Dear people, it seems these days I start every new chapter with a big fat apology. So, here it is: SORRY FOR BEING LATE!

I really appreciate your patience and encouragement, especially now since real life is super stressful. For those not following me on tumblr, I'm writing my Master's thesis right now and looking for a long-term job simultaneously, so fanfiction has only been a sidenote most of the time. All the happier am I to be able to present you the latest installment which continues directly from where the last chapter stopped. Thank you, btw, for the overwhelming responses! Every single one of them makes my day. Every time. (Well except for the flames, obviously, but hey, they took the time to write it, right?).

Thanks again of course to my beta NightsBlackRose13, without whom I wouldn't be nearly as creative as I am now. The good stuff is coming, dear.

Now, without further blathering: Onwards!

Chapter 20: Picking Up Speed

I wake up to an odd feeling.

It's 6 in the morning. Obito is still soundly asleep, the house still in that transparent state of peaceful quietness – the one that only exists in the moment where the mind of the just awakened is not yet drowned out by the noise of the fully functional, ready to dissipate with the smallest of movements. Everything is as it is supposed to be.

At the same time, it's different.

There's a feeling in my chest, warm, heavy and reassuring, and as I give myself the luxury to revel in it, to simply lie and stare at the ceiling – I slowly come to a realization.

I have felt this way before, a lifetime ago. A life in which everything seemed so much simpler, where I'd spent so much time in this state that I'd taken it for granted. That I'd never thought about actively committing it to memory.

It is the feeling of contentment.

Images of yesterday trickle through my conscience, the morning with Obito, the Hatake, Hanako's insane prank, the picnic.

The beautiful, beautiful picnic. Just thinking about it makes my body grow warm and happy.

And how could I not be? Obito and Kakashi, already the best of friends with a strong and healthy bond. Nawaki, alive and adorably awed in an obvious case of intense hero-worship. Regashi, less obvious but still excited, also alive. Sakumo and Sayu, proud parents and the most lovable hosts ever. Both of them calling Obi and I their kids.

I'm still blushing at that thought.

Yesterday, the events of canon Narutoverse couldn't have been further afar. In the light of the new reality that I am a part of, even the barest notion of half of them being dead or dying seems impossible.

And I am absolutely not inclined to let this change. Ever.

It is with this decision that I sit up and get ready for training. I give Obito a light kiss on his cheek before I leave the room, heading directly for the front door. I nearly miss Yashiro stepping out of the doorway to the kitchen.

"Etsuko," he calls.

I stop walking and look up at his face. "Yashiro-san?"

"Come back home as soon as you can today and find me in the study. I have the chakra paper ready."

Oh right!

My back goes just a little bit straighter, my eyes just a little wider and the corners of my lips turn just a little upwards as excitement floods me. My primary chakra element. I'm gonna find out my primary chakra element today!

I nod. "Yes, Yashiro-san. I'll be there."

He returns his nod and vanishes back into the kitchen, probably preparing his bento. The thought that strange, why is Naoko not doing that? flickers briefly through my mind, but I don't pay it any more attention. It's not as if Yashiro is unable to prepare his own lunch, so the woman can very well have a lie-in or whatever.

I should probably start doing the same, in fact, if I don't want to spend all of my little mission money on eating out.

Oh well. Maybe when I'm finally able to reach the kitchen counter without having to climb on a chair every single time.

I'm so looking forward to getting taller.

)()()(

"Here, Etsuko-chan," Regashi says. He offers me his hand and I grab it gratefully, getting up with a graceless "oof!" that could've come from an older lady. Like, in her 70s or something, with rheumatic joints and aches. Hanako didn't pull any punches, just as usual. Today has been all about taijutsu, and I think she'll want us to spar against each other soon.

I swallow hard.

That's going to be interesting, to say the least.

"OK, guys, I need to help my sis with something in the lab," Nawaki announces. "See you later at the assembly!"

