So, here's the third chapter of Responsibilities. I'm aware that it's been almost a year since I updated. I don't know if anyone is still following this story.
I'm not going to make any excuses as to why I haven't updated for so long.
What's important is that there is an update.
Nevertheless, I sincerely apologize for my extreme tardiness. I'll try to do better.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
No problems arose in living with Kakashi.
Kakashi knew the basics of cooking and with a recipe, he could easily make anything. He proved that quite showily the first day we stayed here and I doubted that he would leave me starving. Not that I didn't know how to cook.
Having a previous life that you remember is quite convenient.
"Kashi! Soy sauce, I want!"
I had no idea where Kakashi was but I knew that he was at least inside the apartment. His current mission was to take care of me, and leaving me behind on my own would be failure of the mission provided I am hurt in any way or form. I guess it's Minato's way of telling Kakashi to quit ANBU already.
I heard the cupboard open behind me. "Can't you get it yourself?" he asked, placing the soy sauce on the table before taking a seat on the chair opposite of mine.
"What you talking 'bout?" I asked him while cheerfully squirting the soy sauce onto my white rice.
He clicked his tongue and proceeded on eating the meal that magically appeared before him. I'm tempted to take a peek at his face since there's a possibility that he won't put his guard up with a child like me, but I can just innocently use another method. Yeah, like pulling off his mask when he's carrying me. I'll do that some other time.
Clicking sounds of dining utensils sliding against glass plates echoed. "By the way, how much is left of your allowance after buying furniture and clothes?"
"Uh, one third? Haine doesn't really know." How can he ask a two year old child something like that?
In our agreement, Minato will give me a hundred thousand ryo a month every month. It's up to me how I spend that money but I guess that he knows that a two year old kid couldn't possibly know how to manage money as he placed that money in a bank. He made it so that I can't withdraw without Kakashi's permission. The allowance for the first month was different though as he gave the whole amount to me.
One-third of a hundred thousand is more or less thirty thousand ryo. I spent seventy thousand ryo on furniture, clothes, groceries and of course, more books. I can't give up on fuuinjutsu just because Kushina is sleeping. I'm afraid that she might even be disappointed in me when she sees me slacking off once she wakes up.
So far, I'm working more on theory and practicing my calligraphy. Even if I have memorized all of the kanji, fuuinjutsu isn't limited to those. There are still symbols, shapes and complicated sequences of strokes that I need to memorize and understand. I must have spent at least twenty thousand on the materials for this.
The thirty thousand will have to last a whole month. I don't need anything other than food anyway.
"After you eat, come to the living room. I'll teach you how to manage that kind of money."
I looked up and he was gone, his plate sitting there on the table.
He didn't expect me to clean up by myself, right?
It was time to see Naruto, finally.
We made our way to the Hokage Tower after Kakashi, grudgingly, dressed me up to see Minato. I'm sure that dressing up isn't really necessary but he seemed to think so. I couldn't really complain about it to him, anyway. It would be hypocritical, as I picked the clothes - he just forced me to do so.
I looked around the village.
Even now, the destruction and damage made to Konoha was still apparent with genin teams jumping around the area to clean up the area. Several chuunin were hauling dead bodies and placing them in storage scrolls and I swear I saw a jonin look at me with an odd look on his face before turning to bark some orders to a genin team.
Oh wait. He wasn't looking at me. He was looking at Kakashi.
I barely managed to hold in a laugh. Kakashi looked at me strangely before fastening his pace, dragging me with him.
Hatake Kakashi, the famous Copy-Nin was holding the hand of a two year old kid shamelessly in public. I suppose it can be considered a strange sight.
"We're here."
I snapped out of my trance and looked at the looming building in front of me.
Woah, I was easily dwarfed by its gates.
One of the two shinobi guarding the gates spoke up.
"Hey, Hatake-san! Long time no see!" The two shinobi were all grins at the apathetic Kakashi. I wondered how they knew Kakashi.
He only nodded at them as they opened the gates inside the tower. Huh? Isn't the security too lax? Won't they have to make sure that Kakashi isn't an impostor or something? Better yet, why are they not checking me over?
"Hurry up, Haine. We can't make Sensei wait."
I looked at Kakashi in annoyance. Just wait till he's the one being late all the time. I'll be the one laughing then. Besides, I'm not here for Minato. I was here to see Naruto, and possibly Kushina, if she is allowed early visitors.
We entered the office after going up several flights of stairs. I sighed in relief when I didn't see any people on the floor of the Hokage's office. I guess it was too early.
Kakashi moved to knock on the door. "Minato-sensei, we're here."
