Chapter 29- My Vow

Inhale 10

Hold 20

Exhale 5

I kept swinging my right leg back and forth. My arms in a straight line, fingers pointing up.

178

179

180

With a hiss, I let my leg drop and switched positions before doing the same for the other leg.

Despite how much I wanted to bash her face in, that Maiko kid helped me think.

Neigong.

Getting reborn, and living the first couple of years on my knees then on unstable legs, I had completely forgotten about the art.

Yeah, I know. It's not that interesting. Repetitive movements that help circulate good energy.

The idea was to do intervals of 9 up to 360 if you could manage it. It was a full circle so that your energy has been forced all over your body. This clears all pathways and unclogs blockades.

Remember what I said? This chi energy is almost identical to chakra.

Which mean, that when that Kumo bitch uses the technique, she is pretty much invincible to my Hyuuga techniques.

Inhale 10

Hold 20

Exhale 5

180.

I let my leg drop and felt my muscle protest.

My right hand placed itself on my belly button, with my left on top, I forced out more breaths. I walked around as I focused my energy, my chakra all into my coils.

I remembered the sensation from Before, but it was nothing compared to now. It shot out from my core, warming my body and the feeling of excitement but calming at the same time. It is a strange mix.

But now, with this physical power the flows through me…

"It makes me feel powerful," I whispered to myself.

"Oi, Wake up Pups!"

I blinked out of my thoughts and looked towards the house.

"Five more minutes…" I heard Kakashi say from inside.

"Did you say something Rei?" Rin said, popping her head out of the kitchen.

I shook my head and went inside, wiping the sweat from my face.

One sniff and I knew that breakfast was almost ready.

"No! Kaiya!" Kakashi whined again and I looked over at the other female.

"Kaiya is already at it?" I answered. "I thought we still had an hour or so."

Rin distributed four plates of breakfast before pointed to the outside with her spatula.

"You were already out there when I got up." She told me. "Kaiya told me you've been out there for 2 hours, Reika."

"Don't you Kaiya me! It is your fault for staying up late last night when I told you four to sleep!" she barked like the dog she was. "It's time for our morning warm-up!"

Another moan answered us, and Rin and I tried not to snicker.

I heard nails jumping onto something. And not long after Obito screeched.

"Kaiya!"

A bang answered my question and I could only guess that Kaiya had pushed Obito off the couch and onto Kakashi.

"Ow! When was the last time you took a shower?" Kakashi growled and we failed to hold it in. "Your feet stink!"

Rin and I walked passed the hallway and moved into the door to openly laugh at the boys.

"Oh, shut up!" Obito moaned back.

Their limbs were sprawled out all over each other and they were low key glaring at each other.

"Good you are up." Rin grinned from next to me. "Sakumo-san already left, so I made us breakfast."

I watched as our new addition jumped off the couch and lounged her way to Rin's side, leaning into her for scratchies.

"Get up already, we will be leaving in 25 minutes."

It was clear who the favorite 'pup' was. Over the last few months, Kaiya has incorporated herself into our big dysfunctional family, and it was clear that she wasn't planning on leaving any time soon.

Still slightly sleepy, we ran through the motions of the day, getting dressed, eating, and heading out the door.

All of us, the dogs, Kakashi, Obito, Rin and I followed Kaiya out for our morning run around the village at her command, because the only way to shut her up is to do it.

By the end, we were all sweating, Obito and Rin gasping for their breath. All five of Kakashi's dogs were just happy to get a run deciding that now was a good time to play and jump all over each other.

"Alright, have a nice day, Pups." Kaiya got up and, letting her silver and black tinting hide her as walked into the trees. With the 'pups' awake and out of bed, she was now able to go back to Sakumo's side.

Straightening I couldn't help but smile.

Sakumo was definitely not the most authoritative when it came down to us, that was where Kaiya established herself.

Being both strong and resilient she didn't put up with our laziness and pushed us hard.

She kind of reminded me of Fugaku.

Speaking of the man. The counterattack had been a success, with only a few losses on our side, and complete annihilation of their fort in frost, the only country that separated us. Where did I get this info? That was one thing I like about being Anbu. Information goes through the grape vines so much faster, all you had to do was listen in Anbu.

"Let's go back, I want to relax before I have to go out for my mission with Minato-sensei," Kakashi muttered to his nin-ken. I almost snorted at his attitude, as he was still a bit peeved at being woken up.

"I'll go with you!" Rin called catching up with him. "But I was wondering if you could help me with my kunai and shuriken. I'm not getting the results I want."

Kakashi shrugged.

"As long as don't have to run a few kilometers again, sure."

And then I was left with Obito who was grinning at me.

"Ready to go?" he asked.

Smirking I motioned for him to take the lead and followed him down the street.

"Do you think Miko-chan got any bigger?" he asked me, his arms folded behind his head.

"We saw her yesterday, Obi." I snorted. "She will probably be the same size."

But I could understand where he was coming from.

It was May. The 26th of May, and in two weeks, Itachi would be born. So it seemed more than ever that Mikoto was inflating like a balloon.

We got to the main house in record time and knocked twice, before walking right in.

"Good morning!" Mikoto called as we reached the kitchen. She sat on the patio stairs, rubbing her belly. And it was a belly indeed.

While Obito moved towards her, I mixed together the tea she half made.

"My baby cousin giving you trouble?" Obito grinned as he sat beside her.

"Your baby cousin is being evicted soon." She grumbled.

I snickered and moved to her other side and poured the tea for us, using the skills she had almost beat into me these past few months.

At month six, she stopped coming to the Anbu headquarters. But after clearing it with Sakumo, She was given the okay to train me at her place, with the non-physical arts, such as theory, formations, etiquette which I had missed in the academy, and Genjutsu, while my mother focused on my physical training.

"You should be proud of him, Mikoto-san." I snarked passing the cups of tea to Obito and her. "I think he is already training to be a great ninja."

She gave me a smile.

