Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Glimpses of Fire ❯ Otogakure's Conditions ( Chapter 19 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: shattered-words 
The fire weilders' true purpose is revealed to her...
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 05.02.2007 | Updated On: 05.12.2007 | Pages: 4 | Words: 6.2K | Visits: 143 | Status: Work In Progress
The fire weilders' true purpose is revealed to her...
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 05.02.2007 | Updated On: 05.12.2007 | Pages: 4 | Words: 6.2K | Visits: 143 | Status: Work In Progress
Glimpses of Fire
Author: shattered-words
Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, it'd be called 'Gaara'. So, isn't it a shame that I don't own it?
Summary: There were many things that shaped the plans of a certain Nukenin, and one was a shinobi that was as destructive as fire. AU/Mentions of Shounen-ai/Yaoi/Yuri [Linked to 'Caught in the Rain']
AN: This is posted today, May 02, 2007, in memory of that beautiful LemonED god, the fushia flame, the pink spider that stole our hearts and then broke them when he passed forever from this world. Matsumoto Hideto, this one is for you. May you rest in peace. Ever free.
‘Something’s wrong,’ she told herself but she didn’t know what to do to correct it. She had already noticed that Gaara had started to act strange ever since they had found out they’d be participating in the Chunin Exam.
Perhaps it had to do with the plan or maybe it was something else completely different. Either way, she was worried, but she couldn’t voice her thoughts to him since she knew he’d never tell her anything. He never did.
Amane was sitting on one of the folding chairs on the balcony and so she was alone with her thoughts as she listened to the sound of the shower. It was almost soothing to her nerves but she was still anxious and would continue to be until later that night when she met up with Gaara. He hadn’t told her where to meet, but she had always been able to find him through his distinctive chakra.
She had removed her top shirt and it lay on the bed besides her along with her hitai-ate. Her long bangs fell around and into her face but she made no move to push the strands away. She was too engrossed in her thoughts so she didn’t even hear Amane reenter the room or Iwane leave the shower.
“Eizan-sama?” she heard one of them speak. Her eyes lifted to see the matching worried expressions on both girl’s faces.
A smirk spread over her lips as she stood. “Can’t I space out without you getting worried?” she asked before throwing her towel over her shoulder and entering the bathroom. “I’m next.” The door closed with a quiet click, but the two kunoichi continued to look after her with the same expression.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
There was a distinctive chill in the air over Konohagakure that night. The heavens had been painted black and dotted with pinpricks of light. The moon was full and provided illumination if any should happen to be outside.
The sound of a jutsu tearing through a roof had resounded through the night and two figures had jumped away from the destruction. One was a Suna-nin and the other was a leaf shinobi.
Baki cursed vehemently as he pursued the man. It was true what he had said that a blade of wind couldn’t be stopped, but he hadn’t expected the man to avoid it! The sand-nin was cursing his miscalculation of the younger man’s skills.
For a moment he wished he had allowed Kabuto to dispose of the leaf-nin, but he’d been confident enough that he’d be able to kill him. Now he was regretting his over confidence. He knew that he couldn’t allow the other man to escape after what he’d heard or their plans would fail.
A stroke of good luck hit as he noticed that they were headed in Gaara’s direction. Also, that another figure was moving over the rooftops and would meet up with them if both their paces continued. Baki felt relief flood through him when he saw that it was Ashikaga Eizan.
The Konoha shinobi stopped as he landed on the same roof as the younger ninja and turned so he could keep both of them in his sights. Eizan had stopped almost instinctively and looked from Baki to Hayate with a slightly confused expression.
“He knows about the plan,” Baki told her and she understood that he had to be dealt with.
She didn’t know what the plan itself was but that no one within Konoha must know about it. However, she didn’t wish to kill the man but would deal with him as Gaara had instructed.
Baki attacked the man and she jumped back and formed seals quickly. This was a jutsu that she’d learned through her father’s memories which had been intended only for a practical joke.
She’d modified it so that it would be useful in certain battles and now she’d see if it worked. She’d done this for a reason, but she’d never expected to ever use it.
‘Ninpou, Ten no Hi Yaiba.’ The jutsu shot toward them but Baki wasn’t able to get away in time. It hit both men head on.
Baki closed his eyes as he waited for death and after a moment where he felt nothing he opened his eyes. It was in time to see a dozen blades of fire hitting the leaf-nin and his screams of pain chilled him. He could only watch with eyes wide with horror as the man was reduced to chucks of flesh and blood, but even most of that was burned into only ash.
When it was all over he stumbled back as a wave of nausea washed over him and he fell on his ass. He covered his face with his hands as he tried to regain his equilibrium.
After a moment he looked to where the Jonin had once been but only parts of his bloodied Chunin vest, bits of clothing and his katana remained. The ground around where Hayate had been standing before had been badly scorched.
He took in several deep breaths and glanced over at Eizan. She had fresh blood smeared across her left cheek but she held a blank expression. As he watched, a smirk crossed over her lips as her tongue flicked out to the side of her mouth to lick the blood away before she turned and hopped away.
‘Bakemono,’ Baki could only think as he shuddered and quickly left the surrounding area before anyone came to investigate what the commotion had been about.
Meanwhile, Eizan darted out of a dark alley way and proceeded toward her meeting with Gaara. Her uneasy feelings hadn’t faded but she steeled her resolve. She was a shinobi and more importantly, Gaara’s tool. He would use her as he saw fit and she couldn’t say a thing since she’d pledged her loyalty and free-will to him long ago.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A lone figure was seen perched on the carp that had been carved into the roof’s design. In the moonlight his hair looked black as his turquoise orbs peered into the darkness. One knee was bent and held against his chest and the other leg hung slightly over the edge.
It was already three hours after dusk and Eizan appeared on the rooftop slightly below him. She was kneeling with her right knee and hand touching the ground beneath. It was quiet for several seconds before either of them spoke.
“Gaara-dono,” Eizan muttered as her bangs fell into her eyes to hide them from view. She didn’t say anything else to him and waited for the red head to acknowledge her.
She noticed that most of the roof had been damaged by something, and that there was a corpse that she identified as the Oto-nin that had passed onto the third part of the exam. Eizan knew it wasn’t wise to ask since tonight was a full moon and it was one of the times where Shukaku craved blood more than ever.
