Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

The Meeting of the Minds

Tsunade stood in front of a two-way mirror; staring into one of the more hospitable rooms in the T&I division. Her arms were crossed under her breasts as she bit her bottom lip; deep in thought. On the other side of the glasses were two people seated at a table sitting across from each other; Ibiki Morino, the commanding officer of this division, and a little girl. It was a strange pair, Tsunade was aware. It wasn't often, thankfully, that Konoha had a need to hold children in the bowels of T&I. But in this specific situation, it couldn't be avoided. There were paper and crayons spread out in front of the of the two. Ibiki was lazily doodling with a blue crayon on his piece of paper; trying in vain to evoke some sort of response or action from the girl. Tsunade couldn't see what the master of interrogation was drawing but she knew she'd give him hell for it later.

"Did she say anything when you found her?" The fifth Hokage asked as she watched the little girl in question watch Ibiki. The girl had some training, that much was clear based on how she held herself and her unwillingness to look away from a potential threat. But she didn't seem any more capable than the typical academy student.

"No", Tsume Inuzuka answered promptly from where she and her giant ninken were standing on Tsunade's left. "Nothing useful. The runt yelled and fought us when we pulled her off her father's corpse. But once she realized she couldn't win she shut up. Tried to run a couple of times when we were on the road. But other than that, the runt didn't give us any trouble. Ate what we gave her. Didn't complain when she got tired", Tsume finished her explanation with a shrug. She had been deployed with her squad of tracking nin to follow up on a lead they had been given about a sighting of Akatsuki members in the Land of earth. They had expected to get some information from the locals, and maybe find a few scents to follow. But instead, they had found a house burned to smithereens, a dead missing-nin, and a kid.

"The body you found the girl with", Shikaku Nara started from Tsunade's right. "Are we certain it was the girl's father?" He asked; standing with his shoulders slouched and his forehead wrinkled. He was staring at the child in question just like Tsunade was. Except his analytical eyes were probably seeing thing that Tsunade wasn't. She knew she would have to ask for his input soon.

"Forensics confirmed it", Tsunade answered, grimly. "The brat's a match to the body you found her with. And they were able to identify her father based on his dental records. He was Hisao Uchiha, chunin".

Shikaku let out a heavy sigh and ran a tired hand over his face. "To think after all these years that there was another survivor of the Uchiha Massacre".

In the other room. Ibiki stood up slowly. Anyone who had been in contact with the girl since her arrival was moving at a cautious pace with her. No one knew what she had seen or lived through. Only that she had been found with the body of father. No one knew if she was dangerous or not. If she was truly a child as she appeared. Or if there were sleeper agents they needed to be wary of. "Someone is going to be in to see you in a bit", Ibiki said to the girl; only just loud enough for the occupants behind the two-way mirror to hear. He moved towards the door; taking note when the girl's eyes followed him.

"We're lucky that whoever killed the runt's father didn't take his body", Tsume said as Ibiki came to join them in observing the girl behind the two-way mirror. "To think that he managed to hide both himself and his pup for eight years without anyone figuring out who he was".

Tsunade nodded because she saw the truth in Tsume's words. It was lucky that they had found and gained custody of both the brat and her father's body before any ninja from a different village had. But luck was always tinged with suspicion. "Once the autopsy is complete the body will have to be destroyed", Tsunade said as Ibiki came to stand shoulder to shoulder with Shikaku. "And I don't want any paperwork on this. As far as I am concerned, you did not find the body of a missing-nin or his offspring. You found a nameless orphan that pulled on your heartstrings. Consider this to be an S-rank secret". Tsunade decreed. If they had just found the body, Tsunade might have considered letting the village know about the recovered Uchiha. However, the brat complicated things.

Following Tsunade's line of thought, Shikaku asked, "and the girl?" But he directed his question towards Ibiki.

"Not talking", the formidable man answered. "It's unclear if she's refusing to do so or currently lacks the mental state to speak".

"Shock?" Tsume asked.

Ibiki nodded in confirmation before continuing. "But the kid's not uncompliant. She won't answer anything involving personal information. But when given a pencil and paper she'll answer factual questions".

"But not with a crayon", Tsunade quipped as her eyes remained on the girl on the other side of the two-way mirror. Oily, tangled black hair that needed a good wash framed the girl's dirt-stained face as she stared at the door Ibiki had exited from with haunted onyx-colored eyes.

