Legacy [ Naruto Reader-Insert ]

Setting the stage 2

You are in your clan's training fields, going through your clan's taijutsu kata. Father had been busy lately. There wasn't any opportunity for you to ask him to teach you anything. He hasn't had time to see you in a long while.

Your eyes steeled as you kick at the padded tree trunk in front of you.

Your leg hits the padding hard. Kick to the kidney. Jab to the clavicle. In your mind, there was an overlay of a person's anatomy on the training log and you were placing very well aimed kicks at the most vulnerable spots on a human body. Or so you think. You are only five.

To a much more experienced shinobi, you were just trying your best. A much more polite way of saying that you were just a toddler attempting to do one of the most lethal moves of your clan's techniques. But you didn't care. You need to work as hard as you can.

Then Mother would be proud.

You continue throwing punches and kicks on the log until a voice breaks your focus.

"Hey!" Ino calls out your name, approaching from the main road.

You stop to look at her, panting heavily as you held onto your knees, trying to catch your breath. You had grown up with her, close enough to call her sister, you suppose. Ino wore a pink ribbon in her hair today and a modest off-white blouse.

Yellow hair and blue eyes. Your source of confusion and envy. Not Ino, but her hair and eyes.

You knew the Nara and Akimichi kids too. They came over when you were younger to have play dates with her. You joined them too. Sometimes.

Shikamaru is really smart, you didn't have the sort of intelligence he had. He beat you in Shogi every time you decide to play him, which wasn't very often. But he did challenge you to use your brain in every other hypothetical war-game that he played with you.

He insists that it's good for you and you don't question him. So you continue playing, even if he did beat you. Every single time.

Choji, however, is pretty nice to you. He offers you extra food to bring back when the playdates were at his house. He also teaches you some easy recipes that kids could make without complicated cooking techniques, which were a lifesaver.

You had suspected that the three of them have been talking about your family situation behind your back and this was their way of taking care of you.

A smile works its way on your lips.

Ino rushes over to you when she sees fat beads of sweat rolling off your brow and bruises on your limbs, her eyebrows furrowed. "You didn't show up for Kunoichi class today," Ino says softly.

A clean handkerchief presses against your sweaty forehead with hurried fervor. Pat. Pat. Pat. You just close your eyes and let her wipe your sweat off.

You watch her mother-hen you for a short moment before muttering out an apology, "Sorry, I kinda lost track of time."

"Nn, It's okay," The worry seemed to melt from her face as she eases into a smile, "Wanna go hang out with Shikamaru and Choji? We're going to go cloud watching. Blech." She makes a disgusted face before breaking into a giggle.

You hook your tiny arm around hers in agreement and giggle with her too. That did sound like the lazy, cloud-loving boy you knew.

Ino then fills you in on what happened in Kunoichi class. Telling you about all of the flowers and herbs she picked, and what your sensei had taught that day as the both of you walk to their special spot, arm in arm.

She doesn't ask why you didn't turn up or why you were basically beating yourself up with intense training. Ino doesn't question you about anything.

You like that about her.

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That night, Brother returns home sloshing drunk, stinking of alcohol and money. He swings a bag of jingling coins at you with a half-lidded grin.

"Lil' Mouse, guess who has extra allowance this weeeek?" He drawls out the last syllable at you, as he continuously shakes the bag.

Brother is a horrible drunk.

It doesn't happen often but Brother does end up drunk whenever he comes back from one of those missions that he had to dress up all weird for. You weren't focused on him though, you were more focused on the stranger that had your brother half-draped over his shoulder.

He had silvery-white hair styled upwards with some strands peeping forward to frame his face. His eyes were hooded and dark. Well. Eye. His other eye was closed, a long visible scar running down. A mask covered most of his features but you could tell that he was good-looking.

He seemed to be a little bit older than Brother.

"Hey, I brought your brother back, " He lets Brother crumple into a drunken mess before your feet and disappears, leaving behind a few stray leaves on your otherwise clean porch.

"M-mouse-chan," Brother gurgles while hugging one of your legs, giggling with alcohol-induced glee.

You stare at the leaves, then at your brother and back to the leaves.

You ignore your brother, your eyes lingering on where that mysterious stranger was standing before.

Closing your eyes, you make a mental reminder to learn how to shunshin.

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A/N: 

Feedback and criticism are most welcome. <3