He finally turned to look at her and she saw that his eyes held no emotion in them. She should have been use to it by now but she couldn’t stop the shudder that went through her. There was something in them that caused that feeling of dread to return.
“Sunagakure will join Otogakure to destroy Konoha during the third part of the exam,” Gaara bluntly told her. He watched her face for her reaction and he saw surprise and horror. “You don’t approve?” The question was asked in the same monotone but she saw his eyes narrow.
Eizan let her face drop back down when she realized that he had seen the look on her face. The idea that Suna would attack Konoha with Oto was shocking. Also, she didn’t wish for that to happen since a lot of innocent people would die in the process, as well as ninja.
Naruto and Sasuke’s faces came unbidden to her mind as she stiffened. ‘What will happen to them?’
Not to mention her own teammates. If the attack took place then they would be targeted by leaf-nin when they weren’t even past the Genin level. She knew that it shouldn’t matter but whether she wanted to admit it or not, Amane and Iwane had become important to her.
To view them as human beings was a mistake for a ninja. It was more prudent for her to see all around her as potential enemies, but she was human in the end, they all were.
“Sumimasen, but it was just surprising,” she finally answered. It was a lie since she really didn’t approve as he had said.
Eizan knew that during the Shinobi Wars there had been many that had died. Even Academy students had perished as well as civilians. It had been nothing but death and sorrow in the end.
They had finalized the treaty and then Hi and Kaze no Kuni had become allies. Now they would break it and cause unnecessary bloodshed all over again.
Gaara watched her carefully and noticed when she had stiffened before she had answered him. He could tell that she didn’t want to be a part of a plan that would result in the death of so many.
‘She will only hinder your purpose,’ the voice of the Kazekage came back to him. ‘If you have no purpose then why are you alive?’
“There is a compromise between the two villages,” he spoke again. He watched as her face lifted once again. Gaara wanted to see the look on her face when he told her what her role would be.
“Oto will help Suna crush the leaf and then you will be given over to them.” He watched her face slacken with confusion and then her eyes widened almost comically, it almost made him laugh. “You’ve always wished to be wanted by someone.” He tilted his head slightly. “Now someone wants you.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The blonde shinobi paused in his training as he felt a shiver of power pass through the very air around him. He lifted his head and frowned as he tried to figure out what it was. Over the last months that Haku had been within Konoha he had been helping Naruto out in some areas he was lacking in. His aim had improved as well as his ability to sense chakra and even control his own.
“What the heck was that?” he mumbled to himself. The chakra signal had been strong and very close by, so he decided to investigate. He moved freely through the trees since he had already gotten the hang of tree climbing but there was still something wrong with his chakra. It had been that way ever since they had encountered that grass-nin.
Naruto came to stop in a clearing as he felt another pulse of power slam into him so he stumbled. He broke through the trees and froze.
A figure was on their hands and knees and chakra flowed around them like black fire. As he watched the person emitted another pulse and then the chakra manifested into wings of fire that spread five feet from their back.
The trees surrounding the person were eradicated into nothing but ash and the ground was scorched. It had even been necessary for Naruto to stumble back a few steps since the chakra had been a burning heat.
A few seconds later the chakra signature flickered and then died completely. The blonde could only stare at the person before moving toward them cautiously. He was six feet away when he recognized them and he rushed the rest of the way.
“Eizan-nii-san?” he called to the other “boy” and shook him slightly. He hissed as he pulled his hand away since the shirt had been burned away but not the chain mail shirt which had become super heated. Also, he realized something else. Eizan was a girl.
“Naruto-san?” she asked quietly, her voice breaking on a sob. She was still resting on her hands and knees and now she crumbled to the ground. “I...”
“What’s wrong?” he asked her. He hesitantly reached out and realized that the chain mail had cooled rapidly now that the chakra had faded from around her. “What happened?” When he pulled her up and against him she didn’t even struggle. Her whole body had gone completely limp.
Eizan lifted her head as tears spilled past her eyelids. “Naruto, I...wish I was dead,” she whispered.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
-An hour earlier-
“Nani?” she asked him as her dark eyes widened in shock. For a second she thought she had heard him wrong but she knew she hadn’t. “What are you talking about?”
Gaara had turned away by now and was looking out into the darkness once more. “Suna has agreed to give you to Oto in exchange for their help in crushing Konoha.”
Eizan felt her blood run cold at his words and then she was shaking her head. “I won’t go,” she growled. “I won’t let that bastard Kazekage trade me like a possession.”
The scarlet haired shinobi was quiet for a moment before he finally answered. “He isn’t the one trading you. I am.”
His words felt like a knife in her chest as she stared at him in disbelief. “Wakarimasen,” Eizan mumbled. She was stunned by his words. “I want to stay by your side.”
He shook his head. “I don’t want you near me. Why would I?” Gaara turned cold eyes on her now. “You’re useless and insignificant. Your very presence is stifling me.”
Eizan stared at him with wide eyes and didn’t even notice that she had stood up. The wind had picked up but she didn’t even feel it. Her dark orbs locked with his turquoise ones as he peered down at her from his perch. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out.
“Get out of my sight,” he finally told her and turned away. He didn’t even acknowledge her anymore as she remained where she was for a whole minute.
She turned away to hide the tears that had started to slide down her cheeks. “Sumimasen, Gaara-dono,” she choked out before she jumped down and disappeared into the darkened streets of the village.
When she had left Gaara turned to look at the place she had been standing in. His pale features were twisted into a frown and his hands were clenched into fists. “It...it’s for the best,” he told himself, but not even he believed it at the moment.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The raven haired preteen lifted his head as he saw a flash of blonde out of the corner of his eye. He turned expecting to see his teammate leaving the forest and was quite surprised at what he saw. It was Naruto but he held up another person slightly shorter than him.
It took Sasuke only a moment to realize that it was Ashikaga Eizan, the kunoichi from Suna. What he didn’t know was why Naruto was dragging her away from the forest in the middle of the night. He was more than curious and so he tailed them at a distance.
He followed until they reached Naruto’s apartment and he came to land on the roof and listened as they entered. The blonde’s voice was clear and he was asking her what had happened but he got no response.
