So another update... I shall just slowly retreat into the background and let you read.
Warning: Loads of fluff, fighting, racism (or is it clansism). Introduction of an OC.
Disclaimer: Children are weird, just plain weird. So I'd like to think I can perfectly explain them straight on! But I can't, cause Akarei is even weirder than most kids.
Beta: None, because I like to make grammar nazi's freak out and leave reviews.
Chapter 5 : The war has only begun
Obito froze underneath Tetsuno's gaze. The teacher looked back to the board in his hands, as he checked off a few things.
"Less than adequate." He murmured under his breath. Obito glared back at the stupid pooped hair colored adult.
"Next, Uchiha Akarei!"
He watch the girl rise from her seat, as Obito climbed back into his next to Rin. She stood in front of the class, as he gazed at her. He jerked his thumb at the board.
"Proceed with the basic taijutsu stances and moves on the board."
She threw her arm correctly in the tiger stance, before languidly moving into the crane. She was good on her feet, had adequate upper body strength, but something seemed lacking. Although she moved with grace, it was too perfect. Too book-like. It had no fluidity, it was just a 2-d image of what it should be. It should have had some difference from the style on the board, but she had already perfected it. She wasn't at all learning the move and making it her own, she was just copying it.
"Again."
She moved again, in the exact same formation. His eyes squinted at her, but she did not flinch. Could she not see that he wanted her to change, wanted her to vary the formation?
"Again."
Her stance and moves were the same, and some of the students were gazing at him with confusion. Tetsuno was getting restless. A five year old should make a mistake somewhere in these formations. Their limbs are too weak to uphold a dragon stance, and she wasn't even using her chakra to help her!
"AGAIN!"
The students flinched, but she just moved again, her stamina showing itself off. Tetsuno sighed, as he checked her off the list.
"Fine. Go back to your seat."
Akarei retired to her seat, a bit sweaty. She sat down as she went to reading her book again. Asuma looked at her weirdly, while Kakashi was looking at the teacher. He wondered why he would make her repeat it. She had done it exactly the way it should have been done.
"Next we'll be going over ninjutsu theories and history. Turn to page 394."
A girl raised her hand as the teacher glared at her. "Yes Inuzuka-san."
"I thought the lesson schedule said that we would be going over basic taijutsu and genjutsu theories. We aren't supposed to be learning this until next month?"
The teacher just mumbled incoherent slurs, before responding. "That paper is old. The last two years we've upped the regime to get students out as soon as possible. Those that can't keep up can be put in the genin reinforcement groups." Akarei narrowed her eyes at that. The genin reinforcement groups were basically the failures that they had allowed to become ninja, but were never expected to make it beyond chunnin.
The lesson continued. "The most important lesson of taijutsu is your stance. If you cannot master the basic control while being still, you won't be able to do it while in motion. If you falter in it, you'll leave yourself unbalanced and open to attack. The second most important lesson, is to not just simply copy the stance, but to be molded into it, make it your own if you have to. Akarei, Gai, and Kakashi to the front."
Kakashi and Akarei came up from their desk, as Gai hopped across from his in the front row. They stood at the front, Kakashi lazily staring at the two others, while Gai fidgeted with excitement at being called out. Akarei merely stood, her arms straight at her side, her eyes staring into Tetsuno's. He felt an eerily creep crawl up his spine, this girl was the definition of stoic.
"Alright perform the Ram toss."
All three of them performed it, as the students watched, some making out differences, the others not.
"Did you see? No." He then once again called out to the three. "Again."
They repeated the formation, as more students understood, while the rest respectively grew more nervous.
"Ebisu, what can you say about each of them individually?" Tetsuno looked out to the child, as he straightened himself up.
"Akarei's stance is the most professional. Gai's is the weirdest, while Kakashi's is attuned to his own body."
"How would you rate them amongst each other?"
"Akarei, first, Kakashi, second, and Gai, third."
The brown haired teacher faced the class, as thought about Ebisu's ranking. Do the rest of you agree? Raise your hands if you do."
Most of the class knew Ebisu always knew what he was talking about, and rarely bullshitted about anything. So the majority of them raised their hands, especially Obito with a proud thumbs up. Akarei's expression did not change, for she could tell that their teacher did not like her. Something was about to happen, and it wouldn't be in her favor.
"At first sight yes, I would have to agree with you, Ebisu. But after the second demonstration, I thought you would've seen the difference."
He moved the three children around, as Kakashi was now to the left, with Gai in the middle, and Akarei to his right. He lifted his left hand, which was over Kakashi's head. "First."
He moved over as his hand hovered over Gai's. "Second."
He then smacked his hand over Akarei's, as her head flinched, but she stood standing. "Worse than third place."
