Disclaimer: Naruto is property of Masashi Kishimoto, not me. However, Kosu and Hiro are mine. Warning, possible themes of a dark, violent or suggestive nature and use of mature language as the story progresses… They're ninja after all.

Chapter 10

The Curse of the Older Brother

Sakumo's green glowing hand hovered over Kakashi's upper thigh, the shallow cut knitting back together quickly. Dark eyes ran the length of his body for the fifth night in a row. To the untrained eye they were haphazard scratches, but Sakumo knew better. They were a surface map: femoral artery, brachial artery, flexor tendons of the hand, Achille's tendon, the map continued across his son's body… precision strikes.

"You and Kosuke are well matched." He commented.

Kakashi turned to look up at his father with wide eyes. He opened his mouth before quickly shutting it again. Of course he worked it out, he's the White Fang. Kakashi nodded and pulled his T-shirt back on. Sakumo placed his large hand on Kakashi's head.

"He's more skilled than I originally thought." Kakashi admitted. Sakumo smiled fondly.

"Being a challenging spar isn't all that makes you well suited." Sakumo said. Kakashi raised a questioning eyebrow. "You trust each other." Kakashi startled at the declaration, almost losing his balance on the couch. Trust?

"I barely know anything about him." Kakashi frowned. And Kosu barely knew Kakashi.

"When you spar, have you ever doubted his control?" Sakumo asked. Doubted that he wouldn't pull back in time? Kakashi's eyes widened. "Kosuke hasn't doubted you either."

"I really don't think he means it that way." Kakashi shook his head.

"Don't over think it." He chuckled. "Some things are meant to be spoken through actions, not churned about up here." He ruffled Kakashi's hair until the soft white strands were standing on end. He squirmed beneath his father's hand and batted him away. Sakumo laughed deeply and stood from the couch.

"Dad." His voice halted him in his step.

Kakashi chewed the inside of his lip. The four of them had received such a dressing down for venturing beyond the village without permission. Their parent's relief had worn off eventually, replaced with frustration at their recklessness. The Hokage had also called them all before him to read them the riot act. They were shinobi in training and had given no thought to the dangers their actions could have put themselves and the village in. They were such idiots. Kakashi still cursed his own recklessness. But for everything that went wrong… Kosu had opened his eyes.

"Kosu's taking me hunting with him."

The humour fell from Sakumo's eyes, the smile weakening on his lips. He's done hesitating.

"You're sure this is what you want?"

Kakashi nodded and to his relief Sakumo returned the gesture, understanding passing between them.

"I'll make sure you can pass through the gate." He said. "And Kakashi, look out for each other." Protect your friends.

X

The hairs on Kosu's neck stood on end. He's staring. She glanced from the deer tracks to Kakashi.

"Am I your prey?" She asked bluntly.

What? "No." Kakashi startled.

"Then quit staring and start focussing on your target." She frowned. Kakashi's face warmed beneath his mask and he pulled his eyes from her back. Trust? Ha, not likely.

Kosu rolled her shoulders, her hackles relaxing slightly. The quiet of the forest brought her a peace she doubted the bustle of the Village ever could, even with Kakashi and his staring. Staring aside… He's okay to bring hunting. His foot falls were silent and he'd demonstrated good sensory ability. Kosu watched as Kakashi bent to inspect an obvious track. Though he wasn't there to track. She ran her tongue over her bottom lip that wasn't why he wanted her there. He wants to kill.

"We're getting close." He murmured. Kosu hummed lowly in agreement.

"We need to flank around, keep down wind." She said. Kakashi nodded and took off after Kosu, following her silent pursuit.

The pair came to a stop, eyes locked on the peacefully grazing stag bellow them. Kosu had made sure to keep away from Nara land so was certain it wasn't one of their herd. This one was Kakashi's. Kakashi reached for his kunai pouch. Kosu gently clasped her hand around his, halting his movement. He looked to her, wide eyed.

"You will hesitate again." She whispered.

"Not this time." His fist clenched beneath hers.

"You will." She clenched his fist.

Everyone is like that in the beginning. His fist relaxed and Kosu's words echoed in his mind. Kosu wasn't trying to belittle him or make fun of him. It's a warning. He was telling him this now to avoid him being caught by surprise. His head fell forward and he swallowed thickly. Kosu saw straight through him.

