Chapter 18: Bound by Blood, Torn by Truth
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The sun blazed overhead as I navigated through the bustling streets of Hidden Leaf Village, a scroll strapped securely to my back. There was no way id leave it behind, I could train after. Still, it was weird being in this world. I know some stuff but not as much as id like, But for now the information I had would help me out. I was glad I choose this, if not this world I might have gone to fairytale instead.
I looked around as I walked taking it all in. Many MCs from stories I've read never talked about how beautiful the world was.
Around me, the vibrant atmosphere of the village pulsed with life. Market vendors called out their wares, children darted between adults, laughter, and chatter filling the air. The scent of fresh bread and grilled meat wafted through the streets, barely tempting me as I focused on my destination. It seemed they were not aware of what had happened yesterday.
As I approached the hospital, I couldn't help but quicken my pace. The urgency gnawed at me, like a nagging itch that refused to be ignored. The building stood ahead, its stark white exterior standing out against the blur of color that was the village. Medical ninjas rushed in and out, their movements swift and efficient as they attended to the injured and sick. I even struggled to see many of them.
"Come on, Ayumi, you can finally talk now, don't forget it come on you got this."
"new world new me" Still I could feel my emotions being enhanced from within. How the hell did Naruto talk to the tailed fox, I needed to learn how to, and fast. It was most likely what was messing with my emotions plus its power would be a great bonus to have.
Navigating the hospital's corridors, I finally found myself standing outside Izumi's room. The door was slightly ajar, and the muffled sound of raised voices leaked into the hallway. My heart raced as curiosity and concern warred within me.
"Please, Izumi," my grandfather pleaded, It seemed they were arguing.
"How do you want me to calm down, everyone I know and grow up with is dead, My FAMILY is dead!" Izumi's voice sounded raw and I could hear her crying. I was hiding near the door entrance while listening, " I trying to convince the other Uchiha to stop their stupid plan, even Sushi tried with me but.....but they were so stupid" She said in between sobs.
"They wouldn't listen" hic...hic... " And then sushi went missing... and Itachi... he tried to kill me...." Her sobs were growing louder. "Im all alone..."
"You are not alone, Believe me," My grandfather's voice said before growing silent.
"Come in, Ayumi," my grandfather's voice called out from within the room, his tone heavy with the weight of what was about to be revealed. I hesitated for a moment, my hand still gripping the doorframe. With a deep breath, I stepped into the room.
As I entered, my eyes were immediately drawn to a small, intricately designed talisman that my grandfather held between his fingers. He carefully placed it on the windowsill, its symbols shimmering with chakra as it activated. The room seemed to grow quieter, the sounds of the bustling hospital outside fading away, leaving us in a bubble of protected conversation.
"Sit down, Ayumi," he instructed, gesturing toward a chair beside Izumi's bed. My heart raced as I looked at the talisman and the secrets it was meant to shield. Yet, as I looked at Izumi, her tear-streaked face made her look so frail, I couldn't help but climb onto her bed and hug her. Which caused her to hug me back, it seemed to help calm her a bit.
Once she calmed down I turned to my grandfather and began signing again. Which seemed to confuse them both. Right, I got to stop doing that.
"Grandfather, is this necessary?" I asked tentatively, glancing at the talisman. He wasn't someone to do these types of things, or at least from what I remembered.
"Trust me, Ayumi," he replied solemnly. "There are things we need to discuss that must remain hidden from prying ears."
I nodded slowly, As I looked up at Izumi, her eyes downcast. I couldn't help but become nervous, As I stared at my grandfather, watching as he pulled a chair to sit on.
So different than his usual calm self. He took a breath before speaking. "There is a truth that I've been hiding from the both of you, One that I had hoped to tell you at a different time," he said while running his fingers through his grey-haired head.
he began, his words measured and deliberate. "The truth is that you two are not alone. And I don't mean that in a purely emotional sense."
His words hung in the air, and I exchanged a puzzled glance with Izumi. My mind raced, trying to decipher his meaning. He continued his voice gentler but no less grave.