Ibiki smirked. "Not with a crayon", he agreed. "It doesn't prove much. Just that she has been exposed to some education. You might want to ask an academy teacher, but I'd say she's writing proficiently with Hiragana and has emerging Kanji proficiently. When I realized she'd answer questions based on fact, I started with basic arithmetic questions. Just to lure her in. She did okay. By the time we moved on to history and crystallized knowledge, it didn't occur to the kid that what she knew would tell me about where she comes from". Ibiki paused as his eyes scanned the girl again for what must have been the hundredth time. They hadn't brought a kid down into T&I since the last war. And Ibiki wasn't too sure how to deal with one. But he was glad that in this instance he didn't have to rely on more painful methods. "She didn't answer any of my history questions. Either she was refusing or she doesn't know. But it might support Tsume's hypothesis that the girl was living like a hermit. She did answer correctly questions about sharpening blades and how to hold them. And she has a basic understanding of chakra. The fact that she answered these questions at all makes me think that to her it's common knowledge that everyone knows. But it points out that she was being trained in the shinobi arts".

"By her father", Shikaku supplied. Slowly, they were piecing together a picture of what they were dealing with. But a lot of pieces were still missing.

Ibiki nodded. "I would recommend bringing one more person into the fold", he spoke directly to his Hokage. "Inoichi probably. I can't decipher if the kid's a threat or not just on the surface without digging into her. And if she is just a kid-" He trailed off, letting the others draw their own conclusions.

"We'd be damaging a possible asset", Tsunade finished. She sighed deeply and rubbed her temple; feeling the onset of a headache. And not one of the hung-over varieties. "I ordered Inoichi to search through the memories of the corpse. Summon him, and have him do the same with the girl. But tell him not to dive any deeper than he has to. We just need to make sure we won't have another serial killer on our hands and that the brat's presence here wasn't orchestrated".

It didn't take long for Inoichi to join them. Fifteen minutes top. And once he received his instruction, Inoichi was sliding into the seat Ibiki had evacuated from earlier. "Hello", he spoke softly and gently as the girl briefly locked eyes with him before looking away. Except she didn't look away entirely; she simply choose to not make eye contact and decided to stare at his jaw instead. An interesting habit, Inoichi noted. "It must have been a very long couple of days", Inoichi said in the same tone of voice. He remembered when his daughter was this small and couldn't help but have his behavior be affected by the comparison. "I bet you're tired. But this is almost over. I'm going to put my hand on your head. And you're going to fall asleep. When you wake up this will all be over", Inoichi explained but he avoided making any promises that things would be better. It was too soon to know that.

The girl's eyes widen so that her unease was easily read by him and everyone standing behind the two-way mirror. And while she leaned back in her chair to try to stay out of Inoichi's reach, the girl didn't run. Already building up chakra, Inoichi reached over the table and placed his left hand on the center of the girl's forehead. With precision, Inoichi started his jutsu and the girl became limp in her chair.

The sun's position in the sky and the grumbling in my tummy told me that it had to be around midday. Sweat dripped down my forehead; sticking strands of hair to my face and making my skin itch. But that sticky, overheated feeling was something I learned to ignore a long time ago.

I kept running; zig-zagging through the streets with side steps, vaulting over fallen logs, and dodging whatever Father chose to throw at me. Hopefully, he would allow us to break for lunch soon. Father generally did not make me miss meals. Even if he did say that learning how to deal with hunger was a valuable lesson. But I knew better than to ask for a break. Father had no patience for weaklings. "Faster", Father barked as a pebble I failed to dodge bounced off my head. "If you are dead on your feet, you are as good as six feet under".

Breathing heavily through my mouth, I forced myself to pick my legs up higher so I could take bigger steps. I had to do everything I could to keep Father from thinking I was being lazy. If I failed, this training might never end.

I can feel Father's eyes bore into me as I run his homemade obstacle course four more times. He does not call out any more instructions or critiques. And I could not decide if that was a good or bad thing. I can never tell with Father. He could be satisfied with my effort or he could be too disappointed to speak. "That is enough", Father finally relented.

I did not have to be told twice. Skidding to a halt, I braced my hands on my knees; hunched over with sweat dripping off the tip of my nose and to the forest floor as my chest heaved as I worked on catching my breath. It would be better if I stood up straight. That would make it easier to draw in the air. But I did not want to spare the energy right now.

When it is just the two of us, Father walked with silent steps. So, the only indication I got that he had moved closer was his shadow looming over me. Still panting, I tilt my head back. Father stands with his arms crossed, making his muscles look huge in his blue sleeves. He stares down at me with the hair he never manages to pull back framing his face. "Better", Father announced after a moment. Still panting, I smiled up at him. "But you're still not dodging all the projectiles. You need to learn to anticipate them", Father said as he uncrossed his arms.

