Onari

by DigiAnimeArtist

A strange girl from a far away land holds the key to forces greater than anyone in Konoha could have ever imagined. Myth and legend come to life in this exciting comical, dramatic, and heart felt story of a girl wanting to belong in a world where she is seen as an abomination. Will she be able to control her secret, much less, her own anger and stubbornness when she learns the true

89. Chapter 89

V9 ch 8

Akaihi's past revealed

Gin Akimichi carried the bowl of water carefully down the hall her feet gently placing on the boards, her footing precise. Her eyes stayed glued to the water as it swished daring to come close to the top. Each time it flowed upwards, she stopped with a gasp, her focus drawn to the substance. Oh, no. It's getting so close to the top. It's going to spill onto the floor. I shouldn't have filled it so high. I'm coming. I'm coming, Mrs. Uchiha. Gin heard Izumi Uchiha and TenTen Hyuuga talk amongst themselves in the bedroom. They were discussing how to go about getting Takeru back up walking.
Careful. Careful… AH! Gin stopped abruptly as she felt a cat move between her legs. It was Onari's cat that she had left behind. The feline purred endlessly continuing to twist its body around her limbs. Gin kept her toes firmly planted onto the floor. "I don't have anything you would want. It's only water. Please, I have to take this to Mrs. Uchiha," she said afraid to disturb the cat.
Areku Inuzuka opened the door to the Uchiha house, "Pardon our intrusion," he said aloud as he and Kandai entered. They had gone to the store for TenTen to get food since Mrs. Uchiha couldn't leave the house. He took off his ninja shoes, leaving them behind. Areku saw Gin moving down the hall at a snail's pace holding a bowl of water. A cat was moving around her startling her efforts. He pinched his nose trying his best not to laugh. Ichigo was waiting patiently outside the house. "Why don't you just shoo it away, Gin," he said as Kandai trailed behind him.
"I don't want to be mean to it," Gin confessed. It wasn't in her nature to harm another living creature. "It's Onari's," she said looking down watching the cat. The feline let its tail twitch back and forth as it regarded Areku and Kandai.
Kandai moved past Areku to take the bags into the kitchen. Areku clenched his teeth lowering his form as he growled at the cat showing his fangs. The cat turned its head quickly in alarm. He growled even louder then dashed forward a few feet to where the cat darted down the hall. "See, no harm done," he said as Gin stood shaking, her eyes wide and arms locked to keep the water still.
"You're horrible," Kandai said with a smile as he set foot outside the kitchen. "Take the rest in. You can start washing the fruit and vegetables," he told Areku as he made his way to the bedroom. He had never been in the unknown quarters before. Knocking gently, he waited despite the door being slightly open. Until he was told to enter, he'd wait for them to finish talking.
"You can come in, Kandai," TenTen said as she lifted Takeru's arm holding his elbow firmly in her hand. She began to move his arm back on the joint slowly then back to neutral position before starting again with another rep. "Can you squeeze my hand?"
Takeru moved his fingers down closing them to where he could feel TenTen's warm fingers. "It's…hard," he said still trying to squeeze firmly. Takeru wanted to be up so badly. Lying in bed for the past several days was aggravating him.
"It's alright, you can stop," TenTen said noticing how quickly he became fatigued. "This will take time, Izumi - Nothing short of it. The fact he's awake after such a long period of a comatose state is miraculous," she said with a smile. "His progress will get better."
Kandai stood silently by the wall watching his mother help Takeru's muscles. Both of his parents were adept in learning how the body works. They were proud ninja who thrived on competing and knowledge. Once his mother had finished, she moved around the bed to Takeru's other side. She glanced at Kandai before continuing with the other arm. "We brought the groceries back," he said quietly.
"Where is Gin," Izumi asked out of the blue looking at him. As the question was asked, she heard a frantic girl start to step quicker to get to the door. Without another word, Gin pushed the door open swinging her arms out with the water sloshing over the side. Izumi concentrated on the water forming hand seals. The water soared through the air aiming straight for TenTen and Takeru. Izumi's mind locked on the water molecules mixing with the air molecules. She began to separate them gaining her control upon them. The water pulled back in a zipper fashion returning to the bowl. "Be more careful," she told the girl.
Gin stood with a horrified expression on her face. Her over caution had given way to her tardiness. She stood with the bowl of water lip quivering. It wasn't until Kandai took the bowl from her did she release the tension in her body sinking to the floor.
"Kandai, you can set the water down on the table beside the bed," TenTen ordered. She kept working on Takeru's right arm until her son turned around for further instructions. "I want you to help his chakra flow using Byakugan," she said as her son walked over. "Start at the top and work your way down."
Takeru looked up to see Kandai watching him with kind eyes. "I don't understand. How is this going to help?"
"You were electrocuted weren't you? Electricity is what drives your heart and all of the muscles in your body to function. If the current is thrown off, it can cause your muscles to be spastic, or flaccid. Right now, you are flaccid. I'm going to try and divert the chakra flow to certain muscles to help them sort of 'charge'," Kandai explained. "Of course, I won't be using your chakra to do so. I'll be using a bit of mine. Does that ease you?"
"Don't worry, Takeru. Kandai's not going to hurt you," TenTen said as she started to massage his right leg.