Regashi and I wave at him as he takes off and we leave in the opposite direction shortly after.

Ah yes, the assembly. Sakumo told us about it yesterday, something about the Hokage wanting to announce a few things concerning the still ongoing war. All citizens of Konoha are invited and it will be held in front of the Hokage Tower to accommodate as many people as possible. I wonder what it could be about. Konoha seems to be doing pretty well, at least according to the bits and pieces of information that I can overhear sometimes.

"Can I ask you something?" Regashi's voice interrupts my musings and I look up to see him peering at me curiously.

I shrug. "Sure."

"You seem really close with the Hatake family. How did you meet them?"

I barely avoid freezing up on the spot.

The logical part of my brain tells me that this is a perfectly normal question to ask, that it isn't meant as an interrogation and that sweet, kind Regashi is certainly not out for my blood.

The rest of me just wants to run, because.

How can I tell him that I met Sakumo while I was sitting next to the corpse of my father, drenched in his and his murderer's blood and fingers cramped in the cloth that enveloped my little brother? How can I tell him that Sakumo was the first person I spoke to after my first kill? That he came just in time to prevent me from gouging my eyes out? That he'd been the one to find out that my mother was dead, too?

How can I tell him without making him realize that I am a walking bag of unresolved issues?

The truth is: I can't. Not because I don't trust him – but because I don't trust myself. Telling Regashi would mean confronting these ghosts of mine and I am not ready for that. I know it, with the same certainty as my body did when the chill of killing intent came oozing out of Hanako that day on the roof. The Goukakyuu had been a kneejerk reaction born out of sheer terror, not a calculated move.

There's no telling what will happen if I let all of it spill out now.

So I don't.

I don't freeze up on the spot. Instead, my step falters minutely, but I catch myself fast enough that it doesn't become too suspicious. And I give an answer.

"I met Sakumo almost two years ago. He introduced me to his son Kakashi and went off to war. My brother and Kakashi became best friends, Sakumo came back, brought Sayu along and here we are." I throw in a smile. "Sometimes, things just fall into place by chance, you know what I mean?"

Regashi smiles back. "That's amazing, Etsuko-chan."

I'm not sure he believes me.

A few seconds pass in which I keep expecting him to press the issue – but he doesn't. For some reason, he doesn't require more. And I am so grateful for that.

There's some friendly chitchat before we part ways at the usual spot and agree to meet up later for the assembly.

It's for the best, really. And with that, I shut all these unpleasant feelings away once more, away into the darkness where they belong.

)()()(

I head straight back to Yashiro's house, my steps increasingly impatient and mind buzzing with mounting excitement because – chakra element.

Weeeeee.

The last few yards to the front door are covered with something that barely resembles a civilized walk. Doors cannot open fast enough and my mind cheerfully adds the sound of screeching tires as I come to a halt in front of Yashiro's office. It really takes every ounce of self-control not to just barge in there like a horde of euphoric elephants.

Instead, I get on my knees and notify him of my presence with a subdued voice, the way I was taught to be polite. I hear movement from the other side of the shoji screens and one moment later, he's standing before me, chakra paper in hand and ready to go.

"Come," he says and takes off without wasting another word.

Looks like I'm not the only one who's excited.

The walk to the training ground is swift and silent and before long, we're standing in the middle of it. Yashiro thrusts a sheet of the precious chakra paper into my hand and for a moment, I stare.

It looks completely unassuming. You know, like, grey. And square. And grey.

Incredible how this piece of scrap paper can hold that much meaning for my entire professional life.

Yashiro clears his throat. "Channel your chakra."

Right. Here it comes.

I summon my chakra and let a small stream trickle into my fingertips – and the paper reacts instantaneously.

There's a crackling noise, a faint whiff reminding me of overheated cables and just like that, the paper has turned all wrinkly and brittle.

"I see," Yashiro says. "Not uncommon within the clan, but it hasn't appeared in recent times, either. Your primary chakra nature is –"

"Lightning," I blurt out.

