Chapter 43: Promises
Atsuko's POV
DREAM
I was in a dark room. I could barely see what's ahead of me. There was water that stopped at my ankles. I jumped into the air and concentrated my chakra to the bottom of my feet. I landed on top of the water and started walking forward.
I saw the tall red bars up. I touched the metal with my finger tips of my hand.
"All your fault," I mumbled.
I heard a loud growl and Kyuubi stepped out from the darkness and appeared at the gate. I looked up.
"How exactly is this my fault?" Kyuubi yelled at me. "Didn't you promise your Otou-San that you wouldn't let being my host anger you? And you'll be the strongest kunochi?"
I looked away from her. I do remember that day. That promise.
FLASHBACK
I was repeatedly kicking and punching Tou-San's hand. He wasn't wincing from pain, so I wasn't that strong. Tou-San was teaching me taijutsu.
"Alright, Atsuko. Do a fly kick for me, can you do that?" Tou-San asked me.
"Yup," I nod.
I walk back a few yards and turned towards him. I ran and jumped in the air flying towards him. He moves out of the way causing me to fall flat on my butt.
"Hey!" I yell at him. "That wasn't very nice!"
He walked over to me and ruffled my hair. I smiled.
"Okay, this time I won't," he told me.
I jumped to my feet and walked back to my spot. I tried again and kicked him directly on the palm of his hand.
"Good," he smiled.
"Just you wait, Tou-San. I'll be stronger than you soon," I told him pointing to the bright sky. I'll won't be angry about me being the host of the nine-tailed fox. I'll remain my happy self."
"Promise?" Tou-San stuck out his pinky.
"Promise," I wrapped my small pinky finger around his.
FLASHBACK END
"Ah, so you do remember, Brat?"
"Shut up. Do you not know how old I was when I said that?! I was four."
"Didn't you say you would never go back on ANY promise? I think it was...your ninja way."
I gasped.
FLASHBACK
I was trying to get up after being kicked in the stomach repeatedly.
"Ha, you're so weak," Koaru snickered as tears poured down my eyes.
I started to make sobbing noises. I stood up on weak shaking legs. I kept my head lowered trying to catch my breath. I wiped my eyes along with my nose.
"I may be weak now, but I'll be stronger than you when I'm older and I'll change the way you think about me," I told her. "I'LL be the Hokage."
She laughed her normal sadistic laugh.
"Pathetic!" She laughed. "Just because your Otou-San is the Hokage, doesn't mean you can be."
I looked up at her and closed my eyes.
"Tou-San worked hard to become Hokage and I will, too. He was the weakest in his class and everybody hated him. Now look at him. During the last war, everybody respected him even though Kyuubi is inside him," I exclaimed. I'm going to be the Hokage AND change the way you think about me! I made these promises and I'm not going to go back on them. That's my ninja way!"
"Heh, you will never change the way I think about you," Koaru smirked.
FLASHBACK END
I smiled.
"Yeah, I remember those promises."
"Now, what are you going to do about your psycho Ojii-San?"
"Kill the Teme."
"You are just like your Otou-San. Walking into death."
"We'll, I'm not fighting Nii-San. I fell bad about attacking him today."
"And they say I'm evil. I wouldn't even do that."
I growled.
"Shut up, Kyuubi! You tried to destroy Konoha."
"Yeah, but I'm not going to attack a family member."
"Tch, liar."
"Hn, now get back to the real world. I don't want to see you more than I have to."
"You dumb fox!"
Kyuubi sent me back to the real world. I was still laying in Gorotsuki Field. I heard grass being pulled and I tensed. I turned to the noise and smiled.
"Nii-San..."
"Are you alright, Imouto?"
"Mhm. I'm really sorry about attacking you. I was just so confused and I guess all my anger just surfaced," I exclaimed.
He ruffled my hair making me smile wider.
"It's okay."
"Nii-San?"
"What is it?"
"Are you gonna stay home for a while longer. I mean your 18...," I trailed off.
"Yeah, I'll stay with you," he smiled.
"Promise?" I stuck up my pinky finger.
"Promise," he reached out his pinky finger and wrapped it around mine.
"I love you, Nii-San," I told him.
"I love you, too, Imouto," he smiled.