No reply was heard but Kakashi pushed open the door, anyway. I wonder if they had a silent way of communicating.
We entered the office and I saw as Minato pushed away the papers in front of him to make room for a bowl of ramen. Ramen for breakfast. Ridiculous salt intake.
"Good morning, sensei," Kakashi greeted and it was ridiculous how much he adored his sensei. He basically got the showing doe-like eyes part covered.
Minato smiled brightly at Kakashi. "Good morning too, Kakashi, and to you too, Haine."
I looked at him, trying to keep wearing no expression on my face. Actually, I couldn't bring to wear any as I felt that it was too heavy at that moment. "Yeah, you too, Hokage-sama."
An awkward silence ensued inside the room while Kakashi shook his head with a resigned gaze on me.
"Can I meet Naruto now?" I wanted to see the saviour of the world, not talk with his father. I still felt mad at Minato and although I know that it's low of me, I simply am not ready to talk to him amiably like before – not that we got along before. I can still remember the number of times I've bitten his skin and drew blood.
Minato seemed to have snapped from whatever he was thinking and nodded, albeit, without the smile. "He's uh...behind my chair.
I blanched as he picked up Naruto from behind him. How could he place Naruto in such a place? Why is Naruto even in his office?
"Don't look at me like that. I just don't want to let him out of my sight."
Of course - I reminded myself that shinobi were paranoid people. They would be nervous about their offspring especially when shinobi get killed so unexpectedly. In fact, Minato should be very dead, right now. I began to wonder the implications of why that happened but was interrupted when Naruto made a gurgling sound.
His cheeks were so tanned that it was hard to see, but they were a cute shade of red, and although he couldn't open his eyes yet, I could almost see the bright blue orbs hidden behind those eyelids.
He was so precious.
"Can I hold him?" I let out without thinking and I froze. That was too forward.
Minato stared at me.
"Maybe when you gain better motor skills, Haine. As it is now, you could very well drop him," Minato explained and I couldn't help but be disappointed. Of course, I should have known. Two year olds can't carry babies in their arms.
But he's still forcing me to train early.
I ignored the thought and just nodded.
"What about Kushina? Can I see her?"
"No." An immediate response.
My eyes narrowed. "Why not? She's in stable condition, right? We made a deal, Hokage-sama." I know that it's unbecoming of me to talk this way to an authority figure but he's not keeping his word!
Minato closed his eyes and turned away from us. "...There is a time for everything, Haine. Now is not the time to see Kushina. You don't have the clearance to see an S-ranked level patient in the hospital."
My only wish was to see Kushina, and he promised me that I could see her any time I wanted if I obeyed him. Now he's telling me that I don't have clearance to see her?
I forced the tears back.
I glanced at him and noticed his weary eyes.
Of course, it's only been two days, since everything changed. He was directly involved in it. I guess I could argue with him another day.
"Well, you guys better get going now. You need to meet a few important people today and for the rest of the month. I hope that you make a good first impression, Namikaze Haine," Minato cheerfully concluded for us as he saw us out the door. To make some important relations remained unsaid.
And so the door was closed.
So that's why I was dressed up so nicely.
I couldn't help but frown at the abruptness of our meeting though.
"That behavior was unacceptable," Kakashi started as we began walking with him leading.
I raised my brow. I guess he's trying to discipline me? "Haine is sorry. Haine won't do it again...maybe."
The silver haired nin stopped in his tracks and I halted to look up at him.
"Why are you referring to yourself like that again?" His eyes bore into me and inwardly, I grimaced.
I had forgotten to act like a kid in front of Minato. It must have been because of my nerves.
I blinked, trying to play innocent. "Naruto cute!"
Kakashi only looked at me before facing in front again. "...okay. Just follow me and don't talk unless I tell you to."
I'm glad he didn't ask any more questions.
The first in line was the Nara Clan. I ignored Kakashi's grumbling about meeting Shikaku because he apparently did something to offend the guy. I don't think Nara shinobi can get offended anyway? Unless Kakashi said that they should die or something along those lines. I'd get mad at that. No one deserves being told to die. There's a natural order to things.
"Yeah, come in, Hatake and the Namikaze brat," Shikaku's voice snapped me out of my trance and Kakashi just snorted before dragging me in by the collar. When did we even get here?
We followed Shikaku – or dragged to follow in my case - as he walked around his home. We passed by a lot of traditional sliding doors before he finally entered one which turned out to be where Shikamaru and he played shogi together. Well, I think it was but I can't really know. That shogi board in the center may be evidence?
