Sorry I had you all waiting, I wanted to update on the other stories. I had just realized that I hadn't updated on Swayed for three months, and burst out laughing. I am so lost in time, I barely realize if it's my birthday!
Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter, since I've made it extra long for my fans out there, thanks for reading my story!
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A month passed smoothly, the process on building the village was working well. Four main towers of ice stood guard in parts of the forest, three smaller versions far out into the ocean. Raimel had added his shroud of fog on the ocean and the forest surrounding, and took care of Lain for me.
Huts of various sizes were scattered around the land, reminding me of how the Indians were like in the history of my past world. Wooden floors and furniture was easily taken up by a few of the orphans I brought with me, who were naturally gifted in the craft.
My people began the tradition of titling me "Yukikage" and even weaved a pure white scarf with the symbol '雪影' meaning Snow Shadow. I allowed the teenage girl I healed before, Hisako, to buy seeds for crops and plant life. Hisako was a quiet girl, who treated me with gratitude and respect.
Neridese called for me outside the darkened hut I sat in, hurrying in with impatience. "Aureol-chan, what if the Hokage won't let us stay on his land?" She said, fiddling nervously with her hands.
"Why wouldn't he?" I replied after a moment, hearing her sigh about me being too 'wise' for my age. Well, if I was still alive in my past life, I would be about 23 or so, but this is a new life after all. I faintly heard Pyry laugh in my mind's eye, chuckling about how age was unimportant now. I ignored the hidden meaning to her words, for it was of no importance of the moment.
"Aureol-sama, I got the seeds you wanted. I also have a message from the Hokage," Neridese almost tripped in frantic turn to face Hisako, while I simply nodded for her to continue, "We said he would like to meet with you, in an hour."
"Thank you Hisako, would you mind finding some volunteers to plow and spread the seeds in the requested area?" I said calmly as she handed me the left over change for the seeds. Hisako nodded eagerly, being a green thumb herself and she happily dashed off to find some workers.
"We have mainly children, Aureol-chan, I'm glad you are giving out work but don't you believe we are short on adults?" Neridese asked, having been the main caretaker of the orphans with the help of two other 15 year old girls.
"You need not worry, defenses are strong and we are a safe distance from every village. I believe I will send the Raikage news of our settlement tonight, perhaps he has workers who need jobs." I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling the various chakra signatures of my people surrounding me, committing them to memory. "While I'm off with the Hokage, would you mind taking up names of my people?"
Neridese smiled and nodded, her frantic worry diminishing. "Why do you want to be the leader of us, Aureol-chan? You are only eight years."
"Age is but a number." I took from Pyry who cheered in my mind. "I am the only trained Shinobi here as of now, and I can hold off foe's with ease, now that the defenses are up, I will be able to sense any living being that enters 6 mile radius of the towers. " I explained to her.
Neridese said nothing, just nodded and looked off to the distance where Raimel and Natalia climbed trees and plucked the ripe apples.
OoO
The shadows of the forest moved with the wind's breeze pushing the branches of trees. I was nearing the Leaf village, having taken a stroll over from my village. I felt myself push past a barrier that let me slide through like Pyry herself, a spirit. The clink of metal hitting a tree from the right caught my attention and I sensed the chakra presence that of a child's.
From behind a tree, I watched a young raven-haired child wield Kuni to hit the target on the tree. With each kuni thrown, his body shifted slightly, thus causing the last kuni to miss each time. The child whipped sweat from his brow and huffed a breath. He seemed about a year younger than Raimel who had turned 5 recently.
"Your body is shifting to the side at each thrown, keep your body still and squared in line with the target." I spoke out, startling the child. He looked up at me with wide innocent onyx eyes, regarding me curiously and suspiciously.
"Who are you, onee-san?" Somewhat confronted that he didn't notice he shifted.
"Aureol, child. Listen to my instructions and try once more." I spoke softly, walking out of the shaded trees. The boy was hesitant but followed my words and threw his kuni and shuriken at his targets, remembering to steady and square himself to the target. (1) His weapons hit true and a grin spread on his face and he ran to me like Raimel would.
"I did it! Dad will be proud, thanks for the help, Reol-nee!" He started to run out of the training grounds when he skidded to a stop, "I'm Uchiha Sasuke by the way!" He took off without another word. My lips turned up slightly in a smile, my feet leading me to my destination of where the strongest chakra was.
Guards flashed stepped in front of me, their eyes widening when they noticed the chakra they felt approaching was that of a child. I inwardly snickered to myself, I suppose it was one thing to be amused by the expressions of the Shinobi. "The Hokage called for me?" I questioned, hearing the rung of my voice startle them out of their shock.
Sharing questioning looks to each other, two ANBU flickered at my sides, allowing the guards to leave. The female- I sensed- laid her hand on my shoulder, somewhat leaking chakra in a threatening way that amused me to no end. Did this leaf Shinobi expect me to be some weak, easily conquered child?
