Tsunade seemed shocked by my story. I always forget this was her former teammate we were talking about. In a few years would this be the same story, but with Sasuke and team seven? "I... I knew he was sick and twisted and.... but this is.... I'm sorry, Keira. I'm so sorry,"

I could tell that she was apologizing for many things in those few words. Apologizing for not saving me, for what happened to me, for how cruel life was... Who knew. "It's not okay," I say quietly, "And I'm not going to ever forget about it. But I'm going to try not to linger on it, either,"

She nods. "Wise words," She sighed. "Of course you can search for record of your clan and parents," She takes a slip of paper and writes something on it. "Show this to the jonin guarding the gate, they'll let you through,"

I nod. "Thank you," I take the paper from her and begin to walk out.

"One more thing," She interrupts me. I pause and turn back to her. She looks conflicted, before muttering, "Good luck. And Keira, I really am sorry---"

I cut her off. "You have nothing to be ashamed of. You acted as a Hokage protecting her village," I reassure her. "Thank you for your time,"

I wave slightly before closing the door behind me and hurrying downstairs. I descended into the basement, squinting my eyes against the clammy darkness as the cool, slightly damp air brushed my skin.

I looked ahead and saw two jonin guarding a door. It wasn't huge or extravagant, but, if necessary, it was sturdy enough to protect the scrolls and knowledge hidden behind them. The information hidden behind those doors was invaluable... so why were there only two jonin guarding it? It was then that I sensed the minds of several ANBU hidden, stationed along the hall and around the door.

Walking up, I showed the jonin guards my paper. They examined it before nodding at each other and swinging the doors open, permitting me to enter the vaults. I take a deep breath before entering, the door thudding shut behind me.

I look around the dim room. It had a high ceiling that disappeared into shadow, and the aisles of books and scrolls stretched as far as I could see. Though, that wasn't saying much. Why was it so dark down here?

Where in the world was I supposed to start? An idea popped into my head. Thank God Naruto was on my team and did this jutsu so often, or I wouldn't know the hand signs. Let's see if I can do this...

I made the hand signs. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" I feel a drain on my chakra, but it doesn't work. I sigh. It was a high level justu. I shouldn't expect to get it on my first try.

After about half an hour I managed to do the jutsu. How did Naruto do this? I barely managed to make ten, while he could make hundreds! It took up a lot of chakra. But then again, he had a lot of chakra.

My clones went out, searching for the information I needed. It was such a vast library.... This could take ages. But surprisingly, only half an hour later one of my clones came back with a thick book.

I sat down and began to read, learning more and more about my family. I was a little disappointed when nothing mentioned a Kekkai Genkai. I had been hoping my clan had one. But both were respected clans. Perhaps not as renowned as the Uchiha or Hyuuga, but they managed to make a name.

Soon I began to have a map of both clans abilities, weapons, strengths and weaknesses. I didn't have much information on the Hagoromo clan.

Apparently, the Hagoromo clan fought alongside the Uchiha during the era of war, before the hidden villages were created. They fought, and held their own, against the revered Senju clan. After the war they were scattered, marrying those outside of their clan until the Hagoromo clan no longer existed. The blood line was too diluted.

But there was almost no other information on them. And there was absolutely o information specific to my mother. I sighed in disappointment. Suddenly I sat upright as a clone jumped down in front of me, holding a scroll. The clone handed me the scroll before running back down the aisle to search for more information.

I hastily opened the scroll. A summoning? My heart beat quicker as I scanned it over quickly. Starlings. The Hagoromo clan--my mother-- they summoned starlings. I smirked. Guess what kills snakes, Orochimaru? Birds.

I pull out a Kunai, carefully slicing my thumb. This was a serious contract-- I was signing in my actual blood. Scary. After signing the scroll, I roll it up, setting it aside. Glancing around I back up away from the books. Doing the hand seals, I slam my hand on the ground, murmuring, "Summoning Jutsu."

A poof of smoke rises from the ground, and I peer downwards eagerly. An egg sat there. "Shit!" I exclaim as I realize what happened. I cut off the jutsu and the egg disappears in the same white smoke.

I did the hand seals again. This time when I looked down, a young chick sat there, peering at me with confusion. It was ugly, all wrinkled, pink skin and no feathers or fluff. With a grimace I let it go.

It took several more tries before I got anything to be proud of. A young starling was on the floor, glancing around in confusion. With a flutter of its wings it landed on my shoulder. I wince as its sharp talons grip my shoulder.

"Ow," I mutter as it nips at my ear. I feel a small trickle of blood down the side of my neck. Reaching up, I coax the bird from my shoulder to my hand. 

