Same universe that has Hayami and Kana!
At dawn a young girl stands at the gate of a familiar village. A village that hasn't been that nice to her or her family. Other things have been wrong too...
Hayami holds herself as a cold breeze cuts through her sweater. She feels... sad. Her papa has been too occupied to pay her any attention. All her efforts in training felt useless. That Naruto kid is outpacing her at such an exasperating speed. All her dear dad seems to care about is how that boy is doing. He didn't care about her. Well... he does... she thinks.
A desperate need to prove herself is consuming her. She'll get head pats and praises from her father again is she can prove to him that she can hold her own. If she's just as good as Naruto why can't she be tested like he is?
She has to do something. There's been talks from the adults around here that there should be caution in the woods. Talks of invaders and being cautious for the exams have been said quietly by them plenty of times. They're uneasy about it all.
Maybe if she can find these people she can be helpful. Hayami isn't foolish enough to try and fight a squad of adults who have years of experience over her. If she can locate them and show the adults in the village where they are maybe they'll see she's a good kid. A good kid that belongs to a good family. And she'll prove to papa how much she's grown and progressed.
"Hayami!"
She jumps at the sound. She turns around to see Kana barreling towards her. He skids to a stop in front of her.
"What are you doing up, Kana?" She asks with a frown. "You should go back to the hotel."
"I don't wanna! Sanaki keeps crying. Mama and papa are too busy with her anyways. I wanna play with you." The five year old argued.
"I'm no going out to play. I'm going on a mission."
"Mission? You aren't even a ninja."
"I will be after this!"
He gasps and grabbed her hand. He bounces up and down with excitement.
"Take me with you! I wanna be one too!"
"No Kana! Go back to mama. I want to do this by myself."
"But Hayamiiiiii!" Kana whined. He frowned. "I'll tell on you if you don't let me come along!"
She sighs. Little jerk.
"Fine. But stay close." She gave in. Mama and papa will lose their minds if he got hurt on her watch.
He beams a big grin and nods. She holds his hand tightly and headed into the woods. She'll prove herself. She can keep up with Naruto. She'll prove to her papa that she is just as brave and splendid as that raggedy blond...
...
That strange feeling of something is wrong overtook Jiraiya. He sat up in bed. He didn't want to. He's exhausted. Between you, the new baby, and the older kids, he's been busy. It's early. The sun is barely peeking out from the horizon. Usually Kana is attempting to crawl into bed with him and you for an unwelcome wake up call. The older little Kana gets the more energetic he gets. He's not so different from Hayami, if maybe a tad more troublesome. But it's oddly quiet. Too quiet.
He slips out of the comfortable warmth of bed. You don't stir. You're still recovering. The newest addition to the family was in a crib beside you. Itty bitty Sanaki. Another perfect daughter. After a few hours of restless crying she's finally asleep again. He caressed your face and peered at his new child for a moment. Such beauty needs to be admired.
Maybe Hayami and Kana are sleeping in? They were woken up by the newborn's wails too. The small hotel room is just that. A small singular room. Perhaps it was selfish, but Jiraiya refused Hiruzen's offer for free housing... A big house with accommodations. Perhaps he has too much pride. It just felt like a slap in the face. He didn't need free housing. He'll provide for his family without any handouts.
There's just this weird feeling of unwelcome in Konoha. If not for your sudden labour, he wouldn't have brought his family here. The people were being weird. They're being standoffish and distant. Hence why he'd rather be in a cheap hotel than at the charity of his teacher. He didn't want to be subjected to that strange sense of uneasy hostility more often. People know where Hiruzen lives. It's on a busy street too. He didn't want to go outside everyday and be met with glares. And it's easy to see that he's hurt his old teacher's feelings. He got married and had three children without letting anyone in the village know. But as he sees it, no one has the right to know all that goes on in his life.
Or maybe he's just paranoid? He hadn't slept a full night since Sanaki came. She differs from her siblings. She hardly sleeps. It's like your breast milk is laced with caffeine pills. If that's the case maybe he should have some. Maybe it will make everyone feel less hostile. He hasn't had coffee for almost a year in support of you. While pregnant you look at him with a longing after having your one and only cup for the day. So he stopped and has been going caffeine free for far too long. Especially with a little one that likes to keep everyone up late with her cries for attention.
With a heavy sigh Jiraiya made way to the futon the kids were sharing. At first it seemed like everything was fine. Two lumps are under the covers. But as he gets closer... that uneasy feeling returns.
Pulling back the covers sunk his heart. Kids. Not. In. Bed. There's rolled up towels there instead.
Worry and fear take hold. Never ever in a million years did Jiraiya think his kids would run off without telling him. Hayami is so responsible. Kana is young enough where he's still very attached to you. This just... doesn't happen.
