In His Own Right:
Chapter Seven:
*The early morning, two days later.
She never really found herself strolling through the village. But, she did so when she had nothing better to do and didn't feel the need to train. It was a much-needed walk, she needed a clear and sound mind. The village was dark the atmosphere lacking the light of the sun, so she was out pretty early, just wondering. It was unusual for the girl, she never had an issue that bothered her to this extent, this mainly due to the fact that she was usually in control of her mind and emotions. Truthfully the Uchiha heir had no idea what she was going to do about the ultimatum her father had placed on her. She was grateful that he had been generous enough to give her a year, but that didn't seem like enough time for her. She didn't know how to go about dating and certainly wouldn't date someone so easily. Did she even feel any attraction towards anyone? The question remained an enigma as the girl continued to walk. Maybe she was taking things out of proportion, maybe she shouldn't worry about anything and possibly just let life play out. There were hundreds of thousands of people in this village, she could at least find one significant other. They would, of course, have to prove themselves worthy, but nonetheless it was probable that she would find one. Shisui's questions earlier this week were unusual, he never exactly seem interested in her love life. Her nonexistent one at that.
A familiar presence directly behind her jogged her from her thoughts. The girl twirled around on her heels, her eyes greeting the one eye of the white-haired copy ninja.
"Yo.", he greeted coolly.
"Kakashi-senpai."
"Come on now, I thought we were passed formalities, I'm no longer your captain after all. ", his free eye never left that of his infamous book.
"My apologies, of course."
A small hum almost inaudible emanated from his throat.
"So, what are you doing out at this early in the morning Izumi?"
He rubbed his mask covered nose before flipping to another page. It was true, he never seemed very interested in anything, well except that book of his
"Nothing, in particular, I just needed to clear my mind."
"Ah. I thought I was just been a bit paranoid, you do seem a bit abnormal, unnerved even. So, maybe you could tell your old Captain what's wrong.",
A small smile barely visible through the dark morning sky danced on her lips, he could tell there was a small storm brewing within the girl. Kakashi was someone she could relate to, he was calm, collective, intelligent, and down to Earth Shinobi. He'd been on Anbu just as her even being the girl's Captain on Team Ro. They both were prodigies and both had entered Anbu at a very tender age. She'd been on many missions with Kakashi, the two were rather close believe it or not.
"My issues are trivial, honestly.", she confessed.
"Then you'd have no problem sharing them, then." he turned a page again.
She sighed. Speaking about something that was pestering her might actually help lessen the weight.
"I've been given an ultimatum by my Father.", she paused for a short moment. "Regarding the fact that I have yet to find a suitable betrothed. I have to find someone to pursue within a year or else he'll find someone for me."
It was at this moment that the former Anbu Captain brought his lazy attention towards that of Izumi.
"Oh, you're twenty-one now, correct? Boy, how time flies.", He gazed up to the sky for a second almost in a short gaze of nostalgia. He returned his stare. "You are the clan Heir after all, it's something that's expected of you. And with that said, I don't believe it'd be too much trouble for you to find a lover.", He clicked his tongue, as he closed his book and placed it gently in his pouch.
"But, then again you don't seem to be the type of person who'd enjoy dating."
"No, I wouldn't mind it, it's my duty as heir. It's just simply picking the right person.", she answered simply. "I do not know where to begin."
She didn't exactly have any options at the moment.
"Hm, I'm not the person to really come to for relationship advice.", that's right, Kakashi's been single for as long as she could remember. He didn't exactly seem like he was interested in finding someone.
"However, I'm sure you can find someone within a year, a year is plenty of time. Don't stress over it really it won't do you any good, just live life as you normally would."
That seemed rational, why hadn't she thought of that herself. And she was supposed to be the genius of her generation.
"It seems difficult, I've never seen anyone in that way prior, even if I did, I have no idea where to initiate."
He chuckled softly, his eye almost sparkling in the dark, she assumed he was smiling under that mask, the situation apparently amusing to the elder man.
