The sizzling was a small comfort. Familiar. Miho found smells and the sound of food cooking to be one of the greatest comforts in the world. Just minutes before, there'd been nothing. A bunch of ingredients with no connection. Then, she cut the onion and sautéed it, cooked the egg, added the soy sauce, and stirred. Every now and again, she jolted the pan so the rice wouldn't burn. All of that helped her forget.

For a while anyway.

Of course, Sasuke was never one to let things lie. "You have the Bear Contract?"

Miho nodded, giving the rice one final stir before turning off the burner. "Plates?"

"Here." Sasuke stepped up and Miho moved away, letting him have control of his kitchen again.

She wondered for a moment if he realized she gained strength from cooking. It kept her anxiety in check. The worry from the Level Two and her instincts saying something was wrong. And the rippling sense that her chakra was off. Like it was roiling.

"I inherited it— the contract." Miho handed him the first plate before shoveling some onto her own. Then, she decided to take a risk. "It's been in the Okuda Clan for nearly a millennia."

"Okuda?"

Miho nodded, taking the proffered plate. Sasuke eyed her, still trying to affect disinterest. He was doing a poor job of it. Sasuke had small tells. They were the same from childhood. Just the smallest flicker of interest or the slightest tilt of his head. "I'm adopted. My biological father was Okuda Keisuke and my biological mother was Akimichi Chisato. My Pa is biologically my uncle." She fell into chair at the table, waiting for him to sit before digging into the meal.

It'd only been two hours since she'd last eaten, but she was so hungry.

"You're not an Akimichi?"

As soon as he sat, Miho clapped her hands together. "Thank you for the food!" He stared at her, obviously not pleased with her avoidance. Miho shoveled the rice into her mouth and idly smiled around it.

Her brother ate when he was nervous. Most of her clan did. It was an Akimichi teaching. Imagine that the thing you fear is the food you eat. Consume it. Let it give you strength. Let it become energy that fuels you. Food has the power to sustain. Food has the power to give you power. Miho swallowed and looked Sasuke in the eyes.

"I'm an Akimichi. But I'm also an Okuda."

He didn't say anything, eating slowly and carefully. She wondered how long it'd been since he'd had a homecooked meal. He clearly cooked for himself— the frying pan seemed well-used. Swallowing, Miho sighed. She didn't want to disturb him by talking. They ate in silence. Miho's stomach gurled every so often and her body ached. It ached and her chest fluttered. And she never should have—

"I've heard of the Okuda."

Miho's head shot up, rice getting caught in her throat as she was mid-swallow. Feeling the pressure build, Miho turned and coughed into her hand, trying not to gasp rice into her lungs. After a moment, she swallowed again and turned back to Sasuke, whose expression was civil.

Civil as an orange.

"You've— You've heard of them?"

His eyes narrowed and Miho thought his lip curled a bit as he took another bite of rice. Sasuke rolled his eyes when she didn't return to her food. "If you're an Okuda, shouldn't you know?"

"I only know what's in scrolls. I don't— I don't discuss it much."

Sasuke rolled his shoulders and Miho could tell that he was weighing his options. If he told her, he was committed to a conversation. If he didn't, she'd stare at him until he relented. Miho could tell the pressure was building and finally forced herself to look away. Thankfully, a distraction came in a puff of smoke. Miho jumped from her chair.

"Lady Miho! Lady Miho!" A cub bounded from the smoke and Miho barely had time to catch the little bear. It was only because of a firm hand on her back that she didn't topple with the weight of Fuma. "All is well, Lady Miho! Lord Tetsuya is with Lord Naruto. They are eating funny-smelling noodles. Lady Aiko and the Akimichi Lord are both safe! They send their regards! They said to be safe and to not run off."

Miho shifted her legs so that she could better withstand Fuma's weight as he leaned back to see her face. She felt Sasuke step away. "And Chōji?"

"Lord Chōji is with his comrades Lady Ino and Lord Shikamaru! They are currently on a mission! They said that you should not do anything stupid! The Lord Shikamaru said that you should stay put and not be troublesome. Like last time, Lady Miho!"

