Note: Updating all the time. I really want to get this finished. Also: Yes, there will be some holes in the plot. They can and will be covered later.
Once Upon a Time
The horse drawn wagon was in no way comfortable. And nine year old Yukiko was already tired of the long bumpy ride. She looked around and saw several of the team sent to guard the merchant caravan walking alongside it. She supposed riding was preferable to walking the entire distance to Konoha, but she still wished it were more comfortable. She shifted in her seat and sighed.
"We'll be there before you know it." The older man sitting beside Yukiko said. He gave her a pat on the head and continued. "Just be glad your father decided to travel with the caravan and not walk. There's no way the new Otokage would have let him go without an escort party. And then it would have taken days instead of hours." Yukiko frowned at the man. Sho had been her bodyguard for the past year and a half and she appreciated his company and his advice. But sometimes she just wanted to be allowed to mope.
"But Sho, I still don't see why we have to leave. Why my father had to step down. We had a good life in Oto!" She complained. Sho watched the young girl as she slouched over and rested her hands on her fists, obviously unhappy with her new situation.
"You already know why. Sasuke took the position of Otokage only under the condition that he could return to Konoha in five years. He got Oto up and running again. And he found someone who could run the city better than he could. Oto is a better place now." Sho explained to the girl for the third time that week. He knew she knew what he was going to say, but it was the only thing he could say to Yukiko without upsetting her more. "His five years are up. So now the two of you are going back to Konoha." Yukio let out another sigh.
"It just seems pointless. I like Oto. I have friends. I barely know anyone in Konoha. Father just doesn't understand." Yukiko fumed.
"Haven't you thought about how your father feels about all of this?" Sho asked. Yukiko looked up at him.
"No. But I suppose he's just looking forward to going back." Yukiko bit back. "Not like he had anything back in Oto."
"He gave up more than you think when he decided to come to Oto." Sho said.
"I don't see how that makes a difference." Yukiko huffed.
"Look, I'm not really the person you should be hearing this from," Sho began, glancing around. "But your father had to make up for many of his past mistakes before they even let him set foot in Konoha again. He worked hard to make that village his home and make sure he could take care of his family. He left half of his family behind because a few desperate people from Oto begged him to help the village. I'm surprised he even accepted. There wasn't much of a reason for him to leave everything behind. Not after all he did to make things right. So don't be angry that he wants to go back."
"He never... Father never told me how much he left behind." Yukiko whispered. "I'm being selfish, aren't I?" She asked.
"Everyone is, at some point." Sho countered. "I'm selfish in wanting the both of you to stay. I simply chose not to act on it."
"You really want us to stay?" Yukiko asked, eyes bright.
"The whole village wants you to stay. Your father is a great leader. And you've become something of a princess in the eyes of the people. It's hard to see you go."
"Then why hasn't anyone said anything? Why haven't you told father you want us to stay?" She asked, somewhat thrown off by Sho's blunt comments.
"Because," Sho said. "We know that it isn't where you belong. Everyone may want you in Oto, but I think you'll find Konoha a better fit. Just trust me. It's going to be your home, even if you don't think so now."
"Yeah. We'll see." Yukiko said. She leaned back and looked ahead. In the distance she could see the tall walls of Konoha looming. Perhaps it could be home. In time.
