Tragedy Strikes! Part 1

"Big brother did you see where little sato was hiding till this time" asked Midori who was hiding in the shadows along with Iwata.

"No I could not locate him. That was very odd as he is only a three year old but was able to evade my shinobi awareness". replied Iwata.

This statement bewildered Midori because she knew that Iwata was a veteran shinobi and even she herself would not be able to defeat him. His skill in jutsus was excellent and his awareness was not lacking either. That he was on par or slightly behind her father Fukushima Yuki who is the head of the Yuki clan proved how capable he was.

As the pair of brother and sister was hiding in the shadows they were able to see Sato's family who were frantically searching for him. Then they noticed Sato appearing from nowhere all of a sudden and moving towards Akina as if he was a ghost.

This happened before their earlier conversation and now they could only throw this thought to the back of their heads. They needed to focus or else their planning would be for naught.

Sato and family headed back to their cottage and after a stern talking to from both Akina and Hashimoto, Sato was then spared and was brought with Akina to sleep. Of course what Sato was spared from wasn't his punishment but rather being lectured till the next morning had arrived.

Haku who looked sternly at Sato during the discourse was also displeased. Not only with Sato for worrying him and his family but also with himself. He was aggravated that he was not able to protect Sato like he said he would. He was not able to keep watch over his little brother like he thought he would. So he blamed himself.

While in a distraught mode the family ate their dinner quietly and head to bed to get some rest.

Sato woke up from his sleep and did another lazy stretch on his futon. His body was strengthened yesterday so he wanted to test his might today but recalling his punishment he felt gloomy immediately.

Akina told Sato last night that his punishment is to stay with her constantly and to never leave her sight. Only when she goes out was he able to be away from her but he could not leave the cottage anymore. Basically Sato was grounded.

*(hehehe imagine a forty year old man being told he is grounded by a young woman)

This hindered him as he wanted to cultivate more and gain more strength. Being told that he could not leave Akina's sight really did dampen his mood. As he woke up Akina also woke up and straightaway took Sato's hand so he would not be able to leave her.

She got up and brought Sato to the kitchen and told him that he can only be with her and not to go anywhere else. She planted his butt on the ground to sit next to her.

Haku on the other hand was still thinking about yesterday. He was continuing his train of thought and wanted to become stronger. After eating breakfast and helping his mother, Haku went out to find a way to gain strength.

Haku stood still at one spot trying his hardest to think of something that would gain him strength.

Standing there for hours Haku could not find any hints on how to obtain power. Then as if the world was answering him Haku felt the water in the air and the wind blowing slightly.

Wondering what was going on Haku saw both the water and the wind merged and form an ice crystal in front of him. Surprised by what just happen Haku started thinking and quickly came to the conclusion that he was the cause of this phenomenon.

Unknown to him however his mother Akina was paying attention to him. Akina being a shinobi from the yuki clan instantly knew what was happening. When she found out that someone was using a jutsu near her home she was terrified thinking that it might have been an enemy attack aimed at her or her family.

"But how can this be? ... I've hidden the fact that I am a shinobi so it shouldn't be an enemy attack" thought Akina.

While thinking this she was rushing outside to find the source of this disturbance.

When she reached outside to her dismay she found the culprit to be her own son Haku.

Scared of what might happen she rushed posthaste to her son's side.

Haku in the meantime was elated he finally found a way gain power. He was so happy that he did not notice his surroundings. He then found that someone was approaching him and turned to see who it was.

When he found that the person was his mother he also ran to her. He wanted to show her his powers. While thinking that he now had power to protect Sato, haku came before her and said,

"Mommy look. I can create ice crystals".

Akina came to her son and tears started to roll down her cheeks. She was frightened and was terrified by what her son did. With frustration she slapped Haku. She thought about how much effort she put in to hide the fact that she was a shinobi so that she would not alert the villagers.

She desperately wanted her son to not inherit her bloodline or learn ninjutsu. Thinking about all these built to her frustration.

Haku who was happy showing his mother the newfound power he has was thinking how his mother would be happy for him and excited. He then saw that his mother had tears rolling down her cheeks. Thinking something bad had happen he quickly became worried and opened his mouth to talk.

As he opened his mouth he felt a warm sensation on his cheeks and his head turned from the force he received on it. Dumbfounded Haku was still reeling from the pain on his cheeks when his mother suddenly hugged him still crying.

Akina was crying while hugging Haku. As he was about to ask what's wrong he heard his mother speak.

"Haku do not use that power you showed me earlier", said Akina.

"But why mom?" asked Haku. He couldn't understand why his mother would ask this of him.

"Just promise me to never use it". yelled Akina to Haku.

"Okay mom i won't use it anymore" said Haku feeling wronged but could not help it.

"Good....good. Don't let anyone know that you have this power and don't let anyone see you using it" cried Akina while looking at haku with a worried expression.

While both mother and son was talking and hugging Sato was still in the cottage being bored out of his mind. He really wanted to cultivate but couldn't.

His father on the other hand was about to walk over to Haku when he saw something strange.

Hashimoto wanted to get Haku to come help him with plowing the farm when he noticed something different about his surroundings.

Suddenly a gust of wind started howling in the air and the temperature dropped drastically. The moisture in the air started congregation to a point not far away from Haku. Hashimoto thought that maybe the mists in the air was experiencing a certain phenomenon.

What he saw next however proved that his thoughts were wrong. The sights before his eyes shocked him. He saw that both wind and water was rallying to one point and it was just in front of Haku. Then when both elements formed a beautiful and enormous ice crystal appeared in mid air.

When he saw this Hashimoto was reminded of the shinobi jutsus he witness during the civil war in the village between shinobis. This brought out all his anger and fury. It also resparked the fear he held in his heart towards this power. Still a distance away Hashimoto hid behind a tree. He was watching intently at Haku who was his son performing the fearsome jutsu.

