hello! long time no see. I spent a while reworking chapter 34 (the orochimaru one) to make it easier to read for those who complained about it. Let me know if it's any better.

"The instant I've done what I need to do, I'll come back."

Those were the words that had convinced Roshi to let her go the Konoha. A solemn promise she had every intention of keeping, even now. Initially, she only planned on staying in Konoha long enough to make sure Sakumo had enough support from Kakashi and the people around him to prevent any further suicide attempts. Then, she could leave the propaganda and the bigotry behind.

Alas! It seemed smothering her with paternal affection was the old man's new favorite coping mechanism.

So unlucky!

Benihime dashed across the snow covered rooftops, arms thrown back in classic Naruto style as she desperately tried to avoid someone else's father. If she could get inside the academy before he found her, she would be safe! Safe to slowly die of boredom as Yukio-sensei force fed the class blatant propaganda, but that was another issuer entirely.

I warned you.

That was only two words away from 'I told you so'.

I did that, too.

She was so distracted as she formed her rebuttal, the hand in her collar caught her completely off guard. The sudden pressure on her throat had her gagging and Mushi buzzed angrily from his place inside her jacket. She reached up with both hands and gripped her captor's wrist, channeling chakra into her fingers to strengthen them. The delicate tendons in the hand gave way under her strength and she was free! She dashed forward and turned to face exactly who she expected to.

"Leave me alone, old man!" She pointed an accusing finger at Sakumo, lips downturned in a snarl. "You're not in charge of me, anymore! You never were!"

The White Fang crossed his arms over his chest, returning her glare with one of his own. Privately, she was happy to see that the dark circles under his eyes weren't as dark as the last time she saw him. His posture was less subdued, shoulders back and chin up. Chasing her around certainly did wonders for his confidence, even if being chased was super annoying.

"Benihime," he said with all the fatherly sternness he could muster. "That's enough. You've made your point."

She mirrored his posture with a scoff. "Clearly I haven't, since you're still following me around like a starving puppy. What about your actual kid, old man? Are you seriously ok with making him hate me?"

His dark eyes flickered with something she almost wanted to call guilt, but it was gone in an instant. "I know where Kakashi sleeps at night and how much he eats every day. He doesn't need my help." Not like you do, was implied.

Therein lay the crux of it. Hatake Sakumo was, unfortunately, a man who needed to be needed. And little baby Kakashi was as aggressively independent as a feral chihuahua. The poor was going through his angst phase ten years too early and his father was taking the brunt of it.

"I don't need you either," she said cruelly. "I never have. You know that, old man. You're the one who needed me."

Sakumo stepped forward, mouth open to say something, but he was interrupted by a long, drawn out wordless shout that echoed in the crisp winter air.

"Oi! Beni! What are you doing? You're gonna be late!"

Benihime's determination to save Obito increased tenfold. She looked down to where her little buddy stood on the street below, his orange goggles standing out in sharp relief against the snow. "I'm coming!"

She stuck her tongue out at Sakumo before jumping down. Obito was all bundled up, face half hidden by an orange scarf. He smiled at her and raised a hand to waive at Sakumo, but the old man was already gone.

It was a sad fact that they were both well used to Sakumo's antics, so they just turned away and began walking to the academy together.

"I heard we're gonna have a different sensei from now on," Obito said through chattering teeth. "Yukio-sensei's leg is all better now, so he's going back to the front lines."

Benihime put on a show of slouching and groaning. "Aw, man. Now I'm gonna have to break in the new guy."

Obito's chuckle was nervous, but at least he was laughing. Benihime remembered his character as someone who openly admired the White Fang, even after his 'dishonorable' death, and who opposed the rules of shinobi conduct when they contradicted his own morals and desires, even before Madara got his hooks in him. This perfect little Uchiha was strange in comparison. Then again, that Obito was twelve. This one was…what, seven?

Christ Almighty, she was seriously surrounded by babies.