The class looked in shock, as Akarei rubbed her head, glaring at the floor.
"You were right Ebisu. Kakashi's is attuned to his own standards which makes it the best. He has learned the Ram toss to affix for his own strengths. Gai's formation may not be normal, but it is also because he has learned it a different way that works for him. However, Akarei's is exactly text book fashion. But look at her."
Her went and raised her arms, straight out. He pulled back her sleeves, to show off the child-like length of them and scrawny they were.
"Now look at mine." He pulled back a sleeve, showing his muscled arm that held a few stray scars.
"The textbook Ram toss was created by an adult. It means that although that is the form you must take, it is impossible for any child to replicate it and be able to use it at full strength. If Akarei had used it, she would most likely either injure herself, or not be able to make full strength of the technique because of her physical disadvantage. This is why most Uchiha's die in battle. All they do is copy, and never understand the technique they learn in school."
Akarei could feel a rage swell within her. Their teacher seemed to pick on her and Obito a lot, but to have to hear this. She could fell Obito's chakra spike with anger to.
Without realizing, Akarei put her hands on her teacher, as she threw him in the Ram toss. A loud resounding sound echoed through the silent classroom, as his face was now connected with the floor.
Akarei couldn't understand why, but she felt her blood moving without her judgment.
"But you felt that, did you not, Sensei?" Her sarcasm in her voice wasn't her own, but she felt like a stringed puppet. And she felt good. She could hear Obito's silent chuckles. "Maybe you should go back to the Academy, if you can get taken down by a mere child. Or did I not copy it well enough? Is it because I'm an Uchiha, that you couldn't even call that an adequate Ram toss. Because it looks like right now, you're nose is bleeding. Just like how a good Ram toss should be executed." The words kept flowing, but she didn't know where from. This type of talk wasn't her, but it was making her chest swell with pride, watching as her sensei lifted his head to glare at her.
"Get out of my classroom." His voice was grated, deep with a chance of revenge as he gritted his teeth.
Akarei still spoke. "Too much to handle-"
"Now!" The classroom was still whispering, before it came to a dead silence.
Akarei turned away, as she exited the classroom. Tetsuno wiped his nose, as he turned to Gai and Kakashi before yelling at them. "Return to your seats!"
Gai quickly returned, while Kakashi rolled his eyes, before mumbling, "Don't take your pathetic rage out on me."
Akarei stood outside the classroom, as she could hear the low chatter sounds of speech going on in the room. She looked to the other side of the hallway, seeing another student sitting outside. He had his eyes closed, thinking to himself, before he noticed Akarei staring at him. He smiled and waved, while Akarei just waved back, her face just staring at him.
He carefully moved over, as he stood opposite of her, at the other sliding door to his classroom.
"Hey." He looked at her cheerfully. Akarei didn't feel strange, but she didn't feel right talking to him.
"Hello." She hoped that would end the slew of smiles he kept shooting at her.
"I'm Hyuuga Toshiharu." Akarei looked down the hall, but to no avail they were all alone and not a single person was approaching them.
He smiled, as he whispered. "No one's coming, I already checked it out. I'm in Class 3 – b. You?"
She pointed up to the wooden sign hanging above her. He pouted. "You don't talk much do you?"
"I do." Akarei retorted. She talked loads with Obito and Grandma.
"You haven't even said you're name yet. How am I supposed to refer to you."
"You is just fine." He pouted more. "I'm Uchiha Akarei."
His face contorted into confusion. "But, you have red hair." He even pointed to it, before sneaking over and pulling a strand. Akarei flinched from the sudden intrusion on her personal space, before he held it out in front of her. "See. Not an Uchiha."
"No I am too an Uchiha." She shuffled around, so he could see the emblem of their clan right on her back.
"Hmph, could have fooled me. So, Akarei-chan, what got you in trouble today?"
"I Ram tossed my teacher."
Toshiharu held his hands over his mouth to cover up his rambunctious laughter. "You-You, pfft." He coughed a bit, as he let out a huge breath. "You Ram tossed your teacher? Nearly within the first month? I never would've taken you to be such a delinquent."
Akarei's eyes widen with alarm. She wasn't a delinquent! She couldn't be! Her grandmother would be so disappointed, and Obito might get bullied!
"What have I done?" Akarei pulled herself into a little ball, as Toshiharu looked on awkwardly, not knowing what to do.
"D-Did I say delinquent? I meant such an young independent mindful student. I'm sure he deserved it." Toshiharu was laughing awkwardly, trying to cheer up the younger one.
"No he didn't really." She looked to Toshiharu. "I should apologize to him."
"Wow, that didn't take you long to realize. I thought you were going to go on about what he did. Exactly what did he do?"
"He was bad-talking about my clan."
