Chapter 57: Part2: S.I.T.C.
Author: I'd love to hear from you! If you'd prefer to see more of Naruto's situation, please vote or let me know in the comments. If I don't hear from enough of you, I'll continue with the current storyline. Your feedback could shape the story future progression! There's no deadline so speak up even if you're a year in the future!
Garm image:
Emi image:
Asuka image:
Yasuke Takeshi image:
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Yasuke returned to his humble home with Asuka walking at his side, her young body shivering in the cold. She clutched a katana that was much too large for her, the blade resting awkwardly in her small arms.
As they stepped inside, Emi, busy serving food to the villagers, turned to look at Yasuke and asked, "Back already?... huh! Who's that hiding behind you?"
Asuka stepped out from behind Yasuke and proclaimed, "I-I was not hiding... it's merely cramped in here."
Without missing a beat, Emi swiftly tossed the ladle to the man next in line, who nearly fumbled it. "I'm taking a break, so I'll leave it to you," she said, a hint of mischief in her voice.
The villager caught the ladle with a puzzled look. "Hey! Be careful... And why me? It was finally my turn," he grumbled.
Emi walked away, scratching the back of her head. "Sorry, sorry," she mumbled, then shifted her focus to Asuka and stretched out her hand. "Hey, the name's Emi."
Asuka bowed in response and introduced herself, "It's an honor. As for my name, I no longer bear the name of my family, so you may refer to me as Asuka."
Emi was caught off guard by her formality and took her hand back, bowing in turn. "Yeah, nice to meet you."
They both looked up and smiled as their eyes met. Emi took Asuka's hand and gently dragged her deeper inside. "Well, come on... I'm sure everyone's dying to meet you."
The two weaved through the room, passing villagers who were engaged in lively conversations and enjoying their meals. The warmth from the fire and the smell of the stew enveloped them, adding to the sense of comfort and community in the space.
Yasuke stayed behind and watched them with a gentle smile on his face, feeling a sense of pride and contentment. Suddenly, his brow twitched, and he turned to the door once more. A deep sigh escaped his lips as he sensed something amiss outside. He sighed again, preparing himself for the cold once more, and stepped outside into the biting air. The night was dark, and the ground crunched under his feet as he walked around his home. He took a deep breath, the crisp air filling his lungs, and looked up at the starry sky, his breath visible in the icy wind.
Yasuke stepped further into the cold night, his breath hanging in the air. As he took another step, a humming voice from above caught his attention. Instinctively, his hand went to the hilt of his katana. He turned to see a woman perched on his roof.
The woman had wild, black hair tied back. She wore a sleek, sleeveless top that clung to her form, highlighting her athletic build. Protective arm guards covered her muscular forearms, and loose, flexible pants allowed for agile movement. Two ninjatō swords were sheathed at her sides, their hilts glinting in the moonlight.
Upon recognizing her, Yasuke relaxed and lowered his hand from his katana. Despite her sudden appearance, he did not feel threatened, and the woman showed no signs of hostility. Her stance was relaxed yet poised, ready for action if needed.
From where he stood, Yasuke addressed the woman. "Yūrei, what brings you here... Usually, you avoid gatherings like these," he said, his tone familiar and warm.
Yūrei image:
Yūrei's eyes gleamed as she deftly drew one of her ninjatō swords, twirling it with practiced ease. "It's odd..." she said, her voice carrying a nonchalant air.
Yasuke's brow furrowed in confusion. "What's odd?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
With a casual flick of her wrist, Yūrei pointed to the roof beneath her feet, holding the blade and using the handle to gesture. "There's someone in there," she said, her tone serious.
She paused, then brought her hand to her mouth and bit down on the glove, tugging it off with her teeth. "They probably haven't even noticed yet, considering how weak their connection to the Dark is, but it's there. Somewhere on their body, there's a mark just like mine." She extended her now bare hand towards Yasuke, on her left palm, was a black mark, that radiated an ominous blood red energy. The symbol consisted of two overlapping diamonds with solid lines outlining them, creating a complex, geometric pattern.
Yasuke brought his hand to his chin in a thoughtful posture, his brow furrowed and eyes narrowed as he considered her words. "I didn't know you could do that... It couldn't be any of the villagers; you've met them all before. Could it be... Asuka?"
Yūrei shook her head, her expression firm. "No, I watched you as you brought her in. The mark was inside long before she arrived." She smirked slightly, her eyes glinting with mischief. "You know, it's a wonder how I slipped past your guard without you noticing. You're getting rusty, Yasuke."
Yasuke's eyes flashed with annoyance, his hand dropping from his chin. "The last thing I need is a lecture from a girl young enough to be my daughter," he said, his voice laced with irritation.
Yasuke scratched his head, considering her words. With a resigned sigh, he gave in. "Well, if you're really desperate to find out, you're welcome to join me inside." Yasuke then walked back into the house, his steps deliberate and his mind still processing the information.
