Little Girl Lost Chapter 8: Tenzo's Special Mission Part 2


"So it's time for lunch huh Kyoko-hime?"

"Yup!" Kyoko said with a head nod. She giggled sweetly, giving Tenzo the lunch she had prepared.

"So princess, you like cookies?"

"Yes."

"Do you like ice cream?"


Kyoko sat outside the door to her new found parent's bedroom. She listened to Kushina beg her Daddy to go out and buy some chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream for her. After much prodding Kyoko heard her Daddy get out of bed. Kyoko quickly got up from the floor and walked to her bedroom. She peered out the door as her parent's door opened. Her ears wiggled excitedly as she watched Minato come out.

"Kyo-chan," he called out quietly. "Why aren't you sleeping?" Kyoko shuttered, how did Daddy know? Daddy always knows!

"Can't sleep…been up," Kyoko answered.

"Come on out," Minato sighed. Kyoko gulped coming out of the doorway. He looked insanely tired. He looked down at her with an amused half-awake smile. "It's okay to wake me up and tell me that you can't sleep."

"Okay," Kyoko muttered. She shifted anxiously as her arms went up towards Minato. "Up?" He continued to smile letting out a sigh.

"Okay." Kyoko felt his arms around her as she was hoisted up. "You wanna come with Daddy?"

"Yes please," Kyoko answered. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

"You like doing things with Daddy?" Minato asked getting his haori from the closet. He wrapped it around Kyoko, it was going to be a cold night, and he wanted for his little girl to be warm. He put her hat on.

"Yes," Kyoko answered. She heard the jingle of his keys, the opening and closing of the front door and felt the cold brisk air. "It's cold Daddy!"

"Yes! Yes it is," Minato cooed. She shivered against him. "That's why I covered you up Kyo-chan. We can't let you get sick." Kyoko peered over his shoulder as he carried her to their unknown destination.

"Why does Mommy want so many different foods?"

"Why does Mommy want so many different FOODS? Because sometimes the baby gets really hungry and takes more nutrients from Mommy. That makes Mommy gets hungry and then Mommy begs and pleads with Daddy to go get her more food," Minato explained. Kyoko pulled herself closer, it was quite cold. "Sometimes the baby doesn't know what time it is and the baby eats the nutrients in the middle of the night and then Mommy wakes up hungry."

"What are nutrinuts?"

"It's a special thing in food that makes us well or gives us energy or makes us strong, and so on."

"Wow," Kyoko muttered. "Daddy, you're a really smart cookie." She heard Minato chuckle as he adjusted his grip on her.

"Only daughters can be smart cookies."

"Daddies are big smart cookies." Minato laughed kissing Kyoko's head.

"You're a darling little princess you know that?"

"I'm NOT little," Kyoko grumbled.

"You're little compared to me."

"Yes, but I'm NOT little. I am little in AGE but I am NOT little. Itachi-kun and I are almost same height and Itachi-kun is taller than many, so I am taller than many!" She heard Minato laugh again. She sat up from his shoulder looking at him. "Why do you laugh?" She watched him flinch as he tried to come up with an answer.

"I laugh because I think you're cute," Minato replied rubbing Kyoko's head. Kyoko cocked her head, furrowed her eyebrows and stared into Minato's eyes. She cocked her head to the other side blinking twice.

"Why?"

"When you say cute things it makes me really happy and the only thing I can do is laugh when I see you act and react in cute ways," Minato answered.

"Oh," she answered.

"Alright we're here, Princess," Minato sighed. "I'm gonna put you down and then I can wrap you back up in the haori when we leave. Take my hand sweetheart." Kyoko quickly took it swinging it tiredly. Placing her spare hand at her mouth Kyoko opened her mouth yawning. "Getting tired?" he asked leading her down aisles and past…


"Kyoko-hime," Tenzo asked shaking the girl. She flinched as her memories slipped from her. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, you just reminded me of a fond memory. I'm actually allergic to milk. Kakashi-nii was actually able to figure that out. Mama and Papa didn't quite figure out what I meant by 'I don't like cow milk,' before they passed. They just never gave me cereal or other things that they put milk in." Kyoko let out a slight sigh. "Tenzo-san, does Kakashi-nii suffer from stress in ANBU? That's if you can tell me."

"What do you mean?"

"Kakashi-nii he…does…" Kyoko became silent as she thought of the boy's obsessive hand washing and night terrors. "…I…never mind. I don't think I should share that with you. Sorry." Kyoko's ears twitched underneath her ribbons. "We should get going though! I'll be late!"

