Author's Note: So much has happened since I first launched The Tale of Sachiko Uzumaki a couple years ago, and the truth of the matter is that I wasn't meant to be gone for so long. There was just a lot happening in my life between the tail end of 2021 and a majority of 2022 that just kept me back from moving forward with this passion project of mine. However, I am so to be finally moving forward with this again and share Sachi's story from where I left off in Chapter 1. Everything i have planned with her character and story will still follow the same blueprint I planned from concept and story treatments.

Chapter 2:

Sibling Clash -

Shinachiku Uzumaki

I had gone through this dance on many occasions after that fateful day when a few of my chakra points were artificially restored thanks to my father and Shizune. Those words echoed into my mind the more time we spent training together with him. It was also thanks to beautiful advice my mother gave me in my acts of frustration,

"Breathe. Just breathe, my sweet Sachi, and then strike instinctively

with every fiber in your strength as a true kunoichi in the making."

Time felt as if it had came to a halt for days, months, even years when in reality it was barely under thirty seconds when my pink colored kunai collided with an ordinary kunai in his easy going smirk on his face mirrored the one I held on my own which was no surprise to anyone. Especially since we had come into this beautiful world together! It's then that I wondered, was the same thing going through your mind?

"Amazing!" His bright eyes glistened in awe, "You're really getting the hang of this, Sachi!"

I couldn't help, but cackle, "Did anyone ever tell you how annoying that phrase is getting huh, Shina?"

"What! Is it wrong for a brother to complement his sibling in the heat of a sparring match?" Shinachiku asked playfully.

"On a regular basis no it wouldn't, but this isn't exactly your typical sparring match now is it, my doofus half!" I echoed his playful tone as our kunai dashed across the trees.

No way was that ever gonna lead him to an advantage strike against me. The pattern of his movements was something that I always observed even when a few of the chakra points in my system were unbalanced.

It was in the backyard of our home just shortly after my father finished his training session with me. One that had only lasted less than a minute with each attempt back then with my back against the wall.

"Sachi, have training with your father for the night?" My mother asked inside the house.

I loosened the grip of my hand against the sleeve of my shirt, "Yeah mom, would you like me to help out in the kitchen?" with a cheerful smile and walked back inside where the kitchen was. Hanami was by the kitchen table doodling on a paper with crayons.

The aroma of her cooking smelled so great, "Is that grandma's signature dish the hibachi fried rice?"

She smiled so ecstatically, "You bet it is, it took me a while to really match her style, but after a few pointers I got the hang of it!" before she pointed to the top, "Would you mind setting the dishes out in the meantime?"

"'I'd love to!" I grabbed a few of the plates out from the cabinet and set them on the table, "What ya working on, Issy?"

Hanabi instantly covered the paper with a suspicious look, "It's a secret, nobody can know about it!'

I blinked, "Oh why is that?"

"You'll have to find out!" She answered with a cheeky remark!

"Hanami, don't leave your big sis in the dark. I promise not to share!" I clapped my hands together with my eyes closed briefly,

She shakes her head, "Nope nope nope!"

"Does it have something to do whenever you become the future hokage?" I continued with no response from her, "Issy!, please?"

Mother calmly answered with, "It's okay, she's leaving your father and I in the dark about this too. Only Shina seems to know what it is."

"Oh..." The cheerful look on my face slowly faded off for a moment while my eyes drifted towards the window at his sparring session with our father, "I get it though, Shina is gonna be an incredible shinobi I can already see!"

The cooker went off before mother lowered the heating temperature, "Sachi... I know how difficult this must be, but..."

I giggled softly with my hand on top of hers, "I think you're getting the wrong idea mom." which left Mother a bit stunned, "I am really happy for Shinachiku, but one day... I'll catch up to him!"

