The Konoha Household

[terrx]

It was sunset over the household of the Konoha Clan. They were all gathered outside for their normal Praying to the Shinobi that died in the great battles. Inside was an old man with dull green eyes and spiky hair. In his hand was a scroll showing the Hokage was coming. The members of the clan feared and respected him. He wore a dark crimson red Yukata. He looked outside the window...Seeing a lone Gravestone out there. Ai's mother was buried there. Her headband and Scythe remained near the tomb of the young woman. For she died of a fatal Heart diease and from giving birth to that wild child.

"So many lives die young..." The man said...For he was Suoh Konoha...The leader of the Konoha clan

[Tenko]

Sarutobi had been to this household enough times in the past to know it well; he recognized even the meek aide who led him to the chambers he wished to visit, the path they took, all the windows and doorways and who was prone to come out of them. Something he rarely did was catch Konoha Suoh by surprise.

The two men were roughly the same age, having experienced the same sort of things and knowing enough about each other to speak on equal footing; the man was hard and indomitable, unable to pose the same gentle disposition as the Sandaime but sporting an equivalent – if different – sort of wisdom.

Knocking wasn’t necessary; the man expected him in advance and was doubtless prepared for his arrival; so when the young maid opened the chamber doors and announced “Hokage-sama” to the green-eyed man awaiting within – despite the fact that the other clan members were outside giving prayer – Sarutobi watched her shut the door behind him, pulling out the pipe he smoked and tapping it lightly against the head of his staff before putting it away.

“Konoha Suoh. It is good of you to have me.”

[terrx]

"Hello Sarutobi...My old friend." Suoh said, bowing humbly, "Please sit down anywhere you desire." He said, smiling lightly, "From what I understand from the scroll said...It's about Ai. AKA the wild child or the wild flower as the kids call her." He said, taking out a paper fan and fanning himself. It was always hot during the summer.

Nearby...Hiding in the shadows was Ai Konoha. She watched what the two were going to say. Will it make her even more cold-hearted to the point she'll run away? Or will it break the cold shell around her Heart?

[Tenko]

“The years have been better to you than they have to me,” Sarutobi mused aloud, examining the weather-worn features that looked at least ten years younger than they were. “Old men like us should be wasting our time sipping tea and reminiscing like fools, not worrying about clans and conflict.” He laughed at this false joke, not looking in the direction Ai assumed she had well-hidden herself; instead, he took a seat near Suoh as the man fanned himself absently.

His encounter with Kurokai was still fresh within his mind, and the Sandaime hadn’t forgotten his promise – not to bring up Ai’s loss of the Sanbi Scythe. Instead, he raised a brow at Suoh’s aliases for her, smiling slightly. “The Wild Flower! How fitting; but yes, I did want to speak of her, Suoh. What do you know of your grand-daughter’s initiation as a genin?”

[terrx]

"Of course! Some mud baths does wonders for the skin. And have a crazy wife who keeps trying to kill me by doing dangerous stunts." Suoh laughed, "And that's the reason why I married her..." Suoh laughed a little before hearing the about Ai's intation, "Well...Ai wants to excell past me so she may become the head of the household and become a strong Kunoichi like her mother...But every full moon night...She heads outside and sings about a "Moonlight Shadow" that stole her Heart. But he hasn't even showed himself again. She wanted to be a Ninja so she could track down this "Moonlight Shadow" or something. She's still young you know." Suoh said, nodding.

[Tenko]

"I'll keep that in mind," the Hokage responded cheerfully. "While I can't quite change my taste in marriage, a mud-bath shouldn't be so difficult to achieve." However, a beat passed with the Hokage settled down, digesting Suoh's comments about his grand-daughter.

Examining Suoh with a suddenly serious eye, he wondered aloud, "It sounds like she's romanticizing, like young kunoichi still try to do. I heard something, however, about you and Kurokai wanting to have her married."

[terrx]

"Ahh...Yes that. Well...Ai is the first young female born into our clan. We wanted to make peace the Hyuuga clan since they have a grudge against us. And so...Me and Neji's uncle decided to try an arranged marrige to settle aside the grudge of the clan. Me and Kurokai were discussing about it then...And that's when Ai found out. We wanted what was best for both my clan and the Hyuuga clan." Suoh said, nodding, "I still feel ashamed for what I said." He said, "And that's the reason Ai became so bitter...She despises the Hyuuga clan as well..." He said.

Ai listened carefully. The young Kunoichi's fist clentched. Oh she could just kill him for that night. But she had more honor than that...Knowing what will happen.

[Tenko]

"Ah - Hyuuga Neji. He would've been displeased with that as well, I think." Considering this carefully, Sarutobi layed his walking-stick over his lap and questioned, "But you decided against it...?"

Seeming to misunderstand something, the Hokage inquired, "How is it that you went from giving her to Hyuuga's Branch House to passing her the Sanbi Scythe?" There was much to think about and there was a reason for him being here - it was just, the Sandaime couldn't outright say anything to Suoh, knowing the old shinobi as well as he did.