I wince as I view the shallow gashes in my hand. "Can you bandage my hand?" I ask a shadow clone within view. She nods and comes over, taking the bandage from my outstretched hand. I transfer the bird from my right hand to my left, holding out my now free hand to be bandaged. 

"I hope we're able to find more information on each of the clans abilities. The Hagoromo clan in particular has little information,"

I nod wearily. "I've already found more then I expected," I said. She smiled slightly and cinched off the bandage. It was the strangest feeling, talking to myself. She felt the same things I did. She had cuts and scars up and down her arm. She had a broken mind and broken heart carefully hidden by a smile and a purpose. I was seeing myself with new eyes, from a different perspective... and it made me uncomfortable.

"You're abusive, you are," I scolded the bird. It regarded me with cold eyes. I stared back at it, a challenge in my eyes. "What's your name?" I ask. 

"Itsuki," He responded clearly, puffing up slightly. "And you won't be controlling me any time soon!" With that he puffed away, the look of contempt in his eyes obvious.

I stare at the spot Itsuki used to be with surprise before shrugging slightly. "That went well," I mutter to myself. I had to try again. And hopefully I didn't get the same surly, insubordinate adolescent.

I do the hand signs quickly, precisely. It would work this time, I swear. It was going to work. I slam my hand on the ground and a puff of smoke rises, followed by a shriek. "Don't hurt me!"

I get on my hands and knees and look at the young starling. Her head was twisted away, hidden under her outstretched wings. Which were silver. Pure silver. I stared in awe. She was beautiful. She was other worldly. She was absolutely terrified.

"Who was going to hurt you?" I ask gently.

Still cringing, she brings her head out from under her metallic wing. "The other fledglings," She whimpers. "Where am I? Why am I here? No one has been summoned in so long... I'm so young to be summoned..."

"Shh, hey there, it's alright," I coo gently, bringing my hands forward to cup around her. She peers around with alarmed eyes. "Amazing," I breathe, "Silver wings,"

"Did you just bring me here to hurt me, too?" She asked sadly. I sit back on my heels, regarding her with serious eyes. 

"No," I told her. "I'm learning how to summon starlings. I just happened to summon you. What's your name?"

"Miku! What's your name?" She brightened considerably once I told her that I wouldn't be hurting her.

I allowed Miku to clamber onto my shoulder. "Keira. Why were the other, uh, fledgling trying to hurt you?" I asked.

"Because of my wings," She murmured sadly. "I'm a freak. A freak with silver wings."

"They're beautiful," I disagree.

"It's not just the color. They're silver," She said again. I looked at her in confusion. She sighed, then flared her wings sharply. The tip of one brushes against my cheek. I pull back, startled, caressing the my cheek as a thin line of blood appears.

"Oh," I whisper, understanding coming over my features.

"Our entire flock, the Gin no Tori flock, are like this. The other birds, the normal birds, they have revered and feared us. Respect and hate. Love and terror. The other starlings, the fledglings of other flocks, the mock me and bully me and hurt me. I just want to be accepted by the other fledglings, have a friend. But they won't let me,"

I felt immense sadness, staring at this little starling. "Well, Miku, Beautiful Sky, you're safe now. You're my summoning--"

"Actually, the entire flock is your summoning," She interrupted. I stare at her in confusion. "Do I look like I could do any damage to an enemy?" She asked, slightly scathing, "I'm tiny. I may have been the first one from my flock you summoned, but I'm not you're summoning,"

I stare at her, even more confused then before. "So you're my summoning... but you're not my summoning?"

She sighed, impatient. "I'm part of your summoning. Next time, if you're going to do a summon in battle, you say, 'Summoning Jutsu! Gin no Tori!'.  That'll summon the entire group. People often see starlings as useless summons because we're small and weak by ourselves, but as a flock we're unstoppable,"

I grin, understanding. "Especially if you have a flock of starlings with silver, cutting wings," I say.

She nods, her eyes twinkling. "That does come in handy," She agrees.

"But I was wondering, how long could you stay here?" I ask.

"As long as you want me to," She answered truthfully. I nod. 

"Will people be looking for you, wondering if you're going to come back?" 

"No," She answered, seeming slightly sad. "My mother was killed by a snake man. And my father is consumed by grief, even after all these years. He won't notice I'm gone."

I felt a stirring in my stomach, compassion and empathy for this small bird. "You're mother was killed by a snake man?" I questioned curiously. She nodded, eyes saddened.

"The flock was summoned. But the flock was forced back, and disappeared back to our world. But my mother stayed behind. Because she loved the woman. They had a bond, something strong. And she died protecting her," 

I wasn't sure. Maybe I was jumping to conclusions. Maybe I was just being stupid. But I had to make sure. "When was this?" I asked, scared yet hopeful of the answer.

