The long awaited update is finally here!

Thank you guys for being so patient and encouraging this entire time, your support has meant a lot to me during these last few weeks. I won't go into detail, just know it's been a rough patch and that I'm so happy to be posting again. It makes me all warm and fuzzy when I think about all of your awesome contributions, from reviews to new fanart (check out the links on my profile page, tokibun and tricneu have outdone themselves!).

Also, some of you might know already, but I uploaded another chapter for JC side fics a few weeks ago. It has Shikaku's POV from his last academy year and of course, our Uchiha girl is featured, too. Have a look at it if you want, I'd be happy to see you there!

For this chapter, it's really important to know that a huge part of the content wouldn't have ended up as it is if my awesome beta NightsBlackRose13 hadn't been so insistent on bringing out the best I can do. So show some love for beta!

And now, on to the story! :)

Chapter 18: Tipping Scales

"You took two hours and four minutes to complete the mission," Hanako announces as soon as we are back on the training field. She's sitting square in the middle of it, busy folding shiny bits of what looks like chocolate wrappers into little figurines. There are quite a number of them littered on the ground.

"Not bad for a newly minted team. Still, you're late. And late won't do."

"We're not!" Nawaki cries indignantly. "We finished early enough. It just took forever at the mission desk!"

I catch myself nodding in agreement and still the movement immediately. Wouldn't want him to think that we were friends or something. But, seriously, noble folks in Narutoverse need to get pets that they can handle without having to employ shinobi.

"Don't care," Hanako cheerily replies. She stands up from the ground after carefully putting her figurines into the pouch at her hip and giving it an affectionate little pat. Regashi shoots Nawaki a look that says 'Why do you even try anymore' which is ignored with the ease of long practice.

"I gave you two hours. You needed longer, so you need to face the consequences." She props her gloved left hand on her hip and reaches out with her right. On her palm, one of the figurines is glinting in the sunlight.

"See this little fella here? He and his friends are gonna be your guides through the GRAND KONOHA PARKOUR!"

She stops for a dramatic pause, her face set in an entirely, unapologetically smug expression.

I'm hard-pressed not to roll my eyes. Seriously. People in my first life used to tell me I had the tendency to act like a drama queen but clearly, none of them had ever met someone like Hanako.

"They'll be spread across the whole village and you will get to them by performing each of the little exercises written on them. Yeah, you'll need to unfold them for that which is normally a crime heavily sanctioned, but I'm granting you absolution for this little game."

She's kidding, right?

"So, your first task was gonna be five laps around the village, with ankles bound to each other."

Well, that's not … too bad, I guess?

"However, you've been late, so we'll twist it a bit."

I probably should've seen that one coming.

"You're not allowed to touch the ground with your feet. You're not allowed to use the same path twice. Of course, you're not allowed to unbind your ankles, either, but that one goes without saying."

What.

"But because I'm a fundamentally generous person, I'll reduce the number of laps to three."

One look at Nawaki and Regashi reveals resigned faces and suddenly, I wonder how long they have been subjected to Hanako's special brand already. Do you just get used to it or is there actual damage involved?

I let out a sigh as Hanako tosses us two pieces of rope. She watches us as we tie ourselves against each other, lips pulled into a gleefully sadistic grin that makes my hair stand on end.

"You'll see me again at the end of the last exercise. Oh, and if you happen to have any questions in between: have fun figuring out the answers. You'll know if you did well. Good luck, pipsqueaks!"

Just like earlier in the morning, she disappears with a cheerful wave in a poof of smoke.

Ah, I see.

This, again, is going to be so much fun.

)()()(

"Would you mind shortening your strides, please?! I'd like to go through this without feeling like my legs are ripped out of my torso with every step we take in addition to having to succumb to chakra exhaustion midway through."

"Not my fault you're so short."

"Well excuse me for being so short, but this is what you're gonna have to work with!"

"I don't see you complaining about Regashi. He's even taller than me!"

"Because he's at least trying!"

"I am, Nawaki. We're supposed to get through this together, you know?"

"…"

"…"

"Fine."

)()()(

Ok, I think I'm legitimately dying.

