Glad Nagato's spawn came outta no where for y'all.
Hope this one's the same!
"It's been so long since I got to have my favourite granddaughter over for tea," Hiroshi hummed, pouring me another cup. I thought he honestly had rubbish taste in the stuff but I was equally certain that a pot of it cost more than some people's homes. "How are your studies progressing, Hime?"
That was what everything came back to, after all.
"I think I'm still first in class, Ojiisan," I began slowly. "'tachi-chan is really good at taijutsu though, so I think he'll beat me soon. He's a lot stronger than me." So far my main tactic was to trick him into stepping outside the ring. Although it was a dirty tactic, Chisaki-sensei didn't say anything since by all means it was a valid win. Truthfully, I was just scared of what would happen when we did fight. "And I'm also pretty bad at projectiles still," I added as an afterthought.
"Is that so?" Hiroshi stroked his chin thoughtfully, a half smile on his lips. "I am impressed you can admit your flaws. Many veterans don't do so."
"How long did it take you?" I asked coyly.
He guffawed. "Cheeky princess." He beckoned Toshiie for a refill and then took the teapot from him entirely, gesturing to the seat beside him. "Luckily, my princess, someone was there to let me know when I was getting ahead of myself."
Because I was an idiot, I asked, "My Obaasan?"
Toshiie smiled behind his sleeve.
"No—well, yes, your Obaasan was always ready to take me down a few pegs but—" Hiroshi shook his head. "What I mean to say, is you're much better at this than me—my word you have a talent for sending me off track."
"Thank you, Ojiisan," I replied sweetly. "But, it's okay, I have Hiashi-oji to let me know when I'm just being a stupid girl." The phrase stumbled out without much care, but Toshiie frowned deeply. "I've also gotten a tutor; Miyashi-sensei's relative is teaching me senbon," I continued, leaving out that he was barely a teenager and a genin.
"That is for the best," Hiroshi agreed, "and between you and me, your uncle is not the best at it himself. I remember Toshiie besting him in more than one contest."
"Hyuuga-sama, that is entirely a matter of subjective opinion."
"Is that what he's told you to say?"
I giggled nervously—Hiashi had a knack for hearing any and all gossip pertaining to him.
"Ara ara, Hiroshi-sama you mustn't let Hyuuga-sama hear you. Imagine the damage to his self esteem!" A blue haired woman entered and bowed to us, smiling gaily.
"Ah, Hitomi-san." My grandfather inclined his head towards her. "That brings me to the main reason I summoned you here."
I raised my eyebrow; summoned was it now?
"Understand that this has not been announced to the clan yet, but your uncle and Hitomi-san are to have their nuptials shortly."
"Uwa!" I gasped, entirely unsurprised. "A pleasure to meet you, Hitomi-san!"
"And you, Hiyaku-sama."
Oh gross, 'sama'.
"As I have heard, the Elders have, for a lack of better word, been defeated in their attempts to educate on your etiquette as a kunoichi and future leader." He was right, there was no better word. "So, I have instructed Hitomi-san to take over where they left off."
"What do I even need to know?" I asked incredulously. He knew I was capable of faking manners, wasn't that all there was to it?
"Diplomacy, for one, Hiyaku-sama," Hitomi suggested.
I frowned. Uchiha Mikoto made me at least one meal a week. And Inuzuka Tsume said she liked my bite when I visited Hana. Not to mention I had a key to the (to be announced)'s Hokage's home. I struggled to find anyone else I really gave a shit about impressing.
"Aw it's okay, diplomacy is a big word," Hitomi consoled.
"She knows what it means," my godfather interjected, arms folded. "She is a smart girl."
Hitomi's expression flickered and I watched her gaze from the doorway at Toshiie's close proximity to my grandfather with pursed lips.
"Yes, you needn't waste time on the basics. If she is not comprehending I would recommend improving your teaching methods." Hiroshi stared down the woman, neither smiling nor frowning. "She simply needs to be taught nuance and restraint. You are up to the task, Hitomi-san?"
"O-Of course, Hiroshi-sama!" She assured him quickly, stepping forward before meeting his blistering glare. She immediately retreated to the doorway and bowed again, much lower this time. "It will be my privilege to have a hand in shaping our clan's future. I will not disappoint yourself or Hyuuga-sama."
"Good. You will collect her thrice a week after her training." Hiroshi took a long dreg from his cup. When he placed it back down, he tsked. "Dismissed."
The door slid shut hurriedly. It had never dawned on me that Hiroshi treated the rest of the clan so differently, which I supposed made me a slight hypocrite. But I had always been treated as his princess, and frankly, wallet keeper. And he treated Toshiie so well I guess I had assumed that extended to the rest of the clan.
Now I was just more confused.
Toshiie mumbled something that sounded awfully like, "Subtle," to the figure next to him.
My grandfather grinned and poured him another cup.
Uchiha Obito was angry.
That itself wasn't new, but it was the first time he'd been punched for it. He nursed his swollen cheek pitifully. He thought he and Ren were the same, but obviously not. If Ren really loved her like he did then he would know she'd hate them fighting.
