When Rain Falls: Chapter 13 – Confidence
Disclaimer: Everything, other than my own characters, belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.
Kotone rested her head against her mother's shoulder as the minutes ticked by. Her eyes drooped, but she refused to close them out of fear that she'd doze off and miss something important regarding Takumi's health. Hotaru continued her gentle tracing of abstract patterns across Kotone's back as they waited for any news.
The door opened and Shizune emerged with a sigh. Kotone straightened up and was about to fire off her questions of concern before Shizune smiled at her and nodded.
"He'll be okay. He just needs to rest now. That was quite the poison, but Lady Tsunade was able to figure out an antidote," Shizune explained.
Kotone felt her legs give out as she fell to her knees in relief, "That's great!"
Hotaru smiled lightly at her daughter's clear concern for her teammate, but in the corner of her mind was the thought of what awaited them at home. "Kotone, we should head home so you can clean up and change. Takumi won't be ready for guests for a while, I'm assuming?"
"That's right. He's going to be knocked out for the night I imagine," Shizune nodded in agreement, catching Hotaru's strange mood. "Is everything alright, Lady Ueno?"
"Lady Ueno? Shizune, I don't think I deserve to be called so formally. It's just Hotaru from now on, and I'm just thinking of the cleanup awaiting me at home. Yuuto has a guest over that tends to leave a mess in her wake."
Shizune chuckled at the description and left to check on the other patients. Hotaru pat her daughter's head in a gentle gesture before they turned to leave the hospital.
"Hmmm, Yuuto probably isn't done fighting with our guest yet. Are you hungry?"
Kotone raised an eyebrow at the idea of her docile dad arguing and fighting with anyone, but her stomach growling interrupted her curiosity. Hotaru's orange eyes lit up and she let out a hearty laugh. Kotone wasn't used to seeing the gentler side of her mother, but she appreciated it when part of her continued to think about Takumi's recovery.
"Where should we eat? I'm a little disappointed to admit that your father and I haven't gone out much since we got here. With the shop and then the repairs to the village there just wasn't much time."
"There's Ichiraku Ramen or the BBQ place that Shikamaru's team is always at."
"Shikamaru? Wasn't he the other boy that passed to Chunin?"
"Yeah, his team is always nice to Kaori and I! They made us feel pretty welcome," Kotone recalled what Shizune had said about Shikamaru's mission. Her eyes found the ground as she walked, trying to think if there was something she could do for the injured boys.
Hotaru noticed the change in daughter and she sighed. She spotted Ichiraku Ramen was just down the street and she guided her there where they sat and ordered their food immediately.
"The guest at the house is your father's younger sister," she started to explain, "Her name is Chie."
Kotone looked at her mother in surprise. She wasn't aware she had any relatives on her dad's side of the family since he was an exile among the Ueno clan.
"She came because she wants to meet you and see what you're capable of. Yuuto, however, doesn't get along with her very well since he left the clan. She thinks he abandoned his family when they needed him, whereas he thinks that the clan is wrong in many of their actions and beliefs."
"What do you think about Chie?"
"I only met her when she came to Amegakure shortly after you were born. She's very direct, but I have to respect her. She's truly a strong kunoichi," Hotaru smiled at the owner of the ramen shop when he set their bowls in front of them.
Kotone blew on her first chopstick-full before slurping down the noodles. She let out a happy breath as the food eased her empty stomach.
"So is there a reason I haven't met her yet?"
Hotaru smiled coyly, "You'll have to ask your father that one."
Kotone narrowed her eyes at her mother, but she understood why she was being told all of this. She was being distracted from her worries. She smiled softly and continued to eat her ramen.
Hotaru finished first and sighed wistfully as she put her chin in her hands.
"That was quite the sigh," the owner chuckled from behind the bar.
"Sometimes you have to let out all your stress and worries in one go," Hotaru explained with a smile.
The owner laughed and nodded, "Sometimes you do!"
Hotaru stared at her daughter as she finished up her bowl. A rush of nostalgia blew past her as she recalled the first time Hotaru ate soup and how she'd come home from the academy in Ame sniffling because of her classmates. Yet she'd always put a smile on before she'd enter the house. Hotaru's eyes warmed as she knew that Kotone could weather the storm coming her way.
