Well, hello! I'm back with another chapter!
Honestly, I received a lot of good feedback from reviews this time around, so I'm thanking everyone who reviewed for the last chapter. That would be Kani-Leek-lover, Llyrica, InazumaSenshi, belladu57, and SiegZeon. Thank you all for the support involving this story!
There is also the followers thing here. I want to thank you guys as well. This includes a whopping 47 followers! Here they are Acerblazer, Amyb11, Arianna La Fay, Darkjaden, Doom of hounds, Eldeweiss, Evil E. Evil, Fauxlupin, FlamingBull, GreenTeaAndPocky, Hellfire000, HolyCheesus, InazumaSenshi, Kittymeow25, Littlebirdd, Meow Muse, Nube2013, Red-eyed Snow Leopard, Regin, Rigoudon3, Rookie-Cat, Ruri7533, Torat134, Tory476, WishingWanderer, XxLittleMissSweetnessxX, Adamkevin23, blackvampcat92, blitz129, bookimp, bouff2, edible wallpaper, fanfiction2010, gmilena123, Isabella vera, kara reader, kountoall, mishuu, moonligh, nana82201 native-x, sailorhime, setsunaxx, tarynfire, tinyNecile, waraa, and yuki kagoshima.
Whoa, that was a mouthful. Anyway, let's get onto the reviews.
Kani-leek-lover: No problem! Seriously, you deserve the compliment. So few people take the time to review anymore. Also, I understand how school work can be... So no worries there.
1): Glad that worked out. Personalities of cannon characters are troublesome as it's hard for me to get it exactly right sometimes. Either way, I'll take the experimentation with seals into mind, but trust me when I say that I'm going to try and keep a realistic view on progress with the genin, as I know that all of them hit Jōnin before even one of them died. Even Kushina hit Jōnin by what the wiki page says.
2): Heh, it'd be like me trying to thread a needle. I absolutely suck at it, and I have to get my sister, or mother to help me.
3): Meh. I don't know how well that will work honestly. Kasumi's personality is explained a bit in this chapter, and her personality just doesn't allow for it sometimes...
4): Good to know, as even if their personalities couldn't be more different, they are still siblings and they need to get along to some degree. They are all they have left of the clan besides Mito after all.
5): Then you take into consideration that Kushina was violent in her Academy days, and the first meeting she had with Naruto... Yeah, Chaos follows the Uzumaki clan no matter where they go.
6): Thanks! I honestly think that this chapter should completely cement the relationship between Kasumi and Shikaku. Honestly, I'm just curious about some other things at this point, like if Shikamaru should be unchanged appearance wise, or if he should gain Kasumi's eye color...
Llyrica: no problem. I'm happy you reviewed!
-): yeah, that's what I was getting at. No matter what, you shouldn't hold a child back from their potential. The training afterwards was actually part of the punishment as well just so you know.
-): well, that's good :). I was a bit worried that it wouldn't work so well. I am trying to be at least a bit realistic.
-): That's good at least. Also, take into consideration what type of clan the Nara clan is. It's known for their mental Genius's so being that far ahead when surrounded by the same type of people isn't out of the scope of reality. But again, like you stated, this is a story, and Naruto. I can bend the spectrum a bit, so long as it's not ridiculous.
-): the banter being well done is good enough for me. Need it with siblings after all.
-): it does add humor, then you take into the fact that's it's true, and there you go. We have a huge chaotic brew due to a couple of Uzumaki.
-): That right there is what I was trying to get at in this case! It's such a realistic thing in this case that, I was hoping someone would spot it! Thank you for spotting that, and I hope you like what happens in this chapter. It was a bit of a spur of the moment thing, but who knows?
-): Ah, yes. Well, on the bright side, she doesn't blow things up does she? It would be a lot worse if she blew things up in the process. And with inventing things she can learn wiser as well, also don't be sorry about the length. I enjoy long reviews as they help me know how specific things went.
InazumaSenshi: well that's for me to know, and you to find out. As for the detail with other characters emotions, I'll try, but I don't know how well that will work, so I can't promise anything. I will try though.
Belladu57: thanks! I hope you can be a bit more extensive in your review next time, but none the less, thank you.