"With how much this one is moving around, I wouldn't be surprised."

Almost as if to confirm the words, I caught a movement from her belly.

"Little one, please stop sticking your feet in my ribs!" she hissed rubbing her side.

Obito and I laughed again.

"So what can we do to help you today?" Obi asked and I dreaded the moment she opened her mouth.

"Well if you don't mind I do have a few things…"

And we did them all.

Cleaning the bathrooms, doing her laundry, fixing some things in the baby room we had already set up the month before, running to get groceries.

And we were about to put them away when Rin came knocking on the door.

"Obito!" she growled. "You are going to be late for the academy!"

My teammate in making sure Mikoto was comfortable, screeched and blushed before he ran over to give his cousin and her baby a goodbye before he was out the door.

"You know," I told her once the house became pleasantly silent.

"I think he hangs out with Kushina-sensei without our knowledge."

Mikoto chuckled before she slipped off the balcony and climbed the stairs. well, Wobbled her way to me.

"Here, let me help, you guys have been a savior for me." I brushed her off and nodded to the door

"I'll finish up, you take advantage of this."

She gave me a smile.

"What am I learning today?" I asked.

She opened her mouth as I put away the last of the food, and I dreaded what came out from her mouth next.

"We are going to be practicing your henge characters."

Acting?

Great…

-.-

Both of us froze, my henge falling, as we recognized the chakra.

"Taidaima." A voice muttered.

Let me tell you, for a pregnant woman who was about to pop, she moved fast.

"Fugaku!" She flew from the room and I heard a bang.

Confused, I got up and followed her at a slower pace.

"Did you have to tackle me?" I heard a grumble from the doorway, and I couldn't stop the smile that ran across my lips.

Mikoto had trapped her husband against the wall with a hug.

"Okari!" she smiled, a tear falling down her cheeks.

I left the two alone before moving towards the kitchen.

Once the Tea had been once again prepared and was on the porch for the two and I fixed up some Rice-balls, knowing full well that Fugaku was probably hungry after his few months gone.

"Did you actually give her a key?" The deadpanned voice said from the door to the kitchen.

"Not yet." Mikoto laughed before she grabbed his hand, leading to where I had put the food. "But she has been a great help, so I might consider it."

His black eyes narrowed at me and I couldn't help but grin back.

"Had to make her agree to Nee-chan rights somehow." I teased.

Fugaku rolled his eyes without saying anything, he grabbed a cup and a rice ball.

"Obi-kun and her have been by almost every day since my 6th month to help me with things since I can't bend down anymore." Mikoto caught his attention and I could see the way his eyes soften ever so slightly for her.

"Oh?" Fugaku's eyes trailed down to her belly, and his hand reached out to touch it. "My child has been a little mischievous?"

Mikoto bit out a laugh.

"A little?" she hissed. "He's been playing with my ribs! And before he turned he would shove his little foot in my pelvis!"

"He?"

At that moment, Fugaku looked more like an owl than a cat.

That made Mikoto smile.

"That doctors confirmed it, but I was used to calling him before, because of that one here." I grimaced and finished up the dishes fast. "Rei-chan has been calling our child him since the first day I met her."

I could feel the heat from the back of my head.

"I feel as if you are getting a bit too involved with my family." He muttered. Smiling, I finished wiping the counter.

"Just wait till he is born." My grin couldn't be any wider. "Then I'll be surely taking advantage of Nee-chan rights, and you won't be able to get rid of me, since that would make your little boy sad."

Looking over my shoulder, I saw him grit his teeth and glare at me.

"Go home." He growled.

I couldn't help but smile but figured they earned some alone time.

"I won't be able to come over for the next few days, Mikoto-san, but I'll stop by later in the week."

She grinned and waved.

"Home, brat." Fugaku insisted.

"I'm going!"

"Not Sakumo's." he insisted. "Home."

Blinking, I looked underneath the underneath.

Otou-san must be back as well.

-.-

He was waiting for me at home, cleaned up and sitting at the table with my mother, talking.

It was a scene I didn't even realize I missed.

"Taidaima," I called to them from the door.

Both eyes snapped over to me in surprise.

"Reika."

I made my way to my father and hugged him.

"We heard about the 'raid.'" I sat on the cushion next to him. "I'm glad you guys are okay."

He blinked in surprise and looked over at my mother.

"You told her about that? That was Anbu grade info."

I closed my mouth with a click and decided it was the best time to disappear.

"Going into the shower!"

But my hasty retreat was successfully halted.

"Not this time, Reika." Okaa-san's voice meant business. "Come back here."

Cursing in a different language, I dragged myself back to the cushion.

"What is the matter?" My father asked, his words laced with worry.

Dread filled me, and I sighed.

Looking my mother in the eye she nodded to my father.

Scowling I looked between them before changing my expression into one of pleading.

Why can't you do it?

"What happened?" my father said, his voice was even, and unimpressed.

"You are considered an Adult now Reika, you can tell him yourself." She called me out.

"I thought I wasn't supposed to tell anyone." I bit back.

"Your father doesn't count."

Shit.

You know he is already Anbu, went unsaid between us.

What was the last thing that he was told?

My team?

No, it was my freak out.

I wonder if Okaa-san knew about that?

"You realize you are just making it worse by dragging it out right?" My father said, his arms on the table.

Yeah. I know.

So, I'll say it.

Like ripping off a bandaid.

Inhale 10

Hold 20

Exhale 5

"I'm in Anbu."

Two things happened in that instant.

My father's face dropped, his eyes widening in horror.

And my mother's hand connected with her face.

"You have no tact…" my mother sighed.

I shrugged.

"You wanted me to tell him, so I did."

"What?" my father looked between us. Fear was written all over his face. "Explain, Now!"

"Calm down, Hizashi. She is an Initiate, not a full member." Okaa-san continued.

He took a deep breath before unclenching his hands.

"And how did this come to be?" I could hear the anger in his voice. "And explain it properly."

