A/N
Thank you everyone for reviewing
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Disclaimer: I own Nao, and that's it.
About a week later a mass funeral was held for those who died in the orphanage.
I didn't go.
My time was spent hiding away in my hospital room, mostly because I'd been banned from leaving the floor. Someone had decided it was a good idea to station ANBU outside my door after my little escapade, which was a bit extreme if you asked me. Having them follow me around my limited section of the hospital was equally irritating and unsettling; so I stayed, alternating between staring at the walls and terrorizing the staff.
I had come up with a game in my boredom, one I liked to call breaking point. The idea was to see how far I could push the hospital staff before they had complete nervous break downs and/or went ballistic. The trick was to do little things, letting them pile up over time.
My greatest achievement happened eight days in, when I ripped up some extra sheets I found in one of the cabinets and tied them together to make an escape rope. After throwing one end out the window and tying the other to the railing of the bed, I unhooked the dripper from the IV in my arm and tossed the pole –liquid bag and all- out the window. It hit the ground with a crash as I scurried behind the door and waited for my next victim.
By then the staff already knew me to be a menace, having raided other rooms for pillow fort supplies, nicked keycards to further my access of the floor, instigated a minor strike amongst the other children for more jello, and, on one memorable occasion, broke into an office to take a peek at my patient file. The only thing better than the reactions of the hospital staff was that of my ANBU companions. Apparently, they had been given very specific orders, because the only time they ever interfered was when I tried to leave my floor.
And I could tell it was starting to grate on them, because I was sort of getting away with it.
Was I reprimanded? All the freaking time.
Did I receive punishment? Definitely.
I was a six year old girl though, with literally nothing to my name, having just survived a traumatic experience involving my kidnap. My crimes came with no ill intentions, just the undeniable need to cause chaos, so not only were my punishments rather lax, they were age appropriate as well. No dessert with my dinners, visitation time with people I actually wanted to see (Chouji, Shika) cut, subjected to hours of confinement in the "play room" with other children (no longer a viable option after said jello riot), that sort of thing.
Apparently breaking and entering was a bit too much for the ANBU to handle, because they tattled on me to Kakashi, who in turn handcuffed me to my bed for an entire day. I learned an important lesson that day, and it was that ANBU were not only deadly assassins, but whiny brats as well.
But I digress.
The plan had been glorious, and it had worked better than I'd imagined it would. The nurse, having been alerted by the racket, had sprung into the room with clear suspicion. She hadn't even bothered to look out the window, where the IV stand would undoubtedly be; in fact, she took one look at the sheet rope and bursted into tears, stomping away. That had been a couple days ago, and I hadn't seen her since then.
Breaking point, while fun, wasn't something I could do all day long. I had other responsibilities to deal with, and one of those was Lou.
I'd been seeing Lou every day for little over a week now, and I learned many things about him during our daily sessions; that he was a minor member of the Yamanaka Clan, primarily a grief counselor here to help me through a difficult time, while also under a secret mission to evaluate my psychological state. His name was something along the lines of Fuji, or Fumi, but I liked to call him Lou.
See, Lou was someone I very much disliked, not because I suspected his intentions to be less than pure, but because the day we started meeting was the last time I'd had any contact from my friends. Since then, I'd seen neither hide nor hair of my boys and even if the timing hadn't been so freaking coincidental, the mere fact that I hadn't received a letter or literally anything to potentially explain their extended absence was outright suspicious.
It was clearly an unwilling separation, and I absolutely blamed Lou.
That was why I took time out of my busy day to truly show him how much I appreciated it. Using things I had acquired from the hospital staff I bought off other patients, digging for whatever information about him I could get my hands on. When a session with Lou turned ugly and he tried to pry where he wasn't welcome, I'd flip the conversation on him, making mention of a family member or close friend. I slowly learned of his sensitive spots, and how to navigate around them.
What I was doing would probably come back to bite me in the ass, but I couldn't bring myself to stop. It was therapeutic to me, in the same way the Breaking Point was; it kept my focus and relieved my stress at being trapped on this god forsaken floor. So I looked forward to his arrival, and the opportunity to poke and prod at his psyche. At noon, I sat patiently in anticipation. When the clock hit 12:15 and he still wasn't here, I became miffed.
Lou had never been late before.
Another ten minutes passed before there was a knock on the door and someone entered. To my disappointment, it was the Hokage himself, in all his glory. As he greeted me I found myself sincerely hoping he wasn't here to take over Lou's sessions; after all, Minato always seemed to have more free time for me than he really had any right to, so it was a possibility.