All he'd done was ask why Rin wasn't better yet. She should be awake by now! Minato-sensei had said everything would be fine. When Obito had caught her when she'd fell, half burnt to a cinder, Minato-sensei told him it would be okay.
Why couldn't it have been him? Or even better, Bakashi; not like he cared anyway, he hadn't seen him for weeks.
"Oh my dearest, what happened?" His granny had fussed, and he felt a shiver run down his spine when he resisted the urge to slap her away. He would never hit his granny.
Would he?
So he sat in his room, feeling sorry for himself and Rin when he heard visitors shuffle inside at his granny's insistence. He closed his eyes and tried to focus on the loudest voice.
"Ne, Obaasan, is it okay to be here?" She asked, an almost imperceptible quiver distorting her tone.
His gut twisted in on itself. She was scared he was lying in wait for her. He was surprised she even came here, considering what had happened last time they had seen each other. But it was her fault, that spiteful voice whispered. Rin wouldn't have hesitated if she hadn't dropped the picture. Her picture. She would be beside him right now, telling him to get off his ass and go say hello.
"But of course! Obito is just resting in his room, I'll get him for you."
Rin wasn't there, but luckily his granny was.
"I'm up, I'm up," he called down the hallway and blinked. His guests' presence then became fuzzy, driving him to investigate further. As he had already deduced, Hyuuga Hiyaku stood beside his granny. What he did not account for was the squirming infant in her arms. "Ah, welcome Hiyaku-chan!" He greeted like he hadn't tried to strangle her the last time they'd meet. "Who's this?" He knelt in front of her, grinning widely.
She smiled back. "He's Neji-toutochan."
Did she have a little brother before? Obito couldn't keep track. "Well he's pretty cute. Takes after his big sister." He winked and he assumes she meant to giggle but all she could manage was to strain her smile wider. "What does your Kaasan think of you taking him out? Must be nice to have a babysitter."
He missed his granny frantically shaking her head.
"My Kaachan is dead," she answered flatly. "Touchan came home with toutochan." She booped the boy's nose, who giggled and continued to chew on her hair. "He's teething though, and Touchan wasn't sure what to do so I said I'd help him."
By this time his granny had guided them across the room and to the table while she set about fixing them up a drink. Lord knew they needed one. Obito eyes had hit the floor and now refused to move from there. "A-Ah, I'm sorry, Hiyaku-chan. Let me know if I can help at all."
Maybe a good deed could embalm the fire fueling his thirst for death.
"It's okay," she patted his hand, still smiling.
Who told her that? Who told her it was okay to lose the woman she loved most in the whole world?! Obito grit his teeth and squeezed her hand and took a shuddering breath when he felt her flinch beneath his grip. Her gaze flitted to Neji and the way her muscles coiled, the way her shoulders angled to the door broke his heart. He had missed her. He even regretted burning her drawing in a fit of rage. It was a picture of him and Rin, holding hands. He'd never even let the latter see it, such was his embarrassment. His blood boiled. Because of someone else, Hiyaku would never be able to draw for her mother again. She would have to draw for Rin twice as much to make up for it.
"Wow, you must be in the Academy now. How is it?" He rubbed the back of his neck, wincing halfway through his chuckle when his thumb brushed a blistering scar.
"It's good," she informed him plainly. "I don't like it all the time though," she admitted, dropping that awful smile.
"Why not?"
"I'm worried what will happen to Neji-toutochan while I'm not there. No one really likes him except Toshiie-oji." She looked away, so wistful and Obito almost jumped for joy when she leaned into him. "It's hard, some days…" She mumbled, drawn in on herself.
Obito could feel the last remnants of the before slipping through his fingers and he clawed desperately for the normalcy. "I-Is there anything I can do to help?" He asked hurriedly.
She seemed to think on it for a moment, opening and shutting her mouth multiple times before reluctantly speaking. "There is one thing—could you, Obito-onii?" She said softly.
"Of course! Let Obito-onii help!" He exclaimed. Big brother. That's right, she always called him big brother before.
She peered into his eyes, her pale ones somehow deeper and more foreboding than his own.
"No matter what, you'll always protect us, right?" She brushed the hair out of Neji's eyes and smiled sincerely for the first tIme since she'd arrived. Obito nodded instinctively but she pressed, pinky held up to his face. "Promise," she insisted, "you'll always protect Neji-toutochan, right? Even if stuff happens." He clasped her hand and if he wasn't so busy feeling proud of himself for taking his first step in becoming a normal human being again, he might have noticed her thin smile. "No matter what," she repeated when he drew her into his lap, holding her close.
"Maa, it's so nice to see her here again," his granny remarked.
Obito nodded wordlessly. He meant the promise, oh he meant it. But the hands that brushed her hair also wanted to move upwards and to her throat. That little voice that had been nagging him for weeks now, begging for him to stop her chest from rising then and there.
At first there had been no name to the voice, and he'd spend nights throwing his head against the wall to make it shut up. It wasn't until it had apologised for disturbing his sleep did they get a proper introduction.
