I'm Coming Home (sequel to RSW)

Part 3

I only picked this image for the armor, because it looks like a female version of Uchiha Madara's armor. It is the armor in Lady Chi's shop.

When we got back, Jiraiya dragged Naruto to the bar to eat dumplings and flirt with all the women. Naruto look kind of annoyed, but he looked more comfortable than he had with me. It made me sad, but I understood, so I went into the kitchen and grabbed some hot dumplings. I ate a couple and then started walking back to Lady Chi's. I wanted to talk to her privately about what she had said earlier. As I walked down the street, I noted how empty it was, and also how most of the shops and houses were already dark, and the sun wasn't even fully set. My senses were immediately on high alert. I blocked out the laughing from the bar behind me and scanned my surroundings. Surely they wouldn't attack me here. No wait, of course they would. Even so, I made it to the shop without incident. I walked into the front of the shop, with the little bell above the door sounding hollow. Something wasn't right here either. Only one candle was lit. The one above the armor. I silently made my way around to just outside the light, only to find Lady Chi kneeling on the floor with a picture frame in her hand. I lowered myself to the floor beside her and placed the plate of dumplings in front of her. The slight clank of the plate on the floor seemed to stir her, and she gave me a startled look. I saw a tear fall from her eye and she quickly wiped it away.

"I'm sorry, deary. I didn't hear you come in. What can I do for you?" She got ready to stand, but I put my hand on her shoulder. She looked at me curiously.

"I brought you something to eat, because I wanted to talk to you about something." She settled back down. I glanced at the photo, and in seeing me do so, she held it out to me. I took it and my eyes widened. There was a couple, both with fiery red hair, and a little girl with the same. It looked like a family portrait.

"That's my husband, daughter and I, while we still lived in the Hidden Leaf village." I lifted my head with even wider eyes. She laughed a little. "Yes, I used to live there. My clan is there."

"Why did you move away?" She lowered her eyes and sighed.

"After my daughter decided she was going to join the ANBU, like the rest of the family, I moved away. Her father stayed behind to take care of her, but I couldn't bring myself to stay and watch her grow up, never knowing when I was going to see her again. I did go back for her wedding, and the birth of my granddaughter, but..." She stopped short, with me on the edge of my seat. I wanted to know more.

"What is your full name, Lady Chi?" She laughed a little darkly.

"My family has a history for weird names. Apparently there is a prophesy, or some nonsense like that, about how one founding family of a great village will bring darkness to the world with a child of fire, whatever that means. Anyways, with my clan name being Yami, they assumed it was about us." I slapped my hand over my mouth and bit on my finger to keep from crying out in surprise. She didn't seem to notice. "Anyways, because of my red hair, I was named Yami Chinatsu, which means a thousand summers of darkness, because from me, the prophesy child was supposed to come." I stared at the snow white hair on the delicate looking old lady in front of me and tried to imagine it the same bright red as mine. "When my daughter was born, because of family customs, I was forced to name her Yami Chiyo, which would translate to a thousand generations of darkness. Well, when she got old enough to be told of the prophesy, I believe it was after she became a kunoichi, she didn't like her name too much anymore." Lady Chi laughed a bit. "She said she wanted to have nothing to do with our clan anymore." A tear ran down her face and she was silent for a long time. I managed to calm myself enough to lower my hand, hiding the bleeding teeth marks, and gathered the courage for my next question.

"What about your granddaughter?" She was silent for a little longer, and then looked at me with happy but flowing eyes.

"Her destined name was to be Yami Chiyoko, 'thousand generations child,' the one who would cover the world in darkness. But, hoping she could change that baby's fate, Chiyo named her Hikari, or 'light.' Imagine that name, 'darkness and light.' I spent three months with them, admiring that little baby. I used to call her my little candle of hope." I felt something wet fall down my left cheek and realized that I was crying. Lady Chi wiped her eyes and got a troubled look on her face. She opened her mouth to ask me something, when her front door burst open. I jumped to my feet and saw Lili standing there, panting. It was very dark outside now.