Whirlpool Part I
Life always tended to screw her over, that was something that Akahana had begrudgingly acknowledged after all the hardships she had to endure so far. She had always put up with it. She never had any other chance but to accept her fate and continue onwards. But now she was in a situation that was one of her worst fears. Not because of any danger for herself, but because she had been more or less banished from the village she was raised to protect at all cost. Konoha was her home and her never ending mission.
A weapon that has been discarded is useless and to her the Hokage's decision meant exactly that. She had been discarded by Konoha and was no longer allowed to do the only thing was ever taught to do. In a way she felt dreadful and useless in her situation. She wanted to be angry at the Hokage, but she knew that it was useless. He did not even know what he had done to her when he made his decision. How should he know, to him she was a mere stranger...
And now she had to go to Uzushiogakure. She knew practically nothing about that village. It had been destroyed years before she had been born. Obliterated by its enemies, together with almost the entire Uzumaki Clan. Akahana couldn't help but wonder what would await her there. How would her Clan react to her existence, especially now that they believed that she was Kushina's sister. There would be some very troubling questions from the Clan and Kushina's family... she was definitely not looking forward to that.
But racking her brain over it surely wouldn't solve anything at the moment. After three days in self imposed isolation, Jiraiya had come to bring her to the meeting point of the Genin teams that would escort her to Uzushio. She was glad that she had at least been allowed to buy proper gear to replace the things she had lost during her fight against Tobi. Though she was unable to find the same clothes that she had worn before, she had at least been able to find other pieces that still suited her.
Jiraiya let out some rather improper comments when he first saw her in her new attire, but he was promptly rewarded with some new bite marks from Kurou. But he was somehow right with his comments. She now wore a black sleeveless kimono blouse which was held close by a blood red obi. She wore a short sleeved mesh armor underneath it. Together with a short black skirt and shinobi sandals normal people would call her outfit a bit too revealing. But that was her point. Showing enough to entice, but too little to be inappropriate. Akahana was aware that most people saw her as pretty, desirable even. That was an advantage against male enemies, that she was taught to exploit if possible. And since her fighting style required agility and speed she was dependent on the mobility that such clothing could provide. Jiraiya, being his usual perverted self, of course welcomed her choice in clothing wholeheartedly. But she did not listen much to him, Kurou would take care of any inappropriate actions from the sannin.
And now her outfit attracted much attention as she followed the sannin through the streets of Konoha on their way to the meeting point. Well either it was her outfit or the constant rumors about her short spat with the Uchiha clan heir. Akahana did not know which it was and she did not really care about it. Another thought was on her mind right now and that was how she should explain the fact that the Hokage and apparently the Uzumaki Clan head believed that she and Kushina are sisters... So far Akahana had avoided that topic... in fact she had avoided everyone for days. But since Kushina was among the Genin for this years Chunin Exam they would inevitably spend some time together. And it would be far better for their relationship, should Kushina hear these news from Akahana and not the head of their clan.
When Akahana arrived at the meeting point, she saw a group of more than a dozen Genin together with their Jonin senseis, waiting there for Jiraiya and her. It was a tad bit unnerving that so many people, which she only knew as adults, were suddenly watching her with the unabashed curiosity of teenagers. In her time, most of these people had looked at her only with disdain and suspicion.
But there was one among the group that immediately recognized her and stormed forward with a happy expression. "Akahana!" Came the loud exclamation from Kushina as the girl stopped next to Akahana.
"Hey there, Kushina. So you are one of the lucky kids that will get a chance to become Chunin." Akahana replied with a benevolent smile.
"Yep. Soon I will be one step closer to becoming the first female Hokage 'ttebane." Kushina exclaimed loudly, causing most others around her to look at her doubtfully. But none of them would openly contradict her, most remembering very well what Kushina did to the last people who made fun of her.
"I am sure you would do a great job as Hokage, Kushina." Akahana told the younger redhead, though she knew who would eventually become the successor of the Sandaime Hokage. But there was no need to trample on Kushina's dream; Akahana had experienced herself what it was like when others took all your hopes and dreams away from you... she wouldn't do that to any other person.
Kushina, though, only nodded happily, not knowing what the older Uzumaki girl was currently thinking. "Will you come with us to Uzushio?" She suddenly asked curiously.
"Yes, our clan head wants to meet me. Can't say no to such a man."
