I didn't cry, I couldn't cry. Even when the hands that felt most natural around me were torn away, when I was passed between strangers and left in cold loneliness…I couldn't make a sound. Everything was so blurry and difficult to see, blobs of color that seemed to pass by me without really seeing me. All was so strange, but I didn't want to remain alone; one day I'd be held by those hands who made me feel like I belonged. One day…


"Akane Hotaru! What do you think you were doing? You know we don't draw on the walls," the lady towered over me, the matron, and pointed at the wall beside me. It was scribbled on with crude drawings, messily signed with something that might be my name. "No dinner for you, go to your room and think of what you have done," her words were false, it hadn't been me who had drawn on the wall but I didn't want to argue; there was little point in arguing with someone at that level of power. She controlled the orphanage and, as such, me. Turning I silently made my way up the stairs, carrying a well-worn backpack on my shoulders. Swinging around at the top and continuing along the stairs I carried on upwards, the orphanage consisted of three levels. My room that I shared with the others is on the top floor, in the eaves of the orphanage. Pushing the door, I let it slam behind me, moving across the rotting wood floor to rest on a futon made of straw at the far end of the room; nearest the window. Using my chubby arms, I clambered onto the sill and stared out at the town, the decaying buildings and dirty alleys that made up the poorest part of the village. But somehow it still looked beautiful. I could never understand how anyone could see anything as ugly, everything was alive; I could feel the energy everything gave off even the decaying wood had some residue left from when it was alive.

My head snapped to the side, leaning closer into the window and fogging the glass. Something bounced along the nearby rooftops at a speed that rivalled any other I had seen, quickly going towards the tower. Eyes widening, I grinned and leaned back, resting against the wall indent of the window.

"I wish I could do stuff like that, I'd be so free…"

Moving backwards I fell of the windowsill and onto the straw futon, curling into a fetal position I let my body rest; no food could be a pain sometimes.

"I wish I was older, then I wouldn't be so strange…"

Sunlight hit my face and I blinked away sleep, staring up at the ceiling I wondered what today would involve. Breakfast, reading a book-for the tenth time- and maybe going outside in the backyard area if the weather stayed good. The sun was quickly blocked by a small body that landed roughly onto mine, shooting upwards the body fell off of me and I gasped; winded by the impact.

"Waaaaaah! You didn't have to throw me, now I touched Akuma!" The child ran away and I sighed silently, wishing this wouldn't happen anymore. The sound of laughter reached me and I glanced over quick enough to see some of the older kids bustle out of the door, obviously enjoying whatever they had just done to that poor child. Pulling myself to stand I picked up my backpack and made my way to the sink occupying this room, quickly using the bucket of water next to it I rinsed my face and washed as best I could; pulling on a set of clothes from my bag. A white t-shirt that had greyed with use and was way too big on me due to being a hand-me-down from the older ones; accompanied by a set of oversized handed down shorts that reached to below my knees. Looking up I caught a glance of myself in the broken mirror over the sink; running a hand through my greasy long hair and wishing I could have a proper shower or bath. Staring at my own emerald eyes I found it hard to believe.

"I really am only four, I feel so old in this body…I can't remember anything before this but I know I've got knowledge I shouldn't have…I progress too fast as well. I suppose I'm lucky in that way even if it only brings me misfortune at times."

"Akane! Get down here, you didn't eat last night so don't go missing breakfast!" It was the matron, rushing I pulled my hair with my fingers, combing out some of the knots and raced down the stairs. Jumping the last few and stumbling into the lady herself, worriedly I looked up and she simply shoved me into the dining area. Sitting we prayed and then began to eat, a simple meal of plain rice and a single piece of fish each. The older children had already left for the school, classes would be starting soon…I hoped I could attend the Academy instead soon. I wasn't old enough for either and I'd likely be sent to the school, but I'd rather go and train at the Academy. Then I could get an orphan fund, move out and away from here; maybe meet some people who were like me…too old for the bodies they inhabited. Picking up my empty bowl I moved to collect the younger resident's ones, those too young to be trusted to carry them without dropping them -we don't have the money to replace them so it's safer this way. Looking at the bowls I shifted my weight and carried them over to the kitchen area, placing them on the counter-top and ensuring I got out of the way of the staff quickly; it wouldn't do well to anger anyone. Nimbly I pulled the shoulder straps of my rucksack, I kept it with me all the time; stuff always went missing in this place.

Fresh air wafted across me and I raised my head, looking in the direction of the old sliding doors towards the back of the building; grinning I ran towards the gap.

"It's nice enough to be outside!"

A shadow towered over me and I slipped on the flooring, bare feet sliding painfully against rotting wood before barreling into the figure before me.

"Hey! Watch where you're going Akuma!" The figure looked at me, sneering. "Don't touch me!" Arms thrust outwards and I felt the impact, the air in my lungs rushed past my lips and I gasped silently; hitting the floor hard and rolling I hit the low table with my head. Pain lanced through my skull and I felt thick, hot liquid slide across my brow. Sitting slowly, I raised my hand, before lowering it again to look at it.

