dizzyaddy

[dizzyaddy]

hi loves! i’ve decided to discontinue this story on tumblr, seeing as my vision for the plot had changed and it would be too much to completely redo it on this app.

BUT i do have an account on wattpad with the refurbished version, called “dawn after dark!”

my username is @bugbrained and if you enjoyed this story so far, it’s even better on wattpad! thank you for your support my loves, have a goodnight👼🏼🫶🏼✨

[dizzyaddy]

drowning - naruto x oc part 13

( i do not own any naruto characters, only the original characters)

“oh kami, i think im gonna be sick,” akimitsu said from behind me, the panic evident in his usually placid voice. i turned my head to catch a glimpse of him slightly hunched over, his hand now tightly clasping his mouth. shisori sat smugly beside him, rubbing his back soothingly while an expression of concern ran across her paled face.

“deep breaths,” she said with a soft voice, prompting me to roll my eyes and momentarily stop my rowing.

“we’re gonna reach the island in just a couple of hours. worst comes to worst, you vomit into the ocean. now pull yourself together, ōkī otoko,” i said plainly, turning my head back in front of me and picking up my rowing. my arms were sore and stiff, exhausted of this repetitive movement i had increasingly picked up the pace of over the past few hours, and my hands were starting to sprout blisters as the oar handles continued to rub then raw.

“i would like to, but it’s not that easy, lady kyō,” he said with a grunt before vomiting over the side of the boat with an explicit sound.

“you could have a little compassion you know,” shisori muttered under her breath, continuing to rub his back.

“we’re almost to our destination and you want me to have compassion? please stop humoring me, shisori,” i said plainly before hearing her groan in frustration.

“you always do this,” she said whilst crossing her arms. “kami forbid we aren’t perfect, unlike you.” she sneered.

“i’m not asking for perfection. please do not forget i only have one thing in mind, and that is this mission’s success. this is not the time for a teen romance,” i said sharply before slowing down my movements from exhaustion.

“you wouldn’t know anything about it, so stop speaking on things you know nothing of,” she replied just as sharp, as her voice grew in agitation. i closed my eyes and took a deep breath before turning my head slightly so i could see her from the corner of my eye.

“you are right, i know nothing of it. but this whole time while you two have been coveting? i’ve been doing all the work. i would like to trust tsunade sama’s judgment, but i can’t help but feel as if she has made a mistake making you come along,” i said passively before turning back around and picking up my rowing, ignoring the burning radiating from my hands.

“you know, i’m also having doubts about her judgement. because clearly she was lacking the words to explain that you are an entitled bitch,” she said with haste and venom, as if she had been itching to say it for some time.

“now shisori, i don’t think-“ akimitsu started to interject before he was interrupted by his own hiccup, to which he had to clasp his hand back over his mouth.

“if that is what it takes for you to grow up and simply do your job, then so be it. i have only asked of you to stop being a child and focus on your mission, and if that is too hard for you, then you have no business being a kunoichi,” i said as i furrowed my brows and gazed ahead of us. the crystalline sea reflected the sky above as a perfect picture was presented, the powdered and wispy clouds gracing us with their presence as if they were ancient gods directing us. the vastness of the sea would have been overwhelming if i hadn’t been so determined to simply reach our destination. as if right on que, i heard akimitsu vomit again behind me as i heard shisori’s now shrill voice try to comfort him.

the rest of the trip was held in a cramped silence, the two not interjecting once the rest of the way. i kept to myself and didn’t bother looking at either of them, continuing my rowing and only taking a break when i couldn’t go any further. eventually, after a dreadful few hours, we reached the island that had taken us a merely a week to come by. beyond a bank of powdered sand, there was a plethora of compacted, lush green trees that encased the rest of the island within its beauty. the clouds above had almost completely dissipated, leaving the abundant sunshine to be casted directly onto the flourishing land that was slowly coming into full view.

my heart was beating more than i would like to admit, as i felt my tiresome fingers twitch with excitement. i slowed my rowing and exhaled deeply upon acknowledging the divine sight, a sense of longing familiarity noticeably approaching me. it almost felt as if my breath had betrayed me and escaped from my lungs the longer i stared at the heavenly scene, completely mesmerized by the sight. ‘i wish sen were here to see this,’ i thought to myself as my eyes welled up with lone tears, and i felt a strong sense of pride course through me. pride in the irrevocable fact that this sacred land withholds my origins and clan secrets, both of which were arduously necessary for sen’s salvation. i inhaled a shaky breath before a foreign smile graced my lips, and i felt as if some of the weight on my chest had dissipated. i blinked away my tears before noticeably picking up the pace of my rowing.

“thank kami, about-,” akimitsu started saying before being interrupted by his own hiccup. “excuse me, about time.”

“what are we doing here again?” shisori asked with an edge present in her voice.

“you will see,” i replied nonchalantly, my lips slightly curling up upon hearing her groan in response.

the two continued to talk excitedly behind me while we rapidly closed in on the island, and i could barely contain myself. once we were close enough, i hopped out of the boat and nearly gasped as i felt the crystal cool water come up to my thighs, instantaneously soothing my tiresome limbs. i exhaled whilst looking down and watched in delight as the ripples in the water reacted to my touch, the clear liquid mesmerizing me. i told shisori to come out and she did so, but not without agitation of course. once she was in the water, we both grabbed each side of the boat and brought it onto the shore, leaving a slightly bashful akimitsu in its wake. i stepped on various sea shells along the way, each one digging into my foot, imprinting its existence onto me almost as a reminder. as i got out of the water, i slowly spun around as i took in the most ethereal view.

“i can see why this is in the middle of nowhere, it’s beautiful,” i heard akimitsu state, rising out of the boat wearily and balancing onto shisori’s arm, which she had kindly lended to him. after his feet had touched the powdered sand, he soon collapsed on his back. shisori had yelped in surprise, but he waved it off whilst stating that he felt much relieved.

“hai, untouched by any outside for centuries, or so they say,” i said before i dug my feet into the sand, searching the trees for any sign of an entrance, to which no avail. it seemed as if the forest was so dense and compacted on the other side, it would be nearly impossible to penetrate. nearly impossible, they say. i took a deep breath before i briskly moved closer to the wall and lied my sore hands flat against the natural structure. after a few moments of inspection, i slowly weaved my hands together and casted a few delicate hand signs, to which various roots and branches started to intertwine with one another. the sheer amount of how many trees there were was overwhelming, but as i closed my eyes, furrowed my eyebrows, and widened my stance, i focused on my breathing as i visualized what i was doing. under the canopy, through the trees, watching as they intertwine and weave. i could feel the vines and various limbs as if they were veins of my very own, each with a different purpose and each following the order i was rearranging them into.

whilst my eyes were closed and as i felt the trees moving with me, a certain visual had found its way beneath my eyelids. i saw a trail of fleeting gold, weaving its way through the bunch and going towards what seemed like the center. curious, i pushed myself a little further and followed this ephemeral trail. the parting of the trees quickened in pace the closer it got to following the gold, and right when the two were nearing a collision, the gold vanished. confused, i stopped my jutsu as i was certain there was something beyond where it led me. i opened my eyes to a view of compacted trees parted down the middle, and the trail that followed almost looked longer than the entirety of our trip.

“that was…,” shisori started to say, and i turned around to catch a glance of her taken aback expression before she spotted me and furrowed her eyebrows.

“that was amazing, lady kyō,” akimitsu intervened, propping himself up and making his way towards us. “i feel so much better! and to make it even more so, we are on a beautiful island! thank kami,” he exclaimed with wide eyes, taking in his surroundings with wonder.

“yeah yeah,” shisori said with a cross of her arms. “i guess it is pretty nice here, but then again, there’s a whole forest to which we know nothing of,” she finished.

“hmm, if only there was something we could do about that…oh wait,” i said teasingly and turned toward akimitsu. he replied with an “on it,” before he activated his byakugan and searched the surrounding woods. he took a minute to do so thoroughly before coming to the conclusion that it was just us on the island, and the native animals of course.

“okay, well that settles it. let’s scope the forest before we decide on where to set up camp,” i said before walking over and grabbing my bag out of the boat. my katana hung intimately on my hip, its being molded perfectly with mine. it was a gift from sen when i had gotten enrolled in the anbu a few years ago by lord hiruzen’s counsel, the blade still as sharp as ever. it was our mothers chosen weapon, a true embodiment of one fierce kunoichi, and was found in the wreckage of the nine tails attack. despite the carnage, sen thought it best to pass on the heirloom in tradition of wielding mighty swords within the clan, hence why she did it so early.

“kyō, do you know what this is?” sen had asked me one day after i returned from training. she had unsheathed the katana and it rested in both of her hands as she presented it to me, the light catching off of the blade. i cocked my head as my eyes went wide with the sudden realization.

“i-is that-?” i started to ask, but my words faltered upon seeing her close her eyes and gently nod. my jaw went slack and i was in a state of shock before reality dawned on me. i lowered myself down to my knees before i gingerly bowed before her.

“there is no need for such formalities, kyō,” she had said lightheartedly, motioning for me to stand again. i shook my head at her before rising to sit comfortably on my knees.

“sen, you do not know how much this means to me,” i started to say before she smiled down wistfully towards me.

“mother never got to formally pass hers down to me, and i believe you deserve it,” she said with a soft smile, the candles that surrounded us highlighting her beaming features in their soft glow.

“i believe you’re going to be the strongest of the clan, i can just feel it. so practice well and tread lightly as i’m sure one day, it will come in handy,” she had barely said before i attacked her with a hug. that night and the following few days, i had trained so intensely, my hands were blistered and raw, but they molded perfectly with the blade handle.

“i believe if we follow this trail, we will find what we came here for. i would suggest we go separate ways, but it seems as if my jutsu wielding is the only thing that will allow us to pass. keep in mind, i have no idea what this forest contains. so please, tread lightly, and be cautious in refraining from harming the life that is already present here,” i said before nodding toward both of them. they nodded back before the three of us retrieved the boat and brought it closer to the forest, to which we set it down and would leave it for later. after getting it settled, we made our way into the enigmatic forest.

upon first crossing the threshold, it felt as if the forest itself was holding its breath. it was an eerily quiet scene, with no birds or animals in sight, a stark contrast from the abundance of tranquil sounds heard from the outside. the only thing that could be heard was the mismatched footprints that were emitted from the three of us. akimitsu led the way, followed by shisori, as i took the rear. it felt as if the hair on my neck was raised, followed by a foreign tingling sensation, as if someone were standing right behind me.

“this is beautiful and all, but does anyone else get the feeling we’re being watched?” shisori asked with hesitance from in front of of me. right at that moment, we heard a loud sound coming from the right of us, to which she jumped at. i drew my katana as akimitsu instantaneously activated his byakugan, and only when he confirmed it was an animal, i saw shisori visibly relax.

“hai, i feel it too. stay on guard, and keep an eye out,” i said before the three of us proceeded with a more cautious stance.

despite the eerie atmosphere that accommodated the forest, it truly was a most beautiful sight. life sprung from every corner that was visible to the eye, and never in my life had i been surrounded by so much of it. i felt a small smile pull at my lips at the thought of how much raw potential this oasis held, and how powerful my ancestors must have been with it available right at their fingertips.

we walked for what seemed like a few hours, with shisori infamously complaining the majority of the time. the bright leaves and branches of various plants provided us with the upmost shade, for which i was eternally grateful for. clustered roots were omnipresent in correlation with our feet, which tangled about and tripped all three of us more times than we would like to admit. when i inhaled, it was as if i was breathing air that hadn’t been touched by the world outside. it hung so pure, so raw, and so full of life, i could feel it intertwining with the oxygen within me and becoming whole with me.

after awhile, we came to what looked to be a densely compacted wall of vines and trees, similar to the one that barricaded the perimeter of the forest. it seemed as if either way i looked, there was nothing i could see beyond or past this wall. i pushed past the two before me and gently put my palms against it as closed my eyes and was reminded of where i had envisioned the gold trail to end, which was right in front of us. i took a deep breath before i weaved a sign that should have separated the vines into two, leaving us with room to enter. but after i had casted my hand signs and focused my chakra on the task before me, i was taken aback at the sight of nothing changing.

“uhh what just happened?” shisori asked akimitsu in a hushed whisper, unaware of the fact that i could hear her perfectly. he put his hand up to her as to wane her towards patience before i tried again.

this time i tightly clasped my hands together as i widened my stance and furrowed my brow, my feet digging into the lush earth beneath me. i breathed deeply through my nose before i exhaled and casted my signs. this time i had extended more chakra to excrete and reverberate around me in hopes of my chakra getting through the thick barrier. alas, when i noticed nothing at all was changing other than the deterioration of my chakra levels, i let my hands go and sighed in frustration.

“akimitsu, don’t be shy,” i said almost sarcastically, prompting him to use his byakugan and search the blockade that stood in our way.

“kami, what is this…” he said to himself as his eyes widened upon the sight. i turned myself toward him and patiently awaited his conclusion.

“apologies, lady kyō, but it seems as if i cannot sense anything past this wall. it is made up of a highly dense and impenetrable chakra, and it is constantly being surged through the barrier to replenish itself as if it is cleansing its own wounds. it is truly strange,” he said with a hint of admiration.

“chakra?” i said with apprehension present in my voice. “can you see where it is coming from?” i asked, my voice strained. he replied with a “hai” before checking again.

“i cannot see where it is coming from, it is as if the chakra is in one big cycle, encasing this area within it. it flows like the ocean, simultaneously pushing and pulling. i cannot find a weak point or sense the origin,” he said.

“i don’t understand, why is there a chakra barrier in here and not protecting the island?” shisori asked from behind us.

“it is hard to say, but if i had to take a guess, i would owe it to the possibility of misdirection. if the entire island were covered in this barrier, then it would be an easy target,” akimitsu answered while deactivating his byakugan.

“hai. we may not know until we enter, which certainly seems to be a plausible obstacle. until then, you two rest up and make camp,” i said, watching the two deflate from fatigue as a look of relief came over them.