"That is so great dattebane. Now we can spend some more time together without the perv telling me to stay away." Kushina said happily. Jiraiya who had watched the scene between the two 'sisters' protested loudly when he was called a pervert, but he was utterly ignored by both Uzumakis. "Hey I heard that you are a really strong kunoichi, will you teach me something on the way to Uzushio?"
Akahana laughed lightly when she heard Kushina's request. "As long as your sensei allows it. Maybe we can find something that I could teach you." Kushina's sensei, who was much to Akahana's surprise an elderly Hyuga, watched Akahana with a calculating gaze. It was obvious that the man had his doubts about Akahana being able to teach Kushina anything, so they would most likely have to wait until the man has come to a decision.
But Akahana greatly enjoyed talking to Kushina. It was odd, but just being around the girl had lightened her mood considerably. Kushina's open and cheerful character was a welcome positive influence on Akahana. After growing up with only emotionless people, it was a welcome change for Akahana to be around the girl that would one day be her mother. It was as if she could easily bond to this girl, as if she had found some kind of kindred spirit. In a way Kushina was the kind of person, that Akahana had always wanted to be... the kind of person she could have been, had her childhood been different.
Then another person stepped forward, a young man, that Akahana had met when she woke up in the hospital. "It is good to see you are well again, Akahana-san." Inoichi Yamanaka greeted Akahana with a crooked smile.
"Yes, they finally let me escape from that hospital... I'm glad we meet under less... problematic circumstances this time, Yamanaka-san."
"Please, call me Inoichi. Yamanaka-san makes me sound old... girls are not interested in old men." Inoichi told her with a smirk. Akahana looked a bit suspicious at the blonde, but said nothing in return.
"You know each other?" Kushina asked with a confused tone. It was obvious that she believed that she was the only Genin that had succeeded in fooling the ANBU guard in front of Akahana's room.
"Remember what I told you about the time I woke up here in Konoha?" Akahana asked the younger girl. Kushina thought for a moment before she nodded. "He's the Yamanaka."
At this Kushina looked furious at Inoichi, causing the boy to start sweating, as he fearfully stepped away from the younger redhead. "How dare you try to mess around in the memories of one of my clan mates!?" Kushina raged suddenly.
Akahana could barely hold Kushina by the shoulders before the younger Uzumaki would have done something to the suddenly very scared Inoichi. "Kushina, don't! He did not do it for fun, but because the Hokage ordered him to. Just let him live this time." Akahana's words calmed Kushina down, but the girl still glared at Inoichi as the boy retreated more and more until he found safety behind the walking meat shield of his own team, one Choza Akimichi.
But Akahana's words caused most other people to look oddly at her. The question why the Hokage had ordered a Yamanaka to search through her memories was visible on their faces, but before anyone could ask that particular question Jiraiya exclaimed loudly, "Alright kids. We are all here and ready so move out. I want to be in Uzushio by the end of the week if possible." He was glad that all Genin and their sensei's complied with the order of the sannin and started walking out of the village. He really did not want anyone to find out the exact circumstances that surrounded Akahana. That was a topic that the Hokage had declared as one of the higher secrets. In the wrong hands people could try to use the information they had gotten from Akahana to incite fear of another war to destabilize the village.
Jiraiya waited until everyone else had left before he finally followed the large group out of the village. On his way he watched Akahana and Kushina as both Uzumakis were still in an animated conversation. As he watched them now he wondered how he could have not seen their relation the moment he first laid eyes on Akahana. The similarities between the two redheads was so blatantly obvious once you saw both of them next to each other.
"Sensei?"
Jiraiya looked to his side to see Minato walking next to him; the boy was watching Kushina and Akahana just like his teacher. "Yes, Minato?"
"Is that the girl we have found on our way home from that last C-Rank mission?"
"Yes, Minato, that is her. Akahana Uzumaki. Luckily Tsunade was able to save her before it was too late." Jiraiya replied.
"Are Kushina and that girl... related in a way?" Minato asked with a confused expression.
"Sisters." Was Jiraiya's curt reply. This revelation caused Minato to look at both girls with wide eyes. "But Minato, do not tell anyone about it just yet. It is up to them, whether they tell others or not." And of course he wasn't sure whether Akahana had already told Kushina about this.
"Damn right you are. Keep your noses out of Akahana-hime's business." Kurou exclaimed as he suddenly appeared between Jiraiya and Minato.
"It... talks?" Minato asked wondering where the small fox had come from.
"I didn't do anything out of the ordinary, damn fox. Just stay away from me." Jiraiya said quickly as he grabbed his behind with both hands to keep it safe from the fox.
