#sakumo just seemed so much older than the other parents

[notsorryiml8]

[emberswrites]

Kakashi is a great cook and he seems like pretty good with chores, what doesn't he like doing? or what is that chore that he might not be good at? And what about Sas? in what is he really good? and really bad?

Ok I’m going to use this to character dive lol.

I think a lot of Kakashi’s proficiency in keeping house is that early discipline that came with having a busy father raising him alone and then of course having to do it all alone, and being recruited into ANBU as well I think would add a level of rigidity, as well as what happened to Sakumo influencing that. Maintaining a certain order = following rules. And then later it’s therapeutic. I think if he has to pick he doesn’t spend much time ironing? Like those little extra steps, he’d look for convenience so he doesn’t need to spend time on that. He’s neat and put together but his uniform might be a little wrinkled sometimes, etc. so he picks easy maintenance clothes because that’s low priority. Of course I think this too changes as he gets older.

Sasuke has some of this discipline too, from having to be independent at a young age, but I imagine he’s less rigid and structured because of the detours he took in his life compared to Kakashi. Like I think personally he’s less neat and orderly because he’d rather train than organize, he’s fine if the coffee table is a little cluttered while he lazes in the sun for a bit. He keeps things clean of course because his parents instilled it, but he’s not like Kakashi when it comes to that. He eats to survive, so he’s not the best cook. He’s lived on the road more, nomadic-like. He’s more casual on that front. I think he’s better at laundry, though. I just think taking pride in representing his clan, he’s used to ensuring anything carrying their crest is maintained well and looks like new all the time. He’s careful about the detergent he uses and irons things, stores them nicely. Makes little repairs. I also think he grows to like gardening, creating something from a seed and nurturing it to grow.

I also think, and this isn’t really a chore, but that Kakashi has less of an eye for decorating. He’s used to keeping his living space impersonal. Sasuke I think, while no designer because it also wasn’t a priority, is a bit more intentional in curating his space, making it his.

How lovely that they compliment each other in the end 😉

[depressedhatakekakashi]

Hello, Sensei

Word Count: 2532

Pairing: Hatake Kakashi/Umino Iruka

Warnings: Poor Flirting

Summary: Kakashi's in Konoha to have a chat with the Acadamy Sensei about a student exchange that he and the Hokage have disguised, but he's not expecting the man he's there to meet to be so... Handsome.

Konoha had never been a village Kakashi spent much time in. Even when he had visited to watch Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro in their chunin exam fight he hadn’t taken much time to appreciate the view. With too many things on his mind at the time, it was hard for him to look around at all of the things the village had to offer.

Now, as he made his way down the busy streets with the three of him by his side, he couldn’t help but look around and notice all of the ways in which Konoha was so different from Suna. Not just in terms of weather, which was a lot kinder on Kakashi’s skin than the harsh Suna sun, but the culture. How the shops were built, some of the things that were being sold, the variety of different foods that he had never tried before.

“You know,” Temari spoke up, smiling when he turned to look at her. “Maybe after this meeting, we can look around. Try some new foods or look at some of the shops.”

“I would like to see what kind of things they have to offer,” Kankuro agreed, a bright playful smile on his face when Kakashi glanced his way. “Maybe I can find something new to add to my puppets.”

“Or just something to decorate that dungeon you call a room,” Temari poked at him. “Maybe even something to wear yourself that’s a little less…”

“That’s enough,” stopping in his tracks, Kakashi watched as the three of them turned to look at him. “You two can explore if you want. You don’t need to sit in on this meeting.”

“You may be Kazekage, Nii-san, but you still need guards,” Temari huffed. “If we leave, someone might try to take off your hat and get a peek at what’s underneath, and we all know how you feel about that.”

Reaching up to touch the brim of the Kazekage’s hat, Kakashi smiled to himself. He wasn’t used to having his face out in the open. Growing up, he had always worn a mask or kept a hood over his head. It was a necessity according to the elders. One he hadn’t understood until the first time he saw Konoha’s Hokage, Hatake Sakumo.

“I’m sure Gaara can keep me safe on his own,” He looked at the shinobi in question, laughing when his eyes widened. “Isn’t that right?”

“I-of course,” Glancing towards his siblings, Gaara nodded. “I’ll keep him safe, don’t worry.”

“Good. Now, get out of here you two,” nodding towards the shops, he smiled when Temari and Kankuro gave each other a concerned look. “We’ll be fine, I promise.”

“Well, if you say so,” Waving a hand goodbye, Temari ran off with Kankuro hot on her heel. “Try not to get into too much trouble without us, Nii-san!”

Watching them go, Kakashi couldn’t help but smile to himself. It had been years since he had seen either of them with such a carefree attitude. Actually able to enjoy themselves, without feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders every second of the day. It was hard for him to admit, but there was no doubt about it.

They really were better off without Rasa-Sensei.

“Come on,” He turned back to Gaara. “I’m sure that this won’t take long.”

“Right,” falling into place by Kakashi’s side once more, Gaara continued to walk with him. For a second Kakashi was sure that they were going to fall back into a comfortable silence. Neither of them being much for talking, but as Konoha’s academy came into view down the street Gaara was apparently overcome with curiosity. “Why did you agree to this?” He asked, looking at Kakashi with big bright eyes. “Wouldn’t it have worked if you sent Temari or even Baki in your place?”

“It might have,” he agreed, and it had definitely been a thought that crossed his mind when he was talking to Sakumo about their little plan. “But I was told it would be best if the Kazekage made the appearance himself, and I happen to agree.”

Perhaps because the man he was agreeing with was so kind and understanding. Kakashi found it hard to say no to him when he showed so much trust in him. More than he deserved.

“You seem to trust him,’ Gaara continued. “The Hokage I mean.”

“I guess that would be surprising,” He hadn’t exactly been a fan of Sakumo’s growing up. After all, it hadn’t taken long for him to figure out why the elders hated looking at him. Why he was always made to wear a mask and told never to go near Konoha unless absolutely necessary, and even then he had to ensure his mask was in place and his hair was covered. One look at Sakumo told him more about his life than anyone in Suna ever dared to, including his own mother. “I have my reasons though, I can promise you that.”

“I see. I guess not everyone has a terrible relationship with their father,” Stopping in his tracks, Kakashi closed his eyes and prayed that there was no one around from Konoha that had overheard what Gaara just said. It wasn’t something he wanted to have to explain to strangers, and there was no doubt that Sakumo would have trouble dealing with the backlash if it was found out his child was a Suna shinobi. “Did I say something wrong?”

“Maybe just...don’t say that out loud?” he suggested. “It’s not common knowledge, and I’d rather not have it spread as gossip before we can figure out how to approach the issue.”

He’d already taken a huge step showing Sakumo his face. Exposing himself to the one person he had always thought he’d have to keep himself hidden from. Telling the rest of the world…

It just wasn’t something he was ready to do yet.

“We should get moving,” Gaara reminded him. “You’re meeting is in five minutes. You don’t want to make a bad first impression by being late.”

That was true enough.

Pushing his concerns back for the moment, Kakashi continued to walk. Headed straight for Konoha’s Acadamy, where he’d meet with the Hokage and the Acadamy Sensei he had chosen to take part in this little ‘student exchange’ that they had planned.

---------------------------------------------------------

What was Lord Fifth thinking?

Of all the people in Konoha to schedule a meeting with the Kazekage for, he had gone with Iruka. An Acadamy Sensei. The most he had to do with ‘diplomatic relations’ was when he worked at the mission desk and took reports from returning shinobi.

Scrubbing away today’s lesson from the blackboard, Iruka tried desperately to calm his nerves.

