Chapter 13:
"You are a very stupid girl, you know that?!"
I focused my gaze on my feet. I was too afraid to look at Mori as he was shouting at me. We weren't at the compound, we managed to sneak away and now we're miles away. I was smart enough to not complain on the long walk through this damn forest.
"This type of behavior gets people killed!"
I lowered my head, wanting to just accept what he says and get back to the barracks, but I had the dying to urge to speak up. I gripped the fabric to my pants, nervous with what Mori would do once I spoke up, but I had to do it.
"Once the seal came off I felt stronger. Wouldn't it be wise for everyone to just take it off? It's not like we should be afraid," I said with my head still lowered. I heard Mori take in a sharp breath and I could feel my body go cold. He was about to blow- I can feel it. Mori only once yelled at me like this, when I was kid after dad had died. I think I was crying too much and he got annoyed, I can't remember.
"These Uchiha are not our friends, don't forget why we are here. This type of talk is exactly what got Tomio killed, don't forget that."
I immediately raised my head at the mention of dad's name. My lips quivered and I dropped my head again. Why did he have to bring him up? I felt like my own dad was being used against me. I sniffed and rubbed my nose. Despite my dad being a kind yet strong leader everyone refused to hear him out on any ideas he had on expanding our clan. Everyone is so dedicated to the idea of isolation that when he died everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Even Mori who would be considered a brother to my dad was glad to see a crazy idea like that vanish.
"Stop crying, we have to go meet up with Jiro," Mori muttered. I gave one final sniff and followed after him. We had left the compound today to see Jiro and share what we have found. I wasn't eager for this.
After ten more minutes of walking in silence we could finally see Jiro from a distance. We quickly closed the gap between us. I could see that Jiro's hair that he kept short had grown past his shoulders. He looked tired, but had put on more muscle, not a lot, but some.
Mori immediately wrapped his arms around my brother and brought him into a hug. A weird noise left Jiro as he was shoved into Mori's chest. "Good to see you doing alright."
"A-ah, same to you, Mori…" Jiro pulled away and looked at me. His eyes that would normally be cold and distant towards me had softened. He brushed past Mori and quickly came to me. His arms wrapped around me, bringing me close to him. He held onto me tightly and I could feel him beginning to shake.
"Jiro, are you okay?"
He nodded his head, arms still wrapped around me. "Being away from the clan and family changed me a little, sorry," he apologized softly as he released me. I looked away uncomfortably. What exactly has he been going through?
"Have you found anything worth bringing back?" Mori asked. Jiro nodded his head, turning to him. Of course he would.
"The Senju have vast knowledge on ninjutsu and medical ninjutsu. Although, they're a clan that specializes in wood release and I don't think we can use anything affiliated with that nature type." Jiro slipped off a bag he was wearing and dug into it, bringing out a small book. "I have some information on the jutsu's of that nature though, just in case. There is one member who is a water release user though and I think that may be more common for people in our clan."
I nodded my head.
Jiro must've gotten close to Tobirama.
"Good work, Jiro! I knew you wouldn't disappoint!" Mori cheered. My brother closed his book and tossed it back into his bag, he seemed uncomfortable with Mori's praise. He was acting to cheerful.
"Have you gotten anything?" Jiro asked.
I shrugged.
"Not much, Akio is learning to create poison and stuff like that though," I said. Jiro immediately perked up at the mention of Akio. He was the one who asked Akio to come and join me with the Uchiha. It must've been hard for him to do that. "How is he doing?" Jiro asked eagerly. Mori tilted his head confused.
"He's doing good. He's safe and sound," I assured. Jiro sighed in relief. I was surprised that he wasn't angry at my honest answer of not getting anything from the Uchiha.
"I didn't know you and my boy were friends," Mori said surprised. I rolled my eyes and watched as Jiro's face slowly fell. "They're not friends," I muttered, catching Mori's attention. Seriously, how could he not know about Jiro and Akio's relationship? How blind is he?
"Then what are you?" Mori continued.
I shook my head and Jiro quickly changed the subject.
"Have you gotten the message from Mother?"
I raised an eyebrow.