After several attempts to get her to talk with no success, he left her alone, but Sasuke continued to listen. When a whole minute had passed without any movement he was about to leave, but paused as he heard something. Eizan was sobbing quietly.
The sound caused a chill to pass over him. She had appeared like a strong person ever since he had seen her, so he was a bit confused. Sasuke wondered what could have happened to have reduced her to tears.
When he left she was still crying, but it was getting to him. Besides, it was late. He shouldn’t have even been here because he needed to train hard for the third part of the exam.
Kakashi was over seeing his training since he had mastered the use of the Sharingan, and was the best qualified since there were no other users of the Uchiha bloodline. He wondered if Itachi and he would be the last ones to have the eyes, since their whole clan had been killed off.
Thinking of his brother made him remember the kunoichi’s words to him earlier that day. ‘The Itachi I knew would never have killed them.’ He would ask her what her words had meant but he knew that tonight wasn’t the best time to ask.
‘I wonder what happened,’ he couldn’t help but wonder. He knew that his question would remain unanswered since he wouldn’t ask. Besides, he had other more pressing questions, which included her relation with his past.
For now he turned away and hopped off the roof and headed toward his empty house. He would have preferred to keep on training but it was late and he had already pushed his body well past its present limits. Tomorrow was a new day and soon he would make sure to meet up with the Ashikaga female.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Amane and Iwane were frantic with worry since Eizan hadn’t come back in three nights since she had left to meet up with Gaara. They had tried to interrogate the red head but he hadn’t even paid them attention beyond telling them that he hadn’t seen her since that night. It went without saying that they suspected that he had done something to her, and they were terrified to think that he could have killed her.
If that were the truth then they’d do everything in their power to avenge her. Even if they died trying they were bound to Eizan by more than an oath. Eizan was one of the few friends they had ever had and weren’t willing to lose her to anything. They’d forsake their lives for hers.
It was almost the fourth night when they felt her chakra signature. They were flooded with relief and raced toward it. At the edge of the forest the two girls paused and glanced at each other before nodding and going in. It was several minutes before they reached the clearing her chakra was emanating from.
She was training and only briefly glanced at them and went back to what she had been doing. There was no indication from her that she’d ever been gone. However, they could see the shadows under her reddened eyes, which was from lack of sleep or tears being shed.
They waited until she spoke to them. It was obvious that she had let them feel her chakra for a reason. If not, then they would never have found her if she wanted it that way. Her chakra manipulation might be lower than Amane’s but her stealth skills were superior since she could expertly hide her chakra and even the most skilled shinobi wouldn’t be able to find her.
Finally, she spoke to them. “You won’t fight each other during the third exam,” she said without looking at them. “Suna will be aided by Oto to destroy Konoha, so you mustn’t reveal your abilities before the signal is given.”
The two older kunoichi were stunned and neither could say anything for a few seconds. “You will speak to no one of this. Not even among ourselves.”
Iwane opened her mouth to ask her where she’d been but the shorter girl cut her off before she could. “We will all participate in the third exam, but I suggest you plan your fight beforehand. Don’t reveal anything you haven’t already done and decide the winner among yourselves.”
She had returned to her training by now and didn’t even look at them anymore. “You are dismissed.”
They knew something was wrong, but also knew how stubborn Eizan was. If she didn’t want to tell them anything then nothing they said or did would make her talk. So retreating was the only thing they could do.
It was clear that what had transpired between Gaara and her that night had affected her greatly, but they wished they knew what it was. For now, all that could be done was to do as she instructed and trust that she would resolve it on her own.
“Hey, aren’t you those sand-nin that are going to be in the third exam?” a voice interrupted them as they exited the forest. There were three older ninja from Taki standing in front of them with matching smirks. The one that had spoken was the taller of them and had shoulder length brown hair.
“Are you sure that this test wasn’t rigged so the weakest teams were allowed to pass?” the one on the far right asked. There was a scar across the left side of his face and it looked like he had seen quite a bit of battles and missions.
“That way Konoha’s teams would appear stronger to the feudal lords.” The third one was the shortest and he was stout and had short black hair.
“Urusei,” the raven haired girl growled at him. “Get out of the damn way.” There was a dangerous edge to her voice that was alarming, but this time Amane didn’t interfere since she felt like killing something as well.
The one that had spoken first laughed harshly and reached out to grab the front of the shorter ninja’s shirt. “Who the hell do you think you’re talking to, pipsqueak?” he asked. He attempted to lift her off her feet to show how strong he was, but he wasn’t able to.
Iwane’s features twisted into a strange grin and she placed one hand over the one that held her shirt. “Didn’t your mother ever teach you to keep your hands to yourself?” she asked before bending his fingers back.
The Taki shinobi yelled as he felt his fingers break like they were twigs. He stumbled back and clutched his right hand in his left. “Bastard!” he yelled as his comrades moved to attack.
The Erizawa female gave a laugh as she closed her eyes and placed a hand over her face. “I’m only going to say this once...walk away,” she said, her voice lowering dangerously at the end. Her lids slid open and she peered through her fingers at them.
Amane would have suggested they listen but she only sighed and ran a hand through her brown hair. “Don’t kill them,” she muttered at her teammate.
“I ain’t making any promises,” she responded as she used her raised arm to block an attack from one of the other two ninja.
Her kick connected with his midsection as he stumbled back. She quickly formed seals and stamped her left foot before spikes made of solid earth sprung up from under the three ninja. They barely escaped with their lives but fell right into her Genjutsu.
Iwane let them experience Eizan’s ‘Chi-no-Ike Jigoku no Jutsu’ in the illusion. They collapsed and screamed in agony as they tried to tear out chucks of their own flesh. In the end, they passed out before they made themselves bleed to death.
The Itagaki had watched all that occurred and knew that Iwane was angry. If it had been any other time she might have chosen to ignore the ninja but they had been unfortunate to catch her in one of her bad moods. During those rare times she became cruel and sadistic.
Amane had chosen to merely watch instead of trying to control her, since she was also in a foul mood. They both felt like inflicting injury toward a certain red head but knew they couldn’t, so they chose to direct the anger toward anyone unfortunate enough to cross their paths.