“you two can find a spot and set everything up, akimitsu make sure you conduct periodic perimeter checks. shisori,” i said while turning to both of them. “stay out of trouble, baka,” i said with the slightest of smiles. she jokingly rolled her eyes at me before the two turned to find shelter.

meanwhile, i turned back around and examined the thick barrier in front of me. i decided to try my jutsu one more time before i would initiate another strategy. clasping my hands together, i took deep breaths before weaving my hand signs and directing all my chakra towards parting the barrier. it proved to be all in vain as it refused to budge, my breathing ragged as i hunched over my knees. kami, if my jutsu won’t work, then what will? i thought it over a minute and regained my breath before i decided to lie my hands palm flat l against the wall as i closed my eyes and slowed my breathing. focusing on the nature around me, i could hear the weaving and intertwining of the vines that made up the barrier, and for a second it sounded as if it reacted to my touch. i squeezed my eyes as i breathed deeply and pushed my hands a bit further, to which the vines under my hands abruptly vanished and i fell through.

once i registered what happened, i swiftly pushed myself off of the plush ground and jumped to my feet. ‘i fell through?’ i thought to myself as i slowly looked at the scenery that encased me. stepping stones adorned the trail in front of me as far as i could see, and the same thick walls followed the trail as beautiful arches of multiple varieties of bright flowers lined them. stone bird baths sporadically decorated the sides of the trail as all sorts of native shrubbery complimented the well kept design. i steadied my balance as i took my first step toward the trail, which initiated the soft glow of a nearby lantern that hung from an arch. the sight brought a comfortable smile to my face as i observed it all in wonder, taken aback by the untamed beauty i never would have thought i would see. i took a deep breath as i prepared myself for what lies beyond before i took another step.

[dizzyaddy]

drowning - naruto x oc part 12

(i do not own any naruto characters, only the original characters)

“so, what exactly happened again?” shisori asked from in front of me. we were moving hastily through the paths, especially cautious of an incident happening again. we thought it best to continue our journey through the night, as they were both relatively shaken at the suddenness of the unfortunate event. luckily, the moon had been in full view tonight, as it illuminated the long, winding path we had ahead of us.

“it feels as if my eyes had deceived me, but i am sure of what i witnessed,” i said before taking a brief pause. “there was a masked man, a masked sharingan user at that,” i said bluntly before they both stopped in their tracks in front of me.

“the sharingan?” akimitsu asked, confusion clearly written across his face. “that’s impossible, unless..”

“itachi,” shisori said, gripping her fists. “once i get my hands on that traitor, i swear i’ll-“

“i do not think that is likely, as this man could disarray his own physical anatomy and merge with solid objects. i have read about itachi’s skills and abilities in the bingo book, none of which described a phenomenon similar to this. kami, when i first saw him, he was half way in a tree. i am at a loss for words regarding this strange jutsu, if it is even a jutsu,” i said, signaling for us to keep walking. they sighed before continuing to tread forward, but not without withholding their desire to ask more questions.

“i assume that is how he managed to get away?” akimitsu said from the front.

“hai, as regrettable as it was, my jutsu was ultimately useless against him,” i did wistfully. “even more so, when he vanished, so did his chakra. it seemed as if he never existed in the first place,” i finished.

“man, this guy sounds like a total freak,” shisori said, bringing both of her arms behind her head in a leisurely manner.

“i agree, as i have never heard of such a jutsu. was that all that happened?” akimitsu asked. i thought it over, contemplating telling them that he knew of my sister.

“hai,” i replied stoically. they both hummed in acknowledgment before we continued our brisk walk in silence.

“what…what do we do if we run into him again?” shisori asked, her pace slowing as the hesitance was clear in her words. i thought it over for a few moments before deciding to respond.

“we do what the leaf has instilled within us, and give it everything we’ve got,” i said with a facade of confidence. though i knew they were both unsure, i thought it best to at least try to motivate the two.

“you know what? you’re actually right for once, my dear formidable kyō,” she replied jokingly, lightening the tense air that had shifted around us.

“formidable for a reason, dear shisori,” i said whilst snickering at her remark. she smiled at me before turning her attention back to the road ahead of us. the sun was just beginning to rise, and it was a beautiful sight.

cotton candy clouds had already started to sparsely litter the sky as the first few glimpses of sunlight started illuminating the sea above us. the symphony of birds surrounding us started to drown out the bugs that were present from the night before as the three of us stayed silent, taking in the harmony that seemed to engulf us. i closed my eyes and hung my head back slightly while i continued walking, basking in the aura this part of our journey casted upon me.

though i seemed relaxed to the two, my thoughts were a storm of conflicting thoughts and emotions. i knew my refusal to fully explain the situation was against my better judgement, but the topic struck a nerve deep within me. is this an act of betrayal? would this undermine our mission and result in our downfall? i understood that his knowledge of my clan and my abilities gave him a great advantage, and now he knew of my teammates as well. so, what exactly is stopping him from returning?

“look! we’re almost there!” shisori exclaimed with a gasp, and as i opened my eyes i noticed that the scenery around me had faded once again into a dispersed area of woodlands. in the distance i could spot a shoreline as the trees gave way to an opening, and i could hear the cry of coastal birds even from our position. i took a deep breath and inhaled the scent of the salt water that crowded the ocean ahead of us.

i had never been on the coast like this before, as my jutsu was futile in this area of the land. it wasn’t long before our feet collided with the sandy banks that decorated the shores of this country.

“oh it’s been so long since i’ve seen the ocean!” shisori exclaimed, the excitement obvious in her voice. akimitsu chuckled as he turned around and captured the look she wore on her face. for a brief moment, his eyes had softened in a way i had never seen them before.

“don’t get too excited now, we have no time to frolic,” i said as the two started walking side by side. “luckily, as of late, i’ve honed my skills even further and now i can almost completely control the wood that is present around me. just give me a few moments to prepare a boat for us, take this time to rest,” i said while watching them both eagerly nod before prancing away. i watched as they mingled about before finding shade under a large tree and propping up against it.

i snickered before i took a deep breath and closed my eyes. i felt my fingers twitch as i clasped them together in a steady formation, sensing the nature around me. i furrowed my brows before conducting a few hand signs and getting to work. i could feel the way the trees bend and curve, the way they intertwined amongst each other in an orderly fashion. i visualized a simple boat with two oars, just big enough to carry us over the vast ocean that would extend beneath us. my fingers twitched in excitement as i exhaled a deep breath and opened my eyes, finding the boat i had visualized complacently in front of me. i let out a sigh of relief before taking a moment to crack my knuckles and examining the creation i had just made.

once i was sure no holes were present and it was sturdy enough, i moved a few feet before sitting down on the sand that resided below me. i took out my water chute before gulping it down and looking at my hands. how could i create such a thing? how is such a gift so futile when it matters the most? if i couldn’t even defend myself, how could i possibly defend others? i gripped my fist as these thoughts came over me in waves, wanting anything but to have these incessant feelings wash over me.

“kyō! come sit by us,” i heard shisori yell from afar, and i looked up to see her waving her arm towards me. her and akimitsu sat side by side under a very tropical looking tree, the shade and the breeze aiding them in their relief. it looked tempting but the more i thought it over, the more i opposed the idea. i shook my head and i didn’t allow myself to see her expression as i fully lied down on the sand beneath me.

i closed my eyes as the sun beat down on me and i listened closely to the waves that came and went. birds continuously flew overhead, their singing and chirping in harmony as i took deep breaths. ‘kami,’ i prayed, ‘please keep sen safe while i am away. please watch over her and protect her, and i will do my best to make sure she will live. i am not deserving of a moment of peace like this, as sen has never experienced such a thing. please allow her to live so i can show her beautiful things in life, as she has so much time ahead of her. please, kami,’ i said whilst squeezing my eyes. my hand had subconsciously tighter around grasp of sand, and only when i started letting go i realized i had been doing it.

i finally opened my eyes to see the vast cerulean sky ahead of me, and the sight brought a tear to my eye. i inhaled shakily before exhaling and squeezing my eyes to rid the tear that threatened to fall. after taking a moment to regain my composure, i sighed and took another moment to gaze at the sky before pulling myself up. i dusted myself off and wiped my hands together before making my way towards the pair that abided under the tree. when i approached them, they were laughing giddily and were unaware of my presence until i cleared my throat, to which the two halted and looked up at me.

“lady kyō,” akimitsu stated, nodding in acknowledgment towards me. “would you like to join us? we were just catching up,” he said with a friendly smile. i held out my hand and declined as politely as i could before getting to the point.

“i’ve finished the boat, and by sea it will take us another day’s travel. i recommend we get moving as soon as possible as to take advantage of this good weather. shisori,” i directed towards her as she perked up at the mention of her name. “i understand you have attained water nature, to which i am counting on you in the case of an emergency. now without further ado, let’s get going,” i finished as they both stood up and wiped themselves off.

[dizzyaddy]

drowning - naruto x oc part 11

(i do not own any naruto characters, only the original characters)

“whoa look at all the flower fields!” akimitsu joyously exclaimed. to our left and right, fields as far as the eye could see of various flowers surrounded us in shades of pinks, purples, and blues. the grass was so very vibrant that it swelled my heart with a gratitude i had never felt before. the scene brought me back to a memory of sen and i, when she took me to our clans compounds for the first time when i was ten years old.

“this is where our family lived?” i exclaimed with a gasp, the sight causing my jaw to drop. the scenery was different than that of the rest of the village, or any village at that. all the buildings in the compound were covered in shrubbery and blossoming with flowers, not a single dull wall in sight. the paths were imbedded with stone as unkempt flowerbeds lined the walkways. there were trees and bushes on every corner as were butterflies and bees bustling and buzzing about.

“hai, though it is all overgrown now,” sen said wistfully. unbeknownst to me, her grip tightened around the cane in which she balanced her weight on.

“it’s beautiful,” i said, my eyes wavering at the sight. “why don’t we live here?” i asked excitedly, my smile faltering as sen looked down at me with a sullen look in her eyes.

“let’s save that for another day, okay kyō?” she said apologetically, putting her hand over my head before stroking my hair.

“you always say that! well, can you at least tell me where we did live?” i asked, sticking my lip out at her. she rolled her eyes before a small smile spread across her face.

“fine, follow me,” she said before slowly turning and walking further away from the way we entered. though it was a ghost town, it was the prettiest one i had ever seen. a water fountain was present in the middle of a square as algae had garnered all at the bottom, the water still pushing its way through. various birds made the empty buildings their homes as their singing drowned out the rustling of the trees all around us. passing all the townhouses and buildings, we finally come to a two story cottage right on the outskirts of the village. the tree line to the forest was embedded right behind the property, as the grass that covered the yard was immensely overgrown.

it was a humble looking home, with barely visible cream colored walls, a green roof, and a vine covered arch right in front of the doorway. the plants that wrapped themselves around the structure were blossoming with wisterias and pink tsubakis as i felt my heart melt at the sight. it was strange, though it had been a decade since i was last in that house, it felt like home.

“this…this is beautiful,” i said softly, putting both of my hands over my heart. i took a deep inhale as i closed my eyes and imagined how different life could have been. how i could have woken up here every morning and be met with these vibrant streets in which i could run freely. i turned around to tell sen my thoughts, but i stopped myself short upon noticing the tears that ran down her face.

“onee?” i asked, stepping closer to her and wrapping my hand around hers. she looked away slightly and closed her eyes before squeezing my hand and taking a deep breath.

“forgive me, kyō,” she said with a small smile overtaking her features, as a frown overtook mine. i didn’t understand how such a beautiful sight could stir such dejection within someone. we left the compound that day with a heavy burden on our hearts, and had never returned since then.

“lady kyō?” akimitsu asked, as i noticed both him and shisori turned around to look at me. they were a few paces ahead, and it dawned on me that i had been standing there staring at the fields.

“hai, i apologize. let’s keep moving,” i said sternly, clearing my throat before picking up my pace and continuing my walk. i could feel their gazes on me as i focused on the long path we had in front of us. this side of the country had only farm land and fields, a sharp contrast from the deep forests konahagakure had to offer. instead of bustling through trees as we normally would, we hastily walked through the narrow paths this land had provided for us.

the skies that adorned this land were barren of any clouds, the heat alone causing the three of us to break a hefty sweat. we travelled in a comfortable silence, watching as the sunlight slowly started to dissipate into the night, prompting us to call it a day. after passing all of the tea and rice fields, we decided to set up camp in a small cluster of trees that adorned the outskirts of this farming community. as much as we spent our day drenched in sweat and and completely exhausted, it was refreshing to be met with such an healing floral scent.

i picked at my fingers, anxious at our somewhat open position. though i almost detested, i stopped myself upon taking notice of shisori and akimitsu’s physical state, as they were both in dire need of a rest. i pursed my lips before a slight smirk came upon my lips and i shook my head, the sight of their exhaustion almost amusing. though i’m sure i wasn’t too far behind them, i offered to take first watch again, to which they immediately granted.

after taking a position in a tree above the camp ground, the two younger shinobi below me abided by their bodily wishes and slept peacefully as the small forest around us came to life. i sighed in content as i leaned my head against the tree behind me, the peaceful sounds of the night insects coming out and reclaiming their territory. my eyes followed a few fireflies as they fluttered upwards toward the night sky, fading into the stars.

my mind wandered to sen’s current condition, trusting tsunade sama and her word when she discussed her promise of taking care of her. then my mind ventured to the boisterous blonde shinobi who knew nothing of my mission, to which i wondered about his current condition. i shook my head before i let out a sigh, as i had no time to be thinking of such things. i wished i was sent alone on this mission, i wouldn’t have to look over anyone else, and more than likely i would have been there by now. i started biting at my lip and i reached to dig in my bag before i heard a deep voice call out from behind me.

“well, well, if it isn’t one of the niwa clan. tell me, child, how is sen doing?” the voice asked, dripping with sarcasm. i grabbed my katana before jumping to my feet and whipping around to be met with a man in an orange mask. the only visible part of his face was his right eye, a sharingan, at that. i curled my lip and snarled at him before squinting my eyes.

“state your business,” i spat as my grip tightened on my blade. it seemed half of his body was coming out of the tree, as i noticed his lower half faded into the bark. what the hell?

“now, is that how you speak to your elders? little sen mustn’t have taught you any manners, what a shame,” he said with a dark chuckle. i unsheathed my katana and held it toward him as i glared at the masked man.

“what the hell do you want,” i said, my voice laced with venom. the rest of his body came out from the tree as he took a step forward, prompting me to stand my ground.

“in time, child, in time. now tell me, do you care for these comrades of yours?“

“what the hell does it matter,” i said sternly, not taking a second to blink as i glared at him. “state your business, or you will regret it.” to this he let out a chuckle before taking another step closer to me.

“i wouldn’t put your faith in such a silly idea, child. after all, an imprudent brat like you couldn’t even dream of touching me,” he said mockingly, taking another step closer. i slanted my eyes before taking a step back, his proximity closing in on me.

“that’s it,” i said before swinging my blade towards him. he narrowly dodged it before cocking his head at me, and i could almost see the smile behind his mask. i jumped forward to pierce through his abdomen, but to my surprise, it phased right through him. what the fuck? i swung it back just for him phase toward me and grab me by the throat.

