A/N: Hello guys it's me again. I'm very sorry this has taken me a long time to update this. I just didn't know what to write during those time. I guess I had a terrible writer's block. But it seems my muse is back again.
PS: thank you so much for the reviews. And this fic has 200+ follows! I've never thought that was possible! Thanks for giving this story a shot. I do appreciate it so much.
His intrusive gaze was piercing. Fear, at its sluggish pace, was creeping inside my stomach.
"I've asked you a question, child," he said, barely audible but the domineering tone was effectively trembling me in dread.
"I...I ahh," I stammered, palm balling into a fist- my hardest attempt to pacify the unrelenting anxiety, "I was at the river," I admitted, feeling my nails digging in my skin, "getting pale of water as what instructed by Shiori- obaa." I continued.
He took a step. I hitched in surprise when Tajima fingers firmly gripped my chin, forcing me to level our eyes, and subsequently sharingan blatantly flooded my vision. I heaved and could feel the sweat starting to trickle on my forehead.
"You're such an oddity," he murmured, coarsely. "It's quite a bit frustrating, but I have to admit I have no idea if you're telling the truth. Your body saying to me that it has to be a lie though your eyes," he paused, thumb sunk deep into my skin, "are something else. So tell me, child. Is it the truth?" His terse question had frozen me on the spot, resulting in a convoluted knot tightened in my gut.
Instantaneously, without reservation, I nodded my head, "Yes, it's the truth Tajima-sama. Please believe me," legs wobbled as I begged. Please let him believe, for I don't know I could handle another question.
He smirked, then decided to let go of my chin. I inhaled, sucking so much air. I didn't even know that I was holding.
"Interesting." He chuckled, and I was baffled by it.
I was silent, still watching him while enduring this sudden tension that blanketed the whole place.
"The audacity of you to say it's the truth. It's luring, but I must say I will believe you, because your eyes, as perplexing as it is, speak so." For a single moment, my heart went at ease at hearing his words. I thought he'd dismiss me, as he had already extracted what he wanted. I strode back, and was ready to bow, but harshly ceased by his sturdy hand as it clutched my arm.
"If only you were my child, you could be something more." He declared.
I hitched, lips pursed, and eyes widened. A chill caressed my spine. I was astounded.
"What do you think?" Tajima asked. His eyes shifted back to onyx orbs, and I was thankful for it was less daunting.
"I... I am flattered."
Yes, definitely I was because that came out of nowhere. To be recognized as his child? What he was thinking?
"You should be. But how unfortunate you aren't mine. However, we could always rectify that," he announced, eyes glinting.
My eyes furrowed, confusion plunged me. Bad news, a warning that reverberating in my body. This was becoming uncomfortable, how the conversation descending. It wasn't part of my plan to seize their attention because that would be pure stupidity. This had to stop. First Madara, then Hashirama, and now... Tajima? It was too much. I was still leaning toward my first plan and that was to live in peace, away from these people who, needless to say, were hungry in power and destruction.
"Let's say, I could put you out in your misery. You and your family will be alleviated from their future burden." He spoke, a grin etched on his face, insidiously implying. It was disconcerting.
Unconsciously, I stepped back.
To lay an offer that would be very beneficial for my future was less to say quite tempting. However, the more it was pleasant to hear, the price was even greater because nothing came free from this world or the prior life that I had once.
Quid pro quo
Head held up, despite fear pummeling me to the ground I had my eyes stared at him. "That would be very generous of you, Tajima-sama," pausing as I gulped, mustering courage, "Pardon me for being forward, but I can't fathom any reason of how it'd help you, other than that it would raise a question."
I had no qualms over alleviating our station, although I could feel it would backfire, for I knew the clan indeed nothing but sticking to old ways, marrying within the hierarchy. While it was generally a good proposal, consequences would arise- a pandemonium within the compound.
His eyes wrinkled, "Perceptive little thing, aren't you?"
He crossed his arms between his chest, "No, I don't see anything it would help me. Though certainly, someone has taken an interest in you and-
"No," I cut off inadvertently, barely caring that I was talking to a man that was beyond my station.
I could discern what he meant. This was not the first time I heard it. And yes as much I abhorred to reminisce, the tone was neither a stranger to me as it had been once engraved to me, too ingrained in me that it that I knew what those ambivalent words and my prior parents could only blame for that. To be forced again into a marriage wasn't on my list of expectations. No never again. My parents in a past life had done nothing but stripped the freedom I had and had made choices thinking only what's best for them. I had once wealth in money, though I had paid it with my life, choices, and freedom.
And this life despite in raucous era had offered what I had lacked, filled the thing I had lost. This wasn't the life I had envisioned, but I had something I could hold onto.
"I apologize but I cannot." I pressed.
"I haven't yet said anything." He shifted, steps moved forward, brow lifted.
"I...I cannot. I am very grateful for such a benevolent offer, but I'd rather not take it. I think this is where I belong-"
A nobody that shouldn't have any of your attention, just a nobody trying to find normalcy in a confusing world.
"This is where my fate," I concluded, casting my vision at him, unfaltering. Making him see my point clear.
