Chapter 39
Inheritance: Past and Present Collide!
She laid in her lonely bed on her side, gazing blankly at the shadow covered wall while her arms hugged a pillow tightly to her body. She wished it was another person. That the warmth of the pillow wasn't her body heat, but the body heat of one of the boys who used to squish her. Who never minded if she cuddled close when she felt lonely or scared. She wished the pillow could hug her back, but only after sighing at her in mock exasperation. Or for an arm to suddenly smash her in the head, even if it was troublesome, just so she knew someone was behind her.
But it was only a pillow. Those two boys, the cookie ends of her metaphorical ice cream cookie, weren't here. She was alone. And she missed them. Even though her mother was across the hall, ready to be there for her in her time of need, she couldn't bring herself to interrupt her sleep. She couldn't bring herself to leave this lonely bed and disturb them again.
This was her fight, wasn't it? Her nightmares. Her fears. Her pain. It was no one else's job to carry her burdens, and she knew her suffering brought immense heartache to her mother.
Her pain caused people she loved to hurt. To feel helpless. To cry tears for her. It was wrong. So wrong. She couldn't keep hurting her mother like this. After everything she had done for her, asking her to grit her teeth and suffer alongside her was one line too far.
No. This was her fight. This was her struggle to overcome. She had to be strong. She was strong. Strong enough to overcome any obstacle in her way if she tried hard enough.
Heavy weighted exhaustion tugged down on her eyelids. Every repetition of opening her eyes after they inevitably fell shut made the next attempt to open them again that much harder. But there were demons lurking in the isolated darkness. They sought to find her in the mist, chuckling sadistically as their evil intent irradiated off them. They scratched and clawed at her scars, scorching the limb with their red-hot blades, covering the limb in blood that wasn't there.
Even if she were to seek out a peaceful sleep, she wouldn't find it no matter how many sheep she counted. Her body and mind refused to cooperate. Tossing and turning. Tossing and turning. Her body flipped back and forth as her mind churned in an anxious storm she couldn't find shelter from.
The pillow never left her tight embrace. In this storm it was safety. It was security. It kept her grounded in reality and away from the past. Because it was just a pillow, not one of the boys. She was in her new home. The home her mother welcomed her into with open arms. The bedroom with so much space she didn't know what to do with it all. The bed with real pillows and tangible softness she never had before.
She was safe. This pillow was proof of that now. There was no mist, no blood, no lightning crackling sharply in her ear. No cries of agony, no tears, no pain.
Only…there had been a cry of agony. And tears. And plenty of pain still reverberating like thunder in an empty canyon through her heart. These weren't illusions. That day was still real. That day wasn't a nightmare; it was real. That pain, those tears, all real.
The tears she shed into her mother's night dress, the pain in her arm, the cry when she jolted awake, all real. As real as the day she sacrificed a part of her heart on that bridge.
Why couldn't she stop hurting? Wasn't time meant to mend these wounds? What if it didn't heal? What if she couldn't overcome this? What if the nightmares worsened over time? Was she…was she permanently broken?
Her breathing sharpened, fingers curling tightly into the pillow case as another bout of anxiety surfaced from the darkness.
Deep breaths. Deep breaths. Control it. In and out. In and out.
"The pain will pass and you will be okay, Amari. Look at me. You are safe. I'm here."
She shut her eyes and imagined those supportive red eyes again. Imagined the arms hugged around her body and the safety they promised.
"Nope. You're still you."
She imagined her heartening, motherly smile that never ceased to give her hope in her darkest hours.
No. She wasn't permanently broken. Her mother saw the shattered heart and mended it together. As long as her mother still believed in her, as long as her mother didn't give up hope, then she couldn't give up. No matter how long and arduous this fight was, she wouldn't give up. For her she would keep fighting. For her she would seek out the light hiding behind the cumulonimbus thunder clouds.
The anxiety disappeared back into the shadows, out of sight and out of mind. It was only temporary. This was one little step on a long journey, but eventually these little steps would add up. Eventually she would be okay.
She held no memory of sleeping again. Perhaps maybe a few winks snuck their way in when her eyes shut on their own. All she could remember was every shift of her body as she tossed and turned. Sleep wouldn't come. Lying in bed in this futile battle served no purpose.
So, against the groans of her body, she sat up to face the day at an earlier hour than usual, hugging her pillow tightly one last time before relinquishing her hold on it.
The shower and the light breakfast she shared with her mother and Asuma did not rekindle her doused fire. She worked on auto-pilot, poking at the food that smelled and looked exceptional, but not gobbling it down with the fervor such a glorious meal deserved.
She didn't feel all that hungry.
After breakfast she headed out with no destination in mind. She just needed to stretch her legs. Get out into the fresh air to clear her anxious and clouded mind of the nightmare; feel the cool morning air brush against her skin and see the big, wide open sky above her. The sun was only barely peeking out from the horizon, still working up the courage to climb out from the shadows to embrace the Land of Fire.
Kami, the hour was ungodly even by her standards.
Ultimately she ended up standing before Ryu's grave, her face downcast and mood overwhelmingly somber. Another piece of her heart she lost; this time it wasn't sacrificed, it was stolen from her without remorse.
Pain scratched at her heart, tore its bear claws across the fragile muscle. Damn it, it hurt. It hurt so much.
The child sat down in front of her old friend and hugged her knees to her chest, staring quietly at his mark on the world. This lonely gravestone. This little reminder he existed was all that was left of him. A gravestone only she visited. No one else. He didn't have anyone else. He never had the chance to gain a new family like she did.
"I'm sorry…I'm sorry I wasn't able to stop Kasai. Sorry I've made you the target of power seekers…But I believe my eye will be in good hands, and now you can see a better future for both of us. One where we aren't bound to the life we've lived."
This wasn't the mark he wanted, or the one she wanted for him. Their dreams for the future didn't involve a gravestone she struggled to visit. It didn't involve these nightmares or scars. There hadn't been any of this pain she carried.
"Ryu…"
But through the eye he gifted her they could see the future together, right? She had to strive to make it a good future. A future where they were free. Free of the binds of loneliness and abandonment the orphanage bound them with. Free of a duty they never wanted to bear. Free to live life and find peace. For him, she had to do it. She had to keep walking until she found that future.
"I miss you."
