I'm aliiiive and back!

I'm so sorry for taking so long, but here it is, Chapter 15 of Joyous Children. Thank you all for staying with me until now, for favoriting, following and, best of all, reviewing it! This fic wouldn't be what it is without you and I would be even happier if those of you who haven't said something yet, did. (Yes, I am looking at you, the ~700 silent followers).

To make up for the long wait there is not only this new chapter but also an omake! I've opened a new series with the name Joyous Children Side fics which will be filled with the things that didn't make it into the main story, e.g. POVs that didn't fit as Interludes, AUs and missing scenes. First up is Sakumo's POV of what happened in the last chapter. So, go, check it out, and tell me how you liked it!

(Btw, sharing your love for Sakumo with me gives me life.)

This chapter is beta'ed, as always by NightsBlackRose13. And as always, they have made me a better writer again.

Chapter 15: Transitions

I don't see Sakumo for weeks, even months after my birthday.

)()()(

New Year comes and goes, and for the next weeks, the days blur together into one endless string of taijutsu training, honing my Sharingan, weapons training, honing my chakra control and more taijutsu training.

Yashiro is as relentless as ever, driving me to my very limits and beyond as I clench my teeth and work myself to the bones. I can't say how many hours a week I spend on the training field, but I can sense that it's starting to pay off: the intervals before exhaustion settles in become longer and longer and even though I have no absolute certainty, I'm confident that I'm getting faster and stronger with a constant pace.

Toshiro continues sulking, but I can see that he, too, is steadily improving. Negative encouragement does get you somewhere, apparently. I'm just not sure how screwed up our relationship will be after this is over, but I freely admit that I simply don't care at the moment – which is probably highly inadvisable, I know. Had I more time – and energy – to think about this, I would possibly try to find a way to make things work because I happen to know how petty sentiments in the Uchiha clan tend to lead to huge disasters. But even my attention span can only hold out for so long, so I delay this problem for now.

We're still young, after all.

As to Naoko … well. Ever since that messed up competition with Toshiro has started, I can't help but feel that she takes his "defeats" really personal. The air between us, not particularly warm and comfy to begin with, has cooled down even further.

Yeah. So.

She is his mother, I guess. Thus, another file added to the "problems-that-can't-be-helped-right-now"-cabinet. I sincerely hope that it stays the last one of that kind for a while.

In between all this, there's barely enough time to spend with my baby brother, but I try to keep up a few constants. I never let him go to sleep without a lullaby – and I think my skill for translating English songs into Japanese has slowly become award-worthy, by the way – play with him for an hour after lunch and tell him about my day. I don't imagine him to understand everything I say, of course, but besides the nice feeling of somebody listening to me without any expectations of hearing something in particular, I reckon that it's good for his speech development, too.

And it works. I'm very proud when one day, after I've finished the obligatory lullaby, he tugs at my sleeve and asks "Sing me another song, nee-jaa?" with big, hopeful puppy eyes. He receives an excited squeal, a proper cuddling and – naturally – the requested song.

I'm also pleased to say that it doesn't stay a single occurrence.

Somewhere in this flow of everyday business there's some sleep and eating, too, but they're such small variables of the equation that it hardly counts towards the end product. Besides, sleep is something that I try to avoid. I still get too many too colorful pictures of one particular corpse blending in with my first kill.

I wish I could just turn them off.

)()()(

On February 10th, I take the whole day off. It's Obito's first birthday, after all.

After breakfast – bland Uchiha faces and the occasional meaningful grunt as usual – I wait for Naoko to clear the kitchen. I don't want her there for my first attempt at cooking.

Because here is the thing.

I've never made anything even remotely resembling a bento box lunch. It's not that I haven't ever cooked. I have, really. But it has never been anywhere near the almost artistic creations that are presented as meals here. Call me prideful, but I don't want her to witness the less than elegant way with which I'm going to prepare Obito's and my lunch. Beside other difficulties, I'll probably have to climb chairs a lot to reach the working space, thanks to the shortness of my body. So, Obito is the only one allowed to stay. He watches me with unbridled curiosity and occasionally demands to know the name of the kitchen equipment that I'm currently using.

Before long, I'm in the middle of boiling rice in a pot and trying to figure out what to do next. I quickly have to admit to myself that I have virtually no clue about what to put into an onigiri as a filling or how I get the rice to stick together and that this is usually the point at which I would grab my smartphone and browse through my favorite cooking app or Google. Or, even more often, call my mom.