"My apologies, Minato. My schedule is currently full at the moment so I don't have time to chat." I motioned to the door. "However, if you speak with my secretaries just outside the door, I'm sure they can find a time to pen you in for."
"Ah, really?" He sighed, shaking his head in a melodramatic fashion. "That's a shame, Nao-chan, because I was going to have you discharged today after our chat. You're clearly too busy though, so I'll come back in a couple days then."
There was the faintest hint of a smile on his face as Minato turned and made his way to the door. I was half tempted to let him walk out, if only to give myself the satisfaction of not giving in. In the end, the promise of freedom was too much, and I was forced to call out. "Oh, look! I appear to have an opening for this very hour. What are the odds?"
"I'm honored." He said, tone that of amusement.
"You should be." I retorted, patting the edge of my bed for him to sit. The light banter between us does nothing to ease my growing anxiety; any conversation he wanted to have was beyond a shadow of a doubt one that I did not want to be part of. There would be no escaping it, I knew, so I waited for Minato to settle before simply cutting to the chase. "So then, what regrettable topic have you brought to me on this fine day?"
"Well," He looked apprehensive, how curious. "To start with, I was hoping you could tell me about what you saw during the attack, and the events that followed."
"Sure." I shrugged. It wasn't a particularly sensitive subject, though I was loath to explain how I used chakra. He probably already knew about it though, so I might as well get it over with. I relayed the details of what I remembered, pausing at times to gather my thoughts; it was hard to explain my reasoning for certain things. He never interrupted me, just listened with an understanding expression. I said nothing of my near abandonment of Sasuke, as I had a feeling that would not go over well.
Internally, I was almost remorseful for having thought it, especially mere moments later when I described how Sasuke had tried to come to my rescue rather than leave me behind. Itty bitty Uchiha Sasuke contained more courage and loyalty than someone like me, who'd lived three times longer and had far more life experience; I was an adult and I had nearly abandoned a little kid.
"So, what happened?" I questioned, shoving away that train of thought. "I can't really remember anything after Sasuke was hurt. How did we get rescued?"
Surprise flashed across Minato's face briefly. Was it that strange to ask for details? He smiled gently. "Well, a search team found the two of you. They fought off the shinobi but he escaped. Your safety took priority over pursuing the enemy, so the team returned and the two of you were admitted here."
It made sense, all things considering. I had probably been bleeding all over the place at the time so I wouldn't blame them for being more concerned about my well being. It was a shame the guy got away though; he deserved to rot in T&I. Minato's voice cut through my darkening thoughts.
"Nao-chan, do you understand why it was you were taken?"
"Oh, you mean because of my unfortunate resemblance to Kushina?" Yeah, I had figured that out real quick.
"Er… yes and no. Your likeness is to not only my wife but the Uzumaki clan in general, and because of that there are people that will take an interest in you. I'm unsure whether you know this, but a couple decades back the Uzumaki Clan had been much larger, and formidable. There are very few left now though, so you can see why you're so important."
"How certain are you that I'm even related to that clan?" I asked.
"Ninety-nine percent certain." He told me.
"If you say so." I eyed him skeptically. He hadn't explained why he was so sure, and I didn't bother asking; I wasn't going to get an answer and part of me really didn't want to know anyway. "Was there a point you were trying to make or…?"
"Yes, I'm getting to it." The air around us turned serious as Minato straightened. "At this point in time, reconstruction has just begun; the orphanage won't be ready to take children for about another month, and frankly, I don't think it would be safe for you there."
"I agree." It would be suicidal to go back there.
"That's… good." He seems faintly surprised at my response, but doesn't question it, which is nice. "I was hoping you would reconsider your stance on coming to live with my family; the offer still stands, and you would be better protected there."
"Yes, I could do that." I paused. "Or, you could just give me my own cozy little apartment and call it a day."
"Nao, you're six. I can't let you live on your own, that would be grossly incompetent of me."
"Why not? I'm house trained."
"That's not the point." He sighs exasperatedly. "Nao-chan, the Namikaze residence is one of the most secure places in the village; there's nowhere you'd be safer, and we would love to have you. If you decide against it I'll respect that, but you also can't live by yourself, not until you're far older."
I didn't respond right away, considering my options. Minato said he wouldn't give me an apartment, and I was fully inclined to believe him. If I ultimately chose to return to the orphanage (which I wouldn't), I had a feeling he wouldn't prevent me from doing so. The only real stipulation he'd given me was that I needed a guardian until I came of age. Could I handle living under someone else's roof and living by their rules? Even if I could, would that then be a betrayal to the family I'd once had?
