The Serpent's Angel (Naruto Oc Story)

Chapter 6: Circle of Life

About two months had gone by before I knew it, I had finally begun to learn the fuinjutsu from Kushina. The new way she taught it made more sense to me. She decided that it had to work with my chakra nature since I had a firm grasp of using it. I loved how determined Kushina was to help me learn the jutsu. Not only did she teach me how to use the fuinjutsu, albeit at the time I was still not entirely perfect at it, but she also guided me in being more effective when using my chakra nature. Kushina and I had the same chakra nature, so she was the perfect tutor for me. I benefited a lot from our training sessions and I really started to notice it when I was put to work for Lord Danzo. I was sent on various reconnaissance missions with another boy who was relatively close to my age. The boy went by the name of Kinoe to conceal his identity. As I had my own codename in the Foundation. I was called by the name of Chi. Danzo had been paring me with this boy for quite a while now. I couldn't understand the reason for the assassinations we had been making other than "For the good of Konoha". I guess that was supposed to be good enough for the two of us. But something about all of this seemed a bit off to me.

    "Chi, we have to get going now," Kinoe called out to me.
    I nodded following behind him. "Yes sir."

Tonight, was another assassination for us. Danzo had sent us out to kill someone that was said to have been slandering the name of the Leaf and they were an overall threat to our village. I wasn't sure how someone talking badly about the village meant that they were going to rise up and revolt. I simply did as I was told, following along with Kinoe to the place where this unknown person was located so we could properly dispose of them. We hid well, not alerting the target of our location. Once we found an opening we dropped in for the kill. It was brutal but we had to protect the Leaf in every way possible. Kinoe and I properly disposed of the body before making our way back to the village once again without a trace.

"Kinoe, can I ask you something?"
"Hmm?" He looked over at me.
"You're younger than I am aren't you? I just can't see why you would have to do this."
Kinoe shrugged. "It's just a part of being a shinobi, Chi. I wouldn't read too much into it."

Unsatisfied with his answer I only nodded. If I had known this was the kind of work the Foundation did I would've thought twice about being Papa's spy. I guess in the end my mission was complete. There really weren't any signs that Danzo would betray Papa. I guess I'd be getting out of this soon enough. Kushina was starting to worry about me not sleeping because everything we do is in the shadows under the cover of night. Upon our arrival to give Lord Danzo the news of our mission, there were already two members waiting outside for us. We told them to give word to Danzo about our mission going off without a hitch. They nodded and returned to the indwelling of headquarters. Once more I glanced over toward Kinoe.

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow night, Kinoe," I said with a wave.
He nodded. "See ya."
It was clear to me that Kinoe really wasn't the talkative type. He seemed to be an introvert much like Kakashi was when we were kids. I was the only person he ever really opened up to. Maybe I should see how he's doing tomorrow. It's been quite a while since we had been together. I know he's in the Anbu and with my brother and momma, I'm well aware of getting called away at any moment for a mission. It didn't bother me especially because I grew up understanding and living in a home where this was common. Maybe one-day Kinoe would open up to me in the same way Kakashi did. I sighed and began to make my way back home.