It's the last lap around the village, thank goodness for that, and I'm feeling like I'm more dragged along than really running. Horizontally. Bound at the ankles.

Has anybody ever told Kishimoto how much running on walls eats at the muscles around your stomach? Because mine are cramping so much, it's ugh. Plus, my chakra is running out alarmingly fast.

"You can do it, Etsuko-chan. Just a few steps left," Regashi says.

"Fkhiefuhw," I wheeze.

Oh god. And this is only the first exercise.

)()()(

We make it, at the end. Don't ask me how.

)()()(

"She wants us to get five chocolate bars without paying for them. "

"You sound as if you've had to do that before."

"Usually, she gives us money."

"So what are we going to do?"

"I don't want to steal. I think I still might have some chocolate at home –"

"Nah, I've got a better idea."

"Okay?"

"I'll show you, but help me get these ropes off first!"

)()()(

"That was fast."

"Five year old girl, deadly exhausted, with huge watery eyes and trembling lips? It always works."

"I don't know. It still feels like stealing."

"It's not stealing if the previous owner gifts it to you."

"You've done that before?"

"… maybe?"

)()()(

"Okay, last stop. It says 'Climb to the top of the Hokage Mountain. Hands bound to each other. And no chakra please!'"

"What is it with her and limbs bound together?!"

"We don't know, Etsuko-chan."

"And, climbing? You mean, like, actual climbing?"

"I guess so, yeah. Can you do that?"

"Uh … we'll see?"

"OK. Give us a shout when you tire out and we'll figure out a way to carry you."

"Wha –"

"Right, Nawaki?"

"… Fine."

)()()(

I revise what I said earlier. I wasn't dying before.

I am now.

My body feels like it's pumped with lead and every movement is so incredibly difficult and every muscle is so sore and close to ripping and my head is killing me and I need water and solid ground and I think I'm going to vomit.

"CAREFUL!" Nawaki barks into my ear right before I set my foot on a rock jutting out from the mountain that feels perfectly fine to me, mainly because it's a rock I can set my foot on. So I do it anyway.

It breaks away under my weight and I'm fallingfallingfalling –

"I got you, I got you! Don't panic, please."

I blink and look up to see my wrist securely grasped in Regashi's hand, the rope biting into his skin and already leaving angry red marks.

I gulp. That was close.

"Dammit, I told you not to step on that one!" Nawaki yells, but it sounds more exasperated than irate.

Together, they manage to heave me back.

"You alright?" Regashi asks, worry barely hidden in his voice.

I groan miserably. "Sure."

"You want a break?"

The offer is tempting, but the moment I think of either one of them having to climb with me as additional burden, my pride successfully prevents me from accepting.

So I shake my head. "No, I'll be ok."

"Uh, guys, we've got bad news," Nawaki butts in suddenly.

Oh no.

"We can't get around this part here, the following stretch is too smooth to climb."

Regashi sighs.

"What," I croak. "What does that mean?"

He grimaces. "It means that we have to go back and look for another path."

"Back how much?!"

"Nearly all the way."

Oh you've got to be shitting me!

)()()(

"Ah, well done my cutie potatoes! That wasn't so hard, was it?" Hanako greets us cheerily on top of the mountain.

If I had the energy, I would seriously consider punching the bright grin right off her face, Natalie-Dormer-lips be damned. As it is, though, I can barely stand on my legs. I can't thank the boys enough for more or less holding me upright.

I have never done anything so bodily exhausting in my entire two lives.

"So, before I let you go, I think you got something for me."

What else does she want from us?! I seriously don't have the energy for any of her crap anymore. I just want to go home and sleep. Is that too much to ask for?

Before I can open my mouth and say something stupid, Regashi gently loosens my grip on his waist. At my questioning glance he says "The chocolate, Etsuko-chan. We need to give it to her."

Oh right. I'd forgotten about that.

I watch as he walks up to Hanako, my steel grip around Nawaki's waist unmoved, and hands her the five bars of chocolate.

She makes a pleased sound. "Perfect. You even got my favorite brand. I have to say, I didn't think you had it in you, china doll. That act was very convincing indeed."