Does he sit? He feels like he needs to. This is the first time in a very long time he's felt fear like this. His children are missing. He...
"What do I do?"
As proactive as a man he is, his brain has come to a stall.
The blanket floats gently back to the floor as he lost his grip on it. He can't just stand here. He looks over at you. You are still sound asleep. Waking you feels like a bad idea. This could be a total misunderstanding. The kids went outside to play. They're close. They have to be. They know better than to run off. He can scold them and herd them back inside by himself. You might kill him if he woke you up for a simple problem like this.
Jiraiya crept back over to you. He put a kiss on your cheek and observed his newborn one more time. As much as he'd love to kiss her too, he's petrified of waking her up. So he settles for gently stroking her tiny little hand with his finger. So soft and delicate. He leaves the room and enters the cool morning air.
Okay... kids not playing in front of the building.
It's okay! Let's not worry yet. He took the kids to the park yesterday to give you and Sanaki some quiet time at the hotel. Maybe they went there to blow off some energy?
Nope!
Jiraiya can physically feel his blood pressure spike as his kids aren't playing in the park. It's a horrible awful feeling.
Okay... where else could they go?
He searched the flower field. He checked the sections of village that are wild trees and bush. He checked the training grounds... all of them. He calls out to them. He wonders the streets, checks shops, and even the academy.
Now he may or may not totally throw up because half his family is missing. Hayami and Kana are no where in the village. They... they wouldn't leave... would they?
They are no where else. It's really freaking him out!!
...
"Hayamiiiiii!" Kana whined. "I'm tired. When are we gonna find whatever we're looking for?"
"Shhhh!" Hayami hisses at him.
"Don't shh me! You don't even know what you doing!"
"Shut it!"
The boy gasps.
"I'm gonna tell papa you told me to shut up!"
She scoffs and rolls her eyes. She peers back over the bushes she was looking over. There's some adults around there. They are crouched together muttering about something. They look suspicious. Surly that's enough to bring back to papa. And prove she's excellent ninja material.
"Okay, Kana. Let's go back." She whispers.
"Yay! I'm hungry!"
"Shhh!"
Kana turned and paused. Hayami turned around a moment after and her heart skipped a beat. A stranger is standing over them, glaring at them. She grabs her brother's hand and runs...
It took eons for Kakashi to answer the door. When he did he was met with a frazzled Jiraiya.
"I need a dog!"
"Uh... there's a shelter down-!"
"No! I need a hound! A ninja hound for tracking!"
"Oh... uh okay."
Knowing something must have happened, Kakashi doesn't argue or stall. He summoned his most reliable dog.
"Hey Kakashi. What's going on?" Pakkun asked with his normal relaxed demeanour.
"Help me find my kids." Jiraiya said as he frantically felt around his clothing for something.
"You lost your kids?"
"Yes! They ran off and I can't find them!"
Summon and summoner looked at each other. Jiraiya frowned at them as he pulled out Kana's sock. It fell off yesterday and he pocketed it... it's a long story. Irrelevant at the moment. All that matters is that he has the sock.
"Don't look at each other like that! My kids haven't ever run off before, okay?" He points at them sternly. "I'm a good father!"
"Shouldn't you get a search party or something? Are you sure you want to handle this yourself?" Kakashi asks.
"I'll be fine. I don't want to waste anymore time raising the alarm and then waste even more time getting a search party in order. I got the dog, that's enough."
He let Pakkun smell the article of clothing. Then the dog sniffed around the air and whatnot as he sought out the scent among the thousands of others.
"I think I got it. I can pick up a trail not far from here."
Jiraiya sighs with relief. Thank goodness for that. It's a start. A strong start. Before leaving to follow Pakkun he made one last request.
"Keep watch over my wife. She doesn't know."
"What? M'lord I can't just-!" Kakashi objects but was cut off.
"She's got Sanaki to worry about so she won't be much trouble but she'll certainly notice the rest of her family is gone. Just... give her an excuse." Jiraiya waved off the concern. "And help her with the baby. She needs it."
Kakashi tried to object further but it was no use. Jiraiya had taken off after the hound, leaving the poor man to figure out how to bold face lie to you on by his lonesome.
At this point on life's mysterious journey, Pakkun has only met Jiraiya once before. But even he could tell that the human he's leading his nervous. Not that it should be judged. Jiraiya is acting as a father not as a shinobi. It's understandable as to why he's anxious. The further the journey goes out from the village the more worried he's getting.
It became apparent how tense he was when Pakkun came to a stop. Jiraiya wasn't so graceful. He stumbled on his landing and had to grab a branch from above to keep him from launching at an awkward angle to the ground.
