Sorry, but this is the last chapter I've got written up. Updates from now on will come whenever I happen to finish writing enough for there to be a chapter, although I'll probably still save them for Thursdays. I've been having a hard time getting inspiration for this story lately. My thanks to all of you; you've been better than expected considering my past experiences with this particular media platform. Suggestions are welcome. Thanks to those of you that have left reviews. For the person who asked where Hinata is, I wrote a throw away line that I later took out about Tsuki being named for her dead aunt, so if old stuff is true, she's dead. If I change my mind later, she might not be dead. I clearly wanted you to slowly build this world, since I never explicitly told you all the parameters. See you when I see you.

Present

Okami

We went back to training after lunch, although Tsuki was still confused by what I'd said, and Shikadai seemed unwilling to help me explain. All of us took turns sparring against each other, although I tried not to over exert myself, since I didn't want to make my back take any longer to heal than it had to. I could feel the pull of the stiffening scabs, and I quietly cursed myself for forgetting to apply lotion to them.

Sensei showed up a few hours after lunch, although he leaned against a tree with one of those silly orange books he was always carrying around. He didn't say anything to any of us, but we were all aware he was there, and he'd step in if he saw us doing anything incorrectly.

Training was interrupted by Tsuki's old teammate coming onto the field again, while it was Shikadai and Tsuki's turn to fight each other.

I kept my posture carefully relaxed, although I could have a pair of kunai in my hands in seconds if the need arose.

"Uchiha," she accused, "I know how you won last time, and I'm not going to let it happen again."

Tsuki pulled away from her bout with Shikadai, glared at Tokumira, and informed the other girl, "He beat you because he's just better than you. He trained harder and practiced more, so he's stronger and faster and better than you in every way. It's not some trick!"

"Are you saying he's just naturally better than me?" Tatakai demanded.

"There's a decent possibility of that," I offered, "Although it's more likely that I've just trained longer and harder since a younger age to get to the level I now have. If being a clan brat makes me a better ninja, it's only because I could anticipate at a younger age what I would be for the rest of my life."

Tokumira didn't even bother talking to me after that. She just launched forward, not holding back even a little, while I was carefully holding myself back, not wanting to have to be restrained again. I brought her down more quickly this time, glad that I'd been able to ignore her insults this time around.

Tokumira asked, sounding defeated, "Why do you hold back?"

"Killing village shinobi is wrong," I offered, even as I let her up. I didn't help her up though, especially since I had every reason to suspect she'd attack me again.

Sensei stepped in before she could.

"Listen, I understand what you're trying to do here, and it's commendable," he offered, pulling Tokumira to her feet, "However, if you continue attacking Okami, eventually, he's going to accidentally kill you."

I complained, "I thought I restrained myself very well."

"She would have gotten you angry eventually," Shikadai pointed out.

"He can't be that strong," Tokumira claimed, "Maybe he beat me a couple of times, but I'll beat him eventually."

Sensei said, "Strong as you may be, you're not strong enough to beat him yet. You may never be strong enough to beat him, but that doesn't mean he's better than you in every way. Okami has many strengths and many weaknesses, just as you do, and if you take your time to learn what those are, you can beat him without being stronger than him."

Tokumira considered his words carefully, bowed, then disappeared.

"You do realize that you just earned me another stalker to add to the pair of minders that are still trying to find fault with my actions?" I pointed out.

"He also saved you a lot of pointless fights," Shikadai argued, "and likely made her a better ninja, when she would have otherwise become a missing nin."

I asked, "Why does that girl hate clan nin so much for anyway?"

"I don't know. Tatakai said something about one of your cousins doing something to her at one point, but I wasn't really paying that much attention, since I was busy hunting down the demon cat," Tsuki told me (I have a lot of characters whose names start with T… It's kind of odd, but I suppose it's not the worst think to ever happen.)

A medic nin came running onto the field, and I let out a long sigh, my shoulders slumping in defeat.

"Okami-san," the medic nin told me, "Fey has refused to continue testing until you return."

Shikadai inquired, "Do you want us to come with you?"

"If you want to, you can. Maybe bring me some dinner that isn't the nutritious garbage the hospital has," I requested, even as I trudged slowly towards the hospital, really wishing that the girl hadn't thought of this tactic.

The medic nin rushed me along as best he could, and I got to Fey's room fairly quickly once I was within the hospital, since I didn't want any of the medics or doctors to question me about the bruises I had from training.