Shikaku sat down on one of the cushions that were readily placed there and gestured for us to sit down too. So Kakashi grabbed two cushions from the pile just beside the door - I totally missed them - and placed them down across Shikaku where he put me down and sat down himself.
"So it was true that you were babysitting the Namikaze brat now," he started, staring at me.
Well, babysitting is quite a rude term to use for a shinobi's mission. It implied that they weren't good enough to go on missions outside the village, but I guess that wouldn't apply to babysitting me because of my new status.
"Mah, Shikaku-san. I wouldn't call it babysitting."
"Sure, let's do it your way. So, what's your business? If it's to introduce the brat, then I already know. I was there when Minato proposed the idea of adopting her, you know."
I was there and listening. He could just talk to me, right?
Kakashi shrugged. "I guess you already know but Minato-sensei wants you to teach Haine some stuff."
The Nara head's eye twitched. "Stuff."
"Yes, stuff."
Shikaku groaned, scratching the back of his neck as an exasperated expression donned his face. "How troublesome."
Kakashi grinned, well, his eye turned to those upside-down U's. "Now introduce yourself, Haine."
Oh. I guess that was my cue to talk? Wait, I haven't thought about how I should introduce myself. But it'll be too suspicious if I take too long so I just grinned.
"Hi! Haine is Haine! I'm two!"
And then he just stared at me and was like, "Uh huh."
"Kakashi go help Yoshino set the table for breakfast. Oh, and take all the time you like before calling us over. I'll just talk with your charge here."
Kakashi stood up, walked out the room and closed the door without even looking back at me. He left me alone with a stranger. Well, not really a stranger as Nara Shikaku is probably one of the most trustworthy ninja you can find in Konoha, but I was not familiar with him and vice versa. I just know that he's really smart and that he is Shikamaru's father.
"Weren't you supposed to be able to form full sentences by now?"
But apparently he knew all about me.
Wait, what am I supposed to say to that?
"Haine speaks good!" Well, I'll say I should show that I think myself as really amazing while doing the opposite of the amazing. That's what kids do, based on my experience in my previous life.
"You sure do, huh? What about we play some games, kid?" Shikaku started, standing up and grabbing some items before sitting back down. "Well?"
What do I have to lose? "Okay!"
"Okay, good. So I show you something and you name it. First, what is this?"
He brought up a small silver spoon with beautiful carvings on its handle.
I blinked. "A spoon."
Because it was a spoon and what else should I call it - an antique? Well, it certainly looked old enough but I'm not stupid enough as to show that I had a wider vocabulary than should be to the person who could possibly sniff out that I don't belong in their world.
"What about this?" This time it was a deck of cards inside a transparent container. I don't know what he wanted me to name it. Cards? A container?
In the end, I settled for, "Cards."
The list went on and finally, I made a mistake.
A stupid mistake.
A super stupid mistake that I would cringe over for the rest of my life.
So, I was getting bored of the game and I figured that he wasn't really testing me or anything because of the simple objects that he kept showing me. I just kept answering whatever came to my mind first.
So when he showed me a manual on playing shogi, I just answered what I thought first without thinking. Manual. What's so wrong with saying manual when it was a manual that Shikaku was showing me? The word was even on the green cover.
I unintentionally showed him that I could read. The word manual was even written in kanji. I mentally facepalmed myself. I should have said book. I really should have said book if only to stop Shikaku from staring at me with that blank face again. There's just no way he could have missed that hint.
Even if I knew all the kanji that composed the Japanese language, there is no assurance that he, who had no connection to me whatsoever before this meeting, would know that.
I keep saying that Naruto is the savior of the world but that's in the future. Today, Kakashi was my savior.
"Shikaku-san, Yoshino-san told me to come get you." He walked in just at the right moment my poker face was about to crumble down in front of Shikaku and of course, I stood up, ran over to him and hugged his leg in a pretence that I missed him.
"Kashi! Where you go?" I babbled.
"Uh, to Shikaku-san's wife."
"Oh. Kashi, Haine hungry. Buy bread!"
"We're just about to have breakfast with them, can't you wait?"
No, Kakashi. As much as I want to meet Yoshino and baby Shikamaru, staying with Shikaku is dangerous for me. "Bread!" I whined, trying to act like a kid as much as possible.
Behind me, the clan head merely chuckled. "I'm sure Yoshino will understand, Kakashi."
"Shikaku-san, don't even try escaping your responsibility."
"I'm not.
"Sure." Kakashi sounded frustrated.
The clan head patted my head roughly before saying goodbye. "Just bring her over once a week. That should work."
My life was over.