"Mama?" Kotone tilted her head with curiosity dancing in her eyes. Her sage eyes widened when Hotaru reached across the small spaced between them to brush her bangs aside; a gesture Kotone hadn't seen in a few years. Usually her mother was so up front and aggressive toward her to make sure she never slacked off in her training. Occasionally Hotaru would ambush Kotone to ensure her reflexes were fast enough. So this gentle behavior, while Kotone appreciated it, she felt there was something else behind all the gestures.
"Let's see if your father's done arguing with his sister. Thank you for the meal," Hotaru bowed to the owner and left money on the table before her and Kotone walked home in silence.
They entered through the shop only to hear Yuuto's booming voice up the stairs. The shouted stopped when a muffled female voice, Kotone assumed to be her mysterious Aunt Chie, shushed Yuuto.
Hotaru sighed and glanced to Kotone, "Why don't you go take a bath and clean up for bed. I'll see what's going on."
Kotone nodded blankly and walked with her mother until they reached the kitchen door where her mother waited until she was at the bathroom door to open. Kotone took a moment to watch carefully as the kitchen door opened, allowing her a brief glimpse of Chie; her hair was cut to a short pixie length with choppy bang just over her brow, her eyes were a darker shade of green than Kotone's, but the shape was nearly the same. Kotone jumped slightly when in the brief moment she made eye contact with Chie. The older woman narrowing her gaze at her niece when she realized she was looking.
Hotaru shut the door behind her swiftly and Kotone entered the bathroom where she leaned against the door for a minute. Her aunt's presence was entirely different from her parents'. There was a hardness in her stare that her father didn't have, at least not when he was interacting with anyone she'd met. Kotone assumed when he was arguing with his sister that maybe he did have a hard look in his gaze, or even back when he was an active shinobi. Still, she'd never seen such an expression aimed her way before.
Once Kotone entered the warm water she let out a sigh similar to her mother's at the ramen shop.
"This is nice."
As she relaxed into the silence, she could hear the hushed voices barely breaching the walls of the house. They were too soft to make out anything of value, but Kotone could tell her father wasn't done arguing. Whatever his past with Chie and the rest of the Ueno clan was, he wasn't pleased about her showing up so suddenly.
"What happened with those two? They're family, but they sure don't act like it," Kotone mumbled into the water.
Her white hair was afloat around her and she only kept half of her head above the water. She blew bubbles as she tried to work through all of the emotions the day had brought. The frustration in her own hesitation when the ambush hit them, the fear when Takumi realized he was poisoned, the memories of Jin. Everything pointed back to her own resistance to combating at her full potential.
"I know I could do more, it's just..." Kotone struggled with her thoughts, "I'm afraid."
Kotone stood upon as the thought flashed through her mind. She stepped out of the tub and wrapped a towel around herself before she heard her father's voice ring through the house.
"I told you it's out of the question! She's not going with you!"
Kotone opened the bathroom door just a crack as she peaked toward the kitchen.
"Could you stop acting like a child, Yuuto? It's as much her decision as it is yours!" The unfamiliar voice of her aunt started to get louder.
"Like Hell it is!"
"Yuuto!" Hotaru scolded, "She deserves a say in this!"
"Are they talking about me?" Kotone wondered as she stepped out of the bathroom to go grab her change of clothes.
"Hotaru, don't tell me you agree to this! It drove my brother insane! Do you want that for her?! For Kotone?!"
"Yuuto, Keiji went crazy because of more than the training. You know how much pressure he was under and when Dad died he couldn't handle the grief. That's what drove him insane; he was suddenly the leader of the clan and hadn't mastered the jutsu yet so many of the elders thought he wasn't good enough. They set him up for failure and you know it. Or you would if you hadn't left a week after the funeral."
"That's not fair, Chie. I was never an important member of the clan and the way the continuously tried to say they were better than everyone else and that the world was wrong, it just wasn't what I wanted for my life."
