Chapter 11- Friends Don't Abandon Friends.
It took me a week to find my window of opportunity. I had to take into consideration not only the habits of the compound guard shifts but also the habits of my parents. By then, everyone knew about the Sakumo's mission.
I had 'gone to bed' at nine, and waited until 12:45 to make my move. My parents were dead asleep and the guards to the compound were about to change shifts.
Creaking open my window, I climbed out and landed on the grass. I took off towards the street, activating my Byakugan and located the guards.
Moving quietly, I used the shadows to my advantage and moved around my 'family' members and over the wall. I then ran through the streets, already knowing the way like the back of my hand.
Footsteps made me duck behind a wall. I angled my head so that I could see who was walking around at one in the morning.
Black hair and a black uniform caught my eye and I held my breath.
"It was probably a Stray Cat, Kumai-san." One of the Uchiha police officers called. The footsteps came closer into the alley, near to where I was hiding and I held my breath.
"Hn."
I exhaled when they walked away before continuing my way to the other end of town.
"Fucking Hatake!"
A man threw his empty alcohol bottle at one of the windows and it shattered it.
My heart sank as I took in their house. There was graffiti all over, and their mailbox was broken in half.
Bull appeared in the broken area and started to bark at the man. The drunk swore and staggered away.
"GO DIE!" He yelled before roaming away.
My vision turned red and my hand curled around a piece of rotten apple in the can next to me. I pitched it as hard as I could.
Thunk.
"Who the fuck did that!" The man screeched touching the juice of the rotten fruit in his hair. He was obviously a civilian.
"Serves you right," I muttered. I watched him flail around like an idiot, before walking away swearing up a storm.
I looked around, watching for any signs of movement. Seeing none, I sprinted over to the broken window and looked inside.
Bull whined, wagging his tail.
"Shhh." I put my finger to my lips and motioned to the door.
The dog huffed before making his way over. I followed him. The door unlocked and I curled my hand on the handle.
I opened it slightly before walking inside. I closed the door and relocked it behind me.
Bull whined once again before nodding towards my feet. I narrowed my eyes before looking closely at the ground.
"Trap wires?" I asked the dog, eyeing the Kunai in the walls. The large dog nodded. I maneuvered myself over them and walked into the hall.
It was quiet.
I peeked into the living room first to see no one there. I finally found Sakumo in the kitchen. A bottle of Sake in front of him, unshaven and in his PJ's.
"Sakumo-Oji-chan?"
At the sound of my voice, his head snapped up. His eyes found mine and all I could see was pain and desperation.
"Reika-chan?" he asked confused.
"Good morning," I said hopping up on a chair next to him.
"How are you here?"
"I walked."
"You walked?" he asked in disbelief. "I told you not to associate yourself with us."
He took another shot of sake and poured himself another. He held his head in both of his hands.
"No, you said to make sure no one finds out that I still hang out with you," I said.
It must have looked funny, A grown man drowning his sorrows and trying to lecture a six-year-old.
"You know what I mean!" he growled, glaring at me. Bull appeared at my side and I scratched his head.
"And I chose to ignore you," I admitted.
He groaned again.
"Please tell me your parents know."
I grinned.
"I left them a note."
He drowned his other glass.
"You are not going to leave, are you?" He asked after a few minutes of silence.
Another crash came from the other end of the house and Bull took off barking.
"Nope!" I decided. "I will not abandon Kakashi or you."
A soft smile appeared on his face.
"You have to leave by six, or you will be caught." He said.
I hopped off the chair and made my way up to Kakashi's room.
"5:45" I called back. "Hyuga guard changes at 5:55 am."
-.-
I yawned into my elbow as my mother guided me through my first Hyuga-jutsu.
"Reika." She scolded. "Focus on your training."
"Yes, Sensei," I said before straightening my posture and trying the technique again.
I calmed myself before focusing my chakra in my wrist. My mother gripped it a bit tighter and I called upon my chakra and pushed outwards.
