-White Plum Hidden in the Leaves-
Disclaimer: Naruto doesn't belong to me, only the OCs that I created.
Chapter 6:
Troublesome Bloodline
"That's it! I've had it with this crap!" fumed Anko.
It seemed that having a used-to-be-extinct bloodline limit wasn't all it's crackup to be. At least, this is what Ume had concluded: Her new Kekkei Genkai was far too much trouble than it was worth.
The past few weeks had been nothing but aggravation for the white-haired Genin and her short-tempered sensei. Ever since Ume's Mokuton first appeared, training around any source of vegetation was a nightmare.
Anko's favorite training ground, The Forest of Death, quickly became off-limits when it came to training (much to Anko-sensei's chagrin). Regular-sized trees were bad enough, but when tree branches as thick as small houses and various poisonous plants start to grab out you, things can get a little tedious.
Ume didn't have to worry about her troublesome Kekkei Genkai as much in the main interior of village, just like Jiji had said. But, every now and then, Ume would find a place to avoid from fear of exposure. The Yamanaka Flower shop was a definite no-no, and anyplace else that Ume would have to explain why potted plants wanted to reach out and smother her.
Even the pot of flowers Ume had had sitting by her bedroom window had to be moved to Naruto's room, from the fear of being strangled to death in the middle of the night. Naruto had found the whole thing hilarious, but had also voiced that he hoped he didn't get a Kekkei Genkai like Nee-chan's.
At the moment, Ume was untangling her legs from a bush she had wandered too close to and Anko-sensei was fuming at their interrupted Taijutsu practice.
"I've had enough of this crap!" Anko repeated again, jabbing an accusing finger at Ume, "Your little plant-problem is driving me up the ing wall!"
"And you think it isn't me, too?" demanded Ume, finally freeing herself from the shrub's clutches, "I preferred things the way they were before this whole mess started! I can't help it if every green leafy-thing is out to get me!"
"Well, I can't work with this shit," huffed Anko, "Their has to be a solution for this, and I'm going to go find it!" Without another word, Anko Shunshin-ed away in a flurry of leaves.
"What am I supposed to do, then?" Ume asked nobody. 'Well I'm not gonna wait for Sensei around here.' Too many plants.
As Ume left the training grounds, she didn't notice the large blue toad watching her leave from the bushes.
Ume noticed that it was close to lunchtime when she entered the central part of the village. Since she hadn't hung out with Naruto for a good length of time in a while, Ume decided to surprise him with lunch. After ordering some takeout from Ichiraku's Ramen Bar, Ume made a beeline for the academy.
When she arrived, the students were already lounging about outside, chatting and eating in small scattered groups. Ume wasn't really surprised to find Naruto sitting alone under a tree, away from the other children.
Ume slyly snuck up behind him and whispered in his ear, "Boo!"
Naruto yelped in surprise, and tried to jump up, but only succeeded in tripping over himself tumbling down into a heap.
Ume laughed, "Ha, ha, gotcha, Ototo!"
Once he saw who it was, Naruto completely forgot about his embarrassment, "Nee-chan! What are you doing here?"
Ume grinned and held up the steaming bag, "Behold! For, I have brought food!"
"You're the best, Nee-chan!" whooped Naruto, causing several students to turn and see what all of the commotion was about.
Ume and Naruto settled down under a tree (the branches were high enough that they couldn't reach Ume) and tucked into their bowls of ramen.
"Fo, mow come moor mot mraining, Mee-chan?" Naruto tried to ask around a mouthful of miso-flavored ramen.
"Swallow before you talk," Ume reminded him, "Sensei said she was going to find something to help me with my, ahem, "plant problem"."
Naruto tried to laugh, but started to choke. Ume patted him on the back until it passed, and scowled at him.
"It's not funny!" she insisted, "It's a nightmare!"
"It's still funny, though," snickered Naruto.
Ume gave a playful swat at him, as the two siblings finished off their lunch. Neither noticed an oversized slug disappear from the tree branches in a small puff of smoke.
