The parade travelled on
~ Chapter Two ~
~A miserable desert village along the borders of Wind.
Here in this dry place, Black Zetsu is frustra- 'No, wait,' he reminds himself again, 'It's "Reiji" now. Mother gave us these new names and we will treasure them.'
Sensing the watchful eyes of the foreman, Reiji attends to his image. Wiping imaginary drops of sweat from his brow, the porcelain-skinned boy is hard at work (only partially pretending) to help dig the new well.
It's an annoyance. Mostly because such a meager task is far beneath him, but also because it wouldn't be one-tenth the struggle if he were allowed to use any of his abilities.
'I wouldn't even need the elemental capabilities or the cultivated bloodline abilities afforded by this body.
'A simple Chakra scalpel would do the job.'
' That shack we saw for grabs is falling apart, but it's affordable and better than nothing. I refuse to live with actual orphans. Unlike them, our mother is alive.'
'Father too... If that Kyou Uzumaki counts. Through his blood, or rather another version of him.'
Restraining an unsightly fiendish grin from his lips, Reiji can't wait for the inevitable confrontation between "father and children".
"Father certainly took well to "the Template" Sora. An artificial woman without true personality. Reiji recalls that she was created by "the scientist" to his Mother's exact specifications.
A puppet of flesh and blood. Bearing the Uchiha woman's refined beauty, and augmented by the Senju blood of Hashirama's granddaughter, so far as Kyou could see, Sora lived for his approval.
Even a single smile from him was enough to leave her a blushing mess.
All in all, it took a disappointingly short amount of effort for Kyou to forget all about Aika and their daughter Mito.
'Maybe he wasn't not SO bad, that specific Kyou was a divorcee... Still, the speed at which he fell for "Sora" isn't the best look.'
'Even before actually "getting involved" Kyou willingly followed her to Mother's world." Reiji mused disapprovingly.
' At least he had the decency to sign those wonderful, legal documents... So useful for us, it was only natural we'd appropriate them to our benefit.'
'It's not like he got nothing out of it, they were quite happy... For a time.
' Mother made sure of that, but no illusion is permanent. By the time these "vessels" were born.. I assume she couldn't be bothered keeping up appearances any longer.
At least by then his purpose was fulfilled.
' Between his fresh remains and "Sora's" ovaries We had more than enough "material" for Sakuya's more "hands-on" creation.' recalled a bemused Reiji.
' It's almost a pity that the world he originated from couldn't house us...
'Alas, time moved forward there... The year and change he was missing seemed short, but it altered too much.
By now, it simply wouldn't be worth adjusting the plan. Not to such a large degree.
' At least here in this comparatively "blank slate" as Mother's "new moon", Shiro and I hold all the cards.
'Will.' He amends his thoughts. 'We will, in time. The sooner "Mother's vessel", er no that isn't right...'
' The sooner "our sister" Sakuya can sing, the sooner we can put this pretense of vulnerability aside.
' This village is tiny but at least a fair number of imdependant shinobi use it for rest.
Sooner or later one of them will take notice of us, it doesn't matter whom.
Secondhand memories of a certain "degenerate master" whom variants of himself and his brother "Shiro" had killed in so many worlds flash through his mind.
'Ugh. Okay, maybe we can afford to be a little picky.
' Such associates aren't good for our image... it wouldn't do well to be tied to people like that.'
'I get we don't want a negative reputation, but let's not be too choosy, so long as brother and I are able to justify our skills, surely that's what matters.'
Sliding himself carefully down the widening hole, past another busy worker, Reiji hunches his shoulders in a squirm.
Making himself seem as timid as possible, Reiji's deceptive innocence was already melting the foreman's heart.
' They are big-hearted fools, but the orphanage is too small and surely underfunded, I want us out quickly and they'll be grateful for three fewer mouths to feed. This pocket change will go far.'
'White- "Shiroyuki" Reiji reminds himself. - "Shiro" is right. He's looking after her and realized very quickly that feminine wiles and chakra wielding aren't enough to impress.
Not on their own, "The Target" Mother wants Sakuya's innocent heart to attain would never be drawn to something so... base.
'It's annoying, but I can't dispute Shiro's point. "He" isn't like Kyou Uzumaki, and Kunoichi are plenty common enough that there's no novelty in it.
' Like it or not, gone are the days of women being viewed as "unsuited for shinobi arts". No, these days Kunoichi are everywhere. We passed several on our journey here.
So far as novelty goes, it’s not sufficiently "special". If anything I'd go so far as to say there's a downright over-saturation.
What's worse even if Sakuya wants to fight, that's years off. We need something more immediate.
'That aside, if we present this the right way, our beautiful Sakuya's coveted lineage and potential capabilities in combat can be framed to the public as a pleasant "bonus". Not the main allure.
