AUTOR'S NOTE:
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— Kushina!
The blond looks slightly scared at the sight of the red-head. She walks closer, her steps never faltering and pulls my arm away from him.
— Are you okay? Did this idiot scare you? Did he do anything?
— Kushina! Stop talking like I am some kind of pedophile. I was just trying to help her! She came running, crying and tripping on people all around the village, and I got worried... — The blond explains with a fake offended gaze. His smile is still present. Anyone who looked at the couple for a few seconds could notes that they really liked each other. Minato clearly was used to the red-head craziness.
— If you don't want to be mistaken for a pedophile, you shouldn't grab little girls on the street! — Retorts the woman while turning towards me, looking calmer.
I bite my lips, feeling like the action is becoming an annoying habit.
— I'm... I'm okay. Just nervous, I guess. I'll stop to cause troubl-
The blond interrupts me:
— We are not going to let a child like you running around the village by herself, Uchiha-chan. Let us take you home. If your parents are dead then who are you living with?
I tried to respond but Kushina speaks faster:
— Uchiha? Could you be... Izumi-chan?
I nod feeling nervous. Maybe Mikoto-baa was looking for me? The pair definitely looked shinobi.
— Miko-chan told me about your situation yesterday. You are living at her house for now, right? Why did you...
Before finishing her question she just sighs and offers her hand.
— My name is Uzumaki Kushina. This idiot at your side is Namikaze Minato. We were going to eat ramen, you'll come with us and after it, we will drop you at Miko-chan's house. She must be worried sick, she could bearly sleep yesterday...
I feel my cheeks getting warmer. I am embarrassed for nothing about how running away might affect Mikoto-baa. She offered me shelter, food and I thanked her by leaving the house and ignoring her.
I really should apologize about it later.
— You don't have to do this, Uzumaki-sama. I have already eaten and I can go back on my own...
— I wasn't asking. There's no way I'm leaving you alone. And drop the 'sama' please. You can call me Kushina-nee-chan — She takes me by the arm and pulls — What are you doing standing there Minato? I don't have the entire day 'ttebane!
Kushina crosses the street grinning happily, still holding my hand, while Minato walks by her side with a little smile of his own. We enter a small ramen stand and sit in the corner.
— Teuchi-san, good to see you! Bring the same as Always, please! What about you Izumi-chan, want anything? — Screams the red-head
— No, thank you.
The man smiles and leaves the table, going inside the kitchen. The couple turns their attention back to me. The blond speaks first:
— I am really sorry for your loss, Izumi-chan. If I had known it had been so recent earlier today, I wouldn't have said anything. But... well, it's not any less truthful: even if physically your parents aren't here, they surely still love and worry about you.
I turn my eyes away from his. His gaze it's painful to support because they remind me of my father. Minato Namikaze, Konoha's yellow flash. He is a legend, even I have heard about his power and strength. Did he meet my father? I don't dare to ask, scared to find anything else connecting them I would surely cry.
But the way he speaks about father gives me the impression that he does.
— What made you run? — The blond asks after the fleeting silence. I hesitate to answer.
— Talking about it with a stranger might help — suggests Kushina — Top ut things in perspective, know what I mean? Make you understand what's really bothering you.
I look inside her violet eyes. Should I say? She was Mikoto's friend so she couldn't be a bad person, could she? And she was shinobi...
— Fugaku-sama asked me what I want to do next year. Before... before everything I was studying to enter the Academy. But now...
— You don't know what you want to do anymore — finishes the blond. He seems slightly annoyed.
— What is Fugaku thinking to ask you this only one day after... — she interrupts herself with an angry noise and standing up — That's it! I am killing him' ttebane!
— You can't meddle in clan affairs, Kushina — Pinpoints Minato. The red-head mutters a curse and sits again, looking furious.
Seeming someone so angry for me, especially since I had just met her, makes me beam at her. Those two were really good people, and just by watching them I already felt myself relax.
It was hard not to be influenced by the coupe's charisma. Minato's slight anger seems to have vanished. I wondered if he felt calmer by Kushina's explosion.
Maybe I had caused Fugaku-sama some problems by opening my mouth, hum? Well, it was already too late anyway.
— Why did you want to become a shinobi, Izumi-chan? You ere born during the war, so you how hard and dangerous it is. You don't seem the type to just wants to show off some new tricks.
— Otou-san was a ninja. He always arrived tired and even hurt after a mission, which worried and irritated me a lot. One day I asked him: " Why do you put yourself in so much danger?"
I pause, the pair quiet. Kushina's rage seems to have been forgotten, her eyes studying me almost worriedly.
— My father grinned and answered: "Because I want to protect you and kaa-san, keep you two safe. Someone needs to protect those who can't do that themselves. So Ido it. It's my duty to you, to the safety of Konoha". I still remember his eyes at that moment... there was a fire. I thought: I too want to protect kaa-san, my friends, everyone.
I take a deep breath and close my eyes. When I open them again, Kushina and Minato are staring at each other, communicating with just a glance.
— The Will of Fire — Starts Minato — it's Konoha's motto, I guess. It basically says that love is the path to peace. That's the will that our shinobi carry. Love makes us stronger, it's the reason we fight for, the reason you father fought for, Izumi-chan. The determination to fight for the village and our loved ones, like the generation before ours did.
I hold my breath. The silence is almost heavy.
The Will of Fire, hn?
It's a fitting name.
— In some countries, ninjas are emotionless weapons. They believe that feelings make you weak. To me... to Konoha... a shinobi does what he has to despite their emotions. We live for them, we kill for them and we die for them.
— Why are you doubting your resolve to become a ninja, Izumi-chan? — Asks Kushina.
