Hey everyone! After reading the last two chapters I've decided to inform you all about a few things on how this story will flow. I won't be putting many author's notes in the chapters because I just want the story to unravel itself. If there are any questions feel free to post them as reviews so that others who have the same questions can see the answer although your questions may be answered in future chapters, but all questions are good questions. Except for Jino, most of the OC names are just translations of words with some having 'fire' in their names (Like Himai). OC characters will only be Himai's family and a few from Jino's. Reviews and recomendations are much appreciated. Alrighty then, Enjoy!

Chapter 3: The Tension in the Air

Himai opened the gate and walked inside, careful to close it behind her. The entrance to the clan's district was a simple rock garden with a walkway in the middle that led to the main road of the place. The main road of the place lead to the head household. It also branched off into smaller roads that lead to other houses. Himai took immediate notice that there were a lot more, newer houses her, meaning the family must have grown a lot. There were a few people in the streets, though not many due to the clan's skin color. It was very pale, a few shades darker than Orochimaru, so everyone always took precautions on sunny days like this in the village. Though there was almost always a lot of sun in Konoha, the clan never move out because to them, the climate in the village was perfect. No one liked the cold.

As she walked to her house, a few people took notice of her, it's not everyday someone carrying a travel backpack and coat comes waltzing into the neighborhood. No one, however, dared to go up to her and ask who she was. It was pretty obvious who she was, one of them, but her face had on a very stern, emotionless look that didn't seem to becoming off any time soon. However, a child passing by looked at her and decided he would be the first to talk to her because a trait all children of the family seem to have is the need to question EVERYTHING. He couldn't have been more than 10 years old.

"You may look like Akarui to others, but I know you're nothing like her." He said while pointing at her.

"So, what of it? Is it a crime to look like your twin?"

"No, I just wanted everyone to stop wondering who you were and why you looked so much like her."

Himai's raised her eyebrows to show understanding and surprise. Only a few outside of the main house from the clan had the ability to feel what everyone was thinking. It just so happens that this child was one of those few. Himai suddenly became interested in the child.

"Tell me, what's your name kid?"

"It's Hikuchiokashi. But everyone just calls me Hicho. Who're you?"

"I'm Himai and I've just come back from a very long journey."

Hicho nodded in understanding. "Well, it was nice to meet you clansmen, see you around, my mom will be angry if I don't get home for dinner soon.

"Okay, see you little one." Himai waved goodbye at the boy. Something about this whole situation was off. Even she knew that the whole clan would be throwing some kind of fiesta for her arrival, or at least some formal presentation of who she was. It wasn't that she minded, the lack of festivity, in fact, she preferred it. Everything was just too quiet for her. And she thought for sure that her father would have been at the gate of the village when she came back.

She was at the front of the door of the main house and was about to knock when the door opened. "I'll just go and get the sa-." The girl that opened the door stood in the opening and was wide eyed and shocked. In front of her was a girl that looked exactly like her, face, height, and all. The girl 'eeped' and slammed the door shut. Himai raised an eyebrow, confused.

'The hell is going on here. We were told that we could come back!' Some yelling could be hears from outside the door. After about a minute, the door opened. The woman at the door was taller and older that the teenage girl that first opened the door. She had the trademark physical attributes of an Okibi. Her hair was made into a long side braid and her gaze was very soft and gentle. When the woman saw Himai, she gasped in surprise. The first thing she did was to grab the girl into a tight hug.

"Oh darling you're okay! You could've told us when you were coming, but that doesn't matter now. Let me look at you. Oh you've grown so much you really do look exactly like Akarui but yet so different are you okay do you need anything we were just going to start dinner how great is this that you can join us for that!" Hiyougo, Himai's mother continued to ramble on. She seemed to be very excited to have her daughter back. Himai didn't know how to reply to her, she just stood there as her mother grabbed her arms as she was observing how much her daughter had changed.

"Let's go inside and and say hello to everyone, come in!" Hiyougo grabbed Himai's hand and dragged her inside. There was a corridor that led to the very large living room, it had a couch that went all around three of the four walls, two coffee tables on either side of the living room, a stereo, and pictures of the family were littered across the walls. In every corner of the room there was a small table with a lamp and a picture frame. One caught her attention. To the far left of the room was a lamp with a picture of the main family. This was the last picture Himai remembered taking before she left. She went to the picture and looked at it.

'Back when things were much simpler.' Thought Himai. The picture was of when her eldest brother, Hiryuu became a jonin. Her parents were at either side of him. To the left was her mothers side were the girls of the family, with Himai, Akarui, and the elsest of the girls Higami. On her father's side were all the males. There was Higami's twin, Shinshuku, along with the other set of male twins which were a year older older than Himai, Higihen and Higiman. 'If only things stayed that way.'