"And you should." She added. She released his hand in favour of gripping his chin to force him to look at her. "You'll hesitate for exactly the same reason that will allow you to stop hesitating. The fleeting moment, just before you take its life you are closer to that being than any other, you're bonded and you'll realise you are exactly the same." She released his chin, her eyes scanning his face. "Realise that, respect it, and take the kill."

Kosu watched as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. His hands lost their tremor and went to his kunai pouch. Wind ruffled her hair as Kakashi launched from his spot and attacked the stag. He landed on its back, metal glinted as he swung the kunai between the antlers. The arc jerked briefly as he struggled through his hesitation. He drove the metal into his target, straight through its eye, blood spurting up onto his hand.

The majestic animal fell to the ground with a heavy thump. Silence engulfed them, broken only by Kakashi's heavy breathing, his body frozen on the back of his fallen prey. His hand clenched around the kunai, knuckles blanching white.

Kosu landed next to him. Good clean kill, cleaner than her first. Her eyes softened, the memory of a younger version of herself caught in the same position as Kakashi flashed before her mind. Her chest ached, how much had she yearned for someone to be there with her the first time? The words she'd wished to hear. She sat down at the head of the fallen stag, its empty black eye staring up at her. She let the silence continue, Kakashi's breathing gradually became quieter.

"You can't tell if you found it too easy or too hard, truth is it's both." She paused and looked up the canopy. "The stag kills plants to grow. We kill the stag to grow. We kill each other and…" She sighed. "The race for survival goes beyond just man. It includes everything. It's easy because we've always been a part of this, even if Konoha tries to shelter you from it and pretend that you're not. Man was always part of this cycle, setting up and walls and houses doesn't change that. It only hides it." She looked down to meet his gaze, "It's hard because life needs death and in that moment when you realise you're the same, that life is life, your body screams that you're not the same. You feel sick because you realise that there are those who you'd rather see dead first to ensure life in someone else." She reached forwards and gently unwrapped Kakashi's hand from the kunai still embedded in the stag. "That's why you hesitate and it's also why you won't."

Kakashi could only nod mutely. His numb body finally responded to his brain and he slipped from the back of the Stag. Kosu quickly turned the Stag over and began field stripping the animal, removing the organs without damaging them.

"… Kosu." Kakashi murmured.

Her bloodied hands slowed in their work. She tilted her head towards him but didn't remove her eyes from her work.

"You don't have to say anything Kakashi." Her voice was soft, the tone she usually reserved solely for Hiro.

The rapid beating of his heart began to slow. Thank you.

Kosu made quick work of field stripping the Stag. It was the largest prey she'd ever worked on. The sheer size of it meant she'd never be able to carry it alone. She glanced to Kakashi as she tied the legs of the stag together and passed a thick branch between them. Thought, she wasn't alone. She shooed the thought away to the back of her mind and nodded with her head for Kakashi to take the other end of the branch.

They made their way back to the village. He's staring again. She opened her mouth to snap, but found it caught in her throat. Whilst she was acutely aware that his eyes were boring into her back, the hairs on her neck weren't raised. There was no uncomfortable chill crawling down her back.

"Why me Kakashi?" She asked instead. "Your father is the White Fang of Konoha, yet you asked me." Kakashi was silent for a long time, long enough for her to give up on him answering.

"If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have known I needed to ask." He said. He saw Kosu's shoulders tense, but their step didn't falter. After a moment, the rigidity faded and since Kosu's back was to him he missed the small smile.

X

Sakumo's face was a grave mask, dark eyes fixed on the main gate to the Village from his roof top perch. He'd stood, unmoved since Kakashi and Kosu had disappeared beyond the walls. The temptation to follow was immense, but this was a rite of passage Kakashi had to do his own way. A way that didn't include Sakumo.

"Do you see something?"

Sakumo was pulled from his thoughts. Minato landed silently next to him, blue eyes, serious and scanning the horizon.

"Nothing to worry about." Sakumo forced a reassuring smile to his face. Trust Minato to notice.

