The ocean air made Anko's young companion sneeze, and rub her small nose. A small laugh passed from the child's lips as a wave washed gently around her feet. The laughter was enough to make Anko smile; she was glad that Kai had given her a chance, to take care of the child for the time she was on her mission.

Watching the child, she shook her head; it was odd, seeing someone, so innocent and young. Unaffected by the war and by the loss, she didn't know she had.

As the saying went " Ignorance is bliss" was only too true for her.

Words from her past came back to her with such ferocity she had to bite her lip to prevent the anguished sob from escaping her

"Why are you doing this" she had asked him.

Orochimaru had turned on her and griped her chin in his hand "Because, you lack hatred" he had replied

If that were true, at that time she was exceeding, full of it now, she wanted to kill the bastard wit a passion. How could he have left, his own flesh and blood, alone in the village?

A grimace passed over her face but washed away when she felt a tug on her pants.

Looking down, she saw Gaiden looking up at her looking pathetically dismayed. Water dripped off the six year old, and her face was covered in sand.

Shakeing her head she crouched down and wiped it off making the child squirm and whine. A sinking fealing filled her stomach and some how she knew.

One day.

The innocent child who stood before her. Would vanish.

All that would remain. Would be a shell.

And nothing she could do.

Would stop that from happening.

Because, fate was set.