“impatient now, are we?” he said before squinting his eye at me. i dropped my blade and casted a hand sign, prompting the branch below us to wrap around his feet. he looked down and chuckled before letting me go, and i hit the branch with a thud. i made another hand sign as the branch weaved its way around his legs, then his stomach, then his arms.

“in time, kyō niwa, we shall meet again. and i won’t go easy on you,” he said darkly before phasing out of my grasp. i snarled before grabbing my blade and jumping to my feet before charging at him. he chuckled before vanishing into the night, right before my eyes. i stopped in my tracks and looked around, trying my best to sense his chakra. but to no avail, he vanished.

“damnit,” i said before checking my surroundings. i couldn’t sense his chakra, nor could i see his figure. i hopped down from the tree and urgently performed a perimeter check before sheathing my katana and hastily walking towards the pair below me.

“wake up, this area’s been compromised,” i said sternly as i moved shisori’s body with my foot, then akimitsu’s. they both woke up groggily and confused before i spoke again. “we need to move, now,” i said before both of their eyes widened.

[dizzyaddy]

drowning - naruto x oc part 10

(i do not own any naruto characters, only the original characters)

“kuso, can we take a break already? my legs are killing me,” i heard shisori groan from in front of me. even without having to look at her, i could see the grimace that was bound to cross her features.

we had been lucky to travel on a day where the sky was abundant with clouds, providing the three of us with optimal shade when needed. before we left the gates, we unanimously decided it would be best for us to travel swiftly through the trees. that being said, i hadn’t the patience to take it easy on us.

the closest thing i’d ever had to a team was the various anbu members i was paired with when i was assigned a mission. the anbu was certainly no place for a child, and sometimes i wonder if hiruzen ever felt as if he made a mistake enrolling me. but alas, i never had the chance to ask.

“no breaks, not yet,” i said sternly. “just a little further until we reach our vantage point. there, we will rest for the night,” i said, leaping off one branch and onto another, ignoring the groan that left her lips. though mine were aching as well, it was something i was used to.

“now shisori, it isn’t that bad! like she asid, just a little further,” akimitsu cheerfully said from the front, trying his best to motivate her. he looked to be as sweaty as i was, but he also chose to ignore it.

“come on akimitsu, you too? do you think it’s wise for us to push ourselves like this?” she asked, panting as if she was on the verge of being out of breath.

“you call this pushing ourselves?” he asked as he let out a breathy laugh. she crossed her arms as i imagined a scowl forming on her face.

“shisori, it would do you good to conserve your breath and focus on your breathing. that being said, stop complaining. tsunade sama chose you for this mission for a reason, so don’t give her a reason to be disappointed,” i said, fed up wit her hindrance.

“now, like i said, we should be coming up on a summit in the land in a few klicks. remember, just because we’re near doesn’t mean let your guards down. we’re better off traveling in silence until we reach the peak, so stay aware,” i said sternly, watching akimitsu nod and shisori roll her eyes. i slightly squinted mine as i sighed and leaped again.

tsunade had advised us to use the check in points that strategically littered the perimeter around the land of fire, providing us with a hasty escape route if anything were to happen. i had been there twice before, having to rest when carrying out my previous missions. it was a barren and void place, its stillness contrasting the life that flourished all around it. it was made up of a lone, boxed in temple with stone walls barricading it in. from the top of the temple, everything within fifty kilometers was keenly visibly to the eye. thus, making it a no brainer in taking advantage of it for the night.

the sun shone brightly through the gaps in the trees, flushing us with warmth at every opportunity. by the time we reached the temple, my hair was drenched with sweat and stuck stubbornly to my forehead. shisori was on the verge of collapsing as the three of us idled by, hunched over our knees as we took our time restoring our ragged breath.

“thank kami!” akimitsu exclaimed as he stood straight and brought his thigh to his chest, stretching his leg in the process. shisori had taken a moment to sit down with her back against the wall, resting her body from the trip while grabbing a water chute from her pouch. akimitsu was fluid in his movement as he took the opportunity to look around and scope the place out before deciding to speak again.

“you two stay here, i’m going to check the perimeter and make sure we’re secure,” he said before scattering away. i stood there, wiping my slick hair away from my face and grabbing a water chute from the bag i brought. shisori and i were content with the silence as i walked towards her and slid my back down the wall. we each stared towards the woods, relishing in the newfound comfort of having a rest from the toll we put on our bodies.

“is there a reason you’re so strict?“ shisori stated out of the blue, watching how my gaze never faltered from the woods that entranced me. “no offense, but you seem like an old woman trapped in a younger body,” she said, almost jokingly. i snickered at her remark and brought my gaze down to the bamboo chute that occupied my hand. i brought it to my mouth before gulping the rest of its contents and setting it back down on my lap.

“you see, there’s a difference between you and i,” i said with a sigh, watching from the corner of my eye how she turned her head towards me, awaiting my next words. “i’m willing to sacrifice my life for this mission, for any mission at that. the leaf has instilled a ravaging duty inside of me, one only those who possess the will of fire will acquire. i know what i’m here for, and i know what it takes to succeed,” i said before turning my head to look at her. her gaze was downcast as her hands were intertwined, and she looked as if she was thinking of something far away.

“with great power comes an even greater burden, one only few know the true extent of. i do not know how many lives i’ve taken with these hands of mine, and i do not wish to know. only when you inflict pain on others must you reflect on the pain it inflicts deep inside of you. and that, shisori, is the difference between you and i,” i stated, not looking at her reaction as i stood up and wiped my hands together.

“you don’t even know me,” she huffed out while crossing her arms. “so don’t go acting all high and mighty like you do, niwa.”

“you’re right, i do not know you. but this is a mission, not a trip for friendship or kindling. so if you’re done, please go find akimitsu and inform him we need to discuss mission details inside,” i said before turning my back to her and walking away.

“i never asked for your friendship, but now i see why you’re so stuck up. you walk around as if you’re better than everyone else, when you’re even worse than akimitsu and i. you’re a killer,” she spat. i closed my eyes and took a deep breath before i kept on walking.

“i’m here to complete my duty and that’s it! i may take orders from you, but don’t expect anything more out of me,” she said profusely. i turned my head ever so slightly and glanced at her through the corner of my eyes before opening my mouth.

“good,” i said blandly before continuing to walk away. i heard her groan and curse under her breath before she stood up and scattered in an attempt to find akimitsu.

once i walked around to where the entrance to the gate was, i felt myself exhale as tears pricked my eyes. though i knew she was angry, i knew her words held some truth to them. though, if being a killer is what it takes to save sen, then i would be anything for her. i don’t care what they call me, nor do i care what they think of me. the missions success is all that matters, and i will make sure it succeeds at all costs. i blinked away my tears and cleared my throat before gripping my katana and entering the tower.

the inside was vastly more depressing and dim than i remember. cobwebs jumped out from every corner and the old torches that lined the walls were barely visible, shrouded with dust that had accumulated over time. in truth, it was eerie and the unsettling phenomenon of the wind howling through the vacant tower, casting a ghoulish sound to permeate the air only made it worse. i cautiously made my way up the tower, as the entire first floor was visible from the doorway. stairs lined the walls in a spiral formation, each step groaning as i made my way up the tower.

the inside of the tower was a desolate place, the sole purpose of its existence was to offer a check point for passing leaf shinobi and to act as a lookout tower when needed. it was obvious that it had been ages since it was used last, its current condition making me wonder just how long it had been. my calves trembled as i reached the top of the stairs, my legs sorely worn out from the travel here. at the end of the stairs lied a door that led to the only other room in the tower. i sharply inhaled a breath and gripped my katana handle before quickly opening the squeaky door.

this room wasn’t much better than the base room, it was just as old and forgotten as the rest of the tower. the only sign of life in this desolate tower was the critters that crept through the dark and the birds that that had made the dark corners their home. it was refreshing to hear the birds chirp, as it dawned upon me that it was stark silent in the building. the floor creaked beneath my feet as pondered on the structural integrity of the rotting wood, but i casted it aside as i took off my katana and propped it up against the stone wall. this room didn’t have any torches, instead half used candles littered the floor amongst various places. the room offered a window to the far right of it, the glass having been caved in long ago, and a wooden door that led to the balcony outside.

i opened the door and was met with the fresh air, the breeze that casted those eerie sounds feeling refreshing in means of a great contrast. the balcony circled around the top of the tower, with nothing to show for except its stone walls that were the slightest bit too high for me to rest my elbow comfortably on. i closed my eyes as i took deep breaths, relishing in the warmth the sun provided.

once again, the sky was casted with bright oranges and pinks, signaling that soon the day would give away to nightfall. i sighed and scanned the surrounding woods, trying to detect shisori and akimitsu’s chakra. after a few moments, i located the pair walking towards the gate. they both looked to be in a happy mood as they took strides in sync, shisori occasionally pushing akimitsu’s arm as if to interrupt his balance. i watched the two from a distance as they interlaced their hands together, and i felt a frown form on my face as i realized just what it meant. i bit my lip as i furrowed my eyebrows, calculating the risk of the mission going awry because of this connection they have. shisori seemed immature enough as it is, and akimitsu served as her opposite. i felt my grip on the ledge loosen as i tried to reassure myself that this wouldn’t get in the way of anything.

i swiftly turned around and walked back into the room before grabbing my katana and treading back down the overly elongated stairs. once i reached the bottom, i put my katana back on and waited in the room for them to appear. while waiting, i decided to to set down a bento box for them to share, as i packed actual meals. once they did walked in with a noticeable space between them, i cleared my throat and began to speak.

“shisori, akimitsu,” i acknowledged as akimitsu nodded back at me. shisori just crossed her arms and brought her gaze to look around the room. i noticed the bento box had caught her attention as she leaned down and grabbed it.

“as you both know, we’ll be staying here for the night. akimitsu, i’ve been briefed on your abilities and i am aware that you posses fire nature. it would be wise to start one in the room, as this area tends to drop drastically in temperature at night,” i said as he nodded.

“we need to restore as much energy as we can for tomorrow. as of right now, we’re right on the outskirts of the land of fire. we still have to travel through the land of tea, and that should be another few days travel until we make it to our destination, which is an island right off the coast. that being said, make sure your supplies last for the trip there and back. we’ll be leaving tomorrow at dawn, so both of you rest up. i will take the first shift of being the lookout, and we will watch in intervals, as we don’t know if we’ve been tracked or followed. you can decide amongst yourself what order you want to go in. if you need me, i’ll be at the top,” i said before turning around and making my way upstairs.

“kyō, wait,” i heard shisori state from behind me, and i turned around to see her holding the box in her hands. she looked down at it before looking back up at me with the slightest hint of a smile behind her lips.

“thanks,” she said calmly, as i hesitated in front of her before nodding in acknowledgment. she beamed at me before i turned around and ushered a “goodnight,” to them.

“goodnight,” they said in sync as i heard them shuffle away. i continued my tread upstairs as i heard shisori speak again.

“come wake me for shift change, baka,” she said as i snickered at the comment and gave her a wave of my hand before continuing on my way. once i reached the room, i made my way to the balcony where i would reside for the night. i shuddered as i pulled my cape closer to me, the few slivers of sunlight left providing little to no warmth as a chilly breeze rustled the trees around me. the view was beautiful, fireflies filling the forest as the last bit of daylight finally escaped. i sighed and rested my head on my hand before a bittersweet smile formed on my face.

[dizzyaddy]

drowning - naruto x oc part 9

(i do not own any naruto characters, only the original characters)

“kyō niwa, akimitsu hyuga, and shisori nara,” i muttered to myself, reading from the handwritten scroll tsunade had sent for me. i had been reviewing my clan scrolls and preparing for the mission before she had sent her scroll by bird. part of me was relieved it was no one i knew, the idea of someone burdening the weight i’m meant to carry shrouded my mind with dishonor. the other part was dismayed with the disadvantage of not knowing this team in which this mission relied so heavily on.

i shook my head free of thoughts before forcing myself to focus on the situation at hand. sen needed me more than ever, and i knew the success of this mission determined her fate. i’ll be damned before i let anything or anyone screw it up. i furrowed my eyebrows and pulled up my hair with a ribbon before dumping the scroll onto my bedside table.

my outfit consisted of a dark brown turtleneck romper with cutaway shoulders, layered under a cream colored robe that had a corset around my waist, which flowed down to my legs. i layered a beige cape with a hood over myself before i grabbed my katana from my room and said a quick prayer, praying for sen’s safety. i made sure my pouch was filled with emergency supplies and weapons before grabbing a few bento boxes i packed and stuffing them in my bag along with bamboo water chutes.

earlier this morning i had made sure to water the garden and weed it before putting in place the irrigation system i had rigged for when i had to go on missions. i slipped on my sandals and rushed to leave, but before i left the threshold of the house, i took a minute to look around, memorizing each and every detail that embellished itself into my eyesight. i felt my stomach flip as i closed my eyes, once again, praying that i would be able to save her. i took a deep breath and held my head high before exiting my house.

the scroll had inscribed that we would meet at the gates of the village, to which i leaped across rooftops in hope i would reach it sooner. i crossed my fingers in hopes that we would collectively be on time and leave in a timely manner, as my patience ran thin due to the circumstances. upon the gate coming into my view, i slowed my pace and allowed myself to hop down from the roof of a building and walk the rest of the way.

though the sun shone bright and lively, a consistent breeze had made its way to the land, much to everyone’s relief. i closed my eyes as i walked with balance, wanting to memories the sound of the village. the sound of birds singing and trees rustling in the breeze, the sound of the lively town square that echoed through the streets, it was something i’ve heard my whole life. i hoped it comforted sen, even if she couldn’t hear it. i opened my eyes and noticed there was another shinobi waiting patiently at the gate a distance away.

upon further examination, i observed that it was a young man with wide lavender eyes and shaggy brown hair. he wore a fitted black shirt with black cargos, along with fingerless gloves, all in which were layered under a beige cape identical to mine. his eyes widened upon seeing me arrive and had bowed when i drew near.

“lady kyō,” he spoke formally after he bowed. “it’s an honor to meet you,” he said with a hint of enthusiasm, which brought a warped sense of reassurance to course through me.

“akimitsu, i presume? the honor is all mine, as i’ve never met a hyuga before,” i said before offering him a small smile. his eyes widened again as he offered me a smile back, his eyes crinkling as he did so.

“pardon me lady kyō, but it seems as if shisori is running late,” he said with a tone of dismay present in his voice. i pursed my lips before nodding in acknowledgment.

“i do not idle in hopes of relying on someone whom i’ve never met, the choice is hers as to if she cares to join us. if she chooses not to, tsunade sama can deal with her,” i said with confidence, though i knew she played an important role in strategizing throughout our journey.

