So Nawaki is alive, cause of the armor Tsunade bought. I'm assuming Tsunade told him. "You're lucky that crazy Uchiha girl is a good gambler lol."
Course, he didn't go unscathed. And just so you guys know, this does NOT mean this is romantic. He's thankful she helped his sister. NOT ROMANTIC, I'M NOT TRYING TO SUPPORT THIS ANYMORE THEN ANY OF THE OTHERS. HE IS ALSO SEVENTEEN, OKAY, I"M NOT TRYING TO MAKE THIS MACHIKOxNAWAKI
Oh, and Machiko's signature jutsu is totally a not subtle reference to the title.
Really long!
Nawaki had been hoping to thank Uchiha Machiko for some time.
His Onee-chan had told him that the reason she had gotten that protective armor for him, along with his beloved grandfather's beloved necklace, was that a strange Uchiha girl was good at gambling.
Nawaki had needed some more explanation after that. On more then one subject.
"Who's Machiko?" Nawaki had asked, confused. His older sister smiled.
'She's a student of Jiraya, and an Uchiha. But she's not really like an Uchiha. She's very…..rambunctious. Maybe sometime I can introduce you." Tsunade laughed.
Nawaki had looked forward to that.
The girl had virtually saved him, after all.
But his Onee-chan had come back from the war with tired eyes and the news Machiko and Jiraya had stayed behind to help some orphans.
So Nawaki had to wait longer. But he was patient, because if he hadn't gotten that armor, he possibly could have died. Onee-chan had told him that that armor had saved his life. Her eyes had been filled with pain.
Nawaki hadn't been killed. But his leg had been damaged a lot. It was unlikely he would ever be able to be a fully functioning shinobi. But it could have been so much worse.
So very much worse.
If he had died, he would have left his Onee-chan and his friends and the people he had wanted to protect as a Hokage.
So while Machiko hadn't directly saved him, she had been a deciding factor.
So three years later, Nawaki had hoped to thank her sincerely.
Nawaki had been sitting in his home, flipping through a book, when Tsunade had come into the house.
"Hey, Nawaki." She said, kissing his forehead.
"Hi, Onee-chan." Nawaki said cheerfully, flipping a page.
"Guess what." She said, grinning.
"Eh?"
"Jiraya's back."
Nawaki looked up at her in surprise. "Wait."
"Yep." Tsunade said. "Machiko's back, you can thank her."
"Oh, good!" Nawaki said, immedietley, getting up in excitment.
She smiled at him. "I'm coming with you. It's been a while."
Nawaki nodded.
"Jiraya!"
The white haired man turned around, his face lighting up.
'Tsunade!" He said jovially, slinging his arm over her shoulder. He grinned down at Nawaki, reaching down and ruffling his hair.
"Yo, Nawaki. Long time no see!" Jiraya said brightly.
Nawaki smiled. 'Hi, Jiraya-san. Do you know where your student is?"
Jiraya blinked. "Which one?"
"Machiko Uchiha"
"Ah, she went to see her family. Why?"
"Nawaki wants to thank her." Tsunade put in.
Jiraya's face cleared.
"Ahh."
Nawaki gently pushed Jiraya's hand off his hair.
'Thanks, but I got to go." He said.
Jiraya suddenly gained a sly look on his face.
"Hmm, maybe you can take her out for lunch, eh Nawaki?"
Nawaki blinked. "That's a good idea!"
She was probably ready for some Konoha food after three years in Ame, rations were few and far between.
"Yeah, I'll buy her lunch!"
That would be a good way to show her that he was thankful.
Jiraya began coughing violently.
Tsunade smacked his head.
"Shut up, Jiraya." She snarled.
She turned, smiling at Nawaki, who took a step back.
"That'd be nice of you, Nawaki." She said, smiling faintly.
Confused, Nawaki nodded and turned away.
He heard Tsunade's voice. "Well, it's good to see you, Jiraya." Her voice had softened a bit.
"Good to see you too, Tsunade. Want to go get a drink?"
"Sure."
Nawaki wandered around the Uchiha compound, unsure where the girl was.
I hope I can find her soon.
Nawaki heard a shriek, and farther into the compound, a small plume of smoke
That's probably her. He decided, and made his way towards the disturbance.
"Ahh, I guess this is why I need supervision."
Machiko brushed off dirt and stood up.
Nawaki, deciding that this was as good of a time as any.
"Ah, Machiko-san?"
She turned towards him.