Kotone could hear Chie sigh in response before she closed her bedroom door to change. Her brows furrowed as she struggled to understand that her father was hiding something from her. Her mother's cryptic behavior regarding the relative told Kotone that even her mother knew what was going on. At least she tried to tell her something, but it wasn't her relatives. She likely refrained from confessing everything because it wasn't her decision to make.
She pulled her black shorts and a loose cropped top on before she turned to the door, her hair still damp. The sage tone boiled as she tried to calm herself, but she wanted to know the truth about her aunt's presence.
Yuuto turned tired eyes to the kitchen door when it opened, surprised that his daughter invaded the space that had become the neutral ground for discussion.
"Kotone? What are you doing in here?" Yuuto stood up and moved to intercept her, but she quickly darted under his arms to get a full look at her aunt.
The woman was taller than she was with a focused stare on her. Her darker eyes lacked the surprise and exhaustion that her brother's had. Kotone stared at her hard before taking a breath.
"Why are you here? Don't lie to me," she demanded.
Chie cracked a small smirk as a brow lifted in amusement, "Well it's clear who she takes after, Yuuto."
"Kotone! You shouldn't be in here right now –" Yuuto tried to interrupt, but Kotone shot him a harsh stare that silenced him. He had never seen his daughter so angry, let alone towards him. He sighed and nodded to Chie.
The woman acknowledged her brother's permission before she focused on Kotone again, "I'm here to train you, if you want it."
"I already have a sensei. Why would I want your training?"
"Toko has done a marvelous job with you so far, I'll give her that credit. Your speed and chakra control are much more advanced than they typically would be. Though I owe that in part to your parents for starting you out early. But you have the potential to really use the Ueno bloodline limit. I saw the Chunin Exams and I recognized the signs."
"What is the real bloodline limit?"
Chie let out a frustrated puff of air as she glanced back to Yuuto, "If only you hadn't hidden this from her, Yuuto. The phase of the bloodline you're using is something all Ueno members have. We can focus on something and magnify our eyesight on it. However, the next phase allows us to stop time."
Kotone blinked in confusion while Chie let out a chuckle.
"At least that's what the elders would tell you. While focusing on a target with your right eye, you release your chakra through that eye to accelerate yourself while simultaneously freezing your opponent. Anyone watching can't comprehend the speed at which you're moving so to them it looks like a simple body flicker or speed move. The difference is that because you halt your opponent, it can't be countered. Imagine the fastest opponent in the world and beating them in combat because you stop them while speeding yourself up to an unrecognizable speed," Chie explained simply, though the last part had Kotone picture Rock Lee.
"It's an immediate knockout move," Kotone realized.
"Yes and no," Chie's expression turned dark, "the release of chakra has to be so precise that if you make a single mistake you could end up expelling all of your chakra at once, killing your in a slow painful way. It's best used as an opening move, like you said, or saving it as a counter or finisher. Now imagine getting caught by your opponent only to use this jutsu to escape and end the battle instantly."
Kotone could now understand why her father didn't want her to learn this technique. Her aunt's face was telling her that many people she knew had died to this technique because of simple errors. A name came to mind that she couldn't resist asking about, "Who was Keiji?"
Yuuto and Chie shared a surprised expression though Chie's was far more muted than her brother's. Yuuto ran his right hand through his long hair before folding them on his lap, "Keiji was our older brother. Both of them had the gene to use the full kekke genkai and with Keiji being the eldest he was also set to become the clan leader after our father. Keiji never could handle stress very well, but the training for the jutsu didn't help matters. He didn't have talent for the precise chakra control needed and his instructors realized he might never be able to actually use the jutsu despite having the genetics on his side."
Chie had her eyes shut as she recalled their training together despite the 5 year difference in their ages. She took a deep breath before continuing for Yuuto, "He didn't take the news so well. He always said how he planned to change the clan, to make them more accessible to the great villages and to reconnect with all the scattered Ueno members that decided to live apart from the main clan. All of those plans were shot down by his own weakness when it was decided that I'd be the next clan leader."