Gentle Fist Art One Blow Body
Her hand was forced open and she skidded back a meter.
"Good, but you are using too much chakra, you only want to send me back a foot so that you are able to use my surprise as an advantage." She walked back to me. "again."
"Yes."
I got back into position and concentrated on giving out a strong but fast burst of chakra out of my wrist.
Gentle Fist Art One Blow Body
"Better!" she replied. "Again"
Sweat rolled down my face as I worked harder.
Gentle Fist Art One Blow Body
"Again"
Gentle Fist Art One Blow Body
I hunched over and caught my breath, keeping my eye on my mother, but wiping the sweat from my brow.
"Good," She fell into a neutral stance and I knew it was over.
"Tomorrow we work on different areas of the body," she said. "I want you to have mastered this jutsu by Friday."
"Two days?" I turned my head to where my father was sitting on the porch watching us. "That's not a lot of time Satomi."
I turned my head to where my father was sitting on the porch watching us. "That's not a lot of time Satomi."
She shook her head.
"We don't have much time," She said seriously. "She has to be ready to fight a war."
Her hand clamped onto each other and I noticed their slight tremble.
My father exhaled and got up.
"Come, I'm making breakfast." He said. I was quite surprised, not thinking that he could really cook.
I made my way inside and into the shower. I then got dressed in my mission clothes and geared up before meeting my parents at the table for breakfast.
"So, Reika-chan." My mother said, losing the seriousness.
"Yes, Oka-san?" I eat quickly, not having much time before I had to leave.
"Where have you been going at night?" she asked.
I almost choked on my rice and was forced to swallowed a large portion at once. It burned the whole way down.
"Nothing escapes the Byakugan, my daughter." My father smirked. I took a sip of my water and forced the food down my throat.
"I can't sleep, so I go for a walk," I lied.
"Right," my mother smiled. They knew. And they accepted the fact that I couldn't just leave Sakumo and Kakashi.
But this means they are okay with it. Or at least I hope so.
-.-
"Hello." I stared at the not-so-puppy in surprise.
"Isn't he awesome!" Kakashi said smugly. "He's starting to talk and I haven't even had him for a year!"
"It's terrifying," I admitted.
"You're terrifying," He shot back, petting the pug beside him.
I ignored his attempt at insulting me and turned to Bull. The big baby whimpered. His big sad eyes made my stone heart melt.
"Don't worry Bull, you will always be my favorite," I admitted. His tail whipped from side to side in gratitude.
"I love them both," Kakashi said, covering up his mistake. Bull was already sensitive enough that he couldn't speak. "They both have their own strengths!"
"Yes, I'm sure."
Bull got up and licked my face, in the process knocking me over.
"Bull!" I cried as he draped himself ontop me and continued to lick me.
"You four should be sleeping," we heard from the door.
I looked up to see Sakumo. He was slightly hunched over and looked tired if the bags and wrinkles were anything to go by. He looked he had aged twenty years in just under a month.
"Yes, Tou-san," Kakashi immediately got up and started to move around the room getting ready for bed. Bull moved off me but I stayed lying on the floor. My attention was directed towards my adoptive Uncle.
A crash was heard downstairs and he didn't flinch.
"You waste of space!" someone yelled from outside. Another window was probably broken.
He looked down at his hand before taking a gulp of liquid from a gourd-like bottle.
His eyes glossed over and it was like he wasn't seeing anything.
Dread filled me and I knew it wouldn't be much longer.
He pushed off the door and walked away, not even noticing that his shoulder hit the doorframe.
He was going to try to kill himself. It wouldn't be too much longer.
Bull ran up to the light switch and closed it with his nose.
Sighing my six-year-old body slid between Kakashi's blankets but my thoughts never left the older man.
I'll have to keep a close eye on him.
I snuggled into the blankets and settled in for the night with three warm bodies around me. Kakashi to my right, Pakun between us on the pillow, and Bull on the foot of the bed.
"Reika?" I heard. I peeked over at the little white-haired kid next to me.
