Hey guys, I am back with another chapter written by the amazing Zoicite23. I held onto this chapter for a bit because of the lack of reviews. So without further delay here is the next main character in our story!
~~~Amai's POV~~~
Sunlight bathed my skin in warmth through the cracks in leaves of the tree. My eyes were closed peacefully as I breathed in chilled air, birds singing on nearby branches. The Hidden Cloud Village was at a high altitude, leaving a unique taste in the wind that I had long since become familiar with.
Thin wispy clouds drifted past just overhead and below the pathways that followed many sharp mountains towards the village headquarters. The large building which housed the Raikage always appeared to me like a giant turnip.
My home wasn't all mountains and clouds. Some plateaus branching off the mountains had grass and trees, I always thought the change of scenery was comforting and peaceful. Especially when the low-hanging clouds were absent; I could relax in the grass with the warmth of the sun.
I wasn't lying on the grass however. I was in a tree, making no noise and hoping I wouldn't get noticed. Whenever Mum decides to have her monthly, clean-out-the-entire-house events I always get pulled into them.
I swear she must have a phobia of dust and all things messy. Wisely Dad had decided not to be home either, and was probably on an important mission somewhere. When I returned home I had noticed all the dust and junk being taken out.
With the speed and artfulness only a ninja could possess I fled back into the village and away before I could be spotted. All that was left was to stay out of the house all day and I wouldn't be forced into doing mundane chores.
My older sister never had to help with housework in the brief moments she was home.
It was completely unfair, even if she could be called away for a mission at the drop of a hat. Suppai was a member of Storm Operations and worked under a man named Arashi. He was often seen in the Headquarters as he and his organisation were subordinate to the Raikage.
My sister had once told me rumours she'd heard that Arashi had been the Raikage's former lover many years ago. It was weird when I first saw her in black robes with black face paint, instead of the typical clothing of our clan. The operatives who had received their stricter training outside of the regular program always seemed shady to me.
Suppai always assured me they worked for the good of the village and were very devoted. This only made me further suspicious about them and my sister, but I didn't worry myself with it. Suppai and I had grown apart years ago.
We were like oil and water, sweet and sour. She was the troublesome child in her youth, but now she was the one Mum and Dad were proud of. A high level shinobi who took on daring secret missions for the sake of the village.
Both of my parents were merely Chunin. Mum still did all the cleaning, complaining that Dad could never do it properly without her direction. At the age of sixteen I was still a Genin, and awaiting to be paired with my new team.
Since the Makijiku clan was well-known in the village I had some Jonin interview me, but really my skills were nothing special. I never attracted much attention in the academy, I did okay and my knowledge of the basics was standard.
I faded into the background, and never really cared about what other people thought of me. I was always obedient to the Senseis and polite to my fellow students. Not a genius but not incompetent either.
"Amai! You incompetent girl!" I jolted when a walking cane jabbed my side harshly. With a scream I fell out of the tree, my legs becoming hooked around a branch before I tumbled to the ground.
Groaning I looked up at my attacker.
"Grandma Kouga?" I winced from her scowl.
"What kind of kunoichi spends her day sleeping when there is training to be done!"
She stabbed the ground with her stick in anger. My father's mother constantly disapproved of her younger son, my Dad. It was no secret she preferred her older son, my Uncle Reikou who was head of our clan and often trained me.
He had been teaching me the secret techniques of our clan. However the newest technique, Sealing Scroll was proving to be a challenge and I was quite unmotivated to practice it. Grandma was one of the village elders, being alive when the Hidden Cloud was founded.
Everyone held Reikou in high esteem for being the leader of such a large clan, but I knew he was pressed tightly under Kouga's thumb. She was also very respected and dressed herself as such.
Adorned in pale green robes tied together by a black sash, she wore a greyish-green coat with the symbol of our clan on her back: a white circle with a horizontal rectangle inside. The honey-brown hair of our clan had long since turned silver with age on her head, it was tied in a tight bun with two ornate chopsticks speared through it.