"Kyoko-hime, why don't we walk and talk instead?"

"But taijutsu training…"

"I want to get to know you better. Would you feel better if we ran?"

"No…tai-,"

"Kyoko-hime, if you live your life this way, you're only going to set yourself up for disaster when you go on tougher missions."

"Understood. I'm…but what about the Elders?"

"I'll make sure I will get in trouble instead. I'm the one who changed your plans not you. I think it's essential that we talk and get to know you. I'm going to be living with you for a week."

"Did Kakashi-nii tell you why you're watching me?" Kyoko asked. Her voice and demeanor changed…I wonder if this what it was like to talk to the Fourth Hokage…Tenzo thought. Kyoko was looking ahead of them and her eyes had narrowed seriously.

"You're the Fourth Hokage's daughter,"

"It's more than that." Kyoko cocked her head slightly so she could lock eyes with Tenzo. "Do you know what a Luponian is?"

"No," Tenzo sighed.

"We're a special type of human that lives East of the Land of Lightening. We have 'wolf blood', meaning that we can freely transform into our wolf form. We're not werewolves we for the most part don't lose ourselves, there are a few instances in which we can go on a rampage but it's not from a full moon or other things. Under these ribbons I hide my wolf ears because I don't think many non-Luponians would appreciate it. Yet with this special designation as Luponian…I have another designation…High Priestess." Kyoko looked ahead of them. "There are fifteen priestesses and one high priestess. We share what our gods preach, as High Priestess I should be the strongest of all the Luponian. Yet…people want me dead…there are many clans that feel that since I'm the last of the Kin Clan…my Priestesshood should be turned over to another clan, and they try to kill me. People try to kill me because I'm Lord Fourth Hokage's daughter and that I am high priestess, so I live with Kakashi-nii until I'm strong enough to defend myself."

"I see,"

"So I understand why Kakashi-nii chose you. You're someone who is capable of defending me from the most elite shinobi and Luponians. I don't think Gai-san or Kurenai-san would be able to stand up to them…and they don't know about my secret." Kyoko answered. Her ear twitched as they approached Akiyo's home. "Yet, we can talk more in private." She looked down letting out a small sigh, switching to a smile her demeanor changed. "I'll see you a little later Tenzo-san." Today she was singing and Tenzo stayed outside listening to the girl's gentle voice. After an hour he watched the girl leave Akiyo's home. She stood there seemingly frozen in time. She'd shift her weight every now and then but she stayed almost perfectly still. Ten minutes passed before she burst into movement throwing her arms around a boy near her age. He's an Uchiha…Tenzo noted seeing the iconic fan on his back. Below Kyoko gently placed her hands on Itachi's face. He looked terrible and torn. His eyes were sullen and dark. She knew what this was about.

"Itachi-kun?" Kyoko muttered.

"It's nothing." He looked away from her as she massaged his cheeks. She was frowning at him.

"Itachi-kun, this isn't for you. Your soul is tormented," Kyoko said softly.

"This is all I know…this is our lives Kyoko-hime," Itachi answered.

"Itachi-kun," Kyoko muttered. Itachi gave her a bitter sweet smile. He took her hands down holding on to them tightly. He mouthed a 'thank you' at her.

"Let's get going." He released one hand offering her his arm. "I have to escort the Princess in a royal way." Kyoko rolled her eyes taking his arm.

"You have a strange sense of humor," Kyoko chuckled.

"I do?"

"Yes, you do. You always act like I'm this posh princess who speaks ever so formally," Kyoko sighed.

"Because you do speak ever so formally," Itachi teased. Kyoko shook her head with a smile. "Come on you sweet Princess, I'll take you home."

"But…"

"No…no, I'll take you home,"

"I feel bad when you walk me home…you have to walk so far to get home,"

"Don't feel bad. It's my duty to get you there without a scratch."

"Itachi…it's not yo…"

"You're a princess and I'm your royal body guard. Miyana-chan," Itachi began looking down at her.

"Yes?"

"Your hair has gotten curlier," Itachi chuckled as he plucked up one of her locks. He ran his fingers down the bumpy strands tenderly.

"Well, Mama would brush my hair which pulled the curls into a more relaxed state. I use a comb and my fingers so it doesn't ruin my curls as much. I hate them though…people call me a cloud or 'baaa' at me as if I were sheep."

"I think your hair is beautiful."

"Why? It only causes trouble."

"Because,"

"Because of what?"

"Because you wouldn't be Kyoko-hime without it."

