Chapter 13: New Friends
Konoha Park, Forest Clearing:
It was another nice day in Konoha. The wind was gently blowing, the temperature was in that nice middle ground where it wasn't too hot or too cold. There were very few clouds in the sky, allowing the sun to shine bright and clear. A good day to be outside.
Though that was not the reason, Sasuke was sitting under a tree in the middle of a forest clearing. It was a nice bonus, in his opinion. He knew days like this wouldn't last forever, and one day the weather would not be favorable enough for him to be out like this. When that happened, he supposed that he and a certain someone else would have to meet up somewhere else.
Speaking of. Sasuke heard the rustle of the grass long before the girl's voice reached his ears. "Sorry, I'm late." Yakumo said, almost out of breath. She dropped a bag near the tree as she sat down next to him. "My Uncle caught me on the way out and wanted to know where I was going."
They had been meeting like this for the past two months, ever since their first, well, second encounter with each other. Their friendship had started off on an awkward note, given that they didn't know what to talk about or what to do. But over time, they learned more about one another and found they had a lot in common.
Sasuke smiled. "Don't worry, I wasn't waiting long." A lie, he had been waiting for a few hours judging by the position of the sun. But Yakumo didn't need to know that. He looked over at the bag. "You brought your painting supplies?" He asked
He knew Yakumo loved to paint; it was what she was doing when he first met the Kurama girl. He had seen her make other paintings. Sasuke was no art critic, but he knew what good art looked like. Yakumo's paintings were more than good. They were something special. The way she mixed the different colors together, the vivid detail she put into every stroke of a brush. Every time Sasuke saw one of her paintings come to life, he felt like he could reach in touch whatever subject she had chosen and have it feel like the real thing.
"Yea, I did." Yakumo said, pulling out a sketch pad. "It was the only way that I could convince my uncle to let me go. Not that I mind it." She brought a pencil to a blank sheet.
Sasuke nodded. Yakumo had told him about her uncle and their strained relationship. In some ways, he could relate, given his own relationship with his father and most of his clan. He didn't know how Yakumo was with the rest of her clan. She had told him that they treated her well. Sasuke, though got the feeling that there was more to that. But he didn't press her on it, knowing what it was like, to have subjects he didn't want to talk about.
"Your uncle sounds like a hard man to be with, sometimes." Sasuke commented.
Yakumo didn't look up from her sketch pad when she responded. "He can be. But he's not bad all the time. Sure, he can be strict sometimes, overly so." Sasuke replaced the "Sometimes" with "all of the time." "But I know he's trying his best, doing what he thinks is right. And I'm thankful to him for that. He's been the one to look after me ever since my parents died."
Sasuke looked at Yakumo curiously. He knew that Yakumo's parents had passed away, but she never explained how. "How did they die." He asked and regretted it instantly.
Yakumo's pencil stopped in mid-stroke. A dark look on her face conveyed the grief she felt as her mind seemed to play over the memories of her parents.
Sasuke bit his lip, knowing he had made a mistake. "I'm sorry." He said. "I didn't mean to bring up bad memories. If you like, we can talk about something else."
Yakumo slowly shook her. "No, it's okay." She said. "I think. I think I need to talk about this." She put the sketch pad down and tucked her legs in. "Where do I begin?" She asked.
"The beginning, I guess." Sasuke not so helpfully supplied.
Yakumo tilted her head up and down. "It was about three years ago. I was sleeping in my room when my uncle came in and shook me awake. He was frantic about something and shouting for me to wake up. Before I knew what was happening, I was dragged outside of my room and into the hall of my clan's compound." She paused for a moment. "He got me out just as the fire reached my room."
Sasuke felt his eyes widen. "There was a fire in your clan's compound?"
Yakumo nodded. "Yea, there was. We quickly got out of the compound. Most of the clan was waiting for us. Except for my parents."
Sasuke felt like something was caught in his throat. He couldn't imagine losing his parents like that. Or at all, for that matter. "I'm sorry." He said, unsure of what else to say.
Yakumo shook her head. "Don't be. It's not like you had anything to do with it." She said, her voice sounding like it was trembling. "An investigation later revealed that the fire started in my parents' room. We never found out what the cause was."
"Was it an accident?" Sasuke asked, hoping that the answer was yes.
Yakumo remained silent for a moment, and her fist balled up for a second before opening up. "We were never able to find out. But the general belief was, yes, it was an accident." Yakumo sounded like she was unconvinced by that. Before Sasuke could press more on the matter, Yakumo interrupted him. "Since then, my uncle has been the one to take care of me."
"I guess he does have some good things going for him." Sasuke said after a moment of silence. What else could he say after hearing a story like that?
Yakumo's smile returned, though with a sadder undertone. "I know he can be strict and overbearing. But I do know he cares for me. I think that fire changed him. He doesn't want to lose me like he did with his brother."
Sasuke sighed. "I guess he is a good man after all." He admitted. He still felt that the man could give Yakumo more freedom. The man might have lost a brother, but Yakumo lost her parents. Couldn't he at least be considerate of that?
Yakumo picked her sketchpad back up. "Enough about my family. I want to hear more about yours." Yakumo said as she resumed her sketching. "How's your brother been doing?"
"Just fine," Sasuke said, relaxing. "He hasn't been on as many missions of late, so he's been helping out with my training. The other day he showed this neat kunai trick."
"A kunai trick?" Yakumo questioned.
Sasuke nodded. "It's where you redirect a kunai mid-air by hitting it with another Kunai. It's really cool looking, but it's harder than it looks. But my brother makes it look easy."
"You'll have to show it to me sometime." Yakumo said.
Sasuke ran a hand through his hair. "Well, maybe not today." He said, feeling a little embarrassed. "I haven't gotten it down yet, and Itachi warned I could hurt myself or somebody else doing it."
"I see." Yakumo, sounding almost disappointed. "Well, when you do have it down. Maybe you could show it to me?"
Sasuke nodded. "Sure. You'll be the first person I show it to." He promised.
Yakumo nodded as she continued with her sketch. Sasuke wondered what it was she was drawing. "What of your mother? You've told me she's resumed her duties as a Kunoichi."
"She has." Sasuke began to explain. "She started a few months after the." Sasuke paused as a flash of memory appeared in his mind. Just as quickly, it was gone. "After the Uchiha Betrayal." He finished. "She's been doing mostly D and C ranks missions. I think she can do higher rank missions."
"Why hasn't she. Is the Hokage holding her back or something? "Yakumo asked.
Sasuke shook his head. "Nothing like that. She told me she doesn't like leaving the village for very long. Not with me still going to the academy. When I graduate, she says she'll take on higher rank missions."
"She sounds like a good mother." Yakumo said with a forced smile. "And what about your father."
At that, Sasuke frowned. "He's doing fine." Sasuke said curtly.
"Still having trouble with him?" Yakumo said with a sad smile.
"Yea." Sasuke confirmed. "Things are still awkward between us."
"You should try to make an effort to get close to him again." Yakumo said. "From what you told me, he's not a bad man. He just made a few mistakes. He sort of reminds me of my uncle."
"I know that." Sasuke said. "It's just hard to get close to him again. I'm afraid I'll get hurt again."
