DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything from the Naruto universe.
Thinking (+ flashbacks, "Mito speaking to Kurama in her mindscape," etc.)
Emphasis
Bijuu, etc. speaking
Bijuu, etc. thinking
Kakashi sighed miserably after Trouble and Double Trouble walked into the bar he'd escaped to. Knowing that he should've chosen a quiet spot to have a beer in, he'd stupidly followed a song he really liked past a few quieter spots in Konoha. He was simply glad that Gai wasn't here and that he'd successfully escaped Tsunade again. The Otherworld was more of a club than a bar and wasn't the slug hag's scene.
It wasn't really his scene, either, although the music they played was pretty good.
He had not expected the wild Interrogation-via-Orochimaru - ouch - kunoichi to jog in, laughing, and REALLY had not expected her to turn back into the night before dragging his sensei's daughter in. Kakashi chuckled to himself and then choked when he saw what Mito was wearing as she came around the bar, glaring into every corner and pulling the end of her very short dress down repeatedly until Anko swatted away her hands. She gave a nod in his direction although Kakashi was fairly sure he was hidden.
Damn sensors. …Leggy sensors.
Thinking back, he realized that Mito wasn't at all the brat he remembered her as being - duh: that's pretty damn obvious - and that he'd not paid attention to her appearance when she flashed into the cave earlier today wearing baggy black shorts, combat boots, knee pads, and an old concert tee shirt that she'd tied in a high knot over her seal; he'd been in too much pain as he knelt on that cold, rocky floor. Kakashi had also been concentrating, staring at the seals on the floor - and hoping he wouldn't have to fight one or TWO demon foxes - or the only kunoichi known to have a kill count supposedly as high as his own.
Maybe higher: and almost all in one go, they say.
It had also been more than disheartening - painful - that his sensei had earlier mentioned that the site had been where his children were born - which meant that it was where Obito attacked Kushina-nee. How Minato and Mito pushed past that and seemed so unaffected was beyond him. They were obviously stronger people than he was. He figured that Naruto probably didn't know the significance of the cave and certainly wasn't going to tell him.
Kakashi was surprised and taken out of his glum thoughts when Yugao pulled Hayate and Yuhi Kurenai into the establishment. He'd been very worried about Yugao and was glad to see her back in Konoha. Asuma followed them only a minute later, holding a package while Yugao, interestingly enough, began chatting a wide-eyed Mito's head off. Channeling chakra to his ears only made the music louder since he was sitting under a large speaker so Kakashi realized that he was going to have to join them if he wanted to talk to his kohai.
Yugao and Mito seemed capable of being fast friends although Mito, as always these days, seemed very cautious although she was obviously trying to be friendly enough. Hayate walked around the club and back into the corner, coughing as usual, until he slid into the large corner booth on the far side of him.
"Yo."
"Yo. Didn't know that you were out of the hospital."
"Mm," Kakashi responded as he watched a few more Jonins show up. Ah: they're having a get-together for Mito's birthday. Anko had just attempted to put a little cone hat on Mito's head. He had forgotten that it was today although Minato-sensei had mentioned it when he sprung him from the hospital earlier. "Didn't know Yuges was back."
"Yeah, finally! Genma led the mission but from what Yu-chan said, hime-sama just flashed in there and grabbed her out of a cell - right in front of Lava no Mei. They were back from Kiri within a few hours of leaving Konoha."
Kakashi nodded. He was very glad that his kohai was safe but it sounded to him like Mito may have made the team mission - one that was supposed to evaluate her teamwork abilities, he guessed - a solo endeavor instead. "She was alone?"
"Yu-chan said that Jiraiya-sama has some civilians on the payroll over there," Hayate responded with a yawn, misunderstanding what Kakashi was talking about, "and he's got some Kiri nins on the books, too. But in the end, she did get caught: only Yugao, though." He covered his mouth and began coughing before bringing up the latest he'd heard about Asuma and Kurenai.
Kakashi listened to the non-news as the group approached him - I should've sat at a smaller table - and wound up with the birthday girl sitting on the other side of him as Asuma argued with Anko about what Mito was wearing. Mito's face was as red as a tomato - bad analogy, bad analogy! - and Kakashi could almost see her pulse racing. Choosing to take pity on her, he said hello but continued to hide behind his book. He smirked when she did the same thing with another she pulled out of the weapons pouch she wore on her very long, shapely legs. Sadly it was not the new book he was hoping to get a peek at.