Obviously, neither of this is going to work here. Man, how I miss the comforts of my old life.

"What are you trying to accomplish?"

I nearly fall off the stool when Yashiro's voice suddenly cuts through the void of helplessness that presently occupies my mind and I whip my head around so fast that my own hair smacks me in my face. Yashiro is standing in the doorway, eyeing me and my efforts with a deep scowl that leaves no doubt about his judgement on my skills in the kitchen.

Hmph.

Sneaking sneak doing that sneaky ninja thing again.

I really need to find a way to prevent myself from jumping out of my skin every single time someone approaches me with less noise than a horde of elephants.

"I'm cooking" I say defensively, tightening the grip on the wooden spoon in my right hand. I have developed a habit of becoming really tense in the presence of Yashiro. Which, uh, is kind of a constant thing since I'm living in his house.

Said person's scowl deepens even further, leaving veritable trenches on his forehead and at the corners of his mouth. There is a rather long moment of awkward silence, only interrupted by the bubbling sound of boiling water. Even Obito has gone still, his fist stuffed into his mouth and smothering the slightest peep that tries to leave his throat.

It makes me pause.

Is this something that he was made to learn? While I've been away, training? Here, in this house?

Which is supposed to be his home?

Before I can make more sense out of his behavior or, more probable, build up a rage first, Yashiro clears his throat. His gaze sweeps over the workspace and me again and I expect him to let out some kind of scathing remark – but he doesn't. Instead, he turns around and leaves.

I blink.

That's it?

I shake my head, blink again and lo and behold, he's back and coming towards me with purposeful strides. "Your hand" he grunts when he's only one foot away from me and I do as I'm told.

He reaches out, too, and I feel a leathery object being put into my hand.

It's a purse.

"Lunch money. Don't spend it all on sweets."

My jaw literally drops to the ground.

"I … this …" I stammer.

Smooth. Smoothest 'thank you' of the century, Etsuko.

Yashiro just grunts again and turns to leave. He stops in the doorway.

"Clean up the mess here before you leave."

And then he's gone.

)()()(

„Nee-jaa, look!" Obito crows excitedly, pointing with one chubby finger at something in the trees. I squint in an attempt to make out what he wants me to see from the bench we're sitting on and notice something small, grey and furry darting through the branches.

„That's a squirrel, Obi" I tell him sagely. "They're mammals that live on trees and eat seeds, bark, nuts and sometimes other stuff as well. I think they're omnivores, though that might only be the case for the red squirrels from Euro- … err, that I read about. Somewhere. Like, in a book."

I grimace. Oh man. Good thing that he doesn't understand too much, yet. I would have been bad if he'd started asking about red squirrels that don't even exist here.

Obito ignores my glaringly obvious slip-up and scrunches up his nose in concentration. „Squi-well" he says slowly, chewing on the syllables as if to make sure that every bit of linguistic value is properly squeezed out.

"Yup" I nod.

"Squi-well" he repeats. "Is fast!"

"Yup. Now let's try and finish this ice cream before it melts and drips on the floor, shall we?"

"Ice cream!" he agrees, flailing happily with his arms while I try not to accidentally smear the treat into his face.

I think he likes it fair enough.

I mean, of course he does. Who doesn't like ice cream, really?

In general, I think that the day has gone pretty well until now. We'd been exploring the village the whole morning, gotten ourselves lunch at Ichiraku's – yes, I did it, I had to, don't judge me – and since there was some leftover money, I'd bought Obito his first ice cream ever. You know, since Yashiro only said not to spend all the money on sweets. Besides, I don't categorize ice cream as that. I firmly believe that it's something more in the direction of 'basic foods'.

Anyways.

Currently we're sitting on a bench near Team 7's bridge. Our next destination is the playground, as soon as Obito has finished eating.

On the way there, Obito entertains me with a constant stream of cheery babbling. It doesn't all make sense but that's beside the point. I feel as if this is the first time in forever that we're both able to relax completely and just enjoy being siblings. I almost feel sorry when we finally arrive at the playground, but that feeling of disappointment quickly makes place for surprise when Obito spots something, or rather someone, interesting.

There, on a bench at the edge of the playground, is an older lady with a little boy on her lap. A boy with silver-grey hair of a shade that I have only ever seen twice until now, namely on the head of that exact same boy and his father.

Fancy seeing Kakashi here. And I'm totally not looking for him, but, you know – where is Sakumo?

