Part Two
Ria scowled as she listened to Lord Danzo's words, "Wait, this loser is joining the ANBU?" She cocked her thumb over at Kakashi who stared at her, she thought he was a loser? Shisui sniggered beside her, he loved hearing her berate others.
"Yes," Lord Danzo nodded, "It has been decreed by the Hokage, Kakashi Hatake is now an operative under the ANBU. I expect you to train him."
"I have to train him?" Ria stared at Danzo dumbfounded.
Shisui frowned, "Lord Danzo…"
"I haven't asked for your input," Danzo cut him short, "There is no discussion, it has been decreed and as such it will be done. Kakashi Hatake you will be working under Mitsu."
Ria was in a bad mood, she angrily stormed off followed by a worried Shisui and a reluctant Kakashi, when they entered the locker rooms all the ANBU operatives ran out as Ria began slamming doors. One grabbed Kakashi and pulled him with him, "Newbie, you do not want to be in there when Mitsu is mad."
"Why…what's wrong?" Kakashi was confused.
The boy smiled, "It must be because of you."
The other operatives sighed, "Makes sense."
"Why would I make her mad?" Kakashi was confused.
"You are Kakashi Hatake," one female ANBU operative pointed out.
"Yeah, why is that important?"
"You don't belong in the shadows," an older operative answered darkly, "She was this way when Shisui and Itachi were made ANBU. Mitsu doesn't believe some people should work in the shadows."
"But both the Uchiha are strong…"
"You are too gentle, they are too gentle," the man explained, "Our work…it's not for the gentle, kind-hearted people. Our work is dangerous, it's more life and death than the normal shinobi activities, us ANBU we are nobodies, for Mitsu that isn't the life she thinks is right for everyone. You must mean a great deal to her for her to get this mad."
"I hope she doesn't break my locker," another sighed, "I only just got it fixed."
"Why don't you all just tell her to calm down? She shouldn't react to orders like this?" Kakashi was still confused but also trying to put aside the words the man had said, Ria must care deeply about him.
Itachi Uchiha sniggered from the back, "We may work under Lord Danzo and the Commander, but the ANBU belongs to Mitsu."
"What?" Kakashi frowned more and more but all the operatives seemed to agree, "How does that make sense?"
"She is the strongest, she is who we follow. You haven't been here long Kakashi Hatake, but trust us, the ANBU our strength is her. So yes, when she's angry we let her be angry…because it just proves to us that we are not, nothing, we are not expendable, we are people in her eyes, that one child cares deeply about us all. Our lives matter to her, if we were gone, she would care…no one else in this village knows us or will ever know us like her."
Kakashi saw it then, that glimmer of starlight in all their eyes, that girl, she had managed to tame the ANBU, they protected her, they followed her and respected her. Who was she?
They quietly sneaked back into the locker rooms, Kakashi's surprise deepened when he saw Ria lying on the benches her head on Shisui's lap as he played with her hair whilst she ate a lollipop, "Ah man Shisui you are a legend," the guy who had complained about his locker's state grinned as he went to his perfectly unblemished locker.
They all relaxed as Ria didn't move she just quietly ate her lollipop, Shisui grinned, "Don't worry, guys. I'll protect you."
Itachi made a face and slowly nudged Ria off of the bench and on to the floor, "Someone needs to quit being such a baby…you're going to rot your teeth."
Ria lay on the floor her eyes on Itachi scowling at him, "You're just jealous Shisui likes me more than you."
Shisui chuckled rubbing his neck, "You two are impossible."
Itachi smiled, putting his hand out to Ria and helping her up, "Get off the floor you idiot, we have a mission."
She sat on the bench but lazily relaxed against Shisui who was happy about it, "Ah man but I just got back from 3 back to back missions."
"I'll take it," another operative piped up as he put on his jumper, "I've had a pretty long break. Need to get back out there."
"It's alright Roco," Ria waved her hand, "If I don't do it, the Highness will just find some other crap to get me involved in, anyway I have babysitting to do, too," she gestured at Kakashi, "Could someone show him his locker and give him his uniform," she said off-handed as she took the mission particulars from Itachi.
Kakashi was about to argue with Ria but a man pushed him off to help him get acquainted, "Shut up kid, we told you, this is her domain. Listen to the boss."
"What's all this boss? Boss, boss rubbish? She's not Hokage!" Kakashi struggled annoyed.
"Didn't you know?" The man tilted his head, "Mitsu is the Captain's Captain. She is third in command, so yeah maybe she isn't Hokage but all ANBU Captain's report to her, she's the closest to Hokage here."
"She is the Captain's Captain?"
"Yeah she outranks even Senior Jonin members, that's what happens when you are the star of the ANBU," he explained.
