skip. Instead, I redoubled my efforts.
Accuracy in knife (kunai) throwing, I was pleased to find, came naturally for me, just as it had in the last life. (I had some weird hobbbies, ok?) And, so did ninjutsu. I had a little bit of trouble with taijutsu, but with work, I could become very, very good at it. As for Fuinjutsu? That was going to forever be my main focus. Even my mom said I was a prodigy at it. Ugh. Prodigy. Whelp, whatever. Too late now.
Chakra control was something I quite frankly sucked at. However, I practiced at that constantly, working so far as to coat each and every individual hair on my head in chakra. Not that I managed to do that at first. No. That took me until I was eight to master.
And so, the years passed. Pleasant and transitionary. I loved my little brother more than anything in the world, and when he began speaking when he turned two, I was ecstatic. I made sure to teach him Japanese, helping him with writing and reading. Oh! He even picked up a speech tick, just like me! I would say 'Aa' after my sentences when I was excited, and by little brother would say 'Ttebaye.' It was the cutest thing ever! I loved the way his chubby face would scrunch up whenever he would try not to say it. It was just too cute.
More time passed, and I was five. My little brother always followed me around like a puppy, and instead of telling him to go away like a normal sibling would, I was just so happy to have him around that I let him tag along everywhere. Maybe he reminded me too much of my old little brother (Isn't that a oxymoron?). I didn't care. I loved him, and decided that even if I was confusing the two, I definitely loved both. The two of us never went anywhere without each other. I had a circle of friends, and my brother was included. Anybody who said anything bad about my brother got a 'punch from the prodigy.'
I was happy because my brother, my mother, and my father were all happy. I may have not been any closer to figuring out what the clan's kekki genkai was, but I knew that I would be just fine without it. I may not have had any impact on the plot of Naruto yet, but I was still adjusting to the world. I would change things. I just had to get stronger first.
I was six. I beat my dad in a spar. No, no, no. I'm telling the truth, I swear. It was the most awesome and at the same time sad moment I had had yet in my short life. (Other than my grandma passing away. She was a nice lady.)
Kei grinned at me, "Well done, Tomi! Let's go get dango to celebrate! You've finally beaten your dad!"
I laughed, and helped him up, as we made the seal of reconciliation.
We went and got dango, picking up my little brother on the way.
But it was then that for the first time in my short life,
Disaster. Would strike.
'Dead. My mom was dead. Dead, dead, dead. And we were at her funeral. She wasn't coming back. She died. She died from a heart attack. Just like me. Dead. Dead, dead. No. Ototou can't cry. He's not allowed. I should hug him.'
I grabbed my little brother and looked him in the eye. He sniffled, and I was reminded of his first day of life, still as clear in my memory as if it had been yesterday. I drew him close, hugging him tightly. Absently, I noted he was almost as big as me. But that didn't matter. 'Because Mom was dead. I loved her. I love my little brother. I love my dad.'
'But they'll be gone, too. Soon. I can feel it. Darkness is approaching. Even though it shouldn't. I don't want it to. I want it to stay far, far away. Because darkness always means death… Am I delirious? Probably,' I mentally sighed.
I shook my head, mentally berating myself, 'Time to regain control of yourself, girly. You loved her. You can't let yourself wallow. You have a little brother who, right now, is alive. You HAVE to protect him and your dad. They are your responsibility. And you will keep them safe. For as long as you can.'
I nodded to myself, and looked back at the plaque my mother's picture was on. I walked up and kissed her picture on the forehead, "Kaa-chan, I promise to take good care of Tou-chan and Otouto. I promise I'll make them eat their veggies and always give Otouto his goodnight kiss in your place. I promise to work even harder at my fuinjutsu. I promise to always do my best. I promise to do the dishes. I promise to do the laundry every day. I promise to learn how to cook," I heard the sound of sobs being choked behind me, but I barreled on, refusing to think about tears, "I promise to try and never let you down. I promise to keep on living. I promise. I really, really do promise, Kaa-chan. And I won't ever let you down."
The rest of the funeral passed quietly, and with it, the days.
A few weeks passed.
