Chapter 11- Desserts with the Dead
"You want a daifuku? We just made them with mom." (Hotaru)
"I'm guessing you just took them?" Anko stuck out her hand excitedly, acting like she didn't have at least three sets of dango before I came along. I placed two in her palm with a smile on my face
"Shh, she was too tired to stop me. I call it a win." I puffed out my chest with my hands against my hips before taking stride again.
It was a little chilly after last night's storm, although it ended in the middle of the night before the snack heist.
"I don't know why you're like this?" Anko let out a sigh, she was doing so a lot more with me around which I take as a personal victory, but it wasn't like she had to follow me.
I wouldn't deny that I enjoyed her company though. I enjoyed being around mom in the same way. It was nice to just be around quiet people on the occasion, a nice break from everything.
We walked around a few puddles to find the staff cleaning up the gravestones. I've gotten pretty familiar with everyone here, most of which were civilians who found this as a way to pay respects to those who've fallen.
I wonder how Teruko is doing now, last I heard from him he started dating someone. I would've loved to meet them…
I recognized that I slowed my pace to a trudge and hadn't responded to Anko. That's when I saw my reflection in the puddle.
While Yakumo preferred keeping her hair long I like mine short. Dark brown hair in a bob made me feel like a Dora look alike, so I use a hair clip that had a small red butterfly attached to it to distract from the fact.
I wore a red jacket with black sleeves that had the marking of the Kurama clan on the back and wrist in white over a white t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans. YEAH, I HAD THE SHOES, THEY WERE BLACK TOO!
When I saw how down I was looking I just slapped both hands against my cheeks, startling Anko and the staff who heard it but I kept a little speed walk ahead of her before she could question anything.
"Haruto?" It was annoying that she could easily keep pace with me.
Motherf-, CURSE THESE SMALL LEGS!
"Hmph, you just don't believe it. So, you'll be able to decide if you do or not after this." Crossing my arms, I faced her, blew a razzberry, and immediately looked around for any nuisances.
"Hello? You still haven't said what we're doing…" (Anko)
"Oh…, W-We're just gonna talk to a ghost, no biggie." (Hotaru)
"Pfft, a ghost?!"
She couldn't be serious, right?... RIGHT?!
"We live in a world where a giant possessed fox could demolish our strongest clan and you don't believe in ghosts?!" (Hotaru)
"Not really, a person's journey is over when they die, there's no continuation."
B: (…) Jack
S: (…) Ella
M: (Can't disagree on that one.)
"T- That's a fair point…" (Hotaru)
"Uh-huh."
"I wish I could agree with that…" (Hotaru)
"Fine, then who are we going to talk to?"
"I think you'll recognize her once we get there." (Hotaru)
Anko Mitarashi, a student of a sannin. It's only been a year since we met because I decided to join dad on the clan meeting last year. Out of ten people, she managed to survive some juinjutsu put on her.
We walked across the open grounds in between stone tablets etched with names. Anko remained quiet as we walked down the dirt paths. I've always found it intriguing, that people always keep their true nature hidden behind a mask just to be more accompanying.
Even if I couldn't confirm Anko's feelings, it was like the same aura I see around the clansmen near me but different. Like a different shade of color, I hated it. What bothered me most about it was just how close its color was getting to the one I see on the clansmen. At best, I can say she definitely wanted some sort of revenge…
What I despised, was those who were never direct with those feelings.
The side eyes, the whispers, the difference in treatment.
The anger.
The sadness.
The confusion.
There's always been this unsettling comfort I've found in it. Being able to feel others' hatred 24/7 is unfortunately where I shine the most. It's also how I knew that my home life was going to be all as grand as I'd like it to be.
I chuckled to myself as we took a left into a long section of names that just added to the lies. Right next to the Senju's were the duo who served as the holders of one of the… FOX, I GOT IT!
I set down my backpack I placed a small container and filled it with flowers as Anko just stood beside me.