Yuuto nodded and looked to Kotone, "I wasn't eligible since I didn't even have the capacity to learn the advanced jutsu. I mastered the first phase and trained my fighting skills with the rest of the normal clan members. But our father fell ill when I was seventeen, Keiji was nineteen, and Chie was only fourteen. She was too young to become the clan leader, but she had the strongest potential with the advanced training. Keiji was distraught at our father's illness and begged him to let him lead until Chie was old enough otherwise the clan, and everything he dreamed of, would fall apart. Our father refused, stating the old ways must be protected. He believed in the old ways until the day he died."
Chie took over the rest of the story, "After his death the elders of the village decided they would share responsibility until I was of age, but Keiji changed after our father died. Something twisted in him when he was denied the chance to fulfill his dreams, even for a short while, but the real blow was our father's death itself. He went from being a happy individual to an angry one. Everything irritated him and he pushed himself to learn the jutsu even harder. Within the week of our father passing away, Keiji killed himself by messing up the jutsu while trying to fight Yuuto. Yuuto decided he was going to leave the clan and explore the world to understand how the rest of the world worked, something the elders didn't mind since he swore to protect the secrets of the clan. But it was the final straw for Keiji."
Kotone shot her gaze to her father who was clenching his fists on his lap in frustration. The guilt he felt over his brother's death was obvious.
"No one blames you, Yuuto," Chie finally stated. "Everyone back home knows Keiji was unstable at that point. He attacked you with the intent to kill you, but it cost him his own life. I think the reason father never allowed him the chance to lead was because he knew Keiji had a darkness in him. Father would be happy that you got to explore the world for yourself and make a family."
Yuuto let out a gentle, but bitter laugh at the thought. "He wanted to live long enough to see grandchildren. It's a shame he never got to."
Kotone shared a gentle look with her father as he danced between emotions. He finally closed his eyes and nodded, "Kotone, I think you should train with Chie."
"Eh? Really?" Kotone was surprised at her father's quick change of heart.
"If Chie says you have the ability it means you're already using it in a small degree. If you were to stumble upon it later and misuse it, you could end up dying from the lack of knowledge. I can't change the fact that you inherited the true bloodline limit, but Chie can train you to master it. She was just a year younger than you when she learned it. I'd rather you learn it safely from Chie, even if that means you have to travel for a few years –"
"What? Travel? I can't train it here in the village?" Kotone's eyes were wide and her parents recognized the fear in her voice. She would have to leave her friends behind.
Chie stepped forward to explain, "Over the last few years I've realized what was the wrong with how I was trained. In order to properly train you we have to go to each land for a while and train in the different climates and terrains so that you're ready for all situations. It also helps that you won't have any friends to distract you in the meantime."
"But I just became a chunin and Takumi is in the hospital! I can't just leave now!"
"I can allow you time to say your goodbyes and pack your things, if that helps. It is ultimately your choice to come, but if you choose to stay here you might have stop using the kekke genkai altogether to keep from accidentally activated the second phase."
Yuuto nodded in agreement with Chie, "You do have the option to stay, but I think you'd do well to go. It's a chance for you to really train your skills. Though we should talk to the Hokage before deciding anything officially."
Hotaru pat Kotone's shoulder in comfort, "See? Lady Tsunade might not even let you go. But if you get away from your team, you might notice just how much you're holding back because of them."
"Takumi said something similar," Kotone mumbled earning laughter from her mother. "I'll consider it in the morning."
Yuuto, Hotaru, and Chie watche as Kotone walked down the hall to her bedroom. She needed time to consider the whole situation, but her emotions were shot from all the events of the day. She wanted to talk to someone about it, particularly Takumi, but he was unavailable. The next person that came to her mind surprised her, but she knew he had his own stress to deal with.
She flopped onto her bed and let out a loud sigh, trying to release all of the negative energy in one go.
"That didn't work," she whispered to herself. To leave the village for a few years of training. Training that could kill her if she messed up. Kotone rolled onto her side in frustration and confusion, but she also recognized the value of the technique. If she had that jutsu today Takumi might not have gotten poisoned or maybe Kaori wouldn't have shattered her arm in the Chunin Exams.
She closed her eyes as her mind continued to battle out the pros and cons of the jutsu and the training.