He dealt with Jonin level shinobi every day, yelling at them for handing in messy reports or scolding them for coming to him just to hand in their report when they were bloody and in need of a hospital visit above anything else. Surely it couldn’t be any harder to deal with the Kazekage.

At least, he hoped it was just as easy.

The soft tap of knuckles against his classroom door pulled him out of his thoughts. Placing the eraser down on the blackboard ledge, he turned towards the door and took a deep breath.

“Come in!”

This was it. Standing there watching as the door to his classroom slid open he knew that there was no escape. He was meeting the Kazekage. It was his job to explain the curriculum for Konoha’s Shinobi Acadamy and convince the Kazekage that it was worth allowing his future shinobi to experience for a week. He was not ready.

“Sorry I’m late,” The voice he’s greeted with is not at all what he’s expecting. It’s soft and cheerful, the complete opposite of how Naruto had described the Sand Shinobi he knew. “Had a little detour on the way.”

Pursing his lips, Iruka examined the person in front of him. Though, there wasn’t much to see. His face was covered by the large Kazekage hat sitting atop his head, and his body was nowhere to be seen under what could only be described as a blanket.

How did the Kage’s wear such garments? Didn’t it get hot? Especially in a desert.

“Uhh, Sensei?” Giving his head a shake, Iruka buried his hand in his hair and chuckled. This was not the time for him to be getting lost in such silly thoughts.

“It’s no problem,” he assured the Kazekage. “I was just cleaning up after a long day. Though I am glad you finally appeared. Lord Fifth asked me to make a detailed explanation of our curriculum to go through with you, and I’m afraid it may take some time. He explained that the two of you were thinking of doing an exchange program with the academy students. A week in the other village to see what their new allies learn in school and get a feel for their culture and ideas. Is that right?”

“It...yes,” there’s a hint of confusion in the Kazekage’s voice. “Uh, is it alright if we sit down?”

Looking around the room, Iruka cringed. He had forgotten to grab another chair for the Kazekage to sit in.

“Uh, ya. Just one sec,” bolting out of the room, he ran around the corner and into the next classroom, desperately ignoring the judgemental look he got from the kid standing just outside the classroom. The Kazekage’s guard, no doubt.

As soon as he was there, he pinpointed the teacher’s chair and headed straight for it.

Now that he had a seat for the Kazekage, he rushed back into his own classroom, stopping at the door when he saw the man already sitting on the edge of the front row bench where his students viewed his class from.

“S-sorry. I brought a comfier seat if you want,” Setting the chair down, he laughed awkwardly when the kazekage turned to look at it.

“I’m fine here,” Kicking himself for his mistake, Iruka made his way towards the seats. If the Kazekage was going to sit there, so could he. At least then he wouldn’t feel like he was talking to one of his students. Though, the man’s guard was no older than Naruto so it wouldn’t be that awkward. He could just pretend it was a parent-teacher conference.

“You said you had a curriculum written out to show me?”

Right. Heading back to his desk he snatched up the paper he had written down everything on and turned to face the Kazekage once more.

“I’ve got all of our lessons organized, along with a detailed explanation of what exactly I teach my students,” He began to explain. “There’s also time’s so that you know exactly what the kids will be learning at each part of the day, and how long we’ll be focusing o-”

His brain screeched to a halt when he finally looked up from the paper and back at the Kazekage just in time to see him starting to take his hat off. The kazekage, a man who no one in all of Konoha could describe because there was nothing to know.

His face was always covered, and his personality was just as guarded by simple sentences and short meetings, and here he was just taking off his hat in front of a complete stranger.

And if that wasn’t enough to make Iruka speechless, the Kazekage was handsome too.

With bright silver hair and sunken eyes, Iruka finds it impossible to tear his gaze away from the man. What’s worse is that he can’t even see the man’s full face, with his mouth and nose covered by a mask that left more questions than answers.

Why Lord Fifth had chosen him out of everyone for this task, Iruka still wasn’t quite sure, but it found it difficult to complain now that he knew that the Kazekage was one of the most handsome humans he had ever met.

Though, there’s something in the back of his mind that tells him the man looks familiar. Like he has looked into eyes just like that before or seen that exact type of spiky silver hair somewhere else, even though his mind refuses to pinpoint just where he recognizes them at the moment.

“Is everything alright?” His face feels like it’s on fire when he notices the Kazekage staring back at him, the smallest hint of a smile lighting up those gorgeous eyes.

“I-Yes,” desperate to get his mind off of the Kazekage’s handsome face, Iruka shut his eyes and held the paper with his curriculum out towards the man. “Everything’s on here. You can read through it and ask me any questions that may pop up or ask for more detail. It’s really just an outline at best and-”

The Kazekage held up a hand to silence him.

“I think I’ve got it,” his eyes closed. A familiar sign of a smile, even if Iruka still couldn’t quite place where he knew it from. “Though I would like to hear it from you. Otherwise, this meeting would be a waste of time.”

Right.

This was supposed to be his chance to prove that the Kazekage’s academy students would gain something from taking part in his classes. That’s why Lord fifth had scheduled this me-

“Lord Fifth!” Smacking his hands together, Iruka cringed when the Kazekage tilted his head. “I just...I mean…”

“You just realized that I look like Lord Fifth?” nodding his head, Iruka chuckled awkwardly. It was embarrassing to admit it had taken him this long to realize. After all, only Lord Fifth had such spiky silver hair and that closed-eye smile that put everyone at ease in an instant.

Though, that did bring up a whole lot of new questions.

“How about I explain it after you tell me about your curriculum,” the Kazekage offered, chuckling when Iruka stared at him with wide, hopeful eyes. “Perhaps over lunch?”

Lunch?

Was the Kazekage-

No, it couldn’t be. He was an Acadamy sensei. Surely the Kazekage of Suna didn’t want a date with him. He was just being nice. Trying to make friends.

“Is that an offer for a date, Lord Kazekage?” Closing his eyes, he kicked himself mentally. Of all the things he could have said, e had chosen that one. If the Kazekage had been asking him out on a date, he was certainly rethinking his proposition now that he knew just what a hopeless dork Iruka really was.

“Sensei,” being greeted with such a beautiful smile, Iruka can’t help but melt. Even if he can’t see the man’s mouth, he’s certain there’s no smile in the world that’s better than his. It’s impossible. “I’ve never had a chance to learn how to flirt, so perhaps I’m not getting it through correctly. I was asking you out on a date.”

Oh.

“Oh! I-Yes,” Never in his life had he had so much difficulty speaking, and he had just met the man. There was no way that this could get worse. He really hoped this didn’t get any worse. “I’d love that. If you’d like, I know a great place for Ramen.”

[chestnut-b]

Himawari Chapter 6

This man will be the death of you.

The first time Iruka had laid eyes on Kakashi’s figure in that field of sunflowers, a voice had whispered in his ear, as if carried by the wind.

Chapter 6 of a Demon Slayer AU.

Iruka, I’m sorry.

His mother had smiled at him sadly the first time he’d mentioned hearing voices. She’d taken him into her warm arms and sang a sweet but melancholic song, her hands running through his hair, the sound of the waves breaching the shore outside eventually lulling him to sleep.

It wasn’t until he was older that he was made to understand the nature of being born a Senju. 

Descendants would always be born with bodies that would fail them.

Their karma from having produced a great demon would haunt their line till the day Orochimaru was wiped from existence. 

But the gods, in some twisted form of consolation, decided to bestow their kin with exceptional foresight, allowing them to amass their fortunes, and continue their fight till this day, leading the demon slayers.

Of all the voices Iruka had heard throughout his life, the one that would have saved his parents never reached him. 