People couldn't be replaced like light bulbs.
Sharing a house with other people didn't make them your family though; there was nothing to betray, in the end, because I was no longer a part of that world. I was here, with a target painted on my back and I didn't want to drive myself insane by having to constantly look over my shoulder, suspicious of attack; I had to do what was best for me. There was no favorable outcome to be seen; sooner or later I would be exposed, and tossed into the academy willingly or otherwise. I couldn't just stop training, not now when my future was at risk. I needed to turn this to my advantage while I had the chance, while I still had something to bargain with.
The question was, how much did the Namikazes want me?
"At the orphanage, the Matron had been big on things like independence." I pause briefly to see if Minato understands where I'm going with this. Fortunately, he's quick on the uptake and there's a knowing glint in his eyes as I continue. "I had freedom to come and go as I pleased, so long as I didn't cause any trouble. I'm a capable girl, so I don't need anyone hovering over me every second of the day; I really, really enjoy having some personal space."
"That's fair." He replies.
"I won't be manhandled by any Namikazes again, got it?"
"Of course."
"And my decisions are my own, so don't think you can go making any for me."
"As you wish."
This is going to be a nightmare.
"Alright then," I sigh. "let's get this over with."
Minato left me with a change of clothes while he pranced off to finish the discharge papers. They were clearly Naruto's and a size too big for me, but seeing as the few belongings I had owned no longer existed, I wasn't in a position to complain. The shirt, a blinding orange, sported the Uzumaki crest on the back, and something told me this was Minato's passive aggressive way of telling me I might as well own it.
I was a target either way.
I put on the clothes, mourning the loss of my ribbons; I was only half as cute without them. I left the room, feeling the foreign swish of my hair as it flowed freely behind me and down the length of my back. People moved out of my way quickly as I strolled down the hall; from my own reputation or due to my newly acquired shadows, I didn't know.
It seemed a bit like overkill, having two ANBU publically following my little self. I ignored them, making note to give them as much trouble as humanly possible. I hadn't forgotten about their snitching, and I liked to think that Lou would want me to find a healthy outlet rather than hold a grudge. It was also entirely possible that I harbored some resentment in the wake of the invasion.
I was dealing with it.
I spot a head of blonde hair at the front desk and move towards it, Minato just finishing up as I arrive. The attending nurse has a star struck expression; she blushes and stutters stupidly. I give her a sweet smile when our gazes meet and in return she eyes me warily, which is fair enough all things considered. Minato, oblivious to our exchange, thanks the woman kindly and herds me out the front door.
The sun warms my skin, and I take a moment to revel in it as Minato dismisses the ANBU. Then he nudges me and we're moving, down the street toward the heart of Konoha. I distinctly recall his house being in the opposite direction, but, figuring he has something to do first, I don't ask. It's the middle of the day and the streets are lively, so when the staring begins I pay no heed to it; simply holding my head high and letting my companion lead the way. People begin to bow and scurry out of the way, alarming me until I remember Minato's Hokage status.
This only intensified the looks sent my way.
My relief when we reach our destination, away from the public eye, lasts about two seconds before I process the shop. While the workers fawned over us I sent Minato a questioning look. He was choosing now of all times to correct his fashion sense? Apparently the man is a mind reader, because without preamble he says. "Don't look at me like that, Nao-chan. We're here for you, not me. Just pick out whatever you like, okay?"
Be that as it may, we were in a children's store that clearly catered to shinobi. I could feel the subtle hint, and as much as it annoyed me, I would benefit from sturdy clothes. Easier to train in, with the added bonus of comfort. Though it was vaguely disturbing to know these types of shops had clothing in my size. I wondered if I could make a dent in Minato's wallet here?
I wandered through, denying help from any of the assistants. I carefully picked out outfits that enhanced my deceivingly innocent disposition and had no business being in a shinobi store. Mostly pastel dresses, with a couple of black shorts to go underneath. I added some plain white shirts to the growing pile, along with some pajamas before asking about their accessories. On the back wall were a multitude of accessories turned weapons, but I opted out of those, choosing a bundle of colorful ribbons instead.
I didn't get those open toed shoes that seemed to be popular here either. Just some basic white tennis shoes similar to the ones I had before. As the cashier rang everything up, Minato looked sullenly at the rising price. It was his fault really, for giving me free reign. He paid without a single complaint, picking up the bags and cheerfully wishing stores occupants a pleasant day. I dug out a set of ribbons and tied my hair in their customary pigtails.