Minato turned to Sakumo. They'd worked together on several missions before and he recognised the grim shadow to the older man's expression. Sakumo sighed and returned his gaze to the gate.

"Kakashi will make his first kill today."

Minato's eyes widened before mirroring Sakumo's expression and turned to watch the gate. Given Kakashi's skill, it was only a matter of time.

"He's gone alone?"

"Kosuke went with him." Sakumo found the corners of his lips pulling upward slightly. They'll be good for each other.

Minato glanced at Sakumo's profile and raised his brow slightly at his expression. That's unexpected. The deerstalker had obviously impressed the infamous White Fang. So much so he was prepared to trust Kosuke with his son. He turned his eyes to the gate, Kosu and Kakashi passed under the tall gate. The large stag between them was evidence enough of a very successful hunt. Both jonin looked carefully to Kakashi, an evident shadow now cast behind his eyes, but it was supported with a deeper understanding.

Sakumo exhaled heavily. Look after each other.

X

Kakashi and Kosu stepped out from Goro's butchers, the excitable man still raving about the large cut of stag left hanging. They both had their own packages bundled in their arms as well as the antlers in Kosu's. Kakashi ran his hand over the top of his neatly wrapped meat. You need to eat it. Kosu had all but thrusted his cut to him, leaving no room for arguement.

He was pulled from his thoughts as Kosu slipped by his side, ducking away from Goro. It seemed the old man had grown fond of Kosu's regular visits and meat drops. Too fond for Kosu's liking. He could only smirk as Kosu straightened the baggy T-shirt Goro had ruffled in his overzealous thank you.

"Good bye Goro-san." Kosu frowned, turning swiftly on her heel. Happy fool.

Kakashi nodded his goodbye and quickly fell into step with Kosu. He glanced to him. His mouth ran dry as the question burned at the back of his throat. Kosu sensed his stare and turned to meet it, a single eyebrow raised.

"Have you ever…?" He trailed off… killed someone?

Kakashi didn't need to finish his question. Kosu's gaze dropped to the floor. Kakashi's heart thumped against his chest, unable to look away from Kosu. There he goes, going somewhere he couldn't reach. Somewhere deep into his mind.

"… Yes." Kosu brought her gaze back to Kakashi's. She watched his profile, heart pounding as he was silent for the longest time.

"I'm glad you survived." He said. Words so simple yet they hit Kosu in her chest and knocked the breath straight out of her. Heat bloomed where they hit and spread to consume her entire body, bringing with it a small smile to her face. Kakashi caught the smile this time and chuckled. Kosu's eyes narrowed.

"You won't be when we spar tomorrow." It would have been threatening, had Kakashi not caught the playful flicker in her grey eyes.

"I'll see you tomorrow." He smiled, nodding his head towards Sakumo who was waiting for him further along the path. The warmth seeped out of her as she watched Sakumo warmly welcome his son. Any slight flicker of playfulness faded and she turned to walk a different path, alone.

"Kosuke." Sakumo called before she completely disappeared. "Would you like to join us for dinner?" She blinked, jaw falling slack. The hell?

"…I…" her mind blanked.

"Dad." Kakashi scratched the back of his neck, eyes darting between Kosu and his father.

"I need to be somewhere." She tightened her jaw, her stomach twisting uncomfortably. Why would he ask that? Something urged her, deep in the back of her mind, to back away. It didn't feel right. Kosu swallowed, that little voice, that urge had kept her alive. It wasn't something she was in the habit of ignoring.

"Some other time." Sakumo waved easily. Kosu blinked at him and made a swift exit down an adjacent path. Her heart pounding and only beginning to slow after she put some distance between herself and the Hatake's.

Kosu took a diverted route back to the orphanage. She looked to the antlers in her hand, cursing herself for agreeing to Goro's suggestion. Should have just left them on the fuckign stag. Kosu inhaled slowly as she entered the Nara Clan's land. Dark haired, dark eyed members glancing in her direction as she passed through the street. She arrived at the main house, the back of which faced onto the very forest she and Hiro had been found in.