Iruka had been a sickly child, too weak to lift a sword. He could manage a kunai at least, much to his father’s relief, and soon, he began his training in the shinobi arts. Poisons, traps, diversions and an almost inhumane focus on accuracy made up a large part of his childhood memories with his father. Bittersweet, but precious nonetheless. 

Ikaku hailed from a small shinobi village on the Izu coast, its destruction eventually leading him to the demon slayers. He’d been reporting to Sarutobi at his estate when he came across a visiting Kohari.

“He was as red as a tomato.” Sarutobi would chuckle, grinning widely as he recounted that first meeting. His father’s dour demeanour had been well-known amongst his comrades, but so was his sense of duty. It made his desertion with Kohari all the more shocking.

“The burden of being a Senju is not an easy one to bear, Iruka. She wanted to protect you, however she could.” 

It was the night of his thirteenth year. He was managing a squirming Naruto in his arms when Sarutobi had said that. Had Iruka followed the path he was meant to walk, he would have already been married to a wife chosen by the temple, and the baby in his arms would have been his own, one who would eventually endure the same cycle of karma as their ancestors before them. 

If being thankful for avoiding that fate made him a coward, so be it.

His parents had brought him to Sarutobi several times as he grew older, despite the lingering fear of retribution for deserting. With his instruction, Iruka had eventually worked up the strength to even wield a sword, something Sarutobi considered an achievement in itself, even if his stamina would always be left wanting.

“If something happens to us, go to him.”

Those were the last instructions they gave him before they had set out from their home. A week prior, a talking crow had appeared, bearing news of the coming birth of an Uzumaki, and the hoard of demons and familiars who were beginning to gather. His mother, already in a weakened state, simply looked at her husband resolvedly. 

Perhaps she too, had received her own revelation. Ikaku had deserted the corp, but never his will to protect the weak from demons. His blade had never seen a dull day, and this time, he would not let his old comrades face the coming threat alone. 

They’d died fulfilling their duties.

Iruka was proud of them. He’d told them as much, praying before the empty grave markers he’d made outside their home.

He’d just wished they hadn’t left him behind. 

---------------------------------

If he closed his eyes and focused, he could hear the beat of Kakashi’s heart.

Like the rumbling of a storm forming in the distance. 

As a child, he’d run out of the house to stand on the edge of the cliff where his parents’ graves now stood, watching with fascination as the darkening clouds gathered where the sea met the sky. 

If he closed his eyes, he’d find himself there yet again.

“Naruto, keep yourself together. Not much longer now.”

Surprisingly, the boy nodded obediently without complaint. He’d been strangely quiet. They were passing through another wisteria grove, and Iruka found himself being carried on the Hashira’s back as they made the last of their way back to the school. Kakashi had insisted; he wasn’t in good shape, despite the rest he had gotten. 

An hour ago when they’d left the cave, he’d slipped an arm under his knees and back, lifting him up as easily as one would a child. Resistance at this point was futile, and Kakashi’s amusement seemed to grow the redder he got.

This man will be the death of you.

The first time Iruka had laid eyes on Kakashi’s figure in that field of sunflowers, a voice had whispered in his ear, as if carried by the wind.

It wasn’t said with any kind of discernible malice, nor was it tainted with foreboding, like so many of the voices he’d heard before. 

It was gentle and lined with warmth, almost as if it was meant to comfort him. 

Mother?

Iruka had been so shaken by this, he’d forgotten to offer his name to the Hashira when they finally met.

Nearly two months later, here he was, flush against a warm and broad back that reminded him painfully of his father, Naruto trailing sleepily behind them.

If this was what that voice was referring to, perhaps it wasn’t the worst way  to go.

---------------------------------

They moved at a steady pace amidst the rain of falling petals overhead, and he was just about ready to doze off before Kakashi’s musings reached his ears.

“I was thinking...we’re not too different after all, Iruka-sensei.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“The Final Selection. I didn’t pass either.” He admitted softly.

“I’ve heard Naruto tell better lies, Kakashi-san.” Iruka couldn’t imagine a world where it could be true.

“You wound me, sensei. I’d never lie to you.” Iruka thought he almost sounded serious for a moment, but Kakashi sighed wistfully before continuing, a little more subdued than Iruka was used to hearing. 

“After my father died, I ended up at a school. I met a boy, Obito, and a girl, Rin there. Minato-sensei eventually came and took us as his apprentices.”

“Obito was an idiot, but we became rivals. We entered the selection together. I’d always made fun of him for being a crybaby and a goody-two shoes, but he ended up saving many of the entrants that year.”

“We ended up against a demon who’d survived on the mountain for over three decades, eating humans and absorbing other demons. We were outmatched, and I’d lost an eye, but...Obito managed to activate his Sharingan.”

The Sharingan; so Obito was a descendant of the Uchiha, Iruka realised. Like the Uzumaki, they’d come from a long, ancient line of demon hunters. Their eyes were said to have granted demon-like perception, but at a steep price. Much like the Senju, none with an activated Sharingan would live to see old age. By now, they had been all but wiped out, after one of their members had become a demon, slaughtering and sparing not even a single child,

“We thought we’d defeated it, and I’d let my guard down. The cave we were in collapsed on us.” Kakashi continued. “Obito protected me and took the blow, but his right side was crushed.”  

Iruka’s hold on Kakashi’s shoulders tightened on reflex. He knew what was coming. The eyepatch over Kakashi’s left eye, along with his fame as a Hashira, was more than enough.

“Rin was skilled enough to fulfill his last request, but I lost consciousness right after, and when I came to, the selection was over. Obito was the only one who failed to make it that year.”

Kakashi looked up at the wisteria flowers overhead.

“So you see, sensei, I don’t deserve to be standing here right now. I didn’t pass the selection like I was supposed to.”

Iruka pressed closer.

“Please don’t say that. It hasn’t just been Naruto and my life you’ve saved.” Iruka whispered. How many lives had Kakashi rescued since becoming a slayer, too many to count, in all likelihood.

Passing the selection meant you had to survive a week on that battlefield, and Kakashi had, by all means, passed. Most of the entrants would have been children.

The demon Kakashi had faced might have been an outlier, but the thought of Naruto having to go through the same ordeal was almost too much to bear. 

“You don’t resent the Senju for all this?” 

It was a question only a Hashira could answer. They were the only ones in the corp who knew the identity of their leader; it was a secret as closely guarded as the location of the family estate. The rest of the corp knew him only as “Oyakata-sama”.

“I can’t say they’ve done everything right, but they are doing their best.” Kakashi stated. There must have been more he wanted to say, he’d refrained from doing so.

They continued walking in silence for a while more, but a question had been circling in Iruka’s mind since Kakashi had mentioned it the night before. 

“Kakashi-san...your father, did he...look like you?”

He felt Kakashi’s pace hitch for just a beat. 

“Why do you ask?” It was barely a whisper.

“If he did...I might have seen him before.” Iruka admitted.

It was one of Iruka’s earliest recollections. The man had hair much longer than Kakashi’s, and though Iruka had yet to see most of the Hashira’s face, the aura they projected was remarkably similar.

The man fought Ikaku outside their home. It had been a fierce battle, and the first time he’d seen his father fight another human. Kohari had been holding him, and she’d been more scared than Iruka remembered being. 

“I think he’d been sent to find us. Father called him -”

“Sakumo.” Kakashi finished. Iruka nodded. 

“He didn’t say very much. They fought, and after a while, he just left.” 

Kakashi snorted. “That sounds just like him”

Iruka smiled wryly. He’d left out the fact that Sakumo had beat his father half an inch from his life. With a wave, he’d left with a satisfied look on his face, together with the hound he’d arrived with. 

“He’d found us, but nothing ever happened after that.”