China doll. Great.

"Aaaaand that's a wrap for today! You kids are so lucky that I let you go so early, you gotta use the time. So, any plans already?"

Nawaki nods enthusiastically – where does that freak take his energy from?! – and launches into an explanation of our after-training-socializing-plans. Hanako's eyes light up at that.

Why am I getting a strange feeling about this.

)()()(

Well, this is awkward.

I don't think anybody had thought about the possibility of Hanako wanting to join us for our little social get-together after training. And now that we're all neatly squashed into the tiny booth in a bar which she proclaims to be "100% kiddy-friendly", I'm also pretty sure that Regashi regrets not having insisted on going to the tea house he first suggested.

Not to mention that I feel like falling flat on my face from exhaustion.

"And then we blew that shit straight up into the air, documents and all. Ah, sugar-peas, you should have seen that explosion, it was glorious. Sensei wasn't too happy about it since he would've preferred us to bring those documents back, but hey, the mission only said that we had to prevent the enemy from getting their hands on it. They were all copies anyway, stuff that Konoha already knew."

Hanako stops to take a swig from her beer bottle. "So, what I wanted to say: Uchiha are super chill. My Uchiha-teammate totally agreed to our plan no problem."

I nod agreeably and decide not to mention that after all she's told us about this mission, it sounds more like she bullied both her teammates – as well as her sensei – into compliance than anything. But since I don't feel the particular urge to get on her bad side, I keep my mouth firmly shut.

This woman is seriously terrifying and her basically power-monologuing through this meeting doesn't dilute the impression at all. That Regashi and Nawaki both are extremely attentive when she's talking proves that the constant exposure to her ways doesn't wear it off, either.

Oh, and in case anyone was wondering how we got to this particular anecdote: I think it started with her attempt to convince me that not all Uchiha have to be social pariahs and that there're specimens that are indeed salvageable. Because, clearly, I must've been radiating leave-me-alone-I-don't-want-to-deal-with-any-of-you-vibes.

Yeah. So.

I guess her intentions were good enough.

She throws her head back to gulp down the last drops of her beer and slams the bottle down on the table with enough force to make our glasses – strictly filled with fruit juice, of course – jump.

"Ah, that was fun, kids. It's such a delight talking to you, but I have places to be. See you tomorrow, same time, same place! I have a surprise for you, so don't be late!"

With that, she waves a waiter over, pays him her due and vanishes.

…

At least she isn't a moocher like Team-7's Kakashi.

There's a moment of silence in which I imagine that Regashi and Nawaki would have squirmed uncomfortably had they been normal twelve-year-olds, until the former breaks it with a hesitant smile.

"Um … you still up for ice cream mochi?"

Nawaki nods enthusiastically at the mention of the treat. Both of them look at me expectantly now.

Great.

To be honest, I for my part just want to go home. After that hellhound mission, the following GRAND KONOHA PARKOUR and the forced socializing with Hanako, I feel bone-tired and want nothing more than to see Obito and hug him and hear him babble about his day. Also, fall into bed and sleep into next week.

So I shake my head. "I apologize, but I need to get home. It's been quite a long day."

I successfully pretend not to see the disappointment on Regashi's face and lift my glass to drain away the last few drops of my orange juice. What I don't manage to pretend, though, is to miss Nawaki's irritated outburst. "But it's barely four o'clock!"

Well damn. He does have a point there.

I hesitate.

"Besides," Regashi adds without missing a beat, "it really won't take long if you don't want it to. We just want to get to know you better. I promise that we're not going to ask anything that you couldn't ask us, too. It would really help us as a team."

"Yeah, us as a team," Nawaki echoes with a nod.

Shit. This is basically the Konoha version of the ultimate knockout argument. And if I decline now, they'll know that I want to get out of this team. Or at least that I'm not trying to get along with them.

Which, of course, would be the truth.

So why do I feel so bad for wanting to blow them off?