"Not on your life. I'll come back when things quiet down," Yūrei muttered to herself before vanishing in a blur, her form flickering out of sight.
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The next day, Yasuke woke up on the floor, sore and half-asleep. He rubbed his eyes and sat up, noticing Garm, who was already awake. He was pinned beneath the two girls who had slept over him, their arms and legs draped across his body. Emi's leg was even pressed against his face. Despite his uncomfortable expression, Garm restrained himself from reacting.
Yasuke yawned, his mouth opening wide as he stretched his arms overhead, wincing at the pull in his muscles. "G'morning there, boy," he said, his voice still thick with sleep. Before Garm could respond, Yasuke rose to his feet and continued, "Yesterday must have been tough. I'd like to ask you some questions." He sighed, glancing over at Garm. "It's too bad you can't talk."
Garm's expression shifted to deadpan. He spoke, his voice deep and resonant, almost like a growl. "Isn't that a bit condescending?"
"Yeah, I guess it is..." Yasuke started, then he realized the voice's unfamiliar depth and turned back in surprise to confirm its origin. "Was that one of you girls?"
"...It was me," Garm hesitated but eventually responded. A flood of emotion hit him, washing over his face and changing his demeanor. His usual vitality was gone, and his eyes, once full of life, now seemed dim and lifeless.
Yasuke noticed the sudden shift in Garm's emotions. 'It's as if his soul has left him,' he thought. His voice grew more serious and cautious as he spoke, "A ninja! Take off that mask and undo that troublesome transformation technique."
Before Garm could even care to respond, Yūrei suddenly appeared, dropping through an opening in the roof she had silently opened and closed behind her. "He's no ninja," she stated firmly as she landed on the ground without making a sound.
Yasuke sighed, "You know, you could use the door, it's there for a reason... And when did you install that on my ceiling?" he said as he stared at the trap door he had failed to notice before.
She ignored him, unbothered to even look his way, instead her gaze was fixed on Garm. The moment she laid her eyes on him, her eyes narrowed. She could feel it, a familiar energy faintly surrounded the troubled soul in front of her.
Without a word, Yūrei stepped closer to Garm, her gaze intense. Garm laid on the tatami, his eyes empty as he stared blankly at the ceiling. He barely registered Yūrei's approach. Undeterred, she moved in closer, her eyes sharp as they probed his body, hunting for the mark. Garm's lack of reaction made it all too easy for her.
"Hold still..." Yūrei commanded, grabbing Garm's face and pulling out his tongue. "There it is," she said, pointing to the mark on his tongue. "Just as I thought. The dark mark."
Yasuke's eyes widened slightly. "Oh... It seems like the mark doesn't appear solely on mankind," he said, his voice tinged with mild surprise, as if he'd seen it all. 'It would take more than that to shake an old man like me,' he thought to himself.
The tug on his tongue brought Garm back to his senses. He pulled his head back, frustration evident on his face, and banged his head on the tatami mat. The sudden movement woke Emi and Asuka, who were sleeping next to him on the tatami. Garm glared at Yūrei. "Who are you, and what were you doing with my tongue?" he demanded, his tone edged with irritation.
Emi groaned, irritated by the disturbance, but her expression quickly changed to one of excitement when she saw Yūrei. "Big sis!" she exclaimed. She quickly got up and sprinted over, her feet barely touching the ground. With a burst of energy, she jumped and wrapped her arms around Yūrei in a tight hug. Yūrei didn't move a muscle, her piercing gaze fixed on Garm, staring daggers at him.
"This is Yūrei, my big sis!" Emi introduced Yūrei to Garm and Asuka, puffing out her chest with pride, her voice filled with admiration.
Asuka stood up and bowed slightly. "Hello, Yūrei-san. My name is Asuka. It's an honor to meet you," she greeted, her tone polite and respectful.
Yūrei fixed Garm with a piercing gaze. "I'm here to discuss something with you. But before that, state your name, origin and purpose, young wolf."
Garm stood on his legs with a sad expression on his face. "My name, is Garm" he began, his voice tinged with melancholy. "The only place I truly belong in this world is at my friend's side. And yet... I was not there when it truly mattered...."
He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts before continuing. "Recently, I have resided within Konoha, home to my savior, Naruto ."
Yūrei's gaze softened ever so slightly, but she remained focused. "I see," she replied. "We have much to discuss."
sensing his sorrow, Asuka and Emi approached Garm.
Asuka reached out and gently caressed his back, in hopes it would bring him comfort "There, there..."
Emi stood in front of him and looked up at him with concern "Ch-Cheer up, Garmie. Please smile," Emi said softly, trying to lift his spirits.
Garm lowered his head, his eyes glistening with unshed tears that shimmered in the dim light. "How can I smile..... when my friend is in so much pain?"
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Author: How sad. Let's all send a ♥️ to cheer up Garm!