It had been a long time since Akihane had worn a piece of her Clan's history.
Back in the Academy, Iruka had taught Civilians and Clan children alike about the different customs of different clans. The Uzumaki Clan had been brought up once, though no one linked it to her name at the time. Iruka had talked about how the Uzumaki clan did not wear white on their wedding day, but instead gold or red. The Uzumaki reserved the color white for hardship, the overcoming of struggles, and for the loss of those precious.
White, like the flames and smoke that consumed the bodies of the dead in a true Uzumaki Funeral, white like the swirling tides of retribution.
White, like the silk kimono donned by one Uzumaki Akihane for the funeral of her beloved grandfather.
"Akihane?" Genma spoke from behind her.
She stood in her room gifted to her by Hayate, her face void of most emotion as she looked at her appearance. Yugau stepped out from beside her, finishing with placing a traditional comb in her hair gifted to her by Jiraiya.
"Hai, I'm ready," Akihane whispered, turning to face her brother.
She offered the man a truly gentle smile, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes even as her fingers reached up to grip at her the tags laying on her skin.
She was dressed exactly as an heiress should be for the death of someone important, though the villagers would likely find fault in her still. The Uzumaki were unique in their traditions, and often times non-Shinobi didn't understand.
Akihane blinked as Genma offered her an arm, slipping hers through it as they started walking.
Jiraiya wore his own funeral robes, not nearly as bright or daunting as her own, but still imposing.
"Aki." The man spoke softly, his eyes trailing her form once, then twice, before he met her gaze.
She shook her head and kept pace with Genma until Jiraiya fell into step with her. Yugau and Hayate followed behind them. Raidou and Iwashi were both outside, and soon the entire party was walking toward the Graveyard procession where Hiruzen would be buried.
He had died peacefully in the night, not long after he had forced Akihane to sleep. She was a little annoyed over Hiruzen's actions, however, she forgave him as quickly as the thought left her mind. Her Grandfather was dead, but that didn't mean his legacy, the words he spoke, or even the difference he made in people's lives would.
They walked down the curve of the dirt path, stopping near the entrance to the Hayate Clan Grounds. The rest of Team Seven along with members of Team Eight and Team Ten.
All eyes darted from Jiraiya and Genma directly to Akihane. Some eyes widened, while others processed what they saw.
"Naru, why are you wearing white?" Sakura spoke up, confusion and a bit of annoyance in her tone.
Akihane stepped beside her teammates, pausing to grasp Sasuke's hand when he reached for her.
"The Uzumaki Clan doesn't use black for funerals, Sakura. Death is seen as the rebirth…not the end." Akihane relayed, her eyes drifting passed her friend to her fellow Kunoichi. Sakura nodded, her eyes lighting with understanding.
"Oh," Sakura said.
Kakashi hummed beside them, gently herding his Genin forward to the Funeral.
Behind them, Shikamaru stood with Hinata, the two watching the exchanges with vague interest. Choji calmly followed Shikamaru, for once not holding his bag of chips, while Asuma trailed beside him. Konohamaru was collected at his Uncle's side, face downcast.
Kurenai pressed her shoulder into Asuma's, meeting his gaze with a worried look on her blank face. Asuma offered her a weak smile in return.
The rest fell into line around the others, Jiraiya stepping up with Genma to flank Akihane. Thus, they seemed to be tailing Team Seven.
The masses all stood together, black and grey merging together. The newcomers settled into the ranks, each member making sure they could witness the front.
The skies, heavy with clouds and booming every now and then with thunder, started to pour.
The words spoken by the priest overseeing the ceremony were drowned in sobs and booms, pictures of the deceased lining the walls of the graveyard while a casket sealed shut lay in the middle. Hiruzen's picture was placed on top, his custom pipe and Hokage Garb donned exactly how Akihane remembered.
She closed her eyes and listened as the rain fell, her heart twisting painfully more than once. She could feel wetness on her cheeks but did not know if the droplets trailing her face were simply rain or her tears.
Sasuke's hand squeezed her own and she felt his chakra twist around her wrist, surging up her veins in reassurance.
Her eyes opened and she gazed ahead.