"You're speaking in riddles again."

"Hardly," Itachi chuckled. They reached her apartment. "I guess I'll see you later Miyana-chan." He kissed her forehead gently.

"Don't you mean Princess?"

"That's right Miyana-hime," Itachi chuckled. "I'll see you at the end of the week at your recital."

"Good bye Itachi," Kyoko muttered blushing. Unlocking her door Kyoko stepped in with a slight giggle.

"So that was Itachi-kun," Tenzo chuckled. Kyoko turned even redder. Her eyes darted left and right trying to figure out how much he had seen.

"Wha-What?!" Kyoko gasped.

"Uchiha Itachi, wasn't that him?"

"Yes," Kyoko muttered.

"He likes you a lot now doesn't he?"

"It's time to practice-ttebane!" Kyoko blurted out.


"Kyoko-hime?" Tenzo called out. She went to lay down for a couple of minutes but thirty minutes had passed. "Kyoko-hime?" Tenzo found her passed out in her room. This is too hard on her. She needs time to be a child, Tenzo thought covering up the little girl with a blanket.

"She works very hard," Elder Akilah sighed.

"You must be one of her guards?"

"Yes, Elder Akilah. This happens often…She just gets so tired that by the end of the day she just conks out and sleeps till her alarm goes off," Elder Akilah answered. "My mate is out scanning the surroundings. Would you like me to wake her?"

"No…I'll cook instead, give the girl a little break," Tenzo answered. He allowed Elder Akilah out of the girl's room and into the kitchen. He closed the door quietly not to disturb the young lady. "What's this?" The elder wolf had a piece of paper in her mouth. She released it to the boy sitting in front of him with a grin.

"Kakashi-san received this flyer a day ago. He didn't get a chance to look at it, it's from Akiyo, Kyoko-hime's ballet instructor." Curious Tenzo unfolded the paper.

"It's a flyer for a ballet recital…Kyoko-hime's going to be in it…" Tenzo muttered.

"Oooh, the poor dear. I'll go cheer her up when she wakes up. But you should get to cooking before the dear wakes up."


Days later Tenzo met with the Konoha Elders and the Hokage. He crouched down bowing to his superiors.

"Lord Hokage, I would like to request more time off for Kyoko-hime," Tenzo explained from his bowed position.

"She's Lord Fourth Hokage's daughter, she was doing all of this before he passed away," Koharu said proudly.

"Lord Hokage, she commonly sleeps through dinner, and she does miss when she was able to play and relax with Itachi during the week days. She doesn't have tha…"

"ENOUGH Tenzo," Koharu snapped, "…Lord Fourth Hokage had many enemies, she must be perfect in her pursuits."

"Koharu-sama, I understand her ninjutsu, genjutsu and taijutsu training but everything else…why must she…"

"She was already in piano and harp lessons before his death and there was talk about the voice and ballet lessons. She's just on the track that the Fourth Hokage projected."

"But at the cost of her health? She's overexerting herself. Lord Hokage please! I'm not asking for you to allow her to do nothing each day but to allow her to have time as a child."

"Is this what she wants?" Lord Hiruzen asked.

"She told me a few days ago how she missed having the free time she had when she was younger," Tenzo explained.

"We'll talk it over…for now she'll continue her current schedule. Since you're watching Kyoko-hime as a personal favor of Kakashi, I'll allow you to make a few concessions to her schedule but only during the times that Kakashi trains her."

"Thank you Lord Hokage!" Tenzo mustered.


"Kyoko-hime," Tenzo called out.

"Hm?"

"You wanted to have your little boyfriend over?"

"HE'S NOT MY BOYFRIEND!" Kyoko snapped turning a bright crimson.

"Well then your little friend."

"Yeah but we have ninjutsu training."

"Well I spoke to the Hokage and he's allowing you to break from your schedule right now,"

"Really?!" Kyoko gasped.

"Yeah, Elder Ken is getting him right now."

"Really?!" Kyoko gasped again. Excitement was taking over her body. She quivered the same way she did as a four year old. Kyoko put her hands on her shoulders trying to calm herself.

"You're that excited."

"No," Kyoko mumbled averting her eyes.

"You're quite the lively little girl."

"I am not." She jittered excitedly for almost twenty minutes until they heard a knock on the door. and the girl's eyes lit up excitedly. "Itachi-kun!" She ran to the door peeping out the eyehole seeing the boy waiting patiently on the other side. With a swift flick of her wrist the door knob was turned. She's excited…Itachi thought as the door flung open. Her arms around his neck in a jittery hug.