Kakashi was stunned, he had no idea, he knew Ria was talented he had never suspected her to be the Captain's, Captain. That feat was akin to a General in the Army, a rank below the Commander of the Army. Mitsu could legitimately lead a whole battalion. He never knew that about her.
Gai, flanked by Kurenai and Asuma went to demand answers from Minato, "Why? Why would you transfer Kakashi to the ANBU?"
"He's not ready to be doing missions like that, after Rin…" Kurenai's voice broke, it hurt them all, they had seen the way Kakashi was. The image of him furiously trying to wash his hands clean of blood was burnt into their eyes.
Minato sighed sadly, "I wouldn't have but…"
"Ria," Gai gasped realizing Minato's reasons.
He nodded, whilst Kurenai and Asuma frowned, "What about this Ria?" Neither of them knew her.
"If she wasn't the current Captain of Captain's of the ANBU I wouldn't have sent Kakashi there. Under her command, he might be able to gain a semblance of life again."
"Whose this Ria?" Asuma demanded.
"I believe she's the only person in this world that can help Kakashi smile again. That's what we all want," Minato said softly, "I didn't want to send him ANBU, I don't like the idea of him being in the shadows…" Minato paused and turned, she was sitting there on the windowsill, in her ANBU gear.
"You are an idiot."
Asuma, Kurenai and Gai jumped up, "Hey, that's the Hokage you are talking about."
"I don't care," she snapped, "I'll talk to him however I want if he decides to throw such a responsibility at me without warning me!"
"Kakashi…"
"Needs you all," she scowled under her mask, "One person can't make a difference, it takes a team, a family. You threw him into my world, he has no one there, you've basically abandoned him."
Minato stood up hurt in his eyes, "I didn't abandon him."
"Yes you did," she stood upon the windowsill, "I won't though, if you can't be bothered to care for him and choose to leave it on me, I won't back down, I won't let him fall into the darkness…if this is what it means to be a sensei then I'm glad I never had one," she disappeared leaving Minato to fall into his chair his head in his arms.
"I haven't abandoned him, I just put him with the one person he cares about the most in the world," he mumbled sadness taking over him. He hated this, he hated having to leave it up to Ria, she was right, Kakashi would need everyone's support, but what he needed first was to find a light, and that light was her. She just had no idea how important she was to him.
Kakashi watched the three of them, they had completed a dangerous S-Class mission in a surprisingly quick timescale. They were taking a break before heading home as it was pretty late at night, Kakashi had to admit, this was definitely the strongest team there ever had been. 5 Sharingans and the power of the Stars. 3 Captains, and a Captain's Captain. It was pretty impressive, considering their age. Ria was lying on the ground next to Shisui whose arm she was resting against as they looked up at the stars, having known her for a long time, Kakashi knew it was Ria's favorite pastime. Stargazing. "There's Uncle Fugaku and you," she pointed at the three stars in a line in the night sky, Shisui grinned at her, "I'll be your third star too!"
She giggled, "Really?"
"Actually," Itachi dropped down beside them, "I'll think you'll find I'm the third star."
"In your dreams Itachi," Shisui punched his shoulder leaning over Ria, "You are in no way good enough for that position."
Itachi rubbed his arm still grinning, "Ria knows I'm the only one right for her."
"Don't let your girlfriend hear you saying that!" Shisui scowled.
"I don't want to die," Ria hit Itachi too.
Itachi laughed, "If its not me, then who? Who will be your third star?"
Ria flipped up from the floor and landed in front of Kakashi, making him blush darkly under his mask, she was on her knees, she put her hands together and pleaded him, "Just once, please."
He realized quickly what she wanted, he sighed and bit his thumb whilst Itachi and Shisui watched on curiously, they were surprised to see Ria go to Kakashi, just then a small pug jumped into Ria's arms, "My third star!" She cried out happily showing him off to Shisui and Itachi who stared annoyed,
"A dog, you chose a dog over me?" Itachi was dumbstruck.
She shook her head, "Not just any dog, my first and only love," she hugged Pakkun tightly going off to play with him leaving the boys alone.
"This is all your fault," Shisui scowled at Itachi, "Why did you have to be so useless a dog beat you?"
Itachi laughed, "It's not my fault, she's a weirdo."
"That's my wife you are talking about," Shisui hit him on the head, "Have some respect."
"I think that dog has more of a chance with her than you do," Itachi pointed out which just made Shisui fight him. They all stopped when they felt that presence. It was a darkness. It chilled all of them to the bone, it was like death. Ria jumped into action taking the forefront of her team when the figure appeared into their eye line.
"Who are you?" She asked, her body was tense, she could sense the power leaking from this man. He was draped in black and white. His expression of sadness.
"I am darkness," he replied softly.
"Stay back," Ria ordered the others.
"No," Kakashi was the first to argue, "This isn't a normal person."