"There's something here." The dog announced as he sniffed about. "A strong scent."
"That's good right? It means they're close?"
"Er... not always."
Pakkun had stuck his head in the bushes. When he emerged he was holding a hair ribbon. One Jiraiya knows well. It's Hayami's. It's jade green and long enough to tie into a bow once looped around her hair. A flutter of fear strikes like a bat to the face when he notices what's wrong with it.
Aside from his daughter not being attached to the ribbon, there's long pieces of white hair on it like it was ripped off. There's also spots of blood. A blotch of red that's stained and spread out to overcome the width of the ribbon. The rest is just speckles. But it doesn't put him at ease no matter how little the blood is.
Now Pakkun may not know Jiraiya closely but he knows enough that this man usually isn't so emotional. The way he's looking at the ribbon with such sorrow and distress is heartbreaking. It's easy to see he's already picturing the worst.
"I'm sure they're fine."
Jiraiya looks from the ribbon to the small dog. A faint smile attempts to show on his lips as he nods, non verbally thanking the creature for the comfort.
"Let's keep going... can you tell which way they went?"
"Yes but they aren't alone."
"I know."
Something changed in Jiraiya. After tying the ribbon around his wrist he abandoned his worry. In its place was determination.
"Lead the way."
Pakkun turned towards the direction the scents are going. He knows that look. It's the look of a shinobi preparing for whatever lies ahead. Although with the steely rage underneath, it's more than that. It's a parent enraged that someone had dared hurt their child.
...
"Hayami! Haya wake up!" Kana cries.
He's shaking his big sister by her arm, begging her to wake up. He's scared. He doesn't know what to do! She's hurt and it's scary! All of this is scary! He didn't know what to do.
That big scary man that showed up out of no where and tried to grab him. Hayami pulled a kunai out of the small pouch she keeps strapped to her leg and cut the man. Enraged the stranger screamed obscenities and grabbed her. He grabbed her by her hair and as she struggled the hair ribbon mama gave her tore out in the man's hand. As resistant and quick thinking as she is she couldn't get away.
"Run!" She yelled. "Run, Kana, run!"
Kana's legs felt like stones. When he turned around to try and get away there was another scary adult there to block his path. Then Hayami gasped in pain. When he turned to look he saw his big sister hit the ground and not get back up. Terrified, Kana didn't resist when the other man picked him off his feet and carried him away while the first man carried Hayami over his shoulder.
They yelled at him. In this little run down house their screams echoed around the walls. It's a small dark room with the only way out being blocked by one of those men.
"Who are you?! Why are you here?!"
He didn't know how to reply. He was scared. He sobbed as he clung to his limp big sister.
Papa always said if anything were to happen to not speak to strangers. Those big scary men left him alone for now. He was crying so hard he couldn't speak. He shouldn't speak. Papa said that it was a bad thing to do.
One of those men came back in and Kana clutched onto Hayami. He wailed when the man grabbed her by her hair and with his other hand put a blade to her neck.
"No! No don't hurt her!" He begs the stranger through a new wave of tears.
"Tell me your name." The man demands. "Or I'll cut her open."
"Kana!"
"What's her name?"
"Hayami."
"Who is your mother?"
He hesitates. Papa and Mama said that telling strangers that could be dangerous. Not just for them but for him and Hayami too. But then the stranger put the sharp edge closer to her neck and he caved, stammering his mother's name.
The man's eyes widened.
"And your father?"
He hesitates again. But the threat is too much. He doesn't want Hayami to get hurt.
"Jiraiya." Kana croaks out the name.
The stranger curses. He lets Hayami go and her head hit the dusty wood with a dull whack. Kana squeaked and crawled closer to her face. She's still not awake.
"We took one of the Sannin's kids!" The man yelled to his partner.
"What?!" They squawked back from across the house. There's stomping as they approach and stick their head in. "Which one?"
"Jiraiya... that toad sage one."
"Shit. What do we do?"
The man looked back to the children. Kana shrunk under that burning gaze. He held onto Hayami's arm.
"I'm sure their father will negotiate for their freedom."
Kana whimpers. He didn't like that sentence. He leans down and rests his head against his sister's shoulder. Right now he misses her. He misses papa. He misses mama. He even misses Sanaki...
It's difficult to bite back the urge to call. To yell. To scream his children's names. Jiraiya watches the ninja hound sniff around again. Pakkun claimed the trail was hot. That they have to be close. But if they're in trouble then he can't give away his location.
"Over here." The dog quietly called.
