Kodoku {Naruto Fan-Fiction}

Prologue: That Night pt. I

Understand that this Prologue WILL take place during the Third Great Ninja War. There will be death and sadness, so buckle your seat belts, because you're in for one hell of a bumpy road filled with feels.

[Third Person POV]

It was a day just the same as any other in the Village Hidden in the Mist. The laughter of children and the scolding of their elders could be heard throughout the streets. The many merchants were at their stalls, broadcasting their goods to each villager that walked by.

A duo of pre-teens were out by the old Sakura tree that was in full bloom at the center of their gloomy village, playing on it as if it were a jungle-gym. They were the same age, twelve, though they had been born a mere ten minutes apart.

They two shared similar appearances, but were exact opposites in personalities. Being the eldest, the boy held a bit of an authoritarian nature towards the girl; however, he always felt the need to defend his sister with every last ounce of strength to his young body.

The girl, on the other hand, looked up to her brother for his guidance and protection. She was a free-spirited child with the ambition to guide her down the right path, but with a passive, timid demeanor and a will that could be easily bent.

The girl stood beneath the sakura tree's many blooms, watching with admiring brown eyes as her brother climbed the tree with ease. Their father had trained him to do such things, but looked down upon his daughter possessing such useful skills.

The wind suddenly whisked her long, black locks, causing them to fly at the edges of her peach-colored lips. She quickly brushed her hand down her face, removing them. "Hikaru!" she exclaimed, her slender hands cupping her mouth so as to create a microphonic effect. "Didn't Father wish to see you?"

The boy sighed as he peered around the branch he was clutching and blankly stared down at her with his bored obsidian eyes. "I completely forgot." he groaned as he lowered himself down slightly. "Move away because I'm coming down, Hikari."

Hikari subtly nodded as her brother sidled around the upper part of the tree and breezily carried himself over to the narrow branch, tip-toed to the farthest edge and leapt down next to Hikari. He stood properly upright and glanced over at her, a confident smirk etching his smooth, pale lips. "Perfect, right?"

"Hikaru," she mumbled, shaking her head in disapproval at her brother's arrogant attitude. "You act just like Father sometimes."

The dark-haired lad chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "You're just jealous you're not as good as I am at controlling chakra, aren't you, Hikari?"

The dark-haired girl giggled as she reached up to the top of Hikaru's head and fixed his messy bangs.

Hikaru stared at her for a moment before smiling and shaking his head. "I shouldn't be surprised by your neat ways with things, Hikari---you're just like Mom."

She smiled warmly at him---reminding the boy just how much his sister looked like their mother---then shrugged. "It's better to be like Mom, than Father, Hikaru. He always has a negative attitude towards me, but not you." She sighed and looked up with tired eyes at the orange and fuchsia tinted sky through the hazy mist threatening to hide the brilliant hues. "We'd best be hurrying, Hikaru ... Father's waiting for you back at home."

She was beginning in her stride, but Hikaru grabbed her wrist. "Hikari," he said in a low murmur. "F-Father doesn't know that I've been training you yet ... does he?"

"No." she whispered, glancing over her shoulder at him. "He doesn't, Hikaru."

The lad stared at her for a moment, his eyebrows furrowed in worry and curiosity. "And Mom?" he asked, his voice just as low as before.