"Shikaku can you get that?" Kosu heard a woman call from within the house in response to her knock. A groan followed it, then slowly the shuffle of sluggish feet. The door swung open to reveal a sleepy eyed Shikaku, his black shirt slightly crinkled. He was probably asleep. Kosu raised an eyebrow. Sleeping? At this time? The sun was still in the sky.

"Huh." Sleep left his eyes as he regarded Kosu thoughtfully. "It's you."

"Goro said you'd have use for these." She said, offering the large antlers. Shikaku eyed the antlers as he took them. Big animal to take down. "It's not one of yours."

"I know." He said.

"They wouldn't be waiting on the forest edge if it was." Kosu finished for him. She looked to the few deer collected at the forest boundary, their dark eyes tracking her every move. Her gaze narrowed on the scar on the closest deer's shoulder. She knew that one all too well. It snorted, blowing hot air from its snout. Dark eyes never once left Kosu.

"Exactly." Shikaku smirked. Impressive awareness. "Goro's right." He motioned to the antlers. "Thank you."

"Thank him." She inclined her head, turning on her heel and walking away. Shikaku huffed in amusement as he scratched the back of his neck. His smirk grew as Inoichi and Choza rounded the corner. The former did a very poor job of hiding his stare when he spotted the child walking towards them.

Kosu furrowed her brow at the long haired jonin and sped up her pace, darting around the corner. Strange, strange man.

Shikaku could only pinch the bridge of his nose. For crying out loud, Inoichi.

"That was him, right?" Inoichi grinned as he joined Shikaku. Shikaku rolled his eyes but nodded. "Ahhhh, our little deerstalker." He looked at the antlers in Shikaku's hands. "Please tell me he brought you that?"

"And my day was going so peacefully." Shikaku mumbled as he turned and retreated into the house.

"He did." Inoichi clapped his hands together and rubbed them excitedly. "Come on, tell me!" Choza could on shake his head as he followed his teammates into the Nara house.

X

Kosu ran her hand of Hiro's head. The smaller boy had curled into her side as they sat on the worn couch of their apartment. The setting sun threw a warm glow through the window onto the two siblings. Hiro's ear was pressed to her chest, her steady heart beat created a soothing pace whilst she read his book out loud. His small fist tightened his grip on her soft T-shirt as she came to the end of the chapter and closed the book.

"It's time for me to go." She said softly, pressing her lips to the crown of his head. Hiro nodded, slowly releasing his grip and shifting away from Kosu. He listened as she gathered her ninja tools. "I'll be back later." She cupped his cheek, running her calloused thumb along the soft skin. And with that Kosu was gone. The door snapped shut and he was left in the quiet of the apartment.

Kosu reached the bottom of the stairs and slowed as she entered the entrance hall. Hiriko stood at the sight of her and made her way towards her. Kosu narrowed her eyes. The main entrance of the orphanage was usually empty when she would pass through on her way to train with Mito. What does she want?

"Kosuke, I had hoped to see you." She smiled. Kosu's gut twisted sharply. False smiles.

"Waiting for me will usually ensure that." Kosu said. Cut the crap. Hiriko's smile wavered. "What do you want Hiriko-san?"

"I need to talk to you about Hiro." Hiriko had abandoned any attempt at smiling. Kosu's jaw clenched. What about him? "It's obvious that you love your brother very much. But what you're doing isn't fair to him." Kosu's fists clenched painfully at her sides. "He's such a young boy, you leave him for hours at a time! He needs-"

"He's fine." Her voice a low threatening rumble. Don't hit her. Don't hit her. Don't hit her. "Hiro's is fine." Kosu glowered, eyes darkening.

"He needs a mother." Hiriko insisted. "Someone to care fo-"

"He's got me." She snapped.

"You're not enough!"

Don't hit her. Don't hit her. Don't hit her. Kosu fought to keep her clenched fists at her side.

"You know nothing about us Hiriko-san. Don't stand there and claim to know what's best for Hiro when you don't even know him." Kosu hissed. Her teeth ground together and she made her way to the exit.

"I know he cries when you're not here." Hiriko said quietly. Kosu froze in her step, her back to the elder woman, eyes widening. He cries? "Please Kosuke, just consider letting the orphanage take over Hiro's care?" Hiriko pleaded. Kosu swallowed thickly and exited, letting the door slam behind her.

