A Discordant Melody (Patreon)

“Haruko-neechan!”

The girl in question twitched as the annoying screech as she continued moving towards the main street of Konoha.  As the cry repeated itself twice over she finally turned to greet the long mane of pink hair as it swerved and dipped through the crowd behind her.

“Sakura,” Haruko nearly growled, “We’re twins, call me Haruko…not nee-chan, not nee-sama, just Haruko.  Anyway, what are you doing out here?  You know I’ve got my apprenticeship today.”

An six year old Haruno Sakura, complete with the red dress she’d always worn on the anime nodded briskly.  “But ne-Haruko, you said you’d take me today!”

Haruko debated the answer to the implied demand for a few moments.  If she said no, her parents would have yet another thing to complain about.  If she said yes, she’d have to deal with the little tagalong the entire day.  “Fine, but I still don’t know what you find so exciting about blacksmithing.”

“You do it, Haruko.”  Sakura’s point went almost unheard as, now that her sister had ceded to the request, she’d devolved into something with all the nerve of a spineless noodle.  It took her sister a moment to realize the reply was an answer in and of itself.

Role Model, gotta’ remember I’m a role model.

Of course, it wasn’t like she’d done any appreciable good to the girl’s personality.  Now that she thought on it, she’d probably done more harm than good when she’d kicked Ino’s ass seven ways to Sunday.  Now, the Haruno twins were virtual pariahs among their female peers.  Well, not as much as a certain blonde, orange-wearing demon container, but that was a subject she wasn’t going near.

“Yo!  Iketana-sensei, I’m clocking in for the day and my sister came to watch…you don’t mind, right?”  Haruko’s announcement at the front door brought a large man with the air of a seasoned ninja to speak with her.

Iketana Saguro grinned as he beheld his apprentice.  After his daughter had enrolled in the ninja academy the prior year he’d almost given up hope of being able to fill the larger orders, especially since none of these ungrateful brats wanted to be anything other than ninja!  Sure, ninja were an important part of the village, but the world, and Konoha especially, needed skilled craftsmen.

Although, he’d been surprised as hell when a girl her age had popped up and requested an apprenticeship.  The fact that her parents were willing to take the request seriously was even more surprising.  Of course, after getting to know Haruno Haruko, it was anything but surprising.

“As long as your work’s done, I don’t see why not.”  The man stated smilingly.  “Tenten’s at school all day so I’m going to need help on this month’s ninja-wire orders and I want a sample of your sword-work so that I can grade your performance.”

“Yes sir.”

Sighing deeply, Haruko walked into the sooty blacksmith shop through the back entrance and picked up a leather apron and hammer.  Spinning, she pinned her sister with a harsh glare, “Do. Not. Touch.  Anything.  If you want to see something, ask me first or you might lose a finger or limb.”

The girl whitened and nodded as she took in the vast array of sharp, pointy, and metallic objects that were strewn on every available wall surface and table.  There were in-progress swords, finished products, and many more esoteric weapons that she couldn’t even name.  Slowly, her jaw dropped as she beheld the seemingly endless cascade of polished metal.

“Shiny,”  Sakura whispered, almost reverently.

Haruko cocked her head, giving her sister a strange look before shrugging it off.  Abruptly, a thought jumped to the forefront of her mind and she turned back to Sakura, “You want to be a ninja, right sis?”

Sakura nodded warily, not liking the look in her sister’s eyes.  She’d only seen that look a few times before, one of which had been the infamous ‘pig-incident’ that still gave a few, select, members of their community vivid nightmares, nausea, and irritable bowel syndrome.  “Why?”

“Well, you’re going to need some kind of gimmick, you know?”  Haruko grinned, “All of the best ninja have one of those crazy, memorable gimmicks that make people point them out and stare in amazement.”  Well, they did in this universe, at least.  Ninja from her old world were supposed to be dark wraith-like beings that were never seen, heard, or felt before death struck.

But…Naruto.

Ninja…orange…’nuff said.

“I…do?”  Sakura asked, suddenly wide-eyed and alarmed.  “But-I start the academy next fall!  I don’t have time to learn something like that!”

“Don’t panic,” Haruko commanded, freezing her sister with a sharp look, “I know just the thing for you…a katana.  Not many ninja these days really use full-length katana or even normal blades.  It’s all about charka-weapons and cool jutsu; I, however, am willing to teach you a traditional sword style that will guarantee you’ll be a successful ninja.”

If anything, the girl’s eyes were even wider at that, hanging on her sister’s every word as she illustrated the tactics, strategy, and common attacks of the sword style she was going to be taught.

Haruko-neesama is so smart, Sakura thought as she listened intently.  She’s always looking out for me too…I won’t disappoint her by not learning!

Blinking, Sakura interrupted the spiel with only a slight hesitation, “Haruko, does the style have a name?”

As she brought her hammer down on the blade she was forging, the girl in question grinned even wider.  If anything is going to turn Sakura into a useful ninja, it will be the definition of badass sword-styles…

“It’s called Hiten-Mitsurugi.”

Sakura nodded, once again intent on the lecture as she absorbed her sisters words like the gospel truth.