hey ya all here's the new chapter. sorry for the long wait. also if you like full metal alchemist, we now have a story for that to. hope ya like the chapter and please review. bye, the Shinata twins.
Kurei leaned back in her chair and let out a long sigh. Why didn't Tsunade tell me being a kage involved so much paperwork? She questioned as she turned her chair to look out at Sakuragakura.
Over the past five years Sakuragakura had become the village were one could start over with a fresh start. Many missing ninja had come to Sakuragakura and found a liking to its calm yet bustling life style.
After Kurei had spent a few days in kohona hospital she came back to Sakuragakura to find that as a get well gift the newly promoted chunin and their comrades had build her a house that could rival any of the kages.
After Kurei's house was done the gang went into upgrading Sakuragakura's over all structure and housing. This took them almost a year to complete but the village was ready for any attack that came from its now always open gates.
With the modifications, beautiful Sakura trees, and the sandy beaches Sakuragakura also became a very popular tourist attraction which did help with the expenses for its construction.
Once the old expenses were paid and Kurei noted a large sum in the sakura treasury everyone went into building compounds for the sakura clans, which was also as unexpected gifts. And the building process went quickly once Naruto taught everyone the Kage Bushin. But that also meant a few days of non-stop work and then a day or two of rest. But the compounds were finished three months ahead of time so it wasn't like anyone was going to tell them to do otherwise.
And now here was the village of Sakuragakura. Coming to its sixth year of its naming and it was already about half the size of Kohona.
Kurei smirked at the thought of what was her child hood retreat and its amazingly fast growth. It was just suppose to be for the Jinchuuriki. But now its grown so big. She thought amused. Sarutobi would be pissed.
Kurei's thought of how Sarutobi would act if he could see what became of the supposed 'monsters' when there was a knock on her door.
"Enter!" she said forcefully. Hikari came into the office. She looked the same as always, but the bulge on her stomach was still a bit of a shocker to Kurei. She smiled as she recalled exactly what happened that day...
--Flashback--
Kurei sat in her chair at her desk. To her sides were Kasai and Furai. In front of her Itachi and Hikari sat and boy did Hikari look sick.
"So what's the problem?" Kurei asked concerned for Hikari.
"Lady Kurei. For about a week now Hikari has been feeling very sick and I'm very worried." Itachi said in his usual calm voice.
"Its just the stomach flu." Hikari insisted.
"A stomach flu that lasts a month?" Itachi asked.
"Hmm. Unfortunately I can't really do any testing to see what's wrong myself because of all this damn paper work." Kurei said motioning to her disaster of a desk. "But Kasai and Furai both know a bit about medical ninjutsu and I'm sure they can help you."
"Come with us Hikari and we'll see what's wrong." Furai said helping the woman to her feet.
Itachi got up and walked out of the office with the girls.
The next day Kurei sat at her desk finishing off some paper work when there was a knock on her door.
"Enter." Kurei said not even looking up from her paper work. Furai, Kasai, Itachi, and Hikari all entered the room.
"We have all the results." Furai said with a blush on her cheeks.
"Well then. Tell them what's wrong." Kurei said still looking at her paper work.
"Well. Kurei-sama. We think that you should see the results first." Kasai said trying to hold her composure. This got Kurei's attention enough to look up. However it was making Itachi and Hikari very anxious to know what was going on.
Kurei held her hand out and Kasai handed her a folder. After leafing through it for a moment Kurei came to a stop on the last page.
"Well? What's it say?" Itachi demanded looking at Furai and Kasai, who in turn looked away beet red.
"Ita...Itachi." Kurei said through clenched teeth.
"What? What does it..." Itachi didn't get to finish his question for at that moment Kurei began throwing kunai and shuriken at him.
"You bastard!" Kurei shouted throwing more weapons at him
"Itachi!" Hikari said shocked before turning to Furai, "What's the meaning of this?"
Unable to say it herself Furai handed Hikari the paper Kurei had been reading. When Hikari had read it she fainted
"Hikari!" Itachi shouted running over to the girl. It was then that he saw what the deal was. The paper Hikari had read said only one thing.
Pregnancy test: Positive
--End Flashback--
"Lady Kurei. I have the reports on this years graduating students." Hikari said as she came forward and set a pile of papers in front of Kurei which brought her back to reality.
Unable to help herself Kurei let out a moan, "But I just finished." She whined. Hikari couldn't help but giggle at Kurei until she felt a sharp pain in her side. Cringing, she almost fell over if Kurei had appeared at her side and caught her.