“i see,” he muttered behind me. “if i may, i’ve been on a team with her for years and though she makes poor impressions, she really is an invaluable team member,” he said with his chest. i sighed before looking past the gate, and at the vast distance beyond my eyesight we have to travel.

“we shall see about that. what do you say we get a head-start?” i asked with a small smirk, watching the way he fidgeted and though it over before his eyes went slightly downcast. as i took a step to start walking forward, i heard an array of rushed footsteps heading toward our direction. i instinctively gripped my katana before turning around and locking eyes with a young woman who seemed to be out of breath. it wasn’t until she took a few steps forward that i could make out her face.

she had sharp phoenix eyes, just as shikamaru possessed, along with an unruly entanglement of onyx hair situated atop her head. she wore black high waisted shorts with a black halter top, paired with a set of removable kimono sleeves. she held her identical robe in her hands, gripping it as beads of sweat rolled down her face, prompting her to hunch over her knees and try her best to regain her breath.

“you’re late,” i said, unhanding my katana and wiping my hands off on my robe.

“yeah, i see that,” she said out of breath before putting her hand up to me, as if to silence me. she feigned a pained expression before returning to heaving over her knees, completely out of breath. i stood in silence, watching the scene before me for a moment until she finally stoop upright.

“sorry about that, i’m-“

“shisori nara, of the nara clan,” i said, cutting her off. her face fell slightly before i continued. “i am kyō niwa, and you will be under my lead for this mission. akimitsu has informed me of your invaluable skill set, though this is quite possibly the poorest first impression you could have made,” i said, watching her clench her fist and hold back on rebutting.

“i will not extend to the both of you the importance of this mission, but do know that citizens lives depend on it. it is my job to ensure we complete it in a timely and efficient manner, and i will achieve that by any means necessary,” i said, looking between the two of them. akimitsu listened intently while shisori had crossed her arms and made an obvious bored expression.

“we will be heading to the island of dakujan, which is located far passed the land of fire. it will be a tumultuous journey, in which our strength will be tested. but it is within my duty to ensure we all work, as a team, to our fullest potential. akimitsu,” i said before turning to look at him, to which he stood up just a little straighter.

“as you posses the byakugan, you will be our lookout. you were assigned to this mission upon the evaluation of your skills of chakra reading and taijutsu wielding. you will take the lead in formation, as you are the only one here that posses the skill required to read chakra.” he nodded in acknowledgment towards me as i finished. i turned to look at shisori before i continued.

“shisori,” i addressed her, watching her eyes avert to the ground. “i believe we got off on the wrong foot, and for that, i apologize. this is an exceedingly important mission, and i need to believe that you’re willing to do anything to accomplish it,” i said as she looked up at me again.

“you will trail behind akimitsu, as your shadow possession jutsu can entrap any enemies that he senses present. i already have the formation and the general overview of the mission intact, but we will rely on you for strategy when the time comes. your opinions are necessary, as we will be a team from here on out,” i said, watching as she now rest her hands on her hips, a look of confidence taking over her features.

“as you already know, i am kyō, the leader of this mission. i will be taking the rear, as my jutsu wields the most damage and deals the most range. though i cannot read chakra, my senses are inclined to sense when someone is nearby. that way, our formation is complete with two sensory types watching the front and the rear. each of you play a vital role in this missions success, to which i hope you both live up to your reputations,” i finished as they both seemed to have found a new sense of confidence. i looked at each of them before concluding that we were ready.

“now then, shall we get going?”

[dizzyaddy]

drowning - naruto x oc part 8

(i do not own any naruto characters, only the original characters)

“so what do you do for fun?” i heard naruto ask from beside me. he had taken a break from slurping down his noodles to clear his throat and turned to meet me. i looked up from my scroll to find him staring at me, the chopsticks still evident in his raised hand.

“fun? well let’s see,” i said, pondering over what i do in my spare time. in between tending to sen and preparing the house and food for her, all my free time goes toward training.

“i guess you could say i don’t do much beside my training and my missions,” i said, picking up my chopsticks and grabbing a lone noodle from my bowel. mine looked barely touched in comparison to narutos’ almost empty one.

“you don’t have any hobbies?” he asked, reaching for his bowl again.

“does training count?” i asked, amusing him.

“no that doesn’t count!” he huffed before taking another bite.

“fine, well what are your hobbies?” i asked, watching him pause and think it over with a squint of his eyes.

“well, i eat ramen a lot. i like training and hanging out with my friends,” he said with a cheeky smile.

“interesting, i thought you said training didn’t count?” i asked amused with a raise of my eyebrow.

“h-hey, that doesn’t count!” he huffed before i chuckled and slightly shook my head.

“hmm, well in that case, i guess you could say i like to garden. i’ve had one since i was a kid, and it’s just a part of life for me now,” i said, resting my chin on my hand and swirling my chopsticks around.

“that’s awesome! what do you grow?” he asked enthusiastically from beside me.

“well, a lot of things. my favorites are shiso, bok choi, nagaimo, and negi,” i said, reminiscing on how sen used to cook my favorite dishes for me.

“you’re a lot stronger than me,” he said with a shiver. i lifted my head and cocked it at him, confused at his sudden statement.

“i can’t eat any of that stuff, no way!” he huffed with a swing of his arm.

“oh yeah? well then what do you eat, dear uzimaki?” i asked, plopping my head back down on my head with a cock of my eyebrow.

“well, i eat ramen sometimes. ooh and then other times, i eat more ramen! then after that maybe some ramen, but i don’t know cause sometimes i’d rather have ramen, you know?” he asked, feigning a contemplative look across his face.

i chuckled and rolled my eyes before averting my attention to the scroll that sat in front of me.

“you know you really are something, kid,” i said before taking a hasty bite of my ramen.

“kid? just how old are you anyway, baka?” he said, eying me suspiciously.

“if you must know, i’m 17. i’ll be 18 next year,” i said with a furrow of my eyebrow, my finger pointing to a line written on the scroll.

“huh, i guess you are older than me. i’m 16, but i’ll be 17 next year!” he said energetically.

“is that so?” i asked, already aware of the fact that i was older than him. my mouth moved slightly as i continued to try to read from my scroll.

“yep, dattebayo!” he cheered on cheekily before returning to demolishing his bowl.

“hey teuchi-san! could i bother you for another bowl?” he called out to the nice man behind the counter.

“of course!” he sang out before preparing another bowl for the insatiable blonde sitting next to me.

“hey, are you okay?” i heard him ask while setting his empty bowl aside. i looked up from my bowel to find him looking towards me, his gaze intently fixated on me.

“hai, may i ask why you think i’m not?” i asked, a small smirk present on my face.

“well uh you just haven’t eaten much and you seem kinda distracted i guess,” he said, turning his gaze to meet another random object around the small shop. i pursed my lips before answering him.

“i’m sorry, i have been really busy. it’s hard to take time for myself, i never really get the opportunity to,” i said while letting out a breath, some of the weight on my chest feeling alleviated.

“well why are you so busy?” he asked, picking at his chopsticks.

“well, i am anbu so i guess that’s essentially my whole life. and i take care of-“ i quickly cut myself off before i could mention sen. “i find it necessary to take care of my training and duties above all else.”

“oh i see, you’re an anbu! wow, kyō, you continue to surprise me, you know?” he said before graciously accepting his new bowl of ramen from the nice man.

“well, i’m glad i can appease you,” i said cheekily before returning my attention to my scroll. this is no good, i though to myself. at this rate, i’ll never get to finish interpreting this scroll. luck happened to be on my side as my migraine had abandoned me once we left the hokages building. it still begs the question, what do i do with this information?

“i’m sorry, naruto, but i need to resume tending to my clan duties. i’ve had a good time,” i said with a smile before rolling up my scroll and putting it in my bag. i took out a few coins before sliding them across the counter to the man who was currently marinating his vegetables. he looked up and gave me a nod of acknowledgment before thanking me for coming.

“aw, you’re leaving already?” he asked, fighting the urge to ask me to stay. he wiped his mouth and set his chopsticks down beside his bowl before turning to me again.

“hai, i sincerely apologize. but this was great, you were great,” i said sheepishly, not knowing how to formally say goodbye. he chuckled as a wave of heat ran across his face, his eyes crinkling as he smiled a genuine smile.

“thanks, kyō, i’ve also had a good time. i guess i’ll see you around, yeah?” he said hopefully. i looked at him for a few seconds longer before a smile broke out onto my face.

“why yes, i’ll be seeing you, uzumaki,” i said with a salute of my forefingers. he gave me a closed eyed smile before i turned around and swiftly walked out of the shop. my stomach felt half empty but i paid no mind to it as my legs kept walking towards the hospital. i’m glad i managed to find a few relevant scrolls back at the office, to which i would further review once i was back in sen’s room.

she had been in the hospital for a few days, the doctors continuously informing me about the tests they were conducting. i had hoped i would be able to quickly solve this predicament, but to no avail, i’ve barely gotten a clue. i felt a frown etch across my face before i leaped up from the dirt street to land on a random rooftop.

i had spent all morning with naruto, and as fun as it was, i deeply regret not taking the time to dedicated it towards sen. here i am, having fun while she’s stuck in a hospital room, unconscious. i furrowed my eyebrows as i felt a wave of anger course through me, guilty for being so selfish during a time like this.

my strides starting slowing down once the hospital came into view and i started to feel a pit of dread form in my stomach. as much as i wanted to see sen, it deeply hurt me to see her in that state. it all felt like a bad omen, something i couldn’t quite stomach.

upon entering the hospital, i nodded in acknowledgment toward the nurse just to be met with a sight of pity. my stomach was increasing in knots the closer i got to sen’s room, perpetually unprepared for moments like these.

the sterile walls of the hospital served as a constant reminder of how bleak and lifeless its contents were, including sen. i grimaced at the thought, though deep down i knew it to be true. my footsteps echoed through the halls, the stillness and silence almost deafening. my pace slowed upon reaching sen’s room, and i took a moment to regain my composure before my hand lied above the door handle. i closed my eyes and took a deep breath before pushing myself through the doors.

“kyō niwa, i presume?” i heard a woman’s voice ask upon entering. my eyes widened as i averted my gaze to lady tsunade, who pristinely occupied a lounge chair in the corner.

“tsunade sama,” i said with an immediate bow, closing my eyes once again. “to what do i owe the pleasure?” i asked.

“now, now,” she said languidly, holding out her hand to me before interlacing her hands across her lap. “how have you been holding up?”

the question took me by surprise, only having met her a few times when she assigned me a mission under the anbu.

“i’m trying,” i said almost defeatedly, to which her eyebrows slightly furrowed.

“sakura has been keeping me up to date on sen’s condition. though we’ve been supplying her with ample nutrients to combat her deficiencies, i’m afraid her condition since then has only deteriorated. i understand she has been ill for quite a while, but it has never reached this point, correct?” she asked with an arched eyebrow. i lowered my gaze toward the floor and nodded.

“i see. i’ve had my advisors conduct some research into your clan and any cases similar. i’m afraid that due to the nature of your clan, they kept themselves fairly secluded. just like the uchiha, our jurisdiction ends when approaching private clan matters such as this. the only useful information we’ve found is a broad location of their original clan grounds, which doesn’t reside in kohonagakure,” she finished.

“clan grounds?” i repeated, curiosity lacing my voice. though i knew our clan had once resided somewhere else, i found it surprising this was known information to her.

“hai, just as the uzumaki, once the clan grounds were deserted, it’s unlikely anyone ever goes searching for anything there. as hokage, it’s within my duty to reside within the village, but with your given talent and skill level, i believe it would be wise for you to take this on,” she said confidently.

“i’d do anything for sen,” i replied wistfully, looking across the room at her sleeping figure.

“well you’re in luck, as this is about the most you could do for her. sakura and i discussed the possibility that this was an almost primal jutsu, as we all know the legends of the niwa. i’m certain you will find your answers awaiting for you there,” she said.

“thank you, lady hokage. i shall do my best,” i said with an edge of confidence in my tone. she nodded in acknowledgment before speaking again.

“you’ve never failed the village, and i’m certain you wouldn’t fail your sister,” she said with a knowing smirk.

“i’ll send a messenger with the details of this mission, and who will be accompanying you. i wish you the best of luck, kyō,” she said before gracefully getting up and walking out into the hallway. i stood there silently for a few moments before making my way over to sen and taking her hand in mine.

“did you hear that, sen?” i said, my words full of hope. hope that she could hear me, hope that everything will be okay, hope that she would be okay. “i’m going to save you, no matter what. just hang in there a little longer, i promise,” i said softly before delivering a kiss to her knuckles. i then brought her hand to my forehead and prayed to the sky.

[dizzyaddy]

drowning - naruto x oc part 7

(i do not own any naruto characters, only the original character)

i awoke from my somewhat peaceful slumber to a loud banging radiating from my front door. i hastily got up and skimmed over myself before checking who it was outside the window. i felt my eyes widen slightly as they landed on a lively shikamaru. i opened the door before groggily looking at the vivacious man standing in front of me.

“hey- oh, did you just wake up?” he asked, somewhat amused. i sighed and rubbed the sleep out of my eyes before running my fingers through my hair, only to nod.

“wow, i’m actually surprised i’m up before somebody else. anyway, sorry about that, i just wanted to let you know that i’m on the way to train with asuma if you’re interested,” he said slyly, grabbing a pack of cigarettes from his back pocket and gently setting one between his lips.

“oh, i forgot about that. sorry shika, i’ve got to go to the hokages office today,” i said yawning, instantly wanting to go lay back down.

“the hokage? whatcha got goin on?” he said curiously, leaning against the door frame.

“i need to review some of my clans scrolls, though it’s likely i’ll end up taking all of them home,” i said, scratching my head.

“huh, okay. well if you’re interested my team and i go out to eat after we train, it’s a pretty good time. we’d love to see you there,” he said with a smile before taking a lighter and lighting the stick he held between his lips. i looked at him and smiled before looking down at my feet.

“thank you for the invite, but i’m really sorry i can’t today. i have a lot to do,” i said apologetically. as much as i truly wanted to, i did not want to get distracted from helping sen.

“alright kyō, just don’t overwork yourself. the offer still stands, just know you’re welcome anytime!” he said before taking that as his cue to leave. while he was walking away, i felt the intense urge to acknowledge him.

