Chapter 7: danger lurks in the wind


Group of Konoha was on the road for several hours led by Tobirama, who does not participate much in conversation with other members. Right behind him was Yuko, who listened stories from three young students, be more specific, mostly from Hiruzen, this boy was very talkative. He talked about their missions, which contained mostly Tobirama's fights. Yuko felt miserable how much time passed and she overslept everything so important.

She also learned about Madara, he came to the village and attacked with nine tailed demon fox, kyuubi. There wasn't much information that Yuko knew about tailed beasts, just basic things. Biju are living forms of chakra, if she's not mistaken, there should be nine forms of those demons.

It's funny how she thought that she knew Madara pretty well, but she never heard that he could summon one of the tailed beasts. Then her mind drifted off.

Madara...

Did Hashirama tell him about Ishi before he killed him? How he felt about it if he knew? Yuko sighed, the Hiruzen boy kept on talking, but red-haired kunoichi didn't catch his words anymore. She slept five years and look what happened. She found out that she's already mother, her daughter is five years old and know nothing about her parents, and Madara, the father of her child is dead.

Powerful and mighty warlord Uchiha Madara, the man who was like an immortal God for Yuko. How could he die so easily? She always thought about him like about some supernatural shinobi that has no equal opponent, but as it seems now, he found the only man who could compete with him and what's more, someone who surpassed him. Senju Hashirama.

Before Yuko met him she heard rumors about Hashirama's strength, about his skills as an iryo ninja. She heard that he was on such a high level in everything, plus his mokuton no jutsu make him so unique in shinobi world as there was no one with such a kekkei genkai, the God of shinobi. Then she met him, he did not seem to be dangerous or that he longed for bloodshed, but back in that time she could not imagine how powerful warrior he is. Now she knows.

"What you thinking about?" There came Tobirama's smooth voice, dragging her from her thoughts. "You seems to be far." Yuko snapped her eyes on him, but just for a slightest moment before she focus her stare ahead of her again. Senju Tobirama, what's wrong with this man? Or rather say, what's wrong with Yuko? She never felt so awkwardly in his presence, she felt stupid. Everytime he came closer to her, she felt heat in her face, like some foolish fifteen years old adolescent. He wasn't any unfamiliar person for her, right? So why, why is it so unnatural for her to be with him?

Oh, maybe that her hormones came back to life. She had been frozen for such a long time, so now her senses working on full tilt. Yes, that's it, her body has its needs and demanded those special things. Tobirama was the only man that spend the most of time with her except Hashirama. It's obvious that she sees him as a male who can satisfy her needs, he is attractive in its own way, so is Hashirama, right? And so is another 100 men... Yuko sighed once again, this time louder.

"Yuko-" His voice caught her attention once more. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Kunoichi avoided the eye contact. "I just- huh?" She realized that everyone stopped, so did she. Her stupid thoughts brought her in the embarrassing situation again. "What's up?" She asked with the shrug.

"You tell me what's up." Tobirama narrowed his ruby eyes, stepping closer to her. "You looked like absent soul, what's bothering you?"

"Nothing, okay? It's nothing!" She growled irritated and stepped behind from him, just to make sure there's enough distance between them. "How long till we arrive in the Miru village?" Better change the topic, she thought.

It took a good two minutes until Tobirama spoke, his voice clearly unconvinced same as his hard gaze. "About another two hours."

"Fine, then let's go." Yuko looked sheepishly on him, but her eyes slumped away as soon as she saw his narrowed stare.

"Hn." Was all he said before turning around and started to walk. Koharu and Homura passed around Yuko with suspicious eyes, they probably think that she's not normal. Sarutobi muttered something about Uchiha's mental health under his breath. Yuko sighed deeply while she still stood her ground, little saber-toothed next to her feet. His cerulean eyes looked into her brown ones. "Yuko-san, are you alright?" He asked with childish voice.

"Un." Yuko squatted to his level and took little tiger in her arms. "It's nothing, Lucky."

...

"Hokage-sama!"

The door into Hashirama's office burst open. Kon's face was in some point terrified, but he soon realized his absurd action and calmed himself. "Hokage-sama-" He spoke, this time calmly, but his eyes showed unmistakable worries. "I just been in Yuko's room and-"

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry!" Hashirama shouted and slapped his hand on his forehead. "I was so busy that I completely forget to inform you."

"Something's happened?!" Kon's strict eyes widened.

"No, no-" Shodai gestured with his hands that everything is in absolute peace. "She's fine. Yuko awakened."

"!" Kon stared with mouth ajar. Even when his mouth was open, no words came out. Hashirama patiently watched Uchiha shinobi in front of him as he slowly, but surely, began to drown in his own tears. "You're lying-" He breathed out, his tears hung on the edges of his eyes.

