Book 2: Chapter 2: The First Day Part III

Book 2: Land of Sand

Chapter 2: The First Day Part III

1

Cleaning the buck was a pain, answering all of Kurai’s questions was worse. I didn’t understand what was up with Uzumakis and not knowing there was a time and place to ask questions. When I'm dealing with animal guts isn’t one of them. Thankfully it didn’t take too long for me to finish. And leaving precise instructions with Kurai, I was free to go relax in the onsen.

“Wow Yuki, you actually have abs.”

That right there was the first thing I heard as I walked up to the pool-sized onsen. The sound of Tayuya being genuinely surprised by my physique. At that moment, I was glad to have a small towel to hide Yuki junior. I didn’t need praise or insults. I just needed to get into the hot bath. And boy, was it worth the wait. Simply sliding in and sitting down was enough for me to forget the fact that next to me were two naked girls with the only thing covering them being a towel. One of which was my girlfriend, whose eyes seemed to wander every so often. And I thought guys were the perverts.

To be honest, I never really liked co-ed onsens, even when I went with my family. It was only funny to tease Sasuke whenever we’d catch him there at the same time as us. Kid Sasuke was self-conscious even when it was just guys. Like the concept of getting naked in front of people seemed to always get to him even though his father promised no one was looking. Simply because one of the most important rules is: Not. To. Stare!

I closed my eyes as I tried to ignore the fact that Kasai seemed to really be giving me the death stare. Not my fault his sister was into me. Let her live and just enjoy the hot water for what it is. The soothing tingle, the simple sensation of floating ever so slightly. It freed your mind and restored your chakra. At least that’s how onsens were advertised. I never really did a test on it, but I did feel like I could train again whenever I left one. Though considering Kai and Kasai were enjoying the water, that probably was the case since I doubted those two would do anything fun. Not when Mr. Team leader had a stick up his— No, no, think happy thoughts. No stress… Ever notice how Sui’s breasts seem bigger than usual—

My eyes popped open as being lost in thought was clearly not helping. Unfortunately, Sui’s face being right next to mine also didn’t help. And why was she pouting? I was literally as respectful as possible in that situation by—

“Stop ignoring me.”

“Uh, what?”

“You heard me.” Sui turned her back on me and leaned against my shoulder all while muttering. “Imagine your girlfriend is being as vulnerable as possible to not even receive an ounce of attention.”

“I thought you were busy with Tayuya.”

“Tayuya summoned her Doki to keep me away from her.”

“She did what—Oh.”

There were 3 small Doki sitting in the water as well. Though, they were fully clothed ruining the purity of the water and my experience! The 3 seemed really intent on protecting Tayuya. By just that simple glance in that area, I heard the bald one growl at me. The little bastard. All while Tayuya looked actually relaxed for a change, her eyes closed and hair wrapped up in a bun. I could’ve sworn I even heard her humming—

“Jerk of the Uchiha,” Sui muttered, bringing me back to attention.

“You know your brother will kill me if I even so much as look at you right now.”

“And that’s different from before how?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Good point.”

With red eyes, I wrapped my arm around Sui, pulling her in close as her white eye met mine. I didn’t know why she had her hair wrapped in a bun like Tayuya, considering her hair was too short to touch the water nevertheless, it was cute. Her flushed cheeks from the heat, the pair of earrings she wore finally getting some spotlight. I just loved how one was the Uchiha crest while the other was the Hyūga crest. I’d never tell her but being from two of the most prestigious clans in the village was simply too cool—on her! Kasai, on the other hand, can shove it, trying to steal one of Sui’s unique qualities.

“I-I didn’t say to touch me,” Sui mumbled, never once trying to push me away.

“You didn’t have to,” I said with a smirk. “Or did you forget these eyes can read movements?”

“I moved in no way that indicated that I wanted to be held.”

“Mmmhm. Mmmhm. And you also didn’t want attention.”

Sui rolled her eyes. “Look at you trying to be cool for someone I had to spell it out for, but the real question is have you noticed no one’s paying attention?”

“Yeah, so?”

“So, it means I can do this.”

Sui took her shot and planted a kiss right on my lips before I could even register what happened. All I know is that one: I totally felt an electric shock pulse through my body and two: my Sharingan wasn’t on anymore. And last but not least, why did this remind me of an Icha Icha novel? I-uh really shouldn’t see Sui like that—Did she just swim away from me? Why do I feel cold all of a sudden… Fuck

“Wait! Before you do anything, know that it was her idea!”

“Didn’t I tell you…” Tayuya cracked her knuckles while the 3 Doki growled at me. “I wouldn’t let my sister get with some fucking half-assed pussy!”

“Not the face!”

“Hold it!”

“Oh thank god.”