"Still, you should try." Yakumo argued. "If you don't, you may find one that you missed your opportunity."
Sasuke understood what she meant by that. He had to wonder what sort of things did she leave unresolved with her parents. Did she say something she regretted before they died? How much had it eaten at her over the years?
How much would it eat at him if his father were to die the next day? How would Sasuke feel if this awkwardness he had with his father never resolved itself before he passed? Sasuke remained silent as he felt unsettled by the possibility.
"I guess." He said.
The two remained silent for a while. The awkwardness of the previous subject had effectively eliminated any attempt at conversation. Yakumo continued to sketch her drawing. Sasuke was content to watch her hands work their magic on the parchment of paper.
Within moments the blank sheet was filled with a blur of lines that slowly morphed in an image. It looked like she was drawing some animals she saw on her way to the clearing. A deer, from the looks, was it a wild one? Or had one the Nara's prized livestock gotten out." It looked like it was sleeping under a tree.
Yakumo had already drawn out the deer and the forest around it. She looked like she was now trying to work out the lighting. He had seen her do this plenty of times over the month her gotten to know her, and he was always amazed at how she made a blank sheet of paper come to life.
"That's a nice sketch." He said.
"Thanks." Yakumo said. "I saw this deer on the way, and I couldn't get it out of my mind.
Sasuke nodded. Again, he was amazed she could have seen the sight for more than a few seconds. Yet the detail was so vivid that the Uchiha almost found himself in that same spot, staring at the same deer. "You think it might be one the Nara's."
Yakumo shook her head. "No, I've been through this forest a few times, and I've seen them wandering around. There must be somewhere along the wall where they can get in."
"Are you going to try to make a painting out of it?" Sasuke asked.
Yakumo nodded. "I will. Just getting a rough draft ready."
"I would like to see it when it's finished." It would be beautiful if it turned out anything like her other paintings.
Yakumo's smile grew. "That's if I can sneak it past my uncle. He loves my paintings almost as much as you do."
"Then he's got good taste." Sasuke commented. "Have you ever tried getting your paintings out there? You in a museum or an art exhibit?"
"Ah, no." Yakumo answered quietly. "I, uhh."
"Let me guess, your uncle hordes them all." Sasuke said.
Yakumo shook her head. "No. No. No. He's actually suggested the same thing. He feels talent like mine should be known. He's got some old friends who can get my paintings displayed. Even suggested that the Hokage might have one or two of them hung in the Hokage Tower."
"Then why haven't you?" Sasuke asked.
"I guess it's because I don't feel the same way about my paintings like you or others do. I know their good, but." Yakumo paused, her pencil laid on the sketch pad. "I don't know if they're good enough to put on display. Even if they were, I'm not doing this to get attention. I just like painting."
"Maybe one day you'll change your mind." Sasuke said. "I think lots of people will like your paintings." He saw Yakumo shrug her shoulders and resume her sketch. Sasuke didn't get why Yakumo was so shy about her work when she was so good at it. Actually, in general, the Kurama heiress came off as shy and withdrawn. Almost kind of like Hinata was like sometimes.
The difference was that Hinata had Naruto to bring her out of her shell. The Hyūga girl was still soft-spoken but could make her presence known when she wanted to. But with Yakumo, he felt like something was different with her. He sensed this fire underneath the surface of her shyness, a determined spirit that wouldn't let anything stop her.
He's seen it a couple just barely coming to the surface, usually when she was painting. He wanted to see more of it, see the real Yakumo that hid away in her shell. But Sasuke didn't know how to do that. Unlike Naruto, he didn't know how to bring people out of their shells.
Then the idea popped into the Uchiha's head. Who better to help him out than the idiot that got him into this? "Hey, Yakumo-San." He said, getting her attention.
"Yes, Sasuke-San?" Yakumo said, not taking her eyes away from her sketch pad.
"How would you like to," Then he paused as he felt nervous. What if she didn't want to meet his other friends? What if trying to bring others here only drove her away? He knew that Yakumo needed other friends in her life, other people that would be there for her other than him. But what if he was going too fast by asking her this now? "Like to,"
"Like to what?" Yakumo parroted. She put her pencil down on the sketchpad, now interested in what Sasuke had to ask.
Sasuke gulped. Too late to back out now. He gathered up whatever courage he could and hoped the girl wouldn't react badly. "How would you like to meet some of my friends?" He knew that Naruto was going to drag the others into this. Most likely Hinata, who he didn't mind, having another girl to talk to would help Yakumo a lot. But he wasn't sure who else Naruto would bring. He figured that Yakumo would eventually meet all his friends. But he didn't want to introduce them all at once for fear of scaring her off.
Yakumo blinked. "What?" She asked like she couldn't believe what she just heard."
Sasuke cleared his throat and repeated his question clearly. "Do you want to meet some of my other friends?"
Yakumo seemed to be at a loss for words as she tried to process his question. "Meet? Your other. Fr-friends?"
Sasuke nodded. "Yea, n-not all at once." He quickly added. "Just a few at a time. There's two, in particular, I want you to meet. Naruto and Hinata, I've told you about them before."
"Y-you have," Yakumo said. Her hands were playing around with the pencil now. "They sound like good people."
Sasuke smiled. "Yea, they are. You'll like them, trust me. They'll like you too."
"Will they?" Yakumo asked as her legs tucked in. "I'm a stranger to them, and what if they find me weird?"
"They won't." Sasuke confirmed. "They won't find you weird. Even if they did, they wouldn't judge you for it. Trust me, they're both plenty weird themselves. Especially Naruto."
"And you're not weird for hanging around them." Yakumo quipped with a smile.
Sasuke also had a grin. "Yes, I'm the only sane one in the group. And you're not a total stranger to them. I've told them a little bit about you, and they want to meet you."
"They do?" Yakumo said, getting a nod from Sasuke. She looked down at her sketchpad, biting the bottom of her lips. "Alright, I'll do it. I'll meet your friends." She said, looking back at Sasuke. "Are we going to meet here?"
"I don't think we can meet anywhere else." Sasuke responded. "Not with the possibility that your uncle could find out."
Yakumo nodded. "Okay. So, when am I going to meet them?" She asked.
Sasuke thought about it. It was at the end of the weekend, so classes in the academy would resume tomorrow, so most of the week was out of the question. "How about next week, when the weekend begins?" He suggested. "That way, you will have some time to prepare."
"I think I can do that." Yakumo said. "Are you sure they'll like me?"
"Yes, I am."
"Next week it is then," Yakumo said. With their plans laid out, the two pre-adolescents continued to hang out together. Not really talking all that much, just enjoying the other's company.
Later that night, Kurama Clan Compound:
Yakumo was tossing and turning in her bed. Sweat was rolling off her and seeping into the sheets. Every now and then, a gasp would escape her mouth.
"Please don't. Stay away from me. Mom! Dad!" No one would be there to wake her from her nightmare. Even if there were, they would be putting themselves at risk.
Dreamworld
She was running. Running down a corridor that never seemed to end. At the end of this corridor was the door that led into her parents' bedroom.
She had to warn them. Tell them to get out before it was too late. But it was always too late. She was always too late. Just like always, when she got close to the door, smoke rose from the bottom.