"Yes?" I whispered back.
"Can I tell you a secret?" he said, the blanket covering the bottom of his already masked face, muffling his voice more.
"If you want to," I answered, trying not to feel exasperated. Please let this not be a kiddy secret. You know, like the ones you tell your friends when you are a kid. Like I pooped the bed yesterday, or this person did this to that person. Or even I have a crush on this…
"I'm scared."
I froze, studying the six-year-old. He held the blankets close to him like he was trying to comfort himself.
"Tou-san is scaring me." he continued. "I don't care about what he did, or how everyone seems to be targeting us."
His eyes became glossy.
"He made sure he stuck to his promise that he would come back. That is all that matters."
Pakun moved his head towards his handler.
"Don't cry, Kakashi." He said, trying to lick up the tears.
"But his body might be here, but his mind is not." He rubbed at his eyes, whipping away tears. "He's always drinking from that bottle and stays up all night. He hasn't been the same since he lost his ninken and that mission."
"Kakashi," I whispered, unsure what to do.
"He looks like a ghost. I'm scared he's going to fly away like one."
I curled myself around him and Pakun. Trying my best to comfort him. Wet marks rolled down my cheeks as well.
This boy was too smart for his own good.
"I will make sure he doesn't fly away," I said more confident than how I felt.
"How can you do that?' he sobbed quietly.
"Because I don't want him to leave either," I admitted. Bull gave a soft whine.
"We have to try," Pakun said, with a definite voice. He touched his paw to my cheek.
"Aren't they soft?"
Kakashi chuckled and cuddled into my arms.
I waited up that night, protecting him. And listening.
Sakumo kept making noise downstairs. And noise meant he was alive. So I would stay awake until the danger passed.
-.-
"Reika!" I was tackled to the ground before I could guess who it was.
"Obito." I groaned as the kid hugged me close.
"Help me with my taijutsu training!" he demanded.
I raised an eyebrow in question.
"Please?" he added as an afterthought.
"Okay?" I said struggling to breathe.
"Yay!" he released me and started to jump up and down.
"Who gave him sugar?" I asked Rin. She covered her mouth with her fist as she laughed.
"None of us." She said. "Gai landed a punch on him yesterday and he really wants to make sure it doesn't happen again."
"Ah!"
I sat on the bench next to my two friends. Almost immediately a waitress appeared by my side and I ordered some food.
"So how is Genin life?" Obito asked settling beside me. I shrugged.
"I've finished my term at the Avery and now I'm currently helping to deliver raw Iron to blacksmiths," I replied. The waitress put down a cup of green tea and some dango beside me and I paid for the goods.
"How long are you going to be doing this?" Rin asked.
"Guess for a month or so," I responded grabbing a stick of the sweet goodness.
"But I mean it must not be too bad," Obito said reaching for a stick of dango on my plate. His eyes met mine and I could see the question in it. "All you have to do is deliver a few scrolls a day."
I smirked, pushing the plate slightly towards him. He grinned and grabbed one before sticking it in his mouth.
"Mmmm, this is so good!" he said, a satisfied look on his face.
Rin and I laughed before I offered her one too. She politely declined before inquiring about the topic as well.
"You think so too? Obito?" she asked. "There are only five blacksmiths in the village."
"I'm delivering more than that," I said. "The war is creeping towards us faster. This means the Hokage is supplying more raw materials than usual to the blacksmiths so that they can begin crafting weapons for us to use in the war."
The two looked at me shooked.
"So there really is going to be a war?" Obito asked. I noticed Rin grip her hands a bit tighter.
"Yes, it is definitely on its way," I answered dryly. "There is no doubt about that."
Silence crossed us and I couldn't help but realize how mature these two were. They were seven and eight with Obito being the oldest out of all of us. But we are discussing war, and we know it is going to affect all of us.
"Reika?" Rin asked after a bit. Her shaky hands curled around her cup of orange juice.
"Yes?" I answered, looking at her in question.