"What message?" I asked quickly. I looked up at Mori and he seemed to be just as confused as me. Jiro dug into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to me.
"She's sick. The doctors aren't sure how long she may last and asked that I return soon. You didn't get a message?" Jiro asked. I read the note over and over. This wasn't a message asking for a son to come home and give final goodbyes, it was a message telling Jiro to come home and take her place as leader. I could see the urgency in this note. Her writing is shaky, showing that she's starting to lose control of her limbs.
"When did you receive this message?" I asked.
"Almost a week ago," Jiro answered. I shook my head and handed the note to Mori who quickly snatched it out of my hands. "I never got anything from her."
Was she really going to keep me from seeing her? I don't want to become leader of a weak clan like ours. I have no interest; anyone should see that, so why would she prevent me from coming home to see her? Did she think I was gonna do a swoop on the clan and take the role I'm technically entitled to?
We may have never seen eye to eye, but how selfish of her. She was going to take away any sort of closure I had the possibility of having with her.
"I don't understand why we haven't gotten a message yet," Mori said dumbfounded. Jiro furrowed his eyebrows and looked at me.
"She's always wanted Jiro to become the leader of the Isoroku. She's probably afraid that if I were to come along with Jiro to say our final goodbyes then I would take the title instead," I explained. It hurt to say this, but it's very possible that this is her plan. I know it is.
"No, she wouldn't do that," Jiro argued. I shook my head.
"Be realistic here and think for a moment. Doesn't this seem like something she would do, be honest," I said. Jiro turned his back to me and lowered his head.
"The message must've gotten lost. She wouldn't do that," Jiro insisted.
"I'm planning on sneaking off in a week. I'll leave right when the sun sets. I want you to meet here in this exact spot and we'll go together," Jiro said. I smiled and reached over to turn him around. "You're going to make her unhappy," I chuckled. Jiro shook his head and gave me a scornful look.
"Meet me here in a week, Takeo. I'll march through that Uchiha hell and drag you out if I have to," he said and quickly stalked off. I couldn't help but chuckle as he quickly vanished. Mori stayed silent for a moment then sighed.
"It is something I can see her doing unfortunately," he admitted. I stayed quiet and turned around, heading back to the compound.
I lightly knocked on the door.
After a few moments, Morina had opened the door, surprised to see me, but a smile was immediately on her face. "Takeo, what are you doing here?" she asked softly. I bit my lip, trying to stop myself from crying. I just hugged her. That's all I could do and she didn't seem to mind since she hugged me right back.
She led me inside and we sat down on the couch. She motioned for me to lay my head on her lap and I did. She ran her fingers through my hair as she listened to my pitiful babbling.
"I-I'm sorry I've been avoiding you! I was going through a weird confusing time, but I'm over it for the most part," I cried and she simply hummed in response. Without going into much detail I had cried to her about how my mother didn't treat me the way a mother should and she just dabbed at the tears as the slipped down my cheeks. I cried about a lot of things and after I was done and tired I stayed there as she continued to brush her fingers through my hair. It was relaxing and I could feel myself falling asleep.
Why is she like this? What possessed her to act like a saint?
How did she even fall for Madara? Did he write her love notes until she finally accepted him?
"You're not real," I mumbled. Morina laughed and tucked some my hair that had fallen in front of my face behind my ear. "Why would you say that?" She questioned. I shrugged.
"You're so nice it's unreal. How'd you end up in a dump like this anyways?" I asked. My eyes were feeling heavy.
"Don't say that, Takeo! The Uchiha are very nice people," she scolded. "But, my clan was attacked and I managed to get away. Madara found me and brought me here." Her clan was attacked? I got up from her lap and made eye contact with Morina. "I'm sorry to hear that happened to you," I whispered. But she shook her head at me and smiled. It made my stomach churn to see her smile at something tragic. Why is she happy? Or is she putting a brave front?
"They were terrible people. I couldn't stand to be with them any longer."
Terrible?
