Friends or Foes? (Ita)

The sun, resting high above in the baby blue sky, shined down upon the village hidden in the leaves, enveloping the village in a warm embrace, as a white haired kunoichi walked down the bustling streets with her faithful companion, a wolf cloaked in black as darkness itself and piercing, crimson red eyes. They were on their way to the training grounds, having decided to work on both more of her bloodline jutsu and to sharpen her ninjutsu techniques. The Hyuuga did not normally walk this path to the training grounds, but she had stepped outside this morning and felt it was just such a lovely day that she could not pass up the opportunity to take a relaxing stroll through the village. It was not like she had any specific time she had to be training, if she had to stay late at the training grounds to get everything accomplished, so be it. She was rather fond of staying out late, it gave her ample time to star gaze away from the harsh village lights. The navy sky, painted with golden spots, was a breathtaking sight to behold.

In her arms she held two books, both of which she had checked out at the Konoha Library a few days ago before she met with a new friend, Takashi, and her brother. The library was her source of knowledge nowadays as she had no one to teach her about new techniques, besides her brother Salzem. But she hated bothering him all of the time for training, plus he wasn’t a Hyuuga so he had no way of teaching her the Gentle Fist techniques. Hikari didn’t mind reading about jutsu and then training what she learned, it may have taken her longer to learn specific jutsu that way but she was still able to learn in the end. She figured that was all that really mattered in the long run.

She was passing the Uchiha District when a wave of nostalgia overwhelmed her. She had been to the district before, visited one of the many houses that laid within its sturdy walls, with her beloved friend Kouse Uchiha. She smiled sadly as she looked upon the houses from the entrance, they reminded her of the time she spent inside the district and the memories she had of him. Although it had been months since she learned of his passing, it still made her heart heavy to think of him, yet now all of her tears had dried up. She had vowed to stop grieving over his death; to think of the happier times, and to cherish when he was alive instead.

Ita had been walking towards the exit of the Uchiha district towards the burial grounds to visit his fallen friend who he had yet paid his respect to. Ita was wearing a black shirt and black shinobi pants, along with black shoes. Ita’s black hair had grown since he had become a jounin and Ita had done very little to control it other than tying it backwards in a ponytail of sorts.

 

Just as Ita had been walking out, he noticed a woman walking towards him. Although it was not unusual to see another person during this time of the day, this woman specifically caught the young man’s. If it was not for her beauty, it was for the beast who followed her. Ita had not met anyone personally who had a familiar as such, but knew that they did exist. Ita wondered if the white wolf could speak just as his crow summon could. Ita then motioned his attention to the color of the wolfs eyes. They were red just like his. Ita had grown used to keeping his sharingan activated even though it was taboo for Uchiha to typically do so. Ita felt that by doing so it allowed him to train his eye sight to near perfection, becoming one with his eyes rather than relying on them in split moments.

 

Ita shifted his attention from the girl’s wolf to her face. Stunning. He had yet to meet a girl as beautiful as her. Something about her soft complexion and oddly colored, white hair had caught the boys eye in a way that he did not know was possible. All throughout his life the boy had not paid much attention to girls, why was he so curious now? Ita continued to study the girl with his crimson eyes picking up every detail. She was short, much shorter than Ita. If Ita had to guess she was maybe 5 feet tall, if that. Ita was almost a whole foot taller than her standing at 5 feet 8 inches.

 

Ita would stop just a few feet from the girl which would most likely cause her to stop as well seeing as they were the only two on the street. It would have been awfully awkward for the boy if she didn’t.

Ita would begin with, “I haven’t seen you around here before you must be new.” Ita’s eyes making contact with her soft colored eyes. If she took one glance she would know immediately that Ita was an Uchiha based off his sharingan, that is if she had ever seen the bloodline before. If she would respond, Ita would extend his hand while saying, “I am Ita Uchiha. It is nice to meet you. Does your pet have a name?” Ita would ask, referring to the wolf that accompanied her.
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Hikari blinked, coming out of her dazed thinking as someone began to walk in her direction, exiting the Uchiha District. The man coming ever so closer to her wore all black clothing to match his wild, yet still beautiful, long hair that was tied up in a ponytail. What surprised the Hyuuga the most were his deep scarlet eyes, with small black swirl like shapes inside. She recognized those eyes, as it was hard for anyone not to know they were the Uchiha’s doujutsu, the Sharingan. It was the girl’s first time witnessing the eyes in person, and she felt captivated by them, as if they were pulling her in. 

She drew her lilac irises away from his, looking at his other features instead. The man, whom she figured was part of the clan he was leaving the district of, stood about a foot taller than the small Hyuuga. His face did not look rugged and worn, and due to his fine features, had a certain attractiveness to it. He held himself with pride and honor as he walked, giving Hikari the impression he was of a higher or equal rank to herself (and not some fumbling Genin).