And so I did. Starting with the day at Ken'ichi's when Danzo confronted me, Sakumo coming home and making it in time to intervene. To him talking to the Hokage, until today, where I've been a glorified chore-girl with combat and basic infiltration training from first Fugaku then Mikoto.

"No wonder you have become so blunt." He muttered. "You really have been around Fugaku too much."

Blinking, I realized that I had not told them the latest news. So I said just that, trying to break the ice, even just a bit.

"Mikoto gave me Nee-san rights to Fugaku's and her child!" I grinned.

This time it was my father's turn to facepalm.

"I remember you say something about that at camp."

He sighed rubbing his shoulder and looking at me with a serious expression.

"I hate to say this, but it might be for the best." He theorized. "You in Anbu I mean."

This immediately did not sound like a good thing if my mother's expression was anything.

"What do you mean?"

"Danzo is known for prowling around the clan trying to grab the most prodigy children to turn them into the village's weapon. This is not the first time he's done it, and it won't be the last. His organization has too much success to be completely outlawed during this time of war. So with Reika in Anbu, this protects her, and will push her into discovering her potential."

His eyes met my mothers and I could see the sadness and slight panic she tried so hard to hide.

"Like it or not. Our little girl has grown up fast. And her situation doesn't help anything."

My mother's shoulders shook a bit and she turned away, trying not to let it show.

"Sakumo did what he could, I'm thankful for that. But that does not mean I would let Danzo do what he wants. If she was taken, I would fight until my last breath to get my little girl back."

This made me smile sadly, shifting over until I was hugging my father.

"Thank you, Otou-san."

Kissing my forehead he got up off the ground.

"Go take your shower now, my daughter. I have somewhere to be."

-.-

"Hm."

I rolled my eyes before twirling the hammer in my hand.

"Hmm."

Annoyance rose inside me.

"Hmmm."

"What?" I growled. "it's my first try."

Ken'ichi smiled, and I realized he was doing it just to pull my leg.

"Well, you will never rival the blacksmith who made the Seven Swords of the mist." He told me.

This caused me to roll my eyes.

"I'm not trying to, Ken-Shishou," I muttered.

He moved a tad closer to the entrance of the workshop and looked at the blade of the sword in the light.

It was the most basic thing that could be, and even looking at it from this far away made me want to cringe.

"Hm."

"Can you stop with the 'hms' already" I snapped, my nerves making me angry. I got up and followed him to the entrance where he was chuckling.

"Here." He tossed it to me and I barely had the time to catch the bare hilt.

"What was that for!" my eye twitched.

His arm raised itself and pointed to the metal pole that stood in the middle of the ore yard. A couple of birds were busying themselves with pecking at the birdfeeder that was attached.

"Cut the pole." He told me.

I blinked in surprise before looking down at the piece of shit in my hands.

"Are you kidding me?" I asked. "It will break."

He motioned again.

Rolling my eyes I took a step forward and readied my stance. Left hand on the handle, right hand cupping the pommel.

"And remember what I said, Reika. The sword has to be as strong as the user."

Huffing, I concentrated before making a single strike at the pole. Following the diagonal line from shoulder to hip, wrists in a 90-degree angle, torsion with the core of the body.

A loud ringing made me hiss and cup my right ear. The birds didn't seem to like it either, as they all took off.

But still, the pole stood, straight and narrow, looking so incredibly innocent but indestructible.

Looking down, I was even more surprised to note that my sword was not damaged.

The only evidence that I had tried it was the light scuff mark in the blade and a tiny chip.

"Not too bad." My teacher hummed, before taking the blade back. he held it up again before humming. "With some practice, we will make a mediocre blacksmith of you yet."

I followed him back into the shop and he put the sword back onto the anvil.

"You need to practice your hand some more. There are too many bumps, and the blade isn't smooth and sharp enough." He instructed.

I bit my tongue from snapping at him again and sat down.

"But overall not to bad. A useless weapon would have snapped on that pole."

I guess that is as much praise as I was going to get today.

-.-

Loud banging on my front door woke me the next morning.

I wasn't expected to be anywhere, and my parents were already gone doing who knows what, so I had the place to myself.

But what I wanted to know most of all, is who was banging at my door at 6:30 am on my day off. Not even Kaiya had woken me up yet.

Too lazy to get up and answer it to find out, I turned on my Dojutsu and got the shock of my life.

"Open up Rei!" I heard from outside.

Hurriedly, I barely had time to fix my sleeping wear and opened the door.

"Kushina-sensei?" I asked, thoroughly confused. "Why are you here?"

She pretty much pushed her way into my house and made herself welcome.

"Get dressed." She grinned.

"Why?" I asked again. "It's my day off."

She snorted.

"You are a ninja, you never have a day off."

Since it was Kushina we are talking about, I left her at my house and went to my bedroom to get dressed.

Only once I had all my gear did I reemerge. Kushina was having fun swinging her feet back and forth on the porch, the door wide open.

"So? Are you going to tell me what we are doing?" I asked her.

"Training." She told me with a hum. "Then we are getting Ichiraku."

I snorted, but locked the door and following her to a training ground.

Touching down on Training ground 6 was more of a shock than anything else.

It still felt normal. So normal that my Byakugan immediately activated and I found the regular seal two kilometers east of my location.

"Is there a reason we are at this training ground," I asked my old teacher.

She smiled sadly before throwing a kunai half-heartedly. I dodged it easily and raised an eyebrow.

"Up for a game of tag?" she asked.

I worked my shoulders a few times before moving my neck.

"But, I'm not warmed up yet," I complained, but I knew it was no use.

A grin spread across her face, covering up any negative emotion she had and she moved in for the attack.

I would be lying if I said it wasn't fun.

Wiping off blood from the cut on my face, I controlled my breathing and tried to calm my erratic heartbeat.

"You've gotten good!" Kushina grinned. She collapsed, and yes, I said collapsed next to me.

I thought of it as a win, seen as how she had unlimited stamina like Naruto would eventually have.

