Ichika’s story (Part 2)

'I'll never forget what happened on this day, after all, how could anyone forget?'

Ichika and her father walked back home.

'We hadn't walked like this in years, I couldn't help but smile the entire way around.

We talked about a lot of things on the way here, I even learned a lot more about him other than his usual war stories.

He told me stories about his family, and how he and mum concluded they should move here.

And then suddenly…

He stopped walking and sat down.'

"You alright?" He nodded.

"I'm just taking a small break, that's all...

Just taking in the view, isn't it beautiful?" She nodded.

Ichika sat next to him…

"Ichika I'm…Sorry."

"Sorry?" He nodded.

"It seems I've wasted a lot of your life and I've wasted most of our lives too, and it's all because of these damned bottles.

I know it's not easy but I want to change, I want to be there for you, I want more days like this.

Will you forgive me?"

"Dad, how could I not?

I know you went through a lot, it's why I've never bothered you about this.

But I've always wanted to spend more time with you, and now that I've gotten an opportunity, I won't waste it."

His eyes widened, and he was stunned by her response.

He smiled and held her close.

"Ichika, you should know, today has been the best day I've ever had in a really long time.

That's why…" He took a deep breath.

"That's why I don't want it to end with me lying to your face."

"Dad, what are you talking about?"

He looked down in shame.

"In the past year, I've been seeing you go into the woods, you always find the best trees, the best flowers, you share a connection with the forest and so I figured…

Maybe, just maybe, you could also have wood release, like your great grandfather."

He looked at Ichika, who was too stunned to speak.

"Dad?" He looked at her.

"Let's stay here for a while."

"Sure thing, sweetheart."

They spent 1 hour sitting down in silence, enjoying the view.

But it got dark, and they realized they had to go home.

"We're home!" He leaned in and kissed his wife, she was stunned, but she kissed him back.

"You're home?!"

He proudly nodded.

"And, I'm not drunk, I missed you.

"I missed you too…

However, not that I'm complaining, but…

Why are you so early?"

"Mum…We have to talk."

They all sat down.

'We told mum about the wood release idea and just as I expected, she didn't want me to do it.'

"Ichika, you don't know what's at risk here, and Yochiro, how could you even think about this?!

You know the risks, so I should let you tell her yourself!"

Ichika turned to her father, who frowned and looked away.

"What risks is she talking about, dad?"

"Well, umm…

A long time ago, those who would try to attempt using wood release and didn't have enough stamina or chakra, would die a painful death…

The wood would implode and destroy the user's body from the inside.

At least, that's what happened to those who almost succeeded did, those who completely failed didn't have any consequences.

We've never known why."

Ichika remained silent.

She took a deep breath.

"I'll do it." Her mother's eyes widened.

"What?!"

Ichika nodded.

"I said, I'll do it.

Mum, ever since I was young, I've been able to sense some sort of presence in these plants, maybe this is why."

"Ichika, you don't know what you're talking about, this could kill you!"

"I know! But I still want to do it."

"Yochiro, reason with her, please!"

"Akari, we both know once she's decided that's a done deal, the best we can do is support her with her decision."

He took Akari's hands.

"Listen, Ichika will be fine, trust me.

Earlier, I made a promise to her, and I don't intend to break this promise, trust me, and trust our daughter."

Akari fell into tears.

Akari tossed the scroll to Ichika.

"If you don't want to do this, that's alright, but since you've decided already, do me a favor and be careful."

Ichika nodded.

They moved out of the house and went outside.

"Good luck, Ichika." Ichika nodded.

She read the instructions given on the scroll.

"Wood style: Deep forest emergence!"

Nothing happened…

Suddenly, the ground shook, leaving an incredible rumble, leaving Araki and Yochiro unstable.

Her father held her mother close.

Boom!

Giant branches of thick wood and thick forests sprouted from the ground, picking Ichika and her family up.

"Ichika, you did it!" Her father yelled, proud of his daughter.

"Dad, there's something wrong! I can't control it!"

The rumble was too loud, and he didn't hear her.

A giant flower came from the forest and bloomed and unleashed a poisonous gas.

"Yochiro!" He removed his shirt and covered her face.

"No!" Ichika attempted to make the flower go in the other direction, but it was moving too slowly.

After a few minutes, she finally did it and then she ran towards him.

"Dad!"