"Where are you at?"
Kakashi backed his head up as the redhead - no, that's not right: she's still as blonde as she is redheaded - was way too close. "Haha. Ah… Personal space?"
"Ah! Sorry about that," she flinched, rubbing the back of her neck as sensei always did. Mito half-disappeared behind the book again although it was facing him now. Cloak of Lightning, her book's title read. Mito peeked out from the side of it. "So?"
"So?" Kakashi drawled, not looking at her.
"Where are you at? In the book!"
"Maa, this is Makeout Paradise."
"Yeah. No shit."
Kakashi's eye twitched although he still didn't understand how a female could read or handle these books. Maybe the soon-to-be-released Icha-Icha wasn't that good - blasphemy: what's wrong with you, Kakashi? Jiraiya-sama would never fail his devoted readers - or some of THOSE scenes were much more subdued in it?
Or perhaps if it was real yaoi, Mito was into it because of (only) guys having sex which would be a bummer and a crime against Jiraiya-sama's heartfelt genius. He'd like to think he was an open-minded person but that didn't mean that he was INTO guys having sex. Although maybe he was… He'd have to read Jiraiya-sama's work to decide how compelling it could be. "My primary affinity is lightning," he said. That was related to her Cloak of Lightning book, right? Hey, he was trying!
He wanted that unreleased book.
"Hm? Did you say something?" Anko was scolding Mito for reading at the table and generally sucking as a human being but since Kakashi pulled up a book in front of him - in front of everyone - Mito thought it would be okay.
- Alright, Mito definitely knew that it was not polite but she was really nervous. For a few moments, her (somewhat lame) book about a journalist's undercover efforts at romancing the Raikage(s) - why would anyone do that? - had definitely helped with her jitters.
And that was when Gai ran in.
…
How that man could always sniff him out was beyond Kakashi. As he tried to ignore the Green (Menace) Beast, Kakashi noticed that an ANBU team had flashed outside. Sure enough, his henged sensei (he usually only darkened his hair while in the village) entered the place, looking very tired and bent out of shape.
"God… Ah, damnit," Mito groaned as she lifted her book higher, trying to hide from her father. She eventually peeked over it and fake-smiled at him after what felt like a long time, knowing that she'd have to have a talk with him tomorrow. The last thing Mito needed was being followed around even more than she already was - and by the Hokage, no less. Choosing to ignore him - and to ignore Kakashi from here on out since she'd noticed the subtle nods he and her father had given each other - she smiled up at Gai as Asuma introduced them. "We met a long time ago… several times," she said as she reached out her hand. Gai turned it over and very wetly kissed it, making her squeak and try to pull it away.
"Beautiful flower! I am sure that I'd remember meeting someone so lovely and youthful…"
Kakashi became so gleeful he felt like (if he weren't so cool) he'd vibrate right out of his seat! Minato-sensei was glaring at a poetry-spewing Gai and Kakashi would bet that his so-called rival would be going on a very long mission soon. Too bad he has Genins right now; otherwise, we might not see Gai for YEARS! He got up when he saw Minato order a drink, Gai, unfortunately, following him.
Or at least that's what he'd tell anyone that asked.
Mito softly pulled on his arm, pulling Kakashi toward her before he could leave. "Is he still a lightweight?" she asked in a low whisper. She'd only seen her father drink once. A glass of wine - she thought it had been wine - had sent him into Hopelessly Silly Land before he'd tripped over a fairly large kotatsu and sprained his wrist. Kakashi nodded and left with him not too much later - after her father spoke with Asuma, which was a total drag since he most likely asked Asuma to keep an eye on her. She felt SO much better without him there and apologized sheepishly to the ninjas around her. They were all very nice, and couldn't care less, they said - or pretended that was the case. They were funny and seemed to all be friends.
Normal people. I'm sitting with normal people and it's... cool.
It was such a small thing and yet for Mito, it gave her hope that Konoha would be an alright place to live and that one of these days she'd calm her ass down.
It was very nice to be included, and Anko had been right: there were far fewer people out this late at night in this section of the village. Asuma had brought a gift that turned out to be carrot cake (with no disgusting raisins) and Mito was so happy, she bought a round of drinks for everyone. "Asuma, thank you! You always remember my favorite!"