"Are you ok, Hikari? Twenty is to young to be pregnant. " Kurei mumbled as she thought of how she could torment Itachi for Hikari's situation later.
"Fine." Hikari said with a smile, "One things for sure. This little one will be an excellent ninja like his father."
"You mean like their parents?" A female voice said from in the door way. Kasai leaned against the door frame with a tired look.
"Kasai. Good to see your back from scouting those near bye islands. Were a bunch of bandits really so much trouble that your so tired?" Kurei asked.
Kasai smirked, "No but pushing a five ton whale back into the ocean with Kaira and Kisame was."
Kurei felt a bead of sweet slid down her face, "Why do I have the feeling I just got a lot more work added to my plate?" She asked which made both Kasai and Hikari chuckle.
"Because the leader of the clan Unabara, Hikaru Umino is requesting to see you. But not today. She and her guards are tired from the travel over the sea." Kasai said quickly so Kurei couldn't get to depressed.
"Lovely." Kurei said with a sigh before looking over at her desk which was once again piled with papers, "Ok! Break time! Kasai. Hikari care to join me on my afternoon walk?"
The two girls smiled and excepted Kurei's offer.
"By the way. You are eating a healthy diet right Hikari?" Kurei asked as they walked out of her house, "As in other foods then ramen."
Hikari looked at her leader and chuckled, "Yes. Itchi is making sure of that."
"How cute. Is that your pet name for Itachi?" Kasai asked. Hikari blushed a little and nodded a yes.
Kurei could only try to hide her smirk behind her hand as they walked threw Sakuragakura. She made sure to pass by the academy were a bunch of genin-in-training stopped to marvel it the first Sakurakage and the first genin of Sakuragakura.
They all bowed respectively at them as they passed and the three woman stopped to answer the questions the young lings had until a member of the Chishio clan came over and shooed the children to their classes.
"Sorry about that Kurei-dono. Kasai-san. Hikari-san." he said as he continued to herd the children inside to their lessons. The three woman chuckled as they continued their walk. They passed by several growing businesses and said hello to the owners. By the time it was about time for Kurei to return to her work hers and her companies stomachs were grumbling for food.
"Hikari. If you were hungry you should have told us. You have two to feed now you know." Kasai said accusingly.
"Sorry. I didn't realize it until just now." Hikari said with a nervous smile.
"That's fine. I'm hungry too." Kurei said heading for a very familiar tea house, "Hoi! Shiro! Four orders of Miso Yaki! Beef if you please."
The people in the tea house went to stand to bow to kurei when she spoke again.
"No need to get up. Just enjoy your food and company." Kurei said which made many people smile as they seated themselves again.
"Four orders kurei-san? Who are we expecting?" Hikari asked. Kurei smiled and patted her head.
"Silly woman. Your pregnant that means you eat for two." She said.
Kurei and the girls sat themselves at a table in a corner and began to chat happily and eat until an out break broke their conversation.
"Shut up, bastard!" a man said rather loudly which was catching attention. The man was at least six foot and well muscled. He had long black hair that was in mats and an untrimmed beard. His cloths were dirty and we was grabbing on of the waiters by the collar of his shirt.
"Sir please let go." A waitress said nervous.
"Shut up! Now get me more sake!" the man said with a hic as he threw the poor waiter. Kasai appeared behind the waiter and caught him from a hard fall.
"You know." Kurei said from her table, "Just because I welcome people to join my village doesn't mean you get special privileges."
"Do you even know who I am old hag?" the man questioned as he turned to glare at Kurei. Kurei disappeared from her table and the man felt cold steal rest on his neck.
"I couldn't care less what your name is. As long your in my village you will follow my rules. And if this is how you treat people then you can pack your bags and leave. Or I'll just dispose of you now." she said darkly as she pressed the blade harder on the man's neck. The man looked back at her shocked before Kurei released him. He quickly paid his bill before leaving under Kurei's infuriated gaze.
Once the man was gone Kurei apologized to the customers and she, Hikari, and Kasai paid their bill before leaving.
"Well. If you'll excuse me Kurei-dono. I've been fed and now I think I'd like a nap." Kasai said as she bowed and headed towards the apartments that her house was at. Kurei nodded and to Kasai as she walked away and let out a sigh.
"I guess that means its time for me to go back to the office and finish off that paper work." Kurei said regretfully. Hikari chuckled.
"Itchi is away on a mission so I'm free for the afternoon. Maybe I can help you." She said. Kurei gave her a big hug as a thank you and the two woman went back to her house/office to finish the paper work and put together new sakura genin teams.