Yashiro's left eyebrow goes up in disapproval of being interrupted but he restrains himself with a taciturn "Yes."

Lightning.

Guess which other canon Uchiha had a lightning affinity. And yeah, you guessed right: none other than resident drama queen Uchiha Sasuke.

Ok, not yet resident. And ok, not yet drama queen, either. And yes, yes, I know he had pretty convincing reasons to be one. But that's not the point.

The point that I'm trying to make is that I am nothing like Sasuke. Uber-emotional, uber-angsty and uber-broody Sasuke, I'm-gonna-kill-that-man-Sasuke, I'm-gonna-destroy-Konoha-for-Itachi-Sasuke. Me? I'm nothing like that.

… at least starting from the point where he wanted to kill everybody. The stuff coming before that?

I can see when someone digs themselves a neck-deep hole. Unfortunately, that also applies when that certain someone is I myself.

Dammit.

"… and you will need high-quality specialized training," Yashiro says and suddenly I realize that I have missed most of whatever he was saying. Oops. "I'll file an inquiry for you to get an ANBU-level instructor or a jounin, since it is of utmost importance that you have the best training from the very beginning."

Wait, is he talking about getting me an extra teacher for my chakra affinity?

"Why can't you do it?" I blurt out in a hasty attempt to at least appear as if I was making a meaningful contribution to this conversation.

He pinches his nose and lets out an irritated breath. "You were not listening."

Oh well. Wrong contribution.

"As I was saying, I myself do not have the necessary qualification to give you the training you need. The clan elders will either match you with someone within the clan, which I doubt since there haven't been a lot of lightning specialists lately, or approve a request to the Hokage."

"You can do that?" I ask, surprise coloring my voice. I don't remember anything like that happening in canon. Then again, none of Team 7 exactly had the support of one of Konoha's major clans at their back. I'm not even sure if Sakura ever found out what her primary chakra nature was. I don't know why, but in Naruto's time, personal connections seemed much more important. As in, having one of the Sannin as your secret godfather and getting special training that way. That's probably the part my clan is doing for me.

"It is possible and even encouraged for special cases," Yashiro answers. "The village has an interest in providing the best training for their best people."

Yeah, sounds logical. But what about Hanako?

"What about my current jounin-sensei? Is Hanako-sensei not qualified?"

"She could train you in the basics, I suppose," Yashiro relents. "Your learning speed will ultimately determine when it is prudent to take the next step. And when that time arrives, a competent teacher must be ready and available."

"Uh, okay," I answer lamely. I suppose that's his way of saying that he doesn't believe that Hanako has the 'necessary qualifications'. But, seriously, who is he hoping to get as my super special instructor anyway? For all I know, Hanako seems to be pretty badass. Insane, yes, but badass. Badass enough for the Hokage to entrust her with the care of his own son and one of the last two remaining Senju. She would totally be able to handle my puny self. And, oh yeah, I might be getting a bit defensive on behalf of my jounin sensei here but that doesn't diminish the fact that she is perfectly capable for the job and nope, he's not gonna separate me from my team if that's what he's intending to do and what, no, I'm not paranoid, I just haven't even been on this team for a month leave me be –

I'm rambling, aren't I.

Sigh.

I should've known that I would get attached to them as soon as I allowed them past my internal alarm systems. And my obsessive protectiveness has expanded to such an extent that I'm getting all upset at the slightest mention of Hanako's primary chakra nature probably not being lightning. Which probably isn't even meant as an insult.

This is ridiculous. Have I always been this emotional? Taken everything so personal? I can't … I can't remember if Elizabeth used to be like that.

I need to think about that some time. In silence and peace.

"Etsuko," Yashiro's furious voice cuts in and suddenly I realize that I've spaced out on him the second time within ten minutes. Uh-oh.