By the time she finished analyzing him, the man stopped a few feet away from her, causing her to stop as well. Her white dress flowing lightly in the wind as she gave him her undivided attention. 

Hikari giggled lightly at his opening comment, as she was not new to the village nor the world to shinobi. “On the contrary, I'm not new at all, I'm actually a Chuunin. Although, I haven't been in this area in quite a long time, so that's probably why we've never seen one another before.” 

After she responded he offered her his hand, which she graciously took in her own, shaking his hand with a mix of a strong and gentle grip. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ita. My name is Hikari Hyuuga, and this here is my friend, Kuro.” By this time she would release her fingers from his hand, letting go of the handshake, to gesture down at the wolf sitting by her right leg.

Kuro had silently been watching the exchange between the two, studying the Uchiha. The wolf was always weary of new people, especially when they got too close to his family, his instincts would kick in and he would go into protective mode should one harm Hikari. Sometimes the wolf wished he could speak the human tongue just so he could tell people to back off, or warn them before they tried anything. This was not yet one of those times he needed to worry about, as the man had so far done nothing to warrant his wrath.

On contact the girl informed him that she was a Chuunin. By her looks she seemed fresh out of the academy, but Ita was not one to judge a book by its cover. Afterwards she disclosed to the boy that her name was ‘Hikari… Hikari Hyuuga’. “A Hyuuga.” Ita thought to himself. He had never met a member of the hyuuga clan before… well until now that was. He knew vaguely that they possessed a special dojutsu, one similar to his own, but he did not know much beyond that. Ita was now more intrigued than ever with the girl.

 

Ita watched carefully as the girl motioned towards her wolf with the hand he had just gripped. Ita’s attention then shifted to her familiar, their crimson eyes meeting once more for a brief moment before returning back to the short girl’s lilac eyes.

 

“Kuro is a fitting name for such a graceful beast, almost as elegant as his masters.” Ita said.

 

Ita’s rather playful manner was short lived as his focus shifted back to the matters at hand. “Hikari, I am going to pay respect to a dear friend of mine and fellow shinobi of the village, if you are not busy you should accompany me.” Ita said, extending the offer. It had been sometime since the funeral and Ita could not bring himself to show his face. If the boy did not go, how would he be able to live with himself.

 

Whether the girl followed him or not would determine his next actions. If she agreed to join him, the two would depart from the Uchiha district towards the burial grounds. If she denied him for whatever reason, Ita would say farewell to his new friends and be on his way, hoping he left a good first impression on the girl.
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The young Hyuuga did not expect her new acquaintance to say such flattering, and potentially flirty, words. Her cheeks heated up a little at his compliment, although not enough for him to take notice. She was still quite inexperienced when it came to things such as being complimented by a man. 

“Why thank you, Ita.” She replied, a soft smile enveloping her lips. Hikari was grateful for his words, but wasn't sure how to return his compliment besides saying her gratitude. However she did not have time to come up with a flirty response back, as the young Uchiha began speaking once more. 

He mentioned paying his respects to a fallen friend, and to those of the village who've given their lives to protect the next generations. It made her think of the dear friends she had lost, many too young to have died but still gave their lives for the village. Enemies cared not how old one was, just their affiliations.

“If you do not mind, I think I shall take you up on your offer to accompany you. I have some friends I would like to visit as well.” Came her melancholy response. She no longer was saddened by their deaths, having long since moved on from her grief phase. Nowadays she visited them, quietly talking to their tombstones as if they could hear her. Who knows, maybe they could from wherever they were.

After she agreed to join him, the two began their walk towards the cemetery from the Uchiha District. It would not be a far walk from the district to the burial grounds.

A dark brown hawk circled high above in the sky, swooping down beak first as he spotted the white haired Hyuuga. With a mighty caw he landed on her shoulder, extending his left leg to show the girl the note attached to him. With wide eyes she hurriedly unattached the note, her eyes zooming side to side as she quickly skimmed the contents written on the white paper.

Crumpling the paper in her hand, she bowed apologetically to Ita as she said, "I'm so sorry to have to leave you, but the hospital needs me right away. It was a pleasure to make your aquaintance, and I hope we get to meet again soon!" She gave the young Uchiha a quick wave of her free hand before dashing off towards the direction of the Konoha Hospital, her companion Kuro following close behind her. The hawk flew off as well, it's mission having been accomplished.

(Exit)

Approved

Ita watched as the girl retrieved the message from the winged messenger. Ita said his good-byes after the girl said she had to leave immediately and this his body dispersed into a flock of crows, ascending into the horizon.

(exit)

Approved Ita