“hey shika!” i yelled, watching him leisurely turn around while blowing out a cloud of smoke. “thanks, you’re a good friend,” i said before a smile broke out onto his face. he saluted me with his forefingers before giving me a wink and continuing his journey. i felt my lips curl into a smug grin as a wave of heat washed over my face, overcome by a new sensation of pure gratitude.

after standing there for a few seconds i shook my head and scolded myself before making my way to my room. i quickly made my way to the shower in hopes i would wash yesterdays’ memories off of me before hastily getting dressed. i chose a quick outfit of long flowy beige pants and a long sleeve black shirt before glancing in the mirror and catching a sight of my ghastly reflection. the bags under my eyes had increasingly worsened over the past few days, as well as my apparent lack of sleep. i could tell by just one look that i wasn’t taking care of myself, hell i didn’t feel like myself. i shook these thoughts out of my head before running my hand through my hair and exiting my house to join the nameless among the streets of kohonagakure.

if i had the energy, i would have simply skimmed through the village in a haste just to get there a few minutes earlier. instead, i walked with earnest past the countless shops and houses with one goal in mind, and that was to find a cure of some sort.

once the hokage’s building came into sight, my step perked up a bit as i was one step closer to achieving something for sen’s sake. i was about to enter the building before i heard a familiar voice yell my name from behind me.

“kyō! wait up!” i heard naruto’s voice boom, prompting me to turn around.

“naruto?” i said with a slight tilt of my head. “what’re you doing here?” i asked, puzzled by his sudden appearance. he lightly jogged toward me with a big grin on his face before answering.

“oh man, it feels like i haven’t seen you in forever!” he said with a lighthearted tone. i smiled at him languidly before noticing the sparkle that was present in his eyes.

“what brings you here, naruto?” i asked politely, making my way towards the door again.

“oh, right! grandma tsunade wanted to see me, she said something about my sensei. i’m hoping he didn’t get in trouble with the ladies again, cause what a pain,” he said slightly downcast, to which i chuckled.

“sounds like it’s never boring with him,” i said slyly. he chuckled sweetly before rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. i went to go open the door but he halted me by putting his hand in front of me, catching me off guard. my eyes widened as i looked up at him curiously.

“you got the door last time, and i uh thought that i came off a little rude. so, after you,” he said, motioning me through. i could feel a heat rise to my face before i focused on making it go away. we walked through the doors and treaded in a comfortable silence before he decided to speak.

“so what’re you doing here?” he said, resuming his position by my side with his hands in his pockets.

“oh, i have to review my clans scrolls. maybe even take them home if im lucky,” i said, not wanting to give away too much information.

“awesome! tell you what, when i’m done maybe we can look at them together?” he asked hopefully. i thought it over for a few seconds before giving in.

“id like that,” i said with a small smile, watching the one on his face blossom.

“great! well i better get going, that old lady sure has a temper on her. but i’ll catch you later, kyō!” he said before jogging off upstairs. a few moments after he left i felt the smile on my face dwindle at the fact that i just agreed for him to see my family scrolls. my palms itched with the anxiety but i decided to worry about that later.

i spoke with the lady at the counter for a few moments before she motioned me toward the hall to her right. i thanked her for her time before swiftly making my way towards the room she directed me to. it would be a lie to say i wasn’t nervous, considering this was the moment in which it would fall upon me to help her. my hand trembled over the doorknob before i boldly opened it, only to be met with a room piled high with scrolls. kami, i don’t remember there being so much.

hours passed before i had even made it a fraction across the room. a migraine had weaved its way into my scalp, leaving me almost unbearably uncomfortable having to go through so many scrolls. i was about to call it a day before one caught my eye. most of the scrolls were plain and lacked any connotation to its contents, whereas this one was decorated with greenery weaving its way around, looking similar to what i saw on sen’s wrists.

i quickly discarded the one i held within my hands before going to pick this mystery scroll up. much to my surprise, ‘kodama’ was etched into it, which immediately piqued my interest. i wasted no time in opening it to read what was inside.

“the ancient tree in which shokubutsu was truly first manifested had, in part, been due to genetic makeup of the niwa blood. the other part, with variants unknown, was only viable through the powerful harnessing and understanding of early shokubutsu. the blood intertwined through such burdening emotions had manifested itself into a whole new life force, discredited by none. upon the new era, the niwa ancestors had worshiped to great extent the power harnessed by the tree. upon eating the fruit and bearing a newfound life with the tree as the center of all things, only then were they able to grasp the power in which the mighty tree held. through bloodshed and tears, only then can new life be created,” it read ominously. i read it a few times in hopes of being to be able to decipher it to a deeper meaning. just before i was about to continue, i was interrupted with a curt knock on the door. not long after, naruto had appeared.

“ah, i knew id find you here!” he boisterously exclaimed with a bright smile on his face. “geez, this place gives me the creeps,” he muttered while closing the door before making his way closer to me.

“how kind of you to make an appearance,” i said with a smirk. “took you long enough.”

“hey!” he started, crossing his arms as his eyebrows slightly furrowed. “i had important shinobi business, for your information,” he huffed out.

“kuso, im kidding! come, take a seat baka,” i said with a smile, patting the floor beside me. he sighed and uncrossed his arms before obediently sitting beside me.

“so this is where you’ve been the past few hours?” he spoke while looking around the dim room.

“hai, i’ve already got a migraine,” i said, going back to rubbing the bridge of my nose.

“what have you been doing in here?” he said while picking up a pen that had previously littered the floor. oblivious to the scroll i held in my hand.

“i’m unraveling clan history as we speak,” i said side eyeing him with a smirk, watching his blue eyes widen.

“you mean a mystery?” he asked, the excitement apparent in his voice. i nodded as he immediately perked up.

“awesome! what are you trying to figure out?” he asked optimistically. i took a breath before answering, wanting to choose my words carefully.

“as of right now, im just trying to connect the dots. legend has it that once a niwa dies, their spirit manifests itself into a tree. recently, i’ve witnessed behavior of the possibility that a jutsu could be behind this, though i’m not too sure,” i said with a furrow of my eyebrow.

“whoa! you’re a niwa?” he asked incredulously, his interest piquing once again. i pursed my lips and nodded, preparing myself for an outlandish reaction yet again.

“that’s so cool! they told legends of your clan back at the academy!” he said with a bright smile. my eyes crinkled as i grinned at him, finding amusement in his insatiable energy.

“i uh, i heard there weren’t too many of you left,” he said sheepishly, his hand retreating behind his head. my smile faltered slightly as i stayed silent and nodded slowly.

“i’m sorry to hear that, if it makes you feel any better, i’ve never met anyone in my clan,” he said after a few moments of silence. i turned my head to look at him and noticed how his eyes had slightly dimmed and how they now occupied the floor.

“that does make me feel better,” i said lightheartedly, softly nudging his shoulder. i saw a bittersweet smirk grace his features as i took another deep breath before speaking.

“sen always used to tell me about how lively our clan once was,” i stated quietly, almost drowned out by the silence that hung in the air. “i feel as if she’s always had it worse, considering she knows what she once had and what is now long gone. and that’s the difference between us,” i said, almost to no one. i felt him turn his head beside me, but i refused to look, for i did not want to see that look in his eyes again.

“yeah, i feel the same way. my friend sas-,“ he started before he curtly cut himself off. “my friend is also the last of his clan, and for how bad the circumstances were, im sure i would have gone down the same path if i were him. he was the only one that could understand my pain, but i don’t know if i could ever understand his,” he said, the words tumbling from his lips before he could stop them.

“pain is what bonds people together,” i said wistfully. “no matter how bad it may be, someone has always had it worse. and the only thing you can do is heal and heal others,” i said while looking down at my intertwined fingers.

“dattebayo,” his perked up voice spoke from beside me, i turned to meet his gaze to find his eyes already locked onto me. it was like i was seeing him for the first time again, fascinated at how his eyes manage to take my breath away every time.

“you know, im glad i met you kyō, i knew you were like me,” he said with a smile before digging in his back pouch for something.

“like..you?” i asked, the confusion clear in my voice. he turned around a moment later after retreating a bar of cherry flavored chocolate and handing me a piece.

“here, take it,” he said with that infectious smile of his, holding the chocolate and motioning it towards my face. i felt a smile tug on my face before i wearily raised my hand and took it from him.

“thank you,” i said while looking down, not wanting him to see the faint blush brushing across my cheeks.

“ah, don’t worry about it,” he said with a chuckle before he turned to me again. “hey, would you uh, want to maybe go somewhere and eat? i’m starving,” he said sheepishly, bracing himself for an unpleasant reaction.

my eyes widened upon his request, an immediate blush returning to my face. kami, what is it with this guy? this wasn’t like when shikamaru asked me, considering it was with the rest of his team.

“do you..do you mean alone?” i asked wearily, not wanting to assume anything. his eyes widened slightly beside me as a faint blush spread across his features.

“uh yeah, if that’s okay with you,” he said nervously. i fiddled with my fingers as i looked down again, feeling my nerves creep up on me. what about sen? i already turned shikamaru down, would this be displeasing towards him? is naruto asking me on a date?

“would you mind if i brought my scrolls?” i asked after a moment of silence. my eyes averted towards his as i realized he broke out into an immediate smile and subtly exhaled a breath of relief.

“of course! lucky for you, i know the perfect place for us, it’s a kohona staple,” he said rather pridefully. i looked at him for a few moments longer before i broke out into a smile myself.

[dizzyaddy]

drowning - naruto x oc part 6

my eyes fluttered open as i felt familiar warmth engulfing my features, the sunlight findings its way in through the thin curtains. my back ached tremendously as i realized i had fallen asleep in the lounge chair next to sens’ bed. i made sure she was still breathing before sitting up and stretching out my sore limbs. my arms slightly shook as i yawned, showcasing how truly tired i was. i rubbed my eyes free from the fatigue before clasping my hands together quietly and pulling myself up to start my day.

i was about to cross the threshold of her room before i heard sens’ strained voice muttering incoherent things in her sleep. i turned around and to my immediate surprise, she was sitting straight up. her long hair wavered around her frail body as it faded from her natural dark chocolate to a diluted chestnut.

“onee?” i asked wearily, unsure if she was conscious or not. her eyes were glued shut as her mouth continued to move freely, making out words i couldn’t decipher. i took another few steps toward her and put my hand on her arm, with the intention of slightly shaking her. my hand instantly jolted back at the contact, as her skin was unnaturally cold. my eyes widened as i quickly moved to check her forehead, which was scorching hot. i gasped as my heart started racing, completely unprepared for a moment like this.

i was about to turn on my feet to grab her a coat before i noticed something strange. her arms lay dormant beneath her, her veins under her soft pale skin turning an unnatural green. slowly it was spreading from just her wrist to her forearms, and i saw one completely pierce through her skin. my eyes widened as i watched it form a bulb before a small frail flower erupted from it. i didn’t have anymore time to waste as i jolted to move her onto my back, desperate to stop whatever was happening to her.

luckily, i was still wearing my sandals from the night before as i threw open our front door and scattered out of it. though sen was 5 years older than me, her body was underdeveloped as the sickness had weaved its way through her veins from a young age. she almost looked like a child on my back as my legs scurried atop the village roofs.

my eyes widened as i saw the hospitals white building from afar, and i made the effort to start taking larger leaps to get us there in a timely manner. sens body was still cold behind me as her arms lay limp at her sides. i felt tears burning my eyes as i forced them away, trying to my best to focus on how to handle the situation before me. upon reaching the hospital, i sprinted through the doors and toward the counter.

“please, i need a doctor! something’s wrong with my sister, please!” i rushed out, checking behind me every so often to feel sens faint breath brush against my cheek. the nurse occupying the counter widened her eyes upon the sight and stood up to shout something at the orderlies lounging around. they quickly got up and got a stretcher before prying her from my back. i stood there watching in slow motion as they laid her down before starting to wheel her off. my feet reacted before i could think, instantly taking off behind her.

“ma’am, you need to stay here! the only way you can help right now is filling out this paperwork for her,” another nurse said jumping in between me and the doors that now separated us. my hands were shaking as i stood there, staring longingly after her.

the next words that left the nurses mouth were incoherent as she sat me down and gave me paperwork attached to a clipboard. i stared at the paper for a few minutes before slowly blinking my eyes and grabbing the pen attached to it.

my leg wouldn’t stop bouncing up and down as i sat there, quickly filling out the forms as quick as i could. my eyes weighed down heavily, but i refused to close them as i sat there after bringing the forms to the front desk. my mind raced with a flurry of questions i would most likely not get an answer to. did this have to do with the kodama? was she casting a jutsu on herself? i kept asking myself as i tried my hardest to rack my brain for answers.

i hadn’t noticed i had fallen asleep until i felt a small hand nudge my shoulder, instantly jolting me awake. i looked up to find a young woman with pink hair and bright emerald eyes looking at me with a knowing smile.

“excuse me, are you kyō?” she asked politely, her hair pulled up into a ponytail behind her.

“hai, is she okay? is sen okay?” i asked, instantly standing up before i could stop myself.

“hai, she’s stable for now. i studied under lady tsunade, and the healing i did for her was just enough to curb the spread of the roots under her skin. you are descendants of the niwa clan, correct?” she asked before i absentmindedly nodded. she furrowed her eyebrows before letting out a “hmm.”

“can i see her?” i asked, my voice cracking as i meekly muttered the words. she didn’t reply but instead nodded and gave me her hand to help me up, which i hesitantly took.

“you know, i’ve read about your clan when i was studying under tsunade. it was derived from a mud and water style, which explains your kekkai ability to control nature. to me, it seems as if she was casting a jutsu upon herself, thought she didn’t use any hand signs for it. i would suggest going through your clans scrolls to try to find out the meaning of this,” she said politely. i walked next to her silently, listening to all she had to say. all my clans scrolls were in the hokages office, as hiruzen wanted to make sure they wouldn’t fall into the wrong hands.

“so, what are you going to do with her?” i asked, dismissing what she said beforehand.

“well, we’ve sedated her to stop her from casting this jutsu on herself. it seems like she performed it even without being conscious and without hand signs, so we’ve got to be very careful with her,” she said. “we’re going to keep her here for awhile, and lady tsunade is aware of the situation so hopefully she will be able to help us.” i nodded beside her, the entirety of my body numb as well as my emotions. how did we get here, sen?

we finally reached the room after walking through several corridors, and i sighed a breath of relief upon entering the room. sen lied there silent and still, her face unmoving as her chest slowly rose and fell. i felt myself crumble as i took gentle steps toward her, careful not to disturb her, even if she was sedated. i stood by her bed, my warm fingers wrapping around her cold ones. i felt tears well in my eyes the longer i stood there, staring at her.

“i’m sakura haruno, by the way. i, along with lady shizune, will be taking sen under our care. don’t worry about your little sister, kyō. we won’t let anything happen to her under our watch,” she said setting a hand on my shoulder. i absentmindedly tensed at the contact, only nodding at her words.

“she’s older than me,” i muttered, bringing my free hand to wipe stray hairs away from sens face.