She wanted to scream, get one final warning off before the inevitable happened. The words died in her mouth just as the flames engulfed the door. She came to a stop, almost sliding into the flaming door frame. She felt the intense heat of the flames and heard the screams of agony on the other side. Tears streamed down her cheeks as grief and fear washed over her.
She turned around on her heel and began to run in the other direction. But as always, she was too slow, and the flames shot out. But she was not engulfed by them if only that were the case. She fell to her knees, surrounded by the burning corridor.
Tears streamed down her cheeks and evaporated the moment they fell. "I was too late, again." She said, wishing that she could jump into the flames and end it all. But she knew that would accomplish nothing. She would wake up in her bed, alive and unharmed.
"Your always too late." A familiar voice mocked her. She didn't bother to turn her head. She knew who or what It was. A shadowy figure walks into her vision. "Don't you get it, little girl? You're never going to succeed." It looked over at her, a cruel smile present. "Because you cannot change the past."
Yakumo felt her voice shake. "Why?"
"Hmm?"
"Why do you keep tormenting me?" Yakumo asked the shadow. "What did I ever do to deserve this?" She gestured to the burning hall. "Was it because I failed them? Was it because I lived, and they didn't? Tell me!" She shouted loud enough for the walls to shake.
The shadow had a bored expression on its face. "You know as well as I do that I existed long before your parents perished." It said. "In fact, I may even have been the reason why they died."
Yakumo remained silent under the shadow's gaze. The village took her parents away from her. "They were afraid of my power. Afraid that I would lose control."
"Yes. They did." The shadow remarked. "As for why I'm doing this." The shadow walked over in front of Yakumo and knelt, grabbing her face by the chin. "It's because I enjoy it. I enjoy seeing you suffer. I relish in the feeling of seeing you break down like this and cry." Its smile grew to the edges of its face, revealing a set of sharpened teeth.
Yakumo instinctively slapped away the shadow's hold on her and scrambled away from it. When she got a good distance between her and the monster, she shakily stood on her feet and glared at her tormentor. "Monster." She said.
The shadow stood, giving off a chuckle. "Remember Yakumo, that word applies to you as well." The shadow began to walk to her. Yakumo began to back away from the approaching shadow. "You're a witch, who has the power to make illusions a reality. You come from a clan with such powers. People have always feared the power of the Kurama clan." The shadow was gaining one her. "Some even believe your ancestors made a deal with a demon." Yakumo was about to turn around and run from the shadow when her back hit something.
Yakumo looked over her shoulder, seeing a wall had appeared. "How?" She silently muttered.
"I wonder how much of that is true?" Yakumo looks back at the shadow. It was almost on top of her. "I wonder how much demon blood runs in your veins. Face it, little girl." The shadow was right in front of her. Close enough for her to smell its foul breath. It tilts its head in, bringing its mouth to her ear. "You are a monster just like I am. I am your reflection, your true self. As the most powerful and gifted of your clan, people will always fear you. You will always be alone."
"That's not true." Yakumo shouted, sliding down the wall. "That's not true." She covered her ears, not wanting to hear any more of the shadow's lies.
She felt a pair of hands grab her wrist and pull them away from her ears. "Listen to the truth, little girl." The shadow snarled. "You will always be alone. No one will ever love you. No one will ever want to be your friend."
"That's not true." Yakumo said. "I-I have a friend. He cares about me." Even though she said with conviction, she felt the words that left her mouth were hollow. Were they really friends?
The shadow let out a cruel laugh. "That boy you met in the clearing? Do you honestly believe he's your friend? He's only friends with you because he doesn't know who you really are."
"No, he's, my friend." Yakumo tried to fight back. "He won't care what I am." She realized her mistake too late.
She saw the shadow smile down at her. "Really now?" It said. "Then why haven't you told him? Why haven't you told him about your gifts?"
"Because I." She stopped as a realization dawned on her. She was afraid to tell him. She was afraid that when he found out what she was really. She was afraid that the first and so far, only friend she had would turn away from her in fear. That he would see her as a monster and hate her for it.
The shadow caught onto her thoughts. "You're afraid." It said as a statement. "And rightfully so." She felt the shadow let go of her and saw its feet walk away from her. She looked and gasped when she saw Sasuke give her a cruel and vicious smile. "After all." His distorted voice reached her ears. "How can I ever be friends with a witch like you?"
"Noooo."
Reality
"Nooo!" Yakumo shot up from her bed, screaming. She looked around her room, confused for a moment. Then she realized where she was.
Not a moment later, a clansman came running into her room. "Yakumo-Sama, are you all right? I heard screaming."
Yakumo took a deep breath to calm her rattled nerves. "I'm fine." She said through labored breaths. "It was just a." She hesitated for a moment, debating how best to explain it. "A nightmare. That was it was. A nightmare."
The clansmen look at her for a moment. "Are you sure?" He said, there was an edge of worry to her voice. "If you like, I can go and get your uncle."
Yakumo shook her head. That was the last thing she wanted to deal with. "No, that won't be necessary." She bit her lip. "It has nothing to do with our clan's curse. I promise." She added in.
The clansmen stared at her for a moment longer than nodded. "Very well, Yakumo-Sama." He said, bowing. "Forgive me for intruding on into your room." Then he left.
When the door slid shut, Yakumo curled her knees in and wrapped her arms around them. Then tears began to stream down. Would anyone ever except her?
One week later, Kurama Clan Compound
His niece was up to something. That much Unkai was certain of. He wasn't certain when it started, he had a rough estimate of about two months. But Yakumo, the daughter of his departed brother, had been sneaking out of the compound.
She claimed she was going out to paint. Indeed, she would often bring back pieces of art that were breathtaking or works in progress that would become the former. But his instincts, both as her uncle and as a Shinobi, told him there was something more going on.
He watched on as his niece continued to practice her genjutsu, under the watchful eye of one of Konoha's youngest Jōnin. Yūhi Kurenai, Konoha's so called Genjutsu Mistress. Unkai felt a frown tug at the edges of his smile. Kurenai knew something or at least had suspicions about what her young student was up to. Suspicions that she had not shared with him.
That woman had a soft spot for Yakumo, too much so in his opinion. But he knew if he was ever to voice his thoughts, he would be a hypocrite. He had been the one to suggest that an outsider be brought in to tutor his niece. Show her how to control her abilities and the negative aspects that came with them.
Anyone within the clan could have done that. He could have been the one that tutored her. But he felt that outsider was better suited for the role. The other clansmen would have been too afraid to get close to the girl, only being a tutor and not a mentor. He wasn't suited either for much the same reasons and for the fact that he lacked the one thing Kurenai didn't. A caring nature.
When looking for a suitable tutor, he knew that they needed to be more than just a teacher. He felt that Yakumo needed someone to confide in, some that she could trust. She needed someone that cared about her.
As much as Unkai cared for and loved the daughter of his brother, he knew he could never be that for the girl. So, he chose Kurenai not just for her talent but for her motherly instincts. The woman had filled that role quite well, the last two years. Irritatingly so. He had lost count of the number of arguments that they had.
