A Forgiven Father

Chapter 12

NSW


Naruto stood arms crossed waiting. Sakimo stood next to him, both stood on one side of the table, while Sasuke and Sakuke stood on the other side. Sakura was there only to serve as a mediator between the two. "No, I will have her follow the same training regimen as Sakuke has, she will meet me at six o'clock sharp every morning. She than will train until noon, eat, then train until six at night, it is only fair."

Naruto growled "that is too much, she has no time for family." Sakimo spoke "I don't need time for family, I have had enough time for that, besides, I have weekends and nights." Naruto sighed "It still seems a little strict." Sasuke rolled his eyes, he folded his arms, he winced ever so slightly at the movement. "Naruto, think back to when we were students under Kakashi, it is exactly as he had it."

Naruto sighed, finally consenting, "fine then, but if I have instances where I want her or need her, I will pull her from training whenever I want." Sasuke nodded "of course, now as to what she will learn" "Fire jutus's, and whatever else for the sharingan, but she will not learn anything higher than B-rank jutus's, and no sword training."

Sakimo cracked her knuckles in anger, that was what she wanted most. "You can't-" "Sakimo" Sasuke said leveling her with a gaze. Sakimo looked away. They were outside in their new backyard. It was rather large and had a tiled patio that was attached to the house, a tall wooden fence surrounded the yard, blocking most noise and gave them a secluded feel.

The house itself was two stories, and had enough bedrooms and bathrooms, the rooms were somewhat small, but they got used to them. Except Kushie who had to have her closet bigger, which meant Itsuka's room was taken over, and he moved in with Sora and took the top bunk of Sora's bunk bed. Neither minded much.

The house was the color of pale orange, or even peach, it was quite an odd color, but it served it's purpose and it actually had a nice feel to it. On one side vines grew and covered the walls. The windows were older and had embellished frames. They had a chimney and fireplace, which Naruto was happy about, he had always wanted one.

Sakimo was brought from her train of thought "Very well, she will learn about fire jutsu's and of course no sword...at first" Sasuke added. Naruto narrowed his eyes "No sword ever" Sasuke sighed "but she had requested for such training personally, she said that she was interested in it." Naruto stamped his foot down "no, sword" he said finally.

Sasuke gave her an 'I tried' look then nodded "fine then, training is tomorrow, don't be late" he added handing her a slip of paper with directions to the spot on it. She nodded and Sasuke and Sakuke turned and left. Sakura smiled "It was good to see you Naruto" she said and brought him into a hug and followed out after them.

Naruto turned and glanced at Sakimo. He gave her a half-smile and walked away, rubbing his temples. Sakimo sighed and turned to the yard, she wandered over to the old oak tree that grew near the fence line. She leaned against it, her back to the house. She stared out and up into the darkening twilight sky. She closed her eyes and inhaled the scent of the village, it was so different from the deprivation of the desert, instead, the air was full of life.

She opened her eyes and turned, no one was out watching her. She walked away from the tree several steps and began to go through the basic moves that Sasuke had taught her already, simple punches and kicks, he had said she would need a whole new foundation for her fighting skills. Slowly she built of speed and strength in her regimen.

She then added fire to the mix, flames flowing out from her hands and feet, crackling in the air, creating a symphonic melody beneath the moon. She felt relaxed and at peace, she felt happy, the first time in a long time. She kicked up off the ground, spinning, throwing kunai and shuriken, pretending there was enemies below her.

She landed and instantly went into a roll, ducking underneath her invisible enemies blows, she leaped back up and began to attack. Gaining on her enemy. She dived and attacked, defending and attacking at the same time, as Sasuke had told her to do. She finally stopped when she had stabbed her enemy. She stood panting.

She sighed and stretched out, relaxing her muscles. She began to pick up her weapons and gather them again in their designated pouches. She turned back to the house and walked towards it. It loomed over her as she entered. She went quietly past the living room full of her siblings, they sat about and laughed, throwing pop corn at each other.

