(Welcome back! This is the Final Chapter of a 10 Part Arc. We find a rare glimpse into Kuroda's troubled past. Will it bring new insight, or only raise more questions? I love feedback and constructive criticism, so please leave a review so I can improve my writing and storytelling skills. Enjoy!)
*Seven Years Ago*
"Mom! Mom, I'm back!" shouts the young boy with jet-black hair as he bursts into the house, "Hey mom? Are you here?" He slips off his shoes and leaves them by the door before going in search of his mother. The house seems exceptionally large, but that is partly due to there only being two people living in it. The ceilings are high and the rooms are very open, not stuffed with furniture like most homes. All rooms are neat and organized due to the meticulous nature of both the residents. Kuroda goes to the spotless white kitchen but finds nothing there and moves on to the other places on the first floor which all look the same due to the same pale green paint lining the walls. The first couple of rooms are vacant, but then he hears the sound of someone coming down the stairs and rushes to meet her.
"Oh, hello, Kuroda," says the woman, only recognizing his presence when he grabs hold of her legs for a hug. Her long, golden locks brush against his face and tickle his cheeks.
"Sorry I was late getting home, mom," he apologizes. He looks up to see her face, but quickly the memory becomes distorted and most of her body is covered in a shroud of darkness.
"Oh, you just got in now?" she says, sounding distant, "I didn't notice."
"Yeah, I was at the hospital," replies the younger boy, who is unaffected by the warped image of his mother.
"Are you hurt," she says, her mind elsewhere, "I don't see any injuries."
"No, I was just visiting a friend," he responds, "You won't believe what I did today! I was walking…"
"Sorry, I don't have any time right now," she says patting his head, "I've been assigned a mission."
"Again?" he questions, following her around as she collects a few items, "You were just on one yesterday. Gramps is working you too hard."
"I'm a shinobi," she replies, "It's my job to go on missions."
"I know, but I just wish you didn't have to go on them all the time," he says.
"I'll be gone a few days," She announces, lifting up her hair to tie her headband around her head, "There is money on the table for food or you can go over to the Hokage's place for meals."
"You didn't make me any sandwiches or anything?" he inquires softly, staring at the ground and trying not to let her see just how hurt he is by this small act of neglect.
"I forgot, sorry," she says, an uncomfortable tremor in her voice, "Look, I have to get going now, I'm already late. I'll see you when I get back."
"Okay, good luck," he says tenderly, following her to the door, "I love you."
She freezes in the open doorway and after a moment of hesitation she replies, "Goodbye, Kuroda." She quickly closes the door behind her and is on her way.
Kuroda stands and stares at the door, hoping she will pop right back in and say the words he has always longed to hear.
*The Present*
Kuroda's thoughts return to the present. He adjusts the load he is carrying, shifting the position of his sensei whom he has thrown over his shoulder.
"I suppose with Sakura in my life things would have been a little better," he thinks, "But in the end I would have ended up in the exact same position I am now. Gramps is dead and now I have my mission that I have to carry out. No matter what did or didn't happen in the past I'll see through this until the very end. Even if I end up destroying myself in the process."
"Where are Kuroda and Kayo?" the Hokage asks harshly, suppressed panic on her features, when only Sakura and Jando show up in her office a few hours later to report on the mission.
"Kayo-sensei was wounded pretty badly so Kuroda decided to take her straight to the hospital for treatment," Sakura explains wearily, hoping not to get on the bad side of the most powerful person in the village.
"You two don't look that good yourselves," the blonde woman comments with a sigh as she sits back in her large wooden chair.
"Yeah, we have to stop by there later," Jando admits, "But we are nowhere near as bad as Kayo-sensei. Kuroda had to carry her back all the way on his shoulders."
"Well, then it looks like you'll have an interesting report on the mission," the Hokage states.
"It was really difficult, but in the end we completed it successfully," Sakura says proudly as she hands over the sculpture, "We brought this back safe and sound."
"Good, the client will be very pleased," the Hokage notes, nodding with approval as she takes the valuable sculpture, "Now, tell me what happened."
The white door creaks open into the small hospital room. The windows are open allowing a small breeze in that causes the thin curtains to sway back and forth. The woman resting on the bed glances over to see who has entered the room.
"Why are you back here?" Kayo asks as she turns her head away from the visitor at the doorway, "You've degraded me enough for one day, haven't you?"
"It was a fair punishment for your failure," Kuroda replies as he closes the door.
"Being paraded around the village carried by my own student is not what I would call fair punishment," she retorts, shooting daggers at him with her eyes.
"Oh, do you think that a little humiliation is worse than death?" he counters, "You're lucky you are curious, otherwise you might have never signed my contract and then I wouldn't have been able to save your life."
"If you weren't holding back on using your true abilities then you might not have needed to save my life," she spits back, letting all her anger out.