"It's not something that you learn to do, it just seems to happen.", with that he took withdrew his book again, beginning to engage in reading from a folded page.
"It's spontaneous?", she knew the answer to that question and almost regretted asking it.
"You really know little about relationships.", the white haired man averted his eyes toward the dark haired girl's. She couldn't deny it, the topic was never anything she cared for in the past, she had ignored anything dealing with such normalcy up until now.
"It's ironic how innocent our most elite shinobi actually is.", He let a soft chuckle escape his mask covered lips. "Hilariously ironic."
She did see the humor, Izumi could kill a man with her bare hands alone in more than a hundred and fifty ways and counting. But she'd never dated anyone or been intimate with someone of the same or different sex. She hadn't even had her first kiss yet. But she digressed. She would take his advice, live life as normally as possible, and hopefully, someone compatible will present themselves. It was quiet, the only audible noise being that of the gentle wind, successfully blowing the girls long hair that was kept in a neat ponytail.
"Thank you, Kakashi.", she gave her gratitude, genuinely thankful for his advice.
"Anytime.", he paused, Izumi watched as something unreadable passed through his eyes, he wished to speak more so she kept her eyes on his one.
"But I'm curious, it seems you've taken an interest into, a certain former blond student of mine. More than that surveillance mission you've had since my heyday."
She nodded in confirmation. "It would seem that both Naruto and my brother got themselves in a bit of trouble with the Godaime. I'm simply enforcing their punishment. Which isn't much of a punishment if you asked me, it's actually been pretty productive for the two.",
"Ah, that explains it, those idiots.", he answered nonchalantly.
"So, what has you wandering so early this morning, Kakashi?"
The Jounin shrugged. "Just getting lost on the road of life."
"Of course.", she answered almost laughing at his response, just the typical Kakashi Hatake.
Only Naruto arrived in the warm afternoon.
She barely blocked a well-aimed kick that had been directed towards her face, the blond shinobi was relentless. She had been on the defensive the whole entire spar, his movements were fast and he didn't seem to tire. So she was blocking and avoiding all his attacks as he attempted to weaken her defense, he'd be successful too if she allowed him to continue his bombardment. He sent a jab that would have definitely been devastated if she hadn't ducked. With that, she found an opening and used it to her advantage, as she took to the ground and used her leg to sweep the boy from his feet. He fell on his back but was quick to recover back to his feet. His form was impressive and seemed to improve each time they spared.
He withdrew a Kunai and slashed at the girl, barely missing her face and cutting a few strands of her black hair. She replied with her own Kunai, as she blocked his attack, before countering with her own. The two exchanged blows though neither were able to land significant damage, their movements were fluent and corresponded with each other, so much that it almost looked as if they were dancing. An eloquent and sophisticated dance that had no music except the beatings of their hearts and the sounds of their breathing. They watched and analyzed each other's movements like a vigilante snapping turtle waiting for the right moment to strike obtaining its prey. Except the two were currently in movement as they attack and avoid each's own attack, again and again. It finally ended with Naruto's face in the ground, a sharp kunai placed gently at his throat, as she held a knee forcefully on his spine.
"I think I've won this one, Naruto."
A laughed emanated from his throat, the blond moved his face from the grass and more towards the left to incline his blue eyes with her black ones.
"I don't think so.", suddenly she felt a sharp metal press against her own throat, her black eyes widened.
"I think we can call this one a draw."
He somehow, somewhere he had summoned a shadow clone to aid him. It had to have been sometime in the beginning of the spar. She would have caught it if she had activated her Sharingan for this spar, but regardless he gets a draw.
"Fair enough.", she released the boy as he allowed his clone to disappear in a cloud of smoke.
"We should rest for a while.", she instructed taking a seat on the grass, laying back and not caring that her hair would get dirty.
Naruto took a seat beside her, his expression that of the most optimistic individual she'd seen..well...ever.
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot!", Naruto stood to his feet, Izumi watched him fiddle through his orange pants, before checking his green shinobi vest.