The meek voice didn't disturb the quiet and lonely graveyard. It carried on the wind, a silent whisper only the spirits could hear.
Footsteps padded softly across the grass to approach her. She didn't need to look back to know who it was. She had sensed the silent and concerned presence shadowing her since she left her home. Her mother sat down next to her, wrapping a warm arm around her shoulders and pulling her in so she could rest her head on her chest. She shut her eyes and struggled to find more meaningful words to say. To Ryu for sacrificing himself to give her a chance at a new life. To her mother for always being supportive, even when she tried to shoulder it alone.
This wasn't anyone's battle but her own, but she needed help. She needed this embrace as much as she needed oxygen to live. Needed the warmth, the comfort, the strength and promise of protection within it, just to know someone was here. That she wasn't alone anymore. Because a pillow couldn't hug her back. A pillow couldn't hold her close and tell her with conviction she could overcome this.
A pillow couldn't sense her inner turmoil and become the supportive pillar of strength she needed most.
"I love you," she whispered for both of them to hear. Quiet, but carrying the words from the very core of her soul to them both. Those three little words, so simple, so overused, but when spoken from the soul they meant something. They meant the world to a mother who only wanted the best for her daughter. They transcended life and death to reach the boy who gave his life so his friend could see a new future for them and kept them bound together.
Lips pressed against her head as her mother's hand rubbed her arm to comfort her. "And I love you, little one. Always. Never forget that."
"I won't."
The ghostly hand of a friend rested supportively on her shoulder. "I'll be at your side to the end, I promise," the wind whispered only for her to hear.
Thank you.
No other words were spared between the mother and daughter. They sat together in silence, the warm embrace speaking every word of love and comfort they could ever share, unaware of the Sharingan wielding crow observing them from the shadows.
Amari performed a back handspring, narrowly dodging out of range of one her clone's attacks, coming out of it with a kunai in hand to block a second clone's slash. Sharp metal clangs echoed rapidly across the training field, the two blue-haired girls dueling fiercely at full combat intensity.
She kicked her clone away, red eye flicking back over to the other clone as she appeared out of a Body Flicker on her side, hands speeding through Fire Style handseals. Damn. Amari twisted her body and hopped back, hands moving through a different set of handseals.
Tiger, Hare, Boar, Dog. Earth Style: Mud Wall!
Her feet touched the ground and she slammed her hands into the earth. As flames barreled towards her, a wide and tall wall of sturdy earth shot out of the ground in front of her, barricading her from the intense torrents of fire. Or that was her hope, but the wall started to deteriorate on impact. Burning heat seeped through the melting earth; it felt as if she was standing next to a giant forest fire. Her body temperature rose significantly in the milliseconds there. If she waited any longer she would feel the full brunt of her Fire Style and all its fiery fury.
It's not strong enough, she growled in frustration. Body Flickering away, she appeared meters to the side of her crumbling wall, sliding on the balls of her feet with labored breaths. A thin sheen of sweat layered her skin.
Three shuriken whirled towards Amari from her second clone, the aggressive double team effort not relenting for a single second. She blocked the three shuriken with her kunai then felt the point of a blade press against the back of her neck.
The fight was over.
"Damn it," she cursed.
The two clones dispelled themselves. Amari fell down onto her butt to contemplate the entire battle from all three perspectives, and to rest her tired body. My Fire Style has gotten a lot stronger, but even then that wall is still too weak. I have to keep training to make it sturdy enough to withstand more damage. Amari laid all the way back and rested her right forearm over her forehead. At least I still have some time left. Not much, but I'll just have to make it work.
"Interesting. You copied Hironori's Earth Style: Mud Wall with your Sharingan during his fight with Mimi." Amari lazily rolled her head back to see Kakashi seated on the log Naruto had been tied to during the bell test, nose deep in one of his books. A position he hadn't been in a moment before. "Hmm. At this rate you're going to start making me fight for my title as the Copy Ninja."
The tired kunoichi snorted humorously and returned her gaze to the blue sky above. "The sentiment is nice but I'm pretty sure you have several more years of peace before you need to worry about me, Kakashi-sensei." To put it mildly. He was the man who copied over a thousand jutsu. She had a handful.
Amari sat up and rubbed the back of her sweaty neck. "I've been working on that jutsu since I was allowed to start training, and I still don't feel any closer to getting it sturdier."
Her lack of sleep didn't help much today, nor did the general exhaustion from yesterday's extreme training. Maybe it'd be better to call it a day early and try to rest. She did promise Genma and her mother to take it easy yesterday. And after my night… A nap or cloud watching might be better for today than more training.
"Don't be so hard on yourself. Few kids your age have two Natures under their belts already. Mastering a new Nature takes time, even with Sharingan and hard work combined," he reminded. "You're doing well, Amari. Just keep working at it and you'll see the improvements you want."
"Yeah, I know," she sighed and stood up, stretching her arms high above her head as she stood up on her tippy toes. He was right, of course. Impatience was simply getting the better of her today, and impatience was a shinobi's worst enemy. She lowered her arms to her sides and heels back to the earth then turned to approach Kakashi. "I didn't expect to see you at all until the finals, Kakashi-sensei. Is there something going on?"
Her sensei nodded and snapped his book shut. "In fact there is. I've got a mission for you and the rest of Team Seven."
Amari stopped and tilted her head in confusion. "A mission? I thought our teams were off-duty for training?"
"True. The teams involved with the final rounds of the Exams were taken off active duty for training, but this is a special case. Don't worry, it won't be anything strenuous."
"A special case?" She didn't like the foreboding undertones behind his choice of words.
Kakashi hopped off the log and stuffed his book away into his ninja pouch. "As you have undoubtedly realized, Sasuke and I aren't training within the Village walls; a decision I made for the specific training I had in mind as well as his safety. Our whereabouts are kept on a strictly need to know basis. And yet, a peculiar visitor managed to find us."
She really didn't like the foreboding undertones behind his choice of words.
"Who?" she asked cautiously, afraid it could be Orochimaru.
"Gaara of the Sand Village." The easy-going nature of his voice dispelled its Transformation Jutsu to reveal the stern reality of the situation.
Amari's visible eyebrow rose as her eye widened. "Oh. That's…troubling. Did he try to do anything?"
