6Two Rivers Meet
Disclaimer: I do not own any character used or mention from Naruto, which is owned and created by Masashi Kishimoto. All other characters as well as the story plot are created by me so they are mine and mine alone. I make no profit from this.
Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to all who have read, especially to all who have reviewed. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading.
Chapter 2
Sarutobi guided the child back to her seat while signaling for assistance. A masked shinobi suddenly appeared before the Hokage. If Xiloxochitl was not lost in her own world of overwhelming sorrow, she would have started in surprise.
"Please summon the head of the Maeda clan to the Hokage's office." Instantly the shinobi disappeared to carry out the order. Then turning to the girl, he silently watched her settle into her seat without uttering a sound or shedding tear. Sighing sadly, he realized that for one so young to accept her fate without emotion or protest was truly unnerving.
Speaking again to the girl, he asked, "Would you like something to eat? It must have been awhile since you've eaten. You must be hungry."
Raising her eyes from the floor, Xiloxochitl faced the man that would become her leader and guide. "No, I am not hungry, but may I have some water?"
Smiling kindly at her, the Hokage poured water from his personal pitcher and handed the glass to the girl. A strained 'thank you' was all she could manage. They fell into a companionable silence while waiting for the head of the Maeda clan. They did not wait long before the man arrived.
He bowed respectfully to the Hokage before speaking. "You wanted to see me, Hokage-sama? May I ask why?"
"I have found a lost member of your clan, Zakuro. I wanted to reintroduce to you. She is the daughter of Bureiku," the Hokage stated mildly.
For the first time since entering the room, the man noticed a child sitting in front of the Sandaime. He remembered his cousin, who had died a long time ago, once married a woman from an unknown place. It caused an uproar within the clan, especially since he was betrothed to someone else. Despite the intense pressure to remove her, Bureiku stayed with the woman. Zakuro's father, who was clan leader at the time, refused to accept the woman and any child she bore. When Bureiku died, the woman quietly disappeared one night before Zakuro's father could send guards to permanently take care of the woman and her child. No one mentioned them again. Now the child was back. The second he laid eyes on her, he knew it was Bureiku's daughter. She had his eyes.
Anger welled up in his heart; this was simply too much. His clan may be small, and not as powerful as the main clans, but they were still a force to be reckoned with. They would not tolerate this new insult.
"You cannot be serious, Hokage! This child is not part of my clan! What proof do you have that she is Bureiku's daughter?" Zakuro demanded fiercely.
"She has Bureiku's hitai-ate," the Hokage stated matter of factly. "I know it was his hitai-ate, for it has the gash he received so many years ago. I witnessed the moment he received the death blow from an enemy's sword." With a pause he added, "Also, she has his eyes."
"I cannot deny your word Hokage-sama, but my clan will not accept her! She is that woman's child; she does not belong to the Maeda clan," the head of the clan stated with finality.
The Sandaime looked at the girl who was abandoned by her mother's tribe and was now about to be abandoned by her father's clan. The girl calmly took everything in, never uttering a word. She watched dispassionately as she was being thrown away yet again. Sarutobi could not allow that to happen.
"Xiloxochitl, please have a seat outside while I discuss matters with the clan head," he said gently.
Xiloxochitl looked at the Hokage for a moment, then obediently got up and placed her now empty water glass on his desk before leaving his office. Once outside she sat on a nearby bench. It was late afternoon, so the sun was about to set. Quietly she observed people moving back and forth through the hallway, running one errand or another. One of the shinobi, a tall man with one scar running from just below his left eye to a little beyond his mouth while another ran from the bottom of his right eye across his right cheek, came by and silently offered her food. Gratefully she took the food for she was now very hungry. Silently she nodded her thanks as he turned to leave. She never tasted this type of food before, but it was very good and satisfying.
As time wore on she began to feel drowsy. Next thing she was aware of was being shaken awake by the same shinobi who gave her food earlier. He smiled somewhat and said, "The Hokage wants you to return." The girl nodded and followed the shinobi into the office.
Sarutobi smiled at the child while indicating for her to sit down in front of him. Zakuro was seated in the chair next to hers. The Hokage spoke first.
"Xiloxochitl, you will be staying with the Maeda clan. They are your father's clan. You will be provided with food and shelter while you stay with them. Also, if you want an education they will provide that for you. Any supplies or pocket money needed they will pay for. I will monitor your progress and if you need anything, inform me at once. Do you have any questions?"
"Yes, will they try to kill me tonight or at a later time? I would like to know so I can prepare for the attack," she asked with a serious face.
"What?!" The Maeda clan head exclaimed in shock. "The impertinence of this child!"
The Hokage chuckled, but by now was not surprised by the girl's question. She would ask something like that after all she has been through.
"No, child, they are forbidden do so. Do not worry they will take care of you," the Hokage said.
"We are not uncivilized barbarians like your tribe, child! We provide for our people," Zakuro spat out with disdain.
Xiloxochitl looked over at the man with contempt. "Is that so, Leader of the clan Maeda? Then why was my mother attacked after my father had died? She was able to kill her attackers, but before the last attacker died, he told my mother that the head of the clan paid to have her and her child killed, ridding the clan of vermin. You are too young to be that head, so it must have been your father. My mother taught me well, so be aware, I will defend myself."
Both men stared at Xiloxochitl who spoke with such intense conviction and strength that it was hard to imagine she was indeed a child.
