I do not own any of the characters or ideas created by Kishimoto Masashi. However Sayo and my original story line belong to me.

Slowly but surely Sayo found herself gradually opening her eyes, and within a few seconds her blurry vision cleared and her heart had nearly skipped a beat in complete and utter joy. To the left hand side of her bed was sat none other then her spiky white haired father and to the right sat her blonde mother. For the first few years of her life, there had been a general disparity between her parents and now that they were so peacefully sitting side by side waiting for her to wake.

Wow...it's almost as if I'm witnessing one of the scenes of happy families from within one of those many family sagas I have managed to get through.

"Sweetheart...are you awake?"

Sayo suddenly titled her head and glanced towards her now approaching father. She pushed herself up against the backboard and before she could gain her balance, her father had leaned forward and wrapped his arms tightly around her.

Initially his desperate need to cradle her had proven to be a little strange, but the more he snuggled towards her, the more comfortable and relaxed she felt in her daddy's arms. It was obvious that her father was feeling a little down at the fact that over the last few months they had spent less and less time with one another.

Jiraiya steadily lifted her into his arms and swiftly placed her onto the changing table(which had been changed to accommodated a child up to the age of five years old). He quickly pushed up the end of her night robe and with only a few specific movements he removed her diaper, throughly cleaned her up and slipped her into a new fresh one. Jiraiya was more concerned with caressing her hair and planting loving kisses onto her forehead and hands.

Sayo soon turned her head towards her mother by the wardrobe and subsequently didn't notice the slight gleam of jealousy which Jiraiya was attempting to choke. Instead she watched intrigued as her mother took out a cream set of full kimono robes and a red pinafore. Sayo knew from it's size that these small clothes were meant for her and she promptly turned her attention back to her face, wearing a question gaze upon her brow.

"Daddy...?"

The smile which had been blooming on her father's face had become a fully fledged grin and Sayo knew that he had been hiding something.

Tsunade soon came forward and swiftly enough the two parents set to work untying her night robes and carefully fold them into a neat pile.

Her father continued to stroke her forehead as Sayo felt her mother pulling up some woollen tights.

"We're going out today"

Sayo nearly rolled of the table in surprise, but was halted by the grip of her father. And without a single warning they had pulled the kimono over head yet she didn't moan or whimper because promptly enough she saw her father's soothing eyes once more.

She felt her father lifting her up as they pulled the scarlet pinafore over her robes, and Sayo narrowed her eyes in annoyance.

"Where...?" her displeasure at being head down was apparent.

Jiraiya merely chuckled:

"We are going for a punic in the park"

...

The moment that Sayo and her parents exited from their home, Sayo could not help but turn back and glance at the mansion. Her heart beat began to increase exponentially as she realised that the magnificent abode had practically been the parameters of her world. Sure she had been taken out of the compound when she had been taken to meet her godfather, but now it was almost midday and she knew that she would finally get to see the other citizens of the hidden leaf. That is if her father hadn't found a way to avoid the bustling crowds all together.

And as soon as they passed through the gates and turned the corner, Sayo saw some familiar faces and she could not help put glance disappointedly at her father. In front of them stood five ANBU in black clothing, with grey flak jackets, metal arm guards and gloves, three ninja pouches on their back-waists and a signature spiral tattoo on their shoulder. She immediately recognised Tenzo, even behind his mask, and the hardened expression on her father's face made it evident that today would not be the day that she could explore the village.

I wonder why he is so worried about me being seen by the other villagers.

The journey through the village had not been as comfortable as the previous time when they had left the house. Sayo definitely noticed a certain unrest among the villagers as they were halted from coming within one hundred metres of her person. Sure she adored her father but she could not help but wonder why he was so determined to shield her from their gazes. She had thought about throwing a fit and dragging the answer out of him, but she knew that in her father's current state of mind, he would most likely not tolerate any sort of outbursts from her.

Her father's unease had quickly evaporated as soon as the ANBU had facilitated their passage to one of the massive parks situated to the far east of the village. And subsequently al of her annoyance towards him had soon disappeared as she was once again left with her loving and playful father.

The run up the hill had perhaps been one of the most exhilarating things which she had ever experienced, especially as both her mother and father had lifted her up by the arms and ran with her. If she didn't know it any better, it has almost given her the sensation of flying and with it, she remembered the dragon which was perched on top of their very own waterfall at home.