When I was a kid as Elizabeth, I'd always felt the need to be accepted by the people around me. I tried to achieve that by pleasing everybody, but – and I'm pretty sure everybody with that tendency makes that experience at some point – that didn't work out too well for me personally. So I eventually adjusted my behavior to better survive in the world around me, but I never did manage to shake off those last bits of needing to please, even if it became a bit dulled. Hell, I even felt bad when I didn't manage to gain 100% approval of computer game characters and my family often teased/worried about me for that.

I should have known that being reborn into Narutoverse wasn't going to get rid of this trait of mine, either.

"OK," I agree after a pause long enough to make the boys start doubting. "But really not for too long. My bro- … I'm needed at home."

Regashi nods, a relieved smile on his face. "Don't worry. You can leave whenever you want to."

Both he and Nawaki gulp down the last drops of their juice, cranberry and grape respectively, and we pay our due to the waiter.

I'm relieved to say that my legs have decided to function in the most basic way again.

Regashi leads us to his tea house, the way closely following the course of the Naka River. We pass the playground and I almost reflexively turn my head in the hopes of seeing the shock of silver-grey hair that has become so familiar by now. In vain, since Kakashi's not there.

I wonder how Sakumo is doing.

"Looking for someone?"

I start and turn around to see Nawaki watching me, curiosity in his eyes.

"Yes - no," I say.

He draws his eyebrows together. "Yes or no?"

I shrug. "Why does it matter?"

"Dunno. Just didn't think you were one for something like friendships made on the playground."

I frown. "What's that supposed to mean?" Never mind that he's right, it still doesn't mean that I appreciate being called unsocial. I had plenty of friends in my old life, thank you very much.

Oh. My temper is rising again. It happens too often where Nawaki is involved.

Regashi, ever the voice of reason, steps in right before I can fly off the handle. "What he's trying to say is that you must've spent a great deal of your time training. 'Prodigy' doesn't come from nothing, after all, and we respect the hard work you must have put into it."

Of course he would know exactly what to say. I snort internally. Smooth boy. He's a prodigy himself alright, a prodigy of communication. Must be all kinds of rare for active shinobi.

I close my eyes and exhale softly, letting my irritation drain away with the air. "I don't have playground friends. But my brother does."

Regashi smiles kindly and for the fraction of a second, I see the Sandaime's face layered over his. There's not so much of a difference.

"You can tell us about him in the tea house, ok?"

I nod. "Alright."

)()()(

I have become addicted.

I have tasted it, the one ultimate pleasure that money can buy, and I can never go back.

Nothing will ever stop me from getting my hands on it now.

Green tea ice cream mochi.

"These are so frickin' good," I mumble and close my eyes to savor the sensation of the last bite dissolving on my tongue. I'm almost sorry to swallow it and can't completely suppress a content sigh that escapes me after I do. When I open my eyes again, I meet twin looks of bafflement on the boys' faces.

"What," I say, tone just a tad bit defensive.

"You … really like these," Nawaki replies.

"Yes, I do."

Is it really so surprising that I adore these treats? I mean, ice cream coated by rice cake? Hellooo?!

A sly grin appears on Nawaki's face. "So you are human after all!"

There is the sound of skin hitting skin and a glance at Regashi shows that he's facepalming. "Nawaki," he groans.

I have to keep myself from laughing out loud. This is actually funny.

I throw my best smirk back at Nawaki and drawl in as low as I can pitch my childish voice. "Oh, you're mistaken. I'm emulating human behavior for infiltration purposes. I'm pleased to see that it works."

"W-what?" Nawaki stammers, eyes wide in shock. "Infiltration p-purposes?"

Another groan. "Nawaki."

"Oh yes," I answer gravely. "It is of utmost importance for my people from outer space to integrate themselves into human society. We prefer to achieve world domination by subtlety."

Nawaki splutters.

"Did you just make a joke?"

I blink, face abruptly set back into my best Uchiha mask. "Why would I do that?"

Color drains out of Nawaki's face as panic takes over and –

"Nawaki, for your grandfather's sake!"

It's too much, Nawaki's panic, Regashi's exasperation and I can't take it anymore.