Kakashi chuckled softly. “So he was testing your father’s resolve then.”

Iruka smiled. 

“He must have been a good man.”

“What makes you think that?” It almost sounded like a test.

Iruka had only ever seen his father cry twice. The first, when he had to accept there was nothing he could do for his wife’s declining condition. The second…

“My father cried when the news came.”

That Sakumo had killed himself, having been turned a demon. Even if it had been against his will, his village would have shunned him, even in death. His family too, would have been made outcasts. 

Kakashi remained quiet, and Iruka was slowly beginning to regret bringing up the subject.

“Thank you. It’s good to know I wasn’t the only one.”

Gods. 

He closed his eyes, feeling like the child he used to be, watching the storm brewing on the horizon. Sakumo and Kakashi, watching them in battle, had felt exactly the same way. 

He thought of his parents, who were watching him from wherever they’d gone.

Father...Mother…

If there is any happiness out there meant for this man…

Please, guide him to it.

---------------------------------

Iruka had requested for the last of his dignity to be spared, and so just before they’d arrived at gates, Kakashi set the teacher back down on his two feet. Strapping his sword back into his belt, Iruka checked on his young charge, who had been almost unnervingly quiet since they’d set out this morning.

“Naruto, something wrong?”

“I’m fine, sensei.” He could have been a lot more convincing if he’d looked Iruka in the eyes. Iruka’s expression grew more concerned, and he placed a warm hand on the boy’s head.

“You must be starving. I’ll have them fix you something as soon as we get back.” The boy nodded in response, and the three of them walked towards the gates. 

“What the heck happened to you?” Izumo and Kotetsu had run up to them as soon as they were in sight. Iruka scratched the back of his head and sighed.

“We ran into some trouble on the way back. One of the entry points’ been destroyed, and we encountered a demon at the cave by the ravine.” 

“You’re serious. It’s the second one this month. We’ll have to let the others know. You look like crap by the way.” 

Iruka rolled his eyes in Kotetsu’s direction.

“Who took over my class today?”

“Oh, Mizuki did, he wasn’t too happy about it either. He says you owe him a main dish at dinner.”

“Right.” Iruka sighed. 

Behind them, Izumo went up to Kakashi, holding up a slip of paper to the Hashira.

“A message arrived this morning for you, Hatake-dono.” Kakashi thanked the man, and looked at the letter’s contents.

The Snake Pillar has arrived. Your presence at headquarters is requested. Your debriefing will be held in two days.

So Anko had returned. A debriefing…

Kakashi’s gaze found Iruka’s back. He’d gone up ahead with Naruto, but turned around to send a tired smile his way. 

Was this feeling...Disappointment? 

Perhaps. 

Despite the realisation, he found himself smiling too.

It had been a long time since he’d had something to feel that way about. 

---------------------------------

“I see.” 

Iruka was staring into his tea cup again.

“Naruto’s in good hands, Iruka-sensei.” Kakashi said, sipping at his own tea. He’d spent the afternoon packing his belongings. 

It had been years since Kakashi had spent this much time in one place, but it wasn’t as difficult as he’d expected. Two months had gone by in the blink of an eye, and he’d been given precious time to think about things he’d brushed off before.

Like why he was still alive. Why he was still a demon slayer. 

Despite everything he’d lost, living the life he did, it was easy to forget. 

“I’ll send Bisuke and Guruko when I can.”

Iruka laughed softly. “Not that anything exciting happens around here, but I’d like to hear about your adventures, Kakashi-san.”

The teacher’s face seemed to brighten at his words. His face was faintly flushed, and his smile was warm. It was different from the one he’d seen the day they’d first met, the one that was meant to greet a superior. Kakashi liked to think they could be friends. 

That night at dinner, when Iruka gave up his dish as compensation to Mizuki for covering for him, he’d laughed when half a grilled fish appeared on his empty plate. 

It was a worthwhile sacrifice to hear it. 

---------------------------------

“Naruto’s resting in bed. He’s still pretty out of it I’m afraid.” 

Iruka scratched at his scar sheepishly.

They’d walked together till the gates were out of sight. Guruko was trailing behind Kakashi, but when they’d stopped, Iruka kneeled down to give her a satisfying rub. 

“Don’t let Kakashi-san work you too hard, Guruko.” He whispered. Guruko barked happily in agreement. Iruka laughed, and rose again to face Kakashi. 

“So this is where we part.”

“For now.” 

“For now.” Iruka repeated, nodding. 

He reached a hand out towards the Hashira, who took it firmly in his own.

“It’s going to be a bit lonelier now. Keep safe, Kakashi-san.” 

It was a hard ask for someone who’d lived to throw themselves into battle.

“Well, I’ll do my best, Iruka-sensei.”

He would. Kakashi had to stay alive, now that he’d found a new reason to fight. 

“Maybe I’ll find a way to defeat Orochimaru, and you’ll finally be able to leave this fancy cage you’ve built for yourself.”

If the gods are willing, you’ll get to see Naruto grow up, or even have a family of your own.

Iruka’s eyes widened, before softening again. He let go of Kakashi’s hand. 

“I’ve never thought of it that way, but thank you, Kakashi-san.” 

“I’m really glad I got to meet you.”

Kakashi smiled at him one more time before he started walking. Lifting an arm, he gave a lazy wave before eventually disappearing from sight.

---------------------------------

It should have only been the two of them, so why did he feel a third presence?

Iruka felt a burning sensation in his chest. 

It hurt to breathe. 

He pried his eyes open. 

Naruto lay in his futon an arm away. But he was wide awake, and he was staring at Iruka wordlessly; not with his sky-blue eyes, no.

The eyes that bore into him now were slit, and glowed orange like a molten fire.

“Naruto...?” Words struggled to leave his throat, but the boy didn’t respond. Iruka felt despair grip him. If this wasn’t a nightmare, what was he to do? 

He did the only thing he could think of. 

Reaching an arm out to Naruto, he pulled the boy to his chest. It was as if he’d held his hand to a naked flame. His entire body burned.

He heard a faint growl and felt the child struggle under his arm, and despite his burning lungs, Iruka held him closer.

“Naruto, it’s alright. I’m here.” Iruka cried. 

No matter what happens. I’m here.

The boy stiffened in his arms, but soon relaxed into his hold. The heat emanating from his body dissipated, and Iruka found the strength to take in air once again. The third presence he had felt faded from his senses, and the boy was soon breathing in the relaxed rhythm Iruka had come to know. 

Closing his eyes, he recalled Kakashi’s words the day before.

Naruto’s in good hands...

I can only pray you’re right, Kakashi-san.

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End of Chapter 6

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Author’s Notes:

Ohh, I wasn’t kidding when I said this was going to be a slow burn. ;_; 

It’s not a chapter with too much going on in it, but I hope it was an enjoyable one nonetheless! I’m curious as to what you think (if you’ve read Demon Slayer) and how it’s been used as a backdrop for this fic. Of course, things have been changed a bit. : )

I’m really happy with how the art turned out for this chapter though! I’ve had to teach myself how to draw again after a long hiatus, and this was the first time I’ve been satisfied with the end result, so I hope you enjoy it too!

[drindrak-art]

A Hero’s Name

Alright, so, I needed a boost of positivity the other day, so I went scrolling through the tags on my Named After a Hero series’ reblogs. A certain set of tags hit me with the urge to just start writing. The following is curtesy of @scavengerkakashi ‘s tags about trans!Sakura, the whole thing is under the read more.

So here’s a different take on how Haruno Sakumo came to be.

Haruno Sakura was born a girl. Her parents raised her as one. Everyone called her as such.