She managed three steps before she had to stop and press her forehead to the cold wall of the orphanage. He cries? Kosu shook her head. He can't be. She darted around the side of the building, scaling the different levels until she reached a tree branch outside of Hiro's bedroom.

No…

Oh Hiro… No.

Through the window she could see his small shaking form, curled up in his blankets, tears streaming from his pearly white eyes. The skin of his face was flushed pink and his chest shuddered as he drew in ragged breaths. Kosu stumbled back to the trunk of the tree, her hand braced against the bark to steady herself. Her chest turned to ice, feeling almost like it was collapsing on itself.

She heard the door to their apartment open. A moment later Hiriko entered Hiro's room. Kosu could only watch, nails digging into the tree as the elder woman pulled Hiro into a comforting hug. Hiro opened his arms to Hiriko, welcoming the words of comfort she whispered into his ear. Hiro's tears slowly stopped and his breathing calmed.

Kosu's jaw clenched painfully. Raw heat surged from within her, driving the angry fist she threw into the trunk of the tree. She quickly leapt from her perch, running across roof tops to avoid the chattering people on the streets below. Her vision blurred slightly as tears welled at the edges. She bit her lip, swallowing thickly and urged the tears back. Nothing fell from her eyes.

Mito looked up from tending to the tea as Kosu landed in the clearing. What happened? She saw the change to Kosu immediately. Shoulders hunched, riddled with tension, fists balled at her sides. Mito ducked her head slightly to try to catch Kosu's gaze but she stubbornly refused to look at her. Don't close off, Kosu.

Kosu took her place around the fire, taking her brush and ink from her bag. Focus, anger doesn't solve anything. She exhaled slowly, rolling her sleeves up, forcibly trying to push everything to the sides of her mind. She knew if she could manage that the churning hot pot in her gut would disappear with it, at least for a little while.

"Let's have some tea first." Mito said peacefully before Kosu could paint the first kanji on her arm. "There's no rush." Kosu chewed the inside of her lip. Her hand shook and she could feel Mito's eyes on her. Slowly she placed the brush down.

Mito placed a steaming cup of tea in front of her. Still unwilling to meet her sensei's gaze she ended up meeting her own pained face reflected at her in the tea. The face of the person determined to protect Hiro and his happiness… and the face of the person who failed. It was like she was being torn in two directions.

"Mito-sensei… I don't know if I can do this." She murmured. "I don't know if I can be a ninja." If it causes Hiro pain. "And I don't know if I can not be a ninja." And be too weak to protect Hiro. For so long her path had been obvious, whichever lead to their survival. Why is it so different now!?

A soft hand cupped her cheek, gently raising her chin to meet the comforting gaze of Mito Uzumaki. Mito knew the expression as soon as she saw it having seen it before in the eyes of her husband.

"Your brother." Kosu nodded. Mito sighed, running her thumb over Kosu's cheek as she took her hand away. The elder woman looked away to the Hokage monument in the distance. "Has anyone ever told why Konoha came to exist?"

Kosu followed Mito's gaze to the monument. The God of Shinobi… Mito's husband.

"The First and Madara Uchiha formed a truce. Which eventually included more clans and resulted in Konoha." Kosu regurgitated from a text book. Where was Mito going with this?

"I asked 'why' not 'how'" Mito said. Kosu blinked, stumped. "Hashirama had a lot of titles and a lot of responsibility, but the one he held most dear was that of Older Brother." She continued fondly. "He was the eldest of four and suffered the heartbreak of losing two of his brothers too early in their lives. In a time of constant fighting and warring he dreamt of a peaceful place where little brothers could grow up away from the dangers that threatened them. That's why Konoha came to exist." Mito said, she turned to face Kosu. "He had opposition though, from Tobirama, his younger brother of all people. The very person he was acting to protect was enraged that he would even suggest talking to Madara Uchiha, let alone forming a truce. Tobirama had had a particularly violent past with the Uchiha clan."

"What did the First do?" Kosu whispered. How did he make Tobirama happy and form Konoha to protect him?

"Sometimes ensuring what's best for someone, their happiness, peace, love, protection, comes at the cost of you losing their personal happiness towards you." Mito said. Kosu exhaled heavily. Could she face Hiro's teary, angry face? The image of his gentle face screwed up in anger flashed before her mind. Could she bare that?

