When Iruka woke the next day he could smell the steam of the shower in the next room. He sat up and stretched while letting out an exaggerated yawn.
"Well at least she's still here." Iruka thought back to the last time Chiyoko stayed with him six years ago. He had woken up to only be greeted by a pile of bloody bandages and a hastily scribbled note simply stating 'Had to leave. No need to worry. All my love – Chiyoko.' The note was littered with bloody fingerprints. No need to worry.. Iruka sighed deeply and inched his way out of bed, beginning to gear up for the day. Before heading to the academy Iruka filled a glass with water and set it on the coffee table next to two aspirins. After all she drank last night, he figured she would need it. He smiled at the thought of the groggy kunoichi, probably sick to her stomach in the shower. He left a spare key for her on the counter before heading out the door to see his students.
Chiyoko leaned her forehead against the wall of Iruka's shower. As the water ran down and over her skull she could swear that her brain was pounding so badly it made the droplets vibrate. She cursed herself for nearly drinking her weight in sake the night before, but it was the best defense against the prying questions.
"That Kakashi." She grimaced and massaged the bridge of her nose as she stood under the steamy water recalling the stubborn grey-haired jonin. He was always able to see right through her, past the games she tried to play. However, she did long to see him, his lazy but cool attitude suited him so well. They didn't have to talk, she'd much rather admire him from afar, a strange tension that stood between the two always seemed stronger the farther apart they were.
Sighing, Chiyoko turned off the water and stepped out of the shower while wrapping a towel around her scalded and pruney body. Her long raven hair stuck to her wet figure in tendrils as she combed out the silky waves. Walking back into the living room to grab her clothes, she laughed gently when she saw the water and aspirin laying on the table. Instantly regretting her laugh, her head panged with pain. Quickly downing the pills, Chiyoko dressed for the day. While she was wrapping her knuckles, a large pounding began at the door.
"Well Iruka's not here, better leave it be." Chiyoko went back to wrapping her hands but the pounding wouldn't stop, it was sharp and consistent. "Alright, alright I'm coming. I'm coming!" She made her way to the door slowly, her head still throbbing from the hangover and it seemed to be in rhythm with the insentient pounding on the door. When her hand hit the doorknob the knocking immediately stopped and her eyes met a set of familiar yellow ones nearly identical to her own.
"Father!" She bowed low and dropped to one knee in front of the towering figure of a man. He stood tall, his face weathered by age but his eyes as fierce as a stalking panthers. Chiyoko's normal aloof attitude left her like it was sucked from her body. What was left was only the vessel that Iwao had raised her to be.
"Rise child." She stood quickly and as stiff as a board. Her eyes knew not to raise to meet his but instead hovered around his strong chin or high cheek bones. He said nothing more but instead stiffly to walk from the apartment, knowing his child would follow. Chiyoko ran into the apartment and grabbed her weapon and the key Iruka had left her before locking the door and catching up with her father as fast as she could. She ran up behind him quickly falling into the rhythm of his walk as she reached his heels. Do not speak before spoken to, show no weakness, become the Onigoroshi I was destined to be. Chiyoko mentally repeated the code Iwao had her live by throughout her childhood. He was cold and fearsome but she knew that he loved her. His heir, his successor, the strongest carrier of the Onigoroshi Kekkai Genkai in decades. She respected him above any other people in the world. His word was all that mattered above anyone else's .
Her mind lingered on her childhood as the pair walked on the outskirts of Konoha. When she was a child the only world Chiyoko knew was the world of the shinobi. She studied at the academy and then came home for her personal lessons from Iwao. After she was covered in blood, sweat, and mud she was allowed to wander. That was the thing that Chiyoko loved the most, to wander. That was the true nature of the Onigoroshi clan, never to stay in one place, to wander and know all lands. Her father had chosen to raise Chiyoko in the Hidden Leaf village because of the amount of powerful and talented ninjas coming from the land. It was the only true place she ever thought of as home.
Iwao himself retired from demon-slaying the day Chiyoko turned ten years old. She remembered the day like it was yesterday, standing in front of all the people she had grown to love. Her belly was empty and her mouth was bleeding, she had completed the chunin exam at ten years old and that was proof enough that she was ready to begin her destiny as an Onigoroshi. That was also the day that Iwao had given her her weapon, her signature. It was a black staff with a silver figurine of a woman at the top. Her arms were outstretched with her face towards the heavens. A single silver ring halo'd the figurine with razor sharp edges. At the bottom of the staff, metal rods stuck out staggered and acted as places to mount and climb the staff in battle. This was Demonsbane, the perfect tool for a carrier of the Onigoroshi Kekkai Genkai. Chiyoko remembered being taken by it's beauty and clutching it in her tiny ten year old hands until they turned white. The staff was still nearly half a foot taller than her but she loved it none the less. That day, she left Konoha to wander and fulfill her duty. Chiyoko couldn't help but smile at the memory of her; half-starved and caked with dirt fighting for her life for the first four years of her journey.
Chiyoko's mind snapped back to the present when she realized her father had stopped walking. He turned to her and placed his calloused hands on her slender shoulders. His eyes lingered on her face, studying every pore of his beloved daughters face.
"I've heard many good things. I've received many letters." This was the extent of Iwao's affection. However, though it was small this acknowledgment was all Chiyoko needed. Her entire body swelled with pride and she bowed deeply while struggling to hide a smile.
"I know I have requested you to come here, but I was wrong. He's not ready, we must wait until he is older. He still hasn't learned the true fate of his father." Chiyoko's face remained blank as her father spoke. "You must return to your duty. Go to the Village Hidden in the Mist. Your brothers have failed me there."
"Father, I thought they were forbidden from fighting." Iwao clicked his tongue and turned away from his successor.
"They are weak, they did not inherit the pride of our clan so they are not Onigoroshi. They have disobeyed my word, and wasted my patience. They are now disposable."
Chiyoko nodded, she knew what must be done. Iwao placed his hand on top of his beloved heir's head and muttered some words before turning and walking the path to his home outside of Konoha. Chiyoko remained with her head bowed until her father was out of sight. She breathed deeply and turned to head back into the city. It wouldn't hurt to say goodbye this time, although it was not in her nature.