I do not own Naruto.
And after some of the story Kishimoto has given us, I'm glad I'm don't.
This is not a crossover with Okami. I am using that story as a legend, like the Greek myths. I do not own the game Okami.
Different writing style. I'm going to try a new one on each chapter.
o*O*o
Years later Sasuke had to get away. It was the anniversary of 'that day'. With his barrier to the village gone on a mission, he was inundated with gifts of sympathy. Food, cards, flowers, people. Too much, far too many. Naruto normally blew them in another direction. The sound of leaves rattled in the wind. It was easy to escape to the trees. Strangely relaxing to walk in their dappled sunlight. The towering giants demanded nothing of him, just like the woman buried in the grave he stumbled upon. Sasuke thought back to the day he had first met her. He ground his teeth when he realized, he never knew her name.
*O*
"This way. Come on, you're so slow!"
"I'm covered in mud, stupid head," a little boy's voice growled out.
"I said I was sorry."
"What are you sorry for, Naruto?" The two boys turned to see an old woman walking up behind them. Sasuke bowed as he had been taught by his parents. Naruto danced over to her and pulled her hand.
"I ran into this boy and knocked him into a mud puddle. Do you think you could give him a bath so his mom doesn't get mad that he's dirty? Could you, obaa-chan?"
Sasuke watched her face crinkle into a smile. She handed Naruto a key. "Sure. You run ahead and draw the bath water. We'll be right behind you."
The blonde boy smiled and took one of her grocery bags. Then he was off in a small cloud of dust. Those remaining behind coughed and waved their hands to clear the air.
"No wonder he ran into you, with as fast as he goes. Come little one." She held her free hand down to the dark haired boy. She was a shorter adult with steel gray hair, shot with white, in a braid down to her waist. He shyly took the hand. As they walked, she asked, "What's your name?"
"Uchiha Sasuke."
"Uchiha! Really? I knew an Uchiha, years and years ago mind you. He was on my genin team." She giggled. "He was a charmer. Always flirting with me or our sensei or our female clients."
"What was his name?"
"His name was... oh, drat. I can't remember. Please forgive this old woman, Sasuke-san. That's the worst part about getting old. You know you remember everything and yet you can recall nothing. I do know it's been nearly thirty years since he passed away."
"What kind of ninja was he?" Sasuke quietly asked.
"He was the loyal kind. The village was first in his heart. Followed by the people he trusted. Oh, there were times he was so good to me. It's hard to believe but when I was younger I rarely talked. He would talk for me. Hmm, my very own Issun. Was that his name? No, no that wasn't it. After I joined ANBU and ran some rough missions, he would take the time to help me become human again. When my brothers died he was there for me. He loved the village so much he eventually went into the Seduction Corp against the wishes of the clan head. Oh, don't look so surprised. Like I said, he loved Konoha even more than his clan... And he could charm the Queen of Hearts into giving him a kiss and her head. I see you don't understand that phrase. My Uchiha could convince anyone that what he said was true and get them to do what he wanted them to do. I gave him a home when the clan was too much to take. He was graceful, outstanding at henge and genjutsu, and rather short. Looked like jail-bait his whole life."
"Short?"
"He only came up to my shoulder. He was the last Uchiha I trusted." Sasuke started to draw his hand away but the old woman's grip turned to iron. "The rest of the family blamed me for his death. They did some rather cruel things to me. That generation has died since then. Let me start to trust the Uchiha again with you. My little Kazegami needs a friend. Will you be his, little Moegami?"
Sasuke was confused. The lady seemed nice, but she scared him with her talk. She gave a gentle smile.
"Think on it. See, and test, if Kazegami and myself are worthy of your friendship."
"Ahh! Why did you tell him?"
"Tell him what, Naruto?" The two looked up to see the blonde standing in on the steps of a small, worn down house. He pouted.
"You told him my nickname."
The old lady laughed. "Ohh! That's not your nickname, that's who you are."
"I'm not a horse!"
"Yes, you're not. But the wind loves you like it does Kazegami."
Sasuke flicked his eyes between the two. "Who's Kazegami?" he asked.
Naruto dropped his mouth open, "You don't know the legend?"
"Legend?"
"Obaa-chan, you have to tell him!"
She took Sasuke's hand and pulled him into the house as she pushed Naruto with her grocery laden one. He took it from her. "I will tell part during the bath."
"Oh, yeah. Hey, man. Obaa-chan's rule says she washes you or you stay dirty and outside. Got it?"
Black hair nodded. Quickly the food was put up and Sasuke and Naruto found themselves on small stools draped with thin towels while the retired ninja knelt behind them and scrubbed their hair. He listened closely to her creaking voice as she told him of the story of Amaterasu, origin of all that is good and mother to us all, when she was called Shiranui and faced True Orochi.
*O*
Naruto returned to town and found the little worn house he shared with Sasuke empty. Before he could open his mouth, the wind was pushing him to the forest. The blonde wandered through the trees until he was led to Sasuke's kneeling form.
"Hey," he rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry I was out of town. I kinda forgot what today was."
"What was her name?"
"Who's name?"
"The old lady who took care of us. I can't remember hearing her name." Naruto looked down on his best friend. The other young man had his fingers buried in the dirt. He knelt so only their shoulders were touching.
"Amaterasu."
"Tch. That's the stories she told us."
"It's true though. She gave us a great many good things and became our mother. Her name was Amaterasu"
*O*
A/N: So do you get the Queen of Hearts comment? If you don't... "a kiss" In face cards, the Queen of Hearts is called the cold queen. At least that's what I've been told. And cold hearted people don't give kisses away. "her head" Refers to the Queen from 'Alice in Wonderland'.
Is the conversation about Uchiha 'Issun' important? Umm, yeah. Maybe. Sometimes old folks just ramble on and we're stuck in listening to them because manners say we can't leave. Or they have a death grip on our hand. Yes, personal experience.