"He what?! Of course he deserved it then! You shouldn't have to-"
Suddenly both doors behind them opened up, as Tetsuno glared at Toshiharu, before glaring at Akarei. On the other side a female with dark indigo hair and a v-neck line on her nice bust was glaring at Toshiharu.
"HY. UU. GA. KUN?! Didn't I tell you to stay outside and not cause a disturbance?"
"Hey, Takara-sensei! I wasn't testing out my Byakugan. All I was doing was having a nice little chat with a kouhai of mine. This is Uchiha Aka-"
"I don't want to hear you're excuses! If I have to talk to you one more time I'll send you home! Along with a sexual harassment suit for using Byakugan during class to see me naked!"
Toshiharu just shrugged before turning back to Akarei. "Ah don't let that make your first impression of me, okay! I swear I only go after older ladies, I'm at that age..."
"You're only ten you little brat!" She grabbed his ear. "That's it. I'm sending you to Keizo right now. I hear he's practicing weaponry with his class, maybe you can be their new dummy."
Akarei could hear the agonizing pleas of Toshiharu, before the door behind her closed and the hallway was quiet again.
Peace at last.
Two months had gone by, and soon after learning weaponry, basic taijutsu, genjutsu theory and ninjutsu theory they were onto taijutsu seminar's. Basically sparring class. Today all three classes had gathered together to reset the levels of the kids, and to further filter the strong from the week. Little by little, the kids threw their best moves and folly's, as the numbers lessened and lessened. The training Akarei and Obito had underneath Uchiha Kagami helped, as they were down to the large group of clan kids and few exceptional orphans and civilians.
"So look around you, this is what the classes will now be changed to." Akarei felt Obito's chakra spike with nervousness. She looked and saw Rin was in a different group than they were. A hand was raised over their group. "This class will continue to be taught by Ishihara Tetsuno." A muffled swear was underneath the Yamanoue Akira breath. He then held a hand over Rin's group. "Takishita Keizo will take over group two, and I," with a flick of his blinding dirty blonde hair, "Yamanoue Akira will take on group three."
He quickly started leading his group away, as Keizo took his group back into the building as well.
Akarei looked around, noticing a few heads she recognized and a few she didn't.
"All right, we'll be finishing off the rest of this little test today. Kakashi and Asuma, come up."
The two faced off, with the finishing move being a reversal round house kick from behind, as Asuma fell to the floor, before Kakashi tapped a fatal point.
Tetsuno looked on over, as he called out names, Akarei barely recognizing some and really remembering some, even though she could never recall meeting these people, she felt as if she knew them and who would win in the outcome of the battle. Although there were only a few encounters with Kakashi, she felt as if she knew so much about him, or more so of what he was to become.
"Obito and Akarei." Akarei moved forward, as she looked back to her brother. He on the other hand was confused.
"Wait, Tetsuno-sensei, Rei-chan-"
"Hurry up, I don't have all day."
He quickly hurried up on stage. Both took their stances as Tetsuno watched. A few moves and Akarei was down, where Obito quickly tapped her jugular. Tetsuno narrowed his eyes.
"Akarei, stay. Kakashi get up here."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow as he got up. The few moments they took fighting soon seemed forever as the minutes passed. Finally after a false thrust with her palm, Akarei flipped Kakashi over as she tapped the middle of his spine where his liver lingered behind.
Kakashi removed himself from the arena area, as Tetsuno held a hand to Akarei.
"And this here is an example of a weak ninja."
The class stared at her: some with confusion, some with lingering doubt, and others knowing exactly what Tetsuno spoke of.
"Uchiha Akarei is a coward. You saw that she just took down Hatake Kakashi with effort, but feasibly fell to Uchiha Obito, her brother. We all know from the display of fighting today, that Hatake Kakashi can easily take down Uchiha Obito. Which means she was going easy on him." Tetsuno looked her way, as the other students followed suit in giving her a scorning glare. Akarei just stared on, unaffected.
"Obito come up here again, and Akarei." She looked at Tetsuno as he folded his arms. "Don't hold back."
Obito and Akarei repositioned themselves, but as Akarei stared at Obito, willing herself to fight, she could feel a trembling in her limbs. She was trying her best, but something deep within would not allow her to fight at full strength. This was different from when she was just practicing with him and Kagami. Here it would mean humiliation and defeat if she beat him. Now that she thought about it, even with Kagami she couldn't beat him. Her thoughts raced at how future prospects for Obito would be lost if she defeated him, and in turn her hands swayed from their target, as the brother and sister moved back and forth.
For a while, neither the hits nor the blocks dealt any significant blows, but after a few steps, Akarei took a blow to the nose, as fell back holding her strained cartilage. The blood seeped, as Tetsuno let out a sigh.
