AN: Another update, and in only two weeks time (more or less). That deserves some sort of cash prize...round of applause...I'll settle for a review.
Opening my eyes I find myself looking straight onto the tiled ceiling of the hospital. Granted I wasn't sure where I was inside the hospital, but from the look of the warned and stained ceiling above me there was no doubt that I was still in the hospital. Sitting up straight I take a moment to survey the area around me; a few sofas and lounge chairs placed haphazardly throughout the room with the most ordinary looking coffee table covered in various magazines.
Great, I was in one of the hospital waiting rooms. Last I remembered I was waiting on the hallway floor outside my mother's room, I suppose at some point I must've dozed off. Someone must have taken me here while I was asleep without my knowledge, just another perk of being a toddler again. Aside from all the furniture the room was void of any other human presence; my first instinct was to go outside and run into someone. With any luck I'd get some information as to where my parents where at.
I started making my way towards the door but before I can make any headway the door handle turns and in walks the hospital director herself, in all her busty blonde glory. She quickly shut the door and took a seat on the nearest sofa. "Take a seat Yorutaka, we need to have a little talk."
I just stood there staring at her for a moment; she had actually called me by my name. Not gaki, or little heir, or olive eyes. Yorutaka. If that wasn't ominous enough then her expression really sealed the deal. She looked as if she had just come from a funeral.
The thought barely crosses my mind when my pulse quickens in anticipation. I take the offered seat and wait for her to start talking. As my mind floods with all the different scenarios this talk could be headed towards there's one thing I do know for a certainty. I'm not going to like what she has to say.
If the amount of sunlight getting through my window and onto my face was any indication it was time to wake up and get ready for the academy. Sandwiching my face in between two pillows did nothing to shield my bleary eyes from the irritating rays. But still I endure, refusing to get out of bed, because at any moment approximately thirty pounds of unbridled energy and glee would pounce on my 'sleeping' form to officially start my day. Today would be especially enthusiastic considering the date on the calendar. November fifteenth, a bittersweet day in the Nohara household.
Like a lion going in for the kill my attacker struck quickly and without remorse, giggles abundant as she hopped on top of me. Stripping me of my pillow the culprit proceeded to lightly slap me on the cheeks, truly an expert at getting my attention.
"Time to get up Niisan." She greeted me with a smile, to most it would appear to be your standard smile but I knew better, it was a sadistic smile. A smile that represented the copious amounts of joy she gained through my own suffering.
"Have a little pity for you elder brother Rin-chan, you're getting heavier with each passing day." Turning to face her I came face to face with my younger sister, Rin Nohara. The spitting image of her mother, same brown hair and eyes, the similarities continued when it came to their personalities and mannerisms.
"Come on sleepy head, it's time to get up. Don't you know what day it is today?" She questioned, her tone far too energetic for seven in the morning.
Almost immediately I knew what she was referring to but the chance to get some revenge was just too tempting to pass up. "Of course I know, it's Tuesday." Upon seeing her expectant face I continued to prod. "November fifteenth, that reminds me, we'll be having a test today. Thanks, can't believe I almost forgot about that."
The look on Rin's face was heartbreaking, a cute pout and watery eyes replaced her smiling face as she hopped off my body. "Y-you forgot, didn't you?" She turned and began walking towards the door in a fashion reminiscent of a kicked puppy.
Getting out of bed I quickly enveloped the forlorn little girl in a hug. "Fooled ya, didn't I? Of course I remembered your birthday." She was quick to return the hug, relief spreading across her face.
"I knew you were just pretending Niisan, you always do." She responded, wiping some tears that slipped onto her cheeks.
"Sure you did. Besides, how could I forget? You've been talking about it for the past month." Releasing Rin we began making our way out of my room. As we walked she began stealing glances in my direction, expectation etched in her features. "Why are you looking at me like that?" I finally asked which in turn only made the little girl grin expectantly.
Rin placed her hands on her back as she began taking on a more bashful appearance. "Can I have my gift now Niisan?"
"The gift comes after I come back from the academy." Pouting slightly because of my rejection she continued walking to the kitchen while I made my way into the bathroom. Standing in front of the mirror I brush my teeth and wash my face. Once I'm done I continue to look at my reflection in the mirror.
