Walls and Mercy
Chapter 001
Thirteen years ago…
"Hurry up Sakura."
A five year old Ino was impatiently waiting for her best friend. All around her students scattered from the school as teachers dismissed them. The Kohona Village was lively with activity as the children rushed home to their families. Watching them leave, Ino crossed her arms. School was long over and yet the pink-haired girl was yet to come out.
"Ino!" A sudden burst of pink and joy rushed from the side of the school toward the blonde girl.
"What took you so long?" Ino demanded when her friend got to her. "I'm supposed to pick flowers for my parents' store tonight." The Yamanato family owned the biggest floral shop in the Kohona village and Ino took her family's responsibility seriously.
At the reminder, Haruno Sakura gave an apologetic look as her eyes fell down. "Sorry," she mumbled.
Never able to stay mad for long, Ino's anger blew with the wind and she hugged her best friend's arm in a friendly fashion. "And you're supposed to come with me!" Ino didn't no for an answer and tugged her friend along for the chore.
As both the girls headed farther into town, they laughed and giggled as they chatted all the way to the Yamanato Greenhouse. Once arriving there, they quickly began to pick the flowers that Ino's mother had told her to. The order was from the Hokage and to be sent to a family who had lost a shinobi in battle. Many of the flower orders were usually not with a sad purpose, but for this one it was. With each flower that was plucked, Ino made a wish for the family to grow prosperous and stronger, despite the lost of a valuable person. She could only imagine what it would be like to lose someone close to her. It was such a sad thing when someone died.
Being so young, Ino couldn't understand why the countries were at war and why evil people were in the world. Peace was such an important part of life.
"I think that's it." Ino declared as she picked the last one.
After gathering all the flowers, and extra plants to design the basket, Ino and Sakura headed home. Stepping outside, they were surprised to see that the sun had already begun to set. They hadn't anticipated how fast it was going to get dark.
Knowing that Sakura would get a scolding for being out later than her curfew, Ino walked with her friend home and made sure to explain that she had taken Sakura with her to help pick flowers. When Mrs. Haruno was satisfied with the girls' explanation she called Ino's mom to inform the Yamanato family to expect Ino home any minute.
Living only a few blocks away, Ino lifted her basket of flowers and left with a goodbye. Strolling on her own, Ino came to stop when she suddenly saw a group of boys aggressively pushing and laughing at someone in front of them.
Knowing that it was none of her business, knowing that it was time to go home, Ino found herself walking towards the group of boys with a deep frown. Where they bullying someone? Ino hated people who picked on others.
As she neared, Ino was surprised to overhear who the group of boy's attention were focused on. She fisted her hands when their threats and comments became audible to her.
"What now what, genius?" One of the young boys mocked. "Big bad Uchiha is nothing more than a loser."
"Right. You carry a reputation. You don't want to mess that up." Another snickered. "Just imagine what would happen if your father found out that you're not as perfect as every claims you to be?"
"How did you get past that test anyway?" Another picked stepped forward, "A kid at age 10, graduating from the Chunnin Exams... you cheated didn't you!"
When silence came from the victim the boys made a frustrated sound. Menacingly, one of the bigger bullies pushed at the one being picked on, forcing him to topple back and slam against a stone wall. From where she stood, Ino realized that it was the first born son of one of the Uchiha families. Upon seeing his face, her heart squeezed at how passive he looked.
The Uchiha boy's eyes were down cast as long strands of his hair fell over to shadow his face. It was unbelievable that he was taking the bulling when he was a proclaimed genius of the Uchiha clan. Ino herself had also heard of his clan's honorable reputation.
However, despite all the glory of honor and name, Ino imagined that it would be hard always being in the spotlight; always expected to be the perfect one and the smart one. She knew herself that her parents had high expectations for her, but never as high as the Uchihas did for their first born sons.
Still watching the scene before her, Ino's eyes rounded suddenly when she noticed several of the boys crowding the dark-haired one. It appeared as if they were going to beat him up.
Four against one was not a fair fight.
Dropping her basket and charging, without a thought to the consequences, Ino slammed herself into the back of one of the bullies.
Completely caught off guard, the boys shouted in surprise and thought they were being attacked by the adults. When they realized it was pint sized girl, they laughed and mocked her.
"Who the hell are you kid?" The oldest boy, who looked to be fourteen, spoke to her. It was disgusting that older kids had to pick on younger ones. Despite her young age, Ino didn't care. She stepped towards the Uchiha boy and glared at the bullies.