Jiraiya walks over and crouches down behind the foliage. He stares at what was drawn to his attention. An abandoned house. A forest cottage long forgotten. Theses exist all over the Land of Fire. Remnants of the past. They're supposed to all be torn down as most are apart of a defunct village before Konoha was officially founded. But hey when in a thick dense forest the occasional thing slips by. It's not like they're all marked on a map. It still looks abandoned.
"Are you sure?" He asks.
"Yeah. The scent is fresh and it leads over there."
"Can you smell anything else?"
"Three others at least. One is Kana. The others I don't know."
"... And you're sure they're in there?"
As if fate was on Pakkun's side, a man emerges from the house. They have a headband on bearing a music note. The man pulls out a cigarette and lights it up.
"See. Told ya." The pug was a tad smug.
"Fine. I'll check it out."
An idea comes to mind. A way to confirm and draw this man out. It'll be easier than barging in there. If Hayami and Kana are in there he didn't want to compromise their safety either. He can't think fully on fatherly emotions. As badly as he wants to storm in there and shout for his children it could end in one of them getting harmed.
It's not all his idea either. Meeting Naruto, as pestering and annoying as the kid is, he's got interesting ideas. Such basic techniques should be used more often. Everyone thinks they're better than the simplest of plans but they never truly are. Jiraiya shuts his eyes as he remembers the finest of details on his daughter's face.
"Did you want me to stay here?" Pakkun asks.
Poof! With a puff of smoke Jiraiya transforms into the exact image of his daughter. He looks over at the pug with a moment of contemplation.
"I'll be fine. Update Kakashi on the situation." It's a tad daunting to hear such a deep voice coming from a little girl.
"But what if you need back up?"
"I won't mess this up."
"You're awfully confident for not having much of an upper hand."
"My kids are in there. I won't fail them."
Against his better judgment, Pakkun obeys the order and turns tail to retreat. Jiraiya stands and makes some noise as he emerges from the bushes. The man notices and calls out in surprise.
"You little brat! How did you get out?!" The man sneers.
He lured the man away from the house. Once close enough Jiraiya let him grab his collar. From there he kicked off the nearest tree and swung himself around to kick the bastard in the side of the face. The man flies away with a rag doll like flail.
With a grunt of pain the man collided with the trunk of a tree and stayed there in a daze. Jiraiya approached and released the disguise. The best weapon is information. And this idiot better spill it all.
"Where are my children?" He asks calmly.
But the tone got the point across. The Sound ninja stared at him with a tight line across his lips and sweat gathering on his temples. One false move would end his life...
Hayami slowly opened her eyes. All her body feels heavy. Kana cries her name. She turns her head to see him there, his face stained with tears. But he looks unharmed. That's good.
There's a commotion. The man that had whacked her on the head was calling for someone outside of the house. Then it fell quiet.
"Fuck!"
The man scrambled back. Hayami managed to lift her head to watch the man barrel into the room. He grabbed Kana. She groaned when he planted his knee on her cheek, cutting off some of her air supply. She grips onto his foot and struggles.
"Watch your step, Jiraiya. Or else."
Jiraiya stood in the frame of the door, staring at this horrible scene. The other Sound ninja is holding Kana with a knife braced against his precious boy's neck. Hayami is struggling under the weight of the man's body on her face and neck. Either could die if he's not careful.
This is his fault. He was going to transform into the first ninja after securely capturing the man but he waited until he was near the clearing again. And his cover was blown. He should've just transformed right away! Then he could've approached the house more strategically.
It's a rookie mistake. He got ahead of himself, excited to hear that his children were alive and well.
"Papa!" Kana whimpered, hiccuping with fear as the blade pressed closer against his neck.
"It's okay, Kana. I won't let you get hurt."
What Jiraiya needs right now is an opportunity. Just a small window. Where Kana isn't in the way and he's quick enough where Hayami won't get hurt either. This is a stand-off. An impasse. There's nothing that can be done until the other makes a move.
"Surrender."
Jiraiya put his hands up. What else can he do? He's still thinking of a plan.
"Back away."
He doesn't move.
"I said back away!"
He grits his teeth and shuffles back. This isn't good. Gaining distance is the opposite of what he wants. His babies are struggling. They're afraid. It's tearing him up inside. He feels like an awful father. He's failed them. He's supposed to protect them!
Hayami is forced to stare at this situation. Her head is turned to the side, with one cheek smooshed against the dry splintery wood and the other smooshed by the stranger's knee. She can see her father's frustration. Worst of all she can see he's scared.
And it's all her fault.
Kana is in danger because of her. Her papa is suffering from watching it happen helplessly. All because she wanted to prove her self. All she's proved today is that she can't handle this. She can't seem to do anything right.
