Summary:

A little bit of filler and character development for Mika, Umiko, and Mangetsu

Notes:

I know you all waited a long time for an update! And this one is shorter than what I like to post. I'm really sorry but I got hit by a bad case of depression and writer's block. I felt like no matter how hard I tried I just couldn't get this chapter right and show how Mika and Mangetsu developed their close relationship. There friendship started out so much like Madara's and Hashirama's. Next chapter will be up in two weeks so new years! Merry christmas and happy holidays everyone!

Chapter Text

Chapter Five: Catching a Wolf

Third person pov

After Mangetsu's conversation with Zabuza and Kisame he went back to the trading district daily. Unknowingly he passes Mika as he walks through the streets. Spotting a young kid who looks like a walking skeleton with skin stretched across his bones. The child's once dark eyes look dull and lifeless. Reaching into his side pouch he pulls out some candies. Kneeling in front of the child he holds them out as an offering catching the eye of the girl he was seeking.

Later that day Mika watches the mist swirled in to little eddies in the fading light of day on the roof of the old storage building she claimed as their home base. Soft almost silent foot falls has Mika's hand twitching for a weapon only for the soft smell of sea spray and ocean air to calm her twitching hand.

"Mika-San it's late. What are you doing up here?" The soft voice of Umiko floats around Mika calming the tension in her shoulders. Mika's pale hand pats the old concrete next to her on the edge of the building. With a hesitant step Umiko slowly makes her way over to Mika's side. Sitting on the edge she swings her legs over the wall, her bare feet dangle twenty feet off the mist covered ground giving the illusion that only the mist exists under them like some kind of ever consuming sea and there is no solid earth below.

"Umiko, do you believe that a person has the capacity to be good, if they just try?" Mika asks watching the mist swirl and crash against the buildings walls like oceans waves. Umiko freeze's before turning to look at Mika, taking in the stress lines around her eyes and the worry etched into her body. After a pause Umiko answers her.

"I believe most people don't know they are good, yet alone possess the ability to be good. Most of them believe they are in the right for all the wrongs they caused because of the world we live in." Umiko answers clenching her fists and baring her sharp teeth to the memories of her past and the torturous times with her blood clan. Taking a deep breath she relaxes her body and smiles over at Mika.

"I think, no, believe with all my being that they just need to see someone stand up above all the wrong in this world and show them that there is a better way." Umiko reaches over and takes Mika's hand in both of hers causing Mika to turn and face her for the first time since she stepped foot on the rooftop.

"We may not be able to change the world we live in, or how everyone thinks. But if we can change just one person's mind or world isn't that something? Give them a greater purpose. You taught me that Maka-San. You and your ototo's changed my world for the better and gave me a purpose." She says with a smile so wide and bright Mika can't help but feel her own smile pull at her own lips.

"Arigato Umiko. I needed to hear that." Mika says with a small smile that softens her face as she turns and looks back over the rundown part of the village they call home.

"Mika-San, what brought this on all of a sudden?" Umiko asks her own hands aching to wrap around the throat of who ever caused one of the pillars of her world to question herself.

"You heard how I helped that clan girl about two months back." Mika states making Umiko remember how worried and angry Nariko-sama was when he heard about his Ane. Umiko remembers the icy fingers of fear and worry grabbing her stomach as she prayed that Mika-San wouldn't draw unwanted attention from any of the clans, let alone ninja. She remembers jumping at every shadow for two months ready to defend her new clan from any enemies. Nodding her head she readies herself as Mika-san continues.

"Well apparently the next head of the Hoshigaki clan has been asking around offering money to those who can give him information about a girl with brown hair, pale skin, and ocean blue eyes that turn into golden wolf eyes." She states in a neutral tone, Umiko feels those fingers of fear and dread slowly creeping up her body making the hairs on the nape of her neck stand on end at this information.

"H-How did you come by this information?" Umiko ask's, finding it hard to breath. Mika chuckles without humor and looks over at Umiko with a glint in her eyes making them temporarily reflect the fading light like a predator after dark.

"A lot of the city merchants rely heavily on me. They need me to do their running or to get them items that they normally don't get." Mika says with a sharp smile that shows how much of a predator she has become.

"Not one single one of them would risk losing someone they can trust not to steal their money or product. Let alone angering one of the other merchants that use me and they lose trade." She states with a humorless laugh.

"All of the world, hidden villages, even the capitals rely on trade to get things they want or need. If you ever need to take down a village, take out or control their trade roots and buy off the merchants. That is one thing that Otou-sama and Lord Akio pounding into my head." Mika says with a gentle smile before her face falls into a cold frown. Unknowingly teaching Umiko a life-changing lesson and filling her heart with hate for those that hurt her family.

"We shouldn't let him get close to you, Mika-San. I will deal with him-" Umiko starts to say only for Mika's soft genuine smile to cause her to pause.

"Arigato Umiko." Mika says reaching out and taking both of her hands into her own.