That was only a few weeks before I went to the hospital with them to see Shizune, and there was no better time than at this stage as the two of us stood in the center of the stage where the original chunin exams used to be held. Shino Sensei and Iruka sensei were the only ones on the stage from a far distance. some of our fellow classmates, and their parents, Mother, Father, and of course our adorable little sister Hanami watching us from the upper floor. The look of excitement was one that resembled the same that I held as we stood from opposite ends. His eyes and mine were locked on with a kunai in our respective hand. You knew what I was thinking, and I did as well, Shina!

In every possible direction that came to mind as the kunai clashed with the one in his hand, and it became a repeating pattern as if we had been in the middle of a dance choreography with the tune of a rhythm. Every step and every clash left us with only sweat that tipped from the side of our faces. It also took me back to the roof of the Hokage Mansion whenever we came by to visit dad before mother was pregnant again.

My fists locked with his in the scorching heat when Shikmaru sensei and my father watched over our little spar. Things seemed as if it was in my favor when his hands were being pushed back.

Father's eyes glowed, "Woah, this is so intense, right Shikamaru?"

"It sure does take me back!' Shikamaru sensei echoed while lighting a cigarette.

My eyes blinked at the sight, "Sensei, don't you know smoking is bad for your health?"

"Sachi, don't lose sight now!" Shina said.

"I'm not..." I stopped myself as In that instance my guard had fallen once his hands pushed my body back against the wall and fell on my knees.

He gave off a goofy laugh, "Looks like I won again, Sachi!"

"No fair, You took advantage, that's cheating!" I complained, shaking his shoulders relentlessly, "I deserve a rematch!"

My father gave off a similar remark, "It wouldn't hurt to give it another shot."

"What?" Shinachiku raised an eyebrow towards him, "We've been at this for about two hours now. Don't you think a little rest for the day would hurt, Dad?"

"Well ugh..." He scratched the back of his head when I gave the puppy dog face, "I mean Sachi could..."

"I'd advise not to encourage her on that, Naruto!" Shikamaru Sensei tapped him on the shoulder while smoking.

My father and I gave him a sad look, "What, but things are just getting good!"

"Come on Naruto, you know what I'm talking about!" Shikamaru sensei continued with a straight face of boredom.

"I know what you mean!" my father coughed quickly as he gathered his composure together with a simple smile on his face, "Sachi I know how you must be feeling right now, but..."

"But what, dad?" I asked in annoyance, "I just wanna be on the same level as Shinachiku."

Shikamaru asked curiously, "I hope this isn't just out of spite or jealousy that your brother is a little higher in his skill set as a promising ninja?"

I waved my hands back in embarrassment, "No no, it's nothing like that at all!"

"Then, why do you get so mad every time I get the upper hand? I mean it's just a friendly competition." Shina answered casually while he dusted off the dust off his clothes.

I took a deep breath, "Because I wanna make sure we're the dynamic duo Shina, and..." with a worried look, "What worries me is that our classmates will view us very differently and place us in two different scenarios."

Shinachiku couldn't help, but burst out laughing, "Is that all?"

"Hey this is serious right now!" I continued shoving his shoulders repeatedly, "Is it wrong for a twin not to be worried about the other's well being?"

"Okay.. okay relax for a second..." Shina tapped my shoulder a couple times which caused me to stop, "I don't think you should be too worried about it... I'll always have your back no matter no what."

"You promise?" I asked.

He nodded, "I promise" with a fist bump that directed towards me, "Oh come on sis, don't leave me hanging like that." just as I got up off the ground and walked towards the railing, "Umm.. Sachi, did you hear what I just said?"

The wind blew at a rapid pace when my eyes gazed upon the village, "Shina, how long do we spend in the Academy before becoming shinobi?"

"About four years give or take!" Shinachiku answered calmly.

"Four years huh..." I took a deep breath for a moment, "That's more than enough time... to bridge whatever skill gap is between us."

Shikamaru Sensei held the cigarette in his hand, "It's all a matter of patience!"

"It sure does!" My father laughed with a goofy remark, "There will come times of frustration and when you feel like giving up, but the important thing to do is be positive and keep pressing on till the end."