Obito didn't want to hurt anyone.
He was just so angry. He just wanted to save Rin.
And Zetsu-san seemed to be the only one who understood that.
Hitomi entered the dojo just as Hiashi had finished unblocking my chakra points. I frowned at the red dots up and down my arm.
"Why don't they fade?" I asked, wincing as he pinched another nerve.
"So you know where to guard next time," he replied coolly.
I huffed, and wondered if I lunged I could crush his windpipe quickly enough. He'd probably kill me with a wave of the hand but at least then he'd never forget.
I only trained so I could make sure one day that Hyuuga Hiashi would never forget.
"You are improving in stamina. It will be time to up your weights soon," he noted and I quashed the twinkle of giddiness I felt from his praise even despite the dismal thought of walking around with an added ten pounds of burden. "However, I expect you to continue to heighten your strength. You cannot simply endure."
I raised an eyebrow but nodded wordlessly. There was nothing simple about enduring. He'd made sure of that.
"Ara ara, Hyuuga-sama, am I interrupting?" Hitomi sauntered over, hands folded. "Good evening, Hiyaku-sama," she greeted, bowing.
"Good evening, Hitomi-san." Hiashi slipped on his outer robes, nodding his head to her. "We were just finishing. Did you need something?" Hiashi was not particularly affectionate towards her, but he was not especially cold, so I assumed there was an ounce of care in his black heart.
That did not stop Hitomi from letting one hand slide down his arm as she came closer. It was disgusting and it took me a long moment to figure out why.
It looked like my father being cajoled by another woman. And I had known him to never be capable of such a thing, so I pushed the thought from my mind but the urge to vomit remained.
"Hiroshi-sama has asked me to give Hiyaku-sama a little extra tutelage in the arts of being a Hyuuga lady." She giggled as if the very idea was laughable. "Our first lesson is set to begin, though perhaps it should be on how to prepare our appearances."
I brushed the dust off my sleeves self-consciously.
"Yes, that would do nicely," he murmured, fingers brushing hers when he thought I wasn't looking.
Or maybe he wanted me to see; look how happy we all are, Hiyaku. You're the one who's unhappy.
You're the problem.
You're always the problem, Maddie.
I broke into a cold sweat. I didn't resist as Hitomi took me by the hand to the bathhouse. I sat numbly as she explained that brushing my hair was a crucial task to be done at least twice a day. Her strokes were rough but admittedly there was an improvement when all was said and done. And strangely enough, the lack of gentleness chipped away at the anxiety clutching my chest until it was manageable. Far from gone, but I could fake it.
"It'll be easier the more you do it," she chided as she fixed my kimono. Unlike my kimono tops or loose yukatas, this was constricting and uncomfortable. The obi covered half of my body, though I did love the drooping sleeves of a furisode. "So, what do you think?" She finally asked. I looked down at myself, and although aesthetically I did appreciate the colours, the four layers underneath however? Not so much.
"It's pretty," I answered truthfully. "Why do you want me to wear it?" I poked my bun, impressed by its sturdiness. It just seemed like a lot of effort for 'training'.
"Well, I was not granted the privilege of the details, but it sounds like we have an important ceremony coming up," Hitomi said as she sat me down across from her, several books and scrolls already laid before us.
"Ohhh, like the Yondaime ceremony thingy," I hummed without much thought.
Hitomi dropped her book, perfectly applied mascara almost flicking off in surprise.
"I'm sorry?"
I opened my mouth to give her some witty retort but realised I had none to give.
Well fuck me sideways.
"What book's that, Hitomi-san?" I deflected instead.
Unfortunately the Hyuuga women were far less inclined to avoid difficult conversations than men. "Hiyaku-sama," ugh like that could be used as leverage against me, "what do you mean by Yondaime?"
Because Yondaime implied there were four Hokages. Of which currently, there were only three. If I wasn't already bundled up in restricting layers then I may have even made a run for it. "Yondaime. Isn't he the Hokage?" I tilted my head to the side, blinking exactly four times. If in doubt play dumb.
Hitomi still frowned but smoothed out the crumped pages of her book. "The Sandaime is our Hokage, dear," she corrected cautiously.
I lifted my fingers, humming cheerfully still, "Ichi, ni, sa—oh you're right, Hitomi-san!" I exclaimed.
Hitomi nodded and quietly congratulated me but it wasn't quite enough. "So, what's the Sandaime's ceremony we are attending?" Her smile was perfectly maternal and patient, yet I felt the hairs on the back of my neck prickle.
"I dunno," I mumbled, looking down at the table. "Ojiisan said that there's always a big party when war's over and we haven't had one yet, so I thought…" I trailed off, twirling my finger around a stray strand of hair.
"It's I don't know, Hiyaku-sama," Hitomi corrected after a moment of careful thought. "And is that what you think happens after a battle, a party?" Her tone was still kind but I knew what she was insinuating. I was a spoilt brat who did not deserve half the attention my uncle and grandfather gave me.
But, I was a child soldier in my last life too—this cut too deep.