"Make sure it stays that way, toad human." Kurou replied before he sprinted towards Akahana and Kushina. The latter saw the small fox and promptly picked him up to pet him, much to Kurou's satisfaction.
"Sensei? Are you alright?" Minato asked worriedly when he saw his teacher's reaction to the fox.
"Minato..." Jiraiya said in his most serious voice, one that he only uses for his most important teachings, causing his student to await a new and important lecture that would benefit his future shinobi career. "... that little fox is a demon worse then Kyubi."
"Huh?" Was Minato's surprised reply.
The group traveled for several hours towards the coast of the Land of Fire, before they decided to stop for the day and build up their camp. Akahana watched intently as the Genin started to fool around as they built up their tents. She herself had retreated a bit from the group and decided to sit on one of the higher branches of a nearby tree to keep an eye out for anything unusual. Even now she couldn't break out of her ingrained habits from the war. But her gaze wandered towards the younger teens from time to time.
"So lighthearted... so foolish..." Akahana mumbled to herself.
"We live in a period of peace, why should we be overly cautious? And we have our senseis with us, just in case something bad happens." Came the voice of a boy from underneath Akahana. She had already seen him approach her position and knew that he was leaning against the tree.
"Peace is just an illusion... violence and war always find a way. We are all shinobi, trained to fight and kill. Our profession makes sure that we will never enjoy peace." Akahana replied bitterly.
"You are a very depressing person, you know. Hard to believe that someone like you is the sister of a chipper person like Kushina." The boy remarked with a grin as he looked up to Akahana. Said girl looked dubiously at him as she heard his words. "By the way I am Minato, Minato Namikaze, future Hokage."
This actually elicited a small snicker from Akahana. "These days all kids want to be Hokage. I somehow doubt that the position is half as entertaining as you all believe it to be." Minato pouted displeased, when heard her words, but he couldn't say anything because Akahana continued. "You shouldn't pry into matters that are none of your concern. Things like family matters within the Uzumaki Clan. Whatever you believe to know, it would be better you keep it to yourself until Kushina and I deem the time has come to tell everyone."
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. Just stop being so gloomy. Enjoy every day you can live peaceful and undisturbed." Minato said before he walked away.
"What a goofball." Kurou commented as he walked out of the shadow of the tree. Akahana couldn't help but agree. She found it hard to believe that this carefree boy would one day become the most feared shinobi of his generation. That he would actually become the Yondaime Hokage... and her father. Somehow that very thought seemed utterly ridiculous to her. "Had he lived through even half of the things that plague your memories and dreams... he wouldn't be able to close his eyes again without fearing an attack."
"Don't forget that we are in an entirely different situation here... maybe we can keep things from escalating... at least this time. Maybe I can fulfill my duty, at least this time..." Akahana said thoughtfully.
Meanwhile in Konoha the Hokage once more convened with Danzo Shimura. But this time there were also the Hokages advisers and former teammates present as they discussed the one topic that Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to leave behind now. Akahana Uzumaki. The three councilmen were less then pleased when they heard what had been kept secret from them.
"I still stand by my point, it was a mistake to let her go like that. A girl that could actually keep up with a sannin in a fight... to let someone like that simply go to another village..." Danzo said with a frown. He was angry when he found out that Sarutobi had actually succeeded to keep such a secret from him until the girl was out of the village. He was quite confident that his organization would never fail in finding out any secret in the village. But he was proven wrong, much to his chagrin. And the fact that this girl looked at him like she knew him... her respectful gesture... he was intrigued by this girl.
"It wasn't my decision. She is an Uzumaki and her clan wanted her to come to Uzushio." Sarutobi replied agitatedly.
"They wanted to see her! You should have bound this girl to our village. You should have made her kunoichi of the Leaf or whatever it would have taken to ensure her loyalty to us. She should have gone there as one of our people, not as a free kunoichi looking for a village to serve." Danzo said with vehemence.
"Danzo is right, Hiruzen. Kami knows we can use every strong shinobi and kunoichi we can get. The peace won't last forever, not with Iwa and their illusions of grandeur." Koharu Utatane told her former teammate with a somber expression. "Just from what we heard about her reaction, when you told her, that she has to leave, it is easy to assume that she would have gladly joined our village."
"There is also the fact that we can't trust her. She has many secrets and we don't know how dangerous her presence could be for our village!" Sarutobi defended his decision.
"We have enough skilled ANBU that could have observed her until we would know whose side she is on. But this chance is gone now. Once she is in Uzushio, the Uzumaki will make her a kunoichi of their village. Allies or not, I prefer the power to come from our village." Danzo remarked scathingly.