"Your father, Kira, had an affair with my daughter, Ayumi's mother. The result of that affair is the bond you two share. You're sisters." I sat here shocked, I know I wished for Uchiha blood but this was not what I expected.
Izumi's voice broke through the maelstrom of thoughts in my mind, her disbelief evident. "What? That's not possible... my father would never do that to my mother."
As the room fell silent again, my grandfather's gaze remained steady on us, as if he were waiting for our reactions to fully sink in.
Izumi's emotions were a whirlwind, a mix of anger, confusion, and hurt that painted her features in shades of turmoil. Her gaze finally settled on my grandfather, her voice trembled as she asked, "Why? Why keep this a secret? Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Is that the reason you asked me to train her!?!
My grandfather's expression remained somber, the lines on his face etched with regret. "I know this revelation is a shock, Izumi, and I'm sorry for keeping it from you. And that was one of the reasons but I know that you would be a good teacher for her as well." His eyes were softer now" I believed it was for the best, to protect you both from the pain and complications that might arise from this truth. And the people who attain it would have brought had the rest of the village had known the truth."
Izumi's hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms as if trying to anchor herself to something tangible amidst the storm of emotions. "Protect us? You've been lying to us for years. Her whole life has been built on these lies, And to think I trusted you"
Izumi's words were a painful reminder of the trust that had been broken, and I found myself torn between my grandfather's reasoning and her raw, emotional response. But deep down, I knew my grandfather was right. Donzo had his eyes on her already and if he know who and what I was things would have become far more dangerous for me.
Feeling the weight of the moment, I shifted closer to Izumi, my hand gently reaching out to touch her arm. Remember don't sign I repeated in my head. "Izumi, I know this is a lot to process. But we're sisters now, and that's something we can't change. We're in this together."
Tears glistened in her eyes as she looked at me, a mixture of vulnerability and anger and what seem to be hatred battling for dominance.
My grandfather spoke again, his voice a mixture of remorse and hope. "Izumi, Ayumi is right. This truth doesn't change the bond you share as sisters. It might take time to come to terms with it, but I hope you can find a way to heal and grow stronger from this."
"Leave," Izumi whispered, her voice barely audible through the painful quiver in her throat. "I need time. I can't handle this right now."
"Please, Izumi," I implored, reaching out to touch her trembling arm. "We're family. We should be able to talk this through together."
"Family?" she scoffed bitterly, finally raising her eyes to meet mine. Her Sharingan was active and there were three tomo in each eye, both were filled with a mixture of hurt and anger that made me flinch inwardly. "You think that just because we share blood, it makes us family?" She turned to look at my grandfather "You lied to me!"
Her words were like a slap to the face, making my heart clench with guilt and regret. But it was better than her dying and if I had to ill carry her hate as long as she lived. As I tried to touch her arm to help.
"Enough!" Izumi shouted, her voice cracking under the weight of her emotions. As she got off her medical bed and turned away from us, her shoulders shaking. "Just get out! I don't want to see either of you right now!"
Her demand hung heavily in the air, tension thrumming between us like a taut string about to snap. My chest tightened Donzo wanted her and now that the chance to protect her was out the window I didn't know what to do. But as I looked into her eyes, I saw the raw pain and I knew that pressing her further would only deepen the wound.
"Very well," my grandfather finally conceded, his voice strained with regret. "We'll give you some space. But know that we're here for you, Izumi whenever you're ready."
With a heavy heart, I followed my grandfather out of the room as he ripped off the talisman, leaving Izumi to grapple with the truth on her own. As we stepped into the bustling hospital corridor, I couldn't help but feel a sharp pang of betrayal. I had hoped our shared lineage would make our bond stronger and would unite us. But that seemed like a pipe dream right now.
"Grandfather," I whispered, "Why didn't you tell us sooner?"
He remained silent for a moment, his gaze downcast. "I thought it was best to keep it hidden...for both of your sakes."
"From Donzo?" I asked.
