Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!
Wow, I've been distracted by other things! It's been a while since I updated! I apologize!
Now we have the next chapter!
Within the next few days, Midori was back on her feet and looking much better, color back to her skin and brightness in her eyes as she walked next to Minato, who led her through the streets of the village to a large compound, which had the same symbol as her earrings. She gazed in awe at all the people moving about, who had fair skin like hers, but with eyes black as night and hair ranging from light gray to chocolate brown and midnight black. She and Minato stood out like sore thumbs with their brighter-colored hair and eyes. The people all wore neutral-colored clothing with the symbol on their backs. She'd never known that her mother's family was so large.
Most of the people bowed to Minato as he passed, and he nodded in return. He was silent through the whole walk to a well-sized house, which he knocked at. She hid, feeling rather inadequate even though she was a girl of high standing. He placed a hand on her head and smiled reassuringly at her.
The door slid open and a woman with black hair, fair skin and dark eyes smiled in greeting. "Hello, Hokage-sama. For what reason do you visit my humble household?"
A little boy with steel-colored hair looked out from behind her and looked up at Minato. He concentrated for a moment before shouting, "Blondie!"
"Itachi, that's not nice!" the woman reprimanded, lifting him up. "I'm sorry, Hokage-sama, but Itachi has reached the age where he's almost impossible to manage. Not only that, he's very smart and thinks that he can handle everything on his own."
Minato smiled. "I can tell. I'm here to speak with you and Fugaku-san. Is he here?"
"Yes, he is. I'll bring you to him."
They entered the house and Mikoto noticed the small pair of geta set by Minato's ninja sandals, but didn't mention it since the girl was completely hidden by the blonde Hokage. She led him to the room where Fugaku was reading from a scroll, which he rolled up at the appearance of his wife.
"Mikoto. What is it?"
"The Yondaime is here to see us both about something."
Fugaku bowed to the blonde man and greeted, "Hokage-sama. Please, come kneel in front of me. What is…"
As Minato walked in and knelt, they finally saw Midori near-clinging to Minato, her face rather nervous as she was coaxed to kneel at his side in full view of who would probably be her new guardians. She kept her head low as a girl of lower rank should to any adult, even though she was the daughter of the feudal lord. Minato placed a hand on her head and began to talk.
"This girl was found outside the village near death, it was clear she'd been attacked and beaten with fierce brutality. She's just recovered and has asked to rejoin her clan."
Fugaku coughed a little as he realized what Minato meant. "You mean this girl's an Uchiha? She looks nothing like an Uchiha, no dark hair and eyes, even if she's slender and pale-skinned! I've never seen such a girl in my life, we keep our bloodline within the village! It's against our clan code to cross-breed with any outsiders, you know that, Hokage-sama!"
"Then how do you explain these?" Minato questioned, lifting one of her earrings.
Mikoto gasped and reached for them. "Those are my sister's. Haruka-chan, she's been missing for fifteen years, but she always wore those earrings. Child, where did you get those?"
Midori looked up, touching the other earring as the first was released. "They were my mother's. She died just after I was born, but my father tried to have me killed because he thought I was a devil."
"What did you do that caused him to have this strong hatred?" Fugaku asked.
"This."
She lifted a hand and a ball of fire appeared in it, yet didn't harm her. Mikoto nodded to her husband, who turned to the girl again. "Girl, what is your name?"
"Midori…"
"Midori-san, do you know what they did with your mother's remains?"
"They cremated her, like they do all the high-ranking nobles."
"At least her body wasn't buried for some other village to steal from. How old are you?"
"Seven, sir."
"Hmm, I suppose you should go through the academy, since you know fire manipulation naturally. Hokage-sama, I accept her into my family since she seems to be just as good as dead to her father. Would you arrange her papers so she'll be able to join a class in her age group?"
"Of course Fugaku-san," Minato answered with a smile. "I'm sure she'll be a skilled user of fire, just as the Uchiha emblem states."
"She will be given my personal attention for a while until Itachi is old enough to be trained as well. I will teach her whatever I can in the Uchiha style, although whether or not she will have as much potential as my son, only time will show its results."
"You also know that she is a girl and cannot be as strong as a boy her age. Please, don't go overboard."
"If that is what must be done, very well."
Minato stood and nodded to the couple before turning to leave. He was stopped when Midori stood and grabbed his duster. He turned and placed a hand on her head. "I know you've grown connected to me, Midori-chan, but now's the time we must part. Please, be the mature girl I know you are and stay here."
She nodded and whispered, "Visit me?"
He smiled gently and nodded, giving her bangs one last mussing before he exited the room.
"Midori-san."
She turned and knelt, lowering her head. "Yes, sir?"
"There are a few rules you must follow while you're here. When you aren't training or at the academy, you must help Mikoto in the daily chores and watching after Itachi. You are on time to everything, lateness will not be tolerated in this house. You must act according to your status within the clan, which is, until you have gained my trust, an outsider. You will wear clothing more suitable for a seven-year-old girl of this clan, Mikoto will help you with that. Also, you must either cut your hair or change the style, two braids flapping in the wind will get you killed. Do you understand everything I've told you?"
She nodded, bowing. "Yes, sir."
"This one is more intelligent than most her age Fugaku," Mikoto pointed out, a soft look in her eyes. "She has the comprehension level of an early teenager, and her manners are superb. Dear, who taught you how to walk with such poise and elegance?"
"My father. He was very strict in all his lessons and I was often reminded of my place in the castle."
"Castle? Your father is a lord?"
"He's the feudal lord of this country."
Mikoto cast a worried glance to her husband, who nodded. He mused, "We might have to keep her within the village just in case her father decides to check for certain that she is really dead." He set his firm eyes on the girl in front of him. "Midori-san, unless you're at the academy or training with me, you must stay in this house with Mikoto. Do not even set a toe outside unless you are bidden by either myself or my wife. Not even for Itachi's sake, is that clear?"
"Crystal, sir."
"Very good. Mikoto, I'll watch Itachi while you get Midori-san ready."
Itachi was set down and the little boy sat next to his father, wiggling with little kid energy, as Mikoto led Midori out. She was led to a spare room where Mikoto took out a black shirt and navy blue shorts.
"These are all we have until we can get you some proper dresses and skirts. Midori-chan, come try these on."
Midori slipped the clothes on and found they were a little loose, but didn't complain. She smiled in thanks, before Mikoto knelt down behind the girl and untied the green ribbons and loosed the braids, taking a brush and running the bristles through the thick locks that were almost curly because of how long her hair had been bound.
"Midori-chan, what kind of style would you like, unless you wish to cut it to a shorter length."
"A single braid that's tied on both ends by my ribbons, please."
"All right, I should be done in a moment."
Midori stood in her normal position: back straight as a board, feet together, hands together in front of her, shoulders back, like the nobility she was. She gasped when Mikoto rubbed her shoulders a little.
"Aren't you stiff from standing like that?"
"No, this is how I've stood all my life."
"You might have to unlearn that, because it might make you stand out in a bad way."
"I don't know how, ma'am. I haven't been in company that had different stances."
Mikoto sighed and smiled. "You might have to watch other girls in your class and see how they walk and stand, because for you not to stand out as a high-standing young lady, you'll have to act like a normal girl down to the very last detail. Can you do that for me?"
"I'll try my best, ma'am."
"And don't call me ma'am, Mikoto-san will do."
"All right, Mi-Mikoto-san."
There's the end of chapter four! I like how I portrayed Mikoto in this chapter. Itachi at four years old! So cute!
As penance for my lateness, I'll post another chapter right away!
Please review!