"This is enough! The decision has been made and there is nothing we can do to change it now. If you three have nothing more pressing to do, then I can find each of you a befitting occupation to fill your time. Now leave, all of you. I have enough work as it is without your senseless bickering." Sarutobi snapped at the three councilmen, causing them to leave.
"Remember, Hiruzen, there is a council for a reason. Next time don't make such vital decisions on your own." Koharu said before she finally left the office.
It was already dark at the campsite of the Konoha group when Akahana finally abandoned her place on the tree to return to the camp. Almost everyone was in their tents, sleeping or at least close to sleep. All except the two people on guard duty, one sitting at the fire in the center of the camp, the other patrolling a bit away from the tents.
Akahana wasn't really surprised when she saw that the guard at the fire was Jiraiya, the toad sannin seemed to burst with energy the entire day. And now he sat there, with his notes for his next book, reading and sometimes chuckling perversely.
"You really shouldn't write smut, Jiraiya-san. Women don't appreciate that." Akahana said with narrowed eyes as she sat down at the campfire.
"Ah, you are still awake?" Jiraiya said with a surprised tone. It was obvious that he had not expected anyone to join him at the campfire.
"When you live a life filled with war and fighting you tend to change your sleeping habits. I take short naps whenever I can afford them, but I never sleep for long."
Jiraiya shook his head a bit sadly when he heard her words. "Your old life is gone now, why continue with these habits? Once you are back with your clan, you will never be forced to endure something like your past."
Akahana chuckled dryly when she heard his words. "Only in death I can find true peace. And these habits... following some habits religiously was the only thing that kept me from going insane. Order in the bloody chaos that was my life."
"You are truly an enigma most of the time, you know. When you are around Kushina you show a gentle and caring side, but every time we talk, you show just how damaged you really are." Jiraiya stated with a sigh.
"I guess we can relate in a way... we both know what it is like to live during a war... it makes it easier for me to talk about it with someone who at least partially understands what I have been through..." Akahana replied honestly. It was strange, in her time she never really opened up towards Jiraiya, but here with his younger self she could talk as if they had been comrades for the longest time. She could only guess that this younger Jiraiya, a man who had seen the war but had not yet started hiding his own inner turmoil under the mask of the super pervert, was someone she could more readily talk to.
"Akahana?" Came the uncertain voice from one of the tents. Akahana did not need to turn around to know who it was, she immediately recognized the voice.
"You should sleep, Kushina. We still have a long way ahead of us and we will most likely travel with only a few short breaks."
But Kushina ignored the older girl's advice, instead she fully left her tent and sat down next to Akahana. "You seem so depressed? Are you alright?" Kushina asked worriedly.
"Don't worry about me, Kushina. I am more then capable to deal with my problems on my own..."
"So there is something that troubles you!" Kushina stated pointedly. "Is it about your past? I only heard the little bit you just said to the perv... was your life really that hard?"
"I won't burden you with my past, Kushina. It belongs to those things that should better be forgotten." Akahana stated somberly.
"Then forget about all that and build new, happier memories from now on." Her exclamation caused Jiraiya and Akahana to chuckle lightly.
"If it only were that easy..." Jiraiya murmured as he remembered some of his own less pleasant memories from the last war.
Akahana sighed deeply, she knew that now was probably a good moment to talk to Kushina about certain assumptions. But she dreaded how the girl would react to it. "Kushina... you remember when I told you that I was an orphan?" Kushina looked a bit confused why Akahana asked this all a sudden, but she nodded none the less. "While I was still in hospital Tsunade made a test... to find out about my family..."
"Did she find out who you are related to? You said you never knew your father, was he from Konoha?" Kushina asked excitedly.
"No, Kushina... my father was not from Konoha..." Akahana sighed again before she finally said those few words that she dreaded the most. "... according to the test you are my younger sister... well half-sister most likely."
Once Akahana had spoken these words it was eerily silent around the campfire. No one spoke a word as both Jiraiya and Akahana watched Kushina to see a reaction from the younger Uzumaki girl. But so far Kushina looked completely petrified. That was until the younger red head suddenly launched herself at Akahana, knocking the older girl over, in what could only be described as some form of bear hug.
"Do you really mean it? Are you really my sister?" Kushina asked excitedly.
"Well Tsunade did the test three times and even the Sandaime is convinced..."
