The Different One (Naruto Fan Fiction)

Chapter 25: The Reason

"Mom..." I crouched over my mother's grave and wiped angrily at a stray tear.

"Forgive me for my inability to perform medical ninjutsu well. I," I took a deep breath. "I could have asked the other Tsukino and they could have saved you! But, stupid me had to be stubborn and do it by myself."

There was a crack of lightning as I looked up from her grave. How many people have I killed now? Just because I was stubborn and the Tsukino were nice enough to forgive me and let me try again. I think I've lost count...

"Yo, girl. Did you not notice all the rain?" I turned around and saw Sancha. She smirked down at me, her red hair standing out in the dark.

Sancha was the only girl in the Tsukino clan, not counting me, that didn't have fully black hair. It wasn't natural, she constantly dyed it with berries from the forest. Her eyes were onyx just like the others and she had cute little dimples when she smiled.

She was smiling at me now and put out the hand that wasn't holding onto her favorite yellow umbrella. I took her hand with a smile of my own. She always knew how to make me feel better.

"I did, but is there a problem with getting a little wet?"

She laughed and pulled me up. "A little? If you didn't notice, you're more than a little wet, girl."

I raised an eyebrow and quickly wrapped my arms around her waist. I squeezed her as hard as I could and shook my head to splash water on her face.

"Hey! Girl, are you crazy?!" She laughed, pushing me off of her and back into the rain. "If you're so intent on getting me and yourself sick, then you can continue to stand in the rain."

I twirled and put my hands up towards the sky. "You think this is some sort of punishment?" I smiled and walked through the mud until we both got under the shelter of the Tsukino hideout.

"Now we're both wet, girl." Sancha smirked at me and flicked water on my face.

I thumped her in the middle of her forehead and laughed as she rubbed it irritably. "Don't worry about it. There are bigger things on everyone's minds."

Little puddles of water on the cave floor told us where to walk so we wouldn't get any wetter then we already were. Thousands of generations of names were written on the walls of the cave; Sancha had hers beside mine.

Several purple tents appeared in front of us as other Tsukino milled about the cave.

"Come on, girl. We don't want to get sick. I'm sure Ma has got some towels for us." I nodded and held my arms close to my chest.

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"Hey, Ma." Sancha called to the petite woman as she pushed up the flap of the tent.

"Hello girls. What are you-" Hoshiko stopped when she saw us. "What's wrong with you two?!"

I laughed at her sudden hostility and shrugged my shoulders. "I see nothing wrong. Do you Sancha?" She gave me a knowing smirk and mirrored my movements.

"I don't see anything either. Maybe old age is really gettin' to Ma." A dirty rag came out of nowhere, hitting us both in the face.

"Stupid girls, come here and I'll lend you two some towels to wash up." She walked over to the other side of the tent and handed us both some white towels. "Hibiki, you need a place to stay tonight? I'm always open you know. Leader doesn't like it when you sleep outside the safety of the cave. Especially on a rainy day like this one."