SeigZeon: glad you like it, but could you be a bit more extensive with your review when you get the time? I want to know if there are things I can do to improve, and you doing that could help me a lot, so please keep that in mind.
There we go! Now to the disclaimer.
Disclaimer: I own nothing except for Kasumi, and non-cannon events. Please support the original creator of Naruto.
It took another two years before things turned away from what became a normal routine for the little group at the Academy. The little group consisting of Kushina, Mikoto, Minato, Shikaku, Kasumi, Inoichi, and Choza. Of course with Kushina Mikoto and Minato, those three were closer than the other four were but the group was a part of the same circle in any case. Currently, however, Kasumi watched with an almost blank look right beside Shikaku as Kushina and Mikto beat the crap out of each other. The reason was simply because Mikoto, no matter how subtly, insulted ramen in Kushina's presence.
Petty? Yes, but then again this was kushina's favorite food we're talking about. If someone insulted Manju in front of Kasumi, the same thing would have happened, except it would have been an elaborate prank that would have let the one who insulted Manju in an extremely embarrassed.
Kasumi was not spared in terms of the Uzumaki's prank drive.
Hearing the two yell once again, Kasumi, the normally quiet one, finally snapped as she yelled "Knock it off you two dattebate!"
With that yell, she gained the two fighting Kunoichi in training's attention, and with a glare, her wild hair, that was slowly beginning to turn completely red over the years, sticking up due to her agitated chakra pathways. With her glare still in place, the young girl gave a satisfied nod, as she said "Now that I actually have your attention, I want you both to stop. If you keep going you're both going to end up using Ninjutsu, and if that happens you'll both get into trouble with said teachers, and thus you're going to end up on the receiving end of Mito-obachan's punishment. We wouldn't want that, now would we?"
No matter how many compliments were given about Mito, there was one thing you everyone in the village knew, and that was her punishment. Just the mention of them was just like two years ago when Kasumi had chased after Kushina and ended up talking to Minato at one point. The instant the punishment was brought up, Mikoto and Kushina both quit arguing, and the boys that were watching this were slightly surprised at how effective it was.
"Is her punishment really that bad?" Minato asked with a serious look on his face, though there was a hint of confusion in it as well.
Shikaku let out a snorting laugh at that, half due to the fact he had tried to take a drink of water before he asked that, and half because of how ridiculous Minato's question was "Are her punishments that bad? If Kushina of all people is afraid of what's to come, shouldn't that be enough of an answer?"
Minato's eyes widened for a brief moment in thought. Kushina was headstrong and very rarely did she get scared about anything that was inside of the village, one of those things being Mito-sama's punishment apparently. If Kushina was actually scared of what could happen, then there was just reason to be afraid of whatever the hell it was that scared the older Uzumaki.
Shivering at that thought, Choza gave a laugh in between bits of his chips "Kasumi's even afraid of whatever Mito-sama does to dish out punishment. I seriously don't want to be on the receiving end of it."
Inoichi gave a laugh as well "I really wouldn't want to be either of those two if Mito-sama decided to actually give out a punishment. From what I've heard she doesn't anger all that quickly."
A sudden snort caused all of the boys to look over towards Kasumi who had an amused look on her face. Kushina and Mikoto were right behind her as she walked towards them, but she did say "Oh, Mito-obachan is extremely quick to anger. The thing is, she doesn't like to give out punishment unless absolutely necessary. Most of the time we just get an earful from her. She's really good at making you feel bad about what you did with her words."
Shikaku gave an amused, lazy, smirk as he nodded "That sounds about right. The troublesome woman she is would much rather give an earful to any troublemaker than normally punishing them like most parents would."
Kasumi gave a small laugh, as she said "Just don't let her hear you saying that Shikaku-san. Wouldn't want her fury to come down on you, now would we?"
Shikaku's smirk disappeared at that comment, while he just sat there for a few seconds. His expression quickly grew into a scrunched up look as he shivered from where his thought processes ment. With a look towards Kasumi he simply stated "I'm never saying that to her face. Ever."
Kasumi let out a laugh, while the Nara heir's friends gave him an amused look as well. Kushina rolled her eyes in exasperation, while Mikoto just shook her head.