We left, and I started feeling awkward. Letting others buy me stuff always bothered me. I had always struggled with money, and my distaste for not being able to provide for myself had carried on into this life. I didn't like handouts, but what was even worse was when someone did it selflessly, not expecting anything in return. It was difficult for me to show when I was grateful to someone, I always had trouble getting the damn words out.
Minato had just spent a ridiculous amount of money on me, and I mean ridiculous amount. I didn't need twenty outfits, and I had vindictively chose things unsuited for ninja; things that shouldn't have even been in that store and He hadn't bat an eye, just let me do as I pleased and paid compliantly.
If there was one thing I was absolutely positive of, it was that Minato's kindness had been completely underrated. As we walked I kept a closer eye on him, watching as he greeted several people along the way. At one point he stopped at a food stand and chatted with the owner, asking about his family and how his business was going.
If it were anyone else I'd say it's such a political move; getting the people to like you by empathizing with them. Except observing him, you could tell that Minato truly cared. He listened with total attention, as if he was personally invested in the happiness of this one man. It was quite a mesmerizing sight, and I couldn't help but think he made a great Hokage. For the first time in my short life here, I felt hope. If anyone could if fix the mistakes of the previous Hokage, it was him. With Minato alive and kicking, Konoha's future looked bright.
I shoved the idea away.
It was an irrelevant thought, because I wouldn't be sticking around; whether Konoha sank or swam had nothing to do with me. As we continued on I took some of the bags, giving Minato the evil eye when he began to protest. He huffed a laugh and shook his head in exasperation, but allowed me to carry my share. I knew I would have to thank him soon, before we got to the manor; an audience would only make it harder. I breathed deeply, preparing myself. I could feel a blush rising to my cheeks.
"Thank you for buying my clothes and spending so much money on me." I spat out quickly, looking down to hide my blush. "I appreciate it."
A hand lands on my head. Minato hums a "no problem" and his hand down to my shoulders, guiding me. I let it stay, happy for the moment to be over. Somehow, I get the feeling I did something right. A strange fluttery feeling overwhelms me, and I do my best to ignore it. The gate was open as we made our way up to the front door.
In the back of my mind I contemplate on whether I was supposed to be nervous or something. In reality, I'm already tired from the thought of spending years in close proximity to Kushina or Naruto. Energetic is exactly the word I would never use to describe myself. It will be a miracle if I don't go insane by bed time.
Minato opens the door, waving me in first. I get about three steps before a cacophony of voices scream "SURPRISE!" making me jump a foot in the air. Hanging across the balcony over the foyer was a banner that read 'Welcome Home'. Below it the Namikazes stood, along with Minato's team and two maids.
Seriously?
What would they have done if I had said no?
I barely restrain myself from grabbing my pendant of death as Kushina lurches forward, a cake in her hands.
"Blow the candles out! Hurry!" She says, shoving it close to my face.
I blow and take a step back, unable to remember why I'd thought this to be a good idea and musing whether it was too late to make an escape. Minato, mind reader extraordinaire, takes a firm grasp of my shoulder to keep me in place. Everyone claps and the cake is set down to be cut. Naruto bounces over and tugs at my hand, dragging me over to everyone else and talking a mile a minute.
"Isn't this great nee-chan? Now we can be together allll the time! Sasuke will be super jealous, I can't wait to tell him. Aren't you excited nee-chan? Ne, ne, let's go pick out your room! You can get one next to mine and we'll decorate it and it will be fun! Do you wanna go now? Because-"
As he rambled on I took a slice of cake one of the maids offered. She has a curiously stoic expression on her face, as if she had been here too long and was no longer capable of getting the warm and fuzzies; not even Naruto's cheerfulness seemed penetrate. I almost felt sorry for her, but the woman probably got a nice paycheck working here.
I untangled myself from Naruto as I ate, taking this chance to observe my surroundings. This place really was huge and I hadn't even left the room yet. On opposite walls of the foyer were two staircases that curved to meet on the second floor in the middle of the balcony. At both ends were identical hallways, going further off into what I presumed to be the east and went wings. The bottom floor of the foyer contained four doors. Two on the left (one of which looked to be a closet), another set on the right. A large hallway stretched out below the balcony, and at the very end I recalled it opening up to the back yard.
