Title: My Triumph lasted till the Drums
Chapter 9: None may teach it – Any –
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
AN: Thanks for all the feedback, I would love to see more comments on the story, what you think and how you feel about the technicality of the writing. I'm not one to beg for reviews, but with the number of people following the story, I would like to gets some good, applicable feedback. Also, I have been going back through and correcting a lot of mistakes in the last few chapters.
Thank you to: bunnyguest, Demona Evernight, SilverMoon6817, .73, LadyScatty, LoveToBake and Angel4EverLostInLife. You bunch are wonderful motivators.
"Are you finished packing yet?" Kushina asked walking into Nanami's bedroom. The girl's bedroom was decorated with a soft blue. It wasn't heavily cluttered with things other than books of medicine or the ones she used to press flowers. Nanami was not one to collect useless things. However, currently the room was messy with things thrown about. Her collection of books was out of order.
"Almost," Nanami said. A sealing scroll sat open on her bed. Several pairs of clothes, kunai, shuriken, paper, ink and some money sat next to the scroll.
"Wow, you're so organized, dattabane. It takes me forever to pack for missions," Kushina said.
"I hope I have everything I need," Nanami said, "I just need some food and snacks. I have a feeling Tsunade-sama eats whenever she wants. Oh, and I need to pack food pills as well," she said as an afterthought.
"We can get that done tonight, I have something important to tell you, dattebane," Kushina said.
"What is it?"
"Well, two things actually," Kushina pulled two scrolls out that she had been hiding behind her back. "Your father and I wanted to give these to you. The Flying Thunder God Jutsu and my Adamantine Chains Jutsu. We know that you will be extremely busy during your travels, but we want you learn the basics so we can help you master them when you get back, dattebane," Kushina explained with a proud smile. She placed the scrolls on the bed next to Nanami's other items. She then sealed her things into the scroll and tied it loosely knowing they were going to add stuff later in the day.
"I won't let you down," Nanami said with excitement, "What's the second thing?"
"Hizashi Hyuuga just sent you a message a little while ago. His son was born early this morning. He asked if you had time to visit," Kushina explained.
"What are we waiting for, let's go see him," Nanami said, pulling her mother out of the room by her hand.
"Slow down, dattebane!"
Nanami couldn't place a name to the feeling building up in her stomach as she gazed down at the small child in her teacher's arms. It was warm and tight, she felt nervous and excited. The baby had small tufts of brown hair on his head and beautiful eyes that darted around the room taking everything in, they clearly held the Byakugan.
Hizashi looked down at his tiny, skilled apprentice. He couldn't believe how quickly she was mastering her own style, pairing the Gentle Fist with Uchiha-style and adding her own touches with the new-found abilities of her kekkei genkai.
Her maturity and genius astounded him, and to see her like this, totally enamored by his child, he couldn't help but feel reassured in his request of Nanami to take care of the baby.
"Do you want to hold him, Nanami?" the man asked her.
"You think I can? I don't want to hurt my otouto," Nanami said, nervousness evident in her tone. Hizashi smiled at her, touched at her concern.
"I've observed your chakra control Nanami. The amount of control and delicate concentration it takes to achieve that control assures me. You cannot accidently hurt him," the man said, beginning to hold the child out to her.
Nanami stretched her arms to the baby, taking hold of the boy and shifting his body to cradle him in her arms.
"What's his name?" she asked.
"Neji."
"That's a beautiful name," Nanami said, rocking him slowly. The new born was mild-mannered and quiet.
In that moment, Nanami realized she had fallen in love again, and her list of people she would die for increased by one.
Her Parents,
Itachi,
and Neji.
The next day, the sun rose slowly in the sky and began its job heating the village. Nanami rose with the sun, and began finishing her preparations. She got dresses and groomed herself before double-checking that all she needed was packed. In an hour or so, she would be meeting Tsunade and Shizune at the village gate. From there, she would leave the village for a period of time and train. She met her parents downstairs and shared a quiet breakfast with them before they left the house.
As her parents walked her to the gate, Nanami couldn't help but worry over the knot forming in her stomach. She didn't want to leave her precious people for years. However, the knot started dissipating when she remembered she was doing this to protect them, to be strong for them. To be strong enough to take out whoever or whatever threatened them. Now that one of the people on her list was defenseless, her resolve grew stronger. She took both of her parent's hands in her as the got closer to the gate.
When they arrived, Nanami noticed a group of people there already. Tsunade and Shizune stood with a bag over each of their shoulders. Itachi stood next to his parents, who both came to say their goodbyes. Finally, Hizashi Hyuuga stood at the gate with his newborn swaddled tightly in clean cloth.
"Well, you ready to go Nanami?" Tsunade asked.
Nanami looked at the woman, then turned to look back at her friends and family. Mikoto and Hizashi wore gentle smiles on their face as they looked back at the girl, praying a silent blessing of protection over the precious girl they considered a part of their family. Her own father was wearing a proud, gentle smile. Sadness touched his blue pools knowing he would be without his daughter for several years. Kushina was smiling through the happy, yet sad tear rolling down her face with the same realization as her husband. Fugaku stood, to the side with a straight face, but he acknowledged the feeling of sadness, mostly for his son as he knew how special the bond the children shared was. He was still trying to get used to the idea of her as a daughter-in-law, even though he knew they were years away from anything like that. The sharingan couldn't tell the future, but this fact was set in stone the minute the two began building blocks together.
Itachi stood next to his mother. The boy was known as straight-faced and emotionless by most of the people that knew him. However, Nanami knew that on the inside, Itachi felt things more deeply than anybody else. He felt emotion on a scale ten times greater, and she could only imagine was could be going through his mind. Itachi had been suppressing the thought of living on his own, without Nanami at his side. He hated the idea, but he supported her in this decision. The relics he collected form her, toys she left behind, flowers she pressed for him, and her words that he recorded in his journal would be more important to him now than ever.
Nanami had said her goodbyes to each person privately in the last several days. She was ready. One last time, she walked up to her otouto and kissed his forehead. Hizashi ruffled her hair as she moved from the Hyuugas to her parents. Tears streamed down Kushina's face as she hugged the girl with all her might. Minato hugged the two and gently pulled Kushina back.
"Promise you won't forget us while you're gone Nana-chan?" Minato asked.
"Never," she replied.
Finally, Nanami made her way over to her other half. She pulled the taller boy into a hug, her chin rested on his shoulder. Slowly, the boy pulled his arms up and wrapped them around the girl, bowing his head letting his bangs cover his face. The moment seemed to last forever and both Nanami and Itachi let loose the tears they had been holding back. Then, they parted, the hug communicating everything that needed to be said.
Nanami turned her back on the group and walked toward her master.
"I'm ready now," she said.
The blonde nodded and began walking out of the village, Shizune following her. Nanami turned back to the group behind her and rose her hand.
"I'll see you all when I get back!" she said, before turning back around and running to catch up with her group.
Unfortunately, and unknowingly, her statement was a lie.