“older??” i heard her ask incredulously, taken aback by my words. i only nodded in response. “i’m sorry, the nurses just assumed, they haven’t reviewed your paperwork yet. may i ask why she’s so underdeveloped?” i stood there unmoving for a few moments before responding, my eyes not moving from her resting face.

“long ago, in the nine tails attack, our entire clan was wiped out on the front lines of defense. that night, i was put in sens care as all the chaos ruptured around us,” i said, taking a breath before continuing.

“though she was only six, she was already an accomplished kunoichi. she was top of her class and her will of fire burned ferociously within her. amidst all the carnage, she weaved about and did her best to shield us from the danger. while she succeeded in keeping me safe, she wasn’t aware of the rapidly falling debris surrounding us. she threw herself in front of me and took the blow. i would have been dead, considering i was only a year old at the time. but she was strong, always has been and always will be. the blow completely wiped her out and if it wasn’t for the aid of another stranger, im certain she would have perished,” i said, recalling the vague memories from that night that i preserved.

“ever since then, she hasn’t been the same. it seemed like she would be completely fine afterwards, but a sickness lay dormant under her skin and wasn’t noticed until it was too late. it eats away at her, decaying her from the inside out. recently i’ve been having to increase her dosage of her pain medicine, but i feel so useless in helping her. i can’t do anything to save her,” i said tearfully, my voice cracking at my last words. i squeezed my eyes shut, as if it would rid me of all my worldly problems. if that were the case, i would never open my eyes again. i felt sakura’s soft hand fall onto my shoulder, as she exhaled slowly.

“kyō, it’s going to be okay. lady tsunade has already been reviewing her case, and if anyone can do it it’s her. have some faith, it would do you good,” she said, squeezing my shoulder as she spoke.

my face was downcast as i lowered my head, not wanting her to see the tears that had started to flow down my face.

“please- don’t tell anyone about this. i don’t want anyone to know,” i said quietly, my voice slightly quivering. i held onto sens’ hand for dear life, as if i would let go she would fade away.

“don’t worry, i won’t tell anyone. lady tsunade will make sure that it doesn’t spread about either, that woman can be terrifying sometimes,” she said with a lighthearted chuckle despite the atmosphere.

“thank you,” i said quietly.

“hey, it’s okay. i can talk to tsunade about giving you entrance to access the scrolls, it’s only right since you’re the heir of all of them,” she said with a small smile.

this isn’t right, i kept thinking to myself. sen should be the heir, not me. sen is stronger, she’s everything i aspire to be. why isn’t any of this fair? for kami’s sake i shouldn’t even be alive right now. i didn’t know how long i was standing there until sakura cleared her throat and made her presence known again.

“i’m going to check on my other patients, but let me know if there’s anything i can do for you. and don’t worry about sen, she’s a fighter and we have many safety measures to make sure nothing will happen to her,” she said. i nodded and whispered a quiet “thank you,” before she walked out.

it was at that moment when i crumbled. i got on my knees and lied my forehead on sens’ hand that i held within mine. i wrapped both of my hands around her frail one and held it so tightly i thought she would break.

“please, kami. please, please, please. i can’t lose her, please i cant,” i prayed. “take me, please, take me, i’ll do anything.,” i said as i squeezed my eyes tightly shut, wishing that all of this could simply just go away.

i hadn’t moved until a nurse came in, informing me that visiting hours were closed. as much as i would have liked to protest, the days burden took a heavy toll on me as i gathered my things and gave sen a kiss on her forehead.

“don’t worry, onee, i’ll save you,” i whispered with a voice crack before finally leaving the room. upon going home that night, the house felt more barren than usual. i treaded through the halls like a ghost, not bothering to do anything before i plopped down on my bed. that night i feel asleep, dreaming of a future that deep down i knew would never exist.

[dizzyaddy]

drowning - naruto x oc part 5

(i do not own any naruto characters, only the original characters)

“oh kami,” i breathed out absentmindedly, looking up at the setting sky. my feet treaded through the dirt paths with a mind if their own, anxious for me to finally take a rest. the sun had just started to set, casting bright pinks and oranges with wispy white clouds to decorate the sky above.

after i had left naruto, i had spent hours in search of a clue for this tree. i circled around the monument a few separate times, hoping that i would get a hint. but to no avail, nothing of the sorts offered to aid in my search.

so here i was, walking through the streets of kohonagakure. it was moments like this when i loved it the most here, being surrounded by nature while beautiful pastels illuminated themselves in the sky. a slight breeze kissed my skin, bringing a small smile to my face in the process. i took a deep inhale, making sure to fully capture this moment in all the best ways.

the streets were surprisingly busy, as were the shops that decorated the sides of the pathway. people bustled about, tending to their needs and hoping to get home before the sun fully set. i wondered what kind of lives they lead, as most people surrounding me were innocent civilians.

i brought my hand to my anbu tattoo that adorned my right shoulder, tracing the outlines of it while reminiscing on the past. i wondered what life would be like if i hadn’t gone down this path, if i had stayed an innocent child in my sisters care. i shook my head, ashamed that i even dared to think about leading that kind of life. i needed to be strong, for sen and the village. i would do anything to keep her safe.

i brought my fingers to my now loose hair, running it through in hopes of somewhat comforting myself. i needed to focus on sen, and on the possibilities i could pursue for her. maybe if i trained a little harder, i would be able to actually feel the earth around me. not in a physical way, but a spiritual and emotional way, as did my ancestors before me. i was too deep in thought to notice the body getting closer to me, unaware of the proximity between us rapidly closing. i didn’t notice until a sharp pain erupted in my shoulder, causing me to avert my attention to the situation in front of me.

“oh, i’m so sorry!” i managed to breathe out before noticing who was in front of me. i looked up to find shikamaru rubbing his opposite shoulder, dumbfounded at this coincidence. he stared for a few seconds before responding.

“ah, it’s all good, don’t worry about it. if anything, i’m the one that should be apologizing,” he said nonchalantly, shaking out his arm out.

“no, it’s okay! i wasn’t looking where i was walking,” i admitted, while rubbing my arm. feeling small under his gaze.

“i’m not just apologizing for this, kyō,” he said, which caught my attention once again as i brought my eyes towards his. “i wanted to apologize for how my team and i acted earlier, it was really out of line. they don’t meet new people often, and they can get really excited,” he said, sincerity showering his eyes.

“i appreciate your honesty, but it’s really okay. i just want to move past it,” i said sheepishly. he gave me a peculiar look before a small smile took over his placid features.

“could i walk you home to make up for it?” he asked, his hand going to rub the back of his head. is this something boys tend to do? my eyes widened on the spot, unaware of how to approach this situation.

“oh, you don’t have to. i don’t want you to go out of your way-“ i started saying before he cut me off with his hand.

“no, you see, i really messed up, and i want to at least try to make it right. so, walk with me?” he asked, his hand halting its movement on the back of his neck. i thought it over for a second before realizing i couldn’t turn him down, especially if he was apologizing. i looked up at him before nodding, and with that he sighed a breath of relief.

“so, where we heading?” he asked, waiting for me to start moving. i just nodded my head forward as to signal that was the direction, and off we went. i held my elbows in each of my hands as we walked in silence before he decided to speak again.

“you don’t get out much, do you?” he asked, once again catching me off guard. i felt beat rise to my cheeks before i focused solely on making it go away.

“is it that obvious?” i asked, slightly amused.

“well, you have the demeanor of someone twice your age, and i’ve lived here my whole life and i’ve never see you before today. so yeah, kind of,” he said with a smug smile.

“well, if you must know, then yes. when i’m not on missions i really only training and tend to things at my home,” i said intertwining my fingers, not wanting to bring up sen just yet.

“i see. are you anbu? sorry, but i noticed your tattoo back there, and i had to ask,” he asked, his eyes averting to my scarred shoulder.

“yes, i was recruited when i was 14,” i said as casually as i could.

“14? kuso, i had just made chunin at that age,” he replied sheepishly.

“well, i did a lot of training under the third. i never got to go through the process of having a team or a sensei, it was straight from the academy to studying under his supervision,” i stated.

“no team, huh? hey well if you’re ever up to it, you could train with us. not to brag, but asuma sensei is the coolest,” he said, his eyes fluttering shut as he boasted.

“sarutobi? he’s your sensei?” i asked incredulously.

“yeah, what, you know him?” he asked peering down at me.

“i’ve only met him a handful of times while i was with the third. but he’s quite chivalrous,” i mentioned, recalling all the brief moments i’ve spent in his presence.

“yeah, that’s putting it lightly. now we’re sure he’s with kuranai sensei. even though they try to keep it a secret, it’s pretty obvious,” he said with a knowing smirk.

“wow, and here you are spreading his business,” i said mockingly with a raised eyebrow, watching his face form a flustered expression.

“hey, i just said it’s pretty obvious, did i not?” he asked with a playful eye roll.

“yeah yeah whatever,” i said with a slight chuckle. we walked in silence for a couple of moments before he decided to speak.

“hey uh, about earlier, don’t worry about ino and choji telling anyone else. i already told them not to mention it again,” he said while looking forward. i looked up at him with admiration as my lips formed a smile that fully met my eyes.

“well, im grateful to you. i mean it, thank you, for everything, shikamaru,” i said, finally calling him by his name. he looked down at me for a few moments before his face broke out in a smile, making my heart skip a beat. man, i’m really people deprived aren’t i?

we happily took our time with the rest of our walk towards my house, keenly watching the sun set in the distant. the streets were less crowded by the time we made it there, and the rest of the daylight had gracefully slipped away.

“so, i take it this is it, huh?” he asked from beside me, noticing my slowing pace. i nodded as i held my hands behind my back, nervous as to how this would end. i’m not usually one to stick around through interactions to see how they end up.

“well, i’m glad we got to talk, kyō. and i’m serious, don’t be intimidated to hang around us. as rash as they can be, they mean well,” he said in ino and choji’s defense. i nodded slowly, not knowing how to hide my nervousness.

“once again, thank you for walking me home. i don’t know how to show my gratitude, i don’t ever do this so i don’t really know how to act,” i admitted, despite how little i felt in this moment.

“nah, i understand. just be yourself, baka,” he said before flicking my nose. heat rose to my cheeks as i looked up at him slowly backing away. “i’ve got to get going, but we should do this again sometime. i had fun, kyō. till next time!” he said before jogging away into the darkness. i stood there for a few moments, daintily bringing my fingers to my nose and looking at his fading figure in the distance.

[dizzyaddy]

drowning - naruto x oc part 4

(i do not own any naruto characters, only the original characters)

the next time we met felt like a daydream

my lungs ached indefinitely as did the rest of my body, overworked from my unabating training. the only alleviation available was the somewhat consistent breeze that engaged this section of the forest. the bright sun intensely beat down on me, trying to tempt me into taking a rest. i disregarded it and continued on, uninterested in giving myself a break.

my palms burned from my usage of shokubutsu, a type of jutsu that took advantage of the plant life all around me and weaved it into whatever i wanted it to be. so far, i’ve made intricate designs with the vines and tree roots that littered the area surrounding me. i’ve been working myself up to be able to fully control trees and other large facets of greenery this land has to offer me.

my thoughts were plagued with the conversation sen and i held last night, this mention of a divine ancestral tree captivating me to my core. part of me wondered if there would be a mark in the land that signified where it used to stand. i made up my mind and made it a mission to search the surrounding land after my training.

before i could move onto my next jutsu, i heard a young man’s voice along with two others approaching from my far right side of the forest. i wish i held my ancestors gift of being able to listen to the forest. but if that were the case, i’m certain i would speak to no one other than sen and the life that surrounds us.

i wanted to ignore whoever was approaching, but this pit in my stomach halted my movements. from the shrubbery emerged a young man with sharp eyes and a ponytail, a young woman with long blonde hair and purple attire, and lastly a pudgy young man with pink swirls adorning his cheeks. i noticed them notice me and, much to my dismay, approach me.

“hey! are you the one making the ground shake?” the girl of the group asked, oblivious of the torn up ground around her. the boys, on the other hand, glanced warily at each other upon noticing the ruptured turf strewed across the field.

“i’m sorry, i didn’t know others could feel it,” i admitted with a smile, despite how wary i felt under their stares. though i was older than them, their stares made me feel immensely younger than i was.

“no, that’s awesome! my teammate choji can do that too! show her choji!” the young woman boasted while nudging her pudgy teammate forward, prompting him to blush and shake his head profusely. “chojii don’t embarrass me!” she groaned, while the boy with the ponytail just smirked and shook his head.

“i’m shikamaru, this is ino and the other one is obviously choji,” he said, sticking out his hand towards me. the girl along with the boy behind him waved at me, smitten grins etched across their faces.

“i’m kyō, it’s nice to meet you all,” i said, taking the boys hand in mine and promptly shaking it.

“i take it you’re training out here?” shikamaru asked, taking it as an opportunity to examine the broken land around him.

“yes, i’ve been at it almost all day,” i said, wiping a bead of sweat off of my eyebrow. “what about you, may i ask what brings you out here?” i asked curiously, setting my sore hands on my hips.

“oh right, i had to be an escort for the kazekage and his advisors during their visit. it’s a drag, but im finally done and now-“

“now he gets to spend time with us!” ino interrupted him, prompting him to sigh.

“you could put it that way,” he said defeatedly.

“did you do all this to the ground?” choji asked from behind the other two, casually sneaking out a bag of chips from an unknown location.

“yes, it’s kind of impossible not to with my kekkai,” i said, a slight chuckle escaping my lips.

“wow that’s amazing!” ino exclaimed, excitement evident in her eyes.

“so, you mind showing us what you can do?” shikamaru asked, a glint of curiosity evident in his eyes.

“i’m sorry, i-im not sure, it might not be safe for you all to be around to witness it,” i stated meekly, watching their faces fall into confusion.

“huh? why not?” choji finally spoke, being the first to admit their curiosity.

“well, i can control all the root systems underneath where you’re standing, along with all the bushes and vines that preoccupy this area. i haven’t completely mastered it, but i’m on my way!” i said making an attempt to sound cheerful, my obvious lack of social skills getting the better of me.

“huh, i’ve never heard of a jutsu like that,” shikamaru said, rubbing his chin while he looked to be in thought.

“i have! are you by chance kyō niwa? of the niwa clan?” ino excitedly asked, again oblivious to the way a grimace found its way across my features.

“no way! i heard there were only two of them left!” boisterously exclaimed choji, his eyes going wide.

“the niwa clan huh? i think i’ve heard of them,” shikamaru added, finally looking me in the eyes. i awkwardly stood there and waited for them to address me again, the buzz surrounding them prominent.