"Yes! I have an older sister. This is so awesome 'ttebane!" Was Kushina's loud exclamation. Akahana was stunned when she heard Kushina's words. This young girl, that only knew her for such a short time, would willingly accept her, a complete stranger, as her sister. The girl, that was her mother in her time, now looked at her as an older sister... Akahana would definitely need time to fully comprehend that. Jiraiya though only laughed loudly when he saw Akahana's expression. He had seen before, that Akahana felt unsure about telling Kushina about the test results. But seeing this utterly stumped and confused look on Akahana's face was greatly amusing for the toad sannin.
The other people in the camp though found the sudden commotion less amusing. "Shut up, Kushina. Some people are trying to sleep here your troublesome tomato." Came the yell from one the tents. Others said similar things, though they did it with less fervor, just in case Kushina decided to punish any perpetrators that annoyed her.
But Kushina ignored them all. She was still deliriously happy about the unexpected news from Akahana. "So you are really okay with this, Kushina? I hope you do understand what this would mean about your family..."
"It is okay." Kushina reassure Akahana confidently. "So we share the same father... Mom always knew that he wasn't the most faithful man in Uzushio. It is not like it is your fault."
Akahana smiled slightly when she heard that. She was relieved in a way. At least she would not destroy the reputation of a good man this way... but it was odd how casual Kushina talked about this all.
"Say Kushina... how is your... our father? What is he like?"
"I wouldn't know. He was seldom at home, always out of the village to fight or do other things... He... he died a few months after I had been brought to Konoha. Not that it had mattered to me, I hadn't seen him in nearly two years by that time." Kushina replied a bit dejectedly.
"I'm sorry to hear that..." Akahana replied with some uncertainty. She did not really know how to react to hat particular revelation. But once more she realized that she knew practically nothing about her family and that fact truly saddened her.
Jiraiya watched the two sisters with a small smile. He was right, Akahana showed a much softer side around Kushina. And quite frankly he preferred the gentle Akahana over the emotionally damaged weapon Akahana liked to call herself.
"Alright girls, the two of you should get some sleep." At this Jiraiya looked pointedly at Akahana. "Especially you Akahana. Do not worry, you are safe under our watch."
Akahana wanted to protest, but Kushina pulled her up when she stood up from the ground. "Come one, oneesan. You can sleep with me in my tent. I was lucky enough to get one for myself."
"Okay... imouto." Akahana said with a small smile. It felt weird, calling her mother, younger sister, but she also felt happy about it. It had been so long since she felt happy about something, but knowing that Kushina accepted her without prejudice, without a hidden agenda... it meant so much to her. But before Akahana and Kushina could disappear inside the tent Akahana turned around once more to see Jiraiya still sitting near the campfire. As looked in her direction she gave him a thankful smile before she disappeared inside the tent. At least in this time frame the toad sannin seemed to be a man that she could actually trust.
The next morning Akahana knew exactly why Kushina had a tent of her own. None of the other Genin would actually want to share a tent with the young Uzumaki girl. Even in her sleep the girl couldn't stay still. She tossed and turned around in her sleep until she eventually found something she could glomp.
Akahana did not sleep much that night, in fact she was thinking about her situation and whether she should see the Kyubi's last action as a gift or a curse... On the one hand she would now be forced to live through another war... to see the pain and suffering that her parents had lived through. And eventually the time would come when her parents would face the enemy that had killed them... Akahana did not know if she her sanity would survive, getting to know all the people she had never known, just to see them die before her eyes... But on the other hand this was a chance for Akahana. A chance to change the things that had gone wrong in the past. A chance to prevent the horrid future she had seen. A chance to get to know her real family, even though she would never be able to tell them who she really is. But being with them now, seeing them grow up to be the persons they would be remembered as... yes this chance was not a curse. It was truly a gift. It was the first and probably only good thing that the demon has ever done for her.
The group traveled for three more days, without long breaks, until they reached the coast of the Land of Fire. It was a rather quiet trip, well except for Kushina making sure that everyone in their group knew exactly, that she now had an older sister. In her usual boisterous way the young Uzumaki also shared the happy news with practically everyone they had met on their way. It was heartwarming how much having a sister meant to Kushina. But it also started to annoy most of the other Genin after some time.
Even Akahana felt slightly annoyed after some time. Though it was not really caused by Kushina, but by the rest of their travel group. The fact that the mysterious kunoichi who traveled with them to Uzushio was actually Kushina's sister was something that none of them really expected. So they of course had countless questions for Akahana to answer... but Akahana felt less inclined to answer anything and only gave very vague answers. Jiraiya laughed every time he heard these vague answers, knowing how much those had annoyed his sensei during the short time Akahana had stayed in Konoha.