The people were moving along the line now, crying before graves or leaving either priors or parting gifts. Flowers of all colors and meanings were placed at the graves, several already wilting under the steady downpour.
She stepped forward with Sasuke, blinking when another shoulder stepped in line with hers. Hinata joined them and took Akihane's other hand, all three stepping toward the graves.
The silence seemed to descend as people took note of them, several daring to sneer at Akihane's clothes. Her bright white Kimono shone silver under the water, special seals keeping her clothes dry even as her hair pasted onto her forehead. She stopped before the Hokage's newly dug grave, his casket having been lowered in while she was fighting her tears.
Both of her hands were let go, leaving her to place her palm on the ground. Whispers about her disrespect echoed, more about how disgraceful she was treating their fallen leader and how people expected as much from a monster blossoming in the graveyard.
With eyes on her back and whispers piercing her mind, Akihane added the chakra she had kept hidden, allowing Hashirama's soft tutoring to drown out everything else even as her heart pounded.
Her eyes watched as flowers bloomed below her fingertips and fire blossoms grew around her.
All of the other flowers in the area drunk the chakra in, brightening and spreading out into something far more beautiful than before.
Akihane rose even as her knees wobbled dangerously. Within moments Hinata and Sasuke had steadied her and the three were walking away.
A smile graced her lips as she faced those before her, Kakashi looking to her with something odd in his gaze while Sakura returned her smile.
Konohamaru looked up at her and he stepped forward once.
Akihane crouched again, this time in front of the boy. She felt exhausted from her display, but she showed nothing of her weakness.
Instead, she smiled at the boy and offered her hand.
"Come on, I'll take you over there." She whispered, earning a shaky nod as the boy rubbed his nose, his red eyes gazing at her intently.
"Hai, A-Aki-Neechan." He whispered back, reaching for her hand even as Asuma stepped up to her other side. Kurenai went with Asuma, and Akihane made her way back to the grave.
She never faltered in her steps and held onto Konohamaru as he placed his flowers down, his eyes watery. They walked back together, and when Konohamaru couldn't hold back his sobs anymore, Akihane held him close.
The sky cried with the people of Konoha, opening Heaven's gates as if to comfort the broken hearts of earth's people.
Akihane stood tall as the people filed away, their group meeting with the rest of the Rookie Teams before they all started toward Akihane's apartment.
I~~~~I
Akihane led the large group into her home, pausing only to open the door before she removed her sandals. Inside of the home, Haku was tending to the stove with a reluctant Zabuza, the two excused from the services due to their status as semi-outsiders to the village.
"Haku-San," Akihane called out, gravitating toward the boy. Sasuke, Shikamaru, Choji, and Hinata followed behind her, Kakashi, Kurenai, and Asuma all heading toward where they knew the other table to be.
Sakura grabbed onto Ino's hand to ask for her help with the table, while Kiba and Shino moved to help in the kitchen. The rest of the guests moved the furniture to make more room.
The noise started to build, and the regular rhythm of their dinners flowed through everyone as the worked together. Laughter began to grow and soon the dreary atmosphere that had been present was rectified.
In the kitchen, Akihane aided Haku with the meat, Hinata dragging Shikamaru and Sasuke into helping her with the deserts. Choji was left to prep the vegetables with the reluctant Zabuza, who tossed insults every so often at Akihane and Sasuke's backs.
Once or twice a knife may have hit the wall by the man's head, though Sasuke would forever deny he used a kitchen knife in such a manner.
Kakashi and Asuma settled the table down in the living room, Kurenai hauling another to attach to it.
Sakura and Ino placed a tablecloth on the top, Konohamaru trailing behind them with a leaning tower of plates.
At one point Genma, Iwashi, and Raidou all had to rush forward to stop the dishes from breaking on the floor after Konohamaru tripped. The sheepish boy smile at them and the three were drafted into helping set the table with the girls and the youngest Sarutobi.
Jiraiya took to the couches at the back, playing Shogi with Yugau while Hayate rested his head on her lap.
Just as the table had finished being set, a ringing sound drifted through the apartment. Akihane's voice shouted over both the ring and the other sound of rushing water. "-Could someone get that! It's most likely Team Gai!"