But Haruno Sakura just didn't feel like a girl. He felt like a boy. People dismissed it as simply ‘she's a tomboy, she'll grow out of it for sure’, but that wasn't true. Sakura was ten years old when he first spoke of the subject to his parents. “Mom, Dad,” He began, after finishing his dinner one night. It had taken him months of fretting to get to this point and he was more than nervous. “I… um… I don't think I'm a girl.” His parents looked at each other in confusion. “What do you mean, honey?” His dad asked, placing a comforting hand on Sakura’s shoulder. Sakura’s hands wrung together. “I… I'm not a girl.” He looked at the table. “I'm not like Ino, or Ami, or any other girl at the Academy. I don't like flowers or dolls or talkin’ about boys. I don't wanna marry a boy!” “Well, what do you like?” His mom asked, sitting down beside him. Sakura looked at her. “I like playing with the boys and learning about shinobi.” He took in a deep breath. “I'm a boy. I… I just, there was this book in the library a-and it… it helped me figure all this out. It said that sometimes a boy is born in a girl's body or a girl is born in a boy's body and it's okay! The more I read about it, the more I felt like it was written about me!” He looked up at his rather confused parents. “I'm a boy born in a girl's body! A-And I wanna be myself. I'm a boy!” His dad nodded. “Well, I don't quite get it, but I love you. And if you want to be a boy, then I'll support you.” His mom nodded as well. “I agree with your father. We'll talk to your teacher at the Academy and do everything necessary for you.” His mom bent down and kissed his forehead. “We love you, son.” Sakura felt tears well up in his eyes. His parents may not understand just what he was dealing with inside, but they loved him and supported him. It made him happier than he could ever believe.

Mebuki and Kizashi Haruno didn't quite understand what their son meant, but that didn't mean they would stop loving him. They brought their son to the library and had read the book he had mentioned last night. It was filled with technical terminology and had very few pictures. But now they knew a little more about what their son was going through. Their son was transgender. The book had a section about families abandoning or outright abusing their transgendered children, and Mebuki and Kizashi were horrified. They couldn't comprehend why a parent would reject their child for just being a little different. What was wrong with the fact that sometimes people don't align with their birth-assigned gender? The two adults shared a look and an understanding passed over them. They'd support their son through everything. They'll ask him if he wanted to change his name and they'd do their best to change it for him. They'll head down to the hospital and ask about hormones, and when their son would be able to take them. And when he was ready, they'll see to it that he gets everything he possibly needs to go through with the change. No matter what, they'll support their son.

Sakura stared blankly down at the book in his hands. His parents had asked if he wanted to change his name to something more masculine before they headed home. And to be honest, he never even thought about it. What would it be like, to have everyone calling him by a name he could really call his own? A smile broke out on his face. Yeah, he thought, I want to. His eyes focused back onto the book. It was a dusty old thing that looked like it hadn't been read since it was placed on the shelf. The title was faded but he could just barely make out the words Third Great Ninja War. He coughed as he opened the book, dust flying out and enveloping him. The text on the pages was small and what few pictures were grainy and unfocused. Sakura hummed to himself and flipped through it idly as he thought about names. He rather liked the name Sousuke, but that was too much like Sasuke. He liked the name Akarui as well. But it was so different from Sakura. How long would it take him to respond to being called by a new name? He was so used to being called Sakura. Suddenly, a name seemed to leap from the page he flipped to. Hatake Sakumo. Konoha’s White Fang. Sakura flicked to the first page of the section and began to read about the White Fang.

Hatake Sakumo is credited with being the one to near single handedly start the Third Great Ninja War. On a mission to retrieve a scroll from an undercover Iwa caravan, Sakumo made a decision that resulted in the failure of his mission. The Iwa shinobi guarding the caravan attacked and injured two of his teammates. Instead of continuing the mission to retrieve the scroll and eliminate the enemy, Sakumo decided to save his two teammates’ lives, thus letting the caravan escape into Iwa territory. Upon his return to the village, war was declared. Everyone shunned him, including the teammates whose lives he saved as well as his own child. After months of harassment and slander, Hatake Sakumo committed seppuku, ending his life. The first person to stumble upon his corpse was his five year old son. His son then alerted-

Sakura stopped reading there, gently closing the book and replacing it onto the shelf. He looked down at the floor, eyes unfocused. Hatake Sakumo, to him, had been a hero. In all the books he read, heroes were the people who risked everything to save lives. And Hatake Sakumo risked his own village to save his teammates. Sakura raised a hand and wiped away a tear that was threatening to fall. Hatake Sakumo was someone Sakura aspired to be. One day, he'd be as big a hero as the White Fang. He'll take the name Sakumo upon himself. He'll take it and make sure that one day, people will look upon it without scorn. They'll see the name Sakumo and they'll think of heroes.

The newly renamed Sakumo rushed home. He burst through the door and shouted, “Mom! Dad! I've found a name for myself!” He ran into the sitting room, where his parents were drinking tea. His mom smiled. “That's great honey! What did you decide on?” Sakumo took in a breath and confidently stated, “Sakumo. Haruno Sakumo.” His dad gasped softly and shot his mom a look before raising to his feet. He placed a hand on Sakumo's shoulder. “Son… you do know… Err... “ His dad floundered, looking at his mom. “Where did you find that name?” His mom asked as his father sat him on the couch. Sakumo relaxed into the soft cushions and smiled. “I was reading about the Third Ninja War and there was a small bit on Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang. I...” Sakumo leaned forward. “I believe he's a true hero y’know. He risked everything to save his team! And everyone… everyone hated him for it. It's not fair! He was a hero! I wanna be just like him when I'm older!” His dad sat down beside him. “Sakura… Sakumo.” His dad bit his lip. “Sakumo, that name you chose, it will remind everyone about the war. You don't know what it was like out there. The Third War lasted twice as long as both the First and Second combined. It was a horrible time to grow up.” Sakumo nodded solemnly. His dad continued, “Your mother and I both know the horrors of war. We fought countless battles alongside our peers. We watched as our friends died.” Sakumo looked at the ground. “Hatake Sakumo's mission was heralded as the catalyst for the war. War was declared mere minutes after he returned. That name reminds me, reminds your mother, reminds everyone of lost family and friends and of war.” “I know…” Sakumo mumbled. His dad squeezed his shoulder comfortingly. “But…” Sakumo raised his head and looked at his dad. “If that's the name you want, I'm fine with it. One day that name won't remind me of war. One day it will just be my son's name. I don't know when that will be, but I know that I love you too much to care.” Sakumo’s eyes began to water as his mom sat next to him and gave him a hug. “Sakumo,” His mom started, wiping his growing tears. “we love you son. We want what's best for you. The village might not like you for your name, but you know what? I would trade the entire village if it meant you were happy. If being named Sakumo makes you happy, then we'll make it happen. If someone makes fun of you for it, we'll be there. We love you son. Whether you’re Sakura or Sakumo, we love you.” Sakumo felt a sob leave him as he hugged his mom tight. “Thank you thank you thank you!”