"Is it true?" she asked, lowering her voice so that only Obito and I could hear her. "About Kakashi's father?"
"What happened to the Teme's father?" Obito whispered, in confusion.
I sighed before looking around me. I made sure no one was listening before answering.
"He failed a mission that guaranteed peace in order to save the lives of his team." I watched the steam come from my cup.
"What?!" he shouted.
"SHHHH!" Rin hissed. Obito visibly shrunk and apologized to all the people around us that he disturbed.
"What do you mean by that?" he asked in a lower voice. "What happened to them?"
His face head great sadness, and his eyes were wet with potential tears.
"His father is now hated by the whole village and Kakashi has to put up with it."
"Because he put his team's life before the mission?" Obito said clearly stunned.
I nodded.
"People are idiots!" he growled, crossing his arms and looking at the ground. He clenched his jaw in disgust. "Sakumo-san did the right thing!"
I closed my eyes and nodded my head.
"I think so too," I told him. "But the villages see it as saving a few in exchange for many lives."
Rin hiccuped next to me and began to wipe her tears.
"It's not fair" she cried.
My right hand touched my seal.
"Life is never fair," I told her.
"How bad is it for them?" Obito asked gripping the bench.
"Their house is far beyond repair at this time," I told them. "Yesterday they tried to light it on fire."
Both of them gasped.
"Is everyone okay?" Rin asked.
"Pakun and Bull were able to put it out before it really caught hold," I answered. I drowned my tea.
"We should go visit them now!" Obito said jumping up off the bench.
"I agree," Rin said getting up after him. I shook my head.
"If we are seen with them, we will be targeted as well," I mentioned. Obito gritted his teeth again and his fist shook. "I'm not even allowed to take missions with Kakashi anymore either."
"But they are all alone!" he argued, the tears finally falling. "They shouldn't be alone it's not right."
"Obito's right!" Rin said. "We are Kakashi friends! We should be there for them!"
I nodded.
"I agree, but we can't let anyone else know!" I grinned.
My two friends gave me a confused look.
"We have to sneak in," I whispered.
Obito grinned.
"I like the sound of that!
-.-
"Obito?" Sakumo asked as we snuck in through his window.
"Hi, Sakumo-Jiji!" Obito grinned. I pushed him in, to make room for myself.
"Reika!" he growled. I grinned and jumped in so that Rin could follow.
"Sorry, I did not see you there," I answered with a grin. Obito glared lightly before picking himself off the floor.
Once we were all in the room Sakumo shook his tired head.
"I need a drink." He muttered. He sat on one of the kitchen chairs and poured himself another cup of sake.
"You kids should not be here." He argued, rubbing his temples.
"Oh well," Obito said scratching the back of his head. He grinned widely and Sakumo gave us a sad smile. "Too late."
"You three are such good friends." He waved us along.
"You know where Kakashi's room is," he poured another cup. "He's still up."
"Thanks, Sakumo-san," Rin said and we walked up the stairs.
Obito stormed into the room with a grin before he was attacked by Bull.
"EEEPP!" Obito cried. He put up his hands to try and defend himself against the dog.
"Stop it Bull!" the kid whined as the large dog draped himself on him and proceeded to lick his face. He rubbed himself on the mini Uchiha.
"Hey," Kakashi said clearly surprised. "I was expecting Reika but what are you and the idiot doing here?"
"Help!" Obito cried.
"We want to check on how you were doing," Rin said, I looked behind her noticing her fiddling with her hands.
"Oh," Kakashi responded awkwardly. "Thank you."
"GUYS!" Obito screeched successfully gaining our attention. I shook my head and decided to rescue the kid.
"Bull," I called. The big dog lifted his head and looked over at me.
"Leave him alone will you?" I asked. The dog whined but did as I asked.
"Thanks, Reika!" Obito huffed, catching his breath. I snickered as he took off his goggles to wipe off all the saliva.
"No problem."
Then all of a sudden the mood changed again.
"I challenge you Bakashi!" he said jumping up and pointing at my best friend. I rose an eyebrow in question.