A surge of something grew within her. She strains her eyes as she looks up at the stranger. This nasty person that's hurting her little brother. This isn't how this is going to end! All she wants in this moment is for Kana to get away safe and sound. And if that means her life is at risk then so be it.
As fast as she can she grabs the man's arm and pulls it away, forcing the blade to retreat from Kana's neck. She kicked her legs, narrowly missing her brother's head and hitting the adult right in the jaw.
A window of opportunity. Jiraiya watches as this unfolds. His heart skipping a beat as Hayami smashed her heel into her kidnapper's chin, causing the man to lose grip on Kana. A gush of blood from his mouth is a telling sign that she made him bite his tongue. That's his girl!
"Kana! Get down!"
The boy drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes as ordered. Although to be fair he looked ready to pass out anyways.
It's now or never. Jiraiya launches forward with hardly a plan formed in his mind. All he knows is that he needs to get this guy off his other kid.
Everything feels like it's slowed down. Wether it's due to intense focus or anxiety he's not sure. The rage on the man's face is clear. The knife is flying down towards Hayami. He's not touching the ground. He's gliding from his intense kick forward. He has one hand outstretched and the other is reeled back.
What happened in reality was probably no more than a second in real time. Jiraiya grabbed Hayami's legs and forced them out of the way. His hand that was reeled back flies forward and hits the man in the gut.
It was probably the fasted rasengan he's ever formed. The Sound ninja flew backwards, colliding with the wall. The wood gave away like paper and the man continued to fly away from the force, spinning like a disorderly top for several feet before finally hitting the ground and skidding along the dirt. He doesn't get back up.
"Papa!" Kana screeched.
Jiraiya was nearly knocked over by his adoring five year old. Finally he got to embrace his child. Kana is whining and crying, desperate for comfort. He hugs his boy tightly. Never before has he's been so happy to hold his son.
"I told you you it would be okay." He assures his boy.
He reached out and pulled in Hayami, who was a little stunned after being so close to the fight. The blast of energy that move conjures when coming into contact with something can be very intense. His arm is tingling from it. She must feel a little wobbly from being close to the impact. Her face rested against his shoulder.
It feels indescribable to hold them both again. His kids are safe. He didn't lose anyone this time.
"Papa... Your leg." His daughter gently spoke.
He tilts his head down in between his kid's heads. In his crouched position he can see clearly what had happened. In a last ditched effort the kidnapper had redirected the kunai at the final second. Upon seeing the knife buried right to the hilt in his left leg the wound began sting horribly. Both children got worried.
"I'm okay. It's not that bad." He comforts them.
He gently fell back onto his butt and stretched his injured leg as much as he could. He hissed and braces the wound. Blood isn't even weeping from it. It's a clean cut. So clean it's keeping the blood in. But the moment he pulls it out it's gonna gush harder than the main female protagonist from his books. In order to move, the blade has to come out.
For everyone's sake Jiraiya remains completely calm. If he were by himself he'd probably be more giddy and anxious from a wound like this. It's been a long time since he's gotten hurt like this. But it's okay. It's going to be okay. It has to be.
After parenting two young kids he's handled all kinds of situations involving keeping them calm. Not a lot rattled him before he had Hayami, Kana, and now Sanaki, but now he can get through most of anything without breaking a sweat. He can get through this and parent his kids without a problem.
It took a couple of tries but he got Hayami to snap out of her stun.
"Just help me through this, sweetie, and I'll make it up to you."
She nods. She followed his commands as he asked her to find some kind of wrapping. Bandages. Cloth. Anything. Ripping up clothing will be a last result and it will be his own clothing. She finds the bag one of the men had and pilfered through it.
"Here, papa. Will this help?" Hayami is at his side again in record time, holding out a roll of gauze.
"That's perfect." He praised as he took it from her. "Now take Kana and wait outside."
"But-!"
"I don't want to hear it. Just do as I say."
Kana complained too. He had been stuck to Jiraiya like a parasite. He didn't want to leave his father. Especially knowing that there's an injury involved. Whenever he or Hayami got hurt neither papa nor mama left them.
"I'll be okay. Just go. I'll only take a few minutes." Jiraiya assures them.
Knowing better than to argue with it, Hayami peeled her little brother away and took him outside. They left via the hole in the wall.
"Stay away from the man!" Jiraiya shouted at them as they rounded the corner.
They're too young for all this. He was once a harsher critic on children when they became shinobi but he gets it now. The sympathy for newly graduated ninja should be bigger. And his children aren't even shinobi. He's training them but they have no headbands or teams. They're... his babies. They'll always be his babies and he has to protect them. He hates to see them grow sometimes.
Even if they are growing there's one thing he knows he won't ever let them see. He grips the knife and holds his breath.