Kotone opened her eyes to the invasive sunlight rolling through her window. She turned away from the window and stared at her door. The house was silent, most likely because her parents and aunt were meeting with the Hokage before the day began and she became busy. Her snowy hair fell down her back as she sat up and moved her feet to the floor.
She opened her closet and pulled out casual clothes rather than her spare combat attire. She pulled on the black leggings and the loose fit dark fuchsia t-shirt that was long enough to cover her butt and hung off her right shoulder. It had been her mother's shirt until Kotone took it from her closet, thus the dramatic difference in fit.
"I'm going to check on Takumi, that's it. I won't bother him with this," Kotone reminded herself as she pulled on her boots before heading out to the village.
The trip to the hospital made her stomach curl and flip as the nerves started to get to her. She was undecided and it made her feel worse than it should. She barely noticed she had reached the hospital when she almost bumped into Hinata who was on her way out the door from checking on Neji, no doubt.
"Oh! I'm s-sorry, Kotone-chan," Hinata bowed her head politely.
"No, it's my fault. I'm a little distracted today," Kotone admitted with a smile. "How's Neji doing?"
"Neji-nii-san will be o-okay. He just n-needs to rest," Hinata made it through her sentence with little trouble, but the nervous stutter still made Kotone giggle.
Her olive eyes drifted away from Hinata as she glanced around the rather empty building. Kotone was glad no one was around, but the emptiness of the waiting area made her feel lonely. Anytime she got sick or injured in Ame Takumi and Kaori were always there, along with Toko-sensei and her parents.
"Kotone-chan?" Hinata gently brought her back to her senses.
"I must really be out of it today! I'm here to visit Takumi, he was knocked out for the night after treatment yesterday," Kotone explained as she took a few steps into the building. Hinata nodded as she also resumed her walk towards the doors only to be stopped when Kotone asked a question.
"Hinata, if you could become stronger, but you had to leave your family and friends for a few years to train, and potentially never see them again..." Hinata turned her head quickly at the surprising start to the question. Kotone swallowed her fear and finished, "Would you risk it to be able to protect them? To become strong enough to protect yourself?"
Hinata thought on the question for a moment before nodding, "I want to be able to follow m-my ninja way. If I could become that strong, I would think it'd be worth the risks."
Kotone turned away from Hinata with a gentle smile and a nod, "That's what I thought. Thank you, Hinata. I think some of my confusion is better settled knowing what you'd do."
"R-really? B-but you're much stronger than me already –" Hinata started to lose confidence and her stutter came out in full force, but Kotone cut her off with a chuckle.
"I hold back because I'm afraid to hurt people. You fought your relative with full force to prove yourself, but I have never fought anyone seriously out of fear that I'll hurt them. Takumi got hurt because of that on our last mission. I have the opportunity to change that, but I was afraid of committing either way. To say I didn't want to get stronger because of my first fear would be acting like a coward. But to commit to training away from everyone I know and love scared me as well. I'm quite the coward aren't I?" Kotone let out a giggle, her back still turned on Hinata.
The pearl eyed girl smiled at Kotone and bowed to her, and action Kotone caught through the shadows on the floor.
"I wish you luck, Kotone-chan."
"Thank you, Hinata," Kotone waved behind her as she walked to the sign in sheet to visit Takumi. Once she was signed in she steeled her resolve as she approached his door. He was sitting in bed with a book in front of his face and his food tray on his lap.
"Not fond of breakfast?" Kotone teased normally.
Takumi dropped the book to the table beside him and scowled at the food, "This isn't food. It's tasteless and smells terrible."
"Right, I forgot Chef Takumi is so judgmental. How are you feeling?"
Takumi shifted in the bed and looked to Kotone, "I feel alright after the Hokage's treatment. Her medical skills are amazing, I have to admit. Nothing like my own mixes and treatments, but she did a checkup just before you came in and asked me about what I used on your wound. Seems like you sold my medicinal salves rather well to Shizune-sama."
"Well she noticed how effective they were when healing chakra was applied."
"So you do listen from time to time," Takumi pointed out before chuckling.