"Kyoko-hime," Itachi chuckled.

"Itachi-kun!" she responded excitedly.

"I'm glad that you have this time off."

"Wanna bake a pie?" Kyoko asked pulling him inside.

"Sure," Itachi answered. "Is this to get better at your skinning skills?" Kyoko immediately sulked. Her excited energy disappeared.

Her voice became small, "They're not that bad."

So this is the prodigal child…Uchiha Itachi. He's much more lively around her than others…yet there's something about this kid…it's funny…I get this feeling about Kyoko-hime as well, Tenzo thought as Kyoko and Itachi looked at each other with a certain type of excitement in their eyes. It was if they hadn't seen each other in a long time.

"You're still growing out your hair?" Kyoko asked as Itachi accompanied her to the kitchen.

"I remember a little Wolfie telling me that she liked boys with long hair," Itachi chuckled.

"Yes I did say that, but I'd love you just the same if you had short hair."

"Well, I think I like mine long besides," Itachi grabbed a few lochs of her hair, "I like girls with long hair…but I'd love you just the same if you had short hair." Itachi brought her lochs of hair to his nose. "I love the smell of your hair."

"Itachi…" Kyoko muttered blushing heavily. "You're really weird-tteb…You're weird! But let's get started on the apples."

"Yeah," Itachi answered. "I want to see if your skinning skills have gotten any better." Kyoko rolled her eyes as she picked up the apples. Tenzo watched the little girl and boy as she struggled through cutting the skin. Itachi chuckled crossing his arms amused. He gently took the knife out of her left hand. He positioned her left hand on the knife.

"Itachi-kun," Kyoko sighed. He laughed softly as his right hand positioned the apple within her hand.

"I'm just helping," Itachi replied. He leaned his head on her head.

"I don't need you to do that," Kyoko answered.

"Miyana-hime," Itachi soothed. His voice was soft so Tenzo could hear her real name.

"Yes?"

"Do you see how to cut them now?"

"Yes. I can skin apples."

"You do an okay job." Itachi teased as they cut the apples together. Tenzo kept a close eye on them, it was strange, in some ways they acted like adults but they were also so childish and innocent. Itachi was better at skinning apples than Kyoko yet the way he was helping her seemed too adult like.

"It's a little annoying Tenzo-san…Itachi-kun is right handed but he can also skin apples with his left hand. I don't know how he does it." Kyoko was able to get back at Itachi teasing him about his pie crust making skills. About 45 minutes later, they had their pie. They then in a childish manner, made dinner before she bid Itachi goodbye.


"Thank you Mikoto-san," Kyoko cooed. The woman gave Kyoko a partial braided crown and a braided bun. It was the day of her recital and the young girl was quieter than normal. Mikoto thought that she was just nervous, this would be the first time Kyoko would perform in public.

"Don't worry about that Princess," Mikoto cooed. "So your tutu is at school?"

"Yes," Kyoko whispered.

"What will you be dancing?"

"Just a small solo…It's nothing real impressive." It was something out of the ordinary for Kyoko to say. Minato had taught the girl to be honest and humble, but this little girl was self-depreciating herself.

"Kyoko-hime," Mikoto said sternly. Kyoko looked back at Mikoto confused. "I know you're not being modest right now. You need to have more confidence. You are a wonderful dancer."

"Yes Ma'am."

"I can't have my little baby being so sad. You have so much potential outside being a ninja," Mikoto explained. "Now smile. You have this starry eyed boy who loves you and his family to support you. You have Kakashi-san and his friends. You are so loved." Itachi turned his head to them. Kyoko's face was covered in a thick layer of makeup. Mascara, Eyeliner, Eye shadow, Blush, Foundation, Lipstick, Lipgloss…the works. Yet it bothered him. Akiyo's assistant teacher had picked out the makeup for Kyoko, and had instructed Kyoko to cover her face and neck. Secretly Kyoko had admitted to him that the assistant teacher to cover her arms as well in the powder. Itachi moved in front of Kyoko. The powder, this foundation…it didn't suit Kyoko's color. Silently Itachi took her wrist turning it over revealing the soft yellow undertone of her brown skin. The powder was lighter than this tender side of her. This makeup…it made her look of a sickly porcelain, like a doll that had yellowed and burned in the sun.

"Thank you Mikoto-san," Kyoko said smiling bittersweetly. Mikoto kissed the top of Kyoko's head as she stood up.

