Hey everyone! We finally got an update on Kokuro's story! It's set parallel to chapter 2 in Dear Itachi. I hope you enjoy this!
Bonds
Raging emotions, Sintary was wounded, Itachi had disappeared to report in, and Kokuro found himself sitting alone on the border of the village with more questions than answers. What happened on Sin's seduction mission? Why was Itachi in such a tremendous rush? What was going on? Kokuro gathered chakra into his feet as he ran towards the wall around the village. Effortlessly, he scaled the wall in seconds, flipping over the top rail and landing on a narrow coil of electrical wires.
Dipping forward, Kokuro slid on the wires across the rooftops of the village. Small sparks illuminating from the metal treads of his Black-ops boots. His vision closeted and analytical, taking each leap and flip perfectly. The light of the full moon making him a flitting shadow against the jet-black expanse of the sky. Kokuro felt as his thoughts raced endlessly, and then calm.
Soon my child.
In the clarity Kokuro's chakra burst and he flew across the village sky. The rooftops and balconies a blur of motion and color. Before he could process where he was going his body came to a halt near the Hokage's mansion. His joints ached slightly, and it was in that moment that he noticed the tears on his cheeks.
"Dammit," Kokuro cussed to himself, wiping away the tears, "They are going to be fine, Itachi and Sin are going to be fine."
Kokuro saw Itachi leave the Hokage's tower, he must have just finished his debriefing. Apparently the mission was a success, but a botched one. Sintary ended up wounded and Itachi was being held responsible.
Why do they make her do these missions, she hates them? If anything Itachi or myself could have handled this assassination, the guy deserved it. Ugh this is why I hate our jobs. Kokuro's thoughts raced, but he did his best to calm them for his friend.
"Hey Itachi," called the dark haired shinobi from his perch in a nearby tree. He leaned forward and landed gracefully from a flip onto the ground.
"Kokuro," Itachi greeted.
"I tried seeing Sintary, but they said she was asleep and to come back later," said Kokuro disappointedly. He was rather put off by this, Sintary was his sister, or the closest thing he had to a sister, and he hated when she was hurt or not able to be by his side.
Itachi noticed his cousin's anxious demeanor and tried to simply divert the topic, "We can go see her after dinner."
"Yeah I guess," said Kokuro with resignation. Trying to brighten his mood he asked, "I wonder what your mom is cooking tonight?" The brown haired shinobi placed his hands behind his head as he walked with Itachi back to the Uchiha compound.
"You sound like Shishui," snipped Itachi with a small grin, "you two like to eat all of our food."
Kokuro glanced at his comrade with a look of playful exasperation, "Well duh, haven't you tasted your mother's food?"
"Only the past sixteen years of my life," Itachi replied drily rolling his eyes.
"Well, then you should know her cooking is SO good," Kokuro extolled. His stomach rumbled at just the thought of Mikoto's cooking. "I mean, I don't know a mother's cooking considering that I am the only one left of my clan, but if I did—it would be your mother's"
Kokuro was content with being on his own. He wasn't really an Uchiha, but most of the time it didn't bother him. This was one of the few times it did. Fugaku hated him, as the outsider who disgraced his son, and he never truly felt like he belonged. Mikoto was always kind to him, and deep down Kokuro knew that he wished he had a mother, a father, a family.
Itachi's words snapped him from this train of thought, "My mother's cooking is basically your mother's cooking. You have been with us for years now."
Kokuro acknowledged that. He knew that he was the last member of a clan by the surname of Otsutsuki. All the elders had told him about his relation to the Uchiha is that they were distant cousins bound by blood, but as for his actual clan there was limited, but detailed information.
The Otsutsuki clan had been around for a long time. The Hokage had found Kokuro as a baby swaddled in the scarf he wore sitting in a smoldering crater on the outskirts of the village, and sitting next to two scrolls. These two scrolls, from what could be translated, broke down that he was going to be a special child. It hinted that his bloodline was far more ancient than that of even the Senju clan. The crest on the scarf was a single golden sphere with a crescent moon wrapping along the left edge. Chakra control instructions were left stating that he will be the last member of his clan, and that he will possess a great chakra. The language was archaic, and some parts impossible to translate leaving gaps in his past history. The sharingan was mentioned and when Kokuro manifested it, it was decided that he would live amongst the Uchihas, being that they were his closest relatives.
The Elders and the Hokage strictly informed Kokuro not to tell anyone about his lineage in detail, which he listened. Well tried to, but he felt that at least Itachi should know.
Kokuro shrugged ambivalently, an indifferent look in his eyes. "Your mother always invited me," he retorted.
"She always invites Sintary too," Itachi replied.