"If you get the chance you could learn a lot from Lady Tsunade and Shizune, Takumi. Toko-sensei will train you as best she can in combat, but you've always been our team's nurse. Why not learn some handy jutsu while you're at it?"
Takumi nodded in agreement, "I'm considering it. The Hokage offered the opportunity since it'd be faster if I could apply both the salves and the immediate medical treatment. Plus it'd give me a chance to improve the salves by learning medical ninjutsu. I just don't know what to do about Kaori. She's going to have more of Toko-sensei's focus if I do that."
Kotone sighed and looked to the window, "She might have all of her focus. My father's sister wants to take me on a training pilgrimage. I'd be gone for a few years and the training is so difficult I might die."
Takumi froze at the very short rendition of Kotone's option. He raised a brow and blink in confusion.
"Apparently there's another phase on my kekke genkai, but without precise chakra control I could expel all of my chakra at once. There's a risk this could happen while I'm training."
Takumi let out a humming noise before shaking his head, "You have the best chakra control I've seen. Not that that's saying much, but even Toko-sensei says your chakra control is well above our age group. I think your risk is lessened with that in mind."
"Takumi, I'd be gone a few years still. I don't want to leave you and Kaori behind –"
"Kotone," Takumi interrupted her doubts, "you held yourself back even when Jin was a part of our team. You can't let fear rule your life. Kaori and I will still train here so it's not like we'll completely fall behind. If this training will help you not only master your bloodline, but also help you overcome your fear of fighting, then I say you only have one choice."
Kotone smiled softly as she watched a breeze ruffle the tree leaves outside. "I know. No matter what I'll regret some part of either option, but the one with the least regrets is to take the chance. I didn't know how I'd feel today when I learned of all of this last night, and it's still a little cloudy in my head. But I know that I should take this chance. I just don't want to leave you guys."
Takumi chuckled and flicked Kotone's forehead, a gesture that Jin used to do to both of them. "Kotone, Kaori and I will just be here training our hardest to match up with you. We've got a long ways ahead of us, all of us. But we won't just be sitting here moping over your absence. You think Toko-sensei would allow that? She'll see it as an opportunity to focus on Kaori more while I train with the Hokage. Don't worry about us. Worry about when you come back and we're promoted higher than chunin!"
Kotone laughed with Takumi before they both settled into relaxation over knowing their paths. They'd all grow apart for a while, but their team had a bond that wouldn't be broken so easily. All Kotone had to do was make sure she embraced the training and didn't fail. If she could do that, she could see them all again in a few years.
"Alright, well I should see if my family is back from the Hokage's office. They went to get formal permission in case I chose to go," Kotone declared as she stood up.
"Are you going to tell Kaori?"
"Mmmm. I'm going to make sure I can go before I try to tell her. I know she'll put on that brave smile even though she'll want to cry."
"That's true. Then she'll come to me in tears. Thanks for that," Takumi teased.
Kotone stuck out her tongue before she left the room. She could feel her chest tighten with her own emotions. Even though she felt relaxed overall, the tension was waiting for her; the immediate regret that comes with change, but soothes itself after a little while. Her fists clenched as she took a deep breath, relaxing her hands with the exhale.
The trip home was made short by her running. She had to know if it was going to happen, if the permission was there. Then she'd have to tell Toko-sensei and Kaori before packing her bag. It was all spiraling out quickly, but this was part of the shinobi's life. Kotone knew that when she said she wanted to become one as a child. The day she picked up training with her parents she realized she was afraid of hurting anyone, especially loved ones, but they reminded her that she could either protect people or become the protected one. Someone that always allows their friends to defend them, to get hurt in their place. The thought made her cry as a child; she didn't want to chose between the two then either.
But this time would be different. She could make a change that would help her overcome her fear. She hard protected Kaori, but now was the time to expand her abilities so that she could defend all of her new friends and acquaintances. She wouldn't be the reason a mission failed because she refused to throw a kunai or knock out or kill an enemy. Kotone didn't want to become the weak link, so she would train to become the strongest link in her team.
She opened the door and ran to the kitchen where her family waited.
"So?" Kotone panted the word. "What did she say?"