Tayuya paused mid-swing, as did the Doki, and maybe it was the fact there was too much blood in my head right now, but I thought I was safe until the realization kicked in. That was Kasai who stopped Tayuya… And boy, I couldn’t tell if the veins popping in his skull was from his Byakugan or because he was pissed. Not that it mattered because his Sharingan answered my stupid question. He’s pissed.

“No, don’t thank me.” Lightning began to crackle and build in Kasai’s hand. “Because if anyone is going to kill you for kissing my sister, it’s going to be me.”

“Wait-Kasai-Listen. If you hit me with that while we’re in the water, it will not only kill me but everyone else in the water. Including yourself. So how be we just relax and—”

“Fucker, if you think I’m going to let some shit-faced loser who hides behind a mask kill Yuki, you got another thing coming! He’s my kill!”

“You’re still talking? I told you to step aside.”

“Make me.” Tayuya pulled out her flute. From where? Well, she was only in a towel, and my nose was bleeding. Let’s just say I always knew she kept pillows strapped down under her shirt. Respectfully.

“Listen shorty. It’s cute that you think you can beat me, but later k.”

Wait, did he just brush Tayuya off? He didn’t just brush Tayuya off.

“Now Yuki, say your prayers.”

Holy fuck he just brushed Tayuya off! I had to get out of there, but seeing as I had an overprotective brother with a death wish in front of me and the 3 Doki were gone. Wait, why are the 3 Doki gone? I finally noticed that the water was red, and it wasn’t from my blood.

“No. No. No. No. Tayuya, wait!”

“Die scum! Summoning Jutsu!”

Out of the sky, it fell. One of Tayuya’s big Dokis. I knew it was the end, but at least I’d die with the rest of them, or so I thought as I noticed it was only the three of us in the water. Kai and Kabura already had towels wrapped around them as they headed to their tent, while Sui, the instigator of this, just smiled and waved at a safe distance. Now that I thought about it, maybe Sui really was the demon. I mean, she didn’t even warn Kasai, who only realized we were dead moments before the impact, and people call me cocky! At least I got to hear some regret in Kasai’s voice as his Chidori faded from his hand.

“Fuck.”

All at once the onsen was destroyed. The water pushed up from the weight of the Doki cannonball and flooded the camp. Thankfully the water provided enough of a shield that I was carried along with the wave only to smack my face against an earth wall. Hiruzen-sensei made sure his tent wasn’t going to be destroyed. Though I wasn’t sure if it was because I hit my head or the water flooding my insides, but I could have sworn I heard the sound of 30 Kurais screaming for help.

“We’re under attack!”

“There’s water everywhere.”

“Kurai number 13 is dead.”

“I can’t swim!”

“Yes, you can. If I can swim, you can too.”

“The water isn’t even that high!”

I slowly opened my eyes to see I wasn’t crazy. That yes it was a ton of Kurais running around trying to fix everything. That the entire conversation being held was indeed just Kurai. That somehow there was a Kurai who couldn’t swim but one that could. Clones didn’t work that way. At least mine didn’t work that way. Kakashi’s didn’t work that way. And I’m sure Hiruzen-sensei’s didn’t work that way. Hell, I doubt even Naruto’s clones worked that way! So why—you know what time to take Sui’s advice. Not going to question it just going to put on clothes and get dinner.

2

With the camp still being repaired, the 5 of us—excluding Hiruzen-sensei, who decided to stay holed up behind his earth walls, and Kurai, who was busy fixing the camp—sat outside of the wooden walls in a circle, each with a bowl of venison stew. Using logs as seats and a cozy fire in the center, it really felt like we were camping if you ignored the sound of Kurais working as if they were a construction crew. Which we all did though I couldn’t help but ask.

“So… is it always like this with Kurai?” I asked, picking at my food.

“Yup,” Kai said with a bark from Kabura.

Kasai nodded. “Pretty much.”

“And that’s why I said not to think about it,” Sui said, eating her food without a care. I wonder if she ever heard that if you tell someone not to do something, it makes them want to do it even more.

“What’s there to think about?” Tayuya mumbled with her mouthful. “The trash is insane.”

Kasai looked up from his bowl. “Call my teammate insane again. I dare you.”

“Tayuya, stop that. It’s not nice.” Sui tapped Tayuya’s shoulder, then looked over at Kasai. “And please stop egging her on.”

“Fine.” They both said, leaving me the room to say:

“But Tayuya has a point. I wouldn’t word it like that, but there’s something definitely wrong.”

Kai let out a sigh. “If you must know, you’re right. Kurai is different. To make the most sense of it. I’d put it as Kurai’s clones have personalities distinct from his own.”

“How? Why? That doesn’t—”

“The doctor theorizes it’s because he doesn’t dispel his clones. Letting them stick around for days, months, years... A coping mechanism, she calls it. So he’s never alone.”

“And that’s why he should get out more,” Kasai muttered.