We had come pretty far in our game of tag, spilling into the next training ground, trying to tackle the other to the ground.

I leaned up against the warm rock and Kushina traced the words on it.

"I had a nightmare last night." She started, honest and her voice was so low I barely heard it.

We had spilled into Training Ground Seven.

It was the memorial stone.

I closed my eyes and tried not to imagine the warmth of the stone to be anything like the warmth of Seiichi's leg perched on me while he slept. Or of Tsubasa's strong back when I wanted to doze after training.

They were gone.

"I miss them."

I didn't have to open my eyes to know she was touching their names.

"I do too," I muttered back.

-.-

I was back on top of that building, looking out to those same dusk clouds.

Her voice carried, somewhat echoing on the clouds.

Haunting. Just like she did me.

Kind but all so sad. Just like how she lived.

"Karoline."

I took a few steps forward and couldn't help but freeze.

These hands were not the ones I was used to. Scars decorated the digits and the palms, and it took me a second to recognize them.

They were hands of old.

When I did, I was suddenly uncomfortable. These weren't my hands.

Dropping them, I turned back to my old best friend.

"Karoline."

She sat on the edge, her feet dangling once more, but she turned to look at me.

"It had been a while."

Unsure what to say, I turned back to the clouds and leaned on the cement edge of the building.

So we stayed beside each other, a foot away, not touching, both looking back out to the warm colors of the sky. Both of us trying to find words.

"Do you think you could ever forgive me?" She eventually asked.

Without my permission, anger rose up inside me. No. It was Rage.

"Forgive you?" I hissed. "You fucking kill yourself and you want me to forgive you?"

I laughed in disbelief.

"I was going to make this better. Despite the shitty situation with my mother and brother, I didn't have to fucking leave. I did it, I got the place, and I enter the cage fighting to get you out of your shit hole and you shit on me by killing yourself!" I gestured to myself and glared at her. "You were the only thing keeping me from going insane and you fucking well abandoned me!"

I felt my fingernails sink into my skin and I couldn't help but feel the fantom pain of the cut, and the blood that flowed out of it.

"Now you ask if I can forgive you?"

She never reacted to my outburst, and I didn't know if I liked it. This anger of mine, it was searching for a reaction, for an opening in which I could sock her a good one.

Then all of a sudden that person I once was, she calmed down. And she started to think of it rationally.

Sakumo and the cage fights.

"I hate you for it," I whispered, trying to stop the stinging of my eyes. "But I can understand why you did it."

I looked away as she turned her head, finally giving me her full attention.

"You never wanted to show your weakness in front of me. Because you felt as if I needed you more then what your troubles were worth. When your problems escalated, you saw how much I was reacting to them, and you felt guilty. When it became too much, you decided to end it."

Her choked sobs were the only things I could hear, and I listen to all of it.

"But I will forgive myself

And start to let it go

Accept that who you chose to be

Was out of my control

And though it might be hard

To begin again

I'll write myself a brand-new story

With a happy end

I survived

So tonight

I am taking back my life

And I'll show you

That I am not nothing!"

-.-

"Reika?"

My eyes snapped open and I blinked past blurry eyes.

"What time is it?" I asked, rubbing them, hiding the evidence of me crying.

"Lunchtime," Kushina said next to me, worry twisting on her expression.

"K." I got up and stretched my arms, shaking the tiered out of me. "When did I fall asleep?"

The red-head smiled sadly before walking in front of me.

"About an hour ago." She told me.

"And you didn't wake me before?" I asked.

Shrugging she led me out of the grounds.

"I figured you could use the sleep." She replied.

Our trip to Ichiraku was short, but just enough time for me to wake up.

"Here you go! Two bowls of Ramen for my favorite customers!" Teuchi replied, a wide grin on his face. "And they are both on the house today!"

Our face's lit up in surprise.

"Where did this come from?" I asked.

"Not that we are complaining," Kushina said hurriedly.

I tried to smirk at her desperation to get a free meal.

"Found out yesterday that my wife is pregnant." He grinned.

"Woot!" Kushina jumped out of her seat. "Congratulations!"

Her smile matched his own, and I couldn't help but be happy too.

"Yeah! I can't wait until the child is born!"

Born eh?

Sakumo mentioned Tsume had given birth two months ago and has been working hard to go back into the field as soon as possible. Tied with Sakumo as the best tracker-nin in the village, we needed her soon.

And Itachi will be born soon too.

The world as I knew it was coming quick, and I couldn't wait.

I want to make a difference.

All so that maybe, just maybe,

Their life will suck less.

-.-

It was a few days later that I would be able to properly spend time with my father.

Which was odd, because despite having trained with him a lot when I was young, I hadn't trained with him since.

"Otou-san." I looked around the dark forest. "Why are we here?"

Imagine my surprise when I was woken up at 3:00 am and told to get dressed.

We touched down in the forest, and I couldn't help but feel nervous, despite the number of times I have been in this particular one with Sakumo and Kakashi.

Training ground 44.

"Despite being born seconds later than my brother, I was labeled a branch member, while Hiashi became part of the main house." He began. "Because of this, our father tried to keep us as far away as possible to create a distance between us, and to make me more submissive."

I had not been expecting this.

He took some steps ahead of me creating a large enough space between us.

"But there was something he did not take into account." His eyes met mine. "We are twins. Identical twins. And the hardest thing to do is to separate people who have shared the same sack."

Crossing my arms, I tried to understand what his point was about this.

They were twins separated and raised in different roles.

"We would often meet at night, far away from the compound and from prying eyes." It almost sounded like a confession. As if this was the first time he told someone about this.

"We would train, showing each other different moves, and becoming better shinobi, together as brothers."

"What are you getting at, Otou-san?" I asked, not comprehending.

"There are moves I'm only allowed to use in the company of Anbu, as anything that happens inside is secret. For fear that the main house would find out and punish me for it, I have to keep it there."

Slowly it started to click. Hiashi showed my father the techniques of the main house.

