Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Through the Darkness ❯ Preparing to Depart ( Chapter 1 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Kana is informed that she will leave in a few days, and be escorted to Konohagakure no Sato (The Village Hidden Among the Tree Leaves) by young genin. Her mother believes it best, for her own protection. For Kana, the prospect of leaving the place that reminds her too much of the people she has lost, is wonderful. But will she fit in? Before she leaves she is assigned many chores, and unfortunately comes down with an illness. Will she be able to complete all the chores in time?! And will her younger brother, Akira, be capable of parting with her?

Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Fantasy / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Self Insertion | Uploaded On: 09.03.2006 | Pages: 7 | Words: 6.5K | Visits: 343 | Status: Completed

Disclaimer: I do not own the Manga or Anime Naruto, or the characters contained within it. It belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. However, the character Teitoku Kanako and the other made-up characters contained within this story belong to me.

Through the Darkness

Chapter 1 - Preparing to Depart

Birds mingled in the cerulean sky above, gray clouds impending above, threatening at any moment to pour down their wrath. With the sun melting behind the horizon, the day was coming to a conclusion. That the night would be long and silent.

As far as the dying melody of the birds, you'd much rather continue to hear it's annoying chirping than the cold, hard tone of the woman towering over you.

“It's early still, but I think it would be for the wiser if you were moved away from this house. For your own safety.”The feminine voice informed, as the amber-haired woman professionally addressed the situation, her hazel eyes condescending.

You on the other hand who had inherited her hazel eyes had no hint of confidence nor superiority within your eyes. Instead there was sadness, and regret in the place of a spirit that use to exist.

“Hai...”

She nodded,“I hired shinobi from the neighboring country to come, retrieve and escort you. You'll stay in Konoha, where you'll be protected.”She paused for a moment, pulling an envelope out of thin air, her dainty fingers shoving it into your face,“This letter is addressed to the Hokage, Tsunade. Make sure that she gets it. It explains the entire situation.”

“But.. Th-these... Shinobi.... What level are they...?”You asked timidly, chancing a glance into her hardened face, which seemed to resent your very presence before her.

“They are Genin.”

The tone of her voice told you that she didn't want to pay for anything more expensive than the lowest level of shinobi... Yet, still, hadn't she explained the whole situation to the Hokage? If so, then wouldn't ANBU or at least Jounin be more fitting? Even a Chuunin would stand a far better chance then Genin!

`She didn't tell the Hokage the entire story....' You deduced,`So she only had to pay for Genin. So not only does she risk their life, but she risks mine too...'

“Alright....”You averted your gaze from her's, feeling it for the better.

A distant smile danced across her lips, and the glint in her eye announced the subject was closed as she sealed the conversation with,“Get your chores done then start packing. They'll be here in a few days.”

You followed her movements, rotating your head a bit, watching as she strode over to the double rice paper doors, slid each one open, then departed, leaving behind a sort of lingering awkward silence.

`So... I'll be leaving.'

For a few minutes, you mused the thought of belonging somewhere finally. In Konoha no one would ever know what made you so unique. Not a single person could ever guess why your mother loathed you so. Your secrets would remain that, and no one would ever know, and you'd be normal.

`I'll hide away the things that make me different, and I'll fit in there.'

Shuffling across the deck, you made your way to the door concealing a hidden world of darkness. Within there was nothing but the abyss, an endless sanctuary for your grief. The windows were covered in a sheaf of paper, multiple layers taped over to cover any particle of light that might escape.

Closing the door with a tight, secure ` thunk', you scuttled over toward your futon, kneeling down into the bedroll and wrapping the comforter around you, lost within the comfortable woolen sheets.

Shutting your eyes, you allowed your vulnerable consciousness to be swept away by the darkness..... Into the world of dreams, and distant memories.....

~~~

Your short, fumbling fingers tried valiantly to scrub the blood and dirt from the pale ivory cloth, but so far it had been to no avail. Besides that, your flesh had become rather wrinkly, or, as your immature mind like to think, “prune-y”.

“Is she making you do chores, again?”

With a jerk, you looked up, finding your sister's bored obsidian eyes delving in your very soul. It infuriated you how she was able to, with a simple gaze, unnerve you so easily.“No! I wanted to help!”

A lie. If you told her the truth, Sayo would resent your mother even more. Lately the hostility between the two of them had been getting worse, both lashed out at each other constantly.

She could see through the lie though, and she acknowledged your weak attempts to keep the family together.“Very well.”Arms crossed over her chest, she shifted her glance back to the conversation between your mother and the landlord. It wouldn't be long before the house was lost.

“Mm... It'll work out,”Your seven-year-old voice assured quietly.“Momma is just under stress. It's not that she doesn't love us.”

It wasn't that Sayo doubted it. She knew very well how much stress your mother had been under, and acknowledged it, too. However, Sayo wasn't so naive to think that stress was the only problem. No one knew better than her how much people with Bloodline Limits were hated. That was a much larger part of the problem, hatred, jealousy, and disdain.

“Just stress....”You muttered again with a firm nod of the head as you returned to the chore of washing the clothes.

Without your knowledge of it, Sayo disappeared sometime when you were cleaning, for when you looked up to announce you'd finished, she was gone. It seemed your older sibling was back to her old antics of contemplating a way for the both of you to escape the hell your mother had put you in. The same one you'd been in since your father died three years ago.