Spangly earrings matched the ornate walking cane she leaned on with both hands. Slowly I got onto my feet and stood. Her beady eyes judged me fiercely.
"If you have time to spare, come with me. We'll go to the temple."
I sighed before following as she turned without an answer. We walked in silence, Grandma Kouga had never been one for small talk. Training with Uncle would probably be less tedious than cleaning the house, I tried to comfort myself with that fact.
Makijiku was a large clan, as such we had a temple on the outskirts of the village. It was a beautiful building, green tiles on eastern themed roofs and white stone walls. The clan symbol was clearly visible outside, painted with gold.
Although our clan was well-known we weren't powerful. We didn't have any bloodline abilities or Hijutsu. Like Doujutsu found in the Fire Country, Hijutsu or skin techniques were located in the Land of Lightning.
The Inazuma clan was rumoured to be one of the most powerful clans in our village. They weren't as large as ours but had a powerful bloodline ability and lightning chakra natures, the current Raikage was from the Inazuma clan.
The Makijiku clan was much weaker, we carried secret techniques involving scrolls. This gave us the nickname of being called the scrollmaster clan, as we were proficient with summoning scrolls, sealing scrolls and even scrolls that attacked.
While we weren't as lethal in battle, we were the ones who were called upon by the village for our great knowledge on techniques involving scrolls. After retiring from her position as clan leader, Kouga spent her time organizing the shelves upon shelves of scrolls that were held in our clan temple, each holding valuable secrets of Ninjutsu.
As a young member of the clan I had the trademark light brown hair with chocolate eyes. Unlike my sister Suppai, my body was slim and below average in height. Another reason why I might not stand out to any of the Jonin.
Grandma Kouga didn't stay quiet for the whole trip. As we finally reached the temple and started climbing the stairs she began doing what she does best: criticizing.
"I don't like what you've done with our clan's traditional robes."
"Yes, Grandma." I sighed. No wonder Dad is terrified of her. Mum and this woman shared a mutual loathing too.
"Don't speak in such a way! Your clothes are inappropriate."
I didn't bring up that my clothes weren't nearly as bad as some of the girls back in the academy. No point in telling my conformist grandmother that not wearing loose and bulky robes nowadays didn't make you a hooker.
My top was a pale green shirt that opened in the middle with long sleeves. It was held together by a black sash but revealed some of the fish-net undershirt beneath the nape of my neck. Gauze was wrapped from the elbow to the wrist of my right arm, my shuriken throwing arm.
Under my pale green miniskirt I wore fish-net stockings and below that was the standard ninja sandals. In the black sash around my waist I kept my shuriken and kunai pouches as well as multiple scrolls. I rather liked how I modernized the traditional clothing of our clan. The symbol was sewn onto the back in white.
"You're going to have to do something about those atrocious clothes." She continued as we entered the temple, walking past the vast number of shelves. An endless supply of scrolls filled this wide room.
As we walked several other clan members nodded at Kouga and she returned them with a facade of importance. I reached up and scratched the back of my head awkwardly, ruffling the shoulder length straight hair. At the end of the room I was sure my Uncle was seated at the desk.
I couldn't see him because a ninja from outside the clan was talking to him. Instead of wearing the pale green robes of our clan he wore a typical sleeveless black shirt under a single-strap white flak jacket. He was tall and dark-skinned, but I didn't recognize him.
Maybe a Jonin? I pondered.
"Reikou." Kouga stepped up to the desk and interrupted them.
"Ah, hello Mother." My Uncle was seated with his hands on the desk.
He was composed but still oddly servile whenever she was around. The tall man faced her and gave a slight nod.
"Lady Kouga." He greeted in a deep voice.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything important. What business do you have here?"
"I was just relaying a message from the Raikage."
Reikou's lined face was relaxed.
"Suppai returned from her dangerous mission without any problems." He explained.