"No, but killing intent rolls off that boy naturally. His eyes are cold, colder than some of the most seasoned shinobi I have encountered. He doesn't feel remorse. Remorse is an empty word to him, without meaning, without purpose in this world to his vacant heart." His eye hardened. "He made his intentions clear: You and Sasuke are his targets. He plans to fight and kill you both to prove his existence, in his words. When and where won't matter to him. Nothing except fighting and killing you two matters to him."
Today was becoming a real drag.
"Troublesome." Amari wrapped her arms around her belly in discomfort and lowered her eye to the ground. So, this feeling I have isn't wrong. Whether in the finals or elsewhere, our purposes will clash and only one of us will walk away. When she looked into his emotionless eyes, she felt it; the thread binding their fates together. She wasn't sure how it happened or why. Their only real encounter hadn't been long enough or important enough for her to feel this way.
Yet…here they were. Even Gaara felt it, and she wasn't sure he could feel anything anymore. Something bound them together. A single moment, a single light that was invisible to the naked eye tied the thread so tight around them. Somewhere soon their purposes would collide in a battle to the death, but there would be no mercy. No shared feelings between them that kept them from wanting to hurt one another.
Gaara was not Haku, and they were not two sides of the same coin.
"You're not worried about our fights when shinobi of your skill will be there to prevent unnecessary death, but these final days before the Exams end and the aftermath of the Exams as a whole," Amari noted. "Regardless of who wins and loses, the Sand shinobis will be within Konoha's walls for at least a day or two, especially if any of them need medical treatment. Unlike me, though, Sasuke doesn't live with an elite shinobi. He lives alone, away from all of us."
"Exactly," Kakashi nodded. "Gaara doesn't strike me as the kind of kid who will listen to his superior's orders. He probably hunted us down without his Sensei knowing. If he loses, or if he wins and I have to intervene to save Sasuke, I don't see him simply walking away.
"He'll target you or Sasuke when you're alone, which is why I want you to be extra cautious until we are certain the Sand Village shinobi have departed back to Suna. Keep your senses open for him when you're alone. He may have chosen not to attack Sasuke solely because I was there."
She didn't doubt it. He may be powerful, but power alone against the experience of a seasoned shinobi like Kakashi wasn't enough. He had more tricks up his sleeve than a traveling magician, and intelligence on Nara levels.
"I'll be informing Kurenai, Genma and Shikaku about the situation, as well as the Hokage. We can't risk him acting out on his own to kill our people, and I'm not one hundred percent convinced Suna hasn't sent this unstable kid to cause collateral damage."
To be fair, she hadn't thought about that, but the mention of it opened up new avenues of thought. New pieces to a puzzle she had been trying to solve since Orochimaru and his Sound shinobi attacked.
"You don't need to worry about that part, though," Kakashi reassured, breaking off her sudden line of thought. "Leave it to your superiors, all right? You focus on training and staying safe. And don't be surprised or suspicious if you feel shinobi like Genma shadowing you more than usual, or if you sense an increase of allied shinobi hiding within the shadows all across the Leaf. They're only looking out for you and the Village."
"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei," Amari bowed her head in gratitude. "But what about Sasuke? He's safe with you for now, but what about those few days after the Exam? And what about Orochimaru?" She didn't even want to say his name, worried it might just summon him back into existence, but they couldn't avoid it. He was still a legitimate threat, and she… "I'm still nowhere near close enough to learning whatever you and Genma-sensei have planned for me, and you said that was our way of avoiding him."
Without it, they were screwed.
He chuckled warmly at her concern. "Don't worry so much. I have it all set up. You see, it's not just Sasuke we need to worry about, or you, but Naruto and Sakura as well. We can't risk Orochimaru going after any of you, whether to draw one of you into his hands or to fracture our team permanently. You have Kurenai to keep you safe, and I already have Sakura taken care of. Naruto and Sasuke didn't have anyone, at least not until recently. It took a lot of convincing, but we're going to move those two to a safe location inside the Village where the Anbu Black Ops can protect them."
Amari brought her hand to her chin. It was a sound idea. The Anbu Black Ops were elite shinobi of unique talents. Only the best of the best could be accepted into their shadowy ranks, which made a squad of them a nightmare to handle. At least, that was her assumption. Zabuza had been a nightmare on his own, and he was once the leader of the Mist Anbu Black Ops. A squad had to be Lightning Blade nightmare worthy.
There was only one problem she could see. "Can we spare two squads of the Anbu Black Ops to two separate locations, Sensei? I doubt they'll be keen on babysitting Genin when we need them protecting the Village from the shadows. Definitely if we're suspecting another attack from Orochimaru."
"Who said two separate locations? They'll be moving in together."
She could only stare at him in silence. Did she hear that right? Did he say they would move in together? Her silence broke with a snort of laughter. "You're joking," she accused with a smile. He almost had her, she had to admit. But she wouldn't fall so easily for such an absurd joke.
"I'm not," Kakashi stated. "I would never joke about the safety of my students."
Oh. He…He was serious. His plan to move Sasuke and Naruto under the same roof wasn't a joke. Amari tried not to laugh; this was a serious matter after all. A matter of life and death for her entire team. But the mere thought of Sasuke and Naruto under the same roof brought forth a tsunami of mad giggles her poor Earth Style: Mud Walls couldn't stop.
This was as rich in sweetness as cheesecake.
"You're forc- hehehe! You're forcing them to—"
The giggles made coherent sentences impossible. They relentlessly assaulted her sides without remorse. No, they wouldn't stop. She was afflicted by a terminal disease of giggles, stitching her sides and opening the wellspring of joyful tears.
She hunched forward as if punched in the gut and clutched at her stomach, still giggling as if someone was tickling her feet. Kami, she couldn't breathe! This. Was. Amazing! Her two boy teammates, whose personalities were the physical embodiment of the North and South poles, were going to have to live under the same roof for a few days after the Exams!
"Wha- What did Sasuke say? What did he look like?!" she demanded. She had to know how her clan-brother reacted to the news. Did the incredulity render him speechless? Did he try to raise his voice and argue in a losing effort? What were the juicy details of his reaction?
"He was…less than pleased at first," Kakashi admitted. An understatement by the delivery, which only gave her images of his indignant, broody features that created another tsunami wave of giggles. "For some reason he thinks this is some sort of punishment for nearly destroying my book on accident."
