A/N: Hello my lovely readers! We're back with another chapter finally after a much needed break! I have settled into my new home, thewoodlandfox is home from college, and FireOokami is on summer vacation from school! Here you go loves. Read, review and follow!


The next day found Satoshi wandering along the street. Asami had already left for training with her team earlier that morning, and after a few hours, he found himself restless.

"Have you heard? Rumor says the third is stepping down." Satoshi paused, the conversation catching his interest.

"What? No way!" It was a couple of civilians chatting at a vender,

Satoshi let a small smile, things were moving along, Iwa signed a treaty and other villages were beginning to follow suit. Well, except for Kumogakure. But that was to be expected.

But that did not matter at the moment. Still, the conversation had given him something to do so he decided to go search for his sister. Satoshi searched three training grounds, nearly getting lost, before he found her resting under a tree. Various scrolls were spread out around her and he recognized some of the writing as her own.

Satoshi walked up to Asami, who lay dozing under the tree.

"Hey" He called out, rolling his eyes when he did not receive an answer. She was purposely ignoring him and feigning sleep. He knelt down and poked her in the cheek, "Yo. You said we could train today." He poked her again, this time receiving an eye twitch in response. She cracked one eye open to look at him before yawning.

"I did, didn't I? Well, later, ok?" She sat up and stretched while Satoshi eyed the scrolls and notes scattered about. Half of it was completely unintelligible to him.

"Ok, just don't forget." Asami waved him off.

"Yes yes I won't. Shoo child, I'm training." Satoshi gave her one last dubious glance but complied, leaving the training grounds.

"Someone need your help?" Aoto asked, spooking Asami. The girl looked up at her sensei from where he had mysteriously materialized. As part of their training, Aoto had been repressing his chakra, making his students work to find him.

"Mmm, my little brother. I promised I'd help him train later today." Aoto nodded.

"We'll call it a day soon, don't push yourself too hard yet." Asami sighed, lack of physical work meant more book work. Her hands hurt more than any muscle ever had.


After training she was wandering back when she spotted an all too familiar silver haired boy walking the other way.

"Oh, Kakashi," The boy paused and Asami smiled as she jogged up to him, "Hey." She greeted him.

"Yo. You're out of the hospital I see."

"And cleared for training. How are your injuries?"

"Healing well enough." Asami nodded as she observed him as he began to walk away from her. She knew the direction he was heading, and before he could get too far away, she caught up to his side. He looked sideways at her but said nothing and she kept her own gaze straight ahead.

The two remained silent even as the graveyard came into view. The stood before Rin's grave, her name stood carved elegantly on the stone, but Asami knew there was no body in the ground here. Suddenly Kakashi ran a hand over his face.

"Sorry. I just- Sorry. I shouldn't have allowed you to come. You almost died." The too remained unspoken. Asami frowned. She knew later on Kakashi would fall down a dark and lonely road. Now might be the time to nip it in the bud.

"But I didn't die."

"You could have! You almost did! Bringing a genin into danger like that was a h-"

"-It was a risk, a risk I knew." She said softly. Then in a firmer voice she continued on, "this is what we do. Besides, I woke up to having a vest thrown at my face. I was supposed to receive it before we left but didn't get to it. So, you did not bring a genin with you. A chunin came with you to help. There is a difference."

Asami cast her gaze over the cemetery. Rows of headstones filled the area, all the same size, shape and color. Shinobi undistinguished even in death. But even undistinguished, there was a stone she knew by heart.

"Come with me." She began to walk a few rows down, not bothering to see if Kakashi followed behind. She could feel his chakra.

Asano Toma

Asami knelt down in front of the stone, tracing the name. "My team mate died in a surprise attack. We were given false info. It had come out of nowhere, even Aoto-sensei was taken off guard. Toma was hit hard and before we could get to him, he was killed, right in front of our eyes. There is no body in this grave. Just his name on a stone, and that's all we will ever have for comfort. So, I get it, I do. But you aren't alone." Asami let her hand drop before straightening up. Toma's family had paid a lot to put his empty grave here.

Throughout it all Kakashi remained silent. She wondered if any of it sunk in. Probably not, he was still a child after all. She had had a lifetime of experience and still found herself stuck at times. It was understandable.

"Well, I have a little brother at home clawing at the walls. You're more than welcome to stop in. I'm sure he'd love for someone other than me to beat him into the dirt."


Asami opened the door, calling out a greeting. "Satoshi, I'm home!" She waited for the sound of running feet to greet her before Satoshi appeared.

He darted out and saw Asami "Welcome home! But you're late!"

"Ah sorry, there was a cute puppy and I just couldn't leave it to get lost so I brought it home with me."

His face went deadpanned "Yeah, sure."

Asami immediately began to protest. "I did! Look! He's even going to play with us." Kakashi stepped into the house, looking awkward as he came out from behind Asami.

Satoshi's eyes went wide and he was lost for words.

"I'm not a puppy." Kakashi muttered under his breath. Asami just continued to smile.

"Sure you are. Now walk children, to the backyard!" She ushered the two boys out back, ignoring Kakashi's protests of being older and Satoshi's lack of response.

"I'm surprised she brought someone home. I mean she doesn't have any friends." Satoshi stated and was rewarded with a cuff on the head.

"Brat. I have plenty of friends."

"Sure." he shrugged.

"Cheeky brat. I guess I won't help you train." She scowled at her little brother in mock annoyance. Then she noticed one of her practice targets was already hanging up and his mini-kunai were littered over the small yard.

"Someone's been busy. The hell Satoshi, I said leave my stuff alone!"

"I, um, well you were taking a while. So um, yeah." he apologetically shrugged

Asami rolled her eyes, unable to stay annoyed. She walked over to the targets, inspecting the marks.

"Your technique is improving. Been practicing?"

"Not really."

"Uh huh. Whatever you say kiddo. So, show me what you got." She moved back, standing next to Kakashi so Satoshi could have space.

He gathered his kunai and began throwing them individually, three hit near the outer ring while two hit and bounced off the target. The rest missed the target completely, hitting the surrounding areas before clattering to the ground.

Asami nodded, expression serious. "Not bad. You're improving at a steady rate. Keep your arm straight when you throw."

Satoshi nodded. The rest of the day was spent training and showing Satoshi ways to improve his technique with the occasional input from Kakashi. When the three finally called it a night and went inside, they were met with a shock.

Seika stood in the kitchen, a letter in hands. But what concerned Asami was the blank look on her face. The three children exchanged a look before Asami stepped forward.

"Mom?" Seika did not take her eyes from the paper.

"Your father is gone." A stillness took over Asami's body as she drew in a shocked breath. Then she was moving, darting forward to catch her mother as her body gave out. Asami was mindful of the prominent stomach housing their unborn sibling. She pulled the paper from her mother's grasp and read over it.

"Kakashi, take Satoshi outside for me, will you? I'll put mom to bed." The only thing giving away her nerves was the slight wavering of the paper.