"Those who show mercy to the enemy have no right to call themselves ninja. Step down."
From then on, Akarei was no longer Akarei; she was known as the coward of group one.
Obito kicked a stone, as he looked over at Akarei, who now had a bandage over her nose. "You could have just beat me. I wouldn't hate you or anything."
Akarei nodded, as she continued looking down. "I know. But I couldn't."
Obito's eyebrows scrunched in confusion. "What do you mean you couldn't? You put up a good fight with that Hatake! You could have wiped the floor with me, even I know I'm not that good. I'm practically dead last." Obito muttered the last part, as he stuck his hands in his pockets.
Akarei shook her head. "I did. I tried imagining you as my enemy, but I couldn't. I tried to raise my fists, but I could feel them being unsteady. It was like when I was practicing after a bad warm-up. I just couldn't, but I tried my best." Akarei looked down at her hands. "Maybe there's something wrong with me."
Obito looked at Akarei, noticing the sad gaze in her eyes. "It's okay, we'll practice. This time you better not hold back!" Obito's eyes sparked with excitement, but Akarei's still held a cloud dread.
The two heard the call from their grandmother, but only Obito raced ahead, as Akarei stared at the center of her palm. She felt a sense of fear and creeping rot within it and the outskirts of her hand, like as if that terrible dream was lingering in her. The strings were slowly tightening, and although she could feel her muscles tightening and aching.
"Rei-chan, hurry up!"
Akarei continued walking, but her limbs pulled robotic-ally in a tight fashion, as if she needed oiling or a screw loosened. Her grandmother looked on, but didn't comment, as Obito continued the daily summary of how awesome Rei-chan was and how he also to was doing 'well' in school.
Akarei scratched her arm, as she looked at Gai and Genma. Currently she was paired up with the two, while she looked on over at Obito. Obito was with Kurenai and Kakashi. She didn't know how she felt about this camp out that they were going on.
All three classes were going out on a camp out, with one upper class-man. They would be camping in the woods just out of reach of the village. They would stay there one night only, and it would show just how it would be like to be in a ninja team. The upper class-man would be the 'sensei', and the three students would be a 'team'. Akarei was dreading it more, because Toshiharu was sulking that he didn't get a 'cute' team.
"So, Akarei, who are these fellas?" The Hyuuga looked at the other two, not knowing if they came from a clan or not.
"This is Might Gai," He did a gallant pose, before Akarei turned to her other side, "and this is Shiranui Genma." He scoffed, as messed around with the tooth pick in his mouth.
"So basically I get the team of losers." Both Gai and Genma bristled at the statement, but Akarei thought about more important things, like how was she supposed to sleep tonight without worrying what was happening to Obito. What if Kakashi smothered him in his sleep? Or if Kurenai just happened to go on a female rampage on him like that one time she did with Asuma for just borrowing her notebook? Or what if his 'sensei' just decides to leave him behind? How would Obito know the way back?
Akarei took a couple breathes, as she could hear Genma grumbling, while Gai was shouting, and Toshiharu was sulking.
Today was going to suck.
Only 2 hours in, and Akarei knew Toshiharu was lost. She actually realized it 5 minutes after they had taken a wrong turn, but Toshiharu seemed a bit prideful of his 'eyesight' with the Byagukan so she didn't say anything. Gai was pumped and Genma was getting tired of following him around.
"If you're Byagukan is so useful, why aren't we at the campsite yet? It only takes a half hour walk."
Toshiharu sneered, as he yanked the map from Gai. "See here, this is where we are!" Akarei knew he pointed at a random point in the map, he probably didn't even know where they started from. "This is where we have to go! And only I know the way!"
"The hell you do!" Genma then went up to a tree where there was a scratch. "I marked this place with my senbon. You have no idea where we are going! We've been going in circles!"
Toshiharu's face became red with embarrassment, as Gai looked between the two. "So um, Genma. Do you know the way then?" Gai asked questioningly.
Genma turned, before folding his arms. "I'm not good with maps."
Gai paled. "Neither am I."
The three males slowly realized their doomed fate. Toshiharu looked at Akarei. "Do you know the way?"
Akarei let out a small sight, before she took the map. She then looked at it, before looking at the sun. She then pointed north east.
"3.1 miles that way."
The boys slowly learned sometimes it's okay to not know how to read a map, as long as you ask for directions.
Genma and Gai set up camp, as Akarei went to gather fire wood for the night. Toshiharu, greeted the others at the campsite, before boasting about how he figured out how to get here all by himself. Genma wanted to retort, but Gai quickly pushed him to his duties. The three younger ones finished up, as Toshiharu was still conversing with his other classmates. Akarei looked around, not seeing Obito, or anyone he was with earlier. She kept her hands clenched at her sides.