At this time he had all sorts of thoughts run through his mind. Then as if a big boulder dropped on him he saw his wife running to Haku and started crying. She then proceed to hug him. It was from this action that a wild thought popped up in his mind.

"It can't be... could it be that Akina is a shinobi"thought Fukushima.

His eyes widen at the sudden realization and he clenched his fists.

Thinking this Hashimoto felt even more regret, hatred and fear. He knew that the only possibility for haku to have learnt ninjutsu was if he inherited it from his parents. Since he was only a normal farmer then the only person who could've pass it on was Akina. Hashimoto knew that he had to do something but he couldn't. His fear for shinobis took over him especially those who had kekkei genkai. He realized that Haku was also one of those shinobis and decided that it would be better to kill him before he grows too fearsome.

While thinking about this Hashimoto disappears from the area. He was planning what to do next. Since Akina was his wife who hide her identity as a shinobi he thought maybe both his sons are also like her.

He was now thinking about what to do. On one hand he loved his family but knowing that they we shinobis was to scary for him. His thoughts were in a mess and he felt like he would go crazy.

Haku and Akina both had no idea what was going on and they came back to the cottage to see about sato. They had no clue what Hashimoto was doing or what he was thinking at the moment. They just thought that he was still at the farm doing chores.

After sometime they noticed that Hashimoto was absent for meals. But to them this was a normal occurrence. Hashimoto would be too absorbed in his farming work and sometimes he would even skip meals.

Haku was usually the one who would bring the meals to his father but when he went this time he could not locate Hashimoto. He did not panic however because Hashimoto was an adult and Haku thought that maybe he had just went to the village to get something. He thought that maybe he went to get news or information and to purchase something he needed.

So he came back home and told his mother about it and they decided they would carry on with their duties and wait for Hashimoto to return.

It was night now and outside the cottage the temperature dropped to a freezing coldness. Haku was sleeping together with Akina and Sato in the same futon. The family got tired waiting for Hashimoto to come back and feel asleep due to fatigue.

It was then that akina heard a noise and was awaken from her slumber. She thought finally Hashimoto was back but something was odd. There were other footsteps besides Hashimoto's.

Before she could figure out what was going on Hashimoto and the villagers were already upon her.

Just being awaken by a sudden noise akina did not have her wits about her and was immediately struck with a weapon. The perpetrator was none other than her husband Hashimoto. With confused eyes she looked at him which seemed to ask why?.

She did not think further however and her only thought after seeing her husband striking at her a second time and the fury in the eyes of the villagers behind him was to protect her children.

At this time both Sato and Haku was woken up by the noise and was rubbing their eyes to rid them of the warriness contained within them.

Haku was quick to realize what was happening and as he saw his own father struck his mother with the intention to kill he thought nothing else and ran towards him.

"Haku NO!!...." screamed Akina.

But before she could act another villager quickly swung the farm tool in his hand sending Haku to the side hitting the wall. Blood started to trickle down the side of his mouth.

Upon hitting the wall haku was knocked unconscious. Haku was filled with fury and regret

as he reluctantly closed his eyes. It was then that Akina looked to her husband and the mob of villagers and asked,

"Why?, he is your son why are you doing this?.

Hashimoto did not reply however and only wielded the weapon in his hand above his head. Tears could be seen falling down his cheeks but the fear that was instilled in him prompted him to proceed and he swung his weapon down to akina.

Just a moment before this, in the shadows two shinobis were keeping watch over Akina and her two children.

"Big brother I have not seen Hashimoto for a long time. What do you think he is doing?" asked Midori.

"You are right. I too have not seen him either. I noticed earlier that haku perform the basic form of Hyōton (ice release) and at that moment hashimoto was hiding behind a tree observing him". replied Iwata.

"If I guess correctly something will happen soon so stay alert" said Iwata thinking about what he saw earlier.

Midori nodded her head to show that she understood as well.

At this time the two of them notice a large crowd approaching the cottage with weapons in hand and at the front of the group was their brother-in-law hashimoto.

"Oh no" said Iwata.

He knew from the numbers of the group that they were the villagers that lived around Akina and her family.

"The plan is no longer going to work. We have to hurry, I fear that Akina is in trouble. We have to save her!" exclaimed Iwata apparently agitated.

Midori looked at Iwata's expression and could confirm from his agitated demeanor that something bad was about to happen so she quickly nodded her head in agreement and both brother and sister perform Shunshin no Jutsu (body flicker technique) and came to the cottage.

As they came they found a unconscious Haku laying down on the side of the wall with blood flowing down his mouth. They also saw that Hashimoto was about to strike at Akina who was holding on to Sato in her arms trying to protect him.

They gave up on Haku at the time as the danger was more apparent in Akina's situation. They both performed another Shunshin no Jutsu and came before sato and Akina. After securing them both Iwata performed another Shunshin no Jutsu and escaped immediately.

Midori who was left behind perform a Kawarimi no Jutsu (substitution jutsu) and made it seem that Hashimoto struck Akina evidently killing her. After this Midori looked to haku who laid unconscious and sighed.

She did another Shunshin no Jutsu and came behind Iwata. They were too concerned about Akina and Sato and thought Haku was already killed.

When leaving Akina could not hold on anymore from her injuries and fainted. Sato who was only awaken a few moments ago could not comprehend what had transpired but when he saw his mother heavily injured and fainted he became frantic.

He suddenly yelled "MOM!!!!!!".

This surprised both Iwata and Midori and they both looked to Sato who was only a three year old seeing his mother in this condition. They felt only regret that they allowed such a thing to happen.

They quickly tried to calm him down before speeding up to bring them before Fukushima so that he may be able to help Akina.