I burst out laughing, the feeling bubbling from within my core and overflowing the boundaries of my body, so powerful that I need to put my head on the table. I'm gasping for air and clutching at my hurting stomach and it feels so good that I can't help but go on and on and on, especially when my voice is joined by two others, until finally, the laughter subsides into little hiccups and the occasional short outbreak of giggles.

"Ah," I sigh as I wipe away the tears that have gathered at the corners of my eyes. I look up to see the boys wiping their own tears of joy away, Nawaki sporting a slightly embarrassed grin and Regashi beaming with mirth.

"I wish you could have seen your face, Nawaki," he says. "It looked really stupid."

"Hey!"

And just like that, the bubbly feeling rises again.

The second bout of laughter is shorter, but not less loud, which is reason enough for the tea house owner to send us a warning glare. Or three, to be precise.

I'm not the only one who makes that observation. "We should leave before the lady incinerates us with her eyes," Regashi says.

Nawaki and I agree. We pay, leave and laugh a lot until I have to turn to another street to get back to Yashiro's.

"That was really nice, Etsuko-chan," Regashi says. "Even though you didn't tell us anything about your brother."

"Oh, well, I didn't get to hear anything from you, either," I answer lightly.

"True. That only means that we'll have to do this again!" Even if it was not phrased as a question, the look in his eyes makes clear that it is one.

It almost manages to slip past the wall in my head that is cleanly labeled 'Do not get involved with soon-to-be-dead-people'.

Almost.

My hands close into fists at my side as suddenly, all of the cheerfulness drains away from me and I avert my eyes from both of them to stare at the ground instead.

"Maybe," I mutter, and before Regashi can something smooth again – "Uh, see you!"

I don't wait to hear their farewell as I practically flee the scene.

Getting attached to them is not an option.

)()()(

I suppose skipping this inevitable meeting with Yashiro was too much to hope for.

Of course I'm here, sitting on a zabuton across from my guardian in his study, waiting for the punishment for either sabotaging the marriage deal – which I did not – or being insubordinate – which I very much was. I can't bring myself to regret it, though. I hope that he's not gonna ask for an apology because I'm not planning on giving one.

"Etsuko."

Here it comes.

"Activate your Sharingan."

Huh?

Oh.

Okay, I can do that.

Everything shifts into the sharp focus that flooding my eyes with chakra usually brings along and I meet Yashiro's gaze head on. Like that, the minuscule movement of the muscle at the corner of his mouth becomes glaringly obvious and my brain automatically translates it into 'pleased confirmation'.

Which begs the question of what exactly he thinks is confirmed.

"As I thought," he mutters and stands up. He orders me to stay and keep the Sharingan activated before he steps out of his study, returning with a hand mirror shortly after. He hands it to me.

"Look."

I take the mirror from him and, with a last unsure glance at his now neutral face, look into it.

The change is unmistakable. Instead of one tomoe each swirling lazily on a bed of red, there are two.

I close my eyes and open them again. Yep, still two in each eye.

When did that happen? And how did I not notice?

"Probably when you executed the Goukakyuu no Jutsu. The chakra drain could have easily overpowered any sensations connected to the awakening of the second tomoe," Yashiro answers.

Oops, must've spoken out loud.

I make an "ah-"sound to acknowledge his explanation since it does make sense. "So what does that mean for me? Is there something I need to pay special attention to?"

I have a short vision of myself, standing in front of the bathroom mirror, hands moving before my eyes like I'm removing contact lenses. Only, instead of removing contact lenses, I'm putting my Sharingan into a glass filled with water.

Ugh, gross, Etsuko. Stop that.

"You'll find that you can see better regarding the use of chakra during the execution of jutsu. It's nothing major, but it will help you learn new jutsu, especially nin- and genjutsu."

So, basically a software update. I can work with that.

"It will be a good introduction into nin- and genjutsu in general. I will train you myself so that chakra exhaustion after a mere Goukakyuu will never be an issue again."

Oh man, the mortification is real.

"I am surprised, by the way, that you managed to do it at all. I only showed the jutsu to you once and it was only your first try." And then, after a short pause: "Impressive."

My jaw falls open. "Wha-"

Get a grip on yourself. Say thank you.