Umino Iruka looked at the family before him. The Harunos. Their child was in his class, one of his top students. Haruno Sakura. “Umino-sensei,” Kizashi started. “we're here to discuss our child with you.” Iruka looked at Sakura and smiled. “Sakura-chan-” Iruka immediately noticed the pink haired child flinch at that. “-is an excellent student.” Kizashi coughed. “Yes, well, we're here to ask you something.” Iruka nodded. “Well, Sakura isn't Sakura.” Iruka blinked, confused. “I'm… sorry?” Mebuki sighed and shot her husband an exasperated glare. “What my husband is trying to say is, Sakura has changed his name.” Iruka cocked his head to the side. “His?” He watched the child in question redden and attempt to sink into the chair. Mebuki nodded. “Yes, have you heard of the term transgender?” Iruka’s mouth fell open in an ‘o’ shape. “Oh! Why yes, I completely understand.” Iruka smiled as the family collectively sighed in relief. Kizashi grinned. “Great! Well, as my wife said, Sakura has changed his name. We were wondering if you could change his name on the school roster?” Iruka nodded. “Yes, I can do that right now.” He got out a thin sheet of paper and smiled down at the child. “What's your name?” “S-Sakumo.” He whispered, blush deepening. Iruka’s jaw dropped again. “O-Oh, um, y-you do know…?” Sakumo nodded seriously. “Yeah! The White Fang was a hero! I won’t ever think otherwise, shannaro!” Iruka stared at the boy for a few seconds before smiling. “Alright. Haruno Sakumo.” He wrote the name with a flourish. “There, all finished. Is that all…?” The Harunos nodded and Iruka waved as they left.

He stood once they were completely gone and lifted the roster sheet. Sakumo's name proudly stood out from where it was written. Iruka gently ran a finger over the name and felt a soft smile cross his face. He was glad Sakumo had such supportive parents. He was glad that Sakumo realized who he was so soon and that his family supported him. Iruka himself knew how frustrating everything could be when you grow up with the wrong body. He knew intimately how horrible puberty was when you're trans. He'd suffered through periods and bloating and sore breasts until he was seventeen. Iruka had been seventeen when he accepted that, inside, he simply wasn't a girl. He'd thought for years that something was wrong with him. At seventeen he accepted himself for who he was. He wasn't a teenaged girl on the cusp of womanhood. He was a teenaged boy on the cusp of manhood. It had taken him a year to save up the money for hormone therapy. And at age twenty he completely changed his sex. He underwent surgery and came out feeling right. He felt natural. Most of his friends and colleagues accept him for who he is. Sometimes there were people who refused to call him by his preferred name of Iruka and others who simply referred to him as it. Iruka hated it and hated the fact that it took him so long to discover who he was. Perhaps if his parents had been around for longer they would have supported him like Sakumo's did. He was glad Sakumo had parents who supported him so much.

Iruka understood just what Sakumo was going through. He knew the pain of misgendering and being called by the wrong name. And he would do everything to make sure that every instance of the name Haruno Sakura became Haruno Sakumo. He would do his best to make sure the boy wasn't bullied and that everyone called him by his right pronouns. Iruka would do for the boy what his parents couldn't. He would make sure that Sakumo wasn't mistreated for his life-changing choices while in the Academy.

[fafsernir]

Rules: List the first lines of your last 15 stories. See if there are any patterns. Then tag 10 of your favourite authors! (*sweats nervously*)

Thanks @plume8now​ for tagging me, that's so sweet!

I put the ones I most recently added words to, not the ones I last started, although for some it's the same. (Most of the fics are Friends fics, don’t be surprised) Sorry for the No Titles (I warn you now, 9 don’t have titles), but I’m not going to find them now ;) And the untitled are the unpublished, so they might change.

1. No Title #1 (Friends, it’s a highscool!AU (well, more like, “they’re young” AU) that I wrote solely to write about the impact of the divorce of Chandler’s parents on him when he was younger)

The air was thick and humid, as a promise of rain. There were clouds, but still no rain, and it had been going like this since the morning. Students were chatting, laughing, sharing... going on with their lives, mostly.

Chandler was bored, as usual.

2. No Title #2 (Friends, shameless Rachel who’s spying on Chandler & Monica because she needs to know more but they’re still secret)

Rachel grinned evilly as she opened her door enough for her to hear everything that happened in the living-room, and even to peek in the apartment, if needed. It would probably be needed, for her own dying curiosity.

Joey was the most useless gossiper she had ever met.

3. No Title #3 (Friends, just Chandler & Rachel being friends and bonding over their parents’ divorces because he’s the only one who really gets what she’s going through)

The gang – minus Chandler who was working late – was sitting in Monica's apartment, trying to cheer Rachel up. Her mother had introduced her to her new boyfriend – her first since they had heard about her parents splitting up – and the whole thing made her feel really down.

“Is he a bad guy?” Ross asked, trying to understand why Rachel was feeling like this.

“No, he's nice.”

4. No Title #4 (Friends, how nine-year-old Chandler started smoking)

There was always yelling, that hadn't changed, at least. Not much had actually changed. Except that now, Chandler knew. He knew his parents wouldn't be together again. Not that he had really expected them to stop yelling each time they were in the same room, but as long as they hadn't said the words, they seem to retain some of their anger for each other. At least when their son was in the same room. Now, they didn't. They simply started raising their voices every time they saw each other, and Chandler fled more and more rapidly the room.

5. No Title #5 (OCs, Jack (no, not Jack Harkness, but you might find similarities) and Kyle live together with other young people, and they had sex  (just Jack and Kyle, not everyone ;D) and now Jack can’t stop thinking about it.)

Jack looked around but soon shook his head with a sigh. He saw nothing that he liked, and settled for staring at his drink. Well, that wasn't entirely true. He liked what he was seeing – when did he not, really? – but he didn't feel like hooking up with a stranger. Being with the group was exhausting, especially because they weren't even all sure of what they were supposed to do or find. They didn't even really have a choice. They had been told to be here, to do that, and they did. Jack didn't like it, most of the time.

6. No Title #6 (OCs, still Jack and Kyle, the moment Kyle realized he was in love with Jack)

Jack cursed as he lost at his phone game for the umpteenth time. He growled, throwing his head back, although Kyle's stomach prevented it from moving much. He stared at Kyle, who was reading a book in silence, and half turned, poking him to have his attention. He barely glanced his way, and kept reading.

“I'm boooored,” Jack sighed.

7. No Title #7 (Friends, just some Monica/Chandler talk with Monica worried that he would cheat on her)

Monica couldn't sleep. Everyone had found out about her and Chandler's relationship and they could finally be out in the open – although she'd probably miss some of that sneaking around period, she was glad it was over. Their first night together, without having to worry about being quiet, or waking up early to go back to the apartment across the hallway.

Perfect, one might thought.

(Spoiler alert: it was not perfect. XD)

8. No Title #8 (Friends, some pre-Mondler (and pre-series) with Chandler worrying and taking care of Monica because Kip is being a huge jerk)

It was already raining when Chandler left his workplace, so he stopped at the Iridium on his way back, in the hope that the rain would stop while he talked to Monica. It was fairly late for Chandler to go home, so the restaurant already had a few customers, and he asked one of the waiters if Monica was around. She walked to him shortly after, glad to take her break with him for once. She didn't have long, but he talked to her a bit and made her laugh, which was more than enough. He loved making people laugh.

9. No Title #9 (Friends, when Ross lives with Joey and Chandler, and Chandler is grumpy because Ross can easily be angry, and he’s exhausted because his relationship with Monica is still secret)

Chandler closed the door harshly, not slamming it, but almost. After Ross had torn the tickets in two, Chandler had tried to continue arguing, just because now he was upset and wouldn't go to the game – not even alone – but Joey had told them that he wouldn't write anything if they kept talking to each other like this, and Ross had kicked Chandler out. He had been kicked out of his own apartment! Ross wasn't paying any rent, Joey rarely was, and he was the one being kicked out?!

He hit the ground with his foot, pouting. This sucked. Living with two roommates sucked.

10. Irrational fear (Friends, Chandler dealing with his fear of dogs)

Chandler doesn't like walking in crowded places that much. Actually, he doesn't really enjoy walking outside. It's not that he wants to stay inside all the time, but being outside always puts him in an awkward position. Particularly when he walks past a dog. His heart fastens in his chest, his stomach doesn't look happy, and his mind wanders to crazy places, with thoughts like “What if that dog suddenly jumps at me?!”