Jiraiya groaned and slammed his head onto the Shogi board after losing, Yugau laughing into her hand while Hayate snickered.
Zabuza was suddenly shoved from the kitchen, another knife flying past him, bouncing off the wall behind him harmlessly despite the speed of the blade.
"Make yourself useful." A voice strangely like the Uchiha's called out, earning a few choice words from the swordsman before he walked out the door.
The three Sensei's gazes met and they all shared knowing looks. Kakashi cheerfully held up three fingers, Asuma following up with two. Kurenai finished with the single finger for them, all three turned to the door expectantly.
"YOSH! Your flames of youth burn brightly!" An exuberant voice called out.
"My 'flames of youth' aren't doing anything!" Zabuza's holler broke through.
Everyone, even those in the kitchen, tilted their heads to the door just as it slammed open.
Zabuza stepped inside, dragging the two forms of Gai and Lee behind him as they shouted about Youth while clinging to his legs.
Behind the man Tenten and Neji stood, both deadpanning at the scene.
Kakashi withheld a smirk and offered an eye-smile to Zabuza, inwardly laughing.
The Nuke Nin cast him a dark glance, managing to just barely shake off his tales before he stalked into the kitchen. Both spandex-clad Nin were quick to follow, Tenten and Neji stepping into the rather crowded apartment.
Genma chose that time to meet with Gai, the two attaching arms around the other's shoulders while Raidou and Iwashi watched in amusement.
"Gai-San, if you could help Choji-Kun with the potatoes-" Akihane's voice cut in momentarily before she and many others were drowned out by the chaos in the kitchen.
Kakashi shook his head at the image they all created, Zabuza bickering with Genma, both of their eyes lit up in a challenge. Raidou was trying to disrupt the duel that would no doubt occur, Iwashi laughing his head off in the process.
Sasuke was also bickering, only it was with Hinata. The Heiress was ordering him into cutting peaches for a cobbler. Shikamaru was grumbling about troublesome women as he worked the crumble, his eyes narrowed on the dough in annoyance. Akihane and Haku conversed rather peacefully next to the others, the two managing the chicken in the oven at the same time that they managed the cooking vegetables on the stovetop.
In the den, Ino, Sakura, Konohamaru, Asuma, Tenten, and somehow Neji, had all been dragged into a game of cards. Kurenai was now playing Yugau at Shogi while Jiraiya moved to stand beside Kakashi.
"Lovely Chaos, isn't it?" Jiraiya commented, earning a chuckle from the Jonin.
After the stress that everyone had been under and the pain they went through, a dinner like this was just what people needed. Darkness still loomed, the rain pattering at the sides of the house while thunder boomed, but no storm could invade this time.
Somehow, Akihane's dinners had managed to chase away all of the negative aspects of their lives, offering them a safe haven from their time as Shinobi of Konoha. Somehow the Uzumaki had created a place everyone felt safe and content in.
Kakashi nodded at Jiraiya, watching his students as they worked with the others, Sakura smirking as she dominated the card game, Sasuke scowling and flinging an apple at Hinata, Akihane ducking to avoid a flying potato spawned from Genma and Zabuza slamming their hands on the counter.
Yes, they weren't perfect, and yes, they most definitely needed help, and yet, Team Seven was something special. Kakashi cherished every moment with his Genin, only now understanding what his Sensei had meant by 'you'll understand' when he questioned how the man felt about his own team, the former Team Seven.
"It is lovely." Kakashi murmured quietly, blinking when Akihane glanced back and met his gaze.
Unintended, simply by instinct, the girl smiled at him. His heart shifted and he tried not to react even as he waved at her and gave his signature eye smile. The girl raised a brow and shook her head, the gesture both Kushina and Minato and yet all Akihane.
"Just…amazing," Kakashi spoke clearer, shifting his smile to the Legendary Sannin beside him. Jiraiya chuckled, turning and marching his way to the game of cards.
A single mention of strip-poker had the man flying into the wall, Sakura, Ino, and Tenten all shouting at the man for being a pervert.
"Ero-Sennin, stop bothering my teammates with your perverted tendencies!" Akihane's shout rang from the kitchen, a chakra-powered steak knife slamming into the ground between Jiraiya legs in warning.