“yeah, shika! their whole clan was destroyed a long time ago, no wonder we’re just now seeing one of them,” ino continued to speak as if i were not standing there. to this, shikamaru visibly facepalmed as my insides cringed.

“shh, ino! could you be any louder?” shikumaru exclaimed, noticing my uncomfortable stature in front of them.

“oh, kyō, i forgot you were there, i’m so sorry! we just got excited,” she apologized and bowed, her face flushed from embarrassment. i stood there, wondering what prompted people to act like this. sure, they were younger than me, but this felt like a joke.

“it’s okay, i’m sorry but i’ve really got to get going anyway,” i said with a small smile, covering up the dejection filled pit i felt in my stomach. i quickly turned around and picked up my shoulder bag from behind me, thankful nothing spilled out of it while i was distracted.

“hey wait!-“ shikamaru said, but i was already making my way towards the opposite side of the forest. “great, you guys, we ran her off!” i heard him groan to the others, both of them profusely apologizing in their defense.

i quickly tried my best to brush the encounter off, not wanting to waste time idling about the way their words made me feel. instead, i mindlessly jumped along the tree line, careful not to damage any branches in my wake. it was a beautiful sight, the way the suns rays poked through the leaves, leaving me with glimpses of pure warmth and gold. it’s almost as if i reached out, i could catch it.

in truth, i had no idea where i was going. the vague description sen had given me proved to be little to no help as the forests of kohonagakure looked the similar, if not the same. being from a shokubutsu wielding clan, you would think i would be absurdly knowledgeable about the variations of plants and flora this world provided for me. once i graduated the academy, the only studying i did was under the thirds supervision of reviewing sacred ancestral scrolls left behind by my deceased clan.

“a great clan, the niwa were,” lord hiruzen would recite to me on those days. “strong in their beliefs, they would have sacrificed anything for peace.”

“is that how they all died?” i asked, the turmoil of losing all my family uprooting cynical feelings deep within me.

“yes, child,” he said, turning to me as to prepare for a tale. “during the nine tails rampage, amongst all the chaos and carnage, they jumped to defend the village and took it upon themselves to engage on the front lines, as their shokubutsu proved to be the only thing that could have possibly stopped the tailed beast. i don’t know how they could have possibly failed, seeing as the clan wielded almost as much power as the first hokage himself, hashirama senju.”

“if they were that powerful, how come they’re all gone, lord hiruzen? sen doesn’t like talking about that night, and i’m too scared to ask her,” i said quietly, ashamed at how little i knew of my family’s decimation.

“don’t fret, little one, for there will always be a time to acquire new knowledge,” he replied, almost as if he read my mind. “the only inkling i have as to why things turned awry is the inclination of foul play,” he said, his face downcast.

“foul play?” i asked, curious as to why his demeanor had changed.

“yes, kyō. come back to me with that question in a few years when you’re ready,” he said, a small smile returning to his aging face.

“but lord hokage, i am ready! i’ve graduated the academy, and i’m in the process of joining the anbu! when will i know i’m ready?” i asked wistfully, my eyes wide with desperation.

to this he vibrantly laughed, a laugh that filled the room and vibrated off the surrounding walls. his laughter was enough to bring forth a small smile onto my face.

“i do not have all the answers, child, for one day you will also have to do some digging to acquire the truth. when that moment comes, when you’re ready to face whatever darkness that may lie ahead, then we can perhaps conversate about this topic again,” he said, stroking his beard. i looked at him funny, which prompted yet another laugh to escape him. this time, i joined him in his laughter.

a longing smile appeared on my face as i was lost in the memory, my heart aching at the fact that i never got to talk to him about it again. when he passed, it felt as if i lost the only father figure i had ever known. as minimal as our interactions had gotten the older i became, i still held the old man close to my heart, the memories of him becoming precious to me.

with all these thoughts protruding me, i almost passed up a grandiose stone monument overgrown with lucious fauna of all sorts. i quickly jumped from the protruding branch in which i stopped on and made my way closer to this mystery monument. the sun carefully reflected bright orange off the surface of the flat granite, basking my face in shades of golden warmth.

the closer i got, the more i could see the cracks and blemishes that enveloped the entirety of this stone. i put my hands in front of me and weaved a jutsu that casted chakra onto the plants covering the tablet, intricately tucking them out of the way of the diminished carvings. once i was confident it wouldn’t crumble without this overgrown verdure, i returned the vegetation to the surrounding ground so i could finally see it clearly.

“okay, let’s see,” i muttered to myself, taking my fingertips and gently brushing off the dirt tightly clad against the stone. after doing so, the tarnished carvings became more legible.

“KODAMA - rarely seen, but often heard, as echoes through the wind, taking longer than they should. when they do appear, as faint orbs of light. if the tree were to falter, the kodama shall die. as gods of the trees, protectors of the forest, they bless the land, brought together in chorus. such an ancient tree, such a grave sin, can prosperous places fall deep into ruin.”

as my eyes brushed over the last words, a deep shiver ran through my spine. i looked down at my arm to see goosebumps throughly raised over every inch of skin. how strange, i thought to myself. this kodama, what could it mean? could this be referring to the ancestral tree? i brought my fingers to my temples, rubbing out the migraine that was slowly spreading under my skin.

as i closed my eyes to take deep inhales of fresh air, i heard a rustling noise behind me. i jolted my eyes open and swiftly took out a kunai before turning around on my heels and throwing the knife, only to be met with a pair of sky blue eyes.

“what the-“ i said, my eyebrows instantly furrowing. the kunai had barely grazed his head, seeing as it landed right on the tree beside him. “did you follow me?” i asked, my voice bold as i squinted my eyes toward the blonde.

“follow you? what do you mean?” he said, waltzing around the tree he was just behind. he bent over to inspect then flick the kunai that embedded itself into the bark.

“oh, i’m sorry, i had run into some people awhile ago. may i ask what you are doing out here?” i asked while walking toward the tree before quickly ripping out the kunai.

“just some training, i uh actually never officially completed the chunine exams awhile ago, so grandma tsunade is making me take them this go around,” he said, scratching the back of his head like usual.

“oh i didn’t know lady tsunade had any grandchildren,” i muttered, causing the young man to erupt in a fit of laughter. that same, infectious laughter.

“oh kami no, i just call her grandma, it’s kind of a thing i do,” he said apologetically.

“oh i see, i’m sorry for the misinterpretation,” i replied, looking him in his eyes again.

“you know, you sure do apologize a lot,” he said, his blue eyes casting down into mine.

“i’m sor-,” i was about to admit before he turned his head slightly, astonished that i was saying it again. i cleared my throat before a small smile took over. “sorry, it’s a habit,” i said nervously.

“nah don’t worry about it, at least you got manners,” he said before noticing the stone monument behind me. “whoa, what’s this!” he exclaimed before getting closer to get a better look at it.

“i have no idea, i was trying to figure it out myself,” i said from behind him.

“you know, i have a friend who could probably help us, he’s super smart you know,” he said before taking his fingertips and rubbing off some dirt from around the carvings. “what is this ‘kodama’,” he asked, his eyebrows furrowing as his eyes glazed over the text.

“well, that’s the exciting part,” i said as he tore his gaze away to look at me. “we get to figure it out.”

he broke out into a toothy grin, one that certainly met his cerulean eyes. “you know, i never got your name the other day,” he said, going to rub the back of his head again.

this question prompted me to pause in my tracks, wary of how he would react if he knew who i was. my run in from earlier proved to be useful in terms of understanding how careful i should be while introducing myself.

“i’m kyō,” i said offering a grin, and i stuck my hand out towards his. he looked at it with a “huh?” before realizing and sticking out his hand to meet mine.

“oh, nice, i’m naruto! naruto uzumaki, and i’m going to be hokage one day!” he exclaimed, pumping his chest out to appear stronger.

“you know, you really are something, naruto uzumaki,” i said. upon hearing his name, his focus broke and his puppy dog eyes made contact with mine again. the way he looked at me took my breath away, as it felt strange having all his attention to myself.

“it’s weird, you know, i’ve never seen you before the other day and now you’re everywhere,” he admitted, his attention still solely on me.

i broke his gaze first, looking down at the overgrown tree stumps i was walking over while i spoke. “truth be told, i don’t really get out much. i usually spend all my free time training,” i said, holding my arms up so i could balance myself better.

“oh yeah, how is your sister doing? i remember you were getting her medicine the last time we met,” he said, unaware of the way my feet automatically stopped mid step. i did the only thing i thought sensible.

“yep, she’s all better,” i lied through my teeth. in my defense, is was a strange young man whom i only just learned of his name. “thanks for asking.”

“i never asked you what you’re doing out here, kyō,” he breathed out, my name casually rolling off of his tongue.

“well, that monument behind you just gave me a clue,” i said before he gave me a look of confusion. “i’m looking for an grandiose, ancient tree, it was said to be destoryed almost 20 years ago. but i will do anything to find it,” i said confidently.

“an ancient tree?” he asked, wonder brimming his hopeful eyes. “why are you trying to find it?” he asked, curiosity gleaming in those sky blue orbs of his.

“well, that’s a big question, but mainly because it’s a family heirloom,” i said, my face placid in spite of me talking to a random man about my family.

“heirloom?” he asked, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

“never mind about that,” i said dismissively. “now i’ve got to get going, but it was lovely meeting you again, naruto,” i said wistfully, not quite wanting to leave his presence yet.

“wait uh, would you mind if i came along?” he asked sheepishly, not wanting to overstep his boundaries. i thought it over, weighing the factors of all the ways it could go wrong, though i secretly didn’t mind the company.

“maybe next time, tomo. until i see you again, uzumaki,” i said while giving him a slight salute with my forefingers before scattering away into the treeline, unknowingly leaving him standing there staring after me.

[dizzyaddy]

drowning - naruto x oc part 3

(i do not own any naruto characters, only the original characters)

“long ago, mother and father brought me to the outskirts of the village and explained our clans history to me, would you like to hear it?” sen asked while i brushed through her thinning hair. my eyes widened as i eagerly nodded, then remembered she couldn’t see me before i excitedly answered with a “yes!”

“well then, get comfortable imouto,” she said before dramatically clearing her throat. i smiled and rolled my eyes before situating myself to take my time with her hair. “long ago, the two strongest clans, the senju and uchiha, were at war for centuries, fighting over supremacy. i’m sure you’ve heard of this, yes?” she asked before i hummed in response.

“this isn’t well known, but our clan was the only one that rivaled the power of the senju. when hashirama crafted his wood style, he was thought to be the one and only shinobi to acquire such a power. what people don’t know of is the secretive people of niwa,” she continued. my fingers combed through her hair before separating the strands and twisting them around each other.

“it was a place quite literally hidden in the leaves, constantly guarded by the immense amount of greenery that shielded them away from the world. behind those green walls lied the people of niwa, a clan that had spent years garnering and perfecting their power of shokubutsu,” i listened intently as i interlocked her hair pieces around each other, an intricate braid starting to take form .

“the niwa were a peaceful clan, never interested in the violence and chaos of the shinobi world. that’s why they kept themselves a secret for so long- they knew their power was great, and that it would only cause feuds among other clans.” i hummed in response, showing her she held my full attention.

“one day, an outsider managed to sneak past the secret walls and enter our divine sanctity of peace. at first, the niwa wanted to turn him away. he was an outsider, with unknown origins and intentions. against their better judgement, they took him in and started training him the niwa way of life.”

“you see, our clan was all about protecting the peace and prosperity of the earth around us. legends say that our ancestors could hear the earth all around them, the ground beneath their feet, the whispers in the air, the secret songs of the bustling leaves.”

“it sounds magical,” i softly stated, listening to her hum in reply.

“yes, it truly was, kyō. since it was their way of life, seeing the beauty in everything, they saw no harm in spreading the power and peace of what it means to be a niwa. though this mysterious person was an outsider, they soon considered him to be family. he mastered the skills it took decades for the elders to harness, and was soon respected by everyone in the village.”

“though, this wouldn’t last long as the man ultimately had ill intentions. his goals were far different from that of the niwa- he wanted the gifts to grant him control and power in the world. the niwa saw this and attempted to strip him of his gifts, but to no avail, he eradicated half the village by showcasing how great his powers were. he left the village with all of our secrets and all of our trades, and the niwa were left powerless in their defense.”

“that is, until from the ashes of their battle rose a young warrior who continued to seek this man out. this young woman was born and raised into the niwa clan, with niwa blood coursing through her veins. though she honed the clans secrets and had sworn before she would lay her life out for peace, she swore vengeance on this man that had decimated her family,” she added while my hands slowly made their way toward the ends of her hair.

“so she seeked him out, honing and perfecting her own power on her journey. through her travels, she came across many clans and many places with differing gifts and abilities. she had never known anything outside of her clan and their confining walls, and so she came to love the world around her even more. she promised that when this all ended, she would give back everything she had back to this sacred land.”

“her journey was long and troublesome, but she ended up finding this traitor man amongst many other nameless and village-less shinobi. he had vowed to train them to procure this incredible gift he possessed, and finally give them a place in this world. at first she was in disbelief, at how such an evil person could have a change of heart. naturally, she didn’t believe him, and so of course, a tense battle between the two had ensued. he managed to lure her away from the others so no harm would come to them, but one of her signature shokubutsu jutsus had caused damage to erupt onto the village.”

“upon seeing his people wounded and his home thwarted, the man became enraged and allowed himself to unleash his full power against her. their battle raged on, both of them not holding back on each other. eventually, they had come to a standstill. their powers were far too great to simply exterminate one another. they were both severely wounded, and on kami’s doorstep.”

“so what happened?” i asked impatiently, not having sen’s hair to preoccupy me anymore.

“you see, ky��, during their battle the woman came to the realization that what she was doing was everything her own clan had disapproved of. with this, upon analyzing their current states, she decided to end both of their lives. before she did, she allowed herself to conversate with this man she thought she hated. and after doing so, he told her to story of everything. of how her kind people sheltered him and turned on him once they doubted his powers. he recited to her in depth of the carnage that mistakenly waited for him on his journey.”

“at first she didn’t understand, but after having seen the extent of his gifts, she believed him. she no longer hated this man, despite the horrible deeds he had committed towards her. during this time, they both realized that they were ready for what was about to come. the only blood they would shed from this moment on was their own. and so they did, their blood intertwining with each other and creating a plethora of emotions. as tragic as it was, they both knew it was the honorable thing. “

“what they didn’t know of is the divination their sacred blood held within. upon their deaths, something in their intertwined blood had miraculously produced a divine tree of chakra. this tree was believed to uphold the balance of good and evil, and bring prosperity to the lands surrounding it. what was left of her clan heard of their tumultuous story, and decided it best to seek out this enchanted tree.”