[terrx]

Suoh closed his eyes, "Well...It was a couple of years ago. I have lost the track of time since that night...After the discussion and the declining of the arranged marrige of Neji and Ai...Ai stormed in yelling and storming. Saying that if she ever was forced to marry someone she doesn't know or hate...She'll run away. Which she did...And came back with the largest scale of the Sanbi I had ever seen. She had cuts, bruises, and was tired as well. And that's when said the words: "No matter how many times I fall...I'll always get back up and try again." Then I saw the pride in her eyes...And the hatred she had for me." Suoh said, nodding.

Ai remembered what she had to go through to get that scale of the Sanbi. She only used her hands along to remove it. She proved to her grandfather she didn't want to become someone's bride...But instead...She became the the most stubborn Kunoichi in the world

[Tenko]

Ah - so that was how it fell.

"Then she has always been so rash. If her scythe was the original - from the Great War - what became of the scale she acquired?"

It was unfortunate, Sarutobi thought, stroking his sharp beard gently and knowing perfectly well that Ai was listening in. He wondered if Suoh knew this also, and was merely speaking for her benefit, or if the old man had allowed himself to be so caught up in things that he didn't sense her there.

[terrx]

"The scale...I still have it. I placed it in a speical room for both her and to show him my grand daughter has the gift to become better than him. I gave Ai the real thing...The oringal Scythe that forged and used by Shodaime. She proved herself she was ready for that very Scythe by bringing in that scale. She's been rash as long as I can remember. Sarutobi-sama...You wish to see the scale Ai brought in? Not to mention it's heavy to carry from the Northern mountains all the way..." Suoh said, nodding, "I think Ai feels the Sprit of Shodaime whenever she uses the Scythe. That's why she trasures it so dearly."

Ai gasp a little. That Scythe she uses...It was used by Shodaime. Now she really bad. But stood up straight...Listening.

[Tenko]

"It gladdened me, to see Shodai-sensei's scythe once more," Sarutobi sighed, nodding and clasping his hands together in thought. He could not say that he was in possession of the First's weapon, and he understood why Kurokai was so alarmed about Suoh finding out - so this /was/ his Master's scythe, instead of some forged imitation.

"Still. I feel heavy-hearted that you would give such a young girl something so precious." He said nothing about having a greater claim on the scythe, as it were partly true, or any argument as to how Suoh would dare do such a thing, but instead continued. "Spirit or no, I don't think she understands any of the teachings of the four Hokage of Konohagakure...

"It would please me greatly if you would show me the scale." Tone even, Sarutobi looked fairly at Ai's grandfather, daring to believe that Suoh took great pride in such a thing. "It would be a true honor."

[terrx]

"Yeah...I know. Still...I think Ai doesn't know that's the real thing, maybe that's why she's stubborn. She honors the Hokages with all her Heart. She just doesn't know the Scythe she was used by Shodaime. For unlike the scythes. Shodaime ordered me to forge it from a fang of the Sanbi...Which was not easy. But with great care and great work...I forged the most powerful Scythe of the Konoha clan. All my work, skill, and power was poured into that one Scythe." Suoh said, standing up. He formed a handsign and the wall opened up. Revealing a giant green scale with specks of blue and Aqua blue in it. It was bigger than a car...And it's weight was immese, "This is the scale that Ai brought in...I'm still shocked Ai could carry it." He said.

Ai could remember the pain, sweat, and blood that left her body that night. How she collasped after saying her nindo. The scale shining brightly in the moonlight.

[Tenko]

"Does she really?" Sarutobi responded absently, remembering how Ai had acted in response to him whilst marveling the scale; it wasn't her fault, he assumed. Perhaps the Sandaime had been the 'God of Shinobi', but he was there, and he seemed so old and frail to the children of Konoha; the Shodai, Nidaime and Yondaime had all become myths whereas Sarutobi still lingered amongst forgotten legends.

"The scale... Such an amazing feat to bring it in at so young, but your Ai has been feeding her pride off it; tell me, Suoh, how is your relationship with her?" Eyes still fixed on the amazing weapon, the Hokage absently drew his hands into the sleeves of his robe, were - unbeknownst to Suoh - the Sanbi Scythe's scroll was concealed.

[terrx]

"I don't know how to explain my relationship with her. I think she still hates me...But I can sense she's recovering slowly. For there was a look in her eyes showed that her pride was crushed...Though I don't know how though." Suoh stared at the scale, "She worked really hard getting this scale. Though...Getting rid of it might help her start acting like a real Shinobi and show her the true meaning of pride. I thought she might turn to be like Orochimaru...But I saw her pride crushed...Meaning she'll turn out fine. Or I hope so." He said, feeling on the scale, "I might forge another scythe useing this very scale...Or try forming a shield." He said, sighing.