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The Lord who made you and helps you says: Do not be afraid.
Isaiah 44:2
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After the gleeful half-hour expedition, which drained most of their time on observing the many festivities that revolved, the family finally arrived at the designated location. Unfortunately they had no time to interact with the festivities due to the impending visit, but they'll be able to embark on them later.
At present, the family stood in front of a simple, yet traditional adobe that compelled an inviting aura. Without haste, Kaede placed both hands on either side of her lips, and announced, "Aiko-sensei, we're here!"
She had already requested Aiko of her arrival via letter, to which she got an affirmative response almost immediately, beckoning her to come.
Thankfully, the family didn't have to wait long for the home owners.
Pervading the tranquillity were soft thuds, hinting at an approaching figure. The silhouette, whose features were masked in the dimly lit corridor, came to light, revealing himself to be a well-known individual. There was only one person Hayato and Kaede knew who carried the same lethargy, projecting the aura of someone who despised the very thought of interaction. The man was none other than Aiko's husband, Nara Kenjiro. He was clad in a black gown, and held a broomstick with one hand.
"Kenjiro-san!" Kaede asserted, unable to hide a radiant smile that seemed to acknowledge the man's presence.
Kenjiro smiled, and warmly welcomed, "Kaede-san, Haya- Ahem!" Kenjiro immediately paused, converting to a fake cough mid-sentence. He corrected, "Saruto-san, come in, we've been waiting."
Hayato wryly chuckled at the man's clumsiness, and thank goodness no one was around right now.
In the letter, Kaede had already notified Aiko of Hayato's fake identity.
Kaede hopped forward with Naruto and Karin, while Hayato's brows creased at the man's frailty. He seemed to be in tip-top health, but the perfunctory smile plastered on the man's lips conveyed an amalgamation of expressions, and he couldn't quite tell if the man was actually doing well. This prompted him to query, "Kenjiro-san, are you okay? You seem rather... exhausted."
Hayato's query was not without nought, as the man seemed to be holding onto the broomstick as though it were a walking stick, which subtly trembled. Furthermore, his black eyes seemed to cradle otherworldly wisdom, and the harsh vicissitudes of life.
Kenjiro answered, "It was a long trip."
Indeed, it was a long trip.
(Truly a drastic boost in cardio)
"I see, I apologise for the sudden visit," Hayato apologised.
Kenjiro flailed his palm dismissively, and reassured, "No, no, it's absolutely fine. It's nothing for you to feel guilty of. Besides, we were already notified."
Hayato gratified with a bow, "Thank you."
And so, the Uzumaki family entered the compound.
...
The confines retained a traditional format, resembling a washitsu, featuring tatami flooring, and opaque, sliding double doors. The draperies were dragged to their respective flanks, allowing for infiltration of the outside world's light, further highlighting the room's glamour. It was truly comfortable, much too antique, yet fascinating for the children's taste.
The Uzumaki family cosied on the sofa. Naruto and Karin exchanged fascinating glares as they scanned the layout of the quaint terrain, while Hayato and Kaede whispered amongst each other, seemingly comparing the structure and design to that of former times. The irrelevant differences that occurred over time didn't escape their astute analysis. For example, the colour of the draperies and the smooth cloth, the unblemished walls which were formerly adorned with many miniature cracks that branched out like a spiderweb, the smooth floorboard that produced not a single creak upon stepping... All these minute differences hinted at meticulous and costly renovation.
"Kaede, Hayato!" A boisterous tone shattered the ambience, directing the gazes of all toward a dimly lit partition.
*TAP* *TAP*
The gentle tap of the tip of the crutches made contact with the floorboard, and soon enough, the graceful figure's anatomy became incandescent under the limelight, revealing fiery orange hair, and eyes with akin hue, and clad in a turtleneck white jumper, and navy blue tracksuit. With a grin, she asserted, "It's been a while."
Hayato acknowledged, "Indeed. It's been a while sensei."
Kaede noticed Aiko's nonchalant use of Hayato's name, and felt the need to inform, "Sensei, Saruto's tryi-"
"It's fine," Aiko interjected, inching closer toward the family. She quipped, "There's no need to worry about spies and such being here. You can be perfectly open with me."
With her sensei's confirmation, Kaede nodded in alignment, before a bright smile graced her cherry lips; "It's been too long, sensei."
Arising, tears glistened in Kaede's eyes as she pulled Aiko into a hug.
The unperturbed Aiko circled an arm around Kaede's neck, connected with a pat on the back. She cheerfully reassured, "I'm fine dear. It seems to me you're the same softie from back then."
Pulling from the embrace, Kaede wiped her eyes, and proposed, "There's so much I want to talk about sensei."
Aiko took her word, and nodded, "Yeah, I have a lot to say too..."