Fey smiled brightly as soon as she saw me, and I did my best to match the expression, although it was likely more of a baring-of-the-teeth then an actual smile.

She asked, "How was your training?"

"It was pretty good," I told her, "I sparred with my team, and I had a short bout with a kunoichi from another team. How are the tests?"

"The scary white man says that he should have a way to keep me from changing in a couple of days. My village sent a letter to tell me that Mai-san is on her way here. She's going to stay with me until I can go home," Fey explained.

I inquired, "Who is Mai-san?"

"She's my adoptive mom," Fey told me, "I think… I think my mom was like me, and she could feel herself turning into a beast shortly after I was born, so she left me with the villagers to keep me safe. Mai-san took me in, and she's raised me all my life. What about you? What's your family like?"

"Mostly it's just me and my dad, but I also spend time with my uncle and my grandparents from time to time," I explained.

Fey asked, "What about your mom?"

"I've never known her," I said, "It's always just been me and my dad."

"Then your dad is like my Mai-san," Fey concluded.

I chose not to correct her, as explaining my bastard heritage was something that had only ever earned me ridicule.

Orochimaru came in and inquired, "Are you prepared to resume testing now?" He sounded annoyed, but that was to be expected. Fey refusing to have tests done without my presence was an inconvenience for everyone involved. Still, alone in unfamiliar territory, the first person to show you any kindness was easy to latch onto.

Orochimaru conducted all kinds of tests on Fey, some of which I couldn't even begin to understand the purpose of. Fey never complained, even when the tests caused her mild pain. She'd just look at me and smile, as if my being there made all the pain go away.

"What do you smell?" Orochimaru asked, even as he continued writing in a notebook.

"I smell…" Fey trailed off, obviously focusing hard, "Disinfectant, sweat, chemicals, medicine, and… fresh blood." She looked at me, a sharp frown on her face.

Orochimaru looked at me expectantly.

I assured them both, "It's just from my thumb. The scab reopens when I train to hard, but I use it for my summons, so there's no point in letting it heal."

"What are summons?" Fey inquired. Orochimaru looked suspicious.

"Summons are sentient animals that ninja can call upon for aid," I explained, "My summons actually helped us contain your animal form, so that you couldn't escape us."

Sakura-san interrupted then and said, "Okami, I just got a message that you're supposed to go home for dinner."

"I guess I'll be okay," Fey offered.

I nodded and left quickly, before Fey could change her mind.

"I thought you'd want to get out of the hospital," dad offered as soon as I got home, "Besides, it's been a long time since you've gotten to eat dinner at home."

I agreed, "The closest thing I've had to a dinner at home was when Obito-senpai insisted we eat together, and I had to slip the food underneath my mask."

"You can set the table. Sasuke will be joining us," Dad told me.

I worked efficiently to do just that, wondering a little why Uncle Sasuke was gracing us with his presence. In the past, he'd mostly only visited to avoid the hospital or on special occasions. Then again, this was kind of a special occasion. It would be my first meal with my father consumed in my own home since I'd gotten back, and Uncle Sasuke was apparently taking over leadership of the ANBU. That seemed like plenty to celebrate to me, at the very least.

Flashback

ANBU Under Tenzo

"Alright," the Hokage said, and if anyone else had been in the room, they likely would have assumed he was talking to himself, "I've got a meeting with the Clan Council now."

Mouse and I stealthily followed as he moved from one room to the other with a stack of papers and a pen.

The clan heads seemed to all be present already, and I was slightly surprised to see both Fugaku-sama and my father.

"The Uchiha Clan has business to take care of before we really get going," the Hokage said once he'd settled into his seat.

Fugaku-sama said, "I am turning over my duties on the Clan Council to my eldest son, Itachi. While I will still hold a leadership role in the Uchiha Clan for the time being, I will be turning more and more of my duties over to him." He stood up and, very symbolically, pulled out the seat for Itachi, who sat down in it. With that, Fugaku-sama left.

"Alright," the Hokage concluded, "Welcome, Itachi. Would you like to declare...?" He trailed off awkwardly, but it seemed everyone present knew how that sentence would end.

"At present, in the case of my untimely death, my seat here will be turned over to my younger brother, Sasuke," my father informed him, but it seemed like it was difficult for my father to keep emotion from clouding his face.

The Hokage cleared his throat and asked, "What's the next order of business?"