11.  Orlesian Fries (Dragon Age: Inquisition, just some fun with the Inquisitor dumping 4 of the companions in Val Royeaux and they’re bored)

Cassandra grunted, clearly annoyed – but then again, when was she not? Varric was writing in a notebook, inwardly smiling because he knew that Cassandra wanted to read what he was writing. Dorian was busy looking at stalls, being really judgmental about most of the clothes he saw. Solas just looked really bored. Big cities weren't his strong suit.

None of them really knew what they were doing here, why they all were here, or even where the fuck was the Inquisitor.

12.  Right time, right place (Crossover Harry Potter / Friends, with Remus in the US bumping into Chandler)

The man entered the Muggle bar, surprised that it wasn't as crowded as he would have thought. It was probably due to the fact that it was the middle of the week, and still pretty early. Remus scanned the room, trying to guess if there were any wizards. He relaxed a bit when he saw no sign of magic, and ordered a beer. He ignored the few looks people gave him, now having understood that people couldn't instantly guess that he was out of place – by being a wizard, or a werewolf. He just looked like a hobo, for both Muggles and people accustomed to the Magical Word.

13. The Great Lake (One Piece, Hogwarts!AU with Luffy being Luffy, basically)

Law walked fast in the corridors, easily avoiding the other students. One of his books almost fell but he tightened his hold on it and finally walked out the castle, breathing freely. He slowed his pace, even stopping when he saw someone sleeping on the grass. Flashy green hair sticking out of a dark green cap? It could only be Zoro, Luffy's best friend.

14. Rivals (Naruto, some Gai & Kakashi friendship after Sakumo’s suicide)

As Gai turned at another corner, he stopped. He had been following Kakashi for more than half an hour, but his classmate didn't seem to be here anymore. He frowned, looking around, checking other turns, but he found nothing.

“Why are you following me?” a voice said behind him.

15.  Wish You Were Here (Torchwood, good ol’ angst after the end of Season 2 with Ianto feeling alone because why not make him suffer even more)

Ianto closed his eyes, letting the surrounding noises fill his mind, hoping it would help him relax. It worked for a few seconds, then he felt exhaustion wash over any relaxing thoughts. He sighed, thinking about how hard work had become. They were only three to handle a job that had already been a bit out of control when there were five of them, and Ianto single handled most of it. Not that the other two were doing nothing, but Jack relied on him for a lot of things, and Gwen still had enough free time to go on dates and have a married life.

Sometimes, Ianto just felt lonely, both in his job and his life.

I already know what my pattern is; it’s starting most of my fics by a character’s name. That’s a strange pattern. But I don’t like description, I just directly dive into the action.

Well, that was... fun and interesting, because I sure thought some were older than others.

Do I even read 10 different authors whose Tumbler username I know? Probably not. So I'm going for the ones I remember and love to read! @panto-x​ @gmariam321​ @trashlord-watson​ @avaantares​ @fabricati-diem-punc​ If you guys feel like it, of course :) (That’s not 10, but leave me alone, I love those 5 :D)

[naruto-oc-critiques]

OC Submission/ Mei Mato

Name: Mei Mato.

Gender: Female

Age: Start of story-6. Pre Shippuden-18. Shippuden-21.

Time set in: Before the Nine tails attack. The story will show her life progressing from six and older.

Birthplace: Konoha

Lives in: Konoha

Appearance: Hair is black. She will have it pulled back since she keeps it long. Her eyes are an azure blue.

Family: Yume Mato is her mother. She came to Konoha with her grandmother from Hoshigakure when she was little. Yume is a Shinobi. If the timeline matches up, I want her team members from her three man squad to be Sakumo Hatake and Fugaku Uchiha (This will make sense later).

Katsuya Mato is her real father. He died on a mission for Konoha.

Natsuhiko Ara: Yume married him years after Katsuya died. Natsuhiko is a civilian and constantly worries when his wife has to leave for missions.

Umiko Mato: Mei’s little sister. She becomes a Shinobi like her mom and sister.

Occupation: Shinobi.

Rank: Jonin. I might give her students within time but she isn’t good with kids. Which will make it even better.

Team: Hana Inuzuka. Saisu Kamano (The guy who wanted to fight Itachi all the time but then begun worshipping him.)

Friends: Hana Inuzuka. Izumi Uchiha. She finds herself more comfortable around girls than boys. When she gets older, she befriends Kurenai, Asuma, and Shizune.

Personality: When she’s younger, she kind of has a snobby attitude towards other kids. She thinks she’s better than them since her mom is a strong Shinobi. They only people she feels inferior to is the Uchiha clan. Fugaku Uchiha is the only one her mom could never beat when they were younger so she plans to continue the rivalry for her mother with the next generation of Uchiha. (Unfortunately, Itachi is a victim of this pestering.) When she gets older, she actually becomes a bit more hotheaded but has a calm demeanor in most situations. But sometimes people see this as her being snobby and looking down on them. She is a bit selfish, especially when it comes to her life.

Alright! From what I see so far, everything seems pretty fine to me! I honestly don’t see any flaws here. She’s pretty human. :D

Clan Info:

Clan Name:  Mato clan.

Symbol: A bear claw with a silhouette of a bear on the inside.

History: it was originally a larger clan in Hoshigakure. But during the third Shinobi war, they were scattered around the world to help cease the fighting. Most are presumed dead or in hiding. The clan was founded before the first Shinobi war when their ancestors made a pact with the bear spirits making it so only their family blood can make a contract with them. Kind of like the “sage mode,” they can sync their strength with their bear spirit and temporarily have the strength of a bear, which can kill a man in one hit. But it’s very tiring so they mostly resort to Taijutsu. They connect with bear spirits at a young age and once they make a contract with a spirit, they all get a mark somewhere on their body in the shape of their clan symbol that appears when they summon their bear spirit. Mei’s is on her right shoulder blade/clavicle while Umiko’s is on the nape of her neck. Their clan beliefs are surrounded by the idea of “love” being the strongest fighting technique the clan has. Bears are normally feared and admired at the same time for its strength and power. The bear symbolizes strength, confidence, courage, and the healer for mental and physical pain. Which is where the Kekkai Genkai comes in.

Kekkai Genkai: Since the bear represents healing and protection, the Mato clan members have an ability. When they feel a strong sense of love for someone, they can use their chakra and connect it to theirs and give them strength and life. It’s normally used when someone they love is dying. But as the person heals and lives on, the former one who connected their chakra to them, gets weaker and eventually dies. It’s a hidden technique and they don’t speak of it often since it’s a clan secret. People assume the family’s Kekkei Genkai is the power and strength of the bear but it’s actually the healing ability they have. It only works when you feel a strong sense of love for someone and if they are about to pass on. But it has to be a strong sense of love. Like for immediate family or lover. If the body has been dead for one hour, they can’t do anything, the spirit is already gone. And all the body parts and organs must be intact. But the revived humans Chakra is cut roughly in half until the source of chakra from the other person finally dies.

Specialty:  Taijutsu and Chakra control. They are fast and have the speed to land a good blow but are usually low on stamina so if an enemy is able to block all their moves and tire them out, it spells bad news for them.

I like the clan. I love me some bears. The spirit aspect of it all is a little iffy as we haven’t had much to do with spirits within the Narutoverse. But hey, there is always a first.

I like how your KG has reasonable drawbacks. Reviving people is such a touchy subject as just the mention of resurrection is seen to be OP as it’s something against nature and logic but hey, it’s Narutoverse. I also like how it effects the user of the jutsu as well. May I suggest possibly making large chakra reserves a must have though for someone to use the ability? I’d imagine it takes a LOT of chakra to do it all.

