-Tragedy makes you grow up-

-Jane Campion

Chapter 4

The new addition to our family, while the most adorable baby ever if you ask my own humble opinion, turned out to have some bloody strong lungs to him.

I mean I love my brother to bits but he cried all the bloody time.

In comparison to him I might have been an angel by my parents' standards.

It was during the winter break, a couple of months after Konohamaru had been born that I had escaped from his wailing cries at home to find some peace and quiet outside.

I was walking around the outskirts of the village towards the more forestry areas where most of the training grounds were located, with my usual Anbu escort following right behind, that I came across Hatake Kakashi sprawled on the ground with his back on a tree and bleeding from his stomach.

I examined his unconscious form for a moment and then deliberately made as much noise as I could while I headed to his side in very slow steps. It wouldn't be good for me to startle a wounded Jounin, he would probably go for the kill first and ask questions later. And that would be a horrible situation.

As I came nearer his body grew tense and he opened his one eye to look at me.

It was quite creepy. It felt like he saw right through me and I did not like that feeling. At all.

'Shinobi-san?' I asked. I decided not to ask if he was ok as the answer was obvious and went with my usual bland approach.

'You are wounded. Would you like some help to get to the hospital?'

I waited for his answer. He starred at me.

I lifted my eyebrow at him. Inner me was quite proud of this ability, my past self was never able to do the gesture.

He eye smiled at me.

'Ma I'm good there is no need to go the hospital.'

'You are bleeding from your stomach and are on the verge of unconsciousness' I deadpanned.

'I am just resting' he insisted.

I glared at him.

'Shinobi-san I will give you three options as it is obvious that you will not listen to me. Option no 1 you let me take you to the hospital. Option no 2 you let me at least patch you up as I know basic medical aid. Option no3 is were you refuse no 1 and 2 and I make my grandfather order you to show up to the hospital every time after a mission for a check-up. And by the way my name is Sarutobi Sorami and my grandfather is the Hokage. Now what will you do?'

He starred at me.

'You wouldn't do it' he challenged.

'Try me'.

He glared at me.

I smiler serenely back at him.

'I am waiting' I singsonged.

'Fine. Option 2. You devil child.' he muttered sullenly.

I could feel my Anbu's amusement about the situation through his chakra. Another surprise that came from my chakra sensing. The more familiar I was with someone's chakra the more details I could detect from it. If I studied someone's chakra I could get the general feel for it and by that his chakra nature would also be clear. If I became more familiar to them and their chakra then I could also gain somewhat empathetic abilities by being able to know their most prominent emotions at that moment.

'Ok then. I am taking you home with me where I have my supplies. Crow-san can you help me carry him home?'

In response my guard appeared and with my help lifted Kakashi up and then put his arm over his shoulder.

Kakashi didn't seem surprised to see crow so that meant he'd probably already knew he was there.

Crow started walking while carrying half of Kakashi's weight towards my home while I followed right behind.

I had found out my Anbu's code name after the many times we played Hide and Seek Sensor Edition and I was able to look at his mask clearly. Though at the beginning I made fun of him by calling him birdie-san. Until he got annoyed enough to break protocol and mutter an annoyed crow at me.

I was very proud for my ability to break his composure.

Back to the present I looked at the tired form of Kakashi and I realized I hadn't asked his name.

'Shinobi-san what is your name if you don't mind me asking?'

'Hatake Kakashi' he answered reluctantly.

'Eh the Hatake Kakashi? The guy who is always late and always carries a perverted book everywhere he goes?' I asked with feigned surprise.

He looked at me in surprise. He hadn't been expecting that clearly.

'How do you know that?'

'Uncle Asuma used to complain about you before he left' I answered and it was actually true. 'And you didn't deny either claim' I noted.

He just eye smiled me in response.

We got in the compound, passed the bewildered gate guard and headed to my house.

I made Crow to lay him on the couch and went to gather my fist aid kit, some wet towels and get him a glass of water. Mom had left a note that she took Maru-chan to visit a cousin and dad was on a mission.