There's something about looking at myself that just seems off. Even after eight years it still takes me a moment to register the image I see in the mirror as being me or at least the new me. Black hair that begins to curl the longer it gets, slightly tanned skin yet to be tarnished by puberty, and vibrant green eyes just above purple patches distinguishing me as a member of the soon-to-be world famous Nohara clan. Puckering my lips I set my sights to the one blemish on my face, a mole just above my lip that taunts me every time I set my sights on it. If there's one thing I'll do in this life before I die it'll be growing a mustache as soon as I'm able. Not just any mustache either, the big and bushy kind with the ends curled to give it that certain je ne sais quoi.
Bringing my hands up to my face I lovingly stroke my imaginary mustache as one would do to a pet. Yes, it was going to be epic, the stuff of legends, several leather bound books would be written about it.
"Yorutaka! You'd better hurry up and eat your breakfast if you want to make it to the academy in good time." The deep voice and underlying threat could come from none other than the patriarch of the family, Naoki Nohara.
"Hai, I'm coming already." Leaving the bathroom I make my way through our quaint home and into the kitchen where my father and little sister are already eating. I quickly join them at the table, an uncomfortable silence surround us. The silence was due to a certain four year old having her mouth occupied with food and thus rendering her unable to break the silence as she was accustomed to doing.
"So, I heard the final exams are going to be next month, are you ready to take them?" He asked, finally breaking the silence between us. It was a question that he very well knew the answer to; after all he had been the one training me nonstop for the past six months for it.
There was no question I was ready to not only take the exam, but pass it with flying colors. Still, I suppose I should humor him and just play along. "Hai Tousan, all of our training has really payed off. When the time comes I'll be ready."
The older man smiled, nodding his head in approval. "Good to hear, confidence can be the difference between success and failure. Uncertainty and doubt have taken the lives of many great shinobi." His expression never changed, remaining blank and giving no indication of his true feelings to the untrained eye. But years of living with the man had made a self-proclaimed expert on reading his features, and right now they were telling me that he was upset, a bit down even. "The hokage and the rest of the council are calling on the more experienced shinobi to take on more missions. Which means…"
"So you're going to leave on my birthday daddy?" Rin murmured, already knowing the proud shinobi's answer. We both did, somehow he always managed to get assigned a mission around the time of Rin's birthday. More than coincidence if you asked me.
"Yes, I've arranged for someone to look after you while your brother and I are out of the house. Sandaime-sama himself recommended her, said she was great with children." She nodded solemnly and it just broke my heart to see her so down. It's in these moments that I can't help but wonder how things would be different if mom was still around.
Finishing my meal I say a quick farewell to the both of them and make my way to the academy. One thing was for sure, I wouldn't be able to focus on anything thinking of my adorable little sister spending a miserable day with some complete stranger. I can only hope whoever it is really is good with kids because Rin is going to need some major cheering up today.
Once Yorutaka had left for his classes Naoki had also retreated back into his room, no doubt preparing himself for his upcoming mission. This left the birthday girl all by herself in the living room, lip quivering and on the verge of tears. The only thing stopping her from spilling her tears was the fear of her father finding out. There was nothing the man hated more than seeing her cry, it made her look weak and childish, and she was anything but. For crying out loud she's already four years old, her brother was an expert with a kunai by that age. Or at least that's what father had said.
A knock at the door grabbed her attention; most likely her babysitter had just arrived. Hopefully the person would be nice to her this time; more often than not the genin watching over her would get annoyed or ignore her for the rest of the day. Of course they'd make sure she was fed and had a pulse by the time their shift had ended but nothing more. No talking, no playing, not even a friendly smile in her direction.
Rin walked towards the front door and waited for her father to come and let the babysitter in. Within a moment her father had arrived with his pack slung across his shoulder, all packed for his mission. Opening the door revealed a girl of no more than fifteen years of age. She had a bright smile and the most beautiful red hair cascading down her back.
"Hi, my name's Kushina Uzumaki. I'll be in charge of looking after your children while you're gone." She extended her hand out in greeting to which the older man accepted.