"Kashi, Haine don't wanna go to scary man's house!" I whined and whined and whined. I've repeated that line four times already and Kakashi still didn't answer me.
By this time, we were walking through the main road of Konoha and back to my apartment where I can enjoy my solitude.
I did say that being outside doesn't scare me anymore but I didn't say that I stopped being scared of people in general. I was not anti-social in my previous life, just a bit reserved compared to my peers, but being cooped up for two years with no human contact aside from Kushina and the frequent visitors like Minato and Honda made me used to seeing only one or two people at a time.
I knew Kushina from the anime. I also knew my visitors and their capabilities. If they had wanted me dead, then they would have already killed me regardless of my previous status as the replacement jinchuuriki in case Kushina dies.
But Shikaku? He was a dangerous man. As much as I admire his intelligence, it will prove exhausting for me to act childish every day in his presence. I mean, I don't have to act like anything I'm not if I'm alone, right? Right? So, really, the best choice for me is to be alone and enjoy my life like that.
So why are we entering the Uchiha Compound?
The wooden walls of the Uchiha compound boasted their clan symbol in varying degrees. However, the one which shocked me most was who was outside the gate, seemingly waiting for something - or someone.
Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke stood just outside the boundaries with the eldest talking to the guard. Sasuke seemed interested in making his older brother bald as he pulled on Itachi's hair with surprising force and velocity for a baby.
"Itachi," Kakashi called out.
What? Are we going to meet the Uchiha now? I thought Kakashi was hated by the Uchiha for taking Obito's eye? Why was he walking so calmly towards its treasured heir?
Itachi turned around and I was hit with the realization that he was still an Academy student at this age. He wore no forehead protector on his body and was free from the tear-through lines that were evident in his older form.
He smiled and goodness, I see now why he is called a pacifist. "Hatake-san, good morning." His smile alone allowed me to relax despite being on foreign ground. His gaze switched over to me and I flinched. "She is...?"
Kakashi shook his head. "No one important. The items, please." As straightforward as ever and what did he mean by no one important! He could have worded it better. I pouted and turned my gaze away from the two, opting to look at Sasuke in Itachi's arms.
He still had the reddish hue that babies had in their early stages but I could see that he looked more like Mikoto than Fugaku - in other words, incredibly feminine. How come his eyelashes are so long? Is that even possible?
Itachi brought out a tiny scroll from his pocket and handed it over to Kakashi. "Mother wanted me to remind you that she can only lend these to you for a year at most."
Kakashi nodded. "Okay, that works out fine. I'll return these before a year passes, then."
I blinked. What were those items?
"Ah! And one more thing. Please don't mention them to my father. He doesn't know about helping Hokage-sama with his child."
Oh, they were for Naruto.
"Alright. Expect to get your reward tomorrow at the latest."
Itachi nodded and smiled before waving goodbye.
Wait, wait, wait. "Kashi! You forgot to say thank you," I spoke out and promptly, the shinobi froze.
The clan heir looked at me in curiosity. "It's fine, it was a mission given to me so it was my duty to see it done," he explained. I looked at him in admiration. He's an angel...but when did the Hokage assign missions to a five year old anyway?
"Let's go, Haine."
Once we got home, it was already nearing lunch time. To my surprise, Kakashi had already bought something on our way home. I was a bit miffed that he bought something without my knowledge since it was my money that he was using but he bought bread too - and I certainly remember asking him to buy me bread at Shikaku's house - so I let it slide.
"Haine, get some sleep after this," he blurted out suddenly as I put away my plate.
I blinked, turning to face him. "Why? Haine wants to read." I needed to finish the book already and practice writing what I've learned.
Kakashi shook his head. "No, fuuinjutsu can come later. I've received instructions to train your physical state first before anything else."
I see. Of course, since I've been cooped up for two years, my physical abilities may be lacking even for an average two year old.
"Okay."
For a moment, there was silence. Maybe he was surprised that I actually cooperated for once, or maybe he had nothing more to say.
The moment the arm of the clock pointed at 12 AM, he was dragging me off my bed and clothed me into a training gear that I don't remember even buying. Then we were off to the private training grounds in the Hokage's Residence.
As I was looking around, having been left behind in the center of the field, Kakashi talked to Minato who waved at me as he nodded at Kakashi and went back inside the house.
"We're going to work on your stamina, endurance and speed first. Do you need an explanation regarding this decision?" he asked, looking at the paper he had been given by Minato in his hands. It was a short strip of paper which must have been sized as a fourth of an index card.