"Hey, Akarei. Why don't you shut up, Toshiharu. He keeps on saying how he found the place, but he's the one that got us lost." Genma shot a tooth pick into their fire pit, before reloading another one into his mouth.
"I'd rather not." Genma raised an eyebrow.
"You sure he isn't pissing you off? I mean, you even Ram tossed Tetsuno-sensei-"
"I'd rather not." The words came out a bit more harsh than she liked, but Akarei continued to sit there with her hands clenched. Gai smiled nervously, as he sat between the two.
"Now now, comrades. Um, how bout we start that fire? It's getting late-"
Akarei quickly used a fire ball jutsu, before Gai could finish.
"The fire wood is by the tent. I'm going for a walk." Akarei hurriedly made her way off, as Genma and Gai looked back at her.
"She should've said something to that guy, if it was making her so angry." Genma murmured.
Akarei continued walking. She didn't know where she was going, but it felt as if she was getting closer to Obito. She continued walking through the brush, as she came to a cliff. Beyond the cliff was a river about 5 feet down, and beyond that she could hear Obito yelling. She quickly went to the edge, where she saw Obito and Kakashi brawling, while Kurenai and her 'sensei' were trying to pull them apart. Akarei could feel her blood again, but this time it wasn't out of anger. It wasn't a boil, but more of a rush. She felt she had to do something, to help Obito out of his fight. So she only did the logical thing. She went from point A to point B.
Akarei jumped from the cliff side, as she plunged into the water. She swam across, as the current brought her closer to the fight. She reached the shore, as she pulled herself up, her clothes half dragging her back in. She walked up to them, but ignored what they were screaming about. She didn't care how Kurenai was looking at her in surprise. She quickly pushed off the other girl, as she was pulling on Obito, before she pulled Kakashi away from Obito. Both were stunned, at her sudden appearance, while Obito got up.
"Rei-chan? Where did you come from? Why are you all wet?" Akarei turned to him, as Kakashi was glaring at her.
She pointed to the cliff side. "About half a mile back."
Obito connected the dots. "Wait you came from the campsite, walked out half a mile, and then just jumped off a cliff?"
"It wasn't a very high cliff."
"How did you know we were even fighting?!"
"I didn't. You were just taking a long time to get to the campsite."
Kakashi sneered while he pointed at Obito. "That would be his fault."
Obito glared at Kakashi, while he lunged forward, but Akarei grabbed his wrist before he could cross over. "Why is it my fault! If anything its your's!"
Kakashi narrowed his eyes. "My fault?! Just because you can't handle the truth that you are dead-last and wouldn't trust my directions means it's my fault! If we had gone the way I said, and if you didn't lose the map we wouldn't be lost!"
"I didn't lose the map, it-"
"It just magically fell out of your sack." Kakashi droned back. Obito was livid, but Akarei quickly snapped him out of it.
"It's fine. Kakashi show the way then."
Kakashi folded his arms, before looking away. "I can't find the way now."
"So no one knows right?"
Everyone nodded.
"Then I'll show the way."
"We can't cross the river, it's almost dark and our things won't have time to dry." Kurenai mentioned.
"It's okay, I have a map in my head."
Obito looked at her questioningly. "You memorized the map?"
"No, but I have a better map of where it is, than any of you. That we can all agree on, right?"
The others nodded their heads, although Kakashi more reluctantly.
Akarei only took 15 minutes of pushing and prodding everyone in the dark, before they came to the campsite. Kurenai and their 'sensei' got to work on building the shelter, while Kakashi and Obito were ordered to go get wood and start the fire. That's when Gai and Genma came rushing forward.
"Where were you!? Toshiharu went looking for you, but never came back."
"Kakashi-kun and Obito-kun, you haven't seen Hyuuga Toshiharu, have you?"
Akarei looked on in confusion. "I was only gone, for maybe half an hour."
"We had a call-in by some of the teachers, but when we said you had gone for a walk and Toshiharu didn't know, well. He kinda got lectured, so then he went looking for you, pretending to be a 'sensei' and all that."
Akarei groaned. He probably wouldn't know how to get back. "I'll go find him."
"Find him, how could you find him? He got us lost while coming here." Genma argued.
"It's too dark out to find him. It's only one night, I'm sure he won't die." Gai's optimism wasn't flowing very well.
"It's fine, it's my fault in the first place." Obito then grabbed her hand, before she could go looking for them.
"I'll go with you. You went looking for me because you were worried." Akarei shook her head.
"You should just go get your fire wood and work on your campsite. We're being graded for this."
"Screw the grade. I'm not letting my little sister go out by herself."
Akarei knew she wasn't going to go anywhere with this. So she then turned to Kakashi. "Is it okay if I borrow my brother for a while." Kakashi looked a little confused, while Obito muttered how he was his own person and she didn't need to ask Kakashi for permission.