“They’re just lucky I was feeling charitable today,” Iwane muttered before stuffing her hands into her pockets and walking off. Amane lifted an eyebrow and shook her head as she glanced at the unconscious shinobi. It didn’t seem like she had been charitable, but the Itagaki knew her words to be true. If not then they’d be dead.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Naruto glanced at the female that was sitting on the window sill and staring off into the darkness with a neutral expression. She had been staying in his apartment ever since he had found her in the woods a week ago and since then she hadn’t spoken about what had happened to her.
He didn’t want to push the issue but he wanted to know what had happened. Usually he didn’t have any tact at all, but after spending a lot of time with Haku he had started to learn a bit of restraint. Naruto knew that he was also improving thanks to the former mist-nin, and so he felt confident about facing Neji during the third exam.
“Ano, are you hungry?” he asked her as he walked into the living room. She had been leaning her head back against the window, but now she lifted it and turned her attention toward him. “I’m going to meet Iruka-sensei for ramen at Ichiraku. Would you like to come?”
A faint smile crossed her face but her eyes were dull. “Iie, but thank you for the offer, Naruto-san,” was her response. She returned her gaze outside after a moment and said nothing more.
Naruto hesitated before nodding. “Alright then, but you know where it is if you change your mind,” he said and tried to sound cheerful. “I’ll be back. Ja.” He waved at her as he left the room, grabbed his orange jacket and exiting the apartment.
Eizan sighed and turned to look around the empty room. When she had first gotten here there had been so much mess, but she had kept herself busy by cleaning up. She had also trained her taijutsu skills but decided not to do any chakra training.
She had always had a pretty good control of her chakra but lately that strange chakra had been overpowering her. Not to mention that every time she used her own the Ten no Juin caused her great pain. It was getting to a point that she didn’t know what to do or who to tell.
The only one that would be able to help her was Enoki but she didn’t want go to him for anything if she could help it. So, all she could do was deal with this by herself.
Her ears perked as she thought she heard something but continued to peered outside the window. A moment later she felt a very faint and familiar chakra. “Don’t you know it’s bad manners to enter someone else’s home without permission, Uchiha-san?” she asked without turning around.
Sasuke smirked and stepped out of the shadows of the hallway that led into Naruto’s bedroom. “I never learned any good manners.”
Eizan chuckled slightly. “Hai, but I don’t think Mikoto-san was to blame for that,” she responded back. She heard his intake of breath and knew she’d gotten his attention once again.
“Who are you?” he asked her bluntly. He had waited a whole week and now he wanted answers. “What do you know about Itachi?”
She sighed and rested her head back against the window sill. “As annoying as you were back then,” she muttered but decided to tell him something or he’d never leave her alone. “I knew you, Itachi and your parents. So I can honestly say that I don’t believe that he killed anyone.” She turned to lock her gaze on him. “I don’t know why you would think he did.”
“Why should I believe you?” he demanded. His eyes narrowed and seemed to burn into her.
She merely smirked back at him, but the raven haired boy saw that her opaque eyes didn’t change. “Because when he looked at you I saw the same look that was in my Aniki’s eyes,” she simply said. Her gaze went back to staring outside. “You just had to look close enough.”
Sasuke was quiet for several seconds as he digested what she had told him. He had never really wanted to believe that his beloved brother had killed his parents and destroyed everything he loved. All he had thought about for so long now was avenging his family and killing Itachi. That was the only thing that had driven him to keep living. Now, he wasn’t so sure that what he believed was true.
“I don’t believe you,” he finally told her. He watched her closely for her reaction but she didn’t even turn to look at him when she responded.
“Then don’t.” She stood and glanced at him for a moment and then walked toward the bedroom. “I wonder if Itachi still wears that necklace I gave him,” she muttered before the door closed with a quiet click.
Sasuke watched her leave and then turned to look at where she had been sitting. The wood had been worn down and it looked like someone had been tearing pieces away. He frowned slightly as he saw faint traces of blood. Naruto came to mind first but they looked recent and so that only left Eizan.
Again he wondered what had happened to her the other night to have reduced her to tears. He wasn’t so cruel as to throw it in her face, but it was very tempting after the way she had taunted him with the information concerning Itachi.
It infuriated him that she had known him during the time he had been a carefree, ignorant child. That she had known his brother before he had become a murderer in Sasuke’s eyes, and his parents before they had been slaughtered.
He briefly wondered if she knew who might have killed them but dismissed the thought. She wouldn’t be so cruel as to hide something of that magnitude from him, and yet Sasuke wasn’t so sure.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Gaara watched the Uchiha leave the apartment and felt his blood boil. He wanted to kill the leaf-nin more than ever but decided to wait. After all, he’d have more than enough time during the third exam.
He turned his attention to the apartment and disappeared in his sand and reappeared outside of the window. Using just a bit of chakra to keep him from slipping off but not give him away, he listened to what was going on inside.
The red head had tried to keep away from the kunoichi but he had always found himself on the rooftop every single night since she had started staying here. At first he had felt something darker than anger and had almost gone in and taken her out.
However, he had been reminded that all this was for his reason to live. She was interfering with his purpose and had to be removed from his sight. Oto had provided him with the best solution, and that way he wouldn’t have her anywhere near him. He would continue taking lives and feeling alive.
Although, Gaara wondered why it made him feel like he was tearing a part of himself out.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Are you ready?” Amane asked her seriously.
Iwane bit her bottom lip nervously and nodded. “H-Hai, I think so,” she muttered.
The two girls were facing each other and they twisted their bodies back. The third exam was tomorrow and now they would decide who would win the match. It was strange but they had no other way to decide.
“Okay, ready” the Itagaki announced as she felt a drop of sweat roll down her shoulder blades. “Go!” She threw her hand forward as her teammate did the same.
“Hell yeah, I win!” Iwane’s hand was spread out and Amane’s was curled into a fist. “Paper covers rock,” she said with a grin that didn’t reach her eyes.
Amane groaned. “I hate Janken,” she muttered. “I never win.”-
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Translations:
1. Ninpou, Ten no Hi Yaiba: lit. “Fire Blades of Heaven”.
2. Wakarimasen: I don’t understand.
3. Janken: Japanese version of rock-paper-scissors.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
End Chapter Nineteen
Author: shattered-words
Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, it'd be called 'Gaara'. So, isn't it a shame that I don't own it?