"Of course, I do," Asuma smiled - although his eyes were focused on Kurenai.
Later that night (more like very early the next morning,) Mito, Anko, Kurenai, and Asuma were the last ones to leave. They went to a nearby, 24-hour diner to feed Mito's black hole of a stomach.
"How ya feeling?" Asuma asked before yawning.
"Good! I had fun tonight," Mito replied truthfully. Kurenai and Asuma shared a look that she couldn't interpret.
"And things went okay with Naruto-kun?"
Kurenai and Anko had really wanted to ask earlier but there were too many people around. Anko was not going to ask about something like that in Hokage-sama's own place.
Mito shrugged, guessing that the "non-sealing" had gone well enough. "I… just don't know how to relate to him. I knew he'd grown up a lot - I mean, I'm not an idiot, right? But seeing him in front of me: he's so big, ya know?" Asuma looked thoughtful and Kurenai was sweet enough to pat her hand.
"Did you notice any problems with the seals?" Asuma finally asked in just over a whisper.
"Not that I know of, and his is strong," although Kurama's not telling or guaranteeing anything, Mito thought. They ate in silence for a while and Mito found herself worrying more and more about how to relate to her family on a day-to-day basis - especially since she would be sort of living with them.
And right behind the Hokage Tower! Ugh.
Asuma finally groaned: watching his sister pull at her hair and bite her lips while she worried was exhausting. He would much rather see her stuff her face than this. "I wouldn't worry about Naruto-kun too much, Mito," he offered almost flippantly as he took another breath of the nicotine that was fueling him at this late/early hour. Smiling at her as he blew the smoke back up and out moments later, he explained his thoughts. "You'll do fine. You're a first-class sister even if you are a total brat."
Mito bit back a smile. "You! Just when I could hug you for being nice or something…" She then whispered, "Thank you, Asuma."
"I have a cousin who hadn't seen her nephew, whom she had been close to, in years," Kurenai added. She and Asuma had discussed Mito's worries over her little brother before. "She was… too eager with him at first. –If you find yourself feeling that you're doing too much or he seems uncomfortable, just ease back and let Naruto-kun lead the way." She suddenly realized that she was advising the Leaf Princess on matters within the Hokage's family. Kurenai probably would've never spoken so openly had she not been so tired and tipsy. "I'm very sorry; I overstepped."
"No," Mito insisted. "No, you didn't! I appreciate your advice. …That's good to know and makes sense. I'll just… see how it goes, I guess. And thank you, Kurenai-chan. Very much." She liked Kurenai a lot. Turning to Asuma, she remembered something she needed to get back to him. "Hey, As… Your, ah… Your sisters' guitars and drums are back at my place." Kurenai looked back and forth between them while Anko could tell that Mito was uncomfortable.
Anko was glad that then she didn't hit that drum set as hard as she had wanted to - because she had REALLY wanted to try to rock out on that thing.
"I wondered what had happened to that crap…"
"Asuma!"
"What?!" Asuma exclaimed. "I forgot about them and really am glad they're still around - that's good... Right?"
"I'll bring them to your place," Mito offered.
"No way! They'll get torn to pieces when the guys come over."
Mito sighed. "I'll talk to Hideki, then."
"Whatever, but I hope I can play 'em first. But It's 0300! Let's get outta here - my shift starts in a few hours," Anko said before loudly demanding a few to-go boxes. Mito had ordered enough food for a large family. What a pig.
.
Naruto looked up from his breakfast as Mito and a "scantily-clad" (that's what his dad called those kinds of clothes) lady he'd met once before, he was pretty sure, peeked into the kitchen. His sister had hunched down in front of the lady, glaring at Momo-san and stealthily moving toward her while signaling him to be quiet and twirling a kunai. "Mito-ch- Ane, um, wait! Momo-san's supposed to be here, ya know!"
Mito hummed and palmed her kunai while Anko romped right up and began piling potentially poisonous food on a plate. "Momo-san," Mito glowered. "What is your relationship with my father and little brother?"
"Hime-sama," the woman jumped (almost out of her skin!) "Welcome back… And good morning, um," she looked toward the guest she hadn't seen before.
"Mitarashi Anko," Anko answered with a mouthful of eggs. They were awesome and had all kinds of good crap in them: vegetables, meat, and spices and stuff.
"Momo-san's me and Dad's chef, 'ttebayo."