His children will never see him bleed.
He bites back the cry of pain into a growl. Blood is flowing out of the wound without the blade stuck in there. He works quickly to wrap it up tightly and fairly thickly with the bandages. It's still bleeding rather heavily but as he applies heavy pressure to it eventually it slows down. He switched out the wrappings since it was quickly saturated with his blood and put in the effort while it was not to heavily gushing to move his pant leg up and treat the wound with the gauze directly on it. This way it won't be as obvious... even if his blood is staining his pants. So long as Hayami and Kana can't see the wound directly he's okay. They deserve a father that seems invincible. How else will they feel safe?
Jiraiya gets to his feet and tries taking a step. It's painful but doable. Despite his best efforts he's limping. His injured leg doesn't want to go as far as his normal stride and it's causing a problem. It's fine. So long as he can get the kids home safely to you it will be okay.
"Let's get going. We've spent far too long out here." He announces as he leaves the desecrated house.
He scoops up Kana from the ground and puts him on his shoulders. That instantly cheers up the boy as piggyback rides are a favourite. Normally he would offer to hold Hayami's hand but his are all bloody from treating his wound.
She looks... down. Unhappy. Sad and exhausted. With his mind on injuries he asks a question he neglected to say earlier.
"Did they hurt you at all, honey?" He asks.
She shakes her head.
"But Hayami!" Kana objected. "They knocked you on the head! You was sleeping almost the whole time."
Hayami shot a glare up to Kana for ratting her out. It caused Jiraiya to inspect her head despite her insistence that she was fine. There was a red mark on her cheek from where the napper had placed his knee on her face but it was already fading. There's a goose egg on her head from where she was struck that knocked her out.
But it's hard to touch her with bloody hands. So Jiraiya leads his kids to a stream near by, making sure to avoid the bodies so they don't see them. He set Kana down by the edge and tells him to wash up. All three of them are covered in dirt and Kana has obvious tear stains down his cheeks. You won't be so happy to see the kids so messy.
After cleaning off, Jiraiya turns his attention to his eldest. He gently grabs her head by the sides of her face behind her ears. He pushes away sections of hair to get a better look at the bump on her head.
Hayami doesn't say anything. She stares at his feet. With her head tilted down she doesn't have much choice. Her gaze rises up to his leg. She can see the cut in his pants and under it the wrappings. There's blood drying on the fabric. He got hurt because of her. She put Kana in danger. Something gently hits her against the cheek. She looks up to see the hair ribbon. The green hair ribbon she was wearing is around her father's wrist like a bracelet.
"I'm sorry papa..." She utters.
"Don't be sorry, honey. This isn't your fault."
"Yes it is!"
Hayami pushes away his hands. She looks up at her father, who is staring at her with concern and confusion. Looking at that face... he just can't hold back the tears. She caused all of this!
"It was my idea to leave the village! A-And Kana caught me and asked to come with me or else he would've tattled on me!" She yelled to keep the words coming out steady. "And I got us caught by those ninja after we found them in the woods."
"Why would you-?"
"I-I wanted to prove to you... that I an be a good ninja!" She sobs and covers her face with her hands. "I want you to be proud of me!"
Jiraiya stares at his daughter as she breaks down into tears. Her confession had broke his heart. He knew Hayami was jealous over him teaching Naruto a thing or two but he didn't think it hurt her like this. He told her the other day that while she's training and all that she's not officially a ninja. She's always been ambitious and wondered why she couldn't do the exams.
It was a bad parenting move. He was tired from helping you to the hospital. Naruto wouldn't stop pestering him. Kana needed to be supervised and he saw fit to leave it to his daughter to do the babysitting instead of doing it himself. He should've included her instead of pushing off his responsibilities to her. He was just... excited to meet Minato's kid and let the opportunity get to his head. He got overwhelmed with it all.
Hayami whimpers quietly when he hugged her. He held his child tightly. He did the one thing he never thought he'd do, make his baby cry.
"I've always been proud of you, Hayami."
Her crying got louder. She clutched onto him. And like she was a toddler again, Jiraiya rubbed her back and rocked her the best he could with her feet on the ground. A moment later a weight is added to his leg. He peeks around Hayami's shoulder to see Kana clutching onto his leg. It hurts but it's worth it.
He released Hayami and wiped away her tears. He offers her a smile as he fixes her hair. She smiles back at him, feeling better after hearing those words. He picks Kana back up again and sets him down in back in proper piggyback fashion.
"Don't tell mama about this." He said. The last thing you need is to hear a big scare like this. "This will be our secret adventure."
The kids agree.
Jiraiya offered his hand and Hayami took it. As a family they make their way back to the village...