She paused, her gaze fixed on Hayato, to which he seemed to flinch, as evidenced by his twitch of a finger. It was almost invisible, as Hayato intended, yet incapable of escaping Aiko's scrutiny, and she teased, "Though you've grown, you're still embarrassed around me, aren't ya?"
"Tsk," Hayato smacked his lips.
He could remember the many times Aiko would tease him and Ryohei, prompting the duo to tread with caution specifically around her. She was truly just one heck of a rambunctious sensei.
"Not gonna hug me?" Aiko mischievously remarked with a cheesy grin.
Hayato rebutted, "Yeah, no thanks."
"Hmph, you're no fun," Aiko whined in reducing pitch, while her neck slowly rotated, before stopping on Naruto and Karin. Her eyes shimmered like pearls, and before they knew it, Naruto and Karin were pulled into an irresistible bear hug!
"Ohhh my, such adorable children!" Aiko shrieked like a maiden in love!
Startled by the fortuitous manoeuvre, the children's bodies stiffened, and they were rooted on the spot. However, Aiko persisted, showering the duo with boundless affection. A pat on her shoulder zapped her awake, who was none other than the haggard Kenjiro. The man mentioned, "You're scaring the children. Take it easy."
With a large pouty face, she abstained from the bear hug, keenly examining the faces of the victims. This time, Aiko warily extended a hand, caressing the male youth's cheek, to which he subtly jerked his head back. Staring into his sapphire eyes, she intoned, "So this is Minato's son, huh?"
Hayato had already gone through the credentials with Aiko a long time ago regarding the adoption of Minato's and Kushina's son.
Hayato concurred, "Yeah, he's my nephew."
Naruto found himself gazing into the fiery, and contagious eyes of the Yamanaka female; eyes that cradled pity and sorrow, but also happiness.
Retracting her hand from Naruto, she moved on to Karin, and clarified, "And this is the Uzumaki girl you told me about."
Hayato affirmed with a nod, "Yeah."
Gently rubbing her delicate cheek, Aiko softly questioned, "What's your name dear?"
Karin stammered, "K-Karin... Uzumaki Karin."
"Hmm," Aiko hummed, staring into the scarlet eyes of the youth, and though vague, she could foresee an indelible scar that conveyed the child's traumatic past. She had been aware of the child's circumstances through Hayato and Kaede..
Aiko retracted her palm, and took a seat on the opposite couch, alongside her husband who wrapped an arm around her waist. Aiko's former fervour waned as she was made aware of the children's harsh circumstances, and mulled inconsolably, 'Poor children.' That period of pity, however, didn't last long as her lips parted, and she called, "Fu!"
However, she was only met with silence.
Kenjiro defended, "Aiko, he's probably aslee-!"
"FU!!!" Aiko roared, her tone authoritative as it reverberated around the premises. The hearts of the youth palpitated out of their chests at the unexpected bellow! What's more, her demeanour had distorted from affection to revolt. It's not that she hated Fu; she just despised having to repeat herself.
Almost immediately, a youth stumbled from a dimly lit partition, donned in casual attire that embroidered the sigil of Konoha on his verdant t-shirt, accompanied by a grey tracksuit. The youth's traits mirrored that of Aiko, with blazing orange hair, and fiery orange eyes... Well, perhaps fiery would be an overstatement.
His eyes were dull, signifying his tiredness, and he impudently groaned and yawned as he inched closer to the visitors. The fact that visitors had arrived had yet to strike him...
"What is it kaa-chan?" Fu grumbled, rubbing his eyes which helped clear his vision. Welcomed by the stares of the visitors, Fu almost lurched back, but played it off professionally, and staidly greeted, "Hello, I'm Yamanaka Fu."
Hayato and Kaede turned to each other, before releasing a strained chortle, and Hayato admonished Aiko; "Sensei, there was no need to wake up your son."
This was further testified by the solidified drool that seeped out of Fu's lips, which he was still oblivious to. It was rather comedic.
Aiko facepalmed at her son's disarrayed state, to which Fu whined in annoyance, "Kaa-chan, you never told me we had people coming over!"
Aiko conceded, "Yeah, yeah, I'm sorry. Now go wash your face." She waved her hand frivolously, as though shooing him.
Nevertheless, Fu complied and rushed back into his quarters. He was quite aggravated by the dilemma and blurted curses inaudibly as he trot to the washroom. He was never told of visitors arriving, and his deep slumber was shattered by his mother just like that.
Truly, what a drag!
Kenjiro arose from his spot, and offered, "I'm sure everyone's okay with tea, right?"
Kaede approved as she turned to Hayato and her children, "Yeah, tea works for all of us."
