I was released from the hospital not long ago and she is still talking. I swear Oka-san will continue talking for hours still, even if it's already been three hours. Softly, I placed a hand on her shoulder. Her mouth closed and she turned her attention to me. She smiled sheepishly, figuring out exactly why I had motioned for her to stop. "I was rambling again, wasn't I?" I nodded.
"Mom, what are we going to do about my eyes? I seriously don't want to wear this blindfold all day," I asked. She laughed and I could just hear the evil smile on her face. I was given a black cloth to wear over my eyes so the rays from sun wouldn't hurt my eyes. It would just make me go blind before the training is completed.
"Well, your going to be wearing that for at least another week, darling. Without it, I would get a blind boy and I don't want that to happen. For the next week, we're going to teach you how to use your eyes to your advantage and by we, I mean the whole clan. It has been so long since this has happened. Luckily, the past user had a scroll made for anyone in the future you might get it," Oka-san stated. She grabbed my arm and dragged me off to who knows where. I mean, I couldn't see.
Smelling the familiarity in the air, I noted that she had led me back home to the Takeo compound. It was on the exact opposite side of the Nara household, so we had the woods near us all to ourselves as the Nara, Hyuga, and Uchiha do. The four houses make up the four farthest most points in Konoha. Nara and the Hyuga houses are on the east while the Uchiha and we took the west. The Nara and we were to the north as the others were to the south.
Oka-san must have led me inside and, from the smell of sweat and blood, into a doujin. "You can remove the blindfold. This is a special doujin that at the flip of a switch turns into a dark room. We will spar here. If you see a flash of something try to use it as your advantage," she ordered.
I got into a fighting stance and faced off against my mom. I couldn't really see her from the darkness of the room. I ran at her, or at least where I thought she was. I saw a flash that said she'd be behind me. I stumbled a bit but was able to block her punch. I then spun my leg toward her and got a kick to her feet.
We sparred for a good portion of the remaining day. I grew accustomed to the flashes within a half-hour and tried to use them to my advantage. I didn't always use them correctly, but I did often counter them before she knew I was and sometimes I even did an attack to prevent one. I guess I was starting to get this down.
"That's enough sparring for now," she said panting. "Put your blindfold on and I'll lead you to your room for a few hours sleep. I'll be back tonight to get you up to train. It's better for both our eyes that way," she explained. I tied the cloth back over my eyes and I felt her hands move to my shoulders. She gently pushed me forward to start walking.
She guided me through a few hallways and finally opened a door. I thanked her and moved into the room, knowing exactly where my bed would be. It was my room after all. I fell on my bed, completely disregarding that I was still in my sweaty clothes, falling asleep instantly.
I was awoken a while later by my uncle. He said I could remove the blind fold and to get into the shower. I 'stunk like a skunk covered in garbage' according to him. I removed the blindfold, got in the shower, got dressed, and went into the hallway where my dad then led me outside.
My mom and a few of my cousins waited for us as we got out there. A light breeze was ruffling the trees and their blonde hair. My uncle and I had brown hair, unlike most of the Takeo family where they had blonde hair and blue eyes. A stern look was on their faces when we arrived.
"Mitchell, now that you can see better, I want you to use those eyes to your advantage. They are not active now, so we want you to activate them," my uncle said. I nodded and focused chakra to my eyes. I opened them and saw surprise rise up onto their faces. I walked over to pond just to the right of my mom to see them glow a light pale yellow. Around the pupil, a thin layer of pale blue was also present. Were my eyes this way before?
"It seems you are adapting to them quite quickly, but can you still use them?" my mom inquired. I allowed a confident play its way onto my face and an arrogant one found its way onto the others. "Well, so be it, come when you're ready."
I lunged forward with a kunai raised and as images flashed, I allowed my instincts to fully take over. I saw my uncle's eyes narrow as he reflected a stab from my kunai with his katana. I flew a punch at him, but flipped back at the last second to dodge the punch coming from one of my cousins. His fist connected with my dad's jaw.
All movement stopped. Slowly, Oka-san started laughing, making all the rest of us break into a fit of giggles. Even my uncle started laughing. Once the laughing stopped, we set back to work. Maybe this will be more fun than I thought.
Weeks past and I was able to take off the blindfold for a few hours a day. In a few more days, I could burn it. Oka-san was placing healing cream over some of the wounds I had received. "You're becoming just like your father," Oka-san stated proudly but barely above a whisper.
"But, I have the gentle heart of yours, and your baby soft skin," I joked as my cousins would. She smiled faintly. What was wrong? "Oka-san, is everything alright? You seem kind of down."
"It's nothing," she started. There was a long pause. "I heard about Bailey. How are you feeling?" I stared at her in surprise.
"I'm fine, it's for the better for her," I stated. "I hope it brings her closure with what happened in the past. If she is alright, then I am as well." I smiled over to her. She hugged me to her.
"Don't worry, you'll see her again," Oka-san whispered in my ear.
"Oh, I know, and I better be stronger than I am," I answered rising to my feet. "Good luck on the mission, Oka-san. Tell that to your teammates for me as well." I yelled as I sprinted off to see Kakashi. She just shook her head and sighed. I couldn't help but smile back.
Kakashi waited just outside the Hyuga compound. We had to meet with Hiashi to explain what we found a while ago. He didn't believe Tsunade when she had told him. She said that once he found out it was us who reported, he would believe her.
The man at the gate led us inside and to Hiashi's study or at least I think it was his study. I was forced to keep the blindfold on when I enter places, aside from my house, because my mom feared the florescent lights would make my eyes burn.