Holy shit.

No wonder Neji was so good, if Hizashi was showing him all the main house techniques, or even just left him the techniques when he died.

"I'm going to teach you something, and the same thing is going to have to apply to you." He instructed. "Only use it in Anbu."

He got into his stance, a fair amount of room between us and he activated his BYakugan.

"The first step is to gather chakra to every single chakra point simultaneously."

I activated my own and watched the world become grey-scale. Blue flooded his system becoming even more pronounced from each of his 365 tenketsu points.

"The second step is to release a steady stream of chakra out into the air around you."

I watched as the stream was a constant flow, moving out into the air and spreading out the further it got away from him.

"Third step is to keep it steady as you spin."

The ultimate defense within the Gentle first style.

Eight Trigrams: Palm Rotation.

My father span and I grounded myself as a blue solid circle enclosed him, cutting away the rock from under him as well.

It was powerful, and I couldn't believe that it was happening.

Shocked was an understatement.

"I know what Anbu missions are like. To classify as an Anbu mission it must be at least A-rank or up, and a failure rate of over 70%." He told me. "So if you are going to be taken on them one day, I want you to have this under your belt so that you have some sort of defense."

He paused in his speech and looked me over. Like a father, just trying to protect his daughter.

"Do you need to be shown again?" He asked.

I nodded and settled in for a long night.

This might end up being my next obsession.

-.-

Kaiya caught me when I was doing some chores.

"Come with me, Pup."

Shrugging I did what she asked, and we took off at a run to the top of headquarters.

The door was already open and I noticed Sakumo strapping up his armor.

"Okami-taicho," I asked in professionalism.

A sheet of paper was shot at me and I grabbed it just in time that it didn't hit me.

"I need you to gather the people on that sheet and tell them to head to the Hokage's office asap."

His tone was serious so I quickly did as was asked.

My heart pounded as I read over the list fast, seeing a total of 6 people on my list, and all but one I knew personally.

So, I went for the closest first, slipping on my mask.

My knuckles rapped on the window to the apartment I hadn't been in forever, already recognizing the occupants to be home.

Minato was the one to open it and with one look at me, he called Kushina.

"Hokage-sama has called a meeting asap, for both of you," I told them before disappearing with the shunshin.

I was on official business and by the tone Sakumo had, this was serious.

My next stop was another apartment, and the name made me shift, but again I didn't have time to hesitate. The window opened just as fast to the mug of my academy teacher.

"Forgive the intrusion, Umino-san." I started, and his eyes dilated but he kept a straight face. "I need to speak with Kohari-san."

He nodded and picked up a 4-year-old Iruka before moving from the room.

Kohari, already in full uniform, moved into the room soon after.

"Hokage-sama called a meeting asap Suzume," I told her. She placed her sparrow mask on her face.

"Affirmative." And with a shunshin, she was gone.

The next movement took me to the Nara compound.

A few months ago, I knew she was familiar, but didn't know from where. But now I had a name to go with the Meka mask.

"Sandaime-sama is summoning, Meka," I instructed Yoshino Nara.

"Got it, Squirt." She dismissed closing the window on me.

I jumped down and moved north-west to another house I knew pretty damn well.

Stepping into the territory, I was suddenly self-conscious of my lack of scent control training. There was no way Tsume would not know it's me.

I took a deep breath and followed the cry of a newborn.

The window was open, so I didn't have to knock. Not that I would have to, she could probably smell me a mile away.

"Inu, the Hokage has called you to his office asap."

"Really? I was just put back on the rooster yesterday!" she grumbled. Her eyes looked me up and down and she huffed.

"Those clothes don't do you justice, brat." She barked before she put her child down in the crib and called out for her wolf.

"Go get Keigo, Kuromaru. Tell him it is his time to take care of his daughter! I have to work."

I disappeared ignoring the comment she gave as well.

My last stop was probably the hardest. But with her being outside, at least I didn't have to knock on my own window.

"Hakucho-taicho. The Hokage has called a meeting asap."

My mother took one look at me and then she was no longer there. It was the Anbu captain.

"Understood."

I was impressed by the switch in personality that it took me a second to realize she had disappeared.

Curiosity fueled my next actions as I made my way to the top of the Hokage tower. I landed on top and waited for the meeting to end. Any other time that run would not have been too hard. But I had to act the part. Running full speed, but hiding my presence as 'Anbu are not supposed to be noticed'.

I couldn't feel their chakra fo the Anbu in the office, but I could sense their presence. They were still there, so no doubt they also knew I was there.

The thought was confirmed when the group of Anbu and two nin-ken shushined out of the office and onto the roof.

"Let Kakashi know I'm being sent out," Okami-taicho said as he and Kaiya passed by me.

I nodded and watched as they split into two teams. One led by Okami-taicho consisting of Anbu operatives Kitsune or Kushina, Chita or Minato, and Suzume. In the other group, it was led by Hakucho-taicho, with Meka, Inu with Kuromaru and a mysterious new operative I had never seen before with a Takumi mask.

My masked face met that of Hakucho and she gave me the tiniest of nods, one in which I returned.

The next moment, had them vanished along with their orders. Alone, I couldn't help but wonder what must have happened to make 8 Anbu, which included the Anbu commander, leave the village in under 20 minutes.

I took one more breath before I got up and made my way back to the headquarters. I'm sure there was some type of chore I could do there to keep me occupied.

-.-

"What are you three doing here?"

Slowly, but surely I pulled the small rectangular block out from the wooden tower in front of us.

It wavered ever so slightly but did not fall.

I ignored the angry Uchiha at the door and replaced the piece on top of the tower.

"Ah! Hello Anata." Mikoto said, her face twitching in discomfort, from her place on the couch. She was sitting in her kimono, legs spread and hands rubbing her underbelly.

We let her deal with her husband and concentrated on the game.

Obito was next in line, as his fingers nudged the next wooden stick out. He finally let out his breath when he successfully replaced it.