Summary: There were many things that shaped the plans of a certain Nukenin, and one was a shinobi that was as destructive as fire. AU/Mentions of Shounen-ai/Yaoi/Yuri [Linked to 'Caught in the Rain']
AN: This is posted today, May 02, 2007, in memory of that beautiful LemonED god, the fushia flame, the pink spider that stole our hearts and then broke them when he passed forever from this world. Matsumoto Hideto, this one is for you. May you rest in peace. Ever free.
“Oh I fell in love with your screen dream
celluloid pictures in living
your death could not kill our love for you...
your cigarette traces a ladder to the stars”
~‘2hb’ by roxy music
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Chapter Nineteen: Otogakure’s Conditions~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Eizan was nervous and it wasn’t a very comfortable feeling. They had already left the forest and were now back at their room in the ryokan with Iwane hogging the shower first as always. She had tried to put tonight’s meeting with Gaara out of her mind but she couldn’t stop thinking about it. The words had sent shivers down her spine and alarm bells ringing in her mind.celluloid pictures in living
your death could not kill our love for you...
your cigarette traces a ladder to the stars”
~‘2hb’ by roxy music
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Chapter Nineteen: Otogakure’s Conditions~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
‘Something’s wrong,’ she told herself but she didn’t know what to do to correct it. She had already noticed that Gaara had started to act strange ever since they had found out they’d be participating in the Chunin Exam.
Perhaps it had to do with the plan or maybe it was something else completely different. Either way, she was worried, but she couldn’t voice her thoughts to him since she knew he’d never tell her anything. He never did.
Amane was sitting on one of the folding chairs on the balcony and so she was alone with her thoughts as she listened to the sound of the shower. It was almost soothing to her nerves but she was still anxious and would continue to be until later that night when she met up with Gaara. He hadn’t told her where to meet, but she had always been able to find him through his distinctive chakra.
She had removed her top shirt and it lay on the bed besides her along with her hitai-ate. Her long bangs fell around and into her face but she made no move to push the strands away. She was too engrossed in her thoughts so she didn’t even hear Amane reenter the room or Iwane leave the shower.
“Eizan-sama?” she heard one of them speak. Her eyes lifted to see the matching worried expressions on both girl’s faces.
A smirk spread over her lips as she stood. “Can’t I space out without you getting worried?” she asked before throwing her towel over her shoulder and entering the bathroom. “I’m next.” The door closed with a quiet click, but the two kunoichi continued to look after her with the same expression.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
There was a distinctive chill in the air over Konohagakure that night. The heavens had been painted black and dotted with pinpricks of light. The moon was full and provided illumination if any should happen to be outside.
The sound of a jutsu tearing through a roof had resounded through the night and two figures had jumped away from the destruction. One was a Suna-nin and the other was a leaf shinobi.
Baki cursed vehemently as he pursued the man. It was true what he had said that a blade of wind couldn’t be stopped, but he hadn’t expected the man to avoid it! The sand-nin was cursing his miscalculation of the younger man’s skills.
For a moment he wished he had allowed Kabuto to dispose of the leaf-nin, but he’d been confident enough that he’d be able to kill him. Now he was regretting his over confidence. He knew that he couldn’t allow the other man to escape after what he’d heard or their plans would fail.
A stroke of good luck hit as he noticed that they were headed in Gaara’s direction. Also, that another figure was moving over the rooftops and would meet up with them if both their paces continued. Baki felt relief flood through him when he saw that it was Ashikaga Eizan.
The Konoha shinobi stopped as he landed on the same roof as the younger ninja and turned so he could keep both of them in his sights. Eizan had stopped almost instinctively and looked from Baki to Hayate with a slightly confused expression.
“He knows about the plan,” Baki told her and she understood that he had to be dealt with.
She didn’t know what the plan itself was but that no one within Konoha must know about it. However, she didn’t wish to kill the man but would deal with him as Gaara had instructed.
Baki attacked the man and she jumped back and formed seals quickly. This was a jutsu that she’d learned through her father’s memories which had been intended only for a practical joke.
She’d modified it so that it would be useful in certain battles and now she’d see if it worked. She’d done this for a reason, but she’d never expected to ever use it.
‘Ninpou, Ten no Hi Yaiba.’ The jutsu shot toward them but Baki wasn’t able to get away in time. It hit both men head on.
Baki closed his eyes as he waited for death and after a moment where he felt nothing he opened his eyes. It was in time to see a dozen blades of fire hitting the leaf-nin and his screams of pain chilled him. He could only watch with eyes wide with horror as the man was reduced to chucks of flesh and blood, but even most of that was burned into only ash.
When it was all over he stumbled back as a wave of nausea washed over him and he fell on his ass. He covered his face with his hands as he tried to regain his equilibrium.
After a moment he looked to where the Jonin had once been but only parts of his bloodied Chunin vest, bits of clothing and his katana remained. The ground around where Hayate had been standing before had been badly scorched.
He took in several deep breaths and glanced over at Eizan. She had fresh blood smeared across her left cheek but she held a blank expression. As he watched, a smirk crossed over her lips as her tongue flicked out to the side of her mouth to lick the blood away before she turned and hopped away.
‘Bakemono,’ Baki could only think as he shuddered and quickly left the surrounding area before anyone came to investigate what the commotion had been about.
Meanwhile, Eizan darted out of a dark alley way and proceeded toward her meeting with Gaara. Her uneasy feelings hadn’t faded but she steeled her resolve. She was a shinobi and more importantly, Gaara’s tool. He would use her as he saw fit and she couldn’t say a thing since she’d pledged her loyalty and free-will to him long ago.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A lone figure was seen perched on the carp that had been carved into the roof’s design. In the moonlight his hair looked black as his turquoise orbs peered into the darkness. One knee was bent and held against his chest and the other leg hung slightly over the edge.
It was already three hours after dusk and Eizan appeared on the rooftop slightly below him. She was kneeling with her right knee and hand touching the ground beneath. It was quiet for several seconds before either of them spoke.
“Gaara-dono,” Eizan muttered as her bangs fell into her eyes to hide them from view. She didn’t say anything else to him and waited for the red head to acknowledge her.