"That is a lie," Zakuro defended weakly, very much aware that his father would have done such a thing. Especially since the relationship was a huge embarrassment to the clan.
"No, it is not. My mother never lied. She told the truth, even if it hurt more than a lie would. Truth cleanses the rotting wound so it could properly heal," she replied calmly.
The Hokage stepped in at that point. "I assure you child, you will be safe. If not they will answer to me."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama," Xiloxochitl replied, using the honorific she heard earlier.
He smiled at the girl and then turned to the clan head. "She is now in your capable hands. Remember what we discussed. Do not disappoint me, Zakuro." He stated pointedly.
"I'll do what you have asked, Hokage-sama, but not beyond." Zakuro stood and bowed to the Hokage.
Xiloxochitl stood and asked for her father's hitai-ate before following the clan head. The Hokage gave it to her, which she thanked him for and then bowed the way of her mother's tribe. She bowed slightly forward from her waist with her hand fisted over her heart before straightening up and following after Zakuro. He had walked out briskly, not bothering to look to see if the child was following him. She had to lengthen her stride a great deal just to catch up, but refused to scurry after him like a dog. They walked in silence all the way to the Maeda clan's compound. Many of the members stopped and stared at the strange girl following their clan head.
Zakuro went directly to his study. As he sat down, he finally looked at the girl who was forced on him by the Hokage. She chose to stand off to the side of the room, waiting for her instructions. Ignoring her for the moment, he called a servant to inform the elders that there would be a meeting in an hour. Turning back to the child, he finally addressed her.
"Do not expect to be welcomed, whelp. Against my will I am forced to take you in. You will be expected to adhere to the clan rules and not to start any trouble. We will decide on your education later. Right now I will introduce you to the elders then you will be shown where you will stay. Answer all questions asked of you."
Xiloxochitl just nodded at his words since she had already decided to see how things would go.
It would be a gross understatement to say that the meeting with the elders did not go smoothly. The elders were outraged, to say the least. Many openly said they should kill her before the night was out. The head responded that the Hokage had taken a personal interest in the child and that it was forbidden for any harm to come to her.
One elder sneered when he said, "Does she even know how to talk? I don't see much intelligence in her eyes."
Xiloxochitl looked directly at the elder and in a clear, calm voice replied, "Only one who has the brain of a pea would speak before understanding, you son of a hairless goat."
The elder sputtered for a second, but Zakuro interrupted before he could retort. "That is enough! The child is here to stay and we will make the best of this situation. For now let us retire, for it is very late. We will meet again tomorrow to discuss things further."
The elders left the room. More than a few of them glared hatefully at Xiloxochitl. She watched them leave with disinterest. Once they were gone, she calmly turned to the clan head. "Will I be required to attend this meeting tomorrow?"
Zakuro sighed while rubbing his temples. "No, you will not be attending. I will inform you what we decide. You have not made yourself liked here tonight, especially after that comment."
"Neither my actions nor my words had any bearing on the opinions of the elders. I was not liked the moment you informed them of who I was. I know I will never be accepted, but do not worry I will not overtax your clan. Why should my father's clan be any different from my mother's tribe? According to both I do not belong." Sighing she asked, "May I sleep now? I am very tired."
Zakuro, also feeling tired, called a servant to escort her to one of the small servant's rooms. Little did he know that to her a room of her own was a luxury. She always had to share a small hut with six other children.
It had been a long and tiring day. When her head hit her pillow she promptly fell asleep and slept soundly the whole night. The next day she was left on her own. A servant was sent to show her around the compound and where to eat. During the day she had noticed, and ignored, many of the clan members whispering and pointing at her. Some were even brave enough to spit at her. She simply did what she had done in her mother's tribe and skillfully dodged the offending projectiles.
Later that day Zakuro summoned her to his office. He informed her of the clan's plans for her. So she would not be in anyone's way, she was to occupy one of the small abandoned apartments on the edge of the clan compound. She was to report to Zakuro once a month on her progress. She would be taught the clan history, but none of the clan's secrets or fighting styles. As for education, they were going to apprentice her to a baker, or a seamstress, so she could be useful to the clan.
Xiloxochitl smiled sadly at those early days with the clan. She had no one to speak to; no one to encourage her; and she had to dispel her own demons when she was frightened. She chuckled as she remembered Zakuro's frustration when she adamantly refused to take any of the apprenticeships. When he was at his wits end with her, she surprised him with her request to enter the Academy and become a shinobi. He almost gladly helped her get in. Although she would be much older than most of the students starting out, if it gave her a skill, then so be it. The Hokage was pleased that she chose that path. Little did anyone know that it was due to a chance meeting with an ANBU member.
Returning again to the present, a much older and wiser Xiloxochitl sighed as she pushed her memories securely back into the crevices of her mind. She looked at the students who were now putting their weapons away in preparation to leave for the day. They had a dream of becoming shinobi. That dream was no longer satisfying for her any more. She needed more to feel she belonged, or at least have a purpose, but what?
Getting up from the swing, she stretched and then took one more look at the school. She noticed that the yard was now deserted, except for the instructor who was staring at her. He was somewhat ordinary looking with a scar running across the bridge of his nose and his brown hair pulled back in a high ponytail. She had seen him in the mission room from time to time, but could not presently remember his name. He waved at her in a friendly manner when she made eye contact. Surprised that he waved, she waved back and then left the swing for home.
A/N
There you go Iruka finally introduced. He will be more in the next chapter. Thanks for reading.