Tears of sweat ran down my face. Whether because of fear or effort, I could not say. I fought doggedly against his almost infinite strength.
„Well. Is that the way to greet your father? You don't seem to have any respect left." My limbs trembled with tension. The fear threatened to become almost overwhelming. Why did it have to happen today of all days? On my birthday? What was I supposed to do now? My father had a good education behind him and was a Jonin. One of the best ninja warriors of the village. I was no match for such a person.
Quick as a flash and before I could react, he had grabbed my collar with his hand and pulled me up. I gasped because of the lack of oxygen but did not say a word. Silently I endured the terrible pain at my throat. I did not want to give him this satisfaction. No! Actually, I didn't want to show him how weak I was. I wanted him to see what I had become. I was no longer the frightened little Tora.
I would prove that to him here and now. I just had to wait a little longer, even though the collar threatened to strangle me, despite the terrible pain at my throat. Now his face was already awfully close to mine. „Do you know how long I have waited for this moment? I'm going to finish what I started three years ago. No one can help you." He grinned again. I felt sick to my stomach at the look on his face. „You're right." Almost confused, he looked at me and his grip loosened a little. "No one's going to help me." A laugh followed. „I see you get it, little brat." A growl escaped my mouth, making him fall silent.
„I'll help myself." With those words, I let my skull crash against his nose. It cracked. Roughly, I hit the ground. But there was no time left for me. Quickly my hand grabbed the kunai and I slowly walked back, step by step. Always keeping an eye on my father.
When he removed his hand from his nose, my breath caught. It looked strangely twisted, blood running down it and dripping onto the floor. His eyes had taken on a murderous expression. They flashed hatefully at me. Slowly, creepily, he came closer. „You'll regret that." The voice was so soft, yet it boomed louder than any drumbeat in my ears again. I swallowed. Stay strong Tora. You are not as weak as you look.
My hand, which had tightened around the kunai, loosened. Tense, I fixed him and watched his movements. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, then ran toward me and threw three kunai's at my body. At least for the moment, then my body fizzled out, revealing a tree stump. In it were the three throwing knives. I had used the moment when he closed his eyes to apply the jutsu of exchange. But I would probably not succeed a second time. Again, he would certainly not fall for it.
Angrily he roared. I gritted my teeth, because if he discovered me, it could be tight for me. And if I moved now and used my invisibility jutsu, it wouldn't be a good idea either. Because then he would know that I was the intangible and could betray me. Then Naruto would also know about me. No. That couldn't happen. „Come out. Where are you hiding?" His eyes shone eerily in the light of the small alley. „I can see they don't call you the intangible for no reason." My breath caught. No. He couldn't know that. How could he?
Biting pain announced itself at the back of my head. „Gotcha." A small cry of pain escaped my lips. Not again. „Not even that stupid to cut your hair short. I guess it was that little fox bastard's idea. What was his name again?"
„Naruto," I pressed out angrily. "Don't you dare talk about him like that. You have no idea." Furious, I threw those words at him. I didn't care what he would do to me, but I wouldn't let him speak of my friend like that. Then I stopped struggling and his hand around my hair actually eased a little. „Are we about to give up already. Come fight with me. This is boring." He was definitely crazy. And I was ashamed to have such a person as a father. But he had underestimated me. For a long time yet, I didn't think of giving up. That was not my nature.
Early on, as a thief, I had to learn that you couldn't capitulate if you wanted to survive. Persistence and will were as important as the air I needed to breathe. My hands scratched over the sandy ground. Sand. An idea came to me. Hastily, I closed a fist and paused in position. Waited for the right moment. I forced myself to let my breath go violently to feign my fear and excitement. Luckily for me, he couldn't see my eyes, because then he would realize what was burning in them. Pure will, anger and determination. Fear I no longer felt. It seemed to be blown away by the firm determination to prove myself to my father. To show my strength. And I would.
„Are you waiting to die?" purred in my ear.
I shuddered as I felt his breath on my neck. If only he knew. No idea he had. Suddenly, I closed my eyes and threw the sand in the direction where I thought his eyes were. My hair was released, and I could hear him jump backwards. Had I hit him? Uncertainly, I turned and froze.
A tall figure stood in front of my eyes. But it was not my father. The man before my eyes wore a Jonin vest, just like his counterpart. His arms were crossed and in his right hand he held two kunai's.
„You will not touch this girl any further." The words were so quiet that I wasn't sure if he had actually uttered them. They hung menacingly in the air, like a thunderstorm about to storm off. The air also seemed to be frozen. Everything was quiet. Only the irregular breathing of the three of us could be heard.
I couldn't help but stare at my rescuer in amazement. For of all the Jonin there were in the village, I had least expected him. Uncertainly my eyes wandered again over his appearance. He had not changed a bit. He still wore that black mask that covered his mouth and nose. He had pushed up his headband and I suspected that my father was now facing the famous Sharingan.
He seemed to have released himself from his numbness, because he looked at his counterpart with a mixture of hate and ... fear. This was the first time in my life that my father seemed to be afraid of someone and this fact gave me a spark of hope.
„Kakashi Hatake."