"Don't make excuses for your own faults," he says sternly, "You are the Jonin, the leader of the team. You're the one responsible for the safety and well-being of everyone else, not me. Jando and Sakura both could have been killed because I was forced to help you. Sure, I am gifted, but I'm not invincible. Something like this can't happen again."
"Are you just here to lecture me, or is there a reason you came back?" Kayo asks, turning her head to look out the window again so the boy can't see the feelings of regret and failure take over her expressions.
"I got word from the Hokage," he replies, plopping down on the vacant bed beside her, "Apparently I'm your new roommate."
"What?" she says, shocked and turning to look at him.
"Don't worry, it is only for a day or two," he assures her, "Apparently after hearing the mission report from Sakura she insisted that the whole team be treated. I really don't need any medical help, but I don't have anything else to do at the moment so I might as well follow orders."
"Why didn't they put Sakura with me?" she questions.
"Oh, I pulled a few strings so I could be with you. Sakura and Jando are right down the hall though," he explains, motioning with his arm in the direction of their room, "I figured since we are stuck here we could have a chat about a few things."
"So you're finally going to reveal your goals to me?" she asks sarcastically.
"I think I've told you enough about me for a while," he answers, "Now, I want to know about…'
A few days after being released from the hospital Kuroda is summoned to the Hokage's office where she informs him, "The Chunin exams are coming up and I think you proved on your last mission that you have the ability. I want you to participate."
Kuroda surprises her with his knowledge by responding, "I am aware that the first stages of the exam require a team, and I feel that my team is not ready yet."
"Oh, really? And why would that be?" she inquires, "Team 3 has yet to fail a mission and some of them were even Chunin level difficulty."
"True, but that was more luck than actual skill," he replies, "We still need to improve on our teamwork. I think Kayo-sensei will agree with me on that part."
"Well, if you're not up for the task than there isn't a point in forcing you to compete," she replies, apparently indifferent about the news, "I'll stand by your choice, but I am a bit surprised by this decision."
Just then Team 15 barges into the room. Naoko Fei, Rame Tsu, and Shun Kashi shuffle inside. "Oh, sorry, Lady Katonae," Naoko apologizes, starting to back out, "We were told you weren't busy."
"We've just ended our discussion, is there something you need?" the blonde village leader asks.
"Its just that Tousen-sensei told us that you wanted us to compete in the upcoming Chunin exams," Naoko explains, "But we wanted to inform you personally that we don't think we are ready for them yet."
"Another of our promising Genin squads?'' the Hokage questions
This time Kuroda seems surprised saying, "I would think that a team like yours with all that talent would be itching to move up to Chunin level."
Rame Tsu comments, "Our Sensei is more concerned with being a pervert. He hasn't really taught us anything that we could not have figured out on our own."
"What is with this all of a sudden?" the Hokage ponders as she looks over them all, "First Kuroda doesn't want to participate and then the top Genin team as well."
"I wonder what the real reason is behind them not wanting to join in," Kuroda wonders as he looks at the girls, "With a team like that they should be more than ready for the exams."
"Your whole team is in agreement on this?" the Hokage asks, looking towards the reclusive Shun Kashi.
"Yes, my lady," he replies with a nod, repressing his emotions as usual.
"Fine, if none of you are going to participate then I will give you a mission instead," the 8th Hokage decides, "And since Kuroda's teammates are still in the hospital, he will join you on the mission. Report back tomorrow so I can sort out the details."
"Yes ma'am," they all say in unison.
As Kuroda and Team 15 file out of the Hokage's office, Ichimaru and his Team 10 pass by. "You guys got a mission?" Kuroda asks curiously.
"No, we just need to talk to the Hokage about something," Kenta replies vaguely, looking off in a different direction.
"I take it that you're not going to participate in the Chunin exams," Kuroda says dryly.
"How did you guess?" Yui responds, her eyebrows arching in surprise.
"It's the same thing I was just in there about," he reveals, "Same goes for Team 15."
"Wow, really?" Ichimaru comments, "Knowing Shun I thought he would be burning to move up the ranks already."
"I guess you can never tell what people are really thinking," Kuroda shrugs as he walks off, "Well, good luck, I hope she doesn't throw anything at you."
"He was joking about that last part right?" Kenta whispers.
"I don't know," Yui replies, "The 8th Hokage is known to have a blazing temper. She is nicknamed the Princess of Fire after all."
"That's not what the nickname is for," Ichimaru scoffs, "It's because she…"
(Well that is the end of the chapter, what did you think? Kuroda's parents are supposed to be dead, but who is this strange woman he used to call mother? And why do his memories hide her face? With the delivery of the Sculpture complete. will this old wound effect him as sets off on a new mission? Read the next chapter to find out. As usual, if you want more information on my characters you can see their bios on my profile page. Be warned, there may be some spoilers. Also I'm in the process of getting pictures drawn for the characters, but I have no idea how long that will take. If you're interested in drawing and have a DA account then send me a Message. Enjoy the next chapter, and please review.)