A/N: I'm starting the first arc in this chapter
Disclaimer: I'm glad I don't own Naruto because that is too much work. I enjoy being lazy.
Jayne sat on her bed during her day off. She had her father's chest pulled out and she spent the afternoon going through different scrolls. All the ones she'd come across so far were mostly political. She sighed. She wanted to learn more about her family, where they were and who they are. This chest was her only way of figuring out anything about who she really is. She dug around the chest some more until she felt a small box. She pulled it out examining the intricate designs of snowflakes and bears. The box was locked and needed a key. She searched the chest once more desperately trying to find the key that could possible unlock the box.
"Dang it," she mumbled once she realized there was no key.
She stared at the mystery box and its snowflake design. That's when it clicked in her head. She focused on the water in a nearby glass and pulled it to her. She placed it against the lock and once the water formed to its shape, she froze it creating an ice key to replicate the missing one. She turned the key and heard a clicking sound that meant the box unlocked.
She opened the box to find a single, deep blue scroll neatly placed inside. She unraveled the scroll and started at the two words it had written on it: Clan Jutsu. Below the words was the marking for a seal. She quickly released the seal and in a "poof" several more scrolls appeared.
Jayne searched through them reading their titles out loud, "Certain kill Ice Spears… Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals … Thousand flying needles of death … Icicle swallow … Ice prison …" She stopped reading once she realized all the scrolls were jutsu to her clan's Kekkei Genkai.
Ayato explained to her that her ice release was a bloodline skill. Since there wasn't anyone else with ice release abilities to teach her how to use it, she was left unable to figure out proper jutsu for her skills. Now she had these scrolls. The scroll's contained the hand signs and other instruction to master each jutsu. She couldn't wait to start training. Jayne gathered up all the scrolls in her arms and threw them into her grey backpack. In the process of her scramble to collect everything she accidentally knocked her father's journal off the bed. She bent down to pick it up when she noticed a letter fell out of it. On the letter the name "Rindoh Kushinada" was written out. Jayne felt her heart stop. Rindoh? Could that be father?
Jayne picked up the letter. Inside were two different letters so she pulled out the one addressed to Rindoh and began to read:
Rindoh,
I just came across the news that the 4th Mizukage has heard about your coup with the Hozuki clan and is planning on taking action to destroy it before you are able to strike. The rumors I have heard is that the Kushinada is more of a threat so they plan to destroy your clan in order to end the coup. My current hideout is under the frozen waterfalls on Taki Island. We can hide your family until you think it's safe. I know how stubborn you are so if you decide not to, at least send your wife and Ryugo to me. Since Abigail is pregnant she won't be much help to your coup and Ryugo is only 14. This way if anything happens there will still be Kushinada blood in Kirigakure.
I will update you on your cousin, Namie Yuki. She is living well with her new husband. Nobody knows of her Kekkei Genkai. You and your family will be safe here. I also realized I never said my congratulations of Abigail's second pregnancy. I'm surprised it took you guys fourteen years to have a second child. Ryugo must be looking forward to having a new little sibling.
Please write me back with your decision. You have protected me during my own rough times. All I can do is return the favor now.
Your eternal student,
Zabuza Mamochi
Jayne stared at the paper in her hands for a long time. What did I just read? Did I really just find out some useful information on my family? Jayne's thoughts raced through her head. She grabbed the photo next to her bed, the photo she assumed was her family. She looked at the man with the same hair color and eyes as her. Dad... Rindoh... His arm was around the waist of a women with facial features very similar to Jayne's, despite her having darker hair and brown eyes. Mom… Abigail… Her father's other hand was resting on a boy's shoulder. His features were so similar to Jayne's. Ryuga... My brother… A teardrop landed on the frame of the picture. She quickly wiped her eyes. Are they dead? Are they hiding with this Zabuza person? If so, why am I here in Konoha? Why am I here in Konaha, this letter clearly shows my clan comes from Kirigakure. That explains why nobody here knows anything about my family.
Jayne suddenly remembered the second letter in the envelope. She pulled it out and opened it up:
Zabuza,
Thank you for your warning. We are aware of the Mizukage's plans. The young Yagura hasn't been his usual self lately. It is as if he has become a new person. I along with the head of the Hozuki clan believe there is a third party pulling the strings. The young Mizukage was not this… this bloody when we chose him to be the kage. He originally had a good heart.
As for the issue of my clan's safety, I have had meetings with the fourth hokage and the old third hokage. They both agree with this coup and have given us their support. As much as I hated reaching out to the leaf, it is the only way I found to keep my family safe. They have agreed to take my wife and son and will protect them if anything happens to me during the coup. I never thought I would be depending on the leaf for something like this. Abigail is due to give birth any day now and as soon as she gives birth to our child I ,will send them and Ryuga to Konoha. It is not that I don't trust you, I don't trust the rest of the mist. Something very wrong is happening and the safest place for the future of the Kushinada clan is far away from the Mizukage.
As for Namie, please continue to check in on her every once in a while. I'm afraid of what might happen if her husband finds out about her Kekkei Genkai.