"Alright, I think that will be enough." Kurenai said, putting an end to Yakumo's training. "Kai." The kunoichi flared her chakra, ending whatever genjutsu his niece had put her under.
"How was I today, Kurenai-sensei?" Yakumo asked. "Am I doing better?"
The woman smiled down at the girl. "I think you did." She said proudly. Like a mother praising her child. "But that decision isn't up to me today." She looked over at Unkai, giving him an expectant look. "Your uncle has to decide that."
At that summons, Unkai walked across the room. Stopping in front of the two, he saw Yakumo nervously shift behind Kurenai. There was a small tugging at his heart. There was a time when the girl would have happily run up to him. What he would give for those times to return, for his brother and wife to be back in the realm of the living.
"So, what is your verdict?" Kurenai said, taking the man out of his thoughts.
Mentally shaking his head, Unkai focused on the present. What was done was done. All he could do now was make the best decisions he could going forward. "There has been some improvement." He said. "You have done well to teach Yakumo-San." He then looked down at his niece. "and you, Yakumo-San, have done well to improve your control."
Yakumo had a faint smile on her lips. "Think you, uncle. I'll strive every day to improve myself and my abilities." She came out from behind Kurenai and bowed to him. A gesture that Unkai returned.
"And I will do everything I can to see to it that she Improves." Kurenai added in. Unkai nodded at the woman his eyes stared directly into her red ones. "Yakumo-San, why don't you go to your and get ready for our trip today? I need to talk to your uncle about a couple of things." She suggested to the girl.
Yakumo looked up at her mentor with a curious look. "Kurenai-Sensei?"
Kurenai gave the young girl a warm smile. "Don't worry. I won't be long." She said. "Now go one." Yakumo nodded and walked out of the room. A few moments after the door shut, Kurenai looked at Unkai. Her expression wasn't quite as friendly as before. "You could have given her some more praise. Left her spirits some." She said evenly.
Unkai held back an eyeroll. "I told the truth as it was. She has improved much since she came under your tutelage. You have done an excellent job."
Kurenai folded her arms and scowled at the man. "It helps that I treat her like a person. Like a girl who needs some companionship. Not like a paper bomb ready to go off."
That was a low blow, but not one that Unkai could dispute. "I have done what is necessary for my clan." He said. "Yakumo may be my niece, but my first and foremost duty is to the clan. I can't afford to let sentiment cloud my judgment. Especially not when she is so gifted." The last word came out almost bitter on his lips.
Kurenai shook her head. "I cannot see how the two of you are related." She muttered. Then she looked at the man straight in the eye. "You're worried about it aren't you?"
Unkai had a stony face. He knew exactly what the woman was referring to. As blessed the Kurama clan was, it also came with a curse. "I felt it." He said. "It was poking at the edges of her genjutsu."
"I did too. I was in her genjutsu. But she was able to hold it back." Kurenai countered. "That's got to count for something."
Unkai shook his head. As much he wished that were the case, it wasn't. "She still has yet to conquer it." He explained. "It won't matter how powerful her genjutsus are or how much control she demonstrates over them. If that thing is still lose in her mind, it all will be for nothing. The Id will continue to battle her for control, and if it succeeds with her gift." Unkai paused as he considered what would happen then. "I dare not think of the consequences that would have for the Kurama clan and for Konoha." He would never allow for that to happen. Yakumo was his niece, but he would always put the clan first. Even if it meant he would have to end his brother's bloodline.
"Still," Kurenai began. "That girl deserves a normal life."
"On that, you will have no argument from me." The current head of the Kurama clan said. "But Yakumo is no normal girl. You plan to take her out into the village again?" He asked.
Kurenai nodded. "She at least deserves that much. She should see the village that she'll serve one day. Who knows, maybe it will give her the motivation she needs to conquer her Id."
Unkai considered the kunoichi's words. He still felt that Yakumo out into the village was too dangerous. It would put the village in danger should his niece lose control of her powers. He felt it was better to keep her in the compound where they could keep an eye on her, and that way, only people Yakumo would be putting into danger were clansmen.
"Are you sure that is wise." He asked, knowing the outcome of this argument. "Would it not be better to have her stay in the compound?"
Kurenai shook her head. "You can't keep her lock-up here forever." She said. "If she is to become a great Kunoichi like she dreams of being. She'll need to know how to interact with other people. Get to know the people that she will one day be defending and the people she will fight alongside."
That was a good point. "And how will she be able to do that if she puts them all in danger? She needs to gain control over her talents before she is allowed to be around other people."
"Look, Unkai-Sama." Kurenai began. "I promise you nothing will happen. Yakumo-San has enough control over her abilities, so she won't put anyone in danger. If something does happen, I will take full responsibility."
Unkai stared at her, still unconvinced. Then he sighed. He knew how stubborn Kurenai could be. "Very well." He conceded. "But at the first sign of trouble, you are to bring Yakumo back her at once." He left no room for argument.
"I will you have my word on that." Kurenai said flatly. "Now, if you excuse, I know this nice little shop that Yakumo will love." She began to walk up the door.
"Kurenai." Unkai said without turning around.
"Yes, Unkai-Sama?"
"See to it that she has a good time." Perhaps he was getting too soft in his old age.
Later that Day
Yakumo bit the bottom of her lip. For what must have been the hundredth time, the young Kurama consider turning back and returning to her clan's compound. Sasuke would understand her not showing up. Would he?
Flashes of the nightmares that haunted her the past week appeared in her mind. Images of Sasuke's face so kind and sweet twisted into a cruel and vicious smile.
"How can I ever be a friend with a witch like you." His voice came out laced with disgust. You're a monster who allowed her parents to die."
Other small shadowy figures appeared around him, eyes and mouths twisted in monstrous ways. His friends spoke the same words he did. "Monster. Witch. Will always be alone. Monster. Witch. You'll never have any friends." Each repetition coming out more cruel than the last.
Yakumo shook her head, dashing away those horrible images. "Sasuke is my friend. He cares about me."
"Does he?" The shadow asked.
She ignored it. She felt the hand around hers tighten. She looked up to see that Kurenai-Sensei was giving her a caring look. "Yakumo-San, are you alright?" She asked.
"Not really." Yakumo answered in her head. She took a breath to calm herself down. "I'm. I'm just a little nervous."
"About meeting Sasuke's friends?" Kurenai said. She had insisted on being there when she would meet Sasuke's friends for the first time. Something about Yakumo owing her for making her miss out on seeing her met Sasuke.
Yakumo didn't care about what excuse she had. All Yakumo wanted was someone else other than Sasuke to be there to support her. "Yes." She answered. Would they like her? Just as Sasuke said, they would. Could he have been wrong or worse, lying?
The nightmare appeared again. What if he was only pretending to be her friend? What if the next time she was alone with him and his friends, they would torment her?
Kurenai smiled. "You don't have to worry about that. They're good kids." She said. "Trust me, they'll like you."
Yakumo gave her sensei a questioning look. "Wait, you know who they are?"
Kurenai smiled at her, seemingly trying to suppress a chuckle. "Of course, I do." She said. "I've escorted one of them to the academy for years now. All though I haven't gotten to do that as much of later." She added with disappointment. "She's a grown-up enough not to need for that anymore. Even if she did need escorting, she's got a fine young man to do that for me."
