Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Kyuushuu Fujin ❯ The Price ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Ch.2-The PriceIkouze's heart pounded in her ears.She tried the pry the arm off of her shoulder,but the purple haired Anbu crouching beside her had an iron grip.The eye holes on his mask must have had a distortion jutsu on them,because they blurred everytime Ikouze tried to get some detail of the his face.Trying to calm herself,Ikouze looked around the yard.The chickens were all in their coop,except for the old blind hen.She had curled up into a barrel.Her dog,Yuuto,was pacing in front of his doghouse.His lead was stretched as far as it would go,as he tried to force his way to the house.The sound of creaking floorboards made Ikouze turn her head back towards the house.Another Anbu,a woman this time,exited the house."Ah good,Monkey-San.Is that the girl?"She asked calmly,walking towards them."Huh."Monkey nodded,standing up.He pushed Ikouze into a walk with his large palm."Forward.""What's going on?"Ikouze asked,unaware that she was simply asking stupid questions.The Anbu would never speak to a civilian unless it was needed.The two adults ignored Ikouze,both keeping their heads turned forward.The scene upon walking into the house was tense.Several more Anbu stood along the walls of the living room.One of them abruptly dissapeared causing Ikouze to gasp."The Shunshin no Jutsu!I didn't even notice that guy gathering chakra."She thought,gaping at the spot until she felt herself being pulled to the kitchen.Immediately her heart dropped.Her mother stood at the table,almost in tears.Three identical glares were sent Ikouze's way from her cousins,along with a tired look from her father."Fujiwara Ikouze,you are charged with two counts of thievery and one count of evidence disposal."Said the Anbu still holding onto her."What!?"Ikouze yelled angrily,balling her fists."Monkey-San said that he saw a girl steeling from Inoue Nishizaki's fruit stand.It is now confirmed that you are that girl."Said the female Anbu."That is correct."Monkey said,peering down at Ikouze."I witnessed you steeling Nishizaki-San's merchandise.I then followed you here under guise of a Kawarimi.I saw you throw the second apple in the trash,for reasons I do not understand.It it a shame.You steel for food,and then throw it away like it was nothing."Ikouze glared at Monkey,realizing that all of this was completely obsurd.She hadn't stolen anything,especially not food DURING Senshi no Shin."That's a lie!"She shouted,pulling away from Monkey's grip."Please confiscate that basket,Carp-San."Monkey said,as the previously Shunshined away Anbu appeared besides Ikouze,and pulled the basket off her shoulder."Now,please hand me the basket."Carp walked to Monkey,and handed him the basket.Nodding his approval,Monkey quickly turned his head to Ikouze,purple hair flopping with the sharp turn. In one fluid movement,Monkey opened the basket,revealing the red apple sitting on top."If you say you didn't do it,please explain this?"Monkey drawled,as he sat the opened basket on the table.Ikouze's eyes bulged as she stared,before they narrowed in realization.She had left that very basket with Reiko most of the day,while she went off to do her own shopping.How could she have been so stupid as to leave the basket behind?Her teachers always said that observation was key to being a Ninja.It was her fault for not realizing something like this sooner."What I can't understand is why this Monkey guy is saying I stole apple's from Nishizaki-San.If he saw Reiko stealing the apples,then why didn't he go after Rei?"Ikouze thought,still not comprehending the situation.The incrimination was there.Ikouze's family looked intensely at the Anbu,worried for what was to come.The Anbu stood observant,barely moving a muscle.Ikouze was lost in the world of her mind."Carp-San,"Monkey said quietly."Please tell the Fujiwara Clan of their payment options.""Hai,Taichou."Carp said,dutifully."As negotiated with the Raikage's brother,we have come to the option of letting one Fujiwara Ikouze off with light punishment.There is a choice between the two punishments,due to different financial districts.This being the lower income district.The chosen punishment must be completed by tomorrow at 4:30 PM.No exceptions."Ikouze let out a light sigh.Of course Kirabi would be easier on the children of the village.Carp became silent as he was handed a scroll by a bird-masked Anbu.He peeled away the wire ribbon,and coughed."The first option for the crime committed against Inoue Nishizaki is a strictly cash payment of 500,000 yen(Approximately $5,000 US dollars.)...."The room grew a bit colder as the words sunk in."We don't have that kind of money!"Kezaku,Ikouze's father yelled,banging his meaty fists on the table.His eyes looked like poison in that moment.It was also at that moment that Ikouze realized,even Kirabi couldn't get someone off of punishment that easily."What's my other option?Other option!What is it?"Ikouze thought franticaly.They could never make 500,000 yen by tommorow.Hell,not even in 6 months!"The second option for the crime committed against Inoue Nishizaki is the "donation" of one hand from the perpetrater to the Kumogakure medical vaults."Carp said.Ikouze closed her eyes,relieved.All she had to do was help out in the medical vaults.."We're low on reusable....body parts."Carp finished,walking over to the majority of the Anbu.Ikouze's youngest cousin shrieked."H-hand?What kind of people are you!?You're SICK,AND TWISTE-mhmmhhhg!"Ikouze's mother,Risako,covered the child's mouth.Instead of backing down from the Anbu,Risako continued on for the little girl.Barely in a calmer manner."Now listen here!There must be some kind of law against this.Ikouze is just a child.Especially during this time of year,children will get hungry and steel.Let me talk with the Raikage's brother!I'll get to the bottom of this!"She shouted,face turning red from anger.Monkey turned to leave."This is final.If we do not get the money by tomorrow at 4:30 PM,we will be forced to take your daughters hand.If you wish to willingly give the hand,we will be waiting at the hospital.Reservation for the hand's confiscation will be made.Please check in under Fujiwara Ikouze.Good night,Fujiwara Clan."Monkey replied,leading his team out the door.In one flickering movement,the Anbu all disappeared.Ikouze felt sick all of a sudden.Her face was paled out except for her flushed cheeks.The stinging in the back of her eyes wouldn't go away,not until her mouth,eyes,and nose had also turned dark red.Kezaku watched his daughter start to cry.He wanted to do something for her,but wasn't sure if it would be right in the current situation."Aahhhhh!"Ikouze screamed,running for her room.Risako began to cry also,standing in her spot.A look of determination passed over the woman's face as she tried to still herself."Kezaku!"She said firmly,looking at her distraught husband.She moved her hand onto his,and her face softened."Yes?"He whispered,hesitantly,hating the look in the woman's eye.She then looked over at the other children."You all go on up to your rooms...and don't bother her...please.Now!"The kids scrambled,and ran down the hallways.Kezaku knew far to well what that meant."You know what we need to do now."Risako stated,closing her eyes tightly."I will not have the village thinking we are common thieves.Ikouze will be on her own for a year.I need you to go to the market tomorrow and pick up supplies for her trip.We will only give her immediately needed supplies.Stop by the bank,pick up 3,000 yen(300 US dollars).The month is almost up,and it's all we have left.Please don't forget to also buy equipment from Harada's.I don't want my daughter dead after this.You should have about 1,000 yen(100 US dollars)left over."Risako warned,before marching over to the liquor cabinet."Alright..."Kezaku trailed off,before asking his wife."Do you think she'll be alright?"Risako stared at her reflection in the window.The Umeshu(sweet liquor)bottle in her hand glistened a soft gold."Umeshu...?"Risako asked,holding up the bottle.