"Now I'm going to go get my coat. Itachi, you keep her warm alright, we don't want her muscles tensing up!" Mikoto ordered.

"Yes," Itachi replied. Kyoko was looking down at her hands. They seemed foreign to her. Kyoko felt Itachi looking at her, he knew that she was bothered.

"I'm alright," Kyoko mustered.

"Kyoko-hime," Itachi began. She bit her red lips slightly. Itachi's voice softened just above a whisper, "Miyana-hime…Miyana-chan. This makeup is a mask…it's not you."

"I don't like how she lightens me. As if I'm not beautiful being this…honest this isn't…"

"Miyana-hime," Itachi said firmly. "You are beautiful. Your skin is beautiful. People want to change you because they're intimidated by you. Don't let their weaknesses and fears make you weak." He took her other wrist shaking her slightly. "Now you're going to reaffirm that you are the best, okay?!" Kyoko nodded was a weak smile. "Okay?!"

"OKAY!" Kyoko grumbled. She let out a giggle with a sweet smile. "Itachi-kun, thank you."


Kakashi-san's not here, Itachi thought looking around the small theater. Itachi furrowed his brow as his eyes darted about, that's why she's acting vulnerable. His mother placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Continue showing her love and understanding. She'll come around and tell you what's troubling her," his mother soothed. "She's like you. And you always tell her what's troubling you." The lights dimmed and Itachi's attention turned to the stage. He scanned the faces of the girls, they were just a plastered with makeup as Kyoko. Little plastered angels in white tutus and white tights. The clapping Itachi heard drained out as Kyoko tiptoed out onto the stage. Her tutu was different, it was navy blue and her tights black.

He stared as she waited seemingly frozen in time as the girls danced around her. Itachi squinted he couldn't make out Kyoko's inner thoughts and feelings. His eyes widened as she came to life with grace and poise. She hopped and twirled about to the music. As he stared at her face he noticed that he was imitating a small smile. She was doing something that she loved, and that made him happy. Yet just like that her twirling stopped and she was once again was frozen in time. Her face became stoic as the other girls danced around Kyoko again. Kyoko not once joined in with them. Eventually Kyoko rushed off stage and another soloist took her place.

Itachi watched with dismay. Was this also what was bothering her? He couldn't focus on the blurs across the stage or the pounding of their feet. Kyoko was a dancer more than a shinobi. She practiced ballet more than she did her shinobi arts. She danced as a child and commonly pulled Itachi into her shenanigans. The new soloist was good, but not graceful or confident. She wore a look of utter fear on her face. She stumbled a few times which only made the girl more nervous. And with an ungraceful landing the show was over. The crowd clapped excitedly and Kyoko was invited back on stage. Itachi immediately stood up. As she came to take her bow, Kyoko blushed seeing the boy's hands come together quickly.


"Kyoko-hime!" Kurenai called out to her.

"Kurenai-san?" Kyoko gasped. "How did you?"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I…I didn't think…"

"Of course I would've been here. Gai was here too but he was so inspired by all these young girls he decided to run several laps around Konoha." Kurenai smiled gently. "We're all proud of you." Kurenai hugged the young girl tenderly. "I know your little boyfriend's family is taking you out tonight. So I'll see you tomorrow. We'll go get dango okay?" Kyoko bid Kurenai good bye. Thank you Tenzo-san…she thought with a slight nod. With a heavy sigh Kyoko joined Itachi and his family.

"Kyoko-hime," Itachi soothed. He took her hands in his. "Good job." Kyoko nodded.

"We're all proud of you Kyoko-hime," Fugaku mustered.

"Thank you," Kyoko answered. She wore an unsure smile on her face. "I didn't do to much really."

"Kyoko-hime," Itachi muttered. "What is it?"

"She redid the show…at the last minute…she redid the show," Kyoko answered. "I was the only soloist…yet one of the mothers complained, 'My daughter is not going to be passed up by a girl as dark as night.' Our real teacher was called away urgently…the student teacher…teaching assistant…she told me that people like me…" Kyoko looked down at her arm "…they're not fit for dancing. I should quit while I'm ahead."

"Let's not worry about it today. You did your best, better than everyone else here. My wife and I will have a little talk with this woman. Tonight let's celebrate," Fugaku answered. He placed his hand on her head proudly. "You're a part of this family, and just like Itachi and Sasuke, it pains me to see you so upset." Kyoko blushed embarrassed by the man's words. Itachi hugged his friend with a smile.

"Thank you, Fugaku-san," Kyoko said quietly. Fugaku nodded becoming the stoic man once again.