Chapter 11
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My hospital stay didn't last very long after I came out of my semi-coma. There was a week of physical therapy which I felt I didn't need I was only out for two months, not two years. More tests were run on my chakra network to see if there was anything that could be done to fix what they called "pathway restriction" in other words some of my pathways and coils was pinched, the pain comes from forcing chakra through these pathways and coils when I perform jutsu. The doctors' theory on my recovery was that my body would dull the pain over time as I grew up so instead of being an 8 on the pain scale it would fall to 4 or 5. I would always feel pain when I used ninjutsu or genjutsu no matter what for the rest of my life and the stronger the jutsu the more pain it would cause. I was fine with that, my mother, however, wasn't and tired her hardest to convince me to find something else to put my passion towards.
Her pleas fell on deaf ears, unfortunately.
I was dead set on this path, and she had to get over it. I loved my mother but she was just being unreasonable at this point, even my father was fine with me still being a shinobi so long as I understood how difficult and dangerous I was making my life from this point forward. That was what filled my thoughts as my mother and I made our way home, why was I really doing this? I owe this village nothing, I owed my family nothing, I owed this world nothing. I could care less about the coming calamity that would plague the shinobi world. I just wanted to survive them, seeing the fact that I'm here the story might not happen in the same way that I remembered, plus there is no telling what other players and factors have been changed due to my actions up to this point. Even if I could affect some kind of change I'm not in a great position to do so, Iwagakure was basically missing in action after the third war until almost the fourth world war, and even with the third war still having to take place there wasn't much said about it other than the small tidbits we got from the arc that followed Kakashi's early life, and the battle that ended the war itself when the fourth Hokage killed a thousand Iwa shinobi single-handedly crippling the Iwa forces and cutting off a key supply route. Point is there was little I could do in my position on top of that why should I have to go around trying to save people from shit that would have happened to them anyway? Does that responsibility fall on me just because I have some form of advance knowledge? No, it doesn't.
I will do what I can, however, I'm not going out of my way to save individuals from fate itself, if there isn't a huge benefit later on down the road that comes from helping someone then I'll allow fate to act unimpeded. Despite my name's meaning I don't see myself as a hero and I won't strive to be, I want to be strong because that's how you get respect here in Iwa and it's also for my own sake. It's one thing to die while fighting for your life at least then you went down swinging, but to die without fighting or lacking the tools or experience to save one's own life from another's aggression well that's just pitiful in my eyes.
Once we reached our family's compound I was attacked by everyone, asking me a million questions at once, I tried my best to answer their concerns about my health as best I could without giving too much information about my condition. I was quickly asked and then dragged away by the younger members of the family asking me to help them with their training before they leave for the academy. I didn't mind much even though there was only so much I could teach them because I had very little experience myself but if I could help I would.
The next few hours were a bit painful for me, I showed them the teleportation jutsu also known as the body flicker technique. This was a very simple jutsu but the shock I was getting every time was taxing to my stamina. I was extremely long-winded and I could handle a ton of punishment but it felt like I was in the middle of a fight, my heart rate was elevated, I was breathing slightly heavier, and I felt drained. This was definitely going to be harder than I thought if just messing around and teaching a D-ranked jutsu got me like this after a few hours, then Dark Hold and Twin Phantasm would drain me even quicker and in a real fight, I would be three times as exhausted. I could forget about Rakuhouha, that jutsu put me in this state so there's no telling when or if my body will ever allow me to use that jutsu again. I would have to change my entire fighting style up, for now, I had to prioritize efficiency, quickness, and precision. I couldn't waste time dragging a fight out for now until my condition improved if it did at all.
Once the sun began to set I bid the kids farewell and returned to my house located in the far right corner of our compound, sitting high over the entire compound carved right into the mountain face. I slid the metal door open.
"Tadaima," I called.
"Okaeri," my mother responded.
I heard the steady slice and knocking sound that comes from a knife on a cutting board, I took my sandals off and made my way into the kitchen where my mother was preparing dinner.
"Can I help Okaa-chan?" I asked.
"Sure, could you wash the remaining vegetables for me?"
I walked right over to the sink and began my task, slow and carefully I washed the bean sprouts, then the seaweed which was rare to have here in Iwa. I then grabbed a bowl and filled it with water and placed the shiitake in so they could soak and become soft and ready to use.
"Anything else Okaa-chan?"
"No, thank you Yuudai, now go rest dinner will be ready in a minute. Your father should be home soon as well," my mother said with a smile. I exited the kitchen and walked slowly back to my room, I was tired to the point that I just wanted to sleep. I entered my room which I haven't seen in two years. Nothing changed my bed was still a mess due to me not making it that morning, and my mother wasn't the type to clean up after me once I got old enough to know right from wrong so I wasn't surprised. I looked at my desk and was quickly caught off guard by something that I knew wasn't there when I left. A shamisen and a katana sat still on my desk with a piece of folded paper sitting on top. I walked over and picked up the paper and unfolded it and I was greeted by sloppy kanji.
