"Daddy, what are you doing?" asked Ayame when she caught her father in her room.

Naruto turned around, and smiled happily at his daughter, "Ayame! Hey come over here. Maybe you can help daddy out. I can't decide between the pink shirt and yellow skirt, or the white dress."

Ayame giggled into her book her mother insisted she read, "White Daddy!"

At the sound of her childish laughter, Naruto couldn't hold himself together, and threw his arms around his daughter. He carried her up in the air as she continued laughing from joy.

"You're so cute Ayame! Daddy thinks you're the cutest!"

Ayame was six at the time, and just recently started talking a year ago, "Daddy, why do you have whiskers?" she asked.

Before Naruto could answer, Ayame grabbed his face, and began yanking aggressively, "Haha! Daddy look! They won't come off!"

"Ow! Stop! Let go!"

But Ayame was filled with joy and laughter as she kept violently yanking on Naruto's cheeks. She sure has the strength of her mother, Naruto thought. But one thing that was a mystery to both Naruto and Sakura, were the beautiful little curls at the bottom of Ayame's hair.

She had Naruto's blonde hair, although Ayame's was lighter. And she had Sakura's teal eyes as well as her strength. But Ayame's eyes outshone Sakura's. Unlike her mother's, Ayame's eyes reflected the light in every way. Naruto could cry at how beautiful their daughter was. The way her eyes reflected the light reminded him of the sun reflecting off water. Sparkly. Glittery. Beautiful. His daughter was beautiful in his eyes.

"What's going on in here?" asked Sakura, coming into the room, then, when she saw the outfits on Ayame's bed, she smiled at Naruto, "Ayame, is your father picking your clothes out again?"

Ayame sprinted to her mother, and threw her arms around her legs, "Mommy!"

Sakura laughed and picked her up, "Naruto, don't you think she's old enough to have the option of picking out her own things? You're doting on her too much. She's going to get sick of you."

Naruto let out a laugh too, "She's just so cute, i can't help it."

Sakura smiled, happy at her little family. Looking at Naruto felt magical, and the fact that they had a daughter together felt unreal sometimes. She thought for sure she'd end up with Sasuke one day. But life had other plans for her.

Sakura blushed when she realized Naruto was giving her the same affectionate stare she was giving him , and turned to Ayame in her arms to avoid from blushing further, "Don't you get tired of him picking out your clothes for you every day?"

Ayame shook her head cheerfully, "Mm-mm! Nope! Daddy likes it. And he lets me pick out his clothes sometimes too!"

Sakura's face turned into a confused frown, as she set Ayame down, "Huh? You do? When? Why haven't i seen that?"

"Uhhh..." said Naruto quickly, "We don't have to talk about that. Hey look!" he pointed to the window, "Sasuke and his family are on their way to dinner! We'd better hurry if we want to meet them there!"

But Sakura ignored him, "What kind of clothes do you pick out for him?"

Ayame excitedly started chattering, "One time i picked out a red dress! And another time i picked a suit! And another time i asked him to become a girl so i can have him wear all sorts of dresses and skirts! Daddy looks good in everything Mommy! He said when he's a girl, he has the perfect body!"

"S-Sakura! Wait!" stammered Naruto, hiding behind Ayame when he saw the fury on Sakura's face.

"You wore my things?!" she shouted picking up a pillow, "You jerk! Is that why my bras are stretched out now?!" she yelled hitting him over and over.

"It's not my fault my fake boobs are bigger than your real ones!"

And suddenly the doorbell rang, and the door opened slightly, "Hello? It's Yoichi. Dad says to remind you guys to not be late."

Sakura turned around to give Ayame a tight smile, "Ayame, honey, why don't you go with Yoichi? Me and Daddy will be there soon."

"Do i change before dinner?"

"No sweetie, just wear your cute little red dress you've got on."

Ayame giggled, "You got it! I'm on my way!"

"Good girl. Now, go on ahead."

"Yes Mommy. Bye Daddy!" she waved before she headed towards the door.

"Ayame! Nooo! Save me! Ayame! How could yoooouu?!" yelled Naruto right after she shut the door.

Yoichi, age eight, and the son of Sasuke and Hinata, waited at the door for Naruto and his family to come to the door. He watched as Sakura pounded him with a pilow as he begged for mercy. It's always slightly confused Yoichi how his father, and Naruto became friends. His father says Naruto is one of his closest friends, but how? Naruto is friendly, kind, outspoken and wears his heart on his sleeve. He talks a lot and eats a lot not to mention sleeps like he's dead. His father on the other hand, doesn't take too kindly to strangers, is cold to others, and keeps his emotions hidden away from everyone except his family. Yoichi thought it was strange. But he enjoys the contrast in personalities. He loves his father, but he also admires the difference between his father, and Naruto.