She looked like most Uchiha. Pale skin, long black and wild hair, and pitch black eyes. Her forehead protector looked beat up, and she was dressed in a simple kimono. She looked about fourteen or so, three years younger then Nawaki.
"Eh?" She asked, tilting her head. "Who're you?"
"I'm Nawaki Senju." He introduced himself.
She blinked. "Ah, Machiko Uchiha."
"I'm here to thank you."
She cocked her head, utterly baffled. "Thank me for what?"
"For saving my life."
She looked at him for a long minute.
"I'm going to need an explanation for that."
Nawaki explained how his sister had bought the armor, and if he didn't, he would be dead.
Her eyes widened. "Wow, okay. Well, that's really your sister who did that."
"No, Tsunade-onee-chan said that if you hadn't given the funds, she couldn't buy some high quality armor, and I'd be dead." He said earnestly.
She blinked. "Oh. Well, you're welcome." She said awkwardly.
"I'd like to thank you by taking you out to lunch." He said.
Her eyes widened. "No, you really don't have to-"
"I insist." Nawaki said. "I'm very thankful to you."
She shook her head. "I don't even know you, I can't accept that." She protested.
Nawaki shook his head. "Without you, I'd be dead."
"That's really convuluted." Machiko replied.
"Please?" Nawaki asked.
She paused for a second.
"Fine." She replied grudgingly. "I'll owe you a lunch some other time."
Nawaki smiled, happier now that she accepted his invitation.
"Well, what resturant do you want to go to?" He asked her.
She paused, thinking.
"Yakiniku Q?" She offered.
Nawaki nodded. It was close by, served good food, and he suspected she chose it because it was cheap.
Machiko dropped a piece of meat onto the grill and watched it cook as Nawaki chewed a piece of meat.
"So." She said finally, the silence getting to her. "Are you a ninja?"
He nodded. "I'm just a chunin, however." He admitted.
"Oh, do you specilize in something?" Machiko asked.
"I create fire and wind based jutsus." Said Nawaki. "Onee-chan's helped me in that, and Dan-"
Machiko choked on her piece of meat.
"Are you okay?" He asked in concern.
She nodded. "Dan?" She gasped out.
Oh, right, she probably wouldn't know him.
"He's a friend of my sister. They're very close."
Machiko seemed to be overcome with another coughing fit.
Nawaki swore she muttured I bet they are under her breath.
Nawaki pushed a glass of water towards her, concerned.
She took the water and took a sip. "Thanks."
They lasped into another silence.
"So." He said. "Do you have family?"
She nodded. "I have a twin sister, her name's Mikoto."
"Ah."
"So, do you create fire jutsus?" Machiko asked curiously.
He nodded.
Her face lit up. "How do you do that?"
Pleased to be engaging in conversation, Nawaki explained the basis of jutsu creation.
It was a polite conversation and by the time it was done, Nawaki was confident that they could be polite friends.
She seemed like a nice girl.
Omake: Machiko returns (Much longer then normal, and consider them canon. Some are sad, some funny, some i'm not sure.)
Noriko:
"Ow! Okay, I'm sorry Mom, I promise I won't help three orphans and a dog in the land of Hidden Rain and train them to be powerful shinobi-ow! Okay, I'm sorry!" A dark haired girl with long spiky hair cowered as a beautiful dark haired woman towered over her like a vengeful goddess.
"You stayed in that Kami foresaken country for three years, and Tsunade-hime had to tell us!" Noriko Uchiha raged, bringing her hand onto her head again.
"I'm gonna get brain damage, you know!" Machiko whined.
"Tsunade-hime can fix it!
"Ow! Okay, I'm really sorry!" Machiko cried.
"You missed three birthdays! You're fourteen now, and I haven't seen you since you were eleven!"
"Mom, that's what you're worried about? It's war, it's still going on! Stop hitting me!"
"You been gone for three years!"
"Mikoto only came back, what, a few months ago?"
"She had a break in between her missions to see us! She didn't leave for a country and decide to stay for three years longer."
"I'm sorry!" Machiko whined.
Noriko sighed, and the anger dissapated, leaving weariness behind.
"Stupid brat." She muttured. "Giving me grey hairs."
Machiko peeked from under her bangs. "I'm sorry Mom, I just really didn't want to leave Jiraya-sensei." She mumbled, massaging the top of her head.
Noriko closed her eyes. "I was worried you had been killed." She said slowly. "I didn't know who you had gone against or what you were doing. I was worried my daughter had been hurt."
Machiko hugged her, and Noriko tried not to cry as she realized her daughter had grown to shoulder height.