"Dangerous mission?" I questioned, and the three adults turned to me.
"I didn't see you there, Amai." Reikou noted in an unconcerned manner. "Didn't you know your sister had returned to the village?"
"I didn't know she left..." I muttered, averting my eyes. I didn't feel disappointed, but I felt something almost close.
"Yes, well anyway." Reikou continued from where he sat. "It was an A-ranked mission of high enough importance that Storm Operatives were used."
"Soon Amai will be fitted into a three-man squad and assigned a Jonin instructor." Kouga abruptly changed the subject. "No one has taken a particular interest in her skills. While she isn't doing missions I believe you should train her. How has her progress been on the Sealing Scroll Jutsu?"
Narrowing his eyes at the table Reikou knotted his hands. Both of his sons had grown up and left home. I didn't know much about my cousins, one was a Jonin and the other a Storm Operative. Just another reason Kouga was more proud of Reikou than my Dad.
Since I was still young it was under Kouga's instruction that the head of the clan teach me Ninjutsu.
"Amai requires further training with that jutsu." He responded.
"I mastered the Snake Scroll Jutsu!" I pointed out defensively.
"That is a basic level technique!" Kouga scolded me. She turned to her son. "I wish you to commence training her at once."
Reikou tactfully hid his exasperation. The tall man was looking just about as awkward as I was.
"Jurio here was going to escort me to the Raikage so I can meet with my niece."
Kouga's eyes narrowed like it did when she was faced with disobedience.
"Amai is the issue now!" She tapped her cane on the ground loudly as she said this.
"The Raikage sent Jurio so I could see her especially. Surely you too would be interested in the secret mission?" He tried.
Kouga deliberated quietly.
"Very well." She turned to me. "We will see your sister. Nevertheless you will participate in further training, no wasting your days lying in the grass or with that stamp collecting nonsense."
I gritted my teeth and nodded. Reikou stood and walked around the desk as Kouga set off. Jurio followed them both and I trailed behind.
"Your family seems very strict." Jurio mumbled to me as we exited the temple.
"My parents are great, although Mum becomes a compulsive maniac when she decides it's time to clean the house." I whispered back and he looked at me curiously. "With extended family like ours though you can see why we don't have many get-togethers."
The four of us made our way to the centre of the village. We stepped around the sharp mountains that the walkways surrounded, my hand ran along the metal railing. I could see the turnip building now, with the yellow circle and lightning kanji inside it.
Off to see the Raikage.
On the way I noticed someone familiar on the other side of the footpath. Shien, a girl my age was walking beside her parents with a passive expression. She was my friend, even if we had been a lot closer when we studied at the Academy.
I recognised her long black hair adorned with a simple hairclip that framed uniquely purple eyes.
"Shien!" I waved and she turned to me before smiling.
Kouga looked back to shoot me a disapproving glance.
"Hey, Amai. Fancy seeing you here, going to see the Raikage?"
"Yeah. My sister just returned from her mission and we're going to see her."
Shien's parents looked at both of us with neutral expressions. I wished I could spend more time chatting and catching up with her.
"Well I should get going."
"Oh." I replied, sounding despondent. "Well it was nice seeing you."
She was already walking.
"Nice seeing you too."
"Amai!" Kouga snapped. "Keep up, don't get distracted."
Looking back I saw Shien's black hair flicking as she caught up to her parents who also hadn't stopped for our brief talk.
It seems I had grown apart from my closest friend as I got older too. Sighing I turned and hurried back to the three. Up ahead was the main entrance, several ninja in the black shirts and white flak jackets walked in and out.
The Raikage must be very busy to deal with handing out missions and taking reports for every ninja in the village, I thought to myself. As we walked inside and up the broad circular staircase to the next level I could hear Kidori's voice from above.
"...am sorry but the Raikage is in the middle of a very important debriefing. You'll have to come back at a more convenient time."
After climbing the stairs I could see the pretty woman with the dark skin and scar running down the right side of her face.