"But this boy is different, I see something in him like I did with you." Mika states looking deeply into her brother's right hand's eyes. The one girl she adores and sees as her own little sister, a fellow Okami in all but blood. Closing her eyes Umiko releases a full body sigh that leaves her sagging in Mila's hands.

"Alright Mika-San." Umiko says lifting her head and meeting her eyes with a fire in them.

"What is your plan then?"

Two days later Umiko darts down the street weaving in and out between villagers. Her eyes scanned the crowd looking for the signature white hair. Spotting it she dashes forward, reaching out her fingers wrap around his arm.

"Hey I heard you are looking for the wolf girl."

-Months later-

-Mangetsu's Pov-

"Mika, Oi! Mika!" With a heavy sigh she stops on the roof top and looks back over her shoulder at me with an unemoused look.

"Hurry up and be quiet Mangetsu." Running across the roof to the edge I jump and land next to her.

"What is it you want to show me Mika-Chan?" I ask tilting my head to the side with a wide childish smile.

"Look, down there." She said with a nod of her head.

"Tell me what do you see." Looking away from the younger girl next to me I look down to see the red light district. Confusion fills my mind as I look down to see happy women and men call others to them with promises of a good time.

"Just the red light district." I say shrugging my shoulders looking back to the girl. Her eyes narrow as they move around the scene below us.

"Look again Mangetsu, and look closer." she says her own eyes moving to the shadows. Doing as she asks I look again this time I spot movement in the shadows. A small child hides in an alleyway with a few others not far behind him. My eyes widen as I slowly look around, looking back at the happy men and women I see the fire of anger burning in their eyes.

"These people they are angry! And those children!" I exclame with shock.

"Yes Mangetsu. This is the truth of our village. People are forced to do things they do not wish to do, children starve, people murdered on the streets and no one is held accountable for their crimes." She says in a quiet, hard tone, her fists shaking the only sign of her anger.

"But we can change that Mangetsu. Together we can show everyone that there is a better way. That the people we are supposed to protect will be protected." She turns to face me with wide eyes filled with determination.

"You actually believe you can this village? Your just one small girl." I start only for her to burst out laughing.

"Don't ever underestimate a person, Mangetsu. No matter their age, it will get you killed." She says dropping her amused smile into a dead serious look.

"I know I can change this village, Mangetsu." She sits down on the edge of the roof looking over the lesser people of the red light district, her eyes hard and ever searching the darkness for danger. Like a mother protecting her little ones.

"I know things, Mangetsu. I know how a village works, how it is run, how to keep people feed, how to keep them safe." Her voice softens with longing catching my attention, and like any good shinobi I listen.

"I can't change this village on my own. But with help, not just your but with theirs as well" She says motioning with her chin towards the people below us.

"Imagine all the things we could do."

"How do you plan to get them to help you? They fear the shinobi and go out of their way to attack the clan kids whenever they come through here." I ask feeling anger and disgust at this cold hard fact. Her cold eyes turn on me like a raging sea.

"Have you ever given them a reason not to hurt you?" She asks face blank of all emotions.

"They believe they have no power and with their own constantly ending up dead every day in their own streets why wouldn't they try to thin the herd?" She tilts her head to the side before turning back to look over them with a fond look.

"They just need someone to show them that not all the clan kids are going to devour them like they believe. That is our first step." She says with a nod then jumps to her feet.

"Wait! Why did that sound like I'm being dragged into this?" I question slouching over as a wide smile breaks across her lips.

"Because you are like me Mangetsu." She says turning her back to me.

"Huh? How so Mika-chan?" I ask genuinely confused, staring at her back.

"You want a better life for those you cherish. Meet me here tomorrow at midday when the mist is its thinnest." She says looking back over her shoulder at me, giving me a small wave goodbye she jumps off the roof and blends in with the people below. Just like she was always one of them and never came from a clan like mine own.

"I wonder what happened to her clan and if she'll ever tell me.

-Mika's Pov-

'These months with Mangetsu passed by quickly.' I think looking over my slightly bigger pack eat the roasted fish I caught in the creak not far from our base.

'Our friendship reminds me of that bullshit filler episode of Madara and Hashirama's childhood friendship. I mean really.' I think resting my chin in the palm of my hand. My sharp nails tap against the soft pale flesh of my cheek.

'How did this brat needle his way into my heart enough that I brought him into my pack. Near my Ototo's and Umiko.' I wonder narrowing my eyes at Mangetsu as Kosuke sits in his lap and smiles up at him like he used to with Nii-san. Mangetsu laughs at something Kosuke says and pats the top of his head with a wide smile that lights up his purple eyes. Turning her smiles over at Umiko and Nariko, answering whatever they said. I watch as Umiko's cheeks color along with Nariko's. I see the longing that fills Nariko's jade orbs as he laughs at Mangetsu.

'He sees it too. It's uncanny how much like our Nii-san Mangetsu is.' I think a soft smile covering my lips as I watch my family enjoy each other.

'I wonder if Mangetsu was always like this or if it's Nii-san's meddling from the after life. Naw best not to think about such things.' I shake my head of these thoughts and join in on the conversation. Our laughter fills the old building as night slowly falls.