Kokuro felt a small smirk grow on his lips. "Of course she'd invite Sin. Sin is the only proof that you're not asexual," the brown-haired shinobi teased. He knew that that even though Itachi may have the front of a monk, he could be very passionate to his friends and loved ones; therefore, teasing him was all the more fun.
Kokuro felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He saw Itachi's eyes narrow ever so slightly, and his body moved on its own accord. He ducked slightly to the side avoiding a swift punch from his teammate.
"Oh shit," laughed the younger shinobi.
The two began to scuffle. Itachi swinging playfully. The met each other's blows gracefully. Itachi may have been physically stronger, but Kokuro had a better sense of speed and agility. The younger shinobi dodged his friends punches until they felt a third presence and heard a mild scolding.
"Hey! You two." The pair broke apart and looked up to see who was calling to them. It was their cousin Shishui; he was wearing a playfully weary scowl. "You know better than to fight in the streets of the compound. If you wanna beat each other up, at least have the respect to do it in the training grounds like we have."
"Sorry," both Kokuro and Itachi muttered in tandem, as they shoved their hands into their pockets. Kokuro tolerated Shishui, but sometimes he was such a killjoy and could be very overbearing, but then again that is to be expected from the elder of the trio. He knew how to have fun, and lighten up, but he also knew how to keep the family happy and be serious. Kokuro respected him for that even if he did treat him like a child.
"Come on, Aunt Mikoto almost has dinner ready," said the elder shinobi. Both of them ran off following Shishui to the compound. Kokuro was anxious, it had been a bit since he had dinner at the main household
"NII-SAN!"
A small ball of black and blue launched itself at Itachi. Kokuro laughed, it was Sasuke, Itachi's younger brother. He was always happy and doting to spend time with his sibling, which is why Itachi, rather than dodging the impact, nearly let the young boy topple him over. Kokuro loved Sasuke, the young boy was like a younger brother to him. He liked to tell him stories of his adventurous missions, and helped him train as often as he could.
"Nii-San, I can't believe you're home, Mother said father said you'd be gone for five days! And it has only been a day and a half."
"It was Sintary and I on the mission, Sasuke. You know we're a very good team," said Itachi
"They're even better when I'm on the team," Kokuro interjected. Kokuro always found Sasuke endearing, and definitely felt as though he was his own younger brother. He would often have to disappoint the young boy, by denying him the ability to tag along on their missions and their training sessions. Nonetheless, Sasuke idealized the him and Kokuro always found himself eager to make the young boy smile.
"No you just slow them down," Shishui taunted, earning a glare from Kokuro.
Honestly what is Shishui's deal, Kokuro thought facing him with tense wide grin. Bitter annoyance burning in his eyes, "Please, you don't scare me. Genius-smenius." Kokuro balled his fists and with no warning he lashed a quick jab at Shishui.
Shishui's pretty face almost met and ugly fist.
Almost.
The elder Uchiha had dodged slightly and Kokuro's fist collided with a wooden support beam, denting it. The two squared up just as a voice carried from around the corner.
"Hey! No fighting!" can the angry voice they had come to fear. A woman that Kokuro had come to love as his own mother.
"He-he we weren't fighting right, Uchiha-san!" Kokuro replied sheepishly, not wanting to anger his adoptive mother. She was quick to anger and praise; so it was in one' best interest to remain on her good side, if one didn't want to end up as a stain on a carefully discarded rug.
"Well," replied Shishui slyly, "I wasn't the one throwing the punch."
Kokuro shot Shishui an icy glare, and a disgruntled sigh drew their attention back to the Uchiha matriarch standing before them. Mikoto stared down the boys with a hard look and a hand on her hip, "I work too hard around this house to have you boys rough housing in it. If you ruin anything, you will fell my wrath. Got it?"
Kokuro felt as his stomach sank into a slight pit, he hated when he inconvenienced Mikoto, she often did work too hard to care for them all. He never wanted to be a burden to the family.
Mikoto received compliances from all of the boys before returning from her hard expression. She broke into a bright smile, "Good, dinner is ready then. Oh, and it is so great to have you home early Itachi."
Itachi nodded slightly, but in his friend, Kokuro felt a tinge of jealousy. No one would ever miss him like that, he would never truly have a mother.
Sitting at the dining table Kokuro savored the last bite of his meal. Mikoto always made something special for each of them after a long mission. Kokuro lover her recipe for seared tuna and unagi. "Dinner was delicious, Uchiha-san!" Kokuro leaned back lightly on his hands and smiled warmly to his mother figure.
"I did miss your cooking while we were gone, mother," Itachi replied in addition.
Mikoto smiled at the pair of them and gave a subtle smile to Shishui who thanked Mikoto for his meal. "I know you did Itachi, by the way, where is Sintary?"