The Uchiha matriarch-to-be was confused about Kasumi when she first met her, but as she got to know the younger Uzumaki, she couldn't say that she regretted ever meeting Kasumi. She had a Charisma to her that was similar to Kushina's, and that made it fairly easy for the sisters to befriend her. She wasn't going to be anything like her clan by the time she graduated, and that was both Uzumaki's faults. It wasn't necessarily a big problem though. She didn't want to be stuck up like the rest of her clan now that she could see them with clear eyes.
The Uchiha was confused however. This mainly stemmed from the fact that the two sisters, who were looking more and more like each other every day, even if Kasumi had a harder jawline than Kushina, and that the older Uzumaki tended to have longer hair, were nothing alike in personality. Kushina was loud and boisterous, while Kasumi was quiet and introverted at times. Kushina wore her heart on her sleeve, while Kasumi looked at everything with a hint of suspicion. It was almost like it was a mental tick that the two gained from when they came to Konoha. Even Mikoto knew about what happened to Uzushio.
Her honest opinion on the sisters were that they complimented each other. Even if Kushina was the first friend the Uchiha managed to have, with any sense of the word, Kasumi wormed her way into the Uchiha's heart just as quickly. She wasn't innocent, for from it actually, but she had a resolve to get better mainly due to wanting to protect everything that was important to her, most likely stemming from what happened to Uzushio. She had to be honest though, Kasumi and Kushina were two of her closest friends, and she wouldn't change anything from the way it is.
With that thought process ended, Mikoto gave a frown as she remembered something her father was talking about. WIth a call to the rest of her friends to gain their attention, Mikoto said "I heard from my father that they may be pushing for the right to lower the graduation age. War hasn't been officially declared between Konoha, and the three nations that attacked Uzushio, but with the way things are going it will be official in close to a year."
Kasumi, who actually had a smile on her face, scowled at that "So what? They want to make a bunch of Genin cannon fodder? That's one of the worst things they would do."
Shikaku shared the scowl as he said "One little twist of the truth, and a little bribe here, and it will be like everyone who is graduating has become a bit of a genius."
Minato frowned at that "I don't think they should do something like that no matter what the situation, they shouldn't need to put children out just to make a point."
Kushina let out a small growl of anger "What the hell type of government do we live under?"
Kasumi put a comforting hand onto Kushina's shoulder as she said "I don't like it any more than any of you, but its the hard truth. But that's what we're here for. To make sure something like this never happens again."
Kasumi put a hand into the center of their small group, a small smirk playing on her face "Here's a promise to make sure that they won't send kids to the frontline after our generation."
Mikoto gave a small laugh, but she put her hand on top of Kasumi's "I'll promise that as well, I don't want to see kids being sent to die when i'm in my twenties or thirties."
Shikaku gave a lazy groan,but none the less put his hand on the pile "I'll agree with that. I don't want any kid of mine to end up in that situation either."
Kushina gave a laugh yell of agreement as she put her hand on the pile "Of course I'm going to agree Dattebane! I don't want anything like this to happen even now! When I become the first female hokage i'll make sure of that!"
Minato let out a soft laugh, as he put his hand on as well "I'm going to aim for Hokage to you know, and I'll make sure that nothing like this happens either."
Inoichi gave a smile as he put his hand on the pile "Its not like I have much choice do I? Mind you I would have agreed anyway."
Choza, who was last one to put his hand on the pile, gave a grunt when he did so "I don't like the idea of them sending anyone our age to the front line, so I'll agree no matter what! LETS KICK SOME ASS!"
Everyone burst into hysterical laughter of their own sorts with Choza's outburst, but it was good natured laughing. Choza knew that no one meant anything by it, but he still blushed over the fact that he yelled. Choza, while normally quiet, could be loud when someone called him fat, or he got really excited about anything.
Choza was another one of the people in their circle of friends that thought Kasumi was odd. While she wasn't as loud as Kushina, no one was as loud as her, she wasn't shy either. Instead she set off a more cautious vice than Kushina, yet still had that charismatic quality that they both seemed to share. She was just so easy to get along with. It helped that she didn't pick on him about his eating habits, or weight. In fact she didn't go anywhere near those subjects, something that the Akimichi was extremely happy about.