Mito grinned at their shared verbal tic. Her father had mentioned it more than a few times but…
CHEF? She tilted her head as she considered that while this supposed chef patiently scolded her little brother about using better grammar and not speaking with his mouth full - while giving a pointed glance at her best friend, probably for her occasional (HA!) lack of manners. Her father, Mito remembered, was an okay cook but he probably didn't have much time to do that, huh?
Naruto scratched his chin as he observed the purple-haired, mesh-wearing lady. "Oi. Did you sleep here, lady?"
Anko snorted while Naruto was scolded again by the cook. She eventually nodded (and slowly winked at the orange brat) with what she hoped was a sinful look on her face - and then saucily snuck an arm around her totally oblivious friend who'd finally sat down next to her and began madly stuffing her piehole.
The night before, Mito-chan had been surrounded by a few of the finest-ass Jonins in the village - most of whom were falling all over themselves for her (or shoulda been, in her esteemed opinion) and Mi just cluelessly grinned at them like an idiot or covered her goofy face with a weird book about the fucking Raikage. "Chew your food, Mi. Don't just swallow it... Sweetheart. Kaaaay?" Anko brushed her finger along Mito's jaw while Mito glared at her and pulled her plate away as if she was going to take her food.
She might now do it just because.
- Or try to. Mito loved her food, though. Anko knew she might get stabbed if she went for it.
Naruto gasped and pointed at the two of them. "Are you two LESBIAN LOVERS?!"
Mito began choking on her eggs, wishing she had taken Anko's advice about chewing although poisoned or not, the food is so fucking good. She thought that Anko was pounding on her back but then jumped when she realized her father had materialized out of nowhere and it was him trying to help her. At first.
Geez, it was going to be weird to be around someone else flashing around again.
Minato smiled down at his daughter and her… very good friend. —Whom had spent the night. "Are you two… you know?"
"What is WRONG with you two?" Mito cried when she could finally swallow and breathe. Thankfully, the chef-person had begun humming very loudly and turned away from them. "OH, sorry, Naruto-chan: there's nothing wrong with you. –Except for that question. Shut up, Anko!" Anko was shaking with laughter. "And no, by the way. Also, Tou-san: you're not allowed to ask me things like that."
Minato huffed and got some food, thanking Momo, before he sat down across from the girls. "Why can't I ask? I want to be involved in your life, Mito-chan. –I wouldn't think any less of you or anyone else who made those choices."
"Well, thank you for your support, Hokage-sama," Anko said with a quiet clap of her hands. "I've gotta tell ya, though: Mito doesn't have much of a life."
- "Those choices:" ha, Anko thought.
Mito pouted at her smirking friend before pointing her chopsticks at her father and then brother. "You can't just ask someone about something so personal. I'm sure you don't do that to other people." Her father looked properly scolded but her brother still looked excited about the whole idea or conversation at least. Just how much had Ero-ojii been around and corrupting him?! "And anyway, including you two in even my thoughts about something like that would make you far TOO involved in my… well, in certain aspects of my life, 'ttebane. Honestly…"
"I'm a proud lesbian, Hokage-sama," Anko grinned. –The man did basically ask! She got up to get some more food, laughing when she saw the brat brother's big blue eyes bug out of his head. He's 11, so he probably thinks lesbians are fictional, imaginary beings unless things have changed a lot at the Academy. Anko appreciated that Mito gave her a big thumbs up for being herself in front of the Hokage but it seemed the conversation was moving on.
"That's nice, Anko-san. …Close your mouth, Naruto," Minato scolded before turning his irritated, tired eyes toward his daughter and addressing her quietly. "We need to talk about last night."
"What happened last night?" Naruto questioned eagerly. From the look on his dad's face, it seemed like Mito might be getting into trouble. Could an old girl/lady like his big sis get into trouble with their dad? He started giggling just thinking about it. It would be great if his big sis took his dad's Hyuuga-like all-seeing-eyes away from him and his pranks!
His dad accused him of getting away with too much but he had NO idea of just how much crazy stuff Uzumaki Naruto was capable of doing!
Mito grinned at her little brother - giving him a wink and enjoying the way his blue eyes sparkled with mischief. It was so nice just to be sitting there with him. "I'll tell ya later." Turning toward her father, she stretched. "We can talk about it later, too, hm? I was hoping to walk Naruto to school before my shift starts." Well, before Tsunade-hime hands my ass to me. Mito realized that having agreed to spar with the woman this morning, (before she went and stayed out so late,) wasn't her greatest idea.