— I don't have anyone to protect.
— Maybe that's true for now. But in a year from here? Will you still feel the same? You'll not get attached to anyone, your colleagues, your cousins, your clan? — She continues, her voice kinder.
I don't dare to speak but Yuki-chan's beam comes to my mind. I think about Kiharu-nee taking me to the new Ice cream shop and Mikoto's-baa hug that happened earlier.
Were these people Worth my life? Should I fight for them? Yes.
But could I? Would I be able to do anything at all?
I couldn't protect my unborn brother. I couldn't protect my mother — She was falling apart right in front of me, and I didn't even note.
I did nothing.
— I think I understand what was wrong now, Kushina-nee, Minato-nii — I see the blond smile at his name — Will I be able to do it, I wonder?
— Do what, Izumi-chan? — Questions the woman
— Become strong. Not just physically. Strong enough to protect the people that I love from harm and from themselves. From their feelings. From... well, everything.
I shake my head, pushing those thoughts away. I feel something grow inside me — a resolve. I would never go through that again. That feeling of being powerless.
— Thank you. Talking about it really helped.
The pair smile at me and I feel my cheeks getting warmer once again. They were really something else. Right on time, the first bowl of ramen arrives. Both say 'itadikamusu' and dig in, Kushina eating at an alarming rate. When her second bowl arrives I decide to look through the window.
I will train and make to shinobi. I will turn myself into someone people can count on.
Would my parents be proud? Happy?
— Ne, Izumi-chan, do you like ramen? — Asks Kushin while waiting for the next bowl to arrive.
— Actually, I've never had it.
The red-head chokes and look at me completely shocked. At the same time, the blond by her side put his palm in his face and shakes his head.
— How? That's absurd! A crime against humanity! MINATO! THE UCHIHAS ARE TORTURING THEIR CHILDREN! THEY MUST BE STOPPED!
Watching the scene of Kuhsina almost jumping out the window, while Minato puts his hands up in surrender, trying to calm her down I couldn't stop it — I laughed. I laughed hard. The couple stares at me, seeming startled, and after a few seconds, join in. It takes some time, but when we actually calm down, the red-head states:
— Seriously now, remind me of bringing you here for lunch. You can't claim to live in Konoha if you have never eaten at Ichiraku!
I beam at, nodding. The idea of meeting them again made me feel joyful. Kushina finishes off her third ramen at the same time Minato ends the first. The woman asks another one, while the blond looks satisfied. The fourth bowl arrives and it's inhaled as quickly as the others, and in a short amount of time, Kushina in putting her hashi down and it's stretching her arms. Minato stands up a pays for the bill and we follow him out the restaurant soon after it.
We walk to the district in silence. The sky is a beautiful shade of blue, and I can't help but gaze at it. For the first time in the day, I think about my mother and don't feel like crying.
— Kaa-san loved the sky, you know? Whenever she wasn't too busy or tired we would go to the gardens and look at the endless blue. She knew all kinds of clouds and constellations...
I keep staring at the sky, and suddenly remember something my mom said once or twice: "When I look at the night sky I feel all of my energy is being recharged. It's like a good night of sleep, one with the best of dreams, the only difference being that you are awake. When I look at the sky during the day, I feel incredibly hopeful, joyful. It's like the first dive into the most beautiful waterfall. Every time you feel sad, Izumi, look at the sky".
— It's really a beautiful day — Says Minato.
— Can my mother see the sky from where she is?
— I'm sure she can — Answers the blond looking serene.
We arrive at the Uchiha District, and in front of it, Shisui and Itachi seem to be waiting. The older one runs at us, the other following close behind.
— Kushina-nee, Minato-nii, it's good to see you both! — Says Shisui. He then turns towards me, his expression closing — Izumi-chan! Why did you run out on your own? Mikoto-baa was worried sick!
— I am truly sorry for the trouble, Shisui-san, Itachi-san. I needed to think, I guess. I promise it will not happen again.
The younger one seems to relax at the words, but Shisui only stares at me.
— Itachi-kun, Shisui-kun, it has been a while! — Kushina says happy — I am here to bring Mikoto's runaway Neko-chan!
— It's nice seeing you again, Kushina-san. Thank you for bringing Izumi-san back, I'm sure mother will really appreciate it. — Itachi turns to the blond, making a slight bow — Minato-san.
The older man grins.
— I hope you two are fine, Itachi, Shisui.
—Come on! We should head back before Mikoto-baa sends the entire Police Force after you! — Shisui exclaims before turning around and heading to the main house. He navigates through the district with ease, and in a short while, we arrive at Fugaku's-sama house.
— Tadaima — Says Itachi is his usual quiet voice.
— Okaeri, Itachi-kun! — Mikoto arrives through the kitchen door — Oh, Izumi-chan! I was really concerned about you. I'm glad to see you safe.
I immediately bow towards her.
— I am really sorry, Mikoto baa-san. You took me in and I answered to your kindness by worrying and troubling you.
— Everything is fine, Izu-chan. You are in a very difficult position and a lot happened today. If I were you, I would want to run away too. — She says smiling kindly at me — Minato, Kushina, you must have found her and brought her home, am I right? Why don't you come inside for tea? Fugaku is in the living room, and I am sure he would be happy to see you. Boys, you should take Izumi-chan out to play with you, ne?
Shisui nods excitedly and before I could even realize what was happening he was pulling me out. Itach follows us slowly.
— What are we going to do? — I ask curiously.
— We were heading into practice! I've seen you training with Ushijima-sensei. That means you are going to be a kunoichi, ne, Izumi?
— Yeah! — I answered smiling at him.