~~~

Aroused from your sleep by a knock at the door, you shunted the warmth of the covers away, escaping from the embrace of distant memories, to answer the call,“Mmph?”

“You have chores to do.”Your mother's voice reminded distantly, waves of her arrogant, curt tone passing through the rice-paper.“Get to it.”Moments later, you heard footsteps as she began to fade away into the distance.

The night had already passed so suddenly, and yet still you felt so entirely exhausted. Despite that fact, you raised yourself and readied for the work without a lick of breakfast. What with the money as tight as it was, one meal a day was all the family could afford.

Soon now, you would be out of this place, and somewhere else, anyways.

`To Konoha.... To a place better.... Somewhere I'll belong.'

_________________________________________________________________ _____________

Darkness had long ago descended over the sky, and the sun had already sunk in the horizon. The picturesque view was almost enough to make one swoon, if they weren't still up and moping about a cold, like you were.

What a terrible time for a sickness to overcome you, too. The Genin from Konoha would be here any day, in the next three days in fact, and you weren't at all prepared to be traveling.

`Always.... Always at the worst times....' You thought grudgingly.

Besides that, your chores had seemingly multiplied. Your mother wanted the entire place spic-and-span, and she had absolutely no sympathy for your illness. That, and your pace had decreased due to the constant sneezing, coughing, and other wise loss of your daily meal.. (Vomiting)

With a groan and another attempt to muster your strength you lifted to your feet, running the dampened rag across the floor, your feet majestically gliding against it as you deftly swiped all particles of dirt and dust from every crack in the wooden panels. Immediately afterward, though, you fell on your rear end, breathing heavily after your great feat.

`This is going to take all night...'

The exact same process was repeated all night, as you somehow managed to keep preoccupied and awake by fooling yourself into thinking there would be less work tomorrow...

_________________________________________________________________ ___________

Peeking out cautiously, the sun was assured that it's arrival was needed before even beginning to spread it's wings. Rays of amber brushed across the land, illuminating the beauty of the country.

Subject to it's cruel and unwelcome awakening, your unconscious body roused from it's sleep, tired eyes peering open. Sometime last night your body had collapsed on you, and the inevitable fact that you would sleep overwhelmed you.

“Here's a list of what I want done today.”Without even so much as a concern about how her daughter looked, your mother brushed past you briskly, leaving you with a three-foot long list of more chores.

`There are... More chore...?'

You thought ruefully as you shoved the parchment into one of the many pockets on your attire, before lifting your exhausted body to it's haunches, where you became very well aware of how dizzy you were.

`Work....'

The reminder tasted bitter, but you gritted your teeth and raised completely on your trembling legs. There was also your departure soon to look forward to, so your resolve had to be strong, and your illness the least of your worries.

For two hours you washed dishes, cleaned clothes, dried clothes, and folded the clothes. This was the normal, daily routine. Where as, the extra chores on your list would take up at least seven hours of the day...

It was sometime in the evening when you finished everything. So far your mother hadn't requested anything extra, but as you were finished tending to the garden, you heard her approaching footsteps.

Instead of trying to avoid her as you had yesterday by hiding away in your room until she forcefully dragged you out, you submitted and took a seat on the deck, leaning against one of the pillars holding the overhang above you.

“Nechan?”A curious voice inquired, making you crane your head in surprise to find the mysterious visitor.

Your gaze rested on the chestnut-haired boy, head inclined and eyes filled with concern. Despite being relieved that it was he instead of your mother, you noticed the rolled scroll in his hand, signifying she'd sent the boy to do her bidding instead this time.

Instead of handing it over to you, he shuffled over and took his seat beside you, leaning forward, chin on his hands. The silence was comfortable, and you took a break in it, forgetting his presence.

The foreboding darkness was lulling you into it's clutches, and you would've obliged if not for your brother's pleading voice pulling you away.

“Yes..?”