Hotaru smiled at the determination that was pouring from her daughter. Her decision was made and she wanted it. It wasn't a hesitant choice, she had considered both options fully to realize which was best for her.
Yuuto sighed and smiled at his daughter as well. "She says you can go, but only if you send letters detailing your progress. You'll have to use the Ueno sigil-stamp to seal the letters and Chie has to sign each letter in order to confirm your progress. But this way you can communicate anything to us and if needed, we'll be able to reply. Though Chie requests that we don't unless absolutely necessary."
"It'd be pointless to take her on a pilgrimage if her friends and family were sending her letters everyday," Chie explained calmly. She looked at Kotone and her eyes warmed at the strength in her stance. It wasn't an easy choice to decide to embark on this type of journey, especially knowing there was a chance she wouldn't return. As a kid, Chie had no choice. She was forced into the lessons and she embraced them, but for Kotone to choose this path made her feel happy for her niece. She wanted to improve. She wanted to become stronger with help.
"I want to go, but I have to tell my sensei and Kaori first. I already talked to Takumi," Kotone demanded with a firm stance.
Chie chuckled and nodded, "I already said I would allow you time to tell your friends goodbye. Is there anyone else you want to see before you go?"
Kotone paused and thought to Asuma's team and how she should have checked on Choji while she was at the hospital, then to Naruto as well, but she shook her head. "I've made friends in Konoha, but I'll be back in a few years. I'll let Takumi and Kaori explain my absence to them."
Yuuto and Hotaru were surprised at her enthusiasm as well as her confidence in returning, but they knew she needed to be confident in her return. If she wasn't, she would never survive the training ahead of her.
Kaori and Toko were preparing to visit Takumi in the hospital when Kotone entered the apartment.
"Kotone-chan!" Kaori greeted with a hug. "We're going to visit Takumi-san, do you want to come with us?"
Toko could read Kotone's hesitation instantly. "I think she has something to tell us, Kaori. Well, Kotone?"
Kotone took a breath before nodding. "I'm going to be leaving for a while to train with my aunt Chie. She's Papa's sister and she believes I can improve my bloodline limit under her guidance. It may take a few years, but I'll be back! I promise!"
Toko glanced to Kaori who was struggling to process the information with a smile on her face. She looked back to her older student. "You believe your aunt can train you better than I can?"
"I'm not entirely sure about Chie's skill level, other than the fact that my mother said she was powerful. But Chie is of the Ueno clan and she knows how to nurture my kekke genkai. There's a second, stronger phase that without her training I can't use. In order to become a stronger kunoichi I think I should take the chance. I don't mean to disrespect you, Toko-sensei."
Toko shook her head, her bangs sweeping her forehead. "I'm not offended. You've got the opportunity to train with someone who can harness your specific skill-set in more ways than I can. This also allows me a chance to focus on Takumi and Kaori's specific talents. I think it's a smart decision. How about you, Kaori? Anything to say regarding her choice?"
Kaori's eyes were watering at the thought of Kotone leaving for a while, but she bit her bottom lip and violently nodded her head in an effort to hide how upset she was. "You should do what's best for you, Kotone-chan!"
Toko rolled her eyes as the display before cracking a subtle smile at Kotone. The light haired girl grinned and pulled her friend into a hug, stroking her back with a gentle touch.
"I'll be back before you know it, Kaori. I just want you to promise that you'll train hard while I'm gone. Someone has to protect Takumi!"
Kaori let out a laugh before she pulled away and wiped her eyes. She beamed at Kotone as the older girl turned to leave.
"Alright," Kotone said, mostly to herself, as she reached for the door handle. "No turning back now."
"That's right," Toko agreed, "You've got a long journey ahead of you. But I believe in you, Kotone."
Kotone's eyes widened at the encouragement of her sensei. The words felt foreign in Kotone's ears, but she could hear the truth in Toko's voice. A small smile graced her lips before she left the apartment without another word.
Her trip home was quick and Chie was waiting outside the door to her parent's store as customers entered and left. She kept her eyes closed as her new student darted inside to pack her things. Kotone's parents, busy attending to customers, smiled when Kotone ran past them.
