Prelude

The Land of the Dragon was at peace. Or so it seemed.

For the most part, it did seem to be at peace. It was the most serene of places in all of the lands. The Land of Dragon was neutral in all battles, and for that alone, some showed resentment towards them.

For it had the most powerful weapon of all, and refused to use it.

Its name was Angelic. It was the most powerful demon of all time, preferring to show itself in a golden hewed angel form, rather than any animal. The demon though, was unlike others. The fox demon, which has been told about so many times, was violent and powerful. Angelic was just as powerful, if not more, but she refused to fight. She said, creation was the thing we make, so why destroy it? She lived, strengthened, and powered the Land of Dragon.

The inhabitants of the Land of Dragon lived happily and in a tranquil form, living alone on one small island, shaped into nothing in particular. They preferred their lives that way. And it had been that way for hundreds of years.

Then, on an ordinary day—with the sun shinning brightly and children laughing with joy, two sacred children were born.

Both children were blessed by Angelic.

Angelic blessed one child with the lightest part of her soul, giving her half of her power, which was more then anyone could ever imagine. Another child, unknown to all, was blessed with the darkest half, giving it just as much power. No one ever found the child—and Angelic never told who that child was.

But the child she blessed openly was still kept well out of the spotlight, being sheltered in many ways by her family.

"Ninta, it's time you came inside!" a soft, but calling voice carried into the streets. A girl with long blonde hair, wearing a white dress lifted her head to respond, before she saw the carrier of the voice standing there before her.

"But Okasan, it's nearly twilight. Peyton-o-sama was supposed to be coming along anytime now! Can't I play outside just a little longer?" the girl begged standing up straight so she could face her mother if only a little better.

"When did the Prince say he was coming to visit?" the mother's eyes grew wide at her daughters words. Yes, her daughter and the Prince had always been the best of friends, since the very first time they set eyes on each other, but still. She would have liked to be prepared beforehand for His Highness.

"Ohh-kaah-saaan," the girl whined long and loud, "You've known for two whole days. You said he could only stay late when I asked if he could sleep over."

The mother remembered her sly little girls question suddenly, and let out a slow sigh to try and sooth her exasperation.

"Of course I remember Ninta, I was only teasing you. Wipe off your dress—then you may go wait down the road for him. And be careful!" The mother realized her daughter hadn't heard a word she said as she went running down the road to watch for her companion.

Ninta was practically jumping up and down from excitement. Peyton-o-sama hadn't been at her house in weeks. His mother had always insisted Ninta take the long walk to the Palace in the middle of the island even though Ninta lived near the bay.

And when the little boy came darting down the road, his robs billowing out, and his black hair flying with the wind, Ninta cried out with pleasure and rushed at him with open arms.

"Peyton-o-sama, I've missed you so much!" she cried out as their small arms wrapped around each other. Six year olds, at that stage of innocence, were still entitled to public affection in the Land of Dragon, and Ninta always milked it for all its worth.

"You saw me yesterday, Ninta-chan!" Peyton laughed hugging her back before pushing her back a foot or two.

"But yesterday seems like forever ago!" Ninta just couldn't keep still as she went soaring back down toward her house. Peyton could barely keep up.

"Not really. It was only a few hours," Peyton had been taught to keep his affection hidden, deep, deep within him. And so he did, even with his very best friend.

Ninta laughed loudly though, with joy as she pushed open the door to her house.

"Ohh-kaah-saaan, is Peyton-o-sama staying for dinner?" Ninta called into the house as she skipped around her living room absentmindedly. Peyton neatly placed himself on a cushion and waited for an invitation to speak.

"I suppose he could if he would like too," Ninta's mother walked into the living room, stepping around a blissful Ninta wearing an apron and carrying a mixing bowl, "But only if you calm down some. You're going to summon all the chakra in the house if you keep up that."

The last part was under her mother's breath, as Ninta only new she was powerful with her chakra. Ninta let out a disappointed sigh before plopping down besides Peyton on the cushion beside him.

"Yes Okasan," she responded politely, but her mother sensed her impatience and couldn't help herself and smiled.

"Your Otousan and Yaoui will be home soon. Then you'll have to get in your kimono for the festival," Her mother declared from the kitchen.

"Why can't I wear what I'm wearing now?" Ninta whined from where she sat, gaining a disapproving nudge from Peyton.

"Because you got it all dirty from the mud outside. You'll change, or I'll change you," her mother sent her a glare from the kitchen doorway before stumbling back into her work. Ninta sighed letting her shoulders drop.

"I heard my Okasan say that ANBU from the Leaf Village will be at the festival," Peyton whispered to her, not willing to let his friends feelings drop.

"I know. My Okasan's brother, Kakashi-ojisama, is an ANBU. He promised when he got here he'd buy me a chocolate ice cream from the first vendor that had them," Ninta cheered a bit after thinking about seeing her uncle that very night.

"I didn't know you were related to any ANBU!"

"You also didn't know I wanted to become a ninja,"

Peyton was just about speechless at this. In all the years he had known Ninta, she had never shown an interest in being a Jounin. She had picked wild flowers at the side of the road. She had chased after stray puppies at random. She had been downright girly, and now she wanted to fight big bad guys that the Land of Dragon despised.

"You can't Ninta! You'd be a disgrace! You know what my Otousan thinks of Jounin! He would banish you! And besides, you're Onee-san died in your Okasan's arms only a year ago! You can't let that happen again! You know you're Nii-san already plans to become one as well! Why do you have to too?" Peyton had to remind himself it was polite to stay seated, and remind himself again that manners were required of a Prince, whether they were comfortable or not.

Ninta gritted her teeth and thought about responding before she finally did. When she did, she used her words carefully.