"What a foolish child, a very same way of thinking had her father his demise," I flinched. "He saved Izuna, but the price was his life." He said candidly.
I ceased. My eyes stung, tears vitrified in my eyes upon hearing it, unbelieving the truth. A dagger stabbed my heart, slashing countless times that it panged so badly. It hurt, my heart was aching. I thought I was done with this, and that I had moved on, accepting he was gone. But a realization dawned on me: he would've lived if had chosen to. But because of...this imposed loyalty-
"I will slide it off right as you're a child. But ever you changed your mind, the offer still stands." He finally said before turning, leaving me in the hallway.
A day had flown by, I busied myself in work, forgetting what had transpired or the offer Tajima had laid. His words, I refused to remember them. I didn't need to be thwarted back to that abhorrent confession.
My father had been the best thing I had ever gotten. But to hear he had chosen death, boiled my blood. For he had given love to me, but his loyalty always lies with the clan. To the clan, I barely care at all, to the clan I had no sympathy as I had embedded in my soul. I was mad. There was anger brewing inside me, but I quashed it most of the time, though it was too obstinate to get rid of.
"Look at them," Yumi whispered as we passed by the veranda. Her eyes pointed at the shinobis training outside. My heart would've skipped a beat when seeing it, but now everything was gloomy, uninterested with whatever they do.
She stopped and leaned on the wall as she perched, her eyes flickered back and forth to me and them.
"Do you think..." Yumi mumbled, and my interest piqued as I quirked my brows in question.
"About what?" I supplied.
"Nothing," she shook her head in dismissal, but the glinting admiration directed towards the two young men across the field wasn't missed by me. And I knew she was having a crush on one of them.
I just pray that it wasn't Madara. That kid was bad news enough, and she was setting herself for disappointment.
"Let's go," I said finally, and she backpedaled, nodding with a smile on her face.
I arrived and was unsurprised in seeing him again at the other side of the river, jovially waving at me. He was like the sun in the autumn season, bursting a minuscule heat from the glacier temperature.
He ran hastily, meeting me halfway.
"You're frowning. What happened?" he asked by the time he reached.
"Is it a requirement to be happy everytime I meet you?" I glowered, hands fold between on my chest as I stabbed him a look.
"No, not really. I just..." said he, fingers scratching his head.
"Just what?" I pressed, knitting my brows.
"You look better when you don't," he commented, and his eyes canted to the river.
"So you're saying I'm ugly right now?" I teased, but perhaps sounded too serious.
"Of course not!" He interjected, and that had him compelled to look at me.
"I wouldn't mind at all, you know. Everyone has a different perspective on beauty." I mollified, trying to ease this tension.
"I've told you look fine." He stressed.
"Okay," I ceded.
"Why do I feel I haven't completely convinced you," he murmured.
"Because you don't have to." I deadpanned.
"The other day we're arguing about cows and now this," he shoulder sagged, slumping onto the tree.
"We aren't arguing, duh. All I'm saying is you're free to say anything that is true without fear of hurting my feelings." I thoroughly explained it to him.
"Alright. Is this gonna be a frequent occurrence?" he folded his arms, scrunching his nose.
"Only if you think so," I said in conclusion.
He exhaled, head tilted, watching the sky with the sun above rising.
"So how do you do it?" I asked, and he whipped his head, dark eyes at me.
"Do what?"
I bit my lips, heart pounding in excitement, "You walking on the water," I said pursing my lips to extenuate the thrill in me.
"Oh that. It's easy," said as he trudged down, standing on the water smiling at me, "just focus on your chakra then build it up on your feet."
"How?"
He leaped vigorously and was now in front of me, snatching my hand. He pressed his thumb.
"Do you feel that?"
And I immediately understood what it was. Beneath my skin, I could feel the vibration. I nodded in wonderment, amazed by the subtle warm thrumming inside me.
"Now, try to channel it down to your feet," he instructed, and I did. It was so palpable and that I could almost touch it.
"Now try walking," his head pointed to the water.
Exhaling audibly, I made a step then another. By the next stride, my feet quickly submerged in the water, making me squeaked as it was icy.
His chuckles were echoing. I glared at him, annoyed at how it was irritating he sounded.
"I bet you were worse," I quip.
He raised his brow and crossing his hands between his chest, and haughtily looking down at me, "the quite opposite actually."
"Cheeky," I replied glumly.
"Not really, just talented." He grinned.
My shoulder sagged in surrender. There was no point in denying when he was going to be a shodaime. Everything about him was just staggering, sometimes surprising. My mouth frowned as I stared at him. Yeah, this dork was going to lead a country. And would be god of shinobi.
"What?" he inquired.
I shrugged off, then took a glimpse to the sky; it dimmed when a gigantic cloud hovered above the sun, "I have to go back," I said simply.
"Oh, yeah. We'll just continue next time." I heard him speaking softly against the cold winds.
I glanced at him, smiling, "Yes, next time."
I would've run, going back to the compound in hurry. I ceased, whirling, "Thank you!" I said finally waving in goodbye. And continued my rushed steps, leaving the place.