2. 嵐の前の穏やかな 1
The tribe is surrounded by ominous vegetation and colossal valleys. The forest is so thick and the valleys are so tall that no one would suspect a tribe such as the Amatsu would be able to adapt and live peacefully in. The Amatsus have always been endangered, and so they kept themselves hidden. It's because of one thing: their Kekkei Genkai said to be dating back to the Princess Kaguya Ōtsutsuki of the Otsutsuki clan and their said ancestor, meaning they have the most powerful chakras in the world, outperforming the Nine Tails. Every Kage in every Hidden Village knows about them, but they never knew they weren't extinct after all after the countless Shinobi Wars. They have been used as war weapons, their powers and loyalties abused by many shinobi and so they disappear..
But peace isn't permanent. Seventeen years ago, the ninja from Iwagakure had known about about the Amatsu's location. They were surprised. They weren't extinct at all. They were only in hiding. Because of this, they ambushed the tribe and kidnapped their Headmaster for ransom. They wanted all of the tribespeople's power, but they couldn't figure out how. And so out of anger and envy, the Kage of the Rocks ordered his shinobi to massacre and burn all of them. It was a tyrannical move, but the other Hidden Villages were oblivious to this ruthlessness.
Lest, the Amatsu clan almost came onto extinction had the Blood Moon Prophecy wasn't done. It's known to be one of the most dangerous forbidden rituals of them all in the book. It should be done in a blood moon, when the moon is devoured by the sun and both of the celestial bodies' powers are easy to receive. Though countless sacrifices of mostly pregnant women have died because of this Prophecy, it is known there's only one which succeeded, and Mimori was the product. The human child of Luna and Sol. The savior of the Amatsu clan.
Itachi Uchiha has been sent to find the girl by the Akatsuki Organization. Disguised as a visiting merchant claiming to be a son of two former Amatsu tribespeople, he will be staying under the monks' care for as long as it takes, and perhaps possibly making the girl fall in love with him just so he wouldn't have to take the hard way again. Mimori doesn't know him, yet. For a girl her age and for a man with his charisma, surely it won't be hard to have her become attractive to him. Many girls have fallen for his charm and good looks, but not one has Itachi returned the feelings to. Izumi is still the only one who he longs for. It has been a decade though he still remembers one single second of the massacre.
• • •
Seiji pushed the swing harder, making the swing flee off higher than before. Mimori yelped and giggles as he did so. "Are you scared now, Mimori?" Asked Seiji, teasingly.
"Not yet, dummy!"
Smirking, on the third push, he pushes the swing with all of his might that it sent the white-haired girl flying to the bushes. "AAHHH, SEIJI, YOU IDIOT!!!"
Using his fast running jutsu, he was able to catch her. They landed safely on the ground as though they were only as heavy as a feather. Mimori's yellow amber eyes burst wide open as she gasps, and sends a slap across Seiji's face. "YOU IDIOT! YOU ALMOST KILLED ME!!!"
"Ow! Sorry, sorry. Hehehe..."
"Don't you dare laugh at me! What you did was very dangerous. Not only will it kill me but it will kill..."
She's cut off when he pecks her on the cheek, stunned. Immediately she blushes and trails off to nothing. "You're so red right now, Mimori. So cute." He pulls her closer to him, and gladly she lets him.
The silence of the forests engulfs then for a moment before a shout exploded from the huts. "The merchant is coming! We have a visitor! Quickly, make way for our visitor!"
"A visitor? Who could it be?" Asked Mimori.
Seiji looks down at her with the same curious expression. The two of them went back to the clearing to become aware of what was going on. The tribespeople were running from each direction once they got to the center of the village.
"Excuse me." Seiji decided to stop a man who was clearly excited for the visitor's arrival. He was carrying two tatami mats at once, heading to the direction of the temple. "Can you tell me what's going on?"
The man noticed the shinobi uniform Seiji was wearing. He had no right to not answer. "The foreign merchant from the Hidden Village Of The Leaves is visiting."
"Do you know why he's visiting?"
"For business purposes, as I've heard. Well, I better go."
"Thank you."
Mimori clung around her lover's hand, trying not to get dragged away by so many busy people all at one place. The tribe has never been this busy. It's all so new to her.
"All Shinobi, please gather around here!" Called a strong, voice coming from a man with a stoic expression. Seiji recognized him as his sensei.
Seiji turned to Mimori with a disappointed frown. This was his day off, supposedly their day. "Mimori, I should go. Will you be fine on your own?"
Mimori nodded, but she felt the same way he was feeling. "I will, Seiji-senpai. Go on then."
He kissed her on the forehead, his rough lips lingering on her skin for a little moment before he parts ways with her, disappearing in the raucous crowd. She swam away as well, heading to the stairs which leads to the temple.
The ruckus is no longer in the air once Mimori has reached inside the temple. The temple is quiet at this time of day, and after she shut the sliding door behind her, the only thing she could hear is the common ringing in her ear and her own relaxed breathing. Walking down the wooden floors, her pace comes to a slow. She hears muffled voices coming from the Headmaster's study. Their tones are steady but fast, as though they were arguing though in a mature and political manner. Mimori stared at the doors for a moment before she espied the small open gap. Before deciding to take a quick curious glimpse, she throws around a secure glance. She pushed the door a little bit so that she's able to see more than before.
A tea table is nestled in the middle. On top of it are papers and two porcelain cups of fresh green tea, Mimori had smelled and recognized its soothing minty scent. Sat on the table were the head monk and a black-hooded man across from him. Between them was Tsukino-san, the Headmaster's daughter and the Headmistress of the temple.
"I welcome you so deeply to the Amatsu tribe, Uchiha-san." Headmaster Kazu told the stranger as he bowed gently as well. Clearly he wasn't a person of this tribe. His clothes were far too different and modern.
"I understand why you've decided to finally make agreements with the outside world at last." Said the hooded man. "But I assure you, I will not betray our new alliance for the economy of the tribe's sake, for my parents were from the Amatsu clan as well."
"I trust you earnestly as well, Uchiha-san."
Mimori, being so tied up with the conversation she had no right to eavesdrop upon, flinched when an fuzzy pair of paws scratches her shoulder suddenly, making her gasp. Turning around, she faced Hiro, another orphan in the temple but unlike her, in exchange of his permanent residency in the temple, he's mandated to work as a servant. Mostly the only work he does is taking care of the Headmaster's herd of cats. In fact the one he has right now is one of them.
Shocked by the noise, the Headmaster slid the door wide open and scowled when he sees Mimori and Hiro hushing in harsh tones towards each other as the cat strays away.
"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?" Shouted the Headmaster.
The two children stood straight, quickly apologizing and blaming each other.