Right as Yoichi is about to close the door and go back to his family, Ayame appeared in front of the door before he closed it, "Hi Ichi! Mommy said to go with you. Is that okay?"

"I don't care." he said, and began walking away.

"Ichi?"

"..."

Knowing she'd been ignored, Ayame bit her lip, and looked down. Dejected. She knew enough about adults that when someone was ignored, it was because they were unwanted, and she knew better than to push. So she walked silently besides him, feeling the sting of his silence. Of his rejection.

When Yoichi turned around, she was looking at the ground as she walked beside him, "What do you want?" he asked, feeling guilty he ignored her.

"I know you don't like it, but can i hold your hand?" she asked looking up at him.

"Why would you think i don't like it?" he asked.

"Because i heard you say once, it's not cool."

"Oh. No, i don't care. Here," he said extending his hand to hers, "Let's go."

Ayame happily put her hand in his and began to walk happily across the village, "Is Satchiko going to be there?"

"Yeah. She's going to be turning four in a few days."

Ayame smiled up at him, "She's so cute! She kind of looks like you Ichi!"

"No she doesn't. I'm not cute."

Ayame giggled, "Yes you are!"

"No i'm not."

"You're funny." she laughed.

Yoichi looked away so she wouldn't see he was blushing, "Why do you like to hold hands anyway? My hand is getting sweaty."

Ayame smiled at him, "Because i love you."

"..."

"Tell me you love me!"

"..."

"Come on Ichi! I love you! Don't you love me?"

"..."

"Tell me!"

"...I don't want to."

"Why? When i love you thiiiiis much!" she cheered trying to open her arms as wide as she could while still holding his hand.

"Is that the reason you try to hold my hand?

She nodded, "Yes. And i like knowing you'll protect me!"

"Why? So people don't run over you, since you're so small?"

"And you're big!"

"I'm not as big as my dad."

"But you're bigger than me." she cheered.

"Everyone is bigger than you."

Ayame laughed, "I know. But i'm bigger than Satchiko."

"I bet she'll be bigger than you in a year."

"No! I want to grow!"

"You won't grow unless you stop being a baby."

"I'm not a baby!"

"Yes you are. Only a baby wants to hold hands."

Ayame thought for a second, but then looked back up at Yoichi with those bright, sparkly eyes, "But if i stay this small, that's okay! Daddy's always saying how he wishes i could stay this way forever. So if i never grow, i'll make Daddy happy! And i'll always be able to hold your hand forever too!"

Yoichi looked away again, hoping she wouldn't see him blush, "Stupid. I was just kidding."

"Ayame!" called Hinata, "Are your parents coming?"

She nodded, "Hello. Mommy and Daddy said they'll meet us here. Mommy was mad because i dress up Daddy sometimes."

"Yeah, i remember that dress." laughed Sasuke. "So he'll be here later then?" he asked walking out the front door.

"Hello Sasuke. Yes! Mommy and Daddy said they will met me here! I promise!"

Sasuke crouched down to Ayame and patted her head, "Is Naruto still doing your hair every day?"

She nodded excitedly, "Yes."

"That's good. Naruto is pretty gentle with those things. Just don't let Sakura do your hair though."

Ayame tilted her head in confusion, "Why, Sasuke?"

Sasuke smiled, "Because. Back when she was younger, her hair looked really sharp and out of control. It looked like she had a rat's tail."

Ayame took a step back, trying to imagine a rat's tail on her mother's head, "A-A rat's tail?"

"Oh yeah." then he smiled creepily and gently tugged on her long blonde curls, "Is that what you want Ayame? A rat's tail? Because i'll give you a rat's tail!" he said creeping closer and closer to her.

"Waaaah! No! No! I don't want my hair to look like a rat's tail! No!" she panicked, hiding behind Yoichi.

Sasuke laughed, "Alright then. Just don't let Sakura do your hair, and you should be safe."

Ayame nodded, still clutching to Yoichi's back, "Okay..."

"Because your hair is pretty. I'm trying to protect you Ayame. Do you understand?"

Slowly, Ayame stood out from behind Yoichi, "Yes Sasuke."

"Are you going to let Sakura ever do your hair?" he smiled at her.

"No!" she cheered happily raising one hand in the air.

"And if she tries, what will you say?"