I shook my head, understanding that working on the three would allow me to last long enough in a battle for reinforcements to come or to make an opportunity for escape. I prefer speed over strength anyway. It's better to just strike you opponent out cold in the first strike than to lengthen the battle, saving both energy and time.
Kakashi nodded approvingly and pointed to a lone boulder at the edge of the field. "Your warm-up will be to run ten laps around this training ground. After that, you will complete thiry push-ups, twenty sit-ups, fifty hexagonal jumps, and your first run through the katas of the Flow style."
That…I think I can do something like that. It wasn't nearly as impossible as I thought. Maybe he was taking into consideration that it was my first time training my body – which would be awfully nice but I knew better than to keep my hopes up.
I started the session, taking up enough of the two hour period that was allotted for my training time. Even though he was just making me jog, and even with my gifted stamina with my Uzumaki descent, in just an hour, I was already out of breath by the time I finished the laps.
"We will do this every day until you get used to it," he said as he handed me a water bottle which I accepted gratefully."Minato-sensei entrusted your training to me so I will ensure that you be up to his standards by the fifteenth of next month."
I nodded at him in relief as I moved on to the next activity.
After three hours of nonstop physical activity, my body finally gave up on me and I collapsed in a heap while trying to finish another lap on the rabbit hop activity.
In a flash, Kakashi was beside me. I think he was looking over me as I tried to sit up by planting my elbows on the ground.
"Enough."
I stopped moving. Lifting my gaze up to Kakashi's rather satisfied face, I once again slipped to the ground, confused. Why would he be satisfied? I hadn't completed the activity. Normally, a mentor should be disappointed.
"That's all for today," he added, grabbing me by the arm to lift me up in a standing position.
My knees felt weak and I thought I was going to fall down again but Kakashi lifted me up to his shoulder, making me sit there. I didn't know he had a caring side.
"Did Haine do good?"
"You did. I expected to stay only for two hours but you kept me here for three. I'm going to have to remedy the schedule if training you is going to take this long. A kid can't miss sleep."
I ignored the implication that he expected me to give up after two hours and looked up at the sky, seeing that it was nearing dawn.
I guess it was Kakashi's way of saying that I did better than expected.
Well, if that was all it took to please him, then I wouldn't mind doing it every day...
"You stink, get in the bath."
But that didn't mean that I had to tolerate his attitude.
I bit his hand as he shoved me in the bathtub.
I turned so that I would be lying on my back, my book forgotten on the floor as I had accidentally pushed it out of the bed earlier.
I know that I should be sleeping. It was only my second night in the apartment and it just doesn't feel that comfortable.
The bed was too small, Kushina had a lot bigger one. There were too many windows in my room - I'll talk to Kakashi about taking them down - and the chilly wind coming in made me paranoid. My room felt bare, lacking of the toys and furniture that I was used to seeing in my previous room.
All in all, it just didn't feel right.
Kakashi slept in the room just next to mine and I could hear him sharpening his kunai set. I knew that he knew I wasn't asleep yet. He's a good shinobi that way, not that I'm underestimating his skills or anything. I know very well how skilled Kakashi is.
My mind just can't wrap around him replacing Kushina as my caretaker.
What was Minato thinking, assigning him to me?
Right, Minato. He didn't let me meet Kushina. Maybe he was lying and Kushina isn't really in a stable condition, after all. No, he wouldn't do that. Minato may be a shinobi, but he didn't lie, not to anyone. However, does he expect me to climb up to S-rank just to see her? No way, I can wait that long. I'm not particularly motivated to become a shinobi so doing this to me is just sly.
I'll just pester him every day until he says yes.
I lifted my blanket over my head, covering me from the chilly wind that suddenly got stronger.
I don't even know what I'm going to do with my life.
I was content when I was with Kushina. I didn't care that I had been reincarnated in this foreign world. I believed that those days would go on forever.
I didn't even take into account that I was growing up - the Kushina was a kunoichi, needed by the village. She was only taking care of me because Minato wouldn't let her go on missions because of her pregnancy.
Why was I even reborn in this place, with all these memories? It would've gone insanely better without them. Then I would have had a normal life, as normal as a life can be in a world like this one.
Really, I don't even know anymore.
Am I just going to go with the flow of the story? In which case I've already made a big mistake by letting Minato live - not that I'm regretting that. Minato deserved to live a full life and Naruto deserved a normal childhood.
Kushina...was the reason I didn't think of all this. Now that she's not in the picture, sleeping away in a coma, she basically forced me to face reality. Really, how cruel of her whether she did it purpose or not.
Now that I think about it, I don't even know the details on how Minato and Kushina survived death. All I know is that...the canon Kushina came to life before everything began.