'Hey punk, I haven't forgotten my promise to you I'll teach you how to play my favorite instrument one day. It's just right now I have a lot of work that I have to knock out thanks to the year I took off to train you. This shamisen belonged to my father; your grandfather. It was the one I learned to play on and now I'm passing it down to you so take good care of it. The katana also has history behind it, it belonged to my mother she was the best swordswoman in Iwa in my honest opinion. Anyways I'm giving you that katana along with the rest of the sword techniques that my mother created I expect you to have them mastered by the time I get back… which will be a while but still never know when I'll pop back up so NO SLACKING. I wish I could have given these to you in person but life just isn't fair. I gotta go tell my sister I still love her and I'm sorry…. Very sorry.'
~Akako
I looked down again and saw the scroll that I overlooked tucked under the hilt of the katana. I placed down the note and picked up the scroll and began to unroll it, the parchment flowed all the way to the floor and in it was a long list of techniques and illustrations. The first one listed was Shippuuga, so this is where my aunt was teaching me from. The illustrations were very telling based on the stances and kata flow it was exactly the same style she was teaching me at the temple. So this style was originated by my grandmother, the amount of time and dedication this had to have taken. I was in awe as I continued to read through the scroll the level of detail put into the illustrations and the text explaining each technique and how to practice them and their situational use, I may not have met my grandmother but this right here this scroll has given me a bit of insight into what kind of person she might have been.
I rolled the scroll back up and tied the small rope on it to keep it from unraveling and placed it back on my desk. My attention was then focused on the katana the sat quietly on the desk. It was like any other katana that I've seen up to this point, in fact, it looked just like the sword that you could get from the central supply and equipment issuing facility. I picked up the katana and noted the weight difference from my bokken, it was heavier, and it just had a different feel. It was like picking up a real rifle for the first time after playing with bb guns before. This wasn't a training tool it was a killing one and as I began to release the blade from the safety of the sheath I remained cautious, I mean this was my first time handling an actual katana in either of my lives so you damn right I'm a bit nervous. Once the blade was fully exposed I inspected it and for how old this sword was it was in excellent condition telling me that its previous owner was meticulous with its care and maintenance, there was not one sign of reforging or misuse. As I gazed at the blade with the setting sun in the background it for a fleeting moment I felt a chill run through my hand and it flowed through my entire body. I returned the blade to its protective home and just shook my head.
Welcome to the big leagues Yuudai.
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Dinner was delicious honestly it was the best meal I had in the last two years. It was a quiet night my mother was busy now at the dining table doing paperwork for what I assumed to be work, while I and my father played Go in the living room. I studied the board looking for a good move, I was still a beginner at this game it reminded me of checkers chess mash up, instead of jumping over the "stones" as there were called you had to surround and capture them and it required much more thought than that game. My father held the most territory at this point in the game and I was losing ground at an alarming rate. I took a black stone and placed it far away from where our heated battle was taking place.
"Oh, interesting move," my father spoke softly.
Akamu Takeo, formally known as Nishinoya Takeo was my father. He wasn't a man who was loud and boastful, but he had a commanding presence due to his stature. My father was easily 6'5" maybe taller, he wore his dark brown hair short, however, he had really long bangs in front. He had broad shoulders, a wide chest, long arms, and was wrapped in muscles. He sported a scruffy beard and had sharp canines which would show when he smiled or smirked, his brown eyes would brighten or darken depending on the mood he was in. To sum it up simply he looked like a human wolf, and I could only assume he was just as dangerous as his appearance hinted but right now his eyes were locked on the board looking for the best move to keep me from turning the tides on him. He quietly placed a stone near mines and I moved to counter, we went back and forth for a bit each trying to outsmart the other. The air was thick with thoughts of strategy and speculation of possible moves only the occasional sound of a stone being placed on the board interrupted the dead silence that engulfed the room.
"Game set," my father said after laying down his stone. I scanned the board for any possible moves I could make without committing a foul move, there wasn't one and I groaned in frustration. My father chuckled at the noise. "You got a long way to go, my son, no need to be upset. You did much better this game," he said as he tried to boost my confidence.
"Still sucks to lose after putting all the effort into it," I said still staring at the board trying to find my mistakes.
"Then put the same effort into fixing your screw ups so you can win next time, however, I've been playing Go since I was your age so I don't know if you'll beat me anytime soon," he said with a grin. "Might have a better shot a beating your mother, she's a terrible player," I didn't even have to turn around to know my mom was glaring at him, but it seemed to not have any effect on my father whose smile didn't fade a bit.
"Oyaji I don't think that's a good idea," I said trying to warn the man from poking the sleeping bear anymore.