And his precious book had almost been destroyed?!
"Is it?" she laughed.
"No! This is about their safety," he argued, sounding as if he had said that at least a hundred times already.
More giggles. They just kept coming; an unending barrage of mad giggles. Kakashi hadn't intended to send her into a fit of uncontrollable laughter, or to cause her any laughter at all; she could tell by the confused look on his face this wasn't the reaction he expected from her. But boy did she need this. After the night she had, this laughter was sooo sweet.
It took time for her to recover fully. Amari wiped the tears from her eyes and tried to stand up straight against her pain filled sides. "Oh Kami, my sides," she winced, a smile plastered on her face. Totally worth it. "Please, tell me you've told Naruto." Her best friend's reaction had to be just as good.
"He was practically glowing when I told him he would have a new roommate."
"And when you told him it was Sasuke?"
"Hmm. Disgruntled might be the best word to describe his reaction."
Another understatement. Naruto didn't do disgruntled quietly. He didn't do anything quietly.
"Have you at least forbidden them from hurting each other?" she asked, trying not to go into another laughing fit. It was an immense struggle.
"Of course. They may not see it now, but they'll come to realize this is for the best." Kakashi shrugged. "Probably."
Probably. But only when the oceans weren't wet and the sky turned green. So pretty much never.
Amari wiped at her eyes again, a giggle breaking free that she silenced by clearing her throat. "How do you plan to watch after Sakura?" she asked to stay on subject.
"I have my Ninja Hounds watching after her. They'll shadow her and keep her safe should anyone try to attack her."
Considering the damage they did to Zabuza, she was confident in their abilities to keep Sakura safe. Anyone fool enough to attack her would find out just how sharp their teeth were, right before they were torn apart like a cheap dog toy.
"So, when does the mission start?"
"You're to meet up with Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto at our usual meeting spot in thirty minutes. Sasuke and Naruto are only packing the essentials, so it shouldn't take them too long to move them into the new location."
Amari nodded. "Okay. Then I suppose I should head off to meet the others. See you later, Kakashi-sensei."
"Have fun." Amari chuckled lightly and turned to leave. "Oh, and Amari." She stopped and looked at him with a curious expression. "I told Naruto and Sasuke that you and Sakura were handling the paperwork. So if, while you two are handling that, you…stumble upon your inheritance." He gave her an eye smile at her stunned expression. "Don't be afraid to grab it. Good luck."
The clone of Kakashi dispersed. Amari stared at the spot he had been in previously in utter shock. News traveled fast between her mother and Kakashi apparently. The shock dissipated gradually like a rainstorm, replaced by the sunlight of understanding of his unspoken order.
There isn't any paperwork for us to do. He's sending me and Sakura to find my inheritance while Naruto and Sasuke are busy. This mission started off as a way to protect Naruto and Sasuke until the looming threat passed, but the genjutsu vision added a new objective to the overall mission. Her mother and sensei were giving her permission to seek out whatever remained of her past; no doubt Kakashi wouldn't be too far behind to observe and save the day if it turned out to be a trap.
I hope it isn't.
With a sigh, Amari headed to their usual meeting point, arriving first as always. She took her seat on the railing and unsealed her notes on fūinjutsu to pass the time. Sakura showed up second, taking a seat next to her to ask about the notes and share her amusement about the situation. Sasuke and Naruto arrived shortly after.
Amari sealed away her notes and hopped off the railing, sparing the pair a smirk. "So boys, I hear there are new room arrangements."
Her fellow Uchiha grumbled inaudibly underneath his breath. Naruto, apparently no longer disgruntled, beamed. "You better get excited Sasuke, because we're going to be roommates! No brooding allowed!"
Sasuke dropped his head in defeat. "I'm going to lose the remnants of my sanity," he groaned.
"Oh cheer up, Sasuke. It'll only be a few days you'll be together. Hardly enough time for him to drive you completely insane," Amari teased.
"Yeah, it could be a permanent move," Sakura added.
The thought of it caused the Uchiha to scowl. "Fine. You made your points. Maybe I'll even acquire an obsession with ramen and wearing bright orange while I'm there," he drawled sarcastically.
All three of his teammates shared the same mental image: Sasuke dressed in Naruto's outfit downing bowls of ramen by the dozens, a grin breaking his usual stony features. It left the three in stitches of laughter, Naruto falling over as Amari braced herself on her knees and Sakura braced on the railing.
Her sides screamed in pleasant agony.
"Naruto…" She inhaled a desperate breath of oxygen before smiling at her friend. "If you corrupt him into becoming obsessed with ramen and orange clothing I will love you forever," Amari said.
He feigned a hurt look. "Wai- wait you mean you don't love me now? Bu- but what about Amaruto?" He was even making his bottom lip quiver and tears build in his eyes, the troublesome boy.
She poked him in the forehead. "You keep this up and you're going to make me cry. Need I tell you that I love you to ease your pain?" He gave a nod without breaking from his feigned hurt. She rolled her eye. "I love you, Naruto."
"Woohoo!" He grabbed her in a bear hug and twirled her around, causing her to giggle. "Ha-ha, I knew it! Believe it!"
"Naruto! Put me down!" she chastised through giggles.
"Nope!"
"Naruto!"
"Come on! It's been forever since I saw you!"
"Troublesome boy, you're making me dizzy!"
Sasuke and Sakura watched on with smirks. Finally he set her down. They both stumbled slightly but neither could hide their grins. Did Naruto realize how much she needed that? Or was it just normal, spontaneous affection he gifted her with? Either way, she was grateful.
Naruto pumped his fist into the air. "Team Seven is back for the day!" he cheered.
Amari missed this, but they had a mission to complete. A mission that would drag her through her past. The sooner it was over, the sooner she could embrace this warmth again.
"We should get started," Amari said. She dipped her head to her fellow kunoichi. "Sakura and I will go handle the paperwork and join you when we're done."
"All right. Later."
"See you two later!"
Splitting up into their teams of two, Team Seven went their separate ways towards their specific objectives. Amari guided Sakura towards the Uchiha District, anxious about what they might find there and how much it might hurt.
"Kakashi-sensei told me the genjutsu showed you something in the Uchiha District. Do you know what it is?" Sakura asked as they walked.