"I'm sorry too, Mom." She mumbled into her shoulder. "I promise I won't do anything like that again."
Noriko firmly hugged her back.
"Mikoto missed you, you know."
Machiko brightined a bit.
"Oh, Hanzō the Salamander said I had to call myself Tengu Machiko!"
"You met HANZŌ?!"
"What? I thought you knew-OW! Tsunade-hime!"
Shouri
Shouri stared at the dark haired girl who stood in front of him, a sheepish smile on her face and one hand on her head.
"Yo, Dad." She offered, giving a small smile.
"Machiko?"
"One of your moronic daughters has finally come home." Noriko said, arms crossed.
Shouri blinked and moved towards his daughter.
And he did something that probably would make most people who knew the stoic Uchiha have a heart attack.
He hugged his daughter tightly.
"I'm glad your safe." He said quietly.
She hugged him as well.
"Well, you reacted better then Mom." She whispered.
He pulled away from the hug, looking at his daughter, gauging how well she felt.
She looked a little tired, but happy and still well fed.
That was good, because if Jiraya hadn't kept her well fed and warm Shouri would have done some very painful things. And probably called in his favors at the Torture and Interrogation center.
Driven with a sudden impulse to do what his father had done whenever he was proud, he poked his daughter in the forehead.
Her mouth dropped open, hands flying to her brow.
"Did you just poke me in the forehead?" She asked incredulously.
Shouri nodded.
She was silent.
Machiko swore, words Shouri had certinaly never said near her.
Maybe he would need to call in those favors after all.
Shibi
"Yo, Shibi?"
Shibi turned around in surprise, recognizing the voice.
"Machiko?"
The dark haired girl surprised him with a hug.
"It's good to see you again!" She said cheerfully.
"You as well." Shibi replied, doing something that most people would look twice at.
He hugged her back, rather akwardly.
She grinned.
"Guess what, I have a nickname!" She declared.
"Oh?"
"Tengu Machiko!"
Shibi paused for a second.
"Like the bird of prey spirt?"
"Yes."
"Ah."
It was probably better not to ask.
Machiko casually stepped back and looked at him-rather, up at him.
"Damn, you've grown a lot." She remarked.
"Yes." Shibi stated.
"Well, such a charming conversationalist." She deadpanned, letting out a small laugh.
"Have you told your family you are back yet?" Shibi inquired.
"Well, I told my parents, then you, and then Minato and Kushina, I think. I'm not sure where they are though, I only found you out of luck…"
"Try a resturant called Ramen Ichiraku, they're probably eating there." Shibi said.
She blinked at him.
"Just the two of them?"
"Yes."
She grinned maniaclly.
Shibi knew exactly what she was thinking.
"Did you forget Mikoto?" Shibi inquired.
She shivered, and a rare expression of fear flitted over her face.
"I figured she'd kill me, so it'd be best to do her last." She mumbled.
"Smart. She most likely will attack you."
"Not helping, Shibi." She muttured, hitting his arm.
Shibi relented a bit.
"It's very good to see you, Machiko." He said sincerely.
She glanced at him, a startled look on her face, before it turned into a grin.
"Tonight, we should all go out to eat, like our team and Mikoto's team."
Shibi nodded. "I can tell Hiro."
She made a face.
"He's not that bad anymore." He informed her in amusement.
"If you say so." She said doubtfully. Her expression softened, and she gave him another hug.
"Good to see you again, Shibi." She said cheerfully. With that she gave him a last wave and hug and sped off to Ramen Ichiraku.
Shibi smiled slightly. Konoha would probably be a lot more interesting now.
He blinked as something occured to him.
"Does she even know where Ramen Ichiraku is?" He wondered.
Minato and Kushina
Minato watched in amused fascination as Kushina gulped down her fourth bowl of ramen.
"How do you even eat this much?" He wondered, stirring the broth of his (first) bowl.
She shrugged, mouth full of hot noodles.
"I like ramen, dattebane." She replied with a small shrug, brushing red bands out of her face.
Suddenly, Minato felt a voice from behind his ear.
"D'aw."
Minato stiffened, and Kushina's head flew up, her eyes widening.
"Machiko!" Kushina yelped in surprise.
Minato sharply turned his head and there, Machiko was upside down, covering her mouth to hide her laughter.
"Pfft." She snickered, dropping onto the ground and dusting off invisible dust off her knees.
Kushina darted forward and smacked and hugged her at the same time.
"What the-"
"You were gone for three years, dattebane!" She raged, squeezing Machiko in both happiness and fury.
"Kushina, don't strangle her." Minato said nervously.