He stopped in his steps and turned to face me. "No, Ayumi," my grandfather warned, his voice firm but weary. "Dozo wouldn't put any of you in danger, What I was doing was keeping you safe from the other uchihas. Not all of them were like Kira and what made you believe that Donzo would be a danger to you and Izumi?" His eyes looked at me, and I couldn't come up with something to tell him. I don't think anyone would believe me if I just told them I had possible memories from the future.
"I... I just... don't like him...." was the best I could come up with, without some sort of evidence I wouldn't be able to do anything to prove he was a danger.
"I don't think you have met lord Donzo, so why would you not like him?," he said and I simply shook my head no, I hadn't met him in this life but I knew what he was capable and swallowing the lump in my throat.
"Let's go." He said
We walked away from Izumi's room, each step felt heavy. The bustling hospital seemed to retreat around us as if giving us space to process the enormity of the situation. As we made our way through the corridors, my mind was filled with questions about my newfound family connection, about Izumi's role in my life, and about the secrets that still remained hidden.
But for now, all I could do was follow my grandfather in silence.
The sun had dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the bustling streets of Hidden Leaf Village as I walked away from the hospital. The scroll on my back felt heavier than ever, I guess training was off the table for today.
"Are you okay, Ayumi?" my grandfather asked, his voice soft and concerned.
"Sure," I said, but my voice wavered. In truth, I was far from okay. My thoughts raced, a whirlwind of questions and doubts swirling around me. How could I help Izumi, how would I deal with Danzo, and could I Somehow save Itachi? while the noise of the village sounded around us as we walked.
As we continued through the village, I glanced over at my grandfather, the lines etched into his face seeming deeper than before. He carried the weight of our family's secrets, and for the first time, I understood the burden he had shouldered all these years. But as much as I wanted to reassure him that he did the right thing, I couldn't find the words.
"Grandfather," I said hesitantly, my voice breaking through the silence between us. "What happens now?"
He looked at me, his eyes filled with a mix of sadness and determination. "Will first things first, you're going to keep it a secret, as well as what you have awakened." He said cryptically but I know he was talking about my eyes. "I'll remove the restriction on you being able to use our kekkei genkai. You will have to focus on training more as I will be busy keeping an eye on Izumi." He finished.
The cool evening air brushed against my skin. Shadows cast by flickering lanterns danced around me, and for a moment, I felt like I saw a shadow moving around us but that must have been my imagination. There were more important things to worry about.
"Grandfather," I said quietly, my voice barely audible over the sound of rustling leaves. "There's something I need to know."
He looked at me, his expression unreadable. "What is it, Ayumi?"
"Is there...more?" The question hung in the air, heavy with the weight of unspoken fears. "More secrets, more things I don't know about our family?"
For a moment, he hesitated, and I could see the struggle in his eyes. But finally, he nodded. "Yes, Ayumi. There are more secrets, and you will come to learn about them in time."
"When will I be ready?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest. My grandfather looked at me, his eyes searching mine.
"When you are ready, Ayumi," he replied, his voice strong and unwavering.
As we continued walking through the darkened streets, a strange sensation crept over me. It was as if the shadows themselves were watching us. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
Just then, a shadow moved across the rooftops, catching my eye. My heart skipped a beat as I strained my eyes to make out the figure. But before I could discern who or what it was, the shadow vanished, leaving me with an unsettling feeling that we were being watched.
"Grandfather," I whispered urgently, "I think we're being followed."
"Stay alert, Ayumi," he cautioned, his voice barely audible. "We have been since we left the hospital."
As we kept walking in front of us stood a figure, one covered in bandages, with Black hair and the bandages covering half of his face, It was Danzo and he was making his way towards us.
I felt a shiver run down my spine as I saw the figure approaching. Danzo's presence couldn't be good.
"Grandfather, it's Danzo," I murmured under my breath, my voice tense with unease.
My grandfather's gaze shifted to where Danzo was walking, and his expression hardened. "Stay close, Ayumi," he instructed.