"Everyone missed you. We know you didn't want to leave, but everyone felt it'd just be safer that way. Jino kept us informed on how you were doing and growing as a shinobi, but it's not the same as if you see it. When we found out you knew how to mold chakra, everyone just wanted to keep you safe. I hope you can forgive us. I'm just going to get the food to the table. If you want you can come help me, or I'll just come and get you when we're ready."

"No, I'll help." Himai responded rather stoically. She didn't expect her mother to say something off the bat. Last she remembered she wasn't the kind of person to immediately jump to the subject at hand. So Himai decided to go help.

Dinner was set on the table and Hiyougo called everyone to the table. Himai's brothers and sisters were estatic to see her again. They hugged and asked how Himai was. This was the first time in a while where Himai was excited to see anyone from her family. They sat down in the large circular table. Himai began talking to her older sister, Higami. They talked about how everything had changed in the past 7 years. 3 minutes into theirs conversation, a tall, built man with a very well groomed goatee and neck length straight hair that spiked out a bit in the ends walked into the dining room. He went and took the seat next to his wife. When Hishiru sat on his chair, a staring contest began between him and Himai. They stayed like that for almost a minute, without blinking.

"It's wonderful to have you back little 'Mai. I hope your journey was fulfilling." Hishiru said as he began to get s portion of fish. "Though we would have liked a little warning of when you were coming."

"We sent a letter saying when we were going to arrive. The Hokage was at the gate."

"A letter? But we didn't get anything from Jino, right Higihen?" Inquired Higiman

"Yea you're right. The last thing we got in the mail from you guys was that letter on how you guys took down that spy from Sunagakure."

'Why would the Hokage get the message but not my parents? There's something obviously going on between the Hokage and my family, every time I get an answer to one thing 20 more questions come up. I think it's best not to say anything. I just have to be careful with my words until I talk to Jino.'

"No matter, the important thing is that you're here again. We have to see Jino soon and thank him for his services. I assume that now that you've achieved your goal in becoming a full-fledged ninja of high standings you will now begin your studies on politics and History."

"What?" She knew it. Unlike her mother, Hishiru wasted absolutely no time in getting into the matters at hand.

"Oh don't be surprised. You think that even though you're a ninja you don't have obligations to your clan? You have more obligations now more than ever. In six years' time you will be taking over as head of the clan. There are studies you must fulfill, people you must meet, marriage proposals to arr-"

"Whoa hold on a second! Marriage?"

"Yes marriage. You didn't think that you'd be an unmarried woman forever, did you?"

"I never even considered the topic 'till now! I'm only fifteen! I have time to looks for someone."

"Who said anything about you choosing anyone?" It's a tradition that the marriage of the heirs of the clan are arranged?"

That stroke a nerve with Himai. She slammed her hands on the table and stood up."You're joking right? You really think that now that I've had my and I quote "adventure" around the lands I'd simply come home and be a goody two shoes and simply obey every one of "daddy's wishes?" May I remind you that my "adventure" was a forced stupid plot so rumors about how I killed the ANBU wouldn't leek? Well guess what old man, this means war! I'm tired of your rule and that's saying something because I wasn't physically in your rule for seven years yet I had to do everything you wrote down on those stupid scrolls which by the way are so not appropriate to send to anyone that's in hiding because you can so tell they're from this clan!"

At the last word Himai unintentionally broke off the piece of the table she hadn't noticed she'd been so harshly hanging on to. She dropped the broken piece of furniture in the floor.

"This mean war old man, from here on out, whatever you throw at me to try and make me do your bidding I dare you to bring it on! Because I will bring you down and I will gain my freedom from you or so help me kami I'll die trying."

"Now why would you choose death over life? Just accept you fate." Hishu replied in that annoying calm serene voice which made it seem as if nothing had happen.

"Because death is a better fate that living a depressing life. I'm not hungry."

With that Himai left to go upstairs to her room.

"Third door to your left! Its more teenage girlish now but we'll redecorate it for you if you don't like it!" Higiman yelled.

"We got some clothes for you too! Me and Higihen went and got them! We can change those too if you don't like them either!" Higihen yelled.

"A- ah! Don't worry! I got the female necessities not them!" Said Akarui.

Himai rushed back downstairs to the dining room and quickly popped her head in to say "thanks" with a smile before murmuring to herself about her stupid father.

"Is she okay? She was just pissed off a minute ago." Shinshuko questioned

According to Jino she's not really emotionally stable." Higami answered.

Hiryuu teased Higami "You going to try stuff with him now that Jino's back 'gami?"

"Don't joke like that with your sister Hiryuu. Her marriage is already arranged you know that." Hishu lectured.

'Yeah to some pompous psycho.' Thought everyone except for the parents. In Hiyougo's mind, she though

'I don't thing that arrangement is going to last long if Himai has got a word to say, and a sword to swing."