"Why didn't you tell me about this. That you knew who Sasuke's friends were. Or even Sasuke, for that matter." Yakumo asked.
"You never asked," Kurenai responded. "Plus, I wanted it to be a surprise."
They were nearing the clearing now. Yakumo felt her heartbeat a thousand times per second. Was this a good idea? Should she just turn back around now and forget about the whole thing? Yakumo gulped. "Are you sure they'll like me?" She asked her sensei.
The red-eyed woman nodded. "Of course, they will." She said. "I know these kids, and they would never think ill of you. They're sweet kids, trust me, you're about to make some very good and loyal friends."
Yakumo wasn't sure if that made her feel any better. But was relieved to know that Kurenai was here to support her. Looking forward, she saw they were about to pass the last set of trees that divided the forest and the clearing. The young Kurama heiress steeled her resolve, she wanted to do this. She had to do this.
The trees broke, and they entered the clearing. Coming out just behind the hill that overlooked the lone tree. Yakumo almost froze when she saw a figure standing on top of the hill. She looked up to Kurenai, seeing that the woman had quirked her eyebrow. "Looks like we got another guest here." She said calmly.
If her sensei wasn't showing any sign of being worried, then Yakumo guesses that whoever it was must not be a bad person. They walked up the hill approaching the figure. The man noticed the newcomers and turned around.
Yakumo almost gasped it was like looking at an older version of Sasuke. Her mind quickly made the connection this man was Sasuke's older brother Itachi. She tried to hide the blush on her cheeks as she thought that the young man was very handsome. If Sasuke turned out to be anything like this, then she would be-. Okay, it was probably a good idea to put that train of thought to rest. Otherwise, Yakumo might find herself passing out from heat exhaustion.
The man greeted them. "Hello, Kurenai-San. It's good to see you again."
"It's good to see you as well, Itachi-San." Kurenai responded. "What are you doing out here? It seems like an unusual place to be hanging out in."
"I could ask the same thing about you," Itachi said.
Kurenai nodded. "True."
"But to answer your question, I'm here to watch over my little brother and his friends." He said, turning over to face the tree below them.
Yakumo looked down at the tree. Her anxiety intensified; Sasuke was there sitting up against the tree. Has he said he brought some of his friends with him, three of them. Two girls and a boy.
The other boy had spiky blonde hair and looked like he was wearing an orange blindfold. That must be Naruto. He was animatedly talking to the others. Sitting close to him must have been Hinata, her hair was a shade of dark blue. The other girl had blonde hair, but it was a lighter shade than what Naruto had, it was tied in a long ponytail. Something about that shade of blonde seemed familiar to her. She racked her brain to figure out where she had seen that shade and what it was. A platinum blonde that was what the shade was. That girl might be Yamanaka.
Yakumo breathed in and out. Maybe it wasn't too late to turn back now. "And also, I wanted to meet his newest friend." Itachi said, turning around and looking at Yakumo. "You must be Yakumo-San. Sasuke has told me a lot about you."
Yakumo nervously bit her lip. "He has?" She asked.
The older Uchiha brother gave her a warm smile. "Indeed, he has. Based on what he has told me, I would say he is quite smitten with you." He held his hand out. "Uchiha Itachi, and in case you haven't figured it out, I'm Sasuke's older brother."
Yakumo nervously took the young man's hand. "I know. Sasuke-San has told me a lot about you." She said. "All good things." She added.
Itachi nodded at her. "I would hope so. Now I believe you have some friends to meet." He said, looking back down the hill.
Yakumo felt like a lump was forming in her throat, but she nodded. "I guess there's no backing out now." She thought. "Here I go."
Yakumo felt a gentle hand land on her shoulder. She looked over her shoulder, seeing that Kurenai was giving her a warm smile. "You're going to do great." She said. "Just be yourself, and they'll love you."
Yakumo nodded. "Thank you, Kurenai-Sensei." Then she looked back at her destination and walked down the hill.
Within a minute, that felt like an hour, Yakumo was getting close to the tree. She didn't have to announce her presence for the other kids to notice her. Probably for the best since she felt her voice had left her.
Naruto, the blonde-haired boy, turns to look at her. Which was funny since he was wearing a blindfold. Then she remembered what Sasuke told her about him. She looked around in the air, trying to spot what she normally wouldn't be looking for. She found them in short order.
Two or three pairs of floating eyes, two of which were staring directly at her. "Sasuke was right. They are a little creepy." She thought to herself. Then a thought occurred to her. It was possible that this boy knew she was coming long before the others. The knowing smile he had confirmed her suspicions.
The boy looked back at his friends and said something that got their attention. Sasuke looked up and gazed at Yakumo. He stood up as the two girls both looked Yakumo. Sasuke took a few steps out from the tree and nervously waved at her.
Yakumo returned the gesture. She was surprised when Naruto walked up beside Sasuke and whispered something into his ear. Yakumo was treated to the sight of a red-face Sasuke punching the blonde on his arm. "Dope." She heard him say.
That brought a smile to her lips. She was under the tree now. "H-hey Sasuke." She said to the boy. "You brought your friends."
Sasuke nodded at her. "Uhh, yea I did."" He answered nervously. Something that seemed to surprise the others. "These are my friends." He gestured to the other three children. "The blonde is."
He was cut off when Naruto wrapped swung his arm around Sasuke's shoulder. "His best friend in this whole wide world. Uzumaki Naruto, future Hokage. Don't worry about him, he just gets flustered around girls a lot." The boy pursed his lips together in thought. "All though normally he ignores them or sends them running off with his broodiness. This is new."
"Broodiness?" Yakumo questioned. What was that supposed to mean?
"Yea, where he's all like. This is a dark world, and I'm all dark and cool and stuff." Naruto explained, interlocking his fingers together in front of his face. "I think he does to get attention. I'm surprised he hasn't done it around you."
That was when Sasuke had enough. He threw Naruto's arm off his shoulder. He turned around to face the blonde-haired boy, a deep scowl present on his face. Was that a vain Yakumo saw popping out of his head? "Naruto!" He said/shouted. "I don't need you embarrassing me."
Naruto had an innocent smile on. "Embarrassing you?" He asked. "Whatever do you mean? I'm just telling your girlfriend the facts."
"That I'm, some kind of brooding emo?" Sasuke asked with a raised voice."
"Yep."
"Dope!"
"Teme!"
Yakumo blinked once, then twice. This was a side of Sasuke she hadn't seen before. Normally he was so calm and collected. Sure, she had seen him get angry or irritated before. But it was usually because something happened earlier that day to put him in that mood, and he was quick to calm down when she arrived.
But this was different. Sasuke was openly shouting at this boy he called his friend and getting up into his face. It almost looked like they were about brawl any second. But the strangest thing about it was that she got the feeling that there was no malice behind it all. She even thought that they were enjoying it.
The other girls approached her, paying no mind to the arguing boys. "Don't mind them." The girl with the platinum blonde hair said. "Those two love to argue with each other. I think it's a boy thing." She looked at the boys, who were more engrossed in their argument than pay any mind to the girls. She looked back at Yakumo and held her hand out. "Yamanaka Ino." The girl introduced herself.