"Only that it could be a final gift from my family. 'My inheritance' is what the genjutsu called it." Vague and worrisome in her opinion.
"Mm. Are you sure we shouldn't bring Sasuke? It kind of feels like we're going behind his back with this," Sakura pointed out.
Because we are. Amari nodded regardless. "Yes. I don't know what we're going to find, and I don't know what seeing the Uchiha District again will do for his attitude. If we brought him it might make him turn cold and distant again."
They were slowly making progress away from his cold attitude. She didn't want to risk resetting it by bringing him to a place that only held pain for him.
"I guess you're right," Sakura agreed.
They stopped outside of the empty compound once thriving with life, hesitant to enter at the sight of its emptiness. This is a mass grave. A mass grave she and Sakura were about to trespass on to find her inheritance.
"Stay close," Amari said as she started forward.
"Do you know where to go?" Sakura asked as they entered.
When she passed through the entrance, a cold chill ran down the base of her skull to the bottom of her spine; her eye shut and her body shivered, but as her eye opened again she had to suppress a gasp. Ahead of them by several meters was a ghostly visage of a child walking into the district.
A child with wild blue hair and a purple tank top.
"This way," she said with more confidence than she felt.
Walking in her own footsteps…This wasn't creepy at all. But if it led to answers or a gift from her family, she'd stomach chasing after her own ghost in a compound once thriving with life, now as silent and empty of life as a graveyard at night. Even if it was a drag.
Nothing about this place seemed familiar to her. It was like waking up in the Leaf again and learning it had once been her home. She knew she should recognize landmarks or buildings, but nothing awoke a sense of familiarity. Everything was all new and strange and discomforting.
Unbeknownst to Sakura, they followed the child ghost on their journey away from the main part of the Uchiha District towards the outskirts. The mirage wasn't consistently active. It guided them to take turns and then disappeared for long stretches of empty and silent roads. Neither kunoichi spoke. Emerald eyes drifted in sorrow, scanning the surrounding area in search of life she wouldn't find. The single onyx eye stayed on the mirage.
She…she didn't like seeing her past self all alone. She looked sad. Lonely. It made her quicken her pace several times to try to catch up and just stop the mirage to hug her, to let her know everything was going to be okay, but she could never catch her.
Her past remained out of reach.
As they turned at another intersection, the silent streets were disturbed by a cheerful shout only she could hear.
"Cousin!"
"Hey there, little cousin!"
Amari froze. Ahead of her the little child was joined by a young teenager, whose back remained to her as he scooped up the little girl in a warm embrace. Her feet unconsciously stepped forward as her hand started to reach out towards the two. Cousin… He was here. Right in front of her. If she just called out to him he would…
The two ghosts disappeared.
She could hear the cracking of her glass heart as her hand fell limp back to her side. Please…don't leave me again. I beg you. Please…come back to me.
"Amari?" Sakura's voice snapped her back to reality.
She squeezed her eyes shut and grit her teeth against the wounds being ripped open on her heart. He wasn't here. It was just a memory; a piece of her past she couldn't go back to. "…Let's just hurry up and get out of here. This place is only full of pain," she said, her voice low and hurt.
Sakura noticed but didn't address it. "Okay," came her simple reply.
They followed the ghostly mirages to her home, where her cousin carried her on his shoulders as they entered it. The house wasn't anything extravagant in size or design, but it wasn't small either. Bigger than Kurenai's home, plus the backyard she once pretended to be a dragon in with her cousin.
This…This was her home. She thought…She thought she would feel warmth or something good from seeing it again. But she felt no warmth at finally coming home after all this time. She felt no smile form or happiness sprout in her heart. No nostalgia either.
Only…emptiness, and sharp pain. This was all that remained of her old life, an empty building absent of the people she loved.
I don't want to go in. But the genjutsu led her here, which meant something important waited inside. Something she wasn't sure she wanted anymore. What was her inheritance really? Was it a tangible item? Or was it simply more pain to help her grow and mature from child to shinobi?
I've come this far. No turning back. No running away. She had to face this head-on without fear. It was the only way forward.
"If you want to wait out here…" To be honest, Amari didn't want to go in alone. The ghostly mirages were hammering her emotional barriers, weakening them strike by strike. But she wouldn't force Sakura to follow her into her past unwilling. This entire trip had been uncomfortable for both of them.
"I'll be right behind you," Sakura assured.
Amari appreciated that more than she could say right now. Returning to her old home had never been something she thought she'd have to do. It wasn't something she wanted.
A deep exhale of air through her nose gave her the motivation to step forward and into the past. It wouldn't be the same. Nothing would. Even knowing that, opening the door, stepping in, she felt her heart tighten in her chest at the empty, unattended and uncared for house. Dust settled over everything, empty nails protruded from walls where pictures used to hang, no furniture remained and no one greeted her.
Nothing remained of her past. Just an empty shell without memories for her to remember.
"There is a Seal only you can activate. Let your eyes guide you to it. Channel your chakra to your fingertips and release it into the Seal when you locate it," the genjutsu of Itachi directed.
Sharingan! Amari searched the house high and low for the Seal, hoping to get in and out as quickly as possible. Every second in here was like drowning; every inhale filled her lungs with more water, suffocating her in a past she couldn't reclaim. The Seal he mentioned was invisible to the naked eye and located on the ceiling in the center of her home.
Without a word, she hopped up onto the ceiling, channeled the chakra into her fingertips and released it. The Seal appeared with the activation of her chakra and caused an object to fall from it. Amari reacted on instinct, hopping off the ceiling and catching whatever precious heirloom was left behind before it could hit the floor.
"Nice catch, Amari!" Sakura complimented.
She nodded mutely, not trusting her voice. The object wasn't particularly heavy. It was hidden beneath a purple fabric, rectangular like a book but at least half the length of her hand in height. Carefully she untied it, revealing the stack of books hidden within. She moved the books to the side and lifted the purple fabric off the dusty floor. "Oh, it's a shirt," she realized quietly. A high-collared tank top, to be exact. She turned it around to look at the back and immediately felt her face fall in sorrow.
Staring back at her was half the Uchiha crest and half the Nara crest joined together to create one symbol—the symbol of her mother and father's relationship and the child that came from it. The symbol for Haya Uchiha and Amaririsu Yūhi.