"Listen to your boyfriend, Kushina." Machiko teased.
Kushina reacted suddenly and violently.
"Christ, Kushina." Machiko mumbled, rubbing her head. "Why do you always go for the skull?"
"Because there is nothing in there." Kushina said sweetly.
A beat.
"Damn, you're really mad, aren't you." Kushina nodded.
"But I feel better now, so welcome back!" She said cheerfully.
She blinked. Minato sweatdropped.
"Well, welcome back Machiko." He said, offering her his hand.
She took it and he pulled her up.
"Thanks, Minato." She said cheerfully. "Oh, I ran into Shibi, and tonight do you all want to go out for dinner?"
"Ramen." Kushina said immedietly.
"But you're eating ramen right now."
"Ramen."
"But you literally have a bowl-"
"Ramen."
"But-"
"Ramen."
"Okay, okay, we can get ramen!" Machiko snapped, throwing her hands up in the air.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go say hi to Mikoto and possibly die in the process."
"Oh, good!" Kushina chirped. "She can beat you up for me, dattebane."
A second of silence.
"I'm not sure I like this new Kushina." Machiko finally said, sweatdropping.
"Well, see you." She vanished in a swirl of leaves.
They looked at the now empty space for a second.
"She's so dead." Kushina finally said.
"Yep."
Mikoto
Mikoto closed her eyes, breathing deep and even. She adjusted her stence, never breaking her calm breaths, seeing the target in her mind's eye
Her eyes flew open, and with a fluid motion, she whipped out five senbon and flicked her hand forward.
The silver needles flashed as they imbedded themselves into vital points on the human-like target.
With a soft exhale, Mikoto relaxed her stance and walked forward, carefully slipping the senbon out of the wood and into her senbon pouch.
"Twenty out of twenty." She murmured to herself. "Not bad."
Her eyes flashed open, and with a fluid turn and a precise strike, she smacked away a pebble that had been tossed at her back.
She backed up to see who threw it, and her eyes widened.
"Machiko?"
Her sister (it had been three years since she had seen her twin, and oh my god she looked different)
"Yo, Mikoto." Machiko said sheepishy, rubbing the back of her head. "Long time no-okay."
Mikoto ran forward and enveloped Machiko in a hug, tightly clutching her sister.
Machiko stiffened as if startled, but relaxed and hugged her back.
"I missed you." Machiko said quietly.
Mikoto took a deep breath.
"WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU!" Mikoto screamed, pushing Machiko away from her and whipping out a senbon.
Machiko eyed the silver needle.
"I take it you're angry at me." She said warily.
"YOU THINK!" Mikoto shrieked, furious. "For three years you were gone, three years I didn't see you"
She backed away, looking wary. "I'll just leave you time to calm down-"
"GET BACK HERE!"
One chase later, both girls were huffing for breath, Mikoto leaning against a tree for support and Machiko lying on the ground.
"Hah-Truce?" Machiko wheezed, fanning her face.
Mikoto was silent.
"I'm sorry, Mikoto. I just-hah-didn't want to leave my sensei with three kids and a dog."
"What?" Mikoto gasped.
"Oh, right-Well, Sensei found these kids-"
Machiko explained what had happened, and Mikoto slowly felt her anger ebb away. She staggered over to Machiko's side, and sat down on the soft grass, listining to her sister recount her story.
"So yeah, that's what happened over three years." Machiko finished.
"That is so bull."
"No, I swear it's not! You can ask Sensei."
"He'll cover for you, you're his student. I bet you just slept."
Machiko opened her mouth to protest, then closed it when she saw Mikoto was smiling.
"Oh." She said lamely. "That was a joke."
"Duh."
They sat in silence.
"Machiko?"
"Hm?"
"Do that again, I'll kill you."
Machiko winced. "Okay, I promise to never do it again."
"Good." Mikoto said
Silence.
"…Want to go get some dango."
"You're paying."
"Fair enough
Okay, just to make it clear. NOT SHIPPING. OKAY.
But someone had asked wether she'd have kids, and my answer is, that I had thought that the epilouge would be Machiko as an old woman, with grandkids
(But she didn't have a kid, hmmmmm? See, cause-wait can't spoil)
And to someone who PMed me, "Who did you originally pair her with" I originally paired her with nobody, but then I had thought of Shibi. But now, I'm good with anything :P
Machiko and Mikoto:14
Minato:14
Kushina:14
Shibi:14
Nawaki:17
Nagato, Konan and Yahiko:15/16
Fugaku:15
Noriko:42
Shouri:43