"Here it is!" Here was what? She continued to watch curiously, as the boy pulled out what appeared to be a button pin with the Uchiha insignia on it.
"A button pin?"
"Yeah, I uh, know it isn't much and I'll understand if you don't wish to take it. But it's my gift to you. I even got my own with the Uzumaki clan signature, but it's back at home.", she scratched his head as expected.
He'd gotten her a button pin? When was the last time she'd ever received a gift from someone? She had a faint memory of Sasuke giving her something years ago, however otherwise she couldn't seem to remember much. It was thoughtful, in all honesty, it was an absolute gesture of good intentions.
She put her hand out, his eyes widen in glee as he came forward and placed it in her hand.
"That was thoughtful of you, Naruto. Thank-you."
It was delightful to be around him he was such a vibrant and optimistic individual. Suddenly something clicked in her head, this young man before her was very interesting indeed, of which she'd known for the majority of her life. Albeit younger than her, in that moment, Izumi realized that she liked the Uzumaki. She had been spending a large sum of time with him, and he was an excellent shinobi. So considering him as a candidate didn't seem far fetched. But, in a relationship, both parties had to have a mutual understanding for the damn relationship to work. Which brings up the question. Did he possibly like her? His gestures did seem rather friendly, but nothing more than innocent. And even if he did like her, what if it were nothing more than infatuation? It seemed as if only time would tell, but she kept Naruto as a candidate.
Night had finally arrived.
It wasn't hard to find the two, despite the dark night atmosphere, though he assumed they wanted to be found, that was fine though because finally after a whole entire day of surveillance and vigilance they'd given away their position. He was separated from the rest of the shinobi on the manhunt, he almost jumped in glee when he realized he was the first to spot them. Shisui dropped to the forest floor, his Sharingan blazing as she stared at the two men before him. The two were still, and not at all surprised to see the Anbu operative in front of them, this slightly made Shisui cautious. The first man was tall, possibly the tallest person he'd seen in a while. But that wasn't his most striking feature. Which struck Shisui the most as strange was his pale blue skin and shark-like features, including his K-9 teeth which were currently smiling heavily at the Uchiha. He knew this man from the Bingo Books. His eyes then fell on the blond dude to the pale man's left. He too had a sadistic smile, his eye covered by long blond hair that almost made the guy look feminine. His identity was unknown, however... From the dark robes that were had small red clouds littered on them, he could only assume that they were members of The criminal organization, Akatsuki.
He withdrew his katana, the familiar sound of the blade being unleashed echoing throughout the woods. His crimson red eyes glowed through the darkness, as he pointed his weapon as he allowed flames to ignite, enhancing the sword's effective power.
"Akatsuki, it's been a while since we've seen any of you guys. Finally got over team seven killing that little puppet master of yours.", he clicked his tongue.
"Hey Kisame, let me kill this bastard, yeah?",
Kisame one of the former seven ninja swordsmen of the mist looked Shisui over from head to toe, the Anbu operative who didn't have his uniform on today narrowed his eyes.
"Sure thing kid, I guess we won't be going anywhere with him in the way but, be cautious. This isn't just any Shinobi...", his smile never left his pale shark face. "..Shisui Uchiha, of the body flicker, no less. Don't take him lightly."
He smiled, his arrogance getting the better of him. "Why not come at me at the same time? I can wipe the floor with both of ya!" he closed his eyes saying this, the blue-skinned shark man seemed to notice his action.
"Deidara, don't look him in the eye, you'll be trapped in his genjutsu and you'd never even know it!", his eyes finally opened, revealing his mangekyō Sharingan. He hoped to dispose of them quickly and effectively before reinforcements arrive anyway.
*Really Naruto, a Button Pin? Really? I know it's cheesy, corny, retarded but roll with it. Izumi likes it and that's all that matters. But as always I hoped this was a pleasant chapter for you guys and the next will be out much sooner than this one. So stay tuned!
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