The Loss of Family
The whole world went still. No one moved, no one spoke, no one even breathed. Everyone just looked at the old man that stood straight in front of the with an small army behind his back. This was not meant to happen; there was no way they should of know that they were leaving, even if they did hear the small laughter that came from their camp only seconds before. The whole army that stood behind them was well equipped and Surin stood to the left of his father fidgeting in excitement for a battle. The tension was mostly held between Tadashi and his father. Both warriors tried to stare each other down, cold steel against burning silver. Anju was glad no one was looking at her for the moment because she could feel her legs trembling underneath the dark cloak. Jin, Kakashi and Naruto (who had been the closets to the girl at the time) had stepped in the line of fire, so that no one could get a good glimpse of the curse unless they got behind them somehow; which was going to be difficult against these elite ninja. Whatever the out come was, they were all sure it was not going to be a good one.
"Father, what a pleasant surprise?" Tadashi suddenly spoke like nothing was wrong, since he was the only person who wasn't afraid to stand up to his whole clan and most importantly his father. The leader of the clan's frown grew even deeper at this statement.
"You didn't really think you could just sneak away, not with our families special jutsu." The old man snapped back, making everyone turn to look at his son. What jutsu? Everyone who didn't know what the technique was.
"The technique would of only worked if you had been checking on us for some reason in the first place." Jin hissed dangerously, with her partner -Shadow- growling threateningly at the leader as well, since Tadashi had nothing to say to the comment. The small group knew that their leader wasn't trustworthy to the mysterious Uchiha but to spy on all of them was more then a betrayal; it was a abomination. To be so loyal to the clan for all these years and be treated like this was unforgivable. You could here the grinding of Hansuke teeth as he tried to withhold his anger; knowing if he said anything it would only make it worse. Anju could only shake her head in disappointment, she could understand why she was not trusted but to do something like that to her brother, something like this would kill him and she could tell because it was written all over his face. The eldest child of the Tsukiko clans leader stood there unemotional, not moving a single muscle. His sister wanted to ran to her brother and give him a hug but she didn't want to be the one who made it worse by getting involved; well more then she could be, since she sure she was somehow linked to it.
"What happen to us father?" Tadashi Tsukiko muttered, focusing everyone's attention on to him. His father just gave him a blank look in return. "How could our family be so broken?" The man asked more loudly, not just looking at his father but everyone that stood behind the old man; all of them refused to make eye contact.
"The dishonour in our family broke us my son." The leader curse, pointing his finger past everyone and some how ended up landing on Anju. Knowing what her father meant, the curse girl couldn't help but grab on to Naruto's arm and huddle more behind his back. To her, it didn't seem like the hyperactive blonde had realised her actions until she felt his other hand grab on to the one she was using to grab onto his orange jacket and gave it a tight squeeze. This action helped Anju to calm down a little bit. She hated acting like a baby in front of everyone but the way everyone was looking at her chilled the girl to her very core. However, it turns out her father wasn't done insulting her yet. "That curse broke every thing this clan worked for and your heart was to kind to put an end to the monsters life." The old leader spat, his face entirely plain apart from the anger that hung in his ghostly grey eyes. What he said was a big mistake. Everyone that stood around Tadashi could feel the intense rage building up in his body and were now more terrified then they had felt before. The furious man marched towards his father, their faces barely a centre meter apart when he stopped in front of him. Tadashi was nearly a foot taller then his father but something in the old leaders eyes made it seem like they were staring at each other eye level.
"If anyone is the curse here it is you." Tadashi whispered, shaking intensely from the fury that was boiling through his whole body. This anger was suddenly shared between the small army that told behind the old man's back and pulled out their weapons and aimed them at silver eyed son that was willing to threaten their leader but these actions were soon turned into empty threats when the Konohagakure ninja and Tadashi's small group pulled out their own weapons; including Anju. She refused to just stand their while her brother was being threaten. Some of the opposing members had the courage to spit on the ground next to the eldest son but they dared do nothing more or they would feel the blade of the Tsukiko princess running through their chests in less then an heart beat.
"Leave us and never return." The leader growled before signalling his troops to disband, he may of hated Anju but he wasn't going to cause more bloodshed. It looked like Surin was about to argue but one death glare from his father told him to silent.
"As you wish, sir." Tadashi retorted before signalling his own legion to move out. It was time for their new lives to begin.