...
Kakashi can feel the sweat gathering under his clothing. This is so stressful. This whole day has been stressful! How does Lord Jiraiya do this?!
Upon hearing that your husband had left to go explore the forest with the kids you burst into tears. He's never seen you sob before. He did what he could to keep you calm. But you were inconsolable for an agonizing long time. It wasn't until he offered to watch the baby while you gathered yourself did you snap out of it.
You took a long hot shower. You changed and had a moment to yourself. The whole time Kakashi was terrified of the little baby sleeping in the crib beside him. She began to whine and her face scrunched up. Before he could figure out what to do, you left the bathroom and picked her up. In a few moments you had her soothed.
"You look much better, my lady." He complimented.
"Amazing what a shower can do, hm?"
"What do you want to do now?"
"..." You pause thoughtfully. "I'm hungry."
"Okay. I'll escort you to a restaurant. Does that sound good?"
You nod. Sanaki began to cry again and simple rocking won't soothe her.
"Aw.. you must be hungry too." You coo at her.
Kakashi's eye nearly popped out when you pulled open your kimono. He swiftly turn around. If he saw a little too much of you his life would probably end. Lord Jiraiya has always been very protective of you. He must be a monster now that you're the mother to his three children.
"Sheesh Kakashi it's just breastfeeding. It's a natural process." You criticized him, unaware he was worried about what your husband will think.
Sanaki finishes up and you dress yourself. You roll your eyes at the young man as he acts very... unlike himself. Some men as so awkward around babies. But he's being very pleasant. He takes the baby bag and carries it for you. He waits by the door as you check and change your baby. You head to the door and slip on your shoes. When you struggled a little from the stiffness in your back and hips your companion helped out.
And so you have a nice day with your new born and Kakashi. For the first time your baby is born in your hometown. It should be more of a joyous thing but it's not really. Konoha has stopped feeling special a long time ago. Your real home is with your family.
You know Jiraiya doesn't really enjoy coming here anymore. Too many bad memories for both you and him. But perhaps you had let him talk it up. He was firm about not coming back for anything small. But sudden labour is hardly a small thing. It seems like Sanaki wanted her family to visit this place. It is kinda nice to see how it's recovered after the tragedy that happened twelve years ago.
Including Naruto. He's excitable and a handful but he's grown into an upstanding boy. He's got a thick skin and that's probably one of his greatest assets. He takes his struggles in stride and is stronger because of it. Jiraiya likes him and seeing them meet went better than expected. There's not much guilt... only curiosity and a drive to have a hand in guiding the boy. Although Naruto isn't giving Jiraiya much choice. He's very persistent. Luckily today the boy seems to be distracted by a group of young children that idolize him. It's nice to see he has a lovely group of friends.
Kakashi takes you to a restaurant you hadn't eaten at in so long. You have a nostalgic late breakfast, just without the coffee. Kakashi held your baby to give you a fair break from her as you eat. He needed advice on how to hold her. Being so tense isn't good for her.
The day prattles on with simple things. You sit on a bench in the park, enjoying the sun and feeding your baby again. The baby blanket you use to cover yourself in public flies off with a gust. To which Kakashi chased it like it was money.
"I have spares in the bag!" You called after him but it's no use he's gone.
You adjust yourself to try and cover up. But you're always a mother first. She's not done eating. You fumble in the bag for a cover while trying to not jostle your little one.
He saw! Oh god! It's more for a quick escape that Kakashi chased the blanket. This could be an important blanket too! It looks important! He grabs if off of the bush it fell on across the park and was pleasantly surprised to see his summon underneath it.
"Hi." Pakkun flatly greeted.
"How'd it go?"
"I found the kids and Jiraiya is confronting the people responsible for taking them now."
"By himself?"
"Yeah I thought it was a bad idea too. But he assured me he'd be fine."
"Well okay... I guess I'll just stay with the missus until they all get back."
"Good idea. She smells stressed."
The huddle breaks and Kakashi returns to your side with the blanket. You offer an amused smile and thank him. You don't look stressed. But he doesn't know you as well. Nor should he speak on how other's feel. Perhaps being a mother has made you very good at hiding how you truly feel.
"Are you feeling alright, my lady?" He asks.
"Yes I'm fine..." You answer as you stand. You keep Sanaki covered so she doesn't get a sun burn. You look around the area as if searching for something. "They've been gone a long time don't you think?"
"Who? Your family?"
"Mhmm. I'm worried about them. Shouldn't they at least be back for lunch or something?"
Kakashi pats your back very gently. He'd hate to invoke the cries of Sanaki by causing a jolt.