The audible klick of my teeth signals that my mouth is shut again. "Uh, thanks."

Yashiro nods awkwardly.

Welcome to the pinnacle of social interaction. Sincerely, two random Uchiha.

A few heartbeats of mutual embarrassment silence later, Yashiro speaks again. "Anyway, that's one thing I wanted to talk to you about. The other is this."

Before I can start to become nervous because oh shit I'm so gonna get busted for yesterday, he produces a set of keys and some documents and puts them in front of me.

"With your graduation from the academy and your successful genin test, you are officially considered an adult in Konoha. As such, you are now legally entitled to accept the inheritance that was left to you by your parents."

I feel like I've been punched in the gut.

My inheritance.

From Otou-san and Okaa-chan.

It seems only sensible that they would have settled it, just in case, because, shinobi life, but –

My hands are shaking when I reach for the items.

The keys are for the house. The house in which we'd been a family. Happy, if not free of problems, but whoever truly is? It was home.

"These are certificates for the house that you lived in with your parents as well as for the funds they left for you and Obito."

I look up to see Yashiro pointing at the documents.

"I have been in charge of these assets until now, but now you can decide to do with them what you will. They fully belong to you."

They belong to me.

I let my finger slowly glide over the shape the key, the feel of the metal cool against my fingertips.

I could take Obito and move into the house right here, right now. We could go home: just the two of us, without Naoko's coldness, Toshiro's jealousy and Yashiro's expectations. I would figure out how to properly take care of him and we would be happy together.

Except for when we wouldn't be.

My shoulders slump the moment I realize that it would never work out, what with me having to train and go on missions. Additionally, there is the fact that I've never taken care of anyone else except for myself, let alone a toddler. The only thing moving out of Yashiro's house would accomplish now would be hurting Obito. And that is entirely not an alternative worth considering.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

Someday, Obito. Just wait a little longer.

I open my eyes again and with a resolute movement, I push the keys and the certificate for the house back to Yashiro. "Please keep them safe for me. I have no use for the house now."

He nods. I smother a last surge of longing as I watch him put the items away and take another deep breath.

Someday, when we both are stronger. I promise.

)()()(

One week of grueling team training and blocked attempts at team socializing later, I decide that enough time has passed for me to file a formal request for a team swap.

Learning that piece of information had actually not been as difficult as I imagined it to be. One afternoon spent in the public library, section 'shinobi regulations', and the solution to my team problem had been clear in my hands. Never mind that the particular regulation was meant for the use of jounin instructors – since I didn't find any rule that forbade a team member to file a request, I'm just going to do it.

Which leads to me sitting in one of those chairs in front of the Hokage's office, carrying the completed form.

Name: Uchiha Etsuko

Registration number: 006542

Rank: Genin

Reason for desired change: Team configuration incompatible.

Oh man. Explaining the last one to the Hokage is going to be so much fun.

Sorry Sandaime, your son is just too nice. Also, there is the possibility that he and the Shodai's grandson are going to die soon and I don't want to have to go through that again. I have history with my parents, you know?

Yeah. A blast.

Because, of course this kind of thing has to be personally approved by the Hokage.

I hunch over in my seat, swinging my legs since they're too short for my feet to touch the ground. Finally, the door to the office swings open.

I hop down from the chair, not bothering to find out who just came out of the office since I most likely don't know them anyway –

"Etsuko-chan, is that you?"

I look up and there, from the door to the office, a kind face with dark grey eyes that is topped with spiky silver-grey hair looks right back at me. My eyes go wide as surprise hits me square in my face.

"Sakumo-san!" I blurt out.

Suddenly, I can't get to the door to the Hokage's office fast enough. I barely manage to sidestep another shinobi with long black hair who's just come out from there and grimace when my shoulder grazes their thigh. I hurry past them with a mumbled "sorry" which is honestly a bit rude, but meh, who cares. Someone with fabulous hair like that probably gets nice compliments all the time anyway, they'll survive.

Also, Sakumo is waiting.

He smiles a closed-eyes smile when I come to a halt before him, as if he was genuinely happy to see me, and squats down to talk to me on eye level. "So it is you! How are you doing?"

