Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. But I do own the Hidden Light Village and the Kigaro clan.

A.N.: This chapter is all about Mayu's past and how she came to the Hidden Leaf Village.

Chapter 11

Mayu Kigaro comes from a long line of ninja. The Kigaros are one of the most well know ninja clans in the Hidden Light Village. Their status is similar to that of the Uchihas and the Hyugaas in the Hidden Leaf Village. Partly because of the rumor that they're descendents of a celestial being, and the fact that a Kigaro was the village's first Kage.

Mayu is part of the main branch of the family, which consisted of her parents, 2 sisters, a brother, and a wheelchair-bound grandmother. Her father was a Jonin and her mother was a Chunin.

For Mayu she became a Genin at age 8, a Chunin at 10, and finally became at Jonin at 17. (Her current age is 23.) But part of the reason she worked hard to get where she is now, was because she looked up to her older sister, Chiyuu and wanted to be just like her.

Chiyuu was one of the most skilled ninja in the Hidden Light Village. She became a Genin at 7, a Chunin at 9, and then a Jonin at 15. Because of her skills, it was believed that she would be Kage someday. But that all changed with the coming of the war with the Hidden Darkness Village.

The war had gone on for 2 years. A year into the war, both of Mayu's parents was killed. Mayu almost cried that day, until Chiyuu reminded her of rules #25 and 26 of the Shinobi Code of Conduct. Show no emotion, but you can mourn for the ones you love as long as it doesn't get in the way of your job. Chiyuu also told Mayu that their parents wouldn't want them to be stricken with grieve. They would want them to be happy and live life the best they can.

During the final battle of the war, Mayu was on guard duty, when she got the feeling that something was terribly wrong. Like one of her siblings was in trouble. But unfortunately, she couldn't leave her post.

Then her 11-year-old brother, Tenshi showed up wanting to help her. He had just become a Genin the day before. But Mayu told him that it was too dangerous for him to be there, and that it would be best if went home and stayed with Kika. Mayu's younger sister Kika, whom was older than Tenshi, was the only member of the family who chose not to become a shinobi.

Since Tenshi only recently became a Genin, she felt that he wasn't ready for any major battles yet. But Tenshi protested. He was so sick of being fussed over just because he was the baby of the family. They argued about it until Tenshi said he was going to find someone to fight in order to prove himself. Then he ran off. Mayu shouted for him to come back. But then as he went around the corner, she heard him scream.

She ran to where he was and saw a ninja from the Hidden Darkness Village was standing over her brother's body. Tenshi was lying in pool of blood. Mayu just stared in horror at the sight. The ninja had killed him in one blow.

"In the afterlife, remember the name of the one who killed you, Daaku Shisou.", the ninja said. Just as Daaku noticed Mayu, another ninja shouted, "Daaku, we need to retreat!" Then Daaku disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Later, Mayu had to tell Kika and their grandmother of Tenshi's death. Then they received more bad news, Chiyuu had also been killed. Kika cried her eyes out, but Mayu held back her tears. Chiyuu's headband and necklace was brought back to them.

Mayu now wears Chiyuu's necklace, so in a way her sister would still be with her and could draw strength from her that way. The necklace has a stone on it believed to give whoever possessed it good luck. Mayu had found the stone when she was 5, made it into a necklace, and gave it to Chiyuu.

She also wears her yellow Buddha bead bracelet in memory of Tenshi, because that was what he gave her as a gift the day she became a Jonin.

A year after the war ended, Mayu left her village to go on a journey to become stronger, so she could avenge her brother's death, despite Kika's protest. At every village she stopped at she would work odd jobs to fund her journey, and train with many different ninja. One year into her journey, she came across the Hidden Leaf Village.