"She's quite energetic," a male shinobi commented.
"She's about to start special training," Hotaru explained as she wrapped the newly purchased katana in paper before binding it with a string.
"Oh? I wish her luck!" The man bid farewell. Hotaru shared a look with her husband as all the other customers were focused on looking at the products for a moment.
Kotone grabbed her drawstring bag and loaded it with spare clothing and training supplies before she changed into her usual attire. She paused when her team photos caught her eyes as she pulled on her jacket. Her gaze softened as she looked from the photo of her, Takumi, and Jin to the one with Kaori. Not too much changed from one to the other aside from her and Takumi growing in height.
With a content sigh Kotone grabbed her bag and walked to the storefront. Her parents each gave her a hug before letting her head outside.
"I still don't quite trust Chie with her," Yuuto admitted as he watched Chie pat Kotone's shoulder through the window before the two walked out of sight.
"Oh? Yet you're letting Kotone go with her rather easily," Hotaru teased, her orange eyes bright with hope.
Yuuto chuckled before admitting, "Chie has never been good with children. She won't know what to do with Kotone at times, I fear. She'll push her hard and won't know when to back off until Kotone snaps."
Hotaru giggled at her husband's worries. "Kotone is a little older than child now. She's still young, sure, but she's not like she was when we started to train her before the academy. They'll both have a lot to learn from each other, but I think they'll be fine."
Yuuto shrugged before moving to help a customer with a custom order. Hotaru continued to tease her husband about how much he'd miss Kotone.
"Are you ready, Kotone?" Chie asked when they reached the gate. She'd allow her new pupil one last chance to back out. After this, there was no turning back.
Kotone smiled at her aunt before taking the first steps of their journey. "Where are we heading first anyways?"
Chie followed and hummed as she considered the best starting point. Given what she knew about her niece she wanted to take her out of her element right away; make it so she had to adjust her entire fighting style. The perfect thought came to mind as she thought of how she used wires.
"Suna," Chie watched Kotone for her reaction. She felt smug about her choice when Kotone visibly paled at the thought.
"R-really?" Kotone tried to keep positive.
"You need to learn to adapt. Suna will force you to adapt. You're not thinking of turning back now are you?" Her dark green eyes danced as she poked fun at her niece. She saw the similarities between Kotone and Yuuto when he was the same age and couldn't help but tease her.
"No! I'm going to do this dammit!" Kotone said with unbridled enthusiasm, though Chie was almost certain she was trying to convince herself as well.
"Good. I don't have time for uncertainty. From this moment on, I'm your sensei, not your aunt. It's going to be difficult and you might end up hating me as the days go on. But hold onto that enthusiasm and you'll make it through this just fine," Chie said with the last smile Kotone would see for a few months.
AN: Thank you for waiting so long for this chapter! I tried to make it longer so that there was more to enjoy. Obviously this is right before the Shippuden time-skip and I wanted to clarify how the ages will work when Kotone returns: She is leaving about 3 months before Naruto does (Based on the manga, Sakura trained with Tsunade for 3 months before Naruto left) so when she comes back she'll be 18. It'll be 2 years and 9 months for her return so it's highly likely her 18th birthday would've just happened. Takumi is a few months older than Kotone so he is certainly 18, with Kaori being 15.
Kotone's birth month: March
Takumi's birth month: December (the year before Kotone)
Kaori's birth month: September
Just so you can kind of keep it straight. I'm assuming Naruto leaves at the end of summer, though it's not like we really see variety of weather in the series other than winter in The Last. (~2.5 years from September would be March, so a spring return thus the nice weather). Whereas Kotone would leave sometime in June based on this assumption. This also means Kaori turns 13 around when Naruto leaves so by the time he comes back she's 15 going on 16.
I know this isn't quite the most important information, but I wanted to make sure it was all straightened out before I move onto the time-skip.
I also drew Kotone for after the time-skip that way you all can see what I imagined for her. It's on DeviantArt; the username is TheAwkwardMoogle137. There's a portrait drawing and a full body one, they're labeled Naruto OC and Naruto OC 2.