Stand

Chapter 2: Pain and Renewal

As Amaterasu traveled down the busy street with people out and about glancing at her, she could tell they already knew what happened to the Ōkami clan or… what she did to that Genin team. She saw the shocked looks, the pity glances, as well as the fearful gazes, and then the whispers from strangers which started to annoy her but she guessed that she should just ignore it,

Sighing, she decided that she needed to get to the Hokage tower as soon as possible.

Sarutobi sat there at his desk staring at the papers in front of him. Naruto had pulled another one of his pranks and now he had to deal with the paper work that came from that prank.

Suddenly a knock came from the door.

"Lord Hokage, the Ōkami girl is here to see you." the Hokage's assistant called out.

"Tell Amaterasu that she can come in please?"

"Hai Lord Hokage," she answered and called out to the girl. "Amaterasu, you can come in now."

She opened the door and Amaterasu stepped into the Hokage's office.

She sat down on the chair in front of the Hokage's desk.

"Are you ok Amaterasu?" spoke a worried voice of Sarutobi.

Turning to face him Amaterasu quietly answered, "Yes sir, everything is alright."

"Listen Amaterasu, I don't want to do this but the Ōkami grounds need to be cleared up and you're the only one allowed to touch the bodies." he reached for a key, "This is the only key to the grounds, and it is now yours. Since you're the age of 6, you cannot inherit all the benefits the head of a clan receives until you reach the age of 16." He handed the key to Amaterasu, "Look, you don't have to stay there tonight; you can come home with me if you're uncomfortable with moving their bodies today." He gave her a sincere look.

Sighing, Amaterasu answered, "I appreciate your help sir but I need to handle this myself. It has been hard for me and I can hardly believe anything now," she gave Sarutobi a soft smile, "I need to grow up but I promise you that I am fine."

Sarutobi sat there stunned at the maturity Amaterasu showed but looking at the circumstances, it was sad to see this. But it could also be because she was an Ōkami and every Ōkami he had ever know where extremely mature. His eyes softened as he nodded, "Ok Amaterasu, if you have any problems, my door will always be open."

Amaterasu nodded, "Is that all sir."

"Well if you are feeling well enough, you have Academy tomorrow, but other than that, take care of yourself and if you don't mind, I'll visit sometimes, ok?"

"I would like that sir." She smiled at him in which it was returned.

After Amaterasu left the office headed for home as Sarutobi thought back to the conversation he just had.

'To act like that after a massacre, I don't know what to think of it. It's frightful to think that she might be suppressing the pain but, I'll never know what the future may hold for her.' A sad frown adorned his face as he stared out the window towards his village. He knew the other news that he would have to give her soon but he thought somehow that this news could make everything worse for her.

Amaterasu smiled on her way towards the Ōkami clan grounds, the stares and whispers didn't bother her.

Quickly arriving home she solemnly walked in and said a quick prayer, promising that she would do all she could to help her clan.

As she moved the bodies around she felt the pain and sadness of it all come through.

She… She had just lost her clan… Her family.

After many long hours she had all the bodies lined up in the Ōkami clan burial grounds.

All but her parents.

As she used her kekkei genkai for earth "bending" to bury the bodies without much trouble.

Then she came to her parents.

As she brought out the large sealing scroll and dropped her blood on one of the markings making 2 pure white coffins appeared with the Ōkami clan symbol on each.

As she placed her parents bodies into the coffins, she let her tears flow as she knew that she was all alone.

Placing the coffins in the shrine she left and started heading for her house.

The quiet house gave her no comfort as she had to suppress the memories of better times, she grew depressed watching each room, the life she had with her parents and the joy she felt when she made them smile. That was all gone now.

With that thought she went into her parents room and slept on their bed the tears never stopping as they roiled down her face.

The next day at the academy.

Class was beginning to be filled and still no Amaterasu in sight. The students themselves still haven't quieted down at all, Chiharu and Arisu seemed to be bickering over something, Eiji was sleeping along with Yoshiaki, Isao continued playing with his origami cranes, Haruko was quiet as ever, and other girls and boys seem to be eating, shouting, or sleeping. One day these students will become fully fledged ninjas, but for right now they were children ready to learn the ninja arts.

Soon their teacher arrived, his blond hair was hanging down just below his chin, he wore a ninja headband on his forehead, and he wore the regular shinobi outfit with a chuunin vest.

"Good morning Keiji-sensei!" Some of the children chorused, especially Chiharu with a loud yell as she and Arisu stopped bickering.

"Good morning class," Keiji responded as he sat down in his desk, "We will begin shortly so be ready when we start." He started shuffling papers around his desk.

Class was going to start soon and there was still no Amaterasu was in sight.

Was she even going to attend class?

Was the thought going threw everyone's head.