I went back to the living room where Kakashi was and offered him the glass.

He just looked at me.

'I'll turn around and won't look and when you finish you tell me ok?' I asked as I finally understood his problem.

Crow was just outside the house. Ready to be called if needed.

After a minute I heard a quiet 'done' and turned around.

I took the glass from him and got to work.

I cast a diagnostic jutsu on him and took in the damage.

I could tell that I had surprised him with my ability to do that. He hadn't expected that he was probably just humouring me till now.

'Tch just resting my ass. You got a five inches deep cut on your stomach, a sprained ankle, some bruising and mild chakra exhaustion' I listed.

I made him open his Jounin vest and take off his shirt but otherwise did not take any of his weapon pouches even if that would make him feel more comfortable. I took a moment to acknowledge that he was a fine specimen of a man and then got to work.

I took a towel and cleaned the blood of his torso and tried not to pay attention to the fact that he was intently watching me.

I took a breath and focused. I had just learned this particular technique last month so I had to be careful. After all the Mystical Palm Technique was an A- rank for a reason.

'Shosen Jutsu'. After I was sure that the amount of chakra I was using was appropriate I brought my hand to his stomach wound and started closing it inch by inch.

It took me five minutes but his wound was done. After that I dealt with his bruises and did what I could for his ankle. I could only use the Mystical Palm Technique for bruises and cuts for the moment, broken bones and internal damage was still out of my capabilities.

His ankle was sprained not broken but I still only managed to reduce the swelling some. I started bandaging it and at the same time explained to him what I did.

'Ok. I've dealt with the stomach wound and the bruising. I only managed to reduce some of the swelling on your ankle as I am not that good with bones yet. You should ice it when you get home and not stress it. For your chakra exhaustion there is not something I can do. You just have to rest and eat lots of protein to gain strength. Now lay down and nap or just relax for as long as you need and I'll bring you something to eat' I told him.

I looked up when I finished bandaging his ankle and saw him looking at me intently.

I lifted an eyebrow at him.

'Ma such good nurse you are devil child. How old are you by the way?'

'I am seven.'

His eye widened at that for a moment but then the expression fled from his face in seconds, so maybe I imagined it.

'Now stay' I ordered. 'I'll be back.'

I came back fifteen minutes later to his still conscious form and brought him some onigiri and some grilled fish that my mother had made for lunch.

I glared at him 'eat'.

He eye smiled at me.

I huffed and then took my medical supplies back to my room in order to give him some privacy.

Twenty minutes later I came back to a vacant room, an empty plate and an open window.

I huffed and snorted in disbelief.

I really should have expected that.

What I hadn't expected was me becoming Kakashi's go to when he was injured and wanted to avoid the hospital. Apparently, I was the better alternative even if I was a devil child as he called me.

Though I wouldn't discover that until some months later when I would meet him for a second time.

It was during a calm Monday evening four months after Konohamaru was born that my mother sat me down and informed me of the history of the clan that she came from. The Ota clan.

'The Ota clan was never big in numbers. We were a minor clan that had some samurai origins and somehow evolved through the years to become a ninja clan with a very specific skillset: assassination. Our renowned ability was our use of Kenjutsu due to our samurai past. Though we did use some lethal poisons too when the situation called for it. We were very good at what we did and that made us feared and also led to our extinction what with me being the last of our clan. Now honey you are seven years old and a very intelligent child to boot. I think you are old and mature enough for me to teach you my skills as an assassin starting with stealth practice and kenjutsu lessons. You don't have to follow my path if you don't want to but these skills could be very useful to you and I would like to continue my family's legacy through you. What do you think?'

My first thought was huh my mother is probably in Anbu too. I don't know how I didn't see it coming. It was obvious really.

