Reborn in Suna

The kunai — Simple weapons in their nature, yet that is in their favour. They can be everything you need in a battlefield, from piercing or slashing an enemy.

Want bombs? Put some explosive seals. To overwhelm the opponent? Use the clone jutsu. They are fabulous in their practicality.

One, two, three, bullseye. Good for today, weighting a kunai in my hand as I stared at the training area.

A space behind my home, with a few targets and a withered tree that no one cared to breathe life back in.

My mother is gone, and most of her plants simply died with her. Maki doesn't have the time to keep watering them, and I don't see the point of wasting precious water for decorative items that I share no love for.

Maybe a cat could have compelled me to take a bit more care, but plants? They are objects. They don't have a place to stay here, and I prefer the simple routine of the home-caring.

That doesn't involve watering plants. Yes, I have a dislike for plants. 

Focusing back on throwing kunai. Again the thuds followed a rhythm. Going in the air and colliding against each other, following a trajectory decided by gravity and force weight.

Each hitting the point I wanted them to hit. Perfect. Changing to the shuriken as they went like a flock of sparrows in chaotic twist.

Hitting multiple places that weren't exactly my intended target. They were lighter, sharper and used to do injuries. Only to debilitate and not to kill. Even if they could.

Flexing my fingers and letting a sigh. For today it was enough, only Sasori beats my in bukijutsu and not like I can compare to a prodigy.

Sitting down on the wooden bench that was under a thin roof of clay tiles and looking at the rising sun, scorching the sand in submission. The crows and foxes burrowing in the shadows. To hide from the ever gleaming eye of fire.

People putting on their clothes on, and going on with their life. Shinobi jumping from roof to roof, or slithering through the buildings and melting into the sand.

The wind whispering secrets and leaking locations. 

Channeling the chakra inside, feeling the warmth spreading through the nodes and focusing on hands, as I made signs for wind clone jutsu.

Simple utilization of wind affinity and chakra malleability to make a clone. A boy of ten years age stared at me, gray eyes and orange long hair. I was so short and pale. 

Cursed be my father. I don't know who was he, neither did my mother speak about it, probably a Kiri nin. She never spoke about him in the four years I spent with her alive. No memorial remained, she took the secret to the grave.

Entering in the defensive position, legs slightly parted. Hands stretched. 

Let's go.

The clone made a swift strike towards my stomach, bending my body and countering with a jab to the wrist, locking on it and continuing to hit with punches.

It broke apart from the lock, cringing slightly and then jumping back in, exchanging blows for blows with me.

Legs, jabs and kicks. In any point, in any opening that I made, or it allowed inside. Sweat gathered on my face, a bruise on my cheek.

A trail of blood from the lip and knuckles hard.

Blocking an uppercut, catching the left leg in a trap, and dropping them on the ground. It disappeared in a blow of wind, leaving only a petite dune behind.

Two more clones appeared. I need to get better, I need to get stronger. The time awaits for no one, and soon the war will come. I need to survive for Maki, I need to be alive for her.

They ganged up on me. Attacking from corners they knew I couldn't evade, to the soft belly, to the knees. My only counter was to block, and to block some more.

Punches with explosive force, brutal jabs that were meant to enter deep and cripple the nodes. For our taijutsu that mother and our defunct clan had was one of force and scorching power.

We used it in a mix of ninjutsu. That sadly I didn't have access to it anymore. A pity that the clan put focus on oral transmission and building a link with the mentor. 

Ducking from a slash with the leg, and catching with my hand to throw it on the sand, twisting the leg and breaking it.

Leaving only one clone left. Counter for counter, moving like a fox in desert. Circling around each other with fury in eyes.

A short burst of blows, followed by a backspin to take distance from my pressure. They are getting smarter. It was a smile pride for me that they are getting better.

Bending slightly to give the illusion of propelling. Then took only a step in front, then a swift leg to the face that sent it tumbling down.

Heh, fooled by your better self. Clone.

I have some energy left, though it was time for ninjutsu. 

A flare of chakra that went into the world and illuminated it.

For people and their aura was becoming visible, each with their own nuance of green or yellow. Most of the affinities in Suna was of wind, there was the Kazekage family with their magnet kekkai genkai. 

The former nemesis of our clan. Then we got vanquished and bent the knee to make Suna. Yet, what was our reward? Death by a thousand cuts.

If I wasn't born earlier than that mission where mother died, we would have disappeared. Simple as that.

Churning the chakra inside my lungs and staring at the withered tree. It was crackling inside with intensity, feeling tiny cuts from the power as I let it loose from my mouth.

A strong current of wind whipped the sand around me while the gust hit the tree.

It shook, sending down the small branches, yet still standing tall and unyielding. I need more power, more cutting ability. It's still work in progress Great Breakthrough.

Changing the wind to the intensity of fire, thick molasses in the lungs and feeling the presence of embers inside me, it was kneaded slowly and purposely as the fire went out in a long stream of hotness.