"This is a matter of exceeding importance for your future," he rants, "and as such, a matter of exceeding importance for the clan. You do not seem to understand the privilege that has been granted to you and I will not tolerate such a display of ignorance –"

I hurriedly throw myself into a bow meant to convey the deepest level of apology. I honestly didn't mean to upset him and also, I do kinda feel like an asshole. For the first time in, well, forever, he is actually communicating plans for the future to me. Plans that will significantly help me in my progress with shinobi-ingTM – and here I am, indulging my super emotional tendencies.

So a super deep bow plus apology it is.

"My apologies, Yashiro-san. I was lost in thought. It won't happen again."

Yashiro snaps his mouth shut mid-sentence, blinks once. Twice. Lets out a grunt.

I stay in position.

"You can stand up," he eventually says. He eyes me intently as I unbend myself and for a couple of seconds, neither of us says anything.

"Hn," is his verdict.

I'm hard pressed not to roll my eyes. Seriously. The communicative charms of my extended family are astonishing.

"What have your thoughts yielded, then?" he asks at length.

Uh.

Yeah.

Crap.

This might just be the first time ever that he asks me what I'm thinking and, well. I guess telling him about how emotional I feel at times will not exactly convince him to ask me again any time soon.

So what could I have been thinking about instead? Something, productive, preferably? Maybe about a possible instructor?

I barely hold back a frustrated cry as I mentally race through my limited options since my few acquaintances are all either still babies or genin themselves, with the exception of -

Oh.

Oh man, I can't believe how stupid I am.

I look Yashiro square in the eyes. "I thought about asking Hatake Sakumo if he would train me. Would training under the White Fang meet the requirements?"

Yashiro's left eyebrow lifts in surprise. "Hatake Sakumo?" He stops to think about it. "He's not considered a clan affiliate although there have been efforts to reach out to his expertise from time to time. He is indeed a competent shinobi."

I nearly snort at that. Leave it to an Uchiha to call a living legend a 'competent shinobi' and mean it as a compliment.

"This alternative is worth considering. I will present it to the clan council at the next assembly."

With that, he signals me the end of our session. On our way home I have enough time to go over the exact meaning of his last remarks. The term 'clan affiliate' especially has sparked my interest.

'Affiliate' as a term is only known to me in the context of business. One meaning would be that of an 'unconsolidated holding company', another would be the complex that stands behind the term 'affiliate-marketing'. Both of them are connected by a common baseline: the concept of an organization having stakes in satellite organizations, all sides thereby receiving benefits that they couldn't have reaped if they'd operated separately from each other. A simple analogy would be a person having other people around them with whom they agree to work together to achieve their individual long-term goals.

And now that I think about it, it's not too far-fetched to put clan business in that context. I mean, think about it: the clan is nothing more than an organization. A socially intricate one, not with the primary goal to maximize profits and as such not a company, yes, but an organization nonetheless. An organization with an important function within society, interests of its own and a magnetic pull to outsiders. It's not too difficult to imagine that there're people trying to gain the Uchiha's favor and it's even less difficult to imagine that among them there are people with talents that the clan considers useful.

The idea of the Uchiha having affiliates is not absurd at all.

Which means that the clan must have regular contact with society outside the clan. Meaning there must be people who benefit from the clan. People who are going to stop seeing that benefit at some point, either by being convinced or – else.

Which means that the downfall of the Uchiha in canon must've been a concerted effort long, long before the actual massacre.

I – I know this shouldn't come as a big surprise. There had been every indication in canon that Danzou had worked on eliminating the Uchiha – us – for quite some time before pushing Itachi to the ultimate deed, but -

But.

The Uchiha – we …

We aren't bad people.

I know others think that we all have a stick up our collective ass and that we feel superior due to our doujutsu. That we're an elitist bunch of assholes stuck in traditions and that we hold everyone against impossible standards.

But then I think of the people I've grown up around and – and I see so much more.

I see Okaa-chan and feel generations' worth of motherly love.