---
The next day Kurei met up with the Unabara clan leader. Shiro was there to represent the Youma clan and Shinku to represent the Chishio clan. The three sakura leaders all wore their usual outfits for they all had just come from whatever business they usually did.
Hikaru Umino had light blue hair that looked a lot like the sky when there was good weather. Her eyes were an enchanting aqua green and she had pale skin. She was the definition of a sickly person. Yet Kurei could see that the older woman was happy and didn't look miserable.
She wore a blue tank top and baggy tan pants. Kurei could tell she had just came from her a camp for she smelled of the ocean and smoke.
"So Hikaru-san. How can we the people of Sakuragakura help you?" Kurei asked pleasantly. "Well. To put it simply." Hikaru began after she sipped her tea, "I wish to ask permission for the Unabara Clan to reside here. In Sakuragakura territory."
Shiro and Shinku looked at the woman shocked while Kurei gave the woman a curious look.
"Why? It is known to all that the Unabara clan is a migrating clan. Never to stay in one place for to long." Kurei said.
Hikaru nodded her head, "Yes that is what is said of our clan. But you see, our clan has grown a lot in the past decade. We allow members to come and go if they please but it has been a while since such has happened and we find ourselves needing a fleet to move us all. And after discussing it with the entire clan we've come to like the waters around here."
"I see." Kurei said blankly already knowing where this was heading.
"Well, with your permission I wish to set residence on the nearby islands with my clan." Hikaru said bluntly.
Kurei sat back as she thought it over. The addition of the Unabara clan can only help us economical. She concluded. But there was still something bothering her.
"Hikaru-san. When was the last time you were on the battle front?" She questioned
Hikaru gave Kurei a questionable look before answering, "Not for some time. Why?"
"Have any of the members of your clan been to war?" Kurei asked.
"No. But we're not helpless."
"That's not the point." Kurei said looking at the woman, "The point is that those islands will one day we a war zone. As it is now, three of the five great nations want nothing more then to see Sakuragakura burn to the ground. The only thing that keeps them from doing so is that we have the Jinchuuriki all together and willing to kill for this place, the Youma and Chishio clans who are known world wide for their amazing abilities, and for the fact that we have Kohona's support. And one day they'll loss it enough to come and attack us. And those islands will play a very important roll. If I can't get assurance that my people will be safe then what else am I suppose to do?"
Hikaru was speechless. She looked at the other two clan heads and noticed that both of them chose not to look at her. She looked back at Kurei and saw a look of sadness cross her face.
"I wish I could offer you the islands as your home, but I fear the worst. If I let you settle there then there is the possibility that your clan may be destroyed. There is simply to much danger in having you there." she said sadly. Hikaru let out a small sigh and a smile came to her lips.
"You should stop worrying, Kurei. It'll give you wrinkles." Hikaru said teasingly, "do not worry about my clans well being. Just because we haven't seen war in a few years doesn't mean we have forgotten how to fight. The sea can be just as cruel as an army."
"But..." kurei went to say before Hikaru cut her off
"I told you to stop worrying. The Unabara clan is a clan of all water jutsu users. If we stay on those islands then no matter what angle the attack comes from we can hold them off. It can even be used as a evacuation site for the residents when the time for war does come." Hikaru said. Kurei looked at the woman shocked.
She hadn't heard anything about the Unabara clan being able to use jutsu. In fact, people said the opposite. That they were a group of ordinary people who traveled the seas. Kurei bit her lip.
"Then prove that I can trust your word. Please, prove to me that I can sleep tonight without the fear of waking up to the screams of my villagers. That no matter what, you can hold off an attack long enough for us to come to assistance." Kurei said behind her bangs.
Hikaru looked at the woman in front of her with sad eyes. She cares so much for the people here. Its like she sees them as her own family. The woman thought before a smile came to her face, As it should be.
"I can protect your back." She said softly, "If anything, the Unabara clan never goes back on their word. Even if we have to fight them without jutsu we'll do it." Hikaru said proudly. Shinku and Shiro smiled as they watched the older woman say the words their leader needed to hear.
"Then I give you those islands to use how you see fit." Kurei said as a tired smile came to her face. She never again would need to watch the costs for she had a new ally that would do that for her.
"You are a good leader, Kurei. You care for those who seek your protection and treat them as if they were your kin." Hikaru said. Kurei looked at the woman curious before smiling.
