"Give, even if you only have a little"-Dhammapada, Verse 224
It was very difficult for Yuuko to grasp time in this new life. Konoha's standard year was divided into ten months, each month being 30 days, making a year consisting of 300 days. Summer dominated most of the year with shorter fall, spring, and winter seasons. It was confusing to try and orient herself with the calendar of her past life so she simply didn't bother.
Needless to say, winter in Konoha basically meant that the heat was no longer unbearable and that it was more likely to be overcast and rainy. Snow was a rarity seen maybe once every few years or so.
Three and a half year old Yuuko was awoken in the early hours one winter morning by her mother's gentle shake. It was still dark outside but thankfully not raining. Bleary eyed she dressed herself and stumbled into the hall, passing Hayato on his way down stairs, into the bathroom to brush her teeth and run a comb through her head. Even as a typical morning person this hour was pushing it.
'Passing of the Fire' ceremony was traditionally held by dawns break, so many workers had been working since the day before all through the night to prepare for the occasion. Setting up stalls and booths, prepping for food and customers, putting up banners, laying out the best of their wares.
Today was the day the Fourth Hokage would be officially inaugurated into office.
He had been 'Acting Hokage' for some months now- wearing the robes but not the hat- literally and metaphorically. He had attended meetings, made executive decisions (with conference and support from the Third), and his face had just been completed on the mountain side.
The hat was apparently a big part of the ceremony. The Fourth would give a speech and then the hat would be lowered on to his head, symbolizing 'the fire being shadowed within'. Hokage. Fire Shadow.
After a quiet breakfast the family dressed in their best and joined the trickle of other families on their way towards the tower. At the towers base the citizens of Konoha gathered together and watched as their new Hokage steeped into the light of the rising sun. From her position, way below, tucked down beside her parents and brother- Yuuko could see and hear very little. The man on the balcony hardly visible when she was so short and the sun glared out behind him.
The speech must have been moving though, all around her people gazed with rapt attention. She caught parts when their new Hokage's voices rose to a swell- "- the might of the everlasting Will of Fire!" "-Victory!-" "- peace that will last generations!" There were screams of approval all around, ringing out in one long thunderclap. Yuuko remained silent, fingers over her ears and eyes watching the faces of those who towered around her.
The ceremony ended as the Third removed his hat and enshrouded his successor in it to absolutely ear-splitting cheers. " Now hear- the fire eternal is born again in shadow! Here stands the fourth bearer of the shadowed flame, our Fourth Hokage!"
As the applause died down, slowly the crowds begin to split apart, families and peoples venturing into booths and festivities set up for the day of celebration. Yuuko's parents spoke with Hayato as the crowds pushed around them. Hayato claimed her hand in his to keep her close. She pushed closer to his side.
Banners waved in the wind, people shouted and laughed, the smell of cooking began to fill the air. In the distance, a flute started to play.
It was decided that the children would split from the parents for the day- so they would be free to enjoy games and little shops set up and their parents would be free to attend a clan meeting that was being held. They would meet back up in the evening for the firework-Jutsu display.
As their parents parted ways back toward the compound, Hayato readjusted the grip of their hands and they began to lead their way through the throngs of people. They passed a group of Uchiha men getting ready to set out with their mikoshi- a portable shrine to one of the Uchiha's older gods.
Down a slightly less busy street Hayato stopped. "Do you want to go join the Sun Dancing?" he asked. Slightly overwhelmed by the masses, Yuuko shook her head. She cast her eyes around and saw a booth that was less crowded and pointed in that direction. "Ring toss?" she asked and her brother grinned.
As it turned out, bringing a ninja (even just a genin) to a skill game was basically the equivalent of rigging the system. Yuuko came away with a great big stuffed dog and a kabuki mask.
They spent the day together- Hayato and Yuuko; eating sweets and playing games. They did stop by the dancing although Yuuko was happy to just watch rather than join in. Rows and rows of people in circles danced together to welcome 'the new fire'.
They found a little booth filled with several other young children. Three little Hyuga kids and one Yamanaka were huddled around a shallow pool filled with goldfish. Hayato got her one of the flat paper nets and stood beside her as she approached the pool. Her first net broke. Hayato laughed and she puffed her cheeks in embarrassment. It was harder then it looked. "Don't worry Yuuko-chan, I'll get you another one." He said still laughing.
Yuuko stood there awkwardly as he went to pay for another net. Fidgeting a little she watched the fish for a few moments. They swam in strange patterns- scales glimmering in the water. She liked the rippled they made when they swam close to the surface.
When she looked back up her eyes meet those of an adult Hyuga. He was standing behind the other Hyuga children with an intense face, not at all perturbed at having been caught staring.
Her toes clenched and she grabbed the edges of her sleeves with her hands. Those pale eyes, so exceptionally bizarre to look at, seemed to be seriously considering her. What is taking Hayato so long? One of the Hyuga girls held up a bag filled with fish. He broke eye contact with her and turned his attention to the other little child.
Yuuko didn't catch any fish- much to Hayato's great amusement.
Afterwards they headed out to find a snack. Taiyaki were pastries fried in the shape of a fish- in Japan they were typically filled with red bean paste or custards. Here in Konoha they were filled with lotus paste and drizzled with honey, making them a dense but tasty treat. Many stalls were selling them but the siblings finally found an Akimichi vendor with a line that wasn't quite as long as the others.