Yakumo took the hand the shook it. "Kurama Yakumo." She said. "It's nice to meet you."
Ino inched her face closer into Yakumo's, examining her. Yakumo felt beads of nervous sweet roll down the back of her neck. She felt like she was being placed under a microscope. After a moment of this, Ino smiled and pulled her head away. She let go of her hand. "You're a very pretty girl Yakumo. And nice to boot. No wonder Sasuke likes you." Ino said with a wide smile.
"Uhh, thanks? I guess." Yakumo said, feeling a little heat in her cheeks. This meeting was turning out to be weirder than she thought it would. But she felt like that was a good thing.
Ino turned her head around to look at the other girl in the group. She was pressing her fingers together and had a gentle smile on. Now that Yakumo could get a better look, she realized this girl was Hyūga. "Hinata, why don't you introduce yourself? Come on, girl, don't be shy."
"Uh, r-right." The Hyūga girl said. "I'm Hyūga Hi-Hinata. It's p-p-pleasure to m-meet you." She stuttered out her introduction.
"A pleasure." Yakumo responded. "You're friends with Sasuke?" She asked. Hinata nodded. "But aren't you a Hyūga and Sasuke an Uchiha?" From what she had been taught, the Hyūga and Uchiha clans were supposed to be rivals.
Again, the girl nodded. "We are b-but that doesn't st-stop us from being fr-friends." She said.
Yakumo didn't know why but she suddenly felt uneasy around the girl. She was friends with Sasuke, what if there was more to that? The Yamanaka girl seemed to notice her uneasy and the cause behind it. She walked beside Yakumo and cupped he hands around her mouth before whispering something into Yakumo's ear.
"Don't worry. She only has eyes for one boy." She quickly glanced over at the arguing boys, more specifically at Naruto. "And between you and me, I think the feelings mutual."
Relief flooded over Yakumo. "I'll keep that in mind." She said, feeling a little guilty for whatever she felt towards Hinata.
"Ino-San," Hinata said after the brief exchange was over. "About what you said about the boys. I don't think they're all like that. Choji and Shikamaru don't argue all the time, and they don't get into fights."
Ino rolled her eyes. "That's because Shika is too lazy to argue, and Choji is to sweat." She said. "Speaking of boys." Ino glanced over at Naruto and Sasuke. "Alright, you two, stop arguing." She said, physically separating the two. "Sasuke, we came here to meet your friend. Not to watch you and Naruto argue all day. For that could have stayed at home."
"But he started it." Sasuke whined. Yakumo blinked again, she had never seen Sasuke act so childishly. A smile formed on her lips.
Before Naruto could add in his two cents, Ino cut him off. "Yea, well, I'm ending it." Ino said with finality.
"Ahh, but who says we can't do both?" Naruto asked with a smile that looked like it belonged to a fox. Sort of fitting with those whisker marks on his face.
"Naruto!" Ino said in a low dangerous voice.
Hinata stepped beside Naruto. "Please stop Naruto-Kun. Ino-San's right. We came here to meet Sasuke-San's friend."
Naruto turned his head to glance at the Hyūga girl. A Pair of his eyes floated above his head and looked the girl in the eye. He nodded. "Alright," The blonde-haired boy said, like a child deprived of their favorite toy. He put his hands behind his head. "I'll spare Sasuke the humiliation of defeat and end this argument. What'd you say, Sasuke?"
Sasuke looked like he was suppressing a growl. "Dope."
"Teme." Naruto responded with a smile.
It was around this time that the others heard an odd sound. Sasuke and his friend traced the source of the sound. Yakumo was giggling. She didn't know why she started to giggle. Well, actually, she did. She found the whole exchange between Sasuke and his friend Naruto to be funny. She didn't know why she found it funny. But it felt good to laugh.
"Look, Sasuke." Naruto said, pointing at Yakumo and wrapping his arm around Sasuke. "You made her laugh."
"Only because you embarrassed me." Sasuke said through his teeth.
"That's my job."
"I'm starting to regret bringing you here." Sasuke said flatly.
Yakumo's giggle broke out into loud laughter. "So, these are your friends." She said, wiping away tears.
She found the redness around Sasuke's face to be cute. "Yea," He said. "I didn't get to choose them. Trust me, if I had the choice, I wouldn't be friends around them." The small smile he had suggested otherwise.
"You know you love us." Naruto said.
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "If I'd know how much trouble you were, I would have avoided you on day one."
"But then you would have missed out on so much fun." Naruto argued. "Hey, ow!" He shouted when Ino appeared beside him and pinched his ear.
"Naruto, I thought you said you were done with the arguing." Ino said.
"But I am." Naruto said. Ino pulled harder. "Ow, ow, ow. Hinata-Chan! Ino's being mean to me again." The Hyūga giggled. "Hinata-Chan!"
More laughter threatened to escape from Yakumo. She looked over to see that Sasuke was shaking his head in what must have been frustration. "This is not how I saw this happening."
Neither did Yakumo. But then again, that was a good thing. "You have some interesting friends Sasuke-San." She said, pushing down her laughter.
Sasuke looked over at his friends. He sighed at their continued antics, then he smiled. "They are." He said.
Yakumo smiled back. Maybe, just maybe, they would not be as bad as she thought they would be.
"I wouldn't count on it."
A short distance away
Kurenai had a smile on her lips. A genuine smile.
"Looks like they're getting along well." Itachi voiced his observation.
Kurenai nodded to show her agreement. "I think they will be great friends." She said. Privately she would admit that she was a little worried. She knew Sasuke, Naruto, Hinata, and the others were all good kids. She knew that they would accept Yakumo regardless of who she was. But a part of her, the part that saw the girl as like a little sister, was worried that she had been wrong. That the rejection from so many people her age would cause Yakumo to become even more reclusive.
Now she was relieved to see that part of her was wrong. Seeing Yakumo interact with others her age, laughing and smiling as she got to know her new friends. It warmed her heart in a way she never thought possible. There was still that air of nervousness around the Kurama girl, but that was quickly evaporating away under personalities like Naruto and Ino.
She had to give credit to Sasuke he may have unintentionally chosen the best people for Yakumo to meet first. Naruto and Hinata were always going to be a given. They were the closest friends he had, and Kurenai would not be surprised if he brought them along when he introduced the rest of his friends. A nice bit of stability in what would doubtless feel like a revolving door of people for Yakumo.
Both Naruto and Hinata alone would have been good choices. Naruto had a warm and outgoing personality, with a charisma that could bring anyone out of their shell. Just look to Hinata. With Hinata, she had a soft gentleness to her that made her easy to get along with, and she was patient with everyone. A good person for when you want someone to listen.
However, bringing Ino may have been the best choice Sasuke had made. The others would have been fine and would quickly make her a friend, but Ino offered something they couldn't. Firstly, and most obviously, she was another girl for Yakumo to hang out with and to talk with.
From her own experience, Kurenai knew the benefit of having another female to talk to. She had plenty of male friends like Asuma, Kakashi, and Itachi, and there were plenty of things she could talk to them about. But there were just some things that were only comfortable to discuss with someone of the same gender. She figured it was the same for guys.