Though the place was large, I had certainly seen bigger, and I had to guess it just made the cut for the word "Manor". I was pulled from my thoughts as someone approached me from my peripheral vison, and I turned my gaze to find Obito grinning down at me, Rin hovering just behind him.
"Hi there, do you remember me? I'm Obito, we met at Naruto's birthday party."
"Er, yeah. I know. Hello." I waved at the two of them.
Rin smiled welcomingly. "How are you feeling? We heard about your stay in the hospital."
"Ah. I'm fine." I reply. "I just got out today."
"That's good!" Obito exclaims. "You gotta get healthy if you want to become a strong ninja like us."
Very funny.
"Oh, that's right!" Rin chirps. "You'll be starting at the academy soon won't you?"
"Actually, I'm not going to the academy. I start civilian school in the spring."
Awkward silence descends as the two take in my words. Everyone else must have been listening in, because all conversation has died. Honestly, it's not like I ever gave the impression that I wanted to be a shinobi. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've done the opposite, and as long as I had even the slightest chance of evading the academy, there was hope. Rin glances at Minato, likely trying to gauge his thought on the matter, but he steadily avoids her gaze.
Smart man. Even though he knows I can use chakra, he doesn't correct me about the academy, for which I am grateful. There's no telling what I'd do if someone actually tried to force me into it. Probably break things.
"That's… that's nice." She says. "So are you excited to start school then?"
I pause for dramatic affect.
"Not one bit."
I know, I have a real talent for conversing.
It's true though. How could I possibly be excited to spend seven hours trapped in a room with twenty other six year old brats? I was literally going back to kindergarten, a terrifying thought.
Nobody says anything to that, and with the conversation dead I wander over to Kakashi, who holds a slice of cake in his hand, eyeing it skeptically; maybe I can bully him into giving it to me. I nudge him with my shoe, and he looks down to me questioningly.
"So are you going to eat that or what?" I ask bluntly.
He snorts, passing it to me. "Glutton."
I eat the slice happily, feeling Kakashi's gaze on me as I do. I had learned that the best thing about being around him was that, unlike many he doesn't talk down to me. He never seems to care when I don't act my age. Part of me wonders if this was what it was like for him as a child, only worse considering he's an actual prodigy and I'm just reincarnated.
"You look awful in orange." He informs me. "It clashes with your hair."
Thank you, fashion police.
"Your hair looks like it couldn't decide between startled porcupine and unfathomably old."
"Your hair style makes you look like a rabbit. A fowl mouthed rabbit with no respect for their elders."
Everyone watches on as Kakashi and I trade insult after insult. No one moves to stop us, which is for the best. I could be competitive at times.
"You want to talk about elderly? You slouch like a grandma from the Nara clan."
"Your alarming shade of hair is the only interesting thing about you."
"Everyone thinks you're hiding something beneath that mask, but I bet you wear it because in reality your face is completely ordinary and forgettable."
"….That was actually a good one Usagi-chan."
"Thank you Bakashi."
He pats my head and I shuffle off to find a place for my empty plate. One of the maids takes it, a peppy girl with a sunny smile. Something about her irks me, and I watch as she disappears through the far door. I sigh and turn to Minato.
"Can we bring my bags up to whatever room is mine?"
He nods, grabbing most of the day's purchases. I managed to nab two but as we headed up the stairs Kakashi snatched them from my hands. I scowled up at him, only to be ignored. We both know he did it to annoy me. On the balcony Minato goes left and we follow after.
"The east wing is where Naruto and your rooms are. There is a bathroom on this side but some of the rooms already come with one, so you can decide yourself whether you want one or not. The west wing is where Kushina and I sleep."
The corridor was wide, with about four doors total; two on each side. At the end it turned to the right and continued on to reveal another three doors decorating the right. Sunlight shined in from the windows to the left, casting a golden glow. The first door was open, and as we passed it I glanced in to see what was obviously Naruto's room; orange covers on the bed, ninja toys strewn about. Not wanting to be in such close proximity to him, I led us passed the second door to the very last one.
The door was open, revealing yet another spacious room. To someone like me, who hadn't had a room to myself in over six years, the place seemed grand. There wasn't much in it, merely a queen sized bed, a large wardrobe, and a desk. The walls were cream and the furniture a light shade to match the wooden floor. Anyone else would have considered it modest, but I found it to be almost overwhelming. Another open door revealed a full bathroom, and for a moment I couldn't help but stare in wonder; so much luxury, and I didn't have to share with a single person.
When was the last time I'd had nice things?