He furrowed his brows, concerned etched on every feature of his young, ten-year-old face.“Those shinobi will arrive tomorrow. We got a letter from them stating such, so Okasan wants you to get packing tonight.”He waved the rolled up paper to signal that it was the letter.

“Arigatoo...”Your eyes softened as you took to your feet, deciding that you would sleep now and pack tomorrow.“Oyasuminasai.”

He nodded only slightly with a bitter look on his face as you glided off back toward your room.

You neglected shutting the door, or even removing your working clothes as you settled into the futon. Tomorrow you would worry about your carelessness, but right now, sleep seemed far more important....

`Sleep....'

At the very thought you were swept away into the unconscious void. Memories seemed to flutter from the depths of your mind, amplified by your imagination to seem almost a reality. It seems that even in your sleep you would be reminded, once again, of the past.

It was some time in the afternoon when you were aroused from your sleep, some rude person shaking your shoulders violently. A light was blaring into your eyes, too, which was funny considering your windows were taped over. Not only that but you didn't have a lamp... So what was the light...?

A lantern, one which illuminated the face of your younger brother. Instead of his usual submissive and pessimistic expression his face was solemn, completely devoid of any negative emotions. He was entirely, and completely emotionless.

“What..?”You whispered cautiously, as if disturbing the silence would be a sin.

“They're here...”

With a groan of frustration at the fact that you were still sleepy, you lifted up on your elbows,“Do we leave right away?”

He shook his head slowly,“You don't understand.”

You quirked at eyebrow, your face crinkling into confusion. What in the seven hells did he bloody mean by you didn't understand? Of course you did! The shinobi from Konoha were here and it was time to go.“I'll get ready and meet them...”

“No.”

His sharp reply surprised you.“What?”

“Not the Konoha shinobi. It's them.”

A gasp slipped through your lips, as a needle of fear embedded it's poisonous serum into your system. It didn't take but a mere second for the emotion to course throughout your entire body, affecting your muscles, nerves, and even your thoughts.“Th-them?! A-Akira.. Are you... Are you sure that it's them?”Your voice had a tremor.

He nodded in affirmation,“Yes...”

Your head lowered and your gaze fell to the floor. Gritting your teeth, and attempting to hold back tears which had already begun to fill your tear ducts, your mind searched tirelessly for a brilliant idea.

“Nechan?”

His curious voice prompted you to lift your head, only enough to catch a glimpse of his curious obsidian eyes that held no sense of fear as yours did.

“Don't be afraid...”The obsidian-eyed boy's lips perched into a smile,“I think Okasan can take care of tax collectors.”

`Tax collectors..?'

Your right eye twitched and your jaw dropped in a comical manner. A vein popped onto your forehead. Feeling suddenly livid with your younger sibling, you raised a fist to his face,“Akira!!”

“K-Kana.... I-I... D-didn't you kn-know I m..meant the t-tax collectors?”The look of bewilderment on his face prompted a calmness to overcome the anger.

With a heavy sigh, you resigned to dropping your arm at your side and smiling in apology,“Gomen, Akira. You caught me a bit off-guard. I thought you were talking about... Someone else.”

He responded with a slight nod.

“When will the Konoha Genin be here?”

The auburn-haired boy shrugged.“I'm not sure, Nechan. Don't you need time to pack, anyways?”

“Yes... I still need to pack. Please, tell me when they arrive?”With a bow of the head you stood to your feet.

Soon after he followed suit, returning to his own bony legs.“Hai!”He dipped his chin in reply, turning to take his leave when he suddenly paused,“Ara! Nechan...”Facing your direction once more, he presented you with some sort of package and held it out to you.

“What's that?”

Cradled in the palms of his hands was a small package that extended to fit the length of his digits. Dark crimson paper decorated with strange, exotic symbols was wrapped around the rectangular object.“It's for you.”

Cautiously, you accepted the gift, holding it delicately in your hand and observing the intricate patterns on the paper covering it. Returning your brother's gaze, you gained approval to open the package.

“O-Okay..”Running your finger along the taped seam, you tore through the tape constricting the paper shut. Shedding the wrapping, you recovered a hard-shelled box of ashen color.

Akira simply grinned, revealing his shimmering ivories.“Go on, Nechan.”

Your head bobbed hesitantly as you unlatched the lock and drew the object open, revealing a long golden band, the length of two of your fingers. Also, due to the thin opening, you could safely assume it was not meant to be used as a ring, nor a bracelet. Beside this object was what appeared to be a barrette, two enlarged beads resting on it, snow-white feathers connected to them. A green symbol was etched on the surface of the plum-colored beads.

