All the most beautiful flowers have thorns

Inspiration, my own art on @heart_of_ely so … credit to myself? 

「 NARUTO SHIPPUDEN | JUST A BITE OF KIBA 」 After the failure with Choji, Wani did not give up nor learn her lessons. She hoped into Kiba. Yukiko is well aware of the Wani’s way of « consuming » so seeing Wani set her sights on Kiba, she tried to warn him against her. Of course at first nobody took her warnings seriously and thought she had a twisted imagination. Kiba was quite flattered to get the attention of this girl, even if she is a bit weird, she has her own charms in a way. He had no experience with girls so far, so he didn’t even really consider something could happen with her. He was just enjoying her flattering his ego. Thankfully he realized Yukiko was serious before doing any fatal mistake ! He wasn't really interested in Wani anyways ! Hanako, also aware about Wani’s real intentions couldn’t help but laugh at the situation. Kiba’s ego as usual … 🌺 NOTES 🌺 This is a redraw / re edit of an old post some people will remember of the previous version I’m sure. ©️ Credits: Hanako belongs to @hanako_sarutobi Pannel 1 : Kiba’s face is edited from the anime I was lazy to draw and didn’t managed to capture his expression + Wani edited over Yumeko Jabami Pannel 2 : Referenced Isabella’s from Disney Encanto’s expression sheet for Yukiko Pannel 3 Wani is edited from Kakegurui

_______________________________________________________________ ©️ Credits: Reference photo of a Kpop band used for poses. Hanako’s pose referenced on Camilo (Encanto by Disney) Backgrounds from Disney

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN | YUMMY CHOJI 」 As soon as Wani saw Chôji she saw an enormous potential! He looked so tasty and full enough to fulfil her appetite. So she jumped on him but of course the Akimichi opposed resistance. Yet Wani did not give up on her new prey, determined to make him her next meal. Thankfully for Chôji, Ino and Sakura, who were trying to find the cannibal who had escaped, finally found her. Ino, who is the most used to deal with Wani, ordered her to let go of her prey and Wani obeyed, but not with glee. Ino and her tried to talk her into understanding she cannot hunt everyone like that, not in a civilised society. Wani had trouble understanding that and stayed obsessed by her spoiled meal « But… he looks so fat and tasty. » Chôji, offended by being treated like a big turkey, started yelling, « I’m not fat! I’m just beefy! » the word beefy of course sparkled Wani’s appetite and it was a never ending process. Thankfully Shikamaru handled Chôji who was about to get mad. Wani was frustrated. Why can't she do what she wants? Why so many rules? 🌺 NOTES 🌺 In Koruko clan (Wani’s clan) there is no rules, no social hierarchy, no sense of respect of others, people just do whatever they want regardless of other’s will. There’s no moral, no notion of good or bad they just live to satisfy their primal instincts. More infos about the clan on @kuchinashii_ ’s highlights. ©️ Credits: Panel 1 —   Choji and Wani are edits based on Ino and Choji himself (Naruto Shippuden) Panel 2 —   Ino and Wani are edits based on Yumeko and Mari (Kakegurui) Sakura is edited on herself from The Last Backgrounds from the anime

「 NARUTO SHIPPUDEN | THE VASSAL 」 This takes place after the fight between Ino and Wani. Yukiko managed to calm down Wani; begging her not to bring her back to her father. Wani doesn’t know why, but instinctively felt the distress and fear in Yukiko’s voice. Somehow she felt empathy for this albino girl, around her age… So she gave up. Or so they thought! Ino and Yuki had moved on with their days. Sakura treated Ino’s wounds, and they were now hanging in the streets of Konoha when they noticed Wani was still following them. Ino confronted her and the Croc croc girl jumped on her knees in front of Yukiko asking for forgiveness. To which she responded by « ok …? » But then Wani started to insist to become Yukiko’s vassal. Ino seriously doubts Wani knows what that word actually means and has any clue how feudal system works. 🌺 NOTES 🌺 👑 Vassal : A person or country in subordination to another. In feudal system, a holder of land by feudal tenure on conditions of homage and allegiance. The vassal pledges allegiance to a « bigger lord » (which implies they have to pay a tax) on the feudal hierarchy in exchange of protection. In this case we are talking of the hierarchy in Land of Iron (samurai country): At the top of the pyramid you have the Daimyo of Land of Iron, Heizen Nakamura. The Daimyo has several vassals who are the most important lords. These lords themselves have several vassals who are smaller lords. Wani is not a « lord » herself, she has no land, no belonging. She is from the Koruko clan, who is more of a tribe than a noble clan. So the use of the term « vassal » just shows she uses terms she heard but doesn’t understand. She just wants to show her loyalty and try to regain Yukiko’s trust. _________________________________ ©️ Credits: Art by @k0l0rless Backgrounds from the anime 