A smile came up on my face, "Thanks dad, I'll take that to heart!" while Shina walked over to where I was with his fist bump towards me, "Again?"

"Consider it, our promise to always look out for one another!" He started positively with a glowing smile.

"A promise between siblings!" I echoed his own & bumped my fist with his, "OH YEAH!"

Sometimes I can't even imagine how much things have happened since the two of us had that spar on the mansion. I bet the same thing is going through Shina's mind as we're exchanging fists and kunai with each other. That's exactly why I have to give this match everything I can at this moment.

It all comes down to this last collision of our graduation spar in The Academy.

our kunai crossed for nearly forty nine seconds, and before we both knew it they each collided against the opposite end of the walls. Followed by a single gasp from Shinachiku as I fell against the side of the floor.

"SACHI!" He screamed in shock just as my eyes dimmed.

I thought back to the day in the training grounds shortly where I had been practicing my timing on my skill set as a kunoichi in the making. Nobody was really in my presence that day with the exception of Shinachiku who stood by the side of the tree.

"I've seen you be pumped up with excitement in the past, but really... I can see just how much you're enjoying this!" He said happily.

My shoulders moved up repeatedly as I giggled, "After all this time I'm finally able to control my chakra and it's just so incredible."

"I just hope this isn't gonna change how you perceive our bond, sis?" He asked in a rather cautious tone, "Ya know what I mean, to where you let this get to your head and you lose sight of who you've always been?"

I jumped from the creek to where he was with a smile, "Hey listen, I am really happy to be able to properly control chakra like the others, Shina, but that's not gonna change the bond you and I share together."

He mimicked the same expression as I, "We did come into this world together after all!"

"You can say that again!" I raised my fist towards him as his eyes wandered off to the side, "Shina, don't leave me hanging!"

"Sorry, I've been thinking about the graduation match coming up." Shinachiku tightened the grip on his sleeve, "What if we face each other? I mean you're still getting used to this."

I couldn't help, but just smile, "If it comes down to that then lets just give it our all!"

"You're right, sis!" He exchanged his fist with mine, "Let's make it one for the textbooks!"

"Always!" I answered happily.

When my eyes barely opened up I found my father standing right next to me with Shinachiku by his side on the sofa of the living room. Mother held onto Hanami with worried looks on their faces.

"H...Hey why the long faces?" I asked in a weakened joking tone, "Did something bad happen?"

Mother wrapped her arms around me, "You had us all worried about my reckless kunoichi!" with a tight squeeze.

"Me too, Onee-chan!" Hanami had also tightly embraced me.

Father smiled, "I was gonna say that you and Shina had such an incredible spar, but honestly...'and patted me on the head, "I'm just happy you're okay, Sachi."

"Shina...I'm sorry If I was rather reckless during the fight!" I answered embarrassingly in a low tone, "I should've taken it a bit easier like you said!"

He shrugged his shoulders, "Hey your health comes above all Sachi... the spar means nothing if it involves you!" while walking towards me, "But needless to say I warned you, ya know!"

I rolled my eyes in disbelief, "Gotta get the upside on this one as always huh, doofus?"

"Hey, I'm just pointing out the facts-" he paused when a fist bump approached his face.

It left me with a smile, "I may have lost our spar this time Shina, and there's still a lot for me to get use to do, but I promise the next time we spar... I will try my best to surpass you!"

Shinachiku bumped his fist against mine, "I'll be waiting for that day to come, my enthusiastic other half!"

"OH YEAH!" I continued quietly with my eyes dimmed once more.

The next morning, Shinachiku and I made our way to the Academy to meet our homeroom teacher Shino Sensei as we had an important case to discuss. When we had approached our classroom a violet haired boy with a red fang mark dashed right past me.

"Wait a second was that..." When I looked back at the speed he ran, "Kenji, is everything okay?"