She noticed that most of the roof had been damaged by something, and that there was a corpse that she identified as the Oto-nin that had passed onto the third part of the exam. Eizan knew it wasn’t wise to ask since tonight was a full moon and it was one of the times where Shukaku craved blood more than ever.
He finally turned to look at her and she saw that his eyes held no emotion in them. She should have been use to it by now but she couldn’t stop the shudder that went through her. There was something in them that caused that feeling of dread to return.
“Sunagakure will join Otogakure to destroy Konoha during the third part of the exam,” Gaara bluntly told her. He watched her face for her reaction and he saw surprise and horror. “You don’t approve?” The question was asked in the same monotone but she saw his eyes narrow.
Eizan let her face drop back down when she realized that he had seen the look on her face. The idea that Suna would attack Konoha with Oto was shocking. Also, she didn’t wish for that to happen since a lot of innocent people would die in the process, as well as ninja.
Naruto and Sasuke’s faces came unbidden to her mind as she stiffened. ‘What will happen to them?’
Not to mention her own teammates. If the attack took place then they would be targeted by leaf-nin when they weren’t even past the Genin level. She knew that it shouldn’t matter but whether she wanted to admit it or not, Amane and Iwane had become important to her.
To view them as human beings was a mistake for a ninja. It was more prudent for her to see all around her as potential enemies, but she was human in the end, they all were.
“Sumimasen, but it was just surprising,” she finally answered. It was a lie since she really didn’t approve as he had said.
Eizan knew that during the Shinobi Wars there had been many that had died. Even Academy students had perished as well as civilians. It had been nothing but death and sorrow in the end.
They had finalized the treaty and then Hi and Kaze no Kuni had become allies. Now they would break it and cause unnecessary bloodshed all over again.
Gaara watched her carefully and noticed when she had stiffened before she had answered him. He could tell that she didn’t want to be a part of a plan that would result in the death of so many.
‘She will only hinder your purpose,’ the voice of the Kazekage came back to him. ‘If you have no purpose then why are you alive?’
“There is a compromise between the two villages,” he spoke again. He watched as her face lifted once again. Gaara wanted to see the look on her face when he told her what her role would be.
“Oto will help Suna crush the leaf and then you will be given over to them.” He watched her face slacken with confusion and then her eyes widened almost comically, it almost made him laugh. “You’ve always wished to be wanted by someone.” He tilted his head slightly. “Now someone wants you.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The blonde shinobi paused in his training as he felt a shiver of power pass through the very air around him. He lifted his head and frowned as he tried to figure out what it was. Over the last months that Haku had been within Konoha he had been helping Naruto out in some areas he was lacking in. His aim had improved as well as his ability to sense chakra and even control his own.
“What the heck was that?” he mumbled to himself. The chakra signal had been strong and very close by, so he decided to investigate. He moved freely through the trees since he had already gotten the hang of tree climbing but there was still something wrong with his chakra. It had been that way ever since they had encountered that grass-nin.
Naruto came to stop in a clearing as he felt another pulse of power slam into him so he stumbled. He broke through the trees and froze.
A figure was on their hands and knees and chakra flowed around them like black fire. As he watched the person emitted another pulse and then the chakra manifested into wings of fire that spread five feet from their back.
The trees surrounding the person were eradicated into nothing but ash and the ground was scorched. It had even been necessary for Naruto to stumble back a few steps since the chakra had been a burning heat.
A few seconds later the chakra signature flickered and then died completely. The blonde could only stare at the person before moving toward them cautiously. He was six feet away when he recognized them and he rushed the rest of the way.
“Eizan-nii-san?” he called to the other “boy” and shook him slightly. He hissed as he pulled his hand away since the shirt had been burned away but not the chain mail shirt which had become super heated. Also, he realized something else. Eizan was a girl.
“Naruto-san?” she asked quietly, her voice breaking on a sob. She was still resting on her hands and knees and now she crumbled to the ground. “I...”
“What’s wrong?” he asked her. He hesitantly reached out and realized that the chain mail had cooled rapidly now that the chakra had faded from around her. “What happened?” When he pulled her up and against him she didn’t even struggle. Her whole body had gone completely limp.
Eizan lifted her head as tears spilled past her eyelids. “Naruto, I...wish I was dead,” she whispered.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
-An hour earlier-
“Nani?” she asked him as her dark eyes widened in shock. For a second she thought she had heard him wrong but she knew she hadn’t. “What are you talking about?”
Gaara had turned away by now and was looking out into the darkness once more. “Suna has agreed to give you to Oto in exchange for their help in crushing Konoha.”
Eizan felt her blood run cold at his words and then she was shaking her head. “I won’t go,” she growled. “I won’t let that bastard Kazekage trade me like a possession.”
The scarlet haired shinobi was quiet for a moment before he finally answered. “He isn’t the one trading you. I am.”
His words felt like a knife in her chest as she stared at him in disbelief. “Wakarimasen,” Eizan mumbled. She was stunned by his words. “I want to stay by your side.”
He shook his head. “I don’t want you near me. Why would I?” Gaara turned cold eyes on her now. “You’re useless and insignificant. Your very presence is stifling me.”
Eizan stared at him with wide eyes and didn’t even notice that she had stood up. The wind had picked up but she didn’t even feel it. Her dark orbs locked with his turquoise ones as he peered down at her from his perch. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out.
“Get out of my sight,” he finally told her and turned away. He didn’t even acknowledge her anymore as she remained where she was for a whole minute.
She turned away to hide the tears that had started to slide down her cheeks. “Sumimasen, Gaara-dono,” she choked out before she jumped down and disappeared into the darkened streets of the village.
When she had left Gaara turned to look at the place she had been standing in. His pale features were twisted into a frown and his hands were clenched into fists. “It...it’s for the best,” he told himself, but not even he believed it at the moment.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The raven haired preteen lifted his head as he saw a flash of blonde out of the corner of his eye. He turned expecting to see his teammate leaving the forest and was quite surprised at what he saw. It was Naruto but he held up another person slightly shorter than him.
It took Sasuke only a moment to realize that it was Ashikaga Eizan, the kunoichi from Suna. What he didn’t know was why Naruto was dragging her away from the forest in the middle of the night. He was more than curious and so he tailed them at a distance.
He followed until they reached Naruto’s apartment and he came to land on the roof and listened as they entered. The blonde’s voice was clear and he was asking her what had happened but he got no response.