"I don't want my hair to look like a rat's tail!"

"And who are you going to say told you that?"

"You, Sasuke!"

Sasuke laughed, and patted her head, "You're a good girl Ayame."

It brought Ayame so much happiness when someone called her a good girl. It made her feel like she was making everyone proud, especially her parents. And there was nothing more rewarding to her than to recieve praise from Naruto and Sakura.

"Thank you Sasuke."

She could hear Hinata laughing from inside, "You've brainwashed her Sasuke."

Sasuke stood up and looked at Hinata, "Just like i did with you."

"You didn't brainwash me."

"Didn't i?"

"No. I chose you because you were cute."

"You chose me based on my good looks?"

Hinata laughed, "That's all you're good for."

Sasuke leaned against the door frame, talking to Hinata inside the house as she cooked, "I could say the same to you."

Hinata blushed and looked back at her ingredients as Sasuke continued, "At least your beauty gave you friends. I didn't recieve much from mine. When i was younger, i had difficulty making friends. I wonder why."

"It was probably your personality."

Sasuke usually had a permenant scowl on his face, so Ayame liked seeing him outside of the public eye. Where she can see the real him. He's usually all business, only talking about the war and different strategies about what gave them an advantage, or disadvantage. Ayame felt lucky to be privilaged to see this side of him. A side that her father told her he's recently discovered. A side he never knew he had.

"You want to see Satchiko? She's been excited all day."

"Yes i do!" Ayame cheered.

"She's playing right now. Didn't you just recently start talking?"

Ayame nodded happily at him, "I started talking when i was five."

Sasuke chuckled, "That's why you still kind of talk like a toddler. I forget sometimes."

Suddenly, she looked down at her feet, ashamed at her late development, "Mommy and Daddy were scared there was something wrong with me."

"Don't let it bother you. We understood you with sign language. When you did finally start talking, you burst out with full sentences, instead of a few words."

Ayame's face brightened, "Sasuke! I have a secret to tell you! I looked through Daddy's records, and i was able to practice the shadow clone jutsu! I even went to his office and found other jutsus i was able to practice!"

Sasuke's smile suddenly faded, "What?"

She happily kept going, not knowing what she was about to trigger, "Mmhm! I found things from the Uchiha clan too! Like you!"

"Yes, like me. Tell me more about what you found and practiced."

"Well, since Yoichi is good at it, i asked him to help me practice some, and he said i was really good at it! I even modifed the fireball jutsu and created a new one! I'm so excited to show you and Daddy!"

"..."

Suddenly, Hinata walked out, with her dark hair beautifully braided to the side, it hung down her shoulder and near her stomach, "What jutsu did you create this time?" she smiled at Ayame.

Ayame smiled back, "I can spread the heat of the fire all around my body!"

"That's amazing." said Hinata.

"Thank you!" she cheered back, "But it's still kind of hard for me to control the heat."

"No, but please continue. I'd like to hear more. Have you noticed anything different about yourself?" insisted Hinata, straining not to look worried.

She continued happily, "Sometimes i hear the voices of another boy! But he's too far. He sounds so far away, that i can't really hear him. But sometimes i can hear a few words!"

"Another boy? Tell me more about that." said Sasuke.

But right as she was about to explain more further detail, Yoichi carefully touched her hand. A signal to stop talking. That the adults weren't as excited as she was. That they were worried and concerned. They were trying to get as much information out of her as they could for a reason Yoichi knew wasn't good. He knew Ayame's talent was going to cause her trouble. And he's always tried to protect her. After all, the thing he hates the most in the word, is seeing his favorite girls cry. His words may be as cold as his father's, but he's as gentle as his mother. He's been protecting Ayame since he was four and she was two. Although this time, Yoichi wasn't able to save her.

Sasuke realized that once Ayame stopped talking, she wasn't going say anymore. She's realized that she's in trouble. So he gently scolded Ayame about going through Naruto's things. That some of the things in his room were not meant to be seen by children.

All Ayame could do at the time was apologize and promise to be a good girl from now on. Sasuke then told Naruto, and the two families had sworn to never speak of it again. After a few days, Ayame noticed that they almost never allowed her to be alone anymore. She was always with Satchiko or Yoichi. Almost as if she was being guarded. Ayame soon realized that the voice of the boy began to slowly fade away too. As much as she tried to hold on to the mysterious boy in her head, he began to slip away from her. As he began to fade away, she could hear the urgency in his voice. Begging, pleading not to leave him alone. But after a few more days, he was gone.