"Do what you like."
The duo went off.
"So how are we going to find him?"
"Hyuuga Toshiharu is pretty predictable. He'll probably go somewhere high up, to scout the area as a Hyuuga is trained to do so, and then stay there."
Obito scrunched his eyebrows together. "Why stay there."
"To maintain a higher field of vision. It's the lesson that the third years are going over right now. Battle strategy on foreign plains. They're over going the wars between the Earth Country, and how their 'Great Wall' puts them at a better advantage because they know the terrain and can see the enemy coming before they have to fight."
Obito nodded his head, before curiously glancing at his sister. "And why do you know their curriculum?"
"I'm just curious as to what I'm learning, will learn, and what I'm not learning." Obito just rolled his eyes.
"This is why you don't have friends."
"I don't need any, when I have you." Obito flustered up a bit, before patting his younger sister on the head.
"Ah over there." Akarei pointed up, to where Obito could see a figure. They quickly made their way up the hillside, before Toshiharu came running at them.
"Akarei! Where have you been!? You know I got yelled at by a teacher because of you! I should-" But Akarei felt a deep chill in her bones. A fear that sent her legs shaking, and her muscles clenched. It was greater than the nightmare she had.
She quickly covered Toshiharu's mouth, as she dragged Obito with her into the brush. Toshiharu was tried to pull off her hand, while Obito flinched at he sister's grip. But the two ignored that, when they felt a strong chakra pulse of blood lust. Four covered figures came down, as the three children stood there. Silent, but Akarei was afraid their chakra patterns would give them away if they got into a frenzied panic. Akarei released her grip but slowly grabbed their hands, as she didn't know how, but she felt she her chakra releasing itself towards Obito and Toshiharu. The two slowly fell asleep.
"So you say it's a campsite."
"Yah it's heavily guarded, but a couple blood-line kids should be there. If we create a distraction, we may be able to nab one. Preferably a Hyuuga. They have a dominant blood-line so it won't be hard to breed another."
Akarei felt sick to her stomach, as she could feel her blood boiling again. They weren't just after children from Konoha, they were after kids with blood lines. Which meant Obito.
"Okay, we'll kill off the sentries on the east side, then enter and quickly take what we can. Taka, you'll be our distraction. You know what that means."
"I know I'll die with the highest honor."
"Riko and Kali will nab two of the youngsters. I'll be back up and if I have to will create another distraction for you two."
The other two nodded, as Akarei knew she couldn't do anything. The four left, as Akarei looked back at the two that were asleep. She dragged them to the river shore, as she already had a plan. She quickly tied them to the rocks in the middle of the river that were jutting out, with all of the rope she had left.
Akarei ran, knowing it would be useless to warn someone. She wasn't as quick as the ninja, and she would have to run very far to get to the nearest sentry. Instead she went back, as she quickly made a fire. A warning would do no help, but it was summer and a forest fire would immediately illicit an evacuation. That would be enough, and it would be quicker than her running wild in the forest screaming for help. She quickly started shooting fire balls at the dry brush, as it slowly picked up heat and the mountainside was lighting up.
Obito and Toshiharu were near the water, so they wouldn't be hurt. She turned around, but immediately a branch from a burning tree groaned and fell. Akarei coughed, as she panicked. That was her only way out.
Obito groaned, as he could feel that his pants were wet. Did he wet himself in his sleep again!? Not on the camp out too!? Oh, Rin would see and Kakashi would blatantly tease him about it! As Obito realized where he was at, he first questioned why was he tied to a rock in the middle of the river. As he untied himself, and that bratty sensei Toshiharu, a chuunin quickly picked both of them up, as he stood on top of the water.
"There you two are! Don't you know that during an evacuation procedure you stay with the group?!"
Obito gave him a questioningly look, before he felt the sensation of wind, as the chunnin quickly ran them back to the main group. Toshiharu woke up, but was a bit groggy.
"W-What's going on?"
"A fire has broke out, so the camp site had to be evacuated. Currently we don't have enough ninja to put out the fire, but it should die out by morning. There isn't much to burn, and we're evacuating everyone to a fire safe area. It'll be smaller and cramped, but you won't burn up."
Obito and Toshiharu were reunited with the group, but that's when Obito noticed Akarei wasn't there.
"Wait!?" He quickly grabbed onto a random adult's sleeve, as he started to look around. "I-I can't find my sister! Uchiha Akarei, she was with us when we went to go looking for-", He couldn't remember that other guy's name, "for someone. Have you seen her?"
The adult shrugged, before looking at his list. "It's fine, she wasn't at the campsite when we did roll call. She's probably just wandering about. Look just stay here, don't worry. We have it under control."