“I don’t think that’s the issue—” I glanced at Sui. I remembered our promise and how she used to ask me what school was like. How she seemed to enjoy the thought of preparing for a math exam. While I simply complained about having to spend all my time stuck to a desk next to loudmouths like Naruto. “—I think being raised by Danzō is. If you could call isolation living.”

“Better than being raised by the dead.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I placed my bowl down and dipped my hands into my pockets. All while Kasai smirked, eating his food without a care. He really thinks I wouldn’t fight him—I noticed Sui’s head shake—Damn it, and he’s right.

“It means you’re not that much better than us,” Kai said, answering for Kasai’s silence. “I’m sure Sui’s told you her experience. Not everyone is the same. I for one, don’t regret having been raised by Danzō. Taught me a lot. Showed me the world and why we protect the village.”

“I wish the Uchiha were a part of that.”

“They were a threat to it.”

I stood up, but Sui appeared in front of me. “Guys, I think the conversation is over.”

“No.” I stared past Sui with red eyes while Kai’s blue eyes seemed to only get darker.” I want to hear him tell me how the hell civilians, the elderly, and children were a threat to the village they belonged to!”

Kasai chuckled. “If you could see your face right now, you’d know.”

“So, everyone here knows the truth but me.”

“I don’t,” Tayuya said, tossing her bowl aside. “But I’m itching to put these shitters in their place.”

A smile grew on my face as I was happy that I could count on one teammate to back me up. The other, however, was going to stand in my way. It was always like this. And I never knew why.

Sui got into her gentle fist stance. “Don’t look at me like that. I’ll always be here to stop you from doing something stupid.”

“No. No. Please let him.” Kasai’s eye became red, and he stood on the other side of Sui, baiting me with that cocky smile of his. “I’d love to fix Itachi’s mistake.”

“We’re not mistakes—”

Everything went silent except for the crackling flame. My brain couldn’t even register the moment, but the red mark on Kasai’s cheek jogged my memory. The loud smack calmed even my rage, and Tayuya’s laughter that followed suit was priceless.

“D-Did you just hit me?” Kasai rubbed his cheek, his black and white eyes meeting his sister’s glare.

“And I’ll do it again if you keep being an asshole.”

“You’ve changed.”

“I haven’t.” Sui looked away from her brother. “I’ve just seen more.”

I wasn’t sure if I should be happy that Kasai finally got that smirk wiped off his face or feel bad that Sui was the one who had to do it. She never talked about him, but from the moment I saw them together, I could tell she loved him. Like how I loved my older sister even after all the fighting, she did with my dad or how she pushed me away. Yet where I made the mistake of not trying hard enough, Sui was smarter. I just wished that Kurai had better timing.

“Hey guys, the repairs are done–Oh, did I miss the fight.”

“Yeah, Kasai got the bitchslap of his life.” Tayuya laughed.

“Oh…” Kurai scratched his head and then looked at us with eyes so cold that I shivered from how loud his intent was. “Does that mean I have to kill you guys?”

“No. It just means it’s time for bed.” Kai said with a yawn from Kabura, calming Kurai down. “Team K, Team 9, dinner’s over. Get some sleep. We continue in the morning. Kurai, can you take the first watch?”

“I can take all the watches.”

“You need your sleep too.”

Kurai laughed. “You know I don’t sleep.”

Kasai gave one last look at Sui before brushing past her muttering. “To think you’d choose him over me. I hope you haven’t forgotten our promise.”

“I haven’t, big brother.”

“Wow… Sui, nice job—”

I stopped because Sui’s body gave the impression she needed a hug, but her eyes told me she’d break an arm if I tried. “Yuki, go and talk to the Third Hokage. Have him tell you the truth.”

“I’ve tried already. He just dodges the question.”

“Ask him now, and he’ll tell you.”

“Why now?”

Sui sighed, slowly walking towards the camp. “Because if he doesn’t, only one squad is coming back.”

“Isn’t that a little much? I’m sure Hiruzen-sensei would stop us,” I said, scratching my head as Sui walked away, and where I expected her to answer instead, Tayuya spoke.

“That old geezer couldn’t stop shit.”

I raised an eyebrow. “And you know this how?”

“Orochimaru is still alive, and your clan is gone.”

“Ok, but—”

“Nothing. I’m still in the village, and so is Danzo. Face reality. He’s growing old, lost in some fantasy where everyone can be saved.”

Tayuya was staring at her flute while she spoke, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“So you believe that Orochimaru needs to be saved.”

“What? No! I mean, that’s what that old fucker believes—stop laughing. I’ll kill you!”

And leaving me with a sore shoulder, my demon of a sister left me to face my actual demons as I needed to learn the truth. To this day, I’m still not sure what was the right call to make, but I know that killing off an entire clan will never be the right one. Or at least if you’re going to do it, don’t leave a child to carry the burden of the dead.