The man gulped, looking up in betrayal at his goddaughter.
"A-Aki!" He shouted, raising the volume in the room once more.
Kakashi shook his head, turning to go walk over to his student and peer over her shoulder, maybe even sneak a bite of the eggplant she had on the stove. He wondered if she would use another steak knife on him, or try something else.
The chaos continued.
I~~~~I
By the time that everyone had settled enough to sit at the table, the food had already been made and placed in the middle of everyone. Pitchers of drinks were slipped over the tablecloth and soon everyone was waiting for the dinner to start.
Team Seven sat at the front of the table, Team Eight across from them, followed by Team Ten, Iwashi, Raidou sitting at the edge, followed by Genma, Jiraiya, Team Nine, Zabuza, Haku, Hayate, Yugau, Konohamaru, Asuma, Kurenai, and Kakashi.
Kakashi took note of the looks traded by those who had participated in their dinners before, closing his eyes just as Akihane did.
Silence unlike before pressed on them all, this one much longer and deeper than anyone they had participated in before.
The silence, while odd at first, stuck to you. The silence wasn't a prayer, but it was a call to forces long gone.
All of the souls passed, the lives lost and the bonds broken were brought forth. They hovered above them all and made the air thick.
Even so, with all the names and memories present in their thoughts, none of them broke. Instead, they shared the burden collectively, only releasing its hold when the silence was broken by Akihane herself.
The girl asked Sasuke to hand her some rice, and from there the dinner started.
Conversations took up, each person contributing as much as the next. Halfway through the meal, Sasuke had somehow challenged Akihane to a spar, Gai had been tackled by Genma, Kakashi had to dodge several flying potatoes, and Jiraiya had nearly been murdered twice, and the door had been knocked on.
Akihane was the one to stand and answer it, everyone subtly, or not so subtly, glancing over to see what it was about.
Behind the door stood an ANBU officer decked in a Gecko mask. Yamori held a hand out to Akihane, who glanced back at the others.
Confusion showed but she nodded to Genma, forcing the man to rise and head toward them even as Akihane stepped out. The door shut behind the two, an odd silence descending over the table for a few moments.
"What was that about, Sensei?" Sakura spoke up, earning Kakashi's glance. The man gave her his signature smile to reassure her, despite the worry deep in his chest.
"Probably nothing. Don't worry Sakura." He offered, the Jonin in the room stiffening a fraction when they felt the tell-tale chakra surge of a Shuinshin.
Jiraiya met their gazes, rising slowly to go manage Akihane's plate.
"Oi, Uchiha, help me pass out the desert," Jiraiya ordered the boy, earning himself a dark glare.
The boy had been staring at his teammate with obvious worry, his eyes hooded with dark intent should something happen to Akihane.
Hinata rose with the boy, sighing heavily as she grabbed her plate. She too had the look of retribution, though her clam demeanor detracted from the fact.
"I'll help." She spoke, smiling at Jiraiya and nodding her head in respect. Sasuke begrudgingly followed behind her.
I~~~~I
Akihane and Genma appeared with Yamori in the council room chambers. The ANBU nodded to the two elders situated before them, vanishing soon afterward.
Next to the elders stood Nara Shikaku and Morino Ibiki, both looking grim.
Akihane quickly bowed to the elders, earning inclines of their heads back. Genma did the same.
"We did not require you, Shiranui-San," Homura spoke first, earning a narrowed gaze from his addressee.
"As Akihane is the Heiress of the Uzumaki Clan, and standing Head, she is entitled to an advisor. Do to my knowledge on the subject from being the former Uzumaki Head's assistant advisor, I am the best for such a job."
Genma told them, making sure to add enough force to his voice to make it clear he wasn't leaving Akihane alone with them. He didn't trust either of the elders, even if Ibiki and Shikaku were present.
"Very well…Uzumaki Akihane, you were summoned here due to some…complications with Hiruzen's Will."
Akihane's brow furrowed. Anything Hiruzen had gifted to her in his Will she either had already collected or knew about. She had helped the man write the thing, so she would know if something wasn't possible or odd enough for the Elders to get their robes in a twist.
"Hai, what was it Mitokado-San?" Akihane addressed the elder respectfully.