"Kosu." Mito's voice pulled her from the thoughts that swarmed around her head. She gently drew Kosu's attention to the Hokage monument again. "Tobirama realised what Hashirama intended." Kosu's eyes widened as she looked to the stone face of the Second. The two stern Senju brothers staring down at her.

"But what if Hiro doesn't realise?" She whispered. Mito sighed. He would be angry at her forever. "Placing him under Hiriko-san's care… He'd hate me. He already thinks I'm abandoning him."

"You've been thrust into the adult world too early in your life Kosu. Tough decisions and situations have been placed before you and will continue to be placed before you, forcing you to grow." Mito wrapped a comforting arm around her. "But I know you." Kosu's eyes widened and her throat seemed to close over. Mito could see right through her. Maybe even deeper than she could see herself. "And I think, the very fact you came to meet me this evening, you already know what you're going to do." Kosu fisted the soft material of Mito's kimono. "What you need to do." She just didn't want to admit it. Saying it out loud made it real. "It's okay." Mito whispered, cupping the side of Kosu's face as she held the young girl to her. Kosu squeezed her eyes shut, her heart beating rapidly as she heard the words she hadn't known she needed to hear. It's okay.

Mito looked up the stone face of her husband as she held Kosu to her. She's finally beginning to understand it Hashirama… your will is still being passed on. A sad smile pulled at her lips and she looked down to the girl curled into her side. He would have liked her.

Kosu's grip on Mito slowly relaxed, her heart slowed and her breath came less harshly. The tension that Mito had felt curled beneath her frame loosened and she pulled away from her sensei. She raised her head to look at Mito with bloodshot eyes. Mito smiled softly and inclined her head. Kosu reached for the ink brush once more, her steady hand drawing the kanji on to her arms. She would be what Hiro needed.

X

Later that evening, with the kanji washed from her arms and her body aching from Mito's intense fūinjutsu training, Kosu returned to their apartment. Silently, she snuck into Hiro's room, eyes softening as she saw his peacefully slumbering body curled beneath the blankets. He probably doesn't remember a time where he had blankets. She ran her hand over the soft locks on his head. As gently as she could she lay down beside him, spoon his smaller body with her own and wrapped a protective arm over him. She bowed her head, pressing her cheek to the crown of his head.

Hiro could hate her, maybe never even forgive her. But she would continue to become stronger, to run the race for him even if he didn't realise it. Konoha was a place for little brothers to grow up peacefully and she would protect it.

That's what big brothers do.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

XScouseLondonerX

Lizyeh2000: You are more than welcome! Thank you for reading and reviewing! I love hearing what you guys are thinking and feeling about the story and how it's progressing. I read (and often re-read) reviews because of that and try to respond to all of them. After all you're all taking the time to comment so I should take the time to reply haha. I hope you liked this chapter! Lots of deep feels and confusing times for our little Kosu. And tell me about it! I can't wait for her secret to come out… A little while to go for that yet though. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

CutieChante: Thank you for reviewing. That chapter was on the shorter side, but because of the plot it made sense to cut it off there. This one was a little bit longer! She has been spending more time with her brother but it's not that simple for poor Kosu and Hiro! I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

OneWhoReadsTooMuch: Tell me about it! I love writing Kakashi-Kosu scenes! Especially now that they're starting to understand each other and bond, of course in true shinobi fashion haha. I hope you liked the adult response to Kosu in this chapter! Quite a bit of deep Kosu-Mito in this chapter, with Kosu facing the hardest choice she's ever had to make. Thankfully she had a sensei and maternal figure who, like you said, she can actually breathe a sigh of relief around. And you've hit the nail on the head with Daiki. He does genuinely care! It's just that sometimes, no matter how much you care, you're not what that person needs at that time in their lives. I hope I haven't crushed everyone too much with the Kosu-Hiro dilemma that's going on!

SnowCatt: So glad you liked what I did! I've had this in the plot since the very beginning and I got so excited when your comment hit the nail on the head. I hope you liked this chapter.