Minato crossed his arms and looked put out with Anko being there which made Mito throw a quick glare/combined pout at him. Anko was her best friend and Mito liked having her around.
Having her there was a lot better than being all alone in that sealed tight, flashy pseudo-apartment.
Naruto, in the meantime, wasn't sure what to do. He didn't need someone to walk to school with him and hadn't for years but… It might be nice to show off his sister. "I uh… guess I don't mind today, 'ttebayo."
"Ah," Mito grinned sheepishly. "Forgive me for not asking you first, eh, Naruto?"
Naruto snorted. Mito, it seemed, was too polite sometimes. "You're dumb."
"Naruto!"
Now it was Mito's turn to snort.
.
Sasuke watched as the Dobe showed off his older, hair-attacking, wild-animal-loving medic sister to his classmates. Jealousy burned within him, making his stomach churn. He tried to turn away. Part of him knew it was wrong: Naruto hadn't even KNOWN of his sister until recently but Itach… That Man…
Why did he do it?!
Everyone was now looking at the Uchihas with wariness and there were all kinds of rumors swirling about them. Sasuke hated it!
His mother had finally come back home but had her chakra suppressed with a seal. No matter what she said - no matter how supposedly temporary it was - Sasuke knew it wasn't right. Why had Hokage-sama ordered it?! She wouldn't say why his older broth… Why HE did what he did but she kept talking and TALKING about him! –Crying over her oldest son!
Itachi wasn't innocent! He'd killed their father and so many others! Ita- HE told him to hate him and kill him one day!
"You are not worth killing…when you have the same eyes as I do, come stand before me."
- So I will. –Or I'll at least find him and then I'll…
"Oi, Teme! This is Mito-nee-chan, my big sister!" Mito looked down but chuckled at the name he'd called his little rival before looking back up and smiling at the boy.
She winked at her brother, though. "I'm not sure that's a proper introduction, Naru-kun."
Sasuke didn't want to be reminded of his time in the hospital - nor why he had to be there. "We've met."
Naruto took a step back. "Ehhhhhhhhhh?! What do you mean 'you met her,' Bastard?!" Mito ruffled his hair but gave him a strange, almost motherly look as she then gently continued to hold the top of his head for a second - looking at him with those multi-colored, psychedelic eyes of hers. "Motherly?" She's not my mom or guardian! That's just WEIRD.
"Naruto, please don't call your friends names like that, ne?" Naruto slapped her hand away, surprising her. "Sorry." She hadn't even hugged her little brother yet while he was conscious and was trying to be respectful of his boundaries. Things had been going so well…
If it was up to her, she'd pick him up and hug his little orange-loving brains out. Then she'd pinch and rub on his chubby whiskered cheeks.
"Hn."
Mito raised an eyebrow at the surly kid who felt like he'd enjoyed that little interaction between her brother and her. Sometimes being a sensor sucks. Sasuke quickly walked into the Academy, looking a little afraid of her.
Until you act right, kid? Good. She stared after him and clicked her tongue in annoyance before shaking it off. Sasuke-chan was undoubtedly dealing with a lot of pressure and trauma. She needed to check his status and ensure that he was getting help.
Sora barrelled into her (followed by Konohamaru-chan) - both offering fierce but quick hugs - and Naruto REALLY began to steam. Mito asked Naru to stay with her for a moment while his friends soon went to class and gave him a sad smile. "I wanted to come to see YOU as soon as I came back, otouto. You know why I was delayed, but we took care of it, right?" –She hoped that things were taken care of, regarding the fox.
"Sure. Whatever." Naruto didn't need to think about this right now, especially not after an asshole fox was threatening his family and village all night long. Then just now - after having a couple of hours of peace - that damn fox started whispering horrible things at him again about Mito and Sasuke!
Mito watched her little brother run into the Academy, waving slightly at a bunch of little kids who were watching her from Konohamaru's class and then doing the same to the girls in Naruto's class who were gossiping and pointing at her from the floor above them. As soon as she knew they couldn't see her anymore, she slumped and wondered what she'd done wrong.
"I'll keep trying, Kaa-chan."
"I don't suppose you have any advice?"
Man, did she ever wish that her mother could answer.
