Becoming patriarch of the clan wasn't considered even the slightest bit of an idea within his mind until now. Kimimaro believed he was a rather easy person to please. He didn't want to rule the world or be the strongest like all the other kids, which isolated him from having many friends.

He hadn't cared, though. Because family was the most important thing in the world. Friends had their role, but they could never share the importance within his mind, even if they bore the same blood— however distant it may be.

Kimimaro had a simple dream that he believed he could achieve in the future; to become a great swordsman and father a happy family. He'd only progressed so far as he did in the tournament so that he could test his swordsmanship.

But then the now-dead Kyo had to go and break his sword. It wasn't just any sword, no, it was the sword Katsuo had gifted to him. The two's father had passed years ago, and their mother was… distant, so Katsuo was the closest family member he had.

He was his elder brother and the person he looked up to the most. The way the gray-haired boy worked himself until exhaustion only to rise up and do it again struck great admiration from him. When he'd learned that the other boy also possessed Shikotsumyaku, it was the happiest he'd ever been— even with the harsh string of spars following shortly after it.

He hadn't cared that the sword was a hand-me-down, just the notion behind it was enough to make it special in the young boy's heart. It was starting to become a part of himself. It accompanied him throughout every moment of the day, never more than a reach away. It didn't matter if he could replace it with a stronger, more durable sword of bone within seconds.

A moment of rage unnatural of him took over when he saw the steel split in two. His emotions got the best of him, and he stopped holding back. He'd never wanted to be patriarch. He wasn't as good with others as Katsuo was, and didn't know a thing about leadership. He wasn't even ten yet, either.

If he weren't so caught up in his thoughts at the moment, he would have surrendered before his brother had. He'd have made for a much better patriarch, he was sure of it.

He'd even considered immediately forfeiting the title so that Katsuo could have it, yet the older boy convinced him otherwise. "Treat the clan as they truly are, an extension of our family." His brother had told him

And so, the title of 'Patriarch of the Kaguya Clan' had fallen onto him; eight-year-old Kimimaro Kaguya.

Their assault on Kirigakure never came to fruition. There was a sizable group of people who still wanted to carry out the attack, but his display against Kyo was more than enough of a deterrent for any challengers.

It'd been a month since he'd become patriarch, and yet he still didn't know what to do. Katsuo would often tell him stories of great leaders when they were younger. He wasn't feeling like such a great leader at the moment.

That was why he sat where he was, positioned opposite of his older brother. He'd gone to the older boy for advice nearly everyday. Kimimaro envied the older boy's wisdom. Despite only being two years older, he seemed so much wiser than any of the other kids.

"I don't know what to do next either," Katsuo answered the question he'd asked earlier. Their assault on Kirigakure had been built up for years, it was why they found themselves in the Land of Water to begin with. Having that stripped away, followed immediately by a month of inactivity was causing a clear conflict within the clan.

Even if they wouldn't challenge him directly, it didn't mean their feelings would suddenly disappear. 63 of their 107 clan members were planning to desert. It didn't take a genius to know that he couldn't let that happen. The problem was that he didn't know how to stop them.

"I guess we have to meet them in the middle," Katsuo continued, his high pitched voice contrasting the serious look on his face. "We can't attack Kirigakure. They'd wipe us out in an instant, but if we want to sate their bloodlust we'd have to attack somebody."

"But who?" The words slipped out of his mouth before he could even process them. It was a valid question, though. Who would they attack?

"I don't know. It has to be someone smaller, though," Katsuo's eyes focused on something he couldn't see for a second before returning to his own. "Maybe Tanigakure. The journey to the Land of Rivers wouldn't be that far, and they aren't that strong from what I've heard. We could even take the village for ourselves and finally settle down."

The suggestion lingered within his mind for a bit. Unlike his Kaguya clan members, Kimimaro didn't have the constant need for battle. He only ever saw it as a way to improve his swordsmanship, not a fight for one's standing within the world.

What Katsuo had said was sticking with him, though. A place to settle down. From what his mother had told him about the vague history of their clan, the Kaguya had been nomads since the first red-dotted forehead and Shikotsumyaku user decided to go by the name.

They hadn't stuck around any place for long enough time to interact with the other clans on any consistent level, which was why they hadn't been included when the clans started getting together and forming the hidden villages.

The prospect of settling down permanently didn't match well with the attitudes of the previous patriarchs. Kyo had brought the clan to the Land of Water from the Land of Iron, set on attacking Kirigakure who were still weakened from the Third Ninja War.