As my heart rate slowed down, so did my breathing. I stood up straight but continued to look up at Father. "Yes, Father", I answered, knowing no other answer would be acceptable. Even though I do not how I am supposed to know when something is going to hit me when I am not looking directly at it.

Father nodded once before he turned away, heading towards the wood cart we bring with us each day. "Come get your lunch", Father called over his shoulder.

And even though I was tired and my feet feel like lead, I jogged to fall in step with Father. Our lunch break was my favorite time of day. Father never said much during lunch and the time he allotted for the break was never very long. But it was still nice to just sit next to him when he was not trying to teach me something. At the wood cart, Father reaches inside and pulls out the boxed lunch Mother had prepared this morning. Father hands it to me and I sink down to sit on the grassy floor. There is only one lunch. Mother always packs just one. It is Father's rule. We live on the outskirts of a farming village in the land of Earth. Mother grew up here. Father moved here. Father works as a woodcutter; supplying our village and some nearby ones with wood for any construction projects or for fire fuel. Mother takes care of our house. And as far as the village knows, Mother and Father have one child. A son who goes to school in the village. Removing the lid from the boxed lunch, I see that Mother had packed rice balls and vegetables leftover from last night's dinner. I hold the box up to Father. He takes one rice ball and motions for me to eat the rest.

"Tomorrow is a market day", Father reminded me after I took my first bite. Market days are when Father goes into the village to deliver on orders, settle debts, and sell kindling and firewood. "Your mother is coming with me, so, you will stay indoors and work on your kanji and arithmetic". I took another bite. "And if any strangers approach the house you will not-"

"Go near the windows or make any noise", I cut Father off; speaking around a mouthful. It is the same rules every market day. It has been that way since I was five and Father decided I was old enough to stay home alone.

Father does not continue his instruction. Though I am surprised when he does not scold me for interrupting him. Birds chirp from high up in a nearby tree as I finish chewing and swallowing. Staring at my half-eaten lunch, I said carefully, "I could help".

"Manami", Father made his voice stern in a warning.

"We do not have to tell anyone who I am". This time I spoke quickly; trying to argue my point before Father shut me down completely. "We could say I was your niece or something… who was visiting from somewhere far away".

"Manami", Father warned again, his voice adopting a sharper tone.

I look away from my lunch and up at Father. He is leaning against the cart with his arms folded once more and the rice ball he took is long gone. There is a frown etched into his face and wrinkles on his forehead from turning his eyebrows inward. I should stop. But I keep going. "I have never seen the village", I pleaded. "I have never met anyone except for you, Mother, and Itsuki. And it would only be for one day".

"You do not exist", Father said with the tone of voice that I know means he will not hear anymore about this topic. "As far as the rest of the world is concerned. Your mother and I do not have a daughter, and you better hope no one ever does learn about you or me for a very long time. You are not ready".

I flinched at Father's words and looked back at my lunch, but his words did not surprise me. He always gives the same reason that tells me nothing. We are silent for a moment. But I have to ask. "Why? Why can no one know about us? What is so special about us?"

Father sighs heavily, and I know that he is not going to give me any answers. Instead, he gave me more orders. "Finish your lunch, drink some water, and then we will work on chakra control". Father pulled himself out of his leaning position and started walking away to clean up the obstacle course. The tree stumps would stay, but the fallen logs would be loaded onto the cart for Father to sell tomorrow. Father says we can never risk leaving behind any evidence that we had been training in the forest. Suddenly, I lost my appetite. But I forced myself to eat anyway.

After Inoichi canceled his jutsu, he moved slowly. Wanting to make sure that the Girl wouldn't suddenly fall forward and smash her face into the tabletop. Despite knowing that there were four people in the other room that very much wanted to know what he learned, Inoichi walked around to the other side of the table. With one hand on the girls' right arm and another on her back, Inoichi maneuvered her until she was resting her head on the table; using her arm as a pillow. That would be slightly better than sleeping slumped over in a chair, he reasoned before moving to join the others.

"Well?" Tsunade asked as soon as he walked through the door.

Inoichi nodded his head; closing the down behind him. "Her name is Manami. This was not planned and she is not a threat".

Tsunade studied the girl once more. She wasn't sure if she was relieved. The girl may not be a threat herself but her existence wouldn't be without its complications. The girl could be molded into a loyal shinobi of Konoha. And if allowed enough time for the brat to grow, Konoha may benefit from having another Sharingan wielder in their midst. If the brat managed to unlock it. But she could also end up on the same path as her cousins. And in all honesty, Tsunade was sick of dealing with emotionally-stunted Uchihas.