Once I had overslept, I could feel the warm afternoon sun spilt into my room through the drapes. I groaned when the harsh light hit my eyes. I knew this meant that my Momma had come into my room and peeled the drapes back when I was supposed to wake up. Then I could hear her voice calling out to me from the kitchen.
"Ryoko~! Come, downstairs sweetheart!"
"Oh, man...I'm late again." I said with a sigh, quickly darting downstairs. Momma usually made breakfast for me, no matter how late it was, so I would have enough strength to learn everything Kushina was going to teach me. To my surprise when I came into the kitchen I was faced with Kushina and Momma sitting at the table with cups of tea, there was a breakfast sitting there for me as well as a cup of tea for me too.
"Oh no! I'm so sorry Kushina-sensei!! I didn't mean to be so late for ou-"
"Ryoko, I have something important to tell you." There was the biggest smile on her face.
"What is it, sensei?" I asked, taking my seat beside my mom.
"I'm pregnant."
Immediately sprang from my chair and went to hug her. "Oh my gosh! That's amazing, sensei!"
She nodded. "Mhmm, and I want you to be like a big sister to him. You're my first and only student. You are such a joy and a delight to have around. I'm sure he would love looking up to you as a big sister. Don't you think so too, Tatsumi?" She said as she looked over toward Momma.
"Of course! Ryoko is a great big sister, even to her own twin brother. I'm sure she and the baby will get along great!"
"What are you going to name him, Kushina-sensei?" I asked excitedly.
"Minato and I have decided to name him, Naruto."
"Naruto! That's such a great name! I can't wait to meet him." I cheered.
"I am too." Kushina nodded. "But since I'm pregnant, we'll have to continue the rest of your training for after I give birth."
I chuckled. "I kinda figured that. Well if you ever need anything at all, I promise I will be here for you whenever you call. Okay?"
"I know you will." She smiled, rubbing the top of my head.
Once more I knew this was to be top secret information, I knew the secret about Kushina. She was a jinchuriki. Which meant that she was the host of the Ninetails fox. I was never worried about it, I knew Kushina would never let anything happen to me. But I also knew what that meant when she give birth to Naruto. Kushina was very transparent with me and Momma. She explained that she wanted Momma to be there for her when she gave birth. Apparently, she and Momma had been friends for quite a while, but because Momma has been in the Anbu they never had much time to spend with one another. That reminded me of how Kakashi and I were now that he was stuck in the Anbu. The three of us spent the remained of the afternoon together, chatting and getting really excited about the baby. It was nice to hear something so positive happening in the village for once. Once we finished our afternoon together I had to get ready to go work for Lord Danzo. Before then, I made sure I took a quick stop.
~~~~~
I placed my hand on the monument with "Obito Uchiha" inscribed on it. My face fell sullenly. A feeling of dread jumped into my throat as a tear fell down my cheek.
"Our sensei is having a baby, and he's the Hokage isn't that great...?" I sighed, trying to hold myself together. Obito was one of my best friends.

I couldn't believe that he was no longer here. I guess I was trying to be strong for Kakashi all this time that I genuinely forgot to grieve on my own. I bent down, leaning up against the monument as I allowed myself to cry.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have separated from the group. Then, you would still be here." I slowly sunk to the ground and curled into a ball. My head was on my knees as I gripped my chest. "Why wasn't it me? Why did it have to be you? You were gonna be Hokage one day. I wanted to see that happen." I shook my head. "Obito, I'm so sorry..."
I felt something warm come over me, a pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around me. The feeling of someone's head rubbed up against my body. "Ryoko..." The voice of Kakashi whispered to me.
I raised my head from my knees and rubbed my eyes quickly to hide my tears. "K-Kakashi... What are you doing here?"
"Paying my respects. I guess you are too."
"I'm sorry, Kakashi."
    "For what?"
    "I was trying to be strong for you. Now, look at me."
    "Ryoko, I should be sorry." He pulled me closer to him.
    Another tear fell down from my eyes. "You didn't do anything."
    "You let me grieve but I didn't let you do the same. So I'm sorry." Kakashi replied.
    Once more I wiped away the tears from my eyes. "Kakashi it hurts...it hurts so much. I miss him. I should've gone with you. I'm so sorry I didn't, they're gone because of me."
    "No Ryoko, don't blame yourself for this. You did as you were ordered."
    "I suggested that I go first and handle the bridge. They didn't deserve to die." I continued to wipe the tears away from my eyes as they fell like streams.
    "Ryoko...My angel..." The voice of my father called out to me as he walked toward the two of us. "Kakashi, run along. I'll take care of my little girl." Papa scooped me off the ground and into his arms. I could feel it as Kakashi was almost frozen in his place. Why did his presence make Kakashi freeze like that? Papa began to carry me away, I figured we were going home so I leaned myself closely into his chest and shut my eyes.
    "Papa..."
    "Shh, beautiful girl. You're going to be just fine. Papa has got you." He hummed lightly into my ear. The same song he and Momma used to hum when Kujira and I were children.
    "Papa...why now?"
    "You never gave yourself time to heal, Ryoko." Papa whispered into my ear. "But I need you to be strong. I know you can do it." Papa placed a small peck at the top of my head.
    "Papa, it's my fault."
    "A comrade falling in battle is not your fault. Sometimes planning doesn't go well. You have to learn to accept that." Papa coaxed. "Or be mad at the one planning it. Orders are orders. You were just doing as you were told on your mission."
I nodded but what he said hurt me even more. Kakashi was technically the one in charge of the mission. He could have insisted that I went with them, then Rin and Obito never would have died. Why would I blame Kakashi for this? He figured the two of them could handle the rescue mission. I was the one in the most danger, wanting to go destroy the bridge and secure the area in their place. What am I thinking? Kakashi never meant for them to die and neither did I. I stayed there with my head nestled into my father's chest listening to his heart beat. Why did he want to tear a rift between the two of us?

~~~~~
          Once we arrived home, Papa laid me in bed. I guess he spoke with Danzo and told him to let me rest instead of going out and jeopardizing my own life in this state. I laid in bed for a while trying to fool Papa into thinking that I had fallen asleep. Quickly and quietly I crawled out of bed. I made my way downstairs, Papa doesn't require much sleep anymore. Something changed after a while. He used to sleep like me. We often slept in together. But now it was different. I crept into the basement listening for any signs indicating he had gone to his lab. Once more I listened to a conversation between himself and Danzo. But I couldn't make out everything they were saying about the experiments he had been doing and they were discussing Kinoe. Had my partner Kinoe been one of my father's experiments? No way, my father wouldn't experiment on human life. It just didn't make sense to me. Papa has always been a gentle kind-hearted man when it came to our family. I took a few steps back and bumped into something. Keeping myself quiet I turned to see my brother, Kujira.
He gestured for me to come with him. I nodded following my brother to his room. At this point I was really confused. What was going on in this house? Why is Papa meeting with Lord Danzo so much? And why does Kujira look like he's frustrated? I had more questions than I had answers but I hoped everything would be discovered soon.