Sincerely,
Rindoh Kushinada
Jayne stared at this letter even longer than the last. This letter was never sent. Why was this letter never sent? Her hands started to tremble. She quickly grabbed the two letters and ran out the house.
Ayato sat on his couch about to fall asleep for an afternoon nap when he heard a frantic knock on his door. He slowly got up with a slightly groggy head. When he opened the door he let out an annoyed sigh.
"Remind me why I thought it was a good idea to show you where I live?" Ayato said grumpily.
Jayne pushed through the door and into his house. She ran over to the table and laid out some sheets of paper.
"I guess you can come in," Ayato closed the door and walked over to see what the kid was so frantic about.
"Grass head! Read this letter I found!" Jayne shoved one of the pieces of paper into his hands.
Ayato's eyebrow twitched, "that's grass head-sensei to you!"
As Ayato read the letter his eyes widened. Shit, the stuff is really serious. An old Coup d'état? This isn't something that should be read by a kid. Ayato thought about the name Rindoh Kushinada. It does sound familiar. Usually there wasn't information on Kirigakure so knowing anything about the village was rare. Konoha has been too afraid to send spies due to its bloody reputation. If this is Jayne's father then that means she must have been a part of a very important and powerful clan in the mist. He finished reading the letter. The last two words were the worst part of the whole letter. That name!
"Zabuza Momochi…" Ayato gasped. Of the few things they did hear about Kirigakure, the notorious "Demon of the Hidden Mist" was one of them.
"Do you know him? It says he was my father's student! Here read the next letter. It was written by my dad, but it was never sent," Jayne seemed excited and nervous at the same time.
Ayato quickly read over the second letter. His eyes widened at the information about the Mizukage. They think he is being controlled. This is dangerous information. I have to show this to the hokage.
"What do you think? You are being too quiet," Jayne tugged on his shirt.
"I need to take these to the third," Ayato muttered.
"Do you think he knows where my family is? If they are even alive?" Jayne's anxiety and excitement was rising.
"Jayne, don't get your hopes so high," Ayato's voice was serious.
Jayne's face also grew serious, "What do you mean?"
"I'm sorry but I highly doubt any of the members of your clan are alive. The fact that your father was never able to send this letter shows his odds are slim. Plus the Mizukage is still in power so whatever kind of coup they were planning failed. If your mother and brother did happen to escape and arrive here in Konoha then I don't understand why they wouldn't be with you right now."
Jayne clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white, "Maybe they decided to drop me off here and then go to this Zabuza person's hideout so they could be closer to my father. That's why we need to go find Zabuza and-"
"Absolutely not!" Ayato cut her off raising his voice. "There is absolutely no way I will let you go to Kirigakure, especially if it's to see that demon."
"But he knew my family. He is only person I know of that knows my family! I have to go!" Jayne yelled.
"No! I said no!" Ayato yelled back. "This man, Zabuza, slaughtered over a hundred of his classmates when he was still in the academy. He has killed Konoha anbu members. He is not someone you should need to find. We can find different ways to find out about your family. The mist is completely off limits. What do you think would happen to you if they found out about you? They would kill you instantly."
Jayne went quiet. It's true she had never thought about that, nor did she know about Zabuza, but she couldn't just give up. This was her family. This was who she is. "If my father took him on as a student I'm sure he couldn't have been that bad of a person. We learned about the hidden mist graduation competition in the academy. Isn't killing what he had to do?"
"No, he didn't have to kill everyone. Jayne, I admire your optimism, but it will get you killed if you don't back it up with reason," Ayato said trying to calm his voice down. He could tell she was really upset, but to his defense she was being completely irrational.
"But-"
"No more. Come on, I'm going to walk you back," Ayato ushered her to the door before she could protest anymore.
The walk back was a silent one. The girl was unusually quiet. Ayato knew she was upset. But he had to be strict with her. If the Mizukage got word that she was alive, her life could be in danger. He would have to make sure to avoid all mission that dealt with the hidden mist.
Once they arrived at the orphanage Jayne turned to him, "Can I have my letter's back?"
"Let me look at them some more and I promise I will find something to help you out. We can still figure something out without going to the mist. Okay, Jayne?" Ayato tried to give her a reassuring smile.
Jayne had an unusually expressionless face, "Okay."
"Alright, I will see you tomorrow for training," Ayato placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Yeah, see you tomorrow," she said with the same emotionless expression.
Jayne quickly turned and ran up to her room. She flung the door open and slammed it shut before jumping on her bed and burying her face in her pillow.
"Hey Jayne, are you okay?" A voice called out from the other side of the room.
Jayne groaned. Ugh, not now! "Leave me alone, Walrus!"
"Oh, okay. Well let me know if you need anything," the walrus got back to whatever she was doing at her side of the room.
I don't need you to do anything for me. I don't need anyone. All I have is myself. Even if it is dangerous I have to do this. I'll do it alone if I have to.
A/N: So this is the start of the first arc in Snowflake. I hope you like it. I have it all planned out in my head. Updates might be slow since I have a big essay coming up. Thanks for reading!