Huffing a laugh, Miho lowered herself down and sat the bear on the floor. "Like last time?"

Fuwa puffed out his chest, barring his canines. "I believe he means when I saved you from that horrible place, Lady Miho!" He fell onto his forepaws, licking at his teeth. "Lady Ino said that their teacher was summoned away. She said she is concerned."

Not good.

Swallowing, Miho nodded and reached forward, resting a hand on his head. He preened beneath her palm. "Thank you, Fuwa. I really appreciate your help…again. Please send my best to Lord Ki and the others. Tell Shinrin I will call if I need her."

"See you soon, Lady Miho!" The cub grinned and disappeared.

Pushing herself up to stand, Miho looked to Sasuke. "Seems at least two jōnin were summoned for a mission earlier. Not a good sign."

"Doesn't mean it's connected to whatever is going on." Sasuke responded evenly. Miho could tell he was suspicious too, even if he wasn't willing to state as much. Still, Miho wasn't an idiot. Both Asuma-sensei and Genma-sensei being summoned? It could only be A-rank or higher, right?

She nodded, mildly agreeing as she sat back down at the table. She dug back into the rice, noticing that it sat lighter in her stomach than before. Her family was safe. After a moment, Miho realized Sasuke hadn't returned to his chair. Instead, he merely watched her from where he stood, face carefully devoid of emotion. She sat the chopsticks down, leaning back.

"You've got a question. Go ahead."

"You were abducted."

"That's not a question, Uchiha. That was a statement of fact." She held his stare before relenting. "Yeah, I was abducted. Not in the same way you were." He flinched. A sore topic then. She didn't quite know what to make of it. "They wanted something out of me. Not my power. I don't have enough of that to be desirable. Something else though."

Understatement. It was Ino's voice racketing around in her mind.

"I got lucky."

"You got out."

"Used my last remaining chakra to summon Fuwa. He got me out." Miho held up her forearm, picking at the skin. It pulled away from her arm like plastic, stretching in an abnormal way. Honestly, it made her feel sick. His eyes tracked to it, staying there even after she let the skin fall back into place. "We Akimichi store energy in our fat, right? I used two pills and it drained me so much that they didn't figure I could use chakra anymore. They kept me pumped full of enough foreign chakra that they could access my tenketsu."

"Why your tenketsu?"

Miho just met his eyes before letting her arm rest on the table. Instead of answering, she just took up her chopsticks again. Slowly, she lifted her left hand and tapped her temple.

"They wanted what was in my mind."

"In…your mind…"

His eyes flashed. Comprehending seemed to dawn on him. Miho went back to the rice. She really did well with the seasoning. It was nowhere near as good as Tetsuya's, but it was good. Next time, she'd add egg. "You should start buying eggs. Do you know how to make scrambled eggs? They're simple but good pro—"

"You were tortured."

Now, the rice settled like bricks.

Raising her eyes to Sasuke's somewhat stunned face, Miho forced a pursed-lip smile. She could never understand what he'd been through. What Itachi did to him. What Itachi did to force Sasuke's hand. To force Sasuke down a long and dark and hate-filled path. If Itachi had known before, would he have rethought? Would he have done things differently?

"Hate me, little brother."

Sasuke needed to be strong though.

To survive what was coming.

"Yeah, Sasuke, I was tortured."

Miho settled back in the chair, holding his attention. She carefully kept her voice level. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she could hear a too-familiar voice. A voice that haunted her mind— nightmares and visions and memories.

"You know what? Some dirt feels too similar. Like it's the same grain. When it's under my fingernails, I can't breathe. And some nights…Some nights I wake up screaming because I keep seeing it. I keep seeing the same nightmare. And then there's him."

She wasn't really even paying attention to Uchiha Sasuke anymore.

"He's in here. In my head. Now. Just when I think his voice won't show up again, it's there. Sometimes, I realize I'm dead a thousand times over. And he took every single one of my lives." Miho swallowed and realized just how dry her throat felt. "He took each life and he…devoured them. Made them his. I can't get his voice out of my head."

