Wish Upon the Night Sky (Naruto Fanfic)

Chapter 16

Usagi sixteen


>>>>CHAPTER 16<<<<

>>>>A Snake in the Grass<<<<

"Usagi, she’s gone now." The knocks on the door continued. Anko had been sitting in front of Usagi’s front door for an hour now.

"I broke her nose, if that makes you feel any better." Rei had left the village again yesterday, and was told to never return. As she was leaving the village, Anko, who had only just heard the story of her return, gave her a parting gift. A punch in the face.

"C'mon kid, open the door." If she really wanted to, Anko easily could have broken the door down, but she didn't want to upset Usagi more than she already was.

After a further ten minutes of sitting outside her door, Usagi finally opened it.

The first thing Anko did was hug the girl.

"I'm so sorry, Kid..." She held her tightly, patting her back.

Knowing that someone was always there for her, Usagi began to cry again.

Even though they weren't really related, Usagi had a family, and that made her happy. Knowing she wasn't alone, that she had people to depend on, and people who cared about her... Usagi was truly happy.

"That's some bruise..." Anko said, inspecting the purple hand shaped mark that was on Usagi’s cheek. "I hope her nose is deformed for the rest of her life."

After Usagi had stopped crying, Anko made some food for the two of them as Usagi hadn't eaten anything since the previous morning.

Anyway, halfway through Anko’s... 'Cooking', as she called it, the house had almost caught on fire.

"Don't tell Hatake, alright?" Anko said, putting out the small flame that had started.

With a sigh, Usagi cooked instead.

An embarrassed Anko ate in silence. That's why she always buys dango. She can't cook anything else.

After their meal, Kakashi came home.

"Usagi? Why aren't you at school?" He was going to ask more questions, but Usagi hugged him, which shut him up.

"The Hokage didn't tell you?" Anko questioned, slightly puzzled as to why he was so calm.

"Tell me what? Why are you here?"

"Usagi’s mother came to the village."

Kakashi went silent before kneeling down to Usagi’s height. "Did she do this?" He asked, looking at her bruised cheek.

"I'm alright." Usagi smiled. "You're here now, so everything's ok." She hugged her dad again, tears starting to pour again.

Anko was in shock. Not from the entire situation, but from the simple fact that Usagi just spoke. The girl who she has never heard a word from, just spoke.

"Oh my Kami! Your voice is so cute!"

---- ---- ---- ----

Usagi’s mother disappeared after that. Kami knows what she's doing now.

Anyway, the next day at school, a number of questions were asked, to which Usagi didn't answer.

Also, Usagi sometimes spoke around Anko. Very rarely, but Anko made a huge deal of it whenever she did speak.

So, to put it simply, life was good.

The year was coming to an end, and it was festival season.

To celebrate a good year, and Usagi’s hair finally looking normal again, Shikamaru, Choji and Usagi were all going to a fireworks show together.

Of course, Anko thought this was the cutest thing in the world, and went all out with her outfit, buying a full on kimono for her to wear, and tying up her hair in some complicated bun hairstyle.

"You look so cute!" Anko gushed.

Usagi turned around and looked at herself in the mirror.

She looked like a different person. Not really, but she did look quite different with her hair tied up.

Ribbons decorated her hair, which piled neatly on the top of her head. Her bangs were hanging down, covering one of her eyes, but the other eye, which was usually covered by some shorter bangs, was fully visible, showing off the purple rings covering her sharp eye.

Her kimono was a gorgeous indigo colour. There were white flower petals flowing down the fabric, which was secured with a white obi, with a purple ribbon -courtesy of Anko- tied around it.

To complete her look, she tied her silver ribbon around her wrist. Now, she was ready.

"Alright. You ready to go?" Anko asked. Usagi nodded. "Got your kunai, just in case?"

Usagi lifted her kimono sleeve, showing a kunai pouch. Technically, she wasn't a ninja and she wasn't allowed to carry weapons... But nobody needed to know.

"Thanks." Usagi smiled, walking out into the lounge.

"You look lovely." Kakashi smiled upon seeing his daughter. Usagi rarely ever showed her eyes, so he was glad she was gaining some confidence.

"Thanks." Usagi smiled.

"Don't come home too late." Kakashi spoke sternly. "Don't do anything stupid, stay safe... And have fun I guess."

"... Just let the kid go already!" Anko rolled her eyes.

"Fine..." Kakashi sighed. "I'll see you later, Usagi."

With a wave, Usagi headed off.

"... She's growing up." Kakashi said, his heart breaking in two. Already it had been 8 years since he met the young girl. It sadenned him to say it, but his little Usagi was growing up.

----Onwards with Usagi’s adventure----

"Hey, Usagi!" It was Ino.

Usagi waved. The two had grown to be friends, and she was also tagging along with her to the festival.

"Heheh... You look cute... Trying to impress someone?" Ino winked.

Usagi rolled her eyes. [And what about you?]

"You think Sasuke will like my outfit?" Ino asked, twirling around. She was in a light pink kimono, which complimented her blonde hair perfectly.

[Honestly, I don't even think he'll be here. Not many people tend to go to this festival.]

"... You're probably right, but I look good anyway."

[As you always do.]

"Oh stop it, you." Ino blushed, loving the redheads slightly sarcastic compliment. "Come on, let’s get going. I invited a whole bunch of other people too!"

Usagi paled. 'Other people...?'

Noticing Usagi’s worried expression, Ino put a hand on her back. "Don't worry, you'll be fine!"

Usagi, not fully convinced of this, brushed her hair back over her visible eye, covering it up like she usually does.

"Well, at least you’re coming." Ino sighed.

After a little bit of walking, the two met up with Shikamaru and Choji... Followed by Kiba, Hinata, Shino and Sakura.