Rin bit her lip as she studied the holey tower.

She was just about to reach for it when a stomping Uchiha moved next to us. The tower fell onto the ground and all three of us turned to glare at the Uchiha Patriarch.

"Answer me," he growled.

"Oh Sorry!" Rin said, nerves showing in her voice. "We were playing Jenga. Did you want to join?"

I coughed and gathered the pieces snickering.

"And you messed it up! We were going on three hours!" I complained. Obito looked at me eyes wide and shaking his head as if I should stop everything I was doing.

"I do not care what you were doing, why are you in my house!" he bit.

I peeked a look at Mikoto and she hid her laughter under her hand.

"We were keeping your wife company," I answered as I helped Obito replace the pieces in a tower. Each layer of three, perpendicular to the layer under.

"I am due any day now, Fugaku." She pointed out, her hands not leaving her belly.

He snorted, before leaving the living room and climbing the stairs.

"So how is the hospital work going?" I asked Rin as she took the first turn.

"Hospital?" Mikoto asked shocked.

"I'm planning on becoming a medical-nin so I've been getting as many hours at the hospital I can for the past few years," Rin told the matriarch. "This is probably one of the reasons why these two dragged me to come here today since today is your due date."

Obito coughed, playing fast before looking away.

I also refused to look at my sempai and took my turn.

"Is that right?" Mikoto said, before wincing.

That made both Obito and I shoot our heads up.

"Is it the baby?" Obito shot. Ready to pounce into action if needed.

This caused Mikoto to laugh. "You know Obito-kun, it is rare for a child to come out on the date that the doctors give." Rin scolded before taking two fingers and removing the last piece in the line, shooting it directly into a wall so that the tower dropped straight down. "I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't come for the next few days."

I blinked and watched as Rin reached over to grab it.

Fucking Ninja.

But it wasn't the first time this happened either. Obi and Rin have done that multiple times if the wall directly opposite of me was anything to account for. Little dents decorated the bottom of the white paint, and I hoped that Fugaku never caught wind of it. Mikoto didn't seem to care, or rather did not notice, too occupied with her belly.

"Aw, I want my little cousin to come now!" he pouted.

I laughed, before pointing at him.

"If he comes today, at least we can say he will take after his Nee-chan rather then his Nii-san," I told them. "Since you are always late."

"Ha ha ha," Obito stressed each symbol.

And Rin giggled next to us.

"Well, if I have anything to do with it, he will not take from either of you," Fugaku stated, coming back, in a kimono, his hair dripping wet.

"That isn't very nice, Fugaku-sensei," I stated, watching Obito silently grab another piece.

"Like I care." He walked around us, with less stomping and sat on the couch next to his wife.

We played more turns, going back and forth, joking and having fun while Fugaku complained to Mikoto about the paperwork that was left with him at the force and us being too rowdy.

"Mikoto?" He asked as she didn't respond for the seventh time.

I replaced my piece of Jenga and looked over, to see her, a worried expression on her face. Suddenly she snapped back and looked over at her husband.

"Oh sorry." She said, smiling worriedly over at her husband.

"Are you okay?" Obito asked from next to me moving around the game to go to her side.

"Uh, yeah?" her hand went unconsciously to her back.

"Are you sure?" Fugaku asked, eyes narrowing.

I'll be honest, I was lost for most of it, not understand what was happening. But I'll tell you what I do remember. And that was Rin taking charge.

"Did your water break?" Rin asked getting up and pushing Obito to the side.

"Uh." She blinked again, a bit lost but massaged her back some more.

Fugaku and I both looked down at the same time, noticing how wet the couch and her kimono was.

"I think that was a yes?" I stated the obvious.

And something that I was well aware of but had never seen happened.

Rin went into nurse mode.

"Fugaku-san, was the plan to do a home birth?" Rin said pushing the game out of the way and looked over Mikoto with a keen eye.

"What? Uh, yes." I think he was just as shocked as Mikoto was.

"What! I thought you said he wasn't coming today!" Obito cried, scratching his head with both his hands.

"Obito, Shut up," Rin ordered, before turning back to Fugaku.

"I've been interning at the hospital for a few years now, and I've helped birth children before. So you are going to need to leave her here while you go get your midwife. I'll have everything prepared for her when she gets here, but please be fast."

Oh shit. Itachi just couldn't wait, could he!

"No," he said stubbornly. "I'm not leaving her here."

He was being defensive. Rin was someone he didn't know and all of a sudden she told him to leave.

"Rin is trustworthy Sensei." I jumped in. "If it counts, I trust her with my life."

He froze and quickly judged my reaction.

"I'll be back as soon as I can." He bit angrily and disappeared.

"Okay, Mikoto-san," Rin called and Mikoto swallowed, clearly unsure of what to do next. "Everything will be okay."

"Obito, you know this house, I need a lot of warm water and a lot of blankets." She instructed and I couldn't help but be impressed. This is her thing.

"Reika."

I blinked back and moved next to her.

"Can you check to see what position he is in while I run through some questions with Mikoto."

Realizing what she wanted me to do, I activated my Byakugan.

Focusing on Mikoto's body, as Rin slowly helped move her into a more comfortable position.

"He is quite low," I told her watching how the baby's head was clearly descending.

Blankets suddenly appeared next to me, and Obito was gone once again.

"How are your contractions?" Rin asked Mikoto and she winced again.

"Regular, and quite painful."

Rin looked over at me, and I took another look at the baby.

"He dropped some more, but not by much."

"Where is he? Show me," she instructed.

I get up off the floor and motioned on Mikoto's lower stomach where the child located.

"All right," Rin grabbed some of the blankets and moved them around Mikoto, placing them under her neck and behind her back. "We will still have to wait a bit for him to be ready."

Obito dropped a large bucket of water on the ground next to Rin and I could see the worry in his eyes.

"Is he being born yet!" he waved his hands over his head and I rolled my eyes.

"Rin said not yet, Obi." Mikoto breathed.

