Naruto Fan-Fic - Skeleton's Eyes

Chapter 4 - Zatsubo

(I DO NOT OWN NARUTO) Warning: Has some sensitive topics.

(The story does not reflect my own personal beliefs.)

Kōkina-Kodai POV:

We were on our way to the Hidden Leaf Village as planned. Bandits were small matters, easily dealt with; my first lesson after all was killing. Zakuroichi was not -by any means- a lenient teacher. He had thrown me to the wolves -so to speak. Into a brothel known for its most disgusting clientele, they quite liked young boys and girls like me. It wasn't hard at all to get rid of them- all of them, whores included. Zakuroichi, I believe was disturbed by the massacre I had committed. I don't think he actually believed me capable of my first kill. Kills.

I truly did not feel a thing for them. They were unimportant, unrelated, they would not help me achieve my goals. They were the garbage of society. Zakuroichi learned not to doubt me. I assumed, again, (correctly) that this was a trait the Junsuina shared. Able to fake emotions to a T, able to switch off their emotions... master manipulators that we were. And this was where my current problem lie, the Junsuina had a reputation. Arriving at the Hidden Leaf who spewed on and on about their "Will of Fire," with my clans reputation would be absurd. From what Zakuroichi told me of the Leaf however their security was lax these years. The best option would likely be to manipulate a family into taking me in. I stopped abruptly and changed my course to the nearest village. (Geography was another valuable lesson learned.) Zakuroichi, said nothing of the new course; he knew better by now, I wouldn't respond as it was unnecessary, he'd know when we get there.

3 DAYS LATER:

Zakuroichi's POV:

I watched my little one as she mussed her hair and smeared mud on herself, getting ready for her performance. She had scoped out the perfect family for us. The Zatsubo family were desperate for an heir- a son, a daughter, it didn't matter anymore. The husband, Mato had been a poor fisherman's son. He was around 20 or so when he had saved his boss's only son from an accident. He had lost a leg in the process and when the son had decided to follow a different path than his fathers, the boss decided to leave his fortune to Mato. Mato married his childhood best friend Kimiko and together they had expanded the construction business and had made it into an empire spanning the Elemental Nations. However they were unable to bear children, and were beginning to think seriously on adopting an heir. His little one knew how to pick them, rich and desperate. It was amazing what a simple Henge no Jutsu could do when combined with his little ones brain.

They were approaching, and so began the performance. He could not contain a quiet chuckle at his little ones slyness. As she stumbled out of the forest, white hair dirty and matted, tears running down her face, eyes wild and frightened like a deer, as she dashed out in front of the Zatsubo's carts. Cuts along her arms and a few kunai plunged into her back. (What a useful and frightening ability it was, able to cut off the nerve endings sending messages of pain to the brain.) The hired Ame-shinobi guarding the carts quickly approached. She shied away like a frightened animal, Mato quickly interfered on her behalf. Kimiko appeared as well, gently trying to calm the injured child and successfully leading her to a cart near the back to tend her wounds afterwards. As his little one acted traumatized and mute with fear.

He smiled, what a wonderful child; so very gifted. He had no doubt she would have blossomed and been at the tippity-top of the chain of command had her clan survived. Perhaps she would have sustained the position too, like her ancestor...

3 WEEKS LATER:

Zakuroichi's POV:

His little one's performance was wonderful. After days on end of her seemingly being frozen and mute with fear. Kimiko and Mato trying to get her to speak or move, she finally seemed to be "progressing" allowing Kimiko and her servants to gently coax and help her wash, dress and eat. Already the Zatsubo's were getting attached to the frightened child.

And of course, his dearest was subtly manipulating their emotions with her kekkai genkai. Ever so slowly over the course of her stay she was winning the trust of them all. The Zatsubo's, the servants, even the shinobi! It was while she was done helping a servant with the dishes that Kimiko once again approached her. She had been attempting to get his dearest to speak, she had been disappointed the last few times she tried with no results. She was getting frustrated, and it was beginning to show, when she, without thinking had shouted her frustrations. Causing his little one to rear back like a frightened rabbit. Immediately Kimiko apologized and tried to reassure her, when it failed she sighed and went to leave. She suddenly stopped and turned back abruptly shock and happiness breaking out on her face because his dearest had finally spoken. Albeit quietly, so quietly that Kimiko had to ask her to repeat herself.

Quietly, with her beautifully serene voice (innocent beauty- another trait of their clan, the better to manipulate their enemies with.) she spoke, "My name....i-it's...Nakidai," the stutter did nothing to diminish the beauty of her voice and instantly he recognized the very slight glazed look in Kimiko's eyes. It was the sign that his little ones kekkai genkai had taken affect, the power of persuasion in her voice. "Okasawi Nakidai."