It should probably scare me how used I had already become to the way of the ninja life and the fact that killing was such a casual thing here, but it really didn't. I mean from the moment I realised in which world I was born I knew that by following the shinobi path I would have to kill and I had also decided that even though I was taught a different moral code in my last life I couldn't really apply it here. I had to accept that this is a different world with different rules and I couldn't just demand for them to change just because I happen not to agree with them. It wouldn't be fair. It would be like going to China and demand the whole country to speak English instead of Chinese because I didn't know the language and didn't want to learn. This is a different culture with different ways of doing things, so I should just go with the flow otherwise I would be miserable.

II wouldn't have accepted it as easily though had been completely against killing as a person. Even from what I remember of my previous life it would seem that I was a somewhat morally ambiguous person. I was all for killing in self-defence and in all those debates about the morality of getting revenge through your own means or through the system I would support the do it on your own if you could get away with it.

Anyway, my mind got lost in its own thoughts again. Back to the original topic. There was no way I would decline Kenjutsu and stealth lessons from my mother. They were both very useful abilities. Especially as I don't have too much strength and I rely more on speed in taijutsu. Having come to a conclusion I finally answered her.

'I would be very happy to learn these skills from you mother.'

She gave me a satisfied smile in response.

One month later and I came to realize that my mother was very bored due to her maternity leave.

How did she decide to put an end to this boredom you may ask?

Did she find a hobby?

Did she see her friends?

…

Noooo. She entertained herself through me.

Through torturing me with training.

Every Monday and Friday evening now my time would be spent with my mother.

She would chase me around the compound and make me dodge her senbon and kunai, she would attack me in the middle of the night 'to test my situational awareness', hell she would even poison my food and I was poisoned twice.

Now every time I eat I doublecheck for poisons.

Shino thought I was crazy when I kept checking my lunch until I explained to him my mother's crazy training regime.

And her excuse for poisoning her only daughter?

'You can't be a good assassin if you can easily get assassinated.'

Which is good advice but still. My mother people.

I had a feeling that at some point she would start shouting 'Constant Vigilance' at me. She was like the female version of Mad Eye Moody.

Fuck my life.

She also threw senbon at me every time I made noise when I walked.

Really where the hell are the maternal instincts?

Anyway, regardless of the fact that my mom was a sadistic psycho she was also a very good teacher.

She started me on sword training by teaching me some basic katas to practice with the bokken she gave me and while hard she made it fun in her own way.

Overall, I was very happy with my progress.

I was at the Academy at the end of March when I realised that my first year at the academy was about to end.

I was seven years old, which meant that the Uchiha massacre will happen sometime in the next two years.

And I still had no clue what the fuck to do about it.

I really couldn't think of anything to do to prevent it.

But maybe I could just help by being there for Sasuke afterwards as I was pretty sure that he didn't have someone to rely on in canon.

Hmm I couldn't be his friend though after the event as he would be emotionally closed from everyone around him.

Therefore, I had to make the connection before and try not to be killed by the fangirls in the meantime.

Sakura and Ino were already part of the club and they were as annoying as I thought they would be.

Sad excuses for kunoichi the whole lot of them.

That was how I found myself in front of Uchiha Sasuke on the rooftop of the academy during lunch break.

I was getting a déjà vu feeling from when I proposed to Shikamaru to play shogi with me.

'Uchiha-san would you be up to sparring with me once in a while? And I mean that in the least fangirlish way you can think of. It's just that all my cousins are way older than me and I want do some one on one sparring with people my age who are actually good' I asked him.

He thought it over. Looked at me up and down and then nodded.

'Hn' Ah Uchiha and their language. 'I would be up to it as long as you are not a fangirl' he said with a smirk on his face.

Huh… who would have thought Duck Ass had a sense of humour.

'As I would ever be that sad excuse of a kunoichi. Are you free on Wednesday after school? We can either practise here or in one of the training grounds.'

He considered it.

'Yes, I am and the training grounds would be better. Meet up on the front of the school after classes are over?'

'Yes. Thank you, Uchiha-san,'.

Wednesday afternoon I found myself across Duck Ass as I had named him on my mind.

'Ready?'

'Hn.'

…

'I'll take that as a yes.'