With a shaking hand, she reached for the glass of water.

"Get stronger."

Her hand paused and she looked at the Uchiha.

His once black eyes were red and narrowed. Miho froze.

"Become stronger. Become so strong that you can destroy him! Become so strong that it will never happen again! Become stronger!"

He was sounding more and more frantic.

"Get STRONGER!"

Swallowing, Miho let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. She was familiar with panic. Ino had guided her through the Yamanaka approaches for dealing with panic attacks. She decided to mimic her friend. Did Lady Tsunade have Sasuke in counselling? Had Kakashi been around long enough to help in some way? Did he even bother?

"I'll get stronger, Sasuke, but I already think I'm stronger than him." He jerked, eyes widening. Her voice was level and calm and even. And confident. "I survived him. I'm a genin and he was a jōnin. He was endlessly powerful, and I didn't stand a chance. What were my chances of survival?

"He wanted you to survive."

"I'm alive though. I'm stronger than him and I will be stronger than him."

Something dangerous flickered in Sasuke's eyes and Miho fought her instinct to stand.

Uchiha Sasuke was not saved. He was far from "saved."

He was teetering.

Like a rapidly spinning coin on a tabletop. Heads or tails, would it even matter?

"Sasuke." His wild eyes focused and Miho couldn't breathe. She'd seen that glare before— in the Images. That kind of hate-filled, cold stare. "You should eat the rest of the meal, okay? You can only get stronger if you eat."

When he settled into the chair again, Miho wondered just how close he'd come to going with Orochimaru, even without the Curse Mark. And she wondered, not for the first time, what had kept him from going. Ultimately, Uchiha Sasuke was not a bad person. A distant one, a difficult one, but… Miho focused on swallowing down the now-cold fried rice. She felt the flash of rage subsiding as Sasuke picked up his chopsticks.

Maybe…just maybe…this Sasuke would have a different story.

The All-Clear rang across Konohagakure before daybreak. Despite the time spent in the darkness of Root's dungeons, her body was still conditioned to wake at four in the morning. She had already been up for an hour when the signal sounded. Setting the dish on the table, Miho slung the bō across her back and headed for the door. For a moment, she hesitated in the open doorway.

Sasuke was still asleep, supposedly, but she knew better. He'd been awake nearly as long as she had, keeping silent so he wouldn't have to interact with her. He was so good at stealth that he nearly got away with it, until Miho felt the slightest shift in the baseboards of his apartment. He knew his apartment better than anyone.

No way that noise was anything but purposeful. He was too good for anything else.

She'd prepped breakfast, not bothering to be quiet or feign ignorance after that. Still he didn't leave his bedroom. Miho wasn't one to force him into interaction. He was already kind enough to let her stay. Still, some vague part of her knew that he had to be warring with every instinct and manner his mother taught him.

A person like him could only stand so much interaction for a day.

Nevermind the emotional price of the previous night.

"Breakfast is on the table, Uchiha. And remember to get eggs, okay?"

The village was awakening. Shops reopened and people reentered the streets. Miho hurried down the blocks, breaking into a full run when Naruto's apartment building came into full view. She took the stairs two at a time, using the bow to balance herself when her knee gave out every few leaps. She'd only knocked once when the door was thrown open. Naruto bolted out of the door, throwing his arms around her neck.

"Miho! 'Suya is a damned prick! Save me from him!"

"I am not! I just ate the last piece of pork. Damn it, let it go!" Tetsuya gave her a long-suffering look, bags under his eyes and shoulders rounded. "He's—"

"A DAMNED CHARLETON!"

Miho snorted, patting Naruto's head as he stepped away, looking to her for confirmation. His ire abated when she didn't immediately provide support. "Frankly, Naruto, Stringbean is the guest. You should've let him have the last piece. Did he cook for you?" Tetsuya scoffed and she already knew the answer. Of course he did. Naruto wasn't yet a cook, despite her best efforts. "Since Tetsuya cooked, it was polite to let him have the last piece of pork. Did you know grilled pork is his favorite food?"