Rin came up behind Obito, as he started shouting that they needed to find her.
"Calm down Obito. What's wrong?"
"Rei-chan, Rei-chan. She was with me, and then we got split up, but I don't know how. There these four strangers that appeared out of no where when we went looking for Toshiharu."
Suddenly another ninja came back. A taller indigo haired lady with a big bust started shouting.
"It's a code black! Code black! Gather everyone and head back to the village."
Obito was holding back his tears. "R-Rin. What does a code black mean?"
Rin flinched, before grabbing Obito's hand, as they were lead into formation. "It means they found someone who's been killed."
Akarei struggled to breath, as the fire wisp-ed around. She tried to cover herself, but the heat was making her sweat, and she desperately wanted to take off all her clothing. She quickly climbed, as she could feel her skin melting from the intense heat. The cliff side blew at the fire, and also the cool night wind air. Akarei could feel the worst pain on her back and in her lungs. She quickly looked down, to see the same river, except it wasn't five below. It loomed down there, like a black surging mess of riptides, as the mouth of the river was not too far off. She quickly turned back as she felt some of the earth shift, unnaturally.
"So you must be that wretched fire starter."
She turned to see the four ninja standing on the cliff side, hanging off.
"She might be an Uzumaki, they don't fetch a high price."
"But look on the symbol on her back. If I had to guess at what that half burnt shirt is, I'd say it's an Uchiha symbol."
"I guess our luck ran good today."
Akarei stepped back a bit, fearing that she might get kidnapped. But her steps were a bit too far apart, as she could fell herself falling.
"Don't let her go!"
But the water hit her first, before the ninja could grab her.
"What do you mean she isn't here!?" Obito's grandmother was clinging to him, while the other children were being safely let home to their parents. Sakumo was in the back, as Kakashi shifted his eyes away from the scene. Obito had been crying, and now his grandmother was about to do the same.
"I'm sorry ma'am-"
"Don't you ma-am me! I've already had to live to see my sons and daughters die and been told they won't come back to me. But this was just supposed to be a camp out! And you're saying she isn't here!"
The man awkwardly shuffled, obviously not understanding how to handle the situation or the weird things that were happening either, but Sakumo came up to her, as he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Calm down, Atsuko." He put a comforting hand around her shoulders, as he lead her to take a seat. "I'm sure Akarei is fine. She is a resourceful girl. Kakashi was just telling me how she helped him out today."
"Obito got us lost in the first place, so it's only right she helped out." Kakashi muttered, as Obito shot glares at him.
Suddenly ANBU entered the academy. "We need a list of all the missing children." The one with a falcon mask declared, as he entered the room. Atsuko stood up, as looked at the chunnin in charge handing him over the paper.
"What do you need a list of missing children for? This was just a normal forest fire, wasn't it?"
Sakumo stood with Obito and Kakashi, as the ANBU turned to her.
"This isn't any concern of your's-"
"My grandchild is on that list, and I deserve to know what is going on and where she is!"
The falcon ANBU hesitated, before explaining.
"Some foreign ninja were spotted. The forest fire was determined to not have started naturally, and through the use of ninjutsu. We are just trying to figure out why they were here, and we want to eliminate the idea that they were after an children from Konoha."
Atsuko held her breath, as she reached for something to steady herself with. Obito quickly ran to her side, as Sakumo helped her.
"H-how could this happen?"
Kakashi could feel his blood run cold, before he felt a faint flicker of familiar chakra. It was heading towards the door, as Tetsuno entered the room, behind him a little red haired girl stalking after him, drenched in water.
"Found the missing one." He muttered, as he glared down at her, as she just stared at him. Obito ran to Akarei as he tackled her to the ground.
"You! What did I tell you bout never making me worry about you like that ever again! This time it was worse! You even worried grandma so badly, she couldn't stand! I ought a-"
But Atsuko already had both her kids in her arms, as she bawled into Akarei's drench shirt. "I-I'm just so glad you're safe." She then looked at her crossly, before pinching her cheeks. "What do you have to say for yourself!"
Akarei flinched, before apologizing. "I'm sorry I started the fire."
Everyone looked on in shock, before a random chuunin started to grip the top of her head painfully. "Why in the hell did you start a fire!?"
"Don't talk to my grand-daughter like that!" Atsuko smacked his hand away, before pulling her back to her side.
"Because the four bad guys were after blood-line children." Atsuko held her closer to her, as she saw how the ANBU were eying her grandchild.
"Akarei-chan, what do you mean by that? Who were these four bad guys?"
