Kei-Kei Yuki: I might do one more filler chapter, before going back to canon. Also the last folklore, I totally made that up but used the name of the Japanese deities.

Beta: Ana-DaughterofHades

Drabble Twenty-Nine

Folklores

It was an odd day in Konohagakure. Why, some of you may ask? It was because everyone's favorite prankster and self-declared future Hokage was in a library of all places! "Hinata, have you found what you're looking for yet?" Naruko asked Hinata, standing beside the girl as she searched for what she was looking for and soon smiled in relief when she finally found it.

"Got it, Naru-chan!" said Hinata. Today Naruko had assisted Hinata to the Academy Library as the young Hyuuga had an obsession for romance novels. Which were harder to find in the Academy Library than regular bookstores but ever since the last incident that took place a year after the two girls had become friends, this was the only place they could go. The owner of a bookstore had called Naruko a monster and kicked her out.

Both Hinata and Naruko felt safer journeying to the Academy Library; their selection wasn't the best, but neither girl wanted to go through that incident again. After searching for what she was looking for, Naruko did a little browsing. Even after graduating from the academy, Naruko barely ever adventured to the library unless Hinata wanted to come and pick out another romance novel to read.

"Tch, all these are boring. Is there anything fun here to read?" inquired Naruko, reading over each title on the books, not paying attention to what was in front of her as the blonde ended up bumping into someone.

"Ah, Naruko?!"

"Sakura-chan...? Flat-Chest Ino?! What are you two doing here?" Naruko asked the two girls, ignoring when Ino held up a fist and exclaimed,

"Damn it, Naruko stop calling me 'flat-chest'!"

"I'm here searching for books about medical ninjutsu. What are you doing here? I didn't take you for the type to like books," asked Sakura, holding at least four books in her arms, the image of a true bookworm.

"I came here with Hinata who was looking for another romance book to read." Hinata finally appeared by Naruko's side, cheeks blushing, clutching her book to her chest.

"Romance book? Why not just go to an actual bookstore? The academy mostly has nothing but academic books with only a small selection of novels," Ino inquired curiously, missing when Naruko's and Hinata's eyes showed a hint of apprehension that Naruko masked, showing them a sheepish grin.

"We just enjoy shopping here for books," Naruko scratched the back of her head; Hinata bobbed her head up and down, agreeing. Ino found this response weird and untrue. Peeking toward Sakura out of the corner of her eyes, she could tell that she felt the same, but neither girl pushed it.

Shrugging her shoulders, Ino kept her mouth shut. Ino had never been that close to Naruko, so she didn't know the girl's situation but knew how much Sakura valued the blonde. Ever since the preliminary match between Sakura and Ino happened, the two girls were slowly starting to rekindle their friendship, one step at a time. So if Sakura cared about Naruko, Ino would try to be nice.

"So, Ino, looking for anything to make your breasts grow bigger?"

But Naruko just had to make it so freaking hard! She was not that flat-chested! Ino would love to see just how flat Naruko was underneath that horrendous orange jacket that was always keeping her covered.

"Naruko, stop bullying Ino," Sakura affectionately scolded Naruko when she saw Hinata reach beside Naruko's head and pull out a book with a very colorful cover, titled: A Collection of Folklore. Soon all the girls crowded around Hinata who opened the book to a random folklore that Ino recognized.

"Hey, I remember this one from when I was a kid! The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter! It's about the life of a mysterious girl called Kaguya, a girl discovered as a baby inside the stalk of a glowing bamboo plant. Kaguya grew to be very beautiful, and many men fought to win her heart, even an Emperor. Turns out Kaguya was a celestial from the moon and returned to the home which she came, parting forever with her love on Earth," recited Ino, giving a short description of the famous folklore.

"I always cried whenever I read about Princess Kaguya," said Sakura.