"What you mean? Your mother isn't going to do anything to me," he said with absolute confidence and within that same second pebble shot past my cheek just barely missing my skin and my father hitting the wall behind him. "Hmmm, I guess your mother is not in a very playful mood this evening," my father stood up to his full height and made his way to my mother who had refocused herself back to her work.
My father slowly approached her, he was being a bit cautious but still moved with confidence, before I knew it my father had snagged my mom up and she was struggling against his grip. She almost looked like a cat trying to break free from its master's arms.
"Put me down this instant Takeo!" My mother exclaimed.
"Not a chance my little pet," my father said with a laugh. "You've been working yourself to death, it's about time you take a nice long break, Yuudai take care of the dishes and put the Go board and pieces away, and please prepare my breakfast for the morning. Your mother and I are going to go relax for the night,"
I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Aye aye captain," I said. They disappeared around the corner to their room. I could only assume what would take place behind that door and just was thankful that my room was upstairs. I set out to do the chores I was given. I cleaned off the Go board and placed it in its corner, once that was done I moved into the kitchen and began washing the dishes.
As I worked I picked up a signature just on the edges of my senses. I didn't pay too much attention to it until I began cooking and it didn't go away. I finished my father's breakfast for the morning and made my way outside. I hopped on the roof and sat down in the direction I felt the signature first. I didn't completely focus on it, instead, I kept it in the back of my mind and continued to scan the area.
"Boo,"
I reflexively jumped away from the voice in a fighting stance. I studied the figure in front of me. They were dressed as a member of the executioner forces all black, black and red mask this person number happened to be 74. I stayed on guard.
"What can I do for you?" I asked. The figure began to chuckle.
"So you've forgotten about me already? Jeez, it's only been two and a half months, I'm hurt,"
"Sorry, don't have very many people who I'm friendly with," I snapped back "now are you going to tell me who you are and why you are trespassing in my family's compound? Or am I going to have to beat it outta you?"
"Ohhh, scary but-" the figure removed their mask. "I doubt you can beat anything out of me now Yuudai,"
"Aoi?!" I relaxed my body just a bit. "What are you doing here?"
She took a seat on the roof and looked at me with a smile.
"I came to see how your doing, I can't do that?"
"What about your training?" I asked.
"Almost done got another week or so, the hard part is over so I have more free time, although it's usually around this time that I get that free time," she said. Aoi patted the space next to her beckoning me to sit next to her. I sat down and looked up at the stars, I looked out the corner of my eye to see she was doing the same
"So how is it? The executioner forces?" I asked trying to lift the air of silence.
"Ugh, where do I begin? It's overwhelming, the academy doesn't really prepare us well enough, I spent the first few days just trying to keep up both physically and mentally,"
Well, it didn't take a rocket scientist to come to that conclusion. After all the academy was nothing more than a mass production institution, designed to equip young shinobi with the bare basics and get them on active duty status as quickly as possible. Aoi may have been an exception within the system and thus was recognized because of it.
"Oh, what was so rigorous about it?" I asked.
"Ever had to manage a mass-cal* that was 25 plus? Or try to reattach a severed limb while on the move and having kunai and shuriken thrown at you?"
"Let me guess, sleep deprived?"
"Yep" she popped the "p" at the end
"No food?"
"Some, just enough so your body doesn't crash due to exhaustion,"
"Sounds like you've become a better medic though," I said genuinely impressed with her accomplishment thus far. She just beamed with pride. "Hey Aoi, do you mind if I ask a personal question?"
"Sure, hit me," she said without hesitation.
"What did you wish for? I mean after the tournament," Aoi smile faded and her focus returned to the stars, she remained that way for a while. "You don't have to tell me if it's-"
"No, I was just wondering how much I trust you right now to keep this to yourself," she said. "But friendship is about trust is it not?" She asked.
"Debatable," I quipped. Aoi began to laugh.
"Got an argument for everything huh?" I just shrugged, Aoi took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. She was quiet for a few more seconds. "I wished for my mother's prison sentence to be pardoned,"
I just remained quiet, that was quite the wish no wonder she was extremely focused.
"If you don't mind me asking why was she imprisoned?"
Aoi looked me straight in the eyes and spoke without blinking.
"You have to promise me your life that you will not ever repeat the story I'm going to tell you,"
"I swear if I do you can kill me in the most gruesome way you see fit," I said. She continued to study my eyes probably trying to find a trace of dishonesty in them. Once she was satisfied with peering into my soul she sat back.