"Did you learn anything else?" Shikaku asked his comrade and friend.

Inoichi nodded again. "Her memories lined up with the ones I managed to uncover from her father. They were living in the land of Earth on the outskirts of a small farming community. Hisao Uchiha fled there after discovering what was happening to his clansmen. He set himself up as a tradesman; a woodcutter. And married a local girl to help him blend in. There was another child". Inoichi reported.

Everyone paused at that piece of information. Please, Tsunade thought. Don't let there be a fourth Uchiha alive and breathing.

"A boy", Inoichi continued. "Older than Manami. But I don't think he was Uchiha's son. Just another part of his cover story". Inoichi pursed his lips. He couldn't judge Hisao on his actions. The man had been doing everything he could to survive. But it spoke of cowardice. First, to desert Konoha was an offense punished by death, but then to also hide behind a civilian woman and her child… Well, that just wasn't the type of man Inoichi was. "From what I could tell, the birth of his daughter wasn't planned or welcomed. Uchiha had no plans to revive his clan. But when Manami was born, he took her protection very seriously. He trained the girl day and night and kept her existence a secret. Bullied his wife and step-son into doing the same". Inoichi nodded in the direction of the child in question. The child that was still fast asleep with her head on the table. "Including his little girl. Manami doesn't know who the Uchiha are or that she's one of them".

Silence briefly hung in the air everyone let Inoichi's words sink in. There were so many variables that could swing this situation into being a good or bad thing, and Tsunade was struggling to think of them all. But that was why she had Shikaku. "I suggest we keep the girl in the dark as long as possible", Shikaku spoke up. "If she's just another orphan she'll be able to safely wander the village and attend school like any other child in the village". It was left unsaid that it meant that they wouldn't be forced to keep the girl isolated like she had been so far in life. "Any freedom we can give her might help foster a love for Konoha. And that should be our priority as far as the girl is concerned". They didn't want the girl to take after her father and run from the village, after all. "When we can no longer hide her origins, we need to ensure that the girl is informed by someone she trusts. Someone she'll believe, and someone who will tell the right story".

"But what do we do with the runt until then?" Tsume asked; shifting her weight back and forth between her feet. This meeting had been going on for a while and she was ready to go home, scrub the dirty accumulated during her mission off her skin, and check in on her pups.

Tsunade's mind swirled as she ran through all her options. Hidden origins or not, the girl was too valuable to leave her unsupervised. Tsunade could assign an Anbu detail to watch her from afar as the Third Hokage had done with Naruto. But Tsunade had never agreed with her teacher's decision. Besides, if the end goal was to make the brat a loyal kunoichi of Konoha she needed to form bonds with the village's people.

"Aren't the Inuzukas known for taking in strays?" Ibiki asked teasingly.

Tsume snorted as her ninken partner, Kuromaru, looked up at her. He had remained silent this whole time, as humans outside of the Inuzuka clan often reacted poorly to speaking dogs. But he wondered if he should speak up. An Uchiha pup growing beside their own. It could give them leverage other clans wouldn't have. But all Tsume did was answer, "Not of the four-legged Variety".

"If any clan takes her in there is going to a political backlash when her birthright is uncovered", Shikaku pointed out. And he was corrected. If a clan adopted the Uchiha brat and claimed her bloodline as their own, all the other clans would complain.

But Tsunade was struggling to think of a Shinobi who wasn't from a clan that she could entrust the brat to. And civilian families were not an option. If what Ibiki and Inoichi said was true, Manami only knew the ins and outs of shinobi training. A civilian family wouldn't understand her behavior and wouldn't be able to help the brat grow and adapt to Konoha. There was really only one person that was best suited for this job….

"What about Hatake?" Asked Inoichi. He waited until everyone was looking at him before continuing. "He was Sasuke's sensei and he has the Sharingan".

Those were valid points. But Tsunade didn't feel that she could entrust him with the responsibility of a little girl. Genin were one thing but parenting a child was another. Ibiki let on a single chuckle. "He'd be more likely to trick Gai into caring for the girl and then we'd have three Taijutsu junkies running around in jumpsuits".

Everyone, including Tsunade, shuddered. "Tsume will take her", she decided after a moment. At the Inuzuka clan head's disgruntled face, Tsunade continued. "It's not an adoption. You'll just be fostering the brat. I know someone who's going to want to her, but he hasn't returned yet".