"This is more of a test to see if I can let you see her too for a little bit." (Hotaru)
"Which one?" (Anko)
"Pfft, sorry. They like to switch from time to time but I'm not sure which one would come out today? Just sit here and close your eyes for a bit. This'll be fun!" (Hotaru)
"Alright…" (Anko)
Both of us sat there, on our knees and after making sure Anko shut her eyes, I put my hand on hers. She flinched and I sw.
"Just seeing if this could work better." (Hotaru)
I shut my eyes and extended my hand in between the two graves as it was slowly motioned to the left and a smile grew across my face.
Looks like the Habanero is taking her turn today.
I placed my hand on the ground as a tingly sensation I've come to recognize as chakra became cool as it was being filtered into my body and extending to Anko. It was always so refreshing to do this, like having your head in front of a fan on a hot day.
With our eyes shut, we no longer saw darkness. Like a curtain opening up in the morning, our sight expanded to a place far beyond our capabilities. We surveyed the pink space before us as we entered.
Speckled with multiple small white spots that would connect to look like clouds and disperse again.
"Anko, I'd like for you to be the second person to meet one of my main senseis, the red-hot habanero herself." (Hotaru)
I swiftly [Shift] to the left of me to watch the straight red hair of my mentor fly forward before she slowed down and bum-rushed me into a hug.
"Ah, let go!" (Hotaru)
"No escaping! You look too cute today!" Kushina swirled me around in her arms laughing.
I tried to push her face away from mine but to no avail, "Fine. but no-"
"Cheek pinch." (Kushina)
"GAH YOU-" We were interrupted by a small cough coming from behind us and I turned to see Anko…
My face was red as Kushina kept me wrapped in a hug for a little longer before going to Anko.
"It's nice to see you again, Anko." (Kushina)
"Y- yes! I'm glad to see you as well. H-how are you feeling?" (Anko)
I went back to stand next to Anko, "Imagine, asking a dead person how they're feeling."
"I- I!" (Anko)
"It's alright, she's just playing. I have to say it's not ideal but I'm glad I can have somebody watch over Naruto for me."
"So, this is why-" (Anko)
I put my hand out and cut her off, "No. I purely hate the hypocrisy of everyone blaming a child for all that happened and the ones who let it happen. She's just happened to be the first person I tried to talk to. But I'm not sure how much longer we have so should we get to business."
"It's always business with you… We have more time this go around!"
"I- Wait what?" (Hotaru)
"Your question last time wasn't the simplest to answer but I was able to get some help."
Yesterday, I was chatting with Mito as I had to try not to ask any questions, but suddenly she came to a halt.
It wasn't such a random choice to use my ability here for the first time. I mean the series is literally called Naruto. And after hearing rant after rant from my brother one "You're getting better at it; I may soon call you a specialist."
"But it's so much work!" (Hotaru)
"You're right about tha-..."
"Mito?" (Hotaru)
"I-I'm sorry, excuse me for a second…"
"Alright then." (Hotaru)
Mito vanished from the space but returned just as quickly that I barely noticed it until I saw the shift in her demeanor
"Two people were about to join the pure land… and the gate just shut."
"Wh-" (Hotaru)
"Stop. Let me continue, they're souls didn't leave their bodies and they're fine… It's been a while since I've seen medical treatment of that sort."
"So, what made you so worried?" I shut my mouth so fast after saying that, but I could already see the words fly toward Mito. Mito's black pupilless eyes glowed for a second and the space around us became blue, painted with the same white dots but now they were making stars before she responded.
"My apologies, It looks like I'll need some time to answer this one."
[First to question the world]
"Well, I can't call it an exact answer, but would you like to see the results?" Kushina's jovial laugh became more awkward as she went on which couldn't be more concerning!
"You don't have to join if you don't want to but I figure we're all going to play a role at some point so I might as well ask someone I want to learn from one day." (Hotaru)
"Hold on, this is a lot to take in. What is this all about?" Anko put a hand onto her head but was taking it better than I expected.
"..." (Hotaru)
"You already brought her here."
"That's true… Might as well come out with it. Anko, even if it sounds insane, I'm just going to ask you to keep your mind open because our problems have just begun."
