Empath, Prankster and Ninja Lessons
Chapter Three Bad Beginning, Excellent End
It was dark out. The streets were devoid of any children, most civilian families were already within the walls of their homes having dinner and relaxing after a long day.
Sarutobi Hiruzen could hardly remember a time he went home at this time of day. The last time, if he recalled correctly was the night before his dear wife died. The night before the kyuubi attacked the village.
Hiruzen sighs deeply as memories of that awful night floods his mind. "Has it truly been five years since that night?" He whispers.
It was then that Kakashi, dressed in his Anbu uniform, shunshin's into his office with two people, one an unexpected guest and the other a guest he had been expecting to see much earlier than this.
"Old man!" Naruto exclaims happily, lunging at the third Hokage who chuckled and embraced the boy.
"Naruto, it's so good to see you." Hiruzen smiles, hiding his fatigue. Sometimes, even Naruto's exuberance couldn't revive him. "I was expecting you hours ago."
The implied question was answered by Kakashi. "There was a problem at the orphanage." He says delicately.
"They kicked me out," Naruto says bluntly. "Even though it wasn't my fault but they wouldn't listen. But that's okay because then I met Aika-neechan and she taught me about trust and- and we followed this old lady and then- and then she told me about me being precious and then she said she'd teach be to be a ninja as long as jiji says yes so can you? Say yes!" Naruto laughs, his words rushed and barely coherent.
"They kicked you out?" Hiruzen asks, surprised but a cold fury slowly beginning to build.
"Yeah, some kids were picking on one of the babies, pinching her and making her cry and when I tried to stop them, one of the kids fell and started crying and when the grownups came they started yelling and they kicked me out." Naruto answers, fighting to keep his smile and light hearted tone and failing miserably.
Naruto's face becomes pinched and his lip trembles as he pushes his face into Hiruzen's side, clutching tightly to his robes. Hiruzen looks up at the other two present in the room, his eyes demanding answers.
"Naruto ran off afterwards and I found him wondering around district nine. We spent a couple of hours in the park there, just talking and when I was taking him back we came across an academy student practicing their henge and infiltration skills and we followed him back to the academy. I was trying to teach Naruto that not everything is as it seems and that he shouldn't trust me without being sure of my intentions." Aika says, summarizing their evening.
"Yeah, but I know I can trust Aika-neechan," Naruto says, his confidence obvious even past his tears and sniffles. "After that we went back to the orphanage and Aika-neechan was telling me that even though I trust her, people who care about me might not yet and that you'd be worried if she took me home and you couldn't find me. Then we saw Dog arguing with that mean old man and Aika-neechan told me that he was angry because he cared and stuff."
Nothing in Kakashi's posture gave it away but behind his mask(s) he was blushing in embarrassment. He wasn't ashamed about caring about Naruto, he just wasn't used to his emotions and feelings blatantly being pointed out.
"Dog was arguing with the caretaker?" Hiruzen asks, surprised. "Aloud?"
"Yeah, he even growled and stuff. He was angry that that mean old man was calling me a monster and kicking me out." Naruto confirms, innocently escalating Kakashi's embarrassment. "That mean old man said that he only said that he would take care of me for five years and I already had my fifth birthday so he wasn't going to take care of me anymore."
A silence follows Naruto's words. No one really knowing what to say.
"I was really sad and angry when I heard them yelling," Naruto says after a while, his face contemplative. "I don't get why he hates me so much, why everyone seems to... But Aika-neechan said that they only hate me because they don't know me and their too stubborn to learn..."
Hiruzen looks at the young woman in his office. She stood there, seemingly relaxed except for the fact she was beginning to perspire.
"I'll just have to show them who I am! I'll be so great that they can't ignore me anymore and they'll have to see me!" Naruto says firmly, drawing Hiruzen's attention once more. "Which is why you have to say yes, jiji! Even Dog says that Aika-neechan is super awesome! I just know I'll be a great ninja with her help!"
Hiruzen chuckles, sometimes he wonders if anything will keep Naruto down for long. He doubted it and that was why he was sure that Naruto would accomplish his dream. Seeing such determination gave him the strength to keep going. If Naruto, who was a little over five wasn't going to quit in the face of his obstacles, why should he bow to time?
Turning back to the young woman, Hiruzen notes the minute details that showed her strain; the slight tensing of her shoulders, her brow beginning to perspire, the barely discernable pinching of her lips, her twitching fingers. Signs that only a professional would pick up and proof that even now she was an excellent ninja. Or would be, when or if she overcomes her... condition.