I see Otou-san and hear his quiet encouragement to become the best I can be.

Even Yashiro, devoting much more time to me than he's obliged to because he firmly believes that he's doing what's best.

And of course, Obito, my personal ray of sunshine.

We have our flaws, just like everybody. We have our ways, just like every collective that's survived through the tide of times. We're humans, just like the rest of the village.

What have we done to deserve systematic eradication?

"Are you not coming in?"

With a start I realize that we've arrived in front of Yashiro's house. He's standing in the doorway and looking at me with raised eyebrows. Through the opened door, I can see the interior of his home.

My home.

I step forward. "Of course," I say. Just before entering, though, I stop again to look at him.

"Thank you, Yashiro-san. For today, I mean."

He gives a short nod.

"You're welcome."

I'm pretty sure there was a real smile ghosting over his face just then.

)()()(

"Nee-chan, look, Kakashi, Sakumo and Sayu are all here!"

Obito is excitedly tugging at the hem of my shirt and since I'm still looking for my teammates and therefore not responding immediately, he decides to take matters into his own pudgy little hands. He tries to wiggle out of the firm grip I have on him and nearly manages to break free.

"Alright, alright, Obi!" I let out with fake exasperation and retake his hands into mine. "Jeez, they're not going to disappear."

Obito pulls me along as we make our way through the not yet dense crowd. We've arrived early enough to secure some space at the front – let me tell you that I did not miss not being able to see anything else but grown people's kneecaps or butts on eye-level – but Kakashi apparently doesn't have any need for that since he has two moving plateaus that go wherever he wants them to. He's currently seated on the right arm of the plateau named Hatake Sayu and as we arrive in front of the Hatake family, he looks down at us from his elevated seat with a pleased expression.

"Obito, Etsuko-nee," he greets us with a little wave.

Obito bounces back and forth on the balls of his feet. "Come down, Kakashi! Hiya Sayu! Hiya Sakumo!"

"Hey, you two," Sakumo greets back with a smile. He reaches over to his wife and attempts to get Kakashi down, but the little boy shakes his head.

"No," Kakashi says.

"Hey!" Obito exclaims.

Sayu laughs. "Let him get up, then!"

Sakumo nods. "Excellent idea."

Before I understand what she's suggesting, my little brother is hauled off of his feet and placed on Sayu's left arm. Sakumo steps back to me and points at his shoulders. "Wanna get up, too?"

"What," I manage to get out before he crouches down and presents me with his back. He cranes his neck to look at me with a bright grin.

"Come on, climb up! You'll have a much better view."

I can feel my jaw falling open like an unhinged trap.

He's serious. He wants me to climb on his back and sit on his shoulders like he's … like he's my dad or something.

I spend quite some time standing there, looking and gaping at him like a fish taken out of water until Sakumo's face starts to fall.

"Uh … you don't have to Etsuko-chan," he says hesitantly. "Just say so, it's okay!"

He gets ready to stand up again when I finally get over myself and find my voice again.

"Wait! I – I'd love to!"

Something like relief crosses his features. "Hop on, then!"

And I hop on.

He's right of course. Sakumo is a tall man and seated on his shoulders, I can see practically everything and everyone within the plaza. It's starting to fill up quickly now, shinobi and civilians alike finding a place to comfortably look at the small stage that's been installed in front of the entrance to the Hokage Tower. There're even more shinobi on the roofs of the houses surrounding the place as well as on power poles, perched on them like oversized birds.

That can't be comfortable.

But hey, nothing would beat my seating arrangement anyway. Which is the Best. Seat. Ever.

Sakumo's broad shoulders are really comfy and I, daring girl that I am, can't resist running my fingers through his silver-white hair. It's surprisingly soft and fluffy in a way that makes me wonder how it manages to keep looking spiky. Maybe it's because of his lightning chakra?

A propos lightning chakra. I need to ask.

"Are you comfortable?" Sakumo asks.