"Don't share confidential information." Tetsuya inserted.

Waving her off, Naruto went back into the apartment as she followed. "Whatever. We got a lot of packing done last night. 'Suya's kinda a stickler ain't he? Reminds me of Sakura— organize this, label that." Miho smiled, looking around at the boxes. One large box was labelled 'RAMEN' in block capital letters. Clearly, Naruto helped. Tetsuya saddled up to her side, catching her eye. She could see the question mark. "I'm good."

"You look tired." Naruto interrupted Tetsuya, who shot him a look. Naruto grinned. "The cuddly bear you sent didn't tell us where you were—"

"— just that you were safe." Tetsuya glared in Naruto's direction, earning an innocent smile and raised hands. The blond hurried to throw a couple extra items in a box. "Where'd you end up last night anyway?"

"Uchiha Sasuke's."

"What? You stayed with the jerk? Why?" Naruto dropped whatever he'd been holding— a kunai— and spun. "He let you stay there?"

"I was leaving right when the alarm sounded. He gave me a place to stay. I stayed there for the night. Cooked dinner and breakfast." Biting her lip, she moved to sit down at the table, smiling a bit at the way each of the boxes were clearly labelled and the sheet of paper on the table that noted the contents of each. Tetsuya's handiwork. The guy loved his paperwork. "Naruto, he's your teammate. Don't make it out like he's such a nightmare."

Naruto snorted. "Didn't stop him from tryin' to lob off my head a few weeks ago."

"Which didn't stop you from hunting him down when he was abducted." Tetsuya shot back, studiously ignoring the glare Naruto sent his way. "Quit faking like you hate the guy. He's your teammate. Why'd you two fight in the first place? Any word on the street about the Level Two?" Miho looked away from Naruto's stricken expression, focusing instead on the way Tetsuya's put his hands on his hips.

"Let's talk about body language. What's this? What're ya? A teapot?" Koji's voice jeered in her head.

"Breakout at the Maximum Security Facility. I think we all need to check-in with the Missions De—"

Rapid knocking on Naruto's door had Miho on her feet, bō in hand. Tetsuya was closest to the door and looked to Naruto for confirmation before reaching for the handle. Naruto approached and Miho could see the defensive tilt of his shoulders. Miho was all-too-familiar with neighbors that felt it was their duty to wrangle in the "Monster" if he was too loud.

"Naruto, I know you're here. Open the damn door."

She knew that voice.

Miho let out a breath when the door opened to reveal Shikamaru, hands tucked into the pockets of his pants. His pale face was drawn and tired. Behind him, Ino's ice-blue eyes were narrowed. Miho knew that furrow in her brow too well. Something was wrong. Then, Miho's eyes tracked to Chōji, who didn't flinch when she met his stare. Her brother trailed behind the other members of Team Ten, closing the door behind.

Shikamaru's hand went to the wall next to the door, pushing chakra into the seals. Definitely not good.

"What's the deal, Shikamaru?"

"Hold it." Ino held up a hand. Naruto glared, crossing his arms. "Just listen, okay?" Miho sat the bō down and leaned onto it.

"Last night, there was a mass breakout at the Maximum Security Facility. Asuma-sensei, Kurenai-sensei, and Genma-sensei were injured." Miho felt her heart drop to her shoes. Carefully, she edged to Tetsuya's side. Her brother followed the movement. "They're currently in the hospital and are expected to make a full recovery." Ino looked to Miho and her expression was probably supposed to be comforting.

It wasn't.

"Mizuki is one of the prisoners that escaped." Shikamaru looked to Naruto, expression carefully neutral. Miho held her breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop. "Iruka-sensei is missing."

"Missing?" Naruto's voice was soft. "What'd'ya mean he's missing?"

Miho felt her stomach begin to gurgle when her brother stepped forward. "He was collecting escaped prisoners with a team when they were attacked. So far, both the Hokage's assistant, Shizune, and Iruka-sensei have been noted as missing." Miho met his eyes. Her brother held her stare for a long moment before turning to Naruto. "Mizuki attacked them."

