Anbu: Tactical Kunoichi Zero Year

Prologue: Terrible Fate

                  If there is one thing this world knows and knows well...it's death. It seems that it is inevitable no matter where you go, who you talk to, and what you learn. It's something that just seems to never go away. If memories are all you have at death...what does that mean really? Have you really made an impression? Do people respect you? Loathe you? Want you dead? Or are you just so insignificant that no one remembers you?

                Did you even have a choice? Aiko Amano knew these questions well. Did she ever get them answered? Maybe. However, that's beside the point. As a young mother, Aiko lost her son and her husband disappeared after their son's death. The cause of death? Natural causes. At least...that's what the doctors said. Aiko believed that her son had been poisoned. Having worked in the military and as a medic for her team, she knew the signs of poisons.

           Right now, Aiko just stood in front of her son's grave. She had her two month old daughter, Hinode Amano, in her arms. With them was Aiko's sister, Kana Katsuro. Looking at the two sister's you could tell they were different. Aiko's hair was grown out and messy, she had an intensity behind her eyes, but they were also kind. Her complexion was pale and she had dark brown eyes and dark brown hair. Her posture was held up with pride opposed to her sister and it had her standing at 160.02 cm.

Kana was a bit shorter standing at 154.94 cm tall. Her hair was a lighter shade of brown and she had hazel eyes. Her hair was nicely made and tied up in a traditional Japanese hair-bun. She wore square rim-glasses and she had a fair complexion with a few freckles. Behind her eyes was a warm kindness, but also concern. Kana kept glancing at her sister with that concern. It's clear thoughts about her sister were running through her head. Looking at Aiko, who was just emotionless, her eyes staring blankly at her son's grave, was heart-wrenching. The grave was considerably small two small pyres jutted up and the center slab was engraved with the son's name and a phrase:

                                                               Daiki Amano

                                  "May the sun shine upon you in the darkest dreams."

"That had been the last thing his father had said to him," Aiko spoke up. Aiko turned to Kana. "I'm going to leave for a while, Kana. I need you t-"
"No," Kana said. "I already received the letter you sent out. You can't leave, Hinode needs you."

"Look," Aiko said. "I don't even want to do this, but..." Aiko's voice trailed off and looked at her sister, tears forming in her eyes. "I need to do some soul searching and I can't bring Hinode where I'm going. I need you to take care of her while I'm gone. Please."

Kana looked into Aiko's eyes which were filled with longing, heartbreak...and desperation.

Kana didn't say anything and just nodded and Aiko walked away holding her daughter in her arms. Kana just stared at her older sister as she walked away.

Kana looked at her nephew's grave, wondering who would want to kill a child...but that was all she could focus on. "We'll make this right, Daiki," Kana said. "I promise you, we will."
Kana reached into her jacket and brought out a daffodil and a sakura flower, placed them down on the gravestone and bowed.

"I hope you live a better life in the next world, Daiki-chan. You meant the world to us."

And with that Kana walked away feeling sad and feeling like making her decision to help her sister.

However, that was six years ago.

Six...long...years...ago...