"W-what about your family? You must miss them, right?" I asked. It didn't feel right to hear Morina say she was glad her family was gone. It didn't match her personality, how is she so sweet and kind but is glad about something like this? I searched her face for a different answer but I couldn't find anything. Her lips were pulled into a smile and her eyes were relaxed, looking as if she is in a deep daze.
"I couldn't stand them, Takeo. They could do nothing but feel sorry for themselves. In a world like this those who feel that way don't deserve a place."
I felt my lips tremble as I stared at her.
She couldn't stand… those who felt sorry for themselves? What have I been doing since I got here? Complain about my situation and cry, that's what I have been doing. I wanted to tear off the mask Morina was wearing and find someone else. This couldn't be her… could it? Morina noticed my change in mood. She reached over to grab my hands and brought them to her lap where she cradled them. Her thumbs brushed over my knuckles and she continued to smile gently.
"Your eyes are so wide and curious, Takeo. You remind me of a child that I need to look over and make sure is safe," she giggled. I stayed silent and watched as she continued to hold my hands. "You're so clumsy and naive. If you continue to be this way then you won't have a place in this world," she whispered. Her grip on my hands tightened and I wanted to pull away, but I was too afraid to. I also didn't want to leave despite it all.
Morina looked up at me.
"You'll end up just like my family if you don't stop now."
"You're acting weirder than usual," Madara grunted. I ignored his comment and concentrated on the fish that swam beside my feet. We were at a stream near the training grounds. I was ordered to catch a fish and here I am… trying to catch one even though I would really rather not.
"Just grab one, stop wasting time!" Madara snapped. I shut my eyes tight and screamed as I plunged my hands into the water. I felt a fish swim past them and I immediately followed after it and grabbed it. I threw my hands up with the fish in it as if it was some trophy.
"I did it!" I cheered.
I opened my eyes and Madara had rolled his. I frowned and lowered my hands.
"You're so childish. How is anyone supposed to take you seriously?" he questioned with a harsh tone. I felt my cheeks heat up and I shrugged at him. I suddenly felt a lot smaller in his gaze and I wanted to immediately go back to the barracks and sleep. I didn't even want to come here with him. He caught me leaving Morina's house and after an unnecessary yelling about how I shouldn't be there he dragged me here.
"Are you blushing?"
I looked back at Madara whose face was twisted in look of distaste. I scowled at him and shook my head. "I'm not! Just take the stupid fish!" I yelled as I shoved the poor thing into Madara's hands. I've never seen the man express any sort of shock before, but when his hands touched the cold wiggling fish his whole face dropped. His shoulders were raised high and his body became still as he held the fish.
"I-I wanted you to kill it, not give it to me!" Madara shouted as he gave me back the fish. He quickly wiped his hands on his pants and did a quick shiver. I gulped and tried to fight back on the thought of calling Madara cute for doing that. "Why would I kill this poor thing?" I asked as I brought the fish up to his eye level. The man avoided eye contact with the thing and looked off into a different direction. "So you can have something to practice on," he answered. Madara's face was scrunched up. I didn't know a fish could have this type of effect on him.
"Practice?" I asked.
Madara looked back at me with hesitancy.
"For medical ninjutsu, moron."
I gawked at him. "I didn't know you could do that!" I said excitedly. I looked down at the fish with a smile on my face then it dawned on me that I had to kill the fish. I dropped the smile and sighed. That was something too hard for me to do, even if it is just some mindless fish. "Do I have to kill it?" There was some hope in me that Madara would shake his head at my cowardly behavior and say no in the end.
"What use will you be to me if you can't even off a fish?"
I looked up at Madara. There was no sort of mean playfulness to his statement. He also wasn't giving me any sort of mean look either. It was a straight look. There was no type of emotion available on his face. It made me feel more worried and scared than when he's glaring at me.
I held the wiggling fish in one hand and reached into my pouch to bring out a kunai. I sighed and pressed the sharp tip against the fish. I didn't want to do this.
Suddenly Madara's hand was placed on top of mine.
"Make it quick and don't think about it."
His hand pressed against mine and the pressure drove the kunai into the fish. Immediately all movement was ceased.
Poor fish.
Rip.
But things are moving forward.
Until next time. See yaaaaaa