"My mother was imprisoned for loving the wrong person, you see my mother was considered one of the best medics the Suki clan had seen in some time. Majority of the medical advances Iwa has experienced was thanks to her. So not too long ago lady Mikoto was due to be born and my mother was selected to do the delivery due to her abilities. As the due date came closer Mikoto's mother fell ill, thus endangering the pregnancy, it was an illness no one had encountered before not even my mother had knowledge of it,"
That didn't surprise me in the slightest, even with my old world's level of medical technology and research there was still diseases that were uncured. Aoi brought her knees close to her chest. "So, it came down to save one life or lose both. My mother induced Mikoto's mother into labor and successfully delivered her, a few days later Mikoto's mother died from the illness, but she had one last dying wish and that was to help raise Mikoto into a worthy heir for the Suki. My mother agreed,"
"Wait, so if that was her dying wish and she was willing to fulfill it then why-"
Aoi put a finger to my lips to silence my questions.
"I'm getting there mister impatient, now where was I? Oh yes, so in order to do what was asked of her she moved into the main house's compound and cared for Mikoto like she was her own daughter. It was at this time the current head of the Suki clan; Suki Yami-sama began to take an interest in my mother, at first she resisted his advances… but he became more passionate with each advance,"
"Passionate how passionate are we talking?" I asked.
"Flowers delivered to her office in the hospital, dinners, maids put directly under her, her own personal house within the compound, need I go on?" I shook my head no, I got the picture. He was in full courtship mode. "Finally my mother caved and gave in, and things were great at first, my mother was happy and Yami-sama made sure my mother wanted for nothing, but my mother refused to become physically intimate with him unless they got married. Yami-sama knew the elders wouldn't bless off on the marriage between them, so they got married in secret and on their wedding night my mother became pregnant with me,"
"Wait, so if I'm following this right that would make you and Mikoto…"
Aoi nodded.
"That makes us half-sisters,"
"So why was she imprisoned?"
"Long story short after I was born, people began to wonder who the father was, eventually it was found out that my mother and father married in secret," Aoi clinched her legs tighter and her voice cracked a bit as she spoke. "The elders said that my mother seduced the head of the clan so she could elevate herself to a higher status, she was arrested and thrown in jail when I was an infant, worst part of all my father did nothing to stop it,"
A singular tear rolled down her cheek. Her emotions were slamming into my senses, I could feel the pain deep in my soul, Aoi had already been through a lot in her young life, plus her family was a fractured one. She may crave her father's approval to tell her how proud he is of her but deep down she knew that it would never happen. That in itself is more tortuous than anything in this world, to be a child of someone who would never acknowledge your very existence, she didn't ask to be born, she was the innocent bystander who got shot in a drive-by. What was even more alarming was if what she's saying is true then it means that it matters not what you do for the village or how strong you are, step out of line and you are done. They don't care who you are if you ain't from the main line then you are disposable.
I was pretty terrible when it came to consoling people but I did try by rubbing her back. Aoi just silently cried.
"I'm sorry," I said quietly. Aoi kept her head in her chest. "I mean there's nothing I can do to help you with that pain that you carry, but I can give you my time, so if you ever need to talk come and find me I'll be all ears unless it's about some dumb girly stuff then your on your own,"
Her shoulders shook with a light chuckle.
"Gee, thanks a lot you're the best friend a girl could ask for," She said with an eye roll. "Anyways, enough about me what are you going to do?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Your condition you know with your chakra,"
It was a question that I still didn't have a solid answer to. What was I going to do?
"I'll figure something out," I said. Aoi just shook her head at my answer and stood up, she brushed the dirt off her clothes.
"Better hurry I won't keep my vice-captain spot open forever," she said smugly.
"Tch, I never agreed to even join the force, don't go choosing my future for me," I snapped. She seemed a bit put off by my tone but then that smug smile crept back onto her face.
"Yeah ok, just wait when you outgrow the conventional forces, you'll bring yourself to selection on your own, if not I'll just pick you to be my vice-captain and force you to go,"
"Again woman, don't go doing things on your own without my consent, I probably won't even be good enough to make jonin at this point," I said. "I can't use ninjutsu or gen-"
"Blah, blah, blah all I hear is excuses," she said as she walked towards the ledge. "Don't keep me waiting long Yuudai, see ya,"
With that she vanished like she wasn't even there, to begin with, and I was left there frustrated, why did I involve myself with her again?
"Even in this life, girls are still annoying," I said to myself with a bit of mirth in my voice, I stood up and stretched my limbs before I made my way back inside, I had a busy day tomorrow.
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A/N: So, the reason why this chapter took so long was that I was in a motorcycle accident last month. The driver was texting and driving and merge right into me throwing me off my bike and no I wasn't riding in their blind spot. Thank God I had my GoPro on my helmet so that person's insurance will be buying me a new bike and helmet of my choosing, moral of the story don't text and fucking drive or drive distracted period you will get someone or yourself killed. Anyways hope you all enjoy the chapter, I should be able to get back to a normal uploading schedule after this. Reviews are welcomed and appreciated and as always… until next time my friends.