He was laying down on a branch and his breathing was short of breath, her mother was near her too.

"Ichika…" He called her name in a rough and scruffy voice.

Cough!

"Dad, this is all my fault, I shouldn't have done this." Ichika started crying…

"Ichika, this isn't your fault, you did well…

You did well…"

A tear dropped from his eye.

"I'm the one who's failed, I promised everything was going to change starting today but nothing happened…

I'm sorry, Ichika…

I love you more than anything in the world, I always have, that's why…

When I used to drink, I would leave the house, afraid that I would upset you or make you feel even more ashamed of me."

"Dad…" Ichika started crying.

"Don't cry, this was never your fault, I'm the one who pushed you so hard, but I only did it because I believe in you, I always have.

I'm sorry if I didn't make you feel that way, but it's the truth, you're the best thing that has ever happened to me, both of you."

He looked at Akari, who had tears in her eyes.

"Akari, you know how much I hate seeing you cry…

I'm sorry for this, please, will you do me a favor?"

She looked at him.

"Take care of her, make sure our daughter will be safe no matter what.

Don't let some loser fall in love with her, because I know a lot of them will…

Ichika, if you fall in love, make sure they treat you right, make sure that person isn't an old fart like your old man, alright?"

A small smile appeared on her face.

Yochiro looked ahead of him, he smiled as he looked at the view, staring in awe…

"It's beautiful, isn't it?"

He patted Ichika's head.

"Just remember to always fight.

Ichika fight!"

Ichika held her father's hand.

She cried as she felt his presence slowly fade and his skin felt cold.

He smiled before taking his final breath.

Akari pulled Ichika close and hugged her.

"There was nothing we could do, Ichika…"

After that, Ichika attempted to control the plant into putting them down, after many tries and a lot of effort, it worked and they were on the floor again.

They arranged a funeral and buried Yochiro beside the new tall tree and their old home.

"Dad, I promise I won't stop fighting."

'That day was the last day I spent in the land of snow, and the last day I used my wood release.

My mother and I spent the next two months traveling to Konohagakure as refugees, the war had begun and it wasn't safe where we were.

Luckily, I was related to the best medical ninja in history, Tsunade Senju, there were a lot of rumors claiming that all the legendary sannin were in the village and that's how we knew we had to go there.

Mother had gotten sick because of all that poisonous pollen she inhaled, I had to take care of her for most of our journey back.

I carried the scroll Dad gave me to honor his life, but I wasn't ready to use wood release again.'

Ichika pulled the scroll from her pockets.

'Dad, I kept our promise, I won't stop fighting, I'll always protect mum.'

She clenched her fist.

"All because of this damned scroll."

Ichika sealed the scroll.

She placed her finger on the ground.

'When we get there, I'll have to change a few things.

This is my chance at a new life, and I won't waste it, I'll become a Kunoichi, the best one there ever was, that's the way I'll protect mum.

Second, I'll try my best to see what's the big deal about that damn village.

I've heard a lot about it, and I've read a lot more.

It doesn't seem so special to me apart from the powerful shinobi and Kunoichi from there, Aunt Tsunade once visited us during her travels.'

Ichika stopped fantasizing as soon as she felt two people heading toward them.

"Mum, wake up! We might be attacked!"

As her mother woke up, Ichika went to pack her things.

"Look at all those bags, I think we found some rich folks!"

One of them said.

He was skinny and had a lot of tattoos and carried a long naginata with him.

"Yeah, and ladies too, look at the clothes up there." This one was tall and muscular, he looked like a brute and he carried two giant katanas.

He picked one piece of clothing up and sniffed it.

"Fireball jutsu!"

Whoosh!

A fireball hit the skinny one, burning him to a crisp.

"You bitch!" He quickly swung his katanas, making Ichika back away.

She swung her fist towards him, but he caught it.

He threw her so hard that she hit her back on a boulder.

"Ugh!" she spat out blood.

Ichika took a Kunai and threw it to his feet.

He jumped up in the air and made hand signs.

"Wind Style: wind blade!"

Ichika was forced to dodge incoming wind blades, but he cut her on her hand.

'My movement is sloppy, maybe I could learn something from Konoha.'

"Transparent jutsu!" The attacker vanished.

"Really?"

"Shadow clone jutsu!" Ichika made four clones.

They covered her back and sides.

'The way she moves, this isn't a random girl, she's more like a shinobi.'