The friendship actually started when Kasumi, unknowingly, did something that all Akimichi cherished. She shared one of her Manju with him only later did he find out that if Kasumi of all people was willing to let one of her Manju go, it meant that she wanted to be a friend to whoever she gave it to. Akimichi had the same process, but it was oriented towards all food, not just the person's favorite. Still, the simple thought of Kasumi giving him one of her Manju was enough to boister a relationship with the two.
Inoichi, on the other hand, had a difficult time becoming Kasumi's friend. She apologized for it later, but she had stated that she read about the Yamanaka's, and she was afraid that he would try to get into her head. It was that right there that solidified her paranoia. Inoichi was the reason for that simple fact to be found out, but once it was found out, Kushina stated that Kasumi used to be carefree, even if she was quiet, but after Uzu, she began to be a bit more quiet. Inoichi was curious about what had happened, but he didn't push it.
That actually help him become the friend of the younger Uzumaki faster than if he had actually asked. The main reason was basically because of Kasumi's slight paranoia. If Inoichi had asked what happened, than the younger Uzumaki would very well have never opened to the blonde. That one simple fact was all it took for Kasumi to open up to the Yamanaka a bit more. When Kasumi and Kushina actually answered the questions about Uzushio... It actually changed their perspective on all of them. Kushina was loud because it was how her family used to be back in Uzushio, and it ended up as a personality quirk. Kasumi, on the other hand, became the way she was because she was afraid she would be judged as a monster, just as Kumo, Iwa, and Kiri had labeled the Uzumaki when they attacked their clan.
That moment was the moment when they had seen just how tired, and worried to two were, and they weren't even adults yet! The fact that the two of them could very well be the last living, breathing, Uzumaki in the world... That was a lot of pressure on two girls that no one would want. They just kept pressing through though, as Kushina said that her family wouldn't want her sulking about and not doing anything with her life. Kasumi, on the other hand, said that she would keep moving forwards so that she could be strong enough to protect those important to her. She continued on with that when she stated that her group of friends in front of her were her precious people, and she would do whatever she would to protect them.
With their little bonding moment over, Kasumi noted that the bell for their break to end had sounded, and begrudgingly, everyone went towards the school building to go back to their classes. The whole time though, Kasumi was thinking over the plans for a seal that she had to decipher by herself. The only thing she knew about the seal was its shape, the rest she had to figure out herself, like the interlocking layers, and the different tiers. This one was a three tier seal that she had activated with Kage Bushin, something that took her three months to get down after gaining it a year ago, and man was she glad she did. The seal ,when she activated it electrified the seal, but the seal remained in tact. She was extremely confused about it, but she was determined to get it.
When the bell for the final class rang, Kasumi stretched her limbs a bit, before closing the scroll that held her research seal on it. She could deal with the seal later. Right now she had an Impromptu meeting with Shikaku up on a hill that was a good distance from the Nara compound, but close enough to the Senju compound that she could easily get home so long as she had the upper hand with terrain. The younger Uzumaki made sure to let her sister know that she would be home late, as a way to let Mito know about what was going on, but knowing Mito she would play it off like she forgot to tease Kasumi.
With her newest book in hand, this one titled 'The tale of the utterly gutsy Shinobi' Kasumi was happy to see Shikaku already laying on their normal hill, his eyes closed. Kasumi gave a soft smile at the Nara heir, as she sat next to him, her book open in this case. This was normal as well. They didn't need to talk to each other to make each other happy, and or smile. They just really enjoyed each others company in that case. With a smile Kasumi closed her book for a second and asked "Do you want to hear me sing Shikaku? I honestly never tried before..."
Ok that was her bullshitting him, but would he know? She hoped he didn't. The only time she had ever sang was when she was in the bath by herself, as she was too embarrassed to try and sing in front of others. In her honest opinion, she wanted to get the opinion of someone she was sure would be honest about how she sang. Shikaku as the only one to come to mind, and it helped that she knew he wouldn't be harsh on her.
Shikaku opened a lazy eye at her, fore he gave a groan while he sat up "That's a lie, but sure why not."
Kasumi gave a nervous chuckle at that, before she hesitantly took a deep breath and began.