"Yesss," I answer.

Mmm.

Maybe later. Right now, I'm sitting here, blissfully petting the White Fang's mane and all is well and good.

"Etsuko-chan!"

Oh, that sounded like Nawaki.

I turn my head in the direction from where his voice came and see that it is indeed Nawaki. He's not alone but being accompanied by Tsunade and a big man with long unruly hair half a shade darker than Sakumo's.

I'd recognize that hair anywhere, even if it didn't come in combination with two red lines on the owner's face.

Jiraiya.

OMG it's the Jiraiya.

Afeafhqnyoushf.

Excuse me while I am silently fangirling.

"Look who's coming," Sayu says suddenly and Sakumo turns so that I'm looking in yet another direction.

There, pushing their way through the crowd, are Regashi and a woman who looks a lot like Sarutobi Biwako. She's also carrying a little kid on her arm. Asuma, if I had to guess.

Oh my god. I'm about to be part of a meeting of legends.

Ohmigodohmigodohmigod.

Nawaki's group arrives first.

"Sakumo-senpai! You here? What a pleasant surprise!"

I flinch involuntarily at the volume of Jiraiya's booming voice, not at all prepared for the exuberance and sheer energy that the man exudes.

I can't see Sakumo's face from here, but I can hear the smile in his answer.

"Jiraiya-san, it's good to see you. You too, Tsunade-san, Nawaki-kun."

"Sakumo-san," Tsunade greets with a nod. "And hello, Etsuko-chan. Don't think you're invisible. It's not your fault my idiot teammate has no manners."

Jiraiya lets out an embarrassed little laugh. "Ah, sorry, sorry. Of course I did see you, Etsuko-chan. How could anyone not see a young beautiful lady such as yourself?"

Oh, what a smooth talk-

"And in a few years, the addition of a few assets will make you even more beautiful for sure!"

Before anybody can verbally react, Tsunade swings wide with her right fist and hits Jiraiya smack on his skull.

There's a loud, very manly shriek.

"Why, Tsunade-chan?" Jiraiya wails, his paws – err, hands I mean – over the impressive bump that's already forming on his head. "I just complimented her!"

A thick vein starts throbbing on Tsunade's forehead. Fascinating how closely it resembles the manga version.

She inhales.

And then I decide that, since this argument is about me, I should do something about it.

"It's alright," I say as I stare down directly into his eyes with a straight face. "I accept your apology, Jiraiya-hentai."

A heartbeat of silence.

And then Tsunade, spending all of her pent-up breath at once, breaks into roars of laughter. She laughs so hard that her breath comes in short gasps and whatever she's saying doesn't make it past her lips. At least not understandable.

Jiraiya, a grown man with the approximate measurements of a hulking bear, pouts and grumbles something about "scary women".

It's to this picture that the Sarutobi arrive. Regashi looks first at Nawaki and then at me for an explanation, but since both of us are busy grinning like children in a candy shop, he sighs and gives up for now.

Besides, Biwako-sama's appearance manages to quiet down the two Sannin. If the woman notices the state of Jiraiya's head – and there's no way she doesn't – she doesn't comment on it.

A new round of greetings and introductions ensues, proving me right about Asuma. Sayu approaches Biwako to let Obito and Kakashi meet the kid and my little brother decides to bestow the same treatment upon him that he also gifted Kakashi with on their first meeting: he pokes Asuma in his cheek.

And Asuma pokes him right back.

Looks like they're going to be great friends.

"So you're Etsuko-chan," Biwako says with a friendly smile and suddenly, I know where Regashi learned his. "I've heard a lot about you already. It's good to have you on the team."

I blush. "Thank you, Biwako-sama."

"You should come over to dinner some time. Regashi tells me you like ice cream mochi?"

"Yes, very much."

"It's settled then. You three agree on a date and let me know. I'll arrange the rest."

Ooh. I just got a dinner date with the Hokage's wife.

