Haurutsuki: Beautiful Snow

1. The Haurutsuki Clan

The day I was born... Was the first of many miracles. My father told the story all the time:

It was snowing heavily outside while I stood waiting for your birth. My first-born child. The Land of Waves hadn't seen such deep snow in many years. And although I was excited, I worried that the blizzard would affect my soon-to-be heir's birth. I remember the nurse who came to check on me asking, "Are you excited to see your newborn baby, Lord Tadashi? Are you hoping for a boy or a girl?" I turned to face the woman and told her, "It's a boy. The heir to the Haurutsuki Clan has always been born a boy. The cycle will not break now with my son." I was proud and stern about it too. "Oh, of course." The nurse said and gave me a quick bow, leaving me to go back to staring at the snow.

I thought of my beautiful wife, Shizu, and our future together with you. Hours passed before another nurse came to give me the news, "Congratulations, Lord Tadashi. You are now the proud father of a beautiful baby girl!" My eyes went wide in shock! "A girl???" I wasted no time. Pushing passed the nurse. I rushed in to see you. First, I saw your mother. Even in such a drained state, she had a glow about her... She was smiling. Gleaming with joy at the wrapped bundle in her arms. Then she lifted her head to meet my eyes from the door, "Come meet your daughter, Tadashi..." Her words drew me nearer. And seeing you? Well, it was all I needed before my whole world changed forever!

"What should we call her? We didn't give much thought to a girl's name." My wife remembered. I was already tearing up. You looked so delicate and sweet. It took all my strength just to raise my trembling hand to reach for your tiny head. "Miyuki. Her name will be Miyuki... She just makes this terrible snowstorm seem so beautiful!" Shizu smiled, "I think that's the perfect name. Miyuki... our Beautiful Snow." It was as I kissed your head that my crying spree began. I knew then... That my new mission would be to raise you into the future leader of our clan. And protect you with all my might!

He would tell it to me over and over again. I would sit in my mother's lap on her rocking chair at the fireplace. He spoke with such vigor and enthusiasm. His piercing purple eyes swallowed me whole and filled me with wonder. On my second birthday, he pulled off the black sash around his shoulder and waist before showing it to me, "One day my only mission will be to look after you. Then yours will be to take care of this. The title as Head to Haurutsuki Clan and all who follow our teachings." I was awestruck as I took it into my tiny little hands. He smiled, "My princess... Of the moon."

He then sneakily grabbed it out of my hands and wrapped it around my neck like a scarf. He laughed as my mother and I exclaimed at his abrupt motion. "Tadashi! It's drowning her!" She scolded. "Ha! Then it's perfect." He chuckled out. I looked down at the black scarf, tracing the embroider lilac threads that formed the moon cycle symbols all throughout the scarf. It felt so soft and cozy. So precious. From then on, I knew I'd never want to part with it again. Yes, the mere fact that I was a girl made history. To our clan I was the miracle they never knew they needed. And I wouldn't be the last one either...

Less than 3 years later, another miracle took place. The triumph my father felt after seeing his first-born son led him to the name 'Katsu,' for Victory. That's when the unexpected miracle happened yet again. Another gift to the Head Haurutsuki Family came. My mother gave birth to a second son, Katsu's non-identical twin brother. He was much smaller and frail-looking than Katsu. His hair looked blacker than our signature purple. My mother hoped he wouldn't stay this way. That one day he would become a legend! So, she named him 'Ryuu,' for Dragon. When I first met my brothers, my relief at no longer being alone became an instinct. I would protect them and love them no matter what. Even if they call me a "bossy" sister at times.

By now, you're probably wondering where, and who we are. Well, I'll try my best to explain. We are the Future Heads of the Haurutsuki Clan. We live in the Haurutsuki Compound, located high atop a mountain on the outskirts of the Hidden Mist Village. We're practically one mountain leap away. The reason we, although being Hidden Mist civilians, are living separately from the Village, is because we are the Rakurai Division. A Special Black Ops Unit in Land of Waves that specializes in difficult assassinations, infiltrations and information gathering with utmost precision. Think of us as shinobi who get the missions even the ANBU Black Ops wouldn't be able to handle. It's very rare for our division to be utilized, but when it is, we are well prepared. All Rakurai Operatives are Haurutsuki Clan members. We've been bred for this. Our family leads the most elite clan in the entire Village.

Since we are not often given missions, we live out our days on the mountain like islanders. You probably think we have some fancy or strange uniform as part of the Rakurai Division, but we basically just wear our clan colors of purple, black and white.

There are other traits you can pick up on that make Rakurai members different from regular shinobi. For one, no one sees us unless we're on a mission that requires being in public. This can make it hard for regular shinobi to trust us since we tend to stand out with our purple hair. Another trait is our clan symbol, which is usually on our attire or in some form of jewelry.

The clan symbol itself, is a circle that symbolizes the full moon and behind this full moon is sun-like rays, meaning: The Moon Shines Upon Us. Haurutsuki means "Howling to the Moon," after all. Anyway, the final and major tell-tale of any Rakurai/Haurutsuki member, is our chakra nature. There are many variations in our chakra, however one sticks out. The color of our Lightning Nature Techniques. It's why we're known as Rakurai, the Division of the Thunderbolt.

All our lightning techniques are purple. It's not every day you fight an opponent who zaps you with such a striking color lightning. Especially not from a Hidden Mist ninja. Not only is the color of our lightning style attacks a big give away, but also the justu we perform with them. My father is known as 'Purple Alpha' for his purple-wolf lightning attacks. It's one crazy attack. You'd be dead if you ever came within ten feet while that roaring beast. Our lightning style justu develops into the animal shape of a wolf. After all, what other animal do you see howling at the moon?

It's not easy to master our lightning nature at a young age, which is why Wolf Lightning Justu techniques are only performed by adults. Kids first learn to master their other chakra natures on Haurutsuki Island. This is before we're allowed to enter the Rakurai Division and after we finish school.

You might think life on this island, which is what mountains are referred to here, is a paradise for the strongest of shinobi. Well, you'd be wrong if you were us. By 'us', I mean me, Katsu, and Ryuu. We live by one rule: Obey the Head. Having that as your father? Definitely comes with its disadvantages. From the moment we could walk, we were viciously trained. As the future Head of the Clan, and being three years older than my brothers, I received the least leniency. The Fourth Mizukage rules over the Hidden Mist with selfishness. His pursuit of power has only further spread the corruption plaguing our land. My father does his best to keep us as far away from the civil wars and chaos wreaking havoc on our Village as possible.

I remember when I was still too young to understand it all. I would oftensit at my window's ledge and stare into the night. Wishing, hoping... For abetter life.

~A/N: This is just the start of one epic adventure trilogy folks. Stay tuned for weekly updates. I guarantee action, mystery, plot twists! And of course, romance, huh? 😉😉~