The whole group walked silently for a while, since all of the Tsukiko clan members (well 'ex' members) were a little depressed that they had just left. They knew it was going to be hard for them to leave but back there they had been basically chucked out. Anju felt the worse out of all of them, since it was basically her fault that they had to leave in the first place. She wished she had some brains, so she could of made herself leave by herself and that way her brother and her friends wouldn't have to leave their families behind. The mood got a little bit lighter when Naruto, Kiba and Hansuke started complaining they were hungry and their friends took the mick out of them. However, Tadashi and Anju just seemed to keep to themselves, smiling at random comments that were said every now and again or her brother had to give out an order or discuss something with Kakashi and Yamato. Everyone seemed to understand that she needed some time alone and left her to her own thoughts. Finally, after a whole day of travelling the three man quad decided to rest for the night. The exile royalty still kept quiet as they set up the tents and the camp fire. Everything seemed normal between the hidden leaf ninja; especially between the blonde ninja and the silent artist; as usual Sai had said something to piss his friend off accidentally. Feeling like she needed some time alone to get her head straight, Anju began heading off to river to splash some water in her face. However, her efforts were cut short when she heard her brother make a loud cough. Looking at him, she saw him gave a firm nod of his head towards her katana. At least some things won't change, Anju muttered to herself, as she marched over to her weapon and slung it on to her back; taking small comfort in this annoying gesture, as she headed off to the river hidden behind the trees. As the girl disappeared for some piece and quiet to herself, the argument between Naruto and Sai continued.
"It's not that small!" Team sevens hyperactive member shouting out loudly, he had his manly honour to protect after all. Emotionless as always, the ROOT member didn't seem to take the hint that he was stepping on dangerous territory.
"I admit, it has grown to the average size but it is still the smallest in our group." Sai retorted back, taking no offence of the list of rude names the knuckle-head was yelling at him.
"What Naruto means Sai is that you can't just say things like that, especially in public." Sakura jumped in, since everyone who was not good at holding there emotions (which was mostly the whole group) were trying their best to hold back fits of laughter with no success – they didn't mind that much since it was providing their night with some entertainment.
"But Sakura, it says in my book that we're suppose to discuss our problems together, now about your flat chest..." Poor Sai couldn't continue what he was going to say next because Sakura had sent a chakra infused punch into his stomach and sent him flying somewhere in the distance. Some ninja's felt a bit sorry the emotionless black op because they knew he meant well but he just didn't have a clue what he was talking about sometimes and also some of them knew what it felt like to be on the end of one of those punches. Both Naruto and Hansuke collapsed on to the fall laughing their heads off at that moment.
"You showed him Sakura!" Naruto laughed out as he tried to calm himself since his lungs were starting to hurt from the lack off oxygen. The pink medic just sent him a deathly looking glare which shut him up instantly, fearing for his own life. He felt a little upset that Sakura gave him the evils, even though he was supporting her actions but decided to let it slide like he usually did when he was upset or had just been insulted.
"Should we go and help him?" Jin leaned over to Yamato and asked, as they watched Sai, who was having trouble pulling himself free from a tree trunk.
"No, I think he'll be fine, besides it might make him think twice about what he says about woman's appearances now." Yamato answered, finishing off his cup ramen. Seeing the logic in his answer (since the pale teen didn't seem to have any common sense) the dark beauty just shrugged and tossed more meat over to Shadow and Akamaru. The animals jumped into the air and grabbed the meat like they were catching frisbee's and happily began tearing at the meat with their sharp teeth. With everyone's stomachs full, everyone was feeling ready to return to bed.
"How far away are we from the village Kakashi sensei?"Sakura inquired, as she finished righting up her medical report to hand into Tsunade when she was back at the village. There was enough room to add extra information that she needed but if they were lucky they might be able to get back home with out facing any difficulties. Quickly glimpsing up from his Icha Icha Paradise, Kakashi thought to himself for a moment before he muttered,
"I would say about three days tops, unless we come across some difficulties." Sakura nodded her head to show she understood (even though Kakashi was probably more interested in his book to really noticed) it was more or less what she thought. However, this talk seemed to jinx the whole walk home because suddenly a loud scream came from the forest.
"Anju!" Tadashi cried out and before anyone was up on their feet, the protective brother had disappeared among the bushes.
Once, just once I would like to have one day without fighting! Anju swore as she raised her blade to block the offenders attack. It wasn't like she had been doing anything wrong, she was just sitting by the river singing when these strangers attacked her. Besides, these bandits were no real threat to her as they seemed to not know and jutsu's. But just in case she kept her guard up and kept an eye on them. With a block her and a kick to the face there, it didn't take long to knock all of the thieves unconscious and tie them up. That wasn't even a work out, she sighed, as the warrior princess tied the last knot. Great! Now I have to drag them back to the group, she thought, not liking the fact that as soon she got there she would be having a gloating festival from her brother and how right he was that she always took her weapon with her. In the end she decided not to worry about it and just summoned up that she would have to make one decision at a time. But things were about to get worse because she had been to busy thinking she hadn't noticed the dark shadow looming over. It was only when she feel something drop on to her face that she came back to reality. Rain? Anju wondered, finding it hard to believe since it was the middle of summer. Placing her hand on her cheek, Anju press her palm gently across her face before pulling it out again to see blood smeared on her hand. What the...? the Uchiha thought. Her sharingan activated suddenly, as her senses took in that she was in great danger and looking up she saw a monster hanging above her head. Anju could only stare at it in terror and screamed.