Yuuko was thankful for the chance to sit, feet sore from walking and arms tired from carrying her stuffed dog prize (Hayato has snagged the kabuki mask for himself, which suited Yuuko just fine)
At one of the long tables they found a couple of seats and munched slowly on their treat.
They had been sitting not too long when a familiar pair take the seats opposite them.
Jun and Nao.
"Hello Hagoromo-chan. We meet again." Jun greeted in their typical cool manner.
The Aburame took their seats with taiyaki of their own. Hayato watched the two as he took a bite out of his fish treats head but said nothing to protest.
Nao was munching steadily on their treat and although it was hard to tell with their hoods and glasses, appeared to be staring at Yuuko.
Yuuko glanced between the Aburame and her brother. "Hello Jun-san" she replied, hastily licking her lips. Then after a moment she added, "Hello Nao-san" even though Nao had not greeted her.
"This is my brother, Hayato. Nii-san, this is Jun-san and Nao-san, they helped me save a salamazard." "Female Hitokage salamazard" Nao corrected quickly and bluntly. "Right." Yuuko agreed, scrunching her toes in her boots.
Her brother smiled reservedly "Ah! Well, I owe you a thank you for returning my sister back to the park safely." It seemed he still wasn't completely over that incident. Jun crossed their arms on the table, hands hidden in the long sleeves of their coat. "It was no trouble, older Hagoromo-kun." Hayato ignored the strange suffix entirely.
Polite conversation survived the duration of their snack break. Standing up and taking their trash Hayato moved towards a trash can. Yuuko stood, picking up the stuffed dog again and meeting Nao's hyper focused staring. It had to be staring, didn't it? The glasses made them very hard to read but Nao had not turned their head away from Yuuko once since joining them.
In a moment of decision Yuuko walked to the other side of the table and held out the stuffed toy to Nao. "Here."
Jun leaned back in their seat. Nao put down their taiyaki on a paper plate. Yuuko's arms remained out stretched, the cheap but soft brown fur warm in her hands. Hesitantly Nao reached out too. Once the transfer was begun Nao snatched it from her grasp and held it close, as though Yuuko was going to take it back.
As the sun began to wane the two siblings made their way to the gates of the Hagormo compound.
Takeko and Tsubasa were waiting for them by the time they arrived. "Did you two have a good time?" "Yeah, it was a lot of fun." "Did you play any games Yuuko-chan?" …
The family made their way to Jowangshin Park. It was jammed pack with families, Uchiha and Hagormo alike for once. Finding a clearing, a blanket was laid out and the family settled in. Along the borders of the park- several shinobi stood. Huge drums echoed out and the shinobi ran through impressive kata's at blinding speeds. As the sky darkened complex fire jutsus were displayed- fire twisting and undulating through the air in streams over their heads. Occasionally powders were added in to the jutsu, changing the colors of the fire. Emerald and purple flames crackled. Claps of appreciation resonated through the park.
Then came the fireworks. Sitting in her father's lap, Yuuko snuggled close.
An hour or two later, Yuuko was finishing up brushing her teeth when her father appeared at the door. Spiting tooth paste and whipping her mouth she turned to see him learning against the door with a drained look upon his face. "Yuuko-chan, the Clan Head would like to speak with you." Yuuko hopped of her step stool and stepped away from the sink in surprise. The Shizutori-sama wants to speak with me?
Yuuko had heard the name of the Hagormo's relatively new Clan Head but had never seen or meet them in person.
She looked down at her pajamas wondering if she should go change. A few steps down the hall her father looked back at her "Quickly now, Yuuko-chan. It is not polite to leave an important guest waiting."
'So it would be alright to leave a 'non-important' guest waiting?' she thought in bewilderment, running hands through her hair in an attempt to tame it. Wait, the Clan Head is already here?
It was very last in the evening to be meeting anyone, let alone someone of such importance.
Tsubasa followed her downstairs and to the kitchen where their guest sat at the table, back to the door. Yuuko took the opportunity to study their appearance as her father stepped up to the table with a bow. Long flowing locks, thick and dark like her new mothers, ran down her back. She wore a green and gold kimono, cut in that odd open way that was more popular in Konoha. At her hip was a long but thin sword with a scabbard so designed Yuuko thought it was probably more ceremonial then functional. Shizutori's tetsubasa was the largest she had yet seen; Bright matte gold with large spikes and engraved with striking silver kanji, it covering the shoulder blade and shoulder and ran down almost to the elbow. The sheet plates made no sound as the arm bent to raise a glass of sake. Back still to them, her father bowed low. "Shizutori-sama, I present my daughter Yuuko Hagoromo."
It was only when their Clan Head stood and turned that Yuuko realized that despite the slender figure, feminine features (was that red lipstick?), and long hair, Shizutori was male. That was odd though- Ayaha had made her memorize many of the old Hagoromo Clan leaders and not one of them had been male.
The thin painted lips raised in a slender smile.
This chapter is a little short. I'm sorry. It was fighting me every step of the way. Things will really start to pick up pace soon- I promise.
Thank you again to every person who reviewed! I really appreciate every single one. (and a big thank you to Anon, who I couldn't reply to. Your review was super sweet.)
Let me know what you think of this chapter- lots of background stuff going on here.