A notecard fell to the floor from the shirt, startling Amari. Gently, she laid the tank top down next to the books it held together and picked up the card to read the words left for her.
This is part of your inheritance. The rest is waiting for you. You know where to go.
Yes, she did. The hill overlooking the river. It wasn't far from here if the vague memories awakened by this walk were true. She examined the books—or journals, really. There were four in number, each held closed by a lock and what appeared to be sealing work. She saw no key anywhere. Maybe it's with the rest of my inheritance. They were obviously locked to keep the contents secret. Keeping the key separate made it that much harder to break into it.
Again she picked up the shirt, taking note of its length. It'd be a dress on me if I wore it now. I'll have to wait for a growth spurt before I can actually wear this.
Amari tied the shirt back around the books then pulled out her storage scroll, creating a new seal for the new items and sealing them away. After rolling up the scroll and putting it away, she glanced around the empty home for…she wasn't sure what. More mirages? A false hope of one of her family members walking down the nearby stairs, older and scarred maybe, but still alive?
She couldn't see anything. But if she listened close enough, she could hear the whispers of her old life and feel the spirits of her family. The laughter, the joy, the loving words and their warmth, they still were here in this empty home. If she closed her eyes and reached out she could feel their presence brush against her senses, feel their arms wrapping around her as they whispered their loving declarations for only her to hear.
"Amari, do you want to stay a while. This was your home." Sakura's voice broke her from the spell.
Amari opened her eyes again and shook her head, standing up. "No, but thank you, Sakura. There's nothing left for me here." Home wasn't a physical location; it was wherever your precious people were. For her family, they weren't bound to this place; their home was in her heart. "This was only half, anyways, so let's go grab the other half and help the boys out."
The sooner she could put the Uchiha District behind her, the better.
They didn't walk there. Amari led by ninja jumping to the nearby river she vaguely recalled as Nakano River. At the top of the hill rested a scroll about the size of her leg from the knee down. Next to it, a short sword sheathed within a scabbard stuck out of the dirt with a necklace tied around its hilt. On top of the hilt sat a crow facing out towards the horizon, appearing oblivious to the two arriving kunoichi. The moment Amari spotted the weapon she felt her feet begin to quicken underneath her.
She knew that weapon.
"Cousin…" Amari breathed out.
The sound of her voice caused the crow to take off flying without a word. Before Amari could reach the weapon, her body froze up again. More ghostly mirages appeared, this time three figures standing near the edge of the cliff in a horizontal row. The first one on the right was Itachi, the one on the left was a woman wearing the Uchiha fan on her back, her hair long, reaching the middle of her back and dark in color. The outfit she wore was an indigo mantle.
"Cousin!"
A cool breeze rushed past Amari as a little child sprinted past her towards the individual in the center. The shout caused Itachi and the woman to turn, both smiling softly at the young Haya running towards her cousin. Amari's feet moved on their own, again walking her into a jog as she tried to catch the ghost. Please. Just…Just stay a little longer this time. Just let me…
Her cousin began to turn as she neared him, and then, as little Haya would have crashed into him with Amari, he disappeared, leaving her to hug only herself. Aches of pain erupted from Amari's heart as she collapsed to her knees before the scroll and tantō, tears welled in her eyes.
I…I just want one last hug.
Her arms fell limp as she struggled to keep her tears from falling. Sakura knelt next to her and took one of Amari's hands into her own, holding it in support of the friend who carried more pain in her heart than she ever realized.
"This…this was my cousin's tantō," she said after a lengthy silence, sniffling. "I remember him carrying it everywhere. He promised to teach me how to use it one day."
"He must have left it behind to keep that promise," Sakura tried to soothe.
"Yeah…"
But he can't teach me. He's…gone.
Carefully she untied the necklace around the hilt and examined the pendent. Again her two Clan symbols fused together stared back at her, though the end of the fan on this one was a bit longer than usual.
It was curious, but Amari left it be for now, placing it around her neck and under the ninja headband hanging around her neck. With a trembling hand she grabbed the tantō by the scabbard, pulling it from the ground like a beautiful flower.
She laid it across her hands and stared at the item. It was double-edged without a tip, meant to be used for cutting or defense, not stabbing. Respectfully she laid it on the ground, pulling out her storage scroll to create another new seal so she could transport it easier. I'll have to buy a harness for this. That and find out if Kakashi-sensei, Mom or Genma-sensei know anyone who can teach me how to use it.
Once it was sealed away, Amari moved to the medium sized scroll lying it down in front of her. "What is it?" Sakura asked.
She undid the tie around the scroll and rolled it out to answer her question. "Hmm…different Uchiha's have all signed this." The Nara glided her finger along the edge to the last name. "Itachi being the last of the group. This must be the contract for the Crows of the Leaf." She hummed curiously at the two empty spaces before his name. "Wonder why there are two skipped spots."
"Amari. There aren't any skipped spots." She pointed to the empty spaces. "There are names here."
The Nara grunted in annoyance at the genjutsu. "Whatever the names are, don't say them. To me or anyone else until I'm able to read it. There has to be a reason for all this secrecy, and I'm going to find that answer eventually."
Quickly she sealed away the summoning contract into her storage scroll, placing it back within her pouch before standing up with an exhausted sigh. Her eyes were drawn to the horizon as her cousin before her. "Amari. There's something I need to ask you." Amari nodded silently. "You were seeing something here and back in the district, weren't you?"
"…I saw my younger self and…my cousin walking in the street. I followed them to my home. Here I saw Itachi, my cousin and a woman as the young me ran to meet them. I don't know if it was the genjutsu or just memories of mine resurfacing…but it felt real. I could see him, hear them. He was right there in front of me." Amari lifted her hand to reach out to the empty space in front of her, only to stop and lower her hand in defeat. "But that's just my past and present colliding," she whispered. "I can't actually see him again. I can't shout his name in excitement and crash full force into his arms…I can't ever hug him or tell him I—"
The choked words died in her throat as a gasp when arms wrapped around her. A single tear escaped the cooled onyx eye.
"There isn't anything I can say to make this easier," Sakura said, her voice soft and gentle. "I can't tell you I understand what you're going through or how it feels to lose people I love. It would only be empty condolences. But we're here for you, Amari, all of us. And like you say, even in death, your family's spirits still support you."