Once they had reached a sunny part of the hill, Sayo remained with her father, as she watched her mother and Tsunade taking a large chequered spread out of the basket and laid it onto the ground. And even though she had contemplated on momentarily refusing her father's offer to sit in his lap, she had conceded knowing all too well that as her father had always held her best interests in mind.

...

After roughly ten minutes Sayo found herself contemplating the sheer height which she had her family had escalated and realised that they were ultimately looking down at the world below. She did not comprehend what she found so enticing about the feet they had climbed, but she had the urge to roll down the hill and as a result her heart began to pound in excitement.

"Do you want to have a go?"

Sayo immediately glanced towards her father's mischievous face.

"At what daddy?" she responded innocently.

He leaned forward and muttered into her ear.

"To roll race me down the hill"

Sayo instantly jumped out of her father's lap and turned around bearing a daring expression. Promptly enough she and her father had kneeled down and lain sideways onto the ground. Sayo was eager to prove that she could beat her father's challenge.

Her mother stepped between them and she announced clearly:

"Three...two...one..."

Sayo stretched out her arms and then she heard:

"GO!"

Within a second Sayo began to speed down the hill and realised that her father was lagging behind. If she didn't know it any better, he had most likely not assumed a streamline position. Yet she continued to force herself to roll further and further down until suddenly she realised that she had finally reached the bottom of the racing arena.

She hurried onto her feet and watched as her father's rolled beside her and she broke into a beaming smile. She remained motionless as her father clad in his grass stained jacket.

"Ha!"

She pointed at his playfully and cheered:

"I won...I won...I won!"

And before she could stop herself, she leaned forward and stuck out her tongue. Her father's face became very dark and it caused the hairs on her neck, and then it became playful and Sayo instantly started running.

She ran and ran and ran but that didn't stop her from teasing him for losing the challenge.

"You lost...you lost...I'm better then you"

After a while she stopped running to catch her breath and attempt to figure out a strategy to get back her mother without her father accidentally catching her.

"I wouldn't be resting if I were you"

Then suddenly a white strike rushed towards her and instinctually she dashed away. She no longer chose to egg him on but rather use her breath to return to the top of the hill.

However as she continued up and up at the hill, she began to tire and then before she could do anything, she felt her father's arms wrap around her. Other children her age would have probably pulled away from him but she adored her father, and after having so much fun, she was willing to submit.

She turned around and her father lifted her into his arms. He placed an affectionate kiss onto her forehead and gazed deep within her brown eyes.

"My little princess needs to learn how to be modest"

Sayo's face flushed red and through a natural tendency alone, she had buried her head into his shoulder.

"I'm sorry Daddy" she spoke earnestly.

His chuckled softly:

"It's okay little one, after all I'm here to love and teach you how to become a well-mannered little lady"

Sayo then made a promise that if her father ever challenged her again, she would resist the urge to boost if she won and not risk disappointing her father again.

The moment that her father had reached the top of the hill, she felt him leaning forward and placed her onto the ground. Before she ran to her mother and Shizune who were slowly putting out all of the plates and food, she turned around and faced her father. For a few minutes they gazed at each other and after any accepting nod from her daddy, she proceeded forward.

Her mother immediately stood up when she saw her, and Sayo quickly ran into her awaiting arms. She may have just experienced a silent scolding from her father but she was glad that now she could run to either one of her parents for comfort.

The moment she felt her mother's arms wrap around her, she knew that at least her mother didn't have anything to say about her little boosting match with her father.

Shizune glanced towards them and her father and announced clearly:

"Lunch is ready"

Sayo and her mother assumed a place on the spread and her father and Shizune followed.

In front of her, Shizune had placed a assortment of meats, vegetables and fruit. And rather then attempting to lean forward to grip onto the knife and the fork, her mother had already do so and had lifted a portion of food to her mouth. Sayo could instantly detect her father's slight jealousy at her mother's role of feeding her through his ever increasing serious complexion, and rather then attempting to gain his favour, she leaned forward and ate the food.

Over the next twenty minutes, Sayo could sense her father's chakra pulsating more and more as she realised that even though her father put on the brave face of not minding to share her affection.

Sure Sayo adored her father as he had been the most important person in her life, but now that the bound between her and her mother was growing, she was slightly disappointed at how her father was coping.

If Daddy gets envious about me and Mummy spending so much time together, then how's he going to cope when I go to the academy.

And as Sayo continued to ponder upon the ambiguous matter, she would have never concluded that her growing bond with her mother would prove to be vital for her sanity in the years to come...

Thanks for reading.