Only a day after they had reached the coast they had finally reached the island that was known as the Land of Whirlpools. A large wooded island in the sea between the Fire and Water Countries. Now it was only a matter hours until they would reach the gates of the village hidden by the whirling tides, Uzushiogakure.
"Sensei?" Minato asked in a bored tone as he walked next to Jiraiya. "What is Uzushio like? Have you ever been there?"
Jiraiya laughed loudly in obvious amusement over his students obvious curiosity. "Well, Minato, I sure have come around a bit in my time as shinobi. Of course my missions brought me to Uzushio on occasion. Though the last time I was there lies quite some time in the past... If I remember correctly I was still a green Genin during my last visit to the village."
"So what is it like?"
"Ah, Minato, I haven't been there for many years, so things might be a lot different by now. But the village should still be a sight to behold. Large buildings with many artworks depicting whirlpools and such. And the large river the separates the shinobi and the much smaller civilian part of the village... oh well you will see for yourself when we arrive." Jiraiya said with a chuckle.
Akahana listened intently to the sannin's words. She had never seen the village of her clan and was equally curious as the Genin around her. In her time Uzushio had been destroyed decades before she found out about her complete heritage, so she never saw a reason to visit the ruins. But now she actually had the chance to see the village and meet her clan. Two things that she had never expected to ever be able to do.
But as she listened to Jiraiya she suddenly heard something else, a faint cry, not far from their path. As she looked around she could easily see that none of the others had heard it, they all had either only listened to Jiraiya or tried to block out the man's ramblings. At least the Jonin should have heard it, but apparently they were so at ease that they payed only little attention to their surroundings. She doubted that Genin could have heard it, it usually takes years of experience and a trained ear to distinguish the sounds around someone. In a war where an ambush could await you any moment, this skill was a lifesaver.
"Oneesan? Why are you looking so weird?" Kushina asked as she saw Akahana's stern expression.
"Please be silent for a moment, Kushina." Akahana ordered softly as she tried to determine where the sound had come from. Moments later she bolted away into the direction of the cry much to the surprise and shock of the rest of the group.
"Oneesan? What is going on?" Kushina asked in surprise as Akahana started running. Kushina's curiosity quickly got the best of her and so the younger Uzumaki followed her sister despite her own sensei's order to stay put.
"Everyone stay here, I'll bring them back immediately." Jiraiya exclaimed before he set out to follow the two redheads. But he, too, wasn't alone on his quest. "Minato I told you to stay where you are!" Jiraiya admonished his students sternly.
"But sensei, what if Kushina and Akahana-san both need help. You surely could need some backup." Minato stated determinedly. "If there is something I can do then I want to help Kushina and her sister!"
"Damn you and your hero complex, Minato. I will have to break you out of that as soon as this is over." Jiraiya grumbled, knowing that he couldn't afford to spend time on bringing Minato back to the other Genin.
Akahana quickly arrived at the source of the cry and what she saw only fueled her anger. It was an all to familiar scene that she had seen far too often during the war. There on the clearing before her were several men, all obviously armed and dangerous, rouging up a young girl. Akahana had seen this countless time before, but never had she seen men stoop so low to violate a child this young. The girl looked to barely older then six, but the men were not disturbed by what they were doing to the child.
"Stop right there, scum. You won't get away with this." Akahana growled angrily as she appeared a few feet away from the men.
There were three of them, well armed and judging by their attire they were no mere bandits, but shinobi. But there was no hitai-ate or anything else to identify them by. But it didn't matter to Akahana, she had already decided the fate of these men.
"No look there boys. No more need to waste time on the underdeveloped runt. Fate is on our side and has sent us a real babe for our amusement, until the boss shows up." On of the men said as he looked at Akahana lecherously. The other two men also let go of the young girl and focused on Akahana instead, none of them knowing the danger they were in now.
Akahana took six Kunai from a pouch she wore around her left thigh and took three Kunai in each hand as she watched the men with narrowed eyes. The three men merely chuckled when they saw that, not really believing Akahana to be any threat to them. Akahana quickly threw the Kunai at her targets, but much to the amusement of the men she missed them all completely.
"Pah, look at that foolish hussy. Can't even aim correctly. Oh this will bet fun boys, this will be fun."