"I said stay back," Ria pushed the three of them back with her starlight chakra, that movement made the man's lip curl,
"My curse lives on."
"What are you?" She demanded, pulling out her katana, she never used it in a fight, it always remained on her back. None of them had ever seen her withdraw it, but here she was taking it out without a single jitsu to test the waters, she knew this person was not someone she could defeat with her usual means.
"I am the reason you exist," the man replied, "Maybe I should take my gift back," he moved towards her but Kakashi, Itachi and Shisui jumped in front of her protecting Ria, eyes flashing a blood-red,
"Don't even think about touching her."
Ria stared at the three, they were trying to protect her, they were facing a foe larger than any they could even think of fighting against, she knew, they knew that, then why?
"Your lives do not interest me," he responded simply, not in the slightest bit perturbed by their offensive stances, he suddenly doubled over, panic set into Ria she grabbed the three and threw them behind her,
"Get down," she screamed as the air changed and with a whoosh of wind, everything in a 50-meter radius died on impact. Luckily Ria had thrown them out of range but had remained stuck in the zone.
"Ria," they cried out landing heavily on the ground, she was cowered down her hands out acting like a barrier, what struck them all were the three lights that had appeared in front of her. Protecting her.
The man looked on and smirked, "Even in death you find a way to irk me…I'm no longer interested…" he turned his back and disappeared. Kakashi was the first to run and land beside Ria catching her as she collapsed into his arms before she closed her eyes completely and utterly drained of chakra, she saw the three lights, she saw what was in them. A tear escaped down her cheek.
"Ria," Shisui ran to her as Kakashi picked her up.
"We need to get her back to the village quick, her chakra is practically gone…whatever that was…it wasn't human," Kakashi took charge, the others nodding as they quickly hurried as fast as they could to the village. All any of them could do was run, they had to run, her life was on the line. If it wasn't for her, the three of them would have been dead.
Neither of them could leave the hospital as Ria was comatose. It was harder for Kakashi as Fugaku was beside her, refusing to leave till she woke up. So, he stayed on the roof, not wanting to leave her presence however far he had to remain.
The whole hospital was on edge, having so many Uchiha breathing down their neck was a lot to handle. Hardly any doctor was comfortable being in Ria's room or treating her. It got to the point when Minato stepped in, his involvement angered Fugaku, he didn't want to have to rely on the help of another to get Ria the care she needed. But without him, she may never have woken.
"Thank you," Fugaku muttered darkly, his eyes on Ria who was now finally sleeping and no longer unconscious. She looked so innocent as she slept, showing her true age.
Minato smiled lightly, "Ria is a shinobi of Konoha, she should receive the correct care. It is her right."
Before either of them could exchange more words Ria suddenly tensed in her sleep and then woke up with a scream, Fugaku grabbed hold of her and pulled her into his arms as she struggled, screaming.
"Hey, hey, Rizzie, it's okay, your safe," Fugaku said in a surprisingly warm tone holding her close to him.
She was shaking uncontrollably, tears falling from her eyes, even Minato was surprised to see her reaction, "Daddy," she whispered, "I saw Daddy."
"What?" Fugaku was surprised to hear those words come out her mouth, she held on to Fugaku.
"Daddy saved me…Daddy…" her voice drifted and she collapsed yet again from the lack of energy, Fugaku comforted her not knowing what else to do.
"Is it possible?" Minato asked, "For Ria to have seen her father?"
Fugaku shook his head, "No, I buried both her parents myself. She must have imagined it. They are definitely gone."
"You know who her parents are, don't you?" Minato looked at Fugaku, it was clear to him that Fugaku was sitting on a secret, whoever Ria's parents were they were important to Fugaku, that importance is what made her dear to him.
"What I know is not of relevance to you, I'd appreciate it if you stay away from my Ria. She is mine to protect and no one else's."
"You shouldn't keep it from her forever, she deserves the truth about her parentage," Minato said softly.
"I know what she needs," Fugaku replied carefully lying Ria back down as he tucked her gently in.
"Let me know if I can ever help," with that Minato bowed respectfully and left. It was late at night when Kakashi sent Pakkun down to Ria, they didn't know that Fugaku was not asleep, he had one eye open as he watched the small dog scurry into Ria's bed and cuddle up against her chest. He was moments from picking him up and throwing him out when Ria's hand went around him, she smiled in her sleep and mumbled, "My Pakkun."
Seeing her smile was enough for Fugaku to pretend he had not noticed the dog at all. He was helping Ria and that was all Fugaku wanted. It was while Ria was on bedrest it happened. The night of the 9 Tails attack. She was too weak to help and was stuck attached to wires. The pain filled her body. She fought with the 4th many times, but that didn't mean she didn't care about him, or Kushina. She loved them both dearly and she knew Kakashi loved them. They were his family. And now he had lost more and she could do nothing to help.