Kandai began to activate Byakugan pinpointing the chakra flow and the points on Takeru's body. He placed his fingers on four points of Takeru's arm using both hands concentrating. Maintaining his focus, the chakra flow became more powerful as he added his own to the mix.
Areku entered the room slowly right when Kandai started working on Takeru. He kept his voice low as Gin stood leaning against the wall. He was still trying to get used to the idea of Kandai becoming a medic. He wondered if it had anything to do with Eiyu being more adapt at ninjutsu and leadership. "Do you think his decision to do this was brought on by requests of his family?"
Gin smiled proudly of Kandai and his efforts. "It might be, but I'd like to think it is still Kandai's choice. He's been studying very hard to learn with his parents about anatomy and physiology. Eiyu has his passion for training while Kandai's is this." She turned her blue eyes to look at Areku. "When he heard Takeru was awake, Kandai rushed to get his books and materials. He wanted to help him, Areku."
Areku sniffed the air his nose twitching. "I smell your dad and Lord Hokage's wife," he said kind of aloof to why they were there. TenTen stopped what she was doing to leave the room. Areku's head turned following her motions. His gaze drifted back to Mrs. Uchiha who was standing next to Kandai, protective of her son.
Hinata Hyuuga, Naruto Uzumaki's wife, bowed her respects to Izumi. "We heard Kandai was coming to help Takeru get better," she said about the reason she and Neji were there. "Also, it uses a lot of chakra to perform the technique. We want to assist in any way she can."
Neji entered the room after he spoke a few words to TenTen. He bowed low to Izumi. Once he stood, his monotone voice reflected, "You look ravishing since your son has awoken," he said not skipping a beat about Izumi's untidy hair.
Izumi Uchiha narrowed her eyes. "Just help my kid, Neji," she said informally stressing she was aware her appearance was lacking. As the man moved forward to work on Takeru's legs, Hinata moved to assist Kandai. Izumi issued Gin and Areku out of the room so the Hyuuga could have full concentration. "We'll go fix a meal to thank everyone for their efforts," she said pushing them out of the room with her hands.
Areku looked up at the white haired woman. "I don't know how to cook. I'm a tracker," he said trying to get out of the duty.
"You're going to cut and slice everything I tell you to," Izumi said. "Gin, you're going to help me get the ingredients together. Now, now let's work hard," she said as the pushed the two unsuspecting teenagers into the kitchen.

Izumi threw herself at her husband wrapping her arms around his neck tightly. "You're home," she said softly almost to the point of crying. Reaching up, she put her hands on his face as her eyes lifted to look him over. "Have you eaten? Rested," she asked throwing a ton of questions at him.
"Izumi," Sasuke said latching onto her wrists tightly lowering her hands. "We're fine. What is this about you taking our son out of the hospital," he said a bit angrily, the corners of his mouth moving back. "You know that's where he's supposed to be."
Daiya exited his room with a look of disbelief on his face. He finally found his voice again after a moment when he caught sight of his adopted mother. "Hi, mom," he said. Before he knew it, Izumi was trying to lift him, her arms around his chest in an embrace. "Mom, I'm alright. I came the last stretch by myself," he said. "She didn't know I was coming back," he asked looking up at Sasuke with puzzlement in his eyes.
"No," Sasuke answered straightforward. "There was no way to send her word about you. I wasn't going to leave you alone." He turned around to head to his bedroom. "Where is he, Izumi," he said in such a demanding tone that the atmosphere in the house darkened.
"In there- on our bed," she said. Izumi crossed her arms at how her husband was acting. He wasn't pleased with what she had done. She was Takeru's mother and it was her right to watch over him as such. In all of the commotion, she had forgotten one simple thing – to tell him about Takeru. "Oops," she said as a mere afterthought.
Sasuke dropped his pack on the floor rather annoyed at his wife for making a huge decision without discussing it with him. He leaned over the chair in the room, his hands gripping the back support. "Damn it," he said lowly with his eyes closed. He wanted to punch the wall with all of his force. She thought moving him without my knowledge was going to go over easy. I can't believe her. Izumi is stubborn at the worst times!
Takeru turned his head to see his father's back. Dad's back! He tried to get up eagerly to tackle him, but all he could do was lift his arms off the bed halfway. Sasuke's bent posture told Takeru his father was angry. "Are you…upset at her?"
"You've no idea," Sasuke said answering the voice in the air. He raised a brow, his back straightening. Whirling around, he saw Takeru looking at him with a sleepy gaze. He was only asleep? "Takeru?"
"Welcome home," Takeru greeted with a soft smile on his face. It had been a long time since he had seen his father confused. Heck, even seeing his angry face was a pleasing sight to the boy.
Sasuke walked slowly to his son, not believing his own eyes. He leaned over caressing Takeru's face with a shaky gaze. "H-How? I was sure-," he stuttered, his lip quivering as he suddenly held the most important thing in his life to his body.
Takeru wasn't expecting his father to be so emotional. He blushed hard feeling his father's strong form against him. At that moment, he relished in being a child. He wasn't grown up like Ryu, or an adult yet. Takeru soaked in his father's affections eagerly; having needed his strength for a while.