"No, I don't," I said breezily, leaning over the table. "After battles, Kaachans and Touchans disappear, Hitomi-san." I hummed. "And after the Kaachans and Touchans, our big brothers and big sisters do it for them. Then, our big brothers, they," I swallowed a lump as I remembered a certain rainy day—though near the end they were few and far between, "they don't come back either." I looked out onto the garden to our right. "My friends don't have anyone to walk them to school," I said softly. Something weighed against my chest and I resisted the urge to reach up and tear it out.
Was that Hiyaku or Maddison?
For the first time, I realised there was a difference.
When I turned back to Hitomi, I had expected to see sympathy, or perhaps even shock in her eyes. Instead, she was chuckling mirthlessly. "You're smarter than you look, Hiyaku-sama." She slid the book across to me. "Which is why the latter needs a lot work."
And then she was explaining the different components of a kimono to me, giggling when I prodded my own clothes experimentally each time. It was rather informative in a useless sort of way. How did this take priority alongside my shinobi training? I was grilled on how many pieces of the ensemble I remembered near the end and Hitomi held up pictures when I needed a little help.
"Next time, I'd like to see you remember them all without my hints," she instructed. I inwardly groaned; more homework. "You probably don't realise it, but without these lessons you won't be able to lead the clan properly, Hiyaku-sama." Her painted smile curled at the edges. "You are the heiress, after all."
Her hand drifted to her stomach.
Ah, I thought, so that's what she wants.
"Y'know, it's still weird," Shisui remarked as we strolled down the streets of Konoha towards the Uchiha compound. "I'm still not used to so many people." Especially in the compounds.
"Isn't it great, though?" Kou replied giddily. "Since everyone came home, a heap of new dango places have opened up."
"Ungrateful gaki, have you been eating at my competition," a gravelly voice huffed.
Shisui and I laughed as Kou was pulled into a headlock. "Tekuji-ojisan, you know I would never dare betray the Uchiha like that," he declared, hand on heart.
My hand laid against my chest also, but for a vastly different reason.
"Pah," Tekuji noogied a protesting Kou once more before letting him go, "that implies you did something not together." He rolled his eyes.
"Uchiha-ojisan, your dango is really good," I piped up. "Itachi-kun says it's even better than Toshiie-oji's—which is a lie, but it's still really good." Itachi's cheeks lit up in an adorable shade of red.
"Tekuji-oji's is better," he muttered.
"Still wrong, but that's okay," I told him gently, "You're young, you have time to learn." Itachi pursed his lips together but couldn't quite maintain the frown when I circled myself around his arm. "We still get some free dango though, right Uchiha-ojisan?" I queried hopefully.
Tekuji snorted but ruffled Itachi's hair fondly. "You're lucky one of you has common sense," he grumbled. "C'mon gaki, you want 'em fresh or not at all?"
Shisui and Kou scrambled to follow the older Uchiha as he stalked off, the former whooping. I made to do the same when across the way I spotted a familiar figure hunched over on a bench, rubbing his wrists.
"Ren-san," I informed Itachi, who blinked at me inquisitively. He was never rude enough to actually ask what I was thinking, but I liked to keep him in the loop anyway. Someone had to be. I hesitated on approaching the clearly fragile man. "Go ahead, tachi-chan." I patted his head, deciding I had already settled in my role as the village busybody—why change that?—and pattered over to Nohara Ren. "Are you waiting for someone?" I inquired.
He raised his head and gave me a bewildered expression. "Who the fuck are you?" He croaked.
It should not have stung, but it did. But I had only been one of thousands of patients. There was only one Ren though. "My name's Hiyaku, Mister." I swung my arms lacksadaisily and tilted my head. "Who are you? I never see non-Uchiha people around here."
"And what do you call yourself, then?" He remarked dryly.
"I said many, not none," I tsked. "And they like me." I jerked my head to the civilian Uchiha milling about the street, an older woman glowering at Ren.
"Language young man," she chides as she hurries past.
"What do you want, brat?"
I folded my hands, rubbing my thumbs together with new found nervousness. "You seemed like you needed a friend."
Ren snorted, but he didn't swear at me, so I took it as progress. "Great, real emasculating."
I frowned, anxiety swiftly replaced by irateness. "So you are waiting for someone?" I asked again like I did not know he was sulking outside Akito's family armoury.
"What's it to you?" He turned his cheek away, intent on disengaging. "What's a blankface like you doing here anyway?"
"Is that what they call us?" I blinked, humming thoughtfully. "I like it," I decided, and Ren rubbed his face.
Ren could not believe he used to consider having children of his own. This brat had just fluttered into his life, spouted the most inane shit he had ever heard and could not take a hint.
Rin was never so awful.
But Ren didn't strangle the small Hyuuga girl. Somehow. "Look, just run along okay? I'm on important shinobi business and it ain't none of yours to interfere. I-I'm not in the mood." He felt like a broken record at this point, and jumped when she broke script and grabbed his hand. She squeezed tightly and smiled sadly up at him. "Stop looking at me like that!" He hissed loudly, ripping himself away, causing her to slip in her seat. "It's fucking creepy."