"Obito and I went looking for Toshiharu, because he went looking for me. So these four guys showed up, and then Obito and Toshiharu fell asleep. They were talking about how they were going to enter the campsite and steal some blood-line children. They seemed more interested in the Hyuuga blood line than anything else, but that's all they talked about. I didn't have time to warn anyone, so I tied up Obito and Toshiharu in the river, as I started the fire. I planned on coming back to the campsite, but I accidentally trapped myself in the fire. I waited by a cliff side, where the four showed up again. I guess they gave up, since everyone was evacuating. They noticed me so I tried to run, but I fell into the river, and that's when Tetsuno-sensei showed up, and beat back two of them, before taking me and running. He was really cool with his water ninjutsu."
Akarei's eyes had stars in them. Atsuko looked back at the man she had just been glaring at. "Thank you for saving her."
"It's unfortunately my duty to protect ALL of Konoha's children. She isn't half bad to think of starting a fire to evacuate everyone, for an Uchiha." Tetsuno then turned to face the ANBU. "For the report I can help on that part. Akarei has already told me everything she knows in complete detail as we were coming here. So as far as I'm concerned, she's good to go home."
The falcon mask stepped forward, "That's not how formalities go-"
Tetsuno's chakra spiked with blood lust, as the ANBU team backed up. "I. Said. She's. Free. To. Go. Home."
Atsuko quickly ushered the two out, as Sakumo exited.
"Akarei-chan." She turned to the older gentleman, as he squatted down to her level. "It was very brave of you to do that, but what if you hadn't gotten out of the fire. What if Tetsuno-sensei hadn't been there for you? You need to think about you're own safety as well."
Akarei stood there. She wanted to retort that she didn't have to think about her safety. All she had to do was think about Obito's. But she felt she shouldn't in front of her grandmother. It might upset her. Another time she'll tell Sakumo. But for now, she just nodded.
Kakashi scooted forward, as he tried to bonk her head with his fist. She just simply stopped his wrist before he could deliver the soft blow. He glared as he retracted his arm.
"Don't go worrying people. Especially cry babies like your brother. It was especially pathetic to see him have to be comforted by Rin." Obito turned red, as Atsuko then went to grab Akarei.
"Thank you, Sakumo-san. I might have blown a fuse if you hadn't been there."
"I probably would've done the same if it happened to Kakashi." Kakashi turned to his dad with shock, before bursting out about how something would never happen to him or he wouldn't allow it to. Sakumo just ruffled his head. "Good bye, Akarei-chan. Take care of your little sister, Obito!"
The two groups separated. Atsuko was particularly more affectionate that night, but Akarei got ready for bed just as normal. It was already 3 in the morning, as they were readying for sleep. Akarei pulled back her covers, before she turned to her squeaky door that opened. She stared at her brother, who was in his pajamas that were covered in little Uchiha symbols with a navy blue background. He was giving her that look, that he didn't want to sleep alone.
Akarei hopped on her bed, before scooting over and patting the other side, as Obito rushed in. He quickly grabbed her side, as he dug his head into her shoulder. "You promised, you promised you wouldn't leave my side without permission. Yet you left me tied to a rock!" He smacked her arm, as she rubbed her sore spot. "You broke your promise!"
"But I have a promise I have to keep to father."
Obito looked her in the eyes. His black ones bore with curiosity at her nostalgic ones. "Y-You remember father?"
"Only one thing." Akarei was silent.
He nudged her, as if to continue one. "What's that?"
"He told me to protect you."
Obito scrunched his nose at that. "Father wouldn't say something like that. I, as the older brother, have to protect you."
"No I'm sure father told me that. I have to protect you, which is why I didn't think twice about myself when those ninja said they were taking kids. All I could think about is if you got taken, that something horrible would happen to you, and you wouldn't get rescued and-" Akarei's voice started to break as her eyes teared up. "I was worried when you didn't show up at the camp site, so I had to go looking for you. I don't know how I found you, but my feet just kept moving and I felt better the more I moved away from camp. I just worried about what would happen to you and if anything did and it was bad I'd-I'd-I'd."
Akarei turned away as she cried into her pillow. Obito hugged his sister from behind.
"I-I know exactly how you feel. When I was walking with Rin, even though she was holding my hand. I couldn't just stop thinking about where you were, if you were alive or dead, if I would ever see you again. So don't ever do that to me ever! You hear!" Obito headbutted her back, as Akarei sniffled.
"Mhmm."
Akarei wouldn't tell Obito, but those headbutts were the worst in her life, especially because her back was raw, with several blisters from the fire.
So that was longer than I expected. It actually took a turn of events that I didn't write the first time. Hopefully it ain't too shabby, and you guys like it. I just thought it twas a bit of genius writing myself, but maybe I need someone to turn down my pride level with a review of the 'truth'.
So yah just leave comments/questions/suggestions in a review please :D
I'd really love you for it.