"Sakuragakura was suppose to be a retreat for the Jinchuuriki." she said which got a shocked look from Hikaru, "A place were they could live without being judged by past events. And it still is. For their sakes, the sakes of those the world sees as monsters, I will do anything and everything to protect this place. Because they were only children, and children shouldn't have to see that ugly side of man at such a fragile age. But now they have grown as has Sakuragakura, so I will protect them just like I did the others."
I like this woman. Hikaru thought as she nodded in agreement.
After a few more minutes of discussion, Hikaru signed a treaty claiming that her clan would protect the seas around the islands it claimed and be ready for war is Sakuragakura called for assistance. And by the end of the hour Sakuragakura gained another ally in the world of enemies.
---
Later that day Kurei sat with Shiro, Shinku, and Hikaru as they went over small details. While Hikaru kept refusing the sakura representatives wanted to begin building a compound for her people.
"It would take ages, money, and lots of supplies. Things you need for the main land." Hikaru insisted. Shiro let out a deep laugh while Shinku and Kurei chuckled.
"Fear not Hikaru-san." Shinku said, "I know a particular group of people who will have it done in a few months."
Hikaru looked at them as if they were nuts which only made them laugh again. But their laughter was broken when a voice spoke up.
"Pardon me Kurei-san. Shinku-san. Shiro-san . But the shinobi have gathered and are awaiting to here why you called for them so suddenly." a quiet chishio girl said
"very well." Kurei said to the girl who bowed and left, "Shall we go then?"
"Go where?" Hikaru asked curious.
Kurei smiled as Shiro answered Hikaru's question, "To tell everyone of our new family members."
Hikaru looked at them like they were insane before they all stepped out onto Kurei's balcony where they could see all the residents of Sakuragakura waiting to hear the news. They all shouted and cheered when they saw their leaders.
Kurei raised a hand which settled the crowd.
"Residents and shinobi of Sakuragakura." Kurei began in an official voice, "I stand here now with wonderful news."
"Someone's killed Orichimaru?" Someone in the crowd called out. Kurei couldn't help but chuckle guessing it was a certain blonde that was being scowled by a fiery red head. Kurei also noticed how several other people in the crowd chuckled.
"Alas no. I come with different news. As of today the problem of an attack from the seas has been solved." Kurei paused as a stream of questions arose from the crowd. It wasn't until it was quiet again that she continued, "With our new found allies, the Unabara Clan, we can rest at peace with the knowledge that we are safe from attack. Their leader, Hikaru Umino, has sworn this. Now, will you welcome them?" Kurei asked.
Shiro stepped forward, "Youma clan! Do you welcome the Unabara clan?" he called out.
As if trained by a military the members of the Youma clan answered, "Yes."
Kurei smiled as Shiro stepped back and Shinku stepped forward.
"Chishio Clan! Do you welcome the Unabara clan?" She called out. And just as before the members of the chishio clan answered, "Yes."
"Two out of three." Kurei mumbled before stepping forward as Shinku stepped back.
"Citizens of Sakuragakura! Will you except the Unabara clan into our village?" Kurei asked. The entire crowd before her answered as one in a load voice, "Yes."
Smiling Kurei turned to Hikaru, "We the leaders except the Unabara clan as do our people. Hikaru Umino we present a flag with Sakuragakura's symbol on it. So all can see that you and your clan have been excepted as one of us and that if they dare to harm you. We will stand besides you." Kurei said as Shinku presented Hikaru with a flag folded into a triangle and the sakura petal visible on one side.
Hikaru excepted the flag and a huge cheer went threw Sakuragakura. The citizens all rushed towards local bars that were setting up.
"And now the party begins." Kurei said.
"I don't get it." Hikaru said in a mumble more to herself then anyone. Shinku chuckled.
"It's the welcome ceremony. The same thing happened when Tsunade and Kurei signed the peace treaty a few years back You see according to the growing tradition that Kurei-sama is setting up, no action can be made without the consult of Sakuragakura's people." Shinku explained, "The people of my clan entrusted me to represent them. So if I approve of something they feel that it is for the best."
Hikaru nodded her head, "I see. Kurei truly is a one in a million leader."
Shiro nodded his head in agreement, "She always has been. She's kind and sensitive. She understands peoples pain, grief, and happiness. She's the type of leader who will fight with you on the front line and not spend a moment thinking about her own well being over someone else."
"It'll get her killed one day." Hikaru said with a small smile and a chuckle. The other two nodded in agreement before Kurei came over to them.
"Come on! Time for you to meet the villagers Hikaru. That and to party." Kurei said with a huge grin. The three leaders smiled as they all went to party with the rest of the villagers.