Hinata would also fill in that role and later Sakura. Ino though, would do something that the others couldn't, or at least not to the same degree. She would push Yakumo. No matter how much Yakumo grew and come out of her shell, Kurenai knew she would, to some degree, always be hesitant. Ino would push Yakumo to try new things, to grow as a person. The Yamanaka heiress was the right combination of outgoing and patience and had a keen sense of how people worked. She would know when and where she needed to nudge the Kurama heiress in the right direction for her to grow.
But none of this really matters to Kurenai, not right now anyway. All she needed to know was the girl she thought of as a little sister was making friends. She was happy.
"I should have known you were up to something." And no matter what, she would not let anyone stand against that. Not even members of Yakumo's family.
"I thought I felt someone following Yakumo and me." Kurenai said to an upset looking Unkai. Turning around to face him, Itachi did the same, showing no visible sign of surprise. That didn't surprise Kurenai. If she noticed Unkai following them, then he would have the moment they entered the clearing and likely before.
The current head of the Kurama clan had a deep frown on his face as he walked up to the two. He stopped in between them and stared down at the group of children. His eyes narrowed in on Yakumo. "I always knew you were up to something." He said. "But even I couldn't imagine you doing something so foolish." He looked over and glared at Kurenai.
Kurenai weathered the intense stare. "Like what?" She said, trying her best to keep the venom out of her voice. "Letting her have friends? Letting her be happy? Let her be a kid just a moment before we have to rip it away when she becomes kunoichi?"
Unkai continued to stare at her. "We can't give her back what she has already lost." He said. "I can't believe how foolish you've been." He gestured to the children below. "It would have been bad enough if they were just ordinary children. But three of them are from prominent clans, two of which are the most revered throughout the village. For kami's sake, one of them is the Jin-" He was cut off when a Kunai materialized on his neck.
"Remember Unkai-Sama." Itachi said from behind him. "Even if you are the head of a clan, the Hokage's law still applies." He removed his kunai and, with a twirl, placed it back in his holster.
Unkai turned around to face Itachi. "I do not believe that the law applies here. All three of us know who and what that boy is. And the children are well out of earshot." He said, getting a light shrug from the Uchiha prodigy. "Furthermore, shouldn't you be as upset as I am? Your little brother is down there. As a high-ranking member of the ANBU, you must be aware of what kind of danger he is in. Don't you care if he gets hurt or worse?"
Itachi gave the man a dangerous look that had the man squirming. "Make no mistake Unkai-Sama." He said in a cold voice, his Sharingan blazing. Kurenai took a step back, shocked at seeing the normally calm and reserved Itachi so angry. "I care deeply about my little brother. You have no idea the lengths I will go to protect Sasuke."
Unkai also stepped back. Kurenai could almost hear an audible gulp from him. She might have smiled if she wasn't just as taken aback. Itachi's Sharingan deactivated, and the menacing aura he was projecting vanished. After a moment, Unkai and Kurenai recovered from the experience. "I apologize, Itachi-San." Unkai said, bowing to the younger man. "I overstepped my bounds when I said that. I hope this does not reflect on what I think of you. I know of your feats, and I respect you as a Shinobi. I was simply surprised that you were allowing your younger brother to be around my niece, knowing the dangers she possesses."
Itachi waved his hand. "No need to bow to me Unkai-Sama." He said, allowing to man to raise. "I understand that you simply cared for the safety of my brother and the other children. I appreciate that."
"But if you really do care for your brother. Then why have you." Unkai was cut off again when Itachi raised a hand.
"Unkai-Sama." Itachi began. "I am aware of the dangers that Yakumo-San possesses to my little brother and the others. Or rather could. She has been acquainted with Sasuke for over two months. Thus far, she has yet to prove to be a threat to him or anyone else."
Unkai was unconvinced by Itachi's logic. "She has yet to master her abilities. Without that mastery, she could lose control of them and trap everyone around her in an endless nightmare. Nightmares that could kill them."
Kurenai gritted her teeth. "Stubborn man." She said, getting the Kurama man's attention. "The fact that she has been around Sasuke for so long and without incident shows how much control she has. Hell, I've taken her out into the village several times, and nothing has happened. Shouldn't that tell you that at the very least she has enough control over her abilities to be around others?"
Unkai glared at her. "I will hear no more of this." He said in a low growl. "I am going down there to get my niece and drag her back to the compound. Kurenai-San, I would not bother coming in tomorrow for Yakumo's lessons. Your services are no longer required." He said, moving down the hill. He took one step before a shadow passed him.
Unkai stopped and glared at Kurenai. "I won't let you take what little happiness she has." She said.
"Woman, get out of my way." Unkai said, attempting to rush towards the upstart and push her out of the way. He was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. He looked over to stare into a blazing Sharingan. "What do you intend to stop me too?" He growled.
Itachi stared at the man for a moment. Kurenai wondered if the young Uchiha would really do something. She saw his grip loosen on the Kurama man's shoulder. "I do not wish for there to be any conflict between our two clans." He said calmly. "But do not wish for this conflict to escalate any further. If you make any attempt to move past Kurenai-San, I will have no choice but to stop you. The same goes for you, Kurenai." He shot a look at Kurenai, leaving no room for argument.
Kurenai got the message and slowly nodded. "So as long he makes no move towards Yakumo. I won't do anything." She said, shifting into a relaxed but still prepared stance.
Itachi nodded. "Good, now how about we discuss this like civilized adults." He said.
"There is nothing to discuss." Unkai said stubbornly. "I am taking Yakumo back to the compound, and she is to never set foot outside of it again. Not until she has mastered her abilities."
Kurenai shook her head. "I say there is plenty to discuss. Just look at her." The genjutsu mistress gestured her hands out to the children. Yakumo was sitting between Ino and Hinata as they watched the boys spare. She was smiling and laughing. "Can't you see that she's happy? She has friends now. People will stick by her side through the best and worst parts of her life."
"Her happiness is irrelevant," Unkai said, waving her off. "So as long as her abilities go unmastered, she'll pose a threat to everyone around her. Including her so-called friends."
Kurenai held back a low growl. This man wasn't listening to a word she said. Didn't he care about his niece, a girl who was his flesh and blood? "You can't just."
"If I may be allowed to interject?" Itachi said, cutting off Kurenai's statement. "Unkai-Sama, do you still consider yourself a Shinobi of Konoha?"
Both Unkai and Kurenai gave the young man a raised eyebrow. What did that have to do with the argument? "Yes, I do." Unkai answered. "In fact, before I was forced to accept the position of clan head, I was a well-respected Jōnin."
Itachi nodded, satisfied by the answer. "Do you care about Konoha? Would you still defend it even at the cost of your life?"
"Of course, I would." Unkai said. "I would give my life for the village just as freely as I would for my clan."
"I see." Itachi said. "Now as someone who still considers themselves as a Shinobi of Konoha. Do you believe in all the ideas that our village stands for? Do you believe in the philosophies that the First and Second Hokages built this village on?"
Where was Itachi going with this? Kurenai wondered. "Yes, I do." Unkai said carefully. More out of confusion than anything else.