"I felt sad for the Emperor. He became distraught after receiving the news that Princess Kaguya had returned to the moon. He truly loved her." Hinata mourned for the Emperor in the story. Watching the three girls discuss and reflect on their fond memories concerning Princess Kaguya and other folklore as they flipped through the book, Naruko felt thankful for when she would sleepover at Iruka's apartment. The brunette would sometimes read her folklore as a bedtime story.

If not for Iruka, Naruko would have been clueless and left out of their discussion. Finally, they flipped to the last folklore in the book, but this was one that neither girl was familiar with. "I never heard of this one before. It talks about how long ago in the heavens there existed a forbidden romance between the Moon God, Tsukuyomi and the Sun Goddess, Amaterasu," Sakura read out loud. Both pages depicted beautiful and exquisite, colorful artwork as Naruko felt her eyes drawn to the right page. There on the page was a woman drawn with such fine details that it was like she had come to life.

The Sun Goddess Amaterasu was depicted with luminous blonde hair that cascaded down her back like rays of sunlight, wearing a jūnihitoe. Above her head was the image of the sun; droplets of tears trailed from her eyes, arms reaching out to the Moon God, Tsukuyomi, drawn in a similar pose.

"It says here that the ruler of all the gods in heaven forbid the two gods' fruition of love as it threatened to upset a terrible balance. Even though Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu knew their love was one that should not exist, aware of what punishment awaited them, the love between them could not be exterminated," continued Sakura, Ino's squealing interrupting her.

"Ah, I'm always a sucker for forbidden romance!"

"Deciding to hide their relationship in secrecy, they continued their romance, falling deeper in love with each other to the point that Tsukuyomi proposed marriage to her. Sadly, Amaterasu rejected his proposal, stating how Ten no Kami, god over all in heaven, would never allow their marriage. After speaking such words of truth, both gods became saddened, though nothing could stop their love for each other."

"Shannaro! Love will prevail!"

"Sakura, get back to the story!" fussed Ino as Sakura got back to reading.

"Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu continued their secret romance until a fellow god discovered them, the God of War and Tsukuyomi's younger brother. Since they were young, the God of War had always felt inferior to his brother, and to make matters worse, he bore feelings for Amaterasu. Determined to get back at his brother, he divulged this information to Ten no Kami who became furious with the two gods and summoned them to his throne room."

"Oh, no..." Hinata was intrigued with the story and wondered about the fate of Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu now that their romance was discovered.

"Once the two gods were summoned and heard their crime, Ten no Kami stole their divine powers and banished them to Earth where they were sentenced to live the rest of their lives as humans, separated from each other. Right before they were banished, Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu made a vow to each other. "Our love is eternal. A love that will not be vanquished. Though we may live separate lives and are destined to live as humans, no matter how many reincarnations we will have to undergo, when the night is at its blackest, the sun and moon becoming one, our souls will reunite... and our love can finally be free."

Sakura finished reading, staring melancholy at the last passage. Nothing was said between the girls, feeling sad for how Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu were punished for their love. "Well, that was depressing," Ino was the first to say.

"For once, I actually agree with you." Naruko wondered why that last passage squeezed her heart painfully.

"Even though it d-didn't end as w-we hoped... They made a vow to reunite with each other. U-Until the very end they l-loved each other," said Hinata.

"I believe that one day, Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu will definitely reunite with each other," declared Sakura, a believer of true love.

"Until then let's go to Ichiraku to get us something to eat. I'm starving!" Naruko began walking away, hands folded behind her head when she suddenly tripped, face planting against the ground.

"Klutzy Naruko~!" Naruko growled at Ino teasing her and glared at what made her trip. Down at her feet was a book that had fūinjutsu in the title. Opening the book, Naruko browsed through a few pages and a smile made its way to her face, finding her interest piqued, closing the book in her hands.

"Hinata, I found a book! Now let's get out of here! We haven't eaten all day!" Hinata ran to catch up with Naruko to check out their books when Sakura called out to her.

"Naruko, wait! Ino and I will join you!" Sakura placed the folklore book back on the shelf where she got it from and the four girls began talking amongst each other.

End of Drabble Twenty-Nine