"Nice to meet you Uzumaki-san, please come in. I am Naoki Nohara." Naoki stepped aside to let the red head in as he continued his introductions. "This is Rin, she's my little angel. Her birthday is today and unfortunately I won't be able to celebrate it with her. I hope you can accommodate her on her special day. And as for my son, Yorutaka, he just left for the academy. He's a pretty obedient child; just make sure he continues his training and studies, no slacking off. Rin, you be a good girl and don't have too many sweets today, is that understood?"
The two females nodded as the younger of the two gave her father one last goodbye hug, and with that Naoki left the pair on their own. The redhead turned towards the youngest Nohara and offered her a reassuring smile. "Well Rin, seeing as how today's your special day I suppose you should get to decide what we do today."
"Really, you mean it?" She couldn't help but ask in disbelief; after all she never did get much say in things. Most adults tended to ignore her ideas, her father included. Even Yorutaka would tune her out after a while. But this one seemed different, her smile and attention seemed genuine and kind.
The redhead laughed at Rin's mistrusting tone and was quick to assure her. "Hai, of course I mean it. I'm a kunoichi who always keeps her word dattebane."
The four year old's eyes lit up upon hearing Kushina's confirmation, excitement bursting out of her. She quickly took hold of her caretaker's hand leading her towards her room. "I know, why don't we color with the new crayons Tousan gave me this morning. It's got a whole bunch of different colors, even though some of them kinda look the same. Oh Niisan says I color really good for my age because I color inside the lines and make it nice and smooth…"
Most shinobi would have been very upset with this situation, being given a task meant for genin when they were nearly jonin level. And honestly, it would be a lie if Kushina didn't admit to being a little ticked off about her situation. She was already a chunin level kunoichi, and a damned good one too. She might have lacked the experience some of her other comrades had, but it sure wasn't from lack of desire on her part. How was she supposed to gain mission experience when she kept getting all the genin jobs? And to think it was all because of her status as the leaf's jinjuriki.
All of her frustration left her the moment she was left alone with the Nohara girl, Rin if she heard the man right. She was just too adorable for her own good; the way her eyes became glassy and her lips trembled a bit just made Kushina want to give her a great big hug and spoil her rotten. And she'd do just that, shinobi protocol be damned.
After a demonstration of her skills with a box of crayons and a coloring book, admittedly she was pretty good, the tomato haired chunin set off to cook something for the both of them. Kushina Uzumaki was many things, a jinjuriki, a kick ass kunoichi, and a soon to be seals master. Cooking however, didn't really register as one of her strong suits. So it didn't come as much of a surprise when her rice balls turned out to be big a clumpy pile of mush, not that it mattered much to the birthday girl. Little Rin even went as far as asking for seconds much to the delight of the redhead.
Eventually it was decided that after picking up Yorutaka from the academy the three of them would visit a dango shop on the way back home. And so the red hot-blooded habanero now found herself walking towards the academy, four year old in hand, and she couldn't be any happier for it.
"Kushina-nee" the little brunette covered her mouth immediately after the slip-up and quickly tried to recover. "I mean Kushina-san…" The words never left her mouth as the little girl was promptly lifted up in the air and wrapped in a body crushing hug from the redhead chunin.
"None of that Kushina-san stuff now, you darling little girl." Setting her charge down on the ground she neared her ear and whispered. "Between you and me Rin-chan, I've always wanted a little sister."
A gasp was all the young Nohara could muster in response as her eyes went wide upon hearing the jinjuriki's confession. "Really!?" Seeing Kushina nod in response Rin quickly latched herself onto the older girl's torso. "Me too! Yoru-niisan is really nice but he can be mean too sometimes. Like this morning he lied and said he forgot my birthday when he really didn't. And then he told me I have to wait until he leaves the academy to get my birthday gift."
"Did he now? Well I'll just have to show him how one properly treats their little sister." With that the newfound siblings continued their march towards the academy. And as much as she would hate to admit it, Kushina was more than enjoying her time with the princess of the Nohara family. She could only hope the boy wasn't too much of a pain; academy aged boys were the bane of her childhood. Then again she wasn't some defenseless little girl anymore, anything out of line and she'd put him in his place straight away.