Alright. Let's keep the ball rolling.
His Daughter
Chapter Two
Hakujahime Mikoyo sat at the door from her room to the outside, wearing a purple yukata, and watching the rain fall on the garden outside. The night felt heavier than normal, and she knew it wasn't just her. The Third Hokage's funeral was just a few days ago, and everyone was still processing his death. Many ninja, including herself, were still recovering from the attack on the village. The attacks from her assailant were far worse than she let on during their battle, but she refused to miss the Hokage's funeral.
She received many glances that day. Some of them were filled with pity and worry. Others were filled with hatred and suspicion. The vast majority of the gazes she received were of discomfort and uncertainty, though. It was expected, especially after what Orochimaru did. However, it hit her far worse than she had anticipated, and she was still processing it. In fact, Hakujahime was processing many things. Aside from the glances and the grief, anger, shame, and worry filled her being. And all because of him.
He was there, she thought, lowering her head and holding her knees to her chest. He was there. He killed the Hokage, and now he and everyone in the village know what I am, she thought, a tear falling down her cheek.
Nothing was the same. Her family supported and cared for her before, and that had not changed. However, even they felt pity and sadness. They truly felt bad for her, but being reminded of Orochimaru made many of them hesitate before trying to give her support.
Hakujahime turned towards the mirror, staring at her own reflection. She could not and would not blame anyone for acting the way they did around her. For as much as she was raised and cared for like everyone else in the Mikoyo clan, she was still that wretched man's spitting image. Long black hair, porcelain skin, yellow eyes that resembled a snake's, and purple birthmarks around her eyes and running down her nose. If not for her facial shape, no one would believe that Shiramiya Mikoyo, the late heir to the clan, was her mother.
She closed her eyes, counting her blessings for a few moments before a knock came to her door.
"Who is it?" She called, keeping her voice level.
The door slid open, revealing one of her aunts. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but a couple men from the ANBU are here. They want to talk to you," she said, her eyes saddening.
Muffled yelling could be heard down the hall, making her aunt lower her head. Hakujahime sighed at the sound.
"I was wondering why they hadn't spoken to me, yet. I take it Grandfather's been up in arms about them coming over?" She stated more than asked.
Her aunt nodded. "Yes. He's been defending you. We all have. However-"
"They're still convinced that I'm a threat," Hakujahime said, closing her eyes. "Please tell the ANBU that I will go with them in just a few moments. I need to change, and my injuries still make it a little difficult to move."
Her aunt gasped. "Hakujahime, you know you don't have to do this!" She said. "They have no right to make you pay for what he did. You have always been protected and raised here," the woman added.
"I know that, you know that, everyone in the family knows that," Hakujahime said before looking back at her aunt. "But the people of the village don't. Orochimaru had a blood relative living here that no one knew about until the third exam. And then, low and behold, said man was there watching the whole time. Yes, it was a coincidence, but coincidences are rarely just that. They need to investigate and learn the truth for themselves," she explained.
"But-"
"Thank you for defending me, Auntie," Hakujahime said, staggering to her feet. "Now, please tell the ANBU that I'm coming of my own accord. And please calm grandfather down for me. I'm going for the same reason they've come: for the safety and peace of mind within the village," she said.
Her aunt frowned, her eyes closing, and a sigh of defeat escaping her her lips. "All right then," she said before shutting the door.
With that, Hakujahime got changed. She put on a light purple kimono with a violet sash. The skirt to the kimono was short, and she wore a pair of black harem pants underneath. She tied her headband around her forehead, then began to limp towards her door, stopping halfway and turning to her dresser. On top of the dresser was a gold necklace, with a pendant designed like a coiled snake. The snake's head rested on top of a round, purple stone.
Hakujahime limped towards her dresser and picked up the necklace. She stared at it for a few moments before pressing to her chest with both hands. Her eyes welled up with water again, but she used her free arm to dry them before any tears came. She put the necklace in her pocket, then left her room
As she got closer to the main hallway, she heard her grandfather's voice get louder and louder. He was in an uproar that Hakujahime was even considering leaving when she was still injured, and insisted she had done nothing wrong.
She sighed when she got to there, opening the door to the scene. Five members of the ANBU were present, each one standing firm, even when her grandfather got in their faces. The old man, with his long grey hair, green eyes and wrinkled skin, ceased yelling before running up to her.
"HAKUJAHIME!" He yelled before crushing her in a hug and starting to cry. "Why are you doing this, Sweetheart?!" He pulled away and looked her in the eyes. "You haven't done anything! You're still hurt! These men can't force you to do anything!" He wailed, covering his granddaughter's face with spit in the process.
Hakujahime's eyebrow twitched, frowning, and trying to not be annoyed. "I'm well aware, Grandfather, but they're not. They just need to make sure I'm not a risk. I don't have a problem with answering their questions," she said.
"But-"
"It's fine," she said, before turning to the ANBU. "I will go with you. But for my family's peace of mind, I ask you not charge me without concrete evidence. They've been very good to me and my mother. I'd prefer it if they didn't worry about me while in custody," she told them, bowing her head.