Daiya entered the room followed by Izumi. His eyes befell upon Takeru sitting up in the bed, his fingers curled around their father's vest. "He's…okay?" Daiya felt his mother pet the top of his head to answer him. Takeru turned his dark eyes upon his brother. "Hi," he said softly.
"What kind of surgery did you have," Takeru asked his brother out of the blue.
"He doesn't know," Daiya asked looking at his adopted mother. She shook her head. "I had to have my heart replaced," he said trying to act as if it wasn't a big deal. Takeru started reacting in the worst way. He turned his head away, refusing to meet Daiya's gaze. It was too much for him. "Takeru, I'm fine," he emphasized.
Sasuke lifted Takeru off the bed, his arm under his rear to support him. "It's not an easy thing for him to deal with Daiya. You're his brother. And that means you're important to him. Does he know about Onari?" Izumi closed her eyes. "I see. We might as well get over that obstacle now."
Takeru looked at his father with an unsure gaze. "Where is she? Mom wouldn't say anything," he said fearing she had been taken by Kakumei. His father set him onto the bed, hands firmly upon his shoulders. Sasuke didn't look away as his eyes met Takeru's without hesitation and complete firmness. "Dad?"
"We didn't know what had transpired on the mission you took with Onari. She didn't bother to tell us anything when questioned. We don't like being in that kind of situation. You're our son and what happened to you brought out the worst in us," Sasuke explained.
"Onari was told to leave, Takeru. She stayed with the Inuzuka until she was given permission to go to the Chuunin exams with Team 9. Your mother remained here to care for you. I questioned Onari again at the Mist village regarding you. I lost my temper," Sasuke admitted with his brows furrowing. "I blamed her solely for what had happened."
"The fact she went against your father and disobeyed him only to attack Rock Lee did not help matters," Izumi stepped in to say before Takeru could defend Onari.
"What happened in the cage, Daiya," Sasuke asked wanting his side of the story now that they had returned.
"Onari defended Yanagi and I from the Field Coordinators. They were trying to stop her from helping me. She ascended onto Akaihi to avoid punishment," Daiya said not understanding how this was going to assist. "No one knows where she is."
"The Hokage's in a tough position because of what she did," Sasuke said looking at Izumi, Daiya, and finally Takeru. "The foreign leaders witnessed her abilities when she fled. They were accusing the leaf village of harboring a great power to start a war. Now, I fear, Onari has given them a reason to start trouble. There are villages that oppose the alliances with the leaf. I don't want you using Uso out of the village from this day forward."
"But she's the only way to find Onari! We're connected," Takeru said his words turning on deaf ears. He saw his mother shake her head. "You're going to leave her out there to be attacked? Gekido is after her for Akaihi!"
"Takeru, we have no way of knowing if that person exists," Izumi said flat out. "Onari was very young when her parents died. The things she was told could all be in her head. A person with that kind of power you are telling us about doesn't go unnoticed. He would have shown himself."
"Or his name known outside the village," Sasuke said ending Takeru's argument. "She made her choice when she fled. Our concern is on you two – and always will be."
Takeru looked down angrily at the floor. He didn't want to think Onari had abandoned her post because she had wanted to. He hung his head shaking it. "I don't care what you tell me. I won't give up on her," he said with a strict tone. "That decision is mine!"

Takeru walked through the village holding onto Daiya's arm. His legs were wobbly as he shuffled along down the path away from the house. It was doctor's orders for him to be mobile. Remaining in the house dormant wasn't helping him transition back to his team. His legs wanted to buckle. Daiya grabbed his waist easing him to a standing position. "I can go further."
"You need to rest. This is pretty far for you from what I've been told," Daiya said taking his older brother role. He saw Takeru frown, his long bangs covering his face. "Are you embarrassed that I'm helping you? You're my family."
Takeru squeezed Daiya's hand. "It isn't you. I don't want you to go anywhere," he admitted. "Why won't they let me search for her? Where would she go?"
"I know this sounds cruel, but you've got to worry about yourself. Onari had her reasons – whatever those may be. They're not going to let you do anything until you prove to them you're stronger than this."
Takeru lifted his head with a newfound set goal. "Daiya, when they're not around, spar with me." His brother raised a brow. "I have to know how to fight people with different abilities." He turned his Sharingan eyes onto Daiya. "Help me train to fight against you."

Ryu Yuhi sat on his bed with his heels on the edge, gaze lowered. Since he had gotten back from the exams, his mother had been on a mission. He fidgeted with is hands not understanding why she wasn't home yet. They said she left last week. Exactly where did she have to go?
Ryu heard a faint knock on the door. He stood slowly before walking with his feet dragging to the entrance of the apartment he and his mother shared. "Knock harder. Don't look at me like that. It's doing you good to use your arms," he heard Daiya say from the other side. I wonder what he wants.
Takeru watched the door open. Ryu stared dead at him for a moment before slamming the door back. Takeru looked up at his brother. "What?" Daiya shrugged. He knocked again. Ryu opened the door for the second time. This time he looked at him quite quizzically. "Ryu?"
"He's really there," Daiya said as Ryu tried to determine how he should react. "We're not going to tell on you. Promise."
Takeru gasped as he as latched onto. His feet dangled off the floor. Ryu pressed him so hard against his body that Takeru felt restricted. "Why is he grabbing me so hard," he grunted trying to breathe.
