Shizukana's P.O.V

What I saw in that hallway was something I never expected to see. Or ever wanted to see. Or will ever forget. The floor was covered with blood.

Red Blood.

Besides the pool, there was a man. His eyes were open, staring off into a distance with a kunai sticking out of his neck. I didn't recognize him, but I could see that by his headband, he was from the Hidden Cloud Village. It's so strange, seeing the corpse of a man I've never met.

I stepped over the body, making sure I didn't trail blood, and moved into the living room. The lights were off... Squinting my eyes, I could make out the form of a man. He was sprawled on the floor, posed as if he was trying to reach something before he died. I slowly walked over. The first thing I saw noticed in the darkness was his paper white hair.

My dad.

I looked to where his arm was reaching. To the left of him was another body. A woman's body. My mother, dead on the floor right beside him. She had stab wounds on her abdomen, and her eyes were shut, meaning she most likely died of blood loss seeing as she had the time to close her eyes. Her arm was reaching out to my dad just as his arm reached out to her. I guess... I guess they really loved each other a lot, didn't they.

I think that's what hurt the most. Not the fact that they would never hug and kiss me again, but the fact that they would never hug and kiss each other. I felt a few tears come from to my eyes and I did what any sensible person would have done a long time ago:

I screamed.

Me raising my voice was not something I did. Ever. My voice seemed to alert the people oustide, because I heard footsteps rushing into the house.

After that, my mind just went blank. I saw the glazed look of my father had as he reached for my mother. I saw the blood-stained wood on the floor. I saw the knife in the man's throat.

And I felt guilty.

Yes, guilt. Part of it was because I wasn't there in time to save them. But part of me knew the guilt I felt was because I never gave my parents what they deserved: a good daughter. The one who would try on pretty pink dresses and spend time with mom gushing about the color of ribbon that would best suit my hair. I wasn't Daddy's little princess: the one who played the damsel in distress. No. I was the distant cold daughter they never deserved.

I felt myself being whisked away and hugged which was weird. The only people who hugged me were Mom and Dad. Now, some stranger is wrapping their arms around me and pulling me away from what I had feared the most.

The last thing I remembered was being taken outside into the garden. Then darkness engulfed me.

Hanako's P.O.V-

The three of us pushed the broken door and ran inside. The first thing we were met with a dead body. He had been stabbed in the neck and had died instantly. I looked at Kurenai and she nodded. She then ran out of the house to get help. Genma and I continued inside to the living room to find Shizu-chan looking at two bodies on the floor.

Oh dear-

I ran forward and picked up Shizu, who looked like she was about to go into shock. Shizukana was completely still as I pulled her away from the nightmare. She didn't even seem to care that someone was taking her away. I caught a glimpse of the bodies on the floor.

Midori-san and Sozoshi-san. May you rest in peace.

I took Shizu-chan and left the house. I immediately hugged her and told her that it was alright, but I noticed that she wasn't responding. She wasn't crying nor was she screaming. The eyes that held such a bright color seemed to have dimmed. Her stare seemed to lack her attention and I could tell she was becoming more and more distant. Suddenly, I felt her go limp in my arms. She must have past out from the shock.

I'm so sorry, Shizukana.

Shizukana's P.O.V-

I woke up to the sound of nothing. Where was I... I opened my eyes as was meet a white ceiling. I turned my head and saw a window full of blue sky. Beneath it, I could see the city, bustling with activity. But I think what gave away where I was had to be the bed. I'd been here once before.

Hospital... Why am I in a hospital?...

Suddenly realization hit me like a truck and I gasped in surprise.

Kumo nin... Blood... Dead... Mom and Dad... Knife sticking out...

I snapped my eyes shut in an attempt to forget the images. I told myself to think of the blue sky and the birds. Think of the sunshine and the flowers. Anything but-

The door opened and a nurse walked in. Her brown eyes widened when she saw me before rushing out of the room again. She returned shortly after with 3 people: a doctor and two nurses. The doctor, wearing a white doctor's coat, came up to me and asked a few questions about headaches or pain. I shook my head to all the questions. They then left me alone, to which my mind took the opportunity to wander.

This world is not safe. It's not the children's cartoon where a very determined kid saves the day. No. It's a world of pain and suffering. The strongest live while the weak suffer. I wanted to protect my family, but I couldn't. Once again, I was helpless. If only I had stayed home that day instead of going to the library... But no, I would have been killed too.

It's all so confusing.

Someone knocked on the door three times.

"Come in," I said weakly, sitting up and turning to the door. When it opened, a doctor and three other people entered. What caught my attention was the old man adorned in white and red robes. He had a goatee and unmistakable scars near his eyes.

Hokage...

I stared at him before looking at one of the two other persons. He had blond hair that was tied in a ponytail as well as pale blue eyes and a kind smile. I recognized him from my dad's work. Yamanaka...

The third man that had entered had black hair and black eyes. There were very visible scars covering his face and his hair was pulled in a ponytail. A STRANGE ponytail, for it spiked upward, making the top of his head look like a pineapple. He seemed to be analyzing me. A Nara...

They couldn't wait for this day, could they? At least I can get this over with.