Abilities:

Bear fist: Gives them the strength of a bear in their punch and can kill someone with one hit if they hit them in the right spot. Like the chest or head. Even if they were to hit someone’s arm or leg, it could actually tear blow the limb off (Have you ever SEEN a bear attack something? Some scary stuff.)

[Get that right spot hnnnngggg yes daddy. But yeah, I love me some brute strength!]

Bear palm: Condensing a large amount of chakra to the palm of their hand and with one thrust of their palm, they could destroy almost everything in the blows path. But this move is tiring since the more chakra you use, the more power the attack has.

[Super strong is super strong. Love it. <3]

If they are strong enough, they can actually project their bear and give them a physical form. Much like the summoning Jutsu but this form makes them appear almost transparent and even larger by infusing them with Chakra. They can use these for fighting large summoned beasts or long range fighting. Unlike the Susano’o, this isn’t an ultimate defense. It’s normally used for offense when they need to rest and restore their chakra to fight again. The bear has a bond with that person so it will protect them. So normally the clan members aren’t really affected by Genjutsu. Since the bear spirit could enter a rush of chakra into their bodies when it senses the host in danger and that typically breaks the genjutsu

[I like how you mentioned how it’s not like Susano’o, as it did seem like it to a point, but ay. Like before, I’d hope it takes a lot of chakra to do this. Large chakra reserves is good. Also, do the bears have personalities? <3]

History: She grew up in Konoha but her mom came to Konoha when she was a little girl from Hoshigakure. Her father is originally from Konoha. Her little sister Umiko was born in Konoha when Mei was 2. Mei’s real father, Katsuya, died when she was 3. Then her mom, Yume, remarried a civilian named Natsuhiko when Mei turned 5. Mei graduated from the Academy at age 13 like everyone else. When Mei was 9, her little sister Umiko was kidnapped by the Iwa village to learn more about their family Kekkei Genkai since most of them died out during the Third Shinobi war. When Yume arrives to save her, Umiko has been beaten half to death because of the struggle she put up. Yume decides to connect her chakra to Umiko to save her life and eventually end her own. Mei doesn’t know about this but grows suspicious when her mom retires as a Shinobi because of an “injury.” Eventually, when Mei turns 16 and Umiko is 14, Yume passes away which is 6 years after the kidnapping. Mei finally learns the truth about what her mom did when her mom’s bear spirit didn’t disappear. It actually transferred itself into Umiko and she has her bear symbol in the exact same spot as her mother did. On the nape of her neck. When Natsuhiko takes his own life he says in his suicide letter that he can’t live without Yume and he can’t raise the daughter she gave up her life for the clan for. He says he believes Yume did it because she needed someone to take over the clan since she was “ill” and Umiko was the best candidate (unfortunately, he didn’t know about the Kekkei Genkai and assumed she did it for the village.) Mei begins to loathe her sister and becomes infuriated with her mom for not choosing to live her own life and leaving her all alone. And what’s worse is Mei doesn’t understand why she did it for the clan. Mei stops believing in the Will of fire because dying for another and the village is what’s caused her so much grief. Her mom chose to die for her sister and her dad died for the village. Noble deaths, maybe, but it doesn’t make her happy. Her parents aren’t there with her so she refuses to die for anyone but herself. Which is where the story should take off. But later on in the story, when Mei turns 20 (the coming of age for the Japanese) she is presented a letter her mom left her, saying she sacrificed herself for her sister out of love which is where she explains how their Kekkei Genkai works. Because when she was growing up her mom would say “It’s something you have to feel. It can’t be taught.“

A. 6 years to die? Wow. Did she show severe change in health? Like a drastic decline?

B. Poor lil Umiko. 7 years old when kidnapped. :(

C. I like how Umiko has her mother’s bear within her. Sort of reminds me of Harry Potter where Severus Snape inherits Lily Potter’s patronus after her death.

D. Mei has character flaws! Yay!

E. I want to know what happens to Umiko as she grows up as well. How she reacts to her sister’s coming of age and attitude.

I hope you all liked it and please give me any important critiques. I’m all about constructive criticism. I got most of my bear symbolism from Native American tribes I read about in case you were thinking I pulled this information from my ass or something. Heheh…

Well, thank you for reading! 

[Overall, I like your OC. The story is great and I’d love to read it! <3

Considering the feel I get from this character critique, I’d like to think that it’s not only Mei’s story but both her and Umiko’s story. <3333333]

Thank you for submitting and I hope I helped! - Dom

[cropofshinobi]

@hyuga-natsu:

It was a delicate balancing act within the clan, but Natsu had two worried parents and protective older sisters to guide her into making sure she kept her head low and didn’t draw too much attention to herself. In the past, she’d thought briefly about making it all the way to a tokubetsu jonin rank and specializing in tracking missions.

Then came the wake-up call. Boys and girls from her caste were very limited on what they could do, and even more limited on which legal rights they carried in the village. The Hyūga Clan had always been particularly strange in this regard: the one exception where a clan’s traditions were left accepted and unhindered by the village with no effort made to change or conform. This had apparently been part of their initial agreement in joining the village.

It meant slavery was going to continue well into the new millennium.

“Indeed. It sounds like it. I’m starting to think my generation is a generation of inheritance with little to no progress.” In short, she knew what her future was going to hold. The day Hiashi-sama became a father, his son or daughter would have Natsu (or someone like Natsu) to tend to them around the clock.

There wouldn’t be any chasing rogue ninjas or looking for foreign shinobi on Konoha terrain for her. She’d be a glorified babysitter paid only with food, shelter, and a meager allowance.

Natsu had to chuckle, though, hearing Sakumo talk about the time he tried to color his hair. “My goodness. You probably should have had someone who knew what they were doing handle that. There’s a Yamanaka in my team. She maintains a magenta stripe in her hair and she’s platinum blonde, almost as light as you.” That hot pink really popped.

Sakumo privately agreed, but was careful to toe the line. Constructive criticism of the village could mean accusations if the wrong person overheard them,  especially by the current administration so soon after the war. Carefully, he nudged the conversation in a little more neutral direction. “It doesn’t help that the generations before you grew up during such a turbulent era. War can make people so concerned about keeping things stable that improving on them can become an afterthought if it happens at all.”    

Rather than improve on the work of the founders those in power, born between the end of the warring states era and the armistice no one believed would last, seemed preoccupied with preserving it. Even if it meant Konoha repeating the same mistakes.

At least Sakumo had learned from his hair-dying incident. In the years that followed he always opted for using wigs, disguises, or transformation jutsu for undercover missions.

“It probably would have been far more successful. For one thing, they might have told me how different weapon grade materials are from hair dye.” Despite his punishment for ‘wasting valuable supplies’ it was a fond memory. While Sakumo grudgingly accepted, after the hack-job haircut, that he’d become a laughing stocking until his hair grew back the neighbor he’d tried to imitate hadn’t. After hearing about Sakumo’s near baldness she (and her many siblings) pitched in and tried to find something to mask the worst of the bare spots. White paint, textured glue, and feathers wrangled from an old pillow didn’t solve the problem (nothing but time would), but the emergency meeting had lead to a much appreciated revelation: hats weren’t banned at the academy. He might look he’d just been de-loused, but at least none of the other students would have to know. “At the time I thought if I asked anyone they’d immediately inform my family, so ‘poor’ was better than nothing.”

He tried to picture it, but Natsu-san’s teammate didn’t ring any bells. Sakumo was sure he’d remember someone with such striking hair. “That sounds difficult. I wonder how she keeps the streak from bleeding into the rest,” he wondered..