Mizuki.

She didn't remember any of this. She didn't remember Mizuki breaking out or…anything involving him. She didn't remember anything in between Naruto in the Valley and Naruto leaving the village. Panic slammed into her chest and she gripped the bō tighter, earning a concerned glance from Tetsuya.

"We think he may be using Iruka-sensei to get to—"

"I have to go save Iruka-sensei!"

Before Miho could block Naruto from the door, Chōji planted himself in Naruto's path, feet shoulder width apart. Shock made the anxiety abate for a moment. Her brother never never defaulted to direct combat that quickly. Unless… There it was. The hard look that Chōji sometimes got when he knew something was wrong. Miho's brows pulled together as she watched her brother blocking Naruto from the door.

"Mizuki is using Iruka-sensei to get to you, Naruto. And where you go, my sister follows."

He's trying. Ino's voice came into her mind. Miho, he's trying.

Miho drew a breath, staring at her brother. Chōji didn't budge, didn't flinch, didn't move. His chest seemed broader under the flak jacket. He was like steel. Not like before when he stepped aside to let her go find Naruto that night. The same night Mizuki went after Naruto and Iruka-sensei. "You can trust me, Miho. I won't let you down."

He let me down. Swallowing, Miho looked away, focusing on Shikamaru, who stepped forward. His dark eyes were focused, serious. Older.

"Genma-sensei is more injured than Asuma-sensei and Kurenai-sensei. Why do you think that is? Why would Mizuki target him?" Shikamaru questioned. His voice was dull, but his expression was severe. Tension poured over her shoulders, settling between the blades. "There were four people that led to his arrest that night."

Naruto turned to look at her and Miho looked back.

She knew.

She knew she couldn't help him.

She knew she couldn't protect him.

Not this time.

Letting out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding, Miho let the tension and fight roll from her tensed shoulders. Naruto's eyes tracked from her face down and slightly to the left.

Determination spread over his face and then he started to move.

"Naruto— stop!"

Shadows caught him. Shikamaru sighed, shaking his head. Naruto's head followed the movement. "What a drag..." She could hear Naruto's jaw pop from the force of his teeth grinding. Chōji was braced at the door, settled into the Akimichi taijutsu stance. Ino had her hand out, dropping it when the shadows grabbed him. The room was eerily still.

"Let me go! I have to go help Iruka-sensei!"

Miho didn't miss that Naruto's hands were moving, inching toward each other bit by bit. This didn't go unnoticed by Shikamaru either, who scowled, obviously pushing more chakra into the technique. The shadows grew darker, and she imagined, stronger. Naruto's hands shook, eyes narrowing dangerously.

"Let. Go."

"We're going with you, you irritating little—" Ino threw up her hands, rolling her eyes in exasperation. She strode forward, settling a hand on Naruto's shaking shoulders. For a moment, Ino looked older than her years. The flak jacket seemed to age her as well. Miho tried to ignore a longer-haired memory, a young woman who watched her father killed on the battlefield. "Like we'd just show up without a plan. Get it together, Uzumaki."

I still don't know how you deal with him. Ino's tone was vaguely affectionate, if layered underneath a fathomless amount of impatience. He's unbearable.

Naruto stopped trying to overpower Shikamaru's shadows and they trailed away, releasing the blond. He stumbled forward, looking around to Team Ten. "Whaddya mean 'a plan,' huh?"

Chōji spoke up, easing out of his defensive crouch. "Shikamaru's the best strategist of our generation, Naruto. There's…There's no way we're letting Mizuki get away with this. Iruka-sensei is important to all of us. And we know, he's really important to you."

Miho felt Tetsuya shifting a bit, looking between Team Ten and Naruto. She understood. She did. She felt useless. She already felt off-kilter after using her chakra. Going into a battle in her current state would only put people in danger. Tetsuya had to feel the same way. As unobtrusively as possible, Miho slid her hand into his. He held it, squeezing when Shikamaru began to detail his strategy.