He ran at me and tried to punch me I dodged.

I tried to hit his throat.

He blocked.

He kicked me.

I jumped over him.

And that was how our fight went.

I used speed to dodge and tried to hit fast but hard in vulnerable points

He attacked directly with strength and blocked.

I moved.

He counterattacked.

I was lighter on my feet and flowed around him in order to find a crack in his defences

He was steadier. But he followed my movements intently and was there every time to block.

This went on for fifteen minutes until suddenly he kicked me and I dodged by jumping over his legs. Before I knew it he had grabbed me from the air and pushed my back against his front while holding me on a loose chokehold.

'Dead' he panted.

I broke from his hold and turned to face him.

'Again' I demanded.

He grinned and attacked.

April came and my second year at the academy started.

And with this came kunoichi classes.

Needless to say, my inner feminist did not approve.

Hanakotoba was all fine and dandy. I even liked the idea of insulting people deliberately through flower language without them even knowing it.

The rest though…

Make up lessons, dancing, etiquette, tea ceremonies…

Yeah no.

And the fact that they thought that seduction was only applicable to women just made me want to hit something.

I really did not approve and I made that obvious.

It was how I had ended up in grandpa's office with Maru-chan in my arms, pacing around the office and muttering.

'… and grandfather these lessons are ridiculous… have to behave like a demure little woman my ass…'

'Yes Sora- chan... Language Sora-chan.'

I was too lost on my ranting to realise that he wasn't even paying attention to me.

'…and seduction lessons like seduction is only for women! Grandfather this is an outrage. A man can be used for seduction. There are women to be killed out there and gay people too, so why the hell should only girls know this crap?'

I rounded on him as I finally finished on my rant and waited for an answer to my very serious question.

He looked relieved that I was finished.

The fucker.

'Well Sora-chan. Men do follow the path of seduction just at older ages than women. It is not a very appealing career to young boys you see.'

I glared at him.

'So, you mean that it is appealing for young girls, grandpa dear? I didn't know that you had such good insight in young preteen girls' minds' I said in a threatening voice. I was not in law school for nothing after all.

He blanched and tried to take his words back.

'No Sora-chan I don't. It is just that young girls are more mature you see…'

'Shut it old man. I've won the argument. As compensation for this travesty that I have to participate in I demand chocolates. At least five boxes grandpa dear.'

He sighed amused despite himself at my antics.

'Four dear. You'll get fat if you eat them all.'

'Did you just call me fat?'

'No dear. Five it is.'

'Hn' damn duck ass rubbed off on me. Oh well…

I smirked and walked out.

Still got it.

It was during one of the blasted kunoichi lessons that I made my first female friend in this life.

We had to pair in twos and do each other's make up.

Almost immediately all the girls tried to find their friends to pair up with.

I had no female friends.

Ah the woes of hanging out with monkeys.

I looked around the room for a saving grace when I spotted a nervous looking Hinata in the front of the room on her own.

I grinned.

A great opportunity to meet the sweet cinnamon bun that was Hinata.

I headed towards her with a skip on my steps.

'Hello Hyuuga-san. Want to be my partner?'

'Ah. Eh yes Sss Sarutobi-san' she stuttered.

'Call me Sorami or Sora. All my friends do and I am in need for a female one. Somehow I ended up only around boys you see.' I proposed as I sat down.

'Ffffriends with me? She asked surprised.

Oh, my poor dear. I just wanted to hug the stuffing out of her.

'Well of course. You are the most suitable out of all of the other girls in here. You are adorable and you are not a fangirl of Duck Ass.'

'Du… duck assss?' she asked with wide eyes.

'Sasuke-san of course. His hair looks exactly like a duck's ass' I explained to her.

Ahh Sasuke's face when I called him that was priceless. He is still looking for an appropriate nickname for me.

Hinata suddenly burst into giggles and then hid her mouth with her hand.

Her face was red, the adorable thing.

'It does' she said in a quiet voice. 'Call me Hinata then SSSora-chan.'