"Ino-Pig! Where's Sasuke?!" An annoyed Sakura yelled as she saw Ino.

"I'm right here." Said boy was sitting up high in a tree.

"Kyaa!" Ino and Sakura squealed at the sight of their crush.

[I will never understand their way of thinking.]

Everyone nodded in agreement. Girls truly are strange creatures.

"So, what are we doing first?" Kiba asked as he looked at all the festival stalls.

"We could get some okonomiyaki." Choji suggested. (Okonomiyaki = Japanese pancakes)

"Is food all you ever think about?!" Ino snapped at the boy.

Before Choji could answer, Sakura spoke up. "Why don't we each get a love reading?!" She glanced at Sasuke, who was acting emo as ever.

"That's not a bad idea, Forehead." Ino smirked. "To bad I already know what mines gonna say."

As the two girls glared at each other, they made their way to the fortune telling stall.

"Everyone here's getting a love reading!" Ino announced.

"Oh my..." The fortune teller looked at the number of kids. "This might take a while."

Ino went first, and came out with a huge smile on her face.

Sakura went second, coming out with a slightly confused look on her face.

Choji went next, and came out blushing.

Hinata went next, and... Fainted.

Kiba went next, and came out with a smile equally as big as Ino’s.

Sasuke went next, and came out, face void of emotion.

Shino went next, coming out normal.

Shikamaru went next, a slightly concerned, yet still bored look on his face.

Lastly, Usagi went.

"Sit down." The fortune teller smiled. Usagi sat down. "Alright, now pick any card." There were four rows of cards laying on the table before her.

Usagi pointed to the fourth card in the second row.

As the fortune teller flipped the card, it showed a picture of a tree. "Alright, now flip one more card over."

Usagi flipped another card. This one had a picture of a snake on it.

"The cards tell me you're hiding something. Something you've been keeping secret for a while, maybe something you're running from, or scared of perhaps... But I also see growth. You can overcome your fears, however... Child, could you please flip another card?"

Usagi flipped over another card. It had a picture of a scythe.

"Oh dear..." The fortune teller looked around cautiously, but continued on with the reading. "Now, please show me your palm."

Usagi held out her hand, showing the fortune teller her palm.

"You've suffered some kind of emotional trauma, but I see a bright future. Learn to use your voice, child. Do not fear love, embrace it. It will come to you in many forms, however the form you and your young friends are most concerned about... Let’s just say, the brown locks fall along the path, calling for help, and not receiving, but it is only with that help that they will stop falling."

Usagi looked at the fortune teller, a look of confusion on her face.

"Child, your eyes can see many things, but it would seem love is not one of them. Do not look with your eyes, look with your heart."

As Usagi stood up to leave, the fortune teller stopped her. "One last thing child, always be aware. I see danger in your future, possibly death if you’re not wary. Child, make sure you are never alone, for that is when they will strike."

On a creepy note, Usagi left, but she now couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched.

"So, what’s your fortune?" Ino asked.

Usagi shook her head, signalling she wouldn't say a word, even though she would remember them all forever.

"That's no fun." Ino pouted. "Well, what now?"

They all walked along the streets, going up to random stalls and whatnot.

It was at a food stall when Usagi noticed someone.

It was Neji. The one thing Usagi noticed in particular was the single strand of brown hair that fell to the path beneath him as he walked. Usagi’s thoughts trailed back to the fortune teller. 'No way.' Usagi thought. 'I barely know him.'

So, the night turned out to be great, however it was now coming to an end. The group travelled to a nearby field, giving them the perfect night sky view.

"The fireworks are starting!" Sakura squealed, fighting with Ino as to who gets to sit next to Sasuke.

Usagi on the other hand, seated herself down in a random spot, not caring who she sat next to.

In the end, Shino sat down next to her, which was probably for the best, seeing as Shino was more on the quiet side.

So, the fireworks started not long after everyone was seated. Everyone's talking stopped as the coloured explosions lit up the night sky.

Boom! Boom! The sparkles and colours jumped across the sky.

Usagi watched the fireworks in awe. They were beautiful.

They soon ended, leaving the group to say their goodbyes.

With a wave, Usagi made her way home.

'Maybe I should have walked with someone...' Usagi thought, feeling slightly uneasy. She still had the feeling someone was watching her, but when she looked, she couldn't see anyone. Even with her ability to see chakra, the only one there was hers.

'I’m just being paranoid.' Usagi sighed as she made her way home. She shrugged off the feeling, thinking it was probably just a squirrel or something.

Little did she know, a snake was in the grass.

"Yo." Kakashi smiled as Usagi walked into the house.

"Hi dad. Did Anko go home?"

"Yeah." He said, tiredness evident in his voice.

"... Well, goodnight." Usagi went to her room.

As she fell into a deep sleep, one thing was made clear to her.

From now on, she had to sleep with one eye opened.

__________________________________________________________________________________

AN/ Another chapter as promised!

 I’m not really that happy with how this chapter turned out, but don’t want to rewrite it so… Most of this story is already pre-written so changing it could mess up the storyline anyway. On a positive note, the next chapter will follow along with the Naruto storyline! The tale of Usagi the little redheaded ninja will soon be following the storyline from chapter 1 of the Naruto manga and onwards! I’ll be following the main storyline of Naruto with my own twists.

I personally can’t wait for Usagi to meet the Akatsuki. (You’ll know why in 30 chapter’s time~ heheheh I have this whole story planned out in my head.)

Also another sie note, I linked a video of Nishino Kana's If to the side. It's the short version, but it's the only one I could find in pitch. Im going to start adding links to the songs in the story so you can hear them as well as read the lyrics!

Anyway... I will get back to writing the story now and not the authors notes. Does anyone even read these or is it just me rambling to myself? Either way...

Thanks for reading!


-C