Homura's frown deepened and he looked toward Koharu. The two had a silent conversation between them before Koharu answered Akihane.
"According to the last wish…and order of the Sandaime, the stand-in leader, with the aid of her attendants and under the advisory of us and the Jonin Commander and Sub commanders…will be Uzumaki Akihane Naru."
The woman finished with a deep breath.
Akihane froze in place, her eyes wide as she stared at the two council members. Forgetting her manners for a moment, she nearly gaped at the elders.
Genma looked just as surprised, his gaze shifting sharply to both Shikaku, the Jonin Commander, and Ibiki, the Sub Jonin Commander and head of the TI department. Both of them nodded at him, settling the lump in his throat.
Akihane swayed for a moment before blinking and righting herself.
"M-me? I-I'm hardly a Chunin, I don't have the expertise required…s-surely it's a mistake, Mitokado-San, Utatane-San?" Akihane looked pleadingly at the elders, trying to figure out what Hiruzen had been thinking.
Kakashi would have been a better choice as standing leader, heck, any Jonin would have been better than her. No one would believe she was standing Hokage, let alone respect her in such a position. The Civilian Council hardly tolerated her being Standing Uzumaki Head.
Koharu pursed her lips and met Akihane's gaze squarely.
"We are not lying, Uzumaki-San. He had it worded correctly and even had someone sign over his decision. You, as of now, are the Standing Leader until another candidate is either found or trained."
Akihane tried not to react, she really did. Despite her tries she still swayed, her body nearly collapsing.
She was tired. She had wanted to rest ever since the beginning of the invasion. Only, every time she laid her head down she fell into restless slumber.
Akihane didn't want to deal with this, didn't want to handle the responsibility of being the leader of hundreds, if not thousands, of Shinobi and villagers.
Men, women, children would be under her.
Genma's arms wrapped around her and he whispered quietly into her ear, trying to bring her back.
She wanted so badly to close her eyes and sink into his embrace, to hide from her new responsibilities.
The problem was that she couldn't. She now had a duty, one to her village and its people. She had sworn to protect Konoha, to both Shisui and the Sandaime. Akihane would not falter.
Exactly as she had at the funeral, Akihane rallied her leftover strength, standing tall as she looked back to the worried gazes of those around her. The Elders were gazing at her oddly, as though they had only just realized how young she truly was.
Her next actions set them all off, her words not that of a girl of thirteen, but rather that of a Kunoichi tasked with a mission.
"Where do you need me to start?"
I~~~~I
Oof. So the cat's out of the bag. Don't murder me, this had been planned. Akihane isn't actually Hokage, but Hiruzen pulled some strings to put her with more influence until his next successor is chosen. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it!
Drabble-Nara Dinner
Sitting at the table with Shikaku and Yoshino wasn't that odd.
Shikamaru helped her adjust to the atmosphere, and soon they had moved on to the topic she could see burning in the adults' minds.
"You wanted to know about the ability that Shikamaru-San displayed in the arena, correct?"
Akihane asked the two, earning reluctant nods.
Akihane turned to Shikamaru, the boy sighing before he raised his hand.
Thin tendrils danced from his palm, spawned out of the shadows the light cast on his hand.
Shikaku nearly dropped his chopsticks as Shikamaru used his tendrils to add another serving to his plate, his eyes barely focused on them.
"Akihane helped me isolate my Yin Chakra. By using only the Yin part I can manipulate the shadows more and I'm able to use them like chakra threads."
Shikaku glanced at Akihane, watching as the girl lifted her hand and placed it over Shikamaru's.
After a moment, chakra poured out and soon white chakra shifted tentatively over Shikamaru's tendrils, slowly burning away the shadows.
Shikamaru muttered under his breath and glared at the Uzumaki, earning an amused smirk from the Kunoichi.
He added more chakra, and the threads expanded, still thinner than paper, swallowing her chakra.
The two removed their hands, the orb shattering into a million little pieces, each dissolving into the air.
Shikamaru's breathing was a little off, but otherwise, the boy seemed to be okay.
Shaking his head, Shikaku looked back to Akihane.
"Would you mind playing me at Shogi?"
Akihane blinked in surprise but nodded slowly.
"I'd love to."