LadyAmazon: Everyone loves Minato! (Myself included haha) and he will for sure make another appearance with Kosu, it makes sense since they're both fūinjutsu users… A slight appearance in this chapter and I can definitely promise more to come!

TheWick: Thank you for the review! I spent quite a bit of time outlining how Kosu's version of fūinjutsu is going to work and I can't wait to write it for you! I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

ZippyZappy: Thank you! I feel like I'm making up for (a lot of) lost time! Haha. Yet more Kakashi-Kosu bonding time which is a pleasure to write (since this is a Kakashi-OC haha). Sakumo is such a wonderful character that I really want to explore in this story. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Oxygenate: Thank you for reviewing! And I'm not giving any spoilers away! Keep tuned "the blonde" and the rest of Kosu's team with be revealed soon!

Wyteeth: Thank you for your review! Kosu's team will be revealed shortly and I think it'll make for a good fit! (If I was Hokage I'd but her on that team haha). Given how good friends Kakashi and Gai are, he's definitely going to feature in this story so you'll get your Gai fix (even in a more angsty fic like this). Again, thank you for your review, your comments go a long way to inspiring me and motivating me to write Kosu's story! Hope you enjoyed the chapter.

HappyDog23006007341647: Thank you for your review. My current aim is a chapter a week with it being uploaded Fri/Sat… However, as we go into the new year that may have to be stretched to a chapter every 2 weeks as my life will be more hectic then. As always I hope you liked this chapter.

CassieInTheDark: I know right! I've been dying to get to this turning point in Kosu's story because I spent ages outlining her fūinjutsu technique haha. Thank you for your review and I hope you liked this chapter.

Thanzintay2000: Thank you for your review! So glad you like this! I hope you continue to enjoy it.

UmbreonGurl: Thank you so much for your review!

Stars in the Black: Thank you so much! Hope you liked this chapter.

NeoFireKitten: Gah! Thank you so much! It's always a joy when new readers join Kosu's story! I hope you continue to like it :D

Pandyisapanda: (Love the penname) Thank you so much for your review!

Tabjoy13: Yay! Thank you for your review. I hope you enjoyed this one as well. Lots of bonding and deep feels for Kosu that she doesn't properly know how to process! As for Kosu's team I'm not revealing any spoilers! It'll be announced in the next few chapters so keep tuned!

Guest 28: Thank you for your comment. I think I misinterpreted your earlier comment slightly (so I'm sorry about that). You are 100% making sense and are raising very valid points that transcend far beyond my simple fanfiction to a much larger gender equality issue. With regards to Kosu, because of the character mapping and plot outlining that I've done it'll be impossible for me to change anything fundamental without ruining the flow of the fic. But, that being said I will definitely keep your comments in mind and try to lessen the gender discrepancy where I can. As you said this is a very, very male dominated manga and also a manga where OP characters are rife. You also raised a very valid argument over the children leaving the village. I've attempted to rectify that where I can in this chapter but admit that it looks like shoddy plotting on my part (mainly because it was!). All of that aside I do hope that you are enjoying this fic.

CherryBerry: Thank you for your review. Kosu is indeed and very angsty character and given her back story I feel like that's part of her. (She's in desperate need of Naruto's therapy-no-jutsu!). I also want to apologise for misleading you into a "romance" fic. I promise that there will be Kakashi-OC romance, but it will come later. After all the characters are still children, and romantic relations are not top of Kosu's priorities (yet). In light of your review I've relabelled this fic as "romance/angst". And I don't think it's a matter of "growing up" merely a matter of taste… you can be the most grown up person in the world and not like angsty characters… they're not for everyone.

Sakuraddiction: Ahh! Thank you so much! To hear that I'm portraying such complex emotions believably is such high praise thank you thank you thank you. Ooooh! I wonder if you're right about Kosu's sensei! All will be revealed in the next few chapters I promise! I hope you liked this chapter.

I'm a guest: Thank you so much! Such high praise! I hope you liked this chapter.

Santoserimar: Thank you for the review… I feel this chapter may have broken your heart a little bit. Lots of Hiro-Kosu tension and drama! Also so happy to hear that the pacing of this fic is going about right! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter! *she says as she ducks to avoid any projectiles*