Amari hugged her back, grateful for her words. Although she couldn't have her family back for that last hug, she still had family here, alive and very much huggable. Shika, her uncle and aunt, her mother and Team Seven were her family. They were where she belonged. They were home for her.
They left the abandoned Uchiha District behind them, splitting up to go meet up with Naruto and Sasuke at their respective apartments to help them finish packing. Amari went to Naruto and entered his cramped and messy apartment. Her fingers twitched at the messes needing to be cleaned. Before Naruto realized it, three Amari clones were rushing around his apartment to clean up after him while the original scolded the bashful boy for it.
Once he was packed, and his apartment clean, they moved him to the new apartment he would stay at until the Sand shinobi were gone. Sasuke and Sakura were waiting for them there. It was a nice place. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a small kitchen area and enough living space that they wouldn't be in each other's way at every moment.
As soon as they were done, Naruto all but dragged them to Ichiraku's for ramen as a celebration, possibly for a mission success, possibly just to spend more time as a team. Either way, with his and her tickets combined the meals wouldn't cost them anything.
By the time they made it there and finished eating, evening was upon them and the team were still sharing in conversations ranging from Haku's letter, jokes about it being a 'love letter', the kunoichis teasing Sasuke and Naruto about living together and plenty of other discussions. It revitalized Amari's drained spirit. Even Sasuke cracked a smile and chuckled a few times. Nothing as big as Naruto's boisterous laughter, but it was Sasuke.
He hadn't become a worshiper of ramen and the color orange yet.
"Hey, you guys started without me." Kakashi's voice entered the fray. The subtle whine in his voice caused Amari to laugh softly.
Late as always. She and the others turned around to see him ducking his head into the stand. "Free food only for those who helped move," Amari teased, poking him in the stomach. Kakashi visibly pouted under his mask. "Not that you'd eat in front of us anyways."
"Hey, that's right." Naruto jabbed his finger at their Sensei. "Last time we were at Amari's house for a team dinner, you hid in the kitchen after we finished eating!"
Sakura swatted Naruto's hand. "Quiet down, knucklehead, and don't point. It's rude you know." Kakashi sighed in relief, thinking the line of questioning was over. Then Sakura's emerald eyes pinned back on him. "But they're right, Kakashi-sensei. You never show your face. How would you be able to eat in such a public place?"
His eye closed as he smiled. "I have my ways."
"Answering without answering. That's Kakashi-sensei," Sasuke commented dryly.
"I…I used my Byakugan to see under your bandana at the Academy."
An idea popped into Amari's mind at the memory.
An entertainingly evil idea.
A malicious smirk tugged onto her face. Kakashi saw it and a hint of fear flashed in his eye. "I say we find out what he's hiding," she declared.
His eye bulged a little.
"Aw…but I'm full, Amari," Naruto whined as he grabbed his bloated belly.
Her smirk grew bigger. "As am I, but I do happen to have a Shadow and a special sensory ability that could help make it all the more easy."
"Well, good work today guys. I just remembered I left my stove on so I should probably head home." Kakashi waved. "Bye."
He disappeared with impressive haste. "You're going to go after him, aren't you?" Sasuke asked, noticing her smile.
"Yup." Sasuke snorted as Amari got out of her seat. "Night guys. See you two at the exam and you tomorrow, Sakura."
"Night Amari!" Naruto bid his farewell.
Sasuke nodded mutely to her and Sakura gave her a smile. "See you tomorrow, Amari."
For all Kakashi's haste, he hadn't actually gotten very far. In fact he was walking quite slowly. Amari chased after him despite her full belly. "Ah, Amari. I was wondering if you were going to follow after me," Kakashi greeted.
"I'm not trying to find out what's under your mask."
"I know." He gave her his signature smile. "You wouldn't have made it so obvious if you wanted to." He was right. Acting it out was merely so she could talk to him alone in the privacy of her home. "Found something interesting?" His voice changed from its usual cheery tone to serious.
"Yes. Can we talk back at home? I don't want to bring it out in front of all these people."
The streets were littered with civilians and off-duty ninja alike, all having an enjoyable night in their own ways. Finding her inheritance under the ruse of a mission meant showing the items freely was not a wise decision.
Her Sensei nodded again and they set off for her home. Amari used her key to open the door and called out, "I'm home! Mom, are you here?"
Her mother appeared from the kitchen in a red scoop-neck shirt and black pants, towel in hand as she dried off a plate. She took note of Kakashi hovering behind her daughter as they both took their sandals off. "Did you have dinner, little one?" she asked, giving silent nod to Kakashi in greetings.
"Just got done eating with my team at Ichiraku's. I asked Kakashi-sensei to come because I found something in the Uchiha District." Amari lifted her bandana up to uncover her eye as she always did in the safety of her home.
"I'll be right in then. Please make yourself comfortable, Kakashi."
"Thank you, Kurenai."
Amari sat on the floor in the living room to unroll her scroll while Kakashi took a seat on the couch. One by one she unsealed the tank top and books, the tantō then the summoning contract. She removed the necklace as well to lay it among the items she gathered.
"Hmm." Kakashi examined each item cautiously but it was the contract that piqued his curiosity. Kurenai joined Kakashi on the couch, her crimson red eyes carefully regarding the presented items but, as with Kakashi, zoning in on the contract.
Amari wasn't surprised. This contract was for the Crows of the Leaf, by her estimations anyways, who were previously just a legend to nearly everyone. The contract made them a tangible reality; their legend, their enigmatic mystery was at her fingertips.
"Recognize any of this, Amari?" Kakashi asked at length.
"Only the tantō. It belonged to my cousin, and I suppose now it belongs to me. I have no idea how to use it properly, though," she admitted.
"I think I may be able to help with that," Kakashi said.
"Okay." She looked to the other items. "I can't say I've ever seen the rest of this. Tied inside that shirt are books—journals, I think, because they don't appear to be novels. But I don't have the faintest idea of what could be in them. For one reason or another they're locked and have a sort of fūinjutsu underneath that. I haven't found a key yet. As for the scroll, I saw Itachi's name signed inside in blood, as well as two names I can't see. You said the last one to wield the Crows of the Leaf was Itachi, which means this must be their contract."