"What is it?"
"It's not hard to tell that I'm off for a six-year-old, a genius one could call it but, in all honesty, this is my second life."
"Alright."
"And?"
"You're talking to a ghost with me- Huh?"
"You said to be open about it."
"Well yeah, but you can't just take someone's words at face value!"
Anko's expression was deadpan as she just pointed behind me and I turned to see Kushina holding a white banner over her head with the words….
"Go Go Hotaru, Ya Know!" (Kushina)
"..." (Hotaru)
"The way her face lit up like a Christmas tree, even just watching it made my day a little better." (Kohaku)
"S- Shut up!" (Hotaru)
"Not to mention how red she got; she looks like a strawberry!" (?)
"AHH! CAN I RERECORD THIS?!" (Hotaru)
"I'm so sorry, it's a one and done sorta deal." (Hibiki)
"Ugh! You two better zip it before I feed you to Luna!" (Hotaru)
"You have my word." (?)
"As you wish." (Kohaku)
I was fully turned back to Kushina while she kept giggling like a schoolgirl!
"Y-you can just do that!"
"Aw, why not? You look so happy!"
"THAT'S NOT THE-"
When I received a small pat on my shoulder before being pushed into the tangible spirit.
"Why you!"
'Let's just be a little honest with ourselves, kay?' (Anko)
"I will have my revenge!" (Hotaru)
"Yeah yeah, Supākurī." (Anko)
"YOU WILL REGRET THAT!"
Anko gave me a razzberry while Kushina just kept me in her arms…. Not like I was fighting it at that point.
"I guess it could wait if we have time…" (Hotaru)
"I'm glad you agree." (Kushina)
"You'll be able to come back anyways."
"That's rig-. Who was that?!" (Hotaru)
"It's just my helper. Don't mind them too much." Kushina grip around me a little too tight but I got the message.
"Says the literal chakra demon."
"You're going to act like you aren't one yourself?" (Kushina)
"Ha-ha, very funny … I gotta get back to work."
It was then that Kushina lifted one of her arms and a yellow chain spiraled out, Anko looked enraptured as I heard the clinking of metal, safe to say the "helper" was sufficiently bound. The chains started to retract into Kushina's arm and all I could hear was the dragging fabric across the stone before the figure came into sight.
Their body was indistinguishable by the giant black cloak looming over their entire body and somehow kept its regular shape while they were being dragged… They looked like a whole water bottle. But what grabbed my attention was the red circle with a swirl over their chest.
Another Uzumaki?!
"You need to take a break too. I'm sure he wouldn't be happy to hear that you wouldn't stop." (Kushina)
"I'm not trying to stick around."
"At least get some sleep, and ya know… maybe leave some snacks, seats, furniture and-"
"I get it, you leech. Just take it."
"Thank you very-... You made one for me?"
"For the both of you since some people can't realize the extent of their abilities."
I'm feeling very targeted right now!
"Did I do something?"
"N-"
"No shit. You're doing a great job at hiding it too."
"Hey, it's not like I have full control over everything. Working with what I have!"
"Alright, settle down, and let's just have some snacks!" Kushina rolled out the scroll upon the ground and in a puff of smoke, appeared a kotatsu table along with a tea set and a large variety of snacks in the center.
I don't think I was the only one who heard the chorus of angels singing while all of us gazed at the marvelous spread before us. Only for Anko and this helper to fight over dango while I and Kushina watched.
As much as I was enjoying everything, the symbol still boggled my mind. The Uzumaki symbol, that's what it was supposed to be, at least that's what I thought.
A red circle with a swirl but instead what I saw was the bottom half of this swirled circle while the top expanded into three round spikes? Petals? I couldn't be sure.
The helper ended up falling asleep in the kotatsu, for such a huge body I don't know how we still had room afterward. Me and Anko decided that we'd get back to this since Kushina said we needed their help to get there.
So, with a moment of silence, we shut our eyes and let the chakra take hold as we opened our eyes back at the grave, at the same time of day. As usual, as if nothing happened.