"Of all the things our villages did to us, nothing was crueler than placing Bijuu within females. I don't mean that in a sexist manner at all: kunoichi are and always have been a part of the shinobi world. However, all shinobi are given the option of bearing children save for Jinchuuriki. As a child, I was taught that my physical condition made me unable to bear children. If I ever attempted to attain physical pleasure, the Bijuu would take advantage of my distracted mental state and I would fail in my duty to contain It. Musan assures me that this is utter nonsense and he's done enough of that kind of thing to prove it. But I think there is some truth to what they told me: Jinchuuriki may be rendered infertile physically due to the Bijuu. There has never been a recorded case of Jinchuuriki being able to bear or produce children. Then again, there have never been recorded cases of Jinchuuriki finding partners or falling in love. I wonder, would Jinchuuriki would ever be able to produce children with other Jinchuuriki? More importantly, are Jinchuuriki capable of love?"- Tsuchi, Rei
The moon shone full and round above the dusty plains. It was silent, not even a mouse dared scurry unawares in this country. Setsu's harsh breathing cut through the night air as she swung her sword in her usual routine, not even pausing from kata to kata. Tohru watched her from beneath lowered lids.
"You're still at it, Mistress Sword? Training yourself to exhaustion won't help us in this situation!"
"Was caught off-guard...by that Sound-shinobi," her words were quick and breathless as she didn't dare miss a step in her workout, "Won't happen...again. I'll...make sure!"
"A punk gets the better of you in one fight and you're convinced that you have to train to avoid it?"
"No, have to train...to beat him, next time we meet!"
"Baka! This isn't the jounin exams! Why are you taking it so personally?"
Setsu finally came to a halt in chudan kamae, panting for breath as sweat dripped down the sides of her head and past her chin. She looked out into the desolate hills before beginning quietly,
"When I first learned to fight with a sword, I was overconfident and stupid. I challenged my sensei within a week of training, convinced that because I was a Jinchuuriki, I was better at everything. It took him all of ten seconds to disarm me and put his sword to my throat. Then he told me,
"'Nothing can replace experience. Not strength, not chakra, not even natural talent. You think because you've mastered the basics, you are the best. Let me tell you, experience is the only strength that a shinobi can depend upon. So, pick up your sword and practice your katas. When you're ready, come back and face me again.'"
Setsu almost smiled as she remembered. Tohru studied her face curiously. Setsu had never talked about any of her former teachers to anyone. Nor had he for that matter.
"Did you ever face him?" Tohru finally asked.
"No, I always started to, but then I'd remember what he said and I kept practicing. Even after I became a chuunin, I couldn't face him."
"So what happened?"
"I had a mission with him to escort a pair of rare katanas to our daimyou. He died on the journey, killed by some stupid rogue ninja. I managed to kill them, but…I couldn't save him."
Now Tohru's eyes were wide open as he stared at Setsu who now wore a bittersweet smile on her face. Although her voice was emotionless and her body as steady as a rock, Tohru sensed a strange vulnerability about her that he'd never felt before. He felt very uncomfortable. Was she expecting him to comfort her? Reassure her that she was strong and…? No, he was neither her sensei, nor her friend. They were comrades, nothing more.
"Well, take his words to heart now, if you want." he muttered gruffly and turned away.
As he heard her sword slice through the air once more, he muttered under his breath,
"You'll always seem strong to me."
Yugito surveyed the rundown bar through half-closed eyes, wary and subdued as a housecat. She hated this place and hated the people around them all the more. They were scum, punks who wore yakuza-style hair and puffed themselves up with their makeshift weapons and cheap armor. These were no shinobi, more a bunch of frogs parading as snakes. Their talk was loose and crude, their eyes leered on anything resembling money or girls. Scum of the earth: thugs hired by Gato as his private "army." Her comrades.
Kudo just took it all in stride and set about making himself at home, challenging various shinobi to card games and arm-wrestling matches. He gambled carelessly, but always managed to get out more than he put in. She'd scolded him once for acting so shamelessly and he brushed her off with a careless, "Shinobi adapt to whatever environment they're in, right?" Idiot.
Not for the first time, Yugito thought longingly of Rei-sensei. If only she'd been partnered with him! He was so sweet, so kind to her. Best of all, he believed in her the way no one else had. She wanted to prove that she wasn't the stupid weak child he'd first known when they'd first met in the underground prison. She wanted…
"Hey sweetie, why so glum?" A deep voice broke into her longing thoughts.
Yugito's eyes narrowed as a strange shinobi plunked himself down next to her. After beating up a few thugs that hit on her, most took the hint and stayed away. This guy was either new or too stupid and intoxicated to know any better.
"Get lost." She spat.
"Whoa now, someone's in a bad mood." The shinobi laughed, clearly oblivious to her dangerous aura, "Why don't I buy you drink, huh?"
"Are you deaf? I told you to leave me alone!"
"Aw c'mon baby…" The shinobi flung an arm over her shoulders, "You need to loosen up, and I know just how to-"
The table a few seats away suddenly broke under the weight of the shinobi who'd been sent flying over her shoulder. The tense card game that had been previous playing was broken up as cards went flying and the men playing were sent sprawling to the floor. Some jumped instantly to their feet, snarling with rage. It didn't take long for the first punch to be thrown. Soon the brawl began and the whole bar dissolved into chaos. Kudo shook himself off amidst the shouting and the sound of furniture breaking and was suddenly jerked to his feet by a coldly furious Yugito.
"We're leaving, Seito." She snarled, thankfully remembering his fake name.
"Wait, what…?"
"I've had enough. We're going to the Land of Waves ahead of schedule. I've had about all I can take from this stupid place."
"But…"
"Now!"
Kudo could barely protest as the irate female Jinchuuriki dragged him out of the dilapidated bar, leaving it to the barroom brawl she'd begun.
Disgusting filth of shinobi, she thought, gratefully letting the cold air brush her burning cheeks, and Kami help me, I'm one of them!
Chudan kamae: "neutral position" used in traditional Japanese swordplay to either rest briefly during a workout or pause during a spar
Yakuza: notorious Japanese mafia
Two chapters in the same week? I guess I'm just hoarding up for the summer. A very special thanks to Aaron Mc-- for Japanese sword terminology!