I honestly couldn't remember, and I vowed to make the most of this. It was as far away from anyone as I would get, and the view didn't hurt either. I didn't know if I would feel comfortable painting or decorating anything; I still planned on leaving one day, and I was hesitant to leave behind any reminders. The neutral color scheme was something I could live with, giving off the vibe of a hotel room; comfortable, but temporary. It was an ideal way to think of the Namikaze home, an extended stay, nothing more.
I turned to my companions, words on the tip of my tongue when I catch their expressions. The two of them looked at me with a feeling I couldn't quite place, one that made me uncomfortable as a blush rose on my cheeks. I huffed, gesturing to the bags. "You two can set those down now. This is fine."
They piled the bags at the foot of the bed, before glancing about the room. It was clean, despite its obvious disuse; nice to know the maids did their job then.
"It's a little plain, but we can fix that." A voice said from the doorway. It was Kushina, leaning against the frame and scrutinizing the interior. "You got to take Nao-chan shopping, so I get to help her decorate!" She told her husband.
"Some personalization would lighten it up." Rin said, appearing from nowhere. "We'll make a trip tomorrow and order some stuff; a girls day."
Kushina and Rin started talking colors, and Kakashi had flopped onto the bed, the ends of his legs hanging off. I felt his gaze on me as I set to putting my new clothes away. Minato had gone off to check on Naruto and Obito. The women soon followed, leaving me in peace.
"Do you really like that stuff?"
Well, almost.
"Like what?" I ask.
"Those dresses. You don't seem like the type."
"What type?"
"The girly kind."
"I don't dislike them." I tell him. "I don't have a particular opinion on them I guess."
This is, in a way, true. I have no opinion on such things. Dresses just happen to be useful at this age. They were armor, making me seem cute and unassuming, which was why I also wore bows in my hair. Eventually these items would lose their usefulness, and they'd be traded in; for now though, dresses and bows worked to my advantage.
"You picked them out though." Kakashi points out. "So you definitely had a reason."
"I do. Maybe you're just looking at it the wrong way. My clothes are practical for my needs, not that I'd expect you to understand."
He hums but doesn't say anything in reply. I finish with the clothes and move over to the bathroom. I hang my ribbons where one would normally see a hand towel. My two pairs of shoes were lined up next to the open door. It was as close to personalizing as I would get.
I turned to Kakashi, still lying on my bed and now eyeing the wardrobe speculatively. He was clearly trying to figure out what I had hinted at earlier. I couldn't tell if he had made any progress. Part of me was worried he'd dirty my white comforter, but as I examined him I didn't find any trace of dirt or mud. The lazy thing had probably done nothing all day, there was no other reason for him to be so clean. Unless ninja knew some way to keep dirt off them.
"You're trying to blend in." Kakashi stated. "You'll be going to civilian school soon, so you bought things that are probably popular amongst other children; except you got your clothes from a shinobi store."
I laughed. "How astute. Now get off my bed before you contaminate it. I'm going to find Minato."
He gets up and we depart from the room, heading toward the others. The foyer is empty when we reach it, and Kakashi leads us through the far door into a new hallway. This one is wide as well, but I don't get time to admire anything before I'm shoved into the closest open door. It ends up being a study.
Minato sits at a desk, looking over some papers while Obito dithers on about something from a chair in front of the desk. Two of the walls are lined with books, and light shines in from the window, illuminating them. Both men look up as we enter, and Kakashi takes a seat in the other chair beside Obito.
"I'm going for a walk." I tell them. "I'll be back before the sun sets."
I don't say it like a question, because I'm not in the habit of asking. Instead I just tell them so no one will worry if anyone looks for and can't find me. Minato nods in acknowledgement and the others wave.
That was easy.
Somehow, I had expected a struggle or something. I left before anyone could change their minds. My feet took me to Shika's tree, but he wasn't there. I was half relieved because if he had been there I would have had to confront him. I simply didn't have the energy for such a troublesome thing today.
I lay beneath the tree, letting the sun soak into my skin. The last week had taken an unexpectedly warm turn, around sixty degrees today, a perfect temperature for doing absolutely nothing. I spent the rest of the afternoon there, dozing off on occasion. No one bothered me, but the longer I laid there the more something poked at my mind. It was as if the air was just the slightest bit… thicker, and even though it was probably nothing, my paranoia would not allow me to ignore it.
A shiver went down my spine, and my hackles rose. I could feel it, someone was watching me. It was a skill acquired from standing out like I seemed to; after a while you can just tell when people are looking. I used my chakra sense to scan the area around me, but I found nothing. I was almost ready to chalk it up to trauma or whatever when something caught my attention.