I sat up completely, ignoring the headache that resulted from my abruptness. How did that happen? Nothing like that happened in canon...in which case I can say that I also didn't exist in canon. Was it all because of me?
Ugh. I don't know.
I better sleep this off. Yeah, I should sleep. Everything will be better come morning.
"Everything will come into place, Uzumaki Haine."
I don't know if I imagined hearing that, as sleep slowly came to overtake me and it was pushed to the back of my mind.
I'm sure it isn't anything serious.
My eyebrows scrunched up as I tried to keep my feet beneath my bottom. I'm still not used to sitting in this kind of position.
"If you received information that four enemy shinobi, who are stronger and faster than you, are planning to ambush you, what do you do when you're alone?" Shikaku droned, lying down on the porch while I sat inside the room with a pile of books on my lap.
It's almost like he's punishing me.
"Transform into a common object in your surroundings and mask your chakra bit by bit. To be sure, form a shadow clone and have it run to where you were running to in the first place if the shinobi know it or run elsewhere if not."
Shikaku nodded. "Great." He sat up, signalling that the session was over and I sighed in relief. "It really depends on the type of shinobi that comes after you and your current abilities. If you were your father, what would you have done?"
I placed the pile of books beside me before stretching my legs. "Take them for interrogation?"
"That would work because your father is the fastest man alive and he could easily take them down with his Hiraishin technique. The solution you gave me can work only if you have the abilities you just mentioned."
"Hokage-sama told me that I'm not allowed to tamper with my chakra yet. I need to enter the academy first."
He scratched his nape. "Reasonable, but considering you're an Uzumaki, it wouldn't hurt to have you used to feeling your chakra."
I only nodded. I won't mention the fact that I could already feel my chakra, ever since the Kyuubi's attack. I haven't used it since then, though and since Minato ordered me not to use it, I haven't found a reason to.
"Shikaku, Haine-chan! Come for breakfast!" Yoshino called us out from the dining room.
I stood up quickly and pulled my bag on. "Thank you for your time, Kaku-jiisan. I'll leave now," I made my way to the door before the aforementioned clan head lifted me off my feet by my collar.
"The Hatake boy isn't here yet so I can't let you leave. What's so wrong about eating breakfast with us?" He asked me as he made his way to the dining room, with me in hand.
"I promised Hokage-sama that I would have breakfast in the office, and I know Kashi's going to be late for thirty minutes so I should get a head start!" I reasoned out, struggling to free myself. When I knew that it was no use, I surrendered and let myself be placed on high chair.
Yoshino came over to me and draped a cloth over my lap before doing the same to Shikamaru, who I noticed was right next to me. What was stranger was that he was staring at me with those black eyes of his. Weird, really weird.
I smiled at him the best I could before averting my eyes to face the food I have been handed. Egg over rice with a boneless fish? I guess it's pretty typical for a Japanese meal...until I see a glass of milk beside the rice bowl.
I gaped in horror.
How could they serve me milk!?
Yoshino seemed to notice my expression. "Don't you like the food?"
I shook my head quickly. "Ah, it's not that. It's just...the milk."
My gaze turned to her as I was going to ask for a glass of water as substitute when I happened to see the glint in her eyes. In my peripheral vision, I caught sight of Shikaku facepalming himself and Shikamaru eating quietly while glancing at me a few times.
"Milk is very good for the body, you know?" she insisted, inching her face closer to mine.
My lips twitched from its smile. "Ah...but I really don't like it, Yoshino-baasan."
She smiled and I knew I was done for. "I won't let you leave till you finish all this," she pointed to the food in front of me. "And that goes for the two of you too!"
Shikaku groaned as he began to pick at his food and Shikamaru, bless his heart, looked even paler as he eyed his portion. I'm amazed that he could even understand what she was ordering him to do.
Maybe I could run to the entryway? I eyed Yoshino and judged her ability to catch me. No good, she's at least chunin level. If she were a normal housewife it wouldn't be a problem but... Shikaku just couldn't marry a civilian, huh?
Forcing it on Shikaku may be a better solution...
I grinned. He was the one who pushed me here so I think he deserves to grant me a favor.
I lay on the floor after eating, clutching my stomach and willing myself not to vomit.
She actually forced it on me.
What did I ever do to her? Granted, I've refused a total of twelve breakfast invites from them by disappearing almost immediately after my session with Shikaku but is that a reason to make me drink an abomination? No!
I felt Shikamaru drape his body on my stomach and I forced myself to look at him.
He was once again, unblinkingly looking at me.
"What?"