She's turned around to Tsunade and Jiraiya now, the former still biting her lips in an effort to stifle her laughter.

"It's good to see you two. Where's Orochimaru-kun?"

What.

Tsunade shrugs, her good mood undisturbed. "In his lab. When I asked him if he wanted to come he said," here she adopts a disgusted expression on her face and continues in a haughty voice, "you ask if I'd like to get myself squashed by unwashed bodies and numbed by the odor of sweat to listen to something sensei already told me anyway? No thanks." She tosses her hair with a dramatic gesture and suddenly, I can see exactly how Orochimaru might do that.

Jiraiya huffs. "Teme is just being his anti-social self again."

Biwako frowns. "He has holed himself up in his lab since he came back to the village. I think it's time I have a talk with him."

What.

I can't believe this.

This is Orochimaru we're talking about, Narutoverse villain extraordinaire, and these people make him seem like some spoiled, petulant child that just needs a serious talk with his mom.

How did I end up here? Is this still Narutoverse? Help.

"Hey everybody," Regashi pipes up. "It's starting."

As if on cue, the whole place falls silent. There's an almost tangible quality of hopeful expectancy in the air, and suddenly, I realize that whatever is coming, it's going to be something big.

Sarutobi Hiruzen walks nearly to the edge of the stage until coming to a halt, his hands behind his back in a relaxed stance and his face fully turned towards his audience. Next to him, a much taller man stands in a mirroring pose. He's dressed similarly to the Sandaime, a lot of loosely falling white cloth and elegant folds, with the difference that where the Hokage robes show flashes of dark red, a light green shines through. Oh, and also the character on his hat depicting 'wind' instead of 'fire'.

I … didn't know the Kazekage was in Konoha.

Behind them to the right are Sarutobi's former teammates Koharu and Homura as well as … Danzou.

No emotions, not now.

To their left are two unfamiliar shinobi with Suna hitai-ate: a woman with below shoulder-length brown hair and pretty heavy lidded eyes and a man whose tousled red thatch looks like he just rolled out of bed. Both are sporting serious but non-threatening expressions.

"My dearest people of Konoha," the Sandaime starts. His voice carries effortlessly into the crowd and I can literally see the attention of the people being grabbed and kept.

"I have invited you today so that I can share with you a moment of unique importance in Konoha history. Today you will witness the next step toward the dream that Senju Hashirama first had when he founded the village and inspired leaders everywhere in the Elemental Nations to do the same: the dream to create a better world. A world where no child is sacrificed for senseless fighting as his brothers were; a world where the strong ally themselves to help those in need; finally, a world in which the lands prosper and the people can live in peace. And today, fire and wind will unite their strengths in celebration of the victory we have gained over our foes."

He stops and looks into the audience as low murmurs erupt all over the plaza. A few seconds pass as he watches, until he lifts his right hand. Everything goes silent once again.

He smiles.

"Yes, people of Konoha, you heard that right. The war is over."

The reaction of the people does not disappoint.

All around me, deafening cheers erupt. People are jumping up and down, hugging each other and sobbing, overwhelmed by the force of their emotions. It's as if all of a sudden, a blanket has been lifted, airing out all the cumulated fear, worry and sorrow of the past months.

Sakumo has turned his head to look at Sayu and by the tender, happy look on her face I can tell that he's probably looking the same. My two baby brothers watch everything with delighted curiosity. Yeah, even Kakashi.

And I myself?

This – I –

It seems like such an understatement to simply say that I am relieved. Yet, it is relief that's coursing through my entire body, light-headed, warm relief that makes me feel like I have the ability to take off and fly right here, right now.

Because this means everybody will survive. Because this means that people will be spared the heartbreak and grief of losing someone dear.

Hanako, Regashi and Nawaki.

Sayu, Sakumo and Kakashi.

Katou Dan and Tsunade.

Me.

Everybody safe and alive. Can it really be?