As such, Kenjiro sauntered away, tending to the gruelling task. It's not hard at all, but for the man, it was just... such a drag.
Like father, like son.
...
"Haaaa, a nice, warm cup of tea in this cold weather... a delicacy worth craving," Hayato stated, indulging in the warmly brewed beverage. Kaede aligned, "Yes."
Naruto and Karin nodded in consensus, savouring the bitter taste of the liquor. The pleasant aroma twirled in the air, and with a whiff, one would find their mind at ease. Planting their lips on the mug, they took a sip, and the result didn't disappoint. Everyone hummed in satisfaction as their palates approved of the succulent consolidation.
Kenjiro tersely acknowledged, "I'm glad you like it."
Everyone exchanged idle chatter, and soon enough, the tea had been fully consumed, rejuvenating them in the process. Aiko instructed Fu, who was seated beside him, "Fu dear, go take the children and play with them."
Fu complied with a smile, guiding the youth through the humble adobe. Silence prevailed in the premises once again, but a subtle chill permeated in the air, instigated by Aiko whose cherry lips puckered into a frown.
As though she had a plethora of questions to address, her lips trembled, unable to voice her concern. Kenjiro rubbed her back, as though anticipating the subsequent flow of discourse; a topic Aiko rebuked, yet she really wanted to ask.
Hayato and Kaede seemed rather taken aback by the eerie vibe, but before they could inquire, Aiko sharply intercepted, "Hayato, Kaede... I've been meaning to ask..."
Clenching her fist, she directed a downcast gaze on the wooden floorboard, which hid her melancholic visage, and pressed, "... Do you have a lead on Ryo?"
Upon mention of the familiar name, belonging to a cherished comrade of theirs, Hayato's mind of the present shut down, as he subconsciously entered a pensive state of reminescence...
***
*CRACK!*
The sharp sound of shattering glass broke the tranquillity, showering the domain with glass sprinkles. This audacious manoeuvre was caused by a man clad in all black, whose figure remained elusive in the prevailing darkness. The gentle moonlight that filtered the premises through the crevices of the infrastructure highlighted the grotesque state of the room.
A crimson substance tainted the canvas, and the pungent aroma of iron diffused in the air. The gruesome sight that lay beyond would make one puke. Further accompanying the blood stains on the wall were several bodies scattered across the ground, devoid of vitality. Amid this brutal picture stood one man, who vehemently stared outside the window, gazing upon the crescent moon. Only his back could be discerned, and his obsidian attire painted with blood stains. However, the severity of his dilemma didn't matter, and he proceeded to exit the blood-stained compound through the window which he had just shattered.
However, his pursuit came to an abrupt halt, and he slowly turned his neck to face something... Or someone who stood at the opposite end.
On the opposite end of the corridor stood another man, whose visage paled considerably at the massacre in front of him. He heaved ragged breaths, each exhale oozed with dread and dismay. His sapphire eyes, and yellow hair easily exposed his identity as the notorious Namikaze Hayato.
Hayato stood in shock, staring at the perpetrator in the distance. The perpetrator, responsible for the bloodbath, was cloaked in all-black, which assisted him with masking the darkness. The criminal clad in black had long black hair that was tied, and he remained unmoving with a leg on the window's ledge, attempting to flee!
No-one spoke, and the only sound that prevailed was Hayato's ragged breaths as he absorbed the mangled carcasses that surrounded the criminal at the tail end. But in a shocking turn of events, this criminal retained familiarity!
Finally, Hayato broke the silence, his tone barely audible and trembling, "What have you done?"
"..."
Expectant of an answer, Hayato waited, but he was only met with silence. The perpetrator remained latched on the ledge, unwilling to divulge. Aggrieved by this fortuitous conundrum, Hayato grit his teeth, before he bellowed, "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, RYO?!"
*WHOOSH*
Following suit was a potent gust that brushed the terrain, causing Hayato to adopt a defensive stance and barricade his eyes from the maelstrom of swirling dust and small masses of slithering flesh. It soothed soon enough, but his eyes widened to see that the perpetrator was absent! Instead, the flickering sapphire in his eyes reflected the silver of the crescent moon, and that's when it struck Hayato, that he was outplayed.
Ryo had escaped!
He stood in the epicentre of the grotesque mess, rendered immobilised from shock!
That was the last time he had ever seen Ryo. Ryo was a comrade and rival whom he had cherished as far back as his days in the Academy. The duo proceeded as squad members, alongside Uchiha Kaede, under Yamanaka Aiko's seasoned tutelage.
They were basically family. They were rivals, and they shared the same goal of making the world a peaceful place...
But today, all of that changed!
His name was Hyuga Ryohei, and ever since that fateful night, Hayato had never seen his friend ever again.
He became a notorious rogue ninja with a large bounty on his head!