He blinked and just pointed at my hair.
I was in no mood to play sign language with him. "Come on, I need you to speak to understand what you're trying to tell me."
He blinked again and opened his mouth before closing it, narrowing his eyes in the process. Don't tell me he got too lazy.
I sighed and closed my eyes. "Whatever."
Nara Shikamaru as a kid wasn't as I expected. He never cried, never talked - at least in front of me - and always just sat in one place, unless he was called. He was the epitome of a model first child, at least if I were to have a child.
I never planned to get close to him, though. He was a major character and associating with him would be bad. I've done enough damage, I shouldn't try to make more.
Shikamaru poked me in the eye as soon as I found myself sleepy and god, it hurt.
I sat up in shock, making the one year old lie on his back on my lap. "Ow! Why did you do that?"
I nursed my eye tenderly, becoming temporarily blind as I could not open my other unharmed eye without opening the affected one.
Ugh, I don't even know what goes into this kid's mind! Genius or not, everyone is the same when they're kids, huh?
"Red?"
Huh? What? Whose voice is that? And what does he mean by red?
"Hair red?"
Wait, is that Shikamaru talking to me? I unintentionally opened my eyes to see the truth for myself but it still hurt so I closed them again.
I saw it though. I saw Shikamaru biting on my hair. Mercilessly. With drool on top.
"Stop that! What are you going to do if you swallow a strand?" I chided, trying to gently remove the lock of my hair from his mouth without sight.
Once I have safely secured my hair, I tried to ignore the soggy wetness by wiping it with my handkerchief. "Hair is not food. Wait, you can't even understand me," I grumbled.
"Sorry."
Wait, he knew how to apologize? Figures, he's still the smartest character that ever lived in this world. "I forgive you. Now, let me just lie down in peace while I wait for the stinging to die down." My eye still hurt, for your information.
I felt him plop down beside me and the warmth coming from another human body shocked me.
It's been a while since I lay down beside a person.
That's right...not only Kushina, all the people that exist here are real. They're not characters from a manga - well, not anymore at least. This is my world now.
Shikamaru's breathing evened, telling me that he had fallen asleep.
Maybe it's high time I stop treating them artificially. I already figured out that I'll die here so why can't I make this life the way I want it? Screw the plot, it's already impossible to revert things back anyway.
Once, when I tried going to the training grounds on my own after breakfast with the Nara family, I got lost. Sure, I knew my way in the marketplace and the residential area, but when it comes to finding the right training ground, I had no idea where to start looking.
Thankfully, and I really am thankful or else I would have had to talk to somebody for directions and that's just way too uncomfortable, the ANBU nin who were following me realized my predicament and immediately transported me to the right training ground.
Kakashi was already there that time.
He just snorted at me and began my training.
I swore to be able to navigate my way from the Nara compound to this training ground from then on.
However, one problem continued to face me when I finally arrive.
Kakashi starting his perpetual tardiness.
Of course, I've already anticipated such but that doesn't change the fact that I hate wasting my time - especially on waiting for someone who's I'm sure is just hiding from me until he decides it's time to appear.
I've already prepared myself to start the morning run alone and wait for him to appear beside me but this time was not the case.
"Kashi? Why are you already here?" I was close to gaping, seeing that my almost sixteen year old mentor came earlier than me.
Is the world about to end.
"Wipe that stupid look off your face. Someone was chasing me all around town so I thought I could use you as shield," he reasoned out, and for once, I could see he really did look annoyed.
Chasing him? Maybe it's Gai. He really is amazing, to force even Kakashi to come on time.
Kakashi noticed my stare and frowned. "Go run fifty laps before we start."
"Eh? That's too much!" I've only ran twenty before?
"We're going to up your training. Apparently, Minato-sensei's planning to let you move up the ranks by taking the shinobi placement examination by the time you're genin."
Once again, I gaped at him. Really? He's really going to let me do that! That's so convenient!
"Provided that you stay in the academy till you're at the average graduating age, of course."
Now that dampened my spirits. I'll have to think about it sometime.
The silver-haired jounin picked something up from his pocket. "And before I forget, wear these." He handed me four maroon-colored leather bracelets? Oh wait, two were anklets.
I took them and followed his instruction, wearing one on each of my wrists and ankles. "What are these?"
Kakashi bent down, touching those on my wrists. "They're chakra retaining weights. Minato-sensei made them." His hands glowed blue and already, I could feel them weighing me down. "They're designed so that the more chakra you insert into them, the heavier they get. The most convenient part is that it allows you to store the chakra you put in and take it back whenever you need it," he pointed out by removing the excess chakra he put on my anklets.