It was too quiet.
There were no birds chirping like usual. I scanned my surroundings again, and there was nothing. Animals have chakra too, so unless they had recently learned to suppress it, there were none nearby. No animals meant they had been scared away. Someone was here, I just couldn't sense them.
Calmly, I sat up, stretching my arms. I got to my feet and forced myself to walk sedately. The manor was too far from here, and I didn't know if this person was planning on just watching or taking action. I shoved my hands into my pockets to hide their shaking, and concentrated on breathing normally.
I turned my gait, putting some pep into my step. Act like the curious little girl you should be Nao. As I pranced my mind was attempting to analyze possible motives and figure out a safe place to go. The Hyuuga clan compound would be ideal, if I'd known anyone there. My feet turned right before my brain caught up but I knew where I was heading.
There was never much of a choice to begin with.
No one stopped me when I entered the Nara compound; I was a regular here. Clansmen smiled at me as I went by, and I reciprocated, waving cheerfully. This seemed to startle some of them, but none of these people knew me, they wouldn't know anything was wrong. They would only see a happy child.
Thankfully the Nara family knew me better. I knocked on the door, and Yoshino answered within seconds. I could see it in her eyes; she knew something was wrong right away. My too wide smile, or frenzied gaze betrayed me. My stance was casual and loose, a trait I had learned from Shikaku.
"Hello Yoshino-san!" I said vivaciously. I would not call myself a depressed child, but perky was just not my thing. I could tell I was beginning to worry her, but Yoshino played along.
"Hi sweetheart. Are you here to see Shika? He should be home soon."
"Do you mind if I wait then?"
"Of course not." She opens the door wide enough for me to slip in.
After she closes it, Yoshino turns to me, but I don't give her the chance to speak.
"Is Shikaku-san around?"
"Yes… he should be on the back porch."
I move more quickly than I should, my nerves starting to fray. The sliding door is open when I arrive, and Shikaku sits cross legged, staring at a shogi board. He looks up as I approach and I have to wonder how crazed I look, because his expression shifts immediately. Nothing noticeable to a normal person, but as someone fluent in Nara I can tell the difference.
"Hi Shikaku-san! Up for a game?"
I had avoided playing with him since the first time, so that along with my chipper attitude should be suspicious enough.
"…Sure." He replies.
I sit across from him, mirroring his position. To anyone watching this would be completely natural, but Shikaku narrows his gaze when I do so. I have always been careful to be as polite and respectful around adults as possible, and every time I come over for whatever reason and Shikamaru's parents are here, I sit seiza. I mentally thank god for Nara intelligence; I'm determined to leave as many hints as possible that somethings wrong.
The game starts and I struggle to hide the adrenaline flowing through my veins. I make several mistakes, but Shikaku doesn't take any pieces. He draws out the game, giving me time to think about how to tell him my suspicions without sounding like a lunatic. I had to make him notice the things I was.
"It's a lovely day today." I say. "Perfect weather for relaxing."
"Ah. It certainly is." He agreed.
"Feels like one of those perfect days, you know? Sun beaming, wind breezing, birds chirping away. All that's left is to get a fruity drink or cut up some watermelon."
Shikaku's head tilts slightly, and something flashes through his eyes, too fast for me to recognize. I can only hope he understands, because otherwise I'll have to keep going on and he'll probably have me committed.
"I've moved into the Namikaze manor. Turns out its irresponsible to give six year olds apartments. Who would of thought?"
"Me, if you had asked." He lifts himself from the floor, holding his hand out to me. "Why don't we go get some of that fruit you were talking about?"
He pulls me up and keeps a hand on my back as we head inside and close the door. Yoshino gives us a look as we stop in the kitchen and Shikaku waves.
"I'm going to drop Nao off, I'll be back later."
We say farewell, and Yoshino makes me promise to come around for dinner this week. When we get out the front door Shikaku crouches down, offering me his back. I climb on, too nervous to question. My hands start to shake again slightly and I ponder on whether he can feel it.
Probably.
As he walks we make small talk, and it all filters right out of my brain as soon as Shikaku changes subjects. I regret my decision to go to him as we move through busy streets. Shikaku isn't strong, if we're attacked I don't know how well he'll fair, and he has a family to take care of. It was selfish of me to bother him with this.
In the distance I spot the manor, and as we pass the gate, going straight up to the front door. I debate on if I'm supposed to knock or just enter when the door opens anyway. Obito, Rin, and Kakashi seem to be leaving, and they look surprised to see us just standing here. Behind them Minato, seeming only vaguely curious. He must have felt us approaching.