"How are the contractions from a scale of 1-10, ten being the strongest."

"5." She answered and Rin nodded.

"Okay, so 7." She bit her lip and I looked at Rin weirdly.

"But she said 5?" I asked.

"Mikoto-san is also a kunoichi, Reika." Rin lectured, moving a few more things around. "She has a higher pain tolerance than civilian women, so we always rank up the scale."

A bang answered us, and Fugaku and an older Uchiha woman came in.

"Seems our heir is anxious isn't he?" the lady crackled before looking at the situation.

"Seems so." Mikoto breathed, sweat slowly pouring down her face.

The older lady looked at us three before she zeroed in on Rin, who had repositioned the bowl once again.

"You have medical experience." She confirmed. Rin nodded, and not long after Obito and I were kicked out.

"But what if she needs me!" Obito exclaimed and banged at the door.

"Brat!" Fugaku ordered from inside and I rolled my eyes.

My fingers found Obito's earlobe and I pulled him down the hall and into the kitchen.

"Owww! Wait." He tried to remove my hand but I had too much of a good grip.

"Enough, Obi, you are just stressing Mikoto-san out," I replied before making myself at home in the kitchen.

He huffed before starting to pace.

I was well into my second cup of tea when the screaming came. Goosebumps rose on my arms, but I schooled my reaction in order to grab Obito's foot before he could run out of the room.

"Sit," I stressed, and he looked at me pleadingly.

"No," I answered again.

Sighing, he sat properly and I poured him a cup of tea.

"The only thing we can do is wait," I told him.

This didn't mean I wasn't nervous for her or even terrified. I hope there comes a day where I never have to hear it again.

A full hour and two cups of tea later, the little old lady opened the door to the kitchen.

"All done, you two can go see them now."

Obito was the first to get up and run out the door.

"Thanks, Baa-san."

Sighing I got up and slowly moved after him.

I nodded my thanks and passed her.

"And please keep a lid on that boy, don't let him stress her too much."

I gave her a smile, knowing full well what Obito is like and walked away.

Mikoto was leaning back on the couch, sweat pouring off her, but snuggled under blankets.

A soft smiled was pressed to her face. Fugaku sat on the ground next to her, a bundle of blue blankets in his arms.

Obito was kneeling in front of him, looking at baby Itachi with wondrous eyes. Even Rin had a grin on her face. ButI hesitated a second too long.

"Reika."

I looked back up to Mikoto and saw her eyes on me.

"Stop standing there and come here."

Obeying her I stepped closer and moved to Fugaku's side.

Inhale 10

Hold 20

Exhale 5

Itachi was a bit of a chubby kid, with only a few tuffs of black hair. He was sleeping soundly from his ordeal, cuddled up in his blanket and in his father's arms.

"He looks kinda like a potato," Obito said, before he slapped his hand over his mouth, clearly not meaning to have said that out loud.

"A what?" Fugaku deadpanned.

"A kawaii potato?" Obito tried again. Rin and Mikoto laughed at the hole Obito dug himself into.

"For that, you will be the last to hold him."

I swallowed noticing the faint laugh lines on the little one's cheeks.

But he is so small, and pink.

And this little boy will go through so much.

"My son will not bite," Fukagu mentioned and I looked back up to see he was actually talking to me.

I took a few more steps so that I was closer, but once again I couldn't speak.

"Do you want to hold him?" Mikoto said, despite Obito's sulking.

My eyes snapped back up and I was surprised at the panic that followed.

Me? Hold a child that small? I looked back down at my hands and tried not to picture all the blood I had on them.

At this moment, Itachi is so innocent.

"You won't hurt him Reika." Serious onyx eyes caught mine again, and Fugaku shifted towards me. "Sit down."

I don't think sit was the right term.

Ungracefully collapsing, I swallowed my nerves once again, fear coursing through me.

I'll corrupt him.

"Make sure you brace his head, with your arm and keep him close."

My mouth was moving up and down, as the child was almost forced into my arms.

"What's his name?" Obito bounded back in the picture, sitting at my side and looking down at him. Unaware of my dilemma.

"Uchiha Itachi," Mikoto answered, as Fugaku adjusted my arms.

I felt like I was probably looking at him in horror as the newborn body of one of Kohona's worst 'criminals' warmed my arms.

I tried not to move, scared that I would drop him.

"You know, for someone who wanted Nee-chan rights so bad, you are looking terrified at the thought of holding him." Fugaku snorted, clearly amused.

Did he know what was going through my head?

I swallowed and let myself look down at Itachi.

Just in time too.

Little unstable beady black eyes looked up at me.

"Uh, Hi?"

Pretty pathetic for the first words spoken to the future genius, and it would be just my luck if the kid somehow remembered it.

But nothing else mattered as a quiet little squeak came from him, almost as if he was already trying to answer me.

"My name is Reika," I told the little one. "And I'm your Nee-chan. Even if your Father doesn't approve, your Mother gave me the okay."

Ignoring the lump in my throat, I continued to speak to him.

"I will make mistakes here and there, as I'm so far from perfect, and I can't even promise that we won't fight. So I'm sorry in advance."

Stinging in my eyes, and his blurry face surprised me.

"I haven't done this before so please be patient, and don't give up on me."

The tears spilled over before I could suck them up.

"But don't be afraid. You can trust me with anything, and I will always be there for you. So come to me. With all the things you'll hide from your parents. And don't be afraid to drag me into things. Whether it's pranks, buying you extra Dango, or even when you become a shinobi and need help with training."

All the more so when you have to do terrible things, like push yourself through the Academy or becoming an Anbu captain at 13. If you have to kill your clan or join an organization which will try to end the world, just to spy for the village that betrayed you.

"Come to me, Otouto, and I vow to always be here for you."

-.-

Yo!

Sorry for the wait! I wanted to get this out last week, but there were a few parts that I wasn't happy with. Anyhow hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Recommendation: Kakashi's Kid, Silimaira. I don't think I recommended this one yet! This story is overloaded with cuteness, and quite funny! Enjoy.