Still no reaction. She was as serene as porcelain.
Ren wanted to crack it.
He reeled—that was too deep, even for him.
"I understand Ren-san," and a chill prickled at the nape of his neck, "and I know you are waiting for him, but Akito-san isn't home at the moment. Do you want to come get a snack with us while we wait for him?"
Ren realised belatedly that the street had stopped still during his outburst. Uchiha men and women held their cups against their lips calculatingly and vendors interrupted harsh haggling to stop and stare. He thought that Hyuuga eyes were disconcerting, but nothing prepared one for the abyss that were Uchiha Itachi's eyes, which gazed from afar.
He remembered those eyes, from a lifetime ago.
"I know you," he said slowly.
Hiyaku grinned and slipped her hand into his, pulling them both up, unfazed by the insufficient number of digits.
"We should get one for Rin-oneesan too, for when she wakes up!"
And the volume of the street once again reached capacity and Ren chuckled through the piercing guilt that was threatening to prick his eyes. They really did like her, huh?
.
..
…
Akito met him just outside Tekuji's bakery, where he was in time to see the former trip Shisui up as he ran from the enraged latter.
"This is the last time you steal from me you—!"
"No, Akito-oji, you traitor!" Shisui groaned as he was dragged back indoors. Ren let himself giggle before taking a deep breath.
"Hey."
"Hey. Been a while."
Neither spoke for another excruciating moment. Akito craned his neck to peer inside the shop and laughed softly.
"What's so funny?"
"Just thinking about how much they've grown up." He ran a hand over his face. "How much we've grown." Akito looked exhausted. "Sometimes I wonder if I'm old enough to just…call it quits."
Panic seized Ren's chest and he grabbed Akito's hands in his own, now only an arm's length away.
"I haven't," Ren stammered. "I mean, I—" He let his gaze drop. "If you did that…" He squeezed. "You deserve better." Akito deserved everything. "Better than me, at any rate," he continued weakly. Akito remained silent, only staring ever deeper into his being.
Fuck, maybe this was why he'd hated the Hyuuga's (Hiyaku's) eyes so much.
But Akito was right, as always. That was not an apology.
"I fucked up Aki," Ren confessed weakly. "I'm sorry." His voice was hoarse from countless nights screaming into his pillow because Rin's vitals just kept dropping. She was only on life support still because Minato had requested as much, and Ren was donating his own blood for transfusions.
An act he couldn't keep up for much longer.
"You've lost so much—and, I was selfish." The Uchiha nodded. "And then I didn't want to see you because I'm such an awful fucking human being, but I just wanted to make sure you were okay—fuck that's not it either." He let go the other's hands to drag his own through his hair. "Not the being awful thing, but I was worried you'd…forget, me." He tore at his dark strands, hoping to focus on the pain rather than the sound of his own laboured breathing. "I love you, Akito." He could count on one mangled hand he had ever said such a thing to. Less to the living.
He shut his eyes, giving them both the chance to end this quietly, leave without further mess. Instead, his hands were carefully detached from his scalp and pressed together. Even so, he was scared to open his eyes. What if it was just a goodbye? What if—
"When was the last time you ate?" Akito was so tired and still he needed to ask. Ren appeared as though he had one foot in the grave. Ren only choked on his sobs. Akito drew his head to rest against his chest. "I can't keep doing this, Ren," he admitted quietly. The smaller man froze. "I love you."
"But…?" Came the mumbled reply.
"But nothing. It's unconditional, like it's always been." Ren dared to look up with wet eyes then. "I can't watch you self-destruct, Ren." He felt so small. How long would it take to build up that muscle again? "Please, I need you to take a step from the edge. For me."
Ren's eyes darkened. "You're giving me an ultimateum," he said bluntly.
"Only the same one your body is going to give you if you don't pull back."
Ren scrutinised him for a moment but leant back against him, shoulders sagging in defeat. "I just want to sleep, Aki."
"Come on then, old man," he looped an arm around his waist. "Let's get you to bed." He pecked his forehead. "Besides, I don't think the children appreciate our little display." He tilted his head to the side, where the three boys and girl now watched patiently for them to finish.
Ren's eyes flitted to the other and then whispered. "You know that girl's one of those Hyuuga you saved a couple years back—Hiashi's niece?"
Akito blinked as he guided them away, arms still interlocked. "Obviously? How else did you think I knew you were here?"
"What?"
"She sent her brother to let me know."
"And how would she know to do that?" Ren's perspective on their previous interaction was turning on its head.
His gaze slid to the side. "She's a good listener," he said with flushed cheeks. "Doesn't let a sour attitude deter her. Heard she's even gotten Obito-kun outside a few times now."
Obito. Ren swallowed hard. "A good egg, for a blankface."
Akito sighed. "A few years ago, I distinctly remember you lecturing me for saying that."
"Yeah well, things change."
Akito brings up their intertwined hands, kissing Ren's wrist. "Not everything."
Ren melted against him, revelling in this feeling of being alive for the first time in months.