"Bakashi?" I asked. And I really tried. I honestly did. But I failed
I crunched over and started to laugh.
"It's not funny, Reika!" Kakashi growled.
"No, your right," I admitted wiping away tears. "It's hilarious."
Rin laughed as well from behind her hand.
"You guys suck," Kakashi growled. We all settled down on his bed with Bull in the center, trying to get as much petting as possible.
"No, we are your friends," Rin said with a smile.
"Who would be friends with him?" Obito said pouting that his challenge was ignored.
"Awww Obito is shy." I teased. Red painted his cheeks and he cried out in protest.
"Yeah right!"
"What's all this noise?" I looked over at the door to see the newest addition to the family walking in.
"Hi Pakun," I said, still a bit freaked out about the whole talking dog thing.
"Hello, Reika." He said sitting down beside me.
"WHAT THE HELL!" Obito cried. "That dog is talking!"
"Yes, I do speak." The brown pug said looking proud. "I am a Ninkin."
"Oh! I have read a book on Nin-kin!" Rin exclaimed looking intently at the talking abomination. "Nice to meet you, I'm Rin!"
"This is Pakun, My dad got him for me when I graduated." Kakashi introduced.
"Hello!" Obito said trying to get everyone's attention. "What the hell is everyone acting like it is the most natural thing in the world! The Dog Is Talking!"
"It took me a bit to get used to it too," I told the Uchiha. He blinked before rubbing his head in distress.
"I don't believe this!"
"You should, I'm right in front of you." Pakun walked over to where Obito was freaking out and held out a paw.
"I have soft paws too, want to feel?"
The loud response that I thought Pakun's answer would result in, never came.
"I think you broke him Pakun," Rin said. I couldn't help the smile that graced my face as I watched Rin reach over Obito's unconscious form to touch his paws.
"Oh wow!" she exclaimed. "They are soft!"
I love these kids.
-.-
"Seventy-eight," I answered.
"Very good." My mother answered.
We continued our forest hike to the top of the Hokage monument.
"How many moles are within 500 meters of us." She asked.
My eyes moved from left to right as I looked through the ground."
"Twelve."
"Good job." She praised.
We reached the top of the Hokage Monument and looked over the village. It was midday so the sun illuminated the buildings and the people going about their business.
"I'm content with your Training at the moment so we are going to be moving on to the next level." She said. She faced the city and motioned me forward.
I took my place beside her before looking up in question.
"What are we doing here?" I asked.
"I've taught you to speed count so that if you ever have to report enemy numbers, you will have the exact number." She pulled out a sheet of paper from her pocket and handed it to me.
"What's this?" I asked.
"Your next task." She motioned for me to open it.
I opened it to see a simple drawing. A simple fan looked back at me.
"What do I do with this?" I asked her. She fought a smile and motioned towards the village.
"You have until the end of today to find the exact matching symbol."
"You must be joking?!"
My Mother laughed.
"No, I'm not." She answered. "You have to stay here and use your Kekai Genkai to find it."
I groaned before taking a second look at the symbol.
"This is what I am going to be doing for the next few weeks isn't it?" I asked her.
"Good luck!" she said before disappearing.
I groaned before sitting down. This was going to take a while.
Combing the village thoroughly took a good portion of the afternoon. My stomach growled in hunger and I resisted the urge to hit something.
"Find the fan she said. It will be good training she said." I mimicked in anger. "This is fucking hell."
I turned off my ability and sudden throbbing assaulted my head. Overworking a dojutsu was not fun. The headache you got after was worse than a concussion. I pressed my fingers to my temple and closed my eyes.
"What am I missing." I groaned out loud. "There must be a hint somewhere."
My eyes snapped back open and I got out the paper. I was an idiot. Fan usual equates to Uchiha.
My doujutsu activated once again and I scanned the village for the Uchiha Compound.
Although the symbol could be found anywhere in the village, there was only one place my mother could have put the matching symbol and have it evade me.