' Call it "cake eating" but this way her distinctive power becomes a lovely garnish that serves more to enhance her overall appeal.
' To that end, our Sakuya needs a niche NOW. '
And what better a beacon for a barren wasteland like this desert hovel, than a songstress whose voice, "blessed by divinity" can "call forth the rain"?' Reiji thought mockingly.
'No technicalities here, we don't even have to lie...
' Mother Kaguya repeatedly stressed that the best deceit is rooted in truth. They will worship at Sakuya's altar, word will spread, and in time, "He" will come to us.'
Passing the water canteen he was entrusted with (to watch over) to the actual worker it belongs to, a bored Reiji recalls the initial shock their arrival brought on the fishing village.
"It's really been over a month now since we left...
~
Still soaked in sea brine, Reiji was very careful about his observations.
His usual gratitude for Shiroyuki extended to an all-time high after he agreed to keep the younger peon's sister 'Sachiko' busy.
Thankfully she was happy to dote on Sakuya and Shiro's endless stream of excited rambling, questions kept the men outside.'
All in all, Reiji probably needn't have bothered. - Their rescuers weren't exactly subtle in their noisy conversations.
-"It's been hours and I still can't believe it, Apprentice. Storm season is months away yet that rain came out of nowhere.
"If the torrent had begun even a moment, sooner these poor things would have drowned."
Gesturing to the warming children occupying the lone spare futon, the apprentice fisherman; Kairi Tensi sighs.
"The timing is fortuitous I say, practically right as the girl began crying, the downpour-."
The fact neither noticed what Sakuya's cries brought upon, didn't relieve Reiji. 'It does us no good till she can control it.'
"Eh, Look, Master, let's just be proud of ourselves for getting to them into the semi-dugout in time." Catching his unprompted rudeness to his benefactor, Kairi hastily corrects himself.
"It's all these years on the seas boy. One day this will be you. Still, I'm ashamed. There was no wreck I could see, but with how powerful the whirlpools are... And who knows how long they were adrift-"
"They're ok Master. That sister of mine has them sipping a nice umami stock, go home to the Mrs and get some sleep.
"I have it for now and we'll decide on long-term plans in the morning."
The long-term plans ended up being a hastily arranged borderline smuggling of themselves out with the aid of a traveling merchant.
It wasn't difficult, Shiroyuki woke up the poor brother and sister with a "nightmare".
His Adamantine Chains the bloodline ability exclusive to the Uzumaki, exploded in all directions.
Following Shiro's lead Reiji himself joined in the frakus, his silver eyes glowing red, the infamous tomoe of his Sharingan spiraling wildly.
His own chains hovering loosely above his head then mingled with Shiro's making a web.
Poor Kairi was barely able to keep the sobbing Sakuya calm. Unknowingly avoiding another out-of-season downpour.
Inferring that the children would be trouble, that "dangerous" people might be looking for them. The siblings realize they are in over their heads.
Terrified but ultimately too compassionate to do nothing, they decided it was best the kids be sent away.
"I don't want them here Sister, they're Uzu-" "Careful brother, these are children!"
"I know, I know, they aren't responsible for their pompous family. But Sister, it's "them" we're talking about." Kairi's voice shifts to a whisper.
"Our village barely survived the last "incident" they dragged us into. Those... warmongers will destroy us and feel nothing."
Unaccustomed to his new body, it took all Reiji had to eavedrop without it being obvious.
"I feel for them Sachiko, but if what I suspect is true... Where can they go? Neither clan will want them.
"The Uzumaki will deny them because their very existence is "inconvenient" and the Uchiha will view their mixed blood as "tainted".
"I agree Brother, but there must be- Yes! that's it, these children need anonymity."
"Not here of course, that's a disaster waiting to happen.
"I see their features stick out but they don't have to do so. There are plenty of environments where they can hide in plain sight.
"Perhaps a place where hair coverings are common? I don't-"
And so it was hastily decided. A merchant who owed Kairi a favor and had business in Wind's capital was contacted.
After further hushed negotiations, which Reiji wasn't privy to, it was agreed the burly man would drop them off in one of the many nondescript villages.
Far from Waves and more than far enough out of the way from "civilization", nobody would be in a hurry to search there first.
~
'The Merchant in question mostly kept his word. He was no more enthusiastic over the Uzumaki clan than the fisherman Kairi, but he kept his word.
' Granted I'm sure he chose this poor outskirt out of spite...
Thankfully it's more than enough for our specific needs. It's exactly the sort of place Sakuya can gain support.'
~
The boy named Reiji smiled, his expression bright as the sun.
Without thinking, the thoroughly charmed foreman happily gave him extra coin for the day's work.