Her sensei stood up from the couch to sit down in front of her. "May I?" he asked, motioning to the scroll. She nodded. If anything inside it interested him, Kakashi didn't show it. He scanned through all the Uchiha names within, his single eye never revealing the slightest hint of anything. Even her mother, who hovered over him, kept her features schooled to not betray any of the internalized conclusions she reached.
"You're right. This is the Summoning Contract for the Crows of the Leaf," Kakashi confirmed. "All the evidence we have points towards the Crows choosing you to wield their power next. They have a personal investment in your growth and safety; the answer for why they are is impossible for any of us to answer. It's a question you'll have to ask them, should you choose to sign the contract."
"Do you two think I should?"
"Yes," the adults answered in unison.
Amari recoiled back at the quick answer. "…Okay. I mean, if you two are sure about it." They nodded without hesitation. Looks like I'm not the only one curious about them.
Kakashi explained how to properly sign the contract; by signing her name in blood—which they decided should be Haya Uchiha for this—and stamping the fingerprints of her chosen hand underneath it, the contract became binding and allowed her to then summon crows. He taught her the handseals for the Summoning Jutsu and bid his farewell when Amari chose against summoning a crow this late. It felt rude. What if they were sleeping?
Amari retired to her room a little later, gathering her new items and bringing them up into her room where she could put them away; all except the necklace, tantō and journals, which she wanted to examine or investigate further.
She picked up the tantō first and pulled it out of its scabbard. The moonlight gleamed off the blade. Still as sharp as Cousin kept it.
Unconsciously she tilted her left hand, which held the scabbard, and was startled when a folded sheet of paper slid out.
Why was that in there? She sheathed the blade then grabbed the paper, unfolding it while silently praying it wouldn't be dangerous to read.
Haya,
It's with a lifetime of regret and a heavy heart that I write this letter, knowing these could be the final words I ever can say to you while having no choice but to restrain myself out of fear I might trigger my genjutsu. I'm sorry. For the pain you have endured alone. For the pain you must still endure on the path you have to walk. But most of all, I'm deeply sorry for being unable to keep my promise to always come home safely.
Amari's throat tightened and hot tears pricked at her eyes as it became obvious who wrote this to her. It hurt even more to see the aged tear drops stained into the paper after all these years. Cousin…it was your genjutsu? But then…how did Itachi use it? Why did he use it? Why weren't you able to keep your promise?
She read on.
You're asleep in my lap right now. Your still so small and innocent and pure, untouched by the events set in motion. But that's now. As you're reading this, I have no doubt you've grown, that you've become a Leaf kunoichi. I wish I could see you. I wish I could still be at your side, protecting you, but know that my spirit is always with you.
My tantō and the Crows will serve you well in the years to come. Read the final ten pages of your journal; the necklace and your chakra is the key to it, but not the others. You'll gain the keys to those in time. They will help you to understand what happened in detail.
I'm sorry for leaving you, little cousin. There are so many things I wish I could say and do, but I can't. Not now anyway.
Please take care of yourself and don't be afraid. Let your heart and eyes guide you through the darkness back to the light so you can use the shadows to defend those you love.
I love you, Haya. With all my heart and all my being, I love you. I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise, that I couldn't be there to see you grow and help guide you. You are and always will be the person most precious to me. Please, never forget that. Be the wise dragon you dreamed of. Find your nindo, stay true to it and keep moving forward as a Leaf shinobi. I know you can do it. I believe in you.
Stay strong. I'll always be with you. I love you.
"I love you too, Cousin," she wept, adding fresh tears to join the aged ones.
Grabbing the journals, she set them down in a stiff stack and grabbed her new necklace. The top journal she tried didn't work; neither did the two after it. The final one clicked open, the sealing work beneath the lock removing itself after channeling her chakra into it. She opened the cover and flipped to the final ten pages to read.
Before retiring for the night Kurenai checked in on Amari, who's last twenty-four hours had been nothing short of emotional. She smiled fondly when she found her sleeping at her desk instead of her bed, arms and journal being used as a pillow.
Kurenai untied her forehead protector and bandana quietly and gently to not disturb her. Once done she picked her daughter up and laid her down under the covers of her bed, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead as she slept soundly.
Returning to the desk, she noticed one of the new journals opened to the final two pages, the necklace lying nearby and a letter. Kurenai moved to shut the journal and lock it first but stopped when she noticed the writing as her daughters. Peering down, she began to read.
Strange things are going on lately. Cousin, Itachi, Aimi, Mama and Papa are being more secretive around me. They have these quiet conversations sometimes, and when I've walk in on them they completely stop. I haven't asked. I think it's grown-up stuff or something else troublesome like that.
They've also given me these sad smiles when I ask if they are okay. They don't think I notice their sad eyes, but I do. I want to help them but I have no idea if I can do anything. They would tell me if I could help, right? No, they would probably be troublesome and try to handle it themselves.
It did not take a Nara to figure out when this last entry had been written. This must have been around the time of the Uchiha Massacre. Amari had keen eyes even then to take note of her surroundings more than her family realized. The Jōnin pursed her lips in thought. But who is this Aimi, I wonder. She must have been an Uchiha if she was keeping secrets from Amari.
She closed and locked the journal, putting it away in the drawer containing her other journals. She grabbed the note next and moved to place it with the journals, but even in the darkness she could make out the tear stains on the page. Her eyes softened and her heart ached as she read the final words of her cousin, feeling the pain within those final words and that of her daughter's in every fresh tear drop stain.
Kurenai didn't leave immediately. She sat on the edge of her daughter's bed, gently holding her scarred hand in her own so she wouldn't be alone in her dreams, hoping beyond all hope this little gesture she could give would stave off the nightmares tonight. That this little gesture could protect her and relieve her of the burdens she carried, at least for tonight.
Finally, after squeezing her hand softly, she rose to leave.
Pleasant dreams, little one.
She flicked the light off and retired for the night.
Elsewhere
The Sharingan wielding crow returned to its master days later, relaying the gathered information of Haya's current training and skills as well as the bonds she had created in the absence of her real family. He smiled, satisfied with her progress as a kunoichi and growth since that day. She carried within her great suffering, suffering he understood well, but she was still moving forward, as planned.
Haya was on the right path. Now she possessed her inheritance, furthering the strength and wisdom required of her to walk the path laid ahead of her.
There was much he had planned for her.