Tortured Uchiha [CURRENTLY EDITING]

十七

B E T R A Y A L

    I didn't understand. 

    Kakashi repeated himself but I didn't get it. They were dead? How could they have died? Nobody would've touched them with a ten-foot pole, they were second branch trash not worthy of murder. 

    My reaction startled the group―I laughed. It was hysterical. I doubled over and gripped my stomach from the strength of the laughter. A few of the guarding ANBU went to withdraw their weapons, thinking I'd gone insane. 

     I quietened to a chuckle when Kakashi cleared his throat. 

       "This isn't a joke Etsuko," Kakashi was handed a mustard coloured envelope with the kanji written over it that translated into 'EVIDENCE'. With a nod of permission from Hiruzen, Kakashi pulled the red sealing wax off and reached into the envelope to retrieve a necklace. "Does this have any significance to you?"

    Every muscle in my face went slack as I reached out to grasp the piece of metal from Kakashi's fingers. A thin black chord held three silver orbs in the shape of Tomoe. I used to think it was a token to bring good luck and awaken the Sharingan as the patterns were identical. But I remember Kirudoshi said they represented the power of a Tengu warrior. 

     Kirudoshi. . .my stupid, loveable father. . .

    He may have been a shit parent, but he was the best story teller I knew. Before I was kicked out of home, he used to tell me about the necklace. He said they were from a Tengu creature that had been killed in a battle for the Goddess Amaterasu. Her brother, Susanoo, defended his sister and killed the warrior. The battle was so intense that Susanoo's weapons; the Yasakani no Magatama fell from the heavens and sprouted crows on earth. 

      He sat me on his knee and rocked. My hand curled around the silver and I tugged. The circles had tails and reminded me of tadpoles. Kirudoshi unclipped the necklace and dangled it in front of me.

     "Whoa, how did you get it?" I asked, mouth agape. 

      "Well, Etsuko dear," Kirudoshi tussled my hair. "I was once a Shinobi, a terrible one at that, didn't scrub up to much really. I was on a mission to Amegakure with a squad. . .now, this place rains and he had to keep the ANBU supplies dry before we reached their outpost. On our way through the ghost towns, I found it in the mud. I didn't think anybody would miss it so I kept it." 

     "That's not brave," I whined. "I thought you stole it from an evil Daimyo." 

      "Well, the story behind the meaning of these symbols are more courageous than anything I've ever done," Kirudoshi twirled the necklace around his finger. "The Uchiha are known for an ocular ability called the Sharingan. The pattern of the eye changes to these on the necklace. . .but I don't think you'll ever be able to see it." 

     "The character for Tomoe translates into whirlpool; however, the pattern has nothing to do with the Uzumaki clan who come from the Land of Whirlpools. The Uchiha scholars are convinced that the Tomoe stems from the design on leather clothing worn by ancient archers. Others say it was originally a representation of a coiled snake. The three Tomoe appear on many illustrated scrolls and have different meanings. Patterns of one, two and three Tomoe exist, some facing left while others face right. However, that being said, the Tomoe here are called Migi Mitsudomoe since they're like a pinwheels and are close together. Much like our Sharingan."

      "Migi. . .Mitsudomoe?" I repeated slowly.

     "That's right, the Kohaku clan that have long been extinct used the Hidari Futatsudomoe as their symbol," Kirudoshi explained. "The two Tomoe locked together to represent the balance of Yin and Yang. Legend says that they have a similar prowess using only two Tomoe and it rivals the Sharingan. . .someday, I want to give this to you as forgiveness of what is to become of your life."