At least this baby was trying to be…less babyish? Wow, her IQ was seriously suffering in this stupid Village.

I told you so~.

"Um, Beni? I had a question."

"I might have an answer."

Obito rubbed at his red nose and hesitated before speaking. "Why do you think it's so hard for me to control my chakra?"

She was the exact wrong person to ask that question. And she told him so.

"But, you can do it so easily!"

"I'm also older than you. I was trash when I first started at your age, though, so don't worry about it. You just need more practice."

"But Kakashi can do it!"

"Bakashi is a freak of nature. Do not make him your standard for anything. Ever." Even as an adult that kid would be terrifying. Best to stop Obito's delusions now, before they got out of hand.

"But—!"

Benihime reached out and grabbed Obito's face, forcefully yanking him out of his downward spiral. "Listen. Are you Bakashi?"

"Beni—."

"Is your name Hatake Bakashi?"

"…no."

"Exactly." She released him with a huff, enjoying the little cloud of steam that left her lips. "Bakashi's progress is Bakashi's business. Tobi's is Tobi's, and Beni's is Beni's. Got it?"

Obito shuffled along beside her, clearly dejected by her answer. Ugh. Why were children so much trouble?

I told you—.

Shut it.

"Listen, Tobi," she tried again. "I can understand that looking at Bakashi can be discouraging, but you just need to think about it this way: while he's learning ninja stuff, you're learning people stuff."

"Huh?"

"You see Tobi, most human children spend their childhood learning how to be humans, not ninjas. That means learning how to talk to people, how to read their expressions, when not to say certain things, how to understand sarcasm, etcetera, etcetera. Once that foundation is laid, then they start learning more academic or physical skills. It's just the order of things. Most of the time, anyway.

"Bakashi isn't learning faster than you are," she said seriously, making sure to meet Obito's limpid black eyes and hold them. "He's just learning in a different order than you are. Most of the time, kids who learn like him end up with the short end of the stick, though."

"Why?"

"Because, Tobi, by the time he's ready to learn how to be a human, everyone else around him will be done learning that. And, unfortunately, he'll be at an age where he's expected to know those things and no one will have the patience to teach him, anymore. So, his reputation as a 'Boy Wonder' actually comes at the cost of his social skills."

…

"Why do you know that?"

She shrugged. "I dunno. My nii-chan said it. It makes sense, though." Sorry, Roshi.

"Yeah, I guess so. But, Beni?"

"Yeah?"

"Why do you talk like you're not a human?"

That startled a laugh out of her. "What? Everyone knows Kumo only breeds monsters for its armies."

Obito laughed at her poor imitation of one of their lessons. "You're not even from Kumo."

"Think the new sensei will know that?"

They giggled together like the children they were as they stepped into the academy, only one of them totally oblivious of the tail watching—and listening—as they hurried to their classroom.

Danzo looked over the scrolls on his desk, sneering disdainfully as he tossed the newest one aside.

"She said all that?"

The blank masked Root agent nodded silently, small frame out of place between two adult agents. The three of them knelt on the ground as Danzo stepped around the desk, his cane creating a foreboding rhythm as he approached them. Child agents were rarely any real use, but the war made slipping them into the larger shinobi population so much easier. Long term integration did raise the risk of defection, but taking them back into the fold after the war ended could easily be disguised. Children died in war all the time, after all. Their experience on the outside would also make them better agents as adults.

And this child would prove most vital, if things went according to plan.

"You will continue your surveillance of the girl. Report her every word and action to me. And you." The child did not flinch under his sudden attention. A good sign. "You will enroll in the academy. These two will be your parents, should the need arise. Information regarding your new identities will be provided by your captain. Dismissed."

The newly ordained family left the office without a sound, leaving Danzo alone with a pile of scrolls.

That girl would be of use to the Village. She just needed a few more reasons to give it her all.

After all, if affection could bring her here, then it could very well keep her here.