Itachi smiled. "Then what about the Will of Fire?" He asked.
Kurenai's eyes widened, she was starting to see where Itachi was going. So did Unkai when he shifted uncomfortably. "Since I was a child." He said after a moment.
"Then," Itachi began. "Why have you not considered the possibility that is exactly what she needs to master her abilities?"
"I," Unkai began to say, his confusion clear. "I do not understand."
Itachi's smile grew. It wasn't a pitying or mocking one. A calm and serene one like one that you'd give to a child as you tried to explain something. "The Will of Fire applies more than just in combat or on a mission. It can be found in all aspects of our lives. By having those we care about and cherish, there grows the motivation for us to better. Not just as shinobi, but as people as well. With that motivation, he can grow stronger and faster. We would be more determined to accomplish our goals in life. We would have a resolve that we would have never had without our loved ones."
Unkai slowly nodded. "I can see your point." He said. "The Will of Fire is central to every Konoha Shinobi's life."
"Then why have you not tried to pass that on to Yakumo?" Itachi asked. "For much of her life, she has been isolated from the rest of the village. She has not been permitted until recently to leave the compound and never allowed to make friends. Yakumo-San wishes to be a Kunoichi of the village, does she not?"
"Of course, she does." Unkai said. "She desires to be one of the village's greatest kunoichi, despite her frail constitution." For a moment, Kurenai could have sworn she saw a proud smile on the man's lips. It had to be her imagination because when she blinked, it was gone.
"Then how can she ever hope to be the great Kunoichi she dreams of being when she knows nothing of the Will of Fire?" Itachi asked. "By the time she does master her abilities and becomes a Kunoichi, she will know nothing of the Will of Fire, and its underlining meanings. She won't have anyone to care for, someone to grow stronger for. She won't have a reason to be a better person. She would be no better than the shinobi from outside of this village."
"But she has to be kept away from others." Unkai argued. "She's a danger to everyone around if she can't master her abilities."
"Perhaps." Itachi conceded. "But what if that is exactly what she needs? What if having friends people to care about will give her the motivation and resolve she needs to master her abilities? Yes, she can put them in danger, but if that fact is what pushes her to keep control? My little brother has told me a lot about Yakumo-San. And from what I've seen of her myself, I believe she would do everything in her power to stop herself from harming him or anyone else."
Unkai remained silent. "She could still end up hurting people or worse."
"Unkai-Sama," Itachi said. "Have faith in your niece she. May prove to have more control than or even she realizes. She will not harm anyone. But should that day ever come, both Kurenai and I will take full responsibility for it." He looked over at Kurenai, sending her a meaningful look.
Kurenai nodded. "You have my word." She said. "Both as Kunoichi and as Yakumo's mentor. Please, Unkai-Sama if there is any part of you that cares for your niece. Please let her have this. Let her have friends. Let her some semblance of normalcy." She begged the man.
Unkai remained silent for a long time. Several times his hands clenched and unclenched. Fear slowly crept into Kurenai. What would she do if he said no? He looked over at where Yakumo was, sitting with her newfound friends, smiling, laughing. Again, it must have been her imagination, but Kurenai could have sworn she saw the man's expression soften.
"Fine," He said evenly. He turned away from Kurenai. "I'll allow this foolishness. But know this." He said, looking Itachi in the eye. "I wash my hands of any responsibility here. If something happens, it is on your heads, not mine." Then he began to walk away.
Relief flooded through Kurenai. "Unkai-Sama assure you. You won't regret this." She said.
The Kurama man stopped and turned his head. "For her sake. I hope you're right. Have Yakumo back at the compound by sundown. We will have much to discuss. I expect you to be there as well." Then he was gone.
"He seemed like a nice man." Itachi commented.
Kurenai gave the Uchiha a wary eye. She didn't know he could make jokes. "You did just meet the man?" She asked.
Itachi smiled at her. "He may be better than you think." He said, looking down the hill. "He did just agree to let Yakumo have friends."
Kurenai huffed. "Yea, but it was like yanking teeth out to get him to agree." Something told her there would be conditions, to Yakumo having friends. She wasn't looking to that conversation. Still.
Kurenai looked down the hill. Looking at her student. Kurenai's heart warmed at seeing her having a good time with others her age. She looked so much happier now, happier than she had been when Kurenai first met her.
Kurenai smiled, she would fight for that happiness. Even if it meant going up against her whole family.
Later that day, Konoha Gates:
It was almost laughable how easy it was getting past the gates of Konoha. Peacetime had softened the tree huggers.
Daichi looked around. So, this was the hidden village that won the three Great Shinobi Wars? Defeated his home village, not once, not twice, but three times. And produced some of the most powerful and legendary shinobi in all the elemental nations. Figures like Hashirama, Madara, Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Sanin, and Namikaze Minato.
Anyone else might have felt like they were walking on hallowed ground. But Daichi was not impressed. He felt that Konoha's reputation was overblown. The fact that he and his followers got in so easily was proof of that.
Though he supposed it didn't hurt that they had an inside contact to help them. Speaking of, they were supposed to meet them here. He looked around, looking for anyone that might seem like their contact. Their employer never gave them a description, only that they were a Chunin, and they would know them by the coded phrase.
"Uncle Iskue? Is that you?" And there it was.
Daichi looked over to see a seemingly nondescript man wearing a chunin vest. The only thing that made him stand out was his white hair. "Yusuke," Daichi said his part of the code. He opened his arms wide. "How long has it been? I haven't seen you since?" He acted like he was trailing off.
The man returned the hug. "It was I tea country. When the flowers were in bloom." Daichi smiled; this was their contact. "Meet me at the place marked on this scroll. There I'll give you more details on your mission." Daichi felt something be slipped into his cloak.
They broke their embrace. "It was nice seeing you again uncle. We'll have to meet up again later today. Catch up for old times' sake." The contact said.
"Anything for my favorite nephew." Daichi said with a smile.
The man rolled his eyes. "You say that to all of us." He said, walking away. "See you later."
When he was certain they were alone, Daichi spoke. "Come one, men, we have business to attend to." He said, walking down the streets of Konoha.
Konoha might be one of the five great hidden villages and regarded as the strongest. But soon, it would suffer humiliation at his hands. Daichi cracked a genuine smile. He was going to enjoy that. After it was only fair, their yellow flash killed all his friends in the war.
He pulled out the scroll and unrolled it. There were detailed directions to where they would meet their contact for the second time. But also on it was a picture of their target. A young girl with brown hair and brown eyes.
And Yakumo gets to make so new friends. Unfortunately, it only gives her inner demon more ways to torment her. Will she be able to overcome this shadow and realize that others will accept her? Or will it take her over as her uncle fears?
Try not to hold it against Unkai, he does care for his niece, and he is trying his best. But he's afraid of what will happen if Yakumo does lose control, and with powerful they are, he's right to be afraid. Unfortunatly he just doesn't know what to do to keep her and everyone around her safe. But he'll soon learn that an option has present itself, a chance for his niece to live relativly nromal life. And of course other events are playing out that could have diasterous results for the Kurama clan and possibly for all of Konoha.
More to come in the next update.