"Lord Jiraiya is certainly a man of the woods. Perhaps they went fishing or foraged a quick meal. It'd be a good lesson for the kids."
"Yeah... you're probably right." You say it calmly but tears are falling from your eyes. You wave off his growing concern. "I just gave birth. My hormones all that are all out of whack. Don't pay it any mind."
Your baby starts crying anyways. She's not as relaxed as her siblings were. But you can handle it. You walk around with her, watching her, hushing her, rocking her. You rely on Kakashi to guide you around as you focus on her.
No one bothers a lady with a crying baby. It's kinda a blessing. You don't have to make small talk with people that you know don't have the best opinion of you and your family. Hours pass with you caring for your fitful new daughter. It's tiring but it won't last forever.
"Mama!"
You look up from Sanaki as you recognize that beautiful little voice. For a moment you're disoriented with all the moving people around you in the main strip of Konoha. You're standing near the gate and your family is walking back in from the outside.
Kana is on Jiraiya's shoulders. He's waving at you excitedly from his high point. Hayami is walking beside Jiraiya, holding his hand. She doesn't do that so often anymore now that she's growing into her teens. You frown as you see scrapes on her arm and knees. Then you focus on your husband. He's limping.
"Hey baby!" He greets you with a smile.
"What happened?" You ask.
"Nothing much. We all got a little carried away." Your husband excuses.
He leans down and gives you a kiss. You are worried. You only caught a glimpse but you saw blood and a bandage hidden under his pant leg. But he's paying it no mind. He picked up Kana and set him down on the ground. Dear old dad can only handle holding one kid at a time. Right now he's lacking a little Sanaki time.
"Hi little lady." He greets as he takes the baby from you.
At the moment Sanaki was calm and quiet. She coos and stares at her father with that cute little face that makes his heart melt. An odd wave of relief washes over him. It feels really good to see her and you safe. His whole family is alive and well. He looks over all of them, feeling satisfied. You have crouched down to greet your other babies, making sure to check them over for wounds. Which are all superficial. Then his gaze met with Kakashi who is weirdly fidgety.
"What's wrong with you? Gotta pee or something?" He asks the other man.
"Oh uh... Well..."
"He saw my boob." You explain.
Jiraiya scowled harshly.
"Why were you looking at her chest?"
Watching poor Kakashi convince your husband that it was all an honest mistake was the most fun you've had since before labour. He's usually so calm and collected it was funny to see him all flustered.
You held your husband by the arm and suggest a quiet dinner to cap off the day. He agreed. You wave Kakashi off as he excused himself. Jiraiya thanked him for helping out with a bit of a cold edge to his voice. Yes he appreciated the help but he doesn't like the idea of anyone looking at you like that other than him. For once in a blue moon it's a quiet fairly calm dinner. Jiraiya must of really tired out the kiddos if they're both so calm.
Now your day always ends early because of baby time. Sanaki is down for a few hours at least. The older kids are in bed not much longer after. You fight off sleep and follow Jiraiya to the bathroom.
"Let me see." You insist.
"It's not that bad. Just a cut." Jiraiya assures you.
You make him sit on the toilet lid and you pull off his pants. He winced as you unrolled the wrappings. It's caked with old blood. You wash off the blood and gasp. That is way more than a cut!
"You should go to the hospital!"
"Hell no. I'm fine."
He should know better than to say stuff like that. You look up at him with big watery eyes and a quivering lower lip. He sighs.
"I'll go tomorrow okay?" He promises.
"Okay."
You help him put a fresh bandage on it. He scoots off his seat and sits with you on the floor. He feels bad for upsetting you. You wrap your arms around him and rest your head on his chest. He holds you. He's warm. The feel of his body moving with deep breaths and a steady heartbeat has always been calming.
You fall asleep. A nimble as possible, Jiraiya pulls his pants up and stands with you still in his arms. You grumble something unintelligible as he carries you to bed. He sets you down and checks on the kids one last time for the day. Kana has sprawled out, forcing Hayami to scooch to the edge of the futon. She's sleeping differently than normal. She's not much of a side sleeper but the bump on the back of her head must be tender. Sanaki is still asleep. She'll be up in a few hours demanding a feed but she's sleeping better than yesterday.
Alas another crazy day is done. He plunks down beside you and sighs. His eyes are already shutting. He doesn't got much time to contemplate or think. All he can put together before succumbing to rest is the peace of mind that everyone he loves is safe.
And tomorrow... he's got one hell of a lesson plan to put together. It's time to really see how much Hayami has grown as a ninja. He'll have to entertain Kana and make sure you don't get overwhelmed with Sanaki. It'll be a challenge, but as always, Jiraiya looks forward to it... Nor would he ever trade it for any other kind of life.