Burning the sand and leaving it black from the ash, as it slowly dissipated when the fuel ran out.

Now. This last technique I left for the last, something to cherish. Raising my hands and slowly making the signs, that combine both the wind and fire.

The slashing feeling mixed with the burning. The tumultuous mix of fuel and the fire. One that keeps it burning.

Steaming Murder. From nothingness a ball of condensed fire formed. Radiating the harshness and the ability to melt.

It drained me as it hovered around my presence while it quivered. Not enough chakra control? Note for later.

Letting the ball hit the sand around me. A puff of steam removing any wetness inside the air, and it melted the sand into a goop of glass.

I sighed. It will take me a lot of time and research to make some useful techniques of Scorch release, not much remained in the library, a few jutsu of both wind and fire, and a few weapons from times before.

Yet, not even one Scorch jutsu, just this, that Maki guided me into learning.

Tracing a hand through my hair, I suppose Kazekage made sure no Pakura offspring will rise to power.

One was enough. 

Someone arrived at the door, that slight cold yellow colour, mute and washed away. Yet with flickers of splendor inside the hidden crevices. It was Maki.

Heart rising inside the throat, and quickly removed any sand and grime from myself, chugging water from a canteen, and speeding my way through the house. 

I opened the door and there stood Maki with that tiny smile, eyes full of compassion in their steely glint. 

The was a whiff of blood in her clothes and fabric. Mission gone astray? Rising an eyebrow and yet not saying anything.

Just an embrace between two of us, as we entered inside the house. I went to the kitchen to make two cup of black tea, something she really enjoys to my dismay.

Her red markings hiding the soft and young skin, the barely teenage girl thrown into the world of blood and kunai. Putting the two cups on the table and looking intently for any reaction.

She didn't mention any boyfriend these days, there was only that one, before he left for a mission, "Have you found any boyfriend?" blinking at her as I tilted my head.

She sputtered the tea, "I haven't seen you for a month, and this is the first thing you ask of me?" furrowing her brows and creasing her turban.

I shrugged, not that I cared what I ask of you. You know? I have no interest in asking what your missions where, or how many you killed. Those are trite details that are just, not something I want to think of.

Especially with the incoming war, "Yes?" approaching her face, "When was the last time you kissed with a boy? Or…"

Rubbing my chin, "You prefer girls?" Hiding a smirk as I saw her getting redder than the symbols on her face.

"No? I like boys from what I know," murmuring the last words while focusing intently on her cup.

"I know this cute shopkeeper, kinda like a girl, very soft if you like it both ways," sagely nodding while following her relaxing of muscles.

The tense fingers touching gingerly the cup and those stress lines fading back. 

"What about you? Ah? Any cute girls in your class?" as her eyes took the form of a cunning fox, while sipping tea, "Lovely tea."

Girls in my class? Are there any? I haven't noticed, nor do I look after my classmates though. Even if my body is of a child, no way I am going to look after girls from my class especially that way. I was an adult for god's sake.

Uh, that was too much overthinking for a teasing comment. Glancing at her silent laughter.

"No. Why should I care about girls?" puffing and crossing my arms giving a petulant stare.

"When you will grow up you will understand," pausing for a moment to take a serious face, "Yet, you are awfully interested in my romantic life. Toshi-chan, do you have something to confess to your sister?"

Gasping in mock shock, "Do you have feelings for me? Sorry, Toshi-chan, but you see, I am too old for you."

No. No, just no. I can't look at Maki that way, it's just impossible, she raised me from a tender age of four, there's no way I could.

Though she is indeed cute, she will have a good partner. I need her to have someone and share her burden and to be able to open up. Closing in your emotions are not good. They will explode one day.

"Is there a reason Maki-san? Are you a djin who prays on young children?" chuckling as her blood drained from the face.

"No! No. Was just teasing," shaking her head and then continued on a serious tone, "Toshi. You probably understand what is coming. You are a smart cookie, taking from sensei, I am sure."

Fingers tapping on the table, "There will be a war. My missions start to get more bloodier with time, more foreign shinobi."

I understand, I worry about it a lot. Just, I don't want to speak about it now? Please? I haven't seen you for a month, let's speak of something else, anything but shinobi stuff.

I am tired of it. I am thinking constantly, and have no respite, "I understand. I hope everything will go well."

What else I can say? The war will start, with me thinking or not about it. To fry my nerves in nightmares of Sasori, of blood and kunai? What's the point. I lost so much, and I am not afraid to lose some more.

Except Maki that is. Glancing at her expressions.

Tightening her lips but didn't say anything about it, "Well, let's go for a walk, want some cheese cake? Or maybe cinnamon rolls?"

Taking a hold of my hand and going out through the door, "Cheese cake. Cinnamon rolls are meh," I want to hold on these moments.

Who knows when we could have them anymore after. If we both will survive it.