Kidori typically held her notebook, filled with all the important duties she would have to do as the Raikage's secretary today. She brushed her long white hair back over her shoulder while giving the man an apologetic look. I stared at the ninja she was talking to.
He wore a black cloak with a black mask to conceal his face. Behind his mask his hair was short and an interesting shade of reddish-orange. The tall man inclined his face to me and I gazed at him curiously.
Based on the complete blackness of his clothing I figured he was a Storm Operative. However they didn't wear masks. The mysterious figure turned away, gliding past Jurio and vanishing down the stairs.
I blinked, staring back at where he had vanished.
"Reikou!" Kidori spoke in realization. "And Lady Kouga. Thank you for escorting them here, Jurio."
The bald man nodded and walked off; I gave him a slight wave and he departed with a smile. Kidori looked at the two adults I was with.
"The debriefing has begun, I'll let you in."
Turning she opened the double doors and walked inside. "Lady Raikage, Reikou and Lady Kouga have arrived for the debriefing."
"Kouga? Did you say Kouga?" From the wide polished desk a tiny old lady with poor hearing leaned forward to peer through thick glasses. "Kouga!"
High-pitched cackling filled the room and Grandma scowled.
"Kouga, it is you! Why haven't you been stopping by for Monday games with the other village elders? Is it because of how badly I beat you the last time we played Mahjong?"
She laughed gleefully while Kouga scoffed and raised her head indignantly. Despite being only four feet tall, having the maturity of an infant and needing to sit on a stack of books just to reach her desk, Lady Ranko was the third Raikage.
She didn't look it, but was known as the strongest ninja in her prime. The Inazuma clan's trademark blonde hair had become silver, but she still possessed an incredible lightning nature, the legendary bloodline Hijutsu known as Hoshihifu, and other techniques as well.
I used to think she was insane, but the Senseis assured us that she cared deeply for the village. Plus it hasn't run down yet.
"I believe we have more important matters to discuss." Kouga responded curtly.
"Always so serious." Sitting back in her chair she crossed her tiny arms. "I didn't think you were such a sore loser."
"Mahjong would be enjoyable if you weren't so damn competitive!" Kouga shrieked suddenly.
"Competitive?" Ranko slammed her fist, shaking her square hairbun and the gold piece almost fell out. "Who was the one singing and spinning her cane around in the air after winning bingo last month?"
"You decided to bring Sake to the Monday games!"
"Ladies, please!" A serious man with a lined face stepped forward. He reminded me of Uncle Reikou only older and sinister looking. "We must continue with the debriefing."
He was wearing a black kimono with a white sash and standing beside Ranko's desk. The black paint didn't completely cover his face, only left a small symmetrical pattern along his features. This man was Arashi, leader of Storm Operations.
Under his clothes I could see bandages wrapped around his left arm and torso. What kind of injury could he have that would make it necessary to wear those all the time?
There were only two other people in the room I hadn't noticed yet. They were both operatives, one was my sister and the other was her childhood friend, Gin. The white-haired girl gave me a friendly smile, I had also known her since I was little.
Suppai gave no reaction that she knew I was even there.
"We've finished debriefing, I know everything I need to. The mission was a success after all." Ranko chided before adding snarkishly. "It seems in your old age it took you too long to get here, Kouga."
"I'm still older than you, and with age comes wisdom." Kouga spoke with superiority.
"But sadly not when it comes to playing Mahjong." The tiny woman retorted before cackling again.
"I'll beat you next Monday!" Kouga shrieked. Ignoring them I slowly approached the desk, set on the table was a smooth yellow stone. Oval in shape, the jewel seemed to glimmer in a way no substance on this planet ever could.
It held me captivated, and although I wasn't a sensory type I could swear my chakra was being disturbed by it. Like an electric current surging through my body. Before I knew what I was doing I reached for it, but was caught by Arashi's sharp eyes.
Stopping, I lowered my arm back to my side feeling ashamed.