Kenji peeked back for a moment, "H-hi Sachi.. Sorry, gotta run!"

"Wonder what that was all about?" Shinachiku asked curiously.

I raised an eyebrow, "It doesn't seem like Kenji to run off like-"

"MOVE IT, SUCKIKO!" The frizzy haired girl with maroon eyes also dashed right past us and winked towards Shina, "You were great yesterday and so hot!"

Shinachiku's jaw dropped, "Wow, she's off in a rush too... OWW!" he screamed as his eyes went towards the spiteful glare towards him, "What?"

"Do me a favor, and don't ever date that bitch!" I answered casually asa vein appeared across my forehead, "Understand, Shina!"

"I don't think any of that is necessary right now sis!" he answered calmly as sweat fell from his face, "She's honestly kind of scary, and not really my type."

"Good!'

We both slide the door to the side of our classroom door to see that nobody was present. It was practically vacant except for Shino Sensei who stood by the board in front of the class.

"Sachiko, how are you feeling?" Shino sensei asked.

I had given him the v sign from my hands, "Much better, sensei!

"That's great, I'm glad you gave us quite a scare there!" Sensei continued.

I bowed my head, "So I've been told... sorry"

"No need to worry!"

Shina bowed his head, "Umm Sensei... where is everyone? And why were Rina and Kenji in such a rush just now?!"

"About that..." He passed over two small metal cases to us, "Allow me to present you with these first!"

I was in awe upon the first sight of what was inside, "No way, is this for real?"

Shina's eyes glistened, "This looks amazing!"

"Indeed, from here on out you are considered graduates.. Go ahead and try them on."

We glanced at one another momentarily with a single nod, and simultaneously placed the headband over our forehead. They both had different colored clothes to them. Shina's was light blue. Mine was bright pink.

"Excellent, and now your real adventures as shinobi begin now.." Shino Sensei drew out two slips of paper from his sleeve pocket, "These are for the both of you!"

"A piece of paper?" I said in confusion with a word written on it, "Flowers?"

"Faces?" Shinachiku raised an eyebrow in conjunction, "Now why would... Wait a second..."

Shino sensei clapped his hands to gather his attention, "It seems like you've figured out what the word meant... you've got only 50 minutes left to rendezvous with them.."

"WHAT!" Shina looked directly at the clock above the chalkboard and bowed, "Sorry sis, time is running out, we'll meet back up at the training field later."

"Umm... okay..." I blinked repeatedly in confusion at the slip of paper, "Sensei, why did my brother take off in such a rush?"

"I can't say where he's going, but it's somewhere to meet someone..." Sensei explained while he pointed back at the clock, "You have to keep the time in mind, Sachiko, there is only forty six minutes left now!"

"Left to rendezvous with..." I paused my sentence upon the meaning behind the way he phrased his speech just now, "Wait a second..."

Shino Sensei responded only with a smile and a nod when my attention focused towards him, and the time above. That's exactly what he was referring to, and I finally have an idea why the others and Shinachiku ran off in such a rush.

I've only got less than forty five minutes to go... I just hope I'm not too late by the time I get there and see them!

Okay let me just me just get one thing out of the way here with this chapter, and it was that originally I had written section at the very beginning of the chapter to build up to the graduation spar between Sachiko and Shinachiku. The reason as to why I scrapped the whole portion from the final portion is because I felt it took a while to get right into the basis of what the chapter was, and it had very little to do with the bond that Sachi has with Shina which was the core of what I wanted to tell here in the chapter. The ending section I did intially write with Shino sensei explaining to the class what each student was going to do, but then I thought it would be more interesting to have Sachi and Shina be in the dark about what they are about to walk into. This also leads to a very interesting scenario that I am honestly dying to tackle with the next chapter which I promise is not gonna face a huge gap like it was between Chapter 1 and this one. It will be up relatively soon in the next few weeks, but until then this is al I gotta say or the moment everybody so I hope you all enjoyed the chapter, and as always thanks for reading.