Amaya Uzumaki POV
It never crossed my mind that the village and its people could ever be like this: the shops so colorful and vibrant, the people so relaxed.
It was like a serene energy enveloped the whole place and everyone in it.
And all thanks to the Hanami Festival.
At first, it seemed simple, but it quickly showed itself to be something with important meaning and experiences for those willing to participate.
As Kakashi had told me before, it was a festival focused on contemplating the flowers blooming at the end of spring. The cherry blossoms were the main attraction, the pink ones were the most common, but it seemed there were some white ones too.
And since cherry blossoms have a short lifespan, the festival lasted five to seven days, which was the average duration of the blooms. To enjoy it to the fullest, people usually took a whole day just to contemplate the flowers.
There were also various activities for everyone at the festival to enjoy, like dancing and music. The vendors also added many products for sale to the public: from simple objects to clothes and household items.
It was while looking over the products at the street stalls that I noticed something that caught my attention: a kind of circular pendant with two tomoe, one black and one white, each with a small circle inside in the opposite color.
– Feel free to pick it up for a closer look – the stall vendor kindly offered.
He was a relatively young man, probably only a few years older than Minato. With him at the stall was a cheerful-looking woman attending to other customers.
I took the pendant in my hands and only then realized the two tomoe separated. It's like they complete each other..., I thought as I examined it.
– It's the symbol of Yin and Yang – Kakashi explained to me, and I glanced at him for a moment.
– Yin and Yang? – I asked curiously – Like the release types? – He nodded.
– With the difference that this symbol is the popular way to represent them. They are considered the two essential energies of nature and everything in it – The Hatake explained calmly – The Yin... – He pointed to the dark tomoe – Corresponds mainly to feminine energy, night, cold, and the moon. As for the Yang... – He then pointed to the white piece – It represents masculine energy, day, heat, and the sun.
– They are opposites of each other – I commented, and Kakashi agreed.
– Complementary opposites – The vendor who had spoken to me earlier clarified, and we turned our attention to him – See the smaller circles, of different colors, inside the tomoe? – I gave a weak nod – They represent the existence of the other half within each one.
The vendor gave a complete explanation of the various meanings the Yin and Yang symbol could hold, and one that particularly caught my attention was about their representational figures:
Yin had a dragon as its figure. This animal was always seen as an evil and fearless being. But some attribute to it the strength of will, which is why it was chosen as the figure for Yin: even in evil, there's always a small part of hope that something good can emerge.
Yang, on the other hand, had a tiger as its representative figure. Seen as a docile and majestic animal. But even this being can be treacherous and kill for its own benefit. As the image of Yang, it reminds us that even in good, some hidden evil can exist.
That was the principle of the universe.
The eternal dualism of life and everything derived from it.
We all have a bit of Yin and Yang. At certain times, we lean more towards one than the other. And when we are in harmony with both, that's when we can be in a state of peace.
– There are other symbols with various interesting meanings, like Yin and Yang – The vendor, who had been explaining everything to me until then, said – Would you like to know about another one, miss?
– Well...
– That will have to wait for another day – Kakashi spoke up before I could even really start talking, making me look at him – Time is running out – He looked towards the horizon, and I did the same.
Since he had organized Minato's team training, Kakashi and I had gone to the festival in the middle of the afternoon. And because we spent so much time looking at the stalls and the activities, it was almost nightfall.
– You're right – I said and looked at the Hatake again – Where are we going now?
– To the most common activity for those participating in the Hanami Festival – The platinum-haired guy said and started walking.
– Which is? – I asked him curiously, but unable to hide my eagerness, following him.
Kakashi just glanced at me sideways, smiling weakly under his mask and turning his eyes back to the path ahead. A half-smile appeared on my lips, and I shook my head slightly in denial.
– Baka... – I said quietly, immediately hearing a soft laugh from the Hatake.
POV Kakashi Hatake
Until we reached the shop where we were now, Amaya's expression had been one of anticipation; at that moment, it was one of complete confusion. And I was trying not to laugh – more than I already had – about it.
I had noticed a few years ago, during our training, when I tried using a strategy different from any other I had used with Amaya, that even if only for a short time, the redhead was surprised by it.
She liked to know about everything. The Uzumaki was someone prepared for practically every problem that could arise, but taking away that control made her internally conflicted.
Curiosity.
That was one of her biggest weaknesses.
Amaya and I were in one of the shops set up especially for the festival, waiting for our orders to be ready. The Uzumaki was sitting beside me, visibly restless.
– Kakashi... – She called me, and I looked at her – Are you going to tell me what you're planning?
– No – I said, smiling weakly – I'm having fun with a certain someone squirming with curiosity beside me – She rolled her eyes and rested her head in her hands, looking at some corner of the room.
– Order number 57! – One of the attendants announced, and I turned my attention to her.
– Here! – I called out a bit louder and raised my arm so the young woman could see us.
