Chapter 20 – First Tragedy
"Talk"
'Think'
Flashback
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto sensei. So…yeah.
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Eight years old Sasuke was training with shuriken. His father was renowned for his shuriken jutsu and Sasuke wished to be like his father. His father did not say much to him but sometimes he smiled and nodded when Sasuke told about his achievements which meant the world to Sasuke.
Earlier this morning, his father had said that he'll drop by to see Sasuke's progress, so now Sasuke's practicing hard his shuriken jutsu to show to his father. A moment later, he heard a crack, the sound of broken dried sticks. Turning around, Sasuke said "Otōsan-" before he felt a hit on the back of his neck and his world gone black.
Noriko was focussing chakra on her feet, preparing to jump to the next tree and attached her feet on the tree's trunk. She and Naruto have mastered tree climbing and Keiko had suggested for them to practice jumping between trees. The act of modulating chakra to attach and detach their feet on and off the trees will improve the chakra control, theoretically. In reality, it involves a lot of slipped up and fell on their backs, butts and heads.
Today, Noriko and Naruto had succeeded in jumping without falling, much. While happy with the progress, she knows that she had to practice until she can do it without thinking about it.
A sound of clapping broke their concentration. Keiko emerged from her hiding place, smiling "I can see that you have improved a lot, Naruto, Noriko" she said.
"Keiko-obasan" said Noriko, smiling from her tree.
"Keiko-obasan!" said Naruto, he catapulted himself from his tree and ran towards Keiko "We are getting better right? I slipped only five times today and Noriko did not fall at all"
Keiko laughed "That's good Noriko, and Naruto, I'm sure you will not fall tomorrow" Naruto beamed at that "Why don't you guys cool down? I'll go and get some snacks for you, and then we can talk" followed by "Yeay!" and "You're the best Keiko-obasan" from Naruto and Noriko.
Keiko walked to her house, chuckling. Then she heard "Hello Keiko" in a familiar voice which put her in defensive stance. She saw Inabi walking towards her, his sharingan blazing.
"What do you want, Inabi?" she asked sharply.
Inabi jumped to her quickly 'So fast' Keiko thought and felt pain as a kunai penetrated her stomach. "I want you to die, Keiko" Inabi whispered in her ears as he stabbed her stomach.
Flashback
"Oniisan, this is my teammate, Keiko" his sister introduced Keiko to her brother, Uchiha Inabi. Inabi saw a tall thin girl with her dark hair tied in a high ponytail, stood proud and strong and he liked what he saw. He knows she'll make a good and strong mother for his kids, 'just what the Uchiha clan needs' he thought smugly.
After that, Inabi continued to pursue Keiko, only to be rejected again and again. After that, Inabi turned bitter and gave his sister an ultimatum, him, and she can stay in their parents house, or her teammates and she will be kicked from the house she grew up in. She chose her teammates.
His hatred for Keiko never faded, he never forget his humiliation and he swore that revenge will be his.
Keiko gasped in pain which brought satisfaction to Inabi. He was about to do something humiliating when he felt incoming chakras from five different sources. Snarled, he left.
Keiko felt her world darken and she was bathe in pain. Then she heard small footsteps followed by "Keiko-obasan!" from Naruto and Noriko.
"Naruto…Noriko…?" she said weakly. She felt them coming to her. She hugged them tightly, mustered her final strength and said "I love you both…very much…thank you…for…saving…me".
When Fugaku arrived, he saw an empty clearing, a shuriken on the ground, few shurikens on the target boards, but no Sasuke. Feeling suspicious, he sent a kage bunshin to the police station to call Inuzuka Kaede and her companion.
Flashback
At the Police Station
"I've decided today that Uchiha Tekka will be my successor" announced Fugaku.
"What?! Why?" snarled Inabi. He had dreamed of holding the position Leader of Konoha Keimu Butai since next to Fugaku, he was the most senior.
"Because he has solved more cases than a lot of you combined" explained Fugaku.
"With all due respect sir" said Tekka "I don't think I deserve it"
"Why?" asked Fugaku, surprised.
"I…I didn't do it alone. Many of the cases I asked my old teammates, Inuzuka Kaede and Hyūga Tokuma, and sometimes my old classmate, Aburame Tatsuma" explained Tekka "I don't deserve the credit sir, definitely not the promotion" he added.
Fugaku looked at Inabi, and then he looked at Tekka. One represented the old, traditional Uchiha whilst the other represented the new Uchiha. Thinking of the old resentments and angers, and the current light-hearted and happy but still proud Uchiha, Fugaku saw the choice is clear.
"Tekka, you've proven that Konoha Keimu Butai benefits a great deal by diversifying its skill-sets. From now on, you are in-charge of recruiting and training new members that are interested to join us" ordered Fugaku.
"Also-" added Fugaku "We might need a new logo"
After some discussion, they decided to combine the old logo with the leaf symbol where the circle from the fan and the centre of the leaf overlapped.
Fugaku's trip to memory lane was interrupted with Kaede's arrival "What's up Taichou?".
End Chapter 20
Kage bunshin – shadow clone
Konoha Keimu Butai – Konoha Military Police Force
Obasan – aunty
Otōsan - father
Taichou – Captain, Leader or Commander