Naruto listened. Really listened. The kind of listening that he did when he removed all of the masks he wore. The kind that made his eyes darker. Chōji moved away from the door, comfortable that Naruto wasn't going to bolt. Ino made her way over to lean against the wall beside Miho, arms crossed over her chest.

Her voice was low when she spoke. "You're going to the hospital?"

Miho nodded.

"Genma-sensei was critical when they brought him in last night. He made it through." Ino glanced over to where Chōji sat. Her brother withdrew a bag of chips. Miho saw that he'd already gained his weight back. Frustration and, Miho felt sick, jealousy cut through her stomach. She wanted her weight back. "He's after Naruto now. We'll use him as bait."

Naruto.

Bait.

"What's one useless fat-ass going to do?"

Inútil. Useless.

"Chubs." Tetsuya's voice was calm, calling her attention to him. "Miho." She dragged her stare away from Naruto. "Breathe." He lifted their hands and Miho immediately let go, seeing how white his fingers were in her grip. "It's okay." She didn't realize she had that kind of strength left. "It's okay." He turned, grabbing his bag from Naruto's table.

As he stuffed his scattered papers into a folder, Shikamaru, Naruto, and Chōji stood. Miho moved, meeting Naruto at the center of the room.

"Be careful. Don't—"

"Hey! Don't worry, Miho! I'll be back. We'll be back. With Iruka-sensei and we'll beat that stupid Mizuki into the dirt." Naruto sat a hand on her left shoulder. His hand there was gentle, resting just over the old scar. "And I'll be alright. Believe it! After all, I've got people here that loves me, right?"

Miho opened her mouth to respond, but couldn't seem to find the words. Instead, she just nodded.

Shikamaru scoffed. "What? No sweet parting words for me? Got people here that love me? Troublesome."

Ino pushed him toward the door, muttering something under her breath. "We'll be back in no-time. This jerk's not going to be a problem." She was out of the door, calling over her shoulder. "Don't do anything stupid, Team Five!" Naruto followed them out, kunai pouch now secured to his thigh. She didn't even see him move to get changed.

He was faster now.

"Chōji."

Her brother paused in the doorway, looking back to her. For the first time, she saw the walls start to crumble a bit. His face seemed more open, sadder and more desolate and with the slightest shred of innocent kindness that she remembered. It was the first time she'd really seen him since returning to Konoha. She met his eyes.

"Be care—"

"I'll protect Naruto, Miho."

Before she could respond, Chōji followed his teammates and Naruto, leaving Miho and Tetsuya watching them go. Miho locked up the apartment a moment later, using Naruto's spare key. Together, Team Five headed to their teacher's apartment before making their way to the hospital.

With each step, Miho felt the word echo louder in her head.

Useless.

Useless.

Every so often, it was in a voice that was not her own.

Genma flicked another senbon at the wall, the last in a design that spanned the entire noticeboard. Abstract, but surely, a work of art. He'd been confined to bed on threat of gate duty, which really was becoming an annoying threat. The Hokage figured out people's weaknesses and exploited them and Genma did so hate working the gate. Mostly because it was boring (see: involved paperwork). He rolled another senbon between his fingers and tried to ignore how much his back hurt.

He sensed them before they opened the door. The two hesitated before peaking inside.

"Stop loitering or the medics will run you out for being creeps."

Tetsuya— the little jerk— flipped on the light as he stepped into the room, having no mercy. Genma's eyes adjusted quickly, but it was still an annoying move. He'd file that away for later. Miho trailed behind, arms laden with a recognizable bag.

"I bet Asuma and Kurenai's kids haven't brought them go-bags yet." Genma's tone was decidedly smug, but hell. His kids were so much better than Ten and Eight.

"What happened, Boss?"

"A lot happened." He joked, earning a half-hearted glare from Tetsuya.

"Team Ten just went with Naruto to rescue Iruka-sensei from Mizuki." Miho rattled off, setting the bag down. She completely ignored his joke and Genma watched. Her back was to him, but Genma wasn't a fool. He could see the tense set of her shoulders.

She wouldn't have stood a chance against Mizuki.