"He was the one that brought you back. We thought you were dying, Takeru. There was no hope with the wound you had sustained," Daiya explained. His eyes softened at Ryu holding Takeru as if he were a newborn. "Ryu, he's not going to break. He's just wobbly when he walks."
Ryu swallowed difficulty before his arms released Takeru back onto the floor. He looked at both of them sheepishly, his hands going straight into his pockets to avert any other reaction from him. "I'm sorry," he said shying away suddenly. After that, he didn't know what to say. Standing awkwardly in the hall, he put his arms behind his back before raising his eyes.
Takeru shook his head at him. "You haven't done anything wrong, Ryu," he said trying to soothe Ryu's shy personality at being close to someone else. "It's not like I mind."
"Well, you want to go out with us? It's better than moping around here," Daiya offered. He jerked a thumb at his back. "Get on. Dad finds out I let you walk all the way here, he'll kill me."
"I'm tired of being treated like a child," Takeru growled. "I can walk on my own." Before he knew it, he was lifted high into the air and placed over Ryu's shoulder. "Ryu, I'm not a baby!"
Ryu rolled his eyes. He walked off with Daiya ignoring Takeru's arguments about his treatment. "Where are we going anyway?" He pinched Takeru on the rear to stop him from kicking. That made the Uchiha kid tense up before he scowled.
"Ramen," Daiya asked looking at Ryu for his approval as they walked down the stairs.
"Sounds good to me," Ryu admitted.

Azayaka Najima followed her sensei down the path in the forest her hand upon her hip. Her green eyes glanced around wondering if there was a training session bout here or something. The birds echoed their harmonies and morning events to one another. "Sensei, why are we way out here?"
Tomomorro found the old fallen tree in the clearing. He sat down on it grunting as if he'd been walking for days without rest. "This is where I come to think," he explained.
Azayaka found this to be a bit strange for her sensei to have thoughts he couldn't solve. She raised a brow showing no emotion. "Since when have you had concerns," she asked stressing the last word. Azayaka crossed her arms leaning back to look up at the trees. A nice cup of coffee would have been nice.
Tomomorro put his hand upon his knee watching her. He scratched behind his ear. "I suppose that was a lame excuse for bringing you out here. Truth is, I'm to give you your mission."
She turned her gaze on him. "A mission? It's a secret," she said almost ready to jump at the chance. She was the top student on her team, surpassing both her seniors in skills and quick thinking.
Tomomorro held up his hand to clam her. The fire was lit. He had to control it before it became a bonfire. "Hold on, Azayaka. I want you to think properly about it before you act."
Azayaka hmphed. "So there is a catch. I should have known. It's just like anything else you say," she said a bit disappointed.
"Your mission is to be a replacement for Team 9. a girl on their team fled the Chuunin exams at the Mist Village," Tomomorro explained. "You might have heard about it."
"Are you referring to the girl who caused another member of her team to be mortally wounded? She was allowed to go to the exams and fled. That put us in a bad situation with several other villages. We were almost on the brink of war. I'm replacing her? You have got to be kidding."
"Calm down," Tomomorro said his eyes serious. "As a replacement you would be able to find out information on the girl and her whereabouts. The Hokage needs to know if she's a threat. He's in a touch position regarding how she left and what she holds."
"She fled. He can just send the ANBU to retrieve her." Azayaka didn't think this was worth her time. She felt like a babysitter.
"It's not that simple. The girl left on the back of the Celestial phoenix." That caught Azayaka's attention. "The boy that was injured by her survived. Takeru Uchiha."
"Uchiha – The clan that was nearly wiped out years ago. The sole survivor was Sasuke Uchiha. So it's his son."
"Yes, and his son bonded with that girl in an unimaginable way. He summons the Celestial Dragon. The Hokage needs you to protect Takeru, at all costs. We're trying to keep it under wraps what he controls. A power such as that makes him a target. But it's not just other villages that would be after him. Corruption can happen easily in the blink of an eye if given a reason," he said. "Are you up to this?"
"Report back incognito. Ears open, eyes closed. Got it," Azayak said confirming her decision.
"Good. Now lets go get some coffee," he said grunting as he stood. "Kind of wish I hadn't walked all of the way out here now," he said heading back to the village.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"Due to Onari leaving the team, we have to consider another person to replace her," Rock Lee stated to Eiyu Hyuuga and Takeru Uchiha. Takeru would not look at him directly. "We must be a three man cell in order to complete missions. The hokage has demanded we push forward."
Eiyu glanced at Rock Lee out of the corner of his eye with his head turned away, leg resting on the seat. "No offense, but I already have him to worry about. He's going to be slow," he said jerking a thumb at Takeru. "His recovery is going to take time."
Rock Lee figured the transition was going to be met with defiance. The shock of Onari's actions was still fresh in their minds. There were also rumors going around the village regarding why she had left. "It isn't a decision, Eiyu. I am asking your cooperation in this matter. She has already been cleared to join our team."
"First Saori, then Onari," Takeru spoke out of the blue. "Are we supposed to forget everyone that passes through our team?" He put his hand on his forehead, closing his eyes.
"It's too soon for this," Eiyu said angrily half rising to stand.
