Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I do not own Legend of the Five Rings. No financial gain is made from this. This is for entertainment purposes only.

212... 222... 223.

Kakashi entered room 223 in Konoha's hospital quite angered, but the feeling faded when he saw her lying in bed.

Sumi's face lighted up for a brief moment, and then it was replaced by apprehension. "If you have come to scold me..."

He took seat in the chair next to her bed. "Why would I?"

"I went against your orders, dragged another kunoichi with me, risked a diplomatic conflict by entering another country's territory uninvited, released a giant tiger spirit that wanted to destroy our world, got myself hurt and out of duty for at least a month... I don't know. Take your pick." She finished by blowing a strand of hair out of her face. She had been mostly sleeping these last days and her hair was in need of a comb.

"You protected your friends," he said.

"Is that enough?" she asked. Since when had he become so wise? It was true that even his voice tone had changed; they were no longer children.

"It is for me."

Two weeks and a half later Sumi checked out from the hospital. She could not stand it anymore and her incessant begging had convinced the doctor to let her go early.

Kibo was delighted to have her back, but the feeling was not shared by all.

"I am not against her staying with us despite being an Ikoma, but her behaviour is tainting the name of our family," Matsu Inoue spoke loudly, as if it would bring more authority to her words.

"I am against her being treated like a Matsu daughter," Matsu Sae interjected. "That was decided without the family's choice."

"I think she used to be a nice kid. It was nice what she did in Kusagakure. But maybe now it changed her," another woman piped in and the room erupted in murmurs and smaller conversations.

"Silence," Kibo ordered, but her voice did not carry the same might than it used to.

She knew she was in a weak position, due to her relation with Sumi. She had guessed this treatment would undermine her leadership before, but she had not expected to be faced with a full frontal attack like this. Several women had asked for an assembly and she could not deny. After all, it is people that give power to their rulers.

The Hokage had decided to keep Sumi and Yūgao's 'adventure' discreet. Not many people knew what had happened and those had been told to keep quiet about it. However, there was a general rumor that fed the gossiping women at the market or at the Academy that they had broken several important rules and got away with it.

"I think we are getting carried away by baseless conspiracies and theories. We should stay away from falsehoods," she told the mob.

But it only angered them further. She was losing her touch...

"Are you calling us liars?"

"Why don't you tell us the truth?!"

"You won't be able to protect that girl forever!"

A voice rose over the dissonancy. Matsu Yūu. She was respected in the community; her three daughters were top students. "What I think we all mean is that how do we know that you are still putting the interests of this family first? You clearly have a predilection for the girl. Would it have been any other of us that broke the rules would you have been so lenient? We are simply bothered because now the other families are spreading nonsense about our respected family. We don't want to see Matsu's honor tainted..."

"Um... Actually-" Kibo was interrupted.

"What are you all doing?" Matsu Sachio stood up with difficulty. "Are we really going to punish a young girl for her bravery? For protecting a friend? Would we be happier had she stayed, avoided the conflict and waited safely in her room? Yūu, you speak of Matsu, but what do you know? Hell, what do I know?" She planted firmly her cane in the tiled floor. "But I am sure Matsu would not have bothered with what other clans said. Did she care when they criticized that she had children out of marriage? That she refused a kami? That she out spoke lords and masters alike? Would Matsu have cared, she would not have been the hero in our tales. And we need heroes, not role models," she added, glancing quickly at Matsu Yūu's perfect daughters.

Then she turned to Sumi, who had kept her head low to keep her emotions at bay. "Times have changed since I was of use to this family, but if someone is still willing to listen to an old grumpy lady, I can tell you I see courage and I see it in her. That's all I had to say."

And nothing else was said.

Without notice autumn arrived and brought peace again in Sumi's life. The days were lived happily, in company of friends and those that took her as family. And one year later, someone new entered team Ro. His name was Tenzō.

"Tenzō... He is a bit weird, no?" Yūgao whispered to Sumi.

Since their trip to Kusagakure's forest together they had started a strong friendship and it was usual to see them together. Their range of skills together made it that they were often sent in duo to do small missions.

"I don't know," Sumi smiled. "I think he is quite funny."

Yūgao took a bite off her sweet dumpling. They had been training and when the others' turn arrived, they had gone to grab some food. But now they were back and they watched as Tenzō practiced his Wood release on Kakashi and anybody that would dare to try. Which was mostly Kakashi.

"His techniques seem quite useful," she said.

Sumi nodded. "It is quite impressive. Makes us look like amateurs." She laughed.

"Yes, I hope I can train to be at their level."

Sumi glanced at her. "I think even if we are not, as long as we work hard and give it our best, we will be okay."

Yūgao smirked. "You start to sound like that Guy. You shouldn't spend so much time around him." She paused. "Anyways, I have found someone that is going to train with me in kenjutsu."

Sumi raised an eyebrow and whistled. "Girl, I am going to have to find myself a new technique or I will fall behind all of you."

Yūgao finished the last dumpling in their shared box. "You have Kakashi," she said, mouth full.

Sumi nodded, "I am sure you will do great with your new sensei."

And Yūgao left then Team Ro to meet the only love of her life.

Those were some of the happiest moments of Sumi's life, a period that blissfully extended over years. And almost without notice, autumn after autumn, she turned seventeen. And although Kakashi still kept a darkness in him that neither knew how to handle or erase, they shared many moments that she cherished. The walks, the hours training, visiting places, going on missions... it was all perfect.