"Uh…Kisuke I think we should get out of here! You hurt it bad, we could lose dinner!" A smaller boy spoke up whilst I continued to stare in wonder at the crimson on my hand; now dripping to the rotten boards below me. I could hear feet scurrying and was aware of being alone, the energy of the others vanishing outside.

"I'm…bleeding…I've never seen so much blood,"

I had blanked out, coming to when the Matron slapped me back into awareness. Looking into her eyes I didn't see concern, only annoyance.

"Well I suppose you were bound to hurt yourself someday. Get up and go to the hospital, if they want paying you'll have to leave it and hope you don't bleed to death," her hand gripped my arm and forced me onto my painful left ankle; pushing out the front door with nothing but a note and my backpack. Looking down at the dirt path I wondered if I could survive out here, but being only four years physically I doubt the world would give me any favor. Stumbling along on my injured leg, blood began to blind me; dripping into my eyes. I hastily tried to wipe it away and look at the note in my hand before it blew away with a gust of wind, reaching out I tried to chase it -I think it had the address for the hospital and orphanage on it. Racing along, ignoring pain, the world opened up and suddenly there were people bustling around.

"So many!"

I'd never seen so many people in one place, and not just the ones who jumped the rooves; but those like the others too! Glancing around I hoped I could find someone to help me, surely they were nicer than the ones behind me in the poorer district…this must be the market district right? I could see wooden tables set up with many objects on them, some had vegetables and others meat. I could see one that had fish and another with rice!

"So much food!"

My stomach grumbled, breakfast hadn't been much but the same as usual. The younger ones got more like the older ones, a few of us got less so the others could get more. It normally didn't bother me but as the blood dripped across my face like sweat I wished I could taste some of it, even raw it looked nicer than some of the food we had access to. There were mutterings, whispers and I could see the gazes drawing towards me; some people even stopping and pointing.

"Look at that child?"

"An orphan of the poorer area, poor thing!"

"She looks hurt, look at all that blood!"

"Probably doesn't have the money to get help, we best leave her be she could be infected."

"She's so dirty, does she not know what a wash is?!"

"Little mongrel should run back where it belongs!"

"Does she think someone is going to help her? Who would touch that thing?"

The mutterings were growing more and more hateful, but it didn't bother me…I'm used to the other children being hateful even if they didn't fully understand what they were doing yet. Taking a few staggered steps, I backed up into the alley I'd come from, chest heavy with fear.

"Why am I so scared?"

So centered on myself I missed the energy, so many people even civilians gave off so much. I tuned into its buzz and felt the more powerful one's shine brighter every now and then, those must be the rooftop jumpers…ninja?

"I think that's what the matron said once, though she forbade us from mentioning them."

Taking a few deep breaths, I centered myself and held my hand to my heart, I needed to get some help and get back before dinner or else I'd go without food again. Swallowing the lump in my throat I moved confidently out of the shadows and began to walk up the slight slope, not really knowing where I was going but following the small flow of people leaving the stall area of the street seemed logical.

"I need to get away from all the people, find something I can use to climb and see where the hospital is,"

It was hard to walk, pain throbbed up my ankle and blood continued to drip from my face; blanketing my view and making it hard to see. As I tried to wipe it away I bumped into someone and staggered; desperately bowing and trying to run only to bump into someone else. Eyes clear I glanced up at the people I had bumped into and my eyes widened.

"Please don't hurt me!"

"Minato! You need to watch where you are going!" The soft but energetic voice returned me to reality and I could feel the bright energy accompanying it, so strong and powerful but also somewhat untamed with a darker tint at its core. "Minato! Are you listening? Oh, you're hurt, look at all this blood! Who did this to you!" My eyes met violet ones and I was terrified, people normally shouted at me when I did something wrong and it wasn't like I could reply.

"Kushina, calm down you're scaring her," this time a softer, calmer voice spoke and I could help turning my head to look at the man standing next to the lady before me. He was bright, not just his smile and hair but his energy; it bubbled calmly but also brightly like the sun at noon when it hit the old pond in the backyard. "Little one, I'm going to take you to the hospital so they can look at your head! Hold on tight!" Before I could contemplate what was happening arms curled me safely into a padded chest and held me close, tight but not painfully so. Then the wind whipped up and it felt like we were flying, lifting my head I saw rooftops and gasped silently.

"Rooftop fliers…ninja, are helping me…. I'm…I'm flying!"

I couldn't believe it and reached a hand up towards the sky feeling the cool breeze brush my small fingers, a smile graced my face…a rare and genuine one. I could see the lady with the crazy energy following us and she smiled at me, concern laced her features and it took me by surprise. Nobody ever showed that face to me, never. I could feel the energy of the world and the air around us, but all too soon the world slowed and we were in a building. I held tight to the man, I didn't want to go back.

"Don't make me go back…please let me keep flying,"

Somebody had been talking and I'd gripped the man harder when another pair of hands tried to lift me from him, refusing to be taken from the luck of a ninja choosing to help me. We moved again, but this time I didn't look burying myself in the man for the entirety of our journey. Then I felt it a sharp jab in my exposed arm and suddenly the feeling of tiredness.

"So tired…so very tired,"

The world faded and everything disappeared except the bright energy of the two people who had acknowledged me.

"Please let me stay with them…just a little longer, please give me just this one selfish moment…just…one…moment more..."