The girl nodded and started approaching where we were, carrying two bentō boxes. Now we can go to the festival's final attraction and end this day perfectly..., I thought.
Just as I was getting to my feet, I felt the chair I was on shake violently, making me fall. But before I could hit the floor, I felt someone catch me.
I glanced sideways, noticing it was Amaya who had done it. Then I looked forward, seeing an older man standing there. Ah, crap..., I complained mentally.
– Getting saved by a little girl? – The man sneered and forced a laugh, shrugging – Well, I guess that's what you'd expect from the son of a failed Hatake clan member...
And once again, my father's choice fell upon me. The scorn of others was directed exclusively at me. I clenched my jaw, gathering strength not to respond or act impulsively towards that man in front of me.
I straightened up again and glanced briefly towards Amaya, noticing her expression had become closed. This idiot managed to ruin everything..., I thought and clenched my fist.
I noticed from the corner of my eye that the attention of the other people present had turned to us.
The attendant who had been bringing our bentō boxes had stopped near us, and I only then noticed that Amaya had gone over to the woman, taking our orders in her hands.
– Thank you... – The redhead thanked her quietly and soon returned to where I was.
When she passed by the man who had provoked me, for a moment I thought she would hit him. Not because of her behavior or posture – anyone looking at her would think she was calm.
But her eyes...
I had seen that look before, and whoever it was directed at never got off unscathed. However, to my surprise, the Uzumaki did nothing to the man and stopped in front of me, handing me the bentō boxes.
– Shall we go? – She asked in her serene tone, with a gentle look for me, and I could only give a slight nod.
The man who had provoked me clicked his tongue and forced a cynical smile onto his face before turning and walking away from us. I did the same and started heading for the exit of that shop with Amaya.
– Sorry you had to go through that today... – I apologized quietly to the redhead.
But when I looked at her, I noticed the Uzumaki was no longer by my side. Having a hunch, I looked back towards the inside of the shop and saw the redhead approaching the man who had provoked me.
It was very quick, but I caught a glimpse of everything:
As the man went to sit in one of the chairs, Amaya kicked it, just like he had done to me. But unlike in my case, he hit the floor with a loud thud of his body against the wooden floor.
He looked extremely confused, trying to understand what had happened, until he noticed the Uzumaki near him.
– Ah, I'm sorry... – The redhead said in a cynical tone, bordering on harshness – It's a shame you didn't have a little girl to save you, isn't it?
The other people present in the room tried to contain their laughter at the situation. The expression of surprise on the man's face was the only thing he seemed to have processed at that moment.
I probably had a shocked expression too at what had just happened. Without waiting for an answer or reaction from the man, Amaya returned to where I was and took my hand, quickly leading me out of the shop.
We only stopped when the Uzumaki let go of my hand, and we had moved away from the village center, where the festival was taking place. Amaya sighed heavily, as if she had been holding her breath since the moment we were in the shop.
– What was that...? – I asked, still trying to process what had happened.
– I... don't really know – The redhead replied simply.
– What do you mean? – I asked – You didn't need to do that!
– I know, but even so... – I interrupted her.
– His problem was with me, you didn't need to make him angry at you too – I clenched my fist – You can't get stressed and risk getting sick again because of my problems – I spoke, slightly annoyed – Besides, he had a reason for acting that way with me and... – This time, it was Amaya who interrupted me.
– Stop it! – She raised her voice, taking me by surprise – Like you told me before, stop it – She looked at me seriously – I know this wasn't the first time you've been through something like this because of your father, but unlike you, I couldn't just stand by and do nothing – The Uzumaki lowered her eyes and clenched her hands, speaking quietly next – You should know that I couldn't do nothing when someone important to me is going through the same thing I've been through...
Amaya might not have meant it that way, but it felt like a slap in the face.
The Uzumaki had taken my silent anger upon herself because she understood me, because she had been, and even if rarely, still went through the same thing: being a victim of others' hatred and being blamed for something that wasn't truly her fault.
And to openly tell me that because I was "important" to her, she couldn't fail to support me... I was completely caught off guard and disarmed.
Without thinking, I just took a few steps towards the redhead and hugged her. As an apology for the whole problem, as well as a thank you for her being there for me, once again.
Before, it had been me trying to teach her how to stand up for herself to do what felt right, but it seemed she had understood the lesson better than I had. And here I am, learning from her again..., I concluded.
– And I didn't get stressed about anything... – The redhead commented in a low tone – It takes a lot more to get me seriously angry – I gave a weak laugh.
– That's good... – I said quietly like her and looked at her – I have to admit, that was a worthy payback you chose – And this time, she gave a weak laugh.
– It was either that or beat him up inside the shop.
– Good thing you chose the first one – We both ended up laughing – Let's go... – I called out to the redhead next, starting to walk – You still have a bit more of the Hanami to enjoy.