Obito tugs at my shirt, demanding to be taken over there since he apparently remembers his sandbox buddy from the last time. I comply since I don't have any better plans anyway.

The lady is talking to Kakashi who seems to be listening intently. As we get closer, I can make out her low, soothing voice.

"… but the village chose Hashirama-sama, thus making him our very first Hokage. They chose him because he was the strongest shinobi of his time, maybe even now. He earned his moniker 'God of Shinobi' already when he was still alive. In addition to that, he was kind and wise and laid down the foundations which make Konoha the strong village that it is today."

I come to a halt a couple of feet before the bench, just when she finishes with what seems to be a recounting of Hashirama's life and both of its occupants direct their gazes on us. I make a small bow.

"Good afternoon, obaa-san. I'm sorry if I interrupted you, I didn't mean to."

The lady smiles kindly. "Don't worry, dear. I had just finished talking anyway. So, what are your names?"

I adjust my grip on Obito who has started squirming impatiently as I reply to her question. "I'm Uchiha Etsuko and this is my brother Obito. I am pleased to meet you."

"So am I, Etsuko-chan, Obito-chan. My name is Takahashi Ume and this –" here she gently nudges Kakashi, "is Hatake Kakashi. Kakashi dear, say hello."

Kakashi, verily much unimpressed, doesn't. Ume chuckles, though it sounds a tad too resigned to be mistaken for pure humor.

"He actually can" she says in apology. "He just doesn't always want to."

"It's alright" I assure her. "We know each other already anyway."

Ume-san's eyebrows shoot up. "Oh, is that so?"

"Sakumo-san introduced us." Before I can elaborate further on that, I'm interrupted by Obito's hand. Precisely, it being planted squarely on my face.

Ouch.

"Nee-jaa, down!"

"Whoa, calm down there, Obi!" My baby brother stops squirming just long enough to let me set him down on the bench, directly next to Ume and Kakashi. He then proceeds to casually invade the other boy's private space by reaching up and poking him in the cheek, the action strongly reminiscent of their very first encounter.

"Kashi!" he exclaims triumphantly.

Oops. I might need to explain to him the basic principles of socially acceptable behavior soon. Like, don't go around randomly poking other people's faces. Especially in a shinobi village. They tend to react unfavorably.

On the bright side, he did just prove that he remembered Kakashi's name. Impressive, considering that the day they met was actually the day he uttered his first word.

Kakashi, meanwhile, has adopted a slightly horrified expression. His voice sounds tiny when he reacts to Obito's enthused straightforwardness with a quick scramble deeper into Ume's lap and a moderately loud „No!"

To be honest, I'd probably react the same. Only Gai could be more head-on.

Two seconds later I realize that Kakashi has spoken a proper word. How old is he again?!

Obito looks not so much surprised about Kakashi's linguistic prowess but crestfallen. He has been rather harshly rejected, after all. His eyes have gone into full-blown kicked-puppy-mode as he lets out a sorrowful „No?" that's giving its best to pierce directly into the heart.

I smirk inwardly.

He's starting to show signs of becoming a master manipulator.

Um. Which is what actually made him one of the most dangerous villains, if not the most dangerous villain, in canon Narutoverse. I quickly wipe off my inner smirk.

Blessedly unaware of my sudden discomfort, Ume lets out a hearty laugh. She turns to Obito.

"You'll have to be patient with him, Obito-chan. Kakashi-chan is very shy."

Kakashi-chan, huh? I snort quietly. I don't deny it, as Elizabeth, I used to be a huge Kakashi fan and seeing him now, not only as a baby but also being treated like one, is bizarrely funny.

It is also quite adorable. I could get used to that.

)()()(

The rest of the afternoon plays out like this: We leave the bench after Obito convinces me to build castles in the sandbox since Kakashi doesn't seem to be interested in him at all. At some point during a rather convoluted attempt of mine to try and teach him the secret to my amazingly advanced castle-building-technique, there is a light tug at the back of my shirt. I turn my head to see who is behind me.

It's Ume. She is in a crouching position, with Kakashi in her arms, his hand already on its way back from where it has touched the fabric of my shirt.

"Excuse me" she says with a smile. "Do you mind if Kakashi-chan joins you? He wants to learn what you're teaching your brother."

Obito perks up visibly.

"Sure" I say, shuffling a bit to the side to allow a tiny bit of space between my brother and me. Kakashi crawls in effortlessly.

Hours pass and when the sun is near the horizon, both boys are able to build passable sand castles.