"Well, well, I see you boys don't want me around, "Azayaka said as she flipped over from the top of the roof to the seat below. She walked off the seat, her long purple hair swayed as it was tied behind her back. Turning around, she looked over the two boys in front of her. The one on the left is defiantly a Hyuuga. So the boy on the right is Takeru. He looks rather depressed. I suppose he was really close to that girl. That could be a problem for me.
"This is Azayaka Najima," Rock Lee said. "I expect all of you to get along and do well working together." He wasn't too sure about Takeru. It was clear Eiyu was going to clash with the girl. "The team leader is Eiyu. For now, our team will take it slow to help Takeru get re-adjusted."
Azayaka bowed low, waited, and stood back up. "It's a pleasure to meet you," she said as sweetly as she could. The corners on her mouth were stressed.
Eiyu stared straight at her fake introduction. "You can save the niceness. It's clear you aren't interested in us," he commented blandly.
"How can one be so sure what's on the other side of a wall if he refuses to look over it," Azayaka shot back. Eiyu's eyes gave her daggers. She smiled rather smartly. "I can tell right off you don't approve of anyone smarter than you – especially girls."
Eiyu stood with his fists clenched. "Why don't you go back to wherever you came from? We can do just fine on our own without another pain in the tail being on the team!"
"She talks like two people in one," Takeru said softly his dark eyes lifting to view Azayaka for the first time. "I don't know why you've been put on our team. I'd rather it be Onari again. You're not who I want to see." He looked away back at the floor. "The Hokage has already given up on her…"
Rock Lee marched over to Eiyu putting himself between him and Azayaka. "We will get along on this team. I will not have defiance in the ranks. The Hokage put Azayaka here for a reason. We won't be so rude as to send her back. She has a purpose on the team as you all do. No more of this will be spoken."
Eiyu flipped his head to the side, snuffing Azayaka. He didn't trust her a bit. The Hokage may have put her here, but I don't have to get along with her. It was bad enough with Onari disregarding any orders I or Lee gave.
Tomomorro sensei, I'm going to have it out with you next time I see you. With the way these two are acting, I feel more like a school teacher who is trying to get respect from bad students. Azayaka shook her head crossing her arms. Team 9 was going to be difficult for her in more than one way. She had known that beforehand. Getting information about Onari from these two was going to be the hardest thing she had ever done on a mission.

Onari touched down from Akaihi her yellow eyes overlooking the area. She had been searching for weeks to find this place. The mountainous range proved to be ridden with sharp rocks and grass growing out of its corners. She looked up at the large fire bird. It was studying the area also. Onari wondered why. "You have been here before," she said. The bird moved its yellow eyes towards her.
"Who are you really? Celestial beings have no use for human attachments. What is yours to this world," she asked.
Akaihi lifted the feathers on its head. He was surprised she was questioning his existence. Moving its large legs to where it towered over her, he looked down at the girl. Onari did not flinch nor move. She only stood gazing up at the creature. (You want to question why I help you. You've become as impertinent as your mother.)
"And what do you know of her," Onari asked. "You don't think or do as a bird." She tilted her head not sure who Akaihi really was.
(You are giving me the same lowly inferiority of a common wild bird. Is it not what you see and witness before you that makes me what I am? Only I am able to follow you in this world.)
"Only you? But the others may come to this place when summoned," Onari said. "Normal summonings use chakra and last for a short time. You have been out in the open for weeks."
(You're reasoning is a bit off at this point, Onari. I suppose I should refer to you as this since your true name was not properly given.) Akaihi turned his head away to look at the mountainous range, lowering his body to the earth. (You have not searched in vain for what you seek. The old monk who harbored the legend of where the Heaven's Scroll was obtained, was only mildly correct.)
Onari studied the bird as it relished in memories that she could not dare to dream.
(The Heaven's scroll was hidden in these mountains until a man of great importance lost his way during a thunderstorm…)

The wind blew harshly at his kimono from all angles. He was sure the fabric would be ripped to pieces in no time. His exposed skin became hit with needle sharp droplets of rain. A journey into the country had led him atop the mountain in search of wild game. His horse had bolted away from his troupe of followers when the thunder crackled overhead.
He and his brother, Gekido, were separated as the horse took off at a high speed. His brother had tried to pursue, but the mount had jumped over the side of the cliff to tumble down the side. Sashizo was lucky to have missed being crushed by the horse's weight as it rolled.
Both of them slid down the dirt and mud to the bottom. The mount got up to run away from Sashizo. He had borrowed the horse from another lord. Feeling responsible for the creature's safety, he had gone after it. The thunder continued to crackle over head, the dark clouds getting closer as the rain increased.
Sashizo searched high and low for the mount as he tracked its hoof prints upon the ground. He was only fifteen-years-old at the time. The boy soon realized it was impossible for a being with two legs to track another with four legs. He threw his hat onto the ground in anger. "How stupid can I be? They're sure to laugh at me for this."
The rain had gotten so hard to walk in that Sashizo was having difficulty walking. He thought if he went farther up the mountain he was sure to find a hut for shelter to wait out the storm. Yet, here he was trying to get footing on the sharp slippery rocks. His footing had slipped several times to send him getting cut upon his hands and knees. He was cold and wet to the bone, staggering up the steep slope. Sashizo's course had become quit confusing to him as he went off the path he had been making.