Question: What do you think about Rin and Obito's characters? Out of all the characters, they are the hardest to write for me, but they will be playing very important parts in the story, as you will see next chapter. Anyway, do you guys think I am doing both of them justice?

Thank you all for the reviews, favorites, follows and views!

See you next chapter,
Ravenmocker6.

P.S. The lyrics to the song Karoline was singing was taken from Beth Crowley's "I am not Nothing."

Edits. March 10th 2019. Thank you Draco MalfoyGirl 16 for the catch! Without realizing it, I had said that the old lady who delivered Itachi was a wet nurse rather than a midwife. Sorry for the mistake!

Dark Rose Charm, I'm still debating on if I'm going to bring in more then one person, but yes, Maiko is 100% from Before.

ImAlsoAWe, Hard question to answer! Like I said above, I'm not sure if I'm going to add in more then one other reincarnation. I will have to think long and hard about it. In other news, Your wish is my command. Please Welcome Adorable Itachi- The Kawaii Potato!

BloodyLoved, Sorry not sorry! What makes you hate the multiple reincarnation storyline so much? Is it only the upcoming shit storm? The predictability? If that is what gets on your nerves, I have a few twists in mind that I am 99.9999% sure you will not expect! Thank you for letting me know your point of view, and I will try to make sure I weave Maiko into the storyline in a way that makes you stick around! Fukagu is definitely aDORKable!

Bored411, That is amazing! I've always loved Wolfhounds! An what is your opinion as of yet? Do you like Kaiya? Does she fit in?

Guest, I am assuming it is all the same person so I will answer all the reviews in this one section. On Narutopedia, which is where I get most of my information from, usually, it is Hyuga with an accent on the 'u' which makes the 'uu' sound. I've been writing Hyuga only because I've assumed that everyone knew that there is a longum on the 'u.' Sorry if it bothers you! Do you really think so? I figured since she was so determined to be in Kakashi's life, it would propel her into wanting to get over it. This is another life. I must say you are coming on to something here that I have not explained yet, and I will not explain it probably for another 20-30 chapters. Congratulations you have come onto Foreshadowing or a Timbit as we Canadians call it. Behold my foreshadowing. It is everywhere! Concerning the words directed at Sakumo, I can see what you mean. I'll keep it in mind, Thank you!

GreyMoon. Huntress, Bff's? That might take a while if it ever happens! I'm actually surprised how many people have commented on that one little doodle. It was a spur of the moment decision to include it, but I'm glad I did! The more I write her, the more I love Kaiya. Bitch, she might be, but she is a Bitch I love! Enter Itachi~

KaYenn, Hehe! I miss the days in which I could do that! By the way... I'm blaming you if I fail my Latin midterm! You got me thinking about starting Boruto... And I watched 6 episodes instead of studying. Ops. Oh my... Baby Orochimaru... I would pay for that! Shikamaru! He would be the best cuddle-buddy! Woot for Chibi 'Tachi!

Megabyte97, You know what? If you keep giving my long reviews like this? You can call me whatever the hell you want! Don't worry about overreacting about anything! I appreciate the worry and criticism, I would much rather you tell me about these things so that I can either fix them or argue against it strengthening my argument even further. I took a look at the first few chapters and recognized the fanfiction, I had completely forgotten about it! I need to go back and reread it at some point.
Speaking of Crack Fiction, That DnD scene you are talking made me laugh. I could picture it, but since I have never played DnD, I only a bit about it. So at some point, I might write up a scene with it for you once I know the rules a bit more. Actually, it may only be because of my background in Classical Civilisation, but I found a screenshot of a Trojan war DnD game staring Achilles. It is fucking Priceless! If you know anything about the Iliad, check it out, I'm sure you can find it!
I didn't even think of Mikoto being the one to corrupt Anko. Maybe I'll look into that a bit more.
Pft! That would be funny! Sad, but funny! It was intended just as a backhanded insult, but I might try to play with that as a Bonus at one point.
Just to be clear, Maiko is 100% an OC and reincarnated, sorry if I wasn't too clear. I didn't want to outright say it, as it would have taken away from the scene(in my opinion). It would be interesting to see Maiko and Kakashi fighting in the chunin exams, but there is one problem. Maiko is older than them, and she is already a Chunin.
Danzo and Hiruzen's meeting will eventually happen and I'll make sure write it up soon, it will probably be in the next chapter or so. I'll try to answer some of your questions then.
You know what is funny? Even I thought it was weird but I wasn't sure how else to word it. I actually rewrote the scene a least five times.
To your point 5, like it told GreyMoon. Huntress, I am pleasantly surprised at how much everyone loved the doodle! It was a spur of the moment decision that I wrote like 10 minutes before I updated. You really put into words exactly what I was trying to portray in the scene. But more then anything, I was trying to make Fugaku seem more human.
Thank you very much for your support! You along with everyone one are the reason I've continued this. I don't think people realize just how much your comments motivate us, and inspire us. So I will be inspired if you all keep supporting me.
Second message- Bah! Don't worry about it! I appreciate the time you put in to write to me! I'm more honored that you took the time to read it a second time. Don't ever hesitate to tell me if you think something is wonky!
Have a nice day/night to you too!

Zdraco, Granted everything that Reika did for Sakumo, not to mention pretty much being Kakashi's sister, it is normal she would be considered pack at this point. That would actually be something I could see Reika pushing Fugaku to do. Send little doodles to Itachi too! It might actually develop their relationship a bit more too!

Guest, Sorry for the wait!

chloemika, Thank you very much for your words and your support!

Whitney1995, Hiashi? Reika being Hiashi's daughter? As in Hinata's elder sister? Now I'm kinda curious how you came up with that one! But I will tell you that there is a Timbit (Foreshadowing) in that scene. But what is it, I will not say, cause that would ruin everything I've built up until now. But it will get more obvious as the chapters go on, that I promise you. Thank you for your support!