"I'm going to be here with Kakashi-chan twice a week" Ume says when we get ready to leave for or respective homes. "Maybe you want to join us sometimes?"

"Gladly" I reply.

)()()(

It's exactly what we do. Play dates, twice a week, without fail. We quickly move from building sand castles on to other things and I witness both of the boys taking their literal first steps. I have no idea what kind of pace is normal for the motoric development of babies since I myself haven't exactly been an normal case and I lack any kind of experience, but I'm pretty sure that bringing the both of them together has made an accelerating impact.

I also learn things.

I learn that Ume is a retired kunoichi, a good friend of Kakashi's mother, who babysits Kakashi as long as Sakumo and Sayu, Sakumo's wife and said boy's mother, are out and fighting a war. That Kakashi doesn't bother very much with other kids his age, except for Obi. That the Sandaime is negotiating an alliance with Suna and that he's probably going to succeed since Suna has far more to gain by siding with Konoha than by standing against it.

And finally, that Nara Shikaku without his facial scars looks almost like a carbon copy of his future son.

What appears to be a random observation is, in fact, just that: completely random.

I quite literally run into him on my way home from one of the play dates. Deeply involved in a mock game of tag with Obi, I'm not too observant of what might be walking around on the streets and suddenly, there is something solid in my face and a muffled "oof". I unceremoniously fall on my butt and when I look up, I have to keep my jaw from dropping, because, as I said – boy, the likeness. He also seems to be around 12-ish.

"Oi" he says, and, oh gosh, even the voice – "You alright?"

He stretches out his hands to help me get up, but before I can grasp it, there is a second "oof" and the dull thud of another behind meeting the ground as something small barrels into him with a loud war cry.

"Nee-jaaaaaa!"

Ah, that's Obito, then.

Shikaku mutters something suspiciously sounding like "troublesome" from where he is sitting, with my little brother clutching at his leg like a monkey, and the picture is just too precious.

I break out into unrestrained guffaws.

Obito turns to look at me, probably startled by the strange spluttering noises coming out of my mouth, and releases his hold on Shikaku. He trudges over to me and I embrace him in a hug, still laughing so hard that tears are threatening to spill from my eyes.

When I finally calm down, still hiccupping and stifling silly little giggles, I see that the other boy as stood up again. I don't wait for him to offer his hand again and stand up on my own.

"I apologize for that, Nara-san" I say with a small bow.

He doesn't reply immediately after that and when I get back up with a raised eyebrow, I notice him quickly rearranging his expression into something neutral.

My amusement dies down as suddenly as it appeared. What was that?

"No harm done" he says. "Though I admit that you have me at a disadvantage here. What's your name?"

Aaand here it comes – the realization that I've made a huge mistake.

We have never met before. I am therefore not supposed to know who he is.

Damn. And with a Nara nonetheless. I could hit myself.

"I, uh … Uchiha Etsuko" I say as I plaster a nervous grin on my face. "And this is my brother, Obito. Nice to meet you!"

Something strange happens then.

For the fraction of a second, his eyes widen in surprise and something else, but before I can identify what it is exactly, they have recovered to their normal state. Though they seem a bit more guarded now.

I frown. Surely, the name Uchiha can't be that intimidating?

"Nice to meet you, too" he says, voice sounding as unperturbed as before. "Are you heading somewhere?"

"Ah, no, I was actually on my way home from the playground."

"Ah. Well, it was nice speaking to you. I'm sure we'll meet again." He tips two of his fingers at his head in farewell.

I mimic him. "Yeah, see you around!"

When he's left, Obito tugs at my shirt and I scoop him up into my arms. On the whole way back to Yashiro's, I can't stop thinking about the encounter with Shikaku, especially his last sentence. He sounded so sure about us meeting again.

I wonder why that is.

)()()(

"Are you ready, yet? We mustn't let Takao-sama wait."

"Yes, Yashiro-san. I'm ready to go."

Yashiro gives me a once-over, face set in a scowl, and finally deems me fit for presentation.

It's one week before the start of the academy. The afternoon is cold but sunny, heralding the fast approach of spring, and I'm on my way to … I actually don't know what. I only know that Takao-sama, who's come back at some point and sent Fugaku back to the front again, wants to meet me, but knowing the tendencies of my clan I'm going to hazard the guess that this is going to be about honor and duty to the clan.

Sometimes, my folks are predictable like that.

I am clad in a formal dark blue yukata, embroidered with a big Uchiha fan on my back, calf length leggings and proper shinobi sandals. It is definitely more practical than the kimono outfit I had to wear for Obito's induction ceremony, but practicability hadn't been the point then.