Both Kage watch the rejoicing people with contented faces for a few minutes more until the Hokage raises his hand once again to demand our attention.

"Before I leave you to your joy and celebration which you have truly earned I want to take this opportunity to announce another great event: Suna and Konoha will not only keep up their military partnership alive. From today on, the partnership will boost an exchange in a scale such as it has never been seen before."

Sarutobi talks.

He talks about the projects he and the Kazekage have planned out. Trading routes, knowledge exchanges, joint exams.

I don't know how much of this was announced at the end of the Second Shinobi War in canon, but to me, it does seem extraordinary. I'm not the only one to think that, apparently, as both the Sandaime's advisors as well as the Suna nin bear signs of wonder on their faces, too, no matter how well they hide it.

Speaking of the Suna nin. Something about the man's hair and the woman's heavy lidded eyes seems familiar. I can't put my finger on it, but …

I want to know.

I tug at a strand of Sakumo's hair to get his attention.

"Yes, Etsuko?" he says without missing a beat.

I position myself for a better look at the side of his face as opposed to the back of his head. Mah, this will have to do.

"Who are the Suna nin?"

"Suna ambassadors. The woman's name's Akari, a terrific puppeteer that one, and the man is … uh, I forgot his name. Anyway, he's a medic. Both of them very skilled and very nice people. I worked with them for some time when I was stationed at the border. They showed me a photo of their son when I let slip that I had one myself." He chuckles sheepishly.

For some reason, that feeling of familiarity has gotten that much stronger suddenly.

"A son? Do you remember his name?"

"Yeah, it was Sasori. Why do you ask?"

Sasori.

Those over there are Sasori's parents.

Who would've been killed by none other than Konoha's White Fang if things had gone according to canon.

"I …," I stutter. "Suna people … they have interesting names, don't you think?"

"Really? I never noticed. But now that you say it, 'light' and 'scorpion' are indeed daring names to give."

"Right?" I let out a nervous little laugh. I can't believe he accepted that one without questions.

I think I don't realize often enough what a lucky idiot I am.

But.

Maybe, just maybe, in the light of all these good things that have happened recently…

… destiny has really decided not to fuck me over again.

)()()(

Time passes.

Days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months and Hanako's training turns into Hell Camp.

The aforementioned taijutsu training is indeed as torturous as expected. Nawaki and Regashi kick my ass so badly, it's not even funny. Also, Hanako seems to think it's a good idea to throw random kunai, shuriken, and senbon at us at random intervals during random hours of the day no matter where we are.

"Awareness and reflex training," she grins cheerily when I give her the Uchiha stink eye.

Add to that the wretched food poisoning I got the first time she invited us out to eat – Nawaki and Regashi tried to warn me but I was too thick to see the signs – and you get the picture.

But of course, not everything is bad. Far from it.

We have the date with Regashi's mom, as agreed upon, and I learn that nobody makes better nikuman – steamed pork buns – than Sarutobi Biwako. I also learn that between Regashi and Asuma, there's a little girl named Kimiko who is shy and as sweet as her brother.

Sakumo agrees to train my lightning affinity when I am ready and Sayu throws in naginata lessons as a bonus.

There's talk of a first joint Konoha-Suna-chuunin-exam.

And amidst all this goodness, one week before Nawaki's birthday at the beginning of August, Hanako suddenly appears directly in the aisle of the shop where Regashi and I have been looking for a birthday gift.

She's unusually tense. It's everywhere, in the rigidity of her usually cheerful swagger, in the steely quality of her gaze and the flatness of her voice.

"Move out, kids," she announces without preamble. "Meeting in thirty minutes at the gates."

"A mission?" Regashi asks with a frown.

"Yes."

I almost expect her to leave without further explanations, but she stops again, her back still turned on us.

"Amegakure has declared war."

And then she disappears.

Warning: For the next chapter, the rating for this story will go up to M for violence/body horror/blood/triggers. Please, please make sure you're up to this before reading on!