Shikaku lets me down. "Hey there. Got a minute?" he asks.
In response the door opens wider, so we enter. I feel twitchy, and in the safety of the manor I don't bother trying to hide it. I can feel Minato and Kakashi staring holes into my head, which makes a chill run up my spine. I shiver and turn to Shikaku.
"Thank you for walking me home, Shikaku-san. I'll see you on Saturday."
He just pats my head, watching as I climb up the staircase and disappear around the corner. I'm half tempted to stay and listen in, but I doubt it will work, and anyway I feel emotionally exhausted.
I return to my room, going over to the window and locking it. I shut the curtains for good measure before moving to the bathroom. I turn the faucet on and let the tub fill with hot water, searching the cabinets for clean towels as I wait. I find some and set them next to the tub, and then I strip, locking the door. I slide into the steaming water slowly, trying to relax.
It's a vain attempt, and as the water cools I still feel keyed up.
Finally I give up all together, draining the tub while I wrap a towel around my form. I kicked my clothes to the side of the bathroom, not bothering to put them in the laundry basket. I tug open the door, going over to the wardrobe and taking out some sleep wear.
Just as I finish dressing a knock sounds at the door. I moan and crawl onto my bed, already sensing who's on the other side.
"Nobody's home." I drone.
Of course, he doesn't listen to me. Kakashi strolls in like he owns the place, glancing at my shut curtains before joining me on the bed. We both stare at the ceiling in silence, content to wait the other out. On an ordinary day, I would be the victor; as it was, I was a jumpy mess.
"Someone was following me today. Don't tell me I'm paranoid."
"…You have excellent instincts."
"So there was someone there?" I ask, bolting up. "Did you catch them?"
"You have an ANBU detail on you, Usagi-chan. That's who was following you."
"What?" I sputtered. "Why?"
"Don't be dense. You know why." Kakashi eyed me contemplatively. "What I want to know is how you figured it out so quickly."
I scowled. A target indeed.
"Oh." I muttered. "That. It was pretty obvious."
"How so?"
"The birds." I tell him. "I always hear them, but today it was dead quiet."
I don't mention using my chakra sensing to find no creatures in the area; better to keep these things to myself. Sure, Kakashi and Minato knew I'd been messing around with my chakra, but I wasn't going to let them know how much.
Kakashi hums thoughtfully.
"Anyway," I mumble. "Can you tell Minato I won't be having dinner on your way out? I think I'm going to turn in early."
"It's six o'clock."
"Emphasis on early"
"Alright then." Kakashi says, getting up from the bed. "Good night Usagi-chan."
"Farewell, Bakashi. Godspeed."
He looks at me funny, probably because Godspeed doesn't exactly translate well to Japanese. I salute him as he closes my door, leaving me in the dim light of my room. In all honesty I'm not tired enough to sleep, but the idea of spending any more time with human beings, let alone Kushina, is too much for me.
I stare at the ceiling for hours, until the light fades completely from behind my curtains. I try to shut down my brain and sleep, but something feels wrong. I think about it for a long time before it hits me. I'm in a room alone.
All this life I had shared a room with thirty other children, had fallen asleep to their even breaths and soft snores. I hadn't had time to notice in the hospital, I was always so tired. Now here I was, unable to sleep because it was far too silent. What a ways I had come. It's pathetic, children, babies, are dead, and my biggest problem is that I can't sleep.
What a joke.
They died and I got a new home with people who really seemed to want to bond with me. How did it come to that? Those children wait for their justice, to be avenged, and what did I do today? I went shopping. Disgust at myself flows through me, and I can't help but wonder what I had ever done to deserve such a good deal in life. I was nothing special. I had never done anything worth remembering, and yet here I was. A second life, a new family. I'll never struggle to pay bills again, or worry if I'll be able to make it through winter with heat.
No, I'll never have to deal with the problems I constantly faced in my old life, and I'll never take them for granted either. But I didn't deserve any of this. I had done bad things back then; only to survive, but still awful things. Like they say, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. And those poor children? They deserved a second life, a second chance and parents who loved them. They deserved a soft bed and warm hugs. Not to burn to death. No one deserved that. I wondered if they had been reincarnated as well, a lucky second chance.
Maybe I wasn't so lucky though, considering where I was.
In fact, maybe this was Karma.
If it was, I had only myself to blame.
A/N
And another chapter ends.
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