"Ne, ne, Nee-chan, come with me!" I heard Sekki demand from behind me.
"What do you need?" I asked, turning around from doing the laundry.
"I wanna go pick flowers for Kaa-chan and Obaa-chan! And I have two baskets and I'm not strong enough to carry both of them!" He rambled, bunching up his chubby three-year old hands.
"Ok! Give me five minutes, Sekki and I'll be there," I smiled at him.
"HAAAIII!" He saluted, grinning. He was the cutest little brother anyone could ever have.
He didn't give me five minutes of course, the little goober. He was so impatient. He appeared at the edge of my wash bin, "C'mon, Ne'e-chan! It's been five minutes!"
I rolled my eyes, smothering a grin, "It's barely been two, Otouto."
"UGH," He rolled around on the grass, getting leaves in his hair.
I grinned, and finished washing the last article of clothing, hanging it up to dry, "Ok, let's go."
"FINALLY," Sekki dramatized.
I shook my head, "Patience is a virtue, Sekki."
He pouted.
I shook my head again, resisting the urge to laugh. Instead, I smiled, "Well, let's go get those flowers, aa!"
"Ttbaye!" He cheered, taking off with me on his heels.
The two of us arrived in a field of wildflowers not too far away from the compound, and immediately began picking the best ones.
"Ne, Ne'e-chan… why did Kaa-san leave us?" Sekki's question startled me.
"She… she didn't mean to, Sekki," I replied gently.
He sighed, "I miss her."
I smiled sadly, "I do too."
He looked over at me, a frown crossing his face before he smirked and went back to picking the flowers.
That was when a chill swept up my spine. I whirled, feeling strange chakra signatures. Then the signatures of people in my clan began disappearing.
"Sekki. Run into the forest. Run, and don't look back."
"No way! I'm not leaving you, Ne'e-chan!" He stubbornly insisted.
I muttered, "ugh I need you to right now…"
"What'd you say, Ne'e-chan?" He asked.
"Nothing," I replied. I was already running, and he was on my tail.
Then his chakra signature went unconscious as a new one entered the clearing with unbelievable speed. I skidded to a halt, and slowly turning around.
A man stood, holding my brother like a sack of potatoes. I smiled at him, "Would you mind letting go of my brother?"
"Hm… Only if you come with us, little girl," The man sneered.
I immediately switched to an attack stance. My heart was hammering in my throat. I was nervous. I exhaled slowly before I launched myself at him, performing the hand signs to a genjutsu. I finished the signs, casting it, and took another kunai out and stabbed him in the hand. He broke out of the genjutsu and cursed violently. I kicked him in the knee, kneed him in the groin, grabbed his hair and smashed his head into my knee. Then I got behind him, easily done now that he was on his knees, and held him at the point of my kunai.
"You. Will let go of my brother. NOW," I demanded through clenched teeth.
The man had the nerve to chuckle, "Who are you kidding, little girl. My friends will be here in a minute. Plus, a little kid like you will-"
He never finished his thinking, I slit his throat. I felt his blood on my hands. A sticky and wet sensation. I decided to not think about it and reached to pick up my brother when suddenly we were surrounded. Then everything went black.
I woke up to blood. Blood, gore, and forty people tied to stakes. Dead bodies strewn everywhere. Blood, guts, and gore were crowding my vision. Then I realized that my dad was tied up to a post along with the forty people.
And there was an enemy behind each post. Each held a weapon of some sort. Suddenly, it made sense. They were going to kill them. Theyweregoingtokillmynewdad.I had just lost my mom, and they were going to kill my dad. I struggled, trying to slip off the ropes but this got me a kick in the head.
"Just stay still, kid. It'll all be over soon enough," An enemy behind me stated.
I glared at him. Or, I should say I glared at his shadow.
I couldn't talk. I was gagged. My dad's eyes were dead. My little brother was tied up with me, being forced to watch the spectacle of our father and forty of our clansmen get killed.
Then they slit the last members of my family's throats. And I no longer had anyone to watch my back except my brother. But looking at him, I knew. I would be watching his back, and mine… would be left wide open.