Ume stayed with Naruto for the remainder of the his break time. It wasn't until it was over and Ume had waved goodbye to Naruto as he went back inside, that Anko had reappeared (looking a lot happier than she did this morning).
"Tell me "I'm awesome", gaki. Our prayers are about to be answered!" announced Anko with a cheeky grin.
"How?" asked Ume suspiciously. It was always wise to be wary when Psycho-sensei was excited about one thing or another.
"Not here, lets go," Anko grabbed Ume by the around Shunshin-ed them both away.
Ume found herself in an unfamiliar clearing outside of the village, staring at the porcelain tiger mask and black and white body-armor of a lone shinobi. He seemed to be waiting for them, for he straitened up and began to walk towards them as soon as Ume and Anko arrived.
"Snowflake, meet our new friend, Tora," said Anko, clapping Ume on the shoulder, "Our salvation from this hell that you thrust upon us!"
Tora bowed politely, "Pleased to meet you."
"Hey!" Ume glared at Anko, "You know good and well that it isn't my fault! And how can this guy help me? You heard what Jiji said."
Anko waved off Ume's comment, "No worries, Snowflake. I got the O-kay from the Hokage and all that. He thinks it's a good idea, too, for you to learn a thing or two from Tora, here."
"But… what's with the fancy getup?" asked Ume, referring to Tora's mask and armor.
"He's with ANBU, silly," said Anko, and explained at Ume's still confused expression, "ANBU is short for 'Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai'. They're the true shinobi elites; they work directly under the Hokage himself."
Ume blinked in surprised and glanced at Tora, who seemed to be forgotten. 'He must be one hardcore shinobi, then.'
"Well, love to stay and chat, but I'll leave you two alone to get started. Good luck!" smiled Anko, before leaping up and settling herself in a distant tree.
Ume and Tora stared at each other for a few awkward seconds before Tora cleared his throat, "I guess we should get started then."
"What exactly are going to do?" asked Ume.
How could this guy be any help at all? Especially when her Kekkei Genkai was something that hadn't been seen in decades, and nobody else had?
"Anko-san informed me of your handicap, and, though I've never had this problem myself, I think I know a few things to help you gain some control," He informed her.
"Wait, what do you mean "you've never had this problem"?" asked Ume, a bit confused, "Do you have a Kekkei Genkai, too? What's it do?"
Ume couldn't see his expression, but his voice sounded a bit amused, "It's the same as yours actually."
"What?" backpedaled Ume. That was completely unexpected, "You- I-I- How? Are you a Senju?"
Tora chuckled behind his mask, "No, I'm not. But I'm afraid the reason why I have the Mokuton is classified."
"Oh," Ume couldn't think of anything else to say. But, she was thrilled to know that she wasn't the only Mokuton user, and had someone who could help her with her troublesome bloodline.
Tora's demeanor suddenly turn serious, "Alright, Ume-san, it is time to get to work. I will be teaching you the finer points of chakra control, as well a how to control your nature affinities."
"Yes, sir, Tora-sensei!" Ume saluted.
"Mokuton is a Kekkei Genkai that combines both water and earth- type chakra to for a whole new element: wood. If you are able to master both your Doton and Suiton, then in theory, you will be able to master Mokuton," summarized Tora, "It won't be easy, but you should be able to accomplish it if you give it your all."
"If it will keep shrubbery from molesting me if I get too close, I'm willing to do anything," said Ume. The whole overly-affectionate plant thing was getting old.
Tora nodded, "Then let us begin."
A/N: And that's the end of chapter 6, and I'm sure most of you already know who Tora really is. For pictures of Ume, check out the links on my profile. Please review! =^.^=
Japanese/ Jutsu List:
- Shunshin: Body Flicker
- ANBU: Special Assassination and Tactical Squad
- Tora: tiger
- Doton: earth release
- Suiton: water release
- Chakra: mix of physical and spiritual energy
- san: suffix (Mr., Mrs., Ms. )