「 NARUTO SHIPPUDEN | INO VS WANI 」 Wani came in Konoha to try to get Yukiko back to Land of Iron. She plans to use her as a leverage on the Damyo, surpassing her uncle who is also searching for Yukiko to bring her back and get the lord’s graces. As every dumb villain she revealed her plan, and Ino stood up to stop her from catching her friend. The fight seem to last forever as Ino didn’t have any backup to keep her body safe, she couldn’t use her jutsu. Wani, with her brass knuckles is very violent, persistant and quick. She fights like a real fury, a savage beast waiting for her prey to weaken until she can strike the fatal blow and eat her. Ino is resisting, but exhausted at this point. Meanwhile Yukiko was with Shikamaru and Choji far from knowing her friend is risking her life to keep her safe. When she arrived she saw her friend was fighting this crocodile girl. Fighting to defend her and felt so guilty. Ino was bleeding for her. Because that’s what real friends do. 🌺 NOTES 🌺 Ino had felt someone was tracking them, which is why she had asked Yukiko to go hang out with her team while she was investigating on that. But she didn’t tell Yukiko about her suspicions not to worry her. Wani had been observing the two girls for a full night before striking on Ino when she was all alone uncovered. ____________________________________ ©️ Credits: This is an edit : Panel 1 — Ino base Kuvira Panel 2 — Wani base Korra Yukiko is drawn by me Backgrounds from the anime. This is a « redraw » from the 2020 version of this post.

「 NARUTO SHIPPUDEN | INO AND YUKIKO 」 Mira accepted to guide Yukiko to Konoha but kinda left her on the door steps. So of course Konoha’s border guards immediately brought her to Tsunade. Thankfully for her, the Hokage was aware of her identity and Ino being her apprentice she could plead for her. But she didn’t need to. She asked her just a few practical questions and let her leave with Ino. After all, she’s safe at the Yamanaka’s considering who Ino’s father is. Yukiko felt guilty about putting a lot of responsibilities on her friend’s shoulder’s. But Konoha, and Ino’s house actually were the only « safe places » she knew. 🌺 NOTES 🌺 If you ask yourself: why didn’t she turn herself to Gaara instead? Isn’t he her love-interest? Well that’s precisely why she didn’t turn to him. At this point and time she needed a friend, and would be more comfortable with another girl her age. Her feelings for Gaara come with a lot of incertitude and insecurities she’s not in the headspace to deal with now. 🚨 BNHA account : @hirorekii ©️ Credits: Backgrounds from the anime. First panel is an edit base Yukata and Matsuri

「 NARUTO | GAARA X YUKIKO 」 From the top left to the bottom right 🌺 Gaara and Yukiko’s meeting during the retake of chuunin exam. Yukiko offered Gaara her Earth parchment as her team will be disqualified. Gaara was a bit mistrustful. What did this stranger have to gain out of this gift? 🌺 During this era Gaara and Yukiko got closer. Yukiko was very supportive and spontaneous towards him. But Gaara knew no other way of communication than being agressive. And Yukiko made it clear that she would not tolerate it and made him realise he was hurting others (Including what he did to Lee). He realised he didn’t like hurting her. So he showed her he was ready to change and question himself: hence why the change of outfit. Gaara protected Yukiko from the sun under his umbrella. She of course forgave him and supported him. He was aware another kind of feelings was growing for her. 🌺 Gaara and Yukiko met again a bit before Shippuden. This time it’s Yukiko who needed help and guidance. In distress, she fled her country and both got into a journey for Yukiko to heal from her own traumas. They started embracing these mutual feelings they had for each other. Even if the world made them ennemis when Yukiko’s clan fell into disgrace. They still ended up finding each other back and had their first kiss before Gaara left for war. 🌺 In The Last era they are a happy couple. Even if their relationship is still secret. 🌺 In Boruto era they have to find each other back when they got separated by the sad events of life. They struggle to communicate and Yukiko locked herself in silence. Gaara will have to break her shell so she’d accept his help. ____________________________________________ ©️ Credits: Art by @k0l0rless, references used