Itsuka was bench pressing Sora, Kure and Kura counting out loud how many he had done already. Their voices and laughter echoed in the house warmly filling it. But their voices in laughter only seemed to remind Sakimo of how different she was from them, how strange they were to her, and her to them, this was not were she belonged.

She walked past their echoing voices and up the carpeted staircase to the second floor, passing by the pictures Naruto had hung up a few hours ago. A family picture of them at Christmas a few years ago. A group picture of them graduating from the academy, if one would look close at their diploma's you would have seen that Sakimo had graduated top of her class.

However she was unnoticeable when she stood next to Kushie, she looked more like a dark spot in the picture more than an real person. She then passed random pictures of them, most of them were Kushie, or the twins, some of Itsuka with his guitar or of Sora and his flute. Sakimo had one other picture besides the group ones, it was a..intersting picture.

It told her whole life story in the blankness of it. She sat back to the camera, her hair down her back, just at the middle, it had to have been taken when she was eight. She stood out staring at what? While in the foreground everyone else was captivated and interested in something on the table, Naruto had to have taken the picture, he must have tried calling to her or something, to get her to turn around, but she hadn't.

The picture was dark, it almost looked as if in her part of the picture everything was black and white, while in the foreground everything was in color. She brought her hand up and rested her fingers on the portion of the picture. She let her hand fall after a bit and she walked up the rest of the stairs and went into her room.

She looked in through the darkness knowing that inside it was a blank and colorless bedroom, no added decor, there was no need. Her scrolls all lined up on her dresser, no need to hide them now. Her extra weapons hanging up on the wall in pouches, which hung from wooden pegs in the wall. She adjusted to the darkness, she turned and closed the door, shutting out the noise of downstairs, she latched the lock then turned back to her dresser and began to undress, trying not to catch sight of her reflection.

She then turned and scurried into her bed, burying herself under the covers she couldn't wait for the next day to come, to be able to train for real this time. She awoke at 5:30 sharp and jumped out of bed, she pulled on her training gear, black sweatpants, a sports bra, a white tank-top then a black hooded sweatshirt over top, she pushed the sleeves up because they were too long.

She quickly threw on her weapon pouches, jammed her feet in her ninja sandals then went downstairs and grabbed some toast and orange juice. She gulped the juice down and grabbed the toast while she went out the door, running while she ate it. She found the training area soon enough, she was even ten minutes early!

She sighed happily and leaned against the railing as she waited for Sasuke and Sakuke. But after a while she heard the sounds of metal on metal, it was muffled and further away. She shoved off from the railing and followed her ears. Walking through the grass that was still wet with dew she explored a bit. The training grounds was beginning to come to life, birds began to sing their songs, other critters went out their morning business.

She smelled the air deeply, it was relaxing and nice, the morning sun shone down on the dewy grass, it sparkled and shone like thousands of emeralds. She heard a voice say "You are leaving your guard to open here and here, now start from the first pose and re-do it." Sakimo walked from behind a maple tree, there was Sakuke and Sasuke with their swords.

She waited next to the tree unsure if she should speak or let them finish up. So she watched them captivated in their dance. Watching a swordsmen duel was deadly and beautiful at the same time, you couldn't pull your eyes away from the two blades that flickered in the light, singing as they danced and clanged against one another, singing in their metallic voices.

She slowly sank against the tree, and continued watching. Sakuke sweated as he parried and fought with his father. He moved quick and agile, like the hawk he was. But Sasuke, he easily kept Sakuke in his place, playfully flicking off Sakuke's attacks like they were nothing. The strength the man had, was unbelievable. He was amazing, he had experience and skill matched by few in the land, he rivaled even the seven swordsmen of legend it seemed.

His blade was not an extension of his body as most good swordsmen had, his was deeper than that, his blade was an extension of his soul. His blade mirrored his own emotions and feeling. He talked and spoke through that blade, the blade and he were one. Sakimo stared at the blade itself, she could just faintly see the shadow of a creature in each swing, as if the blade was a mirror to Sasuke soul...which it was.