"Aaaah, I am sooo tired," she complained, stretching her arms and her back. They were back from a three-day mission. Sumi and Kakashi walked down the empty streets, a testimony to their lateness. "I really want to be back in my comfy bed," she smiled, "I am going to sleep tomorrow the whole day!"

He laughed. "Then we should do our report now. I will hand it tomorrow morning."

Her eyes lighted up. "Would you do that?" He nodded. "Then, let's go."

She grabbed his hand and dragged him to a ramen bar, but the loud voices of those singing karaoke and the drunkards fighting did not let room for paperwork. They went out again, the dark night illuminated by the aging lamplights.

He looked a few streets away. "My apartment is not far..." She hid her blush under her coat. "We could just fill it quickly." She was making him uncomfortable.

She ended up nodding, feeling the butterflies in her stomach throw a goodbye party for her sanity. She had been here before, as a spirit, but she had never confessed that to him.

He hurried to tidy up a few loose items, excusing himself for the mess. She thought her room alone was worse. He took off his metal protectors, she decided not to. The tight-fitting shirt under did not cover enough the womanly shapes she had not grown used to yet.

Once he had cleared the table, he brought a chair from his desk. The lack of sitting places showed his solitary upbringing. She sat shyly, receiving part of the tedious papers to fill and they both fell into a tense silence only broken by the scratching of their quills. Her eyes traveled from time to time through the room, examining the futon in the floor, the dishes drying in the kitchen, the picture of three friends where ghosts outnumbered the living...

Until her stomach grumbled in protest. "I am sorry," she muttered. They had not eaten in the whole day, rushing to reach Konoha back before the end of the day.

He chuckled, but then his stomach rumbled too. He made a face. "I will find something to eat."

He walked to the kitchen and checked several cupboards. He was out of groceries again... He sighed, finding some noodles fast to cook. After fifteen minutes of experimental cooking, he emerged with two bowls in his living room. And he found Sumi sleeping over the table. He worried she would drool over the papers. Nervously, he draped a blanket over her shoulders, careful to not wake her up. She looked happy, he thought, and it made him smile.

Then he finished the report and went to bed.

Sumi woke up with a start. Something had woken her up. She looked around confused - where was she? Then she saw Kakashi panting in his futon and remembered. She felt embarrassed but he seemed suffering, so she laid the blanket that covered her on the floor next to him and sat.

"A nightmare?" she asked.

"It's nothing."

"I have watched you before, when we were out in missions," she confessed. "Memories haunt you?"

She knew the answer. She had also seen how much time he spent at the memorial.

"It's without importance."

She hugged her knees. The light escaped through the curtains. "If one day you want to speak about it, I have time. Don't hesitate." He nodded slowly. "I will do my best to help you."

He looked at her and she held her breath. "I know."

Sumi had tried to sneak in the residence, her house, guessing that Kibo would be busy somewhere around town. However, as she half-opened the paper doors that lead to the living room, she closed them immediately after.

Someone cleared her throat loudly and she had no other option than to step in.

Matsu Kibo received the Hokage as best as she knew. With no special treatment except the respect a man of his courage deserved. It was not disturbing to see him at the Matsu residence: he was their leader, the one they answered to, so the warrior women felt proud when he visited.

They both stared now at a sheepish Sumi.

She bowed. "Nice to see you, Sandaime."

"Nice to see you too," he answered amused.

"Good morning, Sumi," Kibo said pointedly.

"Good morning, Kibo sensei."

"Excuse my apprentice. She must have just come back from a mission. Right?" Kibo smirked. Sumi lowered her head and nodded. "Come sit with us. There is tea."

Sumi fetched a cup and poured herself the hot beverage. She listened to the talk of the adults, trying to soak in the wisdom in their words, the life lessons you could only get if you paid enough attention to their light-hearted chit chat. Then, when their cups were empty and the liquid in the kettle cold, the Hokage asked to speak with Sumi in private, so they strolled through the residence.

"You have been serving well this village, Sumi. I am proud of you," he started and she felt a wave of anxiety cross her body. "I came here with a proposition for you." He smiled. "I want you to become ANBU squad leader. Make your own team. Team Ro is a great asset and I am sure your own team will become one as well."

She chuckled. He raised an eyebrow. "I cannot," she simply said.

He scratched his chin. "Are you sure?"

She closed her eyes and nodded.

"I see. Until the next time then," he greeted.

She sighed when he left and sank against the wall.

"You spent the night with Kakashi," Kibo commented from her side. Her arms were crossed but her expression was friendly.

Sumi straightened. "We arrived late," was her excuse.

Kibo chuckled. "If that boy doesn't act quickly, he is going to lose you. You won't wait forever that he makes up his mind."

Sumi squirmed. "Kibo..." she complained.

Kibo cackled. "Come on, I have seen you both dance around each other for years now. You are a promising girl, Sumi. You cannot burden your future waiting for no one." Sumi looked down so Kibo squeezed her arm in affection. "Let's go. You must be starving."

That day, that single decision she took on a whim, had consequences out of her understanding.

Yamagata Seitaro left Team Ro instead to form a new squad and 11 years old Itachi Uchiha filled his place.