I grinned.

This was great I was so going to corrupt Hinata.

(Insert evil laugh here.)

Time moved on as it tends to and it was summer break.

I was reading a book on all the chakra gates, while I was sitting on the grass next to a small lake in training ground five when a small pug appeared on my field of vision.

'Are you the mini medic?' it asked.

I blinked. Ok it was still there. Let's go with the flow then.

'I am a medic. Who is asking?'

'Kakashi. I am Pakkun. Boss's injured and doesn't want to go in the hospital. We argued. You're the compromise' the dog explained.

Before I could even get over the fact that Kakashi apparently argued with his summons the little pug was tugging me by my shorts to get up.

I huffed and followed after the pug.

'Pakkun-san? Does Hatake-san have a first aid kit in his apartment or should I get mine?' I asked.

'He has one.'

He led me to an apartment in the Southern district of the village which houses lots of shinobi.

I knocked.

One minute later a very tired looking Hatake Kakashi opened the door.

'Yo devil child'.

'You ridiculous man get inside and sit down. You look terrible.' I took him by the hand and laid him on the couch. The only other furniture in the room other than that was a coffee table. This is a perfect example of a spartan apartment.

'Bossy' he muttered, amused.

'Pakkun-san can you saw me the first aid kit please?'

The dog nodded and led me into the bathroom.

I found it in a cupboard. I opened it.

It looked stocked. I hadn't expected anything less really what with him avoiding the hospital like the plague. He should at least be able to patch himself up.

I went back to the living room with the medical kit at my hands.

I sat down and cast a diagnostic jutsu on him.

'Chakra exhaustion, your left arm is broken, bruises all over your torso and a stab wound on your right thigh. Really Hatake-san you have to look after yourself.'

'Ma why should I do that when I have little devil-chan to heal me up' he eye smiled me again.

The fucker.

I blew some air from my nose and got to work.

I didn't really want to see him naked and I had a feeling that he wouldn't take his pants off even if I asked, so I tore the fabric of his pants where his leg was wounded to check on the wound on his thigh. I went to the kitchen and came back with some wet towels and washed off the blood from his thigh.

Then I used the Mystical palm technique to heal it up.

I had gotten faster and better at it. I could even heal bones completely now even if a bit slowly, which was lucky for him or he really should have gone to the hospital.

I healed the bruising on his torso and then focused on his arm.

I helped him take off his shirt and vest and then set to work.

I aligned his bone right and then started the process of mending the bone.

It took me ten minutes but it worked. I was very proud of myself.

I then turned to Kakashi.

'Go wash up and I'll make you something to eat.'

He blinked at me, bewildered.

'Do not make me repeat myself Hatake-san.'

I went to the kitchen and looked through the fridge and cupboards.

I was an average cook. In my past life I was more of a baker, but I still knew how to make stuff. And I have helped mom cooking lots of times, so I was positive I could cook something.

In the end I made some miso soup and shrimp tempura.

By the time Kakashi was done I was just finishing the tempura.

He was wearing black pants and a black turtleneck.

'Ma this looks good devil-chan' he said as he took some plates from a cupboard.

'Of course, it does. I made it jiji-chan' I retorted.

I heard him choak in surprise and Pakkun laughing from his spot on the couch.

'I am not that old devil-child' he said.

'Of course, you are not. You are ancient.'

'You wound me devil-chan' he said in a sad voice.

'I know' I singsonged back.

I finished cooking and I started washing the utensils I used.

'Now before I leave Hatake-san. Eat, rest, do not use any chakra for the next two days and try not to put too much strain on your hand. Am I clear Hatake-san?'

I finished washing up and turned around to look at him for his answer.

'Yes, yes devil-chan but you are not leaving yet. You are staying for lunch. You did cook after all.'

'Eh I am staying for lunch?' I asked, surprised. I did not expect that. I thought that he was an antisocial bastard.

'Of course, you are' he said cheerfully.

I was pretty sure his peppiness was only 50% fake.