She stared into that mirror, seeing the dragon that lived within. Black scales, gleaming like obsidian. Eyes burning with power, emanating strange emotion. Fangs, white and striking parted to reveal orange and blue flames, constantly being emitted from his dragon lips. Then the dragon turned to her, seeing her and studying every single part of her in one powerful searching glance.

She was completely laid naked before those eyes, he knew every weakness and every strength she had, he knew every dark secret it seemed, and every fond hope she housed in her heart. She shivered and looked away from him, hoping to save the soul that he had already devoured with his eyes.

Sasuke spoke "You're here, finally he said gruffly. He nodded to Sakuke. Sakuke bowed to Sasuke then sheathed his sword. Sakimo pushed herself from the ground. "What shall I be learning today?" she asked him. He grinned "more target practice, go over there" he said pointing to a place were several targets were already set up.

She nodded "okay, so for how long?" she asked "Until you can hit every target in a single back flip, including the hidden target." Sakimo stared at him was he serious? There had to be twenty targets! How the hell was she going to...she groaned this was going to be a long day.


She panted as her limbs shook from effort, she still could only manage to do 15 of them, she had finally found the hidden target it was hidden in the hollow of a tree, somehow she had to bounce it off the rock that stood before the tree, that seemed to be the only way to do it. She stretched her aching back, then her burning legs, they were exhausted of having to vault her into the air so many times.

She took a deep breath and went to do it again. But a voice called out, it was Sakuke. "Oi! lunch time" Sakimo's stomach growled in eagerness. He grinned and handed her a bento box. She thanked him, she had forgotten to bring her own. "Don't mention it, I kind of figured you would, plus, dad wants you eating the lunch he makes, it's healthy and full of the things he wants us to eat."

Sakimo nodded and opened it. Sticky rice with chunks of vegetables and shrimp, and on the side a sliced tomato then a sliced kiwi, served with a refreshingly cold glass of water. Sakimo and Sakuke sat on a rock while they ate. Sakuke used his water mostly to dump over his head and shoulders. "What are you doing?" she asked him.

He shook his head, scattering water all over, she covered up her food and tried to protect herself from the onslaught of it. He smiled apologetically "Advanced sword kata's" She tilted her head "advanced sword...what is a kata exactly?" He sighed "well...it's like a chunk, or a portion of a sword move." Sakimo nodded "kind of like a hand sign in a jutsu?"

He nodded "exactly! It's like that, you have to go super slow though, because unlike a hand sign, you use more than just your hand in a kata, you have to move your feet and your arms, and your back a certain way at a certain time, you even have to breathe at the proper moments!" Sakimo whistled it did sound hard.

"So why did you start learning it?" Sakuke sighed "well when I was young and stupid...I wanted to be like my dad" Sakimo and him laughed. He sighed after a bit "actually, it's because, well...I think it's because I thought it would make us closer, you know, by learning swordsmanship from him we could bond better and stuff."

Sakimo studied him, Sakuke for a moment looked sad as he stared at his father who was eating in the shade of a far off tree. She nudged him "I think you are pretty brave to do such a thing, it shows how much devotion and how loyal you are, I bet you dad was really proud of you when you said you wanted to learn." Sakuke nodded "he was, and still is, I just feel...like I am never going to be as good as he."

Sakimo sighed "well think about it, he had done it for almost half his life, you? You just started...well how long ago?" Sakuke sighed "when I was twelve, so only two years" Sakimo nodded "see, there you go, it's something that takes a long time to be considered a master in, I bet Sasuke isn't even a 'master' swordsmen, sure...maybe in this area, but I bet there are others who have been doing it for sixty years or more!"

Sakuke nodded "yeah, your right, I guess I just have to keep going" Sakimo nodded glad he was getting over it. "I mean, look at me, I haven't even got anywhere near a sword." Sakuke chuckled "Yeah, and by the sounds of it, you won't, not unless you just teach yourself." Sakimo paused in her eating, she glanced at him.