“Those are the hair pieces that Obachan use to wear. Kasan says that Otosan intended to pass it down to Sayo, she being the oldest, but... Now you're the single heir to the Teitoku Clan... So... It belongs to you!”

You peered over at your younger sibling with slight confusion,“Kasan let you give this to me?”

The smile faded away from his lips and his head lowered,“Well, no...”

“What?”

“Actually, I sort of stole it...”He fidgeted, a bit nervous that you would tattle on him for his crime.

Your eyes widened and your jaw hung slightly ajar in surprise,“Akira..?”

“G-gomen... But she was going to sell it!”He argued, as if you'd scolded him for the act of stealing.“And I know you wouldn't want her to get rid of every last piece of Otosan's memory! Besides, Sayo—”

`He stole this... For me..?'

“And---”

You threw your arms around your sibling's neck, pulling him into a full contact embrace,“Arigatoo, Akira!”

He, in return, struggled in your arms,“Men don't get hugs from their older sisters. Stop, nechan!”

`He's pretending to be grown up....'

With a whole-hearted smile you released your brother.

“Hmpf.”He dusted himself off, wearing the expression of perturbation.“I was fine with just `arigatoo'.”

Bidding him a goodbye, you turned to your packing. Considering your lack of significant items and clothing, there would be little work to do. Before your father passed away, you had many beautiful kimonos. All of these had been sold for money that your mother indulged in, leaving you with absolutely nothing, however, save for three outfits. These ended up fitting perfectly in the larger compartment of your backpack.

`Significant items....?'

With sagging shoulders, you realized that each of those had been sold as well. The only object of importance you truly had left was the gift your brother had presented to you.

Carefully, you tucked the hard-shelled box in between the clothing you'd already stored away, praying that it would keep safe during your journey. Perhaps once you arrived in Konoha you would learn how to properly insert these hair decorations.

“Kana!”An assertive feminine voice bellowed.

Reluctantly, you snatched up your backpack, and throwing it over your shoulder trudged in the direction of the front door, assuming that was where your mother had been calling from.

Standing in front of the half-closed sliding door, the hazel-eyed female glared at you and snapped,“What took you so long?”

“Gomen, I had just finished packing,”You replied, bowing your head in apology.

She shrugged off your apology, and excuse, thrusting the wooden sliding door open to reveal three figures.

“Kon'nichi wa!”A genial female greeted, her eyes half-crinkled shut in a pleasant expression of what appeared to be joy. Tresses of roseate fell around her gentle complection, and her face was set by two emerald eyes. Her attire wasn't very significant, being a maroon colored dress with dark shorts beneath, and a backpack connected to her shoulders.“I'm Haruno Sakura..”

Nodding your head in greeting, you turned your gaze to the other figures to observe their appearances.

One appeared obnoxious and arrogant, with an overly bright orange suit that had the potential to burn one's eyes. It was as if you were looking directly into the sun's glare at noon... His expression was anything less than pleasant, being, perhaps, a bit smug. Golden hair framed his tanned cheeks, which appeared to have strange markings upon them, and azure eyes were set on fire with determination.“And I'm Uzumaki Naruto!”

Feeling a bit unsure now, due to the fact that these shinobi didn't appear very strong, you turned your gaze in the direction of the final person.

Obsidian eyes clashed with your own, darkness littering the entirety of the person's pupil. Tendrils of ebony hair fell around a handsome face, carrying a midnight hue. Thin, pale lips were set into a grim expression. Hands were shoved into the pockets of his attire, which were fairly simple, and stood out far less than his companions. For a moment, you awaited their lips to move, to tell give a name to their appearance.

“We'll be escorting you to Konoha, Kana-san.”The female by the name of Sakura said, interrupting the silence.

“Take this.”Your mother interjected, shoving a letter into your hands,“You forgot it when I gave it to you. That's important. Don't lose it, and don't open it.”

“H-hai.”Retrieving the letter, you placed it safely within the pocket of your capris.

“And.. I imagine you'll want this.”

In her hand was a picture, encased in a wooden frame. However, it was no ordinary picture which she held, but rather one that carried two familiar faces. Held in the embrace of your ivory-haired father was both you and your sister. At this time, Sayo's unruly snow-white hair only extended to her chin, while the locks of your colorless hair poured down to your waist. A smile was etched on the lips of each one of you.

`Tosan... Nechan...'

“Well? Take it!”

Snatching it from her hands as she had commanded, you buried the picturesque object against your chest and shuffled out toward the three shinobi, suddenly feeling a bit nervous after the scene.

“Nechan! Mate!”Your brother's pleading voice called out as the seven-year old shot past his mother without even a glance at her and ran straight into your back, throwing his arms around your waist.“Don't leave me!”