And that is given to the one Uchiha that interacts with us.
Obito.
I found the kid in a small clearing within the Uchiha clan's training grounds.
He was pushing his limit, training with weights on his limbs. He descended into a crawl position then completed his push up over and over again. On his back was a small paper with the same outline on it.
I sighed. This was obviously my mother's idea of a joke.
I jumped from the top of the mountain before rebounding onto the head of the second Hokage. I descended quite rapidly and made my way to the wayward Uchiha.
"I will become Hokage!" he growled. I leaned against a tree and watched him.
He obviously had a good work ethic. He was hard working but he obviously took too much on himself.
He collapsed onto the ground with a groan. His breath came in pants and he gripped the dirt.
"Kuso!" he cursed.
"You know you are only eight," I said without really thinking. "You should not be swearing."
He lifted his head and his eyes focused on me.
"Reika?" he asked.
"No, I'm the boogeyman."
"The what?"
"Nevermind." I shook my head and bend down in front of him. I removed the sheet of paper and tucked it in my leg pouch.
"What was that?" he asked.
"A test my mom gave me," I told him. I undid the fastening on the weights on his body and tossed them to the side. He collapsed in the dirt with a groan.
"Hey, I'm using that," Obito argued weakly
"We are too young to use weights," I replied. "Weight training should come after you are 16."
"What? Why?"
"They stop you from growing."
"Really?" he shouted pulling himself up onto his knees. I rolled my eyes before putting the weights to the side.
"Yes, Has no one ever told you this?" I said. It was a rhetorical question, I swear.
"No, not really. I live with my grandmother and she is a civilian." He said.
I immediately felt bad.
"Sorry Obito. I did not think." I admitted. He waved me off.
"It's fine Reika! I didn't know my parents anyway." He said grinning. But that grin was forced I could tell by the slight twitching of his left cheek.
I internally sighed before sitting down beside him. Silence surrounded us as he began to do push-ups once again. This kid was trying hard. By the look of him, the tremble in his limbs and the sweat pouring off him, he had been here for a long while.
"Were you serious about wanted to train with me?" I asked him without registering my words. he stopped all movements and blinked up at me.
A grin suddenly erupted on his face and he jumped up to his feet.
"Of Course!" he cried. He fist pumped the air around him with a woot. His excitement stopped suddenly as his legs gave out and he collapsed onto the ground.
What have I gotten myself into now…
"Then we are going to start with the basics," I told him. I reached out and grabbed a stick before
Creating a triangle.
If I knew him the way I think I know him, then this is a big piece of the training he's missing.
He crawled closer and paid attention to my lecture.
"This is the TOB, or Triangle of Balance," I explained. I motioned to the top and wrote down the first part.
"At the top of the triangle is power to the bottom right is Speed. These two aspects are the most common goals of those who change. They want to be able to hit hard and they want to be fast as well. Right?"
Obito nodded.
But what people don't always understand is that to have power, you must have to have speed and to have speed you pretty much have to have power." I told him. He nodded in comprehension before pointing to the bottom left of the triangle.
"What about this?" he asked. "What is this one?"
I grinned.
"Flexibility," I responded writing the Kanji in the corner.
"Huh?" his hand scratched his head in confusion. "What does flexibility have to do with getting power and speed. It's for girls."
I responded with a glare and a tug to his ear.
"You ever say that again and I will hit you," I warned.
"Yes, Reika!" he winced flailing his arms in pain. I let go and he pouted before rubbing the red cartridge. It was kind of cute.
"Flexibility is the secret to getting Power and Speed." I finally responded.
"I don't understand Reika. How is stretching making me faster and more powerful?"
I got up and went to the nearest tree.
"Flexibility can help in multiple ways. The first and most obvious way is to prevent getting hurt." My hands closed around the branch. "This tree is not flexible what so ever." I grabbed the branch and broke it in two.
Obito moved his head to the side trying to understand me.