The ANBU were quiet for a few moments before one of them, a man in a red and white fox mask, spoke up. "We have no intention of charging you of anything just yet. We only intend to ask you some questions."
Hakujahime sighed, a small smile on her face before giving them a half bow. "Thank you, Sir," she said. As she stood straight, she tensed, feeling pain in her back from where her assailant struck her. She staggered for a moment, took a deep breath, then began to walk forward. "We should get going."
The man in the fox mask stared at her for a few moments. "How exactly were you injured?" He asked.
The question surprised Hakujahime, her eyes widening for a moment before she looked up at the man. "I fought one of Orochimaru's men. He used some weird jutsu and touched multiple parts of my body. It tore through my muscles and tendons, but I forced myself to move in spite of the pain. Medics healed most of the damage, but because I pushed through the pain, not everything could be healed. They said I should avoid moving as much as I can," she said.
The man stared at her for a moment. "I see. We will transport you to headquarters, then. No need for your family to worry about you hurting yourself," he said.
Hakujahime thanked him and she left with the men. One of them carried her on their back as they made their way to headquarters. Once they arrived, Hakujahime was placed in a candlelit room. There were no windows, and only one door in or out. The room was plain, save for the markings on the floor. There was a large circle made from various kanji, while others formed a four-pointed star, with a circle at the center. Four other ANBU stood at each point, a candle on the floor in front of all of them.
"What's this for?" She wondered out loud.
The men who brought her didn't immediately answer. The man who carried her simply put her in a wooden chair before following three of his companions outside the circle. Then they all moved to stand behind the officers at each point. The only one still with Hakujahime was the man in the fox mask, who waited for everyone to be in position. Then he spoke.
"The village elders need the truth. To ensure they have it, we have been ordered to place you in jutsu circle. This one not only ensures you will tell the truth, but will unlock memories buried in your subconscious. Furthermore, each member at each point will be able to tell when you're trying to hide something, have remembered something, or when you have not said everything," he explained.
Hakujahime was surprised at his answer, a hurt expression coming to her face. She realized it within a moment before sighing, a frown on her face. "Forgive me. I didn't expect this to be necessary. Nonetheless, I already decided to answer your questions. Do what you wish. You will see soon enough that I had nothing to do with the attack," she said, closing her eyes.
It was quiet for a few moments then. Hakujahime heard some of the ANBU member's clothes rustling, and some incoherent whispering. After a while, the man in the fox mask moved behind her. He moved her hair out of the way and pressed one his hands to the back of her neck.
"In that case, we will begin," he said.
A moment later, her body tensed. A steady flow of chakra entered her body from where her feet were on the floor, and from where the man's hand was on her neck. It felt like sparks were running through her entire body. Not enough to cause pain, but enough to put her senses into overdrive. She managed to stay awake for a few moments, but it eventually became too much. Everything went white, and time just faded away from her.
The ANBU all waited silently, watching as Hakujahime reacted to their jutsu. They saw her tense up and try to fight the effects of the circle she was in. The battle was brief, and within a few moments, she tipped forward and her arms fell to her sides.
The man in the fox mask removed his hand. "She's under. Just a few moments and she'll be answering our questions," he said.
One of the men on standby turned to him. "I'm surprised she came on her own. It takes some guts to try and maneuver her way out of this," the guy said.
"It wasn't guts," said the man with the fox mask. "She didn't try to fight this, and she knows how she looks in this situation. It's probable that she's telling the truth. Why else would she come here injured, knowing we may use any interrogation method she could fathom and beyond that?"
One of the female members spoke up. "She is Orochimaru's daughter, Captain. He does know our interrogation methods. He could have easily told her about any number of them," she said.
"I'm well aware. I said that it was probable. There is still room for her to be a spy," he said.
A groan came from Hakujahime, making the man in the fox mask walk to face her. "Hakujahime Mikoyo. Tell me everything about your life. Everything from the very beginning. When were you born? Who are your parents? What's your earliest memory of them? You will answer everything I ask you," he said.
There was a silent pause, Hakujahime sat there motionless. "Yes. I... I was born September 9th. I'm turning thirteen this year..."
Heads perked up, and they listened to her speak. The ninja at the star points kept there focus, but listened intently.
"My mom was... Lady Shiramiya Mikoyo. And my dad..."
Hakujahime grimaced, silent again.
"She's resisting, Sir," one of the ninja called out. "She doesn't want to answer."
The captain hummed for a moment, a hand to his chin. "Hakujahime, what's the name of your biological father?"
"...Orochi...maru..." she said, her face still grimacing.
"I see. Why didn't you want to answer me before, then? He's your father, is he not?" He asked.
"How...could he be?" She said, surprising everyone. "He made my mom cry... that's the first thing I remember about him," she added.
The captain looked to the others for a moment before looking to her. "When was this Hakujahime? What happened?" He asked her.
Silence fell again, and Hakujahime began to shake. Her body trembled, and she was doing her best not to cry. "The day he... left the village."
I hope this was a nice introduction for you all. Let me know what you think of Hakujahime's character.