Da-dah-da-da-da-da-da
Da-dah-da-da-da-da-da
Da-dah-da-da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da-da
Da-dah-da-da-da-da-da
Da-dah-da-da-da-da-da
Da-dah-da-da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da-da
Let's take a trip, back to the start
When I was sitting all alone with half a heart
I was wasting, a-wasting, a-wasting, a-wasting
My time
You walked up to me and asked for my name
Now every little thing for me has changed
I've been waiting, a-waiting, a-waiting, a-waiting
For you
The lu~ck in lo~ve, has always let me down~
I'm go~nna turn it aro~und
'Cause you, you make me smi~le
You make me smi~le
With your loving style
And I hope, that you'll be mi~ne
For a whi~le
With your loving style
Da-dah-da-da-da-da-da
Da-dah-da-da-da-da-da
Da-dah-da-da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da-da
Holy moly, I'm living the dream
You and I make a damn good team
And I'm falling, we're falling, we're falling
Like the rain
We can run away from the city life
Where we get to I don't mind
'Cause I'm happy, I'm happy, I'm happy
Once again
But wha~t if you~ should run out of roma~nce?
I'm go~nna give it a cha~nce
'Cause you, you make me smi~le
You make me smi~le
With your loving style
And I hope, that you'll be mi~ne
For a whi~le
With your loving style
Da-dah-da-da-da-da-da
Da-dah-da-da-da-da-da
Da-dah-da-da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da-da
Even though your love is pure and sweet
I can't wait to get you under the sheets
When the day is done, we'll stop and we'll finally
Get it o-o-on
Ooooh-oooh
'Cause you, you make me smile
You make me smile
With your loving style
And I hope, that you'll be mine
For a while
With your loving style
Da-dah-da-da-da-da-da
Da-dah-da-da-da-da-da
Da-dah-da-da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da-da
The sun began to rise when you came my way
You fell out of the sky and you made my day
As long as you can tell me that you're going to stay
I will keep smiling
The sun began to rise when you came my way
You fell out of the sky and you made my day
As long as you can tell me that you're going to stay
I will keep smiling
The sun began to rise when you came my way
You fell out of the sky and you made my day
As long as you can tell me that you're going to stay
I will keep smiling
The sun began to rise when you came my way
You fell out of the sky and you made my day
As long as you can tell me that you're going to stay
I will keep smiling.
Kasumi looked back towards Shikaku with a red face after finished, mainly because of the little explicit part that was stuck in there despite their ages. When she saw his expression, on the other hand, she choked back a laugh. Shikaku had a surprised look on his face. When registered that he was being laughed at, he cleared his throat awkwardly, and asked "Where did you hear that song?"
Kasumi, guessing that songs like that weren't real in this world, gave a sly look towards Shikaku before she said "What if I told you that I wrote it?"
Shikaku gave her a slight glare, as he said "I wouldn't believe you. What are you hiding Kasumi?"
Kasumi wanted the song to express how she felt towards Shikaku, but it left more questions for the Nara instead. With a slight flinch, Kasumi looked towards her best friend, and maybe even more than that, and said "If I told you, would you believe me? I mean, can you honestly say that if I told you something outrageous that you would believe me?"
Shikaku took a couple of steps forwards as he looked into her Violet eyes, his dark ones reflecting with a gleam "Yes, I would. I can honestly say this Kasumi. I think... *sigh* Mendokusē... I think I love you. Physically, I don't think either of us are ready for that type of commitment. Emotionally... That's up to you. So why don't you tell me whatever it is that you've been keeping a secret from me."
Kasumi gave a small smile towards Shikaku as she said "Sit down, this is going to be a long story..."
So? Did you guys like this chapter?
Ok, I put a few 'spur of the moment' things in here to see how things went, so I hope for some feedback involving that. Also, next chapter we go in more depth with Kasumi's past as Julie, (for those of you who paid attention at the beginning) so be prepared for that. Anyway, on to questions.
Did you like e little scene at the beginning with Mikoto and Kushina?
What is your idea for Mito's punishment?
Did the promise between the group seem like a good idea?
What did you think of everyone's opinion of Kasumi?
What do you think of Kasumi's personality?
Did I do the right thing with the song in this story?
Can you guess the name of the song?
What do you think Shikaku will do once the story of how she lived before is finished?
Please answer these questions, and thank you everyone who reviews, no matter how small!