"One who knows the values of the Kohona Village. Comrades should not hurt each other." She wanted to kick boy in the kick for being so thick-headed. It was obvious to her why they could never rise in the ranks of the shinobi. They didn't know the first thing about being respectful. "You're just a bunch of jerks."
"Little girl. Mind your own business." One of the boys grabbed her arm and missed. Ino ducked from under his reach and punched with all her might at the boy's face. She was immediately stopped when another bully picked her up from behind and tossed her careless away to the side.
Crashing to the ground, she flinched at the pain and stood back up. "Stupid bullies. You'll never be real shinobies by being bunch of jerks!" Anger forced her to shout loud and clear.
That got the bullies' attention, and Ino almost shrieked when they turned dark eyes on her. She took a hesitant step back when they approached her but quickly she stopped. There was not point in running away. Just as one was about to grab her, a voice from behind stopped the bullies, and made them turn around.
"Leave her alone."
Ino looked ahead of her and saw the Uchiha boy. He was standing with his hands fisted and eyes looking straight at her. In her heart, Ino was glad that he was standing up to the bullies.
"Oh yeah?" What are you--" Within a blink of an eye, the speaker was yanked against the wall and held up with a fist gripping the front of his shirt. The Uchiha boy had moved so fast it took everyone a moment to contemplate what had happened.
"Hel-y-you! How…" One of the bullies pointed a trembling finger. His voice drifted off as venomous dark eyes narrowed in on him.
Ino watched as the bullies stumbled back in their steps. She smirked when the dark-haired boy tighten his hold on the bully he had in his grasp.
Choking out his words, the held up bully snickered as his eyes looked down. "Bas-bastard. Yy-ou don't want us… reporting to the Hokage that a chuunin…" The jerk made a satisfied smile before he continued, "was picking on by a bunch of genins. I'll report you."
The dirt bag was scum. Ino had enough. "Report what? I saw everything." She interrupted. "You were picking on him! You-" She stopped when the Uchiha gently lowered the bully to the ground.
Released and ready to do murder, the bully cried out in anger against the stronger Uchiha. "Piece of sht!." The bastard popped his collar as his friends rounded by his side. They mocked stupidly in their fear. "Don't you dare touch us perfect boy."
They laughed and then threatened. "We're reporting you unless you say sorry. You know you don't want the perfect Uchiha image ruined. What would the village think? Uchiha Itachi picking on a bunch of genins. What a genius."
Having enough, Ino took one step forward, then she was shocked when the Uchiha chunnin got onto his knees and lowered his head to the ground.
"I'm sorry." He said.
Horrified, Ino was confused at why he would ask for forgiveness when nothing was his fault.
"What are you doing?" She shouted at the dark haired boy. "Get up!"
Ignoring her, the bullies rounded towards the Uchiha kid and laughed out loud as they called him names. They enjoyed his shame and mocked him for it. All the while, the boy remained bowed to the ground and silent.
"That's right. Weaklings like you want to avoid trouble." One spat at the dirt before the Uchiha boy.
Ino was furious as she watched them.
"Don't know how he became a chunnin, look at him, bowing for forgiveness. Afraid of his image." The other laughed and kicked dust around the Uchiha as they left.
Silence fell over them like a heavy cloak as Ino watched the poor boy. She was disappointed in his behavior of not standing up for himself. Never could she understand why he didn't defend himself. It was almost pitiful.
At last, he began to stand.
Looking at him, Ino was not surprised to see that his face was void of emotion. However, she could sense that underneath the placid exterior, he was in deep and shameful pain. Everything about her wanted to run and hug him tightly. Holding back that urge, she called out to him as he straightened. "Why didn't you defend yourself?"
He glanced at her for a second and then turned away. Sick of being ignored, Ino rushed after him and grabbed the older boy's shirt. The moment she touched him, he tore off into a wild run and disappeared from her sight. Left behind, Ino forgot about the disheveled flowers around her as she imprinted the wilted look of the boy into her memories.
"Why?" She whispered to herself. Ino didn't understand.
Then, remembering she was to go home, she quickly gathered the unbroken flowers and cringed at the expected scolding that she would get from her parents. Running home, Ino wondered when she would see the Uchiha boy again.
I know that the characterization may be off, but its why we call it fanfiction. Enjoyed it I hope.