.
..
…
Rin wonders when Ren will return. IF he will return.
It is so very lonely.
It's cold.
Genma was ever the unforgiving teacher. "This is stupid," I grumbled, crossing the line for my third lap.
"Sorry, I thought you wanted to be a decent shinobi?" He snipped haughtily.
"I do this all the time anyway," I pleaded. When that didn't work I sighed. "I wish Gai-san was here."
Genma placed a hand on his heart, reeling back. "Betrayal, how you come for me so savagely," he moaned, leaning back against his makeshift bed in the shrubbery. I sniffled for a few more laps and he eventually huffed and held up his hand. "Fine, fine. I have somewhere to be later anyway."
"Where?"
"A hot date, I'll have you know."
"…no you don't."
He scrutinised me for a good minute, as if deliberating on my punishment but ultimately just pointed to the dummy. "Just throw the senbon will you?"
I had improved on previous sessions where accuracy was concerned but I simply did not have the force behind my strike. While I could hit the dummy easily now, the throw was so weak it would bounce off harmlessly. I growled as another set did not sink in and Genma snickered once more.
"Maybe you're better off doing laps, Hime."
Genma had completely ruined that nickname for me and I despised him for it. From then on, every time I failed to hit the target (i.e. every round), it was another three laps. I continued to provoke him every time I swung by, but my protests grew increasingly weak.
"Hey, you doin' alright kid?" Genma asked. I poked out my tongue at him and promptly tripped onto my face.
Long, sweet smelling hair tickled my nose and I leant into it. It reminded me of my mother's.
"Shiranui-san, you should be ashamed," a feminine voice scolded. "Making a little angel run so much she's sick." She rubbed my scalp and I preened appreciatively, gazing at her red eyes hazily. I spotted another teen behind her, a pocky stick poking out of his mouth. We met eyes and he grinned.
"You're in for it now, Genma-senpai," he laughed. He promptly stopped when the same scalding look was directed his way.
Deciding I wanted Genma's continued tutelage more than his suffering, I craned my neck around to peer at him. "Shiranui-sensei, who are they?" I asked, and the tanned boy was now guffawing.
"Sh-Shiranui-sensei?" He wheezed. "You're a teacher?!"
Genma huffed and snatched me from the nice smelling lady, and I whined. "A favour to Miyashi. Kid's shit with kuani, so we're trying senbon instead." He glanced down at me, finally registering my question. "They're my kohai; the one with the red eyes is Yuuhi Kurenai and the jackass is Sarutobi Asuma."
"Hi Yuuhi-san, Jackass-san," I crowed. Genma's eyebrow twitched. Then I frowned.
Wait, Sarutobi Asuma. As in Sarutobi Hiruzen's son. Fuck.
Thankfully, he was a good sport and only beamed. "I can't wait until her father hears her say that," he said. "And when he asks where you learnt that, make sure you say 'Shiranui-sensei, touchan!'" I nodded, and Kurenai looked aghast.
"Asuma, don't you dare corrupt her mind." She hit his shoulder lightly, tsking. She then cooed to me, patting my cheek. "And what's your name then?"
"Hyuuga Hiyaku, Yuuhi-san," I replied in a sugary tone I'm sure made Genma vomit. "Y'know, you're really pretty, Yuuhi-san!" I exclaimed and she beamed. "You're way too good for Jackass-san."
Genma's contemptuous glare became a proud stare as Asuma choked on his pocky stick. Kurenai turned pale and shook her head rapidly.
"N-No, dear th-that's not—" she covered her face and I tensed every muscle to keep my composure. "What's that look for?" She asked a smug Asuma incredulously. "You were the one she was talking about."
Still such a schoolgirl.
"Sheesh, get a room you two." Genma rolled his eyes, adjusting me on his hip. "We'll leave you to it then, lovebirds." He winked and I clutched my stomach as the familiar sensation of the shushin closed in and I opened my eyes to Ichiraku Ramen. Genma set me down and rubbed the back of my head. "I was gonna make you do one more round but I don't think a performance like that can go unrewarded."
I squealed and hugged his waist, and smirked when he gingerly hugged back. Genma held out against my kindergartener wiles far longer than the others, but I knew he would fall eventually. As I began to dig in, Gai announced his presence and who did he drag in but Bakashi himself. I pretended to not buzz with excitement as he sat down next to me but drooped when he did not even acknowledge my presence.
"Ne, Kaka-kun." I tugged on his sleeve and he slid one eye towards me. "Hello!"
"Is there anyone in this village you don't know, kid?" Genma asked, mouth half full and only half-joking. When Kakashi did not answer, he frowned. "Hey, you gonna leave the little lady hanging?"
He turned his whole head this time. "I don't see what we have to talk about," he said simply, and I tried to shake off a feeling of utter rejection.
"I wanted to see how you were," I mumbled, looking down at my ramen with much less interest than before.