Sakuke met her glance, he and her both grinned. He spoke "all you would need is a sword" Sakimo glanced down then back up "you have any extra's?" Sakuke put his hand to his chin as he thought "no, but I know where to get one." She grinned "That would be awesome" He nodded "but hey, you're going to owe me, you know that?"

Sakimo nodded "I don't care I just want a sword." Sakuke grinned and got up "Okay then, I might have it tomorrow now get back to target practice sister dear" he said snidely. She stuck her tongue out and finished her lunch then did just that.


Sakimo groaned as she staggered towards home, she was absolutely beat. Ever muscle screamed in protest as she opened her door, just lifting her arm caused bolts of pain up it. She made her way to the downstairs bathroom, reaching ever so slowly into the medicine cabinet and taking out the Vicodin. She popped back two pills then went back to the kitchen, grabbing the ice packs.

She made her way back to the living room, situated herself on the couch, put the ice packs on her thighs and legs then put her head back ever so slowly. She closed her eyes and there she slept in a fuzzy haze. The next thing she knew she was being awoken by Naruto, who was shaking her a little to roughly for her condition.

She glared at him in a hazy fog, as the nap and medicine filtered through her mind. She groaned and hissed at the pain. He stopped "are you okay? What did you do? Did he hurt you?" he asked in rapid fire shots. She glared at him "NO, I was doing target practicing." She stated, for it was the truth, he glanced own at her in confusion.

He looked back up as she was pushing herself off the couch. "How did target practice do this to you?" She groaned "try getting twenty targets and one hidden target all within the span of doing one back-flip" Naruto gaped at her "you can't be serious...how does he expect you to do that?" he asked her. She shrugged "no idea, but I am going to do it...once I can feel something besides pain, where is the Vicodin?" she asked.

He crossed his arms, "you already took two, you can't have any more." She growled at him "What are you? My mother?" she asked, then remembered that yes, yes he was. She sighed "don't answer that, I am not thinking clearly at the moment." He smiled but nodded "you hungry?" she moaned and glanced at him "whats on the menu?" she asked "Pizza...or ramen" he said.

She grimaced "I will choose neither, is there any rice?" she asked. Naruto thought about it "actually we might have some" she sighed "I will take a bowl of rice and any vegetable we have in the house, oh yeah...in my pocket, is a list of food I should be eating under the training regimen, Sasuke said you should have it, and he has pictures in case you don't know what some of the things are."

Naruto glared at him, and cursed at Sasuke in his head as he dug into her pocket and opened up the piece of paper.

This is a list of food that Sakimo should eat that will better her, and help get her used to the training she is undergoing.

Sakimo should eat a light breakfast in the morning, as well as drink lots of fluid throughout the day. She should eat stuff high in antioxidants and rich in vitamins, vitamin supplements would not be a bad idea either.

Lunch will be provided to her by me.

Supper should be as many vegetables as she can get her hands on, a good source of fiber, so rice or something -NO RAMEN!- Also meat, so stir-fry's things of that nature, okay?

Here is pictures of vegetables in case you have no idea what they are.

Naruto looked through the pictures of vegetables, Sasuke even threw in some recipe cards. Naruto glowered but sighed and nodded "I guess we can do a few of these things." He said glancing at Sakimo. She nodded and he turned to go into the kitchen. He glanced at Sasuke's note once more and sighed, he gripped the letter tightly.

He then put it away and began to cook Sakimo some rice and whatever healthy food they had in the house. He glanced back out at Sakimo she was staggering towards the bathroom, he could see she was in pain, but in her eyes she had something else, a challenge in them, she was prepared to do this, she was prepared for all the pain, she accepted it and embraced it, a fact that both made Naruto proud and scared him.


So, this is what I have so far...I hope you enjoyed, and remember if I am making Sakimo to much of a mary-sue WARN ME BEFORE IT"S TOO LATE! Anyway byes.

NSW