The doctor spoke first. "Hello, Shizukana. How are you feeling today?" I tore my gaze from the Nara and looked at the doctor.

"Fine." I said with an expressionless face.

"That's good. You must be wondering why you are in the Hospital, am I right?" he asked me, fixing his glasses which were once crooked on his face.

I didn't answer.

The Hokage came closer to me and sat down on one of the chairs near the bed. He took off his hat and sighed.

"Shizukana, I'm sorry, but your parents have been murdered by a foreign ninja," the Hokage spoke in a soft voice. He didn't seem like the guy who was the strongest in Konoha. He just looks like a sweet, kind old man. But you must never judge a book by its cover.

I didn't say anything in response. In my mind, it would be more beneficial to play the quiet-little-girl game. I wouldn't want to attract any unwanted attention. So instead, I looked at him. Then at the Yamanaka. Then the Nara.

"These people were some friends of your parents. This is Yamanaka Inoichi and Nara Shikaku," the Hokage introduced me, pointing to each of the figures.

Fake enthusiasm.

I nodded. "Pleasure meeting you Yamanaka-san, Nara-san. My name is Shizukana Tori."

The Yamanaka walked forward. "Shizukana-chan, can I ask you some questions?"

I nodded.

"I spoke with Hanako-chan and she told me that you were coming home from the library. What did you see when you went inside the house?"

Doesn't it bother them that a four-year-old was coming from the library? Maybe Hanako-chan mentioned about my love for reading. Or they knew and just wanted to keep quiet about it...

Just then, I noticed that the doctor had left and the two men had found seats next to the bed. I sighed and responded.

"The lock on the door was broken, so I had to push the door to get inside. When I walked in, I saw a big man lying on the floor with a knife sticking out of his neck. He had a Kumogakure headband. I walked past him to find Tou-san and Kaa-san were also dead. I screamed and that's all I remember."

They nodded.

"How did you know that the headband belonged to the Village Hidden in the Cloud?" the Nara asked. Of course he was the one that noticed...

"I was trying to read a book that explained the five elemental nations," I explained in the most child-like way I could, "I saw the village signs on one page."

After a few more questions, I noticed that the Nara was staring at me. He seemed to see through my childish game. I had known this would happen, after all, the Nara clan is known for being quite smart. 'Trying to read?' What a joke. I had finished the book on clans in less than 3 hours. And I remember everything.

I stared directly into his eyes in an attempt to make him uncomfortable. It didn't work, but I persisted anyway. It wasn't uncommon for me to do this. In fact, I did this every time someone would stare at me. My abnormal colored eyes tended to creep people out.

The Hokage seemed to signal something to Yamanaka and Nara, they both left the room without a second glance, leaving only me and the Hokage. I knew there were anbu stationed in the room. Even though I still haven't unlocked my chakra, I could still feel their presence. And it was obvious, I mean, why would the Hokage be alone? The two other men would not have left if they weren't sure the Hokage was protected.

I looked straight at the Hokage.

"Shizukana, I know that you are smarter than this. It isn't every day we see a 4-year-old visit the library. So you can drop the act," he spoke, his kind and calm voice all gone. It was replaced with a more stern and calculating one. I smirked.

"I knew it. It was highly unlikely that the Hokage, Jonin Leader and the Head of the Intelligence department, would visit a child who just lost their parents. Though I must say you nearly fooled me there with the 'friends of my parents' part."

The Hokage raised his eyebrow at that, but continued to speak. "I assume that you will be attending the academy next year and are hoping to graduate Genin?" he asked. I nodded.

"Yes, I was planning on asking my parents, but that isn't possible now," I said, glancing over to my window. A silence covered the room for a minute before the Hokage continued.

"Now, about your residency. I can add to you to the Foster-care service or send you to an Orphanage. That way you can live with someone until you graduate Genin."

I shook my head. "No, I would like to be emancipated. I want an apartment where I can live by myself."

The thought of living with someone else disturbed me. If I could live alone then I would be able to conduct experiments.

The Hokage's let out a sigh, as if he expected me to respond this way. "I would agree, however, you are too young to be living alone. The council would not allow that."

"For all they care, you could tell them that I am living with a guardian. The academy and everyone will believe that I am living with someone. I am sure it would benefit both of us. This way, I wouldn't attract any unwanted attention." I finished with a smirk.

He looked a bit frustrated, but then he let out another sigh. "Alright. I will emancipate you. The council will hear that you have a guardian, 'Takada Yukimura if anyone asks. But you will receive a monthly stipend from Konoha."

I furrowed my eyebrows.

"There will be no need. My parents had saved enough to get me through Genin. But nonetheless, I will accept your Stipend."

The Hokage chuckled, "I knew you were smart, but not this smart."

That's what you get when you put a Genius 27-year-old in the body of a 4-year-old-

I nodded and smiled. He gave me a smile back and excused himself from the room, leaving me alone once again. I sighed and closed my eyes.

Isn't it ironic? In my previous life, I couldn't protect my family. So I wanted to protect the family I had in this life. But apparently, fate didn't want me to. It's gonna be a whole new level.