"Ah, Kakashi, good to see you," Hiashi stated. I heard the creaking of a chair and could imagine him standing. "Mitchell, is that you in under the cloth. Whatever is it for?" I smiled back at him, but said not a word and allowed Kakashi-sensei the floor.
"It is just as great to see you as well, Hiashi-sama. That is Mitchell. The blindfold is to protect his eyes from the lights in here since his bloodline is improving," Kakashi said. I nodded in agreement and understanding.
"Ah, well I hope your development of the kenkei genkai. So, explain exactly what happened to my niece," Hiashi grew serious. His voice was stern and I heard the sound of his elbows hitting the wooden desk.
"Bailey was sent, undercover, to spy on the Akatsuki. However, we were sent in because she failed to send a report. When we got there, she was hospitalized from the Ookami," I spoke up. "A member of the Akatsuki was always at her side. No one would hurt her until she awoke and can defend herself."
"And just how do you know this?" Hiashi questioned us. Kakashi sighed.
"Tsunade sent us and we spoke with her brother. He assured us of what they were going to do to her. He said that the rest of them had grown fond of her and think of her as a sister. The mission was confirmed by Tsunade and here is a copy of the mission detail," Kakashi spoke. The ruffling of paper was heard along with a long silence.
I stood at Kakashi's arm. He allowed me to stay close so I didn't loose myself considering I had seen very little of the manor. Barely anyone who was not a member was allowed in unless for a meeting or dinner and I was not the exception. The only one I know who actually got in was Tenten and even then, she didn't get past the main entrance.
"When will she be getting back to Konoha?" Hiashi finally spoke. I shrugged. "So, it may still be years before she returns."
"Thank you, guys," Hiashi said. We bowed and Kakashi placed his hands on my shoulders to lead me out of the Hyuga manor. Once out, I removed the cloth around my eyes and placed it in my pouch.
"What would you like to do today, Mitchell?" Kakashi asked a bit too pleasantly. I gave him a weary glance walking down the path away from the manor.
"You want to hang out with Iruka today, don't you?" I replied slyly. He gave me a shy glance. "You do know that the academy still has school today and he has to teach." A mischievous look passed across his face, replacing the shy one. "No, I will not be your decoy."
He dragged me to the academy. "C'mon Mitchell, just one day. Tomorrow, you and I will have a guy's night out," he pleaded. He's still going to bring Iruka. I know it.
I sighed, "I can't believe I'm doing this." I knocked onto Iruka's classroom door and walked in. Iruka looked up from the teacher's desk in surprise. "Iruka-sensei, you are needed immediately in the teacher's lounge," I stated.
"Thank you, Mitchell. Do you mind watching the class for me?" he sighed. I shook my head. He walked past me flashing a smile. I rolled my eyes.
As soon as the door was closed, Konohamaru barked out, "Where is Iruka-sensei going?"
"He's got an important meeting. I'll be watching you until he comes back. I don't know how long it will be, so no more questions on the matter," I said firmly. "What was Iruka-sensei teaching you?"
"He was showing us how to kill someone!" Konohamaru yelled out. I ignored him and instead turned to Hanabi.
"He was about to show us how to hold and throw a kunai properly," she told me. I nodded.
"Ok class; follow me to the training grounds." I led them through the halls and to the small practice area outside. "Hold the kunai with your four fingers wrapped gently over the handle with the thump supporting it," I instructed before passing out the dulled kunai.
For about five minutes, I corrected their stances, and helped them grip their kunai. Then, I showed them how to throw it. Hanabi and another guy were able to do it correctly. Konohamaru didn't get close until I fixed his throw back. He got close and I told him to work on it.
Kakashi and Iruka came into the area. Iruka came up, thanked me, kissed Kakashi once more and began to instruct the class. As Kakashi and I left, I heard Konohamaru, Hanabi and other kids teasing Iruka. "I take it you loved that make-out session," I stated. A grin appeared on his face. I shook my head but let it drop.
Before anyone could say anything, an ANBU appeared in front of us. "Takeo-san, Tsunade-sama would like to see you, immediately. Kakashi-san, you may come as well if you want," he said. I turned to him and shrugged. We sprinted off to the Hokage Tower.
Tsunade sat at her chair in a solemn state. I had never seen her stare so blank. What was wrong? "Mitchell, you'll want to sit down before I say anything." I sat down upon her suggestion. A long silence filled the air and the feeling of fear set in. What was wrong? "Mitchell, you're mother is dead. I'm sorry."
I felt my world crash down on me. I felt my heart being pulled from my chest. It hurt terribly. Tears crept to my eyes as Kakashi placed a hand on my shoulder. They pooled there before they fell down my cheeks. Kakashi pulled me to him and allowed me to stifle my sobbing in his chest. He put his head on mine. "Your uncle is fine and will be here soon," she added.
I wiped the tears from my eyes and pushed myself out of Kakashi's arms. "What happened to her? They were barely gone even an hour. How could it possibly happen?" I asked, sorrow dripping through my voice.
"Their squad was ambushed just outside the village boundaries. Your mother suffered major injuries along with another man. Both of them died in route home. Your uncle suffered slight wounds that weren't fatal," she said.
"Who was the enemy?" Kakashi asked farther. I said not a word as the information sunk in.
"We believe it was six Jounin-ranked ninja from Kiri," she answered. I allowed myself to nod as my uncle raced in. How had I not felt it happen? Everything else being said I never heard. I couldn't process it. I can't believe I lost her, too!