"My lotus bud, is my rival troubling you?" Gai boomed and appeared behind us, clapping both hands on my shoulders. Well, more like he tapped—I doubt I could handle a serious love tap from the Green Beast. "Do not be concerned by him, he is simply unable to fathom that I, Maito Gai, am superior to him in every facet as proved by our current score—twelve to eleven." At this point I was unsure if he was sincerely intervening on my behalf or if he simply could not withstand holding in his victory any longer.
I smiled up at him, but felt a childish longing for Kakashi to at least hint he had heard our conversation. The rest of dinner was more subdued, with Kakashi not even ordering a single bowl. As he went to leave, however, I determinedly grabbed his elbow once more. He glared down at me and summoning all the courage I had been building for the past twenty minutes to return his gaze. I think he was surprised, because he stopped and finally fully faced me. I took a breath and in between that and speaking, promptly forgot what moving speech about love and friendship I was about to recite.
Instead I said, "You should go see Rin-neechan."
Kakashi gave me a hard look and ripped his arm from my grasp before stalking away. Genma rose from his seat as if to go after him but grumbled and turned back to me. "What a jerk," he said, hand ghosting over my back to make sure I was steady. "I dunno what you see in him, Gai."
The two escort me home and surprisingly Hitomi greeted us at the gates.
"Oh, Hiyaku-sama, I was getting worried," she said, ushering me to her side. "Who are your, companions?" She asked stiltedly.
"Shiranui Genma, Hyuuga-san," Genma greeted cordially, and pulled Gai down with him to bow. "This is my teammate, Maito Gai. We were just dropping Hiyaku-san home after training," he explained. I had never heard him so poltie in my life.
I scrutinised my aunt more closely—was there something I should be aware of here?
Regardless, we said our goodbyes and I watched sadly as the compound gates shut. Hitomi gripped my shoulder as she walked me to the Branch's quarters and frowned. "They do not seem like proper influences on a young lady," she started and I suppressed a groan. "You must understand that people will see your actions and judge us based on them."
I'm five.
"Yes Hitomi-san," I agreed dully.
She pinched my cheek. "Now, now, it's Hitomi-obaasan dearest." When she let go I rubbed my face sorely, mumbling an affirmation. "Good girl. Now get some rest. I'll be testing you after Hiashi-sama tomorrow and I would hope you have learnt something from our time together."
She took in my dishevelled appearance once more before leaving me at the door, muttering something about pigs flying. I blew a stray strand of hair our of my eyes and marched back inside.
It was Neji's feeding time anyway.
"Orochimaru-sama, you wanted to speak with me?"
Orochimaru glanced up from his papers and his lips spread in a rare genuine smile. "Ah, yes, Azusa-chan. Thank you for coming." He carefully sorted the reports and set them aside and leant forward, head in hands. "Now, I must preface this; everything we are to speak of here is to never be repeated."
She nodded determinedly. "Of course, Orochimaru-sama."
He held her gaze for a moment longer and then hummed. "Good. Hatake-kun, you can show yourself now." Azusa flinched as the jounin appeared next to her, hands in pockets. "I have an important mission for the both of you."
Azusa tried her best (and failed) to not look ecstatic.
"L-Like an S-rank?" She asked in a hoarse whisper.
"That would imply it is on the record, Azusa-chan," he replied wryly. "This will be a stealth assignment. I need you to infiltrate Sunagakure," and Azusa gasped this time, "and obtain information on a target." He rolled out a map of the village already marked out. "From what we know, it appears she is from a wealthy, if not noble family. This, we believe, is our target."
He slid a photo across his desk and the two examined it curiously.
"She looks like a normal ninja," Kakashi remarked.
"Exactly Hatake-kun, she is utterly devoid of interest, which is why I am assigning you to her," Orochimaru replied dryly. "She is also supposedly pregnant."
Both shinobi blinked rapidly and Azusa fidgeted. "A-Are we going to—"
"Not if I can help it, no," Orochimaru assured her. "The opposite in fact. Azusa, I am assigning you to protect her." Even Kakashi could not withhold his surprise then. "I am afraid I cannot give you the specifics, if only for your own sakes, but the chid she is carrying will potentially possess a visible kekkei genkai." He sighed—curse Nagato. "Azusa-chan, our contact can get you inside the home as a servant so you can monitor her progress." She was now a well known campfire story for the Kumo-nin but Azusa had rarely engaged in battle with Suna. All it would take is some makeup and a careful disguise and her youth would return. "Hatake-kun, you are to escort and watch over her until you believe her cover is cemented. Stage an attack to win their trust if you must. Our contact will give you shelter until such time, at which point you will return to report. I will provide further instructions then."
Kakashi's eyes widened. "So there's no one else..?"
"Will that be a problem?" Orochimaru asked shortly and the two teens shook their heads rapidly. "I am aware that this is a monumental task to undertake; one I would fulfil myself if possible. But understand that I am leaving this to the two of you because I trust no one else," he said plainly. Azusa flushed with pride and Kakashi glanced away sheepishly. "The only other individual privy to this plan is Jiraiya. In extentuating circumstances you may speak with him, but no one else, including," he took a breath, "the Hokage."