She knew that. She wasn't a fool.

Genma could've destroyed that jerk if it weren't for the hostages. Could've turned him into a pincushion. Asuma, too, could've set the fool aflame. Forget Kurenai's badass genjutsu. She could've ripped his mind apart.

Mizuki was a coward, always hiding behind others. He preyed on those weaker than him.

"We brought a couple books." Tetsuya sat the novels on his beside table. The kid gave him a meaningful look, trying to impart his concern with a jerk of his head toward Miho's back. "You know, we need to go for longer than a month without one of us ending up here, Boss."

Huffing a laugh, Genma nodded, watching as Tetsuya settled in a chair and Miho faced the windows. "Next person to be admitted owes the others…" He prompted the kids, waiting to see if Miho would take the opportunity to deal for some takoyaki.

Silence met his prompt.

Tetsuya grimaced, knowing what he intended. His head shook and his tongue clicked. Not good then.

"How'd convincing the Uchiha go?"

Genma sensed the slightest shift in her weight. He sat up, ignoring the way his back ached at the movement. How many missing-nin landed on his back? A hundred? Each pummeling and kicking? Nevermind Mizuki breaking his arm. Damn thing was in a sling. Ridiculous. Miho's muscles were coiled. Genma's voice was hard.

"Don't."

Tetsuya was standing again, obviously prepared to stop her if he had to. Genma wasn't entirely sure he could do it. By the way Tetsuya was shifting, the kid wasn't sure either.

Even at her weakest, Miho was stronger than Tetsuya.

She was still facing the window, hands fisted at her sides.

Genma was all too familiar with this feeling. He knew it. He knew it too well. "You rush out there like you are now and you'll get someone killed. Shikamaru, Ino, Chōji. Iruka. Naruto. Have confidence in them, Miho. They'll be fine."

He watched as her shoulders began to shake. She stepped to the left until she was pressed against the wall by the window, hands coming up to shield her face as she pressed into the white-painted sheetrock. Then, he heard the quiet sobbing.

This time, it wasn't because of what she'd endured or what she'd seen or what she'd lost. He'd seen her cope with those things. No, this was something else entirely. Because she was a strong person that, for the first time in a long, long time, felt weak.

And, Genma saw out of the corner of his eye, Tetsuya likely felt the same. Too weak to help her. Too weak to help them. Koji would be fussing up a damn storm.

His team was learning a lot of lessons early.

Genma shifted himself up on the pillows, pushing the hair out of his face with his good hand. They took his damn bandana away. It'd been blood-soaked in the melee. A detail he was sure his kids would notice.

"Cry it out if you need to. That's fine. Here's as good as place as any. After that though, pull it together. Train. Get stronger." Genma could feel her control returning and he settled. "Now, looks like I was smart to pre-book that genin team since I won't be able to help you move."

Miho crossed to the bed, limp more evident than it had ever been. Before Genma could comment on it, she crumpled down and pressed her forehead to his bicep, just under his ANBU tattoo. Akimichi were such tactile people. Genma didn't think twice as he patted the top of her head, pressing the wild curls down. She was still sniffling, but her voice sounded steady when she spoke.

"We're glad you're okay, Genma-sensei."

Tetsuya stepped up behind her, pressing a hand to her shoulder as he nodded. Genma met the kid's dark eyes. They seemed even darker somehow. More mature. Wiser. "Yeah, sensei. We're glad you're okay. You had us worried there for a minute."

Sighing, Genma settled back into the pillows and raised his eyes to the ceiling.

"You'll get there. You'll both get there. I'll make sure you get there. Not leaving you before that."

Shiranui Genma was a man of his word. He'd help them get stronger. Stronger than him. Strong enough to face whatever future lay ahead. Battles. War. World-ending jutsu. If he hadn't sworn so a hundred times before the kami already, he'd swear it again.

"Book Club?"

If his kids' voices were a bit choked when they responded, he ignored it. "Let's get it."