Kokuro felt his shoulders tense slightly. How could I be so relaxed right now? Sin could be in serious condition and I am here eating a full dinner. His head swam with thoughts and words could not seem to form.
Itachi spoke for him instead, his voice calm and collected, "at the hospital. The mission was…it was difficult for her." Kokuro could tell that Itachi had carefully considered his words in describing their friend's current situation.
Kokuro shifted slightly and feigned his best calm expression over his nerves, "We're going to visit her after our stomachs settle."
Mikoto slowly nodded to all of this, "I do hope she' okay."
"She'll be—"
The slamming of a sliding door pulled everyone from their light dinner. An ANBU sat before the family panting heavily, "ITACHI, KOKURO, SHISHUI, you're needed at the hospital. An enemy nin got into the hospital and tried to kill a patient. We need to detain him immediately." The ANBU shifted slightly and signaled them to follow, and then he vanished.
Kokuro glanced towards Itachi, and the pair clamored to their feet and bolted towards the hospital.
Sintary, you must be okay, you must be okay! Dammit why did this happen, Kokuro thought as he raced towards the hospital.
Time basically stopped when the trio entered the hospital. The hospital was supposed to be a safe place for the injured and sick. Kokuro had only been to a few visits to the hospital, but he always had a pleasant experience. The staff had always been polite and efficient, and even had a few times when he went voluntarily to help the staff, but here and now, it was utter chaos.
Blood red eyes flashed as the men searched for malevolent chakra. Single strand of chakra shaped themselves in their visions. Swirls of light blue phased in and out of the area as passerby darted from the threats. Suddenly strands of dark black caught their sight, and the trio raced forward. It led straight to a room with medics surrounding a patient and trying to protect him or her from the assailant.
Kokuro sensed the chakra of the patient, peaceful, calm, and deep with crimson emotion: Sintary.
The assailant was going after his best friend, his sister. There was no way he was going to let that slide. Kokuro felt as his body moved before he even had recognition of his own actions. The dark-haired male found himself lunging towards the enemy, smashing him into a wall. The enemy grabbed onto Kokuro's hair and his collar, smashing him through the wall as they tousled. Itachi and Shishui both followed their companion, the elder cursing under his breath. The two-lashed forward with a chakra enhanced kick sending the enemy shinobi spiraling through another wall and into the village.
No one hurts my family. Kokuro pulled himself from the rubble and bolted after his teammates and the assassin. Immediately he weaved the sign of the tiger and expelled phoenix flower blasts; firing them at his opponent with murderous intent.
The fires hit the village and began blazes as the ninja avoided them. Itachi and Shishui noticed this and pulled back to extinguish the flames. The assassin took notice and began to lash out at the civilians.
"LEAVE MY VILLAGE ALONE," shouted Kokuro as he spat forth another plume of flame. Kokuro lashed again trying to end the attacker and drove him into the forested area in the training grounds on the outskirts of the village.
Itachi and Shishui moved and the trio attacked in tandem. Fire expelled by the elder two and wind consuming the flames and spawning a fiery twister. Itachi noticed that his teammate was unhinged and fighting even more fiercely than usual. His manner was erratic and uncontrolled.
I will destroy you for this. You arrogant bastard. Kokuro thoughts were a whirl, a blinding searing mess of rage and animal instinct. He growled as his chakra burned and roiled in himself.
My child…Destroy them all.
Kokuro's for began to flicker in a haze, and Itachi felt his stomach drop. He knew what was coming next. He had to move now, he knew how deadly his comrade was about to become.
"SHISHUI! GET OUT OF THE VICINITY AND MAKE SURE NO ONE IS WITHIN A TEN-MILE RAIDUS OF THIS AREA," Itachi barked. Shishui threw his last kunai at the assassin pinning his shoulder, then he turned and gave Itachi a puzzled look. "GO. NOW!" Itachi yelled, unwavering.
Shishui left his cousin in a flash, and Itachi turned his attention to Kokuro.
Kokuro felt his vision blur and he made the sign of the bird.
Itachi watch as his friend flickered violently and his sharingan began to spiral.
Unleash the storm my child.
Itachi felt the air become dense and dark with chakra. He shielded himself with his own chakra and watched as the assassin lurched toward his friend.
Darkness flooded Kokuro's eyes. His mind was blank except for the cold voice.
Streaks of lightning bit through the air and the wind roiled. Trees creaked and groaned under the stress of the wind. Kokuro felt as the currents shaped themselves as scythes. Funnels formed in the sky and stretched down from the darkened night sky.
"Secret Art of Wind: Fujinn's Breath."
There was a roar of wind and then there was silence. Utter silence. Then a voice.
Soon my child.