To her credit, Azusa did not even flinch. Kakashi's agreement was slightly more hesitant but Orochimaru supposed that was just a glitch in his programming.
"You will leave tomorrow at dawn. I will give you further briefing then. Remember, trust no one." They bow and Orochimaru sharply put his hands up before they could take their leave. "My apologies, children." Because they were children, sadly. "I did forget to mention one thing."
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama?"
"Be mindful of your manners—she is the Kazekage's baby cousin."
They leave with a chill down their spine and Orochimaru hummed contentedly, returning to his paperwork. Yes, the mission had to proceed now or surely someone else would catch wind. If it had happened a week later the Yondaime may have had a word or two to say about his precious student launching himself headfirst into enemy territory.
Kakashi leant against the hospital wall with his head in his hands. He had never gotten this far before. Usually he just sat on a nearby rooftop and peered in through the window on the odd night the curtains were left open. Now, just metres from her comatose figure, he was sweating bullets and clutching his hair with white knuckles.
Could he face her?
He took a deep breath and nodded. He had to. He was leaving tomorrow, and by the time he returned, Rin might—
She might—
He slipped in through the window, shutting it silently.
Rin's slumber would have appeared peaceful were it not for the gauze covering half of her face and the tubes laced around her neck. The burns on her left side had faded but were still stark reminders of her misstep. Kakashi looked to her rough lips and could not shake the image of them split open, screaming his name, begging for help. He squeezed his hands, scolding them.
A shinobi could not show weakness at such a pathetic display.
And yet his fingers traced the bed's railings, aching to reach out and shake her shoulders—wake up, Rin, wake up.
She'd been so stupid to try and save her satchel, he thought sadly. It had cost them all dearly. If it was not for Mitsuki and Taro's intervention, he was unsure if even he and Obito would have survived the attack.
No, Obito didn't survive the attack if his recent behaviour was anything to go by.
If Kakashi had just been faster, if he'd been able to execute the Chidori properly…
"I'm sorry," he finally choked out, clutching the rail like his lifeline—like it was Rin's lifeline. "I-I should have been, should've…"
"Least you finally admit it," a low voice cut in behind him and the jounin whipped around. "Never thought you'd show, Bakashi."
"Obito, when did you—"
"What, not good enough to sense me?" Obito tsked. "Losing your touch." He sauntered across the room to where Rin lay, and Kakashi took an involuntary step back;
His eyes were red.
"She's so beautiful, isn't she?" He cooed, stroking her bare wrist. He then turned to his squad mate and grinned. Kakashi almost fooled himself into thinking that it was his Obito's smile. "Kakashi, I been doing a lotta thinking and it's time we buried the hatchet. We need to focus on getting Rin-chan better." He held out his fist. "I know I said a lotta stuff, but I really don't blame ya anymore and I definitely know she doesn't either. You'd do anything to help Rin-chan get better, right?" Kakashi nodded dumbly and Obito shook his fist. "Then don't leave a brother hanging, Bakashi!"
Their hands meet and Obito beamed.
"I'm heading on a mission tomorrow," Kakashi started cautiously. Obito tilted his head but did not interrupt. "It's…going to be a while. I won't be back until the new year." He expected fury, disappointment, sorrow.
Obito slung one arm around his shoulder and tugged him close, still smiling. "Thanks for letting me know, Bakashi. Don't worry, Rin-chan'll be in safe hands while you go be mysterious and shit." He spared the girl another longing gaze. "Who knows, maybe she'll even be up and at 'em by the time you get back, right?"
"Right," he mumbled, noticing the boy's Sharingan had finally subsided. "Thanks, Obito. I…I should probably go. I need to prepare for the mission."
"You do you, Bakashi, but come back in one piece ya hear?"
Kakashi snorted. "Obviously," he said and the two boys share one last moment of normalcy before Kakashi returned the way he came, the cool night air finally soothing his clammy skin.
Obito watched him go with a small smile but sighed, leaning one forearm against the window.
"Eugh, finally. Thought he'd never leave."
Obito turned from the windowpane and laughed. "Don't be so impatient, Guruguru. No one's coming by tonight; I saw Ren with his boyfriend just before I left."
The mutant crossed his arms and frowned, only to be interrupted by his companion. "I think we should get to things anyway. We should never assume," he hummed.
"I know Zetsu-san, I know. It's just," Obito's face fell, "I didn't want to leave things bad between us. This way, he'll understand." If he'd planned this right, he'd find his letter in fifteen minutes. Kakashi always visited Sakumo's grave before a mission. "But, but you're right," he took a shaky breath, "if we don't do it now we might not ever." He clasped Rin's bandaged cheek. "You can definitely fix her?" He asked.
"Of course. Offended you'd doubt us really. We are beyond your puny mortal comprehension." Guruguru swatted him playfully. "Now out of our way boy, and keep watch. You want Konoha shinobi to come or what?"
Obito took his spot at the door, kunai in his left hand and red eyes at the ready. If someone stood in their way, he wouldn't hesitate.
Kakashi wasn't to blame…
Konoha was.