After several attempts to get her to talk with no success, he left her alone, but Sasuke continued to listen. When a whole minute had passed without any movement he was about to leave, but paused as he heard something. Eizan was sobbing quietly.
The sound caused a chill to pass over him. She had appeared like a strong person ever since he had seen her, so he was a bit confused. Sasuke wondered what could have happened to have reduced her to tears.
When he left she was still crying, but it was getting to him. Besides, it was late. He shouldn’t have even been here because he needed to train hard for the third part of the exam.
Kakashi was over seeing his training since he had mastered the use of the Sharingan, and was the best qualified since there were no other users of the Uchiha bloodline. He wondered if Itachi and he would be the last ones to have the eyes, since their whole clan had been killed off.
Thinking of his brother made him remember the kunoichi’s words to him earlier that day. ‘The Itachi I knew would never have killed them.’ He would ask her what her words had meant but he knew that tonight wasn’t the best time to ask.
‘I wonder what happened,’ he couldn’t help but wonder. He knew that his question would remain unanswered since he wouldn’t ask. Besides, he had other more pressing questions, which included her relation with his past.
For now he turned away and hopped off the roof and headed toward his empty house. He would have preferred to keep on training but it was late and he had already pushed his body well past its present limits. Tomorrow was a new day and soon he would make sure to meet up with the Ashikaga female.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Amane and Iwane were frantic with worry since Eizan hadn’t come back in three nights since she had left to meet up with Gaara. They had tried to interrogate the red head but he hadn’t even paid them attention beyond telling them that he hadn’t seen her since that night. It went without saying that they suspected that he had done something to her, and they were terrified to think that he could have killed her.
If that were the truth then they’d do everything in their power to avenge her. Even if they died trying they were bound to Eizan by more than an oath. Eizan was one of the few friends they had ever had and weren’t willing to lose her to anything. They’d forsake their lives for hers.
It was almost the fourth night when they felt her chakra signature. They were flooded with relief and raced toward it. At the edge of the forest the two girls paused and glanced at each other before nodding and going in. It was several minutes before they reached the clearing her chakra was emanating from.
She was training and only briefly glanced at them and went back to what she had been doing. There was no indication from her that she’d ever been gone. However, they could see the shadows under her reddened eyes, which was from lack of sleep or tears being shed.
They waited until she spoke to them. It was obvious that she had let them feel her chakra for a reason. If not, then they would never have found her if she wanted it that way. Her chakra manipulation might be lower than Amane’s but her stealth skills were superior since she could expertly hide her chakra and even the most skilled shinobi wouldn’t be able to find her.
Finally, she spoke to them. “You won’t fight each other during the third exam,” she said without looking at them. “Suna will be aided by Oto to destroy Konoha, so you mustn’t reveal your abilities before the signal is given.”
The two older kunoichi were stunned and neither could say anything for a few seconds. “You will speak to no one of this. Not even among ourselves.”
Iwane opened her mouth to ask her where she’d been but the shorter girl cut her off before she could. “We will all participate in the third exam, but I suggest you plan your fight beforehand. Don’t reveal anything you haven’t already done and decide the winner among yourselves.”
She had returned to her training by now and didn’t even look at them anymore. “You are dismissed.”
They knew something was wrong, but also knew how stubborn Eizan was. If she didn’t want to tell them anything then nothing they said or did would make her talk. So retreating was the only thing they could do.
It was clear that what had transpired between Gaara and her that night had affected her greatly, but they wished they knew what it was. For now, all that could be done was to do as she instructed and trust that she would resolve it on her own.
“Hey, aren’t you those sand-nin that are going to be in the third exam?” a voice interrupted them as they exited the forest. There were three older ninja from Taki standing in front of them with matching smirks. The one that had spoken was the taller of them and had shoulder length brown hair.
“Are you sure that this test wasn’t rigged so the weakest teams were allowed to pass?” the one on the far right asked. There was a scar across the left side of his face and it looked like he had seen quite a bit of battles and missions.
“That way Konoha’s teams would appear stronger to the feudal lords.” The third one was the shortest and he was stout and had short black hair.
“Urusei,” the raven haired girl growled at him. “Get out of the damn way.” There was a dangerous edge to her voice that was alarming, but this time Amane didn’t interfere since she felt like killing something as well.
The one that had spoken first laughed harshly and reached out to grab the front of the shorter ninja’s shirt. “Who the hell do you think you’re talking to, pipsqueak?” he asked. He attempted to lift her off her feet to show how strong he was, but he wasn’t able to.
Iwane’s features twisted into a strange grin and she placed one hand over the one that held her shirt. “Didn’t your mother ever teach you to keep your hands to yourself?” she asked before bending his fingers back.
The Taki shinobi yelled as he felt his fingers break like they were twigs. He stumbled back and clutched his right hand in his left. “Bastard!” he yelled as his comrades moved to attack.
The Erizawa female gave a laugh as she closed her eyes and placed a hand over her face. “I’m only going to say this once...walk away,” she said, her voice lowering dangerously at the end. Her lids slid open and she peered through her fingers at them.
Amane would have suggested they listen but she only sighed and ran a hand through her brown hair. “Don’t kill them,” she muttered at her teammate.
“I ain’t making any promises,” she responded as she used her raised arm to block an attack from one of the other two ninja.
Her kick connected with his midsection as he stumbled back. She quickly formed seals and stamped her left foot before spikes made of solid earth sprung up from under the three ninja. They barely escaped with their lives but fell right into her Genjutsu.
Iwane let them experience Eizan’s ‘Chi-no-Ike Jigoku no Jutsu’ in the illusion. They collapsed and screamed in agony as they tried to tear out chucks of their own flesh. In the end, they passed out before they made themselves bleed to death.
The Itagaki had watched all that occurred and knew that Iwane was angry. If it had been any other time she might have chosen to ignore the ninja but they had been unfortunate to catch her in one of her bad moods. During those rare times she became cruel and sadistic.
Amane had chosen to merely watch instead of trying to control her, since she was also in a foul mood. They both felt like inflicting injury toward a certain red head but knew they couldn’t, so they chose to direct the anger toward anyone unfortunate enough to cross their paths.