“and so they deserted their lively yet comforting walls and took refuge around this grandiose tree. they soon realized that this tree indeed reacted to something within their blood. they felt a surge of chakra and a boost in their shokubutsu wielding, which prompted them to mark this tree as their home.”

“when mother and father took me the outskirts of the village, i was able to catch a glimpse of such a beautiful tree. it was tall and luscious, and even from far away i could feel its energy serging throughout the land,” she said wistfully, a sparkle profound in her honey eyes.

“sen,” i started, weary of what i knew was inevitable to leave my mouth. “what do you think the tree would do for you?” i asked, feeling her stop moving in front of me.

“can i be honest, kyō?” she asked gently, immediately prompting me to nod my head profusely. “if the tree were still up, i would have made it my mission to make that place our home. after all, it was our birthright,” she said longingly.

“well what happened to it?” i asked, feeling a pain run through my heart. if only, i thought to myself.

“in the nine tails attack, the fox had decimated half the village and the surrounding lands. it makes sense, since the ancestral tree was a huge target throughout the forest. i just wish it wasn’t so, as that tree held thousands of years of history and our ancestry,” she said defeated, recounting all the horrors of that horrible day.

“don’t worry, sen. i’ll do whatever it takes to keep you happy and healthy and safe,” i repeated while finally moving in front of her. the braid fell from the top of her head to her waist, adorning her with a beautiful look. she took her hand and placed it on top of mine affectionately, rubbing small circles into it.

“you already said that, baka,” she stated with a small smile. her eyes were downcast, but i knew better.

“that’s because i mean it, onee. i swear on my life, i will save you, just as you saved me long ago,” i said, my eyes starting to burn from the tears that threatened to spill. she looked up at me lovingly, her hand moving from mine to my cheek.

“if there’s anyone that can do it, it’s you, kyō. i believe in you,” she said, wiping away a stray tear that had fallen down my cheek. we held each other close that night, afraid of what would happen if we let go and let this moment pass. long after she had fallen sleep, small noises escaping her chapped lips every so often, i stayed awake contemplating every possibility in which i could save her.

[dizzyaddy]

drowning - naruto x oc part 2

(i do not own any naruto characters, only my original character)

“kyō, are you home?” i heard sen’s soft voice ring out from the back bedroom. after leaving the shop i had ungracefully rushed home, my feet often tripping over each other as i pushed through the dirt streets. people had just started to litter the street and bustle the village by the time i finally reached my home.

our clans compound was a ghost town, its only true ability being haunting my elder sister to her core. she didn’t speak much of what life was like before the attack, but when she did, i found myself dropping everything to cling onto what she had to say. life sounded so colorful, so joyful, so full of life. now it was just her and i, treading through a colorless world.

after the attack, she had pleaded with the elders into letting us move into our own townhouse. they heeded her request and granted us a townhouse right by the river than ran through the village. luckily, it had everything we needed to make life more accessible for her. though, it didn’t help that her condition continued to deteriorate, an inevitable facet i refuse to acknowledge.

at first i would go to school, go grocery shopping, and clean the house of any mess. she would help me with my baths and do my hair in the mornings, taking on a motherly role herself. any errand or task that needed work, i was always taking it on without any complaints. sen would cook, take care of her own personal needs, and tend to the garden in the backyard which held our supply of select vegetables and fruits.

now i find myself taking over the garden, cooking all of our meals, and helping her with her baths. she taught me long ago how to braid and style her hair just how she likes, something that i’ve pridefully mastered. it’s painful watching her slowly slip away, slowly losing herself, losing that gleam that used to shine so bright in her eyes.

the worst is when i have to prepare to leave on a mission. the one day i have to prepare is always dedicated to cooking many meals and storing them so she could easily access them, and making sure the garden would be okay while i was gone. long ago i moved all entertainment and recreational items we owned such as games and puzzles so she could access them by her bedside, in case she were ever bored while i was gone.

it’s not that i mind tending to her needs, for which i would do it all in half a heartbeat. the worst part is being separated from her, not knowing if she is okay or not. i’ve never known turmoil how she has, but i assume this is what it’s like.

“yes onee, sorry it took so long,” i said before walking through the threshold of her room. i greeted her with a kiss on the cheek once i was within range and checked if she was comfortable.

“how long have you been up, sen?” i asked while moving a stray piece of hair from her frail face. she grabbed my hand before i could retract it and examined the callouses and small cuts that littered its entirety.

“not too long, you came just in time,” she hummed, still distracted by my hands. hers felt cold in comparison, her dainty fingers holding onto mine as if she let go, she would fade away. “my, your hands are huge, kyō! i remember when your whole hand could fit around my finger,” she said wistfully, a longing look evident in her amber eyes.

“keep working like this and yours will be rougher than your husbands, that is if you find one,” she joked before i jolted my hand away.

“hai, sen! keep talking like that and i’ll let you starve,” i said in retort. she clicked her tongue and grinned in response, moving her eyebrows in a suggestive manner the best she could.

“i have your medicine, do you need more water?” i asked while sliding the tablets into her open palm. i noticed how her grin fell, leaving a dissatisfied expression on her face. she looked at them for a few moments before regaining eye contact with me and shaking her head.

“well i have to shower, i’m sure i smell from all my training. do you need me to get you anything? i can make us breakfast when i’m done!” i offered, desperately wanting to see her smile return. she stared at me longingly before a grin crept up, engulfing her features in the best possible way.

“i’d like that, thank you,” she breathed before taking my hand in hers again. “you know, kyō, you’re becoming a fine young woman. you remind me so much of mom, in spirit and soul. i love you, never forget that,” she said before leaning her head back and swallowing the dry tablets. i ushered her some water with my free hand before responding.

“your words mean the world to me, onee. i love you too, and i’ll do any and everything in my power to keep you safe and healthy and happy as can be,” i said with a bittersweet smile, wanting moments like this to last forever. she squeezed my hand before dropping her gaze and picking up a book of word puzzles that preoccupied her bedside table.

“now go shower, baka, you stink,” she muttered before i stuck my tongue out at her, causing her to stick hers back. i jokingly rolled my eyes and gave her a wave of my hand before promptly walking away. and with that, i exited her room and headed straight for the shower that adorned mine. i took off my pouches and the numerous bandages that were clad to various parts of my body. after i was sure i had stripped of everything on me, i started up the shower and jumped right in.

the steam instantly clouded my senses as i felt the hot water hit my skin in all the right places. if i could, i would live in this shower forever. it felt as if the water melted away the world outside, leaving me with nothing but this heightened experience of washing away my days worry.

my mind wandered to the boy i met earlier, and i marveled over how such a simple experience could bring such joy to my day. i pondered over his mannerisms before i was reminded of what the man at the herb shop had recited to me earlier.

deep down i knew it was inevitable, that her time was readily approaching and there wasn’t much i could do about it. i made a mental note to discuss it with her over breakfast, as much as i dreaded it. i quickly washed my hair and body before sitting down and letting the hot water rush over me, covering me in a blanket of solace.

i didn’t know i was crying until a sob erupted from my throat, leaving me to cover my mouth while these raging emotions continued to pour out of me. i curled up even tighter, wishing i could hold onto sen while i came to terms with these feelings. as much as i wanted to, i knew it would break her to see me like this. i had to be strong for her, just as she has been through all these years. my body trembled as my sobs wavered through me, coming and going in waves.

after awhile it seemed like if i didn’t make myself stop, then i simply wouldn’t stop on my own. i straightened out my posture and groomed my hair, trying to calm myself down. i closed my eyes and focused on my ragged breathing, trying my best to slow it down. once i regained control, i turned the shower ice cold and let it flow over me. my breathing was still sharp, but i knew i had calmed down. i thoroughly rinsed my face before promptly getting out the shower.

i didn’t allow myself to dwell on my reflection, instead i wallowed on my bed for a good few minutes, staring at a blank section of my wall. it’s as if i was thinking of everything yet nothing all at once. my thoughts came and went, but i couldn’t allow myself to truly focus on anything. i forced myself to get up and get dressed in my casual attire, which consisted of a long pleated skirt and a low cut long sleeved shirt. my towel still occupied my hair as i had wrapped it securely so it could dry. i took a few deep breaths to compose myself before making my way out of my room.

“hai, i should have known,” i heard sen’s agitated voice as i turned the corner, her eyebrows furrowed as she bit the end of her pencil trying to figure a puzzle out.

“i’m starving sen, what should we eat?” i asked excitedly, my mind instantly fixating on all the possibilities our kitchen held. she placidly held her hand under her chin, contemplating over the choices we held.

“i’ve been craving udon, if you’re up to it,” she said smiling at me, knowing that’s my favorite dish.

“you know me so well,” i said, touching her nose gently with the tip of my finger. “udon it is! i’m going to grab some vegetables from the back, i’ll be right back!” i said before rushing out her room and weaving my way toward our garden.

[dizzyaddy]

drowning - naruto x oc pt. 1

(i do not own any naruto characters, only the original character)

life was a blur before i met him.

the rising sun adorning the pastel sky greeted me with a new day. i exhaled a shaky breath as i treaded down the dirt path, the morning dew still evident on the nearby patches of grass. i had been up all night training and it was only now taking a toll on me. my eyelids felt heavy as did my feet below me, which were slowly but surely starting to drag behind me.

as much as i loved konohagakure, sometimes it simply feels suffocating. the infamous nine tails attack had devastated the village, leaving many people with little to no family. thanks to my older sister, we both somehow managed to survive. that being said, the rest of our clan along with our parents had perished along with half of the village.

i was simply too young to remember such an event, though to this day it still took a toll on my elder sister. she was once a proud shinobi, willing to put her life on the line for anybody and everybody. sometimes she will tell me old stories of her battles and how strong she used to be. nowadays, she can’t do much physically but still tries her best to keep the lighthearted spirit hanging in the air.

it makes me feel guilty, really, for being so able bodied and still feeling so useless. even in her state, she managed to raise me and continuously care and watch over me. her strength truly is something i admire most about her, her unwillingness to give up in defeat. now every time i feel like throwing in the towel, i’m reminded of all that she was and all that she continues to be.

hence, why i’m walking through the village at dawn to locate her pain medicine. my muscles trembled and ached, the exhaustion finally weaving its way through my body as i continued to push myself through the square. i had been back from my B ranked mission for a few days, and i was instructed to take this time to recuperate and replenish myself. as much as i would like to listen, my stubbornness deemed it impossible as i found any opportunity to make myself stronger.

coming up on the shop, i exhaled a breath of relief as i saw they had just opened. my rhythmic steps had picked up their pace as i was overcome with joy that i would be able to do something for my sister. my hand was about to touch the door handle before-

“hey!” a perky voice greeted me, taking my attention away from the door to this mysterious person. my eyes locked with his sky blue eyes as i felt myself stop breathing. i had lived in kohonagakure all my life, but never have i ever seen eyes that bright. eyes that held so much emotion, so much passion, so much optimism.

“sorry, can i help you?” i asked, trying to find the courage in my words. it wasn’t often that i spoke to people other than my sister. even if i did, it was always me doing someone a favor or-

“yeah about that, i noticed you were about to walk in here. you see, i just got back from training with my sensei for an overly long amount of time and i was instructed to pick up some medicine for him. you see, i kinda really hurt him awhile back and now he-“ he rambled as he sheepishly pushed through the words, his arm retracted behind his head as he rubbed it awkwardly.

“you need to go in front of me? i won’t mind,” i cut him off, his ramblings instantly quieting as he nodded eagerly. my, how can someone have this much energy in the morning?

“yes actually that would help out a lot, im sorry i know we both have places to be but-“ he started again before i politely held my hand in front of me and shook my head, signaling that it truly was okay.

“no no, it’s okay. i hope you find what you’re looking for,” i meekly said, my hand finally wrapping around the handle and opening it for him to walk through. he continued to stand there, dumbfounded at my actions while he stared at me with curiosity. i could feel my knees buckle with anxiety, hoping he would walk through quickly so i can get home.

“geez, you’re really nice you know that?” he said with a smile before walking through the open door. i felt a small smile creep up on my face before i followed him into the shop. he waltzed toward the counter as i kept my distance behind him, not wanting to impose on his privacy. the man working the counter quickly took his order before returning to the back to rummage for whatever it is he needed.

“so what’re you doing here this early?” he asked, catching me off guard. my eyes left my feet and collided with his, which were once again already looking at me. and i going to feel this winded every time?

“i just got finished training, i have to pick up some medicine for my sister,” i sheepishly said, my fingers intertwining with another as i stood there under his gaze. he was tall and built, his shaggy blonde hair firmly sweeping over his headband in all the right ways. his bright blue eyes still holding as much warmth as they did before as i noticed he had cat like whiskers on both sides of his cheeks. before he could add on to my statement, i asked,” what about you? as you said, it is quite early.”

he looked at me for another moment before a grin swept across his features, momentarily entrancing me.

“i just got back from training with my sensei, i’ve been gone for three whole years and now i’m finally back home!” he brought his fist up and pumped it in the air as he spoke. his enthusiasm brought a smile to my face as i stood there listening to his every word.

“i’m sorry, i forgot you already said that,” i spoke with a slight chuckle. “three years of training? geez, i’m sincerely happy you’re back home. i hope you can make the most of it,” i said with a smile, his confidence keenly rubbing off on me.

“order up!” the man behind the counter announced as he set the bag of medicine on the counter. the boy in front of me quickly turned around and exchanged some coins for the bag before he picked it up and turned around to face me.

“gee, thanks! i’ve really gotta get going or else i’m gonna be in trouble, but thanks for talking to me!” he waved a grandiose goodbye before rushing out of the store, quickly leaving me behind. moments after her left, my heart was still racing as i was left there staring after him. i probably would have stood there longer if it weren’t for the polite man behind the counter looking at me expectantly.

“the usual?” he asked before i nodded, not wanting to keep my sister waiting any longer. he nodded in acknowledgment before he swiftly reached down and pulled out the bag of medicine i’ve become too keen on seeing.

“you know, you’ve been coming in here more often lately. i could always up the dosage so she doesn’t go through so much,” he offered. i dug out the coins in my pouch before softly putting them in his rough hand.

“thank you for the offer, i would have to talk to her first but i will definitely keep that in mind. thank you, again, i hope you have a great day!” i said before making my way toward the exit. he looked at me with pity before putting on a smile and waving me off.

my smile immediately dropped when i exited the shop. i knew what he was saying was true, but it doesn’t mean i have to heed it in this moment. the birds vibrant songs had become more prominent than when i had entered the store. the sky’s candy colors faded into a mesmerizing blue as i stared up at it for a few moments before counting my journey home.