"What I mean is that the more flexible you are, you have more of an opportunity to creating an opening. For instance, if someone were to do an armbar to me, my flexibility buys me time in a fight to get out of it because my opponent has to put more energy into hurting me. This means that I will possibly come out of this encounter unharmed then another person who is as solid as that branch. Their joints will just snap and their arm will break."
"Oh! So it is more for defensive purposes?" he asked. He shook my head.
"Remember what I said about flexibility being the key to power and speed?" he nodded his head. "Good, because flexibility can help in offensive purposes too. For instance, if I have more flexibility in my shoulders and ankles this gives me more reach when I punch because I can move my body further forward, giving my hit more torsion. Thus my hit becomes more powerful. Same thing could be said about speed. With flexibility comes ease in your movements, this means that your movements become faster."
"Oh! I understand!" he exclaimed. "So my next step is to be more flexible so I can become more powerful and faster?"
I smiled. "Exactly."
"YES! Then let's start!" he cried jumping up with renewed energy.
I laughed along with him.
"So here is what you are going to do…."
Somewhere in the village, I am sure both Rin and Kakashi heard his screams.
-.-
Hello everyone,
Here is the next chapter. Once again please forgive me for the wait. University. That is all I will say.
In this chapter, I really wanted to highlight the Obito/Reika friendship. I just love Obito's character.
So thanks for your responses to my questions. Its a pleasure reading them. This week's question is a big one. Can someone tell me...
Will Sakumo Live? Or Die?
Thank you all for your views, favorites, follows and reviews. I love hearing from you.
Oh, and I can't help it... YOU HAVE ALL GIVEN ME OVER A HUNDRED FOLLOWS AND FIFTY REVIEWS!
Love you all 3.
RavenMocker6
Dark Rose Charm I think the reason Kakashi and Reika seem to stick together so well, is that they recognize that they are both 'genius.'' So they are the only people their age that can understand each other. Yes, Kisame. I can't wait to write that. Oh and hint hint, Kushina might be coming up in a few chapters. The Danzo issue, I will not lie, is going to be a big issue. And it will NOT be solved very easily. As for your comment. Trust me, they catch my interest alright. What makes me laugh the most is when I can't see the whole message in my emails, so I have to log onto Fanfiction to read the rest. Looking forward to what you think of next.
XBnemesisX Thanks for answering the question. Honestly, my mind is always made up when I ask the questions. I'm just genuinely curious on what you all think will happen next. But my ideas are always subject to change, and sometimes you all give me great ideas too. Keep it up, I love hearing from you.
KathyrnthePyro-bitch I'm glad you have picked up on that so far. Reika still has the mindset of a brawler than a ninja. She is still converting, give her time and an actual team with actual training and she will pick it up. Put her with Minato? Why would I do that? *cough cough* But if I do, the clan really will have their hands tied.
WhiteFang001 That's a good idea. Having an adult help her. But then again who could she ask? The only adults she has in contact with is Sakumo and her parents(who were warned as well). Maybe Umino-sensei? Biwako? but she no longer has contact with them... BUt its a great point. Thanks for sharing. And I'm not telling. You'll find out in the next chapter if I kill him or not.
nacheel Aww, thanks. Good point but Kakashi and her have been separated in the Genin Corps. Her clan banned her from all contact, even missions. Ahhh~ Minato... Kushina... all of you just can't wait for them to come. When they do, trust me it is going to be worth it. Thanks for the encouragement. It means a lot.
Pika5490 Thanks for correcting my mistake. It was within the first line too! That's so embarrassing. You teared up? Aww, I didn't think it was that emotional. I'm not sure if I should apologize for that. I was writing that chapter when I was angry so I thought it would come out dry and angry than anything else. As for muscle memory. I do get your point... but I wanted it to come off as if she still felt like an alien in her body. Very awkward and unfamiliar. That would cancel out any automatic responces that her body would actually have. The more the story goes on, the more comfortable she will be in her body and the more her previous style will bleed out. Thanks for the encouragement. Can't wait to hear from you some more.