He wrapped his arms around himself, hugging his clothes tighter to his body. "This storm is from the underworld," he shouted. Continuing as he could the boy from the lightening country came upon large boulders nestled deep into the earth of the mountain. He ducked underneath them seeking shelter.
The rain poured, wind howled like a ghostly presence as he threw his wet belongings off. His eyes searched the dark of the enclosed space. It wasn't very big, nor very deep. He lay in a fetal position on the ground falling asleep.
When he awoke, the sun peeked through the boulders into his eyes. Sashizo walked out looking around clearly for the first time at the landscape. "How did I get all of the way up here?" His yellow eyes befell upon the clouds below his feet. They were moving between the mountains. The sky overhead remained pure blue, birds flying in the air echoing their songs of joy. The thunderstorm and harsh rains were gone.
Sashizo reached in to grab his kimono. There were not trees on the land for him to start a fire. He draped the soaked clothes over the boulder to dry them. "I wonder if they found shelter," he said leaning against the rock. "How are they going to find me?"
He was a long way from his clan. Sashizo's father was a powerful man who bestowed authority and wisdom on those under his rule. His mother was a beautiful woman who spoke rarely in the presence of others. She was a sacred figure to her people, helping those with her hands and not her mouth. "Mother was concerned the moment Father suggest we go on our first hunt," he said speaking of he and Gekido. They were lords who were to be pampered and respected – to set an example.
Sashizo's stomach growled. He placed his hands on his abdomen, his eyes glancing around. "Where does food come from out here? There aren't any farmers up here," he said. Living in the mansion of his father had caused him to grow up without fending for himself. Sashizo only knew about the wild from stories, books, and the journeys of others.
"The only things I have on me are the kimono and pants from father." He looked at the material knowing if he burned it, his father would be furious. The set was passed down from son to son through the clan. Sashizo looked up at the sky. Birds passed overhead again. "They must be getting the substances for their nest from far away. Sort of a long journey to make for such things."
"Gekido! Nakamori! Boncha," he shouted over the vast clouds. Sashizo listened quietly without another voice answering him back. Several days went by without a sign of his hunting party. He remained at the boulders following suit with his mother's advice to not leave a spot when lost.
On the fourth day, Sashizo had lost reasoning for his upbringing. He dug through the dirt searching for insects to eat. He was weak, but determined to live. His kimono was filthy, hair tangled from not being washed. His fingers were caked with dirt skin itching all over. Then he saw the pink wiggling form sticking up out of the earth. A worm. Sashizo lifted it, his eyes staring straight at it. Don't think about it. Just eat it. It's you or him. Sashizo opened his mouth quickly dropping the worm inside. He swallowed, his body tense as it wriggled all the way down.
Having been away from those that took care of him for so long, Sashizo laid his face in his hands. He wept, his heart wanting to give up. There was a slim chance he was going to be found so far up the mountain. A voice in the back of his head was urging him to continue thriving.
Sashizo wiped his eyes as he came to turns with himself. He thought of his mother who stood with elegance and grace, her quiet features giving him the strength he needed. Standing, he removed the kimono his father had given him. It was a sign of his manhood. Sashizo laid it upon the ground, his eyes searching for a way to burn it. The rocks. Boncha told me that if rocks connect, they spark to emit fire.
Finding tow hand sized rocks, he started to bang them togther. Sashizo hit them so had, they crumbled. He sighed, his arms hanging by his sides. He looked over his hands. "No one else in the court can make stones turn to ash, but us. Is this why they admire us?" Sashizo slumped to the ground his back hitting the boulder. His long hair flowed on the currents of the wind, twisting and turning amongst the tresses. He crawled into the small enclosure flopping onto his back staring straight up.
There were strange markings on the roof of the boulders. Sashizo reached his hand towards them, touching the engravings. "What form of writing is this?" At the time, he was not aware it was Tibetan writing upon the stone. His eyes watched as the inscriptions started to light up and glow. Sashizo's eyes became wide the markings on the stone moving towards his hand. They flowed down his arm connecting to his body. His sigh was blinded by light.
Sashizo saw the very heavens raining stars down at him, clouds of color and warmth guarding a sacred scroll. The scroll lay atop a pillar made of marble, etched with gold flakes. He reached his hand up, his body floating towards the scroll. As soon as he grabbed it, the clouds and stars were pulled in a vacuum, his body landing back onto the ground beneath the boulders.
Sashizo sat up with a bewildered expression on his face, the scroll laying on his lap. He scrambled out of the enclosure as if a monster was after him. "Wh-What is this?" Gently, he opened the Heaven's Scroll for the first time, his fingers caressing the silk material. He read it aloud, not believing what he had seen.
"The bearer of the Heaven's Scroll takes full responsibility upon his being and soul to fulfill the calling of the Celestial Phoenix. Only one with pure determination and heart of fire may possess the ability to open the South Gate. Upon opening the South Gate, the phoenix shall be imprinted upon his every being, only obeying and answering to him."
Sashizo stood staring at the Hiragana. "No way. The Heaven's Scroll is a child's fable. If this is true…then..this is the gate to the Heavens – to the Celestial Gods." Sashizo read further. "The phoenix is at all times in conjunction with the dragon. If they are in harmony, there will be peace. If they are against each other, war."