"Minato-sensei worked hard on the seals for this so you better use them properly."
The appeal of learning fuuinjutsu just got that much larger.
Kakashi tapped my shoulder. I looked at his smiling face and knew that I will dislike what's going to happen the next. "Now, go run fifty laps, Haine."
I hate him.
I couldn't complete the fifty laps in one go after all.
I had to take three five minute breaks between the run and I couldn't even get up for at least thirty minutes after it. I never knew that wearing weights would bring me down so much.
After that day, Kakashi made me wear them every day, adding to the weight every week.
There's still the getting accustomed to for the first two days after the additional chakra but after that, it goes swimmingly well. I can't even feel them anymore after the week is over.
I better come up with some thanks for Minato, though. Should I just ask him?
"Stop spacing out. We're already here," Kakashi told me, dropping me off at the ground floor of the Hokage's tower.
"Oops, sorry. Oh, and can I head home on my own today? I want to buy something at the market."
"I hope it's nothing like the one you previously bought. I don't want to answer to any complaints from store owners about your conquest again."
I tried to innocently blink at him. It didn't work though. It stopped working since a long time ago.
"I promise."
He just looked at me disbelievingly before jumping away.
I turned and headed for Minato's office. The guards granted me entrance right away, growing accustomed to my visits. I've hardly missed a day for a year and a half already so that should be expected.
Entering the office, I heard before I saw, Naruto crying.
Minato was trying hard to pacify him but to no avail, Naruto only cried louder.
I face palmed. I knew what he wanted, but just because I was late today, it doesn't mean that he should have such attitude.
"Naruto, I brought you some candies! Do you want them?"
The manipulative toddler promptly stopped crying and started beaming at me, stretching out his arms. Minato sent me an apologetic look as I took Naruto from him. Naruto immediately dug his hand in my pocket and pulled out a lollipop.
I opened it and let routine take its course as Naruto and I played in the corner while Minato finished up his paperwork for the day.
"Haine, did you hear about my plan from Kakashi already?"
I looked up at him. "Uh, yeah. About moving up the ranks through the placement exams right?" I'm actually surprised he brought it up so late. That was three months ago.
He nodded. "Yes, with the condition that you graduate at the age of twelve. I want to hear your thoughts about it."
Uh...why is he asking for my opinion all of a sudden? He's talking more than usual too...
"I think it's the fastest way that I can move up the ranks without a genin team tagging behind me and graduating at age twelve isn't really a problem if I take into consideration that I could enroll at age eleven and spend one year at the academy before graduating."
"One year at the academy? What are you going to do with the rest of your time?"
I raised my eyebrows at him. Isn't it obvious?
"I'm going to train of course. Being in the academy will limit my training time and I don't need to befriend kids that won't even make the cut."
Minato stood up and walked towards me. Naruto, curse him, snored innocently beside me.
"You forgot to take into consideration the fact that you're my daughter now."
I don't get his point. My expression must have told him so because he chuckled, further confusing me.
"Being my daughter means that you must be a model example to your peers so that you don't ruin my reputation."
I don't think anything I do will ruin his image. He's too loved by the village.
"And?"
He smiled and I finally realized what he was trying to say.
This is the worst.
"I've decided. You're going to attend the academy once you turn five. You have two years to train as hard as you can before your training time is cut in half."
I glared at him half-heartedly because I knew that I had no way out. "I can't convince you to do it my way?"
Minato only shook his head, casting me an apologetic glance. "Sorry, Haine. It's for your own sake. You need to make a name for yourself or else, Kushina will kill me once she wakes up and finds out what I've been doing recently."
"Oh! And I'm going to continue teaching you fuuinjutsu just as she would have wanted."
I put my best poker face and deadpanned at his beaming smile. I get it now. He's past the mourning stage, now he's in the 'I must do my best to fulfil her wishes!' one.
Why must I be dragged into his moods?
Why am I even making excuses for myself? Minato's normal now, he's not out for my blood anymore! But he's still really annoying.
However, he's right - when is he ever wrong, really? Certainly, I need to make a name for myself if I want to be regarded as a high-ranking ninja and where could I start if not in the academy with kids the same age as me? I could practice my poor social skills there too...
Am I seriously considering this?
And so I found myself at the opening ceremony of the academy, escorted by Kakashi and Naruto, once I turned five.
I stared at the numerous - enough to make me dizzy - aspiring shinobi frolicking with their parents.
This is going to be hell on earth.
So how was it? Haine is going to be in the academy next chapter!
Let me know through a review!
Thank you for reading!