"Aika, how are you feeling?" Hiruzen asks.
Aware of what exactly he was asking, Aika smiles, her face a bit tense with strain. "I'm a lot better than before. I've spent the entire day in the village... but I would truly appreciate going home soon."
"Is something the matter, Aika-neechan?" Naruto asks, noticing the conversations undercurrent.
"I can't be around people too long is all." Aika replies nonchalantly.
Hiruzen makes a vague noise of agreement and looks over the girl worriedly. She may have played off how strenuous it was for her to be around too many people but Hiruzen knew better.
Aika was the sole member of the Shiragiku main family. They are a well-kept secret of the fire nation, a civilian clan with a kekkai genkai. Their kekkai genkai makes them natural sensors and excellent interrogators. They have the natural ability to sense chakra and can also feel the emotions of those around them. The more developed their chakra coils and the bigger their pools, the farther they can sense and the more they feel. The clan is scattered throughout the fire nation as physicians, psychologist, merchants; their ability makes them naturally predisposed to dealing with people. They are an old and wealthy clan. Aika, is the only living member of the main family. The reason for that; the kyuubi no kitsune. The night the kyuubi no kitsune attacked Konoha, the kyuubi incited panic, fear, despair, hatred, and confusion. Such a large concentration of negative emotions overwhelmed the members of the Shiragiku main family, who had made a home within the walls of Konoha, to the point that they were driven into madness. Some committed suicide, others became comatose or simply non-responsive and died.
Aika is somewhat of a miracle. She was the only member of her family to develop her chakra for use as a ninja and that should have killed her. But she managed to hold onto a sliver of her sanity and four years later, she left the psychiatric institution to live in her family's home.
She may never be able to handle the strain of battle, but she was building herself up again and Hiruzen was sure she would return to being a ninja of Konoha, even if only as a chunin instructor.
The question was; was she ready? Was she ready for even a single student? He wasn't worried about her ability as a ninja or instructor, he was worried about her well-being. If she pushed herself, she could be driven into seclusion. All the progress she had made in the past five years could be for nothing and she had gone through so much already that he'd hate for that to happen.
"I can handle it, Hokage-sama." Aika says, smiling comfortingly. "I told Naruto I would help him. I can do it."
"Ma, as long as the training is mostly done in her home, I don't think it'll be much of a problem." Kakashi interjects.
Hiruzen raises an eyebrow at Kakashi's conduct, under different circumstances he would have had Kakashi disciplined for his casual behavior but considering the only people within the office were him, Aika (who knew who was under the Anbu mask and was someone you literally could hide practically nothing from) and Naruto (who was only five and had little to no observational skills), he would allow it. Just this once. Though he would be discussing this with him at a later time. Turning his attention back to the conversation at hand, Hiruzen looks into Aika's confident gaze and Naruto's pleading eyes and sighs deeply. "As long as you're sure, Aika-chan."
"Yes! You're the best, jiji!" Naruto exclaims, jumping up, arms out stretched.
Hiruzen chuckles and waves them all into seats and taking his own, Naruto climbing onto his lap. "Now, as for Naruto."
"What about me?" Naruto asks, head tilted back, grin firmly in place.
"Well, we need to figure out some living arrangements for you." Hiruzen replies. "I don't much care for putting you back in the orphanage, so the question is where shall you live."
Aika smiles indulgently, brow raised and huffs in exasperation. "Are you asking me or Dog to take Naruto in?"
Hiruzen coughs and pulls his hat down to cover his light blush. He should know better than to be anything but blunt with a Shiragiku. They weren't much for beating around the bush and were liable to call you out when you did.
"I can't even take care of my house plant," Kakashi volunteers. "Naruto would be much safer with you Aika."
"You are rather hopeless," Aika sighs dramatically. "If Naruto went with you, I'd never get a wink of sleep for worrying so much. Especially considering your taste in literature. He's far too young to be corrupted just yet."
Kakashi shrugs, taking the jibe in stride.
"I'm going home with you?" Naruto asks hopefully.
"Well, I'm going to be your sensei, so I suppose that would make the most sense." Aika smiles teasingly. "I guess you get your wish Naruto."
"Yes! Best! Day! Ever!" Naruto shouts, jumping up again and trembling with excitement.
A/N: Enter the Sandaime Hokage and some background for Aika, her circumstances and her family.