Miho crashed into the ground, shoulders kicking up sand as she skidded. She could feel it in her shirt, grinding along her damp skin until she stopped. Letting out a breath, she stared up at the fading light. The sun would set soon. Shifting around, she swept the naginata around and arrived to her knees. Her right knee popped uncomfortably as she moved, but Miho ignored the sensation.

Across the training field, Elder Torifu lowered his weapon and stood straight. "Your timing is all wrong. The lack of weight is throwing off your balance and you have yet to restart your weight training. You have maintained your speed, but not your endurance." Miho nodded as she stood, using the staff to support her body. "You have retained your technique. Once you regain your weight and weights, you will begin to hone your skills."

"I'll restart weights next week, Elder Torifu?"

He nodded. "I'll speak to Gai."

Elder Torifu dipped into a bow, ending the spar.

Miho followed suit, glancing across the clearing toward where her father stood watching. She felt a thrill of fear. "Elder Torifu, I...I used my chakra yesterday evening. It feels..."

"The Hokage told you to avoid using it until your follow-up visit with the Bears." Her father was across the clearing in seconds. Miho bit her lip, edging back. Hurt was clear in his eyes before he seemed to press it away. "Miho, you must be cautious. We do not know what impact the foreign chakra will have."

Elder Torifu watched the exchange, large arms crossing over his chest. Miho glanced up at him, shifting her hold on the staff. "You will be moving this weekend, Miho. It seems now is the best time to raise a certain issue, particularly while I have you and your father in the same place." Miho floundered a bit. The day had already been a taxing one.

She didn't feel guilty for crying with Tetsuya and Genma-sensei. After he'd summarily kicked her and Tetsuya out of the hospital room, she'd thrown herself headlong into training. Tetsuya had returned to the Utatane Estate to finish packing. She was just biding her time until Naruto, Team Ten, and Iruka-sensei returned. Keeping her mind and body busy until then seemed the best course of action.

"I intend for Miho to be my final student. The final Akimichi to inherit my style." Miho felt her stomach drop as she watched the news strike her father. His weight shifted to the balls of his feet. Elder Torifu was old and his age was beginning to truly show in the way his jowls drooped and his eye lids thickened. "I must have the expressed permission of the current Clan Head to officially take her on as an apprentice. As she will be a clan-based apprentice, I need not wait until she reaches rank."

Her father's shock settled and he turned to Miho.

She raised her chin, trying to keep her composure. The wind picked up, sending her curls into a wild riot. Miho tied the curls back, noticing a strange expression on her father's face. Elder Torifu stood proud, perhaps even defiant. His aura brooked no argument on the matter. She wondered if her father would deny the Elder. Preserve the Akimichi name.

Her once-steady composure was wavering. It just seemed that she couldn't quite get her emotions under control.

As Elder Torifu's apprentice, she would be at the estate often enough to keep in steady contact with her family- with her cousins and the Elders. With her mother. And her father. And her brother. She'd have stable access to Elder Ayumu for weight counselling and support. When she met the Elder's eyes, she knew it was more than that. He truly believed in her ability to take his style forward. Miho felt her breath catch.

"Permission granted." Her father turned, formally bowing to the Elder. "I cannot think of a better final student for you, Akimichi Torifu."

She had to get stronger.

Elder Torifu was willing to help her get there.

"Miho!"

Turning, Miho could see Team Ten and Naruto walking through the Akimichi Estate gate. Naruto waved his hands over his head, smile as bright as the sun. She could see cuts in his pants and jacket. All of those cuts were healed over. Ino was bleeding, favoring her right side. Shikamaru had a black eye and some cuts on his forearms. And her brother had cuts and bruises. They were alright.

They were alright and they were smiling.

Relief made the strength fade from her legs and Miho caught herself on the staff.

"For the record..." Ino said as she approached, resting her hands on her hips. "Mizuki-sensei has always been a jerk."

A/N:

Yay! One more chapter and then we arrive to the time-skip! I am so very grateful for all the supportive words and encouragement this story has received. Thank you all so much for taking the time to read! Thank you for your reviews, favorites, and follows! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone!

Please leave me your thoughts as we move into the final chapter of Part I.