Hashirama's lips conjured bright smile. "No, she's awake and absolutely fine-" Uchiha Kon felt that he can show his emotions in front of such a kind shinobi as was First Hokage, but Hashirama's last words drove him out of his little emotional weakness. "She's with Tobirama on the mission."

"What!" Kon shouted. "How could you send her on mission already?!" His fists tightly pressed.

"Oh, don't worry Kon, it's just a small mission, nothing serious." Hashirama reassured.

"About?"

"Her summoning animal went missing two years ago."

"Shima-san?" Kon tilted his head to the side.

"Yes." Hashirama nodded, his voice tried to soothe Kon's worries. "Take it easy Kon, it's only about some information and what's more Tobirama and his team are with her." Hashirama pointed on the chair in front of his desk. "Please take a seat I'll explain everything."

...

Yuko walked through busy streets of Miru village. She heard this village started to grow after war between shinobi clans died down. Uchiha kunoichi admired the live street with lots of shops and talking people until she bumped into something. Yuko crouched her nose when she realized that the barrier that crossed her path was in truth Tobirama's back.

Brown-eyed woman frowned. "Don't stop all of sudden!" She growled and rubbed her nose, Lucky was calmly settled on her shoulder, purred into her ear.

"We have to split." Tobirama offered his idea, ignoring completely the collision with red-haired woman. "You three go forward." He ordered to his three young students, they nodded and went ahead. "Yuko-"

"I'll go by myself!" She blurted out faster than she planned.

"Exactly." Tobirama agreed simply and...disappeared.

"Idiot!" The soft growl vibrated from her throat.

"Yuko-san?" There was Lucky's drowsy voice. "Your relationship with Tobirama-san is not very good, isn't it?"

"Well, it's complicated." she replied non emotionally. "Let's find a camp that once belonged to the Sora clan."

"Their camp?" Lucky jumped on the ground. "I thought we just looking for some information about the survivors, do you think they're still in their camp?"

"Who knows-" Yuko walked towards the bar. "Let's give it a try."

...

"I'm sorry pretty lady, but your kitty has to stay outside." The fat barman with white half open vest grinned at her while he was polishing his glass, the crooked smile revealing his one missing tooth. Yuko ignored his comment and sat on the chair to the nearest round table, Lucky sat next to her feet. "I said-" The hairless barman tried to protest again but was silenced with Yuko's impudent yelp.

"Shut up and bring me some water." The few men turned their wicked gaze towards young woman. "And also-" Yuko continued, amused by this situation. "A few informations would be good." The slight grin toyed with her rosy lips. It was a long time since she felt this blissful adrenaline that flowed through her veins. The possible chance of the upcoming battle shuddered with all hairs on her body, her excitement grew.

"If I would be on your place-" One of the men spoke with cracky voice. "I would be more humble, girl."

"You should realize your position." The other one chuckled, showed her the handle of his katana.

Yuko laughed lightly, licking her lips slowly. "If I would be on your place, I would start singing, otherwise you may get hurt." Her eyes slowly traveled back on the toothless barman. "Where's my water, you chunk of fat?"

"What do you want?" His voice infected with cigarettes sounded unpleasantly in kunoichi's ears.

"I already told you-" Yuko followed his steps as he approaching her with water in dirty glass. "Informations."

"About?"

"The Sora clan." She eyed the glass with greasy fingerprints and shoved it aside, disgusted. "Their main camp was once somewhere near this village."

"We know nothing about such a thing." The eldery man in the corner spoke with husky voice. His eyes were hooded and he sipped slowly his golden liquid. He breathed out the blazing heat after ingestion of flammable drink. "Why do Uchiha looking for Sora clan?"

Yuko narrowed her eyes. "Who are you, kisama?"

"Just a mere old pilgrim." The man with grey beard chuckled, finished his glass. "Uchiha's home is in the village hidden in the leaf if I'm not mistaken." His dark-silver eyes turned to her. "You're quite far away from your home, young Uchiha-"

Before she could hear his another words, the sound of the pulling sword from its sheath reached her ears. With the speed of light she kicked the chair, which was underneath her just a second ago, towards the sound of a attacking blade. Quickly she caught the fist of another man who aimed for her face from the side, twisted him behind his back, her knee made a hard contact with his face that lay on the table right next to dirty glass full of water. Everyone froze when her sharingan scanned her surroundings.

"Sharingan-"

"She's the one from the cursed clan-"

"Really from Uchiha clan-"

"That bitch-"

Their whispers echoed through the small bar, Yuko held her hard gaze narrowed, the bridge of her nose crouched. Lucky was hidden under the table, shaking in fear. "Once again-" Yuko growled in a low voice. "The Sora clan, where?!"

The grey-bearded pilgrim rose from his seat and headed to Yuko, he stopped in front of her. "Come young Uchiha, I'll show you their camp."