'Fine then' I said exasperated.

I served us and sat down on the second and only other chair in the kitchen.

I took a bite and then realised he wasn't eating.

Oh, kami don't tell me this is about the mask thing again?

It is not like it hides anything. You can clearly see the outline of his face.

I huffed. 'I won't look jiji-chan. I'll even look down. Enjoy your meal and do not eat quickly it's not good for your stomach'.

He eyed me suspiciously. 'You won't?'

I just looked on my plate in response.

Two minutes later and I heard the clung of cutlery.

I smiled to myself.

We ate in silence.

It was neither comfortable nor awkward.

Surprisingly he was the one that broke it.

'So, are you planning on being a medic- nin devil-chan?'

'Hm no' I could feel the surprise he felt at that from his chakra.

'How come?' he probed.

'Well I want to be a field kunoichi and I want to be more than mere support to my future team. I mean I don't believe that women are just good for genjutsu and medical ninjutsu we can do more than that. I don't mind being support when it is needed but that doesn't mean I can't kick ass on my own too right? I am still not sure what I want to do in the future to tell you the truth. I am between becoming a front liner or an assassin like my mother. Maybe I could do both. It would be like a complete surprise you wouldn't expect a front liner to become an assassin nor the opposite' I rambled and then blushed. 'Sorry I got a bit excited.'

'It's ok devil-chan. They are not bad ideas. You can look up now by the way.'

I looked up and yes, he was done.

I smiled and then got up to start washing the dishes.

Kakashi followed after me and dried them with a towel and put them back in place.

'Why learn medical ninjutsu then?' he asked, curious.

'Well I am of the opinion that every team would benefit if they had a person with some basic medical skills besides basic first aid. I mean many more lives would be saved that way on the field. So, I decided to learn as much as I am able. Not only will it save my own life but so will the lives of my teammates. And I also have the added benefit of knowing how to fuck somebody up in the worst way. If you know how to fix it then you know how to break it too' I explained with a sinister smile.

I could feel his approval through his chakra.

Well aren't you a vindictive bastard?

We finished the dishes and then I got ready to leave.

'Bye Pakkun. Rest jiji-chan.'

He ruffled my hair much to my ire and then mockingly saluted at me 'Hai devil-chama'.

I huffed and left with a small smile on my face despite myself.

School started up again. Routine was established once more.

I went to the academy.

Got bored out of my mind and read supplementary material through most of the classes.

Ate lunch with Shino, Kiba with the new addition of Hinata.

Played shogi with Shika twice a week. I was improving, even he said so.

Dad now really had to fight for his victories.

Maru-chan started taking his first unsteady steps.

I got the glorious honour of my name being the second word he said after mother, much to papa's dismay.

That 'So-nee' still warmed my heart.

Lessons with Ebisu got reduced to twice a week on the weekends.

I learned the henge no jutsu and I was working on the Kawarimi no Jutsu, which for me was the most useful of the academy three.

Mother continued teaching me with her crazy ways.

She even started me on senbon throwing, which is bloody hard, but I had a feeling that I would become much better with them than with shuriken

Lessons with Akira-sensei went on as usual.

I even helped in the hospital whenever I could.

Sasuke and I continued sparring two times a week.

We had become casual friends. He was still trying to find a nickname for me.

Poor Duck Ass.

October came, Maru-chan turned one year old.

Then the routine was broken at November the 10 nth.

A wide village alarm rung through the night.

I was left in charge of Konohamaru.

The next day my parents' faces were grim.

Sasuke was not at school that day.

Nor the next one.

Omake.

(If crow was Shisui)

Crow hasn't been around for two days.

I miss him.

I hope he wasn't replaced.

Two more days and the alarm rings.

Sasuke isn't school that day.

Nor the next one.

Crow never returns to guarding me.

A/N: I don't know what is happening and why the updates are so often. Inspiration just hit me on the head with a chair. Twice.

Hope you enjoy it.

Please review and tell me if you liked it.

xoxo