On our way to the house of the clan head, we don't exchange any words. It's only when we're standing before the door that Yashiro turns around to give me a curt instruction. "Show Takao-sama due respect."

I can only nod.

He knocks and the door slides open, revealing Takao's wife – what was her name again? Yashiro bows down briefly and I mimic him.

"Yashiro-san" what's-her-name-again says. "It is good to see you. Takao is already in his study."

Yashiro nods. "Then we better not let him wait. Thank you, Naoko-san."

Ah, right. That was her name. Funny that it is the same as his own wife's. Though I'm not particularly surprised that 'docile child' is such a popular name for female clan members.

Takao's study looks more traditional than Otou-san's. There is no desk and no chair but instead a few zabuton scattered around a kotatsu. Takao himself is seated at it, the surface nearly free of everything except for writing utensils. Directly behind him is a shelf that is divided up into several boxes, all carefully labeled and full with scrolls. Everything looks incredibly orderly and well-organized.

We fall on our knees, foreheads pressed against the tatami mats upon entering.

"Yashiro, Etsuko" Takao drones by way of greeting. "Sit up."

We do as we're told and immediately, Takao's focus falls on me. There is a short moment in which he assesses me, intense scrutiny and all, and I fight to keep the eye contact. I don't know why, but suddenly the fact that I don't look away is very important to me, so I concentrate on his face in return, notice the dark circles under his eyes and the lines around his mouth that only seem to have gone deeper since the last time I've seen him.

Which is hardly surprising. He's had the death of his son to mourn, after all.

"Uchiha Etsuko" he begins at length. "You will be the youngest Uchiha in the history of the clan to attend the academy. Your guardian brought forth his request to enroll you with considerable confidence in your abilities. Are they justified?"

Um.

I guess that a simple 'yes' is not quite appropriate – apart from the fact that it's probably not true – but I don't think a 'dunno, maybe?' will be taken favorably, either. And anyway, why am I being asked if Yashiro's assessment of me is true? Honestly, why is he even talking to me? I'm bloody four years old. How would I know?

"Um …" I could hit myself. Great start. Pray, go on. "I, uh … I do not claim to be a better judge than Yashiro-san. If he says that I am ready, then … then I will try my best to satisfy his expectations."

Takao's eyes narrow just a tiny bit.

Oh, right.

"And I will strive to honor the clan by being on top of the class."

I eye him carefully. Did I lay it on too thick?

Takao's expression smooths over.

Apparently not.

Sometimes, it is a good thing to have some fixed points for orientation. It helps, too, that 'clan pride' stands out as bright as a supernova on the otherwise pretty blank how-to-handle-Uchiha-feelings-map.

"As you should" Takao says matter-of-factly. "You will go there not only as Uchiha Etsuko, but rather as a representative of the Uchiha. Everything you do, all your achievements and failures, will reflect immediately on the clan. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Oh, I do, perfectly well actually, thank you very much. No pressure here.

This is probably what Itachi had to go through, too, plus the weight of being the clan heir, which I fortunately don't have to deal with. Small mercies, right?

But if this is the only way to protect Obito, I'll do it.

So I, outwardly calm and composed, respond with a solemn "Yes, Takao-sama."

That pleases both Takao-sama and Yashiro.

From then on, the clan head pretty much ignores my presence. He tells Yashiro how he wishes to be kept informed about my progress and how he thinks it would be best to keep me motivated. Yashiro listens with a stony face. I wonder how he's feeling about the fact that all these special circumstances are made for me, the adopted child, and not for his own son. Wonder, if his sense of duty to the clan is really so big that he's willing to overlook that Toshiro is practically ignored in favor of me.

It can't be easy.

Finally, Takao-sama comes to an end and his gaze settles on me again.

Umph.

So. Intense.

I feel like the weight of a thousand boulders has dropped on my shoulders, almost enough to elicit a bodily reaction from me. There's a whole world of expectations in that gaze and suddenly, I'm becoming aware of how real things are going to become as soon as I enter the academy.

I'm going to be a shinobi.

I'm going to be considered a full adult, complete with the corresponding responsibilities and duties to the village and the clan.

I'm going to learn how to kill people.

"Go, then, Uchiha Etsuko" Takao-sama says, voice pregnant with meaning, as we stand up to leave. "Make your clan proud."