I can't help a smile of my own spreading over my face as I answer him. "I'm doing fine, Sakumo-san, thank you. How are you? Are you back for good?"

My enthusiasm is so great that I barely manage to clamp down on the I missed you that's threatening to burst out, which might have been a bit super awkward. I can literally feel my face going up in flames and I hope he doesn't notice too much.

Sakumo's smile doesn't fade, though, which is a huge relief.

"I'm fine, too. Unfortunately, I'm only back for a short time. I'll be leaving again in a week or so."

"Oh, OK." It's difficult to mask the disappointment.

"We definitely should catch up, though. Ume has been writing a lot about you, and I'm dying to see little Obito, too!"

"Sakumo, would you mind introducing us?" a voice interrupts him.

I look past Sakumo's head to see a woman standing behind him. She's tall, with long dark hair bound back in a ponytail, stunning green eyes and clad in standard jounin attire. There's a smudge of something reddish over the bridge of her nose and her right arm is in a sling.

"Oh right, sorry, " Sakumo says sheepishly and lifts his hand to rub the back of his neck. "Sayu, this is Etsuko, the little Uchiha Ume keeps writing about in her letters. Etsuko, this is Sayu, my wife."

For the second time within a week, my jaw practically hits the floor.

Holy shit, Kakashi has a mom?!

I mean, of course he must've had a mom. I know where children come from, thank you very much. It's just – the manga never even mentioned her except to state that she died when Kakashi was very, very young. She's not supposed to feature anything near prominently, but despite all, here she is. Standing directly before me and smiling.

"I'm so glad to finally meet you, Etsuko-chan!"

Her voice sounds like liquefied rays of sunshine.

"P-pleased to meet you, too," I manage to squeeze out.

My thoughts are a whirling mess.

Kakashi's mom is here, alive. How is that possible? What does it mean? Has she survived permanently? If so, why?

Did I do that, however indirectly?

"I thought you said she was a genin, Sakumo?"

I blink dazedly as I realize that Sayu is talking to me. Or, about me, more accurately.

"I am," I reply and lift my hand to point at my forehead which should be covered by my hitai-ate. Emphasis on should. Because it's actually not and it takes a few moments of confusion for me to remember that it slipped down into the high collar of my shirt during training. So I fish it out somewhat awkwardly and fix it back in place.

"I see," Sayu says. "I'd almost believed that Sakumo pranked me on that."

"I would never," Sakumo answers with an innocent face.

Sayu looks at him with a raised eyebrow until he caves in with a happy grin. "Maybe not never, then."

He turns to me after that, but his expression sobers up a little. "Your hitai-ate must always be visible, Etsuko-chan. As a shinobi, you carry an important responsibility and people, fellow shinobi and civilians alike, need to be able to see that. It is a matter of reliability and not to be taken lightly. Do you understand?"

It's said in a gentle voice, but I know a reprimand when I hear one. Of course, he's right.

"I do and I apologize," I answer sheepishly. "It won't happen again."

He smiles at that. "Alright. Now, Sayu and I are going to fetch Kakashi. Ume is at the playground with him right now. Do you want to come with us? It would be the perfect opportunity for you to tell us about your new team. We could wait until you've finished your business if it doesn't take too long."

Right, my business.

I glance down at the form in my hand.

If there is the slightest possibility that Kakashi's mom is alive due to something that I've changed … would that mean that I am actually capable of saving someone?

Would that mean that there is a chance that Nawaki could survive? That I could actually do something to make sure he survives?

"Uh, Etsuko?"

I look up into Sakumo's slightly puzzled face, Sayu's right next to him. Look back down at my form.

Could it really be?

The sound of blood rushing through my ears drowns out nearly any other noise as I breathe, in and out, in and out.

In.

And out.

And finally look up.

"Actually … my business is not so important," I say, slowly. A hesitant smile makes its way to my lips and the next sentence is much surer.

"I'd really like to come with you, if I'm not a bother."

Same question as ever: what'ya think? Tell me and it'll make me really happy. :)