Chapter 6: Sayuri's Seal
"I could assume, Kakashi, that you have come to ask me questions about Sayuri?" Hokage-sama asked, as Kakashi stood before him.
"I think we have a right to know what we're dealing with," Kakashi responded.
"What has sparked the sudden interest?"
"I…overheard her say something today,"
"What exactly did you overhear Kakashi,"
"I heard her say that she was made…she referred to herself as an experiment,"
"Yes, this much is true," replied the 3rd Hokage, "are you familiar with the scientist Raikou Tasku?"
"I've heard of him,"
"Well about 40 years ago he decided that it could be possible to make an elite ninja, a ninja that could surpass the skills of every other. So he came up with the theory of a hybrid ninja that could use many different skills and techniques. This ninja would function as a weapon and nothing else. So he set to work, he created 4 before Sayuri and they were all tested in the cruelest of manners, the result was death. Raikou was determined to make a ninja that could not die, so after every failure he went back to the lab and tried again to make a better ninja, one that was unstoppable. He became heartless in the process and does not care for Sayuri as he should,"
"How did he test them?"
"After some training he would pit them against high level ninja's in the area. Sayuri was the only one that went up against three different level ninja's and succeeded, Raikou had finally found what he was looking for,"
"After that they left to travel did they not?"
"Indeed they did, they were gone for seven years after her testing, training with various ninja's and no doubt trying to improve Sayuri's abilities,"
"What a cruel existence,"
"Cruel indeed, Sayuri believes that she is nothing but a weapon. I know that she feels that she is incapable of love, and incapable to be loved,"
"Wouldn't she be able to turn against her maker though?"
"Raikou knew what he was doing, he realized that having such a weapon there needed to be control over it, so he made what is called 'The seal of Obedience'. She is incapable of disobedience; the seal was created before the experiments even started. It makes the barer of it incapable to disobey the person that preformed the seal. It was given to her when she was finally old enough to sustain the power being engraved on her skin, which was at a very young age. It is accompanied with something that is called the First Rule. No rule may come in conflict with this rule,"
"What is the First Rule?"
"The incapability to die if it can be prevented. She will do everything in her power to keep herself alive, even if it is at the expense of another's pain,"
There was a moment of silence before Kakashi asked his next question.
"Hokage-sama…what are the limits to Sayuri's abilities?"
"I am not designated to share this information with you Kakashi, and even if I was I doubt that even I know them all myself, but let me tell you this. She had been ordered to hold back for the moment, as she is a secret, and her limits go much farther than what she has shown you. Also know Kakashi that her skill level is not all that makes her unique, she has some very specific qualities that may even surprise you if you ever see them. She was not created for only the reason of having such an elite ninja; there are certain things that she was created with. This I'm sure you will find out at a later time,"
Hokage stopped and gave Kakashi a moment to absorb all of this information.
"I have a mission for you Kakashi, I want you and your team to show this girl that she is not just a weapon. I know that she must be haunted by this knowledge every moment of her life. Let her know that she is cared for and that she has the ability to care,"
Kakashi nodded to show that he understood.
"I want Sayuri to feel somewhat normal, my overall intention is that she develops free will through kindness and finds a way to break the seal. I'm sure that if she is determined enough to do something, that conflicts with her rules, than she will be able to break it in time. I want this girl to have her free will, it is cruel for her to be so…controlled,"
With that Kakashi stood and went to leave but stopped in the doorway, he had one more question.
"How much can I tell Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura?"
"As much as you see fit Kakashi,"
Kakashi nodded and left the room.
Sayuri lay on the cold ground, the taste of bitter truth still in her mouth. She had not meant to tell them so much, yet she had and there was no taking it back. Still in the training area, she stared up at the sky. It was a clear night tonight and she enjoyed being able to look at the stars and the moon.
At least I am free to dream she thought.
"I know you're there," she called out into the darkness, "so you might as well come out,"
Naruto walked out from behind one of the trees surrounding the training area.
"Want to join me?" Sayuri asked.
"Sure," he replied.
Naruto walked over to beside Sayuri and lay down next to her looking up at the stars.
"What are you doing here so late?" he asked her.
"I am not required to go home at any specific time, and I do not wish to do so right now," she replied, "How about you?"
"Couldn't sleep," he said.
They lay there next to each other in silence just looking up at the stars. Sayuri wished to make amends with Naruto for things had gotten way too awkward between them.
"What I said to you before Naruto, was not intended to be menacing," she stated, "there is just so much that I envy you for…"
"You envy me?" he asked in disbelief as he sat up and looked down at her.
She smiled and sat up too, "I wish to have something that is my own, and I wish to have power that is my own. I thought that if I had the power of the nine-tails, maybe, maybe I could change some things about life that I do not like,"
"I don't understand," he said.
Sayuri placed her hand on the place where Naruto's seal was. Naruto felt two awkward sensations. When Sayuri touched him so softly he felt his heart quicken, but another feeling, a more menacing one, counteracted this feeling. He felt the Nine-tails spirit long to leave his body and enter Sayuri's. Naruto looked down at where her hand was placed and saw that the red nine-tails chakra at the point of contact between himself and Sayuri.
"I also bare the burden of a seal Naruto," she said as she stared down at the power at her fingertips, "maybe…just maybe, this power could help me break it," she lifted her hand away from Naruto's stomach and the chakra dispersed, "but I do not wish to harm you," she lied. She didn't care if she harmed him; she was just restrained by the rules given out.
"What seal?" he asked, but she did not reply.
She turned and smiled at him, "Let us not talk about such troublesome things. I have gathered that you like ramen. I'll let you in on a little secret," she dropped her voice, "I like it too,"
"I know a place we could go get ramen!" Naruto exclaimed.
Sayuri smiled again, "Then shall we grab a late night snack? I'll treat as long as you don't empty my wallet,"
Naruto and Sayuri walked down her road towards Sayuri's house. Sayuri could barely stand for laughing. Naruto had offered to walk her home. Sayuri knew that it was not needed but she seemed to enjoy his company. When they arrived at her doorstep they stopped and Sayuri wiped the tears from her eyes. Her stomach and throat were sore from laughing.
"Thanks for the ramen," Naruto said.
"I feel it is you that I should thank Naruto, I do not remember laughing so hard in my life," she said and they both smiled at each other.
They went quiet and Naruto noticed how beautiful Sayuri looked with the moon falling over her shoulders and highlighting her long dark hair. Their smiles faded as they looked into each other's eyes in silence. Naruto felt a sudden urge to just lean forward and kiss her perfectly sculpted lips. He started to lean towards her but Sayuri stepped away.
"Goodnight Naruto," she said and walked up to her door.
Naruto's eyes followed her and as she put her hand on the doorknob. Sayuri's paused for a moment and without turning around said, "Thank-you Naruto. I feel as if you have let me find a part of myself," then she opened the door and walked inside.