"About sixteen years ago," She answered. I pushed back the sob climbing up in my throat.

"And what was the summoners name?" I asked.

"Kana Hogoromo."

This time the slightest cry did escape me. Miku's mother, and my mother... what were the odds? "That was my mother," I whisper quietly.

"Really? What happened to her afterward? Did mother manage to save her She must have, for you to be born..." Miku was excited, happy her mother hadn't died in vain. 

I shook my head slowly. "No," I choke out. I never knew my mother, and yet I was still crying over her. "She's dead."

"Oh..." Miku deflated slightly. "I'm sorry,"

I shuddered slightly, getting my emotions under control. "I'm done for today," I sigh. I'd accomplished much, but still it felt like so little. I undo the shadow clones, only to be greeted with an onslaught of information.

"Fuma, meaning Wind Demon. Known for their aggressive fighting style. Creator of the Fuma shurikan. Also known to have skill with the bow and arrow. They are a renowned ninja clan, and are famous in Amegakure and the land of fire. It is unknown where they hail from."

"Hagoromo, meaning "angel's raiment". The Hagoromo clan existed during the war preceding the creation of the hidden village. Summoning- Starlings. Not much is known about them. They warred alongside the Uchiha against the Senju clan. After the wars the Hagoromo scattered, and none of pure Hagoromo blood are left today."

 When my clones disappeared I must have gained their memories. But there was so little information still. I turned with a short yell of frustration, sweeping my hand across the table. My hand knocked over the lamp, sending us into darkness.

I panted slightly from my outburst, staring unseeingly into the darkness. "What's wrong?" Miku breathed into my ear. I slid to the ground, back against a bookshelf and my head in my hands. 

"My parents. My clans. I'm trying to learn about them, and yet I know nothing." I reply, feeling helpless and hating it.

Miku was silent. "Tell me what you know." She requested. I complied, telling her the little information that I held. "Well, you already have gained a summoning creature, that in itself is amazing. And you have a new weapon."

"What do you mean?" I question her.

"The Fuma clan was proficient in the use of bother Fuma Shurikan and bows and arrows. Try your hand at one of those," She suggested.

"The Fuma Shurikan are ridiculous," I replied.

"Then try out a bow and arrow. It's in your blood. Go at it," She encouraged. I nodded slowly.

"I still know so little," I whispered. 

"Do you want me to tell you? About your mother?" She offered.

I sat up a little straighter. "Please?" I whisper, hating how pathetic that sounded. "Will you?" I ask, a little stronger.

Miky nuzzled just under my ear. "Your mother was someone it took a while to get to know. Someone who at first may not appear to love, or care, but underneath she did. It may take a long time to get to know her, but once she cared for someone she did with all her heart. The few people that she truly cared for, she cared for passionately. She would protect these people with her life. And she didn't declare it, she didn't shout it to the world, but you could see it in her eyes. A fierce protectiveness, a flame that would sooner die then go out."

"You're way to young to have known her," I say.

"The flock is of one mind. We see what others have seen. So I've seen your mother." Miku told me gently.

"Your mother could never turn away from pain. She was someone who had to help. Even as she claimed not to care she helped. She was someone with to much kindness and love in her heart. In such a war torn time, it was a wonder a Shinobi like her survived."

"What did she look like? Just think of her and I'll try to read your mind," I wasn't sure if I could read an animals mind. I sensed her mind, the life and energy of it, but could I read her thoughts? I tried, and was rewarded with the snapshot of a beautiful young woman. "Why is she on a cloud? Why did you think of her this way?"

Miku clacked her beak as she thought. "She's dead now. In heaven, in a better place. This is just how I thought of her, happy and worry free and playing with the birds. Your mother was beautiful. You have her hair. Such a gorgeous brown, the highlights are even the same. It reminds me of a birds wings,"

I smile as I thought of her. "Would she have loved me?" I ask quietly.

"Don't be silly, Keira," Miku murmurs in my ear.

"She loves you."

______________________________________

So, how do you like it?

Do you like Keira's summoning? I got really excited over that XD

Yup... 

OHMYGOD.

If you search "naruto" in the search bar, FORGOTTEN DARKNESS IS ON PAGE ONE! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

I'm very excited.

Happy Thanksgiving for those who celebrate it!

That'll be all! Comment what you think, vote if you want, and follow of you want to be notified when a new chapter comes out! 

Also, I'm very sorry it took so long to update T.T Stupid school getting in the way of more important things XD jk, but I'll try to be more timely about the updates!

Yup. You got to learn more about her parents! And still more shall be revealed :3

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Bye!

gaara119