"What's the matter, young grasshopper?" I looked at the old lady in front of me and stammered.
"N-nothing, Lady Raikage."
"There's no reason to feel guilty for being curious." The tiny woman reached for the cloth beneath the stone and pulled it closer towards her so she could gaze down at it. "This here is a sealing stone."
"A sealing stone?" I asked, looking from her to the bizarre rock.
"Surely you would have been taught about the five sealing stones in your days at the academy?"
"Not anymore." Uncle Reikou answered for me. "They don't teach the story to the younger generation."
Arashi lowered his head with a scowl.
"There's no point in filling our children's heads with legends. They would be better off studying their Ninjutsu."
Ranko frowned at him but I could feel my curiosity was heightened.
"What legend... ma'am?"
She looked back at me with a smile.
"There are five in total. This stone is the opal, know as the Lightning Stone or Storm Stone. It is a symbol of our country. The five stones represent the five changes in Chakra nature, as such each one belongs to the five great nations."
I could tell she was enjoying my obvious interest.
"Why? What are they?"
"A symbol of shinobi, these stones have been passed down for eons and hold a great deal of value. What makes them so unique is their ability to produce chakra."
"Impossible." I muttered.
"You feel it yourself, don't you? The chakra produced isn't a great deal nor can it be controlled but they are still quite the phenomenon, wouldn't you say?"
"Only living beings can produce chakra." I recited the lesson straight from the academy. "It's possible for someone to channel their own chakra through weapons and other objects, but inanimate things can't produce their own chakra from nothing."
Ranko smiled at me wisely. It was impossible, but being in the presence of this strange rock made me unable to doubt that it truly was magnificent. I stared at it.
"There is a legend..." She continued. "Eons ago humans did not possess chakra. Once upon a time a meteor fell from another dimension and landed on our planet. A man reached for it and touched the stone, it then bestowed him with chakra and he became the first shinobi.
"Afterwards the meteorite split into five separate sealing stones. These were kept as heirlooms. With his new-found power, the ancestor of all ninja stabilized the world by crafting out the borders of the great nations."
I looked back into her eyes. "In other words, these stones weren't named after the five great nations. The great nations were created by those who first possessed the sealing stones."
"According to the legends." Arashi muttered, trying to ruin the story-telling.
"Yes, well..." Ranko looked over to my sister and Gin. "Good work in successfully transporting the stone back to the village. The sage who was guarding it felt that he has become too old for it to remain safely with the feudal lord."
"Yes, Raikage." Gin spoke sweetly and gave a respectful bow.
"Is that all then?" Suppai demanded. I took a sideways glance at my older sister. We looked very similar, except she was about a foot taller.
Her light brown hair wasn't as straight and her bust was larger than mine. Our similar facial features were incomparable from all the black paint on her face.
"Yes, you have done enough." Ranko conceded.
Suppai inclined her head before turning and walking out, Gin followed her quickly. Suddenly Kouga turned around and left without a word. The Raikage stuck out her tongue and made a series of crude gestures.
"Farewell, Lady Raikage." Reikou bowed and turned to me. "We will return to the temple and continue your training."
I nodded in understanding and glumly followed him out of the office.
***?'s POV***
The ninja in black with the black mask stood posted outside the Makijiku temple. From here he could watch the girl train with her Uncle without being spotted. The leafy tree provided a perfect vantage point with plenty of cover.
Amai Makijiku, a fairly ordinary girl with no outstanding skills. It looks like she doesn't have much of a driving force and seems reluctant to explore her potential. I wonder if she'd be as capable as her sister if I could only get her serious about improving somehow...
Stepping out of the tree he landed in a crouch.
Now who should my lucky last selection be?
Oh, now we are getting into more of the plot! And it's that damn mystery figure again, and he has also selected Amai to be in his team. Who will be the next member this mystery fellow is trying to recruit?
So my next question of the day: If you had a Kekkei Genkai, what would it be? Please review!