The two lead me through the Hokage's building and up the long stair case, silent with every step, we were like phantoms haunting the building. The other ANBU knocked on the door and stood stonily in front of me. "Come in." The old, experienced tone of the Hokage answered in reply. The ANBU escorted me in, stopping me just in front of the desk, flanking my sides, readying to attack at any moment necessary.
"Ah, so a young child like you is the Yukikage?" The Hokage leaned back, his eyes shining as he looked over the desk at my small form.
"That is what my people choose to call me." I agreed, looking him in the eye. "I suppose it is reasonable, since I come from the Blizzard country." I informed him, he would have asked it sooner or later anyways.
"Why has a young child chosen such a path?" He asked me, his expression hardening in thought. Being a Kage was no easy task, our people are in danger at all times.
"Perhaps I bring trouble upon my person, but what is to be will not change." I tilted my head nonchalantly, "Perhaps it gives me meaning, or just is the most logical path to follow." The Hokage looked slightly startled at my usage of wording, his eyes seemingly trying to calculate how old I acted.
"How old are you, child?"
"Eight years." I answered a flicker of a smile on my lips. Their reactions of surprise were always worth watching. "Though, I may be perceived as much older at times." I said aloud, mainly to myself.
"What would you rank yourself, as a Shinobi?" The Hokage asked, standing from his chair and walking around the desk to crouch in front of me. This annoyed me slightly, I preferred not to be treated as a child.
I narrowed my eyes and backed out, leaking some of my chilling chakra, evident as the floor around my feet gathered frost. "I suppose I could compare to an ANBU… and I would prefer you not to treat me as a child, Hokage." I said coldly.
"My body may be young, but my soul is not." For who knew how many times my soul has been reincarnated? It has done it once to my knowledge, surly it had happened before.
I turned away from the Hokage, towards the windows. "If you are wondering, I didn't come to conquer your village. This place holds no importance to me, I have my own family to care for. I will agree to a treaty of sorts, but don't expect me to put my village at risk." I looked over my shoulder at the Hokage, Pyry making my eye's glow slightly. "My village comes first."
My form burst into snow and I left them behind, swirling to a stop in the market place. "Reol-chan!" I heard Sasuke cry out as a small body collided with my side. I peered over my scarf at the raven haired boy who hugged close to me, eyes full of innocence and trust.
"Sasuke." A deeper voice called to the innocent raven. Sasuke looked back to a boy my age, who held similar traits to Sasuke. The boy had long black hair pulled back into a loose hair tie, and his bangs framed his expressionless face.
"Aniki! This is Reol-nee! She helped me with my training!" Sasuke exclaimed and hugged my leg. I greeted the boy with a nod, allowing a slight smile to grace my expression. "This is my Aniki, Itachi!" Sasuke told me enthusiastically, and then looked up at me hopefully. "Can you train with us, Reol-nee?"
Itachi sighed slightly at Sasuke and smiled apologetically, though was still on guard of the white-haired stranger. I calculated the time using the position of the sun, presuming I had enough time to help the ravenett. I nodded silently, much to the joy of the little boy.
Sasuke cheered and gripped my hand, taking his brothers in the other and dragged us off to a training ground. Itachi decided to teach Sasuke a bit of Taijutsu, moving silently and swiftly, graced with skill. Sasuke tried to keep up with him, but huffed in annoyance when he was poked with two fingers in the forehead.
I chuckled slightly, watching Sasuke pout and bound over to me, getting into the Konoha traditional stance. Sliding my right foot back, I balanced mainly on it, brining one hand up, and the other to my side open palmed. I could sense Itachi studying my stance, eyes crimson with the Kekkei Genkai of the Uchiha clan.
Sasuke ran at me, flinging rather random punches and kicks at a time. I used one hand and pushed or blocked each, allowing one to hit me to gauge the strength used in it. Perhaps I should have him work on that, he needs to put more momentum and power into his attacks, and increase his speed.
Sasuke slumped with an angry pout, grumbling about not being able to hit a girl. I smiled lightly and ruffled his raven hair, encouraging a bigger pout. "It appears you need to work more on using momentum in your attacks, and strengthen the power of your punches. You should increase your speed as well." I spoke lightly, looking down at the boy.
I strode over to a tree and pressed my palm to its bark, softly creating a shield of frost to encase the lower part of the tree. "Practice on this, it will get harder the stronger and harder you punch." I gestured to the tree, urging him towards it. Sasuke approached it with an innocent look of confusion, poking it curiously. Then grinned and started attacking the tree wildly.
"Don't attack wildly, it will waste your energy. Do your attacks in session or to a beat, focus on calm attacks." I told him, making him pause before restarting in a much calmer manner.
Itachi turned to me, and asked, "Who are you?"
"I'm Aureol, I am building a neighboring village, and came on call of your Hokage." I showed him the symbols of 'Yukikage'. "I am the Yukikage, or snow shadow." I bowed my head once again.
"Uchiha Itachi."
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(1) – To 'square' yourself to the target is to keep the person/object directly in front of you. My kung fu instructor tells me it all the time.
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