Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
"Great, Kibana-chan! Keep it up!" Izuna encouraged as he watched his friend attempt at a fire jutsu. Kibana growled in frustration as she tried to manipulate the small fire at the tip of her finger. She finally shook her hand, dispelling the flame and looked at Izuna helplessly.
"Izuna-sama, I do not think that fire is my chakra nature." She said, a frown marring her features. Ever since Tajima had allowed her to stay at the compound, he had a Uchiha train her for at least an hour a day. She was required to build up herself physically before she laid her head down at night, as well.
"Well, how are we supposed to know what you nature is, Kibana-chan? All Uchiha have fire nature, it is only natural that you do as well, right?" Izuna said, his cheeks puffed out. He had known the girl for five months now, but their friendship blossomed during this time.
"What chakra nature did your mother possess?" Kibana and Izuna looked to Madara, who was approaching them from the household, who had just voiced his thoughts. Kibana closed her eyes, and scratched her cheek. She finally shook her head.
"I do not know, Madara-sama. She always trained with her beast, rather than her nature." She clarified.
"Why are you not training your beast?" Madara asked, Izuna and Kibana stiffened, and both ducked their heads.
"I am not prepared for the responsibilities that the beast entails, Madara-sama." Kibana said, her voice small. Madara frowned, and Izuna nodded his head slightly.
"Aniki, it is not wise for Kibana-chan to master her beast. Father has said so as well, she is too weak in spirit for it." Izuna offered as an explanation.
"I want to see." Madara said, his voice held the tone of no arguments, and the two younger Uchihas looked to one another helplessly. Kibana finally nodded, and moved back away from the two males.
"Kibana-chan, remember what we've practiced. Remember what father has said." Izuna advised, and Kibana sent him a half-hearted eye roll, and a smile.
Madara watched as the skin on her hands folded into itself, replacing the tan skin with black fur. The transformation made itself up to her elbows. He could see the same thing happening at her feet and ankles, but could not see further because of her clothing.
Fur lined itself up her neck, and around her eyes. She looked as if she were now wearing a raccoon mask, the fur were not go further around her eyes, not matter how much she willed it. Madara watched, and his face starting taking a more fascinated expression. Not many of this world can say they have seen a Chikushou transformation. Before battle, they would already have transformed into their beast forms.
Kibana turned to face the two boys, now relaxed from her transformation. The fur would not completely cover her, and her fingernails had lengthen to sharp points, though Izuna knew that she could transform them to resemble paws. The tips of her ears were covered in fur as well, and they had also pointed at the tip. Izuna walked around Kibana, looking for the telltale sign of her tail.
She glared at him over her shoulder, and he shrugged and grinned as he reached down to jerk her tail from underneath her Kimono for Madara to see. The older males eyes were widened, and he stared at Kibana unsure. Kibana looked at him expectantly, and as if he were in a trance he moved forward to touch the fur on her cheek.
Izuna and Kibana watched him with slight amusement.
His fingers grazed on the line separating the fur and the skin. "This is so weird." He whispered lowly. Izuna nodded at his older brothers statement, and Kibana chuckled under her breath. It was almost as if Madara was petting her, and it made her step back suddenly.
Madara seemed to snap out of his trance, and he stared at Kibana, who stared back. The two males watched as her fur seemed to melt back into her skin, and she returned to normal. "I'm... I am sorry, I am not accustomed to someone touching me." She apologized for stepping back.
Madara nodded in understanding. "It is alright, Chikushou. I apologize for stepping into your space."
"Kibana." The girl corrected. Madara looked to her with a raised eyebrow. Izuna moved to stand beside Kibana and wrapped an arm lazily over her shoulders.
"She does not like formalities, Aniki. She feels as if she is being distanced." Izuna explained, and Kibana nodded in agreement. Madara turned his head to the side slightly, and smirked.
"Then, Koneko shall suffice?" He asked, chuckling under his breath. He turned and began walking away, he could hear Kibana splutter and try to form a sentence, while his younger brother laughed loudly.
Kibana groaned loudly, as she opened her eyes. The light from the window beside her bed burned, and her eyes automatically shut in defense. She laid a hand upon her forehead, the back of her hand seemed to burn on contact and she groaned even louder.
What a time to get sick. She thought sadly.
"Izuna-kun." She called as she felt another presence in the room, though through her muddled senses she could only guess at who would enter her bedroom, and seeing as Madara would be leaving today after he had eaten breakfast, she knew it could only be Izuna.
"Izuna-kun," she called again. She felt weaker than any time before, and it bothered her. "Get out, Izuna-kun. You know I hate it when you attempt you coddle me." She ordered finally. Grabbing her blanket and pulling it over her head.
"I am not the Uchiha, girl." A voice said, and Kibana's eyes flashed open. She peeked over her blanket to take in the white haired Senju's form. She squeaked. She squeaked without shame.
She crawled out of her futon and attempted at bowing to the man, only to feel herself sway at her exertion of energy. She steadied herself, and gazed at the man with apologies in her eyes. "I am sorry, Senju-sama, I did not expect for you to be the room at my bedside." She whispered. She lowered her eyes from him, and bowed her head slightly.
"Which is understandable. The younger Uchiha has went for medical help, and will return shortly. He asked me to stay with you until then." Tobirama said. She then noticed how he was positioned by her door. The man sat lazily, his back against the wall, his arms folded over his chest. He had one propped up, while the other laid out across her floor.
She then noticed that he had yet to open his eyes to acknowledge her. She sighed silently and crawled back to her futon.
"You can leave now, Senju-sama. I am fine when left alone." Kibana said as she tucked herself back in, and closed her eyes once more.