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN | THE ESCAPE 」 Yukiko fled Land of Iron to escape her abusive father. Instead of defending her, the clan’s Dean, aware of the situation, decided to silence the child. The Honor of the clan is more important than an individual’s safety. She did help Yukiko to get out of Iron, but banned her from ever coming back, and left her lost. With the help of a few people she found on the road, Yukiko made it to the Land of Fire, but in the forest she found herself lost. Thankfully she cross the path of Mira Uchiha (@mirauchiha). If at first she hid she was quickly discovered by the brunette who immediately understood she was lost. Mira doesn’t necessarily want to get involved with the business of a fugitive. Yukiko didn’t look like a criminal, she was more likely another depressed teenager fleeing her parents to rebel against an arranged marriage. Spot on! But little does she know how sad and twisted the situation really is… 🌺 NOTES 🌺 This scene takes place a few months before Naruto Shippuden (if we consider it starts at Naruto’s comeback). Yukiko will not easily reveal her name as she knows how infamous her clan is. Thankfully Mira didn’t ask for much details.

Yukiko’s Kekkai Genkai can be used in a deviant way, using the same principle of « giving life » to an inanimate thing, passing the chakra through the roots from several points of energy in the body. It is called « Futabi Tatsu » (再び立つ) = « stand again » (cf Nakamura clan info pt2). It could be compared to « Edo Tensei ». It seems like a great alternative to it, because the toll isn’t human lives, but plants and animals. All the energy transfer is done through the ground and roots, using the thorns as pipes transferring energy. It allows the reconstruction of the flesh and brain, but we can’t really say the « soul » is back in. The resurrected people are mostly empty shells, with no will to live, and depending on the person who brought them back, like an infant to their mother, unable to express their suffering. They don’t seem to have any memories of their past lives, just some reflexes. Hava discovered some of the limits of Futabi Tatsu when Yukiko failed to bring back her still born baby. « I can bring back those who once breathed. But your son never did.» Hava will manipulate Yuki into bringing back her mother, Hikari, in order to test her ability to use this technique. She made her believe people lied about her suicide and Yuki could still « save her » as she had been imprisoned. So she led Yuki to perform the ritual, « to set her free». Yukiko wanted to believe so hard she could bring her family back together, she clang to this hope. She triggered her memory to write in the contract, with her own blood, writing « 母 » Mother on her belly and then on the tree used as a receptacle «子 » Child. It was long and painful, the thorns drained a lot of chakra out of Yukiko, she lost a lot of blood, giving some of her own to this « child ». After more than an hour she « raised » again, crawling, unable to stand on her trembling legs. She looked at Yukiko, muttering some indistinct words getting out painfully of her jaw until one word could be distinctive : « Mama ».

I really wanted to post this piece on the day of her birthday, it really felt like a big achievement for me. I started working on this huge piece in September and literally finished it yesterday ! I think it's the piece that I worked the most time on ! xD The bg, the composition, the cleaning and colouring of the poses ... Idk why I wanted to make some kind of compilation of Yukiko with her Airi sword. Nevermind I feel like it's royal for her bday ! I wanted to draw this big chaotic piece of her kind of to thank her in a way. Ik it may seem weird bc Yukiko is a fictional character, but she's brought sm joy and happiness in my life. She boosted my creativity like no other OCs never did. She gave me comfort and fun to draw. Sometimes I even think she is some kind of sweet reassuring big sister entity to me, even if I'm technically the one who gave her life ! xD I feel like she helped me overcome some of my burdens and most importantly she allowed me to met amazing friends like you in here ! So yeah thanks Yukiko, thanks charlotte_quesada for pushing me to create a Naruto OC again back then. Thanks for everyone who support me, from the start when my art was kinda inexperienced, to nowadays where I still learn from you each days. You have all been motivating me, supporting me, being so dedicated and inspiring with your beautiful stories, ocs, style. I love this community sm and I wanna say it ! Thanks to everyone for making this day incredible already ! I am speechless idk how to thank you enough. 💕💕💕💕💕💕 So from the top left to bottom right: 1) So here you have some badass late teenager Yuki looking in the horizon with her freshly acquired Airi sword 2) Just a silly back view to show the blade inside the umbrella 3) Young adult Yukiko chilling in Sunagakure/Konoha with Airi 4) In Boruto era Yukiko in her 30's, the first female Nakamura clan leader  and daimyo of Land of Iron. 5) Young adult Yukiko flirting in Sunagakure receiveing some sweet little message from Gaara as you could see on my last post ♥ ___________________________________ Credits : The overall concept of this drawing of putting several poses of one character on a huge collage is inspired by two of @dicityblock's drawings of Jun and Misora, so thank you sweetie for being such an inspirational artist ! I believe in you and you would deserve all the success in the world ! 💕💕 Everything here is my art except the first pose on the bottom, it started as an edit (base gintama) that I had to correct the anatomy on actually xD