“They’re just lucky I was feeling charitable today,” Iwane muttered before stuffing her hands into her pockets and walking off. Amane lifted an eyebrow and shook her head as she glanced at the unconscious shinobi. It didn’t seem like she had been charitable, but the Itagaki knew her words to be true. If not then they’d be dead.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Naruto glanced at the female that was sitting on the window sill and staring off into the darkness with a neutral expression. She had been staying in his apartment ever since he had found her in the woods a week ago and since then she hadn’t spoken about what had happened to her.
He didn’t want to push the issue but he wanted to know what had happened. Usually he didn’t have any tact at all, but after spending a lot of time with Haku he had started to learn a bit of restraint. Naruto knew that he was also improving thanks to the former mist-nin, and so he felt confident about facing Neji during the third exam.
“Ano, are you hungry?” he asked her as he walked into the living room. She had been leaning her head back against the window, but now she lifted it and turned her attention toward him. “I’m going to meet Iruka-sensei for ramen at Ichiraku. Would you like to come?”
A faint smile crossed her face but her eyes were dull. “Iie, but thank you for the offer, Naruto-san,” was her response. She returned her gaze outside after a moment and said nothing more.
Naruto hesitated before nodding. “Alright then, but you know where it is if you change your mind,” he said and tried to sound cheerful. “I’ll be back. Ja.” He waved at her as he left the room, grabbed his orange jacket and exiting the apartment.
Eizan sighed and turned to look around the empty room. When she had first gotten here there had been so much mess, but she had kept herself busy by cleaning up. She had also trained her taijutsu skills but decided not to do any chakra training.
She had always had a pretty good control of her chakra but lately that strange chakra had been overpowering her. Not to mention that every time she used her own the Ten no Juin caused her great pain. It was getting to a point that she didn’t know what to do or who to tell.
The only one that would be able to help her was Enoki but she didn’t want go to him for anything if she could help it. So, all she could do was deal with this by herself.
Her ears perked as she thought she heard something but continued to peered outside the window. A moment later she felt a very faint and familiar chakra. “Don’t you know it’s bad manners to enter someone else’s home without permission, Uchiha-san?” she asked without turning around.
Sasuke smirked and stepped out of the shadows of the hallway that led into Naruto’s bedroom. “I never learned any good manners.”
Eizan chuckled slightly. “Hai, but I don’t think Mikoto-san was to blame for that,” she responded back. She heard his intake of breath and knew she’d gotten his attention once again.
“Who are you?” he asked her bluntly. He had waited a whole week and now he wanted answers. “What do you know about Itachi?”
She sighed and rested her head back against the window sill. “As annoying as you were back then,” she muttered but decided to tell him something or he’d never leave her alone. “I knew you, Itachi and your parents. So I can honestly say that I don’t believe that he killed anyone.” She turned to lock her gaze on him. “I don’t know why you would think he did.”
“Why should I believe you?” he demanded. His eyes narrowed and seemed to burn into her.
She merely smirked back at him, but the raven haired boy saw that her opaque eyes didn’t change. “Because when he looked at you I saw the same look that was in my Aniki’s eyes,” she simply said. Her gaze went back to staring outside. “You just had to look close enough.”
Sasuke was quiet for several seconds as he digested what she had told him. He had never really wanted to believe that his beloved brother had killed his parents and destroyed everything he loved. All he had thought about for so long now was avenging his family and killing Itachi. That was the only thing that had driven him to keep living. Now, he wasn’t so sure that what he believed was true.
“I don’t believe you,” he finally told her. He watched her closely for her reaction but she didn’t even turn to look at him when she responded.
“Then don’t.” She stood and glanced at him for a moment and then walked toward the bedroom. “I wonder if Itachi still wears that necklace I gave him,” she muttered before the door closed with a quiet click.
Sasuke watched her leave and then turned to look at where she had been sitting. The wood had been worn down and it looked like someone had been tearing pieces away. He frowned slightly as he saw faint traces of blood. Naruto came to mind first but they looked recent and so that only left Eizan.
Again he wondered what had happened to her the other night to have reduced her to tears. He wasn’t so cruel as to throw it in her face, but it was very tempting after the way she had taunted him with the information concerning Itachi.
It infuriated him that she had known him during the time he had been a carefree, ignorant child. That she had known his brother before he had become a murderer in Sasuke’s eyes, and his parents before they had been slaughtered.
He briefly wondered if she knew who might have killed them but dismissed the thought. She wouldn’t be so cruel as to hide something of that magnitude from him, and yet Sasuke wasn’t so sure.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Gaara watched the Uchiha leave the apartment and felt his blood boil. He wanted to kill the leaf-nin more than ever but decided to wait. After all, he’d have more than enough time during the third exam.
He turned his attention to the apartment and disappeared in his sand and reappeared outside of the window. Using just a bit of chakra to keep him from slipping off but not give him away, he listened to what was going on inside.
The red head had tried to keep away from the kunoichi but he had always found himself on the rooftop every single night since she had started staying here. At first he had felt something darker than anger and had almost gone in and taken her out.
However, he had been reminded that all this was for his reason to live. She was interfering with his purpose and had to be removed from his sight. Oto had provided him with the best solution, and that way he wouldn’t have her anywhere near him. He would continue taking lives and feeling alive.
Although, Gaara wondered why it made him feel like he was tearing a part of himself out.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Are you ready?” Amane asked her seriously.
Iwane bit her bottom lip nervously and nodded. “H-Hai, I think so,” she muttered.
The two girls were facing each other and they twisted their bodies back. The third exam was tomorrow and now they would decide who would win the match. It was strange but they had no other way to decide.
“Okay, ready” the Itagaki announced as she felt a drop of sweat roll down her shoulder blades. “Go!” She threw her hand forward as her teammate did the same.
“Hell yeah, I win!” Iwane’s hand was spread out and Amane’s was curled into a fist. “Paper covers rock,” she said with a grin that didn’t reach her eyes.
Amane groaned. “I hate Janken,” she muttered. “I never win.”-
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Translations:
1. Ninpou, Ten no Hi Yaiba: lit. “Fire Blades of Heaven”.
2. Wakarimasen: I don’t understand.
3. Janken: Japanese version of rock-paper-scissors.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
End Chapter Nineteen