He looked over the scroll, his eyes searching for any marking of the person who had written the symbols he read. There were none. Before his eyes, the hiragana disappeared. "Ah! What happened?" The scroll revealed a painting of the phoenix with its tail draped over the form of the dragon. "To summon us, bear witness to your truths and flaws for you will be judged and it be decided upon. To summon us, give us life."
Sashizo fell to the ground again reading the hiragana over. "To summon us, give us life. How do I do that? What is life to a Celestial God that would connect it to a human?"
He stood dropping the scroll onto the ground. His name was being called. He ran down the mountain yelling and tripping over the rocks. Sashizo fell cutting his hands. he yelled, "I'm here! I'm here!" He turned his head remembering the scroll. Running hastily up the mountain, he retrieved his kimono, throwing it on in a rush. The second his bleeding hands touched the scroll, it burst into flames. Sashizo fell back with a cry, his eyes wide. "The scroll!"
It burned to ash before his very eyes. He crawled towards it, his eyes looking over the black ash. "Why did it-" The ash started to tower into a pile, its black form taking the shape of an oval. Sashizo saw the ash turn from black to gray to white, forming into an egg. The egg bore the same engravings as the boulders he had seen. It moved. Without fear, the young lord lifted it in his hands. The egg jiggled until it started to crack. A little crack here and there sent it connecting to other cracks that were forming. The shell of the egg burst apart flying pieces everywhere.
In his hands was a red bird with yellow eyes. It looked up at him, its tail draping over the edges of his fingers. "You're a phoenix," he said as the feathers on the bird's head raised its fire licked tips. They flickered off the feathers into the wind. Sashizo smiled lowering his head to the creature. "You're astonishing," he said having forgotten his name was being called.

Akaihi looked down at Onari who was staring at him with wide eyes, the circle etched around her pupil foretelling the contract Sashizo had made with the phoenix. (To hold something so pure and strong in my fingers entranced me. Had I known that such an occurrence – a rare find- would send my life – and yours into the very fires that create the phoenix, I would have not touched what I had seen. I was only a young lord without proper knowledge to believe in myths.) He turned his softened gaze upon his only daughter.
Onari let her hair fall forward as she tried to hide her face from her father. She cried hard her hands covering her face. All this time, she had thought herself to be alone, fighting for a chance of survival against a powerful battle with her uncle, Gekido of the lightening country. Now she had wished she had not left the hidden leaf village. "T-Takeru died because of me," she wailed falling to her knees as she hit the ground.
Akaihi's heart swelled, the pain he had caused his daughter a huge stone on his soul. (I could not stop Takeru from defending you, Onari, my precious beautiful daughter. It was his choice to become your guard and your protector.) Akaihi moved his large red head to the girl who wept on the ground. He nuzzled the side of her head with delicate care. (I will not let Gekido harm you. It is what I promised to your mother.) Onari turned her head looking at the phoenix with a new understanding. (I am truly sorry to have kept myself a secret to you.)
Onari lifted her hands stroking the feathers of the phoenix. She latched onto the feathers burying her tears on its form. "F-Father, I will not let Gekido inflict his wrath on the hidden leaf village – or the Uchiha."
Akaihi ruffled his feathers cooing at Onari. She soon smiled at him, the tears still glistening on her cheeks. (You've always been strong like Urei. So much of her is in you. I am at fault for breaking your spirit.) Onari shook her head holding onto him again. (Maybe I should have listened to Takeru the first time he found out. He was wiser than he appears for his age.)
"Takeru knew…who you were," she asked, her fingers still curled around the soft feathers.
(It was one of your first missions as a ninja. We were far out in a small village protecting a few horses of value. When I stood watch he same outside the stable to talk absently about his concerns over you. Foolishly, I scared him when I answered back.) Akaihi closed his eyes remembering the fond thought. (I wasn't afraid to do such a thing. He is very trustworthy for a ninja.)
Onari's hands fell away from the phoenix's neck. "Do you think ninjas are untrustworthy," she asked with pain in her voice. The mere thought of mentioning Takeru to her sunk her mood like a stone in a pond.
(Onari, as a Lord, I was raised in a mansion to only believe that I was important. No one else mattered in our clan. Not anyone who worked for us, or your mother. Ninja were seen as low life people. It wasn't until after we found out your mother was pregnant did we experience life for the first time. You caused that.) Akaihi turned his head to value her. (It would not matter to me if you were a ninja, a princess, or a maid. You are my daughter. Your smile is worth more than any treasure a clan could hold.)
"The only way I can survive is to get rid of Gekido and his men. But in saying so, it means you also have no reason to be on this plane of existence," she said her eyes looking at him sadly. "I want you and mother to rest in peace. "
(I understand. I will help you in fighting Gekido and Kakumei Eimino. They will not succeed in gaining the other celestials.) Akaihi bowed his head low to her. (What is your wish of me?)
Onari stood looking at the phoenix. "To become stronger – to protect the Uchiha who have given me a home…and Konoha, I will go into hiding," she said issuing her decision. "As long as I am not found by those wishing to seek me, there can be no gain. I won't let Saori and Ryu suffer a fate worse than death."
Akaihi kept his head lowered, his feathers erupting in waves of flame. (Until I am called upon again, be safe, Onari.) He closed his eyes, his phoenix body discarding back into ash.