Yuko loosened her grip on the man's wrist and released his face from underneath her knee. "Lead the way, old man." She kept her gaze beware. As the old man passed around them, Lucky sniffed the familiar scent, his eyes widened slightly when he muttered under his nose. "Oto-san..."

...

The Sora camp, or rather say, the remains of the camp were devastated. Dirty and torn pieces of clothes, ravaged tents, rusty weapons, moldy food with a strong odor, here and there dried blood. "No survivors?" Yuko asked pilgrim, who was walking a few feet ahead of her.

"Their dead bodies were removed by villagers." He replied. "They burned them."

Yuko stopped for a moment to look around. Lucky's tiny paw demanded her attention when he scratched her ankle. Young kunoichi squatted down, little tiger jumped on her shoulder. "Yuko-san, I can smell my father." He whispered in low voice.

Yuko's gaze hardened when she looked at the back of the old pilgrim. "Is it him?" She whispered back.

"Yes, my father's scent lingering on him." Lucky bared his small fangs.

Yuko rose back to her feet, she left Lucky on the ground. "Stay behind me." She ordered and started to walk again. "I forgot your name, old man." She said louder to her companion.

"I never told you my name." He replied with smirk, with the corner of his eyes he eyed the young kunoichi. Yuko's eyes widened slightly when his dark-silver pupil turned to malicious yellow. He stopped, so did she. Unexpectedly strong winds started to blow around them, too strong for this nice and calm summer weather.

"Who are you, kisama?" Yuko growled while she stared into his yellow eyes.

"Sora Toguchi." He smiled slyly. "Nice to meet you."

Powerful wind began to ruffle Yuko's hair, it must be him, she thought, after all, as Tobirama said, Sora clan belong to the wind users, but what was with his ominous yellow eyes? Kunoichi loosened in her knees, her weight held ground strongly in her heels. She pressed her fists tightly until she heard her knuckles crack. "Where is Shima?" She asked carefully, her lips twisted with increasing hatred.

"Who?" Toguchi raised cockily his grey eyebrow.

"My father!" Lucky barked from behind, his fur inflated from the wind and he looked like a fluffy marshmallow.

"Saber-toothed." Sora man gave a rough growl. "Oh, sure, you looking for him, my sweet pet." His wrinkled lips curled into a smirk. "Look, he's right in front of you!" He shouted and the wind even more intensified. Toguchi buried his hands into his grey hair, pulling them as he started to growl, he breathed heavily, gritted his teeth until he screamed into, for Yuko, incomprehensible agony. He shouted, angrily growled, grumbled, his hair sllowly changed its colour from grey to creamy white, his eyes shone in yellow, his fangs grew until they looked like teeth of saber-toothed tigers. Yuko and Lucky watched horrified the change in front of their eyes, Toguchi's claw looked like a blades, his size took a larger form and he stood before them on his four, growling at them menacingly.

"Yuko-!" Lucky's frightened cry reached kunoichi's ears despite the strong wind. The little tiger buried his small claw into her ninja sandals to keep himself with her. "He looks like my father!"

"Shima-" Yuko muttered in disbelief under her breath. Then her eyes widened, Toguchi crouched lower to the ground and started sharply to suck in the air. His chest began to swell and she could determined with her sharingan that he mixes the air with huge amount of chakra, and then...

"Fūton: Daitoppa!"

The gust of wind exploded from Toguchi's direction. The only thing Yuko managed to do was embrace Lucky tightly in her arms. She gritted her teeth, her eyes were tightly shut as her body drifted through the air. She felt sharp pain everytime she collided with tree branch or when she unexpectedly hit the ground. With a half growl, Yuko endured the pain when the wind dragged her like a rag doll, it seemed to her like it was the longest fall in her life, until...

Finally, her body landed with heavy thud on the ground. Yuko breathed heavily, lay on her back. Her arms still held in a strong grip Lucky's unconscious body. After few minutes of catching her breath she finally opened her eyes. The trees were gone, the Sora camp was gone. Did he blew away everything? Or did he just blew her away?

Yuko shifted into sitting position, her stomach roiled after such a wild ride, she swore that some of her bones must be broken. She quickly checked her surrounding, she found herself on the cliff, too high to see even the ground underneath her. As she stared down over the edge, the sudden black shadow enveloped her body. Yuko raised her eyes to the sky and saw nothing just a black silhouette. "Fūton: Daitoppa!"

"Shit-!" Yuko cursed, but it was too late. The cliff was destroyed by the mighty attack of the wind user. Yuko held Lucky tightly to her chest while they were falling down...


Yosh everyone...

Another chapter for you... cliffhanger :)))

Please enjoy...reviews would be lovely:)

Thank you...See ya:)