But Akahana merely smirked. A cold and heartless smirk that unnerved the three men quite a bit. Even her eyes were ice cold now, not a hint of humanity left in them as Akahana flashed through several hand-signs before she called out her technique, a sealing array marked by the six Kunai she had thrown before. The three men groaned loudly as the seal took effect and the gravity around them increased tenfold, making all their movements sluggish.
"Damn with! What have you done?" One of the men yelled in anger.
Akahana did not answer them, instead she shot forwards towards them. The men tried to ready themselves for an attack, but all their movement were still so unbearably slow. But Akahana did not attack the three, but instead she passed them with ease. Her own seal had no effect on her so she could move freely. In one fluid motion Akahana had scooped up the young girl that had sadly also be affected by the seal before Akahana brought her to the edge of the clearing where Kushina had appeared.
"You shouldn't be here, imouto." Akahana admonished sternly, her voice still bare of any emotion. "But I don't have time to scold you now. Keep this girl safe. Make sure she does not see what I'm about to do... on a second thought, you better don't watch either." Akahana ordered quickly before she handed the young girl to Kushina.
Not even waiting for an answer, Akahana charged back towards the three men, that were just about to reach the edge of the sealing array. But they would never leave it alive. Not even wasting any more Chakra on these brutes, Akahana pulled out her katana and proceeded to cut down all three men without mercy. It was obvious that the three men were nothing more then crudely trained monkeys, not even able to land a single hit on her as she whirled around them in fluid motions, slashing them every now and then. When she was done with the three men she was panting slightly. She knew she had wasted too much energy on these measly enemies, but in her anger she couldn't really bring herself to care.
But in a moment of unawareness another man appeared directly behind her, just in the moment that Akahana deactivated the sealing array. The man had a Kunai in each hand, ready to strike her down as he attacked her from behind.
Akahana braced herself for the pain that would come with the attack, but to her surprise it never came. Instead the man was sent flying by a quick kick to his head, courtesy of Jiraiya. "Nothing to fear, the Gallant Jiraiya is here." The sannin said with a crooked grin.
But the man was not beaten yet and jumped up before he ran away from Akahana and Jiraiya, directly in the direction of Kushina, the girl and Minato, who had been ordered by his sensei to guard the two girls.
"Oh no, you bastard. Don't even think about it." Yelled Akahana in her anger. "Futon: Kazekire no Jutsu." With a swing of her sword she sent wind-blades at the man's legs, cutting them open in the process. But he still did not stop in his track.
Jiraiya quickly set to follow the man. He knew that Minato and Kushina were anything but weak children, but he still would defend them at all cost. But before he was even close to the man a sphere of compressed air, another Wind Jutsu of Akahana, passed by him and slammed into the man's back, sending him flying against a nearby tree where he remained unconscious.
This time Akahana did not waste any time. This attacker seemed more skilled and at least more intelligent then the other three. She quickly walked over to the unconscious man and looked at him with disdain. Jiraiya was near her when she once more flashed through the hand-signs for another seal. As she called out the seals name she touched the base of the man's neck, making the seal appear there with a soft glow.
"What did you do to him? I don't recognize that particular seal." Jiraiya asked with obvious interest.
"It is some sort of containment seal. If placed correctly it can paralyze a limb... or in this case the entire body from the neck downwards. He won't be moving much on his own, but the bastard will have to answer some questions once we are at the village." Akahana said with a cold snarl.
"Useful seal, many villages would pay a fortune to have something like that. Makes capture missions so much easier." Jiraiya commented idly.
"I designed it for combat. To take out an enemies arms and legs to cripple him during a fight. This... is just another less violent use for it..."
As Jiraiya still marveled about Akahana's seal the Uzumaki girl already walked over to Kushina, Minato and the young girl she had saved moments before. Kushina and Minato looked at Akahana in awe after her display of strength, but the young girl was quietly sobbing in Kushina's arms while Kushina made sure that the girl would not see the fight.
"Are all of you alright?" Akahana asked a bit wearily.
"Yeah..."
"That was so awesome! Will you teach me some wind techniques? Please." Minato asked giddily.
"Maybe later, Minato." Minato grinned widely when he heard the answer, but Akahana quickly ignored his ramblings. "Hey there, young one. There is nothing you have to fear. We will help you and bring you back to the village. Those men will never hurt you again." Akahana softly as she knelt down next to Kushina and the young girl. The child was slowly stopping to sob as she looked at Akahana with her big dark eyes.
"Promise?" She asked weakly.
"Yes, I promise you that." Akahana said with a smile. "Tell me child, what is your name?"