Onari turned her eyes away from the ash to look out at the clouds flowing below the mountainous range. "Gekido will grovel at my feet for taking you from me," she said of Takeru. Her eyes narrowed, her frown turned into an angry gaze.

Hisoka Eimino stood in his quarters his hands clasped behind his back. He heard his son, Unkei, come in. The boy moved to his position quickly kneeling to the floor, his head touching the floor waiting for his father's permission to rise. Hisoka cleared his throat. At once, Unkei sat up his hands lay neatly on his lap, his eyes staring straight ahead. "Regardless of your performance at the Chuunin exams, winning was not a great concern for the clan. Your mother is thrilled to have you return," he said dismissing his wife's adorations for their son.
"Is Father well," Unkei asked, his voice hard, his emotions in check. If he stepped out of line showing any concern for his parents, he would be dealt with swiftly by his father. As an Eimino he had to remain hard, firm, well poised, and diligent of orders received.
Hisoka waved his hand to his side dismissing the guards positioned in the hidden spaces around the room. With a soft clack, the eye holes were closed. "Leave us," he ordered. "I am not afraid of my own son. Now," he said in a threatening voice. The guards silently retreated to elsewhere in the building. He waited about five minutes before he spoke; just to make sure the guards were really gone. Turning around, Hisoka sighed relief. He patted his brow the sweat from the stress he was experiencing noticeable.
"Unkei, rumors have drifted to my ears days after you returned home. I am sorry to not have greeted you properly at the gate to the house," Hisoka said. "I was trying to follow these rumors, to be sure of them. Forgive an old man for his strict upbringing. Life as an Eimino is hard when ruled by bigots in power," he said softly with hatred.
"Father, I don't harbor ill feelings against you for anything," Unkei said. "If the rumors about the girl at the exams is what you've been hearing, they are true," he said confirming his father's suspicions. "As law states, I must report to Lord Gekido regarding the information I saw."
Hisoka held up his hand stopping his son from rising. "As law states, yes. But before you answer to a Lord, you must obey your Father." Unkei looked at him with his brows furrowed. "The ones who have come to me with these rumors, will not be spreading them further."
Unkei realized at that point, his father had had the men who were spies, killed. "Such rumors will cause much upsetting around us. What I tell you from here on out, is only between us," he said. "Your oath to the Eimino clan is only justified by your birth and nothing more."
"Father," Unkei said startled.
Hisoka held up his hand again to calm his son. "Do what you can to survive until the time comes when we can break away from the actions around us. It was not my intention to raise my son in a demeaning way. The Eimino clan has become nothing but puppets who answer to an insane man in charge."
Unkei became fearful of his father's accusations. "Father, if you speak any louder, your own men won't hold their loyalty any further." He watched his father sit on his pillow, his eyes closed in thought. Unkei settled down his mind racing. He wondered if he should tell his father more of what he had seen. "It is not just the fact the girl left on the phoenix. She was able to transfer the contract to a boy regarding the Celestial dragon."
Hisoka opened his eyes. "And where is this boy," he asked softly. His son's facial expression told him the worst. "So he has perished. The dragon can be claimed by another. If that so happens, a war will arise amongst the clans in every country. It is a power we cannot begin to imagine."
"Father, I worry about the rants you are expressing. If Lord Gekido or General Kakumei find out, your life will be forfeit," Unkei said. "Please do not discuss this anymore."
Hisoka Eimino smiled sadly at his son. "Unkei, you warm my old heart. It is unlike you to take an old man's worry and retort against superiority in such a favor. There is something on your mind," he said seeing through his son's actions.
"Yes, there was a boy at the Chuunin exams who had the same lightening abilities that we posses," Unkei claimed. "He appeared to be very strong, until he fell as we waited for our turn to battle. There was something amiss about him, Father. He died before our very eyes, but had been brought back by his team leader. Last I heard of him, he was in the hospital at the Mist Village."
"Unkei, a ninja can use any element he shows strength in. Lightening is only one of these elements. Do you know what makes us different than other lightening users in other villages?" Unkei shook his head. "I see that has been kept from you as well. The reason we are as we are, is that our kekkegenkai flows in our genes to not only activate the lightening element, but also connect to our life force. It flows around every major organ in our body like a rope. In battle, we can use our kekkegenkai to unleash the element, but also to use it to track and find our opponents. It's a technique that only the ones under General Kakumei are allowed to use."
"This ability takes chakra," Unkei questioned.
"In a way," Hisoka said moving his hand through the air. "Imagine lightening not as a threatening element, but a current of life that flows through the air. With each new person born to the clan, this life element attaches him to every person in it. Anyone in that family decent can find the other by 'feeling' for that certain current belonging to that person."
"Father, how were you able to find this out, if only General Kakumei and his men know of it," Unkei asked.
Hisoka smiled. "Your mother is a nosey woman, Unkei. She has befriended a wife of one of the men who works under General Kakumei. The woman did not admit her abilities to your mother, but mildly showed them to her, when one of the young children was missing." Hisoka heard his men clack the small opening to the floor open. He raised his finger in the air to quiet his son. "What we have discussed is only for our knowledge. Any word spreads of our words and we will be banished beyond mortal existence."