"I want to become a Jounin. You can't stop me. I feel it inside me. I don't know why. But I know I have to be a Ninja, Peyton-o-sama. Angelic wants me to be,"

"Angelic wants peace," Peyton could not believe they were going over this. The only reason he knew so much was because it was…beaten into him.

"Then I will bring it. And to you, Peyton-o-sama,"

Peyton only stared at his friend. What more could he say to her.

"Dinner!" Ninta's mother called impatiently as both the children rushed up and into the dining room.

The festivities were under way, and the Uharuhi family was laughing and cheerfully dashing through the streets from vendor to vendor, entertaining the small girl who wanted to see everything.

"Ojisama!" Ninta cried out as Kakashi encircled her in his arms. His small joy could be found in the small child, although at all other times he hid it well.

"Konichiwa Kirer. I missed you," he kissed the top of her head softly as she nuzzled her head into his neck, "Is this a new kimono you've got on?" he asked pushing her back so he could examine her purple flowered kimono. Her mother had obviously spent a lot of money on it, but the ribbon was already unraveled and Ninta was dusted with small amounts of dirt.

"Okasan bought it for me. I'm supposed to say it is very pretty and arigato. I don't want too," Ninta pushed out her lips, speaking her mind to her beloved uncle.

"Ah, I see," he chuckled scooping her up once again, "I think my Taisetsu is a lovely little flower,"

"Hey," a man with a smug face walked up holding Kakashi's sister by the waist, "That's my line."

"Too late, it seems to already have been used," Kakashi didn't show he was smirking, but the one person he loved to make fun of was his sister's husband, Ojaka-sama, even though he was his superior.

"That's too bad, isn't it Nehchah?" Ojaka asked with a smile, scooping his daughter from his brother-in-law.

"It's so good to see you Kakashi-otouto-san," Ninta's mother teased. Kakashi only hugged her.

"No more children to announce? My Taisetsu was your last?" Kakashi pulled away, putting his sister into a fit of giggles.

"Iie. No more children Kakashi. Too much has been lost by me, only so much gained," she closed her eyes a moment, remembering her bleeding Amaya lying lifeless in her arms.

"That was not your fault Hoshiko. You know that," Kakashi whispered this, getting caught back up in the morbid past, "Let us be in the now for awhile."

Hoshiko nodded, hiding her soberness and smiling at her daughter and her husband.

For quite awhile they all watched the parade, ate ice cream, and did whatever Ninta requested they did. As the night began to wind down, Ninta was able to talk to Peyton with his parents, and then they separated again. Ojaka was just beginning to suggest they head home when they began to hear shouting.

"Okasan!" a lean boy with the blonde hair to match Ninta ran up to them.

"Yaoui, you made it! It's a little late though. No matter. I thought you would have work in the Leaf Village!" Hoshiko embraced her son, not aware of the urgency burning in his eyes.

"Not now Okasan! There is urgent news!" he flashed his father a quick and meaningful gaze as he pushed his mother away.

"What is it Yaoui?" his father asked intently, handing Ninta back over to Kakashi.

"The—The Sound Village, they—they're coming. They're coming to fetch the children," Yaoui sent a burning glance at his small sister who was completely oblivious. He was glad for it.

"That's not possible! They signed a treaty to leave them be!" Ojaka growled, "And what does the Ouja plan to do of this?"

"Nothing," Yaoui whispered, "He says to let them have the children, or perish. He just wants what he thinks is 'peace',"

Ojaka and Hoshiko exchanged one glance and in that one glance was a universe of speech, of love, of telling.

"You know what to do. You remember how we planned it,"

"No," it was not a response to what he was saying, but a denial to what was happening.

Kakashi disappeared into the shadows with Ninta in his arms still whispering, "Meet me at the docks Hoshiko,"

"You have to, Ai," he took her shoulders and kissed her forehead, "You knew this would happen someday."

"No," she whispered again wrapping her arms around her husband and forcing the world to depart, "No I didn't. I thought I had wished it away. Angelic wanted peace, so I believed we would have it. How can a child be a weapon, Ojaka?"

"I don't know Hoshiko, but we have to protect her as best as we can,"

She lived in this one moment, for this one simple treasure of holding him for one last time in either of their lives.

"Ai, go now. Your Otouto waits with Ninta. She needs you now more then anything,"

"You promised we would live together forever," her eyes filled with tears, but she forced them to stay back. She would have a steady hand until they left.

"In our hearts, Ai. You must go now. Aishiteru," he whispered in her ear, kissing her full on the lips, before darting off between the crowds. Hoshiko stood there a few moments longer, letting one single tear slip over. She would shed many many more for him after she got away.

After she got to there last daughter.

She would die herself before she watched her last daughter die. She would not let it happen. She would have Ninta live.

"Aishiteru," she whispered.

The boat pushed off the dock, a secret escape for Ninta when the time came, but she didn't understand what was going on.

"Why are we leaving Otousan? Otousan would want to come with!" Ninta declared standing at the edge of the boat watching the bright lights of the festival.

"Otousan will come soon," her mother told her, her body shaking. Ninta didn't understand this either. Her Okasan was always happy, cheery, making sarcastic comments to either her, her Nii-san, or her Otousan.

"What about Peyton-o-sama?" Ninta continued to watch the goings on of the fading village.

"You will see him again…someday,"

Ninta let it be and curled up next to her mother, trying to comfort her. As mother and daughter fell asleep together Kakashi stayed awake with Yaoui to steer and take care of the boat.

They were they only ones who heard the tortured screams as the Land of Dragon were slaughtered. Kakashi looked away in agony, and continued on to the Leaf Village.