"Ho..Honoka. Honoka Uzumaki." Kushina looked surprised at this answer, but Akahana had already suspected it when she first saw the girls red hair. There were only few people near Uzushio that had red hair without belonging to the Uzumaki Clan.
"Everything alright here?" Jiraiya asked as he approached the group with the unconscious man slung over his shoulder.
"Yes. All is fine now. We should get back to the others." Akahana replied with a firm voice. "Kushina, please keep an eye on Honoka for a moment. There is something I have to talk with Jiraiya about."
"Okay, oneesan. We will wait with the others. Don't be long!" Kushina said as she picked up the younger girl and left the scene with a still giddy Minato in tow.
Akahana waited until the other three were gone before her face once more morphed into the cold and calculating mask. "Something is foul here. I doubt that these four were only here to force themselves on a helpless girl..." Akahana muttered darkly.
"Well we will find out when this fellow has been thoroughly interrogated." Jiraiya replied somberly. "But I was right, you are no pushover. Makes me glad that you were not at full strength during our fight... those techniques looked painful."
"I fight to survive. I don't have time to take into account how much I would hurt an enemy that would kill me on the spot." Akahana retorted tersely.
"You change your moods far too often..." Jiraiya said with a sigh. "I prefer the soft spoken girl you are when you are with Kushina. Your personality right now is downright scary."
"I've learned to behave appropriate to the given situation. Gentleness has now place in battle. But neither has hate and coldness a place, when you around your family." Akahana said with a sad shake of her head. "Come one, Jiraiya-san, lets get back to the others. They must have believed that I would make a run for it."
"Well you did run away without telling anyone what was going on..." Jiraiya stated with a nervous chuckle. But Akahana surprised him when she chuckled herself, rather amused about the thought of her running away from something like meeting her clan for the first time.
The rest of the group looked at Akahana with suspicion and worry before Jiraiya explained what had happened. While the Genin shuddered at the mere thought of what these men were about to do to a six year old child, the Jonin only watched Akahana closely, as if they are waiting for her to try and run again. It was indeed odd for her... the only explanation for their behavior that Akahana could think of was that the Sandaime Hokage had ordered the Jonin to make sure that she arrives at Uzushio without telling them the actual reason... Did they think she was some sort of criminal? A missing nin who ran away from her village? She knew she had been watched the entire way here, but she merely believed that it were only the curious gazes of the Genin.
Akahana couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen to her. Ever since she had saved Honoka from those men she had been under constant watch, one of the Jonin always close enough to stop her should she try to run again. She did not really understand why they treated her like a prisoner all of a sudden, but she knew that this was bad news for her. She really started to wonder what the Uzumaki Clan head had written the Hokage to warrant such treatment.
When they finally walked through the gates of Uzushio and entered the hidden village the rest of the group looked in awe at the foreign village, taking in the sights of this magnificent place. But Akahana couldn't concentrate on the village itself. No, the moment they walked through the gates she could already see a group of four redheaded shinobi approaching them, their eyes constantly trained on her. She really had a bad premonition now, but it was obvious that there was no escape. At least she would soon understand why everyone acted this strangely all of a sudden.
The group of Uzu shinobi stopped directly in front of her, ignoring the rest of the Konoha group entirely, as they watched Akahana for any signs of an attempted escape. "Akahana Uzumaki, on orders of our clan head and the Uzukage you are ordered to come with us. Failure to comply with this order will be punishable by death." One of the shinobi snarled at her. Just by the way the four looked at her it was obvious that they would prefer her to run.
"Oneesan?" Kushina asked confused as she looked at Akahana. Even Honoka, who stood next to Kushina, looked wide eyed at the girl who had saved her. No one in the group understood why there was such animosity between members of the same clan.
"It is alright, Kushina. Stay with Jiraiya and report to the Uzukage what you have seen in the forest. I will be fine, trust me." Akahana replied sternly before she turned towards the four Uzu shinobi. "I am ready to go, bring me to your clan head." Akahana ordered them coldly. Before she could even have another look at Kushina and the rest of the group the Uzu shinobi had already grabbed her by the arms and led her away like a prisoner.
"Sensei? What the heck has just happened?" Minato asked Jiraiya.
"I have no idea, Minato. I have no idea..." Jiraiya mumbled absent minded. Something wasn't right here. Did the Uzumaki know more about Akahana and her past? Had she lied to all of them... was she really a kunoichi from Uzushio? There were so many questions once more. Jiraiya couldn't help himself but feel worried for the enigmatic Uzumaki girl he had gotten to know these last few days.