Prior to his tenure, Kyo's father, Koji, had gotten them run out of the Land of Earth for attempting to kidnap the Tsuchikage's niece. The sparks of the Second Ninja War beginning to form had been the only thing that stopped the great village from pursuing them.

The Kaguya had built too much of a negative reputation to ever join a village peacefully, which meant the only way they'd ever settle was with war. Kimimaro searched through his brain, trying to remember the lessons he'd learned with the other children. If there was anything the Kaguya were good at beyond war, it was geography.

To get to the Land of Rivers, they'd only have to cross through the Land of Fire. The Kaguya had never attacked Konohagakure before. The might of the Uchiha and Senju deterred them away from the lands during the village earlier in its lifespan, and their situation with Iwagakure left them preoccupied afterwards.

The entire clan moving west would certainly raise alarms, but if they stuck to the coast they'd hopefully avoid the might of the great village. A smile formed on his face. His brother always had the best advice.

"Alright," he began, his voice filled with determination. "We'll move to the Land of Rivers." A grin from his brother mirrored his own smile, the older boy standing and making his way to the entrance of the tent.

"I'll make the announcement. Hopefully it calms their nerves until we get there." A quick nod sent the older boy on his way, leaving Kimimaro alone within his tent.

For a moment he sat unmoved, taking in the situation. Dreams of the future danced across his mind. He stood as the leader of Tanigakure, his children mighty warriors of the village. They possessed great strength, so great that nobody dared to threaten their family. The static home allowed for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren to grow into mighty warriors of their own, protecting their family for generations to come.

Yes, to see such seeds bore fruit was his destiny as patriarch. Maybe that was why he found himself with the position.

/6/

After months of enduring and hours of pain, she was finally free. Makoto held the baby close to her chest, her arms weak from her extensive efforts just moments prior. A familiar mop of black sat atop its head, two small red dots decorating its forehead.

It screamed and cried, its small limbs reaching towards the air to shield its face from the light it hadn't been used to. Makato rocked the baby gently, hoping to ease its pain. After a few moments, the babe's cries turned to whispers, as it rested in the comfort of her arms.

Makoto's brown eyes rested on the baby's sleeping face, thoughts entering her mind all at once. The clan was changing, and it hadn't been in the way she'd wanted.

The ex-matriarch shared little love towards her deceased partner, their union only an enforcement of their status amongst the others. Despite her lack of love, she still respected Kyo greatly. He'd been a great leader, and shared similar goals to that of her own.

'To live is to be strong.' The words that her father had spoken to her so long ago echoed within her mind. Under Kyo, they were on the path to great strength, which meant they'd live as long as possible as a result. They were just moments away from a new era of their clan, an era where they stood atop of the world, but it'd been snatched from their hands at the last moment.

'To live is to be strong.' Kyo wasn't strong, so he didn't live anymore. Now, they were led by someone else. A child. A demon. Those bones marking the curse of their ancestors. She'd been angry when his brother had shown the ability, but that anger turned into fear once one turned to two.

Katsuo. The name of the brat struck at her nerves. If it'd just been him, all would be well. Kyo would still be alive, and he'd have probably executed the demon before he grew into too much of a threat for the clan's future.

But it wasn't just him. No, his younger brother possessed the curse as well. He used it to a greater extent than his brother, which was why the boy had surrendered immediately. Pathetic.

The young patriarch's presence was the only thing stopping that witch from her rightful punishment. Chisabi had always been a stain on the clan. The woman rarely trained, yet alone fought. She relied on her estranged husband to provide for them. When the man had been killed for his weakness, the woman became reclusive, rarely leaving her tent for much of anything.

The fact that she'd given birth to two demons was more than enough evidence for Makato's claims. She'd disliked the woman since they were children, and her intuition had finally been proven right.

Makato's gaze went back to her child, the baby still sleeping within her arms. It shifted to his legs, taking in what was between them. A boy, then. She pressed her finger on the boy's forehead, tracing his clan mark.

"Sandatsu." She whispered, her finger moving to trace along the baby's cheeks. It was the only name fitting for her child, for he would be the one to set the Kaguya back on track.

That, she'd make sure of.


Hey all. I wanted to get the first three chapters out at the same time, but couldn't because of my schedule. Expect a new update on Mondays from here on. I'll try to release them in batches of three, but don't hold me to any promises.

Hope you enjoyed it so far!