Chapter 21
As the door of the council chamber closed behind Daihiro, Shiyo looked back toward the hospital but then to the side of the building. She wanted to go back to Daitou but at the same time, she felt like she should go somewhere else.
After a minute, Shiyo walked down the steps and went to the right of the main hall. Turning, she looked up at the building right in front of her. She saw a tan stone building with a conical roof. She brought her hands together, doing the ox and rabbit seals before adding the Daiyo clan seal Turtle. A half minute later the invisible chakra shield dissolved and she continued forward.
Shiyo lifted the outside bolt and set it to the side. She opened the outer door and pushed experimentally against the other door. She saw the special locking seal flash and pulled back. She undid this seal and the door opened. She entered and it closed behind her.
As the door closed behind Shiyo, she wondered why she was drawn to come here. She was about to find out. She stopped just inside since the room was pitch black. She did the dragon seal and the candles in wall sconces were lit.
As Shiyo looked around the room, she recalled the last time that she had been in here. 'That was twelve years ago,' she thought. She had come in to show her teacher a newly learned seal. She paused and said, "Teacher, I wish you were here. We have a young relative who is bad off. Your healing skills could really help her."
Suddenly the memorial tablets sitting in the back left corner lit up. One was a blue light and the other a green one. Shiyo covered her mouth with her right hand.
The blue assumed the shape of the owner. The green shimmered and then vanished. The now human-shaped blue light turned to face the expecting young woman.
"Shiyo-child, you will be a mother," came the voice of her teacher. She bowed her head. "Nozomi-sensei," she said. The spirit of the Daiyo midwife/medic smiled.
At that instant, the green light reappeared in the room where Sayuri lay. It assumed human form. It was that of a short woman with short hair. Her gray eyes were solemn. She walked around the right side of the bed. The form moved onto the bed, laying down on top of Sayuri.
Deep in her mind, Sayuri lay in the room set aside for her moon princess self. The two spirits resided in the same body with no conflict. 'You must go, Sayuri,' said Siretya.
Sayuri rose and bowed. 'Thank you for your aide.' Turning, she left the room. The door closed behind her as the spirit waiting outside it bowed. 'Namiyo Uzumaki,' the surprised seigisu said.
'Sayuri Daiyo, the girl child. You have been long awaited. I understand now why I was compelled to use this technique that day while I lived,' said Namiyo. The spirit smiled and the green light glowed slightly. The young girl smiled and stepping forward, kissed the ball of light before drawing it down to her chest. It entered her spirit body and then her surroundings changed.
Sayuri opened her eyes and took a shallow breath. She looked around the room she was in. She did not recognize it.
Back in the stone building, the spirit of Nozomi Daiyo said, 'You should let them know what Namiyo has done.' It vanished back into the tablet. Shiyo blinked and slowly turned to walk from the building. She resealed the door and went to the front of the council chamber. She knocked once, paused knocked twice and then knocked thrice.
Inside the chamber, Nikomu fell silent. "There is news?" said Kiab. "Could Sayuri have awakened?" asked Asona. Itosai rose from his chair and walked to the door. He opened it and Shiyo said, "I think that Sayuri has met Namiyo."
Minako stood and Shiyo stepped back. Nikomu stood as did the four councilors and Daihiro. The other living son of the matriarch took his mother's arm and they began to head toward the hospital. At that second, Tairika re-entered the hospital and walked to the room. She looked inside and gasped.
Sayuri looked toward the door where the sound had come from. "Tairika-san? Where am I?"
Tairika did not answer but left. She was overcome with emotion. She stopped at the end of the hall and took several deep breaths. She tried to pull herself together.
A minute later, the hospital doors opened. Tairika looked up. Minako asked, "Is she awake?" The medic nin smiled as her gray-green eyes teared up. She nodded and Minako pulled away from Nikomu, hurrying to the room. "Sayuri-child?"
"Great Grandmother, where am I?" asked Sayuri. "I brought you to the Daiyo clan compound," answered Minako. She walked over to stand by the bed. She saw Sayuri raise a hand which she took in between hers.
"Spring was right then," commented Sayuri. She tried to move into a sitting up position but could not. "No, dear. Save your strength," said Minako. She looked toward the door and said, "Itosai, Nikomu, and greet your sister's grandchild."
Sayuri looked toward the door as two tall men entered. Minako said, "Sayuri, these are your granduncles. Itosu and I had Mitsu who is dead, Nikomu is my second son, your grand mother Mikoru, my third son is Itosai and our youngest was Seikamu." Sayuri saw the brown-haired man bow at the waist. She saw him smile and then heard him say, "Hello, grand niece. I am your grand uncle Nikomu."
Nikomu heard the young girl say, "Hello, my uncle. Tis' pleased I am to meet you." He walked around to the other side of the bed and lifted her head and shoulders off the pillow. Minako placed a second pillow under her. He laid her back down.
Sayuri saw the second man had hair the same color as she. "You have my hair color," she said. Itosai smiled and said, "Yes. In our clan the head family has always had one male and one female with that hair color. I am Itosai."
Sayuri nodded and then asked, "What did Mikoru look like? I have occasionally seen a rather tall woman with silvery hair worn around her head with a comb-and-stick combination attached to a chain and combs. She prefers gray above all. Her eyes are purple in color."
Minako smiled. Nikomu nodded and Itosai made a face before saying, "That was sister. She was 15 when she married Ryuudo Uzumaki. She gave him your uncle Yushiro and your mother. She died in birth with your mother. Ryuudo found it hard to hold her."
Sayuri asked, "Were all of the Uzumakis killed when my mother was fetched?" She saw Nikomu frown and Itosai look puzzled. She looked at Minako who closed her eyes.
"What do you mean 'when she was fetched"?" asked Itosai. Sayuri said, "Some of the older adults talk about the attack the day that the Uzumaki girl was supposed to be fetched to Konoha. They said it seemed to have destroyed them to have the girl brought back to Konoha."
Nikomu and Itosai both looked at Minako. At the door, Daihiro stiffened. He gripped the lintel closest to him. He was shaken. Behind him Asona laid a hand on his shoulder. "Daihiro-san, are you alright?" she asked.
Daihiro shook his head. He felt shaken but not because he was in the wrong. He closed his eyes.
Inside the room, Sayuri asked, "Who is outside and why did my answer to your question shake him?" She felt Minako pat her shoulder and then heard her answer, "Daihiro, Asona, Kiab, Trua and Nasu. I do not ken why he is shaken." She nodded.
Minako asked, "Itosai, will you invite the councilors in? You might also call the Persian in. Let Sarutobi's son know that she is conscious."
Itosai nodded. He moved to the door and asked, "Would you like to come in?" He saw Daihiro nod. He stepped out and walked away.
Sayuri glanced at her granduncle before focusing on the doorway. She saw a woman appear before she saw an elderly man step inside. "Come sit," she said.
Daihiro sat and then looked at the young princess of the clan. He saw her close her eyes and then felt a soft, gliding touch. He also closed his eyes.