This then, as I bow down once more for my clan head, is when I ultimately realize: My life here in Narutoverse is about to start. For real.

)()()(

(Meanwhile, somewhere at the frontier.)

"Sakumo-senpai! Long time no see!"

Jiraiya's boisterous voice sounded over the whole campsite, making it impossible not to notice him. Sakumo looked up from where he was sitting and saw the man approaching, gait careless and a huge grin on his tan face. A second figure was trailing behind him, pale and noiseless and so different from the first that they seemed like polar opposites.

Jiraiya flopped down beside him and Sakumo smiled. "Good evening, Jiraiya-san, Orochimaru-san" he greeted them. "You have just arrived, I assume?"

The other man nodded, his white mane waving wildly from the motion. "Yeah. Sensei sent us here to help keep an eye on Iwa's movements. Now that the alliance with Suna is finally secure, we can focus fully on the main front. Or something like that." He stopped to throw a curious glance at the piece of paper Sakumo was holding in his hand. "Is that a letter from Konoha?"

Sakumo nodded.

Jiraiya's expression turned lecherous at that. "Oh-ho, is it from a woman? Is she pretty?"

The older shinobi laughed good-naturedly. "Oh, it is from a woman, a pretty one, too. She's a family friend of my wife, Kakashi's babysitter and old enough to be my mother."

"Well, that doesn't have to mean anything, you know? Women are like sake, the older they are, the more exquisite – ow!" Sakumo blinked and saw a blur where Orochimaru's hand was withdrawing from a blow to the back of Jiraiya's head.

"Orochi-teme!" said man cried out. "What the hell was that for?"

Orochimaru's eyes were narrowed in annoyance. "Just shut up. Nobody is interested in your perverted opinions."

"Hah, no appreciation for the fairer sex at all. See, teme, that is exactly the reason why no woman ever talks to you."

"Tsunade talks to me just fine."

"Hime is your teammate, she doesn't count." With a last indignant huff, Jiraiya turned back towards Sakumo who had been following the whole exchange with an amused smile. "So what does it say? Any good news from home?"

"Ah, this and that. It's mainly about my son, Kakashi."

"Ah, your little lad! How is he doing?" A pensive scowl appeared on Jiraiya's forehead. "It must be difficult for him, with both you and Sayu at war."

Sakumo exhaled. "He's still so young, maybe it doesn't affect him too much. We'll - hopefully - be back home before he knows it."

There was a short, uncomfortable pause.

"And besides, Ume writes that he has made friends, so he isn't too lonely."

Jiraiya, recognizing the straw for what it was, grasped at it. "Friends? Anyone we know?"

"I don't know about you, but I've met them before. They're Uchiha siblings, by the names of Etsuko and Obito."

Jiraiya's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Oho? I never I thought I'd see the day that clan released its children to the public."

Before Sakumo could reply to that, Orochimaru's voice cut in. "Uchiha Etsuko?"

The silver-haired man turned to him. "You know her?"

"No." Orochimaru's face was unreadable as he spoke. "Though I seem to recall that sensei mentioned her once or twice."

"What about her?" Jiraiya asked, his curiosity piqued. "Did she do something?"

Orochimaru didn't seem inclined to answer that question, so Sakumo did. "She's remarkably talented. Actually, Ume writes that she's going to start attending the academy this spring term."

"How old is she?" Jiraiya asked in between opening a bottle and taking a swig from it.

"Four."

Jiraiya spluttered, making whatever he was drinking splash all over. Orochimaru made a disgusted noise through his nose.

"Four?! Bloody hell, are they nuts?"

"We were five when we started the academy" Orochimaru commented drily.

"Yeah, but that was us and … and she is four!"

His teammate rolled his eyes and chose to remain silent.

"I don't think she was forced into it, if it helps keep you sane, Jiraiya-san" Sakumo intervened. "When I spoke to her, she did seem very determined."

Jiraiya was still scowling. "She did?"

Sakumo nodded, pensively. "Quite adamant, actually. She had a strong motivation."

He remembered, as clear as day, the way she had said I just want to protect Obito. In that moment, she had been more than a little girl. She had been a person hell-bent on keeping her precious person safe.

And Sakumo had known in that precise moment that she would do whatever it took to accomplish her goal.

Hope you were pleased to get a bit of Sakumo goodness in the end. I know that I had fun writing it at least!

The next chapter is going to start with a time skip and it shouldn't take too long to be up. As always, don't forget to tell me your thoughts and also, have a look on Joyous Children Side fics! See you soon!