Tobirama grunted but made no attempt at leaving. He opened his eyes to study the girl, to see how some color had returned to her face, but she still remained ill. She must have caught her illness in the early stage, he thought. She was showing no symptoms besides exhaustion.
Her eyes opened to stare back at him. He made no move to hide his blatant staring, and she sighed at this.
"I am a bastard child, Senju-sama. I share blood with the Uchiha, as well as the Chikushou." She said. Tobirama nodded at this, he knew she shared blood, but he could not pinpoint with what clan. She looked up towards the ceiling, and he watched as different thoughts ran through her mind.
"Tajima-sama... before he passed, wanted to train me to become a shinobi." She smiled weakly at this, and giggled softly. "I thought I could do it, Tajima-sama believed I could do it, and I failed him. I train everyday to strengthen my beast, Izuna-kun helps me. It feels as if... as if my beast has drawn a line that I cannot cross. I do not believe my beast accepts me, and that is terrifying." She said, her voice almost muted as she spoke.
Tobirama knew much about the world, but the Chikushou were a clan that was an enigma to others. He knew of the beasts, but he did not know the relations they shared with their containers. Everyone believed the shinobi were the masters, and the beasts were their servants.
Has everyone been wrong?
"I suppose that is understandable though." Kibana continued. "I do not have proper training as a Chikushou, it is not often that a Chikushou is alone; separated from their clan. Even the roaming females return back to their home to gain more training each year."
Tobirama could feel Izuna standing outside the door now. The younger Uchiha made no move to enter, and the younger Senju made no move to tell the Chikushou of the others presence.
"Mother took me back every year. I met many Chikushou, though I do not remember their names or faces." Kibana sighed sadly, closing her eyes once more. "I remember the food though, and the games that the children liked to play. It was like watching wild animal cubs learn to hunt and fight."
"I was surprised when I entered the Uchiha compound and saw much the same happening with the Shinobi children. Isn't that queer, Senju-sama? I suppose not though, in this world of kill or be killed. We hold so many similarities with the wilderness, and yet ... and yet we humans are constantly holding war, while the animals live at peace with one another. Yes, there are prey, and there are predators, but.. it feels different from what we currently live."
Kibana turned to look at the door and grinned, showing off her unusually large and sharp canines. "Izuna-kun, why are you hiding?" She asked, her voice showing her amusement.
Izuna opened the door to the room, and Tobirama noticed the sadness in his eyes. Kibana noticed the way his eyes were downcast and not facing her. "I'm sorry, Ana-chan, it is not often I hear you speak of the Chikushou, I was curious." He apologized, making a small smile for the girls benefit.
Izuna looked to Tobirama. "Thank you for watching over her, I appreciate it." Izuna said blandly, not giving the man a second glance as he hurried over to Kibana's bedside. He made himself comfortable by her side, sitting on his legs so that he could assess the girl.
Tobirama felt as if he had just been dismissed, and it made him irritated. His eyes narrowed as he noticed that no one returned with Izuna. "Where is the healer, Uchiha?" He asked gruffly. Izunas eyes turned downcast once more, and he sighed glumly.
"They could not spare a hand for a servant girl." He said, his voice edging on anger.
Kibana grinned at her friend, and laid a hand on his arm. "Calm down, Izuna-kun. I am alright, I do not need healing. Rest will do me well, and I will be fine. The healers have much to attend to, do not blame them." Izuna looked up at her and nodded sadly. Tobirama watched as he puffed his cheeks out childishly.
"It isn't fair though, Ana-chan, you are part of this village just as much as I or Aniki are."
Kibana laughed, and Tobirama listened to the sound, he watched as the tension was released for the Uchihas shoulders. "Izuna-kun, were it not for men such as you, Madara-sama, Senju-sama, and Hashirama-sama, there would be no need for servant girls such as I. I am not of importance, and nor should you place me on a such a high pedestal."
Izuna sighed and shook his head, wanting to argue but knew he would not win.
"When I am better tomorrow, Izuna-kun, shall we go together to meet with Hashirama-sama for instructions?" Kibana asked.
"That will not be necessary. I have spoken to my brother, and he has agreed to let you rest for as long as you need. I have been watching you, and I have determined you need at most two more days of rest." Tobirama said, and Izuna looked up at him gratefully. Kibana however looked at him with disdain.
He knew she was a servant, and that her actions were disrespectful, but he found amusement in her reaction. He allowed a small smile to emerge, and she in turn sighed and nodded.
"Thank you, Tobirama. Were it not for you, she would already be out of bed and working." Izuna said with a grin.
"Is that why you had him watch over me? Izuna-kun, I can take care of myself, I know when I need rest." Kibana said as she shot up and grabbed the younger Uchiha by the cheeks. He fell back at the mercy of Kibana's hands. She pulled and pulled at his cheeks and Tobirama watched the free entertainment.
"You're not resting-Ow!-Ana-chan! Lay down!" Izuna said, his eyes tearing up as she pulled harder.
"That hurts!" He yelped as he huddled into himself.
"The Uchiha household sure is lively, ne, younger brother?" Tobirama turned to see his older brother standing in the doorway, a large smile on his face as he watched the other two poke and prod at each other in the name of revenge.
"Much different then you had led me to believe." Tobirama said, as he stood to stand by his brother. The two soon left the room, going to see what would be four dinner at their own household. Today was their last day at the Uchiha compound, but they both knew it would not be the last time they came.
I think maybe I should start looking for a beta. I want a beta, but I'm too shy to introduce myself to them. ;_;
Madara is still in the lead, and I will end the poll before I post chapter 12, so two chapters left to place your votes, loves!